Chapter 7 The seventh time the cicada escapes its shell, the emperor stays against the traveling sparrow, enters the forest road and rides alone

Third Prince Zhu, whose alias was Yang Qilong, came to Mount Wuhua to meet with Pingxi King Wu Sangui.Unexpectedly, a disagreement caused Wu Sangui to shoot the case, and angrily ordered the guards to take Yang Qilong down. Suddenly, he became anxious, the third prince Zhu was gently lifted over by Huangfu Baozhu across the seat, he threw it into the arms of two guards, and was caught tightly with his hands behind his back.Seeing that their master was taken, the four personal followers of the third prince Zhu screamed out their weapons and went straight to Wu Sangui, but they were protected by Huangfu Baozhu who was standing in front of him with a sword.Some of the dozens of guards went to support Liu Xuanchu, some protected Geng Jingzhong and Shang Zhixin, and some fought with their blades.In an instant, there was a flash of swords and swords in Lie Cuixuan.

But the situation soon became clear.Although the men brought by the Third Prince Zhu were highly skilled in martial arts, Wu Sangui's guards were also very brave. After all, there was a huge disparity in numbers, and they were soon forced out of Lie Cuixuan. Wu Sangui, Geng Jingzhong and Monk Zhixin sat calmly in front of the pavilion watch the battle. Xia Guo met the third prince Zhu and the three or four attendants were still fighting desperately under the siege of more than a dozen people.Then he walked up to the third prince and said, "Tell them to stop, otherwise, they will stab you to death!"

Although the third prince Zhu was captured, he still had a haughty look on his face. At this moment, with the knife across his neck, he just sneered slightly and said: "Die, a man should do his job! Why are you acting so ugly!" "Shangxian, you go, it's nothing serious!" As soon as the words fell, the man named Shangxian arched his hands and said loudly: "Young master, take care, we are going for now. Wu Sangui, don't you dare to touch me? A single hair of the Lord, I will turn Wuhua Mountain into a sea of ​​flames immediately!" After saying that, the four attendants soared into the air among the knives and rushed out of the encirclement.Huangfu Baozhu yelled: "If I win, I'll go!" He was about to chase after him with his sword, but was grabbed by Liu Xuanchu who was sitting beside him: "General, you don't understand what's going on here, you protect the prince! That's it."

Wu Sangui turned to ask the third prince Zhu: "What do you have to say now, do you still dare to be rude?" Yang Qilong turned his face away and said coldly: "I know God's will, you know what I will, that's all, how can there be others?" "Take it down!" Wu Sangui ordered with a livid face. Geng Jingzhong looked at the back of the third prince Zhu going away, and said thoughtfully: "Old man, this man is not easy to deal with. It is useless to stay in Wuhua Mountain. Killing him or letting him go will arouse the suspicion of the court." Shang Zhixin pinched his teeth and said with a smile: "Kill it. There is no proof of death anyway. The court will not turn against the prince over this matter. If the old man doesn't want to kill him, you have to be careful and don't tell him to escape."

"Mr. Xuanchu, what do you think?" Wu Sangui turned to ask Liu Xuanchu with a smile on his face. "My lord has already made up his mind, so why ask again?" "Oh?" "My lord's performance of 'Catch and Release Cao' is not bad, even the third prince Zhu can see it, but the few sitting here are honestly kept in the dark! Haha..." Wu Sangui's heart couldn't help sinking, his own mind was so clearly seen by the sick man, I couldn't help admiring his scheming.He lit the hookah, took a few puffs of smoke, and said, "Mr. Liu is indeed a confidant. While this Zhu is here, you can make friends with him, and the two nephews can also talk to him." .”

"What's 'while he's here'?" Baozhu asked in surprise, as if he was in a fog, "Can he escape from my Wuhua Mountain?" "Let him go after three days!" Wu Sangui smiled, "Let's ask Mr. Hu to do this job, but if it's done well, even the people in us think it's best if he dies of illness." "There are too many eyes and ears just now, so the prince can only do this." Liu Xuanchu saw Huangfu Baozhu and Hu Guozhu's faces still blank, and said with a chuckle, "Why don't you understand! It's better for this person to be alive than dead. It's better to release than to be imprisoned..." Wu Sangui let out a big laugh and continued, "Yes, that's what it means, let him live. Let him go to Beijing to make troubles and find Kangxi's bad luck. See what the little emperor can do to withdraw the domain !"

