Chapter 202 Bottom Line
There were two rebellions by vassal kings in the history of the Tang Dynasty. One was suppressed in less than three months, and the other lasted for nearly five years. Of course, if palace riots and coups are included, there would be more, but they were all very small in scale and had little impact on the outside world.
The monks have rebelled many times. The most successful one almost single-handedly broke into the imperial city decades ago, but he also stopped in front of the Hanyuan Palace.
There were even more numerous civil uprisings. The largest and longest-lasting one was the Red Lotus Rebellion that is currently happening, sweeping across the four southern counties.
But to the royal family, these were all minor issues. Rebellions could be quelled, uprisings could be suppressed, and coups were even smaller matters. No matter what, someone from the Li family would be the emperor.
But the academy is different. As long as the academy does not bow its head, the royal family of Xijing will feel uneasy, even if the academy always watches from the sidelines.
Who gave the academy the ability to kill you at any time?
Decades ago, that cultivator broke into the imperial city with a sword, and no one in the entire Xijing could stop him. If the old Pavilion Master hadn't suddenly taken action and killed him himself, it is possible that the entire royal family would have been exterminated.
So Prince Fu is a small matter, Duke Yue is a small matter, and even the Red Lotus Sect is a small matter.
As long as the six masters of the academy can be eliminated in Jiangning, everything will be worth it.
But why do you think you can destroy me?
Zhao Yushu looked at the prince coldly. Everyone in this room, whether they were temporary allies or not, actually wanted him to die.
The prince's eyes were full of despair when facing the current situation, but mocking when he looked at himself. No matter how crazy he was, he would not dare to openly let Nei Jing kill him. What other tricks did he have?
The salt tax case was over. The governor of Jiangning admitted to embezzlement and implicated 27 important figures who shared the money. The evidence was irrefutable, and it was clear how much each person received, who sent the money, and how and when it was sent.
Even the emperor cannot suppress such a big case. At least half of these twenty-seven people will lose their heads. The Prince’s Eastern Palace will be severely damaged, and Xijing will be in chaos for a while.
There is still one day left before the welcoming banquet. All the major sects in the southeast have gathered in Jiangning, and the seven fourth-level disciples who are qualified to guard the tower have also been selected and are currently living in Wangjiang Tower.
Zhao Yushu looked at the seven-story building towering by the river and remembered that the academy's book tower was also seven-story. Then he thought of the big-eyed senior sister who refused to help him get a back door, and he couldn't help but laugh.
I have been away from Dongdu for several months.
Along the way, he killed the mountain god, dealt with ghosts and Buddhas, quelled the rebellion of the disaster victims in Nanyang, met the monk Bujie's brother Gao Xu, and met his confidante Lan Ling. I wonder how she and Fang Sanniang are doing in the south.
The teacher and the third senior brother were waiting on the boat. They gave me a magic weapon and a magic soul, and forced me to learn more sophisticated control of spiritual power, so that I could operate with ease in the southeast.
When he arrived in Jiangning, Senior Brother Sun and Wu Jianxian taught him the essence of Shushan swordsmanship. Wu Jianxian said that the fifth-floor building could not stop him.
The seventh floor is ours, so we can only make changes on the sixth floor?
By the way, how could I have forgotten that little bastard A Yao? There’s nothing I can do. He is too young and cannot be as steady and capable as the clever Ji Leng in doing things. I’d better keep him by my side for a few years and then let him run errands for Ji Leng when we return to Dongdu.
Zhao Yushu put his hands behind his back, turned around and left the riverside. Now he had to go back and have a good rest. Although there was no need to take a bath and change clothes, it was still necessary to cultivate his body and mind.
When Zhao Yushu returned to the gate of the Taoist temple, he saw Xiao Xie's brother and sister talking to A Yao. A Yao gave them a few instructions with a serious face, and then the two children nodded vigorously and ran away.
"Ah Yao, are you asking them to do things again?"
Ah Yao was startled: "I don't dare, but Xiao Xie didn't come back all night, I asked them to find a few people to help look for him."
