Huang Ting

Gao Gu led the caravan to Yancheng in a familiar manner. Hu Xiuwu pulled Chen Duo behind Gao Gu, looking curiously at this foreign capital.

The oasis where Kucha is located was called Kuqa Oasis in later generations. It is a rare oasis that has lasted for two thousand years and is still taking care of the people living on this land two thousand years later.

There are people in Qiuci, as well as iron ore, and it is located in an important transportation area connecting the Western Regions and the Central Plains. If not for the emergence of Queen Jingjue, Qiuci and Wusun would be the most powerful of the thirty-six countries in the Western Regions.

Therefore, Yancheng is one of the most prosperous capitals in the Western Region. There are many people walking on the streets, and the races are complex. There are people with long snow-white skin, slightly curly hair and deep eye sockets, as well as dark-skinned and tall guards.

The clothes they wear are also very different from those in the Central Plains. The lower-class people in Kucha wear thick robes that cover their limbs, while the upper-class people in Kucha wear much cooler clothes, with robes on their heads, necks and waists.

Wearing exquisite gold and silver jewelry.

The weather in the Western Regions is hot during the day, and the sun's radiation is also strong, so hardworking people who often have to work outside wear tight clothes. Although it is a little hot, it is better than getting sunburned.

Only those Kucha nobles who can live in a cool room and are not exposed to the sun for a long time can wear clothes that do not consider the problem of sunburn and only focus on comfort and beauty.

While walking through an intersection, Hu Xiuwu discovered that the intersection leading to the northwest city of Yancheng was blocked by soldiers from Qiuci. Behind these soldiers, there were several billows of white smoke, and a continuous stream of smoke could be heard from inside.

The constant, tinkling sound of forging iron.

Someone was walking through the intersection carrying goods. He was just walking and didn't notice that he was gradually leaning towards the place where the Kucha soldiers were guarding. The Kucha soldiers pushed him away and scolded him in Kucha language.

people.

The wooden basket carried by this Yancheng resident fell to the ground, and the fruits in the wooden basket were scattered all over the ground. However, he did not complain, but kept bowing to the soldiers.

Hu Xiuwu found that there was no hidden anger or resentment in his eyes. For ordinary people who were suddenly pushed down, their first reaction would be anger. However, after he discovered where he was, he instead accepted the Kucha soldiers with a low eyebrow.

reprimand.

Hu Xiuwu asked Gao Ji curiously: "Aji, where is that place?"

Gao Ji scratched his head: "This is also my first time coming to Qiuci with my uncle and the clan leader. I don't know where it is. It looks like a blacksmith shop?"

Hu Xiuwu looked at the heavily guarded warning area: "But this area is too large. Does Qiuci need so many iron tools?"

Gao Lu on the side heard the conversation between Gao Ji and Hu Xiuwu, and explained to them:

"That's where Kucha forged military supplies, so the management is extremely strict."

Hu Xiuwu wondered: "Qiuci is just a small country in the Western Region. Does it need such a huge forging shop?"

Gao Lu explained: "Sir, you don't know that Kucha is rich in copper and iron, and its forging skills are famous in the Western Regions. Many small countries in the Western Regions rely on Kucha for their ironware."

"Moreover, the overlord of Kucha, Jingjue, ordered Kucha to donate 10,000 fine weapons and 50,000 arrowheads to Jingjue every year."

"Ten thousand! How is this possible!"

For a fine saber, even a skilled blacksmith can only produce two in a month, and only a dozen in a year.

Kucha is just a small country with a population of less than 100,000. Even if there are 1,000 blacksmiths in Kucha, it would still take a whole year to forge it day and night. But are there so many blacksmiths in Kucha?

Hu Xiuwu said: "What if there are missing numbers?"

Gao Lu sighed and said: "Jingjue country believes in the snake god and likes living sacrifices."

"I heard that if you lose one, you have to pay for it with a life."

"A harsh government is as fierce as a tiger." Hu Xiuwu sighed.

No wonder, the man just now didn’t complain at all after being pushed away by the Kucha soldiers.

If this year's tribute cannot be collected in full, King Qiuci will definitely not choose people from the nobles as sacrifices. In the end, he will not choose people from poor people like them to make up for the sacrifice.

Hu Xiuwu didn't ask why Qiuci didn't resist such nonsense. Queen Jingjue is still on the throne. Jingjue must have an army composed of strangers now. Even the Huns are now very afraid of Jingjue, let alone a small one.

Kucha.

After Gao Lu talked about the situation in Qiuci again, he couldn't help but think of the tribesmen who also suffered a happy death due to the snake god. He felt a little depressed for a moment and was not in the mood to talk. Hu Xiuwu was thinking about Jing Jue. Gao Ji saw that neither of them had a happy ending.

I didn't dare to yell anymore.

Among the few people, Chen Duo was the only one who could still maintain his innocence and no worries, and really enjoyed the scenery of Yancheng.

Gao Gu led the caravan to an inconspicuous courtyard and knocked on the door. An old man in the courtyard came to open the door. When he saw it was Gao Gu, he quickly saluted.

This is also the residence of the Gao family, but the Zakrama tribe cannot stay in the Western Regions for a long time, so Gao hired an old servant in Qiuci to help look after the house.

There are houses all over the country, and they are all large mansions.

What does a rich person mean?

If it weren't for the curse of the snake god, this sharp sword hanging over the heads of the Zakrama tribe would have been able to live a very comfortable life with the resources they now have. However, without the encouragement of this curse, I am afraid that Zakrama

The clan would not be so desperate.

Everything in the world has its pros and cons.

After the caravan horses and caravan people were settled, it was still early and Hu Xiuwu and Chen Duo were not tired yet. Gao Gu said to them:

"We have finally arrived in Kucha. Why don't we wait for a while to take a bath and have a rest, then let Ayue take you around. In the caravan, Ayue is the most familiar with Kucha besides me."

"Although Qiuci is not as prosperous as the Central Plains, it still has its own unique charm, and there are also some novel species that are not seen in the Central Plains."

Seeing Gao Gu pretending to be mysterious, Hu Xiuwu didn't think so.

The novel species Gao Gu mentioned were nothing more than grapes, cantaloupe, or camels. He had long been tired of eating and seeing them.

However, when Hu Xiuwu turned around and saw Chen Duo, he found that Chen Duo seemed to be very interested in shopping, with eagerness shining in his eyes.

Hu Xiuwu suddenly remembered that since the farewell to King Xian's Tomb, Chen Duo had been living in the bunker. When he came out, he was on a mission, either killing someone or on the way to kill someone.

Although Liao Zhong made her a temporary worker for her own good, this was not a normal life after all. Moreover, after coming to the Han Dynasty, she and Hu Xiuwu were constantly on the road and never hung out normally.

Although he saw Chen Duo's yearning, Hu Xiuwu did not make his own decision. Instead, he asked Chen Duo for his opinion:

"Duo'er, do you want to take a stroll in Yancheng?"

Chen Duo looked at Hu Xiuwu and nodded heavily: "Yes."

Hu Xiuwu smiled at Chen Duo, then cupped his hands with Gao Yue and said, "Then I'll leave it to Uncle Gao Yue."

Gao Yue forced an ugly smile:

"It's just a matter of duty."

After watching Hu Xiuwu and Chen Duo go back to their respective rooms to take a bath, Gao Gu asked the rest of the caravan to rest first and talk about anything tomorrow.

After sending the others away, Gao Gu lost his amiable expression and said seriously to Gao Lu, who had been following him:

"You should also go wash up and take a shower. We will go out soon."

"It's time for you to meet King Kucha."

"Here!"