Taoist Hefa didn't pay too much attention to the rude words of the military attache who was following behind him. Instead, he smiled and invited the other party to enjoy the beautiful scenery in the mountain: "Master Bao, since it's rare for you to go back to Mount Laoshan, you'd better have a good experience of our Mount Laoshan." The wonderful scenery, if you live in a place like this for a long time, you will gradually forget about worldly things. Cultivating yourself and cultivating your character can prolong your life."
"Headmaster Zhou, I thank you for your kindness. It's a pity that Bao is just a layman and it's difficult to get started. You don't have to work so hard. But Bao's suggestion to Headmaster Zhou is something that can't be delayed. The real headmaster A decision must be made immediately.”
Taoist Hefa knew that this incident could not be evaded, so he said with a serious face: "Master Bao, our Changchun Sword Sect never interferes with the disciples who have left the mountain. You also know this. As for where Zhong Guang and the others are looking for work now. Gao Jiu, that has nothing to do with our Changchun Sword Sect. Mr. Bao, now we, the Changchun Sword Sect, are ordering him to do something against his own wishes. Isn’t it a bit ridiculous? Do you think he can do something like this at this time? Will you accept orders from the sect?"
Facing the other party's unceremonious rebuttal, the military attache named Bao smiled sinisterly: "Master Zhou, what you said is a bit unreasonable. Who is Zhong Guang's wife? Does Master Zhou really think that we don't know? I I heard that their husband and wife are extremely affectionate. How dare he not listen to this relationship? Besides, I have already promised Master Zhou that as long as this matter is successful, your Changchun Sword Sect will be able to establish a sect in the Imperial City in the future. When the time comes, you The reputation of the Changchun Sword Sect is not limited to the north. Is it possible that Master Zhou is really indifferent to such a major event that glorifies the sect?"
His face changed slightly. The old man with white hair and Taoist attire probably didn't expect that the other party could figure out all these situations. It was obvious that the other party was determined to win this time, but this kind of thing was really shocking. Once leaked, the Changchun Sword Sect would have He might be facing catastrophe, and his mind was turning over and over again, but he didn't dare to talk casually.
"Master Bao, it is naturally the wish of Zhou and the entire sect to glorify the Changchun Sword Sect, but just talking about something like this has already made Zhou shy away. As for what you said about letting Zhong Guang do such a dangerous thing , Let’s not talk about whether it can be successful. Even if it is successful, I am afraid that his family will only end up confiscating his family and exterminating his family. Who would be willing to do such a thing?"
"Haha, Headmaster Zhou, since we dare to raise this matter, we must have a comprehensive plan and absolute certainty. As long as you agree, we will discuss the plan in detail and make sure that you will also recognize your ability. This plan will only be successful if the disciple can get away with the crime. What do you think? Your Highness has great hopes for your Changchun Sword Sect. This is the land deed for three hundred hectares of fertile land under Mount Laoshan. If you agree to cooperate with us, this plan will be successful. Three hundred hectares of fertile land is the deposit, and as long as the matter is successful, His Highness will also receive a generous reward." A trace of excitement flashed across the face of the military attache named Bao, and his eyes were fixed on the other party's face.
A greedy look flashed across his face. The heavy-haired old Taoist quickly took the stack of land deeds handed over by the other party, glanced at it and stuffed it into his arms, and then said: "Since His Highness loves our Changchun Sword Sect so much, then Zhou How can I refuse His Highness's kindness? But first of all, I can ask my disciples to cooperate with your actions, but one thing I want to be clear about is that your plan must comply with the conditions I just proposed. If it cannot be achieved, my disciples will never participate in this matter."
"Please rest assured, Headmaster Zhou, Bao is not a reckless person. This plan must make Headmaster absolutely assured and satisfied to show our sincerity. If we cannot work together, if the plan fails, we will not be able to explain it to His Highness. ." The military attaché surnamed Bao said with a cheerful smile, a cold look passing through his eyes.
"In that case, let's just be gentlemen." The old man with a heavy hair said calmly without saying much.
