Daming prepares the emperor

The scorching sun was like a fire, and the hot ground was burning, and it seemed that smoke was floating. The cicadas clinging to the tree were chirping closely, and the sound fell directly into the well under the shade of the tree.

It's an ordinary afternoon.

Second Master Song was sitting on a chair, holding a brown earthenware teapot, without a cup, facing the spout, gurgling cold tea.

These days the farming is busy, and the weather is too hot, so few people come to the temple. Occasionally, there are one and a half, so he doesn't go to entertain them, and hides to enjoy leisure and rest.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Who, it's unlocked, come in by yourself!" Song Erye yelled, drowsy and didn't even bother to open the door.

"Old man, it's me."

Zhu Biao walked in and put down the smoked chicken, smoked duck and a basket of eggs on the table, as if he was visiting relatives.

"It's you." Second Master Song woke up, stood up at a speed that didn't match his age, ran to the table in three steps at a time, and said in surprise, "Young student, have you changed your mind?"

"What idea?" Zhu Biao hid for a moment, "Old man, what I said last time was to bring someone over to show you, not that I want to be a temple blessing myself."

"Okay." Song Erye said disappointedly. Zhu Biao came to see him and brought a gift. He was very happy, but in order not to make Zhu Biao feel cold, he reluctantly raised a little interest, "Who did you bring? Let the old man tell me Check it out."

Zhu Biao was a little nervous. No, he was quite nervous. He waved his hands and said, "Don't worry, old man. He's still on the way. Let's sit down first. I'll introduce him to you."

Song Erye said strangely: "Why do you seem to be a matchmaker for me? You are quite particular."

"Ahem." Zhu Biao cleared his throat, "Old man, do you know where the demon town is?"

Bringing over a plate of oranges, Second Master Song gave it to Zhu Biao, sat down opposite him, nodded and said: "I know, many folks have been there, it's a good place, they can do things that the City God can't do."

"As for me, I'm actually not called Lin Shi, my surname is Zhu, and my name is Zhu Biao."

"Oh, it doesn't matter what your surname is." Song Erye saw Zhu Biao's appearance, thinking that he was guilty of cheating himself, and comforted him, "It's a good thing to be careful. People like you are not arrogant or rash. The shelf is already very good. The old man is not angry."

"No, old man, I mean, Marshal Zhu in Yingtian City is also surnamed Zhu, right?"

"Oh!" Second Master Song came to understand, and tentatively said, "Then your background is not small, are you his distant relative?"

"I am his son."

Second Master Song took a deep breath, and the orange in his hand fell to the ground, hitting the corner of the wall before stopping, and the juice was crushed all the way.

"Greetings, grass people..."

Fortunately, Zhu Biao had expected it early, supported him, pushed him back on the chair, and said patiently: "Old man, I told you my identity, not to show off or play tricks, but just to let you understand what I did. "

"...What's the matter?" Second Master Song couldn't recover, and repeated the last few words in a daze.

"I didn't find the temple to wish, but I found a city god to come over." Zhu Biao himself felt that this was not something a normal person could say, so he quickly added, "It means that I want him to be the city god, and he is really in charge. City God."

In the last conversation, Zhu Biao felt that this Miaozhu was very open-minded and not as stubborn as other old people. Although he also had his own thoughts and ideas, he knew that people worshiped the city god just to find a psychological sustenance, and it was easy to be flexible.

After listening to his words this time, Song Erye really did not disappoint Zhu Biao's trust. He didn't even care about Zhu Biao's identity and reacted, and asked: "Can the city god find someone else? Do you mean pretending? Wearing a mask to dance God?"

"It's not a human, it's a ghost."

No matter how enlightened Miao Zhu is, he can't stand this. Second Master Song's panic was almost written on his face. He frowned and looked at Zhu Biao with strange eyes. If he didn't realize the difference in identity, he might try it with his hands. Does Zhu Biao have a fever?

"He was originally a general who died in the First Battle of Hongdu, but because he couldn't let go of his desire to unify the Central Plains and let the people live and work in peace, he became a ghost."

Having presided over work such as worship for a long time, Song Erye has much more contact with the matter of gods and ghosts than ordinary people. He understands that the reason for transforming ghosts is because of unwillingness, and most of the resistance has disappeared unconsciously.

"Old man, we all know that the stories in folk myths are all fake." Zhu Biao said, "But some time ago, I got a ghost town. If there is a city god to rehabilitate the wronged souls, I can bring the souls that are no longer threatening into the city and protect the world. order."

"It's said that the City God almost did this, did you do it on purpose?" Song Erye asked hesitantly.

