The four of them rode eastward along the south bank of the Jinshui River, and soon came to the outside of the imperial city. The walls here are markedly different from those of the inner city, and are all made of brick and stone, and are about the same height.

The princess said that it was three zhang high, and Hong Tao simply estimated it with his fingers, about nine meters, which was close to the size that the princess said.

The length units of the Song Dynasty were zhang, ruler, and minute, all of which were decimal systems. The length of one foot is slightly smaller than that of later generations, roughly 31 centimeters less.

In addition, there are miles and steps, one step is one step on each leg, and the distance is roughly one meter five. One Songli is equal to 360 steps, slightly more than the city in later generations, about 560 meters.

These data were measured many times by Hong Tao during the Southern Song Dynasty shipbuilding and navigation, and although the Jinhe Empire at that time eventually adopted the metric system, the approximate data can still be remembered.

As for the outer city wall, the princess said that there are six zhang, but Hong Tao has never seen whether it is really that high, and seeing is believing. But there is one thing that is believing, and that is the streets.

It's really not as smooth as the one painted in the Qingming Shanghe map, it is all compacted loess, and it will still be dusty after a gust of wind. This is still a summer when the wind is not strong, and if the northwest wind blows in winter, you can imagine it without being in the same place.

If you walk in the wind, you can't open your eyes without wearing protective gear such as a gauze scarf on your face, and when you go home, your mouth is full of sand.

For this question, Hong Tao humbly asked the princess again, in case the emperor wants to go out in winter, he will always bring a scarf. Even if you take a car, such a big wind and sand, the cars that are not very accurate in the future will enter the dust, and the current wooden cars can only be better, not better. You can't go out and go around and make the emperor disgraced, how to solve this problem?

"There is a special sprinkler in the palace province, and the wind and sand are not hindered." Probably thinking that the question was too idiotic to be answered by the princess herself, the little maid interjected again.

According to her description, if there is wind and sand when the emperor travels, he will arrange a waterwheel or miscellaneous servants in advance according to the distance of the road and the width of the street.

There was a sprinkler behind the waterwheel, and the handymen used gilded kettles to water all over the streets, almost half a mile before the emperor's chariot. In this way, when the honor guard came over, the water also seeped into the dirt, which could not get a foot of mud and prevent dust.

"Do you want to learn to ride a horse from a young age in the palace?" The problem of the road surface could not be solved for the time being, and Hong Tao turned the topic to the little maid again.

Seeing that she was only twelve or thirteen years old, standing on the ground just as tall as a horse's legs, but on the horse she could talk and laugh freely, and often spread the reins with her hands to make gestures, and only in terms of riding skills was only stronger than herself. Not only Lian'er is like this, but the princess is the same, who says that women are not as strong as men.

"If you want to bow down, the concubines will give a lot of rewards! The official teaches the slave family to play badminton, and the slave family teaches the official to bow down! Lian'er is also a fan of small money, and she is very happy to do anything that can win money. But in the house, Hong Tao didn't let her play badminton, so naturally she couldn't win the reward.

The sport of bowing also existed in later generations, called polo, and the rules basically did not change much. The Song people actually like sports, whether they are nobles or commoners, but they will not let go of activities whenever they have the opportunity, and they are of a national nature, each playing their own game, and no one hinders anyone.

"Lian'er, don't talk more, be careful to go back and tell Mama!" Before Wang Shu could say that he was willing or not, the princess spoke first. If it weren't for her husband's insistence on riding out on horseback, of course she would have taken a car. I'm crazy to be kicked by a horse, what if I kick it again and kick it back!

"Yike...... Madam, in front of you is Li Daguanren! Lian'er stuck out her tongue and was honest, it seems that she is still more afraid of Mama Wang. But after a minute of honesty, he began to shout again, as if he had encountered a robber.

"I'm going to see a salute ......" At this time, he had already walked outside the Xihua Gate of the Imperial City, and there were two horses parked at the intersection, probably not waiting for the traffic light, because one of them, Hong Tao, knew or called to have met.

"How is Imperial Doctor Li doing?" The middle-aged man in the green robe was the fake imperial doctor Li Gonglin who had followed the emperor to test him, even though Hong Tao knew that he was forced to be helpless, he was not polite, and continued to pretend to be crazy and stupid.

"Jin Qing laughed, the emperor's order is difficult to disobey, the emperor's order is difficult to disobey......" Li Gonglin didn't expect Wang Shu to be so sharp-tongued, his face suddenly turned red, and he raised his hands in front of his chest on the horse, and he really came to a look. The meaning is very clear, buddy is convinced, don't mention that incident in the future!

"Brother Boshi, it's not that my brother is narrow-minded, it's really dangerous, I really can't swallow this breath if you don't have some blood!"

As soon as he thought of the urgency of the form at that time, Hong Tao really couldn't let go. What do you mean by a true friend? It can only be seen at the critical moment. Since he didn't see himself as a true friend, he couldn't be pitied.

"This, this can't be helped, the little brother has no power to restrain the chicken, how can he meet each other!"

It seems that this Li Da painter is indeed more cowardly, and when he heard the word bleeding, he thought that Wang Shu was going to duel with him, so he was so frightened that he couldn't help but retreat. If it weren't for the fact that there was still a man and a horse behind the side to block it, it was estimated that it would not be impossible for him to turn around and run.

"The pain of flesh and skin can be replaced by money, and if you invite me to drink, I will not beat you. But the place has to be chosen by my wife, and I am not allowed to refuse! ”

To deal with cowardice, you have to be horizontal, Hong Tao rolled up his arms and sleeves to reveal his little arms that are not very strong, but the expression on his face is very sufficient, 100% of the style of a street bastard, although he is wearing ancient costumes, his temperament has not changed.

"Make, make...... Ah, Jin Qing misunderstood me! Don't blame Xianggong, Jin Qing has been crazy and sick for a long time, he can't know people, and he ......is not arrogant and rude, "This time Li Gonglin understood, it was not a duel, it was just a meal, and his hands finally left the reins of the horse, and he was no longer ready to escape.

But as soon as the tension passed, I suddenly remembered that there was still a person behind me, and immediately became nervous again, and slammed it to the end on the horse, accompanied by a mouthful of joy, and spared the horse as well.

"Invite so-and-so to eat and drink, and so-and-so will not be blamed!" The person in the back is quite old, his clothes are not bright, his beard is almost wisps, and he is a little sloppy. But his voice was quite loud, his eyes were very bright, and he bared his teeth at the king.

"Forgive the official's clumsiness...... ...... rudeness"

Hong Tao originally thought that this old man was Li Gonglin's groom or entourage, and he didn't take it seriously at all, but now he was immediately dumbfounded when he heard Li Gonglin's title.

Xianggong, the status of this title in the Song Dynasty is second only to the official family, a bit of an old leader, an old superior, the status and official position are not at a certain height can not be used this title.

Li Gonglin is also a Beijing official from Jinshi, and he still has good attainments in talent, and he must be real to be able to shout the word Xianggong from his mouth. No matter who he is, the first salute must be right, anyway, he is crazy, and no one should blame him.