Chen Pingan looked up at the night and did not look back for a long time.
He stood under the eaves, holding a charcoal cage in his hand.
Gu Can cried heartbrokenly, like a wounded cub.
Even though Chen Ping'an looked at Gu Can again, he still didn't speak. He just let Gu Can wail there, with tears and snot all over his face.
Gu Can kept crying until her body twitched. She cried until she ran out of energy. Then she started whimpering, gathered some energy, and started howling again. It was like she had lost all her energy in crying.
Chen Pingan asked slowly: "Why don't you plead with me? Is it because you know it's useless? I don't want to lose the last chance, because I helped Tanxue open her mouth. Not only did I talk to the Chunting Mansion, I'm done with your mother, and it's the same with you Gu Can. The last bit of the connection is gone. Is that so? I finally understand that even if Tan Xue is here, I may not be able to survive in Shujian Lake now. If Tanxue were replaced by me, Chen Ping'an, as the door god of your Spring Court House, maybe you two could continue to live as before, but it would be a little less happy and you wouldn't be able to tell me confidently, 'I just like killing people.' ? But compared to one day being inexplicably beaten to death by a monk who has no grievances and no hatred, and the family is reunited underground, is it still profitable? "
Gu Can didn't say anything, didn't wipe the snot and tears on his face, and just stared at Chen Ping'an blankly.
Chen Pingan sighed, walked to Gu Can, bent down and handed over the charcoal cage in his hand.
Stepping in the snow, every step made a squeaking sound.
Gu Can didn’t answer.
Chen Pingan squatted down, face to face, and looked at Gu Can, "Little slug, it's okay, tell the truth, I will listen."
Gu Can grabbed a handful of snow , turned his head, smeared his face, then turned back and choked: "Chen Pingan, you are the worst person!"
Chen Pingan laughed dumbly, hesitated for a moment, "Besides you, Shu Jian Hu, I am indeed a good person. Either a good person is smart or a bad person." Gu Can burst into tears, "You Shu Jian Hu, you Chun Ting Mansion, you two! , you like to say things like this, let’s not do this, okay..."
Gu Can covered her face with the backs of her hands and sobbed.
Chen Pingan said: "Go back."
Gu Can punched Chen Pingan in the chest, causing Chen Pingan to fall to the snow.
Gu Can stood up and staggered away.
After running out for more than ten steps, Gu Can stopped without turning around and sobbed: "Chen Pingan, you are more important than the little loach. It has always been like this. But from now on, it will not be like this. Even if the little loach dies, it will still be better than you."
Chen Pingan sat in the snow, looking at Shujian Lake.
The heart is as still as water.
Standing up, shaking off the snow flakes on his cotton-padded clothes, Chen Pingan walked towards the ferry, waiting for the arrival of Tan Yuanyi from Lisu Island. With Liu Zhimao's resolute and resolute acting style, he would definitely send a message to Lisu Island with his sword as soon as he returned to Hengbo Mansion. However, he suddenly thought of this Dali Luboting's spy in the middle of Aquarius Continent. Most of the sub-leaders would not arrive by boat, but would communicate with Liu Zhimao in advance and secretly sneak into Qingxia Island. Chen Pingan would then turn around and go directly to Hengbo Mansion.
Chunting Mansion.
The woman was wearing a snow-white fox fur and was waiting anxiously.
After looking at Gu Can's figure, he hurried over and asked, "How is it, where is Tan Xue? Didn't he come back with you?"
The two of them were in the kitchen earlier. While making dumplings together, Gu Can's expression suddenly changed drastically. He fell to the ground and covered his heart, as if he was seriously ill.
At that time, the woman knew something was wrong. It was probably Tanxue who had gone wrong outside the Spring Court House.
Gu Can raised his head and said in a daze: "Dead."
The woman was stunned, thinking she heard wrongly, "Cancan, what did you say?"
Gu Can repeated: "Dead."
The woman said sternly: "Dead? Just like that? Tan Xue is a dragon in the Nascent Soul Realm, how could he die?! Except That old bastard named Liu from Gongliu Island, who else in Shujian Lake can kill Tan Xue?" Gu Can looked at her mother's face and said, "And Chen Ping'an."< /p>
The woman said angrily: "What nonsense are you talking about! How could Chen Ping'an kill Tan Xue? What qualifications does he have to kill the little loach that no longer belongs to him? Is he crazy? This heartless person You little bitch should have starved to death in Mud Bottle Alley back then. I knew he had no good intentions when he came to our Qingxia Island and suffered a thousand blows..."
Gu Can Suddenly said: "Chen Pingan may be able to hear it."
The woman immediately closed her mouth and looked around in a panic. Her face was as pale as the snow on the ground and the fox fur on her body.
Gu Can was silent.
The woman hugged him and cried, "My poor son."
Gu Can's face was expressionless. He was now extremely weak physically and mentally. In the spring, After a round trip in the snow between Tingfu and Shanmen, my hands and feet were already cold.
————
Returning to Hengbo Mansion again, Liu Zhimao hesitated and asked his confidant butler to invite Zhang Tao.
He then went to the secret small sword tomb similar to a sword room, where the top-grade messenger flying sword was stored. After carefully considering the words, he sent the letter to Tan Yuanyi, the owner of Lisu Island.
