Knife splashing

Chapter 451 Chaos in Chongqing Prefecture
"That's right. If you don't explain clearly, we won't dare to go!"

"Don't be offended, this is the rule."

Someone spoke up, and others followed suit.

Li Yan and his group were also attracted, but they just left a crack in the door and stood behind it to listen.

This kind of thing is indeed the rule.

Even if it is an ordinary troupe going to perform, we cannot agree to it blindly. Some things must be made clear.

After all, this business is of the lowest class, so one must learn to protect oneself, especially those who travel around the country. There are more taboos to be aware of, and trouble will come if one is not careful.

For example, you have to find out in advance what taboos the host has.

The host is an official, so the costumes must not be the same color as the official robes, and the emperor cannot appear on the stage...

If the host has a nickname, similar words should be omitted in the play. If it cannot be avoided, the part should be deleted. If a person has a bad reputation, he should not play the role of Justice Bao...

Even what play to sing has to be made clear.

For example, there is a tomb in the northwest of Yanggu County, Yanzhou, commonly known as Ximen Tomb. It is rumored to be the tomb of Ximen Qing, so the locals do not perform "Water Margin"...

In Guandi's hometown, the play "The Escape from Maicheng" is banned, "Taking Nanjing" is not performed in Jinling, and "The Case of the Chopping of the Beauty" is not performed in Ezhou and Danjiang...

If you dare to perform "The Legend of the Gods" when someone is offering a business to the God of Wealth, the Seven Arrows will kill Zhao Gongming, smash your stage, and cripple everyone. The government won't bother to deal with you...

This is something that ordinary people know.

If you encounter something strange, you must be more careful.

Otherwise, you won’t make any money and you may even lose your life.

The leading servant had an unpleasant expression on his face, but seeing that no one was listening, he could only bow and say, "Please don't blame us. Our master was transporting goods and encountered pirates. He was killed and buried today. The master said that he would perform for three consecutive days, and it must start tonight."

"Someone who died suddenly?"

When many people in the troupe heard this, their expressions changed.

咣 咣 咣!
Some of them closed directly.

Another old man, seeing the servant's bewildered look, sighed and whispered, "Sir, don't blame us for being timid. Plays about people who died suddenly are most likely to cause trouble. Ordinary troupes would not dare to accept them."

As he spoke, he counted with his fingers and said with an unpleasant expression, "Today is the sixth day of the tenth month, the year of Jiachen, the month of Jiaxu, and the day of Jiaxu. It is a bad day for the year, so it is not a good day for major events. This is the day to be buried... You'd better be more careful."

"Don't say it was me who reminded you."

He seemed to realize that he had said something wrong, and hurried back to the courtyard, closed the door tightly, and didn't say another word.

In a blink of an eye, the whole street became quiet.

The servants holding lanterns looked at each other in confusion.

"How to do?"

“No wonder several big teams didn’t accept it…”

"Brother, there won't be any problem with the gentleman, right?"

"Don't talk nonsense. Mr. Lu is an old friend of the master. He has already reminded me of this matter. We must find the person today!"

The leading servant looked anxious.

咣 咣 咣!
He struck the gongs and drums even louder and said in a loud voice: "Everyone, my wife said that whoever wants to take it will have his reward doubled, and the Zhou family can also help his team to gain a foothold in Chongqing Prefecture!"

"Three hundred taels!"

"Four hundred taels!"

"Five hundred taels!"

"One thousand taels!"

It was clear that the servant had received the consent of his master, and he was raising the stakes while beating the gong.

When he shouted out one thousand taels, he finally despaired, dejected, turned to the others and said, "Let's go, let's look for other places."

But as the saying goes, where there is a big reward, there are always brave men.

After they shouted out one thousand taels and promised to help the man gain a foothold, the broken door of a courtyard on the left finally creaked open again.

A man strode out, clasped his fists, and then said in a deep voice: "Is what you said true?"

"If we can gain a foothold in Chongqing, my Wuziban will take the job, but we have to pay first and sign a written agreement!"

"Give me money!"

The servant asked someone to bring the silver without saying a word.

"it is good!"

The man nodded, turned back to the courtyard, bowed to the group of old and young, and said in a deep voice: "Everyone, since the death of our master, we have been displaced. Third uncle and his family have fallen ill and need medical treatment."

"I may not be able to make much money in Chengdu, so I might as well try my best here, maybe I can find a place to stay."

"Okay! Brother, I'll listen to you."

This opera troupe has obviously fallen into trouble, and when faced with a play like this, they have to give it a try even if it violates taboos.

Seeing everyone nodding, the man took a deep breath and said, "Okay, please ask the Grandmaster to lead the charge, and let's get going!"

At the command, the people in the troupe immediately became busy, packing boxes, letting the animals run away, lighting incense and candles, and bowing to the two statues enshrined.

Afterwards, two people were specially dispatched to carry the statue of the deity respectfully and cover it with a red cloth. There was also someone holding an incense burner in front of them. They marched out of the door in a mighty procession, like an army.

