Heroine, don't turn back, I'm just a farmer.

"To kill someone and take their life, to eliminate a thief and destroy their spirit?"

Li Jiuluan pondered those words, her gaze seemingly stirred.

"Does Your Highness truly believe that the foundation of Buddhism in the Southern Tang Dynasty is solely based on the accumulation of the last few hundred years, and can be seen simply by looking at those temples and the guardian Vajra Arhats within them?"

Li Jiuluan was puzzled and humbly asked Lu Guo for advice.

"May I ask, Brother Zhao, what is the explanation for this matter?"

Lu Guo did not answer directly, but instead asked another question.

"Is Your Highness aware of the conflict between Buddhism and Taoism, and is this conflict also known as the struggle for orthodoxy?"

After pondering for a moment, Li Jiuluan replied:

"The struggle for orthodoxy between Buddhism and Taoism originated more than 700 years ago when the Great Sheng Kingdom was established. Buddhism entered the Central Plains from the Western Regions, intending to spread its teachings... and vie for the unification of the world."

Lu Guo nodded.

"The conflict between Buddhism and Taoism is not about resources, nor is it about worldly power."

"What they are really fighting for is faith and influence."

"Taoism emphasizes non-action and doesn't really require much faith; whether you believe or not is simply a matter of choice."

"Therefore, Taoism is more about subtly and gradually integrating its beliefs and culture into people's lives."

"Weddings, funerals, feng shui, and fortune telling are all things that can be accessed by villagers, even in the poorest areas of Dasheng."

"Taoism has gained enormous influence by integrating into people's lives in this way."

"The Central Plains are densely populated and rich in resources, which makes people yearn for it. Therefore, Dasheng was able to exclusively respect Taoism. Although other sects had influence, they were far inferior to Taoism."

Having been hidden in Dasheng for many years, Li Jiuluan was well aware of the influence of Taoism and couldn't help but nod.

If Taoism did not advocate non-action and rarely interfere in worldly power, it would have had absolutely no influence on Buddhism.

"Unlike Taoism, Buddhism's beliefs are more direct and straightforward."

"They lead people to place their hopes on the afterlife for liberation, while ignoring the calamities of this world and practicing the principles of cause and effect and reincarnation."

"Therefore, the more chaotic a place is, the more suffering the lower classes endure, and the easier it is for Buddhism to spread, allowing more people to place their hopes on the elusive afterlife."

"That's why the Southern Tang Dynasty became increasingly chaotic and miserable, and the more miserable it became, the more chaotic it became..."

Lu Guo paused slightly, waiting for Li Jiuluan to process his words in his mind. After a few more breaths, he slowly spoke.

"Does Your Highness know anything about the countries of the Western Regions?"

"In the western corner of the land, there are many small countries, each of which worships Buddhism, and the succession of kings is in the hands of the Buddhist community."

"The Western Regions were prosperous in commerce, but they used all their wealth to support Buddhism. This is an important reason why Buddhism has a deep foundation and can stand firm in the Western Regions."

"The western corner of that place is just like the Southern Tang Dynasty here."

Li Jiuluan fell into deep thought.

"Why did Buddhism try to control royal power, resulting in so many small kingdoms in the Western Regions?"

"Or rather, why did Buddhism build so many temples in the Southern Tang Dynasty?"

Lu asked.

Li Jiuluan understood, "Because Buddhism doesn't allow it."

"Yes, Buddhism will never allow a unified voice or a unified will to emerge among the Western Regions."

"Even though the Buddhist sects in the Western Regions knew that a unified and cohesive country would be more conducive to the spread of Buddhism and make it easier for them to preach, they still did not make such a choice."

"Why? Because even the Buddhist community itself is afraid, afraid of seeing a unified nation."

"The Buddhist community of Southern Tang could have assisted and strengthened Southern Tang, but they did not choose to do so."

Li Jiuluan pondered, feeling as if she had vaguely touched something, but the feeling was not quite real.

"Why?"

"Because the Buddhist community feared that its foundation would be destroyed, and that the unification of the Southern Tang Dynasty would affect its ability to spread Buddhism and undermine its position."

"Therefore, the division of the Western Regions was inevitable, and the problem of temples growing stronger in the local areas and constantly eroding the national strength of the Southern Tang was also inevitable."

