Mang Shusheng's Ink Painting Practice

Chapter 101 The destination is decided

Zhao Yifu now feels that the people in his own sect are quite dangerous. They often start out as treacherous ministers who will be remembered in history. This is too dangerous.

This made Zhao Yifu even more determined not to become a high-ranking official.

My own sect has been too extravagant. Although it failed before and temporarily withdrew from the court, it has only been thirty years and the leader of this generation has become the prime minister.

And how many fellow disciples are there in the court?
If something goes wrong, the result will be another overturned wave.

He couldn't help but ask one more question: "Master, what will happen if this fails?"

Liang Zhongzhi said: "Those who entered the court as officials in those days were basically punished by heaven."

"Even at that crucial moment a hundred years ago, if the sword-lined disciples from the Pure Yang Sect hadn't personally stepped forward to protect the sect and stabilize the situation, I'm afraid our Danqing Sect would have lost a generation."

Zhao Yifu felt scared after hearing this. This was too dangerous.

But it's normal to think about it. This has already intervened in the dispute over humanity, and those who act recklessly will naturally be punished by God.

Zhao Yifu swallowed hard and asked, "Master, since he was our previous leader, I think he couldn't be a treacherous minister, right?"

Liang Zhongzhi shook his head and said, "The former head worked hard to revitalize the economy, opened charity halls across the country to provide relief to the people, and also opened county and state schools to bring education to the people."

"He even planned to include mathematics, medicine, calligraphy, and painting in the imperial examinations."

"Unfortunately, he was too hasty. While the economic revitalization did bring financial resources to the court, it also caused him to offend the local gentry, leading to a situation where he was 'fishing in a dried-up pond.' The charity benefited the people, but the people were unable to speak up for him. The reform of the imperial examination system was even more fundamental, causing him to alienate the court and ultimately leaving the court without anyone to rely on."

"When the Northern Kingdom invaded, no one went to fight. The Northern Kingdom's army was defeated and half of the country was lost."

Zhao Yifu felt something was amiss. It seemed as if this was a good official who had done many good things. Could it be that his master was just beautifying him?
Then he asked, "Then was there no one else from our sect helping him in the court?"

Liang Zhongzhi said: "Of course there are people who help, and many people even choose to come to the court to help, which is why those policies can be implemented."

"You may not believe it, but when the former leader was prime minister, the Great Xu court was at its wealthiest and most prosperous. There was sufficient funding to implement any policy."

"But in the mouths of today's writers, that was the most decadent and darkest era."

Zhao Yifu could only listen.

What can he do at this time?

Liang Zhongzhi also said at this time: "I tell you this because many people in my Danqing Sect are now in the court. They no longer want to have romantic affairs, but are looking for a way to avenge their previous humiliation by conquering the north."

"Of course, since everyone has their own ideas, there are actually many differences in the paths. And everyone is very cautious. To prevent a recurrence of the previous failure, we decided not to put all our eggs in one basket..."

After listening to his master's more detailed analysis of the current situation in the court, Zhao Yifu felt a chill.

Because he felt that the elders in his family were courting death again.

They mingled among the scholar group, stood at the top of this group as scholars, and then tried to succeed by various means that violated the fundamental interests of the scholars.

In Zhao Yifu's view, this is not the case of "a cunning rabbit has three burrows", but simply the same substance in a new bottle.

Don't treat the people below you as fools. They will have to experience firsthand whether their interests have been harmed.

Anyway, Zhao Yifu was quite pessimistic.

After all, the current status of the gentry is really difficult to shake, unless all the frameworks are completely changed and started over again.

But this is obviously impossible. After all, who can bear such consequences?
Liang Zhongzhi seemed to understand what he was thinking and said, "After all, these are the obsessions of the previous generation. If you don't want to participate, no one will force you."

"It's just that even if you become an official in this lifetime, you probably won't be able to enter the core."

Zhao Yifu nodded and said, "That doesn't matter. Maybe in a few years I'll resign and return home to serve my master."

Liang Zhongzhi smiled and said, "That's good. It's not bad to stay out of it. At least I won't be affected by the changes in humanity's destiny."

After the master and disciple chatted for a few more words, Liang Zhongzhi left. He had explained everything he needed to, but before leaving, he said, "Since you don't plan to get too involved in the court, if the headmaster asks you where you want to go in a few days, you can ask to take up a position in the lower county."

Although one can directly be appointed as the county magistrate in the lower county, it is actually not easy to achieve results. Instead, it is easier to be promoted as the chief clerk of the upper county.

Zhao Yifu agreed, but he didn't expect that as a disciple of Danqing Sect, he could have such a good benefit and be able to choose the place.

