.“ When, when, when, when" In the early morning, the bell of Tsz Yun Temple rang routinely, drifting out of the distance, and also overpowering the sound of pedestrians around Tsz Yun Temple calling for buying.

I only listened to the crisp sound of horses' hooves hitting the bluestone floor, only two chestnut horses galloped in the middle of the avenue, and before and after the carriage, they were followed by more than 20 Tsing Yi family members on horseback, one by one, beating horses and whipping, and holding their chests and stomachs. At first glance, it looks like a high-ranking official and nobleman traveling.

When the pedestrians on the road saw this, they avoided both sides of the avenue, lest they were not careful to be hit by a horse, or they would crash into a carriage, not only did they not care about their own life and death, but they also committed the crime they had committed, and they had no place to talk about it.

The carriage traveled along the vermilion courtyard wall of Ciyun Temple and stopped in front of the gate of the tall temple. On the left and right of the mountain gate is the painted statue of the four great King Kongs, solemn and gloomy, make people stand chillingly, the gate of Ciyun Temple is as high as two reaches, it is all painted with red paint, it is horizontal and vertical on the gate, it is nailed with the gilded copper nails of the size of the sea bowl, but at this time the mountain gate is all wide open with the scriptures, and there are eight monks standing in front of the door, it seems that it is waiting for the group of people in this carriage.

The knights also dismounted, and stood on either side of the carriage, and two men came to the carriage, drew the curtain, and helped one of them out of the carriage. The man was about fifty-five or sixteen years old, of medium height, with some gray hair, wearing a dark red coat, with a six-fluted cloud hat, luxurious clothes, exquisite workmanship, and the bearing of this old man, at first glance he was either rich or expensive.

When the leading monk on duty at the door saw it, he immediately greeted him, smiled with his face, put his palms together, bowed down, recited a Buddha name, and said: "Prime Minister, if you have time to come to Ciyun Temple today, why don't you send someone to announce it first, so that the abbot of the small temple can wait for someone to welcome the prime minister." Please wait in the meditation room, and the little monk immediately went to inform the abbot. ”

It turned out that this old man was Dajin's Shangshu Right Prime Minister Wanyan Zongzheng, after listening to the words of the monk on duty, Wanyan Zongzheng shook his hand, and said with a smile: "No need, no need, Buddhism is still a place outside the square, you don't have to stick to secular common sense, and you don't need to alarm the abbot's master's big frame, the old man can go in by himself." ”

After saying that, Yan Zongzheng walked towards the temple. When the monk on duty saw it, he didn't dare to stop it, so he hurriedly clasped his palms together and recited a Buddha name, saying, "That's the case, then the prime minister is invited in." Of course, he knew that although Wanyan Zongzheng said that there was no need to be bound by common sense, but when he was the prime minister of the court, how could he be slow, and immediately gave a look to a little novice beside him, who was very clever, and immediately flew and ran to deliver a letter to the abbot.

As early as the reign of the Khitan, the central capital was still called Yanjing at that time, and Ciyun Temple was the largest temple here. Because the Khitan people believe in Buddhism very much, they built the Ciyun Temple very gorgeous and solemn, and the incense is also very prosperous, and the Khitan noble donors who give money are also very bold, and they donate sesame oil money, often throwing a lot of money.

At the peak of Ciyun Temple, the monks in the temple together with the pending orders were counted together, there were as many as more than 1,000 people, and the land in the temple alone reached nearly 100,000 acres. There are more than 100,000 stones of grain that can be harvested every year, the temple wall is painted with vermilion lacquer at that time, the roof of the main hall is made of one color of glazed yellow tiles, not only the Buddha statues enshrined in the temple are all one-color gold, and the Buddha statue of Sakyamuni in the main hall is actually made of pure gold, and the luxury is extremely complete, and it can also be seen.

Later, the Jurchen rose, built Jin to destroy Liao, because of the war, Ciyun Temple also gradually declined, the land property was forcibly occupied by the new Jurchen nobles, the pure gold Buddha statue was also smashed and snatched away by the Jin soldiers, the incense was also increasingly scarce, the monks gradually dispersed, the vacated monk's house was full of dust, the Buddha statue of the gold fell off and was not repaired, the courtyard wall also collapsed in many places, the vermilion lacquer was also dilapidated, the temple was overgrown with weeds, wild cats and wild dogs came and went everywhere. At the bleakest time, there were only about 30 old monks left in the temple, and they could only squeeze into a few small dilapidated houses, and only begged for a little food every day.

However, as the rule of the Jin Kingdom gradually stabilized in the Yanjing area, some of the living habits of the former Khitan gradually accepted. The Jurchens themselves did not have a very mature religious belief, so Buddhism was also very easily accepted by the Jurchens, and Ciyun Temple was also desperate, and gradually recovered a little vitality.

