Chapter Eleven: Chang'an, Here I Come!

Others arrive in Yangzhou with ten thousand strings of gold and ride a crane.
But I, with barely a few coins to my name, enter Chang'an alone!
Feng Xiaobao sat at the prow of the boat, mocking himself.
The green mountains and verdant grass on either side slowly receded, and Xiaobao felt a rush of exhilaration and freedom.
He had received help from the Cheng family caravan, but they were not his bodyguards and had no obligation to assist him further. Knowing his place, Xiaobao politely asked to part ways once they left the city.
Cheng Qiping, inexperienced in worldly affairs, was unsure how to proceed. Instead, it was his uncle, Cheng Wutong, who went the extra mile. He ordered two attendants to escort Xiaobao by swift horses to the nearest Wei River crossing, where he could board a fast boat to Chang'an.
Xiaobao couldn't ride, so he was led by the attendants, two sharing a horse, and they left directly.
Watching their departing figures, Cheng Qiping sincerely expressed his gratitude: "Uncle's arrangements are thorough. With this, Brother Feng will reach Chang'an safely."
Cheng Wutong nodded and praised his nephew: "Your judgment is sound. This young man is no ordinary talent. Forming a good bond with him is wise."
Experienced in the ways of the world, Cheng Wutong had watched Xiaobao carefully during their conversation and instantly recognized his exceptional nature. He decisively instructed his nephew to leave the Cheng family’s address in Chang'an with Xiaobao as well—after all, the Chengs were senior military officers, and their family had a residence in Chang'an to reassure the court.
If you help, help all the way!
Of course, they did not yet know that this act of kindness would save Xiaobao's life, and in the future, Xiaobao would save the entire Cheng family.
...
He boarded a fast boat, agreeing with the boatman on a fare of thirty coins for the quickest passage to Chang'an.
The fare was steep, but well worth it.
Once inside Chang'an, he would be like a dragon entering the sea. Even with ten years of searching, others might not find him. Moreover, beneath the emperor’s feet, who would dare cause trouble?
Now was the time to flee, and the faster the better.
This revealed Xiaobao’s modern mindset: as long as you survived, everything else could be regained.
The threat remained, so the sooner he escaped, the better. Money mattered little in the face of danger.
The boat gradually drifted away, the Wei River roaring westward. He gazed up at the azure sky, breathed the fresh, clear air, and watched the mud-and-straw houses along the shore. Occasionally, magnificent temples towered above, and distant blue mountains loomed grandly. The scenery was pure and rustic, harmoniously blended with nature.
Xiaobao’s spirits soared. He exclaimed, “This is the Tang Dynasty!”
He need not worry about his immediate actions and could finally sit back and contemplate his gains and losses:
His foundations were still shallow, leaving him vulnerable to others who tried to steal his prescription.
To stand firm, one must have roots!
Conceal one’s talents, make friends widely—so that in times of trouble, one call brings a hundred responses. If adversity struck again, the neighbors would rally, and he would not fear anyone.

