After Ma Rui's death, people's hearts were in a state of confusion, because no matter how much they concealed it, everyone knew what the so-called rebellion among the Guanlong clan was about.
Everyone knows there are too many examples.
At the same time, the body of the eldest princess was still parked in the palace.
It can only be said that for a moment, everyone was shocked by this saint's coolness.
As if he had sensed something, or perhaps to avoid some embarrassment, the saint once again issued an order to roughly divide the western patrol team into two parts. The main part immediately left the river, entered Hedong, turned to Taiyuan, and inspected Fenyang Palace; the remaining part A small group of people guarded the coffin of the eldest princess along with Yu Changji who stayed behind, waiting for Zhang Shizhao to go to Renshou Palace to oversee the burial of the eldest princess.
Shang Xia was already trembling with fear at this time and could only set off in a hurry.
However, according to Zhang Xing's observation, the trip was so rushed that those who stayed would be cut off, otherwise there would be an obvious bribery scandal - because many people expressed strong envy for those who could stay. .
A few days after leaving, Su Wei and others from Daxing were just meeting up, when gossip came from behind that the saint's son-in-law and the eldest princess's only grandson, Ma Hong, suddenly fell seriously ill and died.
The Western Patrol team, which was still huge after being slightly reduced, seemed to continue to avoid these news, and also seemed to be deliberately avoiding Guanzhong, the hometown where the saint and the eldest princess grew up together. They just paid no attention to it and hurried eastward for ten or so days. They arrived at Pujin that day, and then prepared to cross the river regardless of the exhaustion of the soldiers and palace people.
At this time, there was an obvious trend of bribery within the Western Inspection Team. Everyone wanted to desert, everyone wanted to leave the team, everyone wanted to return to Luoyang... This is of course excusable, but at the same time it is also a bit absurd.
The reason why it is ridiculous is that when the saint was about to go to Shoujiang City with great enthusiasm, everyone was shocked, fearful, and worried about the Dongdu family.
But in fact, few people dared to desert, and the team was in good order.
What about Fenyang Palace?
Fenyang Palace is located in the north of Taiyuan. In terms of distance, it is about a thousand miles away from Dongdu. It is less than half the distance from Dongdu to Shoujiang City. Moreover, it is a royal palace and has always had sacrificial, military and political traditions, not to mention the previous dynasty. The more important point that the late emperor often visited during his time was that when he came out, everyone knew that the time limit was half a year. After the two projects in Dongdu were repaired by the end of this year, everyone would go back to celebrate the New Year. But now there are still three months left before the New Year. How many months? .
Therefore, the current situation is that the Western Inspection Team has to go to a "familiar place" that is half the distance from the original destination within the original time limit, which actually caused panic and made everyone want to desert.
All I can say is that I really don’t know what everyone is afraid of.
At this time, the prime minister or other officials should have come forward to reconcile Yin and Yang and connect the upper and lower sides. At this time, the two ministers Su Wei and Sima Changying were also accompanying them, as well as the two ministers Duan Wei and Wei Chi.
However, after the political turmoil in the first half of this year, what can these people do?
In the end, it was Prime Minister Su Wei who came forward and put forward the advice in a particularly tactful way - what this husband meant was that of course it would be okay to go to Hedong, but since you have come to Hedong, should you go and meet the local people? Grandmaster Zhang Bofeng? Go to Zhang Bofeng's academy, discuss knowledge, explore strategies for governing the country, and recruit some talents in the academy?
After all, Grandmaster Zhang Bofeng's knowledge was recognized as outstanding, and he had devoted himself to teaching in recent years, vaguely showing off the attitude of a great master of the Wei Dynasty.
In response to this, Mao Rensheng’s reply was very direct and simple:
First of all, he did not go to see Zhang Bofeng, nor did he invite Grandmaster Zhang to see him. The team went directly north to find the Fen River and went upstream to Taiyuan;
Secondly, Wei Chi, the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment, supervised the Western Inspection Team. At Pujin Ferry, he counted the officers and soldiers in each army and department. Those who left the team without authorization or lied about illness were killed without mercy.
This saint was very clever.
The western patrol team was trembling with fear, but no one dared to gamble anymore. Almost all members crossed the river before September arrived, arrived at Hedong, and then continued to move forward to the next stop, Taiyuan.
