On a cold, rainy night, the lights are dim, the rain is still falling outside the narrow window, and the sound can be heard.
And as the chill penetrated the narrow window, the melancholy scene in front of me was not very clear. Only scattered traces were left, drifting tiredly into the room and hitting my eyes.
This is an inn that has always been inconspicuous at the corner of the street. It only has three and a half rooms. Today, the stables and the kitchen were generously purchased. Later, the owner and the cook were evicted. After going out, there were only a few unidentified customers left in the whole store.
There have been three interrogations from the government, but they were all handled by the young man behind the door with a straightforward appearance and clever words. At this moment, he was leaning against the door and listening quietly. He was also grateful for those official missionaries who went out on a cold night, because if the other party had just broken in with all their heart to conduct an investigation, they would have bumped into the two deadly ghosts sharpening their knives behind the thin door panel.
The remaining four people in the room gathered together in front of the weak candlelight, but no one said a word. They watched the lanterns being knotted, picked, picked and knotted.
One of them is a handsome young man, one is a skinny Taoist priest, one is a wealthy official, and the other is a rough guy, but they all frown in deep thought, and occasionally their eyes intersect, showing hesitation and understanding.
For some reason, Honghuahui fell into deep hesitation. The situation in this city of Guangzhou is murky and unclear. They know that it is urgent to distinguish between friends and foes, otherwise they will be unable to move forward.
After a long time, Wen Tailai finally opened his mouth in the uncertain light.
"Chief Captain, today we just explored the deep pool, and so many outstanding people emerged from the water. If the plan does not change, the resistance will not be easy. But Mr. Guo is in danger right now. Things have come to this and they have to be done.”
Chen Jialuo, the youngest among the four, still has an elegant expression, as if he is surrounded by winding mountains and flowing water, never stopping for a moment. He smiled and reached out to brush away a flying insect crawling on the table.
"Brother Wen, we never expected smooth sailing when we started. Even if the city of Guangzhou has become a dragon's den and a tiger's den, why can't we break into it?"
That's right, the Red Flower Club only brought a few leaders with them on this trip. On the surface, they were here to participate in the Golden Basin Washing Hands Conference, but in fact, they had already gathered the most powerful, capable, and dangerous forces of the Red Flower Club to go to Guangzhou to assassinate them. King Pingnan is so happy!
"Why be so careful!"
Seeing the chief helmsman scolding Fang Qiu with his bookishness, Chen Jialuo's words actually aroused Taoist Wuchen's ambition. He was holding the hilt of the sword with one arm. The sword's edge had not yet been exposed, and the whole room had already heard that the sword was in the scabbard. The sound of unfair dragon roar.
"The old thief Shang's head was just because our Red Flower Club didn't have time to take it away yet. He deliberately sealed off the city to delay the search, so there's no harm in keeping him for a day."
The words that Master Wuchen said expressed the sentiments of most people present, but at the same time, there was also a hint of worry in Chen Jialuo's eyes.
Whether it is the Red Flower Club or the Tiandi Club, they both represent the power of the Jianghu that the Zheng family has cultivated for many years and the people's hearts are drawn to the Ming Dynasty. No matter how they change their faces and deceive others, they cannot change the essence of their birth, which is to try every means to overthrow the Qing government and become more and more wanton and violent. The rule of the Qing Dynasty, so as the spokesperson of the Qing court's largest power in the southeast corner, he was still happy, but many people had trouble sleeping and eating.
With the defeat of the Zheng family, the Jiangnan area has once again turned into a sea of blood. Even gentle martial arts people like Zhao Banshan have to try to solve the problem with violence.
At this time, Annan General Da Su has arrived in Quanzhou, and the Qing government is about to gather a large army to besiege the Zheng family who abandoned Jinjiang and retreated to Xiamen. Except for Wu Liuqi, the commander-in-chief of Raozhen, the tens of thousands of elite soldiers who are still welcome will be the most dangerous force on the shore. Once the Qing court encircles the army by sea and land, and attacks from the north and the south, Zheng Chenggong's unfavorable situation will become more severe and dangerous.