Finally, Liu Zhimao came to the lobby where there was a colorful lichen pavement, a national specialty. With a flick of his hand, he picked up a ball of water mist and sprinkled it on the ground. A picture of the entrance of Qingxia Island Mountain appeared.
The heavy snow has stopped, and the scene looks a bit dead.
Liu Zhimao lowered his head and stared at the scene of water mist.
During this period, I raised my head and looked out the door several times.
Liu Zhimao smiled helplessly. Among the nearly a thousand monks on Qingxia Island today, only one, Zhang Ji, dared to obtain the edict from Hengbo Mansion. He still came here in a hurry. He would never do it.Hastily Yufeng, as for whether he, the island owner, might have a grudge, this old guy Zhang Qing never cared.
Liu Zhimao sighed.
Nearly all the old brothers who fought side by side for the first time died. They either died on the battlefield of opening up new territories, or died from endless sneak attacks and assassinations, or they were unruly and rebellious. , were killed by Liu Zhimao himself, and of course more died of old age. In the end, only Zhang Ding was left, the last old man on Qingxia Island.
Liu Zhimao walked straight through the water transportation scroll and came to the gate. He hesitated for a moment, stepped out of the threshold, and waited for Zhang Ding there.
As a monk in the Dragon Gate Realm under the Earth Immortal, in Shujian Lake where there are thousands of islands, even if his friendship with Liu Zhimao is not mentioned, he actually occupies the mountain as the king and is more than enough to be the owner of the island. In fact, after Liu Zhimao annexed more than ten large islands including Sulin Island in the past two years by means of distant relations and close attacks, he had the intention to let Zhang Qing, the minister who supported the dragon, choose a large island as the place to open his mansion. However, Zhang Jin declined twice, so Liu Zhimao stopped insisting.
In the early stage of meeting when both of them were in the sea-viewing realm, Zhang Jing, a former genealogy master, was not only Liu Zhimao's friend, but also the strategist behind Liu Zhimao's advice. It can be said that Qingxia Island In the early days, he was able to get through the difficulties time and time again. In addition to Liu Zhimao leading a group of ministers who gathered around him, he took ruthless attacks every time, eradicating the enemy and shocking the heroes. Zhang's decision-making was crucial.
The reason why Liu Zhimao has always been very courteous to Zhang Zhi is not only the hard-earned love during the difficult years, but also the fact that after Zhang Zhi established a foothold in Qingxia Island, especially Liu Zhimao's On the road of cultivation, he climbed higher and higher step by step, leaving him far behind. He never hesitated to say many things that he thought he should say. He simply turned a founding achievement that should be resting on the credit book and enjoy the blessings into an unknown person. Liu Zhimao, a tiresome remonstrator in the temple, was really annoyed several times by Zhang Zhi's lack of respect. He immediately attacked the country and dismounted to defend the country. Can the rules be the same? But Zhang Tie still went his own way. After Liu Zhimao became Yuanying, he became more and more alienated from Zhang Tie. He just let him be in charge of fishing and secret treasury. He acted as a capital official but did the things of a local official. Zhang's unpopularity is obvious, so it's difficult to say that he has been in a difficult situation in recent years. However, compared with worshiping Yu Hui and other descendants of Qingxia Island who have infinite scenery, Zhang's opportunities to show up on Qingxia Island are becoming less and less. Many people celebrate his achievements. He did attend the banquet, but he never spoke. He neither flattered Zhenjun Jiejiang nor poured cold water on him.
Wandering around in his mind, Liu Zhimao felt a sense of sadness that he had not seen for a long time when he thought of these old things.
Finally it’s here.
When Zhang Zhi saw Liu Zhimao, he still walked slowly and leisurely.
Not only that, he even pinched a solid snowball in his hand. This shows how leisurely Zhang Ding walked on the way here, and how anxious the person who called him was.
The butler of Hengbo Mansion who is also a monk in the Dragon Gate Realm next to him, thisIt was really bad to go out to find Zhang Ding, but when he saw Mr. Zhenjun waiting outside the door, his heart skipped a beat, and he immediately regretted it. He had urged Zhang Ding too many times along the way, but fortunately he didn't Complain, otherwise you will probably fall into trouble.
Liu Zhimao waved to the butler to stay away from the lobby, and the latter immediately bowed and left.
Zhang Zhi cupped his fists and saluted, "I have met the island owner."
Liu Zhimao smiled and raised his hand and pressed it twice, indicating that Zhang Zhi did not need to be so open-minded.
The two of them crossed the threshold one after the other. Zhang Ding looked at the scroll suspended above the beautiful lichen and remained silent.
Liu Zhimao got straight to the point: "It took you and the fishing house eight years to help me find the reincarnation of the golden elixir female cultivator. At that time, you advised me to detain her on Qingxia Island. But you must not tamper with her. Once Liu Laocheng returns to Gongliu Island in the future, he will reveal the matter when he finally breaks his face. With this move, maybe I, Liu Zhimao, can save my own life. I didn't believe it at the time. You argued with me, and I said that you are a kindhearted woman, and it is very ridiculous to speculate on Liu Laocheng's character. Now it seems that you may not be right, but I am definitely wrong."
