A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 767 The Journey to the West: The Eldest and Second Senior Brothers

Taiji Palace, Inner Secretariat.

Li Yi was drinking tea in his office while looking through the Xuanzang information that Liu Shiche had collected for him.

His ancestral home was Goushi, Henan. His grandfather, Chen Kang, was a scholar of the Imperial Academy during the Northern Qi Dynasty, and his father, Chen Hui, served as the magistrate of Jiangling County in the early Sui Dynasty.

His mother was the daughter of the Prefect of Luozhou, and had no relation to Yin Kaishan.

Xuanzang came from a relatively well-off family, but his family fortunes declined later. During the Sui Dynasty, Buddhism was highly revered, and Emperors Wen and Yang of Sui built numerous Buddhist temples, leading to the flourishing of Buddhism.

Xuanzang's second elder brother, Chen Su, became a monk at the Pure Land Temple in Luoyang at a young age. He was very learned and was known as Master Changjie.

Later, the Chen family fell into ruin, and the young Xuanzang Chen Yi left the Pure Land Temple and followed Changjie as a novice monk for five years.

Liu Shiche said, "This Master Xuanzang is really quite remarkable. It is said that he was known as a child prodigy when he was young, but unfortunately his family fell into poverty and he became a novice monk in a temple."

Emperor Yang of Sui issued an edict to ordain 27 monks in Luoyang, but the young novice Xuanzang was not selected because he was only thirteen years old.

When Zheng Shanguo, the Dali Minister, met him at Jingtu Temple and asked him with a hint of sarcasm, "What do you want to do after becoming a monk at such a young age?"
The boy calmly replied, "I wish to inherit the Buddha's wisdom and mission, and to carry forward the Buddhist teachings he spread throughout the world."

Zheng Shanguo was greatly surprised to see that the young man was exceptionally talented. He immediately made an exception and hired him, praising him to his colleagues that once the young man was ordained, he would surely be able to promote the teachings of Buddhism.

After hearing this, Li Yi
Smile.

"Did this rumor about Zheng Shanguo and Xuanzang already exist, or did it only spread after Xuanzang was appreciated by the sage, bestowed the title of Great Translator of Scriptures, and appointed to preside over the Water and Land Dharma Assembly?"

Liu Shiche asked, "Does the Grand Councilor suspect that this rumor was fabricated by the Zheng family of Xingyang to glorify their own family?"

Li Yi sipped his tea slowly. "What's impossible about it? These powerful families love doing this kind of thing."

When Xuanzang was thirteen, he became a monk in Luoyang with his elder brother, the monk Changjie. Three years later, due to war, he and his brother traveled through the Ziwu Valley and Jiange to Sichuan, where they studied Buddhist scriptures at Konghui Temple in the west of Chengdu and Daci Temple in the east of the city.
After five years of study, he received full ordination at the Donglu Academy of Daci Temple and became a formal monk.

Then this year, I came to Chang'an.

Li Yi pointed to Xuanzang's information,
According to legend, Zheng Shanguo met Xuanzang at Jingtu Temple because Emperor Yang Guang issued an edict to ordain monks in Luoyang. Xuanzang was a novice monk at Jingtu Temple, following his elder brother.

A novice monk is someone who is under twenty years old and has already received the ten precepts.

Although he has not yet received full ordination and can only be considered a prospective monk, he has already been ordained.

Therefore, there are some contradictions in this rumor.

A novice monk (Śrāmaṇera) is a preparatory monk under the age of twenty, but is also a monastic. Once a monk reaches the age of twenty and receives full ordination, he becomes a Bhikkhu, a formal monk.

Novice monks and fully ordained monks are both monks or nuns.

At least four monks constitute a Sangha, which is a community of Buddhists.

Novice monks, fully ordained monks, novice nuns, and fully ordained nuns are all monks or nuns.

When Zheng Shanguo met Xuanzang at Jingtu Temple, he was already a novice monk who had shaved his head and become a monk. There was no need for Yang Guangdu to become a monk.

Liu Shiche burst into laughter after hearing this.

"It's true, these guys are shameless, they put everything on their faces."

Buddhism is very popular recently.
Internal strife within the Buddhist community led to the Three Stages Sect, once a thriving sect, being labeled a heretical cult and attacked by various factions, ultimately resulting in its ban by the imperial court.

The prohibition imposed by the Three Stages Sect did not hinder the flourishing of Buddhism; on the contrary, it led to the emperor's strong promotion of other sects.

Da De bestowed titles upon more than a hundred people at once.

Another water and land ritual involving 3,600 monks is to be held.

They also ordered the government to build temples.
Even the young monk Xuanzang was rumored to be the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, the second disciple of the Buddha. He was now revered by the emperor, invited to preside over the Water and Land Dharma Assembly, and was even to go to the Western Paradise to obtain Buddhist scriptures.

The young Xuanzang was now the top figure in Chang'an.

He now lives at Daxingshan Temple, and countless people flock there every day hoping to meet this disciple of the Buddha.

