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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 247
Princess Jinyang suppressed her joy as she returned from the Great Discussion House. Soon after, news spread throughout Tuguhun like thunder in a drought that the Grand Master was about to return to Tang.
Ludongzan's grandson, Ultimate Truth, was summoned by the Grand Master to become the Zoroastrian Prodigy and return to the Tang Kingdom with him. This news quickly circulated. The Grand Master was the current Zanpu's mentor, and Ludongzan was the regent Great Minister. It was undoubtedly a matter of pride that his grandson was called a prodigy. This not only allowed him to bring his son back with justification but also redirected public attention back to Ludongzan, achieving two goals at once.
It was precisely because of Princess Jinyang's proactive goodwill and cooperation that Ludongzan gritted his teeth and gifted her the Cipher Tube. He did not expect that this small Cipher Tube would open up a magical world for Princess Jinyang.
After returning to her residence, Princess Jinyang could hardly contain her excitement and began studying the Cipher Tube with Caesar. They spread out the Zoroastrian Secret Text and translated the incantations on the Cipher Tube word by word. However, to their astonishment, the incantations on the Cipher Tube were so obscure that they were not even recorded in the secret texts!
Princess Jinyang's secret text was inherited from Old Man Mo Ya. Although it was an orthodox inheritance, the Holy Avesta of Zoroastrianism is vast. It is said that it requires over a hundred people to memorize it in segments to preserve its teachings. Over time, much of the original scripture has been lost, leaving only a small portion behind.
This version of Princess Jinyang's text is considered relatively complete among orthodox texts, yet it still could not decipher the incantations on the Cipher Tube, which further confirmed its value in her eyes!
The Golden Cipher Tube completely ignited Princess Jinyang's competitive spirit. She had previously designed box locks herself and was proficient in various cipher locks; opening ordinary safes was a trivial matter for her.
However, she worried that the Cipher Tube might contain hidden dangers. If she forced it open and damaged whatever was inside, it would be a great loss.
With no other choice, Princess Jinyang had to temporarily set aside the Cipher Tube and focus on organizing her itinerary.
Since news of Princess Jinyang's return spread, her residence has been visited daily by those seeking an audience. The area surrounding her residence was filled with incense burners and other offerings, and the streets were crowded with people eager to catch a glimpse of Princess Jinyang's beauty. To receive even a little guidance from the Grand Master would be considered a stroke of luck for them.
Ludongzan quickly fulfilled his promise. In addition to initially sending guards to maintain order at Princess Jinyang's residence, he also sent eighteen Dharma Protectors.
These monks were not from Buddhism but from Tuguhun's indigenous Bon Religion!
Moreover, they came from the Primordial Bon Religion rather than the currently popular Yungchung Bon Religion. The Yungchung Bon Religion is based on teachings transmitted by Xinrao Miwo Tathagata and is also known as Ancient Tibetan Buddhism, which has a history of over ten thousand years.
In contrast, the Primordial Bon Religion is even more mysterious. Today, most of Tuguhun's population practices Yungchung Bon Religion, making followers of Primordial Bon Religion quite rare. These eighteen monks were originally part of the Imperial Guard protecting the former Zanpu. During Qiang Bang Se's rebellion, they were ambushed in Lhasa by Qinsuo Luo leading two thousand elite soldiers attacking the palace. The Imperial Guard inside suffered heavy casualties; only one hundred Bon Religion monks remained. Facing an enemy twenty times their number, they fought valiantly and killed over eight hundred foes before ultimately leaving just these eighteen survivors.
After entering the royal city, the various factions assessed their losses. When the report arrived in Qiang Bang Se's hands, stating that a hundred Bon Religion guardians had killed eight hundred elite soldiers, he was furious and immediately decided to execute the eighteen individuals responsible.
They were all guardians of the Primordial Bon Religion, devoted followers of the Wrathful King, known as the Vajra of Subduing Demons. They were unwavering in their faith and were among the most loyal believers, unafraid of death.
