In the past few days, not only had Princess Jeanne's reason for visiting been resolved, but her relationship with Princess Ma was also getting along very well.
However, Theodora confessed to Guo Kang that this was not her fault.
She originally planned to settle this guest alone in the name of entertaining the nobles. But two days ago, another important news came: Stan, who was on a mission to various Eastern countries, was back.
The Purple Tent Mission achieved a lot of diplomatic results this time and signed agreements with a series of Turkmen dynasties. He also went to Herat and paid a visit to Shaharul's court. Next, the mission is preparing to go to India to discuss trade issues with the local princes, including some important strategic materials.
Stan was ordered to lead a group of envoys and return to Dadu to report with the agreements that had been reached and various national gifts from the monarchs.
Traveling with them were envoys and civilians from many countries.
These days, there are still certain risks in cross-border travel, so if there is an opportunity, everyone likes to join the official teams of major countries. Stan's team was guaranteed by the Purple Horde Khanate, the Timurid Khanate and the Turkmen Aries Dynasty. Therefore, it attracted a large number of merchants, scholars, craftsmen, travelers, and even envoys from small princes along the way.
When they came, they set out from Syria, passed through the Aries, Black Sheep and other dynasties, and several Timurid vassal forces in western Persia, and reached Khorasan. But on the way back, the Black Sheep Dynasty and Shahalu had another quarrel.
Therefore, this team set out from Herat, entered the river north, and then turned northwest, bypassing the Yuejibei tribe who was at war with Shaharul, and passed through the grasslands of the Nogai people. After sending many extra gifts to the local Khan and accepting their caravan, the team, which expanded to thousands of people, finally returned to Timursa under the control of the Purple Horde under their "escort" Lai.
Most of the civilians went their separate ways, while the envoys followed Stan to Dadu.
Among these people, the most conspicuous one is an old monk sent by the Ming Dynasty. Due to his important status, Stan took him directly to the palace to visit the Queen and Theodora.
Theodora said that the monk called himself "Daoyan" and was an old man who was nearly eighty years old. He had a shaved head, no beard, and was dressed simply, wearing only simple monk robes and cloth shoes. The only valuable thing on his body was the cassock issued to monks by the imperial court to indicate their rank. Otherwise, it might not be easy for everyone to recognize his identity.
The long journey was very tiring, so everyone in the Roman court was a little confused as to why the Ming Dynasty sent such an old man. However, Dao Yan said that this was his own request.
According to accompanying Ming Dynasty officials, Monk Daoyan became a monk when he was young. Later, Ming Taizu selected monks who were proficient in Confucianism and chose him. After that, he entered Tianjie Temple and obtained the monkhood. When Queen Ma passed away, all the kings came to attend the funeral. Daoyan was among the ranks of praying monks and met King Yan by chance. After that, he was asked to leave by King Yan and went to Peiping with him.
For the next thirty years, Monk Daoyan has always been highly regarded by King Yan. Not only was he familiar with Buddhism, he also gave advice to King Yan many times, and the relationship between the two parties was very good. It's just that there is always a regret in Daoyan's heart.
He frankly said that he had learned all his life, and although he tried his best to serve the court and King Yan, he always felt that there was something left unfinished. As I grow older, I become more and more unwilling.
It just so happened that the imperial court was planning to build the Great Baoen Temple and recruit eminent monks from all over the world, and he was among them. At the ceremony to commemorate Taizu and Queen Ma, Emperor Tianping lamented that everyone was here now, but it was a pity that his son and his family were missing. Dao Yan was blessed in his heart and said that he was willing to serve as an envoy to visit the Qin Kingdom, find King Wu and others, and bring him the scriptures given to the kings at the Dharma Ceremony.
King Yan objected to this, thinking that at his age, if he goes out, he doesn't know whether he can come back. His disciple Ma Sanbao also persuaded him many times, saying that he could do it by himself and that the master did not need to bother.
But Daoyan believes that what Buddhism pays attention to is a predestined relationship. He once thought that fate lay in Yingtian and Peiping, but now he felt that it should still be in the west.
He could feel that his life was approaching. But it is precisely because of this that we must seize the last opportunity. Where he died did not matter to him. The physical body is just a stinky skin, and it is cremated along with the local people.
No one could persuade him, and King Yan was powerless.
The emperor was also quite surprised by this, so he awarded him the monk title of Seng Lu Si Zuo Shanshi and appointed him as an envoy to visit the west. The emperor personally presented the cassock and asked Yousi to issue a written ultimatum, requesting that the people along the way, such as the Bali Kingdom, the Halie Kingdom, and the Daqin Kingdom, should be treated with courtesy according to the standards.
——These three families are Dongchagatai, Shaharul Khan and Zi Zhang themselves.
After bidding farewell to the emperor and King Yan, Monk Daoyan and others headed west. When I arrived in Herat, I was wondering how to go west, and happened to meet Stan and his party. Daoyan admired and said, isn't this just fate, so he followed them to Dadu.
Stan is also very satisfied with this. Although he didn't know where to find a great scholar, he thought it would be about the same to find an eminent monk. Moreover, according to Ming Dynasty officials, Daoyan became famous in his early years because he was proficient in both Buddhist and Confucian scriptures. This feels more powerful than the average scholar, so I might as well leave it to him.
After arriving in Dadu, Daoyan did not find Zhu Yunwen, but was warmly welcomed by Princess Ma.
Princess Ma is also a person who has seen the world. Although she has been insisting on burning incense and worshiping, it is sometimes difficult for her to convince herself to accept the Buddhist level of Lama Wang.
Being able to see an eminent monk from her motherland here was a great psychological comfort to her. She held herself up and went to meet Daoyan, accepted the scriptures on behalf of her husband, took her two children with her, and talked with him for a long time.
It just so happened that at this time, Princess Jeanne also came here.
Guo Kang and others were worried that she and Princess Ma would have a conflict, but Monk Daoyan did not know what he said, so that the expected thing did not happen. Not only that, Princess Jeanna also moved to King Wu's mansion and discussed things with those people all day long.
Her external statement was that she still wanted to organize a crusade, and she also called on everyone to come and help. Those people didn't know what they discussed. In short, Zhu Wenkui also came out to support her and summoned all the generals under King Wu.
Wu Wangfu's chief combat officer Jiesika, second-ranking combat officer Nurhaci, etc., all accepted the review, which at least gave the Crusaders a commander-in-chief level. She also visited the nobles of Zizhang everywhere and asked for their support.
Guo Kang was a little dizzy. He didn't know what their plan was. Did they want to lead the Crusaders back to France? But at present, as he said to Theodora, the Purple Horde Khanate does not have the ability and motivation to support this expedition.
Moreover, unless there are particularly unexpected changes in France, everyone will not be able to take action against important allies so directly - even if the intervention is successful and a new king is established, the Roman Khanate will not be able to control the entire France. And with the size of France, as long as the new King of France has a firm foothold, he will definitely not be willing to be subordinate to others, and he can easily expel the purple tent interference army.
Afterwards, they would only become more wary and antipathetic towards Rome. Not only will the Khan's court not gain anything, but it is estimated that even the current allies will not be able to do it.
Therefore, no one is really prepared to do this.
(End of chapter)
