bookrebus Chapter 59: Entering Xianyang and Undercurrents
Chapter 59: Entering Xianyang and Undercurrents
After spending two more days in Longyi, Xiao He's child, Xiao Lu, regained his former cheerfulness and liveliness. Meng Yi and his companions then set out on the road to Xianyang.
After a day's journey, they continued along the winding official road, the city of Xianyang looming in the distance. When they finally approached the city, everyone was stunned by its magnificence.
The first thing that caught my eye was the towering city wall, winding its way like a giant dragon. Tall and sturdy, its bricks and stones interwoven, it exuded an ancient and solemn aura. Atop the city gate, a massive bronze knocker gleamed brilliantly.
Meng Zhong led a group of guards and lined up early in the morning with solemn expressions, as if they were waiting for an important ceremony.
Meng Yi watched this scene from afar, and a surge of emotion welled up in his heart. He quickly reined in his horse, dismounted, and trotted toward Meng Zhong. Before he even got close, he called out, "Uncle Zhong, sorry to have kept you waiting!" His voice revealed his respect for Meng Zhong.
Meng Zhong heard Meng Yi's cry, and tears welled up in his eyes. His lips trembled, and he said tearfully, "Young General, you're finally back... It's a pity that the General and his wife didn't live to see you."
Meng Yi's heart tightened when he heard this, but he suppressed his grief, patted Meng Zhong's arm and said comfortingly: "Uncle Zhong, life and death are determined by fate. We can't always be immersed in sorrow. The living should work harder to live and live better. Only in this way can we be worthy of our deceased relatives. Don't you agree?"
Meng Zhong nodded silently, agreeing with Meng Yi. He took a deep breath, forced a smile, and said, "Good boy, you're right. Let's go, young general, let's go home." With that, he turned and led Meng Yi towards the mansion.
Meng Yi followed Meng Zhong's footsteps, feeling a lot of emotions in his heart.
Entering the city, the streets are wide and neat, lined with rows of well-proportioned buildings. Rooftops with flying eaves and brackets, vibrant in color, showcase the unique beauty of ancient architecture. The shops along the street are overflowing with goods, and the sounds of hawkers linger in the air.
On the streets, people wear all kinds of clothes, and there are also many ethnic minority merchants, some walking hurriedly, some leisurely. In the streets and alleys, there are also performers and jugglers, attracting many people to stop and watch, and the sound of laughter and joy is endless.
The palace complex in the distance is majestic and magnificent, and the golden glazed tiles shine in the sun.
When you first enter Xianyang City, it feels like you have walked into an ancient and magnificent painting. Everything is so fresh and intoxicating.
As Meng Yi walked and looked around, he felt a surge of emotion. He saw the bustling market and felt the bustle and vitality of Xianyang City.
The Qin Dynasty's Xianyang City spanned both sides of the Wei River. The city layout adopted an asymmetrical combination of building groups, and the city walls were built according to local conditions and the terrain.
Xianyang was surrounded by mountains, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack. It was also located at the Guanzhong transportation hub, a hub with extensive connections. Most importantly, the Guanzhong region, where Xianyang was located, dominated the middle reaches of the Yellow River, with terrain rising in the west and declining in the east. This gave Xianyang a commanding position over the various states in the lower reaches of the Yellow River, giving it a superior ruling position.
The Qin capital of Xianyang was not only vast but also well-planned. It housed both a palace for the emperor and officials at all levels, and a large city for civic activities. It boasted squares, markets, workshops, and gardens and playpens that beautified the area and enriched daily life. In terms of architectural distribution, the political palace complex—the Xianyang Palace City and the "Six Kingdoms Palaces"—was concentrated north of the Wei River. From Duke Xiaogong of Qin to Emperor Shihuang of Qin, the Xianyang Palace served as the primary venue for conducting government affairs and entertaining officials.
On the south bank of the Wei River are the Zhangtai Palace and Xingle Palace, which were modeled after the Gemini constellation in the sky, the Ji Temple (originally named Xin Palace) used for offering sacrifices to heaven, the Ganquan Palace (Nangong) where the empress dowager lived, and the Afang Palace which was to be used as the new imperial palace.
Many unique palaces and villas, as well as scenic gardens, ponds and lakes, are scattered along both sides of the Wei River. Among the more famous ones are Shanglin Garden, Lanchi and Lanchi Palace, Yichun Garden and Yichun Palace, etc.
The major palace complexes in the imperial capital were connected by corridors, multiple-story roads, and pavilion corridors, making transportation very convenient and safe.
Since the Wei River runs through the entire city of Xianyang, a 380-step (526.68-meter) long and 60-zhang (13.8-meter) wide bridge (the Hengqiao) was built across the Wei River to connect the north and south banks for easy travel. This fully demonstrates the astonishing ambition of Qin Shi Huang.
Led by Meng Zhong, the crowd entered from the north gate of Xianyang City and walked about five miles to arrive at Meng's Mansion.
The Meng Mansion was located on the north side of the Wei River, only three miles away from the west wall of the Xianyang Palace, which fully demonstrated the emperor's favor.
