Huang Ting

The Gao family's caravan only had horses and no camels. The desertification on the road from Xiaoshipan City to Qiuci was not as severe as it would be in later generations. Horses were much easier to use than camels for hauling goods.

The horses in the team are connected together with ropes, and a bell is hung around the neck of each horse to prevent the horses from getting lost.

There is also another kind of bell with a different sound hanging on the goods on the horseback. Once the goods fall off the horseback, the bell will make a low sound to alert the caravan people.

The rest of the Gao family's caravan were riding horses to guard the left and right sides of the caravan. Only Hu Xiuwu and Chen Duo were riding on the inside of the caravan and did not join the escort. Gao Gu never had to do anything in the caravan.

They help.

Along the way, Gao Gu led the caravan and never hesitated when deciding the direction. It could be seen that he had kept this route to the Western Region in mind. Hu Xiuwu and Chen Duo had indeed found the wrong person.

A month after they left Xiaoshipan City, Xiaofangpan City was already far behind them. If they had followed Hu Bayi's speed back then, they would have reached the capital of Qiuci by now, but the caravan's traveling speed was much faster.

They were traveling much slower than Hu Bayi and others, so Hu Xiuwu didn’t know how long it would take to reach Kucha.

Gao Gu raised his head and glanced at the sky, then raised his hand. Gao Lu, who was following him, saw his gesture and immediately understood his gesture. He turned his horse around and shouted loudly:

"It's getting late, so rest where you are."

"It's getting late, rest where you are."

The people from the Gao family's caravan quickly dismounted, sorted out supplies, calmed the horses, counted the goods, and some went to collect hay to light bonfires to prepare food, clear weeds and build tents, while the rest of the group rode around to keep watch.

Clear division of labor and tacit cooperation.

Everything was going on in an orderly manner, and even if Hu Xiuwu and Chen Duo wanted to help, they couldn't get involved.

This is not the first time such a situation has happened. The people of the Gao family are very polite to the two of them and do not need their help in almost any work. If Hu Xiuwu and Chen Duo need anything, they will try their best to satisfy them and help them.

They are treated like distinguished guests.

However, Hu Xiuwu could also feel that under the polite and kind attitude of the Gao family, they were wary and distant from him and Chen Duo.

But Hu Xiuwu didn't care. Anyway, he was just taking a ride to Gumo. As long as they could bring the two of them to Gumo smoothly, the rest didn't matter. He didn't come to the Han Dynasty to make friends.

Hu Xiuwu thought like this, and Chen Duo's quiet temperament didn't care about such things. Hu Xiuwu suspected that except for Gao Gu who often came to talk to him, Chen Duo didn't even remember the names of the other people in the caravan.

.

Standing aside and watching the Gao family working quickly, Hu Xiuwu felt a little emotional.

Sure enough, death is a better teacher than interest, but this teacher is more severe.

Almost every child of the Zakrama tribe has seen the agony of their elders before death, so under the shadow of the red spot curse, the Zakrama tribe members study more seriously and harder.

"Xiuwu, the master of the family has asked you to go over and discuss the next itinerary."

A boy of sixteen or seventeen came to call Hu Xiuwu and Chen Duo.

This young man who is about the same age as Hu Xiuwu is called Gao Ji, who is also from the Zakrama tribe. He is about the same age as Hu Xiuwu, so unlike the others in the caravan, he usually likes to come to see Hu Xiuwu and Chen Duo.

But Chen Duo looked colder, so he didn't dare to talk to Chen Duo.

Gao Ji was obviously curious and yearning for aliens. Every time he talked to Hu Xiuwu, he liked to talk about aliens with him. However, he still knew the rules and just asked Hu Xiuwu to tell him some stories about the alien world.

"I understand, Aji, I will go with you now."

Hu Xiuwu followed him to see Gao Gu, while Chen Duo followed him silently like a shadow.

Gao Lu had a map spread out on his knees, and by the light of the campfire, he explained the contents on the map to Gao Lu.

