Book 12 - Chapter 11 – Ancient Capital of Thousand Years (1/2)

Book 12 Chapter 11 – Ancient Capital of Thousand Years

Luoyang was located prominently at the southern bank of the Yellow River On the north, Mount Mang acted as a screen, to the south it was connected to Luo River To the east was Hu Lao [tiger prison], as Han Valley It was surrounded by range of hills all around, with the Luoyang plains in thethrough it It was both strategically situated and easy to defend, and had beautiful scenery The soil was fertile and the climate moderate, while water transport was convenient

Since ancient tiht different dynasties established their capital here: Xia, Shang, Eastern Zhou, Eastern Han, Cao Wei, Western Jin, Northern Wei, and Sui

The so-called ‘River Yang [positive/round to set up the sacred tripods’ [not sure, I simply translated as is] between the Central Plains and the four sides of the wind, Luoyang was athe land under the heavens, and aascended the throne, fro he selected another location for his capital and established a new one

The new i of Zhou?] City and Han Wei old city, across the Chanshui River on the east, spanning toward the Luo River on the south, facing the Jian River on the west, and leaning against the Mount Mang on the north The city’s circunificent sight

Again, with Luoyang as the center, Yang Guang cut a canal reaching Hangzhou in the south, Zhuo County on the north, cutting through the Grand Canal spanning fro the Hai River, Yellow River, Huai River, Yangtze River, and Qiantang River, fivebeca China] center of cohtened, the city gates have just been opened, a large nu with far up, waiting to enter the city

Ba Fenghan and Xu Ziling, still wearing theirleisurely into the city via the south gate

Luoyang’s scale naturally could not be coate itself actually consisted of three gates: the middle one was called Jian Guo Gate [founder of the country], the left one was called Bai Hu Gate [white tiger], and the right one was called Chang Xia Gate [eternal summer]; all three were broad

ThisArmy uniform, but ordinary old peasant clothes just like two far into the city to do business Each etables on shoulder pole They reported randouard, and the soldiers let them in without any trouble

They had just entered the city, when Xu Ziling, who had never been to a city like this, suddenly had his eyes wide open

He saw the ‘Heavenly Street’, the ates, which spanned about two hundred steps, opened up before his eyes in a perfectly straight line, perhaps its length reached around seven or eight li

On the sideere planted cherry, poranate, elm, , and all kinds of other trees The middle of the street was the io on inspection tours At this ti and the suether to create picturesque scenery, ine

Therow of shops, each one opened up to the street or the dozens of sates; everything was clear and in good order

Ba Fenghan said with a laugh, “Louyang has two major characteristics that everybody should know”

Highly interested, Xu Ziling asked for guidance

Ba Fenghan said, “First is this north-south axis, which per Luoyang into two regions: north and south, which are connected by four big bridges, which also connecting the Luo River with the other three streams, Yi, Chan and Jian, inside the city, so that the river course encircle the city, bringing the water fro the city and its landscape seeed by Earth”

This moment, suddenly a marvel appeared ahead; a sailboat, previously concealed beneath the buildings, sped over Frole of view, only the top of the sail appeared toover the dry land

Xu Ziling delightedly said, “I anan, which draater from the rivers and the lakes into the cities, so this is no surprise But seldo like this, the Luo River is wide, deep and perfectly straight, giving Luoyang its unique orderly and harmonious atmosphere And the size of the city is certainly not co the patchwork of ays So what’s the other characteristic?”

By this tihtened considerably, there were more people and vehicles on the street Frolittering ar the i an ihan went on, “The other characteristic is the Wai Guo Cheng [outer city wall] outside the western city wall Due to its natural setting of the Western Park, to the west it reaches Xin’an, to the north Mount Mang, to the south Yi Que and various hills, the area two hundred li surrounding it is co the ti and the Western Park joined together, it increases the scale of Luoyang”

The two traveled along the street until they reached the southern bank of the Luo River

Pointing to the big bridge across the Luo River, connecting the north and the south banks, Ba Fenghan said, “That one is called Xin Zhong [new e, we can thus esti wasted manpower and resources in the past Ru the capital city, that muddleheaded ruler mobilized several tens of thousands wealthy tycoons from every part of the country, also three thousand plus master artisans from Henan and settled them at the twelve-lane area by the Luo River’s south bank at the southeast corner of Wai Guo Cheng Hence the reason we have such a his voice he said, “This is called ‘good result came out of bad intention’ Whoever obtains the world in the future is going to enjoy the result of Yang Guang’s construction effort As long as he overnment properly, he will enjoy period of prosperity”

Xu Ziling was listening with deep veneration Athough Ba Fenghan’s aspiration was in the htful toward current political cli out from the masses While the present time was clearly not the ti’s side, he was able to point out that Yang Guang’s construction establishenerations

Ba Fenghan laughed and said, “We ought to find a place to cure our storeed

※ ※ ※

The City of Yanshi+ was located at the north bank of Luo River, south of the Yellow River, and north of the lofty Mount Song, Shaoshi+ Peak and other , about a hundred li downstreahold protecting Luoyang, also the front line military base to resist Li Mi’s attack from the east

The fell of Yanshi+ would have directly shaken Luoyang’s stability

Yanshi+’s role on Luoyang was like Hulao’s to Xingyang

This ti his army to Yanshi+, he immediately posed direct threat on Hulao’s existence, because Li Mi was forced to respond, either to defend or to attack, but he si

Under the escort of a dozen or so loyal and reliable high-ranking , wang shi+chong and Dong Shuni, who had put on informal military officer’s attire, went onboard a battleshi+p that wasthe a fleet of battleshi+ps

After stepping on deck, Kou Zhong had a sudden inspiration and pulled wang shi+chong toward the aft Pointing to the Luo River, he said, “We must create some fake appearance to convince Li Mi that we deter shi+chong said, “I stationed h?”

Kou Zhong said, “That could be regarded as strengthening the defense, plus not giving the enemy any opportunity to set fire on the provision I have just studied the geographic and terrainare located south of Luo River and Yellow River It would be better if Shangshu sends soes, connecting both sides of the Luo River; establishi+ng two or three cannot be considered too many And then establish storehouse and army camp on the south side This kind oftroops around, while also avoid Li Mithe city Ha! What do you think of this strategy?”

After staring in daze at hihed and said, “Such an excellent plan, how could I refuse?”

Chapter 11 - Part 2