The carriage slowly drove into the city gate of Changliu County. In addition to the soldiers guarding the city, the streets were empty and there were flying locusts everywhere in the sky. Some fell on the ground, and some fell on the surrounding buildings. When the carriage passed, a piece of locusts was startled.

Fu Tian lifted a little car curtain and looked at the desolate streets through the gap. Outside Changliu County, the large area of ​​farmland they passed by was more severe than in the city. Although it did not cover the sky and the sun, swarms of locusts flew, and the carriages passing by did not even dare to open the curtains.

The situation in the city is better than outside the city. It may be that there are few plants that can be eaten, and only a small part is trapped in it. The coachman with a hat to block his head and face and drove the carriage to the Fu family rice shop slowly.

The coachman got out of the car and held the door. A moment later, a man wearing a hat came over with his sleeves to open the door.

He looked a little alert, "Who?"

"It's the boss here." The coachman pointed to the carriage behind him, and Fu Tian lifted the curtain and showed his face.

The one who opened the door was Manager Wang of the rice shop. He had met Fu Tian before. When he saw someone, he hurriedly opened the side door beside the rice shop and welcomed the carriage in.

The carriage drove into the yard, and Fu Tian and the other two got off.

The yard should have been covered with flowers, plants and trees, but now it is bare and not even leaves.

Manager Wang took five hats and handed them to them, saying, "Take them with you first. These locusts are not afraid of people and are prone to collisions."

Fu Tian took the hat and brought it with him, and asked about the situation in Changliu County.

"Why are there so many locusts here? Even in the city, do local officials care?"

Logically speaking, even if it is a locust plague, if local officials can deal with disaster relief in a timely manner, it will not be so serious. They usually have to cover their heads and faces even when they go out.

"Why don't you care!" The manager was angry and anxious when talking about this. "Originally, the county magistrate arranged a constable to catch locusts, but how could they catch them all? The adults originally posted an announcement and called on the people to catch locusts together, but some people believed the slander of the demon monk, saying that this was a punishment from heaven..."

Speaking of this, the manager's voice became significantly lower. He looked around and lowered his voice and continued: "To say that this heavenly punishment must be claimed by the Lord to the Heavenly Prison in order to calm down..."

After he said that, he looked a little weak, looked at the other people following him, and explained: "I don't believe in these things. After the priest ascended the throne, how could there be a punishment for the country and the people... But these people were all bewitched by the demon monks, and I believe it without doubt."

Even because of this, they became hostile to the county magistrate's office. As their number gradually increased, people often poured filth at the gate of the county magistrate's office at night. The local county magistrate was kind and pity for them to be deceived by the demon monks. They ordered the county magistrate's office to go out less, try to avoid conflicts, and wait for people coming to Qingyang to support them.

That's why the management of this locust plague has been delayed.

At this time, Qin Li, who had not spoken, said, "If you want to find an opportunity to meet the county magistrate first."

Fu Tian nodded, "Where are those monks?"

"In the east of the city, there were many victims gathered there. They would preach in the east of the city and give alms and rice."

"Then we can go and have a look." Wei Yang's expression was not very good-looking, "I will meet these 'high monks'."

The manager was a little hesitant when he heard this, "There are many believers in these demon monks and it seems that they have established a 'Pudu Temple'. It's better not to take risks for you."

Fu Tian shook his head and stopped him, "You find someone to lead us, we change our clothes and go over and take a look."

It's still early now, and the carriage enters the city, and no one will notice it.

Since you can't hide your whereabouts, you might as well pretend to be a believer and go to meet them for a while.

Seeing that they could not stop them, the manager could only call the waiter in the rice shop tremblingly and prepare a more ordinary robe for the three of them. After packing up, they pretended to be ordinary businessmen, and then swaggered towards the east of the city.

As the manager said, there were indeed many victims gathered in the east of the city. Some came from other places and hid in the east of the city to take refuge without a home, while others were local people who were affected by the disaster and lost their entire family to survive for the survival of rice and grain.

After the locust plague broke out, the rice prices in Changliu County soared to the point where ordinary people could not afford it. The people who had no grain storage in their homes could only sell their only house for silver and money. But at this time, the house was not valuable, and the money sold could only be exchanged for a little rice and food. Carefully, they saved for a while, and it was over.

In the end, he could only wander to the east of the city.

Fu Tian looked at the victims sitting against the wall. The expressions on their faces were numb and desperate. When they saw Fu Tian and the other two, their eyes moved and they quickly moved away in disappointment.

When Fu Tian and the others passed by, they happened to be preaching in the evening. As the three of them walked, a commotion suddenly came from all around them. The victims who were originally numb and suddenly became excited, their eyes burst out with brilliance, and gathered in the same direction.

The three of them followed them and saw the victims gathering in front of a house. The house was slightly dilapidated, but the plaque on the door was new, with the three big words "Pudu Temple" written on it.

This was originally an ordinary house, but was changed to an inappropriate temple by monks. In addition, the victims who knelt down in front of the door seemed funny and ironic.

