Thank you to Yuki for the ko-fi~ ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡
From the southern journey through Taihang Pass, passing the Gaoping Ferry, it is the royal city of Luoyang. Not seen for several years, this great city has completely faded its former glory. The houses in the suburbs are collapsed, leaving scorched traces; inside the city, the noble neighborhoods are desolate, with empty streets and deserted buildings. If not for the meticulous management by Zu Ti during these two years, it might have been overgrown with thorns and corpses abandoned in the streets.
Due to security concerns, no people were kneeling along the streets to welcome the entry into the city this time. Instead, the streets were empty, revealing the dilapidated appearance of Luoyang with its lost splendor.
Observing the scene outside the window, Liang Feng shook his head and spoke, “Minister Zu, has Qianjin Weir been repaired?”
Zu Ti, the Prefect of Henan, accompanied the procession behind the carriage. Upon hearing the question, he quickly urged his horse forward and replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, Qianjin Weir has been reconstructed since last year and two water mills have been added. The Yang Canal has also cleared the waterway and restored the old view of Qili Bridge.”
Qianjin Weir is built above the Gu River and is an essential part of Luoyang’s water management system. Even the pounding of rice in the city relies on its water flow. When Zhang Fang attacked Luoyang, Qianjin Weir was damaged and remained unrepaired for several years until Zu Ti utilized refugees to facilitate its reconstruction. As for the Yang Canal, it is part of the city’s defensive system. Luoyang has no city walls; instead, it relies on rivers, canals, and bridges for external defense. The restoration of the Yang Canal and Qili Bridge is fundamental to ensuring the safety of the inner city.
Liang Feng nodded and inquired further, “And what about the Imperial Academy and the National Library?”
Zu Ti looked somewhat ashamed and replied, “Due to a lack of manpower, both are now scorched earth.”
When the Xiongnu attacked Luoyang, many buildings were destroyed, including the Imperial Academy and the National Library. Rebuilding the Imperial Academy is no small task, and with Zu Ti’s limited resources, it is impossible to undertake such a project.
This was somewhat expected, and Liang Feng sighed lightly, refraining from saying more. The wheels of the carriage continued to roll, passing through the blackened colossal bronze camels stirred by the great fire, and ascended into the palace city.
When he came here years ago, he walked step by step through the palace halls to the court. However, now the carriage stopped at the steps, and standing in front of the Taiji Palace, even Liang Feng felt that things had changed drastically.
This place was no longer the same as it used to be. Weeds grew everywhere, dust covered the ground, and even the curtains inside the hall were swept clean. There were hardly any palace residents left; shabbily dressed eunuchs and elderly, frail palace maids knelt by the road, shivering.
They were left behind to guard the palace. But with so few people, how could they maintain such a vast imperial palace?
After strolling only outside the three main halls without even inspecting the harem, Liang Feng shook his head and turned back. He wondered how much manpower and resources it would take to restore the splendid palace to its former glory.
On the side, Duan Qin said, “By the first month, we should be able to clean up a few palaces. Would Your Majesty like to hold the New Year’s gathering in the palace?”
In theory, he hadn’t ascended the throne yet, so he wasn’t qualified to reside in the imperial palace. However, for the current ruler of the North, whether to stay or not was just a matter of words. The New Year’s gathering was a grand court event, and holding it in Luoyang’s palace would further demonstrate his grandeur.
“No need for the trouble,” Liang Feng said indifferently. “The Chief Astrologer has reported that there will be a solar eclipse in the second month of the coming year. Entering the palace early will only stir up trouble. The palace can be slowly cleaned up, and I’ll move in after ascending the throne.”
A solar eclipse symbolizes the minister concealing the ruler. If he were in the imperial palace at that time, who knows what rumors might arise. It’s better to avoid unnecessary complications. Besides, he had no intention of moving into the palace now. Not to mention the restrictions on his freedom, it would also waste a considerable amount of time. The palace, several times larger than the Forbidden City, echoed emptiness, resembling an abandoned haunted mansion. The matter of moving in could be delayed for another day.
Since the ruler spoke as such, Duan Qin refrained from saying more. The group left the imperial palace and settled in the prince’s mansion on Bronze Camel Street. Those who accompanied Liang Feng this time included the entire team from Jinyang. The offices next to the prince’s mansion were gradually occupied by officials who resumed their duties, reinvigorating the city.
