Someone rang the morning bell in the inn, and the neighing of livestock could be heard one after another.
Kang Kejing, who had been thinking about running away a few days ago and had trouble sleeping, managed to get a good night's sleep in this inn.
Sitting up from the bed and stretching, Kang Kejing finished washing and dressing and walked out of the door of the wing.
The aroma of fried pork and steamed cakes with white stuffing spread along the wind to every corner of the inn, making Kang Kejing gulp.
Kang Kejing exchanged the gold coins for some silk, had a hearty breakfast, and then followed the caravan to the east.
Climbing onto Uncle Shen's carriage, Kang Kejing shouted with a smile.
Seeing that it was the young man from yesterday, Uncle Shen nodded.
Kang Kejing looked around to make sure no one was paying attention, then took out the Bingluo Shao she bought from her arms and stuffed it into Uncle Shen's hands.
Uncle Shen was a little surprised. He turned to look at Kang Kejing and saw this Sogdian man blinking his eyes.
Uncle Shen, who had always had a straight face, looked at the wine bottle in his hand, shook his head, and laughed.
The convoy continued eastward along the desert.
Along the way, Kang Kejing passed five more stations.
Each station is built in a desolate desert, with no other people around.
Just as Kang Kejing expected, the passengers in the motorcade saw others eating delicacies from the ice springs and living in small buildings and couches. At first they could bear not spending money, but over time, they slowly opened their wallets.
As for Kang Kejing himself, perhaps it was due to the jug of fine wine that the food and accommodation provided to him at the same price were much better than others.
As a Sogdian, Kang Kejing was already good at speaking, and with this energy, she gradually became familiar with the people in Changxingfang.
Half a month after setting off from Shicheng Town, the convoy passed a rope bridge across the canyon.
Kang Kejing followed the cart and listened to the creaking sound coming from the bridge under her feet. She couldn't help but feel frightened and her body trembled.
Uncle Shen saw this and said, "Don't worry, this bridge is strong."
Kang Kejing: "This bridge is almost a hundred meters high from the bottom of the valley. There is no support on both sides. I don't know how it was built?"
Uncle Shen: "In order to build this bridge, thousands of laborers and master craftsmen were employed, and it took several months to complete."
Kang Kejing: "I think there is a road at the bottom of the valley, why don't you take it?"
Uncle Shen: "There is evil miasma and quicksand at the bottom of the valley. If you are not careful, your life will be in danger. In the past, there was no bridge. We would go north to Hongqiu and then east. It would take an extra seven or eight days to walk.
distance."
After the convoy finally crossed the bridge, Kang Kejing looked back and let out a long breath.
Uncle Shen picked up the horse's reins and said to Kang Kejing: "When I first started walking this road, it was just like you. As time goes by, you will get used to it."
Kang Kejing climbed onto the carriage and said: "In the past, when going from Shicheng Town to Chang'an, the Shazhou Daqi Road was blocked, so we had to go around Gaochang, which took more than a month. Now, thanks to this road..."
Uncle Shen: "Are you going to Chang'an?"
Kang Kejing was stunned for a moment, regretting her gaffe, but after thinking about it, she finally nodded...
Uncle Shen raised his head, looked eastward, and sighed: "Chang'an..."
Kang Kejing: "Have you been to Chang'an?"
Uncle Shen: "I have been there... a long time ago."
Kang Kejing suddenly became interested: "I once heard from merchants in the town that there are opera gardens and Bachuan Theater in Chang'an, but the operas performed can't be seen in other places."
Uncle Shen was quite surprised: "You went to Chang'an to watch the theater?"
Kang Kejing nodded and said: "My mother-in-law once went to Chang'an Liyuan when she was young. After she came back, she specially raised a theater troupe at home to watch the theater. However, Aye found it noisy and disbanded the theater troupe. Mother-in-law
Because of this matter, I have been brooding about it, and every day I clamor to go to Chang'an to watch the theater again." Uncle Shen: "So that's it."
After a pause, Uncle Shen asked Kang Kejing, "I guess you don't have any relatives in Dunhuang County, right?"
Kang Kejing nodded awkwardly.
Uncle Shen: "What about Chang'an? Are there any relatives who will accept you?"
Kang Kejing: "No."
Uncle Shen pondered for a while, and then said to Kang Kejing: "Well, let's go along the way, you follow me to Liangzhou first. When we get to Liangzhou City, I will report your matter to the master's family, and then I will help you in
Find a place to live in Chang'an City."
Kang Kejing was overjoyed and thanked her profusely.
The convoy spent a whole month traveling through the desert and arrived at Dunhuang.
Next, Kang Kejing followed Uncle Shen's Changxingfang and walked through Guazhou, Suzhou, and Ganzhou, and arrived at Liangzhou City in late November.
The end of Changxingfang in Liangzhou City is a heavily guarded inner square. Read the book
Towering earth walls were erected around the square, and watchtowers and sentries were placed at regular intervals.
Kang Kejing looked at this lifang, and at first thought it was the governor's mansion in Liangzhou City. Later, she saw that most of the people entering and leaving the lifang were craftsmen and female workers, but she was a little unsure.
While Uncle Shen was on business in the village, Kang Kejing wandered along the wall and saw a market in the courtyard outside the village.
This market was different from the ones he had seen before. There were no stalls or shops, only high platforms and sheds with ornate exterior decorations.
Looking around the market, there are many makeshift teahouses and restaurants. In addition, there are carts and porters from the water, land and warehouse shops.
Sitting in the teahouses and restaurants were businessmen from all over the world dressed in silk and satin. They gathered together to talk and have fun over wine. The conversation did not sound like businessmen, but more like literati.
When Kang Kejing was confused, a gong sounded on the high platform.
When the businessmen who were sitting under the stage heard the gong, they immediately left their seats and ran to the high platform like sharks smelling the smell of blood.
Kang Kejing saw with her own eyes that an elderly businessman tripped and was stepped on by people behind him.
Everyone was pushing and shoving, and the leisurely elegance of Shicai was completely gone.
After everyone gathered on the stage, servants on the high platform brought several large boxes and hung them with exquisite silk silk that Kang Kejing had never seen before.
Accompanied by the shouts of bidding one after another, he finally understood the purpose of this place - auction.
When Kang Kejing wanted to get closer and take a closer look, someone pulled him back.
Uncle Shen pulled him aside, handed him another waist badge, and said, "Take this and go to Tongyifang in Chang'an. When you get there, someone will naturally arrange your food and accommodation."
Kang Kejing looked at the sign in her hand and was moved by Uncle Shen's help. She felt regretful about concealing her identity and said, "Ah, thanks to your care along the way. If you come to Shicheng Town in the future, remember to
Come to my house as a guest, my Aye is..."
Uncle Shen waved his hand and said, "Don't say anything and hurry up."
Kang Kejing looked back at Lifang and asked Uncle Shen: "One more thing, whose house is here? I see the silk on this table..."
Uncle Shen interrupted Kang Kejing: "Everything here was built by my father."
Kang Kejing: "Dare you ask Aweng's head...?"
Uncle Shen smiled lightly: "Sooner or later, you will see him."
After leaving Liangzhou City, Kang Kejing hurried south, working hard, and finally arrived at the official road outside Chang'an City before the end of December.
Seeing that majestic and majestic city for the first time in my life's memory, Kang Kejing stood stupidly beside the official road, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.
Pedestrians passing by on the road cast their eyes aside when they saw this young Sogdian man.
Kang Kejing ignored the gazes of others, first slapped her face hard, and then shouted: "Chang'an, I'm here!"