I am a temporary worker in Jinyiwei, how did I become a powerful official?

Chapter 135: A great victory in the battle, revealing the fake magic ( words chapter)
Before the magic competition, Lin Shisan had a deep talk with Yun Miaoshou, the magic master from the capital.

Lin Shisan said, "Master Yun, I have inquired about it. The 'immortal arts' of the demon Taoist Yan Hao are nothing more than crushing porcelain pieces into powder, floating eggs in the air, pulling out whiskers with immortal power, gathering butterflies with bare hands, and breaking iron chains with force."

Although Yun Miaoshou is only thirty years old, he is known as the number one magician in the capital.

Yun Miaoshou laughed and said, "These are just the third- and fourth-rate tricks left over from the magic trade."

Lin Shisan asked, "If the Demonic Master Yan uses these tricks during the magic competition, can Master Yun expose them all in public?"

Yun Miaoshou said, "Of course. When I started learning magic tricks, my master told me that magic tricks can please people or hurt them."

"At the time, I didn't understand how magic tricks could harm people. Later, I realized that there were too many wizards who had learned magic tricks and relied on third-rate and fourth-rate tricks to deceive ignorant people."

Lin Shisan said: "On the day of the duel, please ask Master Yun to act as my guardian and go to the duel stage with me."

Yun Miaoshou immediately agreed: "Since I have taken your money, I will naturally do something for you. However, I have a request."

Lin Shisan asked: "Oh? What's your request? Master Yun, just tell me."

Yun Miaoshou said: "My biggest wish in this life is to go to the palace and perform a magic trick for the emperor. If I can do this, I will have no regrets in this life."

Lin Shisan did not agree to Yun Miaoshou's request, but perfunctorily said, "Ah, about that. Let's talk about it when we get back to Beijing."

The Jiajing Emperor favored two Taoist priests, Tao Zhongwen and Lan Daoxing. These two probably used magic tricks to deceive the Jiajing Emperor.

If Yun Miaoshou is brought into the palace, and the magic tricks he uses are exactly the same as Tao and Lan's "magic", then Lin Shisan will offend a big shot!

Lan Shenxian is easy to deal with, but Tao Zhongwen is one of the three orphans in the court!

Before Tao Zhongwen became famous, he was just a county official in Huangmei County. Because of the black monster in the palace, he was recommended to the palace, and fought against the black monster, and the palace was cleared of evil. As a result, he rose to prominence.

The same drama of fighting against the black spot was also played by Wang Zhi, a powerful eunuch during the Chenghua period.

Tao Zhongwen was favored for twenty years and was granted the title of Shaobao, Minister of Rites, Shaofu, and Wengongbo. Even his son was granted the title of Shangbao Shaoqing.

Although Tao Zhongwen retired and lived in seclusion in a Taoist temple outside Beijing in the past two years, his influence in the court still existed.

Even Lu Fang and Yan Song would bow respectfully and address him as "Immortal Tao" when they saw him. Lin Shisan couldn't afford to offend him.

Let’s get back to the topic, the day of the magic show.

Lin Shisan had ordered people to set up a fighting arena in the eastern suburbs of Xuanfu. Countless diehards of the Yin-Yang Sect and new members who had defected from the Yin-Yang Sect and joined the Xian Cricket Sect rushed to the fighting arena early in the morning to watch the excitement.

In the pork shop in Big Nose Alley on Nongtan Street, Lin Shisan was preparing for the duel.

He had changed into a purple Taoist robe. As the saying goes, clothes make the man, and saddles make the horse. Putting on this robe, he really looked like an immortal.

Sun Yue stepped in quickly and said, "Master, Eunuch Zhang has arrived with two thousand security guards. According to what you said, they are lying in ambush in the dense forest five miles east of the fighting arena."

Lin Shisan said, "Have him select 500 of his comrades to put on plain clothes, hide short knives, and pretend to be ordinary people watching the fun and ambush around the platform."

Sun Yue nodded: "Okay. I'll go pass the message right away."

Zhang Bo took out a set of paper armor and placed it in front of Lin Shisan: "Put on the paper armor, just in case."

Paper armor is made of paper, cloth and kapok. Although it is not as strong as iron armor, it has the advantage of being light. The Guangxi wolf soldiers wore paper armor.

Lin Shisan took off his Taoist robe and put on the paper armor. With the wide Taoist robe on, others could not tell that he was wearing armor.

