Wang Juncheng couldn't help but feel tired when he looked at the documents piled up on the table. He held his head up and kept it from drooping. His eyes were bloodshot. He picked up the tea bowl at hand and drank it into his mouth, only to realize that it was bitter and had already cooled down.
Tea.
The sulky Wang Juncheng almost smashed the tea bowl, but the thought came together and was quickly suppressed by fatigue.
According to the laws and regulations of Huaxu State, the chief of a county is mainly the county guard, and the county government is responsible for the responsibilities. Cao and other officials are all centered on the county guard. As a deputy, the county magistrate does not have much real power and usually only
When the county governor becomes ill, dies or becomes vacant due to other reasons, he temporarily takes charge of county affairs.
Since the county governor was assassinated by bandits a few months ago, the imperial court has not dispatched a new county governor. All affairs in the county have been placed on the shoulders of Wang Juncheng.
Normally, things would be fine, but now banditry is rampant in Xingluo County. Every three days, this county town is raided, that market town is plundered, and as for news about remote villages being slaughtered, Wang Juncheng files the documents at a glance.
Then ask the clerk to directly check off the population of a certain place in the household registration book.
Yanze City is the county seat. In order to prevent bandits from attacking again, the fortifications must be renovated. In addition, soldiers must be selected in the city, guns and clubs must be trained, and soldiers and armor must be prepared. The related expenditures for money and food are a large amount of money.
A month ago, the county government received news that the imperial court was going to dispatch a large army to Xingluo County to suppress the bandits. Wang Juncheng originally thought that he could finally relieve himself of the heavy burden, but when he heard that monks from various places were being sent to come, he almost spent the night before.
Spit out the tonic you drank.
As a local governor, Wang Juncheng deeply felt that the monks in the temple were not easy to serve. Although these people were not soldiers who disturbed the people's houses, they all came from a wealthy family, had a very high vision, and were proud of their status.
If these uncles are allowed to live in the post house, they will probably have to leave on the spot. Otherwise, it will leave them with the impression that they are "unfavorable in doing things" and "disrespectful of the envoy". In this way, Wang Juncheng's future career will be bright.
Well, it must be bleak.
Therefore, Wang Juncheng had to discuss with the local wealthy gentry and ask them to clean up the house and clean it inside and outside. As soon as the monks from the mansion arrived, he would immediately arrange for them to stay there.
At present, several groups of monks from the temple have arrived, and Wang Juncheng does not dare to relax at all. He has arranged the messengers. If these uncles have anything to ask for, even if they want his mother-in-law to play the piano with him, he will still send it.
Fortunately, the monks who have arrived so far are relatively easy to talk to, leaving only the Huaiying Pavilion and Chongxuan Pavilion who have arrived late.
"Sir." A scribe came over holding a document: "I just received news that Twelvelipu under the jurisdiction of Luzhu County was robbed by bandits, and dozens of people died."
Wang Juncheng rubbed his temples and said feebly: "Is it Luzhu County again? Ask the county magistrate there to come and tell me, is there any place in their country that has not been visited by thieves?"
"I'm afraid Magistrate Luzhu dare not leave the county seat." The clerk said with a wry smile.
Wang Juncheng didn't know that except for a few main city walls in Xingluo County, the wilderness in the wilderness was extremely dangerous. Not only were there robbers and bandits, but there were also monsters that appeared in broad daylight and attacked pedestrians on the road.
"Sir, if there is really no other way, why not invite the monks from the palace to come to the county to discuss the matter of suppressing bandits?" the scribe asked tentatively.
Wang Juncheng shook his head and waved his hands: "Don't count on it. These monks pride themselves on being noble, and we cannot rely on them to suppress bandits. Besides, I can't control them. I can only wait for the imperial army to arrive."
The scribe couldn't help but ask: "If this is the case, why does the court still spend a lot of money to support them?"
"Shh!" Wang Juncheng's eyes wandered and he quickly closed the unsealed window: "Are you going to die? These monks from the tavern are really powerful! I have personally seen them fly talismans to summon ghosts and spirits to send messages to others. Send a letter. Maybe someone is watching us right now!"
The scribe was too frightened to speak. At this moment, a government official rushed in: "Sir! The Huaiying Hall has arrived at the outskirts of the city!"
Wang Juncheng stood up in confusion: "Quick! Call all the people to greet you at the city gate, and I will go there too!"
The yamen servant was stunned for a moment. Wang Juncheng was about to change his clothes. Seeing him like this, he stamped his feet and said, "What are you doing standing here? Go!"
"There is one more thing." The yamen servant reported: "The people from Huaiying Hall reported that they caught two rebels on the road and hope that the county government will prepare a prison."
…
"Senior Sister Xin, what did you see?"
Outside Yanze City, the Huaiying Pavilion convoy took a break, and Zhao Shu found Xin Shunying who was climbing nearby to look up.
