The chief did not have the patience to explain, "This problem will be explained to you by the government officials." ”

He said to the guards, "Here are two monks who have returned from the Western Regions, tell the lord of the prefecture and county. ”

The guards went in to report, and the Dunhuang Taishou ordered to bring people in. Jiang Yao, Dongshuang, and Xuanyi accompanied Fa Tong and his senior brother into the lobby.

Taishou sat upright in the hall and asked, "Who is kneeling?" Where did it come from? Where are you going? ”

Taishou's expression was kind, and he was not harshly tortured. Fatong folded his hands together, bent down and replied: "The poor monk set out from Chang'an eight years ago and went to Tianzhu to seek Buddhism, accompanied by the poor monk's senior brother. When I set out from Chang'an, there were a total of eight people from the same family, and eight years later, only my brother and I were fortunate enough to return to our hometown. ”

Taishou was a Buddhist, but the trend of the times was that his personal beliefs were subject to the will of the imperial court.

"Master, do you know that now our country is rectifying the Dharma, all Lanruo, mountain houses, and non-compliant ones must be demolished, and the number of monks in each temple is strictly controlled. First of all, I admire you and your brothers very much. Thank you for your contributions. But as subjects, we have to uphold the rules and regulations of the imperial court. Therefore, you must also understand the subsequent treatment of the two of you. ”

Tai Shou's words, Jiang Yao and the others understood. It turned out that for more than half a year, Datang's Buddhism suffered a catastrophe.

The joy of Fatong and his brother's return to their hometown was replaced by bitterness. They had worked so hard to get the Dharma, and now it seems that eight years have become a joke. Everything becomes meaningless.

I thought that my feat would leave a strong mark on the history of the promotion of Buddhism, but everything became a joke. What is my eight years of dedication!

Fa Tong and his senior brother wept and wept, and the hometown they longed for thousands of times in their dreams now has no place for Buddhism. There is no place for them to devote themselves to cultivation.

Why did you go to all the trouble to come back? Buddha, why don't you give a warning to your disciples. Fatong and his senior brother hid their faces and wept bitterly.

Most of the monks who practiced in the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang were dismissed, leaving behind the old and infirm. The rest of the monks were repatriated to their places of origin.

"Where are you two from? I can send you a coil to return to your homeland. ”

Fatong replied with tears in his eyes: "My lord, the poor monk has been given to the monastery since he was a child, and his family has no way of knowing, and he has been away from the monastery for eight years. There is nowhere to inquire about the poor monk's past. ”

Taishou admired and pitied the two of them in his heart, thinking that who traveled thousands of miles to the Western Regions to seek Buddhism in order to promote Buddhism, and after coming back, Buddhism has changed dramatically, and how to accept the gap in his heart.

"Since the two of you have no way of knowing where you originate, this official has an idea, I wonder if you are interested?"

Fatong Bai Xie said: "My lord, the poor monks are all in charge of the adults. ”

Taishou: "There are not many monks left in the Mogao Grottoes now. There are idle grottoes, and the two of you can settle down in the grottoes, do the sprinkling and sweeping of the Mogao Grottoes, and be the janitor. Is it possible to stay in Dunhuang as a civilian? ”

Fatong thanked him: "Thank you for your kindness." My brother and I are willing to settle down here, and from then on, we will return to the world. ”

Taishou: "Everything you brought back from the Western Regions can be placed in the grotto. If there is any need, please mention it to the officer. ”

Taishou is really open to the two of them, nominally vulgar, but in fact let them practice on their behalf. They were also given a place to meditate and practice.

Jiang Yao and the three of them didn't expect the incident to be reversed, and Tai Shou could arrange it like this. They also wanted to take in the two Fatongs. Taishou turned to look at them.

"The three of you are on the same path as Fatong?"

Fa Tong: "Tell the adults, the villain and the elder brother rely on the benefactor to bring back to the motherland, otherwise there is no hope of returning to the motherland in this life." The three of them are good people who help the needy. ”

Taishou: "The righteous deeds of the three of you are very appreciated by the official, and I hope that you can still carry forward the spirit of helping the poor in the future." In order to reward you, the official held a banquet to entertain a few people in the evening. A private banquet for all of you. ”

Tai Shou Xin Dao, Buddha you sit down pious disciples, I will do my best to accommodate them. Believers do everything in my power to show their praise for the kindness of those who help Buddhism. When I do this, the Buddha is still satisfied.

Taishou is also painstaking, and it is not easy for him to do this at extraordinary times.

Jiang Yao and his entourage came out of the mansion. Two guards accompanied them and followed Jiang Yao and his party on the order of Tai Shouzhi. Jiang Yao and the others came to the inn, and they didn't care about handing over to Shi's father, and they had business at night.

Xuanyi took Fa Tong and his senior brother to the silk village and chose lay clothes for the two. Prepare several sets of clothes from the inside to the field, enough for two people to wear for a few years. Clothes for spring, summer, autumn and winter are well prepared.

Xuanyi Zhang Luo one, and the two of them chanted a Buddha. Xuanyi glared, "Can you two not chant the scriptures, as if you were excessive." Isn't it just two clothes, as for the relationship with the Buddha? ”

She is used to being atmospheric, her hands are loose, and she is never stingy with her money. The two of them were Amitabha, and Amitabha was chanting a mantra in her ear. She's not used to it.

Fa Tong laughs; "Xuanyi girl, we have been talking to Amitabha Buddha since we can, you think, express gratitude, we are used to nature, only Amitabha."

Xuanyi was helpless, "Whatever you want, but I can remind you, what is your current identity?"

Fatong and the two looked silent, hung their heads and said nothing, and they were still vulgar cloth. Rubbing his toes on the ground, looking lonely.

Xuanyi felt a little unbearable in his heart, "I remind you, but I don't want to make extraneous branches, and you also know that Taishou has some good intentions." Since it is a good intention, at the same time, I must fulfill this kindness, and don't make trouble for myself. ”

Fa Tong and Senior Brother said at the same time: "Thank you girl for your kind reminder, Amitabha." ”

Xuanyi shook his head, hey, it's not realistic to change it for a while. Take your time. The two of them changed into vulgar clothes, and they had to wear a hat to cover their bald heads.

Words and deeds will take time. The two of them each came out with a large pile of clothes. Walk down the street and look down with your eyes.

Xuanyi followed their gaze all the way down, only to see Fatong move his footsteps, letting go of an ant under his feet. A smile of relief appeared on his face.

The lives of the ants can't bear to be hurt. Xuanyi was suddenly dissatisfied with the policies of the imperial court. Killing a piece with a stick, people like Fatong and his senior brother who are devout and worship the Buddha, and forcibly let them return to the world, isn't it difficult for a strong man. It can't be different from person to person!

The person concerned didn't have much of an idea, and they were already satisfied with the fact that they were given a place to cultivate, and asked them to practice here in disguise. Unexpectedly, Xuanyi was indignant for them.

Fatong: "Miss Xuanyi, I really don't want you to spend money for us." ”

Xuanyi smiled: "Aren't you the most insignificant, why do you still think about me in your heart?" You should think that this is a mundane thing, and you should not take it to heart. ”

Fatong: "We don't value vulgar things, the problem is that girls spend money, and silver is your hard-earned income." ”