That year, that cicada, that sword

Chapter 53
Julu City was first built in the period of Dachu, and it has been built for more than [-] years after Dachu, Nanxia, ​​and Dazheng. It occupies the northwest grassland and is known as the city of overlords. Zhongdu.

During the Great Chu Period, this was the leading border town, where soldiers gathered.When Hou Jian's iron cavalry went south to the Central Plains, it became the first important border town to fall, and most of it was destroyed by the Hou Jian people, leaving it deserted.Until the reign of Dazheng, Xiao Zheng, who was born in a branch of the Xiao family, came here to renovate Julu City and carry out the Julu Mutual Market, which greatly boosted his reputation.

In the last years of the Zheng Dynasty, Julu City suffered from war again. Because the five Wanyan princes rose up and the young emperor was killed, the general Murong Yan had to lead his troops back to Julu City. The monks here were expelled, and the once-prosperous Julu Exchange disappeared.

Afterwards, Murong Yan reached an alliance with Xiao Yu, who was still the Northwest King of Dazheng at that time. The two sides jointly dispatched troops to quell the rebellion of the five kings, and supported Wanyan Beiyue to ascend to the post of founder of the country. The imperial court was assigned by Emperor Xiao to Xiao Shu, the first king of Lingwu County, as a fief. After Xiao Shu died, it was inherited by the current king of Lingwu County, Xiao Mohe.

In fact, speaking seriously, Xiao Zheng, the previous lord of Julu City, was the father of Xiao Shu and the grandfather of Xiao Mahe, and Xiao Huang's move was nothing more than returning the property to the original owner.

The current Julu City can still be regarded as prosperous.Among the Central Plains, Grassland, and Houjian, apart from the ancient tea-horse road on the surface, there are more private caravan trades. On the surface, it seems to be organized by border merchants, but in fact behind these merchants The dignitaries and dignitaries who are all standing with hands and eyes open to the sky, as long as they don't make too much noise, no matter whether it is Emperor Xiao, the founder of the country and the king of grassland Khan, they will turn a blind eye to this.

The Prince's Mansion of Lingwu County is one of the many dignitaries involved in the tea horse business. Because Julu City is located at the junction of the three places, the transfer trade has an inherent advantage, and Xiao Mahe, the king of Lingwu County, has a deep foundation in the northwest. Therefore, Lingwu County Palace and Julu City can be regarded as a giant pillar on the border. No matter which caravan comes here, they must worship the mountain and send courtesy and filial piety to the Palace.

Ever since Xiao Mahao announced that the Julu Exchange Market would be reopened, Julu City, which was already crowded with people, has become more lively. In addition to the major caravans, there are also a large number of monks from all over the world entering Julu City. Among them, Julu City, which was already a mixed bag of fish and dragons, directly turned into an invisible bottomless pool of muddy water. Whether it was a foreign dragon crossing the river or a local snake that took root here, they might drown in it if they were not careful.

There are even rumors that people from Taoism and Buddhism will also come, and they are really big figures. Although they don't know where the rumors come from, everyone who hears the rumors swears that at least there will be one A real person went to Julu City in person.

Dazheng, even in the Taoist sect where the people are like clouds, is still a great person.

The Realm of the Earth Immortal is not necessarily the Dazheng, but the Daren must be the Realm of the Earth Immortal.

In the Taoist sect, the title of Dazheng cannot be conferred unless it is in the realm of the earth and immortality, and the position of the peak master of Bamai cannot be assumed unless it is a Dazheng.It is just like the rule of the imperial court that non-Jinshi cannot enter the Hanlin, and non-Hanlin cannot enter the cabinet.

The reason why the imperial court can compete with the Taoist sect, even in terms of monks, is because the imperial court sits on the world, and there are countless capable people and strangers, and the second is to conquer the world immediately. Although Yi's Confucianism sect has been fragmented and cannot even be called a sect, but because of this, the Confucianism sect and the imperial court are almost integrated, and the officials and ministers in the imperial court are not lonely A weak scholar, Lan Yu, the chief assistant standing at the pinnacle of the imperial court, was even commented by Gongsun Zhongmou as an extremely expert who "if he is on the list, he will be the top three in the world".

However, the Confucian sect is far from being the dominant family in the imperial court. If it is to say that the backbone supporting the entire dynasty is the military headed by the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion, the former sick tiger Zhang Wubing was born here.

