After discussing with Mr. Wu and making some arrangements, Zhao Shu returned to the guest room and Luo Xixian came up and said.
Zhao Miao smiled and said: "How about being like you and saying that you want to buy dragon blood fat? How could anyone do this like you?"
Xin Shunying was also in the guest room. She had listened to Luo Xixian's narration of what had just happened. She frowned and muttered: "But wouldn't this be too risky? We have just arrived in Xingluo County, and the manpower from other hotels has not yet arrived. According to the original arrangement, we should
We must first go to the government office to gather together to discuss the matter of suppressing the bandits."
Zhao Shu sat down and explained: "We just want to do something before the other offices and the imperial army arrive. You might as well think about it, the other offices don't know enough about the banditry in Xingluo County, but we can grasp the exact situation in advance.
.We can also intervene in how to suppress bandits in the future."
Xin Shunying asked: "Brother Zhao has different views on the imperial court's strategy for suppressing bandits?"
"Is it just relying on the army to push them all the way?" Zhao Shu shook his head: "Frankly speaking, the current situation in Xingluo County is probably no longer an ordinary bandit rebellion, but a civil uprising. The civilians have no way to survive.
It is inevitable that you will join the ranks of thieves and bandits."
Xin Shunying did not answer, and Luo Xixian said with a smile: "Master Zhao, you are really weird. Weren't you just so vicious and evil? Didn't you use the dead body pengju Gu to scare people? By the way, do you really know Jiuli?
Which lady Gu from the country? Is she pretty?"
"That's just to scare people! Where did the Gu insect come from in my hand?" Zhao Shu spread his hands and said: "As for the Gu lady, I met one by chance when I was a child. Anyway, I don't want to see her again."
"If you ask me, you shouldn't be so kind when dealing with this gang of thieves." Luo Xixian looked relaxed: "When the imperial army arrives, kill him, then single out the chief culprit and execute him in Lingchi, and the rest of the group will naturally
Be obedient."
Zhao Shu said helplessly: "The main force of the imperial court is also used to defend against the Xiong and Jiuli countries. How many of them can actually be sent to Xingluo County? If you do this, how many years and months will it take for the banditry to be quelled?
?”
Xin Shunying asked: "Does Junior Brother Zhao plan to suppress and appease at the same time?"
"It's not my turn to make a decision yet." Zhao Shu said: "But even if you are using troops on the battlefield, you still need to know the enemy's situation, right? How many people are there in Xingluo County's bandits now? What places do they occupy? Are they secretly communicating with local officials?
Where do they get their money, food, and soldiers? We know nothing about these things now, so do we have to suppress bandits like this? This is not how we do hunting in the wild!"
Luo Xixian sighed: "Master Zhao is our military advisor, listen to him, it's absolutely correct!"
"Stop wearing a high hat on me." Zhao Shu refused to accept this: "But it is not appropriate to publicize this matter at the moment, especially not to let the local officials in Xingluo County know about it."
"You still think the people here are untrustworthy?" Luo Xixian asked.
Zhao Shu sneered: "If nothing else, if the banditry is at this level, can I still trust them?"
I learned from Mr. Wu that Xingluo County was under the rule of Huaxu State, and the refugees who settled here did not actually have a good life for a few days. In addition to re-cultivating the abandoned land, they also had to face the tyranny of the county governor.
The mineral deposits in Xingluo County include more than just phosphorus stone. Panlong Mountain is rich in iron and metal stones. Many civilians were forcibly conscripted into labor by the county and died of exhaustion in the mines.
Therefore, Zhao Shu speculated that the banditry in Xingluo County was not caused by a single group of people from Tiejing Mountain, but a civil uprising caused by the lack of recuperation and long-term abuses after the war.
As for the matter in Chiyundu, Zhao Shui is not yet sure of the specific situation and must go there in person to find out the truth.
…
"This money was given to me by the official Zhao Fu."
In another guest room, Mr. Wu spread dozens of silver cakes on the table and looked around at the workers: "You guys understand what's going on. If you don't want to do it, I won't force you. I'll break up after taking the money."
The guys looked at each other, Scarface stared at the silver cake with gleaming eyes, but found that no one else made any move, he cleared his throat: "Ahem! Boss, are you really going to get involved with these gangsters of the imperial court?"
"Keep your mouth clean!" Boss Wu shouted in a deep voice: "People have already understood our situation clearly. They also understand the virtues of people in the government. If they are willing to spend money, then forget it.
You are easy to talk to. If you really make them angry, they will kill you and me directly, throw your bodies on the roadside, and sweep away a truckload of goods. We will have no way to redress our grievances!"
