Chapter 21 Wetting shoes with the wind on the top of the mountain
In the afternoon, taking advantage of the warmest weather, the camel team set off on the road again.
Fan Laowai was still at the forefront, leading the camel team all the way north. After less than two miles, it turned back to the east.
Fan Laowai thought he did it very cleverly, but all this was seen by the careful Tie Mo.
By this time, Tie Mo was almost 100% sure that something was wrong with Fan Lao Wai. Because he didn't know what Fan Lao Wai wanted to do, he could only pretend not to know for the time being.
And, no matter what, we have to get out of the desert first.
As evening approached, a little vegetation finally appeared in the field of vision. Although it was just sparse dead grass, the camel team still burst into cheers.
It is definitely a miracle that more than 20 inexperienced soldiers could make it through the Southern Desert without killing anyone.
Looking at the deserted next door and the low sand grass, there seems to be green mountains connected to the sky in the distance.
Fan Laowai took a sip of strong wine and pointed to the right front.
"Brothers, if you work harder and walk ten miles further, we can go to the Mongolians and have a hot barbecue!"
Today's time, dry pepper cakes, mixed with cold water, almost made a bird appear in the mouth. When they heard that there was meat to eat, all the military households showed excited eyes, and their feet involuntarily accelerated.
Just as Fan Laowai said, after walking ten miles, when it was dark, a fire appeared in the distance. Under the weak light, gray-white yurts shone.
Fan Laowai happily took a sip of wine and waved his hand proudly, "Let's go to the yurt to find meat to eat."
"Roar!"
"There's meat to eat!"
The military households wished they could fly directly to the yurts, drink wine and eat meat, and then have a good sleep.
Mr. Fan tilted his head and walked towards the yurt without looking back, but did not notice that Tie Mo and Zhou Dingshan had fallen at the back of the team.
Tie Mo whispered a few words to Zhou Dingshan and walked towards the yurt with his hands clasped in his hands. The ground rat behind him ran over quickly and grabbed the wine bag around Tie Mo's waist.
"Xiaotie, can you give me these two bags of wine you have?"
"No, this is fine aged Fenjiu. I'm waiting to go to Shuangquanhai to exchange for something better. If you want to drink it, just go drink something else!"
Tie Mo quickly covered his wine bag, took two steps back, and put some distance between himself and the gopher.
In a few days, Tie Mo got to know the gopher somewhat. He was a heavy drinker, extremely thick-skinned, and was used to bragging and acting like a scoundrel.
In short, there are many shortcomings in the gopher, and the advantages have not yet been seen.
The gopher sniffed and stared straight at the wine bag, "Isn't it just aged wine? Trust me, if you give me these two bags of good wine, I promise you won't regret it."
Afraid that Tie Mo wouldn't believe it, the mole took a step forward, lowered his voice and said seriously: "You have to believe me, give me two bags of wine, I can save your lives, what do you think, do you want to do this deal?"
Tie Mo was surprised. It seemed that the gopher had also realized that he was in danger again, or maybe he had known something for a long time.
After hesitating for a while, Tie Mo gritted his teeth and took off the wine bag, and looked at the gopher with a sideways glance, "How do I know if it's trustworthy? What if you can't do anything after drinking?"
"Hey, we have known each other for three years, and you still don't believe me? Do you still want me to swear a poisonous oath?"
The gopher rubbed his cheek, feeling very unhappy. Tie Mo just looked at it indifferently and said nothing.
The gopher spit out his breath and had no choice but to raise his right hand and point to the sky.
"Today I swear to my ancestors that if you can't do anything after drinking, call me..."
"The wind on the top of the mountain wets my shoes, and my legs are lame when I go out!"
"Huhu, this should be alright, right? Put the wine...Eh? Why are you looking like this? What the hell?"
The gopher suddenly realized that something was wrong with Tie Mo's expression. He saw that the other person's mouth was half open, as if he was whistling. His eyes were narrowed and he tried to keep them wide open.
"Ahem, tell me again, what's your name?"
"You idiot? Is there a problem?"
"No problem, you're pretty good at swearing poison, I'll give you the wine!"
Throwing the two bags of wine to the gopher, Tie Mo turned around and left, quickly staying away from that person.
Sand Sculpture? That’s why it’s named Sand Sculpture. Why isn’t it called Sand Sculpture?
.....
There are five yurts in total, standing side by side on the grass. Not far away are low green mountains. Because the hills are blocking the way, the wind here is much lighter.
Fan Laowai whispered to one of the Mongolians, and not long after, the camel team received permission.
The Mongolians here seem to have long been accustomed to Han caravans coming from the south. They are not surprised to see the camel caravans, nor do they have much hatred.
In the late Ming Dynasty, on the desert grasslands, the relationship between the Han and the Mongols was such a contradiction.
Life was difficult for the Mongols, so they often went south to clear grass and valleys, causing constant fighting and constant conflicts at the border.
But similarly, the Mongols are also eager for trade, and they do not want to bleed. If they can make a good living through trade, they will not go south to lick blood.
Moreover, there are hundreds of tribes in Mongolia's divided city, large and small, and each tribe has a different relationship with the Ming Dynasty.
This resulted in a strange situation in Mongolia.
Mongolian tribes often went south to clear grass valleys, and Ming Dynasty border troops often went north to take revenge. It is said that the Mongols should hate the Han people to the core.
In fact, it's just the opposite. The grass-grazing valley is the grass-grazing valley, but the attitude of the Mongols towards those caravans who are willing to go north to barter with the various Mongolian ministries is much better.
The Mongols are not stupid either. Nowadays, the Ming Dynasty's border jurisdiction is becoming more and more strict. In addition, some Mongolian tribes followed the Hou Jin to make troubles. The court has a tendency to close border trade.
The Han caravans that dare to go north to barter are, in a certain sense, equivalent to smuggling goods with their heads up. If these caravans are robbed and killed, who will come to Mongolia to barter in the future?
Without trade, who would Mongolia's cows and sheepskins be sold to? Where would the salt come from? Where would the iron come from?
.......
There are about 20 Mongolians living in five yurts, most of them are young and strong men, and there are very few women.
Tie Mo frowned. He didn't see an old Mongolian man since he came in.
Through Fan Laowai's introduction, the leading Mongolian was named Ulaka. Ulaka enthusiastically asked people to kill sheep and make wine. Everyone sat on the ground, warming themselves over the fire while smelling the aroma of the barbecue.
"My friend, there are enough cattle and sheep here, and there is also fragrant mare's milk."
"Stand up and let's have a drink together!"
Uraka held a porcelain bowl and drank a bowl of wine boldly, and Fan Laowai also followed suit.
Tie Mo did not drink the kumiss, but took the wine bag and took a sip.
Uraka frowned, and the smile disappeared from his face, "Friend, do you dislike our wine?"
"No, I'm used to drinking sorghum wine!"
Ulaka's face turned cold and he threw the porcelain bowl to the ground with a bang. Fan Laowai quickly came over and picked up the kumiss in front of him.
"Master Tie, you can't do this, you are looking down on Uraka..."
"Oh? Then Lao Fan, drink this bowl of wine for me!"
"I......"
Fan Laowai suddenly raised his head and saw a sly smile flashing in Tie Mo's eyes.