"Well, Bao will go and report to His Highness first, and then send the plan to discuss with the commander." The military attaché named Bao also spoke concisely and to the point. He cupped his fists briefly and walked away as fast as flying. After a few leaps, he disappeared into the rocks. Seeing that the other party's figure disappeared without a trace, the gloom returned to the face of the white-haired old man. He was obviously worried about what was going to happen next, and the footsteps behind him did not make him look back.
"Brother, are you really planning to take over this charcoal?" A somewhat puzzled voice came from behind. A voice flashed out from the cliff in front, and a figure walked a few steps behind Hefa Lao Dao.
"Humph, although the Changchun Sword Sect is not rich, it is not that it has not grown to the point where it would risk the world's disapproval for three hundred hectares of land. But Junior Brother, you see, if we don't agree to come down now, then Is Bao Guowei going to be dismissed so easily?" The white-haired old man withdrew his gaze from the green pool and said calmly.
"Then you have accepted the gift of three hundred hectares of land from the other party, and the matter is settled. Junior nephew Zhong Guang and the others have finally gained some reputation there. It was you who supported them in the beginning, and now they are quite popular with King Qin. His Highness's appreciation, in this way, our efforts are not in vain? What's more, even if Senior Brother orders it as the head of the clan, Senior Nephew Zhong Guang and the others would not dare to accept it in their current official status, right? " Come on, right? He has thick eyebrows and deep eyes, a lion's nose and a tiger's mouth. He is about fifty years old, but he is full of heroic spirit.
"Huh, that's natural. This kind of thing is not only related to the rise and fall of the sect, but also may make the entire family a ghost. Who dares to accept it? Bao Guowei said it lightly. What is the status of His Highness King Qin now? Most of them The empire is in his hands. Let’s not talk about whether we have the ability or not. Even if we do, we have to think about the future development of the sect, right? I think this is what my brother has learned through observation and analysis over the years. His Highness the King of Qin A man of great talent and great strategy will probably take the position of the lord of the empire sooner or later. This time of change of dynasties is a good opportunity for the sect to prosper, but if you are on the wrong team, it is normal for it to collapse overnight. Take a look. The ups and downs of various sects in the early days of this dynasty can be learned from history. Now that we have finally caught up with His Highness the King of Qin, how can we give up so easily?"
"What's more, His Highness the King of Qin is surrounded by talented people. His bodyguards are not only masters selected from his army, but also elites from various sects in the empire. Even many of his concubines are from the world. You Do you think he likes Jianghu people? Now many sects have secretly surrendered to His Highness the King of Qin. Joining the bodyguard is naturally a sign of loyalty. If there are enough female disciples to sleep with him, this will not only win the favor of His Highness the King of Qin, but more importantly It is to be able to protect his safety most closely when he is at his most vulnerable. If a sect can achieve this step, it means that His Highness King Qin treats you as one of his true own."
Although he is so old that he has white hair and a childish face, he is full of fairy spirit, but he talks about the affairs of the rivers and lakes in a clear and logical manner. Although he looks a bit uninteresting, the lion-nosed old man on the side nods repeatedly when he hears it.
"Then how are senior brothers going to deal with this guy named Bao? He is here on behalf of the Highness. We are still under the rule of His Highness. We have to bow our heads under the eaves." The lion-nosed old man also felt a little emotional.
"Hmph, he has a good plan, and I have a wall ladder. Doesn't he want us to cooperate fully? Let's take a look at his plan first. We can always find some loopholes. The initiative is in our hands, so that's fine. Don't be afraid, as long as we cooperate fully, it's not our business whether it succeeds or not." There was an unnoticed evil smile on the face of the heavy-haired old Taoist, which was quite incongruous with his fairy-like appearance.
"Senior brother, what do you mean...?" The lion-nosed old man still didn't come to his senses.
"Hey, junior brother, doesn't Bao Guowei have a plan? If the plan is leaked in the end, then it's none of our business, right?" He-Fa Lao Dao said with a sinister smile.
"But the other party will definitely think that we leaked it intentionally?" the lion-nosed old man said disapprovingly.
