Chapter 3: Guizang Lantern

S The hall where business is discussed is very large. The place where Qi Xuansu sits and rests against the wall is quite far away from the long table where business is discussed. It is not big enough to accommodate numerous firearm samples, ship models and a Kunqu opera troupe - this is of course the masterpiece of Xie Jiaofeng, who is used to doing these things. There are firearms on one side and musical instruments on the other, so he can do it. But I have to admit, the effect is pretty good.

At this moment, Chen Shuwen and the Western representatives stood up and walked towards Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu also stood up. Without Qi Xuansu's instructions, Chen Jianchou stopped reporting on Zhang Yuelu.

"This time they asked for a total of eight armored ships worth more than 300,000 yuan, as well as four troop ships and six cargo ships." Chen Shuwen said with a smile on his face, "This is a total of nine hundred and ten thousand" Ten thousand Taiping money!”

They are all units of weight, and thirty kilograms is equal to one. The so-called heavy burden.

Westerners are not Nanyang people. Of course they have the technology to build ironclads, but it takes time to build ironclads. Now that the war is urgent, there is no time to slowly build ironclads to fill the vacancies. Even if they can be built, they can sail from their homeland to West Borneo. It also takes time.

The military situation was raging and the war situation waited for no one, so they had no choice but to buy ironclad ships from Daomen nearby. Daomen happened to have some second-hand ironclad ships, so they refurbished them and sold them directly to Westerners at the price of new ships. It was like Daomen completed the fleet renewal without spending a penny, which was a huge advantage.

Xie Jiaofeng also smiled, showing his excitement.

With this deal done, most of this year's tasks have been completed. Not only is Chief Qi's trip to Yujing settled, but his promotion to the second-grade Taiyi Taoist priest is also on the horizon.

In the end, it all depends on performance, and this is performance.

For Qi Xuansu to reach his current position, it is inevitable to be calm in the face of important events. Whether he heard the bad news about Chen Jianchou before or the good news about Chen Shuwen now, Qi Xuansu didn't have much expression on his face. Calm.

He nodded slightly: "Very good, let's have someone draft the contract. Send a few representatives to the Taiping Inn to rest first. Once the contract is ready, the contract will be signed immediately."

Xie Jiaofeng immediately smiled at the Western representatives and said: "The business is over, you might as well relax for a while. The Lion City is a good place, and this team was specially invited from Lingnan. Let's listen to music and watch the theater. Anyway, let's fight It can’t be finished in one day. By the way, there will be a dinner later. According to your standards, there will be a seven-course meal, as well as three types of wine and brandy.”

Several Westerners also had smiles on their faces.

Xie Jiaofeng clapped his hands.

Immediately, several Taoist priests came over and led the Western representatives out.

Qi Xuansu said: "After the appointment letter is ready, give it to Yu Zheng and bring it to me. After I see that there are no problems, I can use the seal."

Chen Shuwen nodded and immediately arranged for someone to draft the contract based on the specific conditions just discussed.

Qi Xuansu said to Xie Jiaofeng again: "I will not attend the dinner. You can entertain the guests for me."

"Yes." Xie Jiaofeng responded quickly.

In ancient times, there was an allusion of "roosters crowing and dogs stealing", which shows that everyone has his place. Although Xie Jiaofeng did not dare to take responsibility and was very naughty, he was very useful in terms of welcoming people and sending them off.

Qi Xuansu walked out, followed by Chen Jianchou and Han Yongfeng.

"The master in charge has repeatedly emphasized in the discussion that we should pay attention to distinguishing and screening suspicious elements among the refugees. In this regard, your Beichen Hall branch has a heavy responsibility. Don't be careless." Qi Xuansu said.

Han Yongfeng responded: "Yes."

Qi Xuansu finally asked: "As for Zhang Cixi coming to Borneo, have you contacted Ke Qingqing?"

"The docking is complete." Chen Jianchou replied, "Zhang Cixi's flying boat has already set off from Lingnan."

Qi Xuansu nodded: "You and Xiao Yin will greet you on my behalf."

Chen Jianchou also followed the order and left.

In the evening, Zhang Yuelu arrived.

Zhang Yuelu came to Borneo this time, of course, not to visit Qi Xuansu. The two of them had special status and could not visit each other like normal Taoist couples, so Zhang Yuelu came here with a special purpose.

Xiao Yin and Chen Jianchou came to greet Zhang Yuelu.

Xiao Yin was not happy to come. She originally wanted to escape from Lion City and go back to Shenglong Mansion. After all, Zhang Yuelu would check her homework when she came. However, Qi Xuansu told Xiao Yin that evading the inspection would directly result in failure, and she could not pass the exam. He couldn't hide from Fifteen, so Xiao Yin had no choice but to come obediently.

However, Zhang Yuelu really didn't bother to check Xiao Yin's homework this time. Not long ago, she went back to the Da Zhenren Mansion in Yunjin Mountain and met the Celestial Master. This meeting with the Heavenly Master was the result of discussions between Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu, and they asked the Heavenly Master for help. The Heavenly Master did not disappoint the two of them, and gave Zhang Yuelu something to pass to Qi Xuansu.

This is the fundamental purpose of Zhang Yuelu's visit this time.

Chen Jianchou arranged for Zhang Yuelu to go to Tianfu Palace. Qi Xuansu was at the Nanting Protectorate at this time, discussing the handover of the armored ship. Hu Fuli from Taiping Bank Nanyang was also here, and the account was to be taken from them.