There was dead silence in the guest room. Boss Wu pushed the silver cake and said, "I won't take the money. I will take the goods to do business with them tomorrow, so you should not follow me."
A young man asked: "Boss, do they want you to die?"
Boss Wu rubbed his face: "Don't ask any more questions. I'll be back in half a month at most. If you want to wait, just wait here. If you don't want to wait, just take the money and leave. Don't go to Xingluo
The county has been waiting for a long time, there is going to be a war here."
Scarface looked around for a while, then raised his hand and picked up a few pieces of silver cake: "I'll listen to you, boss, and I'll wait here at the inn!"
Someone took the lead, and others followed suit, dividing all the silver cake on the table.
"Go to bed, I'll leave early tomorrow morning." Mr. Wu blew out the oil lamp and plunged the guest room into darkness.
…
Boss Wu was lying on the bed tossing and turning. He felt like he was back in his days in the army.
Ten years have passed since the Five Kingdoms War, but those memories are like imprints, deeply etched in my heart, and can be seen once I close my eyes.
The neat and dense military formation, with a forest of spears and halberds, and flags covering the sky, slowly advanced toward the front amidst the excited shouts of the soldiers.
Suddenly the earth shook, and a towering pottery figurine broke out of the ground. Mr. Wu found that he was not even as high as its knees.
The pottery figurine is holding a three-armed halberd, which looks like a horse-killing scythe hung on a palace beam, sweeping across the ground.
With just a slight wave, hundreds of soldiers in the front row of the army were killed in an instant. Boss Wu only saw the Sange Halberd bringing up a huge wave of blood, like a red banner hanging high in the army.
Comrades on the left and right sides ran away crying, trampling on each other for fear of falling behind. Boss Wu was stunned on the spot, just watching numbly as the huge pottery figurines reaped the lives of the robes.
When the pottery figurine came to Mr. Wu, he raised his feet and stepped down hard.
"Ho--"
Boss Wu woke up instantly. He didn't even scream loudly, but was covered in cold sweat and breathing heavily.
It was already dark outside the window. Boss Wu got up, wiped his face, put on heavy clothes and came to the stable, where he happened to see Zhao Shu.
"Zhao Fuli?"
At this time, Zhao Shui changed into an old leather jacket. He no longer looked like yesterday's green shirt with wide sleeves, Zhu Wen and white ribbon. His face seemed to be smeared with a layer of dust, and he looked like a wandering businessman.
"Can't sleep?" Zhao Shu glanced at Mr. Wu: "Three souls are restless, and they invite nightmares. It seems that people who have experienced the Five Kingdoms War may not be able to polish a strong heart."
Boss Wu didn't quite understand. Zhao Shu put his hands on his sleeves and asked, "Are you having a nightmare?"
The other party nodded in recognition, and Zhao Shu added: "It seems that what I said last night reminded you of your experience on the battlefield."
"Zhao Fuli is really... a clever strategist." Boss Wu smiled bitterly and said, "Is it possible that you can really see through the minds of the people?"
"I guessed it." Zhao Shu shrugged and smiled: "Don't worry, I don't like letting others die in vain. The money I gave you last night was just to help you settle the other guys, so that you don't have to worry too much."
Boss Wu was actually a little grateful, but he couldn't open his mouth. Zhao Shu took out a charm folded into a triangle and handed it to him: "Take it with you, don't lose it."
"This is..." Boss Wu took it carefully.
"Great blessing to control evil and calm the soul." Zhao Shu said: "It is commonly known as an amulet. You should bring it with you just in case."
Boss Wu stuffed the talisman into his arms and asked at the same time: "Could we really encounter some monster?"
"I hope not." Zhao Shu turned aside, and a dozen monks and swordsman guards, also dressed in old clothes and disguises, came to escort the carriage carrying dragon blood lipids out of the inn.
After careful consideration last night, Zhao Shu decided not to involve Boss Wu's other associates in this matter. Considering the possibility of a fight, these merchant associates were not strong enough to deal with powerful thieves and potential evil spirits, so it would be better to bring along a group of magic masters.
Among them were Luo Xixian and several southern swordsmen he recruited.
As for the Huaiyingguan convoy, it will stay at the inn for a few more days, and there is no need to rush to Yanze City, the county seat.
…
The carriage carrying dragon blood lipids traveled northwest deep into Xingluo County, but did not encounter any bandits or looters for four or five days.
To be more precise, I didn't meet many living people.
Zhao Shu and his party walked along the official road, eating and sleeping in the open, and finally came to a small town, where they found that the civilians either fled without a trace or were slaughtered. Most of the people killed were old people, women and children who had no time to escape, or they were stabbed to death.
