Fifteen li outside the city of Luoyang.
Unlike the bustling prosperity of "New" Luoyang, here, amidst the melodies of strings and flutes, surrounded by verdant pines and cypresses, a magnificent ancient temple with gilded roofs and painted eaves rose from the ground.
The temple gate bore a golden plaque reading "Baima Temple" (White Horse Temple), and before the temple stood several enormous bronze incense burners, from which wisps of smoke curled, carrying a faint, lingering fragrance.
Ascending the steps and entering the temple gate, one passed a spirit screen to face a grand hall dedicated to the Buddha, flanked by two side halls.
Many high officials and nobles were present, burning incense before the hall and willingly offering donations.
Cai Zhaoji, on the verge of giving birth, was also there, supported by Xiahou Juan, Liu Xue, and others. They had come to pay homage to the Buddha, having heard that the Buddha of Baima Temple could ensure the safety of mother and child.
At this moment, she knelt on a prayer mat before the hall. Before her stood the gilded Buddha statue, majestic and imposing, while the bronze incense burners continuously emitted faint, fragrant smoke.
Cai Zhaoji seemed to see an boundless sky and sea, with light sails carrying her wish for the safety of mother and child, setting sail into the distance.
Suddenly...
A clamor of smashing doors and angry shouts echoed from outside the temple gate. Many people hurried over...
Cai Zhaoji, Liu Xue, and Xiahou Juan also joined the throng, only to see a detachment of soldiers rushing towards them.
"What business do you visitors have here?"
The monks of Baima Temple emerged, inquiring of the officials.
"By imperial decree, all monks of Baima Temple are to be apprehended, and all other worshipers are to be dispersed on the spot..."
The words were spoken with undeniable authority. The monks were thrown into a panic. Just as they were about to return to consult the abbot, the entire Baima Temple was surrounded.
And all the tonsured monks and Buddha statues were rounded up.
"Officer, I... what offense have we committed?"
The monk, already escorted by soldiers, scrambled to his feet, tugging at a soldier and asking in alarm.
At this moment...
A scribe, appearing from somewhere, ascended to the second floor of a temple hall and, looking down, began to read the imperial edict...
"I, the Son of Heaven, appointed by Heaven, have recently heard of the rampant spread of demon worship, leading to the failure of governance and education, the utter ruin of rites and righteousness, and the neglect of royal law. I wish to eliminate falsehood and establish truth, restoring the rule of Fu Xi and Shen Nong. Therefore, I issue this decree to abolish Buddhism. All monks under forty years of age shall immediately return to secular life. Those over forty may either return to secular life or perish with the Buddhas. I have heard that the Buddha teaches that the self is illusory and that benefiting others is paramount. If one's true body still exists and is beneficial to the world, one should be willing to sacrifice it. How much less should we cherish these bronze statues?"
As these words were uttered...
Xiahou Juan did not understand and asked Cai Zhaoji beside her, "Sister Zhaoji, what... what does this mean?"
Before Cai Zhaoji could answer...
Princess Wannian, Liu Xue, pursed her lips and said, "My younger brother has actually issued a decree... to... to abolish Buddhism!"
Phew...
As these words escaped, Xiahou Juan was stunned.
Abolishing Buddhism... wouldn't that mean... this Baima Temple!
Not only Xiahou Juan, Cai Zhaoji, and Liu Xue were surprised, but the believers present were also startled...
They could not believe that such a Buddhist temple...
In broad daylight, it was perfectly fine, and suddenly... suddenly...
But as they watched the soldiers search the entire monastery, these scenes were all too real.
Some of the guards recognized Cai Zhaoji and the other two...
"Chief Cai, why are the two Crown Princesses here..." The head of the guards hurried to the three women, beckoned, and ordered his subordinates to escort them away.
Cai Zhaoji hesitated for a moment, then took a step forward, pursed her lips, and murmured,
"Is this decree to abolish Buddhism truly... issued by His Majesty?"
