The Romance of the Famous Marshals of the Early Tang Dynasty Li Jichuan

Chapter 9 Xu Maogong's apprenticeship

Madame stroked Xu Maogong's head and asked with a smile, "Maogong, do you remember the gift that your grandfather gave you when you celebrated your grandfather's birthday?"

Xu Maogong replied: "Mother, the child remembers, it's a long wooden box."

Madame asked, "Mao Gong, do you want to see that gift?"

Xu Maogong replied: "My mother said: children can only watch when they grow up."

The lady said, "My son has grown up, and my mother will show you the gift." With that, Madame turned and walked into the back room.

After a while, Madame took out an antique long wooden box with exquisite patterns engraved on it and placed it on the table of the Eight Immortals.

Xu Maogong took the sword with both hands, held the scabbard in his left hand and the hilt of the sword in his right hand, and slowly pulled the sword away with both hands.

A cold light shot out, like a lightning bolt in the clear sky, the cold air was overwhelming, and it was terrifying, Xu Maogong was so frightened that he hurriedly closed the sword.

Madame gently patted Xu Maogong's shoulder and said with a smile: "Maogong, don't be afraid, you are the master of the Black Otter Sword, and it will not harm you."

Xu Maogong opened the sword again, and when he looked closely, two seal characters were clearly engraved near the sword grid: black otter.

Xu Maogong blurted out: "Black ······."

Xu Gai read: "Black otter ( tǎ )."

The lady said: "The great prime minister of the Western Wei Dynasty, Yuwentai, the black otter, please ask a skilled craftsman to make a black otter sword with iron and give it to my grandfather as a reward for his contribution to defending the jade wall." The heirloom of the Black Otter Sword has been passed down to Mao Gong, and it is already the third generation. ”

Xu Gai said with a smile: "Mao Gong, your grandfather gave the ancestral treasure to Mao Gong, and your grandfather thinks that my son should be a martial arts wizard."

Mao Gong asked, "Dad, when he was six years old, my grandfather decided that the child was a martial arts wizard?"

Xu Gai smiled: "Exactly, otherwise, how could such a precious Black Otter Sword be given to you?"

The lady stretched out her hands to Xu Maogong and said with a smile: "Maogong, give the Black Otter Sword to my mother, and keep it for my mother."

Xu Maogong touched the scabbard with his left hand, touched the hilt with his right hand, put the black otter sword into his mother's hand with both hands, and watched intently as his wife put the black otter sword back into the long wooden box, and walked into the inner room with the long wooden box.

Xu Maogong lowered his head and looked at his empty hands.

Xu Gai said with a smile: "Mao Gong, when you return from school, your mother will return the Black Otter Sword to you."

Xu Maogong looked at Xu Gai and asked, "Dad, seriously?"

Xu Gai said with a smile: "Of course, Dad won't use the Black Otter Sword to cut vegetables."

The lady returned to the inner room, sat down at the table of the eight immortals, picked up the child's new cotton clothes and continued to embroider the tiger.

Xu Maogong walked over, sat down next to his wife, and asked, "Mother, Dad said: You can't use the black otter sword to cut vegetables, do you?"

The lady replied, "The Black Otter Sword is an ancestral treasure, how can you use it to cut vegetables?" The Black Otter Sword was given to you by your grandfather, waiting for the successful return of Mao Gong Xuewu, my mother will return the Black Otter Sword to you, and my son will use the Black Otter Sword to command the soldiers and defend the country. ”

Xu Maogong asked again: "Mother, will the child be very tired from cleaning the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion?"

The lady said: "In order to worship a famous teacher, it is inevitable to suffer a little."

Xu Gai interjected: "Mao Gong, Master Huitong asked you to help Zen Master Huida clean the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion, not you alone."

Xu Gai then said: "Mao Gong, if you promise to learn martial arts, Dad will be very happy, go now, or go to learn martial arts in a year or two, Dad is happy, if you go now, Dad will go to see you in a month, if you don't want to learn martial arts for fear of hardship, Dad will find an excuse to take you home."

Xu Maogong looked at Xu Gai, then at his wife, and said, "Dad, the child will go to learn martial arts now."

Xu Gai happily stroked Xu Maogong's head and said, "Maogong, what your grandfather said is good: famous teachers are hard to find, this makes sense."

