A generous gift? Black Peony didn’t know and was a little confused.
Shang Chaozong and others were stunned for a moment, and then they remembered that the Taoist master did say this before retreating into seclusion. Now that they think about it, they are all horrified.
Lan Ruoting was surprised and asked, "Master Dao, could it be that the presence of the heads of several sects in person was the generous gift that Master Dao originally mentioned?"
Niu Youdao asked with a smile: "Could it be that several factions came to help the prince to seize Nanzhou... Mr. Lan still thinks the courtesy is too light and looks down on it?"
"No, no, no! A generous gift, definitely a generous gift!" Lan Ruoting waved his hands hurriedly, not knowing how to describe it for a moment, and explained: "I just think...did Master Dao have planned this step in the first place?"
Niu Youdao shook his head: "The situation has changed. The gift I was referring to was not this. I will go with the flow. In short, it will not be worse than before."
Lan Ruoting breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that he would be able to survive today even from the beginning. If that was the case, then this man's strategy would be too terrifying.
The Shang siblings also breathed a sigh of relief. They were also frightened just now.
Although he breathed a sigh of relief, the emotion in his heart was still indescribable.
Fraudulently marrying Feng Ruonan, borrowing troops from Guangyi County, establishing a foothold in Canglu County, persuading Hai Ruyue, and capturing Qingshan County, and now attracting help from several factions to conquer Nanzhou. This series of steps is truly breathtaking.
Several people had to admit that Niu Youdao had completely changed their destiny. They thought that the brother and sister were planning to flee overseas through a secret passage. When they fled the capital like a lost dog, who would have thought that they would be here today?
And when he first borrowed troops from Feng Lingbo, he now wants to take advantage of Feng Lingbo's years of hard work without any bloodshed. How could many people not feel sad?
Several people estimated that Tianyumen was not in a hurry to tell Feng Lingbo about this matter. If Feng Lingbo knew about it, how would he feel?
Shang Shuqing couldn't help but take a few more glances at Yuan Gang behind Niu Youdao. She still remembered what Yuan Gang said to her in Nanshan Temple, and every word was still ringing in her ears: I know what you brothers and sisters think. What do you think about Master Dao?
If your cultivation level is not high, that is because you have eyesight but cannot recognize gold and jade. For your situation, the Tao Master is more important than his cultivation level. You have retained the wrong partner!
Looking back on this sentence now, I really understand how well Yuan Gang, who didn't talk much, must have said those words in every detail!
Everything now confirms what Yuan Gang said at the beginning. It can be seen that the person who really understands Master Tao is Yuan Gang. It can be seen that Yuan Gang really showed them a clear path back then!
Looking back now, Shang Shuqing was so scared and thankful. If she had missed it, how could the two brothers and sisters be where they are today? At least, they would not have risen so quickly, and it was only half a year since they fled the capital!
After putting the matter of generous gifts aside, Shang Chaozong asked for his opinion: "Master Dao, Hai Ruyue has urged us here several times."
Niu Youdao asked: "What are you urging?"
Shang Chaozong: "She is eager to see the results of Yingyang Wu Liewei. I can understand her mood. She is worried that something will happen to her son and the Xiao family's relationship is gone. Wandong Tianfu will do unpredictable things to her at any time, so she is anxious
Seeing the strength shown here that can support her, I can certainly understand the mood, but this matter cannot be urgent. Training troops does not happen overnight, and there are many restrictions. Since it is a cavalry, a large number of war horses are indispensable.
, this alone will be difficult to achieve in the short term.”
Niu Youdao thought for a while and said, "Our current conditions are limited. The prince does not need to pay attention to her. He can just proceed in an orderly manner at a pace that he can control."
Lan Ruoting interjected, "Master Dao, do you mean to give up on Hai Ruyue?"
Niu Youdao shook his head slightly, "At present, it seems that whoever is in charge of Jinzhou is not as beneficial to the prince as Hai Ruyue. In short, the prince does not need to worry about this matter. The prince just concentrates on his own business. I will deal with Hai Ruyue. I have my own way to appease her.
