Qiu Peng couldn't help but laugh and recounted the experience of coming in, Wen Baoliang nodded and said, "Oh, that's Dumb, he brought you in." I just saw him playing chess with someone, where can I find food for you? Alas, this man is old and his memory is not very good. Come with me. ”

Wen Baoliang took Qiu Peng to another living room. This large living room is separated by a landscape screen under which are placed two chairs, each with a chair next to it.

As soon as Qiu Peng entered the door, he noticed that there were several people hiding behind the screen. These people breathe long and delicately, and they are obviously extraordinary.

Qiu Peng's mind was racing, and he nodded thoughtfully, with a clear smile on his face.

The two sat down, and an old servant served two cups of tea.

Wen Baoliang asked weakly, "Why is Lord Li looking for the old decay?"

Qiu Peng said respectfully: "Sun Ge is always the senior of the four sects and the eighteenth rank, just call me Xiaoli." ”

"You recommend the kid to be the president of the mercenary union, and take on the important task of reviving the four sects and eighteenth streams, the kid is young and talented, and he has no clue in his heart, I hope that Elder Wen can mention a little bit or two. ”

Wen Baoliang leaned back in his chair, still looking half-dead and dying. He sucked two sips of tea, and then asked vaguely: "Then tell me, what are the problems of the current four sects and the eighteenth rate and the mercenary union?"

Qiu Peng knew that this was Wen Baoliang's intention to study himself, so he replied respectfully: "We who practice martial arts can only engage in professions related to martial arts. As far as Lingyun Pavilion is concerned, there are roughly three directions, one is to enter the army, the second is to be a bodyguard for the wealthy family, and the third is to be a mercenary.

"The road of joining the army has been cut off since it was stipulated that those who have not graduated from academies are not allowed to enter the military and political system; as for the second path, the requirements are relatively strict, and the demand is relatively small, so it is difficult to form a scale, not to mention it; in this way, becoming a mercenary has become the only option.

"Although the mercenary has a good income, much better than other professions, the disadvantage is that he has no rights, and he cannot guarantee the prosperity of my four sects and eighteen ranks. In the long run, my four sects and eighteen streams will definitely decline more and more. ”

Wen Baoliang nodded and replied, "Well, that's a good point. Do you have any solutions to this?"

Qiu Peng frowned slightly, showed a thoughtful look, and said slowly: "According to my opinion, only by breaking the restrictions on joining the army can we improve the living environment of the four sects and eighteen streams. However, on the side of the pavilion master, there seems to be some prejudice against our four sects and eighteen streams. ”

Wen Baoliang asked again: "In your opinion, what is the problem?"

Qiu Peng straightened up, his eyes flashed with wisdom, and he said confidently: "The people in the martial arts are originally relatively easy to rule, but once a gang is formed, the martial arts people will be organized, and the small ones will fight and brawl and disturb the law, and the big ones will participate in the power struggle and become the tools of some careerists, even if it is a rebellion."

"I think this is the real reason why the pavilion master is afraid of the four sects and the eighteen streams. ”

These words were originally said to him by the Lord of Lingyun Pavilion, but at this moment, Qiu Peng changed slightly, and he said it without leaking.

Wen Baoliang's half-closed eyes opened suddenly, glanced at Qiu Peng with a surprised gaze, and said approvingly: "I didn't expect you to see you for a few days, but you have grown a lot! What you said just got to the point." ”

Qiu Peng said with some distress: "In that case, then how can we reverse this situation?

Wen Baoliang smiled slightly, and said lightly: "The Mercenary Guild is a semi-official organization, and the 80,000 mercenaries under its command also have a role, which is to serve as a strategic reserve for Lingyun Pavilion. ”

When Wen Baoliang said this, he seemed to feel very tired, leaned back in the chair gently, closed his eyes slightly, stopped talking, and seemed to be asleep again.

Qiu Peng seemed to have grasped a key point in his mind, but he couldn't really think about it, so he couldn't help but ask anxiously: "Old Wen, what then?"

Wen Baoliang sighed softly, with a hint of disappointment in his tone. He pointed to his temple with his right index finger, and the fingertips swirled in a circle, making a thinking gesture.

