Sword of Coming

In the dangerous wind and snow, the three riders headed all the way to the hinterland of Shihao Country.

Many tall cities that were battlegrounds for military strategists were already in devastated condition. On the contrary, most of the rural areas were lucky enough to escape the disaster. However, the refugees fled in all directions and left their homes, but they encountered three consecutive heavy snowfalls since the beginning of winter this year. Along the official roads in various places, there were mostly emaciated bones of young women and children who had frozen to death.

Ma Duyi is kind-hearted and simple. No matter human or ghost, he does not look like a real Shujian Lake monk. So when Chen Pingan passed by a county and said that he wanted to pay local people to help open a porridge shop and medicine shop, after doing this After this incident, they continued to set off, which made both Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye particularly happy.

Chen Ping'an took out the Qingxia Island jade plaque, hung it on the waist on the other side of the sword, and went to the local government. Ma Duyi wore a curtain hat to cover her face, and had plenty of room to put on a thick cotton coat. Even the graceful figure of the fox-skin beauty was covered up.

Before that, they had passed through many counties. The closer they got to the center of Shihao Kingdom and the further north they went, the more dead people there were. They could already see more soldiers and horses, some of whom were stragglers from Shihao Kingdom who had been defeated and retreated south. , some soldiers' armors are brand new and bright, and they look stylish at first glance. Zeng Yehui felt that those Shihao soldiers who rushed to the northern battlefield might be able to fight against the Great Li cavalry.

But Chen Ping'an knew very well that once there was a war, these soldiers, who were wearing armor newly moved from arsenals everywhere and holding weapons that had been dusty for many years and still looked like new, would die very quickly. Only a few lucky ones would have the opportunity to change from "not knowing at all." How did you die?" The new pawn gradually turned into an old pawn who "knows how to survive."

In the long history of Lotus Flower Land, Chen Pingan witnessed many tragic wars that determined the fate of the four countries.

In the vast world, Chen Ping'an has also seen with his own eyes the military appearance of the scouts of the border army at the southern border of Dali. With a little knowledge, he will understand why the border troops of Dali have the title of "the athletes on the ridge". They are all on the hills and ridges among the bones. Among the veterans who came down from hundreds of battles, perhaps a twenty-year-old young border soldier in Da Li in the past hundred years has fought more battles and seen more dead people than the powerful military generals in Shihao Kingdom who are forty or fifty years old.

Chen Ping'an actually thought further. As one of the vassals of the Zhu Ying Dynasty, Shihao Kingdom did not mention the likes of Huang He and Han Jingling, but only said that the vast majority of this vassal country was like the prince Han Jingxin who died in his own hands. , even dared to personally fight the Dali scouts who had two accompanying monks. The northern border army, who was born as General Yinwu Wei, was directly wiped out. The emperor of Shihao Kingdom still tried his best to mobilize soldiers and horses from various border gates to fight to the death. Blocked on the road from Dali to the south, the capital is now trapped and is still holding on to the end.

Why is Shihaoguo willing to act like this? He didn't hesitate to use so many lives as a roadblock to hinder Su Gaoshan's Great Li cavalry a little?

The literati said in books that in winter it is better to have dense snow and the sound of jade breaking.

Chen Pingan looked up into the distance and saw snow on the roads and mountains, as if God had placed a heavy burden on the world.

Chen Ping'an sighed, but felt a little relieved when he thought of the clanking of iron armor in the Yeling Temple.

On this journey north, Ma Duyi was okay. He had been a genealogy master, and also a Huye cultivator of the Eight Classics. Sorrow was inevitable, but he was not too shocked. However, he had seen too many scenes like purgatory on earth. Day after day, even Zeng Ye, who would often cry silently at first, became a little numb.

During this period, Zeng Ye was possessed by men's femininity again and again. Some of them fulfilled their last wishes, while others only regretted that their homeland has long since changed.

And the femininities of women who resided in the fox-skin talisman paper beauty left the world one by one, such as Su Xinzhai. There will be new female femininities that continue to walk around the world with the help of talismans. Each talisman is like an inn or a ferry, coming and going, with reunions of sorrow and joy, and farewells separated by yin and yang. According to the Their own choices, in their words, reveal the truth and concealment.

On this day, Chen Ping'an took Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye to visit the county magistrate's residence together without any hindrance.

The local county magistrate is a fat old man who can hardly see his eyes. In official circles, he likes to smile whenever he sees people, and when he smiles, he can hardly see his eyes.

