When Zhao Shu followed the army back to Yanze City, he could see a huge gap in the northern city wall from a distance. Most of the nearby towers had collapsed, and the government officials were repairing it in a hurry.
"The bandits are really coming to attack Yanze City?" Zhao Shu saw Wang Juncheng directing the repair of fortifications outside the city and hurriedly patted his horse and asked.
"Zhao Fuli? What are you..." Wang Juncheng saw Zhao Shu walking out of the army returning to the city, and he immediately understood: "I asked you why you suddenly went into seclusion. It turned out that you were following the army to rescue Mr. Luo?"
Zhao Shu dismounted and handed over his hand: "There is no way, the military intelligence chief is keeping it secret."
"It's clear, it's clear, Zhao Fulian doesn't need to say more to me."
"What's going on?" Zhao Shu pointed at the gap in the city wall: "Is it possible that the bandits brought in a flying stone machine to attack the city?"
Wang Juncheng smiled bitterly and said: "That's not true. There were not many bandits attacking the city the day before yesterday, but there were several demons among them. They used magic to easily climb over the city wall, sneak into the city, and go straight to the mansion where Chongxuan Hall stayed. The monks from both sides fought with each other.
They were beaten to a pulp. Later, Mr. Liang personally took action, summoning the immortal generals to come and force those monsters back with one sword strike."
"Oh, that's it." Zhao Shu looked at the gap in the city wall. The widest part at the top was about more than ten feet: "Could it be that this was not the work of the bandits and monsters, but the immortal general of Mr. Liang..."
Wang Juncheng looked extremely helpless, nodded and said: "Yes, the immortal general only swung his sword, and half of the residential houses in the street were wiped out. His remaining power was not reduced, and he tore such a hole in the city wall. Fortunately, those demons were killed by the immortal general.
The generals will be frightened away, and the bandits outside the city will disappear without a trace."
Zhao Shu swallowed his saliva. He had indeed heard that Liang Shuo of Chongxuan Hall had been protected by immortal generals since his birth because of his immortal blood. He originally thought that no matter how powerful this immortal general was, he could at most isolate ghosts and monsters.
I didn't expect that the invasion would be so powerful, breaking down city walls and razing houses at every turn.
"Is this the true strength of General Falu?" Zhao Shu secretly asked Lingxiao.
"This may not always be the case." Lingxiao explained: "The officials and generals under the immortal's control are not randomly set up, but are based on the immortal family's Taoist laws, town palaces, and combined energy numbers. Each has its own place. It is similar to the officials of the human state.
A leader can either rule one side or unify the army. Just like this Wang Juncheng, can he use troops to kill more skillfully than General Wei?"
"Of course not, it's just that each one has his own appointment according to his ability." Zhao Shu roughly understood: "It seems that Mr. Liang, the protector of the immortal general, is proficient in killing, but he is not very particular about what he does, and he has torn down his own city wall."
Zhao Mo vaguely saw the ruined rubble behind the gap, and asked Wang Juncheng: "So many houses were destroyed by immortal generals, where are the people living in them?"
Wang Juncheng shook his head and sighed: "More than a hundred people have died, and now we can only build some temporary shacks, which is better than nothing."
"Master Liang didn't say anything?" Zhao Shu asked.
"No." Wang Juncheng frowned: "I just hope that he will be more cautious next time. If a big fight breaks out in the city, it will only cause innocent people to suffer."
…
"You are finally back!"
When Shi Huoguang saw Zhao Shu and others returning, he finally let go of his heavy heart and hurriedly opened the door to welcome them in. Many monks, including Luo Xixian, were injured and needed to arrange quiet rooms for cultivation.
But before everyone in Zhao Mi could take a break, a guest came to the door.
"I am Liang Zhongwei, the Sanqing of Chongxuan Hall. By order of my eldest son, you are required to leave Tiegong Temple before sunset today."
