Chapter 60 Lingying Celestial Master
"The southeast is in a state of great strength, and the three Wushu cities" Hangzhou has always been an important town in the south of the Yangtze River and one of the richest prefectures in the entire Song Dynasty.
Since Fang Baihua received news from her family, she began to make arrangements with the Manichaeism near Hangzhou.
The loose policies of the Song Dynasty court on doing business led to the rapid development of the economy of Jiangnan, which was prosperous in water conservancy. However, in recent years, due to the corruption of officials and the influence of the imperial court's flower and stone sect, the wealth in the Jiangnan area has changed. It is not uncommon for officials from all over the country to collude with merchants to oppress the people, forcing them to buy and sell, and tricky robbery.
Officials with real power, merchants and landlords who know how to attract power and possess the power, have mastered eight or nine out of ten wealth in Suzhou and Hangzhou. There are many peddlers and barrages on the streets, running around the market all day long before they can barely support their families. The villagers who slash and fire farming in towns and villages are also subject to various harsh taxes. In addition, the officials responsible for the matter of the Flower and Stone have imposed intensive taxes, and the people in Suzhou and Hangzhou have already suffered a lot.
Under such a situation, the spirit and thought of "equality" and "resistance" in Manichaeism doctrines have been resonated with countless people. Under the word of mouth of the people, Manichaeism has become a well-known existence in Hangzhou and even the prefectures and counties near Hangzhou.
It was also during this period that Fang Baihua was transferred to Hangzhou by her family, responsible for cooperating with Manichaeism, secretly developing forces, and inciting the resistance of the people in the Suzhou and Hangzhou areas. When Fang La was uprising, more people would gather to respond.
However, although the officials in Hangzhou were corrupt, they were not stupid. After discovering the activities of Manichaeism, the governor of Hangzhou Gu Ming immediately ordered the Manichaeism to be prohibited from preaching doctrine in public on the grounds of disturbing public order.
The aristocratic families involved in interests with the government also fought against Manichi under Gu Ming's instruction.
The children of those aristocratic families often find reasons to fight with the Manichaeists, while the government arrested the children of the aristocratic families and the Manichae tribes into prison for disturbing public order, but only imposed punishments on the Manichae tribes. Even if the people knew this trick of collusion between officials and businessmen, they had to swallow their anger.
At this time, Fang Baihua was combing various documents and letters on the table in a villa in Hangzhou. In addition to Fang Baihua, there was also a white-haired old man sitting aside, holding a teacup and drinking tea.
"Uncle Lou," Fang Baihua looked up at him and continued to organize the documents. "How much is the food and grass that my brother expects to be prepared?"
The old man put down the teacup and sighed: "This year, people in various places have bad harvests, and there is no surplus grain at home. Even if the price increases by 20% or 30%, they are still unwilling to sell food. Compared with your brother's expectations, they have only collected half of it now."
Fang Baihua didn't care and said lightly: "Uncle Lou doesn't have to worry. The grain in the granary in Hangzhou City is countless. As long as you can quickly break through Hangzhou City during the uprising, you can relieve your worries about food and grass."
The old man nodded and said, "There are hundreds of flowers in Hangzhou City here, so why worry about not breaking it."
Fang Baihua was silent about the old man's praise and only carved out the documents.
After a while, two people walked in outside the door. One of them was Fang Jie, the other was about the same age as him, but his body was much thinner than him.
The two walked to Fang Baihua's table, called "Auntie" at Fang Baihua, and then called "Uncle Lou" to the old man next to them.
Fang Baihua looked at the man next to Fang Jie and said in surprise: "Tianding, why are you here too?"
This man was Fang Tianding, the son of Fang La. Seeing Fang Baihua wonderingly, he replied: "Father ordered me to come here to tell my aunt that everything is ready in Muzhou, and may cause trouble in advance."
Upon hearing this, Fang Baihua frowned: "Brother, have you asked you to help me?"
Fang Tianding nodded softly: "I heard that Manichaeism was fighting with the government in Hangzhou, and the gentry kept fighting. My father asked me to bring two masters to help my aunt act in Hangzhou.
One is named Bao Daoyi, who is good at making strange and evil Taoism, who can use swords to hurt people. He is called Lingying Tianshi, and the other is named Zheng Biao, who is Bao Daoyi's disciple. Both of them have great skills and can use some magic to preach Manichaeism to win people's hearts. At this time, both of them are waiting outside the door."
After hearing this, Fang Baihua nodded slightly, and Fang Tianding said, "Call those two people in."
Fang Tianding responded and went out and brought Bao Daoyi and others in.
But one man was wearing a white Taoist robe with thick hair and big eyes, and a burly figure. He was wearing a black Taoist robe.
After coming up, Fang Baihua had not yet asked questions, the white-haired Taoist bowed and said, "Prince Fang, Xiaodao has received the kindness of the priest, and I will come to help you with my disciples. But do it by order."
"It's just right," after looking at the two of them, Fang Baihua turned her gaze to Fang Jie: "You have worked with Master Yang for a long time, so you will take Master Bao Bao to Huzhou to assist Master Yang in preaching in Wukang, Deqing and other places."
Fang Jie clasped his fists and said, "No!"
Fang Baihua looked at Bao Daoyi and asked, "Dao Master Bao has any objection?"
Bao Daoyi shook his head gently: "There is no objection, just let Young Master Fang lead the way."
Seeing this, Fang Baihua nodded and asked Fang Jie to take the master and apprentice to Huzhou immediately. Then he wrote a letter and asked Fang Tianding to take it back to his brother Fang La.
