Chang'an, the most majestic city in the world, certainly deserves its reputation, because this city is so huge that the empire actually opened eighteen city caves in the four directions of east, west, north and south. But even so, the number of high-ranking officials who enter and leave the city every day
Nobles and common people still blocked these city holes from time to time and formed extremely long queues on the official roads.
Ning Que and Sangsang waited in a long queue until it was almost dusk before they crowded into the city gate. Looking at the serious-looking sergeants who carefully checked their luggage and packages, Ning Que, who was sweating profusely, couldn't bear the squeeze.
I thought of the huge traffic jam in the capital of a certain world, shook my head, laughed and cursed twice.
He scolded in a low voice, but the residents of Chang'an City around him scolded very loudly. The folk customs of the Tang Empire were simple and fierce. Few people were afraid of those seemingly serious sergeants, but no one dared
Ignoring the strict laws of the empire and just breaking through.
Finally it was the turn of Ning Que and Sangsang. The sergeant took the military document he handed over and found that this young man was actually a fellow soldier and had made many military exploits on the front line. The serious expression on his face suddenly softened.
A lot, but when his eyes fell on the three hilts of Ning Que's knives poking toward the sky from behind, he couldn't help but frown.
"This is a family heirloom sword. Our ancestors once told us..." Ning Que explained carefully.
"Where the sword is, the man is dead..." The sergeant gave him a bored look, waved his hand and said contemptuously: "I have to hear this kind of thing eight hundred times a day, little guy, just save it and untie the package.
With two little guys carrying such a big package, it doesn't look like you are here to take an exam, it feels like you are just moving."
He turned to look at the big black umbrella behind Sangsang, frowned and asked, "What kind of umbrella is this? Why is it so big?"
Sangsang turned his back and held the middle part of the big black umbrella. He looked up at the sergeant coldly and said, "Where the umbrella is, the person is there, but the umbrella dies and the person dies."
The sergeant looked at the little black girl, gave a thumbs up and praised: "This statement... is innovative."
Ning Que was untying the package beside him, with a wry smile on his youthful face, thinking that he was probably the only one in the world who knew that Sangsang's phrase "Umbrellas are in the world" was not a joke, but the truth.
The big package contained bedding, blankets and some miscellaneous things. The only thing worthy of special attention was the boxwood bow and the several tubes of feather arrows. When the sergeant turned over these things, his expression changed slightly.
The city gate of Chang'an City is long and dark, and the exit on the inner side of the city is far away. It looks like a small shining hole. You can vaguely see a sunset setting in the distance, and the red light slants in, but
It didn't get very far before it was swallowed up by darkness and noise.
Ning Que and Sang Sang followed the people towards that place. Sang Sang struggled to weigh the heavy package behind him to make the belt on his shoulders more comfortable, and asked curiously: "Young Master... all the people in Chang'an are like
Is that military commander as talkative?"
"Absolutely." Ning Que replied: "With all the wealth and power in the world concentrated in this city, the people of Chang'an are inevitably a little prouder, but the more proud they are, the more polite and tolerant they are to people from outside, because they have to show
Their own demeanor, and they are indeed a very classy group of guys.”
"But if you don't show your pride, anyone would panic. What about the Chang'an people?... They talk! From the carriage shop to the yamen, all the Chang'an people are very good at chatting, ranging from the secrets of the royal family to the lowest level.
It seems that there is nothing in the world that they don’t know about the brothel anecdotes. Of course, what they like most is to talk about the wars and personnel affairs of the countries in the world or the counties of the Tang Dynasty in a calm and indifferent tone, as if each of them is a
Like a prime minister."
Sangsang burst out laughing, which showed that she was really amused by Ning Que's words.
The previous inspection in the city gate did not show the tragic scenes of knife destruction and death. The big black umbrella was now carried on Ning Que's back. The three knives on Ning Que's back were put into the package. The boxwood hardwood knife
The bow was unstrung. After completing this, the chatty sergeant let them go without making any trouble.
The people of the Tang Dynasty were very martial, and if they didn't have a few handy weapons, it would be more painful than killing them. Therefore, the empire's control in this area was always very loose. Swords were allowed in Chang'an City, but not knives. Bows and arrows were allowed.
But bows and arrows must be unstringed, and crossbows must be used by the army. Other than that, there are no restrictions.
As for whether you secretly strung your bow and took out your sword after you walked into the city, no one will care about you, not even the Chang'an Mansion, not the military, not even His Majesty the Emperor in the palace.
Why care about these things?
Ning Que and the two were accustomed to the frontier life. Every night in Weicheng, they could no longer see any lights except the taverns, and they could no longer hear any sounds except the soldiers gambling. So when they entered Chang'an City at dusk, they thought
You will see a peaceful sleeping city, but you never thought that Chang'an City at night would still be...
Everywhere is lively.
The lights on the street illuminate the flat bluestone pavement like daylight, and there are many pedestrians on the street. Some stop in front of the stall or look at the stars. The man and woman who stop in front of the stall should already be together, while the men and women who stop at the stall and look at the stars may have just begun the hooking process.
.
