Fifteen days later, late autumn.

It's noon.

In the solemn and quiet hall of the imperial palace of the imperial capital, with the sound of 'click' boots and footsteps sounded at this time, Zhao Zhou, who had left the early dynasty, walked out of the palace with the seven princes. Behind him were many ministers with gloomy faces.

"Congratulations, sir, on being promoted to the position of governor of the first grade!"

The Seven Princes, who had left the palace, were walking on the road, and when they saw that the faces of such ministers were wrong, they lowered their voices when they spoke.

But although he whispered, he couldn't hide the joy on his face, because the bigger Zhao Zhou's official position, the more chances he had to save his life.

Similarly, Zhao Zhou has been promoted from the seventh grade to the first rank in the first year of entering the dynasty like this, and the rapid improvement has also made many ministers behind Zhao Zhou and the two of them jealous and helpless.

"I have been an official in the court for thirty-seven years, and I still have a lot of support with the second prince, and now I have only reached the fifth grade...."A gray-haired minister sighed.

"Zhao Zhou has been in the palace for half a year, and it is really as successful as the owner said, and he is going to start provoking grievances between the rivers and lakes and the court! For your own gain! A minister looked at Zhao Zhou's back in front of him, and he was resentful.

And what this resentful minister said was also half a month ago, after Zhao Zhou fell in the light and let Qianqi return to the imperial capital first, he also crossed thousands of miles alone, and single-handedly cleaned the main altar of the Sun and Moon God Sect, which had more than thousands of people, and basically killed it cleanly.

Thereupon.

Zhao Zhou took such a feat and 'the ability to fight thousands of miles away from being alone', and then returned to the imperial court. Sheng Shangnian thought that his 'loyal minister' still had to travel to various states and incorporate the Jianghu sect, and then gave Zhao Zhou the post of 'Governor of the Eight Mansions' today! He also serves as the head of the Ouchi Guard!

To put it simply.

For the political dynasty, as long as Zhao Zhou leads the guards on patrol, it is equivalent to inspecting all states and counties on behalf of the current saints!

If the evidence of the crime of the local prefect and the governor is caught, he can also be forcibly escorted back to the imperial capital to be questioned and ordered to be appointed and dismissed!

With such a great power, how can these ministers not be jealous?

In particular, it is not only the envy of these ministers.

Even the four half-step grandmasters such as the owner of the village were also indignant, first, they were angry that Zhao Zhou really made things bigger and bigger. The second is that even if he knows it, he can't suppress Zhao Zhou now, so he can only watch.

But to put it bluntly.

They also want to clear the rivers and lakes. But in fact, the 'half-step grandmasters' on the rivers and lakes are no less than those from the court.

Among them, Zhang Zhenren of the Wudang faction, and Xiaoyaozi, who has lived in seclusion in the Xiaoyao faction for decades, are more than twice as strong as them in martial arts.

Similarly, when they cleared the rivers and lakes on a large scale a few years ago, they also learned from Xiaoyaozi and others.

They really couldn't win, and they also injured a lot of their own people.

The people on the rivers and lakes are afraid of the imperial army and don't want to do more.

Then the two parties discussed in private and set a 'rule' so that the Tianbang Grandmaster could not meddle in the affairs of the rivers and lakes, and the rivers and lakes were peaceful for several years.

Especially after the owner of the village no longer has to fight the rivers and lakes, the masters under his hands have not only not consumed in the past few years, but have been slowly increasing and thickening.

Because of the struggle for power, the princes also sought after these 'half-step masters of the imperial court' and 'gave gifts to win over'.

Thereupon.

They have eaten the 'sweetness' of their own huge power, and they are slowly and really maintaining this 'rule' again, not wanting people to stir up trouble anymore, and just wanting to coexist peacefully.

In Zhao Zhou's words, it is that he has enjoyed happiness for a long time, and the blood of the warrior is gone.

However, it was also Zhao Zhou who had been clearing the people in the rivers and lakes since he suddenly appeared, but it was their 'Qingfu' that broke their 'Qingfu', and it was also the 'rules' that they had always said.

In addition, Zhao Zhou not only broke the 'rules', but also rose step by step in his official position, and his own strength became stronger and stronger, interfering with their interests.

When they see it now, they must not have a good feeling in their hearts.

In particular, the factory man even sent a message to the palace yesterday, saying that 'he was sick', and then did not come to the court this morning.