At this moment, the strategic intention was obvious, and the other party obviously did not intend to cover it up. They also deliberately spread rumors that the Zheng family was colluding with Japanese pirates and attacking Guangzhou, intending to provoke border provocations and take advantage of the situation to send troops.
Therefore, the assassination was still gratifying, but now it was the most ridiculous thing to hear, and it was also the most effective method. Just wait for a white rainbow to shine through the sun, and the situation could be turned around.
The timing seems so right right now.
Wudang Shaolin suddenly escaped and disappeared, leaving a vacuum in the world. While the city's top master washed his hands in the golden basin, countless martial arts people gathered in the city. The Pingnan Palace was turbulent and violent, and there had long been resentment in the city.
But Chen Jialuo began to hesitate.
In his mind, the newly reorganized Red Flower Club was still in its infancy. It should not have revealed its intentions and strength so early, let alone put all its power under the opponent's nose. But now the situation cannot be underestimated. Whether it is an overt conspiracy or a secret conspiracy, something must be done to reverse the situation.
The heroes of the Red Flower Club have never doubted Chen Jialuo's position, because they also know that the more such actions are caused by hatred, the more they need a calm heart. This is the purpose of choosing Chen Jialuo.
"Everyone, of course there is no need to say more about killing the thief, but after analyzing the various signs today, we still need to think long and hard about how to proceed."
Chen Jialuo pressed his hands to signal everyone to calm down, which set the tone for the conversation. Then he turned to look at Taoist Wuchen and asked seriously.
"Taoist Priest, how likely are you to win against Luo Yuantong, the golden sword?"
In today's Honghua Club, Zhao Banshan is both offensive and defensive, while Chen Jialuo has not yet fully cultivated himself. Only Taoist Master Wuchen is a sharp sword that represents absolute offense and is also the most important weapon in his hand. It can be said that his existence is It determines the upper limit of the current Red Flower Club's ability to overcome difficulties.
Taoist Master Wuchen's clear face and brows moved slightly, as if he was exploring something deep in his memory, and the past was still vivid in his mind. Then he slowly spoke in a hoarse voice, with endless words of Jianghu Yeyu.
"Twenty years ago, Luo Yuantong and I fought against each other in Hedong."
Taoist Master Wuchen is a heroic man who hates evil as much as his enemies. He has never been timid in the face of any evil enemy, but his words at this moment are somewhat cautious.
"His sword is heavy, and my sword is fast. We couldn't defeat each other in twenty-nine moves. In the end, there was no winner. But at that time, I didn't know that he had the killing move of flying knives, and he didn't know either. I have the back-up skill of the Renju Sword, so until I use all my tricks at the last moment, we don’t know who will survive.”
The words gradually faded, and Taoist Master Wuchen turned to look, "This is why I asked my second brother to help me with my fists."
Zhao Banshan is an expert in hidden weapons, and only he can capture the moment when the flying knife is released, so as to deal with the sharp and silent killing move.
But Chen Jialuo looked at Taoist Priest Wuchen's expression at this moment and instantly understood that he had not said everything clearly.
Just like Taoist Master Wuchen's sword is not only faster, but also more powerful. If one talks about swordsmanship in today's martial arts world, there are probably not many people who can match it.
Anyone who has seen him move knows that there is a strong sound of wind in Taoist Wuchen's sword movement, and the moves are aimed at the key points, making each sword move as fast as a sword, and the sound of wind stirred up becomes stronger and stronger, like a heavy rainstorm. As if falling, even though they were ten feet away, they could still feel the faint pain on their face and hands being blown by the strong wind.
Such a sword is not only cruel to the enemy, but also cruel to oneself. Every move and every move he takes out of the sheath is as cruel as when he cut off his own arm with the sword.
From this, it can be inferred that Luo Yuantong's sword must be more than just heavy.
