"Mr. Bolingcui?" Afu fell into deep thought upon hearing this.
"I have heard that they are aristocratic families in the Central Plains, and many of them serve as officials in the court." Cheng Sanwu said carelessly: "Those high-ranking officials all hope to marry Cui's daughter to stabilize their official career." p>
"Anping County is the ancestral home of the Boling Cui family. During the Northern Dynasties, most of the Cui family's children called themselves Boling Anping people." Chang Qing said: "Although the Cui family's houses are now spread out, there are still people in Anping County.
If you have a deep foundation, you can borrow food from them."
"Then go." Cheng Sanwu said straight away: "Borrow the food and distribute it to the refugees, and then let the group of monks follow us. Then we can do whatever we want."
Everyone looked at Afu, waiting for her to make a decision.
"Don't mention borrowing food for now." Afu changed the topic, stared at Changqing and asked: "Have you ever seen the Pure Light Goddess? What are her magical powers?"
"Quite clever." Changqing added: "Better than me."
Cheng Sanwu smiled and said: "It's rare to see you take the initiative to praise others, but don't be frightened by the demon nun."
"I'm not joking." Changqing became serious: "You should have seen them using their magical powers just now. The rain clouds covered the land for nearly ten miles. Moreover, the Pure Light Goddess and the others summoned the Nagas of the Dharma Realm to attract water and vapor, and they
The power of clouds and rain cannot be underestimated."
Cheng Sanwu was confused when he heard this: "What does this mean?"
Chang Qing had no choice but to explain: "Taoists do not cast spells out of thin air when praying for rain. Instead, they choose to build altars on the banks of rivers and near caves, deep pools, and pools. Then they throw iron talismans and golden dragons into the water, and recite mantras to summon the City God and the Order of the Society.
, work together to create clouds and rain. This is actually borrowing water from elsewhere and turning it into clouds and rain."
"I understand, the demon nuns and the others do what they do on dry land, and the rainwater comes from elsewhere, right?" Cheng Sanwu clapped his hands.
"The Nagas are ghosts and gods in the Dharma Realm. They can rely on their own qi endowments to directly attract the water vapor in the surrounding heaven and earth for their use." Changqing was a little angry: "But the Hebei states have been suffering from drought for months, so they can forcefully attract water.
The air will only increase the drought, even if it turns into rain, it will not help."
"Listening to what you said, why do you feel that this demon nun is not here to ward off disasters, but to reduce them?" Cheng Sanwu asked.
Changqing's expression was complicated, and she thought deeply before saying: "Actually, I think the Pure Light Goddess may not intentionally do evil. Their actions are similar to ascetic practice, and the refugees are influenced by them and follow them voluntarily."
Afu said disdainfully: "They regard the heretical method that was abandoned by Sakyamuni long ago as a treasure. They are really stupid."
"But the magical powers gained through hard work should not be faked." Chang Qing said: "I just saw clearly that there are ghosts and gods protecting the Pure Light Goddess, and she is very powerful. It is not easy to deal with her alone. If
We cannot isolate the Sangha and arrest people rashly, as those hungry people may immediately swarm us."
"They are just a group of hungry refugees. If they are really troublesome, let the local government officials disperse them." Afu didn't care.
Changqing immediately objected after hearing this: "The local officials can't be counted on. They treat the hungry people completely perfunctorily. How can they risk dispersing the refugees?"
"If everyone is as hesitant as you are, how can we do anything?" Afu was very dissatisfied.
"That's why we need to borrow grain from the Boling Cui family, so that we can justifiably obey the Sangha and take away the refugees to settle them." Chang Qing said: "When the disaster-stricken people are settled, you can use your own practices to pray for rain.
Take Pure Light Heavenly Lady away alone for questioning. If she resists then, you will become famous!"
When Afu heard these words, her expression became subtle. She found that although Changqing was full of pedantic ideas, she was not completely ignorant of adaptability.
"I think this method is good." Cheng Sanwu agreed from the side: "These wealthy families must have hidden a lot of food and wealth, and it's time to let them spit it out."
"It's best to approach the local Anping County Magistrate about this matter." Changqing added: "The Boling Cui family has deep roots in this area. Although your Ministry of Internal Affairs can use your power to suppress it, but food arrangements and relief to the victims will not work.
It is still necessary for the Anping County Magistrate to provide help."
"Okay, let's go find the Anping County Magistrate now." Afu thought for a moment, and then ordered to the left and right: "Contact Lord Qiangyu, and continue to keep an eye on the movements of the Pure Light Goddess."
The plan has been decided, and everyone in the Ministry of Internal Affairs immediately takes action.
……
When County Magistrate Zhang returned to the county government office and was just about to wash up and have a meal, a maidservant came to inform him that someone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs had arrived. He was so frightened that he hurried out to greet him.
