Chapter 21 Lin Bufan
Just enough, that is, until Li Tianlan.
Zhang Jucheng is an old Taoist priest for many years, and he understood it as soon as he heard it.
Qi Xuansu and Zhang Jucheng didn't want to make a big fuss. Just the two of them, without the support of Zhengyi Dao and Quanzhen Dao, didn't have the ability to move those people behind Li Tianlan.
So the two didn't need to change their strategy because of Qingwei Zhenren's call, and they should continue to execute according to the original plan.
Qi Xuansu's thoughts turned back to Zhang Jucheng's previous words.
A person like Zhang Jucheng suddenly said such a thing, it should not be as simple as wanting to praise him, but there is a deeper intention.
While Zhang Jucheng affirmed Qi Xuansu and Li Changge, he completely denied Zhang Yuelu and Yao Pei.
In fact, Qi Xuansu was not very surprised.
The problem with Yao Pei is very simple, that is, Donghua Zhenren accepted Qi Xuansu as his disciple, and the intention of using Qi Xuansu to replace Yao Pei is very obvious, and Qi Xuansu is indeed a standout now, ahead of Zhang, Li, and Yao. Qi Xuansu occupied Yao Pei's ecological niche and became Yao Pei's replacement. While affirming Qi Xuansu, Yao Pei would inevitably be denied.
As for Zhang Yuelu, the reason is not complicated. That is, Zhang Yuelu's new policy touched the nerves of many people.
What does Zhang Yuelu want to do?
Cut the meat of the upper class to mend the wounds of the Taoist sect. Want the horse to run, but don't want the horse to eat grass?
This is absolutely intolerable.
Today Zhang Yuelu only cut the meat of Borneo. If she is made the chief master tomorrow, then she will cut the meat of everyone.
Of course, Zhang Yuelu's proposition is not without support, but most of them are low-level Taoist priests and some middle-level Taoist priests. They are oppressed and don't have much benefit. Naturally, they support the redistribution of benefits. But how loud can the voices of low-level Taoist priests and some middle-level Taoist priests be? When Zhang Yuelu offended most of the high-level Taoist priests, he was immediately surrounded by enemies.
Maybe someone will say that Zhang Yuelu's proposition has been put forward a long time ago, why is there a response now?
In fact, the reason is very simple. It is one thing to put forward a proposition, and it is another thing to do it specifically. For example, Yao Pei's proposal to build a harmonious Taoism is just a proposal.
Zhang Yuelu's change of Taoism can appeal to young people, but how to change, to the left or to the right, to thunder without rain, or to thunder and rain, is still open to discussion.
So many people are waiting and watching.
Now, with Zhang Yuelu taking office as the chief deputy governor of the Borneo Daofu, she has clearly expressed how she plans to change.
This is like stirring up a hornet's nest.
I thought it was just a slogan, but are you really going to do it?
You are digging our roots!
So since Zhang Yuelu piloted the new policy in Borneo, her reputation has plummeted, and more and more people have replaced her with Qi Xuansu. These people do not want to support Zhang Yuelu's internal reforms, nor do they want to support Li Changge's external expansion. They are afraid of war and change. They have a tendency to become civil servants like in the Wei and Jin dynasties. They just want to maintain the status quo to the greatest extent, and the relatively moderate Qi Xuansu has become pleasing to the eye.
This does not mean that they like Qi Xuansu very much. It can only mean that they choose one that is not too annoying from several options that they don't like so much.
Some people may think that Zhang Yuelu is still too impatient. She should hide her true intentions and wait until she becomes the Grand Master and sits firmly in the position, and then reveal her true intentions. The matter is done, and those people can't do anything about it.
In fact, Zhang Yuelu also has her difficulties.
According to the equal opportunities of the three Taoists, each of them has a chance of winning of more than 30%, plus Qi Xuansu, that is, each person has a chance of winning of 25%. Considering the early advantages of the two exiled immortals and Qi Xuansu's leading position in the rank, Zhang Yuelu's chance of winning will be reduced.
For each candidate, it is a high probability that they will not be elected as the Grand Master.
Instead of betting all their ambitions and ideals on what will happen after becoming the Grand Master, it is better to start from now. Even if they are not elected as the Grand Master in the end, they can still do something practical.
This is a rather pessimistic attitude, but also a quite pragmatic attitude.
Qi Xuansu had understood this a long time ago, but he did not persuade Zhang Yuelu. It was not that Qi Xuansu did not want to persuade, but Qi Xuansu knew Zhang Yuelu and knew that he could not persuade her, so he simply made a bet with her.
From the beginning to the end, Qi Xuansu never thought of taking the initiative to become the "wife of the Grand Master". If Zhang Yuelu won, then he would be willing to accept the loss and assist Zhang Yuelu with peace of mind.
This does not mean that Qi Xuansu would give up to Zhang Yuelu if he could win. Qi Xuansu has no hobby of cultivating "female emperors". Whoever wants to cultivate can cultivate. It is more fun to be the "emperor" by himself.
Assisting Zhang Yuelu by yourself is not as good as letting Zhang Yuelu assist yourself?
This is also to determine who is the head of the family.
As for not wanting to be an "emperor" because of tiredness, because of children and grandchildren, because of freedom, it is all nonsense.
There is only one reason, that is, the "emperor" does not have the highest power, but is just a flower frame, such as the emperor has a second calamity immortal behind him, so he does not want to be an "emperor".
Under this premise, Qi Xuansu couldn't help but wonder, does Zhang Jucheng's words mean that Zhang Jucheng actually doesn't approve of Zhang Yuelu's approach? After all, the Zhang family itself is one of the largest Taoist families. If there is a real reform, the Li family and the Zhang family will bear the brunt.
