Volume 1 Xiao Yuanba Chapter 50 Li Dan teaches the novice
After wiping the runny nose off his face and washing his face again, the little novice returned to the "little adult" who had just disliked him.
Looking up at him, and then at the end of the small sand path between the towering cliffs, the deep and dense woods a hundred steps away from them seemed to be dormant like monsters.
"Ah!" He shouted. The sound spread far away, and the cliffs on both sides echoed with "Ah, ah, ah..." and gradually disappeared.
"I don't quite believe it, have you really walked out of here?" Li Dan stroked his bare chin maturely, turned his face and looked at the little guy again.
He couldn't believe it. This kid was said to be only six years younger than him.
"That's what my master said. Anyway, I have been sent to the temple for eight years. I'm just short and don't look tall." The little novice replied seriously, tilting his head:
"I have memorized Daoshi Zhang's Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases. Do you think a child can do this?"
"Taoist Zhang? Zhang Zhongjing? How can he be a Taoist?" Li Dan was angry and funny:
"Zhang Zhongjing was born in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He practiced medicine and wrote books based on Huang Lao's health-preserving studies. He was at best a Taoist, but not a Taoist priest.
Although Taoism was founded by Zhang Daoling during the reign of Emperor Wu of the former (Western) Han Dynasty, and his medical thoughts were greatly influenced by Taoism, he himself was not a practitioner.
He aims to practice medicine to help the world, rather than practice yin and yang and cultivate immortality. This is the essential difference. Just because his surname is Zhang, you cannot say that he is a Taoist priest!"
"Oh, I understand!" The little novice followed him and turned back, clasping his hands and saying:
"I didn't expect Lord Defense to understand this. I admire you, I admire you! It seems that the young monk has not read enough books!"
Li Dan smiled: "You, don't keep reading those Buddhist scrolls, scriptures, histories, works, and collections at such a young age. There are so many books in the world that only by dabbling more can you take root in the soil like a plantain and absorb it. Every inch of nutrients. Right?"
The little novice monk nodded, then shook his head: "However, Master said that miscellaneous books are full of evil ideas, which can easily lead to bad people's hearts and waste time. It is really a big sin for us practitioners not to use our time to study Buddhism!"
"Xingwu, I didn't tell you not to read Buddhist scriptures. Do you know why?" Li Dan stopped and looked back at the little novice monk who was shaking his head like a rattle.
"Because the scriptures contain great knowledge and the truth of this world!" He said:
"There are roughly three types of books in the world: books to relieve boredom, books to explore and discuss, and books to explain the truth.
When you study the Bible, you must read the true scriptures, which are books that explain the truth.
For example, the words of sages such as Sakyamuni, Laozi, and Confucius have great truths in their explanations of the relationship between all things in the world and the human nature of the human heart, and you must read them carefully.
Another example is the words of the Western religion Yahweh and the Muslim religion Mizhu." As he spoke, he raised his eyes and looked at Hei Laosi, who was guarding him next to him, and continued:
"As for books that discuss, discuss, and explain, you can read them, but be careful, because not everyone can truly understand and clarify the truth. Everyone has their own ideas, understandings, or ideas.
You have to decide for yourself which one is correct and reasonable, and which one is doubtful or even wrong. Learn the essence and discard the dross."
"How can I have such ability?" the young novice monk Xingwu asked in surprise.
"After you read the Book of Truth, you will have a pole in your mind. You can put all the theories and schools on it and praise it." Li Dan patted him on the shoulder:
“If you have the truth in your heart, you will do things properly, with a sense of proportion, and know the importance. You will be a decent person and will not take shortcuts or shortcuts.
So, wouldn’t it be easy for those erroneous theories to reveal their true colors in front of you? This is the benefit of reading the true scriptures and distinguishing right from wrong!
As for those boring books, you have the truth and you don’t think the world is boring. They are useless to you, even if you read them occasionally, it doesn’t matter.”
"Understood!" Xing Wu nodded.
"You don't understand!" Li Dan smiled and rubbed the back of his head:
"Just listen to what I say and you will understand. Then you are the real Buddha. Even if Master Tripitaka has only cultivated the Arhat body, you are still far away!
What you need to learn now is to be humble first, first listen to the postscript, and then realize it in daily practice. Only in this way can you reach the state of 'understanding' and live up to the title of 'practice enlightenment' given by your master. Remember?"
"Remember!" Xingwu nodded again.
"Now, follow this gentleman and help him draw the path leading to Shujiazhai that you remember. He will reward you with five cooking cakes. Remember to go back and eat slowly, and don't be in a hurry to drink water."
After saying that, Li Dan motioned to Zhao Jingzi to come over, led Xing Wu to sit on a horse under a carriage, and began to ask him about the terrain and route.
Xiao Wanhe stepped forward: "I didn't expect that Sanlang's knowledge was so profound, many of which I have never heard of before. I really learned a lesson!" He said and repeatedly handed over his hands.
Li Dan waved his hand, turned around and pointed, "Brother Xiao, if what this kid said is true, the river in the south and the connected lakes and swamps are higher than here.
During heavy rains in previous years, floods often overflowed the embankments and flowed into the valleys in the west. The excess floodwater would also leak into the official road and even completely submerge it. Therefore, the Dongtang and Xitang are actually relics after the flood.
When I heard him speak for the first time yesterday, I didn’t think much about it. When I saw Feng San in the evening, I started thinking about it..."
Xiao Wanhe chuckled: "I have heard about flooding the seven armies in dramas, but I didn't expect to experience it myself this time."
"It's hard to say whether You Sanjiang can take the bait, or whether this strategy can be used. Everything will be clear until Zhou Yingzheng and his people come back."
