Experience the wind and sand, and cross the vast desert.
Under the escort of the scout battalion captain Tang Yanhai and his team, the Western Region merchant An Dehai and his caravan finally entered the territory of Shuozhou.
When passing through Fengzhou and Yinzhou, An Dehai felt that the atmosphere of the border military towns was solemn and austere, which was very different from that of the countries in the Western Regions.
However, when he actually stepped into the gate of Shuozhou, the scene before him completely stunned this knowledgeable businessman who had traveled between the Western Regions and the Central Plains.
The city gate is wide, and there are a lot of carriages and people, but everything is in good order.
What surprised him most was that all the carriages and pedestrians in the city were driving on the right side!
Although there is the hustle and bustle of traffic, there is no sense of congestion or chaos.
From time to time, people wearing uniform gray short coats and armbands would patrol the area. When they saw scattered paper scraps or fruit peels on the ground, they would immediately come forward to clean them up.
If they see someone throwing things away carelessly, they will step forward and talk to them sternly, as if to...find them?
"This... your rules are really strange."
An Dehai couldn't help but sigh to the captain beside him.
The captain explained with a barely perceptible pride on his face:
"Please forgive me for laughing, Manager An. These are all the 'Municipal Management Regulations' set by our General Zhao."
"The general said, 'Without rules, there is no order.' A city this large and populous requires even greater order in order to be efficient, so that the people can live in peace and merchants can work happily."
Hearing such a term for the first time, An Dehai was bewildered, but he could clearly feel that these rules made this city distinct from Longyou.
Entering the main road in the city, you will find it bustling with people and lined with shops.
The shops on both sides of the street are neatly marked with signs and a wide variety of goods.
There are silk from Jiannan, porcelain from Jiangnan, tea from Guanzhong, ironware from Hebei, and even some peculiarly shaped "Shuozhou-made" goods.
Such as small folding scissors, lightweight and durable canvas backpacks, and the "Shuozhou Glass Mirror" that is said to be able to clearly reflect a person's reflection.
Only then did An Dehai believe that Shuozhou really had what he wanted.
He suppressed the urge to play with the glass mirror. If he showed too much urgency in wanting it, he would be asked to pay an exorbitant price.
Most of the people walking on the street had rosy complexions and were neatly dressed, with children laughing and playing. It was a peaceful and prosperous scene, completely different from the counties and prefectures he had seen in Longyou.
"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed that there is such a... such a wonderful city in this northern frontier!" An Dehai marveled.
As he was speaking, a patrol of cavalry passed by.
The knights wore light and well-structured leather armor, with swords slung across their waists, composite bows on their backs, and two iron lumps hanging next to their saddles.
They were well-disciplined, with sharp eyes and a spirit of toughness in their movements, which was very different from the equipment of the Central Plains army that An Dehai had in mind.
"The equipment of these soldiers..." An Dehai's eyes were drawn to it.
The squad leader's tone was even more proud. "This was also improved under the personal supervision of General Zhao. The armor is lighter and more flexible, and the horizontal sword is more suitable for slashing. It's called the Thunder Bomb, and one can kill more than ten people."
"The general said that war is about capturing cities and territories, but more importantly, it is about destroying the enemy's manpower."
An Dehai, a businessman, was also extremely surprised when he heard this.
He didn't expect that General Zhao's lower-level officers were also influenced by such military theories.
When I reached a street corner, I saw a group of people gathered around a stage, listening attentively.
A storyteller was talking excitedly:
"It happened so fast! Seeing that the Tartar centurion's mace was about to reach his head, General Zhao did not retreat but advanced. He took a quick step forward, his spear shot out like a dragon, and he shouted loudly!"
"With a loud 'puff', the Tartar was hit right in the throat. The surrounding Tartars were all stunned!"
"Who would have thought that our General Zhao, with only nine brothers from the Beacon Tower, would dare to confront a Tartar squadron of a hundred men!"
"That battle was so intense that the sky was dark and the sun and moon were extinguished..."
The adults and children in the audience were fascinated by the story. An Dehai and others couldn't help but stop and were attracted by the thrilling story.
Just as he was reaching the crucial point, the storyteller slapped the wooden stick and said, "To know what happens next, please listen to the next chapter!"
Ouch!
Everyone sighed in disappointment and continued talking for a long time, unwilling to leave.
An Dehai was also eager to try, and he exclaimed to his attendants, "This General Zhao is truly a god! He can fight against a hundred Tartars with just nine men. He must be a seasoned and experienced general!"
When the sergeant heard this, he smiled without saying anything and led An Dehai to the General Zhenbei's Mansion in the center of the city.
The mansion is simple and old, but it exudes rigor and efficiency everywhere.
The ground was paved with bluestone, clean and tidy; officials were walking hurriedly, but no one was shouting loudly.
This made him even more in awe of General Zhao, whom he had never met before.
Anyone who can manage the mansion in such an orderly manner must be a person with strict laws and meticulous thoughts.
After waiting for a while in the side hall, I heard footsteps and a scholar in his fifties, wearing a green Confucian robe, with a gaunt face and three long strands of beard under his chin, walked in slowly.
This man has an elegant temperament, his eyes are gentle and wise, and he has a calm demeanor when he walks. It is obvious at first glance that he is someone in charge of important matters.
An Dehai's eyes lit up, and he thought to himself, "As expected! Without such magnanimity, how could he have managed such a powerful enterprise as Shuozhou?"
He did not dare to neglect it and immediately rushed forward. Without waiting for the sergeant who introduced him to speak, he bowed deeply to the ground, touched his chest with his right hand, and said in his most respectful Dayin language:
"Your Excellency General Zhao Muyun! I am An Dehai, a merchant from the Western Regions. I have traveled thousands of miles across the vast sea and desert to meet you today. It is truly a great honor!"
"The general is feared throughout the northern borders, and his wisdom is profound. Seeing him today, I finally realized that hearing about him is not as good as meeting him in person, and meeting him in person is far better than hearing about him in person!"
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