Chapter 100: The Jinling City Under Surveillance

Back at the hotel, with Yunmeng’s assistance, Hua Feng managed to restore the energy that had been drained from the tourists that night, returning them to their normal states as gentle streams of light flowed forth. The effort left Hua Feng drenched in sweat. The remaining bottles of vital energy were handed over to members of the local Daoist Alliance.

When the morning sun shone into the hotel rooms, each sleepy-eyed guest awoke, feeling a vague ache in their backs and remembering, albeit faintly, that they had recently joined a tour group. Many other memories, however, seemed blurred. Yet those lost recollections did not appear to trouble them; it was as if the missing fragments were of little consequence.

Thus, those who planned to travel did so, and those inclined to lounge in bed continued to do just that. Everything unfolded as usual, just like any morning waking in a hotel during a journey. They probably would not remember that, for a moment, their bodies had contorted as if performing intricate yoga poses. Watching over all this, Hua Feng and Yunmeng felt their toil was worthwhile, seeing the health restored to dozens of people. Though weary, a sense of satisfaction and tranquility filled them, akin to the fulfillment after successfully completing a mission.

With this delay, a few more days slipped quietly by. Hua Feng hurried back to Nanjing with Yunmeng in tow.

Jinling’s scenery remained unchanged; in the days of spring’s warmth and blossoming flowers, everything seemed as it always had, as if he had never left the city at all.

In the depths of the universe, aboard a spaceship, an unfolded screen displayed the profile of a city:

“Historically, Nanjing has both benefited from and suffered because of its unique geography and remarkable feng shui. Though it has endured the ravages of war many times, it has time and again risen from ruins to flourish once more. When the Central Plains fell to foreign invaders and the Han people faced annihilation, Nanjing was often chosen as the place for recovery and the launching point for expeditions to reclaim the country. The Ming Dynasty and the Republic of China both succeeded in their northern campaigns from here; the Eastern Jin, Xiao Liang, and Liu Song each launched three northern expeditions, all of which ultimately failed. At the founding of the Southern Song, ministers advocated for Jiankang as the capital to symbolize the restoration of the Central Plains, but Emperor Gaozong instead settled in Hangzhou, though public opinion still designated Jinling as a secondary capital. The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom also established its capital in Nanjing, using the expulsion of foreign rule as a rallying cry and a source of legitimacy. Thus, Nanjing is regarded as the cradle of Han revival and holds a special place in Chinese history. After comparing the four ancient capitals—Chang’an, Luoyang, Jinling, and Yanjing—Mr. Zhu Xie concluded: ‘Among these four capitals, in terms of literary prosperity, outstanding figures, scenic beauty, grandeur, and the city’s close connection with the nation’s joys and sorrows, Jinling stands supreme.’

The environs of Nanjing saw human activity as early as one to 1.2 million years ago, with ape men living in the region 350,000 to over 600,000 years ago. The discovery of the Nanjing Man fossils at the Tangshan Paleolithic site represents the earliest evidence of human habitation in Nanjing as of 2010—a discovery of global significance in both Chinese paleoanthropology and Paleolithic archaeology. Nowhere else in the world has a single site yielded fossils from two distinct human species, making the ‘Nanjing Man Cave’ unique and providing powerful support for the multiregional origin theory of humans, suggesting that the Chinese did not originate in Africa.”

“Sir, these are the background materials on the target individual’s hometown,” a respectful voice reported.

“What does all this signify?” the superior asked indifferently. “You must understand that our orders are to select a planet for colonization. Those who may be absorbed into the Star Wheel are precisely the seeds we seek—the key to our mission. Earth will be designated as our 35,678th target planet. The young man named Hua Feng is the prime candidate for absorption from this world.”

“Yes, sir, I understand. Around seven to eight thousand years ago, the region saw the emergence of primitive Neolithic villages represented by the Beiyin Yangying culture, and agricultural civilization had already arisen in the present-day Qixia area. More than 200 Neolithic sites over 6,000 years old have been discovered in places like Beiyin Yangying at Gulou Hill and Jiumiao in Taowu Township, Jiangning, yielding large quantities of pottery and everyday tools made of stone and bone. Three thousand years ago, during the Shang and Zhou periods of the Central Plains, the Qinhuai River basin saw dense settlements known as the Hushu culture. In the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, these settlements formed the earliest city-states in Nanjing.

Thirty-one centuries ago, Nanjing was the fiefdom of Zhou Zhang of the Western Zhou. In the first year of King Ling of Zhou (571 BC), the state of Chu established Tangyi in modern-day Liuhe, appointing a local official—this is the earliest documented administrative division in Nanjing and marks the city’s founding, making it 2,587 years old as of 2016. At the end of the Spring and Autumn period, King Fuchai of Wu built Yecheng in the Chaotian Temple area and established copper casting workshops. In the fourth year of King Yuan of Zhou, after Yue conquered Wu, Fan Li built Yuecheng in Changgan outside the Zhonghua Gate. In 333 BC, King Wei Xiongshang of Chu constructed Jinling Yi at Shitou City, giving Nanjing its famous name.

