Castle.

The seat of the Southern Han Dynasty. The capital of Liu Yan, the king of the Southern Han Dynasty. It was the largest and most majestic city in Middle-earth at the time. It took 270 years to build to such a scale, gathering millions of permanent residents, 16 city gates are distributed in a spoke shape, a total of 522 checkerboard-shaped streets are vertical and horizontal, and there are 96 fang markets inside, with developed commerce and many shops. The huge royal city in the center occupies 1/3 of the space of the whole city. On the east and west sides of the royal city, there are respectively the residence areas of Wenchen and military generals, which are called East Gate and West Gate. The city wall of the city is as wide as 100 meters, and can drive 16 military vehicles side by side, and the city gate is extremely high, and the moat is up to 70 meters deep, which is known as the strongest city in the world.

You rode your father through the towering walls and towering gates.

Your heart moves as you pass through the gates. You stopped. You go back and look at the north city gate you just passed, look at the shadows in the deep city gate hole, look at the moat outside, look at the horizontal line of the floor tiles under the city gate, and look at the gap and angle formed between the city gate and the corridor. Father, Wu Shun and the servants also stopped. All the servants who entered the capital for the first time were shocked by the sturdiness and majesty of this city, and they all sighed and admired.

My father said to you, "The city is strictly fortified, and you are not allowed to stay at the gate without a reason. Let's go. ”

You rode through the 180-meter-wide central street of Dongcheng, passed through the bustling flow of people, cars and horses, and came to your father's Dingguo Mansion in Jixiang Lane in Ximen. The housekeeper of the Dongcheng Mansion had already brought a group of servants to greet him at the door. When the meeting was over, the steward led everyone into the house and settled down in their respective dwellings. You and your father live in the same courtyard in the inner courtyard, your father is in the main room, you are in the left wing, Wu Shun does not live in the side courtyard with other servants, but lives in the small ear room next to your left wing, only a wall away from your couch.

This is your first time at your mansion in the city. After a little washing and tidying up, my father will take you to visit the entire mansion, and then go to the small ancestral hall where the ancestral tablets are enshrined.

The mansion here was rewarded by the old Han king when his father was an official in the prime of life. After his father paid tribute, he often lived in the fiefdom of Lingnan, and here, he only lived every year when he went to the capital to meet and worship. Compared with the Lingnan mansions, the mansions here are more solemn and luxurious, with strict regulations, and the materials and furniture used are all exquisite and appreciable. My father's favorite is the 12 towering cypress trees in the back garden, and it is said that the youngest one is more than 400 years old. The old Han King was also very fond of these 12 ancient cypresses, and he came to the garden many times to enjoy the cypress and play chess, and gave the names of the 12 ancient cypresses one by one.

When you come out of the ancestral hall, your father will take you to the back garden to see these ancient cypresses. The father and son retreated and took a slow walk among the cypress trees.

"Jinglong, just now at the gate of the city, you suddenly stopped, what were you thinking?" Father asks you as he walks.

You say, "My son is thinking about how many people have built so many great and fortified cities throughout the ages that they have built at great expense to keep what they have." In the future, how many more people will continue to do so. ”

Father looks at you.

Say, "But what about the cities?" What about those who built cities? Did they keep anything? ”

My father said, "A great city gives people the security they need." ”

You say, "The sense of security is just an illusion. An impregnable city has never existed in history. In the future, it will not exist either. ”

The father said, "Do you see any flaws in the city's defenses?" ”

You nodded. You say, "When a city is built, people pay more attention to all aspects of it. However, after so many years of construction, when people repair and reinforce, they often only pay attention to what they can see, and they will not pay so much attention to what they can't see. Although the city defense of the city is extremely tight, it is not impossible to break through if it is seen that the weakness is hidden and it is impossible to break through. When the son passed through the city gate, he did find a flaw, but he was not very sure, and in the next few days, if he had time, the son would go to check it. The father said, "If there is such a flaw, can you break it?" ”

You shake your head. You say, "With my son's current strength, of course not." But if there are 100,000 men in hand, within a month, the city should be breached. ”

Rao is father knows you very well, and he is still shocked by your firm, clear, and unambiguous tone. He stops, stands still, and looks at you. You bow your head and salute, "The father forgives the sin, but the son has spoken in vain." ”

"Well, Dad was just a little surprised and didn't blame you. Father knows that without evidence and certainty, you will not be so categorically certain. However, when you are in the audience, you should not reply to the words of the king of Han in such a tone. King Han didn't like such straightforwardness. ”

You say, "Thank you, father, for the lesson." The son should be cautious in his words and deeds. ”

The father said, "When you wait for the audience these two days, you can go and verify what you have seen today, and if there is any defect in the city defenses that you are aware of, if you have the opportunity to make amends, you should use euphemistic words to show the king of Han that they may be remedied." ”

You say, "Yes." When going to the palace, if the king of Han asks questions, if there is an opportunity, the son will know everything and fulfill the duty of a courtier. ”

Father looks at you. A satisfied smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. The father said, "It's good to hear you say that." As courtiers, it is our duty to use all our talents and all our lives to assist the king and benefit the world. ”

Say, "The son obeys his father's instruction." But if you can benefit the world, you will never hide your clumsy tricks for your own gains and losses, and you will never care about the honor and disgrace of your own life. ”

The father praised, "Good! It is not easy to have this heart. I hope that in the future, you will be able to start and finish well and not change your original intention. ”

You say, "Father, rest assured." The son's heart is strong, and no matter what the future holds, he will not waver. ”