When Si Qin gave the order, he had already guessed that the Minuo Tribe had already made preparations. Even if they sent people to search for them, they would find nothing. However, he did not expect that the Minuo Tribe's encampment outside the city was already empty. Not even a shadow was left behind.
The person who reported to Si Qin nervously observed the Khan's expression, fearing that Si Qin would kill him in a fit of anger. A Nari Khan had always been a hot-tempered person. It was common for him to kill people in a fit of anger. Although the new Khan was benevolent and righteous, who could guarantee that he would not change after ascending to the throne?
However, Si Qin dispelled his worries in the next moment. He was indeed as the rumors said. Although he was enraged by the Minuo Tribe's betrayal, he did not implicate his subordinates. He even said gently, "Thank you for your hard work."
This warmed the hearts of the people who had lived under A Nari's ruthlessness for a long time. A high and mighty Khan could actually speak to them in such an amiable and approachable manner. They were truly touched.
Because of this, the people who searched for them became even more meticulous. They dug three feet into the ground of the Minuo Tribe's residence in the city. Finally, they found a cellar under the broken vat.
The people were wringing their hands. They had smashed the vat that day, but they had not thought of carefully inspecting the cellar. If they had been more careful that day, they might have been able to catch the two murderers!
Everyone in the Minuo Tribe had disappeared.
After confirming this, Si Qin ordered the search team to withdraw from the city. He said, "There is no need to search in the city. They must have escaped with the Minuo Tribe. It's impossible for such a large group to disappear for no reason. There aren't many young and strong people left in their group. The remaining people are a group of old and weak women and children. It won't be easy for them to move around. Moreover, in such cold weather, they must have left behind traces of their lives. Pay attention to these traces and don't miss any clues! "
Because the Khan did not pursue the matter, these hot-blooded men felt even more moved and guilty. They felt that because of their own mistake, the murderer of A Nari Khan had escaped, and the Khan did not blame them. If they did not take this matter seriously, they would not be able to live up to their conscience.
While Si Qin's men were busy searching for the whereabouts of the Minuo tribe, Qin Yining, Lu Heng, and the Halbara brothers were leading the Minuo tribe through the snow-covered wilderness.
Qin Yining said worriedly to Lu Heng, "It's impossible for such a large group to not leave any traces behind. We can only hope that they will slow down."
Lu Heng stepped on the snow with uneven steps. The snow creaked under his feet as he panted in exhaustion. "Si Qin has just ascended to the throne, so he will definitely make some changes. We are just taking advantage of his loophole. Once he gets angry and mobilizes his army to capture us, I'm afraid none of us will be able to survive. Let's set up camp tonight, and I will discuss it with them. It's normal for them to want to migrate, but it's too risky for them to follow us fugitives. "
"In the end, we are the ones who are dragging them down." Qin Yining said with some guilt.
Lu Heng said, "They are also being oppressed by A Nari to the point where they can't take it anymore. Even without us, they would still have to migrate. "
"That may be the case, but if they migrate with us, it will be more dangerous for them. Right now, Si Qin might send troops to capture them, but if they travel alone, the troops won't spend too much effort chasing after a group of old, weak, women and children. "
"That's right."
When Lu Heng heard this, he also felt that Qin Yining's analysis was very reasonable. He immediately went to talk to Halbara and Chaganbara.
After explaining Qin Yining's analysis, he said, "I'm mainly worried that they will be dragged down by us. If we split up before entering the desert, as long as they tell the troops that we abandoned them long ago, I believe that since Si Qin has just ascended to the throne, for the sake of his reputation, he won't harm their lives.
"But if they travel with us through the desert, at least half of them will die. After all, they are already weak, how many of them will be able to persevere and walk out of the desert? Also, with so many of them traveling together, eating and living, they will become a bigger target. It's very likely that they will be caught, and when that happens, the Minuo Tribe will be completely wiped out. "
Actually, when Qin Yining and Lu Heng were talking about this matter, Halbara and Chaganbara were also discussing this matter in low voices.
At first, their goal was to leave Dadu, and they used all their strength to bring their tribesmen with them, so that they would not be oppressed by the Tatan Imperial Family. If they left, they could still recuperate outside. If they stayed in Dadu, it was very likely that they would gradually be eaten away.
However, among the four thousand tribesmen, most of them were old and weak, women and children. Only a small number of them were men, and some of them were even disabled in the past.
When the Minuo Tribe was lacking in mounts and resources, the speed of such a troop varied, and the physical fitness of each person was different as well. Those who walked faster had to wait for those who walked slower. Even so, the old and the weak were gradually falling behind.
If they brought them all, it wouldn't take long for Si Qin's men to catch up.
However, if they didn't bring them along and left them outside the desert, they would definitely face Si Qin's pursuit, and they were also worried that Si Qin would torture them.
