Chapter 85 Encountering a Caravan in Jinsha, Xiliang
On the first day of the twelfth month of the sixteenth year of Tianchen, in the depths of winter, on the official road of Liangzhou.
Liangzhou, located in the northwest, is second only to Youzhou in size, boasting unique and pristine scenery imbued with an ancient and profound atmosphere.
Yardang landforms, vast deserts and Gobi, oases and high mountains—these elements evoke a sense of awe and a touch of fear in nature.
It is worth mentioning that in Liangzhou, although the ruler of the prefecture is the governor of Liangzhou City, in reality, the governor can only be considered a supervisor sent by the imperial court. Due to the special nature of the region and history, the people of Liangzhou have always worshipped the Liujin tribe who live amidst the endless yellow sand.
That was one of the ancient desert tribes. Legend has it that in ancient times, a god passed through Xiliang and chose the weakest tribe, Liujin, from among many clans. He personally blessed the children of Liujin and placed his hopes on them.
Later, that god entered the desolate desert where no one dared to go, and was known to the world as the God of the Ancient Desert. The Flowing Gold Clan became the strongest clan in the desert at that time, and rightfully the protector of Xiliang.
Divine will flows in their blood. Every generation of the Flowing Gold Clan youths possesses extremely high talent and cultivation. Since then, the people of Xiliang have revered the Flowing Gold Clan and regarded them as the kings of the desert.
Unfortunately, that's an ancient legend. Now, a thousand years have passed, countless conflicts have arisen and fallen, and the fate of the Flowing Gold Clan has long since been swept away by the winds and sands. In the end, they abandoned their so-called throne and simply transformed into a family of cultivators, quietly existing in the Western Liang region.
Ultimately, it was because the Liujin tribe had too much influence in Xiliang. Every dynasty would eventually choose the Liujin tribe, grant them high titles and "status," and have them guard the territory of Xiliang and respect the beliefs of the entire Xiliang people.
Take the current Zhou Dynasty as an example. There are governors in the open and demon-suppressing pavilions in the dark. They only perform the duties of supervision and management and will not interfere with the customs and beliefs of the people of Xiliang. The Liujin clan of this generation has lived peacefully in Jinsha City for a hundred years.
...
After traveling for more than ten days, passing through high mountains and grasslands, and braving snow and sand, the young men finally entered Liangzhou from Youzhou and prepared to head to Jinsha City.
Because it was deep winter, the climate in Liangzhou was quite changeable. During the day, the sun would heat up the area, but at night the temperature would drop rapidly. Even the Lingyan Lamp sometimes couldn't keep up with the temperature fluctuations.
"I never imagined that I would see both snow-capped mountains and sandstorms within a month!"
Zhang Xuan sat on the recliner, leisurely gazing out the window at the sandstorm outside. He had barely said a few words when he suddenly coughed a few times, as if he had choked on sand.
He tried to suppress the tickling sensation in his throat and glanced somewhat humbly at the carriage—
Across from him were Qingyu and Wenchuan, who were playing chess face-to-face on the daybed. Lin Fanxiang was organizing medicinal herbs in front of the medicine cabinet, while Qin Tianshu was driving outside with Cai Cai.
Zhang Xuan's cough sounded both obvious and guilty. Qing Yu, sitting on the daybed, glanced at him and spoke softly.
"Yes, the snow mountain didn't make you cold, but you started coughing when we got to Liangzhou."
Zhang Xuan was naturally a robust swordsman, in his prime, healthy and strong, and very confident. So, as soon as he entered Liangzhou, he put away all his thick clothes.
During the day, everything was fine, and the temperature was pleasant, even a bit hot. But at night, the temperature dropped rapidly. He drove around enjoying the breeze, feeling quite happy. However, after only two nights, he sheepishly went to Lin Fanxiang for a pulse diagnosis.
The spirit flame lamp on the small table of the daybed glowed softly, seemingly mocking Zhang Xuan who was coughing. Zhang Xuan pursed his lips and said, "I'm fine, I'm all better now."
Lin Fanxiang had her back to him, her voice calm yet gentle, "Every medicine has some side effects, you can stop taking your medicine today."
Zhang Xuan couldn't help but smile. Great, great! He finally didn't have to drink the unique bitter medicine that Fan Xiang had specially prepared for him.
Seemingly sensing Zhang Xuan's joy, Lin Fanxiang turned around calmly and glanced at him without any emotion. Zhang Xuan immediately smiled, his eyes indicating that he would never dare to abuse his body again!
Qingyu smiled, gently picked up a black chess piece and placed it on the chessboard, "It's finally stopped, otherwise we would have reached Jinsha City."
That's true. Jinsha City is one of the main cities of Liangzhou, and geographically speaking, it's the main city of Liangzhou that is closest to Youzhou. They entered Liangzhou a few days ago, and they estimate that they will arrive at Jinsha City soon.
"Travel along the sandy roads is difficult; it should take a few more days."
