Upon learning that Lao Hei could traverse the Tongtian River, Dugu Qiusheng's mood worsened.
Clearly, he really didn't understand Lao Hei at all, which is why he couldn't make the right judgment.
He is already an adult, yet he still judges a person based on his childhood impressions, which is undoubtedly fatal.
A few days later, Shangguan Hongyu received news that the Four Seas Alliance had launched an attack on Dingdong City, which is close to the East China Sea.
Although the city's defenders repelled the enemy, they also suffered heavy losses.
The imperial army dispatched is rushing there.
The imperial court sent a message to Shangguan Hongyu, presumably because Wei Qingyi hoped that Shangguan Hongyu would fulfill her promise.
The alliance of the four aquatic creatures is not easy to deal with.
Even if the imperial court were to be destroyed, it would pay a heavy price and suffer severe damage.
Since Shangguan Hongyu said that Justice Fortress was very powerful, even if it couldn't destroy the Four Seas Alliance, it could still greatly weaken the alliance, Wei Qingyi, as the new emperor, naturally hoped that Justice Fortress would weaken the Four Seas Alliance first.
Even without the court's urging, they planned to depart in the next few days.
If Lao Hei hadn't suddenly appeared, they probably would have set off a few days ago.
Bian Lang always felt that Lao Hei was not alone, and that there must be a huge force behind him.
Eliminating only one Black man without uncovering the true nature of that force will not solve any problems.
When they set off, Shangguan Hongyu used her magic gourd to build a road across the Tongtian River.
After all the living beings had passed through, they all rode on winged creatures at an extremely fast speed.
"What's going on over there?" Shangguan Hongyu glanced to the side.
Bian Lang, Liu Yi, and the others all rode Que Wuxiang.
Liu Yi didn't feel anything, but Bian Lang also noticed something was wrong.
Bian Lang was very familiar with the place where the anomaly occurred; that location was probably the Shiji Niangniang Temple.
At that time, he drove the body of Lady Shiji to the temple of Lady Shiji, and Lady Shiji's remains were successfully placed on the altar, presumably to protect the people of that area.
The powerful force that Bian Lang and Shangguan Hongyu could feel at this moment most likely came from Lady Shiji.
"Little Sparrow, go take a look," Bian Lang said.
Even if Dingdong City is anxious, there's no need to rush.
Lady Shiji was actually angry, and this place is very close to Justice Fortress, so we have to go and see.
In the blink of an eye, Que Wuxiang had already flown to the Temple of the Goddess Shiji.
A large crowd had gathered in front of the Shiji Niangniang Temple.
Judging from their clothes, they should all be ordinary people from the surrounding area.
The people looked terrible, pale and emaciated, as if they were terminally ill.
Some people sat on the ground, some lay down on the ground, but most people knelt and kowtowed to the Shiji Niangniang Temple.
Seeing ordinary people like this, Shangguan Hongyu frowned slightly, feeling uneasy.
Bian Lang said, "It seems that the people have encountered difficulties and have come to ask Lady Shiji for help, but Lady Shiji does not seem to have the ability to solve them."
"If people have to resort to praying to gods and Buddhas to survive, it only shows that this country is beyond saving," Shangguan Hongyu sighed.
Despite her hard work, she was well aware that there were too many corrupt officials in remote areas.
Even if she wanted to resolve the issue completely, she was powerless to do so.
Bian Lang and the others then jumped down and asked the people about the situation.
If it's a problem they can solve, then they might as well help the people solve it too.
The people all talked at once, only saying that they had no food left.
Many people have been starving for days, and if this continues, they will surely starve to death.
Shangguan Hongyu asked in surprise, "I see that your fields here are very fertile and don't seem to be drought-stricken, so why don't you have enough food to eat?"
"How much grain can grow in that land? For a long time, we have relied on supplies sent by the Empress to survive, but the Empress hasn't sent us anything for a long time." A burly man tied his belt very tightly, perhaps thinking that by tightening his belt, he wouldn't feel hungry.
Shangguan Hongyu sneered, "So this is your reason for letting all the fields lie fallow?"
The supplies sent by the imperial court were only to help the people get through a temporary crisis, not to support those who are temporarily in trouble for a lifetime.
If everyone held this view, the empire would soon collapse.
If no one works, what can the imperial court provide for disaster relief?
Previously, this area suffered from drought, and the local people were able to receive relief. Depending on their different needs, different things were delivered to them.
However, the imperial court cannot continue to provide relief indefinitely. If people want to live a good life, they still have to rely on themselves.
Seeing Shangguan Hongyu so angry, Bian Lang chuckled and said, "If you help too much, you'll create a bunch of lazybones."
Poverty alleviation and disaster relief must be done in moderation; otherwise, the more you help, the poorer people become, and the more difficult the situation becomes.
Perhaps that's why Lady Shiji was so angry.
Upon entering the Shiji Niangniang Temple, I saw the old man guarding the temple again.
The old man planted a lot of vegetables in his backyard, as well as a field of rice, which was growing very well.
When the harvest season arrives, there may not be much rice, but it will be enough to fill the old man's stomach.
At this age, the old man knew to farm and support himself when the weather was good, but the young people guarding outside the temple were still thinking about getting something for nothing.
"Master Bian, I'm so happy to see you again," the old man said with a smile.
Bian Lang laughed and said, "Seeing how well the grains and vegetables you planted are growing, I think Lady Shiji will be very pleased."
"My health is still alright, I can still grow some things myself. Today the weather is really good, everything I plant is growing very well, it would be a shame not to plant anything," the old man sighed.
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