At noon the next day, Qin Dong and his party arrived outside Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, and saw two tall city walls from a distance, the first wall was four miles long; The second wall is 40 miles long and 20 feet wide, and is located about 30 miles west of the first wall. These two defensive walls, together with the natural barrier of the Balkan Mountains, defended the land entrance to Constantinople. If the Byzantine Empire was able to stand for a thousand years without falling, in addition to its political and religious excellence, the walls of Constantinople have a great credit.

The walls of the city are divided into three parts, which were built in three periods, the first is the Byzantine wall, which was built in the seventh century BC, when Byzantium was founded by Greek colonists from Megala led by Byzantis, at that time Byzantium had only one castle and a small number of city defenses, and later there were rulers who gradually realized the importance of Byzantium's strategic position and added wall defenses, and the second was the wall of Constantine, which began in 324 and was completed during the reign of Constantius II. The walls of Constantine are single-sided walls, from the Platia Gate of the Golden Horn to the Propantian Gate. The third is the Theodosius Wall, built by order of the Eastern Roman Emperor Theodosius II, which extends from the Sea of Marmara to Brecchney in the Golden Horn, with a total length of 5,630 meters. Theodosius II was only seven years old at the time, and the work was completed in 413 under the supervision of Antimos, the commander of the Eastern Praetorian Guard.

Constantinople was formerly known as "Byzantium", and the Roman Emperor Constantine I made his capital here on May 11, 330 AD. The name "Constantinople" appeared. The Roman Empire split into the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire in 395 AD, and from then on, the Eastern Roman Empire was also known as the Byzantine Empire. The current emperor, Maxian, was not related to the Roman Empire in the slightest, and was nothing more than the titular husband of the sister of the previous emperor.

After paying the gate tax at the outer city gate, the caravan entered the city, but soon saw a huge golden city gate, approaching the tall city gate, Qin Dong and the others saw that the city gate was exquisitely designed, made of large marble squares without cement. Boasting three arches, there are a large number of carvings, including a bronze two-wheeled chariot carving on the top. The chariot was pulled by an elephant, modeled after Rome's triumphal gates. On either side of the gate are connected two layers of marble reliefs that show mythological scenes.

Gebuus introduced to Qin Dong and others: "This is the world-famous golden city gate, you see that its gate is all gilded. This is where the name 'Golden Gate' comes from. You see there are arcades over there, there is a statue of Constantine the Great over there, this golden gate is the main access to Constantinople, it was built to celebrate the victory over Magnus? Maximus, behind the city gate is the Via Ernacia, the walls of Constantinople have a total of eight main gates and a large number of back gates, some of the main gates can lead to the bridge of the moat, and the secondary gates are called military gates. to the ...... outside the city walls".

Qin Dong originally wanted to inquire about the defensive structure and situation of Constantinople's walls, but he didn't expect Gebuus, a local resident of Constantinople, to inadvertently tell him in detail about the situation in Constantinople. This made Qin Dong say in his heart that he didn't find the wrong person this time.

Walking into Constantinople, Qin Dong and others who have never been here see the wide streets paved with stone, the classical pillars that represent the artistic characteristics of the Roman Empire, the round vaults of varying heights, and the towering minarets. In the city, carved beams and painted buildings, carved gold and silver, stone castles, city walls, towers, and aqueducts can be seen everywhere.

There are seven hills in the city, which Emperor Constantine the Great once regarded as the new Rome, and Rome has seven hills, and this is the same. Among them, 6 mountains are along the Golden Horn, and 1 mountain is lonely in the southwest, and most of these peaks are flat, but the slopes are quite steep.

Walking through a few streets along the way, Qin Dong and the others saw several churches, these churches were of different sizes, some new and some old, after Emperor Constantine declared Christianity the state religion. Christians who had to preach secretly during the Roman Empire were now finally able to build their own meeting places in the open. The Pantheon, which was originally used by the Romans to worship the gods, and the court Basilica, where the people gathered, were later built by Byzantine architects.

The difference is that the Pantheon became a chapel, the building was changed from a circle to a square, the large dome dome was larger and more complex, and Zeus and Venus on the walls inside became Christ and the Virgin. Craftsmen used mosaic techniques to decorate the roof and walls, adding gold and silver to make the whole church look golden.

On a slightly higher part of the city, you can even see the southern and eastern seaside walls and protective fortresses, which were specially built to protect the enemy from the sea, and together with the western walls, the whole of Constantinople was protected.

