Chapter ninety-four, leaving the East China Sea
On the cliff facing the sea, Zhao Zhengli in a plain shirt and Li Yu in a graceful white dress stood there for a quarter of an hour in full view of everyone.
I don’t know what the two talked about. The three ancestors of the Dengzhou Ge, Peng, and Sun families wanted to rely on the Grand Master’s method to eavesdrop, but Yuan Chaoyang tried to block it.
Not knowing the content naturally makes people suspicious, and the good guys have already charged these two Qingcheng real people with "collaborating with the enemy and the previous dynasty".
Some people also refuted the rumors, saying who had seen blatant collaboration with the enemy? It's probably just a simple gathering of old friends.
Only they two know whether it is true or false.
Yuan Chaoyang looked at the lonely boat going away in the sea, then looked at his junior brother in plain clothes who had been watching him off, and Miss Yu's family who was staring closely at Zhao Zhengli's back. He shook his head helplessly, quietly walked to his side and said coldly. : "You are looking at the scenery, but you don't know that you are someone else's scenery. What do you think? You want to sacrifice the near and seek the far away to become your son-in-law?"
After reacting, Zhao Zhengli laughed at himself: "Brother, where are you? I was just shocked by the content of what she just said."
Yuan Chaoyang said "Oh" meaningfully, and Yu Xiaowei, Li Zhanyi and Yang Guifen also came over.
Zhao Zhengli did not shy away from them. He looked at the long-disappeared lone boat at the end of the East China Sea and sighed deeply: "She told me a secret story about the dispute between the ten kingdoms and the rise of the Qing Kingdom. It was better than the three bald donkeys in Shaolin North on the ancient willow road in Dengzhou. Be more detailed.”
Yuan Chaoyang had already expected it: "The great chivalrous person serves the country and the people, and does it knowingly that it cannot be done. This is righteousness."
Zhao Zhengli's eyes were red: "Since it was an act of righteousness and heroism, why do I still bear the charge of being a traitor and a traitor? I can't find peace under Jiuquan? The Song family doesn't feel any guilt sitting in that seat? Now that they know my identity, they are arresting me everywhere. , if the so-called righteous hero is to cut off his descendants and kill donkeys, it is of no use to him!"
Yuan Chaoyang waited quietly for him to calm down from his irritation: "After all, it is full of fog and there are different opinions. This is also the reason why we discussed with the master brother to leave the East China Sea. It is said that each of the three immortal islands in the East China Sea has a treasured spiritual object, the Fountain of Youth in the Abbot Mountain , Yingzhou Drunken Immortal Wine, Penglai Immortal Medicine, and the Yingzhou Drunk Immortal Wine can make people dream about spring and autumn, so they can gain insight into the past and present lives."
He took a deep look at Zhao Zhengli, who was still unable to calm down: "Now that you have arrived in the East China Sea, senior brother will not hide it from you. You have been at the peak of the middle-level master for several years and have not been able to make any progress. Most of them were trapped by their life experience, so they let you go down the mountain to experience this time. When you go out of the East China Sea, you are looking for the sacred mountain of Yingzhou. I will use the Dream Spring and Autumn Period to make you realize yourself. No matter what the ending is, there will always be an ending."
Zhao Zhengli looked at the end of the East China Sea and said nothing. After a long time, he said to himself: "Actually, I didn't pay much attention to the mystery of my life experience. Instead, I went down the mountain to the capital and the Emperor of the Song family forced me to find it step by step."
He added: "Actually, before senior brother came, I didn't go to the East China Sea to rely on the legendary Yingzhou Drunken Immortal Wine to dream of the Spring and Autumn Period. I originally planned to wait here for Master Zhao Tianshi, the Three Saints of the temple, to come back in search of the elixir of immortality. He went through the entire celebration. The country has risen to prominence, and I hope he will reveal the causes and consequences of my rebellious ministers and traitorous parents."
After a pause, he added self-deprecatingly: "Secondly, there are many witnesses in the Qingguo Temple. I also thought carefully before choosing Zhao Tianshi, because everyone else hopes that I, the son of a rebellious minister, will die soon."