The five armies of Daqi, each army is a huge mountain.The Northwest Frontier Army, which controls Xiliang Prefecture, Shanzhou, Xihe Prefecture, Hanoi Prefecture, and Zhongdu, is one of the best. Because Xiao Huang started his family in the Northwest, although this place is not under the foot of the Son of Heaven, it is still in the army. Most of the senior generals are from the Northwest, so they naturally have a deep affection that cannot be compared with other frontier troops. Back then, Xiao Huang once forged sabers and bestowed them on his ministers. The word "Northwest" was engraved on the sword. It can be seen.Moreover, the people in the northwest are tough and have a large source of troops, so they rank first among the major frontier armies.

In the northwest, the power of local yamen and civil officials is far inferior to that of Jiangnan. It is said that there are first-class generals, second-class officials, third-class Taoists and fourth-class people. Well, Xiao Mahe's prestige in the Northwest was not due to his title as King of Lingwu County, but because he had served in the Northwest Army for more than ten years.Even Lan Yu, the first assistant, once said with emotion during a chat between the monarch and his ministers: "Northwest, what a big mountain."

Because of all kinds of things, the position of the left governor of the Northwest Army, also known as the former army, is the most important position. In the early years, it was the old general Zhuge, but now the old general is old and his body is getting worse every day. , there is an undercurrent in the Northwest Army, and several right governors want to go further, but this position is too important. The emperor, the chief assistant, and the governor have not expressed their views, and the attitude of the old general Zhuge is also very important. After all, he Having served in the Northwest Army for more than [-] years, with his recommendation, there is half the chance of winning.

The Northwest Governor's Mansion is located in Zhongdu, adjacent to the Wangfu.

An unremarkable carriage staggered into Zhongdu from the east gate, and then drove forward all the way, as if cutting through the wind and waves, ignoring the city full of soldiers and armor, it came to the gate of the Northwest Governor's Mansion unimpeded. Slow down.

Stepping out of the carriage was an old man wearing a dark blue uniform. His face seemed to be sixty years old, but his beard and hair were white, like a hundred years old, without the slightest variegation, and he was combed neatly, just like an old man born in the world, Fang Zheng And meticulous.

There were five generals in full attire, armed with knives and pressing their knives. They lined up neatly in front of the gate of the Dudu's Mansion. They watched the old man get off the carriage and swallowed.

Looking at the armor and ornaments, these five people are clearly senior military officials of the second rank.

In the Northwest Territory, there are only a handful of second-rank officials, and the only ones who can appear in front of the Northwest Governor's Mansion are the five Right Governors, namely, the Governor of the Western Regions, the Governor of Xihe Prefecture, the Governor of Zhongdu, the Governor of Shanzhou, and the Governor of Qinghe.

Two guards and three governors, all with the title of right governor, are of the second rank.

How many old men in the whole dynasty can let the five right governors join hands to welcome them?
The governor Wei Jin counts as one, but now the governor is training in Jincheng, Shuzhou, and it is unlikely that he will suddenly appear in the northwest.

Daoist sect headmaster Daoist is definitely counted, but he lives above Xuandu and has not shown himself in the world for nearly ten years.

As for the others, they were either not of that age, or had passed away.

After counting and counting, there is only one person left.

Sapphire, the chief assistant of the dynasty.

The old man went straight to the Northwest Governor's Mansion.

The five right governors separated from the left and right, knelt on one knee and saluted, "The last general will see Mr. Shoufu."

The Northwest Governor's Mansion was a little dark because it was blocked by the neighboring palace. After Mr. Shoufu walked through the main entrance, he stopped, stood in the shadows, and looked around.

Decades ago, he also lived here often. At that time, there were the late emperors, the former governor Xu Lin, the current governor Wei Jin, the king of Wei Xiaojin, the current Northwest Army left governor Zhuge Gong, and Min Xing. , Lin Han, Han Xuan, Duanmu Ruisheng, Xu Yan, and countless Northwest veterans.

Xu Lin was the first to pass away, followed by the late emperor, and then Min Xing and others. More and more veteran officials from the Northwest are gone, and the present Zhuge Gong may not be able to hold on for long.

A generation grows old.

Sapphire walked forward again, her steps seemed to be a bit staggering, and she whispered to herself, "I'm getting old."

(End of this chapter)