Hyper-Dimensional Player

Chapter 831 77: Annihilating Buddhism (Part 1)

Duncan's expression was rather regretful; with so many eunuchs here, he still hadn't found a talent like Zheng He.

He always acted unconventionally; even for eunuchs, as long as they had achievements, he could make them kings.

"Your Majesty."

When Duncan returned to the main hall, a pale-faced, beardless man hurriedly arrived and knelt down, saying, "News from Tibet."

"It's related to Master Untraceable."

Hmm?

Has the great monk encountered trouble?

Duncan reached out to take it, glanced at it, remained silent, and after a long while finally said, "He isn't dead, right?"

The eunuch kneeling on the ground replied, "Master Untraceable should be fine."

"But he killed a Dharma King from the Vajra Sect in the Western Regions."

Untraceable Monk went west, and what he saw was a bit shocking. It is said he went to the Potala Palace, but what exactly happened is unclear. However, rumors in the martial world say he fought a great battle with a Tibetan master and even killed a Dharma King from the Vajra Sect in the Western Regions.

During this time, the strength of Untraceable Monk has also advanced rapidly. Rumors have it that he fought several masters from the Western Regions alone, using the Flying Dragon Zen staff and wielding the chaotic wind staff technique, smashing a Dharma King's head before leaving calmly.

But he too should have been seriously injured, as after that battle, Untraceable Monk disappeared from sight.

"Send someone to keep an eye on things in the Western Regions."

Duncan ultimately did not intervene. To prove the Vajra Arhat, Untraceable Monk had to rely on himself for some things. If someday he succeeds, Duncan could even elevate him to the rank of Bodhisattva.

But given his current mindset, reaching the rank of Arhat would be the pinnacle.

"What about the news from Dali?" Duncan asked calmly.

The eunuch answered, "Our people haven't infiltrated Dali yet. The news from there comes from the Five Immortals sect."

"It's said the Duan clan of Dali has already sent people to prepare for tribute."

Duan Yu's ancestor.

For Duncan, not a piece of land belonging to Huaxia can be lacking, let alone Dali; any territories that belonged to Huaxia during the Qin and Han periods, he wants them all.

Dali is content to enjoy its isolated peace for now, no need to rush in handling it.

Duncan has other arrangements in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan. These places have too many ethnic minorities, not yet fully developed during this era. Only Ba and Shu have strategic value.

The twenty-seventh day after the fall of Later Shu.

Duncan returned to his loyal Xingwang Mansion, by this time the envoys sent by Southern Tang had already been here for many days.

It's quite laughable.

Li Yu is tightening the training of the Dragon Soaring Army while dispatching people for tribute, as if doing so can resist the trend and continue being an emperor safely.

"Your Majesty."

"The movements of the Buddhist community in Jinling have been unusual lately, and it's heard that an Arhat has descended, called 'Dragon Subduing.'" said Shanmu with a solemn expression.

Duncan destroyed Later Shu too quickly.

So fast that all forces couldn't react in time. After all, the speed of information spread in ancient times was slow. By the time they learned of the news, Ba and Shu were already mostly pacified.

In just two months, everything had changed.

"The Buddhist community?"

Upon hearing this, Duncan squinted his eyes slightly, a hint of killing intent appearing in his eyes, saying, "Dragon Subduing?"

"Have they heard the rumors about Mo Jiao?"

Shanmu, with her voluptuous figure, stepped forward and handed him a secret scroll respectfully, "Yes."

"It's said that a Saint Monk from the Buddhist community has emerged, with the ability to subdue dragons and tigers."

Dragon Subduing refers to Mo Jiao.

Subduing Tigers, most likely referring to Lu Shanjun.

There are already many stories about Duncan, with some gradually becoming mythical, akin to how the Roman Empire worshipped their emperor as a god. These are not his doing deliberately, but the existence of Lu Shanjun and Mo Jiao indeed brimmed with mythical color.

There are even rumors among the people that he is a reincarnation of a deity.

