Chapter 380: Getting Down to Earth
Tang Qian was supposed to arrive this afternoon, no doubt. They encountered a riverbank on the west road of Youzhou City; just after a rain, the plow ox had sunk into the mud. Such an ox is precious—upon seeing it, they had to help.
Stopping to help delayed their schedule.
By the time they reached Youzhou City, night had just fallen; the lanterns on the West Gate began to light up one after another, and they arrived just in time for the "Lantern-Lighting Ceremony"—the lanterns resembled a winding fire dragon with no visible head or tail.
Unsurprisingly, the garrison from the majestic Shanyang Pass that cuts through the western regions, the "True Border City," were shocked.
They lingered at the gate tower for a long time; when the city guard reported to the prince's mansion, the king had already rushed out.
The City Gate Colonel personally greeted them, opening the main gate with military honors to welcome the Border Guard General back to the capital; Tang Qian felt his eyes well up.
In the capital he was visiting for the first time, he found a long‑lost sense of emotion, and also… a feeling of belonging. The way the city guards looked at them, he could see respect and warmth—they didn't treat them as outsiders.
Upon arriving in Youzhou City, Tang Qian thought they were a bunch of "country bumpkins," so he simply stopped hiding his gaze and took a good look.
Besides, it was already late; they could see they wouldn't be able to see the king until the next day, so they just loitered around the gate for a while.
The City Gate Colonel gave them a detailed rundown of the gate's layout—how high the gate tower was, what each facility was for, including how many archers the arrow tower could hold. Tang Qian listened with eyes shining; this city truly deserved to be called impregnable!
In comparison, the previously top‑spec Chang'an City was nothing but a pushover!
By the time they left the gate, the sky had gone completely dark.
He arranged for the companions who had come with him to go to the old city prince's mansion where they were lodging; Tang Qian couldn't rest at all, he declined the City Gate Colonel's invitation and, with his deputy, began to wander around the city.
The inner lanes and civilian homes of Youzhou City opened his eyes.
He hadn't expected that a border prefecture like Youzhou City could be built up like this; he saw many multi‑story buildings, and even went up close to watch a newly finished clinic that wasn't yet in official use.
Upon entering Zhuque Avenue, the prosperity of Youzhou City rose in his mind to an extraordinarily high level.
He only knew the king had some strength, but he hadn't imagined it was of this level!
In his mind, the king's life at this moment must be even more lavish than his father's—truly gold‑laden and jade‑rich! After all, the king is a hundred times better at warfare than his father.
Thinking again that the king possesses such military power, he really couldn't be too poor; perhaps this is why Youzhou City looks so prosperous?
Anyway, although he oversees the northwest, civil and military affairs are basically separate; Tang Qian actually doesn't handle much civil affairs, only takes care of the seal, so he also lacks any concept of how much financial support building a city like this would require.
Having seen Zhuque Avenue, in his imagination the king certainly eats better than just delicacies and spices. Your Majesty, when he goes out he should at least have three thousand guards, protection so tight not even wind can get through, and an entourage whose majesty shakes the world.
If he were in the mansion, there would also be several hundred to a thousand people bustling around him—fanning, playing lute, serving tea, pouring water—all in all, boundless wealth and luxury, surely indulging in extravagant waste.
Just as they were thinking that, they noticed a fight seemed to have broken out ahead, with a crowd gathering to watch.
Tang Qian is tall, so even from the outskirts he could see clearly: that arrogant kid scolding the vendor… looked familiar.
Although his face was dirty, thanks to the bright lights his features were clear. He had seen the king less than a year ago…
Tang Qian felt his expression back then must have looked foolish; he closed his eyes, opened them again, went back and forth to check if it was an illusion, then heard his deputy sigh: "Don't bother, I also see… a resemblance to our young master." How coincidental that in this northern border place there could be another child who looks so much like the king?
And what street urchin has such a clean neck, such lively eyes, and is overly clever, Your Majesty!
Tang Qian felt his face split open; even after decades of wind in the northwest, nothing had achieved this effect.
Is this reasonable?
You just jump around in the street by yourself?
What about your jeweled carriage and golden palanquin?
What about your three thousand attendants and the awe‑inspiring entourage that shakes the world?!
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【Placeholder, tomorrow major revision of the review ceremony, please look forward to it (*´I`*)】
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The king now brings nothing with him, so he doesn't hesitate to go out and settle things one‑on‑one; he stands on the moral high ground, pointing at the profiteer.
The onlookers are all consumers of this street, naturally on his side; the king's iron fist meets no obstruction, landing squarely on the brazen vendor's stall, and he adds a warning: if he ever sees him selling stale stinky fish again, he'll hit him!
"All right, it's fine. From now on, everyone should keep an eye on dishonest merchants like this; if you encounter such a person, report them to the Youzhou Guard so they can't deceive people and ruin our Youzhou reputation! All right, disperse, disperse!"
