From the Tianshan Mountains to the north and west, all the way to thousands of miles away, there are large areas of grassland everywhere

The endless greenery stretches to the end of the earth, giving people the feeling that they will never reach the end.

Fertile fields for thousands of miles, large and small lakes are like pearls dotted on them, rivers are intertwined among them, white clouds are long under the herds of cattle and sheep, wandering in the natural pastures covered with grass waves, wild flowers bloom, colorful.

Lin Zhao lay down next to a small lake to rest, the long wind blows, the lake water swings sparkling blue waves, fish swim among them, ducks, swans, geese roost and feed around the lakeshore, full of life.

This is a rare freshwater lake in the Junggar grassland, and it is also an important place for business groups to take water and replenish water in the past.

Yes, Lin Zhao followed a caravan out of the customs, and the purpose was Rostock, the seat of Count Osterman, the governor of the East of Erros, and the name of Dzungaria was Lebush, and it was also the seat of the royal tent of Osterman, the Great Khan of Dzungaria.

You know, because of the continuous war, the Junggar area is short of everything, from iron tools to cloth, and even needle and thread, they are all lacking, but there are also materials that are lacking in the Great Zhou on the grassland, such as livestock, such as alkali, and more importantly, gold and silver on the grassland.

The Far Eastern Army of Erros plundered the entire Dzungar Khanate, so from the governor to the Cossacks, there were large sums of gold and silver treasures in their hands, some of which were plundered, some of which were trade with Europe and Persia, and some of which were mineral deposits everywhere.

Although Eros was able to bring in countless supplies from the European headquarters, he was now only able to rely on firearms and ammunition, and had to rely on the local Dzungar Ministry for other things.

However, the Dzungars originated from Warat, and they were engaged in war and plunder, but they had almost no ability to produce, but weapons, cloth and other materials were necessary for them, and the merchants from the Great Zhou were naturally not philanthropists, and they would come to the grassland at the risk of violating the law, just for high profits, and for the gold and silver treasures in the hands of the various tribes of the grassland.

Merchants who had traveled the Silk Road for generations finally flourished again in the Great Zhou Dynasty after hundreds of years of separation, traveling between the interior and the Western Regions, shuttling between the line of fire, peddling all kinds of goods, and gaining a lot of wealth.

For various reasons, neither the Great Zhou nor the Dzungaria, nor the Eastern Legion of Erros, did not restrict them.

It's just a tax.

Lin Zhao joined a small caravan through the barracks arrangement, no one knew his identity, only knew that he had a spear in his hand, although he was young, he had the courage of ten thousand people, but this caravan only had three carts, dragging some silk and porcelain, but twenty or thirty people, and could only partner with some big caravans.

Qiao Dayong was the leader of the great caravan, and after passing through the mountain range to the north, the target was Lebush, and the nobles there were different from other places, they liked luxury, silk and satin, spices and porcelain, which were more expensive.

Caravans traveling through the Western Regions often traveled in groups. Qiao Dayong's caravan was also with several other caravans, Qiao Dayong's side had more than 20 carts, and the rest had ten carts and three carts.

Qiao Dayong's caravan had three or four sturdy men on each cart, armed with swords, spears, and even four bird guns, and the rations and equipment of these guards were specially transported in two carts.

More than 100 guards, half of the guards on horseback, there are special people to dispatch and command, such a style is indeed extraordinary, when he went out of the customs, in the pass waiting for a group out of the customs several other caravans followed, said okay, this time the group crossed Alashan, went to Lebush side of a big car to Qiao Dayong five taels of silver.

Qiao Dayong's group is indispensable, it is common for Han caravans on the grassland to partner up, these caravans that have followed add up to only twenty carts, all of which are pulling ordinary goods, a hundred taels of silver for this trip, at least the guards have a place to eat back and forth, saving a penny is to earn an extra penny, and there are more people to take care of, why not.

When out of the customs, Qiao Dayong's convoy guards were just holding Pu knives and other anti-thief things, and the border soldiers didn't check much, and when they got out of the customs, bows and arrows, spears, and bird guns were taken out, and the other caravans that followed out were all white-faced, and they also had guards, but ten or eight, if this Qiao Dayong had bad intentions on the grassland, everyone couldn't go back.

Of course, Lin Zhao didn't care, but he keenly noticed that Qiao Dayong's business group didn't seem to be a good bird, and he was only afraid of what contraband was hidden in the cart.

But that's normal.

Trembling to the evening, they found that Qiao Dayong, a guard of the caravan, looked at their cart tightly and didn't care about other people at all, so everyone was relieved.

In fact, from Ili to Lebush, this road is not a vast grassland, there are no people, and the post station here in the Great Zhou is about the same, within a distance, there are also some small tribes of Dzungars stationed, such small tribes of 100 or hundreds of people, relying on the caravan from the north to the south to do some small business for a living.

Although the wars were frequent, the Eastern Governor of Eros also knew the truth of inexhaustible fishing, and it was impossible for him to really destroy the Dzungar Province until he completely defeated the Great Zhou army and entered China.

They should be treated as they were treated with the Turks, constantly collecting taxes and soldiers for war attrition, which is one of the magic weapons of Eros's eastward advance.

Therefore, during this time, the small tribe of Dzungaria still survived.

In the evening, this group of people camped on the spot, and in the caravan with Qiao Dayong's cadres, the one with ten carts said hello to several other families, everyone summed up, Suo surnamed and the nearby small tribe bought two sheep, let the small tribe cook and slaughter, the mutton was roasted on the fire, the sheep was stewed in the pot, and the people from Qiao Dayong's side were beckoned to come and eat together.

After walking for a day, it was all cold dry food gnawed at noon, and when they smelled the aroma of meat, Qiao Dayong and his subordinates couldn't help it, so they sat down after a few polite words.

Qiao Dayong was not ambiguous, and asked the people below to take a jar of wine in the car, and brought some spices over, as soon as the wine was opened, the good Central Plains burned the knife, smeared the spices on the sheep, and went down to the pot, and the fragrance even attracted the people of the nearby small tribes.

Qiao Dayong understood what he meant, and said with a smile:

"Old Klyo, who wants to drink your coaxing wine, you want to be with my bar, so many people want to drink, you can also drink a bowl, too much. ”

The man came over and smiled and took the bowl and took the burning knife, took two sips, squinted his eyes and didn't open them for a long time, looking very comfortable, and then said a few polite words, and retreated.

With wine and meat, even if everyone is not familiar, a few sips of strong wine are also familiar, the leaders of several caravans talk to me and me, but they are flattering this Qiao Dayong either explicitly or secretly, and the burning knife is known as "sweet in the mouth, soft in the throat, and hot in the belly", it is also a strong wine, and after drinking too much, Qiao Dayong also talks a lot.

"Don't look at that Tartar politely, that is, come with me, the three carts, you people came by themselves, killed you in the middle of the night, the corpses were thrown three miles away and cut up and fed to the wolves, and the carts and goods were sold to Lebush by themselves, and those Eros people naturally will not avenge you, and you don't even have a chance to sue. Don't look at you have an extraordinary guard, the roasted mutton is also delicious, but I am afraid that it will be unloaded into eight pieces, although you are handsome, but the Dzungar ladies may not like you. ”

Qiao Dayong said, but later pointed the finger at Lin Zhao.

Lin Zhao's identity was unknown to anyone, but the mutton he roasted made Qiao Dayong praise him, so he raised his head and smiled slightly: "Otherwise, how can our owner partner with Qiao Ye, our owner is a small business, and the cashmere sold in Lanzhou can't afford to hire any guards! ”