"It's still different. The ghosts who died unjustly were human beings before they were alive. They complained to the City God, and the news would spread to the government. After verifying the truth and arresting the criminals, it would not only do justice to the dead, but also benefit the living."

"Since ancient times, people are people, ghosts are ghosts, and monsters are monsters." Song Erye discovered the most fundamental problem with his simple values ​​and worldview. We, you can take care of all these, what do you do with so much? Can you manage it?"

"This is what should be done!" Zhu Biao said, "No one cares about it, let it go, how can you live a good life?"

"..."

Song Erye remained silent for a long time, all kinds of past events emerged in his mind, countless people died because of famine, war, monsters, and evil spirits, countless small officials were collecting rent, countless Qing's policeman and he demanded money that should not have been given.

When Zhu Biao revealed who he was, Song Erye was afraid, because of his previous inappropriate remarks, he was afraid that he would blame him, and he was afraid that he would be attacked afterwards.When he said that ghosts should be the city gods, Song Erye was full of mistrust and fear.

What can't the officials do for their own money?

He's lived long enough to know a lot of painful things.How did the Red Scarf Army revolt in the past, how many ordinary people were forcibly confiscated when the Yellow River overflowed?They don't want to control the river, but for their own saltworks.

What a pity, those corpses are piled up together, there is not even a piece of cloth on the body, there is no flesh on the whole body, skinny and bones, all black mud...

How many people who called themselves rebels came and went, looted the food from the villagers’ homes, and left, saying that they wanted to fight against the Yuan Dynasty and let the Han people live, but they came and went away, and the lives of those who survived were not as good as those of the Han people. Once upon a time!

Now it is still calling back and forth, when will it be a head.

"Old man, do you agree? I'll call him here. Look, you'll still be a temple blessing in the future. In fact, I want you to give him advice on how to communicate with the people. No one is more suitable than you."

The sound that was close at hand caused Second Master Song's thoughts to drift to another direction again, and the scene of barren corpses strewn across the field turned into steamed buns and melons and fruits piled up in front of the town demon office.

He remembered that when he went to drink soymilk a few days ago, he heard the story told by his old friend Hu, that if he could repay him with gold, the Taoist priest there seemed to be a good person.

Forget it, try it, and you won't lose a piece of meat.

"Okay, let me see." Song Erye said, "Later, son, what do you want me to do?"

Zhu Biao said: "If the city god wants to be in charge of the communication between humans and ghosts, he must convince the common people and be willing to come to the temple to offer incense and report the crime spontaneously, so I would like you to tell him the difficulties of a few villagers, and let him solve them first. Get famous, get famous."

"This is a good idea." Second Master Song's expression softened a lot. "If it starts like this, I think everyone will be happy, and they will be willing to come and see more."

"Alright, General Zhao, come in."

Zhao Desheng, who had been waiting outside the door and was not on the road, hurried in.

It was the first time Erye Song saw such a tall person, and he looked him up and down.

The room was a little dark, and the summer sun couldn't penetrate, but when Zhao Desheng walked in, his body exuded a faint golden light, which brought some warmth.

I saw him dressed in purple, with a jade belt around his waist, with a straight face and a five-inch beard.

"Here, is this City God or Guan Erye!"

"Wei Zhenxiao is small, so naturally he should be more serious." Zhu Biao said, "I have already observed the clay sculpture in the temple, and its appearance has no obvious features. In a few days, I will send someone to replace it with a sculpture similar to General Zhao, so that the people We gradually get to know each other."

"It's fine." Song Erye compromised, "The eldest sister of the Wang family told me that their cattle were lost, we went to find the cattle, and then I told her that the cattle were in the Town God's Temple."

Zhao Desheng didn't feel the slightest discomfort with this trivial work, he was full of energy and gearing up: "Okay, I'll go find the cow."

"There is also the third uncle of the Li family. The kid in his family has no money to go to school. He went to the mountains to fight wild wolves, broke his leg, and couldn't afford medicine."

"I'm going to hunt wolves!" Zhao Desheng said immediately, but then he felt that something was wrong, and changed his words, "I'm going to gather medicine."

"The eldest daughter of the Xu family doesn't have a husband yet."

"I...you can go to a matchmaker to try this." Zhao Desheng said awkwardly.

Second Master Song looked at Zhao Desheng, and suddenly smiled. He completely released the shackles in his heart, and threw away all his previous thoughts. When he was old, he could still have such a time.

Well, it would be nice to have a real City God!

It became.

When Zhu Biao saw this smile, he knew that the matter here was over.

"Old man, can you clean up a room and let him live first? He can only appear at any time after General Zhao establishes contact with the new clay sculpture. It is not so convenient now."

