Li Yan frowned and felt solemn.
Fatty Lin three people were imprisoned, and Tian Chiliarch died suddenly and mysteriously. It was like two huge rocks weighing on his heart, not to mention the matter of Yangzhou Cauldron.
"Don't worry."
Wang Dao Xuan saw this and comforted him, "Everything has a solution. Besides, if such a big thing happens, the imperial court will definitely send someone."
Li Yan nodded, glanced sharply across the empty and deserted hall with few incense, and with a thought in his heart, he asked directly, "Senior Zhang, please forgive me, Jinling is an important town in the south of the Yangtze River, City God Temple is the hub that communicates Yin and Yang and assists in local affairs. Nowadays, Japanese pirates are watching, demons are making trouble, and there are undercurrents surging in the city. Why is this place... so deserted?"
"Your temple seems to have some shortage of manpower?"
Zhang Jingqing's face froze slightly, then turned into a trace of bitterness.
He did not answer immediately, but slowly lifted the teapot that was warm on the small stove and refilled some of the already slightly cold tea for Li Yan and others.
"Young Hero Li has a keen eye..."
The Old Taoist said with a wry smile, "To put it into perspective, I, Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion, have had bad luck and suffered from enemies from both sides, so that the huge Jiangnan capital, City God Temple, ended up in a predicament with no one to help me."
He paused, as if he was organizing his words, and then said, "I won't hide this from you. First, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are the deepest places of Daoism, and the Non-Self Dragon Tiger Mountain family is the only one. The Maoshan sect has deep roots. "Hou, the Fuluzhai ritual ceremony is the most popular in the world. Lushan has a wide influence among the people, and is especially good at exorcising evil spirits and curing evil spirits. The Tiger Gate Order sect is famous for its thunder method and summoning generals. The Jade Emperor sect is also famous for its talented people and its incense is flourishing."
"Each dharma lineage has been operating for many years and is deeply rooted. Each has its own peak. The imperial court granted Dragon Tiger Mountain the title of managing this Jinling City God Temple, but..."
Zhang Jingqing smiled bitterly, "How can it be so easy to be convinced of local power?"
"We are in charge of the job in name, but in reality they all have their own agendas, and most of them work in secret and violate the rules. The core disciples who really listen to orders and can work are scattered everywhere, and the manpower is not abundant. Secondly..."
His voice lowered a bit, with obvious helplessness and a trace of resentment, "Some time ago, I, Celestial Master Mansion contemporary Celestial Master, did a 'big thing' in the capital."
When everyone heard this, they immediately understood.
At that time, Sui Lun True Monarch entered Temple of Earth and Grain, and the Heavenly Court issued a decree at the same time. The leaders of each family entered the capital, and Zhang Tianshi rushed to the front. They were still fighting with the Qiankun Academy and Huo Yin. They were all witnesses.
Although an agreement was later reached, how could the royal family feel angry after taking a step back?
"Everyone knows clearly that this move... will have serious consequences."
Zhang Jingqing sighed, "The Sacred Heart was displeased, Imperial Court was shocked. All the forces that were originally on good terms with me, Celestial Master Mansion, or at least maintained superficial harmony, avoided suspicion one after another, for fear of contaminating the bad luck of our 'ignorance of current affairs'."
"The attitude of the Jinling government has also become ambiguous. Many of the support that was originally given to City God Temple in the name of imperial edicts and Celestial Master Mansion has now been discounted or even cut off. Some small magicians and folk magicians who are attached to the City God system have also lost their hearts and begun to look for other sources of support."
"This last bit..."
A trace of fear flashed in his eyes, "Even the Ganzhou side is not stable. Meishan Dharma Sect created several sharp 'musketry secret techniques', which were very popular for a while. The pressure on the headquarters was huge, and they had to mobilize capable manpower from all over the place to come back. On the Jinling side... Alas, almost all the elites who could be transferred were transferred back."