Zhang Jing said expressionlessly: "It's rare that the island owner is willing to admit his mistake. I don't know if the sun will rise from the west tomorrow morning."
Liu Zhimao stretched out his hand and nodded at the old stubborn man, angrily He smiled and said: "With your bad temper and bad mouth, if it had been anyone else, I would have killed you ten or eight times."
Zhang murmured, "Then I'll thank you. The grace of the island owner not to kill."
Liu Zhimao was about to speak when he suddenly pointed at the scroll and said, "Look carefully."
On the screen, Gu Can was kneeling at the door. Outside in the snow.
After the accountant opened the door and said that sentence, he raised his head, holding the charcoal cage with both hands, and just looked up.
Liu Zhimao’s face looked uncertain.
Zhang Jing said: "I advise the island owner to withdraw, but I guess it will be useless."
Liu Zhimao first stretched out a finger and drew the scroll A slight tap somewhere and a wave of sleeves really removed the picture.
Liu Zhimao said: "What do you think of this Chen Ping'an?"
Zhang Zhi thought for a while, "It's terrible. If he was Shu Jian Hu Yexiu, there should be no island. "What's the matter?"
Liu Zhimao nodded and said, "I won't tell you the secrets between me and him. It's not that I don't trust you, but that you don't know. Maybe Better. But there are some innocuous little things that I can tell you for fun."
Zhang Zhi no longer deliberately used words to attack Liu Zhimao.
What Liu Zhimao calls trivial matters is definitely not trivial.
Liu Zhimao then detailed the conversation he had with Chen Pingan after they left the mountain gate, and how they ate the winter solstice dumplings at Chun Ting Mansion together, and then went their separate ways and did their own things.
Liu Zhimao said: "Why did Chen Pingan deliberately take me with him?To scare that woman and give me a huge favor for free, I have to hide the truth from the woman and let me, Liu Zhimao, be the good guy? ”
Zhang Jing thought for a moment and hit the nail on the head: “It’s not complicated. From the moment Chen Ping’an moved out of Chun Ting Mansion, he was drawing a clear line with Gu Can’s mother-in-law, but the method was relatively mild. Both parties There are steps to avoid getting too tense, but at that time the woman would probably be relieved and could not guess Chen Pingan's intentions. After that, Chen Pingan would go to the Spring Court House from time to time to have a meal to appease people, and the woman would Gradually, she felt at ease. She was in a state of mind that she thought was the most 'comfortable'. Chen Pingan would not kidnap Gu Can and cause Gu Can to 'go astray' and become a good person looking for death. Moreover, Chen Pingan was still here. Qingxia Island can be regarded as the talisman of the Spring Court House, just like having an extra door god to watch the door. Of course she likes it. After that, Chen Pingan went to Spring Court Mansion less and less without leaving any trace, because the accountant was indeed very busy, so the woman became even happier. Until tonight, Chen Pingan attracted the island owner. , sitting together at the dining table of Chunting Mansion and eating dumplings, she finally realized belatedly that they were strangers. ”
After Zhang Ding said these words that were almost the truth, he asked: “I am an outsider who just paid more attention to Chen Ping’an, but I can still see through it
(This chapter is not finished, please turn the page)
, let alone the island owner, why do you ask? Why, are you afraid that after sitting on the bench for so many years and not using my brain all the time, I will be just like this woman in Chun Ting Mansion who likes to think of herself as the imperial wife? I will become rusty? Besides, no matter how weak your brain is, helping the island owner manage the secret vault and fishing for two houses is still barely enough, right? Could it be that I am worried about holding a secret warehouse in my hand, and I am afraid that when I see Qingxia Island falling down and the hozens scattering before my eyes, I can pack up my bed, grease the soles of my feet, and run away with a lot of treasures? Tell me which confidant you plan to hand over the secret warehouse to. Don’t worry, the island owner, I won’t stay away. However, if the candidate is not suitable, I will throw cold water on the island owner for the last time. "
Liu Zhimao laughed and scolded: "Stop talking nonsense here! ”
Zhang Ding said slowly: “What exactly is that? It's not that I, Zhang, look down on myself. I really can't be of much help in the current situation. If I were asked to be a dead soldier, I would not agree. Even if I know that I am not going to die soon, I still have sixty years to live. It is a lifetime for an ordinary master. Over the years, I have enjoyed all the blessings and hardships, and I have not eaten less. I don’t owe you and Qingxia Island anything. "
Liu Zhimao did not answer Zhang's question, and sighed for no reason, "You said that if Shujian Lake was full of people like Chen Ping'an, we old guys would be scolded so much that it's hard to write down. How can a great evil man who is worshiped by others still be around? How can you be so successful? "
Zhang Qing smiled and said: "Island Master, there are not many people like this. ”
Liu Zhimao turned his head and looked at this old monk from the Longmen Realm, whose soul was decaying and drifting away, for a long time.
Zhang Zhi just didn’t speak.
