While Hai Rui was on hunger strike, his memorial had already arrived in the capital. Xiao Feng read it out in front of everyone and said that Hai Rui's heart was pitiable and his ambition was commendable.
After hearing the memorial, all the officials in the capital all gnashed their teeth and cursed at Hai Rui, and Xu Jie was scolded as well. If Xu Jie hadn't wanted to attack the Taoist sect, how could such nonsense have happened?
Xu Jie was also speechless, and he had to express his approval. He is just like Xiao Feng now, and Hai Rui is just like him then.
At that time, he stood on the commanding heights of morality and took the people of the world as hostages, forcing Xiao Feng to agree to summon Taoist masters to open an altar to pray for rain.
Now Hai Rui is standing on a higher moral high ground than him, saying that for the sake of the common people in the world, we cannot just rely on Taoist priests, we also have to make sacrifices.
With this big hat off, who dares to object? Xu Jie didn't dare to do it anyway. He pinched his nose and asked Jiajing to execute the memorial as the chief minister of the cabinet.
Jiajing didn't care. As long as he didn't let him sin, he just took an extra bath every day and didn't touch women these days. What's so difficult about this?
As for fasting, I am a Taoist. I would fast for ten or eight days when I have nothing to do. Can this thing be difficult for me?
So Jiajing readily agreed. So before the real people arrived in the capital, the officials were forced to eat vegetarian food every day and follow Jiajing to the Temple of Heaven to bask in the sun at noon.
Of course, not all officials are lucky enough to bask in the sun. Xiao Feng proposed that the official affairs of the court cannot be stopped, and each department must have at least one person on duty.
Jiajing agreed very much, and then asked Xiao Feng, who is so unfortunate that he doesn't need to fast and bathe to go to the Temple of Heaven with me to replenish calcium?
Xiao Feng smiled and said: "Of course, those who have the honor to accompany Long Live to the Temple of Heaven to pray for rain must be the most sincere and confident ministers in this matter.
Otherwise, letting those who are not confident enough to pray for rain go will definitely affect the effect of praying for rain. "
Jiajing nodded in agreement: "Then who doesn't have enough confidence?"
Xiao Feng pointed at his father-in-law: "Master Liu Tong, Master Pan Huang, Master Ding Rukui, Master Ding, etc. These people did not follow Xu Shoufu to kneel in Xiyuan to pray for rain that day.
Why? Obviously they are all people who lack confidence in this matter. In this case, there is no need to force them, just punish them without fasting and stay in the Yamen as directors.
Those who followed Xu Shoufu on his knees in Xiyuan to pray for rain that day were obviously full of confidence in God. Those who had to bathe and fast must accompany him to the Temple of Heaven. "
There is absolutely nothing wrong with this statement. Pan Huang, Ding Rukui and others lowered their heads to express shame, but in fact they were trying their best to hide the laughter in their stomachs.
Liu Tong endured it the hardest. Ever since he heard that he had to take a bath and fast, he was so worried that he couldn't eat, and he didn't even want to chew meat and bones. At this time, seeing his son-in-law help him out, he was extremely happy.
Pan Huang stabbed him from behind: "Shame, be ashamed! Just hide your face if you really don't know how to do it!"
Xu Jie's face was expressionless, and he scolded Xiao Feng for half the family tree in his heart. Looking at the eyes of the officials who were lucky enough to accompany him, he knew that it would definitely not be easy to organize such a large-scale petition next time.
Bathing was nice, but fasting was hard, and the midday sun was poisonous. Jiajing has not practiced in vain for so many years. It is no problem for him to bask in the sun.
But Baiguan's stomach was full of water, and he was dizzy from being burned by the sun. He not only prayed for rain, but also prayed for Dao Sect Masters to quickly come to Beijing and take their places so that they could be replaced from the pit.
However, the Taoist disciples all walked heavily and were far less brisk and active than the last time they entered the capital. Therefore, they walked for a long time before arriving in the capital. By this time, the officials were almost as good as Bao Youwei.
But the people were really moved by the court. They spontaneously rushed to the Temple of Heaven, kowtowed to Jiajing with tears, and praised Jiajing as a wise king and holy master.
Although Jiajing was a little tanned, he had always only listened to flattery from his ministers, and rarely heard flattery directly from the common people. When he heard it now, it turned out to be very useful.
Originally, he was a little angry at Hai Rui's memorial, but now he suddenly felt that it was quite good. Regardless of whether it rains or not, the people think that I am a wise king. Isn't this good?
