The Panicked Buddhist Sect
Chang 'an, Great Tang.
Bai Chen was invisible in the void, his eyes looking straight at the Imperial Palace, taking in the scene within. A trace of a playful smile appeared on the corners of his mouth.
In the palace, a monk with red lips and white teeth was standing respectfully in front of Li Shiming. He was talking non-stop, but he didn't notice the impatience on Li Shiming's face.
"Your Majesty, I was enlightened by Guanyin yesterday. I know that there is a Mahayana Buddhism that can save all living beings in the spiritual mountain in the west. I hope that Your Majesty can give me a pass and let me go to the western paradise to retrieve the true scripture!”Tang Sanzang said.
As the publicly acknowledged number one monk of the Great Tang, Tang Sanzang had a high status in the Great Tang. Thus, it was not difficult for him to meet Li Shimin!
Li Shimin's expression was gloomy. He had just discussed the matter of suppressing Buddhism with many ministers yesterday. He did not expect to receive a notice from the guards early in the morning that Tang Sanzang wanted to see him. Li Shimin had the idea of not completely falling out with Buddhism for the time being, so he met Tang Sanzang. However, he did not expect Tang Sanzang to actually propose the idea of obtaining scriptures!
Learning from the scriptures? What scripture? When you retrieve it, we don't even know if there are still Buddhists in the Great Tang, yet you still want me to retrieve the customs clearance document?
It had to be known that the clearance certificate was not as simple as a piece of paper. In many cases, the clearance certificate represented the credentials of the Great Tang. If other countries knew that he had sent monks to the Western Heaven to seek the true scriptures while vigorously suppressing Buddhism, what would the other countries think? Did he still want his face?
"Alright, Master Xuanzang, you don't have to say anymore. The matter of obtaining the scriptures ends here. Now that the people of the Tang Empire are living and working in peace and contentment, the Hinayana Buddhism is enough. There is no need to go to the Western Heaven to seek the Mahayana Buddhism!”Li Shimin interrupted Tang Sanzang and said directly.
Tang Sanzang was stunned for a moment and looked at Li Shimin in disbelief. Then he said,"But, Your Majesty."
"There's no need to say anything else. I've made up my mind. That's it. You can go back. There's no need to mention the matter of obtaining the scriptures again!”Li Shimin turned around and left after he finished speaking. He didn't want to continue talking with Tang Sanzang.
Tang Sanzang watched Li Shimin leave in a daze. He only reacted after a moment and left the palace in a daze.
Bai Chen, who was in the air, couldn't help but laugh loudly when he saw Tang Sanzang's defeat. In his original fate, Tang Sanzang was conferred the title of the Tang Emperor's younger brother. When he left Chang 'an, Li Shimin personally sent him off. But now, even if he wanted to get the clearance document, it wouldn't be easy!
As for being conferred the title of Imperial Brother? Don't even think about it!
When Tang Sanzang returned to the temple, he saw a large number of monks gathered there, all waiting for his return.
"Master Xuanzang is back!"
"Master Xuanzang, how is it? Did His Majesty give you the clearance certificate?”
"Needless to say, Master Xuanzang is the number one eminent monk of the Great Tang. If he's personally taking action, the clearance document will definitely be in his hands!”
In the current Great Tang, the common people worshipped Buddhism. In addition, when Li Shimin was still the King of Qin, Buddhism had helped him. In the eyes of the Buddhists, Li Shimin would never refuse such a request!
Seeing the many Buddhist disciples congratulating him, Tang Sanzang felt bitter in his heart. A bitter smile appeared on his lips and he said,"Xuanzang has disappointed everyone. He didn't get the clearance certificate!”
"How did this happen?"
"How could His Majesty refuse? Obtaining the Mahayana Dharma is a joyous occasion for the entire Great Tang!”
"Master Xuanzang, are you joking?”
All the monks were stunned for a moment and asked in disbelief.
At this moment, an old monk walked over and patted Xuanzang's shoulder. He said,""Xuanzang, don't be discouraged. Perhaps His Majesty is in a bad mood today. Why don't we go to the palace another time? We'll definitely get His Majesty's approval!”
Tang Sanzang took a deep breath. He had a strange feeling that His Majesty's attitude towards Buddhism had changed. But he could only nod." I hope so!"”
"Not good, the host is not good…Not good, host!" He saw a young monk running in from outside the temple in a hurry. Perhaps it was because he was too anxious, he even fell down midway. At this moment, he looked very sorry.
"Not good, host!" The small monk finally ran to the front of the monks. He panted heavily and looked a little panicked.
The old monk's face fell. He looked at the young monk in front of him and scolded,"Biqing, what are you doing in such a panic? You are punished to copy the Diamond Sutra. You are not allowed to eat dinner until you finish copying it!”
" But abbot, this matter is really…" Bi Qing explained.
"You still dare to talk back? Ten times!" The old monk interrupted Bi Qing's explanation and said heavily.
Bi Qing was dumbfounded. In order not to increase the punishment any further, he could only nod and agree. However, he cursed the old monk hundreds of times in his heart.
"Tell me, you're in a hurry. What happened?”The old monk's eyes flashed with a trace of pride before he asked.
Hearing the old monk's question, Bi Qing also reacted and quickly said,"Abbot, this is bad. His Majesty has decreed that Daoism be made the Orthodoxy of our Great Tang, and that all monks be registered. He said that he would count the number of monks, and that anyone who dares to disobey will be arrested and imprisoned!”
Bi Qing's words were like a deep water bomb that completely detonated the entire temple, causing many monks to panic.
"How could this be? How dare His Majesty give such an order?”
"I don't believe it. Biqing, tell me, are you lying?”
"Has His Majesty gone mad? He was going against the entire Buddhist Sect!”
There were at least one million monks in the Great Tang, and many of them were criminals who had joined the Buddhist League in search of protection. Li Shiming's order would definitely cause panic in the Buddhist League.
"Alright, stop arguing!" The old monk suddenly shouted, causing the monks to quiet down. Then, he said to Bi Qing,"Biqing, where did you find out about this? Can you be sure?"
Bi Qing quickly replied," Abbot, the whole Chang 'an knows about this. Even the Imperial Roll has been posted outside the palace. It can't be wrong!"”
"Is that so?" The old monk's expression was gloomy, and a trace of fierceness flashed in his eyes. He said fiercely,"Since Li Shiming wants to go against our Buddhist Sect, then let him see if our Buddhist Sect is a pushover in his eyes!”
"That's right, the host is right!"
"That's right. At most, we'll fight it out with the Imperial Court! Since they're heartless, don't blame us for being impolite!”
"Li Shiming is burning the bridge after crossing it. Without the help of our Buddhist Sect, how could he sit on the throne?”
For a moment, the entire temple was filled with a large number of curses.
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