"What the hell?" A guard suddenly pulled the reins of his horse, and something black just jumped in front of his horse.
"Wild boar!" Huang Qin yelled, clapped his horse and chased after him. Before the arrow was nocked, he heard the sound of the bowstring "bang". There was a wailing sound in front, which was obviously the wild boar that almost frightened the horse.
There was the sound of horse hooves from behind, and a yellow gelding galloped past. The knight on the horse controlled the horse with both legs. He shouted, stretched out his waist and picked up the still shaking hind legs in his hands. Huang Qin couldn't help but cheer: "What a riding skill!"
"Hey, it's really rare. There is an arrow here that can be faster than the Nine Peaks Arrow!" Zhang Bo and Li Dan were chasing after him. After he made this joke, the expression on his face froze and he asked Li Dan puzzledly. :
"What's going on? Why is there such a thing as fanzi (a derogatory term for the Egu people) in Gyeonggi?"
Li Dan heard about the Ula tribe coming to Beijing to pay tribute, and quickly touched Zhang Bo: "Don't talk nonsense. Please don't speak for now, so as not to cause misunderstanding. Let me ask him."
In his previous life, he participated in military exercises and visited the grassland many times, so he still had an impression of the language and customs there.
When the opponent discovered that they were three riders, they slowed down. Li Dan put his right hand on his chest, bowed slightly and lowered his head: "Hello!"
The other party was stunned for a moment, and then he put his hand on his chest and bowed slightly. Zhang Bo and Huang Qin exchanged glances in surprise, then quickly returned their attention to the rider.
He was wearing a light blue satin jacket, a felt hat on his head, a cowhide belt tied around his waist that was edged with leopard skin, and a cowhide armor shorter than armor. It doesn't shine with a charming light when illuminated.
This man should be young, the short beard on his mouth is not thick, and the eye sockets are slightly sunken, making him look like a mixed race.
"Where do friends come from?" Li Dan asked, and then pointed at the prey: "Did you shoot it?" But the other party didn't respond, but looked at him with a playful look. Li Dan murmured in his heart, "Did I say something wrong or remember it wrong?"
"Why do you know our language? This is rare." The other party suddenly spoke in Chinese: "After I entered the Central Plains, you are the first Han Chinese who can speak Egu language, and I bet you are not from the north, right? Bar?"
"Hey, you even know how to bet? Not bad. Have you been learning Chinese for a long time?" Zhang Bo couldn't help but ask.
"I've been learning Chinese from my master since I was a child." The man replied, and nodded to Huang Qin: "You should be familiar with bows and arrows, but not good at riding horses, so you give me an advantage." After speaking, he raised his hand. prey.
Only then did Li Dan notice that it was a small wild boar. Although it was small, it must have weighed more than ten kilograms. The fact that he has held it in his hand for so long shows that he has considerable physical strength.
"If you shoot it, it's yours." Li Dan smiled and said, "A person who relies on his ability deserves respect wherever he goes."
The man raised his eyebrows, jumped off the horse, put the wild boar on the horse and walked over. Li Dan also dismounted and walked towards him. The two stood facing each other and saluted each other.
The man then asked, "The wild geese leave their own voices when they fly by. Can I know who I am talking to?"
"I am Li Dan from Jiangnan West Road, who came to the capital to take the Jinshi examination."
"Oh, I heard that because there is an examination, His Majesty the Emperor arranged for officials from the Ministry of Rites to take me to see the whole process. Although I am allowed to enter the Imperial College to study, I have to know how the imperial examination is conducted."
Li Dan knew that this man must be a member of the tribute group, and he immediately asked: "So, who are you?"
"I am Keren, the eldest son of Qimeir Khan. Oh, my father has been named Ergus Khan and is treated as a prince. I will soon become his heir apparent."
Although he knew that he was here to pay tribute, he did not expect that he was actually the prince of Egu Khan. Li Dan quickly took a step back, bowed deeply and saluted:
"It turns out to be His Royal Highness, Li Dan. I'm here to pay my respects! Please don't blame me for being abrupt just now." Zhang Bo and Huang Qin also quickly dismounted from their horses and saluted.
