The atmosphere here at South City Gate is a bit noisy.
What happened outside the city has spread with the comings and goings of the Imperial Guards.
Duke Cheng Guo was stopped and scolded by people one after another, and Duke Cheng's soldiers even used swords and guns on the people.
This is not the Duke Cheng Guo they imagined at all.
The thought flashed through the people and they were a little confused.
What did Duke Cheng Guo look like in their imagination? In fact, they couldn't tell. After all, nearly twenty years had passed since the Jin people went south to break the city and fight in the north, and Duke Guo had been stationed in the north for ten years.
Well, those wars were cruel and the killings were fierce. For everyone, they only exist in stories and jokes. They are too far away.
The third prince on the city gate was only sixteen or seventeen years old. Born and raised in Shandong, he had never experienced such a lively scene. Unlike the emperor, the noisy people only made him feel impatient and not at all happy.
It was already quite hot in the capital in summer, and the emperor asked the prince to arrive early to express his appreciation. He had been waiting at the city gate for nearly an hour.
"Are you coming or not? If you don't come, we won't wait." The third prince took the fan from the palace maid's hand and fanned it hard twice to dispel the anxiety in his heart.
The accompanying officials had complicated expressions, many of them even had a hint of joy.
The third prince is not as good-tempered as the emperor. This time he wanted to seek glory, but ended up being embarrassed along with Cheng Guogong. The third prince must have become angry, not to mention leaving in a hurry, and he will definitely be jealous in the future.
"Your Highness, wait a moment, something happened up front." An official came forward to persuade, "I'm afraid Duke Cheng will be late..."
Before he finished speaking, a commotion was heard under the city gate, and the sound of trampling footsteps could be heard from further away.
"Coming!"
Shouts came and went, and countless people looked towards the road.
It’s here? So fast?
The officials at the city gate looked surprised.
The third prince also stood up.
"Look at what this famous Northern Army looks like." He said with a bit of laughter, and he also walked out.
The officials hurriedly followed. Standing on the city gate, they had a wider view. They could see people all over the sky at a glance.
This surging crowd shocked all the officials, including the third prince.
"Are these people coming here, or are they soldiers?" he asked blurtly.
They were not the only ones who had such questions. The people in the capital who were waiting for the arrival were also surprised. The first people who came into view turned out to be a group of common people. They were not even ordinary people. They were dressed more like the people in the capital who were watching.
It's a beggar.
How did you let this group of people get in? Did the officers and soldiers on duty not care?
In confusion, this group of people had already approached, and the people who crossed the front finally saw the military formation behind them. It was only because they were riding horses that they were different from the people on foot.
What kind of military formation is this? There are no armors or weapons, and everyone is wearing civilian clothes. They don't look as glamorous as the Imperial Guards and soldiers on duty on both sides of the road.
At least they all put on new armor for this duty and looked in good spirits.
The cheers dispersed, replaced by buzzing discussions and questions.
This noise did not affect the march of the team. After the common people passed by, Duke Cheng's military formations appeared in front of everyone.
Although they were not as majestic as armored weapons, the soldiers on horseback looked solemn, their backs were straight, and their horses were marching neatly, so that the sound of horse hooves that echoed in everyone's ears carried an incredible rhythm.
This rhythm seemed to step on everyone's heart, causing the noise to gradually stop, and all eyes were focused on these soldiers.
Without the cover of armor and weapons, they appear approachable and allow everyone to see these soldiers clearly.
They vary in age, each has a weathered face, and the hands holding the reins are rough. As they walk, their simple cloth clothes flutter, revealing looming scars on their necks and chests.
They don't have three heads and six arms, nor are they as majestic as tigers and wolves, but these people have guarded the Northland for ten years, forcing the golden thief to sue for peace and a truce.
They wore no armor or weapons, and marched with solemn expressions and tall postures, unstoppable and looking forward to death.
The roadside fell into silence, only the sound of horse hooves could be heard.
"Stop, stop."
The officials at the city gate finally rushed down, blocking the advancing people with anxiety and anger.
"What are you going to do?"
"We want to enter the city, we want to send Duke Cheng into the city." The people who were stopped shouted loudly.
