Neon Clothes and Iron Clothes

Chapter 862 Arrival in Chang'an
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"Your Majesty, it won't be long before we arrive in Chang'an!"

Yan Liang turned around with a slightly sad look on his face: "Captain, your people have done a great job. Yannian, please give each sailor a silver coin to express my gratitude!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Gao Yannian next to him responded, and nodded to the captain who knelt down to thank him: "Please gather the sailors on the ship so that I can distribute the money!"

"Captain Gao Xiaojun!" The captain stood up with a smile and lowered his voice: "You have also seen that the sailors are very busy now. You can give me the silver coins and I will give them to them afterwards!"

"The king's order is for me to give each of the sailors a silver coin!" Gao Yannian emphasized: "If they are busy now, I can wait until they are not busy and then hand it to them one by one!"

"Okay!" the captain smiled and said, "I'll trouble you then!" He has been making a living on this canal for almost twenty years. According to him, he was just a tracker at first, then became a paddler, and then He had a small boat, and finally a real waterwheel - with two masts and thirty sailors stepping on the waterwheel. The fastest trip from Chang'an to Weikou only took a day and a half.

After Yan Liang and his accompanying warriors landed in Cangzhou, they went south along the Yongji Canal, entered the Yellow River at Luokou, then went upstream along the Yellow River, entered the Guangtong Canal from Weikou, and went straight to Chang'an. Most of the way was traveling against the current, so Yan Liang generously paid for seven water steamers in Luoyang to load his entourage and luggage. If it weren't for the help of the sailors on the water steamers, they would still be struggling on the Sanmenxia River, let alone sailing. Peace to the end of the journey.

It was finally coming. Yanliang's right hand subconsciously pressed on his chest. There was a sachet that Aunt Xiayu left for him before she left. His chest was still aching. Yanliang felt that the pain was reminding him not to forget what had happened. He stroked the sachet with his fingers. Yes, as the leader of a country, it would cost a lot to leave Japan for Chang'an. However, if he could take Aunt Yu home, What does all this mean?
At this time, Gao Yannian returned to the deck and lowered his voice: "Your Majesty, I have already counted. There are a total of forty sailors on this ship! According to me, the captain will ask for your reward from the sailors when he docks. silver!"

"That's another story!" Yan Liang said with a smile: "The most I can do is put the silver coins in the hands of the recipients. Whether they can keep it or not depends on them!"

"That's what the king said!"

"I've told you many times!" Yanliang grabbed Gao Yannian's arm: "When there are no outsiders, you can call me by my name, and I will call you that! We are friends, do you remember? Yannian Year!"

"Yes!" Gao Yannian smiled: "I'm just not used to it. After all, we are in the Tang Dynasty now, not the Japanese country!"

"It's the same everywhere, we are friends everywhere!"

At this time, a wave came, and the boat floated on the water like a dragonfly. The blades of the water wheel rose and fell, and water splashed everywhere. Yanliang pulled the railing and looked towards the river bank. He sighed: "Especially in Chang'an! I need friends more than ever!"

"I will definitely try my best!" Gao Yannian whispered: "But to be honest, I know nothing about Chang'an! And Yanliang, I don't know why you came. If it's just for the body of the eldest princess, you There is no need to come in person at all. Just write a letter, give me a hundred people and a boat, and I can take care of everything! Even a tiger should not leave his lair for a long time, especially if your children are still there. ——”

"You don't understand, Yannian!" Yanliang interrupted Gao Yannian: "Do you know the last time I saw my father?"

"I don't know!" Gao Yannian shook his head: "It must have been a long time, right?"

"Six years, to be exact, it's six years, seven months and thirteen days!" Yanliang sighed: "This is indeed a long time!"

"This should be nothing, right?" Gao Yannian asked a little at a loss: "Are you coming to Chang'an this time just to see your father? Why did you choose this time? We are going to fight Tubo! What if there is an emergency? , what should we do!”

Yanliang pursed his lips. "Hu Liang!" He murmured, and the face of a strong boy appeared in front of his eyes, but now he was no longer a boy. He had just married the emperor's sister a few months ago, and before that he had calmed down He led a rebellion in Shu, and now everyone thinks that he is one of the most important people at the core of power in the Tang Dynasty. He is even considered to inherit Wang Wenzuo's legacy.

