Chapter 11 (Two Updates)
"Dangerous weapon? We need to report it immediately. We don't have enough manpower."
The members of the White Horse Squad looked at each other and unanimously decided to send someone back to report the news.
These people alone are not enough now.
Currently, including all the White Horse team members, they only have fifty people. Although they have some weapons, they are nothing compared to dangerous elements.
As the vice-captain of the White Horse Team, Bart has the authority to issue orders for everyone to carry out. Since most of the manpower is still at the main base, there are currently fewer than ten people here, so everyone needs to prepare an emergency plan.
Thinking this through, Bart quickly gave the order: "Habul, ride your horse back to the main base and explain the situation to the captain." He figured the captain would consider the consequences.
Bart thought this through, then looked at the land before him with a complex expression.
They come to inspect the grasslands, especially the area near the border, almost every year.
But now so many unusual signs are emerging.
It truly sends chills down his spine!
Bart looked at his teammates beside him, his tone solemn and serious.
"Everyone be careful. We don't know what's going on around us right now, so no one can go alone. Go in pairs or smaller groups and check this area along the same route we took before. Make a note of anything you find and be back within an hour, understand?"
Seven or eight skilled warriors, riding white horses, nodded solemnly.
"clear."
"Don't worry, we'll be careful, Vice Captain."
Bart quickly made the assignments and watched as several pairs of people ran off in different directions.
He then reined in his horse and stood still, controlling it to stop it from moving around.
Originally, it was a little anxious because all the other horses had run away, so it moved its hooves in place and then stopped.
Bart didn't pay much attention and took out something that looked like a leather scroll from his pocket.
Upon opening it, I was surprised to find a very detailed map.
He lowered his eyes, his surging anger barely concealed, and his expression changed as he looked at several locations on the map.
Bart estimated the time, glancing every now and then at the spot where they had left.
At this moment, the grassland barbar was tense all over, his face solemn.
He was like a fierce animal on the savanna, looking around warily and alertly.
Where is the usual kindness and warmth towards family?
They were naturally unaware of these matters, but Bart quickly took action.
He heard the sound of galloping hooves from the west and turned to look in that direction. After a while, what first came into view was the bustling world of dust.
Then two figures rushed toward him.
"Deputy Captain, we've made a discovery to the east or west."
As the sound came, Bart saw them running towards him, seemingly carrying something.
"What is it?" he asked in surprise.
“Look, these were found about ten miles east to west. They should be ancient city walls on the grassland, but when we got there, there was hardly anything left. It looks like someone demolished the entire wall.”
Bart was taken aback, his tiger-like eyes widening as he stared at the two of them.
"What?"
This is astonishing. Why?
The two of them didn't quite understand either, but they still explained what they had seen.
“We don’t know either, but there are traces of those people on the ground, quite a few footprints, and some broken bricks that we couldn’t take with us. Look, we picked one and brought it back.”
At that moment, Bart's mind went blank.
Are those people sick or something?
They'd seen people come to the grasslands to steal cattle, sheep, and horses, and even break into herders' homes to rob them. But what were they going to do with those old, broken bricks scattered all over the grasslands?
The three of them looked at each other, seemingly stumped by the question.
Having grown up on the grasslands, they had no idea that there was a group of people in the world who were so eager to acquire things that bore the marks of history.
Two more pairs of members returned later, bringing back evidence as well.
"Vice Captain, those people are absolutely despicable."
"There were several animal bones piled up on a patch of grass, and judging from the marks, there were at least a dozen."
Those around were instantly shocked upon hearing this.
Everyone looked at that comrade, and seeing his indignant and angry expression, they figured it was true.
Another woman even wiped away tears, saying, "I think those people did it on purpose. They captured those animals not to eat them, but to cruelly skin them by removing their horns and fur, leaving the rest of their bodies there."
"What? How could this be?"
"Hiss, how is this possible?"
Most of the members of the White Horse Team are children of herders from the grasslands.