"Then we need to act out this scene well. When things come to a close, let him feel aggrieved for a while. We will have a good discussion with His Highness the King of Qin and put him in jail for a period of time. The plan here must also be leaked. It must be clean, and we must make the other party think that it is an internal problem. Even if Bao Guowei is suspicious, he will not be suspicious of us." The old man with a heavy hair said in deep thought, "You have to spend some money to do this. comprehensive."
"Senior brother is really smart, let Bao go and rejoice in vain. After this incident, my nephew and the others will definitely be more valued by His Royal Highness, which will also be of great benefit to the future development of our Changchun Sword Sect. ." The lion-nosed old man couldn't help but raise his thumb and grin.
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At Jinling Chengfeng Tower, after the song was finished, the whole hall was filled with cheers. The girl in scarlet clothes looked at the mesmerized listeners with disgust and left without looking back. This is the annual Spring Equinox Festival, and it is also a traditional festival of the Tang people to celebrate the arrival of spring and the resurrection of all things. According to tradition, Yao Lian, the leader of Chengfeng Tower, will perform a song on stage to celebrate. It's just that during this period of time, Fairy Yao seemed to be in a bad mood. Let alone performing her skills, it was difficult for the literati and elegant scholars who had always been guests of Fairy Yao to meet her.
He looked indifferently at the two maikos in the room who were playing flute accompaniment for their own sex just now. Although he didn't know what the reason for the other party was kneeling in his room, one thing was certain, it was definitely something bad. The news should be announced to yourself.
"What's the matter?" Taking off the gauze hanging on her face, the girl in scarlet clothes sat on the brocade stool facing the bronze mirror, combing her hair and asked casually.
"The master is here. I have something important to see you." The two dancers replied directly without any extra words. Diao Su has been quite busy recently. Ever since His Highness made a speech about his upcoming visit to the Imperial Capital, all security tasks have fallen on his head. With the continuous improvement of Li Wufeng's status and the conquests in Western Xinjiang, especially the prominent problem of Li Wufeng having no heirs, Li Wufeng's security issue has increasingly become the focus of many forces.
Whether it comes from internal rebel forces or external hostile forces, attacks and assassinations against Li Wufeng have never stopped. Although the trip to Kongtong did not encounter that tragic attack because of the separation, the impact of this also made the security bureau very nervous. The remnants of the Taiping Sect, the remnants of the rebel party in the Western Regions, the forces of various ethnic groups in the Tengger Grassland that oppose the expansion of Western Xinjiang, as well as the remnants of Western Xinjiang's local interests that have been damaged and the ultra-conservative aristocrats. These forces constitute the main force for internal prevention of the Security Bureau. object.
In particular, the remnants of the Taiping Sect are deeply rooted in the Kansai, Beiyuan and Heshuo areas and have a deep background. Although they have disappeared on the surface, they are always eager to restore their former glory. The reality disappoints them, but allows them to More hatred is aimed at Wu Feng, who they believe should bear the main responsibility for the destruction of the Taiping Religion. Although the superficial political and military structure of the Taiping Religion has collapsed, many important figures within it have been lost in the crowd, especially several important figures in the religion. Although they have never occupied high positions in the Taiping Holy Kingdom, they do not have much reputation. , but he was the core figure in charge of the Taiping Religion for a long time. The collapse of the Taiping Holy Kingdom came so suddenly that the Security Bureau was not fully prepared to deal with it. When everyone was celebrating the collapse of the Taiping Holy Kingdom, The arduous struggle between the security agencies and the remnants of the Taiping Religion has just begun.
In just half a year, the security department has successfully uncovered four secret assassination attempts against Wu Feng who were infiltrated into Qingyang and Hanzhong. The security department also uncovered a group of remnants of the Taiping Religion who were organized and infiltrated into government departments at all levels. Those Taiping sect members who surrendered were completely different. They were all die-hard Taiping sect members who had been organized and mixed in. They attempted to adopt long-term management methods to gradually implement the plan. This also attracted the attention of the Security Bureau.
