Winter was coming!
A snowstorm came down from the sky, suppressing the heated conflict on the grassland. Under the power of heaven and earth, countless people's ambitions were blocked.
Meanwhile, in another cold place, a storm had also quietly arisen. However, this storm was not a battle of swords, spears, and flames between tribes. Instead, it was an invisible religious conflict.
Lhasa City! In the palace of Tubo.
Guardian Tang and Master Falin were sitting on the top seats, explaining Buddhism to Songtsen Gampo. A group of Tubo nobles who believed in Buddhism were glaring at them. However, they could not help but admire Master Falin's Buddhism. Not only did she have Hinayana Buddhism at her fingertips, but she also created a new Tantric Buddhism.
"Master Falin's Buddhism is indeed profound. I admire you!" After Master Falin finished, Songtsen Gampo brought Wen Fei down and said loudly.
"Greetings, Your Majesty and Wen Fei!" Master Falin was neither servile nor overbearing.
"Your Majesty, thanks to the help of Buddhism, I was able to meet His Majesty and get him to agree to the marriage between Your Majesty and Wen Fei," Lu Dongzan reported.
Wen Fei's eyes lit up. She bowed to Master Falin and said, "Thank you for your help!"
Master Falin returned the bow and said, "Wen Fei, you're too polite. I'd rather destroy ten temples than destroy a marriage. As long as Your Majesty and Wen Fei are together, I'm willing to give up my body."
"I'll never forget Master's kindness," Wen Fei said solemnly.
— — —
Wen Fei rarely saw Han people in Tubo. When she saw Master Falin and the other monks, she couldn't help but feel happy. Although she was favored by Songtsen Gampo, she had no power in the palace. The arrival of Master Falin and the other monks from the Tang dynasty was a heaven-sent opportunity. She also needed the support of the higher-ups. Perhaps it was the nature of women to be good at fighting in the palace. Suddenly, the two hit it off and formed an alliance.
Songtsen Gampo was happy to see this. Both Concubine Wen and the monks of the Tang dynasty were the link between Tubo and the Tang dynasty. They were also the power to fight against Princess Zun. In this way, his harem could be balanced.
"Fortunately, with Grandmaster Fa Lin's help and the Heavenly Khan's promise, we can get married. Once the wedding is over, I will promote Consort Wen to Empress Wen." Songtsen Gampo said happily.
Lu Dongzan couldn't help but bitterly say, "Reporting to Your Majesty, although the Heavenly Khan has agreed to the marriage, Mo Jiazi heard a condition. That is to let the King build a palace for Consort Wen as a princess. Even the blueprints have been prepared."
"Mo Jiazi!" Consort Wen's heart moved. As a Han, who didn't know the famous Mo Jiazi? Not to mention, when she saw the palace on the blueprints, she couldn't take her eyes off it.
As a woman, who didn't dream of being a princess? Now that Princess Changle declared that every woman in the Tang dynasty was a princess, and Mo Jiazi specially designed a palace for her, Consort Wen's dream could be realized.
"Potala Palace, what does this mean?" Consort Wen's eyes flashed as she saw the four Han characters on the blueprints.
Grandmaster Fa Lin explained, "Potala is the Sanskrit word for 'Putuo'. It is the place where Guanyin Bodhisattva lives. In Merton's opinion, Consort Wen and Guanyin Bodhisattva are fated."
"Potala Palace! Your Majesty! "Consort Wen couldn't help but feel moved as she looked at Songtsen Gampo with anticipation.
"For Consort Wen, no matter how much it costs, I won't hesitate!" Songtsen Gampo looked at Consort Wen with a gentle expression, but his tightly clenched fists revealed his inner thoughts.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Consort Wen took the palace blueprints and couldn't contain her joy.
Except for Consort Wen who was immersed in the dream of a princess' palace, everyone present was shrewd and naturally knew Mo Jiazi's purpose. However, everyone knew that Songtsen Gampo had no other choice. Since that was the case, he might as well accept it.
Once he accepted it, Songtsen Gampo found the palace blueprints more pleasing to the eye. Although Mo Jiazi's purpose wasn't pure, his artistic level was well-known. The palace he drew was the prototype of the Potala Palace in the future. It was extremely glorious and magnificent. In comparison, the palace Songtsen Gampo lived in now was simply heaven and earth.
