There were footsteps at the door, and Gu Zhengchen looked up.
The two Taoist priests both wore blue robes.
The Taoist priest on the left is older, more than fifty years old, with a thin face, a short beard, a pair of phoenix eyes with shining eyes, a wooden sword hilt exposed behind his left shoulder, a yellow sword tassel hanging slightly, and an aura of dust all over his body.
Although the Taoist priest on the right is only in his thirties, his steps are gentle and silent as he walks. He waves the fly whisk in front of him, his eyes are like stars in the night, and behind the light is the depth of Nanbei.
"Under the seat of the Zhengyi Sijiao Zhenren of Longhu Mountain, Zhang Xunjing and Yu have met the county lord in their lives."
The young Taoist priest spoke, and the older Taoist priest beside him only signed his name.
Gu Zhengchen did not dare to be disrespectful and stood up to return the salute: "Gu Zhengchen has met two Taoist priests."
Zhengyi is not something that a small county magistrate can provoke, especially the people from Longhu Mountain.
In Chinese civilization, there are two hereditary families, one with the surname Kong and the other with the surname Zhang, namely South Zhang and North Kong.
The Kong family's sage Yan was in Qufu, while the Zhang family was in the Tianshi Mansion on Longhu Mountain.
The heavenly masters of the past dynasties lived in Longhu Mountain, searching for immortals and magic, sitting in the palace of the Qing Dynasty to perform teachings and preaching, cultivating their moral character, and inheriting the Taoism. It was highly valued by the dynasties of all dynasties, and it was a veritable "Taoist capital".
During the Yuan Dynasty, Zhengyi was recognized and worshiped by the imperial power, and Longhu Mountain was the leader in Taoism.
Before Lao Zhu proclaimed himself emperor, he also sent an envoy to the 42nd generation Heavenly Master Zhang Chenggong, asking him to send a celestial document and grant him the talisman "Destiny will return", in order to create an atmosphere of public opinion that the king's power is divinely authorized.
But after he became the emperor, the Tianshi Mansion sent people to Jinling to congratulate him. Lao Zhu said: "The Supreme Lord of Heaven, how can he have a teacher?"
That means, God is the one at the top, so how can there be a teacher?
As a result, Zhang Changchang lost his title of Celestial Master and was granted the title of Zhengyi Sijiao Zhenren, with a silver seal, a rank of second rank, and leadership in Taoist affairs.
Lao Zhu claims to be the Son of Heaven. He probably doesn't like that "Tian", a non-born father, has a master living in the world. He can't wipe out the Taoist disciples in one go. He can only change himself into a real person, and he doesn't know. Are the words "real person" intended to remind people in the Tianshi Mansion to remember that they are real people, not some Tianshi...
Although Lao Zhu got rid of the title of "Tianshi", the name of Longhu Mountain Tianshi Mansion has not been changed. The treatment of these Taoist priests is unusual. They are people who can use stagecoaches and ships!
Just this little bit of treatment shows that Lao Zhu attaches great importance to him. You must know that the Marquis rode the horse of the inn without authorization, and the Marquis got rid of him immediately!
Both parties took their seats.
Zhang Xunjing was the first to speak: "I received a letter in mid-October, saying that Jurong County Master has three Taoist books by Zhang Shenxian in his hands. Are you aware of this?"
Gu Zhengchen looked at Zhang Pei and Yao Zhen at the door and nodded slightly.
Yao Zhen turned around and left, and soon fetched "Meditation Song".
Gu Zhengchen did not take it, but gestured to Yao Zhen to hand it directly to Zhang Xunjing: "This is one of the books, and there are some annotations at the back. Although I don't know who wrote it, I think it is a Taoist master."
After Zhang Xunjing took it, he opened it and looked at it, nodded repeatedly, and then handed it to Yu Pingsheng beside him: "Uncle Yu, take a look."
Yu Pingsheng looked at it carefully, turned to the annotations at the back and said to Zhang Xunjing: "Yes, it is from Longhu Mountain. But judging from the handwriting, it looks more like Master Zhang Zigu's copy. Many years ago, there Three Taoist books were stolen."
Zhang Xunjing breathed a sigh of relief, finally this trip was not in vain: "I wonder where the person who stole the Taoist book is?"