Although the remnants of the rebellion in the Western Region and the other two forces are also active, because Li Wufeng's foundation in Western Xinjiang is relatively stable, and their strength is far inferior to that of the remnants of the Taiping Sect, there are some ups and downs, but it has nothing to do with the overall situation. .
However, compared with the threats from external hostile forces, even the remnants of the Taiping Religion are far inferior. Due to the continuous expansion of territory in Western Xinjiang over the years, the constant wars have inevitably attracted countless hatreds in Western Xinjiang. Kaman, Luzon, Maci Khan and even India, these hostile forces have all targeted Li Wufeng. In their opinion, the entire Western Xinjiang is maintained by Li Wufeng alone. As long as Li Wufeng can be successfully assassinated, the entire Western Xinjiang will be paralyzed. No one behind him can support such a huge stall in Xijiang. The outcome will inevitably be disintegration and collapse, and the threats to the surrounding parties will inevitably disappear with the wind. It is precisely because of such a huge temptation that all hostile forces have always had a strong interest in assassinating Wu Feng, and now the addition of Situ Sanzi has added countless risks to the security work.
Diao Su was most worried about assassinations from within the empire. The three Situ sons controlled some of the most prosperous areas of the empire. All the forces on the north and south rivers and lakes were more or less involved with the official forces of the empire, such as Jiangnan, Wuhu, The martial arts gangs on Donghai and Yanyun Roads have no shadow of Situ Sanzi either overtly or covertly behind them, not to mention the martial arts forces in the imperial capital. It is normal to have two or even three boats. Things, and the Jianghu forces can put these official forces to use, I am afraid that in addition to spying on intelligence, they can also play the role of assassins.
Diao Su, who has been in the arena for several years, naturally knows that the waters in the empire's arena are deep and shallow. In addition to the sects and gangs that openly stand on the mountain and carry the flagpole, there are also countless strange sects hidden in the darkness. These sects are all eager to rely on them. A strong enough backer can pave a broad road for the development of one's own sect, even if it costs some money, it is worth it. Although Xijiang has been imitating the imperial officials and doing these tasks over the years, after all, Xijiang has been established for a short time and has a shallow foundation. It is indeed difficult to surpass Situ Sanzi in these aspects.
Even in the areas that have come under the jurisdiction of Xijiang, the work in this area is quite specific. For example, the Beiyuan area has always been Situ Tai's sphere of influence. Most of the martial arts sects and Jianghu gangs in this area have thousands of connections with Situ Tai's group of forces. With such a tangled relationship, it is very difficult to reverse the long-term pattern in a short period of time. Areas like Heshuo and Guanxi were originally the sphere of influence of King Situ Jun of the Jin Dynasty. With Situ Jun withdrawing from the stage of history, it was logical to integrate the Jianghu forces in Guanxi and Heshuo areas. However, various difficulties will still be encountered in the process of integrating these forces, and Situ Sanzi's official appointments and various attempts to win over have also made the progress of Xijiang's work in these two areas very slow. Fortunately, with the progress of Xijiang in the Kansai region With the further strengthening of control, especially the establishment of the Qin Palace in Hanzhong and the intensified rectification efforts after Fang Chengsong took office as the governor of Kansai, these situations gradually improved.
These Jianghu forces are what Diao Su is most worried about. He and his deputy Tong Xuan have both experienced wandering in the Jianghu, and they have seen a lot of all kinds of people in the Jianghu. In their opinion, if a person from the Jianghu sect really Determined to assassinate government or military officials at all costs, it may be as difficult to defend against the opponent as it is to kill the opponent's commander on the battlefield. There are so many weird and bizarre martial arts and internal skills, poisonous hidden weapons, makeup and transformation techniques in the martial arts world, and they are ever-changing. Even veterans who have been in the martial arts world for decades may not be able to figure it out. In this case, the only way is to use Jianghu to control Jianghu, select reliable Jianghu disciples and place them with those who need protection, and at the same time increase efforts to infiltrate and control Jianghu forces, so as to minimize the dangers that may arise.