And at this time, even Zhang Xing, who had been pretending to be sick, didn't dare to pretend to be sick, but he didn't dare to suddenly come back to hang out in front of the emperor... Firstly, he was still frightened by the previous incident, and secondly, he was pretending to be sick too much, and he was afraid of going back. It was too obvious to be lively and lively in the future. Fortunately, Governor Niuhe gave him face when he was caught. He took care of him a little and arranged a hiding mission for him. He led a team of Jinwu Guards to deliver gifts to Grandmaster Zhang.
After all, whether in terms of threat, friendliness with the imperial court, or involvement with the imperial court, Zhang Bofeng, the great master, is very harmless. Relatively speaking, the Western Inspection Team went westward. I once passed Taibai Peak, but there was no greeting, which seemed very meaningful.
In fact, after entering Hedong, the overall tightness of the team's protection also dropped significantly. This is a subtle dialectical relationship between enemies and friends.
It can only be said that when you are a Grand Master, you cannot really pretend that the other person does not exist, even if they remain silent.
Of course, Zhang Xing is willing to take this job, and there is a reason why the great master surnamed Zhang himself is recognized as the worst - a master of the academy, even a master who has beheaded people, is definitely easier to talk to than any other leader, and his level should be higher. A little less.
This is evident from the fact that the other party once guessed his identity incorrectly.
The Western Inspection team went north, tracing all the way up against the Fen River, while Zhang Xing went east to Sushui, and went up against the Sushui... A team of Jinwu Guards, two or three father-in-laws,
A few boxes of gifts, galloping away, even if the speed was deliberately slowed down, it only took four or five days to arrive at Wenxi, where the Zhang family's ancestral court was.
Qin Bao didn't come, but Xiao Zhou came with him, which was too talkative.
"It's really strange." Xiao Zhou looked at the academy on the mountain in the distance, his words were strange.
"What's so strange?" Zhang Xing asked speechlessly.
"The Zhang family's ancestral home is in the north of Wenxi County. We have a sacred tree planted by our ancestor Gongzhen when he migrated from Hongshan. That happened before Black Emperor and White Emperor.
It has been two or three thousand years. It is said that the crown canopy is like clouds. Master Zhang didn't build a sacred tree academy under the tree in his hometown in the north. Why did he build a southern slope academy here? "Xiao Zhou has something to say.
"Then go and ask." Zhang Xing thought for a moment and could only laugh.
How could he know?
Everyone immediately left the road and climbed the mountain towards the south slope. The academy on the mountain heard that the saint's messenger had arrived, how could they dare to neglect it? The bell rang for a moment, and hundreds of people dressed as students came to greet him in a procession led by some unidentified elders.
It can only be said that at any time, students are the best tools to show off.
However, isn’t there a great master on top? In addition, Zhang Xing and the Zhang family had no grudges, and they had no intention of trying to manipulate anyone. They were just out for a quiet retreat, so naturally they would not pretend to be powerful. Therefore, after a little catering, he went straight up the mountain and entered the academy. At the same time, he took the initiative to ask the other party to dismiss the students. Keep everything simple.
The people who came to greet him naturally had no objection.
Soon, the students dispersed, and the group of imperial envoys was led by another older man and greeted directly to a simple two-story pavilion built on the mountain behind the academy. The rest of the people stayed outside, and Zhang Xingze Holding the gift in hand, he entered and immediately saw the Grand Master himself.
As soon as they met, Zhang Xing understood why everyone felt that this great master, who was a master of both civil and military arts, master of writing and martial arts, and had the most famous family in the world behind him, was the least threat to the imperial court, and was probably the one with the lowest actual cultivation level. Because I am too old.
His hair and beard are all white, and he is obviously old. In addition, he is said to have been injured. Even with the bonus of a great master's cultivation, he has indeed reached the limit of a mortal. It is conceivable that if he cannot achieve immortality and become a dragon, transcending the ordinary world, then Master Zhang may really become the first grand master to be removed from the list in recent years.
And how difficult is it to achieve Jackie Chan's throne? !
How many years has it been since there was a ready-made example? How did Sima Erlong get his nickname?
"Reply to the saint for me, just say that I am grateful for his concern. I haven't seen him for more than ten years. It's rare that he still has this heart." After some handovers and reports, Mr. Zhang held a short man who only reached his waist. Feel free to speak. "I accepted the gift. I wish him a smooth trip."
Zhang Xing quickly agreed and saluted solemnly again.
So far, this time out, the mission has been completed.
That's right, that's it... No one questions Old Master Zhang's impoliteness, and no one dislikes Old Master Zhang's lack of words because he is a great master.
