Chapter 3: The Halberd at the Gate of Honour

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  The next day, a transfer order arrived at Zhao Ling, causing a great sensation.

  Qin Mubai, a small tomb guard, was exempted from military service and returned home to care for his sick father, with his military registration reserved.

  Whether it's a eunuch or a small official, no one wants to stay in this gloomy and desolate imperial mausoleum, guarding the cold and lonely Empress Yuan's palace until old age. Being able to be transferred is naturally a great blessing. Therefore, Qin Mubai's matter has attracted many people's envy and gossip.

  "After all, he is the son of the famous Qin Shubao, and is different from us ordinary people..."

  Qin Mubai smiled calmly and gladly accepted this fact.

  "It seems that wanting to go back is now a luxury, since I've come here then I'll make the best of it, let's properly play the role of this life's Qin Mu Bai! —— The third son of the Qin family, Qin Shu Bao's son, maybe it will be quite interesting?"

  Born an optimist, after understanding this layer, Qin Mubai quietly bid farewell to the parents of the 21st century in his heart, and reluctantly said goodbye to the beautiful car and beautiful life he once had.

  "Alright, prosperous Tang Dynasty of Zhenguan era, I'm here! What I had in the 21st century, I will have again; what I didn't get in the 21st century, I will also get here! — The epic struggle of Great Tang has begun!"

  Just as Qin Mubai was packing his simple clothes in the room to set off on his journey home, Yuwen Hongtai slipped into the room. A pair of copper bell-like eyes first glanced at the paper with red edges and gold trim on the table - the transfer order. Unfolding it, he said: "Qin San Ge, why is your transfer order not from the Ministry of War, but rather personally approved by the Emperor?"

  "Very special?"

  "What's there to say?" Yuwen Hongtai pointed at the appointment letter and said, "It has the emperor's seal of approval on it, eight big characters - 'The Emperor's Order, Virtuous Ones Prosper'! Tsk, tsk, according to our dynasty's convention, only appointments or transfers of officials above the fifth rank are personally approved by the emperor! You're just a small... cough, cough! Qin Sange, I didn't mean anything else!"

  "Didn't you used to call me Old White?" Qin Mu Bai took the transfer order and glanced at it, and indeed, in the lower left corner was a large red seal with this phrase. He muttered softly to himself: "So, it seems that the Emperor has recalled me after all?"

  "Qin Sange, that thing that day... you really don't remember at all?" Yuwen Hongtai asked in a low and somewhat timid tone.

  "What's wrong?" Qin Mu Bai frowned slightly and glared at him, "You're a grown man, why are you speaking in such a twisted tone? If you have something to say, spit it out! If you've got gas, let it rip!"

  "Uh... nothing, I don't know anything!" Yuwen Hongtai knew he had misspoken and awkwardly smiled to cover it up. At first, Li Junxian had said clearly that whoever dared to reveal the emperor's private trip to Zhao Mausoleum would be charged with deceiving the emperor, how could he bear the responsibility!

  The Great Tang was a country of etiquette in the Central Plains, and the feudal ritualistic concept of "a husband not offering sacrifices to his wife" was deeply rooted in people's minds. If it were known that Li Shimin, the emperor, came to offer private sacrifices to his deceased wife, it would be a scandal.

  "I don't care who gave the order, I'm going home anyway." Qin Mubai didn't think of breaking the pot to ask the bottom, put away the order and continued to pack. Yuwen Hongtai rubbed his hands on the side, still grinning foolishly, seeming to have something to say, but not daring to open his mouth.

  Qin Mubai couldn't help but smile at this silly appearance, thinking that this man was actually quite good, honest and kind, and considered him to be her first friend since arriving in the Tang Dynasty.

  Yuwen Hongtai, are you thinking of leaving Shaoling? Qin Mubai asked proactively.

  "Wow——Qin San Ge, can you read people's minds?" Yuwen Hongtai exclaimed with wide eyes, thinking to himself: This is really strange! Ever since he was kicked in the head by a horse two years ago, he had been somewhat dim-witted and occasionally foolish. Just recently, after having a high fever for two days and being dazed for a while, he suddenly became so clever and quick-witted, as if he had become a different person? This is really weird! Even playing the pipa can attract an emperor... Fortunately, it's not the empress who came.

  Qin Mubai punched a fist against his sturdy chest: "If it can be done, I'll help you."

  "Haha, as long as I can leave Shaoling, even if it means being a groom for you, I'd be happy! Thank you in advance, Qin San Ge... Ah no, Qin Gongzi!" Yuwen Hongtai laughed so hard his face turned red and he bowed deeply to Qin Mubai.

  In the Tang Dynasty, the title "Gongzi" was not as casually used as in some historical dramas. According to convention, only sons of high-ranking officials above the third rank or those from royal and noble families were worthy of this title. Therefore, Yuwen Hongtai's use of this title can be considered extremely polite.

  "Goodbye, Kuroko!"

  Qin Mubai walked out of the house, under the gaze of a crowd of people in Zhao Ling, with a bundle on his back, and went away.

  "Hei Zi?" Yuwen Hongtai rolled his eyes and chuckled, "The young masters of aristocratic families who are knowledgeable are indeed different. The nicknames they come up with are too fitting!"

  It's not allowed to gallop horses or drive carriages in Zhao Ling Li, but at the foot of the mountain, there is a horse-drawn carriage waiting. It was actually someone from the Qin Manor who received the news and specially sent a servant to drive over and pick up Qin Mu Bai.

  In a pleasant mood, Qin Mu Bai appreciated the scenery along the way and then got into the carriage to head towards Chang'an.

