After eight months, Chen Chong finally had some leisure time.
After all, all the important affairs this year have been completed, and all that is left are trivial matters. In addition, the new officials who have joined the government are also familiar with the affairs, so there is less for Chen Chong to worry about.
Speaking of which, Yang Xiu and Li Yi have been performing well since he left them in the mansion. Li Yi was appointed by him as the Nong Cao Tu, responsible for this year's grain collection. He was conscientious and conscientious in his work. All the officials in the counties who came into contact with him praised him. They all said that he was gentle and did things without leakage. He was a rare talent.
Yang Biao's son Yang Xiu is even better. He is extremely talented and can understand and handle affairs very quickly. Therefore, Chen Chong appointed him as a bookkeeper of Cao Cao, and handed him some accounts that were lost to officials. He could often complete them three times faster than others, and when Chen Chong checked afterwards, he found no mistakes. The only problem is that his arrogant remarks are gradually spreading in the house. Chen Chong admonished Yang Xiu, but Yang Xiu said: "These are all mediocre words. Why should I care about it? I treat these words as if they are just a breeze and do whatever I want." Chen Chong smiled bitterly when he heard this and knew how to persuade. If he doesn't move, he won't say any more.
With more free time, Chen Chong began to post books and read at home. Chen Chong's collection of books is very large. Although many of them are privately collected by the Chen family, more are compiled by Chen Chong and Cai Yan themselves. Among them are 60 volumes of poetry collections and 172 volumes of history books. , seventy-three volumes of the classics of various scholars, forty-two volumes of classics and treatises written by Chen Chong himself, thirty-four volumes of folk customs and folk songs collected from various places, twenty-six volumes of general meanings arguing with doctors from Taixue, and ten volumes of national geographical maps Nine volumes, fifteen volumes on the Art of War, and some miscellaneous calligraphy and calligraphy.
Chen Chong spread more than twenty bamboo mats on the ground, and then spread out the books on the mats one by one. He moved a bed and sat in the middle, slowly reading some useless books among the spread pages. For Chen Chong, this is the joy of life. Sometimes the sun was warm, and he fell asleep with the book in hand. When he woke up again, he heard the sound of the breeze blowing the pages of the book. Suddenly he said to himself: "The breeze can't read, why bother flipping through the book?" Although no one paid attention to it. There is true meaning in it, but Chen Chong is also quite pleased with himself.
Soon, his hobby was spread, and Zheng Xuan laughed and said: "Ting Jian is a bookworm, but he must be like this to get the talent of Wang Zuo!" So many nobles in Chang'an imitated it, and even the emperor in the palace asked Chen Chong The request stated that he would like to make a copy of Chen Chong's collection of books and send them to the palace for reading. The emperor was eager to learn, and Chen Chong allowed himself to do so. He invited ten people to copy books at home, and every fifty volumes they obtained were sent to Weiyang Palace.
But this way, he couldn't stay at home. Chen Chong was not worried about the war in Guandong. At this time, he thought that since he had nothing to do, he might as well go to his father-in-law Cai Yong's house to talk about his latest literary ideas and see how Dong Bai and Dong Yao were living.
As a result, as soon as he went out, he bumped into a small monk. He came to the door and invited Chen Chong to Yuanjue Temple.
It turns out that after Dong Zhuo burned down Luoyang, the monks of Baima Temple were also moved to Chang'an. However, there was always chaos in Guanzhong, and there were no officials to manage them. Many monks could not get food and clothing, so they fled to various places in Guanzhong to live in seclusion, preaching and watching the current situation. It was not until Chen Chong and Liu Bei defeated the Liang army last year that they returned to Chang'an.
"Becoming an Immortal in One Step"
It's just that although the old people are still there, they have no place to live, and they no longer have the leisure time of translating books and reading scriptures in Luoyang period. These Tianzhu people came to Chen Chong, hoping to let the court build temples for shelter.
Chen Chong allocated a piece of land for them in the west of the city, but it was agreed in advance that they would have to bear the cost of building the temple themselves. The people of Tianzhu couldn't afford it at first, but fortunately they found Liu Ai, the former Taichang, and asked him to raise money among the famous clans in Chang'an. They built a new temple on this land and named it Yuanjue, which means perfect enlightenment. temple. It had just been built four days ago, and Chen Chong was invited to watch the ceremony.
