The Song Dynasty has been deliberate for 16 years, only to know that it is the Water Margin

Chapter 442
At this time, Zhenxin also saw Qingzheng's name nearby and couldn't help being surprised: "Sure enough, there are ancestors who have not passed away."

But then there was some hesitation: "This Patriarch Qingzheng marked that he has returned to secular life. In fact, he does not know his situation, but he cannot be sure that he is still alive."

Zhao Tong squinted and looked at the time when Qingzheng returned to secular life. It was actually the eighth year of Renzong's Tiansheng reign. Tiansheng was the first reign of Renzong. It took a total of ten years, almost a hundred years now.

At this moment, he was convinced that Master Jintai must be this Qingzheng, because all the disciples of Master Hongyun have passed away, and only this Qingzheng has the words "Return to the secular world, unknown life and death".

Moreover, according to what Yue Fei recounted from Zhou Tong, Jintai went to Songshan when he was around [-] years old and did not stay for a long time. He returned to secular life after Master Hongyun passed away. And he had just seen that Master Hongyun passed away in the eighth year of Tiansheng. , the time is just right.

"It seems that Master Qingzheng is my senior!" Zhao Tong handed the book to Lu Junyi and Yue Fei for viewing, and then said slowly.

"But..." Monk Zhenxin said in confusion: "This Patriarch Qingzheng returned to secular life a long time ago."

Zhao Tong shook his head: "Decades ago, he saw through the mortal world and came back. He is cultivating quietly in the temple. Master Zhenxin doesn't know about it."

Zhenxin frowned and thought for a while: "If this is true, then I am afraid that only the abbot and Master Xuanzi know about this."

Zhao Tong looked at him and said: "If I go to the abbot to ask, Master Zhenxin will see..."

Hearing this, Zhenxin shook his head wildly: "Donor, this Qingzheng Patriarch is two generations older than the abbot. If he really returns to the temple and confesses again, even the abbot will not reveal it. For a long time, even us Even the deacons have concealed it, and they must have kept it secret until the very end.”

Zhao Tong nodded and sighed softly, knowing that what Zhenxin said was true. Since even these people have been hiding it, they will hide it until death.

What's more, the abbot of Songshan Temple cannot be bribed as easily as Zhenxin. A mere two bags of silver can make him run around. The abbot must have Buddhist teachings and extremely high martial arts skills. Moreover, the entire Songshan Mountain is under his management, and the family has a big business. Big, I'm afraid I won't be attracted to ordinary yellow and white things.

"In that case, I have to let it go." Zhao Tong smiled and said: "Sengpu has bothered Master Zhenxin to return it, but can Master Zhenxin accompany me to the places behind?"

Songshan Temple is divided into front and back. The front is naturally the palaces and temples where people burn incense, worship Buddha, and receive visitors from all directions, such as the Main Hall, Thousand Buddhas Hall, Heavenly King Hall and other places.

Behind are the Bodhidharma Courtyard, Arhat Hall, Sutra Library Pavilion, Muren Alley, Bodhidharma Cave, and Pagoda Forest.

The back part of the temple is not open to the public. People who go up the mountain to worship Buddha cannot go here, and there are monks guarding every place. If someone is found to break in, they will respond as if they were an enemy attack.

"This..." Monk Zhenxin heard this and said, "Donor, to be honest with you, if you want to watch from behind, you need permission from the abbot and abbot."

Zhao Tong said with a smile: "Master Zhenxin is a deacon who knows guests, and he is responsible for receiving and entertaining guests. Other deacons may not have this right, but Master Zhenxin definitely has it."

After hearing the words, Zhenxin felt very useful. He couldn't help but feel embarrassed, but he said with some embarrassment: "Donor, the young monk did have this right originally, but he was only allowed to take people to visit the temple three times a year. Now, now... It’s been used three times.”

Zhao Tong shook his head and said: "I believe Master Zhenxin will definitely find a way."

Zhenxin couldn't help but feel anxious. He didn't lie. He had indeed used his right to take people to visit the whole temple three times this year. However, he did not expect that such a big benefactor would come again, and he regretted that he had been too hasty before.

Zhao Tong said: "I am a household monk, and I am also a half Buddhist. I am good friends with Zen Master Zhiqing, the abbot of Daxiangguo Temple in Tokyo. We often play chess, drink tea, and discuss Buddhism. We have a close relationship. Now we are just visiting. That’s all, I will definitely not do anything harmful to Songshan Temple.”

"The donor is from Tokyo?" Monk Zhenxin was surprised when he heard this: "Does he have friendship with the abbot of Daxiangguo Temple?"

