There is a progress bar in my cultivation of immortality

Ben'an County.

It is a small county town with a canal connecting Ningzhou Road in the north and Shang'anfu Port in the south. A straight road connects Mozhou Road, Nanlin Road and Ningzhou Road.

The wealth coming from the south and the north passed through the county town in a hurry every day, but left nothing for the local people. The terrain around the city was flat, and to facilitate the flow of the canal, not even a moat was built. It was a typical place that was easy to attack but difficult to defend.

So General Li stationed his troops at a post station in a strategic location outside the city, but this played right into the rebels' hands. The troops had been stationed there for only one day when some soldiers began to suffer from vomiting and diarrhea, and the qigong practitioners in the army were unable to cure them.

However, General Li was also a ruthless man. As soon as he found out, he suppressed the news by force, then sent a fast horse to report the news to Jinhuai Prefecture, and then decisively killed all the seriously sick soldiers and officials at the post station.

That's why the rebels are confronting him at this moment, otherwise he would have been surrounded and attacked long ago.

But despite this, the remaining 2,000 soldiers under his command would be in danger if they did not have reinforcements, because the rebels numbered at least 10,000, and the key point was that they were equipped with dozens of heavy crossbows.

The top of the waterwheel that was originally used to pump water in the post station was now converted into a temporary lookout. General Li, wearing a simple chain mail, stood in front of a thick wooden board, looking at the rebels who surrounded him on three sides.

"Where on earth did these rebels come from?"

Judging from the decoration on his belt, the speaker should be a lieutenant general. He seemed a little anxious. "It's no use for us to wait. When they finish setting up their heavy crossbows, we will have no power to resist. It's better to rush out and kill them now, which is worse than waiting to die."

No one responded, but the other two lieutenant generals had the same attitude. As for joining the rebels, their families were all in Jinhuai City. If they dared to surrender, it would be no different from treason, and their entire clan would be executed.

After more than ten breaths, General Li said, "There are many merchant caravans traveling north and south in Ben'an County all year round, especially by water. Every time a merchant ship passes by and delivers one or two swords, guns, and light armor, no one pays attention."

"Your Excellency is saying that they have been preparing for this rebellion for a long time?"

"Maybe, but it's probably not for today. Today is an accident for them, and it's also an accident for us."

"What do you mean?"

"Although the imperial court has long had laws that prohibit individuals from privately possessing more than 200 swords and guns, and no more than 10 sets of armor, how can the aristocratic families abide by this rule? They will buy some and hide them whenever they have time, waiting for an emergency. This has been a common problem since their existence, and the local government has also turned a blind eye."

Now no one said anything, because everyone present came from a big family, they knew the things involved best, and naturally they didn't have the face to criticize others.

After a short silence, the lieutenant general who spoke first said, "Sir, in half an hour, the rebels' heavy crossbows will be ready. If you hesitate any longer, your brothers will really lose their lives in vain."

Before he could finish his words, a rider suddenly stepped out from the rebel army. He was holding a simple staff and wearing the uniform of a county lieutenant.

"Are you planning to recruit us to surrender?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone present changed slightly. These high-ranking military officers certainly could not surrender, but the garrisons and captains were different.

"I'm going to kill him!"

"and many more…"

General Li stopped the man and said, "Listen to what he has to say, and gather our cavalry!"

He is not the kind of person who would wait for death. If necessary, he would indeed fight to the death, just to make back his investment and earn some merit for his family at the same time.

After giving the order, he casually pointed at the man who had walked out of the rebels and said, "I'll wait in the hall. Someone go and drag him over here."

"I go!"

The lieutenant-general who spoke first had a ferocious smile on his face.

General Li didn't say anything.

After a while.

Outside the bright lobby of the post station, a burly man was carrying a county lieutenant in the uniform of an eighth-rank civil servant as if he was carrying a chicken. The county lieutenant held tightly onto a makeshift staff with both hands, trying to keep himself calm.

"boom!"

The big man walked into the hall and threw the county lieutenant in his hand to the ground.

The county lieutenant was thrown down with his teeth bared, but he made no sound. He stood up with the help of his staff and was about to salute General Li who was sitting in front of him, when he heard General Li say, "Since you are receiving a salary from the court, why do you want to be a disloyal and unrighteous traitor?"

"Sir, why do you have to say such harsh words? Every family has its own difficulties. If you were in my position, you would definitely make the same choice as me."

"How brave!"

The captain next to him immediately scolded him.

General Li smiled indifferently and asked, "Tell me why you're here. I believe we don't have time to waste."

Upon hearing this, the county lieutenant straightened his clothes and said, "My master wants to make a bet with you, sir."

"Oh? How do you bet? How did he die?"

"We did not stop the people you sent to Jinhuai Prefecture for help. I think they have arrived at Jinhuai Prefecture now. Jinhuai Prefecture currently has more than 10,000 soldiers. It only takes half an hour to assemble them. The vanguard will take at most five hours to march here. My lord wants to make a bet with you. If your reinforcements do not arrive tomorrow morning, you leave 3,000 soldiers with spare weapons, and my lord lets you leave. How about that?"

