Hmm, 6,000 words...... Yesterday's update is even made up, as for the update of No. 1...... I'll try harder......

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The next morning, when it was finally the day of Jingjiao's "sermon", Zhang Yuankong went out early, and together with Carmen, went to the oldest Jingtang in the city.

Last night, it was a series of accidents, especially when I heard that the arrest incident during the day was simply coming barefoot, Zhang Yuankong's surprise was indescribable.

(This is ...... Coming to "us"? ）

It was difficult to judge for a while, whether this was the hostility of the sons of Shenxiao towards the three brothers, or just wanted to uproot the last direct line of Dragon and Tiger Mountain in Wurong City? There was no way to make a decision in a hurry, Zhang Yuankong felt that if it was him, he would probably lose his identity at that time.

Fortunately, Zhang Yuanhe once again showed his extraordinary reaction speed, but after a little stiffness, he continued to talk and laugh and communicate with Ma Hao, not only did not make him suspicious, but also set out more things.

For example, they now know that although the government has been defining these sects as foreign ways and announcing that they will be banned under the constant reports of the Jingjiao, in fact, these bans are only on paper, and actions like yesterday's are usually only for the purpose of dispersal, and it is extremely rare to chase and arrest them with a dead hand.

For example, they now know that it was Jingjiao himself who interfered with the government and made it lift it high and gently put it down. If it weren't for Aroben's repeated use of his influence, these messy little sects would have been cleared up long ago. Aroben's protection is not even limited to these cults that worship the same gods as the Nestorian religion, for example, those who make loud noise in the streets every day, from the priests to the believers, all look like crazy people, in fact, they have long been reported, and it is also thanks to Auroben's protection that they can continue to roar in the streets every day.

(This man...... What is his purpose? ）

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The gathering area of the Nestorian cultists is located in the southeast of Wurong, and Zhang Yuankong visited once yesterday. It's not far from the port, and the air is filled with the salty smell of seawater.

The Jingtang in front of him is not high, at least, Zhang Yuankong has seen more than one Jingtang that is taller than it in the past few days, but it is said that this is the first Jingtang established by Jingjiao disciples in Wurong back then, so it has a special status.

The building is narrow and thin, and after entering from the main entrance, there is a transparent long hall--- with extremely high ceilings, enough space for three floors of a normal Xia Ren building, or even more, and the benches separated from the left and right are neatly arranged, and they are already full of people. Directly ahead, there was a slightly higher pulpit, and on the wall behind the pulpit hung Nestorian holy vessels--- two crossed wooden strips carved in the shape of a man with a tilted head. On the walls on both sides, eight symmetrical windows are made of broken seven-colored polis, and the light is fused, and these colorful polis are dyed with various wonderful effects, which are applied to the various furnishings in the hall.

There are quite a lot of believers, and the room that can accommodate more than 200 people, and about half of the --- who are full of Dengden are Xia people, and Zhang Yuankong is sitting in the middle, but it is very inconspicuous.

The low music sounded, setting off a solemn atmosphere, and Zhang Yuankong knew that it was called the "pipe organ", which was a musical instrument brought by the Nestorian people from their hometown, and whenever they worshipped the gods, they would use this instrument to play a particularly deep and loud sound.

Smiling, an old man with a white beard holding a worn wooden box slowly walked out to the center of the podium--- and did not speak immediately, he just stood there smiling, tilting his head slightly, as if listening to the majestic sound of the piano with the believers.

“…… The Lord loves you, my brother. ”

It was not until the sound of the piano was over, and the devotees seemed to be immersed in the music, that the old man smiled and said this.

Then he began to preach.

(This person is Aroben.) ）

The old man was very eloquent, and easily aroused the emotions of all the believers in the hall, and he briskly described the inexhaustible springs and flowers of heaven, and vividly sketched the horrors of the hell in the depths of the earth--- when he said this, his body would lean forward slightly, and his eyes would open slightly with a little nervousness, and at this time, the believers would lean forward nervously and hold their breath like him.

“…… But when he shouted praises to the Lord, the Lord blessed and protected his soul. ”

When he summed it up like this, almost all the believers let out a long breath, looked contented, relaxed again, leaned back in their chairs--- and their foreheads were covered with beads of sweat.

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"Hmm, this reminds me of when I first came to Wurong......"

The sermon was over, and in the midst of the crowd walking out, Carmen sighed and looked very melancholy.

"Huh? This expression is not suitable for you at all, do you know? ”

Completely ignoring Zhang Yuankong's mocking tone, Carmen recalled to herself.

"At that time, I had just arrived in Wurong, I didn't have much money on me, and I was very poor, so I had to find a way...... Well, I spent some money. ”

How did you "get" the money, Carmen didn't say, and Zhang Yuankong didn't ask...... Anyway, you don't have to ask to guess.

