The Anping County Magistrate, wearing a green round-collared official robe, rode a donkey and trotted all the way. Even though he deliberately hid under the shade of the trees on both sides of the road, the ground had already been baked by the scorching sun like a hot soup cauldron, and even the oncoming
A little breeze can be compared to a fire, which makes people feel tortured.
Since there has been no rain for a long time after the New Year, even the elms, willows, mulberries and jujubes that do not need special irrigation next to the road mostly have sparse leaves and drooping green branches, like a farmer who has been forced to work for a long time, and his body is weighed down.
I couldn't stand up straight, and even making a cry was very difficult.
Looking through the forest treetops, he could see a manor in the fields in the distance. The Anping County Magistrate stretched his neck and glanced left and right, making sure that he did not see many refugees coming, so he turned around and urged: "Stop delaying! Move away!
Legs, run!"
Following the Anping County Magistrate were several civil servants in green shirts. They had no mounts and could only walk on their legs. Even though the speed was not fast, in this hot season, sweat had already soaked the backs of their collars.
Back, everyone looked in a daze, almost relying on instinct to move forward.
These green-shirted civil servants all cursed in their hearts, not knowing what evil they had done in their previous lives, for having to go out on errands in broad daylight. There was also the Anping County Magistrate, who had a donkey to travel for him.
Completely ignoring the fact that they, a bunch of civil servants, could only walk on foot.
I cursed in my heart, but the current situation is urgent and there is no room for everyone to be lazy and rest.
The Anping County magistrate and his entourage came to the door of the manor and hurriedly knocked on the door knockers. The seemingly ordinary copper door knockers were rubbed until they were shiny, showing how many guests had knocked on these door knockers in the past.
Looking up at both sides of the gate, there are pink and white walls, black tiles like scales, a few old tree branches sticking out, and traces of previous decorations can be seen on the lintel and eaves, but they have been artificially demolished. It can be imagined that the status of the owner of the manor was by no means ordinary.
A big family in the countryside.
The Anping County Magistrate remembered that he had just come here to take office, and immediately came to visit this family. As a result, he could not even enter the door, and could only exchange a few words with the eldest son outside the door. It was a complete loss of face.
However, as a county magistrate, he was forced to pay rent every year by superior officials, which did not allow him to have any delay in arrears. In order to collect local taxes in full, he had to visit this family every now and then.
I don’t know how long I waited. The Anping County Magistrate stood outside the manor. He was feeling dizzy from the sun. He was afraid that he would faint and fall to the ground at the next moment. At this time, someone opened the door of the manor. It was a Confucian man wearing a wide-sleeved dress.
A middle-aged man wearing a uniform.
"County Magistrate Zhang, what do you do for me?" The man in Confucian attire bowed his hands in a bow, showing all courtesy, but there was no hint of hospitality on his face.
"Brother Liansheng, please forgive me for taking the liberty of visiting you." Magistrate Zhang Dui smiled and said, "I have an important matter to pay my respects to you. Is it possible for me to meet with you?"
"A big event?" The man in Confucian uniform narrowed his eyes slightly: "Could it be related to the refugees coming to Anping County?"
"Exactly!" Magistrate Zhang couldn't wait.
A trace of reluctance flashed across the face of the man in Confucian uniform, but he still opened the courtyard door: "Please come in... I hope County Magistrate Zhang understands that my father is old and is not suitable for working around the world."
"I understand, I understand." Magistrate Zhang entered the room cautiously.
Stepping into the courtyard gate and walking around the screen wall, Magistrate Zhang suddenly felt refreshed and cool, and the heat was gone.
This manor has been standing on the outskirts of Anping County for quite some time. It is said that as early as the Northern Dynasties, the manor was even larger than it is today. The outer walls were tight, grain and grass were stored inside, and the four corner watchtowers were towering, even if thousands of soldiers were stationed there.
Even if the horse comes forward, it will still be difficult to capture.
It's just that the Taizu of this dynasty was so impressive in martial arts that he conquered Hebei and conquered the Nine Provinces. The fortress walls similar to this manor were successively destroyed, leaving only the ordinary village residence.
Magistrate Zhang felt deeply that he was indeed a famous family with a long heritage. Even though it was an old ancestral house with a declining population, it still had something extraordinary.
When I came to the main hall room, I saw an old man writing with a solemn demeanor and a critical moment when he started writing, which made people sigh with admiration.
"Meet Mr. Cui." Magistrate Zhang bowed and bowed, instead of using the cross-hand salute that was fashionable in this dynasty.
The old man opposite him slowly stopped writing, blew lightly on the paper on the case, put it aside without hesitation, and said: "County Magistrate Zhang, I am just a commoner now and have no official status. Don't mention the title of Minister."
It’s just a joke.”
"Cui Weng's words are too modest. In the eyes of us juniors, even if you return to your hometown after serving as an official, you will still be highly virtuous and respected by the world." Magistrate Zhang quickly tried to please you.
