Time Travel: The Survival of Li Zhi

Chapter 449 Eternal Forever

The ancient city of Luoyang, as the capital of the Wei Dynasty since its founding, has stood for more than three thousand years.

When Li Zhi first saw this towering ancient city, he was overwhelmed by a strong sense of history, as if a surging tide instantly submerged him.

After several large-scale expansions, the area of Luoyang City is now vast beyond imagination. Compared with ordinary cities, its scale is incomparable and is several times larger.

At dusk, the soft afterglow gently falls on this ancient city, as if it has been carefully coated with a layer of glittering golden light, adding a bit of mystery and solemnity.

At the city gate, the guards standing guard are completely different from those in other cities. They stand tall and straight, with their heads held high and their chests puffed out, like resolute sculptures. They perform their duties meticulously and register the identity of everyone who enters Luoyang City.

Zhuang Zheng, standing by, gave a timely reminder: "Once you're in Luoyang, things are very different from elsewhere. Here, you have to think twice before you act, and you must not act rashly or impulsively."

Li Zhi understood that Zhuang Zheng was worried that they might cause trouble again, so he wanted to give everyone a heads-up in advance.

Li Zhi nodded quickly and responded sincerely, "Don't worry, Master Zhuang. We are all law-abiding people and will never act rashly."

Zhuang Zheng glanced at Li Zhi with a hint of suspicion, but ultimately said nothing more. He waved at Li Zhi and his group and said, "Let's go, follow me into the city."

After saying that, Zhuang Zheng led Li Zhi and the others to the city gate guards.

Zhuang Zheng calmly took out his badge and handed it to the guard. He said calmly, "I am the head of the Ministry of Rites. Today I have come to Luoyang with a delegation from a vassal state to meet His Majesty."

Upon hearing this, the guard reached out to take Zhuang Zheng's badge, and then carefully checked it in the registration book nearby.

After confirming Zhuang Zheng's identity, he respectfully returned the badge and said, "Master Zhuang, please wait a moment. I will complete the registration of the identities of the vassal states before you can pass."

Zhuang Zheng remained calm, nodded slightly, and replied, "I know. Just be quicker."

The guard turned around and shouted at Li Zhi and the others, "All of you, come here and register your identities. Only after you register can you enter the city!"

The guard's attitude towards Li Zhi and the others was completely different from his attitude towards Zhuang Zheng.

Duan Heng and others showed dissatisfaction on their faces when they saw this.

But they knew in their hearts that as people of a vassal state on the land of the Wei Dynasty, their status was as humble as an ant. Even if they were resentful, they could only endure it and dared not vent their anger.

Li Zhi noticed everyone's mood and quickly gave them a look, indicating that they must not act impulsively and make mistakes.

Then he took the lead and walked up to the guard.

The guard glanced at Li Zhi and the others nonchalantly, then asked impatiently, "What's your name? And where are you from?"

Li Zhi wore a gentle smile and politely replied, "I am Li Zhi from Yong State, and I am the person in charge of this visit to Wei."

After hearing this, the guard curled up a mocking smile and picked up a pen, pretending to make a record in the notebook.

However, the pen was hanging above the notebook and did not fall.

After a moment, he raised his head and jokingly said, "Yongguo? Which Yong? Could it be the Yong as in courage? Haha, no, no, in a small place like yours, how can you understand what courage is?"

Li Zhi saw through the mockery in the man's eyes at a glance, and knew in his heart that he was not unaware of the situation, but was deliberately making things difficult for him.

The other party was so wantonly making things difficult, even using the name of Yongguo to make fun of and mock him. Even if Li Zhi wanted to keep things quiet, he could no longer tolerate it.

He turned his head, looked at Zhuang Zheng, and asked, "Master Zhuang, before I even came to the Great Wei, I heard that the Great Wei was a place of flourishing culture and Confucianism that educated the people. But how come the person in charge of registration in Luoyang City can't even recognize a complete set of characters?"

