A thousand-year-old family that began with the Battle of Makino

Chapter 296: People from the Western Region come to pray for Buddha

Yongping seven years
As Liu Zhuang treated officials strictly and treated the people with kindness and forgiveness, the Han Dynasty soon showed a scene of vitality and all things competing.

In particular, Liu Zhuang's harshness towards his relatives is the most severe in history. As long as they are related to Liu Zhuang, no matter whether you are educated or not, in order to prevent others from saying that Liu Zhuang favors his relatives, no one has reached the rank of Jiu Qing or above. position.

For example, in the ninth year of Yongping, Liu Zhuang's sister, Princess Guantao, wanted to get a position as a minister in the palace for her son, but Liu Zhuang refused and only gave her son tens of millions of money to express her intention. .

Then when it comes to the appointment of officials, Liu Zhuang strictly ordered to put an end to requests from powerful families and use power for personal gain, opening a back door for his own relatives.

The edict was issued: "Instruct one of the commanders, the captain of the school, the governor of the department, and the chief official of Mo Shou, who are three years of age and above, to inspect the affairs of those who are particularly deviant in political affairs, and to go up together with Ji; and to listen to those who are particularly unreasonable."

That is to say, a system of inspection and removal of local officials was established, which was conducted every year. The excellent ones were promoted and the mediocre ones were demoted.

As the national power of the Han Dynasty gradually increased, the surrounding small countries gradually understood that the once behemoth was back, especially the strategy in the north, which Liu Zhuang attached great importance to.

He set up captains to protect Qiang in order to reopen the road to the Western Regions, and sent envoys to the Western Regions many times.

However, at this time, the countries in the Western Regions were under the pressure of the Northern Huns. The Xiongnu State placed King Huyan in the Tianshan Mountains to control the countries in the Western Regions, making the countries dare not openly interact with the Han.

But in the southern part of the Tianshan Mountains, the Xiongnu's control was not as strict as in the northern part, so privately, some small countries in the southern part of the Western Regions would continue to send envoys to Luoyang with only one purpose, to ask the Han Dynasty's attitude towards the Western Regions.

This time Liu Zhuang sent envoys to the Western Regions to understand the situation. Some keen sages from the Western Regions saw the Han's intention to return to the Western Regions, so they secretly sent envoys to Luoyang, bypassing the supervision of the Huns.

Luoyang, Nangong, front hall
Liu Zhuang received a team of envoys from the Western Regions here.

I saw a delegation of more than a dozen people dressed in all kinds of strange clothes, organized by many countries in the Western Region, slowly entering the main hall.

Although a ceremonial official explained the etiquette of meeting the emperor in detail before meeting the emperor, they were still shocked by the magnanimity of the emperor.

In the Western Region, the largest country, Wusun Kingdom, has a population of only a few hundred thousand, and the Western Region is mostly desert, distributed in the form of oases. How could I have seen such a majestic palace like the Han Dynasty?

The area of ​​​​one main hall is as large as the royal palaces of some countries in the Western Regions, or even much larger. How was this built? Do big men really have gods?
"The envoy of the Shanshan Kingdom, Yair Sumutagh, has met His Majesty the Great Emperor of the Han people. His Majesty the Emperor is safe and well."

Led by the Shanshan envoys, more than a dozen envoys from various countries behind him expressed their respect to Liu Zhuang in Chinese.

Liu Zhuang was also very happy at this time: "Good morning, you envoys have come all the way. You must be very tired. Why don't you go down and rest first. After that, we can have a good exchange."

Yair Sumutagh quickly spoke: "Your Majesty, your Majesty the Emperor, please forgive me. We came from afar this time to seek help from the Han Dynasty. It has been decades since the Han Dynasty left the Western Regions. .

Initially, under the leadership of the Han Dynasty Protectorate, disputes among countries in the Western Regions were reduced, the people were stable, and there was benevolence and order among each other. However, since the Protectorate was abolished, the Western Region fell into chaos.

First, King Yarkand of Yarkand claimed himself as the Great Protector and wanted to seize the power of the Han in the Western Regions. However, he did not have the wisdom of the Han people, and instead caused disputes among the countries. It was at that time that Shanshan retreated from the north to the south. of.

