My book friend Long Aotian

Chapter 96 Smells so good!
The incense burner is faint and fills the quiet room.

Li Bailong sat cross-legged on the couch, feeling a little awkward.

Sitting opposite the low table was the succubus of Great Qi… Bah, the emperor’s uncle King Zhao, who was also known as the Wise King of Great Qi. He was just as the legend said, with the appearance of a dragon and a phoenix, and the appearance of the sun and the moon. His every move made people feel like they were in the spring breeze.

But she had clearly been promised to the Lingyu Sect, so how come she was sent to the emperor's uncle's room?

——Regarding Feng Lin’s matter, we were grateful to the Lingyu Sect for their assistance at all costs. Although the other party never made any requests, their real intention was obvious: they came for Li Bailong.

However, it was not a case of repaying a favor. After all, Li Bailong had been flirting with his pen pal from the Lingyu Sect for a long time, and they even had a child together (referring to the Aerospace Teaching Regiment and the Heavy Armored Combined Regiment). They already had a deep emotional foundation and a de facto relationship. After the breakup, according to the more advanced marriage system, he could also get half of the troops.

Going to Lingyu Sect now is just like buying a ticket.

They are in love with each other.

Unexpectedly, the emperor's hair fell from the sky!

Moreover, he intervened and tried to take away the beautiful Li Bailong and stop the good thing.

This is not surprising. After all, in many female works, the beautiful and extraordinary heroines are always admired by all kinds of handsome men. Since there is a brother Lingyu who likes small animals and is caring, there is naturally a brother Huangshu who is noble, strong and possessive.

Not only that, there is also the cold, arrogant, intelligent and ascetic brother Xuanyuan.

And the muscular, bald Caobang brother with black mosaics around his eyes.

None of this is the point.

The point is, after the Lingyu Sect learned about this, they didn't say a word and let Li Bailong walk into Huang Mao's room helplessly - Old Ling! Say something!

Heaven and earth did not respond, and Li Bailong could not figure out why the emperor's uncle saw in him. He could only calm down and prepare to respond to the moves... After all, there was too little information and he had no focus to think about.

"Don't be nervous." The uncle smiled, "The result will be the same anyway."

Okay, okay, you are so confident, eh, old man!
Li Bailong began to rebel.

Moreover, King Zhao did not hide his intention and said directly that he wanted to recruit Li Bailong to be an official. Li Bailong had no interest in this at all... Who wants to be a dog of a feudal reactionary dynasty!
I am doing just as well in Lingyu Sect, which is better than being secretly exploited by my superiors and gossiped by my subordinates in the officialdom.

"I have asked Miss Ma to tell you that I am here to recruit you as an official."

The emperor's uncle seemed to have sensed Li Bailong's resistance, but his smile remained gentle. His words were as warm as the spring breeze, but full of great certainty and confidence.

"I know that the reforms of Lingyu Sect over the years have your influence. I also know that Zhang Xuanhong has long had a favorable impression of you, and even the Cao Gang is willing to help you. At such a young age, you are valued by the three sects, and you single-handedly faced Feng Lin and did something that shook the government and the country. It is even more insulting to call you a young talent."

Li Bailong bowed his head slightly to show his humility.

"In the Lingyu military reform you proposed, there is always room for Xuanyuan Sect. You are Zhang Xuanhong's de facto first disciple, so this incense relationship will be of great use. You were born in Baihua Valley, and the connections of the female heroes are all over the military and political circles. If you promote the military reform and make Lingyu Sect enter the military path, it can be said that you can achieve twice the result with half the effort."

"So, judging by common sense, human feelings, interests, and gains and losses, going to Lingyu Sect is your best or even only choice."

King Zhao paused here and smiled warmly.

"I'm afraid you will only hesitate and waver if Zhang Xuanhong comes to you in person, right?"

Indeed, and only hesitated.

The uncle in front of him clapped his hands and said, "Impossible things, unshakable determination, good, I am even more excited."

You old thief! What are you talking about?

"Are you ready then? Are you ready to be convinced by me and voluntarily join my army?"

I'm ready to say NO to self-righteous people like you!

King Zhao just made an opening statement with a leisurely look in his eyes.

