"Haha, young man, don't get your clothes dirty. Just come here."
The old monk laughed hastily.
"It's okay."
Liu Xia said and took the pumpkin.
When the old monk saw it, he didn't say much. He and Liu Xia returned to the backyard and put the pumpkin in the kitchen. The old monk smiled and said, "Thank you very much, young man. Come and have a cup of tea to quench your thirst." [
Liu Xia couldn't resist his kindness, and since he had nothing else to do, he and the old monk went to his room.
The old monk's room is right next to the kitchen. The furnishings inside are extremely simple.
There is a wooden bed, a table, and a Buddhist niche in the room, filled with incense and mist.
Apart from that, there was nothing else in the room, but it looked clean and spotless.
After sitting down, the old monk gave him a cup of tea and said, "This tea is not good. Please give me a sip."
Liu Xia picked up the tea cup and smelled the fragrant aroma of the tea. She took a slight sip and her lips and teeth were fragrant. She couldn't help but admired: "What a good tea."
"The ones you grow yourself taste better than the ones sold outside. From the accent of the family, you are not a local. Where are you from?"
The old monk held a string of Buddhist beads in one hand, picked up the tea cup and took a sip and asked.
Liu Xia's accent has a strong northwest accent, after all, where she grew up.
"I'm from Longdu."
Liu Xia smiled.
"Well, no wonder. You can tell from the young master's demeanor that he comes from a big place."
The monk smiled and said, but when he said this, the old monk said: "Look at the young master's splendid clothes and rich appearance. It's just that the anger between his eyebrows is very strong. In the long run, I'm afraid it will hinder the young master's cultivation."
"Thank you Zen Master for reminding me. However, in the world of rivers and lakes, people cannot help themselves. Why would I never want to be like the eminent monks, picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence and leisurely seeing the Nanshan Mountains. It's a pity that I was born with a hard life."
Liu Xia smiled bitterly.
"It's a good sentence to pick chrysanthemums under the eastern fence and see Nanshan leisurely. The young master has this artistic conception, but I am too worried. Come and have tea."
The old monk poured another cup for Liu Xia and said with a smile.
"The donor came all the way from Longdu. Although the scenery here in Wuzhou is not beautiful, it is also unique. The donor can go around."
"The scenery is indeed good, but although the scenery here is beautiful, the place not far from here is full of desolation. I really have no mood."[
"The family is talking about the vicinity of Qiu County?"
"It seems that the Zen Master knows?"
"Haha, people come and go here every day. It's easy to know something. Yuntianling mountain bandits are rampant. It can really be said to be a purgatory on earth."
"Yes, although the bandits are hateful, the most hateful thing is the official."
Liu Xia said angrily.
"Young Master is young and energetic. However, there is a saying that if the water is clear, the fish will come. This corrupt official cannot be killed. Because the human heart is inherently greedy. Otherwise greed, anger and ignorance would not have become taboos in Buddhism."
The old monk smiled.
"I know this, but people should also have kind thoughts. Corruption is not something I can solve. It is a system problem. However, corruption has reached such an extent that it will not work unless it is solved. I have seen with my own eyes how the people there are
Struggling in dire straits and heat. If you can’t get through me,
Even with my meager strength, I am not sorry for the fate of heaven. This place is called Fulong Temple, which is the place where Zen Master Huiming subdued the evil dragon. Although I do not have the cultivation and wisdom of Zen Master Huiming, I will not consider this place
I won't give up on completely changing my appearance."
Liu Xia said calmly.
"Amitabha, it seems inevitable that people will be in ruins again."
"This is wrong. Could it be that if I don't act, there won't be a loss of life in this place? I, the Buddha, say that I am compassionate. Doing a good deed is also compassion. Killing demons and eradicating evil is also compassion. If I go to hell because of this, I will not regret it.
"
Liu Xia smiled.
"That's good, that's good. The donor is indeed a wise person. I believe that the donor's wish will come true."
The old monk smiled.
"Thank you for your kind words, Master. It's getting late, so I'll take my leave first."
Having said this, Liu Xia turned around and prepared to leave.
"Donor, please stay. I still have some tea I grew here. Donor didn't mind it, so I took it on the road to drink. If a family can benefit the common people, it can be considered a meritorious deed of a poor monk."
The old monk smiled.
"Thank you very much, Master."
Liu Xia was naturally not polite, took a tea bucket made of bamboo tubes, bowed her waist and thanked him.
"You're welcome, I have another message for the donor. Please don't be offended."
The old monk smiled.[
"Master, just tell me directly."
"Amitabha, things are going to change. Donors, please pay more attention."
The old monk smiled.
Liu Xia was stunned for a moment, looking at the thousands of miles of clouds in the sky. He didn't understand what the old monk meant for a moment, so he smiled and said, "I know, Master, there's no need to send it away."
After coming out of the old monk's place, Caiwei and the others had finished their prayers. Dabao was still chanting sutras, so they did not disturb him. Liu Liansheng was left waiting for him here, and they continued to go out for fun with Song Yuanshan.
After Liu Xia left the temple, Song Aolong, wearing casual clothes, appeared in the old monk's room.
Seeing the old monk, Song Aolong bowed his waist with great respect and said: "Old man, you asked me to come, what are your orders?"
The old monk was sitting cross-legged on the bed with Buddhist beads in his hands. He suddenly stopped, opened his eyes slightly and said, "Tell God, there are some muddy waters that you can't wade in. It's time to wipe out the bandits in Yuntianling. Go ahead."
