Republic of China

Chapter 337 You're Pretty Good at Judging

The clouds shine brightly on the remote village.

It is very quiet here. There is no smoke from cooking, not even the sound of birds or roosters crowing. It is completely silent.

All things have spirits. Perhaps it is the overwhelming stench that keeps all living things away for fear of being contaminated by something unclean.

There are many haystacks blown down by the wind to the east of Nanyue Village. It rained heavily in the past few days, and the rain water mixed with the grass into the ground, which made it easier to turn the soil.

Zhao Sanyuan was shirtless, his sweat sparkling in the reflection of the sunlight, and the hideous wounds on his shoulders and abdomen were obvious. He felt a little uncomfortable on rainy days, but other than that he didn't feel anything, and it didn't matter if he did heavy work, like now.

The brothers dug the pit for two days in a row, but there were so many corpses that they could not deal with them in such a short time.

After dealing with the Red and White Devils, they smelled a foul stench coming from Nanyue Village. When they entered the village, they saw that the bodies of the villagers had already rotted. They could not just leave it alone.

No matter what grudges or disputes there have been, it is always right to bury them in peace. But don't let a plague cause harm to innocent people.

"Brother, what did the old man do when he opened the altar? I only vaguely remember that I felt dizzy and flew to a place where a few people in ancient costumes drank with me. We didn't chat, but just forced ourselves to drink."

Old Liu is not as strong as Zhao Sanyuan. He is in middle age and has a belly and some fat. Digging holes continuously is a heavy burden and he has to rest after working for a while. He sits on the wooden tombstone he has chopped himself and thinks carefully.

"I have never seen the Xuantan that Master opened this time, so how would I know what method he used? I was too lazy to ask if he didn't teach me. As for the feeling, we were similar. After I got drunk and passed out, my consciousness floated back, and then I saw the third thunderbolt."

When it comes to summoning thunder, Old Liu immediately perks up. The majestic power is still vivid in his mind. It is not wrong to say that the old man is a living god.

The most tragic one seemed to be Lu Xiucai, who was the first to enter, and was indeed as ferocious as a tiger and almost won the MVP. It was a pity that he took too many detours and was kicked out of the fight by Bai Sha. He didn't get to see the big scene, and when he came to his senses, it was already the settlement scene.

"Brother Kang, can our uncle really summon thunder from the Thunder Department?"

Lao Kang wiped the sweat from his forehead, put down the shovel, and said with a smile: "At that time, the three thunders of Shenxiao, Qingxiao and Bixiao were indeed summoned, but that was in the chaotic Feng Shui situation, which was both fake and illusory, just like the Red and White Evils who were almost omnipotent in it. Master used his own methods to treat them, and visualized based on his own inner scenes and images. Since none of them were real, it depends on whose illusion is stronger. Otherwise, when those three thunders came down, Nanyue Village would be struck with several big pits."

Although it was just a rough explanation, Lu Xiucai was so smart that he immediately thought of the view of white bones that he had learned.

Whether in Taoism or Buddhism, visualization is of vital importance. To ordinary people, it is no different from daydreaming. As for the mystery behind it, only those who have entered the threshold can truly experience it.

Then again, the fact that the old man could use his inner strength to fight against the evil situation that the Red and White Evils had painstakingly created is also terrifying, right?
At this moment, the old man was lying on a small haystack, smoking his pipe leisurely, not afraid of being lit.

"Master, what's the point of smoking dry tobacco all the time? Here, I still have half a box of Da Chongjiu." Zhao Sanyuan stood under the haystack and handed over the cigarette with a flattering face.

The old man turned around, facing his young apprentice's face with his butt, and said sarcastically, "Am I getting old and confused? I don't remember you saying you had no cigarettes in your pocket after we left the stone gate."

It's so awkward to hold a funeral. It's so awkward.

Zhao Sanyuan tried his best not to let himself die on the spot, and laughed with a big smile on his face, "I forgot that I hid a few boxes in the donkey's backpack. So where are you going to take us in the future? Is there any place you want to go in particular?"

