The two monks were tall and majestic with black and red faces, and the other was gentle, fair, and even wore a pair of glasses (glasses) on his face, which was very rare. The two seemed to be admiring the scenery casually, just nodding to everyone.
Just when everyone thought they were about to walk past, they suddenly heard a clear and white voice say: "There is a poem by the ancients: Mountains and rivers are outside and inside Tongguan Road. Walking along this road to see the beauty of Guanzhong, I feel that it is true at all.
It's just that the world is divided and combined, and you come and I go, but the twists and turns and stories in between cannot be contained in the words "people's suffering". The Buddha is compassionate and should send down the world of great unity and bliss as soon as possible to relieve the suffering of the people. "
At this point, he suddenly turned around, bowed and clasped his hands and asked, "What do you think of this humble opinion of the young monk? I would like to ask you for advice." Everyone was stunned after hearing this and looked at Li Dan.
"We are strangers when we meet by chance. It's rare for Master to speak Chinese so well." Li Dan smiled: "To be honest, if you didn't look at the monk's robe, you would almost think that Master is a Han Chinese."
The monk smiled and lowered his head but did not answer. Li Dan asked again: "I am a young scholar, how dare you act like an adult?"
The monk shook his head: "Your Excellency, you are surrounded by warriors and surrounded by many advisers. How can you lie to an outsider like this young monk?"
"Since we are outsiders of the world, shouldn't monks be free from all the suffering and sweetness in this world?
Sighing like that just now, although it comes from the heart and is based on emotion, it seems to still fall into the word "madness", which is not accepted by Master. "
As he spoke, he saw the fair face turn a little red, and he couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth, saying, "But it's understandable that monks are compassionate, and for this purpose they hope that the people in the world will suffer less."
"Exactly, exactly." The tall man came over and said with a smile, "Sir, don't be surprised. I am a young junior brother and I didn't do it intentionally when I bumped into you."
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, I am very young myself." Li Dan waved his hand: "May I ask where the two masters come from and where they want to go? What are the names of the Dharma?"
"The young monk's name in Chinese is Shi Ming. This is my junior brother Shi An." The fat monk smiled and looked very kind:
"The two of us are coming from Xining. We will first visit the ancient capital of the Tang Dynasty, and then prepare to go all the way east to Kaifeng to experience the treasures of the Central Plains. I am very lucky to meet you today! Can I ask for your advice?"
"Monk Wu, don't be rude!" Yang Yi's face sank: "Your Majesty is an imperial envoy, how can you give a name as golden as jade to others indiscriminately?"
"Brother Yi, don't scare him. It's not easy for him to come all the way here." Li Dan stopped him with a smile, and then said to the two of them, "Since you are from Xi'an, do you have any interesting stories there?"
"The situation in the Central Plains is indeed not comparable to that of Xining. It's an eye-opener for me to see this little monk." Shi Ming said quickly, "The grand and grand city of Xi'an, with its bustling streets filled with people, both my junior brother and I are in awe of it!"
"What is this?" Liu Hongsheng grinned: "If you have been to Shangjing, you will think that Xi'an Mansion is too small!"
"Yes, today's Xi'an Prefecture is only one-tenth of what it was during the prosperous Tang Dynasty. Although Shang Jing is not as grand as the old Chang'an City, it is more than six or seven times larger than Xi'an Prefecture." Li Dan nodded: "Yes. You can go see it with your own eyes if you have the opportunity.”
"Oh? Then why don't we, senior brother, go back in a hurry and go directly south to Dagong Temple in Shangjing!" Shi An said.
"Hey, you still know about Dagong Temple?" Wu Mao said with a smile: "This temple is quite remote in Shangjing. Is it famous?"
"Oh, we heard what Master said, but we have never been there." Shi Ming said quickly, changing the topic: "Talk about the interesting stories about Guanzhong, everyone from the east, do you know that there is a zodiac cult in northern Shaanxi recently?
The two of us heard that they captured two county towns and killed all the county officials. Tsk tsk, I was so frightened that we decided to leave the customs overnight and head east. ” He shook his head repeatedly as if he were scared.
"Yes, do you know what the origin of this Zodiac Sect is? Why is it so powerful in fighting?" Shi An also looked serious and looked at Li Dan.
"It's not enough to be a clown
consider. "Li Dan answered briefly.
"We have already attacked the prefecture and conquered the county. Do you still think you are a clown?"
"Look at what they did. After entering the city, they were not busy appeasing the people and caring for the orphans and children. Instead, they were busy killing people and extorting property. Such a group could not even be considered an army and could only be described as a mob.
They have no faith, no long-term plans, no kindness and love for the people, and no ability to manage the local area, so there is nothing to worry about! Li Dan said easily, facing the changing eyes of the other party calmly.
"Then, two masters, please hurry up and get out of seclusion. It's time for us to continue on our way." After Li Dan said this, he cupped his fists and handed over his hands, turned around and left.
Looking at his back, Shi An suddenly gritted his teeth and whispered: "He looks down on us like this, and he doesn't even have a little bit of panic and fear! It seems that just conquering two counties is not enough!"
Archmage, I regret not agreeing with them to attack Luochuan before I came out. "
"Why bother." The Archmage said softly behind him: "This young man is not simple. Master Shaotian must not let his words disturb him."
"What did you say?" Baorui was startled: "The Archmage means that he already knows who I am?"
"It's possible." The Archmage took a step forward: "It seems like he didn't say anything, but why do I think he said everything? It might be a mistake to choose to meet him here. Let's go quickly and get out of seclusion immediately!"
The two men immediately moved forward quickly. Unexpectedly, the two wooden fences blocking the road had been closed, and the number of soldiers guarding the pass had more than doubled. Business travelers inside and outside were talking about it, and they realized that the pass had been closed.