Liu Zhimao Said: "Zhang Ding, you look forOn a good and auspicious day, at the end of this year, don’t wait until spring, quietly leave Shujian Lake, go a little further, find a place with beautiful mountains and clear waters, and spend the last six years of your life peacefully. "
Zhang Zhen frowned and asked doubtfully: "Has the situation become this bad? "
Liu Zhimao hesitated for a moment and said frankly: "At present, it is not the worst, but things are unpredictable. It is the general trend that the Song family of Dali will take over Shujian Lake. My brain is cramped, or I feel that I have given too much to Liu Laocheng, and I want to make up for it with me. Qingxia Island will be settled by Qiu Hou. At that time, Da Li will find any reason to kill me, which will not only make Shujian Lake happy, I can also get the property of more than a dozen large islands. If it were me who was in charge of things in Dali, I would definitely make it. I might start sharpening it now. ”
Liu Zhimao patted Zhang Zhi’s shoulder and said, “I’m not trying to win people’s hearts. If you weren’t Zhang Zhi, you’d be nothing but a mediocre Dragon Gate monk. Why would I, Liu Zhimao, be like this?” Mother-in-law, I’ve been chatting for a long time. I have so much free time, can’t I practice in seclusion? He accidentally cultivated the Jade Pu Realm. Damn it, Da Li still dared to sharpen his sword, and he was reluctant to kill the donkey. He was also in the Jade Pu Realm, and a Ruan Qiong was about to be praised by the Song family of Da Li. . Compared to Ruan Qiong, I, a Nascent Soul who is only half a step away, am really half a step away, which makes people mad. ”
“Speaking of which, you taught me how to win people’s hearts back then.
Liu Zhimao put away his hand from Zhang's shoulder, straightened his clothes again, and said with a smile: "I hope that one of the old guys around me will have a happy ending." Anyway, it's a small effort, don't thank me, otherwise it will be ignored. ”
Zhang Jiang suddenly started to curse: “You old bastard, you were really beaten to death by Da Li or Liu Laocheng one day, and then I hid. Sixty years have passed, what else can I do?” Catching up with you on the road to hell and talking to you? "
Zhang Ding shook his head and said softly: "I won't leave. "
Liu Zhimao looked at this stubborn guy and said something off-topic, "You can be friends with our accountant. When you are smart, you are so smart that you don't even look like a good person. . When he gets angry, he looks like a fool with water in his head. ”
Zhang Dao said: “Your xinxing is not right now, and it is not conducive to practice. You can only walk a hundred miles at half ninety. If you fall in one breath at this time, it will be difficult for you to pick it up again in your life.” How to reach the upper five realms? We have weathered so many storms and waves. Isn’t it still clear that how many of our opponents died at our hands with just one breath? ”
Liu Zhimao exclaimed, “Zhang Ding, that’s okay. He’s starting to teach you lessons again, and he dares to talk to me about spiritual practice. I really thought we were still the two stupid young people in the sea-viewing realm back then.” ah? ”
Zhang Ding smiled and said: “When I entered the cave realm, I was considered a fool. You, Liu Zhimao, were already quite old at that time. There was nothing you could do about it. You wild dogs were just digging for food.” Shanze Yexiu, he is better than us.The teacher is much worse. "
Liu Zhimao laughed and said: "After working as a wild cultivator in Shujian Lake for so many years, in the end you are still willing to call yourself the Immortal Master of Genealogy? "
Zhang Dao murmured: "There is something that I have always kept in my heart and never told anyone. I followed that guy named Liu Zhimao. From the first day I came to Shujian Lake, I I hope very much that one day I can see with my own eyes that Liu Zhimao establishes a sect in Shujian Lake as a wild cultivator. So over the years, I often went to a place where Liu Zhimao and I first established a foothold in Shujian Lake. It was a small island with the same name as Hengbo Mansion, Hengbo Island, a palm-sized place. Later, it was given to a man who came It really pissed me off to see my invincible enemy of the golden elixir killed with his life magic weapon. At that time, Liu Zhimao, who was not discouraged at all, rowed over alone and cried silently there. It was painful to cry. also. ”
————
Chen Ping’an and Tan Yuanyi arrived at Hengbo Mansion almost at the same time.
It was just light and dark.
Liu Shimao personally went out and led the accountant, who was holding a charcoal cage, into a secret room. The walls and floor were actually covered with snow, and only four futons were placed.
Risujima Island. Master Tan Yuanyi was already sitting on one of the futons, closing her eyes to rest. After Liu Zhimao and Chen Pingan walked in side by side, she opened her eyes, stood up, and said with a smile: "Mr. Chen's name is like thunder. "
Chen Pingan asked a confused question, "The current situation of Shujian Lake, Island Master Tan, your colleague Li Baozhen of Lubo Pavilion, who is now in Qingluan Kingdom, can you Know? "
Tan Yuanyi said: "Every once in a while, there will be some exchange of key intelligence. If Mr. Chen does not want to be mentioned too much in the intelligence, I can personally polish it." ”
Chen Ping’an naturally needs to express his thanks.
Tan Yuanyi said some kind words. Mr. Chen is the mountain king of Longquan County and a close friend of Wei Bo, the righteous god of Beiyue. Inside the Green Wave Pavilion, everyone has admired Chen Pingan's name for a long time.
In fact, instead of being surprised and grateful, Chen Pingan began to worry about tonight's secret meeting.
