Journey to the West: Demon Emperor: Beginning as a Little Toad - Chapter 474: Buddhism Spreads to the East, Journey to the West Begins

At this moment.

The green lotus of "Chaos Green Lotus" slowly rotates, like a solid barrier, protecting Emperor Donghua firmly inside.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

The black snake attacked like black lightning, and its attack hit the Chaos Green Lotus Dharma Image heavily, making a deafening roar.

However, all these attacks were like an ant trying to shake a tree in front of the Chaos Green Lotus and were completely unable to break through the indestructible defense.

The light of the Chaos Lotus became brighter and brighter, and a tremendous vitality force spread out like a spring breeze and rain, colliding with the netherworld energy emanating from the black snake, stirring up layers of energy ripples.

Wherever the energy ripples went, the heavenly palace was shaken, the stars were crumbling, and the water of the Milky Way poured down.

At this moment, the sky is full of twinkling stars, as if witnessing this stunning showdown.

The Dharma image of "Ancestor Xuanwu" and the Dharma image of "Chaos Qinglian" are facing each other.

For a moment, the sky and the earth were in turmoil, and the sun and moon lost their light.

The Great Emperor Zhenwu and the Emperor Donghua both looked solemn, and they used all their magical powers to decide the winner.

Heaven, at the South Gate of Heaven.

Xiao Chen activated the "Golden Eye of the Sun" and looked into the distance. Seeing this scene, he couldn't help but sigh:"Emperor Donghua rebels against the heavens and fights for the throne. This scene is very similar to Sun Wukong's rampage in the Heavenly Palace."

“I really don’t know how this will end.”

In fact, the purpose of Sun Wukong's rampage in Heaven was actually to fight for the throne.

In the eyes of Sun Wukong, although the Lingxiao Palace is the residence of the Emperor of Heaven, it is not his place to live for a long time. Human kings in all dynasties have had the opportunity to take the throne of Heaven. As a strong man, he should fight for this seat.

It is just like this: "Because the mortal world is too small, I set my mind on living in Yaotian. The Lingxiao Palace has not been his for a long time, and it has been passed down by the kings of all generations. The strong should be respected, and only heroes dare to compete for the first place!"

In front of the Lingxiao Palace.

Sun Wukong laughed wildly at the Buddha and said:"Fat monk, even though the Jade Emperor is old and slender, he should not stay here for long. As the saying goes: 'The emperor takes turns, and next year it will be my turn.'"

But, as the Tathagata Buddha said:"That fellow of yours is just a monkey turned spirit. How dare you deceive your heart and try to seize the title of Jade Emperor?"

"How can you, a beast who was a human in your first life, say such a thing! You are not a human being! You are not a human being! You have shortened your life! Convert as soon as possible and stop talking nonsense! I am afraid you will be killed and end your life in an instant. What a pity for your original appearance!"

It is indeed difficult for a monkey to be the emperor of heaven.

After all, it is difficult for the gods in heaven to accept a monkey as their Emperor of Heaven. How could a monkey covet the position of Emperor of Heaven?

However, after his death, the Emperor of Heaven's luck was taken away by the Jade Emperor. Now, he has made a comeback.

The position of the Emperor of Heaven should have been his.

Perhaps even the gods in heaven may have such an understanding in their hearts.

Everyone has their own tribulations; nothing goes smoothly.

If Emperor Donghua wants to return to the top, he must go through many tribulations.

Perhaps, his calamity should be with the Jade Emperor. As long as he can overcome this calamity, the fate of the Emperor of Heaven will be completed. Not only can he return to the peak, but he may be able to go further and reach a higher level.

Perhaps the same is true for the Jade Emperor.

Emperor Donghua's rebellious act against heaven was also a huge test for the Jade Emperor.

……

Above the Lingxiao Palace, clouds and mist are lingering, and fairy light is shining.

The Jade Emperor sat on the throne of Heaven, gazing at the scene in the Haotian Mirror - Emperor Donghua and Emperor Zhenwu were engaged in an earth-shaking battle, with swords shining like dragons and countless Dharma images.

