The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 68: Ming Cult, Jiangnan Ming Cult

Three days later, the sky was gloomy, swallows were flying low, and a rainstorm was approaching.

Zhao Ti ordered the opening of all the eight-shaped water outlets and underground channels, and the soldiers set up tents to guard them, with arrows and crossbows aimed at them at all times.

As the heavy rain came, no one from Guifanlou escaped from any of the water outlets, and not even rats or insects were to be seen.

An extremely pungent smell wafted through the cave, but it gradually faded away with the rain and was almost unnoticeable after a night.

Zhao Ti divided the imperial guards into five teams, each with two thousand people, and asked them to enter through the five largest cave entrances. The rest stayed outside, waiting to be deployed.

As the day passed, reports came in from all directions that the inside was littered with dead bodies, and the more they lay the deeper they went.

As the sun was setting, Chong Pu led his personal soldiers out and saluted Zhao Ti, saying, "Your Majesty, I have already met the other four groups inside, but no one is alive."

Zhao Ti asked, "Have you explored all the places?"

Zhong Pu said: "There are two dangerous places. Soldiers have been sent to guard them. We are temporarily unable to enter."

Zhao Ti asked: "Where?"

Zhong Pu said: "The king's carriage is below the Guifan Tower."

"Down below?" Zhao Ti frowned. Kaifeng was indeed a city stacked up on top of each other, but over the past thousand years, water and soil had filled in, and the cities were under pressure. There should be no gaps between the abandoned cities below. How could one still go down?

"Your Majesty, there is not an entire city beneath Guifan Tower, but there are two places that can lead into the uncollapsed space below."

"Where are these places?" Zhao Ti pondered.

"One place is in the water. There is a dark lake in Guifan Tower. The water is clear and bright. Under the light of the fire, we can see half of a palace under the water. However, our subordinates think that there should be no one hiding there. After all, no one can hold their breath in the water for too long."

"What about the other place?" Zhao Ti asked.

"The other one was summoned by the little butterfly Cui Chong. It is very hidden and is a very deep passage. It is winding and seems to be deeper than the palace in the water. Cui Chong said that the Yinhan Pearl was obtained from it. There is an ancient tomb from an unknown dynasty deep in it."

Zhao Ti thought for a moment and asked, "Did you ask Cui Chong to identify the leader of Guifanlou?"

"We have checked. Except for the Cave Master Wuyou and two of his followers, all the people he knew are dead. We suspect that the Cave Master Wuyou went into the passage and hid in the ancient tomb."

Zhao Ti touched his chin. Logically speaking, as long as there was a passage, the smoke would be able to get in. Even if the Lord of Wuyou Cave hid deeper underground, he might not still be alive. But he would not feel at ease until he saw the corpse.

He asked, "Are there many valuables inside?"

Zhong Pu whispered, "Your Majesty, there are a lot of treasures, and there are previous orders from your Majesty..."

Zhao Ti nodded: "My words are of course trustworthy. Is that enough?"

Zhong Pu said with shame: "The soldiers are all well-armed, and the subordinates dare not move without permission. We are waiting for the king's order."

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "The soldiers have worked hard these past few days. Not only have they been guarding outside with armor and weapons day and night, but it is also dangerous to go inside. Since you have done a good job and have no complaints, you will naturally be rewarded. You generals can each pick a few boxes to take away."

"Your Majesty, there are a lot of treasures in Guifan Tower. Please let the remaining subordinates inform the generals to deliver them to the palace under the cover of night." Zhong Pu said hurriedly.

Zhao Ti looked towards the palace and said, "We need to send some to the emperor as well, but it's not a good idea to go through here. The officials in the court will have something to say if they see us. It's better to go to the palace first."

"Your Majesty is right." Zhong Pu bowed.

"You should surround the entrance to the ancient tomb, send more people to point the bows and crossbows, and do not act rashly for the time being."

"I will go back and make arrangements now!" Watching Zhong Pu leave, Zhao Ti glanced at the sky and asked someone to prepare a car to enter the palace.

After arriving at the palace city, he passed the Zuoye Gate and went straight to the Funing Palace. The imperial study was at the front of this palace. After the eunuch reported, Zhao Ti led the way and entered the imperial study.

Zhao Xu was seen wearing casual clothes and sitting at a desk, writing. His movements were very serious, but his expression was extremely casual.

