In the afterglow of the setting sun, the compacted saline-alkali land finally appeared in front of Yang Congrong. The so-called Great Bitter Lake is a depression in a narrow area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, where the ground is dry and the water table is relatively high. As long as it rains, it can store a certain amount of water. The area around the lake is sometimes a lake swamp, and sometimes a saline flat. Either way, it looks very striking in the desert and wasteland. That's the best signpost.

"It's just that I've walked more than a hundred miles, and I've deviated by twenty or thirty miles." Yang sighed calmly. The measurement technology of the Great Song Dynasty is unparalleled in the world, but it is still not so detailed that people do not take the wrong road in the wilderness.

"It's good that we can still go this way without a guide on this road." The instructor didn't blame him so much. The previous efforts have not been in vain, and the road ahead will be extremely smooth. The instructor took out a compass and placed it on the ground. The base made of copper and marble is perfectly round, with delicate orientations and scales. In the center of the circle is an upward pointed needle. He took out the steel pointer and carefully placed it, and the pointed pointers at both ends bobbed back and forth, getting smaller and smaller, and finally pointed out the north-south direction.

When the instructor picked up a few pieces casually, he used three stones to point north and south according to the direction of the pointer, straightened up and said with confidence: "Tomorrow, I will walk on the west side of the Great Bitter Lake......

"Instructor, someone is sick! It's still amazing. The captain who arrived interrupted the instructor.

"Let's go, let's see." The instructor put away the compass and followed the person.

Yang calmly did not move, he stood in Fang Cai's position, looking in the direction pointed by the stone. The southern skyrim looked empty, and there was nothing particularly imaginary. According to the current route, it can also be said that that direction is the way home, and Yang Congrong found that he really couldn't make such an association.

When he slept at night, Yang Congrong couldn't help but scratch the lumps on his body. He thought that the desert was a place with few plants, and that there should be no animals. However, after walking like this, Yang calmly found that he was wrong. Those little bugs look tiny, and their vitality is much more tenacious than they seem. In Constantinople, flytraps and insecticides were used, but there were no bitten bags as they are now. Maybe the little bugs have been hungry for too long, and they are desperately trying to get closer to the humans, trying to eat delicious flesh and blood no matter what. Scratching the itch again, Yang Congrong sighed in his heart, this is really a poor mountain and bad water.

As in the first two days, the tired crowd rested early. In the middle of the night, Yang was calmly woken up. The staff on duty at night said anxiously: "Commander Yang, the sick person is in severe pain. Very sick! ”

After listening in a daze, Yang Congrong felt a burst of anger in his heart. The most feared thing about traveling far away is getting sick on the road, and it is best for the patient to recuperate, which will delay the trip. Even if the patient is pulled by a small car, it will greatly delay the speed of movement. According to the report, the condition of those patients is still very serious. They should not be expected to act on their own.

"Let the doctor take care of them." Yang replied calmly.

"The doctor suffered from heat stroke during the day, and he hasn't recovered yet." The night officer replied helplessly.

"Then let them rest first and boil some water for them to drink." Yang Congrong didn't want to look at those people, he just wanted to sleep at this time.

After sending away the night watch, Yang calmly lay down and fell asleep again, until the sun woke him from his sleep.

Yang Congrong was not the only one who woke up, and it didn't take long for the camp to become lively. The guards on duty ran to tell Yang Congrong, "Commander Yang, those two sick people don't seem to be able to do it." ”

"What?" Yang was calmly shocked. It won't work overnight, what's going on. He hurriedly asked the recovered doctor to see what was going on. When the doctor came back, he ran over with an ugly face, "Head Yang, those two people should have an infectious disease." ”

Yang calmly shuddered, and he hurriedly asked, "Where did they get infected?" ”

"They were so weak that they couldn't speak. This one has to ask the person who is with them. The doctor replied anxiously. Everyone was healthy when they set off, and it must have happened on the way to catch an infectious disease.

