Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
Qin Yining's group decided on their route within the time it took for a stick of incense to burn. By this time, all the tribesmen were ready to set off.
Knowing that they were being chased, all the tribesmen were very quiet. They just followed the main group in an orderly manner, heading west through the wind and snow.
Sure enough, not long after, a group of nearly a thousand people arrived at the place where the Minuo tribesmen had set up camp.
The cavalrymen pulled on the reins and urged their horses to circle around the camp.
The general who led the group jumped off his horse and squatted down at the spot where the campfire used to be but was now covered by a layer of snow. He then waved his fist angrily.
"What a bunch of cunning bastards!"
They were just a little late. If they had come a little earlier and fought with these people, would they not have been able to snatch the food back?
Now that the Khan was furious and their superiors were urging them to hurry, if they could not get the food back, once the Khan became angry, they were afraid that they would not have a good ending!
"General, what should we do? This snow came at the wrong time. Now that everything is white and they have been running for a while, it won't be easy to track them down. "
"Even if it's not easy, we still have to chase after them! I don't believe that they can be faster than us when they bring their supplies with them! Everyone, keep your spirits up. We must give the Khan a perfect explanation. Otherwise, I'm sure none of us want to see the consequences! "
His words made everyone's hair stand on end.
Even if the Khan was an extremely wise and reasonable person, if they could not complete a single task that he had sent them, it would be because of their incompetence. Moreover, this time, they had lost the most important food supplies to start a war.
The group of people carefully checked the footprints left behind in the snow and moved closer to the Minuo tribe.
At the same time, Qin Yining also received the news brought back by the scouts.
"You mean. There is already a group of nearly a thousand cavalrymen chasing after us? "Lu Heng asked in Tatan with a grave expression.
The scout said, "Yes, I'm not mistaken. Every one of them is riding a horse. At first glance, we can tell that they are different from the small groups we encountered before. Patriarch, what should we do now? " In the hearts of the people of the Minuo tribe, Qin Yining and Lu Heng were their chiefs. When Lu Heng had fainted in the desert, they had relied on Qin Yining's command to survive. Therefore, the people of the Minuo tribe trusted and respected Qin Yining more than they respected Lu Heng.
When the scout asked this question, he looked at Qin Yining expectantly.
However, Qin Yining couldn't understand what he was saying.
Lu Heng told Qin Yining everything he had just said. Finally, he said, "Now that the situation is so tense, what should we do? Should we fight or continue to run? "
Qin Yining's eyebrows were tightly knitted together. She was so anxious that she bit her lip so hard that it was bleeding.
"The situation is not good." Qin Yining said solemnly, "The other party has arranged for a group of cavalry. Although we also have horses, we are carrying so many supplies. Moreover, not everyone can ride a horse. If we just focus on running, I'm afraid it won't be long before they catch up to us."
How could Lu Heng not know the seriousness of the situation? However, the people of the Minuo Tribe were very united to begin with. These people who had crossed the desert together were not only related to each other, many of them had also developed strong feelings for each other. At this time, no matter who they decided to leave, it was impossible. Therefore, it was impossible for them to let some of them get on their horses and leave first.
"Do you think that with these provisions, we should …"
"Give up these provisions?"
"Yes. If we don't bring the supplies, the pursuers might not chase after us so closely. " Lu Heng said in a low voice, "I don't think the pursuers' mission is to kill us all. They just want to find the provisions."
Qin Yining was silent. "I don't think so."
"Oh? What do you mean? "Lu Heng asked.
Qin Yining said slowly, "The loss of the provisions doesn't mean that Si Qin won't be held accountable just because they found the provisions."
Lu Heng was suddenly enlightened. He said in a low voice, "I understand."
In their current situation, if they left the rations behind and ran away, the other party would only be able to find the rations as a lost item at most. Siqin would still have to catch them and interrogate them.
Regardless of whether Si Qin's goal was the provisions or to hold them accountable, the soldiers below didn't know what Lu Heng was thinking. They only wanted to make sure that they didn't leave any loopholes for the pursuers to catch.
As such, even if they put down the rations, it was very likely that they would continue to be hunted until they were caught. Once they were caught and fell into Siqin's hands, she would have even more reason to start a war with the Great Zhou.
The more he thought about it, the more terrifying it was …
Uncle Arhan heard the conversation between Qin Yining and Lu Heng loud and clear. He whispered these words to Harbala, Harbala, and several other respected clansmen in the group. Everyone's expression was very serious.
