The Demon Soul is Coming

() spring is warm and flowers are blooming.

Liu Sang walked among the gardens of Dragon Palace.

In the distance, a group of young girls are playing by the lake, they are all female disciples of Toad Palace.

Although the Xuanyu Corps has been formed, they are women after all, and it is always inconvenient to live in the barracks, and the Dragon Palace in Nuoda is empty, and the people of the Chu family have been moved outside, and the servants and servants of the father-in-law and the Xia family Still in Ningyun City, not moved here.Therefore, Liu Sang let all these Xuanyu female soldiers live in, and studied spells and trained soldiers in the Dragon Palace.

Those female disciples already knew a lot about this Great Palace Master, knowing that he is more easy-going... Maybe it's almost casual, and he can do whatever he wants outside of business, even if he fights in front of him, he won't Will take it to heart.In addition, a group of female disciples were originally the same age as him, and those colorful clothes were even older than him. Gradually, they were not so afraid of him.

Of course Liu Sang didn't care that much about this, besides, this dragon palace was originally a palace for the emperor's entertainment a long time ago, and a lot of girls lived in, joking and having fun, and he was the only man... It felt like opening a harem. ..

Then again, tomorrow is the third day of March, Shangsi Festival.

Liu Sang sighed.

I originally promised Sister Yue that I would go up the mountain to "meet men and women" with her on the day of Shangsi Festival, but I can't get away now. It seems that I can only renege on my promise. I hope she won't blame me.

But Sister Yue is so gentle, she can always forgive her.

And Tweety...

From then on, Liu Sang came to Youyi City to deal with Cao An's gang, Hu Cui'er went back to Toad Palace first, and the two separated first.When he returned to Ningyun City, Hu Cui'er was approached by Hu Yuetian again, and the two daughters went to Qingqiu together.

Then the war broke out, and until now, Hu Cui'er has not been found.

It's not like her at all.

And she didn't go back to Toad Palace either.

At that time, why did Hu Yuetian find her?

What did she do again.Why haven't you come back yet?

For Hu Cui'er, Liu Sang naturally had nothing to worry about, that fox girl was very slippery.Not to mention going home again.The fox family has always disliked being involved in human wars, maybe she was just kept.

Liu Sang stepped into Ganyuan Hall.

Ganyuan Hall is facing the main entrance of the Dragon Palace, and it is the main hall for discussing affairs. In the past, the Chu Clans also used to discuss matters with important officials here.

only.Although the Chu Clan at that time was much more powerful than the Xia Clan in Ningyun City, even though it was a big fief, it was not comparable to the Xia Clan.But the difference in titles is reflected here. The Chu family is a scholar-bureaucrat, not a prince. According to "Zhou Li. Kao Gong Ji", they are called princes when they sit and talk about Taoism, and they are called officials when they act.Doctors are only "acting on behalf of princes and princes", and they are still officials in name, and they cannot open a mansion.It is still necessary to "go up to the heaven to listen", and the appointment will be made by the imperial court, and only after completing the formalities can they take office.

But Xia Qi is a lieutenant. Xia Yingchen, in the name of his father, opened a mansion in Ganyuan Hall to discuss affairs and directly appoint officials, which was originally the power of the princes.As for Marquis Luming who was entrusted to Xu Dong, how did he go to Nanyuan to open his mansion? This, this... Look, there is a stupid bird there, really stupid.

Entering the Ganyuan Hall, Chu Jian, Ximen Chang, Qiu Danyang, and a group of civil servants and military generals sat on the ground on both sides, and Xia Yingchen, who was wearing a phoenix crown and purple clothes, sat behind the table on the steps.

Liu Sang stepped forward to pay respects, Xia Yingchen gave him an angry look, blaming him for going to bed so late and leaving all these tedious things to her.

Liu Sang had no choice but to smile quietly, and spontaneously sat in the last seat on the right.

In fact, it's not that he wants to be late, it's just that even if he gets here, there is nothing important.Now that the mansion has been opened, the court meeting every morning is routine, and Liu Sang's nominal position is still just a military adviser general, and the military adviser general is just a miscellaneous general, not even a real general. Everyone here is more official than him. Da, and another important identity is the son-in-law. Although the title of son-in-law sounds good, it is actually only a vassal of the princess. In many places, the son-in-law is not qualified to discuss politics at all. How much power he has depends entirely on the gift of the prince and princess.

Regardless of whether it is a military adviser, a general or a son-in-law, in theory, such a court meeting "can come if you don't want to", and since he is now less and less afraid of his wife, this "come if you don't want to" has become "If you don't want to come, you won't come."

