574. Chapter 557: Pledging Allegiance
The three Old Monks who were seeing him off watched the distant figure of the stout Monk, chanting Amitabha Buddha.
"The Venerable is truly an Arhat or Bodhisattva descended to the mortal realm!"
"Jiaxiang, which Bodhisattva do you think this Venerable is? Is he the Dragon Subduing Venerable, or..."
"No matter which Venerable he is, besides a Buddha's Divine Manifestation, who could possibly contend with that Heavenly Emperor!"
"With the Myriad Monsters of Flower and Fruit Mountain annihilated, we should also make some plans for ourselves!"
"Amitabha Buddha, mind your words, both of you!"
The three Old Monks watched the disappearing back of the stout Monk, standing in place, gazing for a long time.
"Amitabha Buddha, Senior Brothers! It's getting late, I still need to make a trip to the Imperial Palace to chant sutras and pray for the Empress Dowager. I'll be taking my leave!"
The long-browed Old Monk with a slight red mark Between his Eyebrows greeted the other two Old Monks, left the Buddhist Temple, and boarded a carriage.
Escorted by several Novice Buddhist Monks and a dozen Warrior Monks, they traveled along the Official Road to Chang'an, arriving outside the Imperial Palace at the end of Vermilion Bird Street.
Inside the Daming Palace Study, a projector placed on the desk was projecting images of Planets.
Li Shimin, dressed in casual clothes with his beard neatly trimmed, stood with his hands behind his back, describing the future vision of the Great Tang Dynasty to his dozen or so sons.
In simple terms, he was painting a grand picture for his sons.
Ever since the Tang Grand Governor refined the Undying Immortal Medicine, Li Shimin's health had become increasingly robust. Although he was already an Elder aged one hundred and twenty, his body remained as robust as a bull.
Over the past century, he had cultivated and propagated, fathering no less than two hundred descendants in the harem, and this was under his deliberate control.
However, having many descendants was not necessarily a good thing! Especially his capable older sons like Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Zhi, who were also over a hundred years old. The frustration in Crown Prince Li Chengqian's heart was imaginable; where in the world was there a Crown Prince for a hundred years!
But he also knew that ever since his Father consumed the Undying Immortal Medicine, he would, like the Future Buddha of the Buddhist Sect, only be able to serve as Crown Prince for his entire life.
Who could be willing to accept this! Benefiting from the Li Family's excellent tradition, over the years, not only Crown Prince Li Chengqian, but also Imperial Princes like Li Tai and Li Zhi, who possessed strength and Granted Land, were secretly cultivating their own forces.
Preparing for war, they secretly coveted the Imperial Throne.
These small schemes of his sons naturally couldn't escape Li Shimin's notice, after all, he had risen to power by doing just this.
Rebelling against his cousin, rebelling against his own father, when it came to rebellion, no one in the entire Great Tang Dynasty was more proficient than him.
But what could he do knowing that these sons were pulling strings behind his back? He couldn't possibly confine these sons, or kill them all! This was something that had been giving Li Shimin a headache. He deeply feared that one day these little brats would follow suit and stage another Xuanwu Gate Incident against him.
Then their Li Imperial Family would truly become a joke.
However, the Divine Manifestation of the Heavenly Emperor by the Tang Grand Governor, no, Uncle Tang, gave Li Shimin another idea.
Uncle Tang had promised him a World. He had, after all, been watched by Uncle Tang as he grew up, so Uncle Tang couldn't possibly have the nerve to deceive his nephew, right? Compared to the Planets in the vast Star Sea, each hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of times larger than the Territory of the Great Tang Dynasty, what did this small piece of land in the Great Tang count for?
His current possessions, if shattered, he wouldn't feel any pain at all. Instead, he hoped this World would completely collapse. Based on his understanding of his Uncle, compensation would definitely not be lacking.
Perhaps Uncle Tang would even wave his hand and give him a few more Worlds as compensation.
