The morning court in Chang'an has not been so lively for a long time. If it hadn't been for taking the elixir brought by the Jinyin Ertong yesterday to remove Chen Ji, Li Zhi's head would have exploded.
In the inn, the second boy looked at the scene in the Hall of Supreme Harmony through a special bronze mirror and frowned: Didn't he say that the emperor kept his word? Why couldn't Li Zhi make up his mind?
Even if he didn't believe what the two said yesterday, the elixir was genuine. Isn't this enough?
Little did the boy know that in order to prevent the emperor from being fatuous, rules had been set as early as Taizong's time, that is, the three provinces and six tribes could control the king.
Although this power is not usually displayed, it will play an unexpected role at moments when the survival of the Tang Dynasty is concerned.
Taizong, a great talent, knew that the emperor's incompetence was due to his arbitrary actions, so he set such a rule.
Whether to welcome Mahayana teachings into the Tang Dynasty may, to some extent, shake the foundation of the Tang Dynasty, which is why the debate among officials was so intense.
Seeing that it was getting late, Li Zhi stood up and said: "My dear friends, I promise that after the Mahayana teachings are introduced into the Tang Dynasty, they will only benefit people's livelihood and will never confuse the people. Otherwise, I am willing to go to hell forever."
Seeing all the officials kneeling down and shouting "Your Majesty, no!", Li Zhi continued: "It is not easy for the Tang Dynasty to have such a prosperous age. If the underworld collapses and the people are in ruins, how can we face our ancestors!"
As soon as the King of Tang said these words, everyone fell to the ground in obeisance and shouted long live the mountain.
Three days later, Li Zhi sent an order to the various states to select eminent monks to go to Beijing to preach Buddhism. Among them, the most virtuous and respected ones were selected to go west to Lingshan to obtain the Mahayana scriptures.
When the imperial edict was announced, the whole world was in an uproar, and the monks cheered, thinking that good times were finally coming.
Although the Huasheng Temple in the east of Chang'an City only has more than 20 monks, it is already the largest temple in Chang'an and even in the Tang Dynasty.
Xuanzang, the abbot of Huasheng Temple, was abandoned by his parents in front of the temple gate since he was a child, and was raised by monks in the temple.
Since he was sensible, Xuanzang began to study Buddhist scriptures every day. Therefore, he was not yet twenty years old, but he was already the most outstanding figure in Buddhism in the Tang Dynasty.
After the old abbot died, Xuanzang took over the post of abbot as a matter of course.
Apart from the necessary farming, he leads the monks in the temple to study Buddhism every day.
During this period, someone tried to persuade Xuanzang to leave Nanfanbuzhou.
Because with his talent, if he goes to the West, he will definitely become a great monk.
When Xuanzang heard this, he just smiled and shook his head, saying that one day Buddhism would spread throughout the Tang Dynasty.
Although everyone just laughed at it and even laughed at it, Xuanzang didn't take it seriously.
On this day, the government came to convey the decree, and Xuanzang went to the palace to compete with monks from various places in Buddhism. The winner will go west from Tang Dynasty to Lingshan Mountain to obtain the Tripitaka Sutra.
Even if you can't go to Lingshan, the government will bear the travel expenses to and from Sichuan, as well as food and drink expenses.
Xuanzang's eyes lit up when he heard this, and then he arranged the affairs of the temple and got up to go to the post in Chang'an, which was specially designed to entertain monks.
Three months later, eminent monks from the Tang Dynasty gathered in Chang'an to compete on Buddhist teachings in the Tai Chi Hall.
Looking at the arguing monks in the hall, Wei Ran turned sideways and said to Li Zhi: "This is what Buddhism calls no desire and no pursuit. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Li Zhi chuckled and said: "If there is really no desire to instigate them, why do they worship Buddha, recite sutras, and why are they so red-faced fighting for going west!"
While the two were discussing, the chamberlain on the side raised his hand and pointed: "Your Majesty, please see, that monk has been sitting there motionless."
