The commander of the guards on duty at the city gate looked at the dozens of monks in front of him who were carrying wooden boxes and holding staffs, and asked in a deep voice: "Where do you come from, masters, and what are you doing?"
The leader, an old monk, clasped his hands together and pronounced the Buddha's name: "Amitabha, the poor monk and others came from southern Xinjiang to deliver a batch of gifts to Emperor Qin on the orders of my Buddha Tathagata."
"I also hope that the general will inform Emperor Qin on his behalf. The poor monk and others have sent gifts, and they have to return to southern Xinjiang to restore their lives to me, Buddha Tathagata."
The commander of the imperial guard frowned slightly and asked, "Where is the gift?"
The old monk took off the wooden box on his back and opened the lid, only to see a stream of spiritual energy escaping from it, which was refreshing.
"Mid-grade treasures of heaven and earth?"
The commander of the Imperial Guard couldn't help but exclaimed when he saw it. Since His Majesty decreed the control of mid-grade and above heavenly materials and earthly treasures last year, it has been difficult to see such a large number of mid-grade heavenly materials and earthly treasures on the market at one time.
This group of monks turned out to be here to pay tribute.
The commander of the imperial guards reacted quickly. When he glanced at the wooden boxes on the other monks' backs from the corner of his eye, he couldn't help but be surprised again.
Could it be that what these monks carry on their backs are all middle-grade treasures of heaven and earth?
For some reason, the commander of the Imperial Guard was amazed, and felt a sense of pride in his heart. This is our Western Qin, and we are subject to submission from all directions. Even people who are outsiders must take the initiative to pay tribute to ensure safety.
"Several masters have come a long way and must be very hardworking. Please come here to sit for a while and drink hot tea. I will immediately arrange for someone to enter the palace to inform Your Majesty and see how Your Majesty arranges it."
The old monk saluted the commander of the imperial guards: "Amitabha, this poor monk represents Buddhism. I would like to thank the general for his accommodation."
The commander of the imperial guards smiled heartily and said: "Hahahaha, master, you're welcome."
"Lao San, Lao San, you guys come here quickly and take all the masters to the city gate tower to rest."
"Zhang Chu, please go to the palace immediately and tell His Majesty the news that all the masters have come from afar."
"Master, I am responsible for my duties, so I will not accompany you. I have already given instructions to my subordinates, and I will never treat you lightly."
The old monk smiled and said, "General, you're welcome."
Under the order of the commander of the imperial guards, a man called Lao San hurried over and brought dozens of monks to the city gate tower.
The imperial guard camp general named Zhang Chu ran towards the palace as fast as flying.
…
In the Western Qin Palace, after hearing the report from the chamberlain, Lin Ze had a look of surprise on his face: "The God of Mount Tai is very efficient. In just one year, he has managed to keep the Buddhist sect in order."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, as the saying goes, if you don't die when you are old, you are a thief. You have lived so many years in vain. The means are good."
"When you come, tell me my decree, announce that the leading monk will come to see you, and also order the Imperial Guard to take the Buddhist tribute items into the inner treasury without any mistakes."
The chamberlain bowed and said, "My slave, I obey."
After a while, the old monk was taken to Yongle Hall, where Lin Ze handled government affairs daily.
The old monk clasped his hands together, bent down and saluted: "Amitabha, poor monk Guangji, has met His Majesty the Qin Emperor."
"This poor monk, on the orders of my Buddha Tathagata, brings the most sincere greetings to His Majesty the Qin Emperor, as well as one thousand and five hundred treasures of heaven and earth, and please accept it with His Majesty's Majesty the Qin Emperor."
Lin Ze said with a smile: "Tell Tathagata Buddha for me that I like his gift very much, and I also wish him to see the great path and Buddhism prosper."
Guang Ji said with a smile on his face: "His Majesty the Qin Emperor spoke so eloquently that the poor monk dared to thank the Buddha."
Lin Ze said calmly: "Forget the polite words, I am very curious about Tathagata Buddha. I wonder if Master Guangji can tell me about the deeds of Tathagata Buddha?"
Lin Ze was indeed curious. Although there were no strong people in the Heavenly Realm in Buddhism, there was no reason why it would be so easy to conquer them.
The methods used by Mount Tai Shenjun may give him a lot of inspiration.
The smile on Guang Ji's face became thicker, but his attitude was still respectful: "Since His Majesty the Qin Emperor asked, the poor monk naturally knew everything and could not stop talking about it. However, the glorious deeds of my Buddha Tathagata are too many, and the poor monk does not know how to talk about it.
.”
