Zuo Ning rode his horse and walked toward the city gate with a feeling of reluctance for another person around him.
In front of him is the final destination of this trip, the capital - Qingzheng.
On the gray-white city wall, there are groups of soldiers wearing bright silver armor, either standing or patrolling, performing the duties of guarding the city wall. Under the illumination of the sky, the silver armor was shining and dazzling, with a faint golden color emerging.
It feels like the light of armor is opening towards the golden scales of the sun.
Viewed from a distance, this city with a six-foot-high outer wall looks like a creeping gray beast guarding the innermost center of the country.
Zuo Ning could immediately tell at just one glance that this was a fortified city and how strong the capital's external defense was.
As long as it's not a shoddy project.
And for a city of this size, if you look from the main entrance to both sides, you can't see the edges. Even Zuo Ning's extraordinary eyesight can barely catch a glimpse.
"This is bigger than Yanzhou City. I don't know which one is bigger than Yushen Pass."
Zuo Ning couldn't help but sigh for Yanzhou City. As the first fortified city in the north, Yanzhou City was actually inferior in scale and fortification to the capital city in Pian'an, far inland in Jingzhou.
If this city is moved to Yanzhou or Yunzhou, Zuo Ning can conclude that with the size of the city, it can repel the Beirong and Beiliao's uninterrupted southward invasion for many years.
Not far away, there is a huge city gate. The iron weight is firmly pulled up. The red lacquer door is open. Below are the soldiers responsible for checking passers-by and the people lining up to enter.
Bustling and lively.
There were quite a lot of people. When Zuo Ning got off his horse and started queuing, the crowd had already reached the edge of the moat. The clear sound of horse hooves sounded on the bridge, making the wooden bridge creak and chirp.
"Lingyu, be gentle." Zuo Ning patted Liangju's head and scolded.
The psychic BMW was naturally very obedient, and immediately slowed down and walked slowly, and then rubbed Zuo Ning's hand on its head.
After hearing that the noise became quieter, Zuo Ning was satisfied and quietly started to line up.
Among the people queuing up in front, there were many ordinary people, and there were also wanderers dressed like himself. But the strange thing was that he didn't see even one of them in ragged clothes.
No, not one.
This is far different from the scene seen in Qingzhou.
"Have you heard? Zhang Laowu's uncle in Qingzhou was killed by bandits!"
"Ah? How could this be?"
"Well - Uncle Zhang Laowu's son came back and said, that child, tsk tsk, what I saw yesterday was as skinny as a stick, as if there were only two ounces of meat on the bones, and his clothes were all in strips of cloth! That's called A miserable one."
"Hey, I heard that Bingzhou is already in chaos. Could it be that Qingzhou is also?"
"I'm not sure. I asked yesterday that the child's family was killed at the border of Bingzhou and Qingzhou!"
"Well, we still have some peace and stability here... I don't know about the Yamen..."
"Hush! You don't want your life, you are talking about the Yamen here!"
…
Zuo Ning fell silent for a moment while listening to the discussion of the two middle-aged men in front of him who were carrying things on poles, as if they were going to the city to sell things.
I heard these market rumors again, and the content was still about family destruction and natural disasters.
He didn't ask the two men if what they said was true, nor did he learn more about these things. Zuo Ning just stood back and listened quietly.
"Maybe it's just a natural disaster. After the disaster is over, the situation may get better..."
Zuo Ning knew very well that he could do nothing but kill the enemy, so he could only comfort himself like this.
Every time he heard the complaints of these people at the bottom, he would think of his service in the army. They were all ordinary people working hard for their families.
Recalling what Lu Shuihan had told him in the village after they had just parted ways, Zuo Ning could only attribute all these misfortunes to natural disasters.
"Is the so-called fight between the five fishes a natural disaster or a man-made disaster?"
"Hey, are you going into the city?"
A loud shout interrupted Zuo Ning's thoughts, and before he knew it, he realized that it was his turn.
Zuo Ning hurriedly led the horse forward, followed the regular procedure, and after being interrogated, was allowed in.
"Where are you from?"
"Yanzhou."
"What are you doing in the capital? What are these weapons used for?"
Zuo Ning took out a small sign, showed it to the old soldier, and said:
"I was ordered to take up my post in Beijing. The weapons are for self-defense."
The old pawn glanced at the sign with the word "内" written on it, and then stepped aside to make way:
"Let's go."
"Thanks."
Zuo Ning thanked him out of habit. Just as he was about to step out of the city gate with his horse, the fifty-year-old soldier who had just interrogated him stopped him.
"That young man!"
?
When he heard someone calling him, Zuo Ning turned around and looked at the old soldier who called him, a little confused.
"First time in Beijing?"
Facing the old pawn's question, Zuo Ning nodded.
It must be the first time for me to come to Beijing. Can this old soldier see that?
"Hehe, just tell me why I haven't seen you before. It's impossible that I can't remember you with such a handsome appearance. Take this. With this, you can get discounts at Jianhu Inn in Xicheng."
After saying that, the old soldier took out a copper badge from his arms and threw it to Zuo Ning.
The sound of the collision of nails and badges was clear and sweet, echoing in the city gate.
Ding~~
After Zuo Ning stretched out his hand to catch the cold badge, he looked at it carefully, thanked him, and then turned around and left.
"I said, Lao Li, why are you willing to give him your bronze medal? Didn't Lao Zhangtou give it to you after you begged for a long time?"
Regarding this episode-like behavior, the slightly younger soldier next to the old soldier did not understand his behavior and asked.
"Hey, you know a thing! Didn't you see that sign? He was directly appointed by the imperial edict and came to the capital to be appointed. Moreover, this young man has an extraordinary aura, and his luxurious clothes clearly show that he is not an ordinary person in the world. This is called forming a good relationship! "
The young soldier still didn't understand, but he didn't refute Lao Li, but continued to look back at the passing people.
In fact, Lao Li was so excited that he gave him this bronze medal.
He couldn't help but look back at Zuo Ning's back. In the end, he said nothing, then turned around and returned to his work.
The simple episode did not leave much weight in Zuo Ning's heart, but Zuo Ning was a little more curious about this old pawn.
"The people are quite nice."
Zuo Ning led the horse. Although he said that the first task at this time was to find Old Tang and then go to see the saint, people are like iron rice and steel. At noon, he had to finish a meal first. These days, it all depends on Lu Shuihan's superb skills. My cooking skills are good, but the food is good.
Thinking of this, he looked at the bronze medal in his hand and made a plan in his mind.
