Ma Rui's death caused people's hearts to wander, because no matter how much they concealed it, everyone knew what the so-called rebellion among the Guanlong clan was all about.
Everyone knows there are too many examples.
At the same time, the body of the eldest princess was still parked in the palace.
It can only be said that for a moment, everyone was shocked by this saint's coolness.
As if he had sensed something, or perhaps to avoid some embarrassment, the saint once again issued an order to roughly divide the western patrol team into two parts. The main part immediately headed east out of the river, entered Hedong, turned to Taiyuan, and inspected Fenyang Palace; the remaining part
A small group of people guarded the coffin of the eldest princess along with Yu Changji who stayed behind, waiting for Zhang Shizhao to go to Renshou Palace to oversee the burial of the eldest princess.
Shang Xia was already trembling with fear at this time and could only set off in a hurry.
However, according to Zhang Xing's observation, the trip was in a hurry and those who stayed would be cut off, otherwise there would be an obvious bribery scandal because many people expressed strong envy for those who could stay.
A few days after leaving, Su Wei and others from Daxing were just meeting up, when gossip came from behind that the saint's son-in-law and the only grandson of the eldest princess, Ma Hong, suddenly fell seriously ill and died.
The Western Patrol team, which was still huge after being slightly reduced, seemed to continue to avoid these news, and also seemed to be deliberately avoiding Guanzhong, the hometown where the saint and the eldest princess grew up together. They just paid no attention to it and hurried eastward for ten or so days.
He arrived at Pujin that day, and then, regardless of the soldiers, the palace people were exhausted and prepared to cross the river.
At this time, there was an obvious trend of bribery within the Western Inspection Team. Everyone wanted to desert, everyone wanted to leave the team, everyone wanted to return to Luoyang... This is of course excusable, but at the same time it is also a bit absurd.
The reason why it is ridiculous is that when the saint was about to go to the city of Shoujiang in great excitement, everyone was shocked, scared, and worried about Dongdu's family.
But in fact, few people dared to desert, and the team was in good order.
What about Fenyang Palace?
Fenyang Palace is located in the north of Taiyuan. In terms of distance, it is about a thousand miles away from Dongdu. It is less than half the distance from Dongdu to Shoujiang City. Moreover, it is a royal palace and has always had sacrificial, military and political traditions, not to mention the previous dynasty.
The more important point that the late emperor often visited during his time was that when he came out, everyone knew that the time limit was half a year. After the two projects in Dongdu were repaired by the end of this year, everyone would go back to celebrate the New Year. But now there are still three months until the New Year.
How many months...
Therefore, the current situation is that the Western Inspection Team has to go to a "familiar place" that is half the distance from its original destination within the original time limit, but it actually causes panic and makes everyone want to desert.
All I can say is that I really don’t know what everyone is afraid of.
At this time, the prime minister or other officials should have come forward to reconcile Yin and Yang and connect the upper and lower ranks. At this time, the two ministers Su Wei and Sima Changying were also accompanying them, as well as the two ministers Duan Wei and Wei Chi.
However, after the political turmoil in the first half of this year, what can these people do?
In the end, it was Prime Minister Su Wei who came forward and used a particularly tactful way to advise the husband. What the husband meant was that of course there was no problem in going to Hedong, but since he came to Hedong, should he go and meet the local great master?
Zhang Boxeng? Go to Zhang Boxeng's academy, discuss knowledge, explore strategies for governing the country, and recruit some talents in the academy?
After all, Grandmaster Zhang Bofeng and Zhang Da’s knowledge was recognized as outstanding. Over the years, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to teaching, and he had a vague attitude of being a master of the Great Wei Dynasty.
In response to this, Mao Rensheng’s reply was very direct and simple:
First of all, he did not go to see Zhang Bofeng, nor did he invite Grandmaster Zhang to see him. The team went directly north to find the Fen River and went upstream to Taiyuan;
Secondly, Wei Chi, the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment, supervised the western patrol team and counted all the troops at Pujin Ferry. There were officers and soldiers in the department. Those who left the team without permission or lied about illness would be killed without mercy.
This saint is very smart.
The western patrol team was trembling with fear, but no one dared to gamble anymore. Almost all members crossed the river before September arrived, arrived at Hedong, and then continued to move forward to the next stop, Taiyuan.