The map of the Western Regions drawn by the Gao family themselves was much smaller than the map Zhang Qian sent to Hu Xiuwu. It only covered the section from Xiaofangpan City to Qiuci, but it was much more detailed than that map.

Although Zhang Qian's map was large in scope, it was empty. It only had a rough scope. If it were really used to guide the way, Hu Xiuwu might not be able to reach his destination even if he walked for half a year.

When Gao Gu saw Hu Xiuwu, he smiled and said, "Sir, come and warm yourself by the bonfire. It's getting colder here as night falls."

Sir is an honorific title for a person with profound Taoist cultivation, similar to Taoist priest and real person. However, the titles Taoist priest and Taoist priest only became popular during the Wei and Jin Dynasties.

How could Hu Xiuwu, a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy, be worthy of being called sir? He originally told Gao Gu that he could just call him Xiu Wu, but Gao Gu insisted that he couldn't and took the lead in calling him sir to show respect.

Gao Lu on the side also brought mats and freshly cooked broth for Hu Xiuwu and Chen Duo.

Hu Xiuwu took the broth and took a sip. Not to mention that the soup tasted pretty good.

Looking at Hu Xiuwu's slightly surprised expression, Gao Gu said jokingly:

"After so many years of traveling in the Western Regions, among other things, I have developed the skill of making soup."

Hu Xiuwu praised the broth very much, and then said to Gao Gu, "I wonder what Uncle Gao wants to see me for?"

"It's nothing big. I just want to inform you two that in seven days at this rate, we can reach the country closest to the Han Dynasty in the Western Regions, the Kingdom of Qiuci."

Gao Gu smiled and said: "Gao Yue has been to Kucha with me many times. When the time comes, you can let him take you to visit Kucha."

This is to get rid of me and Chen Duo,

Hu Xiuwu thought in his heart but kept a calm expression on his face: "Well, it just so happens that my sister and I have never been to Qiuci. Then we will trouble Uncle Gaoyue."

Gao Yue was silent and just nodded to Gao Gu. He seemed to be in a low mood. Gao Yue was Gao Gu's deputy and the oldest member of the caravan besides Gao Gu. But correspondingly, he was just like Gao Yue.

, the time of death is approaching.

Not everyone can be like Gao Gu, who still has the mood to cook soup and pave the way for future generations when he knows he is about to die.

Woo~

While Hu Xiuwu and Gao Gu were warming themselves by the campfire, a melodious horn sounded outside the caravan.

This was the first time for Hu Xiuwu to hear this noise, and Gao Gu's originally amiable expression instantly became solemn after hearing the horn sound.

After the horn sounded, except for Hu Xiuwu and Chen Duo, everyone else in the caravan threw away the food in their hands, got up from the bonfire, and took out the ring-headed knife beside them, and some people took it from horseback.

More than ten strong bows and matching arrows were produced.

React quickly and act decisively, even the elite soldiers of the Han Dynasty can only do this.

Seeing such a scene, even if Hu Xiuwu and Chen Duo didn't know the Gao family's internal code, they understood that the horn sound just now should be a signal from spies on the periphery of the caravan.

An enemy is attacking.

A group of Xiongnu cavalry was attacking them menacingly from a distance. At this time, the Xiongnu were very arrogant and regarded the Hexi Corridor as a back garden, blocking the passage connecting the Western Regions to the Han Dynasty. This was because there was less contact between the Western Regions and the Han Dynasty.

One of the reasons.

The Huns grew up on horseback and came and went like the wind on the grassland. It was really difficult to deal with them without cavalry, so most caravans would avoid them.

Even if it takes a long way around, he is not willing to go from a place where the Huns often hang out. Gao is an experienced and cautious person, so he will not take shortcuts for convenience.

The appearance of a Huns cavalry here is very strange. It is only seven days away from Qiuci and far away from the Huns' sphere of influence.

Supplies are not easy in the Gobi, and the Huns cavalry rarely travel so far.

Hu Xiuwu looked at the menacing cavalry in the distance and whispered:

"The person who came here is not good."