In the southern suburbs of Kaifeng, the wide avenue is like a piece of fine silk laid flat on the ground. It is a truly straight road. No matter which direction you look at, there is no end in sight. There are no twists and turns or ups and downs.
The road is ninety-nine feet wide, which can accommodate seven or eight carriages running parallel. On both sides of the road, every three feet, there is a tree planted in a straight line. Because it is winter, the branches and leaves are dull, but in summer and autumn, the road is green. , but the beautiful and spectacular scenery of Dahan.
This is Dahan's "highway". In terms of grade specifications, it is a third-class road. Dahan's highest-grade roads are still in Kaifeng City, especially Tokyo Tianjie, which is a thoroughfare over one hundred meters wide.
The imperial court spent a huge amount of money on transportation, digging rivers and building roads, which started during the Qianyou period. Every time there was a slack season, money, grain, and labor were distributed.
In the Kaibao Year, the enthusiasm for road construction has not diminished. This is a matter of benefit to the country and the people. With the opening and improvement of roads, all parts of the country are becoming increasingly connected. After so many years, the transportation system around Kaifeng has also become better. As the name was perfected, the center's influence and control over local areas, especially the prefectures surrounding Gyeonggi Province, became increasingly significant.
Most areas are still dominated by dirt roads, but with Kaifeng as the center, within a radius of 500 miles, the main roads connecting all directions are made of bluestone slabs.
It can be said that as the capital, Kaifeng's conditions have been perfected, and the imperial court has invested a lot of manpower. Therefore, the fact that the ministers of the DPRK are not interested in the proposal to move the capital is not just because of Kaifeng's prosperity.
However, not long ago, Emperor Liu once again issued an edict to recruit 100,000 civilians between the capital and the capital, and continue to build westward along the existing bluestone straight road, with Luoyang as the end point, with the intention of further connecting the east and west capitals. The Duke of Luan, Murong Yanchao, served as the director, and the governor of the capital, Song Yanwo, took charge of the matter, which shows that Emperor Liu attached great importance to it.
It's late winter, and everything between heaven and earth is desolate. Because of the excessive cold, the road, which is usually densely populated by cars and horses, is also cold. It just snowed. It's not heavy, and it's even difficult to accumulate. It's only sparse on the left side of the road. Some sporadic white patches can be seen on the shrub vegetation.
Against the backdrop of this cold winter month, a small group of knights galloped down the road without any hindrance, running wildly. There were not many in number, less than ten riders, but they were all tall and tall, wearing robes.
Look at the color mark of the uniform. This is an official cavalry. More importantly, everyone is wearing armor. In the Han army, except for the imperial city guards and those with special duties, under normal circumstances, including the Forbidden Army, soldiers do not wear armor. , armors and weapons are usually sealed in the barracks arsenal.
Nowadays, the only ongoing war in the Han Dynasty is the attack on the Jiaozhi area. Pan Mei also endured her temper and asked for support from the imperial edict. After returning to Guangnan, she still suppressed it for nearly three months. On October 1, The troops were launched in early January.
This group of knights was the one who had returned from the Annan battlefield to report on the war situation. The leader had a high status. This time Annan recruited the deputy envoy and the marching governor, Murong Chengtai.
The aristocratic libertine back then, after more than ten years of experience, has become a general who can be entrusted with important tasks. Today, Murong Chengtai is only thirty-one years old, and his skin is still the same as his father's, with a dark face and a long beard. It becomes denser and leaner, but it reveals a strong butt, and its eyes are particularly bright.
In the past few years after Pingnan, Murong Chengtai has been stationed in the south. He was first the commander of the east capital of Guangnan. Pan Meinan conquered Jiaozhi and partnered with him as deputy.
It's just that this clan general's condition doesn't look very good at the moment. His nose is running freely, and he shakes it from time to time, and it's just a big lump.
"I never thought it would be so cold!" Murong Chengtai stopped to rest, and couldn't help but sneeze. He wiped his nose without caring about his image, and complained, with a bright red color appearing on his dark face.
.
Obviously, Murong Chengtai caught a cold. The military officer who followed him couldn't help but said: "General, you are not feeling well. Can you find someone else? Take a rest at the post station and then find a medical officer."
It was already the outskirts of Kaifeng, and the villages and inns were densely packed, making everything convenient. However, Murong Chengtai shook his head and looked north. The straight road was still empty, but Murong Chengtai knew that it led directly to Tokyo.