Born to ride horses, their physical fitness is naturally much higher than that of the average person. Coupled with years of habit, they all love the grassland beneath their feet.
The Han Chinese compatriots in the team who are not Mongolians have lived in the army and on the border for so long that they have gradually adapted to the local people's lifestyle and character, and naturally they will not go against the rules.
Everyone was taken aback when they heard the woman say that.
"Waaah, that's not all. I recognize several of them as protected animals under orders from the organization. They're practically committing crimes."
This is absolutely unforgivable!
"Oh my god!"
“How could they do that? If they were just hungry, killing one or two animals wouldn’t be a big deal; everyone would do that. But if they deliberately hunt animals not for food, and then kill a dozen or more protected species in a row, that’s absolutely despicable.”
Everyone was taken aback by what the woman said.
Even the vice-captain, Bart, had a rare change in expression.
He suddenly had a thought: "They captured protected animals, could they be up to something?"
Upon hearing this, everyone agreed that it made sense.
The third group added, "I think it's more than that. We didn't find any other clues over there, but we did find several pits. Maybe because they weren't buried very deep, we dug them out and found this."
He handed the item to Bart, who looked at it with a furrowed brow.
"What's this?"
His teammates gathered around, looking at what he was holding.
"Isn't this the needle hole used for injections?"
"Yes, yes, my child has been to the town hospital, and I saw him once."
"A pinhole camera?" Bart couldn't understand it, so he simply took something and put it away.
He looked around and asked, "Hasn't the last group returned yet?"
Upon hearing this, the remaining comrades quickly looked at each other and discovered that a group of people were indeed missing.
The people's anxiety affected the horses beneath them.
Some horses got angry and started neighing incessantly.
Some of them even moved closer to the other horses, seemingly ready to fight.
However, they were all like eagles on horseback, and they quickly used their own methods to control them.
Then, the last two people, who were more than ten minutes late, finally showed up!
"Deputy Captain, we've made a major discovery."
One of the comrades shouted at them from afar.
"What happened?"
Bart spurred his horse and charged toward him.
"Over there, near a stream, we found some very fresh footprints."
Is anyone there?
He hurriedly pressed for an answer.
The man shook his head. "No, Baiyin and I rode around for a few laps but didn't find anyone. I guess they've already left. It's just that it's damp over there, which is why the footprints were visible."
Bart thought about it and realized it made sense, then breathed a sigh of relief.
Actually, it's better not to confront him now, because he's afraid he won't be able to protect everyone.
These days are not like the old days, when a firearm could be used to control a lot of people.
"Let's go take a look."
The group followed Chagan and Baiyinchong, while Bat ran in the second group and quickly disappeared into the area.
After running for more than twenty minutes, the group finally saw a winding stream.
A babbling brook meanders through the meadow.
Like every stream on the grassland, it is so common and ordinary.
The group first checked the area and found that there was indeed no one else there. When Chagan led them to the spot and they saw several very clear footprints on the ground, they were overjoyed.
"Good, Chagan and Baiyin are good, this discovery is excellent."
“Let’s make rubbings of these footprints.”
"yes!"
As soon as he finished speaking, someone else took out a notebook and pen and began to draw.
Bart squatted down next to him and compared the feet. Judging from the feet, it should belong to an adult man, about 1.8 meters tall.
"The footprint is small, and judging from the mark, it belongs to a woman," someone exclaimed in surprise.
"It really is true, just who are these people?"
Someone couldn't contain their curiosity and asked a question.
"I don't know. Have you seen any strangers on the grasslands recently?"
The group looked at each other and shook their heads.
"No way, if I had seen it I would have said so already."
"Alright, this grassland is so big, it's normal not to run into those people. Let's clean up what we found first, and then we can discuss what to do when we get back to the White Horse Company headquarters."
Bart, fearing they might overthink things, said something.
"That's right!"
"Hurry up."