Luo Yuantong's reputation is spread in the world. Some people say that he is bold and generous, while others praise him for his righteousness. However, no one can explain clearly what his martial arts is like. Even Taoist Master Wuchen, who has fought against him before, can only learn from it. In the Yoshiguang film from twenty years ago, some vague features can be recalled.
Someone once saw Luo Yuantong having a drunken duel. His opponent was also a famous martial arts leader. However, Luo Yuantong fought with both long and short swords. The long sword was calm and fierce, while the short sword was endlessly changeable. When the battle was in full swing, he could hold down the formation with one sword and throw the short sword away. During the surprise attack, he seemed to have his sword in his hands, but he used long swords, short swords, single swords, double swords, and flying knives to perform many unique skills. No one could tell the true accomplishments in his hands.
Chen Jialuo knew before setting off that if he really wanted to kill Shang Kexi, he would have to prepare for the worst, which was to directly face the golden sword Luo Yuantong and compete with the rumored "golden sword overpowers the green forest".
So when he heard the news about the Golden Pen Washing Hands Conference, he didn't have the slightest intention of taking any risks.
A martial arts master who washes his hands and leaves may be worried about old age and frailty, or he may not be able to find an opponent with whom he can compete.
Chen Jialuo has seen examples like this with his own eyes.
He deeply felt how far a master like Chen Jinnan, who had been famous in the world for a long time, would advance by leaps and bounds in a short period of time after retiring.
Relying on the layout of the Tiandihui, Chen Jinnan not only attracted the troops from Hunan and Jiangxi provinces, but also took advantage of the situation to cut off the important passage from Chong'an County to Fujian. This should have been a great achievement, but he remained silent about his trip to Wuyi Mountain. In seclusion, he studied a dangerous martial art of fists and kicks. Every move and every move was between the limits of ordinary people's imagination. Every bit of it was a path beyond the constraints of martial arts.
He didn't know how to describe the exact state until Chen Jialuo read the "Nanhua Sutra" with the sparse shadows by the moon, and saw "Every time I see a clan, I see it is difficult, I am frightened and take warning, stop seeing it, and act too late." "At that moment, I suddenly realized that Chen Jinnan, who had unpredictable martial arts skills, seemed to be on high alert both physically and mentally, and was imagining an opponent that was completely different from others and would never retreat. It was for this reason that he abandoned his sword and used his palm, and his attacks were all layered. There are layers of killing moves, as if someone is worried that someone can still move after experiencing broken throats, broken shins, cracked skulls, and twisted tendons...
"Chief Helmsman, even if Taoist Master may not win lightly, the Red Flower Club may not be reluctant to lose."
Zhao Banshan said with a smile, and finally pointed out the reason for Wuchen's trip.
Just as he said, a fast sword may not be able to suppress Luo Yuantong's golden sword. In addition, the masters from the Red Flower Club may not be inferior to the martial arts people that Shang Kexi can find - they are here to To kill, as long as the person falls in a pool of blood, it doesn't matter where the sword comes from.
"It's true as Third Brother said."
Chen Jialuo was silent for a moment and nodded slowly, but he could not hide the uneasiness in his heart, "But I see that today's head of the Wuyi Sect also has a suspicious background. He is also very close to Luo Yuantong. In case, he is also the helper that Shang Kexi found. Woolen cloth?"
Today, the Red Flower Club rushed to the Golden Pen Washing Hands Conference just to test Luo Yuantong's mind and see whether his talk of retiring from the world was true or false, and whether the Golden Pen Washing Hands was a lie or a lie. Therefore, even if they used extreme methods such as coercion and threats, they still wanted to Try the other person's details.
This is how it is to knock on the mountain and shake the tiger. If the opponent really retreats, then it is gratifying for them to kill him. If there is God's help, if it is a cover, their Red Flower Club can also be vigilant and deal with it.
Zhao Banshan smiled slightly: "The gentleman's sword has a great reputation, but it's a pity that I have never seen the real sword in his hand. Brother Luo is not honorable in trying to show off his daughter, but now he is praising this Jiang Zhang. I'm afraid it's also to repay a favor to someone, right?"
