The Central Plains was severe drought and the northern border was snowy. Last year, it seemed that the place was not smooth.

After leaving Xuanfu, the weather became colder and snowflakes that had not yet completely melted could be seen everywhere. The white snow ice and grass that had just sprouted, were beautiful.

But Zhou Xian didn't feel much in the mood to appreciate such a beautiful scenery.

Although there were drug support along the way, Zhou Tianhong's condition did not improve at all. He wore a gray cloak and spent most of his time in a tightly wrapped carriage, drowsy. Even so, the short awakening time was still urging the team to keep speeding up.

Zhou Xian advised him to stay for a while, or simply return to Xuanfu first, and then make other plans, but he sternly rejected him. He was like an old pine tree, full of resilience and stubbornness to the extreme.

The road was not peaceful. Although the road chosen by Wang Baihu was usually safe, the snow disaster in northern Xinjiang was really serious last year. There were countless livestock that were frozen to death, and there were Mongolian victims wandering everywhere. When they saw the caravan, they were like hungry wolves seeing fat sheep, with green light flashing in their eyes. If there weren't enough guards, they would have rushed over and killed people and robbed people.

The setting sun sets, and a crescent moon rises quietly to the sky. The caravan that had been on the road for a day finally got a breath and stopped to rest. As soon as Zhou Xian helped Zhou Tianhong into the set tent, Wang Weidong came to ask for a meeting, saying that there was something important to discuss. Zhou Xian told Li Kai a few words and walked out of the tent with him.

The flames rose, and Niu Yong sat carelessly by the fire, taking care of a half-large goat in his hand. Seeing Zhou Xian coming, he smiled and said to Zhou Xian: "Brother Zhou, you have a good time. Brothers went out to explore the way and found a nest of goats in a valley. Among the more than ten, this one is not big or small, and the meat is the most delicious. You can eat it directly after a while."

Niu Yong had a straightforward and heroic personality. Although he didn't have a good impression of Zhou Xian at the beginning. However, after spending more than ten days together, he found that Zhou Xian was gentle and friendly. Not only did he not have the kind of delicateness and arrogance of a rich young man, he was willing to get along with those ordinary soldiers. Apart from his slightly cautious personality, he really couldn't find any other problems. In addition, Zhou Xian respected him very much and was willing to listen to him in everything. Niu Yong gradually forgot the previous unhappiness and treated Zhou Xian like a little brother.

The flames were hot, and the fresh fragrance of barbecue floated in the air. Niu Yong sprinkled some fine salt, cut a large piece of jerky meat at the sheep's chest with a knife and put it on a plate. He called a personal soldier and ordered: "Take it to Lord Zhou to the tent."

The personal soldier responded and turned around and walked towards Zhou Tianhong's military tent.

Zhou Xian's face was moved and bowed to Niu Yong to thank him.

Niu Yong cut off another lamb leg and handed it to Zhou Xian and said, "It's all my own people, why are you polite? In terms of official positions, Lord Zhou is my boss. In terms of age, he is older than my father. It's not natural to be filial to him."

As he said that, he turned to Wang Weidong and said, "Wang Baihu, do you want to have a leg of lamb?"

Wang Weidong smiled and said, "Then I thank Mr. Niu Qian."

Niu Yong nodded, and the knife was so refreshing. In a moment, another lamb leg fell into the plate. He handed it to Wang Weidong, and he himself cut off half of the sheep body, pulled it to him, and smiled at the two of them, "I have a lot of appetite and eat more, so I will take more responsibility for the two brothers."

Zhou Xian and Wang Weidong looked at each other and smiled. In the past few days, they had encountered many Mongolian disaster victims. They were at least ten or dozens of people, constantly harassing the team. If Niu Yong had not commanded properly, this batch of goods would have been lost long ago. Not to mention eating a little more, even if the whole one was taken, Zhou Xian and Wang Weidong would not have any objection. Besides, he had already roasted this sheep.

After Niu Yong finished his meal, he burped. He took a large iron pot and filled it with ice and snow. Then he set it up and placed it on the fire. He put all the unbaked sheep bodies such as sheep heads, sheep intestines, and stewed them all in the whole body. According to his words, it is called stewed lamb soup.

Seeing that Zhou Xian and Wang Weidong had already finished eating, he took out the sheepskin bag on his waist, drank two sips of strong wine, and said to the two: "Brother Zhou, Wang Baihu, you have seen the current situation. Two days ago, the only one roar behind us was at most dozens of riders, but now it has exceeded one hundred. The further we go north, the number will probably be more. Although we are not afraid, they will attack together, and it will inevitably lead to losses in goods and personnel. I just want to discuss with you. Do you think we need to continue north?"

Wang Weidong's face changed slightly: "Niu Qianhu, whether it is the orders of the court or the transactions we want to reach, they must reach the Chechen Khan Shuolai to fulfill them. If we turn it back now, once the court pursues it, we will not be able to bear the blame!"

Niu Yong nodded and said, "I naturally know this, but the situation is different now! Master Zhou's condition is getting worse, and it will take at least twenty days to get to Shuolai. Not to mention the various changes in the middle, with his current physical condition, what's the use of even if he arrives. The most important thing is that there are disaster victims everywhere in the north, and they are all desperate people who lick blood from the knife. If the number increases, it will be a matter of time before they gather together to attack us. Once this batch of goods is lost, what will we trade with Shuolai? The blame will only be even heavier at that time."

Zhou Xian frowned, knowing that what Niu Yong said was a fact. Continue to go north, the danger will increase exponentially. But if the court returns to the south, it is not something that ordinary people can afford to blame. He thought for a while and asked Niu Yong: "Brother Niu, we set out from the capital and brought a total of thirty cargoes. They were all salt and iron. In Xuanfu, twenty cargoes were added. Can I know what is there?"

Niu Yong's face changed slightly, he pondered for a long time, and said to Zhou Xian: "Forget it, everyone is a brother who is born and die, so I will tell you! Those twenty trucks were filled with food. The court has not paid any salary for nearly a year, and there are many soldiers under him. The general raised funds to buy a batch of food, and planned to use this time to go out of the frontier to exchange for some gold, silver and wealth, and distribute it to temporarily alleviate the military grievances below. Wang Baihu has been in Xuanfu for a long time, so he should have known this matter. Master Zhou has also gone out of the frontier many times before to understand the plight of our lower-level soldiers, and has taken a ignorant attitude towards this matter."
Chapter completed!