While the group was busy, the captain, who had been sent back by Bart to receive the news, was dumbfounded.
Captain Chao Lu was still somewhat dazed after hearing what he said.
The teammates next to him were all very nervous after hearing this, and some of the more impatient ones had already grabbed their whips and bows and arrows and were about to rush out.
"Stop right there! You're disobeying orders again, aren't you?"
Captain Chao Lu finally came to his senses and yelled at the man to stop.
“Sit down, all of you. Bart wouldn’t be so reckless. Since he sent someone back to report, he can’t just ignore those people. What kind of idea is it for you to rush out now? You haven’t even figured out what’s going on. How can you charge out?”
Chao Luneng was elected as the captain of the White Horse team, managing more than forty people under his command, which naturally shows his ability.
He had served in the army in his early years and learned a lot about military matters. Later, due to his age, he retired from the military and returned to his hometown. Because of his horsemanship skills, he gradually established the Baima Company.
It can be said that Chao Lu possesses not only the bravery and might of the grassland men, but also the wisdom and strategy of the Han people. Although the latter is not quite as formidable, it is more than enough to manage the Baima Company and other matters.
He won't force himself to endure things he truly can't handle.
Go find a leader and report it to them!
That's the situation right now.
Ever since he heard about this, the news has been swirling in his head.
"We can't afford to panic now. How many weapons and equipment do we have? After deducting the personnel who have been mobilized and those on duty, how many people are left?"
When the captain asked, someone thought for a moment and answered.
"There are only 15 in the warehouse. We have our own bows and arrows, but we don't have many arrows. Some have as many as 20, and some have as few as a dozen."
"As for personnel, aside from other factors, we can mobilize at most 35 people."
As expected, Chao Lu noticed a slight change in their expressions after they finished speaking.
People no longer want to be as restless and excited as they were at the beginning.
He clapped his hands to attract everyone's attention.
"So, with a dozen or so guys, thirty or so people, in this vast grassland and Gobi desert, you're so sure you can find the person?"
"Such a big place, we can just lie down anywhere and the grass will cover all our tracks. If they were to ambush us and steal our gear, that would be no joke. Besides, they're not without weapons. If they were to shoot us from the shadows, are you all fearless, like impenetrable fortresses?"
His series of questions stumped everyone in the group.
Everyone remained silent and kept quiet.
"Don't think they're stupid. Our only advantage is that we know this place better than them." So, don't be so naive. If you rush forward without even understanding the current situation, wouldn't that be foolish?
The meeting only ended after Chao Lu gave him a severe dressing down.
After waiting for more than two hours, Bart and his party finally arrived.
When Bart and his party returned, they naturally had to report the situation to him.
This discovery kept him busy for more than half a month. Leaving aside the hardships and toil involved, his wife, Luo Yin, kept talking about it for a long time.
Because everyone else in the family is busy, I can only see my eldest brother once a week, while I haven't seen my father for a long time.
Luo Yin complained to her second brother, who shrugged and said it was normal.
He had always admired his father's elusive nature since he was a child.
If he weren't still in school, he would have liked to take his little sister to visit where their father works.
Seeing that his younger sister kept thinking about it, he also started to miss it.
Lost in thought, he suddenly slapped his forehead. "Oh no, I forgot to tell Dad about the forest farm."
He quickly looked at Luo Yin and asked her, "Did you tell Dad about our trip to Uncle's forest farm?"
Luo Yin had long forgotten that she had focused most of her attention on her because she was afraid of being beaten.
Now, upon hearing his second brother mention it, he also had a look of sudden realization.
"Ah, I forgot!"
"Second brother, did you tell me?"
They were even more self-righteous than her.
"He didn't say, but Father hasn't come back recently. Let's talk about it when he gets back."
Luo Yin thought it made sense and nodded in agreement.
The two then changed the subject.
Life at home continued as usual. Mother looked after the house, and Ani and Luoyin would go out together from time to time. The second brother went to school alone, and the eldest brother would bring back small things for the two siblings when he came home from time to time.