The Meng family, a prominent military family of the Qin Dynasty, boasted three generations of men, Meng Ao, Meng Wu, and Meng Tian, who made numerous contributions to the Qin state. The Meng Mansion, a recipient of numerous gifts, boasted a vast and imposing mansion. Its architectural style embodied the grandeur and solemnity of the Qin Dynasty, embodying the majesty of a great general.
The main gate of the mansion is tall and wide, with exquisite patterns carved on the door head. In front of the gate stand two majestic stone lions, lifelike, as if guarding the mansion.
As you enter the mansion, you will see a spacious courtyard with shady trees, lush flowers and plants, and winding stone paths, giving people a feeling of tranquility and peace.
The main hall in the front courtyard is the core building of the mansion, primarily used for the reception of guests and daily life. The hall is magnificent, with flying eaves, brackets, and carved beams and painted rafters. The interior is spacious and bright. Flanking the main hall are wing rooms, similar in architectural style to the main hall but slightly smaller in scale, serving as guest rooms and offices.
The front yard leads to an elegant garden with a small, exquisite rockery and a pavilion on top. The pavilion is surrounded by a variety of exotic flowers and plants. The breeze brings the fragrance of the flowers, making people intoxicated. There is also a clear stream in the garden, with jagged rocks beside it, and the gurgling water makes a pleasant sound.
The backyard is divided into three small courtyards: east, middle and west, each with its own unique style and layout.
After Meng Zhong ushered everyone into the mansion, he arranged for someone to take them to rest. These people had been traveling all the way and were tired, so they needed a good rest to recover their strength.
After entering the city, Li Ziwei immediately took four Meng family guards with him and went to discuss the details of the establishment of the Jinyiwei with Li. They knew that this matter was of great importance and must be handled with caution.
Meng Yi and Lü Su were placed in the West Courtyard. The quiet, peaceful environment here made them feel particularly comfortable. The West Courtyard was close to the garden, filled with a variety of flowers, emitting a fragrant aroma. Here, Meng Yi and Lü Su could stroll and admire the flowers, enjoying a rare leisurely moment.
Xiao He and his wife, Ying Bu, Han Xin and others were arranged in the west wing, which was spacious, bright and elegantly decorated.
After settling everyone down, Meng Yi went to his father Meng Wu's study, which was filled with a large number of books and bamboo slips, and maps hung on the walls.
Meng Yi stood quietly in front of the desk, gazing at his father's relics, with a thousand thoughts in his mind. Sitting in front of the documents, Meng Yi prepared to sort out his thoughts and make all preparations for meeting the First Emperor tomorrow.
Just as Meng Yi was concentrating, a slight sound of footsteps reached his ears, as if a gentle breeze was gently brushing past his ears. He keenly caught the sound, raised his head, and his eyes happened to meet Lu Su who walked into the room.
Holding a cup of steaming hot tea in her hand, Lu Su walked carefully to the table, gently put down the cup, and then whispered, "Husband, have some tea, and don't work too hard." Her voice was like the sound of nature, warm and soft, which made Meng Yi feel a warm current in his heart.
Meng Yi smiled and nodded, looking at Lu Su with eyes full of gratitude. They sat facing each other in silence. For a moment, the whole room fell into silence, with only the wisps of smoke from the cup of hot tea filling the air.
A moment later, Lü Su was the first to break the silence. Her beautiful eyes fixed on Meng Yi, seemingly able to see through his inner worries. She softly asked, "My husband, are you worried about meeting the Emperor?"
Meng Yi was secretly surprised by Lu Su's insight, but he didn't want her to worry too much, so he smiled easily and replied, "My lady, you are so considerate. It's nothing serious. I just ran into some trouble in Longyi City a few days ago. I dealt with the local county magistrate privately, and now I don't know how to report this to His Majesty!"
After a moment's thought, Lu Su smiled and said, "My dear husband, you are sometimes so smart that you become confused! His Majesty unified the six kingdoms, resisted the Xiongnu in the north, and conquered the Yue in the south. He is so talented and ambitious, just like Mount Tai, towering over the world. How could he possibly embarrass you over such a small matter? Besides, you are doing good deeds to eliminate harm for the people and uphold justice. I think His Majesty should not blame you, but should reward you generously!"
After hearing what Lu Su said, Meng Yi's eyes suddenly lit up, and he secretly felt that what she said made a lot of sense.
The First Emperor was single-minded in his pursuit of peace and order, expending all his energy and energy in the pursuit of immortality, solely to ensure the long-term stability of the Qin Empire and a peaceful and happy life for the people. It was definitely not what I had imagined. I'll find a suitable opportunity to report this matter to His Majesty tomorrow during court.
Then, Meng Yi hugged Lu Su tightly in his arms, kissed her gently on the cheek, and praised her with a smile on his face: "My wife, your words are like a spring of fresh water pouring into my mind, making me suddenly realize everything!"
Lu Su blushed immediately after being hugged and kissed by Meng Yi. She said coquettishly, "Oh, my husband, it's broad daylight, and you're making me so embarrassed!"