Even if the old man is about to die, he is still a great master.
If there is anything in this world that obviously restricts the existence of saints in terms of power and legal principles, it is these great masters, otherwise Cao Zhongcheng would not be able to stand tall.
I'm afraid this is also the reason why the saint is unwilling to come to see the great master, and even likes to walk around.
Turning back to his eyes, Zhang Xing finished his salute and looked at the elderly man who led him up the mountain to see Zhang Bofeng. The meaning was very obvious... He wanted this person to make arrangements. We should go away and disperse the immortals. , Saints return to saints, we mortals can still feel comfortable returning to the mortal world to drink wine and eat meat.
The older man who didn't have time to ask for his name and only knew his surname was Zhang immediately understood, and then turned back: "Uncle, do you have any instructions, explanations, or inquiries?"
Zhang Bofeng lowered his head and was silent for a moment, then looked at Zhang Xing: "You just called yourself Zhang Xing, and you were wearing a black ribbon. Are you the Zhang Xing I know who came back from Luolongtan to Jing'antai? It seems that you are the wrong person. ”
"Speaking of this matter, it is naturally a misunderstanding...I am a farmer's boy from the Northern Demon Guard." Zhang Xing immediately saluted and replied. "But by a coincidence, I haven't thanked Old Master Zhang for his advice to inspect Zhang, so I escaped this disaster."
"What's going on?" Zhang Bofeng asked curiously.
Zhang Xing then told the story of the day when Cao Lin tried to accept him as his adopted son, but Zhang Changgong happened to come forward to intercede.
"This is your own ability. Chang Gong's plea cannot be said to be good or bad. I also heard your name by chance at that time. They compared you with Shi Zhao. In addition, there is indeed such a descendant of the Zhang family who fought in the Second Expedition to the East. There is no trace in Yizhong, so we can't help but have some suspicions." Zhang Bofeng said casually. "It's a pity, thinking about it like this,
That person is gone after all. "
Zhang Xing remained silent.
Master Zhang immediately realized the problem and immediately laughed: "I am old and can't speak. It's not that it's a pity that you are alive and he is gone, but it's just a pity for him. After all, it doesn't matter who of you two can live and who can die. "
Zhang Xing also laughed: "Who says it's not the case? How many famous teachers, generals and powerful men were defeated once, and they all turned into sand and died together without a burial place. It is true that the whole world is a piece of grass and grass. I can survive, it is true. Fortunately."
Old Master Zhang was inexplicably startled, and then exclaimed for a moment: "It's well said, under the will of God, everything is useless, no matter whether it is a great master or a famous noble, what difference does it make under the will of God? There may not be a farmer like you. Won the favor of heaven."
Zhang Xing just wanted to touch the other party's emotions and immediately kept silent.
But Old Master Zhang came back to his senses and continued to speak slowly: "Since you are from Jingantai, there is one thing that you have to say. It is embarrassing to say this.
I just mentioned that it will be Liu Wenzhou's matter that Shijing will tell you later. "
Only then did Zhang Xing know that the man was named Zhang Shijing.
And Zhang Shijing also immediately took the lead.
"Besides that." Zhang Bofeng continued. "Since you came here in a simple carriage, you only need to catch up with the saint and his party in Fen in the north. You might as well stay for a few more days. Then I will ask Shijing to prepare and return to my life with you as a thank you."
Zhang Xing was startled and immediately nodded in understanding. He was going to ask for an official position for his nephew named Zhang Shijing. When a great master asks for an official position, a saint must give him face.
Sure enough, Zhang Shijing was shocked when he heard this, and then kowtowed to the ground.
"It doesn't have to be like this." Zhang Bofeng waved to his nephew. "You have an old relationship with the British Gong Bai Hengqiu. Ever since he took advantage of him, you have become increasingly unbearable to be lonely. You don't need me to find a saint to sell you this face... In this case, why should I tie you up forcibly? I just took care of it for you back then. Guo Gua, it is true that one can only enter the general phase after the age of sixty...
I'm afraid you have to wait another two years to find an opportunity, so prepare to sit on the bench for a few years. "
Zhang Shijing just kowtowed, and Zhang Xing also looked at this person in surprise.
