Tianlong Ancient Temple.

The huge lake is covered with half-yellow withered leaves of lotus. The lotus leaves that once connected to the sky and the lotus that reflected the sun have now turned into a mess. On the high branches, withered petals are floating in the cold.

The flowers swayed helplessly in the wind, and from time to time, a shriveled petal would fly away with the wind and fall on the lake, and then slowly go away with the invisible water flow. Looking around, the eyes were full of decadence, which made me sad.

People are really a bit sad for colds and autumn.

There is a pavilion in the lake, but it is not the kind of pavilion with four pillars and a cover that comes from all directions. Instead, it is a beautifully carved balustrade. The long wooden plank road extends dozens of steps into the lake. The pavilion is located here.

The front of the boardwalk.

In the pavilion, two people were sitting cross-legged. One was a great monk, and the other was wearing an imperial robe. Judging from the style, it could only be worn by an emperor. So the identity of this person is self-evident. He is naturally the emperor of Dali, Duan Zhengxing.

Already.

The great monk is, of course, the eminent monk who came from afar to achieve enlightenment, Monk Huiyuan.

Now in Dali, Gao Yingde is fierce and fierce, and his eyes and ears are everywhere. Even in the palace, it is like this pavilion, with wind leaking from all sides. If there is a word in the palace that is not conducive to Gao Yingde, it will not go out for half a day.

, it will inevitably reach Gao Yingde’s ears.

If there really is a Pure Land, it can only be Tianlong Ancient Temple.

Everyone in Dali believes in Buddhism.

And this Tianlong Ancient Temple is the first among all temples in Dali.

Of course, the most important thing is that the Emperor of Dali has the tradition of becoming a monk. Over the years, many members of the royal family and even emperors have become monks in Tianlong Temple.

Gao Yingde's eyes and ears, no matter whether it was because of the power of the Buddha or the dignity of members of the royal family in the past, they did not enter the scope of the Tianlong Ancient Temple.

However, as the emperor of Dali, Duan Zhengxing found it not easy to visit this temple.

Since this year, Gao Yingde has been paying close attention to him.

Gao Yingde's plan to usurp the throne was almost Sima Zhao's intention, and everyone on the road knew it.

Monk Huiyuan came all the way to visit the ancient Tianlong Temple and open a forum to preach. In a short period of time, many eminent monks from the temples in Shanchan Mansion were defeated in the debate. Huiyuan's rising reputation attracted more monks to come.

Debate with him, and these brilliant debates also attracted countless powerful people.

But at this moment, what Duan Zhengxing and the great monk said had nothing to do with Buddhist scriptures.

Duan Zhengxing naturally believes in Buddhism, but at this moment, he has no intention of talking about Buddhist scriptures with Huiyuan. The reason why he went out of the palace to see Huiyuan is because he suddenly discovered that Huiyuan can help

Get him.

Almost every move he makes is now being monitored by Gao Yingde, and he can't hide anything from the other party. Seeing the other party pressing closer step by step, the Duan family's hundreds of years of history will end in his own hands if he doesn't do anything right.

How can you not be in a hurry?

But if you want to overthrow Gao Yingde, you can't do it now by yourself.

He could only have a chance by uniting with the ministers outside who were dissatisfied with Gao Yingde.

Unfortunately, he could not see those ministers, and those ministers could hardly see him.

In the limited opportunities to meet, Gao Yingde would stare at him like a giant snake spitting out messages, so what could it be difficult to do?

But Huiyuan can not only meet those ministers, such as Dong, Wang, and Shen, who are powerful and capable of wrestling with the Gao family, but Huiyuan can also meet himself.

Huiyuan has naturally become the most reliable middleman.

This intermediary came from the Song Dynasty and was a highly respected monk with profound Buddhist knowledge. He would not attract too much attention from Gao Yingde.

"Master, Dali Guozuo's breath is hanging on your body." Duan Zhengxing said with tears: "I hope the master has a compassionate heart and can help Zhengxing."

He has been talking for a long time, but the great monk opposite has never said a word.

Obviously, the other party did not want to get involved in this fight between dragons and tigers in Dali.

Thinking about it, it is clear that if you are trapped in this situation, if you do anything wrong, your life will be in danger. Once Gao Yingde's knife is raised, he will not care whether you have become a high monk or not.

"Master, if Gao Yingde's wild ambition really lets him get his hands on it, the Song Dynasty will inevitably become unstable on the border. I'm afraid that the people on the border of the Song Dynasty will also be sad every day and cry every night!" Duan Zhengxing sighed.

.

"How do you say this?" Huiyuan finally spoke.

