Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

After hearing Zhi Qian's resounding "Yes," Wang Su nodded and bowed to Cao Rui, saying:

"Your Majesty, Buddhism in China originated from the White Horse Temple in Luoyang during the reign of Emperor Ming. For over a hundred years, it has brought no benefit to the court or the people. Moreover, it often does not engage in production, frightens the people with talk of hell, and deceives them into donating money by talking about the afterlife. Buddhism originally came from the Western Regions and has brought no benefit to China whatsoever. Its false talk of the afterlife is contrary to the rites and teachings."

"Your Majesty, I request that you expel the Buddhist monks back to the Western Regions, so that the people of Great Wei may not believe in this religion of the Western Regions, in order to rectify the teachings and clarify the truth!"

This was the Northern Palace of Luoyang, where the majesty of the emperor and the court was not something anyone could withstand. Upon hearing Wang Su's words, Zhi Qian prostrated himself on the ground and began chanting Buddhist mantras, his voice low and noisy, making it difficult to hear clearly. This caused everyone in the study to frown in disgust.

Cao Rui said, "Minister Wang, isn't this a bit too harsh?"

Wang Su said solemnly, "Buddhism is a foreign religion that has not yet taken root in the Great Wei. There is no need for such a religion to cause trouble. Moreover, the Great Wei never listened to Buddhism during the reigns of Emperor Wu and Emperor Wen, and the court had no dealings with Buddhism during the Taihe era. This is a religion that Sun Quan revered in Wu, and it is revered and supported by rebels. The Great Wei should naturally reject it."

Cao Rui paused for a few moments, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, and slowly said, "Minister Wang is the Confucian master of the land. Since Minister Wang has made this request, then I will grant it. But how should we expel him?"

Wang Su said, “The Great Wei Dynasty is naturally magnanimous. I believe that the few remaining Buddhist temples in various regions should be demolished, their clay sculptures and bronze statues destroyed, and converted into official schools for scholars to study the scriptures. All Buddhist books written in the Western Regions should be burned, and the monks of the Western Regions should be given money and sent back to the Western Regions!”

“Alright, let’s do it that way.” Cao Rui waved his hand: “Guards, please escort this Buddhist monk Zhi Qian out. This matter will be handled by the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel, with assistance from all the prefectures and counties.”

"Zhi Qian, you may rise as well."

Zhi Qian calmly stood up, clasped his hands together, and bowed his head, saying, "Since the Holy Emperor has given the order, this humble monk and the Buddhist sect will naturally obey. The Great Wei does not believe in Buddhism today, which is because the karmic connection has not yet been established. Perhaps the Buddhist sect will return from the West in the future."

"Let's talk about it another day." Cao Rui waved his hand, and then two armored soldiers followed behind Zhi Qian, half-pushing and half-dragging him out.

At this moment, Zhang Sheng and Ge Xuan in the hall were as nervous as children.

Cao Rui then asked, "The Five Pecks of Rice sect... Zhang Sheng, you said your great-grandfather Zhang Daoling received immortal techniques from the Supreme Daoist Master. Have you learned any of them?"

Seeing that his Five Pecks of Rice sect had been completely dismantled by Wang Su in just a few words, Zhang Sheng dared not utter a single word. He could only bow deeply and slowly say:
"Your Majesty, I dare to say that the Five Pecks of Rice sect was once used in Ba and Han. At that time, Hanzhong was in a period of chaos, and my father used the Five Pecks of Rice sect to stabilize the people. When Emperor Wu came to Hanzhong, my father surrendered the land and the treasury of Hanzhong to him, and Emperor Wu granted my father a fief of ten thousand households. The Five Pecks of Rice sect now exists in name only. Although it has believers, it has nothing to do with the old practice of paying rice."

"I beg Your Majesty to show mercy!"

After saying this, Zhang Sheng also knelt down on the ground.

Cao Rui frowned slightly: "Zhang Sheng, I'm asking you if you know those immortal techniques, don't bring up other things."

