"In 671 of the mainland Gregorian calendar, Li Wufeng, the founder of the Brilliant Dynasty, an outstanding politician, strategist, orator, and the first emperor of the Brilliant Empire, was born into a family of declining nobles in Zhongzhou, the capital of the Tanghe Empire in the east of the mainland." - Excerpted from " The History of a Glorious Empire".
"Ah, my hometown, I'm finally back." Looking at the towering city tower, I took a deep breath. Although I no longer have any relatives in my hometown, it is the place where I grew up after being raised for more than ten years. The strong feelings of hometown, no matter where I go, I will never forget.
I feel even more timid when I'm close to home. As I get closer and closer to home, I feel more and more panicked. "Maybe I just grew up." Looking back on the mood I had when I left my hometown two years ago and traveled around the world, it was completely different from the mood I feel now. "I don't know how deep the grass is in front of my parents' graves. It's time to go and take a look." A young man full of dust stood on the roadside next to the doorway under the gate tower and looked at the people coming and going on the road. murmured to himself. Instead of rushing home, the young man shook off the dust on his body, took the horse's rein with one hand, got on his horse, and galloped towards the suburbs.
"Father, mother, the child is back." Arriving in front of two ordinary graves in a suburban cemetery, the young man dismounted and knelt down in front of the graves, unwilling to get up for a long time. The cemetery seemed particularly quiet, with a few birds chirping occasionally.
After paying homage to his parents' graves, the young man stood up, looked up at the sky, and let out a long breath. "What should I do now? Don't think about it too much. Let's go home and take a look."
The Tanghe Empire is located in the central and eastern parts of the Eastern Continent. It has vast land and a large population. The capital Zhongzhou is located on the Fanjiang Plain in the middle of the empire. It has fertile land, developed water conservancy, convenient transportation, rich products, and a dense population. It is an important food source for the empire. It is one of the cotton producing areas and economically developed areas, and it is also the political, economic, commercial, cultural and artistic center of the empire.
The capital Zhongzhou has a population of about five million. It is the largest city in the Eastern Continent and one of the largest cities in the entire Raya Continent. Since this place has never suffered from war in recent hundreds of years, it has become the most prosperous city in the Eastern Continent. The city was built in the early Tanghe Empire in 286 AD in the mainland calendar. It took more than 20 years to be initially completed. It was gradually improved in subsequent dynasties, and was finally completed at the beginning of this century.
The city is divided into two parts: the inner city and the outer city. The inner city is the imperial palace, where the emperor, his concubines and their minor children live and where the emperor works. The inner city is located in the center of the entire city. Immediately outside the inner city are the offices of various government agencies. Next are the residences of various dignitaries and nobles, and outside are the residential areas and commercial areas.
The entire city is square in shape, with nine broad avenues in the east, west, north and south dividing the city into a chessboard grid. There are also countless small streets, lanes and squares in the middle, which are fifteen meters high and ten meters wide. A solid city wall contains the city. , there is a wide moat outside that goes around the city. There is a gate on the east, west, north and south. The gate is ten meters wide. It is not usually opened. It is only opened in special circumstances. There is a small door five meters wide on both sides of the gate. It is open from 6 am to 8 pm every day for people inside and outside the city to enter and exit.
There is a military camp inside and outside the city near the four city gates. The four military camps inside the city are stationed by the four divisions of the Imperial Guard Corps, and the four military camps outside the city are stationed by the four divisions of the Imperial Guard Corps.
The industrial area and trade area are mainly concentrated in the north of the city. Workshops, warehouses, distribution markets for various commodities, as well as guilds of various industries, and the headquarters or branches of many large companies are mostly concentrated here. The Imperial Finance Administration and its affiliated Tax Administration are also located here.
Every day, at the Shanjiang Wharf outside the North Gate, various commodities from all over the empire and even the mainland are continuously shipped in by land or water. Various products from the capital are also shipped from here to all parts of the country. Famous businesses across the continent are all here. There are transfer stations and simple warehouses on the dock.
Commercial districts and entertainment venues are mainly concentrated in the eastern part of the city. This is a geomantic treasure land for doing business. Commercial shops are lined up in rows. People come and go in the streets and alleys. Businessmen and tourists from all over the mainland can be seen everywhere. Most of the famous banks, banks, restaurants, hotels, gambling establishments, casinos, pawn shops, and auction centers are also located in this area. This is also the area with the most complicated social security in the capital. The Imperial Police Headquarters and the Capital Police Department are located in this area.
The south of the city is the cultural and artistic center of the empire. The three highest institutions of learning in the empire, the Imperial University, the Imperial Academy of Arts, and the Imperial Military Academy are all located here. Students from all over the empire learn various skills and knowledge here, many from outside the empire. Students from other countries in mainland China also travel thousands of miles to study here. There are also famous buildings here such as the Imperial Library, the Imperial Museum, the Imperial Culture and Art Center, the Imperial Chess Academy, the Imperial National Theater, the Imperial Academy of Painting and Calligraphy, and the Imperial Physician's Palace.
Due to the beautiful environment and strong cultural and artistic atmosphere in this area, the embassies of various countries in the Tanghe Empire have also chosen this area. Many princes and nobles also built their residences or villas here, and many famous private libraries and private schools were also built here.
The western part of the city is the main residential area, and most ordinary people in the capital live in this area. Coming out of the west gate of the palace is the famous Arc de Triomphe and Triumph Square, where every major celebration and emperor's military parade was held in the empire.
The square is surrounded by the headquarters of the Imperial Guards and the Imperial City Guards. The 1st Division of the Imperial Guards and the 1st Division of the City Guards are stationed respectively. The Imperial Military Police Headquarters and the Imperial Habayashi Army Headquarters are also located in the square. around.