And at this time, even Zhang Xing, who had been pretending to be sick, didn't dare to pretend to be sick, but he didn't dare to suddenly come back to hang out in front of the emperor... Firstly, he was still frightened by what happened before, and secondly, he was pretending to be sick too much, and he was afraid of going back. It was too obvious to be lively and lively in the future. Fortunately, Governor Niuhe gave him face when he was caught. He took care of him a little and arranged a hiding mission for him. He led a team of Jinwu Guards to deliver gifts to Grandmaster Zhang.
After all, whether in terms of threat, friendliness with the imperial court, or involvement with the imperial court, Zhang Bofeng, the great master, is very harmless. Relatively speaking, the Western Inspection Team went westward. I once passed Taibai Peak, but there was no greeting, which seemed very meaningful.
In fact, after entering Hedong, the overall tightness of the team's protection also dropped significantly. This is just a little bit of the dialectical relationship between enemies and friends.
It can only be said that when you are a Grand Master, you cannot really pretend that the other person does not exist, even if they remain silent.
Of course, Zhang Xing is willing to take this job. There is also a reason why the great master named Zhang is recognized as the worst master of the academy. Even if he has beheaded people, he must be easier to talk to than the leader, and his level should be lower. .
This is evident from the fact that the other party once guessed his identity incorrectly.
The western patrol team went north and went up against the Fen River, while Zhang Xing went east to Sushui and went up against the Sushui... A team of Jinwu Guards, two or three father-in-laws,
A few boxes of gifts, galloping along, even if the speed was deliberately slowed down, it only took four or five days to arrive at Wenxi, where the ancestral home of the Zhang family is located.
Qin Bao didn't come, but Xiao Zhou came with him, which would be too talkative.
"It's really strange." Xiao Zhou looked at the academy on the mountain in the distance, his words were strange.
"What's weird?" Zhang Xing asked speechlessly.
"The Zhang family's ancestral home is in the north of Wenxi County. We have a sacred tree planted by our ancestor Gongzhen when he migrated from Hongshan. That happened before Black Emperor and White Emperor.
Counting it together, it has been two or three thousand years. It is said that the crown canopy is like clouds. Master Zhang didn't build a sacred tree academy under the tree in his hometown in the north. Why did he build a southern slope academy here?" Xiao Zhou said something meaningful.
"Then go and ask." Zhang Xing thought for a moment and could only laugh.
How could he know?
Everyone immediately left the road and climbed the mountain towards the south slope. The academy on the mountain heard the arrival of the saint's messengers. How dare they neglect it? The bell rang for a while, and hundreds of people dressed as students and led by some unidentified elders came to greet him. .
It can only be said that students are the best tools to show off at any time.
However, isn't there a great master on top? In addition, Zhang Xing and the Zhang family have no grudges, and they have no intention of trying to manipulate anyone. They are just out for a quiet retreat, so naturally they won't pretend to be powerful. So, take a moment.
After catering, he went straight up the mountain and entered the academy. At the same time, he took the initiative to ask the other party to dismiss the students. Keep everything simple.
The people who came to greet him naturally had no objection.
Soon, the students dispersed, and the group of imperial envoys was led by another older man and led directly to a simple two-story pavilion built on the mountain behind the academy. The rest of the people stayed outside, and Zhang Xingze
After entering with the gift in hand, I immediately saw the Grand Master himself.
As soon as they met, Zhang Xing understood why everyone felt that this great master, who was a master of both civil and military arts, master of pen and skill, and had the most famous family in the world behind him, was the least threat to the imperial court, and was probably the person with the lowest actual cultivation level.
Because I'm too old.
His hair and beard are all white, he is obviously old, and he is said to have been injured. Even with the bonus of a great master's cultivation, he has indeed reached the limit of a mortal. It is conceivable that if he cannot achieve immortality and become a dragon, he will transcend the ordinary world.
, then this Mrs. Zhang may really become the first grand master to be removed from the list in recent years.
And how difficult is it for Jackie Chan to be certified?!
How many years has it been since there was no ready-made example? How did Sima Erlong get his nickname?
"Reply to the saint for me, just say that I am grateful for his concern. I haven't seen him for more than ten years. It's rare that he still has this heart." After some handovers and reports, Mr. Zhang held a short man who only reached his waist.
He spoke casually. "I accepted the gift. I wish him a smooth trip."
Zhang Xing quickly agreed and saluted solemnly again.
So far, this time out, the mission has been completed.
That's right, that's it... No one questions Old Master Zhang's impoliteness, and no one dislikes Old Master Zhang's lack of words because he is a great master.
