The days after leaving Yulong Pass seemed extremely boring.
When he first entered the Gobi Desert in the Western Regions, Shao Xi rode on a camel and looked at the vast scene of the Gobi Desert and felt extremely majestic.
I can't help but think of Wang Wei's poem "The solitary smoke in the desert is straight, the sun is setting in the long river".
Compared with the Central Plains, especially the small bridges, flowing water, gentle wind and drizzle in the Jiangnan water towns of the Central Plains, the desert of the Western Regions looks more like a majestic man with rough skin, rough temperament and violent temper.
There is no delicate little love story, but there is a broad mind and an unpretentious magnanimity. This makes Shao Xi feel that his whole heart can fly out and fly freely in the vast desert sky, unrestrained and unencumbered. hang.
But this feeling disappeared after several days of continuous driving, and what was left was just the boring scorching sun and windy sand all over again.
It can feel dry and hot during the day, but only bitterly cold at night.
The most painful thing is that after more than ten days, the scenery in front of you has always been the same and has not changed. After looking at it for a long time, not only has it lost the poetic and picturesque feeling before, but it will also make people feel a little anxious.
Perhaps the most beautiful scroll can only be enjoyed for a moment, and there is not so much poetry in the actual scroll.
I don’t know how long such a boring journey will last?
In the end, Shao Xi and others were no longer too lazy to look up to appreciate the surrounding scenery. They all sat on the camels with their heads drooped and moved forward mechanically.
The food and sleep along the way has worn away everyone's enthusiasm. At this time, everyone just hopes to reach a certain town early, to see the crowds, and to have a steaming meal with soup and water.
At this time, when I look back and think about Yulong Town under Yulong Pass, it will make people feel that it is as beautiful as heaven.
Along the way, apart from the scorching sun and the long stretches of yellow sand, the only ones left were the companions and the camels.
Although they occasionally passed one or two oases with some water plants along the way, they only stopped for a short rest and did not bring any surprises to Shao Xi and his party.
Shao Xi felt that if he continued like this, he would drive himself crazy sooner or later.
After several sandstorms, my clothes were now full of sand, and I couldn't shake them off no matter how hard I shook them. In addition, the sun was shining brightly during the day, and I felt as if my whole body was about to be baked dry.
The water in the caravan is allocated according to the length of the journey. Even wanting to drink one or two more sips every day seems to be an extremely luxurious thing.
Only then did Shao Xi realize that many things were not as simple as he thought. It was not easy to survive in the desert of the Western Regions.
Those who make a living in the desert have to face this for years. Maybe they are used to it, but only they know how painful this habit is.
If not forced by life, no one would be willing to travel long distances in such an environment. Even if a businessman is willing to endure this for the sake of profit, it still requires great courage.
What's more, here we not only have to face the harsh natural environment, but also face unknown dangers.
After walking for so many days, no one in the caravan had the energy to talk or laugh anymore. Everyone kept their heads down and hurried forward, hoping to reach their destination one day earlier.
In addition to the "ding-dong" of camel bells throughout the caravan, there is also the "rustling" sound of camels and horses moving forward across the yellow sand.
Occasionally, the chirping of falcons can be heard in the sky, which is so sudden and strange that it makes people feel as if they will become their food soon.
If we lose our way while traveling in this boundless desert, the entire team may never be able to get out. The only final result waiting for everyone in this vast desert is death.
Just like the numerous bones seen along the way, I wonder if they died of thirst after getting lost, or if they encountered some accident?
In short, everything reminds Shao Xi and the others how small and fragile human life is here.
The most miserable person among the group was Wu Qiu'er. He was originally huge and had an astonishing appetite. During the more than ten days of marching in the desert, his whole body was sunburned like a black iron ball.
This guy who is easily hungry and thirsty is also trying his best to endure the pain caused by the scorching sun above his head. He has obviously lost a lot of weight these days, and he complains about not having enough to eat every day.
In the end, I didn't feel noisy and hungry anymore, because I didn't have enough water to drink, and I didn't even have the strength to speak.
What surprised and admired Shao Xi was Sun Poyun and Aria. They seemed to have been accustomed to such an environment for a long time. Although they were a little listless along the way, they did not complain at all.
It seems that they are used to everything here. I have to say that the endurance of people who have lived in this environment for a long time is many times stronger than that of Shao Xi and the others.
Nowadays, Shao Xi doesn't care about his face and image. He has his head drooped and looks dejected.