Both society and oneself must be strong. Martial arts are crucial—riding, weapons, and archery must all be mastered. Only then can one stand above others.
He had grown fearful of arrows—having suffered one, even if the tip was knocked off, the pain was searing. He resolved to learn!
Xiaobao did not worry about future ways to earn money: he possessed extensive knowledge of architecture and many other fields. Knowledge was power, knowledge was wealth!
Take, for example, the Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill.
This pill was a formidable weapon! In later times, the Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill became a widely used formula, penned by Song Dynasty imperial physician Qian Yi in the “Straightforward Diagnosis of Pediatric Medicine,” modifying the Kidney Qi Pill formula from Zhang Zhongjing’s “Essentials from the Golden Cabinet” by omitting aconite and cinnamon twig: eight coins of cooked rehmannia, four coins each of cornus and dried yam, three coins each of alisma, moutan bark, and poria (with skin removed). Grind into powder, mix with honey, and form pills the size of Chinese parasol seeds. Take three pills at a time, dissolved in warm water on an empty stomach.
Traditional medicine believed the pill nourished kidney yin, treating symptoms like kidney deficiency, dizziness, tinnitus, aching waist and knees, excessive thirst, and seminal emission.
Just reading the description reveals its potency. Xiaobao remembered the formula because he often took the pill himself (well, with nights of revelry, who wouldn’t need some supplementation?), and his memory was excellent.
Otherwise, why bother learning medicine so painstakingly?
He had inherited some family knowledge (albeit partially), and apprenticed as a pharmacist, all in hopes of someday producing the Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill!
Greed for wealth! Greed for wealth! Greed for wealth!
In fact, his family’s “Great Strength Pill” had already been improved by him, increasing its effectiveness somewhat, but that was all. He understood his present situation: the Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill must not be revealed yet.
He must wait patiently, only unveiling it once he had enough power to protect his possessions!
Looking into the distance, Xiaobao brimmed with confidence: My future is no dream!
...
He ate and slept on the boat. At night, they docked, and the boatman cooked rice porridge, steamed river fish, and plucked wild greens from the shore to wash and blanch—green, fresh, and wholesome. Xiaobao ate with relish.
The boatman, a good-natured middle-aged couple surnamed Ma, treated him warmly. His manners, the high fare he paid, and the two riders who escorted him all spoke to his unusual status.
Embracing the custom of adapting to local ways, Xiaobao engaged in lively conversation, learning about the Wei River, listening to stories about how it was Chang'an's vital channel to the outside world. People on the banks grew crops and fruit trees, reaping abundant harvests. The Ma couple were born and raised along the river, first as fishermen, then as transporters.
With years of experience, their boat ran swiftly and steadily. Xiaobao even asked them to teach him the art of sailing!
Among three people, there is always something to learn. More knowledge brings more advantages.
Never let yourself remain idle!
Watching the current, seeking the wind, steering the rudder...
Youth is a blessing—learning comes quickly. With his uniquely mature mind and keen comprehension, it wasn’t long before Xiaobao could handle the rudder himself!
A cool breeze blew, and Feng Xiaobao couldn’t help but sing “Let Us Paddle Our Oars.”
“Let us paddle our oars, our little boat pushes through the waves, the sea reflects the beautiful white pagoda...”
A children’s song? Ha, just for a laugh!

His cheerful optimism infected the boatman, who clapped along to his singing.
Wishing to ride the long wind and break through ten thousand waves, Xiaobao did not know it then, but years later, he would realize that this journey down the Wei River gave him a rare opportunity for reflection, and many future decisions would stem from this moment of contemplation.
The fruit of the future is the cause of today!
...
Thus, a day later, Xiaobao saw the magnificent city rising from the distant shore!
Chang'an!
Chang'an stood on the southern bank of the Wei River. In the second year of the Sui Dynasty's Kaihuang era (582), a new capital called Daxing City was built southeast of the Han-era Chang'an. Under the Tang, the city was renamed Chang'an and remained the capital, undergoing only partial reconstruction and expansion. The perimeter of Tang Chang'an stretched 35.56 kilometers, covering about 84 square kilometers—9.7 times the size of modern Xi'an, 2.4 times Han Chang'an, 1.2 times Northern Wei Luoyang, 1.8 times Sui-Tang Luoyang, 1.7 times Yuan Dadu, 1.9 times Ming Nanjing, 1.4 times Ming-Qing Beijing, seven times the Constantinople built in 447, 6.2 times the Baghdad built in 800, and seven times ancient Rome. At its height, Chang'an was the largest and most prosperous international metropolis of its era.
Even from afar, the city’s architecture was astonishing. Previously, Xiaobao had seen vast stretches of thatched huts, but now, ornate buildings and grand houses stood everywhere, sprawling in great clusters—a breathtaking sight! Even Feng Xiaobao, accustomed to modern metropolises, was speechless with awe.
He was moved, amazed!
Chang'an!
He had finally seen the living city, not just an archaeological documentary.
At this moment in history, while many countries and regions on Earth were still backward and primitive, our ancestors had already built a world-class metropolis. Our civilization was a thousand years ahead of the world!
This city before him was a testament to Tang ingenuity, the fruit of their labor. Even many backward nations in later times could not compare to our Tang Dynasty’s Chang'an!
Today, I arrive, and the future will be changed because of me. Though I am but a small case now, one day, I shall carry Tang’s glory to the world!
Feng Xiaobao was filled with heroic ambition, bursting with resolve not to waste this once-in-a-lifetime journey across time.
The boat slowed as more vessels converged on the city, laden with people and goods—a scene of bustling prosperity.
He bid farewell to the boatman and ascended the steps onto the shore.
The wharf teemed with voices, people arriving from all directions. Their attire included not only authentic Tang garb, but also the distinctive clothes of ethnic minorities and foreigners. A cacophony of languages filled the air, and piles of goods lined the roadside in neat stacks... Feng Xiaobao greedily took in this panorama of humanity, tears streaming from his eyes, drawing curious glances from those nearby.
He wiped his tears and melted into the crowd.
Chang'an, I have arrived!