This is how immortals are cultivated

"I don't think so. Only the vast majority of people can decide their fate and what the world will look like."

Zhang Jue didn't say anything, but the light in his eyes became brighter and brighter.

Zhang Lishi's breathing became heavy.

Seeing his master working so hard and even groveling to the powerful to beg for food, he felt unhappy and angry.

Especially Zhang Jue.

Although he could see the destiny clearly, he never followed it. Otherwise, he would not have served as an official in the court even after knowing that the Great Xia Dynasty was about to collapse.

He could clearly go and find the real dragon and achieve righteousness through it, but he still devoted himself to the people and worked hard for them.

The reason is that he also has the intention of stealing in his heart.

"Speaking of which..." Fang Suichu continued.

"There must be some reason why you can come here."

"The request from the powerful people in the county? No, there must be another reason for coming to Huiquan County."

"Binzhou is filled with a strong aura of disaster. I'm sure a large number of refugees have arrived. Are you here for those refugees? Are you here to seek food?"

"So, did this trip to ask for food go smoothly?"

Zhang Jue did not answer, but his expression revealed the truth.

Smoothly...more than just smoothly.

In order to invite Zhang Jue, the county's Lord Tang and even those powerful gentry were willing to provide food first and send it to the border of Yongzhou.

The root of this success is...

Yes, the powerful people in Huiquan County could suddenly become so easy to talk to because of the existence of this Taoist priest.

Because of the existence of this Taoist priest, the grain shops in the city did not even dare to raise prices.

The reason why those gentlemen showed mercy was not because they suddenly had a change of heart.

But it was because Fang Sui had been to Huiquan County and left his footprints.

"Hair is like leeks, cut and then grow back..."

The common people were regarded as untouchables and weeds.

"The head is like a chicken, cut and then crow again."

But even weeds can leave something behind when they fall.

Turning weeds into firewood can only ignite sporadic sparks, but what if there are hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of weeds?

"Officials need not be feared...the common people should never be looked down upon."

Zhang Jue slowly expressed the thoughts that had been suppressed in his heart for a long time, and said them in front of this great thief.

Even if I have to pay with my life and leave only an echo, I must roar out.

Zhang Jue bowed to Fang Suichu.

"Master."

Chapter 173 Fairness

"Master, the entire [Shangyi Dao], no, the entire [Taiping Dao], is at your beck and call."

Zhang Jue traveled around the world for decades, preaching and recruiting followers. His believers were spread all over the country, and he also had hundreds of real backbones who were also distributed in various places to preach and help the people.

Although the Taiping Dao took the upper-class route, its base was still at the lower levels, and it was deeply rooted among the millions of poor people.

"Very good." Fang Suichu nodded.

"Next we will do something big together."

"But first, let's solve the problem you are facing now."

Zhang Jue came to Huiquan County to borrow food from a group of refugees. However, those refugees were still staying at the border between Binzhou and Yongzhou.

Zhang Lishi's eyes lit up when he heard Fang Suichu's words.

If his master Zhang Jue had previously solved the problem by doing his best to mediate between the powerful and the common people.

The solution that the new Taoist master mentioned was to completely overturn the framework set by those superiors.

Fang Suichu took the two of them away from Fangjia Village and returned to Huiquan County.

The last time Fang Suichu entered the city, the county lieutenant in the city wanted to resist Fang Suichu's arrival by closing the city gates.

However, after Fang Suichu smashed the city gate with a punch and chopped off the head of the county lieutenant who ordered the city gate to be closed, no one dared to do so again.

So, Fang Suichu swaggered into the city with the two of them.

There were servants guarding the city gate. When they saw Fang Suichu entering the city, they were immediately startled and hurried home to report.

Tang family.

Upon hearing the news that Fang Suichu had entered the city, Mr. Tang's hands trembled and he collapsed to the ground.

"Misfortune, misfortune..."

Tears rolled down Mr. Tang's eyes.

"What is this Taoist Shangyi? This Zhang guy is just a person who has gained his reputation in vain. He is a fraud seeking fame. He has misled me, misled me!"

While Mr. Tang was crying, Fang Suichu had already brought people to the door.

Frankly speaking, as a retired official of the Great Xia Dynasty with a salary of 1,000 stones, Mr. Tang wanted to at least die with dignity. However, when he saw the devil-like figure, his knees couldn't help but go weak and he fell to his knees.

"Exalted, please spare my life..."

"I am willing to give away all my property."

Family property is nothing but a passing cloud. As long as you are still alive, as long as you have this identity and the bloodline of a noble and aristocratic family, you can get by wherever you go.

Yes, the world is so big, but the evil demon is only the one in front of us.

If he can't afford to offend, can't he just hide away?

At worst, I can find a way to escape from here and go to the state capital, no, to the next state to live with my relatives and enjoy a good life there.

Zhang Jue and Zhang Lishi were both silent as they looked at Mr. Tang's current appearance.

In the past, when they went to the homes of these powerful gentry to borrow grain, it was not like this.

The powerful gentry who were arrogant and spoke with contempt for the untouchables would never kneel on the ground like they did now. Even if their master did not say a word, they were willing to offer all their property.

"Prepare a hundred dan of grain for me."

"I'll wait outside the city."

