Dunhuang is Li Zhen’s hometown. He spent his childhood and youth here, leaving him with countless beautiful memories.

But at this time, Dunhuang could no longer hold his heart, his relatives had moved to Luoyang, and many of his friends died in the war a few months ago, leaving only painful memories.

Long before he went to Gaochang to buy the secret recipe for brewing, their family had decided to leave Dunhuang. Li Zhen only stayed in Dunhuang for a few days and then set off for the east again.

Kang Dazhuang's parents moved to Zhangye, and he also wanted to walk with Li Zhen. Xiaoxi's father unfortunately died and became an orphan. He was unwilling to stay in this sad place and was willing to walk with Li Zhen.

Although Jiuzhi really wanted to go to Chang'an with them, would his father agree?

On the night back to Dunhuang, Jiu Zhi expressed his wish to go to Chang'an to his father uneasy.

Jiuzhi's father, Uncle Jiu, was a very reasonable person. He heard that his son had received two thousand guan, but the money was in Chang'an, so he immediately approved his son's request to go to Chang'an.

In this way, it was natural for Jiuzhi to go to Chang'an with everyone. Ten days later, everyone set out again to Chang'an, Central Plains.

From Dunhuang to Chang'an, they have to run through the entire Hexi Corridor, and they have to walk through Longyou and enter the Guanzhong Plain. Finally, they have to go to Chang'an, and they have to walk at least one month during this period.

This is a difficult journey. Not only is the journey far away, but the wind and dew are eaten, but bandits often appear in the Hexi Corridor, killing people and robbing goods, which is extremely dangerous.

Even the Sogdians who often follow this path of wealth had to gather on a large scale, with thousands or even tens of thousands of camels in formation, using a large number of people to overwhelm the bandits.

However, with the Tang army fighting with Tubo and Turkic forces, the Hexi Corridor implemented militarized management, and the usually rampant bandits also temporarily calmed down. There were few news of pedestrians being robbed during this period.

Li Zhen and his party went smoothly. They went east to Chang'an without any obstacles. That afternoon, the four of them arrived in Fulu County, Suzhou.

Fulu County is a small county with a population of less than 1,000 households. However, it is also an important supply land on the Silk Road. From Fulu County to Zhangye, there is no market and town for nearly 300 miles in the middle, so caravans traveling from east to west will replenish food and drinking water here.

When Li Zhen and the other four walked into the county town, a large caravan happened to rest and replenish supplies in the county town, making the small county particularly lively.

Jiuzhi's throat was almost dry and hot. Seeing that there was a wine shop not far from the city gate, it occupied a large area and was decorated in gorgeous colors. He was suddenly itchy.

"Old Li, let's have a drink!"

"This suggestion is very good. Lao Kang, Xiaoxi, have you heard that Lao Pang wants to treat you, it's rare!" Li Zhen glanced at Jiu Zhi and smiled.

"Go! Go! Go! I have agreed to pay my own account, why do you want me to treat me?"

Xiaoxi whispered, "Brother Fat, Brother Zhen pays the bill all the way, and Lao Kang and I have paid twice, but you have never paid a penny."

Jiu Zhi blushed and shouted, "Aren't you stingy guys just a little money for wine? I'll treat you Fatty today, but this store is a bit shabby, so let's change one."

"Don't change it, this restaurant is good!" The three of them dragged him into the restaurant with their winery.

The bartender took them to a window on the second floor and said politely: "The shop's best-in-class is braised lamb, roasted venison, fried quail, and the best beef. You can't eat beef when you go to the Central Plains. Why don't you all come to some?"

“Are there any fruits and vegetables?”

"There are not many fruits and vegetables, only the vinegar mixed with May green and bean sprouts, and pears, but the wine is good, with authentic Gaochang wine."

Jiuzhi was so impressed that he heard it, "A few words you said, just give me a plate! A pot of wine."

"no problem!"

The bartender smiled and said, "In addition, the small shop also runs an inn, right behind the restaurant. I see that a few of them are coming from afar, so it's better to stay in a small shop. The small shop can prepare more dry food for you. The next stop is to Zhangye, but it's 300 miles away, and there is no place to stay and eat in the middle."

The four of them looked at each other and Li Zhen asked again: "Isn't Kongtong Mountain ahead? Kongtong Mountain is a Taoist holy land and is famous all over the world. Is there no place to stay?"

The bartender burst into laughter, "Shaolang is talking about Pingliang Kongtong Mountain. Kongtong Mountain in our Fulu County is just a wilderness ridge, with only bandits and no Taoist priests."

Li Zhen's face was hot, and he actually put Kongtong Mountain in the wrong place.

"How about it, let's stay in the shop!"

The inn business was bleak during this period. The shopkeeper said that he would get a guest with a prize of 20 cents, and the bartender worked very hard. These four guys are worth 80 cents!

"I'll help you carry your luggage!"

Before the four of them agreed, the bartender rushed downstairs to move his luggage. After a while, Jiuzhi reacted and shouted, "Where are our wine and food!"

......

The inn room is very spacious, but it has not been around for a long time. The room is not ventilated and sultry and hot. It is full of an unpleasant smell of rotten eggs. The wall peels off, revealing a large area of ​​dark yellow soil.