Yuan Chaoyang recalled for no reason the back of an abandoned baby in a black cloak on a rainy night in Qingcheng Mountain fifteen years ago. He replied carelessly: "As a person in the game, he might be able to reveal something."
——
The crowd that was gradually retreating by the East China Sea was stopped in their tracks by dozens of Cavalry Guards.
The leader rides a northern horse, holding a yellow silk cloth wrapped with a wooden stick in his hand, with a picture of auspicious clouds and a dragon embroidered with gold and silver threads.
Anyone with a little discernment would know that it was an imperial edict. It was drafted by Zhongshu Sheng and submitted to the Ministry of Menxia for review. It was then approved by the emperor, or the emperor drafted it and seconded it by Zhongshu Sheng and Menxia. In short, it took effect only after it was signed by the three parties. Finally, it was delegated to the Shangshu Province for execution.
The person who issued the imperial edict had a feminine and delicate appearance, with a clean and hairless middle-aged appearance. He wore a clever man's crown on his head and a green round collar robe with a white background. This is the uniform of a sixth-grade servant, which is not included in civil and military affairs. The clever man's crown is Most of them were worn by eunuchs in that dynasty, so they served the eunuchs from the sixth rank in that dynasty.
Such an official title would not be considered outstanding if placed in the court, but it was still considered a figure in the eunuch ranks. The eunuch was a close confidant of the old emperor and was in charge of internal affairs. Therefore, his rank of sixth rank might make even the civil and military officials of the fifth rank bow their heads and be polite.
The eunuch who climbed to the top was Cao Yan's level of internal affairs manager. He was a fourth-rank official and wore purple court clothes. He was also an extremely powerful person in the civil and military affairs of the entire dynasty. He was second only to the six ministers of the third-rank official. He was always with the emperor, and the wind was light and calm. Change the course of events.
For example, Cao Yan was involved in the strategy of issuing an imperial edict to pacify Zhao Zhengli, the son of a rebellious minister. Although the old emperor alone had no say in the imperial edict, it still needed the writing and sealing of the imperial edict by ministers such as Menxia Sheng and Zhongshu Sheng.
However, the Zhongshu Order of the Zhongshu Province was managed by the Crown Prince Song Chaoyan on behalf of him. Even though he did not like Zhao Zhengli who was close to King Cheng, for the sake of the old emperor's chair, he naturally obeyed his father.
It was also difficult for the minister and minister to be caught in the middle. One was the current emperor and the other was the future prince. Naturally, they had no objections.
The sixth-grade eunuch swept across Zhao Zhengli and several others among the Cavalry Guards, and shouted in a sharp voice: "The imperial decree has arrived! Chengdu County Road, the seventh Taoist Taoist Qingcheng Mountain in the Holy Palace, Zhao Zhengli received the decree!"
Zhao Zhengli, Yuan Chaoyang and others were confused about the sudden imperial edict, but they still knelt down and said: "I accept the edict!"
Then the eunuch of the sixth rank officially announced: "Pardon! Zhao Zhengli, the seventh Taoist of Qingcheng Mountain, the Taoist Holy Palace, ordered the official to resume his original position of fourth rank, concurrently with the position of Tianshi Mansion, and was posthumously named, Hedong Road Changning Army Shang Qingqi Commandery , with a monthly salary of thirty guan, clothes of Luo, silk, cotton, and linen, soft armor, and iron cavalry to go to his post to frighten the enemies outside the border. He reported to the captain of the light chariot and was given a letter of pardon as shown on the right. The pardon will be implemented. Xing Tongyuan Seven years, May 18th."
Zhao Zhengli thanked the emperor for his favor and accepted the imperial edict. He was thinking about a question, what could have happened to the old emperor? Do you think that you, the rebellious son of a rebellious minister, have a hard time with your life, so you drive him outside the wall and keep him out of sight?
In any case, the imperial edict has been issued, and there are only two options. One is to rebel against the Song Dynasty and go to Donghai City. There is a beautiful woman and a good job, and he lives a free monk's life. He will naturally become a pawn in the restoration of the former Tang Dynasty.
