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I've heard that Chang'an is like a game of chess, a hundred years of worldly affairs, too tragic to bear. The mansions of princes and nobles all have new masters, the attire of civil and military officials is different from what it once was.

The drums and gongs resound over the northern passes, while chariots and horses gallop westward with urgent dispatches. The fish and dragons are silent, the autumn river is cold, and thoughts turn to my homeland in peaceful times.

Located on the south bank of the Wei River in the Guanzhong Plain, this area was where the Zhou people built the two capitals of Feng and Hao, the Qin people built the Zhangtai Palace and the Epang Palace, and the Han dynasty established the Weiyang Palace and the Changle Palace. Emperor Min of the Western Jin Dynasty, Liu Yao of the Former Zhao Dynasty, Fu Jian of the Former Qin Dynasty, Yao Fu of the Later Qin Dynasty, Yuan Baoju of the Western Wei Dynasty, and Yuwen Jue of the Northern Zhou Dynasty all made this area their capital.

In the first year of the Daye era, Emperor Wen of Sui ordered Gao Jiong, the Left Minister of Works, and Yuwen Kai, the Left Vice Minister of the Crown Prince, to build a new capital at the southern foot of Longshou Plain, named Daxing. This year is the fourteenth year of the Daye era, and the capital still retains its old name. The Tang dynasty has not yet begun, and the capital still retains the Sui system.

The Zhongnan Mountains stretch across the south of the city like a screen. The *Classic of Mountains and Seas* refers to them as "Nanshan," while the *Tribute of Yu* calls them "Zhongnan." The mountains are primarily composed of gneiss and granite, with peaks exceeding a thousand feet in altitude. The Taiyi and Cuihua peaks are perpetually covered in snow. Four passageways—Ziwu, Baoxie, Tangluo, and Lanwu—run through the mountains, all paved with massive bluestones and wide enough for two-lane carriages and horses to travel side-by-side.

The Beishan mountain range stretches 240 li from east to west. Yaoshan has many karst caves and springs in its limestone layers, Huanglongshan contains limonite, Cuo'eshan produces granite, and Liangshan sandstone is suitable for making stone tablets. There are beacon towers at eighteen valleys in the mountains, each garrisoned by ten soldiers who observe the smoke signals day and night.

The city is surrounded by six main rivers: the Jing River, the Wei River, the Feng River, the Ba River, the Li River, and the Lao River. The widest part of the river is eighty zhang (approximately 33 meters), and the narrowest part is twelve zhang (approximately 33 meters).

The Jing River originates from the northwest and carries the highest sediment load among all rivers; the Book of Songs records, "The Jing River is muddied by the Wei River." The Wei River is wide and shallow, overflowing during the flood season, and has a twelve-mile-long earthen dike along its banks. The Gui River meanders, the Ba River has five wooden bridges, the Li River has thousands of willows planted along its banks, and the Lao River basin has many waterwheels and mills. All eight rivers have canals and weirs under the jurisdiction of officials, and six thousand laborers are conscripted annually to dredge the waterways.

The palace city was located in the center of the northern part of the city, measuring 1,800 paces from east to west and 1,200 paces from north to south. The walls were constructed of rammed earth, faced with blue bricks, with a base six zhang thick and a height of five zhang. The three city gates—Chengtian Gate, Guangyun Gate, and Changle Gate—were all covered with double-eaved hip roofs, their doors encased in iron and studded with 108 gold nails. The imperial city was located south of the palace city, housing the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the Altar of Earth and Grain, the Ministry of Works, the Secretariat, and the Chancellery, among other government offices. Watchtowers were built at the four corners of the surrounding walls.

The outer city wall was rectangular, measuring 8,400 paces from north to south and 9,120 paces from east to west. The city adopted a ward system, dividing the area into 110 wards by 11 main streets running north-south and 14 streets running east-west. The city walls were constructed of rammed earth, with ramparts protruding every 100 paces. There were twelve city gates, including Kaimingde, Qixia, Anhua, Yanxing, Jinguang, and Kaiyuan, each with a passageway ten zhang deep and five zhang wide, large enough for four carriages to pass abreast.

