Cloud of the Qing Dynasty

Zhang Chi quickly made a diagnosis: "The gums are a little swollen, maybe it's because the climate is not acclimatized."

In fact, many chivalrous men from the north like Mu Liuyun couldn't adapt to the hot and humid southern Xinjiang, and showed symptoms of acclimatization. Zhang Chi suggested, "Why don't I make you some porridge with yam and white fungus to relieve your fire? I'm just right." I picked some goji berries on the mountain."

"En." Mu Liuyun responded, and saw a familiar figure approaching.

It was a tall and strong man with thick eyebrows and big eyes. He smiled heartily and said, "Brother Zhang, Daoist Tianxuan, do you two still remember me?"

"Isn't this Brother Ma?" Zhang Chi said in surprise, "Long time no see, why are you here?"

It was the former owner of the Black Dragon Village, Ma Guangyi, who came here. At this time, Li Mu Liuyun singled out the Black Dragon Village with one sword, became famous in the world, and forced the Black Dragon Village to disband. It has only been more than a year. Guangyi, however, seemed to have completely changed himself. He used to be a gangster, but now he tidied himself up in a decent manner. He looked ten years younger. Thanks to Zhang Chi's good memory, he could still recognize him.

"After the disbandment of Heilongzhai, I wandered in the rivers and lakes for a period of time. By chance, I met people from Jinghong Villa and was recommended by them to join Jinghong Villa." Ma Guangyi said, "I stayed in Miaojiang for a long time. Time, I am familiar with the scenery and customs here, so the owner sent me over to do some things that require experienced people."

While Ma Guangyi was talking, he glanced at Mu Liuyun who beat him up from time to time. When they were talking, Mu Liuyun just looked at his sword boredly and ignored others. Fortunately, there was Zhang Chi Now, let the scene not look too embarrassing.

Ma Guangyi was sent by Qin Wuqi to ask them to go over to discuss matters, but Mu Liuyun was not interested, so he stayed in the barracks to meditate and practice, and only Zhang Chi followed.

Qin Wuqi had gathered some people around him, both from Jinghong Villa and several other sects, Lu Zhiqian's confidant Xue Baisong was also present.

When Qin Wuqi saw Zhang Chi, he smiled and said, "Brother Zhang Chi, you are here."

Zhang Chi said apologetically, "Well, it's just me. Liuyun didn't come to practice."

"It's okay, it's fine if you're here." Qin Wuqi said considerately, "When we have discussed the results, you can tell the boss to save him from wasting energy on these things he is not good at."

Zhang Chi nodded: "Master Qin asked us to come, but did you find anything new?"

"We've found a local guide who may be helpful in moving things forward."

Qin Wuqi asked someone to bring the guide over, and Zhang Chi saw that this was another old acquaintance—A Wu from Wuguzhai, Miaojiang.

At the beginning, Zhang Chi and Mu Liuyun tracked down the murderer who poisoned the family members of the Shangqing Palace, followed the clues all the way to Wuguzhai, and had some conflicts with the leader of Wuguzhai, Adamu, and his son Awu. The father and son still succumbed to Mu Liuyun's martial arts and Zhang Chi's ingenuity, obediently turned their enemies into friends and became their helpers.

Seeing Zhang Chi again now, Ah Wu also felt a little embarrassed, so he greeted him hastily, and got to the point.

The people of Jinghong Mountain Villa made a sand table with clay, and marked the general terrain and important discoveries nearby. A Wu pointed on the sand table: "Look, this is where we are camping now, and we have passed to the north. This creek is the forest that we Miao people will never enter. You Han people call that place Qianzong Forest, we call it Halda. That forest is full of mud that eats people but does not spit out bones. There are many Poisonous insects and poisonous snakes that sting people will surely die. Every morning and evening, the mountains and forests are completely covered with fog, which cannot be seen ten steps away. Moreover, there is miasma in the forest, which can be unconsciously Take people's lives, only people from the Red Lotus Sect know how to get in."

"Brother Ah Wu knows a lot about this generation." Zhang Chi said, "I remember that Wugu Village is not close to here."

"This place is no secret to the Miao family." A Wu said, "Many years ago, when the Red Lotus Sect had not occupied the Panlong Valley, there have been many rumors about the Panlong Valley in Miaojiang. Horrible legends, let’s not mention those strange powers and gods, at least it must be true that the place is very dangerous and many people never return.”

Qin Wuqi confirmed this statement: "Recently, in the hands of the people we sent out, some people entered the forest and never came out, and some of them felt unwell and retreated in time. All of them were poisoned by miasma without exception. Our doctor can treat general miasma poison, so there is no danger of life, but our investigation is also limited to the periphery of Qianzong Forest, and we cannot go one step deeper into Panlong Valley."

Xue Baisong took a sip of tea calmly: "About Qianzonglin, do you know anything else?"

A Wu gestured with his hands and said: "The forest is a thousand miles wide. At the end of the forest is the Hundred Flowers Canyon. Hundreds of flowers are in full bloom all year round. It is as beautiful as a fairyland. The palace in the palace is called Yinyue Palace, it is said that it was built by Chi You thousands of years ago, it is so impenetrable that even the gods and generals cannot attack it."

