Delong

Chapter 540: Anchehang (9)

In September, after suppressing the surrendered Dongting Lake rebels, the Ming-Southern Liang coalition forces quickly encountered the invading British main navy upstream. The two sides had a strength of 50,000 each, filling the river bank and confronting each other between Zhijiang and Songzi, shocking the world for a while.

Because everyone knows what this means - the world is divided into four parts, and the strongest is none other than the wise. The two military and political entities, the Chulong Gang and Guanlong, behind the two families are destined to erupt in a full-scale war, so this battle that suddenly occurred on the river far away from the ruling centers of both sides is destined to be just one side of the battlefield.

The military intelligence was transmitted at a very fast speed. Xiao Hui and Cao Shiyu in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River were the first to learn about the situation. Xiao Hui immediately issued an order, ordering Cao Shiyu to lead his troops westward to resist Daying and control the situation. Before receiving the order, Cao Shiyu had already begun a full mobilization of Jiangdong, but after receiving the order, he fell into some hesitation.

There is no way. Everyone understands that the upcoming war will determine the life and death of many people, many groups, including the survival of several major regimes. Everyone's heart is in turmoil at this moment.

The news reached Yecheng two days late. In Yecheng, the most excited group of people were the scholars who were taking part in the imperial examination this year.

Besides, this year's batch of participants in the imperial examinations were jokingly called "the old and the young" by the people of Yecheng... There was no way. The people who slipped through the net and waited and saw the situation in the past two years, those people in the newly annexed areas such as Hejian, Youzhou and Beidi who had not entered officialdom before but had the need to do so, how could these people not grow old?

In addition to these, there are a considerable number of young people who are around 18 or 19 years old and have just reached adulthood and want to seek opportunities to enter the officialdom. How can this be a large number?
But the interesting thing is that, because they were all forced to build their foundation by the Chulong Gang, even these young ones have some cultivation and can be called Wen Xiu. In addition, these young people are eager to try, and the old ones all claim to be talented but not appreciated, so of course there will be turmoil.

"How was the outcome in Jiangnan?" The autumn wind was warm, but on the third floor of a restaurant by the Zhang River, several elderly men in robes were obviously uneasy, and they kept looking up at the towering three platforms upstream.

In fact, it is precisely because this place can overlook the Three Mountains of Linzhang and "drinks the same river water" with the Three Mountains that it is favored by these scientific expeditions and literary scholars.

"Who knows?" the person next to him said helplessly. "Manager Bai is known as the number one Grandmaster, but don't forget that the owner of Danglu is actually a half-step Grandmaster... Who knows if he has made it?"

"The victory or defeat of an army, or even the fate of Jiangnan, actually depends on the cultivation of two people? Brother Li, your family just moved here from Shu last year, so you know something about it? What is Wei Shengji's cultivation level?"

"As you said, Wei Shengji has been saying for a long time, and almost everyone says that he is the next grandmaster. But if you ask me, it is ridiculous to decide the victory or defeat based on one's cultivation level. It should be cultivation level that determines the victory or defeat. If Wei Shengji can defeat Manager Bai and then go downstream, he will be the next Yang Bin and the second-highest position in the world of Great Britain! And if Manager Bai can go upstream, he will be able to spread his wings like a mighty phoenix and be unrivaled in the world!" The middle-aged man who was asked had his own judgment.

"That's the truth."

"Why are you thinking about things thousands of miles away? Don't forget why we are here. What is the key? Once the war breaks out in Jiangnan, the war will also break out here. If the war starts tomorrow, this unknown imperial examination will not be delayed, right?"

"Even if there is a war, it won't delay us." The middle-aged man surnamed Li remained calm. "We will fight towards the Eastern Capital, at most in Ji County and Henei, and we have already fought in northern Shanxi and Wu'an. At most, we can fight in the front and take the test later."

"That's true." Someone else sighed. "Compared to that, I'm more concerned about whether Chief Zhang will come in person to supervise the selection of candidates this time... If Chief Zhang doesn't come, and because of the war, even the State of Wei... even the Duke of Wei won't participate, wouldn't it seem like we got away with it this time?"

"What's the bargain here?" The middle-aged man was more confident. "The fighting ahead was fierce, so we can save a lot of trouble... When the time comes, no matter if it's in the army or in the local area, whether it's a clerk or a soldier, we can just use it directly."

"Not only that, you can see from the little ones that this scientific examination must be carried out steadily. It is connected to Chief Zhang's policy of compulsory foundation building, so the sooner the better, and it cannot be compared with the later ones."

