Lord of the Desert

Chapter 302
April 29, the [-]th year of Zhenghe.

Xiaoman has passed, but the awns have not yet arrived.

Liangzhou hasn't had enough rain yet, but the wheat seeds in the fields are already full.

It was just after Mao hour (five o'clock in the morning), and the sun was still resting on the dark mountain shoulders. On the road fifty miles east of Jinhai City, a dozen strong men began to be busy.

Their strong-muscled war horses were scattered on the roadside, untied, picking and eating crops by themselves.

The old farmer who was working was not angry, but looked on leisurely.

Everyone within a hundred miles knew that the Jinhai Hong family would not take advantage of everyone; if the crops were damaged by horses, there would be money to make up for it afterwards, just a lot more.

Two-quarters of an hour later, a simple shed was built with bamboo poles and hay.

There are two square tables and benches borrowed from nearby villages in the shed.

Not long after, a heavy manger made of bluestone was also carried over and placed beside it.

After confirming that the preparations were correct, Hong Ming, who was dressed in a brocade robe, came out of the shed and looked towards the eastern horizon.

The mountains are low but continuous.

The earthy yellow road looks like a small river flowing out of it.

Unknowingly, another hour passed.

Hong Ming turned back countless times on the road and even broke several of his beloved beards.

At this time, there was finally a figure in the distance.

"I'm coming!"

Hong Jie shouted loudly.

Zhu Yiqi, who entered in the same batch as Hong Fan, had already penetrated the middle section of cultivation with the abundant supply of elixirs.

Hong Ming thought he was reckless and glared at him, then quickly looked back.

The knight galloped under the guard of the wheat field and was soon approaching.

Wearing the uniform of a martial arts academy, he also carried a triangular postal flag.

This cannot be wrong.

More than a dozen people came forward to greet him.

"Master, are you going to Jinhai Zhangwu Academy?"

Hong Ming asked impatiently.

Of course, Yizu is not an "official" and his status among the people is not high, but today is different from the past.

"You must be from the Jin Haihong family, right?"

The knight smiled back.

"The things I brought are exactly from Xijing, and they are to be sent to Jinhai Zhangwu Academy."

As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked.

"Please come down and have a rest!"

Hong Jie stepped forward and helped him enthusiastically.

Then the postman was invited into the hut, served hot tea and cakes, and received a heavy red cloth bag.

There is at least two or three levels.

The refined grain mixed with eggs was poured into the manger, specially for the dusty stagecoach.

Whenever other horses come close to me, they will be chased away in disgust.

An hour later.

Hong Ming led a team to escort Yiqi to Zhangwuyuan and then returned home smoothly.

At the gate, Hong Li was leaning on crutches, obviously waiting for a long time.

And behind him, there were even more people, old and young, crowded.

"How to say?"

Hong Li asked when he saw Hong Ming coming in.

At a glance, the latter saw ears pricked everywhere.

"The envoy has been sent to Zhangwuyuan, everything is ready!"

Hong Ming replied in a loud voice, a little hoarse.

"I met with Gongsun Wujian, and he gave me the right words. I will wait until tomorrow to make the list and release it the day after tomorrow!"

There was an instant bang at the gate of Hong Mansion.

The eyebrows, eyes, mouth, and face are all uplifted and enthusiastic.

"Okay, okay!"

Hong Li rarely lost his composure and kept tapping his cane.

"Thank you for your hard work, go and have a rest."

He patted Hong Ming's shoulder and looked at Qiu De beside him.

"Are you ready? Don't let anything go wrong!"

"Don't worry, Mr. Li!"

Qiude replied in a low voice, full of confidence.

"All the animals have been purchased and a third of them have been slaughtered."

"Colored silks, lanterns, tables and chairs are also ready. They are all new and will be hung up early tomorrow morning!"

Hong Li nodded when he heard this.

Seek the ability of the great steward to be time-tested and unquestionable.

But at this time, he just couldn't let go.

"This running water banquet will take ten days. The dishes cannot be empty and the manpower must be kept full..."

Hong Li said things he had said countless times over and over again.

Qiude answered again and again.

The questions and answers were all filled with irrepressible laughter.

Under the clouds, people scattered like ants.

The Hong Mansion quickly started up like a clockwork machine.

······
The first day of May.

The sun was shining a little, but it couldn't stop the crowds of people on Anning Street.In the middle of the street, marked by Tinghai Pavilion, even the yamen from the Zhangwuyuan and the City Shoufu could no longer maintain their positions and were swept away in the flow of people.

It is said that some well-informed neighbors came last night to occupy a good position, and the soldiers of the City Defense Department also rarely relaxed the curfew.

Two quarters of an hour later, it was noon.