This past year, the old man's life was not at all peaceful, and the war was chaotic. In addition to paying a lot of money to hire an immortal master to go down the mountain to protect him from an immortal cave nearest to the county town. The unknown cultivator, to put it harshly, is the lower fifth realm mountain Zeye cultivator who was not very fond of in the past. The genealogy master who is also the lower fifth realm almost went back to the mountain in anger. The county guard said all sorts of things and then He added three snow coins to his monthly salary, and finally managed to keep the mountain god who didn't want to associate with wild cultivators. The county governor was heartbroken and distressed. Fortunately, as soon as Chen Ping'an came to the door, he immediately felt that three snow coins per month were enough. Xue's extra expense was well worth it, because the Immortal Master of Genealogy was indeed a true immortal that no wild cultivator could compare to. As soon as he got it, he knew that it was a "very open" treasure, and it was definitely what experts call it. At a glance, he could identify the sky-high Qingxia Island first-class sacrificial jade plaque. He was so frightened that he almost knelt down and kowtowed to the young immortal from Shujian Lake.

Things will be easier to handle next. The worshiping master who calls himself Chen says he will open a porridge shop and a medicine shop in the county to help the people. He will pay for it, but if the government has to provide people and help, the money still has to be counted. At that time, Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye finally saw the old county governor's eyes, which were so round and wide-eyed. You should probably find it unbelievable that the Immortal Master of Genealogy next to the old county guard is not much better. A good man who was born in Shu Jian Lake is almost like a big demon who opened a mansion and called himself an Immortal Master?

On the other hand, the two Yamazawa Yexiu, who seemed to be respectful and timid, looked at each other and said nothing.

After that, everyone found it even more strange. The young priest named Chen asked the old county governor to invite a group of subordinate officials in the government office who were good at household registration, taxation, and merchant calculations. Everyone sat down together and began to carefully Discuss the details, what is the current price of rice and medicine in the market, the number of government granaries stored, the approximate number of local poor people and refugees, the location of porridge shops and medicine shops, how many people can be mobilized and dispatched by the county yamen without delaying official duties Spare manpower, and so on, every link has been carefully considered, so that all the old people in the government office feel like they are facing a formidable enemy.

After the discussion was over, the county governor's office got busy that night, and the officials and subordinates dispersed one after another.

Chen Ping'an and the other three lived in the backyard of the government office, but late at night, two wild monks from Shanze came to the door secretly. They were not afraid of the "first-class worshiper of Qingxia Island" named Chen. They were completely opposite to their obedience and caution during the day. Among them, A wild cultivator rubbed his fingers and thumbs and asked Chen Ping'an with a smile whether he should pay some hush money. As for what "Chen Gongfeng" was planning for this county, whether it was a person, money, or a magical weapon, the two of them didn't know. Will take care of it.

At that time, Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye were still staying in Chen Ping'an's house, and it was rare for them to chat.

Because he is as slow as Zeng Ye and can't figure it out, Mr. Chen is clearly doing what he wants to do step by step. Although there will be ups and downs and unsatisfactory results, there will also be failures again and again. , even some small last wishes could not be fulfilled, but after all, there were still many ghosts and ghosts who appeared in Shihao Kingdom, and like Miss Su, they left without regret.

Logically speaking, Mr. Chen's mood should be getting more and more relaxed.

But that's not the case.

So Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye would sit with them without disturbing Mr. Chen's thoughts. Most of the time, she and Zeng Ye would talk nonsense. Mr. Chen never felt bored, but he didn't like to talk much. But occasionally when I heard the two of them arguing about things as big as sesame seeds and mung beans, or simply talking nonsense to pass the time, Mr. Chen would smile. Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye would often be confused, thinking that they had said something funny, and Mr. Chen had no reaction. , why do some words that are not funny at all make you laugh?

At this moment, one person and one ghost stood on the small stove under the table and ate melon seeds. After seeing the cleverness of the two Yamazawa Yexiu, they all found it very interesting.

Ma Duyi's eyes narrowed and she was curious about the accountant's response.

Chen Pingan asked with a smile: "So how much hush money do you think is fair?"

A wild cultivator already had an idea, "This little brother can imitate a jade tablet from Qingxia Island, and even be able to deceive him in front of a genealogy master. This is obviously a big deal. Tonight he just opened a porridge shop." A lot of real money was spent on the drug store, so this hush money should have... forty or fifty pieces of snow money? I wonder what my little brother thinks? I don't want to part with this small amount of money so that Earn a lot of money safely?"

Chen Ping'an stretched out his hands and held the shoulders of the two wild cultivators. "Since the two seniors have seen through it, I will kill someone and silence them. Why bother to pay for the hush money? If you take the money, go back and add it up." Instead, I have to push my limits, go back and forth, and if I don't say anything about the trouble, I might even ruin something important for me, so why not do something simple? I wonder what you two think?"

