Chapter 1424: Shaolin Temple

As the ancestral home of the Chan sect, Shaolin Temple had lain silent for over twenty years since the suppression of Buddhism in the Qianyou era. Shrouded in the shadow of what was called imperial power, it could only, like most Buddhist temples across the realm, keep to its place, stay low-key, and devote itself to the practice of Buddhism.

These twenty years—at least the first ten—were extremely trying. Property was lost, the monastic community dwindled sharply, and worshippers grew scarce. That alone would have been bearable, for Buddhism had been in China for over a thousand years, and this was hardly the first tribulation it had endured. One could simply take it as a test from the Buddha and endure until it passed.

But sealing the mountain and closing the temple, or lying low to avoid disaster, were both very difficult. Compared to those temples that were destroyed and dismantled, Shaolin was relatively fortunate—at least it was preserved as a whole. As for sealing the mountain, that was utterly impossible, for every mountain, ridge, tree, and blade of grass belonged to the Emperor; how could a mere Shaolin claim them as its own? Moreover, it had to remain constantly under the surveillance of the local authorities, daring not to commit any transgressive act.

Only in recent years, as the court ceased its deliberate targeting, had incense and offerings gradually revived—but compared to the glory of twenty years ago, it was still not in the same league.

And in this summer of the ninth year of Kaibao, the tranquility Shaolin had maintained for over twenty years was shattered once more: the very sovereign who had brought such deep calamity upon the Buddhist faith had come to its gates in person.

For the Zhongyue Temple and the Songyang Academy, its "neighbors," an imperial visit might be an honor, but for Shaolin, that was not necessarily so. Thus, when word arrived, the entire ancient temple erupted—an agitation born of shock, not joy.

But there was no choice. However hesitant, however terrified, the only option was to receive the imperial carriage. Under the supervision of the local authorities and the imperial guard officers, preparations for the reception had to be made.

The several hundred monks of the entire temple bustled about in a frenzy—sweeping the mountain gate, tidying the halls, making a great show of it, and bracing themselves as if some disaster were about to descend.

Sharing responsibility with the Dengfeng authorities for overseeing the reception preparations was Bai Yang, a young officer of the Imperial Guard. Before departure, Zhang Yong had explained to him the "history" between Emperor Liu and the Buddhist faith, and so Bai Yang entered a state of heightened alert.

Bai Yang directly brought five hundred imperial guardsmen to take up position in Shaolin Temple first, inspecting every corner of the temple from top to bottom. Still not reassured, he posted men at every key position while watching the monks like thieves, stopping just short of arresting and imprisoning the entire monastic community.

As for Emperor Liu, though he traveled with blades and axes as escort, he had truly come to Shaolin to see a treasured site—apart from a bit of curiosity, he had no other designs.

Therefore, when he arrived at Shaolin Temple and saw the scene within, he was momentarily taken aback. A famed mountain and ancient temple, solemn and secluded—so quiet it was almost eerie, with a thick sense of wrongness permeating the very air.

To receive the imperial carriage, Shaolin had simply shut its doors, forbidding worshippers from climbing the mountain to pay homage to the Buddha, so that the vast temple, though not lacking in people, felt exceptionally desolate.

Facing this somewhat bleak, even dismal scene, Emperor Liu did not hide his surprise. After Zhang Yong made inquiries and reported the situation briefly, Emperor Liu spoke.

"Nonsense! This not only encroaches upon a sacred place beyond the mundane world, it also disturbs the people! This Bai Yang—indeed, no hair on his chin, and rash in his actions. Is this how one does things?" Emperor Liu said reproachfully.

However, from the slight smile at the corners of his mouth, it was clear he did not take it to heart.

Seeing this, Zhang Yong made excuses for Bai Yang: "General Bai was only doing his duty, thinking of Your Majesty's safety!"

Standing before Shaolin's mountain gate, Emperor Liu looked up at this temple famed throughout the realm, raised his hand, and said with amusement: "When I come to visit, it happens that an unwelcome guest arrives at the door. These monks must have been quite frightened!"

He strode inside with his entourage, and under the lead of Shaolin's abbot, the entire temple's monks gathered to bow in welcome. The abbot, whose dharma name was Hongtai, was over eighty years old—old in years but hale in body. Though aged and stooped, he had a kind and benevolent face. Naturally, at that age he understood the ways of the world; though he was deferential toward Emperor Liu, his expression remained neither humble nor arrogant, without excessive tension.

"Abbot, no need for ceremony!" Emperor Liu regarded the old abbot with a calm demeanor, though his gaze carried a faint pressure.

The old abbot remained composed and made a Buddhist salute: "Thank you, Your Majesty! This old monk, together with the entire temple, respectfully welcomes Your Majesty!"

Appraising the old monk, Emperor Liu said with a light laugh: "I hear the abbot has led Shaolin for over forty years, with a reputation that spreads far and wide. Seeing you today, indeed extraordinary—with the bearing of an immortal, truly an enlightened eminent monk!"

"Your Majesty flatters me! This old monk is merely one who eats vegetarian and chants sutras—what reputation could I have? I truly dare not accept such praise!" Abbot Hongtai replied.

Emperor Liu swept his gaze around, noting the tension visible in the expressions of the many monks—only this old abbot was watertight, his countenance unchanged.

"The abbot is too modest!" Emperor Liu said with a smile. "This is my first time at Mount Song. I've climbed Grand Preceptor Mountain, and visited Zhongyue and Songyang. Shaolin is a treasured place of Buddhism, an ancient temple of the faith. I thought—how could I pass by a temple without burning incense? That would be a pity. So I came in person. I hope I haven't disturbed your treasured temple!"

