After listening to Nasutu's account, Sultan was stunned and asked, "Are the areas around Tugurik and Hong Guoer Oleng all Jisai belonging to Namuka Jemecuo?"
Namuka Jemecuo was the famous "Zaya Pandit," who was born into the Sanggas family of the Guruge Qin Otok, Khoshut. His grandfather was Kong Kui Zhayaqi, a famous Great Noble of Duerben Oirat. Kong Kui Zhayaqi's eldest son was Baba Khan, and Baba Khan's fifth son was this Namuka Jemecuo.
That year, the Gelug Sect Master, Dongkoer Manzhu Xili Hutuktu, came to Oirat Mongol to preach at the command of Lhasa. His Dharma was profound, and his words flowed like a Lianhua. Baibagas Khan, the Great Khan of Oirat, listened to his explanation of the White Sutra and felt that the world was too illusory and being a Mortal was meaningless, so he wanted to become a Monk and be a Toyin (Master of noble origin). This frightened the Great Taijis of the various tribes, who all offered their sons to become Toyins, only asking Baibagas not to become a Monk. Baibagas had no son at that time, so he adopted Baba Khan's fifth son as his adopted son and said to him, "Be a Bandi in place of my son!" Just like that, he became a Monk and a Toyin, received ordination with the Dharma name Namuka Jemecuo, and later obtained the title "Zaya Pandit" bestowed by Tusheet Khan.
"Yes, Great Taiji, it's not just these two places. In places like Chahan Tuohai, Kuertu, Wuerzhala, Boluotara, and Lebushi, the Taijis of various tribes have donated pasture and shabinar to the Gelug (Yellow Sect), which have been organized into Jisai. Because Master Namuka Jemecuo is one of us Oirat, the two Great Masters of the Gelug have uniformly assigned these Jisai for him to manage," Nasutu explained carefully.
Shabi means Disciple; Nar is the plural "s," so shabinar means Disciples. Masters also need to eat and require Tribute from their Disciples. Some of these shabinar were Subjects dedicated to the monastery by feudal lords, while others were people who voluntarily sought refuge in the monastery to escape tribute and Corvée. They could be exempted from the Aleba (tax in kind) and other services levied by feudal lords, but they had to pay Tribute to the monastery.
After Buddhism was introduced to the Snowy Region, it has been passed down to the present day, mainly comprising four branches: Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu, and Gelug. The influence of the Gelug Sect was originally near Lhasa, and later spread to the Kang District and Mongol. The two Great Masters of the Snowy Region, the Ganden Tripa (leader of the Gelug, abbot of Ganden Monastery), Pabala of the Kang District, Jebtsundamba of Khalkha Mongol, and Zhangjia Hutuktu of Southern Mongolia, these Gelug Masters of high status have immense influence. Besides these, there are countless Hutuktu, Nominhan (Dharma King), Tsokchen (Master whose Dharma seat is in the Great Hall), Dratsang (ordinary Monastery Master), and various types of Monks, large and small. Of course, this is true not only for the Gelug Sect but also for the Nyingma, Sakya, and Kagyu sects.
"Hmph!"
Sultan let out a cold snort from his nose, "These monasteries occupy such vast pasture and population, yet they don't pay taxes to the Khan. If this continues, how can it be tolerated?"
"Great Taiji, please be careful with your words. The Masters of the monasteries are all people with Magical Power, you must not offend them," Nasutu hurriedly advised against it.
Sultan muttered to himself, the Gelug Sect has only been introduced to Oirat for twenty years, and it was Mergen Temuna of the Torghut, the leader of the rebels, who first believed in it. Before, everyone believed in Shamanism, and which of the Great Shamans didn't say they had Magical Power? Why didn't you desperately protect them?
"Your servant doesn't care about Magical Power or no Magical Power. The Great Taiji tells Your servant who to chop, and Your servant will chop them," his confidant Suhe shouted loudly.
"Your servants also only look to the Great Taiji," Narisong, Alatan Cang, and other young officers followed with a roar. They were all confidants promoted by Sultan himself, belonging to the young and strong faction in the army. They feared nothing and no one, and only listened to the Great Taiji alone.
Flattery, it's not about doing it well, but doing it cleverly. The flattery of the lackeys hit Sultan right in the heart and also made him determined to make a profit from the Masters.
"How can the officers and soldiers who have endured a difficult campaign return without any gain? My mind is made up. Let them get some benefits in Tugurik and Hong Guoer Oleng and then leave."
Nasutu was terrified and knelt down crying bitterly, "No, Great Taiji, if we rob the Master's Jisai, our Huit Tribe will become the target of everyone, and we will have no place to stand in Oirat!"
"Hahaha," Sultan suddenly burst into laughter, personally helped Nasutu up, and said, "Who said our Huit Tribe robbed the Master's Jisai? It is clearly the remnants of those rebels who robbed the Jisai. It is our Five Thousand Hui Te Warriors who drove away the bandits and saved the Master's pasture and Subjects."
The areas around Tugurik and Hong Guoer Oleng were the Gelug's Jisai, and also a Paradise. No matter how the various Oirat tribes fought and killed each other, no one dared to have designs on them. Are you kidding? The Gelug has countless believers. If you offend them, do you still want to survive in Oirat?
