Zhao Xiao stood on the high platform of the school field, and below him were thousands of soldiers lined up, but they were not practicing formations, but receiving food and winter clothes in turn.

"Deacon Zhao, this is a newly made batch of plague-repelling charms, please take a look." Zheng Siyuan came, holding a few bamboo and wood talismans in his hand.

Zhao Xiao took the talisman and looked at it for a moment, and said in a deep voice: "The real fire burns the evil plague, and the smoke chases away the ghost plague...... It's barely applicable. ”

"Is there anything missing?" Zheng Siyuan asked.

Zhao Xiao said: "Although I have not been able to witness with my own eyes how the Wuzhu of the Jiuli Kingdom sacrificed the plague and the plague, I can roughly guess that they should use some kind of secret method to cultivate the evil qi of the plague in advance, and when necessary, they will be driven and launched and sent to the area of Pujia Pass. ”

Zheng Siyuan asked again: "Could it be like raising Gu?" ”

"Yes, almost. It's just that this kind of plague and evil spirit, the method of waiting for leisure cannot be raised, and I am afraid that I will have to practice the law afterwards. Zhao Xiao tugged his chin and short beard: "Therefore, the most appropriate way to deal with this kind of plague and evil qi should be to practice the method of collecting the plague, collecting all the plague and evil qi that spreads in the world and the popular people, sealing it in a jar urn, and then slowly burning it with real fire, which is the best policy." ”

Zheng Siyuan had no choice but to say: "With such a method of collecting the plague, I'm afraid there are few people in the world who can do it." ”

"I can." Zhao Xiao's tone was flat, and to Zheng Siyuan's ears, it was no less than thunder on the ground.

"The witch of Jiuli Country sacrifices to the plague, and I can also set up a mandala to collect the plague and stop the plague." Zhao Huang handed the talisman card back: "The gods do not raise inside, but become evil spirits outside, and turn into ghosts of plague in the five directions." Whenever there was a major epidemic in the Tianxia Dynasty, it was the praise official who prayed for the plague, and the prescription medicine department sent people to administer medicine and treatment, and there was always a way to deal with it, it depended on whether he was willing or not. ”

Zheng Siyuan remembered that Zhao Huang had the skill of setting up an mandala to subdue the rebellious party's divine sword in Xingluo County, and couldn't help but say: "Then why doesn't Deacon Zhao quickly practice the law to relieve the plague?" ”

"I can't leave right now." Zhao Xiao didn't dare to show his gloom in public, and said in a low voice: "What's more, this kind of thing is not easy to do, in addition to the need to fit the earth's veins and spiritual land, there is also the earth and the righteous god on the side of Anzhen, holding the talisman to help me regulate the qi of heaven and earth." If those Qingyan County ghosts and gods were still there and willing to work together to help, I could have done it, but it was ...... Alas! ”

Zheng Siyuan didn't dare to answer, and the battle on the bank of the Cangshui River almost wiped out the ghosts and spirits in the southern counties of Huaxu Kingdom. The world has mixed reputations for Zhao Xiao's move, but now that ghosts and spirits meet Zhao Xiao, most of them will take a detour.

Zhao Xiao is indeed good at rituals, but he also knows very well that rituals and rituals are based on the power of ghosts and gods, and the greater the effectiveness of the rituals, the higher the rank and the greater the number of ghosts and gods are needed.

For Zhao Xiao,

A party like Hengbi Gong, who is in charge of the exploration of mountains and rivers, is the most suitable judge. Retreat to the second, and the miscellaneous ghosts and gods who have been rooted in the place for a long time can also accept it. If there is no such thing, only the spirits that cannot be made of the climate are left, and the people who practice the law will also be reduced to the likes of the charlatans.

And opening the altar by himself to turn the demons and ghosts into soldiers, it is more like a private army under Zhao Xiao, and the effect of the law is no more than that of the ghosts and gods who have the control.

Rituals are useful, but they are not omnipotent. If he gave up his scientific achievements, Zhao Huang would just be a monk with acceptable cultivation, and he would not have the status of achievement today.

