"In the past few months since you left, the Hu people have increased their troops in Guazhou and Shazhou, it seems that they want to make a move against the Western Regions, and the marginal countries such as Hui and Da Dan are very nervous,"

Guo Shuyun looked at Song Che with a worried look: "When I came, I passed by Yumen Pass, and the minister of the Hu clan named Arhan made it difficult in every way, I was worried that you would go back this time......

"No, it won't."

Song Che was indifferent and confident, "It's the end of September now, the grassland is already green and yellow, and there will soon be heavy snowfall, the Hu people are mainly cavalry, and they will definitely not attack in winter because they lack forage;

However, their annexation of Sha and Gua Prefecture is already obvious, and if nothing else, the day the grass grows and the warbler flies next year will be the time for them to attack the Western Regions;

After I leave, you have to quickly contact the countries of the Western Regions and ask them to stock up on grain and grass to prepare for next year's war;

It will take two months for me to return home this time, and it will take two months to return to Jinling to clarify the situation, and then transfer troops;

And between now and spring and February, there are still more than five months, which is enough for the countries of the Western Regions to prepare for war with the Great Liang Dynasty; ”

He paused, and then added:

"Of course, I know that Alhan will never let me pass through Yumen Pass, so I have already arranged another route, crossing the Qaidam Desert, going south to Tubo to borrow the road, and then crossing Qinghai Lake and going back to Xining, Daliang."

Guo Shuyun held his arm, and the worry in his eyes became three points thicker, "The terrain of the Qaidam Desert is high and low, although it is not as cruel as the Taklamakan Desert, it is not easy to cross it...... It's going to be a tough and difficult road. ”

Song Che smiled and patted the back of her hand, "The road is rugged but safer, as long as you bring enough water and food, it is not difficult to cross the desert, as long as you can reach the Yellow River safely, you can take the waterway by boat, this road is more time-saving than the Hexi Corridor." ”

"Song Che, Jiangnan?"

"With Miss Guo's tall figure, walking on Jiangnan Street, the eighty-year-old man will look at you more."

"Wait...... The people of Beiliang live and work in peace and contentment, and I will go back to Jiangnan with you. ”

"It means that Your Majesty, don't you love the country and the beauty?"

"Wrong."

She gently leaned close to Song Che's chest and smiled, "It's right if you don't love the country and love beautiful men." ”

……

……

On September 27, Song Che left Beiliang and embarked on his way home.

The Hu slaves given by Arhan before were all imprisoned in the Northern Liang Kingdom, and this time they were all from the original team, including Tang Hulu, an old Persian fox.

"Oh, my Allah, are those Roman merchants who pick the door really willing to spend five gold coins to buy a batch of silk?" Tang Hulu has been talking all the way.

Five gold coins for a piece of cloth, the price is indeed ridiculously high.

Liu Xiang'er was annoyed: "Oh, it's annoying, even if it's a hundred to buy a horse?" You can't sell it now! ”

Tang Hulu muttered: "I'm just understanding the market first, this is very important, when I go back this time, I will settle in Chang'an, and after Boss Song's mutual market is opened, I will bear the brunt of pulling the silk over to sell, and make a lot of money from this group of Roman merchants!" ”

Song Che smiled: "Boss Tang, why don't you transport the silk back to Persia?" Wouldn't it be closer and more convenient to sell from Persia to Rome? ”

Tang Hulu said: "Boss Song, you don't know, silk is too valuable, if you go by sea, you are afraid of encountering pirates, you often have to hire a shipload of bodyguards, and the wind and waves at sea are unstable, it doesn't matter if people die, if the goods are gone, it will be a big loss;

And you don't know, from Persia to Rome, through the Ottoman Empire. Those damned Ottomans are simply a bunch of bandits, and they have to collect protection money for passing through their doors, and I would rather give this bowl of rice to the dogs than to the Ottomans;

Oh, it's still good for the Great Liang Dynasty, the canals extend in all directions, the roads are smooth and easy to walk, and even the manpower is a lot cheaper......"

When it comes to making a lot of money, Tang Hulu's mouth is like a machine gun, and he never stops chattering all the way.

On the third day of leaving Beiliang and heading south, it was to enter the Qaidam Desert.

Not all deserts are grains of sand. On the contrary, most of the deserts in this world are made of bedrock and clay, such as the Qaidam in front of you, the endless mounds, which have been eroded by the wind, and between the hills and ravines, there are many drought-tolerant vegetation and small pools of rainwater, but these water sources are very dirty and undrinkable even if they are distilled.

Unlike the aridity of the Taklama Desert, the most dangerous animals in the Qaidam Desert are the animals that live here – the animals that can survive in extreme conditions are either fierce beasts or the most venomous snakes, the deadliest of which are bears and wolves.

"Everyone be careful, there are likely to be bears in this area."

Song Che picked up a lump of dried feces from the ground, and then glanced at the surrounding environment, the water and soil vegetation in this valley were very lush, and there must be animals living here.

The sun is about to go down and predators usually appear at night.

"Boss, haven't you always lived in the south, why do you know that it was Xiong La's when you look at the feces?" Nangong Yue said curiously.

Song Che is also a wilderness lover no matter how he says it, hiking in the forest, and identifying animals by feces is basic common sense. No matter how bad it is, wilderness survival and animal world should always be watched, right?

"What's so hard to tell from this?" Liu Xiang'er said: "Look at this dung, such a big lump, who else can pull it out in this desert?" It's definitely a bear's! ”

She tried her best to find Song Che for verification: "Brother-in-law, did you say it?" ”

Song Che praised: "Yes, yes, follow me, you have been pit for me for so long, and you have finally gained some ability." ”

Nangong Yue snorted lightly: "What does the boss mean is that those of us who don't cheat you and protect you have no long-term skills?" ”

"Hey, you can't say that, your 'ability' is different from hers, but," Song Che paused, held up the dried bear dung in his hand, and said to everyone:

"Identifying animals based on the environment and the size of the feces is the most superficial knowledge - bears are omnivores and eat grass and meat, so the dung they pull is long and yellowish in color; And those herbivores, cattle, sheep and horses, eat grass and pull green dung; ”

He broke up the dried bear dung, "You see, the particles in this dung are undigested berries, and these are the fruits that bear loves to eat the most; The following year, these fruit particles are embedded in the soil, and after a heavy rainfall, they will take root and sprout and grow another vegetation. This is called the 'ecological cycle'. ”

"Brother-in-law......"

"What's wrong?"

"Look at this piece, isn't it a bit like ...... Human nails? The sharp-eyed Liu Xiang'er pointed to a half-crescent-colored keratin in the dried feces and asked.

Song Che took out the thing and compared it with his own nails, it's really human! He hurriedly threw all the excrement away.

What a bad luck!