Later, the Jin Kingdom moved its capital to Yanjing, changed its name to Zhongdu, and further promoted the sinicization, and Buddhism, with its hundreds of years of accumulation, mysterious and esoteric teachings and traditions, as well as extensive inclusiveness and adaptability, gradually spread among the upper echelons of the Jin Kingdom. Eating fasting and reciting Buddha, praying and chanting scriptures have gradually become the habits of high-ranking officials and nobles and wealthy families in the Jin Kingdom.

In this case, Ciyun Temple, as the largest temple in Yanjing in the past, also rose in status, and slowly prospered again. The number of monks has gradually increased, and the incense has become more and more vigorous, although it has not yet reached the heyday of the past, but it is also the bearing of a large temple with scriptures.

Moreover, with the elevation of the status of Ciyun Temple, the expansion of its influence, and with the help of the favorable geographical advantages of the capital, it has also attracted many learned monks from all over the world to place orders in the temple, so it has also attracted many high-ranking officials in the court and the monks to interact with each other, talk about Zen together, praise the Dharma and preach the scriptures, which has become a fashionable atmosphere. Wanyan Zongzheng was also deeply affected by this atmosphere, was a frequent visitor to Tsz Yun Temple, and maintained good friendship with several famous monks in the temple, because he often came, most of the monks in the temple knew him.

Wanyan Zongzheng followed the monk on duty and walked towards the Daxiong Treasure Hall. This hall was renovated three years ago, the top of the hall is covered with glazed tiles again, the big pillar is full of vermilion lacquer, the ground in the hall is all made of blue brick water mill, the light can be seen, the incense case for the table is made of yellow rosewood, the incense burner is all made of brass, the futon is covered with silk, the lamp is covered with red oil wax, the light gauze yellow curtain is pulled up, and the golden body of the Buddha statue of Shakyamuni is enshrined with a height of one zhang and two feet. It's a pity that this Buddha statue is still gilded, otherwise everything can be restored to the most prosperous appearance of Ciyun Temple.

This is the main hall of Tsz Yun Temple, but on weekdays ordinary tourists are not allowed to enter this kind of hall, at most they can only kowtow outside the hall, put on incense, and then leave, only on the day of the new year of the month, it will be open to ordinary tourists. Wanyan Zongzheng is certainly not an ordinary tourist, for a person like him, the Daxiong Treasure Hall is naturally open at any time.

The monk on duty sent Yan Zongzheng to the Daxiong Treasure Hall, and then said goodbye, turned around and went back to the door to be on duty, here has already received the notice of the little novice, and there is a monk who knows the guest to pick up Yan Zongzheng.

Wanyan Zongzheng walked into the main hall, and the monk clasped his hands together and asked him for Xun. After the two of them met, the monk immediately handed over the three lit sandalwood that he had prepared earlier. Wanyan Zongzheng took the sandalwood, knelt on the futon in front of the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, bowed respectfully three times, and then inserted the sandalwood into the incense burner.

At this time, Master Chengguang, the abbot of Ciyun Temple, had already received the notice, and hurriedly put on a brocade robe woven with gold thread, and came out of the abbot's room to meet Yan Zongzheng. The two of them have known each other for a long time, so they have lost a lot of vulgarity. After a bit of noise, they sat down cross-legged on the futon.

Chengguang asked: "I heard that the official affairs of the imperial court have been very busy recently, why did the prime minister suddenly come to our temple to offer incense." I wonder if the prime minister is here to play this time, or to make a wish? ”

Wanyan Zongzheng said with a smile: "Master Abbot, the old man only came to your temple on a whim today, and he also wanted to ask for a sign and ask for good fortune." ”

"Oh!" After hearing Yan Zongzheng say that he asked for a signature, Chengguang was a little surprised, but immediately ordered the monk to bring the sign, and asked Wanyan Zongzheng: "I don't know why the Prime Minister is asking for a signature." ”

Wanyan Zongzheng didn't answer, he took the sign from the hand of the monk who knew the guest, his eyes closed slightly, and he silently said something in his mouth. When Chengguang and the monk saw him, they knew that he was praying, so they didn't bother him and waited quietly on the side.

After a long while, Wanyan Zongzheng opened his eyes, then took a deep breath, held the stick holder with both hands, and shook it vigorously.

After a while, I saw a sandalwood stick flying out of the holder, but Wanyan Zongzheng's power was greater, and it landed at the door with a "snap". The monk hurriedly got up and was about to pick up the stick, when he saw a hand reaching in from outside the door and picked up the stick, and then he heard someone laugh and said: "The prime minister hasn't said yet, why is it asking for a sign." ”

The one who picked up the lot was an old monk about fifty years old, wearing a very ordinary gray cloth monk's robe, with multi-eared bast shoes, holding the stick in his hand, but he didn't look at it.

