The court lackeys of the eight-hour workday
Chapter 281 Well
Chapter 281 Well
Click, click, click.
Li Miao’s fingers tapped the scroll, and the sound echoed in the silent hall. The old man in the hall closed his eyes and clenched his hands into fists, attracting Ruan Mei’s eyes to scan his vital points. The Emei Spear, which was still stained with the old man’s blood, was already in her hand.
Although the Ming Cult was born out of Manichaeism, its doctrines and organizational structure have been “Sinicized” after nearly a thousand years of evolution. In Manichaeism, there is no such thing as “left and right two envoys” or “five great guardians”. Under the leader are the twelve apostles. The old man is “Patig”, one of the twelve apostles, and he is very powerful in the church.
Precisely because of his high position and power, he did not hide his gaze and was noticed by Ruan Mei; but it was also because of his high position and power that he was different from ordinary believers. In addition to his loyalty to his faith, he was also very clear about the rules that governed the operation of this world.
The conditions he proposed were also a test.
Unless there is silence, the act of dialogue, whether it is acceptance or rejection, will reveal a lot of information in the eyes of those who are interested. Especially for someone like Li Miao, who doesn’t bother to hide anything.
As for Li Miao’s answer, he came to three conclusions.
First, Li Miao did have a great deal of say in the court. At least on matters concerning the martial arts world, he could make decisions on his own without even considering any impact.
Second, the imperial court would not allow the Ming Cult to appear in the Central Plains again, even if it was taken over by Manichaeism and had no ill will towards the imperial court.
Third, although the court had some problems, Li Miao’s attitude alone did not show that he was unable to suppress the martial arts world. Then… the assassination of the emperor by the Ming Cult and the turmoil in the martial arts world over the past six months were worth pondering.
The mind races, but it only takes a moment.
As the old man came to his conclusion, Li Miao stopped tapping the scroll and looked at him.
“You guys should be prepared to take a step back, right?”
The old man replied in a deep voice.
“What do you mean, sir?”
“Now that we’ve come to this point, there’s no point in playing dumb.”
Li Miao smiled.
“From the moment I rejected your first few proposals, you should have known that the court would not allow you to enter the Central Plains. But you still told me the news about that person.”
“If you insist on entering the Central Plains, you will definitely die today. There are only four celestial beings in your sect. If you send one of them to me, you are not here to seek death, are you?”
“Tell me, what do you want to exchange for this news?”
The old man was silent for a moment, and a bitter smile slowly appeared on his face.
“To be honest, before I met you, sir, and before I came to Songshan, I made a lot of plans. But after meeting you, sir, I knew that you are not someone who will be swayed by words.”
“So, I won’t say so much nonsense anymore.”
“It doesn’t matter what we want.”
“What you are willing to give us is what matters.”
Hearing the old man’s words, Li Miao laughed, turned to look at Ruan Mei beside him, and pointed at the old man.
“well.”
“Mr. Ruan, look at this, this is a man who knows how to respect you.”
“If all the big sects in the martial arts world were as sensible as them, why would I need to leave Hengshan Mountain, and why would I need to stay in Songshan Mountain for a month in vain. Otherwise, it is said that the monks from outside can chant sutras.”
“That’s fine.”
Li Miao stretched out his hand into a claw and grabbed in the air.
The old man below suddenly felt as if he was trapped in a pool of extremely sticky and thick liquid, unable to move. At the same time, an irresistible force came from his limbs and bones, slowly lifting him up, and then slowly lowering him to the ground.
The old man suddenly looked at Li Miao, with a trace of cold sweat on his temples.
After he entered the palace, he had observed Li Miao’s martial arts, but he gained nothing. At that time, he only felt that the imperial court had a deep foundation and a high level of martial arts skills. But now, Li Miao’s move made him feel an irresistible despair.
“This pacification envoy who rarely shows up in the martial arts world…his martial arts skills are no worse than the man who met the leader that day, and he may even be better.”
“Sure enough… the foundation of the Central Plains imperial court cannot be shaken by the Ming Cult.”
Just as the old man was shocked, Li Miao started laughing.
“Actually, it’s a matter of mutual benefit.”
“It will be troublesome if those people from the Ming Cult continue to stay here. Let’s not move them. After all, Ji Tianrui is still alive. It will be troublesome if she uses them again in the future.”
