txolops Chapter 45 Chengtian Temple
Chapter 45 Chengtian Temple
"No massacres, no abolition of religion, no closure of markets?" Genghis Khan looked at Guo Liqing and said, "Tell me why first."
"First, if we massacre the city, it will inevitably provoke resistance. The Western Xia people will think that we are doomed to die, so why not resist and fight to the death!"
Even if I die, I'll take someone down with me! Isn't that a thought most people have?
"That makes sense." Genghis Khan nodded, then asked, "What about 'not abolishing religion'?"
Guo Liqing smiled and said, "Buddhism holds an extremely high position in Western Xia. Although it is not the state religion, it is almost the state religion. With them around, the believers at the grassroots level will obey their commands. And these high-ranking Buddhist monks are precisely the easiest to control! As long as we control these high-ranking monks, we can control the grassroots people of Western Xia."
Genghis Khan nodded, but then asked, "So you intend to continue using these eminent monks to govern Western Xia?"
"Of course not, this is just a temporary measure!"
Guo Liqing looked at Genghis Khan, but thought to himself: This monk is indeed very useful. The Manchu Qing dynasty later used these monks to control Tibet and Mongolia.
But, as useful as it is, how can we rely on these monks to achieve the ideal of "eternal peace"?
Genghis Khan then said, "Your third point, 'not stopping the market,' means continuing commerce and trade. You did just that in Samarkand, which shows you value commerce highly!"
Guo Liqing nodded and said, "Yes."
Chagatai then chimed in, "These merchants are all opportunists; what's the point of trying to win them over?"
Chagatai believed that Guo Liqing's protection of commerce was merely an attempt to win over these businessmen.
Guo Liqing, however, said: "Although merchants do not produce directly, their presence can stimulate the circulation of goods at the bottom of society and stimulate vitality. In this way, more value can be created."
"The Great Khan can issue this decree to attract merchants to serve us. In the future, once we open up the Hexi Corridor and strengthen trade, we will earn far more than we currently plunder!"
Genghis Khan pondered for a moment, then turned his gaze to Yelü Chucai and asked, "What do you think?"
Yelü Chucai bowed and said, "Marshal, these three decrees are the best strategy to win the hearts of the people! If they can be implemented, they will surely stabilize Western Xia and fully take over its wealth and population."
Genghis Khan pointed at Yelü Chucai and laughed, "You two are on the same side!"
Guo Liqing was taken aback and asked, "Did Lord Yelü also offer this strategy?"
Yelü Chucai cupped his hands to Guo Liqing and said, "Nothing is as complete as the Marshal's!"
Genghis Khan said, "In that case, let's do as you say!"
"Yes." Guo Liqing bowed deeply, then said, "Great Khan, there is one more thing."
"you say."
"I want to implement a land redistribution policy, distributing the land of the Western Xia royal family and nobles to ordinary people, and exempting them from taxes for three years!"
Genghis Khan asked doubtfully, "Is this also your expedient measure?"
"I guess so!"
"From the Hetao region to Zhongxing Prefecture, it's your territory, and you can do whatever you want with it. But Liangzhou was conquered by Ögedei Khan, so we can only agree to trade with it, not share the land with you."
"Thank you, Great Khan!"
Genghis Khan looked at Yelü Chucai and said, "Do as Guo Jing said! Let him make the decisions, and then report back to me."
"Yes."
Genghis Khan's words granted Guo Liqing immense power.
Soon, the three decrees were issued.
Guo Liqing arranged for 10,000 of his own cavalry to patrol the city, forbidding them from killing anyone without permission. He then assigned the Samar Army to protect the markets and merchants.
Guo Liqing sat in the official residence of the Western Xia Central Secretariat, with Yelü Chucai standing to one side and Lu Youjiao standing to the other.
Lu Youjiao remained in the city, leading the Beggars' Gang in propaganda work.
Throughout their journey, the Mongol army's policy of robbing only officials and not ordinary people calmed down many Western Xia people.
For ordinary people at the bottom of society, if you don't rob me, why should I fight you?
If you're robbing the men, then let the men go and fight it out themselves!
Lu Youjiao said, "Marshal, most of the recent unrest among the people was instigated by bureaucrats and landlords. Of course, some were also directed by high-ranking officials of Western Xia. And..."
