Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 156: The Four Kingdoms Visit Yan, Where Rites and Music Collapse
Yan land!
Goodcon City.

It is like a pearl inlaid in the border area, with the bank of Hexi in the west and the border of South Korea in the east.

A natural fortress where merchants gather!
This city is one of the most important cities in the northern territory of Yan, and it also has the third largest canal in the world, "Water Control".

The water is mighty and flows through the city.

On the river, boats come and go, whether it is a lone sail heading south from the north, or a continuous stream of huge merchant ships leaving the city.

On both sides of the dock, goods are piled up like mountains and the dock workers are busy working.

Almost every moment, dozens of merchant ships enter the ferry.

More than a dozen caravans entered "Jiakang City".

However, it should now be called "Jiakang Directly-Administered City."

A few years ago, an imperial edict issued from Mount Zhongnan changed the name.

Although the name is strange, the customs duties in the markets of Yan area were reduced by 10%, so the people were naturally happy.

The name doesn't matter!
at this time!
It was just past noon.

The sun was shining brightly, the river was sparkling, and two four-story ships were leisurely sailing into the dock.

The "Yuwen" flag was hung high on the bow of the ship, fluttering in the wind.

But not eye-catching!
On the surface of the river, there are many huge ships as heavy as Mount Tai, seven or eight stories high, like towers on the water.

In the past, thousands of ships were racing against each other.

The ship with the name "Yuwen" on it just looks more refined and elegant.

No one cares!
The two ships turned to the side of the river and slowly moored at the military dock.

"Is this Jiakang City?"

A woman in white gently pushed open the cabin, walked onto the deck, and said this slowly with some disbelief.

Following closely behind him was a beautiful maid in blue.

at the same time!
Another ship also opened its hatch, and a group of elegant Confucian scholars poured out. With curiosity flashing in their eyes, they all cast their gazes towards this strange land.

The woman in white looked to be no more than 10 years old, with a graceful figure, like a white lotus blooming in the lake.

She has an oval face, skin as smooth as snow, a pretty appearance, and a pair of phoenix eyes that carry an air of nobility that cannot be desecrated.

now!
Her beautiful eyes sparkled with surprise and curiosity as she carefully looked around.

She grew up in a magnificent palace and had long been accustomed to luxury.

The Zizhi River flows eastward, passing through the prosperous scenes of several large cities along the way.

And Jiakang City!
This city has been an important place in the north since ancient times, but it gradually declined after the North Wind Rebellion.

Now that Lu Chen is the King of Yan, he has re-established several special large cities and given them priority development.

Jiakang City is one of them, and it is the only big city under the jurisdiction of the Prince of Yan’s Palace.

She had anticipated this before she came, but she had never imagined that the city would be so big and prosperous.

Their large ship sailed into the city and encountered countless merchant ships on the way. It took them a full hour to finally dock safely at the pier.

Standing on the side of the ship, she looked out over both banks and saw that the warehouses built on the docks were endless, with no end in sight.

The bridge over the water control facility was also crowded with people and vehicles.

Lively, prosperous, and bustling, this was her first impression!
Even compared to the South Korea she was familiar with, such a big city seemed particularly rare.

Although South Korea has only been established for 600 years, there are probably no more than two hands that can compare with it.

"I am honored to meet Her Royal Highness the Princess!"

A voice interrupted her thoughts.

When she came to her senses, she saw seven or eight people welcoming her on the shore. They should be officials from Jiakang City!
There were only a few people, and none of them wore official uniforms.

They were very polite, but not too respectful, and their attitude was neither humble nor arrogant.

The woman in white nodded gently!
The woman's name was Yuwen Liqian, a Korean princess and the second daughter of Yuwen Yan.

She had gone to Da Chu the year before last, and traveled to Qianyuan last year, and just returned from Beifeng.

This trip to Yan with many students was actually carried out at the order of my father, the emperor, and it was the last stop of the tour of the four countries.

Not only South Korea, but the other three countries also sent envoys and students one after another. In name, it was for exchange and learning, but in fact it was an attempt to spy on the development of other countries.

The maid behind Yuwen Liqian couldn't help but frown slightly when she saw this scene.

Her master was treated with great courtesy when she traveled around the three kingdoms. No matter whether it was Chu, Qianyuan or Beifeng, she was received with high standards. Officials lined up to welcome her. The scene was grand, which made her hold her head high and feel honored.

However!
When she arrived in Yan, she saw only a few people coming to greet her. In contrast, it seemed particularly shabby, and she couldn't help feeling a little unfair.

This Prince Yan's Mansion is too contemptuous!
Yuwen Liqian's reputation in Korea is no less than that of several princes.

Not only is she well-educated and well-read, she also has a photographic memory. She once studied at the world-renowned Bailu Academy in Da Chu!
Bailu Academy only accepts thirty-six disciples every year, and it is a place of pilgrimage for people from all over the world to study.

She is well-informed and knowledgeable, and her temperament is calm and reserved.

