The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 220 Gratitude and resentment

It was autumn, the harvest season, and the city of Tokyo was filled with abundance.

All kinds of foreign goods and specialties are continuously shipped along the canal. The dock is extremely busy, with more cargo ships coming and going than at any other time of the year. The sounds of horns can be heard one after another, reaching far away.

The people in the city spontaneously ran around and delivered goods and letters to each household. Although it was not as formal as the military's express delivery, the legs were tied with the armor and horse talismans obtained from the Taoist temple. Under the psychological effect, their spirits were greatly boosted, and their speed was quite fast.

Tourists go out of the city in groups of three or five to enjoy the autumn scenery. Old men and women support each other, trembling and staggering but full of joy.

The officials put flowers in their hair and stood with their hands behind their backs. The ladies next to them were dressed up and put on rouge and floral dew. However, the officials' eyes were not on their wives, but were looking everywhere, especially at the plump girls in the crowd. When the ladies called him, he immediately coughed lightly and pretended to be angry: I'm thinking about poetry, don't say anything.

The young boy and girl were wearing new and bright clothes. The boy was lively and cheerful while the girl lowered her head shyly with a flushed face. They kept a distance but secretly exchanged glances with each other, their hearts were fluttering and they were indescribably happy and joyful.

The carriage set out from the palace and moved slowly along the way. When we arrived at East Gate Street, we saw that the crowds of people were not as crowded as usual. It was obviously a busy season, with many things to do and less time to stroll around.

Lan Jian had been looking out the window curiously on the way. He was nervous when entering Tokyo and hardly looked up, let alone looking around. But now he saw new things everywhere, and was dazzled and overwhelmed.

The four sisters were abandoned when they were young, probably because their family could not afford to support them and they were not capable of working as laborers, so they were picked up by Tong Lao and taken to the mountains to live in Lingjiu Palace. Although they went out quite often when they grew up, they mostly traveled around the world and conquered various sects. They seldom went into the city and had never seen such a prosperous scene.

Zhao Ti said: "It's nothing now, but it's during festivals when everything is really decorated with red and green, and people are thronging and jostling each other, making it very noisy."

Lan Jian said: "Sir, isn't the New Year the most lively time?"

Zhao Ti said: "That is true, but there is no need to wait for that time. The Mid-Autumn Festival will arrive in a few days. Many people from foreign countries will return to the capital to celebrate the festival, and it will be very lively."

Lan Jian nodded. At this moment, they had arrived at the middle of East Gate Street. It was difficult for carriages to pass, so everyone got off. Tong Guan found a place that was responsible for storing the items and delivered them. Then the group went to the main gate of Xiangguo Temple.

Usually I would take a stroll first and then drink tea at Dingjiasu Teahouse, and today was no exception.

After walking along the street, they entered Xiangguo Temple. After touring several floors inside the temple for an hour or two, Lan Jian's face turned red with excitement and he jumped for joy like a little child.

As he walked inside, he passed by Shao Zhu Courtyard and smelled an alluring aroma of meat. Lan Jian was shocked and asked, "Is this the place Sister Zhu was talking about?"

Ah Zhu said angrily, "It's right here. They are clearly engaged in the meat business, but they use the word Zhu. Sister Lan, don't you think it's infuriating?"

Lan Jian was puzzled and said, "It is indeed infuriating. I don't know why they use this word. It is clearly not what this word means."

Zhao Ti said: "Changing the word is just to cover up the truth. We should always save some face. After all, in the Buddhist community, we shouldn't be too straightforward."

Tong Guan whispered, "I heard that when the animals were slaughtered here, the abbot would ask, are you willing?"

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "That's true."

Ah Zhu said, "Those chickens, geese, and sheep, how could they object? Even if they did, no one would understand."

Lan Jian said: "Isn't this just superficial effort, deceiving yourself?"

Tong Guan said: "You two girls don't know that these monks are very hypocritical. It doesn't matter what ordinary people say when they pick up livestock, but they pretend to act like this and it's really a joke."

Zhou Tong shook his head and said, "Daofu, you are wrong.

Tong Guan's eyes clucked: "How is it different?"

Zhou Tong said, "Do you think everyone can see through it at a glance like us? Many people really believe that monks have supernatural powers and can understand the language of animals. They also believe in past lives, future lives, cause and effect, and virtue and sin. Many people believe in them. We are actually in the minority."

Tong Guan thought for a moment and said, "It does make sense. It turns out that there are more people who believe and fewer who don't."

