"Dong dong dong!"

On the seventh day of October, it is already late autumn. Although it has not yet reached the winter solstice, the sun above our head looks like a middle-aged man over forty years old - strong on the outside but dry on the inside!

However, under this sun that looked almost like a decoration, dozens of believers in coarse cloth knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly. On this morning on the verge of early winter, sweat couldn't help but form on their foreheads and back of their heads, sliding down their skin, dripping to the ground, or flowing down their pores and skin towards the ravines.

eyes, nose, chin

The itching sensation of sweat running through the hair, and the stinging sensation of salt sinking deep into the eyes were both mind-blowing.

But no one dared to reach out and wipe it.

Even the child with two braids that towered over the sky and looked out of place huddled in the arms of his parents. While reaching out to grasp the lapels of his parents' clothes, he cautiously poked his head out and looked at the statue of the god in the main hall of the temple.

The normally kind-hearted statue with a smile on its face was now swinging its two black jade-carved eyes, constantly looking around, with half curiosity and half scrutiny on its face.

The red robe that was draped around the body, covering almost the entire body of the statue, was emitting a faint light. However, the layer of light covering the surface of the statue illuminated the entire hall with incandescence. It was so bright that it was a pity that the children could not continue to look up. , as if they noticed something, the farmer parents decisively stretched out their hands to press the child's head into their arms, and then kowtowed a little more sincerely.

His head hit the compacted earth, making a dull thud.

It is not uncommon for dozens of people to lie down on the ground and kowtow in unison to pray for forgiveness from the gods. Moreover, this is the early Song Dynasty, so it is not surprising.

Not to mention the legitimacy of the Song legal system.

Since the people of Kyushu were awakened from the dream of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, in just sixty or seventy years, five successive dynasties appeared in the Central Plains, and looking at the entire Kyushu, more than a dozen separatist regimes emerged during this period.

The chaos involving the entire Kyushu, the war continues, and the people are in dire straits. But for those ghosts, ghosts and snake gods, such a chaotic world is exactly the most suitable breeding ground for their emergence and growth.

Various folk teachings and folk beliefs are cultivated here and spread in the countryside.

Good harvests, rain, snow, frost, marriage, children, and prosperous official career. All kinds of gods and spirits are beyond your imagination. Without these folk beliefs, it would not be possible.

Of course, this is what those believers and Taoist priests preach. As for whether it can really be done, it doesn't matter, as long as it can earn incense and faith, not to mention that even the so-called righteous gods rarely respond to requests. Does existence require a folk belief to respond to requests?

Of course, pure pretense and deception are okay at the beginning. No matter how ignorant the villagers are, the secret will be revealed as time goes by. However, most of the powerful folk beliefs will not let things happen to that point, even if there is no corresponding response. authority, they also have solutions.

If you want to be promoted, it's easy, just go to the county to spend some money and get yourself a scholar or a minor official.

For those who want to make a fortune, there is a lot of forgotten gold and silver hidden underground, and even worse, there are so many ancient tombs.

As for having children, it’s even easier. Your seeds are not good, but the seeds here are fine. What I mean is that if you leave your wife in the temple, bathe and fast for seven days, then go home and do some exercise, she will naturally bear abundant fruits. .

Of course, after the master has helped so much and put in so much effort, it is appropriate for him to give more offerings when he repays his wishes afterwards, right?

In folk beliefs, most of them are transformed from cow ghosts and snake gods. There are only a few who can change their nature and control themselves, not to mention that most of them come with the idea of ​​​​enjoyment, and their merits are not included in the list. Under consideration.

To fulfill their wishes and resolve the cause and effect is not as easy as imagined. Unlike Zhengshen, a little fruit and three pillars of fragrance can be easily dissipated. Unless it is a truly wealthy family or a major event in a village or town, high-quality sacrifices such as three animals will be used.

When worshiping these folk gods, the three animals are the basis, and gold and silver are not too easy to hand. It would be better if there were some other fresh food to eat. After a short period of dreaming, more families were broken up, or people were kept in captivity. When he got up, he would perform incisions and bleed out from time to time.

Of course, the monsters wandering around the countryside and the newly emerging folk beliefs are only a small matter. Some powerful ones will even directly target the temples that enshrine the righteous gods and try to occupy the magpie's nest.

With this kind of existence, even the mountain gods and the land have to obey the orders, and the local disciples of the three religions have to pretend to be deaf and dumb to the existence of the other party.

