Don't be a prince

Dugu Bo was still in a daze, but the courtiers had already knelt down on the ground, shouting long live.

Just like what the emperor said, the year-end bonus is not worth a lot of money, but the most important thing is that this thing was issued by the court, and it can even be said that it is a gift from the emperor.Even if you only get a handful of vegetables, that is an honor!The fun of being an official is all supported by these things.Winning the year-end award for one year at least proves that he does not have a vegetarian meal in his place, and he can brag about it with his peers in the clan, even the elders.

Seeing the situation like this, Dugu Bo could only agree.

Clearing his throat, Li Chengqian said: "Everyone loves you, and I have one more thing to say, and that is this year's annual banquet. This year's annual banquet will still be presided over by my father, who is unwilling to receive too many The courtiers only wanted to get together with the royal family, so they recalled the princes and princesses from all over the place. The annual banquet hosted by me has been postponed until next year."

All the courtiers nodded secretly. It is normal for the Supreme Emperor to not want to see the courtiers if he presides over the New Year Banquet.After all, he is already the emperor of Zen, and he can't avoid political affairs.

However, Changsun Wuji felt something was wrong.

He went to the palace to see the emperor. Although the 17th year of Zhenguan still continued, the emperor obviously had no intention of interfering in anything.The annual banquet has always been presided over by the emperor, there is no reason for the emperor to wait another year.Remembering that he was also qualified to participate in the royal annual banquet, Changsun Wuji couldn't help becoming curious about this matter.

Chapter 538 Debating Machine

The day of the New Year's Eve finally came. After getting up early in the morning, Li Chengqian handed over the planning of the New Year's banquet to Li Zhi who had returned to Beijing, while he himself was out of the palace. In a festive atmosphere, he quietly Entered the Temple of Mercy.

After the dispute between Buddhism and Taoism ended, both the Ci'en Temple and the Laojun Temple have returned to their previous appearances.As the undisputed first Buddhist temple in the Tang Dynasty, the Ci'en Temple now covers an area that has expanded by more than five times, and its incense is at its peak.Even on New Year's Eve, many believers still come to the temple to pray for blessings, and the monks will give some so-called "consecrated" small gifts to the believers.

Just after entering the Ci'en Temple, I met the abbot of the Ci'en Temple-Hui Wu.

Huiming has passed away. Perhaps the most gratifying thing for the old monk before his death is that Buddhism is no longer consumed by the imperial power, but instead has the support of the imperial power.

On the grassland, while the state capital was being built, the construction of Buddhist temples also began. Using Buddhism and Taoism to resolve the natural ferocity of grassland herdsmen was the meaning of the Supreme Emperor Li Shimin.At the same time, for Silla, Baekje, Goryeo, Khotan, Kucha, etc., whether they are still lingering or have been conquered, Buddhist temples have been approved to build temples in these places.Perhaps, the Taishanghuang would rather see the future beard and shaved his bald gourd to teach him the Dharma than to see them riding a horse and only recognizing a machete.

Seeing a face slightly exposed under the black cloak, Hui Wu immediately saluted and said in a low voice: "Poor monk Hui Wu, I pay my respects to Your Majesty."

Li Chengqian nodded, glanced at the crowded Daxiong Palace Square, and said, "The incense in Ci'en Temple is really prosperous, but I don't know how much the Buddhist school has done in charity this year?"

Huiwu immediately replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Buddhism established a charity hall in Liaodong, and helped more than [-] poor households. Not only that, in the surrounding area of ​​Jingzhou, as long as there are poor places, there are people from Buddhism helping the poor. Don't worry, Your Majesty." , Buddhism does good deeds, only those recorded in the record, there are local officials to testify, filed in the Ministry of household, as for the unrecorded, there are too many. Now the Buddhism, dare not say all, but most monks are still For the good."

Li Chengqian said with a smile: "Don't be nervous, I'm just asking casually, there's no need to say everything, just lead the way."

