Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

Daoyan's planning did not stop. After going to the Ministry of Household Affairs to convey the order and visit Xia Yuanji, Daoyan came to the imperial prison again.

This time, Dao Yan actually came with the mission assigned to him by Zhu Di.

Of course, this task was a small incidental task when Zhu Di asked him to do dirty work before.

But Dao Yan planned to use this opportunity to accomplish one more thing.

Huikong, who practiced closed-mouthed meditation, remained silent. He was responsible for driving the carriage and opened the curtain of the carriage for his master, waiting for Daoyan to get off.

Dao Yan looked at the gate of the prison, and his eldest disciple said: "Your junior brother is inside right now."

Huikong just clasped his hands together and kept silent.

What I want to say here is that it is true that Zheng He believed in the Great Food Dharma since he was a child, but it is also true that he took the Bodhisattva ordination and became a nominal disciple of Daoyan.

The so-called Bodhisattva precepts cover the seven precepts and surpass all precepts.

Therefore, all Buddhist disciples who have bodhicitta, whether they are monks or lay people, can accept and uphold the Brahma Net Sutra, which says that Bodhisattva precepts are the origin of all Buddhas, the root of Bodhisattva, and the root of all Buddhas.

Historically, Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty received the Bodhisattva ordination from Zhizang, and Emperor Chen Wen also received the Bodhisattva ordination from the eminent monk. In the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty received the Bodhisattva ordination from Tanyan, and Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty received the Bodhisattva ordination from Zhiyi. From the Tang Dynasty onwards, the destruction of the Buddha was eliminated. During this period, there were countless high-ranking officials and ministers who took the ordination of eminent monks and Bodhisattvas to build relationships.

Zheng He worked in the former Yanjun intelligence system under the leadership of Dao Yan and got along with Dao Yan for a long time.

At the same time, in order to facilitate the communication between Daoyan's intelligence system and Zhu Di, Zheng Hecai took the Bodhisattva vows under Zhu Di's instruction, which brought him closer to Daoyan.

Zheng He was extremely happy with this, and Dao Yan also suffered no loss, which was equivalent to a win-win situation.

In other words, the Bodhisattva Precepts are actually more of a form than an obligation or responsibility. Taking the Bodhisattva Precepts only means that Zheng He is a disciple of Daoyan, but it does not mean that Zheng He really needs to believe in Buddhism devoutly.

Therefore, it is self-evident whether Huikong, who believes deeply in Buddhism, has feelings for this nominal "junior brother".

"In more than a month, when Jiang Sheng is released from prison, you can follow Jiang Sheng."

After hearing the Master's words, Huikong's strong body as if cast from steel did not move at all, but nodded silently.

Looking at Huikong's back as he went to the prison to lock the door, a trace of reluctance flashed in Daoyan's eyes.

But this trace of reluctance was quickly replaced by deeper emotions and disappeared without a trace.

For the sake of that "Tao", not to mention personal feelings, even life is not a pity!

The monk's robe of Huikong Datianjie Temple was the best greeting card. Soon, Ji Gang, the commander of the Jinyi Guards who frequently visited the prison recently, came out to welcome him.

Seeing Dao Yan, Ji Gang was slightly startled, and then smiled.

"My daughter likes the bell that the master consecrated and blessed last time. She keeps climbing around it every day. I'm afraid she'll break it."

Dao Yan also smiled slightly: "Since this girl was picked up by His Majesty, she is also a blessed person, so why bother with a mere bell? If it breaks, just go to Datianjie Temple to find me and get a new one."

While talking and laughing, the distance between the two narrowed slightly. Ji Gang bowed in front to lead the way and asked.

"I wonder what Master Yan is here for?"

Ji Gang actually felt a little nervous. After all, the fact that the prime minister in black came to jail alone still made him feel very stressed.

Today is not the day for lectures, so it stands to reason that Dao Yan will not come.

Of course Dao Yan knew Ji Gang's doubts, and he didn't intend to beat around the bush and said directly: "I'm here to find Minister Zhuo."

Hearing this, Ji Gang's eyes flashed.

The Zhuo Shilang in Daoyan's mouth refers to Zhuo Jing, the right servant of the Hubu Dynasty in the Jianwen Dynasty.

Zhuo Jing, courtesy name Weigong, was a native of Ruiyang, Zhejiang Province. He was a famous talent in the Hongwu period. He became famous a generation earlier than Xie Jin.

Zhuo Jing was gifted with intelligence, one eye and ten lines, and he had a photographic memory. When he was seven years old, a fortune teller said: "This is a strange child, but it's a pity that the blood is not beautiful."

Well, there is no doubt that this fortune teller was named Yuan Gong. At that time, Yuan Gong and Yuan Zhenren were still very young and had just learned the art of fortune telling.

Because Zhuo Jing was extremely intelligent and erudite, with magnificent poems and upright articles, he came second in the rankings in the 21st year of Hongwu. Zhu Yuanzhang once praised Zhuo Jing as "all the officials of heaven, geography, laws and regulations, military punishments, etc." Home, everything is learned."

