Chapter 21 Chapter 21

(Yangyuan) Sheep stood on a hanging rock without any effort, with two long horns on her head bent towards the sky, a small goatee on her chin, and her eyes watching the miners who were slowly moving forward under the sun. "(Yangyuan) sheep" is a symbol of peace and nobility in hieroglyphs, and also represents a life that exists according to the will of God. "Over there! We killed it!" - shouted a miner. "Shut up, you idiot!" Avery snapped. "That's the protector of the mine. Kill him and we're all dead." After the big ram climbed up the steep slope, it made a big jump and disappeared on the other side of the mountain.

After five days of non-stop walking, the whole team was exhausted, only Avery was still as energetic as before the departure.Su Ti was still very strong, and the vast scenery gave him strength again.Neither the tyranny of the expedition leader nor the grueling itinerary will shake his resolve. After the thick, strong captain with a beard ordered everyone to assemble, he climbed up a big rock.Only in this way can these vagrants appear smaller under his feet. "The desert is huge," he said in a booming voice. "You are no better than an ant in the desert. Look at you, always crying out for thirst, like a bunch of crippled old women. You don't deserve to be Miners are not worthy to go underground to hunt for treasure. But I brought you here. These metal mines are more valuable than you. When you dig wildly on the side of the mountain, the mountain will feel pain, so it will find a way Swallow you for revenge. Those who are not capable will have to ask for their own blessings. Start camp now, and start work at dawn tomorrow."

The workers started to set up tents, and the first one to be set up was the team leader's. Because it was too heavy, the five workers who carried it were so tired that they couldn't even breathe.With Avery watching, they spread out their tent very carefully and erected it in the middle of the camp.Then some prepared the supper, some moistened the ground to keep the dust from rising, and others quenched their thirst with the cool water from the sheepskin bags.Fortunately, a well was drilled in the mining area, so there was no shortage of water. Su Ti was suddenly kicked in his sleep, and the pain made his whole body feel like it was about to split open.

"Get up," Avery ordered. Su Ti held back his anger and did as he said. "Everyone who comes here gets in some trouble. What about you?" "That's my secret." "I want you to tell." "Don't bother me." "I hate people who play tricks the most." Hearing the captain's slightly threatening tone, Su Ti had no choice but to respond: "I sneaked away from the labor team." "Where's the labor force?" "The village where I live is near Thebes. They want me to go to Memphis to dredge the canal, but I would rather escape here and try my luck as a miner."

"I don't like the way you look. I believe you must be lying." "I want to get rich. No one can stop me, and neither can you." "Boy, you are unbearable. I must beat you. Let's fight with bare hands." Avery appointed a referee.This person's task is to rule out the fouler, as long as he doesn't bite, it doesn't matter how he hits. At the beginning, the bearded man rushed towards Su Ti unexpectedly, grabbed his upper body and lifted him over his head. After turning around a few times, he threw him a few meters away. Su Ti, whose skin was broken, endured the pain in his shoulder and stood up.Avery put his hands on his hips and looked at his opponent with contempt.The other miners laughed.

"If you have the guts, go for it." Hearing his provocative words, Avery rushed forward without hesitation, but this time his long arm caught nothing.Suti avoided the blow at the last moment, which gave him renewed confidence.Avery, who is fully sure of his own strength, always comes and goes like this.Su Ti couldn't help but secretly thank the gods...although gods don't exist...for allowing him to have a warlike childhood, so that he can learn fighting skills.More than a dozen times before and after, he cleverly avoided the opponent's disorderly attack.Suti's dodging irritated Avery to the extreme, and he began to tire and lose his mind.At this time, Su Ti should not be allowed to make mistakes, otherwise he would be smashed to pieces if he was caught.He hooked his legs flexibly, causing Ai Fulai to lose his center of gravity, and then his figure slipped under the opponent's swaying huge body, and finally he pulled hard on his neck with his own strength.Avery fell hard to the ground, and Suti straddled the back of his neck, threatening to break his neck.

"Well done, boy!" the defeated captain beat the sand with his fist and surrendered. "Damn you." "If you kill me. The desert police will not let you go." "I don't care. I sent so many people to die, and you're not the first." Avery started to feel scared: "What do you want?" "I want you to swear to never mistreat anyone on your team again." The miners on the side stopped laughing, and everyone gathered around to listen to the captain's answer. Su Ti urged impatiently: "Hurry up, or you will break your neck."

