Only when we arrived in Khotan did we know that Khotan belonged to the king!
Jiang Shuo originally thought that since Khotan was a military town of the Tang Dynasty, it should be a fortress city like Shibao City. Unexpectedly, the city of Khotan was actually huge, with a radius of several miles. It was no bigger than Chang'an City of the Tang Dynasty. However, the city wall of Khotan was only low. Low earth wall.
Not only are there no moats or trenches outside the city, but there are many dilapidated mud houses and shacks leaning against the decaying city walls. If a war really breaks out, the defenders' vision will be blocked and they will be unable to shoot arrows, and the enemy troops attacking the city will be able to By climbing up the low city wall through these messy buildings, this kind of city defense can only be said to be better than nothing.
The gate of Khotan City is tall and beautiful. The wooden tower is decorated with gold and silver, which makes it look very gorgeous. The flags on the city head are not the flags of the Tang army, but the flags of the King of Khotan.
The city gate guards were all tall race people with dark eyebrows and wide eyes, and fair skin. Jiang Shuo couldn't help but look at each other. Dugu Xiang asked curiously: "Is it because we have no information? Khotan has fallen into another country." The hand of the country?"
Jiang Shuo said: "It doesn't look like that. You see, there are many Tang people among the merchants going in and out of the city. If Khotan really fell, there would never be such Han merchants."
Dugu Xiang said: "Then I don't understand..."
The two saw that the city gate guards were checking the official records of the merchants one by one. They did not have any documents. Jiang Shuo pointed to a shed outside the city and said, "It seems to be a wine shop over there. Let's go and find out." information."
The road outside Khotan City is narrow, the shacks are messy, and Hu and Han merchants set up stalls randomly on the dirt road. Most merchants have to lead donkeys, horses and camels on foot, but Jiang Shuo and Dugu Xiang are both good at riding and have both horses. It was a handsome horse, so it moved freely among the crowds of people and animals, and soon arrived in front of the wine shop.
The owner of the wine shop is a Persian barbarian with a fat build. He wears a white floor-length robe and a white barrel-shaped hat. He is not dressed like a cannibal who currently rules the Persian homeland, but rather like someone from the long-destroyed Sasanian dynasty. Outfit.
Although Jiang Shuo and Dugu Xiang were young in appearance, the owner of the wine shop was very discerning and could tell that the horses they rode were both the sons of wealthy merchants from China or the sons and daughters of Tang Army generals. Dare to be negligent, he came out in person, put his hand on his chest, bowed and saluted: "Two distinguished guests have come from afar, the shop is full of glory, and it is not worthy of honor."
Dugu Xiang was quite surprised and said with a smile: "Oh... you, a bastard, speak Chinese so well."
The businessman said with a smile on his face: "Young lady, you are joking. This is the land of the Tang Dynasty. How can I not speak Chinese? You two please come in quickly."
When Shuo and Xiang heard the store owner say that this was the land of the Tang Dynasty, they were relieved. Jiang Shuo crossed his hands and asked, "I haven't asked the store's name yet."
The Hu Shang smiled and said: "My name is Bartlett Artabanos. I didn't ask for my name."
Jiang Shuo said: "I'm..."
Dugu Xiang stopped Jiang Shuo with a glance. Battlie said to Hu Shang: "Your name is too long and I can't remember it. I'll just call you Lao Ba... I said Lao Ba, your place is dirty and messy, but where are you going to invite us?" "
Bartlett clapped his hands on his thighs and said, "How can we let these two distinguished guests sit outside? There is a clean and elegant tent inside."
As he spoke, he waved to his store clerk and said, "Quickly, take the horses of these two distinguished guests to be washed and fed!"
Dugu Xiang raised his horsewhip, pretending to whip the incoming waiter, which made the two waiters tremble. Dugu Xiang smiled and said: "Hey, no need, our horses are expensive, but your waiter is rough and clumsy." You guys, you can't afford to pay for spoiling my horse!"
