Jiuquan County, Yumen Pass.

In the evening, only the faint shadow of the fiery red sun hangs in the sky. Although the light emitted still faintly reveals a pale golden light, people on the earth can still feel the sacredness of the sun! But the warmth is no longer there.

Unconsciously, the whining cold wind has begun to replace the warmth of the day, and the air is filled with dense particles of grit that can cause pain to the skin.

In the late autumn weather in the Gobi Desert, the sun can still provide some warmth during the day, but at night, the temperature is dominated by coldness.

Yumen Pass, as a majestic pass on the Gobi Desert, is blocked by high walls, but it cannot stop the cold.

The icy cold wind kept swirling in the air, and the gravel was interspersed wantonly in the wind with a domineering momentum. The flags fluttering on the top of the city were not only blown by the strong wind, but also made a "puff" sound by the gravel all over the sky.

ring.

"Let's go!" Xibala turned over and got off the carriage. Under the cold wind and gravel, he barely opened his eyes completely. Looking at this terrible environment, there was still a constant flow of traffic and people under the city gate, and the wind and sand could not stop it.

These people from the Western Regions who came to Liangzhou to make money didn't have time to understand, so they immediately ordered their men to drive the camels carrying goods to the city.

Since Liangzhou completely liberalized trade with the Western Regions, it has become easier and easier for merchants from the Western Regions to make money these days. Well, it is actually becoming more and more difficult.

This seemingly contradictory statement is actually not contradictory at all. It is much more cost-effective for the Western Region merchants who are new to trade with Liangzhou to make money than traveling to and from Persia and other West Asian countries. For those who are used to Liangzhou, they have already enjoyed the benefits.

For the old group of businessmen from the Western Regions who had certain benefits, their profits were being squeezed out by their compatriots and shrunk a lot day by day.

Well, Xibala, who turned around quickly and was the first businessman from the Western Regions to surrender wholeheartedly to Zeng Yu's account, can be regarded as a typical representative of shrinking profits.

"This is the arrival of a great era! The goods from the Western Regions are connected to Liangzhou, and even the goods of the entire Han Dynasty! Liangzhou's economic prosperity has grown rapidly, and a large number of people, sophisticated weapons, and abundant food have all poured in.

Liangzhou! There is no doubt that Liangzhou

He will be the future master of Central Asia! He may even replace the hegemony of the Han Empire in East Asia!" Sibala did not feel annoyed at being robbed of business by his compatriots, but braved the wind and sand to lead a camel with his own hands, happily

Dihe said to a big shopkeeper beside him.

Walking slowly along the slow flow of people, Xibala's caravan has arrived at the city gate, waiting to line up for inspection and take turns to enter.

With the economic prosperity and opening up of Liangzhou, Yumen Pass, which was once a major military fortress in the Western Regions, was completely renovated in line with the economic trend. The city gate opening was renovated to be very spacious, enough for five or six carriages to march in side by side, which was extremely convenient for everyone.

Huge caravans came and went.

Sibala and his party did not wait long before they rushed into the city.

Blocked by the tall city wall, although the weather is still so cold, at least the wind and sand in the sky are blocked, and under the illumination of rows of torches erected on the streets, the entire city is integrated into a warm flame, and people

It also gradually became warmer.

The endless flow of caravans passed through this warm flame, and their faces were all filled with happy smiles. The opening of Liangzhou this year was a great blessing to the people from the Western Regions who were traveling around.

.

The goods are bought and sold by Liangzhou people. They don't have to run around in the mountains where bandits are infested, and they don't have to worry about crossing the desert. They can exchange the goods they bring at a satisfactory price, and also pay back

You can buy silk and satin, tea, fine wine, and antique jade and porcelain in the center of the Han Empire at the same price. If you sell them to the Western Regions, the price will be higher than the sky. You can even sell them to the distant Persian Empire, and you can find out a few

times the price.

This was the biggest change Zeng Yu brought to Liangzhou. He no longer closed the country to the outside world, and expanded the level of trade again and again. The fine steel, ironware, high-quality cattle, sheep, horses, and camels from the Western Regions were in short supply in the Central Plains.

Goods also flowed into Liangzhou like flowing water, equipping every Liangzhou soldier and enriching Liangzhou's supplies.

The endless flow of caravans seen before our eyes is neither a dream nor a bubble. They will continue to move forward with the development of Liangzhou!

The big shopkeeper who just listened silently to Xibala's bragging was the first time that he followed his family master to this distant ancient country in the East to seek wealth and future. He witnessed with his own eyes that there were so many people from the Western Regions flowing in under the cold wind.

Walking in the city, the vendors in the city are not afraid of the cold wind, and they run under the torches one by one and are filled with warmth.

With a loving smile, he greets every merchant who comes and goes. The whole city is lively and lively, even at night. It is simply a city that never sleeps, a commercial city! It is like a city that belongs to their merchants! This is

There were simply more merchants in this border city than in their capital of Qiuci! He was completely convinced!

