Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 152 Treat each other with courtesy
The Monkey King waved his hand, and a monkey presented a clean robe.

"My name is Blue King."

The Monkey King put on his robe while looking at Lu Zheng and finally introduced himself.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "It turns out to be Lord Lan."

The Monkey King thought that his full name was Blue King, but thinking about the personalities of these people, they probably wouldn't call him that, he didn't bother with this detail.

Lan put on his robe, slowly returned to the stone platform and sat down, then picked up a fruit and started eating it.

Soon, a group of low-ranking monkeys came over, each bringing a few low tables, some trays with fruits and dried meat, and set up some seats.

The conditions in the wild were simple, but Lu Zheng didn't care and sat down confidently.

Seeing this, Zhang Bo and his companions also sat down at their respective seats.

Several monkey demons of high status also got a seat, including Bai Fei, who led Lu Zheng and his group.

However, most of the monkey demons were not qualified and could only sit around the banyan tree with a piece of banana leaf in front of them and some food on the leaf.

Even so, these monkey demons were not dissatisfied.

The monkey who can sit here and accompany the Monkey King has a very high status.

Next to Lu Zheng and his companions, there were several female monkeys wearing animal skins and dresses waiting to serve them tea and water.

Lu Zheng glanced at the bamboo tube cup, which contained clear spring water, and politely raised the cup to take a sip.

Lan grinned and said leisurely, "The conditions here can't compare to the big cities of your human race..."

"Fortunately, we don't have so many requirements." Lu Zheng smiled.

Then, Lu Zheng turned around and looked at the female ape next to him and asked, "Sir, is there anyone here?"

Lan couldn't help but say, "People? I have enough monkeys and grandchildren to command, what do I need people for?"

"I see." Lu Zheng nodded. "You do have a lot of monkeys here."

Lan smiled and slowly explained, "Under my throne, I have twelve second-level monkey demons, over sixty first-level monkey demons, about a hundred monkeys about to transform into demons, and over a thousand, two hundred ordinary monkeys..."

Zhang Bo and his companions were slightly surprised when they heard this. This really was a den of monsters, with so many monkeys that had turned into monsters.

Even if the county government sends troops to suppress the mountain, it may not be possible to wipe out these monkeys.

After all, it is troublesome to move here. I am afraid that before we even reach the monkey mountain, these monkeys will know and respond.

I'm not afraid of these monkey monsters resisting, I'm just afraid that they'll run into the mountains and hide.

Therefore, for the government, entering the mountains to suppress demons and ghosts has always been a very difficult task.

Many times, it is not that the government is inactive, but that it has no solution.

In this world and in this era, no place can be called a peaceful and prosperous place.

Lu Zheng listened to Lan's story and said, "It sounds like it's not easy for you to lead so many monkeys."

Lan smiled and said, "It's not easy indeed. Fortunately, they are not stupid and are very obedient."

Compared with other wild animals, even ordinary monkeys are smart enough to be easily controlled and commanded.

This made Lu Zheng think of the Golden Phoenix in Jinming Mountain. The people of the same kind managed by the Golden Phoenix were just a group of unintelligent pheasants and were completely useless.

As a result, Jin Feng often felt helpless when facing those pheasants. She felt that after becoming a demon, she was so different from those chickens that they seemed to no longer be of the same kind.

Lu Zheng quickly recovered and said, "I heard that you often send your men to rob villages?"

Lan's eyes flashed as he looked straight at Lu Zheng. It seemed that these young men were here to call him to task.

He couldn't help but laugh and said, "Robbery? Young man, don't speak so harshly... It's not easy for me to raise these monkeys. Sometimes they don't have enough to eat, so I just ask those people for some food. Besides, I don't ask for it for free."

"Oh?"

Lu Zheng smiled and stared at Lan, wanting to hear his explanation.

Lan said slowly, "In my territory, there are no demons or ghosts, and there aren't many other ferocious beasts like wolves, tigers, and leopards. Those villagers can go into the mountains to collect food and firewood without worrying about any danger. Before this, you could ask around. It's common for people to be taken away by wild animals while collecting firewood in the mountains. I didn't take their things for nothing, I protected them."

Lan paused, then continued, "You might not believe this, but someone once approached me, promising me benefits and asking me to do something harmful. However, I refused and drove him away. This halberd is the spoils of war I snatched!"

Lan pointed to the Fang Tian Hua Ji standing beside him with a proud look on his face.

"This world belongs to you humans. I don't want to be your enemy." Lan said with a faint gaze.

Before these monkeys became monsters, they knew that humans were very powerful and did not dare to confront them.

Lan became the king of these monkeys and always had this thought.

However, sometimes the years were bad and he couldn't feed so many monkeys, so he sent his men to some nearby villages to ask for some food, and did not do anything more extreme.

Lan smiled and said, "This king does not have much to explain. Whether you believe it or not is up to you."