It is worth mentioning that although Dao Yan had not yet made a fortune at that time, he was quite famous in the Confucian, Buddhist and Taoist circles in Jiangnan. Because of his academic views, he was a mortal enemy of Zhuo Jing.

Later, during the Jianwen Dynasty, Zhuo Jing was promoted to the right minister of the household department. Strictly speaking, Zhuo Jing was a rare and reliable person among the group of dignitaries around Zhu Yunwen.

As soon as Emperor Jianwen began to cut down the vassal, Zhuo Jing secretly wrote to the Shu that "King Yan is extremely resourceful and has great talents and strategies, just like Emperor Gao. Peiping has a superior terrain and strong soldiers and horses, which is where the Jin and Yuan Dynasties rose. Now he should be replaced." By sealing Nanchang, it will be easy to control if something changes."

To be honest, if Emperor Jianwen had listened to Zhuo Jing and moved Zhu Di to the fiefdom first, instead of cutting off other vassal kings first, I'm afraid nothing would have happened later.

It's a pity that Zhu Yunwen didn't listen!

Speaking of which, Ji Gang naturally didn't know why Dao Yan was looking for Zhuo Jing.

But according to Ji Gang's idea, since Zhuo Jing has a grudge against Dao Yan, maybe Dao Yan wants to hint him to deal with Zhuo Jing?

But Zhuo Jing is the person Zhu Di values ​​​​and is the key to recruiting and surrendering.

Zhu Di once commented that "for thirty years, the country has supported a scholar, and only one Zhuo Jing was obtained." So although this person refused to surrender, Ji Gang really couldn't do anything dirty, because if Zhuo Jing was killed, if Zhu Di remembered one day When this person asked, it was really hard to explain.

But Dao Yan's next move was somewhat beyond Ji Gang's expectations.

Under Ji Gang's personal guidance, Dao Yan came to the eastern prison area where Zhuo Jing was located. Then Ji Gang was sent outside the cell door and could not hear the conversation between the two.

Zhuo Jing, who had gray beard and hair, raised his cloudy eyes and saw that the person coming was his old enemy Dao Yan.

Then Old Man Zhuo seemed to be a different person. He stood up and straightened his back like a pen.

Zhuo Jing looked at Dao Yan, who came in without saying a word, and asked lightly.

"I wonder if your Majesty has anything else to say, would you like Master Daoyan to bring it to me?"

Daoyan said seriously after clasping his hands together in salute.

"Mr. Zhuo, His Majesty has pity on your talent. The last time he said that you helped Jian Wence drive a wedge between the royal family, he was confused for a moment. You just fulfilled your duty as a minister, and it is not a sin."

Old Man Zhuo nodded and glanced at the cell wall, apparently indifferent.

"Your Majesty also knows that you are loyal to the Ming Dynasty. Your loyalty to Jianwen shows your loyalty. Your Majesty sees this and is very pleased."

It is no exaggeration to say that after Fang Xiaoru refused to write the edict of succession to Zhu Di, Zhu Di realized that these reading seeds could not be killed by killing alone, so he attached great importance to winning the hearts of scholars in order to serve his rule.

Zhuo Jing, the second best scholar in Hongwu and a world-famous talent, was Zhu Di's favorite person.

He is knowledgeable, capable, and qualified. If Zhu Di can conquer this person, it will have an excellent benchmarking effect from the perspective of the temple.

Therefore, Zhu Di had sent Dao Yan, a respected old friend, several times to persuade him to surrender.

Hmm. Zhu Di doesn’t know the “origin” between the two.

Hearing this, Old Man Zhuo nodded again, but he became a little impatient, and the white beard under his chin started to tremble.

"You must be familiar with the stories in history."

Dao Yan seemed unable to see Zhuo Jing's impatience. Dao Yan took a breath and persuaded slowly and sincerely.

"In the Spring and Autumn Period, Guan Zhong was loyal to Prince Jiu, and even shot an arrow at Duke Huan of Qi. Duke Huan of Qi did not bear any grudge. Instead, he worshiped Guan Zhong as his prime minister and called him 'Father Zhong'; during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Wei Zheng was Li Jiancheng's adviser and made many suggestions for him. When he was captured by Li Shimin, He even said, 'If the prince had done what I said, there would have been no disaster today.' How similar is this to what you said, 'It's a pity that Emperor Jianwen did not adopt your suggestion.'"

"Both Guan Zhong and Wei Zheng were loyal to their old masters, but the old masters they were loyal to were not talented and strategist people who could achieve great things. If you can change your mind and be loyal to His Majesty, with your talents, you will definitely be able to go one step further and become an assistant to His Majesty in pioneering Wouldn't it be wonderful for the heroes of the prosperous age to leave as good stories in the history books as Guan Zhong and Wei Zheng?"

Daoyan's advice was well-founded and sincere. If it were someone else, they would have been persuaded by him and would have surrendered.

However, Old Man Zhuo only had one firm word.

"Has Master Daoyan finished speaking?"

Dao Yan suddenly smiled and said: "I have finished what Your Majesty asked me to say. Next, I want to say something between you and me."

