Daqin: Zulong's Traveling Frog

Chapter 308 The Suffering of Flesh
But Chang Mai couldn't wait any longer, eager to try: "General Wei Xiang, Khotan is bullying people too much, why don't we go face to face with them and rescue Ah Fei, he stood up for all of us." Wei Xiang said: "Your Highness, please be calm, we must not do this."

Chang Mai said in astonishment: "Why can't we do this? Even if we fight, there are more of us than them, can't we beat them?" Weixiang said firmly: "I can't do it if I say no." He raised his hand and called someone. The guard ordered: "Give me an order. No further discussion about the sacred objects and Ah Fei's affairs is allowed in the caravan, otherwise we will be punished according to military law." The guard said: "Follow the order."

Chang Mai was very dissatisfied, and sneered: "General Weixiang is known as the 'Loulan's No. [-] Warrior', but he turned out to be a coward who dared not stand up for his own people. It's just a false name. It's actually not as responsible and courageous as an ordinary guide."

Weixiang ignored his cynicism and said seriously: "Your Highness, although you are a prince, you voluntarily dressed up as a guard and followed the caravan to the Central Plains. In this case, you are also my subordinate now. You and your subordinates dare to commit any crime." Military orders must also be followed by military law."

He spoke righteously, without mercy, without saying a word.

Wu Price hurriedly said: "General..." Wei Xiang interrupted the conversation unceremoniously, and said: "When we return to Loulan, His Royal Highness can complain to His Majesty the King about Wei Xiang's rudeness, and Wei Xiang is willing to accept punishment. But before that, everything is subject to my orders."

Suddenly a guard came up to report, "Khotan Prime Minister Zuo and his party are about to follow."

Weixiang nodded and warned: "Pass the order, no matter what the Khotanese want to do to Ah Fei, we must turn a blind eye, not speak out, let alone intervene. Anyone who disobeys the order will be killed."

Yutian and his party were all on light cavalry, which was much faster than the Loulan camel team carrying heavy grain, and they caught up soon.But they saw A Fei's hands tied behind his back, a long rope tied between his chest, tied into a tight knot, being led behind the horse, and being pulled all the way.

When passing the Loulan caravan, Su Mu deliberately rushed to A Fei's side, leaned over and asked, "If you want to survive, tell the truth quickly, who ordered you to do this?" A Fei shook his head and said, "No one ordered me to tell the truth." .”

The person holding the long rope was Fan Mu's confidant Ai Di. Hearing this, he immediately turned around, raised his hand and whipped A Fei in the face, and cursed loudly: "You little Loulan thief! You are really impatient with life. You dare to steal the sacred treasure." Little thief! Loulan little thief!"

The abuse was endless, and he kept beating and driving away with a horsewhip. He treated Ah Fei like an animal, obviously deliberately demonstrating like a Loulan caravan.Everyone in Loulan was angry in their hearts, but because they had not heard the strict order, they just kept silent.

After traveling for several miles, the people of Khotan had left the Loulan caravan far behind.Xun Muquan turned his horse's head, came to A Fei, and persuaded: "You are the top bag for Gan Qi and the caravan. They don't care about your life at all. Tell me, who ordered you to stand up just now? As long as you are willing to say To be honest, I promise you will not suffer from flesh and blood again."

Ah Fei smiled and said, "There really is no one to instruct me. Ah Fei doesn't dare to deceive the Prime Minister."

As soon as the words fell, Eddie urged his mount to gallop.

Ah Fei was tied behind the horse and ran for a few steps. After all, he couldn't match the power of the horse. He only felt a tightness around his waist, and was brought down to the ground, crawling and being dragged forward.

This area is all Gobi, and the ground is full of gravels the size of fingers to fists, and people and horses walk on it, always rustling.

As soon as Ah Fei fell down, his body kept bumping against the hard rocks from the chest down, and he was dragged out less than a mile. His whole body was covered with blood, and he inhaled a lot of fine sand and dust in his mouth and nose, and he could hardly breathe. , It's really worse than death.

When Ai Di saw that A Fei was already half dead, he reined in his horse and stopped and asked: "What the Prime Minister asked you, are you willing to confess the truth?"

Ah Fei's face was covered with dust, it was difficult to open his eyes, and everywhere on his body hurt. He took a deep breath and groaned a few times, but refused to answer.

Ai Di had a very hot temper. Seeing his stubbornness, he was about to continue riding his horse and dragging him to torture him. A Khotanese warrior chased him with a horse and shouted: "Wait a minute!"

This samurai was dressed in black armor, with a helmet and a thick beard covering most of his face, making it difficult to see his true face and age.Ai Di was very respectful to him, and he didn't dare to call him by his first name like other warriors, so he leaned over and asked, "Is there something wrong, my lord?"

The samurai who was honored as "Young Master" said: "Ai Dijun knows that the Loulan guide is innocent, but it is disgraceful to deal with him so ruthlessly."

Aidi's expression changed immediately, and he asked vigilantly, "How did you know, Young Master?"

It happened that Sumu led a team of dozens of people to catch up, and Ai Di hurriedly stepped forward and said in a low voice: "It turns out that the master has known about Ye Mingzhu for a long time, and he must have told the truth to the Loulan guide secretly."

Xun Mu ordered the warrior to drag A Fei far away first, and then stepped forward and asked, "Is it true that the young master secretly pointed out the Loulan guide?"

Xi Mu said: "May I ask when did you find out the truth?" Ai Di shouted: "It goes without saying that he must have overheard our conversation secretly at the station."

Li Shiqi said: "No, I didn't eavesdrop. The prime minister kept calling people for secret discussions, so he must have some conspiracy, but I always thought it was related to the matter of taking me out..."

He sighed softly, as if he didn't want to talk about this topic any more, and simply explained directly: "I guessed the truth about Ye Mingzhu just now when Loulan guide A Fei stood up and admitted to stealing the sacred object." Coming up, Ai Di hurriedly stepped forward and said: Said loudly: "It turns out that Li Shiqi knew about Ye Mingzhu a long time ago, and he must have secretly told the truth to the Loulan guide just now."

Xi Mu ordered the warrior to drag Ah Fei far away first, and then stepped forward and asked, "Is it true that the young master secretly instructed the Loulan guide?" Li Shiqi shook his head and said, "It's not me."

Fan Mu said: "May I ask when the young master discovered the truth?" Ai Di shouted: "It goes without saying that he must have secretly overheard our conversation at the inn." Li Shiqi said: "No, I There was no eavesdropping. The prime minister kept calling people for secret discussions, so he must have some conspiracy, but I always thought it was related to the matter of taking me out of prison..." He sighed softly, as if he didn't want to talk about this topic any more, so he simply explained directly Said: "I guessed the truth about Ye Mingzhu just now when Loulan's guide A Fei stood up and admitted to stealing the sacred object."

Fan Mu said: "Oh?" Li Shiqi said: "The Prime Minister came to the checkpoint to report to General Li Mu, saying that the sacred object given to Princess Huaiyu by the imperial court was stolen, and that a postman saw someone from the Loulan caravan coming in. Station. The Prime Minister asked General Li to send people to thoroughly search the Loulan caravan. He should have been mentally prepared to find the thief and find the Night Pearl. However, when A Fei took the initiative to stand up, the Prime Minister seemed not to have expected such a situation to occur... …”

Su Mu sighed heavily, and said: "My lord, you don't need to say any more, I know you have a bright eye, so it's hard to hide this matter. Well, it's just..." He fell silent for a moment, turned his head, and cast his eyes into the distance.

(End of this chapter)