When Si Qin issued this order, he had already guessed in his heart that the Mino tribe people had probably prepared early and his men would come up empty-handed. But he hadn’t expected that the Mino tribe’s encampment outside the city was already completely deserted, without even a single soul remaining.
The person reporting back to Si Qin nervously observed the khan’s expression, fearing that Si Qin might kill him in anger. Khan A’na Ri had been hot-tempered in the past, often beheading people in rage, and though the new khan was benevolent, who could be certain he hadn’t changed after ascending to high position?
But Si Qin’s next moment dispelled his worries. He was indeed as rumored by the outside world—though angered by the Mino tribe’s betrayal, he didn’t implicate his subordinates and even said gently: “Thank you all for your hard work.”
This truly warmed the hearts of those who had long lived under A’na Ri’s tyranny. A high and mighty khan who could speak to them so amiably was truly moving.
Because of this emotion, the searchers became even more meticulous, digging three chi deep around the Mino tribe’s residence in the city. Finally, they discovered a cellar beneath the broken jar.
Everyone was filled with regret—they had smashed that large jar that day, but hadn’t thought to carefully examine what was underneath. If they had been more careful that day, they might have been able to capture those two murderers!
All the Mino tribe people had disappeared.
After confirming this news, Si Qin ordered the withdrawal of the city search teams, saying: “No need to search the city anymore. They must have escaped together with the Mino tribe people. Such a large group cannot disappear without a trace. There aren’t many young and strong men among them—mostly old, weak, women, and children. They cannot move easily, and in such cold weather, migrating over four thousand people will definitely leave traces of their daily life. Pay attention to tracking these traces—don’t miss any clues!”
Because the khan didn’t blame them, these hot-blooded men became even more moved and guilty, feeling that the murderers who killed Khan A’na Ri had escaped due to their negligence, yet the khan didn’t blame them. If they weren’t serious now, they would be letting down their own consciences.
Just as Si Qin’s people were intensively tracking down the whereabouts of the Mino tribe, Qin Yining and Lu Heng were walking with the Ha’er Bala brothers, leading the Mino tribespeople across the snow-covered wilderness.
Qin Yining said worriedly to Lu Heng: “With such a massive group, it’s impossible not to leave traces. We can only hope their pursuit will be slower.”
Lu Heng trudged through the snow, his feet making crunching sounds, panting from exhaustion: “Si Qin has just ascended to power and will definitely reorganize everything. We’re taking advantage of this gap. Once he becomes angry and mobilizes his army to capture people, none of us will survive. When we make camp tonight, I’ll discuss this with them. Wanting to migrate is normal, but walking together with us fugitives is too risky.”
“In the end, we’ve implicated them,” Qin Yining felt somewhat guilty.
Lu Heng said: “They were also oppressed by A’na Ri to the point where they couldn’t bear it anymore. Even without us, they would have migrated.”
“That may be so, but migrating together with us two increases their danger. Now Si Qin might send troops to pursue us, but if they traveled alone, the pursuers probably wouldn’t bother chasing a group of old, weak, women, and children.”
“That’s true.” Upon hearing this, Lu Heng also felt Qin Yining’s analysis made sense and immediately went to communicate with Ha’er Bala and Chagan Bala.
After explaining all of Qin Yining’s analysis, he said: “I’m mainly worried they’ll be implicated by us. If we part ways before entering the desert, as long as they tell the pursuers that we abandoned them long ago, I believe Si Qin, newly ascended to power, won’t harm their lives for the sake of his reputation as a benevolent ruler.
“But if they stay with us and cross the desert together, we’ll lose at least half of them. After all, they’re all weak, and how many could persist in crossing the desert? Also, with so many people traveling together, food and shelter become issues, the target becomes larger, and we’re very likely to be caught up with. Then the entire Mino tribe would be annihilated.”
Actually, when Qin Yining and Lu Heng brought up this matter, Ha’er Bala and Chagan Bala were also quietly discussing it.
They had initially aimed to leave the capital, determined to take all their tribespeople away to avoid further oppression by the Tatar royal family. If they left, they could rest and recover outside, but if they stayed in the capital, they might gradually be consumed and perish.
But among the over four thousand tribespeople, most were old, weak, women, and children, with only a small portion being men, some of whom had disabilities from previous injuries.
Such a group, when the Mino tribe lacked mounts and resources, moved at varying speeds due to different physical conditions. The fast walkers had to wait for the slow ones, and even so, the old and weak were gradually showing signs of falling behind.
If they brought everyone, Si Qin’s people would probably catch up soon.
But if they didn’t bring them and left them outside the desert, they would inevitably face Si Qin’s investigation, and they worried Si Qin might torture them.
