When General Wei succeeded Gao Pinggong, he found that the military armaments at Jiangjia Pass were depleted and there were a large number of fortifications that needed to be repaired and repaired. Not only were there a shortage of soldiers in the battalions originally stationed here, but there were also many tired ones, so some of them had to be abolished.
Let him return home.
But whether it is repairing fortifications or laying off old soldiers, this is a huge expenditure. Even though Jiangjia Pass is a military town in the south, when it comes time to do things, there is still a shortage of money, food and military supplies, let alone facing the upcoming
The approaching Jiuli Kingdom army.
At this time, the imperial court asked the counties near Jianjia Pass to raise money and grain to transport to the front line, but the delivery was delayed. General Wei wrote to the king of the country for this, and soon received a reply, allowing General Wei to inspect the corruption gains of local officials in Qingyan County.
As usual, whether local officials have committed corruption should be investigated in detail by the imperial court. There is no reason to let an army guard general directly inspect it. This approach is equivalent to allowing General Wei to accuse officials from various places in Qingyan County.
Massive looting.
Zhao Shui's actions of hunting down evil spirits and destroying temples gave General Wei a suitable reason to investigate whether the temples and shrines in various places in Qingyan County had been stolen by evil spirits. This could also take the opportunity to accuse local officials of negligence.
sin.
Or go one step further and find out whether the local officials have any secret dealings with the evil spirits who have stolen the temples, so that local officials can enrich their own pockets by performing obscene sacrifices to ghosts and gods.
The actual situation is as expected. Officials from various places in Qingyan County can hardly withstand careful inspection, because they have long been accustomed to communicating with local ghosts and gods privately in the past. Some temple worshipers even openly enter and leave government offices and are well known to the local people.
These things were not ulterior secrets in the past. The imperial court turned a blind eye to them in the past, mostly because of the great power of Chongxuan Hall.
The local officials in Qingyan County are either descendants of the four surnames of Chongxuan Hall, or party members closely related to them. They have been operating in the local area for a long time, and their influence is intertwined.
Perhaps the emperor understood this, and did not send officials to conduct a thorough investigation. Instead, he allowed General Wei to take advantage of the situation. In the end, the proceeds from the looting were used to subsidize military supplies on the spot. The emperor could also take the opportunity to arrange for the vacant official position in Qingyan County.
If a person you trust performs his or her duties, you can achieve multiple goals with one stone.
When it fell to Zhao Mi, he was responsible for searching various shrines and killing all the demons and ghosts pretending to be the righteous gods.
It is a pity that apart from the initial three thousand labors, Zhao Shu did not gain much. According to Miao Zhu who was locked up and imprisoned, for some reason, the local ghosts and gods in Qingyan County all disappeared surprisingly uniformly, and the magic summons were also in vain.
income.
"General Wei just sent someone to spread the news, saying that the shrines in several counties in Qingyan County were demolished by local people." Jiang Ru came over and said.
Zhao Shu gently rubbed the corner of his eyebrows: "It seems that the local people have also suffered a lot. Although it would be more thorough to set fire to the temple directly... Anyway, the bricks, tiles and wood of the temple are also the income of the people's hard work, so let them demolish it."
Jiang Ru handed over a book: "This contains a batch of spiritual materials that were recently seized. I have checked them for you. What do you plan to do with them?"
Jiang Ru followed him to Jianjia Pass. Zhao Shu originally didn't know what to do with her, but considering that the more monks there were, the better, Zhao Shu kept her by his side to take care of the trivial affairs.
Zhao Shu himself didn't think much about it, but in the eyes of He Dangguan and others, Jiang Ru was almost the general manager around Zhao Shu, and even some property-related matters were left to Jiang Ru.
"I'll check these and send them to Jianjia Pass." Zhao Shu flipped through the book and wrote down notes from time to time: "Zheng Siyuan is responsible for building the Jindingsi branch there and is in urgent need of spiritual materials."