Huiwu returned the salute with a smile, but the bald gourd under the hat was already sweating.Accompanying you is like accompanying a tiger!Although Buddhism is prosperous now, and it is mutually beneficial and win-win with the royal family, who knows when it will turn its face?Be careful, it's not a big mistake!And as far as he knows, the emperor now has a lack of affection for both Buddhism and Taoism.

Hui Wu led the way, and it didn't take long before he reached a large hall.

Leaving the guards such as Changtianhou to stay outside, Li Chengqian opened the door and entered the hall alone.

After entering the main hall, you can see the dinner plate on a small table.The hall was cold, and the food on the table had already frozen into lumps.From the looks of it, it should be today's dinner.

After signaling to Zhang Yun, Li Chengqian walked into the hall with big strides.

This is an old hall, but it is dedicated to the Tathagata.This hall is actually more famous than the resplendent one, because it is the place where Master Xuanzang practiced Zen.If Li Tai, the prince, came over, he might not be able to come in directly.

In front of the Buddha statue, Xuanzang was doing his homework on an ancient scripture. He was dressed in plain robes, but it was difficult to conceal the aura of a generation of eminent monks.In fact, in Li Chengqian's view, the so-called aura of eminent monks and great virtues is naturally produced along with real practice. It is undeniable that some real practitioners are indeed different from ordinary people.

"Namo, Heluodana, Duolayeye. Namo, Alaye. Polukadi, Shuobaraye. Bodhisattva Poye, Mahasattva Poye..."

After listening for a while, Li Chengqian said after Xuanzang finished his homework: "Ningxin Mantra, Xuanzang, from your hoarse voice and your chapped lips, you can tell that you have been reciting this scripture for a long time. Have you ever calmed down?"

Hearing the sound, Xuanzang turned his head stiffly, seeing that it was the emperor, he got up quickly.

But if he sat for too long, even a monk would experience numbness in his legs. After three attempts, Xuanzang couldn't get up.

He brought a futon and sat in front of Xuanzang with a smile. Li Chengqian said with a smile: "I am not here to see you as an emperor, so there is no need to be formal. Xuanzang, can you change the fact that you said you went on a hunger strike to recite scriptures? Can you calm down your heart? After all, your Buddha has no way to take away your emotions, anger, sorrow, and fear."

Xuanzang said with a wry smile: "Your Majesty is joking, where is the Buddha? As long as he has a compassionate heart, anyone can be a Buddha. To become a Buddha, it is not necessarily necessary to abandon the seven emotions and six desires. Your Majesty came to the poor monk today, but to inquire about crimes?"

Li Chengqian shook his head: "No, I just came to see you as an old acquaintance. Sun Daochang came to see you, and when he entered the palace to see a doctor for the Supreme Emperor, he told me that your current situation is very dangerous. In other words, it's about to go crazy.

The old Taoist priest wanted to help you, but you were so energetic that day that you didn't stop chanting scriptures, deliberately avoiding Daoist Sun's persuasion.Daoist Sun has no choice but to ask me to come and see you. How can we say that the three of us violated the five precepts of Buddhism together, right?

Compared with Sun Daochang, I am more realistic. I waited for two days, thinking that you were going to play yourself to death, and then I came to see you. How is it? Isn’t I very vicious? "

Xuanzang said with a wry smile: "Your Majesty's willingness to come shows that he is still worried about the poor monk. This is the poor monk's honor. But your majesty, how do you want the poor monk to accept such things? Although ordinary people other than believers treat the poor monk in every possible way." Cover up, but it is an indisputable fact that Bianji did something wrong."

"It's still the same sentence, if you torture yourself by chanting scriptures here, you can change the facts? If you want me to say, the one who suffered the most damage from this incident is actually me. As an emperor, such scandals have occurred in the royal family. How can it be arranged by the people. As the master of Bianji, you are favored and protected by the people, you don't know how much I envy you."

