Fang Jian looked at the silent monks and spoke again, "If there are any fellow Taoists who don't accept the first point I just made, I won't force you to accept it. But I will trouble you all to leave Shaluo Country. You can rebuild temples elsewhere in Xiniu Hezhou outside of Shaluo Country. But I want to tell you that Shaluo Country is not the last, nor the only, place to be rectified. Even if you go elsewhere, this day will come sooner or later."
After saying this, Fang Jian said to the monks, "Those who accept the rectification should not move. Those who do not accept it, please stand up."
As Fang Jian finished speaking, there was a commotion below, and then more than twenty monks stood up one after another. They looked at each other and said to Fang Jian, "Master Hongqing, we monks cannot accept this."
Fang Jian nodded and said, "Alright, leave the location and name of your respective offices, and you will have one month to move out of Shaluo Country. I'm going to make this clear: if you haven't moved out by one month, Xitian Prefecture will enforce it. When that happens, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Upon hearing this, the twenty or so monks immediately stepped forward and wrote the location and name of their respective offices on a jade slip, which was then taken away by the divine general beside Fang Jian.
In the blink of an eye, only ninety of the one hundred and eighteen temples remained, which means that twenty-eight had left.
The ninety abbots who remained all focused their attention on Sang Mojie, and Fang Jian also noticed this.
It seems that Sangmojie has a very strong control over the entire Buddhist power in the country of Shala. Among the 118 temples, the abbots of 90 temples follow Sangmojie. It can be seen that it is not as simple as it seems.
But it’s also good this way. As long as Sang Mojie is willing to cooperate with him, this situation will be very beneficial for Fang Jian.
"Alright, all the remaining Taoists accept this first point. Next is the second proposal for the Good Samaritans' Dharma Assembly." Fang Jian glanced around and said, "The second decree states that the newly integrated temples in the counties of Shala Kingdom are equal to Amoghavajra Temple and have no subordinate relationship. However, all temples, including Amoghavajra Temple, regardless of which Buddha or Bodhisattva they worship, must establish a separate hall within the temple to specifically enshrine the tablet of the Western Heaven Palace. Furthermore, the abbots of each temple will automatically receive the title of 'Guest Official' of the Western Heaven Palace. From now on, all Buddhist disciples in Shala Kingdom must obey the decrees issued by the Western Heaven Palace, as long as they do not violate Buddhist teachings."
Fang Jian said this and addressed the monks, "If you agree, Xitian Prefecture will sign an oath with you, and neither party will violate the oath. If Xitian Prefecture issues an edict that violates Buddhist teachings, you can use the oath and your position as 'guest officials' of Xitian Prefecture to refute the edict.
However, if the decree does not violate Buddhist teachings, but any Buddhist disciple does not follow it, they will be punished according to the law of heaven!"
After hearing the second proposal, everyone was confused. They seemed to understand it, but also seemed not to understand it.
Especially the guest official position of Xitianfu that Fang Jian mentioned, what's the use of it? Moreover, a separate hall must be built in the temple to enshrine the tablet of Xitianfu. There is no precedent for enshrining the Heavenly Palace in the Buddhist temples of Xiniu Hezhou.
If you can't figure it out, then don't think about it, so the ninety abbots who remained turned their eyes to Sang Mojie again. The boss is here, just listen to him!
Sang Mojie seemed to sense the gazes of the ninety people behind him, so he slowly stood up and said to Fang Jian, "I have no objection."
As Sang Mojie spoke, the ninety people behind him immediately stood up and bowed to Fang Jian in unison, saying, "We have no objection."
Fang Jian's face immediately lit up with smiles. He nodded and said, "Since that's the case, we can now move on to the discussion of integrating the temples and electing an abbot. Fellow Daoist Sang Mojie will preside over this."
Upon hearing this, Sang Mojie immediately bowed and said, "Yes."
Afterwards, Sangmojie began to preside over the integration and merger of ninety temples, with every fifteen temples merged into one temple, and one of the fifteen abbots was elected as the abbot, and the remaining fourteen as elders.
An hour later, the results of the integration came out. The six newly merged temples and their abbots were: Master Miaoyan of Bodhi Temple, Venerable Yeling of Jingkong Temple, Divine Monk Zhikong of Miaojie Temple, Venerable Yezhen of Moran Temple, Divine Monk Beiji of Guangdu Temple, and Master Jingqing of Yunxiu Temple.
Then, Fang Jian signed an oath with Sang Mojie and the six abbots above. The content of the oath was: "No matter which Buddha or Bodhisattva is worshipped in each temple, a hall must be set up in the temple to worship the tablet of Xitianfu, and the abbot of each temple will automatically receive the oath.
"I have been appointed a 'Guest Official' of the Western Heaven Palace. From now on, all Buddhist disciples in Shala will faithfully follow any decree issued by the Western Heaven Palace, as long as it does not violate Buddhist teachings. Having signed this oath, I pledge not to violate any of them. If a decree issued by the Western Heaven Palace violates Buddhist teachings, the abbots of the various temples can refute it, citing their oath and the status of 'Guest Official' of the Western Heaven Palace. However, if a Buddhist disciple disobeys a decree that does not violate Buddhist teachings, they will be punished according to the laws of heaven!"
With the seals of Fang Jian and the seven abbots imprinted on the oath, the oath officially came into effect. Because the oath was signed in Bukong Temple, it was later called the "Alliance of Bukong Temple".
After signing the oath, Fang Jian sent a memorial back to the Western Heaven Palace, which then delivered it directly to the Heavenly Palace.
Then on the next day, Qin Yi Zhenren, the Taixuan Chengwulang, came to the Bukong Temple with the edict of the Taixuandu Province's Grand Envoy, the Dongji Qinghua Emperor.
Master Qin Yi read out the decree in front of Fang Jian, Sang Mojie and the other seven people, allowing Fang Jian to establish the position of "Guest Official" in Xitian Mansion, and ordered Tiangongyuan to refine the Guest Official talisman and send it to Xitian Mansion.
The decree of the Eastern Qinghua Emperor further stabilized the foundation of the alliance of the Bukong Temple and fully affirmed Fang Jian's work in the Western Heaven Palace.
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