Xia Yingchen originally wanted to give him the official position of "Yi Lang". Yi Lang is one of the subordinate officials of "Guang Lu Xun". There are quite a few, and "Yi Lang" is an exception among the officials under Guang Luxun, who has the position of "participating in political affairs and deliberation". In this way, Liu Sang must accompany her every day and participate in the court meeting together, but Liu Sang is also dead. Refused, and abruptly pushed the official post, Xia Yingchen almost wanted to kick him to death.

At the court meeting, a group of officials reported to Xia Yingchen the situation of the counties in Nanyuan from time to time.

The first person on the left is Chu Jian, who is sitting there with a blank face. In name, he is the "doctor" of Nanyuan. Although Xia Yingchen is acting as the founder of the mansion for his father, the fief of Marquis Luming is in Xudong. , but now, Xia Yingchen is clearly the de facto lord of the South Plains.

And he knows that no matter how formal the court looks, the small gathering after the court is the important meeting that really decides internal and external affairs, but he does not have the part to participate in it, even though his official position in this court Second only to Xia Yingchen.

Although he hated secretly, there was nothing he could do.

On the way to the court meeting, a guard came to report that Wenyi of Mucheng wanted to see him.

Wen Yi is the head of the Wen family. The Wen family lived in Licheng for generations, owned several mines, and ran arms trading.Nanyuan's mines are limited, and the Wen family is naturally the one who needs to be wooed.Xia Yingchen asked Wen Yi to come in, and soon, a fat man cautiously entered the hall and saluted Xia Yingchen.

Looking at this man, Liu Sang thought, so he is Wen Lu's father?

Wen Yi is about 35-[-] years old. He is full of fat and lacks exercise.

As the head of the Wen family, Xia Yingchen naturally appeases him first, and appoints officials in public.

"Thank you, princess, for your kindness!" Wen Yi knelt down and presented the bamboo slips respectfully.

"What is this?" Xia Yingchen asked.

"Hou Ye is highly respected and has a bright sun like the sky. I have admired everyone from all over Nanyuan. The princess is even more powerful in Hezhou... no, no, she is powerful in the world. Everyone in the world admires Princess Fengyi, a prominent family in all counties in Nanyuan Together with the squire, weep for the virtue of Lord Hou and the genius of the princess. I would like to write to the imperial court together, and ask the court to promote Lord Luming to be the first-class founding assistant, and the town of Nanyuan, and ask the court to confer His Royal Highness the Princess as the Princess Protector. Awarded to the princess The right to open a mansion gives the people of Nanyuan the opportunity to enjoy the grace of Lord Marquis and the honor of Her Majesty the Princess. This is a joint letter signed by the distinguished families and squires from all over the country, and the name of the subordinate official is the first..." The last sentence must be specially Confess, and then there was a burst of flattery, boasting about the father and daughter of Luminghou, as if the people of Nanyuan would be happy immediately if they could get a little honor from them.If the imperial court disagrees, the people all over the world will weep endlessly.

Chu Jian's face was extremely ugly, but the other officials in the hall were cursing in their hearts. They had already started to prepare for the "joint letter", but unexpectedly, the fat man Wen Yi who had just arrived here took the lead.Although the damn fat man was obviously trying to grab credit, but since he had spoken, everyone had to leave the table to persuade him to come in, so that Chu Jian had no choice but to echo him a few times.

Xia Yingchen naturally had to pretend to decline, although in fact, she was already waiting for everyone to speak.The so-called "if the name is not correct, the words will not go well", although the Western Navy has retreated, and the counties have returned to surrender, and those who resisted a little were also wiped out by Nangong Kuiyuan, He Xiang and other generals. Her Xu Dongxia's family is already in fact. Entering Nanyuan, but without the direct canonization of the imperial court, it will always be impossible to justify the name.

Liu Sang naturally also knew this truth, just like during the Three Kingdoms period, Liu Bei and Sun Quanming knew that Cao Cao was "holding the emperor to command the princes" in the Central Plains. Or you can make yourself a king and a general, but you still have to write a letter to the court and ask the court to canonize it.

Of course, in a situation like this, the imperial court will probably approve it directly. After all, you will be appointed after I seal it, which means that you still have the royal family and the imperial court in your heart, and you are still my subject. The father and daughter of the Xia family are not allowed to "settle down Nanyuan". It is not good for the court to directly force the father and daughter of the Xia family to turn against each other.

Xia Yingchen declined for a while, and the officials persuaded him for a while. Xia Yingchen showed hesitation and left the table. The name of "joint name of officials and gentry" is like the mutiny of Chen Qiao in Liu Sang's last life. It was the generals who forced Zhao Kuangyin to be emperor. Zhao Kuangyin clearly said "I don't deserve it if I don't deserve it, I just don't deserve it"...