"Let the envoy laugh." Zhang Bofeng ignored his nephew, but was obviously impatient and only spoke to Zhang Xinglai. "Few of my nephews and students can endure loneliness, and they can't help but become officials after three to five years... The envoy has the same surname as me, and I will trouble you to guide him later... That's good "If you have any questions about practice or knowledge, I'll try my best to answer them. You don't have to ask me about official matters, I don't even understand them myself."
Zhang Xing withdrew his gaze from Bai Hengqiu's old friend and looked at Zhang Bofeng. He hesitated to speak and hesitated again... Obviously, he certainly had countless questions to ask, but some of them were too sensitive, so it was better not to ask them. Other questions should be asked to other people rather than to the Grand Master.
Therefore, Zhang Qin finally asked a very different question:
"I dare to ask Master, I know that if you want to become a supreme being, you need to obey the will of heaven and have merit and virtue. What about the so-called supreme being who has no bad virtues? What about the great master?
If you want to become a great master, do you also need to have meritorious deeds in the world? What exactly is a tower? "
"Let's put it this way." Zhang Bofeng thought for a while and responded calmly. "If you want to become a Grand Master, you don't have to have meritorious deeds. But if you want to go up from Grandmaster, whether you are a god or a dragon, you must have certain virtues and meritorious deeds. As for the tower, if you want to become a Grandmaster, more The purpose is to stand out, to become a manifestation of God’s will, and to set off trends in the world. But this kind of thing is difficult to verify, so we need to build a tower and use the tower as a measure. Do you understand?”
Zhang Xing suddenly realized that besides personal cultivation, the most important thing for masters and grand masters is to become the benchmark of the times and then promote historical progress, and the erection of towers is a concrete manifestation of becoming the benchmark of the times.
No wonder it is so easy for an emperor to become a great master, and for an outstanding political leader to become a dragon so easily, because they are naturally benchmarks and representatives of the times.
Of course, this way of forcing explanations and thinking using the thinking of the previous life is definitely wrong. Instead of doing this, it is better to return to ourselves. To build a tower is to build a tower.
Whether it is a tower of governance, a tower of scholarship, or a tower of religion, once the abstract tower is completed, the actual tower will naturally become one.
As for the concepts behind the tower, they should not be originless things. Isn’t it just about visualizing external objects to create an elixir?
This is a process in which a person borrows the true energy of heaven and earth to seek his own "Tao" - first forming an elixir within himself, then building a tower in the world, and then integrating the Tao in the sky.
After thinking about this, Zhang Xing nodded and stopped asking more about this matter. Instead, he couldn't help but ask another question: "Then I dare to ask Master, what is the vitality of heaven and earth?"
Zhang Bofeng was obviously startled: "Do you understand? About the tower?"
Zhang Xing nodded: "I should understand."
Zhang Bofeng was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head: "Then I have nothing to teach you... If I knew the essence of the vitality of heaven and earth, I wouldn't still be teaching here."
This is quite true.
"However, the vitality of heaven and earth is the most unreasonable thing in the world." Zhang Bofeng thought for a while and tried his best to give an explanation. "Cause and effect don't even make sense... When you improve your cultivation, you'll understand."
Zhang Xing nodded again, not showing any disappointment at all, and did not ask any more questions. He was already satisfied to get an answer to a question.
And this again caused Zhang Bofeng to take a serious look at the other party.
But he only looked at it for a moment, and then the great master who used to dance with weapons nodded, and then raised his sleeves... It was obvious that he was tired.
Zhang Shijing, who was bowing at the side, quickly got up and gestured to Zhang Xing, inviting him to leave.
Zhang Xing didn't hesitate and turned around directly.
When he came outside, he did not leave the academy. Instead, he met other people waiting outside and came to a side courtyard of the academy to settle down... Next, Zhang Shijing was not rude or overly enthusiastic.
This is of course, he is an old friend of Mr. Bai, the origin of the Zhang family, the fortune teller of the grand master has predicted that he will be prosperous in the next few years, so he is cautious in front of the grand master, not in front of a mere black ribbon.
However, even so, the other party sincerely explained what Zhang Bofeng asked him to tell.
"A grandmaster... stole something... and ran away?" Zhang Xing was stunned. "Is there going to be a grandmaster on the black list?"
"This person is called Liu Wenzhou." Zhang Shijing sighed. "Although he is extremely smart and talented, he came from a low background and was impatient and cynical from the beginning, so he developed a foundation for evil intentions."
Zhang Xing had no expression on his face and was speechless in his heart. It was wrong for him to be from a family like this, and the posture of an old man from a family was abhorrent.
