Chapter 1320

Daxing City was first built in the second year of Kaihuang (582 AD), and the capital was moved in the third month of the third year of Kaihuang.

After continuous expansion through the Sui and Tang dynasties, it became the later Chang'an City. But by the end of the Tang Dynasty, the imperial capital of the Great Tang, where ten thousand nations came to pay homage, was also beaten into ruin.

The Han Chang'an City was not far away, but it had long been ruined by war, completely devoid of the invincible atmosphere of the former Great Han, and the ten thousand palaces had all turned to dust.

Wang Yan had seen Han Chang'an, and he had also governed there. Passing by the old site, he didn't have too many thoughts, just thanking the "living father" as usual...

After seven years of continuous construction and population migration, by the time Wang Yan arrived in Daxing, it was already quite large, and the city was very big.

After all, it was the political and economic center of a country, and the high officials and nobles were all here. Just providing supporting services for these people required many commoners. And the commoners' needs for life required even more commoners to satisfy, so the city naturally expanded.

Although it was less than ten years old, it had already developed into a large city with a population of two or three hundred thousand. Looking at the city from afar, it didn't seem very magnificent, but walking inside, the flow of people was like weaving, and the streets were very prosperous and lively.

Yang Guang had no time to arrange for Wang Yan. When Yang Jian led the officials out of the city to welcome the triumphant army, Wang Yan had already entered the city with the team escorting the wealth and goods, following them to the Prince of Jin's mansion in the inner city.

"Brothers, if you have anything in the future, you must come and find me. Although I have climbed the high branch of the Prince of Jin, I haven't forgotten that I was born as a small soldier. We used to belong to the Sui and Chen states, but today the world is one family, and I and you brothers are naturally one family. Whatever I can help with, I will definitely do my best."

"Consultative Adjutant, your feelings are heavy. Since we have left our names with you, Consultative Adjutant, if you have any use for us in the future, just send someone to find us, and we will help with our lives. Farewell."

"The mountains are high and the road is long, brothers, travel slowly."

Wang Yan and Xiao Mei gave them enough face, sending these common soldiers all the way out of the side gate of the Prince of Jin's mansion, watching them leave with laughter and jokes, before returning to the mansion with Xiao Mei to the courtyard arranged by the mansion's steward.

The maidservants brought back from Chen State were still there, diligently cleaning up together with the rough-working maids of the Prince of Jin's mansion.

The two of them were eating and drinking at the table under the pavilion in the courtyard, arranged by the Prince of Jin's mansion steward.

"Husband, should we buy a house in the outer city? And then buy a hundred or so acres of land outside the city? Living in the Prince of Jin's mansion has many inconveniences, and it's not a long-term plan."

Wang Yan drank half a pot of wine in one go. Xiao Mei was accustomed to this; Wang Yan basically drank wine as water. This was the true essence of grain, and although there were some impurities, the taste was actually quite good.

"Just wait a few days and see how His Highness the Prince of Jin arranges things," Wang Yan said.

Yang Guang went through the motions outside the city, returned to the mansion to wash and bathe urgently, and then went to the imperial palace. The Emperor rewarded the meritorious officials, held a grand banquet in the palace to celebrate, and added to that were the many matters after the war, as well as various related operations, so Yang Guang really had no time to deal with Wang Yan for the time being.

Wang Yan was not in a hurry. It was only morning when they arrived at the Prince of Jin's mansion. After eating, bathing, and changing into clean clothes, they went out to stroll the streets.

Xiao Mei was still in plain clothes and no longer wore fine clothing. She didn't want to cause trouble; many of her clothes and jewelry were against the rules and exceeded her status. Chang'an was full of high officials and nobles. Although she already believed in Wang Yan's strength, she didn't want to really go out with Wang Yan, change her name, and occupy a mountain as king. So she changed her style and kept a low profile.

Wang Yan was still very gratified. Xiao Mei was a woman who made people worry-free and reassured; she had a sense of proportion and understood the pros and cons. Of course, even if Xiao Mei really caused trouble, he wouldn't be afraid, nor would he blame Xiao Mei. But relatively speaking, he was also more willing to be smoother and more open and aboveboard.

He himself was already very low-key, wearing a martial artist's tight-fitting outfit, with an eight-sided Han sword at his waist. Walking beside the beautiful Xiao Mei, he looked more like a guard.

Going out, one naturally had to go to lively places, so the two of them went to the nearby East Market.

Because this place was close to the inner city, it was naturally convenient for high officials and nobles, so everything sold here was expensive.

The flow of people here was not small. Some were servants buying things for various mansions, some were children from various families, or ladies from various families, who had made appointments to come out and stroll around.

At the same time, the public security on the street was also very good. There were soldiers guarding both sides of the street, and in the market, there were yamen runners with bailiffs on duty.

