After all, Cen Shen was a scholar with a broad vision. He quickly figured it out. He clapped his hands happily and said to Li Siye: "I understand. You are like Fan Zhen in the Southern Dynasties. You think there is no god in the world and you don't believe in anything. Is it possible that you don't even believe in your ancestors?
"
"It is natural to respect our ancestors, because we are what we are today because of them. But it is nonsense to say that offering sacrifices to ancestors can protect you from generations of wealth."
Cen Shen looked a little embarrassed, because his Cen family was considered a small and prominent local family, and they firmly believed in ancestor worship.
Li Siye immediately waved to him and said, "Go and do it quickly. Notify the Sa Bao of the Zoroastrian Temple and try to make the ceremony as grand as possible."
Kangju is indeed rich and rich in products. In just a few days, King Kang Yuan raised 80,000 dendrobium of grain from the city and surrounding areas. This grain was made into dry food, which could satisfy the needs of 40,000 people for more than two months.
, enough for the Tang army and its retinue to carry out the next expedition.
On this day at the end of November, the north wind was bleak and the cold wind was biting. The largest Sabaozhuo Temple in Kangju City underwent a series of decorations and repairs. The road in front of the temple was paved with loess. Tens of thousands of Zoroastrian believers stood in front of the temple.
On both sides, Doctor Li, the Jiedushi envoy from Qixi, was welcomed to pay homage.
The elders and Sa Bao of Zoroastrianism are also very clear that they are not only impacted by the Great Food Cult, but also Buddhism and Nestorianism are constantly competing with them for living space. To be able to gain the attention and belief of the supreme ruler of the Tang Army in the Western Regions, for Zoroastrianism
Their position in the river was strengthened and stabilized. At the same time, they could unite the majority of the Sogdians for Li Siye. It was a win-win cooperation between the two parties, but no one mentioned this utilitarian factor.
Seeing through but not telling off is the nature of religious leaders.
Li Siye also put on the white clothes worn by Zoroastrian soldiers today, which represents the purity of faith. The only person following him was Cen Shen. As for the other generals of the Tang army, he did not force them to follow him. He could do this alone.
.
He followed the path of the believers and came to the steps of the Zoroastrian Temple. Sabao walked down the steps, saluted him with his arms crossed, and then said: "Please pray to Ahura Mazda, the God of Wisdom and Light."
Li Siye, a loyal believer, entered the Zoroastrian Temple with me to worship the gods and worship the holy fire."
Li Siye followed his example and returned the favor with his arms crossed: "It is an honor for me to be favored and blessed by the God of Horses, and it is also the greatest happiness in my life."
He gave Mazda a rather earthy name, which slightly aroused Sabo's displeasure. However, Sabo then thought about it and realized that this guy didn't really believe it in the first place. The two parties just cooperated tacitly, so there was no need to argue.
too much.
The two of them walked into the main hall of the Zoroastrian Temple one after another. There were mottled stone pillars erected in the hall. The first impression of the space was that it was wide and deep, which made people feel awe and solemnity. The surrounding walls were uneven,
Like the back of the moon that has been struck by strong winds, there is a stone nest every few steps. There are torches in the stone nests, exuding the smell of pine.
There is a stone platform at the end of the hall. There is a raging fire burning in the stone basin on the platform. This is the so-called holy fire. Legend has it that it was the first fire brought by Mazda to the world. It spread all the fires in the world.
On the opposite wall hangs the gold badge of the sect. The pattern of the badge is an old man with a beard leaning on his side, with eagle wings and tail.
Sabao led Li Siye to kneel in front of the brazier, taught him a series of oaths in Sogdian, and then gave him a piece of white cloth and a small tray with a needle in the tray.
Sabao said respectfully: "Doctor Li, you have to wrap your head and face with this piece of white cloth, leaving only one hand exposed, and then prick your finger with a needle so that the unclean blood flows out into the tray.
I will pour your blood into the holy fire, so that your soul and your blood will be purified."
He looked back and saw that Cen Shen had been isolated outside the temple. In this dark altar-like temple, only a few believers and Sabao were left standing at the door. If he covered his head,
Suddenly an assassin ran out from behind and stabbed him. Isn't that where he ends his life?
Sa Bao thought he didn't hear clearly, so he repeated: "Doctor Li, please wrap your head and face with white cloth, and prick your hand with a needle to draw blood."
He raised his head and stared at the other person fiercely. The Sabao didn't reveal anything strange, and it seemed that his imagination was too much. Li Siye looked back again, quickly wrapped his head and face with a white cloth, but left his eyes exposed, and then
He quickly pricked his hand with a needle, and blood dripped into the plate.
He quickly untied the white cloth and cursed in his mind that the Zoroastrian ritual was cumbersome and difficult to perform. Buddhism only needs to recite Amitabha, Christianity only needs to shout Amen, and even the big food cult next door only needs to shout praise to God, you
There are needles and head wraps here, no wonder your religion will never prosper.
Sabao held up the plate with both hands, stood in front of the holy fire and poured the blood into the brazier. It evaporated with only a sizzling sound. Li Siye himself felt nothing, but Sabao said: "Now your soul has been cleansed by the holy fire.
You are a loyal follower of my Zoroastrian religion, and you will be protected by the God of Wisdom and Light throughout your life."
Li Siye raised his head and asked him: "I am now asking God God for blessings. Can God God bless me?"
"It should be possible."
"Okay, the wise God Mazda, please bless our Tang army to go on a successful expedition, drive the Dashi Cult out of the Khorasan area, and restore the prosperity of our Zoroastrian religion in the past. Lord Ma, I am doing this for you
I will fight to win back the original believers from the cannibal for you, and you must bless me to win."
Sabao stood aside and closed his eyes, maybe because he couldn't bear to look directly. After the ceremony, they walked out of the temple, and there were still a lot of believers standing outside.
He shouted to the believers: "In order to regain the Khorasan people's faith in the great god Mazda, I have decided to go to Dashimulu City tomorrow. This war should be called a war to protect the faith."
The congregation shouted in enthusiastic support, as if Li Siye was sent by the true god Mazda to save Zoroastrianism. If this war can be won, Zoroastrianism can regain its former glory.
"Send troops and feast!"
In the twelfth lunar month of Tianbao's tenth year, Li Siye led more than 40,000 people including Anbeiting, Ningyuan Kingdom, Geluolu Xiecong, etc. to cross the Amu Darya River and enter the Kizilkum Desert, which is full of red sand.
…
In the governor's residence of Tus City, the capital of Khorasan, Bosilin stood in front of the window with a worried and angry look on his face. His hair became thinner and whiter, but the majesty and unwillingness in his deep eyes still escaped, filling his eyes.
It filled the entire room, making the soldiers standing at the door feel chills on their skin.
A young general walked in with his head lowered, bowed and said: "Governor, he is here."
"Bring him in."
A guy with disheveled hair and a thin face was pushed in by the soldiers. Except for his chain armor, everything else on his body was in tatters. If it weren't for this armor, he would have been regarded as a beggar. This was the once famous General Ziad
.
Ziad plopped down and knelt down behind Boshilin. As soon as he shouted "Duke Abu", he was so choked that he couldn't speak, and tears could not stop flowing down his face.
Bingbo Xilin didn't seem to be so sensitive, and asked him coldly: "Defeated? Defeated twice?"
Ziad nodded sadly: "Yes, we lost twice."
"What's going on! Is your opponent Ares? Is it the Sphinx? Is it Khalid? Is it Alexander!"