"I think that one cannot judge a person's character by what he says, thinks and feels in his daily life. If a person is well fed and well clothed, he will pay attention to etiquette and morality. These are not entirely false, but they are not entirely valid. What a person's true morality and inner law look like depends on the choices he makes when he is isolated and helpless, between life and death."

He looked directly at Li Bailong: "I already know everything about Fenglin. When you decided to destroy the airship, you didn't know that Lingyu would send reinforcements. Otherwise, with your scheming and talent, you would definitely set a bigger trap to make the people of Fenglin Volcano suffer even more..."

"Then I can think that when Fenglin was bullying you, your sect was on the verge of collapse, and innocent people in Lin County were sacrificed, you drew your sword in anger and didn't care about your life or death. This is your true character."

Li Bailong turned his eyes to one side and said calmly: "If the emperor's uncle said so, then so be it."

King Zhao actually laughed out loud.

Li Bailong looked at it in surprise, but the uncle actually waved his hand and said, "Sorry, I'm not mocking you, it's just a coincidence that your reactions and words are exactly the same."

"us?"

The emperor's uncle smiled but did not answer, instead changing the subject.

"The Lingyu Sect saved you and saved you from the desperate situation of fleeing across the world and being hunted down by Feng Lin. This was a desperate struggle for life, but everything in the world has a price, and this is no exception. I can assert that although your departure is like a dragon entering the sea, the sky is vast, but in essence..."

He said calmly: "It's just a transfer from a small cage called 'Baihua Valley' to a larger cage called 'Lingyu Sect'."

Li Bailong remained calm and just stared at his uncle quietly.

"The martial arts feast is like a chain, and the six sects are everywhere. This martial world is full of vitality, but also lifeless. It seems to be in order, but in fact it is full of despair. Everyone's life is controlled by an invisible big hand, but some people are able to go beyond control, transcend the rules, and trample on innocent weaklings unscrupulously..."

King Zhao also looked at him and said, "Li Bailong, you actually hate this world, don't you?"

"I am a contented person."

"I admit this, but you live in seclusion in Baihua Valley, day after day, with a bright future ahead of you. You do things according to your heart. Even if you don't fight with the world, you will still encounter enemies that even Baihua Valley can't deal with."

"You stood up this time. Not only did you survive, but you also found a better place to go. However..."

The emperor's uncle knocked on the low table.

Then ask questions.

"——Next time, will you still be able to stand up?"

There were waves in Li Bailong's eyes.

"Once you go to Lingyu Sect, Bi Youtian will definitely entrust you with important tasks, and you will definitely become a noble person in Lingyu Sect... However, a noble status also comes with constraints, you must understand that."

“Next time, you encounter someone like Wenren Zhuo, who uses his status as the prodigy of the six major sects to bully sects like Baihua Valley. That sect doesn’t have your roots, doesn’t have disciples like you, and gets hurt and bullied… Will you stand up at that time?”

"I believe it will happen... But at that time, will you still punish the wicked and eliminate evil, and help the weak like you do today, so that the echo of the drum of denunciation can resound through the sky and make the evildoers you dislike pay a heavy price?"

"No, you can't."

"Lingyu Sect will not allow you to blow up the airship again or kill Wenren Zhuo again, because you are a member of the Six Major Sects, and you have better ways to solve problems. The noble Six Major Sects are different from mortals in the mortal world. If you make a mistake, you can just drink three glasses of wine as punishment. There is no need to fight to the death for inexplicable reasons."

"This time, the battle between Feng Lin and Ling Yu was just a coincidence. The next time we encounter the same thing, we must solve it according to the rules between the six major sects... So next time we encounter such a thing, Wen Renzhuo will respectfully call you senior brother. If you are aggressive, Ling Yu sect will also think you are causing trouble."

At this point, King Zhao took a sip of tea and said, "I am right, am I not?"

Li Bailong was speechless for a moment.

This was the reason why he had no intention of joining the Lingyu Sect or the Xuanyuan Sect when he was about to flee...

The six major factions were overwhelming the State of Qi and were entangled with each other in a complicated way. How could he act happily when he was in the middle of it?

But the Lingyu Sect has been so grateful to us that it would be unreasonable not to go.

