The heavens begin with the Dharma of absorbing power

Xiangyang is an ancient city located on the south bank of the upper reaches of the Han River. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the Chu people established a city here. Since the Western Han Dynasty, it was called Xiangyang and it has continued for thousands of years without changing the place name.

This ancient city was once a key fortress for the southern government to resist enemies from the north. It has been reinforced many times throughout the ages. Especially in the late Southern Song Dynasty, it relied on this place to repulse the Mongolian offensives time and time again. However, in the end it was also Still helpless.

Xiangyang City has high walls and thick walls, the city gate has an archery tower, and the bell and drum towers are facing each other.

On this day, Xu Xin, a group of cronies including Qiao Fu and Liuzhi Li entered Xiangyang City.

Zhu Wu's caravan entered the city, and horse-drawn carriages drove on the street that connected the north and south city gates. At this moment when the lights were on, there were endless archways and pavilions standing across the street, and there were many shops on both sides.

On the long street, there are rows of quaint houses, but they are slightly shabby. There were hardly many people on the street. People walking around had their heads down and the whole city looked very nervous and panicked.

Xu Xin sat in the carriage and watched this scene silently, just sighing in his heart.

Xiangyang during the reign of the Yuan Dynasty was even more miserable than Lin'an Prefecture, which was the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty. Because they were angry that Xiangyang had blocked the Mongolian army many times, after the city was broken, the Yuan army first slaughtered the city for several days, and then used harsh tyranny to destroy this thousand-year-old city.

Because of the high-pressure rule of the Yuan Dynasty in this city, the people here were divided. Today's Xiangyang City is no longer as bustling as it used to be, with pedestrians coming and going in a hurry, and locals trying their best to escape.

In fact, not only Xiangyang was like this, but also the end of the Yuan Dynasty's rule could be said to be chaos in the world. The government was "lenient" to the landowners and nobles, but treated the people harshly and tyrannically. This was also mixed with many issues such as emphasizing the north over the south, the superiority of the Mongols and the Han, and so on.

At that time, the South was the most oppressed area. There were fields but no cultivation, and all the houses were empty. Southerners classified as the fourth class flocked to the North, causing great chaos and strengthening some important towns on the border between the North and the South. Control and inspection.

Xiangyang is such a place. There are orders from above to strictly investigate the fugitives, but the people working below do not forget to take this opportunity to make money in various ways, making the people here more and more miserable.

All this has little to do with Xu Xin now, but there are so many refugees, refugees, and rioters in the city, which is helpful for him to recruit people and cultivate his confidants.

In today's world, there are more and more beggars due to the various blind operations of the imperial court. This is the perfect time for his wretched development.

Xu Xin told Qiao Fu some of the key chambers of commerce branches operating in Xiangyang. After the caravan settled down, they went to the Beggar Gang's stronghold in the northwest of Xiangyang City.

The Beggar Gang does not have a branch in Xiangyang City, and only has some beggars' nests as strongholds. This stronghold in the northwest of the city is relatively clean. Liuzhi Li, who had brought people over to clean up the area early, reported the situation in Xiangyang to Xu Xin.

"Master, there are many beggars and homeless people in Xiangyang City. If we want to develop a separate helm, we can recruit people from among them and select carefully."

"You handle these things first, and report to me later. Tell me first, there are clues about the things and places I sent you to look for before."

Xu Xin has already prepared plans for the separate development of the Beggar Clan and is not in a hurry to start it now. Now he wants to know more about the clues about the spiritual beings of heaven and earth. Before coming to Xiangyang, he sent a message. It is said that there should have been some results.

"Captain, the brothers found some clues about the two places you sent for before. However, there are too many valleys with inscriptions on the cliffs near Xiangyang City, and it is impossible to identify them at the moment."

Xu Xin was not disappointed when he heard what Six Finger Li said. Finding opportunities inherently takes time. As long as there are clues, it's just a matter of waiting.

Six-fingered Li then said: "Master, there is another thing that we learned while searching for news about exotic snakes near Xiangyang. It is said that people from the Huashan Sect are also looking for exotic snakes, and have been doing so for many years. Not limited to Xiangyang.

My subordinates sent people to inquire about this matter and got some information. It seems that people from Huashan are testing such a prescription, making snake medicine or something..."

"Huashan Sect? Medicine Snake? Please pay attention to this matter, I want more detailed information!"

When Xu Xin heard what Liuzhi Li said, he suddenly became interested. It involved Huashan, one of the six major sects, and medicine snakes. He had some vague associations and felt that this matter might be important.

"yes!"

Liuzhi Li bowed his head and said yes. Xu Xin listened to the reports from him and other confidants, and gained a general understanding of the situation in Jingxiang Land, and also had some ideas for the subsequent development.

There is a strict curfew in Xiangyang City late at night, but for some well-connected local forces, the night is a good time to do some shady activities.

In the beggar gang's stronghold in the northwest of Xiangyang City, Liuzhi Li came to the room where Xu Xin was taking a nap and informed him of the latest information.

"Master, I have found out the information from the Huashan Sect. It seems to involve a incomplete prescription from the Song and Jin Dynasties. The original owner of the prescription was named Liang. It seems that he was imprisoned by the Quanzhen Sect..."

"Old monster Liang Ziweng!"

The name Xu Xin suddenly said made Liuzhi Li stunned. He claimed to be a veteran, but he had never heard of a similar name.

"Master, Huashan's prescriptions seem to have been inherited from the Quanzhen Sect, and the prescriptions obtained by the Quanzhen Sect back then were incomplete. Although they have continued to experiment and complete them over the years, they all seem to have failed."

Six Finger Li said again: "It is said that there are all kinds of rare and precious medicines in Shennongjia, which is adjacent to our Xiangyang City. People from Huashan Sect will go there every year to collect medicinal materials and inquire about various exotic snakes. Then the elders of Huashan Sect , it seems that I haven’t left yet this year…”

"Where exactly is their destination!"

When Xu Xin heard this, he already had an idea in his head and was ready to take action immediately.

"Master, they are members of the Huashan Sect..."

"Are you teaching me how to do things?"

Xu Xin's tone suddenly turned cold.

Under the gaze of cold eyes, Six-Finger Li suddenly became excited and said quickly: "Master, I don't dare! That member of the Beggar Gang is in a mountain town south of Shennongjia, and the leader is their alchemy elder... …”

Liuzhi Li hurriedly opened his mouth and told Xu Xin all the information he had found out.

"Brother Li, you are a smart man and you should understand your position. I can give you everything you have now, and I can naturally take it all back. I don't want you to stop being smart!"

Xu Xin left such a warning and then disappeared from this stronghold. He is kind to his own people, but he is not overly indulgent.

Six-fingered Li stayed there until he disappeared for a long time before he walked out of the room. His whole vest was soaked through.