Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

The locust plague erupted, and countless people fled to distant places, with disaster victims scrambling everywhere to find a way to survive.

However, in all of Great Tang, half of the territory had fallen victim to the locust plague. Where could one find a path to life?

Bodies littered the ground everywhere, and in just about half a month, Great Tang had presented a scene of decay. Thousands desperately starved to death, and hundreds of thousands of disaster victims fled everywhere, no matter what measures the Imperial Court issued for disaster relief and soothing the people; it was all like a drop of water in a cart of hay.

This locust plague, swiftly spreading everywhere, caused damage that continued to spread. It was contained here but not there.

In just about half a month, from Emperor Li Shimin down to the civil and military officials, everyone was extremely busy but achieved very little.

That day, Emperor Li Shimin instructed Yuan Tiangang to hold a grand ceremony to pray to heaven, ordering the civil and military officials to participate, to pray to heaven and bless the masses, to completely resolve the difficulties of the locust plague.

The news spread, providing a glimmer of hope to the people in their desperation.

In just one day, all the preparations needed for the praying ceremony had been made. Under the eager watch of countless people, the ceremony officially began with the Imperial Army clearing the way, and the civil and military officials arrived in full.

"Master Xuanzang, the Emperor has asked you to participate in the praying ceremony, and you're going like this?" Inside the Imperial Palace, Jiang Liu was also ready, but a Palace Maid, seeing Jiang Liu's appearance, paused in bewilderment.

Jiang Liu's face was clean-shaven, yet he wore a long white robe, without the Vidyaraja Crown on his head or Buddha Beads around his neck. He wasn't even wearing monk robes and walked barefoot. He didn't look like a monk but rather like someone who had abandoned the righteous path.

"Gaoyang, I will go out and come back soon," Jiang Liu gently bowed and spoke softly to Gaoyang, who was lying on the bed.

With breath as thin as a thread, Gaoyang hadn't awakened for two days and was naturally unable to respond.

As his words fell, he instructed the Palace Maid to take good care of Gaoyang, then Jiang Liu turned and stepped out.

"Master Xuanzang, please follow me," outside the Palace, several guards had already been waiting. Seeing Jiang Liu in a long robe and walking barefoot, they too paused in surprise, but they didn't ask further, only lowering their heads and speaking respectfully.

Since the day Jiang Liu had boldly proclaimed his intention to marry the Princess, it had been almost a month now, and naturally, this matter spread throughout Great Tang like a whirlwind.

Although many people thought that as a Buddhist disciple marked with the twelve scars of precepts, Jiang Liu shouldn't have said such things, it was undeniable that his words garnered much admiration from numerous people.

Especially women, who found it even more touching.

Although Princess Gaoyang's life was nearing its end, in many women's views, to have met a man who truly loved her in her life, even if he was a monk, was a blessing.

Under the escort of several guards, Jiang Liu soon arrived at the site of the praying ceremony.

Since this ceremony was being held for the welfare of the people of Great Tang, it wasn't hidden within the inner depths of the Palace but was set up outside, naturally attracting almost all the residents of Chang'an City.

As Jiang Liu arrived, all the way along, countless people looked at him with complex emotions—disgust, respect, and admiration...

Jiang Liu paid no mind to these gazes and just quietly walked forward, with guards clearing the way for him.

"Master Xuanzang, please wait here," once Jiang Liu had arrived, the praying ceremony had already officially begun. The guard asked Jiang Liu to wait on the side.

Emperor Li Shimin, clad in his Imperial Robe, loudly recited the prayer with a resonant voice.

"I am commissioned by heaven, to shepherd and hunt on behalf of heaven among the children of this world, diligently and tirelessly," he declared.

Jiang Liu stood among the crowd, quietly listening.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

The earlier part of Li Shimin's prayer primarily narrated his hard work as the Emperor, shepherding the masses, and the peace and joy of the people in Great Tang over the years.

Although the speech was beautifully crafted, the achievements Li Shimin spoke of over the years weren't exaggerated.

Then, the prayer shifted towards lamenting the current locust plague and its dreadful hazards.