Duan Zhengxing immediately seized this opportunity and said: "Master, once Gao Yingde seeks to usurp the throne, because he is not in the right position, he will inevitably use external conflicts to divert internal conflicts. The best way is to start a war externally.

.In the past two years, the Song Dynasty has been in a bad situation and suffered consecutive defeats. I am afraid that Gao Yingde will definitely become the target of war. Once the war breaks out, the people of Dali will suffer, and the people of the Song Dynasty will also be unfortunate. Master is compassionate and takes it seriously.

Can we bear to have countless people in these two countries fall into misery because of this person’s arrogant ambition?”

"Namo Amitabha!" Huiyuan took a deep breath, "The Buddha has a spirit, so naturally he doesn't want to."

"After the master came to Shanchan Mansion, he has been living in Tianlong Temple and has not gone out for a walk. I'm afraid he doesn't know that Gao Yingde is already preparing to attack the Song Dynasty, right?"

Huiyuan shook his head and said: "Monk knows about this. However, since the monk came from southwestern Guizhou, he also heard about the situation there. The people who occupied Luo Dianguo were also fierce and tight, and they were afraid of Gao Gao.

Once the prime minister really sends troops, he won't get much advantage."

Duan Zhengxing was overjoyed when he heard this. "Master, are you familiar with that person?"

Huiyuan shook his bald head into a rattle: "Those barbarians are so fierce that the great monk did not dare to stay there for a long time. He just felt that they were well-armed and well-organized, and..."

The monk lowered his voice and said: "I heard that the leader of those people is Xiao Cheng, Xiao Chongwen, the second son of the Xiao family, from the Xiao family in Bianliang. Your Majesty must have heard about it!"

"Xiao Ding's younger brother?" Duan Zhengxing asked in surprise.

Huiyuan discovered that the emperor in front of him was really just showing up, and he had no idea about the news from the outside.

"Exactly." Huiyuan said: "When the great monk passed through southern Guizhou, he had never seen Erlang of the Xiao family, but when he was in Bianliang, he had heard of his name. With his great reputation, he should be regarded as a worthy scholar and prime minister of the country.

In this trip, I may not be able to move the winning scroll!"

Duan Zhengxing nodded repeatedly. Gao Yingde suffered a defeat outside. It would be best if he was beaten to a pulp by the second son of the Xiao family. That would be the best way to take advantage of him!

"Master, I need your help!" Duan Zhengxing said: "I need to contact the Dong, Wang, and Shen families, but the high thief is careful, and only Master can help me accomplish this."

"Amitabha, for the sake of the people of the two countries, if the great monk does not go to hell, who will go to hell?" Huiyuan touched his bald head and sighed: "Your Majesty, there is no need to say it. I will do my best to accomplish this for your Majesty."

"Thank you so much, Master. After everything is done, I will build a new temple for Master in Dali and keep it as good as Tianlong Temple. The location will be decided by Master, how about it?" Duan Zhengxing promised.

"Amitabha!" Huiyuan shook his head again: "The monk does this only for the common people, not for wealth or wealth. The great monk travels all over the world, preaching and preaching, and will never stay in one place or temple. Your Majesty

If you have a heart, and the monk understands it carefully, you can use the money for building the temple as a charitable gift. When there is a disaster, you can buy food and give it to the people."

"The great monk is the true Buddha!" ​​Duan Zhengxing clasped his hands together and bowed in salute.

"I just don't know how the monk can contact these families?" Huiyuan asked: "The monk can't come to find them. It would be too ostentatious and would make Gao Xiangguo suspicious."

"Of course not!" Duan Zhengxing said with a smile: "I met with the great monk today. With the wisdom of those few people, they would naturally take the initiative to ask the great monk. They have also been suffering for a long time."

"As mentioned above, I'm afraid Gao Xiangguo will come looking for me too!" Huiyuan raised his eyebrows.

"With the great monk's wisdom, there is no problem in dealing with it!" Duan Zhengxing said.

Huiyuan smiled slightly and said: "In ten days, the monk will debate scriptures with the host of Tianlong Ancient Temple. When the time comes, your Majesty, please come and watch!"

"Of course I want to come and appreciate the great monk's style!" Duan Zhengxing stood up, and after bowing to each other as a courtesy, turned around and strode away.

Watching the Dali Emperor, who was a little stooped and had long hair on his head, go away, Huiyuan turned around and looked at the desolate color of the lake.

Occasionally, he lowered his head and let out a light sigh.

In the corner of the pavilion, near the pillars, there is actually a lotus blossoming proudly, with its red and white petals hidden under the pavilion. It would have been difficult to spot it if a gust of wind hadn't blown half of its body out.

No wonder many fish in the lake are swimming around this pillar. I bet there is still life here!

