Gou was a member of the imperial family in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 309 Distinguished Guest
Burigude was very concerned about this matter. He knew what the development of this border trade meant to the tribe.

After listening to his report and arrangements, Zhu Shenzui was quite satisfied, seeing that Burigude was working hard.

"In that case, let's arrange to set off the day after tomorrow." Zhu Shenzhui nodded, and then turned his gaze to Wang Hai: "By the way, has everything been arranged at Zhenlu Fort?"

Wang Hai stood up and said, "Master, everything has been arranged."

Zhenlu Fort was originally one of the five outer forts of the Ming Dynasty. It is located north of the Great Wall and south of Chier Mountain. It was a military fortress built on the grassland when the Ming Dynasty fought against the Mongols.

However, during the Jiajing period, the Outer Five Forts were basically abandoned, and the Ming Dynasty's defense line retreated to the Inner Five Forts. As time went on, the original Zhenlu Fort became a gathering place for Mongolians and some Han people on the grassland, forming a village-like area. Not only did Mongolians and Han people live nearby, but some Ming Dynasty merchants traveling to the grassland would also use this place as their first transit station after exiting the Great Wall and heading north.

Ever since Emperor Tianqi allowed the Tengger tribe to start border trade with the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Shenzhui had set his sights on this place. Zhenlubao has a good geographical location, with the Great Wall to the south and Qingshui River to the southwest, directly connected to Weiyuanwei, making it the best place to serve as a trading post.

The distance from the Tengger tribe to the Great Wall is quite long, and the storage and transfer of supplies requires a suitable place, so Zhenlu Fort became the first choice.

As early as the end of last year, Wang Hai led his men to Zhenlubao. Relying on force and the tacit approval of the Ming Dynasty, Wang Hai easily captured Zhenlubao.

For this trade, Burigude was responsible for the execution of the trade, and Wang Hai was responsible for the security of the trade including the management of Zhenlu Fort. Because this was the first time, Zhu Shenzui attached great importance to it and took all aspects into consideration. Everyone understood this and was very concerned about this matter.

While he was explaining things to everyone, there was suddenly a burst of noise outside. Zhu Shenzhui frowned slightly. He had called the meeting in the tent today, so what was the noise outside? Didn't he know that they were discussing important matters?
"Go and ask what's going on outside." Tana instructed the guard guarding the tent door, and the guard quickly responded and left the tent.

After a while, the guard came back and reported that there were guests in the tribe.

"Guests? Where are the guests?"

"Your Excellency, the one who came is Elbeg Taiji. I heard that there is also a distinguished master coming from Ganden Monastery..." the guard replied. When he mentioned the master, the guard's eyes were full of piety and he raised his hand in a gesture of respect and worship.

"Master?" Zhu Shenzui and Tana exchanged glances. They naturally understood what the master represented. Since the Yongle period, Tibetan Buddhism began to take shape and gradually spread in Tibet and the Mongolian grasslands. Tibetan Buddhism is divided into two sects, one is the Yellow Sect and the other is the Red Sect. No matter which sect, only monks with high status and profound Buddhist knowledge are qualified to be called masters.

Hearing that a guru had come to the tribe, and that he was from Ganden Monastery, the birthplace of the Yellow Sect, the tribal elders and leaders in the big tent suddenly became restless. The Mongolians worshiped Changshengtian, but they also believed in Buddhism. It is easy to imagine what the guru meant to them.

Zhu Shenzhui was very surprised by the sudden arrival of the guest, but even if he didn't believe in it, as the actual controller of the Tenger tribe, not only him, but also Tana and her son had to go out to greet him. The master's arrival in the tribe is the greatest honor for any tribe. If a tribal leader dares to disrespect the master, it will inevitably cause anger in other tribes, and even within his own tribe there will be strong opposition to it.

Thinking of this, Zhu Shenzhu naturally couldn't sit still, and immediately stood up and took Tana and Tenger to greet them. As they left the tent, several elders and leaders of the tribe followed them out impatiently, and even Burigude showed a fanatical expression and walked out of the tent quickly to greet the arrival of the master.

Wang Jinwu and the others were not too interested in this, but they had been in the grassland for so long that they knew the Mongolian people's beliefs and understood the status of the master in the hearts of the Mongolian people. So they followed behind silently and planned to go and see together.

Although Wang Hai is a Mongolian, in his mind only Zhu Shenzui is the most important. As for whether he has a master or not, he is not as important as his master. Among all the people, Wang Hai's expression is the calmest. He walked out of the big tent and looked forward. He frowned at one glance, stretched out his hand to call a few guards and whispered a few words to them. Then he followed the people in front and walked in the direction of the master.

When he got outside the tent, Zhu Shenzhui looked around and saw a group of people just entering the camp. The leader of the group was carrying the banner of Elbegji Taiji. There were about a hundred people, and they seemed to be the elite of Elbegji Taiji's tribe. In addition to these people, there were a dozen monks wearing robes and yellow hats. These monks were old and young. One of them was not tall. The monk walking in the middle seemed to have the most different status. Although his clothes were no different from those of other monks, he showed an extraordinary demeanor, and the behavior of the people around him showed that they all followed him. It seemed that this monk was the master.