When mentioning the daughter of the Luo family, Zhao Banshan deliberately glanced at Wen Tailai, which made Wen Tailai look quite stunned.
"Jiang heard that this person may not be as simple as he appears. The fifth and sixth masters also said that he has cunning thoughts, despicable methods, and is more dangerous than ordinary people."
Chen Jialuo and Chang Kunzhong looked at each other, but it was difficult to express their thoughts clearly, so they said with a little worry: "My uncle ordered everyone not to talk about Wuyi Mountain, but he also vaguely mentioned that he met a master in the mountain. If the Wuyi Sect is really like this A master can actually make his uncle feel troubled, and also cause heavy damage to the Iron-Blooded Youth League under his command. I am afraid that the people who come here this time are not evil..."
He didn't know what misunderstanding he had, but as soon as he finished speaking, Chen Jialuo continued to add.
"Not only that, but even Shang Zhixin, who I met by chance today, was quite troublesome at first sight."
Wen Tailai said with some confusion: "Chief Helmsman, I think that Shang Zhixin is drunk, vain and at a loss. I don't think he has any martial arts background."
Chen Jialuo shook his head and said.
"There are all kinds of martial arts in the world, and they may not all come from hard training. I looked through the "Wanshou Taoist Collection" of the pre-Song Dynasty in my family's collection, and I saw in it the words "Wandering in the forest of five desires, in the pool of six roots. Let yourself leap and leap, and you cannot be restrained." , Shang Zhixin came here while drunk and still has great power, it is obviously not a coincidence, could it be related to Wudang?"
After saying this, he himself stopped laughing, feeling that he was becoming more and more suspicious under pressure. This trip was extremely dangerous, and the future of the leaders and important forces of the Red Flower Society was uncertain. No matter how much panic he had, he could not show it.
For desires that entangle the body and mind and cause troubles, in addition to the Buddhist method of cutting off three thousand trouble threads with one sword, there is also the Taoist method of "dismissing desires and letting them forget." When he mentioned Shang Zhixin's behavior just now, he was hinting at this Xuanmen mentality. He suspected that the other party had forgotten the purity, turbidity, movement and stillness because he was drunk, and instead moved his hands and feet with infinite strength.
Furthermore, before they arrived, the Wudang Sect had already sent people to Guangzhou to assist Shang Kexi in boxing, and tried their best to deal with the Southern Shaolin who gathered in Wuyang City. If there were really Taoist masters who taught this martial arts, the situation would be even worse at this time. .
At this time, it was chilly, and mosquitoes and flies were breeding in the back kitchen of the cold house, making the buzzing and disturbing noise. Zhao Banshan's fat figure was naturally more popular, and he wanted to hover over him from time to time. At this moment, a fly was about to land on his shoulder, but his fat body, shaped like a dragon and snake, actually used some strength out of thin air to bounce the fly as light as a feather back into the air.
"It doesn't matter. I was born in the Wenzhou Taiji Sect, and my sect has a close relationship with the Wudang Sect. If there is any conflict, let me make the peace. No need to worry."
Zhao Banshan's eyebrows were full of charity, and he said slowly: "Chief rudder, there is no need to worry. I have recently learned a lot from studying the master's "Nine Tai Chi Techniques" and realized the secret of Panlong Jin, which is best at haunting people." Huajin may not be able to defeat Luo Yuantong."
Zhao Banshan was born in Wenzhou Tai Chi Sect. In his early years, he was the top disciple of the sect and received all the teachings from his master. However, he stayed in seclusion to avoid the dispute over the master. The moves in "Nine Tai Chi Techniques" did not transcend Wudang Tai Chi. The method has its own uniqueness, which is divided into Panlong, Horned Dragon, Yunlong, Wanglong, Xinglong and other powerful methods. The more techniques you master, the more energy you will generate.
"This is the best! With Taoist Priest and Brother Zhao Sange all helping you, this trip will be a success."
After Zongheng analyzed the resistance from all sides, Chen Jialuo finally let go of the shadow in his heart. His eyes looked towards the flickering candlelight, and his eyes gradually became firmer.
