It is the beginning of spring, Xingluo County is located in the north, and the river has not completely thawed. However, from the county government office to the camp in the west of the city, everyone is busy, in order to plant in the counties and villages along the Inland Sea before sowing in the spring.
The thieves and bandits were driven out.
After all, if people want to eat, they have to work and cultivate. If banditry spreads throughout Xingluo County and the spring planting is delayed, the harvest of Xingluo County will be greatly reduced in the next year. Even if the court and neighboring counties can allocate food, but
Who can guarantee long-term stability? Maybe more people will join the ranks of thieves and bandits just for a bite to eat.
If a greater famine breaks out as a result, an unstoppable civil uprising will follow. By that time, the banditry will only become more and more serious, and Xingluo County will be in a state of decay and will be completely hopeless.
After experiencing the battle of Sanniukeng and the bandits' raid on Yanze City, General Wei steadily advanced to ensure the stability of the six existing counties and encircled and suppressed a small number of bandits twice, without pursuing a major victory.
After the Xingluo County bandits spent the winter, their various looting operations seemed to have slowed down a lot. General Wei analyzed that perhaps various counties and villages had been plundered, and with a whole winter of fighting, the bandits also needed to repair themselves.
At the same time, the news that the 20,000-strong bandit-suppressing army had no pay spread throughout the government and the public, setting off a fierce storm. Thousands of people in Dongsheng capital were talking about it, and various rumors poured out - some said that the Xiong Kingdom was eyeing it, and the imperial court needed heavy troops.
Beware of foreign enemies; some say that nobles from aristocratic families embezzled military pay in order to build gardens; others say that Huaxu Kingdom has no available soldiers and is like a broken house that will collapse with just one hard kick.
As the butterfly that fanned the storm, Zhao Ming had no consciousness of being the instigator, or in other words, he never felt that he really had much influence. How could the nobles in the court not fight back and forth? The situation had already been tit for tat, even without Zhao.
Damn, this storm is doomed to be inevitable.
Zhao Shu has restrained himself a lot these days. He goes to the school grounds every few days to set up an altar to practice armor-plate talismans. The soldiers are accustomed to it and no one is watching anymore. He also often goes in and out of the county jail, trying to get the words from the Chiyundu monks.
More news came out, and at the same time a batch of house-holding talismans were sent to Wang Juncheng to be distributed to the rich gentry and important places in the city to prevent evil spirits. When I returned to the small courtyard in the east of the city every day, instead of consecrating talismans with Shi Huoguang and others,
Refining the elixir powder means concentrating on practicing in the room.
As for the fox demon maid next to Liang Shuo, Zhao Shuo, apart from taking extra precautions, did not intend to reveal the news to the public for the time being.
Luo Xixian's previous scoldings were very unpleasant, but Zhao Shui also had his own concerns. Mr. Liang had sent his subordinate fox demon to disturb the altar, which had already made Zhao Shui wary of him. However, except for himself, no one could help testify against the fox demon.
Origin. If revealed in a hurry, it may not severely damage the reputation of Chongxuan Hall.
Zhao Shu did not have a good impression of the children of the aristocratic families in Chongxuan Hall, but he did not show it to others like Luo Xixian. Even his teacher Zhang Duanjing never broke into a fight with Chongxuan Hall. If he relied on his passion, there would be nothing
Strategic shouting and killing may not shake the status of Chongxuan Hall.
However, after the Jiutian Yuntai of Chongxuan Pavilion was placed in Tiegong Temple, he continued to live his life behind closed doors and did not continue to advance.
Lingxiao had foreseen this a long time ago, and she even expected that the Liang family's children would not be able to use all the magical functions of Jiutian Yuntai. The magic weapon of the Immortal family does like to be pure and hates turbidity, but it will not lose its magical effect if it is contaminated with a little dirt from the world.