Because he felt that if he saw Zhao Zhou today, he couldn't say it, and he couldn't beat it, and he was afraid that he would be angry and 'go crazy'.

But.

When I went to court today, except for this grandmaster who was 'sick' and didn't come. Six doors are busy with hundreds of heads to review and have not arrived. The leader of Jinyiwei is handling cases outside and can't come back.

Now, among the four half-step grandmasters, only the owner of the village is left.

Similarly, he did come to the court this time, and saw that Zhao Zhou was made a member of the Zhengyi Rank.

But the owner didn't say anything during the whole process, even if the nearby officials looked at him, he didn't see it, like a statue in the temple.

Until this time, he went down to court.

Zhao Zhou went out with the ministers.

The owner thought about it, and then left the palace, took a few steps forward, and waved his hand to Zhao Zhouyi in front of him and said, "Congratulations to Lord Zhao."

"Thank you." Zhao Zhou stopped and returned the salute. When the Seven Princes beside him saw that the two of them seemed to have something to say, they took a few steps back, meaning that they knew that they should not listen.

And the owner of the village saw that the seven princes had gone a little farther, and after seeing that the ministers around him were taking a detour, he continued to say to Zhao Zhou, "Lord Zhao, it is enough to stop." ”

"The owner of the village said it clearly." Zhao Zhou was indifferent, "What should I do?" What can be done? ”

"The affairs of the rivers and lakes." The owner of the village came on behalf of the 'other three' today to persuade him with good words and temper. said with a smile: "Lord Zhao, you were given the governor by the Holy Lord this time, can you go and record the case of the knights of the rivers and lakes?"

"That's exactly what I mean." Zhao Zhou did not hide it. Because the news that the governor of his eight prefectures was going to visit various sects had already spread in this river and lake.

"Lord Zhao, can you listen to me?" The owner still has something to persuade, "You are on patrol this time, and you have traveled through the mountains and rivers, so don't provoke the rivers and lakes." ”

As he spoke, his words were in a line, inaudible three inches away.

"And when you go out on patrol, Ben Hou will find out a few guilty ministers for you, and you can also hand in errands."

"Guilty ministers." Zhao Zhou glanced at him, then turned around and clenched his fists and looked at the court, "Since the owner of the village already knows which minister is guilty, why didn't he report it to the saint?" Could it be...."

"Lord Zhao!" The owner of the village waved his hand to interrupt, and did not let Zhao Zhou say anything more about rebellion. Because he didn't really cover up, but those ministers had not yet been convicted, and they were being investigated by the Jinyi guards who were now outside, so it was difficult to arrest them at this time.

Therefore, he wanted to take advantage of Zhao Zhou's patrol, and several grandmasters would sum up, which could be regarded as selling a benefit to Zhao Zhou, and it could also be regarded as bringing the relationship between several people closer, so that Zhao Zhou could eat a 'free credit'.

This is also why they can't suppress Zhao Zhou now, so they will first win over and become 'their own people', and then slowly persuade.

It's just that Zhao Zhou is talking like a knife, and he is charged with crimes at every turn.

The owner really didn't dare to compliment, so he made it clear that he didn't sell favors.

"Lord Zhao, do you have to break the net and ignore this love of the same dynasty?" The owner of the village said simply, everyone is an official, and they take care of their own faces.

"It's you who don't care about the grace of God." Zhao Zhou didn't want to talk nonsense with them, "If you don't wait for the imperial court, the first thing I Zhao Zhou will kill is you vain ministers, and return the government to a clear state." ”

"You...."The owner frowned, and said word by word: "Governor Zhao is not afraid of killing us, causing the hostility of the Manchu dynasty, and causing chaos in the rivers and lakes?"

"Do you want to know how many masters there are in the rivers and lakes? Ben Hou and Chang Gong and others also suffered a big loss a few years ago, so they want to persuade Governor Zhao to think twice, but don't..."

"It's not a matter of bothering the owner." Zhao Zhou was indifferent, "If there is a rebellion, Zhao Zhou thinks that he can suppress it with one force." ”

"Good!" The owner of the village didn't say much, he hugged his fists and saluted, and spread his hands to lead forward, but he didn't want to 'wake up' Zhao Zhou, but signaled Zhao Zhou to go first.

