Chapter 21: Buddhist Guardian Deity

  As expected, County Magistrate Zhang revealed a hint of bitter smile. He hastily said: "Let's not mention this, let's not mention this. It seems that Daoist friend and I share the same feeling?"

  Liu nodded slightly: "Since the nine-rank system was implemented during the Wei and Jin dynasties, the aristocratic families have been deeply entrenched. Now that the world has been in turmoil for hundreds of years and has finally unified, the imperial court will naturally want to consolidate power, and the power of the aristocratic families will likely be weakened!"

  The county magistrate's face emitted a light, which was a kind of approving light: "Indeed, if the emperor steps by step to steadily and surely eliminate the power of these aristocratic families, it would be easy to say that relying on the central power of the court, these aristocratic families would not be able to resist."

  But now that His Majesty is using the country's strength to conquer Goryeo, if there is even a slight mistake, these aristocratic families will not just sit and wait for death!

  This statement is quite bold and almost directly said. When Yang Guang conquered Korea, the aristocratic families behind him would definitely drag their feet.

  According to the original historical development, Yang Guang's three expeditions against Goguryeo were indeed hindered by these powerful aristocratic families. Three major defeats, with a loss of millions of troops, caused Yang Guang and the Great Sui's reputation to plummet to an all-time low.

  Then the powerful families and aristocrats rose one after another, causing the mighty Sui Dynasty to collapse in just two generations!

  The two of them exchanged a glance and burst out laughing. It was as if they had found a long-lost friend.

  "It's a pity that Zhang can't be reused!" Liu sighed.

  County Magistrate Zhang did not hide this time, but only sighed bitterly: "Nowadays, the world is dominated by the power of aristocratic families. As a humble scholar like me who luckily passed the imperial examination, being able to serve as a county magistrate is already a stroke of luck!"

  Liu Buji finally understood why this county magistrate was used by the Yin Gui faction. If it weren't for the Yin Gui faction backing him up, he might not be able to sit securely in his position as a small county magistrate, despite being from a humble background!

  However, the Yin Gui sect probably wouldn't pay much attention to him either. The Yin Gui sect has its own system, and within the sect, women are revered as superior, so even if this county magistrate were to become a member of the Yin Gui sect, he would likely only be an outer disciple at best.

  Liu Bu-yi smiled: "A great man in the world, naturally should build merits and establish achievements. In this chaotic era, it is the time to take the title of Marquis and become a high-ranking official. Brother Zhang has such great talent, he will surely soar to great heights one day!"

  Magistrate Zhang also smiled and said, "Thank you, Dao brother, for your praise!"

  "But it won't be easy in the future!" County Magistrate Zhang sighed: "Those monks, we've already let them go!"

  "Let him go?" Liu was taken aback, he had originally thought that Zhang County Magistrate, a man of his stature, would not give up halfway. The principle of not killing the snake and suffering from it instead should be understood by Zhang County Magistrate as well.

  Since we've already clashed with those monks and come to blows, we should just see things through to the end now.

  "I have no choice either!" County Magistrate Zhang sighed again: "The Dharma Master Falin of Xiangyang personally intervened, and the governor has sent someone to release him!"

  Hearing this, Liu was already somewhat sympathetic to County Magistrate Zhang. A high-ranking official can crush a person with just one level of authority; what more the Governor of Xiangyang who is seven or eight levels higher than the County Magistrate of Yincheng?

  But he was still curious, didn't the Yin Gui faction take action against these monks, and didn't they get through to the governor of Xiangyang? At least, it should be a compromise.

  But then County Magistrate Zhang said, "That Fa Lin monk is renowned throughout the land and is known as the guardian of Buddhism. The Bao Lin Temple is his disciple's disciples, and now that he has spoken out, even the governor will have to show some deference. Alas, who would have thought that this Fa Lin monk would return to Xiangyang at this critical juncture!"

  Liu's heart moved slightly, and it seemed that there was no appearance of this Fa Lin monk in the Tang Dynasty?

  At most, it's just something like Ci Hang Jing Zhai, Jing Nian Chan Sect, and the Four Great Holy Monks. As for this Fa Lin monk, where did he come from...

  "This Fa Lin is actually the greatest enemy of our Taoist sect. He was originally a monk who changed his appearance and wore yellow robes to interact with our Taoist sect in order to understand its true nature. However, he later returned to Buddhism and became the greatest enemy of our Taoist sect!"

  As for this person, County Magistrate Zhang still had some resentment. He indeed received the teachings of the Shangqing school from a young age and was considered a Taoist.

  "Ah," Liu Bu-yi suddenly remembered. Who was this Fa Lin and Shang again!

  This Fa Lin monk was later known as the Tang Dynasty's protector of Buddhism, and at the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, he stood on the front line of the Buddhist-Taoist controversy, writing the famous " Treatise on the Two Teachings" which left a great reputation in historical records.

  "It was him!" Liu said: "No wonder then!"

  This monk was probably already famous in this prosperous year. Such a combat power bursting guy, no wonder the governor of Xiangyang also has some fear.

  "Is Falin from Xiangyang?" Liu Buji asked.

  Magistrate Zhang looked at Liu with surprise and said, "This monk is a layman surnamed Chen, originally from Yingchuan. His ancestors once held office in Xiangyang and stayed there..."

  This thing, Liu Bu Yi is now already deeply embroiled in it. Unless he immediately runs away with a slap on the butt, otherwise if he still wants to stay and operate here, he will probably end up confronting this monk sooner or later!

  By now, Liu Bu-yi had already understood why Magistrate Zhang wanted to tell him so much today.

  It seems that the Yin Gui faction behind him is not powerful enough to protect him. This county magistrate is so anxious that he's trying every possible means, and only now does he think of pulling himself in line with me.

  Never did the county magistrate think that he wasn't a top-notch disciple of the Daoist sect's direct lineage, nor was he even from this world.

  However, when Zhang Xianling handed over the surrender letter, Liu Buji still took it without hesitation. Even if Ci Hang Jingzhen appeared in front of him, he couldn't stop his way, let alone Fa Lin, who was nothing but a mere obstacle?

  "Don't worry, I've got this!"

  "Thanks a lot, brother!"

  Without saying a word, two clever people seem to have said nothing. But in private, they have already formed an unspoken understanding!

  The next day early in the morning, it was just the time for the market. In this remote county town, business was not too developed.

  If there were markets every day, there wouldn't be so many visitors, so generally they are held every other day.

  Every time the market is held, villagers from all over the county gather inside and outside the county town to buy and sell goods, with tens of thousands of people gathering together, making it very lively.

  Fu Shiwulang set out early in the morning with several elder brothers from his clan, starting before dawn and hurrying for over ten miles to arrive at the gate of Yincheng County.

  All along the way, they kept running into many people rushing to the fair, and the closer they got to Yincheng, the more people there were on the road.

  Fu Shiwulang couldn't help but get anxious, shouting: "Everyone hurry up, everyone hurry up! Look at how many people are here, we must have arrived late. The monkey performers might have already left!"