"Those stingy people, it's just a dozen gold pesos, and they're like crazy officials."

During that time, Carmen had a hard time, hiding in Tibet. And at the same time, there was another incident in Wu Rong, and the comparison between the two made her really indignant.

"At that time, it was the Nestorian Sect that made trouble."

Funds were raised from the faithful on the grounds that they were going to do good deeds and to build a new hall marked by a big ox, but then, the hall was gone, and not much good deeds were done, and the family of the person in charge quickly became rich. After the matter was revealed, many people yelled angrily, asking him to give everyone an explanation.

"As a result, he did give everyone an explanation."

"This money is donated to us by everyone, and the donation itself represents trust. And true trust should not ask how the money is spent. ”

In Carmen's own words, it wasn't until that day that she finally understood what she meant by the words she had heard back then.

"I should have thought of it...... Those who love to do good deeds are very rich, and I should have thought that what was the reason! ”

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"Zhang Zhenren, please stay."

As the crowd walked outside, a small Jingshi called out to Zhang Yuanhe.

"The Great Dharma Master would like to invite you to come and sit down."

"Oh?"

I was slightly surprised--- but it wasn't an accident, it had been a few days since my group entered Wurong, what did you mean...... Now everyone knows about it. Now that even Pu Shougeng has taken the initiative to express his position, as one of the direct parties to the "Immortal Tree" incident, it stands to reason that it is time to find a way to communicate with his party.

(However, this is not because we represent Longhu Mountain, but because we represent the "emperor".) ）

Thinking of Zhang Yuanhe's comment, Zhang Yuankong felt uncomfortable, but he couldn't deny it.

(It doesn't matter, monks...... It's supposed to be a line of light. ）

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"Zhang Zhenren, please take a seat."

After being extended into the quiet room at the back, Xiao Jing Seng quietly withdrew, and Aroben smiled and beckoned the two to sit down and poured tea for the two.

"How to brew this kung fu tea...... It's taken me a long time to learn! ”

Only separated by a table, at such a close distance, Zhang Yuankong was finally able to see Aroben's appearance clearly.

Like the other Jingshi, Aroben had shaved the top of his head, leaving only a thin ring of hair at the edges, but his beard was very long, and both hair and beard were as white as frost and snow. His facial skin is still rosy, but it is loose and has noticeable age spots. Zhang Yuankong estimated that he should be around 60 years old.

"I'm sorry about the undead tree."

After greetings, finally getting to the point, Aroben looked at Zhang Yuankong sincerely and said.

said that this was just a small effort made by Jingjiao in order to "survive", but he really didn't expect that it would attract the attention of the Ninth Five-Year Supreme and attract people at the top of the Daomen.

"If I had known, I would have cut down that banyan tree as soon as possible and buried it with the person who made the suggestion!"

With a bitter face, Aroben said that now, the Nestorian Sect is very scared, because they don't know what will happen next.

"Although my generation is an outsider, I also know what the crime of deception is!"

I'd love to say "...... Can't get to this point, can you? But thinking about it, Zhang Yuankong found that he had neither a position nor the qualifications to say such things, so he had to pretend not to hear Aroben's complaint and silently shut his mouth.

Without a response, Aroben was not discouraged, but babbled about the development experience of Jingjiao in Great Xia over the years.

"It's not easy...... It's difficult! ”

Complaining that Great Xia is really a strange place, it seems to be extremely tolerant of religion: different sects can sit down amicably, there is no life-and-death religious war, almost all the battles revolve around the emperor, monks, Taoists, lamas, Jingshi...... Everyone tried their best to convince the emperor that the religion they represented was worthy of support and promotion.

But it seems to be extremely strict on religion: Confucianism occupies the minds of almost all scholars, and even illiterate village husbands and women will reverently revere the words and paper, and worship the "Dacheng Most Holy Teacher". They can pray the cross in earnest, and then ...... Turning around, he went to the land temple at the head of the village to light a stick of incense, or add soil and burn paper to the graveyard of his ancestors.

"God is the only ...... There is no other name, no other representative, there is no other god, but you Xia people just can't accept this. ”

Dejectedly recalling the series of changes that Nestorian Christianity had to make since entering Great Xia: when Nestorian Christianity first entered Great Xia, it was the most proud time for Buddhism, so the Nestorian followers shaved their hair and advertised that Buddhism was actually the same sect as Nestorian Christianity, and that Shakyamuni was one of the many archangels on Heavenly Mountain.