......
After a long time, when he left the north city gate of Hangzhou and went to Huzhou, Zheng Biao asked Fang Jie: "Brother Fang, what's the matter with me and my master when he went to Huzhou?"
Fang Jie frowned and said, "I don't know either. I don't know much about it. My aunt didn't tell me too much. But as far as I know, Deputy Leader Yang of Manichaeism is responsible for the missionary affairs in Huzhou. He has too few warriors under him. I think the missionary was hindered and we need our assistance."
Zheng Biao laughed and said, "So that's the case, that's easy to deal with. Whether it's a fight or a lie, my master and apprentice are both masters of this kind."
Fang Jie was a little ashamed when he heard this, but accidentally saw Bao Daoyi swing his sleeves in front of him, and the magic sword behind him flew out and walked forward. In amazement, Fang Jie asked Zheng Biao: "Brother Zheng, do you know Master Bao's sword-controlling technique?"
Zheng Biao sighed and said, "Brother Fang, you don't know that my master's flying sword technique can't be learned casually. The key to this flying sword is not magic, but magic sword itself. If you want the flying sword to hurt people, the sword must be spiritual, otherwise once it flies out, it will definitely not be able to come back."
Fang Jie was surprised and said, "Master Bao isn't a master in the state of enlightenment?"
"Of course not," Zheng Biao smiled strangely, "If the master can't let go of his desires, he may not be able to enter the realm of his life."
"How do you say this?" Fang Jie said in confusion.
Zheng Biao reached out and hooked Fang Jie's shoulder, looked at Bao Daoyi twenty or thirty steps ahead, and whispered in Fang Jie's ear: "Master, he was still clean when he was practicing Taoism in Jinhua Mountain. It was not until he was once again infected with the evil poison from Miaojiang, and the poison was relieved for a hundred days. Do you dare to imagine the scene in this, haha, I know, the master, he even has a man...
Ahem, since then, the master left Jinhua Mountain, and until now, every few days, he has to find some women, otherwise he will not be able to sleep at night. Also, the master never goes to brothels, he only likes good women and uses magic..."
Hearing this, Fang Jie was so shocked that he opened his mouth wide. Looking at the old Taoist with white hair hanging down his shoulders, he asked blankly: "Brother Zheng, you mean, Master Bao is still..."
Zheng Biao said disdainfully: "What's so strange about this? Master is approaching his seventies, but I'm afraid you can't compare with the skills in the room, brother."
Even Fang Jie, who was shameless, had to respect Taoist Bao at this time.
After a long time, Bao Daoyi was gradually no longer visible ahead. Fang Jie was about to speed up, but Zheng Biao stopped him: "Brother Fang, Master, he is going to relieve the pressure now. Let's go slowly, don't worry."
Fang Jie was stunned for a moment, then slowed down and followed Zheng Biao slowly.
About ten miles ahead of the two, there was a small village in the valley, with more than ten families arranged in a jagged manner.
It was afternoon, and the women in the village gathered next to a pond in the south of the village, fetching water and washing clothes, chatting and teasing with others while washing.
While washing, I saw a young face with a crane hair and a fairy-like old man came over. The shy woman hurriedly buried her close-fitting clothes floating on the water in the water.
A woman asked with a smile, "What are you doing in my village? But should I ask for some vegetarian food?"
The Taoist looked calm, looked around and said lightly: "I am destined to pass by this place, and I want to choose a disciple among you to inherit my mantle."
After hearing this, all the women were stunned.
A woman asked, "Why don't you go directly to the village to find men and children, and come to us and other women to do what?"
The Taoist smiled slightly and said, "My Lingying Tianshi accepts disciples. I have always only looked at fate, regardless of gender." After that, he waved his hand and wisps of black mist flew out of his sleeves and floated over the women, hiding the meaning of covering the sky and sun.
The women had never seen such tricks. At this time, the surroundings were covered with darkness and could not see the sun. They were all frightened and thought they had met a land god.
But when the Taoist waved his sleeves again, the black fog flew back all the time. Everyone was able to see the light again and bowed to the Taoist one after another.
"Master, choose me! I have wisdom!"
"What a shit, you really can say that Taoist priest is a practitioner of Taoism, not a practitioner of Buddha."
"Choose me, Taoist priest, don't look old, I'm actually only thirty years old."
"Oh, Aunt Cuihua, your son is almost at his thirty."
"Master, don't listen to her nonsense."
......
The Taoist suppressed the impatientness in his heart and said in a deep voice: "Don't quarrel! I have a decision in my heart who chooses. No matter how much you say, it will be useless."
So all the women fell silent.
The Taoist began to approach and check. When passing by the first woman, the woman looked at him with hope. He secretly glanced at her chest and shook his head. The second woman caught a glimpse of his movements. Seeing him coming, she raised the huge figure on her chest, but saw him looking at his face and sighing pretended.
Third place, fourth place, fifth place, sixth place...
Until he finished reading all the women, the Taoist could not find anyone who could see the Dharma. He turned around and left, too lazy to waste his talk with these women.
The women thought he was walking and thinking, and dared not speak out to disturb him.
The Taoist had just walked a few steps, but heard a sound like a secluded orchid in the valley behind him.
"Mom, the clothes have not been washed yet, the food at home is ready, just wait..."
The woman hurriedly covered her daughter's mouth and whispered in her ear: "Don't talk for now." She said and looked at the Taoist.
Chapter completed!