Chronicles of Celestial Origins

Du Yuankai asked: "Could it be that the sect has objections to our application for the spirit stone subsidy this time?"

Lu Xingxian said: "It's not aimed at you. Some people in the sect feel that our intelligence department's funding is too high and want to reduce our funding."

"But this has always been the case before, and we have not increased funding."

"Today is different from the past. Now that the sect has lost its western land, tax revenue has been greatly reduced, and the finances are tight. The subsidy for spirit stones has begun to shrink. It is becoming more and more difficult to imagine how to obtain spirit stone subsidies at will like before. . Your spiritual stone subsidy can be approved this time, but it may not be approved next time. Only when the sect’s senior officials see the results, will they approve it.”

After hearing his words, Tang Ning remained calm on her face, but she was thinking deeply in her heart.

There is no doubt that Lu Xingxian said this mainly for himself, and the meaning was obvious. If he could not make some achievements in the Zhu family's affairs, forget about the next spiritual stone subsidy.

As for what he said about financial constraints, funding cuts, etc., these are objective facts and also an excuse to block himself.

When Qin Gang proposed reducing ministry expenditures, he opposed it in every possible way. For this reason, he transferred himself out of the sect. Now he is talking about financial constraints, which is simply ridiculous.

Furthermore, even if the expenses were reduced, they would not be able to reduce their own expenses. The funds for the intelligence station were allocated by the sect, while the funds for the ministry were allocated by the Secret Academy. These were completely different things.

Moreover, when Du Yuankai was in charge, the Lingshi subsidy was still allocated, but it began to be reduced as soon as he took office. What a coincidence!

In the final analysis, it was because Du Yuankai was his confidant, but he was an "outsider", so he deliberately made things difficult, or he was unwilling to fight for himself.

The three of them chatted for a long time. Du Yuankai stood up and said, "Senior Brother Lu, the intelligence station still has some matters to deal with, so I won't bother you anymore. I'll take my leave later."

Lu Xingxian nodded: "You should pay close attention to what I just said, especially Junior Brother Tang. You will take over the position of director immediately. You will be burdened with heavy responsibilities and have a long way to go!"

"I sincerely follow Senior Brother Lu's teachings."

The two of them left Lu Xingxian Cave, and Tang Ning asked suspiciously: "Senior Brother Du, didn't you say that after receiving the spirit stone subsidy, you would provide 20% of the spirit stones and the deacons of the four departments of the sect? Why didn't you hand over the spirit stones? With Senior Brother Lu?”

Du Yuankai smiled and said: "How can we hand it over to them in person? There are so many intelligence stations under our department, and each of them can apply for subsidies. Senior Brother Lu is not allowed to visit each one? What if it is the Payroll Department and Palm Print Department of Yuan Yidian?"

"Every department in the entire sect has to go through them if they want to apply for spiritual stone subsidies. Everyone is looking for Senior Brother Jiang and Senior Brother Sun. How can they be so busy? They don't have to do anything all day long. They just meet the sect disciples and collect offerings. Come on."

Tangning nodded and said, "Then through what channel should I hand it over to Senior Brother Lu?"

"Come with me! You will know when you go."

Not long after they walked, they came to a cave in Shanting Peak.

Du Yuankai waved his hand and the talisman passed into the thick fog. Soon, a ray of light shot out from the cave and stopped in front of the two of them. A man with a fair face and a slender figure appeared. He was Lu Xingxian's disciple Ma Yi. .

Now he has successfully built the foundation and entered the realm of foundation building. He was originally a disciple of the Secret Security Department, so he built a cave on this mountain peak.

"Senior Brother Du, Senior Brother Tang, it's been a long time." Ma Yi said.

Du Yuankai flipped his right hand, took out the storage bag that had been prepared, handed it to him and said: "This time the two of us returned to the mountain gate to receive the spiritual stone subsidy allocated by the sect. This is our thank you gift to Senior Brother Lu. Never refuse.”

Ma Yi took the storage bag and said, "I would like to thank my two senior brothers on behalf of my master."

"Then we won't disturb junior brother's practice and we'll take our leave."

After that, Du Yuankai took Tang Ning to "visit" various places and met Tao Jianxing of the Secret Academy, Jiang Zhongzhu of the Payroll Department, and Sun Qian of the Palm Print Department. And deliver the offerings one by one to their "clients".

The next day, the two left the sect and returned to the intelligence station.

"Junior brother Tang, I'm about to step down. Let's divide the sect's spiritual stone subsidy this time between the two of us! Except for Fellow Daoist Zheng and Fellow Daoist Xu, I will take 10,000 spiritual stones, and the rest will be yours." In the room, Du Yuankai dug out the The storage bag is ready to take out the spirit stones.

"Senior Brother Du will still be the director of this website as long as he does not step down for a day. Moreover, the successful application for the Dao Lingshi subsidy this time is all because of your hard work and meritorious service for many years. The sect only approved it in recognition of your merits. How dare Mr. Tang be greedy for God's merit? I don’t dare to hope for this spiritual stone, I hope Senior Brother Du won’t say anything more.”

"Okay then! It's better to be respectful than to obey."

"A few days ago, Senior Brother Lu seemed to be dissatisfied with the work of our intelligence station!"

