Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

Chang'an City, the capital of the Celestial Empire, coupled with the Kongdong Seal now in Emperor Li Shimin's possession, has become the capital city of the Human Clan, making its destiny completely different.

On this day, Li Shimin sat majestically on his throne, surrounded by many foreign emissaries in his grand hall.

They were all emissaries who had come to Chang'an City to pay tribute.

Ever since Emperor Li Shimin acquired the Kongdong Seal, the name of the Great Tang Celestial Empire has been solidified, and more and more countries recently have been sending envoys to the Great Tang to see Li Shimin, to express their submission.

"I have understood your king's intentions. Someone, arrange accommodations for these envoys so they can truly appreciate the sights of Chang'an City!"

Having received these envoys' tributes, Li Shimin was naturally pleased and nodded, instructing for their needs to be taken care of.

However, at that moment, Li Shimin suddenly noticed a brilliant golden light shining down outside the hall, making the exterior even brighter.

"What is this!?" The envoys from other countries exchanged glances in amazement.

"Your Majesty, the Sandalwood Merit Buddha, Master Xuanzang has arrived..." At this moment, a guard outside the hall entered to report.

"Oh? Has the Imperial Brother arrived?" Upon hearing this, Li Shimin stood up and spoke, leading the way outside.

Naturally, civil and military officials followed closely behind.

"Is it true that a Buddha has descended?" Several envoys from other countries exchanged surprised glances.

Immortal Gods and Buddhas are aloof and not something mortals can see, but here in the Great Tang, a Buddha has descended?

This truly is the Celestial Empire; just this alone is far beyond other countries' capabilities.

Amazed in their hearts, these envoys followed and stepped outside the hall.

Looking up, indeed, they saw dazzling Buddhist light pouring down from the sky. A figure draped in the Buddha's Robe stood on the back of a White Dragon, with a golden halo blooming behind his head, undoubtedly a Buddha.

"Greetings to the Sandalwood Merit Buddha!"

The White Dragon Horse slowly descended, and Jiang Liu emanated waves of Buddhist light, stepping down from the White Dragon's back. Meanwhile, countless guards and civil and military officials saluted Jiang Liu.

"You may rise!" Jiang Liu raised his hand slightly and said to the people.

After letting everyone stand, Jiang Liu then walked step by step to Li Shimin and greeted him willingly, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"Rise, Imperial Brother!" Li Shimin smiled and helped Jiang Liu up as he spoke.

Sssss...

The civil and military officials around were not surprised by this scene, but the other envoys gasped.

After entering the Great Tang, even a Buddha from the Buddhist Sect must first salute the Tang Emperor? Is the status of the Tang Emperor this high?

This is truly terrifying!

However, neither Jiang Liu nor Li Shimin paid any attention to the envoys. After the greeting, Li Shimin took Jiang Liu to the side hall, clearly for important discussions.

The other civil and military officials naturally dispersed, having no intention of following.

"Envoys, follow me, envoys?"

The official responsible for receiving the envoys came forward and spoke to them but found they were not focused on him, rather, their eyes were locked on His Majesty and Holy Monk Xuanzang, prompting him to call out a few more times.

"Oh, it was us who lost focus. May I ask, are you familiar with this Buddha from the Buddhist Sect?" One of the envoys, coming to his senses, asked the official after thinking briefly.

"Of course familiar! He is not only the Sandalwood Merit Buddha but also the Imperial Brother of our Great Tang!" the official nodded, saying matter-of-factly.

"Is this the Celestial Empire? The Emperor is actually on fraternal terms with a Buddha?" The envoys exchanged glances.

Although they knew the Great Tang was the Celestial Empire and had mentally prepared, hearing all this was still incredibly shocking.

Have we truly underestimated the significance of this Celestial Empire?

"Gentlemen, please follow me; I'll arrange your accommodations..." Not intending to dwell further on the matter, the official continued.

"Thank you, Sir!" These envoys inadvertently bowed lower, showing not just respect, but also fearing any other expression.

On the other side, after greeting Jiang Liu, Li Shimin invited him to sit in the side hall and waved his hand. Naturally, all the eunuchs and maidens in the side hall withdrew.

"Jiang Liu, have you successfully completed the scripture seeking?" Looking at Jiang Liu in front of him, Li Shimin asked.

"My achieving Buddhahood was merely Tathagata fearing that I might have second thoughts, so he first appointed me as a Buddha to put my mind at ease. The Journey to the West isn't over yet!" Hearing Li Shimin's words, Jiang Liu understood his meaning and replied.

"I see!" Upon hearing this, Li Shimin nodded slightly.

