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0332 Xuanzang

Tianzhu, Magadha King Shecheng, Nalanda Temple.

Xuanzang had finished his morning classes and was about to go to the Sutra Pavilion to copy scriptures when he saw a disciple coming over and said: "Brother Xuanzang, there are several businessmen who claim to be from the Eastern Tang Dynasty and want to see you."

Hearing this, he was very surprised and said: "A businessman from the Tang Dynasty, are you sure?"

The disciple said: "That's what the guide who brought them here did say... Oh, by the way, senior brother who is devoted to serving Buddha may not know that two months ago, hundreds of Tang Dynasty merchant ships arrived in Tianzhu from the sea..."

"They brought countless treasures, and the whole of Tianzhu was a sensation...It is said that all the merchants in Tianzhu are going to the seaside to find them to trade..."

"I guess those businessmen outside the door came by boat. They heard about senior brother's name and came here to pay homage."

Mentioning Xuanzang's reputation, the disciples couldn't help but admire him.

Xuanzang was extremely surprised and said: "Amitabha, is this happening? Please... no, take me to see them quickly."

All the way to the door, I saw a dozen figures wearing familiar clothes in the distance.

The disciple said: "Senior brother, it's them."

"I saw it, thank you, junior brother." After Xuanzang thanked him, he couldn't help but walk a little faster.

After arriving at the door, he took a deep breath and stepped forward and said: "Amitabha, poor monk Xuanzang, may I ask how many donors are looking for me?"

The strong man in the lead looked him up and down, and when he saw that he was indeed a Han, he said: "A certain Huang Jianfeng heard that there is an eminent monk from the Tang Dynasty in Tianzhu, and he came here to pay his respects."

Hearing the familiar Chang'an accent, Xuanzang's Zen heart couldn't help but beat violently with excitement:

"Amitabha, thank you donor... I have been away from home for a long time and I really want to know about the current situation in my hometown. Please come to the temple and ask for advice."

Huang Jianfeng said: "I also have something to ask the master for advice, please."

Several people came to the temple together. Huang Jianfeng followed Xuanzang to his Zen room, while the entourage he brought with him stayed outside.

After the two parties sat down, Huang Jianfeng took the initiative and said: "Master, I'm offended. Please show me the certification documents so that I can confirm your identity."

Xuanzang was stunned for a moment. He took the initiative to visit but had to check his identity. This was an excessive request.

But seeing the other party's serious look, he didn't refuse and went to the cabinet in the bedroom to take out his ultimatum.

After seeing it, Huang Jianfeng finally confirmed that it was him, and then said apologetically: "I'm sorry, someone asked me to bring a gift to the master. I have to verify my identity."

As he spoke, he took off the package he was carrying, and when he opened it, there was a locked box inside.

Xuanzang was puzzled. Who would give him a gift? Or who actually knew that he was still alive in Tianzhu?

"I wonder which old friend of the poor monk entrusted it to me?"

Huang Jianfeng said: "Zixiao Guan Chen Jingke and Chen Zhenren."

"Zixiao Temple? Chen Zhenren?" Xuanzang was even more confused. He had never heard of these two names.

Moreover, Zhenren Chen from Zixiao Guan sounds like a Taoist. Why did he give himself a gift to a monk?

Huang Jianfeng saw his doubts and explained: "Purple Xiao Temple was created by Sun Simiao and Sun Zhenren, and Chen Zhenren is Sun Zhenren's direct disciple..."

He introduced the ins and outs of Zixiao Temple and Chen Jingke’s identity in detail.

Xuanzang couldn't help but be surprised. He naturally knew about Sun Simiao, but he didn't expect such a big change to happen.

In particular, I am worried that Zixiaoguan has completed the integration and innovation of Taoism, completely overwhelming Buddhism.

Although Zixiaoguan behaved relatively restrainedly and did not launch an attack on Buddhism, it is only a matter of time that one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers.

Although Buddhism is powerful, the conflicts between factions are also greater.

Although Taoism has many sects, their ideological templates are all the same. To be honest, there are no big ideological differences between the two sides. The reason why the sects are formed is more because of interests.

But Buddhism is different. It is a sect formed because of different ideas. It is even more difficult to reconcile. It can even be said that there is no possibility of reconciliation at all.

In this case, how should Buddhism face the unified Taoism?

In particular, Sun Simiao, the Taoist leader, was canonized as a medical saint. He was the only person alive to be canonized. Chen Jingke, as a Taoist priest, actually married his first princess.