Later, the Huns took advantage of the turmoil in the Han Dynasty and sent troops to control the Western Regions. But how could the Huns be so kind? Not only did they forcibly levy various countries, but they also massacred innocent small countries. No fewer than ten countries have been destroyed by the Huns so far. How cruel this is.

Moreover, since the Huns suffered a major defeat in the east, they have plundered us more and more, and we can no longer stand the abuse of the Huns.

We sincerely hope that the Han Dynasty can return to the Western Regions, reset the Protectorate, and uphold justice for the people of the Western Regions. We hope that His Majesty the Great Emperor will have mercy on the people of the Western Regions. "

After saying that, Yair Sumutagh bent his legs and knelt down on the ground.

Yair Sumutagh is a descendant of Shanshan and Han people. He is a descendant of soldiers who once stationed in the Western Regions. He has several Chinese classics at home, so he yearns for the Han Dynasty. He often communicates with Chinese businessmen traveling to the Western Regions, so he has a deep understanding of the Chinese language. His control is also very smooth, which is why he can become the leader of the mission.

"Please have mercy on His Majesty the Great Emperor!"

Everyone knelt down when they saw Yair Sumutag, and other envoys from the Western Regions behind him also shouted and knelt down.

Liu Zhuang was a little speechless in his heart. Why do these people from the Western Regions kneel down so easily and have no backbone at all? Although he thinks so in his heart, he cannot say this with his mouth:
"My friends who have come from afar, the Western Region is the place my ancestors conquered. The people there once accepted the glory of the Han Dynasty, so they are the people of the Han Dynasty.

But now the Han Dynasty has only recovered from the war. The Huns in the north are still looking at me with eager eyes. I am afraid that they do not have much power to rescue my people. "

Yair Sumutag sounded a little desperate. Did the Han Dynasty give up on the Western Regions?
As an extremely pro-Han sect among the countries in the Western Regions, he knew very well that only by following the Han could the Western Regions not be bullied by others, and wolves like the Huns would not dare to slaughter the people of the Western Regions wantonly.

If the Han Dynasty abandoned the Western Regions, it would really be a nightmare for the people of the Western Regions. "However, the lack of power now does not mean that there will be no power in the future. I can tell you clearly here that the Western Regions belong to the Han Dynasty. No matter it is in the past or in the future, even if it is lost for a period of time, it cannot change the Han Dynasty's view of the Western Regions. Attitude.

Don't worry, after I deal with the Huns, the Western Region will eventually return to the embrace of the Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty will not let a wanderer wander outside all the time, and the wanderer will eventually go home. "

After listening to Liu Zhuang's decision, Yair Sumutagh felt the big stone in his heart finally fall to the ground, and shouted: "Thank you, Your Majesty, the Great Emperor, the glory of the Han Dynasty will definitely shine on the heads of the people of the Western Regions, the Han Dynasty will last forever!" "

Liu Zhuang was very satisfied with Yair Sumutaq's mission, and was about to order rewards for these envoys, but he saw a bright bald head again, and he couldn't restrain his curiosity:
"Messenger Shanshan, I wonder why the gentleman behind you has no hair or beard, and the clothes he wears are extremely simple. Is he different from your clothes?"

Yair Sumutag looked back and saw a bald head shining in the candlelight of the hall, like a walking light.

"Your Majesty, the Great Emperor, this person is Jose Yimiti, the envoy of the Ningmi Kingdom. He is dressed like this because he believes in Buddhism that came from Tianzhu."

Yair Sumutag replied very respectfully.

"José Imiti, the envoy of the Ningmi Kingdom, pays homage to His Majesty the Great Emperor. Namo Amitabha, may the Lord Buddha bless His Majesty."

Jose Yimiti held the Buddhist beads in his left hand and placed them in front of his abdomen. He opened his right hand in a chopping motion and placed it in the center of his chest near his chin. He bent down and saluted Liu Zhuang.

"Buddhism? What is Buddhism?" Liu Zhuang asked doubtfully.

No wonder Liu Zhuang was confused. As the emperor, he could read all the classics across the country and couldn't find a trace. However, he knew that Tianzhu was the predecessor of Shendu, but Tianzhu didn't seem to mention Buddhism in the past. This made him Pick up some interest.

