Star Martial Soaring Cloud

The capital of the Great Qian Dynasty was divided into five cities: East, West, South, North, and Central.

The Central City is located in the very center of the capital city and is the power center of the entire dynasty. All the core government offices of the Great Qian Dynasty, such as the Six Ministries, Nine Temples, and Five Directorates, are located here.

From this point on, all government decrees were issued, governing the entire land.

The Lower Academy and Jingwei Taoist Academy are also located in the heart of the city.

This place is patrolled by elite imperial guards year-round, and is heavily guarded.

The East City is a gathering place for the most powerful and wealthy, filled with the mansions and residences of royal relatives, noble families, and important civil and military officials.

Within the deep, winding alleyways, rows of grand mansions stand with their vermilion gates towering high, and stone lions guarding the entrances with their heads held high, exuding an imposing and awe-inspiring air of nobility.

The western part of the city was a gathering place for wealthy merchants and powerful families.

Although the layout of the residences here is not as grand and solemn as the official residences in the eastern city, it is exquisite and elegant, with beautiful scenery at every turn, and every brick and tile exudes the ultimate wealth and luxury.

The most prestigious restaurants, teahouses, and brothels in the capital city are all located in the western part of the city, where nightly revelry and throngs of guests fill the streets.

Here, spending a fortune overnight is commonplace, and the extravagant and decadent lifestyle is unparalleled in the entire capital.

The northern part of the city was a military stronghold of the capital. Arsenals and granaries were neatly arranged, and military camps stretched for miles, housing the garrison troops and their families.

This place lacks the nobility of the East City and the extravagance of the West City; it possesses only a heavy, somber, and oppressive atmosphere of death.

The southern city is the most expansive, separated from the other four cities by the inner city wall, hence it is more often referred to as the outer city.

This place is home to merchants from all over the country, migrants and suburban residents. People from all walks of life gather here, making it a diverse and mixed community.

The narrow, winding streets and alleys, the low and scattered houses, and the chaotic smoke from cooking fires create a stark contrast with the orderly and bustling inner city.

Therefore, people in the capital often say, "The east is noble, the west is rich, the north is quiet, and the south is mixed," which in just eight characters perfectly describes the unique layout of the five cities of the capital.

Last night, Wang Xiao and his two companions stayed at the Shun'an Inn.

However, in the end, only two rooms were booked.

The next morning, as dawn broke and before the light of day had pierced the darkness, Wang Xiao was awakened by the cacophony of noise outside his window.

He got up and opened the window. Changqian Street below was already bustling with people.

Carriages and horses shuttled back and forth incessantly, and pedestrians hurried by, making it even more lively than when I first saw it yesterday evening.

After having a simple breakfast at the inn, the three decided to go out and explore the renowned capital of the Great Qian Dynasty.

As soon as I came downstairs, the chubby shopkeeper was doing accounts behind the counter.

Seeing them come down, he immediately put down his pen and ink, and greeted them warmly with a smile: "Did the three gentlemen rest well last night?"

"Not bad," Wang Xiao replied casually.

The portly shopkeeper, with his hands resting on the counter, asked with a smile, "Do the three gentlemen have anywhere to go today? If not, why not head over to Chengzheng Square and join in the fun?"

"Hmm?" Upon hearing this, Wang Xiao and the other two all looked up at him.

They haven't decided where to go yet.

There are four days left until the assessments at Jixia Academy and Jingwei Dao Academy, which will begin simultaneously on March 5th.

The Jixia Academy's assessments have never had fixed questions; each assessment is a completely new set of rules. The same is true for the Jingwei Academy's array formation assessments. Even if the basic array formations are the same, countless variations will emerge on the spot, which is extremely challenging.

Thinking you can pass these two tests by cramming at the last minute is pure fantasy.

Therefore, the three of them had nothing important to do recently and had planned to take advantage of their free time to travel around the capital and broaden their horizons.

Zhou Qian and Xie An secretly harbored ambitions, hoping to seize the opportunity to find some ways to make money. Prices in the capital were high and expenses were exorbitant, and with their family wealth, it was difficult to support their long-term expenses.

