A distance of seventy li was not considered a long journey for these riders. As the competitors galloped away, countless herdsmen on the flanks also mounted their horses and chased after them in high spirits.
Seeing this, Yang Ling secretly relaxed. The competitors didn't have saddles or stirrups on their horses, and they didn't have any weapons on them. With just their individual skills, even if someone harbored ill intentions, they wouldn't be a match for Red Lady and God of Death Jing, who were the three pinnacle experts of internal and external martial arts. The herdsmen that were tailing them also eliminated the possibility of someone launching a sneak attack.
All the herdsmen who had come to participate in the grand meeting crowded at the end of the return journey, raising their heads in anticipation of the first vigorous figure to appear in the distance. Even Bai Yin and Agu Damu were nervously looking into the distance from the high platform. After all, this was not an ordinary competition. It concerned the glory of their families for the rest of their lives.
At this time, Yang Ling leisurely returned to his tent and ordered his men to serve fine wine and meat for lunch. Cheng Qiyun stood on her tiptoes and watched for a while before gracefully returning to her tent. She untied the white veil on her lower body and said with a smile, "Milord sure is patient. Don't you want to know the results as soon as possible?"
She was a feast for the eyes. Yang Ling admired her appearance and said with a smile, "So what if I watch? We can't control the outcome of the competition. It will always be what it is. Whether we guard there or not, the result will be the same. So what's the rush? "
He placed a pair of chopsticks in front of Cheng Qiyun and said, "Our skills are in the outside world, not in the competition. We need to keep an eye on the movements of all parties, especially Bai Yin. Regardless of whether they make a move or not, we must take action before the end of the competition. The final winner of this Damu Assembly will not be the one who takes the crown of the three arts and the beauty, but us. "
Cheng Qiyun smiled and sat down on a chair. She had not yet told Yang Ling about the marriage outside of the alliance that she and Red Lady had discussed. A leopard could not change its spots. Although he had given the order to stop them at all costs, he could not become an unscrupulous person.
He had to tell him in advance that if he stopped her due to various considerations, all the efforts that he had been making to expand the power and influence of the Yang Family in the northeast, which he had been concentrating all his financial resources since more than a year ago, would be in vain. He had to do it first and make it irrevocable. At that time, for the sake of the Yang Family and the thousands of subordinates loyal to him, he had to agree even if he didn't want to. This was probably what it meant to be clad in a yellow robe.
"He can fill the hole for Hong Niangzi, that woman who doesn't look like a woman. Can't he do it for me? Besides, she's doing this for his own good. " Cheng Qiyun recalled how Yang Ling had spoken to Cui Ying 'er in the past, saying that he would shoulder all his responsibilities on his own. Although there were various reasons behind it, Cheng Qiyun still felt a little sour in her heart.
There were golden-yellow roasted lamb chops, tender and delicious stewed lamb legs, braised lamb trotters, and hand-braised lamb. Of course, there was also vinegar, sesame oil, and ground wild vegetables that were lightly seasoned. The aroma wafted into the nostrils. Although it was not as exquisite as the food in the Central Plains, the flavor was different and delicious.
Especially amidst the pastoral songs and the cheerful cries of the cows and sheep, the unique flavor of the food seemed to be even more obvious when looking at the grassland that was as green as the ocean. Yang Ling suddenly realized that the beauty that could accompany a meal was not only Cheng Qiyun, but also the scenery beyond the Great Wall. The roughness and primitive of the Great Wall, together with Cheng Qiyun's elegance and beauty, set off each other and stimulated one's appetite.
Yang Ling picked up a sharp knife and cut a crispy and delicious lamb chops into several pieces. Using the tip of the knife, he pierced the fattest piece and placed it on Cheng Qiyun's plate. Cheng Qiyun poured him a cup of red wine from the Western Regions, which was as red as blood. She thought of an idea and said in a low voice, "Daren, please rest assured. In terms of scheming, the people of the grassland are still a level lower. Sowing discord, eliminating traitors, and integrating, I believe that we can definitely do it smoothly. But what I'm worried about is, once Yin Qi succeeds, how can we firmly control her power in our hands?