Well, Hai Rui looks like a pretty good person. No wonder his junior brother would promote him. I must meet him if I have a chance in the future...
Although Jiajing was very excited about the people's recognition, the news of the real people coming to Beijing still made him relieved. After all, he also missed the concubines in the harem.
Quickly pray for rain, and then I can end my fast. You must know that the drought is not only affecting the land, but also the harem is so dry that it is smoking!
The Taoists live in a luxurious club arranged by Daolu Division, and all the treatment is top-notch.
Jiajing Chongdao said that the treatment of real people is already high, not to mention that this visit to Beijing has high expectations, so the reception work must not be careless.
But the more this happens, the more depressed the real people become. You know, the higher you lift, the harder you fall. The higher Jiajing's expectations, the greater his anger will be after disappointment!
The real people were eagerly looking forward to seeing Xiao Feng, the backbone, but Xiao Feng didn't come and they didn't dare to go out. Because countless people gathered around the club, hoping to see real people.
Fans are so fanatical that real people don't dare to go out because they are afraid of being asked by fans, and they don't know how to answer.
"A certain person, what do you think of praying for rain at the Temple of Heaven tomorrow?"
"A certain person, what do you think of this rain prayer organized by the imperial court?"
"A certain real person, may I ask which real person you think is the best in praying for rain this time? Who has a greater status? Who is mainly responsible for the success of praying for rain?"
How to answer these questions? We can't tell them that in fact, we are just blind cats trying to kill mice, and maybe we will become dead cats.
After dark, Xiao Feng finally arrived. Zhang Tianshi, Ma Yunteng and Gu Xuzi stepped forward together. Zhang Tianshi was the most eager and grabbed Xiao Feng's arm.
"Master Xiao, pray for rain at the Temple of Heaven tomorrow. What are your countermeasures?"
Xiao Feng's heart sank. He actually had some illusions about Zhang Tianshi, but now looking at Zhang Tianshi's expression, it was obvious that he was not trustworthy.
He looked at the other two real people, and the other two looked at him with a wry smile, looking forward to him coming up with a perfect solution.
Xiao Feng took a deep breath: "In front of real people, do you have the ability to pray for rain without pretending to be a fake person?"
The three real people really stopped telling lies and shook their heads together. Seeing everyone looking at him, Zhang Tianshi was inevitably a little embarrassed.
"To be honest, the art of praying for rain really existed in Longhu Mountain, but it has only been ineffective since my ancestor's generation.
When I became a master, I could get a spirit once out of ten. When I came here, I felt even more ashamed. The spell I used should be the same as that of Master and Grandmaster, but it never worked once.
So after thinking about it, I realized that the problem should be with the people, not the talismans. My practice is not as good as Master’s, and Master’s practice is not as good as Master’s! "
Xiao Feng nodded silently, and Gu Xuzi sighed helplessly: "Wudang is mainly a martial artist, but it is not without Taoism.
It is said that Patriarch Zhang Sanfeng entered Taoism through martial arts and killed demons and ghosts, but he did not pass it down. It is probably because his descendants were not skilled enough to pass it on. "
Ma Yunteng sighed: "In fact, in addition to the Fu Lu Sect, the Qing Xiu Sect was also good at Taoist arts such as praying for blessings, exorcising evil spirits, and fighting plagues. However, it has been lost long ago."
Xiao Feng sighed: "It seems that tomorrow's rain prayer meeting will have to be left to fate."
The three masters said in unison: "Master Xiao is very resourceful and must be prepared for this matter. Please inform us so that we can have peace of mind."
Xiao Feng smiled bitterly and said: "There must be preparations, but it has nothing to do with praying for rain. I have been helping Wan Sui prepare mentally these days to let him understand that God's will is hard to violate.
Even if Taoism can communicate with gods, you can only discuss it with the gods. Whether the gods agree or not is a matter for the gods, so praying for rain may not be successful.
Thinking about it, with these foreshadowings, even if the prayer for rain fails, Long Live will not be too disappointed and angry, and will blame you, but..."
The three real people's hearts that had just been relieved were suddenly raised again by the word "just": "Just what?"
Xiao Feng sighed: "It's just that the Taoist sect's status in the hearts of the people will inevitably decline. The fans will not listen to your explanation. If the house collapses, they will immediately turn around."
The three real people couldn't understand Xiao Feng's words and looked at each other. Suddenly Ma Yunteng thought of Tao Zhongwen.
