Chapter 66: Ming Cultist

Zhang Mai left the city to delay the enemy, fought a victory, defeated more than 500 outposts of Satuk. More than a thousand people from behind saw him, but they dared not come to rescue him, so they retreated one after another. Zhang Mai was afraid that the other party would have ambushed troops, so he led his troops back to the city, and all the generals came to congratulate him. Although Guo Shiyong wanted to say, "Satuk's elite troops should not underestimate the enemy before they came out", he saw that the morale of the whole city was excited, so he held back and did not lose sight.

Seeing that Nair Shahi and his son were also among the crowd, Zhang Mai asked Nair Shahi without asking others, but said, "Old business owner, how did I fight this battle?"

Nair Shahi said hurriedly: "The special envoy's power is invincible. My Nair Shahi family is covered by the Tang army. It's a great blessing for three lives."

Zhang Mai laughed and went back to the camp.

Nairshahi and Abul turned around to discuss, and Abul said: "It seems that the Tang army has completely fought with Satuk, and we can't turn around anymore. These days, the Tang army, from Special Envoy Zhang to Yang Duwei, has treated us very politely. This matter will definitely spread in the future. With Satuk's personality, we will definitely not let us go. We have no choice, so we have to fall to the Tang army."

His father pondered for a moment and said, "If the Tang army could really defeat Satuk, this might be an opportunity for us Manichaeists."

Manichaeism is the "Ming Cult" mentioned by Zheng Wei. Because its founder was called Mani, its followers called themselves Mani. Because they advocated light and worshiped the sun, they also called it Ming Cult or Light Cult in the Han people. As for the Chinese literature, the title "Ming Cult" was officially called later than the common name of the market.

The Ming Cult originated in Babylon and was popular in Persia. Because of conflicts with Zoroastrianism, it could not defeat the other party. It was forced to die and came to the Hezhong area to take root. Unexpectedly, since the rise of Tianfang Cult, it has been constantly eroding the living space of major religions in the Western Regions. Compared with Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Ming Cult is particularly precarious because of its lack of strong protection from the regime. Even devout believers like Nair Shahi are forced by real pressure and often disguised as Tianfang Cultists. However, if the first generation disguises for survival and interests, in the second generation, the third generation may not return for a long time.

In recent years, the radicals of the Ming Cult have had the urge to incite and have secretly accumulated a certain amount of strength, but they lacked a strong foreign aid. The elders felt that it was not enough to shake the political situation of the entire Western Regions, so they were reluctant to take action.

At this time, seeing the Tang army uprising and resisting Satuk, although the Tang army was not the most powerful military force in the Western Regions, it could not win the strong, and weak alliances were sometimes a choice, so Neil Shahi was a little moved.

Abre said: "Tonight we will ask for Special Envoy Zhang to find out his words."

This time, Neil Shahi didn't stop him.

That night, Zhang Mai was discussing the future direction of the war with Zheng Wei and Li Bin. Ma Xiaochun came to report that Nair Shahi, Abul and his son were asking for a meeting.

Zhang Mai said: "What is their purpose for this?"

Li Bin smiled and said, "They are Ming Cultists. I heard Zheng Boqu talk about it two days ago, but I have been paying attention to the Ming Cult in Shule. In recent years, as the transformation of heaven and earth in the Western Regions has become more and more serious, Manichaeists have almost no place to stand in the river and gradually retreated to Shule. Seeing that Satuk intends to force the implementation of the Heavenly God in Shule, the anxiety in these people can be imagined. In the past two years, they have made secret moves, but their rebellion has not been revealed. Satuk has more important things to deal with, so he will let go of their affairs and just restrain them. Now we have won a battle during the day, and at night, Nair Shahi and his son come. Obviously, they will not enter the Three Treasures Hall without any trouble. Here comes one is to find out the wind of mouth. If the wind of mouth is against the road, there will be a transaction with us."

Zhang Mai said again: "The power of these people may not be strong, but they are also objects that can be united. It is okay to do a business with them. I just don't know what the price bottom line in their hearts is, and this degree is not easy to grasp."

Zheng Wei smiled and said, "Even if the Ming Cult is not at the end of the journey, it is still in decline. As the saying goes, people are poor and have a weak ambitions. They dare not demand the unification of all countries and the extermination of all religions and return to the light of all religions. If we can promise them to treat all religions equally, they should be very satisfied."

In fact, there are many believers in Manichaeism, especially among the lower class people. Because this religion has been in a non-mainstream position all over the world for a long time and has been oppressed and bullied, it has developed a secret of its followers' actions and a stubborn and capable of fighting character to a certain extent. However, Li Bin and Zheng Wei both believed that in the Western Regions, a land with strong religious power, if Manichaeism cannot be closely integrated with the regime, then the fate waiting for it would be a tragedy.

At this time, Zhang Mai had a clear mind and ordered Ma Xiaochun to say: "Please."

Nairshahi entered the door with the help of Abul. As soon as he came in, Nairshahi said: "May Envoy Zhang be happy and free of worries, and may the Tang army be in the pure and bright forever."

These two sentences seem to be a blessing, but in fact, the secret of the Ming Cult is hidden in it, and it is already reporting to your own home. Zhang Mai smiled slightly, and Zheng Wei replied to him: "Our army vows to eliminate all evil and make the Western Regions more bright and pure."

Although these two sentences are not a promise, they are also a hint. Nair Shahi was overjoyed and sat down and congratulated Zhang Mai on his victory again. He could not speak Chinese, so he had to translate it by his son Abul in the middle. After chatting for several words, he gradually got to the point and asked: "Since my father and son came into contact with the Tang army, they have often done many things that the Tang army has done, and they are unable to match the princes, generals and ministers of the Western Regions, but they don't know which sages the sages of the sages that Special Envoy Zhang respects."

