The capital layout of Wu State is extremely square.
In the center is the imperial city that wraps up the palace city, to the outside is the inner city, and beyond that is the outer city that relies on the expansion of the inner city.
The inner city is divided into four districts: southeast, northwest and northwest, and divided by four main roads: Blue Dragon, White Tiger, Suzaku and Xuanwu.
The north of the city is the main camp of the garrison. It is relatively desolate and has few residents. The west part of the city is dominated by the residences of dignitaries, while the east part of the city is populated by common people.
The south of the city is the most prosperous. The merchants of the entire Wu Kingdom, including teahouses, restaurants, and various commercial firms, are basically located in the south of the city.
Not long after the founding of the Wu Kingdom, when the world was at peace, the south of the capital city was known as "the most prosperous place in the world." Now, although it has experienced the Ling Emperor's rebellion and is not as good as before, it is still considered a prosperous place.
Coming out of the south gate of the Imperial City is Zhuque Street.
As the carriage passed by, the dozens of uniformed guards in casual clothes quickly dispersed in all directions. They seemed like insignificant passers-by, but they vaguely surrounded the carriage in the middle.
Outside the carriage, Gou Zhong and two guards dressed as servants followed closely, looking around warily from time to time.
"Wow, Emperor... Brother Li, there are so many shops outside. All along the road are pretense and signboards. The capital is indeed a prosperous place in the world, much more prosperous than when it was in Yuezhou!" The person dressed as a maid Jane opened the carriage curtain first and exclaimed.
She almost shouted the wrong name, so she couldn't help but stick out her tongue playfully.
This was also Li Yun's first time out of the palace, and he also carefully looked at the surrounding environment.
In a broad sense, these are the people and property of his emperor, and the world is one family, so we must understand them well no matter what.
What's more, if he wants the world to return to his heart and gather imperial energy, he must conduct in-depth investigation and research.
After taking a look, Li Yun couldn't help but frown slightly.
Although there are many shops and tourists, and there are many people wearing gorgeous silks and satins, there are also many poor people in rags and rags.
Pedestrians on the road can be said to be seriously polarized.
Most of them are civilians with disheveled faces and dull eyes.
There are even beggars kneeling down begging every now and then on the roadside. Their accents suggest that they are not from Beijing. According to Zhen'er, they all have accents from Hedong Road.
Apparently they were refugees from Hedong Road.
He just told Concubine Jin the day before yesterday that he asked the White Lotus Sect to drive the victims to Beijing, but he didn't have time to take action yet.
These disaster victims and beggars now are only those who fled in the early stage.
This shows the extent of the flood in Ha Dong Road.
On one side are splendid restaurants and brothels, on the other side are beggars and victims kneeling on the roadside, dying.
Although many civilians are not begging, most of them are sallow and thin, with rabbit-like panic in their eyes, and they seem to have an instinctive fear of those wearing gorgeous clothes.
From time to time, some people riding tall horses and wearing colorful clothes would pass through the street, arrogantly, but they would not even slow down at all when encountering street vendors. Instead, those vendors would hurriedly open their shelves to get out of the way.
If you give in too slowly, you will be hit with a whip.
The one who hits someone walks away in a hurry, but the one who gets hit is used to it and dares to be angry but dare not speak out.
Seeing Li Yun looking intently at the market he was passing by, Gou Zhong smiled proudly and said to Li Yun:
"Sir, you have lived in the palace for a long time. You have never seen such prosperity, right? Kyoto is known as the most prosperous in the world, and you are not just talking about it."
As he spoke, he felt proud.
What a bullshit emperor, he has lived in the palace like a caged bird for three years and has never even seen the streets.
This is a comfortable way to travel incognito, just call me Young Master, and you don't have to talk about the emperor every day, have to kowtow when meeting, and hold your breath every day.
Li Yun nodded slightly and said:
"Just go to the most prosperous place and see."