"Instructor, please!" Yang calmly ordered immediately.

Not long after the instructor got up, listening to the news, the instructor's relaxed face quickly became cloudy. Before Yang calmly finished speaking, the instructor said, "Call those two people in the same group." ”

The men were isolated from the group, and the instructor asked loudly, "What the hell did those two guys do, you must know." Speak now, and we can give you a chance. If you don't talk about it, go back on your own. ”

The gang didn't get much sleep last night, and the sick guys were in pain and humming for half the night. In the early morning, because I really didn't have the strength, I couldn't hum. Now seeing that the instructor is so strict, everyone is also confused, and they don't know what to say. Finally, someone finally remembered that something was wrong, and hurriedly said: "Those two men are sailors, and they are searching for belongings on the Egyptians who were killed by the Mongols. ”

When the instructor heard this, he couldn't help but shout angrily at the captain of this team: "How did you become the captain? Didn't I tell you that you should not touch those who were slain? ”

The captain's face was miserable, and he reluctantly argued: "I said it, but they didn't listen, so what can I do?" ”

The instructor's face was full of anger, but he did not delay. Soon he had a small meeting with Yang Congrong and the doctor, and the instructor asked, "Doctor, do you think the disease is contagious?" ”

Doctors don't know how to respond to this nonsense. These two guys are obviously infected, and if you take these two people away, the others will definitely continue to be infected. The team wanted to avoid problems, so they had to leave quickly. But as a doctor, I couldn't say such cold words. In the end, the doctor could only say very tactfully: "We have received all the vaccines that can be administered in the country before we arrived in Eastern Rome." Now their seizures look like there is certainly no medicine to treat them. ”

Yang Congrong's heart was also very chaotic, he didn't expect things to develop to such a point. Then I heard the instructor say cleanly, "Let's go now." Doctor, those people probably can't bring anything with them. ”

"Hmm. I can't bring it. Those in the vicinity of their ranks could also be infected. The doctor replied simply.

"Good. Let's let that team follow. Don't come near us, those two will stay. "The instructor made a decision.

Remain? Yang Congrong suddenly understood. He couldn't help but shudder, if he left those two people behind, he would let them die. Although he knew that such a disposition was correct, Yang Congrong still couldn't accept it immediately in his heart.

"Let's go! Give the order and hurry away. The instructor stood up.

The order was executed quickly. The team quickly split into two parts and reached noon. The group that had been ordered to follow was left far behind. At lunchtime, a brawl broke out in the ranks. Yang Congrong and the instructor hurriedly rushed over to check, and the guy who was beaten shouted, "My brother is in the back team, we can't leave him behind." ”

It was his teammates who beat this guy, and when he saw that this guy was still hard-mouthed, the captain went up and pushed him to the ground, "If you want to die, go yourself." Don't drag everyone to the funeral. ”

Seeing this, Yang calmly turned around and left. He didn't know what to make of the reaction. On the road in the morning, some people kept telling that there were people in the back team who couldn't walk, and no one dared to see if they were sick. In terms of supplies and equipment, there are no more guys isolated from the team than the brigade. If they are in good shape, they should not be left behind.

What will be the result of these people left in the wasteland, no one wants to think about it. If they are infected, they will also be excluded from the brigade.

In the afternoon, the brigade moved on. Yang calmly still wore masks, and there was no way to communicate. The team walked in silence, and someone in front of them walked crookedly, and suddenly fell to the ground. Yang Congrong went with the doctor, thinking it was heat stroke. But as soon as he saw the man's reddened white eyes, Yang Congrong was taken aback. It's too weird to look like this, it's like being evil.

The doctor was also frightened and hurriedly retreated. The instructor came over and asked, "Are you infected?" ”

"Seems to be." The doctor replied with difficulty.

"Let's keep walking." After the instructor finished speaking, he set off without looking back.