With such a leader, what can Buddhism do to resist? As a Buddhist, he had to worry about this.

But he was an eminent monk after all, so he did not lose his composure and asked carefully about the current situation of the Tang Dynasty.

He couldn't help but feel happy when he learned that the Tang Dynasty had wiped out the Eastern Turks and pacified the barbarians and restored the glory of the Celestial Kingdom. Even his worries about Buddhism were gone.

The two chatted until nightfall, then ended the conversation.

Xuanzang personally entertained Huang Jianfeng and others to a fasting meal, and arranged a place for them to rest before returning to his meditation room.

Taking out the heavy box, he was filled with curiosity.

That Master Chen is obviously very young, how did he know about himself? How did he know that he was in Tianzhu? Why did he give himself something? What is in this box?

He has too many questions, and he needs to find answers in this box.

The box was locked with a small lock. Huang Jianfeng did not give him the key, nor did he mention the key, and he did not ask where the key was.

It was obvious that the person who gave the gift deliberately refused to give the key because he was afraid that someone would open it halfway.

As for how Xuanzang opened it, it was too simple.

He found an iron pestle and smashed it down hard, causing the lock to break.

Opening the box, there were books neatly arranged inside, and at the top of the book was a thick letter.

Book? Why do you come all the way to deliver a book to me? What kind of book is this?

Xuanzang picked up the letter first with doubts. After opening it, he found two piles of paper in the envelope, one thick and one thin.

He picked up the thin book, unfolded it and read it, and soon his expression became solemn.

The other party not only knew about him, but also knew about his journey to the west, and could even tell a story about his experiences in Tianzhu.

The key is that the other party's purpose is to ask him bluntly about his views on the merging of the three religions.

"Amitabha." He recited the Buddha's name. The ominous premonition just now came true, and Zixiao Temple finally showed its claws.

It's just that he never expected that the other party's heart would be so big, and that the three religions would merge.

Putting down the letter in his hand with a heavy heart, he unfolded the thicker pile of paper. This piece of paper was half a meter long and half a meter wide, with the outline of the map of the Tang Dynasty, the Western Regions, and Tianzhu drawn on it.

At the end of the letter, the other party asked him to help fill in the map.

As a man who could travel thousands of miles west to obtain the true scriptures alone, Xuanzang immediately guessed the other party's purpose.

"I didn't expect that Chen Zhenren's ambition would be so great... However, with the national power of the Tang Dynasty at this time, it is hard to say whether he can conquer Tianzhu, but there is no problem in conquering the Western Regions."

"Although the poor monk is a monk, he is also a member of the Han family. I have to help you with this. Amitabha, please forgive me."

Xuanzang immediately decided that no matter what religious differences the two sides had, he must complete this task as a Han Chinese.

He was not too familiar with the situation in the Western Regions and Tianzhu. It could be said that he could fill this picture with his eyes closed.

However, he was not in a hurry, but picked up the book below and started to read it. The letter did not mention a word about these books, and he was very curious about what kind of book it was.

Is it a new doctrine of Taoism, trying to persuade me to agree to the unification of the three religions?

But when he saw the title of the book, he frowned slightly, Journey to the West?

I don't know why, but when he saw this name, he felt an inexplicable touch, as if this book had a deep relationship with him.

Shaking his head to get rid of this thought, he opened the text.

Once again, he was surprised to find that this turned out to be a supernatural novel. He once again wondered, what was the meaning of giving him such a novel?

If you have the patience to continue reading, you will have to admire the rich and wonderful imagination of the author of this book.

The story was so exciting that even he couldn't help but want to know what happened next.

As he continued reading, he gradually understood the content of this book, which was used to promote Taoism, because it was full of Taoist things.

Huang Jianfeng had told him some Taoist innovations before, but they were not detailed. Now through Journey to the West, he finally understood what the new Taoist mythology system was about.

I couldn't help but admire: "Sun Zhenren is an expert. No wonder he can crush me, the Buddha, in the eighteen levels of heaven and hell and the six reincarnations. The most amazing thing is the four great heavenly masters. No wonder he can make all Taoist sects bow their heads."

However, he kept seeing Sun Wukong being crushed under the Wuzhi Mountain, and there was still no sign of Journey to the West, which inevitably made him suspect that the title of the book was not worthy of the name.

However, the lecture given by Zixiaoguan in the next chapter not only changed his view, but also made him understand the true purpose of this book.

