Gaochang is really a magical city, with pagodas competing for heights. The pagodas are all inlaid with gold foil, shining in the sunlight.
But what surprised everyone at Shangbo the most was that the tallest building in Gaochang City was not a Buddhist temple or the Governor's Office, but a Manichaean temple.
In addition to a Manichaean temple, there is also a Nestorian church and even a small mosque in Gaochang City.
Walking on the streets of Gaochang, you can see monks wearing cassocks, Manichaean monks in Persian robes, and even cannibals wearing turbans.
The streets of Gaochang are also very lively. It is far more prosperous than Shazhou. Businessmen from all over the world gather in the market to exchange various goods.
Fang Guoshou sighed and said: "Historical books say that Gaochang is the most prosperous trading city, and it is indeed well-deserved."
Shang Bo also nodded. Compared to Shazhou, Gaochang's location is more critical, and it is very normal for it to become a trade node.
Shangbo said: "To the west of Shazhou is the Lop Nur Wasteland, and to the west is the desertified Tarim Basin. It is surrounded by the vast sea, so trade is naturally inconvenient. Gaochang is in the Turpan Basin, surrounded by oasis, with abundant rainfall and a pleasant climate.
, which is naturally more prosperous than Shazhou."
Fang Guoshou also said: "In addition, the location of Gaochang is also very important. The Turpan Basin is rich in resources and can support the garrison in Beiting. Therefore, although the Beiting Protectorate is in Tingzhou, Gaochang has a significant influence on Beiting.
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"The Tang Dynasty also occupied Gaochang first, and then had the bridgehead to open up the Western Regions. The Wuzhou Kaibian and Kaiyuan Kaibian were actually the foundations laid during the reign of Emperor Taizong."
Everyone nodded, thinking about it, Emperor Taizong was really far-sighted and had a long-term strategic vision.
As everyone talked, they were invited to the governor's house.
What Shang Bo didn't expect was that Li Xiuzhang, the governor of Xizhou, greeted them personally.
Li Xiuzhang was in his fifties and tall. Compared with Zhang Xian, the weak governor of Guazhou, Li Xiuzhang looked more like a military general.
After Li Xiuzhang and everyone entered the reception room of the Governor's Mansion, and after the screen retreated, Li Xiuzhang asked Chi Jie's Shang Bo questions and answers:
"Are you the envoys of King Jianning's Mansion?"
Shang Bo nodded, and Li Xiuzhang asked again:
"Merchant rumors say that His Highness defeated the Tibetan army at Dangjin Mountain Pass. Is this true?"
Shang Bo nodded and said: "It is absolutely true that at Dangjin Mountain Pass, the Tibetan army led by Da Ke Shang Qixin'er killed more than 3,000 enemies and captured more than 2,000 people."
Li Xiuzhang took a breath, and said with joy on his face: "Your Highness is like a god with his troops! With this great victory, we in Xizhou will be able to live a good life for a while!"
Then Li Xiuzhang actually said to Shang Bo: "Shang Sima, His Majesty's edict was sent to Xizhou two years ago. His Royal Highness King Jianning is in charge of the military affairs of Longyou and is in charge of the civil affairs of Longyou states. Now I want to go to Shazhou to obey the edict.
Do you think it’s feasible?”
Now Shang Bo looked at the powerful Xizhou governor in surprise. He hadn't used his words to persuade him to surrender? He had surrendered himself?
The governor of Xizhou surrendered so easily?
wrong?
Shang Bo immediately thought, Li Xiuzhang just said that the prefect of Longyou Prefecture had received the emperor's edict years ago, but why didn't he follow the edict years ago?
There was no imperial edict a year ago, but now we have received the imperial edict. It is definitely not that simple.
Sure enough, Li Xiuzhang said: "I want to obey the imperial edict, but many monks from Shazhou fled to Gaochang a while ago and said that His Highness was destroying Buddhism in Shazhou. Is this possible?"
Shangbo immediately said: "Leiyin Temple colluded with Tubo to defraud the city of Shazhou and dedicate it to Tubo. Fortunately, the conspiracy was discovered by His Highness, and the plan was used to lure Shang Qixin'er into Dangjin Mountain Pass. This is how it happened.
