Supreme Golden Palace

Chapter 127 Good News (Part 2)

A series of steady footsteps came from outside the hall. Pei Ju, dressed in a blue official robe, entered the hall with a respectful expression, prostrated himself, and said, "Your Majesty, I am here to see you as ordered."

"Pei Ju,"

Yang Jian carefully examined Pei Ju, taking in Pei Ju's slender yet capable figure. He nodded secretly and said slowly, "Su Wei highly recommends you, saying that you know a great deal about the affairs of the Western Regions."

"Now that our Great Sui has achieved a great victory on the northern frontier, Gaochang, Yiwu, and Shanshan will all be incorporated into our Great Sui territory. I intend to reopen the Protectorate of the Western Regions and send an envoy to the Western Regions. Su Wei says that this important task is best entrusted to you. Are you up to the task?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Ju's heart trembled, and he lightly touched his forehead to the ground, saying, "Thanks to Lord Su's recommendation, if I can shoulder this responsibility, I will certainly do my utmost to live up to Your Majesty's trust, to make the Great Sui Dynasty shine in the Western Regions, and to pave the way for peace. If there is any negligence, I am willing to accept the punishment of ten thousand deaths!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Jian smiled with satisfaction, leaned forward slightly, looked at Pei Ju, and said, "Since you dare to mention a punishment of ten thousand deaths, you must have already made plans for the mission? Why don't you tell me?"

Pei Ju prostrated himself on the ground, then stood up straight, his clear voice echoing in the hall, saying, "Your Majesty, I am honored to receive Your Majesty's grace and have given full consideration to the matter of the mission to the Western Regions. I request Your Majesty to select one hundred monks to accompany the mission."

"Many of the kingdoms in the Western Regions believed in Buddhism. Among the kingdoms of Gaochang, Yiwu, and Shanshan ceded by the Western Turks, Gaochang was almost known as a Buddhist kingdom. Successive rulers of Gaochang were devout believers in the Three Jewels, and the kingdom was filled with temples and pagodas. Monks in Gaochang had a great influence."

"Your Majesty, I wish to integrate these one hundred monks into Gaochang, and even to gain control of Gaochang."

Yang Jian raised his eyebrows slightly, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes, and said, "Integrate into Gaochang and control Gaochang? Pei Ju, please explain in detail how to achieve this with the help of the monks."

Pei Ju took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, Buddhism is flourishing in Gaochang, and the monks hold a revered position. Their words can even influence the will of the people."

"I intend to have these hundred monks spread Buddhism along the way, demonstrating the respect of our Great Sui Dynasty for Buddhism, showcasing national power, and winning the trust of the people of Gaochang."

Pei Ju paused for a moment, then said, "After entering Gaochang, the monks can preach and discuss the Dharma with the local virtuous monks, and win over the people with their profound Buddhist teachings. Under the guise of Dharma assemblies, the laws and regulations, customs and traditions of the Sui Dynasty can be subtly integrated into the preaching and teachings, thus influencing Gaochang in a gradual and imperceptible way."

"The monks of Gaochang already have a deep influence on the people. Once our monks have subdued them, we can use them to spread the benevolence of the Sui Dynasty and win the hearts of the people of Gaochang. In this way, without losing a single soldier, we can make Gaochang a solid vassal of the Sui Dynasty."

Yang Jian leaned against the imperial couch, pondered for a moment, and then slowly said, "Your method sounds good, but where will these hundred monks be selected, and how can we ensure that they can understand the Emperor's will and fulfill their mission?"

"Your Majesty, I have heard..."

Pei Ju hesitated for a moment, then said, "Before the New Year, you bestowed 100 hectares of land in Baigutun to the Shaolin Temple on Mount Song. This Shaolin Temple on Mount Song is known as the ancestral home of Zen Buddhism. The temple has produced many eminent monks, and all the monks strictly abide by the precepts and are well-versed in Buddhism."

"I believe that these hundred monks should be selected from Shaolin Temple on Mount Song."

Yang Su, standing to the side, said softly, "Songshan Shaolin? I remember Songshan Shaolin. Although it is known as the ancestral home of Zen Buddhism, what they are truly skilled in is not Buddhism, but the Seventy-Two Arts. Shaolin has seventy-two branches, which are famous throughout the world."