The originally quiet city gate fell into a commotion.
The officials already knew what was happening ahead, and their faces were ashen. Let alone the scholars and scholars, they couldn't stop so many refugees if they really wanted to go crazy.
"Mr. Cheng Guo, what do you mean by this?" the leading official stood on the city gate and shouted angrily, looking towards the military formation.
The military formation had stopped, and with the waving of several flags, the formations suddenly separated into a road, and a man on horseback walked slowly from inside.
He is tall, has a gentle appearance, and is wearing a cloth robe. At first glance, he looks like a well-educated middle-aged scribe, leisurely strolling around the streets.
This is…..
"Cheng Guo Gong!" An older man among the crowd of onlookers suddenly shouted loudly, "It's Cheng Guo Gong!"
As the shouter was so excited that he could hardly contain himself, he rushed forward.
The people finally came to their senses and immediately became noisy.
This is Duke Cheng Guo!
Not a ferocious warrior, but such an elegant and handsome man.
This is Cheng Guogong, the name of the God of War, and he is indeed an immortal and handsome man.
Countless shouts rang out, and the originally quiet crowd surged in. Because the strange doubts about the military formation were immediately put aside, everyone rushed here, and the officers and soldiers on duty were squeezed into a wave, and they resisted the crowd.
, to prevent them from rushing into the road, although the road was already full of people.
"Being good-looking is really an advantage."
An official standing at the city gate couldn't help but mutter.
But no one laughed because of his words. Duke Cheng Guo came with so many people, and when he appeared, the people in the capital who were watching almost went crazy. This was too scary.
This is still without armor and weapons. If these soldiers were wearing armor, I don't know how terrifying they would be.
The officials standing in front of the city gate looked even more livid. As Cheng Guogong approached, he took the initiative to move away from the people who were giving way. Cheng Guogong quickly arrived in front of him.
Duke Cheng Guo dismounted, strode forward, and stood in front of the official.
"Fortunately, Zhu Shan lived up to his command." He said, clasping his fists and bowing, "I brought the people of the three counties back to Zhou to express my gratitude to Your Majesty."
The official was stunned for a moment.
Fortunately, you have lived up to your mission and brought your people back to Zhou to express your gratitude to Your Majesty?
There was no questioning, no anger, and no praise, but gratitude.
As Duke Cheng Guo finished speaking, the people behind him fell down like a mountain and knelt down one after another and raised their hands to worship.
"Thank you, Duke Cheng, for not giving up. Thank you, Your Majesty, for not giving up. We are back."
"We are still the people of Da Zhou, and we are back."
"Thank you Huangtian for your generous soil!"
"Thank you for not abandoning me!"
Thousands of people knelt down, and tens of thousands of voices rose up, hoarse and hoarse due to vicissitudes of life, with a hint of crying, and added to the tragedy.
The noisy onlookers had already been stunned into silence, but the people on the city gate looked down at this scene even more shockingly.
"Interesting!" the third prince said as he patted the city wall. He was no longer impatient and looked energetic. "This is a boast!"
What is praised is not how powerful Duke Cheng is, nor how mighty his soldiers are, but how kind the Zhou emperor is. It is not that he thanks Duke Cheng and these soldiers, but that all the people express their gratitude to the emperor.
"Mr. Cheng Guo, please." He raised his hand and shouted loudly, turned around and strode down to the city.
Following his movements, the officials in the eunuch's etiquette department hurriedly moved.
"welcome!"
"welcome!"
A sound spread, drums and music sounded, and colorful flags waved.
"The time is just right." An official from the Ministry of Etiquette murmured as he looked at the hourglass. "It's an auspicious time, auspicious person and auspicious image."
………………….
After watching the prince's reception, there were no longer any obstacles in the way of the people walking through the city gate and heading towards the Royal City along the street. A smile appeared on the face of Ning Yan, who had been silent for a long time while standing in the restaurant facing the street.
"Three levels have passed."
He picked up a cup of tea that had been sitting in front of him for who knows how long and drank it in one gulp.
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Please buy a guaranteed monthly ticket! (To be continued)