Chapter 147 From now on, all foreign tributes shall be cast in this style
When the first hint of autumn color dyed the tips of the leaves yellow, the wanderer who had been wandering outside for nearly two years set foot on the land of his homeland again.
The city of Xianyang, which had expanded several times, once again took on a strange appearance.
"I haven't been back for only two years, and I don't even recognize the roads anymore." A soldier who had just retired from the army was dragged to the market by his friend. He looked around and almost lost his way.
"It was expanded just half a year ago. From now on, this area will be the inner city. We live in the outer city. Hehe, the free house is much better than our original one."
"Hey, I'll take you there..." He had just started to speak when he was interrupted by the crowd that kept avoiding him from far away.
"Make way, please pass, please!" A man was dragging goods that were almost as high as a room and walking slowly forward. His face was not red and he was not out of breath. You could tell that he was far from reaching his limit.
A passerby who knew the situation sighed, "The Tumen family has finally made it. Their youngest daughter is gifted and has already been admitted to a preparatory class. She's destined to be a wealthy adult in the future."
Someone curiously asked him, "How could she be willing to do this rough job of delivering meat?"
"That's why we say the butcher is so lucky! His son inherited his stall, and his daughter is talented. Better days are yet to come."
Someone nearby seemed to know more and couldn't help but interject, "If you ask me, it's thanks to the immortal saying something about 'daily use' or 'practical use'. I don't remember exactly what it was, but after that, those who learned the immortal arts from him gradually began to put them to work."
As that person left, the crowd gradually dispersed and returned to its original state.
The veteran and his friend continued to move forward.
"There are so many people." The old soldier couldn't help but grumble under his breath after being squeezed by the passing crowd again. "It's so crowded. Has everyone in the world flocked to Xianyang?"
The friend was surprised: "You don't know?"
The veteran was even more surprised than he was: "What?"
The friend looked at him again and again, and confirmed that he was truly unaware, so he explained, "It's the Great Nine Provinces Fengtian Conference. All the foreign leaders will come to pay homage to our Majesty. I heard that the Immortal Master will also be in attendance."
At this point, his tone was sour, "None of us have seen the Immortal Master very often, but those outsiders are lucky enough."
"Then you have to go and join in the fun. When is it? Let me make it clear, I have to attend the military parade on x month x day, so I won't be able to accompany you."
His friend patted him on the back. "Great! You're already participating, and you're still pretending to be clueless! Shouldn't we still be number one in the world?"
The two walked forward while playing and joking. A group of people caught up with them and shouted, "Hey! Buddies, wait for me!"
The man had a distinctly foreign appearance, but spoke authentic Daqin dialect. "Has your worship meeting started yet? Didn't I miss it?"
The friend suddenly became extremely enthusiastic and said, "No, no, it will take another half a month. Friends coming from afar can find a guesthouse to stay first."
The veteran watched helplessly as the other man turned around and walked back with the stranger in his arm, leaving him there.
He was stunned for a long time before he vaguely remembered: I heard him say two years ago that he wanted to open a hotel. Could it be that he really got it done?
He scratched his head. Could his friend be so capable? He remembered that the requirements for the hotel business license were very high, requiring eight subjects to be taken.
Only then did he truly realize that after two years away, the Qin Dynasty had undergone earth-shaking changes.
…
As the Fengtian Conference approached, Xianyang City became more and more lively. People had become accustomed to the unusual colored eyes and hair colors that were once seen. The people of Xianyang would even give directions to foreigners passing by.
"Go over there," the person being asked pointed in a direction without waiting for the other person to speak. "Those of you who are outside should go over there first."
After pointing the way, he hugged his granddaughter and coaxed her: "Oh, dear granddaughter, grandpa will take you to eat candy and buy you a big candy man."
Only now that life is better can we use sugar figures to appease children. In the past, this was a small sweet thing that could only be obtained during festivals and holidays. This small piece would be broken into smaller pieces and soaked in sugar water.
To ordinary people, the Fengtian Conference was just another lively celebration, but in the eyes of the people in the court, its importance was no less than the surrender of the royal families of various countries when the six kingdoms were unified in the past.
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As a senior worker of the Qin Dynasty, the king of kings, and Prime Minister Li Si is also the general person in charge of this conference. Fortunately, this time he has the cooperation of the logistics king Xiao He.
They are making the final inspection of the conference site, striving to reflect Daqin's outstanding, low-key and steady style.
In order to welcome the incoming envoys, the Daqin Flying Boat Administration specially marked two routes for the use of flying boats carrying leaders from various places.
On the waterway outside Xianyang City, a large bronze ship, flying a black flag bearing the Black Bird, slowly moved forward. Black-armored soldiers on the sidewalls held long halberds, their expressions solemn. The ship's hull broke through the drifting white clouds, creating a gentle rustle of wind and rippling waves around it.
Inside the cabin, the king from the Maurya Empire sat upright.
He looked out the car window at the towering Xianyang city wall in the distance and couldn't help but gasp.
"Is this the city of Xianyang?" the Peacock King muttered to himself. He had heard descriptions of this city from the stories told by passing merchants, but seeing it with his own eyes revealed that words could not even begin to describe its grandeur.
The flying boat landed at the anchorage outside the city and was driven into the city gate in a carriage that did not require mules or horses. The scene before him left Mahabala stunned.
The wide street was wide enough to accommodate twenty carriages running side by side. There were neatly arranged shops on both sides of the street, with colorful flags hanging.
The streets were crowded with people, but in an orderly manner. The Maurya King noticed that all the pedestrians were wearing clean and neat cloth that covered their entire bodies.
"Are these the civilians here?" he asked the Qin official who was receiving him in a low voice.
After receiving the affirmative answer, he took a deep breath.
Only an unparalleled empire like the Qin Dynasty could ensure that all civilians had clothes to wear.
The Peacock King and his confidant Sui Xing exchanged a glance: They must have a good relationship with Daqin, and they must be the best neighbors of Daqin.
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"All roads lead to Rome." The consul, wrapped in silk, knelt at the foot of the Danbi, holding high the cover of the code stamped with Qin seal script. "Now the end of the Roman road is Xianyang."
*
The envoy presented a saddle made from the pharaoh's golden crown and unfolded a papyrus with a map of the Nile flood season. "The sun of the Nile has since risen on Mount Li."
*
The Maurya King presented a fragment of the stone pillar containing Ashoka's edict, on which the Sanskrit text was inscribed in small seal script: "Those who hold the bows lay down their weapons and lift up the measure of the Great Qin."
*
Mayan priests who came across the ocean presented a Venus calendar drawn on tree bark. "In the thirteenth cycle of the Tzolkin calendar, the feathered serpent will cast an eternal sundial in Xianyang."
*
"reward."
A deep and majestic voice echoed in the empty hall.
The eunuch ordered four jade plates to be brought out:
The flint given to the Roman consuls was set with melted gold grains of the eagle;
The millet seeds given to Mayan priests were dyed with cinnabar from the Imperial Astronomical Observatory;
The pottery jar presented to the Egyptian envoy resembled a flattened pyramid;
The iron plow given to the Maurya King was branded with the word "Qin" and faded Sanskrit.
The nine-guest ceremonial music rang out.
The chimes played by the musicians were mixed with stone chimes made from Roman bronze shields, cymbals made from Mayan tortoise shells, and gongs made from Egyptian bronze sheets.
Amidst this distorted harmony, the historian inscribed a new decree: "From now on, all offerings from foreign nations must be cast according to this pattern."
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