"What else?"
Lu Youjiao hesitated for a moment, then said, "There are some people behind the scenes. We suspect they are instigated by the monks of Chengtian Temple, but we have no evidence!"
"Chengtian Temple?"
Chengtian Temple was a royal temple and the leader of Buddhism in Western Xia.
Guo Liqing said, "Whether there is evidence or not doesn't matter. We'll go to this temple ourselves later."
"yes!"
Guo Liqing turned to Yelü Chucai and asked, "How were these rebellions dealt with afterwards?"
Yelü Chucai said, "The natural course is direct suppression!"
"This is not good!" Guo Liqing said, "The more we suppress them, the easier it is to incite a larger popular uprising! Lord Yelü, go and find the masterminds among them and put them on trial in public. The charge should not be resisting the Mongols, but the evil deeds they committed in Western Xia. Do you... understand what I mean?"
"clear!"
Guo Liqing pondered for a moment, then asked, "Among these Western Xia officials, who are the capable ones?"
Yelü Chucai said, "I need time to verify."
Guo Liqing nodded and said, "Keep those who can be used by me, and deal with those who cannot be used by me using the same method as before! However, everything must be based on facts."
"clear."
At this moment, Lu Youjiao's Beggar Clan disciples carried in two large boxes and said, "Marshal, these are martial arts manuals collected from the First-Class Hall of Western Xia."
Guo Liqing walked to the box, took out the martial arts manuals one by one to look at them, and then threw them back after he finished reading them.
"What good stuff could this Western Xia First-Class Hall possibly have! Elder Lu, you have high standards. Take a look later, and if you find anything good, bring it over for the brothers to practice with!"
"Yes."
"Let's go to Chengtian Temple now!"
……
Guo Liqing rode his little red horse and led a troop of cavalry to Chengtian Temple.
They were surrounded when they entered the city.
Because Guo Liqing's military orders only apply to royalty, nobles, and bureaucrats.
Seeing that the monks inside were resisting but refusing to come out, the Mongol soldiers did not launch a full-scale attack.
Therefore, the entire temple has been preserved relatively intact.
In the world of martial arts, there is the Shaolin Temple in the Central Plains and the Tianlong Temple in Dali, both of which are guarded by masters.
Are there any masters in Chengtian Temple of Western Xia?
Guo Liqing rode his little red horse directly into the temple.
The monks around him held long sticks at Guo Liqing, but did not make a move.
Although they did not know Guo Liqing, they knew that he was a high-ranking Mongolian general, and that if they made a move, it might turn into a massacre.
"Find your abbot!"
Guo Liqing stood on horseback in the courtyard in front of the main hall, waiting.
Soon, an old monk wearing a kasaya and a group of monks came out.
"Amitabha! Benefactor, this is a sacred Buddhist site. Your arrival in full military attire on horseback is a grave disrespect to the Buddha!"
Guo Liqing laughed and said, "Buddhism emphasizes the emptiness of the four elements and that the seven emotions and six desires are all illusions. If Buddha were to condemn me for such disrespect, wouldn't I be breaking the precept against anger?"
"you……"
The abbot hadn't expected the other party to be so witty, and hadn't thought of a next sentence yet.
Guo Liqing looked at the abbot and asked, "You're the abbot? In the Western Xia Buddhist sect, do you have the final say?"
"I am merely the abbot of Chengtian Temple and cannot represent the Buddhist community."
"Then let the person in charge come out!"
"Esteemed benefactor, what is it that you wish to discuss with this old monk?"
"Stop beating around the bush!" Guo Liqing said directly, "I am the Grand Marshal of the Mongol Expedition against Western Xia. Now that Western Xia has been destroyed, I am here today to decide your fate! So, let the one in charge come out and speak to me!"
"Amitabha!" the abbot said. "This is a sacred Buddhist site, where we do not participate in worldly conflicts. We hope the marshal will leave quickly and not disturb the tranquility of the Buddhist community!"
Guo Liqing laughed and said, "Whether you participate or not is not up to you! I'm here to have a proper talk with you. If you don't want to have a proper talk, I also know a little bit of martial arts!"