"As a clerk, you will join the army for three years, then serve in the army or in the local areas for three years, and then go to the Grand Secretariat for a few months. When you come out, you will be a county chief official... Is that right or not?"

"No." Someone corrected. "You are talking about the middle and lower levels of recruitment. The top ten or twenty who do well in the exam will directly serve in the various departments of the Grand Secretariat. The top few who are even better will be sent directly to the general managers to work as personal clerks... People like this will be county ladies as soon as they leave. As long as they don't make any big mistakes, they will be able to enter the imperial court in three years."

"I see."

"What a pity... I'm already old. Even if I pass the exam, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to enter the palace in this lifetime." A gray-haired man who was just listening carefully to what was said couldn't help but twirling his beard and shaking his head.

All those present were so-called “old people”, or at least middle-aged people, and all came from wealthy families. Even though they were not so extreme, they naturally felt the same way, otherwise they would not have gathered together. So when these words were spoken, they inevitably touched their own hearts and they all quieted down.

Unexpectedly, the silence here caused a commotion on the second floor below. Listening carefully, it turned out to be those young scholars. They were young after all and could not afford the banquet on the third floor, so they could only make comments in the lobby on the second floor. However, because they were young, they were unscrupulous and their voices could be heard on the third floor:
"If you ask me, it's best to join the army! Military merit comes first!"

"I know what you mean, but the times are different now. The Chulong Gang is big and powerful, and the regulations are complete. Even if you join the army, you can't have the future of being directly appointed as a leader in the past..."

"That's better than staying behind and being a clerk!"

"That's true..."

"There is also a saying that if we can destroy the Sima family or the Bai family, it would be like any young man from Guanlong could come to our Hebei and directly enter the family. Why can't we do the opposite?"

"It's really hard for us to do the opposite... The chief has said again and again that we, the Dragon Destroying Gang, deposed this kind of patented dragon, so how can we do it ourselves? Even the chiefs have to be distributed according to the regions."

"That's it. We have gained a lot of land, joined a gang, and won the title of Jinshi. Our status as stewards is much better than those people. How about saving three to five years and becoming a county lord early?"

"That's true..."

"You always do this..."

"These young people have no idea how dangerous military affairs are." Upon hearing this, an elderly man on the third floor finally couldn't help but whispered in a teasing voice.

"They know the dangers of military affairs. When Hebei was in that state before, they were all sensible. Who hasn't experienced life and death personally? Who hasn't seen military affairs? The key is that they don't understand the difficulties of military affairs! This is not the time when Chief Zhang opened up Hebei. Guanlong is an independent region and has been fighting with Hebei for who knows how many years... How can it be taken so easily?"

"This is the truth..."

"We can take it!" At this moment, the second floor seemed to be responding to the third floor. After all, this group of young people have been cultivating their foundations and have sharp ears and eyes. But it is also possible that they are just arguing about related issues below. "First of all, although the violent Wei was brutal, it almost unified the country. Since then, people have settled down and know that they should unify the country instead of dividing the country. It's just that they need to replace someone like Chief Zhang who has the advantage of the whole world to be in charge. That's why Chief Zhang founded the Chulong Gang. So everyone expected this battle... To put it bluntly, even Bai Hengqiu wanted to unify the country, otherwise why would he attack so fiercely?!"

"That's right! That's right!" Even someone on the third floor couldn't help but agree.

"Secondly, this kind of national war is not about the skills of a few grandmasters, but the full strength of both sides..." The voice below continued to come, and it became more and more excited. "How can we mobilize all the strength? Of course, those who benefit the world should unite the world's strength! And our Chulong Gang has always benefited the world, and our active force is naturally stronger and greater than theirs who only benefit the Guanlong nobles! So this time, there may be some ups and downs in the war, but the final winner must be us! And it will only take three to five years!"

"Well said!" The middle-aged man on the third floor could no longer sit still, and stood up and went downstairs. As soon as he got downstairs, he shouted, "Who was the one who made the brilliant remarks just now? Li Yishu from Raoyang, Hejian, is here!"

"I don't dare to be your brother. Liu Renzhe from the Wei family of Yingchuan is here." There was an immediate commotion below, and then another round of noise.

On the third floor, there were a bunch of old people left looking at each other in bewilderment. They were too embarrassed to go downstairs, and they wanted to say something but didn't know where to start. They could only hold their own wine.

Not to mention how these people talked about the country and military affairs on paper, but soon, the thing they wanted to know very much was answered - on September 13, the day before the first imperial examination, the leader of the Chulong Gang, Zhang Xing, returned to Yecheng.

At least these scholars were not forced to go to the Hutuo River to take the final test of river repair.