Following the direction of the eunuch's finger, Li Zhi saw a monk sitting cross-legged in the corner, with his hands clasped together and silently reciting scriptures, turning a blind eye to everything in the temple.
The chamberlain continued: "Your Majesty, this man has never moved since he came here."
Li Zhi smiled first, then stood up and came to this person: "May I ask the master's name?"
The monk also stood up and saluted: "The poor monk Xuanzang comes to see Your Majesty."
Li Zhi nodded: "It turns out to be Master Xuanzang. I wonder why the master doesn't debate Buddhism with the eminent monks in order to go west to Lingshan?"
"Your Majesty, all the four things of a monk are in vain. If you don't fight for them, fame, fortune, and fortune are all in vain. If your eyes are blinded by greed, you won't be able to see the Lingshan Mountain even if you go to the west."
Li Zhi laughed loudly: "Then why is Master here?"
"I affirm your Majesty's permission to go to Lingshan to welcome the return of the Mahayana teachings to the Eastern Land."
Li Zhi looked at the monks who were still arguing, and then sighed: "Master, please follow me."
When they came to the side hall and the guests and hosts were seated, Li Zhi said: "The journey westward is long and far away, and there are countless monsters on the way. If you are not careful, you will lose your life. Master, have you ever thought of this?"
Xuanzang smiled and said: "The poor monk has made up his mind. If he cannot welcome back the scriptures, he may fall into Avici Hell forever."
Li Zhi smiled again when he heard this: "Master, how do you know that I will definitely send you there?"
"If Your Majesty didn't have this intention, why did you recruit this poor monk here?"
Li Zhi stood up and laughed: "If the master can welcome back the Mahayana teachings, I will build the Daxiangguo Temple in Chang'an as a place for the master to study Buddhism."
Then Li Zhi walked up to Xuanzang, took his hand and said, "Master is here to welcome the Mahayana teachings, but in fact he is asking for orders for all the people of the Tang Dynasty. If Master will not give up, I am willing to become a brother with you. To show sincerity.”
Xuanzang knelt down and saluted: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Li Zhi pulled Xuanzang up and said, "Brother, the mountains are high and the road is long on the way west. You must be careful."
Xuanzang nodded: "Your Majesty, don't worry, Xuanzang will never live up to your Majesty's instructions and will definitely welcome the scriptures back to the Eastern Land."
"My dear brother, I heard that there are Tripitakas in the Mahayana teachings. Since you have received Tripitaka scriptures for the Tang Dynasty, how about I name you Tang Tripitaka?"
Xuanzang bowed again: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Li Zhi nodded and said, "When will my brother prepare to set off?"
"Just make some preparations and we can set off in three days."
"What do you need?"
"One person, two horses and one servant are enough."
"It's a long way to Lingshan. When can I come back?"
"It may take five years at most, or three years at least, and the poor monk will definitely return to Chang'an!"
"Your Majesty, please follow me to the back hall to eat. I will order someone to prepare a customs clearance document for you soon." After saying this, Li Zhi grabbed Xuanzang and walked out.
When the two of them arrived at the Tai Chi Hall, the monks who had been arguing just now were gone. They must have been led elsewhere by Wei Ran.
Looking at the empty Tai Chi Hall, Li Zhi sighed: "It is said that Buddhist disciples have six pure roots, but now it seems that those who are like imperial disciples are only rare."
Upon hearing this, Sanzang was silent at first, and finally sighed.
Three days later, outside the west gate of Chang'an, Tang Sanzang said goodbye to Li Zhi and led his entourage to go to Masi.
Looking at Sanzang's back, Wei Ran said: "Your Majesty, if Xuanzang really retrieves the scripture, what are your Majesty's plans?"
Li Zhi smiled slightly: "Don't worry, dear, I will not ignore the Tang Dynasty forever."
Wei Ran bowed deeply after hearing this: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Speaking of Tang Sanzang alone, after leaving Chang'an, he whipped his horse and whip, traveled at dawn and stayed overnight, all the way westward.
