About 1,600 years ago, today's Chinese territory was divided into two major camps, the North and the South, like an endless power game. That era, called the Southern and Northern Dynasties, was a period full of war and chaos. The Song, Qi, Liang, and Chen dynasties in the south were like four gorgeous flowers blooming on the land of the South. In the north, many countries such as the Northern Wei, Eastern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Qi, and Northern Zhou also took to the stage one after another.
Among the many dynasties in the north, the Northern Qi Dynasty was like a bright star, shining in the vast river of history. The Northern Qi Dynasty was founded by Gao Yang, who quickly unified the north with his ambition and established this glorious empire in history. The capital of the Northern Qi Dynasty, located in today's Hebei Province, was the most prosperous political and cultural center at the time. However, there is always a haze behind the glory. The struggle for imperial power and the conspiracy of powerful officials are intertwined into an intricate network, and every inch of land hides the prelude to the storm.
Prince of Lanlin - Gao Changgong, you may not have heard of this name yet, but in the history of the Northern Qi Dynasty, his light is like the scorching sun in the sky. As the most courageous general of Northern Qi, he was not only famous for his stunning beauty and bravery, but also won the hearts of the people with his loyalty and wisdom.
It was a midsummer day, the sun was shining like a golden chain on the earth, and the streets of the capital were illuminated by the brilliant light like a painting. Every corner of the city, whether it was the mansions of the rich or the straw huts of the poor, was filled with a celebratory atmosphere, which came from the fortunate mentality of the victors of the war in troubled times - today, as the victors, their lives were safe, and their wealth, no matter how much or how little, was preserved.
For the older residents of the capital, the terrible memories of the war and famine a few years ago are far from being forgotten or suppressed. In the years of war between the various regimes, the defenseless people became lambs to be slaughtered, towns were destroyed, and the land irrigated with blood was no longer cultivated. Famine and chaos followed, and the weak in the troubled times were literally eaten - hunger was like a ruthless beast, devouring people's reason and conscience, and then making them make the most terrible choice: cannibalism. The old people who experienced those things occasionally talked about the terrible scenes at that time, but if the children asked them what they did at that time, the answer was often just trembling, speechless lips.
The triumphant army has entered the city gate! At the front of the team, riding a white horse, is Prince of Lanling Gao Changgong, the most powerful general of Northern Qi. He is wearing gorgeous silver armor, and his warhorse is stepping lightly on the stone road. If you look closely, you can see the blood stains on his armor that have not been completely wiped clean. On the saddle made of tanned cowhide and used for many years, hangs his most well-known equipment, a bronze and ferocious mask, which is carved into the appearance of a monster that looks like a tiger and a devil, and flashes a cold luster in the sun.
This mask is said to be the result of combat needs. In addition to his bravery in combat, Gao Changgong's most popular reputation is his unparalleled beauty. According to rumors, this prince is like a meteor, shining with extraordinary brilliance on the battlefield. His face is breathtakingly beautiful, as perfect as the gods in ancient scrolls. Whenever he rode out on horseback, the soldiers could not help but stare at him and involuntarily stopped their weapons. After this happened several times and had a negative impact on the battle situation, he found the best craftsman in Northern Qi and put forward his needs: to create the most terrifying mask for him, not only to eliminate interference with his own soldiers, but also to make the enemy tremble after seeing it.
He succeeded. Wearing a mask not only solved the problem on the battlefield, but also gave Gao Changgong an extra protection. In the turbulent times, the mask became a symbol of his identity, covering his true face and preventing potential enemies from seeing through his true emotions and intentions.
Today, although it was a triumphal moment, his beauty, if displayed to the public, would inevitably cause a commotion in the streets of the capital. Therefore, he put on a white veil. He was calm on the horse, holding the reins lightly, with a sharp gaze above the veil, looking at the Northern Qi Palace in the distance. Emperor Gao Wei, Gao Changgong's cousin, had prepared a grand triumphal banquet, and the royal musicians could be heard playing. Mixed with the music, the people on the roadside whispered about the prince's beauty and bravery, and the legendary battle stories.