After the meeting was over, everyone got up.Chu Jian walked up to Wen Yi, saluted slightly, and called "father-in-law".

Wen Yi forced a smile, dealt with it a few times, and soon turned to talk to other people. Although Chu Jian was his son-in-law and a hereditary doctor, anyone who was a little smarter knew that it was best not to talk to him at this time. How many ties have been involved with the Chu family, so as not to make Xia Yingchen suspect that he has a heart for the old master.

Anger flashed in Chu Jian's eyes, and he left bitterly.

***

Liu Sang left Ganyuan Hall, not long after he left, someone hurriedly chased him from behind, calling out while chasing: "Consort, consort..."

Liu Sang turned around and saw that it was Wen Yi who was chasing him.

Although Wen Yi is middle-aged, he is really too fat. After running for a while, he was out of breath. He came to Liu Sang, bowed, and said with a flattering smile, "Your official just arrived in Youyi City, and I haven't visited the son-in-law yet. Please forgive me, forgive me."

Liu Sang smiled and said, "Master Wen, you are welcome."

Before Wen Yi entered the city, he had already investigated and found out that Liu Sang's son-in-law was just a miscellaneous general in the army, but the title of "military adviser general" could be big or small. He is in his hand, and he is Xia Yingchen's husband-in-law. Although Liu Sang originally came from a humble background, but at the moment in Nanyuan, he is obviously in the center of power, so he is the one he wants to curry favor with.

Wen Yi clasped his hands and said, "The officials have prepared some gifts for the son-in-law, if the son-in-law is free..."

"Master Wen, you're welcome," Liu Sang said, "As for now, I just have something to do." You don't need to attend the court meeting just now, but you must attend the next meeting.

"The son-in-law just keeps busy, just keep busy," Wen Yi said, "The gift is right outside the palace gate, the son-in-law can just send someone to receive it, it's just a small gift, it's not a respect, really it's not a respect."

The Wen family was originally one of the few families that needed to be wooed, and Wen Yi wanted to curry favor, so it was naturally impossible for Liu Sang not to accept gifts, after being polite.I just saw Xi go to accept the gift on his behalf, so I went to the meeting first.

***

Liu Sang came to a side hall.Qiu Danyang, Ximen Chang, and several important figures in the hall just now are here.

It's not that formal, but in reality, this is where the real decisions are made.Ruo Liu Sang was in the cabinet of the Ming Dynasty in his last life, the study room and military aircraft department of the Qing Dynasty, and the decision should have been made at the court meeting.They are all changed here. Adopting this "cabinet" approach is not only conducive to the strengthening of power, but also conducive to the effectiveness and execution of decision-making.

After a while, Xia Yingchen also came here, but he had already changed his clothes, even the phoenix crown and purple clothes.Only wearing the most common deep clothes.

Everyone sat down together and discussed some important matters at the meeting just now. Then, Qiu Danyang spread out the map and said, "Jin Jian's main force has retreated to the Xihu area. The warships and navy have completely controlled the entire Diejiang River, and Youyi City is no longer in danger."

Xia Yingchen said: "Is it possible for Zhiyu Gong to increase his troops and continue to attack in a short time?"

Qiu Danyang shook his head and said: "The possibility is extremely low. Jin Jian lost troops and money this time, but he didn't get the results he deserved. It is very doubtful whether Zhiyu Gong will trust his ability again. What's more serious is that this time At this moment, refugees everywhere are rioting, especially in the central part of Hezhou. There are bandits and soldiers everywhere. One of them is called Zeng Ao. There is Xiang Yu's unrivaled supernatural power. Because his family members died in the war, he hated the family members to the bone, led the villagers to rise up, and called himself the "Huntian Demon King". He specially killed the family members and wealthy people. The grain was scattered, and they were regarded as saviors by refugees and poor people. People from all over the country joined in one after another, and there were even more like-minded people. In just two months, the number reached [-]. With the rise of Zeng Ao, many people were slammed by the powerful Persecuted, or suffering from the war, the refugees who left their homes spontaneously organized, all the families were terrified, and Xihai Town was also greatly impacted."

With a wry smile, he said: "Actually, Nanyuan is not much better. If we hadn't happened to take the first step to capture the Chu Clan who had already lost their hearts, and then started to reduce rent and tax, and distributed the granaries accumulated in the Dragon Palace, to a certain extent To appease the hearts of the residents, I don't know how many people have risen up at this moment."

Liu Sang sighed. It can be said that this kind of situation has long been expected by him. This war was originally started by the powerful families fighting for power and profit for their own ambitions, but now, the situation has gotten out of control. At that time, the common people were unwilling to give them a way out. This "hunting demon king" is equivalent to Sun En at the end of Jin Dynasty and Li Zicheng at the end of Ming Dynasty in his previous life. bei jing echoes everywhere, not because of their prestige, but because the common people have run out of patience.

