Chapter 6: Chang'an in Dreams

Chen Yi walked along the Zhuque Avenue, paved with blue stone bricks, with a sense of awe and reverence, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. He noticed that on both sides of the avenue, there were many tall elm and locust trees, as well as wide drainage ditches. Further on both sides, the area was divided into blocks by various horizontal and vertical streets, arranged in a manner that resembled neat vegetable plots. However, as night approached, the details of the buildings within the city became less discernible, which was somewhat regrettable. He also observed that the number of pedestrians on the street had significantly decreased, lending the city a quieter atmosphere and a sense of tranquility. ... This ancient city, shrouded in tranquility, evoked a multitude of emotions in Chen Yi at that moment ...

Upon entering the Mingde Gate, one arrives at the Zhuque Avenue, known as "the first street of the Great Tang Dynasty." Approximately 150 meters wide, Zhuque Avenue was the widest street in Chang'an before the appearance of Danfengmen Avenue, which is over 170 meters wide, located in front of the Daming Palace. It serves as the central axis of Chang'an, connecting the Mingde Gate and the Zhuque Gate of the imperial city. The architecture of Chang'an is constructed along Zhuque Avenue as its central axis. The city is divided into eastern and western parts by Zhuque Avenue, with the eastern side governed by Wannian County and the western side by Chang'an County. It is the widest street in Chang'an and also serves as the central axis, linking the Mingde Gate and the Zhuque Gate of the imperial city, with all buildings in Chang'an oriented along Zhuque Avenue as the central axis. The city is divided into eastern and western parts by Zhuque Avenue, with the eastern side governed by Wannian County and the western side by Chang'an County.

As he gazed at the distant Chang'an City, which was gradually growing larger and clearer, Chen Yi felt an inexplicable excitement. This great ancient city, which he had long yearned for in his later life, was finally within reach. Chen Yi did not know what future connections he would have with this city, considered the largest in the world today, whether he could reside there for an extended period, or if he would accomplish something earth-shattering at this time. He wondered about the beautiful women recorded in history... whether he would have the chance to meet them...

From Mount Zhongnan to the city of Chang'an, there are wide official roads. Although Sun Simiao and his disciples, along with Chen Yi, did not travel quickly, the journey of approximately seventy li passed swiftly. By evening, the group finally arrived outside the city of Chang'an

Since acquiring this body, Chen Yi felt that his mindset had become considerably younger. The steadiness he once had had diminished significantly, and the impulsiveness of youth had returned. The rejuvenation of both body and mind, along with the excitement, was once again present. He could also understand the joy he felt about going to Chang'an; when a dream is about to be realized, everyone experiences immense excitement and thrill, and he, in his 'youthful' state, was no exception.

After Chen Yi quickly ran and * drew * for a while, he caught up with Sun Simiao and his four disciples. He apologized to Sun Simiao, who said nothing and continued to ride at a moderate pace. Ning Qing quietly fell back a little and walked alongside Chen Yi, softly asking, "Ziying, what have you been looking at all this way?"

"Look at the scenery, don't you notice how beautiful it is?" Chen Yi said, pointing to the surrounding landscape, "It's such a naturally beautiful pastoral scene, don't you think?"

The capital of the Tang Empire, the greatest urban architecture of ancient China, the city of Chang'an that once appeared in dreams, now stands real within it; at this moment, Chen Yi feels as if he has returned to his dream

After Chen Yi and Ning Qing finished speaking, Liu Hai, who was slightly ahead, turned around and shouted at Chen Yi: "Ziying, you can’t dawdle any longer. If you don’t hurry, we won’t reach Chang'an before dark!"

Hearing Liu Hai's words, Sun Simiao did not express much; he merely turned to glance at Chen Yi, his face displaying a faint expression

As Chen Yi stood on Zhuque Avenue and observed the situation within Chang'an City, he felt a renewed sense of shock. The scene in Chang'an bore some resemblance to the visions he had experienced in his dreams. On both sides of the wide street, houses and palaces were arranged in an orderly fashion, extending into the distance and disappearing into the mist, with no end in sight. This roughly outlined the overall image of Chang'an City, grand and imposing, even more magnificent than Chen Yi had imagined. At that moment, he found it difficult to articulate his feelings about this great ancient city, unable to specify the emotions stirring within him. What he desired most was to find a high vantage point from which to overlook the entire landscape of Chang'an City.

Sun Simiao was to go to Chang'an on urgent business, and he asked Chen Yi to accompany him. After making the necessary preparations and waiting for his two disciples, Wang Chong and Liu Hai, who were gathering herbs deep in the Zhongnan Mountains, Sun Simiao set off with several people.

I am coming!" Chen Yi responded loudly, urging his horse to catch up with his master and apprentice Sun Simiao, who had already traveled a certain distance ahead.

