After learning about his daughter's message, the Hangzhou magistrate Gu An closed the city gate in the name of investigating wanted criminals and sent Hangzhou standing troops to search the city for two days, but did not get any information about Manichaeism. In the end, under pressure, he ordered the city gate to be opened.

But he had also learned that Manichaeism was preaching in the surrounding county and villages. He hurriedly listed the news from all sides and sent it to Bianliang and handed it over to Cai Jing, hoping to attract his attention and spread the news that Manichaeism preached the teachings in Jiangnan to the emperor.

Since the destruction of Buddhism by Emperor Wuzong of Tang Dynasty, from various countries during the Five Dynasties to the Song Dynasty today, the management of religions was extremely strict. All religions that had contrary to the concept of governing the country were suppressed, and many churches were transformed into underground churches.

Manichaeism was one of them. Later, after the emperor Zhao Ji saw Gu An's letter, he ordered that the people be prohibited from believing in this "demonic religion". Any preacher who was arrested would be escorted to Dali Temple to be detained.

At this time, Bianliang had already received news of Gao Qiu's defeat. However, Emperor Zhao Ji did not give Gao Qiu to death as he said, but only reduced his position and fined him three years of salary. For Zhao Ji, punishing the criminal ministers was not an urgent task. If the Liangshan traitors were not eliminated for a day, he would be like a thorn in his throat.

At the court meeting, Tong Guan submitted a request to send the Western Army to wipe out Liangshan. Cai Jing and his men were all supporting. Zhao Ji also felt that only the Western Army could wipe out Liangshan in one fell swoop, so he prepared to order Tong Guan to lead the Western Army to rehabilitate.

However, just as Zhao Ji was about to issue an order, the new Taiwei Su Yuanjing stood up and said: The Western Army is the backbone of the Northern Expedition. Now that the Liangshan bandits have won the imperial court twice in a row, their power cannot be compared. The Western Army may be able to eliminate the rebellion, but the losses will definitely not be small, and it will have an unignorable impact on the Northern Expedition.

He advocated sending envoys to recruit Liangshan, believing that many bandits in Liangshan were poor people, and they went up the mountain to lose their fortunes because of the oppression of corrupt officials. As long as they were granted official positions and salary, they would be able to accept the recruitment, which would not only save a war, but also add a new strong army to the court.

After hearing his words, all the officials also felt that it was quite reasonable. The Grand Prison Zheng Juzhong, and Deng Xunwu, the governor of the Privy Council, immediately advised Zhao Ji to act according to the plan of Su Taiwei.

Although Zhao Ji was a little reluctant to recruit the amnesty, he also knew that the benefits of recruitment were far better than those of the suffrage. He ordered the sending of envoys to Liangshan to discuss the amnesty matters.

Su Taiwei was the proposer of the strategy, so he immediately stood up and petitioned to Liangshan as an envoy. In the end, Zhao Ji rejected his petition as "the Taiwei is in a high position, how can he bend in the thief's nest" and asked him to send his subordinates to go there.

The city of Bianliang was surging, and it was also very uneasy on Liangshan.

A few days ago, Chao Gai and Song Jiang returned to Liangshan Dazhai with the Great Victory Army. When passing by a small road, a huge arrow suddenly shot from the shadows. Chao Gai was slowing down half a beat when he was dodging, and was shot in the neck and died on the spot.

When Song Jiang and the leaders around him reacted, the people in the shadow had already fled on a fast horse, and the speed was so fast that everyone could not meet.

At that time, the soldiers of Liangshan were in the joy of defeating the court. The news of Chao Gai's death was like a basin of cold water pouring on the faces of the leaders. The leaders threatened that the court had caused trouble and wanted to avenge King Chao.

In the evening, after settled Chao Gai's body, Song Jiang brought the arrow that shot Chao Gai to death and handed it to everyone to observe. The words "Shi Wengong" were written on it.

Some leaders from the south didn’t know who Shi Wengong was, and thought he was a general of the court. After Hua Rong came out to explain, he realized that he was a teacher in Zengtou City. However, Zengtou City had no relationship with Liangshan and was far away in Lingzhou, so why did he assassinate King Chao?

At this time, a young general named Duan Jingzhu walked out of the crowd and relieved everyone's doubts.

It turned out that Duan Jingzhu had stole a BMW from the hands of foreigners in the north, named Zhaoye Jade Lion. He was going to give it to Chao Gai as a reward for his advancement, but when he passed by Zengtou City, he was robbed by the five tigers of the Zeng family. Later, when Chao Gai asked him to ask for it, he was shot back by arrows in Zengtou City.

Zengtoushi offended Chao Gai, and saw that Liangshan was becoming more and more prosperous, and he was afraid that Chao Gai would lead his troops to fight, so he was on the verge of his sword and simply sent someone to hide in the dark and wait for an opportunity to assassinate Chao Gai. But perhaps because of his anxiety, Shi Wengong forgot to replace the arrows and shot out the arrows with his name.

Even though the leaders did not completely believe Duan Jingzhu's words, it seems that this is the only way to make sense at the moment. Otherwise, why did Shi Wengong kill Chao Gai for no reason?

After learning about the whole story, Song Jiang angrily expressed his intention to avenge Chao Gai when he was to razed Zengtou City.

However, Liangshan was at its peak and the village could not be without a master for a day. Therefore, Hua Rong, Dai Zong, Mu Hong and others strongly requested Song Jiang to take the throne of the Heavenly King and take charge of the overall situation.

But Song Jiang rejected the kindness of his brothers on the grounds that he "don't avenge Chao Gai and would not sit in the main seat."