The enemy has been clearly distinguished and has a response plan. At this time, there is only one last question left...
"Chief helmsman, someone is coming outside."
The man lying beside the bed suddenly turned around with a single knife in his hand. The sound finally broke the silence in the room. Several people at the table also opened their eyes suddenly. Only the ghostly figure standing behind the door remained unchanged. It was like two doors. Post-zombie.
Then there was a knock on the door and the firewood door was opened.
I heard the sound of rain outside the door suddenly, and as I walked into the house through muddy steps, a cold wind from outside brought rain and suddenly rushed in, causing the candlelight to sway and the light and darkness to change.
"Chief Captain, I'm here as promised."
A figure like an iron tower broke into the house. His shirtless upper body was like copper poured into iron. Even if the cold rain covered his body, he was not afraid. There were even faint lines of white steam evaporating. Anyone who saw it would praise him as a good man.
The flags and flags he carried during the day were nowhere to be seen, replaced by a steel whip in his hand. The whip was very heavy, weighing at least thirty kilograms by the looks of it.
"Gang Leader Yang... no, I will call you Leader Yang today!"
Chen Jialuo stood up with joyful brows and faced Yang Chengxie, the leader of the Qingqi Gang who was coming for the appointment, with his fists clasped and his hands raised, without hesitation in every move.
Yang Chengxie of the Iron Tower has a majestic demeanor and is full of energy in his words.
"You don't have to be polite, chief helmsman. Our Qingqi Gang has always been willing to admit defeat. Since we lost to Taoist Wuchen that day and it is consistent with the ambition of the Red Flower Club, I am willing to sit in the eighth position."
Ten months ago, the Red Flower Club and the Qingqi Gang met on the road and had a conflict. Both sides insisted on their own words and refused to give in to each other, so they had to resolve it by force.
On behalf of the Red Flower Club, Taoist Master Wuchen took action to convince everyone. However, someone in the Qingqi Gang ridiculed Wuchen for having only one arm. So Taoist Master Wuchen really tied his right arm behind his back with a rope, used a chain of missing legs, and kicked all the leaders of the Qingqi Gang down. The people of the Qingqi Gang were convinced and followed Chen Jialuo's wishes to join the Red Flower Club. .
Even the news of the Golden Pen Washing Hands Conference was revealed to everyone in the Red Flower Club by Yang Chengxie from the Qingqi Gang, and he became their internal advisor at the venue.
"Chief Captain, Yang came here today not only to fulfill his promise, but also to inform the brothers in the Red Flower Club that the matter I was asked to inquire about has come to fruition."
The few people who heard this suddenly became nervous. Even when they talked about the powerful enemies looming in various directions, they had never been so cautious before.
When walking around the world, ordinary people are proud of themselves when they learn to make friends at a distance and attack at close range, but the old Jianghu knows that in addition to being able to distinguish enemies, it is also necessary to be able to distinguish friends. Sometimes the most terrifying thing is not enemies with the same purpose, but friends with different opinions. The former may cooperate to become a helper, while the latter may become the most difficult obstacle.
The Red Flower Club wants to kill Shang Kexi on this trip, so they can play bad guys to test out who are Shang Kexi's helpers. The Green Flag Gang, as red faces, is responsible for contacting those people who may have the same purpose to ensure that they can work together and stay together. Accident.
After all, this is a helpless move. Chen Jialuo also knows that if a few things are not kept secret, it will cause harm, but now it is like a single-plank bridge. If the people crowded on the bridge cannot work together, others will be squeezed in if they act rashly, and even To startle a snake and cause a disaster.
Yang Chengxie's dark face was full of seriousness, "Now there are many people in the city who want to kill him, and there are also many people he wants to kill, but everyone is actually in the same boat. I sent a disciple to inquire about Shang Kexi's whereabouts, and found out that he often went to Guangxiao If you want to take action, you must seize the opportunity to worship the Buddha in the temple."
After speaking, Yang Chengxie, who looked like an iron tower, put his iron whip horizontally and threw something out.