When everyone carried the wagon through a wide street, they saw an oval four-story building with arches on the walls, and Gebuus introduced to Qin Dong and others: "You see, this is the 'Flavio Amphitheater' in Constantinople, everything that Rome has, Constantinople has, Constantinople has, Rome may not have it!" ”

Afalde wondered, "What is the 'Flavio Amphitheater', is it here that opera is performed?" How much does it cost to go in and see it once? ”

Soma next to him heard it and immediately sneered: "Stupid, the 'Flavio Amphitheater' is actually the Colosseum, also called the arena or gladiatorial arena, which is the burial place of countless animals, gladiators and prisoners, it is said that the first 100 days of the Colosseum in Rome City died 9,000 beasts, 3,000 gladiators and prisoners died, and this Colosseum died 300 beasts on the first day of its opening, 87 gladiators and prisoners died, 5,000 beasts died in the first month, and more than 1,400 gladiators and prisoners died in duels!" The ticket price to watch the duel is very expensive, and the performances inside are divided into three types: animal and animal fighting, human and animal fighting, and human fighting, among which the ticket price for the fight between gladiators and gladiators is the highest. According to the odds of the game, if you bet right, you will win".

Soma's words made Afalde and the others all stunned by the cruelty of this gladiatorial arena, and such a cruel death and injury was simply unheard of.

The crowd was turning their heads to look at the oval-shaped Colosseum. From time to time came the howls of wild beasts from within, as well as the loud cheers and shouts of the crowd.

Constantinople is worthy of being a transportation artery connecting the East and the West, there is a large permanent population here, the floating population is more than the resident population, most of them are from the East and the West, the merchants from the East do not go west after arriving here, sell the goods with Oriental characteristics and then purchase the goods from the West to bring back. The same was true of merchants from the West, who sold wine, crystal ornaments, ivory, spices, grain, and other goods and returned to purchase tea, silk, and porcelain from the East. In addition to the caravanserais, pilgrims from the West who were on their way to Jerusalem also settled here. After removing the fatigue of the body, continue on the road.

The wide stone-paved street is full of people and traffic, and it is very lively. There are people of all professions. It was lunch time, and the streets were crowded with people more than usual.

After passing a few more streets, the caravan came down to a quieter side street led by Gebuus, and stopped in the middle of the street in front of a house that Gebuus said was his home, and that the gate was made of stone, and that the doorway was supported by columns, and on either side it was surrounded by a wall overgrown with vines.

At this time the gate is open. An old man came out of the door, and the old man saw so many carriages parked at the door. Soon he saw Gebuus, and hurriedly trotted down the steps to salute: "Master, you have finally returned, and several ladies and little masters have been worried about you for many days!" ”

As soon as Qin Dong and the others heard this, they guessed that this old man was probably Gebuus's butler, and sure enough, Gebuus said: "Butler, I'm very good, these are friends of this master, they have a batch of goods to be put in our warehouse, you find someone to take my friend's buddy to the warehouse, open the door of the warehouse, and let them put the carriage and goods in first!" ”

"Yes, sir!" As soon as the housekeeper agreed, he called someone to the courtyard, arranged for someone to take Qin Dong's coachman and his men to drive the carriage to the warehouse, and then quickly ran into the courtyard to arrange lunch.

"Master Petheus, Bull, I have a lot of rooms here, you come to Constantinople, if I am a friend of Gebuus, treat me here as your home, after lunch, I will ask the butler to arrange a room for you to live, please please, you all go in, let's rest first, wash our faces, and then have lunch!" Gebuus warmly invited.

Qin Dong and the others did not shirk, everyone walked into his house under the guidance of Gebuus, there were more than a dozen people, and the others all went to the warehouse with the carriage, and naturally someone there arranged their lunch.

