Under the pass with the name Zhuque Pass, a group of soldiers in shining armor were standing on the roadside, wearing sharp armor. One of the soldiers was shouting at the people around him.
These people are different from the silver-gray attire of other armies. They are wearing fish scale armor or armor, and there are small and exquisite words flashing on them.
These soldiers were the Chang'an Guards, one of the five major armies of the Wen Dynasty.
On one side of the pass, there are a lot of animal heads stacked here, some of which have even been gathered into piles of bones, which makes people shudder.
The admiration for the greatness of this city wall just now has turned into solemn fear.
Everyone consciously lined up for inspection. Song Mu also got off the carriage and followed the team forward.
When it was Song Mu's turn, a soldier came forward and pricked Song Mu's finger first. After checking, another man came forward, holding a bead in his hand and shaking it in front of Song Mu's face.
Even in the daytime, this bead flashed with light.
Song Mu's carriage was also inspected, and Tao Fengming naturally underwent the same inspection.
But at that moment, the lieutenant stepped forward, saw Song Mu scholar dressed up, raised his hands and said.
"Your Excellency, please also remove Wenli's method."
As the other party said this, many people around him who were waiting to enter the city also looked over. Song Mu was speechless at the moment. Unexpectedly, this was noticed by the other party, and he nodded with a smile.
The next moment, Song Mu's face trembled and changed back to its original appearance. The other party took Song Mu's letter again and checked it, his expression was also surprised.
"Your Excellency, you are only twenty, and you have already been a civil servant for three years. I'm sorry."
The other party bowed his hand towards Song Mu and let him go immediately. Song Mu led the carriage and stepped into the pass. Seeing Song Mu's disappearing back, the lieutenant suddenly thought of something and suddenly asked the registration next to him.
A word from a soldier.
"What was the move called just now?"
"Song Mu?"
The lieutenant who received this answer immediately frowned and looked a little surprised, but he quickly came to his senses.
"Is it Song Mu from Jiangnan West Road?"
"The other party has already arrived in Chang'an? Is he going to participate in this examination?"
The lieutenant paused, and a somewhat incredulous look flashed across his face.
"If this is the case, I can't miss it."
"It's a strange phenomenon. There may be something different in this Chang'an meeting."
Just as the lieutenants were discussing Song Mu's identity and the possibility of causing a different movement in Chang'an, Song Mu had already led the carriage across the nearly ten-meter-long culvert, and in front of him, on the other side of the mountain, was a wide area
The plain appears again.
It was the cold winter season at the moment, and apart from the official road, there was no one around. However, looking at the ridges in the fields, one could probably get a glimpse of the harvest scene on this plain.
Chang'an was one of the few cities in the Wen Dynasty that could be completely self-sufficient during wartime.
Looking far into the distance, he could only see the end of the plain and a tall city wall. After driving for some distance, Song Mu looked back and saw only the mountain-hugging city wall built on the rolling mountains, which was even more impressive.
A feeling of grandeur.
This mountain-holding city wall built against the mountains and stretching for thousands of miles has set up a solid barrier for Chang'an.
The carriage continued forward and finally saw the city wall with Chang'an written on it again.
The height of Chang'an's city wall is nearly twenty meters, and its thickness is the same as that of Baoshan city wall. However, the city wall here has more turrets, and there seem to be huge weapons standing on the turrets.
Eight rivers surround Chang'an, making this strategically located city even more majestic.
After another search was conducted at the city gate, Song Mu was finally able to enter the most prosperous city in the Wen Dynasty.
Just after passing through the deep city gate, I saw that the surrounding buildings were quite tall and thick. The base of each building was rebuilt with large stones, which looked extremely solid.
It's just that the buildings getting closer to the center gradually get lower, and from a distance, you can even see the shining golden roof.
That might be the imperial city.
There are many three- and four-story pavilions here. Every time you take a step forward, you can see an archway at an intersection and hear a different story.
The streets were not very clean, but the shops in front of each shop were very clean. The officials who passed by seemed to be more aggressive, and the pedestrians on the streets were in a hurry, lacking some of the leisureliness of southern cities.
However, the streets are still brightly colored, the various signboards are dazzling, and the products on display are also dazzling, making it overwhelming.
Everyone's tone of voice was also very different. This Shaanxi accent made Song Mu even more curious about it.