As the camel swayed as it moved, his head swayed from side to side involuntarily, and his whole person was in a dazed state.
They walked like this for another whole day, until at dusk they suddenly heard shouts from the front of the caravan.
"Look! There is a large oasis ahead. It seems there are still people living there. We finally have a place to stay tonight!"
This shout cheered up everyone in the caravan. Over the past few days, they had huddled beside the camels and endured the wind, sand and cold at night in the desert, without sleeping peacefully for a single day.
Now I finally have a place where I can eat hot meals and sleep peacefully. Even the camels in the caravan can get a good supply of food and water.
This is the most surprising news in nearly half a month.
The speed of the entire caravan obviously accelerated a lot, and they rushed towards the oasis in the distance.
In this endless desert, this oasis is like a pearl in the sea of sand. Not only is it rich in water and grass, but there are even some small animals living here. It is simply a paradise in the vast desert.
When the caravan arrived, everyone led their camels and horses and rushed towards the lush bushes, because where the bushes grow lushly, there must be ponds.
When they got there, they no longer cared about whether they were clean or not. Together with the camels, they stuck their heads into the pond and poured the cool pond water into their mouths desperately.
At this time, everything else is no longer important. Everyone is freed from the pain caused by heat and dryness, and enjoys the pleasure and moisture brought by the clear pond water.
Some people even took off their clothes and jumped into the pond, playing and playing in the water wantonly, like a group of children who discovered a treasure, happily enjoying the gifts of nature.
Shao Xi carried the shriveled water bag and walked to the pond. Looking at the group of big men playing in the water, he couldn't help but shake his head.
You all jumped in to take a shower, how can I fill you with water? How can I drink this water? Although there are not so many details in the desert, you can't do this in front of me!
In desperation, Shao Xi walked towards the distance, arrived at a place that looked calm and clear, and filled the water bag he carried with him.
At this time, Lao Wu and others were squatting down to fill the water with Shao Xi, and Sun Lichang came over.
Nowadays, his head and face are covered with dust, and he looks very embarrassed. He has completely lost the appearance of the shopkeeper before, but when he speaks, he is still polite and courteous.
"Master Shao, I just sent someone to inquire about it. The house not far ahead turned out to be an inn. I didn't expect that someone would open an inn in this desolate and remote place. It's really unexpected."
At this time, Shao Xi was a little restless after going through the journey for more than ten days. Although he had a place to stay at this time, the following days would be equally difficult.
So he asked in a somewhat irritable tone: "Shopkeeper Sun, don't your Taihe Trading Company's caravans travel between the Western Regions and the Central Plains all year round? Why do you feel that you are not very familiar with this journey, and you just rely on luck to get where you go? ?”
When Sun Lichang heard what Shao Xi said, he quickly handed over his hands and replied: "Don't be surprised, sir, the weather and landforms in this desert are ever-changing, and the caravan only travels in a general direction. As long as the direction is good, it will reach its destination sooner or later.
"But there is no clear path along the way. The place we walked last time will be unrecognizable when we return a few days later, so we cannot be completely sure of what is and what is not along the way.
"The path we take this time will never be exactly the same as the one we took last time, but there is no deviation in the direction, so every time the caravan will encounter something on the way, even experienced guides dare not say 100% sure.
"I didn't make this matter clear to Mr. Shao in advance. I hope Mr. Shao won't be offended."
Shao Xi felt that what Sun Lichang said was reasonable. There was not even a clear marker in the desert. After a sandstorm, the dunes would all go elsewhere.
No one knows what the way they came from and the way back should look like, and they can only go in a general direction.
No wonder people often say that caravans traveling between the Western Regions and the Central Plains take great risks and earn money by working hard.
Now it seems that this harsh natural environment is the first hurdle that everyone has to face, not to mention that there are inevitably some poisonous scorpions, poisonous snakes, horse bandits, and bandits along the way. This road to business is naturally more dangerous and difficult.
Thinking of this, Shao Xi also felt that he should not blame Sun Lichang. Everyone faced the same difficulties, so why should he vent his emotions on others?
So Shao Xi stood up and bowed his hand to Sun Lichang.
"I don't mean to blame Shopkeeper Sun. Now that we have a place to stay, Shopkeeper Lao Sun will make some arrangements. We will settle down in this inn tonight and have a good rest to recover from the stress on the road these days. exhausted."
Sun Lichang raised his hand and gave a salute.
"I'll make arrangements now, little man."