"My subordinates are late. I wonder what the envoy's orders are?" Magistrate Zhang saw Chang Qing among them, and secretly thought that it was unfortunate that he was a mere magistrate. How could he have provoked such a group of big shots to visit him at night? p>
"County Magistrate Zhang, you must also know that we are here for the Pure Light Goddess." Afu said bluntly: "This group of monks used their supernatural powers to confuse the people and gather refugees. They have evil intentions. The court wants to arrest them and interrogate them. However,
They mix with the refugees, and their forced arrest may cause unrest. The priority now is to divide the refugees and arrange them properly."
"Yes, yes." Magistrate Zhang kept saying yes, but he was complaining in his heart. Anping County under his rule suffered serious disasters this year. He only hoped that this group of refugees could leave the local area as soon as possible and go to other states and counties to cause harm, but they did not.
I thought that the big shot in the Ministry of Internal Affairs asked him to settle the refugees in one sentence, without showing any sympathy for the plight of state and county officials like them.
"I know that you don't have enough food to provide relief." Afu continued: "I heard that the Bolingcui family has a large family in the local area. I wonder if such a high-ranking family has rich reserves, why not borrow from them?"
Magistrate Zhang saw that he had an opportunity and quickly complained: "If I don't hide it from the envoy, I have already asked for it! The local Cui family is headed by the Cui Duo family. In his early years, he served as the minister of the Ministry of Rites in the court.
Later, when he returned to his hometown as an official, his reputation was very high. There was an endless stream of scholars who came to study and pay homage to him with poems. This Cui Duo relied on looking out at the court and barbarians, relying on his high status, and never looked down upon his lower officials. He often looked down upon his subordinates.
Colluded with the local Cui people and refused to pay taxes."
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These words add fuel to the fire. Although the Boling Cui family has a deep foundation in the local area, most of the rural households are just ordinary households. Even if they have the same surname as Cui, it is impossible for them all to be under the protection of the Boling Cui family's Anping branch.
In fact, every year when the government sends people to the countryside to collect taxes, people from the Anping Fang Zhi will also come forward to help summon township party members.
The county government relied heavily on the Cui family for local affairs, so Cui Duo refused to lend money, and County Magistrate Zhang actually had nothing to do.
But now that the internal servants are coming, he sees a glimmer of hope. He can use this gang of big shots with a reputation for evil to suppress the arrogance of the local Cui family. He can also save some trouble in governing the local area in the future. Anyway, it is not Magistrate Zhang who is causing hatred.
Me.
"Do you think the local Cui family can provide enough food to help these thousands of refugees survive the disaster?" Changqing asked proactively.
"If you think about it... it won't be a problem." Magistrate Zhang said cautiously, "Even Mrs. Cui may not be willing to borrow it."
"You are responsible for arranging manpower to transport food and distribute the victims." Afu didn't care: "We will personally come to the Bolingcui family."
"I obey my orders."
……
"Father, it's not good!"
Just after finishing his morning self-cultivation exercises, Cui Duo picked up a volume of "Exegesis of Mao's Poems" annotated by celebrities from Henan and chanted it in a low voice. Cui Yi, the eldest son, hurried to the study.
"Why are you making such a fuss?" Cui Duo frowned: "I have said before that you can only cultivate your skills when encountering big things. Being so flustered shows that you don't work hard enough."
"This is what my father taught me." Cui Yi quickly bowed her hands and collected her thoughts.
The Bolingcui family has been passed down for many years, and they are by no means like those country rich people with no background. They study Confucianism intensively, and have a strict family tradition. They have strict rules for walking, sitting, lying, eating and daily life, especially when dealing with others and requiring peace of mind.
Words determine the color, and don’t be agitated.
"Tell me, what happened?" Cui Duo saw that his eldest son had calmed down and spoke slowly.
"That County Magistrate Zhang is here again, and there are people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs." Cui Yi replied.
"The Ministry of Internal Affairs?" Cui Duo paused slightly. Others were shocked when they heard the name of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but he didn't see anything strange. He just put down the books with great self-control, came to the door of the study, and looked up.
, asked: "Did they say why they came?"
"It's still to borrow food." Cui Yi said.
"How can anyone invite a chamberlain to borrow food?" Cui Duo flicked his sleeves: "There must be another reason."
Cui Yi said: "How about I go and inquire more?"
"No need, I'll take a moment for my father's sake, but I want to see who this notorious chamberlain minister is!"
Cui Duo showed no fear, straightened his clothes a little, and went straight to the reception hall.
However, except for Magistrate Zhang and another weak-headed man wearing a cloud-patterned robe, who were dignified and steady, the rest of them were all in a casual manner.
What was especially intolerable to Cui Duo was that a green-eyed Hu Ji was sitting in the chief position, looking up at him with a look that was somewhat ridiculing and contemptuous, which could be described as extremely rude.
"Whose maid is this? How rude." Cui Duo asked loudly, his voice was loud and clear, and he obviously had some internal cultivation skills.
However, as soon as these words came out, almost everyone on the opposite side changed their colors, and Magistrate Zhang was so frightened that he waved his hands repeatedly.