"Where's Master Huo Xuan? He's going to the Temple of Heaven tomorrow, right?"
Xiao Feng nodded: "Master Huo Xuan has told Long Live a long time ago that he is from the Alchemy Cauldron Sect, and burning fire to make elixirs conflicts with praying for rain.
So he will not go to the Dharma altar tomorrow, but will be responsible for lighting incense for everyone down there, doing his little bit. "
Ma Yunteng expressed his admiration: "This old fox is still smarter, far better than me. I admire him, I admire him!"
The next day, people in the capital gathered at the Temple of Heaven, and even many people from other places rushed to the capital to watch the ceremony at the Temple of Heaven. Because this ritual ceremony is directly related to the safety of the world.
Jiajing also ordered the Imperial Guards and Imperial Guards to prohibit crowds from watching except for the center of the Temple of Heaven, which was reserved for the Dharma Altar and officials. Even the walls and trees were filled with people.
"The best location, the best view, only five hundred coins! Children and old men are not deceived, children and old men are not deceived!"
"Don't lie to me. Five hundred coins is not a small amount. You must keep your word when you take the money!"
"Don't worry, I manage viewing locations for various large-scale events in the capital. I operate with absolute conscience and never lie to anyone!"
"Don't brag. Have you ever had any successful cases? If you can't tell me, you're lying!"
"That's a lot! Back then, all the good positions in the Temple of Heaven Forum were in my hands! Students from the capital besieged Xiao Zhenren's house, and I also sold the positions on the wall!
When Anda Khan attacks the capital, no matter how tight the position at the top of the city is, I can handle it! There was a multi-party battle in Baihua Tower, and Yan Shifan was beheaded at the farm. All the good seats are mine!
Not to mention the city of Beijing, we have brothers all over the world. When Master Xiao settled cases, wrote poems, and wrote songs in Nanjing, my brother sold his seats! "
"Okay, okay, I know you are awesome, I'll give you five hundred coins and take me to the best seat!"
"Follow me, turn left first, then right, climb up the wall, go up to the second tree, and the third branch on the east side.
Don't sit on the first one, that one is owned! Don't sit on the second one either. That one sells too many tickets and will hurt you. You are too fat and will fall off easily! "
"Damn it, it's so far away, how can it be called the best location? You're a fucking liar, give me your money back!"
"Of course this is the best location. Look at how good the view is. It has an unobstructed view and is protected from the sun and wind. Just look at the branches of the tree and you can tell how many buttocks are sticking out!"
"Although what you said is correct, the problem is that the distance is too far and I can't see clearly!"
"Rent a telescope for five hundred coins an hour. Keep your voice down, this is a high-end item borrowed from a brother in the military! You can only rent it, not sell it! It's a crime to lose it!"
"Fuck you... forget it, rent one. After all, you have already spent 500 yuan, so you can't spend it in vain!"
"Take it, put the rope loop around your neck, so that if you miss it, you won't break the telescope. This thing is worth more than your life!"
"I hold the telescope in one hand, so I can only hold on to the branch with the other hand. What if I lose my footing and fall?"
"The rental safety rope costs 500 cents. It is absolutely strong and highly elastic. It ensures your safety and gives you the best riding experience at the same time!"
"You fucking... profiteer!"
The real people didn't notice the noise and chaos around them. Their expressions were solemn, and they didn't know how it would end in a while.
The altar has been built, and the real people are standing under the altar, looking at each other, and no one is willing to move first.
Tao Zhongwen, the real person of Huoxuan, took advantage of the cover of the big incense burner to avoid people's sight, and kept pulling the ashes in the incense burner.
Jiajing also saw that the real people seemed to be a little guilty, but they could no longer retreat at this time. He coughed, and Huang Jin came over immediately.
"Invite several real people to come to the altar one by one. Whoever can pray for rain successfully and save the common people will be named a first-class real person and the leader of the Taoist sect!"
After hearing the order, several real people felt a little more at ease. It only mentioned heavy rewards for success, but not heavy penalties for failure. It must be the psychological construction that Xiao Feng did in advance.
Now that things have come to a point, if you extend your head, it will be a knife, and if you shrink your head, it will be a knife. There is no way to avoid it. It is better to die early and be reincarnated!
Gu Xuzi gritted his teeth: "Among the three of us, I am the eldest, so I will go first. Even at my age, I am too embarrassed to do anything harsh."
After saying that, Gu Xuzi stepped on the wooden steps and climbed up. Ma Yunteng and Zhang Tianshi looked at each other and were very moved.
