Da Cang night watchman

Chapter 1070: The Western Expedition
Four deputy hall masters are the standard configuration of the temple. In theory, all seventeen top elders have a chance.

But I just won’t announce it, and I’ll use the excuse of “listen to what he says and watch what he does”.

This listening, this watching...

Haha, that depends on your performance.

Based on the wonderful attraction of the title of deputy hall master, the seventeen top elders were really obedient during these three days. They gathered in the meeting hall every day, looking diligent and dared not disobey Zhang Weikong at all, because the position of deputy hall master required nomination by Grandpa Zhang. If you annoy him, you will lose this precious opportunity.

According to the Zhang family's tradition of only valuing integrity and not thinking too much, or even disdaining to think, Grandpa Zhang didn't have this idea at the beginning. His idea was just the opposite. He wanted to choose four deputies as soon as possible and let these four deputies help him with the "favor of promotion". But someone stopped him and asked him to postpone it.

Today's situation is the result of that person's secret instructions.

Lin Su and Ming Tianyan went straight into the meeting hall. It seemed like just a small matter...

There are so many important events in the temple, but how many people pay attention to a normal visit?

However, the events in the temple were destined to be unexpected. Lin Su's visit immediately threw a stone on the seemingly calm river surface, causing ripples that went straight up to the third heaven.

Almost all the saints are paying attention!
Bai Ge, Luo Wuxin was also watching through the chessboard...

By his side, as usual, is Grand Hyatt.

He has walked more roads and experienced more things, but Jun Yue is still the only person he trusts.

"An interview in the meeting hall!" Jun Yue asked, "Does this mean that he and Lin Su have no personal relationship?"

Luo Wuxin nodded gently: "Because they know that the saints are paying close attention to Lin Su's every move."

Jun Yue exhaled softly: "A young man, a young man whose title is just Chang Xing, his every move has attracted the attention of all the saints... Sir, do you think this is a curse or a blessing?"

"Whether it is a blessing or a curse depends on the person, the time, and the situation. At this stage, it is at least not a blessing!"

The meeting hall is infinitely deep and lofty.

Lin Su walked in through the gate, and everything in the outside world seemed to be suddenly cut off.

Behind him was the starry sky, and in front of him was a long passage.

At the end of the passage is the temple master Zhang Weikong, and on both sides are seventeen top elders.

Lin Su bowed slightly: "Chang Xing Lin Su, I pay my respects to the Palace Master!"

Ming Tianyan also bowed: "Ming Tianyan, the elder of Tianming Palace, greets the Palace Master!"

Zhang Weikong nodded slightly: "You two are both quasi-saints, and you are qualified to sit in the council hall and discuss the Dao. Please take your seats!"

Silently, a jade chair appeared behind the two of them, simple and solemn.

"Thank you!"

Lin Su and Ming Tianyan sat down side by side. Their seats were opposite to the hall master, but ten feet away. On both sides were top elders.

"What are you two here for today?"

Lin Su said: "The Wuxin catastrophe is about to begin. There are only three years left. The hundreds of billions of people in the seven countries and thirteen states will be trapped in an absolute dilemma where the mountains and rivers will be shattered and the great way will be difficult to survive. I would like to ask if the elders know about this?"

The expression on Zhang Weikong's face suddenly became extremely solemn.

The expressions of the top elders on both sides were also solemn.

God is my witness, this is the biggest challenge that Zhang Weikong has faced since taking over the position of Lord of the Temple. It is also the issue that the top elders have discussed the most in the past few days. No matter how many positions they have held before, no one dares to reveal their own calculations on this issue, and they are all trying to find the right way to break the deadlock.

Zhang Weikong raised his eyes slowly: "The great catastrophe of Wuxin, the way of heaven will collapse, and the way of saints will be difficult to survive. This is the biggest haze hanging over the heads of billions of people. Lin Changxing, do you have a good plan to deal with it?"

Lin Su said: "A good strategy can only cope with the current situation, but not with such a catastrophe. Under the catastrophe, there is no good strategy, only resistance, to gather the consensus of all members, to gather the blood of all members, to go against the trend and change the destiny, to rebuild the way of heaven with the will of all living beings, that's all!"

"Go against the trend and change destiny, use the will of all living beings to rebuild the way of heaven!" Zhang Weikong murmured, "Well said! What do you want to do?"

