Nu Yalang of Tang Dynasty

Long Yaoli and a group of Yanqi officials went to arrange the collection and storage matters. Zhou Jun was free and planned to go to Yanqi town for a walk, so he invited Feng Changqing to accompany him.

The latter responded and changed into casual clothes.

Bogdaqin City, where the Yanqi garrison is located, is the largest city in the entire Yanqi territory. The facilities and buildings in the city, such as inns, restaurants, mutual markets, etc., are all available.

When Zhou Jun first came to Yanqi, he walked through the streets, but he only took a general look. Later, because of the Yinmen incident, he never went out casually again.

Now, October has begun, which is the busiest time for towns in the Western Regions.

Zhou Jun was walking on the streets of the city, where people were coming and going and it was very lively.

What impressed him most was that, apart from the noisy voices of people and the braying of livestock, the most common sound in Yanqi Town was music.

In addition to these common musical instruments, the people in the Western Regions do not even use musical instruments. They can just clap their hands to create rhythms for singing and dancing.

As a result, wherever there is music, no matter men, women, old or young, people sing, dance and laugh constantly.

After walking a little further and leaving the market, Zhou Jun came to the folk square. Looking around, there were low houses covered with compacted loess and covered with zhe poles. Compared with them, there was a pagoda more than ten meters high.

The Buddhist temple occupying half of the inner courtyard is particularly conspicuous.

Seeing Zhou Jun stop and watch, Feng Changqing explained: "Buddhism is prevalent in Yanqi Town, followed by Zoroastrianism. From the people down to the envoys, more than half are Buddhists."

Zhou Jun glanced at the gate of the Buddhist temple and saw dozens of Yanqi town residents gathered there, kneeling and praying.

Feng Changqing: "That's a Buddhist association."

Zhou Jun: "Association?"

Feng Changqing: "Buddhism in the Western Regions has a saying of "month-by-month fasting days", that is, three long fasts are held in the first month, May and September. During each long fast, Buddhist temples will organize associations. People who participate in the associations must pay a certain amount each time

of millet and wheat as social expenses.”

Zhou Jun: "Do you still have to pay social fees?"

Feng Changqing: "Only members who have paid social fees are eligible to participate in the long fast of the Buddhist temple to pray for blessings. In addition to the long fast, the Buddhist temple will organize funeral mutual aid for the members and also lend money to the members."

Zhou Jun: "How much is the interest on this loan?"

Feng Changqing: "The value of the loan is two out of ten, paid once a month."

Zhou Jun made an calculation in his mind. If the Buddhist temple lent ten cents to the members, the monthly interest would be two cents, and the annual interest would be twenty-four cents. The annualized rate would be 240%.

Monks lend money at usury, and the interest rates are so outrageous that they are even worse than merchants.

Feng Changqing saw Zhou Jun's expression of hesitation and said: "In May of the fifth year of Emperor Xianheng's reign (674), Emperor Gaozong issued an edict to the Spring and Autumn Period. The purpose of praying for farmers was to pray for farmers. If I heard that other than this, I would not establish the title of sect.

The various communities in Yiyi gather people from far away, and there are no gatherings. They pass ropes to each other, and there are solicitations... From now on, it is appropriate to strictly prohibit lawsuits."

Zhou Jun read this passage in "Cefu Yuangui", and the general idea is that folk associations, if they are just for praying for farmers, then it is normal behavior. If people gather for other reasons, then the government should ban such associations

.

Feng Changqing smiled bitterly and said: "The Anxi Protectorate has appealed to the Buddhist temple several times to stop forming associations and recruiting members, but the other party said it was okay, but in the end they just obeyed and violated it.

Zhou Jun looked at the Buddhist temple and said softly: "Five years ago, Tuyuhun surrendered his troops and moved to Hexi. Just three years later, he colluded with Tubo and rebelled against the Tang Dynasty. Does Chang Qing know the inside story?"

Feng Changqing: "I have heard some rumors that Tubo sent secret envoys to Tuyuhun to plan a rebellion?"

Zhou Jun: "Yes, those secret envoys are a group of Buddhist monks sent by Tubo."

Feng Changqing was stunned on the spot.

After walking a little further, Zhou Jun found a restaurant and walked in.

The store owner was a Uighur. When he saw Zhou Jun and Feng Changqing walking in the door, he quickly greeted them with a smile.

He walked past Feng Changqing, came straight to Zhou Jun, and asked, "What would you like to eat, sir?"

Zhou Jun: "Bring a plate of roasted sheep and some millet porridge. If you have good Pu wine, bring it too."

Seeing Zhou Jun's extraordinary bearing, the store owner knew that a noble person was coming, so he didn't dare to neglect and responded quickly.

Zhou Jun and Feng Changqing came to a corner of the restaurant and sat down.