When Zhuang Zheng heard what Li Zhi said, his face darkened slightly and he frowned unhappily.

The guard's expression changed instantly, and he shouted at Li Zhi, "Who are you saying can't read? How dare you, a lowly person like you, speak so arrogantly!"

In the quarrel between Li Zhi and his friends, neither side deliberately lowered their voices, and it soon attracted the attention of many people around.

Although those of low status were curious, they did not dare to show it; while other people of higher status looked over here curiously.

Li Zhi heard the guard's angry curse and turned to look at him. The corners of his mouth curled up, revealing a bright smile. He said, "Yongguo means eternal! Do you understand now?"

The guard's expression grew increasingly grim. He was about to retort when Zhuang Zheng interrupted him. Zhuang Zheng said in a stern tone, "Alright, register them quickly. We need to get into the city."

Although the guard dared to show off his power to Li Zhi and the others, he dared not show any disrespect to Zhuang Zheng. He dared not say anything more, but lowered his head and hurriedly registered Li Zhi and the others.

After the guards finished registering, Zhuang Zheng led Li Zhi and his party into the city.

Li Zhi was completely unaware that just as he said that Yongguo means "eternal Yong", a middle-aged man who was watching the excitement not far away had a strange light in his eyes.

The man stroked his goatee, looking thoughtful.

 …

There was no Huitongguan in Luoyang City, and the Honglu Temple under the Ministry of Rites was responsible for coordinating matters with Li Zhi and others.

Zhuang Zheng led Li Zhi and his party along the wide and ancient streets of Luoyang City and walked straight towards the Honglu Temple.

Along the way, the hustle and bustle of the city was endless, but after the unpleasant experience when entering the city just now, Li Zhi and his friends had no intention of appreciating the prosperity of the capital.

When you step into the Honglu Temple, you will see deep courtyards and well-arranged buildings, which demonstrate the solemnity and majesty of the Ministry of Rites.

As soon as Zhuang Zheng and others stepped into the gate, an official in official uniform and with a calm expression came to greet them.

Zhuang Zheng hurried forward, bowed respectfully to the visitor, and said, "Sir Xu, I have been ordered to lead the envoys of the vassal state of Yong to report."

Lord Xu nodded slightly, his eyes like torches as he slowly swept over Li Zhi and the others. After a quick look, he said slowly, "In that case, you should arrange for them to stay in the temple first, and then arrange for them to enter the palace to meet His Majesty tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Zheng immediately bowed again and responded, "Yes, I obey your command."

After Lord Xu finished explaining the matter, he turned around and left without any unnecessary greetings, as if Li Zhi and the others did not exist.

Li Zhi and his friends have long been accustomed to this.

Since they set foot on the territory of Wei, they have deeply felt the humiliation brought by the status of a vassal state.

In the Wei Dynasty, let alone an official from the aristocratic family, even a dog raised by an ordinary family seemed to have a higher status than them.

They had long anticipated this attitude of contempt and gradually accepted it through continuous experience.

Recalling what happened at the city gate, if the guard had not spoken wildly and made fun of the name of Yongguo, Li Zhi would not have responded to him so easily.

After Master Xu disappeared at the end of the corridor, Li Zhi turned to face Zhuang Zheng and said politely, "Master Zhuang, I'll have to trouble you to take us to a resting place again."

Zhuang Zheng seemed to be still feeling the effects of his unpleasant experience entering the city. His attitude towards Li Zhi and the others had become much colder than before.

Hearing Li Zhi's request, he just nodded mechanically and replied absentmindedly: "No problem."

Afterwards, Zhuang Zheng led Li Zhi and the others through a series of corridors and arrived at an area in the Honglu Temple specially for foreign envoys to live in.

Although the houses here are not luxurious, they are clean, tidy and well-arranged.

After Zhuang Zheng briefly introduced a few precautions for daily life, he left Li Zhi and the others and left alone.