"Governor Zhao, please!" The owner of the village already knew that Zhao Zhou's roots in removing the rivers and lakes were deep, and then he didn't want to say anything more.

When the time comes, after Zhao Zhou suffers a loss, they are slowly counting down, and the premise is that Zhao Zhou 'comes back alive'.

'Click' Zhao Zhou returned the salute, didn't say much, and walked out of the palace with the seven princes who were anxiously waiting next to him.

Because neither of them is right or wrong, but they have different ideas, and they don't speculate for more than half a sentence.

And when the owner saw Zhao Zhou out of the palace, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

"I thought that Zhao Zhounian would listen to our advice for the sake of being an official in the same dynasty, who would have thought that he would be so resolute...."

The owner of the village muttered in his heart, in fact, he didn't forcibly stop Zhao Zhou today, first, he felt that he was not necessarily an opponent.

The second is to think, if 'Zhao Zhou, who has now achieved miraculous achievements', can really suppress all the grandmasters on the rivers and lakes, and really bring the rivers and lakes together, since everyone has not torn their faces, maybe they can still 'become officials in the same dynasty'.

Similarly, the 'friendship' of the factory and others also noticed that Zhao Zhou's strength had improved rapidly, so they were ready to change the plan accordingly. If Zhao Zhou really 'overwhelmed the world', it would be a big deal for them to stay in the imperial palace and enjoy their old age in peace.

This is also the four of them who have been officials for many years, although their kung fu has not improved much, but they are becoming more and more sophisticated. Now that they see that nothing can be done, Zhao Zhou has become a big trend, and then they all begin to plan the way back for themselves, afraid that Zhao Zhou will clean up the rivers and lakes and then clean them up.

After all, who is not afraid of death, can be willing to be rich and prosperous.

But. In the course of the past year, the attitude of these four people towards Zhao Zhou has changed quickly and is quite interesting.

From the very beginning, Zhao Zhou was an official and a seventh grade, they didn't know Zhao Zhou at all, and they couldn't see Zhao Zhou in their eyes.

It wasn't until Zhao Zhou entered the court that they knew that there was a junior in the court, and then outside the palace, they 'seemed to be an elder pointing out', saying things like 'good for themselves'.

But half a year ago, Zhao Zhou killed the Iron Sword Gate, and the official reached the third grade, and they realized that this junior had broken the rules a little, and then began to make a faint threat outside the city to prevent Zhao Zhou from leaving the city.

But a month ago, Zhao Zhou successfully set foot outside the city. The factory father came to the 'symbolic meeting' again, wanting Zhao Zhou to go back, but was repulsed.

The factory man said to the other three during this time that Zhao Zhou's skills are better than his own, and it is possible that he can really get rid of the rivers and lakes.

Only then did everyone realize that Zhao Zhou had become a general trend, and now he has become a 'peer friend'. In particular, there are some that are not very obvious, but they have a little bit of Zhao Zhou's success, and they just mean 'stammering'.

But speaking of which, this has nothing to do with 'rules', it is still a matter of strength.

And, outside the Royal Palace.

Zhao Zhou returned to the mansion, and without delaying any time, he took Lin Pingzhi and several other guards out of the city, and joined the two thousand cavalry guards who had been waiting near the official road all morning.

This is also after Zhao Zhou was promoted to the head of the Inner Guard, and the Holy Lord sent it to Zhao Zhou, who could take him out of the palace with full power.

Especially the two thousand total horsemen, who are already more than half of the guards in the palace,

"Okay." Zhao Zhou came here, gave an order, rode his horse first, and headed towards Shaolin with two thousand horsemen. Prepare to Shaolin first, then Wudang, and take down these two top two famous factions to be 'registered', and the small sects behind will be easier to say.

Maybe many of their small factions heard the news of 'Shaolin's return to the imperial court', and they would lead their disciples to wait on the road early on the way to Zhao Zhou's arrival.

"I guess when I go on this trip, I will see a lot of masters, including the Shaolin sweeping monk. However, according to the cards of his worldly masters, it is estimated that he will not fight against me. ”

"So, this time I should go to Shaolin to win it easily, and pull out a lottery,"

Zhao Zhou was on the road, thinking that Shaolin was always a 'famous and decent family', and if it was the imperial court, they would definitely obey in the name of mercy.

Because this political dynasty is based on the peace of the people.

But if they don't obey, Zhao Zhou will also use the means they should have.