A noose can trap a fine horse. But if it's stronger than a flood dragon, then a rope can't control it. Daren, don't look down on her power just because she's a woman. When a powerful and unified grassland tribe appears, expansion is inevitable. This isn't something that can be decided by one or two leaders, but the will of the entire grassland tribe. "
"If we can't trap it, then we'll ride it and drive it to expand in the direction we want it to!" Yang Ling said with a smile.
He took a sip of the wine and said, "Immigration to the border, opening markets and trade, cultural integration, and ethnic integration are long-term things that can't be seen in a short period of time. I once considered whether we could follow the methods of some of the Bashu tribes and establish officials, establish households, and build cities throughout the grassland to speed up the process of integration.
But they are nomadic people with no fixed residence. This kind of management method is impractical with the current transportation and communication conditions. Genghis Khan conquered a large empire, but he could only divide it among his sons and nephews, dividing it into small khaganates that eventually fell apart.
Boyan Khan unified Tartary with his powerful military force and established two wings of sixty thousand households. But even without us sowing discord, his kingdom is filled with ambitious forces and sooner or later civil war will break out. To change all this, we have to change their thousands of years of nomadic and hunting habits. This is not an easy task, not to mention that the climate, precipitation, and land conditions of the northern grassland determine that most of the areas are not suitable for agriculture.
We have to control this powerful force that can invade at any time and make it work for us. We can't just rely on our powerful military force and our alliance. In order to stabilize them in the long term, we have to strengthen their trust and coexistence with us Han people. Secondly, we have to find them vast land suitable for agriculture and let them settle down. "
Yang Ling smiled and said, "The first thing is easy. There are only horses, cows, and sheep in the grassland. They don't have tea, cloth, or smelting metals. They lack grains. They rely on us for too many things. In the past, the imperial court used these as a means to control the tribes in the North and West. Now, looking at the development of the West, it is better to let the people do business. Every corner of their lives is filled with Han products. This is the only way they can live without us.
The second thing is more difficult. The land suitable for agriculture is mainly in the east. This is now the territory of Ming Destiny's guards and the Han people, Jurchen, and Duoyan Guards. But I don't want to give this place to them. I have to find a way to let them leave here and speed up the imperial court's control of the northeast.
From the Prefectural Secretary to the Liaodong Command Office to the Pass, it stretches for thousands of miles. All the guards are separated by the tribes of the Duoyan Guards and the Jurchen. They can't help each other, and the transportation of Ming Destiny's courier stations is also greatly affected.
As long as the Duoyan Guards leave here, Ming Destiny's passage to the north will become very smooth. In a few decades, the Jurchen will be completely Han. The outside of the Pass will no longer be the outside, and the Great Wall will no longer be the border. The capital guarded by the Son of Heaven will become Ming Destiny's garden instead of a door that can be coveted by powerful enemies at any time. "
Cheng Qiyun held her chin and looked at him with fascination. She smiled and said, "Although your idea is good, will the Duoyan Guards listen to your command? It is very difficult for them to move away from the place where they have lived for hundreds of years. "
"It is not difficult at all! They are in a corner and can't compete with the Tartars and Wala. Once Boyan, Huo Sieve and Yibula are eliminated, the vast grasslands and pastures will be their territory. They can't control so many tribes in a corner in the east. The core leadership of the Duoyan Guards will have to move to the hinterland of the grasslands for their own benefit.
Where is the best place to move? The Onan River is the place where the greatest hero of the grasslands, Genghis Khan, made his fortune. It is a holy land in the eyes of the Mongols. If as their ally, I suggest to them to move to the Onan River, I think Queen Yinqi will not refuse. "
Yang Ling said with a smile, "That river basin is rich with water and grass. The area along the river is suitable for farming and has the foundation to build a fixed city. Teach them how to grow crops and have a stable harvest. The tribesmen don't need all of them to do farming and herding. They will then have other professions and the city will be built.
Don't underestimate the significance of this. Farming and a fixed city is the basis for them to truly become civilized and coexist peacefully with us. "
Yang Ling looked out of the tent. In the distance, there was a herdsman wearing a colourful robe riding a horse towards Queen Duoyan's tent. Yang Ling pointed at him and said, "Look at the stirrup under his feet. It is a small thing and is not eye-catching at all. However, it was precisely because of its appearance that the people on horseback had been a terrifying force that no country dared to underestimate ever since the invention of horses until now.