"Are you trying to delay the time to prepare for war?" a lieutenant general shouted.

"If you agree, we will immediately dismantle the heavy crossbows that are about to be set up, and the army will retreat another two kilometers!"

As soon as the county lieutenant said this, even the anxious lieutenant general who had initially recommended him in shut up. The life-and-death fight just now would only happen in a situation where death was inevitable, but now there is a glimmer of hope, who would want to give up?

General Li smiled bitterly to himself. He agreed to the deal, but he was afraid that even if he escaped, he would still be held responsible, and the lightest punishment would be dismissal from his post!
"Are you so sure that the Governor's Office will not send reinforcements? You know that in addition to the Governor's Office, there is also a Taoist Palace in Jinhuai City. It only takes them a quarter of an hour to get here!"

"Haha, you are in a high position, don't you understand the truth of this world? A quarter of an hour is too much. The man in Qianmu Mountain would kill us with just one thought, but we can still stand here. Why do you think that is?"

"Be bold!"

"presumptuous!"

"you wanna die!"

Immediately, there were shouts of rebuke from the lieutenant generals and captains in the hall, because the county lieutenant's speech just now blasphemed the faith in their hearts.

"Chong..."

Two captains drew their swords, ready to kill him.

The county lieutenant sneered and was about to say something when he heard General Li warn him, "You've lived so long and still don't understand the principle that words can cause trouble? If you keep talking, you'll be turned into a pile of meat paste in an instant!"

His warning worked, and the sneer on the county lieutenant's face immediately turned into fear, because the murderous intent in the hall gave him goose bumps all over his body.

"Drag him back!"

The burly lieutenant-general immediately stepped out, grabbed the county lieutenant by the collar and dragged him out of the hall.

Li Zongbing ordered his men, "Go and see if the troops are ready."

The left and right colonels left immediately.

A moment later, one of the captains reported back that 120 of the 200 cavalrymen in the army had been counted, and the rest were unable to mount their horses due to diarrhea.

Then, another lieutenant general came back and said, "The rebels have dismantled the heavy crossbows and are retreating."

…One day later in the afternoon.

On the top floor of the attic where the chief of the Dao Palace resides, Qin Zifeng stood on the rooftop and looked out at the chaotic defeated army outside the west of the city. Behind him, a foundation-building disciple of the Dao Palace Investigation Team wearing a lavender Taoist robe quickly reported: "General Li Xiang was arrested by the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner on his way back. I'm afraid he will be sentenced to exile..."

Qin Zifeng interrupted, "I'm not interested in his ending at all. Have you sorted out the intelligence on the rebels?"

The foundation-building disciple immediately changed the topic and said, "We are already sorting it out. The defeat of the palace soldiers has caused many people to show up, but I guess they are just superficial figures. There are more people involved."

"Very well, go and do your thing."

"Yes!"

As soon as the foundation-building disciple left, the light of a transfer array flashed in the room behind him, and then Zi Luan appeared.

Qin Zifeng walked into the room and saluted immediately.

"Okay, I have something I need you to do. Go to Ningzhou Road and find your uncle Taishan. Tell him that his Taoist temple can be renamed the Six Heart Sect in the future."

"Uncle Taishan?"

"Yes, it is him. Now he is the only one who can carry on the name of the Six Heart Sect. He has a good vision and has lived a carefree life these years. I am afraid that his promotion to the third realm will be a natural outcome."

"Is there no room for maneuver in this matter?"

"Who are we? Think about Li Miaolin from Ningzhou Road. Why did he come all the way from Dongzhou to our place? His master gave up everything to support the Lord of the Mansion. If we don't catch up, we may not even have soup to drink."

Zi Luan looked at Qin Zifeng, sighed, and said, "At least our heritage is still preserved, and the temple of our ancestors is also worshipped. After finishing this matter, you go to the Northwest Taoist Palace. I have some arrangements in the northwest in my early years, and I will hand them all over to you."

"northwest?"

"Yes, the future of Zhongzhou will depend on who wins and who loses in the fight between the dragons and tigers in the northwest!"

"Who does Master hope will win?"

"Of course it's the Lord of the Mansion. Only if he wins can the Taiyan Sect be re-established. But this matter is very complicated. First of all, we have to ensure that the one from Haizhou Road can smoothly inherit her master's mantle. Everything Nanlin Road is doing now is for her. In the future, we will even have to invest a lot of resources to maintain the basic stability of the Yuqing Sect."

Qin Zifeng was confused, but he understood one thing very well, that is... the northwest is the most important, so he quickly clasped his fists and said: "Disciple will go to Ningzhou Road now!"

Zi Luan waved his hand, stood up and walked to the rooftop where Qin Zifeng had just stood, and looked at the governor who was drinking tea in the front yard of the Taoist Palace. The governor looked very anxious at the moment, but did not dare to show it.

