For more than two months, the westbound caravan moved steadily across the endless grasslands.
Each evening, they halted before nightfall, choosing sheltered ground where the wind was weaker and water could be found nearby.
Herdsmen tended to the horses, Mongol soldiers formed loose defensive rings, and fires were lit as darkness settled over the plains.
Sheep were slaughtered, their meat roasted over open flames, while coarse cheese and dried rations were passed among the men.
At dawn, the camp stirred to life once more.
Goat milk tea simmered in iron pots, its thick aroma drifting through the chilly morning air. Everyone drank quickly, then mounted horses or prepared their carts.
They ate only twice a day—once at dawn, once at dusk. The long journey left little room for comfort.
Day after day, they rode west.
During this time, Liu Zhonglu spent most mornings inside Chen Rong's vehicle.
At first, he had only been curious about the strange steel carriage.
But soon, the two began using the quiet hours of travel to converse.
Liu Zhonglu patiently taught Chen Rong Mongolian, starting with simple words—directions, greetings, commands—and gradually moving to more complex phrases.
Chen Rong learned quickly.
To Liu Zhonglu's surprise, Chen Rong's pronunciation improved day by day. Within weeks, he could already understand simple conversations between Mongol soldiers.
At noon, Liu Zhonglu would dismount and return to his own horse, riding ahead to command the vanguard and ensure the route remained safe.
Meanwhile, Chen Rong continued learning—not only Mongolian, but also the spoken Chinese of this era.
The language of the 13th century differed subtly from modern speech. Certain expressions sounded archaic, while others had entirely different meanings.
Chen Rong listened carefully to conversations among the Daoist priests and soldiers, gradually adjusting his speech to match theirs.
Blending in was important.
The less he sounded like an outsider, the safer he would be.
Two months later, the endless green grasslands finally gave way to something far harsher.
The earth grew dry.
The wind carried dust instead of grass.
Patches of gravel replaced soil, and the horizon shimmered beneath the heat.
They had reached the edge of the Gobi.
The transition felt abrupt. One moment, there had been grazing lands and scattered streams.
The next, the land stretched barren and silent, broken only by rocky ridges and dry gullies.
Chen Rong watched through the windshield, feeling a faint unease.
Even with modern knowledge, deserts were dangerous.
Without modern navigation or rescue equipment, a mistake here could prove fatal.
Ahead, Liu Zhonglu rode back toward the vehicle and signaled for the caravan to slow.
"Mr. Chen," he said, stepping alongside the steel carriage, "we have now left the Western Regions behind. Beyond this point lies territory scarcely recorded since the Han Dynasty.
The days ahead will be extremely hot. There is a Mongol relay station not far ahead. We will replenish water there and rest for the night before continuing tomorrow."
Chen Rong nodded.
He knew that Mongol armies preferred grasslands whenever possible. Their entire system depended on horses grazing freely. Desert travel strained both animals and men.
Yet the lands of Khwarazm were vast and harsh. Even with detours, certain stretches of desert could not be avoided.
"I understand, General," Chen Rong replied. "But I am somewhat concerned. Can my carriage travel safely across the desert?"
On the grassland, several horses could pull his vehicle without difficulty. If necessary, he could even steer it himself.
But the desert was different.
Loose sand, hidden pits, and quicksand posed serious risks. If the vehicle became stuck, recovering it would be extremely difficult.
Liu Zhonglu smiled reassuringly.
"Do not worry, sir. The stretch ahead is only Gobi terrain, not deep desert.
We will not enter the center. At most, three or four days of travel. The route follows the path taken by the Western Expedition army—it is already proven safe."
He gestured toward the horizon.
"Even if your carriage becomes stuck, dozens of horses can pull it free."
Chen Rong hesitated.
That might work for carts—but not necessarily for a heavy off-road vehicle. If the tires sank deeply into loose sand, even a hundred horses might struggle.
After a moment's thought, he spoke again.
"If possible, I would prefer to drive the carriage myself during those days. The general may ride with me. That would be safer."
Liu Zhonglu frowned slightly.
Chen Rong's reasoning made sense, but another concern weighed heavily on his mind.
Fuel.
Chen Rong had previously explained that the steel carriage relied on limited fuel. If too much was consumed, the Great Khan might not have the chance to ride it.
That, in Liu Zhonglu's view, was unacceptable.
Chen Rong, meanwhile, silently calculated.
The fuel tank had been filled before departure.
A few days of driving would not be disastrous. In fact, compared to horse travel, the vehicle could cross the same distance in a fraction of the time.
Even after crossing the desert, more than half the fuel should remain.
More importantly, Chen Rong had another plan.
In these western lands—particularly around Khwarazm—natural oil seepages were not uncommon. Primitive black oil sometimes surfaced near the ground and was collected by locals for lamps.
Over the past weeks, Chen Rong had deliberately asked Liu Zhonglu about such substances.
If he could obtain crude oil, simple distillation might produce usable fuel.
His e-book contained instructions for primitive refining methods. Though crude and risky, they might yield gasoline of sufficient quality for limited use.
Moreover, Chen Rong knew something else.
Unlike the Central Plains, where oil deposits lay deep underground, parts of Central Asia and Persia contained surface seepages. If fortune favored him, obtaining crude oil might not be impossible.
These thoughts strengthened his resolve.
Don't worry, sir. We have checked on the road and everything will be fine." Liu Zhonglu spoke.
"General," Chen Rong said, "do you remember the black oil I asked about earlier? If I can obtain some, I may be able to refine fuel myself.
Even if not, crossing this stretch should consume less than half my supply."
Liu Zhonglu shook his head firmly.
"Sir, you may not know—before reaching this station, I received a letter from the Great Khan."
Chen Rong looked up.
"The Khan has already expressed great interest in your steel mount. He specifically ordered that both you and your carriage must reach him safely—without any damage."
Liu Zhonglu's voice grew more serious.
"He wishes to see it with his own eyes… and to ride it himself."
Chen Rong fell silent.
In this era, the will of Genghis Khan was absolute.
If the Khan wished to see something, no one dared deny him.
Liu Zhonglu continued.
"Not only the Great Khan. Yelü Chucai and many generals of the Western Expedition have also grown curious.
A steel mount that moves without horses, emits light, and commands thunder… such things are unheard of."
Chen Rong sighed inwardly.
His vehicle had become more valuable than he anticipated.
"I understand," Chen Rong said at last. "Then I will follow the general's arrangements."
Liu Zhonglu nodded, relieved.
"In another month, we should reach the Great Khan's camp."
By late afternoon, the caravan reached the Mongol relay station.
The station consisted of low buildings and fenced enclosures, guarded by stationed soldiers.
Large stores of supplies had already been prepared—water skins, dried meat, fodder, and replacement horses.
Messengers greeted Liu Zhonglu respectfully and delivered letters.
The westbound team settled in for the night.
For the first time in days, they rested without worrying about open wilderness. Horses were watered and fed. Soldiers relaxed slightly, though watch posts remained active.
Chen Rong parked his vehicle near the enclosure and stepped out.
The desert wind carried heat even after sunset.
Tomorrow, they would enter harsher terrain.
But Chen Rong felt calmer now.
The journey west was nearing its final stage.
The caravan rested quietly beneath the desert stars.
At dawn, they would continue westward.