"Great Master Huiyuan has traveled all the way to the east and must be tired from the journey. Please rest at Wangji Temple. We will order the imperial kitchen to prepare some vegetarian banquets to welcome Great Master!" Li Shimin said in a clear voice.
Wangji Temple was an imperial temple. Normally, there were people who took care of it, so it was perfect for receiving Great Master Huiyuan.
"Your Majesty has spent a lot of money, but there is no need for a welcoming banquet." Great Master Huiyuan firmly refused Li Shimin's invitation and left.
"Great Master Huiyuan is indeed worthy of being a senior monk. His character and Buddhist teachings are admirable!" Empress Zhangsun sighed from the side.
Princess Changle nodded subconsciously, but she suddenly remembered that her husband had a very bad relationship with Buddhism. She couldn't help but glance at Meton.
Even Meton couldn't help but bitterly smile. Not only Empress Zhangsun, but even he had to admit that Great Master Huiyuan was indeed very charismatic. People couldn't help but want to get close to him. Among the people he knew, perhaps only the Taoist Yuan Shoucheng and the Doctor Sun Simiao could compare to him.
The other princes and princesses couldn't help but look at Mo Dun in confusion. In their view, Buddhists bemoaned the state of the universe and pitied the fate of mankind. Why was Mo Dun so resolutely anti-Buddhist?
Li Shimin couldn't help but take in everyone's expressions. After pondering for a moment, he said, "You can all disperse! Meton, stay. "
Everyone looked deeply at Meton, then silently turned and left. Only Princess Changle's eyes revealed worry. Meton shook his head, indicating that he was fine. He got up and left with Li Shimin.
The heavy palace doors slammed shut, leaving only Meton and Li Shimin in the entire palace. The atmosphere suddenly froze.
Li Shimin took out a Buddhist scripture. After he recalled the past, he said emotionally, "Back then, when I was in a desperate situation, the thirteen Shaolin monk soldiers appeared out of thin air. They did not have any armor and only used the long staffs in their hands to fearlessly fight against Wang Shichong's hundreds of elite soldiers. Everyone knows that the thirteen staff-using monks of Shaolin saved me, but they do not know that only three of the thirteen staff-using monks survived."
Meton said with deep veneration, "Your Majesty is lucky. Shaolin is righteous!"
"I admit that what you said is very reasonable. The Buddhists are indeed taking the old path, but that will be two hundred years later. I am indebted to the Buddhists. Even if you want to destroy Buddhism or restrict the Buddhists, you can't start with me. Do you understand what I mean?" Li Shimin said firmly.
Meton sighed in his heart and could not help secretly saying, "As expected!"
"The Minister understands Your Majesty's difficulties." Meton nodded.
Li Shimin could not help but nod and look at Meton with satisfaction.
"Today, Master Hui Yuan has presented two priceless treasures to the palace. Coincidentally, the Minister has also recently obtained two priceless treasures. I ask Your Majesty to appraise them." Meton said solemnly.
"Oh!" Li Shimin's eyes were strange. Things that Meton called priceless treasures were not common! He could not help but look forward to it.
Meton stepped forward and took out a thick ancient book and a sheepskin scroll from his sleeve and handed them to Li Shimin.
Li Shimin took them and saw that the two ancient books were filled with densely packed foreign characters. He couldn't help but have a thought. He looked at Modun in surprise and said, "We remember that you once publicly offered a large reward during the Western Regions Conference to search for ancient books of the Western Regions. Could these two be them?!"
Meton nodded heavily and said, "Correct, but these two ancient books are not secret techniques of the foreign lands. They are scriptures that the religions of the foreign lands believe in. One is the holy scripture of the Christian religion of the far west, called the 'Bible'. The other is the holy scripture of the Arabian religion near Persia, the 'Quran'. These two holy scriptures can be said to be extremely broad and profound, comparable to the 'Buddhist Scriptures'. In the eyes of the Minister, there are already three major religions existing in the world: the Christianity of the far west, the Islam of the Arabian Caliphate, and the Buddhism of India."
"The holy scriptures of religions comparable to Buddhism!" Li Shimin could not help but be moved. It was no wonder Meton placed such importance on them.
"How can you be sure that these three religions will be the three major religions in the world? Is our China's Daoism not comparable to these foreign religions? "Li Shimin was puzzled.
Moton nodded. "First of all, these religions are rapidly expanding, constantly expanding their followers and territory. Taoism, on the other hand, is focused on self-cultivation and spiritual cultivation, so it is natural that they do not have many followers. Second of all, these religions originated from places of civilization that are not inferior to Huaxia's. Every holy scripture is extremely profound, full of philosophy, and convincing. Your humble servant has spent a great deal of effort to translate the holy scriptures. Your Majesty will understand once you read it."
Hearing this, Li Shimin could not help but read curiously.
"In the beginning, God created the world, …"
"The Sage of Mu said, 'Learning is the duty of every man and woman, knowledge is the life of God.' … "
Meton did not translate many of the holy scriptures, and most of them were classics. Li Shimin finished reading quickly and could not help but praise.
"Your Majesty, what do you think of these two holy scriptures?" Meton asked.
Li Shimin nodded repeatedly and said, "They are indeed wise."
Eve's Temptation, the Last Supper, the Messenger of Allah, each story full of wisdom convinced Li Shimin. He could not help but admit that these were indeed not inferior to Buddhist scriptures.
However, Li Shimin looked at Meton suspiciously. Could it be that Meton had such a prejudice against Buddhism because of these two holy scriptures? But could it be that Meton believed in two religions at the same time?
Meton ignored Li Shimin's gaze and took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, have you ever heard of the struggle between divine and royal authority?"
"The struggle between divine and royal authority!" Li Shimin's eyes narrowed, and he could not help but hold his breath. He now realized that Meton did not just give him two holy scriptures.
Meton said seriously, "Royal authority is secular authority, and Your Majesty is the one who wields it. Divine authority is in the hands of religions, and they claim to be believers of God to save people in the mortal world. The Son of Heaven is the same in their eyes. The Martial Annihilation of Buddha has a deeper meaning in the eyes of the School of Mohism, and that is the struggle between royal authority and divine authority, fighting for population and land taxes."
Li Shimin nodded slowly. Meton's words were probably right.
Meton took a deep breath and said, "The world criticized the Martial Annihilation of Buddha for being cruel, but the School of Mohism believed that the world should be grateful that the Martial Annihilation of Buddha won, because we cannot bear the consequences of failure."
"Consequences of failure?" Li Shimin's eyes narrowed.
"Your Majesty, can you imagine the situation of Huaxia if the Martial Annihilation of Buddha failed? The whole country has believers. Your Majesty, do you think the believers will listen to the court or the temple?" Meton said in a heavy voice.
"The whole country has believers? How is that possible?" Li Shimin said in disbelief. He felt that Meton was just talking nonsense.
Meton sneered and said, "Why is it not possible?"
Li Shimin was about to refute, but he suddenly thought of a possibility. He suddenly let go of the holy scriptures in his hand and looked at the two holy scriptures in front of him in disbelief.
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