"It seems like there isn't much of a problem?" Zhao Shu just went out to do some errands, holding a box of prescriptions in his hands. He happened to pass by Tiegong Temple and secretly activated the Yingxuan illumination technique while listening to Lingxiao's narration:
"You don't understand. The magic weapons of the Immortal family are not the armor-shaped charms you opened the altar to enlighten. After they are cast, the charm dissipates and needs to be re-sacrificially performed. The magic weapons refined by the Immortal family are often unique and complete, just like ordinary people. When you come, you will know that by breathing and eating, the magic weapon of the Immortal Family can breathe out the pure air and attract the three lights. Even if the vitality of the air is worn away, it can be restored on its own."
Zhao Shu asked: "In this case, there is nothing wrong with looking for a blessed earthly place where pure Qi accumulates to maintain the magic weapon."
"Not necessarily." Lingxiao reminded: "The pure Qi of blessed land also has its own nature. Jiutian Yuntai is more suitable to be placed on the top of a high mountain to catch the clouds and gather the wind, rather than trying to connect the legacy of the mountain gods and earth."
Zhao Shu had already walked away, and at the end he glanced at Tiegong Temple: "I also find it strange. The Immortal General Falu and the Mountain God are not the same thing, right?"
"If an immortal rides down a magic urn to serve as an official, if he can live in the cave for a long time, he will naturally be formed by the pure Qi of the immortal spirit." Lingxiao said: "The mountain gods and earth are different. Even the true spirit of the mountain formed by the pure Qi, after experiencing After offering blood food in the world, it is also contaminated with the filth of the world. Unless it is refined and enlightened by an immortal, it is difficult to reach the cave. Even if you live in the world for a long time and are greedy for blood food, it will turn from pure to turbid, and from the mountains and rivers gods who shelter you, you will become filthy. Not a good and evil god."
Zhao Shu nodded secretly: "I have heard about this. Kunlun Continent has always had many mountain gods and river gods who forced the people to worship, gathered together a group of monsters and evil spirits, and proclaimed themselves emperors and generals. However, the Tianxia Dynasty vigorously eradicated a group of prostitutes back then. In order to worship the evil gods, we also consecrated a group of rituals to worship the righteous gods, and Tiegong Temple is one of them."
During these days, Zhao Mian went in and out of the county government office, spent some time reading the local chronicles of the Tianxia Dynasty that have been preserved to this day, and learned that the Tiegong Temple was enshrined in a rather special mountain god.
Panlong Mountain is tall and vast, with abundant metal and mineral deposits. One of the iron ore veins gave birth to an iron and stone spirit by chance. After the iron and stone spirit became aware of the people, it did not cause any trouble, but occasionally gave directions to the Orion woodcutter who had lost his way in the mountain. Road, gradually spread the reputation.
Later, when the Tianxia Dynasty wiped out the obscene priests in Xingluo County, several demons hid in Panlong Mountain and bumped into the iron and stone spirit. They were planning to steal its pure gold energy and refine it into a magic weapon. Who would have expected that this iron and stone spirit could kill more than one enemy? Without any damage, he also killed all the evil spirits.
This matter was learned by the monks of the Tianxia Dynasty. After reporting it to the emperor, they issued an edict to confer this iron and stone monster as "Iron Lord", guard Panlong Mountain, and be fed with incense and blood forever.
After Tiegong was enthroned as a mountain god, he remained as pure and honest as ever, and even pointed out many undiscovered shallow mineral veins to the world. This made Xingluo County once the most abundant place for gold, silver, copper and iron in the Tianxia Dynasty. In the folk market, there is even a common name of "Iron God of Wealth".
It can be said that Tiegong, a mountain god who was awarded the title of Master of Hardware, is very different from the Qingling general in the fairy family's magic urn. The two have very different auras. Zhao Shuo still can't figure out the true intention of Liang Shuo's move.
Returning to the small courtyard in the east of the city, Zhao Shu handed the wooden box in his arms to Shi Huoguang: "Here are the five stacks of Yingzhi powder from Yunzhu Pavilion. Are the Jinghua water ready?"