The generals guarding the passes along the way heard that the emperor's brother, the king of Tang Dynasty, was coming, and they all went out of the city to greet him and entertain him.
So despite the hard work along the way, the two of them didn't encounter any real obstacles.
On this day, the master and servant were galloping on their horses, and suddenly they saw a high mountain flashing in front of them.
Upon seeing this, the follower said: "Master, this mountain is full of strange rocks and extremely dangerous, so be careful."
Tang Sanzang smiled and said: "How can there be any danger in the Tang Dynasty? You and I just move forward and don't miss our place of stay."
As he spoke, Tang Sanzang rode his horse and wanted to enter the mountain, but at this moment, a team suddenly appeared on the roadside: "Who is coming?"
Sanzang replied: "I am the king of Tang Dynasty who has driven Sanzang down. I have been ordered to go to Lingshan to pay homage to the Buddha and obtain the Dacheng Sutra."
The captain who led the team heard this and held up his hands: "It turns out that His Highness is here. I'm sorry that I missed you so much. I hope you'll forgive me."
Tang Sanzang waved his hand and said: "No need to be polite, where is this boundary?"
The captain pointed to the mountain and said: "This is the Two Boundary Mountains. After passing this mountain, you will leave the boundary of the Tang Dynasty. It is getting late now. Please, Your Highness, follow me to the camp for a while."
Sanzang asked doubtfully: "The Tang Dynasty has ruled this place for a hundred years, why are you still resting in the camp? If your Majesty is told to build a city here, not only can it resist foreign enemies, but you will no longer suffer from wind and frost."
The captain sighed: "Your Highness does not know something. In the past, the road connecting the two continents went south for about three hundred miles. There used to be the city of the Tang Dynasty there. However, the two boundary mountains suddenly collapsed and blocked the mountain pass. After death, this place became a place connecting the two continents."
Seeing that Tang Sanzang was deep in thought, the captain said: "Your Highness, it's already late today. Your Highness should follow me to the camp to rest. You will leave your homeland tomorrow."
Sanzang sighed with emotion when he heard this, and finally followed the captain and his entourage to the camp and spent their last night in Datang.
Early the next morning, Tang Sanzang finished washing early, and then went to the Chinese army tent to say goodbye to the captain and others.
The captain did not let the two leave alone, but sent them more than ten miles into the Two Realms Mountains.
Finally, the captain pointed to the boundary monument not far away and said: "The front is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Tang Dynasty, so we can only send His Highness here. I hope Your Highness will take care of himself along the way, obtain the scriptures, and return to the East as soon as possible."
Just as Tang Sanzang was about to urge his horse, the school captain suddenly called out: "Your Highness, wait a minute. Thirty miles to the north past Liangjie Mountain, there is a Five-Finger Mountain. This mountain fell from the sky twenty years ago, pressing down on a hero who dared to fight in heaven. Your Highness was on his way westward. If we have this person to protect us, we will definitely have a smooth journey."
Tang Sanzang smiled and said: "He was an enemy of Heaven and was finally suppressed here. He is either a evil spirit or a lawless evil man. How can such a person see the face of Buddha?"
When the captain heard this, he could only smile helplessly: "Your Highness, please do so."
After bidding farewell to the captain and others who were seeing them off, Sanzang and his servants crossed the boundary marker and continued to go west.
After walking for another half day, Tang Sanzang felt anxious when he saw the red sun setting in the west, but there were still endless mountains in front of him.
If they were to stay in the mountains at night and encounter jackals, tigers and leopards in the middle of the night, their lives would be in danger.
Thinking of this, he urged his horses to rush westward along the mountain path.
Finally, when the Jade Rabbit rose to the east, the mountain passes of the two realms were vaguely in sight, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
But before Sanzang could be happy, he heard a roar and a huge black shadow appeared in the sky. Without waiting for the two to react, they were lifted up one by one.
Then another strong wind picked up the horses and luggage and flew north around the mountain pass.