Xuanzang sighed, his legs felt a little bit, he simply changed from sitting down to kneeling, put his palms up on his chest and said: "Your Majesty is right, no matter what you say, something wrong happened, please punish the poor. monk."

Li Chengqian said speechlessly: "Why are you being a monk who translates scriptures, and playing the tricks of ascetic monks? Do you have to be punished by me to be free? Forget it, I will punish you to copy the meditation mantra a thousand times, how about it?"

Xuanzang smiled wryly, "Your Majesty's punishment is too light for a poor monk."

"Then what else do you want? Although you are the master of Bianji, there is a saying that the master leads in the door, and the practice depends on the individual. Bianji abandons the scriptures you translated and applied to the Tang Dynasty instead of studying them, and only reads those scriptures in their original form." , imitating the disgusting tricks of the Tianzhu people, I can't blame you.

It's you, Xuanzang, now you see the unclean places in Tianzhu's native Buddhism, and many of the thoughts in it are poisonous to Tang Dynasty.I will not order you to completely destroy the original, but it can still be done if it is sealed and only suitable people are allowed to study it! "

Xuanzang saluted and said: "The poor monk knows it well, let Your Majesty decide."

At this moment, the door of the palace opened, and Zhang Yun and Hui Wu came in with two pottery bowls in their hands, and the Sky-Changing Monkey behind him also carried a small table.

After placing them, the three retreated out again.

Picking up the pottery bowl and smelling it, Li Chengqian nodded, scooped it up with a spoon, and stuffed it into his mouth.Vegetarian food must be deliciously cooked by monks. Not everyone can make a bowl of rice porridge with mixed vegetables.

Pointing at the porridge bowl in front of Xuanzang with a spoon, Li Chengqian said: "I order you to have breakfast with me, you have no right to refuse."

Xuanzang sighed, and could only pick up the porridge bowl and start eating.At the beginning, it was very gentle, but later on, when the porridge cooled down a bit, it showed some meaning of gobbling.After all, I have been hungry for three or four days, and if I continue to be hungry, I guess I will not be able to hold on.

After breakfast, Xuanzang's complexion looked much better.

Asked Zhang Yun to come in to clean up the dishes, and after the case was resisted, Li Chengqian said: "There can only be one disposal of the defense machine. I have one more request for you and Ci'en Temple, and that is to cut off the defense machine." The relationship between teachers and students will be terminated, and the monk registration will be issued."

Xuanzang nodded and said, "The poor monk understands."

Standing up, Li Chengqian didn't stay any longer and prepared to return to the palace.

Once Xuanzang's heart knot is untied, nothing will happen, but he, tonight, is doomed not to have a good year.

Since Baiqisi merged with the dark guard, its scale has grown even larger.Li Chengqian knew very well that the higher the level of the official, the more he would be deceived.The more superior you are, the easier it is to live in another world woven by your subordinates. The phrase "why not eat minced meat" does not have to be blamed on Jin Huidi himself.

And Baiqisi, who has spread out in an all-round way, can be said to have reached an extreme in monitoring Datang.But even so, there are still some things that cannot be prevented before they happen.

Originally, the monk named "Bian Ji" was not found beside Xuanzang, and Li Chengqian almost forgot about this character.However, who would have thought that Gao Yang avoided this deep pit, and this deep pit did not wait for the next person to jump down, but took the initiative to find the next person.

Princess Qianjin!

In the past, as a veteran of the sea, she tried to drag Gao Yang into the water, but after being discovered by Li Chengqian, she was demoted back to the fiefdom.

However, who would have thought that Bianji was expelled from the capital by Xuanzang because of studying the scriptures in Tianzhu and strayed into the magic way.When the two meet by chance...

Gee.

Not only Princess Qianjin, but also Princess Fangling (formerly Princess Yongjia) got involved, and even secretly built a Buddhist temple in the deep mountains of her own fief.

