Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 1027 The Liang Kingdom is Finished
A well-equipped and menacing troop of soldiers stopped in front of the Linji Temple's gate.

From their uniform, high-quality armor, gleaming weapons, and the soldiers' solemn and composed demeanor, it was clear that these were no ordinary county soldiers, but rather the true elite troops of the imperial court.

Of course, nominally, the troops from the neighboring prefecture were still there to "assist" the local authorities in suppressing and maintaining stability because of the "sudden White Lotus disaster in Liang Kingdom".

In reality, they were carrying out a direct order from the central court to take over Liang's defense affairs.

At the same time, the imperial envoy dispatched from Luoyang had also arrived and quickly took over all personnel appointments and administrative powers within the Liang Kingdom.

All resolutions were passed the day after Mars was in conjunction with the Heart of the Moon, and no one objected.

After all, everyone knows how ruthless the emperors of the final years can be; there have been instances of people massacring the court.

Yes, in everyone's eyes, Emperor Jin now looks like he's about to die no matter what he does.

If one's complexion remains normal and one continues to chat and laugh with court officials, it can be described as "dying while maintaining a normal complexion and engaging in conversation."

If one is agitated and restless, and filled with murderous intent, then one is "abandoning oneself in a moment of peril."

Since the issue revolved around death, the atmosphere became even more tense; everyone was afraid. Therefore, there was no wrangling between the military and political authorities, and the decision was passed swiftly.

Meanwhile, many others boarded this train, intending to profit from the chaos and seize various resources from the Liang Kingdom.

If the King of Liang were still in his fiefdom, even if he were found guilty of committing the heinous act of "Mars guarding the heart," the court would never have been able to uproot his power so quickly.

It will inevitably involve a long process of wrangling, negotiation, and probing. After all, they haven't openly rebelled, and their influence is deeply entrenched in their territory, which they have cultivated for many years. They are by no means easy to deal with.

Unfortunately, at this crucial moment, the King of Liang personally went to Luoyang, placing his life and fortune entirely in the control of the Emperor of Jin.

In this way, they become like fish on a chopping board, completely at the mercy of others, who can take whatever they want from them.

Within just a few days, the situation in Liang Kingdom changed completely.

The smoothness of its power transfer and the thoroughness of its purges were unprecedented in the history of the vassal states, serving as a warning to all other vassal kings.

From now on... you must never leave your fiefdom and go to Luoyang lightly!

The troops that came to Linji Temple were naturally there to inquire on behalf of the imperial court.

Therefore, the atmosphere was exceptionally serious and solemn, even carrying a hint of subtle hostility.

After all, in the eyes of the imperial court, Linji Temple, the leading Buddhist institution in Liang Kingdom, could hardly be completely absolved of its ties in this "Shangxing" incident; it might even be an important participant or accomplice.

The imperial court's vigilance towards cultivation forces was previously focused more on the Taoist sects, after all, the Taiping Dao had emerged in the previous dynasty and almost overthrown the world.

Who would have thought that this seemingly worldly and mundane Buddhist sect, not to be outdone, would create the equally troublesome "White Lotus Sect," which is difficult to eradicate.

Therefore, the imperial court's attitude is very clear:
Stop using excuses like "secluded places" or "people from other worlds." These cultivation sects, one by one, have influence and potential threats that cannot be trusted and must be strictly controlled.

In fact, this prediction, when traced back to the result, wasn't entirely wrong.

In this matter, Linji Temple indeed unwittingly became an "accomplice" of King Liang and Taoist Li.

If they hadn't had close ties with the Prince's Mansion and provided certain conveniences, Li Daoren's plan wouldn't have progressed so smoothly.

But luckily, they encountered a Buddhist monk.

Under Xu Xuan's "guidance" and "blessing," a celestial calamity that could have directly impacted the legitimacy of the dynasty and was potentially triggered by the "Shang Star" was cleverly transformed into the "White Lotus Calamity," which was delayed.

Therefore, in this earth-shaking event of "Mars guarding the heart," Linji Temple was not only not purged, but miraculously established a positive image of "correcting the wrongs and protecting the country and its people."

"So... according to the abbot, it was the Buddhist sect that first discovered the Prince of Liang's disloyal actions, and then took the initiative to step forward and stop the other side's further conspiracy?"

After listening to Huiren's account, the general leading the troops spoke with deep doubt, needing to confirm it again.

Huiren was a monk.

It is well known that monks do not lie.

