Chapter 457 Arriving in Luoyang

Chapter 457 Arriving in Luoyang

Chapter 457 Arriving in Luoyang
Wang Zhen, the lieutenant of the imperial guards, stepped forward and said loudly, "We are the Jin prince's troop coming from Jiangnan Road. The Jin prince is among us. Please let us pass!"

The captain guarding the gate said hurriedly: "There are too many people, I can't make the decision. Please wait a moment, I will report to the commander and it will be ready soon!"

The lieutenant hurriedly ran up to the top of the city wall to report. It happened that General Wei Wentong of the Right Wuhou Guard was upstairs. Wei Wentong was Yuwen Shu's confidant. He looked over and laughed dryly, saying, "Is His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin returning to the capital to report on his duties?"

Xiao Xia said calmly: "That's right, General Wei, please let us go!"

"Your Highness, you may not know that the late emperor allowed the prince to bring 500 soldiers into the capital. In the fourth year of Renshou, this rule was clearly cancelled. Three months ago, the Ministry of War issued a regulation that if more than 300 people enter the capital, they need a permit from the Ministry of War or the emperor's gold medal. If Your Highness has it, please show it. If not, I will not embarrass Your Highness. Your Highness can allow some soldiers to enter the capital from other gates, and I can turn a blind eye."

Xiao Xia had a gold medal given to him by the late Emperor Yang Jian. Just as he was about to take it out, he suddenly heard someone on the city wall reminding Wei Wentong.

"General Wei, this is not good! Last month, the King of Qi had 1,000 men enter the city without any formalities. Didn't you approve it?"

"Shut up!" Wei Wentong shouted angrily.

Xiao Xia had already obtained the gold medal of the previous emperor and was about to show it, but when he heard the conversation on the city wall, his face sank. He thought Wei Wentong was sticking to his principles, but he didn't expect that he was targeting him.

Xiao Xia didn't want to take out his gold medal again.

Xiao Xia said calmly: "General Wei, I have the Emperor's Gold Medal!"

"Oh! Can Your Highness show it?"

"I don't have it with me!"

"If that's the case, it's going to be difficult for me to handle! How about, Your Highness, have some soldiers enter the city through the East Gate?"

Xiao Xia snorted and ordered, "Enter the city!"

He urged his horse to rush towards the city gate, and his personal soldiers followed suit and galloped on horseback. The soldiers guarding the city did not dare to stop them and moved away one after another. Xiao Xia led three hundred cavalrymen into the city.

Wei Wentong was furious. He turned and rushed to the parapet and shouted, "Ready your bows and arrows!"

Hundreds of soldiers on the city wall drew their arrows and put them on bowstrings. Wei Wentong shouted, "Your Highness, Prince Jin, if you insist on forcing your way in, don't blame me for being rude!"

After entering the outer city gate, there was a vast city wall. Xiao Xia heard Wei Wentong shouting behind him. He turned around and gave him a cold look. He ignored him and led his troops directly through the city wall.

Wei Wentong's eyes were spitting fire with hatred and his teeth were almost broken, but he did not dare to order the arrows to be shot. He knew that if he shot and injured even one of Xiao Xia's men, the consequences would be very serious and he could not afford it.

The soldiers around looked at Wei Wentong with sympathy. General Wei was so angry at being slapped in the face by the King of Jin in public that he probably wouldn't be able to sleep well for several days.

Wei Wentong stared at Xiao Xia's receding back, but a hint of imperceptible pride flashed in his eyes.

Yuwen Shu narrowed his eyes and listened to Wei Wentong's report. After a while, he smiled and said, "You are right to stick to your principles, but the other party is the King of Jin. This little thing can't control him. Well, I will find a chance to mention it to the emperor. Don't get angry about this little thing anymore. It's meaningless!"

Wei Wentong said sadly: "The Prime Minister just issued the order to enter the city three months ago. I am incompetent and unable to maintain the Prime Minister's authority. I feel deeply guilty!"

It turned out that he did it to maintain his own authority. Even an old hand like Yuwen Shu felt a little touched. Even if Wei Wentong did it to flatter him, he would rather offend the King of Jin in order to flatter him. This sincerity was worthy of Yuwen Shu's recognition.

Yuwen Shu nodded, "I appreciate your kindness, don't worry! As long as I am here, I will never treat you unfairly!"

Wei Wentong was about to cry. How could it be easy for me? In order to please the old man, I even offended the King of Jin.

He choked up and said, "I will always remember the Prime Minister's cultivation."

Wei Wentong left with tears of gratitude. Yuwen Shu was still thinking about this matter. He felt that he should seize this opportunity and submit a memorial to the emperor. Anyway, he was doing things according to the rules. Even if the emperor did not pursue the matter, he would not suffer any loss.

Xiao Xia's Prince of Jin's Palace was in Chang'an. This was his first time here since Luoyang was established as the capital. He also knew that he had a palace in Luoyang, but he was not sure where it was.