Two more red-eyed guys appeared on the road, and the team left them behind and continued on their way. In the evening, the instructor ordered, "Each team is stationed separately, and everyone should not let anyone else approach." ”

The captains all looked ugly, but they could only accept it. Looking at the bonfires on the camping ground that were quite a distance away, Yang Congrong only felt extremely uncomfortable in his heart. He asked the instructor, "Should we listen to the ambassador's advice?" ”

The ambassador suggested that the retreat should take the territory of the Mongols, but Yang Congrong did not strongly oppose or support it. The Mongols were the enemies of the Great Song Dynasty, and Yang Congrong did not want to give the Mongols a chance to decide their fate at all if it was not a last resort. If you don't talk about disease, the desolation along the way is similar to what Yang calmly imagined. But this desolation also means that these people are left on their own.

"Let's make it to the Red Sea alive first." The instructor's face was gloomy. After answering, he fell silent, and after a while, the instructor whispered: "Leave those infected people in the team in the middle of the night, and we will go first with the team that is not infected." ”

"Huh?" Yang calmly froze. The Yang family has been a city man since Yang Shufei came out, and it is so far away to abandon his companions so neatly. However, Yang Congrong did not object, seeing those people who suddenly fell to the ground on the road, and those strange bright red eyes, Yang Congrong didn't want him to fall into such a situation no matter what.

"Okay, let's go in the evening." Yang replied in a low voice.

After a tired day, Yang calmly woke up and it was already dawn. He stared and rubbed his eyes in confusion, and suddenly remembered the decision of the instructor yesterday to leave the team with infected personnel, Yang calmly jumped up in fright and began to look around. But when he saw that everyone in his team was there, he searched carefully and found that the instructor was also there, and he was sleeping soundly.

stepped forward to wake up the instructor, and Yang calmly hurriedly asked, "What's the matter?" ”

The instructor rubbed his eyes and replied slowly, "Those teams ran first in the middle of the night. ”

"What!" Yang Congrong's eyes widened, and this news was like a thunderbolt for him. Originally, Yang Congrong felt that he was going to leave the team, and this virtue must be lacking. Unexpectedly, his virtue was not lower than that of the people around him at this time. Faced with the dilemma that manpower cannot resist, everyone prioritizes themselves.

The instructor yawned heavily, and then said, "Anyway, the supplies have been distributed, and each team gets the same." They don't feel like we're going to die for them. Head Yang, I have also thought carefully about the ambassador's suggestion you mentioned yesterday, but I don't know if you want to go back and follow the path suggested by the ambassador. ”

Yang Congrong's first thought was that this suggestion was good, but when he wanted to say yes, there was a feeling of unease in his heart. After two or three days of walking, the team will reach the Red Sea. Get on the boat over there and set off, and you can return to the Great Song Dynasty safely. If you turn around now, in addition to the long return time, you will have to put your life in the hands of those Mongols. It's just two or three days away.

"Let's keep heading south." The doctor, who didn't know when he came, expressed his opinion, "Going back now is tantamount to losing all your efforts." ”

Hearing the same opinion, Yang Congrong's heart was relieved. He was now beginning to feel that the ambassador was a very wise, very determined man. However, the ambassador faced huge opposition most of the time, and if he had not experienced such a dilemma himself, Yang would not have supported the ambassador's opinion until now.

"But let's not go to the west shore of the Great Bitter Lake, follow behind those who go first, I'm afraid that we will be infected. Let's go around to the east shore of the Great Bitter Lake. The doctor continued to advise.

Professionalism deserves to be professional. Yang calmly praised in his heart, and then he suddenly thought of a question, so he asked the doctor, "Doctor, why did those people go first?" Even if they follow us, if they don't get sick, they will be able to reach their destination. ”

The doctor frowned and thought for a moment, and gave an answer with some hesitation, "They probably think that they may be infected, and if they can reach the port before the onset of the disease, they will have a chance to return to Dasong." At least someone took care of it. ”

"Then we left late, but didn't we suffer?" Yang Congrong was a little anxious.

"We can only gamble." The instructor interjected.