“But if we want to kill him, it’s actually a little difficult to do.”
After the incident at the Imperial Mausoleum, most of the Ming Cult disciples above the middle level died, and the ones left now were all at the bottom level who were not qualified to participate in specific affairs. But being at the bottom level did not mean it was easy to start with.
Just like the Beggars’ Sect and the Cao Clan, the Ming Cult is not a martial arts sect in the full sense. The Jianghu people only occupy its middle and upper levels, while the bottom level is composed of a large number of believers who truly believe in the doctrine and the people who make a living from it.
Of course, their existence is the foundation for the Ming Cult to do evil. But at the same time, they may not really know the evil things the Ming Cult has done. This is a group that is too large and has too many connections. To take action against this group, the Jinyiwei is definitely not enough.
But if other government offices were to take action… it would probably just be a carnival of corrupt officials killing innocent people to claim credit, exterminating families and confiscating their property.
I’m afraid that Da Shuo now can’t withstand such a ordeal.
“Well, I’ll give you a year.”
Li Miao said.
“Send your men in, and bring my people with you in each team. Follow the trail of the Ming Cult and take away all those diehard believers. Don’t leave them in Dashuo.”
“If anyone doesn’t want to go with you, you are not allowed to force or induce them. All the property and secret manuals found during the trip must be left behind.”
Li Miao looked at the old man.
“In short, those who think that ‘Ming Zun’ is more important than their ancestors and homeland, I will not keep them in Dashuo, but you can take them away.”
“But you can’t touch other people and things.”
“how?”
The old man sighed and smiled bitterly.
“My Lord, this condition is a bit harsh.”
“It would probably take more than a year to collect all the people we have brought to the Western Regions. Besides, the cost of housing, business, and food for these people after they move to the Western Regions is also quite high.”
“If we can’t touch the Ming Cult’s property at all, I’m afraid it will be a losing deal.”
“Then I’ll give you 20%.”
Li Miao waved his hand.
“No more, no need to say these nonsense. I have so many fanatics for no reason, it’s as if you are helping me deal with garbage. Since you came directly to tell me the news, I will give you 20% of the travel expenses, don’t even think about the rest.”
“Since you know what I have done, you should also know my temper. These people are just difficult to deal with, but if it is really necessary, I will not show mercy when killing them.”
“Accept it. I’ll save you a seat for the drink.”
“If you don’t accept it, get out of the Central Plains. If you Manichaeans dare to come in again, no matter who you are, you will die.”
“Choose.”
The old man pondered for a while and nodded.
“Well, since that’s what the adults want, let’s do it.”
“it is good.”
Li Miao waved.
“Mr. Ruan, take him down to heal his wounds and arrange a seat for him tomorrow. Remember what was decided today and go talk to An Ziyang and have him discuss it with Wang Hai. No need to come back to me.”
Ruan Mei nodded and left with the old man.
The room fell silent again.
Li Miao leaned back in the chair, tapping his fingers slowly on the armrest.
After a while, he suddenly sneered.
“Ah.”
“After being an orphan for two lifetimes, it’s quite refreshing to have a relative show up for the first time.”
“Seven-star Begonia, Ryukyu.”
“It’s nearly a thousand miles by sea. If someone hadn’t carefully transported him, it would have been impossible for that little beggar to reach Shuntian with his body at that time. And with the physique of this body, as long as his comprehension is acceptable, it would be a natural thing for him to become a Vajra.”
“Can we just throw away the seedlings that can become celestial beings?”
“I guess there’s a story behind it.”
Li Miao opened his eyes and slowly clenched his fists.
“But it doesn’t matter.”
“Kill those who should be killed, bury those who should be buried.”
“I just don’t know if someone will come to me to claim their relationship or to seek death…”
There was no emotion in Li Miao’s voice.
From past life to this life, there is only one Li Miao.
Even though he had been changed a lot by Da Shuo, at heart he was still the same lawless, murderous man who didn’t care about his relatives.
——–
“Brother, why were you stunned just now! If that person is displeased, he doesn’t even need to say anything, just a look, and I don’t know how many people will be willing to do it for him and teach our ignorant Huanhua Sword Sect a lesson!”
