When Chen Mu saw this most magnificent city in the world, he was destined to be disappointed.
Because along the way, there are many bungalows on both sides of the road, countless street vendors, lush vegetation in the horizontal ditches, wooden houses arranged in rows without order, and the streets and alleys are extremely chaotic.
Some people are wandering on the street, some are working in the farmland in the distance, and some are selling goods in the streets and alleys. Housewives go out to pour water, women and children are washing vegetables in the ditch in front of the door, and there are also children
Running around naked, full of country atmosphere.
If Wang Jun hadn't told him that this was indeed Luoyang, Chen Mu might have thought it was some fringe county town.
But in fact this is Luoyang. After the chaos in the world, many refugees from Jizhou and Yuzhou began to flee to Sizhou. This is a normal migration of people, just like when Cao Cao massacred Xuzhou, people in Xuzhou either went south or north, causing a secluded situation.
The population growth of Yangzhou and Zhouzhou is the same.
In the 140th year of Emperor Shun of the Han Dynasty, the population of the 21 counties in Henan was less than one million. By the time Dong Zhuo moved the capital to Chang'an in 190, the population reached several million. Although there is no precise figure, it is certain that it was at least more than 2 million.
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Therefore, the population of Luoyang is close to reaching saturation this year. Luoyang Ling has been very busy during this period, building houses everywhere around Luoyang to settle the refugees.
Along the way, there are only a few people who live and work in peace and contentment along the way. Most of the refugees are sallow and thin, struggling to survive. Some sell their children by placing signs on the roadside, some begging along the street, and some starve to death on the roadside, and are finally restrained by the government.
They removed the corpses and dumped them in the Mangshan mass grave in the north of the city, and took advantage of the wild dogs there.
Although there are some government agencies that are providing porridge and relief to refugees, it is a pity that it is a drop in the bucket. Many wealthy families take the opportunity to plunder the population and trade people like livestock. Strong young men can be used as field slaves and women can be used as textile workers.
Or be used for other purposes. The poor ones are children and the elderly, and most of them starve to death.
Wang Jun sat in the carriage with slight disgust, not even willing to open the curtains to take a look.
Yan Zhong couldn't bear it, closed his eyes and remained silent.
The beggars saw the convoy of hundreds of guards walking past the street, as if they were avoiding the plague, and they were getting further away. No one was willing to risk their lives anymore.
In the first few days, some people still hoped that the powerful would show kindness, and they would always swarm around a convoy when it left the city. After hundreds or thousands of people were killed, people knew that except for a few loyal elders like Liu Kuan,
Other than those who occasionally come to open porridge shops outside the city, in the eyes of most powerful people, their lives may be as cheap as a dog or a piece of grass.
If big brother were here...
Chen Mu raised the curtains and saw the tragic situation along the street, and thought of Liu Bei again.
The reason why heroic characters can become heroes is that they do not care about their own gains and losses, but always think of how to resist or save.
Feng Zi once said: Those who achieve great things strive for a hundred years and never strive for a single breath.
Temporary success or failure doesn't mean anything, Qianqiu's success or failure is what heroes should consider.
Some people say that the reason why heroes always have their stories told by others and never tell them by themselves is because they are all dead.
But it is a pity that a hundred years later, a thousand years later, the stories of Liu Bei, Cao Cao and the others are still circulating, and no one will remember their names even if those people who live an ignoble life live another twenty years.
At least Liu Bei is here, even if he can't do anything, he will still dream about creating a world for the people in the future and create a paradise for the people.
When Cao Cao is here, he will not think about saving the common people. He will think about how to break the existing order so that more people can survive.
Even though he had robbed tombs, dug graves, eaten human flesh and slaughtered cities. He had done all sorts of bad things, he was still a hero.
At this moment, Chen Mu suddenly understood the reason why his cheap brother always failed repeatedly, because he not only resisted oppression, but also pursued his own dreams and wishes.
But unfortunately, it is not the Western Han Dynasty, and Liu Bei did not have the luck to become Emperor Guangwu, so in the end he had no choice but to bury this willingness with his own life in the grave, and like Cao Cao and Sun Quan, handed over the country to
He went to the Sima family and brewed Wu Huan Hua, which was ten, a hundred, or a thousand times more terrifying than it is now.
The carriage advanced slowly and after walking for about several miles, it finally officially entered the outer city of Luoyang.
Luoyang City is divided into the outer city and the inner city, and the two are clearly separated.
The inner city belongs to the palace after entering through the gates such as Jinmen, Xiaoyuanmen, Kaiyangmen, and Pingchengmen. Although there are also people living there, such as Yonghelibuguangli and other two lifangs, most of the people living here
They are all court officials, and very few ordinary people live in the inner city.
The outer city is relatively prosperous. Outside the Zhongzhong Gate in the east and Yongmen Gate in the west are two cities, the East and West. The streets of Gelifang City are neatly planned. It finally has a bit of the world's largest city in 184 AD.
Look.
What's more interesting is that the outer city doesn't even have a city gate. Just outside the Middle East Gate is the East Market. The surrounding lanes are planned and distributed. The streets are crowded with people, there are many signboards, various shops are lined up, the smell of food is sold, the smell of people's sweat is muddy, and the wine shops
The aroma of wine and the pungent smell of horse manure coming from the horse market in the distance all told Chen Mu that this was the real Luoyang.
"My dear brother, when I arrive in Luoyang, you should let me go."
Yan Zhong sighed, with a bitter face and a frown, which made his already wrinkled face look even more aged.
"certainly."
Chen Mu nodded, took out two kilograms of horseshoe gold from his arms, and handed it over calmly: "I did this to protect Brother Chenghan. I hope Brother Chenghan can understand my good intentions. Going from Luoyang to Xiliang is faster than Yuzhou.