"If you have to fart, just let it out. The longer you hold it in, the stinkier it gets."

"Hey~ How about we go to Tianjin? I heard that Chaotianguo Pansi Pancake is delicious."

“Those are snacks from Weixian and Jinan.”

"Oh, yes, yes, it's Jianbing. Shall we go eat Jianbing?"

Mo Wenshan turned around. Although his eyes were always covered with a black cloth, Zhao Sanyuan always felt that his master's eyes were quite amusing at this moment.

"My dear disciple, do you need to go to Tianjin if you want to eat pancakes? I, your master, know how to make them."

".No, I mean the ones made in Tianjin are authentic."

"How many years of history do you think Jianbing Baozi has? When I was traveling in Jiaodong, there was a master who was good at using swords and guns, especially short swords. He committed a crime and hid from place to place. He lived with me in a mountain temple. We were both young and energetic. We started fighting after a few words, and then we felt sorry for each other. Then I took out a few taels of flour, and he took out a few wrinkled fried Qin Hui. I was thinking about how to eat it. Should I say that this bastard is really imaginative. After exposing the knife to the sun, he put the flour paste mixed with water on it, and then spread some soybean paste on it and rolled up the fried Qin Hui. It tasted really good. I was thinking about what name to give it. The pancake is wrapped with a bunch of things, so let's call it Jianbing Jianbing Baozi. Later, he seemed to have opened a shop in Tianjin."

Not only Zhao Sanyuan, but the other brothers who were listening attentively were all dumbfounded.

Guys, I'm straight guys.

My brother has been talking for a long time and finally ran into trouble.

Zhao Sanyuan was at a loss as to what to do, so he decided to make things clear.

"Master, I want to go to Tianjin for no other reason than for the oracle bones. Before Bai Yisheng left, he said that the oracle bones might be in the Anqing Gang in Tianjin. I think it's very likely that the local county magistrate will definitely not be able to deal with the oracle bones himself, so he can only find external means. It would have been fine if I didn't know, but now that I know, whether it's for Yisheng or to protect the treasures left by our ancestors from being sold thousands of miles away, I have to do something."

"If you're only going for the pancakes, there's no need to go. Is it for the oracle bones? That's easy. Once you're done with this, you can go to Tianjin. Maybe you won't see the sea again."

"Hey~ Master is the best~"

"Wait a minute."

"You can't go back on your word, old man. You can't go back on your word!"

"Leave the cigarettes, and get lost."

"."

I have to say, I would go through fire and water for my master without frowning, but I really can't bear to give up cigarettes. I really can't bear to give them up. I'm used to smoking Da Chongjiu, and everything else tastes bland to me. But this brand is rare on the market, and it's even harder to buy in remote areas.

Helpless, Zhao Sanyuan hung his head and continued to dig the hole.

An empty wooden sign stands in front of an empty tomb.

After Zhao Sanyuan filled the grave with the last bit of soil, he lit three incense sticks.

"At least, I can take over your unfinished wish. As long as the oracle bones are still in Tianjin, I will take them back even if a dragon holds them in its mouth and a tiger holds them down. When I find a chance in the future, I will fill your graves with soil. Don't blame me. The Yellow River is so deep and long, who knows where your bodies were washed to?"

The four brothers had to dig more than a hundred pits, collect more than a hundred corpses, and bury them properly. It was a job that was both laborious and time-consuming.

I'm still not done on the third day, but I'm not far from finishing it.

At noon, the sun is at its highest.

The sound of horse hooves came from far away, and the frequency seemed to be neither fast nor slow.

There were five people in the group, the leader was riding a tall horse, and the rest were either mules or donkeys.

Xu Jie cursed in his heart, thinking that collecting taxes was a lucrative job, but he was sent to such a desolate place where no one lived, how much benefit could he get from it?

Remember that the head of Nanyue Village never mentioned it? We have to find a way to support a puppet to make money together, and sustainably drain the pond to catch all the fish.

He had a lot of ideas until he arrived outside Nanyue Village and saw an old man lying on a haystack smoking and a few old men digging a hole with great effort.