Zhao Ti said: "Good men and women are all like this, but most of them think it's good if their wishes are fulfilled, and they will doubt if their wishes are not fulfilled. From this point of view, there is no need to say what is good or bad, and it doesn't matter whether it is a demon or a Buddha."

Lan Jian was puzzled and asked, "Sir, is it okay to deceive the world?"

Zhao Ti said leisurely: "If you can lie to others for a lifetime and live happily, then it can't be called a lie. If there is no past life or future life, then only this life is real."

Lan Jian was thoughtful when he heard this. Just as he was about to speak, he heard a Buddhist chant: "Namo Amitabha, Mr. Zhao is very proficient in Buddhism. Your words can penetrate the true emptiness of virtue, the existence of form and the absence of form. Mr. Zhao must have been a great monk in our Buddhist sect in his previous life. It is not impossible that he is the reincarnation of a bodhisattva."

They all looked and saw a large group of monks coming from the rear. The leader was dressed gorgeously in a purple robe and holding a nine-ring staff. It seemed that he was the one who had been granted a title by the imperial court.

Zhao Ti smiled slightly: "Why did Master Lancan come to Xiangguo Temple?"

Tong Guan whispered to everyone at this time: "This old monk is the abbot of Taiping Xingguo Temple. His Buddhist name is Lancan. I don't know which Buddhist sect he is from, but he is the only one with the name Lancan. There is a feud between the two temples. Lancan and Lingde of Xiangguo Temple are rivals. They often debate scriptures and refuse to accept each other's opinion."

There are two major temples in Tokyo, Daxiangguo Temple and Taipingxingguo Temple.

Although both are royal temples and Xiangguo Temple is even larger, Taiping Xingguo Temple is slightly closer to the imperial court. From ancient times to the present, looking back to future generations, this is the only temple named after the emperor's reign title.

When Emperor Taizong was young, he once ventured into Youzhou and caused trouble. He was chased by Liao soldiers all the way and was seriously injured. He fled to the bank of the Yellow River. At that time, the Yellow River had not yet changed its course. There was a raging flood in front of him and enemy troops behind him. He happened to meet a monk from Xingguo Temple who was there on business. The monks desperately rescued him and escorted him back to Later Zhou.

Decades later, when Emperor Taizong ascended the throne, he did not forget this event and named the temple after his reign title, Taipingxingguo. In the third year of Taipingxingguo, he erected a stele with the inscription Taipingxingguo Temple Record to record this event.

There are two Taiping Xingguo Temples, one on Mount Dayi and the other in Tokyo City. The one in Tokyo City was renamed by Emperor Taizong and belonged to Mount Dayi. Originally, Mount Dayi sent abbots to supervise the temple, but later on, the temple was directly appointed by the imperial court and its influence surpassed that of the main temple.

Xiangguo Temple was huge, with a huge number of worshippers, making a fortune every day. Taiping Xingguo Temple was jealous and dissatisfied, and it was difficult for the two temples to live in peace. They often slandered each other behind their backs, pointing out each other's shortcomings, fabricating lies, and spreading rumors.

The monks from Taiping Xingguo Temple often came to Xiangguo Temple to ask questions and debate with each other. They were very happy when they won and boasted to others. They were also sharp and aggressive, sarcastic and mocking, and left in triumph.

If they lose, their faces turn red, their necks turn purple, and they act like spoiled brats, talk nonsense, overturn tables and smash teacups, make threatening remarks, and walk away angrily.

There were sixty-four Zen and Vinaya monasteries in the Xiangguo Temple, but they were not afraid of this and did not tolerate it. They started with questioning the scriptures and then debated, and from debate to quarrels, and sometimes even got violent. The two sides became a ball, and even their fellow monks became thieves. The advantage was that they were the hosts, and they often beat the monks from the Taiping Xingguo Temple so hard that they fled away in panic.

"Namo Amitabha." Just look at this lazy and disabled monk chanting the Buddha's name again. He is about fifty years old, with thick eyebrows, a straight nose and a square mouth. He is tall and mighty, dressed in gorgeous clothes, showing the temperament of a noble monk.

"Donor Zhao, I came here because of what Lingde said today. I want to see if he made any mistakes or omissions, point them out on the spot, and teach him to correct them."

Zhao Ti touched his chin when he heard this, thinking, Aren't you just here to cause trouble, why are you speaking so righteously?

Tong Guan whispered, "It's going to be fun. The big monk is coming here in person. If there's more noise, I'm afraid the monk's head will be smashed into a pig's head." Among the men, Bai Zhan was an old resident of Tokyo. His ancestor was a patrol officer of the Kaifeng Military Patrol Office. Otherwise, he would not have been able to enter such an important place as the Imperial City Office. He was familiar with the grievances between the two temples and often came to watch the fun when he was a child. However, Azhu Lanjian and Zhou Tong were not very clear about it and were stunned when they heard it.

