When General Wei succeeded Gao Pinggong, he found that the armaments and military affairs of Pujiaguan were in ruins, and there were a large number of fortifications that needed to be rectified and repaired. The soldiers of the battalions originally stationed here were not only vacant, but also many of them were tired and old, and some of them had to be eliminated and returned home.

But whether it is repairing the fortifications or dismantling the old soldiers, this is a huge expenditure, don't look at Pujiaguan is a southern military town, but when it comes to doing business, there is still a shortage of money, food and military supplies, let alone facing the approaching army of Jiuli State.

At this time, the imperial court asked the neighboring counties of Pujiaguan to raise money and grain to transport to the front, but it was not delivered. General Wei wrote to the lord of the country for this, and soon received a reply, allowing General Wei to confiscate the income of the local officials in Qingyan County.

As a rule, whether the magistrate has committed corruption or not, it should be the imperial court to send someone to investigate in detail, and there is no reason for the military guards to directly check it. This practice is tantamount to conniving General Wei to fabricate charges and plunder the governors of Qingyan County.

And Zhao Xiao's actions of searching for ominous and evil spirits and destroying temples gave General Wei a proper reason to investigate whether the shrines and sacrificial places in Qingyan County were occupied by demons, so that he could also take the opportunity to charge the officials of various places for negligence.

Or go further, find out whether the local officials have any other private dealings with these demons and spirits who steal the shrines, and through obscene worship of ghosts and gods, so that the local officials can enrich their private pockets.

The actual situation is as expected, the officials in Qingyan County can hardly withstand scrutiny, because they have long been accustomed to private dealings with local ghosts and gods, and some of the gods and temples are even openly in and out of the official residences of the government and are well known to the local people.

These things were not unspeakable secrets in the past, and the imperial court turned a blind eye to them in the past, more because of the power of the Chongxuan Pavilion.

The local magistrates in the area of Qingyan County are either the children of the four surnames of Chongxuanguan, or they are closely related to the henchmen, who have been operating in the local area for a long time, and their power is intertwined.

The lord of the country may have understood this, and did not send an official to investigate thoroughly, but allowed General Wei to act cheaply. In the end, the proceeds of plunder were subsidized on the spot for military rations. With this vacant position as the governor of Qingyan County, the lord of the country can also take the opportunity to arrange a trusted person to perform his position, which can be described as killing multiple birds with one stone.

And when it came to Zhao Huang's head, he was responsible for searching all the shrines and destroying all the demons and ghosts who pretended to be righteous gods.

It's a pity that in addition to the initial three thousand, Zhao Xiao didn't make any more gains. According to the temple blessing who was locked and taken out of prison, the local ghosts and gods in Qingyan County were surprisingly silent for some reason, and they were summoned for nothing.

"General Wei just sent someone to spread the word, saying that the shrines in several counties of Qingyan County were demolished by the local people." Jiang Ru walked over and said.

Zhao Xiao rubbed the corners of his eyebrows lightly: "It seems that the local people have also suffered from it, although it is more thorough to directly set fire to the temple...... Anyway, the bricks and tiles of the shrine are also the income of the people's labor, so let them dismantle them. ”

Jiang Ru handed over a book: "This is a batch of spiritual materials that have been confiscated recently, I have counted them for you, what are you going to do with them?" ”

Jiang Ru followed her to Pujia Pass, Zhao Huang didn't know what to arrange for her to do, but considering that the more monks the better, Zhao Huang put her by his side to take care of trivial and mundane affairs.

Zhao Xiao didn't think much about it, but in the eyes of He Dangguan and others, Jiang Ru was almost the manager of Zhao Xiao's side, and even some things related to goods were handed over to Jiang Ru to deal with.