The entire heaven was shaking violently in the aftermath of this great battle, with stars swaying and the sea of ​​clouds surging.

At this moment.

The Jade Emperor's expression was as changeable as a child's butt.

As the saying goes: "A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall, and a wise man does not fall into an overturned nest."

There is an ancient saying: "Golden armor stained with dust is not the destiny of heaven, and jade chariot covered with blood has lost the majesty of the emperor."

The emperor had to personally go into battle and take risks, because there was really no one else available and this was his last resort.

Taibai Jinxing stood by, with a respectful posture and head lowered. He dared not make a sound, for fear that the slightest sound would disturb the Jade Emperor's thoughts at the moment.

Suddenly, the Jade Emperor's voice echoed in the palace:"Taibai Venus."

Upon hearing this, Taibai Jinxing was startled, and immediately knelt on the ground with a plop, bowed his head and said:

The Jade Emperor said in a deep voice:"I would like to draft an edict. You are to go to Lingshan Mountain in the west immediately and summon the Tathagata Buddha to come and protect me."

"Announce that the Tathagata Buddha of the West is coming..."

Taibai Jinxing was startled and puzzled, thinking to himself:

"In the heaven, there are many great gods, all of whom have great magical powers. Why would the Jade Emperor go to the faraway place to invite the Tathagata Buddha from the west?"

"Then why would the Tathagata Buddha of the West willingly and eagerly come over to protect you?"

However, Taibai Jinxing knew the Jade Emperor's majesty and did not dare to say much, so he quickly responded:"The minister obeys the order."

At this time, Zhang Tianshi beside the Jade Emperor had already picked up the pen in his hand, and the ink was splashed freely on the silk book.

But in just a moment, an imperial edict was completed.

Taibai Jinxing took the imperial edict and was about to turn around and leave, but heard the Jade Emperor say:

"Taibai Jinxing, please tell the Tathagata that Xiniuhezhou is too small, while Nanshanbuzhou is vast."

“No matter how gorgeously the lotus flowers in Xiniuhezhou bloom, it is still just a palm-sized pond. The world of Nanshanbuzhou is the blessed land that can nurture golden-bodied arhats.”

"I hereby grant him special permission to spread Buddhism to the east, to spread Buddhist scriptures to the Southern Continent, and to save all sentient beings!"

"Allow the Western Lingshan to spread Buddhist scriptures to the Southern Jambudvīpa..."

When Taibai Jinxing heard this, his body shook violently, as if he was struck by an invisible thunder.

His long snow-white eyebrows moved in the breeze without any wind, and almost swept away the large peach on the table, which was of attractive color and exuding bursts of fruity fragrance.

As the saying goes:"People fight for a breath, gods fight for a stick of incense."

The fight for incense has always been cruel and ruthless. The gods are fighting for the devout thoughts of all living beings and for the foundation of their own survival and development.

Since the Battle of the Gods, Buddhism in the West has flourished like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, and its influence has continued to expand like a snowball.

However, the area of ​​Xiniu Hezhou is limited and people's livelihood is relatively poor. The money offered from incense offerings is just enough for the growing number of Buddhist disciples to make ends meet and just enough to have a bowl of porridge.

The Southern Continent has always been an important place of worship for the gods in heaven and Taoist immortals.

The eight hundred side sects and three thousand left sects of Taoism all set up their gates here. The incense is extremely prosperous and the number of believers is countless.

Although Buddhism has long coveted Jambudvīpa, it has always been unable to intervene, just like a tiger or a wolf coveting a fat sheep, but has always been unable to intervene and has never been able to get close to this precious land of incense.

Now, the Jade Emperor actually allowed the Western Buddha to spread "Buddhism to the East" and preach the scriptures to Jambudvīpa!This is undoubtedly to forcibly divide a portion of the rice bowls of the gods in heaven and the Taoist sect and give it to the Lingshan Buddhist sect.

Such a major event was naturally a surprise to the Lingshan Buddhist community, just like a downpour of rain after a long drought.

but.

