It was a great day to go out, and Shurakshasa was at the front of the line.

He was tall and majestic, and beside him was a tall horse with shiny black fur.

The departure was very large, and the means of transport, most importantly, were composed of camels. Almost every camel has a shelf installed on the hump, and the two sides of the shelf are tied separately, and the autumn grain that can be put into the warehouse has been dried.

Both the saffron and the golden flower stood at the gate of the city. The two sisters were teary-eyed and looked at their father's team pitifully. Wishing them a safe journey.

is about to go away, and all of them are full of spirits and happy.

Xiaohua was at the back of the departing team, silently looking at Zhong Liguo. Instead of tears, she smiled faintly.

The large army was ready, and the Shurakshasa shouted,

"Get on the horse and go."

All the people who accompanied him immediately stepped onto the horse.

The camels walked slowly in the middle, and the people on both sides rode horses to escort the large army of camels carrying grain. A caravan of camels carrying grain set off for Barley City.

It's a lukewarm and lukewarm time, perfect for a long trip to Barley City.

The camel caravan walked on the old official road, set up tents and stoves at night, and drove on the flat official road during the day before the sun came out.

It was very smooth, basically the whole way was smooth, and there were no unsatisfactory emergencies.

On the third day of departure, a caravan of Shuraksa appeared outside the gates of Damai City. Barley City does not have the high walls of Peacock City, but it has a tall gate.

The whole city was built against the backdrop of the mountain. Mai Jiajun, the lord of Damai City, had already received a message from Shurakshasa that he knew that this old friend would arrive on time in three days.

Received a news report from the officials guarding the city gates.

Mai Jiajun walked out with great interest, taking his three adult sons with him. Stand outside the city gate early, waiting for the arrival of the caravan of Shurakshasa .

Far away, Shuraksa saw it. Mai Jiajun, an old friend who was short in height, stood at the city gate.

He jumped off his horse with joy and hurried forward.

Two big men hugged each other happily. We must see each other once a year. The two old friends are looking forward to the day when they meet.

Shurakshasa happily hugged Mai Jiajun, patted his back with his big hand, and said boldly

"Big brother, you're still the same. I don't see any change in you. ”

Mai Jiajun is obviously a head shorter than Shurakshasa, but he is still radiant and extraordinary.

Standing there in place, he generously reached out and held the big hand of Shurakshasa. Laughed

"O old brother! You're late to the year. In my city, the Mongols of the Western Regions have already arrived. But the salt market hasn't started yet, I'm waiting for you to arrive, and then choose a good day. Open a big business. ”

Hearing that the Mongols had arrived early, Shurakshasa was a little worried, and the best table salt was agreed on by them in advance.

He asked positively

"Persian barbarians, what is their situation this year?"

A hint of doubt appeared on Mai Jiajun's face, and he said slowly

"Only those Gamo people in India came early.

Their salt is also much larger than in previous years.

But the Persian barbarians with whom you are most satisfied have not yet received a message from their carrier pigeons.

I don't know what the situation is, why it hasn't come to this day.

But it's a few days longer than usual, and maybe they're on their way.

After all, Persia is a long way away, and there is also a part of the sea route.

Wait for them, Bosdaos, and if you come this time, I will personally invite you to drink him in the dark. ”

Shurakshasa looked up and said, "Hahahaha, hahahaha" and laughed.

He was a man who didn't drink or eat.

It is best to spend the night with the Persian Daos and the lord of Damai City, Mai Jiajun, and the three of them guess and drink together.

After a few days, Shurakshasa did not see the Persian Daos come to the city of Barley with a salt-carrying team, and the Maijia army did not receive any letters from the flying pigeons.

What is the reason, no one knows.

For a few days, Shurakshasa wandered around the bazaar, and he had seen all the salt of the Indian, Kamo. I'm really not satisfied. He waited bitterly for Posdaos.

Mai Jiajun looked at the calendar, and finally he silently made a decision in his heart to open the market tomorrow.

He also decided to hold the opening ceremony of the Salt Market himself.

Since none of the Persians who should have come came came, they came. Mai Jiajun knew in his heart that this was the first strange thing to come out of. It will greatly affect the opening of the salt market, and I will talk more and attract contacts.

Thinking of these things, Mai Jiajun wondered in his heart. He told the Persians that they were flying pigeons, but the Persians did not send a message back, and the youngest pigeons flew back to their hometown of Barley City.

No matter how incomprehensible things are, after all, the salt market in Barley City is the top priority of Mai Jiajun. During the year, Barley City is very grand and lively during this season.

The auspicious days and auspicious times of the zodiac are all set. Mai Jiajun sorted out his clothes at home, planning to start the salt market today.

Suddenly, a soldier defending the city stumbled into Maijiajun's house.

He said in horror

"City Lord, I have military intelligence to report."

Seeing this veteran so embarrassed, Mai Jiajun became nervous.

He said impatiently

"Something, Express."

The soldier shouted

"City Lord, dozens of miles outside the city gate, there are all ghost soldiers. We were besieged. The military situation is urgent, I am afraid that war is coming. ”

Mai Jiajun said in annoyance

"Don't talk nonsense, and then go and investigate carefully. Go to the city gate and keep watch at once. ”

After sending the soldiers, Mai Jiajun immediately called his own general, General Qingyi.

The general hurried into the castle lord's hall in Barley City.

The hall was already full, officials from all walks of life. Two of them were the generals who defended the city.

Mai Jiajun also sat upright in the main hall, and he looked at the officials sitting around him with a solemn expression.

The general who defended the city said

"Just now, the city gates have been ordered by me to be closed. The people in the city are safe.