Lin Ze thought for a while and said: "Then you can briefly explain where Tathagata Buddha came from, why he is called Tathagata Buddha, and what is his goal?"
Well, an adapted version of Three Philosophical Questions: Who am I, where do I come from, and what will I do?
Guangji thought for a moment and replied in a deep voice: "I, Buddha Tathagata, was born in the birth of heaven and earth. After hundreds of eons, I founded Buddhism, so I am called Tathagata Buddha by believers."
"My Buddha, Tathagata, aims to save the world and has made a great wish. I hope that everyone can ascend to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, be free from worries, disasters, and be happy and healthy."
Lin Ze had a playful look on his face when he heard this, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, the old magic stick is extraordinary, he can fool people into lameness easily."
Just when Lin Ze was still about to ask, Wu Fan hurriedly came over and bowed down and said, "Your Majesty, I just led people to measure the Jianmu Sacred Tree. As of the third quarter of the hour, it totaled one hundred and eighty-five feet and six feet."
Three inches, seven minutes and two centimeters.”
Lin Ze no longer bothered to ask Guang Ji, and frowned slightly: "Since yesterday, I have only grown three feet, nine inches and four minutes taller. What's going on?"
"Is it because there are not enough heavenly materials and earthly treasures, or are there too few people worshiping?"
Since Linze launched the Heaven Sacrifice to revive the Jianmu Sacred Tree last year, Wu Fan has specially arranged for Wu Fan to record the growth height of the Jianmu Sacred Tree every day in order to adjust the dosage of "fertilization".
Facts have proved that Lin Ze's worries are not unreasonable. No matter how many heavenly materials and earthly treasures are consumed, and how many people worship and contribute their faith, the maximum height that the Jianmu Sacred Tree can grow every day is a little more than six feet.
In order to make rational use of resources, Lin Ze used the method derived from Xiao Jin to strictly control the amount of natural resources and earthly treasures as well as the amount of faith provided.
One year has passed, and the Jianmu Sacred Tree has grown to 186 feet smoothly and healthily.
During this process, Lin Zelu received some gifts from Heaven one after another, and his strength increased by more than three times compared to before.
A year ago, if Lin Ze had not used the two great powers of knowing destiny and defying destiny, he would definitely not be a match for Buddha, Confucian saints and others.
Now, he has enough confidence to compete with the Master of the Tongtian Sword, the Buddha, the Confucian Sage, and the Master.
Zhuang Zhou also gained a lot of benefits. Not only him, but also the ordinary people who worshiped sincerely and provided the power of faith were more or less favored.
For example, many ordinary people get what they want, such as seeking children, curing diseases, seeking marriage, seeking wealth, etc.
As a result, the Jianmu Sacred Tree is so famous that many people come here to worship it and seek peace of mind.
If Lin Ze hadn't arranged for guards to limit the number of people and hours of daily worship, there would have been countless holes around the Jianmu Sacred Tree.
In this way, the power of faith, one of the conditions for the growth of the Jianmu Sacred Tree, was successfully resolved.
In terms of treasures of heaven, materials and earth, a team of people go to the inner treasury every morning to collect the prepared portions, and bring the list to the guards guarding the Jianmu Sacred Tree. After confirming that the physical objects are consistent with the list, they are all buried in the Jianmu Sacred Tree.
nearby soil.
It's not that no one wants to take the attention of these treasures of heaven and earth. After Lin Ze killed ten people in the entire clan within five days, such people suddenly became extinct.
The people responsible for building the sacred tree all come from official families and have their families and relatives. They have learned from past mistakes and it is basically impossible for them to take the risk of being exterminated.
Wu Fan bowed and replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I have asked Sage Zhuang Zhou, and he said that the Jianmu Sacred Tree may have entered the second stage, and the daily growth limit may change."
"Whether there has been a specific change, and how big the change is, we have to wait until the growth situation comes out tomorrow to determine."
Lin Ze frowned slightly when he heard this and said, "The second stage?"
It’s only over 600 meters and we’re entering the second stage?
The growth rate decreases. How many years does it take to grow to break through the sky and connect to the heaven?
How many years must the roots extend downward before they can reach the Nine Netherworld?
Lin Ze decided to go see what was going on, so he turned to Guangji and said, "Master Guangji, I am suddenly in a hurry, so I stopped listening to the master's talk about Buddha's deeds. After the master returned, he said hello to the Buddha for me.
When I have time, I will travel to southern Xinjiang and discuss things with him."
Guang Ji bowed and said: "I will definitely bring the message to you. Your Majesty, Emperor Qin, please rest assured."
"Wu Fan, please give Master Guangji a ride for me."
After Lin Ze said this, he disappeared into Yongle Hall.