After all, after asking around for the past few days, only this person is the most suitable.
Just when he was looking around for guides, he was spotted by another group of people who frequently recommended strong grooms to him.
Only then did Wang Xian realize that these people did not know martial arts, were not alert enough, and were not familiar with the road. However, they had a lot of strength and were not afraid of hard work and resentment. They often followed caravans and made a living by driving horse and camel teams, but they could not die of hunger. of.
Wang Xian thought he would have to wait a few more days before hearing any news about Helian. Who knew that as soon as he went out today, the owner of the shop told him that someone had seen Helian going to Rouge Lane in the north of the city.
Rouge Lane has a charming name and a charming place.
As soon as Wang Xian reached the entrance of the alley, he smelled the smell of rouge.
But there was no smell of rouge, and he didn't see where rouge was. Wang Xian was very curious, looked around, and finally found where rouge was.
There are simple and rough houses on both sides of this street. A shallow ditch was dug in front of the house, and light red sewage flowed in the ditch.
The scent of rouge emanates from this shallow ditch.
Wang Xian only knew that Helian came to Rouge Lane, but he didn't know whose house he came to. He originally wanted to inquire, but as soon as he walked into Rouge Lane, he realized that it was not that easy to inquire.
The houses here are small and simple, one next to another, and some don't even have windows.
Along the way, there were no plaques hanging on any of these houses. Some of the houses had their doors closed, with laughter coming from inside, while others had their doors open, but there was no one at the door, except for a small tuna.
Wang Xian is a watchman in Chang'an City. He has visited all of the 108 lanes in Chang'an City. He has seen all kinds of streets and alleys. The Rouge Lane in front of him looks familiar to him, and he slightly smiled. The land of fireworks is indispensable in any state or city.
After walking a few steps, the door of a room suddenly opened, and a middle-aged man with a disheveled face walked out. He was very skinny, and a close-fitting beard dangled from his body.
Wang Xian quickly caught up with the man and said with a smile, "Brother, I wonder if you have just met Helian."
The man frowned, curled his lips, and ignored Wang Xian.
Wang Xian understood, and hurriedly took a handful of money and handed it to the man: "A certain merchant from Chang'an wants to ask Helian to be his guide. Please give me some advice."
The man frowned and looked at the sling of money: "I just saw Helian, but when I went to that room, I didn't remember it."
Wang Xian knew that the money was not enough, so he hurriedly handed over another sling of money, and his attitude of asking for help was very correct: "Please help me, brother."
The man then smiled and pointed to the house with the red curtain at the end of the alley: "Did you see where the one with the red curtain went?"
The red door curtain is floating in the wind, very bright.
Wang Xian thanked him and walked over quickly. He was about to knock on the door. After thinking about it, he put his hand down and leaned against the door, waiting patiently.
The man also came over and said with a big smile: "You are a foreigner, but you do know the rules."
Wang Xian smiled: "Brother, why are you here too?"
The man weighed the two slings of money and said, "Isn't this rich?"
Wang Xian grinned as he looked at the man's body swaying in the wind.
What a desperate person. Even now, he still refuses to leave.
After saying a few words, the door of the house opened. The red curtain moved and a man came out. He looked at Wang Xian and turned around to leave.
Wang Xian was stunned. He knew that Helian was a barbarian, but the person who came out just now clearly didn't look like a barbarian.
The man walked in with two slings of money. Seeing that Wang Xian didn't move, he was stunned for a moment and said, "Aren't you looking for Helian? Why don't you go quickly? He is."
Only then did Wang Xian come to his senses and hurriedly chased after him, shouting repeatedly: "Brother Helian, Brother Helian."
Helian stopped and looked back at Wang Xian in surprise. He didn't seem to recognize this person.
Wang Xian hurriedly saluted: "I am a merchant from Chang'an, my name is Wang Xian. I heard that Brother Helian has been in and out of Mohe Yanqi several times, and I would like to ask Brother Helian to be my guide."
Helian was also very polite and returned the greeting: "Brother, you're welcome, my name is Helian Wenyuan." He looked around and saw people coming in and out, then he paused and said, "It's not convenient to talk here. I wonder if brother, can we move to a wine shop to have a detailed discussion?"
Wang Xian quickly agreed.
The two of them found a small wine shop. The cover of the wine shop was a little dilapidated, and it was floating alone in the wind.
There was a thick layer of oil on the food table. When I wiped it with my hand, my fingertips became black and shiny.
The owner of the shop was an old woman, with frosty hair and wrinkles on her face. She seemed to know Helian Wenyuan. When she saw him come in, she stood up tremblingly without saying anything.
Helian Wenyuan hurriedly helped the old woman sit down and said with a smile: "Madam, just sit down and I will do it myself."
After cooking, he poured wine from the wine jar, cut two plates of cooked beef, put two plates of side dishes on the table, put a pouch in the old woman's hand, and said softly: "You... My legs, I think it’s still not working, I’ll ask Old Man Li to come over and give you a look later.”
The old woman shook her head tremblingly, as if she didn't understand what Helian Wenyuan was talking about.
Helian Wenyuan patted the old woman's skinny hand, turned around and sat down, smiled apologetically at Wang Xian and said, "My aunt is old, her ears are not very good, and her legs and feet are not convenient."