"We are not the first batch of people to come to Yanze City." Xin Shunying calculated with her fingertips: "Yunzhu, Jiangzhen, Feilian, and Mingxia Hall have arrived."
Zhao Shu asked: "So fast? I didn't see them at the Guandao Station."
"Xu boarded the ship from the southern seaport and came to Xingluo County along the coast." Xin Shunying said.
"Oh, this is more convenient." Zhao Shu said: "Feilian Guan is proficient in the art of wind control. They have annexes on islands on the sea specifically for collecting wind breath, so there are boats going back and forth."
Among the many pavilions in Huaxu Kingdom, only the Huaiying Pavilion is located in the north. The others are located in the south of Sanchuan. Some occupy quiet landscapes, where you can play the piano and sing the whistle, or face the sea, eat the glow and drink the wind. In short, in ordinary In the eyes of the common people, these monks are like a sect of immortals who are not close to the secular world.
"There's nothing big about these four families." Luo Xixian also came over: "The masters among them were seriously damaged in the Five Kingdoms War, and they haven't cultivated many powerful people in recent years."
"The Huaiying Pavilion was also damaged." Zhao Miao's expression was solemn. After all, monks like them were not transcendent people. During the Five Kingdoms War, each pavilion had to contribute people and efforts, and more or less suffered losses. Some pavilions suffered losses. There is even a gap in the intergenerational succession.
For example, in the Huaiying Hall, it is said that there is at least one generation between the first generation of young hall students, Zhang Duanjing and Zhao Shu, but as a result, more than half of these people died on the battlefield, and the rest died of injuries or illnesses in the past ten years. It's just like Shi Huoguang, although he has expertise, he can't hold a big responsibility.
Luo Xixian was much more calm: "Let me put it bluntly, except for Chongxuan Hall, I don't pay attention to the other ones at all."
Xin Shunying smiled delicately: "Master Luo seems determined to eliminate the bandits in Xingluo County?"
Zhao Shu smiled and said nothing, and Luo Xixian patted his chest: "We got a lot of key information from the two bandits we just captured. I can guarantee that Chongxuan Hall doesn't know as much as we do. The imperial army doesn't need it. Just a bunch of monks who only know how to fight and fight."
After the raid on Tangpen Mountain, Zhao Shu and his party did not encounter any bandits or bandits on their way back to the inn. They were safe and sound, and then set off for Yanze City.
Along the way, Zhao Shu interrogated Ding Maocai and the big black man frequently. In addition to learning that Chi Yundu had a general helm in Panlong Mountain, he also found out the general situation of the banditry in Xingluo County.
Luo Xixian was very impressed by Zhao Mi's arrangement, but Xin Shunying was a little dissatisfied: "You two are happy, but you left the rest of us at the inn. Don't you think there's anything wrong?"
Luo Xixian glanced at Zhao Mi and signaled for him to answer.
"Now I have come to my senses." Zhao Shu said with some shame: "Luo Xixian and I were in a serious relationship, and we really shouldn't have left at the same time. If one person is out to suppress bandits and monsters, one person must stay behind to guard the rear."
Xin Shunying said: "This is not simply about the difference between inside and outside, but someone has to have the final say. If you two run away together, if you fall into enemy lines at the same time, I won't be able to gather people's hearts."
"That's not true." Luo Xixian said with a playful smile: "With Senior Sister Xin's majestic demeanor, others will naturally respect her."
Xin Shunying said bluntly: "I don't have such thoughts and energy. Don't let me take care of things in the future. It's obviously the first test for you two, but you insist on dragging me down."
"What do you mean?" Luo Xixian asked.
"Are you still asking me?" Xin Shunying looked displeased: "The rest of us can see clearly that the first one intends to cultivate you two. One of you will definitely take over the Huaiying Pavilion in the future, and the other will serve in the imperial court."
Luo Xixian scratched his chin: "Is it so obvious? I thought I was quite strict... Master Zhao, could it be that you were the one who tipped off our Miss Xin?"
Zhao Shu asked back: "Even if I don't say anything, do you think there is anything you can hide from Miss Xin?"
"That's right!" Luo Xixian nodded heavily.
Xin Shunying looked at them and laughed angrily: "You two are making fun of me?"
Zhao Shu quickly said: "Senior Sister Xin, please calm down. However, it is better not to say too much to outsiders when it comes to testing the two of us. And this time, it mainly depends on the performance of the Great Sword Immortal Luo."
"I see." Xin Shunying frowned in thought and looked at the city gate with a feeling: "The people from the county are here."
When Wang Juncheng put on his official uniform and led dozens of county officials to the outside of the city gate, he saw two monks coming towards him. They quickly informed each other of their names and inspected the seals and talismans.
"Master Wang, this is the current situation of the banditry that we asked from the bandits. Please read it." Luo Xixian handed an official document to the other party, and at the same time motioned to Ding Maocai and the black man who were tied up in the carriage behind: "We are also bringing the bandits.