Looking at the pieces of goldfish surrounding the lotus with their heads raised and spitting bubbles, Huiyuan said with emotion.

Gao Yingxiang came to Huiyuan after making an appointment for tea after the emperor left.

This time is neither long nor short, just right.

"Master, my father admires the master's charisma and should have come to the temple to meet the master. However, my father is busy with worldly affairs and does not have half a day to spare. He can only send me to invite the master to go to the palace for a reunion. Please don't blame the master.

"Gao Yingxiang bent down deeply, but there was no trace of pride on his face.

He truly believes in and respects Buddhism.

I have always admired a truly knowledgeable master like Huiyuan.

"It doesn't matter. When I come to Dali, I naturally want to visit Gao Xiangguo. I heard that Gao Xiangguo is determined to start a war. Aletofu, the monk is not talented. I just want to ask the Prime Minister to make a living for the world and stop the war." Huiyuan said compassionately.

.

Gao Yingxiang smiled and refused to persuade him.

An accomplished monk like Huiyuan has his own persistence, and he cannot give up his mind with just a few words. And his father will also not change his mind just because a monk chants a few words.

I'm afraid that for the monk, it's just a desire to do his best and obey fate.

Outside the temple gate, cars and sedans have been waiting for a long time. Gao Yingde still maintains enough respect for the great monk who is now famous in Shanchan Mansion. However, it is obvious that the great monk does not buy his account.

He resolutely refused carriages and horses, and just walked all the way to Gaofu, wearing a half-new cassock, carrying a tin staff, and a pair of straw sandals.

Gao Yingxiang had no choice but to accompany him.

As for Gaofu's chariots, they could only follow behind in a mighty manner.

This kind of driving style is more eye-catching than Huiyuan riding on a high-ranking carriage and horse.

Gao Yingxiang looked at the monk's face covered with dust, the straw sandals on his feet and the numerous scars. They were completely different from those pampered monks in Dali.

Or maybe this is the real enlightened monk!

"Master, do you want to drink wine or eat meat?" Gao Yingde and Huiyuan's first words after the salute made Gao Yingxiang a little dumbfounded, but what made him even more dumbfounded was Huiyuan's answer.

"You can drink wine and eat meat!" Huiyuan looked calm.

"After wine and meat have passed through the intestines, Buddha's heart is sitting in his heart?" Gao Yingde asked with a smile.

Huiyuan smiled: "How can there be so much attention to detail? How can the great monk have the strength to travel around the world without food and wine? The prime minister should know that it is difficult to travel!"

"It's difficult to travel, it's difficult to travel!" Gao Yingde nodded repeatedly: "The great monk is indeed an accomplished monk. Prepare wine and food. I will have a drink with the great monk!"

Only then did Gao Yingxiang come back to his senses. He was a little confused as to why Huiyuan had been debating scriptures in Tianlong Ancient Temple for many days without even getting a word of praise from his father. When he heard that the other party was eating meat and drinking wine and said that it was difficult to walk, he thought that the other party was...

I have become an eminent monk.

Gao Yingde is a real person who does practical things. Naturally, he looks down on those great monks who talk too much. No matter how well he debates Buddhist scriptures, what good is it if it does not help the common people? People who cannot do practical things, in Gao Yingde's opinion,

No matter whether the other person is a great monk or a beautiful woman, it is just like the beautiful vase in your study, just take a look at it.

Although the two met for only a few words, it was Huiyuan's unconventional attitude that really moved Gao Yingde. This is the great monk who can really do practical things, and the only one who is as good as Gao Yingde.

The other senior monks who were sitting at the same table were the abbot of Tianlong Ancient Temple. How could Gao Yingde ever notice them?

Food and drinks were quickly placed on the table, but there were not many. After eight dishes and one soup, they were no longer served. Matching Gao Yingde's status, it seemed that Gao Yingde was extremely frugal.

"Is it enough?" Pointing to the food and wine on the table, Gao Yingde asked: "I must have been vegetarian in Tianlong Temple these days. The great monk's stomach must have been intolerant."

"No, no!" Huiyuan said with a smile: "Whether it's vegetarian or meat, it's just a condiment for us in this world, it doesn't matter."

"Master is transparent!" Gao Yingdao smiled and gestured to Gao Yingxiang to fill up the wine glass for Huiyuan: "Today I invite the master to come. I don't ask about Buddhist scriptures or cause and effect. I just know that the master walks around the world, so I want to ask the master to speak for me.

Talk about Bianliang, the northwest, and the appearance of Shangjing! Gao has been fascinated by these places for a long time, but he can't go there, and he feels very regretful!"
Chapter completed!