"Why?" Shi Ming asked a young scholar.
"It is said that half an hour ago, the commander of Guancheng issued an order. Under the order of the imperial envoy, due to the rampant Zodiac religion, the whole of Shaanxi will be closed for fifteen days starting today. All officials and troops will be given priority, and those who obstruct will be punished for fifteen days. Those who deliberately obstruct will be detained for three months!"
"This, can you use such cruel methods?"
"There is nothing we can do. Officials and squires from two counties have died. The trouble this time is really outrageous!"
"Let me tell you," a trading clerk next to him said with a sneer: "The meaning of this order is that no one except the officers and soldiers should go on the road, otherwise they will inevitably be charged with obstruction and obstruction.
well! This is great. If I can't deliver the goods, I have to take them back to Huayin. What a waste of time! "
Shi An pulled Shi Ming aside: "Isn't this coming for us?"
"No!" Shi Ming thought about it and shook his head: "Half an hour ago we were up there in Guancheng going through the paperwork. How could he know if we didn't come down to show up?"
"But if he already knows or is suspicious now, and the gate is sealed, wouldn't we be in a trap...?" Shi An was embarrassed to finish the last word, and Shi Ming's face darkened.
"Let's cross the river in Fengling and go to Shanxi first!" Shi Ming said, "We can't stay in this ghost place!"
They hurried to the ferry, but before they reached it, they saw people on the other side turning around and walking back, and the ferry was also closed! Now the two of them were panicking. Suddenly, they saw a team with a clear banner passing by under the banner of "Imperial Envoy". .z.
The guards in front include the Winged Dragon Guards, more of them are guards under the banner of "The Right Army Commands the Governor's Envoy Camp of the Four Provinces of Qianshi", with a total of two hundred people.
They are all wearing black armor and helmets. Even the horses are hung with iron leaf danglu, chainmail hanging from their necks, and green horse clothes on the front and back. The whole team passed with majesty and murderous intent, followed by a large group of merchants and scholars who wanted to rely on themselves and seek official positions.
The two of them felt their hearts sink. The archmage said: "This guy must have guessed something, so the guards are all wearing armor. This is done deliberately to show you and me."
"If he only has this few elite men under his command, he will fail. Otherwise, Brother Hei will not be able to stop him even if he comes!" Master Shaotian tried hard to control himself and not let his nervousness and fear show.
"Don't be afraid, Baorui." The Archmage rolled his eyes: "If you are not allowed to leave, you can always go back to Huayin. As long as you follow their team out of Qindong Town, won't the sky be as high as the sky and the birds can fly behind you?" II They looked at each other, found a place to change out of their monk robes, and then followed the merchants.
"Are you sure those two people are not
Good bird? "Wu Mao asked softly.
"I noticed the look in that boy's eyes when the Zodiac was mentioned. He is definitely related to this cult and is not a monk from the Zodiac!" Li Dan said with certainty. He was born as a scout and has not forgotten this skill.
"Let's walk. Anyway, Crab King Five (Xie Guiting) and his people are watching them. If he can't get out of the pass, he should return to Huayin, right? Send a few more scouts to Xiao Jie, and be sure to follow them without alerting them. !" Li Dan ordered.
"Let me tell you, since we are basically certain, it is better to arrest him for trial!" Yang Yi suggested.
"I don't have the authority to arrest people and try them," Li Dan told him. "The most I can do is instruct the local magistrates to do it.
However, these two people are good at martial arts, and if the police were more sparse, they could easily defeat them. Just keep an eye on him, and it would be even better if he returns to Xi'an! "
He said to Yang Yi: "It's not unusual to catch one or two. I hope to catch as many fish as possible, so that we can do things much easier later on."
The advance guard had already informed the county magistrate Zhu Qiyue that the imperial envoy was about to leave Tongguan and come to Huayin. Magistrate Zhu hurriedly took people out of Wuliting Pavilion at the east gate to greet the imperial envoy.
Li Dan felt happy when he saw this round-headed little fat man. After receiving the emperor's greeting gift, he stepped forward to help him up from the ground and asked with concern what his relationship was with Zhu Xiang (Zhu Zhanyang). .
Zhu Qiyue did not dare not to say anything, and replied that his grandfather and Zhu Xiang's father were half-brothers. After hearing this, Li Dan patted the back of his hand and said, "Then you and Zhu Qizhen are brothers of the same race, and they are the same people who have been arguing for a long time."
Zhu Qiyue was left out in the officialdom for several months because of Zhu Zhanzhen's burden. He almost cried in public when he heard these heart-warming words.
He quickly invited the imperial envoy to the prepared place, and brought his own belongings to Li Dan for his use. He was really diligent and considerate. Li Dan left immediately without letting him go. He went to the study and asked with concern about the current situation, local income and expenditure, and people's conditions, and then said:
"Dan is new here and is not very familiar with Shaanxi, especially the officialdom of Xi'an Prefecture. I would like to ask Lord Zhu, what can you teach me?"
"Don't worry, sir. Since you are my friend over there, you are my friend. I will definitely know everything and tell you everything!" Zhu Qiyue started his hour-long introduction. It was obvious that this guy was being squeezed out by his colleagues at all levels. It’s so frustrating!
"We won't follow him!" The Archmage pulled Master Shaotian away from Li Dan's queue. The two quietly walked north and put on their monk's attire again.
This trick is more effective because the common people respect monks and the government looks down on monks. This identity is suitable for use as a cover.
"Let's go to Pucheng first. Our people will be there, and then we can plan the next step." The Archmage told him, "Baorui, it seems we have to make some changes. I feel more and more This imperial envoy is not a good person!"