Lin Su said: "The first step now: march west!"

"Western Expedition?" Zhang Weikong's half-black and half-white long beard trembled slightly...

"Exactly. Outside the city walls, the 100,000-mile Demon Realm must return to the hands of the human race. The human race's defense line against the Heartless Catastrophe must be set up at the shore of the Heartless Sea. Otherwise, if a war of this magnitude breaks out, the storm will spread thousands of miles away, and the human world will suffer an unprecedented catastrophe."

The chamber was completely silent...

What Lin Su said was simple, but anyone could see the crisis behind it.

The unintentional catastrophe has long been a consensus among the top leaders of the Temple. It must be prevented and cannot be avoided, because you simply cannot avoid it.

No matter what school of thought it was in the past, no matter how many small calculations there were, in front of the unintentional catastrophe, all will be shattered. Once the catastrophe occurs, the way of heaven will collapse, the way of saints will be destroyed, and the saints who are high above will become ashes in the troubled times, not to mention this world and the hundreds of billions of lives.

Therefore, at a large level, a consensus on resistance must be formed.

What about the specific operational level?
The Western Expedition proposed by Lin Su is the most effective means.

By setting up the human defense line on the Heartless Coast, the war will not affect the common people, so the Western Expedition is imperative.

An elder on the left let out a long sigh: "What Lin Changxing said is indeed reasonable, but if the Western Expedition is launched, the power of the Holy Temple will be drained, and Tianwai Tian will have the opportunity to take advantage of it. How can we solve this situation of being attacked from both sides?"

Ming Tianyan's heart moved...

Are we going to use the chess piece laid in the early stage today?
Lin Su had already pacified Tianwai Tian, ​​but the news had never been spread outside. On their side, only three people knew about it: she, Lin Su, and the Military Saint.

Even the several saints who fought with them in the later period did not know.

Now it's time to use it.

However, Lin Su's answer was beyond her expectations.

Lin Su said: "For this Western Expedition, we don't need the Holy Temple's combat power. The Holy Temple's combat power can still defend the Heaven Beyond Heaven at this stage."

"Oh?" An elder on the right frowned: "In that case, what does Lin Changxing want to ask the Palace Master for?"

Yes, if we don’t ask for the soldiers of the temple, then what else can we ask for?
Lin Su said: "What the students want is just an order from the temple!"

"Issuing war orders to all countries?" Zhang Weikong asked.

"It's not just a war order, there's also a bounty order!" Lin Su said, "This is a bounty order for the Holy Temple drafted by a student. Elders, please review it and see if it's appropriate."

He raised his hand slightly, and a piece of gold paper appeared in the air, enlarged, and a bounty order was unfolded in the meeting hall...

"The great catastrophe of Wuxin is about to begin, and the strong men from outside the domain are about to arrive. The 100,000-mile Demon Realm outside the Burial State Pass will become a major threat to the seven countries and thirteen states. Therefore, this world and the hundreds of billions of people have the responsibility to wipe out the evil spirits. In order to inspire the world, the Holy Temple has issued a "Bounty Order"..."

Everyone just glanced at the preface and ignored it...

The key point is the specific terms at the end, which are quite unique...

Anyone, regardless of whether they are scholars, martial artists, or spiritual practitioners, and regardless of whether they are monks, Taoists, or ordinary people, can go to Guancheng and participate in the Western Expedition.

Those who participate in the Western Expedition should bring a scoreboard, and the demons killed, monsters hunted, and rare treasures obtained can all be recorded on the scoreboard.

What is the use of the points on the scoreboard?

Referring to the method of killing demons in Guancheng and the method of killing demons in Tianwai Tian, ​​points can be freely exchanged for silver, but its extension can be expanded. It is not only exchangeable for conventional wealth, but also for the natural treasures of Wenbaotang.

This is at the individual level and the national level, and is also linked to points.

The points of all the people who go out of a country are accumulated and exchanged for places in the next imperial examination year such as Jinshi, Wenshan, and Wentan.

In other words, the traditional practice of allocating positions according to the size of the country was abolished, and the quota of positions was calculated directly based on points...

The elders looked at each other, all of them were shocked by this unique "Bounty Order"...

It's not like the Temple had never issued a "Bounty Order" before, but when had there ever been a bounty order like this? The biggest unconventionality of this bounty order was that it overturned the previous way of assigning positions, and everything was determined by military merit.