"My eldest son, you are really visionary. If you develop in such a vibrant city, even if the profits are temporarily reduced by one or two, it will still be better than maintaining the old and decayed trade routes in Persia! You can bring such a vitality to the family.

With the flourishing trade routes, your status in the family will also be different from what it used to be! Even the position of the head of the family is possible!" This big shopkeeper is the most relied-upon steward of the Xiba family, who is responsible for Persia.

A high-level official in the region, his status in the family is no less than that of Xibala. This time the family brought this great steward to Liangzhou for investigation because they intended to transfer all the family's power to Liangzhou. They have just entered the first step of Liangzhou.

At the threshold, with the sharp eyes of the big shopkeeper, he discovered that this trade route could bring lasting benefits to his family. He was full of praise for Xiba, and even used his position as the head of the family to win over Xiba.

pull.

After hearing the approval of the big shopkeeper, Xibala didn't feel much joy in his heart. For Xibala, who has regarded Liangzhou as his own family, the family far away in Qiuci is no longer important! He personally

It’s just a matter of accompanying the big shopkeeper to Yumen Pass.

It's just to fulfill the love of raising a family! It is better to fight for the position of a small family head than to find an official position in the Han Dynasty. No, not the Han Dynasty, but Liangzhou! It should be, in that wise Shenwu

Find an official position under the rule of Lord Zhou Mu!

When he thought of Zeng Yu, Xibala's face was full of admiration, and he suddenly started to talk non-stop: "Big shopkeeper, this is because you don't know something. This great city is just an insignificant corner of Liangzhou! You know

, before this year, this city was still a military base for the Han Empire to guard against the Western Regions.

The fortress. Today, the military force stationed in this city has not been reduced, but the actual content has completely tilted towards business! It is a paradise for our businessmen! All of this was made by the great Zhou Mu! In the future, our family will be in the fortress.

To take root in Liangzhou, I cannot do without the support of Mr. Zhou Mu."

The chief steward frowned and said a little confused: "Isn't the Han Empire led by the Tian Khan who lives in Chang'an?"

A tourist who just walked out of the inn passed by the caravan. Hearing the words of the butler, he stopped immediately, pointed at the butler and laughed out loud: "Haha! Tian Khan? Chang'an? Brother

, how long has it been since you came to Hanjing? Ten years ago, this day changed! Haha!"

This visitor left a few words without thinking and walked away, leaving the butler confused. He spread his hands and looked at Xibala with doubts on his face.

"Grand Shopkeeper, you don't know something. The Han Empire is no longer the era of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty who expedition to the Western Regions! Now the imperial power has declined to the extreme. All states and counties are independent in their own affairs! Our Company Chang'an is ours

The long-legendary holy city in the Western Regions was destroyed in a disaster more than ten years ago. Although Chang'an is still majestic now,

The city, but it has lost its former glory and is no different from an ordinary city!" Xibala explained patiently, with a trace of nostalgia on his face. In those days, all the merchants from the Western Regions were proud to visit that majestic city.

Moreover, the rubbish thrown out by the dignitaries who lived in Xiongcheng back then could be trafficked to West Asia and sold at high prices! But now...

The chief steward came to understand and said with emotion: "The world is so unpredictable, just like our Kucha country! Although it is prosperous with Kucha steel, but simply prospering with this kind of ordnance, although it can be prosperous for a while, it will not be sufficient.

The manpower formed into the army. Haha, this is the source of trouble! Fortunately, our monarch also has this mentality of being willing to change in times of peace.

, entrusting our family to come to the Han Empire to find a reliable backer! I heard you say that although the Han Empire is divided into pieces, it has a vast land, abundant resources, and strong military strength. If we can find a powerful faction to support it, it will be a good thing! The interests of our family and the monarch

Bind together, eldest son, you must treat this matter as the main thing!"

A commission from the monarch? This is the first time I heard about it! Xibala raised his eyebrows. This is a good opportunity. If they can reach a matchmaking relationship between the interests of their Qiuci Kingdom and Liangzhou, Xibala is pursuing an official position.

Isn’t it time to get the job?

He looked at the surging customers around him and smiled in his heart. These customers were just looking for short-term business, while he was pursuing business between countries! He said it in a hurry!

Of course, the satisfied Sibala did not forget that the butler next to him was the distinguished guest who brought him an olive branch. He bowed and said: "Butler, please don't worry! Sibala always puts the interests of the family first.

On top of personal interests, national interests are what Sibala worries about day and night!"

The chief steward nodded and said: "You have been developing in the Han Dynasty for many years and have a wide network of contacts. As long as you can complete this matter perfectly, your position as the head of the family will definitely be approved by most people in the family!"

The long main street has come to an end. Xibala pointed to a house with high walls and deep wells in front of the alley on the left with some showoff. "Butler, this is Xibala's property in this commercial city. It is also
Chapter completed!