"I understand, go and make arrangements immediately." Jiang Ru took the book and was about to leave when Zhao Shu called her out:
"You...you should know that now officials from all over Qingyan County are being detained for questioning, and Chongxuan Hall is the first to bear the brunt. You have nothing to say?"
Jiang Ru looked at Zhao Shu and smiled: "Does Mr. Zhao care about me?"
Zhao Shu's face was straight: "I'm just wondering if you are trustworthy."
"If Mr. Zhao doesn't trust me, why should I ask you to help?"
The gaze cast by Jiang Ru made Zhao Shu feel a little uncomfortable. He waved his hand and said, "Okay, you go ahead. I will open the altar to perform the Dharma again later to see if I can find out where these monsters and ghosts are."
"There is one more thing that I forgot to mention just now." Jiang Ru said with a hint of scrutiny in her expression: "The casual cultivator Lu Wangji next to Chu Mengchun is still settled in the guest house and has not been locked up in jail. What are your plans?
Deal with this person?"
"Lu Wangji?" Zhao Shu scratched his head in confusion: "I have tried her cultivation. To be honest, if she is not below me, she cannot be locked up in an ordinary prison. There is no well prison specifically to deal with monks here, so it can be easily restricted.
I’m afraid I won’t be able to trap her.”
Jiang Ru reminded: "But after all, she was protected by the Chu family in Yi'an. What if she rescues Chu Mengchun?"
"Where is Chu Mengchun now?" Zhao Shu asked.
"There are soldiers guarding the government prison day and night."
Zhao Shu could only say: "Let me persuade her again. Lu Wangji is devoted to cultivating immortality and enlightenment. Apart from music, he has no worldly affairs. In the final analysis, Chu Mengchun treats her as a servant to protect the courtyard. It is really
I have underestimated this heir of Fengming Valley. Such a master should not be rashly an enemy of him. If we can make friends with him attentively, it will be a good relationship."
"I heard that when Mr. Zhao was in Xinglong County, he didn't forget to gather singers and dancers to hold a banquet for fun." Jiang Ru said with a sly look on her face and a smile in her words: "Is it possible that you have taken a fancy to this female violinist with delicate hands?"
Zhao Shu shook his head: "I don't have such intention. To be honest, Lu Wangji is in the mortal world and his heart is outside. People like me, who are wallowing in the world and full of filth, are not on the same path after all."
Looking at Zhao Shu's leaving figure, Jiang Ru stood there, dazed for a long time.
…
The tinkling sound of the piano stirred a pool of blue waves.
Zhao Miao walked along the embankment of the lake and saw hundreds of koi carp gathering in front of the waterside pavilion, wandering around in a formation.
As the governor of Qingyan County, Chu Mengchun not only made money but also overhauled the manor. This Bihu Manor was built by Chu Mengchun with huge sums of money, but now it serves as Zhao Shu's residence and office in Qingyan County.
Unlike Chu Mengchun who was detained in prison, Lu Wangji was not imprisoned but was ordered to stay in the manor and not allowed to leave.
The restriction on Lu Wangji was quickly broken by herself, but she did not choose to escape, but played the piano and played music at the waterside pavilion by the lake every day.
Zhao Mo did not dare to disturb her, but stood outside the waterside pavilion and listened attentively. Unknowingly, he was immersed in the mysterious artistic conception. It seemed that everything was silent, and even the sound of the piano was inaudible.
"The inner harp of the heart is caressed, and the rhyme penetrates the blue sky, and the womb immortal dances, and the spirit shines brightly." Lingxiao said: "Using the harp to enter the Tao is to seek harmony among the five inner beings, to make the nature pure and round, and to break through the mystery of the five colors and five tones.
"
"You also know Qin music?" Zhao Shu was slightly surprised. This Lingxiao Master seemed to know everything from the art of war to Qin music.