Since the Han and Tang dynasties, how many times has the development of the Central Plains and the fate of the country been influenced by the tribes in the north? Genghis Khan's great empire swept across the West and changed the structure of the world, causing the destruction and birth of countless countries. The entire world changed because of it. In fact, no great emperor could have such a huge and long-lasting impact on history. If not for its invention, can you imagine what the world would be like from thousands of years ago until now? "
Cheng Qiyun listened with fascination. No one had ever thought that the power of the tribes on horseback, the evolution of the whole world, and the appearance of a small stirrup would have such an inevitable relationship and long-term impact. His idea was very strange, but it was convincing.
Yang Ling said, "So, sometimes, you don't have to have all the conditions. You have to think of all the aspects. Even if you think of it, you may not be able to do it with your own strength. If you want to wait for all the conditions to be met, then the necessary conditions will never appear. You only need one or two aspects, one or two conditions, and it can naturally catalyze the collision of all kinds of changes.
Just like the appearance of a stirrup, it changes the power of an originally insignificant people, and thus changes the world. The impact involves politics, economy, military, culture, relations between various races, and so on. My opening of trade in Jiangnan, the introduction of new crops, and the strengthening of agriculture are only a stirrup. Relying on it alone, of course, cannot change the fate of the entire Great Ming Dynasty. But because of it, it will bring about a chain of changes in every aspect: economy, culture, technology, system, and ideology. "
Cheng Qiyun did not really understand. She did not really understand the words that Yang Ling said, but in her heart, she clearly understood the meaning of what he said. Carefully savoring it, she could not help but admire the clarity of Yang Ling's thoughts.
Yang Ling put a mouthful of fresh and delicious roasted lamb chop into his mouth. He said with a smile, "I sold them all kinds of Han goods and let them accept the living habits of the Han people. I allowed the Han people to live together and assimilate, allowing them to accept the Han people's ideology and culture. I used farming and cities to gradually distance them from their original way of life. A runaway wild horse will become a docile … "
Yang Ling smiled and did not speak. Cheng Qiyun charmingly rolled her eyes at him and said, "Yun-er racked her brains just to get rid of a few people. But Daren, you want to 'exterminate' the entire people. I don't know who is more ruthless."
Yang Ling smiled and said, "This is actually a good thing for their future survival and fate, isn't it? The life of a herdsman looks very romantic, but it is actually incomparably cruel. Sandstorms, snowstorms, plagues, pests, droughts, any one of these disasters can cause these nomadic tribes to fall into a desperate situation. They can't even reproduce as they wish. Just by relying on herding and hunting, they are unable to maintain the growth of their population.
Could it be that to forever abandon a people that does not conform to the course of history, to preserve their backwardness and bad habits, is to respect and protect their national identity? I feel that there is no need, and it is not worth regretting. What I am abandoning is just the brand of a backwardness, and the result is to lead their people to happiness and peace. "
Cheng Qiyun smiled and said, "I can't win against you in an argument. Hmm … in this case, when she moves to the Onan River, the White Coat Army will naturally have already established a foothold there. Building a big city as a fetter, and in the north there is the Prefect of the Slave Sons. There are hundreds of thousands of strong people who are supported by the hundreds of thousands of immigrants. In addition, the transportation from the capital to the far north is already smooth. The guards will form a continuous line of defense. Naturally, there is no need to worry about the Duoyan guards having second thoughts, right? "
Seeing Yang Ling nod slightly, Cheng Qiyun rolled her eyes and said, "Then, after stabilizing the Ming Destiny guards at the back, we can continue to expand to the north?"
Yang Ling added, "In this process of expansion, of course, it will not only be our Ming Destiny guards. I will tie the Duoyan Queen to our Ming Destiny chariot, using common interests to entice their warriors to expand with us. In the process of conquering side by side, we will merge with each other."
Cheng Qiyun smiled and said, "Just like how Sir pulled the rich and powerful merchants of Jiangnan onto our Yang Family's merchant ship?"
Yang Ling nodded and smiled, "What do you think?"
Cheng Qiyun said sweetly, "Very good!"
She quietly added in her heart, "This time, you will be steering the ship yourself!"
