People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1577: The Queen of Heaven worships Buddhism, and Yangzhou rises up in rebellion

A huge fireball fell violently towards the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

Fiery, grand, dazzling

Master Kuiji, who had just walked out of the meditation room, saw this scene and couldn't help but change his expression: "Buddha!"

Under the horrified gaze of Kuiji and countless monks of Da Ci'en Temple, the rapidly falling fireball had arrived above the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the blink of an eye.

It was at this time that a strong gust of wind suddenly blew over from the northeast.

The next moment, the fireball in the air suddenly rushed towards the southwest at a high speed.

In an instant, the fireball had brushed the edge of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and fell heavily to the ground.

With a loud "boom", a huge fireball exploded in the square in front of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

The monk Kuiji, who had just arrived at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, could not help but stop and looked at the hellish scene in front of him with horror.

Especially under the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a three-meter-high flame was burning fiercely, and even spread rapidly on the ground.

"Oh my God!" Kuiji stared at the flame, then he suddenly raised his head, glanced at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda behind him, and then looked up at the deep night sky.

In the deep night sky of the north.

Chang'an, after the curfew, who has the ability to make such a big noise.

A moment later, a young monk came quickly from behind and rushed to the side of Monk Kuiji, saying hastily, "Abbot, many believers outside the temple saw the fire in the temple and requested help in putting out the fire."

Kuiji was slightly stunned, then shook his head solemnly and said, "Forget it, let's not let the people get involved in this kind of thing, and we can put out the fire ourselves in the temple..."

Before Kuiji could finish his words, his disciple, Monk Huizhao, who was actually the abbot of Da Ci'en Temple and the Yogacara school, came quickly.

Monk Huizhao said a few words in Kuiji's ear quickly and in a low voice with a serious expression. In an instant, Kuiji's face became extremely ugly.

After a brief pause, Kuiji turned to look at the little monk, nodded and said, "Please come in, all donors. Sorry to bother them."

"Yes!" The little monk turned around quickly.

Kuiji looked at the center of the fire with a serious gaze, and even his breathing became much heavier in an instant.

A moment later, people from the surrounding areas entered the Da Ci'en Temple one after another, holding wooden buckets in their hands and quickly pouring water into the center of the fire.

But at this time, the flames suddenly expanded and several people were almost burned by the flames.

Monk Kuiji turned his Buddhist beads and said quickly, "Please go get some sand and use it to put out the fire."

"Yes!" The people around were slightly stunned, but still took sand and soil to put out the fire under the guidance of the novice monks around them.

Soon, the flames began to die out from the edges.

At this time, a burst of hurried footsteps came from the temple gate.

Immediately, a whole team of imperial guards, armed with swords and guns, charged into the Da Ci'en Temple and arrived in front of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

Monk Kuiji turned to look at Monk Huizhao and whispered, "Tell all the donors to stop. The Buddha will remember their merits. The rest will be left to the generals of the imperial guards."

"Yes!" Monk Huinuo immediately stepped back.

Soon, the people around also retreated.

However, what was strange was that the imperial guards who entered the Da Ci'en Temple were not busy putting out the fire, but stared at the people around them with sharp eyes.

A heavy sound of footsteps was heard from outside, and then Zhang Qianxu, with a gloomy face, full of hatred and anger, appeared at the door not far away.

He was dressed in red and golden armor with countless blood stains on it, and he walked in with a ferocious look.

Zhang Qianxu's eyes immediately fell on the fire in the center of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and then he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Soon, he turned to look at Monk Lai Kuiji.

In an instant, Zhang Qianxu's expression became serious again.

Where is this place? This is Da Ci'en Temple.

The place where Emperor Gaozong offered sacrifices to Empress Wendeok.

Now, the thing that was carrying Crown Prince Li Chongzhao on his escape has crashed in Da Ci'en Temple, in front of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which means that Crown Prince Li Chongzhao died in front of Empress Wende.

Thinking of this, Zhang Qianxu's expression couldn't help but change slightly.

The fact that Emperor Zhongzong died in Luoyang is now barely suppressed. Now, it only takes a little spark and the entire volcano will explode.