The benefits are obvious...

Because the number of Jinshi candidates that each country cares about most is directly linked to the country's points, both the royal family and the court must respond. Otherwise, you will be a sinner of the whole country and your ruling foundation will be completely destroyed.

At the same time, points can also make individuals successful.

With points, you have everything: wealth, status, respect from the monarch, and incomparable rewards from the temple...

It can be said that this bounty order has bound the entire world!
The most difficult consensus in the world to form was formed in the blink of an eye, and it is foreseeable that it will be extremely solid - it can be put on the table, enter people's hearts, and the benefits can be seen and touched.

However, the elders also felt a sense of uneasiness...

The elder on the right said slowly, "Confucianism governs the world with benevolence as its foundation, but Lin Changxing's bounty order, tying everyone in the world onto warships, is purely based on military merit as a way to govern the world. Isn't that a bit too radical?"

As soon as these words were spoken, they instantly resonated with people, and some elders seemed to have just woken up from their dreams.

Yes, Lin Su's bounty order is essentially a military doctrine. Everything depends on military merit. Isn't it using the military doctrine to bind the seven countries and thirteen states? Even the temple?
Is this another level of competition?

Lin Su said: "Confucianism is based on benevolence in governing the world, which is true, but benevolence can be divided into great benevolence, small benevolence and false benevolence! Great benevolence protects the way of heaven and the lives of billions of people; ignoring this point and talking about the strategy of governing the world is all false benevolence!"

The elder's expression suddenly changed...

Lin Su raised his hand lightly: "Elder, please don't discuss the Dao with me at this time. The matter of the Wuxin Great Disaster is also known to the Confucian Master. There is no need for the elder to discuss Confucianism."

There was a deathly silence.

The Confucian master knows what is going on, there is no need for the elders to discuss Confucianism!
This statement was certainly not respectful, but, like everything he did before, it was flawless.

Zhang Weikong's eyes sparkled. "The "Bounty Order" proposed by Lin Changxing is of great importance and is beyond the scope of this palace's decision. This palace will discuss it with the elders, and the results of the discussion will also be submitted to the Three Heavens for the saints to decide. There is no need to argue now."

"Yes!" The top Confucian elder stood up and bowed.

This is a relief for him.

If he is allowed to fight, he may not win. At this moment, it is best not to fight for this.

Lin Su said: "That's great! There is another matter, please don't ignore it..."

Zhang Weikong asked, "What's the matter?"

Lin Su said: "If the bounty order is approved, the hall master should immediately summon Tianxia Pavilion. Together with the Western Expedition, Tianxia Pavilion should immediately follow, conquer a piece of land, build a Confucian temple, and complete the grand strategy of 'conquering and governing' the human race's territory in a nibbling and swallowing manner."

Zhang Weikong nodded gently: "This is inevitable. As long as the Western Expedition plan is approved, the subsequent plan will naturally include the rules for the establishment of the Tianxia Pavilion Confucian Temple."

Lin Su said: "The reason why I specifically mentioned the establishment of the Confucian Temple is because of the painful lessons of the Western Expedition a thousand years ago. The Palace Master and the elders must know that a thousand years ago, the human race had already conquered 80,000 miles of territory and had established 3,000 Confucian Temples. However, the Confucian Temples were destroyed one after another, causing the conquered territory to fall within just a few years. When rebuilding the Confucian Temple this time, you must watch out for a demon eagle!"

"Demon Eagle?" Zhang Weikong raised his eyes.

Lin Su said: "I just went to the outside of Guancheng to visit the spirit tribe. The spirit tribe used secret techniques to leave behind images of ten destroyed Confucian temples. Elders, why not take a look!"

He raised his hand slightly, and there was a leaf in his palm.

Very ordinary leaves.

But suddenly, the leaves gave rise to an unusual image...

An eagle appeared above a Confucian temple. The eagle was filled with demonic energy. With a simple flap of its wings, the Confucian temple was destroyed...

One, two...

Until the tenth seat...

Exactly the same scene.

The faces of the elders all changed: "There is actually a residual image!"

"Yes, when the Confucian Temple was destroyed, the Saint in the Three Heavens also investigated it. However, the images left on the ruins had been erased by the other saint, so it was impossible to trace it. The Spirit Clan... The Spirit Clan could actually trace it?"