"Besides, the evil of the six major sects... no, the evil of the seven major sects is not just the people like Wen Renzhuo bullying the common people. He is a Fenglin Tianjiao, and he doesn't have the opportunity to do evil under normal circumstances." The uncle said calmly, "The seven major sects are like invisible beasts swimming in the void, which cannot be looked at directly. They are just eating and moving on their own, but their every breath, eating, and moving are devastating evils to those affected."

"You are far away in Baihua Valley, so you can't see this kind of thing if you don't want to. But now that you have gone to Lingyu Sect and are in the middle of the situation, how can you not notice it? If you notice it, will you do anything about it? Can you do anything about it?"

It was unexpected that the emperor's uncle was so frank.

Li Bailong thought for a moment, then sneered.

"The emperor's uncle himself said that there are seven major sects... If I join the emperor's uncle and serve as an official in the court, can I turn a blind eye to these evil deeds? If I see them, can I do anything about it?"

"can."

King Zhao spoke frankly, and there was an unshakable will in his words.

"I don't have many other merits in this world, but what I say counts. I say that I always keep my word and have never broken a promise in my life. Even the barbarians of Beining will recognize it. Now, look into my eyes and I will talk to you——"

He slowed down his tone, and each word he spoke seemed to be heavier than a thousand pounds and fell to the ground with a loud sound.

"I have something I want to ask you to do. This has been done by the court for decades and by many people, but no one has been able to do it right. However, I think you may have a chance to do it well, so we can make an agreement."

"As long as you can always do this job well, no matter what kind of trouble you get into or what kind of crime you commit in the future, I will clean up your mess and help you with the aftermath... Do you understand?"

Li Bailong was even more confused and somewhat alert.

He immediately said, "The court is full of talented people and geniuses. If someone has been working for decades and still can't do it well, how can I do it well? Uncle, please find someone else."

King Zhao was startled, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: "Are you so timid?"

Li Bailong said calmly: "No, it's easy to be content."

What the emperor's uncle said made a lot of sense. If he joined the Lingyu sect and saw many evil deeds and injustices, he would probably not be able to take revenge and would have to submit to higher-level rules.

He was also willing to believe in the promise of his uncle. As long as he did his job well, even if he poked a hole in the sky, the other party would do his best to help him clean up the mess... After all, King Zhao's promise was known to everyone in the world.

However, even a wise man like the Emperor's uncle could not have imagined the secret that Li Bailong was carrying.

You can become stronger by writing books.

So even if he saw all kinds of evil in Lingyu Sect, his forbearance was only temporary. One day, he would take the world for granted... He always believed in this. Life is long, there is no need to fight for every day and make enemies with the world.

In comparison, the emperor's uncle's vague job and generous treatment seemed a bit weird no matter how you looked at it. It always felt like there was a huge sinkhole waiting for him, and only a fool would step into it.

King Zhao saw that he was alert, but he was not anxious. He said calmly: "If you agree, I will first eliminate the threat from Feng Lin for you, and I will also mediate the dispute between Feng Lin Huoshan and Ling Yu Sect, so that the two sects will not fight each other, causing countless casualties and making you feel uncomfortable for no reason."

"Besides that, Baihua Valley will also be protected by the royal family. These are all trivial matters."

The more favorable the conditions he proposed, the more alert Li Bailong became.

Damn it, the job ad told me that the monthly salary would be hundreds of thousands, with a single-family villa as an accommodation, equity after one year, and a team-building trip to Europe on the second day after joining the company... How could this be a good thing!
——I think I need to transfer in Southeast Asia!
So he put on a regretful look and said, "My uncle is very kind to me, but I have already promised myself to someone else. It is hard to repay the Lingyu Sect's kindness, so how can I go back on my word..."

"I've already talked to Ling Yu Sect. I'm only renting you out for a period of time. After all, you may not be able to make it... If you can't make it, then we'll part ways. You can continue to go to Ling Yu Sect. It won't be a problem."

King Zhao said gently: "The Lingyu Sect will not mind. If you disagree or don't believe it, I will ask the Minister of Agriculture to persuade you now."

Rent a head! Can you rent this? You don't mind?
Lao Ling, do you like to lie on the door crack and watch? Do you want to play a song for me?

