Lord of the Desert

Chapter 320
"When the wind comes, the sky turns yellow, just like a quilt covering the ground."

The old farmer was holding a cigarette rod and sitting on a bluestone on the top of the hill.

"That wind is not an ordinary wind."

"The wind carries a knife, which can cut down trees and blow stones into pieces..."

Just thinking back to that scene, his eyes were already straightened.

He held his breath for a long time.

The old farmer calmed down and took two puffs of cigarette.

The quality of the tobacco was very poor, and it was very choking. Fortunately, it still couldn't help his lungs, which were as rough as mountains.

"Is anyone dead?"

Hong Fan sat on an adjacent stone and looked at the loess land several kilometers wide in front of him.

The turf, shrubs and trees were all crushed into pieces, and scattered with green like green onions.

"A few must have died."

The old farmer said in a casual tone.

"Who won't die yet?"

He laughed again.

Hong Fan nodded.

He took out a few pieces of broken silver and stuffed them into the old farmer's hand, watched the other farmer put the treasure away, and then turned and headed east.

Pang County is ten miles away.

A small county town with less than 2 people.

The city wall is only five meters high, and the top is so narrow that only two people can stand shoulder to shoulder.

Hong Fan visited the city gate from a distance.

A team of guards armed with guns and knives were very strict, and everyone had to check the procedures when entering or leaving.

So Hong Fan went around to a quiet place and climbed over the wall directly into the city.

Pang County is very depressed, and all the clothes and houses look old.

Hong Fan walked freely along the street and encountered several waves of patrol soldiers and street-cleaning tigers along the way.

But no one cares about his business, and instead he avoids him.

In the Huaiyang Kingdom these days, if you see a stranger with a handsome face and neat clothes, you will look very evil just by looking at him.

So he turned around half of the county without any hindrance.

Most of the shops that were open for business were deserted, and the waiters did not take the initiative to solicit customers.

There are a few stalls at some slightly crowded street corners.

What is sold is not things, but people.

The sellers are the biological parents, and the people being sold are their minor children.

For those over 15 years old, one year old is worth one tael of silver.

Those under ten years old have no labor yet, so they can only be worth three or five taels.

Hong Fan looked at it for a moment, feeling uncomfortable.

It’s not that human lives are measured in money – human trafficking is not uncommon in Xijing.

But the prices here are too low.

Along the way, he discovered something particularly strange in Pang County.

There are no beggars here.

Shen Shizheng (four o'clock in the afternoon), the sun is tired.

Hong Fan visited Penghu and then went to see Gaomen.

The most luxurious courtyard in Pang County is the county governor's office.

Unsurprisingly, the county guard's surname is Tang.

The Tang family is the only second-class family in Anmin County.

In the 20 years since Fengjianke went into seclusion, Duanli City, the capital of the county, has almost become an independent kingdom of the Tang family.

Hong Fan entered through the back door of the government office and passed through the courtyard and garden pavilion. He heard the sound of laughter coming out of the window.

In a side room connected to the main hall, seven or eight dancers are dressing up.

Hong Fan climbed onto the roof beam like a gust of wind.

The sound of silk and bamboo next door is clear.

The women first applied hosta powder.

Bai Jiasi once mentioned this thing - pouring lead powder into the hosta flower buds and steaming them in a pot, which not only removes the mercury poison, but also retains the aroma of the hosta flower.

They then put on rouge and painted their eyebrows with luozidai.

Then use a little sesame oil to smear the rice-washed hair until it shines under the light.

Sprinkling toilet water is the final step.

The sound of silk and bamboo changed its tune.

The dancers lined up and entered the main hall.

Jump, spin.

Hong Fan sat high on the beam, not watching the dance, but only watching the first three people.

The one in the middle is the county magistrate, a noble member of the Tang family.The person on the left is the county magistrate, the chief official of the county.

The person on the right is the captain, who leads the military in the county.

After watching for a moment, Hong Fan didn't do anything.

At this time, with his strength, he could vent his anger to as many people as he wanted in the hall.

But tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, when he leaves, someone will set up a trap or search to vent the same hatred on the people of Pang County.

Before the song was finished, Hong Fan left quietly.

He went to the county government kitchen, hoping to finish the dinner of the nobles.

However, looking at the chefs who were serving the dishes as if they were facing a formidable enemy, they finally left silently.

The suffering from Niutoushan to Pang County cannot be simply attributed to those few people watching the dance.

Things like hosta powder and snail powder are certainly valuable, but they are not things that can fill your stomach.

In terms of luxury, the county magistrate of the Tang family is far inferior to Shen Tiexin and Liu Xingxian.

It's just that it's particularly eye-catching here.

The night is getting darker.

As Gan Deshou said, apart from the inns used by officials, there is not a single inn in Pang County.

Huaiyang State has been under strict control in recent years, and people cannot move around at will.

Fortunately, Hong Fan was prepared beforehand.

He gently knocked on the wooden door of the fourth bungalow in Orphan Lane.

"Is it Chen Laoji's house?"

"Who are you looking for?"

An impatient voice sounded inside.

"Come to buy cattle."

Hong Fan replied.

As soon as this cut came out, there were rapid footsteps inside the wall.

The door opened a crack, revealing half of his old face, with ravine-like wrinkles growing on it.

Two triangular eyes with droopy eyelids glanced at Hong Fan.

"My cattle are not for sale."

"Let's take a look at the assembly?"

After making the incision, Chen Old Jackal took a step back and let the person in.

He already knew that this person came to stay overnight from Niutoushan.

Hong Fan followed the old man and sat down in the dark back room. He habitually opened the way with a few taels of silver and quickly started the old man's conversation.

"There used to be beggars on the street, but then they were all arrested."

Chen Laojiao replied.

He collected the money and rarely lit an oil lamp.

"The arrests have been going on for about ten years."

"It used to be less, but now it's more; for example, in Pang County, 300 households, about [-] people, were removed every month."

The old man glanced carefully out the window.

"Do you know why you arrested people?"

Hong Fan asked again.

"They say it's a call for corvee service."

Chen Laojiao replied without thinking.

"In fact, those who left never came back - some said they were exhausted, some said they were sold to Dahua..."

"It is also said that this recruitment is actually a means by the royal court to suppress the subordinates. Those who left have all settled in the royal city."

He said, secretly looking at Hong Fan's face.

Hong Fan was noncommittal and expressionless.

Seeing that the atmosphere was not good, Chen Old Jackal scratched his head and stood up on his own initiative, saying he wanted to go next door.

After a while, he brought back two eggs, put them on the stove and lay down.

Hong Fan didn't refuse and swallowed the other person's kindness in a few mouthfuls.

Chen Laozhen continued to show off his knowledge.

"The most powerful one in Pang County should be Colonel Lu, right? He is said to be more powerful than the average Huran Realm."

"The "Thousands of Thoughts" passed down by the Tang family is so powerful. Just point your finger and the sword will fly out and kill people."

"The old master of the Gong family is holding a magic weapon. It is said that one knife can cut out a sea of ​​fire..."

Later, Hong Fan also expressed his praise.

"Old man, you know a lot!"

"Well, if I don't have two more ears than ordinary people, how can I do this as an old man?"

Chen Laojiao was very proud.

PS: I have been busy going back to my hometown for the past two days. Fortunately, I have saved three chapters of manuscripts, otherwise I would have to run out of food.

(End of this chapter)