Lord of the Desert

Chapter 479 Dead Beast
In August, the people in Cangxu City are all thinking about the autumn harvest.

Under the high blue sky, fish with delicate scales are learning to swim on the soft breast of the stream.

Straws are scattered across the fields at dusk, like solid sunlight left behind during the day.

"In the past half month, 30% of Qingdi Zhenzong's land has been inspected, and the proportion of untaxed land is as high as 60%."

With the help of lamplight, Zhen Yanchu and Hong Fan reported in detail.

"Combining our inquiries with anonymous reports, we found that more than half of the land owned by Zhenzong did not belong to him, but came from local wealthy merchants and landlords as "guilty loans" - the two parties signed a white deed without going through the government to share the provincial taxes, and Zhenzong received about one mu and two shi."

"Two shi per mu, how much tax can be saved at such a high price?"

Hong Fan said in surprise.

"It is indeed high, but the law of this dynasty sets the labor service based on the number of people and tax grain. The more people and grain grain, the heavier the labor service. Guiji can help the wealthy merchants save a lot of labor and silver taxes."

Zhen Yanchu was well aware of all these considerations.

"Hong Zishou, there is one more thing I don't know if I should ask you. We have been in Cangxu for a long time, shouldn't we make some proper contact with the Qingdi Zhenzong? Maybe they are willing to talk?"

"If you want to, you will come to me naturally."

Hong Fan laughed.

"The four local wealthy families that Song Xuan Ge went to negotiate with the copy of the Fish Scale Book are still unwilling to cooperate, which shows that they are still trying their best. This time, we have come from afar to fight like a fierce dragon crossing the river. I am in the open while the enemy is in the dark. It is better to be quiet than to move. When they lose their patience and reveal their true strength, I can take advantage of their weakness."

The two had not been talking for long when they heard a report that Gu Junda, the head of the Foreign Affairs Hall of Qingdi Zhenzong, was coming to visit.

"It is already past the hour of Xu, and it is late at night that you dare to come to see me. Firstly, you don't want to give in, and secondly, you don't have enough courage."

Hong Fan and Zhen Yanchu said goodbye calmly, while Hong Fan changed into formal clothes with purple ribbons and asked Song Xuan Ge to bring the people in.

The quiet room was simple, with a newly moved armchair near the door. The middle-aged man sitting on it was about fifty years old. He was the third-generation true disciple after Yang Cuiwei, the senior brother of Xin Wencheng, the current leader of Zhenzong, and the head of the Foreign Affairs Hall of Qingdi Zhenzong, Gu Junda.

After a few rounds of greetings, Gu stated the purpose of his visit.

"If Master Hong is so kind as to spare you a favor, all the martial arts sects in Qingzhou will treat you as their most honored guest."

The gifts brought by Qingdi Zhenzong were spread out on the table.

A famous sword named "Cui Po" with the inscription [Outstanding], a total of one hundred taels of gold bars, and a box of Shenmu pills for healing.

The total value of the goods is about five thousand taels.

"Qingzhou martial arts sect?"

Hong Fan glanced at the gift without any reluctance and stroked the purple clouds embroidered on his clothes.

"Master Gu, can you tell me the specific names of these sects?"

Gu Junda was immediately speechless.

If he refused, the previous promise of "treating him as a guest of honor" would become empty words. However, Hong Fan's position is unclear now, so this information cannot be leaked at will.

"Mr. Hong, why don't you accept this gift first."

Gu Junda glanced at the expressionless Zhen Yanchu and used his quick wit.

Hong Fan burst into laughter when he heard this.

"How can I not accept a small gift?"

He opened the sandalwood box on the spot, took out a Shenmu Pill, put it in his mouth, chewed it and swallowed it.

"The medicinal aroma is strong and the aftertaste is rich."

Hong Fan closed his eyes to summarize, and then suddenly opened his eyes, as if there was a glimmer of hope.

"Please tell me which high-ranking sects are willing to make friends with me?"

Seeing his reaction, Gu Junda clenched his hands and his mind became more and more scattered - in a hurry, he remembered the rumors that Chixing was good at business and had a million-dollar fortune, and also thought of Guan Qimai's style of doing things that only cared about the results and not the process.

Can a little bribe hold such a group hostage?
After a conversation, the head of the Foreign Affairs Hall of Qingdi Zhenzong was completely defeated.

"It doesn't matter."

