Chapter 162: General Protector of the Qiang
Facing Liu Lingzhu's provocation, Bian Ji simply clasped his hands together indifferently, then he picked up a wine gourd.
Everyone looked at Bian Ji on the platform in confusion, wondering why a monk like him would take out the wine gourd.
Then, to everyone's surprise, Bian Ji opened the wine gourd, and a faint aroma of wine wafted out. He picked up the wine gourd and took a breath, then sprayed the wine mist towards the north.
What?
Everyone looked at Bian Ji in confusion. What kind of battle was this? What kind of magical power was this?
Liu Lingzhu's face looked a little strange. He only heard Bianji stand up and say to King Qinghe on the observation platform of the yard: "Your Majesty, there was a fire in Jinyang. I have just cast a spell to put it out."
Everyone was stunned at this moment, because of the matter of Fotucheng's secret treasure, Fotucheng's story was widely spread in Luoyang.
The story of spraying wine to put out the fire in Youzhou had already spread in Luoyang. (See Chapter 152)
Although Liu Lingzhu claimed that he had received supernatural powers from Fotucheng in his dream, his performance just now had nothing to do with Fotucheng.
What Bian Ji did just now is the true secret method of Fotucheng!
Everyone looked at King Qinghe. It would take nearly twenty days of express horse travel from Jinyang to Luoyang and back. In order to verify Bian Ji's "supernatural powers", King Qinghe needed to send someone to Jinyang.
Prince Qinghe also looked at Bian Ji in surprise. He said to one of his white-clothed scholars:
"You ride the palace's fast horse and go to Jinyang now to inquire about the news of today's incident and whether there was a fire in Jinyang."
The white-clothed scholars under his command immediately followed the order and came out. Then everyone looked at Bian Ji on the podium. No one expected that the fight would end in this way.
You said that Bian Ji did not display his supernatural powers? He clearly did the same thing as Fotucheng.
You said he displayed his supernatural powers, but now there is no way to verify it.
The people in the Longhua Temple Square were stunned, and the ministers on the observation deck were also stunned.
At this time, Princess Chenliu bit Su Ze's ear and said, "This Bian Ji has a close relationship with you. Is this your arrangement?"
Su Ze was a little embarrassed. Was this the intuition of a woman after her bodies became too familiar with each other?
He shook his head and said, "How is that possible? It takes more than half a month to go to Jinyang, and I didn't know that Bian Ji was going to fight Liu Lingzhu, so how could I have arranged it in advance?"
Princess Chenliu thought about it and agreed with Su Ze's statement. The time of this fight was also decided by Liu Lingzhu, so it was even more impossible to fake it.
But Princess Chenliu still felt something was wrong. She pinched the soft flesh on Su Ze's waist and said, "I always feel like you are hiding something from me."
Su Ze laughed dryly. Of course he had done something fishy about this matter.
While Bian Ji was fighting, Su Ze entrusted his followers who stayed in Jinyang to set fire to the pile of grass near the city gate.
Then he ordered these followers to put out the fire and poured wine near the city gate.
As long as the people sent by King Qinghe to Jinyang to investigate bring back news, they will be able to confirm that Bian Ji has mastered Fotucheng's secret technique, and that Bian Ji can perform this secret technique countless times.
He could even copy Fotucheng's other secret methods, such as finding out certain information from Luoyang.
By packaging Banji as a monk with supernatural powers like Fotucheng, he could also use another method to gain entry into the upper circle of the Northern Wei Dynasty, influence the decisions of certain people, and obtain more intelligence.
Su Ze thought of something again, and whispered in Princess Chenliu's ear: "Your Highness, can you arrange for eunuchs to enter the palace?"
Princess Chenliu glanced at him and said meaningfully, "Where do you know this eunuch?"
Su Ze said: "He is my fellow villager. I don't know what's wrong with his brain. He castrated himself. However, the palace only accepts people with clean backgrounds, so he came to me to become my disciple."
Princess Chenliu nodded and said, "That's easy. You can register him as a civilian in Henan Prefecture and I'll have someone bring him into the palace."
"Then thank you, Your Highness!"
The fight had reached this point, and it was impossible to determine the identity for a while. King Qinghe coughed and announced, "Today's fight ends here. Wait until the envoy I sent hears the news about Jinyang before continuing."
Since King Qinghe had given the order, the nobles and the common people had no choice but to disperse, and Liu Lingzhu was summoned before King Qinghe.
"Master, does Master Banji really know the secret technique of Fotucheng?"
Liu Lingzhu thought about it. As a bluffing alchemist, he was also a gangster, so he would not offend anyone easily.
After this battle, Liu Lingzhu also became famous in Luoyang. The two sides were competing in completely different things, and there was no difference in who was better.
The so-called battles between alchemists are more like PK in the live broadcast era, where everyone plays tricks on each other and boosts each other's popularity.
Therefore, Liu Lingzhu had no intention of exposing Bian Ji. The sedan chair is carried by everyone, and when you praise others, you are also praising yourself.