Du Yuankai was stunned for a moment and smiled: "Senior Brother Lu, as the deacon of the Intelligence Department, has to face the pressure of the sect, and he always has more to consider than you and me. In addition, the sect's financial constraints have led to a reduction in departmental funds, and he is eager to do something. The results are handed over to the sect, so I have high hopes for you."

Tang Ning said: "But making progress on the Zhu family issue will not happen overnight. If you act too hastily, you will get twice the result with half the effort. If you don't make some achievements to help the sect, I may not be able to pass the application for the spirit stone subsidy next time."

"I've just arrived here, and I'm not very familiar with many matters, let alone something as difficult as inciting the children of the Zhu family to rebel. Senior Brother Du is foresighted and experienced. Please give me a way to deal with the sect's conflicts. At least I can. Guarantee the funds for the next spiritual stone subsidy. Otherwise, if the funds are cut off as soon as I take office, how can I carry out the work of the intelligence station? "

Du Yuankai was silent for a while: "This matter really shouldn't be pushed too far. We should consider it in the long term. As for how to report to the sect, I have a way that I might try."

"Please teach me Senior Brother Du."

Du Yuankai said: "Under the current circumstances, you have two options. First, spend more time on Ding Jianyang and try your best to transfer him back to the Zhu family. This can be considered a progress."

"Second! To develop a new insider, start from the relatives of the Zhu family. It doesn't have to be high-status, as long as they can serve the sect. After you finish doing this, I will give you Senior Brother Zailu Speak good words there and ask him to come forward and fight for it.”

"The sect and the department also know your difficulties. I think next time you will not have a big problem with the spirit stone subsidy. As for the future, it depends on you. As Brother Lu said, the sect is no longer what it used to be. For The financial sector has begun to shrink, and there is nothing I can do even if I continue to hold this position.”

"Then thank you Senior Brother Du." What Tang Ning wanted was what he said. The financial cuts and the pressure on the sect were just excuses for Lu Xingxian. In the final analysis, they were nothing more than his means of making things difficult. The two of them knew it.

As long as Du Yuankai is willing to help speak up, I believe Lu Xingxian will still give him face.

Although I was not Lu Xingxian's confidant, I disobeyed him and went against him on Qin Gang's proposal to reduce the ministry's finances. But the culprit is Qin Gang, and he is at best a pawn who goes along with the situation. Lu Xingxian must understand this, and this is why he makes things difficult for him.

"Some trivial things are not worth mentioning." Du Yuankai waved his hand.

……………………

The steps with carved railings and jade, the glazed golden tiles, and the patter of raindrops constantly hit the armor of the passing soldiers, making a subtle and crisp collision sound.

Groups of guards holding halberds and armor passed by with uniform steps and solemn expressions. This was the East Palace of the Chu Kingdom in Bianjing.

A man with a lion's nose and a wide mouth quietly slipped into the palace, lurked behind a group of guards and followed them forward.

Each of the two guards carried a bag and hurried forward in the rain. With hurried steps, they passed through several palace gates and arrived in front of a courtyard.

"Why are you here? The prince is already sick and can't control himself anymore. Hurry, hurry, carry him in quickly." A man with a white face and a sharp voice said in the courtyard.

The leading guard replied: "Now the news has spread in Bianjing City, and everyone is in danger. We broke down and captured these few, and it took a little time to deal with the funeral."

"Stop talking so much, hurry up and send it in quickly."

The man hid in a dark corner of the courtyard, listened to their words, and had a general understanding of the whole incident. It turned out that the culprit was the prince of Chu, but what was the purpose of arresting these people?

In recent years, some boys and girls have been missing for no reason in Bianjing City. At first, no one paid attention to them, thinking that they were lost or trafficked. As more and more boys and girls disappeared, things became more complicated and confusing. , becomes weird.

Every year in the middle of the month, at the time of the full moon, boys and girls will disappear in Bianjing City. Rumor has it that it is monsters that absorb the yang energy of boys and girls.

Today, the number of missing children every month is increasing, sometimes as many as ten families.

Everyone inside and outside Bianjing was frightened, and every household closed its doors and no longer went out.

The man's real name is Xie Zhuang. He is an intelligence officer recruited by the Silver Fox Intelligence Station and is stationed in Bianjing. He launched an investigation into this matter a few months ago.

After a month of investigation, he found out that the mastermind behind the robbery of the children was the guards of the Prince's Palace in the East Palace. Tonight, these guards went out to "prey" again.

He followed these people all the way to the outskirts and saw them robbing families, robbing children, and killing entire families.

Naturally, he didn't care about the lives of these ordinary people. The key was to figure out the culprit and his motives. He suspected that the robbery of these children was related to the practice of some evil method, and perhaps it was inseparable from the Demon Sect.

Deep roars could be heard in the room. The roars were heart-stopping, like a wild beast about to go berserk at any time.

"His Royal Highness, we have been arrested," the leading eunuch said.

"Roar." A loud roar came from inside the room, sounding like excitement and pain, mixed with extremely depressed emotions.

"Quick, quick, throw it in."

The guards put the sacks into the room through the window, only to hear a loud "bang" sound, and they didn't know what happened in the room.

The guards and eunuchs exited the courtyard one after another.

Xie Zhuang quietly came to the corner of the room and looked up from the crack in the window. In an instant, he was almost scared out of his mind and screamed.