※ ※ ※
On the Horqin grasslands, the herdsmen of Kriyate Otok were taking advantage of the abundant water and grass to graze their cattle and sheep. The cattle and sheep were all plump and strong. Countless lambs followed the cattle and sheep. The number of cattle increased, making the herdsmen very happy. Happy pastoral songs sounded from time to time on the grasslands.
The Horqin tribe was divided into two wings. There were a total of 13 Otok (Otok means tribe). There were nearly 160,000 people. It was a considerable force on the grasslands. Boyan Khan unified Mongolia and incorporated all the tribes into two wings. There were a total of 60,000 households. Only the Horqin grasslands were not included.
Because they firmly supported Boyan in the process of unifying the desert grasslands and made great contributions to his unification, Boyan Khan respectfully called this tribe "Abaga Horqin", meaning uncle Horqin. As an independent tribe, it enjoyed a lofty status almost equal to Boyan Khan on the Tartar grasslands. It even had jurisdiction over the ten thousand households of Wuliang Ha, which belonged to Boyan.
The Horqin tribe belonged to Genghis Khan's half-brother, Hasar's lineage. Genghis Khan especially valued Hasar's lineage among all his brothers and nephews, and conferred lofty positions and titles to all his nephews. Among all his uncles and cousins, Uluhei (the great leader) of Genghis Khan's line only allowed Hasar's Uluhei to sit in the ranks of the kings. The others all sat in the ranks of the tribal nobles. This unusual favor made the descendants of Hasar's line endlessly grateful. They had always been loyal to the descendants of Dayuan, the Mongolian Khan, and never wavered.
Their valiant strength, coupled with their transcendent status, had always given them unique advantages on this grassland. Whether it was Hua Dang, Huo Zhai, or Yi Bubi, none of them were willing to easily involve the Horqin in the flames of war. Because Bayan Mengke had suddenly killed Hua Dang and taken back his territory, he did not ask for help from the Horqin tribe. Therefore, their tribe was the only place that was not affected by the flames of war in this grassland war.
However, there was no doubt that once Bayan Mengke asked for help from the Horqin tribe, their lord would definitely stand on the side of the direct descendants of Genghis Khan. At that time, the flames of war would also spread to the Horqin grasslands. Taking advantage of the current temporary peace, they had to work hard to accumulate strength and provisions in order to deal with the possible continuous flames of war.
The Creet tribe had about nine thousand people. Under the assignment of the chief, they were divided into three major pastoral areas to graze cattle and sheep. This tribe of more than three thousand people was nomadic in the area near the Wala grasslands.
It was almost noon and the sun was above their heads. The sunlight was somewhat dazzling. Hundreds of tents were scattered all over the grasslands. Wisps of smoke rose from the tents. Children who did not know hunger or exhaustion were still hiding in the shade of the tents in groups of three or four, wrestling and playing.
At this time, far away at the end of the grasslands, a solitary black line appeared. A shepherd was the first to see it. He immediately turned his horse around, abandoning the herd of cattle and sheep, and hurried back to the big tent to report the news. The shepherd dogs faithfully carried out the responsibility of guarding the cattle and sheep on behalf of their masters, urging them to stay where they were and leisurely graze.
The west was the border with the Wala tribe. Although the two sides had not fought each other, as the Bayan tribe and the Wala tribe fought more and more fiercely, the Horqin tribe, as a firm ally of the Bayan tribe, had long since cut off contact with the Wala tribe. The shepherds were immediately alerted by the sudden arrival of a troop from the Horqin tribe.
The troops gathered quickly. These shepherds were born warriors. When they killed people, they were not slower than using a sharp knife to slaughter a sheep.
But obviously, it was a false alarm. The troop of about five hundred people moved too slowly. After waiting for a long time, the shepherds found that it was a camel caravan. Every camel was carrying a large and small bag full of things.
On both sides of the camel caravan were mounted on horses. They wore various clothes of different races and weapons. Among them, there were not only polite Han people, but also Mongolians who talked and laughed loudly in Tatar language. There were even people from the Western Regions who had high noses and deep eyes and wore crescent-shaped Wootz steel swords.
The melodious sound of camel bells stopped. Wuenqi stood up and looked at the back of the camel caravan. There were dozens of camels and several large carts. Wuenqi hung his sword back at his waist and showed a relaxed smile.
