Lu Zhiyu introduced to Zhao Ran: "Abbot Zhao, this is the Ya'an Ancient Road, which is an important route to Tubo Da and Xiao Jinchuan. This pass city is the fortress on the border. Our Ming Dynasty has stationed heavy troops here.
The Tianquan Liubo Recruitment Department was established, which was the garrison station before leaving Xiaojinchuan."
Looking at the many flags on Guancheng and the magical weapon with an unspecified purpose, Zhao Ran was very interested and asked: "Can we go up and have a look?"
Lu Zhiyu smiled and said: "It will definitely be difficult for others to come, but Abbot Zhao has made military exploits in Baima Mountain and is my distinguished guest in Ya'an, so he is different from others. I have already sent people to talk to the high commander, let's
Go in and meet him."
Standing on Guancheng, looking into the distance, a meandering river comes from the north with rolling waves. Commander Gao pointed to the rushing river and introduced to Zhao Ran: "This is Hechuan, and the mountains on both sides are Jiajinshan and Hechuan."
Erlang Mountain, along the river to the north, enters the Dongbu Hanhu tribe of Tubo."
Zhao Ran asked: "How is the fighting here? Is it fierce? What is the fighting strength of the Tubo people?"
Commander Gao said: "To be fair, the Tubo people are very brave in fighting. I have fought with the Xia people, and I feel that the Tibetan people are less afraid of death than the Xia people! But their biggest problem is that their armor and equipment are not good enough.
They are far worse than the Xia Kingdom, and even less comparable to us. Ever since the Rural-Chengdu War seventeen years ago, they have been unable to keep an eye on them. We here have always been suppressing the other side and sending troops over from time to time.
Turn around, and they don’t have the strength to fight back to retaliate. But further ahead is Xiaojinchuan, and the terrain there is not conducive to attack. We will retreat every time after fighting."
Zhao Ran nodded and complimented: "This shows that the high commander leads the troops well."
The high commander smiled and said: "I don't dare to have the reputation of abbot. The situation here is still related to the national situation. Since the Tubo Imperial Guard was ambushed and killed by our Taoist sect more than thirty years ago, they have been on the defensive and dare not attack without permission.
."
After watching Guancheng, Zhao Ran took out one hundred taels of silver and gave it to the high commander, saying: "A few words of gratitude are from Wujiyuan of Guyang County to express condolences to the sergeants. I also ask the high commander to buy some food and cook them for the sergeants."
Add two more dishes."
Commander Gao smiled and ordered the generals behind him to express his gratitude to Zhao Ran, took the money personally, and said: "I heard that Abbot Zhao is still a monk in the pavilion, and there are more than ten immortal masters stationed in Guancheng. If
Abbot Zhao wants to see you, so I will go and invite them."
Zhao Ran nodded: "That's fine, I'll drop by to pay you a visit."
It was already dusk, and it was just time for dinner. The high commander held a banquet in the command hall and invited the monks stationed in Guancheng to gather together.
Sichuan Province is the main battlefield on the southern front of the Ming Dynasty, with Songfan to the north fighting against Xixia, and Songpan to the south fighting against Tubo. Daomen Pavilion also divided the monks’ defense areas accordingly. The seven palaces in northern Sichuan mainly guard Songfan, southern Sichuan, and eastern Sichuan.
The palaces and pavilions in other state capitals will support various checkpoints against Tubo.
There are thirteen monks on duty at Diaomen Pass, led by a great master, two assistant masters, five Huang Guan and five Taoist priests. All Huang Guan and above are from various prefectures and pavilions, and five Taoist priests
They are casual cultivators recruited from various places. There can be more than ten monks on duty in one pass, which fully illustrates the importance of Diaomen Pass. When placed in other ordinary passes, the general preparation is only four or five.
There were six people coming to the banquet. When Zhao Ran saw the leading mage, he immediately became happy. This person was also an acquaintance - Cheng Zhicheng from Bozhou Xianxia Pavilion.
"It turns out to be Senior Brother Cheng. What a pleasure to meet you!" Zhao Ran rushed forward to salute.
Cheng Zhicheng laughed and said: "I heard that Abbot Zhao from Guyang County came here, and I guessed it was you. When I asked his name, it turned out to be you! What? Junior Brother Zhao has been promoted again? Has he been promoted to abbot from the temple? Promoted to abbot.