The king, seeing injustice, drew his blade and cut down; after finishing, he arrogantly waved at the onlooking crowd, then turned and saw Ling Yin appear, with two people leading horses, standing outside the crowd……
Familiar.
Awkward.
The king finally felt a bit embarrassed; he tousled his "broken horse Zhang Fei" bun, acted nonchalantly as he walked over, stepped up to the three of them and, taking the initiative, said, "You all came~ why didn't anyone come help? Hmph!"
Then, without giving them a chance to rebut, he strode past them with his swaggering steps, leading the group straight to the tavern.
Old Tang was still stunned by the close‑up sight of the king's beggar guise, while Ling Yin had already signaled them to follow.
"Let's go. I reckon this hospitable little beggar wants to treat you to a meal."
Tang Qian finally found his voice, lowered it and asked: "Your… Highness, does he usually play like this?"
Ling Yin shook her head: "No. This is a new idea. It's the first time he's come out like this, and you happened to run into him—how fortunate." The chief executive stated factually.
Old Tang's face said it all: "You're sure it's fortunate?"
Beside them, the deputy worried: "We saw… won't we be silenced?"
Upon hearing that, Tang Qian immediately straightened his chest like the king: "Just poke out your eyes—it'll do; Old Tang's still useful. After all, in the whole northwest, only I am recognized by the heavens!"
Deputy General: ……
The king led his team into the tavern, striding with a "six‑kin‑not‑recognizing" step, he waved at the proprietor: "Old spot, rustle up some good dishes." His manner was thoroughly rustic.
The proprietor thought, it's been ages since Youzhou City saw a beggar, and such a small one at that. The city's big beggars have been sent to the refugee village together, while the little ones were gathered into an orphanage and rarely come out.
"What old spot? Who says you have an old spot with me?"
He looked closely, then again, and finally realized that this "oddly dressed" person was actually the king! He hurried out from behind the counter: "Young Master Wei has arrived~ the big ship docked today with a batch of fine fish; Young Master, what would you like to eat?"
Tang Qian and his group, coming from the northwest, the king ordered a large half of seafood, then added beef and mutton.
Four people sat down; Da Wang, with his explosive hair, as usual recommended the Youzhou specialty dishes to his Guard Border General… Uncle Tang also tried our top-grade Youzhou lamb, not inferior to the Northwest's.
Tang Qian's gaze and thoughts wandered; he kept watching Da Wang's explosive hairstyle and dirty little face, Da Wang remained unmoving like a mountain, until the shopkeeper brought a washbasin and towel.
Da Wang wiped his face clean, and just then a personal guard passing by handed him a box of moisturizer.
Da Wang exclaimed: '…You still brought this?'
Personal guard: 'No, Chief Steward Zhu gave it to him.'
All right, Zhu Ti also saw his performance just now.
Da Wang remained calm, his explosive hair in place as he greeted guests: 'Eat up, we're all our own people—talk after eating.'
Da Wang always treated guests to a meal to wash away travel fatigue; these two, arriving late, were no exception, and the meal turned into a dinner at a restaurant.
He kept his explosive-haired head on the whole time, caring about Northwestern military affairs and people's livelihood, as well as the construction progress at Shanyang Pass and Shuofang Pass. When discussing official business, Tang Qian finally snapped out of his daze—his deputy general had said hardly anything the whole time.
Finally, Da Wang asked solicitously whether he was tired from the journey.
Tang Qian blurted out: 'No.'
If he had something in mind, he glanced at Da Wang's hairstyle: 'He's afraid of being silenced.'
It's fine now; grown up and sensible, what can we do about the queen's anger!
Da Wang: ……
As soon as Tang Qian stepped forward, the joint envoy group of the Xiongnu and Western Regions arrived behind him.
After being taught by the Grand Tutor for a few days and already growing numb, Liang Er suddenly woke up—after seeing off these envoys, wouldn't he no longer have to suffer through those painful early mornings and late nights at work?!
He suddenly found hope to live on.
Since Liang Bin was deceived by Da Wang, the Grand Tutor's attentive care frightened even him when he saw it.
He wanted to tell the Grand Tutor, 'I'm a hopeless mess, leave me alone; after the envoy group leaves, I'll just return to the Imperial Academy.' After all, there's nothing less to learn here than at the Academy, and it's much closer to his father!
But whenever he saw the Grand Tutor's expectant, encouraging gaze, he couldn't bring himself to refuse. The routines and moves the Grand Tutor had honed with Da Wang were all tried out on Liang family's Er Ha.
Making him clock in and work on schedule was too painful for Liang Er, who had lived his life doing as he pleased.
Every day he thought about asking for leave tomorrow, but the next day his father would always yank his ear, hoist him up, and shove him into a carriage for duty.