There was a huge spider web in the corner, occupying nearly half of the roof. A spider the size of a fist kept hanging up and down, as if it was the owner of the house, demonstrating to the four invaders.

Jiuzhi lay on Hu's couch and stared at the big black spider above his head. He didn't dare to move. He was sweating all over when he moved, but he was not idle in his mouth.

"Old Li, I suspect we live in a spider's nest. Look at this spider, I will definitely eat me in the middle of the night. Xiaoxi, let's change to a bed!"

"Brother Fat, I have one here, not smaller than yours."

"Damn it, it's called a room. It costs 200 cents to stay for one night. The best inn in Dunhuang is only 60 cents a night. I'll talk to the shopkeeper tomorrow."

"Old fat, go to bed! I'm going to rush to the road tomorrow!"

Li Zhen didn't care about the simplicity of the room. He was still recalling the short and unforgettable night like a meteor, which made him feel unforgettable and tender. The most beautiful swan by the Puchang Sea, he took out the flattened silk flower from his arms, gently stroked the soft petals, and a trace of longing surged in his heart.

A burst of fatigue and sleepiness came. Before he knew it, Li Zhen was about to fall asleep, but at this moment, it seemed like a nest was blowing outside, and cries suddenly started, and horse hooves were running on the street like thunder. Li Zhen suddenly sat up, and the other three friends also sat up.

"A Zhen, something seems to be wrong!"

Kang Dazhuang said nervously: "I heard the screams."

Li Zhen also heard it, not only screams, but also screams from women. What happened?

At this time, the inn guy ran over in a panic and lowered his voice: "Four people, don't not go out, the bandits have entered the city!"

Jiuzhi was startled and asked quickly: "Will the bandits go into the inn?"

"Often no, they are going to the Persian residence next door. Our place is a poor shop, so the bandits won't come."

Li Zhen thought of their horses and camels and immediately said, "Don't be careless, let's go to the horse house to take a look!"

The three of them agreed. This time they brought a batch of Huxiang, worth 500 guan, and could be sold for 1,000 guan in Chang'an. Their horses and camels were very valuable, especially Li Zhen's red-blooded BMW. If they were stolen by horse bandits, they would lose all their money.

The four of them drew their long swords, Da Zhuang carried Hu Xiang on his back and quickly ran towards the horse house in the backyard, and ran to the horse house. The horses and camels were all there, which made them feel relieved. At this moment, Xiaoxi shouted in the yard outside, "Brother Zhen, come quickly!"

The three of them ran to the yard and saw Xiaoxi lowering one from the yard wall. When the three of them ran towards her, Xiaoxi hurriedly said, "I saw that this person was about to climb over the wall, and it was very difficult, so I helped him."

Seeing that the man didn't say anything, Li Zhen said, "He seems to be injured. Xiaoxi, please help him see."

Xiaoxi turned over his body. This man was a Sogdian merchant holding an iron box in his arms. He saw a stab in front of his chest, covered in blood, and fainted.

Xiaoxi quickly found the medicine and bandages to heal his wounds and bandage him. Kang Dazhuang looked down at him for a while, and suddenly shouted: "It's Uncle Amulin!"

"Dazhuang, do you know him?" Li Zhen asked.

Kang Dazhuang nodded, "It's in the same caravan as my second uncle. Is my second uncle next door?"

Li Zhen also felt something was wrong and immediately said to Xiaoxin: "You can treat his injuries first, Jiuzhi, Dazhuang, let's go to the next door to take a look!"

Next door to the inn is the Persian residence, which covers dozens of acres of inn. At this time, the bandits had withdrawn. The Persian residence was in chaos and the ground was full of various goods. The Sogdian merchants were crying while packing their goods.

The three of them rushed to the front yard, where the Sogdians were the most. Kang Dazhuang saw another acquaintance and hurriedly grabbed and asked, "Uncle Wu, is my second uncle here?"

"You are... Dazhuang, your second uncle is there!"

The Sogdian merchant pointed to the steps not far away and sighed, "You're a sin!"

Li Zhen and the other two saw Kang Wood, with tears on their faces, sitting on the steps dull. Kang Dazhuang rushed up to support him and said, "Second uncle, it's me, I am Dazhuang! What happened?"

Conwood looked at him and recognized his nephew. He suddenly came to his senses, hugged him and cried loudly, "It's... Dazhuang, save your sister, she was stolen by the bandit!"

Li Zhen felt that his heart was about to explode and was stolen by the bandits. Are he talking about Kang Ruier or Sisi?

He looked around anxiously, but did not see Kang Ruier. He immediately thought that Kang Ruier must have been stolen, and Sisi had no need to go back to Dunhuang.

"I'm going to kill them!"

Kang Dazhuang roared, turned around and rushed out of the gate. Li Zhen was shocked and followed him to chase him out. Kang Dazhuang rushed to the city gate in one breath. The city gate was open, and looking at the dark night outside the city, the bandits had already disappeared.

Kang Dazhuang knelt down weakly, punched the ground hard, and tears rolled down from his eyes.
Chapter completed!