"Exactly!" Zhao Tong took out a folding fan from his body and shook it gently: "Zen Master Zhiqing and I often pass by each other, and his senior brother, Abbot Zhizhen of Wenshu Monastery in Wutai Mountain, also has friendship with me."

Monk Zhenxin's expression suddenly changed. Tokyo's Daxiangguo Temple is the largest temple in the world today. There are 64 Zen monasteries in charge of the temple, each of which is equivalent to a small temple. There are also abbots, elders, and deacons inside, which is simply huge. , the power of the abbot of Xiangguo Temple is as powerful as the sky.

Zhizhen, the abbot of Wenshu Monastery in Wutai Mountain, is famous for his extremely high Buddhist teachings and is known as the best in eloquence, unmatched by anyone.

He couldn't help but lick his lips, his eyes flickered, and he said with a smile: "I didn't expect the donor to know these masters. Even the junior monks only heard their names and have never seen these eminent monks."

Zhao Tong said: "In these years, I have traveled to famous mountains and rivers, visited Buddhist monasteries, and met many eminent monks. Many large temples have been built in Tokyo Prefecture."

Zhenxin hurriedly chanted the Buddha's name: "I originally thought that the donor was just an ordinary layman, but I didn't expect that a noble person came here. This young monk is really too rude."

Zhao Tong smiled and said: "Although there are three things in Buddhism that don't ask, first of all, the age and the time of tonsure. But Master Zhenxin said it just now, so I will no longer avoid it. The master is now in his forties, although Zhike is a big man." Deacon, hasn’t Master ever thought of going one step further?”

When Zhenxin heard this, he couldn't help but think about it. The benefactor in front of him must be a noble person. He thought about how famous Zen Master Zhiqing, the abbot of Daxiangguo Temple in Tokyo, was in the sect, and all the people he interacted with were high-ranking officials. He is a high-ranking official. This young master can drink tea and play chess with him at such a young age. It is self-evident that he is a noble man.

Zhao Tong fanned his house and said, "I have friendships with the abbots of many famous temples in the world. Although I can't talk to you here at Songshan Temple, if Master Zhenxin wants to change his location in the future and take a step forward, I can be of some help. There is a saying that goes well, many friends, many paths, it is not unreasonable."

Zhenxin actually thinks the same way at the moment. He is not good at martial arts. The abbot and the first hall master of Songshan Temple have to test their boxing and kicking skills. Therefore, he has reached the top position of the Archdeacon and there is basically no possibility of taking a step forward. , which is why he loves yellow and white things. Since he can't become an abbot, he should save more money.

But a monk who doesn't want to be the abbot is not a good monk. He dreams that one day he can be the abbot of a temple and a courtyard. At this moment, he suddenly feels that there is hope, and he can't help but get excited immediately.

"Noble sir, although the young monk has already used the three opportunities, but the noble status is different, it does not mean that we cannot invite you to visit the back. As long as you don't meet troublesome people, who will remember how many times I have brought guests there." Zhenxin considered. said.

Zhao Tong smiled and said, "That's right. What's more, even if the abbot finds out, it will be all up to me. I will make sure that Master Zhenxin has nothing to do with it."

When Zhenxin heard this, he felt relieved. If the young master in front of him really had a wide circle of friends, it would be a bad thing. There is no unchanging truth in the world. There is still time for Buddhism to open the door to convenience.

After looking at the sky outside, Monk Zhenxin said: "Then the young monk will take the nobles there now? But there can't be so many people, it will be too disturbing to the ears and eyes."

Zhao Tong nodded and said: "I will go alone, and they will stay here and wait."

The monk Zhenxin said: "The noble man, please get up!"

The two of them walked out of the hall. Monk Zhenxin looked around and said, "Noble sir, just follow me. No one may ask."

Zhao Tong nodded and went down two corridors, heading east and then north, passing several major halls, and came to the back. There were monks guarding here. When he saw two people chanting Buddha's name, they responded and then passed.

Then the front became brighter. Monk Zhenxin took Zhao Tong to the First Ancestor Temple first, then to the Sixth Ancestor Hall, and then came to the front of the Luohan Hall.

It was a lively place here. Outside, I could hear the shouts of people practicing martial arts inside. Zhao Tong smiled and said, "I have heard that the monks of Songshan Temple are very capable. I wonder if one can defeat a hundred?"

Zhenxin shook his head and said: "The noble man praises you. It requires the first hall leader such as the four leaders. Ordinary monks don't have such fists and kicks. They can only fight a few."

Zhao Tong nodded, and the two of them continued walking, but they came to the outside of Damo Monastery. The place was quiet, and there were two monks standing in front of the door with their eyes downcast, like stone carvings.

