Eastern Jin Dynasty: My powerful father

Chapter 399 Before the Dispatch (Part )

Although Huan Xi had always disliked Chang'an City, for the Hu people, it was a world of pleasure, enough to make them linger.

It is true that Chang'an is narrow and dilapidated, but as the political, economic, cultural and military center of Guanxi, as Tuoba Yan said, Chang'an's prosperity is unmatched by any place outside the Great Wall.

This was not the first time that the Xiongnu Feilian Helong came to Chang'an. As a member of the Xiongnu archers, when he first came to Guanzhong, he responded to Huan Xi's call and went to attack Zhang Yu, the governor of Yuzhou of the Later Zhao who was entrenched in Luoyang at that time.

At that time, because Huan Xi recruited only a few thousand Xiongnu archers and cavalry, there were no restrictions on their entry and exit from Chang'an.

It’s not like now, when we have to rush back to the military camp at dusk.

Fortunately, it is still early now, and Feilian Helong can take his son Feiliantu for a good stroll in the city.

Feiliantu was only seventeen years old and had just joined the army this year. He followed his father to respond to the call of the Great Chanyu and headed south from Yinchuan.

The tribe they belonged to could be regarded as Huan Xi's direct line. When Huan Xi conquered the Tiele Huns, he divided them into three parts. The two brothers Liu Wuhuan and Liu Yanloutou were the left and right wise kings, each leading one part, and the remaining part was under the jurisdiction of Yinchuan Chanyutai.

Fei Lian and his son came from the tribe that was divided up by Huan Xi.

Because Huan Xi was generous, even if the recruited Hu people worked in vain, he would reward them for their hard work and would not let them make a wasted trip. Once they made a contribution, he would reward them handsomely.

Therefore, among the Tiele Xiongnu, whether it was the Left Wise King's tribe, the Right Wise King's tribe, or the tribes directly governed by the Chanyu Tai, the young people had great enthusiasm to follow the Great Chanyu to fight.

Fei Liantu's father, Fei Lianhelong, has fought for many years and made some military achievements. Now he is a grassroots officer in the army with about a hundred people under his command, and Fei Liantu is one of them.

Today, their entire team came to Chang'an for a visit. Before parting with everyone, Fei Lianhelong did not forget to remind them not to cause trouble.

Although Huan Xi imposed restrictions on the number of people entering the city every day, it was still a full 10,000 people, which undoubtedly placed a huge burden on the public security of Chang'an City.

Therefore, fully armed soldiers patrol the streets and alleys of the city, and they will take action to arrest any illegal activities they find.

The wine shop area in the East City is especially the focus of patrols. Who knows what trouble these brave and aggressive Hu people will cause when they get drunk.

During these days, the Hu people who were drinking and causing trouble were constantly sent out of the city and handed over to military judges for punishment.

But Fei Lianhelong still took his son to find a tavern. They were hungry and had to find a place to eat.

As soon as Fei Lianhelong entered the store, he said to the shopkeeper:
"Shopkeeper! Bring me a jar of wine and four pounds of mutton!"

The shopkeeper agreed with a smile on his face and took the father and son to find an empty seat.

Although the government imposed heavy taxes on wine shops and brothels, which made wine and meat not cheap in Chang'an, there were so many Hu people entering the city that it did not have much impact on business. The owner of this wine shop even had to temporarily hire people to help.

As soon as the shopkeeper turned around, Fei Liantu couldn't help but say:

"Finally, I can have a good meal of meat."

Fei Lianhelong smiled and said:

"Eat as much as you can. If you don't have enough, ask for more. There's no need to save money for your father."

After they went south, Huanxi provided them with food, clothing, shelter and transportation. Huanxi would not lack meat for them, but the staple food was still mainly corn, supplemented by meat and vegetables. In fact, nomadic peoples did not always eat meat as their staple food. That was the life of the rich. For ordinary families, livestock had to be kept for reproduction and sale. They only ate livestock that died of old age or disease.

Italian missionary Carpini recorded the life of ordinary Mongolian herdsmen in his "Mission to Mongolia": they boiled millet in water, drank one or two cups of soup in the morning, and did not eat anything during the day. They ate a little meat and drank broth at night.

But Fei Liantu was not from an ordinary family, because his father Fei Lianhelong would bring back a large amount of wealth every time he went on an expedition, and their family was considered wealthy in the local area.

It was precisely because of the examples set by Fei Lianhelong and others that the young people of the Tiele Huns were eager to join the army.

After many Xianbei people who responded to the call returned home with full loads last year, this enthusiasm also spread to the Xianbei tribes in Hexi and Hetao.

While waiting for the restaurant to serve the food, Fei Liantu and his father sighed about the prosperity of Chang'an. He said with longing:

"Agan, if I have the chance in the future, I want to settle down in Chang'an."

Although there is always a strange smell in Chang'an City on rainy days, it still attracts Fei Liantu.

Fei Lianhelong curled his lips:
"You have never seen Luoyang. It is much more magnificent than Chang'an. I heard that when the Great Chanyu becomes the emperor in the future, he will make Luoyang his capital. By then, Luoyang will be the most prosperous place in the world. My father and I should follow the Great Chanyu and move to Luoyang."

Fei Lianhelong had never entered Luoyang City. He followed Huan Xi to fight against Zhang Yu. Because Zhang Yu defended the city, Huan Xi only plundered the surrounding people and then returned.

Although he only saw it from a distance, the majestic city still left a deep impression on Feilian Helong.

Huan Wen was doing his best to manage Luoyang. Although nominally he wanted to welcome back the emperor and return the capital to the old capital, he was actually preparing for his own future enthronement and founding of a country. This was something that everyone knew.

The prosperity of Chang'an had already amazed Fei Liantu, and the Luoyang mentioned by his father seemed to be a better place than Chang'an, and Fei Liantu couldn't help but yearn for it.

However, at least at this stage, Luoyang is not as prosperous as Chang'an.

Luoyang had been desolate after being plundered by Huan Xi and Fu Jian. It was not until Huan Wen captured Luoyang and relocated a large number of people from the south of the Yangtze River that the city recovered.

As the saying goes, the way to wealth is through long-term peace.

Although Chang'an was in ruins, Guanzhong had enjoyed peace for many years, and Huan Xi implemented the equal-field system, reduced taxes and levies, encouraged production, and developed commerce and handicrafts. In terms of commercial prosperity alone, Chang'an was even better than Jiankang.

After all, this place gathers goods from all over the Western Regions, south of the desert, Shu, and Jiangnan, and the people have surplus money to spend.

But Fei Liantu didn't know the real situation in Luoyang. He asked his father:

"Agan, is it possible for us to reach Luoyang this time when we go east?"

Fei Lianhelong couldn't help laughing:
"Luoyang is in Henan. We are heading to Hedong. How can we enter Luoyang?"

Fei Liantu was not familiar with the geographical terms of Guandong, but he knew that Henan and Hedong were two different places, and he became discouraged for a moment.

Fortunately, it didn't take too long before the fragrant mutton and fine wine were served. Fei Liantu no longer cared about the distant Luoyang City, and he focused on the food in front of him.

(End of this chapter)