The two Shanze Yexiu were horrified. Being pressed on their shoulders actually caused the Qi Palace to shake and the spiritual energy to stagnate.

Before the two of them could plead, Chen Pingan said with a straight face: "I have a big plan. You two may be able to help a little, but if you want to leave this county alive, you must first come up with a sum of money to buy your life." , even though you are only monks in the lower fifth realm, why should you have...forty-five pieces of snow to spend?"

The two Shanze wild cultivators, who were not wealthy to begin with, scraped together thirty-two pieces of snow money as if they were mourning for their heirs, but they were all gone.

Chen Ping'an took the fairy money and waved his hand, "When you go back, calm down for a while and wait for my news. As long as you are sensible, when the matter is done, I will give you some leftovers. If you dare to think wrongly, you are really worth some money." The natal thing is directly separated from the key Qi Mansion. When the time comes, you will regret your trip to the Sheriff's Mansion if you call the sky and the earth unworthy."

The two wild cultivators, who finally did not give away their gold belts to their colleagues, were lucky to be alive and felt an unexpected joy. Could it be that they were a blessing in disguise? When the two wild cultivators went back and took stock together, they still felt a little uncertain, but they didn't dare to sneak away, and they also felt sorry for the more than thirty hard-earned money. They worried about gains and losses for a while, and sighed.

Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye laughed happily.

Chen Pingan sat at the table, "When we leave the county, we will return the snow money to them."

Then Chen Ping'an turned to look at Zeng Ye, "In the future, when we go to the prefectures and counties further north, there may be things to do to open porridge shops and medicine shops, but we have to do one thing every time we go. It depends on the time and occasion. These Let’s not mention it for now, I have my own concerns, so you don’t need to think about it. However, Zeng Ye will leave it to you to handle the matter of the porridge shop and medicine shop. You will deal with people from all walks of life in the government. In the process, you don’t have to worry about making mistakes. Or being afraid of spending too much money is not a big deal worth worrying about. Besides, although I won't intervene specifically, I will help you watch from the sidelines."

Zeng Ye nodded vigorously at first, then stopped talking.

Chen Pingan said: "Everything is difficult at the beginning, but you have to make a start."

Zeng Ye didn't say anything more. He was both worried and excited.

It seemed that this young man felt more comfortable than practicing Taoism.

Chen Pingan added: "Whenever you feel tired or bored, remember not to be embarrassed to speak, just tell me directly. After all, your cultivation now is mainly about cultivating your strength."

Zeng Ye nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, "Mr. Chen, don't worry, I will never delay my practice."

Chen Pingan smiled knowingly.

In fact, young people should be more diligent and attentive.

After that, the porridge shop and medicine shop was properly located in the county town, and it was quickly and orderly developed. Not only was the Yamen familiar with this kind of thing, but also because of the personal supervision of the county governor. As for the identity of the young man in the cotton robe, the old county Mamoru's words were vague and unclear to anyone, which made people a little in awe.

Three days later, Chen Ping'an asked Ma Duyi to quietly place the thirty-two snow coins in the room of the two Shanze wild cultivators.

Then the three horses came to a porridge shop near the city gate, stopped their horses far away, and after dismounting, Chen Pingan asked the Immortal Genealogy Master who had been accompanying them all the way to help look after them for a while.

When they arrived at the porridge shop, Ma Duyi didn't want to be a "beggar" and Zeng Ye didn't feel the need to drink a bowl of rice porridge that was as bland as water. Chen Ping'an went to queue patiently by himself and begged for a bowl of rice porridge. Even though the rice porridge is slightly "thick", and two steamed buns, I squatted beside the road outside the team, eating the steamed buns with the rice porridge, and from time to time I could hear the shouts of the subordinate staff, and the subordinate staff would Together with the local poor people and the refugees who have been living here, they loudly tell the rules: Don't be greedy, and you can only divide the porridge according to the head. When eating porridge and eating steamed buns, don't be greedy. If you eat and drink in a hurry, you will make trouble.

Chen Pingan looked at the long queues. Among them were many young and strong local men in relatively thick clothes. Some of them were holding their children and eating candied haws in their hands.

Not far from Chen Pingan, there was a group of local men gathered together. They were all sallow and skinny. While eating and drinking, they complained that the pig food was not as good as it was.

Chen Ping'an just chewed slowly and silently, and his mood remained unchanged, because he knew that the world was like this, and it was difficult to cherish things that cost nothing in the world. If he spent money, even if he bought the same rice porridge and steamed buns, maybe he would It will taste better, and at least there will be no swearing or complaining.

After returning the porridge bowl, Chen Pingan walked towards Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye and said, "Let's go."

Three riders left the city.