Liu Lingzhu said: "I see that this monk has many miraculous qualities. I'm afraid he really has some secret skills."
King Qinghe nodded. If this Bianji really had the magical powers of Fotucheng, as Fotucheng had helped Shi Hu with divination many times before, then he could also use that as an aid to himself.
King Qinghe immediately ordered his attendants, "Send gifts to Longhua Temple, and when the white-robed scholar sent to Jinyang returns, have him come to see me immediately!"
Although the winner of this fight did not come to a conclusion, Bian Ji's calmness in the face of Liu Lingzhu made the people of Luoyang believe that he was a "master" who could rival Liu Lingzhu.
After seeing Bian Ji's elegance, Princess Nanyang regarded him as her life-saving straw. She waited until everyone left and then went to the monks' quarters behind Longhua Temple to wait for Bian Ji.
The monks of Longhua Temple naturally did not dare to stop him. When Banji returned to the Buddhist hall, Princess Nanyang immediately stepped forward and asked:
"Have you seen any progress in the solution that Master mentioned last time?"
Bian Ji remembered Su Ze's teachings and immediately said, "I have pondered for two days and finally found a way to resolve this problem."
Princess Nanyang looked at Bian Ji excitedly, waiting for him to tell her how to resolve the problem.
Bian Ji thought of Su Ze's instructions, put his hands together and said, "Now is not the time to reveal the secret. Wait for Your Highness to come to this temple again in two days, and I will tell you how to resolve it."
Princess Nanyang was anxious, but she also thought that these masters had strange tempers, so she didn't dare to rush them. She just put her hands together and said, "Then I will definitely be there in two days."
After saying this, Princess Nanyang hurriedly left Longhua Temple with her maid.
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"My lord, this is newly minted money."
Su Liang was unwilling to get involved in the private minting of counterfeit money, but there were many Guanlong young men serving under Xiao Baoyin, so naturally there were people willing to help him do such dirty work.
Liang Lan was a native of Jincheng, Hezhou. His father, Liang Zhao, had once been the governor of Hezhou. The Liang family had been the chieftain of the Western Qiang tribe for generations. They were a local noble family that had served the Northern Wei Dynasty since the establishment of Hezhou.
Although Liang Lan's father had served as a provincial governor, as a descendant of a military family in Guanxi, he was never able to break free of the shackles and be promoted to the Luoyang court. Therefore, when Emperor Xiaowen was assessing the family status, he was classified as of the lower class. These people gathered under Xiao Baoyin, who became the spokesperson for Guanxi.
In fact, the quality of Taihe Wuzhu is not pure copper. It is normal to mix metal impurities in ancient coins. However, the Buddha coins cast by Liang Lan are a little white, which is obviously caused by excessive lead. This Buddha coin is even inferior to the Buddha coins cast by the Qinghe King and other Luoyang dignitaries. But Xiao Baoyin can no longer care about so much. He has just established a literary institute in his mansion in imitation of the Qinghe King and recruited Luoyang scholars. These are all times when money is needed.
Xiao Baoyin hired scholars in order to learn from Prince Qinghe's way of trumpeting his loyalty so that the Northern Wei court would release him to lead troops outside the capital.
All of these things cost money, and as the leader of the powerful Kansai people, if I cannot stand up for my younger brothers and recover their losses, I will be abandoned by these powerful people.
Xiao Baoyin's foundation is not deep. Without the benefits to win over these local rich people, they will soon leave him.
"Follow the messenger who went to the court to promote Buddhist money, and go to the states near Luoyang to use the Buddhist money to buy food and treasures!"
Xiao Baoyin praised Liang Lan a few more words before leaving the coin-making workshop.
When he arrived in Luoyang and heard his subordinates report on the fight between Liu Lingzhu and Bian Ji, Xiao Baoyin could not help but sneer.
Xiao Baoyin did not disbelieve in the prophecy of casting statues for divination, but Liu Ling, who was supported by King Qinghe, cast a statue to divine the future of Zhongxian, but it only became a statue for King Qinghe. It would be strange if there was no trick involved!
Moreover, Prince Qinghe is so high-profile, what do other important officials in the court think?
So among all the important officials in the court, you, the Prince of Qinghe, are the only loyal official? The others are all treacherous officials?
Can you, Prince Qinghe, handle the affairs of the court alone?
Xiao Baoyin felt that Prince Qinghe was forced into a desperate situation. He first showed his loyalty by reading "Xian Zhonglu" and then used the art of prophecy and divination to show his loyalty.
But Xiao Baoyin soon sighed. The Prince of Qinghe was the prince of the Wei Dynasty, and he had to use this method to show his loyalty. He was just a surrendered minister of the enemy country, so how could he gain the full trust of the court?
Compared to a demon like Liu Lingzhu who only seeks to attract attention, Bian Ji might actually have some abilities.