And in the past few days when Zhao Zhou returned to the imperial capital, he also knew more or less about the 'rules', and knew why so many half-step grandmasters didn't stop him before.

To put it bluntly, he has not yet reached the point where the situation affects the entire court.

It's just that now that he has completed his exercises, and this method of 'remembering names and being punished' is too ruthless, these grandmasters will definitely not be able to sit still, and if they want to speak, enter the door and drink tea.

But.

Zhao Zhou also knew that there were many masters in the rivers and lakes for a long time, and he decided that since he had done it, he would definitely go to meet these masters in person for a while.

Whereas.

It is also riding lightly all the way, passing through mountains and rivers.

Zhao Zhou spent seventeen days, walked and stopped, and also led everyone to the foot of Shaolin Mountain.

And the people of Shaolin Temple seemed to know that Zhao Zhou would come in these days, and they also let all the disciples stand on duty on both sides of the steps up the mountain early, and there were more than 3,000 people to greet Zhao Zhou and others.

For a while, it looked like a big scene, as if welcoming the 'reincarnated Bodhisattva'.

"Your Excellency." At the same time, with a Buddha call, the Shaolin abbot, who had also been waiting for Zhao Zhou for a long time at the foot of the mountain, as if he had known that Zhao Zhou had been promoted to governor, opened his mouth and said Zhao Zhou's current position.

"Abbot." Zhao Zhou returned the salute, while letting the guards dismount and surround the mountains and forests here. On the other hand, he stepped forward with five hundred, and there was no nonsense, and he directly took out a holy decree,

"I am here today for nothing else. It is the decree of the Holy Lord, and Shaolin is named the 'Huguo Temple'. ”

Zhao Zhou gave them a title, which seemed to give them an advantage, and they had the title of 'Huguo Temple'.

But in fact, if they accept this holy decree, Zhao Zhou's words, then they will have to contribute to the court in the future.

If you don't obey, it is a protest, and it is a justifiable strangulation of disloyal.

But if he doesn't accept it now, he is even more rebellious, and Zhao Zhou is about to say something.

"Yes." The abbot looked at the more than 1,000 crossbows in the distance, and he also understood this truth, and then took it with both hands.

Because he knew very well that since this Governor Zhao was the first to come to them, he must have the purpose of 'killing chickens and making an example of monkeys'.

If he was talking nonsense at this time, or if he was dissatisfied, the governor would definitely not say a word, and he would shoot ten thousand arrows, killing the lives of his innocent disciples, and let other sects see, 'This is the end of disobedience'.

Similarly, the abbot can achieve this position as the master of a faction, and he is not a fool, so why bother to touch this moldy head, and try Zhao Zhou's knife is not good.

"Master Abbot is merciful." Zhao Zhou saw the abbot receiving the order, but he smiled and chased after it.

"It's the governor who covers the world." The abbot was quite helpless. But since the holy decrees have been received and everything has been done, then it is necessary to pick up the good ones to speak.

"I heard that there are many cheats in the Hidden Scripture Pavilion. Can you give Zhao Zhou a look? Zhao Zhou was thinking about the sweeping monk to see if he could help, but he didn't really read their books.

"Yes." The abbot didn't know Zhao Zhou's thoughts. But he thought about it and thought that he was all in peace, so he still signaled Zhao Zhou to go up the mountain with a false courtesy, and the pomp was over.

Zhao Zhou didn't say much when he saw and heard this, and while letting the guards start recording the names of the disciples, he walked a few steps, entered the Shaolin Temple, passed through several courtyards, and came to the courtyard of the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion, which was more than four stories high.

It's just that the disciples of Shaolin Temple have gone to the steps down the mountain to meet Zhao Zhou, which also makes it impossible for a disciple to guard the door of the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion now.

"Please." When the abbot came here, he made a false introduction to the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion, but he didn't go in, for fear that Zhao Zhou would 'take' too much, and he felt uncomfortable.

And Zhao Zhou didn't send the abbot, and entered the pavilion of the scriptures, which was full of quaint atlases before the screening, which were neatly placed on hundreds of shelves in the pavilion.

At the same time, with the sound of a 'rustling' broom, Zhao Zhou looked to the left and saw an old monk wearing a clean and shabby gray robe, sweeping the bluestone floor in the pavilion.