Yang calmly ate breakfast, crossed the barren beach of the saline-alkali land, and arrived at the east shore of the Great Bitter Lake. There were no more infected people that day, and Yang calmly relieved his heart. The march continued in silence, and after three days of marching, they finally reached the Red Sea. Seeing the Great Song flag fluttering high on the flagpole of the stockade in the distance, Yang Congrong suddenly burst into tears. This flag represents the Great Song Dynasty, and where the Great Song Dynasty banner is located, the Song people have a backer.

"I wonder if those people have arrived?" The doctor's panting voice was heard nearby. After walking for so many days, everyone was very tired.

"Send someone to take a look." The instructor gave orders in a hoarse voice and in a calm tone.

The brigade stopped, and the two of them went to the camp of the Great Song Dynasty. Without waiting for the two people to run to the gate of the camp, the instructor put down the binoculars and said anxiously: "Something is wrong!" I don't see anyone in the camp. ”

"What?" Yang calmly felt a pang in his heart. He also hurriedly took the binoculars to look, and sure enough, as the instructor said, the flags fluttered on the flagpole of the camp in the Great Song Dynasty, but no one was there.

Then in the binoculars, I saw the two people who had been sent to stop outside the gate of the camp, and it didn't take long for them to turn around and run back, it seemed that something had happened. After a long while, the two men ran back panting, picked up the kettle and poured two sips, and the leader said, "Something is wrong." A notice was written on the outer wall of the stockade that the stockade had been attacked by the plague. Those who fell ill did not survive more than three days, most likely the plague. So these people withdrew. They wrote clearly, even if they came back, it would be half a year later. ”

Another hurriedly added, "It also says that there is also a plague in the stronghold at the southern entrance of the Red Sea." Now the route is disrupted. ”

"Captain Yang, how is your eyesight?" The instructor asked hoarsely.

"Okay." Yang replied reluctantly.

"Let's take a look."

As soon as the instructor's voice fell, he heard someone shouting: "There is a group of people coming from behind, and they should be the ones who left first." ”

Yang calmly raised the binoculars and looked back, and sure enough, he saw a team of people, and the costumes should be their own people who acted separately. When he put down the binoculars, Yang calmly felt a little embarrassed, and felt a little funny. Everyone hoped to be able to leave behind their burdens and reach their destination first, but they didn't expect that their fate would be decided before they set off again. The road to the south has been cut off.

The two teams met after a very cautious contact. Only one of the three teams that ran away in the middle of the night arrived intact, and more than half of the other two teams were abandoned after falling ill.

Everyone looked from afar outside the Great Song Walled City, where the plague had broken out, and sure enough, a notice was written on the city wall. The content is similar to the relay, this walled city at the northern end of the Red Sea has a very serious outbreak of plague, as is the walled city at the southern end of the Red Sea. None of them had contact with the Mongols, so it is suspected that people from Nanzhan Buzhou may have brought the plague infection.

The crowd did not dare to stay any longer, and formed a team and began to return along the eastern shore of the Great Bitter Lake. When he was resting at night, Yang calmly asked a question that he had considered during the day, "Do you think that the Mongols killed those Egyptians at that time in order to prevent the Egyptians from bringing the plague to Mongolia." ”

In the propaganda of the Great Song Dynasty, the only occupation of the Mongols was to kill and loot, and when he first saw the Mongol cavalry killing the Egyptians like a grim reaper, Yang Congrong only felt the barbarism of the Mongols. In retrospect, the purpose of the Mongols was not to kill, but to rid the plague. When Yang calmly marched with a mask, he thought of a lot of solutions, but he couldn't think of a better way than the cruel methods of the Mongols.

After listening to this, the instructor responded, "If the Mongols can't bear it." We can only follow the third path that the ambassador said. Go around the southern Zhanbu continent and return to the Great Song Dynasty. ”

Yang Congrong wanted to laugh, but he couldn't laugh. In the current situation, this prophecy is likely to come true.