As he spoke, he pulled the reins and controlled the jade lion to run straight into the shed. Jiang Shuo had no choice but to follow suit and lower his head to enter the shed.
There were many merchants and travelers sitting on the ground in the shed, which was very crowded. When they saw the two men approaching on horseback, they all screamed and stepped aside, causing a chaos in the shed. Jiang Shuo couldn't help but whispered to Dugu Xiang and said, "Xiang'er, you Why did you suddenly become so unreasonable?"
Dugu Xiang turned sideways on his horse, leaned close to Jiang Shuo and whispered: "Brother Shuo, in a place like this, no one will listen to you if you want to ask for news in a nice way. I am learning the behavior of the nobles in Chang'an City." This is what these philistines do. The more cruel you are to them, the more generous they will be.
Diligence. "
Jiang Shuo frowned and said, "Isn't this a shame?"
Bartley, who was fat, had just squeezed in. He didn't hear Dugu Xiang's words, but he heard Jiang Shuo's and said hurriedly: "Yes, yes, the little old man is just a bitch and has offended two distinguished guests. Why don't you please Haihan..."
Jiang Shuo couldn't help but shake his head when he saw his appearance, but Dugu Xiang glared and said, "Where is the tent you mentioned? Why don't you lead the way?"
Bartlett said hurriedly: "Yes, yes, please come this way..."
Dugu Xiang Bu Heng said falsely: "Old man, I'll put my ugly words first. If we are not satisfied, but don't pay a penny, just turn around and leave."
Bartlett said flatteringly: "The bailiff has satisfied both of you. Please come here..."
He led the two of them through the greenhouse. There were much fewer people in the back than in the front, but these people were sitting on the ground and they didn't look like prominent figures.
Dugu Xiang and Jiang Shuo rode two horses behind and followed Bartlett slowly. As Bartlett walked, he turned back and praised: "The horses you two are really the best horses in the world, they can still move in such a small place." freely."
Dugu Xiang raised the whip in his hand and said, "You want Luo Su, why hasn't it arrived yet?"
Bartlett said: "Here it is, here it is, right here."
But as expected, he saw that several large tents had been set up near the base of the city wall. Bartlett opened the curtain of one of the tents and moved inward. Dugu Xiang winked at Jiang Shuo, and the two dismounted and entered the tent. .z.
The inside and outside of this tent are simply two worlds. The tent roof is draped with tulle, and the floor is covered with thick felt blankets. The desks, beds, cabinets and other furniture are all intricately carved and decorated with gold, silver, orbs. , looked gorgeous and wealthy. Although it was daytime at the moment, the copper candlesticks in the tent were still full of candles, illuminating the entire tent. Jiang Shuo couldn't help but secretly gasp in surprise after looking at it.
Bartlett rubbed his hands and said, "Are you two satisfied?"
Dugu Xiang looked at the tent up and down, left and right, without saying a word and just frowning.
This is the most luxurious tent in Bartlett. He was originally very confident about the decoration of this tent, but after Dugu Xiang looked at it, he became a little unconfident and said hesitantly: "Little lady... is there anything wrong with it?" ?」
Seeing that his posture was full, Dugu Xiang said: "Ah, this tent is not satisfactory..."
Bartlett's hanging heart finally relaxed, and the flattering smile climbed onto his face again.
Dugu Xiang said: "But..."
Bartlett's expression suddenly changed and he said, "But what?"
Dugu Xiang said: "But this bed is not good, we can't get used to it."
The Hu bed has the word "bed" in its name, but it is actually just a cross-legged leather stool. Han people in the Tang Dynasty were still used to sitting on couches, and sitting on stools had not yet become popular.
Bartlett patted his plump forehead and said, "Yes, yes, the little old man ignored it."
He clapped his hands and immediately two servants came in. Bartlett said: "Quick! Take away the bed and high table and replace them with shorter ones."
Dugu Xiang frowned and said, "Are you asking us to sit on the ground?"