……

Two days later, Zhao Yehe personally escorted a plaque with the words "Zhao Mansion" to Zhao Yifu's yard.

This plaque, like the one at Wenfu, was written by Zhao Yifu himself, and a seal with the word "Xin" was left in the lower right corner.

In fact, it is a bit embarrassing to hang a plaque with such calligraphy level at the foot of Moshan Mountain, but Zhao Yifu was thick-skinned and hung it up anyway. At most, he could change it when his calligraphy improved.

His third brother Zhao Yian and stepmother Peng Yulian also came with the team.

Obviously, his stepmother was worried about leaving her son here alone, and was prepared to accompany him the whole time.

"Jun Xin, I will bother you from now on."

Zhao Yifu looked at the cats hiding in fear around him and could only reply, "How can you say I'm bothering you? We're all family."

"But I didn't have any servants when I lived here alone. If Mother wants to move in, she'll have to bring more servants."

In fact, for him, giving up the house is no big deal, he doesn't take it too seriously.

For him, the most important thing has always been the cultivation convenience provided by the family. He can now collect any resources he wants through his family and clansmen, saving himself most of the effort, and that is enough.

Peng Yulian said very politely, "Junxin, don't worry. This courtyard will always be yours. Xiao An and I are only staying here for a year. It's also because it's easy to find various teachers in Moyang City to teach him."

"In a year, he will go to the mountains to study, and I will return to my tribe."

Zhao Yifu sighed, "Mother has made a huge sacrifice for the third child. Father has no one to take care of him."

Peng Yulian said nonchalantly, "Don't worry, I've already found two concubines for your father. He won't miss me."

Zhao Yifu: "..."

Looking at Peng Yulian's ordinary expression, Zhao Yifu knew that he was still somewhat out of tune with this life.

But that's true, this is not his biological mother, and it was his father who took a concubine, so why should he worry about this?
So he said to Peng Yulian, "Actually, mother, father is at a critical juncture in his cultivation right now. It's best for him to abstain from sex, otherwise he'll probably only be able to touch the threshold of the peerless realm in this lifetime."

Peng Yulian blinked, then said with understanding, "I see. I didn't think carefully enough and almost did something bad. I'll write a letter back and ask him not to touch those two girls."

Zhao Yifu was satisfied.

He looked at his younger brother and then chuckled, "Third brother, if you go up the mountain and can't enter, that's fine. But if you want to have a promising future, you'd better abstain from sex."

Zhao Yian rolled his eyes at him and said, "Second brother, you can't fool me with that. Even if abstaining from sex is necessary during cultivation, it's only necessary at a certain stage. Harmonizing yin and yang is one of the principles of cultivation."

Zhao Yifu looked at his younger brother in amazement and asked in surprise, "Where did you learn all this knowledge?"

Zhao Yian immediately showed a bewildered expression, then said, "It seems like an old immortal taught me in my dream, but I can't remember it clearly."

Zhao Yi Fu said as if he understood, "That's right, I'm the same. There are always two gods who want to teach me something. Even if I don't want to, I have to learn a little bit reluctantly, otherwise they would be giving me no face." This empathy made Zhao Yi An confused. He always felt like something was wrong.

Zhao Yifu patted his brother's shoulder and said, "Study hard. I believe in you."

He spoke with the expression of someone who had experienced it all, as if he had seen through it all.

This expression made Zhao Yian feel uneasy again, and he doubted whether Zhao Yifu had really seen something.

However, Zhao Yi Fu didn't say much, and went back to his yard to do his own things.

He wanted to continue studying the "Danqing Wanxiang Fa". He now gradually understood why his master and others rarely learned the various wonderful methods in the Dharma Cave.

It’s not that I can’t, but that I don’t want to.

When a magical secret is right in front of you, and the key to unlock it is in your own hands, how can you have the time to think about other things?
Two more days passed, and it was time for the results to be announced.

Zhao Yifu was reading a book while waiting for Huang Lin, the local official in Bei County, to deliver the documents.

However, at this moment, he did not wait for the God of Land, but waited for his own leader who was the prime minister.

The prime minister's yang spirit appeared in his yard so openly that all the cats in the yard immediately shrank their necks and dared not say a single "meow".

The aura of this prime minister of the current dynasty is too strong.

Zhao Yifu quickly stood up and said, "Greetings, Sect Leader."

Qiu Yuzi said calmly, "No need to be polite. You should already know my purpose. This time, a total of 317 successful candidates from the 16 provinces of Daxu will be recruited and sent abroad."