"Didn't you say, 'It's not strange if you don't know? Why bother?" Karen helped them up and said, "This is not far from our camp. Do you want to go play?"
"I have some friends accompanying me, and I want to
Hurry to enter Shangjing City. The prince will definitely stay here for many days, and when he has some free time, Li Dan will come to bother him. "
Karen laughed and said that you are welcome to bother me. He also said that when he enters the Imperial Academy and Li Danzhong enters the Hanlin Academy as a Jinshi, they might still spend a lot of time together.
Li Dan also wanted to learn more about the grassland conditions from him, so he ordered Zhang Bo to get two bottles of Fengquan wine and give them to him before leaving.
After Li Dan and the others galloped back to the road, a dozen Egu knights emerged from the woods. A leader looked at Li Dan and the others' backs and whispered, "There are both officers and soldiers in the team, as well as country warriors."
"Well, I saw it." Karen nodded and replied, "He said it was a move to Beijing to take the exam, but what kind of move would lead to such a big fight?
And look at the two strong men beside him, they have obviously been on the battlefield, their eyes look like those of the defenders on the nine sides. Who is this person? How strange! "
When officials and nobles return to the capital and want to enter the imperial city, they usually go through the Song Gate. However, Li Dan and others have to go to various guild halls and inns to stay in various guild halls and inns in order to rush for the exam, so they break up with Prince Ding and Princess near the canal pier outside the Song Gate. Watching them get into their own carriages respectively.
Li Dan walked to King Ding's carriage and cupped his hands and said, "I live in the Raozhou Guild Hall on Jincheng West Road. If Qiantai has time, I can send someone to call him."
King Ding smiled and replied: "Aren't you afraid of others gossiping?"
"Gossip is what idlers say to idlers. I am too busy to pay attention to it."
King Ding laughed loudly: "Okay, okay, I will take you through the exam. I will organize a few drinking parties to invite you to participate. You bring the wine, and don't break your promise and get fat!"
Li Dan came to Miyun's car again and hesitated for a moment not knowing where to start. "I'm going to take the exam."
"I wish you the best in high school and a great success," the princess said.
Knowing that the accompanying nanny and maid were still sitting inside, Li Dan didn't know what to say, so he bowed his head outside the car and said, "By the princess's auspicious words, on the day when the gold medal is named, I will go to Changqing Palace (the place where the princesses live before they get married). Pay your respects in the direction. Princess, take care!"
After saying these dry things, Li Dan felt stupid, but it didn't seem like anything else.
"Li Sanlang, your blunderbuss is still here alone!" King Ding remembered and stuck his head out of the car window and shouted.
"I gave it to Chitose, just be careful when playing and don't hurt yourself!"
"Okay, okay, if you have something new or better, don't forget to give it to me!" King Ding finished his instructions and returned to the carriage: "Zhou Yiwei, let's set off!"
Farewell to King Ding and Princess, everyone had relaxed expressions on their faces. "Oh, I feel relieved. It seems like a heavy burden has been lifted off my shoulders!" Yao Huang said and rubbed his shoulders deliberately, as if he had really endured heavy things.
"How much can you carry with Yao Xuanping's little shoulders? Let me try!" Zhang Wenhe said and jumped on his back, pressing Yao Huang who was caught off guard and quickly fell to the ground begging for mercy. Everyone laughed.
Most of the members had to live around Xuefu Road or Zhongzhou Street where guild halls built in various provinces were concentrated. They had to enter through Guide Gate.
The Raozhou Guild Hall built by Li Dan was on Jincheng West Road, so he said goodbye to everyone in front of Minglun. He dismounted and changed his carriage, and the carriage turned around and drove towards the city gate.
Minglun Gate has three door openings on both sides for entry and exit respectively, and the middle one is only opened on important occasions.
Li Dan looked at the tiled city gate and the city tower with green columns and red railings above from the car window, and then looked at the endless rammed earth city walls. He thought that Emperor Taizong must have made a lot of determination to abandon Jinling and rebuild Shangqiu. of.
