With the booming economy, the country of Jingguo under Zhang Xiu's rule is prosperous. As the current capital of Jingguo, Chang'an is even more prosperous.
Since the beginning of this year, Zhang Xiu has ordered the re-planning of the layout of Chang'an City. The streets are all paved with stones, in the same style as the city gates, and are very grand. There are special pedestrian trails on the left and right sides, and a carriageway in the middle.
Whether it is from Shuofang to Chang'an or from Jincheng to Chang'an, since the official road was opened, coming and going has been very convenient, which has greatly deepened the connections between various places. Especially the ethnic minorities in Hetao and other places.
After Zhang Xiu's vigorous promotion, many Huns came south to do business in Chang'an and sold grain, grass and daily supplies from Chang'an to the Hetao, stimulating the economic development of the Hetao.
Zhang Xiu, dressed in plain clothes, led Huang Yueying, Liu Rui, Xiao Qiao, and his three sons on the busy street. Fallen leaves were flying in the air from time to time on the lush trees on both sides.
Not far away, Hu Cheer and Zhang Gan were secretly protecting them with dozens of personal guards.
There are small traders and hawkers coming and going on both sides of the sidewalk, some selling various snacks, and many foreigners are also selling special foods from other places.
"Wow! It smells so good!"
The breeze blew by, carrying a strong fragrance, like the smell of Hu cakes. This smell aroused Huang Yueying's greedy mouth, and her eyes followed the direction of the fragrance.
Not far ahead, I saw a foreigner baking sesame cakes, which was full of aroma.
Zhang Xiu looked over and saw a Huns baking a special kind of pancake in the distance. I'm afraid this was the predecessor of naan pancakes in later generations. He turned around and saw Huang Yueying's bright eyes staring at the pancakes, then turned around and smiled.
He asked Xiao Qiao and Liu Rui: "Okay, do you want to eat?"
"I want to eat it!"
Zhang Biao looked at the sesame seeds eagerly.
Zhang Xiu took a look and thought, oh! Make the same gesture as his mother.
With a warm smile on his face, he said, "Okay, I'll buy it for you if you want to eat, so that you can eat enough." Then he walked towards the vendor, "Here are seven pieces of cake."
When the vendor heard that he was a big customer, he immediately smiled and said: "Okay, Sir, please wait a moment, I will prepare it for you right away. There are still a few seats here, please take a seat."
As expected, there were two empty tables on the left side of the stall.
Zhang Xiu took them to sit down. At this time, the vendor who was buying drinks immediately came over with a smile on his face: "Sir, I'm afraid it's a bit dry just to eat the cake. I have a fruit drink secretly made by the palace. I want it." Don’t you want some?”
"Secret fruit drink?"
Huang Yueying looked at Zhang Xiu in surprise. The fruit drink in the palace was invented by Zhang Xiu and has not been spread to the outside world. How could it be sold outside?
Zhang Xiu smiled nonchalantly.
The palace maid and the eunuch must have sold this recipe for money, or to let the people of Jingguo taste the sweetness of the fruit drink.
He smiled calmly and said, "Okay, give us seven cups."
"Okay, please wait a moment, sir. I'll be here soon." The merchant's face was full of smiles.
After a while, sesame cakes and fruit drinks were served at the same time.
The fruit drinks include apple juice, jujube tea, clear water tablets, and watermelon juice. To Zhang Xiu's surprise, there is actually very precious grape juice in it.
Since Zhang Qian came back from the border and opened the road to the Western Regions, watermelons, grapes, walnuts, cantaloupe and other fruits were introduced to the Han Dynasty from the west. However, these things are rare, and this vendor actually has them.
So he asked curiously: "Brother, grapes and watermelons are precious things in the Western Regions. Where did you get them?"
The merchant laughed: "You don't know this, right? In the past two years, Governor Zhang led our Dajing cavalry to open up the Silk Road. Later, our King Jing opened the official road. These precious things are in Sealed in ice, it only takes half a month to send it from the Western Regions to Chang'an."
Zhang Xiu asked: "Isn't this official road only from Chang'an to Jincheng? Is there also an official road from Jincheng to the Western Regions?"
The merchant smiled and said: "No, when the Liangzhou Prefect Bu was the Xiliang Prefect, he spent a lot of money to open a small road leading to Zhangye and Jiuquan. The products of the Western Regions were introduced to Chang'an through this road."
Zhang Xiu nodded repeatedly. He was worthy of being an important minister of the Wu Kingdom in later records, and his abilities were indeed outstanding.
With the road built by Bu Zhe, the Silk Road can not only be opened, but also more Western crops can be introduced, greatly increasing the quality of life in the country.
After eating, Zhang Xiu took them to the next place.
Zhang Xiu's purpose today is to visit Chang'an City and see how the scene in Chang'an has changed after this year's re-planning and revision.
In order to improve the quality of people's livelihood and the environment in the city.
In the early stages of construction, public toilets were set up every thousand steps on both sides of the street, and notices were posted stating that all city residents must use the toilets, otherwise they would be fined ten coppers, or in serious cases, imprisoned for ten days.
Under strict management, the scenery of Chang'an has taken on a completely new look.
Huang Yueying said with admiration: "Master, today's Chang'an is so lush and unparalleled that even Xiangyang City in Jingzhou can't compare to one-tenth of Chang'an."
Xiao Qiao said: "It's better than any city in the south."
Zhang Xiu enjoyed their admiring looks and said with a smile: "Don't worry, just wait until night. We don't have a curfew in Jingguo. The lights are brightly lit at night, it is more prosperous and there are more people."
"Then let's wait until night, okay?" Liu Rui carefully proposed her desired idea.
Zhang Xiu looked at Liu Rui with a smile: "Okay, as long as you want, we will stay until night and take a look at the night view of Chang'an."
Liu Rui was excited and excited.
Everyone was walking towards the concentrated night market. At this time, Hu Che'er ran over cautiously, holding a secret letter in his hand and handed it over: "Your Majesty, a letter from Soochow."
It has been more than a month since Qin Mi and Bu Zhi left Chang'an.
When passing through Xiakou, they were searched by Huang Zu, the governor of Jiangxia. Fortunately, Cai was well prepared and had a secret room in the ship, so he escaped the search and successfully arrived in Jianye.
Open the letter and read it carefully.
"Your Majesty Qin Mi reports: I was sent as an envoy to the State of Wu and was personally welcomed by Sun Ce, King of Wu. He had a close conversation with me and agreed on the alliance between Jing and Wu. The State of Wu has agreed that when Chu is defeated, he will On the day of my sister’s wedding to the king, Zhou Yu, the governor of the Wu Kingdom, asked me to convey my greetings. I secretly watched Sun Quan, the younger brother of the king of Wu, and saw that this man has a reserved personality, a very deep palace, and green eyes. He may be a foreigner."
"Blue-eyed thief!"
Zhang Xiu raised the corner of his mouth and sneered. Compared to Sun Ce, Sun Quan's behavior was worse, otherwise future generations would not be able to call him a rat from Jiangdong.
If Sun Ce were still alive, it is estimated that the return of the world to Jin would not have happened, and he might even join forces with Liu Bei and successfully move north.
But for a long-term plan, Sun Ce's survival poses a greater threat to him. Sun Ce, like himself, is an entrepreneurial talent with both strength and courage. He has many capable ministers and generals under his command. It is very difficult to compete. The only way is to let Sun Quan take over Soochow. It would be easier to fight, but do you want to watch Sun Ce die young?
I recalled Sun Ce's handsome appearance and hearty laughter in my mind, and I couldn't make up my mind for a long time.