It is much more convenient to go to Xiliang. This is the travel fee, so I can only help you get here."
Yan Zhong was surprised and happy, and said with a complicated expression: "Didn't Ziguidi want to send me to the emperor to receive the reward?"
Chen Mu pretended to be angry and said: "I treat my brother with the same heart as Chicheng, why should I insult me?"
Yan Zhong smiled bitterly and apologized: "I'm sorry Zigui, I judge a gentleman with a villain's heart. The main reason is that I didn't understand why you took such a big risk to help me when we met by chance.
"
In fact, what Yan Zhong least expected to understand was why Chen Mu would get involved with eunuchs. Although there were celebrities who interacted with eunuchs, for example, when Zhang Rang's father died, the world-famous Chen Mu went to express his condolences, but everyone knew that
Chen Shi went to express condolences only out of respect for the deceased, not to make friends with Zhang Rang, so it had no impact on his reputation.
On the other hand, Cui Lie and others who were famous in the Eastern Han Dynasty, even if they did not collude with the eunuchs, after bribing the eunuchs in Xiyuan and paying the money to buy the official position, their reputations declined rapidly. We can know that the reputation of the current eunuchs is
Duo Chao, people who associate with them were naturally excluded from the circle of Eastern Han literati.
Chen Mu said with a smile: "Although there are many celebrities under General Huangfu's command, I am the only one who knows that Brother Chenghan is a great talent. I only hope that if my brother is in trouble in the future, I hope he will not forget about my younger brother.
You can come to me."
Yan Zhong said seriously: "I understand, thank you!"
He took the horseshoe gold and called to the groom outside. After the carriage stopped, he turned around and said goodbye, got off the car and left.
Looking at his leaving figure, Chen Mu knew that although Yan Zhong had a far-sighted vision, he knew that the Eastern Han Dynasty was on the verge of collapse, so he suggested that Huangfu Song go south to claim power.
But in terms of itself, the Han Dynasty still maintains a sieve-like situation, and Liu Bei does not have a stable foundation. It is difficult to recruit talents.
So again, just make good friends, there is no need to be too persistent. What's more, Yan Zhong himself is his chess move. Now is just the beginning of the chess game, and there are still a hundred and eighty thousand miles to the end, so don't rush, take your time.
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The carriage set off again, officially entered the city, and continued heading west. More than twenty minutes later, through the gap in the carriage window, Chen Mu finally saw the vast inner city of Luoyang.
The first thing that catches the eye is the vast Yangqu. The river is mighty and it surrounds half of Luoyang City. A huge suspension bridge is placed from the Middle East Gate. In the event of a war, no one can cross the ten-foot-wide river.
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Although there is no moat in the south of the city, just looking at the towering city gate, which is six feet high, you can tell how difficult it is to attack here.
The convoy drove slowly across the suspension bridge, and the soldiers of the City Gate Lieutenant, who were covered in heavy armor, stood upright at the city gate, holding spears and swords hanging from their waists, looking warily at anyone approaching the city gate.
Wang Jun's carriage carried his official badge, and the motorcade entered the city unimpeded.
After entering from the East Gate, there is a long compound road. On the left is the tributary of Yangqu with willows fluttering along the bank. On the right is Buguangli and Yongheli, with numerous buildings.
Looking into the distance, you can still see the far end of the complex road, with groups of towering palace buildings on both sides, and countless waterside pavilions.
Even if he has never been to Luoyang in person, Chen Mu knows from what people have said that the total area of the inner city of Luoyang is about 10 square kilometers, and the imperial palace alone occupies two-thirds of it, which is much larger than the Forbidden City in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
The functional significance and political significance of this city are far greater than the significance of life, because the inner city is the core of Luoyang, where all the officials and dignitaries live, and the outer city does not even have city walls. It is conceivable that when a war breaks out, almost
Any army can massacre civilians out there.
The city walls and moats do not protect the common people, but only the powerful. It is quite similar to the Buddha in the White Horse Temple, a thousand-year-old temple outside the West Market that has been written into history textbooks. It only protects the rich.
"Hush!"
The driver pulled the reins, and the carriage slowly stopped, stopping in front of a huge mansion.
The high-gate courtyards in the Han Dynasty did not hang plaques on the doors like the mansions in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Even the custom of hanging couplets only started when the Tang Dynasty hung peach charms. Therefore, no matter how luxurious this mansion is, except for
Except for the locals, no one knows who owns this place.
But Chen Mu knew.
This is the residence of Zhang Rang, the powerful eunuch of the Eastern Han Dynasty.
The door was heavily guarded, not only were there guards guarding the door, but there were even faint patrols in the mansion.
I heard that Cao Cao assassinated Zhang Rang?
Although Chen Mu seriously suspected that Sun Sheng was beautifying Cao Cao, because with Zhang Rang's power and the fact that Cao Teng had been dead for many years, it was impossible for Cao Cao's family to protect him, no matter how powerful it was.
But it is undeniable that in the Eastern Han Dynasty, there were definitely not a few people who wanted Zhang Rang dead, and there were definitely not a few assassins who encountered him.
Wang Jun got off the carriage, and Chen Mu came over and stood side by side with him.
The two waited for a while, and then a man walked out of the hospital. His face was thin and slightly pale, and he seemed to be in a bad state of mind.
"This is Mr. Zhang."
Wang Jun whispered: "Remember to salute."
Chen Mu nodded.
According to etiquette, wait for Zhang Rang to reach the top of the steps at the entrance of the courtyard, look down from a high position, and bow slightly to the two of them.
After he finished the salute, Chen Mu and Wang Jun below also bowed and returned the salute.
This is the end of the ceremony.
At this time, Chen Mu and Wang Jun could officially visit.