"The sounds of heaven and earth are also created by nature. You may gain something by making insinuations." Lingxiao replied.
"It's a pity that I don't have this kind of talent. I can't tell whether it's good or bad." As Zhao Shu sighed in his heart, the sound of the piano in the waterside pavilion stopped.
"Do you have something important, Marquis Zhenming?" Lu Wangji's voice came.
Zhao Shu coughed dryly and walked into the waterside pavilion, and responded casually: "It's nothing, I just happened to pass by here and heard the sound of fellow Taoist music, so I couldn't help but stop and listen."
"Marquis Zhenming didn't mean what he said." Lu Wangji held down the strings of his piano, and the koi fish dispersed in front of him.
"Ashamed." Zhao Shu said: "I have been hanging out in the Dongshengdu court for a while, and I have been stained with dust, making my fellow Taoists laugh."
"I wonder what Marquis Zhenming thinks of the song I just played?" Lu Wangji's words did not mean to test, but more like communicating with a close friend to confirm.
Zhao Shu didn't pay attention to the Yaoqin in front of Lu Wangji, but looked up and saw a clear pool of blue waves with clear bottom, shaded by weeping willows in the distance, and koi carps waving their tails as if they were swimming in the air, which made them feel uncomfortable.
"My fellow Taoist was just stroking the string, and the fish in the lake seemed to be forming formations at the sound?" Zhao Shu asked.
Lu Wangji made a slight hook, and the strings trembled slightly, and the sound was like waves, sweeping across the water. The pond full of koi fish heard the sound and moved, turning to Zhao Mi, as if paying homage.
"The people of Fengming Valley enter the Tao with the harp, and use the strings as a guide, and use this to mobilize the energy and form a formation." Lu Wangji seemed to have no intention at all, and said: "Playing the strings and playing music can make the listeners clear their minds.
, forgetfulness and worry can also frighten the seven emotions and destroy the liver and gallbladder. The fish swimming in the water are ignorant, and I give orders with the sound of the piano, just like the hook of a fishing line. This is not difficult."
Zhao Shu pondered for a long time and suddenly let out a long sigh. He squatted by the pond and stared at the koi and said, "Although these koi are kept here to be admired by others and are not as enjoyable as diving and floating in rivers, at least they can still swim in the shade of willows."
The leisurely atmosphere and the sound of fellow Taoists make them behave like ministers of a king, restraining their natural instincts."
As soon as he said this, Zhao Miao clicked his finger with a false bullet, triggering the water demon to break Lu Wangji's spell. The koi immediately jumped up and started swimming around in no order.
Lu Wangji looked at the pond full of koi carp pushing and shoving, splashing water, and some even landed on her skirt and Yao Qin.
However, Lu Wangji seemed to be sitting still in a daze, because she was wearing a curtain hat, and Zhao Shu couldn't understand her expression at the moment. He knew that she might have some enlightenment, so it was not easy to disturb her.
"Look at other people, they can understand something just by saying a few words." Zhao Shu scolded himself in his heart: "Don't let her practice go astray with the few random words I am so smart."
Lingxiao said: "If you can lead such a person who is obsessed with the Tao astray, you can be considered as capable. Lu Wangji realized after looking at the fish, not because your words are reasonable, but because the heat has come.
, it’s just a little bit of a chance. Your words happened to clear up her confusion, but they are of no use to you."
Zhao Shu said helplessly: "I just want to vent my frustration. I feel that even if I leave Dongshengdu, I still can't escape the dirty plots in the court."
"That's it." After a moment, Lu Wangji suddenly said: "Thank you very much, Marquis Zhenming, for your guidance!"
"It's not about giving advice, it's just a coincidence," Zhao Shu said.
Then she saw Lu Wangji clap his hands and the Yao Qin flew up. She also jumped up and plucked the strings with both hands. The surging energy condensed and turned into a mighty force as it descended.