Lu Zheng said calmly: "Such behavior is not good after all."

Lan Youyou asked, "What do you think I should do? Let them starve to death?"

Lu Zheng said, "Why not be self-sufficient? Plant some crops?"

Lan smiled and said, "We did grow some fruits and vegetables, but my monkeys are not smart enough to grow so many crops by one person like you humans." Zhang Bo, who was standing next to them, heard the conversation between the two parties and hesitated to speak.

Lu Zheng noticed Zhang Bo's expression and couldn't help but say, "Brother Zhang, if you have anything to say, just say it. We are just chatting, there is nothing to be said."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Bo boldly said, "If these monkeys really grow large tracts of crops in the mountains, the government will definitely not sit idly by. That would not be a good thing."

Lu Zheng thought about it and it seemed to make sense.

Ordinary monsters gather in the mountains, so perhaps the government will not react much.

But if they reclaim large tracts of farmland and start producing labor and storing food, then they will not be an ordinary monster force and will definitely strike hard.

Lu Zheng asked curiously, "I don't know all the laws of Anguo, so I don't know under what circumstances monsters are allowed to open up wasteland and cultivate land."

"This... I don't know either." Zhang Bo said.

Li Zhao couldn't help but say, "Then they have to submit to the government. I've heard my father mention some cases where monsters who submitted to the government received some benefits. They will be treated the same as humans, so they can definitely farm."

Li Zhao looked at Lan again and said, "But with so many of you monkeys, it's not easy to arrange for you to surrender."

Sending these thousands of monkeys to the county government office was a headache for the county magistrate.

Lan heard this and said calmly: "This king has no such idea."

Why would he, a good monkey king, live under someone else's roof and be ordered around by others? It's not like he couldn't survive.

Lu Zheng stopped mentioning this kind of thing so as not to cause resistance from these monkeys.

Just then, several monkeys came from the foot of the mountain.

They were presented on trays, containing some freshly roasted meat.

Lan Zhixiao's men had just hunted a big wild boar, and these barbecued meats came from that boar.

He stood up and cut some hearts and livers himself, then distributed them to Lu Zheng and others.

Lu Zheng didn't know where Lan learned these etiquettes, but in some places, the heart and liver are indeed regarded as the best things and are served to distinguished guests.

Lu Zheng ate a few slices of pig heart and liver. The taste was not good, but not too bad either.

It was good enough that these monkeys were given cooked food instead of bloody hearts and livers.

Zhang Bo and his friends didn't like this kind of food very much, but they still ate some anyway.

The surrounding monkeys also got some barbecue, and they ate it with gusto.

Lan was in a good mood and said to a monkey, "Go, bring me the best wine!"

Upon hearing this, the monkey quickly agreed and then flew away.

After a while, the monkey brought a large jar and carefully placed it next to Lan.

Lan directly opened the lid of the wine jar, and immediately a rich aroma of fruit wine filled the air.

When the monkeys around smelled the aroma of wine, not only did their eyes become blurred, but even their breathing became heavy, as if they wanted to absorb all the smell of wine in the air.

They had tasted this wine before and had always longed for it, but the king seldom rewarded them with such wine.

Lu Zheng moved his nose and felt a hint of spiritual energy from the fragrance.

Lan grinned and said, "This wine was brewed by me using some spiritual fruits and herbs. It's quite strong. Let's have a taste with the guests!"

Lan called a few female monkeys to serve and scooped a cup of spiritual wine for Lu Zheng and others, and even Qing Wan had a small cup.

The monkey demons sitting around also have a share.

But each one only had a small cup of spirit wine, just enough for one or two sips.

Lu Zheng received the spirit wine, raised the cup with a smile and said, "Cheers to you, sir!"

Zhang Bo and Qing Wan all raised their glasses and politely toasted Lan.

Seeing this, the monkeys who had been drooling for a long time did not dare to drink directly. Instead, they followed Lu Zheng and his companions' example and expressed their respect to their king.

Lan laughed out loud and replied, "Let's drink!"

Lu Zheng took a sip of the wine. It had a strong fruity aroma mixed with a hint of medicinal flavor. It was smooth and lingering on the palate. The spiritual energy contained in it was gentle and slowly nourished the body. It was indeed a good spiritual wine.

Zhang Bo and others nearby also tasted it, and their eyes suddenly lit up.

They tasted wine a lot and could tell that this wine was extraordinary. It was a rare spiritual wine that tasted great and was good for the body.

The monkey demons were given small cups of spirit wine, but none of them were willing to drink it all in one gulp.

Many monkeys licked the food with their tongues, looking very happy.

Lan saw everyone's expressions and said smugly, "How is it?"

"Your spiritual wine is very good." Lu Zheng said with a smile.

When Lan heard Lu Zheng's praise, the smile on his face became even brighter.

(End of this chapter)