Chapter 146: Prime Minister Wang Invites Out the Crazy Taoist
The people who were released came back in disgrace one by one, shaking their heads and waving their hands, saying that they could not find such a worldly expert. After Wang Shugui scolded all the people who were doing the work, he was still at a loss. When he calmed down and thought about it, he was still at a loss.
Most of the great people either live in seclusion in ancient temples in the mountains or hide in the vast sea of people. These people are like dragons that can be seen but not seen. They can be encountered but cannot be sought. Where can they find them in such a big way?
Prime Minister Wang was anxious and worried about this matter, so he didn't think about delicious food every day, couldn't sleep peacefully every night, and was no longer interested in women. Not to mention the gang of pretty little girls in the courtyard, he was completely obsessed with it.
Lost his desire. Under such circumstances, Prime Minister Wang still had to return to his wife, the old lady. Seeing that he was sighing and frowning all day long, the old lady was very concerned and asked:
"What's on my mind, please tell me and let my wife listen."
Prime Minister Wang said disdainfully: "You are a woman with long hair and short knowledge. Telling you is like playing the harp to a cow, so it is better not to tell."
The old lady said: "There's always wind in your farts, and there's still water in your spit. What's wrong with you women? I might even come up with a clever trick for you! Looking at your gloomy look, don't you think other people are upset?
?”
Wang Shugui turned around and looked at his old wife, who had lived with him for more than half his life, and felt unbearable. His wife was born in an official family, and she was considered a wealthy young lady with lots of flowers at that time! After marrying him, she was gentle and virtuous, and followed him in everything.
Yi Baishun had never blushed once with him. Husband and wife have been friends for hundreds of years, sharing happiness and adversity. After thinking about it, he revealed all the difficult things in his heart.
Unexpectedly, Mrs. Wei burst out laughing after hearing this.
Prime Minister Wang was puzzled and asked his wife why she was laughing.
The lady said: "Sir, you are also a very human minister. As the head of a hundred officials, you are in charge of the major affairs of the court. You can be regarded as a powerful person among people. Why can't you do anything because of such a trivial matter?"
Wang Shugui immediately beamed with joy and said, "Is it true that Madam has a well-thought-out plan?"
"As a woman, what do you think?" Madam put on airs.
Wang Shugui condescended to the virtuous man and hurriedly bowed and said: "Madam, you and I are one and the same, why do you need to take advantage of me? Don't you know that my hair is already burning in the fire?"
The lady calmly said: "Husband, that Guo Banxian who did Feng Shui for us back then, I think he is a good master."
Wang Shugui suddenly realized, clapped his hands and stamped his feet and said: "It's all my fault that I was confused for a moment. How could I forget about this old man? I just don't know if this person is still alive?"
"How could he not be alive anymore? He was only around fifty at that time, and he will be sixty in ten years. He will not be alive anymore." Madam said calmly.
"This man travels all over the world, acting crazy and stupid all day long. I don't know where to find him?" Prime Minister Wang wondered.
"Looking for his house?" the lady reminded.
"How can such a person have a family? A monk has no family!" Wang Shugui sighed.
"Aren't Wen Shichang friends with him?" said the lady.
"It's just an ordinary friend, but I can try with Lao Wen." Prime Minister Wang wanted to try his luck.
The servant invited Wen Shichang. Wang Shugui said that he wanted to find Guo Banxian. Wen Shichang shook his head and said:
"Enxiang, I'm afraid I haven't seen this person for five or six years, and I don't know where he ended up."
"Does he have a family?" Wang Shugui asked unwillingly.
"How can he have a family? But I heard that he is familiar with Feng Jingang, and they seem to be somewhat related to each other." Wen Shichang said.
"If you don't open the pot and lift the pot, Lao Feng is already dead. What's the point of lifting him?" Wang Shugui said angrily.
Wen Shichang explained: "Old Feng is dead, but there are people in his family!"
Wang Shugui couldn't help but sigh: "After Lao Feng died, his family asked for a pension of 10,000 taels of silver, but I didn't agree. He died at the hands of a young eunuch, and he didn't die in a king's affair. It doesn't count as sacrificing his life for the country.
Of course, Chaoting won't pay for it, so do you want me to pay for it on his behalf?"
Wen Shichang lowered his head and thought for a while, then said: "En Xiang, I have a plan to get the best of both worlds."
Wang Shugui scolded: "Say, you still have to show off in front of me."
"Invite people from the Prime Minister's Mansion to go to Feng Jingang's house and find out clearly who killed Lao Feng. He is the harem eunuch Pan You'an. Now if we want to avenge Lao Feng, we must invite the expert Guo Banxian to ask them if they know.
What’s the whereabouts of Guo Banxian? By the way, I brought a thousand taels of silver to his family so that they could live without rice.”
"Where do you want me to find a thousand taels of silver? You know that the Cuihua case caused trouble for me. The young eunuch threatened to take revenge, and the stepmother beat her son secretly and hard, and almost didn't bankrupt the family. Where can I have so much money now?"
Just a hundred taels!"
"I can't get a hundred taels. After all, he was also a general in charge of the army. Although he died in an unknown manner, you and I know that it was not for official duties, at least 500 taels." Wen Shichang argued forcefully.
"Let's see, Lao Wen," Wang Shugui thought for a while and said, "Normally, Lao Feng's death was also related to your improper command, and you can't escape it. I'll give you two hundred taels, and you can chip in another hundred taels and send it away.
