Chapter 293 Buddhist Monk
Ever since Lu Sen said, "At worst, I can surrender to the Khitan," the entire Central Plains region has had mixed opinions about him.
But no matter what, the praise still outweighs the criticism.
Now the people have a large amount of stored grain, and there are almost no starving people in the world. This is why Lu Sen provides a large amount of giant rice seeds to the court after the New Year every year.
In addition, people are all kind-hearted. Lu Sen temporarily solved the world's food problem and defeated the Western Xia army. There are even rumors that the civil unrest in Khitan was related to Lu Sen.
There are very few people willing to "blacken" such a person who has made great contributions to the country and the people.
Except for certain specific groups of people.
For example, Buddhism.
Although Lu Sen's sect is unknown, he is a so-called "system" with no roots to be found at all, as if he suddenly appeared and no one has ever heard of him before, but he regards himself as a Taoist.
When the moon is bright, the stars are sparse; when Taoism flourishes, Buddhism retreats. Although the Taoists in Mount Zhongnan poisoned Zhao Zhen to death by refining elixirs, it stands to reason that the Taoists should have suffered a great blow.
But fortunately, there was the "True Immortal" Lu Sen, who managed to save the Taoist's reputation and avoid being too embarrassed.
The style of the current Buddhist-Taoist debate is probably like this:
"Our Buddha is merciful and can save all living beings."
"It's fake. Our Master Lu has the Immortal Rice that can feed thousands of people."
"Nirvana is tranquility, and the Dharma can help people to transcend karma."
"When a Taoist reaches the level of Master Lu, he does not need Nirvana, he can directly ascend to heaven and become an immortal. He does not occupy the mortal world, so how can there be cause and effect?"
"Buddhism has no self, and does not do evil."
"To cultivate to Master Lu's level, to be self-sufficient, self-purifying and self-pitying, where does the evil come from?"
“The seven sufferings of the world can be resolved through enlightenment in Buddhism.”
"If one cultivates the Taoist Immaculate Body, where does suffering come from? Hahahaha."
"Can we not mention Master Lu?"
"Master Lu is a Taoist master, why mention him? You guys talked about Bodhidharma so much back then, why can't you let us talk about him too?"
Then the two sides parted unhappily, the difference being that the Taoists were all extremely proud afterwards, while the Buddhist monks were all sad and miserable.
Therefore, Lu Sen was considered to have a place in the Buddhist community.
In the imperial palace, the young official sat obediently on the chair, looking at the solemn and dignified monk in front of him.
There was a pearl curtain next to him, and the voice of Empress Dowager Cao came from inside : "Master Huixin, what evidence do you have that Master Lu is a demon from outside the realm?"
"This is Master Lu's previous life."
The monk flipped his palm and saw a golden beam of light emerging from his palm . There was a figure twisting vaguely inside. Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be Lu Sen's appearance, but this person's face in the golden light was kind at one moment and grinning at another, as if he had completely different expressions.
The young official was drooling and a little frightened.
Queen Cao hid behind the curtain and said nothing.
After a while, the flesh and blood of the figure in the light column disappeared, and it turned into a skeleton laughing wildly.
The young official was so frightened that he dared not open his eyes.
As if sensing that the atmosphere had arrived, the eminent monk Huixin clasped his right hand and the beam of light disappeared.
Then he clasped his palms together and waited for the two nobles to ask questions.
The young official didn't dare to say anything. That laughing skeleton was too scary for a child of his age.
After a long while, Empress Dowager Cao's voice finally came from behind the curtain, but it was a little hoarse and trembling: "Venerable Monk Huixin, is the Dharma you revealed really the previous life of Master Lu?"
"This is a secret technique of Buddhism. Every time it is used, my life span will be consumed." The monk Hui Xin said, "Although Master Lu is a demon from outside the domain, he has been suppressed by our Buddha for many years and chanted scriptures under the Buddha's seat, which gradually faded his hostility. But one day, when the Buddha went to the Heavenly Palace for the Peach Banquet, Master Lu took the opportunity to escape and entered the cycle of reincarnation. He was reincarnated and turned into the current Lu Sen. After all, he is a demon from outside the domain. He has wisdom from his previous life, so he can practice magic easily."
"But this Master Lu, who offers immortal rice and defends the border, does not disturb the people in normal times, does not build Taoist temples and does not move earth and stone, and is indifferent to fame and gain. He does not seem like a demon."
Queen Mother Cao was not someone who could be easily fooled. Although she believed most of it, she still had some doubts.
"This is the result of listening to the Buddha's teachings." Monk Huixin said with a smile, "Master Lu's hostility has mostly gone, so now it's better to say that he is a human being rather than a demon from outside the domain. It's just that he has not been truly enlightened, and there is still hostility in his heart."
"Although Master Lu is a proud person, he has never shown any signs of hostility."