He himself had built the walls of Yugan and Anren, and knew how much money and labor it cost.
Although Rao used the bamboo reinforcement construction method himself and had cement to help, it was still very labor-intensive, expensive and expensive to build cities in these two counties, not to mention such a magnificent city as Shangjing?
Pass through the West Market and Mingbo Bridge and go straight to the Raozhou Guild Hall on Jincheng West Road. It turns out that the Guild Hall is divided into east and west parts. The main door is in the southeast corner. The west door is actually reserved for Li Dan's private residence, but there are two parts between the east and west parts. The moon gates are connected.
Gao Can, who arrived early, was already waiting outside the door with Liu En, who was assigned to be in charge of the guild hall, and Xu Datong, the manager of Sihaiju in the capital. When he saw the motorcade, he came up to greet Li Dan and invited Li Dan into the guild hall to visit.
Li Dan checked and inquired about the situation as he walked. When he arrived at Yuemen, he already had a general understanding.
The hotel just opened last month. Currently, only two children have been introduced to the hotel by the manager of Jiujiang Flights and Steamships. There is a Poyang businessman who just moved here from another hotel. There are not many people and it is very clean.
Li Dan washed himself, changed his clothes, ate something and took a nap. He felt refreshed when he woke up. Then he called Lu Jiu: "Old Lu, do you want to go to Sihaiju to eat something good?"
Lu Jiu is a big-bellied man. No matter what time it is, as soon as he hears that there is food, he immediately smiles. So they called Tiedao and others along with Jiao Tong and followed Liu En's guidance to travel to Sihai.
The location of Sihaiju is quite good, it is quiet in the bustle. The most important and prosperous area of Shangjing is to the north of Yuedai River (the inner city section of Bao River) and to the south is along the Cai River.
The south side is divided into two parts by the West Market. The area from Longyue Bridge to Chenghou Bridge is an elegant consumption area, where dignitaries and literati are concentrated. The area from Mingbo Bridge to Huafang Bridge is a gold-selling cave with feasting and entertainment day and night. .z.
Sihaiju is located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Yinmen Road and Jingzhao South Road, with Mingbo Bridge to the south, Yinmen Bridge to the west, and Jiuxian Bridge to the southwest.
The area on the east side of Jingzhao South Road is surrounded by restaurants, teahouses, and hotels. On the west side, there are houses with small bridges and flowing water. At night, there are people singing in harmony, and some singing in low voices; everywhere there is fragrance, laughter and sweet voices. .
Tie Dao had been a monk and had been to many places, so he didn't care. Zhang Bo and Lu Jiu were almost dumbfounded and almost cried, and they were teased by Lai Wubao and Huang Qinjiang.
Gao Can's face was calm, but his stern face and upright posture attracted the passing women to turn around and pay attention frequently.
Some even boldly ran back to him to have a look. Occasionally, those who were glanced at or smiled at by him all fled in shame, and the sound of laughing and joking with their female companions could be heard in the distance.
"Hey, why are the girls here so shameless? They are all so brave!" Lu Jiu suddenly smacked his lips: "Oh, what a pity!"
"What's a pity, am I not destined to be with you?" Huang Qin asked cheerfully.
"It's not me." Lu Jiu waved his hand: "Lao Jiu, it's a pity that Chief of Staff Zhao is not here, otherwise these little girls would not be able to move their legs if they saw him?"
"Come on, I'm a member of the royal family, how can I come to a place like this?"
"What's wrong with this place?"
"What Lao Lu is saying is that girls here cannot do whatever they want. If you want to stay overnight, you not only have to pay for it, but you also have to agree to it. This is completely different from the practices in those courtyards in the south!" Li Dan said:
"When we get to Sihaiju later, let Xiao Xu invite some girls for us. Don't do anything random, be careful to make people laugh!" he warned.
In fact, there was no need for him to speak, Xu Datong had already prepared it. The seats specially reserved for them were even emptied next door. There is a young woman serving each person, and there are three or four male and female musicians sitting in the small room opposite to listen to the call.
Li Dan raised his glass first and said, "The first glass of wine is to pay tribute to the brothers who have sacrificed their lives in previous battles!"
