Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Innocent Zither Player

  Li Shimin ascended the throne and, in order to show that he did not forget his old friends, rewarded the thirteen monks who had helped him defeat Wang Shichong. He conferred the title of Great General on Tan Zong and specially allowed the Shaolin monks to practice martial arts, kill animals, drink wine and eat meat.

  Li Yuanba heard the news and couldn't help but think maliciously: "Is this monk still a monk after drinking and eating meat? This is really strange, could Li Shimin have a leg with the monk?"

  Actually, Buddhist monks eating meat was not originally taboo. However, in our country's history, a lovely emperor appeared - Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty, Xiao Yan! He often left his ministers waiting in the imperial court because he believed in Buddhism and found a rule in the "Mahaparinirvana Sutra" that said: "Abstain from killing living beings." So he thought, if you can't thoroughly control killing, then start from the root. Learn by doing, simply don't allow eating meat! Meat can't be eaten, what's the use of killing? Once decided, immediate action was taken. An urgent decree was issued: Encourage the people to eat vegetarian food. Monks are not allowed to eat meat. Heaven and earth, gods and ancestors, enjoy the treatment of monks. As a result, monks all over the world followed suit, and eating meat became history!

  But Li Yuanba didn't mind these things, but a piece of news made Li Yuanba turn against the monks again!

  Li Yuanba really didn't know the details of history, to be honest, he was furious! In the Buddhist world, there was a monk named Jianzhen who wanted to go to Japan. He came to the shipyard and asked for a sturdy big boat, bringing two Japanese monks with him. The books they carried were as many as several carts! Monk Jianzhen appeared in the official history decades later, successfully crossing to Japan five times, bringing a large number of technologies and knowledge, no less than the contribution of Princess Wencheng helping Tibet! He was called "Tianping Zhifeng" by later generations of island nations, meaning that his achievements were enough to represent the pinnacle of Tianping era culture (meaning peak).

  Damn it, I built the ship to attack Little Japan, but you're helping Little Japan develop rapidly and get rid of ignorance! This is a naked traitor! The angry youth are not seen as otaku, but all otaku are definitely angry youth!

  Li Yuanba immediately ordered his men to capture the traitor and bring those two island monks to the government office. He wanted to ask clearly whether this was his personal opinion or the intention of the entire Buddhist community! In fact, it's very obvious, but Li Yuanba has been fighting foreign tribes and killing too much, he doesn't want to slaughter again in the nest! However, if these monks really don't know what's good for them, then don't blame Li Yuanba for being ruthless!

  "Amitabha! The Buddha's compassion, Your Majesty, I am deeply moved by the overseas friend's sincere heart in seeking Buddhism! Not afraid of thousands of miles and hardships to come to our Great Tang Dynasty to seek the Dharma, this is the ultimate transcendence! The Buddha said that if I don't enter hell, who will...". Before he could finish speaking, Jianzhen was slapped into a pancake by Li Yuanba! Li Yuanba and others brought him to the government office, came to the side hall and asked how this monk thought of going east to the island nation. But this damned monk...

  Can't listen to this anymore! It's fine that you're spreading Buddhist teachings, but why bring so many technical and cultural things from the Tang Dynasty? Li Yuanba had already taken a look at the books this guy brought before meeting Jianzhen. Inside, there were Buddhist meditation methods and teachings, the latest technology from the Tang Dynasty, geographical maps, humanistic knowledge, advanced agricultural tools, calendar systems, art, and even some lost martial arts classics...

  This traitor who moved the capital, Li Yuanba, how could he tolerate it! The Judo and Ninjutsu of that island nation in later generations... were actually passed down by this group of bastards and became someone else's signature martial art, with no relation to the great land of China whatsoever! And yet they still prattle on about what kind of nonsense like "you will not enter hell"... do you know how many Chinese sons and daughters died in vain under the butcher knives of that wolf-hearted dog-lunged island nation?!

  Li Yuanba couldn't take it anymore, his right hand swung and a giant hammer appeared out of thin air, smashing to death the legendary Jian Zhen who was said to have made great contributions to the exchange between the two countries. Li Yuanba suddenly smashed to death the righteous and majestic Jian Zhen, scaring the two Japanese monks who were with him, they cried out in fright and desperately squeezed their bodies into a corner of the wall.