As for Bianji's disgusting theory, it almost made Li Chengqian spit it out.

"I am a person who transcends the mundane world and has ties with others. My body is like a bodhi tree and cannot be stained with dust. If all living beings want to become a Buddha and gain great liberation, they need to cleanse their sins. In the past, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva swore: Hell is not empty , Swear not to become a Buddha. Today, the poor monk also made a great vow, that thousands of sins will be committed to me, and I will fall into the nine worlds forever, so that all living beings can be at ease."

This passage sounded unexpectedly serious, but the excessive sin between the two of them was actually a process of sex, which made people laugh.Men are better, daughters, are they sure that their crimes have been passed on to the defense body?Could it be that there are hundreds of millions of sins on them.Maybe there will be a great crime, if that happens, the royal family will really lose face.

When Baiqisi's memorial was sent to Li Chengqian's desk, Qianjin Fangling had already arrived in Chang'an, thinking that he had made Princess Fangling the eldest princess according to his father's request, Li Chengqian had a headache.

The princess was sealed lightly, but after her stupidity was exposed, he, the emperor, was the first to be questioned.

He frowned all the way back to the East Palace, even if his son's little hand grabbed it, he couldn't let it go.

Seeing this, Su Yuan sighed, took the child over to the nanny, sat down beside her husband, took his hand and said, "Husband, you always say that you have the courage to take responsibility for doing wrong things. The royal father is involved in the conferment of the princess, but as long as you deal with it fairly, you can still restore the reputation of the royal family. What's more, haven't Bian Ji and other monstrous monks been arrested and the temple destroyed?"

Li Chengqian sighed: "I am not worried about this matter, but worried about the future of the Tang Dynasty. This is only the first time such a thing has happened, will it happen again in the future. Religious chaos, when Buddhism and Taoism are in dispute, It was planned by me to become a state where Buddhism and Taoism occupy the Tang Dynasty, and the two are fighting for the front. But with the end of the global attack on the Tang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty is now a paradise for the world.

Do you know how many foreign merchants' applications for household registration have been received by the household department?Tens of thousands!These people all dream of entering the Tang Dynasty and living a truly stable life.There is also the circulation of commercial routes, and the result of commercial exchanges is that cultural exchanges will inevitably follow.In foreign culture, it is undeniable that there are essences, but more of them are dross.It seems that I have to prepare legislation! "

Holding Su Yuan's hand and kissing it, looking at the bright sun outside, Li Chengqian immediately ordered Xuan Chang Sun Wuji and other chief officials from the three provinces and six ministries to enter the palace to discuss matters.

Wrong things happen, bad things happen, and it's foolish to try to cover them up.The really correct way is to analyze the cause of the error based on this mistake, so as to ensure that it will not happen again in the future.This is even more so when this kind of thing rises to the national level.

Thinking that the Qixi Festival in later generations was replaced by February [-]th, and the new year is not as lively as Christmas, Li Chengqian felt that he had to kill these festivals in the cradle now.The festivals of the Tang Dynasty should become the trend of the world.But the current Datang is qualified to import its own culture to the outside world unscrupulously.Gentiles, however, do not have the right to refuse, or in other words, they only have the choice to accept with a smile.

Chapter 539 The New Year's Banquet

Changsun Wuji and others live around Taipingfang. Among the multi-storey buildings that have gradually begun to be built around, the four squares of Taipingfang, Guanglufang, Xingdaofang, and Wubenfang seem out of place.Because these four square cities are inhabited by big bosses.

Being summoned into the palace on the [-]th day of the new year made Changsun Wuji and others feel the urgency of the matter.Especially after hearing what the emperor said, he frowned even more.

After thinking for a long time, Ma Zhou cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I thought about it according to what you said, and suddenly shuddered. You are right, these heretical theories must be eliminated in the bud, and our court should also These theories should be monitored, and once discovered, they must be completely wiped out."

