Chu Huan naturally knew what Xuanyuan Shengcai meant, obviously he was a killer in the Xiliang military camp before, not only showed a strong horse knife technique, but also showed skilled equestrian skills, and said with a smile: "General Xuanyuan has won the award, my little ability, it is not worth mentioning, there is a sky outside the sky, there are people outside the world, a real equestrian master, it is definitely not like me!" ”

Xuanyuan Shengcai waved his hand and said, "Deputy Envoy Chu is modest. Yes, Deputy Envoy Chu, I saw that the last time you shot, not only the combination of people and horses is like one, but also the knife skills on the horse are even more exquisite, which is breathtaking, those Xiliang people are also good at the horse, but when they fight with you, they seem extremely clumsy, where did you learn this skill? ”

Chu Huan said calmly: "General Xuanyuan, it's not that I'm pretending to be Xuanxuan, in fact, it's ......!" He shook his head and said with a smile: "Actually, I had a chance encounter before, I met a master, maybe it was because I was pleasing to the eye, and I was accepted as an apprentice, not to tell you, I really learned from him for a few years, the ability of the family teacher is clever, but my ability is ordinary." ”

"You're so powerful, it's not unusual?" Xuanyuan Shengcai was surprised: "In this way, the ability of the Lingshi is simply superb. I didn't know ...... next! ”

Before he could finish speaking, Chu Huan had already raised his hand and stopped: "General Xuanyuan, the family teacher has instructed him not to reveal his identity, if you ask who the family teacher is, I can't answer!" ”

"Oh!" Xuanyuan Shengcai sighed: "It's a pity that such a master can't be seen." But all the masters have always been like this, indifferent to fame and fortune, hey, I don't know if I can meet a powerful master in my life! He shook his head, looking very regretful.

Chu Huan smiled and said, "General Xuanyuan, you are crying poor with your back to Jinshan." Xuanyuan Shao Xuanyuan is the unparalleled archery master, but he is the world's first-class master, with such a master, are you still not satisfied? ”

Xuanyuan Sheng was stunned for a moment, then laughed, and at this time, a person came over and said, "Deputy Envoy Chu, Lord Xue invites you to go over and discuss something!" ”

Chu Huan nodded in agreement, got up, and bowed his hand to Xuanyuan Shengcai, and then went to Xue Huai'an's tent.

Xue Huai'an was frowning at this time, and when he saw Chu Huan entering the account, he hurriedly got up and pulled Chu Huan to sit down, and asked, "Lord Chu, now that you are out of Yanmen Pass, this official is a little worried." This Golden Gulan Desert, the official only heard his name and did not see his face, this time to cross the desert, but we have no map in our hands, before asking for that Tibetan A, he actually said that even their Xiliang people do not have a map of the desert, what do you say we should do? ”

Chu Huan said: "My lord, if it is right, the Xiliang Kingdom is directly north of the desert, let's go all the way north along the desert, and we can naturally pass through the desert." Didn't we bring Sinan with us? With Sinan leading the way, there should be no problem. ”

"That's not what it meant." Xue Huai'an shook his head and said: "This official is worried about the sand bandits, the official has heard that this great desert, but there are several sand bandits, these people used to be wanted by my Daqin and Xiliang death row prisoners, fled to the desert as bandits, on the way I heard Mo Zang A say once, the Jingulan Desert, at least no less than six or seven sand bandits, no one knows where they are hiding in the desert, let alone where they appear, and the largest group of sand bandits, there are also hundreds of people, Lord Chu, you say...... Do you think we should come up with a foolproof way to avoid those sand bandits? ”

There was a slight fear in his eyes, and it was obvious that he had developed a fear of those sand bandits.

"My lord, we also have three hundred warriors." Chu Huan frowned and said, "Do the sand bandits really dare to do something to us?" ”

"Those are outlaws." Xue Huai'an waved his hand and said: "People die for money, birds die for food, our mission has a few big cars of property, and those sand bandits may not be unmoved." He leaned over and said, "Lord Chu, your ability, the official knows that it is a first-class achievement, but this group of guards under our command, although they are the elite of the empire, may not be able to show their skills in the desert." Those sand bandits wander in the desert all year round, and they are very adaptable to the desert, and the means must be good, we can't go all the way here, but finally fold in the desert. ”

Chu Huan bowed slightly, but he could also understand Xue Huai'an's worries.

Mysterious things, will make people feel terrible, Xue Huai'an is a southerner, this trip all the way to Yanmen, is already difficult, what he saw along the way, has made Xue Huai'an uneasy, and now he is about to enter the Jin Gulan Desert, Xue Huai'an is worried, that is also a reasonable thing.

For Xue Huai'an, the desert is already mysterious, and coupled with the fact that there are known sand bandits in the desert who are bloody and murderous, Xue Huai'an is naturally even more frightened.

"What do you mean, sir?"

Xue Huai'an thought for a while, and then said: "Lord Chu, the official has been thinking for a long time, let's just enter the desert without a head and no brain, I'm afraid it won't work, according to the official's opinion, it's better to ......!" He approached and said, "Grab a few Xiliang people and let them lead the way." The Xiliang army is from the desert, their soldiers naturally know the road, let's catch the live mouth and let them lead the way, first, they won't take a fork in the road, and second, they should know how to avoid the sand bandits......! ”

Chu Huan said with a smile: "My lord, I'm afraid this won't work." It's not that you can't catch Xiliang, but even if you catch it, I'm afraid it's useless! ”

"Oh?"