Chen Chong agreed, so he made an appointment with his father-in-law, and they went to Yuanjue Temple for a walk together. When Chen Chong arrived, the monks from Yuanjue Temple were waiting in front of the temple, and the leader of the ascetics was a tall, blue-eyed man named Kang Mengxiang. He was originally a Brahmin from Kangju State, and his knowledge was not the most profound among the ascetics, but He is the most proficient in Sinology, so he is like a fish in water among the Han people.
Chen Chong and Kang Meng chatted in detail about some Confucian classics and Buddhism, and both Kang and Meng Xiang answered fluently. This impressed Chen Chong, and he gradually became more competitive in his heart, so they walked in Yuanjue Temple while talking about the similarities and differences between Buddhism and Sinology. .
After walking through seven pagodas and seeing twenty heavens, a few people finally stood in front of Wei Tuo Zuntian, and the topic between Chen Chong and Kang Mengxiang slowly came to an end. Chen Chong said: "The beauty of Buddhism lies in the subtlety of the Tao. It enters into the five aggregates of reality and emerges from the sands of the Ganges. Although it does not have the vastness of Zhuangzhou, it is unique in the profoundness and insight of principles. When it comes to literature, I think Chinese studies are the best. But when it comes to reasoning, it is true that Buddhism is unique in the world.”
Cai Yong was quite surprised when he heard this. He thought carefully and said, "Does Ting Jian mean that Buddhism is the right path in the world?"
Unexpectedly, Chen Chong shook his head and said: "Buddhism talks too much about the afterlife and talks too much about Nirvana. I thought it was all just illusion. What is the right way to talk about?"
Kang Mengxiang was also surprised and asked: "In the eyes of the donor, what is the right way?"
Chen Chong looked at the statue of Wei Tuotian who was protecting the Dharma, and slowly replied: "Of course, only the present world is the right path. In the so-called Buddhist scriptures, both Confucius and the Buddha are people in the present world. Confucius talked about the great dream of the old world, and the World Honored One expressed his emotions about the next life. , but they are trapped in this world, just like you and me. People in this world should understand the way of this world, after all, only the present can save them."
After Kang Meng listened carefully, he shook his head and said with a smile: "Your Majesty's intention is too much. The World Honored One preaches Buddhism to make people in the world realize that there is no joy or sorrow, no fear of death, and smile in the face of all sufferings. How can you say there is no such thing?" Where’s redemption?”
Chen Chong also shook his head and laughed, and replied: "If there is really a capable person in the world, he should make the people happy and prosperous. How can you say that the people of the world can laugh at the suffering when they are displaced? If this is true, I have neglected my duty. The general has neglected his duties, and the emperor has also neglected his duties!"
Kang Meng heard this in detail and was speechless for a long time. Finally, he sighed and said: "Brother Kang Ju said that Shijun was born with Buddha nature, but he cut off the opportunity for nirvana. I didn't understand it before. Now that I see Shijun, I know why."
Hearing Kang Ju's name, Chen Chong immediately remembered that when he took office in Xihe from Luoyang, Kang Ju held the "Question about Hell Sutra" and saw him off in front of the White Horse Temple. Therefore, Chen Chong asked: "The elder knew Kang Ju, and he also Over here? Why didn't I see him? "
Speaking of this, Kang Mengxiang showed a sad look and said slowly to Chen Chong: "Don't you know, the envoy? Two years after the envoy took office in Xihe, that is, during the Shi Changshi Rebellion, Kang Ju took in some people who were chased by the officers and soldiers. The refugee who was killed was stabbed several times by the officers and soldiers, one of which cut off his right hand. Brother Kang Ju lay in the temple for two days, and then passed away."
When Chen Chong learned that Kang Ju was dead, he felt sad. Kang Ju was one of the few close friends in White Horse Temple. Although he was a Brahmin, he was very friendly to ordinary people and had great compassion as the World Honored One said. I think they met when they were giving porridge together outside the city. During his lifetime, Kang Ju liked to talk to him about the customs of his hometown and his ambition to spread scriptures all over the world. Chen Chong laughed at him for being obsessed and going against the teachings of the Buddha. Kang Ju Then he said: "Only when I cling to it in my heart can I truly have clinging. Everything I say and do is natural and is the Buddha nature." Now that he has passed away like this, can it be considered an act of the Buddha nature?