Further thinking, is this a test - as long as Qi Xuansu clearly states that he will not reform internally, the Zhang family will change to support Qi Xuansu. This is also a helpless choice. Under the premise of not harming their own interests, it is always better for their son-in-law to take the position than for the Li family to take the position.
Qi Xuansu sighed.
Not for himself, but for Zhang Yuelu.
At this moment, Qi Xuansu felt sorry for Zhang Yuelu. How could she bear the loneliness that was everywhere? It was easy to say that I would go even if there were thousands of people, but the pain was really hard to describe.
No wonder she always wanted to change him. She needed a like-minded fellow traveler.
Qi Xuansu was a fellow traveler, but not really. There were still some differences between the two.
However, because of the interruption of Qingwei Zhenren, the opportunity had been missed. No matter what Qi Xuansu thought, he could not respond to Zhang Jucheng immediately. He could only talk about it later. If Zhang Jucheng really had this intention, he would have a deep talk with Qi Xuansu.
On the other hand, Li Tianlan received news from two sides at the same time.
On the one hand, it was news from his own family. His wife was taken away by Zhang Jucheng's people.
On the other hand, it was news from his family. Zhang Jucheng and Qi Xuansu decided to take action against him.
Li Tianlan immediately realized that the situation had reached a very critical point. If Gu Ying could not withstand the pressure, he would be implicated immediately. Zhang Jucheng would not be soft-hearted. This real person in charge of the mansion would take him down immediately without leaving any room for maneuver.
The key is how to avoid involving him.
If Zhang Jucheng imprisoned people in the local prison, he could send someone to pass the message in, asking Gu Ying to hold on and firmly defend, and there would be a way.
But Zhang Jucheng had anticipated this and directly imprisoned Gu Ying on Putuo Island. Li Tianlan didn't even know where the person was, so naturally he had no way to pass the message in, and could only rely on Gu Ying himself.
However, Li Tianlan did not sit still and wait for death. While he was preparing for the worst case scenario and preparing a retreat, he took the initiative to find Zhang Jucheng.
When the Jiangnan Daofu was first established, the Daofu's Dao Palace was located on Putuo Island, and later moved to the Tianxin Dao Palace.
This matter also follows the dispute between Confucianism and Taoism.
The three great palaces of the Confucian school were the Wanxiang Palace, the Tianxin Palace, and the Sheji Palace. After the defeat of the Confucian school, only the Sheji Palace was preserved. The Wanxiang Palace was rebuilt into today's Wanxiang Taoist Palace. The Tianxin Palace was destroyed in the war. Later, the Jiangnan Daofu built the Tianxin Taoist Palace on the site of the Tianxin Palace. Because it was a reconstruction, it could not be compared with the repeatedly expanded Wanxiang Taoist Palace. It did not build an independent palace and set up a master of the palace. Instead, it became the location of the Taoist Palace of the Jiangnan Daofu, equivalent to the Sheji Palace of the Borneo Daofu.
Zhang Jucheng and Li Tianlan usually stay in the Tianxin Taoist Palace, so it is naturally very easy to meet.
Early this morning, when Zhang Jucheng walked towards his signing room, Li Tianlan happened to "meet" him by chance.
So the two walked side by side.
Zhang Jucheng got straight to the point: "Brother Li, you came at the right time. I was just about to find you. I want to inform you about Gu Ying's matter."
Li Tianlan seemed calm: "I don't know the specific situation, but I heard that it was related to some false accusation. But as long as it is reasonable and legal, I will resolutely obey the decision of the Daofu and cooperate with the Daofu's investigation."
Zhang Jucheng deliberately showed some sympathy on his face: "Of course I know that Brother Li is not aware of it. After all, it involves Brother Li's son. If Brother Li really knew, he would never allow them to do such a thing."
"It also involves my useless and rebellious son?" Li Tianlan narrowed his eyes.
Zhang Jucheng sighed: "Yes, the so-called 'stepson raped stepmother case' was actually an unjust case, and my nephew was wrongly accused. When Chief Qi accompanied fellow Taoists from the West Dao Gate to visit the Luosuozhou Dao Mansion, my nephew cried out to Chief Qi for injustice. Later, this incident also attracted the attention of Deputy Hall Master Li of Beichen Hall and Deputy Hall Master Lu of Fengxian Hall. With everyone's concerted efforts, this unjust case has been overturned and my nephew has been acquitted."
Li Tianlan's face was slightly gloomy: "So that's the case, it's great."
Zhang Jucheng said this deliberately, giving people an illusion that Li Zhuyu and Lu Yushu had reached a consensus with Qi Xuansu, and that the three of them had worked together to overturn the case, and that it was the Li family who stabbed Li Tianlan in the back. Maybe Li Tianlan wouldn't believe it, maybe Li Zhuyu had already informed Li Tianlan, but what if? Try it first.
Zhang Jucheng continued, "Fengxiantang has already initiated the compensation procedure for my nephew, and at the same time, they must also hold accountable the case officers responsible for dereliction of duty and the false accusers. It was Gu Ying who sued my nephew for raping her, so she is naturally not unrelated, so I sent someone to arrest her. As for not informing Brother Li beforehand, I was afraid that Brother Li would be embarrassed. I hope Brother Li can understand."
"I understand, of course I understand." Li Tianlan nodded, his tone was not very good.
Zhang Jucheng wanted to kill people and also wanted to kill their hearts: "There is another thing, I didn't want to tell Brother Li, but I thought about it carefully later and couldn't hide it from Brother Li. This case also involves another person. Although there is no conclusive evidence now, according to what my nephew said in Luosuozhou Daofu, there is another person who committed adultery with Gu Ying, and it is Li Minghuang of Tiangangtang. It is probably because my nephew discovered this matter that they took the initiative to frame him."
Li Tianlan's face was dark blue.