Lin Shisan ordered Zheng Baihu and others: "All of you, the secret agents of the Southern Division and the comrades of the Northern Division, should dress up as my close followers and guard the judgment platform. Remember, you must capture them alive."

"If it works, I will ask the chief and junior managers for mercy and have you promoted back to the capital."

Captain Zheng's biggest wish was to leave Xuanfu, this remote place, and return to the capital to serve.

Captain Zheng bowed and said, "Captain Lin, don't worry. Even if I risk my life today, I will help you complete the task and capture Yan Hao alive."

Lin Shisan said: "Everything is ready. I just hope Yan Hao is not a coward. He must show up today! Otherwise, all our efforts will be in vain."

That night, the East Suburbs Fighting Arena was surrounded by a huge crowd of people, nearly 10,000 people surrounded the arena, and among the onlookers were 500 disguised security guards.

Lin Shisan didn't know that there were also thirty members of the Tatar Vulture Society mixed in, including their leader Bayan Gerishun.

The Tatars selected members of the Vulture Society from Han Chinese mothers who looked like Han Chinese. Therefore, they blended in with the common people without being noticeable.

There are two "immortal thrones" on the fighting stage, one in the south and one in the north. Lin Shisan sits firmly on the northern immortal throne.

Yan Hao had not shown up until the time of lighting. Lin Shisan ordered people to light numerous torches and oil lamps around the duel arena. It was as bright as day on the duel arena.

Until the third quarter of the evening, only the sound of immortals could be heard from the east side of the fighting platform.

Lin Shisan looked around and saw hundreds of Taoist priests appearing in the darkness, holding musical instruments and walking towards this side. Behind them was a curtainless sedan chair carried by eight people. An old Taoist priest in his fifties sat cross-legged in it.

Lin Shisan was delighted: Hey, it was not in vain that I spent half a month and five thousand taels of silver! The demon Yan Hao finally showed up!

At this moment, as long as Lin Shisan gave an order, the comrades from the South and North Divisions and the Baoan Town soldiers could immediately capture Yan Hao.

But Lin Shisan was not in a hurry to arrest people. He wanted to first expose Yan Hao's "immortal technique" as a scam on the stage, so that the people would no longer believe in him.

Yun Miaoshou dressed up as a Taoist priest and stood beside Lin Shisan. With this magic master around, no matter how many magic tricks Yan Hao used, Lin Shisan could crack them one by one.

Finally, Yan Hao stepped onto the battle stage and sat on the immortal throne, with hundreds of Taoists from the Yin-Yang Sect surrounding him.

His left protector said loudly: "My fellow Taoists. Yan Shenxian is the reincarnation of Tianzun Xiantong. Yin Yang Sect is the orthodox Taoism. Xian Cricket Sect is just an evil sect! Their great leader is not a substitute for Daode Tianzun at all, but a liar!"

Sun Yueyue shouted, "Are you fighting with your mouth? Use your magic quickly!"

The left guardian said, "Hey! The demon on the other side has heard this. Do you dare to cross the volcanic iron forest?"

Yun Miaoshou lowered his voice and said to Lin Shisan, "Oh, I thought he had some magical tricks. But it's nothing special."

The Taoist priests under Yan Hao laid a few iron plates on the ground and lit charcoal on them until the charcoal burned the iron plates red. They used shovels to clean the charcoal on top.

The left guardian shouted: "The Immortal Yan has passed the volcanic iron forest!"

The two Taoists took off Yan Hao's shoes. Yan Hao stood up, and with every two steps he took, a fairy mist followed him.

Yan Hao was seen walking barefoot on the red iron sheet. He took a total of six steps and was safe and sound!
The onlookers were stunned: "Ah, if a mortal walked on the red-hot iron sheet, wouldn't his feet be burned?"

"Oh my, Sect Master Yan is truly a god!"

The left guardian shouted, "Do you dare, demon Taoist across the street?"

Lin Shisan remained silent. The left protector said happily: "Immortal Yan won the first battle!"

Yan Hao returned to his position and showed his respect to the right protector.

The right guardian said: "With the power of immortality, do the demons on the opposite side dare to fight?"

Lin Shisan remained silent.

The right guardian pointed at Uncle Zhang who was standing opposite him. Uncle Zhang was the oldest and had the longest beard. He said, "Come here! Your beard is too long! Immortal Yan will use his magical powers to remove it for you!"

