Chapter 380: The Celestial Empire Does Not Worship the Rulers of Small Nations
On May 27th, the second year of Zhenguan, at the time of Si.
Taiji Palace, outside Daji Hall.
In the gorgeous morning glow, the Longmen Immortal Meeting was officially held.
Li Shimin had already ordered people to build a high platform here and set up a banquet. Taoists from various sects entered the hall one after another. Disciples from major sects such as Maoshan, Longmen, Laoshan, and Xuandu Temple were in the front row, while disciples from local sects with less fame were seated at the back.
There were about forty or fifty people in total, young and old, male and female.
The disciples from the big sects who came to participate were often the younger generation. For example, Maoshan only sent two disciples. One of them was Lv Chunliang, who was only in the late stage of Bigu. The other one was older, but looked to be in his thirties and had just entered the Yin Shen realm.
On the other hand, the Taoists from the small sects who came to participate in the Immortal Assembly were all white-haired and looked like immortals. I guess they were either the sect's masters or the elders.
This is also the weakness of the Tang Dynasty today. The Tang Dynasty was established not long ago, and it lacks prestige and foundation. It is difficult for those unruly and powerful monks to truly submit. Their attitude towards the Tang Dynasty is surprisingly consistent. They are willing to get close to it, but they do not obey its orders.
Instead, it is those small and medium-sized sects that lack resources that want to seize the opportunity to express their intention to surrender.
"Strange, it's already this hour, why hasn't Your Majesty started the Immortal Assembly yet?"
"Didn't you see that the top position is still vacant? That's Longhushan's seat!"
"It turns out that Master Li hasn't arrived yet. Haha, he's really arrogant. He dares to make the emperor wait for him!"
"I heard that Master Li broke into the Qinglong Temple yesterday and rescued a captain from the evil Buddha. Could it be that he was injured?"
"Humph, it's a pity that I was in seclusion yesterday, otherwise how could I allow that evil monk to be so arrogant?"
…
It was already noon, but Li Shimin still hadn't announced the start of the meeting, which caused everyone to start talking.
Most people were discussing Li Daoxuan and the evil Buddha Maha. Many people praised Li Daoxuan for his courage in venturing into dangerous situations and yet being able to escape unscathed, but some were skeptical and felt that the praise was exaggerated.
What's worse, some even think that Li Daoxuan is just seeking fame and reputation and deliberately trying to become famous.
Where there are people, there are rivers and lakes. Taoism is not a quiet place either. There will be many intrigues in order to compete for resources for cultivation. The reason why many people come to participate in the Longmen Immortal Meeting is to become famous and gain the appreciation of the emperor.
As a result, before the immortal meeting even started, Li Daoxuan's name had already spread throughout Kyoto . Whether it was the common people on the street or other Taoists, they were all talking about Li Daoxuan.
Not everyone has participated in the Heavenly Master Ceremony at Mount Longhu and witnessed Li Daoxuan in action. For many people, they have only heard of the name.
Seeing that His Majesty had repeatedly delayed the start of the Immortal Meeting in order to wait for Li Daoxuan, some people couldn't help but feel jealous.
"Father, why hasn't the master come yet?"
Beside Li Shimin, Princess Changle raised her little face and asked.
She changed into her most beautiful little dress today and tied her hair into a long braid with golden tassels. She had spent a long time dressing up because she was thinking of meeting her husband.
As a result, she looked around, and her big, bright eyes looked back and forth in the crowd several times, but she didn't see the man.
Li Shimin touched her head and said, "It will be soon."
He gave Gao Quan a look, Gao Quan nodded, and immediately arranged for someone to go to Xuandu Courtyard to investigate.
"Father, why should we wait for others? Aren't all people under heaven your subjects? As a subject, he dares to be late. Why doesn't your father punish him?"
The speaker was Crown Prince Li Chengqian, who was about ten years old this year. As the crown prince, he was also ordered by Li Shimin to attend the Longmen Immortal Meeting to show his sincerity.