Obviously, this was a caravan from the west to the east. Judging from their race and the deliberate separation of the caravan, they should be different small caravans. In the process of coming east, they gradually gathered together to support each other and fight against horse thieves and bandits along the way.
Among them, there were Han merchants, merchants from India, Arabia, Persia and other distant places. During the process of traveling from the south to the north, their camels were always loaded with all kinds of goods.
Caravans were welcomed and respected on the prairie because they could deliver all kinds of daily necessities, even some luxurious consumer goods, to the shepherds in the open grassland where there was no one around. They could nourish the shepherds' boring life on the prairie all year round.
Without being told, the shepherds of the tribes had already talked with the caravan in Tatar language warmly. A man in a striped gown with two curled moustaches above his lips, after talking with some Creet shepherds for a while, rode towards Wuenqi under their guidance.
Wuenqi was a distant nephew of the Horqin Lord, and one of the leaders of this tribe. The man put his hand on his chest and bowed politely to him, briefly explaining his purpose of coming. His name was Tunmi, a merchant from India. He wanted to go further east to sell his goods, buy goods from the east, and then transport them back to the far west. He would temporarily camp here and ask permission to pass through the territory of the Horqin people.
After saying that, Tunmi smiled and presented his gift to Wuenqi, which was a luxurious and soft Persian carpet. Wuenqi agreed with a smile and said, "Well, you can camp here. We will guarantee your safety on the Horqin grassland."
"Thank you, generous master." Tunmi bowed with a smile, and then shouted to his companions to camp here and rest immediately. The shepherds under Wuenqi's command also dispersed, and the women and children gathered around, curiously looking at the traveling merchants from afar. They whispered and asked what goods they had brought, hoping that they could buy something that could be used in their own homes.
Wuenqi excitedly returned to the yurt, gave the bundle of carpet to his wife, and then rushed out again. He noticed that these caravans were well-behaved. They stopped by the river about two miles away from Wuenqi's camp, and unloaded their goods on the ground. The camels leisurely ate grass, drank water, and rested their tired bodies after a long journey.
The merchants carried out a dazzling array of goods, attracting a large group of shepherds with their women and children to trade. From time to time, wealthy nobles were led into the tents by the merchants, holding out more precious goods and bragging about them, hoping that the nobles of the Horqin people could buy them.
A dark-faced herdsman galloped towards Wuenqi, jumped off the horse, and said with a smile, "Hi, Brother Wuenqi."
Wuenqi noticed that he came back from the western merchants' camp, and asked with a smile, "Hu Lu, what did you buy?"
Hu Lu was not tall, but he had broad shoulders, a steady figure, and a ferocious face, which made him look very tough. He laughed and said, "I bought two pearls for my woman and a Wuzi scimitar."
While saying that, he took out a palm-sized scimitar from his bosom and pulled it out of the sheath. The beautiful curve and the beautiful snowflake-like pattern on the edge of the scimitar, and the sharp edge glinted coldly in the sun.
All of a sudden, Wuenqi's eyes became blazing. Wootz steel was a kind of steel unique to India, which was the best steel for making swords. When this kind of steel was cast into swords, there would be a special pattern on the surface of the swords — Muhammad pattern, which made the edge of the swords invisible to the naked eye and made the swords sharper.
But this kind of steel was too expensive, and he only saw a tribal leader with an Arabic-style Wootz scimitar. Reaching out his finger and gently touching the blade, Wuenqi couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
Hu Lu looked around and whispered, "Wuenqi, I saw those barbarians in the Western Region carrying numerous gems, and I also saw a few three-foot-long Wuzi scimitars, which are all top-notch sharp treasured swords. There are only about five hundred of them, and they have so many goods … "
Hu Lu licked his plump lips and said in a low voice, "Should we kill them? It's easy. "
Wuenqi's body shook, and he looked at Hu Lu in surprise. The Tatar nobles would sometimes pretend to be mounted bandits to rob passing merchants, but this was an act that was spurned by the nobles. Moreover, once the news was leaked, the merchants wouldn't dare to come to their tribe to do business, as it would affect them greatly.