Just then, a familiar voice came to his ears: "Come to my dojo!"

It was Wang Ping’s voice.

Zi Luan subconsciously clasped his fists and saluted in the direction of Qianmu Temple, then took out his ID card and galloped towards the south under the watchful eyes of the Taoist Palace disciples.

Half an hour later, he appeared at the Ascension Platform of Qianmu Temple. Unlike the previous time, this time the disciple Guan Qi who was waiting for him at the mountaintop dojo had been waiting there for a long time, allowing him to fly to Qianmu Mountain unimpeded.

Zi Luan calmed himself and entered the Taoist temple. Before he saw Wang Ping's people, he heard some people talking. They seemed to be evaluating the wine collection here. This made him subconsciously guess who the visitor was.

When he walked in front of the old locust tree, he immediately recognized who the guest was and immediately bowed and said, "Greetings to Lord Changqing and Lord Rongyang."

In front of the old locust tree, Wang Ping and Lord Rongyang were sitting face to face, while Yu Lian was taking a nap on a branch of the locust tree, maintaining her three-meter-tall body.

"Come and sit!"

Wang Ping's mood was not affected at all by the rebels in Nanlin Road, and his attitude at the moment seemed very happy.

Zi Luan walked over but didn't dare to sit down. He stood obediently two meters away from Lord Rongyang and Wang Ping, quietly waiting for the next topic.

"Xuan Ling didn't cause you any trouble, did he?"

"He learns things very quickly. Now he is in charge of the Six Heart Sect and has initially stabilized the situation in the Six Heart Sect."

"Have you dealt with the rebels?"

"Well, the various government offices are a little panicked, and they need someone to calm them down."

"Don't worry about that. The imperial court's order will arrive soon."

"That's no problem."

Zi Luan lowered his eyelids when he said this. He had asked all the questions he needed to ask, and the next thing to do was to talk about the main purpose of his visit to Qianmu Temple.

Wang Ping didn't hesitate and said directly: "We asked you to come here this time because we want you to represent us to go to the Taiyin Sect. The Taiyin Sect will help you integrate our heritage in the Southeast Islands, and Quecai Dao will also provide you with convenience. In addition, we also need you to communicate with the Taiyin Sect."

"Yes!"

Zi Luan did not hesitate.

Wang Ping looked at Lord Rongyang, who added, "Before you go, go to Fuming Mansion to find my disciple Hua Yun. She is not in a good condition now, so you have to bear with her. She will hand over the hidden chess of the Zhenyang Sect in the southeastern sea area to you."

"Thank you both for your trust!"

"Go."

Wang Ping waved his hand.

When Zi Luan left, Yu Lian opened one eye and looked at his back for a few seconds, then fell into a doze again.

Wang Ping picked up the wine glass in front of him and said, "I hope the Yuqing Sect won't give me a chance this time, otherwise I really want to try the knives in our hands."

"You won't get what you want. I can guarantee that with Lord Yangde's character, we have ten thousand reasons to fabricate charges against him at the Second Seat Meeting. Also, he has openly opposed True Lord Xuanqing more than once. If we take him down, even the disciples of the Jade Purity Sect will cheer!"

Lord Rongyang responded with a smile.

That's right. Wang Ping has changed his mind now. Initially, in order to prevent internal strife in Yuqing Sect and disrupt Zhigong's promotion ceremony, he planned to stabilize the internal situation of Yuqing Sect first.

Later, he sent people to various places to inquire about the news, and found out that Yangde Fujun of Yuqing Sect was very unpopular, and that Taiyin Sect was not cooperating, so he came up with a new plan.

He planned to capture Lord Yangde with lightning speed when necessary. The best way was to exile him to the border outside the territory on the pretext of disturbing his spirituality.

So, he went to discuss with Lord Rongyang, who readily agreed.

However, they still wanted to continue to advocate maintaining the stability of the Yuqing Sect, so they sent Zi Luan to do this.

Lord Rongyang took a sip of wine and changed the subject, "The two from the Underground Cave Gate are already a little restless, and the northwest region could become chaotic at any time."

Wang Ping said, "The incident with the Yuqing Sect gave me another idea. Since chaos is going to happen sooner or later, why don't we take the initiative?"

"Of course you can, but it will be bad for your reputation. After all, we have no crime to attack them. If we force them to do it, it will probably be recorded in history books for hundreds of years. Forcible changes will lead to even greater killings, which is very detrimental to your practice of magic!"

After hearing this, Wang Ping thought for a few breaths and changed his mind: "In this case, let's stick to the original plan, even if it will make the people suffer."

Upon hearing this, Yu Lian on the branch opened one eye and looked at Wang Ping, then closed her eyes again and continued to pretend to sleep.

Wang Ping drank the wine in the glass. Actually, he was not the "hypocrite" that Yu Lian said. He just sighed subconsciously, sighing for those innocent people and sighing for their tragic fate. But he had to do it this way. Many things in this world are so contradictory, contradictory human nature, contradictory life, contradictory good and evil. (End of this chapter)