Chapter 84: Finally see Gao Chang [for vicente Zeng Wan
The legendary ancient country of Gaochang is at the end of this desert...
Compared to the unbearable high temperature of the Flame Mountain, Gaochang Ancient Country is more like a rare oasis.
Low shrubs can be seen everywhere, and it can be seen that this was once a place where fresh water flowed, but now, this oasis has passed...
It can be seen from some local chronicles of the Tang Dynasty that the ancient country of Gaochang was very prosperous for a long time in the past.
This rare prosperity is closely related to its important geographical location.
At that time, this was the only route along the Silk Road, and caravans from all directions had to stop here.
The merchants came here exhausted from the hellish desert with scorching sun. This is a beautiful oasis with extensive water resources.
According to the local chronicles of the Tang Dynasty, the population here was densely populated and the transportation was very developed. There were continuous camel caravans in front of the city gate, and women with braided hair and veils holding fresh fruits and wine in their hands received merchants and tourists from all over.
When Chen Zhi and the others set foot on this former oasis, they seemed to be able to see rows of camels passing by. Women in white veils, with grapes on their heads and wine bottles in hand, stepped on the noisy streets.
Street~~
On the ground under their feet, you can still see traces of many large and small stone bricks, all with diamond-shaped paving patterns. More than 1,000 years ago, this should have been a wide stone road leading directly to the gate of Gaochang Kingdom.
Chen Zhi and the others walked forward along this avenue. When they reached the end, there was a trough below.
Standing on the hillside and looking forward, you can see a vast ruins below.
The ruins are all yellow broken walls, the same color as the sand here, mixed in the yellow sand of the desert, like rows of large yellow blocks, standing there quietly, majestic, but lifeless.
There is the legendary Gaochang Kingdom...
To be honest, Chen Zhi didn't think about how grand the legendary ancient country of Gaochang was in the past.
So far, they have seen too many divine tombs and cemeteries, and there are very few human buildings that can shock his soul.
Moreover, how great can a small frontier country in the Western Region be?
But what he didn't expect was that when he saw the ruins of the ancient city ahead, Chen Zhi was deeply shocked.
It can be said that if all the ruins of the ancient Gaochang Kingdom were excavated, their grandeur and sophistication could compete with the ancient Roman city.
The layout of the city's structure is also very particular.
Everyone who studies the history of the Tang Dynasty knows that Gaochang State is the largest ancient city in the Western Regions. It was first built in the first century BC and has a history of more than 2,000 years.
It was once the political, military, economic and cultural center of the Turpan Basin, and it was also the largest international city, religious center and printing center in the Western Region.
It is conceivable to what extent culture and art had developed in this small frontier country at that time...
Gaochang's achievements are inseparable from the continuous introduction of Central Plains culture.
In 104 BC, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty sent Li Guang to lead an expedition to Dawan with tens of thousands of soldiers and horses. However, the journey was too far and supplies were insufficient, and he ultimately returned in defeat.
Li Guangli summed up his lesson and built a city and cultivated it here. He finally won a great victory, so the city remained. Because of its high and open terrain and prosperous people, it was named Gaochang.
During the war in the Western Jin Dynasty, a large number of refugees from the Central Plains fled to Gaochang and established Gaochang County, which lasted more than a hundred years.
In 443 AD, the Northern Liang government-in-exile established the Gaochang Kingdom here and made it the political and Buddhist cultural center of the four regions.
This is the history of the founding of Gaochangguo...
During the Tang Dynasty, the Kingdom of Gaochang sent envoys to Chang'an to pay tribute and humbly learned from the advanced culture and management experience of the Tang Dynasty.
Even the royal city of Gaochang was renovated according to the city outline of the Tang Dynasty. Its scale and internal layout are the same as those of Chang'an City.
Therefore, if you want to know the scale of Chang'an City in the Tang Dynasty, you can know it by visiting Gaochang City.
Of course, the Gaochang Kingdom was later destroyed by the Tang Dynasty. In 1275, the Mongolian nobles rebelled and the royal city was destroyed.
Gaochang, this ancient and glorious capital city was eventually destroyed by the war, leaving only ruins and broken walls, which looked very sad.
The vast yellow sand seems to be very suitable for covering up the past history. No one likes to discuss the glory of the past under the scorching sun.
The ruins of Gaochang have been buried in the yellow sand and have not been discovered for more than 1,000 years.
It was not until the year before last that an archaeological team accidentally discovered a remnant of the wall and found this pearl left in the desert.
The archaeological team was greatly shocked and immediately sent a project approval report to their superiors.
Because it is the Flaming Mountain Scenic Area and carries the legend of Journey to the West, it has received national attention and support.
At the beginning of last year, large-scale excavations began in this area, and many ancient city walls buried under the sand were revealed. Now the ancient city has finally reappeared in the yellow sand.
It is estimated that after a period of operation, this place will become a scenic spot.
Chen Zhi and the others began to go down the hillside along the road and walked towards the gate of Gaochangguo.
The so-called gate has actually turned into a broken wall of loess, leaving only a hollow gate.
But outside, I saw many public tents and iron wagons specially used by the archaeological team.
Because he didn't know if he would encounter people in front of him, before approaching the front, Chen Zhi made the monkey look like a human to prevent him from scaring people if he actually encountered people.
The setting sun was strong, the wind was blowing, and the weeds were singing tragic songs. As they walked toward the old city of Gaochang together, an inexplicable sigh suddenly surged in their hearts.
Chen Zhi glanced at Danxuan specifically and found that his expression was extremely excited, and he seemed to be crying very much when facing the desolate Gaochang City.
Fortunately, there was no one in the iron room in front, and there was no sign of anyone in the surrounding area.
It is estimated that it is midsummer and the environment here is too hot. Workers can't be found to start the work for a while, so the project has been suspended.
But fortunately, a lot of supplies and food were left here, the most practical of which was the iron wagon that could provide shelter from the wind and the scorching sun.
Although this tin cart is small, it has everything it needs. It even has a generator, several sleeping bunks, a simple stove, a small refrigerator, etc.
They opened the small refrigerator and found some sealed food, bottled fresh water, and even canned beer inside.
After the drinks are chilled, drinking a can in this place will definitely feel great.
There are also some simple kitchen utensils and toiletries in the tin car, and even simple bathing facilities.
Here they can take a good shower, have a good meal, and have a good sleep at night.
So Chen Zhi decided at that time not to go into the city today, but to rest here first to relieve himself from the dust.
Then the next morning, I went to the ancient Gaochang country to have a look...