Therefore, they would not attack the merchants unless they had to. Once they wanted to rob the merchants, they would usually disguise themselves and go to a place far away from their encampment. They would never leave anyone alive, be it women, children or old people. They dared not keep them as slaves, and they would kill them all. This was even crueler than the real horse bandits.
Wuenqi had done the same thing with his father and uncle, but it was in their own pasture. He found it hard to accept that they killed the guests and gave him such a precious gift.
Hu Lu continued to persuade him, "They have five hundred people, while we have about one thousand warriors. One thousand warriors against five hundred merchants, none of them can escape. They have a lot of treasures, and we will soon become one of the richest people in Horqin. Most importantly, there are battles everywhere on the prairie. If we don't tell them, who can prove that they have arrived at our encampment safely?
Kill them! Rob them of their treasures, bury them deep in the ground, and drive the cattle to trample on them. Next year, it will be a rich grassland. No one will know about this. There are only our clansmen here. "
Wuenqi's greed was stirred up. He raised his eyes and looked at the barbarians' tents by the river. His eyes turned and gradually shone brightly.
"Hu Lu …" Wuenqi's voice was a little hoarse, "We have to graze after dinner. Let our clansmen come back, and we can go to trade in the evening!"
Hu Lu was stunned, and said unwillingly, "Wuenqi!"
Wuenqi glanced at him, and said in a low voice, "Gather our men!"
"Yes!" Hu Lu was overjoyed. He jumped on the horse excitedly and left quickly.
* * *
Tunmi and two Han men squatted by the river, washing their faces and talking in a low voice.
"Something's not right. There's no need for them to call back the women and children. Could it be that they're thinking of tearing off the mask of friendship to rob us?" A Han man said as he looked at the clear river.
Another Han man said in stiff Chinese, "They have at most one thousand soldiers. This kind of camp battle is different from fighting on the prairie. It is not easy to make full use of their advantages in riding and shooting. We are few in number. If we attack at night, many people may escape. Isn't it better for them to gather their men and send themselves to us? "He was a Korean macheteman and a subordinate recruited by Adeni.
Tunmi sneered, "Don't be careless. If they want to die in advance, then we will fight a hard battle. I have told everyone to be on guard. Keep an eye on their movements and charge immediately. We can't compare with these natural warriors. If they can't wait until we attack their tents, then we will lead them in. Each of us is proficient in close combat. It is easy to deal with these one thousand people. "
A group of knights suddenly appeared from upstream and downstream of the river. They rode their horses in the clear and shallow river. Water droplets splashed all over the sky. The startled fish kept jumping out of the water, flashing bright silver lights.
Tunmi stood up with a smile and nodded in a friendly manner to the shepherds who seemed to want to water and wash their horses. His eyes lingered on the swords at their waists and the bows and arrows on their shoulders, and then moved away.
The two men behind him quietly took two steps back and secretly tightened their grip on the weapons at their waists. When Tunmi's eyes met with the leading man in the river again, a fierce look seemed to flash in both of their eyes at the same time.
Drawing the bow, nocking the arrow, pulling the bowstring, all movements were done in one go. The bearded Tunmi and his two subordinates were even faster. They were like three startled rabbits, leaping and leaping away from the river, pouncing behind a tent. At the same time, warning cries rang out from all directions.
The man on the horse let out a frustrated roar, pulled out his long saber and shouted. He turned the horse's head and charged towards the shore. Those ropes were hung with bright and beautiful clothes. Those tents were very good at keeping out the rain, and they were also very good at keeping out the wind and keeping warm in winter. Of course, he could see that those things were going to belong to him soon, and he was not willing to destroy them.
At the same time, from several directions on land, the Tatar shepherds who had just been treating their guests with great hospitality were like a pack of ferocious and bloodthirsty wolves, brandishing their swords and sabers and charging over. Merchants who could travel thousands of miles on the prairie to do business, even if they did not know martial arts themselves, must have hired fierce and brave guards. Their fighting strength should not be underestimated.
However, now they were few in number, few in horses, and unprepared. The camels were scattered and eating wild grass, so they had no time to form a camel formation to defend themselves. It could be said that these merchants completely trusted them and would never think that they would violate the great taboo of the prairie and openly loot the merchants in their own territory. This provided a great convenience for their sudden attack.