Da Li officialdom. Especially for spies outside the Great Li Dynasty, Tan Yuanyi's so-called "polishing the pen" is to make exceptions. If it were replaced by Shanze Yexiu from Shujian Lake, it can certainly be understood as paving the way and sincerity for both parties to do business. , but Chen Ping'an happened to be someone who was very familiar with some of the operating rules of Da Li. He couldn't help it, but his former mortal enemy happened to be the original owner of Green Wave Pavilion, the empress of the palace, who was the most powerful woman in the Da Li Dynasty. Since he dares to break the rules, even just a little bit, it means that he needs to quietly make amends with Chen Ping'an. This is also part of business, and it's just business. Many friends turn against each other because of money. It may not be all those so-called friends who are unkind, but they themselves are also wrong in "not being clear". As for the order of what should be said here, and the right and wrong, they often mislead others and themselves because of blindly being emotional.Both sides suffer.
The three of them sat down together.
A leader of the Great Li spies, Crossing the River Dragon.
A Shu Jianhu Yuanying monk, a local snake.
A passer-by who is both a native of Longquan County in Dali and an accountant enshrined in Qingxia Island.
Chen Pingan sat cross-legged, spread his hands on the charcoal cage, and asked directly: "Due to the accident in Old Dragon City, the Song family of Dali owes me gold and copper coins. Does Island Master Tan know?"
Tan Yuanyi nodded, "This is the top secret of Lubo Pavilion. Of all the spies and dead soldiers hidden in the middle of Aquarius Continent in Lubo Pavilion, I am the only one who has access to some rough information. They are deliberately included in Da Li's official documents." The part is unclear, so I am still not qualified to know the specific inside story."
Chen Pingan asked again: "Dali military, for example, the two cavalry that arrived at the border of the Zhu Ying Dynasty, are they? Are you all dissatisfied with Island Master Tan?"
Tan Yuanyi's face changed slightly.
Da Li is a martial artist, from the temple to the rivers and lakes to the market. His folk customs are tough and tough, so he has always been ridiculed by Aquarius Island as the "barbarian from the north".
Da Li’s Shangzhuguo surname has most of its roots in the military. He even controls a group of frontier army cavalry who are used to fighting "old wars". No one can completely control a frontier army. , there are often two or three powerful surnames that check and balance each other and form alliances. Of course, there are also situations where the two surnames of the Shangzhu Kingdom, like Yuan and Cao, are hostile to each other.
If it weren’t for Cui Xun, the national master of Dali, the civil servants of Dali would never have had a chance to succeed. Even though Xiuhu had been running the court for a hundred years, a big joke was made last year. One of the civil servants of Dali The messenger of the Zhinan Expedition Cavalry in the capital went to the Ministry of Finance to ask for money in an aggressive manner. The minister of the Ministry of Finance, who was a bit higher in rank than this person, personally came to receive him. Of course, the Ministry of Finance had to follow the procedure and vomit his bitterness first. If you cry poverty again, you will end up with no money in your hands. If it is a bit involved in the officialdom and incense, the most you can do is to say some heartfelt words in private. If there is no friendship, then it is just love. If you have the ability, you Come to the Ministry of Finance to cause trouble.
The guy who visited the Ministry of Finance to ask for money had a mediocre relationship with the Ministry of Finance. He listened for a long time, held back his temper, and endured it until the end. He finally started to blow up, slapped the table, stared, and pointed at someone The Minister of Tohoku scolded his nose with bloody curses, and told the facts clearly about the achievements of his cavalry in destroying the country all the way south, and then reported the tragic casualties of the soldiers in which country and on which battlefield one by one. After counting the figures, according to the words of the national teacher Cui Chan, this is "a military man also has to speak polite words that civil servants can understand." Finally, he asked the Minister of Household Affairs whether his conscience was caught by a dog and he dared to pay for military pay. He hesitated and pretended to be an uncle, and then told the whole story about how much money the household department still had, which made the assistant minister of the household department lament that you just came to our household department as an errand.
The final result was naturally that the man returned home with a full load, and there was also an unexpected surprise. The Minister of Tobe allocated a sum of money that was not urgent and gave it to the cavalry with powerful forces entwined in the capital.
But before the man could leave the capital with the good news, he was dragged back. Not only that, but also the minister of household affairs and his immediate boss, the minister known as the God of Wealth in Dali, gathered together.
On the main seat, sitting an embroidered tiger, the national master Cui Chan.
At that time, Cui Han was drinking tea and said with a smile: "How dare you, the Ministry of Finance, to delay the money given to our poor scholar, the teacher of Dali?" Song Yan, if I remember correctly, was educated in a village school at the beginning, how many times are we really willing to use pen and knife? We are already so stubborn?"
Ignore the trembling Minister of Household Affairs, Cui Cheng turned to look at the white-haired but energetic Shangshu of the Ministry of Finance, "Master Han Dacai, who is to blame for Dali being so poor? Blame me? Or is it you?"