"In the Western Regions, Buddhism uses faith to nurture the people. No matter who they are, even the emperor is a lamb raised by Buddhism."

"Once an opinion arises that contradicts the Dharma, the Buddhist community will launch a so-called war in the name of the Dharma, just as Buddhism did when it entered the Central Plains from the west."

Lu Guo's words were like the sun breaking through the clouds, instantly making Li Jiuluan understand the crux of the matter.

"When the Great Sheng Kingdom was founded, it was the Western Regions Buddhist sect that wanted to take advantage of the chaotic situation at the end of the previous dynasty to invade, intervene in the situation, compete for faith, and expand their influence."

"Although the Taoist sect does not intend to fool the people like the Buddhist sect, it also understands that it needs the support of millions of believers."

"That's why the debate over the orthodox tradition arose."

"But with the establishment of the Great Sheng Kingdom, the country became more stable, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. Without suffering, the Buddhist teachings naturally became useless."

"But now the world is about to descend into chaos, and the Southern Tang Dynasty has been so influenced by Buddhism. Look, aren't there even more Buddhist disciples wandering the world now, preaching that 'all beings suffer'?"

Li Jiuluan nodded.

Having understood this, she sat upright and spoke again.

"What does Brother Zhao mean by 'killing to take a life, eliminating the enemy and destroying their spirit'?"

"Jiuluan naturally understood that the intention of killing was to directly crush Buddhism, but this 'eliminating the enemy by destroying their spirit'... was it destroying the Buddhist faith?"

Lu shook his head.

"The Buddhist belief in suffering is nothing but a castle in the air if it has no embodiment."

"Those with faith can have faith, but what about those without faith? How does Buddhism treat those without faith?"

Li Jiuluan obediently raised another glass of wine.

"Please explain further, Brother Zhao."

A smile appeared on Lu Guo's face.

"Can what sway people's minds be presented as religious doctrine, Taoist belief, or even Buddhist teachings?"

"Buddhism's own teachings?"

Although Li Jiuluan had already considered the matter and made sufficient preparations, she still couldn't help but be surprised when she heard what Lu Guo said.

"Brother Zhao means..."

Li Jiuluan raised her hand and waved it, causing a rustling sound around her, which quickly subsided into silence.

"Brother Zhao, do you mean I should start with Buddhism and directly shake the foundations of the Southern Tang Buddhist community?"

Lu Guo nodded.

The saying "Four hundred and eighty temples in the Southern Dynasties, how many pavilions and terraces are shrouded in mist and rain" does not mean that there were only four hundred temples in the Southern Dynasties, but rather describes the flourishing of Buddhism in the Southern Dynasties.

Each temple represents a form of Buddhism, nothing more. If possible, one could simply create a new form of Buddhism.

"Jiu Luan doesn't want to play guessing games with Brother Zhao." Li Jiu Luan frowned. "Please enlighten me, Brother Zhao."

"I have two strategies here, one inferior and one moderate, that can break through Buddhist teachings and resolve the root cause. I wonder which one Your Highness would like to hear?"

Li Jiuluan paused slightly.

After a moment of contemplation in her cool and aloof eyes, she smiled sweetly and gently placed her slender, jade-like fingers on Lu Guo's arm.

"Brother Zhao should know me. Jiu Luan never makes any choices. I want it all."

"Li Jiuluan's favorability +5".

Lu Guo, "..."

It seems this girl really enjoys talk therapy; not only does she enjoy it, but she's also quite good at imagining things.

"The Dharma is the foundation of the Buddhist faith, and the best way to destroy the foundation is to make them abandon the Dharma."

"Your Highness can ask the Taoist sects in the Central Plains to spread their teachings in the Southern Tang Dynasty, so that the Northern Taoism can defeat the Southern Buddhism."

The Buddhist sect is notorious for its methods of bewitching people, but it's unknown how effective their methods will be.

In fact, what Lu Guo said was all nonsense. With Li Jiuluan's skills, it was impossible for her not to have thought of this. It was just that she did not understand the secrets of the game as well as she did, and because of insufficient information, she could not carry out this plan.

Unexpectedly, Li Jiuluan thought about it very seriously, and then nodded solemnly, "This plan is feasible. It doesn't necessarily have to come from the north to the south. It's not impossible for our own people to become Buddhas."

"May I ask, Brother Zhao, what is the middle strategy?"