Chapter 51: Tokyo Bianliang, Paradise on Earth (Seeking Follow-up Reading)
Baishuilang, who came from the small place of Shijie Village in Liangshan Lake, has been to Cangzhou, an important border town, and also to Jizhou City in the Liao Kingdom.

Although each city has its own unique style and women in each place have their own graceful figures, they have not exceeded the scope of imagination of later generations.

Cao Jie believed that he had seen all kinds of prosperity in his previous life, but when he really got close to the capital, he was still amazed by the Song Dynasty.

Along the River During the Qingming Festival and Dreams of the Eastern Capital are not enough to summarize even one-tenth of it.

Before entering Tokyo Bianliang, the first thing that catches your eye is the river embankment that stretches as far as the eye can see.

The Yellow River has a hundred harms, but it brings wealth.

When the Yellow River first entered the Loess Plateau, it was still clear and the water volume was not large, and it was as graceful as a young girl waiting to be married.

But when she split the loess, passed through thousands of mountains and valleys, suffered torture and destruction and rushed out of the plateau, the shy girl turned into a hysterical shrew, madly ravaging the Central Plains, so that the river embankment of Tokyo Bianliang needed to be built higher than the city wall.

Liangshan Lake was the wet mark left behind by her indulgence.

The carts passed under the river bank and joined the endless flow of convoys.

Merchants and scholars from all over the world gathered in Chenqiao.

Originally, there was only a small bridge in this place, which was repaired with funds donated by a wealthy family named Chen. Later, an inn was built at the bridgehead. Still later, a man put on a yellow robe here, so after the capital was established in Kaifeng, the "Chenqiao Gate" was set up.

As a result, Chenqiao became the throat connecting Yanzhao in the north and Qilu in the east. There was an endless stream of merchant ships at the ferry every day, and shops and taverns were open all night long. In the capital, it was praised as "There is Zhuxian Town in the south and Chenqiao Posthouse in the north".

Chenqiao naturally became a tax checkpoint.

The Song Dynasty attached great importance to industrial and commercial taxes because the number of redundant officials, redundant soldiers and redundant expenses was too high. One position had to employ several officials to handle affairs, otherwise there would be a large number of "idle personnel" who would just be sitting in their positions doing nothing.

Moreover, there were constant border disputes during the Song Dynasty. To maintain peace on the border, it was necessary to maintain a large army, which required high military expenditures.

No matter which one it is, it will require huge expenditures from the national treasury. If this continues for a long time, even the richest country will not be able to bear it and will have a fiscal deficit sooner or later.

Not to mention that by the time it came to Zhao Ji's hands, the sealed pile warehouse that had been accumulated for nearly a hundred years was already empty, and he was still extravagant and engaged in massive construction projects.

As the saying goes, "increase revenue and reduce expenditure", the Song Dynasty could not "reduce expenditure" so it could only try to "increase revenue".

The ruling class naturally set their sights on the "fat sheep" of industry and commerce. Among the many types of industrial and commercial taxes, there was a very distinctive tax called bridge tax.

Because no matter how you evade taxes, the flow of people and goods will always have to cross a bridge!
When Wu Song was escorting the goods, the bribes from the county magistrate went through official channels. Although he was still exploited, at least he did not have to face the same difficulties as those merchants.

The group quickly passed Chenqiao and arrived outside Kaifeng City.

"Brother, this is Tokyo Bianliang!"

This is a huge city wall. Looking to the left, you cannot see the end of the city wall. Looking to the right, you cannot see the end of the city wall either. It stands majestically and silently between heaven and earth.

Cao Zheng was from Kaifeng Prefecture. He was used to the prosperity of Tokyo, and he knew how many corpses were buried beneath the prosperity and how many dead souls were howling in the hustle and bustle.

But every time he looked at this huge city, he felt proud from the bottom of his heart.

Look! This is Tokyo, the Tokyo where my family has lived for generations. This is my home, my city!
Along the way, Cao Zheng kept chattering.

One moment they say that the vegetarian food at the Xiangji Kitchen of Daxiangguo Temple is the best in the world, and just thinking about it makes one's mouth water;
One moment he talked about the various kinds of performances in the tile market, which were so varied that even if one visited for ten days or half a month, there would be no repetition.
One moment, it was said that the courtesans on the Bian River would compete with each other every year. They would take turns to sing and perform in the halls. Each of them was extremely beautiful and talented, like fairies descended from the mortal world...

Those country folk had never seen such a prosperous place before. What they saw and heard made them dazzled and confused.

There are poems:
Thousands of houses are decorated with red and green; the three markets and six streets are filled with people in well-dressed clothes.

The Phoenix Pavilion is made of nine layers of gold and jade, while the Dragon Tower appears to be made of glass.

The phoenix and phoenix flutes sound on the singing stage, and the ivory boards and silver zithers echo in the dancing pavilion.

The military and civilians are celebrating, enjoying a year of peace and plenty; merchants and travelers from all directions are coming together to bring wealth and prosperity to this place.

