The sky is high and the clouds are clear, the wild geese flying south, and the golden poplar forest stretches endlessly on the endless rolling sand plains.
The autumn outside the fortress, compared to the inside of the pass, has another majestic and vast scene.
On this day, on the ancient road of Ganzhou, from far to near, a line of travelers came. Dozens of cavalry guards, although they all dressed up as ordinary travelers, were all sturdy and strong, guarding a few carriages in front and back, head to tail, and heading towards the front.
This group of people was the entourage of King Jin and his wife who went to Suye City.
At the end of the horizon in the distance, a black shadow of the city wall could be vaguely seen—there was the former Longyou Jiedushi Mansion, and now Suye City, where the palace of the King of Jin is located.
The border has been settled for more than ten years. In the early years, Pei You'an moved the Jiedu envoy's residence here. During these years, the unique geographical location and the strong support of the imperial court made this city continue to attract people from all over the world to migrate. Increasing year by year, the city became increasingly crowded, and the city walls expanded several times. Nowadays, Suye City is like a bright pearl dotted in the yellow sand of desert soil. It has become the most prosperous city outside the Great Wall. All industries are prosperous in the city. It doesn't look like much difference.
And three months ago, when the people heard the news, the Jiedu envoy Pei, who had moved the Jiedu envoy's residence to this place for more than ten years and created peace for more than ten years, is now coming back again. In this way, this time, as the King of Jin, he will open a mansion here and become a vassal in the future.
This journey is not in a hurry. Pei Youan protects Jiafu. He travels during the day and rests early at night. When he encounters unique scenery, he stops and wanders for a day or two. We set off until autumn, and finally arrived today.
Jiafu lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked forward.
It has been more than ten years since they left. In the past ten years, great changes have taken place here. In the past few years, in addition to the permanent border trade venues, the annual spring fair has also become two episodes of spring and autumn.
It was such a coincidence that the day we arrived was the busiest few days in the Autumn Festival. The east and west cities in the city could not accommodate it, so the market was extended beyond the city gate.
A line of chariots and horses gradually approached the city, and the road became crowded. There were constantly business travelers leading camel caravans and passers-by dressed in various skin colors. .
Perhaps because of Pei You'an, Jiafu has always had a different kind of closeness from the bottom of her heart to this city where she has lived for several years. Missing.
She called out to Pei You'an, who was riding beside her, and said she wanted to go down for a walk.
Pei You'an was originally worried that she would be tired on the road, and wanted to enter the city as soon as possible to let her rest. Seeing her looking at him expectantly, after thinking about it, he ordered the motorcade to stop by the road, supported Jiafu's arm, and took her out of the carriage. .
After sitting in the carriage for most of the day, both legs were sore. Jiafu got off the carriage, moved her legs, and put on her head a pointed sun hat that local women used to wear. Then she followed Pei You'an, side by side with him, and the two walked slowly towards the city gate. go.
On the flat ground on both sides of the road, a temporary tent was set up. The woman took the kettle and fetched water from the water truck parked by the government to cook. out, the laughter is carried by the wind and can be heard from far away. The bazaar stretched out to both sides, and it was almost impossible to see the head at a glance. The merchants were shouting and selling in front of their stalls, and they were haggling with the guests.
In front of it was a juggling booth. A man performed fire swallowing and walking ropes in the air, which attracted many people to watch.
Jiafu stopped by the road and watched for a while, remembering the scene when she took Ci'er to the market the year before, which was so similar to today. In a flash, more than ten years have passed, and Ci'er has grown into an adult, but when she thinks of all the past events, it seems like it was yesterday.
"What are you thinking about?"
Pei Youan asked her.
Jia Fu came back to her senses, shook her head, and smiled at him.
Pei You'an looked around and saw that there were people crowded not far ahead, shouting and shouting. Seeing that it was very lively, he took Jiafu's hand and led her over. When he got close, it turned out to be an archery arena.
Lei Zhu was a barbarian. He drew a line on the ground, and then went to the open space dozens of steps away. Using a thin rope, he hung a jade tower (a wrench on the finger in ancient archery). That jade is a beautiful suet jade, and it is of great value. It is said that everyone can go into battle and try shooting. It is limited to one arrow. it belongs to him.
Hu Ren himself first stood behind the line, bent his bow and set up an arrow, took aim, and shot out. His archery skills were indeed outstanding. As soon as the arrow entered the hole, he nailed the jade tower to the target that was erected behind him.
After the applause from the people around him, seeing that he shoots easily and has some archery skills, all of them are eager to try, even those who have never taken a bow on weekdays, coveting a high price for a jade ring, and they are all eager to go into battle and try shooting.
Unexpectedly, this matter seems easy, but it is extremely difficult in reality. There is only one chance, especially that Yutao, the middle hole is no more than the size of a thumb, and the arrows are drawn together, and they are suspended in the air by ropes, swaying by the wind, and with such a distance, If you want to pierce with an arrow, it is difficult to add.
It has been three days since the stall was set up. During the three days, no less than a hundred people have come to try it, but no one has been able to stand next to it. Pei You'an brought Jiafu over, and while the two were watching, a group of officers from Chasu Yedu's mansion was on vacation today. They heard that the Hu people had set up the ring, and no one could beat them. The Hu people were triumphant. In their words, yes The Wei people were contemptuous and resentful in their hearts, so they came together and tried to shoot, but in the end, no one was able to shoot.