Bartlett said: "Oh, the couch is too huge. There is nothing like it in the Western Regions... However, my rug is a high-quality product from Persia. It is very soft and comfortable. It is no problem to sit on it directly."
Jiang Shuo was walking along the way and saw many Hu merchants sitting on the ground like this. He thought it was nothing. Unexpectedly, Dugu Xiang suddenly became furious. He slapped the cabinet next to him and said, "Others stepped on them and asked us to sit down." ?」
Bartlett said in panic: "Yes, yes... the little old man was speechless for a moment, it's just... it's just..."
He was quite embarrassed, thinking that he could replace anything else, but the blanket on the floor couldn't be replaced.
Dugu Xiang glanced at him and said, "Besides, I think your blanket is vulgar, so it's nothing special..." He said to Jiang Shuo, "Bring our blanket."
Jiang Shuo was stunned: "What blanket?"
Dugu Xiang said: "What other blanket is there? It's that purple velvet blanket!"
Jiang Shuo immediately understood. It turned out that Dugu Xiang was talking about that year
In Feihuxing, Pei Luo, the bones of Uihe Khan, presented Dugu Xiang as a meeting gift, Shuomo's top-quality woven rug - purple velvet rug.
This blanket was never used once after it was given to Dugu Xiang by Gu Li Pei Luo. However, it was always rolled up into a roll and hung on the back of the yellow saddle with a jade top made of licorice. It has traveled through thousands of mountains and rivers and gone through many difficulties, but it has never been used. lost.
Jiang Shuo hurriedly walked out of the tent, took off the purple velvet blanket from the horse's back, and returned it to the tent.
At this time, the servants had moved out the bed and high table, and replaced the table. Although this short table was shorter, the decoration was no less exquisite. Jiang Shuo untied the leather ropes and put the purple velvet blanket on the table. On the Persian felt blanket, spread out this small square blanket with a slight shake.
As soon as the blanket was opened, Hu Shangbattle's eyes widened and he muttered: "This, this... this is the purple velvet blanket from Yanran Mountain in Shuomo!"
Dugu Xiang took Jiang Shuo's hand and sat on the purple velvet blanket. The blanket was not big enough for the two of them to sit side by side. She nodded to Bartlett with fake approval and said, "I didn't expect such a small place to be so big. Does anyone know my treasure?"
Bartlett sat down uninvited and knelt down opposite the short table, saying: "I have only heard of it. It is said that only young rams in the extremely cold places of Yanran Mountain can give birth to dark purple fine velvet. This kind of purple velvet is The color of the velvet is unique and extremely rare. It would take more than a thousand goats to weave such a blanket!"
Dugu Xiang smiled and nodded: "Yes, yes, you really know your stuff, dad."
Bartlett suppressed his smile and said, "Young lady, you are so ridiculous. I heard that Peiro, the old master of Uighur, had such a blanket, but I have never seen the real thing..."
Jiang Shuo blurted out and exclaimed: "Huairen Khan passed away?"
Bartlett looked at Jiang Shuo strangely and said, "Don't you know? The first Khan of Huihe passed away when he was six years old. The current Khan is his son Yingwu Khan."
Jiang Shuo was startled. She didn't expect that Gu Li Pei Luo actually passed away two years ago. Thinking of what happened on Longju Island in the West Sea, could the death of Gu Li Pei Luo also be related to the Hidden Alliance? I wonder what happened to his two grandchildren, Ye Hu and Yiji Jian.
Seeing that Jiang Shuo was lost in thought, Bartlett asked, "Why, do you recognize the powerful Pero Khan?"
Jiang Shuo said: "To be honest, we are old friends with Khan Huairen, and this purple velvet blanket was a gift from the Khan."
Bartlett thought to himself: This young man and woman really have a good background, but their old friendship is a bit too much. Gu Li Pei Luo died two years ago. Even if they knew Gu Li Pei Luo three years ago, they were only in their teens. Young man, how could he be an old friend? It seems that their ancestors had good relations with King Huihe Khan, so the King of Khan gave the treasure to the two children.