"Don't worry, it has only been less than two hours since we set off. Brother Zhou is courageous, careful, and an expert in the water. If you can use a trick, you will know when you come back." Xiao Wanhe patted Li Dan on the back comfortingly.
This young defense envoy and the rest of the battalion were a little unconvinced at the beginning, but after the previous battle, everyone felt differently.
Looking at it now, although he is young, he is experienced and thoughtful in his work, which is definitely better than most of his peers!
In addition, he generously distributed the armor, weapons and even the treasures he obtained to each battalion, and rewarded soldiers with outstanding performance without favoring the locals.
Therefore, the three elder Yingzheng secretly gave thumbs up and praised him. After all, he is the son of the prefect, and his magnanimity is extraordinary!
Li Dan nodded after listening to his consolation. At this moment, he heard a siren sounding on the west wall, and someone shouted in panic: "There is an enemy situation!"
Immediately everyone became confused. Xiao Wanhe was about to step forward, but was blocked by Li Dan.
At this time, five or six governors were seen appearing in the camp followed by a sentry officer.
"What are you doing? Haven't you learned how to defend yourself? Pick up the bamboo spear, stand on your own side, and come out to gather your people and bring them to their positions!"
Zhen Fu shouted loudly, a man with a pheasant tail feather in his turban, which marked his status as the leader of the team.
Immediately, a commander began to loudly call for his subordinates to gather around him, and then rushed to the predetermined defense position with all the people in attendance.
"It seems that I have to find someone from the team to be the governor!" Xiao Wanhe said quickly with a fever on his face.
"No need, doesn't each battalion have a sergeant from the Chinese Army who is responsible for the camp's duties and food? And give him the additional responsibility of the governor. It's enough for each team to have a governor to report to the Chinese army.
If the capability of the Chinese army is not enough to control and appease the army at the same time, we can add more troops." After Li Dan finished speaking, he pointed to the front: "The order has come, let's see what he says."
"Sir, General Manager Ma asked me to report!" The messenger climbed up the hill in a hurry. He took a few breaths and then said: "The bandits are coming along the official road, and there are thousands of them!"
"Coming? Thousands of people?" Li Dan repeated to himself.
"Why, you weren't fooled?" Xiao Wanhe stumbled: "That snitch seems to be unreliable!"
Li Dan said to the messenger: "You have to make another trip and ask Mr. Ma Jiu to see again. Are they a thousand people or fifteen hundred people?" The messenger responded and jumped up and went down the mountain.
"Why, the defense suspects that they didn't all come?"
"Yes, if only a thousand people came, what would the remaining 30% do? What would You Sanjiang do with them? So I asked Mr. Jiu to take another look. His eyes as an old military officer should be fine!"
After a while, the Kung Fu messenger came back: "Defense, Master Jiu said, he is sure it is a thousand, and the error will not exceed a hundred people!"
"Pah!" Li Dan clapped his hands and said, "Go and send an order to the back camp, Tan camp, and send three people to explore the west and return in an hour. The whole back camp is on alert!"
"Are Sanlang worried about thieves attacking Xishan?" Xiao Wanhe asked.
"They are new here, so this possibility is unlikely, but we have to guard against the risk of surname You. And we still don't know what Feng San's situation is." Li Dan bit his lip.
He had originally arranged for Feng San to try to lure You Sanjiang into Xishan, so that it would take them two days to find the way, which was enough time for him to make a lot of preparations.
However, it seems that they did not act according to their own plan, but instead mobilized the main force to show off their power in front of the door.
Oh, I understand, it’s just making a fool of himself! After thinking about this clearly, Li Dan calmed down immediately.
He was originally a little worried that if You Sanjiang fell into a trap and pulled everyone together to attack Xishan, only the rear camp would not be able to withstand it and it would be self-defeating.
Now it seems that there are only 500 rebels left to prepare as a surprise attack, so you can rest assured.
As long as Ma Jiu could stop him at the mountain gate, he could drag down these five hundred people in the winding ravines and deep valleys of the Western Mountain, not to mention that he was still prepared.
At this time, only a few people knew that on Li Dan's order, the right camp sent a group of people to follow Zhou Qin out of the back mountain to explore the rivers and lakes. One group was left behind to remain vigilant, while the rest were busy weaving mats and large bamboo cages.
!
People from Fuzhou and Ji'an are particularly good at doing this job.
At this moment, the bandits in front of the mountain gate had already stopped two hundred steps away, stretching their necks to look at the naturally formed "gate".
"Damn, how could a monk choose a place like this to build a temple? It's just a problem for me!" You Sanjiang couldn't help but scolded.
He came, took a look, and finally understood what Feng San described as the "steep Red Cliff" last night.
This damn place, you either have to break in through the mountain gate, or you have to climb in from the cliff.
He looked back at the difficult expressions on his men's faces, and knew that there was probably no hope in "climbing up"!
"General, this... is not easy to fight." A leader came closer and whispered.
"I didn't really want to fight."
"You mean...feint?"
"Feng Laosan said that the army and the militia were joined by militiamen. There are no more than 300 armed men, and they are all piled up on the road from the archway to the mountain gate. As long as we break through here, there will be fish in the basin inside."
You Sanjiang moved his thin lips lightly, made a fish-catching motion with his hands, and said:
"But it's best if Feng Laosan can find that small road, so that we can feign an attack here and Colonel Zhu and his men can dig in from behind, which is faster and less laborious!"
"Then, what do we do now?"
You Sanjiang looked back at his surroundings and pointed with his hand: "Let's set up camp at the foot of the opposite mountain first, and settle down the brothers before deciding on the next step!"