【1109】说客

阴风轻旋，吹进主楼。
楼内草木，随风摇摆了起来。
“茯苓，这个项目现在还在保密阶段，虽然你父王临行前，交代你来做监工，但是除了相关人员和你，还有吾丘沅外，对其他鬼都不要透露。”。
看着把果子，吃得津津有味的女儿，压低声音，再次交代叮嘱道：“连陆吾也不要让他知道。”。
萧茯苓知道的，九幽国不分军民的保密项目多了，不能涉及其中的诸鬼，自然不知道这些项目。但自己母亲忽然提到陆吾，这里面说不定有事。
Xiao Fuling was exceptionally clever. She stopped chewing and turned her eyes, lowering her voice as she asked, "Does my father no longer trust Uncle Lu either?"
The specific details, Xiao Fuling wasn't very clear about. However, she felt that her parents no longer fully trusted Lu Wu.
“这些事你别瞎猜。”鬼母也没有承认，更没有否认，含糊其辞的，打断了女儿的胡思乱想。
“毕竟，陆吾不负责这个项目，而且这个项目现阶段是绝对保密的。”知道那三言两语，也糊弄不了女儿，鬼母又补充了一句：“知道的人越多，越容易泄密，你又不是不知道。”。
Xiao Fuling heard the words, and didn't say anything more.
不过她心里的猜想，还是没有消失，只是既然母亲刻意叮嘱了，她也知道此事事关重大，不再提及而已。
He nodded in agreement with the ghost mother.
她把果核，扔到了一旁的渣斗里，拿起了辰若递来的手帕，擦了擦手后，也拿起了桌上堆积起来的奏本，看了起来。
她现在责任是和鬼母一起监国，看奏报和批阅，都是她该做的日常工作。
The main building of Juexiang Garden fell silent once again.
Together, the Ghost Empress and her daughter continued to review and examine the memorials on the table.
And the ghost mother picked up the stone Decaisnea again, frowned and carefully read the memorials that had just been presented.
上面详细记载了南方几个地方军官，胡作非为的数条罪状和证据，还有一部分口供。这些地方军官除了欺男霸女，为非作歹，甚至擅改当地司法衙门判决的死刑之外，还违抗九幽国不得买卖，豢养奴隶的律法，私下圈养瘦马寻欢作乐！
In addition to this memorial, Shi Jueming also brought back a large amount of testimony and physical evidence.
All of them confirm the events reported in the memorial, proving that they are not fabrications or false accusations.
而鬼母早已从玄教那边得知，这几个地方军官，正是陆吾暗中一手提拔起来的！他们甚至每年都会把一些强取的财富，悄然送入都城玉阙，交给陆吾。
After reading the music scores in her hand for a long time, Guimu closed the book without making any annotations. She calmly asked Chenruo beside her, "How is Xing's condition?"
"Lord Xia Xing is still recuperating at home. The ghost doctors say that he has improved somewhat. However, he currently doesn't have the energy to worry about matters concerning the lord and the queen mother." When discussing Xia Xing's illness, Chen Ruo furrowed her brows and revealed a concerned expression.
"Fuling, go to the ghost doctor and get some high-quality supplements. Also, pay a visit to Xia Mansion and console Xia Xing for me," said the Ghost Mother, relaxing her frown, speaking to her daughter across from her.
“好。”萧茯苓应着放下手中奏本，站起身来转身就走。
她才离开，鬼母双眼不再目光柔和，变得阴寒。
“叫雷云。”鬼母话从口出，双手捏紧了手中那本合上的奏本，眼中已经浮现了难以抑制的怒火。
她要大开杀戒，已经决定了，对这些为非作歹的军官，决不姑息。
鬼母叫辰若，传雷云的时候，萧石竹在自己的海鹘上，也没有闲着。
大多数奏本虽然送往了玉阙城，送抵了各部各司衙门，但还有不少的密报，是直接送抵萧石竹手上的。
当然，萧石竹现在还不知道，玉阙城那边石决明上书。
送到他这里的，多是六天洲的情报。好多都是关于北阴朝，新启用的上清童子的。
从奏报中的只言片语，萧石竹就不难看出，这个上清童子不是个善茬。他有种预感，这个北阴朝启用的鬼，会成为他一生中，最难对付的敌人之一。
很显然，这个如今素未谋面的对手，不是萧石竹以往遇到的，靠着大量压倒性的兵力，对他发动猛攻的无脑对手。
这个上清童子才到抱犊关，就做了几个惊为天人的大改革，不给北阴朝任何面子的，颠覆了大量北阴朝的传统。
On the surface, it seems to only benefit the Kingdom of Beiyin, but in fact, it also restrains the Kingdom of Jiuyou.
