Xinglong County ordered that the official uniform had already been stripped off, and he knelt in the prison cell and kowtowed like pounding garlic: "The lower official knows that he is guilty, and he is willing to dedicate himself to Zhenminghou!" ”

Zhao Xiao was silent when he heard this, and He Dangguan next to him shook his head and sneered: "Xinglong County Order, you are really a dog looking down on people!" Marquis Zhenming can even give up dozens of acres of grange outside Dongsheng Capital, how can he look down on your gold and silver wealth that comes from corruption? ”

"Alright." Zhao Xiao shouted in a low voice, he never felt that he had a good field and beautiful house inside and outside Dongsheng Capital that was worth showing off.

"In your current situation, you still don't forget to bribe to protect yourself, which shows the officialdom of the surrounding counties." Zhao Yan said: "Originally, I didn't want to care about these things, as long as you can put more effort into the official business of raising money and food, and ensure that the needs of the front line are safe, I guess you will still be able to open the net." But now that you're bent on running to your death, I don't have to stop you. ”

Xinglong County made the whole person curl up in a ball, trembling nonstop.

"But I can give you a chance." Zhao Xiao dragged a stool and sat down: "You previously claimed that the Qianjin Daxian is a ritual god, and the shrine is still the lord of the country in the Chongxuan Pavilion in order to build it. What are the causes and consequences of this, you have to explain 1510. ”

Xinglong County Commander knew that this was his last chance, and said: "The lower officials dare not hide it, but the shrine has been built long before the lower officials take office. ”

As mentioned in the local spiritual record, long before the establishment of Xinglong County in Huaxu State, there was already a saying of a thousand golden immortals in the countryside in this area.

At that time, the situation was chaotic, Hua Xu had just incorporated the southern counties into its territory, and in order to appease the people as soon as possible, Hua Xu allowed large and small shrines to spring up in various places.

Therefore, many spirits and monsters who violated the laws of Tianxia have ascended to the altar, vainly claimed to be honored, and were worshiped by incense, fire, blood, and food.

It is not surprising that these unrestrained ghosts and spirits disturb people's houses and extort incense, and some even pretend to be generals and military commanders, collude with mortal scum, and enter the house.

However, at that time, there were still frequent wars, and Hua Xu Xianjun really had no time to deal with local obscenities, so he had to recruit immortal cultivators to assist in order to alleviate the situation.

At that time, the monks of Chongxuanguan, who were still cultivating in the Dilung Mountain, were recruited to go down the mountain, and several immortal disciples led by Liang Tao used swords to eliminate demons and evil spirits, and swept away all the demons and evil in the southern counties in one fell swoop.

It is said that in order to fight against Liang Tao and others, the southern demons gathered in the ghost cave of Montenegro to discuss countermeasures, and elected the ghost marshal of Montenegro as the leader.

As a result, Liang Tao was taken by surprise and directly led people to kill the ghost cave of Black Mountain. After several days and nights of fierce fighting, the ghost handsome of the Black Mountain was beaten to the ground and scattered, and the ghosts and demons under his command were burned by lightning and fire, and half of Tai was destroyed.

After this battle, the remaining demons and spirits in the south of Huaxu Kingdom either hid or fled to distant places, but there were also many choices to surrender.

Liang Tao was not a national teacher at that time, and Chongxuanguan did not have the current status, but Liang Tao had superb means, and he also had a pacifying strategy in addition to killing.

However, Liang Tao's move was very high-profile, which may have aroused the suspicion of fellow immortal cultivators, who released rumors that Liang Tao had crossed the imperial court and enshrined ghosts and gods without authorization. Hua Xu Xianjun found out about this and immediately issued an order to recall Liang Tao and others.

It's just that with Liang Tao's merits and cultivation, Hua Xu Xianjun did not engage in rabbit and dead dog cooking, but rewarded Liang Tao and Chongxuanguan lavishly.

It is precisely because of this that the prestige and prestige of the Chongxuan Pavilion are increasing day by day, and the disciples of the Chongxuan Pavilion are increasing. With the passage of time, the system of the museum has taken shape.

And when Huaxu established the system of pavilions, Chongxuanguan was already regarded as a brilliant sect, and it is no wonder that other immortal cultivation sects in Huaxu were attacked in the future.

But these are all digressions, Liang Tao's sword patrol was not satisfactory at the beginning, and there were still many ghosts and spirits in the southern counties who escaped. In the face of the Chongxuan Pavilion in full swing, of course, they did not dare to gather crowds to make trouble, but chose to take the initiative to serve.

This time, the target of the demon is not the high-ranking Liang Tao, but the children of the four surnames of the immortal blood Yin in the place where he came out.

Even if the children of the four surnames of the immortal family do not have superb cultivation, they also know about magic ghosts and gods, and if they can have more ghosts and spirits under their command, most of them will not refuse.

