"Zhao Fu, you're too lenient, aren't you?"

Jiang Ru chuckled lightly and didn't reach out to pick it up: "We are here to decorate the mandala, and we don't have the time to send this kind of kindness." ”

Zhao Xiao glared at her: "Didn't Liang Shuo think about how to invite merit all day long?" That's what I gave him. This letter was not sent directly to the county government, but to Liang Shuo, asking him to talk to Wang Juncheng, saying that he had learned that there were rural people in Xingluo County who were starving, and he did not want to sit idly by and watch the situation, and planned to send grain and rice to the county government for relief. ”

Jiang Ru frowned and said, "Are you making a decision for my son-in-law?" Why do you want to borrow grain and rice for this group of untouchables? ”

Zhao Xiao raised his face: "Liang Shuo said that I can ask him for anything I lack." And I'm tired, I don't want to go anywhere else until I see the grain and rice delivered to this village. ”

"Are you taking advantage of the situation?" Jiang Ru said angrily: "My son-in-law can afford you, but you don't want to inch in!" ”

Zhao Xiao took a deep breath, held back the thought of scolding, and explained: "Do you think that this time the imperial court sent various pavilions to Xingluo County, it is really just to see who can better suppress bandits and eliminate demons?" Xingluo County is not a poor border county, as long as it is well managed, it is a land of rich wealth, if there is any pavilion in addition to suppressing bandits and eliminating demons, it can relieve the difficulties of people's livelihood, so that Xingluo County, which has experienced the war, can be restored as soon as possible, and can be reused in the future. ”

Jiang Ru leaned against the carriage and said, "Reuse? Do you think other pavilions can compare to Chonggenkan? Liang Shouzao covers the sky with one hand in the capital, and the hussar general sits in Xiongguan on the border, what position can compare with these two? ”

Zhao Xiao sighed: "Sure enough, what kind of owner raises what kind of dog." ”

Jiang Ru squinted and smiled: "Zhao Fuyi should be careful when he sleeps at night, so as not to be plucked out by the goblin." ”

"I'm helping Liang Shuo! You can't even tell the difference between good and bad? Zhao Xiao immediately said: "He came to Xingluo County without size, I don't believe that Liang Shouzuo really doesn't care." Now that he has lost the magic pot immortal general, he has been shrinking in the City God Temple all day long and does not raise his head, if he doesn't do anything, you don't expect to follow him to ascend to heaven! ”

Jiang Ru's face changed: "How do you know that he lost the Immortal General?" This matter is obviously strictly forbidden to spread outside! ”

"Look, if I lied casually, you said that you leaked your mouth, right?"

Zhao Xiao was secretly shocked in his heart, it was really he who accidentally said it just now, but fortunately he reacted sharply and immediately dealt with the past:

"Don't think that other people can't understand it, the imperial court has sealed such a city god for no reason, which is clearly covering up the ugliness of your Chongxuan Pavilion. Can the Dharma Immortal be the same thing as the City God's Land? Can I set up my own altar and practice without the slightest induction? Liang Shuo is in this situation, he does not dare to go to the battlefield in person, but he also desperately hopes to make more achievements, which can be seen by anyone with a discerning eye! ”

Jiang Ru's face changed, and she naturally knew that Hengbi Immortal had removed the name of the Fa Gong. Liang Shuo was angry in the first few days, and Jiang Ru herself was not very comfortable.

What the Hengbi Immortal General represents is not only the casting of spells and the summoning of power, but also the status of Liang Shuo's immortal blood and natural extraordinary. The loss of the immortal general, with a little exaggeration, will turn into Liang Shuo losing the protection of the immortal ancestor, and Jiang Ru himself will also lose his backer.

And if outsiders know the inside story, how will they think of Chongxuanguan and Yongjia Liang? This is also why the Chongxuan Pavilion will quickly go to the imperial court to fight for a decree to seal the city god and cover up the loss of Liang Shuo's immortal general.

Jiang Ru pondered there, while Zhao Xiao continued: "If you don't want to risk fighting, then care about people's livelihood and customs." Xingluo County is a big trouble, and in the final analysis, it is the people's livelihood that is difficult. Although the county government has issued a decree granting land, it can barely settle down in the future, but now it is the season of green and yellow, and the people lack food and rice. Those who have skills will go to the city to work, and those who have access will go to relatives to help, but there are still many villagers who can only guard the fields. If there is no grain and rice to put in the pot, and the government refuses to provide relief, what do you think will happen? ”

"How can the county government let the hungry people go without giving them alms?" Jiang Ru asked.