Zheng Siyuan has been very busy in the Jinding Division Branch these days, but he knows that Zhao Huang is busier than himself and has heavier responsibilities on his shoulders.

A few days ago, Zheng Siyuan also received a letter from the Zheng clan, which said that there are many people in the government and the opposition who slander Zhao Huang and write to impeach. I hope that he Zheng Siyuan can turn back as soon as possible and stay away from Zhao Xiao, and what else is said that the revival of the Zheng clan in Jiujiang is expected to be cloudy.

"Deacon Zhao, why are you here?" Zheng Siyuan hurriedly changed the topic.

"Today is the day of pay, I'll come and keep an eye on it." Zhao Xiao said: "The war is about to start, and I still expect these soldiers to work hard." ”

Zheng Siyuan said with a smile: "There are military officials to handle such a thing as salary, so why should Deacon Zhao work?" ”

Zhao Xiao shook his head with a smile: "Before I came to Pujiaguan, I almost thought the same way - anyway, there are so many chief bookkeepers and Cao Pengzuo officials under my command, why do I have to bow down to everything?"

But when it comes to doing things, it's not that simple at all. For this salary, either the military officials are up and down, deducting layers of deductions, or taking additional payments under the pretext of military intelligence. Even for winter clothes, I spent countless pens and saliva to get them from the new Qingyan County Warden.

Only I personally supervised the scene, and in public according to the roster, and distributed the wages and goods in turn, so that the officers would not be able to make petty moves, but also calm the minds of the soldiers and let them understand that there were still people who valued them. ”

Zheng Siyuan nodded silently, greatly taught.

"Alright, you can go back." Zhao Huang said: "According to the existing style, the talisman is made and the lintels of various important places in the city are hung. In addition, braziers and copper stoves should be prepared, and those who have recently entered the city should cross the braziers and smoke clothes to prevent evil spirits from invading their bodies. ”

"Yes." Zheng Siyuan was ordered to retreat, and before he could have a moment to spare, Liang Hui hurried over again.

"What happened?" Zhao Xiao saw that Liang Hui looked a little nervous.

"Dantu County is lost." As soon as Liang Hui finished speaking, several army masters arrived in the distance.

"It's also a matter of Dantu County?" Zhao Xiao's expression was as usual, without the slightest panic.

"Not bad!" Those who joined the army glanced at Liang Hui, and hurriedly said: "The soldiers and horses of Jiuli State don't know how to bypass Pujia Pass, rush to Dantu County, and take the county seat overnight!" ”

"Didn't the soldiers stationed in the Fortress of Suifort find out?" Zhao Xiao asked.

"In the past few days, I have not seen any warning of the enemy's situation." Seeing that Zhao Xiao was silent, the chief secretary of the army urged: "Zhao Changshi, please give the order as soon as possible!" Dantu County is a military transportation route, and the loss of the county seat is a big deal! ”

Zhao Xiao slowly rubbed his chin and beard, he was indeed nervous and uneasy, but now that he was shouldering everyone's attention and expectations, his words and deeds could not be panicked.

"Who sent the news back?" Zhao Xiao asked first.

Liang Hui first grabbed the words and said: "The county lieutenant of Dantu County is a close subordinate of the Yongjia Liang family, he escaped by luck, and hurried to Pujia Pass. ”

"Let him stay in the courtyard first, and he is not allowed to talk to idle people." Zhao Xiao motioned for Liang Hui to leave, and then said to the army: "Send a number of teams of scouts to confirm the enemy situation in Dantu County, and at the same time pay attention to the situation in the surrounding counties, and send people to report to the counties and counties, so that they can be prepared and strictly guard the city pass." After the end of the salary, the captains of each battalion were summoned to come to the palace. ”

"Also, don't make a noise in the customs before the fall of Dantu County." Zhao Xiao said: "Write another military intelligence report, I will read it later." ”

Seeing that Zhao Xiao was not flustered, everyone's minds settled down a little, and they were ordered to do things. When everyone retreated, Zhao Xiao held on to the fence of the high platform and secretly soothed his nervousness.