Seeing this, Hong Fan pushed the gift back.

"Master Gu, it's a good thing that you can come today. Please go back and inform that Hong Fan will come to pay his respects to Master Yang tomorrow."

Gu Junda nodded in agreement upon hearing this, bowed reluctantly and left.

······
On August 14, the sun was high in the sky. Qingdi Zhenzong stood on the Cangxu Mountain behind Cangxu City, overlooking the entire city below the mountain.

The mountain gate carved out of a huge rock is four meters high and runs halfway up the mountain.

Hong Fan led six guards up the stairs and saw at least several hundred disciples of the Sword Sect standing solemnly along the way behind the mountain gate. They were wearing green robes and carrying swords, with mourning cloths on their heads.

This ceremony was of course to welcome him.

"Meet Hong Zishou."

The Master Gu, whom I met yesterday, was waiting here. He frowned when he saw the visitor dressed in a heavy purple silk robe with auspicious clouds on it.

"Your clan is truly a great sect."

Hong Fan raised his hand to return the greeting and stopped under the plaque of "Blue Sea Sword Heart" on the mountain gate.

The sounds of wind and bamboos rise and fall like the tide, as if thousands of people were silently fighting with swords.

The two stood for a moment and then climbed the mountain side by side.

The Cangxu Mountain is short and strong, and Qingdi Zhenzong was built on the flat part of its second peak.

After passing through the gate, Hong Fan’s eyes darkened, as if he had entered a world of trees.

Countless wooden buildings stood tall inside and outside the mansion, cutting through the entire sky with their lush green leaves.

Hong Fan looked up along the light and saw that the tree branches in the distance were intertwined in an unnatural way, and there was a sense of sword in the fleeting light and shadows.

In front of the Guangyin Hall where the body was placed, the receptionist called out the names loudly.

"Hong Fan, the top-ranked Tianjiao and the Purple Ribbon Cavalryman of the Shenjing Martial Academy, has come to pay tribute..."

A loud sound rose up, echoing in the green sea and causing the forest leaves to rustle.

The person who sings the name has the ability to communicate with nature.

The gate was two zhang high, and Gu Junda stopped in front of it.

Hong Fan signaled Shen Hong to present the prepared 1,000 taels of silver as a gift, and wait outside with Song Xuan Ge and others, and then he solemnly straightened his hat and clothes and stepped over the threshold.

In the center of the main hall is a cedar outer coffin as big as a house. It is two meters wide and more than ten meters high. It is painted black and joined with mortise and tenon joints, making it difficult to tell how many layers of coffins are inside.

On both sides of the coffin, hundreds or even thousands of eternal lamps and white candles swayed in the wind, illuminating countless chaotic silhouettes.

Dozens of warriors in mourning clothes were kneeling or standing on both sides of the coffin, their gazes were sharp and cold, with no kindness in them.

Hong Fan walked past them without looking around, took incense from the table and offered it, added oil to the eternal lamp, and finally bowed deeply three times.

The coffin was huge, like a crawling dead beast, threatening the visitors with a timid appearance.

Hong Fan straightened up, feeling a faint sadness in his heart - in his eyes, all the ceremonies along the way were completely manipulation of the dead by the living.

The acting leader of Qingdi Zhenzong, Xin Wencheng, who was called "Bamboo Shadow and Clouds", was in the hall. Normally, he should have been greeted at this time, but the hall was as silent as before, as if the process had not been completed.

"The younger generation is here to offer their condolences, and should kneel as per etiquette."

A sonorous, dry throat sound came from the side and behind.

Hong Fan turned around and identified the speaker's identity from his position and age - Cangxu City's number one young master, Xin Wencheng's most accomplished disciple, "Iron Curtain of Thorns" Zhang Angxiong.

"Since I am wearing the silk clothes of the Tiqi, I am not just representing myself. After this mission is completed, I will change out of this dress and come back to mend it."

Hong Fan replied.

"How dare you be so arrogant?"

Zhang Angxiong asked angrily in a low voice and stood up suddenly.

Hong Fan thought this intensity was too deliberate.

"Step back, do you want to act so presumptuously in front of the former Sect Leader's spirit?"

Xin Wencheng finally spoke up at this time and stopped the conflict.

"Since Hong Zishou is wearing this inappropriate outfit, he must have something to say today."

"Please follow me to the Qingtian Hall and take a seat."

(End of this chapter)