The afterglow of the setting sun illuminates Mount Wuhua, coating the treetops, roofs, and the place where the mountain meets the sky with a layer of rose red.Wu Sangui gritted his teeth and raised his head.A few words came out between the teeth: "Kangxi, just wait and see!" Kangxi and his entourage had already left Beijing for seven days after the "golden cicada shed its shell" at Chanzhe Temple.This is his first trip since taking office.The grandparents' daughter-in-law and a La Aunt Su Ma who practiced cultivation with hair, took two fragrant chariots, escorted by Wei Dongting and Lang Tan with twenty-five guards, all in casual clothes and caps, riding horses to escort them.It looks like the family members of the princes and princes in Beijing are going out of the city to offer incense.The two big guards, Mu Zixu and Stubborn Donkey, had just sent them to Chanzhe Temple for a "suburb sacrifice", and then ostentatiously escorted Kong Luanyu back to Da Nei.This scene was done rigorously.

After leaving Beijing, Kangxi ordered Wei Dongting to go to the front station. Every day, the inn where he stayed was booked in advance, and he stayed as soon as he arrived at night.Kangxi rode a green horse by himself, pretended to be a young man, and walked slowly in the carriage of the empress dowager.Thanks to Wei Dongting's hard work, he booked a shop for overnight stay in front of him, and then flew back to meet the driver and drove forward together. All food supplies, defenses, and guards were arranged in an orderly manner.Therefore, even the Empress Dowager did not feel the pain of the journey.

It was early spring at that time, and as soon as I drove into Taihang, I immediately felt that the weather was piercingly cold.When Kangxi sat on a green-maned horse and set up a pergola to look up, a mountain driveway stretched into the distance.The imperial horse, which was fed with egg mixture every day, slid every step, with white gas hissing from its nose.The mountains on both sides of the road are covered with snow.One by one, clumps of upright thorns, mountain plants, chestnuts, wild peaches and apricots, and wild cherries tremble in the wind on the snowy slope, like gray fog.The fine floating snow was blown by the strong wind of the mountain pass and drifted under the feet like smoke and dust.Seeing the slow progress, Kangxi and the guards got off their horses, pulled the bridle, and pushed the car forward step by step.Suddenly, the car in front stopped, and the Empress Dowager lifted the car curtain and leaned forward and asked, "Emperor, it's very cold, are you tired? Get in the car and sit with us."

Kangxi's face was flushed from the cold, he held a whip in one hand, and put the other hand to his mouth to let out a sigh. Hearing the question from the empress dowager, he lifted the whip in his hand with great interest, and said with a smile: "Your old man, just sit, your grandson is not cold. I'm not tired either. Seeing this posture, it's going to snow soon. The grandson is about to enjoy the scenery of 'Snow Yonglan Guanma stand still'!" The Empress Dowager looked up at the sky, and saw the clouds all around, and the wind picked up, and said worriedly: "I'm afraid I have to walk more slowly." Kangxi smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, I won't be able to reach Fan County tonight, I will accompany grandma." Just live in a small shop in Shahebao, Xiao Weizi is more thoughtful than us." After a while, it really fell with loose snow.The first is fine beads and powder, and the more it goes down, the harder it is.But I saw thousands of flowers flying wildly, colorful jades, and dancing in the wind in groups of balls.The ancients said that "the snowflakes in Yanshan Mountain are as big as a mat", but they don't know that the snow in Taihang Mountain falls from "bengteng", muddy and gloomy, and the universe is wrapped into a mess.Looking out, the mountains are covered with cages, the trees are vague, the roads are chaotic, and the rivers are also vast. No wonder such a rich man like Li Qinglian has to "draw his sword and look around at a loss" for him.Kangxi grew up in the imperial palace since he was a child, and he could only get in and out of the inner city. He had never seen such a magnificent scene. He danced for joy and said to himself while stepping on the snow: "It's a pity that Mr. Wu is so talented. If he can get here, I don’t know what good poems he will write!" After hearing this, Lang Tan quickly said, "Master Wu is still thinking about Mr. Wu, but it's a pity that he is not lucky enough to serve the master often."

