Taiping Inn

Yuanjue was startled at first, then met Li Xuandu's gaze. His lips moved slightly, but he didn't dare to speak to explain in the end, so he had to withdraw unwillingly.

Li Xuandu looked around again, and no one spoke again.

Zhang Jingxiu had already paid too much. At this time, Li Xuandu had to share some of the burden for him and be the bad guy for him, otherwise everything would be on Zhang Jingxiu alone, and even an immortal would not be able to bear it.

Zhang Jingxiu glanced at Li Xuandu, with both admiration and gratitude. At this moment, he suddenly thought that there was a reason why Li Xuandu could be appreciated and valued by Li Daoxu, Zhang Suqing, and Xu Wugui. Of course, his name, Zhang Jingxiu, should be added to this list. Of course, appreciation is one thing, and different positions are another.

Zhang Jingxiu spoke again: "Do you have any questions or objections?"

Zuo Yuhan said softly: "Zuo has no objection, but I have a question, who are the three masters?"

Li Xuandu answered on his behalf: "Of course, it is the Great Heavenly Master, the Great Sword Immortal and the 'Heavenly Sword' Qin Sect Master of Liaodong."

Zuo Yuhan was silent for a moment, nodded and said: "I understand."

Just then, someone came in quickly and whispered a few words to Su Rang. Su Rang nodded, waved his hand to let him leave, and then said to Zhang Jingxiu and Li Xuandu: "There is news outside that the people are about to cross the river. I am here, please move on for a while. "

Zhang Jingxiu said: "The last time I came to this Da Baoen Temple was 20 years ago. Now I am back to visit the old place, so it is a good time to walk around. Zifu, how about you accompany me to walk around?"

Everyone knew that Zhang Jingxiu wanted to take the opportunity to have a private conversation with Li Xuandu, so naturally they would not join in the fun. Wuzhen said: "Okay, we will meet here again at Shen time."

After that, the leaders dispersed. This Da Baoen Temple is a good place to enjoy the scenery. There are also Jinling Mansion gentry headed by the Qian and Su families to accompany them, so there is no need to worry about having nothing to do during this period.

Qin Su hesitated and looked at Li Xuandu, not knowing whether to stay. At this time, Bai Xiushang said, "Susu, this is your first time to the Great Baoen Temple, right? I am a frequent visitor here, almost every year. This time, I will accompany you to walk around and see the scenery in the Great Baoen Temple, how about it?"

Li Xuandu nodded to Qin Su, and Qin Su said softly, "Then I'll have to trouble Master Bai."

Master Bai chuckled and said, "Still call me Master Bai? I am your elder, and I can always bear the word 'aunt', right?"

Qin Su blushed slightly, not knowing whether it was shyness or some other reason, and said softly, "Aunt Bai."

Bai Xiushang took the initiative to step forward, hold her hand, and pull her out the door.

Qin Su looked back at Li Xuandu again, and she looked like a poor woman sold to a human trafficker by her cruel husband, which made Li Xuandu couldn't help laughing.

When only Li Xuandu and Zhang Jingxiu were left, Zhang Jingxiu led Li Xuandu out of the side door of the main hall and headed towards the Perfume River.

This was not the first time Li Xuandu came here, but he had only been there for a quick visit before. This was the first time he walked through it.

Zhang Jingxiu glanced at the sparkling Perfume River and said, "Some things are hard to say in front of others, but in front of Zifu, I will speak frankly."

Li Xuandu nodded.

Zhang Jingxiu said: "After the battle at Beimang Mountain last year, I met with Tan Taiyun and discussed some things."

Li Xuandu's heart moved slightly, but his face did not show it, "Grand Master, please speak."

Zhang Jingxiu considered his words and said: "You should know that it is not advisable to make too many enemies. We have reorganized the Taoist sect and unified it, which has made the Confucian sect very unhappy. If there is no leader in the Confucian sect now, I am afraid that the Confucian sect has already taken action, just like the heart-learning saint suppressed the rebellion of Prince Ning, and you and I will not be spared. Now is a God-given opportunity, and the hope of integrating the Taoist sect is in the past. At this time, we must distinguish the primary and the secondary."

Li Xuandu said: "May I ask the Grand Master, what is the primary and what is the secondary?"

"With Zifu's talent, you should have understood it long ago. But since Zifu asked me to say it myself, I will say it again." Zhang Jingxiu looked at Li Xuandu glanced at him, "The 'main' is the unification of Taoism, and the main opponent is Confucianism. The 'secondary' is the distinction between good and evil, and the division of the world. The rise and fall are temporary, but the Taoist tradition has been passed down for thousands of years. Now, for the unification of Taoism, the previous distinction between good and evil can be put aside for the time being."

Li Xuandu sighed, "The seven extremely evil sects listed by the Great Heavenly Master just now should be wiped out, which is also a polite remark."

Zhang Jingxiu also sighed, "Some things, even if everyone knows it, can't be said, can only be hidden in the heart, this is called tacit understanding. If you put it into words and give people a reason to talk, you will be convicted for your words. This truth, Zifu should understand."

Li Xuandu certainly understood this truth, but he was a little disappointed. He was silent for a moment, slightly adjusted his mood, and then asked: "I wonder what the Great Heavenly Master and the Saint King have agreed on?"