"I don't dare to have a junior like you." Although Cui Weng's beard and hair are white, his energy is good, which shows his self-cultivation: "Tell me, why are you here? Could it be that the imperial court is setting up a new capital class?" p>
Magistrate Zhang, who had no authority at all from the ruling party, said in a good voice: "Cui Weng wants to hear something. Recently, there is a Jingguang Sangha group, leading thousands of refugees to wander around Hebei states, begging for food."
, has arrived at the boundary of my Anping County a few days ago. According to the imperial law, I dare not drive away the refugees, but there is no surplus food in Anping County at the moment. I really cannot afford to support these thousands of extra mouths out of thin air."
"So you came to me to lend me food to help the refugees?" Cui Weng said with a cold expression, "Thanks to Magistrate Zhang for your appreciation, but my family is poor and I definitely can't provide food for these thousands of people."
Of course County Magistrate Zhang knows that the family in front of him is not actually a wealthy family, but he represents far more than just this family.
"Cui Weng is joking." Magistrate Zhang said: "I hope that Cui Weng will come forward to call for the Cui clan households in Anping County to assist the county in relieving the refugees."
"County Magistrate Zhang seems to think that I, the Cui family of Boling, are easy to bully." Cui Weng said solemnly: "Every year, the rent, household tax, local tax, and various capital taxes are levied continuously. Even from a rich family,
I can't stand this kind of looting. In the past few years, I have called on the people to pay rice, corn, cloth and silk. How come it is now a disaster year and you say that there is no surplus food in the county?"
"Really not!" County Magistrate Zhang quickly explained: "It's not that Cui Weng doesn't understand that the revenue collected by this county every year is concentrated in Weizhou at the end of the year and sent to the two capitals via the Yongji Canal. Now is the time when the warehouses are empty.
."
"Magistrate Zhang can write to the court and request the transfer of grain from Luoyang, Chang'an." Cui Weng added: "Or he can take the initiative to ask the court to abolish all kinds of taxes in the Hebei states. This will not leave the people's families with no surplus grain.
Unable to cope with disaster years."
"This... isn't Cui Weng's words embarrassing?" Magistrate Zhang's face turned bitter. Hebei Province is one of the most heavily taxed areas in the world. How could he, a magistrate, reverse this kind of thing?
"Isn't it difficult for Magistrate Zhang to ask me to call on my clansmen?" Cui Weng said: "At that time, I said it was because I wanted to return to my hometown as an official, but I said it was because some relatives were clinging to the princess of the town, so I couldn't do anything in the court.
To gain a foothold. Now we have to call on the clan members to produce more rice grains. Does Magistrate Zhang hope that I will bear the infamy and end up with hatred?"
When it came to this matter, County Magistrate Zhang also knew that there was nothing he could do, so he had no choice but to suppress his complaints and leave reluctantly.
After leaving the Cui family manor, a civil servant stepped forward in the sunshine and asked: "Ming Mansion, I can't borrow food. I'm afraid those refugees will cause trouble, and the officials in the Yamen can't help it."
"I don't know why!" County Magistrate Zhang cursed, feeling extremely irritated: "These refugees are like locusts, they eat wherever they go. There are also those bald donkeys who confuse the people. They really deserve to die, so why not invite them?"
Youzhou soldiers and horses came over and drove them away... What are you thinking about?"
Magistrate Zhang suddenly saw a clerk on the side with his hands clasped together and muttering something. He couldn't avoid it, so he had to explain with an aggrieved face: "Mingfu, you are scolding Buddha and ancestors, which is detrimental to your merits. I am here to chant sutras and accumulate virtues for you." "Only the dead must be recited!" Magistrate Zhang was furious.
Another official said: "But I heard that the Pure Light Goddess who leads the Sangha has the magical power of rain to relieve drought. It is better to ask her to send some rain to prevent the county from losing its harvest this year."
Magistrate Zhang looked at the wilted and yellowing crops in the distance and had no choice but to say: "Let's treat a dead horse as a living horse. If that doesn't work, we will lead this group of refugees to Cui's house and see if they are willing to bring out the food when the time comes!" After making a decision, Magistrate Zhang got back on the donkey and trotted all the way back to Anping County.
When the weather cooled down a bit in the evening, Magistrate Zhang had returned to the outskirts of the county. A refugee camp was set up next to the dry river ditch. At this time, thousands of refugees could be seen gathering together in the distance, sitting in an orderly manner, looking at the monks in the center.
Chant in unison.
"What are they doing?" Magistrate Zhang asked.
Before the officials could answer, someone suddenly said: "This is a practice to pray for rain."
Magistrate Zhang turned around and saw a young man, wearing a cloud-patterned crane robe and riding a yellow gelding with a precious saddle. He was full of nobility and was obviously an extraordinary person.
"You are..."
"Fu Zang Palace, Chang Qingzi." The young man showed the proclamation written on his pocket and said at the same time: "I came to Hebei to pray for rain and calm the people's hearts. I learned that a group of monks was doing similar things, so I came here to take a look.
."