"How does it feel?" Wang Yan asked Xiao Mei beside him with a smile.

"No feeling," Xiao Mei said. "When I was in Jiankang, I lived deep in the palace, and everything I ate and wore was the best. If I have to say, perhaps it's livelier; there's no such scenery in the palace."

"Let's go to the West Market and see; there are more people there, and it's much livelier."

So the two of them left the East Market and walked slowly on the street, stopping and going along the way. While looking at the style of Daxing City today, they were also looking at which houses were good and which shops had good business, gaining a simple understanding of this city.

After wandering around like this for half a day, they finally reached the West Market.

Even before they reached the real West Market, the clamor had already reached their ears from far away. There were quite a lot of people here, and it was quite lively. There were old people, children, men, women, and even a few faces from Central Asia and Europe.

This was the credit of Zhang Qian's opening of the Western Regions. By now, although the Silk Road was not easy to walk, it was still playing its role.

Wang Yan finally protected Xiao Mei and walked into the area of the West Market. Here, shops stood in great numbers, the sound of hawking was endless, and it was also mixed with some sincere greetings.

There were more bailiffs here, maintaining order. Or rather, maintaining order for the carriages that occasionally appeared, hanging the signs of high-ranking and noble families.

However, in the end, they didn't need to show off. Seeing such carriages, people would automatically separate the road. The coachmen driving the carriages all held their heads slightly high, with undisguised arrogance.

It seemed as if the carriage and the horse were his, and the status and position were also his. He was proud of everything his master had. Although he didn't have his freedom, although he could be beaten and punished by his master at will, he was still proud, as if he were no longer a commoner.

Even, he had the guts to whip and lash out at pedestrians who got in the way.

And all this was just by relying on a carriage with a sign hanging on it.

Was that separating the road?

Obviously not. It was class—a chasm that couldn't be crossed without picking up swords and guns.

Watching the carriage go far away, Wang Yan casually picked up a little child who was baring his fangs and brandishing his claws, gently gave him two small slaps, and then pinched his nose and shook it left and right: "Little thing, you don't even look at who you're stealing silver from?"

Wang Yan's gaze swept left and right, seeing several children who were somewhat at a loss, and also seeing several strong men with their arms crossed. Because these people were all looking at him.

He immediately put the little brat down. As soon as the child's feet touched the ground, he spread his legs and wanted to run.

Wang Yan reached out and pressed his head to control him, and said softly: "Stand there! I didn't punish you, what are you running for? Stand still! Stand straight!"

The little brat didn't dare to move, standing there at a loss, nervous and terrified: "Grandpa, I was wrong, you have a large heart, please let me go, I won't dare to do it again."

"Do you believe it yourself?" Wang Yan shook his head with amusement, untied the money bag at his waist, and took out some large coins from it: "Treat your little brothers to a meal, get lost."

He slapped the large coins into the brat's dirty little hand, and then gently kicked the brat's butt, and the latter ran far away following the force.

"Thank you, Grandpa! Thank you, Grandpa!"

Once the person ran far away, the brat no longer had the honest look he had just now. Wang Yan had no doubt that if he hadn't given money just now, this little brat would have definitely jumped up and cursed him, and then quickly escaped through the crowd.

Wang Yan waved his hand with amusement, laughed and scolded him to go away, and the little brat ran away with the others.

"This fellow, such inferior children should be taught a lesson. Why let them run away, and even give them so many large coins?"

Just as Xiao Mei wanted to say something with a smile, a man walked over from the side and bowed politely to Wang Yan.

This man was tall and big, wearing a coarse cloth short outfit, and also wearing a sword at his waist. His hair was coiled up, inserted with a wooden hairpin, with a proper square face, thick eyebrows and big eyes, and also had stubble of a beard, and he was at the age of eighteen or nineteen.

One had to have some status to wear a sword well. Of course, no one cared, and it was no problem for ordinary people to wear a sword if they wanted to, but swords were more expensive than knives, so most people still kept a short knife at their waist, which was not ostentatious and also showed their confidence. After all, more people wore nothing at all, just a coarse cloth belt. By wearing a knife, one first told people that I was not easy to mess with.

Wang Yan glanced at him and said with a smile: "The root cause is not in the inferior children. If they could eat their fill and go to school, why would they come to the market to steal and rob? If I teach them a lesson today, will they not steal or rob tomorrow? Instead, I give them some money, they have an easy day today, eat a full meal, and can also play and frolic with their little brothers."

"Your good intentions are afraid to be misplaced." The man raised his head toward the direction behind Wang Yan.

Wang Yan looked over and saw that at a corner, the little brat just now was reluctantly giving the money to a strong man, while several boys on the side were watching eagerly.

"I cannot solve his suffering for a lifetime, but I can solve his worry for a day. Excuse me, please look after my lady, I will be back soon."

After saying that, Wang Yan strode toward that side.