Just as he was talking, Wei Dongting was covered in snow and came down the mountain road head-on.While saluting Kangxi, he said with a smile: "Master is very interested. He refuses to get in the car due to such heavy snow. The inn has already been arranged, and we will stay at Shahebao tonight. It's a pity that the reservation is a little late, and the inn is already occupied. It’s not easy to drive people out.” "That's better! It's snowing hard. Let's go." At the end of the application period, a group of people came to Shahebao by the Hutuo River, and Kangxi's whole body was wrapped like a snowman.While carefully stepping on the frozen mirror-like surface of the river, he asked Wei Dongting, "Which county is this Shahebao located?" "If you go back to the Lord," Wei Dongting saw that he had entered a densely populated area, and he was very careful when speaking, only vaguely calling Kangxi "Lord". Dazhen, tonight we will rest in the old Dexing store, there are a few horse dealers living in the side courtyard, and the main courtyard is fully covered by us, just don’t worry." At this time, it has entered the unitary card. According to the usual weather, it is getting dark early.Because of the snow, the snow shines back, and the facades on both sides of the street are still vaguely visible, but there is no one on the street.Wei Dongting dispatched vehicles at the intersection, unloaded luggage, and arranged for customs clearance.The startled shop owner came out with a lantern and a smile: "It's snowing so much, it's hard for you guys to hurry! I thought I'd stay at the front stop! Please come inside. It's just that this mountain wilderness shop, It's no better than at the foot of the emperor in the imperial city of Beijing... there is someone who doesn't take good care of me, please forgive me." The shopkeeper opened the door of the shop very graciously, let them all in, and shouted loudly: "Guys, sir! The station is here. Get some hot water and send it in from room to room!" Wei Dongting suddenly noticed that there seemed to be a figure walking around in the west wing of the main courtyard, he stopped and asked, "Why, didn't I already take care of everything in the main courtyard, why did guests live in again?" "Ah!" There's no way, a Taoist priest and a scholar lived here, and they just arrived an hour ago, and the shops in Shahebao were full of people. They were all frozen like green-headed radishes due to the heavy snowfall. So I boldly arranged.Fortunately, there are more than 20 people in Yetai, and there are more than 30 rooms in this courtyard! " Wei Dongting listened, his face darkened, before he finished speaking, he stopped and said: "There is no need to say anything else.Even if Manjusri Bodhisattva comes, you have to put them out! After hearing this, Kangxi hurriedly said: "Xiao Weizi, that's all, it's just one night, let's make it easy, we will go tomorrow morning." "Wei Dongting looked at the shopkeeper with a smile on his face, and couldn't help but get angry, but he didn't dare to disobey Kangxi, so he said: "What the master said is true.But I will give him 50 taels of money at once, and pay another 50 taels for one night. Can he make money by opening a store for half a year? We have come all the way from Beijing, and we have never met such a bold and greedy slave like him. Woolen cloth! The shopkeeper was embarrassed by his training, and secretly apologized: "But the matter has come to this point, it's not good to drive them away, they are all pilgrimage worshipers, it is convenient and convenient." " There was a dispute here, and the door of the west wing opened with a bang.A young Taoist walked out, holding Buddha's dust and a seven-star sword on his back. He was very elegant and handsome. What are you going to do with two hundred taels of silver and rush out of the village?" Wei Dongting turned his face to the side without looking at the Taoist priest, and said coldly, "I'm talking to the shopkeeper, what are you talking about?" Seeing that Wei Dongting was going on and on, Kangxi had a troublesome look on his face, stopped drinking quickly and said: "This Taoist priest is right, so he is not backing down!" After hearing this, Wei Dongting didn't dare to say any more, silently retreated to the side and stood with his hands down.When Kangxi looked at this Taoist, he was no more than twenty years old at most, with fine eyebrows and fine eyes, and a face as white as jade, but with a slightly wild look, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous in his heart: "If this Taoist wears women's clothes, he can be regarded as a beautiful lady of the previous generation. It's just that The temperament is bolder..." He said with a smile in his mouth: "Master Daoist, don't be angry, please just settle down, you might as well come and sit with us after dinner." The Taoist smiled and said: "Young master is still good at reading, see you later!" Said He glared at Wei Dongting and returned to the West Wing.Although Wei Dongting was angry in his heart, he didn't dare to speak again.The owner of the shop hurriedly intervened and said: "Everyone comes from all corners of the country, and the fact that we are able to gather in this small shop today is due to fate in our previous life. I always blame the small shop for its shallow pool and poor reception..." After speaking, he led Kangxi and his party away Go to the room, "May the old lady and this young lady rest in peace in the east room. The