Chapter 173 The Lady of the Lake, the Crazy Man on the Island
After the meal, when Zhao Duan arrived at the Xiuwen Museum, the sun had already risen.
He was not panicked at all. As a "non-staff bachelor", he positioned himself as an "advisor" on the New Deal.
Therefore, he even took the time to go to Lihuatang and went through the formalities before rushing over.
After entering the hall unobstructed, he opened the door and saw that the huge Yamen was already busy.
A famous bachelor may be dealing with memorials, official documents from various ministries, or refining the "Three Golden Strategies".
"Bachelor Zhao..."
"Zhao Jun, are you here?"
"Hello, Mr. Zhao."
The bachelors took the initiative to say hello, and their treatment had completely changed from yesterday morning.
However, it was probably still difficult to accept that a martial artist became a colleague, and many people used other titles.
Mr. Zhao Duan has a lot of money and does not care about a group of scholars.
He glanced around and saw the "female prime minister" who was also in the room and occupied a table.
"Where is the Grand Master? Why didn't you see him?"
Zhao Duan walked over, pulled a chair, and sat down as usual.
"..." Mo Zhaorong was not willing to pay attention to him, and replied with a straight face: "The Grand Master is leading Han Congee out. There are a lot of things you need to do when you come out with your three strategies..."
After a brief explanation, he added:
"You came just in time. The Grand Master said this morning that there is something I need you to take care of."
"What's going on?" Zhao Duan was curious.
"Huang Ceku," Mochou spat out three words and explained:
"When Taizu created Dayu, in order to understand how many people and how much land there were in each place in the world, he spent twenty years recording the people in the world and measuring the land...
Because the imperial tax was collected based on the population, this yellow book was related to taxation and should not be careless. It was required to be revised once every ten years.
That is to say, the book is compiled into four books, one of which is entered into the Ministry of Household Affairs, and the other three are reserved for the Chief Secretary, the Prefecture, and the County each. "
Hmm... Dayu version of the census...
Therefore, Huangceku is the largest archives room in the world... Zhao Duan thought.
According to Mochou, Huang Ceku has been around for too long.
Due to the levy of capitation tax, local governments have developed too many counterfeiting methods to hide the population and tamper with content...
In short, the data recorded in the Yellow Book are seriously wrong.
"The grand master's intention is to ask you what you think of Huang Ceku." Mochou said.
view?
He was asking me if I had any ideas to solve the problem of data falsification... Zhao Duan heard the implication, thought about it, and asked:
"Where is the warehouse? I have to see the situation in person."
Mochou was not surprised and said:
"It's just in the back lake in the north of the city. It's not that far away. If you ride a horse, you'll be there soon."
Zhao Du had nothing to do and was quite curious about Dayu's largest archives, so he nodded happily.
…
The two agreed to ride out the north gate of the capital on horseback without riding in a car.
After walking not far, I saw green mountains rising from the ground in front of me, surrounding them in a circle, with a myriad of scenery.
The lake with a radius of forty miles is located between the mountains. The scenery is superb, like a gem embedded in the earth.
"Da da da..."
Zhao Duan clutched his riding whip and rode forward. He looked at the back lake in front of him and said curiously: "I heard that this is a royal garden and is guarded by the army. No one is allowed to come near. I have never been here before. , but I don’t know that the so-called Huang Ceku is actually hidden here?”
When Mochou came out, she changed out of the female official's robe and took off her black gauze.
Nowadays, she is dressed in an ordinary androgynous style, with her black hair hanging down her head.
The cold temperament of the whole person was diluted and became much softer.
If one ignores the majestic look between her eyebrows and eyes, it would not be out of the ordinary to say that she is a young lady from a scholarly family.
This meeting said calmly: "The Yellow Book of the World is created every ten years. Six hundred years have passed. Although the old book has been destroyed, there are only millions of copies left.
Because it is related to the country, it must be placed near the capital for easy access. Where can I find such a large free space in the city?
In the back lake, the silt on the river bottom was accumulated to create five "islands" called "Five Continents", named Huan, Ying, Ling, Liang, Cui...
Due to the natural geographical barrier, Huangceku was placed on the island, which could avoid fire hazards and was safe enough, so it was a perfect place.
The only trouble is water vapor and insects and rats on the island, but it can also be solved by people drying and ventilating it in summer and autumn. "
Millions of copies?
Zhao Duan clicked his tongue in surprise.
Considering the amount of books in the feudal dynasty, generally speaking, a library with tens of thousands of volumes is already rare.
Not to mention a warehouse with millions of volumes...
While talking, the two of them had arrived near Houhu Lake.
Mo Zhaorong took out his waist tag, and the soldiers guarding nearby respectfully let him go.
Then, the two arrived at the dock and saw that the ships in the dock were sealed with seals.
An official came out on the shore and learned that Mo Zhaorong was ordered to check the files, so he did not dare to delay.
A boat was immediately untied, and the officials personally operated the boat to send the two people to the island.
Zhao Duan stood on the boat and felt the gentle breeze blowing in and the summer heat disappearing.
The lakes and mountains in front of you are so beautiful.
What's more, in summer, large swaths of lotus flowers bloom in the lake. Boats pass through the extremely quiet lake, with countless dark green lotus leaves and swaying red lotus flowers on both sides.
"With this kind of scenery, if it weren't for the imperial guards, I'm afraid it would have been packed with people."
Zhao Duan admired it, then looked down at the lotus flowers on both sides of the ship, and said:
"I heard that Shenlong Temple was selling lotus flowers this morning. I saw them, but they are not as good as the ones here."
