Chapter 39: The Eight Immortals Cross the Sea (Seeking Recommendation Tickets!)

  "Tai Bai Ju Jiu Lou" is the largest wine house in Putai County, located on the most prosperous street in the eastern city of Putai County. The three-story high wine house has a magnificent and grand atmosphere. The city wall of Putai County is as high as 3 zhangs (about 10 meters), but standing on the top floor of "Tai Bai Ju" can see the mountains and rivers outside the city, showing how tall and majestic this building is.

  Tai Bai Ju Lou is a large and luxurious restaurant with delicious dishes at reasonable prices. Every day, the restaurant is bustling with customers coming and going, with no empty seats to be found. The owner of Tai Bai Ju Lou is Lin Yu Qi, who is only in his early thirties and is in his prime.

  Two winters ago, Lin Lao Ye, the old master of Tai Bai Ju, had an asthma attack and was choked by a mouthful of phlegm. He passed away before he could be saved. Lin Yu Qi then took over the family business. Unlike his low-key father, Lin Yu Qi is young and ambitious, with big ideas for the future. Since taking over Tai Bai Ju, the restaurant's business has been booming under his management. The Lin family's reputation and status in Pu Tai County have also risen to new heights, earning them a respectable name among the locals.

  The Lin family's house was located in the backyard of Taibai Hotel, but it had a separate entrance. The entire building spanned two major streets, with the left street being the main entrance to Taibai Hotel and the right street having a vermilion gate and white walls, with two lions sitting on either side, which served as the Lin family's entrance and exit.

  Xia Yu and Ji Gang were discussing important matters in the small hotel they had brought with them at the inn, when Tang Yaoju let Wang Hongguang and Yang Cai carry him, with Luo Lishou leading the way, and arrived at the gate of Lin's mansion. Luo Lishou looked back and saw that Tang Yaoju nodded to him, gritted his teeth and sat up on the door panel. Luo Lishou sighed, took a step forward, and knocked on the copper ring on the door.

  "Who's there?" The big gate creaked open, revealing a narrow opening. A family member poked his head out to take a look at them and lazily asked: "What kind of people are you?"

  "Tell your boss we want to see him," Luo Lichen said in a deep voice.

  That Ding Man carelessly glanced at him and said: "You've found the wrong person, there's no old boss here." As he spoke, he reached out to close the door.

  "Slow!" Luo Li suddenly supported the door frame, his arm as strong as iron, and the family servant couldn't push it open. He changed color and said: "What's going on? You're coming to our Lin family to cause trouble? I just need to shout once, and I can summon over a dozen sturdy men, plus seven or eight fierce dogs. Are you two enough to fill their teeth?"

  Tang Yaojiu endured the pain and said: "Luo Li, don't say more nonsense, report to the main hall."

  Luoli suppressed his anger and said in a calm tone: "The source of the muddy water is from the beginning of chaos."

  That family Ding was stunned and subconsciously responded: "White lotus appears once in a prosperous era."

  Luo Lie made a gesture, and Ding's expression eased slightly as he asked, "Brother, where are you from?"

  Huai West

  The family's face changed slightly and said: "When the white lotus blooms with thousands of flowers, I don't know which branch it will grow on."

  Two men were talking, their hands constantly changing gestures, as if practicing the great hand seal of Esoteric Buddhism. Luo Li tied his hands in a lotus flower shape and said in a low voice: "At home, I dare not speak my father's name; outside, I dare not speak my teacher's surname. Since brothers asked, I dare not hide anything. My humble school is surnamed Tang."

  The servant looked at them again, opened the gate and beckoned hastily to enter. Wang Hongguang and Yang Cai carried Tang Yao into the courtyard. After Luo Li also slipped in through the gate, the servant cautiously looked outside the door and quickly closed it.

  "Tang saw Lin Laozhanggui!"

  As soon as Lin Yuqi walked out of the back hall, Tang Yao struggled to get up and trembled with fear, bowing his hands in greeting.

  Lin Yuqi is not old, but "old shopkeeper" does not refer to his age, it is the title of the leader of the Northern Ming Sect, while the Southern Ming Sect calls its leader "Zhang Jiao". The White Lotus Sect has many branches, and some sects call their leaders "ancestors", "masters", "big brothers", "leaders" and so on. The Southern and Northern Ming Sects are the two largest branches of the White Lotus Sect.

  Lin Yuqi hastily rushed forward to help him up, and said in surprise: "Tang Zhangjiao, don't be too polite, what's going on? What's all this about?"

  Tang Yao let out a deep sigh and said gloomily: "It's hard to put into words, brother. I've come to seek the old shopkeeper's help."

  Lin Yuqi hastily helped him to the edge of the chair, pulled over several soft cushions from other chairs, and piled them together for him to sit on. He said: "Brother Tang, don't worry, we are all connected by blood, like branches of the same tree. If there's anything I can do to help you, just let me know."