Soon, the New Year arrived. This time, not only the local offices but also the Tuoba tribe in You County sent envoys to pay their respects in Luoyang. The scale of the New Year’s gathering was unprecedented. Following that, on the day of the beginning of spring, Liang Feng personally presided over the land registration ceremony.
“Emperor personally tills the soil, Empress personally plants mulberry trees,” as passed down in the Zhou Li. However, in the contemporary era, apart from Emperor Wu personally tilling the soil, the land registration ceremony had been interrupted for countless years. Though Liang Feng’s action deviated from ritual norms, considering the precedent set by Emperor Wu, it wasn’t considered a unique practice. Moreover, the land registration ceremony was a ritual to honor the agricultural deities and set an example for the nation. In the ancient society heavily focused on agriculture, its significance was paramount.
Liang Feng’s actions and frequent overstepping naturally reached Jiangdong. Unable to endure any longer, Sima Rui dispatched Wang Dun with troops to attack Yu County. Luoyang was south of the Yellow River, adjacent to Yu County. Seizing Yu County would pose a significant threat to the royal city.
However, unfortunately, right after Wang Dun swore allegiance and set out, a solar eclipse occurred. Leading troops to campaign, he encountered a celestial omen. Who was the sovereign, and who was the vassal? To whom did divine mandate belong?
The presence of Xinling’s followers stirred up a storm, and the morale of the soldiers from Yang County plummeted. Wang Dun refused to give up and continued marching north. However, he was ambushed by Yiyan, who personally led the elite cavalry, resulting in a major defeat.
In April, good news arrived from Yan County. Puyang, Chenliu, and Jiying counties were incorporated into the territory. The appointed governors abandoned their cities and fled, followed by three counties surrendering one after another.
Prominent families from the Northern region, such as the Cui family from Qinghe, the Lu family from Fanyang, the Pei family from Hedong, the Xun family from Yingchuan, the Zheng family from Xingyang, and others, began to take action. Every day, talented individuals entered Luoyang.
In May, a dragon bone was found in the Fen River, shocking everyone. Subsequently, farmers from Wei County unearthed a giant tripod1cauldrons, five feet tall and weighing over six thousand catties. The Wei commandery magistrate, Ge Hong, didn’t dare to neglect the matter and sent people to transport the tripod to the capital overnight!
This was an extraordinary tripod! The legend of the Nine Tripods2cauldrons had been passed down since ancient times and regarded as treasures of dynastic succession. They disappeared only after the downfall of the Song dynasty, and even Emperor Qin Shihuang failed to acquire them. Could such a divine item be reappearing in the world now? Compared to the significant Nine Tripods, what was the importance of a national seal?
The Northern region instantly buzzed with excitement, and the clamor for offering this extraordinary artifact persisted.
Watching the gigantic tripod brought all the way from Wei County, Liang Feng couldn’t help but feel emotional. Near Ye City, a city would be built in the future called Anyang. And in this place, there was a significant archaeological discovery, the Yin Ruins.
The historical value of the Yin Ruins might not be well understood by the common people, but who didn’t know about the national treasure, the Simuwu Ding3It is called Houmuwu Ding now. A rectangular bronze ding of the ancient Chinese Shang dynasty. It is the heaviest piece of bronzeware to survive from anywhere in the ancient world. It was unearthed in 1939 in Wuguan Village, Anyang, Henan, near Yinxu, the site of the last Shang dynasty capital., excavated from the Shang Dynasty? When it came to presenting legitimacy, what could be more impressive than a sacrificial vessel unearthed from the Shang Dynasty? Just that Liang Feng didn’t expect Xinling’s efficiency to be so high, actually finding this treasure before his enthronement.
Together with the dragon fossil previously sent to Fenshui, these two astonishing “auspicious signs,” would they be enough for him to ascend to the imperial throne?
Liang Feng’s gaze shifted away from the magnificent coiled dragon and beast designs. No one dared to stand below the steps. The courtiers bowed and prostrated themselves, with some even choked up and cried out loud.
“The divine artifact has appeared, and divine mandate shall return. I implore Your Majesty to ascend the grand throne early, unifying the land!”
The praises resounded through the hall in an instant.
The author has something to say:
It seems like the name of the Simuwu Ding has been changed to the Homuwu Ding. However, for the sake of readability, I will keep the original name for now. =w=