He was deeply loved by Yuwen Yan, who even asked him to participate in the compilation of Korean laws and the outline of national history.

She also has unique insights and achievements in state governance and military strategy.

There were comments from both the government and the public: "What a pity that she is not a man!"

Faced with this scene, the Confucian scholars on the other ship also looked dissatisfied, obviously dissatisfied with such a high standard of reception.

They are carefully selected Confucian scholars in South Korea and should be treated with courtesy wherever they go.

Yu Wenliqian's face remained calm.

"Thank you very much, my Lords!"

She thanked the officials in front of her in a gentle voice.

Leading officer!
A middle-aged fat man with a kind face and a slightly bloated body.

"I am Su Beihai, the current prefect of Jiakang City. I am honored to meet Her Royal Highness the Princess."

He explained apologetically:
"Originally, after receiving the letter from Lord Dou, we hurried here to welcome the princess, but we didn't expect an emergency to occur in the city today. All the staff in the government office were dispatched, so only a few of us are left to welcome her. It is really rude."

Urgent matter?
Yuwen Liqian was half-believing and half-doubting, as there were tens of thousands of soldiers in such a big city.

What else could it be!
Seeing Su Beihai's sincere expression, it seemed to be true.

As for this Lord Dou.

Dou Gu!
She naturally knew Dou Gu's position in the Prince of Yan's Mansion. As the Right Prime Minister, his power was comparable to that of a powerful first-rank official in the Kingdom of Han.

Even worse, because the King of Yan was devoted to mystical cultivation.

She had also heard about the legendary King of Yan, Lu Chen.

He ignored state affairs for ten years and devoted himself to practicing Taoism in Mount Zhongnan. The memorials submitted to the mountain every month were covered with dust as they had not been read for a long time.

Thinking of this, Yu Wen Li Qian couldn't help but shook his head and compared secretly in his heart.

Her father has been working diligently since the day he ascended the throne, working day and night for the country without a single moment of slacking off.

Compared with Lu Chenzhi!
The gap between the two is like the bright moon and the quagmire, as different as heaven and earth.

It is a great blessing for the Korean people to have a monarch like my father.

Speaking of Lu Chen, Yuwen Liqian's heart was inevitably complicated. In his early years, the military talent he showed in the battle of the Northern Wind Invasion of the South was indeed admirable.

However!
Since the establishment of the Yan Kingdom, his words and deeds have become increasingly contrary to common sense.

For example, this person commented, "Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parents, and Teachers!"

Lu Chen said more than once, "You can worship the heavens, the earth, your parents, your teachers, but you cannot kneel to the king."

How ridiculous!
The emperor does not know that the emperor's grace is great, and thunder, rain and dew are all the emperor's grace. Since ancient times, the hierarchical concept of "the emperor is the emperor, the minister is the minister, the father is the father, and the son is the son" has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and is an important cornerstone for maintaining social order.

Yuwen Liqian found it hard to understand why Lu Chen would do such a rebellious thing and challenge the order of hierarchy that had been formed over thousands of years.

What made her even more incomprehensible was that Lu Chen had delegated power on a large scale and separated the military and political powers.

In her opinion, such an approach would undoubtedly be self-defeating and weaken the power of centralization.

This was the case in Korea back then, when power was delegated to eunuchs.
Once slaves gained rights, they were no longer slaves; they also wanted to try to become masters, which led to the eunuch scourge that has plagued Korea for two hundred years.

The generals in the Lu family army were all experienced warriors, completely different from the eunuchs in the palace. If they had too much power, the consequences would be disastrous.

Lu Chen did this.

A woman's kindness is short-sighted!
At this time, Su Changhai said at the right time:
"Princess, please get in the car. We have prepared a welcoming banquet and residence for all the students."

After saying this, he made a gesture of invitation.

"Thank you!"

Wen Liqian responded politely and then led a group of students down the ship's ladder.

Su Beihai led the way.

While walking, Yuwen Liqian asked casually:

"Have the students from Da Chu, Qian Yuan and other countries arrived? Who is leading the team?"

She originally thought that Su Beihai would avoid answering.

Unexpected!
Su Beihai told him frankly:
"The students of Qianyuan will be led by the Third Prince Wulong himself and are expected to arrive tomorrow."

"For the Great Chu, Mr. Xun Li, the vice president of the White Deer Academy, is in charge. As for the North Wind Country, there is no definite news yet, but the students from Daqing have arrived, led by Lord Xie Chunan and his beloved daughter."

Yuwen Liqian said with a slight smile on her face: "Then we are still early!"

Although his expression was not visible on his face, his heart was in turmoil.

She narrowed her eyes slightly. Every person who came to Yan this time was extraordinary and was an important figure in their respective countries.

His Highness Wulong of Qianyuan is not only the confidant of the empress, but also the leader of the nine pillars of the army. His status and influence are evident.

I didn't expect that this person would come to Yandi!
Xun Li, the vice president of Bailu Academy, also serves as the Minister of Personnel of the Great Chu State. He holds the power over the country's personnel and is known as a true heavenly official.

