Chapter 9

In the early morning, the gates of the various quarters in Chang'an City opened, and the bustling crowd and incessant noise filled the air. The residents near Yongyang Quarter and Pinghe Quarter could faintly hear the distant bell sounds.

Although the current emperor respected Daoism and suppressed Buddhism, for several hundred years before the division of the empire, Buddhism had exerted an influence on all social strata that was hard to imagine.

The Dazongchi Temple, which occupied half of Yongyang Quarter and most of Pinghe Quarter, was built by Emperor Wen of Sui's order. It was the work of Yuwen Kai, the chief architect who oversaw the reconstruction of the Luoyang capital, and it covered a vast area. Inside, there was a magnificent pagoda over a hundred meters high, which was a famous scenic spot at the time.

By the early Tang Dynasty, Dazongchi Temple had become the largest temple in Chang'an, and most of the traveling monks from other regions chose to stay here.

Amidst the faint sound of the temple bell, Xuanzang, sitting cross-legged on a mat, slowly opened his eyes.

Xuanzang, who grew up in the Luoyang Jingtu Temple, had been able to read the Lotus Sutra fluently by the age of eleven when he was ordained. At eighteen, after listening to the explanation of the Mahayana-samgrahabhasya, he ascended the dharma seat to explain it to other monks just three days later, astonishing everyone. After receiving the full ordination at twenty, he traveled extensively, seeking out famous teachers, and when he returned to Chang'an with his brother, his reputation was already well-established.

Xuanzang, even before he embarked on his groundbreaking journey to the West, was already a prominent figure in the Buddhist community of Chang'an, and many high-ranking monks openly praised him as a prodigy of the Buddhist world.

Such a person naturally had the qualifications to oversee the examination and reduction of temples, especially since the previous two emperors of Sui were both Buddhists, and there were numerous temples in Guanzhong. The ten senior monks, all over sixty, lacked the energy to handle the task.

A novice monk reported that someone wanted to see him, and Xuanzang frowned. He had been deeply engrossed in Buddhist studies since childhood, and although he reluctantly took on the task of inspecting temples, he did not expect to be drawn into political turmoil.

"Enough, enough, I should go west, I should go west..." Xuanzang muttered to himself.

This thought had been lingering in his mind since yesterday. Over the past few years, as he traveled the land and returned to Chang'an, his doubts grew stronger. The scriptures and teachings varied from place to place.

Yesterday, Xuanzang suddenly realized that he needed to go to India to resolve his doubts.

Historically, Xuanzang decided to go west to fetch the scriptures after being encouraged by a foreign monk, but these thoughts had long been deeply rooted in his heart.

The novice added, "It's someone from Dongshan Temple."

Xuanzang immediately thought of the handsome young man from yesterday. "Please come in."

In the small guest room, Li Shan stared at the humble Xuanzang and smiled. "Seeing the worry on your face and the unease in your brows, I have come to help you today."

Since he knew what this "fish" wanted, Li Shan would not let it slip away.

"Help me?" Xuanzang did not look up, sighing, "Yesterday, upon returning to the city, I heard that the Tang army suffered a great defeat in Hebei. Prince of Huainan and Li Shiji barely escaped, and the brothers Xue Wanjun and Xue Wanche were captured."

Li Shan was startled. Li Shiji, who would later become Duke of Ying, was highly praised in the "Zizhi Tongjian" as being on par with Li Jing, Han Xin, Bai Qi, Wei Qing, and Huo Qubing.

To be mentioned alongside Li Jing, Han Xin, Bai Qi, Wei Qing, and Huo Qubing, yet barely escape, Li Shan's throat tightened. Liu Heita was really that formidable!

After a moment of silence, Li Shan said softly, "With this, the army is even more understaffed, and the reduction of temples is inevitable. Just the Dongshan Temple alone, if it is reduced, can immediately provide a hundred soldiers."

"And Dongshan Temple is the first temple to be inspected. If you let it off lightly, the emperor might be displeased, as he already favors Daoism and dislikes Buddhism..."

"I plan to resign today."

"Are you really going west?"

The quick response, though phrased as a question, carried a tone of certainty. Xuanzang finally looked up, carefully examining the young man before him, and sighed, "Your mind is so cunning. I suppose I was already in your trap yesterday."

