Pawn Crossing the River

S The hall where business is discussed is very large. The place where Qi Xuansu sits and rests against the wall is quite far away from the long table where business is discussed. It is not big enough to accommodate numerous firearm samples, ship models and a Kunqu opera troupe - this is of course the masterpiece of Xie Jiaofeng, who is used to doing these things. There are firearms on one side and musical instruments on the other, so he can do it. But I have to admit, the effect is pretty good.

At this moment, Chen Shuwen and the Western representatives stood up and walked towards Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu also stood up. Without Qi Xuansu's instructions, Chen Jianchou stopped reporting on Zhang Yuelu.

"This time they asked for a total of eight armored ships worth more than 300,000 yuan, as well as four troop ships and six cargo ships." Chen Shuwen said with a smile on his face, "This is a total of nine hundred and ten thousand" Ten thousand Taiping money!”

They are all units of weight, and thirty kilograms is equal to one. The so-called heavy burden.

Westerners are not Nanyang people. Of course they have the technology to build ironclads, but it takes time to build ironclads. Now that the war is urgent, there is no time to slowly build ironclads to fill the vacancies. Even if they can be built, they can sail from their homeland to West Borneo. It also takes time.

The military situation was raging and the war situation waited for no one, so they had no choice but to buy ironclad ships from Daomen nearby. Daomen happened to have some second-hand ironclad ships, so they refurbished them and sold them directly to Westerners at the price of new ships. It was like Daomen completed the fleet renewal without spending a penny, which was a huge advantage.

Xie Jiaofeng also smiled, revealing his excitement.

With this deal done, most of this year's tasks have been completed. Not only is Chief Qi's trip to Yujing settled, but his promotion to the second-grade Taiyi Taoist priest is also on the horizon.

In the end, it all depends on performance, and this is performance.

For Qi Xuansu to reach his current position, it is inevitable to be calm in the face of important events. Whether he heard the bad news about Chen Jianchou before or the good news about Chen Shuwen now, Qi Xuansu didn't have much expression on his face. Calm.

He nodded slightly: "Very good, let's have someone draft the contract. Send a few representatives to the Taiping Inn to rest first. Once the contract is ready, we can sign the contract immediately."

Xie Jiaofeng immediately smiled at the Western representatives and said: "The business is over, you might as well relax for a while. The Lion City is a good place, and this team was specially invited from Lingnan. Let's listen to music and watch the theater. Anyway, let's fight It can’t be finished in one day. By the way, there will be a dinner later. According to your standards, there will be a seven-course meal, as well as three types of wine and brandy.”

Several Westerners also had smiles on their faces.

Xie Jiaofeng clapped his hands.

Immediately, several Taoist priests came over and led the Western representatives out.

Qi Xuansu said: "After the appointment letter is ready, give it to Yu Zheng and bring it to me. After I see that there are no problems, I can use the seal."

Chen Shuwen nodded and immediately arranged for someone to draft the contract based on the specific conditions just discussed.

Qi Xuansu said to Xie Jiaofeng again: "I will not attend the dinner. You can entertain the guests for me."

"Yes." Xie Jiaofeng responded quickly.

In ancient times, there was an allusion of "roosters crowing and dogs stealing", which shows that everyone has his place. Although Xie Jiaofeng did not dare to take responsibility and was very naughty, he was very useful in terms of welcoming people and sending them off.

Qi Xuansu walked out, followed by Chen Jianchou and Han Yongfeng.

"The master in charge has repeatedly emphasized in the discussion that we should pay attention to distinguishing and screening suspicious elements among the refugees. In this regard, your Beichen Hall branch has a heavy responsibility. Don't be careless." Qi Xuansu said.

Han Yongfeng responded: "Yes."

Qi Xuansu finally asked: "As for Zhang Cixi coming to Borneo, have you contacted Ke Qingqing?"

"The docking is complete." Chen Jianchou replied, "Zhang Cixi's flying boat has already set off from Lingnan."

Qi Xuansu nodded: "You and Xiao Yin will greet you on my behalf."

Chen Jianchou also followed the order and left.

In the evening, Zhang Yuelu arrived.

Zhang Yuelu came to Borneo this time, of course, not to visit Qi Xuansu. The two of them had special status and could not visit each other like normal Taoist couples, so Zhang Yuelu came here with a special purpose.

Xiao Yin and Chen Jianchou came to greet Zhang Yuelu.

Xiao Yin was not happy to come. She originally wanted to escape from Lion City and go back to Shenglong Mansion. After all, Zhang Yuelu would check her homework when she came. However, Qi Xuansu told Xiao Yin that evading the inspection would directly result in failure, and she could not pass the exam. He couldn't hide from Fifteen, so Xiao Yin had no choice but to come obediently.

However, Zhang Yuelu really didn't bother to check Xiao Yin's homework this time. Not long ago, she went back to the Da Zhenren Mansion in Yunjin Mountain and met the Celestial Master. This meeting with the Heavenly Master was the result of discussions between Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu, and they asked the Heavenly Master for help. The Heavenly Master did not disappoint the two of them, and gave Zhang Yuelu something to pass to Qi Xuansu.

This is the fundamental purpose of Zhang Yuelu's visit this time.

Chen Jianchou arranged for Zhang Yuelu to go to Tianfu Palace. Qi Xuansu was at the Nanting Protectorate at this time, discussing the handover of the armored ship. Hu Fuli from Taiping Bank Nanyang was also here, and the account was to be taken from them.