The city of Chang'an is approximately seventy li from the Zongsheng Palace on Zhongnan Mountain, and one can generally reach it in a day by riding a horse at a fast pace

Chen Yi also thought of the situation of Xi'an City in later generations. Although the main streets of Xi'an City are as straight as the Zhuque Avenue and other horizontal and vertical streets before him, and some street names are the same, the overall grandeur differs significantly. The Zhuque Avenue in later generations is less than one-third the width of the Zhuque Avenue before him, and the uniformity of the houses on both sides of the street is also vastly different. Although the houses in later generations are built taller, they lack overall planning and cannot be integrated, making their grandeur far inferior to that of this era, giving a completely different impression. The Zhuque Avenue in later generations is less than one-third the width of the Zhuque Avenue before him, and the uniformity of the houses on both sides of the street is also vastly different. Although the houses in later generations are built taller, they lack overall planning and cannot be integrated, making their grandeur far inferior to that of this era, giving a completely different impression.

You... I'm not talking to you anymore!" Ning Qing was a bit angry, glaring at Chen Yi a few times in annoyance, pouting and running away.

Standing on the broad Zhuque Avenue, with the towering Mingde Gate tower to the north, Chen Yi increasingly felt his own insignificance, and a sense of powerlessness towards the affairs of the world arose within him. The street, stretching endlessly before his feet, intensified this feeling.

Chen Yi stared blankly for a while, and under Ning Qing's repeated calls, he followed Sun Simiao towards the city gate.

"Ziying, run faster. What are you dawdling around for?" Liu Haile, the second disciple of Sun Simiao, shouted as he halted his mount.

In the later generations, such pleasing scenery has become rare. Chen Yi even began to doubt whether the so-called prosperous urbanization and industrialization of later times were truly good or bad. Chen Yi is a person who enjoys traveling; his longing for cities is far less than his yearning for nature. Compared to the bustling city, he prefers the tranquility of the countryside. What he sees before him resembles the rural life he yearns for. Although this place is not a scenic area, the beauty of the landscape astonishes him, prompting him to frequently halt his ride and greedily admire the view, regretting that he does not have a camera to capture it, relying solely on his eyes to take it in. Liu Hai, who has a slight aversion to Chen Yi, occasionally calls out to him to catch up.

"Ziying, did you not hear me speaking?" Ning Qing's voice, now louder, finally brought Chen Yi back to his senses

Sun Simiao had been silent throughout the journey, occasionally asking Chen Yi a few casual questions about trivial daily matters, but he did not mention the purpose of their trip to Chang'an. To this day, Chen Yi remains unaware of the reason behind Sun Simiao and his disciple's journey to Chang'an. When he inquired, Sun Simiao did not respond, and neither did the indifferent Tu Shuqing nor Wang Chong seem to know much. Chen Yi found it unnecessary to ask Liu Hai, who appeared to harbor a somewhat hostile attitude towards him.

Mingde Gate has five openings, each approximately four to five meters wide, allowing several horse-drawn carriages to pass side by side. The largest opening in the center and the two openings on the far sides are closed, with only the two doors flanking the largest central opening open. One opening is designated for those entering the city, while the other is for those exiting. The depth of the openings is nearly twenty meters, which is roughly the thickness of the city wall base where the Mingde Gate tower is located.

Chen Yi was unaware of what Sun Simiao and his disciples were doing in Chang'an. He had previously inquired with Sun Simiao but could not ascertain the reasons behind it. Ning Qing was also uninformed and could only share with Chen Yi some of her speculations.

Due to the unusual weather this year, there has been a prolonged period of rain and snow after the New Year, followed by a late spring chill. It was not until mid-February that the weather began to warm up, making it feel noticeably colder than in previous years. Various flowers have bloomed much later than usual. Although we have already reached the Grain Rain solar term, based on the growth of flowers and plants, it can only be considered mid-spring at this time, which is also one of the most beautiful periods of the year

Another factor is the beautiful scenery along the way, which is another surprise for Chen Yi

Originally, Sun Simiao intended for Ning Qing to stay behind at the Zongsheng Palace, but the young girl persistently clung to him. In the end, Sun Simiao agreed to let her accompany him.

As evening approached, there were not many people entering the city, and the area outside the city did not appear crowded. There was no need to queue to enter the city. A group of five dismounted and walked towards the city gate.

During the subsequent journey, Chen Yi did not stop to admire the scenery again, but instead kept pace with Sun Simiao and his disciples, hastening towards the direction of Chang'an. The restless Ning Qing often ran to Chen Yi's side, engaging him in conversation about various matters, which frequently caused Liu Hai to turn back and cast odd glances at them, further reinforcing Chen Yi's belief in his earlier judgment.

