Chapter 1423: On Grand Preceptor Mountain

Mount Song, Grand Preceptor Mountain.

In the hottest season of the year, Emperor Liu did not, as usual, hide away in the deep palace, passing the summer with ice cloths and feather fans. On a whim, he took his guards and close ministers out of the palace to tour and escape the heat.

As for state affairs, he left them entirely in the hands of the Crown Prince and Zhao Pu, and he had complete confidence in both of them. Over the past half year, though the court had been busy with constant actions, he truly had not had much worry over governance. Zhao Pu's administration pleased him greatly.

"Have a pavilion built before this stele, and name it Tao Gong Pavilion!" Emperor Liu ordered.

"Yes!"

Beside him, hearing this command, Zhang Yong could not help but sigh sincerely: "Your Majesty builds this pavilion to make Tao Gong's name endure for a thousand ages. Beneath the Nine Springs, Tao Gong should also feel the weight of Your Majesty's grace!"

Waving his hand, Emperor Liu said calmly: "Tao Gu was, after all, an old minister at my side, serving me for over twenty years. Consider it fulfilling the bond between ruler and minister!"

Atop Junji Peak, the view was extremely open. Standing there, looking down upon the host of mountains, one could not help but feel a broadened spirit. On the ridgeline, clouds and mist coiled about, and the cool mountain breeze stirred Emperor Liu's hair. Pointing at the various peaks of Grand Preceptor, he said leisurely: "I have never climbed Mount Tai, but this feeling of seeing all mountains small at a glance should be similar!"

Zhang Yong's mind stirred. He stepped forward, lowered his body, and replied: "Perhaps Dai Zong is awaiting Your Majesty's visit!"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu could not help but glance at Zhang Yong and said with a light laugh: "Ziyong, you seem to have something hidden in your words. Why not speak plainly?"

Since Emperor Liu had spoken, Zhang Yong did not mince words either. He said respectfully: "Since ancient times, when a king receives the Mandate and achieves success, he performs the Fengshan sacrifices to proclaim peace. Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, your virtue and achievements have towered above the ages. Your ministers believe it is time to journey east, to seal Mount Tai and offer sacrifice at Liangfu—this is an act in accord with Heaven and responsive to the Mandate..."

"You think it is time?" Emperor Liu replied with an expressionless, empty remark.

Proposals regarding the Fengshan sacrifices were hardly the first or second time, but the petitions grew more impassioned and more solemn with each submission. Especially after the Kaibao northern expedition, when Emperor Liu's virtue and prestige reached their peak, the pleas for Fengshan surged like a tide, clamoring loudly. And Emperor Liu's attitude softened with each passing time. As a close minister, Zhang Yong could also sense this change in Emperor Liu.

Hearing his words, he immediately said: "Your minister believes the time is exactly right!"

Emperor Liu smiled but said nothing more, yet a flicker of intent was plainly written upon his face.

"Is that Shaolin Temple over there?" Emperor Liu pointed at the distant Shaoshi Mountain, where incense smoke curled upward, and asked.

Though the distance was great, perhaps because his heart was stirred, he could faintly hear the distant tolling of a great bell. This was not hard to guess—of the mountains of Song, only two Buddhist temples remained now: one was Shaolin, the other Fawang. All the other temples had been abolished during the suppression of Buddhism in the early years of Qianyou.

"Exactly so!" Zhang Yong replied.

"It seems the incense and offerings remain flourishing!" Emperor Liu said calmly.

After a moment's thought, Emperor Liu said: "Mount Song truly deserves its reputation as a renowned scenic spot, gathering the essence of the Three Teachings. Since I have come, how could I not take a look? This sacred ground of Zen—I have long heard its name thunder in my ears. I ought to behold its splendor."

"Does Your Majesty wish to go to Shaolin?" Zhang Yong asked.

"Go talk Zen with their abbot, listen to their Buddhist doctrine, and see whether they still fear me like a tiger!" Emperor Liu said with a hint of jest.

It had to be said, the vitality of Buddhism was tenacious enough. In just over twenty years, after that suppression of Buddhism, it had gradually revived. And benefiting from the prosperity and development of the Great Han, incense and believers had also rebounded.

Of course, the main reason lay in the fact that Emperor Liu's suppression of Buddhism was not aimed at extermination, but at restraint and reform. When the Buddhist community actively catered to him as the supreme ruler and submitted to official supervision and management, the crackdown no longer continued.

"Your minister will make advance arrangements and prepare for Your Majesty's arrival!" Zhang Yong said.

Emperor Liu nodded, then said with a touch of melancholy: "The Empress Dowager is a believer in Buddhism. Consider this as offering prayers to Buddha on her behalf!"

"That will do for today!" Emperor Liu added: "Pass down the order—tonight we lodge at the Zhongyue Temple, tomorrow we go to the Songyang Academy, and the day after, to Shaolin!"

"Yes!"