Chapter 179 The Five Flag Bearers!
The two were quite far away at this time, and the people of the Five Elements Flag were busy training. Although they saw the two, they did not come over to ask questions.

Gongye Qian had already joined the Hongshui Banner and was a member of the Hongshui Banner.

As for Murong Fu, he first became famous through the Saint's nepotism, and then stepped on Yin Qi, the Left Protector of Guangming, to rise to the top. All the current hot searches on Guangmingding are related to him, so everyone in the Five Elements Flag naturally recognizes this "Saint Husband".

It’s just that they don’t like Murong Fu very much and just want to stay away from him.

"Among the five flag bearers, only Chen Huaiyun hates the Song Dynasty to the core and wants to destroy it as soon as possible." Gong Yeqian stopped and said to Murong Fu, "He is often annoyed because the Ming Cult is caught in internal strife and cannot destroy the Song Dynasty. Whoever can lead the rebellion and launch an attack on the Song Dynasty, he will unconditionally support that person."

Gong Ye Qian's words were actually a reminder to Murong Fu that Chen Huaiyun, the flag bearer of the Fiery Flag, was the most likely target to be won over.

Because Murong Fu's determination to destroy the Song Dynasty is unwavering, as long as Murong Fu makes the decision to destroy the Song Dynasty, Chen Huaiyun is the one most likely to support Murong Fu.

"Why does he hate the Song Dynasty so much?" Murong Fu asked curiously.

"Because his mother was the famous Ayun back then." Gong Yeqian said, "His original name was Chen You, but he later changed his name to Chen Huaiyun. Huaiyun means to commemorate his mother Ayun."

"Ayun?" Murong Fu asked in surprise, "Who is that?"

Gong Yeqian asked, "My Lord, have you not heard of the Dengzhou Ayun case that caused a sensation back then?"

Murong Fu shook his head and said, "I haven't heard of it."

"Ah, yes, that was more than 20 years ago, when you were still young." Gong Yeqian said, "In the first year of Xining, there was a 13-year-old girl named Ayun in Dengzhou. Because her parents had both passed away, she was sold by the clan leader to a man named Wei Da as his wife."

The story told by Gongye Qian can be summed up as follows:

Ayun was sold to Wei Da by the clan leader during her mother's funeral. Because the clan leader disliked Wei Da's ugliness and was unwilling to marry him, she became murderous and broke into Wei Da's house at night and killed him with a knife.

However, Ayun was young and weak, and in the dark, he only cut off one of Wei Da's fingers.

Xu Zun, the governor of Dengzhou, believed that Ayun's marriage during her mother's funeral was against filial piety and that the marriage was illegal and did not count as murder of her husband.

Also, because Ayun confessed at the first trial and surrendered himself, he should be given a lighter sentence.

Therefore, the crime was reduced by two levels and the punishment was eighteen strokes of the cane.

The case was submitted to the Criminal Court and the Dali Temple. After discussion, the two departments concluded that Ayun was not guilty of the "Ten Evils" of murdering her husband, but her crime should not be reduced by two levels. She should be treated as a normal murder case and sentenced to death by hanging.

The case was extremely controversial and was brought before Emperor Shenzong of Song.

Song Shenzong tried to smooth things over at first and approved the verdicts of the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple. However, he pardoned Ayun with an imperial decree and did not sentence him to death by hanging. Instead, he paid the penalty of copper and exiled him for surveillance.

Xu Zun was dissatisfied and directed his criticism at the Ministry of Criminal Justice and the Dali Temple. He separated the word "murder" into two parts and believed that Ayun's surrender offset the crime of "plotting" and only left the crime of "killing".

Then this case became the focus of the Song Dynasty. Wang Anshi and Sima Guang both believed that Ayun's situation was pitiable, but Wang Anshi supported Xu Zun and planned to give him a lighter sentence, while Sima Guang thought that he should be severely punished.

At this point, Ayun itself is not important. It is entirely a political struggle between Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, and Song Shenzong's attempt to completely place imperial power above the judiciary.

What Sima Guang actually opposed was that Song Shenzong's pardon was higher than the state's judicial system.

But Song Shenzong actually supported Wang Anshi. In the end, he issued an imperial pardon decree to pardon Ayun and exiled him for surveillance. Wang Anshi's faction won a great victory.

"Later, Ayun married a local boy named Chen and gave birth to Chen Huaiyun." Gongye Qian said, "But Sima Guang was narrow-minded. After Sima Guang came to power with the support of Empress Dowager Gao, he re-examined the case and sentenced Ayun to death. Ayun only lived for another 17 years."

Murong Fu said: "Sima Guang didn't really want to argue with a village woman. He was resentful of Emperor Shenzong and Wang Anshi. But when gods fight, mortals suffer. It has always been like this."

Murong Fu couldn't help but think of the Yang Naiwu and Xiao Baicai case in later generations, as well as many cases in later generations. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart that the law is indeed just a reflection of the will of the ruling class. It is neither sacred nor great.

