Chancellor Liang listened to Song Jiang's words, which combined both soft and hard tactics, his wrinkled face showed a mixture of emotions.
He picked up his teacup, using the rising steam to conceal his inner turmoil.
After a moment, he slowly put down his teacup. "What Chief Song said is not without reason."
He spoke slowly and deliberately, his fingertips lightly tapping the rosewood tabletop. "Maintaining the order of Yin and Yang certainly troubles your esteemed brothers. As for offerings, sacrifices, and even... petitioning the Emperor to grant you proper names and bestow divine titles, these are not unacceptable."
"It's just making the common people suffer a bit more. Increase taxes and corvée labor, and we can always scrape together enough for this Incense Money."
"But there's a condition. Chief Song must first eliminate my greatest threat— Yue Fei!"
He practically gritted his teeth when he spoke of the name " Yue Fei ".
But then, a deep suspicion and sarcasm appeared on his face, and his sharp gaze pierced Song Jiang:
"But you told me before that Yue Fei was the reincarnation of the Golden-Winged Great Peng and had already returned to the Buddha's seat in the Western Paradise?"
"Ha, Chief Song, your words are far too frivolous! You just said that the Severing Earth from Heaven is severed, making it difficult for gods and Buddhas to descend to the mortal realm to interfere, and then you say that a mortal general is some reincarnation of a Buddha protector, easily returning to the Western Paradise?"
"Isn't this contradictory and incoherent?! How can I trust you, and how can I dare to cooperate with you, with such a lack of sincerity?"
Song Jiang was not angered by this, and calmly said:
" Chancellor Liang, you are a man of exceptional talent who has spent your entire life navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom. Don't you understand this principle? Who are these rules for?"
He extended a finger, its tip swirling with faint black energy, pointing both upwards and downwards.
"Severing the connection between heaven and earth is a shackle that binds ordinary immortals and mortals; it is a boundary drawn for all living beings."
"But what is the background of that Golden-Winged Great Peng? It is the younger brother of the Buddha Mother Peacock Great Wisdom King Bodhisattva, a guardian deity who has protected the Dharma life after life! With a flap of its wings, it soars ninety thousand miles into the sky, traversing the three realms as if it were nothing."
Do you think this rule of "severing the connection between heaven and earth" can bind Him?
"Take your son Liang Lian, for example. If he wants to obtain an official position in Lin'an Prefecture, does he really need to study diligently for ten years like a poor scholar and go through layers of imperial examinations?"
This metaphor is extremely scathing, hitting the nail on the head.
Chancellor Liang's face instantly turned extremely ugly. He knew perfectly well what kind of person his son Liang Lian was and how he got his official position.
Song Jiang's words were clearly telling him that rules are only meant to restrain the lower classes and ordinary people; for those who truly have connections and backgrounds, rules are meaningless.
But if that's the case, how come I haven't been struck by lightning yet, having offended such a powerful figure?
Or are they waiting to settle scores after they die?
Thinking of this, he felt uneasy.
At this opportune moment, Chan Master Fahai softly chanted a Buddhist prayer. "Amitabha. Although what Benefactor Song said is unpleasant to hear, it is also reasonable."
"The Great Roc Protector is a primordial deity, completely unbound by acquired laws, truly different from ordinary immortals and mortals. Marshal Yue Fei's soul has returned to Vulture Peak, a matter I, this old monk, can also attest to."
The welcoming of the Golden-Winged Great Peng back to Vulture Peak was a major event in Buddhism some time ago, and Fa Hai had also heard about it.
It is said that the Golden-Winged Great Peng intended to seek revenge against Chancellor Liang, but was dissuaded by a group of eminent monks from Lin'an Prefecture, led by Lingyin Temple. Lingyin Temple kept the details a secret, and it was not convenient for me to inquire about them, but there is no doubt that the Golden-Winged Great Peng returned to Vulture Peak.
Only after receiving Fa Hai's confirmation did the anger and doubt on Liang Shicheng's face gradually dissipate, replaced by a deep, sinister look mixed with resentment and helplessness. He remained silent for a long time before finally squeezing out a sentence through gritted teeth:
Even so... what about the former Yue Family Army, and those resentful commoners who still harbor grievances...?
Upon hearing Chancellor Liang mention the resentment between the former members of the Yue Family Army and the common people, a sinister smile of complete control flashed across Song Jiang's face.
Former subordinates of the Yue Family Army... troublemakers...
Can't even a high-ranking prime minister handle this? This is clearly an attempt to wipe them out completely, not even letting them rest in peace after they die.
But what does this have to do with me?
The kind-faced Chan Master Fahai, standing nearby, remained completely unmoved upon hearing these words, truly demonstrating the profound depth of Buddhist teachings.
"This is easy. The Prime Minister only needs to find a pretext to expel those troublesome former members of the Yue Family Army, along with those resentful and unruly commoners, from Lin'an Prefecture and relocate them to Qiantang County."
He paused deliberately. "To be honest, Prime Minister, I have already laid many traps in Qiantang. These people are simply walking into a snare, which will allow me to capture them all in one fell swoop, saving them from getting in the Prime Minister's and the Emperor's way in the heart of Lin'an."
However, as soon as he finished speaking, a sense of unease and unease suddenly overwhelmed him!
This feeling... is so similar to the feeling he had when he sensed the death of Earth Dog Star, Golden-Haired Hound Duan Jingzhu, Earth Fulfillment Star, Long-Armed Ape Hou Jian!
"Could it be... that another brother has been murdered?!" Song Jiang was shocked.
But now, standing at the negotiating table, he forcibly suppressed his surging emotions; to outsiders, he only appeared to catch his breath slightly.
A deep sense of weariness washed over me like a cold tide.
He had to plan everything personally and put in a lot of effort in every aspect. Even these dirty deals with ordinary officials required him, the leader of Mount Liang, to personally intervene.
if...
If Wu Yong were here, why would he need to personally handle every single matter? If Hua Rong were still alive, he would have already taken care of these mundane affairs perfectly!
The thought of Wu Yong and Hua Rong made Song Jiang's heart feel as if it were being gripped tightly by a hand.
These two trusted and beloved generals of his most relied upon hanged themselves at his grave, their loyalty and bravery moving heaven and earth.
However, their souls did not gather under his command like his other brothers; instead, they vanished without a trace, as if they had completely disappeared into the world.
He searched secretly for many years, expending countless efforts, but to no avail. This had become a deep-seated worry for him.
The private conversation ended in an atmosphere that seemed harmonious but was actually filled with hidden agendas.
With the details settled, the three said no more. Song Jiang turned into a wisp of black smoke and quietly disappeared, while Chancellor Liang and Fa Hai also got up.
Once Song Jiang's presence had completely vanished, Chancellor Liang's smile vanished instantly. He leaned closer to Fa Hai and lowered his voice:
"Master, did you notice something unusual about that bandit leader just now?"
Chan Master Fahai, holding his staff, lowered his white eyebrows and nodded slightly.
"Amitabha. Your Excellency is astute. There was indeed an anomaly just now, not originating from itself, but rather from the causal threads connected to it, several of which had been severed."
"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Chancellor Liang's interest and concern deepened. "Do you know the specifics? Could it be that there's some internal strife within Song Jiang's faction, or...?"