It's not surprising that the Zheng family made up such a story.

"Pingzhang, is the imperial court really going to support Xuanzang's journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures?"

"Why not?"

Xuanzang's pilgrimage team was actually also a visiting and trade team.

"Have you selected the official you asked me to send to the Western Regions?"

"I heard that we are going to the Western Regions, India, which is a long way away, and many officials are unwilling to go."

India was a distant and unfamiliar world in the eyes of the Tang people, even though many monks and merchants from the Central Plains had traveled to India and returned during the Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties.
Since the Han Dynasty, many Indian monks have come to China.
There are still quite a few Indian monks at the translation center of Daxingshan Temple in Chang'an.

But none of the officials in Chang'an were willing to go.

Monks go on a pilgrimage to obtain Buddhist scriptures, and merchants go to make money. What are they after?

"It was Liu Zhengze who took the initiative to request permission to go."

Liu Zhengze was none other than Liu Rengui, who had served as a military advisor under Li Yi. Born into poverty, he was recruited as a clerk by Ren Gui, the governor of Guzhou, at the beginning of the Wude era due to his talent. Later, he helped Ren Gui revise a memorial, which greatly impressed Ren Gui, who then appointed him as a military advisor.
Li Yi admired his talent and character, and transferred him to be the granary clerk in his general manager's office.

Although Liu Rengui came from a poor background, he was fair and impartial. Yin Defei's father, Yin Ashu, relied on his daughter's status as a concubine and her favor with the emperor, and became arrogant and domineering. He wanted to seize military farmland in Luoyang. Liu Rengui drew his sword and almost killed him.

What is Liu Zhengze doing now?

“He’s still at home reflecting on his actions. He’s just too impulsive. If it weren’t for Pingzhang’s protection last time, he would have lost his head long ago.”

Liu Rengui, following Li Yi, originally had a promising future.

Ma Zhou, Liu Shiche, and others who worked with me back then are now all high-ranking officials in the capital, holding important positions.

Liu Rengui, however, repeatedly offended people because of his uprightness.

Not long ago, Liu Rengui, who served as the Sima of the Luozhou Governor's Office, directly had a cavalry general who was arrogant, lawless, fierce, and unruly, beaten to death.

This incident caused a great sensation.

Although the people of Luozhou applauded, that was, after all, a fourth-rank General of the Cavalry, whose rank was higher than his, and who was also a military commander.

It is absolutely unacceptable that a mere military officer of the Luozhou Prefecture could beat a commander of the Imperial Cavalry to death.

Moreover, the General of the Cavalry was surnamed Wei, the Wei of Jingzhao. At that time, many officials in the court impeached Liu Rengui for his audacity and wanted him executed.

Li Shimin was also furious.
In the end, it was Li Yi who stepped in to protect him, listing Wei Biaoqi's many illegal acts and how he had incurred the wrath of both heaven and the people in the region.

Liu Rengui has also made many meritorious contributions over the years, and has done a lot of practical things in his position as the Sima of the Luozhou Governor's Office.

The fact that General Wei was beaten to death was an accident. After all, it was just a caning punishment. Who would have thought that a dignified General Wei was just a silver-plated spearhead who climbed up the ranks through connections, and he couldn't even withstand a few dozen canes before dying?

Moreover, when Liu Rengui was serving as the Sima of the Governor's Office, he discovered that Wei Biaoqi was riding his horse recklessly in the street, injuring civilians and then whipping them. Liu Rengui happened to be there and naturally had to stop him immediately.

However, relying on his rank and family background, Wei Biaoqi not only disobeyed Liu Rengui's words but also spoke rudely and insulted Liu Rengui. In the end, he even whipped Liu Rengui's face.

Liu Rengui arrested him and punished him with caning in the street, which was not wrong.

As for the death of General Wei, that was purely an accident.

This incident caused a huge uproar.
Finally, thanks to Li Yi's strong support, Li Shimin dismissed Liu Rengui from his post and removed him from office. Liu Rengui spent some time in the Dali Temple prison in the capital before being released and becoming a commoner.

He wants to make a comeback, but he'll have to wait six years.

Now the imperial court wants to select officials to accompany Xuanzang on his journey to India, but none of the officials are willing to go.

Liu Rengui, however, felt this was an opportunity.
He took the initiative to request to go to the Western Regions.

The imperial court originally intended to select a few minor officials of the eighth or ninth rank to go.

Liu Rengui, who is a year younger than the current emperor, is unwilling to remain idle. Although he has Li Yi as his backer, he has already beaten to death a fourth-rank general of the Cavalry, who is from the Wei family of Jingzhao and is a cousin of Consort Wei. He knows that at the earliest, he will not have a chance to make a comeback for at least six years.

The Wei family will not let him off easily.

This is a rare opportunity.

"Zhengze told me that he really wanted to go, and he wasn't afraid even if it was a vast expanse of yellow sand."