On the day of execution, they were held in a Prison Cart beneath a high platform, waiting for the Xu Zhen to be executed before it was their turn to face beheading.
However, upon witnessing the Miracle of the Xu Zhen and surviving, they felt honored when Lu Dongzan asked them to serve as guardians for the National Master and readily agreed.
The Xu Zhen looked at the eighteen men standing like javelins in the courtyard and inexplicably thought of the Eighteen Arhats. They wore earthy yellow monk pants with cloth bindings on their legs, draped in diagonal monk robes, secured tightly with red sashes around their waists. Their faces were covered with black demonic clouds and fierce king tattoos that extended up to their bald heads, giving them a fierce and intimidating appearance.
Their weapons were not monk staffs or spades but rather large square sabers, each three feet long with blades shaped like oars. The backs of the blades were thick while the edges were narrow, featuring straight blood grooves that indicated they had been soaked in blood.
"Greetings, National Master," said the leader of the Dharma Protectors in slightly stiff Tang Language as he addressed the Xu Zhen. The others raised one hand and bowed respectfully, chanting a Buddhist mantra in Tibetan.
This man was clearly the leader of the eighteen; a fiery design was tattooed on his forehead, bright red and vivid, resembling a demon's mouth ready to devour one's gaze.
"What is your name?"
"Ero."
"Going to Tang may mean you will never return to your homeland. Are you willing to follow me willingly?"
"At your command!" Ero replied succinctly. They were all orphans taken in by Bon Religion monasteries, having trained within temples from a young age. They showed little interest in the worldly affairs outside and had devoted their souls to deities. The Xu Zhen was regarded as a Divine Child, so they naturally pledged to follow her unto death.
The Primordial Bon Religion is an indigenous sect of Tuguhun. They have no inherent connection to Bulky Bon Religion, which worships figures like Tathagata; instead, Primordial Bon Religion is rooted in nature worship.
In primitive societies, humans developed various forms of spiritual culture such as nature worship, deity worship, spirit worship, ancestor worship, and totem worship. Primordial Bon Religion believes that all things possess spirits and belongs to nature worship. However, after a long period of development, they began to absorb some cultural elements from other religions. For instance, these guardians incorporated aspects of Yungdrung Bon's protective deity system while still adhering fundamentally to nature worship.
On this level, those belonging to the Primordial Bon Religion find it easier to approach Xu Zhen, the Divine Child of Zoroastrianism, than the Tubo People who follow Buddhism or other sects.
Although Zoroastrianism worships fire, in reality, they revere natural elements such as wind, fire, water, and earth. The act of fire worship is so representative that it has come to be known as Zoroastrianism in common parlance.
In this regard, the protectors of the nature-worshipping Primordial Bon Religion share many commonalities with Xu Zhen, the Divine Child of Zoroastrianism. At least their following of Xu Zhen does not feel as out of place as that of followers from other sects.
After receiving a positive response from Ero, Xu Zhen was overjoyed and prayed for blessings for the eighteen individuals. Only then did Zhou Cang lead them down to settle in properly.
That night, Zhang Suling and Caesar made a trip to the palace and took advantage of the night to bring Li Wushuang out!
Indeed, Xu Zhen wanted to take Li Wushuang back! She could not let her woman remain a widow in this lifeless palace; she intended to take that baby along with Li Wushuang.
Thanks to Zhang Suling's disguise skills and Lu Dongzan providing a willing puppet to become the princess consort, things became exceedingly easy. This was also what Xu Zhen had entrusted Lu Dongzan with.
Lu Dongzan needed to place his trusted personnel within the palace, and what could hold more influence than a former king's consort? Thus, he readily agreed to Xu Zhen's plan of substitution.
Wencheng Princess remained deep within the palace above Red Mountain, while Li Wushuang, carrying her child, followed Xu Zhen as they left Tuguhun and set off back to Tang.