Qiu Danyang said: "There is still a possibility of compromise between the clan and the gangsters, but between the clan and the bandits, it is a situation of death and death. At this time, Duke Zhiyu can only strike out with us first. Do your best to deal with the rising mob."

Liu Sang secretly sighed, even Qiu Danyang couldn't get rid of his own class standpoint, although he knew that the rioters had nowhere to go, but he still called them "thieves" and "mobs".But this is also a matter of course, even though Qiu Danyang has the ambition to help the world, he is also from a powerful family. If not, he would not be able to be appointed by the imperial court to serve as the sheriff in Xihai Town.

Xia Yingchen pondered and said, "What can we do in this situation?"

Qiu Danyang said: "First of all, to bring Lord Hou here, and to make Youyi City our military center of gravity, Xu Dong can only settle down. Now we have occupied the South Plains, the coast is connected into one piece, and we control the Zuhai. The layout of Yuncheng is too small, it is no longer important to our side, Lord Hou is our lord, too far away, once something happens, we can't take care of it."

Xia Yingchen nodded, although he was reluctant to part with Ningyun City, it was indeed a helpless thing.

So he glanced at Liu Sang.

In this regard, Liu Sang and Qiu Danyang also had a long discussion, so he said: "Tonight I will go to Xu Dong to make arrangements." The governors of the eastern cities were re-appointed, and the main force was transferred to Nanyuan. He and Xia Yingchen, one of them had to go there, and the lady was in charge of the government in Nanyuan on behalf of her father-in-law. Before her father-in-law arrived, she obviously couldn't leave. .

At the same time, he thought, if Xiaoying used her flying sword to carry him, maybe he could cross Yushan Mountain and meet Sister Yue and his sister-in-law at Lingwu Mountain. Flying swords that go directly over mountains and mountains will not delay for too long.

Xia Yingchen looked at him indifferently: "There's no rush, I'll leave in two days."

Liu Sang was stunned...why did it take two days?

But since the lady said so, he didn't refuse.

Qiu Danyang said: "Once Lord Hou takes control of Nanyuan, the most important thing will be...reform! But this is mainly the opinion of the military adviser."

Everyone looked at Liu Sang.

Liu Sang said in a deep voice: "The corruption in Nanyuan is too serious. If we want to appease the counties now, we can only reuse the original officials first. But after they are stabilized, if we continue to use them and let them fill their pockets without changing, Then we are just the second Chu Clan. But we can't dismiss them directly. If we change them to Xu Dong's people, it will become nepotism, which will cause natural confrontation between Xu Dong's old tribe and Nanyuan's new tribe, and give birth to Unnecessary party struggle, so in the next few radical changes, we must select talents and appoint talents, continue to reuse or even promote those who can, and directly remove those who cannot."

Xia Yingchen looked at him and said, "A radical thing?"

Liu Sang said: "First of all, we must let all the rich families release the stored grain, and forcefully buy these stored grain at a certain price. If they refuse to sell it, they will be punished directly."

Ximen Chang and others looked at each other, Xia Yingchen frowned and said, "I don't know how many rich families I will offend by doing this..."

"I know," Liu Sang said, "but this is something we have to do." Looking at Qiu Danyang.

Qiu Danyang replied on his behalf: "Not only do we have to do it, but we must do it quickly. In the past, the Chu Clan extorted too much from the people of Nanyuan. In this war, they forcibly bought surplus grain from the people. It was clearly a purchase, but it was actually a robbery. There is no food left, and there are wars in various places, and a large number of refugees will inevitably flood into the South Plains. Even if we start to reduce rent and tax now, the harvest will only happen in autumn, and I don’t know how many people will starve to death throughout the summer.”

Continued: "But everyone knows that the aristocratic family does not know how much food is stored in private, and with the leadership of the 'Huntian Demon King' Zeng Ao, the people are no longer afraid of the aristocratic family, and they are unwilling to starve to death. Crowds will surely gather to make trouble, kill wealthy families, and rob food. Everyone has no intention of farming, and is unable to farm. The farmland is destroyed, the farmland is destroyed, and more mobs are triggered, and then it depends on when Nanyuan will have a 'Huntian Demon King', and we will no longer be able to control the situation, we can only watch dozens or even hundreds of thousands The mob rushed to Youyi City, the more they killed, the deeper the hatred, even if it was finally calmed down, the people killed ten to seven, and no one farmed, what else can everyone do?"

Xia Yingchen, Ximen Chang and others were all moved... This is indeed a very likely thing to happen.

... (To be continued.)