The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 117
A few days later, Bi Zhenhai and his party finally arrived on a high hill in the northwest suburbs of Chang'an.

Looking at the still majestic Chang'an City in the distance, Bi Zhenhai's chapped lips murmured, his eyes felt warm, and all the fatigue in his body seemed to be swept away at this moment.

They traveled day and night and slept in the open from Anding County. They rested for less than an hour every day, eating, drinking, and eating on the way, and finally arrived in Chang'an as quickly as possible.

"I will live up to the young master's trust. Let's go! Enter the city!" Bi Zhenhai said in a hoarse voice and led a group of people down the hill and headed straight for the city.

After passing the public inspection, the four of them entered the city smoothly, inquired all the way, and rushed to Mrs. Fu's residence.

Chang'an City has long lost its glory of the Tang Dynasty, and most of the Daming Palace above Longshou Plain in the north has been burned down. The palace collapsed, overgrown with weeds, and no one took care of it.

The former site of the Taiji Palace in the city was even demolished, and bricks, stones and wood became the materials used by dignitaries to build their mansions.

The Xingqing Palace in the Chunming Gate in the east of the city, the late residence of Emperor Xuanzong, has now been reduced by more than half, with the best part preserved intact. It became the residence of Wang Jun, the salt and iron transport envoy of Jingzhao and the military commander of Longyouxing Camp.

The original neat layout of "hundreds of houses like a chess board and twelve streets like vegetable beds" has been completely destroyed. Collapsed walls of houses and ditches overflowing with sewage can be seen everywhere. The urban management system with distinct districts and cities has now been destroyed. It exists in name only. Vendors sell and set up stalls along the street, and there are piles of beggars in the alleys.

Today's Chang'an City has a magnificent city wall, but the flesh and blood inside has long been emptied.

It's just that Chang'an is the core of Guanzhong and its strategic location is extremely important. Although the previous imperial courts did not set up their capital here, they still promoted it to Jingzhao Prefecture and occupied the status of accompanying capital.

The main entrance of Taiji Palace and the Tonghua Fang on the west side of Zhuque Avenue, opposite the Zhuque Gate, used to be adjacent to Chang'an West City. At that time, it was also the most prosperous and most expensive place.

Today's Tonghuafang is naturally no better than before, but it is also the residence of many officials of Jingzhao Mansion.

The walls of the square here are neatly repaired, the square is set up, and there are dozens of square workers who are responsible for guarding the gate of the square on weekdays and patrolling the square at night to maintain public order.

It is difficult for ordinary people to enter this square, so the people of Chang'an call it the official square.

Li Shouzhen, the governor of Hezhong, had a house here. It is said that it was the royal residence of Emperor Xizong's second son, King Yi Li Sheng.

Jin Wang Li Keyong once settled here when he entered Chang'an, and later Li Shouzhen tried his best to get it.

Li Keyong started his career as an envoy to Hedong, and Li Shouzhen also served as an envoy to Hedong, so he believed that this house could make him prosperous.

Not long ago, the new emperor ascended the throne, Li Shouzhen was granted the title of Grand Master, and the residence was renamed Grand Master's Mansion.

At the gate of the square, a majestic team of armored cavalry returned, with a flaming flag hunting in the wind, bearing the name "Hezhong".

Fang Zheng came trotting from a distance with his long gown in hand, nodding and bowing to lead the way.

Several Zaoyi Fangmen lined up to greet him at the entrance of the Fang, with their backs straightened and their expressions solemn.

When officials who meet meet take carriages or carriages back to their homes, and when they encounter a procession carrying flags in the river when entering or exiting the square gate, they will consciously step aside to let the other party go first.

There was also no shortage of people standing by the roadside to greet them.

The leader of the cavalry in the river is a young man with hair in a bun, wearing a blue satin Hu suit, and riding a majestic black horse. Looking at her beautiful face without makeup, it is Fu Jinzhan.

Behind her was an armored general with a heroic face and a slightly messy beard, adding a bit of ruggedness to his otherwise handsome face.

This person is Pan Mei.

Before leaving Cangzhou, Pan Mei originally wanted to find an opportunity to ask Fu Jinzhan to allow him to stay and switch to the command of Tianxiong Army Chai Rong.

But first Chai Rong didn't seem to be very interested in him. Secondly, Tianxiong's army had a lot of elite soldiers and generals. Zhang Yongde was enough to make Pan Mei look up to him. Then came Zhao Kuangyin, who was also an unparalleled general. .

Pan Mei was instantly discouraged. With these fierce people in front of her, she was afraid that she would defect to them. Even if Chai Rong was willing to take her in, she wouldn't take him seriously.

After thinking about it, Pan Mei decided to stay under Fu's family, and then followed Fu Jinzhan all the way to Guanzhong.

Pan Mei kept in mind the two life paths planned for him by Zhu Xiu. One was to find opportunities to join Guo Wei and Chai Rong, and the other was to hold Fu family tightly.

From the current point of view, although I followed Mrs. Fu to Guanzhong and lost the opportunity to lead troops in battle, my life was quite comfortable. I could still have fun following Mrs. Fu to fight local tyrants, evil gentry, and country bullies from time to time.