The street regulations were strict. Zhuque Avenue was forty zhang wide, the other main roads were twenty-five to thirty zhang wide, the streets between neighborhoods were fifteen zhang wide, and the alleys within neighborhoods were six zhang wide. The road surface was compacted, and drainage ditches were dug on both sides, with a width of three feet and a depth of two feet.

The southeastern metropolitan market occupies two blocks, measuring 600 paces from north to south and 630 paces from east to west. It is divided into nine sections by a grid-like street layout. The southwestern Liren Market follows the same design. Both markets are surrounded by rammed earth walls, 24 feet high, with two gates on each of the four sides. Shops within the markets are mostly between 18 and 24 feet wide and 12 to 15 feet deep. Each shop has a 5-foot-wide veranda in front, providing shelter for customers from the rain.

The walls of the wards were about eighteen feet high and three feet wide at the base. Each ward had a ward master in charge of opening and closing the gates. The gates were opened by three thousand drumbeats in the morning and closed by four hundred drumbeats in the evening. The houses inside the wards were mainly single-story buildings, with roofs mostly covered with flat tiles and the ridges secured with barrel tiles.

The Longshou Canal draws water from the Lu River from the southeast of the city into the city. The canal is six feet wide and four feet five inches deep. The Yong'an Canal draws water from the Jiao River and flows north into the imperial garden, then turns into the palace city. The canal is seven feet wide and five feet deep. The Qingming Canal draws water from the Jue River and flows north, passing through the western city and into the imperial city. The canal is five feet wide and three feet six inches deep.

The Taicang (Taicang) was located northeast of the palace city, with 200 granaries, each capable of storing 2,000 shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain. The Changpingcang (Ever-Normal Granary) was located south of the imperial city, with 60 granary rooms, each capable of storing 1,500 shi of grain.

The government offices were concentrated within the Imperial City. The Ministry of Personnel occupied the largest area, measuring 240 paces from north to south and 180 paces from east to west. The Censorate was located in the southeast corner of the Imperial City, measuring 120 paces from north to south and 90 paces from east to west. The Court of State Ceremonies was located in the southwest of the Imperial City, specifically responsible for receiving envoys from vassal states, and had 36 guest rooms.

Military defense was divided among twelve guards, including the Left and Right Wing Guards, the Left and Right Valiant Guards, and the Left and Right Martial Guards. Each guard had four barracks inside and outside the city, each capable of garrisoning eight hundred soldiers. The city gates were guarded by the Gatekeepers, with one hundred and twenty armored soldiers stationed at each gate.

The city had three gates on the south side: Mingde Gate, Qixia Gate, and Anhua Gate. Mingde Gate had a five-gate system, with the central gate, 24 feet wide, reserved for the emperor's use. The east and west gates were each 18 feet wide, used by officials and commoners. The gate was 60 feet deep and contained three layers of doors.

The city had three gates on the west side: Yanping Gate, Jinguang Gate, and Kaiyuan Gate, all with three gate passages. A customs post was located northwest of Kaiyuan Gate, where all merchant caravans from the Western Regions entering the city were required to have their goods inspected and be taxed at a rate of 5% of the value.

The northeast Tonghua Gate connects to Baqiao Avenue. The bridge is 120 zhang long and 6 zhang wide, with 68 arches. The bridge pillars are built of bluestone, and the bridge surface is paved with wooden planks. This bridge is an important road leading east, with a daily traffic flow of over a thousand vehicles and horses.

There were a total of forty-two Buddhist temples and Taoist monasteries in the city. The Daxingshan Temple occupied the entire Jingshan Ward, with 240 halls and buildings. The Xuandu Temple occupied the entire Chongye Ward, with 180 buildings including the Sanqing Hall and a lecture hall. The temples and monasteries owned mostly farmland outside the city, with each temple having an average of 200 tenant households. There was one Persian temple and one Zoroastrian shrine, located in the Buzheng Ward, where many foreign merchants prayed for blessings.