Mochou smiled slightly and came to him side by side, her eyes reflected the scenery of the lake and mountains, and she was in a good mood. She said proudly: "Although the lotus pond in Shenlong Temple is good, only the Buddha lotus in the inner courtyard of the temple can enjoy the beauty." The blessing of Buddha's light is rare for ordinary people. As for what is sold to the common people, it is just ordinary lotus flowers in the outer courtyard, which is naturally not worth mentioning. "
Zhao Duan expressed that he had learned it and was moved in his heart:
"I heard that during the Hungry Ghost Festival, the master of Shenlong Temple will hold a ceremony to worship the gods?"
Mochou glanced at him: "Yes. Every year during the Ghost Festival, at least a monk from the worldly realm will be sent to preside over it. Shenlong Temple is keen on this and invites many dignitaries to participate every year. Hehe, it is said to be a sacrifice to the gods. , rather to make money.
Tianshi Mansion only worships gods within the mansion and does not invite outsiders... What, do you want to see it?
Oh, with the reputation you have gained in the past few months, it is really possible to be invited... The premise is that the great Buddhist monk is willing to extend an olive branch to a notorious and notorious person like you. "
I feel like you are mocking me, but there is no evidence... Zhao Duan shook his head.
He was not interested in worshiping gods, but he was very interested in Shenlong Temple.
After all, it is a cultivation force that is on par with Tianshi Mansion.
The abbot of Xuanyin in the temple is one of the strongest people in the world who competes with Zhang Tianshi.
He has not interacted with the monks from Shenlong Temple until now, so he is inevitably curious.
While I was thinking about it, suddenly, the ship shook slightly.
It seemed that something strange was happening under the water, disturbing the lake.
Zhao Duan's military warning was immediately triggered.
His pupils suddenly narrowed, and his right hand subconsciously clasped the Golden Crow flying knife hidden in his sleeve.
Muscles tensed, staring intently at the turbulent, rippling dark green water.
Like a hunter sensing danger in the primeval forest.
It seems that there is extreme danger approaching the ship from under the water!
"Don't be nervous," Mochou's face changed slightly, but he could still maintain his composure:
"Don't worry, things from the bottom of the lake can't come up."
As if to confirm her words.
The next moment, the strange turmoil disappeared, and Zhao Duan lost his target instantly.
He still didn't dare to let down his guard and asked:
"That thing at the bottom of the lake? What is it?"
"I don't know," Mochou answered confidently:
"Anyway, it's a very powerful thing. You can think of it as the 'Lake God' guarding Houhu. If a practitioner sneaks in secretly and tries to get close to Huangceku, the Lake God will take action and kill him."
After a pause, she said with a strange expression: "I have also asked your Majesty that Huangceku is so important that it is difficult for mortals to land on the island, but what if practitioners take action? Your Majesty said that there are two guards at Houhu. , one is at the bottom of the lake, and one is on the island. One is a prisoner, and the other is also a prisoner.”
Is the empress's surname Lu... Zhao Duan complained, thinking that it was indeed a royal place with unfathomable background.
In addition to the strong ones on the surface, there are many hidden ones behind the scenes.
But the word "prisoner" seems to mean that the masters here do not guard it voluntarily.
The boat slowly sailed away from the lotus pond.
No one noticed that huge bubbles suddenly appeared on the water surface among the dark green lotus flowers.
Then, a bloodless face of a young woman with pale eyes slowly appeared.
The long hair slowly spreads under the water, like a clump of waterweed.
The woman was dressed in red, but her hands and feet were shackled with black shackles. The long chains seemed to have no end, extending to the depths of the lake.
The white-eyed woman at the bottom of the lake slowly poked her head out and floated on the water.
Quietly watching the boats going away.
His pupilless eyes stared at the handsome young man on the boat.
After a long time, it slowly sank to the bottom of the lake.
…
other side.
Zhao Duan's boat also arrived at "Huanzhou Island" among the five islands in Houhu.
As soon as I got off the boat, I saw several houses standing on the island.
The layout is similar to that of a yamen, and it is obviously the residence of the officials guarding here.
In addition, there is the only pavilion not far away, but I don’t know where it is. It is quite unexpected.
"My subordinate, the supervisor of Huang Ceku, has met Miss Mo."
In the duty room on the island, an official in his fifties came out and hurriedly bowed his hands.
He looked at Zhao Duan again, with hesitation on his face.
Mochou said calmly: "This is Mr. Zhao. I'm here to check the status of the yellow records in the warehouse."
The old treasurer Xu has been stationed on the island for many years and has little information.
He didn't immediately guess Zhao Duan's identity, but he didn't think much about it.
No matter which government official he is, he is someone he cannot afford to offend.
He was immediately greeted with a smile:
"I would also like to ask you two to sign and go through the process first, and then I will take you two to the warehouse."
The two of them are inseparable.
After simply signing and sealing, and walking out of the room, Zhao Duan pointed to the small building in the distance and said curiously:
"What is that place? I see there is only one building here."
The old treasurer's face changed slightly when he heard this, and he whispered:
"Sir, please don't go over there. There is a crazy man living in that building. He was sent to the island during the late emperor's time and rarely comes out.
Your Majesty just asks us to send food and wine regularly.
He said that if there was any danger on the lake, this madman would protect him.
I think he is a master of spiritual practice. "
Another prisoner?
Zhao Duan raised his eyebrows, vaguely aware that the lunatic on the island and the "Lake God" in the lake may have a mutual restraint relationship.
At this time, as if someone was watching, the window on the second floor of the small building opened slightly.
A few dozen feet away, Zhao Duan suddenly felt like he was falling into an ice cave, feeling like he was being targeted by some kind of terrifying beast.
…
Update in a hurry, update first and typesetting later
(End of this chapter)