Xu Maogong asked, "Dad, what is a famous teacher?"

Xu Gai replied: "A master with great skills and high reputation, a master like Master Huitong is a famous teacher."

Mrs. said with a smile: "Mao Gong, as the saying goes: A famous teacher produces a high apprentice, and my son will be able to learn martial arts successfully if he follows a famous teacher."

Xu Gai then asked: "Mao Gong, let's go to sleep, can we get up early tomorrow and go to Yicheng Temple?"

Xu Maogong replied, "Okay."

Early in the morning of the tenth day, after breakfast, Xu Gai, Xu Maogong, and the housekeeper Xu Quan brought all kinds of gifts, and the three of them and three horses were ready to set off for Yicheng Temple.

Xu Gai took the burden and said with a smile: "Madam, I will go for my husband in a month, don't worry."

Mrs. took Xu Maogong's little hand and said, "Maogong, learn martial arts more attentively, what do you need?" Send a letter to home. ”

Xu Maogong straightened his chest and said, "Mother, the child has grown up and will concentrate on learning martial arts, so don't worry."

Xu Gai said: "Madam, please go back, we will be on the road." After speaking, Xu Gai, Xu Maogong, and the housekeeper Xu Quan rode their horses and whipped towards Yicheng Temple.

About two hours later, Xu Gai, Xu Maogong, and housekeeper Xu Quan arrived at Sun Anfu's house, and after entering the main hall, the guests and hosts sat down.

Xu Gai said: "Uncle Sun, the little nephew and his wife have discussed, my son will go to learn martial arts now, and I hope that my uncle will help."

Father Sun happily took Xu Maogong's little hand and asked, "Maogong, the food in the temple is very hard, are you afraid?"

Xu Maogong replied, "Grandpa Sun, I'm not afraid."

Father Sun smiled at Xu Gai and said, "Virtuous nephew, eat some snacks and drink some tea, and follow the old man to Yicheng Temple."

Sun Anfu called the housekeeper Sun Dayou and instructed: "Butler, take the worship sticker, go to Yicheng Temple to inform Master Huitong, and the old lady will accompany Xu Gongzi to learn martial arts." The housekeeper Sun Dayou responded, "Yes." "Turn and leave.

After everyone had tea and snacks, Father Sun sat in a sedan chair, Sun Anfu, Xu Gai, Xu Maogong, and housekeeper Xu Quan rode to Yicheng Temple, about half a mile away, a group of monks came to meet them, six monks in gray robes, two monks in yellow robes in the center, and the housekeeper Sun Dayou was beside him.

The housekeeper Sun Dayou trotted to Father Sun's sedan chair and said with a smile: "Old lady, Yicheng Temple and Jian Temple come to greet you." Everyone dismounted, and Zen Master Huiliao of the Dusi Temple came to Father Sun's palanquin, inquired, and said, "Senior Brother Abbot ordered the little monk to come to greet Old Brother Sun."

The housekeeper Sun Dayou opened the sedan curtain, and Father Sun looked at Zen Master Huiliao and said with a smile: "Zen Master Huiliao, you have worked hard, please lead the way." Zen Master Huiliao walked a few steps, came to Father Sun, and said in a low voice: "The abbot ordered Senior Brother Huiyuan to come to greet him, Senior Brother Huida was waiting in front of the temple, Senior Brother Huiyuan was accompanying Senior Brother Huida, and the little monk came to greet Old Brother Sun, please don't be strange to the old man."

Father Sun smiled and said, "I see." Huiliao Zen Master, Jian Temple, and six monks in gray robes were in front, and everyone walked towards Yicheng Temple.

Everyone came to the gate of Yicheng Temple, but saw that the temple door was wide open, there were three rows of monks standing in front of the temple gate, the first row of six monks wearing brown robes and red robes, all of them were eighty or ninety years old monks, it was the six uncles of Master Huitong, the second row of eighteen monks wearing yellow robes, the third row of one hundred and eight monks wearing gray robes, the first three monks stood in front, and an old monk in the middle wore a yellow robe and a red robe, which was Master Huitong, the abbot of Yicheng Temple. On the left is Zen Master Huida, and on the right is Zen Master Huiyuan.