Wang Xian lamented, as people get older, life is really difficult.
He didn't say much, he just felt that Helian Wenyuan was kind-hearted, and even if the business deal failed, he was still a person to be friends with. I:
He looked at Helian Wenyuan carefully. When he first saw this person, he didn't think he looked like a foreigner. But now he sat down and took a closer look. He found that this person had light eyes, slightly brown hair, and his skin was thicker than that of ordinary Han people. He is whiter and has a very gentle and subtle appearance. He is not as rugged as the Hu people. He is just wearing a half-worn beard coat, which makes him look particularly tall and strong.
He poured a glass of wine and toasted Helian Wenyuan: "Brother Helian has a kind heart."
Helian Wenyuan grinned and waved his hand casually: "It's easy." He didn't drink from a wine cup, but took a wine pot and poured it directly into his mouth, drinking it happily. : "I wonder if you can elaborate on what brother just said."
Wang Xian nodded: "That's right. We are merchants from Chang'an. We plan to go to Qiuci Kingdom via Mohe Yanqi. We would like to ask Brother Helian to be our guide."
Helian Wenyuan was stunned for a moment, and then asked in confusion: "If you want to go to Qiuci Kingdom, take the Mohe Yanqi, it seems to be a long way around."
Wang Xian was a little embarrassed and smiled.
Helian Wenyuan continued to ask: "Now that the Yiwu Road is smooth and easy to travel, and there are ten post stations along the way, why not take the Yiwu Road instead of going around Mohe Yanqi?"
Wang Xian rubbed the back of his head. There were some things he really couldn't say to Helian Wen Yuanming, and he couldn't help but feel a little confused.
If you are a caravan guide, you only need to pay money. Why are you asking so many questions? Are all caravan guides so cautious?
Seeing that Wang Xian had a troubled look on his face and pursed his lips without saying a word, Helian Wenyuan understood a little bit. His light-colored eyes flashed and he lowered his voice and said, "Don't you have a road administration document?"
Wang Xian waved his hands hurriedly: "No, no, please don't misunderstand Brother Helian. The caravan has all the documents and will never cause trouble to Brother Helian."
Helian Wenyuan smiled half-heartedly, not completely believing it.
He has been a caravan guide for twenty years, so he has some experience. For ordinary caravans, they have to prepare road documents when entering and exiting, and use the Yiwu Road to pass customs clearance, making the journey convenient and safe.
Who would bother to choose Moheyanqi, which is so difficult and dangerous, and only those with incomplete documents, or no road documents at all.
It's just that if such a caravan wants to leave the customs, guards and guides are never enough. They must find a reliable guide in Suzhou City.
Not everyone can be a guide. He must be bold, careful and calm, and he must be very close to the pass garrison.
Helian Wenyuan looked at Wang Xian. This man looked honest and honest, and he didn't look like someone who dared to put his head on his waistband.
However, even if it is, he is not afraid. After twenty years of business, he still has the ability to protect himself.
He nodded and smiled: "Well, I really misunderstood. I just don't know how much money I can raise for this trip."
Wang Xian smiled: "Mohe Yanqi is dangerous, and I will not let Brother Helian suffer. The master has said that if Brother Helian is willing to make this trip, he is willing to give out 800 tea coupons."
For larger caravans traveling to the Western Regions to raise funds for escorting guides, camel and horse teams, etc., they would receive at most 6,000 tea coupons, while guides like Helian Wenyuan would only receive four to five hundred tea coupons.
Helian Wenyuan traveled to the Western Regions with the Dunhuang Wanjia family five months ago and was given 550 tea coupons, which was considered a sky-high price.
In recent years, most businesses in Guanzhong and Hexi have used tea coupons to pay for silver and copper coins to raise funds. There is no obstacle to official and commercial circulation, and each tea coupon can be worth more than one ounce.
Eight hundred tea coupons are really a sky-high price.
Helian Wenyuan's eyes flashed, and he was really moved.
But being able to pay such a sky-high price to hire him as a guide to take a trip to Mohe Yanqi would be more than just a business trip.
Although he was hesitant, he still couldn't resist the temptation.
After this trip, he will be able to save enough money to redeem her. Whether she stays in Suzhou or goes to Ganzhou and Liangzhou, life will be good in the future.
He clenched his fists and made up his mind. He changed the title in his mouth: "Brother Wang, I will do this as soon as I can." He found a pen and paper, wrote down his home address and handed it to Wang Xian: "Wang Xian." Brother, this is the address of someone’s home. After the New Year, Brother Wang can come to see someone.”
Wang Xian was stunned for a moment and shook his head quickly: "Brother Helian misunderstood. It's not that we are celebrating the New Year, but that we are going to leave in the near future."
Helian Wenyuan was completely stunned. He knew it was not easy to earn money this time, but he didn't expect it to be so difficult.
He shook his head: "Brother Wang, you know that it has become cold today, and the dripping water in Moheyan Moraine has turned into ice. If you go in at this time, there will be almost no life."
Wang Xian didn't expect it to be so dangerous. He struggled for a while before nodding: "Brother Helian also knows that this is the master's intention."