Today's scene, the death of the prince, the death of the prince under the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the Da Ci'en Temple, may very likely become that spark.

Zhang Qianxu, who is closest to the enemy and is responsible for capturing Crown Prince Li Chongzhao, will become the target of people's anger.

It's still the Tang Dynasty now!

Zhang Qianxu walked quickly to the front of Master Kuiji, then bowed earnestly and said, "Master, please drive the people around away."

"Okay!" Monk Kuiji nodded calmly, turned around and said something to Monk Huizhao.

Monk Huizhao immediately turned around and left, and soon, the people around him left the Da Ci'en Temple in an orderly manner.

However, as soon as they left the Da Ci'en Temple, they were closely guarded by countless Jinwu Guards.

……

In front of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Zhang Qianxu waved his hand slightly, and the next moment, dozens of skillful soldiers carrying sandbags quickly put out the fire.

Monk Kuiji watched this scene calmly. If he remembered correctly, this method of using fire extinguishing oil was popularized by King Peng in the past.

I didn't expect it to be used here now.

The flames were quickly extinguished, and the thing in the center of the flames quickly appeared in front of everyone.

A low body that had been completely burned.

Seeing this scene, Zhang Qianxu's face turned pale.

Crown Prince Li Chongzhao actually died.

Crown Prince Li Chongzhao actually died.

Zhang Qianxu's breathing couldn't help but become heavier, but soon, his eyes became extremely fierce.

Crown Prince Li Chongzhao is dead, who made him dare to resist and escape?

Just like his dead father, if he hadn't resisted, didn't run away, and was caught obediently, he wouldn't have died. He died today, it was all his own fault.

"Amitabha, why... why is there another person here?" Monk Kuiji stood aside with a pale face, looking incredulous.

"The thing flew here from somewhere else, so it must be controlled by someone, so..." Halfway through his words, Zhang Qianxu suddenly realized something was wrong. He stared at Monk Kuiji and said, "Master, there should have been two people in here, why is there only one body now? Where is the other person?"

"What do you mean another person?" Monk Kuiji looked confused. He turned to look at Zhang Qianxu and said, "When we arrived, the flames had already exploded on the ground. Then we had to put out the fire. At first, we didn't know it was flaming oil, so we used water to put out the fire and burned several people... Under the flaming oil, how could anyone else survive?"

Monk Kuiji grasped one point tightly: under the fierce flaming oil, anyone who was contaminated would have only one way to go, and that was death.

Not to mention that if you fall from such a high place, you will die.

"Did he jump down early?" Zhang Qianxu couldn't help but frowned.

At this time, Monk Kuiji put his palms together and said, "Amitabha, may I ask, General, whose body is this? Can Da Ci'en Temple bury it?"

Zhang Qianxu's mouth twitched slightly, and he shook his head and said, "Master, don't worry about this."

After a short pause, Zhang Qianxu said directly: "Master, please gather all the monks in the temple. I suspect that a thief has sneaked into Da Ci'en Temple. I will conduct a comprehensive search."

"Search the Da Ci'en Temple thoroughly?" Monk Kuiji was slightly startled, then asked, "Does the Left Prime Minister know about this? Does the Crown Prince know about this? Does Your Majesty know about this? Does the Queen Mother know about this?"

When Zhang Qianxu heard Liu Rengui's name, he looked indifferent. Even when Monk Kuiji mentioned the prince and the emperor, he didn't care much.

But when Monk Kuiji mentioned Empress Wu, Zhang Qianxu's face changed.

The Queen of Heaven worships Buddhism.

Over the years, although the Queen has often advocated a balance between Taoism and Buddhism, in private, she is more inclined towards Buddhism.

In particular, Zhang Qianxu knew that there was a Buddha statue enshrined in the rear hall of Huiyou Hall in Luoyang.

Since the death of the late emperor, the Queen Mother of Heaven has been offering sacrifices and praying for him every day.

Da Ci'en Temple is the first Buddhist temple in the world and is the legacy of Xuanzang.