The arrival of a master instantly excited the Mongolians in the tribe. Since these monks entered the tribe, all the Mongolians in the tribe bowed their heads and knelt on both sides, worshiping the master with great admiration and chanting scriptures.

With a thud, Zhu Shenzui looked aside and saw several elders and leaders of the tribe kneeling down in the direction of the master, even Burigude was among them. They clasped their hands together, muttered something, and their eyes were filled with fanaticism and piety.

Not only them, but also several Mongolian guards were like this. This scene made Zhu Shenzhui feel very uncomfortable. Although he understood the influence of religion on the grassland, he never thought that the influence of religion on the grassland would be so strong. No wonder Lin Danhan made the Mongolian tribes express strong dissatisfaction with the nominal leader simply because he believed in the Red Sect. Now the appearance of a master made the people of the entire tribe worship at the feet of the master. It was really shocking.

As most of the tribe knelt down to worship, Zhu Shenzhui and the others who were still standing stood out. But fortunately, after all, their identities were different. Although the master was noble, the tribal taiji was still different from ordinary herdsmen. As the master and his entourage gradually approached, Zhu Shenzhui hesitated and gave a look to Tana beside him. Tana nodded knowingly, and the two of them took Tenger and stepped forward. When they were about ten meters away from the master, they also knelt down in front of the master, clasped their hands together and made a gesture of pious worship.

The master stopped, looked over here, and said something softly. A monk next to the master nodded slightly and walked towards Zhu Shenzui and the others.

"Honorable Taiji, Alia and this gentleman, please stand up. The master said that he was just visiting your tribe. You all are predestined friends, so there is no need for such great courtesy..." The monk's Mongolian was a little stiff, but still fluent, and Zhu Shenzhui and the others could understand it.

It seems that this master still has some sense of propriety, which aroused some favor from Zhu Shenzui. Zhu Shenzui stood up with Tana and Tenger, put their palms together to show respect to the monk in front of them, welcomed the master's arrival on behalf of the tribe, and invited the master to rest in the tribe.

The monk smiled and nodded to agree to Zhu Shencui's request. Then Zhu Shencui and others welcomed the master into the tent. The master did not refuse and walked towards them and then entered the big tent.

Because of the master, not many people entered the big tent. Except for the master and the monk who had just talked with Zhu Shencui, the rest of the monks stayed outside the tent. In addition, there was Elbegji Taiji who came here with the master. In addition to the three of them, there were Zhu Shencui, Tana and Tenger as the host.

It is difficult to guess the age of this master. From his ordinary appearance, he seems to be just an ordinary middle-aged monk, but his eyes are particularly bright, with deep wisdom and insight into the vicissitudes of life, as if he is an old man.

The master could not speak Mongolian, so the entire conversation was translated by the monk who accompanied him. From the monk’s introduction, we learned that the master’s name was Sangge, so we could call him Master Sangge.

Master Sangge is a disciple of Tsongkhapa and has a high status in Ganden Monastery. For decades, Master Sangge has been practicing in Ganden Monastery and rarely leaves the monastery. For some reason, two years ago, Master Sangge suddenly had the idea of ​​traveling. He left Ganden Monastery with nine monks from the monastery, set out from Tibet and headed north, through Qinghai and other places into the Mongolian grassland, and then turned back to the east.

The Tenger tribe was just one of the countless tribes that the master had passed through, and their arrival was just passing through. Master Sangge told Zhu Shenzhu that they would stay in the tribe for a few days and hoped that they would not cause trouble to the tribe. Zhu Shenzhu naturally would not refuse such a request, and immediately expressed a warm welcome, and also hoped that Master Sangge could stay for a few more days so that he could ask the master for Buddhist teachings.

Master Sangge smiled and said something. The monks around him were stunned and hesitated. However, when they saw that Master Sangge did not speak again, the monks said, "Sir, the master said that you are born with Buddha nature and are reincarnated. There is no need to discuss Buddhism anymore."

Everyone was shocked when these words were spoken. Elbeg Ji Taiji, who was sitting next to them, looked at Zhu Shenzhui in great surprise. Tana also had a look of astonishment on her face, but her surprise was mixed with admiration and excitement for her husband. As a Mongolian, Tana naturally believed in Buddhism. The master actually said that her husband was not an ordinary person and had Buddha nature. Such an evaluation was simply unheard of.

However, Zhu Shenzui's heart was in turmoil at this moment. He was really shocked by these words. For a moment, he was not sure whether Master Sangge's words were just a casual remark or the truth.

He knows his own business. Zhu Shenzhui was not originally from this era. Master Sangge was right. He was indeed a reincarnation. But how did Master Sangge know this? Could it be that Master Sangge could really see through everything?
Feeling anxious, Zhu Shenzhui could not help but look at Master Sangge, who smiled and nodded at him calmly, as if answering his question in this way. Seeing this, Zhu Shenzhui put away his contempt for Master Sangge for the first time, put his hands together and bowed to him sincerely, and Master Sangge also returned a Buddhist bow to show that they were equal.

(End of this chapter)