"Your Majesty's visit to our humble temple is the honor of the entire establishment—how could it be called a disturbance!" the old abbot replied.

"The abbot is truly a man of enlightenment, so magnanimous! For any disturbance caused, I hope you will be lenient!" Emperor Liu laughed heartily.

"The Buddha's dharma is boundless, and the Way is likewise inexhaustible. Though this old monk studies Buddhist doctrine, I know how shallow my understanding is—I dare not speak rashly of enlightenment!" the abbot said modestly.

"Compared to a mundane man like me, the abbot has surely already entered the Way!" Emperor Liu's tone began to grow forceful as he strode forward with vigor: "May I trouble the abbot to lead the way and show me the Buddha you worship in your daily practice?"

Seeing Emperor Liu's unceremonious manner, the old abbot sighed inwardly, yet his face remained composed as he personally led the way: "Your Majesty, please!"

"So this is the Grand Hall? It lives up to its reputation—solemn and majestic, with boundless grandeur!" Entering the hall, Emperor Liu swept his gaze around, then pointed at the enormous Buddha statue, remarking: "So this is the Buddha you worship? Truly large!"

His gaze seemed to convey: if such a huge Buddha statue were melted down, how many copper coins could it cast?

The abbot did not meet Emperor Liu's eyes, but hearing his tone, he felt an inexplicable panic. Without thinking, he replied: "Your Majesty, the Buddha is in the heart, not before the eyes!"

"It seems my eyes are dull—I cannot see the Buddha, only this gleaming yellow copper statue!" Emperor Liu chuckled meaningfully: "Abbot, Buddhism seems to value innate wisdom. Tell me, do I have innate wisdom?"

If he could truly speak his mind, even the old abbot's meditative state would have compelled him to mock the Emperor. But circumstances overpower people, especially before a sovereign like Emperor Liu. He could only flatter: "Your Majesty is a true Son of Heaven, already beyond the mundane—naturally possessed of unique innate wisdom!"

"Oh? Abbot, those who have left the household must not speak falsehoods!" Emperor Liu said, smiling as he looked at the old abbot.

As it turned out, before a sovereign like Emperor Liu, even a great monk found it hard to maintain his transcendent bearing. Noticing the hesitation on the old monk's gaunt face, Emperor Liu continued: "Buddhism speaks of delivering sentient beings. Among my generals and ministers who have killed without mercy, there are no shortage of those who revere and worship the Buddha! Abbot, do you think you could deliver me?"

"Your Majesty overstates it! Buddhism can deliver the mundane, but how could it deliver the sacred?" Abbot Hongtai said.

"Haha!" Emperor Liu's laughter reverberated wantonly through the hall.

Gazing directly at the solemn Buddha statue, his head slightly raised yet his gaze one of looking down, Emperor Liu raised his hand and spread it open, saying calmly: "Since I have seen the Buddha, what harm is there in burning a stick of incense?"

So the old abbot personally lit three sticks of incense and placed them in Emperor Liu's hands. Emperor Liu neither lowered his head nor bent his waist—he merely made an ordinary cupped-fist salute, and that counted as having paid homage to the Buddha.

At such posturing from Emperor Liu, some monks present felt a sense of humiliation, their faces showing faint indignation. Emperor Liu naturally noticed and asked the old monk: "Abbot, the Buddha has his wrathful aspect. I observe that among the monks here, there are no few with furrowed brows and angry eyes—have they received instruction from the Buddha that they do not welcome this unwelcome guest of mine, or is it that what they cultivate is the Wrathful Buddha?"

Hearing this, Abbot Hongtai's white brows trembled slightly, but facing Emperor Liu's gaze, he still composed himself and answered calmly: "Your Majesty speaks too seriously! It is merely that the monks of this temple have not yet perfected their cultivation!"

"So this is what is called clinging to appearances?" Emperor Liu said with amusement.

"Your Majesty is indeed perceptive!" the abbot replied.

"Then why do they cling to appearances?" Emperor Liu pressed: "There must be a reason! Perhaps they still do not welcome me?"

"The gate of Buddhism opens wide with convenience. Your Majesty is also a guest—how could we refuse you?" the abbot said.

"Oh?" Emperor Liu's smile was truly irritating, and he said: "I do have a matter for which I need the abbot to open this gate of convenience!"

"Your Majesty, please speak!"

"Recently, the court's finances have been strained. I observe that this temple has quite many copper statues and copper vessels. I would like to requisition some for the court, to melt and cast copper coins to make up the shortfall, for the benefit of the people. Can the abbot accommodate this?" Emperor Liu said leisurely.

At these sudden words, every monk present changed color, and even the old monk could barely maintain his composure. Yet feeling Emperor Liu's pressing gaze, he pondered for a moment—likely reciting Amitabha frantically in his heart—then answered: "If it can benefit the court and the people, the temple's possessions are at Your Majesty's disposal!"

"It won't cause you difficulty?" Emperor Liu stared at the abbot.

"This old monk venerates the Buddha, not these copper statues and external things!" the abbot replied.

"An eminent monk is an eminent monk—such bearing is truly admirable!" Emperor Liu remarked: "However, the Buddhist community of the realm already detests me thoroughly. I shall not do such a thing as burning the zither and cooking the crane!"

"Your Majesty speaks too seriously! This old monk is deeply humbled!"