He clasped his hands together, his face solemn, his eyes clear, and his voice resounding with certainty:
"Indeed. This humble monk and all the monks of Linji Monastery noticed the strange movements of the Liang Prince's Mansion, with an overwhelming aura of malevolent energy, fearing a great calamity that could endanger the nation and its people. Therefore, I risked my life to lead all the monks of the monastery to set up the Arhat Formation at Ebo Terrace, and fought a fierce battle all night against the evil Taoist who commanded ghostly demon soldiers!"

The battle that night was described as "the wind and clouds changed color, and the sun and moon lost their light," although this mainly refers to the visual effects of the celestial anomalies and the intertwining of Buddhist light and ghostly aura.

But the battle situation was indeed "extremely dangerous".

For great masters like the abbot and the head monk, dealing with the rampant soldiers was not a problem. They were truly a bald man who fought from east to west and from south to north, invincible in all directions.

But for the ordinary monks in the temple, it was a life-or-death crisis!

"The Arhat Subduing Demon Formation set up by our temple was destroyed twice by the surging waves of ghost soldiers. Many disciples were seriously injured and are still recuperating and unable to leave the temple."

After saying this, Huiren gestured to his disciples to help out the monks who were indeed still injured and weak, and to display them to the imperial troops.

The atmosphere instantly became very subtle.

see it?

Those lying or sitting on the ground are all good monks from our Linji Temple who were "heroically wounded" while protecting Kyushu!
Hui Ren's already robust and imposing figure seemed to grow even taller in the eyes of the crowd.

That's because he's firmly positioned on the moral high ground at this moment.

Once the general was enveloped by Hui Ren's moral shadow, he suddenly felt that his questioning just now seemed somewhat narrow-minded and scheming.

Looking at those pale-faced bald monks lying on stretchers, I couldn't help but feel a sense of respect and had to clasp my hands in a loud voice and praise them: Good monks!
He immediately gestured, "Abbot, please quickly send these injured disciples back to their meditation rooms to recuperate. I was a bit abrupt just now." However, duty called, and he still needed to clarify one last crucial question. His tone softened considerably, but he still asked:
"Since your esteemed court had already sensed something amiss, why did you not notify the imperial court in advance, instead of handling the matter yourselves and causing such a huge uproar?"

Hui Ren was prepared for this; he remained calm, answered earnestly, and told the whole truth:
"General, you are wise. Before this incident, neither I nor the monks in the temple knew what the Prince Liang's mansion was planning."

Before Xu Xuan arrived and pointed it out, he hadn't even noticed anything strange about the recent behavior of the Prince's Mansion, and simply assumed that his own temple had been inexplicably drawn into a karmic vortex.

Having been in dire straits for some time, he urgently contacted senior monks from other branches of the Zen school to assess the situation and, if necessary, offer assistance.

"Moreover, without any solid evidence, based solely on some vague premonitions, one accuses a powerful prince..."

“General, our Linji Temple is a legitimate Buddhist Zen temple, not the White Lotus Sect, which allows people to act recklessly and disregard the law.”

"When doing things, you must rely on evidence."

"Only when the enemy's conspiracy is fully exposed and the danger is about to erupt can we risk our lives and use swift and decisive measures to do our part in preserving the order of this land."

These words were spoken with integrity and reason; these actions were carried out with courtesy before resorting to force, and with a willingness to sacrifice oneself for righteousness.

Everything is perfect!
The general carefully examined the correspondence between Linji Temple and various Zen monks provided by Huiren. The correspondence clearly recorded Linji Temple's confusion, requests for help, and concerns about the situation before the incident. The timeline matched perfectly, which proved that its stance was not problematic and could even be described as cautious and self-disciplined.

The little killing intent he had left had completely dissipated.

On the one hand, he was persuaded by the other party's reasoning and efforts; on the other hand, he was well aware that the Buddhist forces were deeply entrenched and full of experts, and it was not advisable to easily make enemies unless absolutely necessary.

One last question.

The general considered his tone carefully before asking:
"Master... what is your opinion on the recent rumors in Luoyang about 'the Shang dynasty being born from the descent of the Shang'?"

"what?!"

Hui Ren couldn't hold back this time and let out a loud "Ah!" His burly and strong figure even swayed slightly, and his face was filled with pure astonishment and bewilderment.

What the heck... gave rise to commerce?
As a semi-participant, he was dealing with the oppression of the Prince's Mansion, the evil magic of Li Daoren, the siege of the rampant soldiers, and thinking about how to atone for his sins. He never even thought about the "ancient mandate of heaven" or the "restoration of the dynasty" in his mind!
Seeing that his reaction was so genuine and not feigned, the general patiently explained.