"My lord, after we get out of the customs, when we go west, the road is blocked, and the lower officials feel that there is a big problem, and it is very likely that the transportation line of the Xiliang people starts from that side." Chu Huan said slowly: "And the lower officials also know a little bit, the desert, look at the same everywhere, although their army came through the desert, but when their soldiers came, they only came with the team, and they would not know the terrain of the desert, except for people who have been in the desert for many years, it is difficult to really understand the terrain of the desert." ”

"How's that for good?" Xue Huaian said in a hurry.

"Don't worry, adults." Chu Huan said: "When we were in Beiyuan City, General Yu had already given us guidance. General Yu told us that there is a Luoyan Lake outside the pass, and there seems to be a group of camel riders in Luoyan Lake, as long as we find the camel riders and pay a lot of money to let them serve as guides, they will not refuse! ”

Xue Huai'an was stunned, but finally remembered, and said happily: "Yes, yes, yes, this official has been thinking about too many things in the past two days, and he almost forgot about this fork." Yes, let's hire a camel rider as a guide! Then he frowned and said, "But where is Luoyan Lake?" This gate is sparsely populated, and you can't meet a person for half a day, who knows where Luoyan Lake is. ”

"Early tomorrow morning, let's set off, if we meet pedestrians, it's better, ask them, if it really doesn't work, let's go north along this road first, and see if we can find it." Chu Huan said: "Let's send people and scatter to find it, and we can always find the whereabouts of Luoyan Lake." ”

Xue Huai'an thought for a while before nodding and saying, "That's the only way!" ”

The mission set out at dawn the next day, and before they left, they drank enough water and filled their bags and the buckets of water in their cars.

At the time of departure, the sky was still only slightly bright, and everyone moved very quickly, methodically packed up the luggage tent, loaded the cart and mounted the horse, and continued to march north.

The sky in the distance slowly revealed a pale blue twilight, and the east slowly shone brightly, and I don't know how long it has been, the golden sun has risen.

This is just out of the customs, but everyone vaguely felt that when they got up early in the morning, it was really a little cold, outside the Yanmen Pass was a hilly tunnel, there were soil slopes, and the soil outside the pass was already yellow, which was very different from the inside of the pass, the further north it went, the more panicked the soil color, and began to loosen up.

Everyone understood what was going on, the looser the soil, the closer they were to the desert, and the thought that the legendary death zone was ahead, everyone in the mission felt very differently.

Before entering the desert, the most important task of the mission was to find the lake and hire guides from the camel riders of the lake.

Stop on a high slope, look around, a vast piece of loess, the terrain is undulating, occasionally you can see the wild geese flying through the sky, and even occasionally see the coyote, a gloomy and cold state in all directions, but you can't see the human figure.

Although there is sunlight in the sky, but everyone does not feel warm, not only that, when the wind outside the pass, maybe when you come, roll up the fine sand on the ground, a careless, the sand will burrow into the mouth and nose, very uncomfortable, the mission at this time finally understands, the desert is really an extremely terrible place, now has not entered the desert, the climate and environment is so difficult, if you really want to enter the desert, I am afraid it will be ten times more bitter.

Resting temporarily on the high slope, Chu Huan called Xuanyuan Shengcai and ordered him to send cavalry to find Luoyan Lake, Xuanyuan Shengcai immediately sent fifty cavalry, five people in a team, divided into ten teams, scattered in all directions to search, if there is a situation, fire arrows into the sky, and the mission will send someone to respond.

Fifty cavalry divided up to look for it, and everyone waited on the hilly slope, and saw that the sun was slowly setting in the west, and gradually at dusk, ten teams of cavalry came back one after another, and several teams came back one after another, either to the endless place, looking at the past and not seeing the lake, or they encountered a cliff, and had to retreat, but they did not find any trace of the lake.

Xue Huai was anxious, and when the seventh team came back, he shouted from afar: "My lord, I found Luoyan Lake, go to the east, and that is Luoyan Lake!" ”

The whole delegation was overjoyed, since they found Luoyan Lake, it was naturally worth the delay here for most of the day, and after waiting for a while, the last few teams also came back, and all the teams were very smooth, and they did not encounter any problems.

After everyone returned, the mission set off again, led by the team that found Luoyan Lake, all the way to the east, when the sun set, over the layers of soil slopes, over another soil slope, suddenly in front of the eyes, then found that the front is a very open open space, a lake like a smooth mirror appeared in front of the eyes, the sunset afterglow reflected in the lake, the lake water is clear, the water and the sky are the same color, after leaving the customs are all desolate, this moment makes everyone feel that it is really beautiful.

This Luoyan Lake is not small, but there are a large number of houses dotted on the edge of the lake, most of which are made of rammed earth, and it is also very lively, you can clearly see people coming and going, but it is like a small town outside the gate.

"That's weird." Xue Huai'an was puzzled: "Is this camel guest a Qin person or a Xiliang person?" If we Qin people and the Western Liang army have broken through the Yanmen Pass, how can we still stay here? If it is a Xiliang person, it is only a little more than a day's journey from Yanmen Pass, it is impossible for our Qin army not to know the existence of this place, how can we let the Xiliang people settle here? He looked puzzled, the town on the shore of Luoyan Lake seemed to have been many years old, and it was an anomaly that it had survived in the buffer zone between the two countries.

Chu Huan smiled: "Whether it is the Xiliang people or the Qin people, it is not strange. It makes sense that they exist, maybe the Qin people can use them, and the Xiliang people can also use them, so they can survive. Pointing to the town, he said, "They are camel riders and are familiar with the desert, and I think that's why they survived." ”

"I see there are thousands of people here." Xuanyuan Shengcai was amazed: "The conditions here are harsh, it is really not easy for them to survive!" ”

Xue Huai'an said: "It's almost dark, let's go over first!" The horse was about to gallop down the hillside, but Chu Huan hurriedly stopped him and said, "My lord, go slowly!" ”