This journey was deliberately prolonged; they would inevitably endure the harshness of winter. With a baby and an already pregnant Zhang Suling among them, along with other women like Li Mingda, their journey was bound to be arduous. Everyone felt uncertain but grew eager at the thought of returning to their homeland.
By the next day, with autumn winds blowing fiercely, the Tang envoy led by Xu Zhen, who was also the National Master of Tubo, officially departed from Tuguhun's Luo Xie Royal City. Tens of thousands of people lined the streets to send them off; cries filled the air as many followers cut their hair or ears in mourning. The scene was deeply moving and shocking.
The Tang forces and various servants from Tuguhun numbered over three hundred, with hundreds of heavy carts. Xu Zhen donned a Crimson Holy Robe and wore a golden crown of the national master atop her head. She rode on the Golden Armored White Elephant King, chanting scriptures loudly to offer final blessings for the Tubo People. Behind her, the Eighteen Protectors and Zhou Cang rode war elephants as they departed Lhasa amidst the cries of the people.
Tubo Grand Chancellor Ge Er Dong Zan personally escorted them for twenty miles alongside General Gerlqinlin. Reluctant crowds followed them closely; even though it was autumn rain and oppressive clouds loomed overhead, it seemed as if they mourned for the departure of their national master.
After bidding farewell to Xu Zhenzhi, Lu Dongzan looked at the crowds kneeling along both sides of the road and sighed softly: "This is indeed the power of public sentiment..."
Li Wushuang cradled the baby and looked back at the magnificent royal city built against the mountains, without a hint of reluctance in her eyes. She murmured to the infant in her arms, "Sitang, we are going home..."
This was the nickname given to their son by Xu Zhen, which Li Wushuang cherished. Little Si Tang inherited his parents' striking beauty, with a pair of charming, elongated phoenix eyes. He rarely cried or fussed, and even Caesar doted on Little Si Tang to an extreme degree.
The size of the convoy was large, making their movements cumbersome and naturally slow. With winter approaching, traveling at this time was indeed unwise; however, they had no choice but to comply with the imperial command. Fortunately, Lu Dongzan offered his assistance, providing experienced servants who were well-versed in travel. Everything was arranged in an orderly manner, and the accompanying maidservants were hardworking Tuguhun women who took great care of Xu Zhen's entourage.
In the second year of Yonghui, autumn arrived, and Xu Zhen's delegation finally returned to Tang Territory. Deputy Commander Yinzong led troops to the border to welcome them and escorted them into Tingzhou.
Tingzhou is located at the northern foot of Tianshan Mountain, connecting to Yizhou in the east, Western Province in the south, and Gongyue City and Suiye in the west. It is a crucial area for Tang's western front. Initially known as the Western Turkic Floating City and linked with Gaochang, after the Tang dynasty subdued Gaochang in the fourteenth year of the Zhenguan Era, its Yeh Hu (second only to Khan) surrendered in fear. The Tang then established a prefecture there for agricultural settlement.
Stepping onto familiar soil filled Xu Zhen and her companions with joy. Although their nearly year-long journey had been leisurely, everyone was eager to return home. While Tingzhou's landscape still appeared barren compared to the beauty of the Central Plains, they found themselves increasingly pleased with it.
However, upon reaching the outskirts of Shabao Town, Xu Zhen became alert because scouts under Zhou Cang reported that they had discovered a mysterious group of scouts who had been tracking the main force for an entire day and night!
If these were scouts from Tang, they would surely approach to make contact upon seeing Xu Zhen's ceremonial escort. However, their sneaky following raised suspicions for Xu Zhen. Throughout their journey, they had received grand receptions from various small nations and tribes due to Xu Zhenzhi's fame spreading far and wide; thus, how could she not be suspicious of this scout team’s behavior?
"Don't make a sound; find an opportunity to capture this group of scouts alive!" Zhou Cang revealed a joyful expression upon receiving Xu Zhen's order, though his eyes could not hide the eagerness for battle that bubbled beneath the surface!
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