Chapter 619 Taoist Priest Ku Rong
Pingzhou, Changli
Cao Huating was standing outside the door waiting to be summoned. He was a boy of about fifteen or sixteen, growing very fast. Although he looked thin, he was tall enough.
Cao Huating's real name was Zhu Huating. His ancestral home was in Nandi. In the second year of Tianhe, he was secretly sent away along with other survivors of the Zhu family.
It had been two or three years since I arrived in Pingzhou, and as time passed, all the pain had slowly subsided. Of course, the deepest pain and the hatred of being nearly exterminated remained buried deep in my heart.
In fact, after the Pingzhou uprising, the governor told him that they no longer needed to hide their identities, and if they wanted to use their original surnames, they could change them back.
But at that time he already had a vague idea in his mind, so he did not change it back, but continued to use the surname Cao.
Because even Ning Changge didn't recognize him when they first met at Liaodong Academy.
Over the years, the surviving descendants of the Zhu family have kept a low profile and have been working hard, studying day and night.
Until recently, he felt that he had made some progress, and the teacher at the academy said that there was nothing more to teach him and suggested that he go out into the world and practice.
So he went to see the governor and prepared to tell her his ideas and plans.
"Mr. Cao, the governor wants to see you."
Cao Huating straightened his clothes and then strode in.
After listening to his request, Lu Songli was silent for a long time before asking, "Have you discussed this matter? Have you made a decision?"
"Yes."
"The path you have chosen may lead to misunderstanding and abuse from the world, and it will be very difficult."
"Governor, we have thought it through. We are not afraid of being misunderstood." Temporary grievances are nothing. He is planning for the future.
"Okay, since you have made the decision, just go for it." And she just happened to need a group of people like this.
…
As soon as Cao Huating came out, his cousin Cao Huaying came forward and asked, "Brother Huating, how is it? Did the governor agree?"
"Um."
After receiving a positive answer, Cao Huaying didn't know how to react.
Cao Huating glanced at him and said, "Don't think too much. This is the fate of our Zhu family, and also our Zhu family's opportunity."
"Pingzhou has developed so well, attracting so many talented people. Take business for example. Besides the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce established by the governor himself, there are also the Ji family, the Gu family, and local Pingzhou merchants. Our Zhu family doesn't have many opportunities."
Cao Huaying nodded, he knew all this.
"We don't have the capital to compare with them. Our Zhu family can only find another way to catch up."
"Brother Hua Ting, let's work together to restore our family's glory in the future."
Chang'an
Early in the morning of that day, martial law was imposed at Yongning Gate, and officers and soldiers cleared the road.
A luxurious carriage was parked not far away.
This posture looks unusual.
The people couldn't help but whisper to each other.
"Is this the carriage of the Grand Commander's Mansion?"
"More than that, this car seems to be the car of General Xie."
"Thank you, Grand Commander, for welcoming me personally—is some important figure arriving in Chang'an?"
"You don't know, Taoist Ku Rong is coming to Chang'an."
"Oh, has the Emperor found Taoist Master Ku Rong?"
"Yes, I heard that Taoist Ku Rong was practicing in some deep mountain before, and the emperor had a hard time finding him."
"Da Li has indeed suffered many disasters in recent years. We should really ask Taoist Master Ku Rong to take a look."
Luo Da, who was doing odd jobs, wanted to bury his head in his chest when he heard this.
Luo Da was really terrified. He couldn't bear to hear words like disaster and misfortune, as they made him feel like his family was doomed.
From the south to Nanyang, then to Yanmen, and finally to Chang'an, their family wandered from place to place, forming an inextricable bond with disasters.
After settling in Chang'an, although no natural disasters occurred in Chang'an, people in the Zhou State said that Dali was obviously more turbulent in recent years than before.
The speaker may not have intended it, but the listener may have taken it to heart. Luo Da felt very uneasy after hearing these words.
A while ago, Pingzhou used the interests of Donghai in exchange for the promise that the people could leave Dali freely within seven days. At that time, he wanted to leave Chang'an.
Later, people from Pingzhou found him privately, persuaded him, and left them some silver to ensure the livelihood of his family.
In fact, what that person said was right. It was much safer to stay in Chang'an than to go to Pingzhou or elsewhere. Their family had stayed in Chang'an for several years and at least they had not encountered any natural disasters.