Even if he is old and dying, he is still a great master.
If there is anything in this world that obviously restricts the existence of saints in terms of power and legal principles, it is these great masters. Otherwise, Cao Zhongcheng would not be as towering as he is.
I'm afraid this is also the reason why the saint is reluctant to come to see the great master, and even prefers to walk around.
Turning back to his eyes, Zhang Xing finished his salute and looked at the older man who led him up the mountain to see Zhang Bofeng. The meaning was obvious... He wanted this person to make arrangements.
, Saints return to saints, we mortals can still feel comfortable returning to the mortal world to drink wine and eat meat.
The older man who didn't have time to ask for his name and only knew his surname was Zhang immediately understood, and then turned back: "Uncle, do you have any instructions, explanations, or inquiries?"
Zhang Bofeng lowered his head and was silent for a moment, then looked at Zhang Xing: "You called yourself Zhang Xing just now, and you were wearing a black ribbon. Are you the Zhang Xing I know who came back from Luolongtan to Jing'antai? It seems that you are indeed the wrong person.
Already."
"Speaking of this matter, it is natural that there is a misunderstanding... I am a farmer's boy from the North Demon Guard." Zhang Xing immediately saluted and replied. "But by coincidence, I haven't thanked Old Master Zhang for his advice to Inspector Zhang, so I escaped.
Live through a calamity."
"What's going on?" Zhang Bofeng asked curiously.
Zhang Xing then told the story of the day when Cao Lin tried to accept him as his adopted son, but Zhang Changgong happened to come out to intercede.
"This is your own ability. Chang Gong's plea cannot be said to be good or bad. I also heard your name by chance at that time. They compared you with Shi Zhao. In addition, there is indeed such a descendant of the Zhang family who fought in the Second Expedition to the East.
There is no trace of Yizhong, so we can't help but have some suspicions." Zhang Bofeng said casually. "It's a pity, thinking about it like this,
That person is gone after all."
Zhang Xing remained silent.
Old Master Zhang immediately realized the problem and immediately laughed: "Being old and unable to speak does not mean that it is a pity that you are alive and he is gone, but that it is simply a pity for him. After all, it has nothing to do with you two who can live and who can die.
"
Zhang Xing also laughed: "Who says it's not the case? How many famous teachers, generals, and powerful men were once defeated, and they all turned into sand and died together without a burial place. It is really true that the whole world is a piece of grass and grass. I can survive, it is true.
Fortunately."
Old Master Zhang was inexplicably startled, and then exclaimed for a moment: "It's well said, under the will of God, everything is useless, no matter whether it is a great master or a noble family, what difference does it make under the will of God? There may not be a farmer like you who is better.
Won the favor of heaven."
Zhang Xing only acted to touch the other party's emotions and immediately kept silent.
But Old Master Zhang came back to his senses and continued to speak slowly: "Since you are from Jing'antai, there is one thing that you have to say. It is embarrassing to say this.
I just mentioned that it will be Liu Wenzhou’s matter that Shijing will tell you later."
Only then did Zhang Xing find out that the man's name was Zhang Shijing.
And Zhang Shijing immediately took the lead.
"Besides that." Zhang Bofeng continued. "Since you came here in a light carriage, you only need to catch up with the saint and his party in Fen in the north. You might as well stay for a few more days. Then I will ask Shijing to prepare and return to life with you.
, as a token of gratitude.”
Zhang Xing was startled and immediately nodded in understanding. He was asking for an official position for his nephew named Zhang Shijing. When a great master asks for an official position, a saint must give him face.
Sure enough, Zhang Shijing was shocked when he heard this, and then fell to the ground and kowtowed.
"It doesn't have to be like this." Zhang Bofeng waved his hand to his nephew. "You have an old relationship with the British Gong Bai Hengqiu. Ever since he took advantage of you, you have become increasingly unbearable to be lonely. You don't need me to find a saint to sell you this face... In that case,
Why do I have to tie you up by force? It’s just that I told you a fortune in the past, and it turns out that you can’t become a general until you’re sixty years old...
I'm afraid you'll have to wait another two years to find an opportunity, so prepare to sit on the bench for a few years."
Zhang Shijing just kowtowed, while Zhang Xing also looked at this person in surprise.
"Make the envoy laugh." Zhang Bofeng ignored his nephew, but was obviously impatient, and only spoke to Zhang Xinglai. "Few of my nephews and students can endure loneliness. After three or five years, they can't help but become officials.