The visitor was sitting on the chariot, looking very proud, holding a gold-plated invitation in his hand: "Also, who among you is Zhao Shu? My eldest son invites you to come over."
"That's me." Zhao Shu went out to greet him, but did not accept the invitation. He raised his hand and asked, "I don't understand. This is the residence arranged by the county government for our Huaiying Pavilion. Why does Chongxuan Pavilion want us to leave?"
Liang Zhongwei looked contemptuous: "Just leave as soon as I ask you to leave. Where is all this nonsense?"
Before Zhao Mian could answer, Luo Xixian heard the noise and rushed out immediately: "Don't be too overbearing in Chongxuan Hall!"
Liang Zhongwei sneered a few times: "Luo Xixian, look at how embarrassed you are. You led a troop out of the city in a self-righteous way. As a result, more than half of it was lost, and you almost fell into it. If General Wei hadn't allocated additional personnel to rescue you, you would have become a
The souls of those who died under the knife of thieves."
Luo Xixian had just finished applying the medicine, and his arm was still tied with a wound cloth. He had secretly regretted being surrounded by bandits, but now that he was ridiculed by Liang Zhongwei, anger suddenly rose in his chest.
"Where's my sword? Bring my sword!" Luo Xixian raised his hand and pulled it out, only to realize that he had forgotten to bring out his sword. He was so angry that he yelled at Shi Huoguang behind him, and the other party had to go back and get the sword.
Liang Zhongwei, who was sitting upright on the chariot, tilted his face and looked casual: "Luo Xixian, I advise you to be more cautious. If you follow Qiu Ba's temper and go against our Chongxuan Hall, be careful that the banditry in Xingluo County has not been wiped out. You
A letter from father telling you to go back."
Luo Xixian took the sword from Shi Huoguang and drew it angrily. Zhao Shu raised his hand to stop him: "Don't be fooled! He is deliberately provoking you to do it. If you hurt him, it will be troublesome!"
"I still don't believe it!" Luo Xixian pushed Zhao Mi away and pointed his sword at Liang Zhongwei: "You are such a arrogant guy, do you really think I won't do anything? I will chop off your head and give it to that unmanly man.
Look at the ungrateful Liang Shuo!"
Zhao Shu felt the sword energy in front of him surge, and his eyes were stinging and it was difficult to open his eyes. Before he could stop him, Luo Xixian jumped up and the sword energy split into the air.
Even if a swordsman like him is injured, his body and muscles are far superior to those of ordinary people. On the way back, Luo Xixian also recovered a little. However, since he was trapped in the Sanniu Pit, he has been depressed. At this moment, Chongxuan Hall came to provoke him, making Luo Xixian never again.
Unable to bear it, the violence in his chest poured out along with the sword energy, turning into the strongest move in "Canglang Xiefeng Chapter"——
The decisive battle eastward!
Zhao Shu only heard a piercing sword cry, followed immediately by the sound of wood and rocks shattering and falling to the ground.
When he opened his eyes again, there was a sword mark several feet long on the ground outside the courtyard gate, which split Liang Zhongwei's body into two halves. The chariot under him was torn into pieces. Four attendants carrying the chariot were also affected by the sword energy and died.
on the spot.
A large pool of blood spread all over the floor with the sword energy, like a bright red splash-ink painting.
The scene suddenly fell into dead silence, leaving only Luo Xixian's heavy breathing.
"oops……"
Zhao Shu was the first to react and sat on the threshold as if he was completely helpless. At this moment, he could no longer care about any taboos.
"Luo Da Sword Immortal, are you crazy?" Zhao Shu's face scrunched up.
"Don't call me that!" Luo Xixian turned around and shouted.
Zhao Shu was stopped by these words, his face looked shocked at first, and then he turned angrily: "I'm asking why are you so crazy?! Even if you don't like the people in Chongxuan Hall, you won't kill him with a sword.
Bar?!"
