RNP Chapter 433
Chapter 433
Under Hicks' command, everyone embarked on the trip, and this time he was much more cautious, arranged the formation much tighter, and also required several people from Hanan to accompany him, and set up outposts in several directions to be responsible for scouting the surrounding environment.
Hicks is afraid of encountering another accident, after all, the sand thieves of Alabastan are not only the 'Baru Balu' gang, but also the notorious desert bandits.
They are not as 'talkative' as sand thieves, and often seek both wealth and life.
Fortunately, the subsequent journey did not make any waves, and a day later, near the evening, the caravan successfully arrived in Catrea.
Katrea is a large oasis city with an important geographical location, close to the kingdom's only special economic zone, Nahana, to the west, and about fifty kilometers to the south is the Great Shipping Route.
There are also a large number of small oases and large and small villages in the surrounding area.
To the north, you can reach the political center of the Kingdom of Alabastan - the capital 'Albana', and there are several small and medium-sized towns along the way to replenish.
In recent years, Alabastan has suffered not only natural disasters, but also man-made disasters, which can be described as a fateful fate, but Katrea has not been greatly affected.
First, the sand layer is shallow, the groundwater table is high, not only is it easy to draw water, but the reserves are also very rich, and there is still abundant rainfall.
On the contrary, there is also abundant fresh water, which can be transported to the surrounding areas, and it is precisely for this reason that the special zone 'Nahana' can operate normally and prosper.
Second, being able to avoid war is a major reason, with the declaration of the 'hero' Klockdar.
Katrea became one of the few neutral places in the kingdom of Alabastan, and coupled with the king's edict, the king's army did not set foot in this place, and Katreya was like a paradise.
But this situation only lasted for a short time, and with the relocation of the rebel base, Katrea had become a huge barracks.
Seeing that he had finally reached his destination, Hicks was relieved in his heart, and pointed ahead and said to Hanan: "Brother Hanan, that's Katrea." "
Hanami looked up and saw the outline of the city in the distance, and like Nahana, there were many desert plants on the periphery, forming a natural boundary, but there were also differences, behind the dense vegetation, there were walls.
Everyone trudged for several days, all they saw was the boundless desert, and at this time, seeing the lush green, they were all in a good mood, Jessica took off the veil and said happily: "I'm going to take a bath first, and then I can't find water, and I'm going to be dirty."
The partners echoed that for these outsiders, the desert climate is really difficult to adapt to, even unbearable.
"By the way, Hanan, I still have to go around the market, and the instrument stolen by the nasty sand thief also needs to be replenished." As soon as Jessica thought of what she had lost, she immediately gritted her teeth.
"Miss Jessica, I'm afraid you can't buy it here." Hicks laughed.
"Huh? Why? Hanan asked curiously.
Hicks beckoned the caravan to speed up, and then explained to the Prophet as he walked: "Although Katrea is not an inland city, it has little to do with navigation.
Jessica asked suspiciously: "Didn't you say that this place is not far from the coast?"
"Yes, tens of kilometers to the south is the sea, there is also a port town, but now it is abandoned, only a few families live there, and because of the war, the villages along the way are all deserted, and it has become a paradise for desert bandits, and the trade route is naturally broken,"
Hicks picked up the water bladder, sipped his saliva, and continued: "In fact, the most important reason is due to the country's policy, and the king vigorously supported the port capital Nahana and established the 'special zone' city.
Merchants from all over the world flocked to the city, all kinds of goods gathered, prices were incomparable, and sea transport was more convenient, so Catrea became only a transit point for land transportation, and few people from the sea came here.
Harvey didn't believe: "Don't people on this side go to sea?"
"That's not true, occasionally there are people who come to the sea, mostly smugglers and smugglers, most of whom are pirates, after all, Katrea is not under the direct jurisdiction of the king,"
Hicks said, looking deeply at the few people in Hanan and continuing, "But this situation, after the rebels moved in and established a base here, almost disappeared."
Hanan frowned, "You mean the rebels don't wait to see the pirates?"
Hicks smiled: "It can be said that the leader of the rebels is a young man with strong blood, who has always been jealous as a hatred, and since he is in charge of this place, he will be expelled from the country whenever he encounters pirates and the like." Seeing
that several people's faces were not good-looking, he smiled again: "But don't worry, with me as a guarantee, it is easy for a few people to enter the city, and if you need me to help introduce them, it is also a trivial matter." While
a few people were talking, they had already arrived outside the city gate.
Although it was nearly evening at this time, there were many people entering and leaving the city gate, and a dozen or so fierce men who were fully armed were standing guard at the city gate, shouting loudly: "Du Te Line up to enter the city, open all the salutes, and wait for inspection."
Hicks whispered to Yunan, "This is the rebel people, who have completely occupied this place."
Yu Nan nodded expressionlessly, not knowing what was going on in his heart, and when he looked up, there was actually a cannon at the head of the city, every ten meters, there was one, and in a short section of the city wall in front of him, there were no less than ten.
On the walls on both sides of the gatehouse, there were also many guards armed with muskets patrolling back and forth, and although the clothes were disorganized, there was a trace of anger all over the body.
Jessica muttered in a low voice: "It seems that it has arrived at the den of thieves!" Hey, what's going on over there? Several
people in Hanan looked over and saw that about twenty meters southeast outside the city gate, a large crowd gathered, all unkempt, dusty servants, some with old people and children, obviously a family, even a farmer.
And more are young and strong with weapons, all arguing around a few cauldrons.
At this time, a burst of porridge fragrance wafted over, and Hanan suddenly said: "Eighty percent are refugees, and those pots should be giving porridge."
Hicks said with a smile: "In the words of Brother Hannan, these are the people who have fled from all over the world, and now only Katrea is willing to accept them on a large scale."
Harvey sighed: "Isn't there also a shortage of food here?" It seems that the rebels are not bad for the people.
Hicks smiled and said nothing, but Krabattel said, "It seems that this rebel leader is not simple. "
Huh? What do you mean? Harvey was surprised, and Charlie and Jessica looked puzzled.
Hanan nodded and said: "The rebels are recruiting troops, have you found it, there are mostly prime-aged men in the crowd, and most of them are self-possessed, if there are many people coming to join every day, then the number of rebels can be imagined." "