The uncle advised again, "Look, you are only here for a while, and you can withdraw if you don't understand. I don't need you to pay anything. I will give you the political resources and price I paid to settle the Fenglin Volcano and quell the war between the two factions for free. Why don't you consider this sure win?"

It sounds like a sure win.

But what exactly do I do?
Li Bailong asked cautiously, "Do you want me to go to Beining as a spy? Because I was named the Lord of Khorne?"

"……no."

"Or go to some dangerous department to carry out some secret big plan?"

"You have a good imagination, why don't you write a storybook?"

I'm writing it, shit!

Li Bailong frowned and said, "Uncle, why don't you speak frankly?"

"This is a serious matter. You must agree to it first before I can talk to you further."

The uncle said quietly, "Otherwise, you are a monkey with a lot of ideas. If you guessed something after listening to me, but you are not involved and refuse the job, it will be very difficult for me to leave you out of it."

"..."

There's also the risk of being silenced!
Li Bailong's mind was spinning, and he simply stretched out his hands and feet: "Ah, or let's go to Xuanyuan Sect."

The uncle heard this and didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Are you really refusing, or are you trying to squeeze some more benefits out of me?"

Without waiting for Li Bailong to reply, he sighed: "Forget it, let me tell you something good - after all, you are an outsider in Lingyu Sect, just a think tank. Normally, everyone respects you, but when it comes to major events, especially those that go against your will, will you have a say?"

"After all, the volume of your voice is equivalent to your powerful team. You came to Lingyu Sect and wanted to cultivate a team that is absolutely loyal to you and can stand behind you in any major event, even when there is a conflict with the collective will of Lingyu Sect... Can you do it?"

This is also one of the problems.

However, if you write a book that sells well and gather your willpower, the great power can belong to you, so it’s not that difficult.

Li Bailong said casually: "So, if I work for the emperor's uncle, I can have my own team?"

"Wrong, it's not for me, it's for Da Qi."

Seeing him lying flat, King Zhao also relaxed his body and sat casually, saying calmly: "And you will definitely have your own team. If you can prove that you are capable of doing the job well, then you can go directly to Lintai this year. Within three to five years, I can make you the head of one of the twelve prefectures in Lintai..."

Li Bailong suddenly jumped up and frowned, "Is the emperor's uncle making fun of me?"

Lintai was the government hall, where the prime ministers worked and the center of power.

The twelve prefectures and government offices under the Lintai were powerful departments that were directly controlled and commanded by the prime ministers. They overwhelmed the three provinces and encroached upon the six ministries. All of them were vice-state-level departments, and their power was enormous.

The lords of these twelve prefectures are almost at the end of their official careers, and are known as half-step prime ministers or figurehead vice-prime ministers.

The Jingweiyuan is the chief of the twelve prefectures, coordinating the entire country and led by the Prime Minister himself. The Wuweifu is in charge of all military affairs in the world and ranks second. These two departments are the most promising places in the officialdom.

If Li Bailong successfully passes the martial arts examination and gets his name on the list of successful candidates, he will be assigned to these two departments, and then work diligently and punch in at work.

He is admired by Prime Minister Ji, is good at pursuing cases, and has strong connections. If he works hard and makes achievements, in thirty to fifty years he may be able to become the chief official of two prefectures or even a half-step prime minister - if he really succeeds, it would be thanks to the powerful support of Xuanyuan Sect and the good feng shui of Baihua Valley.

In fact, the closest Li Bailong had ever been to the position of "Lord of the Twelve Prefectures of Lintai" in his life was when he almost transferred to Xuanyuan Sect a few years ago.

If he became Zhang Xuanhong's disciple, after ten or twenty years, the old master would abdicate and Old Zhang would become a Taoist disciple. At that time, Li Bailong would be able to overpower his peers and be recommended by Taoists all over the world to become the crown prince of Xuanyuan. In that case, he would automatically be canonized by the court as a first-rank true lord equivalent to a king, and would take over Zhang Xuanhong's job and enter Jiutian Yingyuan Leihua Mansion, one of the twelve mansions of Lintai, and become the military master of Lei Mansion.

This position is equivalent to the commander of the Rocket Force of Da Qi.