These little brats in his family, no matter what, were his grandchildren. Shouldn't Uncle Tang, as their grandfather, give them some Meeting Gifts?
As long as you have the ability, feel free to develop and occupy the boundless Territory.
Li Er Feng, full of heroic spirit, generously promised his little brats. The Imperial Princes summoned to the Study by Li Er Feng were all those with some ability and ambition. These Imperial Princes looked at the vast Territory displayed on the Holographic Projection, choked by this grand picture, their faces turning red. Li Shimin stood by the window, stood with his hands behind his back, eyes slightly closed, bathed in the Light of the Great Sun. He was very satisfied with the performance of these little brats. The Great Tang Dynasty could not afford any mistakes now. Dangling a carrot in front of them would save them from causing him trouble.
The sound of flowing water sounded from within Li Shimin. The Qi Flow he inhaled and exhaled circulated subtly around his entire body.
His Blood Qi slowly nourished his body, and streams of scorching Yang Qi flowed from his entire body, returning to his Dantian.
The Cultivation Method he practiced was personally tailored for him by Uncle Tang a hundred years ago. It was said that when cultivated to the Highest Point, one's Qi and Blood could rival the Great Sun.
Although he had not yet cultivated to the highest level, after a century of cultivation, his strength was among the top experts in the entire Great Tang Dynasty.
As he inhaled and exhaled the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, Li Er Feng also secretly regretted it. If he had known that his Uncle Tang had such a great background, he wouldn't have been so wary of him after taking power, fearing he would grow too strong and threaten the Imperial Authority.
Instead, he had distanced himself. He just didn't know if there was any way to remedy the relationship!
If only I had known Uncle Tang was the Heavenly Emperor, I would have been willing to take care of you in your old age.
"Shimin has drifted for half his life, only regretting not meeting a wise Lord. If you do not abandon me, Shimin is willing to bow and recognize you as his foster father!"
Footsteps!
Just as Li Shimin was feeling annoyed, a sound of footsteps echoed.
"Your Majesty! Master Jiaxiang of the Buddhist Sect has come to request an audience!"
A Guard walked in from outside the door, kneeling on one knee, and said, "Jiaxiang?"
Li Shimin opened his eyes and waved his hand. A small metal sphere flew before him, lowering a Light Screen. The Light Screen showed the appearance of the long-browed Old Monk outside the Imperial Palace gate.
Seeing the figure of the long-browed Old Monk, Li Shimin frowned. As an Emperor, he had no good feelings towards the Buddhist Sect.
These monks did not engage in production, did not pay taxes, spent their days meditating and praying to Buddha, and extensively enclosed land. They were truly a tumor.
Over the past century, he had been slowly reducing the issuance of monastic certificates and suppressing the Buddhist Sect to avoid a situation where the Buddhist Sect in the Southern Dynasties became too powerful to control.
These years, although he was the Emperor, he had one troublesome matter after another.
The world (empire) was newly settled, Demon Monsters ran rampant within the Territory of the Great Tang Dynasty, and the aristocratic families and clans held immense power. The Civil and Military Officials were all members of these clans. Even though he had established the imperial examination system, in just a hundred years, it had not yet shown results.
But now, Uncle Tang has become the Heavenly Emperor. How can I let you Bald Donkeys bully me? You bullied me when my foster father hadn't manifested. Now that my foster father has revealed his identity, you still bully me? Then wouldn't I have acknowledged this foster father for nothing!
"Crown Prince! Take your younger brothers to the Side Hall..."
Li Shimin's eyes flickered as he issued the decree, summoning Monk Jiaxiang into the palace.
"Proclaim him to enter!"
"Jiaxiang of the Three Treatises School greets Your Majesty!"
The long-browed Old Monk followed the attendant into the Great Hall and bowed to Li Shimin with clasped hands.
"Master Jiaxiang is a Monk, there is no need for such formality!"