Gu Zhengchen picked up the tea bowl and said, "Dead."
Zhang Xunjing's face darkened: "It is said that this book was obtained by the Qingzhen Monastery. The person who stole the Taoist book is the master of the Taoist temple and is also a Taoist. His name is Geshan people."
"That's right."
Gu Zhengchen was calm.
Zhang Xunjing stood up and asked: "The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty said that Longhu Mountain leads all Taoist affairs in the world! Geshan people are Taoists, and their life and death should be decided by Longhu Mountain. Are you despising Taoism by killing people in the Taoist sect without permission? ?”
Zhang Pei and Yao Zhen approached the hall, one on the left and one on the right.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Zhang Xunjing and twitched his lips slightly: "Killing people in the Taoist sect? Master Zhang seems to have forgotten that, whether you are Buddhist monks or Taoist sect disciples, you are first of all the people of the Ming Dynasty. Born in the Ming Dynasty, you should naturally Follow the laws of the Ming Dynasty. Although the Geshan man is a Taoist priest, the evil he committed was among the people. The victims were the people of Jurong, so it is only natural to chop off his head."
"If you, or Longhushan behind you, thinks that I made the mistake of killing you, we might as well go to the emperor to discuss whether the face of the Taoist sect is more important, or the laws of the Ming Dynasty? The imperial court is currently compiling the "Laws of the Ming Dynasty", Do you, Longhu Mountain, want to send a memorial and ask the emperor to write: All crimes committed by Taoist priests are punished by Longhu Mountain?"
Zhang Xunjing's expression changed.
Yu Pingsheng laughed loudly, stood up and said: "The county magistrate is indeed very sharp, Xunjing, you are still young and lack experience, how can you forget the teachings of real people. The laws and regulations are the law of the country, and the Tao follows nature, but in the end, it is the law of the country." Inside. It is reasonable and reasonable for the county magistrate to deal with the evildoers Geshanren and Qingzhen according to the national law."
Zhang Xunjing snorted and sat back.
Yu Pingsheng looked at Gu Zhengchen and said calmly: "Please forgive me, Lord County. He has not been down the mountain for a long time and does not understand the ways of the world. There is only one volume of "Meditation Song" here, but I don't know about "Xuanji Zhizhi" and "Xuan Yao Jing" Where?"
Gu Zhengchen leaned back in his chair, glanced at Zhang Xunjing, his eyes fell on Yu Pingsheng, and said calmly: "He doesn't understand the ways of the world, Taoist priest Yu should understand, right?"
I don't know why for the rest of my life.
Gu Zhengchen was a little depressed. These Taoist priests were not as good as monks. When the monks came, he took a fancy to the Buddhist beads and gave them to him when he asked for them. He said that he would not be careless in giving money, but you people in Longhu Mountain don't know how to give them. What are the benefits?
Seeing Gu Zhengchen take out a copper coin, Yu Pingsheng finally understood, smiled awkwardly and said, "I wonder how much food the county minister plans to exchange these three Taoist books for?"
Gu Zhengchen said simply: "Five thousand strings."
"What?"
Zhang Xunjing exclaimed.
I never expected that Gu Zhengchen would open his mouth and say with some displeasure: "These three books were originally written by Longhu Mountain. Isn't it inappropriate for the county magistrate to ask for such an exorbitant price?"
Gu Zhengchen said solemnly: "You don't think that these five thousand dollars go into the county government treasury, do you? No, this money is to compensate the people who suffered! The Geshan people are Taoist priests, and the mosque is a Taoist temple. The crimes they committed , it should be borne by the Dao Sect! Even if these three books are not available, I will still write a letter to ask Longhu Mountain to pay compensation!"
"What if we don't agree?"
Zhang Xunjing asked through gritted teeth.
Gu Zhengchen smiled and knocked on the table: "There are engraving craftsmen in Jurong. It is easy to carve three books. I think Zhang Sloppy's works can be sold for a fortune. When will the county government collect enough 5,000 yuan? What? It’s time to stop engraving and printing. Of course, where will the three books be spread during this period, and whether they will reach the hands of the eminent monks of Tianjie Temple, haha, that is not what I am considering..."
