Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 85 Where Dreams Begin
Luoyang City was huge, stretching from Mang Mountain in the north to Yi River in the south.

The entire city is centered on the 40-meter-wide Tongtuo Street. The imperial palace, inner city, outer city, and even the Siyi Pavilion outside the city are all arranged symmetrically according to this layout.

The city had 320 lifang (neighborhoods) within it, with a wall measuring 20 li from east to west and 15 li from north to south. If one includes the Siyi Halls outside Xuanyang Gate and south of Yongqiao, the city's north-south depth reached 20 li.

There are more than 100,000 households and a population of over 700,000 in the city.

The only city that can be compared with it in the world today is Jiankang City in the Southern Dynasties.

In order to connect the two sides of the Yellow River and strengthen the connection between Luoyang and Hebei and Shanxi, Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty built a river bridge over the Yellow River and built Beizhong City on the north bank to defend against enemies from the north of Luoyang.

Before Li Shuang and his party arrived at Beizhong City, Yuan Ziyou deliberately kept his distance and pretended not to know them.

It was obvious that he didn't want people to know that he and Li Shuang were in the same business, both to keep the mission secret and because he had a bit of pride as a Tianlong.

Li Shuang did not force himself and took Hou Jing and a dozen guards to pass Beizhong City. After walking for half a day, they finally arrived at Luoyang City.

On Mount Mang, looking at the magnificent city of Luoyang, Hou Jing was extremely excited - he had finally arrived at the place he had dreamed of robbing!
In this regard, Li Shuang said:

"Constrain yourself, you're drooling!"

Hou Jing wiped his mouth and said regretfully:
"It's a pity that Yang Kan and Gao Ang didn't come."

Li Shuang smiled.

"Do you think they are as worldly-wise as you?"

Hou Jing listened and thought it made sense.

"Indeed, they are all from aristocratic families and should have been to Luoyang City a long time ago."

After saying that, Hou Jing came to Li Shuang's side, looking mysterious.

"My lord, I've observed the entire process. The guards outside Luoyang City are truly not very good. Give me 500 soldiers, and I can capture Beizhong City. If we can mobilize our brothers in Heng, Shuo, and Sizhou, taking Luoyang City will be a piece of cake!"

The Great General of the Universe is worthy of being the Great General of the Universe. Before anyone even entered the city, he had already planned how to rob.

The efficiency of the action is so high that it shames others.

Li Shuang looked at Hou Jing and cursed:
"Have you even figured out how to divide the emperor's wife?"

"How could that be? This matter must be decided by the Lord first! But I heard that the Princesses of the Yuan family in Luoyang City are all extremely beautiful, and that Empress Hu is extremely coquettish. When she was in power, she kept countless lovers and even forced Prince Qinghe into her bed. Her reputation for lewdness spread far and wide!"

"Have you found out everything?"

"My Lord, you don't know that I have made a lot of preparations before coming with you this time! My Lord, I am ready and just waiting for your order!"

Hou Jing was very excited and full of energy.

Li Shuang cursed:

"This isn't the Northern Territory. Don't talk about robbing people all the time. Be more magnanimous!"

After hearing this, Hou Jing seemed to understand.

"We can't just rob openly, that would mean we'd make more money!"

"Wan Jing, you are very insightful!"

Not far away, Yuan Ziyou's servant looked at Li Shuang and Hou Jing, who suddenly laughed while talking.

"My lord, why are they laughing for no reason?"

Yuan Ziyou looked at them with a hint of disgust between his brows.

Hou Jing was not good-looking and was very rude. His words and actions were not presentable. Yuan Ziyou disliked him when he saw him.

But compared to him, Yuan Ziyou hated Li Shuang even more.

This bandit leader, born in the countryside, showed no reverence for the nobles. This fact, even more than Hou Jing's outwardly rude behavior, disgusted Yuan Ziyou even more.

Perhaps there is another point, that is, not long ago, when they set out, Yuan Ziyou saw Erzhu Rong's daughter, the most beautiful pearl in Erzhuchuan, coming to see them off.

This woman was different from the noble ladies in Luoyang City. She was so unruly, so extraordinary, and had an incomparable beauty.

But in her eyes, Yuan Ziyou, who should have been the center of attention, was not at the center of everyone's attention. Instead, she focused on Li Shuang.

"What else can a country bumpkin think about? He is just like those outsiders who have just arrived in Luoyang, thinking about getting an official position in the city, buying a house and property, and dreaming!" Yuan Ziyou didn't want to pay attention to them anymore, urged his servants, and rode away.

Seeing the smoke and dust rising not far away, Hou Jing frowned.

"My lord, why did that boy leave?"

"Who knows!"

Li Shuang didn't care, but Hou Jing was dissatisfied and said viciously:

"This brat, it's fine if he just gave me a bad face all the way, but he actually dared to give the lord a bad face as well. Sooner or later, I will deal with him."

"Don't worry about him, let's go into the city!"

In the north of Luoyang City, Li Shengui and several brothers from the imperial guards were already waiting at the pavilion.

As soon as they met, Li Shengui was very enthusiastic.

"Brother, you are finally here. I have been waiting for you for so long!"

"I heard that Qingchen is now on duty in the Forbidden City, protecting the safety of the Emperor. Why did you bother to come and pick me up?"

"What are you talking about? If you come, I will come to pick you up even if I have to pretend to be sick!"

Li Shengui put his hand on Li Shuang's shoulder and said loudly:

"Come on, my brothers will welcome you back!"

"Where?"

"First, spend half a month in the tuning room, and then another half a month in the rhythm room!"

The Diaoyinli and Lelüli mentioned by Li Shengui are the two most famous music houses in Luoyang City. They are so large that the entire house is filled with professionals who are proficient in music and good at dancing.

The world's most beautiful prostitutes come out to play with stringed instruments and singing!
When Hou Jing heard this, he became excited and temporarily put his plan aside.

"I'm here, it would be inappropriate if I didn't go see my adoptive father first!"

Li Shengui said:

"My dad's not here!"

"Where is my godfather?"

"The rebellion in the northwest is getting more intense. The court is discussing who to send to take charge of the government. My father has also been summoned by His Majesty!"

"What did you come up with?"

"The court currently has several candidates, and the most popular one is Prince of Qi, Xiao Baoyin!"

As Li Shengui was speaking, a man in gorgeous clothes came towards them on horseback with dozens of servants, raising clouds of dust.

"Brother, do you see? The leader is none other than Prince of Qi, Xiao Baoyin. He was originally the prince of Qi. After Xiao Yan seized Qi, he defected to the Wei Dynasty and even married Princess Nanyang. He was quite the hero!"

Xiao Baoyin brought his men and seemed to have come here specifically to find them.

"But is General Wuwei in person?"

From a distance, Li Shengui responded.

"Exactly!"

The person has not arrived yet, but the laughter is already here!

"I was looking for the general!"

Li Shuang looked at the prince in brocade clothes riding on the horse and said.

"The person who came here is evil!"

If you want to find Li Shengui, why would you look for him at the city gate?
It was obvious that Xiao Baoyin was using the excuse of looking for Li Shengui, but in fact he was here to stop him!
Hou Jing came over and whispered in Li Shuang's ear:
"My Lord, you are the one who is coming!"

(End of this chapter)