Zhang Jingqing spread his hands and pointed to a few young Daoist priests outside the hall who were cleaning fallen leaves and looked Divine Capital far less energetic than the Daoist monks. He also pointed to two middle-aged Daoist priests standing behind him with their hands down and their breath was flat. "Nowadays, in the huge Jinling City God Temple, except for me, an old man, there are only these ordinary disciples and a few apprentices who are not very good at Daoism and cannot be used."
"Not to mention helping to defend the city and track down evil spirits, but also the most basic registration and registering, handling daily complaints, and maintaining temple affairs. We are all stretched, and we are focusing on one thing and the other. The refugees who have poured into the city in the past few days, the people who are crying out of panic, and the registration of secret activities by various forces have made us overwhelmed."
He looked at Li Yan with complex eyes, filled with both hope and temptation. "The names of Young Hero Li and Twelve Yuan Chen are like thunder. Even poor people have heard of your deeds in Yangzhou, Shuzhong, and Ezhou. They are all feats of upholding the right path and slaying demons and eliminating evil."
"Nowadays, Jinling is in a precarious situation, with internal and external troubles, and it is really beyond our ability to deal with it. Pindao... On behalf of Jinling City God Temple, I sincerely ask Twelve Yuan Chen to lend a helping hand to help us! Maintain the order of Yin and Yang in this city and protect the peace of the people here!"
"If you need all the necessary talismans, magical weapons, and the authority of the secular gods, we can do our best to provide convenience for you!"
Li Yan was silent for a moment and said calmly, "Senior Zhang's words are serious."
"We are new here, the situation is unclear, and we have important matters. City God Temple affairs involve court regulations and local affairs, and are of great importance. Non-Self and other Jianghu Rogue Person can't comment on this matter. Let us think about it for a moment and then reply."
This Old Taoist also has a lot of tricks up its sleeve.
What is the way to uphold justice? If the Jinling government dares to let Dragon Tiger Mountain hang out, there will naturally be other sources of law to take action. It is obvious that they are reluctant to part with this City God Temple plate and want to make them strong men.
A look of disappointment flashed through Zhang Jingqing's eyes, but he did not show any dissatisfaction, and even squeezed out a smile, "What Young Hero Li said is true. It's just a poor person who is rude. This is a serious matter, and we really need to be cautious. You have come a long way to work hard, please settle down and rest first."
"If there is any use for Pindao, or if you need to check some non-confidential files, please send someone to tell me."
As he spoke, he stood up and politely sent Li Yan and others outside the temple gate.
Watching Li Yan's group of people disappear at the corner of the long street, the smile on Zhang Jingqing's face slowly faded and became deep and unpredictable.
The Daoist apprentice behind him who had just registered couldn't help but stepped forward and whispered, "Master, what should I do if they refuse?"
Zhang Jingqing looked at the towering Jinling City wall in the distance with distant eyes, and snorted softly, "What do you know? It's best if you refuse."
The apprentice was stunned. "Ah? Why?"
"The big tree attracts the wind."
Zhang Jingqing twirled his beard and said in a calm voice, "Twelve Yuan Chen's reputation is so famous that it has reverberated throughout the land of Jiangnan, Maoshan, Lushan, Tiger Gate Order those old foxes, who wouldn't be on guard against them?"
He paused, and a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes. "What's more, they are too tightly tied to the Lin Family. There are many forces on the ground in Jiangnan who want Lin Family to fall so that they can eat this piece of fat!"
"The wall fell and everyone pushed it. Lin Family hit the knife edge this time. Those people have finally waited for the opportunity. How can they allow others to easily interfere and disrupt the situation?"
The apprentice suddenly realized. "So Master, you are..."
"No rush."
"City God Temple is a 'legitimate' brand, they will need it..."
It was already afternoon when we left City God Temple.
Lead clouds hang low in the sky, and the autumn wind blows on my face, bringing with it the unique dampness and coldness of Jinling City.
Most of the shops on both sides of the long street have their doors and windows closed. There are occasional pedestrians walking in a hurry and looking panicked. Only the soldiers patrolling the city walked by. The sound of armor and weapons clashing was particularly harsh in the silence.