More importantly, he had a place to live, so he didn't care where the palace was. Xihai Commercial Bank had made arrangements in advance and bought a large number of cheap shops and properties in Luoyang. Most of the properties were for investment and would be sold when the prices rose to a high level, but a small number of properties were for self-residence, such as dormitories for employees and a mansion prepared for the owner Xiao Xia.

More than a month ago, Xiao Xia wrote a letter to A Chu, telling her that he would come to Luoyang in early December, so his accommodation had already been prepared.

Luoyang City has 109 wards and three markets, divided into two by Luo River. There are 28 wards and one market in the Hebei region, and 81 wards and two markets in the Henan region. People in Luoyang know that the north is cheap and the south is expensive, especially the several wards near the North City, which are the famous slums in Luoyang.

In addition, the Hu people's settlement area is basically in the north city of Luoshui. The Tongtuofang and Yujifang in the north city close to Luoshui are where craftsmen live.

Of course, the city north of Luoshui was not entirely inhabited by poor people. The four blocks close to the imperial city were also where princes and ministers lived. In particular, Qinghua Block, which was facing the gate of the imperial palace, was known as the "golden land of jade buildings and jade palaces". It was actually Pingkang Block in Luoyang.

The area south of the Luo River was basically inhabited by people with good conditions, and tens of thousands of wealthy families who had moved from all over the country to the emperor's place also concentrated in the area south of the Luo River.

Even the area south of Luoshui was divided into two by Changxiamen Street. The east side was where ordinary people lived, and the west side was where dignitaries lived. The core area was the twelve blocks on both sides of Tianjie, which was where the powerful and high-ranking officials lived.

Tianjie is the street from Dingdingmen to the Imperial Palace, which is equivalent to Zhuquemen Street in Chang'an.

The mansion where Xiao Xia stayed was located in Anyefang on the east side of Dingdingmen Street. Although it was not one of the four most core squares of Shangshan, Jishan, Xiuwen and Guande, it was also one of the core squares second only to the other four.

The mansion covers an area of ​​twelve acres, of which two acres are the sub-mansion, which is a personal guards' courtyard specially for living. It is close to the main mansion and has its own gate. There is also a small door leading to the stable in the front yard of the main mansion.

Achu personally greeted Xiao Xia at the door. After just a few months of not seeing each other, Achu seemed like a different person. She had grown taller, and her eyes and eyebrows had become much more mature. She was only seventeen years old, but she was already a sweet, calm, pretty and generous girl. The West Sea Trading Company, worth millions of strings of cash, was under her control.

Ah Chu smiled brightly and bowed to Xiao Xia, "Ah Chu greets you, sir!"

"Hey! It's only been a few months since we last met, and Chu seems like a different person."

Xiao Xia blinked and smiled, "It seems like he's grown taller, Qiao, don't you think so?"

Zhang Qiao and Ah Chu hugged each other. Zhang Qiao tilted his head to look at Ah Chu and said with a smile, "Not only has she grown taller, she's also become prettier!"

"I'm not beautiful at all. It's because I'm wearing makeup. How can it compare to my sister's natural beauty?"

"Your mouth has become even sweeter, and what you said made me so happy!"

The two girls were laughing and holding hands, leading the way. Xiao Xia followed behind with a smile. His three hundred personal soldiers were taken to Zi Mansion by the housekeeper to rest. A dozen maids carried the luggage into the backyard.

Achu has already arranged the room, and Aqiao has her own courtyard. She just happened to have her period these two days, so she needs to clean up.

Achu then brought Xiao Xia to the study in the main courtyard. As soon as they entered the study, Achu turned around and threw himself into Xiao Xia's arms, hugged him tightly, and kissed Xiao Xia passionately.

After a long while, Xiao Xia held her pretty face and said with a smile: "How are you doing as the chief steward? I'll give you a chance to regret it. If you don't want to be the chief steward anymore, you can come back with me!"

"Who said I don't want to be one anymore?"

Ah Chu's beautiful eyes were filled with tenderness and a sly smile, "Sir, you want to deny my ability? I won't admit it."

Xiao Xia shook her head. "I didn't deny your ability. I was just worried that you would be too lonely in Luoyang."

"I'm not lonely. My mother and sister are both in Luoyang. I just miss you so much. I've made up my mind. When the canal is open, I will take a boat to Jiangxia every month to report to you and get your favor. When I get pregnant, I will stop doing this and raise the child peacefully by your side."

Xiao Xia was touched, and held her in his arms and said, "I will favor you well tonight!"

At night, Achu let go of her whole body and soul to serve the master she had been thinking about day and night. Xiao Xia took her to travel in the clouds of happiness again and again, and she was completely lost in the beautiful dream she had been waiting for.

While the couple in the room were enjoying each other's affection, a slender figure was standing silently outside the window. She was reluctant to leave, and her beautiful eyes were filled with shock and regret.

(End of this chapter)