Zhenxin whispered: "The head of Bodhidharma Temple is one of the best masters in this temple, and his martial arts skills are even as good as those of the abbot and abbot."

Hearing this, Zhao Tong took a look inside the courtyard and secretly remembered the layout of the buildings inside. He thought that Master Jintai might be hiding in the Bodhidharma Courtyard, because the Bodhidharma Courtyard in Songshan Temple is a place specializing in martial arts. Isn't that right? Suitable for Jintai Qianxi?

The two walked a few more places, and then came to the Sutra-Depository Pavilion at the back. When they got here, Zhao Yu cheered up. If the golden platform was not in Bodhidharma Court, it would most likely be in this Sutra-Depository Pavilion.

Because this is the most important place of Songshan Temple. The original book of Songshan 72 Arts is here. It needs a person with extremely high martial arts to guard it. Moreover, this place is usually quite quiet and suitable for practice.

Zhenxin said: "Noble man, please don't get too close. The monks guarding this pavilion are all arrogant. Even the young monks rarely interact with them."

Zhao Tong nodded and looked at the Sutra Pavilion. This place is actually a pagoda. It looks like a pagoda and a palace. It is three stories high. It is protected by a wall outside and a tall gate tower directly in front. At this moment, there are two The wooden door was half open and half closed, and there was a man sweeping the floor in front of the door with a broom made of bamboo.

Zhao Tong's eyes suddenly lit up and he looked at the monk sweeping the floor. The monk was wearing gray robes and green and white monk shoes. Because of the hot weather, he did not wear a monk's hat.

It's just... Although this monk looks old, he has a fat body and a round belly. Even compared with the Zhenxin monk, he is not far behind.

Zhao Tong's steps forward suddenly stopped, and a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes. Doesn't this look like Master Jintai?
Although he had never seen Jintai, he had tried to describe his image in his mind. Since Jintai was a person in the world at that time, and had the title of being unable to punch Jin, his figure should be as strong as a spear. Even if he is older, My body is old, but I shouldn't be this rich.

"My lord, this is Uncle Rumeng. He is responsible for cleaning inside and outside the Sutra Pavilion. Although he is fat, he is very skilled in martial arts." Zhenxin said from the side.

"It's...Master Rumeng!" Zhao Tong laughed dryly. It seemed that he was indeed not Master Jintai.

At this time, Monk Rumeng saw the two of them, straightened his back, thumped his waist, and said, "True believer, if you don't stay at the mountain gate, what are you doing here?"

Zhenxin said hurriedly: "Uncle Rumeng, I will take this benefactor to visit various places. This benefactor came from Tokyo and is a good friend of Zen Master Zhiqing, the abbot of Daxiangguo Temple."

"Oh?" Rumeng looked at Zhao Tong after hearing this: "Does the donor recognize Abbot Zhiqing?"

Zhao Tong smiled: "We've been together for a long time."

Monk Rumeng said: "I once went to Tokyo when I was young. Zhiqing was not the abbot of Xiangguo Temple at that time, but the abbot of Huihuai Temple of Dongda Zen Temple. He likes to wear snow-white monk clothes on weekdays and is good at writing poems. The lyrics are written by a dashing Confucian monk from Tokyo."

Zhao Tong touched his chin when he heard this: "Master Rumeng, are you sure? I remember that before Zen Master Zhiqing became the abbot of Xiangguo Temple, he was the abbot of Zhihai Zen Temple of Xida Zen Temple. He was a simple man and could not write poems and lyrics, but he was good at chess. Two courses of tea, delicious pickles and rolled tofu.”

Monk Rumeng blinked and said with a smile, "Is it possible that I am getting older and have remembered it wrong?"

Zhao Tong smiled slightly: "Master Rumeng remembers correctly, I'm afraid Master Rumeng is talking about Master Wuhua, right? The abbot of Huihuai of Dongda Zen Temple is Master Wuhua, which fits the characteristics of the white-robed Confucian monk, huh... By the way, Master Ruhua doesn't like to eat pickled vegetables and rolled tofu. He likes to eat fried tofu, the kind that is cooked with chopped green onion over low heat." Rumeng laughed and said, "This donor is a wonderful person, a wonderful person. Ah, do you really believe it?”

Zhenxin said hurriedly: "Uncle Master, what are your orders?"

Ru Meng said: "Take this benefactor for a walk and let him see some of the scenery of our Songshan Temple. How does it compare with the Great Xiangguo Temple?"