Fang Suichu did not take any action this time. He just gave an order and left the Tang family with Zhang Jue and Zhang Lishi.

After Fang Suichu left, it took Lord Tang a long time to come back to his senses.

Did I...escape?

Whenever this demon came to the homes of the gentry, few of them survived. But this time, he didn't die?

Lord Tang reacted and quickly ordered the old servants and housekeepers at home: "Quick, quickly arrange for food, one hundred stone, no, send all the stored food in the house outside the city."

This food is like their life-saving money. The Tang family dared not delay, fearing that even if they were late for a moment, their entire family’s lives would be in danger.

With such efficiency, Fang Suichu had just taken Zhang Jue and Zhang Lishi out of the city. They didn't have to wait long outside the city before the food was packed and delivered by carriage.

Looking at the several carts loaded with food, Fang Suichu frowned.

Fang Suichu frowned, and the Tang family members who delivered the food immediately felt their legs go weak.

"Sir...we can still make it together, just give us a little more time."

"too much."

Fang Suichu said:

"Only one hundred stones are needed. Clear out the excess and take it back."

The person who delivered the grain did not expect that Fang Suichu frowned because of this matter, but he did not dare to ask too many questions and immediately counted out the remaining two hundred stones of grain.

Zhang Jue and Zhang Lishi behind Fang Suichu watched Fang Suichu's actions. Zhang Jue seemed to have thought of something. After the people from the Tang family left, Zhang Lishi couldn't help but ask:

"Master, why don't you want the remaining food?"

Judging from the Tang family's appearance, they could probably come up with even 3,000 dan of grain by selling their family property, let alone 300 dan.

These are the powerful gentry. Even some crumbs that fall from their fingers can feed many poor people.

"This one hundred dan of grain can only feed those refugees for one day at best."

"Eat for a day?" Fang Suichu shook his head after hearing Zhang Lishi's words.

"There's no need to eat all day. One full meal is enough."

"As for their next meal, they will find it themselves."

"Survive... whether they want to survive or not, how they survive, these are not choices made by the Taiping Dao for them. The true choice lies with the refugees themselves, who have nothing left to lose."

"I, Taipingdao, just give them another opportunity to choose."

After staying in Huiquan County for more than a month, all the powerful people in the county bowed their heads and were afraid of him.

But what Fang Suichu wanted to do was not to make these powerful people fear him.

The common people are naturally afraid of powerful officials. This is because of the feudal world, or even the rules set by "Heaven's will." The common people are naturally obliged to support the nobles, officials, and gentry. In turn, these officials, gentry, and powerful families have the right to seize everything from the common people.

The crops that were grown with great effort were taken away, the fruits of diligent work were taken away, and even the wives, children, and the land on which their ancestors depended for their survival were taken away.

He had nothing left but one last thing - his life.

However, even this life does not exist under the "will of heaven" in this world.

Untouchables are untouchables, this is their destined fate.

If you lose everything, you will also give your life to the one in power.

This is unfair.

But what Fang Suichu wants to do is to break this injustice.

Yes, at least to bring about the most basic fairness.

What is the most basic fairness?

From the lowest common people and slaves to the nobles and emperors, everyone possessed the same thing at the same time.

Status may be high or low, but life may not. No matter if you are a king, a general, a minister, or a nobleman, you only have one life.

Fang Suichu will bring this truth and ensure such fairness - when the untouchables are willing to gamble their lives, then the generals, ministers, princes and officials must also gamble their lives.

Chapter 174 How dare you kill my dog

The sun was blowing brightly, but the warm spring sun was not warm but rather a little hot. The sunlight hit the rammed earth walls, giving the black walls a halo and making them appear even thicker.

Some of the wealthy families in the prefectures and villages lived in the city, but many of them built their own houses or forts outside the city on their own land. This was also the norm for the great families in this world.

There are also different levels among powerful families. For example, the fort built on the mountain at the junction of Yong and Bin states, the Luo Family Fort belonging to the Chengping Luo family, is of the highest level.

A five-zhang-high earthen wall surrounded a hundred-zhang-square area. Arrow slits were densely studded on the walls, and the cold gleam of spear points could be vaguely seen between the battlements. The Jing River curved three miles west of the city. Beyond the natural moat, three layers of two-zhang-wide trenches were dug. The bottom of the trenches was densely planted with sharpened bamboo thorns, which shone a dark blue light in the twilight.

The areas within a radius of ten miles are all fields of the Luo family.

Smoke from cooking fires rose gradually from the city walls. The five-story houses in the center had eaves that looked like wings, and hundreds of servants were running around.

In the hall, rich and exquisite dishes are placed on the table.

"This fish stew is cold. Throw it away. Ask the kitchen to make another one."

Luo Ping, the lord of Luojiabao and also the head of the Luo family, frowned as he looked at the fresh fish stew in front of him and put down his chopsticks.

Immediately, a servant came up carefully and took away the bowl of expensive fish stew with many spices.

Although Luo Ping, the head of the Luo family, looks gentle and refined, he actually has a violent temper and is moody. He would beat and kill any slave in the fort who made a mistake if he was not satisfied with the matter.

Today, he was not angry about the deviation in the "food" that he valued most, and was obviously in a very good mood.