Master Huitong walked quickly to Father Sun's sedan chair, Father Sun got off the sedan chair, Master Huitong inquired and said: "Outside the old man, I personally sent Xu Gongzi to apprentice, and I lost my welcome." ”

Father Sun pointed at Xu Maogong and replied: "Xu Gongzi worships the abbot as a teacher to learn martial arts, and the old man comes to see him off." Master Huitong said: "Outside the old staff, the poor monk accepted apprentices for the first time, and invited the monks in the temple to come to watch the ceremony.

Father Sun took two steps to Zen Master Huida, and after Zen Master Huida saw it, he walked quickly to Father Sun, inquired, and said: "The old man came from outside, and he was not welcomed, and today the abbot and his brother accepted Xu Gongzi as an apprentice, and the poor monk came to watch the ceremony." ”

Father Sun said: "Xu Gongzi came to your temple to learn martial arts, helped Huida Zen Master clean the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion, and also looked at Huida Zen Master, looked at the old man's thin face, and took more care."

Zen Master Huida said: "The old abbot often said that the old abbot of Sun is very helpful to the temple, and he must not be neglected, and the poor monk will definitely protect Xu Gongzi in many ways."

Father Sun lowered his voice and said, "After the apprenticeship ceremony, my son will have a detailed discussion with Zen Master Huida."

Zen Master Huida said: "The poor monk is waiting for Ling Lang."

Father Sun walked up to Master Huitong's six uncles, and the six uncles inquired and said, "Outside of Sun, when you come to our temple, you will not welcome you from afar. ”

The eldest one stepped forward and said, "Outside of Sun Yuan, the abbot and nephew invited me to come and watch the ceremony, and we are still wondering: The abbot and nephew have never accepted apprentices, who has such a big face today?" Just now when I saw Sun Yuan coming outside, I understood; The old abbot often said: Sun Yuanwai and Lord Lingzun are very helpful to the temple, and often warn me that the six brothers must not be neglected. ”

Father Sun said with a smile: "The second uncle is too famous, Xu Gongzi is only twelve years old, he went to your temple to learn martial arts, and he also invited six uncles to take more care, Sun Mou thanked him here."

The six uncles said in unison, "You should take care of it."

At this time, Zen Master Huiliao of the capital temple walked to Master Huitong and said in a low voice: "There are still two moments, and it will be a good time."

Master Huitong and Zen Master Huiliao of Dusi walked in front of Father Sun, and Zen Master Huiliao of Dusi lowered his voice and said, "There are still two moments, and it will be a good time." Father Sun nodded at the two.

Master Huitong commanded: "Woo bell and drum."

Two moments later, nearly 600 monks gathered neatly in the Dharma hall, all dressed in robes, and went to the Dharma seat to clasp their palms together and salute, divided into two classes, east and west, and Master Huitong sat on the Dharma seat.

Vena said in a loud voice: "The ceremony of accepting apprentices by Master Huitong, the abbot of Yicheng Temple, begins."

Xingtong led Xu Maogong to the throne.

Master Huitong asked, "Xu Maogong, are you willing to go to this temple to be a lay disciple?"

Xu Maogong replied, "Yes."

Master Huitong said: "From now on, the poor monks will accept Xu Maogong as an apprentice, and Xu Maogong will be a lay disciple of this temple, and help Senior Brother Huida clean the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion."

Xu Maogong said loudly: "The abbot master is above, and the apprentice Xu Maogong bows to the master." When, dang, dang kowtowed three heads.

Master Huitong said, "The apprentice is flat."

Master Huitong said: "Xu Maogong, although he is not a monk, in the temple, he still has to abide by the five precepts: first, do not kill, second, do not steal, third, do not commit adultery, fourth, do not be greedy for alcohol, and fifth, do not lie. When he completes his studies and leaves the temple, he is not bound by the five precepts. ”

Xu Maogong replied, "Remember."

At the end of the apprenticeship ceremony, Master Huitong invited Father Sun, six uncles, Huida Zen Master, and Huiyuan Zen Master Abbot to have tea.

Xu Gai and Sun Anfu invited the monks to sit down in the monk's hall and burn incense and fast. The monks, both large and small, have their own congratulatory gifts. Zen Master Huiliao of the temple led Xu Maogong to visit all the uncles, brothers, and brothers.