When he saw Daode Tianzun descending to earth and transforming into Lao Tzu, he blurted out: "Transform Hu into Buddha."

In order to verify his guess, he did not read down in order, but turned through the table of contents to the chapter where Sakyamuni attained enlightenment and became a Buddha after the battle to slay demons.

After reading it, his face became unusually heavy, and he murmured: What a great calamity, what a transformation of Hu into a Buddha, so you actually want to use this method to achieve the unification of the three religions.

At the same time, he also understood Chen Jingke's intention of giving him something, which was to show off his cards in advance and let him make a choice whether he agreed to this method or not.

But a new doubt arose: Although I was a little famous in China, I had no power behind me and had very little influence on various Buddhist sects. Why did you specifically seek my opinion?

But Xuanzang was Xuanzang, and he soon thought of a possibility: What would happen if I returned to the Tang Dynasty carrying countless scriptures and Buddhist treasures?

Chinese Buddhism will be able to put aside its prejudices and celebrate this important event together, and it will also have a unique position in Buddhism.

Think about it, if when Buddhism in China was celebrating its return and thought it was about to usher in a great revival, it had chosen to unify the three religions.

The blow to Buddhism as a whole would be devastating.

Hiss, he couldn't help but take a breath of cold air when he thought of this. If Chen Zhenren could even calculate this and make a plan one step ahead, it would be too terrifying.

But other than this possibility, he really couldn't explain why the other party would travel thousands of miles to give him these things.

"If all this is true... Taoism is so lucky to have masters like Sun Zhenren and wise men like Chen Zhenren."

"Can they really accomplish the feat that no one before them has accomplished and unify the three religions?"

The concept of the unity of the three religions had already been proposed by some people during the Sui Dynasty. For example, the great Confucian Wang Tong and others have been working hard on this throughout their lives, but there has been no substantial progress.

Xuanzang was naturally aware of this matter. He himself disapproved of the unification of the three religions.

There are constant disputes within Buddhism, and sometimes the two sides can quarrel for decades over the interpretation of a single scripture and even regard the other as enemies.

The differences between the three religions are even greater, and it is simply an impossible task to unify them.

Unless one family can gain the absolute upper hand and completely trample the other two under their feet, forcing them to revise their teachings, just like they did when they only respected Confucianism.

But he thinks the chances of this happening are slim.

However, if what Huang Jianfeng said about Taoism is true, then the possibility that he thinks is the most unlikely may really appear.

The Tang Dynasty recognized Lao Tzu as its ancestor, and was destined to respect Taoism.

Now that Taoist leader Sun Simiao has been canonized, and his disciples still want to consecrate the princess, the royal family's support for Taoism has become inevitable.

Internally, Taoism has completed its self-integration and become a unified force, and has also made breakthroughs in thought and doctrine.

Although he did not understand the new Taoist teachings, he could see through the journey to the west that he was indeed unique.

Especially the mythology system, the reincarnation system and the good and evil system are crushing levels for other sects.

It can be said that Taoism has the right time, place and people. It already has the foundation to crush the other two companies. It just depends on when they take action.

However, he believed that this would not take long, and even before he received the gift, the other party had already taken action.

He could already imagine the pressure that Buddhism in China was facing at this time. It was still unclear whether those fellow believers could persist until he returned.

But he has no plans to go back now, not because he is afraid, but because his purpose of coming to Tianzhu has not been completed yet.

I haven't learned many scriptures yet, so how can I give up halfway?

Rather than returning in a hurry, it is better to be fully prepared before going back. By then, whether it is a war or a peace, he will be more confident.

Xuanzang's expression soon became firm: "Although you have taken the lead in Taoism, it is not that easy to unify the three religions. If you want to gain the approval of the poor monk, you must first be able to argue with me on doctrine."

After that, he took out the map and added the details according to his memory. He also took out a piece of white paper and wrote down everything he knew about the various forces.

I wrote all night long, and it wasn't until the sky turned white and the temple bells rang that I finally finished writing.

Then he wrote a letter to Chen Zhenren, whom he had never met.

When everything was ready, I took out Journey to the West from the box, put the map and explanation text in it, and found a small lock to lock it.

Putting the box aside, I went to attend morning classes as usual. Then I invited Huang Jianfeng and others to visit the temple and showed their kindness as landlords.

Finally, he handed the box to Huang Jianfeng and said, "Donor Huang, please give it to Master Chen in Zixiaoguan."

This chapter has been completed!
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