.”
After hearing what he said, several people inexplicably felt that this trouble was no longer a trouble.
A long conversation followed, mainly discussing the next steps. Niu Youdao gave many instructions to Shang Chaozong. Shang Chaozong nodded from time to time and wrote down Niu Youdao's instructions.
Knowing that Niu Youdao had traveled a long distance and worked hard, they didn't bother him for too long. They talked for a while and then left!
Niu Youdao went out to see them off in person. Although Shang Chaozong and others repeatedly said that they did not need to see them off, Niu Youdao still abided by some rules and kept sending Shang Chaozong and others out of the door. He did not want Shang Chaozong to think that he was taking credit and being arrogant.
He had spent so much effort and risked so much to support Shang Chaozong, and if he didn't want to make him fall out of favor, it would be easy to just take a few more steps and be polite.
After watching a few people leave, Niu Youdao turned around and turned back, whispering to everyone around him, "I'm rotting in my stomach about the Daxue Mountain. Don't tell anyone."
Black Peony nodded, "Yes!"
Yuanfang is surprised, what happened to the Snow Mountain?
Yuan Gang was silent. He understood that it seemed that the Taoist Master did not want the Shang brothers and sisters to know about it. He was supportive, but the Taoist Master still had a hand after all!
Black Mudan tried to ask again, "Master Tao, if you have nothing else to do, just take a shower and rest."
Niu Youdao nodded. After Black Mudan went to prepare, Niu Youdao asked Yuanfang again, "Old Xiong, how is that Lu Shengzhong doing now?"
Yuan Fang chuckled evilly and said: "You are living well, you are always locked up."
Seeing his weird smile, Niu You said: "Take me to see him."
Yuanfang then led him straight to the courtyard where the monks lived in Nanshan Temple.
Walking under the eaves, he passed several rooms with open windows one after another. Niu Youdao took a look inside every room he passed, only to see that the monks were still bald and were concentrating on copying scriptures with their lights on.
Watching this scene, Niu Youdao shook his head secretly. Needless to say, the fact that so many monks were able to resist the temptation of the outside world must have something to do with Yuanfang, the master of teachings.
Obviously, Yuanfang is still thinking about revitalizing Nanshan Temple. No matter how many things he has experienced, no matter how many storms and prosperity he has witnessed, Yuanfang still remains true to his original intention!
In this regard, Niu Youdao didn't know whether to admire him or kick him in the foot and follow me, but his heart is with the Buddha. What kind of thing is this?
But you still can't say anything about this kind of thing. Can you say that Yuanfang is double-minded? It's useless for you to have an opinion against the illusory Buddha. If you say it, you are unreasonable!
Niu Youdao also knew that this was Yuanfang's belief. Many years ago, Nanshan Temple adopted him as a child and did not let him starve to death in the forest or be killed by wild beasts. Yuanfang would spend his whole life to repay it, and he
What can I say? Tell Yuanfang not to repay the favor?
He can't tolerate ungrateful people around him, so he has no choice. He probably has to have a group of monks around him for a long time, probably because he has a group of monks chanting sutras and praying for him.
Just with a group of monks following him around, he always felt a little weird. He never thought that this day would come to him in his two lifetimes.
Yuanfang led him to a cellar and waved to the guarding monk to open the cellar.
As soon as the cellar floor was uncovered, a stench hit his nostrils, and Niu Youdao frowned.
The two monks descended the steps of the cellar, and soon there was the sound of jingling iron chains in the cellar.
Lu Shengzhong, whose limbs were tied with iron chains, stood in front of Niu Youdao. Niu Youdao was completely unrecognizable. His hair was unkempt, his face was so dirty that he couldn't even recognize him, as if it was covered with a layer of something, and his clothes were so dirty that it was hard to see.