The official school was located in Wubenfang, with ninety rooms including the Doctor's Hall and student dormitories. The number of students was set at three hundred, who were divided into groups to study classics such as the *Zhouyi*, *Shangshu*, *Maoshi*, and *Zuozhuan*. Examinations of the classics were held on the first and fifteenth days of each month, and those who excelled were awarded official positions of the lower ninth rank.

The Medical Bureau was located in the southeast of the Imperial City, with thirty-six physicians divided into four departments: Medicine, Acupuncture, Massage, and Incantation. The bureau had ten wards, each accommodating eight patients. The medicine warehouse stored over nine hundred kinds of medicines, consuming approximately three thousand catties of herbs annually.

The city's drainage system primarily consisted of underground ditches. The main canals were three feet wide and four feet five inches deep, constructed of brick and stone. The branch canals were one foot five inches wide and two feet deep, connected by ceramic pipes. The total length of the canals was approximately 420 li, discharging about 6,000 shi of sewage daily.

The streets were lined with locust trees, totaling 12,000 trees. The trees were spaced six steps apart, and most were over ten years old. Each neighborhood also had 300 to 500 elm, poplar, and other miscellaneous trees planted. The palace grounds were planted with many paulownia and cypress trees, and the imperial city was planted with many weeping willows.

A curfew was imposed at night; after the street drums sounded, all neighborhoods closed their doors. Only the areas surrounding the East and West Markets were allowed to operate until midnight. Taverns and inns needed to apply for night permits from the Jingzhao Prefecture before they could operate. Night permits needed to be re-certified monthly, and those who violated this rule were fined two hundred catties of copper.

There were twelve post stations inside and outside the city, each equipped with thirty horses and sixty couriers. The fastest post road could cover five hundred li a day. Urgent documents were carried in red and white bags, and in case of military emergencies, they traveled day and night.

This city, developed by two dynasties of the Sui Dynasty, retained its basic structure despite the chaos of the times. Although it did not reach the scale of the Tang Dynasty's expansions, it already possessed the grandeur of an imperial capital. Its streets and alleys crisscrossed like fields, its markets were scattered like stars, and its waterways flowed like a golden fortress. The scenic beauty of the mountains and rivers was all concentrated here.

…………

Shan Wanjing followed Yi Huawei safely into the city through Mingde Gate and stepped onto Zhuque Street, where she was also awestruck by the city's magnificent atmosphere.

Drainage ditches, several feet wide and constructed of brick and stone, lined both sides of the main streets within the city. The ditches had a slightly sloping bottom to facilitate rainwater flow. At the intersections of the ditches, paved stone bridges spanned the roads, their surfaces level with the road surface. Rows of locust trees lined both sides of the main streets. It was late autumn, and the leaves had mostly turned yellow; when the wind blew, the leaves rustled down, carpeting the edges of the ditches.

The streets were bustling with people and vehicles, and the flow of people was even denser than in Luoyang. The shops and residences on both sides of Zhuque Avenue were grand in scale, with spacious gates and many courtyards and patios with several sections.

The houses in the alleys are mostly white-walled and gray-tiled, arranged neatly to form clusters of single-story buildings. The gates are mostly made of wood, with slightly decorated lintels. The courtyard walls are high, and the inner alleys are deep and secluded, creating a tranquil atmosphere compared to the bustling main streets.

Wealthy residences often feature towering gates with bells hanging from the eaves, and courtyard walls built with brick and stone foundations and plastered with lime. Various shops also put a lot of thought into their storefront decorations: the joints of beams and rafters are connected with mortise and tenon joints, interspersed with simple carved patterns; the eaves extend far out, supported by brackets, each with its own set of rules, emphasizing practicality over complexity.

As dusk settled, twilight slowly painted the sky from the direction of the eastern palace. The number of pedestrians on Suzaku Avenue remained high, and shops along the street gradually lit their lanterns.