How is Lao Feng’s family doing?”
Wen Shichang complained bitterly: "To be honest with you, I don't have that much. A large family needs to eat and drink. I haven't been promoted to the fourth-grade official position in ten years. The imperial rations are always so few.
The population is constantly increasing, where do you think I can get money?"
"Forget it, forget it," Wang Shugui waved his hand and said, "I still have two hundred taels, you take fifty taels and make up the number of two hundred and five, this should be done, right?"
Wen Shichang sighed and said: "Two hundred and five is unlucky, I'll give you forty-eight taels! Just go back and open your mouth like this. I don't know how your sister-in-law scolds me? It's strange that I haven't had enough food for three days!"
Wang Shugui said impatiently: "Go ahead. When I have money later, I will make up for it for you. Can I lend it to you?"
Because the matter was urgent, Wang Shugui and Wen Shichang hurriedly went to talk with the money. Feng Jingang's family heard that they wanted to avenge Lao Feng, so they didn't care about the money. Two hundred and forty-eight was just two hundred and forty-eight.
It is better to have one tael than none at all, so he accepted the money and then told the truth about Guo Banxian's whereabouts: Kongtong Mountain became a monk and became a Taoist.
Guo Banxian and Feng Jingang are cousins. When Feng Jingang went out to kill the young eunuch, Lao Feng once approached Guo Banxian. Guo Banxian pointed his fingers and said:
"Cousin, this is not appropriate. That little eunuch is very strong and has four gods of wealth protecting him from the east, west, south and north. I'm afraid you are no match for him."
Feng Jingang was eager to achieve great results and said disapprovingly: "Brother, with the Prime Minister as my backing, what can a lottery man do to me?"
"Although the lottery man is a lottery man, I'm afraid it's a fake. My cousin heard my brother's words, my own life is important, so I'd better resign from this job!"
Feng Jingang laughed at his cousin Guo Banxian's nonsense, refused to listen, and lost his life.
Kongtong Mountain is far away from Pingliang, Gansu Province, and the journey there and back is at least five thousand miles.
Guo Banxian practiced Taoism in the mountains and occasionally walked around. On this day, he was meditating in a cave when he suddenly heard a child coming to report:
"Three donors came down the mountain. The leader is called Shao Wanqiang. They said they were envoys sent by the Prime Minister Wang. They want to talk to Master. Do you want to see them or not? If not, I will send them away."
Guo Banxian lowered his head and pondered for a moment, knowing that this was a calamity in his previous life, and he couldn't help it if he didn't leave the mountain this time, so he said:
"Tong'er, please invite the three of them into the cave. I want to talk to them."
Guo Banxian's original name was Guo Daocheng. He went to become a monk at Baiyun Temple in Kongtong Mountain to study Taoism since he was a child. His master thought that he had extraordinary appearance and profound Taoism. He was a rare good student in Taoism, so he paid special attention to him and taught him the five arts and metaphysics.
, as well as Laozi's "Tao De Zhen", etc. When the master was about to ascend to heaven and on his deathbed, he secretly told him again and again that important ministers in a dynasty with a royal surname must not be enemies with him, otherwise there will be endless troubles and his reputation will be ruined for the rest of his life.
.
Guo Daocheng has never been able to figure out which person this person is. It is said to be the king's prime minister. Although the surname coincides with it, it seems to be different. The master did not give the specific name, and there are few ministers surnamed Wang in the court.
Which of the ten figures is it? Since he is an important minister, he must be a very important minister. In addition to Prime Minister Wang, the only one who is important in the court today is Pan You'an. However, Pan You'an's surname is Pan and not Wang, so it must have nothing to do with it. From this
It seems that no matter how profound the Taoist person is, he can only know one thing but not the other. Pan You'an's origins cannot be detected by a Taoist person.
Guo Banxian is also called the Crazy Taoist. In fact, he is neither crazy nor stupid. Pretending to be crazy or stupid is one of his methods. At critical moments, when there are things that are inconvenient to say clearly or do not want to say at all or cannot be said, he will pretend to be crazy or stupid.
, deceiving his boss to pass the test. Most masters in the world have this method. Guo Banxian does not pretend to be stupid at ordinary times, but he only pretends to be stupid when it is time to practice. At this time, it is even more obvious that his Taoism is profound, and everyone in the world thinks he is real.
Became a god.
Soon after he arrived at the Prime Minister's Mansion, Wang Shugui opened the door and went out to greet him. When he was seated in the study, a boy brought him tea. Wang Shugui took a closer look at the body of this half-immortal, who was already in his sixties.
He still has a fresh face, red lips and white teeth, hair like ink, and bright eyes. He is wearing a Taoist robe, a Taoist crown on his head, his steps are vigorous, and his body is straight. Because he is an old friend, after a little politeness, he speaks frankly.
He told the truth and said:
"...Master Guo, think about it, if a fake eunuch brings trouble to the inner palace, how can I, as the leader of all ministers, ever have peace?"
After hearing this, Guo Daocheng thought to himself, as expected, it was just as he predicted. The person that Prime Minister Wang calculated was exactly what he had calculated in the Baiyun Temple in Kongtong Mountain. Then he closed his eyes and thought quietly, counted a few times, and then
Said:
"Prime Minister, there is no need to worry. When I attack him with my bewitching skills, within three days, the fake eunuch will definitely be killed."