Chapter 257: Scenic Splendors of the Southeast

After the Great Court Assembly of the Zhenlong Kingdom, Tiangang's "Heavenly Craft" flying metal artisans split, with half arriving at Shangshi Shijing to begin expanding the imperial capital.

The other half started building fortress customs on the east and south sides of Zhenlong Island, at every artificial or natural good harbor except New World Sea City and Heimu Town.

They carried out the state policy drafted at the Great Court Assembly to temporarily continue the "closed‑door isolation".

And Zhang Gui, the instigator of these two matters, leisurely returned to the East Continent.

He rode the Flower Dragon Beast that Zhen Ciyun had given him.

Alone, he hurried along the vast, intersecting thoroughfare, covering a thousand li in a night.

He arrived before the evening of the fifteenth day of the first month at the main city of the Southern Frontier capital of the Ming Song Empire, which is now the only capital, Jinling Du, beyond…

In fact, if he didn't consider that according to custom, on the sixteenth day the married cousins from his aunt's family would come with their husbands and children to cause a ruckus at his home.

Zhang Gui would certainly accompany Amu to watch the lanterns of the fifteenth day, then set out on a journey.

But Caiyang Duojie herself thought that in‑laws are "honored guests".

If, on the morning of the sixteenth day, a family were to visit his house.

And the son happened to have to leave on the spot, that would be too embarrassing.

It would be better to slip away early and avoid meeting them.

Anyway, since ancient times the distinguished have been busy, they can casually find an excuse,

saying that Zhang Gui, as a Dragon Tiger Shogun, after the fifteenth day must conduct the "troop count", restoring the daily drills in the camp;

or, as a feudal lord possessing a "sparrow though small, all five organs complete" fief, he must reopen the office on the sixteenth day, host a banquet for his capable subordinates, and win hearts.

And so on and so on.

In short, as long as it can be justified face‑wise, even if everyone knows it's an excuse, no one will nitpick…

Just like that.

To avoid the quiet, and also fulfill the promise made in a daze to Zhen Ciyun to visit the Huayu Zhen Family in Jinling,

Zhang Gui changed the location of his lantern festivities on the fifteenth day.

Gazing at the extremely magnificent city walls in the distance.

He couldn't help but go "tsk tsk tsk".

In his mind, holding the image of Jinling Du, a former Ming Song capital built centuries ago, which for a long period had lost its political status.

He compared it with his imagined expanded Zhenlong Kingdom's Shangshi Shijing.

He couldn't help muttering:

"Ah, no matter how big the island, it's still just a sea island.

Originally thought Giant Snake Head, pfft pfft pfft, Zhenlong Island's area is only a little over one hundred thousand li.

But after ancient Western divine power reshaped it, 99% became fertile paddy fields.

With full development, based on current grain yields, it could definitely sustain 250 million people.

If we add the boost of a developed marine fishing industry, adding another 40–50 million people would be no problem.

And according to this capacity, I hustled for three years, yet I didn't even fill one‑fiftieth of the island's maximum population.

Truly a place worthy of heaven!

Unfortunately, the spirit of this bullet‑like nation is still weak.

"Giant Wolf Jingcheng" is the genuine first capital of Dongsheng Continent; we don't dare to compare, nor try to compare.

Yet even a modest "Jinling Du", abandoned by the Ming Song Empire for centuries, still possesses such splendid scenery.

It's just too self‑pitying."

As he muttered, the Flower Dragon Beast beneath him trotted steadily.

He arrived at the city gate of Jinling Du.

Although the Ming Song Kingdom's power is already a setting sun, through the gate arch over a hundred zhang wide, looking into the city,

it still displayed a luxurious scene of "flames cooking oil, flourishing brocade".

Combined with the magnificent view of the three rivers converging outside the gate.

It seemed to instantly transport one back to the founding emperor of the Ming Song, Zhao Zhusha, wielding power in Jinling Du, a glorious era that shook the four corners.

While Zhang Gui was peering around, lost in thought, a hand suddenly slapped his shoulder.