Unless the god in question reacts, there is basically no way to correct it. You can only leave it to fate. If it is a good-natured person, it will be okay, but if it is a vicious thing, then you can only ask for blessings.

After all, not to mention that it is hard to leave the homeland, even if you escape from your hometown, there is no good place outside. Either the war is raging or bandits are rampant. Even if you escape the man-made disasters and there are monsters and monsters, it is better to stay at home than to die unexpectedly. After all, there are so many people, so it’s not unlucky that one’s turn will come first, right?

As for what use the government gentlemen can be used for, it is fanciful to expect them to help. If you don't drag you to the temple to collect the number of people as sacrifices, you will be lucky.

In the temple in front of you, the mighty Holy Blessing King is enshrined. Although he appeared in the prosperous Tang Dynasty of the previous dynasty, he was a righteous god who entered the roster of heaven.

But who can guarantee that the one standing in the statue in front of him is the Soul-Blessing King himself, and not some other spirit?

And no one had ever thought that King Youling, who had been worshiped for decades and had no response, would still come back to life.

No matter what, in short, just kowtow!

The Li people are not surprised. No matter what is in the statue, they should escape this time. Unless they have no choice in the future, they will never come to this ruined temple again!

Compared with the ordinary believers who suffered Wuwu's disaster, the servants blocking the door were really scared to the point of trembling. It's not that they didn't want to do something more exciting, but they might not die if they don't do it. They will definitely do it, and Still the kind that will never be peaceful even if you die!

Thinking in his mind, he shuddered, and immediately clamped his lower limbs to hold back the water that had rushed to the door.

As for the two scholars kneeling on the futons in the hall, although they were not as scared as the ordinary believers and the slaves outside the door, they could only kowtow in their minds, but they did not dare to do anything when they felt the substantive gaze above their heads. Too many actions, I can only curse in my heart over and over again, what on earth is the damn Temple Zhu busy with, and why doesn't he come back?

Zhang Ke could no longer hear the expectations of these people in the temple.

He simply scanned his surroundings, and after knowing where he started, he lost the ability to move.

Sure enough, everything else can be changed every time you play Kyushu dungeon, but although the opening CG screen will be delayed, it will definitely arrive!

After his body was restrained, Zhang Ke was pulled out of the statue, flew out of the Youling King Temple, and came to high altitude, wandering around this not prosperous and even somewhat shabby county town. Circle, after witnessing the human fireworks of the early Song Dynasty, he galloped straight towards the county government office.

At the same time, the sun above the head, which was approaching the midpoint, was rapidly sinking toward the east, and its color gradually changed from fiery red to orange.

Until early in the morning, when the sun was rising, Zhang Ke, who appeared above the county government office, watched several figures enter the main entrance of the county government office accompanied by the government servants, and then walked to a side room under the leadership of the clerk. .

"Prince Qinggao, you are here!"

Before he finished speaking, the door was pushed open from the inside, and a figure walked out with a flattering smile on his face: "Your Excellency, the county magistrate has been waiting for you for a long time, please come in!"

"Um!"

The so-called noble Taoist let out a muffled groan without even turning a single extra glance. Without squinting, he walked directly into the side room with his hands behind his back.

Regarding the Taoist's arrogant posture, the man had no unnecessary expression on his face. He just waved his hand to dismiss the government servants who were leading the way, then turned back to the side room, squatted in the center of the room, and fiddled with the tea stove that had just been lit.

In front of him, the Taoist priest and the county magistrate sat on the left and right sides.

The former was wearing a very shabby, patched Taoist robe, which was incompatible with the low-key and luxurious decoration in the room, but the other party didn't care, and even looked a little carefree.

And if the latter was not in the county government and had a servant on the ground to correct his name, at a glance he would have thought he was a rich man from somewhere. Not only was he wearing a silk coat, but he also exuded a delicate fragrance.

However, compared to the Taoist who looked carefree and didn't regard himself as an outsider, the county magistrate's expression was very solemn. After the Taoist sat down, he couldn't wait to speak: "Taoist, the decree of the new emperor's enthronement was circulated to all states some time ago. county."

"Since the collapse of the former prosperous Tang Dynasty, military disasters have continued all over the world, with countless casualties. Demons and monsters have become prevalent in the disasters. There are also wizards and men, and rebels and thieves have used the names of ghosts and gods to deceive, kidnap, and harm the people. Officials The family is deeply heartbroken.”

