Capital City

Biodata

Background / History

The city was built under Emperor Shizu of Great Wei, a project that took twenty-nine years to complete. Its original water system drew from the Imperial Water River through dams and a forty-three-kilometer channel, then distributed water through underground wooden, bamboo, and stone conduits. The former Arms Cache Cave was built above part of this old well-channel network. 1442

It later served as the capital of two successive dynasties. Wars during Former Wei devastated its old great families; many fled or were killed, and later migrants repopulated the city, rebuilt residences, and established new ancestral shrines. 247 313

Under Great Zheng, Zheng Taizu abolished the city-gate tolls imposed under the former dynasty. The rule remained in force in the Capital City even as provincial capitals resumed collecting such fees. 704

The restored canal helped renew the city’s commercial importance. Dragon Gate Wharf, about twenty li from the city, was dredged and restored under imperial order; its shipping traffic supported continuous rows of inns and shops. 198 403

Cityscape

Capital City is densely built and highly regulated, with broad avenues, ordered wards, markets, official compounds, and noble residences arranged beneath the Imperial Palace. From above, it resembles a checkerboard. 1223 1400

• The city is described as having 120 wards and 12 marketplaces; a later account states that it expanded from 108 wards to 275. 1223 1443
• Wards function as self-contained districts with their own shops, taverns, inns, and daily services. 1223 1443
• Ward gates normally open at dawn and close at dusk. Restrictions generally prevent movement between wards rather than activity within them. 1223
• Ward walls and guard posts allow districts to be sealed rapidly during curfews or martial law. 1443
• Buildings outside the Imperial Palace are generally limited to three stories unless specially authorized. 421
• The city’s outer docks are deliberately separated from the walls to prevent enemies from using the canal for a sudden assault. 403
• The seven city gates are used as controlled entry points for travelers, carts, and merchant convoys. 704 1260

Government and Security

Imperial City

The Imperial City is divided between the Inner Palace, where the Emperor’s household, consorts, palace servants, and eunuchs reside, and the Outer Palace, where court offices and senior officials conduct state business. Crossing between them without an imperial order is forbidden. 640

The Grand Secretariat is located in the Outer Palace and serves as a core center of state administration. Entry places officials among the upper ranks able to access major affairs of Great Zheng. 640

Surveillance and Enforcement

Capital City contains overlapping security institutions, including the Imperial Guards, Imperial Feather Guards, Imperial City Office, Capital Garrison, Ministry of Justice, Shuntian Prefecture, and Patrol Inspectorate. 947

• The Imperial City Office maintains planted agents in the residences of most Fourth Rank and higher officials, as well as among the imperial clan and noble households. 680
• Ordinary residents may serve as informants, making surveillance difficult for martial artists and conspirators to detect. 1028
• Martial law can be imposed quickly; after major incidents, guards conduct inspections and residents rely on official household tokens to pass through the city. 249
• During periods of unrest, authorities have sealed gates, closed streets, and ordered broad arrests. 1232

Economy and Society

The Capital City’s canals connect inland grain transport with sea routes, and restored waterways support dense commercial activity around the docks. 403 1159

• The Metropolitan Examination brings large numbers of Provincial Graduates, creating sustained demand for lodging, food, and other services. 323 1071
• Streets near the docks are lined with markets, hawkers, inns, shops, and carriage services before travelers even reach the city gates. 1071
• Wealthy officials, merchants, scholars, nobles, and imperial clansmen sustain luxury businesses such as high-class pleasure houses, restaurants, chess halls, and literary gatherings. 421 672
• Public opinion spreads rapidly through taverns, brothels, teahouses, storytelling venues, and private gazettes. 606 823
• Political conflict can transform ordinary social events into factional tests; scholars feared that attending Marquis Dai’s literary gathering would associate them with one side against Prince Qi. 606

Supernatural Environment

The Capital City lies beneath the Son of Heaven’s Dragon Aura, which suppresses demonic and spiritual power. Alchemists remain stationed in the city to prevent demons, ghosts, monsters, and rogue cultivators from causing trouble. 319

• A former dynasty Dragon Lord’s Golden Seal can neutralize the city’s spiritual pressure, despite the change of dynasties. 704
• Local ghosts and gods possess greater freedom within the city than outside entities, particularly after the destruction of their shrines. 938
• The city contains the Metropolitan City God shrine, part of the official state-sacrifice system. 594
• Numerous Orthodox Gods retain recognized status through enfeoffments granted under former and current dynasties. 1035
• Spiritual radiance from shrines and supernatural forces can form a vast, multicolored net above the city. 1035
• Despite the Dragon Aura, hidden formations have concealed monsters within private residences, and repeated fiend incidents have weakened the public’s former sense of security. 414 1232

Story Role / Major Events

• Su Ziji’s arrival — Su Ziji and Ye Buhui enter the Capital City through its northern gate and experience an unexplained sense of familiarity with it. 198
• Political ascent of Prince Dai — As Su Ziji gains rank and influence, Wanglu Ward becomes crowded with officials seeking audiences at his residence, alarming former classmates who see the scale of his power. 1071
• Examination crisis — Provincial Graduates gather at the palace gates over examination corruption; Zhao Xu and Qian Wei disperse them before the Emperor can order a violent crackdown. 1147
• Covert militarization — Zeng Nianzhen infiltrates five hundred disguised soldiers through the city’s seven gates and hides them in underground spaces. 1260
• Palace coup — Prince Qi uses underground waterways, an emptied noble residence, and the storm to seize Lin’an Gate and begin his assault on the palace. 1348
• Imperial Grandson’s counter-mobilization — Su Ziji uses valid military tallies, intercepted edicts, and imperial procedure to take command of the six thousand Imperial Feather Guards. 1361 1363
• Cao Yiyan’s attack — Cao Yiyan’s force enters through tunnels, deploys smoke and fire, and attempts to burn the Capital City during its assault on Qian Residence; the ward-wall system limits the spread of the flames. 1448