At this moment, Tao Fengming had also lifted the curtain, looked around, and said in a deep voice.
"After many years of separation, Chang'an is still as prosperous as ever."
Hearing this, Song Mu slowed down the car a bit and now led Tao Fengming slowly forward in the city.
Tao Fengming looked around, but his eyes gradually became a little disappointed, and then he said to Song Mu with waning interest.
"Let's go to where we'll stay."
Song Mu responded and drove the carriage to another street.
The destination of Song and Mu was the guild hall on Jiangnan West Road in Chang'an, which would be Song Mu's stay in Chang'an for a long time.
There is still one month left before the examination. During this time, Song Mu can get familiar with the situation in Chang'an and prepare for the upcoming examination.
The carriage passed through several streets and finally arrived at a street in Chang'an. There were many inns here, including several provincial guild halls. They usually provided residences for fellow merchants and ordinary people, but now they are basically vacated and used as accommodation for students.
The triennial examination is coming again, and students from all over the country come to Chang'an to take the exam in an endless stream. Now in January, many students have arrived last year and are studying hard here.
When Song Mu arrived at the entrance of the Jiangnan West Road Guild Hall, he saw two young men inside inviting a few people dressed as students to go out with smiles on their faces.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "Shopkeeper Zhu, I just want to ask you for news, why do you have to look like this?"
"I'm sorry, you guys. You guys come to me every day to ask me about the news about Song Jieyuan. I haven't seen it before. You guys are a little too noisy. Many students have come to me to complain in the past few days. I would like to ask you to leave."
A round figure walked out of it. He said to several students with a smile on his face, and then he also extended his hands to the surroundings.
"Everyone should leave early. The news about Song Jieyuan is unknown now. Whether he will come to the exam or not is a matter of course. It is not a big deal for you all to gather here."
"Our guild hall still has business to do, so I'd like to ask you all to go back early and spend some time together. Maybe I'll meet Song Jieyuan at the Huixi Examination Hall."
Shopkeeper Zhu said this, and several students looked hesitant at the moment, but someone stepped forward, took out some silver and said.
"Shopkeeper Zhu, if you book a guest room for me, you can't drive me away."
The student said this, and others followed suit, but Shopkeeper Zhu waved his hand and said in a deep voice.
"But you are trying to offend me. This guild hall only accepts Jiangnanxi Taoist people or students to stay. This is a rule given to us by Gongyuan. We don't dare to offend the young ones."
Everyone was stunned when they heard this. Gongyuan is the largest examination agency under the Ministry of Rites, and it is not something that they can afford.
Thinking of the fruitless waiting here these days, these people sighed deeply and said to Shopkeeper Zhu again.
"Then please ask the shopkeeper to help us pay more attention."
Shopkeeper Zhu immediately nodded with a smile on his face.
"Don't worry, everyone, if Song Jieyuan comes, I will definitely find a way to notify you first."
With that said, these students finally relaxed a little, but now they announced their names and repeatedly told Shopkeeper Zhu to report immediately when the time came.
Song Mu had already dismounted and was grinning when he heard their discussion.
Unexpectedly, before he arrived in Chang'an, these people were already waiting for news about him.
It seems that the situation this time will be similar to the previous provincial examination.
After helping Tao Fengming get out of the carriage, a young boy quickly opened the carriage with quick eyes and hands, and the big and round shopkeeper Zhu also stepped forward and said to Song Mu with a smile on his face.
"Young Master wants to stay in a hotel. He must be one of my students from Jiangnan West Road. Please come in."
Shopkeeper Zhu said with a smile, leading Song Mu and Tao Fengming inside. He then enthusiastically brought tea and asked the boy to boil hot water. Then shopkeeper Zhu opened the account book and asked Song Mu.
"I wonder where the young master is from Jiangnan West Road. Can you check your academic status?"
Song Mu immediately handed over the title badge and said in a deep voice.
"In Jizhou Prefecture, Jiangnan West Road, Song Mu."
Shopkeeper Zhu nodded with a smile, and was about to write it down on the account book when it was stained with ink. The next moment, he suddenly raised his head and looked at Song Mu.
"Song Mu?"
"Is your Excellency...Song Jieyuan and Song Mu who took the Jia Shenke test in Daoxiang, Jiangnan?"