And now, the emperor's uncle actually told him that if he did his job well, in three to five years he would become the master of one of the twelve prefectures, a giant in the court on the same level as Zhang Xuanhong and others?

——You are so stupid from drawing cakes!

"Who teased you?" The uncle said unhappily, "As the king of Zhao, would I joke with a junior?"

"...Can such a major event be treated as a joke?"

"This is not a joke. This is the most important thing in the world."

King Zhao's answer was quite witty, and Li Bailong's curiosity was finally aroused.

He went straight to the point and asked, "Uncle Emperor is unwilling to tell me the details of my mission, but you should at least tell me the details of the official title and promise? You promised me half a step to the position of prime minister and the management of a government, I wonder which government?"

Hearing this, the emperor's uncle's face froze and he turned his head away.

Li Bailong shouted: "You are lying to me!"

"Who lied to you?" King Zhao retorted angrily, then lowered his voice and muttered, "... the Education Department."

Hearing this, Li Bailong's voice rose eight degrees: "Jiaofangsi!?"

"Yes! Education! Department!"

"..."

Li Bailong was silent for a moment, and said in a somewhat uncertain voice: "Is this mansion among the twelve mansions of Lintai?"

"……some."

The uncle sighed, "It's just that in recent years, I haven't done my job well, so I've become cold..."

I guessed it right! It’s a tiankeng!
Damn it, if this old man had said that he would give me the Wuwei Mansion within three to five years, I would have jumped. This kind of government office that I have never heard of and has no sense of existence at all must have big problems!
Li Bailong had to organize his words and refuse sternly.

While he was trying to decide what to say, the uncle hesitated for a moment and said, "Since I'm telling you this, I might as well be frank. I want you to be in charge of the Education Department and establish the system of the Twelve Prefectures of the Imperial Academy."

"I can't explain it too clearly. The duties and powers of the Education Department may seem strange and inexplicable to you, but the court actually attaches great importance to it. However, the reason behind it cannot be explained. I have found out what you have done in Lin County and think you may have some talent. After all, you have achieved good results..."

Forget about the Riddler, only a fool would work in such a strange place!

As for me, I am a free man of integrity who will never be a lackey of the imperial court!
"In recent years, the Education Department has gone from bad to worse, its authority has shrunk, and it has too many people for the job. Its current authority is only to manage publishing, opera rehearsals, review and edit scripts, train actors, arrange performances, and print official documents. That's all. It can't even do these things well, let alone..."

Li Bailong, turn your head slowly.

He asked blankly, "What? What authority?"

"It is indeed strange for a person of the power of the Twelve Prefectures of Lintai to manage this, but there is a major reason behind it, which I cannot tell you for the moment. You..."

Li Bailong suddenly showed a look of disdain, and said angrily: "Uncle Emperor asked me to give up the military reform of Lingyu Sect, and actually asked me to do this?"

King Zhao was a little ashamed: "It's not as vile and lowly as you think. When the Education Department was founded, all the talented people in the court came to preside over it, including top scholars and capable ministers, but no one could do it well..."

He hurriedly took out the gold paper from his sleeve and handed it over: "This is the authority of the Education Department."

Li Bailong snorted and glanced at them.

The above statement can be roughly translated.

As the mouthpiece of the imperial court, he publicized the emperor's love for the people, formulated cultural and educational affairs throughout the country and promoted their implementation, guided the people to respect Taizu and worship the six saints, abandoned obscene and evil sacrifices, coordinated the review of the repertoire activities of the opera troupes throughout the country, supervised and inspected the publication of books and periodicals throughout the country, strictly investigated the evil worship in Bac Ninh, and coordinated the promotion of the king's rule to various countries...

——Swallow your saliva.

Calm down, must be calm.

but.

This department... this abstract cold stove department... this shameful government office in Lintai...

Seems to be……

Seems to be……

General Administration?

Today's update is a little earlier than yesterday.

And it’s a big chapter of 6,000 words!

I wrote 11,000 words today...

At this point, the protagonist’s whereabouts have been revealed, and everyone should be able to guess the hidden foreshadowings and reasons behind it.

I just ask who could have guessed this development!
What's the point of just writing a book! It's more interesting to write a book while working as Director Li!


(End of this chapter)