"Tsk, tsk, City God Temple is hopeless."
Sha LiFei rubbed his hands and sneered in a low voice, "That Zhang Miaozhu said it politely, but in fact he wants to use us as a weapon, and he doesn't want to give us any real benefits."
"As expected." Li Yan said in a calm tone, "Dragon Tiger Mountain is too busy to take care of himself. It would be great if Zhang Jingqing can hold on to the temple gate and not collapse. It is unrealistic to expect him to help us save Fatty Lin. The top priority is to find a stable place to stay and sort out the clues."
"Go to the Jin Prefecture Merchant Guild?" Long Yan'er suggested, "We have cooperated a lot with Shanxi merchants in transporting salt and medicinal materials, and we have a good relationship. Their business names are all over the north and south, and they are well-informed."
She likes to be clean, and since she travels to so many places, living in the Chamber of Commerce is the most comfortable place. Lin Family had an accident and couldn't go to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, so Jin Prefecture Merchant Guild became the best choice.
"Yeah." Li Yan nodded, "Okay, let's go Jin Prefecture Merchant Guild."
Jin Prefecture Merchant Guild Jinling branch is located near the South Grand Canal dock in the city. It has a tall gate and a wide courtyard, all of which highlight the strong financial resources of Shanxi merchants.
Hearing that Twelve Yuan Chen Li Yan was coming, shopkeeper Wang of the Chamber of Commerce personally welcomed them out with a smile on his face and enthusiasm. He invited them into the elegant back hall, served them tea and snacks, and greeted them with all the courtesy.
"Oh my! Young Hero Li, you distinguished guests are welcome to visit us. What a joy! Come and have a seat! Have you had a hard journey? We have all heard about what happened in Yangzhou. Young Hero Li is eliminating harm for the people, which is very satisfying!" Shopkeeper Wang was smiling with a smile on his face, and he was talking like a barrage of words.
"Shopkeeper Wang is so polite..."
When they arrived at a quiet place, Li Yan directly asked about the inside story of the Lin Family's accident, and wanted to know about Jinling City's recent movements to see if he could be fished out.
When Shopkeeper Wang heard this, the smile on his face froze for a moment, and then became smooth and blurry, "This... Oh, Chief Li, you have to ask this little old man."
Shopkeeper Wang slapped his thighs, with a look of embarrassment on his face, "We businessmen abide by the law and only deal with the common affairs of transporting firewood, rice, oil and salt, and transporting goods from the south to the north. The changes in the officialdom, as well as the cases of beatings and killings... We are so blind that we don't dare to inquire, and we can't inquire! The affairs of the imperial court have their own laws. How can small merchants like us dare to discuss it arbitrarily?"
He sighed again and added, "As for Mr. Lin's family... Oh, what a sudden disaster! We just heard about it, and we were shocked! Lin Family has always been a serious businessman, how could... Oh, it must be a misunderstanding!"
"But Young Hero Li, don't worry, the court will make its own decision! What we, the Chamber of Commerce, can do is to quickly check whether the account transactions with the Lin Family are clear, so as not to be implicated. It is really... there is nothing we can do to help, there is nothing we can do to help!"
He held up his hands repeatedly, and his words were flawless.
Li Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, but didn't ask any more questions.
Shanxi merchants are known for their shrewdness, pragmatism, and prudence to protect themselves. Although there is cooperation between them, they will never dare to get involved easily in such a vortex involving multiple forces.
Shopkeeper Wang breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that they no longer asked questions. He warmly arranged several spacious and clean upper rooms, and ordered the kitchen to prepare exquisite banquets. The service was attentive and attentive.
But underneath this thoughtfulness is a clear sense of boundaries.
"What a coward."
Sha LiFei stood by the window, looking at the light and shadow of the torches of the patrolling soldiers outside, and muttered, "City God Temple and Jin Prefecture Merchant Guild don't dare to provoke them. It seems that the people behind them are quite powerful."
Boom, boom, boom!
At this moment, there was a gentle knocking sound outside the door.
