Daochang Lin and others were just chatting casually, but Chang Sheng, who was walking behind, was frightened. He knew that the matter was related to him, but he didn't understand the reason why. Fortunately, it didn't take long for everyone to walk on the official road leading to the county seat. .
After entering the official road, there were more pedestrians on the road, and everyone stopped talking privately. Li Zhongyong chatted with Changsheng seemingly casually about home affairs. The reason why he said it seemed casual was because Li Zhongyong's questions were very targeted, and the purpose was to get to the bottom of things. , to learn more about him.
Before this, Changsheng seldom traveled far. The last time he went to the city was three years ago. The biggest feeling he felt when he went out this time was that the life of the villagers was more miserable than before. Most of the pedestrians on the road were in rags, and they had been walking around. Vendors and salesmen are rarely seen at this time.
Knowing that immortality is rarely seen in the world, Li Zhongyong briefly told him about current affairs. The emperor who was reigning at this time was Xizong's younger brother Li Qing. This man was in his twenties and was very young.
Although the Huangchao Rebellion has been quelled by the imperial court, the six-seven-year-old rebellion spread to and affected more than half of the territory of the Tang Dynasty. In order to quell the war, the Tang Dynasty almost exhausted its national power and military strength, which resulted in the impact on local Jiedu. The direct consequences of the weakening of control were the separatism of vassal towns and their own administrations. Frequent wars broke out across the country. In addition, there were eunuchs in the imperial court who were monopolizing power. Internal and external troubles made matters worse. The Tang Dynasty, which once dominated the east and visited dynasties from all over the world, was no longer as prosperous as it was in the past. , like a candle in the wind, in danger.
Li Zhongyong said, Changsheng will listen. If Li Zhongyong doesn't say anything, he won't ask. For him, these things Li Zhongyong said are very far away from him and have no relevance.
Finding that Changsheng was not interested in the political situation, Li Zhongyong changed the topic and talked about martial arts. This topic aroused Changsheng's curiosity, and he listened carefully and asked questions from time to time.
Li Zhongyong was talking most of the time, and Chen Liqiu would occasionally say a few words. According to the two of them, there are many gangs in Datang today. There are eight hundred if not a thousand, and most of them are from recent times. The Green Forest Gang was formed in 2001. These people robbed homes and houses and were not considered true martial arts people.
There are about two to three hundred sects with long history and skill inheritance. According to the martial arts skills practiced, these gangs can be divided into three major categories. The first category is the earliest and most widely spread Confucian sect. , which is characterized by its vastness and all-inclusiveness.
The second category is the Buddhist sect. The Buddhist practices are derived from the Buddhist practices in the Western Regions. They follow the path of pure masculinity and righteousness. Among them, eminent monks who have understood the true meaning of Buddhism can also use Buddhist magical powers.
The third category is the Taoist sect. Most of the people who practice Taoist Kung Fu are Taoists. Since people in the Taoist sect have understood the Yin and Yang of Heaven, the characteristics of their Kung Fu are mainly impermanent changes, which are endless and endless. Taoists who formally consecrate the urn can also draw talismans on the altar and pray to heaven.
While talking, everyone arrived at Muping County. Dengzhou Prefecture is the easternmost state capital in the Tang Dynasty. To the east is the endless sea. There are three counties in the jurisdiction of Dengzhou Prefecture: Huang County, Muping and Wendeng.
After entering the city, everyone found an inn to stay. It was a very small inn, only run by a husband and wife. During the meal, everyone ordered a bowl of noodles, of which Batulu's portion was worth five bowls. The woman saw that Everyone was well dressed and not like poor people, so they strongly recommended it. They just said that a rooster had just been slaughtered this morning and had been stewed. If they were willing, they could serve it immediately.
Taoist priest Lin asked about the price and learned that a chicken cost ten copper coins, so he declined.
Changsheng had a bag of copper coins with him, which was the money Taoist Lin and Chen Liqiu helped him ask for from Wang Cunzheng last night. He didn't know how much the bag of copper coins was, but he roughly estimated that it was a hundred coins. He wanted to entertain everyone with a banquet to thank everyone. , he called to the woman and asked her to bring the stewed rooster.
Li Zhongyong and others didn't know why, so they all turned to look at him.
Changsheng felt a little awkward under the gaze of everyone, and said with a red face, "If it hadn't been for the help of Taoist Lin and everyone last night, I'm afraid my life would have been hard to save, and Lao Huang would have been eaten by them. Besides, all these copper coins on me are Taoist Master Lin begged for it for me, so I should repay the favor, so I will be the host of this meal."
Hearing what he said, everyone was a little surprised. They didn't expect a half-year-old boy who had never been out to be so polite. However, with Taoist Lin present, they couldn't make the decision, so they looked at Taoist Lin and waited for him to speak.
Daochang Lin glanced at Changsheng, smiled and nodded.
Seeing that Taoist Lin agreed, Changsheng asked the woman about the price of soju. When he learned that a pound of wine cost five cents, he asked the woman to pay two pounds.
The woman happily agreed and turned around.
