Chapter 158 Purple Series Followers [Northern Army] (5k)
When Su Ze came to Longhua Temple again, he could not believe that this temple was still the same Longhua Temple he had been to before he went on the expedition?
Before the expedition, Longhua Temple was just the family temple of the imperial army and was not very popular.
The number of Buddhist temples and shrines in Luoyang City far exceeds the imagination of ordinary people. If Longhua Temple had not been donated by the imperial army, it would have no name at all.
In the later book "Record of Buddhist Monasteries in Luoyang", there are eighty-four famous Buddhist temples recorded, including the royal Buddhist temple such as Yongning Temple which occupied most of the neighborhood.
This is just the number of Buddhist temples. Now, under the call of Empress Dowager Hu, there is also a trend of "giving up houses to build temples" in Luoyang.
The so-called giving up one's house to turn it into a temple is to accumulate merits and blessings, and transform one's own house into a Buddhist temple for neighbors to burn incense.
Empress Dowager Hu and Prince Qinghe took the lead in "giving up houses to build temples". Empress Dowager Hu first ordered the construction of Yongning Temple, then converted houses in the palace into Buddhist halls, and invited eminent monks from Luoyang to the palace to preach Buddhism.
Qinghe King Yuan Yi first funded the construction of Jingle Temple, and then donated his villa in Luoyang and gave up his house to build Chongjue Temple.
Other princes followed suit. The Gaoyang Prince Temple, which was built by Gaoyang Prince Yuanyong's house, is also a famous temple in Luoyang.
Mingxuan Nunnery was founded by Princess Shouyang's father, Yuan Jie, King Wuxuan of Pengcheng. When Yuan Jie was killed, all the monks and nuns in the nunnery abstained from food and drink and prayed for Yuan Jie's funeral.
In addition to the princes, there is also the Zhengshi Temple established by hundreds of officials. Su Ze's boss Li Chong donated 200,000 coins to this temple, and the Qinghe Cui family collectively donated 400,000 coins. There is a stone slab in front of the Buddha statue in the temple, which records the list of donating officials and the amount of money donated, and there are also eternal lamps to pray for these donating officials.
Even the eunuchs in the palace were not willing to lag behind. For example, the most favored eunuch, Grand Chamberlain Liu Teng, also donated money to build the Changqiu Temple.
According to statistics at that time, there were 84 temples in Luoyang and over a thousand Buddhist temples built by giving up houses. Therefore, Longhua Temple was originally just an ordinary temple, whose main business was the funerals of the imperial guards.
But he didn't expect that this time it would be completely different. There were huge crowds of people at the entrance of Longhua Temple. Su Ze actually saw that the monks of Longhua Temple had set up a high platform at the entrance of the temple. Around the platform gathered actors performing acrobatics, musicians playing wind instruments, and vendors selling snacks and other sundries. It was almost the same scene as the markets and temple fairs in later generations.
Li Tong, who was accompanying him, said: "After Longhua Temple welcomed Monk Bianji, he gave lectures on the high platform in front of the temple. In order to attract people to listen to the lectures, the monks of Longhua Temple invited actors and musicians to perform at the beginning. However, as time went by, more and more people came to listen to the lectures. Even when there were no lectures, actors and musicians would gather at the temple gate. Now Longhua Temple has become a famous temple in the whole Luoyang."
After a while, we saw Bian Ji in a white monk's robe climbing onto the platform. It was true that clothes make the man. Bian Ji, who had seemed a little wretched at first, actually looked like a great monk when he climbed onto the stage.
But Su Ze knew his background clearly. [A debating monk who does not abide by the precepts]. [Does not abide by the precepts] is the prefix of this guy. He must have violated many precepts during his stay in Luoyang.
Li Tong added: "This monk Bianji preached in Longhua Temple. Because his teachings were too simple, many monks in Luoyang were dissatisfied. Many large temples sent monks to debate with him."
When Su Ze heard that it was a debate, he was happy. Although Bian Ji was a blue follower, he was downgraded to a blue follower because of the negative attribute [Not observing the precepts].
If we count the professional skill of debate, then Bian Ji is definitely a purple follower.
As expected, Li Tong said: "Monk Bianji held the Dharma platform in Luoyang for a whole month, and publicly debated with monks from various Buddhist temples in Luoyang. He did not lose a single battle, which greatly enhanced the reputation of Longhua Temple."
"From then on, Longhua Temple became very popular. Today is the day when Monk Bianji will give a sermon."
