Detective Di Renjie's legend of Wu Dynasty

Chapter 453

The sky gradually darkened, the afterglow was gone, and the tired birds returned to their nests. After a while, the bright moon jumped out of the clouds.

The night was like water, and the moonlight quietly shone on Wangjiabao, a small village with hundreds of households.

In the main hall of the Wang family, Wang Mang was talking to Uncle Li.

Suddenly, Uncle Li said: "Master, the Black Clothes Club has developed a lot of influence during the years you have been away."

Wang Mang raised his eyebrows: "Oh, Uncle Li, tell me carefully!"

Uncle Li nodded: "Master, come with me!"

"Do you still want to go outside?"

Wang Mang was puzzled.

Uncle Li nodded solemnly: "Master, you will know when you arrive."

Seeing Uncle Li's expression, Wang Mang put away his contempt and followed Uncle Li out.

At this time, Xiaotao came over: "Uncle Li, it's getting late, where are you going?"

Wang Mang said: "Oh, let's just go and have a look. By the way, Xiao Tao, are the sacrifices ready to worship father and mother tomorrow?"

Xiao Tao smiled slightly: "Don't worry, I made Yue'er ready!"

Wang Mang nodded slightly: "Okay, you should rest first, Uncle Li and I will go outside for a walk."

"Ok!"

Xiaotao nodded: "Come back early!"

Wang Mang waved his hand, turned around and left with Uncle Li.

Soon, the two left the house, and Wang Mang watched Uncle Li walking towards the center of the village.

He couldn't help asking: "Uncle Li, isn't this the way to go outside?"

Uncle Li shook his head: "Who said to go outside, it's in the middle of the village."

"The middle of the village!"

Wang Mang was taken aback for a moment. Suddenly, he remembered the scene when he entered the village. There seemed to be a temple in the middle of the village. It was already late and he was rushing home, so he didn't pay attention.

Looking back now, that temple is indeed a bit strange.

The village is not very big, after a while, Wang Mang and Uncle Li have come to the center of the village.

Wang Mang looked up and saw that the temple was located in the center of the village, surrounded by sparsely populated houses.

This small temple stands alone on the square of the village, which can be said to be a small temple in the true sense.

There is only a flagpole and a main hall on the empty field of several acres, which seems out of place with the surroundings.

Wang Mang and Uncle Li came to the temples. Wang Mang looked at this strange temple, and his heart moved slightly, as if he thought of something.

Uncle Li said: "Master, let's go in and have a look!"

Wang Mang nodded, and the two walked slowly into the temple.

The statue enshrined in the temple is dressed in a black robe embroidered with gold and has a weird headdress. The face of the statue is covered with a mask made of bronze, which has a very strange image.

Judging from the scale and appearance, it seems to be a temple for strangers, or it is more accurate to say that it is an ancestral hall.

Incense and various offerings are enshrined on the long god table in front of the statue.

When Wang Mang walked in, he was stunned when he saw the statue.

Wang Mang was surprised: "Isn't this the dress of the Black Clothes Club?"

Uncle Li nodded: "Yes, the young master must have guessed that these temples were built by the Black Clothes Club."

"These?"

Wang Mang raised his head.

Uncle Li explained: "That's right, basically every village has one of these temples now, for the purpose of controlling the villagers."

Wang Mang frowned: "Control the villagers? What are they trying to do?"

Uncle Li shook his head: "I don't know their real purpose, but in my opinion, they may want to develop believers and deepen their influence."

Hearing this, Wang Mang immediately thought of organizations like the White Lotus Sect in later generations. The Black Club would not want to do something like the White Lotus Sect, would it?
Wang Mang pondered for a while, and asked: "Uncle Li, you brought me here, is there something strange here?"

Uncle Li took a few steps to the statue of the Great God in black, and he pointed to the foot of the statue: "Master, look at this!"

Wang Mang leaned down and carefully inspected the upper part of the Xumizuo. He saw that there were deep scratches where the statue's feet touched the Xumizuo.

Wang Mang was a little surprised, and said in a low voice: "This statue is alive, and it is often moved by people."

Uncle Li nodded: "Yes, that's why I invited you here."

Wang Mang nodded slightly. He carefully looked at the clothes of the statue, and then at the tablet on the altar. His expression suddenly became serious: "This statue is not simple, it seems that there are traces of organs inside!"

Uncle Li nodded: "Yeah, I also feel a little strange, so I invited you here, and I want you to see what's strange about it?"

Wang Mang nodded, suddenly, his eyes were attracted by several pillars in the hall, he stood up slowly, his eagle-like eyes quickly scanned the situation in the hall:
Columns that are very close together, thick walls, statues of gods, Xumizuo...

He took a deep breath and walked forward along the temple wall.

Uncle Li walked to his side and asked softly, "Master, what did you find?"

Wang Mang tapped lightly on the temple wall and said, "This is a new temple."

"Oh?"

A look of surprise flashed across Uncle Li's face.

Wang Mang said, "It's only been built for about ten years."

Uncle Li gave a thumbs up: "The young master is really knowledgeable, and he is even proficient in civil engineering. Yes, this temple has indeed been built for nearly ten years."

Wang Mang smiled: "Uncle Li, it's just that I read a few more miscellaneous books, it's nothing."

As he spoke, Wang Mang ignored Uncle Li's praise, but walked slowly, measuring the area of ​​the temple with his eyes.

Seeing Wang Mang's expression, Uncle Li quickly withdrew his smile, walked to Wang Mang's side, and asked, "Master, what are you looking at?"

Wang Mang didn't speak, he walked slowly to the pillar and tapped lightly.

He went to the Xumizuo where the statue of the great god in black was placed, and looked carefully.

Uncle Li asked puzzledly, "Master, what are you looking at?"

Wang Mang murmured, "Uncle Li, don't you think this temple is built a little strangely?"

Uncle Li was taken aback, looked around, and slowly shook his head: "There is nothing strange about the temple, I just feel that there seems to be a mechanism on this statue, so I let you take a look."

Wang Mang fell into deep thought. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, he patted Uncle Li on the shoulder, and strode out of the temple.

Wang Mang walked quickly to the square outside the temple, a hundred steps away from the temple, and looked up and down the small temple carefully.

Uncle Li followed: "Why, young master, is there something wrong with this temple?"

Wang Mang pointed to the outer wall of the temple and said, "Take a look, is there any difference in the outer wall of this temple?"

Uncle Li looked carefully, but didn't see anything, then looked up carefully, and suddenly said: "Master, this temple wall seems to be very thick."

Wang Mang nodded and said yes: "Yes, it is three or four times the size of ordinary temple walls.

As soon as I arrived here, I felt that the temple was a bit awkward. Now I understand that it is because the temple has a large structure from the outside, but the inside of the temple is very small, with only four pillars.

Generally, for a temple or ancestral hall with the same external area, the inner hall should have at least eight pillars. "

(End of this chapter)