I studied in modern times

Chapter 737: Fierce Lu Huiqing
On the second day of the third month of the second year of Yuanyou, in Chongzheng Hall, the little man with the clepsydra struck the small drum at the third quarter of the morning.

Zhao Xu sat upright on the throne, looking at the tall and thin figure outside the hall, who was led by Guo Zhongxiao and walked into the hall step by step.

Watching from afar, this 'guardian god' of the reform in the past, Wang Anshi's right-hand man, and the radical among the reformists, slowly walked into the hall and came in front of him.

"The Grand Secretary of the Advisory Palace, the Senior Counselor, the Imperial Guard, the Purple Gold Fish Bag bestowed by the Emperor, and the Founding Marquis of Henei County, Huiqing, I bow my head and bow again, and respectfully wish His Majesty the Emperor the best of health!"

Lu Huiqing's accent has a slight Fujian accent, and may also be mixed with some Hedong dialect accents.

Zhao Xu looked down at this man, whom he had considered for a long time and finally gave up on appointing as the ruling minister at the beginning of his reign in his previous life. He felt more or less sad.

So he said to him, "Scholar, please don't be polite!"

He also ordered Feng Jing, who was waiting in the hall, "Give the scholar a seat and some tea!"

Feng Jing nodded, and then brought his people to serve the chairs, tea, and snacks that had been prepared earlier.

After Lu Huiqing stood up, he thanked Zhao Xu and sat down on the chair. He picked up the teacup and took a big sip of tea, which was completely different from the pretentiousness of other people in front of Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu looked at him and laughed, saying, "The scholar is indeed as the emperor said, he is a true Confucian scholar of the country!"

This can be considered as Zhao Xu's starting move now.

He always uses the Emperor's Examination card to cover his face!

It's like a flash followed by a big move!
Since Zhao Xu started using this trick, he has never failed.

Lu Huiqing was not surprised. His face was frozen for a moment. Finally, he put down the teacup, stood up and bowed, saying: "The late emperor was very kind. I will swear to be loyal to Your Majesty until my death and repay the late emperor for his kindness!"

If someone else said this, it might just be a courtesy.

But Zhao Xu knew that Lu Huiqing basically meant what he said.

Because this is Lu Huiqing!
A man who never bothers to be pretentious.

A person who is only true to his own heart.

A pure New Party minister.

Even among the New Party officials, Lu Huiqing is a typical outlier!

He rarely conceals his opinions and ideas.

Just like last year, when Lu Shengqing returned to the court to report on his work, he also published Lu Huiqing's "County Law". In the preface, he openly talked about how killing people is a good thing.

He also used the scriptures of sages to justify his bloodlust.

Among the literati in the Song Dynasty, people like Lu Huiqing who are straightforward are rare. It can even be said that Lu Huiqing is irreplaceable.

You know, even Zhang Dun knew how to embellish himself and disguise himself.

There is only this minister who is in the palace now.

He always practices what he preaches, and sticks to his words.

It was precisely for this reason that Zhao Xu hesitated and wavered for several months at the beginning of his personal rule in his previous life, and finally chose to let Lu Huiqing serve as the governor.

This person is really too difficult to control.

Zhao Xu remembered that someone asked him at that time - What about Lu Huiqing?

His answer at that time was: "Hui Qing is extremely vicious!"

How fierce is that?

Lu Huiqing, who had returned to the court at that time, made three suggestions to Zhao Xu.

First, thoroughly liquidate the old party!
Sima Guang and Lu Gongzhu destroyed all the writings since their birth, and all other surviving ministers of the old party were demoted to Lingnan.

Second, fully restore the benevolent policies of the previous emperor and completely abolish the evil policies of Yuanyou.

Third, the families of Yuanyou old party ministers and their students and old friends were completely banned from taking the imperial examinations to become officials.

He not only talked about it, but also listed the specific steps of the implementation plan and even thought about how to handle the details.

As long as Zhao Xu agreed, he could immediately begin deploying a de-urbanization strategy for the old party.

Compared with Lu Huiqing, Zhang Dun was just for fun, not to mention Zeng Bu, this guy with two heads and one tail!

Therefore, Zhao Xu finally gave up the idea of ​​appointing Lu Huiqing as the prime minister, and instead sent him to a local place as a border commander.

In fact, Zhao Xu, who was still young and immature at the time, was worried that he might not be able to control this "extremely ferocious" minister.

However, after experiencing the hardships of his previous life and studying abroad in modern times for ten years, Zhao Xu is now extremely confident.