At this time, the sky was already dark, and the night wind was strong in the wilderness. The fine Xiao Xue gradually turned into goose feather snowflakes, and when the cold wind blew on their faces, it was like a knife cutting through their skin.
Everyone was shivering from the cold. Qin Yining and Lu Heng were better off. Although they weren't wearing silk or satin, they were still wearing cotton-padded clothes. In this weather where the water turned into ice, they could grit their teeth and endure it.
However, the women and children behind them, who had worked hard for more than a year as A Nari's subordinates, were all wearing old and tattered clothes. Some of them were even wearing straw sandals, and their toes and skin were red and festering from the cold.
In such conditions, how could they pass through the desert where the temperature difference between day and night was so great?
"You're right." Harbala gritted his teeth and looked at the bleak surroundings, rubbing his fingers that were red from the cold. "We can't continue like this. If we continue, I'm afraid no one will be able to withstand the test of the desert. We were originally running for our lives, and if this drags on, the entire tribe might collapse."
Chaganbala nodded, and his tongue was tied from the cold. "Why don't we set up camp today, and let everyone warm themselves first. We can calm down and think of a plan."
Actually, at this juncture, they really shouldn't stop. They should continue moving forward.
However, in the current situation, they were afraid that before the pursuers arrived, some of them would die.
If their tribesmen died like this, they would be heartbroken. It would be a pity.
More importantly, if such a thing happened, it would be a heavy blow to everyone's hearts.
After all, who would have the courage to resist Si Qin's men in the future?
It was really a dilemma.
In order to save the lives of the majority, everyone had to stop and set up camp. They used the materials they had brought to build simple tents.
The four thousand people started to work in full swing. Although they were in the cold and snow and were hungry, when they heard that they could rest, everyone started to work enthusiastically.
Qin Yining, Lu Heng, Chaganbala, Harbala, and a few other senior members of the tribe, as well as a general who had lost an arm, all gathered in Harbala's tent.
A bonfire was lit in the middle of the ground, and everyone gathered around it in silence.
Qin Yining didn't understand Tatan, so he could only rely on Lu Heng for negotiations.
Lu Heng covered his mouth and coughed for a while, coughing until his face was red. Then he said, "What I mean is that we can't let our tribesmen lose their lives for no reason. In such a large migration, even if we are well prepared, accidents can happen. Moreover, there are pursuers behind us. "
"I also mean that." The uncle with the broken arm, Arhan, said, "It's almost impossible for all of our tribesmen to charge through the desert. My suggestion is to leave some men behind to protect the old, weak, women, and children who can't continue with the migration. Let them find a deserted place nearby and live there temporarily. Wait for the good news from us. "
Harbala nodded and said, "I agree with Uncle Arhan's words. The rest of the people will cross the desert together and go to the border of Da Zhou to find a place to live. After settling down, we can come back to pick up our tribesmen. "
"But if we do this, won't our tribesmen feel abandoned?" Chaganbala said worriedly. "It wasn't easy for us to survive. If we are abandoned by our tribesmen, won't the people who stayed behind be sad?"
"But if we bring them along, they will definitely die. If we stay, the new Khan might give us a way out, seeing that we are all pitiful women and children. "
Lu Heng looked at Qin Yining, who was silent at the side, and translated their conversation for her.
Qin Yining thought for a moment and said, "Actually, the temporary anger is not because we are abandoning everyone. We are planning to cross the desert, but because we want to find a better way out for everyone. That's why we are taking such a risk. The Minuo Tribe used to be so powerful, and lived a self-sufficient life. But now, they were living a slave life that was worse than pigs and dogs. Even a horse that Ana raised every day was more expensive than a human being.
"If everyone stays, maybe we can survive. But do we really only want to struggle at death's door? Do we really not care if the Minuo tribe can be revived? "
The rest of the people in the tent didn't understand Qin Yining's words, but Uncle Arhan with the broken arm understood.
He said in the not-so-fluent Great Zhou language, "You're right. We can't be the Khan's slaves forever. The Minuo tribe is a big tribe. If we completely decline and disappear, we won't be able to face our ancestors when we die. "
Qin Yining nodded with a smile. "Uncle, you are right. We only live for one breath. Struggling at death's door is not living. If we give in now, then in the future, our descendants will have to live under the Khan's oppression. One generation will be slaves, and the next generation will be slaves. If that happens, our descendants will be too pitiful.
"We are fighting now for one breath, for our descendants to be able to live with their heads held high.
"Men, women, old people, children, a complete tribe. None of these people can be left out. Every one of them is the hope of the tribe. "Although I suggest leaving those who are physically unable to move outside the desert, most of them will be the elderly, women, and children. However, this group of people will be the greatest force that can rebuild the Minuo Tribe once they have settled down in the future.
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