Tian Yuan Xian Ji

Chapter 398 Deterring the Cao Family
Tang Ning said, "Since that's the case, I'll go with you tomorrow to visit a few fellow Taoists of the Cao family and see what they have to say. The sect's disciples who have collected supplies will be coming soon. If they still can't collect all the supplies, we will send them to you soon." It takes a lot of time.”

Zhu Tao said: "With Senior Brother Tang and others helping out, I don't think the Cao family would dare not follow."

After they chatted for a while, Tangning and the others left the hall, and Zhu Tao arranged a room for them to stay in.

On the next day, a disciple came outside Tangning's room and said, "Uncle Tang, Uncle Zhu, please come to the hall to have a talk."

Tang Ning left the room and came to the main hall. Zhu Tao, Chen Da and others were all there, waiting for him.

"Brother Tang, how about we go to Cao's house?" Zhu Tao said
Tang Ning nodded and said good. The group left the Taoist temple and headed south. After walking for half a day, they came to a mountain range that stretched for hundreds of miles.

Zhu Tao pointed to the place shrouded in mist below and said: "This is Yuyue Mountain. The mansion of Cao's family is located next door. Let's go down!"

A group of people passed through the thick clouds and fell to the front of a hall below. The tall mansions and halls on both sides were lined up row by row, at least sixty or seventy.

A man came with a sword, saw several people, his complexion changed slightly, his expression was dignified and a little uneasy, he saluted Zhu Taojishou and said: "Senior Zhu, what do you want to see when you come to our residence?"

Zhu Tao said: "Go and tell your Patriarch that Zhu is here to visit."

The man glanced at the people behind him and asked, "Who are these seniors?"

"These are all senior brothers from my same sect. I have heard of Cao Ruixian's name as a fellow Taoist, so I came to Beiyuan this time to ask for a meeting."

"Seniors, please wait a moment, let me report to the Patriarch." The man said, Yujian walked less than two miles, and came to a majestic and tall hall.

In the hall, a man with gray temples and a tiger body and wolf waist was sitting cross-legged in the middle. It was Cao Ruixian, the patriarch of the Cao family. He opened his eyes and saw the man in a hurry, with displeasure on his face: "What's the matter?"

"Patriarch, several monks from the Qianyi Sect came outside and said they came to visit you. It seems that the visitors are not kind." The man saluted
Cao Ruixian frowned slightly: "How many people are there?"

The man replied: "There are six people in total. Except for Zhu Tao, the head of Beiyuan, I have never seen the other five people, and all of these five people have cultivation levels above them."

Cao Ruixian was silent for a while: "Go quickly and invite Yuan Yi, Zhong Yun, and Wen Tong."

"Yes." The man took the order and left.

Tang Ning and the others waited outside for about a stick of incense, but it was still a while before anyone from the Cao family came back.

Chen Da frowned and said: "This Cao family is too arrogant, just leave us here like this, and don't take this sect seriously."

Tangning was also very displeased. She waited for someone to come from afar, so it was polite to say, no matter what, it was time to meet up!

Even if we don't meet each other, at least we have to let someone know!Such a lack of hospitality at all, this is completely ignoring yourself!

After waiting for a while, he finally saw the man who had just left coming back with his sword in his hand. He bowed his head and said, "Patriarch invites some seniors to enter."

Several people followed him to a majestic hall, where four people sat upright.

The man with gray temples on the main seat saw a few people entering, and got up to greet them, and the others followed suit. Cao Ruixian said: "Zhu Daoyou, long time no see, it's too late to welcome you."

Zhu Tao hadn't answered yet, but Chen Da beside him couldn't help but said coldly: "The Cao family is really arrogant! I came from a long way to visit fellow Taoists, but I waited outside your residence for a quarter of an hour Only then can you see your face."

Cao Ruixian did not change his face and said: "It is true that I have neglected several fellow Taoists. Previously, the brothers of my family were discussing matters here and ordered no one to disturb them. Therefore, the juniors did not dare to report. Cao hereby apologizes to several fellow Taoists. , Wang Haihan."

When he said that, the resentment of several people was not easy to explode.

Zhu Tao said: "Fellow Taoist Cao, these are all senior brothers of our sect. They were ordered by the sect to come to Beiyuan to perform tasks. Because they have long admired the name of fellow daoists, they came to visit fellow daoists with me."

"Hurry up and take a seat."

Several people sat down one after another.

Cao Ruixian said: "I don't know the names of fellow Taoists?"

"Next to Tangning, these are our sect's Junior Brother Chen Da, Junior Brother Jin Zhong, Junior Brother Yang Xian, and Junior Brother Yan Yunlong," Tangning introduced one by one.

Cao Ruixian said: "Tang Taoist friend Spring and Autumn Shangfu, you are already a monk in the late stage of foundation establishment, which makes Cao feel ashamed! The noble sect is really a hidden dragon and a crouching tiger."

Zhu Tao said: "Fellow Daoist Cao, we Ming people don't talk dark words. I came to your mansion this time to pay the taxes for this purpose. The disciple who heard the report yesterday said that your mansion is not ready yet. What's going on? Son?"

Cao Ruixian sighed: "Fellow Daoist Zhu, I'm not evading this matter, but my Cao family is really in trouble!"

Zhu Tao said: "I would like to hear the details."

