Chapter 228: The Millennium Past Has Been Heavy (2)
When they arrived at Kaifeng City, the officials went to open the diversion channel dug by Henan County and Kaifeng Prefecture and cut the ribbon.
John and his entourage were led to the Tibetan Affairs Department of the Ministry of Rites and made some registrations. At the same time, they also invited Anasius, the chairman and chief elder of the Western Patriotic Federation and Archbishop of the Nestorian Song Dynasty.
He was one of the few people in the Song Dynasty who knew both Chinese and Greek.
After his appraisal, John's documents were indeed written in Greek and were indeed written in the tone of the Roman emperor. There was no reference for comparison between seals and signatures, and it was impossible to tell whether they were genuine or not.
Archbishop Anasius talked with the four Johns one by one and was basically sure that they were Greeks who believed in the Orthodox Church and were definitely not the traitors and heretics living in Rome.
It is also very difficult for Ribo to get this information.
Now that Li Fan is reported to be the Byzantine imperial envoy, someone will come up with evidence later to verify that it is true, and everything will be fine for everyone; if it is exposed as false, he will have to take responsibility.
I have no choice but to continue reporting.
Wang Zhidu, the Minister of Rites, and several ministers held a half-day meeting behind closed doors, and could only draft a "self-proclaimed envoy of the Byzantine Kingdom, which cannot be determined for the time being" and then report it.
General Xu saw the report, thought about it, and approved, "It cannot be true if it is true, and it cannot be true if it is false. For the time being, we will treat the Byzantine envoys as envoys, and a department will continue to verify its authenticity. You can ask the Military Intelligence Bureau of the Privy Council and the Secretariat Department
News agencies assist.”
At the same time, he also notified the officials in the north of Kaifeng Prefecture of the news that he claimed to be a Byzantine envoy.
The two Johns, under the guidance and protection of the Lifan Department and the Kaifeng Prefecture Security Police, were walking around Kaifeng City.
"It's really hard to imagine that there are such beautiful cities in the world. Only incomparable wealth and prosperity can a city like this be born."
Yin Sak stood at the Zhuque Gate Tower, looking at the blossoming Kaifeng City, and couldn't help but sigh.
"Yes. No one, even God, would be reluctant to leave this city. Everything a person can think of in the world can be satisfied here."
John also felt the same way. But as a court official of the Roman Empire, he couldn't help but compare Kaifeng City with Constantinople.
"Kaifeng City is more prosperous than Constantinople, but more orderly. Merchants from all over the world are here to stay safe and compete fairly. The streets are also wider and cleaner than Constantinople... The buildings and pavilions have the culture of the Song people themselves.
and confidence.”
Yin Sak pursed his lips and said with a little regret: "What is regrettable is that there are too few temples in this city and lack the aura of God."
"Song people don't believe in God." John replied with a smile.
"I know, what I mean is that there are too few Buddhist and Taoist temples they believe in. The religious atmosphere is very thin."
John was suddenly startled, and when he thought about it carefully, it seemed that this was really the case.
In Constantinople, the most magnificent building is Hagia Sophia. Then the other churches, large and small, are distributed in different places in the city, and they are the most spectacular and exquisite buildings in that area.
In other cities, Venice, Damascus, Aleppo, Cairo... you can see churches everywhere, people who believe in Jesus or Allah.
In the city of Kaifeng, there are very few temples dedicated to Buddhism and Taoism, the two religions believed by the Song people. They are submerged in the crowded and beautiful scenery. The most exquisite buildings in each area are schools. I heard that
It was converted from a Buddhist and Taoist temple a few years ago.
John raised his head and said with a complicated expression: "Perhaps the Song people are so confident that they don't need gods to bless them; or maybe their gods are not in the temple, but over there."
Following John's gaze, Yinsak looked north and across the Zhuque Imperial Street, he could see the majestic Xuande Gate Tower.
At this time, a group of people in gorgeous costumes came over, accompanied by the Ribo Secretary and the security police team who quickly stood aside.
The leader was two young men. The older one showed his badge to the people from the Department of Finance and the Security Police, "I am the school secretary Liu Ziyu. This is my colleague, the school secretary Chang Tong.
We have summoned the Byzantine envoys according to the official orders."
An official from the Lifan Department came forward and said with cupped hands: "We dare not hinder the two secret ministers from carrying out the emperor's errands. Excuse me, can you write a written statement?"
"Here is the writing from the secretary to the Provincial General Affairs Department. Please take it back and hand it over."
"Thank you Mi Lang for your sympathy." After receiving the official document, the officials of the Lifan Department resigned and gave up John and Yin Sak to Liu Ziyu and Chang Tong.
"You two, the carriage is ready, please come."
The sudden turn of events left John and Yin Sak at a loss.
"Didn't he say that he would summon us after His Majesty returns to Beijing?"
"The official hopes to see you as soon as possible, but he now has to inspect the connection between the Henan river and several rivers in Hebei, so he cannot return to the capital for the time being, so he sent me and two others to pick you up."
Liu Ziyu spoke slowly with a calm expression and a kind of confidence.
John and Yinsak looked at each other and had no objection.
After going down to the Zhuque Gate Tower, John and Yinsak saw an acquaintance, Duda.
Du Da smiled at the two of them, walked directly in front of Liu Ziyu and Chang Tong, and said with neither humility nor condescension, "I have been ordered by Li Dushi to report to the two secretaries, Mr. Lang."
"Are you from Li Shilang?" Liu Ziyu showed a faint smile.
"Yes. Here are the small petitions and documents." Duda presented a folded card and a piece of paper.
Liu Ziyu took it, unfolded it, took a look, and gave it back to Duda.
"Li has informed us of your matter, let's go together."
"Here!"
When they walked to the carriage on the street together, Yinsak stared at Duda fiercely, and John complained a little: "Dago, it's so hard for you to hide it from us."
Duda smiled openly and said: "It is my duty to ask the two gentlemen to forgive me."
Yin Sak asked in confusion: "In the Song Dynasty, was the surveillance of outsiders always so ubiquitous?"
Duda smiled, pointed to his eyes with two fingers of his right hand, and nodded to John and Yin Sak without answering.
A little depressed, John and Yin Sak got on the carriage and waited for the carriage to start slowly before turning their attention to the carriage.
The two consciously did not talk about Duda.
"This carriage is really special. It's so fast yet so stable?" Yinsak asked in surprise, "Compared with our carriages in the Roman Empire, although they are all four-wheeled, they are much stronger than ours."
"Song people are always surprising." John shrugged.
The carriage followed the Bianhe Avenue and quickly left the Song Gate in the inner city and the Xin Song Gate in the outer city.
Not long after leaving the New Song Gate, a group of cavalry quietly followed the team as if they had emerged from the ground. They were wearing light armor and red or black jackets, and a few were wearing jackets.
White shirt.
Their helmets also have red, black or white feathers. Their looks are various, some are a bit like Turks or Persians, and they are all young.
He carried a sword and a bow, and the quivers were tied to both sides of the saddle.
Riding on the horse was silent, and there was a sense of ease and ease that one had grown up on a horse. No matter whether the carriage accelerated or slowed down, went straight or turned, the distance between them and the carriage did not change, and they always maintained two lines, neat and solemn.
After observing silently, John whispered to Yinsak in Greek: "If the Song Dynasty had one hundred thousand such cavalry, our Majesty's plan to jointly attack the Seljuk Khanate would definitely succeed."
Yin Sak nodded with deep understanding. This chapter has been completed!
