Yuan Chongzong is worthy of being a great Confucian scholar with a majestic spirit. Although he is over seventy years old and has white hair and beard, he is very energetic and has a rosy face without even many wrinkles.
When this great Confucian gentry walked into the Taiping Tower, he was like a crowd of stars. Officials, gentry, and wealthy businessmen spontaneously formed a circle according to their status. The closer they were to Yuan Chongzong's circle, the lower their status.
The higher it is, the more intuitively it reflects the hierarchy of the gentry circle in Jiangling Prefecture. It is clear at a glance who is the core figure and which is the peripheral figure.
Soon, everyone went up to the second floor.
Zhang Yuelu did not take a seat, but stood by the window with his hands behind his hands, looking at the street scene. After hearing the footsteps going upstairs, he slowly turned around and met Yuan Chongzong's eyes, who was walking in the front.
"Is this Deputy Hall Master Zhang? I'm old Yuan Chongzong, I'm late. I apologize for keeping Deputy Hall Master Zhang waiting." Yuan Chongzong stopped. When he stopped, the people who were following him upstairs had no choice but to stop.
Footsteps, standing on the stairs, neither going up nor going down.
Zhang Yuelu did not use the Taoist etiquette, but cupped his hands and said: "Zhang Yuelu has met Mr. Yuan."
Although he saluted, Zhang Yuelu had no intention of stepping forward to help the old man, nor did he say anything, "Don't call him deputy hall master, just call me my cousin Qingxiao."
Her attitude is very clear. She does not want to occupy the position of a junior. If she wants to rely on her elders and sell them, it will not work.
Furthermore, although Yuan Chongzong is old, he obviously has a lot of cultivation. Not to mention a few steps, not even a three-foot-high wall can stop him, so he needs help from others.
Yuan Chongzong still had some Qi-nurturing skills and did not show any displeasure or anger on his face. He walked slowly up to the second floor and came to the round table, which was the largest and had the fewest chairs. He stretched out his hand towards Zhang Yuelu and made a "please" gesture: "Deputy Hall Master Zhang,
Please take your seat."
Zhang Yuelu walked to the guest of honor position at the round table and also extended his hand and said: "Mr. Yuan, please."
Only after the two of them were seated together did the others dare to sit down.
"Mr. Yuan made a special trip to pick up the wind and wash away the dust for me today. Yuelu would like to thank you first." Zhang Yuelu picked up the wine glass.
Yuan Chongzong also picked up his wine glass and said with a smile: "Deputy Hall Master Zhang is too polite. He is just showing his friendship as a landlord."
Zhang Yuelu suddenly changed the topic: "It's just that this kind of scene is a bit too big. If you don't know, you would think that I, Zhang Yuelu, am some kind of big shot. I am just a Taoist priest of the fourth grade of wine sacrifice. I really don't dare to be."
Yuan Chongzong smiled and said: "Deputy Hall Master Zhang is humbled. If I remember correctly, the last person who could become the deputy hall master at Deputy Hall Master Zhang's age was the Sixth Generation Grand Master. Deputy Hall Master Zhang's path ahead is truly limitless."
"Old Mr. Yuan has overestimated his reputation, and Yuelu is too ashamed to deserve it." Zhang Yuelu's eyes flashed, "How can Yuelu's mere firefly light compete with the bright moon?"
This made Yuan Shangdao, who was still worried, breathe a sigh of relief. The old man was so proud that the arrogant Deputy Hall Master Zhang finally did not do anything more outrageous. Although he did not want to consider himself a junior, a young man who succeeds will inevitably have a higher heart than the sky.
It's also reasonable.
Yuan Chongzong smiled kindly: "Back then, Shenggong Yan said that there are only three families in the world. My family is just like Zhang from the Shangqing Dynasty and Qin from Longcheng. Deputy Hall Master Zhang was born in the Zhang family of the Qing Dynasty, and he and Jucheng Zhenren are the same family. Speaking of which, the old man and Jucheng Zhenren are the same.
We have been old friends for many years.”
Zhang Yuelu raised his eyebrows slightly: "I should call him uncle. It's just that this uncle is busy with work. I am just from a sideline and am not qualified to live in Da Zhenren's mansion. I can't see him more than once throughout the year. Later I went to Yujing and saw even more.
not enough."
Yuan Shangdao's expression changed slightly.
Everyone here is an old fox, and everyone can hear the underlying meaning of Zhang Yuelu's words, which is to say that she is not familiar with this uncle anymore, and if she wants to use this uncle to suppress her, I'm afraid she can't.
But if you think about it carefully, the Zhang family really didn't do much in Zhang Yuelu's journey. It was Master Cihang who took action to save Zhang Yuelu in solving the Jiangnan case. He made an exception and promoted the deputy hall master and gave him a semi-immortal object. That was the Earth Master.
Yukou Jinyan. The recent promotions were also due to the efforts of Master Cihang. Although Master Cihang is also a member of the Zhengyi dynasty, his surname is not Zhang after all.
