Taoist priest Lin and others were just chatting casually, but the person walking behind was frightened. He knew that the matter was related to him, but he didn't understand the reason why. Fortunately, it didn't take long for everyone to walk on the official road leading to the county seat.
After entering the official road, there were more pedestrians on the road, and everyone stopped talking privately. Li Zhongyong seemed to be casually chatting about home affairs with him. The reason why he said it seemed casual was because Li Zhongyong's questions were very targeted, and the purpose was to get to the bottom of it.
Get to know him better.
He rarely traveled far before, and the last time he went to the city was three years ago. The biggest feeling he felt when he went out this time was that the life of the villagers was more miserable than before. Most of the pedestrians on the road were in rags, and there were hawkers wandering around once upon a time.
He and the salesman were rarely seen at this time.
Knowing that he rarely saw the world, Li Zhongyong briefly told him about current affairs. The emperor who was reigning at this time was Xizong's younger brother Li Qing. He was in his twenties and was very young.
Although the Huangchao Rebellion has been quelled by the imperial court, the six-seven-year-old rebellion spread to and affected more than half of the territory of the Tang Dynasty. In order to quell the war, the Tang Dynasty almost exhausted its national power and military strength, which resulted in the impact on local Jiedu.
The direct consequences of the weakening of control were the segregation of vassal towns and their own governance. Frequent wars broke out across the country. In addition, there were eunuchs in the imperial court who were monopolizing power. Internal and external troubles made matters worse. The Tang Dynasty, which once dominated the east and visited dynasties from all over the world, was no longer as prosperous as it was in the past.
, like a candle in the wind, in danger.
Li Zhongyong said and listened. Li Zhongyong didn't say anything, and he didn't ask. For him, the things Li Zhongyong said were very far away from him and had no relevance.
Finding that he was not interested in the current political situation, Li Zhongyong changed the topic and talked about martial arts. This topic aroused curiosity, so he listened carefully and asked questions from time to time.
Li Zhongyong was talking most of the time, and Chen Liqiu would occasionally say a few words. According to the two of them, there are many gangs in Datang today. There are eight hundred if not a thousand, and most of them are from recent times.
The Green Forest Gang was formed in 2001. These people robbed homes and houses and could not be considered true martial arts people.
There are about two to three hundred sects with a long history and skill inheritance. According to the martial arts skills they practice, these gangs can be divided into three major categories. The first category is the Confucian sect with the earliest origin and the widest spread.
, its characteristics are vast and all-encompassing.
The second category is the Buddhist sect. The Buddhist practices are derived from the Buddhist practices of the Western Regions. They follow the path of pure masculinity, righteousness, and mighty domination. Among them, eminent monks who have understood the true meaning of Buddhism can also use Buddhist magical powers.
The third category is the Taoist sect. Most of the people who practice Taoist exercises are Taoists. Since people in the Taoist sect have understood the Yin and Yang of Heaven, the characteristics of their exercises are mainly impermanent changes, which are endless and endless.
Taoists who formally consecrate the urn can also draw talismans on the altar and pray to heaven.
While talking, everyone arrived at Muping County. Dengzhou Prefecture is the easternmost state capital in the Tang Dynasty. To the east is the endless sea. There are three counties in the jurisdiction of Dengzhou Prefecture: Huang County, Mouping and Wendeng.
After entering the city, everyone found an inn to stay. It was a very small inn, only run by a husband and wife. During the meal, everyone ordered a bowl of noodles, of which Batulu's portion was worth five bowls. The woman saw that
Everyone was well dressed and not like poor people, so they strongly recommended it. They just said that a rooster had just been slaughtered this morning and had been stewed. If they were willing, they could serve it immediately.
Taoist priest Lin asked about the price and learned that a chicken cost ten copper coins, so he waved his hand and declined.
He had a bag of copper coins with him, which was what Taoist Lin and Chen Liqiu helped him ask for from Wang Cunzheng last night for the money for the decoction and medicine. He didn't know how much the bag of copper coins was, but he roughly estimated it to be a hundred coins. He wanted to entertain everyone with a banquet to thank everyone.
He called to the woman and asked her to bring the stewed rooster.
Li Zhongyong and others didn't know why, so they all turned to look at him.
Feeling a little awkward under the gaze of everyone, he said with a red face, "If it hadn't been for the help of Daoist Lin and everyone last night, I'm afraid my life would have been hard to save, and Lao Huang would have been eaten by them. Besides, the copper coins I have are all from Lin Dao."
My boss helped me beg for it, so I should repay the favor, so let me be the host of this meal."
Hearing what he said, everyone was a little surprised. They didn't expect that a half-year-old boy who had never been out would be so polite. However, with Taoist Lin present, they couldn't make the decision, so they looked at Taoist Lin and waited for him to speak.
Daochang Lin took a look, smiled and nodded.
Seeing that Taoist Master Lin agreed, he asked the woman about the price of soju. When he learned that a pound of wine cost five cents, he asked the woman to pay two pounds.