Then, Taibai Jinxing seemed to understand something:"During the incident in which Emperor Donghua caused chaos in the heaven."

"The gods in the Conferred God List stood by and watched, pretending to be deaf and dumb, and did not care about the affairs of the Heavenly Palace."

"The Taoist immortals did not show up either, as if they were staying out of the matter."

"The Jade Emperor is dissatisfied with the gods in heaven and the Taoist immortals... and wants to use this to teach them a lesson."

Thinking of this, Taibai Jinxing did not dare to delay any longer, and hurriedly and carefully held the imperial edict. A light flashed around him, and he turned into a dazzling stream of light, rushing towards the Western Lingshan like a meteor chasing the moon.

The Jade Emperor looked at the direction where Taibai Jinxing left, and slowly stood up, his posture tall and straight, like a towering mountain.

The Jade Emperor stands above the thirty-three heavens, overlooking the sentient beings of the three realms. There is a kind of detachment and majesty in his eyes. He is high above, overlooking the sentient beings of the three realms as if they were ants.

"The Buddhist teachings of the Western sect spread eastwards, and spread the scriptures to the southern continent..."

The corners of the Jade Emperor's mouth rose slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.

He, the Jade Emperor, is not limited to being the leader of Taoism or Buddhism. He is the "Lord of the Three Realms" and the supreme being in this vast universe.

He is the Jade Emperor, the "Supreme Jade Emperor of the Golden Palace of Heaven, the Great God of Forgiveness, the Mysterious Sky High God."

He is in charge of all living beings in the three realms (heaven, earth, and underground), the vast universe of the ten directions (four directions, four dimensions, up and down), the countless creatures of the four kinds of birth (birth from the womb, birth from eggs, birth from moisture, and birth from transformation), the cycle of reincarnation in the six paths (heaven, human, demon, hell, animals, and hungry ghosts), and controls the rise and fall of all yin and yang, good and bad fortune.

Be it Taoism or Buddhism; be it the gods in heaven or the Buddha and Bodhisattva in Lingshan; be it Jambudvīpa or Xiniuhezhou... In the eyes of this "Lord of the Three Realms", they are all just a force under his command.

Like chess pieces on a chessboard, they can be manipulated by him at will.

As the "Lord of the Three Realms", he has the power to rule over all these forces.

Once the ministers unite as one and form a powerful force, the spearhead will be directed directly at the emperor himself, competing with the emperor for power.

This is what is called "forming a clique for personal gain."

If one family dominates the court, disaster will surely occur!

Many examples in history are clear proof of this.

Although Wei Zhongxian was a eunuch, he had great power in the court and fought openly and secretly with the civil service group, neither side giving in. In this way, the imperial power was stabilized and the emperor could mediate and control the overall situation.

After the fall of Wei Zhongxian, the leader of the "Eunuch Party", the Donglin Party became the only powerful group in the country. The bureaucratic system was monopolized by the Donglin Party, and the imperial power was isolated.

The Donglin Party group was able to call the shots in the court and exclude dissidents. The emperor's will was often misinterpreted or obstructed by them.

Although Emperor Chongzhen was determined to rectify the government, he was unable to rebuild the "checks and balances" system, and his imperial power was almost hollowed out.

Even in the hearts of these ministers.

Even after the change of dynasties.

The Donglin Party supported "King of Rebellion" Li Zicheng as emperor, and they continued to hold high positions and enjoy generous salaries and control the government.

The situation is the same now.

Emperor Donghua is the "King of Rebellion Li Zicheng". He is going to invade and he wants to become the Emperor of Heaven.

If the gods in heaven support "Emperor Donghua" as the Emperor of Heaven, they will still be the gods in heaven and can even break free from the constraints of the List of Gods, and live freely and unrestrainedly from then on.

To them, it doesn’t matter who is the Emperor of Heaven, whether it is the Jade Emperor or the Emperor Donghua.

It would even be better for Emperor Donghua to be the Emperor of Heaven. After all, Emperor Donghua promised them that "you can live freely on the path to immortality."