"The imperial edict is in my hand, it is absolutely true." The head guard dared not conceal anything...
Cai Zhaoji nodded gently, as if comprehending. She, along with Xiahou Juan and Liu Xue, left the area.
Getting into the carriage...
She seemed to recall something.
After a moment of contemplation, her eyes turned towards Liu Xue.
Liu Xue seemed to have something to say, but her lips were as if choked, all her helplessness hidden in her heart...
Finally, Cai Zhaoji could not help but pat Liu Xue's back.
"His Majesty... has indeed... done much for the Crown Prince... for Great Wei."
As the carriage drove away...
The worshipers who had been burning incense at Baima Temple, perhaps instigated by someone...
Suddenly...
Roaring voices erupted.
"This Great Han abolished the recommendation system, and now it issues decrees to abolish Buddhism... Has this Han Son of Heaven gone mad?"
"Indeed, the Great Han... Hmph, let the Great Han perish, it's already a mere formality anyway!"
"Wei replaces Han!"
"Hush, you'll lose your head..."
"I support the King of Wei replacing the Han, who dares to chop off my head!"
Clearly...
Most of the worshipers came from affluent families. The recommendation system, the head tax... and now the abolition of Buddhism. Their suppressed anger had reached a boiling point and was about to erupt!
...
...
In Luoyang City, within the King of Wei's palace.
It was a rainy night. Cao Cao slowly unfurled a scroll in his study. It was a painting commissioned by him, depicting his youthful promise to Lu Weiran, Lu Yu's mother.
A set of ten paintings, and at each one, Cao Cao paused for a moment.
Xiahou Yuan, standing below, remained silent...
He gently tapped the table.
Recalling this story, Xiahou Yuan had actually heard it from his elder brother, Cao Cao, but he had never paid much attention to it...
He thought she was just one of the many women around his elder brother.
But who could have imagined that such an "ordinary" woman would give birth to his elder brother's eldest son, his own son-in-law, and the Crown Prince of Great Wei...
Indeed, life is unpredictable!
"Elder brother, still thinking of her?"
Cao Cao smiled faintly, "As I grow older, many memories are etched in my heart, and I cannot forget them... The people and things we lose are more easily imprinted in our minds."
Xiahou Yuan sighed, "Yes... the past is like smoke. Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, my elder brother and I would reach the age of knowing destiny..."
Phew...
With a heavy exhale, Cao Cao turned around.
In the candlelight, it was still visible that his complexion had become much paler and more weathered. Tormented by his headaches, he was no longer the "heroic" King of Wei, but rather an old man gradually fading away.
"At twenty, I could act on my beliefs with youthful passion, but the price was constant setbacks and being ostracized by the world. At thirty, I believed I had to unite people and do something righteous, but when I saw those who acted one way to your face and another behind your back, I realized... these brats are not worth plotting with! At forty, my cities, troops, and resources were not the most abundant, but I had an epiphany. I knew what I had to do was what I was good at. Relying on family patronage, I could recruit troops from across the land, and in my lifetime, I would never compare to Yuan Benchu. However, by choosing the virtuous and appointing the capable, by being trustworthy in battle and decisive in action, even three Yuan Benchus could not match me!"
At this point, Cao Cao paused.
It was as if he was recalling those glorious past years.
He took a breath... composing himself, he continued, "It is precisely because I had this epiphany... I understood, that I dared to entrust absolute power to Ziyu, to let him gather this chaotic world for me! And now, in the blink of an eye, I am at the age of knowing destiny. My youthful passion has been consumed by illness. All I can do is cultivate the next King of Wei, cultivate a King of Wei who can truly unify the realm!"
Boom...
Cao Cao's words resonated like thunder.
Xiahou Yuan, hearing this, could not help but tremble...
At twenty, acting with youthful passion;
At thirty, doing what one wished;
At forty, doing what one was good at;
At fifty, cultivating the next generation... Elder brother's understanding of life, his state of mind, was indeed more profound.
However...