"Oh, it doesn't matter. Yin Longtou is back. It's just right for him to take over my river repair work. He said he's good at it." Zhang Xing, who had just returned to Guanfengyuan, answered questions from a group of people. "He also brought back the two leaders, Jia Wugen and Miao Hailang. They are now in Dengzhou. The news will arrive soon."

"Great!" Wei Xuanding was overjoyed. "It's great that the two leaders are back!"

There was an obvious pause in the middle of this sentence. Everyone present was a smart person and knew what the King of Wei meant - before the war, the return of a great master would undoubtedly be a reassurance and a weight, which would be enough to encourage everyone. In comparison, the two leaders, to be honest, the death of the two leaders in Dongyi might not be a bad thing, and it could still boost morale.

It’s just that you can’t say that!

"Yes, it's a great thing that the two leaders are back." Xu Shiying said. "I wonder what the situation is like in Dongyi?"

"Not good." Zhang Xing said seriously. "The commander-in-chief was seriously injured and difficult to treat when he returned that day. This time, when Yin Longtou went there, he found that he was dead. It has been a few months... But when he was alive, he did not hold on to the military and political power. Instead, he consciously transferred the military power to Wang Yuande, a general of the royal family, in order to achieve a new balance in Dongyi with Wang Yuande as the main force, and did not cause internal strife. Wang Yuande's group of young people felt Li Ziqi's kindness and were determined to integrate Dongyi and fight back."

"Even so, isn't it too late?" Chen Bin sneered. "He didn't expect that we could build such a foundation in a few years, right? If we really want to fight, then we will fight. Even if he doesn't come to us in the future, we will still go to Dongyi!"

"Mr. Chen said it well!" Liu Heilong shouted behind the crowd.

"Chief." Chen Bin ignored the shouting of the guy behind him and spoke directly. "The most urgent matter is that the war will start soon. Should we hold a meeting in advance to settle things..."

"We can hold a meeting, but there is no need to call everyone to a meeting, because war can come at any time, and it will be too late to summon the leaders who are farther away." Zhang Xing immediately agreed. "Let the leaders of all sizes around Yecheng come, and set the time at night to avoid alarming people. Keep the content simple, don't discuss personnel matters, just military affairs, and don't vote on anything, just take a breath and calm down."

"Okay." Xiong Bonan responded immediately. "I'll call the people. We'll have a meeting at Tunfengtai tonight."

When everyone heard that the top few people had been confirmed, they didn't want to stay any longer, so they left in groups of three or five to wait until night.

After the people left, Zhang Xing was not in a hurry. He first wrote a short letter to Jia Runshi to announce the good news. After sending the letter, he went to take a bath. When he came out after taking a bath, Yue Niang had already prepared dinner and asked when he would return to Dongdu.

Uncle Zhang Sanye ignored him and just ate. He was in no hurry after finishing his meal and teased his nephew who had already learned to talk for a while. Then, several clerks from the Gang Affairs Department came and told Zhang Xing that several leaders would not arrive until later because it was night. Xiong Bonan suggested that they could wait a little longer... Chief Zhang was completely speechless and simply went to bed after agreeing.

After sleeping for a while, it was three o'clock in the morning when he noticed the noise. He got up before the person who called him got to the gate of Guanfengyuan, and then followed the other party to Tunfengtai under the already round double moons.

After arriving here and waiting for a while, Shan Tonghai also appeared on the stage, and the meeting began... There were not many people, about forty or fifty, basically the general managers and deputy managers of various departments of the Daxingtai, including the leading military leaders and local officials near Yecheng, but only half of them were called, and those near the front line were not called at all... On the entire Tunfeng Terrace, only two people seemed special. One was Shan Tonghai. No one expected him to come, but he happened to be patrolling the river, and considering his status, he went to the riverside to be called; the other was Kan Leng, the commander of the Yi Zi Army, who had just been "tricked" from Du Pozhen. It was his first time to appear in such an occasion.

"Everyone knows that the South has been at war, and we are officially at war with Great Britain." The seats were arranged in a traditional circular pattern. When Wei Xuanding saw that everyone was present, he immediately stood up from the middle and began to preside over the meeting. "Today we will only talk about military affairs, not other things, and we will focus on discussion and communication, not voting... If you have anything to say, raise your hands, and stand up and speak when I call your name."

Naturally, everyone had many ideas, but when asked this question, they were silent... The reason was simple. Everyone was concerned about the war, but most people's ideas about the war were just basic worries and expectations, like Yue Niang's thoughts about when to fight back to Dongdu, rather than practical things, let alone professional things. Naturally, they didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Is there a definite time for the war to begin?" After a pause, Wei Xuanding couldn't help but ask. "Didn't they say we have many insiders?"