Qiu Peng was stunned for a moment, and when he heard the disappointment and helplessness contained in Wen Baoliang's words, he immediately felt ashamed. Immediately I thought that this must be a test given to me by the leaders of these four sects and eighteen streams, to see if they have the ability to lead the four sects and eighteen streams out of the predicament.

If his answer can't satisfy them, then the plan he made to control the mercenary union and then rescue Lin Xue safely will become the moon in the water and the flower in the mirror, and there is no way to talk about it at all.

Even for Lin Xue, he can't give up!

Qiu Peng exhaled a long breath, calmed down his somewhat hot brain, and began to think carefully about this question.

"Just now proposed the three paths of the four sects and eighteen streams, Wen Baoliang affirmed it, then, the way out must also be among them, except for two or three points, the result still comes down to finding a way to enter the military and political system.

"So, what did Wen Baoliang mean by what he said just now?"

His heart lit up, and he suddenly shouted: "Mercenary!"

A smile appeared on the corner of Wen Baoliang's mouth, and he nodded and praised: "The child can be taught." ”

Qiu Peng said in a deep voice: "However, the Pavilion Master has such deep scruples about the Four Sects and Eighteen Streams, it is not easy for him to open his mouth and promise to establish a mercenary. Moreover, after all, the mercenaries are temporary regular troops, and if the war is over, it is only a matter of words for the cabinet to disband the mercenaries. ”

Wen Baoliang snorted coldly and said lightly: "Some things, once you start doing them, there is no turning back. If the pavilion master tasted the sweetness of mercenaries, would he still give up lightly? Moreover, it is easier to control an army with a clear division of labor and clear responsibilities, or is it easier to control a mercenary union with a loose combination? I think as long as he understands this truth, there is absolutely no reason to oppose it. ”

Qiu Peng groaned slightly and nodded.

Qiu Peng looked at the old man in front of him who was dying and in good spirits, but in fact he was holding the wisdom bead, and suddenly thought in his heart that he might have already understood these things in his heart, but he didn't personally propose it to the Lingyun Pavilion Master, but instead pushed himself, a cutting-edge disciple of the four sects and eighteenth ranks, to the forefront.

If things fail, he has nothing to lose, and if he succeeds, his own honor is absolutely indispensable. This person has been up and down in the sea for decades, and he has experienced how big the stormy waves are still safe and sound, and he really has his uniqueness.

Wen Baoliang said in a soft tone that seemed to be talking to himself and as if he was talking to Qiu Peng: "Now, there is a lack of people who dare to speak out and explain these views to the Lingyun Pavilion Lord. Speaking of which, this matter is also quite dangerous, and a person who is not good will be in danger."

Qiu Peng knew that this was the time for him to express his attitude, so he stood up and promised: "I, Li Zixuan, as a disciple of the four sects and eighteenth streams, for the revival of the four sects and eighteenth streams, and for the future of the brothers and sisters of the four sects and eighteenth-rate, even if it is a sea of swords and fires, I am willing to bear it with all my might, even if I am broken, I will not hesitate to do it!"

These words seemed very numb to Qiu Peng, according to the past, Qiu Peng would never be able to say it, but now for Lin Xue's sake, he can't take care of it much.

Wen Baoliang glanced at Qiu Peng deeply, clapped his hands gently, and said, "Very good, very good, are you still satisfied with Lord Li's promise?"

There was a crisp applause from behind the screen, and several people turned out from behind the screen with smiles. One of them, Qiu Peng, also knew that it was the Sect Master of the Fengyue Sect who had been defeated by him with one move, Crane Changkong. The others seem to be the sect masters of various sects and factions with the same status as Crane Changkong.

Qiu Peng deliberately showed a surprised expression, looked at Wen Baoliang, and then at the sect masters, and stammered: "Elder Wen, this, this is"

Wen Baoliang glanced at Qiu Peng meaningfully, and under this profound gaze, Qiu Peng felt that many of his pretentiousness could not be hidden.

Wen Baoliang said: "These are the sect masters of the four sects and the eighteenth stream, and they can also be said to be the heads of the four sects and the eighteenth stream. If there's anything, you talk to them. Old man, I'm old, let's go and rest for a while. ”

As he spoke, Wen Baoliang closed his eyes as if he had fallen asleep again.