In 229 AD, Emperor Sun Quan of Wu made Nanjing his capital, renaming Moling to Jianye (later Jianye was changed to Jiankang in 282). Thereafter, the Eastern Jin and the Southern dynasties of Song, Qi, Liang, and Chen all established their capitals here, earning Nanjing the title ‘ancient capital of six dynasties.’ Today, the remains of Jiankang’s city walls are preserved beneath the Nanjing Library and the Six Dynasties Museum. During this era, Jiankang was the largest city in the world, with a population of one million—the first city globally to surpass that mark. The migration of the Han elite to the south allowed for the preservation of Han culture in Nanjing. Alongside Rome, Jiankang was one of the two great centers of classical civilization. The culture of the Southern Dynasties, represented by Jiankang, had a profound impact on human history.

Jiankang’s city planning during the Six Dynasties pioneered the central axis symmetry layout of Chinese capitals, influencing city planning for generations across East Asia. The imperial palace, Taicheng, became a model for capitals from the Northern Wei to other East Asian states, bridging the architectural styles from Qin and Han to Sui and Tang and deeply influencing later capital designs.

During the Sui and Tang dynasties, Nanjing was deliberately diminished by the north, but its geographical advantages meant its economy and culture continued to flourish. Poets such as Li Bai, Liu Yuxi, Du Mu, and Li Shangyin lived and traveled here.

After the fall of the Tang, the Southern Tang made Jinling their capital and expanded it. With wars raging in the north, the south was largely peaceful for over seventy years since the founding of Yang Wu. The markets along the banks of the Qinhuai River bustled, and economic prosperity was matched by cultural brilliance, inspiring new trends in poetry, calligraphy, and painting.

In the Song and Yuan periods, Jinling was a major economic hub in the southeast. The Northern Song statesman Wang Anshi served three times as Prefect of Jiangning, settling there until his death. In 1129, Emperor Gaozong Zhao Gou renamed Jiangning Prefecture to Jiankang Prefecture, making it the temporary capital and chief city of Jiangnan East Circuit. In the eighth year of the Shaoxing era, Jiankang was officially designated as the reserve capital. The Southern Song general Yue Fei famously defeated Jin forces at Niushou Mountain near Nanjing, where remnants of his anti-Jin fortifications remain.

During the Yuan dynasty, the city was renamed Jiqing Road. Silk weaving bureaus were established, employing over 6,000 craftsmen, and Nanjing cloud brocade became an imperial tribute. The city became the textile center of southern China.

In 1356, Zhu Yuanzhang captured Jiqing and renamed it Yingtian Prefecture. In 1368, he founded the Ming dynasty and made Nanjing the capital. It became China's political, economic, and cultural center, entering its second golden age. The population of the capital exceeded 700,000, making it the largest city in China and the world at the time. The Nanjing Ming City Wall, constructed over 27 years, became the world’s largest city wall. The Imperial Academy at the foot of Jilong Mountain hosted nearly 10,000 students, including many from Japan, Korea, Annam, Ryukyu, and other countries.

In 1402, Zhu Di launched the Jingnan Campaign, usurped the throne from the Jianwen Emperor, seized Nanjing, and declared himself emperor, adopting the Yongle reign title. In 1421, he officially moved the capital to Beijing, making Nanjing the secondary capital and establishing six ministries, operating a dual capital system with Yingtian Prefecture (Nanjing) and Shuntian Prefecture (Beijing) collectively known as the Two Capitals. In 1430, Zheng He set sail from Longjiang Pass in Nanjing, leading over 27,000 officers and men and 61 treasure ships on his seventh voyage.

By the mid-Ming dynasty, Nanjing’s population reached 1.2 million, once again making it the world’s largest capital city. During the Wanli era, after Western missionary Matteo Ricci toured China, he wrote in his biography: ‘The sight of this great city of Nanjing dazzled the eye... The Ming dynasty’s Nanjing was magnificent and grand, rivaling any of Europe’s greatest capitals in the nineteenth century. The founding emperor Hongwu made it a marvel, unmatched by anything seen in the East.’ Throughout the Ming dynasty, Nanjing remained the political, economic, and cultural center of the south and the nation...”

“That’s enough. I know the rest already. How much longer until we reach Earth?” the person addressed as ‘sir’ inquired.

“Sir Mojiang, if all goes well, the mothership should land on Earth in the year 2121 according to the Earth calendar.”

“Proceed at full speed. Initiate a wormhole jump if necessary,” Mojiang commanded.

“Yes, sir!” came the reply.

A comet-like beam of light streaked through the deep cosmos, carrying the spaceship toward the solar system.