Su Ze looked at Bian Ji's shiny face and knew that this guy had broken his vow and eaten meat a lot these days.
However, in this era, vegetarianism was not a rule that monks had to observe. The first person to propose vegetarianism was Xiao Yan, the monarch of Southern Liang. Just six years ago, Xiao Yan promulgated the "Document on Abstaining from Alcohol and Meat", prohibiting all Buddhist disciples in the world from eating meat.
However, the laws of the Southern Dynasty still do not apply to the monks of the Northern Dynasty. The current trend of vegetarianism in Luoyang is just a trend brought by monks from the South.
But when Su Ze looked at the records in the system, he found that Bian Ji had not only violated the precept of eating meat. Looking at the content that was not suitable for children, Su Ze was also worried that this guy would be exposed and killed by his victims.
Even though the people of the Northern Wei Dynasty were open-minded, such things were still too advanced.
When Bian Ji finished his sermon, the monks of Longhua Temple carried out a casket and the believers present put coins into it one after another.
Su Ze watched as the large memorial cabinet was quickly filled up, and couldn't help but sigh that opening a Buddhist temple was the most profitable business these days!
I wonder if these nobles and loyal ministers gave up their homes to build temples just for the money from incense offerings?
Moreover, these ordinary believers at the door are ordinary people. Real dignitaries do not need to listen to lectures at the door of Longhua Temple. There are monks' rooms in Longhua Temple, and there are special monks who make tea. You can drink tea while listening to Master Bian Ji's lectures.
Those who are more powerful can invite Master Bian Ji to their house for private tutoring and teaching, or even perform rituals to resolve karma and pray for blessings. In short, consumption at all levels is very flexible.
As soon as Bian Ji returned to the temple, the receptionist came up to him and said, "Master, Princess Nanyang is here again! You should go quickly!"
When thinking of Princess Nanyang, Monk Bian Ji began to have a headache.
The girls he hooked up with were all from small families. He would never dare to mess with a princess like Princess Nanyang.
One day, Princess Nanyang heard me preaching in a nobleman's house. She became interested in Buddhism and came to Longhua Temple many times to ask me about Buddhism.
It would have been fine if he had just asked about Buddhism, but Princess Nanyang also told him a lot of private matters in the Danyang Mansion, and even things between her and her husband. After hearing so many secrets, Bian Ji became even more restless. While reporting to Su Ze, he looked for opportunities to hide from Princess Nanyang.
I didn't expect that today Princess Nanyang would come and kill me right after I finished preaching on the platform, leaving me with nowhere to hide.
With no alternative but to bite the bullet, Bian Ji could only summon the novice monk who served him and invite Princess Nanyang to the Buddhist hall behind Longhua Temple.
When Princess Nanyang came to Longhua Temple, it was naturally impossible for her to have a princess's guard of honor. So after entering the Buddhist hall behind the temple and dismissing the maids around her, Princess Nanyang finally waited for the monk Bian Ji.
"Grandmaster!"
Although Princess Nanyang was wearing casual clothes, her beauty could not be concealed. She was also the daughter of Emperor Xiaowen, but she was more charming than Princess Chenliu because she had already given birth to a child.
Bian Ji still acted like a great monk and asked a few questions about Buddhism. Then Princess Nanyang started asking other questions.
Princess Nanyang only heard: "Last time I went back, I followed the master's teachings to meditate and chant the Buddha's name, but the relationship between my husband and I did not become closer, but became more distant. I wonder if the master has any way to resolve this situation?"
Bian Ji had even more of a headache after hearing this. He was talking about Buddhism, not how to deal with marital relationships. Since your relationship is distant, why do you come to see him, a monk, every day?
But Princess Nanyang has always been generous. She donated ten thousand coins to Longhua Temple a few days ago. Bian Ji could only say:
"When did Your Highness fall out with Duke Danyang?"
Princess Nanyang recalled and said, "Since my husband led his troops back to Luoyang, when he was stationed outside the capital, our relationship was very good."
Bian Ji immediately said, "That's still a problem in Luoyang. There is a balance between husband and wife. When you were in Luoyang, Princess, you were blessed by the royal aura of Luoyang, so you naturally overwhelmed the Duke of Danyang, so the couple became increasingly distant. As long as we leave Luoyang, we will definitely be able to return to the way we were before."
After listening to Bian Ji's nonsense, Princess Nanyang suddenly thought of the conversation between her husband and Su Liang that she heard at the door yesterday. At that time, her husband also talked about Princess Lanling and her husband. Wasn't it because the wife was too strong that this couple had a quarrel that was out of control?
