After leaving Chuzhou, everyone entered Zhongzhou.
Zhongzhou is already the hinterland of Xia Kingdom, but even so, there are many monsters and bandits.
In these years, natural disasters have continued, and corrupt officials and evil cults have been causing trouble in the local area. Not only have many demons and ghosts been bred, but many people have turned into bandits and occupied mountains and plundered.
It's just that Qin Shaoyou didn't expect that even Zhongzhou would be like this. If the court couldn't make some changes as soon as possible, I'm afraid the civil unrest would continue to escalate...
However, Qin Shaoyou and the others did not encounter any big surprises along the way.
Occasionally, blind thieves, bandits, demons and ghosts would target them. Before they could get close, they would be captured by Tai Sui Shenjun and others, leaving Qin Shaoyou without a chance to take action.
After leaving Zhongzhou, Qin Shaoyou and others entered the territory of Zhili.
The word Zhili refers to the prefectures and counties directly subordinate to the capital. Arriving at Zhili means arriving at the periphery of the capital and the core of Xia Kingdom.
The prefectures and counties under the jurisdiction of Zhili are much richer than elsewhere, and the public security is much better. At least Qin Shaoyou and the others have not encountered thieves, bandits, demons or ghosts again.
The people here in Zhili are much more accepting of monsters than other states and prefectures in the Xia Kingdom.
Qin Shaoyou and the others saw a lot of monsters in the market here.
For example, the fox demon dancer with half of her breast exposed to attract customers, the bull demon and rhinoceros spirit performing with her horns, and the wild boar spirit selling dog meat with a sheep's head hanging on it, etc...
Even among the government officials, there are dog monsters dressed up like humans, following behind the catcher, showing off their power over the people.
The people here in Zhili are not surprised or scared by the monsters appearing in the streets, but are accustomed to them.
Of course, the monsters that can appear in the town are all recorded and archived in the Monster Suppression Department. They are kind monsters and will not harm others.
Especially those fox demon dancers, many people know their depth...
It's just that these people who know the depth are all men with dark circles under the eyes and weak kidneys like Zhu Xiucai.
Qin Qiaoer and the red-clad envoys under her command have all lived in the capital, and are accustomed to such scenes.
But Zhu Xiucai and others were amazed, feeling as if Grandma Liu had entered the Grand View Garden.
Seeing that Zhu Xiucai kept looking at the fox demon dancer who was soliciting customers on the roadside, the red-clothed messenger who became familiar with him smiled and extended an invitation to him.
"Xiucai, after we arrive in the capital, we will go to the heaven and earth to watch the fox girls dance before the moon. Let me tell you, the fox girls in heaven and earth are one of a kind..."
Unexpectedly, after Zhu Xiucai withdrew his gaze, he refused sternly: "Don't come to me for this kind of thing, I'm not interested."
When the red-clothed envoy heard this, he was stunned for a moment, and then laughed loudly. It was obvious that he was joking and did not believe that he could say this at all.
Zhu Xiucai didn't explain much, just snorted disdainfully in his heart: "What's so good about a fox girl? She smells very strong. If you don't use incense, you'll be vomited as soon as you get close. Besides, my current salary can't If you use it indiscriminately, you have to save up to marry a wife and have children..."
Thinking of this, Zhu Xiucai turned to look at Cen Biqing, his eyes full of enthusiasm.
The snake demon is better, with a beautiful figure and smooth skin. Xu Xian is definitely a knowledgeable person. Compared with him, King Zhou is a bit unscrupulous. I wonder if there is something wrong with his nose?
Unlike Zhu Xiucai and the others who looked around curiously, Qin Shaoyou was in a state of high alert.
Qin Qiaoer noticed this situation and asked in a low voice: "What's wrong?"
Qin Shaoyou didn't answer in a hurry. He first made a gesture to Cui Youying and asked Brother Cui to cast a soundproofing spell. Then he said: "I feel like there is a pair of eyes staring at us in the dark, but I can't find where those eyes are hidden." .”
Ever since he stepped into Zhili, Qin Shaoyou's instinct reminded him that someone was secretly watching.
However, Qin Shaoyou activated all the effects of his talents such as [Bright Eyesight], [Listening], and [Wonderful Nose] to the extreme, but still gained nothing.
After listening to Qin Shaoyou's words, Qin Qiaoer also looked around vigilantly, but also found no suspicious person.
After thinking about it, she suggested: "Should we send someone to check?"
"There's no rush yet."
After Qin Shaoyou hesitated for a while, he rejected the proposal.
"The other party is good at hiding. Even if we send people to investigate, we may not be able to find him out. And he probably doesn't know that we have noticed it now. It's better not to alert the snake first and wait and see if he reveals any flaws."
Qin Qiaoer thought about it for a while and felt that this was a solution, so she nodded slightly to agree.
Although there is no rush to launch an investigation, the precautions and vigilance required are indispensable. After all, no one knows whether those eyes hidden in the dark are enemies or friends, or what their intentions are.
After entering Zhili, in addition to the different scenery and eyes hidden in the dark, Qin Shaoyou and the others also discovered many armed escort teams.
Some of these teams are escorted by local garrison troops, while others are in charge of escort agencies.
At first, Qin Shaoyou thought that these teams were either caravans traveling north and south, or teams escorting military supplies and supplies. Later, after asking Qin Qiaoer, he found out that it was not the case.
"These teams are training guides." Qin Qiaoer sighed.
"I've heard of the Birthday Guide. Are the Cultivation Guide and the Birthday Guide the same thing?"
Qin Shaoyou had watched "Water Margin" before and was no stranger to the birthday program. He knew that it was delivered in batches as birthday gifts to dignitaries.
Qin Qiaoer explained: "It's almost the same. The birthday package transports birthday gifts, while the practice package transports various cultivation materials.
Now that His Majesty is obsessed with cultivating immortality, officials from all over the country naturally want to do what he wants.
Especially in the past few years, several local officials received exceptional promotions because the cultivation materials they collected satisfied His Majesty, and many officials saw a green cloud road...
However, the previous training programs were all escorted by the government. Why are private escorts involved this time? "
When Qin Qiaoer said this, he also felt that something was wrong. He immediately sent someone as a red-clothed envoy to inquire about it, and soon got the news.
“His Majesty issued a decree not long ago, saying that he would reopen the previously suspended Dharma Assembly, and ordered all places to contribute spiritual objects to help the Dharma Assembly be successfully completed.
This edict was not only sent to local governments, but also to wealthy merchants and wealthy families in Jiangnan provinces, ordering them to offer spiritual objects.
The training guides escorted by the bodyguards were the filial piety of wealthy merchants and wealthy families from all over the Yangtze River. "
When Zhu Xiucai heard this, he couldn't help but snorted coldly: "The war in Qingtang has not ended, the Black Lotus Sect is still causing chaos, and the people are suffering miserably due to natural and man-made disasters, but our Majesty is busy holding Dharma gatherings." , busy searching for cultivation materials everywhere so that he can become an immortal..."
Glancing at the people around him, Zhu Xiucai finally swallowed the unfinished words back into his stomach.
Although Zhu Xiucai didn't say it, Qin Shaoyou helped him and completed this sentence in his heart: "The emperor is like this, it is really difficult for the country not to be in chaos..."
(End of chapter)