Li Chengqian nodded and said: "That's true. The implementation of the new law will bear the brunt of Taoism and Buddhism. We don't need to hinder them for the new year. Well, Ma Zhou, after the new year, you find an opportunity to go Ci'en Temple, explain clearly to Hui Wu and others that heresy is not tolerated by the imperial court."

After finishing speaking, Li Chengqian looked at Chu Suiliang and said, "I'll leave it to you at the Daomen. You must explain the matter clearly to them."

Chu Suiliang got up from his seat and took the order.

Changsun Wuji was still looking forward to what would happen at the annual banquet, but now he understood.

It seems that Princess Qianjin and Princess Fangling will have a hard time tonight.

With a sigh, Changsun Wuji asked, "Your Majesty, are you going to cover up this matter?"

Li Chengqian sighed and said: "I used to want to cover it up, after all, it was related to the face of the royal family. However, after thinking about the seriousness of this matter, I decided to make it public. Compared with the law and order of the Tang Dynasty, the face of the royal family can be said to be It's insignificant."

The Shangshu of the Ministry of Justice is now Han Du, remembering Bianji who was still imprisoned in Dali Temple, he tentatively asked: "Your Majesty, how should we deal with Bianji?"

Li Chengqian curled his lips and said: "After the first month has passed, he will be beheaded and abandoned in the market, and an official document will be posted to announce his crimes."

Li Daozong, Minister of the Zongzheng Temple, has also retired, and Li Chongyi is now serving as the Minister of the Temple. Seeing how Bianji dealt with it, he asked, "Then, Your Majesty, how will Princess Qianjin and Princess Fangling be dealt with?"

Although the Minister of Zongzheng Temple has an extremely high status in the royal family, but this kind of situation involves the Emperor Gaozu and the princesses, especially when one of them is the eldest princess, you still have to ask clearly.

Li Chengqian thought for a while before saying: "The Supreme Emperor wants to handle this matter personally, and I can only give you suggestions at most. At the annual banquet, the father and emperor will probably ask your opinion. My suggestion is to cut off the eldest princess of Fangling." The Dachang Princess and the Princess, cut off the princess of Qianjin Princess, sent to the Ganye Temple to become a monk, and will not leave the temple for life! In addition, Princess Jiujiang can be conferred the title of Dachang Princess."

Princess Jiujiang?

Li Chongyi hesitated and said: "Your Majesty, it is true that Princess Fangling is followed by Princess Jiujiang, but Princess Jiujiang's son-in-law has lost his mind. This is not safe!"

Li Chengqian glared at Li Chongyi and said, "What's wrong with Zhishili? Leaving aside the time when he was loyal to Jieli, isn't he doing little for the Tang Dynasty? Besides, there is a relationship between Princess Jiujiang and Zhishili. Marriage and beauty should be regarded as a model, why can’t we confer the title of Dachang Princess? It is said that conferring wife and son is conferring wife and son. In my opinion, the credit of losing one’s mind is enough to support Princess Jiujiang to obtain the title of Dachang Princess.

In addition, even judging from my personal emotions, the obsession with loss of thinking power is also meritorious.Back then when I rode a crazy horse by mistake, he was the one who followed closely all the way and was the first to save me.I know that you all have prejudices against foreign generals, but this kind of prejudice should not be brought up in official business.In a word, they are at least worthy of us Datang, so we must also be worthy of them. "

Changsun Wuji and others all lowered their heads, especially Li Chongyi, who was extremely ashamed.

Looking at Chu Suiliang, Li Chengqian said: "After the next year, it will be the first year of Yanxing, so I will order the law to be rebuilt. When the time comes, remember to add a lot of content that was ignored by the previous law."

Chu Suiliang said: "The humble minister leads the order!"

