Type 039 submarine

  After inheriting the divine position, Lin Xuan, who possessed almost perfect memory ability, clearly remembered that from childhood, he was often told by his superiors to learn to set long-term goals and not to set short-term ones frequently. Unfortunately, it's easy to say but extremely difficult to do in reality.

  Most people, after experiencing the cruelty of real life as they grow into adults, gradually grind off the edges of their personality, learn to throw away those unrealistic ideals, and are content with just working hard for three meals a day.

  It goes without saying that expecting an ordinary person with a simple ideal of 20 mu of land, one cow, a warm kang, and a happy family to set foot in the Golden Hall and become the supreme ruler is by no means an easy task. Most people will think of the difficulties and dangers involved in the struggle as soon as they have this idea, and then give up because of fear. Those who have never tasted the temptation of holding power over life and death can only fantasize about a beautiful dragon chair, which is not reliable at all. Unless there is a strong driving force behind this ideal that can support them on the road to gaining the highest power, they will not be able to achieve it.

  Facing Chen Liang's confusion, Lin Xu smiled even more mysteriously and advised the bewildered Chen Liang:

  "Right! You should think carefully, who exactly made you like this? Is it those brocade guards? No, they are just small followers who follow orders. Even if they didn't come, others would have come. The extermination of the Xue family was ordered by their superiors. Even if you killed all these people, you would only be getting rid of a murder weapon. What's there to be happy about?"

  Carefully pondering the meaning of Lin Xu's words, Chen Liang, although not very educated, could tell that it was a single word, and he couldn't recognize a single character in a big basket, but he also understood another layer of meaning in the words. If these Jin Yiwei who were responsible for killing people were just tools, then taking revenge on them couldn't be the ultimate goal, so who was the real culprit behind the scenes? Was it the great Qin court far away in Xianyang?

  Chen Liang felt a sense of alienation towards Lin Xu, who was smiling with a profound meaning that was hard to fathom. He hesitated before speaking:

  "What should I do?"

  "It's simple! What's most important now is to preserve your useful self and wait for the opportunity to arise. Oh, by the way, think it over again, who exactly is your real enemy."

  At the sound, Chen Liang lowered his head and thought for a moment. He admitted that Lin Xu's suggestion was very good, so he nodded and said:

  "Hmm, Brother Lin, you're right about this matter, but where should I go?"

  Now with the great crime of being wanted by Jin Yiwei on his back, he definitely can't go back to his hometown. Chen Liang couldn't help but feel a sense of desolation that although the world is vast, he has no place to belong.

  At this time, Lin Xu rubbed his chin and said with a strange smile:

  "Yes! You're now being watched by those dog legs of the Imperial Guard, at least you need to go out and avoid the storm. Hmm, Brother Chen, do you know Anzhou?"

  "Anzhou? I've only heard those leather goods peddlers mention it, never been there myself."

  Exceptional archery skills can hit a willow branch swaying gently in the wind at a hundred paces. Chen Liang is indeed a professional hunter of considerable caliber, having tracked his prey through the wilderness where few people venture, leaving footprints across many regions, far exceeding the range of ordinary people in this era. However, Anzhou was truly too far away. Chen Liang knew that the market there was very prosperous, but he had not yet had the opportunity to go in person. At this moment, when Lin Xu mentioned Anzhou, he seemed somewhat at a loss.

  Lin Xu clapped his hands and said:

  "You know Anzhou, things will be easy. I bought a house in Anzhou two years ago and was planning to open a pharmacy, but you also know that the world is not good now, it seems that the pharmacy cannot be opened, so let's lend it to you for a few days!"

  Just now at Xue's family banquet, Chen Liang snatched a knife and killed several Jin Yiwei guards. This matter can't be easily covered up. Everyone knows that the Jin Yiwei is the emperor's personal army, and even those in power are afraid of them. It's estimated that the wanted poster for Chen Liang has been sent to nearby provinces, and will soon be posted on city gates and checkpoints. No matter what, Chen Liang can't stay in this area anymore, that would be asking for death! The principle of "hiding in plain sight" is not just something fugitives know about, the authorities who specialize in catching people are even more familiar with it.

  Never mind how Lin Xu's self-proclaimed road to the future is, Chen Liang can only take a step first. He nodded and said:

  "In this case, I'll listen to big brother."

  Seeing Chen Liang accept his proposal, Lin Xu continued to remind him:

  "When you get there, remember, no matter what, don't come out and show your face, or you'll be recognized on the street. In the past few years, you've learned to read a bit with me, and I have some idle books stored in the house in Anzhou. There's also a book on word analysis on the bookshelf; if you're bored, you can read it to pass the time! As for daily necessities, I'll arrange for reliable people to deliver them to you regularly. Let's put other things aside for now and talk about them later when the situation has blown over."

  After resting for a while, Chen Liang also recovered some of his strength. At this moment, he stood up and moved his limbs, feeling that his body was not seriously injured. Later, Chen Liang took from Lin Xu's hand a foot-long self-defense short knife, a string of keys, and a heavy pouch. After asking clearly about the address of the house Lin Xu had bought in Anzhou, Chen Liang turned around and headed towards distant Anzhou.

  Looking at Chen Liang's gradually disappearing lonely back in the sunset, Lin Xu had a deeper understanding and feeling of how heaven's will was skillfully manipulating fate with great joys and sorrows within just one day.