At this time, night had fallen. The wilderness was swept by fierce winds, and the previously fine snow gradually turned into heavy snowflakes that were carried by the cold wind to hit people’s faces like knives.
Everyone was shivering from cold. Qin Yining, Lu Heng, and the others were somewhat better off—though they weren’t wearing silk or satin, at least they had cotton clothes. In such freezing weather, they could grit their teeth and endure.
But many of the women and children who had been A’na Ri’s laborers for over a year wore only tattered single garments. Some even wore straw shoes, their toes and skin frozen red and swollen with ulcers.
In such conditions, how could they cross the desert with its extreme day-night temperature differences?
“You’re right,” Ha’er Bala said through chattering teeth, looking around at the vast, bleak environment while rubbing his red, cold fingers. “We can’t continue like this. If we keep going, I’m afraid no one will be able to withstand the desert’s trials. We’re already fleeing for our lives—if we drag this out, the entire tribe might be exhausted.”
Chagan Bala nodded, already so cold his tongue was almost frozen: “We should make camp today, let everyone light fires to warm up, and we should also calm down and think of countermeasures.”
Actually, at this critical juncture, they really shouldn’t stop but should continue forward.
But in the current situation, if they kept going, the old, weak, women, and children would probably start dying before the pursuers even arrived.
If the tribespeople died like this, they would feel heartbroken and regretful.
More importantly, if such things happened, it would be a heavy blow to everyone’s morale. When facing Si Qin’s people in the future, who would have the courage to resist?
It was truly a dilemma.
To preserve most people’s lives, everyone had to stop and make camp, using the materials they brought to simply set up tents.
Four thousand people busily worked with great enthusiasm. Though facing severe cold, heavy snow, and hunger, hearing they could rest, everyone actively busied themselves.
Qin Yining, Lu Heng, Chagan Bala, Ha’er Bala, along with several other respected tribal elders and former generals who had fought in wars but were now disabled with one arm, all gathered in Ha’er Bala’s tent.
A campfire was lit in the center, and everyone sat around the fire in silence.
Qin Yining didn’t understand Tatar, so the negotiations could only rely on Lu Heng.
Lu Heng coughed for a long time, coughing until his face was red, then said: “My point is that we cannot let the tribespeople lose their lives for nothing. Such a massive migration could have accidents even under well-prepared conditions, let alone with pursuers behind us.”
“I think the same,” said the one-armed uncle named A’er Han. “Having all the tribespeople rush through the desert is almost impossible. My opinion is to leave some men to protect the old, weak, women, and children who cannot continue the migration, let them find a nearby uninhabited place to live temporarily, waiting for good news from us.”
Ha’er Bala nodded: “I agree with Uncle A’er Han. The remaining majority will cross the desert together to find a resting place on the Great Zhou border. After settling down stably, we can come back to fetch our tribespeople.”
“But this way, won’t the tribespeople feel abandoned?” Chagan Bala said worriedly. “Everyone barely managed to survive—if they’re abandoned by their tribespeople like this, won’t the remaining people be heartbroken?”
“But bringing them along, they would almost certainly die. Staying behind, the new khan might spare them for being pitiful women and children.”
Lu Heng looked at the silent Qin Yining beside him and translated their conversation to her.
Qin Yining thought for a moment and said: “Actually, brief indignation isn’t because we want to abandon everyone. We who plan to cross the desert are taking such risks to seek a better way out for everyone. The original Mino tribe was so powerful, living self-sufficiently, but what about now? Living a slave life worse than pigs and dogs—even one of A’na Ri’s horses was more precious than a person.
“If everyone stays, they might survive, but is what everyone wants really just to barely survive? Do they really not care whether the Mino tribe can revive?”
The others in the tent couldn’t understand Qin Yining’s words, but the one-armed Uncle A’er Han understood.
He said in not-very-fluent Great Zhou language: “You’re right. We cannot forever be the khan’s slaves. The Mino tribe is a great tribe. If it completely declines and disappears like this, we would have no face to meet our ancestors when we die.”
Qin Yining smiled and nodded: “Uncle is right. People live for dignity—barely surviving isn’t called living. If we submit now, then our descendants will all live under the khan’s oppression in the future—one generation slaves, every generation slaves. Our descendants would be too pitiful.
“We struggle now for dignity, for our children and grandchildren to live with straight backs.
“Men, women, elderly, children—a complete tribe. Not one of these people can be missing; each is the tribe’s hope. Although I suggest leaving the physically unable portion outside the desert—mostly elderly, women, and children—this portion of people will be the greatest force for rebuilding homes after the Mino tribe settles down.
“I believe that telling the tribespeople these words, they will understand. And we who cross the desert seeking life are just warriors fighting for the majority of tribespeople.”