Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

Chang'an Promotion Office.

This place, which had only been newly established for less than a month, was actually a related institution set up by the Ministry of Rites, modeled after the Bingzhou Circuit News Bureau, by the Tang Dynasty court.

They directly operated the editing and printing of three newspapers: the Tang Daily, the Tang Commercial Daily, and the Tang Official Gazette, which was envisioned by Li Shimin and Fang Xuanling.

It should have at least overseen newspapers such as the "Datang Minbao" and the "Datang Junbao," but due to a shortage of manpower, it has not been able to launch such publications.

Even the promotion, efficiency, and circulation response of newspapers like the "Da Tang Daily" were far inferior to the "Da Tang Xin Bao" created by His Highness the Crown Prince in Bingzhou.

"Hahahaha! Good! This is the effect I want. Miracles of Buddha appear in various places. The time, place, and people are all in harmony. I have already given the Buddhist sect the right opportunity. If these bald monks really put in the effort, they should raise their banners quickly."

Ma Zhou's forehead was covered in cold sweat, standing beside him.

Crown Prince Li Chengqian held a report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, personally delivered by Commander Li Ke, and laughed heartily.

Li Ke frowned slightly.

“Brother, now the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Father’s Hundred Cavalry Division are sending messages by carrier pigeon. There are countless illegal activities in temples all over the country. These people probably already know what happened in Chang’an. If they don’t want to die, they will definitely try to make a move.”

"But the grand court assembly is just around the corner, and Father is about to usher in a new era..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Chengqian let out a cold snort.

"Does the Kaiyuan era not allow bloodshed? Our family's throne was won with blood, why are we bothering with these trivial matters now?"

"Clatter..."

Ma Zhou was so startled that he dropped the pen to the ground once again.

Li Chengqian glanced at the other person, hurriedly bent down to pick up the pen, and gave Li Ke a brief instruction.

"Father, the founding of the new dynasty should begin with a fresh and upright new look. If these sordid affairs of Buddhism are brought into the new dynasty, that would truly be a disgrace to the imperial family's prestige!"

He waved his hand.

"Order all prefectures, counties and districts to immediately arrest all illegal temples, preserve evidence, and send them to Chang'an."

"Father, in the Kaiyuan era, I believe they will be eager to offer their modest assistance at this time..."

"Hehe, it seems our father has long harbored interest in Buddhism. Look at the intelligence he's gathered; it's far superior to what the current Embroidered Uniform Guard can offer. Third brother, you still have a long way to go."

......

Have the Tang Dynasty royal family gone mad?

Jici Temple, Sizhou, Linhuai Prefecture, Henan Province.

Looking at the shocking contents of the message sent by carrier pigeon from Chang'an in his hand, Monk Cijing was filled with disbelief, and his mind went blank for a moment.

Immediately afterwards, images of the two great calamities that befell Buddhism in history involuntarily surfaced in my mind...

"Why is this happening? When has our Buddhist community ever harbored such thoughts? This is a baseless accusation, a baseless accusation indeed..."

The monk Cijing murmured.

As he frowned, his heart filled with anxiety, pondering how to help Buddhism overcome this calamity.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Host, are you there? Please come out and take a look!"

Monk Cijing was taken aback, then suddenly stood up.

"what happened?"

As soon as the door opened, he asked anxiously.

However, the monk who came to see him had an indescribably complicated expression on his face.

There was some excitement, but also a hint of deep worry.

"I...the host, I can't explain it clearly either, you should come and see for yourself."

When Abbot Cijing followed this monk from the back meditation room to the front incense hall, the scene before him was enough for him to understand the problem without him having to ask anything.

There were so many people!

Everywhere were devout men and women carrying incense sticks, some dressed in rags, others well-dressed—scholars, women, parents with children, and men and women who clearly came seeking marriage partners...

They almost completely filled their incense hall.

"Let me through first, I've been in line here for a while now."

"Hmph, who saw you arrive first? You stinking beggar, you think you're worthy to kneel before the holy Buddha? Get out of here!"

"Please, Holy Buddha, my belly has been empty for three years. If I can't give birth this year, I'm afraid I'll have to sleep on the streets. Please, Holy Buddha, Amitabha..."

"My turn, my turn! Holy Buddha, Holy Buddha, I swear this is the last time. After this, I will never gamble again. I beg you, Holy Buddha, please bless me to win this time and win back my land, my wife, and my daughters..."

Silver coins, copper coins, and even a few loose pieces of gold as offerings were continuously thrown into the box in front of the Buddhist altar.

The monks were so busy that their feet barely touched the ground.

Despite their doubts, they wondered why so many devout men and women had suddenly come to worship Buddha today. Even though it was almost New Year's Eve, shouldn't people come to worship Buddha after New Year's Eve?

Moreover... this number seems a bit too outrageous.

“Abbot, we have already added incense and candles five times today, but people keep coming in droves. I have heard that there is a true Buddha in our Jici Temple, and as long as you make offerings, your wishes will come true.”

"They say it's all over the place..."

The monk Cijing gasped in shock. His face, which was already fair from years of vegetarianism and chanting Buddhist scriptures, was now deathly pale.

This is the royal family, the imperial court is pulling the strings behind the scenes!

It must be them!

They're trying to ruin Buddhism by praising it too much!

"Quickly! Close the temple gates immediately and say that Jici Temple has run out of incense offerings for today. Tell the next group to come another day. Hurry up and go!"