"I'll check these and send them to Pujiaguan." Zhao Xiao flipped through the books and ticked the pen from time to time: "Zheng Siyuan is in charge of building the Jinding Division Branch there, and he is in urgent need of spiritual materials. ”

"I understand, I'll arrange it right away." Jiang Ru took the book and was about to leave, when Zhao Xiao stopped her:

"You...... You should know that now that the officials of Qingyan County have been detained and questioned, and Chongxuan Pavilion is the first to bear the brunt, you don't have anything to say? ”

Jiang Ru looked at Zhao Xiao and showed a smile: "Is Zhao Gongzi concerned about me?" ”

Zhao Xiao's face was blank: "I'm just thinking about whether you are trustworthy." ”

"If Zhao Gongzi doesn't trust me, why should he let me help with things?"

Jiang Ru's gaze made Zhao Xiao a little uncomfortable, he waved his hand and said, "Okay, you go, I'll open the altar again later, and try to find out the whereabouts of these demons and ghosts." ”

"There's one more thing I forgot to mention." Jiang Ru's expression brought a hint of scrutiny: "The loose cultivator Lu beside Chu Mengchun forgot his chance, and he is still settled in the guest house, and he has not been locked up and imprisoned. What are you going to do with this person? ”

"Heron forgetting?" Zhao Xiao scratched his head a little embarrassed: "I tried her cultivation, to be honest, if she is not under me, she can't be locked up in an ordinary prison." There is also a lack of a prison dedicated to dealing with monks, and she will not be able to survive the ban on leisure. ”

Jiang Ru reminded: "But after all, she was protected by the Yi'an Chu clan, what if she rescued Chu Mengchun?" ”

"Where is Chu Mengchun now?" Zhao Xiao asked.

"In the government prison, there are soldiers guarding day and night."

Zhao Xiao had to say, "I'll go and persuade her again." Lu Wangji is a person who is dedicated to cultivating immortals and enlightening mysteries, except for piano and music, there is no vulgar affairs to linger. In the final analysis, Chu Mengchun regarded her as a family nurse, and he really looked down on this Fengming Valley heir. Such a master should not be rashly made an enemy with him, if he can make friends with his heart, it is also a good fate. ”

"I heard that when Zhao Gongzi was in Xinglong County, he didn't forget to gather singers and dancers to set up a banquet for fun." Jiang Ru's eyebrows were sly, and she said with a smile: "Now is it because she has taken a fancy to this female luthier with jade hands?" ”

Zhao Xiao shook his head: "I don't have this intention. To tell the truth, Lu forgot that his body is in the red dust and his heart is outside the square, and he is not on the same road as me, who is rolling in the world and full of filth. ”

Looking at the back of Zhao Huang leaving, Jiang Ru stood in place and was stunned for a long time.

……

The sound of the piano is loud, stirring a pool of blue waves.

Along the embankment of the lake, Zhao Huang saw hundreds of koi fish gathered in front of the water pavilion, wandering and cruising, as if in formation.

Chu Mengchun is the county guard of Qingyan, and in addition to collecting money, he also overhauled the manor, this Bihu manor was built by Chu Mengchun with a huge amount of money, but now it is used as Zhao Xiao's office in Qingyan County.

Unlike Chu Mengchun, who was detained in prison, Lu Wangji was not imprisoned, but was ordered to stay in the manor and not allowed to leave.

The ban on Lu Wang's body was quickly broken by herself, but she did not choose to escape, but played the piano and music in the water pavilion by the lake every day.

Zhao Xiao didn't dare to disturb her, just stood outside the water pavilion and listened attentively, unconsciously immersed in the mysterious artistic conception, as if everything was silent, and even the sound of the piano was in a trance.

"The heart piano is caress inside, the rhyme penetrates the blue sky, the fetal fairy dances, and the spirit shines brightly." Ling Xiao said: "Entering the Tao with the qin, in order to seek harmony between the five inner and the clear and round nature, in order to break through the mystery of the five colors and five tones." ”

"You also know piano music?" Zhao Xiao was slightly surprised, this spirit flute immortal felt like he knew everything from the art of war to the qin music.