  Tang Yaojie told the whole story of how he was out on a business trip, and on a rainy night someone came to his door, falsely claiming that there was a childbirth in the family, and lured away his wife. The county magistrate made an unjust decision, and when Tang Yaojie drummed for justice, he was beaten with forty large sticks. Finally, he said: "Old shopkeeper, this wicked person is clearly from Putai County, but my brother's eyes are blurry, and there is nowhere to find him. My wife has been kidnapped since last night, and until now, there is no news at all. My brother is burning with anxiety."

  Lin Yuqi just sank into thought, while Tang Yao couldn't help but ask: "Old shopkeeper, is this matter... very troublesome?"

  Lin Yuqi's face was uncertain, and after a long time, he said: "To be honest with Brother Tang, in the past few years, there have been several cases of good family girls being kidnapped in Putai County and neighboring counties. In the end, they all became unsolved cases. The families who lost their daughters were either too poor to report the case or had no one to take care of the lawsuit, so the matter was eventually dropped."

  "Brother, I initially thought something was fishy about this matter, but it didn't concern me, and I figured the person behind the scenes must be a powerful figure with influence. To avoid conflict, I've been instructing my disciples to intentionally yield. Who would have thought that now this matter has fallen on your head? This person is probably not someone you want to offend, especially since he likely has connections in the official circles. As brother, you have a family and business, and with so many disciples relying on you for food and shelter, every move you make must be cautious..."

  Tang Yao had expected that the real culprit behind the scenes would not be weak, and the Southern and Northern branches of the Ming Cult were said to have originated from the same source. In fact, they only sympathized with each other under the court's attack. Looking back decades ago, the Southern and Northern Ming Cults were sworn enemies. Lin Yu wouldn't abandon his family and career for this unrelated southern sect disciple, so he naturally refused.

  However, Tang Yao had already made up his mind. As soon as he heard this, Tang Yao supported himself with both hands and knelt down on one knee, saying: "Old shopkeeper..."

  Lin Yuqi was shocked and quickly dodged to the side, hastily saying: "Tang Zhangjiao, what are you doing?"

  Tang Yao sighed and said, "I also know that this matter is difficult for the old shopkeeper. The old shopkeeper wants to take such a great risk for me, an outsider, even if the brothers of the noble hall would not agree to it. I..."

  He took a bite, bowed his head and said in a low voice: "I am willing to agree to what the old boss mentioned last time, lead all the northern disciples of this altar... all the northern disciples of this altar, to join the old boss's sect."

  Lin Yuqi stuttered: "Th...th... Tang Zhangjiao, aren't you making Lin certain do something despicable? Lin certain isn't that kind of person who takes advantage of others' misfortunes, it's just..."

  Tang Yao said resolutely: "I know that the old master is in charge of such a large family business, every word and deed, every move, should be taken seriously, cannot be reckless, and must not break the rules. Tang is also a man of his word, if he can't even protect his own wife, what face does he have to open a school and teach disciples? Tang is willing to lead all the brothers in this school to surrender to the old master, we will become one family, and it's only natural for the old master to help me."

  "Good!"

  Lin Yuqi gritted his teeth and stepped forward to help Tang Yao up, saying sincerely: "Tang brother, I'll agree with you on this matter. No matter what background or power this person has, I, Lin Yuqi, will confront him head-on. As brothers, we naturally share good fortune together and face difficulties together!"

  In Putai County, on the north bank of the Yellow River, a thousand households were stationed. The commander-in-chief of this thousand households was named Du Long. Commander Du was in his 40s and at the peak of his physical strength. This commander had fought for half his life, relying on his bravery and fearlessness to accumulate military achievements and rise through the ranks to become the garrison commander of this thousand households.

  Du Qianhu's official position was quite easy, as to the north there were Ning Wang and Yan Wang, two fierce tigers guarding the northern gate of the Ming dynasty. As long as the Mongols showed their heads, they would be beaten up, so the Shandong region near the border was not a problem for Du Qianhu's troops.

  Du Qianhu spent his days practicing martial arts, and for someone who had been fighting all his life, he was truly bored out of his mind. However, he didn't dare to leave the military camp to seek entertainment, so he could only spend his days engaging in combat with skilled opponents within the army as a form of enjoyment. Du Qianhu was a brave and fierce character, with exceptional martial arts skills, and gradually, engaging in combat became his sole source of entertainment. Some skilled fighters were promoted by him and brought to his side as personal bodyguards, so they could accompany him and pass the time.

  On this day, Du Qianhu defeated six skilled martial artists in a row. With a heart full of pride, he returned to his residence, sat on the kang with his upper body bare and his feet exposed, and took out half a jar of fine wine that he had secretly stored away. Just as he was about to savor a bowl of it, someone came to report that a Mr. Yang, a scholar-official, had come to request an audience with Lord Qianhu.

  At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the actual power of the military generals in the imperial court was much greater than that of the civil officials. However, although Zhu Yuanzhang emphasized the importance of the military, he also did not belittle the role of civil officials. The thirty years of civil governance at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty laid a solid foundation for the entire empire, which was precisely the result of his use of both civil and military means. Therefore, there were few instances of civil and military officials being estranged from or looking down on each other.