The strong man who was teaching the child also noticed this, and his accomplices on the side all leaned over here.

"Little brat, your father advises you not to meddle in other people's business."

Wang Yan didn't say a word, first slapped him with a big mouth, sending the strong man flying sideways, and the large coins scattered on the ground.

He patted the head of the little brat from before again: "Go pick up the money."

It was also at this time that the four accomplices who surrounded him saw Wang Yan take action, and they ran over cursing, wanting to beat Wang Yan. Then, unsurprisingly, they were all slapped flying away.

Watching the little brat pick up the large coins one by one and put them in his hand, Wang Yan walked over, grabbed the hair of the strong man who collected the money, and took out a wooden sign from his bosom and placed it in front of his eyes.

"See clearly, your father is the Consultative Adjutant of the Prince of Jin's mansion, surnamed Wang, named Yan. I treated these children to a meal today, but I didn't treat you. This time it's over, if there's a next time, your father will peel your skin."

He slapped this person again, threw the sign to the bailiff who ran over to confirm, and waved his hand at the few little brats, "Get lost and eat."

The few little brats naturally didn't dare to move. Each of them was as clever as a monkey, knowing who was in charge, and they couldn't run away either.

Wang Yan gently kicked the strong man's stomach, making him hold his stomach and cry out in pain, and then said with difficulty: "Go eat, I won't trouble you later."

"I will come again, and we'll see then."

"Consultative Adjutant Wang, walk slowly, call us anytime if you have anything." The bailiff respectfully returned Wang Yan's sign.

There were many officials in Daxing City, and the officials of the Prince of Jin's mansion were relatively more prestigious. After all, unlike other officials, the officials of the Prince of Jin's mansion had to be the confidants of the Prince of Jin. No matter how much connection a small bailiff had, he could never be bigger than the Prince of Jin, Yang Guang, or the imperial family.

"Thank you for your hard work." Wang Yan took the sign, patted the bailiff's shoulder, and returned to Xiao Mei's side.

The young man from before bowed and said: "Your martial arts are good. My surname is Li, named Jing, courtesy name Yaoshi, from the Li family of Danyang in Longxi. I don't know your name?"

Wang Yan raised his eyebrows, not expecting to meet such a big celebrity as Li Jing while out strolling with Xiao Mei.

Coming from a big family is different; he reported his courtesy name right away. Li Jing was from the Li family of Longxi, one of the famous "five surnames and seven families." Danyang was a branch of the Li family of Longxi, and was a descendant of Li Lun, the eldest son of Li Yong, the prefect of the two commanderies of Jibei and Dongguan in Jin, known as the Danyang branch.

It is worth mentioning that the famous general of the current dynasty, Han Qinhu, was Li Jing's maternal uncle.

Wang Yan bowed and said: "My surname is Wang, named Yan, courtesy name Ziyan. I have no family, just a small soldier by origin."

"Just now, Brother Wang took out a sign..." Li Jing was a bit puzzled.

"It's the sign of the Prince of Jin's mansion. I am now serving as a Consultative Adjutant in the Prince of Jin's mansion."

Li Jing was even more confused. According to what Wang Yan said about being a small soldier, it was impossible for him to get into the Prince of Jin's mansion, let alone be an adjutant.

Just as he was thinking about how to ask, Wang Yan answered directly: "I was originally a guard soldier of the Chen State. When the city was broken, I escaped into the imperial city, killed a team of elite soldiers, and later stole food and drink in the imperial city, injuring many elites.

With nowhere to go, I went to join the Prince of Jin. Fortunately, the Prince of Jin didn't hold a grudge. Plus, I know a few characters and have read a few books, so His Highness the Prince of Jin allowed me to be a Consultative Adjutant. It's just a nominal title, counting as having an official status and receiving an imperial salary."

"Brother Wang's martial arts are extraordinary, and your speech is even more outstanding. You must have something superior." Li Jing laughed heartily. "Meeting is fate. I invite you and your lady to drink. Brother, would you like to do me the honor?"

"A noble son of the Li family is willing to humble himself to associate with a small soldier like me, how could I not be willing?"

"Hey, Brother, your words are wrong. It's just the blessings of the ancestors. As descendants, we dare not take credit or be arrogant, only seeking not to lose the face of our ancestors. I am not as good as you, brother. The capable come first, so why talk about humbling oneself? Brother, please!"

In a few words, he showed Li Jing's chivalrous spirit; he was truly a man of the world. Considering this was not official history and there was a Red-Fist Woman in the drama, it was quite reasonable for Li Jing to be like this. Right now, he was traveling in the world, learning to apply what he had learned, and accumulating experience.

Wang Yan nodded with a smile, followed the trend, and took Xiao Mei, who had been keeping a smile beside him, to go to a nearby tavern to eat and drink with Li Jing...