The Reborn Duke of Ming Dynasty

"This is..." Zhang Yufang said tremblingly.Although he didn't understand what these eight characters represented, the meaning inside was very clear.This is simply the most noble word, and only the most noble emperor in the world can use it to express his power and orthodoxy.Turning to the other side, I didn't see anything carved, but I could faintly see dragons, fishes, phoenixes and other things engraved on it.

"Uncle must have guessed it too." Zhang Fan said, "This thing is not owned by ordinary people or powerful families. Only the emperors in the world are qualified to use it."

"You mean, this is a jade seal?" Zhang Yan exclaimed.

"Exactly, and it's not an ordinary jade seal." Zhang Fan took the jade seal, held it carefully in his hand, and said, "I don't know if uncle and cousin have heard of the Chuanguo jade seal?"

"Chuan Guo Yuxi!" Zhang Yufang and his son exclaimed in amazement.

Yes, Zhang Fan suspects that the official Jade Seal in his hand has been missing for more than 500 years.

According to historical records, the Chuan Guo Yuxi was carved from He's Bi, so this Fang Bianyin caught Zhang Fan's attention.Legend has it that after the first emperor destroyed the six kingdoms and unified them, he ordered Prime Minister Li Si to engrave the eight characters "Ordered by heaven, and live forever" on it, also known as jade craftsman Sun Shou.After the fall of the Qin Dynasty, the jade seal belonged to Liu Bang. Knowing that at the end of the Western Han Dynasty, Wang Mang usurped power, he wanted the empress dowager Xiaoyuan to ask for the jade seal.Empress Xiaoyuan threw the jade seal at Wang Mang in anger, but it fell to the ground and broke a corner, so Wang Mang ordered someone to inlay it with gold.This is consistent with the characteristics of the Fang Yuxi in Zhang Fan's hands today.

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, when the [-] princes attacked Dong Zhuo, Sun Jian, who was the first to enter Luoyang, found the jade seal on the body of a court lady in a well, but exchanged it with Yuan Shu for a large number of soldiers and horses.In the end, Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shu, and the jade seal belonged to Cao Cao.

In the following years, Yuxi passed through Wei, Western Jin, Qian Zhao, Ran Wei, Eastern Jin, Song, Southern Qi, Liang, Northern Qi, Zhou, Sui, Tang Dynasty, and then to the Five Dynasties Hou Liang.At the end of the Later Tang Dynasty, Li Congke, the last emperor of the Later Tang Dynasty, went to Luoyang, the capital city due to the rebellion. He had no way to return to heaven, so he burned himself to death holding the Jade Seal of Chuanguo. trace.

"Fan'er, is this true?" Zhang Yufang was a little uncertain and asked excitedly.

"My nephew can't be sure, but I'm [-]% sure." Zhang Fan said, "Didn't Sun Zhou say that he picked it up in Luoyang? Everything looks exactly the same as the Chuan Guoxie. It's just that when I founded the Ming Dynasty, this seal was not found. Over the years, many people claimed to have it, but after verification, it was all forged. Now My nephew is not sure either."

"If this is fake..." Zhang Yan said, with a slightly wrong expression, "Then cousin, your 1 taels are not for nothing!"

"No, no." Zhang Fan said repeatedly, his eyes still looking at the shining seal in his hand, "Didn't Mr. Yu just say that this thing has been carved for at least a thousand years. Things are still so crystal clear now, even if it’s fake, it’s still worth it.”

Zhang Yufang and his son don't actually know the cause and effect of this, they just understand that this thing is used by the emperor, but it's not that they are in the court and don't understand the deeper meaning of this thing.Back then when this thing was not missing, the rulers of all dynasties believed in this method of attraction, "destiny returns". If there is no seal in their hands, they will be enthroned as a great treasure, no matter how strong their troops are, they will inevitably lack confidence.One of Zhu Yuanzhang's great regrets was this Fang Yuxi.

If the jade seal in Zhang Fan's hands is really passed on to the imperial court and he is dedicated to the imperial court, then Zhang Fan's contribution can be compared to the peerless achievement of opening up the territory and expanding the territory.It's just that in recent years, both the emperor and the ministers in the court have been made immune by the fake jade seal.For them to admit that this thing is true, there must be countless officials to consult countless classics, and in the end no one is qualified to make a final decision.

