Water Margin people

Chapter 1436 Quanzhou Shaolin Temple

Quanzhou, inn.

"Master Lu, you really haven't been quiet all day. Are you planning to participate in the martial arts competition today?"

Sun Lei asked as he looked at Lu Zhishen who was dressed in martial arts uniform.

"Of course, I came here just to have a fight!"

Lu Zhishen said.

Wu Song and the others all had the same idea and were ready to go.

"Then let's go and see it together!"

Sun Lei looked at everyone and said that if he started fighting like this, he might get so angry that he couldn't stop.

The group left the inn and headed towards Qingyuan Mountain.

As soon as we arrived at the foot of the mountain, we were greeted by monks. Unlike other temples, the Quanzhou Shaolin Temple welcomed warrior monks.

"I, the poor monk Zhizong, pay my respects to Your Majesty!"

The middle-aged monk Zhizong, who was in the lead, bowed to Sun Lei.

"You've come down the mountain to greet us? It looks like you know why we're here!"

Sun Lei looked at Monk Zhizong and smiled. It was obvious at first glance that Monk Zhizong was a martial monk. He did not have a potbellied appearance like other monks. Instead, he looked strong and vigorous, and had great spirit.

"I heard that your Majesty's generals wanted to come to our temple to exchange martial arts. We have already declined pilgrims today, so we are here to welcome your Majesty!"

Zhizong spoke to Sun Lei.

"Haha, it's so grand!"

Sun Lei laughed. The Quanzhou Shaolin Temple was indeed different from other temples.

"Your Majesty, please!"

Zhizong bowed to Sun Lei and invited everyone to go up the mountain.

"I wonder what position Master Zhizong holds in the temple?"

Sun Lei looked at Zhizong and asked.

"I am the leader in martial arts training in this temple!"

Monk Zhizong replied.

"Oh, so you specialize in martial arts?"

Lu Zhishen became interested. From the word "martial arts training", he could guess that it was related to martial arts training.

"This must be Master Lu, Duke of Wei. All the more than a thousand monks in this temple practice martial arts. The monks in the temple are divided into ten levels: Zen room, abbot, elder, chief monk, head monk, incense burner, fate fast, martial arts training, martial farmer, and martial woodcutter. Among them, the three martial arts each have unique skills."

Zhizong did not hide anything. He bowed to the Buddha and spoke.

"Oh, that's exactly what I want!"

Lu Zhishen was overjoyed after hearing this. It was the first time he had seen such a martial arts temple.

"It's really rare that the whole temple practices martial arts."

Wu Song was also very surprised. The temples in the Central Plains are now mainly Zen Buddhist. Most monks sit in meditation and comprehend Buddhism, and very few practice martial arts.

"This temple was founded by Master Zhikong of Songshan Shaolin Temple. Master Zhikong is proficient in martial arts, which gave Quanzhou Shaolin Temple a martial arts spirit."

Zhizong said with a smile.

After entering the mountain gate and passing the Hall of Heavenly Kings, you will arrive at the Main Hall.

"Amitabha, I am the old monk Jiekong, greeting His Majesty the Emperor!"

Abbot Jiekong was already waiting outside the hall with a group of monks to greet them.

"You are too polite, Abbot. I am just here to take people for a look around today!"

Sun Lei said with a smile.

"Your Majesty, please come in and have tea!"

Abbot Jiekong invited Sun Lei and others into the inner hall.

The novice monk brought up the freshly brewed tea, and Wu Song took the cup and drank it with a smile.

"Brother, this tea is good!"

Wu Song originally wanted to test the poison first, but after drinking it, he found that the tea was unusually fragrant, far better than the tea he had drunk before. "Is this tea from Wuyi Mountain?"

Sun Lei took a sip and found it to be very different. Tea in this era was mainly tea cakes, mainly steamed green tea, with a fresh taste and a light flavor. But the tea in front of him was obviously stir-fried tea, with a mellow taste and a strong flavor.