  Xia Fu had a reputation for being a great scholar and military strategist, and even the lowest-ranking soldiers didn't dare to slight him. He was allowed into the sentry tower at the entrance of the military camp, where he was served a large bowl of tea, after which he hastily came to report to Commander Qian.

  "Huh? A scholar..."

  Du Long rubbed the back of his head, somewhat puzzled: "I don't recognize a single character, how can I recognize some bookworm who reads books? What's the point of these scholars seeing me, a rough and uneducated man?"

  Du Long thought for half a day and couldn't think of anything, so he waved his hand and said: "Call him in." After finishing speaking, he sipped the wine like a greedy cat, and his two eyes narrowed.

  "Lord Qianhu, student Yang Xu has arrived."

  "Please come in."

  Du Long hastily threw the empty bowl to the foot of the kang, covered the wine jar and stuffed it into the bedding, sat up on the kang with his legs crossed, pinched his toes hard while putting on a majestic appearance.

  As soon as Xia Yu entered the house, he smelled a pungent smell of sweat, wine and stinky feet, almost knocking him out. Xia Yu slightly frowned and held his breath, bowed and said: "Student Yang Xu, see Thousand House Lord."

  "Hmm, ah, Yang Shengyuan, what... brings you to see me?" Du Long asked while gnawing on his toes.

  Xia Yu Dao said: "Please ask your lordship to dismiss the attendants, I have an important matter to report."

  "Left and right, what's left and right, front and back are almost the same."

  Du Long pinched his foot, with an expression on his face that was both painful and comfortable. He waved his hand indifferently at the personal soldier behind Xia Xun: "You go out, Yang Shengyuan, can you say it now?"

  "Yes!" Xia Yu took out the ivory token from his bosom and handed it over, saying in a deep voice: "The student still asks Lord Qian Hu to take a look at this token first."

  "Huh?" Du Qianhu grabbed the ivory token and as soon as he held it in his hand, his expression changed. The nonchalant look on his face disappeared immediately. He took another look at the token and suddenly jumped down from the kang with a loud "thud". He looked at Yang Shengyuan with a mixture of shock and uncertainty, saying: "Yang Shengyuan, you...you are..."

  Civil and military officials all have waist cards, with different materials and workmanship. Du Qianhu may not be able to read characters, but it doesn't mean he can't recognize the waist card. As soon as he gets the card, he immediately knows that the visitor is extraordinary. Because military officers use gold cards, which are made of five metals, not necessarily made of gold. The waist cards used by civil officials have a greater distinction in materials. Only three types of people can use ivory waist cards: first, high-ranking civil officials; second, confidants of the imperial palace and royal mansion; third, high-ranking military officers of the Brocade Guard.

  Du Qianhu's military camp was under the jurisdiction of the Qingzhou Metropolitan Command, and he couldn't not recognize the waist card of the Qi Wang Fu. So as soon as he saw the card, he knew it was someone from the Qi Wang palace. The Qi Wang's people weren't someone that a small thousand-household like him could casually receive while sitting there, Du Qianhu was rough in appearance but not in heart, and immediately jumped down to greet them.

  Xia Fu said calmly: "Commander Qian, I'm on my way to do some things for Prince Qi. On the road, I saw an injustice and thought of asking Commander Qian for help."

  Du Qianhu's expression changed as he said, "As a noble of the Qi Wang Fu, if there is anything that needs to be done, this official should naturally offer his assistance. However, I don't know what Yang Shengyuan...Yang Gongzi needs this official to assist with?"

  Xia Fu recounted the incident of the strong kidnapping of civilians in Putai County and said, "I worry that the magistrate of Putai County is secretly colluding with the kidnappers. This place belongs to the jurisdiction of Qingzhou, which is the fiefdom of Prince Qi. If such a thing happens within the territory, it will damage the reputation of the prince. Due to the urgency of the matter, there is no time to return to Qingzhou to ask for instructions from the prince, so I thought of Commander Qian. I also know that military camps have their own rules and regulations, and I dare not ask Commander Qian to mobilize a large army, but... dispatching thirty or fifty strong men in plain clothes to assist in capturing the thieves should not be too difficult for Commander Qian."

  "No difficulty, of course no difficulty."

  Du Qianhu was very pleased, patted his chest to guarantee it, and handed the token back: "Young Master Yang, please rest assured, I will personally go to select people and accompany you to Putai County."

  "Thus, thank you, Sir Qianhu."

  Xia Liu smiled and thanked him, then quietly stretched out two fingers, like the Buddha picking flowers, and gently picked up the ivory waist card, elegantly tossing it into his sleeve pocket. He took the opportunity to hide his hand in his sleeve and vigorously wiped his fingers.

  Du Qianhu looked at Xia Xun's expression and movements, and couldn't help but secretly praise: "After all, he is a scholar, look at his demeanor, it's even more feminine than a woman, I, Du Qianhu, would rather die than learn to be like that..."

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