AleksandraSucur

Techically, even Chang'an was accessible from the sea through waterways during the Tang dynasty: the Yellow River and the Wei River were navigable, one additional canal (Cao) was built to connect it directly with Yellow river, used when water in Wei was shallow.
But it would have also taken its time, bc. the upstream navigation is slower

Me too. Lei Jiayin's acting is given for granted, he is always perfect in all his roles, so the real surprise here is YYP, he is totally Ping'an, totally natural, as you've said.
The allegoric cock fight reminds me of smth. similar, some other colourful, hyperbolic & and exaggerately tense scene, but can't recall where or what exactly I've seen. People who thought this drama definitely know their job.

"We can't collapse just because we are about to die" 😁Li Shande's deep wisdom, trying to comfort ZPA but he is truly like that. Wait, "comfort" is too big of a word... my stomach hurts from how much I've laughed on "bad luck transfer". The episodes are so well organised and edited, so steadily hilarious 😂😂😂... What a treat is this drama!

right, very Tarantino humour with gloomy background

such a great Leitmotif for a story! 👌

PBG used "marie antoinette" as an internationally better known epitome of a kind. We know the story "let them eat cakes" in reality was invented by the detractors of the monarchy but her name is still used to indicate a superfluous, wasteful, egocentric and spoilt woman - characteristics Yang Guifei possessed...

Now I remember I've read the synopsis and it looked interesting. I actually don't have "my cup of tea", I am after a good and well delievered story. I watch all genres, but am picky about everything else 😁
Tnx for rec, I'll wait for the translated version

Yup

In ep 5, he explains the road he ought to travel, he just crosses rivers, can't use the existing canals at the time (the region where litchis grow is between Sichuan and western Guangdong, not connected through the water in Tang). So, at the time, he could have not travelled only via water

Great finding, tnx ❤️

I wouldn't worry about that, true gems will always shine, and after watching the first 5 eps, I think this may be my first "10" points to any Asian drama I've watched till now (actually, I've already rated all 3 eps 10).
It is so good in every aspect, no normal person can rate it lower (at least to this point)

I think the postal system in ancient China is prior to the Tang dynasty, maybe this event just accelerated or improved smth. in the existing system. There's no empire if there's a lack or delay of communication between the central go. and local administration or military. Couriers, messangers and pigeons are ok but insufficient for large territorial extensions, large territories require specific relay infrastructure, or at least resting facilities along the road. I mean, it could exist, but then it (such an empire) wouldn't last for centuries.
In Roman Empire, the relay system (antecessorum cursus in Latin) was well organised and incredibly efficient already under Augustus and was free among imperial cities (prefecture level), bc. under the direct responsability of the prefect (who was also in charge of road maintanence and relay posts, as well as for resting facilities - mansiones in Latin - along the roads, and we know the first thing Romans did after conquering a territory was to build roads), if senders/receivers lived in a territory under the common municipalities, it dependend on the situation (extention, roads etc) in the municipality, but regularly the equipment (mules, carts) was granted by the central treasure to all municipalities, while relay officers were paid by municipalities, they were all public officers, the postal system was actually called cursus publicus, and as such ought to be free and accessible to all citizens of Rome.

I've noticed that, too, yesterday (haven't seen Northward). And she will surprise you even more when you see ep 4

I think that, too, and already like schemings up to this point.

Btw., I've just found this info on wiki "Lychee was a favorite fruit for Yang, and the emperor had the fruit, which was only grown in southern China, delivered by the imperial courier's fast horses, whose riders would take shifts day and night in a Pony Express-like manner, to the capital. Most historians believe the fruits were delivered from modern Guangdong, but some believe they came from modern Sichuan."

I remember the original author from his other works, I've noticed he likes to use many historical details and/or gossips of the time and wave them into the stories he created. An additional pleasure for the two of us, who enjoy digging and discovering these details 🤓

I've assumed that N.C. Yang should be Yang Guifei... 😁Tnx for the confirmation.
I've enjoyed the first 5 eps very much, what are your thoughts?

Me too 😌👌

Me too. And I've enjoyed Tribes and Empires of the same director who also wrote the script as he did for TLDiC. That drama was just a bit too lenghty, but the plot was interesting and action and thrilling scenes already displayed his great directing potential.
I was very disappointed last year with his Legend of Heroes, but he has no fault for the bad scriptwriting in that drama.

It is indeed all about our tastes. I think it's less about our habits. Eg. when I was a child, my mom never bought grapefruits bc. she doesn't like their bitterness and sourness, while probably these properties make them (together with bitter Sicilian orange and lemon) one of my favs. I have no idea why I prefer these flavours or how I've developed such a taste, very different from my bro as well (who likes sweet and salty food). I also like very spicy food, independently of their origin.

what's the title of that drama, is it good?

All summer fruits are refreshing bc they mostly contain water. But there's smth with litchi sweetness that I find repulsive (I don't like sweet foods, beverage or sweet wines in general). Now, I've checked, 100g of litchi contain 15,2 g of sugar, compared to 6,2 g in 100g of watermelon (I mostly eat in summer), so, there's almost three times more sugar in a litchi than in a watermelon, which is also sweet, but still within the range of my personal taste.

But you're right about the cool storage and transportation, maybe Li Shande will invent it later in the drama. 🤓