I never wanted to grow old. Shangshu was not afraid and pointed at Song Yan, "How dare you blame the Imperial Master? I am older, but my addiction to officialdom is even greater. Besides, our household department is not poor either. We have a lot of money, but we are not willing to spend it carelessly. , so it’s not my fault, but it’s Song Yan’s fault. From the beginning to the end, our household department handled the payment in a clean and tidy manner in accordance with the requirements of the National Master. Not one copper coin is too much, not one copper coin is missing. Song Yan has done something bad. A good man can only do his job. Song Yan, come on, show some backbone of our household officials."
The money-seeker with a background in the border army widened his eyes. Is this the behavior of a high-ranking official in the Sixth Bureau Yamen? No better than the rough guys from our frontier army.
It seems that all the shameless people and words in the world actually have the same virtue?
Cui Chan took a sip of tea and smiled at the old minister: "Okay, stop beating around the bush here to find a way out for your subordinates. Song Yan's mistakes were not small, but they were not enough to lose his official position. Several times The Beijing review is pretty good, so I will give him three years of salary and put it into the sum." If Song Yan, who is weak in his knees, is granted amnesty, "My subordinates are willing to give ten years of salary... ..."
The old minister slapped his head and said, "You are a coward and you are seeking your own death."
Cui Chan was still not angry. He held the tea in one hand and the cup lid in the other. Yan waved his hands and said: "This is not the rule of being an official. After I go back, I will come back to life. I can calm down and ask the old minister for advice on how to be an official. Don't always think that your immediate boss is just relying on earning money." It was only because of money that he was able to establish himself in the center of the temple."
The old minister left the hall with the surviving minister.
The two of them wiped their sweat together. The old minister was so angry that he kicked the servant in the leg and cursed in a low voice: "If I were thirty or forty years younger, I could kick the shit out of you." ”
(This chapter is not finished, please turn the page)
The latter smiled bitterly. Is this still the old minister who likes those who are all-day long?
The guy who was making a big fuss in the Hubu Yamen swallowed his saliva. After all, he was a smart man who could get money from the Hubu. He imitated the old minister and acted like a rogue. Me, this is my duty.”
Cui Han nodded, "What you did is not only right, but also very good. I will remember your name and keep up the good work in the future. Maybe you will have a good future. At least you don't have to make a special trip to the Yamen to grit your teeth." You bought a new set of clothes that would not disgrace the frontier army. After you leave here, you go to the Hubu Yamen to ask for the money for the clothes. This is not money you should spend. It is the money owed to you by the civil servants of the Dali court. Except for the little money that should have been allocated to the teachers, the rest of the military expenses obtained from Song Yan can be taken out of the capital."
The guy had a look of disbelief on his face, "Master Imperial Master, Is it really just like this?"
As for why the dignified Imperial Master Li knew about such a trivial matter as buying clothes, he couldn't think about it anymore.
Cui Chan smiled and said, "Of course it's more than just that. This matter distracted me, especially made me feel a little unhappy. Since you, an errand runner, can't be blamed, Han The minister is too sloppy and doesn't give me a chance to let the Hubu Yamen have some trouble, so I have to talk about your general. On the way south, he made some accounts that can be opened or closed. You are going to make a calculation with him, Su Gaoshan. You tell him that the imperial court will deduct his contribution to destroying the Yeyou Kingdom, so the hunting envoy who should have been in the bag is a little bit in doubt. Next, with Both sides of Cao Ping advanced together to attack the Zhu Ying Dynasty. Remember to use more force. If you can lead the army to attack the capital of the Zhu Ying Dynasty first, it would be a great achievement. He was a woodcutter and did not like to use the dragon chair to chop and burn firewood. I can promise him that chair today. As long as Su Gaoshan is the first to see the high wall of the capital, the most valuable chair in the middle of Aquarius Continent will be his firewood. He will eat that chair. Flame, the fire python he raised, has the hope of becoming a golden elixir."
The face of the man from the frontier army was extremely ugly.
This is obviously to force General Su to fight his way into the hinterland.
Cui Han put down the tea cup, "There are still things to be busy with, and you are the same, so I won't invite you to drink tea. One or two cups of tea will not make you less anxious."
The man hesitated to speak, and finally gave up his plan to discuss it with the Imperial Master. If he dared to make trouble in the Ministry of Household Affairs, he was forced by the situation and had to jump over the wall. It was meaningless here.
Before leaving, the man plucked up the courage to say: "Master Imperial Master, can you delay any longer and allow me to say a word?"
Cui Chan said with a smile. : "That's two sentences."
The man said with a straightforward smile: "I have always heard that the big shots in the court like to talk nonsense. They all rely on themselves to guess. The National Normal University People talk a lot, but not too much. Although today's incident has made the Imperial Master a little upset, to be honest, I am still very happy."
Cui Han waved his hand, "In the future. You can brag with others, but don’t go too far. It’s better not to talk about those people who are friendly with me, Cui Han, and call each other brothers.”
The man sincerely admired him, clasping his fists and saying: “Master National Master is really good. It’s a god.”
It’s hard to imagine.
A man from the border army asked for money from the Ministry of Household Affairs at the end of last year. Such a small matter, which had nothing to do with Shujian Lake at the beginning, will eventually directly affect the general situation and the situation of tens of thousands of wild cultivators in Shujian Lake. destiny.