"At that time...... We are so miserable that Buddhism doesn't even bother to fight back! ”

Later, when the Li family of Jinyuan sat on the throne of God, the Nestorian missionaries were inspired by the Taoist priests to climb relatives and created the Nestorian version of "Lao Tzu Hua Hu Jing". They announced that the Taoist ancestor back then--- who was also the ancestor of the Li family, did not transform into a Buddha after leaving Yangguan in the west, but was inspired by God to incarnate as Jingzu, also known as Yesuzhen, to preach the scriptures and spread the truth. The reason why Li Yesu's descendants ascended to the throne is partly due to the blessing of Yesu Zhenren. As evidence, when the Li family ascended the throne, a loud noise and light appeared over the desert, asking the Nestorian followers to return to his homeland and preach the truth about God.

The propaganda was quite successful, and it was also the most glorious day since the Nestorian religion entered the Great Xia, but the good times did not last long, and soon after, a certain emperor felt that the current Buddhism really occupied too much land and people who did not need to pay taxes, so he launched a nationwide extermination of Buddhism, and the Nestorian religion, which still retained the habit of shaving its head, was unfortunately swept away by this wave of storms, although it was only the aftermath of the storm, but it was enough to destroy their decades of hard work.

Later, the indomitable Jingshi reflected on their previous mistakes and finally saw the reality clearly.

"Confucianism is the most powerful force in this country, and the reeling of clothes and Taoism are all attached to Si."

Moreover, the best thing is that although Confucianism promotes "Zi Bu Silent Strange Power Confusion", in fact, it does not particularly reject the sect, and the stable structure of the red flower and green leaf white lotus root makes Jingjiao very greedy: in this case, why not directly climb to the largest tree?

As a result, Nestorianism once again adjusted its thinking and began to propagate that Nestorianism and Confucianism are one, and that the Holy Master of Dacheng is a prophet who precedes the baptist, clinging to the glory of the Lord and walking in the world. Back then, when the saint was born, it was the Holy Master of Dacheng himself, together with the Buddha and the Taoist, who went to visit the horse pen.

"Then, we found out...... It's even worse. ”

After being reprimanded and expelled by the angry Confucian scholars, the Jingshi finally realized from their defeat.

"Great Xia...... This country is different from our hometown, and even if the gods are afraid, they will also be governed by Confucian scholars. ”

He recalled with emotion that during the mission in Great Xia, Aroben had heard and seen many things, and the successes and failures of other religions were valuable lessons that Aroben could learn from.

"In Wurong, we were once summoned by the Taishou, me, the Suluzhi of Zoroastrianism, the Buddha of Manichaeism, and the flower monk, and the people of your Daomen."

Representing the most influential religions, these sect leaders sat together, under the leadership of the local taishou, read aloud and studied the latest edicts from the imperial capital, and after finishing, Mingxin even improvised a song to praise how the major religions under the leadership of Confucianism enjoyed peace together, and whenever he thought of the scene when Mingxin was enthusiastic and led the other four people to sing this song together, Aro felt that his piety was wavering.

"I'll tell you something, it's about Mahayana and Hinayana."

It had not been long since he arrived in Wurong, but it had been a long time since he entered Great Xia, and Aroben had traveled all over the country to try to preach, and once, he passed through a northern city and visited the Taishou there, just in time for him to talk to the abbot of the largest temple in the area.

"My lord, he asked the abbot to use the temple, just like that so-and-so temple. Engage in a few ritual activities, such as making a dojo or something, because the Chinese New Year is approaching, and the local government wants to have a lively time. ”

The abbot replied reservedly, this is not good, we are Mahayana, we don't engage in these tricks, that so-and-so temple, they are Hinayana only to make a dojo.

Then the adult laughed and said it was okay, can't you learn it...... You organize some people to go there, study hard, learn all their skills back, and I'll pay for you! ”

Because someone interrupted the conversation at this time, Aroben didn't know what the final result of the conversation was, and only vaguely heard half a sentence like "change your ...... without changing your thinking", but he knew the final result of this matter.

"Soon after, I passed through the city again...... The original abbot has been replaced. The new abbot not only took people to learn how to do the law, but also innovated a lot of things himself, and when I passed by, they were making a big show to welcome the God of Wealth! ”

"Poof!"

Hearing this, Zhang Yuankong finally failed to keep his reserve, and a sip of tea was about to come out, and finally he reacted quickly, bowed his head in time, and only soaked his front placket, and did not spray it on Aroben's body.

"It's okay, it's okay."

Laughing and waving his hand, and squeezing his eyes, Aroben praised that he was worthy of being a master.

"In the past, when most people heard this, they sprayed it directly on me...... There's no time to bow your head! ”

Because of this episode, the atmosphere became much lighter, and after telling two jokes about the monk, Aroben said that he said this in the hope that Zhang Yuankong could understand how difficult it is for Jingjiao to survive, and understand that Jingjiao knows his duty very well.