As soon as these words were spoken, Gao Quan's expression changed.
Li Shimin glanced at the prince indifferently, and his sharp gaze immediately made the prince sit up straight, not daring to breathe.
"Cheng Qian, remember, a ruler must not only have authority, but also be gracious and respectful to others."
Li Chengqian said quickly: "Thank you for your teachings, Father. I understand now!"
"After the event is over, I will punish you by copying the chapter on King Wen from the Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Zhou a hundred times."
King Wen of Zhou was respectful to the wise and humble to the less fortunate. It was he who personally invited Jiang Ziya out of seclusion. Li Shimin's move was also to let the prince learn the principle of respectful to the wise and humble to the less fortunate.
Li Chengqian had no choice but to agree, but he felt even more resentful towards the person who was late.
Changle made a face at Li Chengqian and said with a smile: "Brother Crown Prince, you are not allowed to speak of the Master like that. The Master is very powerful. Be careful or he will turn you into a big fat bug!"
Li Shimin tapped Changle's head gently, but the force was very gentle, and said softly: "At the banquet, please pay attention to etiquette."
It was said to be a scolding, but it sounded like doting.
The comparison between the two made Li Chengqian even more depressed.
…
After waiting for a while, there was suddenly a noise outside the palace. As the Buddhist chanting sounded, Li Shimin's expression changed slightly.
That evil monk finally came!
In order to ensure the smooth progress of the conference, he ordered Li Chunfeng to set up a large formation outside the palace last night, hoping to trap the evil monk for a period of time so that the conference could be successfully completed.
Now it seems that the formation has been broken.
"Amitabha!"
The evil Buddha Maha and his three disciples walked in. The soldiers along the way wanted to stop them, but were given a cold glance by Huan Yanzhen. They froze there, unable to move, and looked terrified.
"It's the evil Turkic monk!"
"Why did this evil monk come to the Longmen Immortal Meeting? Your Majesty clearly only invited Taoist disciples."
"Humph, I think those who come here have bad intentions, and those who have good intentions don't come!"
In an instant, the Taoists present became alert and looked at the evil monk with undisguised hostility.
Buddhism and Taoism are already implicitly in opposition, and there is also hatred between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks. Naturally, this evil Buddha Maha would not be welcomed by Taoism.
Maha clasped his hands together, Buddha's light shone around his body, and a divine halo appeared behind his head. He looked like the Buddha who had walked out of the mural, shocking everyone.
The two generals Yuchi Gong and Qin Shubao immediately guarded the emperor, their eyes fixed with fierce eyes and their hands on their weapons.
Li Shimin waved his hand to stop the two of them and said calmly: "Today's Longmen Immortal Meeting, I have only invited Taoist disciples. As a Buddhist, you should go back for now. I can pardon your crime of trespassing the palace."
Huan Yanzhen sneered and said, "Yesterday, my master let Li Daoxuan go for Your Majesty's sake. We had already agreed to ask Your Majesty to agree to something at the Longmen Immortal Conference today. Does Your Majesty want to break his promise?"
"Hahaha!"
Li Shimin laughed loudly and said, "I have never made an agreement with you. It is just your wishful thinking."
Also attending the Longmen Immortal Meeting were some court ministers, including Wei Zheng, who was known for his upright advice.
Wei Zheng was not afraid at all and started to scold: "You came here without asking for permission, which is already rude. Now you forcefully break into the palace and refuse to bow to the emperor. Could it be that the Turkic nation is full of ignorant barbarians like you?"
Facing this world-famous minister, Maha's eyes moved slightly, and his calm voice was like a huge bell, echoing in everyone's ears.
"Lord Wei is famous all over the world, and you should also know that the Celestial Empire does not worship the rulers of small states."
"After the Weishui Alliance, we Turks are the masters and Li Tang is the minister. Since ancient times, only ministers have knelt down to their masters. How can the master bow to his ministers?"
