Silk Road Journey

• Nathan and his friend Yaman were sent by the king from Jiankang to Kashgar.
• Yaman gathered small bags of silk, prized possessions on the Silk Road, for their journey.
• Their first stop was Chang'An, and they set off with three donkeys: one for each of them and one for carrying silk.
• They packed water and food for two cities.
• The intense heat was their first challenge, which they combatted by removing clothing and rationing water.
• Landslides posed a threat, requiring them to lead their donkeys through a quick flood to reach Chang'an.
• They traded a handful of silk for paper and nine paintings in Chang'an.
• They traded a finger length of silk for a luxurious room to sleep in.
• One handful of silk bought 3 camels, 30 jugs of water, and hay.
• A nail length of silk was exchanged for a portable tent, known as a yurt.

Continuing the Journey

• They fed the camels 25 jugs of water and half the hay before loading them with resources and paintings the next morning.
• They hired a guard armed with a crossbow, pike, and dagger for the journey.
• After crossing the Yellow River, the guard killed 3 bandits.
• They traveled until reaching the well-guarded Dunhuang, avoiding bandit-filled areas.
• A nail length of silk paid for a night in Dunhuang.
• They traded a finger length of silk for a fast horse and armor, after the guard suggested it to survive the journey.
• Five more giant bottles of water were purchased in preparation for the Taklamakan Desert.
• They chose the southern route through Miran, Khotan, and Yarkand to reach Kashgar.

Preparing for Dangers

• The guard advised them to acquire silk (for sacrifice), a needle, vinegar, burnt plant ash, oils, and a doctor for potential injuries, costing them half a bag of silk.
• Despite the mountains looking the same, the guard guided them, using his knowledge of the road.
• The guard killed 4 out of 9 bandits with 5 arrows, and the rest with a pike.
• The doctor disinfected the guard's scratch with vinegar, applied burnt ash mixed with oil, and stitched him up with silk.
• They quickly reached Miran and rented two rooms.
• They left Miran before sunrise due to safety concerns.

Reaching Kashgar

• They left Khotan and encountered more bandits, who the guard shot down
• Kashgar was reached after half a day.
• They traded a whole bag of silk for 4kg of good quality jade.
• Five strong, fast horses were purchased for 40 bolts (175 meters) of silk.
• Leftover silk was traded for spices: 10kg of pepper, 20kg of cinnamon, and 10kg of cardamom.
• One bag of fine silk bought 15 kg of saffron.
• They received a free book on Buddhism and learned about karma, Yin and Yang (shade and sunlight), and wise teachings.

Buddhist Teachings

• The book contained stories with lessons, including "The Strawberry".
• The guard explained that in the story the tiger chasing the man represented the past, the tiger below the cliff was the future, and the rats symbolized daytime and nighttime.