"In recent years, the Demon Sect has occupied the northwest of Beiyuan, bordering on my family's jurisdiction. Many properties have been occupied by them. The Xue family in the northwest has always had a gap with me. After he joined the Demon Sect, Relying on his prestige, he harassed my family's real estate from time to time, and robbed my property. We have suffered heavy losses, and we really can't afford the amount requested by your ancestor. I hope Fellow Daoist Zhu will understand."

Before Zhu Tao could answer, Tang Ning said, "Cao Daoyou's words are not true! As far as I know, all the important figures of all the cultivating families who have joined the Demon Sect are hiding in the Demon Sect's camp on Wancong Mountain, leaving only some children to take care of them. Industry, how dare they infringe on your real estate with this little manpower?"

"Furthermore, the Zongmen collects taxes proportionally. Even if there is a reduction in production, they have to pay according to the ratio. Now that it is time to suppress taxes, the Cao family says they are not ready yet. Isn't it a bit unreasonable?"

Cao Ruixian said: "Friend Daoist Tang only knows one thing, but not the other. Although the Patriarch of the Xue family is hiding in Wancong Mountain, the Demon Sect sends people to plunder from time to time. They looted all the taxes we were prepared to pay and the warehouses we stored. .”

Tangning smiled, "I work in the intelligence department, and I often hear reports from subordinate intelligence stations saying that families from all over the world are sympathetic to the Demon Sect, and they have secretly communicated with the sect. Change flags."

"At first, I thought it was the exaggeration of the people below, but now it seems that this situation is common."

Cao Ruixian's expression changed slightly: "Friend Daoist Tang, my Cao family has always been loyal to the noble clan, and many children of my family also serve in the noble clan. I..."

Tangning was full of emotion, and interrupted him, "Since you are loyal, why are you delaying the tax with so many excuses? Is it possible that you don't know the laws of this sect? Or do you think that now that the demon sect is rampant, this sect is helpless against your powerful clan?"

"The Zongmen expressly stipulates that all families in the area under its jurisdiction must pay taxes and tributes on time. What is your intention to evade this again and again?"

"The reason why I came here this time is to escort the tax and tribute materials from various places to prevent them from being looted by the Demon Sect."

"If anyone intentionally delays taxation, delays time, buys time for the Demon Sect to set up troops, and ambushes my escort team halfway, then I will think that this person is in collusion with the Demon Sect, and don't blame Tang for not saying it in advance. "

"Whether to pay taxes and tribute according to the laws and regulations of the sect, or to change the banner and join hands with the demon sect, please do as you please! Farewell."

After Tang Ning finished speaking, he left without waiting for Cao Ruixian to open his mouth. The others followed him and disappeared into the distance. Only the members of the Cao family in the hall were left looking at each other.

…………

"Senior Brother Tang, your righteous words just now are really majestic and majestic. If you come to be my master, those powerful and powerful families will not dare to be so presumptuous." Zhu Tao said
Tang Ning said, "To deal with these local snakes, the more friendly you are to them, the more they will make progress. You have to give them a side drum from time to time, and you can keep them down with a combination of kindness and strength."

Jin Zhong frowned and said: "The words of Senior Brother Tang just now are very powerful. Will they persecute them too much? If they are in danger, what should they do if they really join the Demon Sect?"

Tang Ning said, "Junior Brother Wu thinks they don't want to join the Demon Sect? But the situation is too overwhelming. If they join the Demon Sect within our jurisdiction, what will happen to these properties? If they lose these things, how will they gain a foothold. I predict that within a few days, they will send someone to report and pay the tax."

It was already late at night when they returned to the Taoist temple, so they went back to their rooms to rest.

As Tangning expected, after only three days, the Cao family sent someone to say that the tax tribute was ready and only waiting for the disciples of the sect to receive it.

After the Cao family bowed their heads, other powerful families also expressed that their taxes and tributes were all in place.

Another seven or eight days later, two rays of light shot out, showing the figures of a man and a woman.

Behind him were dozens of disciples, driving a boxy black car. The car was very strange. There were eight stone wheels under its feet, which kept turning, and it walked in mid-air like walking on flat ground.

The disciples in the Taoist temple came face to face, and after some salutes, they were invited into the main hall.

Tang Ning was sitting cross-legged in the room when there was a knock on the door. He opened his eyes and waved his hand. The door opened without any wind. A man walked into the room and bowed to salute, "Uncle Tang, Uncle Zhu please go to the hall. The disciples sent by the sect to collect taxes have arrived."

Tangning responded, got up and left the room, and came to the main hall.

In the hall, apart from Zhu Tao, Chen Da and others, there are two foundation-building monks, a man and a woman, dressed in Qianyizong costumes.

"Brother Tang, these two are disciples of the Zongmen who collect taxes and tributes. This is Junior Brother Zhou Yan from the Outreach Department of the Foreign Affairs Academy, and this is Senior Sister Su Yinyun from the External Imperial Department of Yuanyi Hall." Zhu Tao introduced, turning to the two The person said, "This is Senior Brother Tangning from the Intelligence Department."

Zhou Yan said: "Senior brother Tang, I have long admired your name. Before we left the sect, Uncle Peng had already ordered that the escort of the supplies this time be under your command."

Tangning asked, "How many disciples have you brought?"

Su Yinyun replied: "A total of forty-two people."

Tangning frowned and said, "There are only forty-two people, can we transport all the supplies in one trip?"

"No problem. We have a mysterious spirit vehicle for transporting supplies."

(End of this chapter)