The Taoist gods are the only powerful group in Heaven, and their influence is complicated and intertwined. How could the Jade Emperor not be afraid of them?In this heaven, is the "imperial power" of the Jade Emperor greater, or is the "Taoist power" of Taoism greater?If there is a conflict between "imperial power" and "Taoist power", who should we listen to?Is it that "imperial power obeys Taoist power" or "Taoist power obeys imperial power"?……

If the ministers were united as one, it would be the source of disaster for the emperor.

This situation is truly a catastrophe, indicating that the "imperial power" has been hollowed out and become meaningless.

When an emperor employs people, the key is to control the situation, like riding the wind and going with the flow.

In serious cases, although the emperor holds military power, if political opinion leans towards the court officials, even if the emperor has an army, it will have no rations and pay, and the army will be sidelined. This is the cruelty of politics.

The emperor had to be on guard against his subjects, which is why he often killed meritorious officials.

The art of "balance" is a necessary means for the emperor to govern the court.

The court should not be too united. There must be two political groups of equal strength, like yin and yang, which complement each other.

The emperor only needed to sit on the throne and watch the two forces fighting endlessly.

When the fight between the two sides becomes so intense that the emperor is finally required to step in to mediate, the emperor's majesty and wisdom are revealed.

This is the way of checks and balances under the rule of an emperor.

Just like "a triangle is stable", the art of ruling lies in the word "checks and balances".

In this way, in order to win the favor of the emperor, both parties will do their best to improve work efficiency, enhance performance, and supervise each other so as not to fall behind.

This situation is indeed a good thing for the emperor.

Therefore, emperors in ancient times often supported forces such as the "eunuch party" and "foreign relatives" to make them fight against the "loyal ministers and clean streams" in order to achieve the effect of checks and balances.

In fact, whether it is relatives by marriage or eunuchs, they are all just "scapegoats" and "white gloves" in the hands of the emperor. The real culprit behind the scenes is the imperial power that does not allow others to override it.

Right now, behind this seemingly chaotic battle in heaven is actually a treacherous power game.

At present, the Heavenly Court is free from the troubles of the "Eunuch Party" and the dangers of "foreign relatives". The only force left is the "Taoist" faction of loyal officials, which is the only one in power and is at its peak.

Even the Taoist gods only obey the orders of the Three Pure Ones and do not obey the authority of the Jade Emperor.

The Donghua Emperor's rampage in heaven is a vivid example.

In such a situation, how could the Jade Emperor sit idly by?

Then, the Jade Emperor would need to find another force and support it to compete with Taoism, giving Taoism a sense of crisis and Buddhism some benefits to achieve the purpose of checks and balances.

In this way, the Jade Emperor can sit firmly in the Lingxiao Palace, high above, and watch the two forces fighting each other, fighting openly and secretly, which is very lively.

Amid their struggle, the Jade Emperor could sit back and relax, holding the imperial power tightly in his palm, like a chess master, watching the changing situation on the chessboard with cold eyes.

However, this is only the first ingenious chess move made by the Jade Emperor. The depth and ingenuity of his layout are far beyond what this move can fully reveal.

In these three realms, the Jade Emperor "dominates the heavens, weighs the three realms, and commands all spirits" and is the king of all gods in the three realms!The Jade Emperor is "God" and represents "the will of heaven."

And what is the way of heaven?The way of the sky is more than damage but not enough to make up for.

That is, the Way of Heaven will reduce and cut back those parts that exceed normal limits and are overfilled.

The way of heaven will keep all forces in a state of balance.

As the saying goes:"The butt determines the head, and the position determines the perspective."

The art and strategies of an emperor can only be understood by those who are not emperors.

Of course, taking the opportunity of "the spread of Buddhism to the East", we can rebalance the various forces in the Heavenly Court and the Three Realms.

The Jade Emperor "rules the heavens, weighs the three realms, and commands all spirits." The game he really wants to play is very big.

And this is just the beginning.

(End of this chapter)