He chuckled and said to Lu Huiqing: "My dear, if you are as the emperor and I introduced you to be, you are a rare loyal minister in this country!"

Lu Huiqing bowed again hurriedly: "The late emperor loved me so much and raised me up. I am really ashamed. I dare not call myself pure. I just have a loyal heart! I beg Your Majesty to see clearly!"

Zhao Xu smiled and said, "I have sent people to investigate your administration in Hedong..."

"I highly appreciate the strategy you used!"

When Lu Huiqing heard this, he smiled and thought to himself, "See, I was right!"

"The late emperor and the present emperor, father and son, are of one mind. This is truly a blessing for the world!"

The population of the Western bandits is still too large.

He should be more strict!
With the heart of a strict father to his rebellious son, he punishes decisively and resolutely in order to guide him to be good and return to the sage's path of moderation, benevolence and forgiveness.

As Emperor Taizong of Tang said to Wei Zheng: The barbarians fear power but not virtue!
Only swords can explain to them the principles of benevolence, righteousness, loyalty and forgiveness.

Zhao Xu just made a point and didn't continue the topic.

Because he is a benevolent emperor!

So, he began to ask Lu Huiqing about his views on state affairs.

Lu Huiqing owed a great favor to Han Jiang, so he praised the new emperor's Yuanyou governance since he ascended the throne, saying that the Yuanyou governance was not only a continuation and development of the previous emperor's benevolent policies and great achievements.

It also demonstrates the filial piety of officials and sets an example for the world.

But then he changed the subject and started talking about the Xining Reforms.

In words and deeds, they all began to persuade Zhao Xu to keep up the good work, not to stick to worldly views, and not to be misled by "villains" and "treacherous ministers."

We should be brave and bold and inherit the pioneering and innovative spirit of the Xining Reform of the previous emperor.

When he got excited, Lu Huiqing completely forgot the occasion and started dancing and spitting as usual.

Seeing this, Zhao Xu quickly interrupted his endless chatter: "My dear minister, I am deeply inspired by what you said..."

"It's just that it's getting late now..."

"I still need to go back to the palace to have some food..."

"My dear, you can go back home first. I will have a long talk with you in a few days!"

Lu Huiqing was slightly stunned, but still bowed and said, "I am sorry..."

Zhao Xu smiled and said, "You are not being rude... I am just a little hungry and want to go back and have some food."

To be honest, Lu Huiqing is an excellent speaker.

Talking to him is not boring. Instead, he can arouse my emotions and make me excited unconsciously.

But Zhao Xu is not a child.

Instead, he was an adult monarch who had studied in modern times for ten years.

So he knew that not only the old party’s path was a dead end, but the new party’s path was also a dead end.

Only by opening up a new path can he, his country, and the millions of people in the Song Dynasty find a way to survive.

And this path requires more than just the cooperation and support of the new party.

The cooperation of the old party is also needed.

Otherwise, if we act rashly, the Song Dynasty will explode.

If things go wrong, we may have to fight a civil war and physically eliminate all opponents before we can move forward.

But Zhao Xu was unwilling to do so unless it was absolutely necessary.

However, his experience studying abroad in modern times taught him that war is actually the most effective way to eliminate vested interest groups and provide sufficient space and nutrition for the growth of new classes.

but……

He is the emperor!

A feudal autocratic emperor!
Even after studying abroad for ten years in modern times, one's thoughts and horizons have been broadened.

But no matter how enlightened a despotic emperor is, he is still a despotic emperor.

……

Japan, Kyushu, Tochoji Temple.

This temple is the headquarters of the Shingon sect in Japan.

Its status in Kyushu is no lower than that of Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei near Heian-kyo.

Throughout the Kyushu region, Tochoji Temple, like Enryakuji Temple, maintained a large number of monk soldiers and occupied countless pieces of land.

At any time and anywhere, you have the ability to go to the manor owners and nobles all over Kyushu to beg for alms physically.

If you get angry, you can even carry the Buddhist treasure and go to Heian-kyo to "appeal."

Of course, Japan has its own national conditions.

The Japanese Buddha's appeal was a little bit violent.

If the donors of Heian-kyo are unwilling to agree to the Buddha's request, then the Buddha would be willing to use a little of the Buddha's wrathful Vajra guardian technique.

Therefore, the Japanese Buddha's appeal was figuratively called "forced appeal" by the nobles of Heian-kyō. It literally means that Heian-kyō had to agree to it, whether it agreed or not!

However, at this time, in this ancient temple, the once arrogant Buddhas now all have kind faces and chant Buddhist mantras.

