The end of Liangzhou is the beginning of wilderness.
The environment in Liangzhou is already extremely harsh, but it is only when we reach the border that people realize that there are even worse conditions beyond the harsh conditions.
The extreme drought, severe cold, and strong winds are no longer suitable for human survival. Even if there are some oases that can take care of the lives of travelers, they can hardly support many people.
Moreover, in recent years, local oases have rapidly degraded, water sources have dried up, living conditions have deteriorated day by day, and the majesty of the imperial court has also deteriorated day by day, with no time to look after the border areas, and the garrison has gradually been withdrawn. The borders of the Jin Dynasty are actually getting worse day by day.
One day goes backwards.
For example, at the end of Liangzhou, there used to be a large oasis, which was replaced by the Jade Corridor. There is a lake in the oasis, surrounded by woods, and it is evergreen all year round. It is called the "beautiful jade" of the Gobi Desert.
When the Jin Dynasty demarcated the border, a small city was built here, also called "Yulang". Although the population was not large, there were one or two hundred troops stationed there. It was a transit point for business travelers, and it can almost be regarded as the city of Liangzhou.
"boundary marker".
After leaving Jade Corridor, it can no longer be called the territory of China. People born to the west of Jade Corridor are truly "barbarians".
However, in recent years, the oasis has become more and more dry, the water level of the lake has been getting lower every year, and the woods around the lake have withered. And the imperial court cannot pay military salaries, and no new soldiers have joined the army. The old soldiers are running away and dying. Lian Yu
Langcheng is also gradually deserted.
Over the years, it has been difficult to say that Yulang is still the territory of the Jin Dynasty.
In fact, more than ten years ago, this city could basically be called a "ruin".
But ten years ago, a mysterious force suddenly intervened in Yulang, slightly renovated the abandoned city, and built a half-black and half-white border market. Among them, dragons and snakes were mixed, there were many lawless people, and most of them were engaged in non-serious business. The so-called
Illegal transactions in the city, murders and arson outside the city, everything is done, and it has become a truly shadowy "three no-nos" zone. As more and more disasters occur, the reputation of evil is also spread around, and it can be called "the only child crying at night".
Later, the mysterious force officially appointed the city lord, stationed the armed forces, and became an independent kingdom. Three years ago, they simply took down the plaque of "Yulang City" and replaced it with "Yulang" City. If among the barbarians,
Domain, this is called the formal establishment of a city-state.
With such a high-profile act, the mysterious force is still mysterious in the eyes of the public. Ordinary people don't know its origins. They only think that it is a hidden sect or a mysterious master. However, most people with channels have tacitly understood the name of Yulang's force.
It's taboo to say it, it's the darkest and most evil place in the world——
No two mountains!
"That's Yulang City. It's so... weird."
When Tang Zhao...oh, Young Master Jian of Changfa Manor and his party came to Yulang City, the young swordsman in the team couldn't help but make a sound of surprise.
This Yulang City is indeed very strange. The strange thing is that the city wall is very rugged, with a "concave" shape on the front, and the surrounding walls are bent every three steps, twisting and turning like a Chinese knot.
Tang Zhao glanced at Fang Weiran who spoke, smoothed his white hair calmly, and said in a vicissitudes of voice: "Swordsman Fang probably didn't know when he first came here. The new wall of Yulang City is laid out like this. This kind of winding wall.
Although there are too many blind spots, which is not conducive to defense, it can produce more shadows."
Fang Weiran suddenly understood: Since it is the Gangliang Mountain, of course, the more shadows, the better. He maintained his persona of the young village master's confidant swordsman, nodded with a hint of arrogance and politeness: I see, "I have learned a lesson."
Tang Zhao continued to say to Zheng Yun: "Young master, please go to the city and take a rest. Our manor has its own business in the city, which is just right for you to take a rest."
As a decent-sized manor on the Gangliang Mountain, Changfa Manor has a shop in Yulang City, and their own people are always stationed in the shop. They usually do serious business openly and illegal transactions secretly, just like other manors.
In other words, successfully connecting with people in the store without exposing any flaws is the first hurdle that this team, which has been faked from start to finish, needs to pass.
Zheng Yun raised his head, a little nervous: After preparing for so long, he finally had to face the test. If he couldn't pass the first level, then this trek would become a big joke.
That shouldn't happen, right?
The shop of Changfa Manor is a dyeing workshop.
On the surface, their business is a serious business, not a population market.
After all, a city cannot just sell its population, and the people on the Gangliang Mountain are still human beings. They are indispensable for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, so the various markets in Yulang City are very prosperous.
Entering the city, the scenery from the Gangliang Mountains hit our faces. All the people in the group were outsiders who came here for the first time, and they all observed it carefully.
On first impression, Tang Zhao found that the dye business in this place should be very good.
Although there are not many people on the street, most of the passers-by, both men and women, are wearing colorful and shockingly bright colors. Some of them are very old, tall and thick men, but they are still wearing very bright clothes, even if they are bright red.
Big green can also be worn on the upper body. At a glance, it seems like seeing a spring garden, colorful.
Tang Zhao thought of the information he had read: Mengliang Mountain is shrouded in shadow all year round, the light is very poor, flowers and plants do not grow, and even pearls and gems have lost their color. No matter how luxurious the life of the manor owner is, it is still monotonous and lacks color, so once
Once out of the mountain, I dress twice as brightly in bright clothes and wear shiny jewelry to compensate.