Did the abbot hold a banquet to celebrate?"
After hearing Cheng Zhicheng's teasing joke, Zhao Ran couldn't help but blush, and quickly changed the subject: "I'm not worth mentioning, but I'm my senior brother. I didn't expect that I haven't seen him for a year, and he has already formed a pill. From now on, there is hope for a great path. It's really
Congratulations!"
Cheng Zhicheng said with emotion: "After returning from Junshan, I soon became a perfect man. Then I realized something, so I retreated for two months and the golden elixir became perfect. It is also a blessing to worship Junshan Temple. Last time you asked me about Lin Zhibin with a flying talisman
I was in seclusion at the time of the incident, so my reply is late. I apologize, junior brother."
Zhao Ran said: "Anyway, I wish I didn't disturb my senior brother in retreat. I really envy my senior brother. This level of forming pills is extremely difficult. I don't know if I can pass it."
"My brother is extremely talented. He can break through the realm in an hour and it's just a golden elixir. It's nothing to worry about."
"Lucky lucky! By the way, why did senior brother come to Diaomen Pass to guard the place?"
Cheng Zhicheng said: "When I was at Junshan Temple, I met the Butcher and Rich Master Shen, and we kept in touch with each other from then on. At the end of last year, I received a flying talisman from the two of them, saying that they had traveled to the Lizhou area. It happened to be Diaomen Pass.
I needed a mage to fill the vacancy. After the documents arrived at Xianxia Pavilion, I signed up. I came here in the second half of the first month and it has only been a month since I came here."
Zhao Ran said happily: "So the two of them are here too? Senior brothers, have you seen them before?"
Cheng Zhicheng said: "I've met him twice. Speaking of which, my life was really comfortable. I saw dangerous peaks in the snowy mountains, secluded canyons, and countless scenic spots. This is called cultivating immortality. But you and I were working hard all day long.
I don’t know when it will end.”
As they talked, they issued talismans to the butcher and Rich Master Shen respectively. Not long after, they received a reply. The two men were fishing in a tributary of Jinchuan and could not come back for the time being. They had to meet again next time.
With a little regret, Cheng Zhicheng introduced several Huangguan monks and Taoist monks to Zhao Ran. Everyone sat down and chatted and laughed with several generals at Diaomen Pass.
During the dinner, I asked about Master Xing and Master Zhou who were stationed here. Cheng Zhicheng explained that these two happened to lead a team across the border yesterday to Jinchuan to investigate a missing case of a Ming army patrol team. They could only introduce it next time.
.
That night, Zhao Ran stayed at Diaomen Pass and set off back to Ya'an the next day.
After waiting for four days in Ya'an, Supervisor Lu Zhiyu arranged various banquets every noon and evening, including "Taoist Reception Banquet", "Official Office Cleansing Banquet", "Acquaintance Anniversary Banquet", and "Country Gentry Respecting Banquet"
There was a "Thanksgiving Banquet", a "Village Inspection Banquet", a "Taoist Temple Co-construction Banquet"... all of them, Song Xiong was so drunk that he fell asleep for four days, and Zhao Ran was also a little upset after drinking.
Seeing Lu Zhiyu's warm reception, he was worried that the charity house would be depleted, so he donated a hundred taels of silver in the name of Wuji House. Lu Zhiyu politely declined, but still accepted it.
It wasn't until the fifth day that Zheng Supervisor of Lizhou Miaosheng Palace arrived in the dust. After meeting, he grabbed Zhao Ran's hand, squeezed it tightly, shook it back and forth, and said nothing:
"Abbot Zhao, you are finally here!"
Zhao Ran smiled politely and thought to himself, why do these comrades from Lizhou like to hold on to other people's hands and not let go? This problem was not discovered when he was at Ye Xueguan.
That night, there was another grand banquet...
Warm congratulations to zzz1220 for being promoted to the leader of the alliance. He successfully overcame the tribulation at the beginning of Xushi yesterday, mastered the three yuan, transcended the five elements, and ascended without permission from the heavenly talisman. His courage is commendable! This chapter has been updated, for the good deeds of fellow Taoists!