"Chen Huaiyun felt that there was no good person in the Song Dynasty court. His mother had been living an honest life, but was still killed by a big shot. So he hated the Song Dynasty and wanted to destroy it." Gong Yeqian said, "As the saying goes, 'knights use force to break the law, and scholars use literature to disrupt the law.' He wanted justice, so he could only break the law with force. He started to practice martial arts, and later joined the Ming Cult, and was soon promoted to the leader of the Fiery Flag. However, Sima Guang died before he could complete his martial arts. And it was impossible for him to purge the Song Dynasty court by himself. So he joined the Ming Cult and actively prepared for a rebellion. Unfortunately, the Ming Cult also disappointed him."

Murong Fu said: "There is another truly abominable person who has not been mentioned here, and that is the chief of the Ayun clan. He sold a thirteen-year-old girl whose parents had just passed away to an old man as his wife. This was not only inhumane, but also violated the law, and he was not punished."

"This kind of thing happens a lot in the local area, it's just a way of destroying the whole family!" Gong Yeqian was not surprised and said indifferently, "But the clan leader's family has been killed by Chen Huaiyun without leaving any trace."

"Interesting, let's talk about the other flag bearers." Murong Fu said.

Gongye Qian told everyone he knew about the situation.

Fang La, the flag bearer of the Ruijin Banner, was a compassionate man. Although he was born into a wealthy family, he saw that the government exploited the people too much, so he joined the Ming Cult and wanted to change all this.

Fang La's martial arts skills are known as the "Roaming Dragon Bagua Knife".

Chen Huaiyun, the flag bearer of the Fiery Flag, is best known for his "Bone-Splitting Hand".

Ren Beiming, the flag bearer of the Giant Wood Flag, was someone they had met before. He was the man who was very dissatisfied with the three Persian envoys and was good at the "Pojun Spear Technique".

Liu Feng, the flag bearer of the Hongshui Flag, was a heroic and magnanimous man. He got along very well with Gongye Qian, and the two of them once fought against each other for a hundred rounds.

Liu Feng is good at "Lotus Palm" and his palm power is almost the same as Gongye Qian.

The flag bearer of the Houtu Flag is called Han Jingyuan, Fang La's master. It was he who taught Fang La the "Youlong Bagua Knife", but his knife is a single blade, which is more suitable for use on the battlefield when combined with an iron shield.

"These five flag bearers and the people of the Five Elements Flag are all Master Lin's diehard supporters. It will not be easy for the lord to subdue them," said Gong Ye Qian.

Murong Fu smiled and said, "Haven't you heard the saying 'I will always support the leader, and I will support whoever is the leader'? Sometimes, don't think that others are too loyal and unyielding. People's bottom line is very flexible, especially when they can gain benefits. Let's go and meet the Five Elements Flag."

The four flag bearers of the Five Elements Flag are all here now, and only Fang La is out patrolling the mountains today with a hundred men from the Sharp Gold Flag.

The Five Elements Flags take turns patrolling the mountain. Yesterday it was the Giant Tree Flag, and today it is the Sharp Gold Flag's turn.

"Brother Gongsun, you are here? So you are from the Murong family. I am so sorry, so sorry." When Liu Feng, the flag bearer of the Hongshui Flag, saw Gongye Qian and Murong Fu, his face turned black to express his dissatisfaction.

At that time, Gong Ye Qian called himself "Gongsun Wuliang". Liu Feng saw that he had good martial arts skills and was a heroic person, so he got along well with him and invited him to join the Hongshui Banner. He was also planning to recommend Gong Ye Qian to be the leader of the sect in the future!

As a result, Gongye Qian suddenly disappeared, and after returning, he had transformed himself into Murong Fu's subordinate and was very close to the Persian Ming Cult.

Liu Feng was naturally displeased.

"Brother Liu, when I first joined the Ming Cult, I was just curious, so I concealed my identity." Gong Yeqian said, "Actually, my name is Gong Yeqian, not Gongsun Wuliang. Please forgive me for my previous deception."

"Humph!" Liu Feng was still unhappy. "You are so close to the Persian Mingjiao people, but have they given you any future?"

Murong Fu said: "Liu, the flag bearer, is wrong. Gong Yeqian is my subordinate. I am close to the Saint, and I can only follow my steps."

At this time, several flag bearers came over.

Ren Beiming said: "Mr. Murong, this is the training ground of the Five Elements Flag. It's not appropriate for an outsider like you to approach this place, right?"

"I am not an outsider." Murong Fu said, "I have the Holy Fire Order in my hand, how can I be an outsider?"

As he spoke, Murong Fu took out two Holy Fire Tokens.

Ren Beiming had nothing to say.

The Holy Fire Order is the sacred object of the Ming Cult. The reason why the Persian Ming Cult has such a great influence is also related to the fact that they brought the Holy Fire Order with them.

The current Holy Fire Order has not yet reached the level of "seeing the Holy Fire Order is like seeing the leader", but at least it is "seeing the Holy Fire Order is like seeing the Holy Maiden". Relying on the power of the Holy Maiden and holding the Holy Fire Order, Murong Fu can really be forced to be a member of the Ming Cult.

"Mr. Murong, what instructions do you have for me this time?" asked Han Jingyuan, the flag bearer of the Houtu Flag.

Murong Fu said: "I heard that the Five Elements Flag is very impressive and more elite than the Western Army of the Great Song Dynasty, but now I see that it is flashy and disappointing."

When Murong Fu said this, not only were several flag bearers furious, but many brothers of the Five Elements Flag also glared at him.

This is a provocation!
(End of this chapter)