Everyone stood up and poured the wine in their hands onto the tiled floor. When I saw them hanging their swords and carrying their daggers, I was heartbroken, but this situation frightened the girls so much that their faces turned pale.
Unexpectedly, nothing happened next. Li Dan thanked everyone for their help along the way with a second glass of wine, and everyone had a smile on their faces. After the third glass of wine, he called Xu Datong over, thanked him for the hospitality and wished him a prosperous business.
Xu Datong drank three glasses of wine amidst everyone's laughter before he was let go, his face shining brightly.
Li Dan asked the musicians to play a piece of music first, and everyone bowed to each other again. Just when he was happy, he heard someone talking outside. Lu Jiu gnawed on a hoof and shouted:
: "Hey, what is Xiao Xu doing? Isn't it that these rooms are all booked? How come there are still people...?"
Just as he said this, the door opened, revealing Xu Datong's embarrassed red face: "Sir, we have a visitor!"
"Huh?" The brothers were all stunned.
"Who is this? You won't even be allowed to have a good meal!" Lu Jiu dropped his hoof and was about to get up, but was held down by Li Dan. He has not announced his arrival in the city yet, and he has no acquaintances in the city. Who could come to his door?
And to find such a place?
A fair face appeared behind Xu Datong, and he bowed to everyone: "Brothers, are you having fun? Isn't it too much to ask for a cup of Fengquan?"
"Liu..." Lu Jiu pointed at the door and did not dare to say, and looked back at Li Dan.
"After much thought, you are the one I am most familiar with in this capital." Li Dan stood up with a smile and extended his arms to each other: "Come, come, sit down quickly and let's talk about old times."
"Sir, we didn't come alone." Liu Xi pursed his lips behind his back.
Li Danna's heart skipped a beat when he saw it, and he immediately turned around to let everyone eat first. He walked to the corridor, called Xu Datong and ordered: "No one can come upstairs. He knocked him unconscious first, tied him up and threw him on the firewood." Go to the room!"
"Yes!" Xu Datong gave a military salute and retreated.
Li Dan then raised his hand to the man and said, "May I ask who this servant is?"
"I'm Liu Kan." The middle-aged man, who was as fair-faced and beardless as Liu Xi, answered with his hands.
Li Dan's eyes widened and he was stunned. He thought that Liu Xi had brought a senior eunuch to introduce him to him tonight, but this...Liu Kan...Eunuch Liu, the general manager of Qianyuan Palace and the daily life director of the inner court, Eunuch Liu?
Is there another eunuch named Liu Kan? I guess if so, he would have to change his name quickly, right?
But those are secondary. Eunuch Liu came here to find him, but where is the emperor? The emperor sent him here? Isn't it the same with Liu Xilai?
Li Dan glanced at him and saw that he was dressed as if he were a manager from a wealthy family. He glanced at him again and saw that there seemed to be three or two men standing in the dark in the corridor. What's happening here?
"It turns out that Mr. Liu is in front of me. My student Li Dan is too blind to recognize Taishan. Please forgive me!" Li Dan said and bowed deeply.
Eunuch Liu smiled and stepped forward to help him up: "Li Sanlang is well-deserved for his reputation as a talented young man, but the protagonist tonight is not me. We also accompanied him out."
"Huh?" Li Dan almost pointed at his nose and said you are so bold, you dare to bring that person to have flower wine! But he couldn't care anymore, because Eunuch Liu had already turned around and walked to the private room next door.
"Liu Gong, my brothers... do you want...?" Li Dan pointed to the door of his room, meaning to ask him if he needed to clear the place.
"No need, Xiao Xizi is familiar with them, as long as he is here." Eunuch Liu said and knocked on the door. When the door opened, it was a strong man.
"This is General Liu Funian, the commander of the bodyguards." Eunuch Liu introduced, then went in first and said something unknown, then returned to the door and waved.
Li Dan took a deep breath. Even if he had lived two lifetimes and visited dozens of imperial tombs, seeing a living emperor was still "a big girl getting on the sedan chair" after all!
