Compared with the streets full of golden peaches beside the imperial ditch in midsummer, the fragrant yellow flowers are a close-up view of Chang'an. Reflected in the summer scenery within the Imperial City of Luodu, there is the fragrant and fragrant locust tree next to the river: "There are two paths of green locust trees, and the white horses are like shooting stars." ("Two Poems on a Young Man's Journey" by Wang Changling of the Tang Dynasty).
The horse was riding under the shade of locust trees that were at least a hundred years old; Jiang Tian was quickly led to the Zuoye Gate on the east side of the main three gates of the imperial city. After dismounting and accepting a preliminary inspection by the prison guard, the Huangmen envoy continued to lead inward.
At this time, what appeared in front of Jiang Tian's eyes was a hundred official offices that looked as neat as a border at first, but each had its own characteristics upon closer inspection. Although it is summer time, you can already see the government officials and staff, all neatly dressed in official uniforms already soaked with sweat, walking about in a hurry like worker ants.
However, the Huangmen envoy who led him, after passing through Zuoyemen Street, which ran vertically, did not continue inward into the Mingde Gate and Huichang Gate, which connected the former Hongwen Hall and Wensi Hall. Instead, he crossed the side street close to the palace wall and turned towards Yihui Gate on the west side.
After exiting the Yihui Gate on the west side of the palace, there is another long corridor composed of palace walls several feet high; and appearing in the corridor, it turns into a variety of people walking like clouds with tiny steps. Eunuch. They range from the lowest-ranking brown-robed walker to the purple-robed eunuch.
However, they did not show any surprise at the passing river; they did not even stop or whisper to each other because of it, as if they had already turned a blind eye. Or there seems to be a particularly oppressive invisible atmosphere that is vaguely restraining and restricting them.
This enveloping atmosphere didn't disappear until the Huangmen envoy led Jiang Tian to the end of the long corridor; after walking out of the palace gate tower called Tixiang Gate, it seemed to be suddenly enlightened. Even the Huangmen envoy became invisible and straightened up a lot.
Then he remained silent, almost making people think that he was a mute Huangmen envoy. Then he took the initiative to turn to Jiang Tian and said: "Jiang Jianxian, this is the boundary of Shangyang Palace in Xiyuan; it is also the current The place your Majesty sees is only the Forbidden Palace, so I hope you will be careful in your words and deeds."
Jiang Tian smiled slightly when he heard this. He thought the other party could endure it until the end? Then, based on what he had learned in advance, he took out a small string of small silver coins wrapped in silk and handed it to the other party lightly: "In this case, please give some advice to the eunuch, so as not to lose etiquette in front of the palace."
"Jian Xian is interested. I happen to know a nearby place where I can prepare my luggage before your Majesty's visit." The Huangmen envoy then grinned slightly and forced out a smile. This is also one of the few ways for them to generate income; as long as it is not too excessive, even the emperor can't say anything if he knows about it.
After a while, Jiang Tian came out of the small yellow gate of the palace, where various facial towels, basins, soaps, and buckets were arranged nearby. After thinking that he was washing neatly, he suddenly heard a series of small and rapid ringings. There were also the sounds of shouting and chasing footsteps.
Then, he saw a young man in brocade clothes riding a two-wheeled bicycle on a bluestone road. He laughed loudly and rode away as fast as he could with all his strength. Yes, although it looked a bit bulky, Jiang Tian recognized it as a bicycle at first sight.
Steel-cast wheels, spokes and frames, rubber wheel covers made of unknown materials, large and small gear-driven pedals; coupled with wooden grips and leather seat cushions, it was an ancient version of the "28 big pole" bicycle. Needless to say, this was again the fault of the senior time traveler.
"Isn't it rare to see a Jianxian in the outside world? This kind of iron-wheeled cart is due to the kindness of the late lord, so that we in the palace have the only means of transportation in our daily life." It seems that because of the money, The Huangmen envoy also became more proactive and talkative.
It was as if he was verifying his words during the rest of the journey. Jiang Tian also saw eunuchs riding various versions of ancient bicycles one after another. Some of them carry documents in bundles, some baskets carry utensils and objects, and some can even carry people.
However, it seems that most of the shock-absorbing measures are quite crude; so just looking at it from a distance makes people involuntarily feel the faint pain of being knocked continuously. Therefore, he suddenly understood why this kind of thing could only be used in Ouchi.
Then, the Nei Cao disciples and Su Wei officers checked their identities and name tags again. After passing the second level of Guanfeng Gate, they arrived at the heart of Shangyang Palace in Xiyuan. However, Jiang Tian couldn't help but notice another thing, which was the strange appearance of some eunuchs he saw by chance.
There are actually a variety of hair colors including yellow, brown, red, and chestnut. They range from the Spanish, Besai, and Taixi species with tall eyes, deep noses, and pale skin to the Tianzhu and Kunlun species with curly hair, tall foreheads, and deep skin. And just. He Guang Tongchen, who was just hunched over, was among the many officials.