Zhang Gui turned back in surprise, and saw a slender, tiny face framed by a loose white Daoist robe, eyebrows like a painting, appearing before him.

"Hey, Zhen Shijing, why are you here?"

"You, a person from Siyang Commandery a thousand li away, can come to Jinling Du for the festival.

I, a proud native of Jinling, am not allowed?" Zhen Shijing retorted.

Zhang Gui thought, "Are the natives of Jinling Du really that great?

If I hadn't been forced by a bunch of newly recognized snobbish relatives to 'run away from home', I wouldn't have come."

He just smiled and casually said, "You're right, it's my fault, you go ahead."

Zhen Shijing seemed not to have heard Zhang Gui, and asked again:

"Why don't you go into the city?"

"From the twelfth month to the first month, Jinling Du doesn't check the gates, so even if you want to hide your identity, it's no problem."

"This is my first time in Jinling, I want to properly see this majestic city!"

Behind Zhen Shijing, a group of companions came to Jinling Du's main city to enjoy the lanterns.

Seeing her chat with Zhang Gui, someone curiously approached.

They sized up Zhang Gui, smiling, and interjected:

"This young gentleman, the charm of Jinling Du isn't outside the city; the Great Hall inside is the real good spot, oh."

Zhang Gui, however, shook his head, pointed ahead and said loudly:

"This city's southeast is a scenic spot."

"There is a verse that says:"

"Three rivers converge here, historically prosperous, misty willows, painted bridges, wind curtains, emerald canopies, countless households scattered."

"Cloud trees encircle the sand embankment, raging waves roll up frost and snow, the Heavenly Moat is boundless."

"Yet the heavy lake layers a thousand miles of lotus leaves, Qiang pipes play in the clear sky, water chestnut songs drift at night, still they cannot compare to ten thousand boats bearing lofty spears!"

"Jinling Du was built here, its navy drums in high spirits."

"Even a hundred‑million mountain cavalry, riding downstream, could charge through in a single surge!"

"Recalling Zhao Zhusha's founding of the capital here, he did not contemplate victory, first thought of defeat, and ultimately set the tripod to illuminate Song."

"Using retreat as advance, how wise!"

"Truly worthy of a generation's heroic lord!"

"Where could there be a better place?"

"In a moment, I shall make a big splash here."

"Zhen Shijing, Noble Lady, friends, I take my leave."

"Afterwards he urged the Flower Dragon Beast beneath his hips to stride away, vanishing into the heart of Jinling Du."

"Where does this scholar come from? His poetry is truly good, and he has some insight."

"Most of all, he is stubborn and oblivious to the times, still born at the wrong era."

"It truly is a pity."

"He is the golden turtle son-in-law chosen by my sister, eighteen this year yet already an extraordinary Sixth Grade of the B middle."

"The Bloodline Divine Bush can transform into a True Form."

"Is this person actually that State of Stone Corpse Heir Apparent, Dragon Tiger General?"

"Then that is rather interesting."

"Sister Ciyun truly stands out, overcoming hardness with softness—what keen insight and skill."

"Just now you said he was born at the wrong time, now you call him rather interesting."

"Chen He'er, you have changed quickly."

"Where have I changed?"

"Even ordinary individuals, even scions of prestigious families, in this Age of Great Contention, if they cannot act with the tide, how does superb poetry matter?"

"That Chang Sheng Tian cares little for this."

"As for having much insight, unless one reaches the pinnacle, it remains just so."

"But being a youthful Stronger, he has his own foundation."

"Adding literary flair and insight to that is a completely different matter."

"Competing with 'martial' prowess, enhancing with 'literary' elegance, they complement each other and can be called a paragon."

"Zhen Shijing, hearing this, sharply glanced at her confidante with her eyes,"

"Chen He'er, you truly are utterly utilitarian, so bluntly honest."

"My sister is now refining a deity at home; she will come to meet us shortly."

"Then when that time comes, don't speak so unadorned."

"(End of Chapter)"