Yi Huawei led Shan Wanjing westward, heading northwest along the north wall of Anrenfang. The road surface gradually changed from bluestone slabs to compacted rammed earth. The drainage ditch beside the road was slightly narrower, about two feet wide, with water carrying fallen leaves slowly flowing westward at the bottom. Along the way, there were many horse-drawn carts carrying sacks and wooden boxes, heading towards the West Market.

The closer one gets to the West Market, the busier the streets become. Taverns hang cloth banners with signs, steam rises from the stoves of food stalls, and the aroma of flatbread and roasted meat mingles in the air. Vendors carrying loads lean against the walls, hawking autumn pears, persimmon cakes, and newly brewed sweet wine. Whenever a carriage or horse passes by, they temporarily move aside to either side of the stone bridge.

The Yuema Bridge spans the Yong'an Canal. It is a single-arch stone bridge built of bluestone, with a width of three zhang (approximately 10 meters). Stone railings line both sides, with balusters three chi (approximately 1.5 meters) high. The canal below is about five zhang (approximately 10 meters) wide, deep, and has a slow current. Several flat-bottomed cargo ships are moored on the east bank, where laborers are loading and unloading sacks by the light of lanterns. To the east of the bridge stands a stone archway inscribed with the characters "Yuema" (meaning "Leaping Horse"). Stone benches are placed beneath the archway for people to rest. The western side of the bridge is slightly higher, offering a view of the continuous walled area at the northeast corner of the West Market. Arched gates open into the walls, revealing brightly lit and bustling interiors. Two soldiers stand guard on each side of the bridgehead, clad in armor and carrying halberds, watching over the passersby.

The banks of the canal were lined with weeping willows, their branches half-yellow and drooping to the water's surface. Deep ruts marked the stone path along the banks, indicating that heavily laden vehicles frequently passed through. From the southwest came the sound of the evening drum, carried by the wind from the imperial city, striking three hundred times, signaling the approaching curfew.

Yi Huwei stood beside the stone railing on the west side of Yuema Bridge, his gaze sweeping over the boats coming and going in the canal.

The Yong'an Canal, which is more than ten zhang wide, runs north to south and flows in front of us. A magnificent stone bridge stands majestically over the canal.

The Yong'an Canal connects to the Wei River in the north of the city, supplying half of Chang'an's water supply and serving as a vital waterway. The Yuema Bridge is the most magnificent stone bridge in Chang'an.

The straight Yong'an Canal runs parallel to Yong'an Street through the north and south city gates. Boats come and go under the bridge, and carriages and horses travel on the bridge. All around are mansions and wealthy households. In such a crossroads of the city, there is not a trace of the Yang Gong treasure buried.

As the evening drums faded and the gates of the town were about to close, the boats on the canal noticeably quickened their pace. A lantern came from the east, hanging at the bow of the boat, casting a dim yellow streak of light in the deepening night.

Yi Huawei turned to Shan Wanjing and said, "Let's eat first."

After saying this, he led her into the alley south of the bridge.

The alley was less than two zhang wide, paved with cobblestones, and lined with food stalls on both sides. We chose a stall with a sign that read "Liu Family Lamb Soup" and entered. Inside, there were five elm wood tables, and a stove was built to the left of the door, with lamb bone soup boiling in a pot.

The two chose to sit down near the wall.

Yi Huawei ordered two bowls of mutton soup and a plate of flatbread. The mutton soup was served in an earthenware bowl, with chunks of meat at the bottom and coriander floating on the surface, accompanied by a salt dish. The flatbread was baked until golden brown and sprinkled with sesame seeds. Most of the diners in the shop were peddlers and laborers, who quickly finished their meals and left.

After finishing their meal, Yi Huawei took out ten coins and placed them on the table. When they left the shop, the ward head was already leading the night watchmen on patrol, shouting at those who were late to return to their ward. Yi Huawei paid no attention to the curfew and led Shan Wanjing through the crisscrossing alleys.

Traveling west past the three lanes, the street gradually widens. Locust trees give way to paulownia trees along the roadside, their trunks so thick that it takes two people to encircle them. The drainage ditches are slightly narrower than those on Zhuque Avenue, but the brick and stone construction is more orderly, and the lintels are all decorated with animal rings, clearly indicating that this is the residence of the powerful and wealthy. At each lane gate, one sees Zhuge Liang holding a halberd standing under a lamp. Seeing that the two men are dressed in extraordinary clothes, he does not stop them.