"Only I am worthy of this palace. Mo Jiazi thought that he wanted to use the Potala Palace to consume Tubo, but he didn't know that he was giving I a big gift." For a moment, Songtsen Gampo's heroic spirit rose. Now that Songtsen Gampo had unified the plateau, his ambition was flourishing. When he saw the majesty of the Potala Palace, he unconsciously felt heroic.
"Your Majesty, although the Potala Palace is majestic, it requires a high level of skill. Our Tubo doesn't have this kind of talent. In addition, the construction cost is too high. Tubo's treasury is currently empty …" Lu Dongzan frowned. According to him, although the Potala Palace needed to be built, it could be delayed and built slowly. This way, Tubo wouldn't lose its national strength.
Master Falin said loudly, "Your Majesty, rest assured. Among the monks who came to Tubo this time, there were several monks who were skilled craftsmen before they shaved their heads. They are enough to bear the heavy responsibility of building the Potala Palace. As for the cost, this poor monk brought 10,000 taels of silver on his journey to the west. It can be offered to Your Majesty to build the Potala Palace."
"Several craftsmen! 10,000 taels of silver! "Songtsen Gampo couldn't help but be stunned. He didn't expect the Buddhists of the Tang dynasty to provide both manpower and money.
"This poor monk's lifelong wish is to promote Buddhism. Money is just a worldly possession," Master Falin said lightly.
Songtsen Gampo nodded and said, "Master, rest assured. The Tang dynasty doesn't tolerate Buddhism. Tubo will always open the door for Buddhism."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Master Falin cupped his hands and left.
Songtsen Gampo waved his hand and dismissed everyone, including Concubine Wen. He then came to Lu Dongzan's side and said, "Great Minister, what do you think of the Tang dynasty's Buddhists' journey to the west?"
Lu Dongzan shook his head and said, "The Tang dynasty has many schools of thought. Buddhism is indeed not tolerated in the Tang dynasty. From what I can see, the Buddhists only want to promote Buddhism. They don't have any selfish motives."
Songtsen Gampo nodded. Originally, he had doubts because Mo Jiazi's Potala Palace was related to Buddhism's Sanskrit. If the Buddhists only wanted to promote Buddhism, he wouldn't mind accepting them. Songtsen Gampo was a hero of a generation, but after all, the Tubo civilization had just risen. He didn't see the harm of Buddhism.
"By the way, the money to build Potala Palace is nothing to worry about. The wine-making method that Great Minister offered has already produced good wine. Please taste it. How does it compare to Xie Qianchou? Can it be sold for a good price in the Tang dynasty?" Songtsen Gampo waved his hand and a servant brought in a small jar of wine.
As soon as Songtsen Gampo opened it, the entire hall was filled with the fragrance of wine.
"Good wine!" Songzan Gambu took a deep breath and drank it all in one gulp, then shouted loudly.
However, Lu Dongzan frowned. He gritted his teeth and drank it in one gulp. Suddenly, his face turned pale and his stomach churned. He couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood and wine.
"Great Minister!" Songtsen Gampo hurriedly closed the jar and exclaimed.
After a long time, Lu Dongzan recovered and said, "Your Majesty, I fell into Mo Jiazi's trap in Chang 'an City. I can't smell wine or eat meat. I can only eat porridge every day to satisfy my hunger."
In order to solve Mo Jiazi's third problem, Lu Dongzan's stomach had been damaged and his health had been greatly reduced.
"Why didn't Great Minister say so earlier? Otherwise, I wouldn't have let Great Minister taste the wine." Songtsen Gampo blamed himself.
Lu Dongzan shook his head and said, "The wine-making method was offered by me. Naturally, I have to check it. This wine is indeed rare. Once it is sold in Chang 'an City, it will certainly make endless money for Tubo. In this way, the money to build the Jokhang Temple will be settled."
"Good. In this way, our Tufan will have the help of the Tang Dynasty's Buddhists and also have good wine as a source of income. We will definitely make the Mohist's plan fail." Songtsen Gambre laughed loudly.
However, what he didn't know was that while he thought that he was only at the second level, Master Mohist had already divined the fifth level. Regardless of whether it was Buddhism or highland barley wine brewing, he had already laid the groundwork. When the day came, Tufan would be caught off guard.
In Lhasa City.
