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"Your Highness, the former White Horse Temple monk Fa Xian wants to take four companions to go west to seek the Dharma in five days."

In late April, Wei Shuo was handling government affairs and learned the news from the guard Kanglong.

In the current rectification of the Central Plains, in addition to the powerful families, Buddhism suffered huge losses.

Not only was a large number of monasteries deprived of their land, but even the White Horse Temple, the center of Buddhism in the north, was in ruins.

Fa Xian's heart is bitter can be imagined, but it is an indisputable fact that Buddhism instigates civil unrest, and Buddhism hides filth and dirt with his own eyes.

Disappointed, Fa Xian decided to travel west to seek the Dharma in order to bring authentic Buddhism to the east.

"Hehe, I didn't expect Fa Xian to still embark on the road to the west!"

Wei Shuo put down the pen and paper and sat there thinking.

Although the Chinese nation is blessed with unique resources, it occupies the richest land in East Asia, and thus opens a thousand years of prosperity.

But as the old saying goes: "Be prepared for danger in times of peace, be prepared when you think, and be prepared." ”

In order to prevent China from moving towards its original destiny, he felt that it was necessary to broaden the horizons of the Chinese nation.

What's more, the progress and development of the nation cannot be carried out behind closed doors and resting on its laurels, but must be carried out through exchanges with other countries.

Wei Shuo comes from a modern day, and he sees farther than anyone else in the world.

When everyone was staring at the land under their feet, his gaze had jumped out of the narrow Middle Earth, and crossed the vast ocean and boundless continent to the four corners of the world.

Three of these places attracted his greatest attention, one of which, of course, was the Western Roman Empire.

As one of the two remaining ancient civilizations in the world, Rome is like a mirror to China.

On the basis of ancient Greek and Roman culture, European barbarians were able to give birth to the Renaissance and open up modern civilization, so why can't China go to the next level?

In addition to the Western Roman Empire, the American continent and Australia are also one of the future development goals.

The main purpose of going to the Americas was to find high-yielding crops, while Australia was the most important place to settle in China.

Wei Shuo didn't think about crossing the Pacific Ocean and colonizing the Americas, but with the current navigation technology, it is simply difficult to get into the sky.

Australia is relatively simple, but even so, it is estimated that Australia cannot be digested without a hundred years.

When it comes to the Americas, Wei Shuo can't help but think of a legend that has been widely circulated on the modern Internet or in the literary and historical circles.

When Zhou Wu destroyed the Shang, the Huaiyi general You Houxi led the remnants of the Yin Shang to cross the "Heavenly Pontoon Bridge" to the Americas and became the later Indians, that is, the "Yin Di An".

Of course, this is just some people deceiving themselves, but in fact there is no relationship between the Indians and the merchants.

But this does not prevent Wei Shuo from using it to promote overseas adventures.

After all, under traditional Chinese culture, it is difficult for you to make the ancients take risks for money like Westerners in the Age of Discovery.

But if it is in the name of looking for the descendants of Yanhuang Miao, there must be many people who are willing to try it.

As for Fa Xian, Wei Shuo suddenly wanted to meet this senior monk, and it was best to persuade the other party to record the geography and people's feelings along the way.

Early the next morning, Fa Xian was invited to the Taiji Hall.

Fa Xian is already 60 years old, and being able to make the decision to go west to seek the Dharma at this age shows that he is very determined to seek the true scriptures.

Today, after summoning the discovery, Wei Shuo has decided to subsidize his westward journey, so as to facilitate his opening to ask for help.

"I heard that the master is going to Tianzhu to seek the true scriptures, but is there such a thing?"

"Amitabha, it is true."

"The poor monk felt that the Buddhist classics were incomplete, and wanted to go to Tianzhu to seek the true scriptures, so as to improve the Buddhist rules and precepts."

Wei Shuo doesn't care what true scriptures Fa Xian goes to take, anyway, it is useless to take them, and in the future, Huaxia will be the new Heavenly Master.

However, he very much hoped that Fa Xian would bring him the geography and folkluster of Central Asia and South Asia in addition to learning from the scriptures.

"Does the master know how to get to Tianzhu?"

"I don't know!"

"Huh?!"

This sentence almost choked Wei Shuo to death, he glanced at Fa Xian with his eyebrows, but he was not shocked when he saw Gu Bo on his face.

From this point of view, Fa Xian really doesn't know the specific route, of course, this is not surprising.

In the current era, except for a few businessmen, it is estimated that not many people know about the Western world.

After thinking for a while, Wei Shuo picked up his pen and drew a sketch on the paper, which was the route taken by Master Xuanzang when he traveled west in history.

Although the road is a little farther, in the current era, it is a very mature route to India, and it is also a route that has been proven feasible to India.