Among them, the one with the most outstanding archery skills, the arrow he sent out was probably affected by the wind, and it also deviates a little bit.
The audience suddenly fell silent.
Hu Rendao: "I heard that in the Wei Dynasty, there are special infantry and horse archers, who are known as Hundred Steps piercing Yang, invincible in battle. Fan, I didn’t expect…”
He shook his head, ordered a servant beside him to go over, tied another same jade to the empty rope, and laughed loudly: "If it is broken, it will be broken. We Jamu clan, what do we want? How can we not bear a mere jade? Zhe? You don't need to pay, just call someone to come again, as long as I can nail Zhe into the target like I did, I will immediately send Zhe, close the stall and go back to Jamu, and I will never set foot in Wei again in this life!"
Twelve years ago, Pei You'an led the army to defeat the Hu people, the royal court was destroyed, and he bowed his head to Wei. In order to facilitate governance, the former emperor divided more than 20 khan states in Hudi according to their tribes, and each conferred the title of khan king. On the condition of allowing trade exchanges with Wei state, they restricted each other.
This method really worked. There are many khanates in Mobei now, and they are suspicious of each other. No tribe can unite Mobei like before and establish a unified khanate. Sitting big, this Jamubu is one of them. The new Khan king who succeeded the throne is very ambitious, and dreams of reuniting Mobei to restore the former glory of the Khanate.
Three months ago, many khanates in Mobei received an decree from the imperial court of the Great Wei Dynasty. The king of Jin went to Suye City to open a mansion to build a vassal, and ordered many khanates to send envoys to meet them. From now on, the palace of the king of Jin will replace the imperial court. Gong, the line of public comfort. Now many messengers have already gathered in the city and are placed in the post house, only waiting for the King of Jin to arrive for an audience.
Jamibe naturally also came.
The onlookers saw the arrogant attitude of the Hu people and humiliated the Wei people. They were all annoyed and booed. The dozen or so officers, who were even more blushing and impatient, rushed forward. The Hu people's entourage, immediately. also surrounded.
"This person is a skilled archer from the Jamu Department. He is a hundred hits. He came here with the Jamu messenger a few days ago."
Yang Yun has already inquired and said to Pei You'an.
Pei You'an asked Jiafu to wait a moment, walked forward, patted the arms of the officers, motioned to retreat, then reached the line, stopped, took the bow hanging on the side, took the arrow, and exerted strength , full of bows, aiming at the jade tower in front of him hanging in the air, and shot arrows.
As soon as he appeared, the audience fell silent, with countless pairs of eyes staring at his every move.
Jiafu knew that in order to strengthen his body when he was young, he learned arrows with a famous teacher, and his arrow skills were very good. But on such occasions, he was still nervous. He opened his eyes wide and saw that the arrow shot out and went straight ahead. Before he could blink, the arrow had already hit the target.
On the shaft of the arrow, there is a thing, which is exactly the jade scorpion.
She breathed a sigh of relief immediately. After a brief silence, there was a burst of cheers from the onlookers, all of them smiling, even happier than shooting themselves.
The Hu people first saw a middle-aged man who looked like a scribe in the crowd. He didn't feel relieved at all, but he didn't expect that this man's archery was so exquisite. When he took off the jade, he saw that he was actually putting on the bow again. After the second arrow passed, the string tied to the jade was cut off, and it was swaying in the wind.
There was a burst of cheers from the audience again, and the people looked at the archer and kept talking.
Hu Ren's face was red and his ears were red, and he was secretly startled, staring at the man: "Who are you?"
Pei You'an didn't answer, he put the bow and arrow back in his hand, and said to the officer who had missed the shot: "To the end of archery training, the highest level, it is not about continuing to practice hard skills, but the unity of heart and mind. With your proficiency and skills, It was not difficult to nail that jade tower to the target, but if you lose it, you will be lost in the eyes of the public, and your mind will be restless. After you go back, you will practice your mind and beat this hustler, why is it difficult?"
The officer had long been convinced, and now seeing him talking to him like this, he looked at Pei You'an in surprise and was speechless for a while.
"Master Pei! You are Master Pei!"
At this moment, another officer finally recognized Pei You'an and shouted in a huff. In his excitement, he still called him by the old name.
Pei Youan smiled and nodded slightly: "It's Pei."
The officers knelt down to him, and the people nearby also recognized Pei You'an and knelt down one after another.
Pei Youan asked the people to get up, walked past the stunned Hu people, and returned to Jiafu.
Jiafu glanced behind him and said with a low voice, "It's all your fault, Master Pei. As soon as you come, everyone will recognize you. If you can't see the market, let's hurry into the city."
Pei You'an smiled, took her back to the carriage, got on the horse himself, and the group entered the city gate.
Soon, Du Si of Su Ye City heard the news and hurried over to greet him.
Following the crowd all the way, the group finally reached the gate of the former Jiedushi Mansion, which has now been changed to the royal mansion.
Jia Fu got out of the carriage, looked up at the newly painted lintel, and stopped for a while.
Pei You'an came up from behind, gently held a hand under her sleeve, and whispered, "Go in."
Jiafu looked at the man beside her, saw his face lowered slightly, looked at herself with a smile, slowly tucked his sleeves tightly, he held the five fingers of his hand, nodded, followed him through the door, and headed in.