"Now that the world has been settled, the official issued an order to order the state and county officials, soldiers, and monks and Taoists to work together to clear the local evil gods' temples, slaughter the evil spirits and treacherous monsters, put down the rebels and bandits, restore people's livelihood, and let the people live and work in peace and contentment!"

"I alone can make the decision between the officers and soldiers, but the Buddhist and Taoist families in the city need your support, Taoist priest. Taoist priest? Taoist priest?"

Sitting on a chair made of solid wood, he picked up the still hot tea cup and took a sip without worrying about burning his mouth. He slowly swallowed the tea, smacked his lips, and then raised his hand again.

One bite, and another.

Seeing that this guy was still drinking, the county magistrate sitting opposite looked calm, but he couldn't get angry.

The new emperor touched his lips and wrote such an imperial edict. He was happy, but he didn't care about the life and death of the counties below him. Prefectures and counties that are prosperous or adjacent to famous mountains and rivers, or backed by a Buddhist or Taoist mountain gate are fine.

There is no need to keep a low profile. When the news comes, Taoists and monks will naturally come to help slay the demons.

The late emperor died suddenly, and the founding monarch failed to complete his mission. Although this is unlucky, the official who is now on the throne is a little bit behind the law as the brother of the late emperor, but he is not stupid. The Song Dynasty Unifying the Central Plains and regaining our homeland is not an empty talk.

In the face of the rising national destiny of the Song Dynasty, as long as you are not stupid, you know what to choose. Even if you are not prepared to enter the market and become a national advisor, it is not a bad thing to have good relations with the current court.

It's just cutting down mountains and destroying temples, slaying demons and slaying demons. This is their old profession. Now that they meet the imperial edict and there are benefits, why not do it.

What's more, there's a cow-nosed/bald donkey watching eagerly.

However, the county seat where the county magistrate is located is not surrounded by famous mountains and rivers, and there are no temples in the county that are too popular. Because it is adjacent to the Khitan border, there are no monks stationed there.

In the entire county, except for those folk magicians who have learned the Three-Legged Cat Kung Fu twice, the only ones who can be put to use are the Taoist Taoist and his disciples in front of him.

It is worth mentioning that in the county, apart from the land, the only temple dedicated to the "righteous god" is the Youlingwang Temple where Taoist Qinggao lives.

Although the cunning old Taoist priest in front of him would not do anything stupid to disobey the imperial edict, the power of the entire county was in the hands of one person, so the county magistrate could not take any tough stance.

After chatting with Taoist Qinggao for a while and drinking three bowls of tea until his stomach became bulging, the magistrate's endurance reached the limit.

It was at this time that the Taoist said in a leisurely tone:

"It's not that the old man doesn't speak up. Can you, Lord County Master, be clear about the situation here? Because it is adjacent to the border between the Song Dynasty and the Khitan, it is often affected by wars. The entire county, including servants, is barely over 10,000 people sparsely populated. Since he is poor and dangerous, no one can take notice of him."

"There is no temple for evil gods, and there are no rebels. There are quite a lot of monsters and monsters, but what can you do with just a few disciples and the Taoist priests? Clear away the monsters? Don't slip up and become a piece of fat that comes to your door. "

"Then we can't do nothing. When the imperial envoy comes down, he will accomplish nothing and can't produce results. Then won't he lose this black gauze hat for nothing?" Seeing Qing Gao speak, the county magistrate breathed a sigh of relief, but the other party's But his words made him very uncomfortable: "I fell into the water, and you can't even think about it!"

"You masters and disciples have not yet settled the accounts with you for stealing incense from the gods and raising evil things. If I report it to you, even if the court does not pursue the case, the major branches of the Taoist sect will have to send people to eradicate it."

"Your Excellency, please be careful, the old Taoist does not raise any evil things. Those are Taoist soldiers and horses, regular spiritual generals!"

Before the county magistrate could finish speaking, the noble old man with a suddenly changed expression immediately interrupted the other party's words and said eagerly:

"Besides, can it be called stealing when it comes to Taoist priests? It's borrowing, it's borrowing! Mr. Youling Wang doesn't come here all the year round. The poor Taoist just borrowed some incense money to keep the statue in order to prevent evil spirits from stealing it. Defend the enemy with soldiers and horses!”

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