"Heaven and earth are all over the world, and they are also creation, and they may gain something from knocking on the side." Lingxiao replied.

"It's a pity, I don't have this talent, it's hard to tell whether it's good or bad." When Zhao Xiao sighed in his heart, the sound of the piano in the water pavilion paused.

"Does the Marquis of Zhenming have something important?" The voice of the heron forgetfulness machine came.

Zhao Xiao walked into the water pavilion with a dry cough, and responded casually: "It's nothing, I just happened to pass by here, and I heard the sound of the Taoist qin, and I couldn't help but stop and listen." ”

"Marquis Zhenming is insincere." Lu Wangji pressed the strings, and the koi fish in front of him scattered.

"I'm ashamed." Zhao Xiao said: "I have been in the court of Dongshengdu for a period of time, and I have been stained with dust, which makes Taoist friends smile. ”

"I don't know what Zhenming Hou thinks of my song?" Lu Wangji's words are not tentative, but more like communicating with fellow friends.

Zhao Xiao did not pay attention to the Yaoqin in front of the heron forgetfulness, but raised his eyes to look, a pool of blue waves can be seen clearly, the weeping willows in the distance are shady, and the koi carp swing their tails as if swimming in the air, so uncomfortable.

"Daoyou just stroked the strings, and the fish in the lake seem to be in a formation when they hear the sound?" Zhao Xiao asked.

Lu Wangji lightly hooked, the strings trembled slightly, the sound was like a wave, sweeping the water, the pond koi fish moved when they heard the sound, and turned to Zhao Xiao in unison, as if bowing and worshipping.

"The people of Fengming Valley Gate enter the road with the piano and take the strings as the guide, and use this to activate the qi machine and form a formation." Lu Wangji seemed to have no scheming at all, and said: "Playing music with strings can not only make the listener cleanse his mind and forget his thoughts, but also shock the seven emotions and destroy the liver and gallbladder." The fish swimming in the water are ignorant, and I give orders with the sound of the piano, like a weeping rope, this matter is not difficult. ”

Zhao Xiao pondered for a long time, suddenly let out a long sigh, squatted on the edge of the pond and stared at the koi and said: "Although these koi fish are raised here to be appreciated and played, and there is no pleasure of floating in the river, but at least there is the leisure of swimming under the shade of the willows. ”

As soon as he finished saying this, Zhao Huang snapped his fingers and flicked it, causing the water to break the spell of the heron forgetting the machine, and those koi fish jumped up and swam everywhere, without order.

Lu Wangji watched the pond full of koi fish you pushed me, splashing a little splash, and some of them fell on her skirt and yaoqin.

However, Lu Wangji sat still as if she was stunned, because she was wearing a hat, and Zhao Xiao didn't know her expression at the moment, knowing that she might have an understanding, and it was not easy to bother.

"Look at people, just a few words to understand." Zhao Xiao secretly scolded himself in his heart: "I pretend to be clever and nonsense, don't take her cultivation crookedly." ”

Lingxiao said: "If you can lead this kind of person who is obsessed with the Great Dao, you can be regarded as having the ability." The heron forgot to look at the fish and realized it, not because your words were reasonable, but because the time had come, and it was almost a chance. Your words happen to break through her confusion, but they are of no use to yourself. ”

Zhao Xiao said helplessly: "I just vented my bitterness, I feel that even if I leave Dongshengdu, I still can't escape the dirty calculations in the court." ”

"I see." After a while, Lu Wangji suddenly spoke: "Thank you Zhenminghou for your guidance!" ”

"It's not about pointing, it's just a coincidence." Zhao Xiao said.

Seeing Lu Wangji beat a few shorter, Yaoqin flipped and flew up, she also jumped up, plucked the strings with both hands, and the surging qi condensed, turning into a mighty fall.

With a bang, the sound of the piano broke through the embankment of the lake and pond, and the power was still undiminished, directly ploughing the ground into a ditch, chiseling through the courtyard wall, and the bricks and stone tiles flew randomly for a while.