...The envoy has the same surname as me, and I will trouble you to guide him later... That's all right. If you have any questions about spiritual practice or knowledge, I will try my best to answer them. I don't have to worry about official matters.
Ask me, I don’t even understand myself.”
Zhang Xing withdrew his gaze from Bai Hengqiu's old friend and looked at Zhang Bofeng. He hesitated and hesitated again... Obviously, he certainly had countless questions to ask, but some of them were too sensitive, so it was better not to ask them.
Other questions should be asked to other people instead of asking this great master.
Therefore, Zhang Qin finally asked a very different question:
"I dare to ask Master, I know that if you want to become a supreme being, you need to obey the will of heaven and have merit and virtue. What about the so-called supreme being who has no bad virtues? What about the great master?
If you want to become a great master, do you also have to make meritorious deeds in the world? What exactly is a tower?"
"Let's put it this way." Zhang Bofeng thought for a while and responded calmly. "If you want to become a grand master, you don't need to have meritorious deeds. But if you want to go up from the grand master level, whether you want to become a god or a dragon, you have to do it.
There are certain virtues and meritorious deeds. As for the tower, if you want to become a great master, it is more about standing out, becoming a representative of God's will, and leading the trend in the world. But this kind of thing is difficult to verify, so you need to build a tower and use the tower as a measure. I understand.
?"
Zhang Xing suddenly realized that apart from personal cultivation, the most important thing for a master or grandmaster is to become a benchmark for the times and then promote historical progress, and erecting a tower is a concrete manifestation of becoming a benchmark for the times.
No wonder it is so easy for an emperor to become a great master, and for an outstanding political leader to become a dragon so easily, because they are naturally benchmarks and representatives of the times.
Of course, this way of forcing explanations and thinking using the thinking of the previous life is definitely wrong. Instead of doing this, it is better to return to ourselves. To build a tower is to build a tower.
Whether it is a tower of rule, a tower of scholarship, or a tower of religion, once the abstract tower is completed, the actual tower will naturally become one.
As for the concepts behind the tower, they should not be originless things. Isn’t it just about visualizing external objects to create elixirs?
This is a process in which a person borrows the true energy of heaven and earth to seek his own "Tao". He first creates elixirs within himself, then builds towers in the world, and then combines Tao with heaven.
After thinking about this, Zhang Xing nodded and stopped asking more about this matter. Instead, he couldn't help but ask another question: "Then I dare to ask Master, what is the vitality of heaven and earth?"
Zhang Bofeng was obviously startled: "Do you understand? About the tower?"
Zhang Xing nodded: "I should understand."
Zhang Bofeng was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head: "Then I have nothing to teach you... If I knew the nature of the vitality of heaven and earth, I wouldn't still be teaching here."
This is quite true.
"However, the vitality of heaven and earth is the most unreasonable thing in the world." Zhang Bofeng thought for a while and tried to give some explanation. "Even cause and effect doesn't make sense... You will understand it when your cultivation level rises."
Zhang Xing nodded again, not showing any disappointment at all, and did not ask any more questions. He was very satisfied to get an answer to the question.
And this again caused Zhang Bofeng to take a serious look at the other party.
But he only looked at it for a moment, and then, the great master who used to dance with weapons nodded, and then raised his sleeves... It was obvious that he was tired.
Zhang Shijing, who was bowing at the side, quickly got up and gestured to Zhang Xing, inviting him to leave.
Zhang Xing didn't hesitate and turned around directly.
When he came outside, he did not leave the academy. Instead, he met other people waiting outside and came to a side courtyard of the academy to settle down... Next, Zhang Shijing was not rude or overly enthusiastic.
This is of course, he is an old friend of Mr. Bai, the origin of the Zhang family, the fortune teller of the Grand Master has predicted that he will be prosperous in a few years, so he is cautious in front of the Grand Master, not in front of a mere black ribbon.
However, even so, the other party sincerely explained what Zhang Bofeng asked him to convey.
"A grandmaster... stole something... and ran away?" Zhang Xing was stunned. "Is there a grandmaster on the black list?"
"This person is called Liu Wenzhou." Zhang Shijing sighed. "Although he is extremely smart and extremely talented, his background is too low. He has been impatient and cynical from the beginning, so he has developed a foundation for evil intentions."
Zhang Xing had no expression on his face and was speechless in his heart. It was wrong for him to be from a family like this. The posture of an old man from a family was abominable.