He asked Zhang Mai what religion he believed in. In his opinion, people must have religious belongings, but Zhang Mai couldn't answer for a moment. After he hesitating, he said: "My people from the East Land naturally respect the teachings of the ancestors and saints."

Nair Shahi also had some understanding of Confucianism. He thought that although it is unlikely that you should believe in Mingzun, as long as you do not believe in Tianfang Buddhism, it would be fine. He let go of it halfway.

Why did he let go of his heart? Because Ming Cult is a mixed, open religion that advocates the dualism of good and evil, and can accept and integrate Buddhism, Zoroastrianism and even Chinese Taoism. Even though Buddhism does not like them, it still has the possibility of reconciliation. Only with the Christian religion of the Unitism and the Tianfang Cult are the mortal enemies of water and fire. As for Confucianism, it is a doctrine that has religious functions but is not religion, and its tolerance is greater than that of any religion.

Abl asked: "But he didn't know how Confucian sages viewed the doctrines of other sects."

Zhang Mai said: "As long as you can guide people to be good and advocate justice, it is good teaching and good teaching. If you guide people to be evil and harm the world, it is evil teaching and evil teaching."

Abul asked again: "We are Manicheans, or I have heard of it, so there is no need to hide it. But I don't know how I Ammanicheans think of us Manicheans?"

Zhang Mai’s concept of Ming Cult comes more from Jin Yong’s novels, but he didn’t know whether Cha Daxia’s description of Ming Cult is credible. He was not good at interfaces for a while, and asked with a smile: “Does your tutor teach people to do good or evil?”

"Of course, it is to teach people to do good." Nair Shahi and his son said in unison.

Zhang Mai smiled and said, "If you teach people to do good deeds, it will naturally be easier to teach."

Abul asked: "If Special Envoy Zhang had the opportunity to take over the authority of the Western Regions in the future, he would not know how he would treat me Manichaeans?"

Zhang Mai turned to Zheng Wei and said, "Boqu, how did our Tang Dynasty court treat Manichaeists? Let me tell you." He passed the ball to Zheng Wei.

Zheng Wei smiled slightly and said, "My Tang Dynasty has always advocated equality among all religions. In Middle Earth, Confucianism is the mainstay of the rule, Buddhism and Taoism, but Mani, Nestorianism and even the Tianfang Buddhism, as long as it does not violate the national laws, the emperor of the Tang Dynasty will be as generous as possible. From Chang'an to Yangzhou, the famous capital Dayi has many "Dayun Guangming Temple" established by the noble religion. This is a great event. I believe you know it better than me."

Nairshahi and Abul nodded repeatedly and said, "The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty is indeed very affectionate to me Manichaeists. Although the Emperor worships Buddhism and regards Taoism as the national religion, he still allows me Manichaeists to spread freely. This is really an amazing Tiankang Khan's mind. On the contrary, this Western Regions, a land of thousands of miles is the root of my Manichaeism, but there are only a few people in Guangming Temple." As he said, he was very sad, Nairshahi asked again: "My religion remembers the kindness of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty back then, but I don't know if my attitude towards me Manichaeism has changed now?"

Zhang Mai said: "We dare not change the teachings of sages and the emperor's decrees without any changes. Our uprising is to restore the order of the Western Regions, drive away all kinds of barbaric styles, and recreate the prosperous era when our Tang Dynasty tolerate everything and all religions are equal."

Nair Shahi stood up tremblingly, pointed to the moonlight outside the window, and said, "May this bright moon be proven. Special Envoy Zhang, you must keep in mind your promise today."

"This is not just my personal promise." Zhang Mai said: "This is my Chinese civilization has been doing things for thousands of years."

He said this, Nairshahi and Abul were more convinced. Nairshahi said: "Enterprise Zhang, if you can make up your mind, just like the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty treats my religion in Middle-earth, and also implement such a moral policy in the Western Regions, that is, the rebirth of hundreds of thousands of Manichaeists in the Western Regions, and hundreds of thousands of believers in my religion will support you. However, I would like to say that this Talas and Julan City cannot be able to stay in a place of roots for a long time. Envoy Zhang, have you ever thought about developing to the southeast? For example, Shule?"

Zhang Mai said: "Shule is my hometown of the Tang Dynasty and one of the four towns in Anxi. However, the road to the east is blocked and cannot be passed. Besides, Shule is a strong city, and now it is Satuk's territory. It is very difficult to get Shule."

Nel Shahi said: "Shule has been an important town in the western frontier of China since ancient times. Four or five believers in Buddhism account for 10, two or two of the Zoroastrians, two or three of the Ming sects, and only one or two of the Tianfang sects. However, in recent years, Satuk has been acting against the will of support for the Tianfang sect and oppressed other religions. People are resentful, but they are just holding the knife in their hands. We dare not speak out! If the Tang army could raise the banner of righteousness, open the Shule and advocate the equality of all religions, the various religions would definitely welcome each other."

Li Bin laughed and said, "Human relationships are the most lazy to change, and they are afraid of taking risks. The old merchant leader said this too much. If we occupy Shule, issue a decree to advocate equality among all religions, and all churches support us, I believe this. But if our army is still outside the city, each church will open the city to join us when he hears that we raise the flag of uprising, this is hard to believe."

At this time, Zhang Mai, Zheng Wei and Li Bin, although their inner goals were the same, they each played the same role. Zhang Mai was neutral and Zheng Wei showed him to be friendly, but Li Bin questioned without hesitation.

Able said: "We dare not say anything about Shule's city, but what if we give up Shule?"
Chapter completed!