The woman happily agreed and turned around.
Seeing such generosity, Li Zhongyong guessed that he didn't go out much and probably didn't know the current prices, so he casually told him about it.
In the Ming Dynasty, copper coins were the main currency in common use. Silver coins were rare, and gold was even more rare. One tael of silver was worth one thousand copper coins. In the early years when the country was strong and the people were prosperous, five copper coins could buy a dou of rice, which was about
Twelve pounds.
Nowadays, the national power of the Tang Dynasty is declining. It takes ten copper coins to buy a bucket of rice. When converted, one copper coin can buy a pound of rice. Ten coins can be used to buy a chicken, and the ten coins can originally buy ten pounds of rice.
Rice.
In addition, shochu was also expensive to buy. At this time, one kilogram of grain could produce four taels of wine, and three kilograms of grain could produce one kilogram and two taels of wine. The woman sold him five cents per kilogram, which was obviously expensive.
After listening to Li Zhongyong's words, he knew what he was doing, but he didn't feel bad about spending a few extra copper coins. One can't forget the kindness of others just because the crisis has passed. If Lin Daozhang and others hadn't come to help last night, what would have happened
Even if the villagers didn't beat him to death, they would definitely kill and eat Old Huang in front of him. If that scene really happened, it would definitely become his eternal haze and nightmare.
Not long after, the food and wine were served, and everyone began to eat.
Since he lived in the countryside, he rarely saw meat, and he also wanted to eat meat, but he never picked it up. He just lowered his head and ate the noodles. He got up from time to time to pour wine for Taoist Lin and others, and took the opportunity to thank everyone one by one again.
In fact, everyone did not take what happened last night to heart, but seeing such solemn gratitude, their impression of him became even better. ??
Seeing that he never touched the chicken, everyone gave him a chopstick while he stood up to pour the wine. When he put down the wine pot and sat down, the bowl was already filled with chicken.
Seeing that everyone cares about me so much, my heart warms up, and the idea of learning from others to make a living becomes stronger.
Although he knew that Batulu was very edible, he did not expect that Batulu could eat more than he thought. The inn used large bowls to serve noodles. One bowl of noodles would definitely be enough for ordinary people, but Batulu could still eat five bowls.
The meaning is still not finished.
Seeing this, he asked the shopkeeper to serve five more bowls. Although Baturu refused, he was just pretending. When the noodles came, they were still in a mess and there was no soup left.
If one person eats the food of ten people, the amount of food is no longer amazing, but actually terrifying.
After the meal, he paid the bill and handed the remaining copper coins to Taoist Lin. However, Taoist Lin smiled and waved his hand, "You can keep it for yourself."
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br> I was determined to follow Taoist priest Lin and others, but I felt that it was inappropriate to keep the money privately, so I delivered it again.
When he guessed what he was thinking, Taoist priest Lin smiled and said, "Except for Batulu, each of the three of them has some savings. You don't need to think too much, just keep it."
After hearing what Chief Lin said, he put away the bag containing the money and followed everyone to the backyard to check in.
Lin Daozhang requested a total of six guest rooms. He had never stayed in an inn before and had no idea how big a guest room was. After opening the door, he discovered that the guest room was very spacious and there were two beds inside, which could accommodate two people.
Just as he stood at the door and looked in, Chen Liqiu patted his shoulder from behind and said, "You didn't sleep all night last night, so have a good sleep."
"I'm not sleepy," he shook his head and asked, "Third brother, it's not the right time yet and it's still dark early. What are you doing?"
"Master and the boss are going out to do some business, so we will stay at the inn to rest." Chen Liqiu said casually.
"Can I help?" asked.
"Honestly, rest in the room. There are many things you don't know. The days are long. I will tell you slowly in the future." Chen Liqiu yawned and walked into the next room.
Watching Chen Liqiu enter the house, he then entered his room. Chen Liqiu only knew one thing but not the other. In fact, not only did he not sleep last night, he also didn't sleep the night before yesterday. However, he was very confused when there was a sudden change.
I was tired but not sleepy. After looking at the furnishings in the room, I put down my baggage, lay down on the bed with my clothes on, and was in a daze.
At this time, his mood was very complicated. They met by chance. He didn't know much about Daozhang Lin and others. He only knew that a few people were not bad people, but he didn't know what Daozhang Lin and others did. So he followed them like this. He didn't know
What will you experience next?
However, compared with the worries about the unknown future, the inexplicable emptiness was more unbearable for him. He had been staying with Lao Huang every day for so many years, and suddenly Lao Huang was no longer there, and his heart felt empty.
Thinking of Lao Huang, I again thought of what happened last night. If Lin TaoZhang and others had not appeared, Lao Huang would have been skinned and eaten by the villagers. It was precisely because of the appearance of DaoZhang Lin and others that Lao Huang was able to die a good death and keep his whole body.
Based on this incident, he should follow Daozhang Lin and others, because he owed others, no matter what was waiting for him, he recognized it...