Beyond the courtyard wall, there is a canal in the middle of the city. The water of the lake gushes out along the ravines cut by the sound of the harp and reaches the canal. A few koi fish swim along the current through the ravines and directly into the wider canal, as if they have arrived at a new world.

When the other people in the manor heard the movement, they all thought that there was a battle and hurried to come with weapons, but Zhao Xiao waved them away and did not say anything.

After the others left, Lu Wangji slowly fell, her hood and clothes were bulging, Zhao Xiao could sense that her cultivation was at the entry gate, and the qi machine in her body urgently needed to be adjusted, so he said:

"Fellow Daoists, go to the ashram to retreat and recuperate, and don't worry about the rest of the idle things."

Lu Wangji couldn't speak, so he could only obey Zhao Xiao's arrangement and came to a quiet room. Zhao Xiao directly put a forbidden spell outside, not only to avoid outsiders from disturbing, but also to turn into a detention and avoid doubts.

Dealing with the Captain Cao who came to inquire, Zhao Xiao returned to his courtyard, intending to pack his things, and as soon as he entered the house, he saw Liang Tao, who was in a purple robe and jade crown, staring at his Lingwen Divine Iron Order with a curious expression.

"You ——!" Zhao Xiao was taken aback by Liang Tao, hurriedly covered the doors and windows, and turned around and pasted a charm.

"Are you so nervous?" Liang Tao raised his eyebrows and chuckled: "I'm not here to cheat on you." ”

"Isn't it funny?" Zhao Xiao retorted, and then put away the token.

"This magic weapon is not carried with you, so you put it in the house, not afraid of being stolen?" Liang Tao asked.

"I'm just waiting for someone to come and steal it!" Zhao Xiao said bluntly: "If any fool reaches out to take it, he is ready to take a thunderbolt!" ”

Zhao Huang has recently sacrificed tokens when he opened the altar and practiced the law, which contained the power of thunder and arrows, except for himself, others would not end well if they took this Lingwen Divine Iron Order.

"I haven't seen you for a while, and your scheming has become more and more insidious and vicious." Liang Tao said.

Zhao Xiao said with a little anger: "Most of the ghosts and spirits in Qingyan County are gone, I can't find them, so I have to lead them to take the initiative to come to the door!" ”

"Who told you to make such a big fuss in Xinglong County." Liang Tao said with his hand: "What a thunder arrow to punish the evil temple, that is the thunder method of the Yuxiao Sect, right?" You can still exert such a power to punish evil without serving his family's dharma, which shows that the ritual and ritual affairs of the Tianxia Dynasty praise official really have the achievement of integrating all families and dominating the gods. ”

Zhao Xiao stared at Liang Tao and said, "You came in person, shouldn't you be here to talk about these gossip?" ”

Liang Tao sat down in his robe, and his words were full of complaints: "The big disturbance made by your Wu Kuijun in Qingyan County has caused a bunch of old guys to run to Dilung Mountain to annoy me every day, which makes me very difficult to handle." ”

"Did the National Teacher make a mistake? Wu Kuijun is not under my control. Zhao Xiao said: "I am also performing my duties under General Wei's account." ”

"Obviously preparing to deal with the invasion of the Jiuli Kingdom, but you made it a raid and a temple demolition." Liang Tao smiled and asked, "Are you so anxious to force me to make a move?" ”

Zhao Xiao's expression was solemn: "When the National Teacher said this, he was really light and light. Not to mention what arrangements the lord of the country has, isn't the recommendation of the gods of the rituals in Qingyan County controlled by your Chongxuan Pavilion in the past?

If it is really a blessing to the righteous gods who are born by the common people, it is fine, but they are a group of demons who extort the people and create misfortune in vain. He also colluded with officials in various places to plunder the people and fornicate with the enemy. The national teacher came to comment on the reasoning, should these obscene demons be punished?! ”