"If you don't dare to come here, you are a cowardly liar!"

Uncle Zhang strode to the center of the platform.

Yun Miaoshou lowered his voice and said to Lin Shisan, "It's over. Your master's beautiful beard will be in danger soon."

The right guardian shouted, "Cleanse your hands with the fairy water!"

After that, the right guardian took out a big gourd and poured the magic water on Yan Hao's hands. Yan Hao strode to Zhang Bo, stroked Zhang Bo's beard with his hand, and then began to chant: "Seji Seji Seji Seji Seji Seji, Ayi Xidai Lu."

The right guardian shouted, "God, take the sword!"

After saying that, he threw up a peach wood sword. Yan Hao caught it steadily, and circled around Zhang Bo with the peach wood sword, muttering to himself: "Golden fool, silver fool, not as good as our old fool. The foolish fairy under the seat of the Heavenly Lord appears! Remove the beard and cleanse the face!"

After struggling for an incense stick of time, Yan Hao retracted his magical power and strode back to the immortal throne.

All the beard on Uncle Zhang's chin fell off. In an instant, the chin of the white-bearded old man became as smooth as an egg!
The right guardian shouted, "Does the demon on the opposite side know the technique of removing the beard?"

Lin Shisan remained silent.

The right guardian laughed and said, "The Immortal Yan wins the second battle!"

The people whispered, "Oh, it seems that Immortal Yan is the real immortal. He has already won two battles in such a short time."

"Could it be that the substitute of the Lord of Morality is a fake? Is he trying to deceive us?"

The left guardian said: "Offer the immortal wine to Immortal Yan!"

A Taoist priest brought a small white porcelain cup to Yan Hao, poured wine into it and served it with both hands.

Yan Hao picked up the small white porcelain cup, drank the wine and squeezed it hard, and the white porcelain cup turned into powder!
The people who were nearby were shocked when they saw it.

The Yin Yang Sect's Taoist priests carried a porcelain cup of powder on a tray and showed it to the people: "Did you see it? Someone betrayed the Yin Yang Sect and believed in the evil Xian Cricket Sect. The God Yan is angry!"

"In a rage, he used his magical power to crush the cup into powder!"

The left guardian shouted, "Opposite demon, do you have the power to crush a cup into powder?"

Lin Shisan remained silent.

The left guardian said: "The Immortal Yan wins the third battle!"

The people have begun to suspect that Lin Shisan is a fake Heavenly Lord and a real liar.

Yan Hao gently flipped his palms, and dozens of butterflies flew in from somewhere and gathered on his hands.

The left guardian shouted, "Did you all see this? The immortal appeared and gathered butterflies with his empty palm! Does the demon on the opposite side know how to gather butterflies with his empty palm? Immortal Yan wins the fourth round!"

Next, Yan Hao used two spells, "Immortal Power Breaking Iron Chains" and "Iron Finger Drilling Bricks". Lin Shisan was defeated six times in a row.

The people all agreed: "Oh no! I have to quit the Xianqiu Sect and go back to the Yin Yang Sect. The Yin Yang Sect is the orthodox sect of the immortals!"

"Yes, yes, yes. If you are not a real god, how can you have such a magical spell?"

Lin Shisan finally spoke: "It's just a trick to deceive the people! One of my Taoist priests can easily crack it! Why do I need to do it myself!"

The Taoist priest Yun Miaoshou walked to the center of the fighting arena and said, "Everyone! Let's talk about the first round of the volcano iron forest method first! The charcoal is real charcoal, and the red-hot iron plate is also real iron plate! It's just that he applied a thick layer of borax water on his feet beforehand!"

"Do you dare to let me wash my feet and walk through the volcanic iron forest again?"

Yan Hao was surprised at first: There is a capable person on the opposite side who knows my secret technique?

After a moment, he regained his composure: "Oh, how can the immortal family's magic be performed twice in one night?"

Lin Shisan stood up suddenly and said, "If you do as he said and wash your feet and then cross the volcanic iron forest again, I will admit defeat and swallow my feces to death!"

Yan Hao shouted: "This is a lie that confuses the people! Fellow Taoists, don't be deceived by him!"

Lin Shisan said: "Okay, okay, okay! Taoist Miaoyun, please explain the mystery of the volcanic iron forest to fellow Taoists!"

Sun Yue came forward with a wooden box and placed it next to Yun Miaoshou. This box was the magician's treasure box.