Then, after a brief silence, Li Shimin followed up, "So, is there any major event that brought you back this time?"

It has been many years since the Journey to the West for Scriptures began, and although Jiang Liu has returned several times, each return was always due to some major event, right?

Therefore, seeing Jiang Liu return now, Li Shimin naturally assumed it was something important.

"Indeed, there are some major matters to discuss with Your Majesty!"

Jiang Liu nodded, without wasting words, and continued, "This time I am here to discuss the matter of re-establishing the Human Emperor!"

"Re-establishing the Human Emperor!" Upon suddenly hearing Jiang Liu speak of this, Li Shimin's expression slightly changed.

At the same time, he seriously gazed at Jiang Liu and said, "Are you saying that the time has come to re-establish the Human Emperor?"

"Yes, the situation in the Heavenly Court is increasingly troublesome, and they don't have much energy to oversee the mortal world. I believe now is indeed the right time to re-establish the Human Emperor!" Jiang Liu nodded and briefly explained the current situation the Heavenly Court faced to Li Shimin.

To know that currently, the Jade Emperor has lost the most crucial God-Beating Whip for controlling the immortal gods, and has repeatedly lost face, making the situation increasingly difficult...

Li Shimin pondered with a thoughtful look in his eyes, nodded, and said, "Indeed, from what you've said, now seems to be the right time to re-establish the Human Emperor!"

"However, this matter should not be blown up too much right now; it should be pursued gradually. What was it you said? Like boiling a frog in warm water!"

"Boiling a frog in warm water?" Hearing Li Shimin's point, Jiang Liu murmured softly.

"Yes, exactly like boiling a frog in warm water! Re-establishing the Human Emperor is a major event, and it cannot be accomplished overnight; it should be pursued gradually, like a frog being boiled in warm water. If the commotion is too big, it will draw the Jade Emperor's attention and provoke his intense countermeasures, which won't be good!" Li Shimin nodded and said.

"Indeed, this is indeed not a matter that can be accomplished overnight, like a rebellion!" Listening to Li Shimin's words, Jiang Liu thought for a while and agreed.

"Rebellion, huh? Your description is quite apt!" Listening to Jiang Liu's depiction, Li Shimin nodded and said.

At this point, Li Shimin paused slightly, then continued, "Moreover, when it comes to rebellion, I'm quite familiar!"

"Well, hahaha..." Hearing Li Shimin's words, Jiang Liu was slightly stunned, then couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Indeed, the establishment of the Tang Dynasty can be said to owe much to Li Shimin's great efforts, initially aiming to overthrow the Sui Dynasty's rule, which was indeed a rebellion, wasn't it?

Moreover, after successfully overthrowing the rule of the Sui Dynasty, the first emperor was Li Yuan.

Then, what's next? Li Shimin launched the Xuanwu Gate incident and successfully seized the throne from his father.

Looking at it this way, Li Shimin first rebelled against the Sui Dynasty and then rebelled against his own father before ascending the throne.

Most other founding emperors only needed to rebel once to sit on the throne, but Li Shimin nearly rebelled twice. His saying that he is familiar with rebellion is indeed no joke.

"Thus, let's count on Your Majesty. But, I wonder, in this gradual pursuit, what should be the first step?" After laughing for a while, Jiang Liu stopped smiling and asked Li Shimin.

Indeed, even if it's a gradual pursuit, a start must be made, right? So, what is the first action?

"In any rebellion, the first step is momentum!" Li Shimin, with a seasoned demeanor, replied.

"Momentum?" Jiang Liu watched Li Shimin with a questioning gaze, looking somewhat puzzled.

"Yes, either creating momentum to raise your own or lower the opposition's!" Li Shimin nodded, seriously answering.

At this point, after a slight pause, Li Shimin continued, "As you said, the Jade Emperor's momentum is currently continuously dropping, so now our task is to elevate our own momentum!"

"Does Your Majesty have any specific plans?" Hearing Li Shimin's words, Jiang Liu also expressed agreement, but was more eager to know a specific plan.

"Currently, I hold the Kongdong Seal, embodying the role of leader of the Human Clan. Therefore, I can use the Kongdong Seal to summon all the kings of the Human Clan to Chang'an City of Great Tang, to jointly acknowledge me as the leader of the Human Clan!" Li Shimin spoke, with a flash of brilliance in his eyes.

"This is indeed a method; first make this event known to everyone, and best if it becomes widely recognized, so being acknowledged as the leader of the Human Clan by other kings naturally gathers great momentum on oneself!" Thinking this over, Jiang Liu nodded quietly and expressed agreement.