Although our Damai City does not have a city wall, its geographical location is special, and behind the city is the mountain range of Qilian Mountain.

The gates of the city were opened on the mountain pass. Easy to defend and difficult to attack.

It's just that for the time being, there is not much grain and grass stored to supply the mouths of these many people!

Originally, our own people and army did not have a large population, and it was no problem to be self-sufficient for ten days and half a month.

But now is the special time to entertain foreigners to the market.

I roughly estimate that the population of the city is tens of thousands more than our own population. ”

Another defender of the city said

"The survey soldiers I sent out have returned safely.

He reported the military situation to me, and the ghost clan came from all cavalry, and it was an elite unit. They appeared out of nowhere out of the city.

In my opinion, the ghost clan is prepared, and they have hundreds of thousands of cavalry when they arrive this time.

I'm afraid it's to take our home. ”

After the specific report of the two generals ended, Mai Jiajun's heart chuckled.

If the city is captured by the ghost clan this time, I am afraid that I will be the first to become a prisoner.

And it's not even worse to be a prisoner yourself.

Barley City will also be forced to be plundered by the Ghost Clan, and the people will not be as miserable as their deaths. ”

Thinking of this, Mai Jiajun said with a serious expression

"Everybody thinks about what a good way to do it."

"It's a little strange to me that we've always been friendly with the Territory.

The entrenchment of the ghost clan is also far away from our barley city.

We have neither entanglement nor hatred with the ghosts.

Ghost people, why did the soldiers suddenly attack the city at this time? ”

"What is the reason for this war?"

Mai Jiajun finished his thoughts in one breath and looked at the officials around him silently.

A young official spoke

"City Lord, this time, in my opinion. I'm afraid we'll lose if we go to war.

The ghost clan came here with the intention of besieging us, otherwise why did they choose this time to invade Damai City. ”

Mai Jiajun looked up at the young official, who was his eldest son, stepping into the new.

I heard my son say this. Mai Jiajun's heart is much more comfortable.

He said gently

"Towards the new, then you see, this time. How to save the day. What a good way to make the ghost clan automatically retreat. ”

Towards the new loud voice

"There's really a way. It's just that I said it, and all the generals and elders from all walks of life should think about it. ”

"The Second Army will not kill those who come when they go to war. We can send a peacemaker to make peace.

I estimate that the purpose of the ghost clan's visit to Fan this time is not in Damai City, but Peacock City.

They have been watching there for many years.

Peacock City has good water and soil, abundant products, self-sufficiency, and is also the location of the immortal residence of the Peacock God.

The ghost clan is their neighbor across the mountain, but they are entrenched in the black earth, which is full of thorns. The property is barren.

The people of the Ghost Clan have long longed for the rich life of Peacock City.

Their invasion of our Barley City is actually completely meaningless to their ghost clan.

The geographical location of Damai City is a port city extending in all directions, if Damai City does not exist, the salt market will disappear by itself.

There is no big salt city, in fact, it is also very harmful to the ghost clan, although the people of the ghost clan do not need big salt.

However, the Oni people need our Salt Market in Barley City.

Every year, the weapons of the Indian Gamo people are secretly trading with the royal family of the ghost people when our salt market opens.

Without weapons, this ghost clan that survives by fighting is good.

And the reason why they suddenly came to our Barley City was to open a market for the salt market this time, to arrest the city lord of Peacock City, and force him to hand over Peacock City. ”

After speaking, he walked towards the new, and after a long silence, seeing that everyone was waiting for him to speak, he continued

"We can, do that, do second-hand things.

The first is to send out those outsiders who come to participate in the salt market.

Of course, it also includes the city lord of Peacock City, Shurakshasa and his team. is to announce that the salt market will not be opened,

The second hand is to seek peace with the ghost clan.

I propose that we maintain a superficial attitude towards the ghosts and remain neutral.

We don't participate in any wars or help aid the cities of any realm, and we will clarify our thoughts on the ghost clan this time, in order to coexist peacefully with the ghost clan. ”

After listening to what his son said, Mai Jiajun was silent for a long time. He didn't want to be an unkind and unrighteous person.

But it is really not possible to fight against the ghost clan, and the army of Damai City is not the opponent of the ghost clan.

Oni soldiers have always been good at warfare, and are known for their bloodthirsty slaughter.

General Qingyi sighed

"When it comes to fighting, the armies of all the cities can't fight against the soldiers of the ghost clan alone.

Unless it is to unite the armies of all the city lords to fight against the ghosts.

But at present, our family is facing the elite army of the ghost clan, even if it is a joint confrontation, it is too late.

And they don't necessarily agree to help us in Barley City.

In that said, the ghost people:

They live by fighting all year round. Hunting is their life.

The ghost people in that black land, even five-year-old children, are good at riding horses and archery.

And the people of our Damai City are all farming people, and it is the norm to live peacefully at home, even if there is an army, the martial arts are mediocre, and there are opponents of the ghost clansmen. ”

Towards a new positive said

"Father, without further ado, while no one in the city knows that there are ghost cavalry outside the city.

Let's go and talk to the leader of the ghost clan immediately.

Give up this salt market fair. Send out caravans to all tribes. Staying neutral behind closed doors and maintaining self-preservation is the best policy. Mai Jiajun was silent for a long time and sighed

"Hey. The ghost clan is indeed brave and good at fighting. We are no match for them. That's the only way to do things. ”

"So, who is going to make peace with the leader of the ghost clan?"

Step into the new look at everyone and say loudly

"I'm still young and I need experience. I'd love to see the world.

If you elders and generals, you are willing to believe in my abilities.

I'd like to ask for an order, instead of Big Barley City, to be this lobbyist. ”