A clerk from the Chamber of Commerce walked in respectfully holding a Brocade Box: "Young Hero Li, someone just left this thing outside the door, specifying that it should be given to you."
Sha LiFei stepped forward to take Brocade Box, and when he opened it, there was only a deep purple Visiting Card with a golden swallow pattern inside.
The post read in a vigorous style:
"The golden swallow flutters its wings and perches in Zhongfu. My old friend's new tea is waiting for you to taste."
At the time of Xu, Three Religions, Qinhuai River, 'Qi Yan Tower', swept the couch and waited.
--Golden Swallow Gate Jinling branch helmsman Murong Yan Yours sincerely"
Underneath the post, there is also a small golden Swallow token, which is Golden Swallow Gate's highest standard invitation token.
Everyone looked at Li Yan.
After the waiter left, Sha LiFei said happily, "Golden Swallow Gate's nose is really good. We just arrived in Jinling, and within two hours, Visiting Card was delivered."
Wang Dao Xuan said with a solemn expression, "It's hard to distinguish friends from enemies in this Jinling City, and the people behind the scenes are powerful. Golden Swallow Gate shouldn't be credulous either, so be careful."
Li Yan nodded, looked out the window, and said coldly:
"It's okay, I'll go to the appointment and you'll be waiting for me outside."
"No matter what, let's fish out Fatty Lin and the others first. Anyway, we only have this reputation. If we really get into trouble, no one will be able to make it easy!"
At the time of Xu, Three Religions, Qinhuai River were immersed in the sticky night.
This famous Qinhuai River is divided into internal and external rivers.
The outer Qinhuai River is the moat, which flows around the outside of the Jinling City wall and assumes the functions of defense and flood discharge. It does not directly pass through the city.
The inner Qinhuai River runs through the Jinling City Nanbu urban area from east to west.
Along both sides of the river are "river houses", which are unique buildings in Jinling.
Most of these houses have two floors. The lower floor has a "water gate" facing the water, and a springboard can be built directly to connect to the boat. The upper floor has a curved railing, called the "Beauty Lean", for people to lean on and watch the river.
"Sheep's horn lanterns" hang in the river houses, which are lanterns covered with transparent sheets made from sheep's horns. They are more resistant to moisture and more translucent than paper lanterns. They are hung under the carved window lattice or on the vermilion railings facing the water.
One by one they spread out along the river bank, like a string of elongated stars.
Li Yan stood on the bow of the awning boat with his hands folded, listening to the sound of the boatman's wooden oar paddling, looking at the lights on both sides of the bank like stars, Wu Nong's soft-spoken singing floated into his ears from time to time, and he couldn't help but shake his head slightly.
No wonder so many literati are addicted to the Qinhuai romance.
But now that the clouds of war are overshadowing, Qinhuai is still singing and dancing endlessly, which makes people speechless. If one mistake is made, all the prosperity in front of them will be reduced to rubble.
"Sir, in front of you is Qi Yan Tower."
The old boatman pointed ahead and to the left, interrupting Li Yan's thoughts.
Looking up, I saw Qinhuai River in the reflected lights, a two-story embroidered building standing near the water. It was not small in size, with a golden plaque hanging high on the gate. The flames of the Kucha stone lanterns on both sides were flickering, elongating and distorting the figures of the guests entering and exiting.
Inside the door, the laughter of silk and bamboo mixed with the warm fragrance of makeup and powder came out, and the lanterns under the eaves swayed in the night breeze.
Compared with the surrounding brothels, it is obviously more upscale.
Li Yan doesn't care either. Golden Swallow Gate is already known for hanging out in the circles of dignitaries. If the place were bad, those wealthy gentry wouldn't even bother to step in.
But as the distance got closer, Li Yan frowned.
Goudou suddenly started to get hot!
His eyes were slightly cold, and he quickly opened them again after closing them, with a look of astonishment on his face.
There is indeed a criminal hiding here, but his identity is somewhat unexpected.
It is the immortal Zhou Yinyao who mysteriously disappeared in Yangzhou City...