"The problem now is not the problem of camels, but how we can carry a large group of people across the desert!"

The desert is vast and vast, from Dunhuang to Mirlan City for nearly six hundred miles, they walked for about a week to make a round trip, if it is from Dunhuang to Hongbai Mountain, it is almost equivalent to coming from the east end of the desert to the west edge, this is the real crossing of the desert.

During this period, 1,100 kilometers, the straight-line distance alone is already 2,000 miles, not counting the detours and forks they actually have to take, which also means that the distance to Hongbai Mountain this time is three or four times that of Mirandze, or even longer.

Such a long distance, if you really want to walk, you may not be able to walk in a month, and what is more serious is that the Devil Desert does not have any towns at all, and there will be no chance of replenishment along the way, they can only bring enough food before leaving and walk through the vast desert.

Think about the many monsters in the depths of the Devil's Desert, and the hairs on their backs are already standing on their backs before they go.

The matter was deadlocked here, and everyone was at a loss, Yue Erpao looked at the entire desert and knocked on his head: "Keli, you crossed the desert because there was no road to Hongbai Mountain?" Or what is the reason? ”

Keli shook his head: "Of course not, only the bravest and best desert hunters can come out of the devil's desert intact, and my father is here to prove himself." ”

"That's not over!"

He patted Keli on the shoulder: "I think, the ancient Shanshan country wants to cross the desert because the city-states on the edge of the desert are unwilling to let them cross, and these small countries are also afraid that the queen of Shanshan will give them a house, now, the entire desert has completely belonged to the Republic of China, and we don't have to prove that we are brave, why do we have to cross the desert in one fell swoop, take advantage of the towns on the edge of the desert, and enter the Hotan River basin along these oases, and then go to Hongbai Mountain at this time, isn't it easier?" ”

Yue Erpao's words were indeed reasonable, and Song Siyuan's eyes lit up: "We have all forgotten this, during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the city-states around the desert were divided into small oasis countries, and each other's territories were definitely inviolable. ”

She paused, and said in a serious tone: "Now, the entire desert area is under the rule of the Republic of China, there is no territorial dispute, and we don't need to cross the desert, my idea is to rent a car directly, along the oasis town on the south bank of the desert, directly to the vicinity of Hotan Oasis, and then rent a camel team from Hotan to enter Hongbai Mountain, which can ensure that we are safe most of the time." ”

After that, Song Siyuan picked up the iron branch and motioned them to look along Dunhuang City to the oasis on the south bank of the desert, starting from Dunhuang City, passing through Rongqiang County, Tiemo County, Minfeng County, Cele County, Moyu County, and finally came to Hotan Oasis.

In the meantime, the oases nourished by the Kunlun mountain veins carry these county seats, forming countless oasis towns in the desert area, these places are large or small, like green jade on the wasteland, stretching on the south bank of the desert.

Subsequently, Song Siyuan pointed to the Hotan Oasis and measured the distance between the Hotan Oasis and the eastern foothills of Hongbai Mountain: "According to the situation on the map, from the Hotan Oasis to the eastern foothills of Hongbai Mountain, it is about 182 kilometers, and the whole journey along the oasis, that is, 400 miles, although this distance is still very long, at least it is much less than the 2,000 miles across the desert, which also means that we will be much safer." ”

Yue Guanchao nodded: "It's only like this, I think this is the only way to be the safest, where can we find a big car?" ”

Dunhuang is not a prosperous city, the trucks they came to have left these days, and they may not be able to find a car if they inquire about Dunhuang.

Song Siyuan nodded: "This is on me, no matter how backward Dunhuang is, it is also a border town of the previous dynasty, with so many people, you can always find a car, we will prepare things to use in the next few days, and when I contact the big car, I will set off immediately." ”

"Okay, that's all."

Before the words fell, there was the sound of footsteps and walking outside Keli's grotto, and the frequency of the pace and low breathing, it was estimated that it was still an urgent matter.

"Old Dao, go and take a look, the cliff we dug has appeared in a sealed grotto."

Wang Yuanqi had been standing behind them just now, and after the craftsman behind him came in, the old Taoist priest was confused: "Didn't you clean it up, why are there still abandoned grottoes that have been filled up?" ”

The craftsman suppressed the heat and said: "I don't know, the grotto is on the highest cliff, when we set up the tripod, we thought it was a solid pinch, and plunged into the beam, and directly poked a hole in the mountain wall, can you go and see?" Whether it was filled in or set aside to make a cavern. ”

Daoist Wang waved his hand: "Hey, you can just fill it up, I see that there are so many waste holes, and it is not bad for one or two." ”

Song Siyuan pondered Song Siyuan's words, and her eyes lit up: "Daoist Wang, why don't you go and take a look first, maybe there is something hidden inside?" ”

"Song Qianjin, what do you think?"

Wang Yuanzhen came all the way, and saw that Song Siyuan's analysis of the situation was reasonable, clear and clear, and there was no lack of clarity, she was really capable, and seeing her say this now, she immediately understood the situation.

"Okay, maybe there's something else in these grottoes, and everyone should go and see it with Lao Dao."