For a whole year from last year to the end of this year, Su Gaoshan, the leader of a large Li cavalry team, had the same feeling: I have no money, I am short of money.
Especially after advancing straight into the central area of Shihao Kingdom, a vassal state of Zhu Ying Dynasty, there was no difficulty in taking over Shihao Kingdom. However, after weighing the soldiers and horses of Cao Peng, Su Gaoshan decided. Worry, no matter how you look at it, that pretty boy has a better chance of winning and is the first to conquer the capital city of Zhu Ying Dynasty.
No one can suffocate to death, especially a high-ranking and powerful general like Su Gaoshan, so within all rules, he also needs money, and even more godly money.
So he focused on the Shujian Lake south of Shihao Kingdom.
I personally sent someone to Chishui City and had a meeting with Tan Yuanyi from Lisu Island.
It doesn’t matter whether Su Gaoshan is Liu Zhimao or Ma Zhimao, who becomes the leader of Shujian Lake, as long as he gives money, as long as he has enough money, he can speed up the horse’s hooves going south. For this person Support those wild cultivators who look like street rats. If anyone is not convinced, that’s just right. When Su Gaoshan went south this time, not to mention the wild cultivators and the Immortal Masters, they even leveled forty of the mountains. Yu Zuo, not to mention the Wu Secretary Lang assigned to him by Da Li, there are as many as two hundred monks who have been recruited along the way. This is something he can see, otherwise the number would have exceeded a thousand. And as long as he plans to have a big fight on the mountain, behind his own army, those places where he destroyed the country or where Da Li recognized his vassal status, the Genealogy Immortal Master and the Immortal Cave that bowed in front of him, and You can call in three or four hundred more numbers, at least this number, and you have to obediently fly into the clouds and ride the mist, and rush to the aid of Shujian Lake.
What's more, in the army, there is a giant sword boat specially equipped to target the monks on the mountain. It is a big thing built by the Mohist mechanics. It rises into the air and fires a volley, and thousands of flying swords fall like rain. .
It means eating money, and it is a lot of fairy money. Every time he uses it, Su Gaoshan's heart is cut with a knife, and it feels like his own heart is being chopped out.
Every time he heard the civil servants making plans over there, saying that using the sword boat this time, the gains outweighed the losses, they crackled and crackled, and finally told Su Gaoshan how much Xiaoshu money he had lost, Su Gaoshan wanted to kill those from the Zushitang. The old beams were torn down and sold for money by those who destroyed the mountain gate, and then sent people to dig three feet into the ground and scrape it all over again. If you find a secret treasure place or something like that, you might be able to save your capital or even make a profit. This kind of thing really happened on the way south, and more than once. Those old monks on the mountain are all like rats digging holes, each one hiding deeper than the other.
When he thought of the belongings and savings accumulated by so many wild cultivators in Shujian Lake for hundreds of years, Su Gaoshan almost wanted to shamelessly go to Cao Ping, that pretty boy, and borrow a few more sword boats from him.
As for Su Gaoshan, who has the momentum of the Great Li and is a general with heavy troops, the simpler the better when doing things.
But for Lisu Island Tan Yuanyi, a great spy who is accustomed to calculating gains and losses on the edge of a knife, he really encountered a powerful general like Su Gaoshan, who could rank among the top ten in the Great Li Border Army. A real big shot, a confirmed future hunting envoy, Tan Yuanyi was both happy and having a headache.
Lisu Island's surplus over the years, as well as the little fairy money previously earned from Qingzhong and Tianmu Island, are just a drop in the bucket in terms of the military expenditure required for the rapidly expanding iron cavalry.
Su Gaoshan relied on war to support war, and it could no longer be maintained. After all, on the way south, in addition to the thunderous hooves of the Great Li cavalry, there were also the Great Li supervisory army and a group of civilian officials responsible for cleaning up the mess. The latter would Try to prevent the military from exploiting the defeated areas too much. Here, the national counselor Cui Yi has long formulated a set of almost cumbersome rules. It doesn't matter whether the frontier generals like it or not. It doesn't matter if it doesn't look good. Anyway, they have their own staff to help solve their problems, and if they violate the rules, they will have to pay the price. It can be overcome with military merit. As long as the battle merit is sufficient, if you encounter a stubborn city and cannot attack it for a long time, you will suffer heavy casualties. Once the city is successfully breached, the general can even order the massacre of the city. Let alone two-legged people, you can still kill them. Pigs and dogs will not stay, but for this kind of venting of anger that violates the book of laws and regulations of the Southern Expedition, the military supervisors of the Great Li army and those left-behind civil servants can only give advice at most, and will not persuade them to death, let alone impeach them, because in this case, the same Within the rules of the National Preceptor, you only need to take out the book, flip through it, and calculate the merits accumulated by killing enemies along the way, as well as the military merits of destroying the city, with the cost of massacring the city, which is enough , and are willing to have your military exploits wiped out, and are willing not to be able to get a newly-established official position in Dali afterwards as a "tourist envoy", just do it, and the Dali court will never settle your scores in the future.
