The monarch changed the topic, looked at the shrike and said: "Three years ago, I should have let you go freely, but because of my physical condition, I have to bother you to stay in office until now. Bashi Country also needs someone like you.
Veteran minister of the country, I'm afraid I will have to let you work hard for a few more years after the young minister succeeds to the throne. You also know my great wish."
The shrike stood up without a word and went to the back to perform the courtesy of a king and a minister. The back also stood up, supported the old minister with both hands, and asked, "Are you all ready?"
Shrike replied: "Everything is ready! ... Tomorrow the Lord will leave the forbidden area to inspect the city walls of the country, and General Beidao will return to the capital to announce the news of this place, and then lead his team to go to Zheng Shiguo."
The monarch nodded and said: "Okay, very good, thank you very much! ...You can go back and rest. Call General Beidao here. I have other things to tell you."
The shrike was about to leave, but he just stood up and said: "Master, I remembered a rumor, I don't know whether I should tell it or not."
Hou Lin wondered: "When did you become so hesitant to talk to me?"
Shrike explained: "It has something to do with Mr. Li Lu's identity, but my guess is too incredible, so it's hard to say."
Hou Lin asked curiously: "Is there something wrong with this person? I have entrusted my life to his hands, and I know what he did in Xiangshi Kingdom and Pengshan. He is a trustworthy person."
Shrike smiled bitterly and said: "I'm not saying there is anything wrong with this person, but his identity may be shocking."
Hou Lin: "Did you see anything? I have entrusted him with a big task. Although there are other remedial arrangements, no mistakes should be made in the end! ... Does this person's origin have anything to do with anyone?"
Shrike replied in a low voice: "The legendary Mr. Xiangsha Taiyi."
The Hou Lin were both surprised and delighted: "The young gentleman is the descendant of Senior Xiang Sha?"
Shrike shook his head: "If the young gentleman comes from Xiangsha's sect, there would be nothing surprising. But I think he is not a disciple of Xiangsha, and is probably Mr. Taiyi himself!"
Hou Lin opened his mouth in surprise, stood up involuntarily and said, "Are you kidding?"
Shrike: "How dare I joke about this kind of thing? If I hadn't talked to the master in private, even if I had such a suspicion in my heart, I wouldn't have said it out loud."
Lord Gongzheng explained it to the monarch, and the reasons he gave were similar to Xiling's analysis of Xinlan. But Xiling said this to Xinlan in Feihong City, and Huwa went through a lot later.
Now that Shrike suspects that he is Xiangsha, the evidence seems to be more abundant.
There is definitely not only one knowledgeable person in Xiling in Ba Yuan. Shrike has been a laborer in Bashi for many years and is also a six-level monk. His knowledge is only wider than that of Xiling, and he also understands many people in Xiling.
It's a secret that no one has heard of. His analysis is more reasonable, but if he wants to completely confirm this guess, there are still more puzzling things.
After hearing this, Houlin had the same idea as Shrike. He couldn't believe it was true and couldn't deny that this speculation was reasonable. He sighed: "This person saw Xingsha in Feihong City of Xiangshi Kingdom.
Then he had Xingsha's token; he met senior Cangsha in Longma City, and they drank wine and talked with him, and traveled together for several months.
He killed Meng Yingqiu's disciples and broke into our country. Even if Gong Lang wanted to die on his own, it would be fine if Meng Yingqiu didn't pursue it. Ke Mingsha sent a message and asked him to personally pick a Li Pearl, the elixir of immortality. This is clear
It just means inviting him to meet. If he is Senior Xiangsha, then it can be explained."
This monarch spoke very measuredly, and would not forget his promise just because he was having a private conversation with his best friend for many years in his inner chamber. He did not say anything about the secret secret of Huwa's possession of the essence.
It was also suspected that Huwa was the descendant of Qingsha. There were no rumors that Xiangsha had also mastered the Jinghua Jue. But it was not impossible.
Xiang Sha is said to be the eldest master among the Seven Shas of Bayuan. It is said that he has been alive for thousands of years. Before the establishment of the Ba Kingdom, he had already practiced in the wilderness of the western frontier of Ba Yuan. So in this long period
Over the years, it is entirely possible that he has obtained the secret of the Essence Secret.
The reason why no one knows that Senior Xiangsha knows the Jinghua Jue is because there is no need for him to use this secret technique for others to see. The Jinghua Jue is not used to fight with others. As for watching, all the people in Ba Yuan have seen it.
His people probably all witnessed it with their own eyes, because Xiangsha has always shown himself as a boy. If he hadn't told people, no one would have guessed that he was the legendary Xiangsha.
It is said that the secret of Jinghua Jue is that people can have long life with the peak of youth. If Mr. Taiyi had broken through the six realms when he was young and mastered the Jinghua Jue, then he might have such a description for his whole life. Unless his state of mind
If there are changes or manifestations, it is even more difficult for ordinary people to measure.
Thinking of this, Hou Lin asked again: "The more I think about it, the more I think your speculation is reasonable, but I have seen Mr. Li Lu with my own eyes, and I am confident and have the ability to recognize people. Why do I think he is just a child! It's definitely not you.
An old man like me pretends to be a young man, let alone a senior master like Xiang Sha."
Shrike smiled bitterly again and said: "I am confident that I will not be mistaken. Li Lu is indeed a young man, not just described as a young man. But if he is Senior Xiangsha, it is not impossible. Senior Xiangsha has the appearance of a boy.