So in the past two days, in order to let Song Jiang take charge of the overall situation of Liangshan, the leaders began to prepare for the attack on Zengtou City...

In the city of Bianliang, Lin Mansion.

Lin Chong and the old man Zhou Ti were sitting in the courtyard and talking softly. Next to them were Madam Lin and Ming Xia, sewing clothes with needlework.

"... Victory and defeat are common in military affairs," Zhou Ti turned his head and looked at Lin Chong, who had been calm since he came back from Yunzhou, and continued: "What's more, Your Majesty has just punished Gao Qiu and those officials in charge of decision-making, and it's not your business. Why are you calm and stinking here?"

Lin Chong's eyes showed a hint of unwillingness: "Master, you don't know that I had captured Shi Xiu, Huang Xin and Ma Lin from Liangshan at that time. But when the overall situation failed, Taiwei Gao actually sent me to take the prisoner and cut off the rear, and was rescued by Liangshan. The credit I had originally recorded in the marching book was cut off."

"How could I not know the thought of Taiwei Gao? His decision-making mistake made the entire army retreat, so he would not want anyone to achieve military merits, so as not to criticize him with this. How could such a selfish person be a good general?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ti sighed and said, "Oh, although my branches and leaves are still there, the foundation is already rotten. The rebellion of Liangshan is already in the morning bell and evening drum, but it still cannot wake up the emperor. If you don't eliminate evil and slander as soon as possible, you will definitely suffer a disaster. Ling'er is probably going to Hangzhou here, and he will be in trouble."

Lin Chong was quite puzzled after hearing this: "Where is the master saying this? Isn't the richest territory in my Song Dynasty?"

"The leader of the Manichaeism, Fang La," Zhou Ti looked at him and shook his head, "A storm is brewing enough to sweep the south of the Yangtze River. Hangzhou where Ling'er is probably the first stronghold they want to take, so as to expand around."

Lin Chong said in surprise: "Master, is Fang La saying that he is going to revolt?"

"Your ignorant personality should have changed long ago," Zhou Ti said in a deep voice. "You should be better off in dealing with people than in pursuing fame and fortune. Apart from the flattery Lu Qian, who has any other friends you can make intimately? No wonder the news is blocked until it ends in Bianliang."

Lin Chong lowered his head when he heard the old man's half-speaking words. This was about his pain. He was open-minded by nature and he could never do those false things. He believed that as long as he did his own things meticulously, he would be able to make a name for himself one day.

He would definitely listen to Zhou Ti's words, but he would not be able to listen to them.

Seeing that he lowered his head and said nothing, Zhou Ti sighed softly as if he had made a mistake and was willing to be punished. This apprentice was the most worry-free thing for him and the most worry-free thing for him. What was worry-free is that he would not do anything about robbing the monarch and treason, but what was worry-free was that if he could not meet someone who truly appreciated him, he would probably never be a high-ranking official in his life.

Stay silent for a long time.

"Li Yatou," Zhou Ti looked at Ming Xia beside him, blinking his old eyes, "Do you want that brat?"

Mingxia looked at Zhou Ti who was disrespectful to the old man, stopped the movements in her hand, and shook her head with a red face.

Zhou Ti smiled and said, "Then aren't you afraid that he will mess with things outside?"

"Not afraid," Mingxia's mouth curled up a confident smile: "When I knew him, he was not your disciple. I may know him more deeply than you."

Zhou Ti sighed, "I just accepted him as an apprentice, and he was talking to you every day. I searched people from Fuping County, but I still couldn't find you. I thought you died or were caught by the Liao people. If he hadn't always insisted on finding you, I would have ruined your life. The old man would like to apologize for you here."

Mingxia shook her head gently: "It's not my master, I thought I was dead back then. Fortunately, I saved me when my adoptive father passed by, otherwise I would have died on the road at that time. Now I am very satisfied with my life."

Zhou Ti looked at her and smiled and said, "If this brat dares to hook up with another woman in the future, you will argue with him. As long as I am still alive, I will stand on your side."

Mingxia lowered her head and said, "What did the master say..."

"I won't say it anymore, I won't say it anymore," Zhou Ti smiled, "Call Xiaoyue'er and let's go to Hangzhou."

"ah?!"

Mingxia couldn't believe it.

Zhou Ti sighed: "The master is old and will not be able to walk in a few years. No matter what big thing he wants to do, while he can still move, go and see if he can help him."

After hearing the old man's words, Mingxia was also a little sad, nodded, got up and went to find Yue'er.

When Mingxia found the backyard, Yue'er was playing with Lin Niangzi's maid Jin'er in the backyard to play with crickets. It is late autumn now, and both the iron marbles and the sky blue have lost their vitality, and even the screams have become slow, and they may die soon.

When Mingxia told her that she was leaving Bianliang to find Xu Ziling, she was actually a little unhappy because she had a very happy time in Bianliang, including Jin'er and Lady Lin playing with her, and Tong Guan occasionally sent some gifts.

But after Mingxia said she had to go, she was going back to the house to pack up her things. Before leaving, she said to Jin'er: "Sister Jin'er, I'll give you iron platters and Tianlanqing. If they die, they must be buried well. Remember to help me put a few small flowers in them."

Jin'er looked at her, smiled and nodded and said, "Don't worry."

After packing up his luggage, Mingxia took Yue'er to the yard.

I saw the old man on the bamboo chair in the yard slowly standing up, stretching out his feet and kicking Lin Chong who was sitting beside him, and said lightly: "Get up. Before leaving, I will beat you to the realm."
Chapter completed!