After all, the story of the Grand Historian weeping blood in the Golden Palace and shouting "The Shang dynasty will be born from the surrender" is already the most exciting and widely circulated drama in Luoyang. Basically, everyone who needs to know knows it, and there's nothing to hide.

After hearing the general's explanation, Hui Ren's astonishment gradually turned into a deeper shock and lingering fear.

After a moment of silence, he let out a long sigh, his tone complex:

"King Liang... alas... this humble monk only knew that he practiced evil magic, imprisoned the stars and destiny, and intended to commit wicked deeds, but I never imagined... that his ambitions would be so grand, so... appalling..."

With hands clasped together and a look of compassion on his face, he chanted:
"Indulging in one's career and being obsessed with the five desires, unaware of the evil consequences, is like a fish caught in a tight net. Once this karma is accomplished, one will suffer great torment."

"Amitabha."

This chant of the Buddha's name carries a truly profound and cautionary meaning.

As he finished speaking, the surrounding monks seemed to feel the terror brought about by the abbot's description of an ambition so vast it could devour everything. One after another, chants of "Amitabha" echoed in the courtyard, filled with solemnity and trepidation.

Seeing the monk's simple and genuine reaction, the general realized that he was completely unaware of the political implications behind "the Shang dynasty was born from the surrender," and had been unwittingly drawn into the vortex, and then unwittingly risked his life to stop a conspiracy that could overthrow the dynasty. The general couldn't help but feel even more admiration for him.

This kind of sincerity is sometimes more precious than shrewd calculation.

Without asking any further questions, he collected the necessary testimonies and documents and then took his leave. He still needed to go to other parts of Liang Kingdom to handle the ins and outs of this earth-shattering case.

Before leaving, his gaze fell on the scholar who had been quietly squatting to the side as if watching a commotion. His expression was much gentler than before, and even carried a hint of imperceptible politeness.

“Xu Jieyuan,” he began, “the situation within Liang Kingdom has just stabilized, but there are still some villains lurking around, so it is not entirely safe. Due to the special nature of my military duties, my troops are unable to be divided to escort you. It would be best if you contacted a reliable large merchant caravan as soon as possible and went to Luoyang with them, so you can prepare for this year’s imperial examination with peace of mind.”

The "soldiers from the neighboring prefecture" he mentioned were actually the Imperial Guards from the Central Army, who came directly from Luoyang.

This general himself was a fourth-rank Zhonglang General, and came from the Zhonghu Army, a trusted force directly under the emperor.

This is why he has the absolute confidence and strength to boldly invade a vassal state, suppress all unstable factors, and even directly visit a major Buddhist temple like Linji Temple.

But his attitude toward Xu Xuan was clearly different.

Xu Xuan's identity is special.

Born into the prestigious Chongqi Academy in Jiangnan, a place renowned for its literary tradition, he had deep connections with his teachers and friends throughout the court and the country. More importantly, although he had not yet arrived in Luoyang, his reputation had already spread there through various channels.

For ordinary scholars, the path to fame usually relies on introductions from relatives and promotion from teachers.

Those with sophisticated methods will deliberately create anecdotes and stories about "filial piety and brotherly love," "benevolence and virtue," and "quick wit" to package their image and spread the good name of "benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness."

Although Xu Xuan did not deliberately cultivate these things, his fame spread rapidly, especially after he won the top spot in the Yangzhou provincial examination.

For the past few years, the senior professors at the academy have been sharing the good news with their old friends and colleagues that "our Chongqi Academy has produced another outstanding junior."

However, all these preparations were not as direct and impactful as achieving solid results within the authoritative framework of the imperial examination system.

Once the prestigious title of "Jieyuan" (top scholar in the provincial examination) served as irrefutable proof, the pent-up reputation for talent found an outlet and exploded instantly.

To put it simply, Xu Xuan's current reputation and the level of anticipation among scholars are almost comparable to the heights reached by the equally brilliant Master Ruoxu before he entered the Buddhist order.

If Luoyang hadn't been dominated by negative news about natural disasters, man-made calamities, and power struggles in recent years, the name "Xu Caizi of Jiangnan" would certainly be several times more famous and widely known, given his status as a top scholar in the provincial examination and his background at Chongqi Academy.

Even so, the fact that the three most competitive academies in Jiangnan jointly recommended him is no different in significance from the selection of a new generation of prominent figures within the Confucian system.
Moreover, this general himself has some nephews or relatives studying under the tutelage of a certain academy in Jiangnan.

(End of this chapter)