This is because the entire temple has now been occupied by the vicious soldiers from the Liao Kingdom in the East.

Xiao Budaya, who didn't know he had been promoted, was burning incense in this temple founded by Kukai, a Japanese monk who went to the Tang Dynasty to seek Buddhist teachings.

Accompanying Xiaobudanye were not only the Taira clan, but also Japanese samurai from other parts of Kyushu who responded to Xiaobudanye.

Yes, since February 20th, when Xiao Budayo led his troops to land on Iki Island, in just over ten days, his army has swept across almost the entire Kyushu of Japan.

Chikuzen and Chikuhou surrendered upon hearing the news.

Hizen and Higo were the bases of the Taira clan, and the royal flags changed in an instant.

Even in Toyokuni, Hyuga and other places, samurai responded and came to join the group under the banners of "Respect the King and Fight the Enemy" and "Return of Imperial Rule".

Xiao Budaya's actions were smoother than expected!
There are multiple reasons for this that lead to each other.

First of all, the first point is naturally that the Liao people’s combat power is strong enough, and at the same time, the Jurchens who serve as auxiliary forces of the Liao army are brutal enough!
Since Xiaobudanye occupied the two countries of Chikuzen and Chikugo, his army has successively defeated many Japanese armies that came to attack.

All the battles are one-sided!
The well-trained and fully armed Liao army and the extremely brutal and powerful Jurchen people faced the unorganized and undisciplined Japanese Kyushu defenders with crude weapons and almost no training.

It's a complete massacre!

Just one example will explain why the Liao army could march freely in Japan: today's Japanese army, even its elite, is composed of samurai.

The armor they wore was mostly something called domaru.

What is Domaru?

This is a Japanese-style armor.

The raw material is basically bamboo!

Imagine a group of samurai wearing bamboo armor and holding swords, leading a large group of newly conscripted peasants.

What kind of scene would it be like if we encountered the Liao army, which was wearing iron armor, holding powerful crossbows and large bows, ready to fight, and had cavalry to support them?
The battle is usually over as soon as it begins.

Therefore, it was more like an armed parade than an attack on cities and territories by Xiao Budaye's army.

The second reason why the Liao army was able to make rapid progress and receive widespread response was.

As for today's Japan, the nobles in Heian-kyo are really too inhuman.

The high and mighty court officials looked down upon everything with arrogance.

Including the samurai class!

Even the samurai families with imperial blood were treated like dogs by them.

Therefore, when the Liao army raised the banner of respecting the king, defeating the enemy, and returning power to the emperor, they claimed that they were invited by the Taira clan to help Japan rectify its problems and reorganize its government. At the same time, they claimed that the Fujiwara clan had murdered Empress Shirakawa.

A large number of local warriors joined the ranks of justice with great joy.

They don’t care whether what the Liao people said is true or false?

They just wanted to enter Heian-kyo, seize the throne of the Fujiwara clan, and vent their anger for the oppression, contempt and bullying they had suffered over the years.

Under such circumstances, how could the Buddhas of Tochoji Temple not be kind and reasonable?

As soon as they heard that the general of the Liao Dynasty was coming to pay homage, everyone in Tochoji Temple started cleaning and tidying up the Buddhist hall early and prepared everything.

Xiao Budaya inserted the incense sticks into the incense burner and bowed three times to the Buddha statue, which was said to have been built by Kukai, a great monk who returned from the Tang Dynasty in search of Buddhist teachings.

Then, he turned around and looked at the abbot of Tochoji Temple who had been with him all the time, bowed eleven times, and said, "Master, I heard that your temple was built by the great monk Kukai?"

Yuanjue, the head monk of Tochoji Temple, chanted the Buddha's name and bowed his head in the pure Central Plains rhyme, "Amitabha!"

"The small temple was founded by Master Kukai!"

Xiao Budaya narrowed his eyes: "Master, can you speak in the correct rhyme?"

"Amitabha!" Yuanjue bowed his head and said, "More than ten years ago, I wanted to follow Master Chengxun to the Tang Dynasty to seek the Dharma..."

"Therefore, I studied the correct rhyme and read the Tang Dynasty books..."

"I changed my Buddhist name specially for my trip to the Tang Dynasty..."

"Unfortunately, things don't always go as planned. Master Chengxun went ahead..." As he said this, he sighed with regret.

Ever since Jianzhen traveled to Japan to spread Buddhism, the Japanese Buddhist community has highlighted a foreign monk who is good at chanting sutras.

Any monk from the Tang Dynasty who came to Japan would be respected by both the upper and lower levels.