And these ghosts, gods, and spirits have insight into personnel, and in order to gain a long-term foothold, they often take the initiative to offer all kinds of heavenly and earthly treasures, spiritual herbs, and herbs to help their cultivation. Sometimes these ghosts and spirits can also amass worldly wealth for the children of the family.

In this way, these obscene ghosts and gods became the vassal ministers of the Chongxuan Pavilion. Later, Huaxu reformulated the national rituals, and the children of the four surnames who were sent to various places promoted these obscene ghosts and gods by the way, obtained the national edict, and became the gods of the rituals, and were able to receive incense offerings in an upright manner.

Lao Sanqian was actually the fish that slipped through the net when Liang Tao patrolled the border with a sword, and later he took refuge in a Yi'an Chu disciple in Chongxuan Pavilion, in addition to offering many treasures to the other party, gold and silver wealth, but also for him to find a woman with good roots and bones everywhere as a furnace to replenish the furnace.

Therefore, Lao Sanqian was supported by the Chu family, and he recommended such a "fortune and treasure golden immortal".

At that time, the power of Chongxuanguan inside and outside the court was not comparable to the past, and even the revision of national rituals was basically presided over by Chongxuanguan, and the promotion of local gods and the construction of shrines were all about a little operation in Chongxuanguan.

Therefore, compared to the Void Sun True Monarch, Lao Sanqian's more well-known identity should be this Qianjin Daxian.

"It turns out that the ritual is the god and the imperial court is built, which is such a method." Zhao Xiao smiled and shook his head, and then thought about it, when he wanted to seal Hengbi as a city god in Xingluo County, wasn't it also a matter of Chongxuan Pavilion's words?

"I heard that you claimed that your father-in-law was a big man in the Chongxuan Pavilion before?" Zhao Huang asked: "Could it be that your father-in-law is the son of the Chu clan who took refuge in Lao Sanqian?" I don't know who it is? ”

The Xinglong County Commander replied tremblingly: "Yes, it's Chu Shizhong." ”

"Oh? Chu Bong-gyu? Zhao Xiao was not too surprised, he also knew about this person, but he had no contact when he was in Dongshengdu.

Chu Fenggui should be regarded as Liang Tao's contemporaries in terms of generation, but this person is not famous for cultivating as mana, but the first batch of four surnamed children who came out in Huaxu State, and has been operating in the sea for decades, and is now the minister of the court.

The position of the servant is similar to that of the Great Sima in the Huaxu Kingdom, and there is no significant real power, but it belongs to the Qing Dynasty, and considering the age of this person, it is more just a gift and a false title. What's more, the only person who can really represent the Chongxuan Pavilion is the national teacher Liang Tao after all.

"You can be the quick son-in-law of Chenglong in Chu's servants, why is it just a county order?" Zhao Xiao asked.

"Marquis Zhenming doesn't know." The Xinglong County Commander replied: "There are many heirs in the Chu service, and it is a great fortune for the lower officials to be able to ask to marry a concubine of the Chu family. ”

Gu Zhang

"What's more, you can keep an eye on the golden immortal for the Chu family, let him continue to gather gold and silver wealth, and you can also get a piece of the pie. So even if you can rise elsewhere, you won't leave, right? Zhao Xiao smiled.

The county magistrate did not answer, but only kowtowed repeatedly.

"You bribed me with a thousand taels of silver before, but it was all the treasury silver." Zhao Xiao asked again: "I really don't understand, have you had no scruples to this extent?" Don't even cover it up? ”

"The lower officials are confused, and mistakenly think that the Marquis of Zhenming has come to ask for bribes." The county magistrate had to confess obediently: "The lower officials have a business, and they will be able to make up for the treasury branch in a few months, so they are lucky." ”

At this time, a soldier came to announce: "Zhao Changshi, the rich family in the city has been invited." ”

"Okay." Zhao Xiao got up to answer, and then glanced at the Xinglong County Order: "Since you are unwilling to vigorously raise money and food, then I have to do it myself." Send someone to guard this county magistrate, don't let him commit suicide, I think the Qingyan county guard will come soon after hearing the news. ”

Leaving the prison, Zhao Xiao came to the main hall of the government office, where six local wealthy families sat on either side, and each of them had a family servant behind him.

"This must be the famous Marquis Zhenming, I've been waiting for a long time." The six rich men stood up and bowed.

Zhao Xiao did not smile, looked around, and commanded the soldiers to say, "Remove all the chairs!" ”

Those soldiers of the Wukui army did not hesitate at all, and rushed into the main hall with brushes, removing all the chairs of the rich households, and there were two other columns of soldiers standing behind the rich households, pressing the hilt of their swords, with a posture of waiting for battle.

"Marquis Zhenming, you are ......" The rich people were uneasy, but they didn't dare to rush into it.

"The local prefectural order has already informed you about the collection of money and food." Zhao Xiao looked around coldly: "I don't know how you are prepared?" ”

"Didn't we already raise some of the money and food?" The rich asked.