"He didn't come back the whole night? Where was he?" Zhao Yushu was a little panicked. Life was so chaotic these days, and he might get kidnapped by some beggars.
"I don't know. I haven't seen him since yesterday. Oh, Brother Zhao, lend me some money so I can get more people to look for him."
Zhao Yushu casually took out a silver ingot and asked, "Is it enough?"
"That's enough. I'm leaving now."
"be careful!"
Entering the Taoist temple, Sun Wuyang waved for him to come over. Lin Shan and Wu Ziheng were both in the living room.
"What's wrong, Brother Sun?"
"The Duke of Yue sent an invitation to you. After your welcoming banquet, you can go to his house for a gathering. Although he didn't say the reason, I think it should be to discuss the distribution of salt tax revenue. He invited you to join him."
Zhao Yushu shook his head: "I won't go. I'm not good at this kind of thing, and I don't want to see him. You should know why I'm here."
Sun Wuyang nodded, "Our people have sent news that Duke Yue has been contacting various sects in the southeast these days, hoping to openly abolish you in Wangjiang Tower tomorrow. Several sects have already agreed. Duke Yue has no intention of keeping this a secret, and has even publicly stated it several times. I guess he wants you to give up."
They should be the ones guarding the building. Zhao Yushu nodded to indicate that he understood.
"You don't have to worry. Those people have limited abilities. They just want to take this opportunity to gamble." Wu Ziheng took a sip of tea and comforted him.
"I'm not worried. I don't know who is on the sixth floor, but I'm sure of everything else."
"The sixth level is a casual cultivator hired by Li Tong. He is not very famous, but his skills are indeed good. But you don't have to worry. This guy is very cunning and won't really fight to the death. Let's just have a sparring match."
He seemed to be an easy-going person, maybe even from Shushan. It was rare for Li Tong to make a mistake.
It's foolproof, but the only thing is how to kill Wang Shaolin? I can't just squat at the door of Wangjiang Tower and wait for him to come out.
"By the way, is Xiao Xie back?" Lin Shan suddenly remembered something and asked casually.
"Not yet. Ayao has taken people to look for him. I don't know where he went to play. I hope nothing happened to him."
Lin Shan nodded when she heard this: "This kid is really good. He often asks us what you are busy with. He always wants to repay you. He has been running all over the city these days. We can't stop him."
Zhao Yushu's heart suddenly skipped a beat and he turned to look at Lin Shan: "Did he mention Wang Shaolin?"
Everyone was stunned. Lin Shan nodded subconsciously. Zhao Yushu stomped his feet suddenly, turned into a shadow and ran towards Wangjiang Tower frantically.
"Everything is fine. Send someone to negotiate at Wangjiang Tower. No, you go in person. I will agree to any conditions on behalf of Junior Brother Zhao." Wu Ziheng frowned.
"What if the other party told Junior Brother Zhao to let Wang Shaolin go?"
"Agree. They are trying to ruin Junior Brother Zhao's faith. Tomorrow we are not going to make him give up, but to kill him! Wang Shaolin, I will kill him for him in the future."
Sun Wuyang looked at Wu Ziheng with surprise as he looked angry. Shushan, a thousand-year-old sect, has always focused on cultivating the Tao and slaying demons and monsters, and has never participated in disputes in the Central Plains. However, this time, it joined the game for the Sixth Master of the Academy.
Ever since A Yao listened to Zhao Yushu's words, he rarely left the Taoist temple. No one dared to arrest anyone in front of Wu Jianxian, so they arrested Xiao Xie who often went out.
The incident in Nanyang made them understand Zhao Yushu's bottom line. Even if it was a beggar whom Zhao Yushu had only met once, as long as Zhao Yushu considered him to be one of his own, he would be able to threaten him.
Zhao Yushu recalled the cruel look in the prince's eyes yesterday. Wang Shaolin, Prince, it's fine if you want to deal with me, but are you threatening me with a child?
Wangjiang Tower was in sight. Zhao Yushu exhaled and called out from a few miles away: "Wang Shaolin! Come out and see me!"