Chapter 369 Yizhang County
After leaving Laopingshi Wharf, Sun Shan and others followed Jinjiling, Huchangshan, Weilingguan, Yangguling, Jiufeng, Yanxishan, and Ailing, passing through twists and turns, and finally arrived at their first stop, Yizhang County.
Sun Shan had heard that there were 100,000 mountains in Guangxi, but in fact, the Nanling Mountains on the border between Guangdong and Hunan were no less numerous.
Although not as high and steep as the mountains in Guangxi, walking on it can still make people feel desperate.
The road from Zhangzhou Prefecture to Yizhang County is not too difficult. Although there are many mountains, they are not steep and can accommodate mule carts. Although you have to get off the ground and climb over mountains and ridges, you can still take a car.
Although Sun Shan was panting and sweating profusely, he still had the strength to keep up.
This time, thanks to the support of Sun Dali and Gui Ge'er, both of whom are famous for their great strength, all of Sun Shan's books were carried by them.
Sun Dali and Gui Ge'er carried the packages and followed the escort team silently. Sun Shan planned to pay the escort team to help transport the luggage so that everyone could lighten the burden and go into battle with ease.
But Gui Ge'er and Sun Dali hurriedly tried to stop him. Gui Ge'er quickly shook his head and said, "Brother Shan, I can carry it. Your book is not heavy at all."
In fact, the most important thing is books. Gui Ge'er is Sun Shan's book boy. Gui Ge'er thinks that if a book boy does not recite books, he is not called a book boy.
Sun Dali wiped the sweat from his forehead and said in a muffled voice, "Shanzi, I can carry it. If I ask the escort agency to help check it, it will cost a full five taels. To be honest, instead of spending five taels to check the luggage, you should give me the five taels. Five taels is not easy to earn. I can't even save five taels in a year."
Sun Dingnan also echoed, "We country folk are used to hard labor, so how can we not carry this little thing? Ah Shan, just walk well, and we will take care of the rest."
The book was carried by Sun Dali and Gui Ge'er.
Sun Dingnan and Sun Boming carried everyone's clothes, pots and bowls and other daily necessities.
Sun Shan had the least physical strength among so many people, but he was already considered not to be a burden just by carrying a water bag on his back.
I don’t know how long I walked, but I finally arrived at Yizhang County.
Captain Zhan said that he would rest here for a day and continue his journey tomorrow.
Firstly, this is the destination of merchants and goods, and they need to be handed over.
Second, when you arrive in Yizhang, you need to go to the Yizhang branch of Guangsheng Escort Agency to exchange for livestock transportation.
Zhan Biaotou also told the passengers that the road from Yizhang to Chenzhou would be more difficult and it would be even more difficult for passengers to take the bus.
Along the way, people either carried loads on their shoulders, pushed wheelbarrows, or had mules and horses carry the goods.
People, mules and horses became the means of transportation on the Hunan-Guangdong Ancient Road, hence the folk song "Boats stop at Chenzhou, horses die at Chenzhou".
The ancient road from Yizhang to Chenzhou is also called the Mule and Horse Road. Countless mules and horses have died on this road.
The Ancient Mule and Horse Trail requires crossing the Nanling Mountains - Qitianling among the Five Ridges.
Qitianling is the watershed between Leishui, a tributary of Xiangjiang River, and Wushui, the western source of the northern river in the Pearl River system.
Qitianling is one of the five historical mountains in the Nanling mountain range and the smallest of the Five Mountains.
It is not high, nor wide, but extremely steep. It is the most difficult and dangerous place on the entire journey.
Escort Captain Zhan repeatedly warned the travelers to be mentally prepared, especially those like Sun Shan who were traveling far away for the first time.
It is impossible to take a car, you have to get out and walk.
The mountain road is rugged and the peaks are steep. Others dare to push carts, but you dare not ride in one.
Zhan Biaotou asked the passengers to follow carefully behind him.
