Tome of Troubled Times Chapter 239: First visit to the capital
Chapter 239: First visit to the capital
Jianhu City is located between Qinghe and Langya, roughly similar to the current location of Dongping Lake. The location of the capital is similar to the current capital, but Yanmen Pass is in Shanxi.
It is said that Yanmen and the capital are both in the north, but in fact they form a triangle with Jianhu City. You will not pass by the capital when you go to Yanmen Pass, so Suzaku must trick Zhao Changhe into taking a turn.
This road is very far, and Zhao Changhe's customary plot is full of twists and turns. After walking north for an unknown number of days, I gradually felt the autumn mood, and saw the wheat ears on the roadside, the trees' golden.
Similar to the devastation seen along the way south, the northern plains were not much better.
Except for the bases where aristocratic families such as Qinghe Gusu Langya are entrenched, the situation in most places in China is very bad. It was obviously the autumn harvest season, and it looked like there was a bad harvest. At this time, the north and the south were at war, and the government was even more anxious to collect taxes. Along the way, Zhao Changhe saw several plays of "Shi Hao Li" and "Wedding Farewell".
The number of people who have robbed and conquered the mountains is unknown. In fact, in many places, people have attacked county offices and robbed granaries. Compared with the so-called copycat bandits when Zhao Changhe first came to your land, they have evolved a lot and are now From Wang Lun to Songjiang.
It has only been less than a year... The version of the copycat bandit has been updated, and Boss Zhao can no longer keep up with the version.
It was obvious that he was getting closer to the emperor's feet, but he didn't see any improvement. Although it is not to the extent that there is no rooster crow for thousands of miles, it is enough to feel the war and chaos.
Coupled with the actions of the Wang family, this has actually officially entered the troubled times and is no longer the "prologue".
If the current situation in the south is that the landlord class organizes armed response to the Maitreya Cult, then the invasion of the barbarians in the north should still be resisted by the empire's elite border troops. From what we have seen and heard before, we know that many border army generals or frontier county chiefs are inextricably linked to the Wang family and the Cui family. I don’t know who the generals are, and how they can control them and work together. , work together to defend against the enemy.
And if this general is to be Wu Sangui, what will be the consequences? What would be the result if the Wang family took away their army?
Another point that puzzles Zhao Changhe is that the location of the capital can be regarded as the emperor's gatekeeper. Why did the barbarians avoid this place and go to Yanmen when they went south?
Is it still because of Xia Longyuan’s intimidation?
"Of course it's because of Xia Longyuan's intimidating power. In his heyday, he could really defeat an army with one person. Being number one on the list is no joke. He is much, much better than Wang Daoning, who is at the bottom of the crane."
"Who is the guard of Yanmen?"
"Jingyuan Hou."
Zhao Changhe was stunned for a moment, then knocked his head: "Oh, I remember, the ninth emperor on the list is Yongfu Yongxian? The imperial court is actually not weak."
Suzaku said leisurely: "Of course you are not weak, otherwise how could you have lasted for so long? Do you really think that Tang Wanzhuang is the only one who can hold on? You are such a waste, we have rebelled long ago, why are you covering up?"
"What is the political stance of General Huangfu?"
"How do I know? You have already entered Beijing. Find out about it yourself from Tang Wanzhuang."
"I feel like you are rude to Tang Wanzhuang, but you seem to have some respect for Huangfu Yongxian? You actually call him Marquis Jingyuan instead of calling him by his first name."
Zhuque said calmly: "Those who are defending the enemy from outside the country still need to be given some proper respect. If the teachings of Four Symbols conquer the world in the future, shouldn't we also win over such good generals?"
"Then if you win the world, what about Tang Wanzhuang?"
"If you join the religion, I will reward her as your slave."
"..." Zhao Changhe didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Suzaku also found it interesting, the perspective from which Zhao Changhe observed and the direction he considered...
Suzaku can be sure that Zhao Changhe really has no intention of becoming a prince, but his perspective is naturally in this direction.
In other words, it is not the same as the prince's perspective. Instead, it is a bit like a detached perspective, observing and overlooking the world, analyzing the causes and possible deductions.
It is not so much the perspective of the prince, but rather the eyes of gods and Buddhas slightly exposed above the clouds in the sky.
As Suzaku thought about it, the interesting meaning slowly disappeared, and he became a little restless.
She asked a little cautiously: "You said you only wanted to be a knight errant."
"Yeah, didn't I have a knight-errant all the way here?"
Not only that, because of many injustices, Zhao Changhe wasted a lot of extra time traveling, otherwise he should have entered Beijing by this time. Suzaku couldn't blame him for wasting time. She knew very well that if Zhao Changhe was stopped by such a thing, he would be in trouble with her.
Being chivalrous and upright, and seeing injustice on the road, according to Zhao Changhekou, this is the main meaning of his martial arts practice.
You have the **** nerve to say that you are a bandit.
As a result, the demon sect leader who killed people without batting an eye accompanied the knights on the road and saved a lot of old people and orphans. In the end, it was not without benefits. They all gave points to the Sixiang sect who had been placed nearby. Now that the altar is gone, it’s time to recruit new ones.
In fact, the rise of the demon sect in troubled times is how the main new blood comes, and the Maitreya sect is more typical in this regard. It’s not that the Four Symbols Sect doesn’t exist, it’s also forming a private army of demon sects, but it’s just not as hungry as the Maitreya Sect.