Lin Su shook his head: "This is not tracing! The spirits set up a method of exploration in advance, and retrieved it before the other party eliminated the traces. After three thousand times of performing the secret method, only ten secret leaves were retrieved, and we successfully cracked the great secret."

Zhang Weikong said slowly: "This demon... must be of Saint level! A Saint level demon from a thousand years ago should still exist today!"

"That's natural. Therefore, I remind Tianxia Pavilion that when setting up the Confucian Temple, we must guard against the reappearance of this demon."

All the elders nodded.

Ming Tianyan frowned slightly and spoke: "Where did this demon come from? Has the spirit race investigated it?"

This was the first time she spoke today because she was really worried.

This demon destroyed three thousand Confucian temples a thousand years ago. It was obviously a saint-level demon. It was normal for a saint-level demon to live for a thousand years. It would be abnormal if it did not exist. As long as this demon still existed, there would be a huge variable in the construction of a new Confucian temple. Not only would it be difficult to build a Confucian temple, even if it was built, the night watchmen who guarded the temple would all be in great danger.

In this situation, I’m afraid Tianxia Pavilion will really be scared.

If Tianxia Pavilion's doubts about its own life cannot be dispelled, perhaps Tianxia Pavilion has ulterior motives. Tianxia Pavilion is not an ordinary pavilion, it is Chaoran Pavilion. Once it tries every means to sabotage the Western Expedition based on its doubts about its own life, the Western Expedition plan may be in jeopardy from the very beginning.

"According to the analysis of the Eldar, this demon should have come from the Forbidden Jungle, but we don't know what kind of demon it is. However, we can use another method to investigate..."

Zhang Weikong's eyes lit up slightly: "How?"

"Zhou Tian Mirror!"

Ming Tianyan's eyes suddenly lit up: "Can the Zhoutian Mirror see through this layer of energy and capture its true form?"

"This group of demonic energy is just gas, and it cannot be condensed into a vital energy core. The Zhou Tian Mirror cannot capture it. However, there is a record in the "Nine Lands of Heaven and Wasteland" that in the place where the heavenly way is born and destroyed, there is a strange root called the "Phantom Spirit Root" that can gather the energy of the whole world and transform it into a vital energy core. I was just about to ask the hall master, does anyone know where the "Phantom Spirit Root" is in the world?"

Zhang Weikong shook his head slowly: "I am also well-read, but I really don't know this name. What about you?"

An elder on the left shook his head: "I don't know either."

An elder on the right said, "I have also read Lin Changxing's "Nine Lands of the Wasteland" and have seen this record, but I have never heard of the existence of phantom spirit roots in the world."

An elder under him said, "The phantom spirit root is born in the place where the Heavenly Dao is born and dies. Where in the world is the place where the Heavenly Dao is born and dies? Perhaps it is only at the border of the Heavenly Dao, or at the deepest part of the Heartless Sea?"

"It may not be the deepest part of the Heartless Sea. Isn't the alien land outside the heaven itself the place where the heaven is born and dies? It's a pity that the temple still knows too little about the alien land..."

When the elder talked about the "exotic lands beyond the heavens", Ming Tianyan sensitively noticed that Lin Su's eyes lit up.

But the eyes lit up slightly, and the light immediately disappeared.

Lin Su bowed and said, "I came to visit you today just for this matter. Palace Master, please speed up the discussion. Time is running out!"

Zhang Weikong stood up and said, "Lin Changxing cares about the overall situation of the world. This is really admirable. I will immediately summon all the elders to discuss this matter together!"

Lin Su bowed again: "Student, please leave!"

Ming Tianyan also bowed, and the two of them left the meeting hall. After leaving the door of the meeting hall, they took a step into the air...

On Wuyou Mountain, in front of the Clear Water Pond, Lin Su and Ming Tianyan fell from the sky. The branches of a purple camphor tree swayed, and thousands of purple shadows were faintly flowing in the crystal clear water of the pond.

Ming Tianyan made a slight movement of his hand, and the fog in front seemed to be pulled away, and an elegant cave appeared in front of them.

This is the Wuyou Residence where Ming Tianyan has lived for eight hundred years. It is also a cave paradise built by her own hands.

