Chapter 8: The Unlucky and Tragic Cheng Huang

  Huilingsheng heard this, coldly laughing: "Can't afford to care about so much anymore, the earth god's momentum is getting stronger and stronger. He and I have already formed a deep feud, if he really turns over, he won't let me go! Hurry up..."

  That trusted follower gritted his teeth and said, "I should go to hell."

  At this moment, the city wall suddenly stood up and looked into the distance. The ghost officials also looked past. Then they saw two streams of light, one white and one colored, slowly approaching.

  "It's a noble person who has come to our Chenghuang Temple!" The City God said, and couldn't care less about gathering his incompetent subordinates!

  Consciousness entered the statue of the god in the Chenghuang Temple in the next moment. Two young Confucian scholars with high hats were seen walking slowly into the temple, as if they were riding a carriage.

  The so-called Chenghuang Temple, although it is a place where gods are worshipped, was built more like an official mansion.

  The term "government office" is a later appellation; during the Han dynasty it was called "official temple", and from the Tang dynasty onwards it was referred to as "yamen", "public office", "public pavilion", or "government gate". This square, roughly speaking, still dates back to the Han dynasty.

  The government temple was originally an official office and residence, where the royal energy of the imperial court gathered. It is the most solemn and sacred place.

  This city wall was originally a divine position in ancient times, one of the eight gods of the La Festival, and has been passed down to the present day as the guardian god of the city. With such status, the temple where the god is worshipped is also called a temple.

  This looks very solemn and severe. However, with the eaves hanging down, the lighting is poor, making it look somewhat gloomy.

  The statue of the god enshrined in the innermost part looks even more gloomy and unpredictable.

  "Is this the City God?"

  The city god's consciousness also looked down from the statue, and the more he looked, the more handsome and shocking. Especially one of them had a five-color aura on top, with intricate patterns like brocade.

  "This is a phenomenon that shocks the literary world! In this small town of mine, when did such a big shot arrive?"

  This kind of person is like the City God, a great deity who commands respect. As for Fan Zhen, Liu Yi could see that he was no ordinary person, but the City God did not have such discerning eyes and directly ignored him with a flourish.

  At this moment, the county magistrate of Ben County came over with a smile and bowed to the two from afar: "Unexpectedly, the famous Pan Yu of the imperial capital has come to our humble county, it's really an honor for our county!"

  The capital's paper is expensive, what a big tone! The whole city was shocked when they heard this, having such a title means that he is not just a famous talented person.

  The county magistrate saw him and said more eagerly: "Huan Gongzi, we parted in the capital. I didn't expect to meet you here. As a member of the imperial clan, how did you come to this place?

  Fan Zhen listened and said lightly: "County Master, it's been a long time since we last met!"

  It was so cold and indifferent, but neither the county magistrate nor Cheng Huan felt anything wrong after hearing it.

  Ah! This is to say that this person's family has had a senior official in the past, which makes him eligible to be called a noble descendant.

  He saw the county magistrate being so fawning, even more affectionate and respectful than when he met Pan Yu, it was clear that this was the county magistrate of their hometown, and possibly a fellow student or former official of the Han family.

  With this understanding, Cheng Huan saw Fan Zhen again, his eyes were different, and he brought a few points of fear.

  Fan Zhen himself was talented, brilliant and transparent in thought, originally a man of great talent.

  However, there are many talented people in this world who have been reduced to nothing. But having great talent and being a member of the imperial clan is completely different.

  In this world, the selection of officials is also based on family background. Fan Zhen is a talented person with a high starting point, and in the future, he will definitely become a senior official in the court, one of the three dukes!

  After this day, whoever holds the power of the country will be revered, whether it is a small city god or an even greater deity.

  Even if it's just a possibility now, it's already enough to make the city tremble with fear.

  After the pleasantries, Fan Zhen said calmly: "We were traveling along the East River and happened to hear that there is a local god here with great virtues. So we came to pay our respects!"

  At these words, Cheng Yin's heart skipped a beat.

  "Yes," the county magistrate's face also turned bitter: "Originally, there was a great sage god who could bless the land with a thousand catties per mu... but, but..."

  "Nonsense!" Fan Zhen scolded without courtesy: "You're also an old official of my family, if it were someone else I wouldn't even bother to say anything to him!"

  "Yes, yes, yes, it's a small matter! Please instruct me, young master..." The county magistrate nodded and bowed.

  "One mu yields a thousand jin, this is an auspicious sign. It is the virtuous nature of the wise and heavenly ruler, it is the meritorious achievement of the three dukes assisting in education. Just now, with this divine body harmonizing with heaven's will, conforming to creation, descending with auspicious signs. To praise the present wise ruler and worthy ministers... Have you ever thought of this?"

  Being pointed out by Fan Zhen, the county magistrate suddenly realized. Originally, he only thought that a thousand catties per mu was a good thing, and reporting it to the imperial court would make the imperial court's bigwigs happy for a while, and even if not, it could reduce the crime of killing the governor in his own territory by several degrees.

  But never stood from the imperial court's point of view to think about what political significance this auspicious sign has.

  At this moment, Fan Zhenyi reminded him that he had the heart to kill Zhong Huan. It's okay to say that it's auspicious to lower the Huanglong grass and so on. Can you compare with a thousand jin per mu?

  The people regard food as their heaven; the court regards the people as its heaven! Grain is thus the most important thing for the court.

  The emperor plows personally every year, what for? Isn't it to encourage farming all over the world and pray for a good harvest?

  An yield of a thousand catties per mu, this can be said to be the greatest auspicious sign in the world. Especially since it's not just one mu of land yielding a thousand catties, but rather a thousand mu of land...

  The more political significance you want to make, the bigger it will be. Even if it's that great general Dou Wu, he won't oppose it, and instead will desperately pull it out as a decoration, after all, it's his achievement in assisting governance!

  Thinking big, this matter is even enough to be recorded in history books!

  The more I think about it, the more I feel like slapping myself in the face twice.

  However, this clearly audible sentence entered Cheng Kun's ears and made him feel a chill all over his body.

  No, absolutely cannot let this happen. This was the first thought of Cheng Hun, who had already fallen out with Liu Yi. The gods' thoughts moved, and heaven and earth knew. He had repeatedly tried to plot against Liu Yi, and had long since harbored a deep grudge.

  Once the news of a thousand jin per mu spreads, Liu Yi will definitely be heavily rewarded by the imperial court. By then, it won't be about how he finds trouble for Liu Yi, but rather watching Liu Yi crush him!

  No matter what, this thing can't be allowed to happen! Immediately dispatch troops and eliminate the Land God!

  With this idea in mind, he wished that these few people in front of him would leave immediately so that he could dispatch troops.

  However, these three people are addicted to chatting here and refuse to leave.

  Such a noble person, especially with the county master present, would never deploy ghost soldiers in front of him. He was anxious for nothing.

  But then Pan Yu suddenly laughed and said, "We've been to Fenglai Mountain before. Although the temple was destroyed, the land god's spirit hasn't disappeared, so it should be fine! It seems that it's just seriously injured for a while, and it should be able to wake up."