"After condensing the elixir, he didn't want to be an official. He just stayed in the academy while teaching and delving into some evil ways. He relied on his uncle's favor early on and asked his uncle to give him some sacrifices. At that time, he liked to run around...
Later, when I went to Taiyuan, no one knew when he was promoted to Grandmaster or what he did." Zhang Shijing naturally didn't know the other boy's slander, so he just continued to tell the story. "As a result...he came to the academy a few months ago.
, asked his uncle some things, got into an argument for some reason, and finally suddenly took away some of his uncle's things. My uncle, thinking of the feelings between teachers and students, did not do anything cruel and let him escape. Only later did he find out that he had returned to Taiyuan.
After tidying up, I didn’t know where I went, and that’s when I became really alert.”
"What?" Zhang Xing asked seriously. "Something like Fulong Seal?"
"No." Zhang Shijing shrugged, a little bored. "It's just some rumors and files from the Black Emperor's time, such as the Red Emperor and Li She dyeing the Red Mountain. After the Black Emperor became the Supreme, he used his supreme cultivation to resurrect Li She.
The divine turtle combined with Xuanwu, and the three-chapter agreement between Lord Tunfeng and Black Emperor, etc... You are from the Northern Wilderness... a native of the Northern Territory, you should know these things."
Zhang Xing's heart moved slightly, but he carefully asked: "Do these have any important relationship? Do you really want to use these to accuse a grandmaster? Do you need to notify Jing'an Station?"
"I don't think it has anything to do with it." Zhang Shijing was a little impatient. "But my uncle said, I'm afraid that Liu Wenzhou, who is extremely talented, has endured for many years, and has great plans, will go directly to attack the immortal dragon... If you want me to say,
If he really wants to attack the immortal dragon, let him do it. It will be peaceful if he dies... Anyway, since you are here, please report to the court on the way."
Zhang Xing nodded, his face as usual: "I understand, I will write a document to my family's prime minister and Shaocheng, and let them come to a conclusion on this matter."
"That's what I mean." The other party took the lead and turned around.
Zhang Xing was also ready to rest there, but as soon as he turned around and caught a glimpse of the curious Xiao Zhou, he suddenly woke up and turned around to ask: "By the way, Mr. Zhang...why didn't Master build an academy at the sacred tree instead of coming here?"
"
Zhang Shijing looked back and frowned slightly, but he still said bluntly: "Because of the fortune telling...my uncle once asked for fortune telling about this matter, and I don't know who he asked for. The result he got was that he wanted to build a pagoda far away." This way he can be certified.
There was no chance of survival, so I came to the south slope."
Zhang Xing nodded and said no more, and Zhang Shijing finally left.
However, after they left, and the group of imperial envoys rested in the guest room, Xiao Zhou suddenly became rude again: "Brother Zhang, do you think Master Zhang still has a chance of survival?"
Zhang Xing was dumbfounded and wished he could slap the other person twice - What are you talking about in this academy?
This is the Grand Master’s academy!
If someone really became a dragon and a god, this thing would be their body shell!
However, Zhang Xing soon realized something, and he was actually very curious about whether Old Master Zhang was really too old to do anything, or was the tiger taking a nap for the time being?
Moreover, after the other party solved his doubts, he actually had some guesses in his mind.
Therefore, after Zhang Sanlang thought for a moment, he smiled in turn: "Why don't you go and ask... Look at how many children of the Zhang family, how many children with other surnames, how many descendants of famous families, and how many descendants of common people in the academy, you will know that Master Zhang is still alive
Is it possible that the title can be confirmed?"
Xiao Zhou was slightly startled and immediately took the lead in answering.
And in the evening, the young master gave the answer: "I went to ask, there are more than 600 students, more than 200 with the surname Zhang, more than 300 from famous families, more than 100 from poor families, common people
Origin"
Zhang Xing didn't know whether to sneer or pity in his heart, but his expression remained as usual: "So, it is indeed a bit far-fetched... Master Zhang's fate may not be the same."
Xiao Zhou hesitated for a moment: "Is that so?"
Zhang Xing nodded heavily and spoke sincerely: "There is no distinction between teachers and teachers. How can there be no luck in being a teacher for a while?"
Behind the Nanpo Academy, Grand Master Zhang Bofeng, who was writing something, suddenly felt something. He thought about it carefully, but found nothing, as if he had missed another secret. In the end, he could only sigh softly and look at the sky in despair.