Zhenxin hurriedly said yes, and felt completely relieved. Although he had not doubted Zhao Tan's words before, at this moment, he was even more sure that what Zhao Tan said was true. After all, Ru Meng's verbal test just now, if not for Zhao Tan's I am very familiar with Xiangguo Temple in Tokyo. I know the abbot and abbot there. How could I know so many things?

The two of them continued to walk forward, but they visited almost all the places in Songshan Temple. Zhao Tao had a rough understanding of the topography of the temple, and was about to say something about returning, when something came to his mind, he raised his eyebrows and said, "Master Zhenxin, I haven’t gone to Tallinn yet.”

"Tallin?" Zhenxin was stunned and said, "Your Excellency, do you want to go to Tallinn to see it? There is nothing to see there."

Tallinn is actually the cemetery of the past abbots and monks of Songshan Temple. Even the monks in the temple rarely go there.

Zhao Tong said: "Go and have a look. I heard that the Songshan Pagoda Forest Temple is the best among all the temples. How can you not go and see it?"

Zhenxin could only nod his head and said: "My lord, please come with me."

The pagoda forest of Songshan Temple is located in the west of the temple. It occupies a huge area. The shapes of the pagodas inside are not exactly the same. There are tomb pagodas and Buddhist pagodas with various styles. The levels of the pagodas are also different, ranging from one to seven levels, but most of them are not higher than The five-foot-long pagodas all have inscriptions and foreheads, which look very spectacular from a distance.

When we arrived at the pagoda forest, there were also monks guarding them, but they were sparse and sparse. Apparently, they were relatively lax about this place. The reason was that there were no gold, silver, jewelry, secret martial arts, or relics of eminent monks in the pagoda forest, because the eminent monks If there are monk treasure relics during the refining process of the great virtue, they will be taken out and stored separately and will not be buried here. Therefore, thieves and enemies will basically not come here.

There is a row of monks' houses outside the pagoda forest. They are different from the ones in the temple in front. They look a bit decayed. They are probably where the warrior monks rest and the pagoda-keeping monks live.

Zhao Tong and monk Zhenxin walked in. The monks just glanced at them and continued to do their own things without even asking.

Zhenxin whispered: "The monks guarding here all made mistakes and were sent here by the Discipline Hall, but they will go back after only a few days, so no one wants to take care of things."

Zhao Tong said: "Wouldn't this become a place of punishment?"

Zhenxin said: "What the noble man said is correct. These monks repent in front of the tombs of the ancestors. Sometimes it is more useful than facing the wall and thinking about their mistakes."

Zhao Tan nodded, and the two of them walked into the pagoda forest. While walking, they introduced some famous monks' pagodas and life anecdotes to Zhao Tong. Zhao Tong listened with great interest.

It was now approaching evening, and the rays of the setting sun shone down from the horizon like rouge, reflecting the golden color of the Tallinn with a hint of red. The scenery was extremely beautiful for a while.

At this moment, Zhao Tong suddenly saw a figure in the distance, holding a broom to clean the grass and debris under the tower, and he couldn't help but be startled.

This figure is tall and thin. You can see that his clothes are lonely, his eyebrows are white and his beard is snowy, and he looks a bit old and lonely.

Zhao Tong said: "Who is this?"

Zhenxin took a look and said, "This is the monk guarding the tower. He has been here in Tallin for many years."

"Monk guarding the tower?" Zhao Tong narrowed his eyes: "What is the name of this monk?"

Zhenxin was stunned for a moment: "Your Excellency, you have asked this little monk. Since I became a guest, this monk has been guarding the tower in the tower forest. In the past, my master and uncle who passed away came here to bury me, so I am also with this monk. The monk struck up a conversation, but he was speechless and couldn't speak at all, so I didn't ask him any more questions, and I didn't even know his Buddhist name."

"Aphasia?" Zhao Tong thought for a while, this seems a bit strange. The dignified Songshan Temple uses a mute monk to guard the pagoda forest. Although it is somewhat possible, isn't this aphasia the best way to disguise it?

"Does this monk know martial arts?" Zhao Tong asked.

"Martial arts..." Zhenxin shook his head: "This little monk doesn't know. Anyway, the few times I saw him, he was sweeping the floor with a broom. I never saw him punching or kicking."

Zhao Tong said: "If you don't know his name, you don't know his seniority, but don't you even know his age?"

Zhen Xinqi Ai Ai said: "I don't know, but I guess there will be records in the Discipline Hall, so the noble people will not doubt him..."

"I saw my elder when I was young, and the figure is somewhat similar." Zhao Tong said and walked forward, Zhenxin followed behind with a look of confusion on his face.

The monk also noticed their arrival at this moment and turned around. Zhao Tong saw his appearance at this time.