Li Shimin waved his hand, signaling the attendant beside him to grant him a chair. After the attendant brought a chair, he did not leave far, stepping back a few steps, his gaze fixed on the long-browed Old Monk's back. If he made any unusual action, the attendant would draw the High-Energy Particle Beam Gun from his waist and shoot the Monk into a sieve.
In his feeling, this Monk was an Expert, much stronger than him, giving him immense pressure.
But it didn't matter. With the High-Energy Particle Beam Gun at his waist, he was confident he could shatter the Monk's head into a honeycomb before the Monk could make a move.
"May I know what important matter brings Master Jiaxiang here?"
After exchanging a few casual words, Li Shimin asked.
"Amitabha Buddha!"
Jiaxiang clasped his hands together, chanting a Buddhist name loudly, and said, "Your Majesty, this Old Monk has come to confess his sins!"
"Confess your sins! What does Master mean by this?" Li Shimin's voice sounded faintly, glancing at the Old Monk.
"About two years ago, a Demonic Monk approached this Old Monk, claiming to be a Venerable from Spirit Mountain descended to the mortal realm. He used demonic arts to coerce the monks of this temple, forcing this Old Monk to collude with him and raise an army in rebellion!"
Jiaxiang's gaunt face seemed filled with regret. He clasped his hands together, continuously chanting Amitabha Buddha.
"So, colluding with Demon Monsters, secretly training Warrior Monks, hoarding weapons and armor, and even extending your hand into the military's armory to sell firearms, were all forced upon you by that Demonic Monk!?"
Li Shimin's voice was very faint, but his words went straight to the human heart, as if to expose Jiaxiang's mind.
Old Monk Jiaxiang's heart trembled. Indeed, in the Great Tang Dynasty of today, where the Heavenly Emperor has manifested and Gods Interfere in the Mortal Realm, what secrets could there be?
What Buddhist Kingdom on Earth? Others have the Heavenly Emperor manifesting, clearly establishing an Immortal Dynasty on Earth. If you truly want to establish a Buddhist Kingdom on Earth, then Buddha, why don't you manifest! "Amitabha Buddha, since you, Buddha, are not stepping up, then for the sake of the Buddhist Sect in the World, do not blame this disciple! Sin, sin!"
Jiaxiang silently chanted Buddhist names, recounting the matter of the stout Monk one by one.
"That day, this Old Monk was meditating in the Zen room, when suddenly there was a flash of golden light before me, and I vaguely saw a Bodhisattva radiating golden light..."
Jiaxiang spoke in a daze, recounting the circumstances of the day he first met the stout Monk, and also revealing the Buddhist Sect's plans one by one.
This included the temples in various regions providing information to Demon Monsters and the list of officials who cooperated with them. Of course, most of the temples Jiaxiang mentioned were the industries of other sects.
They had little to do with their Three Treatises School.
He did not conceal the rest, even recounting in detail to Li Shimin the matter of the Myriad Monsters of Flower and Fruit Mountain being annihilated and the Mortal Fortune, which the stout Monk had mentioned when he came to them this time.
"Your Majesty, this is all the detailed information this Old Monk knows. This Old Monk knows his sins are grave and is willing to accept any punishment!"
After recounting everything, Jiaxiang clasped his hands together, bowed to Li Shimin, and assumed a posture of closing his eyes and waiting for life and death.
Li Shimin sat at the head, looking at the Old Monk, pondering in silence.
He naturally knew the purpose behind this Old Monk coming to confess his sins.
It was nothing more than the strategy of not putting all your eggs in one basket. Whether the Buddhist Sect was hedging its bets or had other plans.
Li Shimin extracted several key points from the Old Monk's words.
First, the stout Monk with the large head and ears was suspected to be a visitor from Spirit Mountain, a God on the same level as an Immortal.
