Chapter 85: The Place Where Dreams Begin

Luoyangcheng was vast, stretching north to Mang Mountain and south to the Yi River.

The entire city was laid out symmetrically along a central axis—the forty-meter-wide Bronze Camel Avenue—with the imperial palace, inner city, outer city, and even the Four Barbarians Pavilions beyond the walls arranged in perfect alignment.

Inside the city stood three hundred and twenty walled neighborhoods; the eastern and western city walls stretched twenty li, while the northern and southern walls spanned fifteen li. When adding the Four Barbarians Pavilions south of the Yong Bridge outside Xuan Yang Gate, Luoyang's north-south depth also reached twenty li.

The city housed over one hundred thousand households and more than seven hundred thousand people.

The only city in the world that could rival it was Jiankang in the Southern Court.

To connect both banks of the Yellow River and strengthen ties between Luoyang and Hebei and Shanxi, Emperor Xiaowen built a river bridge across the Yellow River and erected Beizhongcheng on the northern bank to defend against enemies from the north.

Before Li Shuang's party reached Beizhongcheng, Yuan Ziyou deliberately fell behind, pretending not to know them.

It was clear he did not want anyone to know he was traveling with Li Shuang—both to keep the mission secret and because of a touch of Tianlong arrogance.

Li Shuang did not press him; he and Hou Jing, along with a dozen guards, crossed Beizhongcheng, traveled half a day, and finally arrived at Luoyangcheng.

From Mang Mountain, Hou Jing stared at the magnificent Luoyangcheng, overwhelmed with excitement—he had finally reached the place he had dreamed of plundering!

Li Shuang remarked:

"Calm down, you're drooling!"

Hou Jing wiped his mouth and sighed:

"It's a shame Yang Kan and Gao Ang didn't come."

Li Shuang laughed.

"You think they're as unsophisticated as you?"

Hou Jing, upon hearing this, found it reasonable.

"True—they're all aristocratic sons; they've probably been to Luoyang before."

After saying that, Hou Jing leaned close to Li Shuang, looking mysterious.

"Lord, I've watched the whole way—Luoyang's outer defenses are pathetic. Give me five hundred troops and I'll take Beizhongcheng. If we summon our brothers from Heng, Shuo, and Si provinces, seizing Luoyang will be a cinch!"

The Cosmic General lived up to his name—he hadn't even entered the city yet and had already planned how to plunder it.

His efficiency was so high it shamed everyone else.

Li Shuang looked at Hou Jing and cursed:

"Have you already figured out how to divide up the Emperor's wife?"

"How could I? That's for you to decide first! But I heard the Yuan princesses of Luoyang are all stunningly beautiful, and Hu Hou—she was wildly seductive, kept countless male favorites when she ruled, even forced Qinghe Wang onto her bed—her fame for beauty spread far and wide!"

"You found all this out?"

"Lord, you don't know—I prepared thoroughly before coming with you! I've got everything ready, just waiting for your order!"

Hou Jing was ecstatic, brimming with energy.

Li Shuang scolded:

"This isn't the northern frontier—don't go around talking about plundering. Act with dignity!"

Hou Jing, hearing this, seemed to understand.

"So we can't plunder openly? Then we'll make even more profit!"

"Wan Jing, you've got real insight!"

Nearby, Yuan Ziyou's servant watched Li Shuang and Hou Jing suddenly burst into laughter.

"Master, why are they laughing for no reason?"

Yuan Ziyou looked at them, a hint of distaste on his brow.

Hou Jing was ugly and crude; every word and gesture was vulgar. Yuan Ziyou found him repulsive.

But compared to him, Yuan Ziyou hated Li Shuang even more.

This bandit chief from the wilds showed not a shred of reverence for noble families. This lack of deference, more than Hou Jing's outward crudeness, disgusted Yuan Ziyou.

Perhaps also because, not long ago, as they departed, Yuan Ziyou saw Er Zhu Ying'e, the most radiant jewel among Er Zhu Chuan's daughters, come to see them off.

This woman was unlike Luoyang's noble ladies—wild, extraordinary, radiating an unmatched beauty.

Yet her eyes never once rested on Yuan Ziyou, the one who should have been the center of attention; they stayed fixed on Li Shuang.

"A country bumpkin? What could he possibly want? Just like every other outsider arriving in Luoyang—he dreams of getting a minor post, buying a house, living out some fantasy!"

Yuan Ziyou no longer wished to deal with them; he urged his servants and rode away.

Seeing dust rise in the distance, Hou Jing frowned.

"Lord, why did that kid leave?"

"Who knows?"

Li Shuang didn't care, but Hou Jing was annoyed and growled:

"That brat gave me a sour face the whole way—and now he dares to give Lord one too? I'll settle accounts with him someday."

"Forget him. Let's enter the city!"

At the northern gate of Luoyang, Li Shen, accompanied by several brothers from the Imperial Guards, had been waiting at the pavilion.

Upon meeting, Li Shen was warmly enthusiastic.

"Brother, you've finally arrived! I've been waiting so long!"

"I heard Qingzhun is now on duty inside the palace, guarding the Son of Heaven—why are you here to meet me?"

"What nonsense! If you come, I'd feign illness just to come greet you!"

Li Shen clapped Li Shuang on the shoulder and shouted:

"Come on, brother—I'll throw you a welcome feast!"

"Where to?"

"First stay half a month in Diaoyin Li, then move to Leyu Li for another half month!"

Diaoyin Li and Leyu Li, mentioned by Li Shen, were Luoyang's two most famous music halls, each housing entire neighborhoods of professional musicians and dancers.

Silk and bamboo sing, and the world's finest courtesans emerge!

Upon hearing this, Hou Jing grew excited, temporarily setting his plans aside.

"I have arrived; would it not be improper to first meet my adopted father?"

Li Shen Gui, however, said:

"My father is not here!"

"Where has my adopted father gone?"

"The rebellion in the northwest grows ever more intense; the court is deliberating on whom to send to oversee the great affairs. My father has also been summoned by Your Majesty!"

"Have they reached a decision?"

"The court currently has several candidates; the one with the highest acclaim is Prince Qi, Xiao Baoyin!"

As Li Shen Gui spoke, a man dressed in splendid attire, accompanied by dozens of servants, rode toward them on horseback, raising clouds of dust.

"Brother, do you see? The leader is Prince Qi, Xiao Baoyin. He was originally an Imperial Prince of the Xiao Qi. After Xiao Yan seized the Qi, he defected to our Great Wei, even married Princess Nanyang, and lives in great splendor!"

Xiao Baoyin, bringing his retinue, seemed to have come specifically to this place to find them.

"Is the General of the Martial Guard present?"

From a great distance, Li Shen Gui responded with a call.

"Indeed!"

Before the person arrived, the sound of laughter came!

"This King was just looking for the General!"

Li Shuang looked at the Wang Hou in brocade robes riding the horse and said:

"The one who comes is not friendly!"

If seeking Li Shen Gui, why would they look for him at the city gate?

Clearly, Xiao Baoyin used the pretext of seeking Li Shen Gui, but in truth came to block him!

Hou Jing leaned in and whispered in Li Shuang's ear:

"My Lord, you are the one who comes!"