Wanyan Zongzheng and Chengguang were stunned at first, but after seeing that it was this old monk, they both laughed again. Wanyan Zongzheng immediately got up from the futon, bowed his hand, and said, "It turns out that the master is here." ”

And Chengguang also stood up and said, "Senior brother came just in time, and the prime minister came to our temple to ask for a signature." The senior brother is proficient in Buddhism, and he has a fine bead in his belly, which is ten times that of Lao Na, and it is best for the senior brother to sign for the prime minister, so please sit down. ”

The monk on the side was also very clever, and immediately handed over a futon. The old monk put his palms together, gave a salute to each of them, and then recited a Buddha name, sat down on the futon, still didn't look at the sign, turned his head and smiled at Wanyan Zongzheng: "If the prime minister doesn't explain the reason for asking for the signature, but let the poor monk explain it to the prime minister?" ”

Wanyan Zongzheng hesitated for a moment before he said: "The imperial court will carry out the southern expedition, and the military expedition is dangerous, and the outcome is unpredictable, so the old man wants to ask for a sign to see if the imperial court's southern expedition is auspicious or vicious." ”

Because just yesterday, Wanyan Changzhi issued an edict to the whole country, announcing revenge for the Song army's revenge against Dajin at the beginning of the year, and decided to drive the army to the south in person, and just seven days later, it was the oath to sacrifice the flag and launch the army. Therefore, Wanyan Zongzheng is now saying this to the two monks, which is not a leak of secrets.

Chengguang nodded and exclaimed: "It turns out that the prime minister is so worried about state affairs, and Lao Na really admires it." He turned to the old monk and said, "Senior brother, please sign for the prime minister." ”

The old monk smiled, suddenly put the wooden stick in his hand into the holder again, and immediately shook the holder a few times, and the stick was mixed with other sticks, and it could no longer be distinguished.

Wanyan Zongzheng and Chengguang were taken aback when they saw it, Chengguang's original intention was to let the old monk say a few good words to Wanyan Zongzheng, Nazhi made such a move, and hurriedly said: "Senior brother, you... What do you mean by that? ”

The old monk smiled faintly and said: "The major affairs of the military state, how can it be determined by the signing of the wood, when the king of Wu was defeated, he once used to determine the good fortune and evil, and the result was unlucky." Both civil and military were shocked, but the referendum on the turtle bones in the fire, saying: dry bones and dead grass, how to know the good luck. King Wu obeyed the will of the Taigong, raised troops to fight the war, and opened the world for 800 years. If the martial king obeyed the will of divination at that time, how could there be the world of the Zhou family? ”

Wanyan Zongzheng listened, his eyes flashed, as if he was thoughtful.

I only heard the old monk then said: "There is another case, in the ninth year of Wude in the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin, the king of Qin, on the eve of the Xuanwumen Change, also made the divination people take advantage of the bad luck. Even if it is unlucky, it is inevitable. I wish the king thought of it. And Li Shimin then followed Zhang Gong's careful discussion, not to divination, and later stepped on the throne due to the change of Xuanwumen, so that the rule of Zhenguan in later generations was achieved. ”

Saying that, the old monk looked at Yan Zongzheng and said: "The imperial court decree is important when it is decided, and it is absolutely severe. And why bother to determine by signing. ”

Wanyan Zongzheng pondered for a moment, then suddenly stood up, bowed like the old monk, and said, "Thank you for the reminder, the old man is indeed taught this time." Then he flicked his sleeves and turned and walked out of the main hall.

Looking at the figure of Yan Zongzheng walking out of the main hall, the old monk also stood up and smiled silently. But the abbot of Chengguang was still confused, and said to the old monk: "Senior brother, you ...... This...... What the hell is going on? ”

The old monk glanced at Chengguang and said with a smile: "Master Abbot, the discussion of the imperial court's southern expedition is decided, and the auspicious omen of defeat in it is not what we can untie and decide, if the solution is not accurate, the imperial court will return to the army in the future, won't it affect Ciyun Temple?" With the words of the poor monk just now, there is no need for divination, wouldn't it be a lot less troublesome? ”

Chengguang suddenly realized. According to his original idea, Wanyan Zongzheng came to ask about the success or failure of the Southern Expedition, and naturally he should pick up good words and say that he could not say that this Southern Expedition would be defeated and returned. But what if the southern expedition is victorious, but the imperial court is really defeated? If the imperial court is really angry at Tsz Yun Temple because of this, it is hard to say that Tsz Yun Temple is not accurate, and maybe it will bring ruin to Tsz Yun Temple.

And this old monk said a word, and the matter of unsigning was easily pushed over, and the victory or defeat of the southern expedition had nothing to do with Ciyun Temple, and it was not bad. Chengguang is an old monk who has experienced the ups and downs of Ciyun Temple, but he doesn't want Ciyun Temple to decline again. Therefore, he also put his hands together, bowed deeply to the old monk, and said: "It's still the senior brother who is knowledgeable, and the old man admires it." ”

The old monk returned the salute and said, "If the abbot master is fine, the poor monk will retire first." ”

Chengguang hurriedly said: "Senior brother has something to do, just take care of yourself." "I still thought in my heart, fortunately, he left his monk behind, and today he has solved a big problem for Ciyun Duo.

This monk's Dharma name is Guangyan, and he lived in Tsz Yun Temple three years ago until today.