Seeing the curiosity on the three men's faces, the fat shopkeeper smiled knowingly and said, "You'll see when you get there; it will definitely be worth the trip."

Walking onto Changqian Street, one sees the entire city's pedestrians flocking towards Chengzheng Square, a continuous and spectacular sight.

"Hurry up! If we're any later, we won't even be able to get a good spot to stand!" A scholar in a blue robe grabbed his companion's sleeve and ran forward, his voice full of urgency.

"Today, I am fortunate enough to witness the clash of treasures between two great families. What an incredible treat!" A middle-aged man in brocade robes rubbed his hands together, his steps never faltering.

"They always flaunt their wealth, and each display is new and impressive. I really envy the rich heritage of these scions of noble families!" Passersby on the street exclaimed, their voices full of envy.

The streets and alleys were filled with the cacophony of voices and diverse opinions, all eyes fixed on Chengzheng Square with anticipation and excitement.

Among the crowd were people like Wang Xiao and his group who were new to the capital and didn't quite understand what was going on. They grabbed passersby and asked them questions.

"Brother, may I ask what grand event is taking place ahead, attracting such a large crowd from all over the city?"

"Judging from your appearance, young master, you must have just arrived in the capital?" The locals asked with a smile, unfazed by the sight.

"Indeed, we only arrived in Beijing yesterday."

"No wonder I didn't know! The young masters of the Yun and Ye families have been showing off their wealth in Chengzheng Square for days! Such a luxurious and shocking scene is something that ordinary people can only see a few times in their entire lives!" The man said, his eyes filled with a deep sense of intoxication, as if he were already in the midst of the spectacle.

Others immediately pressed, "Is it the two powerful royal families that control the Southern Frontier and the Northern Plains?"

"Indeed! They are the two great non-royal kings of the Great Qian Dynasty, the Ye family of the Southern Frontier and the Yun family of the Northern Plains!" The person who answered was full of confidence, and his tone was filled with pride.

Zhou Qian stepped forward and asked curiously, "It's just a display of wealth, nothing more than piles of gold and silver, so why has it caused such a sensation throughout the city?"

These words instantly opened the floodgates of conversation among the passersby. His eyes gleamed as he launched into a long, rambling monologue: "Young master, you don't understand! The displays of wealth by these aristocratic families are far beyond ordinary gold and silver jewels. They exhibit rare and exquisite treasures! Have you ever seen a whole hall of flowering trees carved from a single piece of warm jade, with translucent, lifelike blossoms and leaves? Have you ever seen an ancient spirit zither that plays on its own in the wind? Have you ever seen a magical fish that floats in water and leaps at the sound of its chirping? These divine objects are the true foundation of a top-tier aristocratic family!"

Passersby chimed in, the conversation growing increasingly lively: "I heard that the Ye family has sent three direct descendants, and the Yun family has gathered four outstanding talents—all prodigies to participate in the Jixia Academy's assessment! The top descendants of these two great families competing on the same stage, vying for treasures—this is a spectacle rarely seen in a century!"

The first person to speak lowered his voice, leaned forward, and revealed a mysterious expression: "You only know about the superficial display of wealth, but you don't know the deeper meaning! The two great families are using this grand event to create momentum in order to quickly establish their reputation in the capital, attract talented people from all over the country, and take the opportunity to expand their own power and influence!"

"So, they're planning to snatch people from the Great Qian Dynasty?" A local resident asked in a low voice, his face showing surprise and doubt.

"So what if they fight over it?" The man smiled calmly, spreading his hands. "Jixia Academy is a joint institution established by two great families and the imperial court. Talented people from all over the world are naturally drawn to it based on their abilities and merits. Those with skills and a solid foundation will naturally attract talented individuals to their side!"

Someone in the crowd raised a voice: "I heard that a top young nobleman from the capital is also competing today? Who is he?"

"You don't know? He's Jiang Feng, son of Jiang Yun, the Minister of Works!"

Upon hearing this, everyone around gasped in shock, and the murmurs rose several decibels in astonishment.