Gou Zhong nodded and smiled:
"As commanded."
After giving some instructions to the driver, the carriage moved slowly towards Yong'an Street in the south of the city.
Gou Zhong said quickly:
"The most prosperous place in the capital is Yong'an Street. There are 66 shops of all kinds and more than 20 brothels and restaurants. The most famous 'Jinghua Tower' in the capital is on Yong'an Street. Oirans are chosen in all seasons of summer, autumn and winter, and they are known as the four seasons of beauty, attracting princes and dignitaries to bow down."
"The chief officials of various ministries are even proud of taking concubines for four seasons of youth. Xu Wen, the scholar of the Ministry of Rites and a bachelor, married the four seasons of youth in Jinghua Tower two years ago. He called it "embroidery collapse and longevity", and it was said to be a good talk... "
Gou Zhong was talking about all his treasures at this time, including what was the name of the courtesan in which brothel, what were the characteristics of the service in which brothel, and he talked endlessly, including which minister was caught by his wife while visiting a brothel, and which dignitaries and people were there. The brothels compete for the oiran with swords and troops, which brothel has the background of which senior official, etc.
Obviously, most of the information here came from Jin Yiwei.
Li Yun looked at him sideways for a while. Why are you, a eunuch, so interested in brothels? Are you addicted to sex?
As he said that, he had already arrived at Yong'an Street.
There are a lot of tourists, and there are various shops on both sides of the street. People lead donkeys, ride horses, and sit in sedan chairs. It is a lively and prosperous scene.
The aroma of tea and wine from the tea house and restaurant was already wafting out as soon as we reached the street.
There are also more victims begging. One or two people are kneeling on the street every three or five steps.
Li Yun simply took Zhen'er down from the carriage, and walked slowly forward surrounded by a group of royal guards, visiting some shops from time to time.
Gou Zhong's eyes were darting around, wishing he could find a secret place to connect with the emperor right now.
He Xingzu, the governor of Yanbei Province, could not just give up. If he could catch the hidden stake, it would be a great achievement in front of the nine thousand years old.
To take a step back, even if there is no concealment, an assassin will do. Whether the little emperor is stabbed and injured, or the assassin can be caught, it is a great achievement and a business that is sure to make money without losing money.
He knew that any incognito private interviews were all nonsense. Telling the world about the little emperor's identity would only attract those flies in the dark.
Just as he was thinking about it, he heard a loud exclamation coming from the front, mixed with screams and curses.
Li Yunzheng took Zhen'er to buy some fruits and ate them. He looked forward and frowned.
I saw tourists and passers-by in front of me pouring in to make way for an open space.
A group of Tsing Yi servants were beating up a civilian man, cursing him while beating him.
A pretty young woman in simple clothes was caught by two servants. She was struggling desperately and shouted:
"Let go of my husband! Don't hit my husband! This is the realm of the capital, you lawless villains! My husband!"
The young master in fine clothes was riding on a tall horse and said with a smile:
"Little lady, don't worry, I won't beat your husband-in-law to death. He has to be alive for you to be with me. That's what your Mr. Tong is like."
Everyone around looked at this scene and they all dared to be angry but dare not speak.
Li Yun frowned and asked an old man next to him:
"Old man, why is this man so domineering that he robs a girl on the street? Are the patrol soldiers from the Nancheng Army and Horse Division not paying attention?"
The old man chuckled, pursed his lips and said:
"Guan, why don't you care? Well, the two gentlemen over there are the inspectors of the Nancheng Army and Horses Department. If anyone dares to come forward to help the civilian woman and her husband, the two inspectors will definitely take you down immediately."
Li Yun instantly understood how corrupt the imperial officials in the capital had become.
And the anger in the eyes of the people around them shows how deep the resentment among the people is.
This is a good opportunity to gather royal energy!
At that moment, he walked out of the crowd under the protection of a group of spies and said in a deep voice:
"stop."