"He was the one who provoked me first!" Luo Xixian pointed to the bloody and broken corpses on the ground: "People are already bullying me, so why are you talking nonsense?"
"No -" Zhao Shu felt extremely anxious and was spinning in circles: "This is not a life-and-death battlefield, so what's the point of killing him?!"
"That's because Liang Zhongwei didn't fight him!" Luo Xixian retorted: "Since he dares to come and make provocations, he must be prepared to bear his anger. He, a casual minister, can't even catch my sword, so why are he talking nonsense?"
After hearing this, Zhao Shu could hardly close his mouth: "What kind of fallacy is this? His virtue is not worthy of his place. Even if you want to teach him a lesson, it is enough to break his legs and feet. Why do you want to kill someone?"
Luo Xixian suddenly became serious: "Zhao Shu, who is in charge here at Huaiying Hall?"
Zhao Shu was silent for a moment, and his face became a little bitter: "It's you."
"In that case, don't refute my decision!" Luo Xixian's eyes widened angrily: "I killed Liang Zhongwei, and it's not your turn to make accusations. Chongxuan Hall is going to cause trouble. Do you really think I will be afraid of them?"
Zhao Miao had thousands of words in his heart, but they were all stuck in his throat and could not come out. He left Tiegong Temple dejectedly.
…
In the county government office, both Wang Juncheng and General Wei had gloomy faces.
"Now both adults know it." Zhao Shu sat aside, rubbing his eyebrows and feeling worried: "I really can't do anything about this matter. I don't know what Chongxuan Hall will think."
General Wei looked at Wang Juncheng and said to him: "Chongxuan Hall has collected the body, but he didn't say much. But I don't quite understand, doesn't Liang Zhongwei have any ability to protect himself?"
"Lord Wang, I don't know something." General Wei explained: "Nowadays, conferring religious titles to the monks in the temple is not entirely based on the cultivation of skills or the accumulation of merit. Sometimes, as long as the monks have a generous letter, some temples can even
To confer the Dharma Book to ordinary people who have no cultivation. I guess Liang Zhongwei doesn’t have much ability. When faced with Mr. Luo’s anger and drawing his sword, he naturally couldn’t resist.”
Wang Juncheng had a weird expression: "You can get a Dharma urn with a lot of Dharma letter? Isn't this the same as selling your official position and getting a title?"
General Wei's eyes evaded: "Master Wang has been in Xingluo County for a long time, but he didn't know that this matter has become a trend in Dongsheng Capital. If you want to make friends with those ministers who seek Taoism, you have to do this. Even I, the general, have given you the gift."
"Oh?" Wang Juncheng asked, "What kind of title will General Wei be awarded?"
"Xuandu Zhenshi slayed the evil envoy in nine days." General Wei couldn't help but feel embarrassed when he said this: "It is a newly established dharma position in Chongxuan Hall. I don't understand it, but I enshrine the dharma letter because of its high reputation.
"
Zhao Shu then said: "After the Five Kingdoms War, Chongxuan Hall felt that the system of the Chongxuan Temple was a little crude, so in addition to Fu Li San Qing, a new set of nine-level immortal ranks were compiled, and they were based on the immortal system.
Xue Yin, family origin is the standard to distinguish high and low."
"Ah? Can it still be like this?" Wang Juncheng asked: "Can cultivation matters depend on one's origin?"
Zhao Miao spread his hands and said: "The ancestors of the four major families of Chongxuan Hall really have some people who became immortals. The two adults have also seen what Mr. Liang is capable of. But this trick of Chongxuan Hall is not all
Everyone admits it.”
In fact, the most fierce opposition to the Nine-Rank Immortal Order was the Huaiying Pavilion. The first Zhang Duanjing went to Dongshengdu many times to meet with the king and state his interests, which made it difficult for the new system established by Chongxuan Pavilion to be implemented nationwide and was limited to Dongsheng.
