allonlinenovel Chapter 331 The Tang Dynasty is glorious, and God blesses all nations!
Chapter 331 The Tang Dynasty is glorious, and God blesses all nations!
Chapter 331: The glorious Tang Dynasty, Heaven blesses all nations! The festive atmosphere of New Year's Day gently covers every inch of Chang'an City.
At this time of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, the happiest people in the city are undoubtedly the people who work hard all year round.
They can finally gather with their families in this festive occasion of family reunion, surrounded by lights and decorations, and share a table full of hot reunion dinner.
Laughter and joyful chatter echoed in the house, with relatives asking about each other's well-being and children laughing and playing.
According to the Ministry of Household's careful and detailed survey and statistics, the total population of Chang'an City is now showing an astonishing growth trend, reaching 2.3 million, more than twice the population size in the 15th year of Zhenguan.
Among them, the number of foreigners living in Chang'an was also quite considerable, reaching as many as 320,000.
This population surge prompted Chang'an City to gradually expand and extend to surrounding areas.
Brand new buildings are springing up one after another, especially the four large shopping malls in the east, south, west and north, which have added a strong touch to the prosperity of Chang'an.
In the 15th year of Zhenguan, Chang'an was limited in size and facilities and could not accommodate such a large population and commercial volume.
This year is a brilliant and glorious year in the diplomatic history of the Tang Dynasty. As many as 312 countries, yearning for the Tang Dynasty civilization, have sent envoys to Chang'an to study and exchange ideas.
These foreign envoys not only brought their own unique culture, customs and etiquette, but also brought all kinds of rare treasures and unique specialties.
The lion, imprisoned in a sturdy cage, was walking across the street in broad daylight.
Such ferocious beasts from foreign lands were undoubtedly an extremely rare spectacle for the people of Chang'an.
As a precious tribute, it carried the submission of other countries to the Tang Dynasty.
The caravans from various countries that come regularly every year are like torrents of trade.
Their bags and caravans were filled with their country's most representative goods, whether they were exquisite handicrafts, rare spices and medicinal herbs, or unique clothing and fabrics, all of which were spread out one by one in the market of Chang'an, attracting the people to watch and marvel at them, which greatly promoted the prosperity of trade between countries.
It was at this time that the people of Chang'an who did not interact with foreigners were called country bumpkins.
Li Chengqian and Mr. Qi stood side by side on the towering Zhaixing Tower in the palace, their eyes slowly sweeping across the bustling Chang'an City.
The streets and alleys in the city are decorated with colorful lanterns, making it look like a dream, and there are crowds of people.
"Mr. Qi, have you ever witnessed such a grand spectacle?"
Li Chengqian's eyes sparkled with pride, and his voice trembled slightly.
Mr. Qi shook his head slowly, an expression of surprise and shock on his face.
"Your Majesty, this is the first time I have ever seen such a sight. It truly opens my eyes. No other prosperous era in history could compare to the Chang'an I see now."
Li Chengqian had a smile on his face and looked downstairs leisurely.
The sixteen guards of the Southern Court and the six armies of the Northern Court all looked focused, each doing their own job. Some were concentrating on directing the traffic in Chang'an City, with sharp gestures and clear commands, ensuring that every road was unobstructed and that vehicles, horses, and pedestrians could move forward in an orderly manner.
Some were meticulously carrying out the registration of personnel and materials, with their pens constantly moving across the books, recording every detail of entering and leaving the city.
The Jinyiwei had sharp eyes and moved silently among the bustling crowd. They were responsible for maintaining security.
With the concerted efforts of all departments, Chang'an City was orderly and prosperous.
The Tang Dynasty is glorious and God blesses all nations!
The great reputation of the Tang Dynasty became reality at this moment, shocking everyone's heart.
"Your Majesty, doors are not locked at night, and no one picks up lost items on the road. This is the first time I have ever witnessed this."
Mr. Qi murmured softly, his tone full of sincere admiration for this peaceful and prosperous era.
Li Chengqian gazed at the happy Tang people downstairs, as well as the envoys from all corners of the world with different skin colors and clothing, and felt a lot of emotions in his heart.
"Mr. Qi, do you know that this scene before your eyes will probably become a scene that countless people dream of, but dare not even dream of."
"You and I are fortunate enough to witness this with our own eyes, so we should cherish it even more."
Mr. Qi felt the same way and nodded frequently.
"Your Majesty, I have a doubt in my heart, and I hope Your Majesty can help me solve it."
"Master Qi, there's no need to be so reserved. Just speak freely, I'm listening!"
Li Chengqian turned slightly and looked at Mr. Qi sincerely.
"Your Majesty, I believe that military pay could be reduced. The Fubing system implemented during the reign of the Retired Emperor meant that all spoils taken on the battlefield by the soldiers through their own bravery became theirs, and there was no such thing as military pay."
"Your Majesty is still using the Fubing system, yet you're spending a lot of extra money on military pay. I really don't understand the deep meaning of your Majesty's move."
There was confusion in Mr. Qi's eyes.
Li Chengqian looked at Mr. Qi quietly. After a brief pause, he asked in a gentle voice, "Mr. Qi, if you were an ordinary soldier of the Tang Dynasty and you were sleeping on a quiet night when you suddenly felt something hard under your pillow, and out of curiosity you opened it and found it was two taels of silver, what would you feel?"
Mr. Qi was stunned at first, stumped by this sudden question. Then, after a moment's reflection, he suddenly understood and couldn't help but laugh. "I am truly stupid. I failed to grasp Your Majesty's profound meaning."
"Grand Master Qi, isn't this the scene of prosperity you spoke of so long ago? The Tang Dynasty's might is only just beginning to show its strength. In the future, it will surely flourish even more and command great power."
"If the Tang Dynasty wants to achieve its grand ambitions, it must gather talented individuals from all corners of the world and absorb people from all directions. This is the foundation."
Li Chengqian held his head high and chest puffed out, speaking with confidence.
"Your Majesty, I look forward to that day arriving soon."
Mr. Qi bowed his head respectfully, his eyes flashing with longing for the future of the Tang Dynasty.
"I will definitely come." Li Chengqian said in a firm tone.
After saying this, he seemed to suddenly remember something and said with great interest, "Master Qi, look at those four newly built shopping malls in the east, south, west and north. Although the stores haven't officially opened for business yet, the Tian Street area among them is already bustling with activity."
"I heard that it's quite interesting and lively there."
"How about you and I go for a tour?"
"Since Your Majesty is so inclined, I shall accompany You to enjoy the new sight of Chang'an together."
Mr. Qi readily agreed, and a hint of anticipation appeared on his face.
"Would you like to invite General Qin and Commander Zhang to go with you?" Mr. Qi asked tentatively.
Li Chengqian shook his head slightly, a teasing smile on his lips.
"No need for that. They are on holiday right now and are busy accompanying their lovely wives at home, enjoying the joy of their wedding."
"How can I bear to bother them? Let them stay with their families in peace."