  Li Yuanba is a killing devil in their eyes, more cruel than their own Japanese officers!

  Li Yuanba looked at the pile of flesh and thought to himself: "You scoundrel! As long as I'm in this world, I'll make sure the world only sees the brutality of my China, rather than the weakness that future generations will show!"

  "Get rid of these two things!" Li Yuanba said, and was about to walk out, but he changed his mind and came back in front of the two monks, picking one up for a closer examination.

  This monk doesn't look carefully, can't see what's coming out, but Li Yuanba observes at close range and finds that the monk's exposed skin has a scaly texture! There is a thin membrane in the ear hole, which appears and disappears mysteriously! The pupils of his eyes are mixed with several green spots, if there are a few more, they are almost the same as those of a snake!

  "Hey! What a strange race? Did they interbreed with snakes?" Li Yuanba threw down the one in his hand and picked up another to examine closely. The two monks felt as if they were being restrained by an invisible force, unable to move their fingers or even breathe!

  Li Yuanba looked for a while, felt bored, and casually let go and walked out. However, Li Yuanba felt that this island country was very abnormal. He had carefully observed three Japanese pirates, and they all had this inhuman characteristic, only with obvious and not-so-obvious differences! It seemed like the sci-fi world's bio-beasts, having beast-like characteristics. Could it be that this island nation has some strange martial arts?

  Li Yuanba had a strong desire to go to the island country! So he let his hands go and ask about the progress of the big ship, and also urged them again!

  Li Shimin's reward to the monk Tongzong made some officials also think about Buddhism. After all, every move of the emperor has a certain implication! Li Yuanba killed the monk Gan Zhen, which didn't seem to bother Li Shimin much, after all, he still had two foreign monks by his side, and it's likely that this monk was suspected of having private dealings with external enemies, so Li Yuanba might have just taken advantage of the situation to kill him!

  But Li Yuanba's move has raised the attention of the Buddhist community! Jianzhen is a descendant of the Southern Mountain School of the Vinaya School, and he has a very high status in the Buddhist community. He is also a master of medical skills. How could a monk possibly collect so many books? Li Yuanba didn't think much and killed him mercilessly, meaning to warn them to behave themselves! However, the higher-ups in the Buddhist community were discussing it heatedly, thinking that this killer might be planning to take action against the Buddhist community! So they asked Tangzong to keep an eye on Li Yuanba's every move, so if he plans to take action against the Buddhist community, they can have time to escape or make arrangements for the Buddhist scriptures...

  Li Yuanba had come out, and it was already deep in the night. He couldn't sleep for a while, so he started wandering around the huge mansion! Due to Li Yuanba's special status, Li Yuan and Li Shimin, after becoming emperors, kept sending troops and craftsmen to expand his residence. Now Li Yuanba's residence had almost become a small city! As he wandered, he came to the thousand-acre garden, where a faint sound of the guqin floated through the air. Li Yuanba was taken aback: "Huh? Someone else can't sleep in the middle of the night? But why do I feel like I've seen this scene many times before? TV dramas..."

  Li Yuanba felt very surprised at this familiar plot, mixed with a sense of intimacy. You know, the emergence of such a plot is quite classic! The most frequent narrative in movies and TV dramas is generally the classic encounter between the male and female protagonists!

  Li Yuanba followed the sound of the piano, turning left and right until he arrived at a small pavilion beside a beautiful brook in the center of the garden. And indeed! A stunning beauty was fully focused on playing the piano...

  This woman is dressed as a maid, and judging by her age, she's over 20 years old! At this time, if she hasn't married yet, she belongs to the category of high-age leftover women. Because there is no bun on her head, which was also a good intuitive condition for distinguishing women in ancient times! This woman has a beautiful face and a slender figure, and even the maid's uniform can't hide that stunning beauty!

  Li Yuanba couldn't hear where the ancient music was pleasant either, and directly came to this woman's side to interrupt her elegant interest...

  "Hmm? Who are you? Why are you still playing the piano so late, aren't you afraid of disturbing people's sleep?" Li Yuanba casually sat down on a stone bench and asked out of boredom.

  It's obvious that the person who can't sleep due to the noise is Li Yuanba, who just heard the sound of the guqin.

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