"Okay, I swear to Minshen!" "I also swear to Hador, the goddess of the Western Mountains, and say it." "I swear to Hador, the goddess of the Western Mountains." Suti let him go.A vow made before so many gods cannot be counted.If Avery breaks his oath, he will bear a lifetime of infamy and will never be reborn. The miners immediately cheered loudly and raised Suga high.When the atmosphere of joy subsided, he said to everyone in a firm tone: "Avery is the one who decides here, because only he knows the path, water point and mining area. Without him, we can't go back to the valley. Everyone Just listen to him and hope he keeps his promises and everything will be fine."

The bearded man put his hand on Su Ti's shoulder with a face full of surprise, "Boy, you are not only strong, but also very smart." Then he pulled him aside and said, "I really lost my sight." "I want to get rich." "We can be friends." "It has to be good for me." "It will be beneficial, boy." * * * Several women are slowly bringing tribute into Hattusha's royal palace: they are wearing white robes, with a suspender crossed on the upper body over their bare chest, and a diamond-shaped bead-net smock over the top, The wigs on the head were tied up with ribbons, each of them looked so innocent and beautiful, even Dennis felt his blood spurt when he saw it.Every time he travels far away, he always has an affair behind Madam Ninofa's back, but he has done a good job of keeping it secret, and he must do it well.His reputation was ruined when rumors spread, so he never had a regular mistress and was always content with brief one-night stands.Although he occasionally makes love to his wife, Ninofa's repeated indifference gives him an excuse to seek extramarital affairs. The harem master comes to the garden to find him.He wanted to take the opportunity to ask the manager for a girl, but in the end he gave up.

The harem is a work-focused economic center, not a lowly pleasure-seeking place.Dainis asked to see Ramesses' Hittite wife in the name of a transporter. The four corners of the hall where she met him had a pillar, the walls were painted bright yellow, and the floor was a red and green mosaic pattern. Hattusha sat—on a solid ebony chair with armrests on either side and gilded legs.Her dark eyes, fair skin, and slender fingers all show the exotic charm of Asian women.Dennis didn't dare to be slight in front of her. "It's so thin," she said bitterly. "I am the transporter, and you are the hostess of the late rich. Who would suspect our meeting?" "But you used to think it was dangerous."