"Okay." Second Master Song picked up the broom behind the door, pulled down the rag hanging on the wall, and prepared to vacate the largest room.

"Come with me." Zhu Biao took Zhao Desheng aside and said, "Although I used my popularity to stabilize your soul, no one has ever tried the method of touching the gods. Practice hard in the temple, and I will send two monsters later to assist you."

"monster?"

"It's bull head and horse noodles." Zhu Biao said, "There's no need to worry about these things beforehand, you'll get to know them gradually. When you can really become a city god, I will reserve a mansion in Fengdu for you, so you don't have to live here temporarily."

"Yes." Zhao Desheng bowed and saluted, "I am content with such good fortune after death, so you don't have to worry about me anymore, my lord."

"You have broken away from the order of the world now, so call me the city lord in the future. Those other people, whether they are civil servants or military officials, don't listen to what they say."

Zhao Desheng was taken aback for a moment, and nodded in agreement.

Zhu Biao wanted to pat him on the shoulder, but found that he was not tall enough, so he patted his arm instead, with a calm expression: "You can't go to see my family, but the Taoist masters at the Zhenyao Office, and the bull's head and horse face They have good personalities, and you guys will have something to say."

"This old man Song, can he accept bull-headed horse noodles?"

"That's your problem." Zhu Biao didn't blush and was breathless, "Aren't you looking for a cow? The bull head is a spirited bull demon, and it will definitely help you a lot. Besides, most of the old people think that the cow has a good meaning. .”

Before Zhao Desheng could continue to speak, he continued: "Okay, I'm going to get along with myself, I'll go back first, I still have things to do."

"Respectfully send off the public, no, respectfully send off the city lord."

Zhu Biao couldn't help heaving a sigh of relief as the gate of Town God's Temple got farther and farther away from him.What people want is temple blessings, but I directly let a Chenghuang Lord come over, after all, I have a guilty conscience.

To be completely thick-skinned, it seems that you have to work harder.

Back home, tonight's meal is cooked by my mother, and Comrade Zhu will lick all his plates clean later.

-----

"I want to go eat."

"Keep your voice down!" Zhu Jingjing said, "It will fly away!"

Startled, the green worm jumped into the long grass.

"It's all your fault, not smart at all."

After being tied twice, the little girl in floral dress lay on the ground, her chest was covered with mud, she got up angrily, and lost her temper with the boy behind.

Zhu Di said: "It's obvious that you were too loud and scared it away."

"If you don't make a sound, how can I speak?"

Zhu Ditou said: "I'm leaving, you can play by yourself."

"No! You only know how to eat, and the second and third brothers all know how to play games."

"You obviously couldn't catch the second brother and the third brother, so you came to me." Zhu Di said, "If it wasn't for my young age and slow running, I wouldn't stay here."

"Don't be ashamed." Zhu Jingjing pointed at Zhu Di, "You and I were born in the same year, it's your problem that you can't run away from me."

"You, you climb the tree to the house every day, how can a girl be like you!"

"How many girls have you met? Besides, why should I be like everyone else?"

Zhu Di couldn't say no to her, so he turned around and ran towards the Qu's room.

Zhu Jingjing easily followed and said, "You wash your hands with me first, otherwise your mother will sue if she finds out, and my mother will scold me again."

"Okay." Zhu Di was persuaded, and if Yu Shi saw him go back dirty, he would be angry.

He was about to walk to the nearest room when Zhu Jingjing stopped him: "Let's go to another place to wash, and they will find out."

"You are so skilled." Zhu Di followed her, "How many bad things have you done?"

"As long as I don't get caught, I'm not playing around."

Zhu Jingjing led him to a small pond, surrounded by dense bamboo forests and flowers, with a pavilion on the left and strange rocks on the right. The environment is very beautiful.

The pool water is clear and clean, as bright as a mirror.

She put her hand into the water, rubbed it twice, washed it clean, wiped her face, and then motioned Zhu Di to do the same.

"There are little goldfishes in here." Zhu Di asked curiously, "A dozen of them, where did they come here?"

"Brother raised it."

"Ah?" Zhu Di shook his hands, "Then you still wash your hands!"

"What are you afraid of?" Zhu Jingjing said, "Big brother is great, I often eat here, and I can change my dirty clothes! Big brother has never told anyone, and there are cats and dogs here."

"Really?"

"Of course it's true. The last time Dad wanted to beat the second brother, didn't the elder brother stop him?"

Suddenly, Zhu Jingjing scooped up a mussel in the small pond, grabbed a mussel that was sneaking forward, and said in surprise: "Look, there is a snail! There is no such thing!"