In addition, Zhang Yuelu was from a small branch of the side sect, so he might be wary of the big sect, for fear that Zhang Yuelu would use the small sect to take over the Da Zhen Mansion and seize the position of Heavenly Master.
From this point of view, it is reasonable for Zhang Yuelu and Zhang Jucheng not to be close. If they want to use Zhang Jucheng to suppress her, this move is a bit reckless.
Yuan Chongzong paused slightly, not knowing how to answer.
Zhang Yuelu took the initiative and said: "Mr. Yuan just quoted Yan Shenggong's words. If I remember correctly, the original words are: There are only three families in the world. My family is the only one with Shangqing Zhang and Zhongli Xu. And there are also descendants.
Half a sentence: Zhang of the Shangqing Dynasty has Taoist morale; Zhongli Xu is a bad person and has a small family spirit. Zhongli Xu was the royal family of the previous dynasty, let alone him. This Zhang of the Shangqing Dynasty has Taoist morale, but it doesn’t sound like a compliment. However,
At that time, Xuan Sheng had not yet been born, and the Taoist sect had not yet revived, so it was reasonable for Duke Yan Sheng to look down on Taoist priests."
These words are heartbreaking.
Everyone present was displeased, but they could not refute.
After all, it is a fact.
Zhang Yuelu said calmly: "The banquet you are hosting today is probably not just a simple matter of washing my hands and washing away the dust for me. I don't like to talk in circles, and I don't like to be mysterious. Some things are better stated openly."
Everyone looked at each other.
Is this deputy hall leader Zhang just a stupid young man? How can such a thing be stated openly? How can one leave three points of leeway if it is stated openly?
It's not that Zhang Yuelu doesn't understand these, but knowing that doesn't mean she has to follow these ancient and unwritten rules.
Zhang Yuelu looked around: "It seems that you don't want to say anything, so let me do it."
Everyone was stunned again. Zhang Yuelu said slowly: "A major case has occurred in Zixian Mountain. The Taoist priest Liu Futong in charge has been arrested and escorted to Yujing. The case involves the Yanqing Chamber of Commerce, whose main office is located in Jiangling Prefecture, so I
I came to Jiangling Mansion. I just didn’t expect that as soon as I got off the flying boat, so many people would come to visit me and want to help me. This makes me suspicious. Do you all have shares in Yanqing Chamber of Commerce?"
Everyone never expected that Zhang Yuelu would directly clarify the purpose of his visit, leaving everyone speechless.
Yuan Chongzong had to speak: "The affairs of the Yanqing Chamber of Commerce have nothing to do with us. We just heard about Deputy Hall Master Zhang's name for a long time, so we held a banquet to invite him and formed a good relationship. Even if Deputy Hall Master Zhang does not want to make this good friend
There is no need to slander me and others."
"As long as it's irrelevant." Zhang Yuelu's gaze turned to him, "I have already sent a letter to Jiangnan Daofu, asking them to investigate the matter thoroughly. I think there will be preliminary results in the near future. Only Zixian Mountain, in three years,
A huge sum of 250,000 Taiping money has been embezzled, and there is no telling how much money has been traced back and has not yet been discovered. Yu Jing will definitely get to the bottom of it, and when the case is revealed one day, no matter who is involved,
I won’t let anyone go.”
Yuan Chongzong's expression changed.
Yuan Shangdao's expression also changed.
Needless to say, the others were all shocked.
The Taoist sect is as rich as the country, so naturally there are not a few people who have ideas about the Taoist sect.
However, the attitude of the Taoist sect is consistent. Putting aside his own family members, if outsiders dare to touch Pindao's money, Pindao will dare to let him go to the Demon Suppressing Platform and taste the taste of thunder punishment, and he will get every cent.
I have to spit it out.
Taoists have understood a truth very early on. As long as they have money, they can cover up and suppress most conflicts. As long as they don't have money, all conflicts will burst out, and they will eventually be doomed.
However, money and silk attract people's hearts, and people die for money and birds die for food. Over the years, there have always been people who have come up with Taoist ideas, but they are more hidden, and most of them cooperate inside and outside, and divide the spoils afterwards. 70% are from Taoism, and 30% are from outside.
Zhang Yuelu stood up slowly and planned to leave the table.
The entire second floor was as silent as death.
Everyone present had different expressions, and some even had a look of solemnity on their faces.
But they didn't dare to do anything rashly.
After all, it is no longer the age of Confucianism, but the age of Taoism.
If Zhang Yuelu encounters any accident in Jiangling Mansion, at this sensitive moment, it will undoubtedly be regarded as a provocation by the Taoist sect, and it will inevitably provoke the wrath of the Taoist sect. Not to mention Zhengyiyi and Quanzhen Taoism, even the Taiping Taoism will also be forced by the Taoist sect.
The fierce public opinion inside favors retaliation.
The Lingshan Witch Cult is an outlaw and is not afraid of death. The people here today all have families and businesses. When the time comes, no one will be able to escape, and their families will be ruined immediately.
At this moment, a voice came from the first floor: "Master Pei is here."