Lu Shengzhong couldn't help but raise his hand and scratch his head. Niu Youdao's eyes flashed, and he clearly saw some small bugs crawling out of Lu Shengzhong's hair, and his expression twitched for a moment.
Coupled with the overwhelming stench on his body, Niu Youdao rubbed his nose, frowned and said: "Let him wash himself well, change into clean clothes, and bring him to see me tomorrow."
He originally wanted to talk to Lu Shengzhong, but he was afraid of avoiding Lu Shengzhong in this situation. The key point was that he couldn't speak to such a stinky Lu Shengzhong, it was annoying!
Yuanfang immediately waved his hand to the monk to do as he was told.
Niu Youdao noticed it, and Lu Shengzhong cried when he heard this.
On the way back to leave, Niu Youdao asked Yuanfang, "How did you do this to people?"
Yuanfang's reasoning is also very simple. Your Taoist priest ordered not to let anyone run away. He was also afraid of any accidents on the way, so he told the monks of Nanshan Temple to avoid any unexpected situations.
To put it bluntly, the iron chains on Lu Shengzhong have not been untied. Lu Shengzhong has never washed since he was arrested. He eats, drinks and defecates wherever he is imprisoned. He has never changed his clothes. It would be strange if they don't stink...
"well!"
Lan Ruoting, who returned to the main hall of the Sheriff's Mansion, suddenly let out a long sigh.
Shang Chaozong, who was seated, asked: "Why are you sighing, sir?"
Lan Ruoting shook his head and smiled bitterly, "If I weren't afraid of offending the Taoist master, I would really like to go to that small temple village to have a look. In a mountain village in troubled times, it is already rare to have a person like Yuan Gang, but he still
To be able to show off to such a monster as Taoist Master at such a young age, I feel deeply ashamed to have taught the teacher so many years. I am afraid that even the teacher would feel this way while he was still alive..."
As he spoke, he shook his head, then stopped his disrespectful remarks to the teacher, and sighed: "You are too young, no matter how experienced and knowledgeable you are, how can it be possible? I can't imagine it...it is true that there are talented people from generation to generation, and I can't accept it even if I don't accept it.
Maybe this is the legendary genius!"
Shang Shuqing consoled him: "Sir, you are too modest. Everyone has their own strengths. Mr. Dao basically never touches the military strategy and government affairs that Mr. Dao is good at. It can be seen that this is not what Mr. Dao is good at. At this point, Mr. Dao
It’s definitely not as good as sir.”
"Alas!" Lan Ruoting waved his hand, as if he didn't want to say anything, calmed down his emotions, and then said in deep thought: "Your Majesty, I am thinking about one thing. It is Taoist Master who always helps us, but we never seem to
What have you paid for? It is not a long-term solution to continue like this. The cultivation resources promised to him at the beginning..."
He didn't finish what he said later, but the Shang brothers and sisters all understood what he meant. Basically, the resources promised at the beginning were taken up by Tianyu Sect. To a certain extent, this was a broken promise.
Shang Chaozong gritted his teeth and said, "It's unreasonable not to express anything. No matter how difficult it is, you have to squeeze it out. He also has people around him. He can't live without basic expenses. Let's find a way to squeeze out 10,000 gold coins first!"
It's not that he is stingy, but the people's livelihood in Qingshan County is already in decline. In addition, when the original Qingshan County troops retreated, they took away all the bulk they could. There are too many places here that need to spend money. Time is still short, and the vitality cannot be relieved for a while.
Since then, it has been difficult for Tianyumen to support them and conquer Qingshan County. It is impossible for Tianyumen to provide financial resources now.
Lan Ruoting wondered: "It's a bit hard to do anything. The big Qingshan County can only give him 10,000 gold coins. Does he believe it?"
Shang Shuqing said: "Since Mr. Tao can propose to Tianyumen to restore people's livelihood, he should be a reasonable person. I am a woman and easy to talk to. I will take it to him and explain it to him. He should be able to understand it."