After being speechless for a long time, Chen Chong lit incense sticks for Kang Ju in the temple and paid homage. During this period, Kang Mengxiang learned that Chen Chong loved books, and he also translated and annotated the "Prince's Benqi Ruiying Sutra", "The Rise and Execution Sutra", "Brahma Net Sutra", "Sariputra Mulianyou Siqu Sutra", "Blessings and Blessings Sutra" that he had translated and annotated over the years. Sutra" were presented to Chen Chong. Chen Chong thanked him with two pieces of gold cakes, and then left with Cai Yong.
On the way, Cai Yong stayed with Chen Chong at home overnight, saying that he wanted to show him some recently written history books. Chen Chong agreed. When Cai Yong was picking up the books, he saw a child coming in and looking at him eagerly. It's Dong Yao.
It turns out that except for Dong Bai and Dong Yao, Cai Yong's family only has a mute old man accompanying him, and they are very deserted on weekdays. Seeing Chen Chong arriving at this time, his restless temper could no longer be tolerated. Chen Chong knelt down and had a conversation with him. He noticed that Dong Yao seemed to have lost a lot of weight, so he asked them what they usually eat. Dong Yao replied that they only had some wheat rice and green beans to eat on weekdays.
Although Dong Bai and Dong Yao didn't choose anything to eat after suffering on the road, there was still a hint of hope in Dong Yao's eyes when he answered Chen Chong. Chen Chong has also suffered from hunger. Why doesn't he know what the child means? So he told Cai Yong and went to the market to buy a hen and half a basket of oranges. When he came back, he gave the oranges to Cangtou, and he killed the chicken, plucked its feathers, and stewed a pot of chicken soup on the cauldron.
While eating, Chen Chong called Dong Bai, Dong Yao and Cang Tou over, and the five of them ate together. During this period, Dong Yao ate very happily and ate two bowls of rice in a row. Only then did Cai Yong react. He patted his head and said: "I have forgotten that people have no appetite when they are old. I thought you were the same, but I forgot that the boy is... It's time to draw the note." Then he ordered Cangtou to buy some meat food on weekdays.
At night, Chen Chong and Cai Yong lit lanterns and talked for a long time about the major events of the past ten years, from the second party rebellion to Wang Yun's Chang'an coup, criticizing the characters in it, and mainly talking about how to summarize Bixing. Dong Bai kept watching When they were talking about their wife, they turned off the lights and fell asleep.
Early the next morning, Chen Chong said goodbye and returned home. On the way, he saw several monks preaching scriptures in the city. Suddenly, I remembered the monk I met in Fushi. His name seemed to be Zhislanana. He said he wanted to carve Buddha statues in the cave of Jialing Mountain in Fushi. It seems to have been four years now. I wonder if he is still there?
When he returned to his house, he called his adopted son Fu Gan over. Fu Qian had recently said that he would go on a study tour to various counties in Bingzhou. Chen Chong had never agreed before, but now he agreed. He just asked him to go to Fushi by the way, firstly to see if the Tiefu tribe was doing well recently. , The second is to ask him to go to Jialing Mountain to see if the branch is still on the mountain.
In a flash, it was October, and military reports from Guandong began to increase. Chen Chong's free time came to an end and he began to hold meetings at the Chancellor's Desk for several days. When he was looking through the military newspapers, he discovered that Fu Qian's reply had arrived in the past few days and was mixed in a pile of ultimatums.
Fu Qian said in the letter that everything was fine for him in Bingzhou, and all the Tiefu tribes were satisfied with the status quo. However, it was said that Yuvluo, the Yuan Chan, was in poor health and would not live long, and all the tribes were talking about it.
On Jialing Mountain, the branch secretary Nana is still carving in the cave. There are now ninety-seven Buddha statues engraved, and the number will be one hundred by the end of the year. The Huns and Han people at the foot of the mountain saw that his heart was as strong as iron, and he was invulnerable to cold and heat, so they all regarded him as a god. Many of them have converted to Buddhism. . Fu Qian said with emotion that if everyone in Buddhism behaves like this, it will be possible to spread it throughout the world.