The Ministry of Works originated from the Ministry of Winter Affairs. It was in charge of all construction projects, water conservancy dredging, land reclamation, artisan management, and government-run industries. It oversaw all the major infrastructure projects in the nine provinces. The Minister of Works held a high position and was respectfully called the Grand Minister of Works.

Although the Ye family and the Yun family each control a fiefdom and possess substantial resources, their industrial focuses are quite different.

The Northern Plains are rich in various rare minerals, especially the core ores needed for forging weapons and setting up formations.

Southern Xinjiang borders the sea and possesses vast ocean areas. It is more inclined towards trade and transportation, and basically monopolizes the maritime shipping and trade of the Nine Provinces. The Ye family also accounts for about half of the land transportation by carriage and horse.

The closer you get to Chengzheng Square, the more surging the crowds become.

Wang Xiao and his group were practically pushed forward by the surging crowd.

After walking slowly for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the view suddenly opened up ahead, and a magnificent and imposing giant square came into view, far exceeding everyone's expectations and imagination.

The entire Chengzheng Square is open and vast, stretching extremely long from north to south and east to west. It would take at least fifteen minutes to walk across the entire square.

The ground is paved entirely with giant, single-piece bluestone slabs. Each slab has been meticulously polished and chiseled, resulting in a smooth, mirror-like surface and a perfectly flat surface. The gaps between the slabs are filled with pure white ash, making the entire square neat, meticulous, and spotless. Despite weathering the elements, it remains as clean as ever, showcasing the grandeur and sophistication of royal standards.

North of the square, the main south gate of the inner city—Dacheng Gate—stands majestically, dominating the area.

The city gate tower is three stories high, with upturned eaves that stretch out into the sky, and glazed golden tiles covering the roof. Under the bright sunlight, it shines brilliantly and is extremely noble.

Above the heavy city gate, a giant stone plaque hangs, engraved with the three large characters "Da Cheng Men" (大承门). The characters are powerful and vigorous, exuding an aura of imperial grandeur that is awe-inspiring.

Crossing this city gate leads to the heart of the central city, the core of the Great Qian Dynasty's power, where the central government offices, the two most prestigious academies in the land, Jixia Academy and Jingwei Dao Academy, are all located.

A single gate separates the everyday life of the city from the power of the dynasty.

A circular viewing stone staircase was built around the square, rising in layers and arranged in a neat and orderly manner, encircling the entire square.

The stone steps are all made of high-quality bluestone, and each step is covered with a soft brocade cushion, so that even if you sit for a long time, it is warm and comfortable, without the cold feeling of bluestone.

Wang Xiao roughly estimated that the circular viewing staircase extends in layers and can accommodate more than 100,000 people to sit and watch the ceremony at the same time, making it unprecedented in scale and grand in scale.

It is evident that Chengzheng Square has always hosted various large-scale events in the capital, such as royal celebrations, family gatherings, and national competitions, hence its magnificent scale that is unparalleled in the capital.

The square was already packed with people, shoulder to shoulder.

The circular viewing platform was packed with people, and even the passageways and open spaces at the edge of the square were completely filled with crowds, creating a deafening cacophony of noise.

Originally, the viewing seats in this square were always priced, with prices ranging from hundreds to thousands of silver dollars depending on the distance of the view and the quality of the location.

But today all seats are free, simply because someone is treating everyone to a show.

Zhou Qian was quite surprised to see this and asked, "Who is so generous?"

A middle-aged man next to him looked up, giving him a look that said, "You don't even know this?" and said, "Who else could it be? Ye Xin, the young master of the Ye family in Southern Xinjiang!"

Wang Xiao's heart skipped a beat. "Ye Xin? This is the second time I've heard this Young Master Ye's name!"

With 100,000 spectators, if each person spends 500 taels of silver, the daily expense would be as high as 50 million taels of silver, equivalent to 500,000 gold.

This young master Ye actually booked all the seats, offering them to the public for free for seven whole days.

Wang Xiao couldn't help but exclaim, "This is really a display of wealth!"