In anticipation of everyone, a man wearing a martial arts uniform strode out from across the street, carrying a huge yellow paper on his shoulders.

Without any orders, the long and crowded streets fell silent.

First, the human voice disappeared, and only the sound of breathing remained.

In the end, even the sound of breathing gradually became inaudible, as if everyone was holding their breath.

Listening to the Penglai Hall of Haige, Cui Yutang wiped the sweat from his hands on the hem of his clothes.

Not only are I nervous looking at the results, but I am also nervous when the results are released.

Two firecrackers were hung from the top of a tall pole more than [-] meters long.

When the time came, the one on the left crackled first, but the one on the right was still mute.

The yamen servant holding the fuse was actually trembling in his wrists, and he couldn't reach the fuse for a long time.

After a while, the sound of firecrackers went away and the smoke dispersed.

The big man in military uniform grabbed Huang Bang and exhaled loudly.

"In the 29th year of Zhenghe, the fourth issue of the Four Rankings of Zhangwuyuan is released!"

He stood up like an ape and hit the pole.

The bright yellow brocade flew down, and when it was stretched straight, there was a thunderous sound.

As usual, the first thing to be revealed were the two ink characters as big as wheels at the top.

"Tian Bang".

But this time no one "attended" to the martial saints.

Everyone glanced down, skipping the second list of heaven and earth, and looked at the list of geniuses first.

And he is at the bottom of the list of geniuses.

"No. 1 on the list of geniuses, 'Thousand Pointed Star' Tang Xingqing, from the Tang family in Huaiyang Kingdom, practices "Qiansi Nian"..."

"No. 90 on the Prodigy List..."

"No. 90 on the Talent List, Fan Zhengzhi, the 'Breaking Sword', a native of Hongyi City, Liangzhou..."

Several names were read noisily, and many people became anxious.

"Why not?"

"Could it be possible?!"

Just when the long street was in chaos, there was a cry that stood out and suppressed everything.

"82, yes 82!"

All the literate people looked over in response.

Most people who are illiterate are getting more and more anxious.

"Where's the list reader?"

"Eat dry food..."

"Dog x..."

All kinds of shouts and curses came up.

It turns out that until this moment, the yamen official who read the list had not said anything.

He is also looking at the list of geniuses.

"Yes, sorry."

The yamen hurriedly started work.

"No. [-] on the Heavenly Ranking, 'Qi Zhenshanhe' Xiao Ding, Shenjing..."

As soon as the voice came out, it was drowned by the outpouring of curses.

"Go to hell with your mother-in-law!"

"What a fool, who wants to listen to him?"

"Read 82, fuck me!"

Seeing the outrage of the crowd, the yamen officer immediately felt blessed and skipped nearly two hundred names.

"No. 80 on the Tianjiao List, 'Red Sand' Hong Fan, born on September [-]th, the [-]th year of Zhenghe, a native of Jinhai, Liangzhou, and the Star Master of the Sand World."

The whole place fell silent immediately.

"Also studied the family tradition "Yanliu Kung", reached the realm of harmony between heaven and man, and created the first-level killing method "Sand Wing", the second-level killing method "Sand Sword", "Desolate Sand Armor", and "Sand Shotgun".

"I started practicing martial arts at the age of 15. In March 27th, my natal star was in position. I am thoughtful, intelligent and knowledgeable."

"In December of the 28th year of Zhenghe, Hong Fan and his three Hunran Tiqi defeated the 'Fanjiang Jiaolong' Ao Zhiji."

"On March 29th in the [-]th year of Zhenghe, Hong Fan and Qu Luoyi entered the Shen Family Wuzhen Garden in Xijing and killed Ao Zhixian with his own hands."

"On the fourth day of April in the 29th year of Zhenghe, Hong Fan fought to the death with the 'Red Faced God' Su Peifeng at the center of Xianzun Bridge in Xijing, and was killed by Lily Queen."

"On the fifth day of April in the 29th year of Zhenghe, Hong Fan's "Yanliu Gong" broke into the realm of interaction between heaven and man."

After reading the full text of Hong Fan, the long street was solemn and silent.

The yamen officer cleared his throat and planned to work normally.

"No. [-] on the Heavenly List, 'Qi Zhenshanhe' Xiao..."

Then, the sounds in the streets and alleys burst out like a volcano, crushing the last half of Xiao Ding's name into the wind.

"The genius No. 19 II who is under 80 years old..."

"Jinhai has another genius!"

"It's me, the second young master of the Hong family!"

"It's my big brother!"

"Wow!"

PS: An update today.

I wrote a [-]-word explanation, which should be able to answer most of your questions about the previous volume.

The outline of the third volume is not complete yet, so there will be fewer updates in the past few days.

(End of this chapter)