By the time Chen Shuwen had drafted the contract and Qi Xuansu had read it and found no problems, it was already very late to sign and seal it on behalf of the Borneo Taoist Government.

Qi Xuansu did not go to the dinner, but went directly back to Tianfu Palace and met Zhang Yuelu.

The last time the two met was a year ago, and they usually communicate through business.

Zhang Yuelu was still the same as before. He took off his lotus crown and let his hair down, looking very casual in front of Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuan Suping retreated the others, including Xiao Yin, and after only two people were left, he activated various isolation formations, and then asked: "What did the Heavenly Master say?"

Zhang Yuelu said: "The Heavenly Master neither agrees nor objects. If you insist on going, then he can provide help."

"So, is this thing done?" Qi Xuansu's face finally showed a bit of joy.

Zhang Yuelu nodded: "The Heavenly Master asked me to transfer this thing to you."

After saying that, Zhang Yuelu took out an object from the Xumi objects and placed it in front of Qi Xuansu.

This is a light.

I saw that this lamp was made of glass and was crystal clear. A bit of light was like a bean, but it showed seven colors of light, and the colors gradually changed in a cycle.

Although it was the first time for Qi Xuansu to see this lamp, he had seen two other similar lamps before, so he immediately guessed the origin of this lamp: "This is...'Guizang Lamp'?"

Zhang Yuelu nodded and said: "Exactly."

There are three lights in the Taoist Gate: "Eight Views Lamp", "Guizang Lamp" and "Tongyou Lamp". The three lamps are all fairy objects, each with its own magical function.

In the hands of Master Lan Da, the "Tongyou Lantern" is pitch black and extremely dark. It can briefly summon the projections of the dead, including those fallen immortals, from the netherworld. The higher the level of cultivation of the person holding the lamp, the longer the projection can exist. Therefore, this lamp is accordingly called a "ground lamp".

The "Eight Views Lantern" is in the hands of Zhang Dazhen. It looks like an ordinary palace lantern with eight sides in total and tassels on the eight corners. A bit of purple fire in the palace lantern can illuminate the entire palace, and can also illuminate eight lamp surfaces. Each lamp surface has a vague figure, which moves with the light and shadow, and is lifelike. The "Eight Views Lamp" can record the eight kinds of magical powers of immortals other than the person holding the lantern, borrowing the power of everyone and the power of others. Therefore, this lantern corresponds to people and is called the "human lantern".

These two great masters are both great masters of Pingzhang, and they are both great masters of the government, sitting in one side.

Only the "Guizang Lamp", known as the "Sky Lantern", is not in the hands of Pingzhang Dazhenren or the Zhangfu Dazhenren, but in the hands of Tianshi, one of the three masters. Because the "Guicang Lantern" cannot be used to fight against others, and Pingzhang Dazen, who is in charge of one side, has no choice but to take action himself, this is somewhat inappropriate.

The word "Gui Zang" in "Gui Zang Deng" comes from "Gui Zang", one of the "Three Yis". The three Yis of Taibu Zhang are called Lianshan, the second is Gui Zang, and the third is Zhou Yi. Its hexagrams are all eight, and its divisions are all sixty and four. Therefore, the "Guizang Lamp" can illuminate the future.

Since ancient times, the will of heaven has been difficult to understand, so this lantern corresponds to the sky and is called a "sky lantern".

Qi Xuansu first learned about the "Gui Zang Lamp" through Zhang Yuelu's mouth. It is said that the Celestial Master glimpsed a corner of the future through this lamp, which was what happened after the end of the Dharma. The imperial crown fell to the ground, and the king's dream was shattered. They went on and on, staining the mountains and rivers with blood. The world is shattered and everything is new.

Qi Xuansu couldn't help but ask: "Why did the Heavenly Master give me the 'Guicang Lamp'? I only know that the 'Guicang Lamp' can predict the future, but what I want to explore is the past. Could it be that the 'Guicang Lamp' can predict the future?" Five hundred years, five hundred years later? If this is the case, it seems that the Heavenly Master does not need to give me the 'Gui Zang Lamp' and just tell me the result."

Zhang Yuelu did not answer directly: "You should know that immortals are not the same as immortals. Some immortals only have one function, but they take this function to the extreme, such as the Imperial Master's 'Knocking on the Heaven Gate', while some immortals It has many functions. According to Tianshi, the 'Gui Zang Lamp' belongs to the latter, and predicting the future is only one of its most well-known functions."

Qi Xuansu became interested: "Then what other magical properties does it have?"

Zhang Yuelu said: "I haven't used it before, so I can only paraphrase the words of the Heavenly Master. You want to enter the Lingshan Cave, but you are worried that the interior of the Lingshan Cave is dangerous and unpredictable, and you may get trapped in it, or you may not be able to leave the Cave in a short time. In order to prevent this In this case, you can use this 'return lamp' as an anchor."

"Anchor?" Qi Xuansu repeated softly.

When the ship is anchored, the anchor should be lowered to stabilize the ship and prevent it from drifting with the current.

Zhang Yuelu explained: "The Heavenly Master said that using this 'Return to Hidden Lamp', firstly, it can have a wonderful effect of one day in the sky and one year on the earth. You don't have to worry about being noticed by others after disappearing for too long. The second thing is After the set time, the 'Returning Light' can work and force you back. ”

Qi Xuansu was a little shocked: "This is too powerful. With my current level of cultivation, can I control this fairy object?"

"Of course not." Zhang Yuelu said, "But the Heavenly Master has helped you turn on the 'Return to Hidden Lamp'. You can use it directly, but you only have one chance."