Firstly, he made significant efforts in coastal defense. The farmland and granaries were relocated to a place far from the coastline, ensuring that even if the two countries went to war, they would not be vulnerable to surprise attacks and supply disruptions from Jiuyou.
其次，他在海岸线上，大兴土木，以符篆组成的结界，所加强碉楼炮楼，林立海滩后的山丘山风之上，借助地势，形成了一道道牢固的防线。
From the coastline, extending over a hundred miles to the north, there is a massive defensive line.
At the same time, each defensive line is connected and able to support each other at any time. In addition, storage rooms for food, ammunition, bows, and arrows have been built underground in the gun towers, enabling each small gun tower to become a hindrance to the enemy.
It can gradually wear down the enemy's forces by consumption.
It also expands the fortifications at the harbor, equipping a large number of ghost cannons, various types of bedded crossbows, and weapons capable of projecting projectiles.
It is completely copied from Jiuyougu, the Shaoyue Island defense line designated by Xiaoshi Zhiquin, but it is also very effective.
There are also intelligence reports claiming that Shangqing Tongzi is expanding the air cavalry on the entire defense line, as well as the Guanyue Cha, and starting to prepare for joint operations between the infantry and the air units under his command. At the same time, they plan to train different units to achieve a high level of coordination for orderly advances and retreats. Please note that the use of "
不仅如此，在萧石竹得到的情报中，还可以知道，上清童子正在上书酆都，争取让北阴朝的鬼兵火器配备率，在三年内超过五成，五年内达到七成。
Isn't this similar to the military strategy used by the Nine Ghost Countries, abandoning traditional weapons?
虽然是敌人，但萧石竹也有点钦佩这个上清童子。对方在找不到妙计的同时，像自己的敌人虚心学习的这点，就足以让萧石竹心痒痒，恨不得把这上清童子，收归己用。
Therefore, oftentimes he would silently lament in his heart: although he gathered talents from all corners of the world, he was absent of the exceptional talents from Shangqing.
Xiao Shizhu, after finishing reading the stack of memorial books beside him, leaned back against the back of the chair, closed his eyes, and remained silent.
一旁候着的青岚，给他倒了杯水。
"Has Wu Xiaohui already changed boats and gone ahead? He seems to really like eating Nanhua Jade Fruits. Did you bring some for him?" Just as Qinglan set down the water pitcher, Xiao Shibam suddenly asked.
"Yes, we brought them." Qing Lan nodded and replied, "All the Southern Jiang jade fruits on our ship have been taken by General Wu. They were all freshly harvested this year, with a bright green color, plump and large, and sweet and juicy. They are excellent."
"Okay, if he has any updates, let me know as soon as possible," Xiao Shizhu said, then opened his eyes and glanced at the other documents on the table without sitting up straight.
Qinglan saw the situation and asked, "Is the lord tired?"
萧石竹没有作答，只是转头看了一眼不远处，挂着的披风。
青岚立马会意，去取了过来，萧石竹也正好起身，接过披在了身上后，道：“走，我们去甲板上透透气。”。
Carrying the Moon Extinguishing Sword, he walked towards the inside and outside of the cabin.
Today, the sea egret sailed to the northeast of Danshui County, and it had almost reached the location near the Guixu Trench. It wouldn't be long before Xiao Shizhu's sea egret would reach the trench between the Xuan Yan Continent and the Yun Meng Continent.
However, on this stretch of river, the waves were as tumultuous as ever, rising high and crashing fiercely, causing the ship to sway from side to side.
While it didn't capsize, the passageway leading to the outer deck was filled with swaying pearl lamps hanging a few feet from the ceiling, casting flickering shadows as they swung back and forth.
青岚跟着萧石竹，顺着这条长长的甬道，一路走向甲板，跟在他们身后的，是萧石竹才出门，就紧跟不落的黑猴。
萧石竹来到了甬道的尽头，顺着尽头的木板楼梯，一步步的走向前方的甲板。
才走到楼梯的尽头，一股锋利如刀的冷风，就朝着他迎面而来。
今日海鹘所在之处，头顶天空阴郁，乌云密布，难见一丝明媚。
虽然无雨无雪，但冷风确实凌厉。迎面而来的冷风，就吹得萧石竹一阵脸颊生疼。
不过他并未在意，在士兵和水手的行礼中，踏上了甲板，走到了甲板边缘，向南凭栏远眺。
The river surface of Dan Water near the seaside is not narrow.