Now, upon hearing that the Xiongnu and Western Regions people had finally arrived, he instantly came alive.
"I'll certainly make the Xiongnu and Western Regions envoys feel at home, sir—rest easy!"
Grand Tutor: …… He always feels that this chest‑thumping guarantor looks somewhat familiar?
Not the slightest bit reassuring.
Da Wang simply didn't put the Xiongnu and Western Regions in his eyes; their place was like wild scallions growing unchecked in his vegetable garden. He also couldn't be bothered to put on his father's act of the Celestial Dynasty, the Land of Rites.
He only had Liang Bin go out to greet them at the city gate, sending them to the Northern Border's Honglu Temple to await his summons—then it was over, and he didn't even let the Grand Tutor go in person.
Xie Yuan urged, "……After all, they've officially submitted their envoy documents—this counts as normal foreign relations, so the most basic courtesies should still be observed, right?"
"The Xiongnu are here to ransom their prince, the Western Regions to pay tribute. Of course, this time we'll work out a number that satisfies His Majesty; next time they come, His Majesty's attitude will surely change. After all, the Northern Border is poor, and His Majesty is still a money‑grubber." The Grand Minister of Revenue's head drooped another half‑inch.
Xie Yuan realized at once that there was no room for negotiation—Da Wang had already made up his mind, not something that could be changed by idle talk.
He fell silent, and the Marquis of Dongdu grew anxious—he knew better than anyone what his own younger son was like.
"Your Highness, Liang Bin has only been in office a few days, yet he's still his usual impulsive self, and having never borne such a heavy responsibility, I'm afraid he'll……" mess up.
And that's certain.
Da Wang retorted in a single sentence: "No matter how great the oversight, His Majesty pardons him of all guilt." He then slammed down an Imperial Pardon Medal.
Now it's settled—the Marquis of Dongdu has nothing left to say. When someone's bottom line is this low, what's there to argue? This can only be decided as is.
So the long lines of the Xiongnu and Western Regions' two nations reached the West City Gate, and the only one to greet them was Liang Er, his eyelids half‑lifted.
This guy had been complaining all morning, saying these bearded fellows lacked any sense, getting up this early just to be slaughtered by Da Wang, right?!
However, thinking of the
The Xiongnu contingent was led by Left Valley Prince Wujihan; the newly risen sun's rays were blinding, he narrowed his eyes, straining to make out the imposing gate of the Northern Border King's city.
Although this was his first time heading south into the Great Jin, he had heard countless legends about it.
The difference is that the Great Jin's status has kept changing, from a prosperous and wealthy Celestial Dynasty to their purse.
As for the Northern Border, to him it was rather complicated.
As Left Valley Prince, he had a martial, battle‑skilled Left Worthy Prince ahead of him, and he had always been tasked with guarding the royal city and overseeing provisions.
Before, he never regarded the Jin people seriously, and that hasn't changed.
He concealed the ferocity in his eyes, spurred his horse forward, and saw that the main gate in the center of the western city gate of Youzhou was closed, only a side gate on the south was open.
What a Northern Border King!
Seeing that the person at the front of the welcoming party was a boy in his early teens, he took a few more steps forward before stopping, then, seated on his horse, he bluntly asked, "Are you the Northern Border King?" His intention was that if the other side admitted it, he would then dismount and offer a salute. Feeling displeased, he insisted on seizing this advantage first.
Liang Bin almost laughed out loud; someone even more rude than him has shown up—his father really ought to be dragged over to see this!
Impudent!
Liang Bin opened his mouth and rebuked.
Sure enough, barbarians!
Without waiting for a reply, he kept on chattering.
The two minor officials behind him were from Youzhou; seeing the northern barbarian fierce and terrifying coming on horseback, the fear rooted in their hearts since childhood surged up again, and Liang Bin noticed they were trembling. Such disgrace is unacceptable; when they return they won't be able to explain to the king; he must rely on himself.
Barbarians don't even have glass mirrors—does your urine come out matte? And you still expect the Northern Border King's highness to personally come to the gate to receive your defeated troops? You really dare to dream!
You couldn't possibly think the Xiongnu are still what they used to be, could you?
Your days of throwing your weight around are over; please, everyone, sober up a bit!
Your third prince—the assassination of our Highness has been exposed; you've come to pay ransom! You all show no remorse at all for the rude conduct of your country's third prince! As for our northern border, the Xiongnu are a defeated state—know your place!
Back when you defeated the Great Jin and marched to Chang'an, what an arrogant attitude you displayed—no need for me to say! At that time you were lions gaping wide, demanding land and paying silver; there's a precedent before you, you ought to have learned from it!
The tides of feng shui turn; be a bit more courteous to this official! Putting on airs, Liang Gongzi is the foremost of Youzhou; in these years in Chang'an you've seen enough.
End of Chapter