Lade Naba, the Geshe (Abbot's assistant) of Tugurik Monastery, was very young, only twenty years old. The reason he was able to reach the position of Geshe was because of his Master, Namuka Jemecuo (Zaya Pandit). His Master was very Niu, exceptionally intelligent, and went to Lhasa to study Dharma when he was in his teens. He quickly obtained the Lharampa Geshe degree at the Dazhao Temple and also became a Scripture Master at Abazha Dratsang, his fame spreading far and wide. It's good to have shade under a big tree. With this Master of profound Dharma as his backing, the young Lade Naba quickly became the Geshe of Tugurik Monastery. Because there was no Khenpo (Abbot) at Tugurik Monastery, he actually held great power in the monastery and was in charge of the two Jisai of Tugurik and Hong Guoer Oleng.
Of course, besides having connections, he himself was also very diligent. Studying scriptures was an essential daily task for this Geshe.
One day, as he was reciting scriptures, an Ongzeng (Monk Official) ran in in a panic, "Geshe, something is wrong. A remnant of the defeated rebel army has broken into the Tugurik Jisai and Hong Guoer Oleng Jisai, plundering the property and livestock of the shabinar. The Zaisang of Hong Guoer Oleng Jisai went to reason with them and had his head chopped off."
"What! How can such a thing happen! Aren't they afraid of angering the Buddha? amitabha!" Lade Naba was startled. It had been many years, and this was the first time he had encountered such a thing.
"Geshe, those bandits are doing evil everywhere, you should avoid them," the Ongzeng's voice trembled.
"Avoid? Where to avoid?" Lade Naba forced himself to stay calm, "As the Geshe, it is my responsibility to protect the monastery. I am not going anywhere."
"Geshe~ Geshe~" Another Harba (a type of Monk) stumbled in, "Something is wrong, the bandits have surrounded our monastery!"
Lade Naba's body trembled, and he chanted a few phrases of "amitabha" before recovering, and ordered, "Quick, organize all the Monks in the entire monastery and go up to the monastery wall to defend."
The two hundred Monks of Tugurik Monastery wielded their Zen staffs and clubs and went up to the monastery wall. Lade Naba stood on the wall and looked down. It was densely packed with people. This group of bandits numbered over a thousand, and they were all ruthless desperadoes. How could the two hundred Monks under him, who had never even killed Cattle And Sheep in their daily lives, resist them?"
"amitabha, it seems we are doomed this time," he closed his eyes in pain.
"Kill~ Kill~ Kill~"
Suddenly, shouts of killing filled the sky. Several thousand elite cavalry descended like divine soldiers, appearing below the wall. When the rebels saw them, they scattered and fled in fear.
"Buddha bless us! amitabha!" Lade Naba held his Prayer Beads and prayed incessantly.
"Geshe, it seems to be Huit cavalry, they are flying the flag of the Huit Tribe," the Ongzeng suddenly said.
Lade Naba looked carefully for a while longer, and then suddenly roared, "Quick, open the monastery gate and welcome these Heroes who are protecting the Dharma!"
Recognize Heroes, respect Heroes!
The heavy monastery gate opened, and Sultan, the Great Hero in Lade Naba's heart and the Great Taiji of the Huit Tribe, walked into the Great Hall.
"Oh, Great Taiji, you are truly a Noble sent by the Bodhisattva to save this monastery!" As soon as he saw him, Lade Naba cried and thanked him repeatedly. It had been too dangerous just now. If the Great Hero had come a moment later, would he still be alive?"
"amitabha! Master, you are too kind. I was ordered by Baibagas Khan to suppress the rebels and happened to pass by here, just encountering this group of defeated soldiers causing trouble. Shameless villains, they dare to disturb the Pure Land Of Buddhism. I must exterminate them all!" Sultan said with righteous indignation.
"Oh, thank you so much, Great Taiji!" Lade Naba expressed his gratitude again and again.
"I would like to pay homage to the Bodhisattva, please guide me, Master," Sultan requested solemnly.
"Oh, you are so devout, you will surely have great blessings," Lade Naba became even more joyful. Those who have become Monks appreciate Pious Men And Women the most.
What a Great Taiji, when he kowtowed, it made a "bang bang" sound, his faith was firm and extremely devout.
After paying homage to the Bodhisattva, Sultan said a lot of words expressing his admiration for Lade Naba's Master, Namuka Jemecuo, and asked him to inform Namuka Jemecuo that if he returned to Oirat this year, he must visit the Huit Tribe. Lade Naba naturally agreed readily.
"Master, Tugurik and Hong Guoer Oleng have suffered from the War Disaster. I plan to give Your Monastery one thousand sheep as Alms, a drop in the bucket, just to show my sincerity," the devout Great Taiji said with a devout face.
"Oh, how can this be? You saved the lives of all the Monks in the monastery. It should be this monastery thanking you, how can you give Alms instead?" Lade Naba hurriedly declined.
He couldn't refuse. The Five Thousand Hui Te Warriors drove the sheep over and said they were the military provisions saved by the Officers And Soldiers, and refusing them would be looking down on the officers and soldiers.
Great Taiji Sultan left Tugurik Monastery with his Great Army and countless gold, silver, treasures, and livestock, leaving behind a legend of Help The Distressed And Relieve The Poor and Joyful To Do Good And Give Alms.