Everyone knows that although they all fail in the end, the first person to fail will always leave the deepest impression on others. Gu Xuzi's move was indeed like an elder's.
Gu Xuzi climbed onto the altar and picked up the peach wood sword on the altar. Although the major sects have different emphasis, no one is completely familiar with how to open an altar, but the methods are very different.
Gu Xuzi is an authentic martial arts sect who enters the Tao through martial arts, so the scenes of doing it are the most beautiful!
Gu Xuzi first showed off a set of authentic Tai Chi swords. The people who saw it were mesmerized and cheered, suddenly giving birth to some hope.
In fact, Gu Xuzi's practice of using martial arts to enter Taoism is not nonsense. Tai Chi originally emphasizes the unity of nature and man, and the complementarity of yin and yang. The cathode creates yang, the anode creates yin.
Nowadays, there is a severe drought in the world. This is definitely an image of extreme yang. It makes sense to use the Tai Chi Sword method to sense the sky and use an image of extreme yin to cater to it.
But I don’t know whether it’s because God looks down on Gu Xuzi’s cultivation, or because the altar is not high enough and the signal is not good.
Although Gu Xuzi practiced the Tai Chi sword to perfection and was so tired that he was covered in sweat, the sky was still blazing with scorching sun and not a single cloud.
Gu Xuzi was an old man after all. He practiced Tai Chi Sword 8864 three times in a row. Finally he couldn't hold it any longer. He stopped and looked up at the sky, crying silently.
Tai Chi Sword originally had ninety-nine and eighty-one styles, but only eighty-eight and sixty-four styles were passed down to him. Now only Zhang Wuxin can learn all sixty-four styles of Tai Chi Sword.
But after Zhang Wuxin suffered a serious injury, his swordsmanship has changed. The authentic Tai Chi sword can only be passed down by his disciples.
But the eldest disciple has only learned sixty postures. If this continues, if Tai Chi Sword is passed down for hundreds of years, there is no telling how many postures will be left.
Gu Xuzi suddenly thought, if he knew the full set of ninety-nine and eighty-one styles of Tai Chi sword, would the result of praying for rain today be different?
With reluctance and shame, Gu Xuzi staggered down the altar. Xiao Feng stepped forward to support him and brought him to Tao Zhongwen.
"Brother, it's a little shady over here at the incense burner. Let Gu Zhenren rest for a while."
Tao Zhongwen nodded repeatedly and let Gu Xuzi sit down from the shadow of the incense burner. This is indeed the only shade in the Temple of Heaven. Even Jiajing has no one to shade from the sun. Who dares not to bask in the sun?
Zhang Tianshi gritted his teeth and was about to step forward when Ma Yunteng grabbed him and smiled.
"You have the best hope, so prepare well and believe in yourself. I'll take care of it for you for a while!"
Watching Ma Yunteng climb the stairs, Zhang Tianshi gritted his teeth, mobilized all his strength, and silently recited the spells and talismans that he had already memorized by heart, hoping to become more immersed in his heart and more pious.
Ma Yunteng is a member of the Qing Xiu Sect. He doesn’t know how to make swords, he can only meditate. He sat cross-legged, picked up the mahogany sword, and placed it across his knees.
"In the vast sky and vast earth, Ma Yunteng, a disciple of the Taoist sect, has been cultivating for many years and has done nothing. Only this heart remains good.
All the immortals in the heavens should ascend as seniors of the Taoist sect. They should be upright and intelligent, and should know the suffering of the human world. If this disciple is lucky enough to be able to reach the gods with just one thought, I ask the gods and deities from all over the world to take pity on him.
The disciple is willing to devote his life to cultivation, exchange it for the water of goodness, and turn it into the rain that helps the world. If one disciple is not enough, the disciple also has a junior brother named Ma Hualong..."
Ma Yunteng prayed devoutly in his heart, trying to cultivate his mind and influence the gods in the sky. However, he has been practicing for many years and has only seen his master once in his dream. As for the gods, he has never seen any of them.
Although he was devout at this time, it was impossible to see the gods just by seeing them. He had been practicing the Qingxiu Sect for many years, and his heart felt like still water. He was immersed in it, but he didn't know that the time outside was flying by, and an hour passed in the blink of an eye.
Jiajing couldn't stand the sun any more, so he ordered Huang Jin: "It seems that Master Ma is in trouble. Wake him up and get him down, and let Master Zhang come up!"