By the time Chen Shuwen had drafted the contract and Qi Xuansu had read it and found no problems, it was already very late to sign and seal it on behalf of the Borneo Taoist Government.

Qi Xuansu did not go to the dinner, but went directly back to Tianfu Palace and met Zhang Yuelu.

The last time the two met was a year ago, and they usually communicate through business.

Zhang Yuelu was still the same, taking off his lotus crown and letting his hair hang loose, looking very casual in front of Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu dismissed the others, including Xiao Yin, and only two people were left. He then activated various isolation formations and asked, "What did the Heavenly Master say?"

Zhang Yuelu said, "The Heavenly Master neither agrees nor opposes. If you insist on going, he can provide help."

"So, is this done?" Qi Xuansu's face finally showed some joy.

Zhang Yuelu nodded: "The Heavenly Master asked me to hand this thing over to you."

After that, Zhang Yuelu took out an object from the Xumi object and placed it in front of Qi Xuansu.

This is a lamp.

The lamp is made of glass and is crystal clear. The light is as small as a bean, but it presents seven colors of light, and the colors change gradually and cyclically.

Although Qi Xuansu saw this lamp for the first time, he had seen two other similar lamps before, so he immediately guessed the origin of this lamp: "Is this...'Gui Zang Lamp'?"

Zhang Yuelu nodded and said, "That's right."

The Taoist sect has three lamps: "Bajing Lamp", "Gui Zang Lamp", and "Tongyou Lamp". All three lamps are immortal objects, each with its own magical uses.

In the hands of the Great Master Lan, the "Tongyou Lantern" is pitch black and extremely dark. It can temporarily summon the projections of the dead from the netherworld, including those fallen immortals. The higher the realm of the person holding the lantern, the longer the projection can exist. Therefore, this lantern is called the "ground lantern" for the corresponding ground.

In the hands of the Great Master Zhang, the "Eight Scenes Lantern" looks like an ordinary palace lantern on the surface, with a total of eight sides and tassels on the eight corners. A little purple fire in the palace lantern can illuminate the land of a palace, and can also illuminate the eight lamp faces. There is a vague figure on each lamp face, moving with the light and shadow, lifelike. The "Eight Scenes Lantern" can record eight kinds of immortal magical powers other than the person holding the lantern, borrowing the power of the crowd and others, so this lantern is called the "human lantern" for the corresponding person.

These two great immortals are both Pingzhang Great Immortals, and they are also Zhangfu Great Immortals, sitting in one place.

Only the "Gui Zang Lantern", which is called the "Sky Lantern", is not in the hands of the Great Master Pingzhang, nor in the hands of the Great Master Zhangfu, but in the hands of the Heavenly Master, one of the three masters. Because the "Gui Zang Lantern" cannot be used to fight with others, and the Great Master Pingzhang, who is in charge of one side, has to take action personally, which is a bit inappropriate.

The "Gui Zang" in the "Gui Zang Lantern" comes from "Gui Zang", one of the "Three Yi". Taibu is in charge of the three Yi methods, one is Lianshan, the second is Gui Zang, and the third is Zhouyi. There are eight hexagrams in the classics, and sixty-four in the other. Therefore, the "Gui Zang Lantern" can illuminate the future.

Since ancient times, the will of heaven is difficult to ask, so this lamp corresponds to the sky and is called the "Sky Lantern".

Qi Xuansu first knew about the "Gui Zang Lantern" through Zhang Yuelu's mouth. It is said that the Heavenly Master glimpsed a corner of the future through this lamp, which was after the end of the law. The emperor's crown fell to the ground, and the king's dream was broken. One after another, the mountains and rivers were stained with blood. The sky collapsed and the earth cracked, and the world was rewritten.

Qi Xuansu couldn't help but ask: "Why did the Heavenly Master give me the 'Gui Zang Lantern'? I only know that the 'Gui Zang Lantern' can predict the future, but what I want to explore is the past. Does the 'Gui Zang Lantern' know the past 500 years and the future 500 years? If so, the Heavenly Master doesn't need to give me the 'Gui Zang Lantern', just tell me the result directly."

Zhang Yuelu didn't answer directly: "You should know that immortal objects are not the same. Some immortal objects have only one function, but they use this function to the extreme, such as the National Master's 'Knock on the Heaven's Gate', while some immortal objects are There are many functions. According to the Heavenly Master, the 'Gui Zang Lantern' belongs to the latter. Predicting the future is only one of its most well-known functions. "

Qi Xuansu became interested: "What else is it magical about?"

Zhang Yuelu said: "I have never used it, I can only repeat what the Heavenly Master said. You want to enter the Lingshan Cave Heaven, but you are worried that the interior of the Lingshan Cave Heaven is dangerous and unpredictable, and you may be trapped inside, or you may not be able to leave the cave heaven in a short time. To prevent this, you can use this 'Gui Zang Lantern' as an anchor. "

"Anchor?" Qi Xuansu repeated softly.

When a ship is moored, it must lower the anchor to stabilize the ship to prevent it from drifting with the current.

Zhang Yuelu explained: "The Heavenly Master said that using this 'Gui Zang Lamp' can, first, make one day in heaven equal one year on earth, so you don't have to worry about disappearing for too long and being noticed. Second, after the set time, the 'Gui Zang Lamp' can take effect and forcibly pull you back."

Qi Xuansu was a little shocked: "This is too powerful. With my current realm and cultivation, can I control this fairy object?"

"Of course not." Zhang Yuelu said, "But the Heavenly Master has helped you open the 'Gui Zang Lamp', you can use it directly, but you only have one chance."