"Yes, Wuyi Mountain has been a tea-producing area since ancient times, and the people make a living by growing tea. In recent years, the taste of light tea has been unable to meet the demand, so tea farmers have developed this kind of roasted tea! The monks in the temple have also learned this method and made some, which, combined with the spring water from the mountain, has an even more refreshing fragrance!"

Abbot Jiekong smiled and said that Quanzhou Shaolin Temple is different from other temples. Not only do all the people in the temple practice martial arts, but all of them participate in labor. The farmland behind the mountain is cultivated by the monks themselves.

"Haha, this tea is delicious!"

Sun Lei smiled and gave Chai Jin a wink.

Chai Jin nodded in understanding and also picked up the teacup and started drinking. As soon as he took a sip, his eyes lit up. Born into a wealthy family, he was quite knowledgeable about tea and had drunk all kinds of good tea, but he had never tasted the fragrant tea in front of him.

"Brother, it's a good thing!"

Chai Jin excitedly whispered to Sun Lei.

"Louder your voice, don't make it sound like you're not going to be seen by anyone."

Sun Lei was speechless. What he was doing was legitimate, but how could it be treated like trading contraband?

"Take someone to follow up on this tea matter later!"

Sun Lei looked at Chai Jin and said, among the necessities of life, tea is one of them.

"Yes, brother!"

Chai Jin was overjoyed. Tea was also an important industry. If this new variety of tea could be promoted, the court would be able to increase its income.

"We've had tea and talked, now it's time to learn from each other!"

Lu Zhishen drank the tea in one gulp and spoke.

"Haha, Master Jiekong, don't mind it, Master Lu is just this straightforward!"

Sun Lei looked at Master Jiekong with a smile.

"This master is worthy of being a Buddhist disciple, he has an open mind!"

Master Jiekong said with a smile.

"Master Lu, this way please!"

Zhizong performed a Buddhist salute to Lu Zhishen and invited him to go to the square outside.

"I am coming too!"

Seeing that they could take action, Wu Song, Lin Chong and others also followed out.

"Master Jiekong, have you also heard about my opinions on Buddhism?"

Sun Lei looked at Master Jiekong and said, it has been some time since the incident at Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, I believe the entire Jiangnan Buddhist community should know about it.

"I have heard about it. This temple is willing to obey your majesty's order!"

Monk Jiekong performed a Buddhist salute.

"Oh, if only everyone could be like the master, I wouldn't have to worry so much!"

Sun Lei couldn't help but sigh that all the things he did during this trip to Jiangnan were done most smoothly here.

"Your Majesty is merciful. Since ancient times, whoever gained the world did not cause rivers of blood and corpses to spread across thousands of miles. Only Your Majesty succeeded with strategy, without harming the people of the world. You also drove out the Tartars and enhanced the prestige of our country! Although I, a monk, live in the mountains, I also admire Your Majesty."

Master Jiekong looked at Sun Lei and said with a smile.

"Haha, I didn't expect the master to pay attention to world affairs. He is different from the general Buddhist sect!"

Sun Lei glanced at Dao Ji who was standing next to him, then looked at Master Jie Kong and said.

"Monks, although they have left home and claim to be in the Pure Land of Buddhism, temples are not paradise after all. We are also in the secular world, how can we escape from the secular world!"

Master Jiekong smiled and said that Quanzhou Shaolin Temple is different from all other temples. They pay attention to national affairs and are even more concerned about the suffering of the people.

"Master Daoji, look at this, this is the role model of Buddhism! This is called saving all living beings!"

Sun Lei looked at Dao Ji and said that Dao Ji was doing these things alone, while the entire Quanzhou Shaolin Temple was doing it. However, precisely because it was too involved in the secular world, Quanzhou Shaolin Temple was destroyed several times.

"Amitabha, if all the temples are built, it will be difficult for Your Majesty to run the business!"

Dao Ji looked at Sun Lei and said with a smile.

Sun Lei was choked and speechless, but Dao Ji reacted quickly and understood his own temper. There were many things that the imperial court should do and Buddhism should not interfere too much.