After that, Wang Yuanqi took Yue Guanchao and them, and under the guidance of the craftsman, they went to the cliff, and on the highest cliff, there were workers who were prying open the sealed soil, and the dust was flying.

They borrowed the steps of the plank road between the grottoes and walked to the top of the grotto, and saw that the material of the filling had completely mixed with the color of the soil outside the grotto, if it was not for a hole here, it would be completely impossible to see any difference.

At this moment, these workers have dug up all the filling layers and formed a one-person-high soil hole.

At dusk, the sun had already dimmed, and everything was still in chaos, Yue Guanchao stood near the entrance of the cave and turned on the flashlight, looking carefully inside the grotto.

After the soil layer was excavated, the corridor inside had also begun to appear, and the rich color paintings rushed into the eyes from the stone wall, so gorgeous that people seemed to be sucked into the eyes.

It's just that with the change of the environment in the cave, the murals quickly faded under the gas exchange, and many mottled color blocks appeared, just like a rich and magnificent mural of gods and Buddhas from brand new to worn, only for a moment, it has already had a thousand years of ancient atmosphere

When the gas in the cave was almost dispersed, they entered the grotto with kerosene lamps, and passed through the narrow arcade four or five meters long, and everyone had already arrived in the grotto.

This grotto is in the form of "back" shape covering bucket, the top surface is square, there is a huge square pillar platform standing up from the bottom in the middle, the whole pillar platform forms the altar style, there is an arched Buddha shrine chiseled, you can see all kinds of Bodhisattva Buddha statues of Tang and Song Dynasty styles, the whole body is colorful, the depiction is complicated, there is no side cave on all sides, completely according to the wall to draw the diagram of the scriptures and myths, form the trend of encirclement, around the four sides of the Buddha shrine in the center.

Wang Yuanqi wiped his eyes and approached the murals on all sides, the wall tone is royal blue and light color, and the main picture on the four sides depicts the gods of heaven in traditional Chinese mythology, as well as the protector gods of Western Buddhism, such as Mani Venerable, Hercules, Naga God, Babu Heavenly Dragon, Heavenly Man, Lei Gong, Wuhou Fearing Beast, Fuxi, Nuwa, Fire God Zhurong, Water God Gonggong, etc.

On the periphery of these main murals, there are images of the outer ways of the heavens, such as the gods of the sun, the moon, the gods of the stars, the gods of the stars, the gods of the gods, the gods of the gods,

In the corners of the four sides, the southeast corner is depicted with the eastern Titou Laizha Heavenly King, the southwest corner is drawn with the southern Biliuli Heavenly King, the northwest corner is drawn with the Western Bilou Bocha Heavenly King, and the northeast corner is drawn with the northern Bishamen Heavenly King.

On the ground floor, which is closest to the feet and knees, men and women dressed in fine costumes are depicted to support the nobles, and many of them have surnames and family positions around them.

Thousands of Buddha statues are drawn on the pillar platform very close to the Buddha shrine, these Buddha statues are palm-big, the treasure light is shining, the Buddha is pervasive, a bit like the repeated pattern, forming the fish scale-like Buddha shrine painting, the whole is extremely exquisite and splendid, with a strong artistic atmosphere, at the same time, there is also more historical heaviness!

Wang Yuanzhen pointed to the mural and said: "This kind of god and Buddha picture belongs to a kind of Buddhist offering painting, I see that outside of these main murals, it seems that some different things are painted, as if they have been repainted." ”

After that, Lao Dao walked to the main mural near the right-hand side, and it can be seen that part of the mural has been scraped open in the corner, and the mural has been repainted, and it can be clearly seen that the painting format is completely unified, and the new painting stamp is like a stamp, sticking to the wall.

Song Siyuan stepped forward to observe carefully, this two-meter-long and wide new mural depicts the city of the sandbar, the city wall is strict, the soldiers of the fort tower bend their bows and draw arrows, and wait for the battle, the flag flutters at the head of the wall, it can be seen that the word "Guiyi" is displayed, and the siege ladder has been hung under the city.

Outside the city gate, there was obviously a group of enemies, dressed in armor, holding knives and guns, although similar to the Han people's attire, but they all wore braids tied up at the back of their heads, and they could also be seen wearing earrings next to their ears, like black clouds pressing down on the city approaching the city.

The generals led by the high horses and horses were cheering and shouting, and even, the artillery had attacked the city in close quarters, and the flames surrounded the city, spread to the heel of the city, and burned countless soldiers.

Outside the city, there are several undulating sand dunes drawn, and there are obviously two people standing on the top of the peak, the man is wearing a hat and a robe, and the woman is wearing a gorgeous costume, the faces of the two are blurred because of the fading of the paint, and they have long been blurred, only to see the man burly and tall, the woman slender and slender, and the two of them each holding a lonely old thin horse, looking at the direction of the sandbar.

Behind them, there were more people with their families, riding horses and driving cattle, carrying all their belongings to the outside of the city, walking along the ridge to the distance, gathering to the yellow sand in the distance, and the evening sun shining.