Li Yi said, "This trip to India is not just about escorting Xuanzang to the Western Paradise to worship Buddha and seek Buddhist scriptures; there is another important mission."

"Alright, I guess he's getting bored staying at home too."

Li Yi wrote a letter and sent someone to summon Liu Rengui for a face-to-face meeting.

"Have you found Wang Xuance, whom I asked you to find?" he asked, putting down his pen.

Liu Shiche didn't know why Li Yi suddenly specifically asked to find this person; he had spent a lot of effort and searched for a long time.
"Among the officials in Chang'an, there is not a single one named Wang Xuance."

"In Rongzhou, is there any official named Wang Xuance?"

"No, not at all." Liu Shiche shook his head.

Li Yi was somewhat disappointed. When he proposed to the emperor to support Xuanzang's journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures and to send officials to accompany him, the name Wang Xuance immediately came to mind.

Wang Xuance was a remarkable man who single-handedly destroyed a country.

He only remembered that Wang Xuance had served as the magistrate of Huangshui County in Rongzhou, and later served as the deputy envoy to India, accompanying him on his journey to India.

He made four missions to India, the most remarkable of which was during one of those missions when India was in turmoil, a powerful minister usurped the throne, and then actually attacked the mission.

Wang Xuance broke through the encirclement and fled back to Nepal. He then borrowed 8,000 troops from Nepal and Tibet, fought his way back to India, and repeatedly defeated the enemy. In the end, he even captured the usurper and presented him as a prisoner in Chang'an.

Such a remarkable person is undoubtedly the best candidate for the journey to the west.

Unfortunately, no such person could be found.

Li Yi thought for a moment. Wang Xuance was sent as an envoy to India in the late Zhenguan period. It is only the sixth year of Wude now. Perhaps this person has not even been born yet.

After all, it was 22 years later that Wang Xuance first went to India.

"There is a young man by Li Xizhi's side named Wang Xuance. He is only in his early twenties and is Li Xizhi's student."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi raised an eyebrow.

"Are you referring to Li Xizhi, the Duke of Shian?"

"Yes, it's him."

Li Xizhi, the Duke of Shian, served as the Prefect of Shian at the end of the Sui Dynasty's Daye era. When the country was in chaos, he used all his wealth to raise 3,000 soldiers to defend the city, protect the borders and keep the people safe. He repeatedly defeated the attacks of Xiao Xian, Lin Shihong, Cao Wuche and others.

After holding out in Guilin for two years, the isolated army eventually ran out of food and supplies and had no reinforcements. The city fell and the soldier was captured, but Xiao Xian still appointed him as the Minister of Works and the Inspector General of Guizhou.

Later, Li Xizhi's younger brother, Li Xiyu, first submitted to the Tang Dynasty in his hometown of Ankang, and then Li Yuan sent his son to Guizhou to pacify him.

After Xiao Xian's defeat and death, Li Xizhi was still appointed as the Governor of Guizhou of the Tang Dynasty. Last year, he led troops to fight against Fu Gongshi's rebellion with Li Jing. After the rebellion was quelled, he went to court to meet the emperor, was appointed as a Grand Pillar of State, and was granted the title of Duke of Shian.

The imperial court appointed him as the governor of Jiangzhou, but he was still in the capital due to illness and did not take up the post.

The brothers Li Xizhi and Li Xiyu, as representatives of the Ankang Li clan, were specifically assigned by Li Yuan to be affiliated with the Imperial Clan Court, thus becoming members of the royal family.

Currently, various forces in Lingnan are still engaged in open and covert struggles. Li Yi advocates that Li Xizhi be allowed to return to Lingnan to serve as the governor of Guizhou. He is well-known in the area, familiar with the various forces, and more capable.

He was able to defend Guizhou for two years with only 3,000 recruited soldiers back then, and now with the support of the imperial court, he can naturally do even better.

"Li Xizhi's student is named Wang Xuance?"

"Yes, he's in his early twenties. I heard he's a relative of his. His father was once an official under Li Xizhi. When the Sui Dynasty was in chaos, Li Xizhi recruited soldiers to defend the city, and Wang Xuance and his son contributed a lot."

He accompanied Li Xizhi to the capital at the end of last year and heard that Wang Xuance planned to take the imperial examination next spring, specifically the Jinshi examination.

"I think this scholar Wang Xuance might not be the Wang Xuance that Pingzhang is looking for."

Li Yi, however, became invigorated.
The fact that he was able to hold out in the besieged city of Guizhou for two years alongside Li Xizhi, and that he was both literate and skilled in martial arts, suggests that this Wang Xuance who wanted to take the imperial examination might really be the same Wang Xuance.

"Someone is coming,"

Li Yi summoned a clerk and wrote another letter by hand.

Tell him to go and invite Wang Xuance here.

If it really is that remarkable person, then with Liu Rengui as the chief envoy, Wang Xuance as the deputy envoy, and the monk Xuanzang, the lineup for this journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures would be truly impressive.

(End of this chapter)