Wen Lianrong said anxiously.
“Alas…it’s my fault.” Liu Chengxuan sighed.
In fact, he and Wen Lianrong are about the same. They are about the same age and have similar experience in the martial arts world. If Wen Lianrong can react, then he can react too.
But, after all, the matter is unclear to those involved.
He was the one who knew Li Miao, he was the one Li Miao wanted to see, and he was the one who greeted her. The pressure he was under was naturally not comparable to Wen Lianrong who was watching from the sidelines. At his age, it was understandable that he was at a loss for a moment.
Wen Lianrong also understood this, and she only said those words in a moment of desperation. Now that she had calmed down a little, she sat down next to Liu Chengxuan, took his hand, placed it on her knees, and clasped their fingers tightly.
“Brother, I’m not blaming you.”
“It’s just…ah, we are really too small, we have to be cautious.”
Liu Chengxuan took his other hand, covered Wen Lianrong’s hand, and nodded.
“I know I know.”
The two held hands together until their fingers turned white.
After all, they were both young men in their twenties. Suddenly, the burden of the entire sect fell on their shoulders, and both of them had managed to get to where they are now. When it comes to being trembling with fear and treading on thin ice, both of them are the same.
In the past six months, both of them have made many mistakes and suffered a lot. It is because of each other’s existence that they have persisted. They have supported each other to this day. There is no need to speak. Just feeling the warmth of each other’s palms is enough to express their feelings.
The two of them sat in the house like this for a long time.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door outside.
Tuk Tuk.
“You two, have you rested well?”
Outside the door, An Ziyang smiled.
“The pacification envoy invited some friends from the martial arts world to drink, and asked me to bring Sect Leader Liu to meet them. Elder Wen, you can sit down first, someone will bring you food later.”
Liu Chengxuan stood up suddenly, looked at Wen Lianrong, quickly opened the door, and bowed to An Ziyang.
“Thank you very much–“
“Hey~”
An Ziyang raised his hand to help him up.
“Calling me brother off the stage and calling me sir in the hall is the behavior of a mean person. Sect Leader Liu, just call me as usual. I don’t like others calling me sir either.”
“Let’s go. I was supposed to take you to see the governor today, but I didn’t want to be held up by other things. The governor also wants to talk to you, so don’t keep him waiting.”
After saying that, he led Liu Chengxuan towards the place where they would have dinner.
Liu Chengxuan glanced at An Ziyang’s expression, wanting to say something but hesitant. He wanted to ask something but didn’t dare to open his mouth.
After An Ziyang noticed it, he smiled.
“Master Liu, don’t think too much.”
“Just now when you were in the house, you must have regretted that you were stunned for a moment after seeing the pacification envoy and did not greet him immediately, right?”
Liu Chengxuan was stunned for a moment, then nodded suddenly.
“I think it’s better if you don’t show respect.”
An Ziyang said with a smile as he walked.
Liu Chengxuan was puzzled.
An Ziyang explained.
“Master Liu, why do you think the pacification envoy favors you and even asked me, a fifth-rank officer, to travel thousands of miles to pick you up? Is it because your Huanhua Sword Sect is strong enough? Or is it because you, Master Liu, are knowledgeable about the ways of the world?”
Before Liu Chengxuan could think of an answer, An Ziyang spoke decisively.
“neither.”
“No matter how strong you are, can you be stronger than the Ming Cult? No matter how well you know the ways of the world, no matter how experienced and slick you are, how can you compare to the people in the officialdom? There are many people who know how to behave politely when meeting someone, but how many of them can my pacification envoy look up to?”
Having said that, An Ziyang turned and looked at Liu Chengxuan.
“I’m going to say something unpleasant, please don’t blame me, Sect Leader Liu.”
Liu Chengxuan quickly waved his hands.
“Mr. An, please feel free to speak.”
An Ziyang then said.
“I have been traveling the world since I was twelve years old, and I started my career as a businessman, so it is inevitable that I am a bit snobbish when I look at people. In my eyes, everyone has their most valuable qualities. To be honest, at this moment and here, your martial arts, character, and sect are all worthless.”
“Right now, your most valuable thing is ‘you are the you recognized by the pacification envoy’ – I wonder if Sect Leader Liu understands?”