She raised her hand slightly, and the cave was like a curtain that opened layer by layer, revealing a small pavilion inside, as if she was in the wilderness. Outside the pavilion, there were three green bamboos, and inside the pavilion, there was a coffee table.

On the coffee table, there is a lingering aroma of tea, which is the Worry-Free Tea brewed with Worry-Free water.

A cup of tea was handed to Lin Su: "How much do you think today's trip will be successful?"

After they left the Palace Master's Hall, they came directly here without any discussion.

This in itself shows the seriousness of what Ming Tianyan wants to discuss.

Although staying with Lin Su could theoretically isolate him from all detection, Ming Tianyan could only feel at ease in the Worry-Free Residence that he had built with his own hands. This seemed to be a setting in the mind of the temple taboo that had been alone for eight hundred years.

Lin Su flicked his hand lightly, and the curtain outside was filled with holy light.

This seal is another layer of protection.

And it is a relay protection with Ming Tianyan.

It also indirectly confirms Lin Su's prudence.

Lin Su took the teacup and said, "It is impossible for the Temple to fully accept my westward expedition plan at this stage!"

"You also know that it's impossible?"

"Of course!"

Lin Su's overall plan seemed extremely thorough, taking into account both the country's stance and personal interests. If implemented, it would naturally be able to integrate the seven countries and thirteen states, from the royal family to the path of cultivation.

However, this is difficult to accomplish.

Why?

Because this is typical military thinking, the whole country is a soldier, and the seven countries and thirteen states are fully militarized.

Some people may say, in the face of foreign invasion, isn't it right to fully militarize?
should!

However, you need to see the logic behind it...

The seven kingdoms and thirteen states were fully militarized, the temple was fully militarized, and military merit became almost a "universal hard currency" that could be exchanged for gold and silver, cultural treasures, official positions, and even the most sacred quota for Jinshi. What did this mean? It meant that the way of the military was respected!

Can the other provinces agree to this?

How can it be?

but……

Ming Tianyan frowned and said, "You knew that your proposal would never be passed, so why did you put it forward?"

Lin Su gently spun the teacup in his hand. "Because human nature is inherently bad, if I put forward my minimum requirements now, people will still raise objections. But if I make my requirements extremely wild, their psychological bottom line will take a big step back and they will accept my minimum requirements."

"As far as I know, this is indeed the way of gambling, just like asking for a high price and paying it back on the spot in the secular world. However, aren't you afraid that your extremely wild proposal will cause extreme disgust from others, and then they will part ways?"

"No!" Lin Su said, "There are all kinds of negotiations every day in the world. Some negotiations have too high conditions, which will indeed lead to the negotiation breaking up. But this situation will not happen, because in this situation, neither of us has the capital to break up. We must reach a consensus. The difference lies in the bottom line of consensus and whether it is beneficial to the overall situation."

Ming Tianyan nodded in approval: "The Wuxin catastrophe is approaching, and the highest levels of the temple must reach a consensus. Where is your bottom line?"

“I just need them to agree with the Western Expedition and participate in the reconstruction of the Confucian Temple after the war.”

Ming Tianyan said: "Is there really no need for the Temple to send troops, or even issue orders?"

"unnecessary!"

"A bounty order...is even more unnecessary?"

"At least...not at this stage."

Ming Tianyan's heart slightly moved: "You mean... in the future, it will still be needed?"

"I also hope that this day will never come, but unfortunately, there are signs that this day will eventually come!" Lin Su exhaled lightly.

Ming Tianyan's expression gradually darkened: "When the day of the Wuxin catastrophe comes, we really need all the soldiers in the world!"

"Yes, this proposal can be temporarily sealed, but I also hope that through this proposal, I can plant such a concept in the minds of the sages of the temple. Don't think that this proposal is really so wild and unimaginable. One day, it will really require all the soldiers in the world!"

Wuyouju is quiet...

Ming Tianyan slowly cast his gaze towards the green bamboo: "The Wuxin Great Tribulation has only been three years. Compared to my eight hundred years of seclusion, three years seems to be just a short moment. However, when I think about it now, I feel that it was a very distant thing. Isn't it strange?"

"It's not surprising! Your distance is not a concept of time, but a gap in state..."

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Let's not think about the future for now. Let's get back to the topic... Do you expect your minimum request to be approved?"

“They have no reason not to approve it!”

(End of this chapter)