"
Song Aolong was suddenly startled, but he didn't ask any more questions. He cupped his fists and said, "I understand."
After saying that, he retreated outside the door and disappeared.
It was already late when we returned to the Song Palace.
Caiwei and Yao Wenxin bought a bunch of things and were very excited.
Dabao was silent since he came out of the temple.
On the way back to the room, Liu Xia asked curiously: "I said, are you just hungry?"
"Hey, I haven't worshiped the Buddha for a long time, and now I am reciting sutras. It makes this poor monk feel deeply guilty for the crimes he has committed during this period of time."
Dabao said with a serious face.
"Well, you are suddenly so profound, which makes me a little uncomfortable. So what do you mean, you are going to change your mind, eat fast, chant Buddha's name, and become a monk again?"
Liu Xia asked.
"Amitabha, this poor monk just feels guilty. You still have to recite the Buddha's name. You don't have to eat fast. I heard that in order to entertain us tonight, the palace specially prepared the most unique banquet here. It would be a sin not to eat.
.”
Dabao rolled his eyes at Liu Xia and said.
Liu Xia's current language.
After returning to the room, Liu Xia opened the old monk's tea leaves, poured some out and brewed them. This tea had such a beautiful taste that it was really rare.
Even the imperial court's tribute tea does not have this taste.
While they were sipping tea, they heard Li Tianyou shouting outside the room door: "My humble minister Li Tianyou, please bow to the prince."
At that moment, Liu Xia hurriedly stood up and went out. He helped Li Tianyou up and said, "Don't be so polite, Lord Song. I got a bucket of good tea today. Come in and taste it with me. I guarantee that as the head of the Song family, you won't be so polite."
Drink it."
Song Tianyou and Liu Xia entered the room, and Liu Xia poured him a cup. Song Tianyou picked up the teacup, took a sip and was surprised, then hurriedly smiled and said: "It is indeed good tea."
Then he smiled and said: "I have something to do today and I am not accompanying the prince. Is the prince still having fun?"
"Hey, I am a guest. You should be busy with your business. This prince took us and had a great time eating, drinking and having fun. The Duke of Song needs to miss me. But let's talk about business. I'm afraid I won't be able to stay here for much longer."
Liu Xia smiled.
"What orders does the prince have?"
Song Tianyou asked hurriedly and seriously.
"Well, you are the head of the Song family. You must have guessed the purpose of my visit this time. Firstly, of course I want to meet the world-famous Mr. Song. Secondly, you also know that I am here to borrow money.
The food can be borrowed from people and horses. You don’t need to say much, just give me a pleasant word, whether you want to borrow it or not. Don’t talk about useless things, otherwise you will be too tired."
Liu Xia smiled.
Song Tianyou smiled awkwardly and said: "Your Majesty is indeed quick to talk. But, what does the court mean?"
"You don't need to worry about this. You know the situation in the court better than I do. I think your Majesty is determined this time, otherwise he wouldn't have brought me to this place. To tell you the truth, even though I have those bandits
I have never seen it, but judging from the situation around Qiu County, I am afraid it will be difficult to deal with. You know the equipment and training of the army stationed in Wuzhou better than I do. Really
If we fight those bandits, and it is not a plain battle, the numerical advantage will be lost. I need a well-trained, well-equipped team that is good at mountain combat. The head of the Song family is very wealthy. If you give me five thousand, I will not be too little.
Even if you give me one hundred thousand, I won't think it's too much. Anyway, I'm like a goose plucked out of my feathers. If you want to be an iron rooster, that's impossible."
Liu Xia chuckled.
"The prince has said so. If I don't give him face, wouldn't he say that the Song family is stingy? In this case, I can give you 50,000 troops and horses, and be responsible for half of the army's food and equipment. Then I will come forward and summon Wuzhou
Family, please give the prince another 20,000. A total of 70,000 people, what does the prince think?"
Song Tianyou hesitated and said.
This time, Liu Xia lost some skills.
He originally thought that sending Tianyou to Tianyou would be a big deal, but the degree of generosity turned out to be beyond Liu Xia's expectation.
"What? The prince is not satisfied? It's just that it's the busy autumn season right now. If we add more people, I'm afraid it will delay this year's harvest."
Song Tianyou smiled awkwardly.
"No, no, no, satisfied, satisfied. Mr. Song Guo is really generous. I am more than satisfied."
Liu Xia hurriedly smiled.
"To be honest with you, the prince, this group of bandits has indeed become a serious problem for our Song family. How can we allow others to sleep soundly beside the so-called couch? I have always had the intention to suppress bandits, but I have no intention of the court. My Song family
You need to think more about it. After all, this place is too close to Longdu. If the bandits are not suppressed properly and the bandits escape from Wuzhou and harass Tianbao Province, I can’t afford it."
Song Tianyou said with a sigh of relief.
"What do you mean, Mr. Song?"
Liu Xia asked.
"To be honest with you, the prince, this is what my father meant."
"That's it! If that's the case, then I'm very grateful. Now that I have borrowed the troops and horses, I have to go to Qiu County. It's just a pity that I don't know if Mr. Song is free. I really want to meet him."
Liu Xia smiled.
"Haha, hasn't the prince already become my father today?"
"Oh? When?"
"The dissatisfied prince said that the tea you are drinking now was grown by my father."
Song Tianyou smiled lightly.
After Liu Xia heard this, he couldn't help but said: "What! What a pity, I still want to learn a few tricks from him."