More than a hundred pitfalls!
Right at the entrance of the village!

Xu Jie was so frightened that he was shaking all over and almost fell off the horse.

Is this a gangster incident? Are you responsible for both killing and burying?
"Brother, what should we do now?"

"You, go up and talk!"

"Ugh—I want to vomit—I want to see a doctor—"

"Eat shit, you!"

Xu Jie angrily kicked his younger brother away, and then ordered the remaining people: "Whoever goes up, I will take him to the kiln for three days when we return to the city."

Being able to get it for free for three days is indeed very tempting.

There was a guy who was so eager to have sex that he was willing to risk his life. He actually mustered up the courage to walk over carefully. Xu Jie also got off his horse and hid in the woods, watching. He would leave immediately if he saw anything wrong.

After a shirtless young man made some gestures, I nodded repeatedly and trotted back.

"Brother, I understand now." "What's going on? Who are they?"

"They said they were wandering around, saying that an evil spirit had come to Nanyue Village and had killed all the villagers. After they defeated the evil spirit, they couldn't bear to watch the bodies of the villagers rot, so they kindly dug a pit and buried them."

"Gone?"

"Gone."

"Do you think I will believe it?"

"Brother, he really said that!"

"Then do you believe it or not?"

"I dare not disbelieve it."

"What's wrong with you two?"

"He has a horse brand pistol on his waist."

"You're pretty damn knowledgeable, aren't you? Even the captain of Zheng County (the battalion commander) doesn't have a Continental rifle, so how could he have one?"

When Xu Jie heard about the Continental rifle, he felt relieved. He thought it must be a bluff. It would be much more believable to say that he had a homemade rifle.

After weighing the pros and cons, he got on his horse and prepared for a while. After all, if he failed to do the job assigned by his superiors well, there was a high probability that the deputy target (benchmark squad leader) that he bought at a high price would be taken away.

On the other side, Zhao Sanyuan saw that this group of people were like dog-skin plasters, and his good face immediately turned ugly. I told you that all the people are dead, why should I collect taxes from you?
Fortunately, Lao Liu took the lead to greet him, and did not give Zhao Sanyuan the chance to get angry.

It can be said that you, Brother Liu, have sufficient social experience.

Do not believe it?

Easy to say.

In the blink of an eye, he criticized Xu Jie's health and family situation in great detail, which made the latter so shocked that he almost fell to his knees. He insisted on inviting him back to the city and treating him well.

It’s not that Xu Jie had any troubles, but he suddenly had an idea and thought of a good opportunity to get promoted and make money.

First of all, it is impossible to collect taxes. If we just go back like this, we will be in trouble. We must bring these people back and explain the situation.

Secondly, a wanted rebel was captured a few days ago. He is a real powerful figure. He even led his fellow villagers to capture the county town. However, there was no progress in the interrogation after he was arrested. Since the normal way can't solve the problem, it is better to find another way. If it succeeds, it goes without saying. If it fails, there will be no big loss.

The old man said he didn't care. After discussing it with his brothers, they thought that after being busy for several days, it would be a good idea to go into the city to rest. Besides, if they were going to Tianjin, they would definitely pass by Zheng County, so they might as well do them a favor.

Henan Province is very chaotic and messy.

In troubled times, guns are justice, and whoever has more guns is more right.

At present, the forces in Henan Province are complex and intertwined.

There were the Northern Expedition Army, the Zhenwei Army, the Northwest Army, the peasant uprising army, local armed forces, and countless bandits. No one knew who was in charge, and basically everyone acted on their own.

One can imagine the plight of the common people in this mess. Just talking about taxation, one item has to be levied by multiple agencies, which is really pushing people into a desperate situation.

In other words, the interior of larger towns is relatively stable and not in dire straits. Zheng County is one of them. It has convenient transportation and a constant stream of pedestrians and caravans coming and going.

After entering the city, Zhao Sanyuan finally felt the strong atmosphere of life again. His trip to Nanyue Village had indeed left him physically and mentally exhausted.

So at this time, have a bowl of authentic Hu La Tang and a big bowl of mutton noodles, it’s absolutely perfect!