Not only the people, but also the walls of the houses are painted as much as they can, decorated as much as they can, and are complicated and gorgeous without getting tired of them. In the eyes of people with a little taste, they are already close to gaudy, but here it is a kind of decoration that is exclusive to the nobility.
Indulgent joy.
Tang Zhao already knew these customs from the information before, but seeing them with his own eyes and reading the descriptions are two different things. Therefore, he observed extra carefully, paid attention to details, silently compared with what he knew, and at the same time pretended to be blind. After all, he was
Assuming they are locals.
On the street, even if Tang Zhao had just arrived, he could still tell who was a foreigner and who came from the Gangliang Mountains. In addition to the color of their clothes, locals also had a very high proportion of white hair. And those who looked very wealthy
Guests, if they are locals, are accompanied by sword slaves.
Sword slaves are also very easy to distinguish. In addition to their different hair colors, their walking postures are also very unique. They drag one step at a time, like zombies. This posture is only seen by sword slaves who have been to Guliang Mountain. They are slaves who have just been sold.
No matter how weak he is, he will never walk like this.
Seeing the weird and counterintuitive walking postures that can be seen everywhere, the group of people felt a little uncomfortable.
Tang Zhao made a careful analysis and found that there were many outsiders in the city, and they were divided into several categories. Some of them were richly dressed and distinguished. They were real distinguished guests, coming to attend the Deep Shadow Club, and they might even be special guests from the Gangliang Mountains.
. But most of them are secretive, sitting in cars, or wearing curtains to cover their faces. Obviously, it is not a glorious thing to openly associate with the two mountains. If they are recognized by acquaintances and the layer of window paper is exposed, each other will
It's inevitable to be embarrassed.
Others are businessmen, so-called slave traders. Not everyone is as fat and big-eared as Bao Renwu, but they still have some qualities in common. After seeing a lot, even if you are not as good as Chi Mingjing, you can "smell" the traffickers.
You can probably guess the taste.
There are also some people who look like lawless elements at first sight. They look either fierce or evil-looking, and they look like they are hiding from trouble in the city. But no matter how fierce they are, they are as well-behaved as sheep in the city and they never dare to cause trouble.
"Hey, businessman, go this way——"
Tang Zhao turned around and saw a group of merchants entering the city behind his group being led to the side by two big men in purple clothes: "Did you see the inn with the colorful flags? That's for you people.
Yes, I guarantee your safety. I advise you, sheep-like mortals, not to randomly look for a place to sleep, and not to listen to what outsiders say. Otherwise, if you enter a black shop, it will be difficult for you to come out cleanly. Go quickly, go quickly."
Tang Zhao thought to himself: Good guy, even the slave traders here have become sheep? These greeters and guides are much more arrogant than when we organized the sword-making meeting to welcome guests, and they have no sense of service at all?
As expected of Wang Liangshan, even if it is Shen Yinghui, others are begging Wang Liangshan, and it is not Wang Liangshan who is begging for outsiders.
However, no one came to give any advice to Tang Zhao and his party. Probably because Tang Zhao's white hair was very iconic, and even though he was dressed plainly, he still looked like one of his own. Tang Zhao thought that he might have to change into red and green soon.
"Master, we are here." The team stopped in front of a shop.
"Changfa Dyeing Shop." Zheng Yun popped out of the car, looked up and said, "Isn't our family's business very prosperous?"
Indeed, this shop has three doors, so under the guise, it's not too shabby, but it's not unusual on the street. The door is closed in broad daylight, and only one door is opened in the west room for entry and exit. It looks like a business.
Not very good either.
Tang Zhao said: "I have sent back the news that the young master is back. Today I may close the door to thank guests and welcome..."
Before he finished speaking, all the doors were opened and seven or eight people were rushed out. The first few of them had white hair.
Before Zheng Yun could see clearly, these people all knelt down and prostrated themselves on the ground, shouting: "Welcome the young master back to the mountain. The slaves have been waiting for the stars and the moon, and finally we have you back!"
Zheng Yun straightened his back slightly. He had actually prepared for this scene for many days. Now was the time to test the results of his hard work. He nodded at the dangerous look next to him.
Wei Se was sitting in the carriage with him, specifically to "serve" him. At this moment, he got out of the car and opened the curtain for him, revealing his body that was still sitting still.
Zheng Yun'an was sitting in the car. He only raised his eyes and didn't even raise his hands, let alone get out of the car. He hummed with his nose and said, "Get up."
Those people stood up carefully and stood aside with their hands tied. Only the old man at the front bowed and said, "Master, please get out of the car." With a wave of his hand, a thin sword slave came up and knelt on the ground to help him.
Zheng Yun calmly stepped down to the ground with the sword slave step by step, without showing any discomfort, as if he had been used to trampling on him since he was a child.
At this time, he glanced at the old man at the head, and saw that this man was extremely old, with wrinkles on his face and not a single black hair on his head. If calculated according to normal age, he would be eighty if not ninety.
But he is from Gangliang Mountain, maybe in his forties or fifties, or even younger.
"Well, you..."
Zheng Yun deliberately couldn't say his name, so Tang Zhao stepped forward and said in an adjusted tone: "Master, this is our manager Xing Cang."
The chief steward nodded and bowed, and said, "The steward is here to serve the young master."
Zheng Yun looked as if he was stunned and said: "How could I not recognize you? You were the old man when I left, and you are still the old man now. I'd like to trouble the general manager to come down the mountain to pick me up. I didn't expect it. Come in and take a look at us