Everyone discussed for a while and finally disagreed. "We will never hand over the provisions. We took the provisions for the future of our tribesmen. There are still many old people and children waiting for us to bring the provisions back! Even if we die, we will never hand over the provisions! "
Uncle Arhan agreed with these words.
"That's right. I don't agree with handing over the grain either. Utejin Khan is Anari Khan's husband. They're both tyrants. Even if there's temporary peace now, if we live under his rule in the future, our Minuo Tribe will be completely destroyed by him sooner or later. Rather than live a miserable life, it's better to fight for our lives now. "
Lu Heng heard this and couldn't help but laugh when he looked at Qin Yining. "It seems like you understand everyone better."
Qin Yining smiled bitterly and waved his hand. "This is a choice we have no choice but to make. If there is a choice, who would want to put themselves in danger? "
Lu Heng sighed. "Yes."
Uncle Arhan said, "Since it's decided, which direction should we continue to go?"
Lu Heng took out a map from his pocket. This was a simple map drawn by the Minuo tribesmen who were familiar with the terrain. The general landform and direction were marked very accurately.
"We are here now."
Lu Heng pointed to a place in Tatan near the western border of Da Zhou.
"The pursuers are all cavalry and they are very fast. They are not only after the provisions, they will definitely pursue us with all their strength. If we follow the original plan and use the advantages of the weather and the terrain to hide, they will catch up very quickly. "
Uncle Arhan said, "I didn't expect that they would still catch up to us even after we chose such a barren place in the west."
"If we fight at close quarters, we will not be able to gain any advantage. Many tribesmen will die for this. So we have to choose a direction where they can't catch up to us. "
"But which direction can they not catch up to us? They are cavalry. "
Qin Yining looked at the map and murmured, "It's impossible to escape now. Either we stay here and wait for death, or we are caught and killed. Or we choose a direction where they don't dare to chase us. "
"You mean …" Lu Heng looked at the no man's land not far from them on the map in horror. "You don't mean this area, do you?"
Qin Yining pointed his white index finger at the place Lu Heng was talking about and nodded. "Yes, it's here."
It was a desert.
It was different from the desert they had crossed before. Although the desert they had crossed before was full of danger, they knew that as long as they went in the right direction, it would be a shortcut to Da Zhou and the Tatan capital. If they were well prepared, they would be able to travel through the desert much faster than on the official road.
But the desert Qin Yining was talking about was different.
This was a real no man's land. Because this desert was too big, no one had ever walked out of this desert. No one knew where the other side of the desert was, or what was there. No one knew if there was an oasis in the desert.
If they broke into this death zone, they might not be able to survive.
Uncle Arhan told the tribesmen about the conversation between Qin Yining and Lu Heng. The tribesmen were silent.
Everyone was shrouded in fear.
"I can't make a decision for everyone, so I'm just making a suggestion. As for whether or not we should take this path, it's still up to everyone. But according to my understanding of Utejin Khan, when he finds the provisions, he will also capture people to vent his anger. If we are captured, our tribesmen might not have a good ending.
"If we are outside, we will be easily captured. The consequences will be unimaginable. In any case, we will die outside, so we might as well go in and take a risk. Seeing that we have entered this desert, the pursuers will definitely not dare to chase after us. They are doing this for the sake of glory and wealth. How could they really disregard their lives and rush into the desert directly? Maybe we can wait until they leave. Or maybe we can walk out of the desert. "
Lu Heng said: "But it's more likely that we won't be able to walk out of the desert and die together."
Qin Yining nodded: "Yes. This is the most likely scenario. But if we stay and get caught, we will also die. "
The conversation between the two of them caused the surrounding people to fall silent.
Arhan thought for a long time, then said in a deep voice: "You can go."
Qin Yining and Lu Heng both raised their heads and looked at Arhan.
Uncle Arhan said: "You don't have to go with us. Our tribesmen decided not to hand over the provisions and fight to the death with Utejin Khan because of the hatred of our tribesmen. But you two are not Tatan people. Our tribesmen are already very grateful that you are willing to come with us until now. Now that we are on the border of Da Zhou and you two are protected by experts, it shouldn't be difficult for you to bypass the pursuers and directly enter Da Zhou. Go back to your country, don't follow us. "
Lu Heng and Qin Yining heard this and couldn't help but sigh.
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