这宽广的江面，让萧石竹看着对岸岸上，那些沿着江流修建的岸上冥道上，车马行人，都显得非常的小。只有冥道两旁，每隔一段就对立而竖的石像装饰，还显得大一些。
On the surface of the river, there are continuous waves that can easily rise up to a height of ten feet in the cold wind.
From time to time, you can also see several fish with long tails and measuring a few feet long, swimming through the gigantic waves. These fish, with their four limbs paddling, break through the oncoming water current with their horns on their heads, while their long tails sway from side to side, slicing through the water waves.
No matter how big the waves are, they are nothing in front of them.
偶尔萧石竹还能看到几艘商船，或是九幽国沿江巡逻的鬼差们，驾驶着的小型木船，从他所在的海鹘身边驶过。
However, Xiao Shizhu's seagull was not flying the royal flag; it was merely disguised as an imperial sent transport ship, hoisting a flag indicating the delivery of supplies as per orders. Therefore, it did not attract curiosity from other vessels.
Also worship the Netherworld, due to the backward communication, even if Xiao Shizhu is standing on the deck, it does not cause any sensation.
This did not disappoint or discourage Xiao Shizhu, but rather pleased him. He had intended to secretly travel to Dongying Island and did not wish to attract attention.
And now, his attention is fully on the river water.
波涛汹涌的江水，游弋其中的龙盘鱼，在他眼中会变得有趣，至少比全是文字的奏本要有趣得多，让他身心慢慢的放松。
Black Monkey and Qing Lan stood behind him, one on the left and one on the right, remaining silent.
After looking at the river for a long time, Xiao Shizhu also felt bored and began to walk around the deck casually. Translated content:
The sailors and soldiers on the deck ignored him and focused on their own tasks.
Only Black Monkey and Qinglan, constantly wandered around with Xiaoshi Zhu, appearing so idle.
萧石竹就这样从船头逛到了船尾，兜了一圈，又从船尾走向船头，一直是话都不说一句。
在此路过船楼时，林将军从中走了出来，拦住了萧石竹，小声的着急道：“主公，出事了！”。
神色倒是没有太慌张，但还是看得出来，有些着急。
这忽如其来，又有点莫名其妙的话，听得萧石竹一愣一懵，抬头看了看天，还是乌云密布，但是也没有塌下来，于是也不是很在意的，随口问了一句：“什么事？”。
林将军左右一看，这甲板上到处有水手在干活儿，也不是说话的地方，就把萧石竹带到了船舱里去。
进了船舱，又回到了萧石竹的舱室，才进门，林将军就袖中掏出一张卷起的小纸条，递给了萧石竹，同时在青岚关上长门，把黑猴挡在了外面的同时，急声说到：“北阴朝动了。”。
萧石竹狐疑下，展开纸条一看。纸条上没有用密语，也就几个被拆散了的词语：“高、动身、话说，身份。”。
萧石竹一看，认得这笔迹来自于九幽国，安插在北阴朝鬼探。
虽然萧石竹不认识这鬼，也不知道他在六天洲什么地方，但这个笔迹，他至少见过十次，一眼就认了出来。
而对方这份简单到似乎读不懂的情报，萧石竹也是一看之下，就一目了然了。
他看得出来，对方想要表达的是，北阴朝出动了说客，已经启程，目标是说服巨人鬼；密报里的‘高’字，代表的就是巨人鬼，而‘话说’就是代表了说客。但是鬼探也不知道，这个北阴朝的说客，会以什么样的身份，接近巨人鬼。
This is a kind of secret language used in the Nine Ghost Nation to transmit information, where there is a hidden meaning within the visible words. Besides Xiao Shizhu and Gui Mu, only General Lin Cong can understand it.
At this moment, General Lin, who is following Xiao Shizhu, did not understand the secret message he just received. He thought to himself, "Could it be that the identity of our ghost spies from the Nine Ghost Nation has been exposed?" Anxiously, he said, "Lord, I hope our undercover agents are not in danger!"
【渣斗——渣斗，古代垃圾桶。在明代以前多为瓷制，明清时期，材质日渐多样，出现了银器、漆器、玻璃器等。】