The wooden table creaked under the weight of the iron whip, but everyone looked straight at the piece of paper on the table that was written on the cooked propaganda and covered with dense handwriting, and then they gasped in shock. The sound of air conditioning.
…………
"Is this shameful bitch who is holding Fang Zhu a jade cup awake?"
In Prince Pingnan's palace, Li Xinghe turned around when he heard the voice and found an old man with a gold-plated coral ring on his waist and a royal-given yellow belt on his waist, and a wax face beads hanging on his chest, coming behind him with his servants. He hurriedly stepped away from the palace medical officer beside him. Only he and Bai Zhen, who were wearing official attire, were left to obey orders.
Shang Kexi was only in his fifties at this time, but he looked extremely old because of his many years of military service. There were many dark spots and scars on his face. Even the back of the hand holding the beads showed a dark color, and his skin looked like it was aging. What an octogenarian.
"Your Majesty Jin An, the prince was just agitated for a moment and fell into a deep sleep after taking the medicine."
Li Xinghe stepped back humbly, leaving room to look at the bed, but Shang Ke glanced at it with joy but disgust and stopped looking at it. Instead, he focused on Bai Zhen, who was uneasy next to him.
"Are you Bai Zhen of the Songyang Sect? The master that Feng Tiannan introduced to the house a few days ago?"
After hearing this, Bai Zhen, who was wearing official uniform, quickly kowtowed with the gift of a prince, saying yes and not daring to say more.
Shang Kexi's voice was a little weak, as if the thick water vapor in the air was making it difficult for him to breathe.
"Don't be so frightened. I don't blame you. You see, Mr. Li next to you is not worried about being accused."
Li Xinghe lowered his head politely, but had no intention of refuting.
"Master Bai, our prince is very discerning and will naturally not make things difficult for innocent people."
Shang Ke laughed happily, patted Li Xinghe on the shoulder and said: "As expected of Mr. Li, he understands the heart of this king. There is no better son than a father. This guy in front of me has always been ignorant of current affairs and lessons. If it hadn't been for the two of you accompanying me today, he wouldn't have known it. No matter how many jokes will be made, the two of you will certainly have both merit and fault."
Bai Zhen, who was trembling with fear along the way, finally calmed down. Everything was just as Li Xinghe said, and everything was fine in words. He saw that Shang Kexi was not like the rumored massacrer with his hands stained with blood. Instead, he was a little too considerate.
Bai Zhen had become famous in the martial arts world thirty years ago for his powerful eagle claw skills, and was famous in the world. However, the older he got, the more obsessed with fame and wealth he became, and he would never miss an opportunity to advance.
He also knew where he went wrong. Firstly, he made a mistake by asking someone to befriend the crown prince in order to get promoted, and his intentions were impure. Secondly, he made a mistake by secretly tipping off the news, which caused Shang Zhixin to break into the Golden Bowl Washing Ceremony and make a lot of ugliness. But if it can be a blessing in disguise and Shang Ke is happy, Bai Zhen will not be in vain for all his efforts and efforts.
"Your Majesty is aware that this villain will die in repayment. I dare not disobey him!"
Shang Ke laughed happily. When Li Xinghe saw that Bai Zhen hadn't stood up yet, he reached out to help him up and patted the dust off his body thoughtfully.
"Master Bai is loyal to the country. Don't mistakenly listen to the nonsense outside. The old prince is a compassionate man. He loves to talk about Buddhism with Zen Master Shimen Tianran the most. How can he beat and kill him?"
Shang Ke was happy but pretended to be dissatisfied and waved his sleeves and said: "Don't mention Natural Monk to this king. He always tells people outside that 'King Pingnan has Buddha nature but no concentration'. I haven't settled the accounts with him yet."
After Yan Bi, the two laughed loudly, and then suddenly started talking about some seemingly unrelated topics in front of Bai Zhen.
"Mr. Li, the affairs in the palace are complicated, and I often feel low on energy. Fortunately, with your loyal assistance, I can sleep peacefully."