Xu Jie is the host, so we brothers shouldn't be polite. Let's eat and drink. After what happened in Nanyue Village, we can eat at your house with a clear conscience.

During the dinner, Xu Jie toasted Mo Wenshan frequently, and the old man accepted all the toasts. No matter whether the person was a good person or a bad person, wine was always right.

"I do believe in ghosts and gods, but I didn't expect such a big thing to happen in Nanyue Village. Old Linggong, can ghosts really be that powerful?"

"Drink, drink."

"Fortunately, you all helped us. Let's not talk about other things for now. If there is a plague, the consequences will be disastrous. So, is the old general coming to Henan Province for business? Or is he just passing through?"

"Drink, drink."

"Although I believe what you said is true, this is a serious matter. An entire village has been wiped out. You are the parties involved. You must come with me to meet the county magistrate and get an explanation."

"Drink, drink."

Xu Jie was doing many things at once. While he was toasting the old man, his eyes kept drifting towards the younger generations. The more he looked, the more anxious he felt.

The one with protruding ears and glasses is quite gentle and his eating habits are not too outrageous.

The other two are.
The guy with dead eyes and afro hair looked like a starving ghost, and he wanted to stand on a chair to pick up food.

Not only did they wolf down the food, they also specially prepared extra bowls, chopsticks and wine cups. They put good food like chicken legs and pork elbows in the bowls, but they didn't eat them. They just left them there, mumbling something from time to time.

Who are you two talking to?
Of course Xu Jie couldn't see the key.

Those are the old immortals Zhao Sanyuan and Liu Mangfan.

Speaking of being aggrieved, Lu Xiucai is not the most aggrieved one.

Uncle Liu and his companions were trapped in the chaotic feng shui of Nanyue Village from beginning to end. They even suspected that there were immortals there, and they could not get out or leave. They were completely exhausted.

After suffering so much, he must be well fed and well-drinking.

"Can you please understand the rules before you shout next time? Changchong, Mizi and I all thought you were doing business abroad!" Huang Xiaoliu was gnawing on a chicken leg with oil dripping from his mouth, and his words were full of complaints.

The big raccoon fairy held the fish head and ate it, without raising his head and said: "Sixth brother is right!"

The usually taciturn Mang Qingyan also said a few words, "Better safe than sorry."

The big raccoon fairy continued to gnaw on the fish head, "Brother Yan is right!"

Zhao Sanyuan knew he was in the wrong, so he didn't argue and just kept picking up food and toasting.

After they had enough food and drink, Lao Liu volunteered to follow Xu Jie to see the county magistrate, but was stopped by Mo Wenshan at the last minute. "You are making friends with brothers who share weal and woe, not raising two stupid sons. Do you have to deal with interpersonal problems? Let's go back to the inn and I'll teach you and Xiucai a few tricks. Let them handle the rest themselves."

No one dared to disobey the old man's orders, and the temptation was too great. Lao Liu and Xiucai were so excited that they jumped for joy, hoping to learn a few tricks from the old man.

Zhao Sanyuan and Kang Muang understood that this was the punishment for their indecisiveness in the face of Bai Sha.

"Deputy Officer Xu, which flag is Zheng County flying right now?"

"Brother Zhao, you are joking. Of course it is the government flag."

"Don't talk nonsense. Who does your County Magistrate Wu listen to? The National Government or the Beiyang Government?"

Xu Jie didn't expect that the question from this country boy would be so sharp. It was really difficult to answer because even he didn't know which faction his immediate boss belonged to or whose flag he was flying. He hesitated for a long time but couldn't make any clear answer.

Zhao Sanyuan retreated and asked, "Let's ask it another way. Let's not talk about it now. Before Henan Province got into chaos, who did County Magistrate Wu listen to?"

"Ah, then I know. We should listen to the Beiyang Zhang family. Everyone in Zheng County knows that the county magistrate is related to Commander Zhang (Zhang Zongchang) of Shandong Province, so he will definitely listen to the Zhang family."

"understood."

(End of this chapter)