Gao Yannian coughed twice and cleared his throat: "Master Hu Liang is now——" He stuttered, trying to find more polite words.

"He is already a big shot now!" Yanliang laughed: "Maybe he is older than me, but in my eyes, he is still a brother, brothers who compete and quarrel with each other with wooden swords!" He raised his head Face facing the waves, as if the wind can blow everything away.

Gao Yannian could feel the unfinished part of his friend's words. He subconsciously held the handle of the knife at his waist: "I heard that he commands the North Gate Forbidden Army and guards the palace!"

"This is all what I expected!" Yanliang said: "He has been the most alert and calm among us since he was a child, plus he has experience in fighting thieves in Sichuan. But I don't know how much he has changed over the years. !”

The lookout at the top of the mast shouted loudly from the rope, and the captain walked back and forth on the deck to issue orders. As the Chang'an City lying on the south bank of the Wei River came into view, the entire ship immediately fell into a hectic activity.

Yanliang and Gao Yannian had learned about this great capital many times through articles, poems, paintings and other channels, but this was the first time they had seen it in person. Although they had been fully prepared mentally, when the towering city walls, neat and orderly markets, countless people and goods, and the magnificent palaces on Longshou Plain came into their sight, they were still speechless for a while. Ability.

"This, this -" Gao Yannian sighed twice: "I originally thought Luo Jing was unparalleled, but compared with Chang'an, it is really -!"

"Yes!" Yan Liang sighed: "This is the residence of the ruler of heaven!" He was silent for a long time, and then suddenly said: "Yan Nian, I have an idea, but I don't know if it is possible!"

"I guessed what you were thinking!" Gao Yannian laughed: "Yanliang, do you want to build a new capital, just like Chang'an City?"

"That's right!" Yan Liang laughed: "You are indeed my confidant, and I did not come here in vain. There happened to be my painter on the boat. When I got ashore, I asked him to draw a sketch of the planned scenery of Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty. After we go back, we will choose a good place to build a new capital city that is comparable to Chang'an!" At this time, the ship had docked, and the captain was yelling at his sailors with foul words, and the sailors turned in the opposite direction. The water wheel was pedaled, and the ship's speed began to slow down. When the ship docked next to the dock, the sailors immediately lowered the gangplank and tightened the cable. The captain ran over and said to Yanliang with a smile on his face: "According to your instructions, we are here. I bet no ship can be so fast and smooth. Do you have any other instructions?"

"Thank you!" Yanliang nodded: "You and my friend can handle the rest of the matter!" He pointed at Gao Yannian next to him.

"Thank you for your generosity!" The captain bowed deeply to Yanliang, his head almost touching the deck. Yan Liang ignored it and walked straight onto the pier along the steps. The accompanying warriors had already lined up in two rows on the pier, erected large umbrellas and laid out beds for Yan Liang to rest. When the people around the dock saw this, they quickly dispersed and pointed in this direction from a distance.

Yan Liang was not in a hurry. There were more than a thousand horses accompanying him to Chang'an this time. About one-third of them took a boat with him to Chang'an, Guanzhong, and the remaining two-thirds entered Guanzhong by land from Luoyang. Although he had already sent someone to Chang'an to inform him of his itinerary when he was in Luoyang, it was always sooner or later by water, so it was better for him to wait at the dock.

Sure enough, Yan Liang didn't have to wait long before an official from the dock came over. Yan Liang asked someone to deliver a name plate to show his identity. When the official learned that the person in front of him was the son of General Wang Wenzuo, the King of Japan, his face changed drastically and he hurriedly said, "I didn't know you were coming. I'm really sorry. Please follow me to the office and wait for a while!"

"Well said, thank you for your service!" Yan Liang smiled, and the group followed the official to the government office, served tea, and took a few sips. Then someone outside heard a loud voice: "Where is Young Master Yanliang?"

Yan Liang had already recognized the voice of Master Shen, and quickly stood up and shouted: "Is it Uncle Shen? Please come in and talk!"

Following the sound of hurried footsteps, Master Shen came up to the hall. His hair and beard were already gray-white, but his waist was still straight and his figure was well-proportioned, still looking like a warrior.