"After condensing the pill, he didn't want to be an official. He just stayed in the academy while teaching and delving into some evil ways. He relied on his uncle's favor early on and asked his uncle to give him some sacrifices. At that time, he liked to run around... Later, when I went to Taiyuan, no one knew when he was promoted to Grandmaster or what he did." Zhang Shijing naturally didn't know the other boy's slander, so he just continued to tell. "As a result...a few months ago, he came to the academy and asked his uncle some things. They got into an argument for some reason, and finally suddenly took away some of his uncle's things. My uncle was mindful of the feelings between teachers and students, so he didn't do anything cruel and allowed him to escape. , and I found out later that he went back to Taiyuan to clean up, and I don’t know where he went, and that’s when I became really alert.”
"What?" Zhang Xing asked seriously. "Something like Fulong Seal?"
"No." Zhang Shijing shrugged, a little bored. "It's just some rumors and files from the Black Emperor's time, such as the Red Emperor Empress and Li Snake dyeing the red mountain, the Black Emperor using his supreme cultivation to resurrect Li Snake after becoming the Supreme, using the divine turtle to combine with Xuanwu, and the relationship between Lord Tunfeng and The Black Emperor made a three-part agreement and so on... You are from the Northern Wilderness... you are from the Northern Territory, so you should know this."
Zhang Xing's heart moved slightly, but he carefully asked: "Do these have any important relationship? Do you really want to use these to accuse a grandmaster? Do you need to notify Jing'an Station?"
"I don't think it matters either." Zhang Shijing was a little impatient. "But my uncle said that he was afraid that Liu Wenzhou, a man with a very high talent and a lot of forbearance, would directly go after the immortal dragon... If he really wanted to attack the immortal dragon, let him He went to fight, and it will be peaceful when he dies... Anyway, since you are here, please report to the court on the way."
Zhang Xing nodded, his face as usual: "I understand, I will write a document to my family's Prime Minister and Shaocheng, and let them decide this matter."
"That's what I mean." The other party took the lead and turned around.
Zhang Xing was also ready to rest there, but as soon as he turned around and caught a glimpse of the curious Xiao Zhou, he suddenly woke up and turned around to ask: "By the way, Mr. Zhang... why didn't Master build an academy at the sacred tree instead of coming here? "
Zhang Shijing looked back and frowned slightly, but he still said bluntly: "Because of the fortune telling...my uncle once asked for fortune telling about this matter, and he didn't know who he asked for. The result he got was that he wanted to build a pagoda far away." Only in this way can he be certified. There was a chance of survival, so I came to the south slope."
Zhang Xing nodded and said no more, and Zhang Shijing finally left.
However, after the people left and the group of imperial envoys rested in the guest room, Xiao Zhou suddenly became rude again: "Brother Zhang, do you think Master Zhang still has a chance of survival?"
Zhang Xing was dumbfounded and wished he could slap the other person twice - What are you talking about in this academy?
This is the Grand Master's academy!
If someone really became a dragon and a god, this thing would be their body!
However, Zhang Xing soon realized something, and he was actually very curious. Is Mr. Zhang really too old to do anything for him, or is the tiger taking a nap for the time being?
Moreover, after the other party solved his doubts, he actually had some guesses in his mind.
Therefore, after Zhang Sanlang thought for a while, he smiled in turn: "Why don't you go and ask... Look at how many children of the Zhang family, how many children with other surnames, how many descendants of famous families, and how many descendants of common people in the academy, you will know that Master Zhang is still alive Is it possible that the title can be confirmed?"
Xiao Zhou was slightly startled and immediately took the lead in answering.
And in the evening, the young master gave the answer: "I went to ask, there were more than 600 students, more than 200 with the surname Zhang, more than 300 from famous families, and more than 100 from poor families and common people. Origin"
Zhang Xing didn't know whether to sneer or pity in his heart, but his expression remained as usual: "So, it is indeed a bit far-sighted... Master Zhang's fate may not be the same."
Xiao Zhou hesitated for a moment: "Is that so?"
Zhang Xing nodded heavily and spoke sincerely: "There is no distinction between teachers and teachers. How can there be no luck in being a teacher for a while?"
Behind the Nanpo Academy, Grand Master Zhang Bofeng was writing something suddenly, and he suddenly felt something. He thought about it carefully, but found nothing, as if he had missed another secret. In the end, he could only sigh softly and look at the sky in despair.
PS: Good night everyone.