Days passed by, and another evening arrived.
Luo Yin, who hadn't gone to graze the livestock, saw Ani walk into the yurt with a heavy expression.
She quickly followed him, poured him some milk tea, and handed it to him.
"Ani, what's wrong?"
When Ani saw her concerned gaze directed at him, he shook his head, took the milk tea, and drank a few sips.
His emotions seemed to have calmed down a bit, but then he fell silent again.
Loin sensed that something had happened to Ani, but seeing that he wouldn't say, she didn't ask.
I decided to go out and help my mother, and then my second brother and I set out dinner.
Just as the group was about to eat, they heard the sound of horses' hooves outside.
"It's Father's horse, Father is back."
Luo Yin's ears twitched, and then she ran out in surprise.
Mu Ren, who was a step behind, also ran outside with a grin.
"Little sister, wait for me!"
Urina hurriedly got up to get the bowl, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Ani, sitting in the main seat, looked much more relaxed, her gaze towards the outside filled with anticipation.
Sure enough, the person who dismounted in the dark was Bart.
He had barely regained his footing when he was grabbed by two bursts of firecrackers.
"Father, Father, you're finally back."
"Dad, why did you take so long?" Bart, surrounded by chattering children, laughed so hard his face trembled.
His originally fierce and menacing appearance now seemed quite honest and kind.
"Hahaha, I'm back."
He laughed loudly as he lifted the two men up, one in each hand.
The two people who were suddenly grabbed were startled, followed by a series of exclamations.
"Haha, hahaha."
Wow!
"Come in and eat quickly, or the food will get cold."
After waiting inside for a while, Urina couldn't help but call out to the outside.
Sure enough, as soon as that sound came out, the noise outside immediately subsided.
Luo Yin covered her mouth, but looked at her second brother and father with a smile.
The father put the two down, patted their heads with concern, and told them to go inside and eat quickly.
I had a better appetite for dinner because of my father's sudden appearance.
Ani and her mother were also very happy. Luo Yin noticed that Ani's complexion was much better than before.
During the meal, everyone spoke very little, especially after seeing how much older and more weathered Father had become.
His family felt sorry for him. After they finished eating and cleaned up, they sat around a table, each with a cup of hot milk tea in their hands.
“There might be some things happening on the grasslands recently, Father. You should be careful when you go out to herd livestock, and don’t go too far.” He looked at Luo Yin carefully as he said this.
Ani naturally saw it and nodded upon hearing it.
"Muren, you too, don't linger on the road after school, just head straight home, you hear me?"
“I know, Dad, I’ve never played on the road.”
"Yes, I've been busy dealing with those things lately. Although our two places are quite far apart, just in case, please be careful when you go out these days and try to avoid any unfamiliar signs."
He seemed somewhat reluctant when he said the second half of his sentence.
If it weren't for the fact that he couldn't stay at home, they would have to take care of it themselves.
Looking at his relatives, young and old, Bart felt terrible.
Urina had already noticed her husband's emotional fluctuations and could clearly see his guilt at that moment. So she quickly said, "Don't worry, we remember. Everything is fine at home lately. There are no strangers around. We'll be careful from now on."
“Yes, yes, we usually go to familiar places where there are no bad people,” Luo Yin added.
Mu Ren nodded repeatedly, indicating that he was very well-behaved.
Ani seemed to want to say something, but was interrupted by her good grandson.
"Oh, right, Dad, there's something I forgot to tell you."
Mu Ren was a little embarrassed, and told him about the mountain forest that his uncle and younger sister had visited.
Upon hearing this, the adults in the family's expressions changed repeatedly.
Bart is the most formidable of them all.
His face turned black then green, then green then red.
Ever since the third squad discovered the intruders on the border, they have been patrolling and inspecting the grasslands for the past month. Naturally, they have found many animal carcasses and remains.
