A few days later, Zhao Jun arrived in Beiping Prefecture in early May.
Beiping Prefecture was Xijin Prefecture in Nanjing during the Liao Dynasty, and was also the capital of my country, Beijing, in later generations.
As early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the State of Yan planned this place as Youbeiping County, and later called it Ji County and Yanjing.
During the Western Jin Dynasty, it was renamed Beiping County, and Beiping has since become another name for this place.
During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Shi Jingtang, the puppet emperor of the Liao Dynasty, ceded the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun to the Liao Kingdom. Beijing became Liao territory and was first named Nanjing Youdu Prefecture by the Liao people, and later changed to Xijin Prefecture.
Three years ago, in the sixth year of the Qingli period, the Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty, Fan Zhongyan, led the Song army to capture Xijin, drove the Liao people out of the pass, and recovered the Han people's territory.
The imperial court decided to restore it to its old name of Beiping, and abolished Beijing Daming Prefecture, one of the five capitals of the Song Dynasty, and moved it to Beiping.
Peking's geographical location determines its important geopolitical value, so heavy troops are deployed here.
It was the height of summer in the fifth month of the lunar calendar, and the weather was getting hotter. The wide official road should have been bustling with people, but the weather had been so abnormal recently that there were fewer merchants and civilians traveling back and forth.
At this moment, a large group of people were moving slowly on the road. Wang Shougui summoned 5,000 elite guards to escort them on the periphery, and the cavalry in front were holding flags to lead the way.
In the middle, there was a ceremonial guard beating drums and gongs, and teams of soldiers were fully armed. Although they were not allowed to carry guns, they were equipped with halberds and axes.
Zhao Jun's own guards were guarding the carriage, beating drums and gongs all the way to Beiping Prefecture.
Zhao Jun was helpless about this.
This is the prime minister's ceremonial guard. As one of the five capitals, Xijin Prefecture naturally has such equipment.
Although he had to keep a low profile, he had to keep a low profile in the local area. But after arriving in Beiping Prefecture, he had to act in a high-profile manner and let all the people and families in Youyan Road know about it.
Firstly, it demonstrates the authority of the court, and secondly, it serves as a warning to these aristocratic families - telling them who the real master here is.
Otherwise, if the court continues to act low-key and submissive, the local noble families will think that the court is weak and can be bullied.
When the convoy arrived outside the Beiping Prefecture, Zhao Jun lifted the curtain and a wave of heat hit his nose.
He glanced around and saw that both sides of the official road were lined with fertile farmland. Many people were working hard in the fields and near the canals, braving the scorching heat.
The main river in Peking is the Sanggan River, and there is also the Gaoliang River. The famous Battle of Gaoliang River took place in the southeast of the city.
The Sanggan River flows from northwest to southeast, passing through the southwest corner of Peking City and heading southeast.
A large number of farmers were digging canals along the river banks. Although the Han people in Youyan were slightly resistant to the government's policy of paid labor, few responded.
But the government was still willing to organize the digging of the canal.
After all, it is their own land. If they don't contribute, they will starve to death if the harvest fails.
In front of us is the south gate of Beiping Prefecture. It is majestic and tall. The height of the city is comparable to that of Bianliang, or even higher than that of Bianliang, and is comparable to ancient capitals such as Chang'an and Luoyang.
Zhao Jun's position was outside Danfeng Gate, one of the southern city gates. There was also a city wall outside, called Qixia Gate. Entering the city wall and passing Danfeng Gate was the former Liao Nanjing Imperial Palace.
The light black city wall was carved by knives and axes, and there are still many dents left. It is obvious that it was caused by the bombardment of the city wall with cannons when Fan Zhongyan attacked the city.
After entering the city through the urn, you will reach the Liao imperial city. On the left and right sides should be the Temple of King Yu Yue and the Yongping Pavilion respectively, but Zhao Jun only saw a square, which was very different from the floor plan of Liao Nanjing he had seen before.
After crossing the square and approaching the palace, Zhao Jun noticed that many parts of the palace walls outside the palace were burnt gray and black, obviously there had been a very large fire here.
"When Lord Fan attacked Peking, the Liao people set fire to the city in an attempt to stop the might of our Heavenly Army. Fortunately, Lord Fan was very clever and used the Liao people's tricks to defeat them!"
The convoy stopped in front of the imperial palace. Zhao Jun got out and saw him looking at the marks on the palace wall. Yang Ting, who was also the prefect of Beiping Prefecture, explained, "Some of the burned palaces and walls have been demolished, and some have been slightly repaired, resulting in the current appearance."
They did not rebuild, but simply demolished the burned palace. The palace looked empty for a while, and the many missing palaces made the complex look disorganized and lacked some beauty.
Zhao Jun nodded slightly and said, "Where is your office now?"
"The Qingliang Hall and Linshui Hall to the west, near Guanyin Lake, did not suffer much damage from the fire."
Yang Ting pointed to the west of the palace.
If Liaonan was cut horizontally and vertically into four areas, the entire southwest corner would be the imperial city area.
However, the Imperial City District was not exclusive to the Liao royal family. It also had streets, markets, and even villages. The markets in the former Liao imperial city in the distance had been burned down, leaving only a wasteland, overgrown with weeds like the wild.
A few miles away from the palace, a huge lake can be vaguely seen, which probably covers an area of two or three square kilometers. Wild grass and weeds sway in the wind by the lake, and there are continuous buildings on the east bank.
As the capital of the Song Dynasty, Beiping Prefecture naturally became the imperial palace of Zhao Zhen in theory. If local officials moved in, it would be tantamount to treason.
Therefore, they could only work and live outside the imperial palace, and the palace became a decoration.
“It’s a shame to leave such a large area empty.”
Zhao Jun pointed at the vast expanse of the Imperial City in the distance and said, "Let's cancel the Imperial City. We should focus on developing the city's interior. Otherwise, wouldn't it be a waste to leave so much land lying around?"
"Forehead"
Yang Ting asked in surprise, "Where should the government office be moved to?"
"Go into the palace and take a look."
Zhao Jun stepped forward, stepped through the palace gate and entered the imperial palace.
Compared to the wild, the damaged area of the palace was smaller, mainly because most of the buildings in the imperial city were wooden, and once a fire broke out, it would spread easily.
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