Shang Kexi praised the charlatan in front of him both inside and outside, as if he had acquired the talent of Crouching Dragon in a thatched cottage, "There is another troublesome thing recently. I heard that a green-browed bird boat sank next to the defending weir, and it died. It's a small matter to pick up a few boatmen, but it's a big deal to block the waterway. If you have time, go over there and see how to deal with it."
Li Xinghe's fair face, which had rarely been exposed to the sun, showed a hint of surprise.
"My lord, where did this ship come from?"
Shang Kexi whispered: "Coming from the South China Sea to bathe in the sun, many people saw it sinking while sailing. The bottom deck of the ship rolled up, and there were many scratches left by fingernails. The dead body was found after drifting all night. It’s already been disemboweled.”
Li Xinghe's pupils narrowed suddenly, but he closed his mouth and spoke respectfully.
"Your Majesty does not need to worry about this matter, the villain will handle it on his own."
"I also heard that the Dan people in Hepu and Nanhai are cunning and unruly and often cause trouble. Mr. Li, please don't forget to lead people to arrest them, and don't let the culprits escape."
"The villain understands that the current situation is serious and we must not let the people take advantage of it to cause trouble."
Shang Ke happily nodded slowly.
"The Sanyuan Palace in Yuexiu Mountain has been in disrepair for a long time, and a corner of the mountain next to Qiulongxian Well has collapsed. I am afraid that heavy rains for days will harm the people at the foot of the mountain. If Mr. Li spares no effort, I will send some money to Yuexiu from the palace. Let’s make up for the mountain leak.”
Li Xinghe bowed his hands and saluted: "Your Majesty has a kind heart, so you should be blessed with great blessings!"
Shang Ke was happy and replied with his hands unconcerned: "This matter is all due to Mr. Li. The recent campaign in Guangdong has been very effective. The Pingnan Palace's warehouses are abundant and the treasury is full, so that there is enough money to build bridges and repair roads. Mr. Li should be remembered for his great contribution."
"My lord, you are ridiculous. All the good people in the world are able to do what they do, and it is all the result of Bole."
Bai Zhen heard the two men singing in harmony, talking about the people's livelihood inside and outside Guangzhou, and felt that Prince Shang was indeed not the tyrannical and ruthless person who was rumored to be tyrannical and extortionate. It was naturally possible that he was acting, but he was a common man. King Nan, why do you need to show off in front of yourself?
Shang Kexi turned around and faced the vast courtyard outside the prince's main house. He seemed to be listening to the patter of rain hitting the banana leaves. He took a deep breath and wanted to expel all the foul smell in his stomach. The spotty face suddenly became rosy.
"Everyone in the royal family has been asking for your troubles recently. I have already sent someone to invite the mentor that Mr. Li once mentioned. It will be up to you to settle down by yourself. His old man is living outside day and night, and I really can't bear it."
Li Xinghe's face lit up with joy when he heard this, and he quickly knelt down on the ground: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"It's just a matter of effort, just don't waste the business."
Bai Zhen was confused when he heard this, and he quickly echoed: "Prince Shang is so busy with government affairs, caring about the people and showing compassion in everything. I think what Monk Tianran said is just a pretense. You are the one who is like this." Every family in Guangzhou will be born a Buddha!"
When Shang Kexi turned his head, he had a kind face and a smile on his lips, as if he was really a living Buddha praised by everyone, and even the dark spots on his face were infected with the nature of Bodhi.
"Master Bai knows that I am working hard, and the court also knows that it is not easy for me, but the people of Guangzhou don't understand how hard this job is. I suffer every day, just because I am worried that there will be an elbow between the two Guangdong, and that my life will be ruined again. .”
While sighing, he stepped outside the door. Facing the thin curtain of rain, he sighed longly, "I read the "Shen Yi Jing: Southern Wilderness Sutra" in my early years. The book said, "Outside the Southern Wilderness" There are volcanoes, in which endless trees grow, and fires burn day and night, so that the storms are not violent and the rain is not extinguished.'"