In this regard, the Security Bureau and the Department of Internal Affairs started this work a few years ago, such as the Tianshan Sect, Xueshan Sect, Hunan Sect, Bashan Gujia Sect in the early stage, and the Kongtong Sect, Emei Sect, Qingcheng Sect, etc. in the later period. The Tang Sect and other sects have always been the focus of the work of the Security Bureau and the Department of Internal Affairs. These sects that have completely surrendered to the Western Xinjiang regime happen to hit it off with the Western Xinjiang Internal Affairs Department. In addition to a large part of them entering the intelligence department and the military, a considerable number The outstanding and absolutely reliable disciples all directly entered the security department. After being trained by the security department, some became high-level killers, while others became the personal guards and bodyguards of important figures in Western Xinjiang, including Wu Feng.
The Security Bureau has even reached out to areas outside of Western Xinjiang. Especially before the relationship between Western Xinjiang and the central government of the Empire has completely deteriorated, the activities of the Western Xinjiang Security Bureau in the interior of the Empire are even more active. Many sects and gangs hope to cooperate with the Empire. Having established a relationship with a hot and powerful figure, he is even more eager to win over the Western Xinjiang Security Bureau. Tong Xuan even teamed up with the intelligence department and personally led people to go deep into the hinterland of the empire to win over some underworld figures and people from the green forest who had no place in the world. On the one hand, she recruited personnel to perform special tasks for the Western Xinjiang Security Bureau, and on the other hand, intelligence The department also began to lay wires in various parts of the empire to prepare for future operations in Western Xinjiang.
However, as the power of Xijiang expands day by day, the contradiction between the three sons of Situ and the empire becomes more and more obvious. The three sons of Situ are also aware of the abnormal activities of Xijiang in the interior of the empire. There are many battles and counter-fights, and spying. Dramas with counter-espionage are also constantly being staged throughout the empire, and Situ Sanzi has also stepped up his penetration of the Western Xinjiang territory. Such offensive and defensive battles run through the entire main line of work of the Western Xinjiang Security Bureau.
Diao Su should be quite confident about the work of the Security Bureau within Xijiang, especially the security deployment within the territory of Xijiang. However, the plan to visit Wufeng Imperial Capital forced Diao Su to face this It is a fact that His Highness the King of Qin may enter Zhongzhou through Qinghe or Jinzhong, and Zhongzhou is precisely where the empire's political forces are most complex. Even in the military camp, he may face attacks from all sides. If he wants to enter the imperial capital, it will be difficult for Diao Su. Said, security issues are undoubtedly a nightmare.
As the head of a security department, he naturally has no right to question the necessity of his boss's visit to Beijing, but from a security perspective, he is absolutely unwilling. However, even his capable subordinates could not persuade his boss to go to Beijing. After deciding, Diao Su felt that it would be more practical to spend his energy on how to prepare for a rainy day and do preventive work. Although he had fully estimated the difficulty of this trip to Beijing, he still did not expect how difficult and cunning the opponent he faced this time would be, and the complexity of the composition was also something he had not expected.
Lao Mountain, a seaside site 180 miles south of Laizhou Prefecture, is known as a Taoist wonderland. When you climb up this mountain, you will see the sea on three sides, with misty clouds. One side is surrounded by blue sea and the waves are crashing on the shore, while the other side is full of green pines and strange rocks. . The sea waves and mountain scenery make the mountains even more majestic. There is a dragon waterfall pool in the mountain. The mountain water cascades down from the cliff thousands of feet, spraying beads and spitting out jade. The clear water below is cold and crystal clear. Two people came from the path in the distance. The first one was an immortal, with white hair and a childish face. He held a dust fly in his hand and put it on his shoulder. The second one was wearing an imperial official uniform. He looked like a military attaché.
"Headmaster Zhou, I'm afraid you have to take this matter forward. His Highness has made it clear that this matter must be done. If it doesn't work, hey, you know His Highness's temper. I'm afraid it will be difficult to communicate." The military attaché dressed in step by step. The man looked respectful, but his words were aggressive.