Second, that Monk did not dare to directly conflict with Uncle Tang, which was why he was pulling strings behind the scenes.
Third, Flower and Fruit Mountain was destroyed, but the King of Ten Thousand Monsters did not perish.
Fourth, that Monk asked Jiaxiang to keep an eye on the Imperial Palace, possibly intending to take action against him.
The fourth point was undoubtedly the most important to Li Shimin. The existence of a suspected God wanting to assassinate him, even with his own considerable strength, made him feel uneasy.
Fortunately, that Monk seemed to have some scruples and did not dare to easily step into Chang'an. "I still trust Master Jiaxiang's character!"
Li Shimin rose from the Throne and slowly walked down the steps, looking at Jiaxiang, "I hope that Master Jiaxiang will also live up to my trust!"
"Your Majesty..."
Jiaxiang looked at Li Shimin's eyes, which revealed a hint of ruthlessness, not understanding the meaning of his words.
"I have just had a Little Princess born. Ten days from now, I will go to Mount Zhongnan for Offerings to Heaven and Repaying Vows. I hope that this information can reach the ears of that Bodhisattva! And I hope to see that Bodhisattva on Mount Zhongnan!"
Master Jiaxiang looked at Li Shimin's serious face and couldn't help but swallow.
He understood what the Human Emperor before him wanted to do. He wanted to slaughter a God, to kill that Venerable.
"Your Majesty, that is a Bodhisattva! Gods and Buddhas are not something manpower can contend with!"
Li Shimin flicked his sleeve fiercely, "I don't care what God or Bodhisattva he is! I am also an Emperor who conquered on horseback! This Great Tang empire was also personally fought for by me! If he wants to kill me, I want to see whose life is harder, mine or his, this Bodhisattva's!"
"Oh, right, do you know which Bodhisattva he is! I not only want to kill him but also smash all his Temples!"
"Your Majesty, this Old Monk does not know!" Jiaxiang said with a bitter smile, knowing he couldn't persuade the Emperor before him. However, with that person as a backer, it was no wonder he didn't fear Gods and Buddhas.
Son of Heaven, Son of Heaven, they all say the Emperor is the Son of Heavenly Father. Unexpectedly, one day, this Heavenly Father truly manifested, and even chose to strike at their Buddhist Sect.
"Don't know!?" Li Shimin saw Jiaxiang pondering in silence and frowned, saying:
"Then I'll trouble Master with this matter. I hope Master can handle it cleanly and not let the wind sound leak. After the matter is done, I will build thirty Temples for the Three Treatises School and issue three thousand monastic certificates!"
"Good!"
Upon hearing this, Jiaxiang's eyes slightly brightened. He bowed down, "This Old Monk will do his utmost to fulfill Your Majesty's command."
Jiaxiang was also secretly startled. He heard another meaning in Li Shimin's words.
Thirty Temples and three thousand monastic certificates for the Three Treatises School. What about the other Zen Schools? Perhaps after that Bodhisattva perishes, the only Temples left in the World will be the Zen monasteries of the Three Treatises School.
However, it's better for a Fellow Daoist to die than oneself. Jiaxiang now couldn't care about the life and death of the other Zen Schools. It was their fault for kneeling late.
Being able to preserve the Ancestral Foundation of the Three Treatises School was already a great fortune for Jiaxiang. As for betraying that Bodhisattva.
He naturally felt a faint unease in his heart.
Amitabha Buddha, Buddha is just faith. The lineage and Ancestral Foundation of the Three Treatises School were created and passed down by successive Patriarchs. The Buddha in Tianzhu (India) is just a teaching in Buddhist Scripture.
They worship Buddha, but none of the Buddha statues in the Temples are of Central Plains people.
Buddha, if you have a spirit in Heaven, do not blame this Old Monk for slandering Buddha. This Old Monk is truly forced into this situation. This Ancestral Foundation cannot be destroyed in this Old Monk's hands!
(end of chapter)