"You go and urge the people below to move faster." Zhao Xiao said to He Dangguan on the side.

"Your heart still needs to be polished." Ling Xiao said secretly: "The comprehension on the bank of the Cangshui River was lost so quickly? ”

"It's different." Zhao Xiao said: "At that time, I knew that Liang Tao would make a move, and he had nothing to fear in the face of evil, so he could naturally open his mind to the enemy. But now that I am sitting in Pujia Pass instead of General Wei, the safety and survival of countless soldiers and people depend on my decision, how can I not have the slightest fear? It's just to hold on to the scene and not let others mess with me. ”

"You used to be just a deacon of the Jinding Division, and you only need to take care of what you need to do in front of you, but at this moment, you are guarding one side, and your mind is not enough to take on big things, so you will inevitably panic." Lingxiao said: "Later, I will secretly instruct you to at least deal with the current situation." ”

"Thank you." Zhao Xiao was grateful, but she inevitably had a little more doubts about the origin of the Lingxiao, she seemed to know quite a lot about the art of war and warfare, unlike the ordinary immortals who were born and cultivated.

After the overseer finished paying the salary, Zhao Xiao hurriedly came to the mansion, and all the army officers and monks in the main hall had arrived.

"You're the county lieutenant of Dantu?" Zhao Xiao looked at a man in soap, and the other party said yes.

"How did Dantu County fall? Let's take it into detail. Zhao Xiao sat on the main seat of the main hall.

The county lieutenant replied: "Tell the Marquis of Zhenming, there was a fire in the city that night, and when we sent people to fight the fire, the east gate suddenly opened, and many soldiers and horses of the Jiuli Kingdom rushed into the city, and there were many witches and Zhu cast spells, and everyone couldn't resist for a while, and they retreated in defeat. ”

"How many soldiers and horses are there in Jiuli Kingdom? How many witch wishes did you show up? ”

"It's hard to say the exact number, but it should be less than 3,000 people, and they will all enter the city soon." The county lieutenant of Dantu replied: "Among them, there are about more than ten Wuzhu, and there are also a group of powerful warriors, and a few skilled guards under the humble position, but they can't even block three moves. ”

Zhao Xiao pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Then how did you escape?" ”

"Humble ......" The county lieutenant Dantu thought for a moment, and then took out a charm from his arms: "This is the talisman that I asked the immortal chief of the Chongxuan Pavilion to ask for before the humble position, which can hide the traces and avoid ghosts and gods." ”

Zhao Xiao took the charm and glanced at it, and then gave it to the other party, and his tone was slightly stern: "Since you are the lieutenant of Dantu County, you are in charge of public security and arrest on weekdays, repair armaments and preside over military affairs during wartime, if you encounter a foreign enemy, you should have mobilized local soldiers Ding Yongjian to defend the enemy, why did you abandon the city and flee?" ”

The county lieutenant of Nadantu had no choice but to say: "I felt that it was difficult to hold on to my duties at that time, and if I could not get the news of the enemy's capture of the county in time, I was afraid that the military situation would be delayed." I also ask the Marquis of Zhenming to forgive his sins. ”

"In order to ensure the transfer of military supplies, the sentinels in Pujiaguan to and from the county and county in the rear are non-stop every day, if Dantu County falls to the enemy, we can still know without you to report." Zhao Xiao said: "Now that General Wei is supervising the military of Pujiaguan and several counties in the south, people like you should have been beheaded in accordance with military law to set an example. ”

"Marquis Zhenming's life! The enemy army is too strong, and it is really difficult for us to resist! The county lieutenant of Dantu knelt down and kowtowed.

"Take them down and imprison them, and dispose of them later." Zhao Huang naturally knew that the Jiuli Kingdom would definitely send elite masters to attack Dantu County, and it was indeed not something that the Dantu County Lieutenant could deal with.