"Some intelligence can be confirmed that it was in the past few days, but there is no specific time." Xie Minghe, who was in charge of the Jing'an Division, said, "They started to transport supplies to Shangdang and Jinyang after the autumn harvest, and also dispatched some troops, about 10,000 to 20,000. About three or four days ago, Yu Jieluo moved from Hedong to Shangdang, and Bai Hengqiu himself appeared in Tongguan. At the same time, the mountain roads in Hongshan were suddenly blocked, and it was difficult for us to investigate and contact. Only Tianwang went to see it once, and confronted Yu Jieluo for a while. He did notice that the other party continued to send troops and transport supplies to Shangdang."

Xiong Bonan nodded in agreement, and everyone started talking about it. Now that they had a beginning, the rest would be easy.

"Can we take the initiative?" Liu Hei asked loudly. "Let's take the initiative to attack, so as not to be suspicious here... I heard that Yin Longtou is back, can we ask him to come out and lead us to attack Jinyang directly?"

"No need, a few days won't matter." Zhang Xing replied loudly. "Besides, we can't afford to waste time."

"Where exactly will the war start?" Zhang Shizhao suddenly asked a question that was not in line with his level.

"Once the war starts, we will fight from Kuhai to Jiangnan, but the main battlefield will definitely be Dongdu." Xu Shiying responded. "The main battle between Great Britain and us will definitely not be without Dongdu."

"So, they left from Shangdang, and they might also be going to attack Dongdu?" Xiahou Ningyuan was obviously surprised.

"From Shangdang, they may attack Dongdu or us, but they must have their main force attacking Dongdu at the same time, and attacking Dongdu from Shangdang can also threaten us at the same time." Xu Shiying repeatedly emphasized. "As for our main force, they must also go to Dongdu."

"But our alliance with Dongdu has not expired..." Xie Minghe suddenly changed his position in the meeting and asked in reverse. "Dongdu may not invite us to resist. Should we break the alliance?"

Everyone looked at Chief Zhang, who had always been very careful about his reputation. If it weren't for this alliance, they could have directly started a war with Dongdu half a year in advance.

"We can avoid fighting if we keep dragging it out, but if the war really starts, we can't just sit there and do nothing... When the time comes, don't bother with Dongdu, just say we're going to rescue them." Zhang Xing paused. "In fact, we are going to rescue them."

"If there is a chance, can't we swallow it in one gulp?" Shan Tonghai hesitated a little.

"Dan Longtou is confused." Xie Minghe laughed. "If we have the ability to swallow Dongdu in one gulp, what does it matter if we swallow it a few months later?"

"I'm talking about the fighting opportunity..." Shan Tonghai reminded sternly. "If they both lose, for example, Sima Zheng runs out of energy and the Western Capital withdraws, what should we do if there is a chance to seize the Eastern Capital?"

"Then we won't attack for now." Zhang Xing answered without hesitation. "We also need to ask the Qianjin Sect Leader to treat Sima Zheng's illness so that he can continue to hold Guanxi next time..."

Shan Tonghai was silent for a moment, then asked seriously, "Chief Zhang, why do you insist on doing this? Are you trusting Li Longtou too much?"

This statement seemed a little puzzling, but the leaders all knew it.

Zhang Xing glanced at the other party and replied in the same serious manner: "Of course I trust Li Longtou, but the fundamental reason for doing this is not because of Li Longtou. Including the previous delay in not fighting, it is essentially because Guanlong can't afford to waste time with us! We can only get stronger, but they can't reform themselves and continue to become stronger like us!"

In the lobby of Swallowing Wind Terrace, which was not dim because of the moonlight shining directly into it, many people's spirits suddenly perked up, as if they had grasped the key points of the final war before them.

"You mean cultivation?" Chen Bin seemed to have realized. "The chief insisted that we build our foundation five or six years earlier. Now some of the young people back then can go into battle, but they followed suit but have only learned for one or two years. If this continues, in the next four or five years, we will be getting stronger and stronger, but they won't be able to continue. Instead, they will gradually wither away because of fighting."

"That's true, but not entirely." Xiong Bonan spoke slowly. "The chief talked to me a long time ago... The reason why Guanlong is Guanlong is that they use the family alliance to monopolize the benefits of Guanzhong and even the whole world, and use the government soldier system to expand this benefit to the extreme. So not only for the next four or five years, even if it is delayed further, they dare not really let this method of everyone building a foundation continue, otherwise they will be turned upside down inside."

