It was still early in the morning, not long after daybreak, but the bustling Imperial Street was already bustling with activity. Countless small vendors had set up stalls on both sides of the street, and there was a constant stream of pedestrians coming and going.

"Respected Saladin, you have lived in the Song Dynasty for many years. Have you been here before?"

In the carriage, the Abbasid envoy asked the translator Saladin, and even without realizing it, he had used the honorific.

Saladin smiled and said, "Of course I have been here."

"Have you ever seen so many people in the capital of the Song Dynasty before?"

The messenger asked in shock.

"I've seen it before. In other words, there are fewer people at night and in the morning. Only at noon will you know how many people there are in the capital of the Song Dynasty."

"My God, is there still a small crowd at this time? There might be more people here than in Baghdad."

"Otherwise, why is the Song Dynasty the most powerful country in the world?"

Saladin had already settled in Guangzhou and had come to Bianliang to do business, and his language was full of pride.

"Alas, the Abbasid state has just recovered, and the people have been affected by the war and are suffering from hunger and cold. It would be great if we could live and work in peace and contentment like the Song Dynasty."

The messenger sighed.

The Arab Empire was once a powerful empire with vast borders and a huge population.

But today the Abbasid Caliphate holds only a small area in the heart of the former empire.

Although this area has fertile soil, is located on the Mesopotamian Plain, has abundant grain production and a large population, it may be able to regain its former glory if it is properly managed.

But compared with the Song Dynasty, it is like a poor countryman meeting a wealthy businessman. There is absolutely no comparison between the two sides.

Entering through the Suzaku Gate of the inner city, the envoys took in the prosperity of the inner city as if they were taking a quick look.

Everyone showed expressions of shock and envy.

What surprised them most was that the guides and translators told them that this was when there were fewer people.

If it was noon, they might not be able to get from the train station to Xuande Gate in half an hour, because at that time most of the streets in the inner city would be blocked, with crowds of people stretching as far as the eye can see.

This is the prosperous Bianliang. Its population exceeded three million in the ninth year of the Qingli period. By the end of the twelfth year of the Qingli period, its population was approaching five million.

At the beginning of the morning, which was around 7 o'clock, the Western envoys, who had slept all night on the train and had just woken up, finally arrived at the Song Dynasty Palace with shocked eyes.

The towering palace walls, the exquisite and beautiful carvings, and the various buildings with brackets and flying eaves are dazzling.

The strict guards also made everyone feel afraid.

There were guards patrolling at the foot of the imperial city and on top of the city walls, looking sternly at everyone who passed by.

There is a huge square outside Xuande Gate. Originally, this square was the Imperial Corridor. To the east is the Jingling East Palace, and to the west is the Secretariat. The area is very large, even larger than Tiananmen Square.

Later, when the imperial city was expanded, Xuande Gate was demolished and rebuilt, and it was expanded to the area around Baoci Temple north of the Bian River. The square was a little smaller, about 800 meters long from north to south and about 500 meters wide from east to west, basically the same size as Tiananmen Square.

Not only was the imperial corridor in front of the gate paved with marble, but water was also diverted from the Bian River to circle the square. More than ten white marble arch bridges were built outside. Court officials would walk through here on their way to the Chuigong Hall in the morning.

At this moment, the square was full of people. Today's court meeting was cancelled. The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited all envoys from various countries who had arrived in the Song Dynasty to attend a banquet in the Changqing Hall of the Changqing Palace.

This was not a formal celebration, just a banquet.

But even so, there were more than 200 kings and envoys from more than 60 countries, together with their accompanying guides and translators, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Rites, a bustling crowd of more than 200 people, making for a rather grand occasion.

Soon everyone arrived. Under the arrangement of officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, many kings and envoys stood in the square outside Xuande Gate and lined up in an orderly manner.

There were also various whispers at the scene, but the countries did not speak the same language, so basically it was the kings and envoys of each country talking to the translators or accompanying officials, asking questions and so on.

"Open the palace gate!"

On the Xuande Gate, the eunuchs shouted in a loud voice.

“Crunch, crunch, crunch.”

The majestic and tall middle gate of Xuande Gate slowly opened.

Then teams of guards came out and formed a line outside the door.

Then there were dozens of loud "bang bang bang" sounds, and fireworks shot straight into the sky, blooming with brilliant colors.

That is to say, it is already early morning and daytime, so the beauty of the fireworks cannot be seen very clearly. If it were at night, it would be very beautiful.

"please!"

After the welcoming salute ended, Zhao Jun, Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo, Han Qi, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Rites, led the crowd into the palace amid the shocked eyes of the kings and envoys.

Unlike the officials of the Song Dynasty who walked forward with dignity, the king and the envoys still had their eyes wide open, looking around, and walked in cautiously.

Enter from Xuande Gate, go straight to Youque Gate, and then go forward about 200 steps to reach Changqing Gate.

Behind Changqing Gate is a huge palace complex, which is the preserved building of the original Jingling East Palace. It is full of lush flowers and vegetation, beautiful gardens, countless pavilions, towers, ponds and lakes.

Palace lanterns lit up the darkness in every palace. These palace lanterns were no longer candles, but light bulbs connected to electric wires, illuminating the entire palace with light.

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