Jose Yimiti still said respectfully: "Your Majesty the Great Emperor, Buddhism came from Tianzhu, and it is worshiped by the Buddhist Buddha Sakyamuni. It is said that the Buddha Sakyamuni has a sense of life, old age, illness, and death in the human world. Despite all kinds of suffering, he sat quietly under the Gaya Bipala tree and meditated on the Four Noble Truths and the Twelve Causes and Conditions, and finally reached enlightenment.

Then he spread the knowledge of the Four Truths and the Twelve Causes and Conditions to the world, so that people can understand it clearly and get rid of the suffering of birth, old age, illness and death in the world. The Sangha gradually spread the teachings, and later generations regarded Sakyamuni as the founder of the Buddha. The teachings he preached were named Buddha, which became Buddhism. So far, Buddhism has flourished in Tianzhu.

Later, it was introduced to the Western Regions through Da Yueshi, and became the guests of many princes, nobles and people in the Western Regions. "

Because Jose Yimiti's Chinese pronunciation was not very good, this explanation was translated by Yair Sumutag and officials from Honglu Temple nearby, and Liu Zhuang roughly understood it.

It turned out to be a Taoist priest from outside. Liu Zhuang said with a smile: "Then why do you have no hair or beard? Is it because you are born without long hair?"

Jose Yimiti said with a smile: "This is the precepts. Anyone who enters Buddhism must take the precepts. Buddhism has 'three great precepts', namely, the bhikkhu precepts, the full precepts, and the bodhisattva precepts."

In addition, one must abide by the Ten Precepts, that is, not to kill, not to steal, not to commit sexual misconduct, not to tell lies, not to drink alcohol, not to wear incense, not to listen to singing and dancing, not to sit on a high bed, not to eat out of season, and not to store gold or silver. treasure.

And shaving one’s hair is the basis for joining the religion. "

"Shaving the hair of your parents, who have affected your body and skin, is not an act of forgetting your ancestors and betraying your morality. The people in the Western Region are indeed outsiders, but nowadays many people in the Western Region believe in this Buddhism, so why not show kindness to them? I would like to show my magnanimity and kindness to the people of the Western Regions."

With this in mind, Liu Zhuang has already decided:
"You said that Buddhism has the Four Noble Truths and the Twelve Causes and Conditions. I wonder what these principles are, sir? Can you clarify your confusion with me?"

Jose Yimiti said with some shame: "Namo Amitabha, I am just a ordained believer. Only the eminent monks in Tianzhu understand how to understand the Buddha's scriptures."

Liu Zhuang sat upright and said: "It is what the Buddha taught. It is normal that you don't understand it. You don't have to be too ashamed. There are thousands of true classics of the Han Dynasty, and even I don't understand them.

Since many countries in the Western Region believe in Buddha, then as the protector of the Western Region, how can I not understand which deity my people believe in?
I have decided to send an envoy to Tianzhu to find a Buddhist monk who can help me solve my doubts. Of course, if the envoy passes through your country, please protect them a little. I think your Buddha also hopes to bring his classics to the Han Dynasty. of. "

Jose Yimiti is a standard Buddhist who is very enthusiastic about preaching, but due to his level, he can only be helpless. Now that Liu Zhuang has taken the initiative to accept Buddhism, he is not happy.

"His Majesty the Great Emperor is really as kind as the Buddha. You must be the reincarnation of the Buddha. How can the people of the Western Regions reject the rule of a true Buddha?"

Jose Yimiti was really happy and even said that Liu Zhuang was the reincarnation of the real Buddha.

But this had no impact on Liu Zhuang, "What about Buddha? I read "Spring and Autumn"," Liu Zhuang thought.

On the next day, Liu Zhuang ordered to send eighteen people including doctor Cai Min and doctor disciple Qin Jing to form a mission to Tianzhu to seek explanations of Buddhist scriptures. They would set out for the Western Regions together with Yael Sumtag and others, and then go further. When Tianzhu seeks Buddhist scriptures, it is best to invite one or two eminent monks to come to Han to personally interpret the scriptures for the emperor.

(End of this chapter)