As soon as the two men finished talking, even those who knew nothing about military affairs felt relieved. There was even noisy laughter in the hall as if a heavy pressure had been lifted.

But the leaders remained calm, and it was obvious that some key issues had not yet been clarified.

"In fact, the Military Affairs Department and the General Staff Department have made countless arrangements and plans for the specific matters of the war. It's meaningless to talk about these. Even if it weren't for Yin Longtou who happened to come back to take over the repair of the river, I would not want to return to Yecheng. But why did I come back? Of course, it's not to eat two meals of white flour buns that were newly distributed this year." Zhang Xing spoke slowly, as if he was weighing his words. "But I know that before the war, I need to appease the people's hearts. I need to let the local people and the soldiers know that I am here, and let you know my determination to stick to the original strategy... Everyone, I know you are not confident that Li Ding will be the general reserve. I tell you clearly that I can trust Li Silang, but if he really wants to get out of control, or really wants to rebel, I will abandon Dongdu and personally eliminate him! Then I will go back to clean up the country!"

Most of the leaders who were originally relieved became stern again, but the dragon heads breathed a sigh of relief on the spot.

This is exactly what they want!
Of course, this statement is just a reassurance and cannot play a practical role. Or even worse, the entire meeting is a theoretical briefing just to reassure people... In fact, the initiative of the war seems to still be in the hands of Britain.

That’s not all. The next day, on September 14, the first day of the imperial examination this year, a piece of exact information came to Dongdu along with a person, but the Chulong Gang still knew nothing about it.

"Five days later?" On the top of a newly built seven-story white tower at the site of the former black tower of Jing'an Terrace, Sima Zheng was looking at the person in front of him who was not a stranger, and asked seriously.

"Five days later." The man lowered his head, his eyes seemed to be wandering, but his tone was firm enough.

"Hanoi?"

"Hanoi!"

"Why Hanoi?" Sima Zheng asked while looking at the wind chimes blowing in the wind under the eaves outside, but quickly retracted his gaze.

"There are two reasons. First, Bai Hengqiu is worried about Jin. With Wei Shengji going to Bashu, if he is entangled by you in Hongnong, the Chulong Gang will abandon Dongdu in the name of an alliance with Dongdu and go all out to Jin. Then Jin will be unstoppable, and they can contain Yecheng by going out of Henei. Second, even if the Chulong Gang and Dongdu still have an agreement not to fight, the empty name of a few months is not enough for the two families to trust each other. Since he has led the main force out of Shangdang and into Henei, the Chulong Gang will have to send troops across the border even to defend Yecheng. At that time, the two families will naturally split, so as to prevent Dongdu from being forced to form an alliance like Nanliang."

"That makes sense." Sima Zheng thought about it and nodded slightly. "Mr. Li, I have one more question, otherwise I dare not let you sit down."

That person, that is, Li Shu, finally raised his head and smiled: "I think so."

"Why did Lord Li come to the Eastern Capital?" Sima Zheng sighed. "Or, why didn't he stay in Daying?"

"Because Daying is really intolerant." Li Shu sighed. "I thought that since I was a descendant of the Eight Pillars of the State, I would have a sense of belonging to Daying. But I didn't expect that when I followed Yang Shen in the rebellion, my family's foundation and connections had been completely embezzled by the other families, so they were wary of me. And because of the experience of the Dragon Destroying Gang, everyone was wary of me, so when I returned to Chang'an, I was not popular with anyone and had no position. Later, I was asked to go to the local area, and ended up in Jin. In name, I was a deputy envoy, but in fact, I was not allowed to touch any military power. Even the dispatch of grain and grass was kept secret from me. If I were to swallow my anger and wait for a few years, I would not be willing to accept the war that would determine the direction of the world, so I escaped before Bai Hengqiu arrived."

"That makes sense." Sima Zheng nodded. "But Lord Li, have you ever thought about returning to Yecheng? Are you afraid of being disliked in the same way?"

Li Shu took a deep breath and then sighed slowly, "I thought about it, but Zhang Xing refused to accept me. My old friend in Yecheng told me that Zhang Xing issued a secret order that if I go back, I will be killed on the spot."

Sima Zheng nodded again and again: "So that's how it is. Lord Li, please sit down."

Li Shu then sat in an empty seat next to him... There were many empty seats here.

Sima Zheng did not hide what he said next: "Lord Li, I am naturally happy that you can come and surrender, especially since Dongdu is short of people. But I must make one thing clear to you. If we start the war right away, Dongdu will definitely be in a tough battle. If we don't survive, we will have nothing..."

"Why is Marshal Sima doing this?" Li Shu clasped his hands and smiled bitterly. "The East Capital has nowhere to go, and I have nowhere to go. We are a perfect match."

