Chapter 89: Discussion on the Tao

Two high platforms about fifteen or sixteen feet were built outside the imperial city in the past two days, and the two high platforms stood opposite each other.

The imperial guards in the imperial city were scattered around with two high platforms as the centers, and isolated the onlookers.

There were old and young sitting on the platform, and the old man was a kind-hearted monk.

The young man was wearing a ruffian robe, which was Yi Fan. At this time, Yi Fan was discussing Taoism with the old monk opposite him.

I heard the old monk on the high platform say, "I heard that King Ping'an once said that my Buddhist temple only knows how to ask for the people, but does not know how to give back.

I think this is a bad word. You must know that my Buddhists are cultivating the blessings of the next life. All believers have formed a connection with my Buddha in this life and have the protection of my Buddha in the next life. They will definitely have a deep blessing. How can I not give back?"

On another high platform, Yi Fan sneered and argued: "Master always says that in the next life, how dare you ask Master, do you believe it yourself?"

The old monk opened his mouth to argue.

Yi Fan added: "Master, you have to think of the answer, monks should not lie!"

The old monk was still calm and calm and said: "Is it possible that King Ping'an does not believe in the next life? I heard that you have a senior brother who is warmed up in the soul jade for ten thousand years, and you can be reincarnated when your soul is healed. Is it true that what King Ping'an said is false?"

Yi Fan was shocked and couldn't help but look at the imperial city. Only Li Shimin and himself should know about Li Xuanba that Yi Fan had compiled before. How did this old monk know?

Yi Fan withdrew his gaze and had to temporarily suppress his doubts and cheer up to deal with the old monk. It seemed that the other party was prepared.

"This statement in the next life is certainly true. Is the 'Buddha' you mentioned really exist? If it exists, can people in the world see it? As we all know, I came from heaven. If you can also invite a Buddha from that Western Paradise, I will believe in you."

Upon hearing this, the people of Chang'an also started to talk.

"Yes! This little god can come down from heaven, proving that there are real gods in heaven, but the Buddha we believed in in the past has never seen before. Could it be that there are no Buddhas in this world?"

Yi Fan looked down at the crowd, and saw Li Chunfeng, who was covered in black robe, secretly clenched his fists, indicating that he was in control.

Yi Fan smiled back and said to himself: "Fortunately, Taoist sect is prepared."

I heard a crowd of people say, "You don't know anything, right? The Buddhas believed in by these monks are the Waihu people. How could they come to the land of our country? So we have been worshipping those Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for nothing over the years, so people don't care about us."

The wrinkles on the old monk's face deepened a little, and he no longer felt calm before. The old monk looked at the noisy crowd, looked like Yi Fan, and said, "The King of Ping'an is a good method, I admire him."

Yi Fan was about to be polite to the old monk in a false way, but suddenly heard a commoner below retorting to the man who had previously said that Buddha was a Hu person.

"How can you talk nonsense? My family has believed in Buddha and Bodhisattva for generations, and at least ten generations have been there. Why don't you know that Buddha is a Hu person?"

The people around him also hesitated: "My family has been a believer in the Buddha since my grandfather's grandfather, and I have never heard that the Buddha is an outsider."

Buddhism has been introduced to China for five or six hundred years, but ordinary people can still know that Buddhism is an alien sect. After hundreds of years of development, Buddhism has been integrated into all aspects of China and is a part of Chinese culture. It is normal for ordinary people not to know the whole story.

The wrinkles on the old monk's face spread out again.

"King Ping'an, you said that my Buddhism only knows how to ask for the people. Why do these people believe in my Buddhism? This shows that my Buddhism still contributes to the people.

Thinking back to the battle between the Emperor and the Anti-Thief Shichong in Luoyang, my Buddhist Shaolin Temple also made a lot of efforts."

When the old monk said that he was devoted to his contribution, Yi Fan couldn't help but think that a very popular saying on the Internet was once very popular, "Taoism, go down the mountain to save the world in troubled times, go to seclusion in prosperous times, and practice in retreat in prosperous times. Buddhism, close the mountain to avoid the world in troubled times, and open the mountain to welcome incense in prosperous times."

Yi Fan looked at the old monk on the platform opposite and said, "I respect you for your older age. I didn't want to say anything bad, but today I have to say it.

Your Buddhism has been introduced to China for hundreds of years. During this period, China has been in war for most of the time, and this also gives you a good opportunity for development.

But you are just developing yourself. Have you really made any contributions to me? Maybe there are, but those are insignificant in my opinion.

Compared to you, our Taoist sect can be said to be dedicated and hard for our Chinese nation and this land. Whenever the world is in chaos, someone in our Taoist sect will appear to assist the wise ruler in cleaning up the old mountains and rivers.

From the initial helping King Wu to the defeat of Zhou, to Zhang Liang’s helping Emperor Gaozu of Han, Kong Ming’s helping Liu Xuande, the dynasty also had British Duke Li Ji to help the emperor quell the world. Is your Buddhism such a thing?

Nowadays, your Buddhist temples not only have excellent land, but also do not need to pay taxes or perform labor service. You also have to beg for alms from the people. Let me ask you, can you eat so much food?

Why, when you live on this land, people have to pay food and tax when they farm, but you don’t need it?

Why do people need to do corvee service in their spare time and build the country, but you don’t need it?

Why, whenever foreign enemies invade, the people need to throw down their hoes, take weapons and go to Huma to bleed desperately to defend this land, but you don’t need it?

Please tell me why all this is? Why?”

As soon as Yi Fan finished speaking, he heard the people below respond: "Yes, why?"

"Why?"

"Why?"

The people were excited, and even the guards who were isolated from them were washed away by them, like a lonely boat on the sea.

At this time, Yuan Tiangang wore a Taoist robe and walked out of the imperial city with a group of Taoist priests, came to the high platform, and shouted to the people: "Dear friends, please be quiet."

Someone who knew Yuan Tiangang said, "It's the old immortal Yuan. Everyone, calm down and listen to what the old immortal Yuan said."

Gradually, the people calmed down and looked at Yuan Tiangang.

Yuan Tiangang coughed and said, "Dear fellow villagers, my name is Yuan Tiangang, Tian is the leader of the Taoist sect. Today I announce that from now on, our Taoist sect will also farm, pay grain, pay taxes, perform labor service, and guard the border like everyone."

The people cheered. After the cheers, an old man stepped forward a few steps and said to Yuan Tiangang: "The old god doesn't have to do this. I just heard the little god's words. I only realized that your Taoist sect has been protecting us and protecting this land. It is worth noting that you should farm or not pay the food."

On the high platform, the old monk looked down and sighed. He wanted to say the same thing just now, but he was snatched by Yuan Tiangang first.

(End of this chapter)

Special thanks to Ao Haiqing, 1,000 yuan reward.

Special thanks to the Dawn Sky, 100 coins reward.

Thank you, both of you.
Chapter completed!