On street corners, they were either stuffed into stoves and burned to death, or babies were stabbed and hung with spears, frozen into ice sculptures in the cold wind.
Food and money were even looted, and many houses were left with only burnt ruins. Scavenging wild dogs and crows ate in front of and behind the houses.
"The banditry in Xingluo County is more serious than I thought." Luo Xixian's face turned gloomy when he saw these scenes.
There was no joy, anger, sorrow, or joy on Zhao Shui's face. He fled with his grandfather when he was a child. He had seen rural markets and towns that had been plundered by insurgents, and the situation was often more tragic than now.
Compared with other monks of a similar age and who came from a wealthy family, Zhao Shu was used to seeing life and death in the world. Even someone like Luo Xixian, who had killed evil spirits with his own hands, felt sick to his stomach when he saw this miserable situation. In addition,
Several people were leaning against the wall and vomiting.
"Cultivators should not be close to corpses that are dirty and bloody, not only to prevent them from being contaminated by filth and turbidity, but also to prevent unclean scenery from damaging their peaceful state of mind." Lingxiao reminded: "Cultivation people cherish the physical body and regard it as a treasure raft to transcend the world.
If you contemplate uncleanness for a long time, you will easily develop a dislike for the human body, and you will annihilate yourself from the path of immortality."
Zhao Miao sighed helplessly: "But I have been used to seeing these things since I was a child. Am I really as cold and heartless as Wang Miaoshou said?"
"Not necessarily." Lingxiao said.
"Zhao Fuli." Boss Wu came over and whispered, "I've looked for him, but the contact manpower arranged by Chi Yundu is not here."
"When Chi Yundu came to you, did you mean to send dragon blood fat to this town?" Zhao Shu asked.
Boss Wu looked around vigilantly: "They said that the warehouse in the town has arranged contact personnel and will take us to other places for delivery. But they didn't expect this town...what should we do now?"
"The thieves plundered this place a few days ago, so it won't be too long." Zhao Shu didn't have many options at once: "Let's settle in the town tonight and see what happens."
Luo Xixian also came forward, and Zhao Shu could smell the alcohol on his body: "What? Can't stand it?"
"It's okay." Luo Xixian said reluctantly.
Zhao Shu consoled him: "Seeing so many dead people all at once makes me feel really uncomfortable. After all, this is not a battlefield. There is no fighting and shouting for each other, and there is no passion and courage. There is only violence and killing. There is not enough evil spirit, but there is no accumulation of resentment and filth.
Qian, you are sensitive to Qi movement, so it is inevitable that you will feel uncomfortable."
Luo Xixian stared at Zhao Mi and said, "I think you look normal."
Zhao Shu did not answer, but pondered for a moment: "I have an idea... you guys find some corpses."
"What are you going to do?" Luo Xixian was startled.
"Don't ask, just do as I say." Zhao Shu simply rolled up his sleeves, tore off the baby's body that was picked up by the spear, and placed it on the open space in the center of the town.
Not long after, seven or eight corpses were piled together in a nearby house. Zhao Shu said to Luo Xixian: "Keep an eye on the corpses and don't look around."
Luo Xixian knew that Zhao Shu's magic methods were endless, so he had to endure the discomfort in his heart and stared at the frozen body, while Zhao Shu next to him was chanting a curse in a low voice.
The sound of the curse lingered in his ears, and Luo Xixian was in a trance. He felt that his vision was gradually filled with corpses. The dead seemed to have come to life, with pale and ferocious faces facing him one after another, and they were rapidly decaying, emitting a pungent stench.
Just when Luo Xixian thought something had happened to the corpses, he heard a clear ringing sound in his mind, and then raging flames devoured all the corpses, completely burning everything that was filthy and unclean!
Luo Xixian was stunned in place, his face reflected red by the flames, as if the flames not only burned the body, but also burned away the filth and impurity in his heart.
Luo Xixian just stared at the flames until the corpse was burned down to white ashes, and the evil and unclean scene in his heart completely disappeared. The cold night wind blew the ashes nowhere to be found.
After exhaling all the turbid air in his chest, Luo Xixian felt peaceful and refreshed inside and outside his body and mind. He looked around in surprise and saw Zhao Shu sitting on a wooden pier beside him in a daze.
"What happened just now? Hey, why is it so dark?" Luo Xixian asked.
"You have been standing for almost two hours." Zhao Shu rubbed his stiff face and said, "You don't know much about thinking and thinking. This is the method of observing the fire burning the body. Practicing this method for a long time can quickly ward off evil spirits and gain insight.
"Gu Zang, I just made some changes. First, I used illusions to confuse your mind with the evil scenes, and then I burned the corpse with fire, successfully burning out all the unclean thoughts in your heart."