Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 267 Taoist Soldiers
Looking at Lei Heng and his group going away, Zhao Zhen asked, "Does the scholar have anything to do today?"

Wu Yong said: "It's nothing serious. I was planning to go to the armor workshop to see how the armor in the army is being modified."

Zhao Zhen said: "There is no rush for this. The scholar can accompany Ling Zhen and Wang Dingliu to various places in Liangshan and introduce them to the brothers stationed in various military camps so that they don't get to know each other."

Wu Yong responded and said, "Okay, I'll call brother Zhu Wu and we can go to the various military camps to check out the training and military preparations." After that, Wu Yong also said goodbye and left.

Zhao Zhen stopped at the door for a moment, then turned around and returned to the training ground. In addition to the farmhands who were doing daily drills, the [Chongfengdu] led by Bao Xu, the sumo team led by Jiao Ting and Hei Sijie, there was also the more than ten female cavalry led by Hu Sanniang.

Although this training ground is large, it is still not enough for horse training. Therefore, Hu Sanniang practiced spear skills with Zhao Zhen and said when she went to the side to drink water and rest, "Sir, there are many people and horses training in this training ground, but it is not convenient for horse riding. The sisters can't show their skills here."

Zhao Zhen thought for a moment and said, "Sanniang, this is not a military camp after all. Why don't we go to the South Camp every day? There are only three cavalry troops there, and we can run and train as much as we want. How about you wait until you finish training every day and then come back to the village?"

When Hu Sanniang heard this, her eyes lit up and she said, "That's great. I heard that Master Lin is the best martial artist. From now on, I can go to the South Camp every afternoon and learn a few moves from Master Lin."

Zhao Zhen said, "Yesterday, Sanniang also met Brother Wang Dingliu. In a few days, when he is familiar with the county, he will stay in the village except for the caravan. Although this brother has no martial arts, he is a man of integrity. I gave him the secret manual of Seven Star Double Swords yesterday. Sanniang will need his guidance in the future."

Hu Sanniang heard this and said with a smile, "My husband, I see that he has the same build as Brother Shi Qian, and he walks and jumps fast. I think learning Brother Shi Qian's martial arts would be more suitable for him."

Zhao Zhen patted his head and said, "Sanniang is right. I will ask Brother Shi Qian if he is interested. However, this [Seven Star Double Swords] is also suitable. It emphasizes sharpness and unparalleled swiftness, and requires less strength. This method is most suitable for those with quick eyes and hands."

Hu Sanniang said, "My husband is right. My father hired many masters. Apart from hidden weapons, I am most comfortable with this sword technique. I am not good at using long swords or spears."

As if she had thought of something, Hu Sanniang asked, "What sword technique did you use during the verbal duel in the bridal chamber?"

Zhao Zhen said, "This is the Twelve Postures [Shaolin Guarding Double Swords] that I learned from Master Guanghui. Madam, do you want to learn it? This set of swordsmanship is more powerful than the [Seven Star Swordsmanship]."

Hu Sanniang said: "Of course I want to learn it. This sword technique can make up for the lack of ferocity in my sword technique. If I learn this set of sword techniques, I think my martial arts will be greatly improved."

After hearing this, Zhao Zhen immediately took out his two swords and started practicing with Hu Sanniang on the training ground.

On the training ground, one taught seriously and the other learned carefully. By noon, Hu Sanniang had already learned the first six postures.

It was almost lunch time, and the two men put away their swords. Hu Sanniang still looked unsatisfied. Zhao Zhen thought that he had to go to Lingguan Temple in the afternoon, so he ended the sword-fighting lesson.

The two returned to the house together and had lunch with Cheng Wan'er. Hu Sanniang took the sixteen girls and rode to the South Camp for training. Zhao Zhen also called Zhang Qi and other farmhands and rode to the Lingguan Temple in Dongxi Village.

When Zhao Zhen arrived, Taoist Dong had been waiting for a long time. When he saw Zhao Zhen, he asked Zhao Zhen to wash his hands, mouth and body, and then asked Zhao Zhen to go to the altar. Because Zhao Zhen had drunk wine and eaten meat yesterday and had not fasted, Taoist Dong gave Zhao Zhen a few instructions and asked him to watch from the side, and did not ask Zhao Zhen to go to the altar and hold the flag.

Zhao Zhen stood aside and saw Taoist Dong wearing a crane cloak, holding a sword, burning incense to pay respect to heaven and earth, and chanting incantations. This happened three times, from the hour of the first hour to the hour of the evening.