son lives in the west room. It is convenient to ask for soup and water. Seeing the heavy snow, we may not be able to leave tomorrow. Let's stay in the small shop for a few more days." The little one personally waits on the old lady, and takes care of the security..." After finishing speaking, he hurriedly opened the door, put the luggage, poured oil on the lamp, added fire to the kang, and brought hot water to the empress dowager's room , and ordered people to bake wet clothes and shoes for Kangxi.Shanxi people are the most gentle and charming in the world, even Wei Dongting, who was angry, was dismissed with a smile on his face, and said: "If you are a servant in the Forbidden City, I'm afraid the emperor will tell you to coax you too!" "Master made fun of it. How can a small one have such a big blessing." Turning around, he directed the waiter in the shop to bring up steaming mutton stuffed brain dumplings.This brain dumpling is a kind of medicinal food. Take out the dumplings, pour them with a soup made from yam, brown sugar, carrots, tofu, green vegetables, and vermicelli, and then add old wine to the bowl. and other effects.After Kangxi ate it, he felt the cold was swept away from his body, he was warm, and he was not tired at all.I thought to myself, although I have become the master of the world, but I have not been able to appreciate this flavor, so I ordered Lang Tan to take five taels of silver to reward the shopkeeper.After a while, the owner of the shop smiled and came in to thank him for the reward, saluted, wiped his hands with his water skirt and said with a smile: "Thank you, my son, for the reward. Just now, the old lady also rewarded me with five taels, saying that I have never used it so comfortably. They don't use meat. It’s tofu skin and mushroom stuffing, and it’s made with sweet wine. On the side of Mr. Yu, the little one took a deep breath thinking about it. The wine was a bit heavy, and it’s right for Mr. Master’s taste if he doesn’t think about it...” Obviously, Since opening the shop, he has never encountered such a wealthy customer who actually gave two rewards at the same time. He was still talking, nagging, but saw the Taoist walk in.Kangxi hurriedly jumped off the kang.He said with a smile: "There is nothing to do in the long night, just to talk, even the shop owner doesn't need to go, let's sit and talk." Wei Dongting could tell at a glance that this Taoist priest possessed martial arts skills.He didn't dare to slack off, he secretly raised his spirits and stood next to Kangxi.Kangxi reported his family name with a smile all over his face: "My surname is Long, and my name is Qinghai. Dare I ask the name of Xiaodao Changxian?" "Ah, I don't dare to be. The Taoist priest's family name is Li, and his Taoist name is Yuliang." "Ah! Listening to the accent, Daoist Yuliang is from the Qin population. May I ask where you are practicing Taoism?" "Pindao practiced Taoism in Zhongnan Mountain, and he also wandered in Emei Mountain for several years." "Oh, Emei! There is an imperial physician in Beijing called Hu Gongshan, who was also a Taoist priest on Mount Emei. His martial arts are amazing, and he is also an upright person. Later, he quit his job for some reason and went back..." "Ah, Mr. Long, that's not surprising. Some people think it's good to be an official, and some people are willing to be Taoist priests and monks. Even if they are all disciples of the Sanqing, some are those who practice gods and exorcise ghosts; some are those who practice alchemy; There are those who are deep in the mountains; and there are no ones flying around in the palace and prime minister's house. The Hu Gongshan you mentioned is the brother who is not talented. He has a reason for not wanting to be an official, because if he is an official, he has to be the only one of the emperor. My life is to listen. Even being a good official is nothing more than gaining a good reputation. If you act like the magistrate of Datong, beating the bones and sucking the marrow, and being mean to the people, is it as clean as my bowl of clean and comfortable rice?" Back then, Hu Gongshan treated Kangxi's illness in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and he cracked six green bricks with one kneeling action.This person is Hu Gongshan's younger brother, and of course he is not someone to wait for.But Kangxi didn't know that Hu Gongshan didn't become an official because he didn't bother to work hard for Wu Sangui, and he didn't want to be a courtier of the Manchu emperor. He even rescued Hao Laosi before leaving. Although Wei Dongting had a good personal relationship with Hu Gongshan, but at this time he unexpectedly met with someone like Yu Liang who was unclear, so he couldn't help being more vigilant, and asked with a smile: "The Taoist priest, this is quite a lofty statement. But it doesn't sound like you are very quiet. Traveling thousands of miles in such a cold day, from southern Shanxi to northern Shanxi, how can it be compared to staying at Zhongnan Mountain with incense and incense?" "This kind of truth is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. Wutai Mountain is called Qingliang in Buddhism and Zifu in Taoism, and Lao Tzu collects incense from the world here. If there is something wrong with the Taoist soil, it is natural to find Lao Tzu. Same. 'The heart of Dao is full of compassion', so I can't go to the Purple Mansion to clean up the evil spirit here on behalf of the Patriarch?"