"Of course you can resign, but that would only end your career, so I suggest that even if you want to resign, you wait until your term is complete."

"If one can retire with outstanding political achievements, then even if one resigns, they will be recognized and even sympathized by both the government and the opposition."

After all, he is the leader of our own family, so he pointed out a way to escape from the pit.

Zhao Yifu said, "Thank you for your guidance, Master. I have made up my mind. I want to go to a lower county where I can avoid trouble."

Qiu Yuzi nodded and said, "Good idea. If you're not interested in officialdom, just treat this place as a place to gain experience in the secular world. You don't have to be like us and stake your entire life on this gamble with little chance of success."

Zhao Yi Fu looked at Qiu Yuzi blankly, feeling a little overwhelmed.

Qiu Yuzi said, "In fact, the Great Xu Dynasty should have perished a hundred years ago. It's just that we old bones have feelings for it and are unwilling to give up. We just want to try again."

Zhao Yifu fell silent for a moment. He understood what his master meant.

Buddha said to let go, while Taoism seeks to gain enlightenment through thoughts.

If your thoughts are not clear, then don't even think about practicing.

Qiu Yuzi saw Zhao Yifu was silent, and suddenly a relaxed smile appeared on his serious face. He said, "I have some options here. You can choose for yourself."

Zhao Yifu perked up and nodded.

Qiu Yuzi asked, "You are learning the 'Danqing Wanxiang Fa', right?"

Zhao Yifu nodded again.

Then Qiu Yuzi waved her sleeves, and an ink-painted phantom appeared in front of her.

These ink phantoms were quickly reconstructed and soon came together to form a map of the area viewed from a high altitude.

This map was surprisingly like the 'satellite map' in Zhao Yifu's previous life, overlooking everything from a high vantage point.

Qiu Yuzi said, "This is the topography I recorded when I traveled with the Yang Spirit ten years ago. It must have changed now."

"But I think it's understandable to show you this way, right?"

Zhao Yifu nodded and said, "Disciple understands."

Then Qiu Yuzi showed Zhao Yifu six maps in a row in this way, representing six counties.

These six counties are all lower-level counties with vacancies in officials.

Two of them are small border counties with sparse populations, specially set up for the stationed border troops to cultivate land and store grain.

This kind of place is very boring, so he simply doesn't make a choice.

The remaining one is buried deep in the mountains and forests. One has to walk over high mountains to get in and out, and it is almost cut off from the outside world... Good guy, no matter who wants to go to such a place, he will not go there.

One is located on a sandbar in the river, similar to the Zhao family's new clan land, but larger in area.

Of course, this damn place is obviously for pioneering, and it is also considered a border, but its military value is not high.

Another place is located in a hilly area. Because there are rocks everywhere and a large area of ​​barren land, although it is in the heart of Daxu, it is also very poor.

Yes, there is no need to take it out even if you are not poor.

If that were the case, it would be an option for Zhao Yifu, but this place happened to be an iron ore production area in Daxu. The people had no food to produce, and almost all of them worked as miners...

To be honest, this place relies entirely on aid from the surrounding prefectures and counties for food, and how much food is available each year depends entirely on whether the local officials can lower their status...

Anyway, Zhao Yifu immediately gave up the idea after being reminded by the headmaster. He must be sick to go to such a place and be so humble.

So in the end there was only one choice, which was Fenglin County, located in the southwest, under the Yuzhou Prefecture of Yuyu Province, adjacent to the mighty Prison Mountain.

This place is relatively remote, but not too far away. It is closer to the big city in the southwest of Daxu, but it is located in the mountainous area with complex terrain that is not suitable for farming and belongs to the lower county.

But the decisive factor is that this place is adjacent to the Prison Cell Mountain, also known as the "Ten Thousand Mountains", which is very rich in natural resources... In the words of cultivators, this place produces natural treasures!
"This place called Fenglin..."

Qiu Yuzi had a strange look on her face.

Zhao Yifu asked curiously, "What's going on?"

Then Qiu Yuzi said, "It's mainly because the ground veins of that section of Prison Cell Mountain are filled with evil spirits, so there are many evil spirits appearing there."

"But with your ability, it should be no problem."

"Also, there seem to be many cultivation sects deep inside the Prison Cell Mountain. If you have time, you can go and take a look."

"My Danqing Sect is too far away from the mainstream cultivation world, so there is nothing I can do to help you in this regard."

Zhao Yifu shook his head and said, "Fenglin County is exactly where I want to go."

For him, this is the true way to get in touch with the magical and wonderful world of cultivation.

　today's chapter

　　
　
(End of this chapter)