The second is to surrender and go north to live a military life.
It would be easy for a single person to take the first route, but there is a nurturing and educated sect behind him. Where would the sect and the seven senior brothers who are both brothers and fathers be left after a traitor?
Therefore, there is only the second way to go. No matter what the intentions of the Song family court are, they can only be manipulated like chess pieces at the moment.
Yuan Chaoyangxiao saw through his mind, looked at the distant Cavalry Guards and the crowd who stayed for a long time to watch them, and said in a deep voice: "Actually, when I learned about your life experience, I thought about all the consequences. The worst thing is to close the door and ignore it. In the secular world, don’t compete with Dragon, Tiger and Wudang for temple titles and live a leisurely life.”
Zhao Zhengli pretended to be open-minded and grinned: "I picked up a fourth-grade official for nothing, and he also got a salary that most people can't find with a lantern. From now on, I will no longer have to fight for coins with my senior brother, and I can even use the remaining money to honor him." Senior brother, it’s not too late for me to be happy.”
Yuan Chaoyang did not point out his superficial open-mindedness, and joked in a plaintive tone: "The relationship is to use the spare money to honor the seven of us, huh? Where will the other money be used?"
He glanced at Yu Xiaowei who was silent: "Are you buying clothes or food for the Yu family's sister-in-law?"
Unexpectedly, Yu Xiaowei replied sourly: "What if I secretly send it to Donghai City?"
Everyone laughed, leaving Zhao Zhengli speechless. He suddenly realized that there was a stunning woman who fell in love with him, so he needed to be more cautious.
Now that things have come to this, this trip out to the East China Sea to search for the sacred mountain of Yingzhou is no longer heavy.
That imperial edict only released Zhao Zhengli's earthly body, but his Taoist heart was still blocked, so the mystery of his life experience still needs to be resolved.
——
The sea breeze was blowing, and the wind direction gradually changed in the early morning of the second day. Dozens of people were rowing oars in the bottom of the cabin of the big ship in the port. On the deck, they were steering the ship and raising the sail. The anchors were loosened and unbolted on the sides of the two ships. There were also dozens of maids and servants going about their business.
Zhao Zhengli roughly estimated that there were about 60 people on the ship who were busy and skilled. The huge ship was divided into three floors: upper, middle and lower. Below the deck were the cabins. Dozens of oars drove the navigation hub. On the flat floor were dozens of cabins for people to rest and live. Above are five sails soaring into the sky, as well as observation decks, wind vanes, and other equipment to prevent unpredictable events at sea.
The deck alone is more than ten feet long. The five sails and dozens of anchor cables are all made of strong and wear-resistant hemp ropes. One rope is as thick as an adult man's arm. The entire hull is connected with mortise and tenon joints. Necessary places are also anti-corrosion. The copper nails are carbonized, and the overall bow and stern are high. When standing on it, it is as stable as land. Even if there is a big wave, it will only shake slightly.
Not only Zhao Zhengli, but also Yuan Chaoyang was shocked by such a giant object.
The other three women were even more shocked.
The five of them looked back and forth for an hour before they gradually became bored and went into the cabin to rest.
The big ship sailed smoothly towards the vast deep sea. Even the old captain at the helm did not know the purpose of the voyage. Before leaving, the ancestor of the Du family repeatedly told him that everything was done according to Yuan Zhenren's instructions.
However, that Master Yuan was not the immortal and crane-haired man he had imagined, but a young man with a rich and powerful appearance. The other people were also extraordinary in their aura, but their words were always strange. Master Yuan left the sentence "Go to the East China Sea." Go deeper!" There were no more instructions.
This is the first time he has encountered such a request in his half-life of sailing. Where is the depth of the East China Sea? Is it Liuli Island? Luoyan Island? Or Golden Snake Island? Or the island in the East China Sea where monks gather together?
As long as there are not the legendary Penglai, Yingzhou, and Abbot, the three fairy islands, the rest are fine. Because he has been sailing for decades, the so-called fairy islands do not exist at all.
