Ten years of dormancy: Starting as a martial arts master at the pinnacle

The rest of the journey was peaceful and uneventful.

After a long and arduous journey, Li Changqing and Murong Yao finally arrived at the heart of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the capital.

The city wall of Kyoto was thirty zhang high. When Li Changqing stood below and looked up, he felt incredibly small.

"How exactly was this thing built?"

In his previous life, Li Changqing had also visited many magnificent buildings.

But he had never seen such a high city wall before, and he imagined that the wall must be incredibly thick.

It's no exaggeration to say that you could probably rebuild a city on top of this city wall.

"The walls of Kyoto were originally built by the previous dynasty and have been repaired since. As for how the previous dynasty actually constructed them?"

Murong Yao shook her head.

Clearly, even she didn't understand the mystery behind it.

"Kyoto has a population of 1.6 million households, according to statistics compiled by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works. Even if a million people were mobilized, it would take more than ten years to complete the construction of such a city wall."

That's for sure.

Even a powerful dynasty like the previous one could not have mobilized so many manpower and resources.

There must have been other ways to build this city wall.

"You mean there are millions of people living in Kyoto?"

Li Changqing felt once again that his worldview was about to be reshaped.

Even in the era before he transmigrated, there were not many large cities with a population of over one million.

Not to mention the millions of people!

This was in ancient times, a backward era, yet a city had millions of people?

What do they eat? What do they drink?

"This is based on statistics from the Ministry of Revenue, so it cannot be wrong. The army inside the city, plus the troops outside, numbers over 200,000. Moreover, more than 80% of these 200,000 are martial artists."

Murong Yao herself found it very amazing when she was talking about it.

I wonder how this city manages to support so many people?

"It seems I really know nothing about this world."

Li Changqing shook his head with a sigh.

The metropolis, large enough to accommodate millions of people, was completely surrounded by city walls thirty feet high.

How long is this city wall?

Li Changqing couldn't figure it out for the time being.

The only thing he was certain of was that it was definitely not just a few miles or tens of miles.

It would take at least several hundred miles to make it possible.

With a length and width exceeding a hundred miles, such a colossal creature appeared so openly and brazenly before Li Changqing.

It's only natural that Li Changqing would feel sentimental.

"They'll check your household registration and travel permit at the city gate; this is yours."

The Great Zhou Dynasty had ID cards, and Li Changqing laughed when he saw the ID card.

It's a slip of paper; the paper looks quite high-quality. But it wouldn't be difficult to counterfeit.

The note stated his age, appearance, and place of origin...

Then there is no more then.

Moreover, all the information on this is handwritten. How can you tell if it's genuine or fake just by looking at the handwriting?

The only distinguishable feature is the seal.

This imitation is even easier; just carve a radish and you should be able to fool everyone.

"What can you tell from this?"

Hearing Li Changqing's sneer, Murong Yao explained, "This is a method for controlling refugees. Although it may not work outside, it is necessary to count those who reside permanently in the area."

Now Li Changqing understood.

The real purpose of this thing should be to control the local residents.

Furthermore, most ordinary people are illiterate, so they are even less likely to have such thoughts.

"You didn't make these two yourself, did you?"

Li Changqing asked the question.

Murong Yao, standing in front of him, looked up at Chang Qing in surprise, then quickly looked away.

Murong Yao moved quickly, but Li Changqing still noticed something amiss.

It seems he guessed right.

This road sign was made by Murong Yao.

She dared to break into a gate like Kyoto; it seems she wasn't worried at all about her travel permit being exposed.

"This skill is quite good. If you have time, you can teach me."

Li Changqing said very sincerely.

As the saying goes, it's always good to have many skills.

If he can master this skill, he will have acquired a means of making a living.

"This thing is illegal."

Murong Yao immediately spoke up to persuade her.

"And you still knowingly broke the law?"

Upon hearing Li Changqing's question, Murong Yao suddenly ripped open the top of her collar.

"Miss Murong, please restrain yourself a little. This is in broad daylight, in front of everyone. If you really can't stand it, we can do it tonight."

Hearing Li Changqing's words, Murong Yao's face turned red.

"Your Highness, what nonsense are you talking about? I was just showing you the clothes."

Beneath the coat was a dark gold garment, similar to the flying fish robe of the Ming Dynasty.

"We are the Golden Guards!"

Imperial authority granted it, allowing for arbitrary and deliberate rule.

Ordinary government offices obviously have no jurisdiction over them.

"That's a good identity!"

The Golden Guards wielded even more power and enjoyed greater freedom than the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

"If I weren't that thirteenth prince, could I directly join your Golden Guard?"

"How could Your Highness's identity be fake? You'd better not joke like that."

Murong Yao's temper flared up noticeably.

Clearly, Li Changqing's previous joke had a significant impact on the little girl.

Li Changqing himself, however, was completely oblivious.

Still smiling, he followed Murong Yao through the gate.

The soldiers guarding the city gate glanced at Li Changqing's note briefly and then returned it.

They didn't ask for any benefits.

"The travel permit states a month; if the time exceeds this period, one must spend one day in the water dungeon."

That's as good as saying nothing at all.

Those who have the ability to obtain a travel permit can change the dates on it at will.

There's no way there could be registration or cataloging here, let alone computer searches.

Li Changqing didn't take it to heart. He and Murong Yao found a carriage shop and hired a carriage.

If you want to travel around Kyoto, a horse-drawn carriage is essential.

Even if you are a powerful martial artist, you must abide by the rules of Kyoto.

You cannot use your light-footed skills here, nor can you run wildly, lest you accidentally injure ordinary people in the city.

"Within Kyoto, a horseman can gallop twenty feet at a stretch, while a warrior can run ten feet. The soldiers of the Five Cities Garrison will specifically target these people. In addition to physical punishment, they will also be fined silver. Your Highness, please be very careful."

"Your Highness must be tired. Let me take you to rest for a while."

Upon arriving in Kyoto, Murong Yao visibly relaxed.

Even though Li Changqing is all alone now, she doesn't seem worried that anything might happen to him.

The two traveled for about half an hour before arriving at a restaurant.

The restaurant is decorated in a very grand style, and it can be divided into four floors.

The first floor has scattered tables, and the area is very large.

The second and third floors are private rooms, which offer relative privacy.

As for the fourth floor, according to Murong Yao, it's not a place that ordinary people can go.

Those were private boxes reserved for special guests.

"A private room on the third floor, then find a place to stay."

"Two people in the private room on the third floor, please come upstairs. Room number five in the 'Heaven' section, reward: twenty taels of silver!"

……