"The situation has changed greatly. Pazar has now become the elder of the gate hall. With this status, he has obstructed my actions in many ways." "What does this have to do with me?" "I wonder if you've changed your mind?" "Ramesses mocked me and humiliated my people! I must take revenge." Dennis touched the short white mustache on his chin with satisfaction, "You will get your wish, Wang Ji. Our goals are still the same. Ramses is a fatuous and incompetent tyrant, he will only stick to outdated traditions, yes There is no prospect of the future at all. The timing is getting better and better for us, but some of my teammates can't wait, so we decided to make Ramses even more unpopular." "Can this shake his position?" Wang Hao questioned. Dai Nisi couldn't help but feel nervous, he couldn't reveal too much inside information.Cooperating with this Hittite princess is only a temporary measure. After the Pharaoh steps down, she must be eradicated as soon as possible. "You have to trust us, our plan is absolutely foolproof." "Be careful, Dennis, Ramses is a shrewd and brave warrior." "He's already at the mercy of us." Hattusha's eyes flashed with excitement: "Can't I know a little more?" "It's useless to tell you, and there will be risks." Hattusha curled her lips, the suppressed anger made her look even more attractive. "what do you want me to do?" "Disrupt all shipments of goods. In Memphis I can do it without difficulty, but in Thebes I need your help. If successful, the Pharaoh will be discontented. The economy of the country is depressed, and his throne will be ruined." Not sure." "How many people do you want to buy!" "Not much. But it's important. The chief clerk who controls food deliveries has to make mistakes. Administrative investigations are complicated and will take a lot of time, but we only need a few weeks to create chaos." "My henchmen will take action." Dainis didn't have any confidence in this plan, and this time he attacked Pharaoh again, the effect should be very limited.But he at least reassured Hattusha. "I want to tell you a secret," he whispered. "Say it." He walked forward and lowered his voice: "In a few months, I will have a batch of amazing iron." Hattusha's eyes showed that she was interested.Using the magical function of the god iron, there is another new weapon to deal with Ramses. "What price do you want?" "Pay three gold bars first, and pay three more in the future." "When you leave the harem, you'll have gold in your duffel bag." Dennis bowed and stepped back.His accomplices were unaware of this transaction, and the princess would never get the magic iron.Dai Nisi was really ecstatic to sell something he no longer owns and still get such a huge profit.It is not difficult to appease Wang Yao, if she reacts too violently, he can put the blame on Xie Qi.The groveling, obedient personality of the moustachioed chemist had already helped him a great deal. * * * The maid brought some bamboo shoots, red-skinned white radish and a stalk of artemisia.Celix herself and the seasoning. "Thank you for accepting our invitation." Mei Feng said to Nefiri and Pazar, "It is our honor to invite you to dine with us." "You must not be so polite." Pazar emphasized. On a copper plate on a small round table the cook put a few roasted lamb chops, along with some courgettes and baby green beans.The fresh and delicious meals make the guests full of praise.Sirix wore a pair of delicate and beautiful earrings, two small discs adorned with rosettes and spirals. "I had a very frightening dream," she told her guests. "I dreamed that I drank several mugs of hot beer in a row. I was so worried that I went to a dream interpreter. The results of his analysis terrified me! He said This dream represents property being stolen." "You don't have to worry too much, dream interpreters often make mistakes," Nefiri reassured her. "I hope it is as you say." "My wife is too anxious. Can you prescribe her some medicine?" Meifeng asked. After dinner, Nefiri prescribed a few doses of sedative decoction for Sirix, while Meifeng and Pazar went for a walk in the garden. "I'm not in the mood to appreciate nature at all," Meifeng sighs. "My working hours are getting longer and longer. Every night when I come home, the children are asleep. Can't watch them grow, can't play with them, yes It's too much sacrifice for me. I've got to manage the barn, I've got the paper business, I've got the treasury . . . not enough hours in the day! Don't you think?" "Yes, I often feel that way. Being the elder of the gate hall is not easy at all." "Has there been any progress in the investigation of General Asher?" "It's starting to slow down." "There is an unusual incident that worries me very much. I want to remind you. You know that Hattusha Wang Ji has a very aggressive personality, and she never forgave Ramses for leaving her home." "Her hostility is indeed obvious." Pazar nodded. "How far will she go? It would be tantamount to committing suicide if she openly defied the Pharaoh and conspired against him. However, she recently received an unexpected visitor: the transporter Dainis." "Are you sure?" Pazar asked in surprise. "A business partner of mine went to the harem and saw a man who looked like Dennis. He was surprised and asked the people in the palace, and it really was him, that's right." Hearing what Mei Feng said with such certainty, Pazar found it inconceivable. "Would Dennis have such a ridiculous move?" "Hartusa has her own merchant fleet. But the harem is an institution affiliated to the state, and private transporters can't play much role at all. If it's purely a courtesy visit, what's the meaning of it?" The Pharaoh's second concubine, Princess Herb, is allied with a conspirator... Mei Feng's deduction is of some importance.Could it be that Hattusha is the mastermind, and Dainis is just one of the people carrying out the order?Such a conclusion would be too hasty.No one knows the content of their conversation, but it is vaguely known that this meeting involves a combination that endangers the interests of the country and the people. "Their collusion is suspicious, Pazar." "How much impact will it have?" "I don't know. Have you ever thought that the neighboring country in the north might be planning to invade? Yes, Ramses has indeed wiped out the Hittite rebellion, but don't they really have no ambition to expand their territories?" "So, Asher is the necessary middleman." The clearer the outline of the enemy, the more difficult the upcoming battle and the more uncertain the future. * * * that night.The messengers from the palace went to Nefiri with a letter from Tuya, Ramses' queen mother.The empress dowager hopes to see her as soon as possible.Although Tuya lives in seclusion in the inner courtyard of the palace, she is still extremely powerful in the palace.She has an arrogant personality, hates the mediocre and lowly, and often makes suggestions on state affairs but does not directly give orders. In order to protect this great country, she is indeed