The store brought serving plates and wine utensils. Zhou Jun was a little surprised when he saw the utensils.

There was no other reason. It turned out that the utensils provided by the store to him and Feng Changqing were actually different, one was superior and the other was inferior, and the grades were different.

Zhou Jun shook his head and said to the store owner: "Give us the same utensils."

The shopkeeper was surprised. He first looked at Zhou Jun, then at Feng Changqing, and then asked carefully: "Aren't you two masters and servants?"

Zhou Jun: "The person in front of you is the judge of the Anxi Protectorate."

The store owner was so shocked that he couldn't stand, his face turned red, and he apologized profusely.

Feng Changqing waved his hand and told the store owner to prepare the food as soon as possible.

After the store owner walked away, Feng Changqing looked at Zhou Jun and said with a wry smile: "I'm used to it."

Feng Changqing was thin, had eye problems, and had short and lame legs. If he didn't wear official robes, he would easily be looked down upon when he went out.

Zhou Jun could understand his situation, but he just said: "People in the world often judge people by their appearance and generalize. As everyone knows, Chang Qing has many talents and talents, and that's why he was appreciated by Gao Duhu and entrusted with important tasks."

Feng Changqing: "A certain person came from a humble background and had no background. It was just luck that led to his current status."

Seeing the slump on Feng Changqing's face, Zhou Jun recited casually: "Since I was a child, I have been thorny in the deep grass, but now I am gradually aware of the basil. At that time, people did not know the Lingyun tree, and they waited until Lingyun began to rise."

Feng Changqing paused and repeated in a low voice, "What a good poem, does it have a name?"

Zhou Jun: "The name of the poem is 'Little Pine'. I didn't write it. I just thought it meant harmony with you."

Feng Changqing took a long breath: "For nine cold days, thousands of trees have withered, and the pines stand proudly in the clouds. This is a lonely hero, and I cannot bear this metaphor."

This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Others may not know it, but Zhou Jun has read Feng Changqing’s life in history books and said: “A certain person who has the ability to know people knows Chang Qing well.

There is no need to be humble about your character.”

Feng Changqing sighed: "Chang Qing was born with a disability and was ridiculed by others for half his life. There are only three people who don't mind it. One of them is my grandfather, who taught me my studies and taught me how to behave; the second one is Gao Duhu

, he pushed against all opinions and promoted me to be a judge, and every time he went out, he would appoint me in the palace; thirdly, he was Zhou Erlang..."

At this moment, the shopkeeper brought the sheep roast, porridge cakes and wine. Zhou Jun smiled and said to Feng Changqing: "If the pearl is covered with dust, there will always be a day when the wind blows and the sand recedes; when the haze covers the sky, there will always be a day when the clouds lift up and the sun shines."

At that time, Chang Qing was already a great person, so why bother worrying about what others said. I hereby assert that one day, sooner or later, he will be famous all over the world!"

Feng Changqing's face turned red, he picked up the wine glass and paid respect to Zhou Jun: "Chang Qing is grateful for what you said. From today on, Zhou Lang will be Feng's confidant!"

Zhou Jun also raised his wine glass and drank the wine in one gulp with the other party.

The two looked at each other and laughed.

That night, Zhou Jun returned to Fei's house feeling a little drunk.

Above the nave, Hua Yue was discussing important matters with several high-level officials from Hidden Sect while looking at the map on the table.

Seeing Zhou Jun return, Hua Yue took out the sobering tea that had been prepared.

After taking two sips, Zhou Jun wiped his face with a wet cloth and then asked: "We are all gathered here, but what happened?"

Hua Yue: "Qing Yanzi has made a move."

Hearing this, Zhou Jun didn't react at first, but after thinking about it carefully, he asked: "But knowing that Shi Zucai still has the place where his men hide the red rewards?

Hua Yue nodded: "The treasure trove is located in the Baishan Mountain in the north of Qiuci. According to Qing Yanzi's confession, the treasure Shi Zucai saved over the years, if converted into money and silk, would be almost a million pieces."

Zhou Jun was a little surprised: "So many?"

Fei Weng, who was standing next to the map, said: "In order to avoid long nights and many dreams, we plan to set out tomorrow morning to find Shi Zucai's treasure cache and then transport all the treasures back."

When Hua Yue heard this, he hesitated.

When Zhou Jun saw this, he naturally understood what she was thinking, and said to Hua Yue: "As the master of the Hidden Sect, you should naturally lead the team there."

Huayue: "But...?"

Zhou Jun: "Shi Zucai and his men were captured in one fell swoop in the Dragon Cave. You take Long Qi and the Dragon Guards with you and follow Fei Weng and the others. As for me, the Tang soldiers under Sun Aying's command, Yan Qi

The guards in the town and the Anxi army brought by the magistrate are all my help, who dares to attack me?"

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