How did travelers on the silk road stay safe from bandits?

Reaper, merchants and travelers didn't go alone. They usually formed a group. Meanwhile, according to what I know, there were some guards in the groups. Their job was to ensure the safety of the merchants and travelers. However, if there were too many bandits, they couldn't fight them successfully.

They usually stay in large groups while traveling to defend themselves. If you travel by yourself then it is easier for bandits to attack and hurt you.

They stayed in large groups , and many guards watch the perimeter. Later on , they built houses to stop by to rest . This helped merchants not get robbed