conscientious for fear of failure.Ramses not only admires and loves his mother deeply, since his beloved wife Nefertari disappeared, her mother has become the only object he confides to.Some people also said with certainty that all Ramses' decisions were discussed with the empress dowager in advance. There are a lot of palace people under Tuya, and there is a palace in every important city.There are more than twenty rooms in the palace in Memphis, and there is also a four-way hall dedicated to receiving distinguished visitors.A chamberlain led Nefiri to the Queen's room. Sixty-year-old Tuya is a thin woman with sharp eyes, a pointed and straight nose, and wrinkled cheeks.She wore a formal wig befitting her status, shaped like a vulture's wings around her face. "Even I have heard about your fame. Prime Minister Baji has never praised others easily, but he also praised your miraculous medical skills." "Your Majesty, I can list many examples of my failures. A doctor who can boast of his achievements should change his career." "I'm not feeling well, and I need to rely on your ability. Those assistants in Nebamon don't understand anything." "What's wrong with Her Majesty the Queen Mother?" "Eyes. Besides that, I have a severe pain in my stomach, I can't hear well, and my neck is stiff." Nefeli quickly diagnosed abnormal secretions from the uterus.She added high-quality oil to the balm and heated it, and asked the queen mother to perform smoke therapy. After checking her eyes, she was even more worried—granular conjunctivitis, that is, trachoma with eye inflammation, may turn into glaucoma. The queen mother saw the doctor's uneasiness, so she said, "Let's be honest." "I know this kind of disease can be cured, but it takes a long time for treatment, and the queen mother must pay more attention to it." In the future, when the queen mother gets up together, she will wash her eyes with a potion made of marijuana, which is very effective against glaucoma.A salve, also made from marijuana and honey, is applied topically.It can relieve the pain caused by abnormal secretion of the uterus.Another remedy, based on black flint, can reduce inflammation in the corner of the eye and eliminate unhealthy discharge.For the treatment of trachoma, the patient applied to the eyelids an ointment containing labdanum, galena, tortoise bile, yellow ochre, and Nubian soil.Finally, eye drops are administered from a hollowed-out vulture quill.To prepare eye drops, mix aloe vera, chrysocolla, medicinal watermelon powder, acacia leaves, and ebony slices with cold water to make a paste. After drying, grind and add water, and then place the finished product outside the house to be moistened with dew. be filtered.In addition to being directly applied to the eyes, the potion should also be made into a dressing for external application, four times a day. "I'm really old and sick," sighed the Queen Mother. "I don't like to take so much trouble taking care of myself." "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is ill. So it takes a little time to heal, and she will recover later." "It seems that no matter how unhappy I am, I have to listen to you. You can accept this." Tuya gave Nefiri a radiant and moving necklace, which was made of seven rows of light five marrow beads and Nubian gold beads, and the clasps at both ends were in the shape of lotus flowers. Nefiri hesitated to accept, "At least wait for the curative effect." "I'm getting better." The Queen Mother personally put the necklace on her and admired: "You are so beautiful, Nefiri." Nefiri's face couldn't help turning red.The queen mother said again: "And you are very happy. My close friends say that your husband is a very outstanding judge." "Dedicating to Matt is his life's mission." "Egypt needs people like you." Tuya summoned the cupbearer and asked him to deliver sweet beer and fruit.She and Nefiri sat on low cushioned chairs. "I've been following Judge Pazar's promotion and investigation. At first it was amused, then surprised, and finally outraged! Sending him to prison is a very unfair and unacceptable thing. Fortunately , He won the initial victory, now that he is an elder of the gate hall, he will have more resources to continue to fight. The appointment of Kem as the chief of police is a good start, and Baji is right to pass this appointment." These last few words are not just words.If Nefiri told Pazar about these words, he must be very happy, because Tuya's approval is equal to the support of the pharaoh's cronies for his actions. "Since my husband died and my son came to the throne, I have been doing my best to protect the people's livelihood in the country. Ramesses was a great king. He kept us from the threat of war, made the temple richer, and the people were well-fed. Egypt still A land of God's favor. But I feel uneasy, Nefiri, will you listen to my heart?" "If Her Majesty thinks I am worthy," Nefiri replied modestly. "Rameses is becoming more and more worried, sometimes even absent-minded, as if he has suddenly grown old. His temperament has changed. I really believe that he will no longer struggle and solve difficulties one by one. , and no longer see obstacles as nothing.” "Perhaps he is ill?" "Apart from his dental problems, he is very strong and energetic. This is the first time he has been wary of me. I can't guess what is going on in his mind. If he tells me his decision in person as he always does , I wouldn't be surprised no matter what the decision is. But for some reason, he's avoiding me. Tell Judge Pazar about this. I'm so scared of Egypt, Nefiri. For months, so There are so many murders, so many unsolvable mysteries, and the king is gradually alienating me and closing himself up... I hope Pazar can continue to investigate all this clearly." "Does the pharaoh seem to be under threat?" Neferi asked thoughtfully. "He was admired and loved." "But folks say that his luck is over, isn't it?" "A king's reign is too long, it will be like this. Ramesses knows the solution, that is to hold a regeneration ceremony, strengthen his relationship with the gods, and make the hearts of his subjects full of joy again. I am not worried about these rumors, It's just why the king has to issue decrees again and again, emphasizing the power he already has?" "Is the Empress Dowager worried that there may be treacherous evil forces hurting his mind?" "If that's the case, the courtiers will soon find out. No, he's sane, but he's just different." The beer is really mellow, and the fruit is juicy and delicious.Nefiri felt she should stop asking questions.These top secrets should be evaluated and used by Pazar. "I appreciate the noble sentiments you showed when Nabamun died." Tuya said again. "He is useless, but he knows how to play tricks on the surface. He has treated you unfairly, and I am here to make up for you. Memphis Central Hospital was originally run by the two of us. Now that he has passed away, I have Not a doctor. Tomorrow I will immediately order you to take over this hospital."