Monk Huixin smiled gently, and others felt that his smile was just like the Buddha’s smile while picking up a flower, with a kind of Buddha nature that came from perception.
"Master Lu's evil spirit is being vented on the Xixia people." Hui Xin spoke slowly, without a trace of anxiety: "It's just that everything in this world has its own cause and effect. The more Master Lu kills, the more likely he will be invaded by evil spirits. When the evil spirits accumulate in his body to a certain level, they will backfire and turn him into a demon again."
"Is this really the case?" Empress Dowager Cao's voice sounded a little anxious.
She was reluctant to believe it at first, but the Buddhist teachings that Monk Huixin had just displayed were so astonishing.
"Empress Dowager Cao should also be aware of the shocking words that Master Lu said not long ago." Monk Huixin's face was full of compassion: "This is a sign of the beginning of the invasion of evil spirits. Once Master Lu is possessed by the devil, there will be no more true immortals in this world, only demons that bring disaster to the world."
“What should we do?” Queen Mother Cao was a little anxious. If Lu Sen became possessed by a demon, would she still be able to get the peaches she wanted?
"That is to let Master Lu return to the Central Plains and then come to my Chenguang Temple to convert people."
"But you should have heard, Master, that if Master Lu is summoned again, he will surrender to Khitan."
"This is not difficult." Hui Xin looked at the young official not far ahead and said, "As long as the court can give me a secret decree and send a dozen or so masters from the Imperial City Division to accompany the monks in my temple, we can go to Xingqing Prefecture, bring Master Lu back, and place him in Chenguang Temple to transform the evil spirit and hostility in him. When he no longer turns into a demon, our temple will naturally release Master Lu to continue to benefit the world."
After saying this, Huixin's whole body was shining with golden light, so dazzling that the whole house seemed to have turned into a source of light.
The young official was so frightened that he covered his eyes with his hands, and a small cry of surprise was heard from behind the curtain.
After a while, the light on Huixin's body dissipated and the room returned to its original state.
But at this time, both the emperor and the Empress Dowager Cao were extremely convinced of Huixin.
"You are indeed a great Buddhist monk. I was indeed negligent in suspecting you just now." The voice of Empress Dowager Cao came from behind the curtain: "Please wait a moment. I will ask the emperor to write a secret message to you, Master."
"Thank you for bothering me, my dears."
"It's not a big deal. I have to thank the monk for thinking about our country."
Half an hour later, Hui Xin put the secret decree in his sleeve and walked out of the palace. At this time, more than 20 staff members of the Imperial City Administration followed him.
He looked at the sky, and his face, which seemed a little pale, seemed a little pale, but he was smiling happily.
At present, Lu Sen has returned from Dingzhou to guard Xingqing Prefecture.
He sat in the room, looking at the white scenery outside, not knowing what he was thinking.
Yang Jinhua was sitting beside the bed in the room, embroidering clothes, very quietly.
Now, almost all the clothes Lu Sen is wearing are knitted by her.
She has been really happy recently as she can always spend time with her husband without having to share with other sisters.
For her, this kind of life is really good.
Not long after, Mu Guiying came in from outside the yard. She first shook off the snow on her body, then took off her coat and pushed the door open.
Yang Jinhua stood up and said with a smile, "Mother, how did you find time to come here?"
Lu Sen also bowed: "Mother-in-law, please sit down."
Mu Guiying found a chair and sat down. She said, "Sen'er, the road construction is going according to plan. However, some petty officials embezzled food and clothing and sold them outside. The leader has been beheaded in public, and the rest of the accomplices have been tattooed and demoted to slavery on the spot to help build the road."
"Did my mother-in-law order this?"
"Of course I'm not that stupid!" Mu Guiying rolled her eyes at him and said, "I just handed the evidence to Doctor Lu and let him make the judgment."
That's fine.
Mu Guiying had a hot temper and hated evil, so Lu Sen was afraid that she would not be able to control herself and kill the criminal on the spot.
If Lu Sen did this, there would be no problem, but Mu Guiying was a military general. If she acted recklessly, she would only ruin the little "friendship" that the Yang family had in the eyes of the civil officials.
Of course, if Mu Guiying really killed someone, Lu Sen would naturally be able to save the Yang family.
It’s better to have less trouble than more.
"Also, Doctor Lu will have to return to the capital soon." Mu Guiying smiled and said, "The court called him back and sent a young man to assist you."
This was within Lu Sen's expectations.
Because Dingzhou had been sending memorials to the capital, all of which were written by the accompanying historians.
The Northern Song Dynasty had a large team of historians, many of whom were private historians.
Lu Sen's current status and position means he is no longer an insignificant minor official, because the Editorial Office has specially sent two historians to accompany him and follow Lu Huiqing.
That is, they have to help with government affairs and also record the war here.
Also because of the memorials of the two historians, the imperial court always knew what happened here.