"I have nothing to do in Chang'an. I heard that you were coming, so I asked for this job to pick you up!" Shen Faseng stepped forward with a smile, grabbed Yan Liang's arms, looked up and down carefully, and said with a smile: "Not bad, good With his strong bones and good spirit, he is already the king of a country, and he is worthy of being Wang Wenzuo’s son even if he comes thousands of miles away!”

"Isn't Uncle Shen also good-looking and energetic?" Yan Liang smiled and said, "You are almost sixty, right?"

"It's not that old. I'm only fifty-three this year!" Shen Faseng said with a smile: "I'm different from others. I'm a rough man. I can't do anything in my life! I can only draw a bow, shoot arrows, and lead troops in war. This time I'm going to fight the Tubo people. I just hope that I can make some contributions and leave some shadow for future generations!”

"Uncle Shen can't say that!" Yan Liang heard something in Shen Faseng's words and whispered: "You are Yuan Cong who followed my father. You started from Baekje. You have made the contribution of killing one by one with swords and guns. Others don't know, but I still don't know." Do you know? Don’t worry, I, Yanliang, will never forget your contribution!”

Master Shen's eyes lit up and he laughed: "Young master, what you said is so heart-warming. I'll tell you, it would be great if those bastards in my family were half as good as you. In addition to bows and arrows, riding and riding They don't know anything about spurs and guns, and they turn around with their mouths. They are really just a bunch of losers. I really don't know what they will do after I die."

"Uncle Shen is worried too much!" Yan Liang said with a smile: "This is because your family has a simple family tradition. Isn't it because of the uncles who followed my father that you were able to protect yourself? I came to Chang'an this time. It’s an opportunity to discuss martial arts and military skills with all the worldly brothers, and we will have a long time to live in the future!”

"That's good, that's good!" Master Shen laughed: "Okay, if everything is ready, can you follow me into the city?"

"Thank you uncle!"

Yanliang's men packed their bags and followed Shen Fengseng into the city. The two chatted along the way. From Shen Fengseng's mouth, Yanliang learned that since Wang Wenzuo sent out the appeal, the warriors from all sides who came from Haidong, Hebei Province in response to the appeal had already There are three to four thousand cavalry, plus the five thousand cavalry he brought this time, this is already a quite powerful force.

"Uncle Shen, you are my father's assistant!" Yan Liang said with a smile: "What strategy does my father have for this conquest of Tibet?"

"How did I know this!" Shen Faseng said with a smile: "Your father has always made plans before taking action, but now, most of the things are still hidden in his belly!"

"Oh? Why do you say that?" Yan Liang asked.

"It's very simple. He has been in Beiyuan in the north of Chang'an City these days, and he should be testing the new equipment for this expedition!" Shen Fenseng said with a smile: "If you think about it, the new equipment has not been tested yet, isn't it still too early to talk about strategies? "

"New equipment? What new equipment?" Yan Liang asked.

"It's hard to tell here! Anyway, you'll know when you get there!" Master Shen smiled: "Let me tell you, if there are things flying in the sky, the Tubo people will be in trouble this time!"

"Things flying in the sky?" Yanliang looked at Shen Fengsheng's triumphant smile and felt doubtful.

Due to Yanliang's special status, he was not arranged in a barracks in the western suburbs of Chang'an City like most of the warriors who responded to the call, but was sent to the General's Mansion. As soon as he entered the door, he heard a message from outside that Mrs. Cui was here. He had to change into new clothes and came to the door to greet her: "I'm Yanliang, pay my respects to Mrs. Cui!"

Looking at the young man in front of her who was bowing to her, Mrs. Cui couldn't help but feel a little dazed. The last time she saw Yan Liang, he was just a boy of 14 or 15 years old. Now he has grown up completely, and his appearance is quite similar to that of Wang Wenzuo. A bit similar, but a bit more handsome and less majestic than Wang Wenzuo. Mrs. Cui felt quite uncomfortable because of this, as if a younger and more handsome Wang Wenzuo was standing in front of her.

Yanliang saw that Cui Yunying was frightened, and thought that the other party did not hear what he said clearly, so he repeated: "Yanliang, please pay homage to Aunt Cui!
"Oh, oh!" Cui Yunying woke up from a dream and hurriedly smiled and said: "It's going well all the way!"

(End of this chapter)