So when Mu Ren heard that someone was hunting protected animals in the mountains, alarm bells immediately went off in his head.
Fortunately, Bart still had some sense and didn't immediately start hitting him.
When the brother and sister saw it, their mouths were wide open.
"Oh, you can do that?"
"Why didn't you say so sooner?" Bart held back, but still gritted his teeth and said each word slowly and deliberately.
Seeing his father's expression, Mu Ren knew that he was about to take action.
She hurriedly pulled Luo Yin to the side, saying, "Dangdang forgot."
"Okay, okay, you've forgotten, haven't you?"
Bart grew angrier the more he thought about it, and suddenly stood up, grabbed him, and dragged him outside.
Luo Yin was startled and rushed over to break up the fight.
But her mother stopped her and asked her what was going on.
Luo Yin's body stiffened, and she felt her skin tighten.
She didn't know why, but she wasn't afraid of anyone else in the family, except for her mother.
She looked at her mother with some concern, only to see that her mother was also looking at her.
She swallowed hard and pleaded with Ah Ni for help.
Anid didn't see it and continued drinking his milk tea.
"Think carefully about how to say it." Her mother's tone was calm, but it sounded unusually serious when it reached her ears.
“We got lost. My second brother led us the wrong way, and then we didn’t know where we were. It was so hot, so we looked for this river. After we found it, we drank some water. Somehow, my second brother told me to hide to the side, and then we saw that injured wild deer run out.”
"Mom, we really only saw these things. We didn't see those people clearly, and my second brother pulled me away and ran away?"
After she finished speaking, her mother's expression changed.
Her expression instantly tightened. "They saw you?"
Luo Yin shook her head after thinking about it.
"No, we came out after we heard they were chasing deer, we didn't see them."
"That's good, that's good." Mother, of course, thought more than they did, and combined with what Bart had said today, her anger flared up again.
Hearing this, Ani stood up, thought for a moment, and then went out.
Inside the tent, Loin was punished by her mother, and the household chores fell on her shoulders again.
"Neither you nor Mu Ren can escape. I think you're just too idle. Well then, I'll find you something to do."
"Mother, I know I was wrong, I was really wrong!"
Luo Yin pleaded and begged her for mercy!
The mother remained unmoved. "No, I thought you just liked to run around and that nothing would happen to you. But you never expected that you wouldn't tell me. What will happen to you if we don't treat you properly?"
"Huahua, although the people around here are all very nice, there are still some with bad intentions. As you grow up, you need to be more careful, okay?"
Urina gently stroked her cheek, her tone unusually solemn.
Luo Yin noticed her seriousness and naturally nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, yes, I'll remember, Mom!"
“Your second brother did the right thing back then. There are many powerful birds of prey in those mountains and forests. Some can be killed without any harm, but some are indeed protected animals and should not be touched.”
"These are the wild deer you see. Even the old hunters wouldn't touch them. Obviously, those young people don't care at all. They'll definitely suffer in the future."
Fearing that she was too young, Urina carefully explained and analyzed the situation to her.
Luo Yin listened attentively, indicating that she had taken notes.
Then I heard my second brother shouting and crying outside.
"Ahhhhh, Dad, I was wrong. I'll never take my little sister away again."
"Father, I was wrong, I was wrong!"
Luo Yin trembled and snuggled closer to her mother.
Urina patted her shoulder lightly, "Did you hear that? You must be careful in the future, and be cautious in everything you do."
Luo Yin's attitude in admitting her mistake was even better, "Okay!"
Bart put down the whip and let him run off.
Seeing Ani waving at him, he stepped forward and asked, "Father, what's wrong?"
Mauisig felt the night wind blowing and looked at the bright stars in the sky.
"Bart, what exactly happened?"
Ani asked him what exactly had happened.
Bart thought about it for a while, but still couldn't hide it from him.
After hearing what they had been doing all this time, Ani sighed deeply.
"Oh, no wonder!"