"So Abbot Lingde was going to give a lecture today, but I didn't know that." Zhao Ti nodded.

"Donor Zhao is very busy with official duties, so how can he have time to pay attention to such things? Moreover, Lingde's Buddhist teachings are not high. Lingde Lingde, if it is not spiritual, it is not very virtuous. He has no high reputation outside, and no one spreads his teachings. Few people come here. I am just here to show my support for you as a fellow practitioner."

"Hmm..." Zhao Ti smiled, thinking that you want to step on the other person everywhere, not even leaving a chance for words.

Lan Can walked forward at this time and saw that there were nearly a hundred monks following behind. He didn't know whether they were Buddhists or not, but they were all tall and strong, with broad shoulders and waists, holding various Buddhist instruments in their hands. One of them was even holding a large wooden fish, and the fish hammer was almost bigger than the iron hammer used on the battlefield.

Bai Zhan also lowered his voice and said, "See? Those instruments are not here to help with the music. When the fight breaks out, they will all be used as weapons."

Zhao Ti's eyes also fell on the big wooden fish, thinking that this was a veteran actor, and when it was struck it could disrupt lectures and also hit people on the head. It was the treasure of the Taiping Xingguo Temple.

Lan Can came closer and said, "Donor Zhao, you haven't been to Xingguo Temple for a while. I recently received some top-quality tea from a small temple in the south. Please taste it when you have time."

"Oh?" Zhao Ti asked, "I wonder what kind it is?"

Lan Can smiled and said, "It is a unique tea. There is only one tea tree in the world. It grows on the mountain where the small temple is located. It is called Buddha's Hand. The taste is indescribable and wonderful. It can help one to understand Zen. Otherwise, I would not dare to ask Mr. Zhao to taste it."

"Buddha's hand..." Zhao Ti thought for a moment: "But is it the Buddha's hand tea mentioned in Lu Yu's Tea Classic?"

Lan Can said, "Mr. Zhao is well-read and knowledgeable. I admire him very much. This is the tea."

Zhao Ti smiled slightly: "It is said that this Buddha's Hand Tea Tree had become extinct at the end of the Tang Dynasty. I didn't expect it to still exist. I really want to try it."

Lan Can said happily, "That's great. I will prepare my bed and wait for Mr. Zhao to come."

Zhao Ti nodded and continued to walk forward. Lan Can handed the nine-ring staff in his hand to the disciple behind him and followed closely.

Soon as we approached the back of Xiangguo Temple, we could hear the sound of Buddhist music and see the altar. There was a sea of people there, obviously many of them were listening to the Dharma.

This was not the Ten Thousand Temples Sutra and Dharma Conference. The Ten Thousand Temples Sutra and Dharma Conference was attended by temples all over the world, and many famous monks and great virtues gathered. By that time, the Xiangguo Temple was packed with people, and it could be called a grand ceremony for Buddhism in the world.

Zhao Ti said, "I came to Xiangguo Temple to see Abbot Lingde some time ago and talked about Master Lancan."

Lan Can's face changed when he heard this: "Donor Zhao, that thief... Lingde, how could he say such a lowly monk."

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "I didn't say anything else."

Lan Can looked relaxed: "It's good that you didn't make up stories about me. This... Lingde often spreads rumors about me. Some time ago, he even sent people to spread rumors everywhere that I had married a woman outside and had two boys and a girl. It's really shameless, shameless."

"But..." Zhao Ti glanced at the monk Lan Can and said, "Abbot Lingde said that Master Lan Can is a top-notch martial artist. If he were to be in the martial arts world, he would have few rivals."

"A top-notch martial arts master?" Lan Can was stunned when he heard this, and blurted out, "This Lingde is talking nonsense and deceiving the donor. If I had profound martial arts skills, why wouldn't my monks teach me? We have been chased away by this monk from Xiangguo Temple many times..."

Zhao Ti smiled slightly, thinking that Lingde's martial arts skills were extraordinary. After a discussion on scriptures, the two sides started fighting. The monks all used wild punches and none of them knew martial arts. But he was hit on the head by a round bell thrown casually, leaving a big bump. It was really untrustworthy for these two people to speak.

"Abbot Lingde also said that Master Lancan had a mysterious background and a suspicious origin. It is very likely that he became a monk in Shaolin Temple when he was young, but was expelled from the temple for some unknown crime..."