A gentle voice rang out, and Wen Chuan casually placed a white piece on the chessboard. He looked up and saw Qing Yu resting her chin on her hand, looking bored, while the girl's fingertips were still playing with a black piece.
"What's wrong?"
Wen Chuan asked, and Qing Yu hummed in response, looking up. Seeing his concerned expression, the girl smiled.
"It's nothing. I just suddenly remembered the caravan I saw yesterday. Some people in it were dressed very differently, and there were camels too. I've never ridden a camel before—"
"jingle--"
The wind chimes tinkled, the carriage door was pushed open halfway, a gentle rustling of sand drifted in, and the scholar's leisurely voice drifted out.
“That caravan from yesterday traveled the same route as us.”
Qin Tianshu gazed at the familiar caravan on the official road ahead, a smile playing on his lips as he found it amusing.
Yesterday, Qingyu drove the carriage and said there was a caravan behind them with many people, horses, and goods, which looked very interesting. The scholar glanced at it then, and now, looking at it again, he realized that the caravan in front was the same one he had met yesterday.
They had just crossed the border, and most of the people heading down this road were going to Jinsha City. It seemed that they were on the same road as this caravan.
"Really? Let me see."
Upon hearing the scholar's words, Qingyu got up and walked to the car door. She peeked out and almost made eye contact with Caicai, who was also peeking out...
Honestly, Cai Cai's fur was so glossy and smooth from all their pampering, its feathers as beautiful as ears of rice. Now that it's in Liangzhou, its fur blends strangely with the swirling yellow sand—
The problem is that the chicks' feathers are so sandy that they don't dare put the vegetables on the ground, otherwise the chicks will shake and be covered in sand.
Cai Cai: "Gugu-gugugu gugu gugu gugu gugu."
Qingyu: "...Aren't you afraid of knocking the vegetables off the ground if you put them here?"
The scholar laughed, scooped the chick into his arms, and then he and Qingyu peered curiously at the caravan ahead.
It was indeed a large caravan, probably a hundred people. There were merchants, guards, and servants, as well as men and women dressed as foreigners. Camels, horses, and donkeys were used as load-bearing animals, carrying all kinds of goods. The group was very conspicuous on the official road.
Qingyu: "After traveling for so many days, this caravan must be the largest."
Qin Tianshu: "It should be, and since it was originally behind us, the fact that it was able to get to the front means it didn't stop last night."
Cai Cai: "Gurgle-gurgle-gurgle-gurgle."
Qingyu leaned forward and said, "Hey, that cargo looks like a big cage."
Qin Tianshu narrowed his eyes. "It looks like it, but not necessarily."
"There were so many of them, how could they have walked so fast?"
"I don't know, maybe something urgent happened."
"Oh dear—we're behind them now and can't see their caravan's name clearly. We're a little curious."
"...I'm a little...but I still need to be careful."
"Of course... Hey, they seem to have stopped."
Cai Cai: "Gu gu-gu ...
The two of them huddled together, chattering away like chickens, slowly following the caravan ahead as they talked, curious about the caravan's origins.
It wasn't until Wen Chuan walked over that the boy picked up the green fish that was squatting on the ground and chatting with the scholar, and also took a look at it.
"...They're coming."
...
As luck would have it, it was evening, the official road was wide open, and there were no post stations, so it was basically time to rest. The Huangshi caravan had traveled all night yesterday, and they really couldn't make it today.
The leading merchant, Shi Le, cracked his whip and called out to everyone to stop their horses and put down their belongings, prepare to start a fire and cook, and rest for the night amidst the wind and sand.
He rode his horse leisurely, making arrangements, and spotted the carriage at the back of the procession in the distance. With his sharp eyes, he immediately noticed the handsome young men who didn't look like they were from Xiliang.
"Hey, that's really interesting."
"drive!"
The bearded man chuckled, cracked his whip, and rode his horse. The sound of hooves echoed, and dust billowed up as Shi Le arrived in front of the carriage.
Before Shi Le could speak, the pretty young woman in red inside smiled and spoke.
"Sir, are you the owner of the caravan?"
"Hahahaha, yes, I am Shi Le! I am a merchant from Liangzhou City. May I ask who you are?"
He rode his horse, laughing loudly, clasped his hands in a salute, and smiled at Qingyu and the others.
A gust of wind seemed to rise, and yellow sand was raised not far away. Qin Tianshu said with a smile, "Hello, Brother Shi. We come from Jizhou and are on our way to visit relatives in Liangzhou."
Jizhou is adjacent to Liangzhou, so saying it was a family visit wouldn't arouse suspicion.
Shi Le, a man with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a long, bushy beard, rode his horse and nodded frankly at them. "So that's how it is! It's fate that we've met. I see you're all heading to Jinsha City as well. Why don't you join us tonight?"
"Hahaha, don't be afraid!"