People also poked their heads out from other courtyards.

Some people envy, some people mock, and some people are waiting to see the joke.

In the courtyard, Sha Lifei asked curiously, "Doesn't the troupe worship the old god? Why are they carrying two gods?"

Bai Huan shook his head and said, "This is a Sichuan Opera troupe, and they worship two ancestors. One of them is painted with a white face, black beard and dragon robes. It is Emperor Minghuang of Tang, and the old Langshen."

"The other one, who is painted with a white face and no beard and wearing a dragon robe, is Li Cunxu, the Emperor Zhuangzong of the Later Tang Dynasty."

"Soon after Li Cunxu ascended the throne, he became obsessed with Sichuan opera and pushed it to its peak. He even gave himself the stage name 'Li Tianxia' and often performed on stage with the opera artists. Therefore, he was also regarded as the founder of Sichuan opera."

Wang Daoxuan also stroked his beard and nodded, "Both statues have Yin gods guarding them. They have been worshipped for many years. They can calm down most places. No wonder they dare to take this job."

"Even if someone died suddenly, I should be able to survive, but I still have to take some risks. Once you are in the arena, you have no choice..."

After watching the excitement, everyone returned to their rooms.

After days of traveling, having just escaped from danger and having eaten a hot meal, they felt tired and soon fell asleep.

But Li Yan and others still kept watch in groups.

On the seventh day of the New Year, the little white fox was finally able to start working. He lay on the roof, breathing towards the night sky, while observing the movements around him.

This little guy's daily routine is increasingly contrary to that of everyone else. He usually hides in Lu San's backpack and sleeps soundly during the day, and is active at night.

As for Li Yan, he sat by the campfire and meditated.

In the spiritual space, the Yin Sea was churning, and Luofeng Mountain was getting taller and taller. A palace and three temples were becoming more and more solid under the influence of the Yin and Yang Qi...

…………

Boom boom boom!
Just as daybreak came, there was a knock on the door.

The bonfire in the yard had already been lit. After keeping watch all night, Li Yan went back to his room to catch up on some sleep. The women of the Bai family were busy running around, cooking porridge in a large iron pot.

When Sharifei opened the door, he saw the beggar Liu San.

Although this kid was still wearing tattered clothes, he had changed into a warm cotton-padded jacket underneath. His clothes had obviously been washed and no longer had the sour odor of yesterday. There was also a scent of powder.

"Hello, gentlemen." Liu San was holding two large food boxes in his hands. They were stacked layer by layer, very clean, and exuded bursts of fragrance.

He smiled playfully, "Since you guys have just arrived, I brought some breakfast, including tofu brain, duck blood soup, some triangular cakes and white cakes. There aren't many, so you guys can try them."

"If you are used to it, buy the smaller one."

"Why are you dressed like this? Why don't you change your clothes?"

Sharifei took the food box and asked curiously.

Liu San bowed respectfully and said, "I don't want to change my clothes. First, it's my duty. I have to help you guys with work and get information. Second, I'm afraid some people in the gang will be jealous and cause trouble for you guys."

"I changed into a cotton-padded jacket to keep warm, and I took a bath to avoid fuming you gentlemen..."

"Hey, you can talk."

Sharifei said happily: "But he is not honest either. I'm afraid he spent all the money he just got on the brothel, right?"

Liu San didn't care and said with a smile: "To be honest, I have one or two lovers. I want to make some money and live a comfortable life..."

"Hahaha, that's right."

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

Sharifei was still wearing the Nuo mask, his true face was not revealed, but the smile on his face could be seen through the Nuo mask.

Since following Li Yan, he has met many important figures along the way, some of whom are ambitious, some of whom are well-spoken, but compared to them, Sharifei prefers to interact with these people at the bottom of the society.

No one else paid any attention to it, and such matters were handled by Sharifei.

After taking the food box and placing it next to the campfire, Sha Lifei led Liu San to a wing room and said, "Sit down, let's ask some questions first."

"Yes, yes, you say."

Liu San sat down carefully, using only half of his butt.

This kid is not simple...

When Sharifei saw it, he immediately understood what was going on.

He is a veteran in the world. He has seen many things along the way and sees many things more clearly.

People in the underworld say that loyalty comes first, but they have to make a living after all. Some of them really take this as a creed, and they often act in a threatening manner, thinking they are really great.

Little did they know that even the head of Wudang, a semi-immortal figure, would still be willing to sacrifice his dignity when he went to the capital to toast.

Not everyone can be as willful as Li Yan.

Knowing when to advance and retreat, and understanding the rules, is the way to survive in the underworld.

Thinking of this, Sharifei did not beat around the bush and said in a deep voice: "Brother, you must have seen that many things are inconvenient for us. We are just passing through Chongqing Prefecture and have no intention of making a name for ourselves here. We also have to do something, and we cannot do without the help of fellow martial artists."

"That's that."

Liu San nodded quickly, "Traveling in the martial arts world is always inconvenient. Don't worry, I don't have much ability, but I keep my mouth shut. I won't ask questions that I shouldn't ask, and I won't say things that I shouldn't say. I'll just run errands for you guys."