Those merchants who had set up their stalls and were ready to do business had no time to resist. They shouted for their companions in horror and quickly fled into the camp.
The Tatar tents were at least dozens of feet away from each other. But in order to take care of the carriages and goods, these merchants set up their tents very close to each other, and the distance between them was limited. Coupled with the ropes that were nailed to the ground to fix the tents, it provided them with an opportunity to escape.
How could Wuenji allow them to react? With a command, the fierce warriors, who were as fierce as tigers, turned their horses and rushed into the camp. Nearly a hundred tents were like a forest, completely engulfing the troops of less than two thousand people on both sides. Horse-tripping ropes, horse-trapping pits, sudden arrows, blow darts, flying axes, and javelins.
What was most surprising was that there were some people who, compared to their tall stature, were waving long knives in their hands. They let out strange squeals and rushed out of the tents. Before they could reach the tents, they fell to the ground. They rolled and crawled to the horses like rolling gourds. They either chopped off the legs of the horses or pierced the abdomen of the horses. Then, they jumped away like ghosts with their heads and faces covered in blood.
They roared angrily as they became live targets on their horses. They were attacked from all directions, and the advantage of the war horses could not be used at all. They wanted to charge out, but in the chaos of the battle, they could not give orders. They came here to loot, and they did not carry any flags. Who would have thought that they would be greeted with a massacre? At this time, it was completely too late to order their subordinates to retreat.
In the distance, their women and children stood in the camp, watching their father and brother bravely rush into the merchants' camp, and could not help but cheer.
Their eyes were shining with excitement, because soon, their relatives would send back to them the furniture, toys, luxurious silk, expensive jewelry, soft carpets, and bright robes that they needed but could not afford …
A warm wind blew, carrying the smell of weeds, flowers, cow dung, sheep dung, and … the smell of blood.
This predatory team was formed by the most ferocious and cruel wanderers of various clans. Everyone had a ferocious glint, and they were like tigers and wolves that chose their prey. They used all methods available to them, and they didn't hesitate to slaughter the intruders. When they fought in close quarters, these heroes on horseback were far from their match.
They slashed people from above and horses from below, and blood gushed out like a fountain. The eyes of this group of ferocious beasts turned red, and they howled even more fiercely and miserably than the Tatar warriors. All of them became butchers bathed in blood.
Fortunately, as the leader, Tunmi did not forget the most important task. Under his orders, a few subordinates who were proficient in Mongolian began to fight while shouting and encouraging each other in Mongolian. They revealed the names of several places, tribes, and even the names of their leaders. It was enough to convince these Tatars, who were desperately trying to escape from the death trap, that these were a group of murderers sent by the Wala people.
Such a complex group of people could only be recruited by Yibula, whose territory bordered the Western Region and the Far North, right?
* * *
The horse racers rushed back, and the assistants responsible for disrupting the others' route had fallen far behind, and under the watchful eyes of the crowd, no one dared to do anything to hinder the others' progress. The people at the very front spurred their horses and galloped towards the colorful flag at the finish line.
Cui Ying 'er did not disappoint and rushed at the very front. She was also a fine horse that was one in a thousand, and she also had the same unique horsemanship. Her weight became a necessary condition to determine the final winner of the seventy-kilometer race. Following closely behind her were Feng Lei, Buhe, Sukhebaru, Ha Ci of the Jurchen tribe, and the others.
Bai Yin, Aguda, and the others who were standing on the high platform breathed a sigh of relief. A temporary victory did not matter, but it was very difficult to determine the champion of the three arts. Although the young man from the Taka tribe who rushed at the very front was first in the horse race, it was impossible for him to win the wrestling competition with his frail body.
As for archery, they were also very confident in their sons and nephews. They believed that those who won in a single event would have to fight again, a competition to compete for the Queen. In the end, a knight who was outstanding in every event would be chosen to become the Queen's husband. They still had a chance, and the final moment had not yet arrived.
Yang Ling stood in front of the tent and chuckled as he looked at the cheering herdsmen surrounding Red Lady as she rushed to the Queen's tent. Queen Yin Qi had been staying in the tent, accompanying the Living Buddha, Commander Lian, and the other distinguished guests to drink tea and drink wine. She had never gone outside to pay attention to the progress of the competition, but Nadam had been held for three days. When the champion of the first event appeared, she could not help but look a little nervous.