"Yes, but by whom? And who will do it? If there is not enough local food in Xingluo County, where will it be dispatched? How to divide after scheduling? There's a lot to say here! Zhao Xiao gushed: "Don't you Liang Gongzi like to instruct people?" Isn't this an opportunity? Relying on the power of Chongxuan Pavilion, Wang Juncheng will naturally obey your arrangement, and the Yongjia Liang clan is the first-class Zhong Ding family in Huaxu, so it is not difficult to temporarily borrow grain and rice from other county governments, right? ”

Jiang Ru thought about it carefully, and really couldn't refute Zhao Xiao, but she was still a little dissatisfied: "Isn't it just a poor village, so you have to engage in such a big battle?" ”

Zhao Xiao also understood that he was making a big fuss, he had just finished opening the altar and practicing the law, and he was already unhappy in his heart, thinking of the extravagance and glitz of the monks of Chongxuan Pavilion on weekdays, and the villagers of Xingluo County were in poverty, and he couldn't help but point out the country for a while.

"If you can't govern the soldiers, then govern the people." Zhao added: "The suppression of bandits is only temporary, and the management of people's livelihood is a long-term solution. Even if you don't say anything to benefit the people, if you want to be in power, of course, you have to do things. The promotion and dismissal of officials and officials, and the taxation and servitude of the common people, only when they really master these things can they be regarded as holding power in their hands. Instead of hiding in a big house drinking tea all day long, waiting for others to help you get things done! If that's the case, won't the power be hollowed out? ”

Jiang Ru was secretly shocked when she heard this, Zhao Xiao stuffed the letterhead into her hand, turned around and waved her hand: "Forget it, it's useless to talk to people like you, you hurry up and let people send grain and rice, this matter is not done, I will stay here and not leave!" ”

Throwing these words, Zhao Xiao went back to the village to find the old men: "I have asked someone to bring a letter to Yanze City, and there should be grain and rice delivered in a few days." ”

"Thank you Immortal, thank you Immortal!"

A few old men were about to kneel down as they spoke, but Zhao Xiao hurriedly held up: "It doesn't have to be like this. ”

The old man thanked him and hurriedly invited Zhao Xiao into the village, he did not refuse, and asked at the same time: "I remember that the county government had a decree on cash-for-work before, and the repair of city walls, dredging ditches, and river embankments in various places require a large number of manpower. ”

"Alas, the immortal chief doesn't know anything." The old people said: "The young people in our village were either killed by the thieves or ran away with the thieves, and most of the spring sowing seeds were done by women. ”

Zhao Xiao was stunned for a moment, and had nothing to say.

When the sky was about to get dark, the people of the village went down to the river to catch a fish, specially stewed a pot of fish soup to entertain Zhao Xiao, and asked him to stay overnight. Zhao Xiao didn't plan to leave, so he agreed.

At night, there are no lights in the countryside, and the villagers go back to their houses to rest. Zhao Xiao was placed in a clean farmhouse, the owner of the house was obviously careful and clean, the floor was laid, thatched mats were laid, and the bedding turned white after many washes.

Zhao Xiao didn't rush to sleep, and found incense burners, candles, and cinnabar runes from the bamboo basket. A monk like him has to consume a spell every time he performs rituals, and naturally he has to replenish it in time afterwards.

Just as Zhao Xiao was raising his pen, he heard light footsteps outside the house, and the visitor hesitated, as if he wanted to enter the house, but he couldn't make up his mind.

"Who's outside the house? Something blunt to say. ”

Qing Xuan's pen was scratched, the door panel was opened in the air, and in the dim light, a village woman could be faintly seen standing outside, holding the hem of her clothes with both hands. Seeing the door panel open by itself, he was so frightened that he snorted softly.

"It's dark at night, what's the matter with Madame?" Zhao Xiao walked out with a candlestick in his hand, and he saw the village woman with her hair coiled, obviously marrying a woman, but looking at the skin, I am afraid that she is about the same age as herself.

"Immortal, immortal, I ......" The village woman lowered her head and did not dare to respond.

Zhao Xiao vaguely guessed the other party's intention, but still asked, "Someone else asked you to come?" ”

The village woman nodded with a subtle and imperceptible amplitude, and Zhao Xiao immediately thought of the jade mirror of Mingtang, her eyes swirling with red light, and the dim village was as bright as day. He saw an old man hiding behind a tree not far away, probing his brain.

This is one of the techniques obtained by the Mingtang Palace, and the jade mirror is red and bright, and it can see things at night.

Guessing that the village woman might have been forced by someone else to come, Zhao Xiao sighed in his heart and said to her, "Come in." ”

The village woman did not dare to respond, and silently entered the house, Zhao Xiao covered the door panel, turned around and put the candlestick, and saw the village woman standing in the house, restraining her hands and feet and not daring to move.

"Sit." Zhao Xiao motioned for the village woman to sit down, the candlelight was shining, and she saw that the clothes and fabrics on her body were the same as the bedding, and immediately reacted: "This room is yours?" ”

The village woman sat on the edge of the bed and nodded, Zhao Xiao scratched her forehead, feeling a breath in her heart, but there was nowhere to vent.

"Where's your husband?" Zhao Xiao avoided his gaze and did not dare to look at the village woman.

"Dead." The village woman's voice was as thin as a mosquito.

"Killed by thieves?" Zhao Xiao asked.

The village woman shook her head slightly: "A few years ago, the county was forced to take him to mine and died in the mountains. ”

The other party's voice was small and flat, not like she had incomprehensible pain, but every word she said was like a wedge into Zhao Xiao's heart.