Already."
Not to mention how excited Wang Juncheng was, this was the rare good news in several months: "Okay, okay! I would like to thank everyone at Huaiying Hall on behalf of the people of Xingluo County. Arrangements have been made in the county jail and the person will be escorted there immediately.
"
Zhao Shu reminded from the side: "That bald bandit is a monk with magical power, so he must be strictly guarded."
"Oh?" Wang Juncheng became interested. This was the first time he had to imprison monks as he took office. He said: "There is a well prison left by the Tianxia Dynasty in the county. It was specially set up to imprison monks and strangers. It has been abandoned for a long time.
,I don’t know…”
Zhao Shu thought for a while: "There should be a prohibition spell from the Tianxia Dynasty in the prison, and I can try to strengthen it."
Wang Juncheng almost couldn't keep the smile on his face. He immediately arranged for a scribe to show Zhao Shui the way, and then he personally led Luo Xixian and Huaiyingguan and his party to the place of stay.
…
Following the clerk to the prison next to the county government, Zhao Shu found that some of the walls were still made of the standard blue bricks from the Tianxia Dynasty. The prison walls were high and thick, and the layout was strict. Listening to the clerk's explanation along the way, this prison was the site of a civilian invasion.
At that time, it was also used as a fortress.
The Well Prison, located in the northwest corner of the prison, looked like a few ordinary wells from the outside, with some waste and debris piled around it. The scribe quickly asked the yamen to clean it up.
Zhao Shu came to the edge of the well prison and activated the Yingxuan Photo Scenery Technique to lean over and take a look. This special prison was an invention of the Tianxia Dynasty. The inner wall of the well was built tightly with green bricks refined in the Danding furnace.
The bottom is a hub of a forbidden formation, which can absorb the energy of the imprisoned monks. All spells will be absorbed in the prison, which in turn strengthens the restriction.
"This is Jiuquan Prison." Lingxiao said coldly.
Zhao Shu paid attention to the dark green light that remained motionless in the well: "Do you recognize it?"
"Although it is incomplete, we can still get a glimpse of the mystery." Lingxiao said: "The so-called Jiuquan Prison is a profound forbidden method to control ghosts and spirits. The Nine Prisons are numerous and powerful. They can even move mountains.
Overturning the sea, thousands of ghost kings and demon lords under his command can go down to mountains and forests, water ghosts in rivers and lakes, corpses lying in ancient tombs, and old spirits of defeated armies. They can all capture the forbidden locks and even activate the power of killing to wipe out the form and traces."
Zhao Shu was stunned for a moment after hearing this: "So powerful? Do you know how to be imprisoned in Jiuquan?"
"No." Lingxiao poured a basin of cold water down, extinguishing Zhao Mi's newly ignited enthusiasm: "If you want to build these nine prisons, in addition to having the cultivation realm to achieve immortality, you also need to be able to connect with the Taoist laws of heaven and earth.
.Since the person who built the prison has ascended to the throne, he should also be with him from beginning to end and share the same spirit. In my opinion, the establishment of the nine prisons is a grand structure, but it also loses freedom."
Zhao Shu speculated carefully: "You mean, if Jiuquan Prison is established, you will be locked in it?"
"No." Lingxiao sighed: "If the Jiuquan Prison can really be built, it will transform the foundation of the immortal family, and thus it will become an immortal and a god. In terms of magical power alone, it will have the power to encompass everything in the world, and I can't compare it with it.
."
"I understand." Zhao Shu's thoughts changed: "It's like a country's court setting up criminal laws. If it is really fair and strict, then those who legislate cannot escape punishment if they break the law."
Lingxiao was silent for a moment and said: "This is indeed the truth."
"What do you mean, Jiuquan Prison was not built in the past?" Zhao Shu asked.
"If the Jiuquan Prison can really be built, do you still need to deal with the monsters and evil spirits in this world?" Lingxiao said: "That was just the grand vision of several immortals in ancient times, and what you see now is their legacy.
Ze, it is at best a ban on ordinary magic, and it no longer has the power it once had."
"It's not unusual for the Tianxia Dynasty to find the inheritance of the ancient immortal family. It's almost just a close call, as long as it works." Zhao Shu carefully sensed the spirit of the forbidden formation, took out the Qingxuan pen and made a few strokes there.
After spending a long time, Zhao Shu finally figured out the secret of the restriction. Then he collected some evil energy from the prison, drew a circle on the edge of the well, and added two more charms, and the restriction that had been dormant for many years was reactivated.
"Okay!" Zhao Miao looked excited. He saw the scribes and government officials on the left and right were drowsy and woke up from his voice.
"Put him in." Zhao Shu looked at Ding Maocai, who had a look of hatred on his face: "Just reflect on it down below. When you formally go to court for trial in the future, if you can repent, you might be able to save your life."