"You're welcome."

Sharifei asked in a low voice: "I heard that Chongqing Prefecture has been in turmoil recently. What exactly is going on? Tell us so that we can have an idea..."

As they were talking, Li Yan walked into the room, and without further ado, he sat down beside them and listened.

Although both of them were wearing Nuo masks, Liu San was a shrewd man. He could see that Li Yan was the one in charge, so he spoke more cautiously.

"Chongqing Prefecture has indeed been in turmoil recently."

Liu San whispered, "Originally, the governor of Chongqing was appointed by the imperial court, and he was at odds with Chengdu. I heard that the Shu Palace invited him to several grand banquets, but he claimed to be ill and refused to go."

"That's the case with the government, but on the ground, it's the Gelaohui's territory. The two sides don't interfere with each other, and they have a lot of secret contacts."

"Then problems arose. The Sichuan Salt Gang's headquarters was in Zigong and Luzhou. First, the governor of Chongqing was reported by the governor of Chengdu for corruption. Someone in the court also impeached him. The situation has been going on for several months."

"These things are known to all the people in Chongqing. As for more, I don't know much either. I only know that the court issued an edict to reprimand them, but did not punish them. The governor claimed to be sick at home and rarely came out to take care of things..."

"Afterwards, the Salt Gang began to enter Chongqing Prefecture in large numbers, win over officials, and clashed with the Gelaohui. The two sides fought fiercely."

"The Gelaohui fell into a disadvantageous position, and then the Sichuan Chamber of Commerce suddenly arrived and joined forces with them, finally stopping the decline. But the Cao Gang also followed and competed with the Paijiao for territory."

"The Cao Gang and the Sichuan Chamber of Commerce are on one side, while the Paijiao and Gelaohui have a good relationship. The Gelaohui is caught in the middle and it is not easy for them to behave, so they have to pretend to be deaf and dumb."

"Now the Pai Cult has also developed a rift with the Gelaohui, saying that they are colluding with outsiders and destroying the stability of the southwest underworld. However, the Pai Cult does not want to take sides in the face of the Salt Gang's solicitation."

"In short, the Salt Gang, the Gelaohui, the Sichuan Chamber of Commerce, the Cao Gang, and the Paijiao are all mixed together, which has led to the current chaos."

"Now they are trying to win over and negotiate privately. I guess once the teams are aligned, there will be chaos."

"To be honest, I am watching as well. If I find anything wrong, I will flee Chongqing immediately to avoid getting hurt..."

After listening to his story, Li Yan and Sha Lifei immediately understood.

The underworld and the imperial court have always been indistinguishable from each other.

I guess many people can see that although the emperor and the King of Shu have a good relationship, the court is also on guard against the King of Shu's Palace.

The governor of Chengdu completely took sides, while the governor of Chongqing claimed to be ill and avoided suspicion.

Now that the war in the southwest is at a critical moment, the court does not want to get involved, so it only issued an edict to reprimand the governor of Chongqing but did not send anyone to investigate. This in itself is a warning to Chengdu.

I'm afraid many people are watching what's happening above.

After hearing this, the two felt much more at ease.

At least in Shuzhong, the Shu Palace and the Salt Gang are not all-powerful, and there is room for maneuver in many matters.

Sharifi rolled his eyes and asked, "Where are you Beggars' Sect?"

Liu San apologized with a smile: "Gentlemen, you are joking. We are all beggars who eat the food of others. How dare we provoke such a thing?"

Seeing the two of them remain silent, he smiled awkwardly and whispered, "We are the Westward Journey Beggars' Gang. Our leader was beaten to death. Now everyone is in a panic and everyone is looking after themselves. No one is willing to step forward at this time."

"Don't worry, I'm popular with people and know how to behave. I'm just trying to make a living and won't cause any trouble for you."

"Ah."

Sharifei nodded and said, "It would be best if you go to Fengwen Inn first and buy us some information on the Sichuan and Shu rivers and lakes, and get some supplies along the way."

"Good good."

Liu San was delighted, "Running errands is something I'm good at."

He could see that these people didn't want to cause trouble. They were just underworld villains who would leave after their work was done and abide by the rules of the underworld.

There is no better customer than this.

"Woo-!"

"hurry up!"

At this moment, there were cries and shouts, as well as the sound of dense footsteps, coming from the street outside, and it seemed like a chaotic scene.

Li Yan and Sha Lifei looked at each other and hurried out to check.

I saw the troupe from last night hurried back, carrying several people on stretchers, covered with white cloth, and they were obviously dead.

They had sad faces and lifeless eyes, as if they had been extremely frightened and looked despairing.

Li Yan frowned slightly, "It seems like something has happened."

Beggar Liu San took a peek and said, "So it's this group of people. I heard about it on the way here. They really overestimate their own abilities."

Sharifei asked curiously, "What's going on?"

Liu San whispered: "This group of people has offended the Dragon King!"

(End of this chapter)