Zhang Fan thought of this, and the excitement in his heart also temporarily cooled down. He decided not to report this matter to the capital for the time being, and we will talk about it when we go back.However, he still tied the jade seal with a strong silk cloth around his waist, for fear of any loss.

The elated three returned home under the escort of a large group of Jin Yiwei. These people did not leave, but set up vigilance around Zhang's house.Although they didn't know what happened, they dared not disobey the commander's orders.

Back in the room, Yingyue was staying there, and seeing Zhang Fan walking in with a happy face, she couldn't help being surprised: "Brother Fan, why are you so happy today, what happy things happened?"

Zhang Fan did not hide it, but took out Yuxi and handed it to Yingyue.Yingyue played with it for a while, and said: "This thing is very beautiful, but it's not good to carve it in such a square shape." After speaking, she returned the jade seal to Zhang Fan.

Zhang Fan put Yuxi away and didn't blame her, but just sighed in his heart: "A woman's opinion." That's all.

"By the way, why didn't you and Ting'er and the Yangzhou daughters go shopping today?" Zhang Fan asked.

"It's a bit hot in the city today, and these young ladies are not in the mood to go out, so why don't I go alone?" Yingyue said.

Yangzhou, which is approaching May, gradually began to have summer weather, but it was much hotter.

Zhang Fan looked at her, and suddenly said: "Since I came out of the capital, I have been busy with official duties, but I didn't spend time with you. In a few days, we will leave for Yingtian. Is there any place you want to go here? I'll go for a walk with you."

"Yingyue is really flattered to let you, a master, accompany me, a little girl, to play!" Yingyue teased Zhang Fan for a while, then thought about it, and said, "I really have a place I want to go."

"Oh, where?" Zhang Fan asked.

"Daming Temple." Yingyue replied.

"When did your Miao family convert to Buddha?" Zhang Fan asked.

"No, I want to..." Yingyue hesitated, "I heard that Daming Temple is also a Guanyin Temple, and it is very effective. I want to go to worship."

"What do you want to ask?" Zhang Fan asked curiously.

There was a slight blush on Yingyue's face, but she said coquettishly, "I won't tell you."

Looking at Yingyue's rare daughter's appearance, Zhang Fan was a little confused.But when he thought about the days before, he felt uncomfortable for a while, so he stopped asking, and said, "Since you want to go, choose a date, and I will go with you."

"Well, Brother Fan is so kind." Yingyue was very happy to see that Zhang Fan was willing to accompany her, took a sip from his face, and ran out happily.

Feeling the warmth on his face, Zhang Fan lost his mind, and muttered to himself: "You and I have made an oath, why didn't you tell me clearly!"

Daming Temple is located on Shugang Mountain in the northern suburbs of Yangzhou. This ancient temple was built in the Southern Dynasties more than 1000 years ago. Jianzhen, who went to Fusang to propagate Buddhism, came from this temple.

Zhang Fan only came with Yingyue this time, no one else accompanied him.However, there were quite a few guards accompanying him.

Yingyue didn't dress up as a maid today, but wore the clothes of an ordinary wealthy daughter.Looking at the many guards around her, Yingyue asked a little puzzled: "Brother Fan, why did you bring all these people with you? Back then you were never afraid of so many fierce Tartars, why now..."

"Be prepared!" Zhang Fan said casually.

After passing the Shanmen Hall, you can see a very open courtyard with towering ancient trees, a hundred-year-old juniper in the east, a rare hundred-year-old boxwood, and two treasured tripods in it.The perennial worship is full of cigarettes, but it has the meaning of a quiet fairyland.A granite corridor leads to the main hall. The main hall of Daming Temple at this time is not the "Daxiong Hall" built in the later Qing Dynasty.The Great Buddha Sakyamuni is enshrined in the hall, flanked by his ten disciples.On the back is Avalokitesvara of the South China Sea.There are eighteen statues of Arhats on both sides of the main hall.The inside of the hall is full of majestic appearance and exuberant incense, but it looks a little bit down.

It's just that in the world of Daming, the business of the Daming Temple with the same name is not very good.Zhu Yuanzhang himself has been a monk, and he is well aware of the bad behavior of temples occupying land.Therefore, the Ming Dynasty strictly controlled monasteries and Buddhist temples, even if they wanted to become a monk, they had to go to the capital to take the exam.Now Daming Temple is quite a big place but there are not many monks.