After paying homage to his parents' graves, the young man remounted his horse and rode towards the city. Entering the city from the west gate, you will see the famous Triumph Avenue as soon as you enter the city gate. Along the avenue, you can go to the Arc de Triomphe and the Triumph Square outside the west gate of the Royal Palace. After entering the city, the young man dismounted his horse and led the horse to walk slowly along the avenue, looking at the familiar scenery around him. The scene of leaving home two years ago seemed as vivid as yesterday. The surroundings were still the same, and there was no How much has changed. The bustling crowds, bustling shops, travelers from north to south, and hawkers selling along the streets, all kinds of scenes come into view vividly and meticulously. "It seems that the life of the people in the imperial capital is pretty good, which is very different from the life of the people in several counties in the western part of the empire." The young man thought as he walked.
Lead the horse, turn right into another street, walk forward for a while, then turn left into an alley, and after a few steps, you can see the door of your home. This is a small alley. It can be seen that the people living here are ordinary citizens. It is hard to imagine that in a few decades this place will attract groups of tourists to visit the former residence of the emperor. .
"Aunt Wu, Aunt Wu!"
"Who is it?"
"it's me."
"Who is it?" There was a creak of the door, and a middle-aged woman in her forties walked out from a nearby door. The young man recognized her at a glance as Aunt Wu, the neighbor he had grown up with.
"It's me, Aunt Wu, I'm Wu Feng."
"Wufeng, it's really you. Where have you been in the past two years? It's been two years since I left home, and I haven't sent a letter back. I'm worried to death. If anything happens, how can I afford to die? It’s your mother who you entrusted to me.”
"Aunt Wu, am I back? Besides, I'm not too young anymore. I can take care of myself. Didn't I tell you when I left?"
Aunt Wu pulled him to ask questions, and Wu Feng finally managed to give an overview of his situation in the past two years, "Wufeng, you are only sixteen years old and you have traveled to so many places. It is not easy. It must be hard to be alone outside." "I'm used to it, and it doesn't matter." Having said that, I think back to when I just turned fourteen and left home alone to travel around the world, read thousands of books, and travel thousands of miles. On the road, heaven will give a great responsibility to this person, and he must first work hard for his mind, work his muscles and bones, and starve his body and skin. The master's words are still in his ears. Two years have passed in a flash. I also followed the master's instructions and completed the tour. He has also grown from a thin boy to a tall and tall young man. He has also broadened his horizons, increased his knowledge, and greatly improved his martial arts skills. The suffering he has suffered in the past two years has really been of great benefit to his growth. .
"Oh, by the way, why didn't you see Daniel and Erniu?"
"Daniu and his father went to the dock to pull goods. Erniu married the fourth son of the Zhang family on the street in front of him last year. The fourth son of the Zhang family works as a waiter in a medicine hall in the east of the city, and his life is pretty good. Before Recently I heard that there is a war in the west and bandits in the north. It seems that these days are becoming more and more uneventful. Your uncle and the others are coming back soon. I will make some food and have a good gathering when they come back. "
Li Wufeng was deeply moved by his neighbor's sincere concern. Lying in a home he had not lived in for two years, Li Wufeng had endless thoughts in his mind. He had already returned home. Where should he go in the future? Maybe he should make a decision. Thinking of this, Li Wufeng suddenly remembered that during dinner, Uncle Wu mentioned that the Triumph Square in the city was recruiting soldiers. Maybe this was an opportunity. Why not start looking for opportunities to realize his childhood dream.
The master said two years ago that in today's mainland, there are hidden worries about vassal towns in the Tanghe Empire in the east, and the surrounding countries are watching eagerly outside. The northwest border is invaded and harassed by northern nomads every year. There are also many problems within the empire, including small-scale peasant slaves. Uprisings occurred from time to time, and many poor people were forced to make ends meet and became bandits. The empire's national power has been declining, and it has long lost the momentum it had during its most powerful period.
In the central part of the continent, the nomadic peoples on the northern prairie are powerful and they are constantly waging wars of aggression and internal disputes. There are many small countries and city-states in the central and southern parts. Since there is no intervention of powerful forces, there have been no major wars in the past ten years. The situation seems relatively calm. However, small conflicts still occur from time to time, and due to the uneven economic development of various countries and city-states, , the possibility of war still exists.
In the western part of the continent, the Four Powers compete for hegemony. Three powerful countries and an alliance of countries are constantly fighting for their own interests. The nomads in the north are also invading southward year after year, adding fuel to the already war-torn western continent.
Thinking of this, Wu Feng deeply felt that if you want to make a difference in today's world, without strength, it is simply wishful thinking. Only with strength can you have the right to speak. Wu Feng cannot remember which philosopher once said such a sentence.
Now that he joined the army, he could display his talents and create a career in the army. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but make up his mind, and then he fell asleep peacefully. In the early morning, he woke up and it was still dark. It had been a long time since he had such a comfortable sleep. He got up and went to the yard, moved his body, and practiced his fists and feet. As the saying goes, the fists cannot leave the hands, and the music cannot leave the mouth. Practicing is like Sail against the current, and if you don't advance, you will retreat. I have already developed the habit of getting up early every day to practice. Unless there are special circumstances, I will insist on it every day.
Aunt Wu's voice came outside the door calling him to come over for breakfast. Li Wufeng tidied up and went over. After dinner, Wu Feng talked about his decision to Aunt Wu and his family. Aunt Wu was a little worried, but Uncle Wu strongly supported it, thinking that the man had great ambitions and should go for it.