The fashion of pursuing Taoism among the powerful officials inside and outside Shengdu.
Zhao Shu is really not interested in the intrigues of these big shots. If the legal status can be awarded to ordinary people with no practice because of their rich legal faith, then their own sacred dignity will be out of the question, and it has become a means of making money.
.
"Let's not talk about this for now." General Wei said: "Master Luo killed the Liang family's children in Chongxuan Hall. I can't hide it here even if I want to. We still need to discuss countermeasures as soon as possible."
Wang Juncheng did not want to cause any more trouble on his own territory: "Master Luo's father is the chief minister of the dynasty, why not... let him go home to avoid the limelight for a while?"
"I think so too." General Wei said: "But...it was Da Sima who recommended me to the king to come to Xingluo County to suppress bandits."
Wang Juncheng secretly cursed in his heart. In the final analysis, Da Sima was using the Xingluo County bandit suppression to pave the way for the future career of his heirs. However, in Wang Juncheng's view, Mr. Luo was eager for quick success and short-sightedness, and had a violent temper, impulsiveness, and short-sightedness.
It is not as good as Zhao Fu who can handle things and is easy to get along with.
Zhao Shu listened to what General Wei said and probably understood the recent changes in Luo Xixian's mood. As a concubine, he had a low status in the family. He thought that when he came to Xingluo County, he could make achievements on his own and break away from the protection of his father and family. In the end, he still
It's about being in it.
"I'm going to talk to Mr. Luo." General Wei slapped his thigh: "Since he is a general, he should know the laws and prohibitions in the army and put an end to private fights. Let Mr. Luo be temporarily under my command, and we can avoid some unnecessary
The trouble. As for the Chongxuan Hall..."
Wang Juncheng reluctantly replied: "I will do my best. As for whether Mr. Liang is willing to see me, it's hard to say."
Zhao Shu said: "Originally Chongxuan Hall sent Liang Zhongwei to invite me, but I don't know why."
Wang Juncheng reacted immediately: "Isn't this a blatant attempt to drive a wedge between you and Mr. Luo? This move by Chongxuan Hall is too sinister!"
"I have figured it out now." Zhao Shu sighed: "In the worst case, I will go back to the Huaiying Pavilion and continue to study the techniques. When it comes to suppressing bandits, I will not be too much if I am more, and I will be less if I am less."
"No! You can't leave!" Wang Juncheng and General Wei stood up together.
Wang Juncheng said: "There are still two thieves and demons in the prison next to the county government. The prison is restricted and only you, Zhao Fu, are willing to take care of it. There are also many wealthy gentry and big families who have learned that Zhao Fu has a house-holding talisman.
If I can't find you, I'll ask you for it."
General Wei said angrily: "Thousands of my soldiers are still looking forward to the talisman to protect themselves. Now the whole battalion knows that the golden armor talisman is efficacious. If you leave, how can those soldiers still be willing to fight for their lives?"
"It's not that exaggerated." Zhao Shu muttered: "At worst, I will teach the corresponding spells and spells to others. I am not the only one who can do these things, and it won't be difficult."
Wang Juncheng stamped his feet and said: "Zhao Fuli, Brother Zhao! Don't you understand? The other monks are used to sitting back and having nothing to worry about. How can they be willing to work with such sincerity as you? Without you taking the lead, the people at Huaiying Hall may not be able to take over!"
General Wei also said: "You have known Mr. Luo longer than we have, and you can see that he is only good at killing in battle, but suppressing bandits is not just about killing."
"But..." Zhao Shu couldn't help but suspect that it was because he was too "serious in his work" and stole the limelight that he and Luo Xixian became increasingly estranged.
Wang Juncheng interrupted: "I have an idea. Didn't the imperial court send a monk to stay in the county before? I just have this vacancy here. Zhao Fu, please come to take over. The bandit suppression is urgent, so we will make a slight contingency. No need.