Every year, there are not eight thousand but ten thousand fleets visiting immortals. Those who are wise will find their way back, while those who are not will be lost in the ocean waves. The old captain does not want to lose his old age.
This is also the reason why Yuan Chaoyang did not mention the destination.
The sea has no corners and waves, and even when the giant ship has completely entered the depths of the ocean, it still looks isolated and small.
As far as the eye can see, the waves are rolling into the sky, and the boats are ups and downs, like duckweeds falling leaves in the wind and waves.
The waves lasted for half an hour before they gradually subsided. Then, at the end of the field of vision, black dots of sesame seeds and mung beans were faintly seen moving, and a rapid sound of gongs was heard from the sail observation deck: "Pirates, pirates! Prevent pirates!"
Following closely, a dozen people from the cabin dragged out iron thorns and vines to surround the side of the ship to prevent pirates from climbing on them. They also carried repeating crossbows, small catapults burning kerosene and other long-range attack weapons.
Yuan Chaoyang and the other five people followed the movement out of the cabin and roughly guessed the formation.
Walking onto the deck, the old captain was busy arranging the crew members. When he saw five people coming out, he hurriedly stepped forward to apologize and comfort him: "Gentlemen, I'm really sorry. I encountered a few short-sighted thieves. I'm afraid I'll be in trouble for a few hours." , I asked the cook to prepare dinner, and I dealt with these thieves so hard that I didn’t miss dinner."
The old captain was bloated, his skin was rough and darkened from being exposed to wind and waves all year round, and his smiling face looked more like a pirate than a pirate.
The rest of the crew on the boat were also big-bodied and thick-waisted. They didn't have the white faces of Zhao Zhengli and Yuan Chaoyang at all. The rough guys looked at the expressions of the five people without any fear, especially Yu Xiaowei, Li Zhanyi and Yang Guifen. The greedy eyes that were forcibly concealed wanted to pop out.
It's nothing more than boarding a pirate ship!
The three parties involved were naturally disgusted. Zhao Zhengli didn't know what Yuan Chaoyang thought. As long as the rough and reckless man didn't do anything extreme, he ignored them and let them starve to death.
If they behave inappropriately, he doesn't mind teaching them how to be a new person. No, they can't be a good person!
In the sea breeze, you can already hear the whining and cheering sounds of excitement, like a wild beast that has found its prey.
The old captain frowned and asked, "How did it come so fast?"
Then he looked at the sea and saw several sailboats coming in the wind and waves. On the ups and downs of the sailboats stood pirates swinging their grappling hooks and anchor chains.
However, every sailboat has a calm figure, standing with his hands behind his back. The bumps of the sailboat in the waves have no impact on him, and even ordinary people can see that he is extraordinary.
The old captain reacted immediately, with a flash of panic in his eyes, and shouted towards the helm: "Er Mao, break the helm and turn to the northwest."
Then he shouted to the sail: "Xiao Wu, Xiao Lu, turn the sail to the northwest and retreat with the wind. Don't be surrounded by thieves."
Then he shouted to the cabin below the deck: "Kuizi, let the guys paddle hard, and then the old man will treat everyone to a elbow!"
Finally, with worried faces, he said to the calm Yuan Chaoyang and the other five: "Fellow Taoist priests, I'm afraid the thieves here may be in trouble. Please go back to the cabin first to avoid them."
Yuan Chaoyang originally planned to turn around and go back, but Yang Guifen beside him asked out of curiosity: "What's so troublesome about the captain? There are just dozens of thieves, and the ship is big enough to break out, right?"
The old captain hesitated several times, and his fat, dark face looked a bit naive and cute. Finally, he sighed anxiously and pointed to the leading sailboat: "Did you see that every sailboat has a person who will not be bumped by the waves?" The people they influence are calm and calm. Those people are Taoist monks or brave warriors on the eighth level. For this kind of pirates, if they are not completely eradicated, they are as difficult to deal with as ghosts and cannot be messed with. If you can't afford it, avoid it if you can, otherwise the entire ship may be implicated."
