Chapter 29 The End of the Red Cliff Road

"You have to believe in the Imperial Master." He Lingchuan pouted in the direction of Sun Fuping, "Even the Imperial Master risked his life, so you and I should have some confidence, right?"

Sun and Nian walked in front, keeping a long distance from He Lingchuan, with more than ten rows of soldiers between them.

They didn't take the newly joined bandits seriously at all.

Situ Han looked at their backs: "Can they hear me when I talk?"

"Don't worry, they definitely can't." He Lingchuan himself didn't remember how many bad things he said about the two in front of him.

Situ Han whispered: "These two are really arrogant. I'm afraid they don't care about our lives when we encounter danger after entering the desert. He Dashao, for the sake of the New Year every year, you have to take care of us brothers. There are more than 30 of us who come out to fight, and there are more than a hundred women and children in Mangshan! If we die, they won't even have porridge to drink."

Although he called killing and robbing fighting, his expression was still very sincere.

Worry was written all over his face.

"I know." He Lingchuan comforted him, "I will keep an eye on you and not let him send you to die in vain."

After he left, He Chunhua asked his eldest son: "What does he mean by considering the New Year?"

"Doesn't he come to wish us a happy New Year every New Year?" The most important thing is that every New Year, Situ Han will prepare a special gift for He Da Shao. For example, last year, he gave He Lingchuan a string of pearl necklaces, each bead was almost the same size, round and shiny.

Yes, it was the string that He Lingchuan gave to Uncle Hao.

What did he give the year before last? Well, I can't remember.

Of course, there is no need to tell Dad about these trivial matters.

He Chunhua looked at him and shook his head. Although the stinky boy was reckless, he never hesitated to accept gifts.

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Heishui City, He's House.

Although there were only two people left at home, Mrs. Ying still asked the kitchen to cook carefully, and a total of seven dishes were served on the table, and the meal was more abundant than usual.

But she actually had no appetite. She drank half a bowl of yellow rice porridge and took only two bites of the flower roll He Yue picked for her before she stopped eating.

"Yue'er, where do you think your father is now?" He Chunhua's departure seemed to take her soul away with him. Madam Ying couldn't sleep at night, and her delicate makeup couldn't cover up her haggardness.

"It should be a few post stations." He Yue comforted her, "Zeng Feixiong is familiar with the desert, and with Grand Master Sun to keep the place, father and brother will definitely be able to rush back before the arrival of the crazy sand season."

Madam Ying sighed: "It is said that your brother is a lucky general, this time he really needs good luck."

He Yue felt strange, his mother didn't seem to blame his father for taking his brother away?

Madam Ying asked about some affairs in Qiansong County, and He Yue said he could handle it.

Finally, she asked, "Is there still no news from the east?"

"No. The floods blocked the road, and the war in the east was fierce. The rebels would kill any spies they caught, so the messengers didn't dare to go there."

In fact, he would also pay attention to the intelligence from the east without his father's repeated instructions.

Unfortunately, there is no news now.

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On the second day, there was yellow sand everywhere, and not even a living thing could be seen.

This short section of Hongya Road pointed to the former Panlong Ancient City, and no caravan would go there.

Every step was taken very carefully, because such a smooth road would also come to an end.

"There is no road." News came from the front of the team.

Looking east, the father and son of the He family could still see the huge base of half a mountain slanting upward, like a dagger piercing the sky.

The upper half collapsed nearly a hundred years ago and fell on the Hongya Road where the team was supposed to travel.

Endless rocks turned it into a dead end.

Zeng Feixiong murmured, "I wonder if it's God's will." Don't let the sleeping heroes in the city be disturbed by the latecomers.

"How can there be so many wishful thinking?" Nian Songyu sneered and ordered everyone, "Get off the horses, we need to lighten the burden."

There is no road ahead, and the horses are useless. Everyone prepared five days of dry food and water, and handed the horses to several cooks.

Situ Han stared at the endless desert.

The undulating sand dunes were clean and tidy, without even a footprint.

"What should we do next? If we leave Hongya Road, we will all be eaten!"

"Of course not, don't you sand bandits know it best?" Nian Songyu stopped him with one sentence.

Situ Han was embarrassed. As people who have been making a living in the Panlong Desert for most of their lives, they are very clear about the local taboos, and they also have their own little experience and tricks.

Nian Songyu pointed to the desert: "Tell me, how to get there without the Red Cliff Road? I think you have some experience."

"First of all, everyone, keep the Sheji Order. Never show it, let alone activate it!" There are many officials in this group.

Nian Songyu said, "Why?"

"The heroes in the desert defended the borders of their homeland. If we walk in with the Sheji Order of another country, isn't that deliberately planting a flag to attract hatred? These people are stubborn and can hide if they can. Don't provoke them!"

There is some truth. Sun Fuping told the officials: "Keep the kite money and don't show it."

Then Situ Han said: "Are we going to Panlong Ancient City? The distance is still far, and it is impossible to walk there alone. I can't help this."

Sand bandits drilled into the desert, mostly to escape pursuit or revenge, just in urgent need. They would not hike in such a deadly place for no reason. That would be a waste of life.

"So, we have to change a vehicle." Sun Fuping took out three things from his arms.

Those were three small miniature boats, each about an inch long, and seemed to be carved from half a walnut, with exquisite craftsmanship. Not to mention the wood grain on the side of the boat, even the wrinkles on the boatman's clothes and the flying hair were carved delicately.

Just looking at this carving, it can be called a master's level.

"This is a treasure I borrowed from a friend. I have to return it after use. Okay, get out of the way!" After saying that, Sun Fuping took out three crystal clear green pills and put them in the boatman's raised right hand in the boat, and then threw the three walnut boats onto the sand.

Nian Songyu whispered: "Xuan Jing!"

The green pills were the size of quail eggs, and it seemed that they could knock down the walnut boats when thrown down. But the fact was not like that at all. The green pills disappeared when they touched the boatman's hand, and the whole boat began to tremble strangely, as if something was about to run out.

Everyone was not stupid, and had already avoided it in advance.

Sure enough, the walnut boat expanded at an astonishing speed, and its volume increased exponentially. In just two breaths, the one-inch-long toy turned into a wooden boat that was more than 50 feet long and 10 feet high!

They were parked on the yellow sand. They were the original walnut boats enlarged in their original proportions. Of course, the boatman standing at the bow also became the size of a normal human. He came over to lower the side planks so that passengers could board the boat.