After leaving Cangzhou, Pan Mei's mentality became much calmer. She no longer complained about the unfair treatment she received before and took her current situation calmly.

In Zhu Xiu's words, the pattern has improved.

Pan Mei touched the messy beard on her chin and couldn't help but miss Zhu Xiu.

Although he was often teased to death by Zhu Xiu, the brat would occasionally enlighten him in a serious way, and a few words would make him feel suddenly enlightened. Pan Mei knew that she had benefited a lot, and she felt sorry for Zhu Xiu in her heart. Grateful and missed.

But while missing her, Pan Mei was still gritting her teeth.Zhu Xiu sent him a crooked poem before leaving, which made him the object of laughter among the soldiers and civilians in Cangzhou.

In order to improve her wretched image, Pan Mei began to grow a beard, hoping to make herself look more powerful and majestic.

Pan Mei, who was originally fair and suave, gradually went further and further on the road to becoming a rough and unkempt man.

After entering the square gate, Fu Jinzhan nodded to the square officials and officials who were greeting him at the roadside, causing everyone to bow in fear and bow as if they were flattered.

Fu Jinzhan shook his head helplessly, so he had no choice but to gently pinch the horse's belly and speed up his pace to pass in front of the crowd.

According to her temperament, she certainly doesn't want to be so high-profile and attract attention.

It's just that she has the banner of Hezhong behind her, so it's impossible to keep a low profile.

Her father-in-law, Li Shouzhen, the military governor of Hezhong, was very famous. Although Chang'an was not under the rule of the Hezhong Army, Li Shouzhen's power still had a great deterrent effect here.

Li Shouzhen has always been domineering and fierce. This time when Fu Jinzhan and his wife came to Chang'an, Li Shouzhen specifically told them to wave the flag in the river no matter where they went.

The soldiers and horses guarding the couple faithfully fulfilled their commander's military orders and clearly displayed the military flag in the river wherever they went.

Last time, Fu Jinzhan went to Qianling to pay homage in private without any bodyguards accompanying him. As a result, he ran into a bully from Fengtian County, who was ignorant of Mount Tai. This gave Fu Jinzhan the opportunity to lead his troops to annihilate the bully in anger.

The news spread, and the public security in the Jingzhao area was reduced. Not to mention the bullies and thieves, even the petty thieves became much more peaceful.

Pan Mei said it was a pity that there was no local evil force to bully her, and her life was quite boring.

A group of people walked through the main street and were about to return home, but there was a noise at the gate of the square. It seemed that someone wanted to break in, but was stopped by the square gate.

"Pan Mei, go see what's going on." Fu Jinzhan ordered.

Pan Mei responded and led the two cavalrymen to turn their horses and rush back to Fangmen.

"Who dares to cause trouble here?" Pan Meigao sat on her horse and glanced at several dusty men with a tigerish face.

Fang Zheng hurriedly complained: "Master Pan, you came just in time. These people came out of nowhere and clamored to see Mrs. Fu."

"Oh?" Pan Mei looked at them for a few times and heard that they had Hexi accents. She was moved and asked quickly: "Where are you from?"

Bi Zhenhai saw that he was wearing armor and wielding a sword very powerfully, and he felt wary. He cupped his fists and said, "I wonder who the general is?"

Pan Mei waved her hands carelessly: "I can't afford to be called a general, a certain Pan Mei is the general next to Mrs. Fu."

Bi Zhenhai was pleasantly surprised, but he still did not dare to let down his guard. He just said vaguely: "Brother, please report Madam Fu, and say that an old friend of Cangzhou sent an envoy to ask for an audience!"

"What old friend from Cangzhou?" Pan Mei said impatiently, "You are so unhappy, so why don't you just tell me who you are accepting orders from?"

Bi Zhenhai said: "Brother, I'm sorry, I don't dare to declare my family status before I see Mrs. Fu!"

Pan Meihuan stared and said angrily: "It's so troublesome! You guys, come with me!"

As soon as Pan Mei beckoned, two soldiers dismounted and searched the four of Bi Zhenhai and confiscated their sabers before leading them into the workshop.

Fu Jinzhan was waiting in front of the mansion.

Pan Mei brought the person over and told him the reason.

"I am Fu Jinzhan, who sent you here?" Fu Jinzhan said with a smile.

Bi Zhenhai looked at it carefully, secretly compared it with the facial features mentioned by Zhu Xiu, and then clasped his fists and said cautiously: "I dare to ask Madam Fu, what are the last two sentences of 'Thousands of hammers carved out the mountains, and the fire burned them easily'?"

Pan Mei was stunned, and Fu Jinzhan's eyes lit up when he heard this: "'Don't be afraid of being shattered into pieces, you must leave your innocence in the world'! You came from Jingzhou, are you Zhu Xiu's people?"

Bi Zhenhai immediately knelt on his knees and bowed his head, with tears in his eyes: "We came from Jingzhou at starry night just on the order of Mr. Zhu Shaolang! To meet Madam Fu, we will finally live up to Mr. Zhu Shaolang's trust!"

Fu Jinzhan said hurriedly: "Is Zhu Xiu still well in Zhangyi Army?"

Bi Zhenhai's lips trembled, his voice trembled, and he choked with sobs: "Young Master, his life is really miserable!"

(End of this chapter)