Outside the city of Chang'an, a dilapidated carriage was driving.
The boy asked the driver anxiously, "Master, do we have to go to Chang'an?"
In the carriage, the white-haired old Taoist replied, "Yes."
"Master, you said that the northwest is where you will face your calamity. Can't we avoid it?"
The old Taoist shook his head and said, "This is the calamity of my fate, which cannot be avoided."
"Master, we have arrived at Chang'an City."
After the boy paid the money, the Taoist priest took him towards the gate of Chang'an city.
At this moment, Xie Zhan got off the carriage, smiling, "Master Ku Rong——"
The old Taoist looked at him steadily and said with certainty, "You are General Xie."
"Master Ku Rong has good eyesight."
The old Taoist shook his head and said nothing.
"Master Kurong, please get in the carriage. The emperor is waiting for you. Let's go straight to the palace."
The Taoist priest had no objection and got on the car directly.
At this moment, Xie Zhan picked up the person and the carriage slowly headed back.
"Make way, everyone make way——"
At this moment, the old Taoist happened to see Luo Da on the side of the road and couldn't help but exclaimed, "This man's face..."
Xie Zhan was a very perceptive person. He immediately noticed the abnormality of Taoist Ku Rong. "What's wrong with Taoist Ku Rong?"
Taoist Ku Rong shook his head.
Xie Zhan even looked back, but didn't find anything unusual.
When the carriage arrived at the palace and Xie Zhan and others got off, they found that Song Mo had actually come to the palace gate to greet them in person.
Xie Zhan tactfully asked to resign and was granted permission.
That night, the moon was bright in the sky, and Song Mo and Taoist Master Ku Rong sat quietly in the observatory.
"Master Kurong, I would like to appoint you as the Grand Master of Dali. What do you think?"
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but I am used to being free and unrestrained, and I cannot stay in one place for a long time."
"Even the Imperial Palace is not possible?"
"Your Majesty, please understand. I am nearing the end of my life, and I just want to see more of the mountains and rivers while I'm still alive."
Song Mo nodded regretfully, "But I've heard that you have a pair of discerning eyes, able to observe the stars and predict the fate of nations. When you read people's fortunes, you can even discern a person's past and future from their face and palms."
"Master, I want you to see the destiny of Dali, is that okay?"
"Blessings and infinite blessings to the Heavenly Venerable." Master Kurong bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this is a secret of heaven and cannot be revealed."
Song Mo was naturally dissatisfied with his answer.
"Then let me ask you another question. Master, what do you think of my fate?"
"Your Majesty is the Supreme Ruler, so his destiny is naturally very good."
Song Mo looked him straight in the eye. "Since you don't want to answer either of these two questions, then here's the last one. I want to know if it's possible for Pingzhou Lu Songli to replace me?"
The old Taoist looked at the starry sky and said nothing.
The astrological signs at this time are very different from those three years ago.
The clearest astrological sign at that time was that Lu Cun and Tian Fu would meet in the north, while Qi Sha would be brought to power in the south.
In the northern astrology, the twin stars, one yin and one yang, Ziwei, are surrounding the natal chart, causing all the stars to shine brighter. In the southern chart, Qisha, the star of Ziwei, is dimming, with the sign of its demise.
"Your Majesty, people have joys and sorrows, separations and reunions, the moon waxes and wanes, birth and death pass, the seasons change. Your Majesty, you only need to let nature take its course. All problems will be solved."
"Master, there's no need to try to fool me with these words. You know what I want to hear. I won't embarrass you. Choose one of the three questions to answer."
The old Taoist was silent for a long time before he said, "Then I will be so bold as to tell you about the Emperor's fate."
"I won't talk about the past, let's talk about the present and the future. When the old Taoist observes the stars, he usually sees nine stars in the Nine Dippers, seven visible and two hidden. Now, the two stars, Fu and Bi, are visible. The Fu star is in Kaiyang, so it helps the Dipper succeed. When the Fu star is bright, the ministers are strong. So, although the Purple Star is dim, it has strong ministers to support it."
What the old Taoist didn’t say is that when the Seven Killings from the South enters the life, the auxiliary stars are transformed by the Seven Killings. It is really hard to say whether it is good or bad.
It can only be said that the coincidence of Qi Sha and Fu Xing is like drinking poison to quench thirst for Emperor Song Mo of Dali.
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