Sun Shan thanked Zhan for the reminder and then rested in the inn designated by the escort agency.
The five of them just asked for a big room. The innkeeper was unwilling, but Sun Bomin would rather pay more to squeeze the five of them into one room.
When you are away from home, your family must stay together. If you take the wrong path, you will never be able to find it again.
Sun Shan raised his hands and feet to agree with Sun Bomin's suggestion.
Especially Sun Bomin and Sun Dali, both of whom are illiterate and cannot speak the same language. If they get separated, no one knows how they will get home.
This time, the village chief arranged for his eldest grandson Dingnan to come out. In addition to training, more importantly, Dingnan could read and speak poor Mandarin.
After Sun Bomin sent Sun Shan to the academy, he needed to take Sun Dali and Sun Dingnan back with him.
With Sun Dingnan around, the two of them wouldn't panic. At least they could communicate with people who could speak Mandarin and reduce unnecessary trouble.
After arriving in Yizhang County at noon, Sun Shan and his four companions stayed in the inn after lunch and had no intention of going out.
The best way to reduce danger is not to go anywhere.
They thought that there were many bad guys outside, and the Sun family came from the village, and they were familiar with the tricks in the city. If they were cheated, they would know who to cry to.
Especially Sun Boming, who brought a lot of valuables with him. He stayed in the room of the inn all the time. Except for taking a bath and going to the toilet, he even ate in the room.
Sun Shan led Gui Ge'er and Sun Dingnan to the small courtyard of the inn and found a place to squat.
As for Sun Dali, although he also wanted to come out for some fresh air, he was just an ordinary farmer like Sun Boming. Rather than being curious about the outside world, he would rather not go anywhere. He and Sun Boming stayed in the inn and chatted about everything.
This inn is quite large, with an inner courtyard and an outer courtyard.
Sun Shan and others were only allowed to move around in the outer courtyard. There might be female relatives in the inner courtyard, and there were waiters guarding the gate.
People were coming and going in the yard, goods were being moved in and out, and the small yard seemed particularly lively with all the hustle and bustle.
Sun Dingnan said enviously, "Shanzi, these merchants have transported a lot of goods, they must have made a lot of money."
Sun Dingnan did not have the courage to go into business, but he envied the merchants who could travel far and wide and make a lot of money.
Sun Shan nodded and said, "Traveling as a merchant has been making money since ancient times, but it is also hard work. You can't make money without perseverance. More importantly, you need a master to guide you. It's hard to rely on yourself!"
The most powerful merchant in Sunjia Village is Sun the peddler. He sells goods in big and small villages, on the streets and alleys. However, he cannot make a lot of money from such a small business and can barely support his family.
Sun Boming makes more money by growing citrus and annual flowers.
Gui Ge'er quickly shook his head and said, "I can't do that. I can't be a merchant. If you ask me to bargain with others, I can't do it."
After a pause, he looked at Sun Shan and said, "Brother Shan, I think it's good to be your book boy. Hehe, by your side, I can go everywhere and eat delicious food."
Sun Shan and Sun Dingnan looked at Gui Ge'er and couldn't help but smile.
The three of them squatted in the corner and chatted about this and that, and the most talked about thing was Sun Shan explaining the past and present of the Guangdong-Hunan Ancient Road to them.
Sun Shan’s speech was just so-so, but the two of them didn’t understand anything and sounded very curious.
Especially when Sun Shan talked about their place of residence, Yizhang County, he wanted to go out and see the "Xingwen Bridge".
Under the Xingwen Bridge is Yuxi, where people and goods can transfer by water.
Yuxi belongs to the Pearl River system, and goods are transported from here to the Pearl River.
This time, Sun Shan did not take this water route to Yizhang, but took a land route around the mountains.
As for why they went this way, it was probably a problem with the escort agency.
After all, there are arrangements for water routes and land routes, and each escort agency has different Taoist people. They will take the route that can ensure safety.