Qin Dong said as he walked: "Uncle, since Master Gebuus is so enthusiastic, during this time, you might as well live in his house, leave a few people to accompany you, and I will take the others to find a carriage and horse shop to live, after all, we have seventy or eighty people, there are too many people, if it is too noisy to live here, it is better to live in the carriage and horse shop!" ”

Seeing that Qin Dong said so, Pethius also nodded in agreement, Qin Dong's main purpose in coming to Constantinople this time was not to sell goods, there were other things to do, if he lived in Gebuus's house, there would be many inconveniences, so it was convenient to live in the carriage and horse shop outside, Peteus and Qin Dong had already discussed this matter, this was mentioned by Qin Dong, of course he agreed, come here, he is a person who is active in the open, and Qin Dong is active in secret, he said: "That's fine, after all, there are too many of us, After lunch, you go outside to look for a house, and when you find a house, you come back and tell me, and then take the others to settle down, leaving a few people to listen to me! ”

Qin Dong promised: "Okay, uncle!" ”

Everyone walked into the gate, because of the housekeeper's loud shouts, Gebuus's wives and children got the news, and immediately ran out of the various rooms to greet them, at this point Gebuus's tutor is still very good, his wives and children lined up in a neat line to salute Qin Dong and others, after Gebuus introduced them, the family members should do whatever they wanted, Gebuus took them to the main hall to talk and chat.

The Roman women of this period did not have any ideas such as strict defense of men and women, and the three wives of Gebuus all stayed to talk to Qin Dong and others, and one by one was also very talkative, and was very surprised and curious about Qin Dong and others from the Xiongnu Empire, before that, the Huns were very cruel in their eyes, and after talking with Qin Dong and others, they found that Qin Dong and others did not seem to be difficult to get along with, Qin Dong sometimes said a few meat jokes to make everyone laugh, especially the ladies and daughters of Gebuus, They had never heard of this kind of meat joke at all, not only was it very novel, but it was also very easy to make people laugh, and they all had a great change in their opinion of Qin Dong, an Oriental with a similar face to the Huns.

"Oh, ladies, in fact, my nephew was born in Constantinople, but he was taken away by the Huns seven or eight years ago, when there is no war, the Huns are not terrible, and life in the Hun Empire is still very peaceful and peaceful, this is how I feel about living in the Huns for so many years!" Peteaus laughed.

The women of Gebuus were amazed: "Oh, is it? ”

"Yes, ladies and misses!" Qin Dong said: "At that time, I was less than ten years old, but I was very naughty, I like to run outside the city to play, my mother often threatens me that there are wild beasts outside the city, they will bite off my little finch, in fact, I am very curious about whether there are wild beasts outside the city, so once when my father and three servants went to work outside the city, I also secretly followed, and at that time all the men in our family became captives of the Huns!" ”

"Oh, what a misfortune, Bull, what a poor boy you are!" The women of Gebuus began to be full of maternal sympathy, but at this time the butler came and informed him that lunch was ready, and at Gebuus's warm invitation, they went to the dining-room together.

Gebuus's family background is still good, after all, it is the family of merchants, although it is not a nobleman, but there is still a few money, so the life is very good, and the Roman Empire does not stipulate that ordinary people such as merchants are not allowed to use certain items and other systems, as long as they have money, commoners can enjoy things that the emperor does not have, unlike in ancient China, it is stipulated that civilians are not allowed to use yellow cloth, and civilians are not allowed to wear expensive fabrics, there is no such rule here.

The table is made of silver knives, forks, plates and other cutlery, even wine jugs, wine glasses, chopsticks and other tableware are made of silver, but this set of cutlery is very valuable, and many decorations in Gebuus's house are silver jewelry, as well as porcelain and various handicrafts from the East, which is very exquisite.

Packed with barbecue, bread, fruits and other foods are packed on silver plates, to Qin Dong's surprise is that there is caviar on the table in addition to the above food, in addition to barbecue and fruits, Qin Dong eats the most is caviar, you must know that this thing is more valuable than gold in later generations, it is very expensive, you can't open your belly when you eat, you can only eat a little bit every time.

Seeing that Qin Dong liked to eat caviar so much, the eldest lady of Gebuus smiled and said, "Little brother Boer likes to eat this caviar so much, I'll ask someone to send you a jar later!" ”

A jar? Qin Dong was taken aback, is this thing produced in large quantities? He asked, "Madam, do you have a lot of this caviar in your house?" ”

At this time, Gebuus smiled: "This is a very common food, and ordinary people can eat it, but it tastes really good!" ”

In fact, Qin Dong didn't know that caviar was in the nineteenth century, before the Russians proposed that caviar was the best quality food, caviar was actually a very common food, which could be found on the table of ordinary people, and later caviar was transmitted to Europe and was quickly accepted by the upper class, so the origin of the caviar was a hundred times more valuable. (To be continued......)