After the county lieutenant of Dantu was taken down, Zhao Huang looked around at everyone present and asked, "What do you think?" ”

A soldier said: "The attack on Dantu County this time is probably similar to the situation in Chenlu County last time, but this time the barbarians have succeeded." ”

Someone shook his head and said: "Don't treat it the same way, the last time the Jiuli barbarian soldiers attacked the city, Zhao Changshi transferred two battalions of soldiers to break the siege." This time, Jiuli Kingdom took Dantu County overnight, and the offensive was unprecedented! ”

"You can't sit idly by, can you? At present, the grain and grass in the army are mainly transported to Dantu County through the Tujiang River and transported to Pujiaguan by vehicles and horses. Such an important town of water and land communication is not only about the transfer of grain and grass, but also the Jiuli barbarians can also travel along the Tujiang River, and it will be a big disaster if they don't go to the rescue! ”

Zhao Xiao frowned and said: "The fall of Dantu County is too bizarre, it took the city overnight, and the Jiuli soldiers and horses are obviously not attacking, I suspect that there are spies in the county, otherwise it would not be such a coincidence and a sudden fire." ”

Everyone present looked at each other silently, the southern counties were adjacent to the Jiuli Kingdom, and it was not surprising that they sent spies to each other. If you take strict precautions, it is said that you can find most of them.

But before Wu Kuijun took over Pujia Pass, Gaoping's public governance was lax, and it was really hard to say how many Jiuli Kingdom works were hidden in the nearby counties.

"Jin Dingsi stepped up the preparation of incense." Zhao Xiao did not let everyone think, and immediately ordered: "From today onwards, incense must be smoked when entering and leaving the city to dispel evil spirits." ”

Zheng Siyuan got up and said yes, and Zhao Xiao looked at Xuzhouzi: "At present, the plague is full of poison in the Guancheng, and it is useless to rely on the plague exorcism charm alone, and it is annoying that Xuzhouzi is the first to lead his disciples to practice the Fa." ”

"That's what you said about the plague collection method before?" Xu Zhouzi nodded and said: "This method is just a little similar to the white urn lock demon method of my Descending True Pavilion, and I have roughly realized four or five percent in the past two days, so you can give it a try." ”

Zhao Xiao nodded, and then said to Cao Zuo, the chief secretary and captain of the army: "Dantu County has fallen into the hands of the enemy, and it is very important that it must be recaptured as soon as possible." I don't know who wants to lead troops to take the city and destroy the enemy? ”

Several captains also knew that the situation was serious, but including the captain Han who had led troops to relieve the siege of Chenlu County, all showed a look of distress at this time.

"If you have something to say, you might as well speak up." Zhao Xiao had already guessed their thoughts.

One of the soldiers stood up and said: "Zhao Changshi, although we have some martial arts, we are not afraid of fighting in battle. But Jiuli Guo sent Wu Zhu master this time, uu reading I'm afraid, I'm afraid that Zhao Changshi needs to be on the battlefield in person to calm the hearts of the soldiers. ”

This result was not expected by Zhao Huang, but it was better to say that in order to meet Chiyundu in person, he led his troops to leave Pujia Pass regardless of dissuasion, and he was destined to meet the enemy today, and he had to take responsibility.

"In such a critical place, it is indeed up to me to lead the troops." Zhao Huang asked: "But I'm afraid that the soldiers and horses of the Jiuli State that captured Dantu County are just a partial division, and the real army will attack Pujia Pass while I am leaving with my troops." ”

"I can temporarily guard Pujia Pass for you." Xu Zhouzi said: "The lord of the country sent us here, there is this arrangement, and the Marquis of Zhenming can rest assured." ”

Zhao Xiao nodded slightly, the first of these contemporary pavilions have all experienced the experience of the Great War of the Five Kingdoms, even if they don't use soldiers like gods, they can be trusted enough to sit on one side.

"Ding Wuji's third battalion, go with me to recapture Dantu County." Zhao Xiao said: "Another 2,000 prisoners will be sent with him to prepare for temporary construction. The rest of the battalions strictly guarded the Pujia Pass. Scouts are constantly on a daily basis, and if there is a timely return, detectives must be sent to investigate. ”

Everyone got up and said yes, and Zhao Huang replied with a deep bow: "I am tired of you to overcome the difficulties together, and wait for the triumphant song to be played in the coming day, Zhao thank you!" ”