After all, almost all Hu women in Daxia were of low status. They were either slaves of wealthy families or prostitutes who entertained guests in wine shops. In the eyes of noble models like the Boling Cui family, these statuses were very despicable, and it was true that they were in a high position.
A big violation of etiquette.
"Awesome!" Cheng Sanwu slapped his thigh and said to Afu: "This is the first time someone asks which maid you are, or why don't you just say you are from the old Cheng family?"
Afu looked at Cheng Sanwu with a smile and said softly: "Cheng Langjun is so cruel. Didn't you sell me to Tianxiang Pavilion for five hundred coins?"
"Is there such a thing?" Cheng Sanwu thought for a while, and then said: "Yes, last time in Chang'an, the people from Tianxiang Pavilion were still giving me trouble!"
Seeing the two of them singing and arguing in front of him, Cui Duo felt that they were acting wildly and without any etiquette, so he stopped him and said: "Is this the behavior of a minister of internal affairs? You, as a minister of a saint, don't think about restraining your words and maintaining your dignity.
, so despicable, shameless, and damaging to the reputation!"
Hearing this, Cheng Sanwu turned his head and blinked repeatedly, and said in a daze: "Wow, you charged us with such a big crime right now. You are indeed a scholar. You don't need a knife or a sword, you can just open your mouth."
Kill people."
"If you and other despicable people rely on their authority to bully honest people, it shows that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is already threatening to cause chaos in the government and the public!" Cui Duo rolled his sleeves and shouted coldly.
Cheng Sanwu asked Afu: "Hey, does this guy insult the Ministry of Internal Affairs? Can he be arrested and beaten?"
Instead of picking up Cheng Sanwu's jokes, Afu looked at Cui Duo and said, "Mr. Cui, we are here to lend food to the victims. I hope you will not hesitate to donate."
"I don't have any extra food to lend." Cui Duo sat upright. He sensed an unusual aura coming from the green-eyed orchids, and guessed that she must be a minions of hawks and dogs recruited by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
But the clearer it became, the more unhappy Cui Duo felt. The fact that the saint monitors the world with his close servants shows that the saint does not trust the officials.
In the past few years, Cui Duo had been serving as an official at home, and he had repeatedly heard that the Ministry of Internal Affairs was setting up prisons in various places. In the name of arresting the remnants of those who rebelled against the party, many honest and upright people were persecuted, and all officials trembled.
The arrogance of these minions in the Ministry of Internal Affairs made Cui Duo, who had read history books for a long time, feel uneasy.
This uneasiness is not because his clan members once clung to the princess of Zhenguo in the past, but because the saint no longer governs the country in a righteous way, which may bring disaster to the world.
Thinking again that Lu Yan has been Prime Minister for many years, the search and accumulation has not slowed down. This year's severe drought in Hebei is not said to be too widespread, but the people's homes are short of food, and they can only escape to eat, which shows that the situation is dangerous.
As for the suggestion that the Ministry of Internal Affairs came to borrow food, this ridiculous move is absolutely unbelievable. There must be sinister intentions behind it!
Afu knew that Cui Duo looked down on her and was too lazy to talk. She looked at Changqing and signaled that he should speak.
Chang Qing nodded slightly, stood up and held up his hands: "Cui Shilang, this junior is a disciple of Songyue Fu Zang Palace, and his Taoist name is Chang Qing. I wonder if you still remember the "Yi Tong Yuan Xuan Tu" that my master sent to me five years ago?"
/p>
Cui Duo raised his eyes after hearing this and looked at Changqing a few times. He saw that he had both literary and moral qualities and was indeed a bit decent. After thinking about it for a while, he said: "Are you a follower of Daguan Zhenren? It's a pity that he is the same as an owl."
."
Chang Qing couldn't help but admire that Cui Shilang was referring to allusions from the Taoist scriptures as soon as he opened his mouth, and was also advising him to stay away from everyone in the inner minister's province.
"It made Cui Shilang laugh." Chang Qing said: "This junior is coming to Hebei to pray for rain and calm the people's hearts, and he happened to be accompanied by the Minister of Internal Affairs. In addition, the saint cares about the people of Hebei and ordered the Xuanfu envoy to open the country.
warehouses to provide relief, and allow states and counties with spare capacity to shelter the victims.
"It's just that there is a group of refugees in Anping County. They are about to run out of food in a few days, but they have no time to rush to the prefectures and counties where food is abundant. The younger generation is helpless, so they come to ask for Cui Shilang. I heard that the Boling Cui family has prospered in Anping.
, not relying on annexation and embezzlement, but relying on protecting the rural party neighbors."
Cui Duo did not refute, and his expression was much more relaxed than before. Seeing this, Changqing continued to persuade: "Ordinary people will feel compassion for a child when they see it falling into a well, and they will save it. This is not to praise their friends in the township party, nor to hate their reputation.
.A gentleman has the world in his heart and does not distinguish between north, south, and east. How can he regard the people as being displaced and doing nothing, keeping quiet?"