  "The prosperous Tang Dynasty, seems to be one of the most glorious and bright dynasties in Chinese history. It is said that 'the streets are not littered with things, and doors are not closed at night', and the national strength was extremely powerful. Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, was also revered by foreign countries as the 'Heavenly Khan'. Even later generations referred to Chinese people as 'Tang people', and many overseas Chinatowns are proof of this. I really want to see if this great Tang Dynasty is just a facade or actually real!... Unfortunately, I don't know much about history. If only I had known there would be today, I should have made up for my lack of knowledge of the Tang Dynasty's history!"

  Sitting in the carriage, Qin Mubai was deep in thought. He also had some expectations and curiosity about his father, Qin Shubao, and a new Tang Dynasty family he would soon face.

  "My old man is Qin Shubao, a tiger father can't have a dog son. Fortunately, I originally had a special skill in archery and had been practicing Wudang internal Tai Chi fist with my father since childhood, so I believe that even in the Tang Dynasty, it wouldn't be bad. Plus, this life Qin Mubai's original horse gun skills, as well as the explosive power after the fusion of two souls..."

  After accepting the reality in front of him, Qin Mubai began to think about how to make a living and establish himself. It is said that the Great Tang Dynasty attaches great importance to military power and values military achievements, and those with martial arts skills have no worries about their future prospects. Moreover, as he was born into a family of generals, it seemed only natural for him to cultivate his own martial arts skills.

  However, from Qin Mubai's 21st-century perspective, taking over his father's business and becoming a general who charges into battle is not necessarily an elite career path. As someone who claims to be the son of a prestigious military family in the 21st century and has served in the army with the rank of lieutenant, these experiences have at least taught him one thing - that the military is an extension and appendage of politics, and even the most powerful generals are just high-ranking politicians' underlings.

  "Having many skills won't burden me, and mastering martial arts isn't a bad thing. As for the future path, let's analyze it when the time comes! I don't believe that with my 21st-century knowledge and skills, I still can't achieve greatness in the Tang Dynasty! — Let's go back home first!" Qin Mu Bai said to himself.

  Half a day later, the carriage drove onto a smooth highway, and the outside also became lively. Qin Mubai lifted up the window to take a look, and saw that the road was crowded with people coming and going, among whom were foreign travelers and merchants dressed in all sorts of strange clothes, and some people led camels carrying goods, speaking different languages and dialects, as if one could see the fatigue and dust from the Silk Road on their bodies.

  "Third Master, we've arrived at Chang'an."

  "Halt!"

  Qin Mubai jumped down from the horse-drawn carriage and stood still, gazing at this ancient capital famous in history. He couldn't help but take a deep breath.

  Breathtaking!

  This one word is enough to describe Qin Mubai's feeling at this moment!

  The city is like a tiger crouching and a dragon coiling; its atmosphere is majestic and magnificent!

  Standing in front of the majestic Chang'an bluestone city wall, Qin Mubai felt as small as an ant. The flags on the city gate fluttered and the armor-clad soldiers looked powerful. This gigantic city pool with a perimeter of tens of miles would take a whole day to walk around. The 150-meter-wide Zhuque Avenue that leads directly to the Imperial City is rare even in modern cities. The neighborhoods within the city are arranged like a chessboard, with dozens of main streets crisscrossing east-west and north-south, and people and horses flowing endlessly. Although there were no high-rise buildings or steel cars of the 21st century, it was still a magnificent scene with an ancient charm, like a naturally formed ink painting!

  The Creator's craftsmanship is exquisite, distinguishing yin and yang from dawn till dusk; Clouds arise in the vast expanse of the chest, and birds fly back home through the corners of the eyes!

  Although it's not climbing a high mountain and looking out at Mount Tai, Qin Mu Bai clearly had a feeling that would make him feel like he was standing on the top of a precipice, with his heart suddenly expanding as if his chest had been opened up.

  "It's truly 'hearing is not as good as seeing', I didn't expect that the ancient capital of Chang'an over a thousand years ago would be so grand and majestic!" Qin Mubai took a deep breath, almost greedily admiring the magnificent scenery of the imperial city, thinking to himself: "The prosperous imperial city is indeed extraordinary, who knows how many famous historical figures wrote countless romantic stories here. How can I, Qin Mubai, fall behind?"

  In this prosperous era, I, Qin Mu Bai, will surely be the one and only leader of Chang'an's elegance!

  "Third Master, let's get on the carriage and hurry up, the old master and mistress are waiting at home!" The driver's words awakened Qin Mubai from his endless daydream.

  Get on the carriage again, and the carriage merges into the hustle and bustle of the huge Chang'an City. The neighborhoods in the city are divided into several residential areas by streets, with streets between communities as wide as 30-40 meters. Even if you enter a neighborhood, it's not easy to find a household.

  After a while of galloping through the streets, the horse carriage came to a stop. Although there were many memories of this life in his mind, Qin Mubai still had some worries that he might get lost on his way home next time.

  After getting off the horse carriage, Qin Mubai saw a high-walled and majestic vermilion gate mansion with the two characters "Qin Fu" written in large letters on the signboard above the gate. However, what caught his attention more was the twelve square Heaven Painting Halberds standing upright beside the gate!

  The memories of this life lingering in Qin Mubai's mind told him that in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, there was no strict system of standing guard at the gate. Not everyone had the qualifications to stand guard at the gate. Unless they had special honors and merits and were awarded by the emperor, even if they were close relatives of the royal family or the current prime minister, it would not be allowed!

  Twelve halberds were erected at the gate of honor, which was a special honor unique to the Qin family in the Zhenguan era.

  Looking around the world, I still think it's just this one family, no other branches!

  .??，！