The clothes of the Tang Dynasty people, especially those in Chang'an City, were simple and plain. They wore tight sleeves, short linings and flat shoes, which looked particularly neat. Occasionally there were men with wide sleeves, and the cuffs were cut extremely short, with their hands hanging outside the sleeves, probably for convenience.
Pull out the sword from the sheath at his waist.
There is a man in a green shirt walking with a sword, his long beard fluttering in the night wind. He looks like an immortal swordsman. However, when he sees a sideshow on the street, that man will stop and huddle with a group of older girls.
He stared nervously, then clapped his palms red and cheered loudly, but when the juggler took the money, he returned to the cold look of the immortal swordsman, meaning that if he had to pay for the copper coins, he could not get rid of the pickled things.
of.
Chang'an women's clothing is also very simple and plain. Another word is called cool, and another word is probably naked. In this warm season of spring, the women and girls seen on the street have their arms bare outside their sarong sleeves, which is even more a bit strange.
The charming young woman boldly wore a tube top on the street, and the white and tender chest attracted people's attention.
On the street, bare-chested barbarians were looking around curiously with wine bags tied around them. Officials from the Yuelun Kingdom wearing winged hats were stroking their beards and were walking among the restaurants and brothels in a familiar manner. Businessmen from the Southern Jin Dynasty were upstairs.
Leaning on the railing to watch the stars and drink, from time to time the feigned heroic laughter would be spread to the street, and from an unknown house there would be a burst of silk and bamboo music with melodious melody.
The wealth, grace and magnanimity of the entire world seemed to be concentrated in Chang'an City, which was exciting and intoxicating. The magnificence and gentleness coexisted, and the swords and beauties reflected each other.
Ning Que held Sangsang's little hand and walked with his mind swaying in this sea of lights and people. His expressions of admiration and admiration made him look like a brother and sister who came from the countryside.
The green sparrow-head daisy used to draw eyebrows, the fragrant millet butterfly powder, hosta powder and pearl powder used to apply on the face. That thing called rose paste is rouge? Is that small bottle the legendary toilet water?
Sang Sang, who was being held by Ning Que, widened her slender eyes like willow leaves and looked at the bottles and cans on the street stalls, feeling a little unable to walk.
There is a young lady walking in front of her with her waist swaying. Why is her plump buttocks under her skirt so bouncy? A young girl with a braid giggles and squeezes past her. How come her light body breath looks like an orchid?
?Why do you wink at those pretty young women who are picking flowers with men at the stalls? Do you think that young man is a little cute?
Ning Que held Sang Sang's hand and looked around happily. He had no memory of Chang'an being such a unique place when he was a child, and felt that he could not walk.
When I couldn't walk anymore, I walked slowly, and the streets finally became a little cleaner. However, before the two visitors from the border town could calm down and relax a little, I could only hear someone yelling in front of me, hula la la.
, countless Chang'an people poured out from all directions, blocking a certain street corner in front of them.
"It's a duel!"
Through the dark crowd, two men with swords at their waists could be vaguely seen staring at each other hatefully. A piece of their right sleeves was cut off by the sword and was thrown on the ground between them.
The world became quiet, and all the people watching the excitement shut their mouths tightly. The fairness of the duel was deeply rooted in the blood of every Tang Dynasty person. Even those who were watching the excitement had their own rules.
"The rules of the duel are that cutting your sleeve represents a challenge. If you accept it, you have to cut off a piece of your own sleeve."
Ning Que took Sang Sang's hand and pushed out of the crowd, explaining to her: "This kind of duel is called a live game. It only needs to determine the winner. There is also a non-death duel called a dead game, which needs to be confirmed by the government."
.The challenger in the dead end must cut his left palm with a knife. If the opponent accepts, he must do the same action."
"Can you not accept it?" Sangsang asked.
"Of course." Ning Que wiped the sweat from his forehead, patted the big package behind Sangsang, made sure no thief came, and continued: "It's just that sometimes people, especially men, can easily become idiots. For example,
When you go crazy for women, love, dignity, these messy things."
The two squeezed out of the crowd, and Sangsang raised his dark little face and asked puzzledly: "Why don't we stay and watch? I remember that when we were in Weicheng, you liked to watch the fun. When the pigs were being killed that year, you squatted next to it.
I watched it all night."
"I've seen a lot of cows and sheep being killed. That year, the killing of pigs was the first time in the history of Weicheng. It was so strange that of course I had to take a closer look. Things like duels often happen in Chang'an City every day. If you want to see it later
There are plenty of opportunities.”
Ning Que said calmly: "Besides, this is Chang'an City. I just want to go to the academy to study honestly, but I don't want to cause any trouble. From now on, we must be like two dogs, with our tails between our legs."
"
Sangsang shook his head, thinking that I don't want to be a bitch. As for you, young master, just kill a few less people in Chang'an City. Being a human being with your tail between your legs is really not suitable for you.
"Find an inn." As if reading her mind, Ning Que said with a sense of defeat: "I'm sleepy."
Sangsang pointed to a certain building on the street ahead and said, "Look, there's an inn there."