"Why didn't you sign the case?" Zhao Zhou walked in front of the old monk, "Governor of the Eight Mansions, Zhao Zhou." ”

"Your Excellency."

When the old monk saw Zhao Zhou coming, he first stopped what he was doing, put the broom away, and then called a Buddha number. But instead of answering the question of 'registering names,' he looked around at the scriptures and said, "The governor is reading the scriptures."

"Definitely." Zhao Zhou didn't look at the various cheats that people in the rivers and lakes dreamed of, but looked at the monk, clasped his hands into fists and said, "Zhao Zhou is here." I want to ask the master for advice. ”

"Excuse me?" The monk saw Zhao Zhou perform a martial arts salute, but said apologetically: "I'm afraid I've disappointed the governor." Although Lao Qu is a Shaolin disciple, he really doesn't know martial arts, just a sweeping monk. And I didn't go down the mountain to record the case before, because I was afraid that I would waste the governor's pen and ink book. ”

"If the master doesn't make a move, Zhao Zhou won't be strong." Zhao Zhou withdrew his salute, "After all, you and I are now officials in the same dynasty, and one day we will join hands with one or two." ”

He saw that this sweeping monk was reluctant to make a move, and he didn't talk about it anymore, it was not interesting to end up, anyway, there were many masters, and he didn't care about him.

But the old monk was afraid that his words would make Zhao Zhou unhappy, and then bring disaster to Shaolin, but he pointed to the nearby books, "The governor can take a look at these scripture secrets." There are many superior martial arts and all kinds of Zen minds. ”

As he spoke, he bowed to the Buddha statue in the pavilion, "Or meet my Buddha and make a wish." The old man can fill the oil and light the lamp for the governor. ”

"Nope." Zhao Zhou heard the kindness of the sweeping monk, but he thanked him and pointed to the outside of the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion, "Now the rivers and lakes are undecided." My heart is uneven, and I can't recite this Zen Buddhist scripture. The mind is not quiet, and the lamp in front of the Buddha cannot be lit. ”

The words fell. Zhao Zhou saluted and walked out of the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion, preparing to wait for the guards to memorize the names of the Shaolin monks, and then go to the next sect.

"Amitabha." The sweeping monk gave a Buddha number to Zhao Zhou's back, and then cleaned the floor of the spotless Tibetan Scripture Pavilion.

And Zhao Zhou walked out of the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion, and he didn't say anything to the abbot who was quietly looking at his sleeve pocket, but thought that although today's sweeping monk didn't want to 'join hands', there was someone on the rivers and lakes who would definitely take action against him!

Even if he is an official of the imperial court! This person will definitely kill himself and then quickly!

And that person is none other than the 'Xiaoyaozi' who was listed on the 'first place' on the list fifty years ago! He is also the patriarch of the Carefree School!

Because, Zhao Zhou killed his apprentice, and with the qualifications of the people of that time and space, he is simply a heavenly asset in this world! His killing simply cut off the glorious future of their sect!

"That time and space person only took three months to achieve the acquired perfection, if it weren't for the poor pride of the heart, and then shuttle back and forth between the two worlds, it would be impossible to say that two months of hard work would have stepped on the innate and entered the grandmaster within three years. It's simply the legendary son of the plane. ”

At the time when the Praetorian Guard recorded Shaolin disciples.

Zhao Zhou pondered in a main hall, playing with a jade pendant engraved with the word 'Xiaoyao', which was the 'identity brand' given to the person by Tianshan Tong and Xiaoyaozi.

Now Zhao Zhou has been kept and has not been thrown away, and he can't tell when it will be useful.

Again, this brand is not an ordinary token. Because Xiaoyaozi and the others had instructed their own sect disciples, let them see this brand as if they were seeing the master.

It can be seen that Xiaoyaozi and others have very big expectations for the time and space! The power is also very wide!

"If Xiaoyaozi and the others see the jade pendant, they can guess a thing or two." Zhao Zhou thought about it, put away the jade pendant, and waited for the roster to be recorded.

And stay until the sunset.

The Praetorian Guard finishes the ranking.

Zhao Zhou didn't delay his efforts, so he resigned from the abbot to stay, led everyone down the mountain, bypassed the nearby area, and after passing by a few factions, he went straight to the ethereal peak of the Tianshan Mountains, ready to tell a 'good news' to the people of the Xiaoyao faction.