Sima Zheng also smiled: "In this case, Lord Li will be the Minister of War, assisting in military affairs, and helping me connect with Nanyang, responsible for dispatching reinforcements, and receiving food and military equipment. At the same time, he will monitor the two offices of Jiyin and Qiao County of the Chulong Gang..."

Li Shu quickly stood up and bowed to express his gratitude.

Sima Zheng sat still and waved his hand: "Mr. Li, please go... We should be enjoying the feast or discussing military affairs, but I have guests here. I will go down to find you in a moment."

Li Shu was stunned for a moment, bowed repeatedly and went downstairs.

As soon as he went downstairs, Sima turned his head and looked at the outer corridor of the seven-story white tower through the slightly ringing wind chimes...Sure enough, the next moment, an old Taoist in green clothes carrying a flowered cloth package walked in from the outer corridor.

Sima Zheng stood up and bowed respectfully: "Master Chonghe, are you here to take my life?"

"Where did you get that from?" The visitor, the head of the Trinity Orthodox Sect, who might be the best master in the world, Taoist Chonghe, couldn't help but smile bitterly. "You want to kill people for no reason?"

"But you have killed the owner of this place for Mr. Bai before, right?" Sima Zheng asked proudly.

"Cao Lin's death was in accordance with the will of heaven." Chonghe said solemnly. "The fall of the tyrannical Wei was a trend of collapse. Jiangdu had 100,000 brave men, civil and military officials, and a tight structure. It was natural for him to inherit the tyrannical Wei and create something. But Cao Lin established the Eastern Capital on his own, defying heaven and people. What's that? I naturally accepted Bai Gong's invitation..."

"Then I am not defying the will of heaven?" Sima Zheng suddenly interrupted. "Without me, the Eastern Capital will also collapse."

Chong He was silent for a long time. After the wind chimes rang three times, he slowly spoke: "But you are not a rebellious person."

Sima Zheng smiled: "So it's still against the will of heaven?"

"Nature is against the will of heaven,"

"Master Chonghe, who has the final say on defying the will of heaven? According to Zhang Sanlang's theory, human heart is destiny. If I don't defy people, how can I defy heaven? Or are heaven and man actually at odds with each other? Then is this considered tyranny?"

Chonghe looked serious and answered solemnly: "The government collects taxes, but the people are unwilling to pay. But in fact, there is a reason for collecting taxes. Otherwise, no one will maintain the roads, no one will build dikes on the rivers, and no one will provide relief in years of disasters... At this time, the government and the people are also rebellious. Can we just say that the government is wrong? If there is anything wrong, it is that the officials collect taxes but only know how to use them to support themselves, and take the people's labor but only build palaces for themselves... Sima Erlang, you are confusing people."

"The Taoist priest is right." Sima Zheng restrained himself slightly. "But the sky was not violent, so why did I rebel again?"

Chong He sighed, "This is where you, Sima Erlang, are helpless... Let's take Li Shu as an example. He is a traitor to the Wei Dynasty. According to the laws of the Wei Dynasty, he deserves to be cut into pieces. But now the Wei Dynasty is gone. If he is in the Chulong Gang, he is the leader with merits. If he insists on claiming to be a famous Guanlong clan, he is just an irrelevant passerby. In the end, he wants to surrender to the Wei Dynasty again. Isn't he tying himself to death?"

Sima Zheng smiled slightly: "So, if the dynasty changes below, it is also God's will that changes above?"

"Yes." Chong He hesitated for a moment, but nodded solemnly. "And God's will actually follows the changes in people's hearts, but there are always people stuck in the gap, there is really nothing we can do about it."

"So what the Taoist means is that as long as I give up the name of the Great Wei and surrender to Zhang Xing or Bai Hengqiu, I will be in compliance with the will of heaven?" Sima Zheng continued to ask.

Chonghe was silent for a moment and nodded slightly.

Sima Zheng was so angry that he laughed: "Master Chonghe is not here to kill me, but to persuade me to surrender?"

"I know you are unwilling to surrender, but I still want to persuade you because you are truly innocent." Chonghe said earnestly.

Sima Zheng shook his head and said, "I don't want anyone to pity me. If anyone thinks that I am a person who defies heaven, please let him obey the will of heaven and depose me!"

Chong He sighed again and again: "Before I came here, I knew that I couldn't persuade you, but I still wanted to come... Sima Erlang, I'll tell you a fortune, is it good or bad?"

Sima Zheng narrowed his eyes, the wind chimes on the white tower swayed continuously, but he finally agreed: "I just want to see what destiny is."