"No need, it's just a minor illness, but it's nothing serious. We're almost in Tokyo. We'll have plenty of time when we get back to the city!" Murong Chengtai said forcefully.
"Rest for a while and continue on your way. Don't wait for your body to get cold!" Murong Chengtai ordered.
"yes!"
Murong Chengtai also had special feelings for Kaifeng, after all, it recorded so much of his teenage years. Since leaving Tokyo, he has only been back once or twice in the past ten years.
This time, although he has not yet arrived in Beijing, he has already felt the changes in Kaifeng again, and the expectation in his heart has skyrocketed, just like a wanderer returning after a long absence.
However, I had to stop when I was at Yong'an Station. Yong'an Station is one of the three major stations in Kaifeng, along with Xiangfu and Chenqiao. At this time, I saw at a glance that there was a person, an old man, standing outside the noisy station.
Hidden under a black brocade robe, only half of his face was exposed, and his gray beard and hair were swaying slightly in the north wind. There were several followers around him, and no one dared to come forward to disturb him. Under the banner of the post station, the postmaster followed the rules.
Waiting there politely, ready for orders.
As for the old man, his steps were steady, and the cold wind, frost, and frost had no effect on him. He didn't even care about the excitement in the post. He always looked at the open post road with a pair of majestic eyes.
Murong Chengtai naturally noticed it. When he got closer and saw the old man, his eyes immediately turned red. He dismounted his horse and did not rush forward. He knelt down on the cold and damp ground and kowtowed three times, mouthing
He said emotionally: "Dad!"
The frost that had condensed on the ground was smashed to pieces under the force of the force.
The old man is none other than Murong Yanchao, Duke of Luan Kingdom of the Han Dynasty. Murong's uncle is already over sixty years old. He is obviously getting older. His body is not as strong as it used to be, and his face is as dark as before, but it is covered with wrinkles.
Looking at his youngest son who was kneeling on the ground, Murong Yanchao was obviously very excited. After all, this was his most beloved son. But in appearance, he tried hard to restrain himself and said in a trembling voice: "Get up quickly, the ground is cold!"
He helped Murong Chengtai up and took a good look at his son. A smile appeared on Murong Yanchao's face: "I'm finally willing to come back!"
Looking at the gray-haired old father, Murong Chengtai opened his mouth. At this moment, he had thousands of words to say, but he didn't know how to say them out. He just responded: "The battle in Annan is successful, and I have been ordered to return to Beijing to report!"
"It's good to be back!" Murong Yanchao said, tears welling up in his eyes, but he held them back.
Then, he lectured: "Where are my two grandchildren? Why didn't they come back together? I, the grandfather, haven't even met them yet!"
"I am in a hurry to return to Beijing this time. I have sent a letter to let them and their son set off!" Murong Chengtai said hurriedly.
In the past ten years, father and son have rarely met each other. The most recent time was six or seven years ago. And Murong Chengtai naturally got married, and their status was not low. The third daughter of the Fu family, the eldest queen,
The red thread held by the talisman.
During the meeting between father and son, there was so much to say that Murong Chengtai didn't care about rushing. Yi Cheng finally found an opportunity to welcome them and prepared a room for them.
During the chat over tea, Murong Chengtai didn't say much about military issues. He just talked about his experiences in the south. Of course, Murong Yanchao's focus was not on the above. He seemed to be more concerned about his daughter-in-law and Na Weiwei.
The grandson we met.
Moreover, after a brief burst of emotion, he quickly restrained himself and returned to his usual dignity. However, those red eyes could not be hidden from others.
"Are you in good health?" Murong Chengtai looked at his old father and asked with concern.
"I can eat, drink, and run errands for His Majesty. Do you think I'm old?" Murong Yanchao replied and looked at him: "On the other hand, you failed to treat typhoid and fever in time..."
"I have always been in good health, but I am just eager to report my victory to the court!" Murong Chengtai said, "Please wait in front of the post for a long time. As a son, I feel uneasy and can't bear it."
In this case, the Murong boy in his early years would never be able to say it. Murong Yan was supernaturally relieved to hear this, but he said: "Do you think I came here specifically to wait for you? I am serving as a prisoner for the imperial court.
The construction of a straight road between Beijing and Beijing is temporarily suspended. I have an official interview back in Beijing. I just heard that you were coming back to Beijing and I came to pick you up..."
Hearing this, Murong Chengtai smiled softly, not wanting to expose his father's intention. He returned to Beijing from the west, why did he go around dozens of miles to the south...