Chapter 607: That’s What You Get for Not Knowing When to Stop.
The lake at the foot of the mountain was long and narrow, and just walking from one end to the other would cover at least several dozen li. The high mountains ran almost parallel to the western shore of the lake, though the mountain base did not directly touch the lakeside. On the contrary, there was a stretch of gently sloping flatland about ten li wide between them.
Nestled in the middle of this area was a city, surrounded by countless villages.
This city was called Xianning, a name that meant “cloud.”
Before the Central Plains dynasty conquered Yunzhou, Yunzhou had been its own independent kingdom, which was prosperous and culturally advanced. It had eagerly studied and adopted the culture and technologies of the Central Plains, using their writing and ritual systems.
Back then, the capital of that kingdom was not at present-day Yundu, but right here. That was why, even now, Xianning remained just as bustling as Yundu, and its cityscape was equally grand and imposing.
However, in the painting, the city was absent.
Song You first walked along the lakeshore, taking in the scenery. Once the swallow told him they were directly below Xianning, he chose a small upward path and began to ascend.
It actually took him over an hour just to reach the city, a testament to the sheer distance.
Xianning had once been a capital, and its tall, imposing brick walls enclosed the city in a perfect square. The west gate faced the mountains, while the east gate looked out over the lake. On the other hand, the south gate led to the heart of Great Yan, and the north gate connected to the Snowy Plains. Merchants on Yunzhou’s Chama Road all passed through here, trading southern tea and goods for horses in the north.
Song You arrived just in time, entering before the city gates closed.
Yunzhou had long been annexed into the Central Plains dynasty, so his ordination certificate was valid here.
However, Yunzhou had seen unrest in recent years, and Xianning in particular seemed even more turbulent. The guards at the city gates inspected him with extra care.