Yun Miaoshou took out a medicine bottle and showed it to everyone: "This is borax! It's produced in Yunnan and Guizhou!"

A North Silician came forward with a small basin of water. Yun Miaoshou poured the borax into the basin to dissolve it, took off his boots and rubbed it on his feet carefully.

Yun Miaoshou said, "Come on, put some charcoal in and heat the iron plate!"

Soon, the iron plate was heated red. Yun Miaoshou said loudly: "Everyone, I also have a spell! Yin Yang Sect, a fake Taoist sect, cheats money and worships. Yan Shenxian, a fake immortal, a liar, cheats the people!"

After chanting the spell, Yun Miaoshou walked barefoot onto the red-hot iron plate. After six steps, he got off the iron plate safely.

Yun Miaoshou laughed and said, "Did you see that? This is just a trivial trick in the magic business! What kind of magic is this? It's all a lie!"

The people were stunned.

Yan Hao was furious: "You are spreading rumors to confuse the people!"

Yun Miaoshou turned around and looked at Yan Hao: "You said I was spreading rumors to confuse the people. Then why don't you let me wash my feet and walk through the volcanic iron forest again!"

Yan Hao said angrily: "I said, immortal arts cannot be performed twice in one night."

Yun Miaoshou gathered up some spit and said, "Ah, bah! You still call it a magic technique! I have never seen such a shameless person!"

Yan Hao pointed at Zhang Bo and said, "Then how do you explain why his beard has completely fallen off? He is one of yours!"

Yun Miaoshou shouted, "This is even simpler! Use one ounce of lime, one ounce of orpiment, and two ounces of camphor to make a powder. Mix it with water and rub it on your beard. It will fall off when it dries!"

"This is the 'magic hand shaving' trick! What a coincidence! I have a bottle of magic hand shaving powder in my treasure chest! Which Taoist friend would like to come on stage and try it out?"

A bearded man in his forties walked up to the fighting stage and said, "Let me give it a try."

Yun Miaoshou dissolved the magic shaving powder in water and rubbed it on the man's beard. He said, "It will only take an incense stick of time, and not a single hair will be left on his beard!"

"When this is over, I will tell you about the trick of pinching the cup into powder! Please watch!"

Yun Miaoshou took out a white porcelain cup from the treasure chest and squeezed it hard until it turned into powder. He put the powder on a tray and showed it to the people.

Yun Miaoshou said: "I don't have any immortal power. I just have a cup made of plaster! Because it's night, you can't see it clearly, so you think it's a porcelain cup!"

The people were talking about it: "Ah? It's plaster?"

"Plaster is very brittle. It will break if you squeeze it, right?"

Yun Miaoshou added: "That technique of gathering butterflies with an empty palm is even more ridiculous! It's just a trick used by prostitutes to please their patrons!"

"In spring, take the stamens of various flowers, dry them, grind them into powder, mix them with honey, and let them dry for later use. When you are going to perform a trick, apply the nectar powder on your hands. Then find a helper and release the butterflies that you have hidden beforehand."

“Butterflies love nectar, so they naturally gather in the palm of your hand!”

"I am considered an old prostitute in the capital! This year alone, I have seen prostitutes perform the empty palm to gather butterflies three times! Could it be that those thousand riders are also the reincarnation of immortal children?"

When these words were spoken, the people below the stage were shocked!
Yun Miaoshou further explained: "The reason why the immortal power broke the iron chain is because a section of the chain was painted with tin! The tin is soft, so it will break if you just wrestle it, right?"

"The iron finger drilling a brick is not even a magic trick, it's just something left over from the Beijing Dashilan circus! There was already a hole in the brick, and they covered it with paper and then painted it with ink!"

Yun Miaoshou revealed the secrets of Yan Hao's six spells. The big bearded man's beard had dried up and all fallen off.

Yun Miaoshou said, "Did you see that? How could this demon Yan Hao have any magic? It's just some petty tricks from the magic world!"

Lin Shisan stood up suddenly: "Everyone! The Yin Yang Sect is just an evil sect that cheats people out of their money! Now you should understand, right?"

Yan Hao was so angry when he saw that he was exposed that he picked up a tea bowl and threw it to the ground.

This is the signal of smashing the cup! Bayan Gerri, who was sitting in the audience, took out a crossbow from his bag and pointed it at Lin Shisan.

(End of this chapter)