What did you say?" Chen Yi turned his head to look at the pouting Ning Qing and asked in confusion

As he drew closer to the city of Chang'an, Chen Yi's feelings of excitement intensified, to the point where his heartbeat became more pronounced. He stared almost unblinkingly at the city gate tower, which was now largely discernible, wanting to confirm whether this magnificent capital of the Tang Empire matched the grandeur and wonder he had envisioned in his mind, and whether it fully embodied the majesty and might of the Tang Empire.

After running a stretch of road and looking back at the Zhongnan Mountains, one can only feel that the continuous mountain range is steep and beautiful, resembling a splendid painting, stretching behind me. Although it seems to fade gradually as I move further away, the accumulation of more peaks makes it appear even more magnificent. This magnificent mountain landscape, blended with the nearby scenery, looks increasingly beautiful.

He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he did not hear Ning Qing's repeated calls to him

Liu Hai seemed to blame himself a little, and Chen Yi quickly agreed. This second disciple of Sun Simiao was only around twenty years old and was likely the most agile-minded among the three disciples. After being rescued by Sun Simiao and brought back to the Zongsheng Palace, Chen Yi had little interaction with Sun Simiao's two male disciples, but he could clearly sense that Liu Hai's attitude towards him was somewhat poor. He speculated that perhaps Liu Hai had feelings for the young girl Ning Qing. Seeing Ning Qing interact more with him, coupled with the fact that Ning Qing often liked to chat with him, might have made Liu Hai feel jealous, leading to a hint of hostility emerging.

Seeing Ning Qing like this, and then looking at Sun Simiao and the other two disciples moving forward, Chen Yi, momentarily stunned, could only follow. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart that women are always the same, somewhat incomprehensible.

After getting on the horse and riding on the road, Chen Yixin's feeling of joy grew increasingly stronger, fueled by many reasons for excitement. There was the pride in his decent riding skills, the surprise at the beautiful scenery along the way, and most importantly, the anticipation of arriving at Chang'an, a city he had long yearned for in his past life. The thrill of this expectation becoming a reality was the most intense.

Certainly, the surprises brought about by other unexpected discoveries intensified the joy within his heart. After galloping for a while, Chen Yi felt that his equestrian skills were quite impressive, and his control over the steed beneath him was as proficient as a modern doctor using a stethoscope to listen to a patient's breathing. He even felt capable of performing several advanced riding maneuvers while on horseback. He cherished this physical "instinct" that remained within him, as it was one of the reasons he could quickly integrate into this era, and it was also a significant factor contributing to his delight

The scenery? Oh! It is indeed beautiful, but... these landscapes require quiet contemplation to truly appreciate. Today, we are in a hurry and have no time to savor them in detail!" Ning Qingwei sighed deeply.

As far as the eye can see, the entire world is a vibrant scene, with the grass turning green, the willow branches becoming lush, and the peach, pear, and apricot blossoms competing to bloom, adorning the earth in a myriad of colors, with clusters of flowers everywhere, creating a spring landscape of countless hues. Everything that meets the eye feels refreshing and invigorating. In the vast Guanzhong Plain, there are no wide roads or railways of later generations, no roaring cars or trains, no large buildings or factories, and no discharged wastewater or billowing smoke. The sky is so clear that even distant scenery can be faintly seen. This purity and clarity of the heavens and earth is something Chen Yi never encountered during his later travels to Tibet. There is no need to worry about PM2.5 or PM10.0; along the roads, there are only sporadic scattered houses, with fields crisscrossing in every direction. In the fields, busy farmers are preparing for cultivation, and the small stream by the roadside flows crystal clear, reflecting the lush greenery. Even the air is exceptionally fresh, and what fills the nostrils is a refreshing breath of nature, the intoxicating scent of spring... The natural environment that Chen Yi perceives is incomparably better than that of later generations, and he gazes upon it with immense joy...

Under the setting sun, the city of Chang'an appears particularly grand. Chen Yi stands beneath the city wall, feeling a sense of insignificance. The Mingde Gate tower is taller than any ancient city gate he has seen in his later life, even several times taller. By Chen Yi's visual estimation, the city wall beside the Mingde Gate is at least several meters, even over twenty meters high, while the Mingde Gate tower, which rises above the city wall, is at least thirty to forty meters tall, featuring three tiers of pavilions. The architectural style of this city gate tower is quite similar to some Tang-style buildings he saw in Xi'an in his later life, characterized by the inward-curving eaves typical of Tang architecture, large dougong brackets, and high eaves. The overall architectural details are neat yet not rigid, expansive yet not ostentatious. The simple red and white color scheme enhances the grandeur of the entire structure. Additionally, the soldiers armed with rifles standing on the city wall and the gate tower add to the imposing and majestic appearance of the Mingde Gate tower.

"What you said makes sense." Chen Yi sensed the profound meaning behind Ning Qing's words

Outside the Mingde Gate, which is considered the main southern gate of Chang'an, Chen Yi once again stood still, gazing at the towering city walls and the gate tower