"I heard that Zhang Zhenren, you have also watched the play, to be honest, some people...... It's too rude to do things. ”

Shaking his head dissatisfied, Aroben said that he was not the first to think of using free opera to promote Jingjiao, but he was one of the best script adaptors.

"Sorrow but not sadness, love but not lewdness, this is the measure that should be grasped, those obscene clichés, what are they, they are blasphemous to God."

"Ah, didn't you do that?"

"How could I possibly write something so vulgar and obscene!"

As if he had been humiliated, Aroben raised his voice and told Zhang Yuankong angrily that those were all things made up by various small sects affiliated with Jingjiao.

"Especially those damn Ronins, at least seven out of ten of these sects were created by them! Destroy God's reputation! The Lord will punish them! ”

"But ......"

After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke, and Zhang Yuankong said very tactfully, as far as he knew, it seemed that Aroben was not without a way to punish them.

"Oh, Zhang Zhenren, do you know too?"

Sighing, Aroben said that he also wanted to completely ban them through the government, but ......

"When they started arresting Zoroastrians, I didn't say anything because I wasn't a Zoroastrian. Later, when they arrested the Manichaeans, I didn't speak because I wasn't a Manichaean. Later, when they started arresting the Jingjiao, there was no one to speak for me......"

In short, because of this kind of nervous thinking that is completely "sad spring and sad autumn" in Zhang Yuankong's opinion, Aroben finally decided to try to dredge up and let these outsiders go, and later, he even had nothing to do with Nestorian Christianity, such as Ke Dead Lu, would also be sheltered within the scope of influence.

"Alas, when people get old, their hearts will soften."

said with a wry smile that when he was young, he always rushed to the front when he shoveled the outer road, and his hands were not less bloody, at that time, he didn't expect that he would be like this when he was old.

In short, the only idea of the current Aroben is to make as many good scholars as possible to expand the influence of Nestorianism among the group of people who rule Bactria in Naozheng. As for things like "immortal trees", that's of course fine, but it's not the right way after all.

"That was what the Jemes brothers had in mind...... I will stop smoothly as soon as possible, please rest assured. ”

"This ...... You don't have to tell me. ”

With a wry smile, Zhang Yuankong said that he was just a messenger, and Aroben was probably too proud of himself.

"There's something I'd like to ask."

Zhang Yuankong asked, just now, when Aroben was preaching, he kept holding a wooden box in his hand, what was it?

I wasn't really interested in this, but I was really embarrassed to be asked, Zhang Yuankong hurriedly tried to change the topic with the first topic he could think of, and the result was surprisingly good.

"Oh...... That's a holy thing! ”

Suddenly showing a look of excitement, Aroben said that it was a holy relic that he had invited from the Holy City before he came to Great Xia.

"In that year, the saint died on a wooden frame and was resurrected three days later."

As a result, the bones, skins, and even the shroud of the saint have all become holy relics of supreme value, and Aroben was specially awarded a saint's skeleton by the Holy City because he was a missionary in a foreign country, which is really a supreme honor.

(Wait, if you are resurrected...... Why are there still bones? ）

finally knows what etiquette in communication is, Zhang Yuankong cleverly hid this question in his stomach. However, after leaving Jingtang and meeting Carmen who was waiting outside, he still heard sharp sarcasm as expected.

"Yo, Holy Bone......"

Hehehe, smiling, Carmen said, really, of course it's true, it must be.

"It must be as real as the collection in the Holy City!"

According to Carmen, before coming to Great Xia, she had seen seventeen shrouds of saints, five heads, three hundred and sixty-six hand bones, and one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two teeth. At least two-thirds of them have been certified by the Holy City.

"So, the rib you see must be real...... As true as the collections in the Holy City! ”

"You."

With a wry smile, Zhang Yuankong said that Carmen and Zhang Yuanhe would definitely have a common language more easily.

"It's too mean, it's not good, it's a blessing."

The two were talking, but they heard a commotion on the street in front of them, and in the midst of scolding, they galloped to the ground.

“…… Great Master! ”

The person who came was dressed in official clothes, but he was purple-haired and blue-eyed, and when he was still dozens of steps away from Jingtang, his horsepower was exhausted, and he fell to the side of the road, but fortunately he was agile, jumped off the horse at the last moment, and rolled forward a few times with a grunt, just being supported by Aroben who was changing into civilian clothes and walking out.

"Great Master, the general asked me to give you a treat, just now, Zhang Sanzhen of Longhu Mountain was assassinated, and he did it...... It's Taiping Road! ”