The author of the book "The Book of the Dead"

Chapter 14: Those who do not eat, are immortal and divine (please read later)

"There is no need to do this, Headmaster. I have already said that you have taken care of me before, so the previous matter is written off."

Liang Yue's words made Lu Qianzhi feel even more ashamed.

"I……"

When Lu Qianzhi raised his head, Liang Yue had already left with his men.

County government office.

Shangshu Ling Xie Anshi summoned everyone to discuss the matter, and the prefect Ma Dao, Beijia, county magistrate and others were all there.

Xie Anshi was a thin and energetic old man, while the prefect Ma Dao standing opposite him was rather frail, and had to apply thick layers of lead powder on his face to cover up his poor complexion.

The scholars and officials of the Jin Dynasty were all like this, overly addicted to elixirs and sex, and devoted their lives to pleasure and indulgence.

The upper class follows the lower class, and they themselves believe in metaphysics. The lower class beliefs such as the Five Pecks of Rice Sect and the Fangxian Dao have never disappeared. Rebellion is also a common occurrence.

Xie Anshi looked at the report with little interest. He had seen many big scenes before, and this little thing just happened to happen when he was in Kuaiji, otherwise he would not even have read it.

The Taiping Heavenly Master Rebellion was blocked during this time. Among them, the civilian hero Liu Chong made the greatest contribution, followed by the defending generals and heroes Liang Yue and others.

"This rebellion should be caused by the rice thieves outside the city who led the refugees to rebel. The first meritorious person was Captain Yang Xiao, followed by the East Gate Lieutenant Wu Feng and the eldest son of the Lu family, Lu Mingzhi..."

Family background always comes first. None of these three people was at fault, and the last two died for their country, so they can also be considered the first to receive credit.

The aristocratic family's face must be taken care of, otherwise if two commoners steal the limelight, wouldn't it mean that the aristocratic family has no one left?

The heroic hero Liu Chong's military performance was quite impressive.

"Liu Chong and Liang Yue should be placed in the Northern Army as generals." Xie Anshi set the tone.

Liu Chong might agree, after all, he was going to join the army himself.

Liang Yue will resign, because he is not taking action for the so-called hegemony.

At this moment, Lu Qianzhi, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.

"Your Excellency, I have something to report. Liang Yue is a student of Taihu Academy. He is very talented. I am afraid that it would be a disgrace to the society if he were to march to the frontier. My son Lu Mingzhi has done no service to the country. I would like to recommend him."

In the end, with Lu Qianzhi's recommendation, Xie Anshi was reluctantly granted the rank of assistant to the eighth-rank county chief, which was at least a civil servant position.

It’s not that Xie Anshi deliberately suppressed them. In this era, if scholars were arranged to do some trivial official duties, it would be a means of humiliating people.

For scholars, as long as they have a prominent family background, they can eventually move up if they persevere.

If you can get promoted by working or not working, then naturally the latter will feel more superior. As a result, a culture of empty talk has formed in the officialdom.

From then on, Liang Yue truly stepped into the ranks of the lower-level gentry.

Of course, in the eyes of the noble families of the Jin Dynasty, they were still a poor family, not even a seventh-rank county magistrate.

The sky is getting brighter.

Everything was normal at the Liang family. For them, it was just another night of sleeping in the cellar.

The Liang family's grandparents, Liu Jue, and Zhu Yingtai were having breakfast.

The door was open and Liu Chong led his men in, followed by a thin man in a wide robe and a tall crown.

"Brother, I have a gift for you."

"Is this person also a woman dressed as a man? I don't have this habit." Liang Yue said subconsciously. Fortunately, Zhu Yingtai was busy eating and did not notice the loophole in this sentence.

"How is it possible? This is Tao Sheng, a disciple of the Taoist priest from Liuzhuang outside the city. The Taoist priest from Liuzhuang followed the rice thieves in a rebellion and was killed by his brother. Tao Sheng turned from evil to good and is willing to donate Liuzhuang and ten hectares (one thousand acres) of land..."

"This alchemist from Liuzhuang is from Danyang. He usually refines the Five Stones Powder for the royal nobles. He has a wealthy family and may have the secret book you like." Liu Chong also catered to his interests because he knew Liang Yue's hobbies.