The door of the house opened, and two monks in gray monk's uniforms bowed together, "I would like to invite Master Pudu."

The victim clasped his hands together and recited in unison, "Please invite Master Pudu."

Master Pudu then slowly appeared from behind the door.

He was wearing a red and yellow cassock, twisting a string of Buddhist beads in his left hand, and his eyes were kind, but he did look like a monk.

If Fu Tian and the others had either learned about the rumors in advance or they were leaking from here, they would probably have believed it.

After Master Pudu came out, his eyes fell on them, then he nodded with a smile, then sat cross-legged and began to preach.

These fake monks pretended to be quite similar, but unfortunately they were exposed as soon as they opened their mouths.

What Master Pudu calls preaching is not about explaining the scriptures, but also repeatedly says: "God has the virtue of being a good person", "I will not punish the people", "I have the right to be injustice and have the right to be in debt", etc.

Fu Tian summarized it, and the general meaning was that this was God’s punishment for the emperor’s injustice, and the people were innocent, so he prayed that God would not vent his anger.

The three of them were both ridiculous, but the victims seemed to believe it very much. They knelt on the ground, clasped their hands together and listened piously, as if they could really get rid of the disaster.

Waiting patiently for the end of the lecture, these victims seemed to have accomplished something extremely important, and even their despaired expression turned a few points.

Master Pudu did not go back, but slowly walked towards the three of them, "Amitabha, are the three donors here to listen to me to preach?"

Wei Yang smiled and spoke first, "We heard that there was a Master Pudu who saved all living beings in Changliu County, so we rushed over to take a look."

Master Pudu smiled, but his eyes flashed and hesitated, "What do you think after seeing it?"

"It is better to see it at first sight than to hear it. Master Pudu is well-known." Fu Tian continued without changing his expression.

Sure enough, Master Pudu's expression looked much better, "The donor was too much, I just wanted to do something for these victims within my ability."

Wei Yang pretended to be surprised, "The three of us came here to do something for the victims of Changliu County, but it coincided with the master."

"Yes," Fu Tian continued: "The three of us also believe in Buddhism on weekdays. I heard that the master is here, so I want to do my best."

Master Pudu was a little fluttered by their singing and singing, and the smile on his face could not be suppressed, "I wonder how the donor wants to help the victims?"

Fu Tian hesitated, "We are all ordinary people. We originally prepared a sum of money to donate to the victims..."

Master Pudu smiled even louder, but he continued: "But after listening to the master's lecture, he felt that what these victims needed most was not money, and helped them get out of the shadow of natural disasters and regain hope."

Master Pudu's face froze for a moment, "This is true, but these victims are even having enough food..."

Wei Yang said in surprise: "Don't the master give alms and rice every day?"

Master Pudu's smile faded and secretly wanted a reason to swear to them.

From the beginning, in order to deceive believers, they gave alms, but later they rarely gave alms. They claimed that the food in Pudu Temple was also exhausted, and even the master's food and clothing became a problem.

Only in this way can many believers be deceived into donating money for indulgence and oil.

Now facing three foreigners, they look like rich people in their clothes. He is reluctant to part with the three fat sheep, so he sighs hypocritically: "It's shameful that the food in the temple has been exhausted and has not been given porridge for a long time."

He originally thought that the three of them should donate some indulgence and oil money naturally, but Fu Tian sighed and said, "It is not easy for the master to be under natural disasters. It is better for us brothers and three to donate porridge on our behalf in the future."

Fu Tian said sincerely and worriedly, and immediately choked Master Pudu's words.

He paused and said, "I thank you for your kindness on behalf of the victims."

Fu Tian waved his hand with a smile and said it was OK. He then dealt with him for a while before leaving on the grounds that it was getting late and he would come to listen to the master's lecture tomorrow.

Back at Mipu, Wei Yang asked, "What do you think?"

Fu Tian said: "It seems they are for money."

Qin Li also agreed, "The rumors should have been spread from here, but somehow they passed on the same thing and became the version they heard later."

Wei Yang said: "Although these fake monks only seek wealth, they have indeed gathered many loyal believers now. Have you seen the eyes of those victims?"

The two nodded. The victims only had a hint of fanaticism when they listened to the lecture. If they rashly exposed the identity of these fake monks, it might be counterproductive. The victims not only did not believe it, but instead believed it was persecuted by the government.

Wei Yang said: "Now is much better than the worst situation we guess, and it is much easier to do just by spending money." What they fear most is that someone is planning to conquer the people by using natural disasters.

"Then we'll go tomorrow?"

Fu Tian said: "Since you said you would give alms and rice on your behalf, it would be unreasonable if you didn't go tomorrow. And this is also a good opportunity to take the opportunity to get close to the victims."

Wei Yang had the same idea as he thought, and the two hit it off. Wei Yang turned his head and asked Qin officials, "What do you think?"

Qin Li nodded, "It's feasible."

So Fu Tian called the manager over again and asked him to prepare the rice and grain he would use tomorrow.
Chapter completed!