Seeing Changsheng's generosity, Li Zhongyong guessed that he didn't go out much and might not know the current prices, so he casually explained to him that the main currency in use at this time was copper coins, silver taels were rare, and gold was extremely rare. One thousand copper coins. In the early years when the country was strong and the people were prosperous, five copper coins could buy a dou of rice, which was about twelve kilograms.
Nowadays, the national power of the Tang Dynasty is declining. It takes ten copper coins to buy a bucket of rice. When converted, one copper coin can buy a pound of rice. Changsheng bought a chicken with ten coins, and the ten coins could originally buy ten coins. Kilograms of rice.
In addition, shochu longevity was also expensive to buy. At this time, one pound of grain would yield four taels of wine, and three pounds of grain would yield one pound and two taels of wine. The woman sold him five cents per pound, which was obviously expensive.
After listening to Li Zhongyong's words, Changsheng knew what he was doing, but he didn't feel bad about spending a few more copper coins. One can't forget the kindness of others just because the crisis has passed. If Taoist priest Lin and others hadn't come to help last night, then what would have happened? Even if a bunch of villagers didn't beat him to death, they would definitely kill Lao Huang and eat them in front of him. If that scene really happened, it would definitely become his eternal haze and nightmare.
After a while, the food and wine were served, and everyone began to eat.
Since he lived in the countryside, he rarely saw meat. Changsheng also wanted to eat meat, but he never picked it up. He just lowered his head and ate the noodles. He got up from time to time to pour wine for Taoist Lin and others, and took the opportunity to thank everyone one by one again.
In fact, everyone didn't take what happened last night to heart, but seeing Chang Sheng express his gratitude so solemnly, their impression of him became even better.
Seeing that Changsheng never touched the chicken, everyone gave him a chopstick while he stood up to pour the wine. When he put down the wine pot and sat down, the bowl was already filled with chicken.
Seeing that everyone cared so much about him, Changsheng felt warm in his heart, and his desire to learn skills and make a living from them became more intense.
Although he knew that Batulu was very edible, he did not expect that Batulu could eat more than he thought. The inn used large bowls to serve noodles. One bowl of noodles would definitely be enough for ordinary people, but Batulu could still eat five bowls. The meaning is still not finished.
Seeing this, Changsheng asked the shopkeeper to serve five more bowls. Although Baturu refused, he was just pretending. When the noodles came, he was still in a state of confusion and there was no soup left.
When one person eats the food of ten people, the amount of food is no longer amazing, but actually terrifying.
After the meal, Changsheng settled the bill and handed the remaining copper coins to Taoist Lin with both hands, but Taoist Lin smiled and waved his hand, "You can keep it for yourself."
Changsheng followed Lin Daozhang and others willingly, but felt that it was inappropriate to keep the money privately, so he delivered it again.
When he guessed what Chang Sheng was thinking, Taoist Lin smiled and said, "Except for Batulu, each of the three of them has some savings. You don't need to think too much, just keep it."
After hearing what Chief Lin said, Changsheng put away the bag containing the money and followed everyone to the backyard to check in.
Lin Daozhang asked for a total of six guest rooms. Changsheng had never stayed in an inn before, and he didn't know how big a guest room was. After opening the door, he discovered that the guest room was very spacious, and there were two beds inside, which could accommodate two people.
Just as Changsheng was standing at the door looking in, Chen Liqiu patted his shoulder from behind and said, "You didn't sleep all night last night, so have a good sleep."
"I'm not sleepy," Changsheng shook his head and asked, "Third brother, it's not the time yet, it's still dark, what are you doing?"
"Master and the boss are going out to do some business, so we will stay at the inn to rest." Chen Liqiu said casually.
"Can I help?" Changsheng asked.
"Honestly, rest in the room. There are many things you don't know. The days are long. I will tell you slowly in the future." Chen Liqiu yawned and walked into the next room.
Watching Chen Liqiu enter the house, Changsheng entered his room. Chen Liqiu only knew one thing but not the other. In fact, he not only didn't sleep last night, but also didn't sleep the night before yesterday. However, he was very confused when there was a sudden change. I was very tired but not sleepy. After looking at the furnishings in the room, I put down my baggage, lay down on the bed with my clothes on, and was in a daze.
At this time, his mood was very complicated. They met by chance. He didn't know much about Daozhang Lin and others. He only knew that a few people were not bad people, but he didn't know what Daozhang Lin and others did. So he followed them like this. He didn't know What will you experience next?
However, compared with the worry about the unknown future, the inexplicable emptiness was more unbearable for him. He had been staying with Lao Huang every day for so many years, and suddenly Lao Huang was no longer there, and his heart was empty.
Thinking of Lao Huang, I again thought of what happened last night. If Taoist Lin and others had not appeared, Lao Huang would have been skinned and eaten by the villagers. It was precisely because of the appearance of Taoist Lin and others that Lao Huang was able to die well and keep his body intact. Based on this incident, he should follow Taoist Lin and others, because he owed others, no matter what was waiting for him, he recognized it...