The abbot of Daming Temple, Abbot Xiangci, has already been informed of Zhang Fan's and his group's itinerary for the day, but Zhang Fan didn't feel that he should let the family close the business, but just received him, so there are still many people coming to worship Buddha.

When Abbot Xiangci saw Zhang Fan and the others coming in, he went out to welcome him, but the moment he saw Zhang Fan, he lost his mind a little and almost knelt down.But he looked carefully at Zhang Fan's face again, and couldn't help but be very puzzled.Zhang Fan thought it was just that he was old and had bad legs, so he didn't care.

"Abbot Xiangci, it's very disturbing to come here this time." Zhang Fan said very politely.

"Amitabha." Xiangci chanted the Buddha's name, bowed to Zhang Fan, and said, "You don't have to do this, this temple is for people to come to worship, and there is nothing to disturb."

"Thank you abbot." Zhang Fan said.

Xiangci was also used to seeing big scenes, so he didn't care that Zhang Fan brought many people here, and continued: "The benefactor came here this time to..."

"The abbot misunderstood." Zhang Fan said, "It's not that I want to come here to worship, but the family members of my family want to come here to worship Buddha." As he spoke, Zhang Fan motioned to Yingyue.

Yingyue also came forward to greet Xiangci.Xiangci didn't see why Zhang Fan came to the Buddhist temple but didn't worship the Buddha, but it was rare for him to see an official who didn't believe in Buddhism. "Maybe he is really a good official, or he is not afraid of anything." Xiangci said in his heart.

Over there, Yingyue began to worship Buddha, while Zhang Fan watched the scenery on the mountain.But Xiangci came over and said to him: "Benefactor Zhang, if you are interested in coming to the old monk's meditation room to have a talk. The spring water in Daming Temple is also unique in the world, please come and taste it."

"I really mean that." Zhang Fan did not refuse him.

When they came to Xiangci's meditation room, the two sat down.Zhang Fan sized it up, and found that there were not many decorations in this small meditation room.There are only tables, chairs, futons and wooden fish.There is a word "Zen" written on the wall, which reveals a quiet artistic conception while being vigorous.

Xiangci poured a cup of tea for Zhang Fan, and immediately a fresh fragrance came to his face, mixed with a scent of Buddha, which made the whole body feel comfortable.Zhang Fan took a sip of the tea, it was slightly bitter but sweet taste emerged, he didn't know whether this tea or the water was better!

Seeing Zhang Fan's satisfied expression, Xiangci smiled and said, "I don't have any good tea here, I just rely on the spring water in the west of Pingshan Hall."

"I have heard about it." Zhang Fan said, "I also read Zhang Youxin's "Jian Cha Shui Ji" when I was idle. "Quan Shui Ji" said: 'This well is the beauty of water.'"

"Hehe." Xiangci laughed happily, but he didn't look too exaggerated. He still had the demeanor of an eminent monk and said, "This is also the reputation of the world. I came here to become a monk when I was young, and I was proud of it." I have lived through the elegance of this place. But over the years, I have seen through it."

The two just drank tea like this. After a while, Zhang Fan found that Xiangci had been watching him, and couldn't help being very curious. He asked, "Why does the abbot keep watching me?"

Xiangci heard Zhang Fan's question, and said slowly: "Is the benefactor really surnamed Zhang? Could it be that he is a member of the royal family?"

Zhang Fan was shocked when he heard this, he didn't know why Xiangci would say that.

"Don't be surprised, benefactor." Xiangci looked around and said in a low voice, "The old man thinks that the benefactor's appearance is very rich, but he doesn't mean to aspire to the top nine. Why is the benefactor surrounded by a faint imperial aura, but It's not like what the donor himself emanates."

After hearing his words, Zhang Fan didn't suspect that Xiangci was deceiving him. After thinking about it for a while, he suddenly understood, and said, "I know, maybe it's the reason for this thing." The unknown authenticity of the Chuanguo Yuxi was taken out.

Xiangci suddenly saw this thing, and his calm heart, which had been practicing Buddhism for many years, beat violently, and he couldn't help murmuring: "This... this is..."

Zhang Fan looked at him and said, "I want Master to identify the authenticity of this thing."