But if you don’t have enough military merit and dare to massacre the city or kill the defeated army to surrender, it is easier to behead. The supervisor can directly order all the military secretaries in the army, even those around the commander-in-chief. The confidant Wu Secretary Lang also needs to obey the order given by the Great Li Imperial Master to the supervisory army. The general who ordered the massacre of the city will be executed on the spot, and then he has to be summoned to each Great Li border army. One head is not enough. The local families in Da Li will work together to make up for it until it is enough. If killing them all is not enough, it doesn’t matter. Da Li’s Imperial Master has said that it is Da Li who has shown mercy to you for your military career over the years. .
But if Liu Laocheng did not show up.
This deal is a good situation for all four of them, Tan Yuanyi, Liu Zhimao, General Su Gaoshan, and Dali to win.
The result was Liu Laocheng, who had not appeared on Gongliu Island for two hundred years.
So, with the emergence of Liu Laocheng, Liu Zhimao lost control of Shujian Lake overnight. Tan Yuanyi’s fate was no better than that of Gu Can and that beast on Qingxia Island. No matter where you go, it will be an unforeseen disaster.
At this moment, Liu Zhimao looked at his eyes, nose and heart, as if the old monk was in concentration.
Chen Ping'an raised his hand slightly and rubbed his palms, "Master Tan, how is your relationship with Su Gaoshan, the general of the Great Li who attacked Shihao Kingdom?"
Tan Yuanyi said very frankly, "The relationship is very ordinary. What Su Gaoshan likes is the filial piety money and life-saving money from the thousands of islands in Shujian Lake. If he can't get it, he may fall out at any time, even half of my own family is no exception. Although the generals can never interfere with the green There are more than ten spies like me in the Green Wave Pavilion alone, not to mention the cattle and horse stalls and the bronze figures holding the terrace, which are not inferior to the Green Wave Pavilion. "< /p>
Chen Pingan smiled and said: "What's even worse is that the Green Wave Pavilion was originally built by the empress. Although he has become the adopted son of Grand Master Da Li, he is not his biological son after all. In the end The most unlucky thing is that it is also the spy in Lubo Pavilion who has reached the high position of Island Master Tan. Li Baozhen's promotion path is destined to be smoother. Instead, the former dynasty of Lubo Pavilion with deep qualifications like Island Master Tan "Old minister, this is a bit difficult."
Tan Yuanyi said with a smile: "Master Imperial Master will not be biased when it comes to Niumalan and Lvbo Pavilion."
Chen Ping'an. He hit the nail on the head and said: "Of course I won't be partial when it comes to the Cow Horse Barn and Lubo Pavilion. But specifically, will I treat every confidant old man who was promoted by the empress in Lubo Pavilion? Maybe the Imperial Master is very generous, no, maybe I'm not that big, yes. Maybe if I use my talents in troubled times today, I won't, but maybe tomorrow, when the world is peaceful, I will. Maybe I submitted my declaration of surrender today and drew a clear line with my empress, but tomorrow something unexpected happens and I'm not very smart. It seems possible that others will be implicated."
Tan Yuanyi sighed and did not refute.
Liu Zhimao still looked calm and aloof.
Chen Pingan also sighed in his heart.
For Tan Yuanyi, it is meaningful to be unable to break the deadlock, but it is of little significance.
But even so, before starting the deal, I already knew that the result would be unsatisfactory, and tonight's meeting was still a step that had to be taken.
Chen Ping'an needs to go through all the details revealed by Tan Yuanyi to settle the doubts in his heart, and then summarize and distinguish the seemingly vague but traceable general trend. context.
Chen Pingan smiled and said: "The situation is indeed not very good, but friendship is born out of adversity. Island Master Tan, Island Master Liu, then let's be allies who cooperate sincerely? Let's start talking about the details and steps? Three parties Check each other's mistakes and fill in the gaps?"
Tan Yuanyi sat up slightly and said solemnly: "Mr. Chen is willing to give in, and Tan Yuanyi will definitely repay the favor!"
Liu Zhimao even spoke. , smiled and said: "That's great!"
————
Late at night.
Chen Pingan left Hengbo Mansion alone, returned to the mountain gate of Qingxia Island, put the charcoal cage with the charcoal fire extinguished long ago back into the house, hung up the sword gourd, put on the golden robe, and went outside Putting on a thick green cotton robe, he pulled out the sword on the door, sheathed it behind his back, and walkedGo straight to the ferry, untie the rope of the small ferry, and go to Miyagi Island.
The waterway is far away.
But Chen Ping'an was not in a hurry. He rowed a boat and the ferry broke through the water like an arrow.
Shujian Lake is so vast that even though the ferry is flying over like a bird, at dawn, there is still no shadow of Gongliu Island.
The heavy snow makes flying birds disappear.
Chen Pingan rested for a while, then parked the boat somewhere in his heart. He held a chopstick and placed a white bowl on it, tapping it lightly, making a ding-ding-dong-dong sound.
Listen.
He looks like a beggar on the street begging for food, but also like the kind of young immortal who retreats to the mountains and forests, lonely in the clouds and wild cranes.
Chen Ping'an was so pleased with himself that he put all the bowls and chopsticks behind him after using a stick of incense.
Chen Pingan rubbed his cheeks and took a deep breath.
Feast in the cool breeze!
(End of this chapter)