The rift between her and her husband did indeed begin after she returned to Luoyang, as her identity as a princess put pressure on her husband.
Princess Nanyang felt that Bian Ji was extraordinary, and quickly said, "Master, my husband wants to lead the army, but now the world is at peace and there is no war! Even if there is a war, I, a woman, cannot decide the appointment of the court."
Seeing Princess Nanyang like this, Bian Ji couldn't help but said, "Then let me think about it again and see if there is any way to resolve it."
Princess Nanyang quickly cupped her hands and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Master!"
Everyone in Longhua Temple respected Bian Ji very much, and these monks had also seen Su Ze's methods. Now that Su Ze was in a high position, they naturally did not dare to provoke him and were even more respectful to him.
However, since Bian Ji was meeting a guest, the receptionist of Longhua Temple quickly arranged for him to stay in the back house of the temple, and also quickly asked someone to invite back the abbot who was out visiting a friend.
Su Ze was also a person who couldn't sit still. After he traveled through time, he had not really visited the scenic spots in Luoyang, especially the Buddhist temples in Luoyang. When war broke out in the future, who knew how many Buddhist temples would be reduced to ashes.
He simply left the receptionist and his entourage behind and started wandering around the back building of Longhua Temple.
Looking at the newly built monks' quarters, Su Ze realized that Longhua Temple had made a lot of money during this period, and he would have to ask these monks for more money next.
Su Ze walked to the side of the pagoda again. Nowadays, the specifications of a Buddhist temple are determined by the height and number of the pagodas.
Pagodas play an important role in Buddhism. As the saying goes, "saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda." The word "pagoda" here means pagoda. Although Longhua Temple is not a royal temple, as a temple dedicated to the imperial army, it has relatively high specifications. There are three five-story pagodas in the temple.
There are a large number of stone tablets next to the pagoda. Some of these inscriptions record the process of building Longhua Temple, such as the officials who contributed a lot to the construction of the temple and the auspicious signs that occurred during the construction of the temple.
There are also some stone tablets that contain articles written when I visited Longhua Temple later.
The Northern Wei Dynasty was particularly fond of erecting steles. Among the calligraphy fonts, there is a font called "Weibei", which was derived from the font engraved on the steles of the Northern Wei Dynasty.
The stonemasons of the Northern Wei Dynasty had outstanding craftsmanship and exquisite inscriptions, and many of their works have been handed down from generation to generation.
Su Ze opened the system. He came here to visit the pagoda, and another idea was to try to refresh the store in the temple to see if he could get a few more high-quality followers.
Anyway, Su Ze was just giving it a try. When he walked around the pagoda, a group of people came towards him.
Princess Nanyang, surrounded by maids and guards, came out of the Buddhist hall at the back and just passed by Su Ze. A gust of wind blew up the veil on Princess Nanyang's face.
There is such a beauty in Luoyang City?
Su Ze raised his head and looked at Princess Nanyang's face, and felt that she looked familiar.
Princess Nanyang's eyes met Su Ze's. She quickly lowered her head and hurriedly pulled down her veil that was blown by the wind.
When Princess Nanyang's guards saw Su Ze staring at their own wife, they immediately rushed up viciously.
Su Ze was an official of the imperial court, so he was naturally not afraid of these guards and servants. Just when the two sides were about to clash, a pleasant voice said:
"Stop! It's getting late in this Buddhist Pure Land. Let's go back home quickly."
After this elegant lady left, Su Ze realized that the system had been refreshed, and he casually opened the system store.
Wait, it’s purple?
I only saw purple, which had not appeared for a long time, in the store, one purple, one blue and six green!
Is it the effect in the Buddhist temple?
Or was it the noble lady who just passed by?
Su Ze plans to try the Buddhist temple again when the store is refreshed next time. If it’s not because of Longhua Temple, then it must be because of the “good luck” of the noble lady just now.
Su Ze checked the newly spawned followers again.
[Ordinary Northern Army]
Grade: Purple;
Effect 1: The refugee army, the squad that the Northern Army is in, can search for supplies on their own in the event of a lack of supplies through the special commission [Refugee Army] to maintain a certain level of combat effectiveness.
Effect 2: Looking north to the Central Plains, the morale of a squad composed entirely of Northern Army soldiers will increase when fighting against foreign races, and the morale of a squadron formed entirely of Northern Army soldiers will increase when fighting in the north.