"If indeed it is my misconduct, acting against heaven, that has brought about such a disaster, I implore the heavens to inflict the disaster upon me alone. As the ruler of the masses, the Emperor of the Human Clan, I am willing to bear it alone. May the locusts devour my internal organs and spare the children of this world from further harm," he declared.

At the end of it, Li Shimin cried out loudly, and amid his shout, guards presented several lively locusts.

Li Shimin grabbed them and swallowed them whole.

"Your Majesty is merciful!" one could not help but say, finding Li Shimin's words and actions profoundly impactful. His heartfelt plea to heaven, filled with generosity and sorrow, demonstrated his resolve to bear this disaster for all people.

Watching him swallow the locusts whole, the surrounding populace was genuinely moved and knelt down unanimously in loud acclaim.

"Li Shimin truly deserves the title of a sage emperor, though this is a mythological world and not actual history," they said.

Standing below the Praying to Heaven Platform, Jiang Liu quietly watched all that Li Shimin did and nodded in approval internally.

Swallowing locusts whole was not something just anyone could accomplish in these times.

With the prayer to heaven complete, by all accounts, this grand ceremony should have officially concluded.

As the Human Emperor, Li Shimin had formally prayed to the heavens, and whether the locust plague would recede was now up to the divine will.

However, Li Shimin showed no signs of concluding the event and nodded at a eunuch by his side.

Following Li Shimin's signal, the eunuch stepped forward, looked around at the people, and called out in a shrill voice, "The Praying to Heaven ceremony is complete! May the heavens bless our Great Tang with everlasting continuity. Nevertheless, today, His Majesty the Emperor has a new decree to announce to all!"

The eunuch's words left the surrounding populace exchanging glances in surprise, and even the civil and military officials were astounded.

After the Praying to Heaven ceremony, the Emperor had more news to declare, unknown to both officials and the common folk alike.

As the eunuch spoke, he drew a resplendent Imperial Decree from within his robe and unfolded it slowly, saying, "By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor decrees: Recently, Holy Monk Xuanzang, deeply rooted in Buddhist faith, has been marked with twelve Scar of Precepts, unprecedented till now, and is also known for his firm disposition and his deep sense of loyalty and righteousness.

I wish to become sworn brothers with Master Xuanzang…"

Boom!

This decree sent a shock through the entire assembly, leaving both officials and scholars in uproar.

Nobody had anticipated that the Emperor would suddenly issue such a decree.

Ever since Jiang Liu vowed to the skies, who didn't know that Master Xuanzang had wanted to marry Princess Gaoyang? It was only that this request had been previously denied by His Majesty the Emperor.

Who would have thought that at this moment, he would issue a decree to become sworn brothers with Master Xuanzang?

In doing so, wouldn't the generational ranking between Master Xuanzang and Princess Gaoyang be shifted by an entire generation?

"So is this how it is?" Upon hearing this decree suddenly, Jiang Liu was also surprised but not taken aback, as he knew from the original text about the Imperial Brother's identity. More so, putting himself in Li Shimin's position, Jiang Liu could understand his decision.

The locust plague had arisen as a divine punishment for neglecting the task of the Westward Journey in favor of matrimony.

To eradicate the locust plague was not something that could be achieved by Li Shimin's mere prayer and plea to heaven, the main reason lay in himself.

Today, by issuing an Imperial Decree making himself sworn brothers with him, Li Shimin also effectively severed any possibility of his marrying Princess Gaoyang…

Thundering rolls!

The sound of thunder resonated, the earth-quaking, evidently showing divine approval of Li Shimin's intentions.

"From this day forth, seeing the Imperial Brother is as good as seeing me," Li Shimin announced, his clear voice spreading in all directions.

"Greetings to Imperial Brother, Master Xuanzang!" Following the declaration, both the civil and military officials and all the people knelt and saluted towards Jiang Liu, shouting in unison.

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Yet, quietly observing everything, Jiang Liu, now bearing the dual identity of Holy Monk Xuanzang and Imperial Brother, revered above all, received the kneeling salutes of all people and officials, but his heart held no joy.