The so-called Jinghua water is the first bucket of water drawn from the well at sunrise in the morning. Because the life of heaven and earth comes into being at sunrise, Jinghua water contains subtle qi, which is also very useful for preparing Dan powder bait. .
Shi Huoguang gestured to a large vat behind him. Zhao Shu nodded, calmed down physically and mentally for a moment, raised his eyes to look at the sun in the east, pointed at the empty book, opened and closed his lips slightly, and recited the mantra:
"The water of Taiyi flows towards the divine light, cleanses the five treasures and puts them into the cyst. All diseases are cured and evil ghosts die, and the heaven and earth unite the body to become light and strong..."
Recite the mantra seven times and mouth it forty-nine times. Finally, a stream of yang and true energy condenses in your mouth, and is blown into the water along the sword-fingered talisman.
At this time, Shi Huoguang also poured some five-layer Yingzhi into powder into the jar. Zhao Shu pointed from a distance, and the water in the jar swirled and stirred, and a hazy five-color light gas emerged.
Zhao Miao scooped up a ladle of water and drank it, then nodded: "Yes, it can relieve muscle and bone fatigue and cure cold and heat miscellaneous diseases. With these five stacks of Yingzhi powder, it can also drive out the nine insects in the body and the filth accumulated in the abdomen. Hurry up."
Put it in a bamboo tube, the county government officials will come to your door soon."
Recently, in Yanze City, there has been an increase in the number of people getting sick due to the changes in yin and yang between heaven and earth, cold and heat. It is not a serious disease, but there are rumors that it is the evil spirits in Panlong Mountain that spread the disease into Yanze City.
Even if the county government caught the person who spread the rumors in time, it could not stop the rumors from spreading.
Nowadays, there are not enough Chinese doctors in Yanze City, so Wang Juncheng came forward to ask various bureaus to help, either by giving elixirs and talisman water, or by opening altars to pray for blessings. In short, the top priority was to stabilize the people's morale and the military's morale.
Although there is no limit to the techniques taught by the temples, they also have their own specialties. The Jiangzhen Hall is proficient in the rituals of the mandala, so these days they often hold banners and flags around the city, play and sing, and it is very lively.
As for Yunzhu Pavilion, which focuses on taking pills, Wang Juncheng originally hoped that they would bring out some pills, just to show off, but they turned out to be secretive. It was Zhao Shu who went out in person to take out a string of Han Guang.
Zhu exchanged this box for five stacks of Yingzhi powder and prepared the cursed water.
Zhao Shu watched the government officials leave the small courtyard hurriedly carrying bamboo tubes, while looking at the seal that Shi Huoguang took out: "Is this the seal you used for sacrifice? I've seen you tinkering with this these days."
"Jincheng Eternal Seal." Shi Huoguang held a brass-colored seal with a tortoise button and red inscriptions in his hand. There was an aura similar to the golden armor technique flowing in it, but it was more rigorous: "I will ask you to do it every few days when I see you."
It would be too troublesome to refining the golden armor talisman once, and having to refining the armor pieces every time it is activated, so I created this talisman."
Zhao Shu played with the seal: "Let's take a look... Could it be that as long as the spell is activated, everyone nearby can receive the blessing of the golden armor spell at the same time?"
Shi Huoguang nodded and said: "Not only that, this seal can also help you attract the Qi of Taibai Gengjin to descend. There is no need to set up an additional altar when refining the armor, so as not to be disturbed by evil spirits again."
Zhao Miao smiled and said: "Don't worry, the fox demon was hurt by me. I'm afraid he won't dare to show his face easily these days."
Shi Huoguang didn't know the details of the fox demon's origin, so he couldn't help but worry: "Don't relax, I recently found someone snooping near the small courtyard. Many villagers have poured into Yanze City in the past few days, and there may be evil spirits among them.