There are many beautiful and famous girls in the red-light district, and countless charming singing girls in the palaces and towers.

The wealthy and powerful drink music, and the nobles buy smiles.

The scenery is so luxurious that it makes you feel like you are in the Langyuan or Penglai district.

Even Cao Jie watched closely and thought to himself: A real man should live in this city and take over the throne from Emperor Zhao!
It was getting late and important matters were to be dealt with, so Cao Jie began to gather people's hearts and arrange work: "Brother Cao Zheng, we have a long time to go. You are familiar with Tokyo City, so take Wu Erlang to hand over the task from Shi County Magistrate." Several large carts of "local specialties" needed to be handed over as soon as possible.

"promise!"

"Wu Song, this trip to Tokyo is related to your future development, so you must be calm."

"Brother, don't worry. Even if we encounter difficulties, Wu Song will endure it if he can, and will endure it if he cannot..."

"If you really can't stand it any longer, then there's no need to stand it any longer." Cao Jie straightened Wu Song's clothes and turned to Lu Zhishen, who looked like a monk.

"Master, we are going to the Five Mountains Temple at Suanzao Gate. Please try to contact your confidants. We are not only going to save Madam Lin, but also to cause a big disturbance in Tokyo City."

"Well, I was able to escape from Tokyo thanks to Zhang San, Li Si and other playboys. If they knew I was back, they would definitely surrender to me."

"That's great. When you're done with your business, Wu Song, we'll gather near Madam Lin's home... Shi Qian, we'll rely on you to pass on the news."

"Don't worry, brother. Shi Qian is not very good at other things, but his legs and feet are very agile."

Upon receiving the order, the crowd split into two groups and merged into the bustling Tokyo city.

In this era, Bianliang, the capital of the Song Dynasty, was the center of the world.

In the eyes of drunkards, Tokyo has endless fine wine; in the eyes of hungry ghosts, Tokyo has endless delicacies; in the eyes of perverts, Tokyo has countless beauties dancing; in the eyes of scholars, Tokyo is a city of wisdom with a wealth of talent...

Tokyo Bianliang had a population of one million.

Without strong trade, medical care, industry, agriculture, commerce, and even a sewage system that is far ahead of the world, it would be impossible to feed such a large population.

In this era, the largest cities in Europe, such as London in the UK, Paris in France, Venice and Florence in Italy, had a population of no more than 10,000 people, and they lived in sewers every day.

A large part of the dark Middle Ages was caused by dirt and plague. Death reaped the lives of Europeans without rest.

It would be a disaster for a city with a population of one million if the domestic sewage problem cannot be solved.

In the same era, when the sound of 100,000 people chanting scriptures in Baghdad during evening prayers was like thunder, 1.5 million people in the capital of the Song Dynasty were eating, drinking and having fun under the flickering lights.

This is the final glory!
Ten years later, the area north of the Yangtze River will be plunged into darkness for hundreds of years.

The "Dongjing Menghualu" says: "When peace lasts for a long time, people are abundant. Children with long hair play and cheer, and old people with white hair know nothing about war. All year round, people watch lanterns and admire the moon, hold snow scene flower fairs, pray for wisdom on the Qixi Festival, and climb mountains on the Double Ninth Festival. Everywhere you look, you can see brothels and painted pavilions, pearl curtains and embroidered houses. Carved carriages and horses flow endlessly, gold and jade dazzle, and silk and satin are fragrant...

It’s no exaggeration to call it a paradise on earth!

At nightfall that day, the Bian River was covered with a hazy veil, like the head of a parade in a hall, unrivalled in beauty and talent in Tokyo, captivating everyone.

The breeze plucks the willows, stirring the night sky of Bianjing. In the curling smoke, ripples fill the river, shattering a curtain of dreams.

Those children of the world still hold their pipa, singing the elegy of this glorious era sadly, confusedly and sorrowfully in the charming singing hall, in the misty waves of smoke and in the melancholy years.

Ruan Xiaoqi was not used to these decadent musics. He liked those high-pitched and cheerful voices. The charming Jiang Huo was only noisy in his eyes.

The black-sailed boat swung, and Ruan Xiaoqi disappeared into the darkness...

Cao Zheng went back to his old job, pushing a cart with a fat black pig tied to it and a sharp, shiny knife hanging on the front of the cart. The pig was so scared that it didn't even dare to make a sound...

Lu Zhishen gathered a dozen or so poor and dissolute people and they were plotting something in the darkness of the dilapidated house...

Before daybreak, at Madam Lin's home, Coach Zhang was full of thoughts. As he was old, he woke up early but just lay in bed without getting up.

"Boom boom boom!"

There was a slight knock on the door, and Coach Zhang was startled. He turned over and went to get the whistle stick on the bedside.

The next second, a short figure rushed into the room and whispered, "Don't be alarmed, Coach. I brought a letter from Lin Chong to give to Madam Lin..."

[New ink-and-wash version of the character pictures have been uploaded, you can go back and take a look! ]

[New book period, follow-up reading is about recommendations, please help! 】

(End of this chapter)