"Our Huangshi caravan is a well-known caravan in Liangzhou, traveling back and forth on the sandy official road every day. We rarely see caravans like yours. Since our caravan is setting up camp tonight, why don't you all come down and join us!"
He spoke frankly and enthusiastically. Qingyu stepped aside, exchanged a glance with her friends in the carriage, and then nodded to the scholar. Qin Tianshu understood, and the scholar smiled and nodded to Shi Le.
"Brother Shi is right, then we won't stand on ceremony!"
...
As night fell, the wind began to whisper.
The Huangshi caravan members were very efficient and skilled at working on the sandy land. They set up camp, lit a campfire, and started cooking. In no time, they had everything arranged in an orderly manner.
It was still winter, and many people were bundled up in thick clothes to ward off the night's chill. Shi Le, however, was not afraid. He invited Qing Yu and the others to sit by the campfire, and the man, holding a wine jug, chatted with them in a very casual manner.
The warm flames illuminated the surroundings, and the aroma of food wafted from not far away, with smoke gradually rising and mingling with the ubiquitous sand in the wind. Shi Le told them the origin of the Huangshi caravan's journey.
"A welcome banquet?"
Qingyu leaned against Wenchuan and asked curiously, "Isn't the city lord of Jinsha City a member of the Liujin clan? Why is someone from another place suddenly becoming the city lord, and why are we having a banquet to celebrate his arrival?"
The girl in red leaned against the boy. The night was windy, and she was wrapped in a blanket, appearing delicate and frail. Yet, her eyes were clear and bright, and she possessed an extraordinary air. Occasionally, a faint look would appear in her eyes, making one hesitant to look at her too closely.
The young man beside her was the same, smiling politely with a gentle expression, but he rarely spoke. They must be a couple. The young man only showed emotional fluctuations when the girl spoke, and would occasionally gently tidy up the blanket for her, but most of the time, he was somewhat cold and unfathomable.
These young men, judging by their appearance, clothing, and the fact that they carry knives and swords, are all quite formidable.
The flames crackled, and Shi Le laughed, “It’s an inauguration banquet, a unique custom in Jinsha City. In other places, banquets are held for newly appointed officials, but not in Jinsha City.”
“You’re from outside, so naturally you don’t know about this. The Jinliu clan of Jinsha City has been the city lords for generations, and a grand succession ceremony is held every time a new generation changes.”
Qin Tianshu laughed from the side, "Brother Shi, now that you mention it, I remember. It was mentioned in the book. However, the city lord of Jinsha City only changes once every few decades. I didn't expect that we would happen to be here this time."
This custom does exist in Jinsha City, but most of the Liujin Clan are cultivators who live a long time. As city lords, they naturally serve for a long time, and it takes several decades to hold this succession banquet.
Zhang Xuan sat with Lin Fanxiang. He heard about it and asked curiously, "The Jin Clan of Jinsha City is a well-known ancient clan in the Nine Provinces."
As Shi Le spoke with a smile, he invited the caravan members to eat. They treated the boys to roujiamo (meat sandwich), a specialty of Northwest China, desert flatbread baked with sand and tamarisk branches, and specially brewed apricot tea.
Amidst swirling sand and dust, the campfire burned gently. They laughed and talked, drinking and eating meat, even watching the enthusiastic dances of the foreign tribes. Finally, they clapped and cheered together, creating an exaggerated and lively atmosphere.
Meeting is fate; though the yellow sand of Liangzhou in the Northwest is harsh, it is also passionate.
In the end, Shi Le got drunk. He laughed and praised Jinsha City and the Liujin tribe to the young men, just like every Liangzhou person, proud of his faith.
"I specially brought a caravan to celebrate this banquet in Sands City, and I also brought gifts!"
"Old Lord Wei is getting on in years, but he's always been there for us!"
"This time, almost everyone in Liangzhou who's known by name has come to help with the change of city lord! Even the governor sent a gift!"
"We'll arrive in a couple of days, at Sands Cotai Central. You guys!"
"Have fun, you guys!"
He had drunk a lot, and in his excitement, his dark face turned rosy. He kept telling the boys about Liangzhou and the past of Jinsha City.
Ancient myths are left unmentioned, history flows silently, and even the famous King Daoxian, known throughout the land, is buried here.
It's almost here.
Liangzhou Jinsha City is one of the oldest and most ancient cities in the Nine Provinces.
Gazing at the red sun in the distance, admiring the golden earth up close, a bowl of strong liquor, a handful of yellow sand, whipping away the desolation, a loud laugh that lasts a lifetime.
Unable to look up at the blazing sun, I foolishly watch the wind and sand create golden light—
That's Xiliang Prefecture, the best place.
-----------------------
Author's note: Ding ding ding, we have arrived at Beiyou. Passengers who need to get off or transfer, please take note. Thank you for your support and cooperation. We wish you a safe journey.
Dry, windy conditions are most likely to cause internal heat.
New passengers and passengers who have not yet reached their destination, please be aware of the journey and remain calm.
Next stop, Sands.
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