He is not deliberately pretending to be someone else. It is said that he has a childlike heart and is still young. He sees all kinds of things in the world without losing his original simplicity. This is his practice and a great supernatural power. The same is true for his state.
Even if you are a child for thousands of years."
Hou Lin let out a long breath and said: "In this case, Mr. Li Lu may really be Senior Taiyi. If you want to confirm, I'm afraid there is only one way to ask him face to face - are you the Senior Xiangsha Taiyi?"
Shrike quickly waved his hands and said: "My lord, you must not do this. You may not understand the cultivation of such an expert. When he walked in Ba Yuan and called himself Mr. Li Lu, then he is really Mr. Li Lu. If you do this, if he is really
Senior Xiang Sha will not deny it, but Li Lu will no longer deny it. What is in front of you is Xiang Sha, what should I do, my lord?"
Hou Lin smiled and said: "I was just joking with you, how could I really do that? It seems that he thinks he is smart, but he is asking for embarrassment. A young gentleman is a young gentleman. If he is really like Senior Xiangsha, then
We couldn’t ask for it more, and this is also a great blessing for Shaowu!”
…
When Huwa left Jinling'ao, he didn't know that Shrike had also made the same guess as Xiling. Now the kings of Xiangshi Kingdom and Bashi Kingdom all suspect that he is the legendary Mr. Xiangsha Taiyi.
But this kind of thing will not reach his ears, because no one dares to say it casually.
Xiling and Shrike are not the only people with extensive knowledge in Ba Yuan. If others heard about Huwa’s deeds, would they also make the same guess? - This is quite interesting, and they coincide with each other.
misunderstanding.
The monarch Hou Lin left the Pengshan forbidden area and, surrounded by honor guards, patrolled various cities in the country in high spirits, accepting blessings and greetings from all the people. Wherever he passed, it became a grand festival for the local people. And General Beidaoshi
Then he rushed back to the capital from the forbidden area of Pengshan and announced the good news to the remaining ministers in the court - the monarch had been treated by a miraculous doctor with rare elixirs, and his body was as healthy as ever.
The monarch's physical condition is a very secretive matter. There were only a handful of people who knew about it originally, and most people just made various guesses based on rumors. Of course, the people who know about it now are skeptical about this news, and it is impossible for Hou Lin to survive.
It has been too long. Is there any other motive for doing this now? But this kind of suspicion can only be kept in the heart or discussed in private, and must not be spoken out publicly.
Then General Beidao led a delegation to visit Zheng Shiguo on the order of the monarch. This visit was for a reason, because there was a flood in the southern border of Bashi State last year. At that time, in order to relieve the victims, Bashi State had borrowed money from Zheng Shiguo.
grain.
This is not because the Bashi Kingdom is short of money and food. In fact, its warehouses are richer than those of the Zhengshi Kingdom. However, the flood occurred in Shanchuan City, which borders the Zhengshi Kingdom in the southernmost part of the country.
At that time, the roads were washed away by floods, and the victims could not wait too long, so Houlin sent people to ask Zheng Shiguo for help. It would be faster and more convenient to transport supplies from neighboring countries. Zheng Shiguo agreed.
This would also give them a good reputation morally, but they put forward a condition - they would require Bashi to repay more goods afterwards.
This is equivalent to lending money for profit. Zheng Shiguo agreed to borrow grain, but asked Bashi State to return other goods whose value is obviously greater than that batch of grain. Bashi State can afford to pay it back anyway. If it is just ordinary wealth
It's just goods, the Zheng Kingdom also specifically asked for a batch of soldiers and armor.
The densely populated city walls of Ba Yuan can now organize large-scale mining and metallurgy by civilians. However, the best artifacts, at least treasures, are smelted and crafted by folk craftsmen, and finally need to be refined by Gonggong's mana, otherwise
It is difficult to obtain pure materials, and ordnance cannot have excellent performance.
Gold, silver, bronze and other objects are sometimes easy to say, as long as you invest a lot of manpower and material resources, but things like fine steel cannot be made by ordinary craftsmen, and must be refined by monks using the method of refining weapons. Ordinary
Although ironware can occasionally be smelted, the process is extremely difficult and expensive. The smelted items are full of impurities and cannot be used. They will rust away after a period of time.
That's why each city has the position of Gonggong, and invites all monks in the third realm and above within its jurisdiction to be Gonggong. As long as they enter the first realm and can practice, those who may become Gonggong in the future will be exempted from taxes and labor.
This request from Zheng Shiguo was very excessive, but they chose to use the banner of Wufuqiu to say that they were preparing to offer a batch of fine swords and treasures to the masters on Wufuqiu for their training. It was difficult to raise them all at the moment, so they also asked Bashiguo to do so.
Do me a favor. Hou Lin knew that the other party was blackmailing him, and he might have wanted to take the opportunity to weaken Bashi's military strength somewhat, but he still nodded and agreed.
After the turn of the year, the road had been repaired, and the Bashi Kingdom decided to "return" the property and utensils requested by the Zheng Shi Kingdom. It was necessary to abide by the promise. The envoy was sent to deliver the things, and Hou Lin also ordered the envoy to report to Zheng Shiguo.
Shi Guojun expressed his gratitude in person. (To be continued...)