The Jokhang Temple was the temporary residence of Tang dynasty Buddhism. After receiving the support of Songtsen Gampo, Wen Fei, a natural ally, and Tubo's diplomatic group of nearly a hundred believers, the Tang dynasty Buddhism could be considered to have gained a firm foothold in Tubo.
However, this alone was far from enough to turn Tubo into a Western Buddhist kingdom. For this reason, the Tang dynasty Buddhism continuously held debates in the Jokhang Temple.
Through preaching Tantric Buddhism and debating with the local Tubo Buddhists, Master Falin lived up to her reputation as a Buddhist protector. She cultivated Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism at the same time. Her knowledge of Buddhism was unparalleled. The Tang dynasty Buddhism was in the limelight and the number of believers gradually increased.
This caused the local temples in Tubo to be terrified. They were extremely wary of the Tang dynasty Buddhism. However, on the last day of the debate, Master Falin announced something that shocked everyone.
"This monk's time is up. I will pass away in ten days!"
As soon as Master Falin said this, the believers below the stage were all shocked. They looked at Master Falin in disbelief. A person could actually predict her own death. Master Falin's Buddhism was indeed profound.
The local Tubo monks were even more delighted. Among the Tang dynasty Buddhism, Master Falin was the most powerful. Once Master Falin passed away, the Tang dynasty Buddhism would definitely suffer a great loss. Perhaps the local temples would be able to reverse their decline in one fell swoop.
"However, the Tubo Plateau is a land blessed by Buddha. This monk will not truly die. A month later, this monk will be reincarnated. All you need to do is to head north and follow the path this monk took to enter Tibet. You will meet a newborn baby boy. When he is born, the room will be illuminated by the Buddha's light and the Sanskrit chants will be heard. He will be born with a sarira in his mouth, three spirals on his head, and a mole under his armpit … You can bring the reincarnated soul boy to the Jokhang Temple and raise him. When he grows up, he will gradually remember this monk's life and become the new Buddhist protector," Master Falin said calmly.
"Wow!"
This time, both the believers and the monks were in an uproar. Before this, people in Tubo believed that after death, they would go to the Western Paradise. Although this theory was vague, it was not as shocking as the reincarnation of a soul boy. As long as one's Buddhism was profound, they could live a second life. No, they could even be reincarnated continuously.
"Master Falin, will the soul boy we find still be you?" a believer asked.
Master Falin nodded and then shook her head. "It will be me, but it will also not be me. The soul boy will inherit my Buddhism and remember my past. At the same time, he will also have his own life."
After saying this, Master Falin left the debate and returned to the Jokhang Temple.
Outside the Jokhang Temple, the rumor about the reincarnation of a soul boy immediately caused a huge uproar. Whether it was the common people or the high officials and nobles, everyone was very interested in the Buddhism of the Tang dynasty. Even Songtsen Gampo and Consort Wen rushed over after hearing the news. They personally entered the Jokhang Temple to talk to Master Falin, but the result was the same. Master Falin would pass away in ten days and be reincarnated in a month.
For a moment, the people in Tubo were excited. The higher the status of the officials and nobles, the longer they wanted to live. However, immortality could not be achieved, but reincarnation could allow one to live a second life. This made many officials and nobles excited.
Everyone had their eyes on the Jokhang Temple, but the Jokhang Temple closed its doors and refused to receive anyone.
Ten days later, in the Jokhang Temple, the Buddhist bell suddenly rang. The Jokhang Temple was filled with sorrowful cries. Master Falin had passed away in ten days, just as she had predicted.
"It's really a divine monk!"
In an instant, everyone in Lhasa City cried out. Master Falin's passing made the rumor of the reincarnation of a soul boy more believable.
The Buddhists of the Tang dynasty in the Jokhang Temple held a grand funeral for Master Falin. After cremation, they obtained more than a hundred sariras, which could be said to be the most sariras in history. Everyone in Lhasa City called out the divine monk.
A month later, the people of the Jokhang Temple went north as promised. They followed the path that Master Falin took to enter Tubo. They actually found the baby who was born with a Buddhist halo, had a sarira in his mouth, had three spirals on his head, and had a mole under his armpit. They immediately conferred the title of Master Falin's Spiritual Child and brought him back to the Jokhang Temple to be nurtured. The Buddhism of the Tang dynasty was completely spread in Tubo.
This moment was recorded in the history books of Tubo as the second Master Falin.
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