Hearing this, everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, and Xue Baisong, who has read a lot of poetry and books, coughed twice and said: "It's not that exaggerated. According to the surrounding terrain, this forest is only a dozen miles in radius, but the forest is densely covered with vegetation and shrouded in mist. , people easily lose their way in it, and it is easy to give people a feeling that they will never go to the end. As for the Yinyue Palace, it was the imperial city of the Mountain Kingdom, a small country in southern Xinjiang more than two hundred years ago. The built palace is indeed easy to defend and difficult to attack, the Red Lotus Sect just renovated the old castle and took over the mountain as king, using geographical advantages and ancient legends to create momentum for themselves."

Everyone chatted in low voices, and someone said: "That's what you said, but we still can't pass through the Thousand Zong Forest."

Xue Baisong asked: "Brother Ah Wu, what can I do?"

"No." Ah Wu shook his head, "Only those who have joined the Red Lotus Sect know how to get in. No one else can get into that forest."

Qin Wuqi looked at the sand table and frowned and thought for a moment: "Swamp, fog, or poisonous insects and snakes are not a big problem, but miasma is hard to guard against. I don't know how miasma is formed. Is there a way to get rid of it?"

This time, it was Xue Baisong, a military adviser from Bo Wen Qiang Ji, who came to answer questions for everyone. He pointed to the sand table and said: "Look, the overall terrain of this canyon is sunken like a tray, and the air flow is difficult to circulate. In addition, the trees and vegetation are dense, and some poisonous Dead branches and rotting leaves rot in the ground all year round, and miasma will form over time. If you want to get rid of the miasma here, unless you have to move mountains and fill the sea to completely change the terrain here, otherwise it is delusional."

Zhang Chi said: "It is impossible to move mountains and fill seas. If you just remove trees and fill up swamps, you can try."

So the people present began to think of ways in a hurry. Some people proposed to burn the woods, but let alone the heavy rain here every three days, the clothes were too wet to dry, and those poisonous trees and flowers were burned. The poisonous smoke produced is even more harmful, and the fire may not be able to be controlled. If it burns more and spreads to nearby counties, things will be serious. After all, there are imperial officers and soldiers around, so how can they tolerate their wantonness? presumptuous.

Another person said, anyway, the imperial court sent so many people this time, and the ants killed the elephants, so they simply cut a road to pass, and then transported sand, gravel and soil to fill all the water in the pits and ditches, and the miasma would naturally disappear. will be eliminated.Xue Baisong calmly calculated an account for them. Even without considering where to get so many tools, whether there is enough space for so many people to start work at the same time, etc., tens of thousands of people have to be mobilized for such a large project. It cost countless money and food and took several years to complete.Besides, miasma doesn't stay in places with trees in an orderly manner, and doesn't cross the border at one step. When people cut down trees to fill up soil and build roads, they will also be poisoned by miasma.

After discussing and discussing, only one helpless conclusion was reached in the end - in such a blessed valley, it is completely wishful thinking to clear the miasma.

Zhang Chi began to use other ideas: "Do we have to pass through this miasma forest? We can also try to find another way to pass."

A Wu is not optimistic about this idea: "Anyone who lives in southern Xinjiang knows that there is only one way to go to Yinyue Palace. The other directions of Yinyue Palace are cliffs that even monkeys can't climb. It’s impossible to get through, let alone people.”

"But last time we encountered a similar situation when we were in Tingquan Villa. The terrain of Tingquan Villa is also surrounded by cliffs on three sides, and the only passage is the gate of the villa. However, the Red Lotus Sect still sent a team of masters to turn over Shan Yueling sneaked into the villa, and they were almost successfully attacked by them." Zhang Chi said, "I believe that in the Wulin League, there are no fewer masters with outstanding lightness skills than the Red Lotus Sect. We can also try this method."

Xue Baisong shook his head: "The idea is good, but the cliffs on the other sides of Panlong Valley are much more difficult and difficult to climb than Tingquan Villa. And even if we can find a team of masters who are outstanding in lightness kung fu to fly over the walls and enter What's the use of Hidden Moon Palace? Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in the Red Lotus Sect can't be captured by sending a small team of masters, otherwise the imperial court wouldn't have to go to war like this."

Qin Wuqi looked at the sand table solemnly and said, "I'm afraid we have no other choice, we must find a way to pass through the Thousand Zong Forest."

***

"I understand why the Red Lotus Sect is so perverse and confident. It's been several days, and we still have nothing to do with that forest." Zhang Chi angrily grabbed the grass stems on the side of the road, and said to Mu Liuyun Complained, "The imperial court's large army is about to arrive. If we continue to fail to find a way to enter the Panlong Valley, it will only be more dangerous when thousands of people crowd into these mountains and forests. And the nail of Yinyue Palace If it cannot be removed for a day, the actions of the entire southern Xinjiang army to destroy the followers of the Red Lotus Sect will also be limited. I can't afford it."

Mu Liuyun said: "You really think about your general."

"I think that if the military expenditure is too high, the imperial court will increase the tax burden and make people's lives more difficult. And once the national power is weakened, the barbarians will invade again, and wars will break out. The Red Lotus Sect This is probably the same idea. With the advantages of the geographical advantage, they don’t need to fight us hard, and they can drag us to death.” Zhang Chi said worriedly, “And if General Lu’s expedition is unfavorable, they will also kill us.” It has become an excuse for some people to criticize him. There is a good saying that a tree is beautiful in the forest but the wind will destroy it. There are many people who dislike him in the court. I stayed under the general for several years. Regardless of feelings, I think he is the kind of person who is really doing practical things, and in this regard, I admire him a lot."