Shulong Daojun

The land deity in blue was stunned.

His temple was in a remote location and had been involved in some "unclean" incidents, so the people in the county avoided it like the plague, and over time the incense offerings ceased to burn.

Why would someone suddenly build a new temple for themselves?

A hint of doubt flashed through his mind, but when he looked closely at Jiang Heng, he suddenly realized.

They looked familiar, but they weren't from this county. No wonder they came.

The next moment, his face was filled with disbelief: an outsider was going to do this for him?

The landowner in blue suddenly felt something was absurd.

Jiang Heng silently observed the changes in the local deity's expression. After a moment, he bowed and said, "I have come with sincere intentions. May I ask the local deity to step aside for a chat, so that I may explain myself in detail?"

Upon hearing this, the blue-robed local deity snapped out of his daze and said with a smile, "Come with me to the small room behind the temple for a chat."

When people come with sincerity, and it concerns matters as personal as building a temple, he will not turn his door away.

But upon arriving, before he could even speak, he heard words that filled him with both shame and anger:

"If I'm not mistaken, the Earth God's monthly stipend from pure incense offerings should be less than twenty strands. After condensing the incense offerings from the people, the total should be around forty strands per month. Is that correct?"

Jiang Heng spoke gently, with a smiling expression.

The landman in green robes frowned, daring to be angry but not daring to speak out.

Forty strands? That's giving him way too much credit.

Although he diligently maintained the temple every month, the temple had a history of bad things that had become a prejudice against it. Even though the root cause had been resolved, the people were still uneasy.

Therefore, despite his efforts in protecting life, he received only a few dozen yuan in monthly salary.

As for how to help refugees and obtain offerings...

If the monthly stipend is insufficient, the amount of pure incense that can be refined will be less, making it difficult to advance in cultivation. Naturally, one cannot compete with other landowners, and this approach is also unfeasible.

However, how could mortals know about the monthly stipends of the gods?

Could it be that there is a county magistrate or a city magistrate behind him? But why would such a powerful figure seek him out?

The land deity in green robes tensed upon hearing this. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Speak plainly if you have something to say. There's no need to test me."

Jiang Heng was slightly surprised.

Is this land really so dry?

However, it's actually a good thing, saving us a lot of trouble.

After all, the wisest people are the ones who best understand the pros and cons.

He then revealed the matter of "exchanging incense offerings for turning a blind eye," and then slowly said, "The conflict between the refugees and the people within the county is inevitable; this is in accordance with the general trend..."

Before Jiang Heng could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the blue-robed local deity: "There's no need to explain this to me."

As a lowly righteous god like myself, I have to rack my brains just to protect my own interests, how could I possibly have the energy to care about anything else?

I will only ask you three things; just tell me the truth.

Jiang Heng said solemnly, "Please speak, Earth God."

The blue-robed local deity pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Do you have the support of a righteous god of a city behind you?"

Jiang Heng nodded without hesitation when he thought of Lin Shu's figure, and then went on to describe a few scenes of Qingwu City.

The blue-robed local deity breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and continued, "If things fail and I am stripped of my divine position, will I have a place to stay?"

Jiang Heng recalled the appearance of the new city and nodded again.

The land deity in blue was completely relieved. He composed himself and asked, "Is it truly as you say, that the refugees will worship me and my incense offerings will increase?"

Jiang Heng smiled slightly: "Naturally, I also have some reputation among the refugees."

"Good!" The blue-robed local deity was overjoyed, raising his eyebrows and saying, "You have indeed come with sincerity, and I will grant your request."

Jiang Heng was also delighted and returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

He then frankly admitted that the establishment of a new temple could only be realized after the county was seized, and for now, he could only bring the refugees to the temple to worship.

This matter can be resolved tomorrow.

The land deity in blue robes understood the reasoning behind it, coughed lightly, and said, "That's fine then. I will also tidy up the temple and prepare plenty of incense."

Jiang Heng smiled and prepared to take his leave so he could explore the county.

Fang took a step forward, then seemed to remember something and whispered to the blue-robed local deity, "Please contact a few trusted friends and tell them roughly what we just talked about."

I will then arrange a time to meet with Xiaomin, and I will discuss the matter with them in more detail.

Upon hearing this, the blue-robed local deity, knowing his intention, did not refuse and immediately responded.

After finishing his business, Jiang Heng turned and headed towards the gentry and powerful figures in the county.

With his waist badge and the prestige of acting in accordance with the law, no one stopped him, but everyone had their own attitude and behavior.

There were many who treated people kindly, and many who were cold-faced.

Jiang Heng didn't care about this.

Wherever he went, he would simply ask with a smile how people viewed those seeking refuge, and secretly note down their answers to get a sense of their attitude.

At night, they would go to the places where the refugees were resting, comfort them, and take the opportunity to meet with someone.

Kong Ling was a tall, robust man with thick shoulders and a robust build, in the prime of his life.

Jiang Heng had been paying close attention to the troublemaker's words and actions recently, and seeing that the refugees around him seemed to subtly obey Kong Ling, he couldn't help but become suspicious.

After the truth was revealed, it was discovered that the troublemaker was actually sent by Kong Ling to use morality to coerce the county magistrate, to soften his heart and prevent him from completely siding with the people in the county, thus ensuring that the refugees had food to eat.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Heng's eyes lit up.

Throughout history, every emperor who rose to power was accompanied by ministers who assisted him.

Kong Ling's appearance came at just the right time.

He immediately informed Magistrate Kong of the plan to seize the county and promised that after the matter was accomplished, he would use Chuzhou County as a base to protect the people who had sought refuge from the world, ensuring that they had enough to eat, enough clothes to keep warm, and a comfortable place to live with education.

Knowing that Jiang Heng was capable and had powerful backers, Kong Ling, seeing that he had such a wish and was also troubled by his inability to better protect the refugees, thought it over and agreed.

At this moment, the bright moon hangs high in the sky like a plate, and the refugees around are all sleeping on the ground, covered with straw blankets, and fast asleep.

Spring plowing is extremely physically demanding; after a busy day, one is exhausted and collapses on the ground at night.

Hearing the noise beside him, Kong Ling quietly got up and went to a secluded place to wait.

Before long, a figure arrived.

It was Jiang Heng who arrived as promised.

Upon seeing Kong Ling, he was overjoyed, but then remembered something and asked, "Brother Kong, how many of the refugees are willing to join me in this uprising?"

"There are about three hundred people," Kong Ling said after a moment's thought.

Before he could finish speaking, a look of worry crossed his face, and he asked in a deep voice, "Brother Jiang, is it really possible for your plan to succeed?"

We are just ordinary people, not like the well-trained soldiers who have seen blood. We have no weapons, and going to our deaths with our bare hands is no different from going to our deaths.

Even if I had it, I'd never used it before, so I wouldn't use it even if I got it.

After saying this, Kong Ling sighed.

Currently, the food is getting worse every day, and the grain in the official granary of Chuxian County is obviously about to be eaten up by them, which is why he was able to persuade more than 300 people.

Food is the most important thing for people, and no one wants to go hungry.

Therefore, rather than waiting to be killed, we should take a gamble now, obey Jiang Heng's orders, and take Chuxian County.

But how to win it over is another problem.

With this in mind, Kong Ling turned his gaze to Jiang Heng, hoping that he could offer a solution.