"
Zhao Shu accepted the seal and said: "I know that the bandits have not made any big moves recently, and I am also on guard against them trying to cause trouble in Yanze City. It was the bandits' associates who spread the rumors about the epidemic before. I will go to the prison to interrogate them now."
Shi Huoguang looked strange: "The county officials can do this kind of thing, why should you be asked to do it?"
"I'm just passing by." Zhao Shu picked up the bamboo basket and said, "Sang Huazi, who was caught outside Sanniu Pit, has been unable to hold on for the past two days. I want to see if I can ask Chiyun Du from him.
confidential matters."
…
When Zhao Shu arrived at the county government office, he learned that Wang Juncheng had gone to the north of the city to see off General Wei. The current situation was pushing the bandits as far away as possible, and General Wei could not sit idle in Yanze City forever.
The county officials almost all knew Zhao Shu, so they took him directly to the prison. A middle-aged clerk was waiting in the execution room. Zhao Shu noticed that he was a new face and asked, "Are you new here?"
The middle-aged clerk bowed his head and said, "The young man's surname is Chen. He is from Baichao County, Xingluo County. He was recruited by the county government and came here to assist with clerical affairs."
The officer next to him said: "Li Zhao Fu, our county government really can't spare more people. Everyone is so busy that they hit their heels on the back of their heads. In the past few days, the government troops have recaptured several market towns, and they have also asked Mr. Wang to borrow staff.
We have no choice but to recruit some literate people from neighboring counties and villages to help. Please don’t be offended, Zhao Fu."
"It's okay." Zhao Shu looked at Chen Shuban: "I will interrogate the prisoner later, and you will be responsible for recording it. Don't panic if you see any movement."
"Xiaosheng, remember." Chen Shuban's voice was gentle. He obediently sat down in the corner and picked up a pen and paper.
"Bring up that guy who spreads rumors." Zhao Shu ordered the yamen, and at the same time stuffed the white ribbon around his waist into the bamboo basket, took out bottles and jars, and after playing with them, the prisoner was also taken to the execution room.
"Kill or behead you!" Before Zhao Shu could say anything, the prisoner was tied to the rack and started to curse: "Your grandpa, I have lived enough in this life! I am not afraid of you bunch of bastards!"
Zhao Shu held a pottery bowl, shook his head and sighed, then raised his hand and slapped him in the face, the crisp sound echoed in the execution room.
Even though Zhao Mian looks weak compared to swordsmen like Luo Xixian, he is still an accomplished practitioner. His limbs and bones are nourished by the true energy, making him stronger and more powerful than ordinary people. He can knock out several teeth of the prisoner with just one swing of his hand.
It was dislocated, and even the chin was dislocated.
The prisoner was stunned by the whipping, and Zhao Mu directly forced down the ink-like concoction in the bowl. Zhao Mu pressed the prisoner's chin and neck, forced to swallow the concoction, and then connected the prisoner's chin.
"You, what did you give me to drink?!" the prisoner asked with a pale face.
"Gu worm." Zhao Shu said expressionlessly: "You don't have to ask, I'm too lazy to explain to you. Now I'll give you a chance to tell you, who sent you to Yanze City to spread rumors?"
The prisoner spat: "Bah! What rumors are there? It's just evil spirits spreading plague in the city! You master monks don't deal with evil spirits, but you come to torture me, a commoner!"
Zhao Shu narrowed his eyes and said, "I never said I was a monk."
The prisoner was stunned, and Zhao Mian said: "You know my identity even if I don't hang my ribbon. You must also understand that I have many means to make you open your mouth."
After Zhao Miao finished speaking, he flicked his fingers, and the prisoner's chest and abdomen swelled and undulated. His face changed several times, his muscles bulged, and he immediately let out a miserable howl.
"Do you know what a Gu insect is now?" Zhao Shu said with a cold expression: "Don't worry, you won't die, you just feel a little pain. If you can answer me obediently, I can save you some torture."