Why would elder brother bring these things up at this time? Was he implying something...
Before Xiahou Yuan could ponder further...
"Report!" A captain reported, "Reporting to the King of Wei, all Buddha statues within Luoyang have been forcibly returned to secular life. Those who resisted stubbornly... or insisted on not returning to secular life, have been pushed into pits and burned along with Buddhist scriptures!"
As these words were uttered...
Subconsciously, Xiahou Yuan thought of the burning of books and burying of scholars.
Was elder brother... going to burn scriptures and bury monks?
"Elder brother... this abolition of Buddhism, isn't it a bit..."
Xiahou Yuan felt a pang of regret...
After all, his wife, Dingxiang, also often went to Baima Temple to burn incense and pray to the Buddha...
Cao Cao replied immediately, "The Crown Prince wrote saying, if Great Wei has four hundred and eighty temples, then how many towers and pavilions are there in the misty rain..."
This...
Xiahou Yuan was taken aback and wanted to speak again, perhaps to mention that doing so might cause his elder brother to lose some popular support...
At this moment, the captain's voice came again.
"My Lord, the decree to abolish Buddhism and bury monks was issued by the Han Son of Heaven and drafted by the Shangshu Tai. It did not... it did not come from the King of Wei!"
Hmm...
The captain's words made Cao Cao pause.
It was known that although Great Wei and Great Han existed as two courts in this land, the promulgation of imperial decrees, whether by Great Wei or Great Han, could not bypass the Shangshu Tai.
Of course, Cao Cao had also heard news of Crown Prince Lu Yu's reforms in governance and institutions, but in the short term... the Shangshu Tai still held immense power.
And... the decree issued by Cao Cao was transmitted from the King of Wei's palace to the Shangshu Tai, but who would have thought that the decree that was finally delivered to the public was the Han Son of Heaven's decree, the Son of Heaven's imperial edict!
This...
Cao Cao's eyes narrowed into slits.
Xiahou Yuan asked curiously, "Elder brother, this is..."
"The Han Son of Heaven is giving me, and the Crown Prince, a great favor!" Cao Cao replied...
Hearing this, Xiahou Yuan finally understood...
So that's how it is.
As for Cao Cao, he shook his head slightly and sighed again. "When I was young, I protected the Han Dynasty for at least thirty years, yet I never imagined that in my lifetime I would be repaid by the Han Dynasty... Heh, this is the so-called Duke of Zhou spitting out food, and the world submitting to him. Haha, the Crown Prince's influence is indeed considerable!"
Saying this...
Cao Cao flicked his long sleeves and was about to walk out of the palace gate...
"Elder brother, where are you going?" Xiahou Yuan quickly asked.
"To Xudu City, to the Han Palace!" Cao Cao replied loudly...
Xiahou Yuan did not understand for a moment why his elder brother would go to the Han Palace at this time...
The captain's eyes fixed on him, "How does the King know that His Majesty is waiting for the King in the imperial palace?"
As these words were spoken.
Tap... Cao Cao's steps paused.
He said with a smile, "My son is meticulous in his plans, how could I not be prescient? Haha... Hahahahaha..."
A demonic laughter echoed throughout the King of Wei's palace. Cao Cao, who usually did not travel late at night, would break his old custom for Great Wei, for the Crown Prince, tonight!
...
...
The sun shone upon Yangping Pass. The magnificent double-eaved structures... Yangping Pass, where one man could hold it against ten thousand, had its gates wide open today.
The Dragon Valor Camp and the Xiliang Army, led by Lu Yu, entered Hanzhong.
This also marked the formal surrender of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect in Bashu to Great Wei, opening the gates of Shu.
Along the way, the Grand Priest, elders, and protectors of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect all came out to welcome them. The convoy of carriages escorting the Dragon Valor Camp alone exceeded a hundred... The scene was grand and spectacular.
At the center, surrounded by everyone, besides the Crown Prince of Great Wei, Lu Yu, who else could it be?