Now Lu Huiqing's contributions have almost reached the peak. If he is allowed to continue staying in Dingzhou City and return to the capital to be rewarded according to his merits, wouldn't it be a step up to the top and directly have the right to discuss court affairs?
Of course this is impossible.
Even a brilliant man like Wang Anshi had been a "mute" in the court for several years and only recently was given the right to speak. Naturally, Lu Huiqing could not skip this step.
Therefore, Lu Huiqing had to return to Beijing, and after being promoted and polishing his skills, he could become a pillar of the country.
"Do you know who is coming?"
"It seems to be a man named Wang Shao." Mu Guiying shook her head: "I saw him once from a distance. He was a young man, about the same age as Doctor Lu."
Lu Sen thought for a while. He seemed to have heard this man's name there, but he didn't have much impression of him.
I guess he isn't an important historical figure.
"It's a good thing that the court is willing to let more young people come here for training." Lu Sen sat down and poured Mu Guiying a cup of hot drink: "Mother-in-law, you must have other things to do."
"So obvious?" Mu Guiying blinked her long peach blossom eyes and smiled like a young girl: "I received a letter from the old lady yesterday."
"The old lady wants my mother-in-law to go home and take care of her grandson?" Lu Sen asked with a smile.
The only child of the Yang family, he is very much cherished. Usually he is held in the arms of the old lady, and she is reluctant to let him go even when he goes to sleep.
"That's not the case. Wen Guang has returned from his voyage." Mu Guiying looked a little proud. "The old lady said in the letter that Wen Guang made a lot of money and brought back many rare treasures from foreign countries."
"That's good. It's good that people are back. There are always risks when you are out at sea." Lu Sen said slowly: "Since you have made a lot of money, let Wen Guang stay at home and focus on taking care of the children and raising a good son of the Yang family."
Mu Guiying glared at Lu Sen and said, "How can a man take care of a child? Do you really think that all the women in our Yang family are lazy pigs?"
"It's the same for men and women!" Lu Sen said with a smile, "What's wrong with men taking care of children?"
"You are a Taoist priest, you don't have to worry about what others think." Mu Guiying sighed, "But we are different. We are ordinary people. If a woman at home lets a man take care of the children, it would be strange if she doesn't get criticized by others."
"But you Yang family women are different. You are more powerful than most men on the battlefield."
"Do you think we want to?" Mu Guiying said sadly, "If most of the men in the family hadn't died, would we women be needed to fight on the battlefield?"
Hearing this, Lu Sen sighed softly.
Yang Jinhua came over and gently held her mother's heart to comfort her.
Then Mu Guiying cheered up and said with a smile: "Wen Guang wanted to come here. He wanted to kill the enemy and serve his country."
Lu Sen was stunned: "Why not let him..."
"Don't talk about taking care of the children." Mu Guiying waved her hand to interrupt Lu Sen's words. She said seriously: "After Wen Guang heard that we were all here, he began to wipe his infantry armor. And the spear and the strange man have been sharpened, just waiting for you to agree for him to come over."
Looking at Mu Guiying's serious expression, Lu Sen knew that he couldn't persuade her.
The Yang family, regardless of gender, is now obsessed with killing the Xixia people. Whether it is for the country or for personal revenge, there is no room for easing this matter.
Of course, Jinhua is now a member of the Lu family, and her thoughts have changed a lot.
"Since he wants to come, it's fine." Lu Sen thought for a while and said, "I can use my power to arrange a guerrilla lieutenant position for him, but he has to change his name."
"Okay." Mu Guiying stood up: "From today on, he will be called Yang Buhui until the Western Xia is destroyed."
Yang Buhui... Lu Sen blinked twice. He felt that he had heard this name somewhere . It felt familiar, but also weird.
After seeing Mu Guiying off, not long after, two young men came to visit.
One was Lu Huiqing, whom Lu Sen was very familiar with, and the other was a young man who looked quite heroic, with a murderous aura in his scholarly spirit.
"Your subordinate greets Master Lu."
"Your humble servant, Assistant Military Officer Wang Shao, is here to pay his respects to Master Lu." The heroic young man bowed deeply, appearing very respectful.
"No need to be polite." Lu Sen asked them to sit down and said with a smile, "Doctor Lu, I know you will be returning to Beijing soon. I wish you a successful career."
Lu Huiqing picked up the hot drink on the table and drank the sweet honey juice in one gulp.
Then Lu Sen said to Wang Shao: "Manager Wang, we two have to work together well from now on. If I have done anything wrong, please feel free to point it out."
“I dare not, I dare not.” Wang Shao cupped his hands excitedly: “To be able to serve under Master Lu is a blessing that I have cultivated for several lifetimes!”
Looking at the young man's excited expression, Lu Sen was a little surprised: Otherwise, this person is my fan?