  At this thought, Lin Xu couldn't help but let out a long sigh. Even if he had tried to avoid the tragic event, man's plans are not as good as heaven's plans!

  Some people always shout "I am the master of my own destiny" without knowing their place in the world. The real question that needs to be answered is how do you know that the choice which seems to have been made by your own thinking isn't actually a predetermined path arranged by heaven beforehand?

  Defy the heavens? You'd better figure out the will of heaven first, then come discuss this profound topic!

  The old mountain temple under Tianzhu Mountain is decorated with lanterns and streamers, and everyone is immersed in the joyful atmosphere. The master of the mountain temple, Lin Xu, has leveled up, not because he broke through to the mountain king's rank again, but because he became a father.

  Upon hearing the news, various deities who were familiar or not so familiar with him flocked to his place, and Lin Xu stood at the gate as usual to welcome them, exchanging pleasantries with each of these visiting guests.

  From a distance, Lin Xu bowed and greeted them, and several guests who came together in unison said:

  "Congratulations on the birth of your noble son."

  "Welcome! Welcome! Please come in, honorable gods."

  Lin Xuan himself found it unbelievable when he thought about it, not because giving birth was a particularly difficult technical task, but because the terrifyingly long pregnancy of Huo Nu Jing Yu and Lin Xuan's other wife Meng Yan Ran were only less than ten days apart in giving birth.

  All the girls Meng Yanran gave birth to Lin Xu's eldest son, and the second son born by Hu Nu Jing Shu was one year younger than his brother. Because Meng Yanran gave birth in December, while Jing Shu did not give birth until January. Although there are many frustrating things in the world, for Jing Shu, it is probably rare to have a more heart-wrenching thing than this.

  Knowing that the two wives in his family were constantly at odds with each other, Lin Xu, who had just become a father, was completely indifferent. Everyone lives under the same roof, and it's inevitable that tongues will clash with teeth. Precisely because he was open-minded, Lin Xu had been maintaining a warm smile these days, graciously hosting guests from all over who came to congratulate him.

  "What's your name?"

  It wasn't easy to end the lavish banquet, and after returning to the inner courtyard to rest for a moment, Lin Xu hadn't even had time to take another look at the two children when he was blocked at the door by Jing Shu and Meng Yanran, who had been secretly fighting recently.

  Jing Xiu was born into a prestigious family and had seen and experienced much, while Meng Yanran had a kind and responsible mentor to guide her. The two of them were now conversing with each other in turn:

  "Of course, after naming, the child can receive the heavenly mandate."

  "Yes! Husband, if the name is not correct, then the words will not be in order. This matter cannot be delayed any longer."

  At the sound, Lin Xu scratched his head and said with a worried expression:

  "Hmm, naming is a serious matter, let me think for a moment."

  In the past, there was Cao Zijian who could compose a poem in seven steps. After Lin Xu had racked his brains and wandered around the courtyard several times like an old donkey pulling a millstone, he suddenly had an epiphany, clapped his hands and said:

  "I've got it! The eldest will be named Lin Li, and the second will be called Lin He. As they say, life is nothing but joy and sorrow, parting and reunion - I hope they'll remember this in the future."

  The naming ceremony was over, but things didn't end there. A temporary altar was set up on the yellow earth mound in the courtyard, and a fire was lit to offer sacrifices to heaven. As the flames rose high, Lin Xu threw into the fire the name plaques with the birth dates and names of the newborn twins, along with large quantities of incense and jade as offerings. In the flickering light of the fire, Lin Xu's eyes seemed to hold a deep, profound meaning that others couldn't quite grasp or put into words.

  The wind is desolate and the wild grass is bleak. The road stretches far and wide, with the sound of crows crying in my ears.

  To the north of the river waters revered by the Great Qin Empire as De Shui, there was once a land renowned as the heavenly blessed land under heaven, but now it has become a desolate scene that is unbearable to behold.

  Today's Hebei province, if it is said that there are no chicken sounds for thousands of miles, it is a literary exaggeration. However, in ordinary times, walking along the main road for dozens of miles, you can't see any signs of human activity, which is a very common thing. After experiencing the ravages of the Hu cavalry south of the Great Wall and the successive battles between the Qin army and various "righteous armies", countless residents were scattered and displaced. The countryside was desolate, villages were reduced to ashes and rubble, and when you looked around, you couldn't see any signs of human life, only stray dogs and crows that fed on rotting corpses occasionally appeared in the ruins.

  It's hard to describe the desolate atmosphere, and human language can hardly convey the sadness and helplessness it brings. In contrast, just a few years ago, this place was filled with the sounds of chickens and dogs, and the scenery of connected fields, giving people a feeling of being in a different world.

  The previous time Lin Xu sent an incarnation to Shang Jun to collect the souls of soldiers, he was forcibly recruited into the army by the soldiers under the command of Bai Zhengzong, the governor of Shang Jun, and became a military doctor. Judging from the current situation, it is estimated that this incarnation will not be able to regain its freedom for three to five years. To make up for this unexpected gap, Lin Xu had to send several more incarnations across the river, advancing towards the northern region. This time, he learned from the lesson of his previous incarnation losing its freedom and abandoned his usual disguise as a wandering doctor, instead disguising himself as a Taoist priest roaming the rivers and lakes.