If they really wanted to file a complaint with the Queen Mother, Zhang Qianxu, who had not handled things well in the first place, would inevitably be blamed.

Especially since he had already offended the Li Tang royal family and the Taoist sect. If he offended the Queen of Heaven and the Buddhist sect as well, he would really deserve to die.

At this moment, a hurried sound of footsteps was heard, and a general of the imperial guards came over quickly and said to Zhang Qianxu with a serious face: "General, the left prime minister sent someone to deliver a message, asking you to take some time to come over."

Zhang Qianxu's expression couldn't help but darken. What do you mean by taking time out? Liu Rengui was already giving him a lot of face.

Such a big thing happened today, he even sent people to break into the East Palace, and now the prince is dead again.

If Zhang Qianxu didn't quickly explain the situation to Liu Rengui, Liu Rengui might mobilize a large army to kill him in the name of treason.

Thinking of this, Zhang Qianxu's expression became solemn. He turned to look at Monk Kuiji and said, "Master, the Da Ci'en Temple must be checked inside and outside. All monks must check their certificates of ordination to prevent thieves from sneaking in. I am going to see Zuo Xiang. If you cooperate, then everything will be quick. If you don't, we will take our time."

Zhang Qianxu turned around, left his generals to handle the matter, and went to see Liu Rengui.

The person who secretly took the prince away from the Eastern Palace must be found, but there is no need for him to confront the Da Ci'en Temple head-on.

But it doesn’t matter even if we can’t find it, because Crown Prince Li Chongzhao is dead, and Sima Wei Sili, the right guard of the Eastern Palace, is also dead.

Just use him as a scapegoat.

Now it is Liu Rengui who has to solve the problem.

Liu Rengui had been the regent in Chang'an for who knows how many years. If the Empress Dowager's edict could not make him surrender, it would be another trouble.

Zhang Qianxu originally planned to capture the prince first and then force Liu Rengui to surrender, but now that the prince is dead, he must confront Liu Rengui head-on.

Liu Rengui is not someone to be trifled with. Zhang Qianxu himself had fought his way out of the Goguryeo battlefield.

After coming out of the Da Ci'en Temple, Zhang Qianxu glanced at the excited people of Chang'an who were being strictly searched in the distance, and his face looked slightly solemn.

I even sighed in my heart.

Every year, countless dignitaries come to the Da Ci'en Temple to worship.

Zhang Qianxu knew that he had offended many people by coming here today, but...

Zhang Qianxu looked back at the prince's body being carried on a mat by his men and breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, the prince died, otherwise he would not be able to explain to the Queen Mother.

Turning around, Zhang Qianxu rode his horse towards the Lecheng County Mansion.

……

In the dark sky, the gliding suit was carried by the wind at a high speed towards the Qinling Mountains in the south.

Prince Li Chongzhao was tied tightly to Li Xuan's body, and the entire gliding suit was pulled taut.

To the north of the glider, a huge goshawk grabbed the golden hook that had been left behind him and slapped him hard to fly.

It was already a miracle that they could be sent out of Chang'an City relying solely on the power of the gliding suit, so how could they be taken to the Qinling Mountains?

Naturally, we need to use some super-technological capabilities.

Technology, super technology, that's all.

I don't know how long I spent in the darkness, but I seemed to have passed a checkpoint and finally stopped on a hill.

Li Mo had already been standing there silently.

Seeing the person coming, Li Mo stepped forward and bowed slightly.

Li Xuan untied Li Chongzhao and handed him to Li Mo.

After Li Mo took it, he took a quick look and found that it was really Crown Prince Li Chongzhao.

Li Mo bowed to Li Xuan again, turned around and left without saying anything. He wanted to hurry and send Li Chongzhao to Yangzhou.

Seeing Li Mo quickly going deeper into Ziwu Valley, Li Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Now that Li Jingye is dead, it would be better for the Wei family to lead the uprising in Yangzhou.

With the Wei family and Pei Xingjian around, that should be enough to cause trouble for Empress Wu.

This is enough to ensure that Li Xuan has enough time to lead his troops back.

(End of this chapter)