When she heard someone loudly announce the result of the competition and that the winner was Yang Ying, Yin Qi's shoulders slumped and she clearly relaxed from her nervousness. Her lips could not help but curl into a faint smile. Her bright eyes turned slightly and glanced at the Living Buddha and the others. The smile that had just appeared on her face disappeared. However, her two curved eyebrows still inadvertently revealed a joyous look.
An old man, who was walking unsteadily and was wearing a clean robe, walked to the front of Red Lady's horse. He held the spotlessly white Hada in his hands and sang a beautiful song of praise, "The horse that stood out from the crowd, Nadam, has the Dragon King's ribbon tied around its neck, and its hipbone has the mark of a Buddhist scripture master. It has an elephant-like head, fish-scale-like palate, wolf-like ears, star-like eyes, rainbow-colored tail, and velvet-like temples. Every joint is covered with hair, and every hair is gilded with gold and color. Oh, this divine steed made by Heaven and Earth, let me rub this auspicious and holy fresh milk on your head … "
He praised the horse's posture and even every part of its body. He took out a small golden bowl, dipped it in milk, and rubbed it on the horse's forehead. Finally, he raised the bowl high and offered it to Yang Ying.
Red Lady saw him carelessly smear the horse's body with his finger and even let her drink the rest of the horse's milk. She couldn't help but frown secretly. However, this was the custom of the grassland. Many herdsmen were looking at her with enthusiasm and reverence. Those warriors who had been defeated by her were looking at the small bowl in her hand, seemingly full of jealousy.
Cui Ying 'er smiled bitterly. She braced herself and raised the bowl. She closed her eyes and forcibly drank the half bowl of horse's milk. The grassland was boiling. The herdsmen near and far formed big and small circles, holding hands and singing and dancing. There was a peaceful and happy atmosphere everywhere.
Cheng Qiyun stood in front of the tent, smiling as she looked at the happy and singing herdsmen. Listening to the rhythm of the music, her chin slightly nodded, responding to their rhythm. It seemed like she was also going to sing along with the music. At this time, someone quietly walked behind her and reported a few words in a low voice.
Cheng Qiyun's shoulders gently swayed along with the singing of the herdsmen. She turned her head as if nothing had happened and ordered, "Let them do it. Don't interfere. After they succeed, bring Ai Shen back. The rest of the people will disappear. "
"Yes!" The figure behind her quietly left.
"Yun 'er."
"Daren." Cheng Qiyun turned her head and a sweet smile appeared on her face.
"Why are you also swaying around? Do you like their dance?"
"Their dance is cheerful and free. It has a different flavor. It's not bad."
Yang Ling walked closer and hugged her waist. He looked at the singing and dancing herdsmen and said with a smile, "I like your dance more. It is a hundred times better than this."
"Me?" Cheng Qiyun's eyes turned and she said in astonishment, "Have I ever danced in front of daren before? Why don't I remember? "
"Why not? I remember that it was the first time you came to my residence. You lived in the inner study and wore a gold belt around your slender waist. You danced the Indian dance … water as skin, snakes as bones, seductive movements, bewitching eyes. What a deadly vixen. "Yang Ling chuckled.
Cheng Qiyun bit her lips and smacked him with a smile. She ran her fingers through her hair and said coquettishly, "Then … I'll dance for you again tonight. I'll dance for you and only you to see. Okay?"
"Wu! Wu wu … okay! " Cheng Qiyun suddenly realized that Yang Ling's hand had moved away from her waist. His eyes were looking forward and his expression was incomparably serious. His chin was still nodding very seriously. He had a shameless expression as if he was discussing 'business' with her.
Cheng Qiyun understood and looked sideways. As expected, Cui Ying 'er, accompanied by Feng Lei, Jing Fu' er and the others, was passing by the tent. Although it was not convenient for her to come over and meet them, her pair of clear eyes had been staring in this direction.
"Hmph! Master is only afraid of her! " Cheng Qiyun snorted angrily and put her hands behind her back as if nothing had happened. At the same time, she pressed the tip of her boot onto Yang Ling's foot and leaned her shoulder forward. Rolling, rolling …
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