"Someone, go quickly to Fufa Temple and see if they are in the same situation as us! After finding out, come back and report immediately."

The monk Cijing became anxious.

The abbots of the major temples in the Tang Dynasty, who also realized something was wrong, instantly felt an absurd sense of having a knife to their throats.

He hurriedly used his connections to try and find out more.

however.

"Master, please return. Our master is unwell today and is unable to receive guests."

"This...I wonder if the old lady is at home? This humble monk has brought a superior scripture with me..."

"I'm sorry, Master, our matriarch returned to our ancestral home yesterday to pay respects to our ancestors, and she is not at home today."

"I'm sorry, Master, our magistrate is very busy with official duties today and cannot see you. How about another day?"

"I'm sorry, Master, the Prefect has gone to inspect the people's conditions elsewhere and is not in the residence..."

Officials in Henan and Hebei provinces, who had received the directives earlier, all closed their doors to visitors.

Even some of those who used to be close to these Buddhist people.

They also avoided each other as if fleeing a plague, closing their doors and drawing a clear line between themselves and others.

The masters and holy monks who once seemed to be thriving in the officialdom suddenly felt an invisible force, like a flood overflowing a dam.

It is gradually eroding their vitality.

The treatment of Buddhist monks in official circles and among ordinary people is like night and day.

"No! We must go to Chang'an immediately. There must be some misunderstanding in this matter. Even if some Buddhist groups are acting illegally, how innocent are our temples?"

"We must meet with His Majesty. He has always shown kindness to our Buddhist community. There must be some misunderstanding. Why go to such lengths?!"

"..."

The grand assembly is approaching.

The temples around Chang'an, which were once bustling with incense smoke, are now eerily silent.

However, temples in other areas of the Tang Dynasty were experiencing a surge in popularity, with pilgrims flocking to them daily.

The people's enthusiasm for that Buddhist temple far surpassed that for the government offices of those honest officials.

It's as if a Buddhist kingdom already stands in one's heart.

Changan.

Another day.

Amidst the grand music, Li Chengqian, dressed in the crown prince's robes, followed the instructions of the Ministry of Rites officials and the pre-rehearsed procedures, step by step, into the main hall with the other officials.

Today, the Taiji Hall is more magnificent and luxurious than ever before.

Zhang Gongjin, the Minister of Rites, personally recited the prayer aloud.

"Under the heavens, in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, auspicious clouds abound."

"The country is prosperous and the people are at peace; the world is at peace, and all the people are smiling."

"Possessing both literary and martial talents, with an elegant demeanor, their influence spread throughout the land..."

"Now that the new emperor has begun his reign, all his ministers pay their respects!"

"Bye~"

Li Chengqian followed the assembled officials and bowed in respect.

The musicians played pieces that were both unrestrained and sacred.

Li Chengqian looked at his father, Emperor Li Shimin, who was now dressed in all the imperial attire reserved for the celebration, his face hidden behind the crown.

"I hereby declare that today marks the beginning of a new era, named Zhenguan."

"The way of Heaven and Earth is that of Zhenguan."

May our Great Tang Dynasty forever uphold its righteous spirit, have countless talented individuals, ensure the prosperity of its people, and bring peace to its land!

"We will obey Your Majesty's instructions!"

Zhang Gongjin proclaimed again, "I bow again!"

After the formalities were completed, Li Chengqian sat down at the front of the hall, on the side closest to the throne. Beside him were his younger brothers, Li Ke and others, all dressed in their finest attire.

"Brother, quick, look at Cheng Yaojin! Hehe, he's practically drooling! What title do you think Father will bestow upon him?"

Li Tai muttered to himself.

Li Chengqian glanced indifferently in the direction the other person had indicated.

In fact, it wasn't just Cheng Yaojin; even the usually reserved and restrained civil officials like Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and Changsun Wuji clearly had a hint of impatience in their eyes.

"At least a Duke."

Li Chengqian didn't say much, just like the Duke of Lu, Hou Junji, who still dutifully guarded Bingzhou's foundation at Yanmen Pass even during the New Year holidays.

Cheng Yaojin and his ilk will likely behave much like their historical counterparts.

He was granted the title of Duke.

As expected, the officials from the Ministry of Rites on Zhang Gongjin's side began to read out the names one by one according to the imperial edict of investiture.

The famous ministers of the Zhenguan era finally became the true elites of the Tang Dynasty.

Fang Xuanling was granted the title of Duke of Xing.

Du Ruhui was enfeoffed as the Duke of Cai.

Changsun Wuji was enfeoffed as the Duke of Zhao.

Cheng Yaojin was enfeoffed as the Duke of Lu.

Yuchi Jingde was enfeoffed as the Duke of Wu...

All the former officials of the Qin Prince's Mansion and the Tian Ce Mansion who participated in the Xuanwu Gate Incident were granted titles at today's grand court assembly, just as they had hoped.

After that, it was Li Chengqian's younger brothers.

Prince Li Ke of Han, Prince Li Tai of Wei, Prince Li You of Chu, Prince Li Yin of Liang...

As Li Chengqian pondered how to discipline and train his younger brothers, and how to ensure they would truly become wise kings who could expand the Tang Dynasty's territory and govern their regions, he realized that this was the time for him to be able to achieve this.

A sudden voice startled him.

"Crown Prince Li Chengqian, step forward to receive your title!"