Finally, he recited: "The Sun and Moon Boy comes from the east, steps on the land of Wuyin, wears the Holy Ying Pagoda on his head, holds the holy instruments in his hands, and comes to consecrate you! Hurry up and obey the command!"

Finally, he lit another stick of incense before leaving the altar. After three hours, Taoist Dong was still energetic. He took off his crane cloak and changed into his usual Taoist robe. Taoist Dong said to Zhao Zhen, "Sir, the consecration is now complete. You can take down the magic weapon after this stick of incense burns out."

Zhao Zhen said: "Thank you for your hard work, old Taoist. I wonder what grade this magic weapon can become?"

Taoist Dong said, "Sir, this time we used fourth-grade peach wood. In my opinion, based on the material itself, it should be a second-grade magic weapon at the worst. However, my craftsmanship is limited, so it can only be a third-grade magic weapon at best."

Zhao Zhen said, "That would be great. Did the Taoist light the well yesterday?"

"Yesterday, the Taoist priest left and placed the porcelain bowls according to the law. This morning, he pointed out the locations of three wells. Lord Lu Zhishen personally led people to dig wells. I came back early today because I wanted to consecrate the instruments. I don't know what happened next."

After hearing this, Zhao Zhen called Zhang Qi over, gave him some instructions, and sent him with two farmhands to go to Baozhu Temple to inquire about the news.

When the incense in the incense burner burned out, Taoist Dong went up to the altar, took down the magic weapon on the altar, took a quick look at it, and handed it to Zhao Zhen.

Zhao Zhen took it and looked at it. As Taoist Dong had expected, among the three peach wood swords, a peach wood axe and a peach wood gourd, only one peach wood sword and the peach wood gourd were third-level, while the other two peach wood swords and the peach wood axe were second-level.

world log
Thousand-year-old peach wood sword (Level 3, made of a thousand-year-old peach wood trunk, engraved with dragon and phoenix patterns, with supreme power.)
Characteristics: Kill ghosts +3, ward off evil spirits +3
As for the second-level peach wood sword, all of them have +2 properties. The second-level peach wood axe has two properties, in addition to +2 for killing ghosts and exorcising evil spirits, there is also a +1 property for might.

The thousand-year-old peach wood gourd also has the usual introduction, but its properties are not to kill ghosts, but to cure diseases +2, exorcise evil spirits +2, pray for blessings +2, and one can actually capture ghosts +3, and can store ten Taoist soldiers.

Zhao Zhen asked in confusion: "Taoist soldiers? Taoist priest, do you know what this is?"

Taoist Dong held his long beard and said, "The Taoist soldiers can be divided into three categories: upper altar soldiers, middle altar soldiers and lower altar soldiers."

"The soldiers and horses on the altar are the officers and generals assigned by the Heavenly Court when receiving the talisman. They are used for worshipping, praying to the stars, and combining qi to summon the gods. It's a pity that this lineage of Taoist priests has long lost the method of conscripting soldiers."

"That's not right. Since it was allocated when the talisman was conferred, I was also conferred the [Shangqing Dadong Sutra talisman] when I took office. How come there is no talisman for the general?"

Taoist Dong also said with embarrassment: "Sir, I have lost my inheritance after all. I really don't know. Maybe it's because I have lost the connection with heaven and earth and my Taoism is not obvious. I have never had any soldiers from the upper altar. I have been hanging around Niutou Mountain all my life, and I have never had any soldiers from the middle or lower altar."

Zhao Zhen asked, "Old Taoist, what do the soldiers and horses of the Middle Altar and the Lower Altar mean?"

Taoist Dong said: "The soldiers and horses in the Central Altar are mainly from the Five Mountains. The mage wears the Five Mountains military talisman and can send letters to mobilize them. They can collect souls and spirits and suppress and exorcise evil spirits."

"The Xiatan soldiers have the most origins, including the Five Demons, Five Spiritual Officials, Five Tongs, Wandering Masters, Shelings, Five Immortal Soldiers, and Patriarchs. They are composed of wandering masters, dead souls, mandrills, and spirits. Their origins are diverse, and their combat effectiveness varies from person to person, but they are the easiest to command. They can be used to pray for clear weather and stop rain, or to stop bleeding and ward off evil."

Zhao Zhen listened and asked Taoist Dong to explain it in detail, and he kept it in mind. He still kept these magic tools and placed them in the temple for worship.

(End of this chapter)