"What?" Lan Can's eyes widened, his brows furrowed, and he immediately chanted the Buddha's name, "Don't believe me, Mr. Zhao. I have never been to Shaolin Temple in my life. However, the generation of this monk Lingde is exactly the generation of Zen Buddhism. Many temples have had the generation of Lingde."

"Oh?" Zhao Ti said with a smile, "Master Lancan's words do make sense. Master, this generation of Lan is rare. I have never heard of it. It seems that Xingguo Temple in Dayi Mountain does not have this generation."

"Alas..." Lan Can sighed when he heard this, "Donor Zhao, you don't know that this monk's Dharma name was given to me by my master. My master's lineage was not originally a monk. Later, some changes happened and he became a monk. He practiced wild Zen and entered the Xingguo Temple in Taiping. However, my master's Buddhist teachings were profound and he was noticed by the court. That's why he became the abbot of Xingguo Temple and only accepted me as his disciple. Naturally, there is no ranking for Dharma names."

Zhao Ti thought for a moment and asked, "What is your master's background?"

Lan Can said, "To be honest with you, Mr. Zhao, my master was originally General Di's personal bodyguard. When General Di came to Beijing to serve as the Minister of the Western Palace, he followed him. Later, General Di was demoted and died of depression, and my master became a monk."

Zhao Ti narrowed his eyes when he heard that. General Di was naturally Di Qing. During the reign of Emperor Renzong, he attacked Kunlun Pass at night and defeated Nong Zhigao. He also defeated Western Xia several times. He was known as General Mian Nie and Wu Quxing. At that time, Emperor Renzong was known as the reincarnation of the barefoot immortal. It was rumored in the court that he had two stars to assist him, the civil and military stars. The civil star was Bao Zheng, and the military star was Di Qing.

Later, Di Qing went to Beijing to serve as the Privy Councilor of the Western Palace. The dog in his family grew two horns and glowed many times. The censors petitioned to transfer Di Qing out of the capital to preserve his reputation, but Renzong did not agree.

However, when a severe flood occurred in Tokyo, Di Qing moved his family to Daxiangguo Temple to avoid the water and lived in the Buddhist temple, which caused a lot of doubts and discussions. At this time, the court issued an edict to remove him from the post of Privy Councilor, but added the title of Tongzhongshumenxia Pingzhangshi. He left Beijing and was appointed as the governor of Chenzhou. He died of illness the following year.

In the first year of the Xining reign, Emperor Shenzong ranked modern generals and highly praised Di Qing, saying that he was thoughtful, resourceful, and able to see things through. He was deeply moved and missed him, so he ordered Di Qing's portrait to be brought into the palace, wrote a sacrificial text for him himself, and sent envoys to his home to revive his worship of him.

Zhao Ti had seen Di Qing's portrait in the palace and was very grateful for his deeds. When he heard this, he couldn't help but say, "So your teacher was actually the bodyguard of Prime Minister Di."

The lazy monk nodded and said, "That's right. Lingde is talking nonsense. Don't believe it, Mr. Zhao."

Zhao Ti said, "I can't believe this. Your master must have been a meritorious general in the army, and he was a subordinate of Prime Minister Di. How could he listen to what Lingde said?"

At this moment, outside the crowd of people who were watching the lecture, the audience saw many monks. Some who recognized them immediately said, "Master Lancan from Xingguo Temple is here."

Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately made way for everyone to enter.

Then he walked forward, through the dense crowd, to the altar in the front, and saw Lingde, wearing a Vairocana Five-Buddha hat and a purple cassock, sitting on the altar and preaching.

When he saw the crowd coming, he remained calm and continued to explain vividly. This time he was talking about the Western Paradise where Amitabha Buddha is.

Shakyamuni Buddha is the leader of the present Saha world. He preaches the Dharma to all living beings and guides them towards liberation, freedom from worries, and a life without birth or death.

Amitabha Buddha is the leader of the Western Paradise. He established this world with his compassionate vows to lead all living beings to be reborn in that country. Believers can be reborn in Amitabha Buddha's Western Paradise by chanting the name of Amitabha Buddha, making great vows and practicing Buddhism.

Monk Lingde then quoted the Infinite Life Sutra, saying that the Pure Land is a land of gold and has seven-treasure buildings. All sentient beings who hear the Dharma can attain the Bodhisattva status of no regression, and those who are reborn in this world can escape the suffering of reincarnation...

Lan Can in front was listening, and suddenly he put his palms together and said loudly: "Abbot Lingde, there is one thing I don't understand, please enlighten me."

(End of this chapter)