"There are countless people in the world who are looking forward to my death. In my opinion, this city of Guangzhou in the southern wasteland is like a volcano. It only makes an old man sit there day and night to deal with things. Naturally, he has trouble sleeping and eating."
The worries in Shang Kexi's eyes fluctuated and didn't seem to be fake at all.
"In the blink of an eye, it has been ten years since I went to Guangdong to suppress the rebellion. In these ten years, I have exhausted my strength, turned my hair gray, and tortured my heart, lungs, and intestines. I have grown from a leading general to an old man. Now, I only hope that the imperial court will allow me to retire as soon as possible and be buried early when I return to Haicheng, so that I can fulfill the wishes of those people who look forward to my return to the west every day!"
The more Shang Kexi talked, the angrier he became, and he kicked Shang Zhixin in the direction where he was as sleepy as death, but the other party not only had no reaction, but turned over solidly, and fell asleep again.
Bai Zhen saw that his words made Shang Kexi respond so fiercely, and he quickly said in panic: "Why did Prince Shang say this?! The imperial court is fully aware of your contribution, and everyone in the world knows that the southeastern half of the country cannot live without you, even for the sake of the two Guangdong provinces." People, you can’t just sit back and watch the fire and water and give up!”
Bai Zhen's words were out of urgency, but they came from the bottom of his heart. This made Shang Kexi very happy, and his face finally brightened a little.
"Guard White, I know that many people in the city are looking forward to my death, but I can't die right now. Even if I really want to die, I have to wait until I find a geomantic treasure land and get rewarded by the imperial court, so I can die in glory."
Shang Kexi put the word "death" on his lips without hesitation, and his smile was quite weird, which made Bai Zhen, who had experienced many battles, shudder.
At this moment, Shang Kexi's mind kept flashing through the figures that he couldn't forget. Among them were the tall old man in brocade clothes and sleeves who lived in seclusion, the brave prince who wore armor all day long but smelled of rot, and the yellow man who sat on the throne like a zombie puppet. My son, there is a peerless general who wields his sword and leads his troops with a single call...
There were many figures looking at him with admiration, but the appearance of the tiger and wolf who looked down upon the wolf and refused to be subordinate to others all his life made Shang Kexi gradually tighten his hands with dark spots, and even breathed half a beat faster. ,
"Mr. Li, I have to look for the centipede ground where I built my tomb. I will keep all these achievements in my heart. One day, the king will write to the court to recommend it to the emperor. Sir, you have tunnel skills and respect for power. There is a hint of mulberry, It's probably not a problem for Huo Zhizi to be granted the title of Marquis Yinzi in the future and be entitled to enjoy the Imperial Ancestral Temple."
Shang Kexi suppressed the unknown emotions surging in his heart, and his panic seemed to return to the first day he entered Guangzhou City. Fortunately, ten years had passed, and now he had a panoramic view of Guangzhou City.
So he looked at Li Xinghe and showed a smile that was like a universal smile from the other side.
"Prepare money and silk early tomorrow morning, and I will go to Guangxiao Temple to offer incense, so that I can express my sincerity for the peace of the world and the well-being of all people, and leave some merit to return to the Dharma Realm..."
Shang Kexi sang the Buddha's name twice in a low voice, seeming very comforted. Li Xinghe followed behind him and laughed humbly. Bai Zhen didn't know why and could only smile with him. For a while, the room was filled with a happy atmosphere, except for the brocade couch. Shang Zhixin seemed to be undisturbed, turned over suddenly, and fell asleep with his head covered facing the wall.
"What a scoundrel!"
As soon as Shang Kexi saw the dandy appearance of his eldest son, his originally kind appearance turned into an angry look, and he angrily stood up with his servants.
"Master Bai, let's go."
Until Shang Kexi's footsteps disappeared, Li Xinghe walked out of the prince's room with a confused Bai Zhen, and closed the door without any fuss, and the expression on his face instantly changed to another indifferent look.
The two then stepped into the courtyard, with the night's wind and rain faintly behind them.