"You don't give enough." Zhao Xiao said bluntly: "The counties around Pujiaguan have already issued a quota for how much grain they will raise. As a result, you only paid less than 30%, and you also used dregs instead of grain, could it be that you are going against the will of the imperial court? ”

The rich families laughed and said: "The Marquis of Zhenming has just arrived, and he is not familiar with the local people. You must know that in Xinglong County, and even in the entire Qingyan County, there are red clouds and chaotic parties running rampant in the countryside, resulting in the waste of fields and acres and the depression of all industries. ”

Zhao Xiao looked at their rich appearances, and there was really no need to entangle with them in his heart, so he took out a stack of paper from his arms: "This is the amount of money and food you have to pay, you let the servants of your respective families go back and spread the word - don't go home if you don't raise enough money and food." ”

"Marquis Zhenming! You are also an official of the imperial court, or a cultivator, how can you do such a robber extortion?! The rich people were very stunned, they could not have imagined that Zhao Xiao acted undignifiedly, and it was comparable to a rebellious soldier.

"Outside the Chen Soldiers Pass of Jiuli Kingdom, a big war is about to start, and both rich and poor must be in solidarity with the country." Zhao Xiao said: "You are just giving some money and food, and the war will be settled in the future, and with your family business, you will be able to earn it back." ”

"Marquis Zhenming, there has never been a court official who has done anything like you!" The rich families scolded angrily: "You have destroyed the shrine, and we all praise you for eliminating harm for the people, but it is very wrong to detain the local county order!" And now they are openly blackmailing the people? If everyone is like the Marquis of Zhenming, the country will not be a country! ”

Zhao Xiao pursed his lips, looked around, and found that there was only the county chair left, so he immediately walked quickly, lifted the heavy circle chair, and then rushed to the rich man who was talking nonsense, picked up the chair and smashed it.

"Ahh Kill! Kill—"

Where had the rich man been bullied like this, he screamed on the spot, and his servants wanted to save people, but they were immediately held by the soldiers behind him.

The chair fell several times in succession, and the rich man who fell to the ground soon lost his voice, and the other rich people turned pale with fright, broke out in a cold sweat, and trembled.

Zhao Xiao smashed it a few times, put the chair away casually, then sat down and said, "Don't worry, I retracted my strength and didn't kill him." I still want to be decent, but you also want to be decent. If you are not decent, I will have to help you be decent. ”

Zhao Huang has done such a pass, where do the rich people dare to respond? In their eyes, the word cool official is not enough to describe Zhao Xiao at this moment, he is simply a ferocious beast that eats people and does not spit out bones.

"All your household servants, take the list and show it to your family, and raise money and food according to the above amount." Zhao Xiao shook the paper: "It's still the same sentence, release people when you receive enough money and food." The government office doesn't care about the food, you have to do it as soon as possible. ”

In this way, those rich families have no choice but to let the servants of the family take the money and food list like a life charm, and go back to their respective homes.

"Also, twenty soldiers from each household." Zhao Xiao waved his hand and said, "So much money and grain, you have to count it before you can carry it." ”

The sky was getting dark, and watching those rich people sitting on the ground in embarrassment, Zhao Xiao was delicate.

He used to feel that he was somewhat kind to others. But after experiencing Dongshengdu, he seems to have become mean, and he is not even afraid to use such a cruel and cruel method.

It's just that thinking of the Xinglong County Order's unscrupulous bribery from the government, as well as the rich and luxurious shrine of Qianjin Daxian, and the hard days when Qiaozhang Village had to face barbarian looting, demonic extortion, and government expropriation at the same time, Zhao Xiao really couldn't think of many good thoughts.

Zhao Xiao even admired the Chiyun Capital in the Cangwuling area, unlike when they were in Xingluo County, their subordinates lived a hard life, but they could still maintain their sanity and not take the initiative to enter the county town to loot, this concentration was much stronger than Yang Liujun in Xingluo County.

In other words, it was Zhao Xiao, who could not have colluded directly with demons like Lao Sanqian, and secretly sabotaged the Huaxu Kingdom, so that the monks of the pavilion and the officials and soldiers of the imperial court were exhausted.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xiao couldn't help but think of Liang Tao, now this national teacher, he also had the feat of slaying evil spirits and patrolling the border with a sword, which can be said to be a chivalrous heart and a people. How is it that after years of practice, you have become cold-eyed?

There are also the children of those families in their Chongxuan Pavilion, who should have been heroes and heroes back then, but over the years, most of them have become indulgent in pleasure, amassing wealth, and greedy for power. Zheng Yulou is like this, and Chu Fenggui, who is in the position of the servant, is also roughly like this, is it possible that as long as he is in a high position of power, he will become like this sooner or later?

In Zhao Xiao's view, in fact, Liang Tao still wants to change the status quo. Perhaps the Chongxuan Pavilion controlled the revision of the national rituals and interfered with the enshrinement of ghosts and gods in various places, which may be paving the way for Liang Tao's vision of the Taoist kingdom on earth.

can think that he has just killed a national ritual god with three heavenly thunders, Zhao Xiao feels that this world is really bizarre.