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

why?

Why......

Even if Lu Wenhu was stupid, he would understand by now that everything that happened in Pyongyang was under the control of Wang Qingyun and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Furthermore, the fact that Cui Jun is now instigating those aristocratic families to rebel may well be due to Wang Qingyun and his group secretly pushing things along behind the scenes.

He was furious that Wang Qingyun had broken his sworn brotherhood vow.

He was puzzled. They could have cooperated with the Lu family of Fanyang and appeased both internally and externally, which would have won over the vast majority of the aristocratic families. This was also the original purpose when the court appointed his uncle Lu Zhaojing as the prime minister of Pyongyang.

But why is it that everyone except him seems to treat this so-called goal as a joke?

This man, who once fought fearlessly against the cavalry of the Eastern Turks, and against the elite troops of Tibet and Harsha, felt that everything he had known before seemed strange and laughable at this moment.

He felt a chill.

A chill that no amount of force could withstand.

Wang Qingyun watched him quietly until the other man was lost in thought, as if his heart had died, and remained silent and numb, before she calmly spoke.

"Did Lu Zhaojing surrender or die?"

Lu Wenhu raised his eyes and looked at his sworn brother with a cold gaze for the first time.

He sneered, "You think Governor Wang doesn't know?"

Standing nearby, Zheng Wuyang anxiously asked, "Big brother, second brother, he..."

"Don't call me 'Big Brother'!!!"

Lu Wenhu roared, "What were our vows when the three of us brothers swore brotherhood? You've all forgotten, haven't you? You two have long forgotten! But I haven't forgotten!!!"

"Since we've become brothers, we should be willing to lay down our hearts and souls and entrust our lives to each other!"

"Blessings shared are like sweet spring water, and hardships shared are like a rock."

"Even if swords and axes are brought upon us, we will not change our vows; even if we encounter towering waves, we will not waver like pine and cypress."

"If I break this oath, may I be condemned by both gods and men, and may Heaven and Earth forbid me; if I keep this oath, may the mountains and rivers bear witness, and may it never be broken!"

"I haven't forgotten!!!" Lu Wenhu roared.

However, Lu Wenhu was met with Wang Qingyun's extremely calm eyes, which showed no emotion whatsoever. He waited patiently for Lu Wenhu to catch his breath before speaking again.

“Master Fuhu, this is the imperial court. Our family has been glorious for hundreds and thousands of years. Even mountains and rivers can change course or collapse with the passage of time. Power is like a sand dune ten thousand feet high.”

"It is high, but it is also dangerous."

"You are not suited for the political arena. From now on, find a place you like and recite scriptures and worship Buddha."

He no longer expected Lu Wenhu to offer him any help at this moment. With a wave of his hand, the army behind him once again advanced slowly towards Pyongyang.

They knew perfectly well that Cui Jun and the other rebels were making every effort to prepare for defense and were mobilizing forces from various places.

However, Wang Qingyun and his group's unhurried demeanor at this moment was clearly a deliberate attempt to give the other side time to gather.

When Lu Wenhu, looking utterly dejected, rode his horse into the Dragon Bone City of Pyongyang.

The flag of the Tang Dynasty was prominently displayed atop the city wall.

Dragonbone City is close to the main road to Liaodong Road, and there is a port not far to the south. Lu Wenhu could clearly see the traces of fierce fighting here, but he did not see a single corpse.

His face grew increasingly ashen.

Even a fool could imagine that Cui Jun and his men probably wouldn't last a month, and at best, they would be hunted down and forced to flee into some mountains and forests.

Then one day, he was bound hand and foot and taken to Chang'an to apologize.

"Amitabha......"

A familiar Buddhist chant reached my ears.

Lu Wenhu turned his head blankly, only to see a familiar figure standing quietly not far from the city gate, smiling at him.

He rode up to the other man and took out the Buddhist ordination certificate that his uncle had given him from his bosom.

"Did you give this to the Grand Chancellor?"