Zhang Qiying rode in the same carriage with him. The two were not too close, but Zhang Qiying's gaze towards Lu Yu had changed completely.
Women... are like that...
The established fact of physical intimacy causes women's dependence on men... to grow exponentially.
At this moment, Zhang Qiying was describing everything outside the window to Lu Yu...
Hanzhong, with its unified governance and religion, differed greatly from other prefectures and counties.
It could be said that in this prefecture, whether one was a follower of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect...
Greatly impacted a family!
And every few hundred meters, enormous altars appeared...
These were places where the common people and the priests of the Celestial Master Sect offered sacrifices and engaged in rituals.
"This is the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, this is Hanzhong..."
Zhang Qiying recounted in detail... stories about this place.
But...
To Lu Yu, these "vivid and expressive" stories seemed to be half true and half false.
In the past few days, he had specifically recalled the Celestial Master Sect and the Five Pecks of Rice Sect...
While the Celestial Master Sect was indeed founded by Zhang Daoling, the Five Pecks of Rice Sect was not created by Zhang Lu.
In the "Records of the Three Kingdoms: Wei Shu: Biography of Zhang Lu," the view of "Dian Lue" was cited, which stated that while the Zhang brothers, Zhang Jiao, Zhang Bao, and Zhang Liang, were spreading the Way of Great Peace in the Central Plains, a man named Zhang Xiu... began to spread the Five Pecks of Rice Sect!
—In the autumn of the first year of Zhongping (184 AD), the sorcerer Zhang Xiu of Ba Commandery rebelled and attacked commanderies and counties.
—At that time, the sorcerer Zhang Xiu healed illnesses, and those who were cured were hired with five pecks of rice, hence the name Five Pecks of Rice Master.
This means that along with the Yellow Turban Rebellion, there was the rebellion of Zhang Xiu of Ba Commandery... and this rebellion was eventually pacified by Liu Yan, and Zhang Xiu was appointed as a Separate Commander.
From this, it can be inferred that Zhang Xiu was the true leader of the Five Pecks of Rice Way, not Zhang Daoling as later generations claimed.
As for... what happened between Zhang Lu and Zhang Xiu, there are many theories.
The mainstream view is that Zhang Lu killed Zhang Xiu and then reinterpreted the history of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect.
The "Records of the Three Kingdoms: Biography of Zhang Lu" mentions—Lu, in Hanzhong, due to the people's faith and practice of his teachings, further embellished them!
Thinking of this, Lu Yu let out a long sigh...
The few records in ancient texts perhaps... represented decades of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect's life and death, prosperity and development, and power transitions.
This was true for Taoism, and true outside of Taoism as well...
There would always be conspiracies in the world, and history... was often written by the victors.
"His Highness the Crown Prince looks a bit troubled."
Zhang Qiying keenly noticed Lu Yu's expression...
Lu Yu collected himself... and gently waved his hand.
"It's nothing... I just feel..."
At the end, Lu Yu retracted his words, as if... now was not the time to trace the history of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect.
Zhang Qiying blinked her large eyes... "Do I also have to hide something?"
Lu Yu smiled, "I think your father has lost out greatly!"
"Why?" Zhang Qiying became even more curious.
"Not only has the Five Pecks of Rice Sect surrendered to Great Wei, but your precious daughter has also been offered to the Crown Prince of Great Wei." Lu Yu spoke with a hint of playfulness in his tone.
Zhang Qiying was taken aback... then, uncharacteristically, pouted her small lips. "What do you mean 'precious daughter, offered to the Crown Prince of Great Wei'?"
"You say..." Lu Yu asked with interest, "If you were to give birth to a son of the Crown Prince of Great Wei, could this son become the Heavenly Master of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect?"
Ah... ah...
Lu Yu's sudden question made Zhang Qiying's face flush with a blush.
Clearly... she recalled a certain scene and instantly became shy...
This?
This! How could you ask like that! You only know it would be a son?
...
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-wAp..Com- to check.