With a loud blow, the sound of the piano broke through the lake embankment, and its power was still unabated. It plowed the ground into ditches and broke through the courtyard walls. For a while, bricks and tiles flew randomly.
Outside the courtyard wall, there happens to be a river in the city. The water from the lake gushes out along the gully opened by the sound of the piano, directly reaching the river. Several koi carp swim along the water through the gully, directly to the wider
The river canal is like entering a new world, feeling extremely at ease.
When other people in the manor heard the commotion, they all thought there was a fight and rushed over with weapons in hand. Zhao Shu waved them away without saying anything.
After the others left, Lu Wangji slowly fell down. Her hat and clothes were fluttering. Zhao Shu could sense that her cultivation was at the entry point, and the energy in her body was in urgent need of adjustment, so he said:
"Fellow Taoist, please go to the quiet room to retreat. Don't worry about other things."
Lu Wangji couldn't say anything, so he could only obey Zhao Shu's arrangement and come to a quiet room. Zhao Shu directly pasted a prohibition spell on the outside, not only to prevent outsiders from disturbing him, but also to become a relative and avoid questioning.
After dealing with the Colonel Cao Li who came to inquire, Zhao Shui returned to his courtyard and planned to pack his things. As soon as he entered the house, he saw Liang Tao in purple robe and jade crown, staring curiously at his spiritual iron order.
"You——!" Zhao Shu was startled by Liang Tao. He quickly closed the door and window, turned around and put a spell on his face.
"Are you so nervous?" Liang Tao raised his eyebrows and chuckled: "I'm not here to have an affair with you."
"Is it funny?" Zhao Shu retorted, then put the token away.
"If you don't carry this kind of magic weapon with you, but just leave it in the house, won't you be afraid of being stolen?" Liang Tao asked.
"I'm just waiting for someone to come and steal it!" Zhao Shu said bluntly: "If any fool reaches out to take it, be prepared to be hit by thunder!"
Zhao Shui has recently been refining the token when he opens the altar and performs rituals, which contains the power of thunder and arrows. Except for himself, anyone else who takes this spiritual iron token without permission will have a bad end.
"I haven't seen you for a while, and your schemes have become more sinister and vicious," Liang Tao said.
Zhao Shu said angrily: "Most of the ghosts and spirits in Qingyan County have disappeared. I can't find them, so I have to lure them to the door!"
"Who told you to cause such a big thing in Xinglong County?" Liang Tao said with his hands behind his back: "There are thunderous arrows to kill evil spirits and attack the temple. Is that the thunder method of the Yuxiao Sect? You didn't use his family's magic weapon.
It can also display such power of killing evil, which shows that the rituals and rituals of the officials of the Tianxia Dynasty really achieved the achievement of integrating various families and unifying the gods."
Zhao Shu stared at Liang Tao and said: "You came here in person, you are not here to talk about these gossips, right?"
Liang Tao lifted his robe and sat down, with a hint of complaint in his words: "The big commotion your Wu Kui Army made in Qingyan County caused a bunch of old guys to come to Difei Mountain to bother me every day, which made it very difficult for me to handle.
"
"Did you make a mistake, Sir? Wu Kuijun is not under my control." Zhao Shu said, "I am just performing my duties under General Wei."
"Obviously we were preparing to deal with the invasion of Jiuli Kingdom, but you ended up ransacking homes and demolishing temples." Liang Tao asked with a smile, "Are you so eager to force me to take action?"
Zhao Ming's expression was solemn: "When the Master of the State said this, he was really calm and relaxed. Not to mention the arrangements of the Lord of the State, the selection of the Dianzheng gods in various places in Qingyan County was done by your Chongxuan Hall in the past.
Controlled?
It would be fine if they were really blessed by the righteous gods of the people, but they are just a group of evil spirits who blackmail the people and seek misfortune. They also collude with officials from various places, plunder the people, and liaise with the enemy country. The National Master will judge, these
Should obscene worshipers and evil spirits be punished?!"