The monk's snow-white eyebrows were shaped like lying silkworms, his eyes were cloudy and dull, his face was as thick as jujubes and densely wrinkled, and his long gray beard hung down to his chest.

He is tall but very thin, with a slight stoop on his back. He seems to be weak and old while holding the broom in his hand. Although he does not know his exact age, he must be very old.

He looked at the two people, and finally his eyes fell on the monk Zhenxin, as if he was identifying who was coming.

Seeing this, Zhenxin smiled bitterly and chanted a Buddhist chant: "Senior brother, I am Zhenxin. Do you still remember?"

He didn't know the monk's seniority, so he addressed him as senior brother.

After a few breaths, the old monk raised his palms and nodded. Although he could not speak, his ears were not deaf.

"I took this benefactor to visit the temple. The benefactor said he wanted to come to the pagoda forest for a visit, so he came over." Zhenxin said loudly: "It's getting late, brother, why are you still sweeping the floor outside? Why don't you go back and rest? "

The old monk reacted for a moment after hearing the words, smiled, stretched out his hand, shook it, and pointed to the ground.

Seeing this, Zhenxin looked at Zhao Tong: "Noble sir, look..."

Zhao Tong indicated that it was okay, then took a step forward, raised his palms and chanted the same Buddhist chant, saying: "Master, please be polite."

The old monk looked away from Zhenxin and looked at him. After sizing him up, he smiled and nodded.

"I came from Tokyo and have been cultivating Buddhism at home. I have always been pious." Zhao Tong said thoughtfully: "When I came to Songshan to pay my respects, I have already traveled all over the temple. Now I see the majesty of this pagoda, and I am really moved. .”

When the old monk heard this, he still nodded.

Zhao Tong added: "I asked Master Zhenxin before, saying that the master has been guarding the pagoda forest for a long time, and I have great admiration for him. I think the master must be a eminent monk who is proficient in Buddhism, otherwise he would never be able to bear this loneliness, so I ask my respect, master." , please ask me about the master’s dharma title.”

When the old monk heard this, he pointed at his mouth and then at the true letter.

Zhenxin said: "Your Excellency, what Senior Brother means is that he cannot speak. I know this problem of his. Let me explain it to you."

Zhao Tong shook his head and smiled: "Master Zhenxin has said before that the master has been speechless for a long time, but I am good at sign language. Master can tell me in sign language. I am pious, and the master will definitely not refuse my request."

Hearing this, the old monk looked at Zhao Tao carefully again, then smiled and shook his head, then picked up the broom and wanted to bypass the two of them and walk out of Tallinn.

Zhao Tong couldn't help but sigh: "Actually, I'm not rude. In fact, the master is very similar to one of my seniors, so I asked for the master's dharma title."

The old monk stopped, with a confused expression on his face, and glanced at Zhenxin. Zhenxin smiled bitterly and nodded. The old monk stretched out three fingers and shook it gently.

Zhao Tong smiled and said: "I know that there are three things in Buddhism, and among them are relatives in the world. However, the senior and I are not relatives, but my master. My teacher is the founder of my master's disciple. His surname is Zhou and his name is Dong. also."

When the old monk heard this, he looked at Zhao Tong again, then removed his smile. He seemed a little impatient and wanted to continue walking forward.

Zhao Tong thought for a while and said, "Master, I wonder if you have ever heard of my master's name, Shang Qing Xia Zheng?"

The old monk no longer looked at him this time, nor did he respond. He walked around the two of them and slowly walked towards the house outside Tallinn.

Zhenxin whispered at this time: "Noble sir..."

Zhao Tong watched the old monk walk away little by little and said with a smile: "Go back."

At this moment, he was half sure that this old monk was Jintai. Although the old monk's performance just now was flawless, as a martial arts practitioner and having reached the half-step grand master realm, he could clearly feel that although the old monk had He looks old, but his energy is deep and deep, as deep as the sea. He is not as weak and old as he looks on the outside.

What's more, although this old monk doesn't have any flaws in his performance, it is actually the biggest flaw. He is so old, can't speak, and is confused. How can every movement and expression be so perfect?
After a while, the two returned to the living room, and with Zhenxin seeing them off, left the temple.

Watching the mountain gate gradually move away, Yue Fei asked: "Senior brother, have you ever found any traces of your master?"

Zhao Tong smiled and said: "I walked a lot, but I saw an old monk in Tallinn. I suspected it, but the other party didn't acknowledge it."

Lu Junyi said: "What should we do?"

Zhao Tong touched his chin: "This is easy to do. I'm familiar with the paths in Songshan Temple. I can just come over after dark to explore at night..."

(End of this chapter)