Because this route is the same as the Silk Road that has been walked by merchants for hundreds of years since the Han Dynasty.

After drawing the map, Wei Shuo handed it to Fa Xian.

"This is the westbound route that Gu roughly delineated according to Shang Jia's description."

"The master travels west accordingly, as long as he is not unlucky enough to lose his life halfway, he can almost reach Tianzhu safely."

"Amitabha, thank you, Your Highness!"

Fa Xian was very excited to hold the map, he was well aware of the importance of this map, and he was full of confidence in the westward journey.

However, in addition to being excited, Fa Xian couldn't help but murmur secretly, King Yong has never been waiting to see Buddhism, why would he give him a map?

In his heart, it was a blessing that the government did not stop the westward journey, how could he have thought of today's scene!

"Amitabha, I don't know ...... Your Highness"

Wei Shuo waved his hand and interrupted Fa Xiandao: "I hope the master understands that Lone has no prejudice against Buddhism, but is only dissatisfied with those who deceive the world and steal fame under the banner of Buddhism." ”

"In the future, as long as Buddhism follows the rules of Hexi, it will be safe and sound."

Fa Xian couldn't help but pouted secretly when he heard this, don't look at what King Yong said well, he won't suppress Buddhism.

But the new Heavenly Master Dao has the support of the government behind it, and it is so difficult for Buddhism to develop!

However, King Yong's statement in this way at least relieved him, and he didn't have to worry about destroying the Buddha in Hexi.

Just when Fa Xian's mind was spinning, he heard King Yong speak again: "Lone gives you a map, in fact, there is still something to ask for." ”

"Please make it clear to Your Highness that the poor monk will do his best."

"Although due to his identity, Lone can't give more support to the master, and can only provide some help within his ability."

"In addition to this map, Lone will also ask the cabinet to issue you a document to facilitate the passage of the master's road."

"I only hope that the master will record the geography and people's conditions along the way on his westward journey, especially the west of the Western Regions and the Tianzhu countries."

"That's all?" Fa Xian said in disbelief.

"That's it! But the more detailed the content, the better, I wonder if the master will agree? ”

"Amitabha, the poor monk agreed."

"Good! Lone wishes the master a smooth journey. ”

"Thank you, Your Highness, the poor monk will take his leave."

"By the way, I forgot to remind the master."

"This road is called a dead end, most of the road is deserted, and there are constant wars in various places, I hope the master will do it himself."

When parting, Wei Shuo told Fa Xian a few more words.

Fa Xian listened to Wei Shuo's explanation of the difficulties on the road, but did not show the slightest fear, and only regarded the westward journey as a long-distance trip.

He firmly remembered all kinds of danger warnings and simple ways to deal with them, and promised Wei Shuo that he would definitely record the mountains and rivers along the way, as well as the customs and customs.

……

Shortly after Fa Xian's westward journey, Kou Qianzhi hurried from Chang'an to Luoyang.

Apparently he had heard rumors about the conversation between Fa Xian and King Yong, although Kou Qianzhi was not worried about King Yong's conversion to Buddhism.

But for anything that might reduce the status of the New Heavenly Master Dao in King Yong's mind, he would attach importance to it.

"Huh? Kou Tianshi? What are you doing here? It's rare that something happened in the teaching? ”

"No, no, no! This time, the poor Dao came specifically to inspect the missionary situation of the New Heavenly Master Dao in the Central Plains. ”

"Oh, how about that?"

"Everything is going well, with the efforts of local governments and Taoist leaders, the New Heavenly Master Dao is spreading at the bottom at an extremely fast speed."

"Well, that's good! Go back and tell your master, and say thank you to him for your hard work. ”

"Over the years, the New Heavenly Master Dao has made outstanding contributions to the stability of Hexi, and I will never forget it."

"To be able to do things for His Royal Highness, this is an honor for the poor Daoist master and apprentice."

"If it weren't for the strong support of His Highness, my New Heavenly Master Dao would not be as prosperous as it is today."

After the greetings, Kou Qianzhi hesitated again and again, and suddenly gritted his teeth and asked, "I heard that His Royal Highness sent a Buddhist monk to the west to seek the Dharma?" ”

"What?! Lonely monks to seek the Dharma? Who said this? Wei Shuo frowned.

"Now it has been spread all over the outside world, saying that His Highness asked Master Fa Xian to go to Tianzhu to seek the true scriptures, and gave him a map."

"What kind of nonsense is this?! Master Fa Xian's westward journey is his spontaneous behavior, what does it have to do with Lonely? ”

"However, Lone did give him a map."

Originally, Kou Qianzhi couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he heard Wei Shuo's denial that it was related to Fa Xian's westward journey, but the latter sentence made his heart lift.

Seeing Kou Qian's worried look, Wei Shuo couldn't help but smile, and at the same time, his heart moved.