Liu Chengxuan suddenly realized.
An Ziyang smiled and continued.
“There is a saying that goes, ‘It is easy to change the hearts of old friends, but it is also easy to change the hearts of old friends.'”
“If you change, you will disappoint the pacification envoy.”
“That’s all.”
Liu Chengxuan stopped, clasped his hands together, and was about to salute An Ziyang.
“Thank you for the reminder, Master An!”
An Ziyang reached out and helped him up.
“You don’t have to thank me. All I’m considering is my family’s governor. I saved you because of his orders. I escorted you here because of his will. I am willing to remind you because of him.”
“Master Liu, please don’t burn the wrong incense or thank the wrong person.”
Liu Chengxuan nodded in agreement.
An Ziyang then smiled and nodded, then took Liu Chengxuan to the door of a side hall, extended his hand to guide him, and turned and left.
Liu Chengxuan swallowed and walked in.
This side hall had obviously been decorated by the Embroidered Uniform Guards. There was a thick carpet on the floor, three tables on each side, with futons underneath, and the air was filled with the aroma of wine.
Liu Chengxuan glanced at it.
There were already six people sitting in the room.
The three people on the left are the leader of the Beggars’ Sect, Lao Qifeng, the leader of the Cao Gang, Yu Qing, and the old man who broke through the barrier during the day; the two people on the right, sitting at the table are the Shaolin abbot Yongjie and the Wudang elder Zhisheng.
There was also Li Miao, who was sitting cross-legged in the main seat, wearing a loose inner garment, a bearskin cloak on his shoulders, and leisurely eating fruits and drinking wine.
The forces with the highest inheritance, the largest number of people, the largest territories, and the richest in the martial arts world are all included in this side hall.
To be honest, Liu Chengxuan didn’t even know whether he should sit down. The people present were all important figures that he could only see from afar. He was afraid that he would not be able to remember which hand to use to hold the chopsticks when he was suddenly asked to eat in the same room with these people.
Fortunately, after Li Miao saw him, he raised his hand and greeted him.
“Brother is here.”
He pointed to the empty seat.
“Sit down. The food will take a while. Have some wine to warm yourself up first.”
Only then did Liu Chengxuan carefully sit down in the empty seat.
“By the way, let me introduce you to some of you.”
Li Miao raised his glass and pointed at Liu Chengxuan.
“Huanhua Sword Sect, Sect Leader Liu Chengxuan, my friend.”
“After all, I am an official, and I have a lot of things to do. When we meet in the martial arts world in the future, please take care of me.”
Teng!
Liu Chengxuan stood up suddenly.
“Mr. Li, this, this…”
Liu Chengxuan wanted to raise the wine glass, but his hands began to tremble involuntarily, and the wine was about to spill on the edge of the glass. He forced himself to use his internal energy to calm the movement, but his face still turned red and he was speechless.
Yongjie and Zhisheng glanced at Liu Chengxuan and smiled.
Lao Qifeng and Yu Qing stood up and walked to Liu Chengxuan’s table enthusiastically to get to know him. Both of them were veterans, and they became familiar with each other after a few words.
Li Miao sat at the top, looking at Liu Chengxuan, who was surrounded by Lao Qifeng and Yu Qing and was at a loss, and took a sip of wine with interest.
Except for Liu Chengxuan, who was still immersed in the excitement of making friends with big names like Lao Qifeng and Yu Qing, everyone present had been in the underworld for at least 20 years. No one thought that Li Miao’s drinking was aimless.
While chatting with Liu Chengxuan, Lao Qifeng glanced at Li Miao at the top of the table and sighed secretly. Looking at the excited Liu Chengxuan in front of him, he couldn’t help but feel a little jealous.
After the Ming Cult assassinated the emperor, the martial arts world was in turmoil.
Just killing people won’t calm people’s hearts.
Both kindness and power are used. The “power” should be shown at tomorrow’s moon-viewing banquet, but there is still a lack of “kindness” that everyone will remember and see when they look up.
Lao Qifeng clinked glasses with Liu Chengxuan enthusiastically, raised his head and drank it all. While Liu Chengxuan was drinking, he took a deep look at him.
This “favor” will probably fall on the Huanhua Sword Sect.
(End of this chapter)