Under such circumstances, the eminent monks in major temples in Japan were naturally proud of going to the Tang Dynasty to study abroad.

Basically, as long as they could successfully travel to the Tang Dynasty and study abroad for a few years, the monks who came back with the most advanced Buddhist thoughts and Buddhist teachings from the Tang Dynasty would become famous for a while and even be able to establish their own sect.

Just like Kukai, the founder of Tochoji Temple!
Xiao Budaya listened with a frown on his face. He could never have imagined that in Japan, which is located on the East China Sea, the influence of the Southern Dynasty is still there.

So I felt a little unhappy.

But there’s nothing I can do!
The reason why it is called the Southern Dynasty is that it has natural advantages in culture and beliefs.

Not to mention Japanese monks, even the monks of the Liao Dynasty regarded Mount Wutai as a holy place. As long as there was a chance, even the monks in the royal temples would risk their lives to go to Mount Wutai for pilgrimage.

However, he immediately laughed: "Master, you know that the Song and Liao countries are now brothers... My Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Liao Dynasty and His Majesty the Emperor of the Song Dynasty are brothers, and we have frequent correspondence!"

Xiao Budaya started to make promises without thinking, "If the master can help me contact temples all over Japan to discuss important matters, rectify the government, and get back to the basics..."

"After the matter is accomplished, I can report to my master and ask him to grant the master and his disciples the qualification to go to the Central Plains to seek the Dharma..."

This is exactly why Xiao Budaya came to Tochoji Temple specifically to worship Buddha.

He already knew that the monks in Japan were very powerful.

So powerful that it can influence the entire country and even decide life and death!
“This…” Yuanjue’s heart was pounding.

More than ten years ago, Chengxun of Enryakuji Temple went to Tang Dynasty with his disciples to seek Dharma.

Although Chengxun passed away in the Tang Dynasty.

But his disciples gained a lot, and after returning, the prestige of Enryakuji Temple suddenly soared!

The monastic community alone has expanded several times!
I really envy him!

The reason why Cheng Xun didn't take him with him was very simple - Cheng Xun was from the Tiantai sect, which was in competition with the Shingon sect to which he belonged.

How could I take him?

However, if he and his Tochoji could get a chance to go to Tang to seek Dharma, or even be invited by the Emperor of Tang to practice Dharma...

I’m afraid that becoming a Buddha is just around the corner.

"Amitabha..." Yuanjue felt that he could no longer control his Zen mind.

Seeing this, Xiao Budaya immediately added the final blow: "In addition, I will also petition my Lord, the Emperor of the Liao Dynasty, to grant a plaque to your temple!"

"From now on, your temple will be built by imperial decree of our dynasty!"

"From now on, all generations will be protected by our dynasty, and our emperor will send envoys to bestow Buddhist relics during festivals..."

When Yuanjue heard this, his Zen mind was completely shattered.

"Amitabha!" He bowed his head and sighed: "Donor..."

"I have heard something..."

"The Fujiwara clan of Heian-kyō has issued an imperial decree to transfer Mutsu no Kami Hachimantaro Yoshiie back to Heian-kyō, and intends to make him a general to unify all parties and make things difficult for the donor..."

"Hachiman Taro Yoshiie?" Xiao Budaya looked confused.

"This is our country's number one general!"

"It is said that with the blessing of gods and Buddhas, one can win every battle!" Yuanjue said, "Donor, you should be careful!"

Xiao Budaye finally said seriously: "Thank you for your guidance, Master!"

However, Japan's army was weak.

But, after all, he is the so-called number one general.

He is the most capable general in this country!
Xiao Budaye knew that he had to treat this matter with caution.

After all, he now only has two or three thousand regular Liao troops and a similar number of Jurchen volunteers under his command.

Will reinforcements come? How many will come?
He really doesn't understand!

"Amitabha!" Yuanjue said with compassion: "I only hope that the donors will use the compassion of the Buddhist teachings to commit less sins of killing... Good, good!"

"Master's teachings, I will keep them in mind!" Xiao Budaya bowed in return.

Xiao Budaye is very clear about his role.

He is not here to destroy a country, nor is he here to kill people.

He just came here to look for money and make a fortune.

Therefore, under his control, the Liao army's military discipline was not perfect.

But nothing serious happened.

Of course, this is also related to the fact that most Japanese are extremely poor.

There's no money to be made from these poor fellows.

Xiao Budaya's only hope now is to find the silver mine as soon as possible, or to quickly enter Heian-kyo and wipe out Japan's savings of hundreds of years.

(End of this chapter)