Xuanzang smiled and shook his head: "This item was bestowed by His Highness. It was given to Prime Minister Lu when he went to take up his post in Pyongyang. His Highness is fair in distinguishing between merits and demerits. Master Fuhu, your merit in setting up the Embroidered Uniform Guard in India deserves this reward."

reward.....

Lu Wenhu chewed on this rather ironic word.

The moment the mountain of truth was revealed, the immense weight of politics pressed down on him, leaving him utterly numb and unable to resist.

He listlessly put away the ordination certificate, then looked at Xuanzang in front of him: "Were you waiting for me here all morning?"

Xuanzang still wore that pretentious, profound smile.

Upon hearing this, he uttered a loud Buddhist chant: "Amitabha... This is the Dharma of our Buddha. Master Fuhu, I have told you more than once that you have wisdom. All the past events are like smoke and illusion, confusing and deceiving. But in the end, we will meet again. Amitabha."

Lu Wenhu, who was originally feeling completely exhausted, suddenly found himself with a burst of strength that could be used to beat someone up.

Just as he was pondering whether or not to raise his horse's hoof and leave a large horseshoe mark on the bald monk's head.

A call suddenly came from afar.

"Master! Master, I've gotten some alms!"

He turned his head and saw a handsome young monk running towards him, carrying a begging bowl.

Xuanzang smiled and said, "Amitabha. This is a new disciple of mine. Like Master Fuhu, he is a person with Buddhist wisdom. His Dharma name is Bianji."

Bianji ran up to Lu Wenhu and looked at him. He had a fierce appearance and looked like he had been through a battle. But his face suddenly turned serious.

He clasped his hands together and chanted Buddhist mantras in front of Lu Wenhu.

“Amitabha, benefactor, our dynasty now stipulates that one cannot enter the Buddhist order through self-liberation. If you truly wish to enter our Buddhist order, you must submit an application to the Ministry of Rites and participate in the debate on scriptures. Even if you pester us, it will be of no use.”

Lu Wenhu's lips twitched, and the fierce glint in his eyes became even more pronounced.

"Xuanzang, you really should gouge out your eyes and throw them away. What about this kid shows any signs of wisdom?"

Xuanzang laughed.

However, after laughing a few times, he became serious again and introduced the subject to his apprentice Bianji.

"This is Master Fuhu, a high-ranking monk who once traveled west with me to convert India. His Buddhist teachings are powerful and have converted countless lost souls. You must not treat him with disrespect in the future."

Bianji stared wide-eyed, unable to believe the bloodstains still visible above his head.

Although he had a completely bald head, he was also wearing a monk's robe.

But the way he was riding a warhorse didn't make him look like a high-ranking monk at all...

but.....

Bianji glanced again at Lu Wenhu's bulging muscles, which resembled tree roots, and couldn't help but swallow hard.

The intensity and forcefulness of Buddhism is indeed true.

Lu Wenhu remained silent, looking at Xuanzang.

The other party's presence here must mean something.

Sure enough, the next moment he saw Xuanzang take out a document-like thing from his bosom and hand it to him.

"His Highness the Crown Prince wishes to have our Buddhist sect spread Mahayana Buddhism to the Arab world to enlighten people. Therefore, this humble monk has taken the liberty of including you, Master Fuhu, in the missionary list..."

After speaking, Xuanzang solemnly and reverently clasped his hands together in front of Lu Wenhu.

"Master Fuhu, do not be attached to the mortal world any longer."

Lu Wenhu stared blankly at the document in his hand, then turned back to look in the direction of Pyongyang, the city he had come from.

He murmured involuntarily.

"Xuanzang, didn't you say I have the potential for enlightenment? How come I can't help those people?"

Xuanzang smiled, but his eyes gestured to his disciple Bianji to move the luggage onto Lu Wenhu's warhorse, and he replied casually.

"Buddhism cannot save everyone, therefore those who are lost in the world and unwilling to let go need to understand some military strategy..."