The Dharma Sea of ​​the Green Snake

Chapter 395 Picture Scroll of the Era of Worshiping the Tao and Suppressing the Buddha
"Who would have thought that Lingyou, the mad monk who banned Buddhism with his own efforts, would be reduced to this level?"

Sighing softly, I saw Zou Qiwu telling Pei Wende about the great achievements of Chan Master Lingyou when he was young, and at the same time recalling the astonishment he had when he first met him.

Even until now, Zou Qiwu couldn't imagine and accept it.

The crazy monk who advocated "reclaiming the fields of temples and Taoist temples to fill the national treasury" has now turned into a skinny old monk.

Every time he thought of this, Zou Qiwu couldn't help feeling sad.

"20 years ago, when you were just born..."

"Emperor Wenzong suddenly ordered to find all the babies born on the third day of March that year."

Although Zou Qiwu, who was only a mortal, didn't know what happened at that time, he also vaguely heard some rumors such as the soul boy offering sacrifices to the heavens and the medicine of longevity.

Then followed a big purge, and Chan Master Lingyou, Wenzong's right-hand man, defected.

In order to repay Chan Master Lingyou's kindness, Zou Qiwu, who was already wealthy at that time, resolutely decided to help the other party, rescued Pei Wende from the regiments of the imperial guards, and sent him out of Chang'an, which was in danger.

Only then did Zen Master Lingyou take Pei Wende away to Zhongnan Mountain, and successfully escaped from the capital under the pursuit of various forces.

"After that, Wenzong, who had no way to retreat, brazenly launched the 'Nanlu Change', and was eventually seized by eunuchs and placed under house arrest in the palace."

Sighing softly again, although Zou Qiwu's words were brief, they painted a thrilling picture of the times to everyone present.

"It wasn't until the current emperor ascended the throne and began to uphold Taoism and suppress Buddhism that a new era was reopened."

Perhaps having learned from Wenzong's experience and lessons, the current emperor, Li Yan, has taken a clear stand on advocating Taoism and suppressing Buddhism since he boarded the plane, and even directly issued the "Decree to Exterminate Buddha" not long ago.

It was not until that time that Zou Qiwu learned that the mad monk who disappeared 20 years ago actually lived in seclusion in this dangerous place in southern Hunan due to the follow-up influence of "Dan Chenzi Attacking the Mountain".

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"Is this what happened 20 years ago?"

Although he already knew about Zen Master Lingyou's forcible entry into Zhongnan Mountain.

But after hearing the whole story from Zou Qiwu, the client, Pei Wende couldn't help but feel a deep sense of guilt.

For the sake of this unrelated baby, Zen Master Lingyou really gave up too many things.

Identity, status, power, and even his own life...

If Zen Master Lingyou hadn't chosen to disobey Wenzong at that time, he might still be that unruly mad monk today, still running around to realize his ideal.

In contrast, today's Chan Master Lingyou not only can only linger in Tongqing Temple, but also has to suffer from severe pain in the heart chakra every day.

The stark contrast of front and back, up and down, even the silent Pei Hong didn't know what words to use to describe his state of mind.

[So, did so many things happen back then? 】

The old face of his father flashed in his mind.

Pei Hong, who originally thought it was a matter of course to "bring Pei Wende home to recognize his ancestors", suddenly felt that Zen Master Lingyou behaved more like a father than his own father.

[Is this why the old man has been unwilling to force them? 】

All kinds of thoughts kept reverberating in Pei Hong's mind, and he suddenly lost the reason to take Pei Wende back when he was upright.

"It turns out that Dad went through so many things when he was young!"

Pulling Zou Qiwu's sleeve affectionately, Yue'er, who had heard the whole process, looked at her father with adoring eyes.

"Haha, it's all just grown-up events!"

Laughing and rubbing Yue'er's head, Zou Qiwu looked at Pei Wende who was almost as tall as himself, and said something sincerely.

"Pei Wende, you are much better than I imagined!"

Before going up the mountain, Zou Qiwu heard some stories about Pei Wende from the nearby villagers.

And after this careful observation and conversation, Zou Qiwu was even more sure that he did not save the wrong person.

Just like what the villagers said, Pei Wende's temper may be a bit fiery, but in other respects he undoubtedly meets the standard of "a heart of a Bodhisattva".

Among other things, the fact that the other party chose to go down the mountain with Pei Hong without hesitation this time to solve the ongoing haunting incident in Ningxiang can be seen.

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At the foot of Weishan Mountain, near Anxiang Station.

"You said... which wave is this?"

He was fully armed and stopped at the door of the post station. He saw a few familiar post officers whispering and watching vigilantly for refugees passing by outside.

"At this age, who would count these things?"

Angrily, he retorted in a low voice. When one of the post officials noticed a wave of strange refugees approaching here, he immediately raised his weapon to intimidate them.

It can be seen from the clothes of these refugees that they are not local villagers living in Tanzhou.

After realizing that the post officials refused to approach their own people, the travel-stained refugees were stunned for a moment, then turned numbly and walked in another direction.

For these refugees who have lost their homes and everything, being squeezed out by the locals is a matter of course.

They've gotten used to it all, and now they just want to move on, to keep going, to find a new home that accepts them and allows them to live.

"It's all because of the locust plague!"

Seeing this, a post officer who obviously couldn't bear it had to gnash his teeth and curse.

Since the beginning of this year, various abnormalities have appeared in the weather in various places.

Although the terrifying locust plague did not sweep across the entire land of China, there were signs of it in some places.

Coupled with the "Decree on the Extermination of Buddhism" passed down from above some time ago, even the remote area of ​​Tanzhou has begun to be affected.

"This is the result of natural disasters and man-made disasters..."

"Don't forget the fate of old man Cao. If you don't want to die, don't show any unnecessary compassion."

There was a slight pause in the tone, and the post officer who spoke first clenched the steel knife in his hand, and said in a tone of suppressed panic.

"After all, no one knows whether these hungry and displaced people are good or bad, and whether there are any monsters hidden among them."

—Recommendation ticket—/—Monthly ticket—

(End of this chapter)