Xiji Garden is located in the southeast corner of Yanshoufang, occupying the land of two wards. It is bordered by Yong'an Canal to the north, Guangdefang to the west, and the Imperial City to the east. The main gate faces south, with two stone lions standing in front of it. There are five steps leading up to the gate, and a plaque with the inscription "Dugu" hangs above the door.

Instead of going through the main gate, Yi Huwei went around to the alleyway to the west of the house. The alleyway was only four feet wide, with walls two zhang high, and the top of the walls was covered with tiles and interspersed with thorns.

Yi Huawei stopped and looked up. Suddenly, he took a deep breath and leaped up, his toes barely touching the brick seam before he stood atop the wall. Shan Wanjing followed suit and saw that inside the wall was a bamboo grove with winding bamboo paths leading to three courtyards.

Yi Huawei said in a low voice, "This house is arranged according to the Nine Palaces. The north courtyard belongs to water, so the well should be located in the Kan position."

After speaking, he leaped down from the wall and hurried along the bamboo grove.

Every quarter of an hour, a guard would pass by, carrying a lantern and a knife, walking with a slow, deliberate gait, clearly an ordinary bodyguard. Yi Huwei would always turn away before the guards arrived, either hiding behind the artificial hill or in the shadows of the eaves.

Shan Wanjing gradually sensed something was amiss. Although Yi Huawei kept his eyes fixed ahead, he never hesitated at any fork in the road, as if he knew the layout of the house inside and out. However, Shan Wanjing, who was already used to her master's extraordinary abilities, suppressed her doubts and silently followed.

Passing through the central hall and through the moon gate, one suddenly hears the sound of flowing water.

The north courtyard wall was built of blue bricks, and the door was ajar. Inside was a well with a stone railing. The courtyard was about twenty paces square. A paulownia tree was planted in the southeast corner, and a stone table and benches were placed in the northwest corner. The well was located due north and was carved from a single piece of blue stone. It was four feet in diameter, and the railing was two feet high. A cowhide rope bucket was suspended from the well pulley.

Yi Huawei did not head straight for the well, but instead hid behind a paulownia tree. Just then, two night watchmen came from the east corridor, one carrying a lantern and the other a bow. The one with the lantern said, "The north courtyard is especially cold tonight, and the well water is even steaming." The one with the bow replied, "It's normal during the Cold Dew season. Hurry up and finish your patrol before going back to your room to play a couple of rounds."

After the two had gone far away, Yi Huawei slipped to the well.

Seeing that the well curb was engraved with Bagua patterns, with the Kan position symbol slightly deeper than elsewhere, Shan Wanjing couldn't help but look up at Yi Huawei.

Yi Huawei tapped the well curb with his finger, then suddenly curled his finger into a claw, gripped the groove, and twisted it. A soft click came from inside the well curb, and a crack suddenly appeared in the pulley axle, revealing a hollow compartment.

Yi Huawei waved and then jumped into the well.

Dan Wanjing was stunned for a moment, but jumped in without hesitation. As soon as she entered the water, she felt the well water was icy cold.

Having grown up by the sea, Shan Wanjing was naturally no match for this mere well. Holding her breath, she followed Yi Huawei down to the bottom of the well.

At night, light is scarce, and being underwater renders vision useless; one can only rely on instinct.

Suddenly, the bottom of the well opened up and found itself connected to an underground river. The two then dived towards that river.

After swimming and feeling his way for nearly ten zhang in the narrow, rugged, and pitch-black river, a stone protruded about an inch from the well wall.

Yi Huawei smiled slightly and pressed down hard on the half-foot square stone.

Under Shan Wanjing's expectant gaze, a creaking sound echoed sharply in the narrow, elongated space at the bottom of the well. The well wall slowly caved in, revealing an entrance just wide enough for one person to pass through. (End of Chapter)