Zhang Jingxiu said: "The northwest sects led by Wudao Sect are deeply rooted and have strong strength. If they want to completely wipe out them, I don't know how many people will die. If the three families join forces, who will fight with the northwest Taoist Sect head-on? If they lose in the battle in the northwest Too heavy, the voice in the Taoist sect will be weak in the future, and there is even a danger of being annexed by the other two families. Therefore, if we really fight, it is almost inevitable that each will preserve its strength. This is just one monk carrying water and two monks If you eat water, the three monks will not eat water. Before a great master appears, they will not be able to completely wipe out the sects of the northwest. "

Li Xuan knew that Zhang Jingxiu was talking about the truth, but he was still helpless and said, "So the great master and the saint are secretly discussing peace. On the surface, they are still incompatible, but in fact they are in peace. We integrate the Taoist sect, and the saint lord. Fighting for the grassland."

Zhang Jingxiu said: "The things in this world are not about what you want. It is easy to say that the seven sects are wiped out. Just touch your upper and lower lips. But if you really want to do it, you don't know how long it takes and how much effort it takes. A generation of people There is a generation of people's responsibility. Our generation is the nominal unification of Taoism. As for how to select a great master, how to recover the northwest sects, and make the Taoism essentially unified, that is you We have not done anything about generations, and I hope your generation can do it."

Li Xuan nodded silently.

Zhang Jingxiu continued, "Of course people have to look at the long term, but the important thing is the present. If you can't get through the present, there will be no future. Without future, what's the use of seeing farther away?"

Li Xuandu asked again, "But the great master has already said the words, so we can't do nothing."

Zhang Jingxiu smiled and said, "Of course you have to do something, but you have to slowly draw it. You can completely eliminate the half-dead Zaoge Sect, as well as the Zhenchuan Sect and Huntian Sect hidden in the imperial capital. I think Brother Li Dao It should be very happy to uproot these two sects, because this is the power that the Empress Dowager can directly mobilize. If they are gone, the Empress Dowager will only rely more on Mr. Li. Then Brother Li's power and influence in the imperial capital will be It will go to a higher level. Of course, Mr. Qin from Liaodong will also be happy to see it, and no one likes traitors."

Li Xuandu nodded: "The third of the seven are gone, and there are still four left, which are the core forces of the Northwest Sects. Although from a reasonable point of view, we will not continue to attack due to the many internal contradictions, but we are not afraid of I’m afraid of a situation if I have ten thousand. If this situation occurs, Dan Taiyun is likely to form an alliance with the Earth Master again to protect each other.”

Zhang Jingxiu said: "When we arrive at our position, we can only talk about interests, not human feelings. I can make peace with Mr. Li, and of course the Holy Lord can also make peace with the earth master. Sometimes, we cannot be separated or harmonious. , if there is profit, gather, if there is no profit, disperse. Don’t think that the word "profit" is ugly. What exactly do you say for the sake of the people of the world?”

Li Xuandu didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Zhang Jingxiu said: "What is the government? The key lies in finance. A huge contradiction. As long as you have money, you can cover up the past and whitewash the peace. But without money, the disease of tinea scabies will also become a serious illness in Chen Ke. It involves finance. What is it? Corvée labor, taxes, people's livelihood, military service, and various expenses. Take raising soldiers as an example. For every extra soldier, there is one less farmer, one less tax, and one more military pay. It was twice as many as you went back and forth. Also, some places were affected by disasters, with countless grains, only rice was cooked in a pot, but no reason to cook in a pot. Can it be eaten? Can it be filled? But disaster relief The grain and rice are not born out of thin air. If you want money, where will the money for disaster relief come from? Is it the local vassal treasury or the Ministry of Revenue? Or are the local tyrants? Should we exempt taxes from the next year after disaster relief? If there is a deficit, Where should we make up for it? Where does the money come from? Which of these are not related to "profit". If, as those scholars said, put aside the word "profit" and talk about the people of the world, then the so-called "people in the world" is one The empty slogan, the so-called saving people from water and fire is just a castle in the air."

Zhang Jingxiu slowed down his tone and said softly: "There is no derogatory or positive meaning in fighting for fame and fortune. 'profit' will not fall out of thin air. You have to fight for yourself. For the people of the world, it is actually a struggle for profit for the people. Some people are greedy for profit, Some people are greedy for fame, but in fact fame is invisible profit. If you compete for fame and fortune, you still compete for the word "profit". If you compete for your own selfish interests, you will be scolded, but you will compete for profit for the country, the people, and the people. Fighting for profit is a good thing where righteousness lies. So whether I am Dao or Brother Li, it represents not only us. We cannot do whatever we want, nor can we do whatever we want, and let whoever we want to die The Zifu should also understand the principle of death. It is precisely because of this that I will say that sometimes, whether we are in harmony or not, we cannot help us. The so-called avenge of grudges has nothing to do with us for a long time."

Li Xuandu knew in his heart that Zhang Jingxiu was convincing him to take into account the overall situation. Li Xuandu felt disappointed and understood that although this loyal elder had one step further than his master, he stopped there. As he said, each generation has its responsibilities and mission, and the next thing we will depend on later generations.