Li Shan, as if he hadn't heard, continued, "Starting from Chang'an to go west to India, passing through Tianshui and Lanzhou, crossing Guazhou and the Jade Gate Pass, there are the kingdoms of Gaochang and Aqni in the Western Regions, and the city of Suyab, the Kushe Mountains, the vast desert, and the endless grasslands. The journey is perilous..."

Xuanzang listened intently, as this concerned his journey west.

"Even if the kingdoms allow passage and you are not captured by the Turks or bandits, it would take three to five years to reach."

"Moreover, the Turks often raid southward. If you return one day, the emperor might order you to provide detailed information about the tribes for military use. Would you be willing?"

"Once you go west, the chances of reaching India and returning alive are slim."

Xuanzang's expression did not waver.

"I have a way," Li Shan said straightforwardly. "Yesterday's setup was indeed a ruse, but the scriptures are truly from India. I can ensure your safe arrival in India, but please spare Dongshan Temple."

Seeing Xuanzang's skeptical look, Li Shan smiled lightly. "I am not lying."

Xuanzang lowered his head, clenching his teeth, and was about to speak when a novice monk outside reported, "County Lord Kaiyang and Scholar Du have come to visit."

Xuanzang had just reached the door when a voice came from outside.

"Yesterday, when we inspected Dongshan Temple, you discussed Buddhism with the abbot. What was the result?"

The young man who had accompanied him yesterday asked, looking at Xuanzang, who stood at the door, and smiled. "The two verses I saw yesterday were quite profound. I imagine the abbot is well-versed in Buddhism."

The middle-aged man who had been frowning at Dongshan Temple yesterday immediately contradicted him. "We have already inspected it. Dongshan Temple is occupied by the villagers of Zhujia Gou at the foot of the mountain. None of the monks understand Buddhism, and even the abbot does not have a monk's certificate!"

The two argued incessantly, while Xuanzang listened silently, and Li Shan inside became increasingly uneasy... These two had traveled together yesterday, but their debate suggested they had very different attitudes toward the reduction of temples. In this special period of the Wude era, Li Shan had a foreboding feeling.

Only when the two were out of breath did Xuanzang slowly speak. "The abbot of Dongshan Temple, Chan Master Wuchao, may not have a monk's certificate, but he brought scriptures from the East, which is a great contribution to Buddhism. The temple cannot be reduced."

The young man's face lit up with joy, while the middle-aged man, with a dark expression, was about to speak when he saw Xuanzang step aside, revealing a familiar figure inside.

Li Shan cursed the bald head for being so unkind, and with a forced laugh, he bowed. "I came to visit you today to inquire about this matter."

The young man laughed and pointed at Li Shan, scolding, "You have offended Scholar Du twice in two days. You are quite bold."

Hearing the title "Scholar Du," Li Shan struggled to control his legs, which were no longer listening to him, and lowered his head without a word.

Seeing this, the middle-aged man, after a moment of shock, immediately understood. He and the young man had the same judgment.

Xuanzang had been silent on the way back yesterday, but now he gave a negative answer... Clearly, Xuanzang's decision was related to the sudden appearance of this young man.

Xuanzang said softly, "The emperor ordered the inspection of temples in Guanzhong. Those that do not meet the criteria will be reduced. I am following orders, but for Dongshan Temple..."

The middle-aged man's expression improved slightly, and he bowed. "Six months ago, a major battle took place in Central China, and the army continued to advance south. It is difficult to immediately mobilize the veterans in Guanzhong. Now, with the chaos in Hebei, the army is stretched thin. Please inspect the temples as soon as possible."

Although the first temple inspection hit a snag, if the rest went smoothly, it would only be a matter of losing face.

One with a stern face, the other smiling, they watched the two leave, and Xuanzang and Li Shan sat down again in the room.

"That Scholar Du is from the Tiance Mansion..." Li Shan's voice was hoarse. The term "scholar" in the Sui and Tang dynasties referred to literary attendants, but in the Wude era, he couldn't help but think of the Eighteen Scholars.

Xuanzang nodded slightly. "He is the Chief Secretary of the Tiance Mansion and the head of the Eighteen Scholars of the Literary Pavilion, Du Ruhui of Jingzhao."

Li Shan swallowed. "And that County Lord Kaiyang?"

"He is the Inspector of the Left Guard of the Eastern Palace, Wei Ting of Jingzhao, and is said to be a close friend of the crown prince since childhood."

Li Shan's eyes were blank. Getting involved in this, was he courting death?

Even more suicidal was that, although the other party might not care, he was actually siding with the Eastern Palace and abandoning the support of the Qin王府...