Zhang Sheng shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, my family has passed down immortal techniques, but I am too dull-witted to master them. It can only be left for future generations to learn them. Therefore, I do not know any immortal techniques." Cao Rui fell silent.

Zhang Sheng appeared frank, but he concealed many things. Wang Su judged the Five Pecks of Rice Sect based solely on its organization, but Cao Rui had previously sent people to inquire about its followers and learned that the sect claimed to ascend to heaven and eliminate disasters.

To ascend to immortality, one must consume elixirs or practice the "method of controlling women." The bedroom arts that Zuo Ci spoke of when he was summoned to Ye City by Cao Cao were one such method. Ascension to immortality, however, is now a method exclusively for the Zhang family. After Zhang Lu's death in Ye City, rumors circulated that he had ascended to immortality, but Cao Pi, who was then stationed in Ye City, easily suppressed them with a single finger.

To achieve immortality through "corpse liberation" is far more difficult. The Taiping Jing once mentioned this method, but only said that only one in a million people could achieve immortality through "corpse liberation," which is irrelevant to most believers.

When it comes to the so-called "paying five pecks of rice to become a believer," there are many methods involved, such as warding off disasters and sins and achieving harmony between men and women, thus giving the act of paying taxes a religious veneer.

Cao Rui then looked at Ge Xuan: "Ge Xuan, you are known as the Celestial Master in Wu. Do you know any immortal arts?"

"Your Majesty." Ge Xuan's demeanor was much more natural than Zhang Sheng's. On the surface, he still looked like a sage, and he spoke in an orderly manner: "The immortal method I cultivate is called the alchemy method. It is not the same as becoming an immortal in broad daylight. Even if you cultivate it to the ultimate level, it is nothing more than becoming an immortal through corpse liberation."

"The methods involved require decades of arduous practice to attain. The so-called Dao of Alchemy uses the body as a furnace, essence and qi as medicine, and spirit to refine the golden elixir. In detail, it combines visualization, qi circulation, and swallowing saliva."

"Below the azure sky, the moon and sun rise together, merging into one. Emerging from the jade pool and entering the golden chamber, it is the size of a bullet, yellow as an orange, containing a delicious flavor, sweet as honey. If you can obtain it, be careful not to lose it. Once gone, it cannot be retrieved, and the body will perish. The pure white energy, extremely subtle and dense, rises through the dark gate, winding three times. The inner elixir shines brightly, unparalleled. Standing at the gate of life, the form does not end. How profound and wondrous, how difficult to fathom..."

Ge Xuan spoke for a long time, and Cao Rui listened quietly without offering any rebuttal. Only after Ge Xuan finished speaking did he nod slightly in response:

“Ge Xuan, it seems you do possess some real skills. At least compared to the blind faith of the Way of Great Peace and the superstitious beliefs of the Five Pecks of Rice sect, you have a touch of magical power.”

"Your Majesty is a sage ruler, how dare I deceive you? When my late master, Master Zuo, and I were passing on our skills, we often used deceptive methods to gain the faith of our followers, thereby accumulating wealth to support our own cultivation of alchemy. These deceptive methods cannot be used in the face of Your Majesty's fortune. The Dao cannot be lightly transmitted, and my alchemy is not as widely practiced as the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, the Way of Great Peace, or Buddhism. It can only be practiced by those with exceptional aptitude, and there is no concept of an afterlife."

"As for whether one can succeed in cultivating the Tao, I cannot offer any guarantee whatsoever."

Cao Rui sighed softly: "The people of the world are all different, and everyone needs a foundation to stand on. For you, there are two foundations to stand on."

"Firstly, you served your sovereign with sincerity and never lied to me. Secondly, you were well-informed about the overall situation. I remember your past contributions in coming from Wuchang to Jianye to persuade Sun Quan and Gu Yong, and in Echeng to persuade the garrison commander Sun Lin to surrender."

"You may remain here." Cao Rui glanced at Zhang Sheng indifferently. "Zhang Sheng, you may return now. This is all I have to say to you today." (End of Chapter)