Chong He did not say anything upon hearing this. He took off the floral cloth package behind him and spread it out in front of him. He took out the wooden sticks that he had thrown for who knows how many times and threw them lightly in front of him. Then his expression changed slightly: "This is the first time that I have seen such a high divination... but it is very suitable for you."

"Please untie it." Sima Zheng stood up and walked forward to the wooden sticks, then made a gesture of invitation with one hand.

"This hexagram has changed... It's between the first and second hexagrams. Why don't you stamp your feet to see if there is any change?" Chonghe hesitated.

"No need." Sima Zheng shook his head. "Please tell me the first and second day of the month."

"The first hexagram is Zhongchuyi, which says 'The North Sea is majestic and profound'. This hexagram means that the majesty of the North Sea cannot be changed, and its profoundness cannot be altered. It is clearly stating that your thoughts are firm and cannot be shaken." Chonghe explained carefully.

"Good divination, very accurate!" Sima Zheng thought about it and couldn't help but sigh. "To be honest, Taoist priest, the higher my cultivation level, the clearer I understand the will of heaven, and the more unshakable it is."

Chong He sighed and continued, "Zhongci Er is the second hexagram, which says that the gods fight in the dark, and it shows yin and yang... This means that your actions are both good and evil, and it is difficult to judge."

"That does make some sense, but why doesn't it mean that this time I'm fighting like a god fighting in the dark, with yin and yang separated, and good and evil determined by me?" Sima Zheng continued to ask.

Chonghe was silent for a moment, and without further ado, he picked up the sticks on the ground and prepared to leave.

When they walked outside to the corridor, Sima Zheng suddenly spoke again: "Master Chonghe, you said that I was against the will of heaven because the will of heaven had changed... But, was I really a person who followed the will of heaven in the old days?"

Chonghe stopped, looking sad for a rare moment. After a moment, he did not answer this question, but answered the previous question with his back to the other party: "It's not that you can't determine good and evil by your own strength, but there is a Zhang Sanlang in Yecheng. He actually has the same doubts as you, but he is better at uniting the forces than you. Now he has one-third of the world, which has shaken the will of heaven. Even people like you, such as Bai Sanniang and Li Silang, as well as Dou Lide, Xiong Boyan, Du Pozhen, and Xu Shiying, have also used the Chulong Gang to pull themselves out of the mire and obtain their destiny... Sima Erlang, if you want to prove your destiny, you must first destroy the destiny of these heroes, and then talk about other things!"

Sima Zheng was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "So, which family did Taoist Chonghe persuade to surrender?"

Chonghe didn't say anything else. He just climbed over the railing with his flowered package on his back and walked away in the empty autumn wind.

Sima Zheng stood there for a long time before turning around and going downstairs to prepare for battle.

Not to mention that Guanxi and Dongdu have already entered a state of war, the Chulong Gang is still bustling with activity, even flourishing and prosperous, with the most important one being the scientific expedition.

That’s right, when Taoist Chonghe was discussing destiny with Sima, they were taking an exam.

First, the basic exams are literature, mathematics, politics, history, geography (including astronomy), and general knowledge, of which general knowledge accounts for double the score. It includes both basic physics that Zhang Xing knows, as well as questions on customs and etiquette. All questions are divided into two sessions, and the exam is completed in one day... However, these subjects are the most basic, used for screening. It is hard to imagine that a child of destiny would fail in these subjects.

Then on the second day, we were divided into subjects. In the morning, we had advanced mathematics, criminal law, social issues, and military discussions. Many of the questions were set by the heads or deputy heads of various departments, combined with a large number of examples. There might not be a definite answer, but the only thing was to come up with a solution... This is the so-called diversion plus difficulty, which widens the talent gap.

Finally, in the afternoon, there is the much-loved policy discussion.

On this day, Zhang Xing specially changed into a red brocade robe, combed his hair with his innate energy until it was shiny, a white wolf tail hung on his warrior crown, a scimitar was across his waist, and a golden awl was inserted into his Liuhe boots. Then he nailed seven or eight whale dominoes in place, sat at the top of the hall where the Swallowing Wind Terrace was first used, and personally served as the invigilator.

How should I put it, it’s very respectful.

In just one hour, some people handed in their papers early. I don't know if they were trying to take a chance and let Chief Zhang take a look first.

Of course, Zhang Xing didn't look at it, he was looking at Zhang Shizhao. After looking at it, he went to look for Chief Zhang who had hidden on the platform outside the hall to get some fresh air.

"What do you mean?" Zhang Xing looked at the person who came and asked with a smile.