Zhao Ti had never looked at him closely before, but now he saw that his hand holding the pen was as white as jade, without any blue veins on it, as if it was carved out of jade. He couldn't help but squint his eyes.

"King Yan, please sit down!" Zhao Xu did not look up and continued writing. It was an essay of a thousand words.

Zhao Ti sat down on the brocade staircase and recounted the story of Guifanlou. Zhao Xu put down his pen and nodded, saying, "If we can avoid future troubles, it will be a good thing for the country and the people."

Zhao Ti said, "Sir, I'm afraid we'll have to send people to guard it on a daily basis. Otherwise, when the limelight fades, people outside will try to sneak in. I'm afraid it won't be long before another ghost Fanlou appears."

Zhao Xu sighed, "I know that the root of the problem is not in the underground, but in the quality of the country's politics and the livelihood of the people. If it is really like what Mr. Anle said in his poem, people grow old and spring is not old, and the orioles and flowers are harmless and the sun is high, how could there be such a dangerous place that hides filth and dirt?"

Zhao Ti said nothing and remained silent.

At this time, Zhao Xu suddenly asked: "Prince Yan... do you know the Ming Cult?"

Hmm? Zhao Ti was moved when he heard this: "Sir, what Ming Cult?"

"It is the Manichaeism that was introduced to the Central Plains during the Yanzai period of the Wu Zhou Dynasty. It is commonly known as the Mingjiao among the people. It worships the flame of light and worships anything that can light up the light." Zhao Xu said slowly.

"I... don't know." Zhao Ti shook his head: "Sir, what happened to the Ming Cult?"

"I have recently received some news that the Ming Cult has been spreading its teachings in Jiangnan more than ever before, constantly buying the hearts and minds of the people and extracting their wealth. I am worried that they have some ulterior motives."

Zhao Ti thought about it. At this moment, the headquarters of the Ming Cult was in Jiangnan. Thirty years later, Fang La started an uprising at Gechuanjian of Yu Mountain in the Tianmu Mountain Range in Jiangnan. After being defeated by the Western Army led by Tong Guan and Huang Shang, they moved elsewhere. It was not until the establishment of the Yuan Dynasty that Shenzhou Lu Chen went all the way to Kunlun to build the new Guangmingding.

"Your Majesty means..."

Zhao Xu said, "I'm afraid there are also these believers hiding in the capital. I have asked the Jiyisi and Jisufang to investigate. The Prince of Yan should be cautious when he is out in the country."

Zhao Ti said, "I understand. I will look through the book to find out what the Ming Cult's rules are."

Zhao Xi smiled and said, "The Privy Council has records of surveillance of the Ming Cult since the founding of the dynasty. Prince Yan can go and ask for them and take a look."

Zhao Ti nodded and stood up, saying, "Sir, I will take my leave first."

He left Funing Palace with his thoughts wandering. He had heard from San Zhusi that Yang Yunchong kowtowed to the void morning and night, and talked about life, death and fire, which made him feel a little suspicious.

He did not understand the Jiangnan Outlaws, but he knew the Ming Cult very well. The other party believed in the Great Ming Lord and kowtowed to him morning and evening. Their slogans included "What joy is there in life, what pain is there in death", and they also had the words of the holy fire.

It seems that the little girl, the old man, and Yang Yunchong are all members of the Ming Cult.

Zhao Ti thought all the way back home. It was already dark. After eating, he went into the practice room. At this time, his Phantom Yin Finger had reached the peak of the fifth level. The sixth level was not a simple understanding realm, and required a huge amount of internal strength to support it. It would probably take some time to achieve it.

At midnight, Zhao Ti came out of the training room. Tong Guan, who was on guard outside, came over quietly and whispered, "Your Highness, I just heard some noise."

Zhao Ti glanced at him, closed his eyes slightly to feel, and looked towards his bedroom. He saw a figure vaguely moving slowly on the roof.

"Who are you? How dare you break into the palace at night!" Zhou Tong's voice was heard not far away. Then torches were lit all around and the guards in the palace rushed over.

(Dear bosses, please read the article tomorrow, which is Monday. Tomorrow’s reading is very important. The author here begs all the bosses to read the article tomorrow. The author will be grateful and will remember it in his heart. Thank you all the bosses)
(End of this chapter)