In fact, the Four Symbols Sect is more elite in this regard, because the true identity of Xuanwu Suzaku... is much more knowledgeable than that of Maitreya.
With these things flashing through his mind, Suzaku still asked: "You said you only wanted Jianghu Xingxia, but I don't think your perspective is the same."
"What? More broadly?"
"Well..."
"A chivalrous person does not necessarily only have to fight against injustice and help the weak, there is another kind."
"What kind?"
"A great chivalrous person serves the country and the people."
Suzaku: "...Where did this concept come from? This thing is called a knight? Just say you are a demon-suppressing division."
"Who said otherwise? It turns out that everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world!" Zhao Changhe laughed and galloped: "The white horse is decorated with golden restraints, galloping northwest. May I ask whose family, You and the ranger son... sacrificed their lives? Going to the country to be in danger, seeing death as a sudden return! What else can you do if you are not a hero?"
"Drive!" Wu Zui galloped away.
Suzaku sighed, this was not the answer she expected.
Actually, Zhao Changhe knew what kind of answer this young lady wanted to get. It was a sect, and if anything happened, it would be like a god... But it was really not what she thought.
Miss Winged Fire Snake was sent by Lord Suzaku to follow her. Even though she said "it's not a gift to a woman", it actually contained a strong hint of this, so Zhao Changhe always wanted to tease her and even felt itchy to hug and kiss her. , I’m afraid this young lady also subconsciously means something like that? Even if not, they still have to show some meaning, which makes the relationship between the two parties very ambiguous from the beginning.
But Zhao Changhe didn't want to cheat at all by using specious "gods and stars". That kind of scum was done by Xia Longyuan, not Zhao Changhe.
It would be great if we all talk about relationships... Because without knowing it, this young lady has been the woman who has been by his side for the longest time, except for Chi Chi.
It has been nearly a month since we have been traveling together, staying together, hand in hand, and wielding swords.
Familiarity and habit are terrifying forces, just like when Luo Qi woke up in Beimang in the morning and found herself sleeping soundly on Zhao Changhe's chest. The same goes for Suzaku. She didn't realize it herself. She used to hold the ball against his back with both hands when the horse was jolting, but now she's too lazy. From time to time, she would hit her back with the ball. She didn't feel it, and he didn't feel it either.
Sometimes, my hands were still wrapped around his waist subconsciously, and I didn't feel it, nor did he.
The horse is galloping, surrounded by the young lady's hands, and a majestic city looms in the distance, under the dark clouds covering the sky, as oppressive as a mountain.
After a hesitant journey in recent months, autumn is getting stronger, and the capital is in sight.
Zhao Changhe, who had always been calm and calm, suddenly became a little nervous. He almost had the urge to rein in his horse and turn back, but he suppressed his thoughts and moved forward slowly.
The capital has always been a place to avoid, and I never wanted to touch it so early, but the fate is here, why not check it out?
"You can't enter here wearing a pig face." Suzaku dismounted from a distance: "I will find a way to get in by myself, you can just enter the city."
Zhao Changhe asked: "How can I contact you after entering?"
Suzaku chuckled: "Don't try to find out my true identity... Anyway, you will be the center of attention wherever you go. I will find you after I have taken care of things."
After speaking, he quickly disappeared.
Zhao Changhe no longer wore any pig face, restored his original appearance, reined in his horse and entered the city.
"Stop, no galloping horses are allowed in the city, dismount and lead them!" The energy of the city gate guards was better than any city I had ever seen before.
What I have seen before is all laziness. Who cares whether you ride a horse or not? It’s good if you don’t extort a city entry tax.
Zhao Changhe didn't care about the guards' obstruction, but felt that it was natural. He dismounted and paid for the city tax.
The guard waved his hand: "This is your first time here? There is no entry tax for the capital. Just hand over the road guide and go in honestly. Look at this knife on your back. Don't fight and cause trouble. The head of the Tang Dynasty is in the capital now. You guys are lawless. The Jianghu people should take it easy."
Zhao Changhe couldn't help but laugh: "You respect Mr. Tang very much."
"That's natural." The guard didn't bother to say anything to him, and stretched out his hand: "Where is the road guide?"
Zhao Changhe never checked the directions wherever he went before, and he never thought about getting a copy of this thing. However, the capital needed it, especially during wartime. He understood it very well. Just when he was in trouble, something came from behind him. Laughter: "Lu Yin is just confirming his identity. This person's identity is known to the world, so why bother to look again."
A group of people turned around to look, but it was a young man who waved his folding fan and said with a smile: "Qian Long Thirteen Zhao Changhe, you have posted wanted notices before, but you don't know him anymore?"
Qianlong Thirteen, it’s not a big deal for the capital. The onlookers didn’t care much and continued to enter the city for inspection.
But Zhao Changhe clearly saw slight changes in the expressions of many guards.
He could almost feel that another storm was stirring. He was certain that the words "Zhao Changhe enters the city" would sweep over the capital in just an instant.
Zhao Changhe sighed: "Master Dai, aren't you from the Dai family in the northwest? Why are you here?"
It was the young master from the Dai family in the northwest when Langya was discussing swordsmanship. Zhao Changhe had even forgotten what he had done at that time.
Master Dai smiled and said: "Who doesn't have some property in the capital..."
"This is called the Beijing Office?"
"What is that?" Mr. Dai said leisurely: "Do you have a place to live in Beijing? Do you want to live in my house?"