Next, the conversation between Daoyan and Zhuo Jing lasted for a long time.

Ji Gang didn't know what the two talked about. He only knew that when Daoyan finally told him to change Zhuo Jing's prison area, Zhuo Jing did not object.

And this prison area is exactly where Jiang Xinghuo and Zheng He's new prison area is located!

Yes, because a group of prisoners were vacated, the prison began a new round of adjustment of prison areas.

Therefore, Jiang Xinghuo and Zheng He were specially placed in another non-iron-door cell.

Ji Gang did not intend to think about this matter himself. Instead, after finishing the matter and Dao Yan left, he sent someone to report it to the emperor.

——————

The moonlight is bright and white tonight, and the cold moonlight is projected through the skylight of the prison.

The moonlight reflected on Jiang Xinghuo and Zheng He who were separated by two iron fences, as if giving their figures a layer of holy light.

Jiang Xinghuo and Zheng He were discussing Taoism under the moon.

Since the cell no longer had an iron door but had become an iron fence, it was much easier for them to talk.

Moreover, their positions are not next to each other, but opposite to each other.

That's right, the new prison area is not a single row of cells next to each other, but two rows facing each other.

"Servant Zhuo, do you need it?"

Facing the low-pitched inquiry from another inmate beside him, Zhuo Jing waved his hand, indicating to listen to what they were talking about.

Zheng He, who was wearing prison uniform, looked respectful at this time, as if he didn't even see Zhuo Jing and his two men who were looking at them in the other cell.

Zheng He bent his straight waist, bowed as a disciple, and asked Jiang Xinghuo on the opposite side for advice.

"Mr. Jiang, I would like to ask if according to the star chart you taught yesterday, Yinghuo is closer to the sun. Does that mean that, like solar eclipses, celestial phenomena like Yinghuo are actually cyclical? Covering?"

The so-called Yinghuo planet is the name of Mars in ancient China. It is because Mars is red and glowing like fire. Its brightness often changes and its whereabouts are unpredictable, so it is confusing.

The reason why he talked about astronomy was because he knew that the other party was interested in navigation. Jiang Xinghuo casually pointed out the shortcomings of the current star-pulling technique and then talked about it.

star map?

Strong doubts arose in Zhuo Jing's heart.

Zhuo Jing is knowledgeable and well versed in astronomy, geography, law, and military arts, so Zhuo Jing can understand everything about Yinghuo Shouxin and Solar Eclipse.

The inmate next to Zhuo Jing, another former Jianwen minister, actually did not understand what Jiang Xinghuo said. Unlike Zhuo Jing, he only had some basic astronomical knowledge, which was beyond his understanding of astronomy. category.

Although he didn't know what the star map was, this did not hinder Zhuo Jing's basic logical reasoning.

Because the reason why Zhuo Jing appears here is because of a deal that Dao Yan made with him.

Zhuo Jing agreed because of his huge curiosity.

The reason Zhuo Jing was curious was because why did Daoyan call an unknown descendant in the prison a saint?

Moreover, Dao Yan's attitude when talking about this person was so respectful, almost the same as how an enlightened child treats his private school teacher!

Who is this young man? !

Why have I never seen such a talented person? !

Old Man Zhuo stared intently at Jiang Xinghuo, who had an extraordinary temperament.

Jiang Xinghuo stood tall at this time, and the moonlight on one side illuminated the side of his face. Jiang Xinghuo's brows showed a little tiredness, but his eyes were extraordinarily bright, as if he could see through the world, and it was as deep as a deep pool, which made people feel uncomfortable. Fear of hope.

Jiang Xinghuo looked at the surrounding cells and prisoners as if they were nothing, and he answered Zheng He's questions calmly.

"The so-called Yinghuo Shouxin is explained in ancient astronomy as the invasion of the heart by Mars. Generally speaking, in the theory of heaven and man induction, this celestial phenomenon symbolizes disaster for the emperor."

Among the people watching, only Zhuo Jing and his fellow inmates had a higher level of education, and Zhuo Jing also knew a lot about astronomy.

Zhuo Jing nodded slightly. This explanation of "Yinghuo guards the heart" often appears in history books. It is one of the important manifestations of the theory of interaction between heaven and man. Although Zhuo Jing did not hear from this sentence how tall the young man in front of him was. level, but it is always in line with his cognition.

But Jiang Xinghuo's next words made Zhuo Jing's heart skip a beat.

"But in fact, this is just an ordinary astronomical phenomenon with a long interval."

Zhuo Jing clenched his fists and almost wanted to question out loud and interrupt the conversation between Jiang Xinghuo and Zheng He.

Zhuo Jing felt very uncomfortable after hearing Jiang Xinghuo's explanation.

"Yinghuo guarding the heart" is the most ominous celestial phenomenon in ancient Chinese astrology, and it is a bad omen for the death of the emperor.

Once "Yinghuo Shouxin" appears, the prime minister of the country will be dismissed from office. Are you telling me that it is just an ordinary astronomical phenomenon with a long period? !

Old Man Zhuo stared at the young man in front of him, watching what kind of explanation he could give.