At this point, the official business came to an end, and Li Chengqian stood up with a smile and said: "The river transportation team of the Duke of Yun specially selected some good seafood from Dengzhou and gave them to me. Zhao Yi, you have been in Dengzhou for many years. It’s still good to pick things! Go to the East Palace warehouse by yourself and pick some good things to take back, especially purple sea cucumbers, which are said to be a great tonic, so don’t miss them.”

Zhao Yi smiled and agreed. They knew very well that apart from the year-end bonus, these were the exclusive rewards of senior officials like them.The emperor wins people's hearts and only targets a few of them, there is no need to show off to the outside world.

Everyone bowed their hands and said goodbye, until there was no one in the study, Li Chengqian stretched himself and prepared to go to Daming Palace.

So far, the Daming Palace has an obvious prototype, and the rest is decoration.

The Taishang Emperor's bedroom was set at the Penglai Hall, and today's annual banquet was held at the Yanying Hall.

Just after entering Daming Palace, I saw Li Tai.Even though it was such a festive day like Chinese New Year, Li Tai had a long face, as if everyone owed him money.

Walking over with a smile, Li Chengqian said with a smile, "Qingque, who offended you? Brother Huang, help you vent your anger."

Seeing Brother Huang, Li Tai eased his expression, and said: "I originally made an appointment with the people from the scientific research institute. This year is not the end of the year, and I have to assemble the train for a trial run. In the end, Emperor Father insisted on calling me back. No. As a last resort, I can only order an annual leave. Although there are drawings and records, it is two different things to finish it at one time and to rest for a while."

Li Chengqian was surprised and said, "Is your train ready for trial run?"

Li Tai proudly said: "That's natural. I have to say that you are really good at predicting things. The sealing ability of that kind of rubber thing is really amazing. Now the efficiency of the steam engine has improved a lot. You said the train It is no problem to be able to pull more than a dozen carriages, but in my opinion, if it is changed to a structure that pushes and pulls front and back, thirty or forty carriages will not be a problem!"

Li Chengqian smiled and said: "It's not that the emperor is so predictable. The success of the train depends on you trying all day and night all year round. It's okay to take a break for a period of time during the Chinese New Year, and it's okay to try it later. When the time comes, brother Take the train you have researched yourself!"

Li Tai nodded excitedly.

At the gate of the palace, some vassal kings came over, all of them were Li Yuan's cheap sons, King Peng, King Zheng and others.

Seeing that the emperor was here, they all straightened their skirts and wanted to come over and have sex.

Li Tai knew that Brother Huang didn't like these people very well, so he waved his hand irritably, and then quickly said some unnutritious words to Brother Huang, pretending to be very busy.

As a prince, Li Tai was naturally not something they could afford, so Li Yuanze, Li Yuanyi and others had no choice but to avoid him.

After driving away the annoying flies, Li Tai said contemptuously: "I didn't see how close they are to our brothers before, but since you became the emperor, my concubine gave birth to a girl, and they all rushed to give gifts. They are all some bastards." It’s a waste of state taxes to feed people who are waiting to die!”

Li Chengqian said helplessly: "In any case, they were all born with gold spoons in their mouths, and the father had made an agreement with Emperor Gaozu that unless these people committed the crime of treason, their titles and salaries would not be reduced by half. Don't say father, It was me who made an agreement with Grandpa Huang back then, even though he passed away, the agreement is the agreement."

Li Tai asked in surprise: "Then what about your plan? Are you going to let them go?"

Li Chengqian said with a smile: "How could we let them go? Although Grandpa Huang and I have made an agreement, we have not made an agreement with Mengyu and the others. So what if they live a happy life? When it comes to their next generation, they will not be fooled." Such a good thing as death."

Li Tai gestured with his thumb, and when he saw Li Jian coming, he and Li Chengqian greeted him.

Seeing the emperor, Li Jian saluted realistically, and then moved closer and asked, "The Supreme Emperor asked his servants to come over and ask you, how did you deal with the debate?"