When Xi Zhicai learned that Liu Hong had set his sights on the Kushan monks, he was slightly taken aback.
"Does Your Majesty mean to create an identity for them?"
Liu Hong smiled and said, "Indeed, a nobleman or prince in exile should be able to return to his country and fight for it!"
"But will the royal families of both countries recognize their identities?" Xi Zhicai couldn't help but ask.
Liu Hong raised an eyebrow: "Whether they recognize it or not is not important, as long as the people of the Han, Kushan, and Parthia approve of it, that's enough!"
"Your Majesty is right. A convincing fake identity is indeed easier to control than a real one!"
Liu Hong smiled and nodded: "Alright, Zhicai will handle this matter!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!!"
Xi Zhicai respectfully agreed and then withdrew.
The next morning, a carriage slowly drove out of Luoyang, with more than a dozen guards in plain clothes riding tall horses to protect the carriage.
Inside the carriage, Xi Zhicai, dressed in white, had his eyes slightly closed, holding several pages of paper in his hand. The papers recorded the situation of several Kushan monks investigated by the Investigation Department, and he was thinking about what to do next.
"Young master, we've arrived at White Horse Temple!"
A voice interrupted Xi Zhicai's thoughts, and the vehicle came to a stop.
Xi Zhicai alighted from the carriage and looked up. The White Horse Temple, which had been built more than a hundred years ago, exuded a sense of antiquity and solemnity against the backdrop of several ancient trees.
Just as Xi Zhicai was about to enter the temple, several Taoist priests who were guarding nearby suddenly came over.
The leading Taoist priest looked at Xi Zhicai, then bowed and asked, "Young master, are you preparing to enter the temple to offer incense?"
"No, I was just looking around!"
Xi Zhicai shook his head. His money had all been spent by the emperor, so how could he afford to add any more incense?
The Taoist priest nodded: "That's good. Young master, you should know that cultivation is about the heart and the practice, not about money. Those bald men are the best at bewitching others and are only thinking about swindling money. Young master, you should be more careful."
"Thank you for the reminder, Daoist Master. I understand!"
Xi Zhicai also very politely clasped his hands in a salute to the Taoist priest.
He realized that these Taoist priests were probably there specifically to cause trouble outside the temple.
However, their actions were still very beneficial to Xi Zhicai; the more difficult the monks' lives were, the greater his chances of success.
"In that case, please proceed, young master!"
The Taoist priest didn't linger. After bowing to Xi Zhicai, he turned and left.
After the Taoist priest left, Xi Zhicai turned around and led his guards toward the White Horse Temple.
As soon as the group stepped into the temple, the monks greeted them with smiles.
Since the conflict between the Taiping Religion and the Futu Religion, the lives of these monks have become much worse than before.
Nowadays, these monks can no longer preach in the city, and there are far fewer believers coming to worship Buddha. Even when someone does come, after being advised by the Taoist priests, they no longer donate money for incense.
These monks also needed to make a living and needed money. In their eyes, Xi Zhicai, who was dressed in fine clothes and accompanied by more than a dozen guards, became a wealthy guest and naturally had to be treated well.
Seeing the monks who came to greet him, Xi Zhicai's lips twitched slightly, and he almost laughed out loud.
These monks had bruises around their eyes, swollen lips, and sunken noses; almost every one of them had a scar on their face.
Without asking, Xi Zhicai knew that the injuries on the monks' faces must have been inflicted by the Taoist priests outside.
The monks noticed Xi Zhicai's suppressed laughter and a hint of embarrassment flashed across their faces.
A monk bowed to Xi Zhicai with his hands clasped together and asked, "May I ask if this layperson has come to worship Buddha or to fulfill a vow?"
"None of them!!"
Xi Zhicai shook his head and then said, "I've come here only to see a few friends!"
"May I ask, who is the layperson's friend?"
Upon learning that Xi Zhicai had not come to donate incense money, a look of disappointment flashed in the monk's eyes, but he quickly concealed it.
“They all came from the Kushan Empire. One was named Samo, one was named Hachi, and one was named Siga.” Xi Zhicai also recited the names of several Kushan monks as if they were old friends.
"If you wish to see several masters, please follow me." Although he was puzzled as to how Xi Zhicai knew these masters, the monk remained calm and did not ask any further questions.
Then, Xi Zhicai followed behind several monks and walked towards the backyard, constantly looking at the temple's decorations along the way.
Upon seeing a golden Buddha statue and various luxurious utensils inside a grand hall, Xi Zhicai couldn't help but frown.
No wonder the Taoist priests of the Taiping Sect were so irreconcilably opposed to these monks.
It should be noted that even with the support of the emperor and the government, the Taiyi statue enshrined in the Taiping Sect's main temple was merely a mural, and the other deities were nothing more than clay and wood sculptures. Compared to the Buddha statues in the White Horse Temple, they were worlds apart.
"The rise of such a sect is a disaster for a nation!"
While feeling a mix of emotions, Xi Zhicai also grew even more disgusted with the Buddhist sect.
Before long, Xi Zhicai was taken to the residence of the three Kushan monks.
These monks originally traveled thousands of miles to the Han Dynasty only to spread their teachings and translate scriptures; under normal circumstances, they would not interact with pilgrims from outside the region.
However, as the White Horse Temple has become increasingly difficult to manage, those who could have devoted themselves to translating scriptures have had to start receiving worshippers in order to get more donations.
Xi Zhicai also sized up the three white-skinned Hu people in front of him. They were all around forty years old. The Kushan Dynasty was founded by the Yuezhi people, and their appearance was quite similar to that of the people from the Western Regions.
After exchanging greetings and names, the monk named Hachi bowed to Xi Zhicai with his hands clasped together.
"May I ask, sir, what questions have you come with?"
Hachi looked at Xi Zhicai in fluent Mandarin.
"Of course!!"
Xi Zhicai smiled and said, "I have come here to find out the true identities of the three masters!"
"Our identities?"
Hachi was slightly taken aback and looked at Xi Zhicai with some confusion.
The young man specifically asked to see them, without inquiring about Buddhism or etiquette, but instead demanding to know their identities, which left them somewhat puzzled.
Xi Zhicai said with a smile, "I have heard that Master Hachi was a prince of the previous Kushan king, while Master Samo and Master Sijia are heirs of two great noble families."
Later, the old king died, and the princes vied for power, causing turmoil in the country. To seek refuge, the three princes joined the Buddhist sect and traveled thousands of miles to the Han Dynasty.
"Uh~!"
Upon hearing Xi Zhicai's words, Hachi and the other two were taken aback, staring blankly at each other with a look of confusion in their eyes.
When did I become a prince or a nobleman? How come I didn't know about this?
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