"I've also noticed something's not right lately."
The father and son talked outside for a long time, and didn't part ways until midnight to go home and rest.
The others, who were already fast asleep, didn't notice.
One morning in early October, Ani took Loin out early.
Today they are not going to graze their livestock; the grandfather and grandson are driving their cart to the nearby market.
Yes, Loin talked about the market a lot.
Finally, I was able to go there in early October.
Ani knew the route well and led her along, stopping frequently and making several turns until Luo Yin could barely remember the way. Finally, they found a long stream and followed it.
Luo Yin looked ahead curiously, and after some time, she saw a large forest in the distance.
Then came dense grass as tall as a person.
"Wow, is that place, Annie?"
Ani quickened her pace. "Yes, it's just ahead."
Luo Yin's eyes lit up; she herself had grown up on the grasslands.
But the scene she was seeing now surprised her more than ever before.
How could there be such a wetland on the grassland?
On the stream beside the wetland, there were many narrow boats, all loaded with goods.
Luo Yin watched as people drifted slowly into the deeper part of the river.
As you get closer, you'll see many poplar trees growing in the stream, and under those trees, the water is indeed crystal clear.
She was deeply attracted at that first glance.
As the grandfather and grandson walked on, Luo Yin discovered that many other people like them were arriving one after another.
Among them were tall men and women riding horses.
There were even many children younger than her who were brought by their families.
Loin was drawn to the small boat and wanted to go up and try it out, but when Ani called her, she quickly ran over.
"Come on, let me take you to the stall to sell your stuff."
"Thank you, Ani!"
Luo Yin was overjoyed; at least she could finally sell cordyceps.
She was excited and happy, her eyes eagerly scanning her surroundings.
Gradually, she discovered that this place was indeed different from before.
It seems to have been specifically designed for this purpose; I noticed there were traces of wear and tear in many places inside. A convenient little boat can be moored inside, allowing them to take things out and arrange them.
The locations for the stalls were also marked out, one stall for each person, forming a circle that surrounded the poplar forest.
People gradually stopped in front of the stall, and Luo Yin watched them expectantly.
Ani, however, was not in a hurry at all and waited quietly.
This time, Ani came because Luo Yin had been nagging her about how all the things at home had long been taken to town to be exchanged. Not wanting to lose face in front of the younger generation, Ani brought Luo Yin's small bundle and leisurely rode her cart over.
Luo Yin had never done business before, but seeing Ani doing it, she followed his example and learned from him.
I sat in my seat and watched quietly.
Soon, a meat jerky stall opened next door.
"Come on, come on, fresh and tender old yellow cattle, sun-dried to perfection. They taste great as gifts or for personal enjoyment when traveling or eating at home."
As Luo Yin listened to him, her eyes fell on the dried meat.
It looks really good.
Sure enough, some people who heard the shouts went there.
"How much is it? Can I trade it for something cheaper?"
"We can exchange it; we can discuss it."
Seeing the customer start chatting with him and then close the deal, Luo Yin was filled with envy and turned to look at Ani.
"Ani, should we shout too?"
Ani shook her head, indicating her refusal.
Seeing this, Luo Yin simply imitated her neighbor and spoke in a clear, crisp tone.
"Come, come, freshly dried cordyceps. They're great for making tea or giving as gifts. Come and take a look; you can exchange them for other things or pay money."
As soon as she spoke, people nearby actually turned to look.
Firstly, the little girl's clear and melodious voice immediately caught everyone's attention; secondly, because she shouted quite loudly, it really shook the scene.
"Oh my, this little girl has a very clear voice."
"Not bad, you've got guts."
Some onlookers came up and took a look.
"Are you buying cordyceps?"
"Yes, yes, look at these, they are all very good."
She smiled and introduced him.
Seeing this, Ani nodded to the newcomer in secret.
Then he watched the little girl's movements.
The customer picked through the items, then said with some disdain, "These aren't very big. I already have some myself."
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