Dragon Subduing? Subduing Tigers?

Which Saint Monk from the Buddhist community has emerged under an alias?

Butterfly effect.

Perhaps it's due to the terrifying pressure brought by Duncan that the Buddhist community has placed significant weight on Li Yu. Although this person doesn't have much talent for being an emperor, he has one advantage: he is devoutly Buddhist.

Li Yu was called by Southern Tang minister Zhong Mo as 'fanatically devoted to Buddhism, weak and lacking virtue.'

This person was just sentenced to death last year.

Li Yu's original name was Li Congjia, and at that time someone asked to set up Duke Ji Li Congshan as the crown prince, but under the Buddhist community's support, everything proceeded according to the original historical trajectory. Moreover, after Li Yu's enthronement, his support for the Buddhist community exceeded before.

This June, Li Jing passed away, Li Congjia ascended the throne in Jinling, renamed Li Yu, honoring his mother Zhong as the Holy Empress Dowager (that is, Empress Dowager Zhong), and established his consort Zhou as Empress (that is, Empress Dowager Zhou).

After Li Yu ascended the throne, he ordered the creation of iron money and levied taxes, including the clergy, and issued numerous pro-Buddhist edicts.

Southern Tang, during Li Jing's time, due to frequent military campaigns, led to emptying the national treasury.

By the time of Li Yu, the national treasury was already exhausted, and to make up for the insufficient national use, Southern Tang's court replaced the previous policy of light taxes and rich people, levying various taxes from the citizens. Furthermore, because the Buddhist forces in Southern Tang enjoyed special treatment, temple land was exempted from paying taxes, and monks were not required to serve, many civilians unable to bear heavy burdens shaved their heads and entered monasteries.

Southern Han had many eunuchs.

Whereas Southern Tang had many monks.

Li Yu's reverence for Buddhism was no less than that of a fanatic, with numerous temples in the Southern Tang's palace grounds; in Jinling city, the temples are countless, and each time a temple was built, the court also allocated land for it.

This was just the beginning.

The things he did in the future became even more exaggerated, with money from the court recruiting civilians and Daoists to become monks, rewarding Daoists with two pieces of gold if they were willing to become monks.

Advising Daoists to become monks and even giving money is indeed the style of the Buddhist community.

Buddha said he only saves those with destiny.

Shanmu's expression was hesitant, saying softly, "Southern Tang has the ancestor's court of the Pure Land sect."

"Buddhism here is deeply rooted, with many masters."

Zhou Shizong Chai Rong's suppression of Buddhism wasn't completely thorough, as many Buddhists fled to Southern Tang. It can be said that his action to suppress Buddhism inadvertently gathered the entire Buddhist community together, establishing Southern Tang as its foundation to exist.

But that's also good, convenient for Duncan to wipe them out in one swoop.

"These bald monks' heads are unnecessary anymore; better to chop them off, not waste food, and send them to meet Buddha early."

Duncan is currently very short of money; the Later Shu's national treasury was squandered considerably by Meng Chang.

If you ask who has money now?

Southern Tang, Buddhism, indeed has money.

Southern Tang's temples enjoy privileges, accumulating wealth through rewards, offerings, and commercial operations (such as shops and mills); some large temples have vast lands comparable to noble clans.

Temples also engaged in lending, profiting through collateral loans, continuing the tradition of the northern and southern dynasties period temple lines.

There are even rumors among the people that the temple's grains, silk, and gold are so plentiful that their warehouses cannot store them all.

Why do a bunch of monks eat so well?

Bring it all here, please.

Duncan's mind was already made up; his killing intent was set, these monks would either lose their heads or go to the Potala Palace for discussions, without other options.

Just then.

Someone suddenly reported from outside the hall, "Your Majesty."

"Outside, there's a monk, self-proclaimed as Untainted, wanting to see you."

Untraceable, Untainted.

Both of Duncan's acquaintances within the Buddhist community appeared.

.........