The four countries attach so much importance to Yan!
This standard is much higher than the North Wind's mission.

Su Beihai had already prepared the carriage, and Yuwen Liqian took a look.

The tone changes!
"This is the emperor's etiquette!"

The luxury of the carriage, from the selection of materials to the decoration, is extraordinary, but the most eye-catching thing is.

The most impressive thing is the number of horses - the first chariot has six horses running side by side, and the last three chariots have five horses each.

This scene not only shocked Yuwen Liqian, but also made the accompanying Korean scholars look at each other in disbelief.

The emperor rides six horses, the ministers ride four horses, the senior officials ride three horses, and the common people ride one horse. This has been an insurmountable etiquette and rule since ancient times, symbolizing the supremacy of imperial power.

Any act that violates the rules will be considered a serious crime and may even lead to the punishment of the entire clan.

Yu Wenliqian's steps stopped involuntarily, with complicated emotions surging in her heart.

In Korea, especially after the eunuch rebellion, the sensitivity to the hierarchy reached an extreme. Even her uncle, who was crowned king, would never dare to exceed the limit of five horses when riding in a carriage.

Why is this arrangement?
Was it Su Beihai's negligence or was it intentional?

"Master Su, what does this mean?"

The maid behind Yuwen Liqian also raised her eyebrows!
Lu Chen was only granted the emperor's ceremonial guard in Daqing, so naturally he could ride six horses.

But now, if a princess from another country were to do this, I'm afraid it wouldn't work!
The surrounding Confucian scholars also glared at him angrily!
"What is Yan Bei's intention?"

Su Beihai was also stunned when he saw this, then he suddenly realized and explained with a wry smile:

"Princess, don't be alarmed. In Yanbei, there is no such red tape. Here, riding a few horses depends entirely on personal preference and financial resources. There is no need to stick to the old system."

He pointed to the street, where he saw all kinds of carriages, some with six, seven, and even nine horses.

They moved through the streets as if nothing had happened, walking past with dignity.

Horseshoe Mountain!
Leaving the students looking stunned.

Yuwen Liqian was also confused. He looked at the people on the street again and found that they were all used to seeing people riding horses.

She shook her head helplessly!
No wonder some teachers who had traveled to Yanbei said this when I was studying in Da Chu.

"Yanbei is a place where etiquette has collapsed and the atmosphere is filled with chaos!"

He wrote several letters to the government of Chu.

"The Great Chu should send troops to the north of Yan to arrest the unjust!"

With the White Horse Alliance in place, it will naturally fall on deaf ears.

Yu Wen Li Qian was puzzled at the time, but now she finally understood.

You are not a king!
I am not a subject!
The people are not the people!
Without rules, it's like firewood on weeds, which will catch fire at any time.

Su Beihai continued to explain: "The King of Yan was far-sighted. He encouraged the development of animal husbandry. He believed that most of the horses used for driving carriages were produced by wealthy families, and the constraints of the etiquette system limited the demand, so he decisively abolished these restrictions."

"This not only promoted the prosperity of animal husbandry, but also enabled these horses to be quickly converted into military power in wartime."

He smiled and added:
"It is said that the King of Yan once went on tour in a carriage pulled by twelve horses. This caused quite a stir at the time, and people from all over Yanbei followed suit, and it became a fashion for a while."

Everyone then boarded the carriage, which was spacious and comfortable, and the ride was exceptionally smooth.

The Korean students were a little excited, as the opportunity to ride in a five-horse carriage was rare in Korea.

Yuwen Liqian was sitting in the carriage. As a princess, she naturally had a separate carriage.

"Twelve horses, how can we pull this?" the maid said indignantly.
"Princess, this must be the King of Yan. He is so extravagant and frivolous."

Yuwen Liqian also nodded.

My own father only had three dishes and one soup for three meals a day and he advocated frugality.

The north study room of the imperial palace had leaked several times but had never been repaired.

Yuwen Liqian's opinion of the King of Yan became lower and lower.

She noticed how the carriage was moving unusually smoothly, even in the Korean capital, and she couldn't help but feel curious.

then!
She gently pushed open the window and looked out. She saw that the road outside the window was paved with bluestone slabs, smooth and solid. No wonder the carriage was running so smoothly.

Yu Wen Liqian felt helpless again.

This will cost a lot of manpower and material resources, and will be a waste of money and effort.

She couldn't help but ask Su Changhai who was guarding outside the carriage on horseback.

"Master Su, are all the roads in Jiakang City like this?"

Su Beihai said with some pride:
“This is true for the entire Jiakang!”

"King Yan said that only when the road is built can merchants from all over the country come to invest money. Our Jiakang City must take the lead in creating a bright spot economy!"

Yu Wen Li Qian just smiled and lowered the curtain.

……

……

Yu Ke slowly opened his eyes.

【Do you want to receive the reward?】

(End of this chapter)