Comments: "Thinking back to those days, the soldiers were armed with swords and spears, and they were as fierce as tigers."
Price: 500 wentai and 50 baht coins, and a monthly maintenance fee of wentai and baht coins is required. Armor maintenance fees need to be paid after the war.
Another new type of soldier!
After the Yulin, armored cavalry, scouts, and shield axemen, Su Ze got another special type of soldier!
Moreover, it is a type of soldier that is rated purple in itself - Beifu soldiers!
After seeing these two effects, Su Ze understood why the Beifu soldiers without any positive affixes could be evaluated as purple by the system.
These two skills are so practical. The skill of [Refugee Army] can be used to commission a last-ditch fight when the supply is cut off, which will work wonders on the battlefield.
As for the effect of [Looking North to the Central Plains], isn't the place where you are located the Central Plains? There is a large proportion of Hu people in the Northern Wei army, isn't this equivalent to a bug? This effect can exist permanently.
However, the effect of [Looking North to the Central Plains] can only be triggered by a team composed entirely of Northern Army soldiers, and the system default team requires at least five people.
Look at the little man representing the Northern Army. This cartoon man wears a helmet and a two-piece armor. This armor consists of a breastplate and a back armor connected by leather straps on the shoulders. Its main function is to protect the chest and back.
In addition to holding a ring-handled sword, there is a crossbow hanging around his waist. This is indeed the standard equipment of the Northern Army.
Su Ze looked at the blue grid again and couldn't help but feel happy again. This time it was another Northern Army series follower!
[Northern soldiers who are afraid of water]
Grade: blue;
Special Effects: Northern Army (Omitted)
Comment: "Are Northern Army soldiers who are afraid of riding on boats still Northern Army soldiers?"
Price: 500 wentai and 50 baht coins, and a monthly maintenance fee of wentai and baht coins is required. Armor maintenance fees need to be paid after the war.
Fortunately, it was just a negative effect of being afraid of water. Su Ze was already very satisfied. In other words, this follower could not exert his combat effectiveness on the boat or by the water. His other attributes were the same as those of the purple Beifu soldier.
The next green commodities are some common Southern Dynasty goods in the market, but there are also two green followers.
They are [a manor slave who is good at swimming] and [a fisherman who is good at boating].
The special thing is the [Manor Slave Who is Good at Swimming]. This follower does not require any maintenance costs, and only needs to provide food every month.
The Southern Liang Dynasty inherited the large manor system from the Eastern Jin Dynasty. In a large number of manors in the south, there were already many people who had been slaves for generations. These people had lived in the manors from childhood to adulthood, leading a dark life and had never seen the outside world.
The cartoon figure representing the manor slave is a hunchbacked man in shackles.
With two blank followers with special abilities, this store refresh can be considered a small profit.
At this time, the monk in charge of reception at Longhua Temple found Su Ze and said that Bian Ji's guest had left. Su Ze followed the monk to Bian Ji's monk room. Could it be that the noble lady just now was Bian Ji's guest?
If this is the case, when you meet Bian Ji soon, you can ask him who that noble lady is.
The monk in charge of reception, Su Ze, respectfully led Bian Ji to the monk's room, and Bian Ji hurriedly bowed to Su Ze.
The system's report was too concise. Su Ze asked in detail what happened after Bian Ji stayed in Luoyang, nodded and said:
"How much control do you have over Longhua Temple now?"
Bian Ji thought for a moment and said, "I think I can be the master of 50% of it."
Su Ze looked at Bian Ji in surprise. He didn't expect that his prestige in Longhua Temple was so high?
Bianji said: "My Lord, now it is Longhua Temple that cannot do without me, Bianji, not Bianji that cannot do without Longhua Temple."
Su Ze immediately understood what Bian Ji meant. His fame was gained through repeated debates. Although Longhua Temple provided some help, the reputation was his own, so Longhua Temple was making demands on him instead.
Su Ze nodded and said, "In that case, you can discuss the coinage issue with the abbot of Longhua Temple."
"As ordered."
Su Ze asked again: "I just saw a woman in the pagoda, is she your guest?"
Bian Ji immediately said: "That is Princess Nanyang."
"Princess Nanyang? Oh, she's the wife of Duke Danyang."
Now it makes sense. No wonder the system spawned so many soldiers related to the Southern Dynasty. It seems that it was really because of Princess Nanyang that I was lucky enough to get the purple followers.
Bianji immediately said: "I understand what the master means!"
(End of this chapter)