How many relay stations (cities) must your caravan pass through before it arrives in Damascus? (route that is shortest in distance)

The full question stated that:

You are a silk merchant in Chang’an, China. You want to sell your goods to an emporium in Damascus, where you hear silk is in great demand and can reach markets far beyond your known world.

Merchants like you have traveled in various groups on the fabled Silk Road to make their fortunes, from humble foot peddlers to huge caravan trains of camels, stretching literally for miles across the horizon.

Luckily for you, your cousin has a connection to a great camel caravan train leaving from your city that allows you to join! You leave in early Spring!!

How many relay stations (cities) must your caravan pass through before it arrives in Damascus? (a route that is shortest in the distance)

Thus considering the image attached, from Chang'an, one would pass through Five relay stations (cities) with a caravan before it arrives in Damascus.

This is evident in the fact that from the map, one must pass through the following relay stations (cities) before reaching Damascus:

Hence, in this case, it is concluded that from Chang'an, one would pass through Five relay stations (cities) with a caravan before it arrives in Damascus.

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cutting down of the rainforest