He ordered his attendants, "Send someone with gifts to visit Master Bianji. If there is really a fire in Jinyang, invite him to come to your house and give a lecture."
The attendants on both sides stammered, "My lord, the lady has donated a lot of money to Longhua Temple, and she often goes there to listen to Master Bianji's lectures."
lady?
Xiao Baoyin thought of Princess Nanyang and recalled the unpleasant things. He waved his hand and said, "Madam, if you want to make friends, then let Madam go."
Similar things happened in other mansions in Luoyang as in the Duke of Danyang's mansion.
Other important officials in Luoyang were very dissatisfied with Liu Lingzhu's decision to cast a statue for Prince Qinghe.
Casting six statues to form one, doesn't it mean that among the prime ministers in the court, only Prince Qinghe is a loyal minister?
But when King Jiangyang Yuanyi heard the news, he burst into laughter.
Song Wei, a member of the party who was visiting the King of Jiangyang's mansion, saw Yuan Yi's anger first and then his smile, and couldn't help asking:
"Why is your Majesty laughing?"
Yuan Yi widened his eyes and said, "Prince Qinghe used such a stupid move to cast six statues and only one of them was cast. Doesn't this mean that all the officials in the Ministry of Personnel are treacherous except for him?"
"In that case, I will immediately visit the residences of other prime ministers with gifts, and then there will be more people in the court who dislike Prince Qinghe."
"If everyone in the court speaks ill of Prince Qinghe, will the Queen Mother still trust him?"
Song Wei, the Tongzhilang, was the best at observing people's expressions. He immediately said, "Your Majesty, I will impeach the King of Qinghe tomorrow!"
Yuan Yi stopped him and said, "No hurry! It's not time yet. I will personally visit all the prime ministers and ask them to support Xi Kangsheng as the general of the right guard. After we get control of the imperial guards, it won't be too late to take action against the Prince of Qinghe!"
As Yuan Yi had expected, the Palace Attendants and Palace Attendants, including Prince Gaoyang Yuanshen who had just entered the ministry, and General Li Chong who had just led his troops back to the court, were all very dissatisfied with the casting of the statue in Longhua Temple today.
Yuan Yi explained to Yuan Shen and other prime ministers that he wanted Xi Kangsheng to be the General of the Right Guard Army, and received their verbal support.
Finally, Yuan Yi visited General Li Chong, seeking his final support.
Now, the only person who has sufficient military merits, qualifications and prestige and can compete with Xi Kangsheng for the position of General of the Right Guard Army is the old general in his seventies.
However, Yuan Yi knew Li Chong's Achilles' heel, which was that there was no one to carry on the family line.
After returning to the capital, Li Chong was busy with his son's appointment as a provincial governor, but it was obvious that not many people in the court were willing to support Li Chong.
Today, King Yuanyi of Jiangyang came to visit and brought a bargaining chip that Li Chong could not refuse.
"Hezhou?"
Hezhou was also one of the places Li Chong and Su Ze discussed.
The governor of Hezhou, Kou Zhi, had just been dismissed. Kou Zhi also came from a prominent family in the Northern Wei Dynasty. His great-uncle was Kou Qianzhi, who was canonized as Heavenly Master during the reign of Emperor Taiwu. His family had always had a great influence in the court since Emperor Taiwu.
The reason why Kou Zhi was dismissed was also very classic, that is - corruption.
Since Kou Zhi took office as the governor of Hezhou, he has been doing great things, causing turmoil in the entire Hezhou officialdom. The officials and people of Hezhou wrote a letter to the emperor listing sixteen charges against Kou Zhi, and finally Kou Zhi was dismissed from office and recalled to Luoyang.
However, for things like corruption, dismissal from office was the greatest punishment in the Northern Wei Dynasty. Moreover, after a few years when the scandal had died down, the official could be reinstated with some activities, and it was possible that he could even be promoted to a higher position.
Now that the positions of governors of several Guanlong states are vacant, it is also a rare opportunity for Li Chong. If he does not push his son forward now, he will really have no chance if he waits a few more years.
"So the king hopes that I will support Xi Kangsheng as the general of the right guard?"
Jiangyang Wang Yuanyi nodded slightly.
Li Chong could only sigh. Originally, after returning to the court after making great achievements, he also wanted to compete for the position of General of the Right Guard Army, but he had to give it up for the sake of his family.
Seeing that Li Chong agreed, Jiangyang King Yuanyi smiled.
Li Chong added: "But Hezhou is a border state, where Qiang and Hu people live together, and there is also the threat of Tuyuhun. My son, the king, also knows that he lacks talent."
Yuan Yi looked at Li Chong, and Li Chong continued, "I want to recommend Su Ze as the General of the Qiang Guard. The General's Mansion is also in Jincheng. With Su Ze here, I can rest assured that the rebellious son will go to Hezhou."
Hearing that Li Chong had asked for a worthless general title for Su Ze, Yuan Yi smiled and said, "I will take care of this matter!"
There is more information to look at for the next plot.
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(End of this chapter)