"According to the order?" County Magistrate Zhang was surprised when he heard this. He checked the ceremonial document, immediately handed it back and respectfully asked: "My surname is Zhang, and I am the current Magistrate of Anping County. I wonder what other arrangements the court has?"
"The Xuanfu envoy appointed by the imperial court is on the way, and will bring food relief to the affected states and counties." Changqing looked at the group of monks in the distance, and saw a woman in white sitting with her hands down, the power of the mantra invisible to the naked eye.
All around.
"Master Immortal, this Pure Light Goddess has led thousands of refugees to wander around the neighboring counties for several months, with unclear intentions." County Magistrate Zhang saw the opportunity and immediately said: "Such an act of bewitching the people may cause disaster.
Please ask the immortal master to break the deception and restore peace to the people."
"Only when the people have enough food and clothing can they be stable." Changqing just replied lightly. It was not that he couldn't understand Magistrate Zhang's intention.
"To be fair to the immortal master, the official just happened to visit an elder of the Boling Cui family." Magistrate Zhang followed the situation and said: "They have a lot of land in Anping and have no money to accumulate food. But they rely on the five surnames and seven
Because of his high position, he is unwilling to lend food to relieve the people's difficulties. If the immortal master is willing to come forward on his behalf, he may be able to save the people from the fire and water."
"Boling Cui family?" Changqing's heart moved, thinking that this place was Anping County, and asked: "Could it be the Anpingfang branch?"
"Yes, and there is also an ancestral manor that has been passed down for hundreds of years." Magistrate Zhang said.
Changqing did not agree immediately. The five surnames and Qiwang were high-ranking gentry in the Central Plains. Among them, the Cui family had two surnames and ten branches. It was recognized as the highest sect in the world and the crown of the gentry. Many of the Cui family served as officials in the past dynasties, and the tradition was passed down.
It's so long ago that it can even be traced back thousands of years.
Such an aristocratic and well-dressed family is used to seeing dynasties change. Although there were constant twists and turns during this period, they still stood firm in the end. Their Confucian upbringing and knowledge of poetry and calligraphy were admired by scholars all over the world, even the royal family of Daxia.
Disregard it.
Although the Boling Cui family has many branch families, any one branch has many disciples in the government and at home, plus the disciples and old officials, branches and leaves, it is even more huge. Even if Changqing takes out the identity of Lu Xiangqilang,
It may not necessarily scare them.
While Chang Qing was thinking, dark clouds suddenly gathered in the sky, and a cool breeze swept across the earth, blowing away all the heat that had not yet dissipated.
Looking up, the dark clouds rolled in and out, dragons and snakes were faintly visible, and rain was gradually brewing.
Changqing frowned slightly, he kneaded his hand and cast a spell, and in front of his eyes, he could see four strange ghosts and gods, with dragon heads and dragon heads. Although they were dragon heads, they looked like poisonous snakes, but they had sharp horns growing out of their brows.
The wide mouth has pointed teeth, which is a bit ferocious.
"Could this be the Nagas?" Changqing doesn't know much about Buddhist scriptures, but it can be seen that these ghosts and gods with dragon-like bodies, capable of controlling water vapor and causing clouds and rain, were summoned by the Pure Light Goddess and her monks to cast spells.
And here we come.
But for some reason, Chang Qing felt vaguely weird. He picked up the water bag hanging on the horse's back, poured some into his hand, and saw that the water in his palm evaporated at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"That's it." Changqing said to himself.
"Won't the immortal master stop them?" County Magistrate Zhang urged: "These demon monks have bad intentions. I'm afraid that some people in this county will be bewitched by them."
"They are casting a spell. If I intervene midway, I'm afraid it will cause an accident. If the refugees are panicked and trample on each other, does Magistrate Zhang have any way to restrain them?" Changqing asked in return.
Magistrate Zhang didn't know any magic. He was stunned for a moment when he heard this. Changqing continued: "Also, along the way, I saw that the vegetation in Anping County was scorched and the grains were not ripe. It is true that an emergency rain is needed, and let them finish casting the spell."
, let’s talk about the rest.”
Magistrate Zhang suddenly felt that the Evergreen Immortal Master in front of him was simply pedantic, and isn't it what Taoists are best at praying for rain to eliminate disasters? When will it be the turn of a group of monks to grab business?
Dark clouds billowed in the sky for a moment, and Chang Qing looked with his eyes to see the four ghosts and gods with human bodies and dragon heads reborn and transformed. One of them turned into a number of three or five, or seven or nine, facing all directions, opening its mouth to spit water.
Ordinary people cannot see such ghosts and gods in the Dharma Realm. They can only see a fine drizzle falling from the sky and falling on the earth. The refugees surrounding the monks received the nectar and rain, and they shouted loudly one by one, and then kowtowed to the ground before the Pure Light Goddess.<
/p>
Magistrate Zhang was a little shocked when he saw the magical power in person. He stretched out his hand and raised his head, letting the rain fall and enjoying the rare coolness and moisture.
Only Changqing stared at the dragon-headed ghosts and gods in the sky, and murmured: "I have collected all the water veins in the surrounding area, but only this little rain falls?"