However, according to the disdainful remarks that the Huangmen envoy was accustomed to, these were just eunuchs from various tribes who paid tribute to foreign vassals. After many layers of screening and selection, I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to serve Gong Ye. However, due to their heterogeneous appearance, most of them can only serve as low-level handymen.
"So, someone can still get the upper hand?" Hearing this, Jiang Tian couldn't help but notice the key points. However, the Huangmen envoy smiled with a strange expression: "After all, the nobles in the past have always had some unique tastes!"
Valley hatch
In the end, as a guide, he could only stop at the Guanfeng Hall, the innermost palace gate in the vestibule; and then patiently wait here for the summons from inside. Here, Jiang Tian also saw a dozen other new officials who had been brought in earlier and were waiting to see his Majesty.
Because Jiang Tian was not familiar with them, he nodded politely and stood quietly in a corner under the eaves, quietly listening to their small groups chatting quietly. Only then did I know that they were all from the capital's top two backgrounds and were the top students who directly served as official trainees.
Some of them come from the School of Political Science and the School of Economics and Economics, which are known as preparatory courses for the prime minister in various branches of the Capital University; there are also liberal arts schools that are candidates for imperial ministers/close ministers. , School of Economics; there are also specially selected positions from the Department of Strategy and Strategy of the Military University.
All in all, they were the reserve talents that the imperial court would use greatly in the future. Compared with Jiang Tian, a specially selected official who was recruited halfway and was still in prison six months ago, he was completely different from his peers. But for some unknown reason, they were arranged to wait together to receive an audience with His Majesty?
It's just that some of them are still complaining privately, because they are not given money and have been deliberately taken a long way by unscrupulous internal officials. Some were surprised that in a circle where they were relatively familiar with each other, a new face like Jiang Tian with unknown origins was added.
However, after all, we were in the Forbidden Palace, waiting for an audience with His Majesty; we were all mature adults, and they were the future bureaucrats of the empire; with no clear understanding of each other's situation and no entanglement of interests, there was no deliberate temptation. and entanglement, and even provocative and slap-in-the-face plots.
Only one military attache, who seemed to be a cheerful and cheerful man, took the initiative to come over and greet him. After a few words of conversation, after learning about Jiang Tian's rank and position, he stepped back in a measured manner without saying anything more. Then the announcer inside began to call out names and called them in in batches.
It was not until the fifth batch after everyone said goodbye that Jiang Tian heard his name and official status; he was slowly led in by a palace emissary with yellowish hair and beard holding a whisk. Climb up the steps from the palace platform in the inner courtyard, and stop at the last step of the right side hall of Guanfeng.
According to the homework he had done in advance, the so-called thanking your Majesty was actually a formalized final process. Those who did not have sufficient rank and official position were not qualified to enter the palace and accept the emperor's personal summons. So most people just show their faces at the doorstep and accept advice and get over it.
But when Jiang Tian was doing his usual routine and Lang Lang read out the routine he had prepared before, he seemed to sense something unusual. For example, inside and outside this palace complex, there are many vague glances, full of vigilance and vigilance, always staring at him.
Behind the curtain of the right side hall, there was also a slightly tired and impatient voice, asking the left and right: "Is it him? He doesn't seem to be a man with three heads and six arms, but he is actually said to be miraculous by those people. Still. Do you want to mobilize all kinds of troops to act as a secret guard?"
Then someone hurriedly responded: "The Holy Lord clearly knows that this son has already had a bad reputation and has killed many people. Just the day before yesterday, in front of everyone's eyes, he broke into the formation and killed the generals, blocking an army alone. It should not be done casually. Recruiting him into the palace is a sure-fire plan for the safety of the Supreme Being, and the servants have no choice but to do it."
However, at this time, someone else said: "Holy Master Mingjian, this statement is wrong. Although this person comes from a humble background, he has always respected the imperial court and made contributions to the country. Not only did he propose countermeasures against beast disasters in the first place, but he can also discover strange things and avoid them." The imperial court is in trouble right now, and it needs such an extraordinary person! If you delay the reward for a long time, you will have no status, and it will only damage your kindness and saintliness!"
"That's all," the tired voice from before interrupted them: "In that case, it's easy to win over and show God's grace. You first come up with a charter; by the way, ask the other end of the west building if you have read it. Eye to eye. Don’t just stare at those talented people!"
In the pavilion on the west side of the side hall, there are also people behind the carved window panes, looking at the position below the steps. But most of them are young girls in their prime, dressed in palace clothes and skirts, singing together like warblers and swallows.
"Is this Jiang Sheng? It doesn't look surprising!"
"You still don't know, but just outside Bianzhou City, he rushed to the front alone and defeated an entire battalion of rebel soldiers;"
"As everyone knows, this person was just an unknown person in the market half a year ago."
"But overnight, on the night of Shangyuan, the whole capital was suddenly alarmed, and he was imprisoned."
"Then there were many adventures along the way, and now..."
