William Sullivan turned his horse around and left. More than a dozen wealthy young men spurred their horses, crowding around the The Sullivan Brothers as they departed the training ground. In the distance, Helen Sullivan could be heard shouting, “Brian Thompson, stop dreaming! The quota for entering the capital for the martial exam will never go to you!”

Brian Thompson was taken aback. What did he mean by that?

Chapter 003: Uninvited Guest

Since ancient times, Dunhuang has been a major commercial hub on the Silk Road. The Silk Road starts from Chang’an, and after reaching Guazhou’s Yumen Pass, it splits into northern and southern routes. The northern route continues along the north of the Tianshan Mountains, passing through Yiwu and Luntai, heading west.

The southern route turns south from Yumen Pass to Dunhuang, then goes through Puchang Sea to Gaochang, follows the southern side of the Tianshan Mountains to Shule, and from Shule crosses the Pamirs to the West.

Because of Dunhuang’s extremely important geographical location, it is not only a transit city for goods between the Western Regions and the Central Plains, but also a meeting point for their cultures. The Mogao Caves are the most outstanding example of this.

Central Plains culture and Western Regions culture have organically blended in this historic city. Like most cities in the interior, Dunhuang is laid out in a grid pattern. The north-south central axis is Ganquan Avenue, and the east-west axis is Sanwei Street. The entire city of Dunhuang expands outward around these two main axes.

Ganquan Avenue is lined with shops, filled with a dazzling array of goods: silks, porcelain, paper, and all kinds of exquisite utensils from the Central Plains. But even more abundant are goods from the Western Regions—Persian carpets, silverware, and glassware; Sogdian spices and gems; Tokharian furs and medicinal herbs, and so on.

In addition, there are all kinds of specialty shops, the most numerous being various academies. There are schools for language training, where one can learn Chinese, Turkic, Sogdian, and Persian. There are music studios for learning instruments, and dance studios for learning to dance.

There are also schools for painting, sculpture, and calligraphy, as well as martial arts halls for learning martial skills and practicing archery and horsemanship. All these skills can provide a decent livelihood in Dunhuang.

Even more interesting are the guide shops, somewhat like modern travel agencies. As long as you’re willing to spend money, you can hire a guide in the shop to take you to places like Gaochang and Kucha, with all kinds of travel gear available.

Living in such a prosperous commercial city, Brian Thompson felt he could fully use his experience and knowledge from his previous life to make a fortune in Dunhuang.

In a few months, Brian Thompson would officially finish his studies at the state academy and be completely free. He was anxious, wishing he could start his business plans tomorrow.

Near noon, Brian Thompson sent Sarah to the dance studio. He led his horse through the bustling street and returned to his home in Sanxian Lane, so named for the three lush locust trees in the alley.

Brian Thompson’s house was at the entrance of the lane, facing the city gate—a prime location. Ten years ago, half of the street-facing property was rented by a Sogdian spice merchant, who was none other than Sarah Cooper’s father, Matthew Cooper.

Brian Thompson’s grandfather passed away the year before last, leaving the old house to Brian Thompson. However, it was now managed by Brian Thompson’s elder sister, Edward Thompson.

“Brian, back from archery practice!” Sarah’s father, Matthew Cooper, stood at the shop door, smiling as he greeted him.

Matthew Cooper was just over fifty, extremely thin and dry, looking like a short, withered bamboo stick. His nose was sharp and thin, and his deep-set Sogdian eyes sparkled with cunning. He was a shrewd businessman and also a devout Zoroastrian.

Perhaps because he had spent many years as a young man traveling the Silk Road for business, he didn’t marry until he was thirty. His wife was ten years younger, tall and strong, and now, in middle age, had grown even more plump—so much so that sometimes, even when Matthew Cooper was standing right behind her, people would greet his wife, saying, “Has Old Cooper gone on another long trip these days?”

Although their appearances were quite mismatched, the couple had a very good relationship and raised two sons and a daughter, all of whom took after their mother. The eldest son, David Cooper, turned twenty last year and, following Sogdian tradition, set off on the Silk Road with ten camels.

The second son, Robert Cooper, was eighteen this year, extremely robust, but he didn’t like business. Instead, he loved martial arts and was determined to achieve great things. He was closest to Brian Thompson.

The youngest daughter was Sarah Cooper, only fourteen this year, an excellent dancer whose greatest dream was to leave Dunhuang for Chang’an and Luoyang.

“Hello, Uncle Cooper. Sarah has gone to the dance studio.”

“I know. I heard from Robert that you’re taking the martial exam tomorrow. You must win first place this time!”

“Thank you, Uncle. I’ll do my best. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go back and prepare.”

“Alright! Tomorrow, Uncle will come cheer you on.”

Brian Thompson smiled and nodded, leading his horse into the alley. Matthew Cooper watched his back and muttered to himself, “Actually, if Sarah married him, it wouldn’t be bad. At least the rent could be waived.”

...

Brian Thompson’s grandfather, Daniel Thompson, was a scholar at the Shazhou official academy, teaching for over thirty years. The family was poor, and after his death, he left three things to Brian Thompson and his sister: thirty mu of land outside the east city, the old house where the siblings now lived, and a stone wall in the Mogao Caves.

Three years ago, Daniel Thompson married his granddaughter, Brian Thompson’s elder sister Edward Thompson, to his favorite student, William Brooks. However, William Brooks’s family was poor and lived in Shouchang County, with only three thatched cottages.