Yang Jian smiled at Yang Su beside him and said, "Chudao, you don't know, the Buddhist teachings of Shaolin Temple on Mount Song are their Seventy-Two Arts. This is the essence of Buddhism passed down by Bodhidharma. Bodhidharma meditated facing the wall for nine years before he comprehended the principle of the unity of Zen and martial arts." Yang Su nodded slightly, a hint of realization flashing in his eyes, and said, "Your Majesty is wise. It was I who was ignorant."

Although Yang Jian, who was the reincarnation of Zen Master Sengchou, no longer possessed the wisdom of his previous life, he still had an instinctive fondness for Shaolin Temple on Mount Song.

After all, Zen Master Sengchou was the second abbot of Shaolin Temple on Mount Song. He devoted decades of his life to Shaolin Temple. Even after reincarnation and forgetting his past life, he still had a special feeling for Shaolin.

This is also why Yang Jian treated Shaolin Temple differently. During the five years of his reign, Yang Jian repeatedly bestowed favors upon Shaolin Temple on Mount Song, which made Shaolin Temple's reputation grow and its power expand beyond recognition, at one point even comparable to the ancestral temple, White Horse Temple.

It should be noted that the White Horse Temple is the ancestral temple of Buddhism in China, known as the "source of Buddhism." Since the Later Han Dynasty, it has held the reins of Buddhism in China. The fact that Shaolin Temple on Mount Song can be compared with the White Horse Temple shows how much Emperor Yang Jian favored Shaolin Temple on Mount Song.

Yang Jian waved his hand, his gaze returning to Pei Ju, and said, "Pei Ju, this matter concerns the Western Regions strategy of the Great Sui Dynasty and cannot be lost. You must immediately go to Shaolin Temple on Mount Song, select capable people, and make sure everything is ready within half a month."

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Pei Ju replied.

After Yang Su and the others left, Yang Jian leaned back on his imperial couch, closed his eyes, and pondered the affairs of the Western Regions.

At this moment, soft footsteps came from outside the hall. Dugu Jialuo moved gracefully and slowly entered the hall. Seeing that Yang Jian's expression was unusual, she asked softly, "Your Majesty, is there something troubling about the affairs of the court?"

Yang Jian slowly opened his eyes, a smile appearing on his face. He gestured for Dugu Jialuo to sit down and said, "Jialuo, it's good news. My uncle has sent a report of victory. A great victory has been achieved in the northern frontier. Gaochang, Yiwu, and Shanshan will soon be incorporated into the Sui Dynasty."

"I intend to reopen the Protectorate of the Western Regions and send an envoy to the Western Regions. I just discussed this matter with Yang Su and a few others."

Dugu Jialuo's beautiful eyes lit up, and a smile appeared on her face: "This is indeed a joyous occasion. The reopening of the Protectorate of the Western Regions will not only expand the territory of our Great Sui Dynasty, but also make the Silk Road open again. The trade and prestige of the Great Sui Dynasty will also reach a new level. Whom has Your Majesty selected to be the envoy?"

Yang Jian said softly, "Su Wei recommended someone to me. He is from the Pei family of Wenxi and his name is Pei Ju."

"The Pei family of Wenxi,"

Dugu Jialuo nodded slightly, seemingly lost in thought, and said, "The Pei family of Wenxi has produced many talented people, and Pei Ju must be a capable one as well. Your Majesty, the war in the northern frontier has gone so smoothly this time, which must be due to the skillful command of the Imperial Uncle."

Yang Jian's eyes gleamed, and he said with great interest, "Don't you know how capable my royal uncle is? Who in this world can rival my royal uncle? The one who truly surprises me is that kid Lü Shang."

"You don't know, the report from the Imperial Uncle said that after this kid arrived at Shabolue's camp, he immediately led three thousand cavalry to Jinshan and attacked Datou's old camp there. That's the old camp at Jinshan, where Datou has amassed hundreds of thousands of troops."

“Galo, what do you think of the husband I’ve found for our daughter this time? He’s a true young hero. He broke through 300,000 with only 3,000 men. He’s practically a second Huo Qubing. Such a young hero is a perfect match for our Ah Wu.”

(End of this chapter)