"Thank you, Brother Liu!"

Liang Yue did not refuse.

This is exactly what he wanted. With the output from one thousand acres of land, he could make up for the consumption of pills and oil lamps, and he no longer needed to borrow money from Lin Jian.

Ten days later.

The imperial court issued an edict to recruit talents.

Liu Chong served as the seventh-rank guard general of the Northern Palace Army, Lin Jian was the eighth-rank Sima Chief Clerk of the Northern Palace Army, and Liang Yue was the eighth-rank County Chief Clerk.

That night, the three of them were drunk. Liu Chong put his arm around Liang Yue's shoulders and said drunkenly:
"My dear brother, why don't you give up this useless position and go to the Northern Army to make achievements together. I promise that within three years, we will definitely be able to make it!"

"Forget it. I am not interested in this."

Liang Yue shook his head and refused.

Longevity is the top priority, and living to eighty years old is the basic bottom line, which is also the standard for starting corpse transformation.

He didn't dare to waste his time before he was 80. The Northern Army was the front line against the Hu people, with strong enemies in front and teammates fighting among themselves behind. He was afraid that he would not live to be 30.

"Are you really willing to hide at home and pray to the gods to make elixirs?" Liu Chong and the other man looked at each other. Others were just playing with fame, and their fundamental purpose was to become famous and become an official.

This dear brother really likes this thing.

"Well, everyone has their own aspirations. I'm busy with official duties this time, so I'll leave Liu Jue to your care." Liu Chong was not interested. After this trip, the brothers would be separated and their feelings might fade.

Lin Jian suddenly spoke up and said, "Why don't the three of us become sworn brothers, so that we can share hardships and prosperity in the future."

"it is good!"

"can."

Under the moonlight, the three swore an oath of blood and worshipped the moon.

"The heavens and the earth are witnesses. We have sworn an oath of blood, and we will never betray each other. We are like brothers, and we will stick together through life and death!"

Liu Chong and Liu Deyu were the oldest and were the eldest brothers; Lin Jian and Lin Boling were the second younger brothers, and Liang Yue was the third younger brother.

"What's your third brother's name?" Liu Chong asked, then he remembered, "I almost forgot, third brother is not even twenty yet."

Liang Yue aspires to become an immortal and is not burdened by mundane matters. He does not know whether this alliance is solid, but for now, the interests of the three are the same.

Liang Yue needs a backer who can help him collect ancient books.

Liu Chong also needs the abilities of both of them.

An alliance of interests is far more solid than any random oath.

"When he is made a marquis or a prime minister, he will never forget to support his brothers."

That night, Liang Yue copied books all night long, writing down the stories of Li Jing, Qi Jiguang and the battle strategies of various generations in his previous life.

I have a photographic memory and can clearly write down all the texts I have read.

Don't underestimate this thing as just words. It is the experience summarized from countless lives. In the hands of someone with military talent, it can play a huge role.

The next day.

Liu Chong and others set off.

Outside the city, in Liuzhuang, east suburb.

The carriage arrived outside the city.

Liang Yue got off the carriage and saw a small courtyard in front of him with an eight-meter-high wall surrounding it on all sides. It looked like a small city. There should be fields around it, and the woods in the backyard were also Liu Zhuang's private property.

"This...is this a dock?"

It looks very safe, as if I have found a treasure.

All the people in the dock had left, saving me the trouble of firing them one by one.

Liang Yue came to the alchemy room in the backyard. On the bookshelf next to it were the Five Stone Secrets, Herbal Illustrated Book, Water and Fire Alchemy Method, and Golden Chamber Prescriptions.

Another row of bookshelves is filled with gold and stone materials.

All the property of this old alchemist was taken away by himself.

Whether it is true or not, there is more research to do next.

Now that he has an official position and land, he no longer has to struggle for survival like the common people. Instead, he has plenty of time to practice kung fu.

On the path to immortality, alchemy is indispensable. Whether it is for cultivating inner strength or for preserving corpses after death, elixirs are very important.

Thinking of this, Liang Yue couldn't help but admire:
"Reciting Huang Ting in leisure, refining elixir and returning it to liquid. Those who do not consume it will not die but become gods."

(End of this chapter)