"The old man in the village asked you to come, right?" Zhao Xiao said: "I have promised them that it will not take long for the county government to send grain and rice." I stayed in the village as a guarantee to put you at ease. ”

The village woman stopped talking, pulling the hem of her clothes with both hands, and Zhao Xiao saw her like this, so she asked, "Why did they let you come?" If you don't say it, I don't know what to do. ”

"My father-in-law said that after the grain and rice were delivered, I only asked the immortal chief to give our family an extra seven or eight buckets." The village woman said.

"Seven or eight buckets?" Zhao Xiao felt speechless. He had seen the miserable situation of selling his children and daughters before, and he also knew that in a poor family, his wife even had to sell her body to fill the family. But when things really happened in front of his eyes, or even related to himself, his ability to be full of economy and export chapters was immediately ruined and discarded to nothing.

Seeing Zhao Xiao's contemplation, the village woman immediately made up and said: "I, I can do laundry and cook, can go to the field to help the plow, and also know some needlework, I can sew clothes and soles for the immortal chief, I just hope that the immortal can take me away." ”

Speaking of the back, the village woman simply knelt down in front of Zhao Xiao and bowed her head.

Zhao Xiao said, "You get up first...... Did you teach this? ”

The village woman knelt and nodded, and Zhao Xiao frowned and said, "What about yourself?" What are your plans? ”

As soon as he said this, Zhao Xiao couldn't wait to slap himself. In such a poor rural place, where can a young widow without a husband have any "own plans"? It's really standing and talking without back pain!

Sure enough, the village woman looked dazed, and said numbly: "My father-in-law said that he wanted me to serve the immortal chief." ”

Not to mention that Zhao Xiao has no intention of men and women, the appearance of this village woman is really not good-looking, and her hands are covered with rough calluses and old scars. If it were Liang Shuo, it is estimated that she would treat this village woman as dung and dust, and she would not even bother to take a look, let alone talk to her.

"I'll give your family some more grain and rice, but I'm too busy to bring anyone else with me." Zhao Xiao said: "I don't need you to serve, but I won't drive you away." You're going to sleep here tonight. ”

The village woman raised her eyes to look at Zhao Xiao, and quickly lowered her head in panic, not daring to respond.

"You sleep, leave me alone." Zhao Xiao put the things back into the bamboo basket, sat down in the corner, blew out the candle flame, and plunged the hut into darkness.

……

Early the next morning, Zhao Xiao quietly left the hut and looked for a secluded place to practice, and returned to the village until dawn, but met the old man who had peeped behind the tree last night.

"Immortal Zhao Chang, how was your rest last night?" The old man stepped forward and asked with a smile.

Zhao Xiao resisted the urge to smash his old face with a punch, and said with a smile: "It's okay." ”

"That's good, that's good." The old man pointed to the carriage outside the village: "I saw that Zhao Xianchang's companions didn't come in, I don't know how to arrange it?" ”

Zhao Xiao waved his hand and said, "Don't pay attention to the old man, they are afraid of seeing the living." ”

After a few words of greeting, Zhao Xiao came to the outside of the village, and was confirming whether the mandala gas machine was stable, when he heard Jiang Ru's voice behind him: "Zhao Fu is really romantic and diligent, not only asking the villagers to borrow grain and rice, but also working hard and spreading rain and dew. I heard that these country women are always farmers, and their bodies and bones are much stronger than those of other ladies, could it be that Zhao Fuyi likes this one? ”

Zhao Xiao turned his head suddenly, and the markings between his eyebrows appeared, like a fierce tiger, staring at Jiang Ru fiercely.

Jiang Ru was shocked, and couldn't help but take half a step back, but then raised her courage: "What? Am I not right? However, Zhao Fuzhi does not need to scruples, and the village woman can get Zhao Fuzhi to sow rain and dew, and it is also her ancestors who have accumulated virtue. ”

Zhao Xiao's body moved instantly, and his five-fingered claws clasped Jiang Ru's goose neck, and his words contained a tiger's low roar: "Demon! Do you really think I dare not kill you? ”

Jiang Ruhua's face was pale, and it was the first time she experienced Zhao Xiao's killing intent. Completely different from Luo Xixian's martial arts swordsman, Zhao Xiao's killing intent is like magma tumbling deep underground, usually hidden very deeply, and once it erupts, it will be out of control. And Zhao Xiao's five-finger strength at the moment is amazing, and his neck would have been broken if he were an ordinary man.

"Stop!" Lingxiao's voice extinguished the anger in his heart, and Zhao Xiao suddenly sobered up, letting go of Jiang Ru.

"You ......" Jiang Ru caressed her neck, her palpitations did not disappear, and she looked at Zhao Xiao with fear in her eyes.

"You're no different from her." Zhao Xiao breathed a long sigh of relief, and looked down at Jiang Ru condescendingly, with a little compassion and helplessness in his eyes: "Although you wear gorgeous clothes and take incense cars, you are actually no different from her!" ”