When there is a great victory at Jinshan Pass, can’t these monks be killed?”
Li Xiuzhang then said: "I see! In this case, the prefect immediately issued an order to arrest all the monks who came from Shazhou to confuse the public with their evil words!"
Shang Bo frowned and looked at Li Xiuzhang and asked: "Master Li Fu, what do you have to say?"
Shang Bo's ability to observe people's emotions is first-rate, but when he heard Li Xiuzhang making such a roundabout way, one moment saying that he wanted to submit to King Jianning, and the other moment talking about His Highness's extermination of Buddhism, even Shang Bo didn't understand what the governor of Xizhou was going to say.
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At this time, Li Xiuzhang said: "I want to surrender to His Highness, but everyone in Gaochang believes in Buddhism. Even the Tianshan Army has a temple to worship him. Do you know how Shazhou now describes His Highness?"
Shang Bo naturally shook his head.
Li Xiuzhang said: "Please forgive me for being disrespectful to His Highness. Now everyone in Shazhou says that Your Highness is the 'Sixth Heaven Demon King' in the world, and is an obstacle to the World Honored One's implementation of Buddhism."
Hearing this, Shang Bo almost laughed out loud. These monks' curses were too unoriginal.
The Demon King of the Sixth Heaven, also known as Bo Xun, Mara, and the Six Brahma Gods, is called "Bharavi Mahabhavati" in Sanskrit. The leader of the demons in the Buddhist desire realm, he likes to hinder people in Buddhism from practicing Taoism, and always uses temptation and coercion.
and other methods in an attempt to hinder practitioners from cultivating the Tao.
The last person to receive such an "honor" was a village chief from the Japanese country hundreds of years later.
Li Xiuzhang paid his respects to Shang Bo: "Actually, it is not difficult for His Highness to want to go to Xizhou. As long as His Highness is willing to become a Buddhist protector, Gaochang will open the door to welcome His Highness into the city."
See you in Tuqiongdagger.
Shang Bo now understood what Li Xiuzhang meant by inviting him here. He was here to negotiate.
No wonder Gaochang is said to be the city of thousands of Buddhas. The Buddhist influence in Gaochang is so great that it can influence the governor of a state.
Shang Bo asked tentatively: "Does the governor also believe in Buddhism?"
Li Xiuzhang smiled and said: "Before I came to Xizhou, I didn't believe it either. But after I stayed in Gaochang for a long time, I realized that Buddhism is profound and really a great knowledge."
Unexpectedly, the scholars of the Tang Dynasty who read books about saints and sages were actually "transformed" by this monk in Gaochang City.
Li Xiuzhang looked at Shang Bo and said: "I heard that Shang Sima is a close confidant of His Highness, and I need you to advise His Majesty on some matters. The land of Longyou believes in Buddhism, and it is not good for Your Highness to bear the title of the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven.
.”
At this time, Shang Bo completely understood. Even Li Xiuzhang knew the importance of his Sima in His Highness's side. It was obvious that he had been paying attention to King Jianning for a long time.
Pretending to ask about the results of the battle was just the governor's rhetoric.
The real purpose was to represent the Buddhist forces in Gaochang and make conditions to King Jianning.
If he no longer destroys the Buddha and becomes the protector of Buddhism, then the entire Xizhou will immediately fall under the command of King Jianning.
If King Jianning refuses to bow his head, then everyone will have to fight to protect the law.
Shang Bo smiled bitterly. He had obviously accepted a mission to send an envoy to the Uighurs, but why did he fall into the turmoil in Xizhou? Shang Bo had no choice but to report the conversation, and then handed over his hand and said to Li Xiuzhang:
"I have your Highness's honor and I have important matters to do when I go north. Otherwise, Mr. Li Fu will let me go north first and I ask my companion to bring Mr. Fu's wishes to His Highness?"
But Li Xiuzhang said with a smile: "The Great Buddhist Temple in Gaochang City was built by the last King of Gaochang during the Zhenguan Period for Master Xuanzang. Please let your envoy and his entourage go to the Great Buddhist Temple to stay for a few days."