"That's good. Both the young and the old know what it means to keep pace with the times... No matter who they are, they have discussed what you, the chief, said on Hongshan Mountain, about what those who monopolize the world's benefits will surely fail, and those who gain the benefits of all the world will win the world... People's hearts are still with them, and everyone believes that they can win." Zhang Shizhao spoke lightly.

"What about you, Mr. Zhang?" Zhang Xing asked curiously. "Do you believe it?"

"I don't believe it, but I think we can give it a try." Zhang Shizhao answered sincerely. "So even if you don't believe it, I'm willing to help you..."

Zhang Xing laughed: "Mr. Zhang believes in innovation."

"Yes, we can't use the old methods. This is the key." Zhang Shizhao nodded and sighed at Zhangshui, then suddenly turned his head. "Chief."

"Please speak, Mr. Zhang." Zhang Xing vaguely realized something.

"Do you want Lord Yin to help Li Longtou get out of the sea of ​​suffering, cut off the witch land, and attack Guanlong from behind?" Zhang Shizhao asked seriously.

"Yes." Zhang Xing answered frankly. "Most of my actions in the North were for this reason, so I know I can't hide it from you, and there is no need to hide it anytime soon."

Zhang Shizhao looked back at the students in the hall and continued to speak seriously: "Chief, I have done a good job in this business. In the future, there will be more and more young scholars. According to our previous plan, we will set up county schools and county examinations, and establish a system of cultural education... It will be a great achievement, and my position will inevitably rise. It would not be a bad idea for me to be the leader at that time, right?"

"Yes."

"But I don't want to do it now. I want to go to the north and follow Li Silang out of the sea of ​​suffering to settle the witch land." Zhang Shizhao became more sincere. "I don't have to be a high official, but I can't help stirring up trouble."

Zhang Xing looked up at the Zhang River and laughed. After he finished laughing, he promised: "Okay, but if you leave, who will be your successor?"

"Let Feng Wuyi take over first. He has enough experience and prestige. Then let Xiao Yu and Xu Jingzu be deputies... Chief, the war is about to begin. It's like the wind and the waves. Some rules and regulations can be untied." Zhang Shizhao seemed to have been prepared. "Even Lu Sidao, I think he is gradually eager to try. We can use him after the war to take emergency measures. He will definitely not refuse again."

"Okay." Zhang Xing nodded immediately, and turned around and bowed solemnly. "I promise, please make sure to raise a strong wind and huge waves."

Zhang Shizhao was rarely excited and returned the gift solemnly on the spot, which attracted the attention of hundreds of candidates in the hall at the back.

After deciding this, Zhang Xing looked calm and returned to the current topic: "Did anyone mention river repair in the previous policy paper?"

"Yes." Zhang Shizhao was stunned for a moment, then turned back to the hall and picked out a test paper, and briefly introduced it. "Many people have said that repairing the river will benefit the entire Hebei Province, but most of them only said that it will benefit the people's livelihood. Only this one is the most literary."

Zhang Xing took it and opened the test paper... It turned out that the original topic of today's policy paper was "Why did Ming defeat Ying?"... And the answer of this scholar was indeed brilliant. He first talked about the basic guiding ideology that those who benefit the world will win the world, then discussed the various systems of the Chulong Gang, and then talked about human and material resources, with no emphasis on military affairs at all.

Especially the last paragraph, which really surpasses many people in the gang:

"Today, the British ruler is full of vigor and power. With the advantage of military equipment and the prestige of a master, he looks down upon the world. It seems that the decisive battle for the world will be fought in the Eastern Capital, in Jin, in Jiangnan, and in Nanyang. Little do they know that the decisive battle for the world will actually be fought on the embankment of Hutuo River, in the market of Yecheng, on the tip of the imperial examination pen, and in the heroic spirit of Mount Li. In this case, Britain uses people like using firewood, while Ming uses people like lighting torches. Britain raises troops like walking instead of driving a car, while Ming sits firmly like driving a car instead of walking.

As the saying goes, there is a huge disparity in power and there are differences in momentum. Now that the Chulong Gang has fully conquered Guanlong, how can they not win? "

Zhang Xing read it carefully and immediately uncovered the name. He saw that it was Liu Renzhe from Yingchuan. His attention immediately shifted: "Isn't Yingchuan under the jurisdiction of Dongdu?"

Zhang Shizhao immediately spread his hands and said, "Yingchuan and Jiyin are both flat. Can Sima Zheng really build a city wall to prevent people from coming?"

Zhang Xing then burst into laughter, pointed at the test paper and handed it back... He had no idea that the war had already arrived.

PS: Happy Women's Day everyone.