"Using the name of Buddhism to commit murder?"
Deng Ling Yao Yao, of course, did not know about events over thirty years ago, and Deng Ling Wei had never mentioned it. So she asked, "Is that right?"
"Mmm..." Deng Ling Wei nodded at her words. "Back then, the demonic monks of Shamen incited the masses and raised an army, proclaiming themselves Mahayana and calling themselves Maitreya. The so-called Maitreya was derived from 'Maitreya, who will descend and become Buddha in the future according to Buddhist scripture.' They styled themselves as Buddhas, yet engaged in acts of slaughter. They advocated killing and rebellion, saying that killing one person made one a Bodhisattva of the first stage, and killing ten people made one a Bodhisattva of the tenth stage. They also mixed potent drugs for people to consume, making them unable to recognize father or brother, with the sole aim of killing! Their brutality was appalling. Initially, the Mahayana army was indeed powerful, and the Mahayana disciples fought fearlessly, fiercely, and bloodthirstily, causing the Xiongnu army to retreat steadily."
"Father..." Deng Ling Wei finished speaking. Deng Ling Yao Yao asked with doubt, "Raising an army and rebelling means fighting the Xiongnu. And the Xiongnu and other barbarians have oppressed us Han people for a long time. If the Mahayana led the Han people in resistance, using some extreme measures would be understandable, wouldn't it? Their actions, Daughter feels, are somewhat similar to the meritocratic enfeoffment system of the Great Qin, aren't they?"
"Yao Yao, you, a Mohist disciple, say such a thing?" Deng Ling Wei's face darkened, and he said somewhat angrily, "Universal love, non-aggression, valuing the worthy, frugality in expenditure, frugality in burial, non-music, celestial will, believing in ghosts, not fate. Have you forgotten?"
The Mahayana sect's saying that killing one person made one a Bodhisattva of the first stage and killing ten people made one a Bodhisattva of the tenth stage was indeed somewhat similar to the meritocratic enfeoffment system of the Great Qin. It was precisely because of this similarity that Deng Ling Wei intensely disliked the Mahayana sect.
The meritocratic enfeoffment system was a Qin law established by Shang Yang. For every enemy head a soldier captured, he would receive one grade of nobility and corresponding land, housing, and illegitimate children. He could also be an official. The more enemy heads captured, the higher the nobility. If one could capture five enemy heads, one could also enslave five households. In short, the size of one's military merit determined the "status and rank" of the generals, and it was indeed somewhat similar to the Mahayana sect's "killing one person makes one a Bodhisattva of the first stage, killing ten people makes one a Bodhisattva of the tenth stage."
The Legalists acted according to law, with basis for everything. The Mohists, however, lacked rules and regulations, preferring to rely on personal judgment. The Mohists viewed the Legalists as tyrannical officials, and the Legalists viewed the Mohists as chivalrous heroes. Chivalrous heroes referred to powerful individuals who acted with righteousness. In the eyes of the common people, they were individuals who upheld justice and eliminated evil. However, in the eyes of the ruling class, they were lawless and arbitrary individuals. Therefore, chivalrous heroes and wandering knights were always unwelcome by the imperial courts of successive dynasties.
Thus, there was a fundamental conflict between the Legalists and the Mohists. The Mohists had a decree of "punishing the wicked and aiding the good," and therefore, they often resorted to extreme or violent means, such as assassination and ambush, to resolve problems. The Mohists' actions were, of course, not tolerated by the Legalists. The Legalists acted according to law and classified Mohist disciples who privately committed violence as bandits or suspects, subject to search, detention, or expulsion.
Therefore, the Mohists were not tolerated by the imperial court, and their development was naturally curbed. Not only that, but Mohist disciples were also severely suppressed by the imperial court. As a result, Mohist disciples could only flee into the deep mountains and wetlands to hide.
The Deng Ling clan was a branch of the Mohists, and Deng Ling Wei and other Mohist disciples had been hiding in Zhuying Mountain for a long time.
"Father, Daughter was wrong." Upon hearing her father mention the conflict between Mohism and Legalism, Deng Ling Yao Yao could only admit her mistake.
In fact, Deng Ling Yao Yao was Deng Ling Wei's daughter. She had been influenced by her father since childhood, and of course, she was deeply affected. This was also one of the reasons why Deng Ling Yao Yao had saved Zhou Fugui.
"Alas, Yao Yao..." Deng Ling Wei then looked at Deng Ling Yao Yao and sighed. "Let's not dwell on past events. Let's talk about the Five Precepts of Buddhism. The Five Precepts of Buddhism are: do not kill, do not steal, do not engage in illicit sexual intercourse, do not lie, and do not consume intoxicants. However, the demonic monks of Mahayana went against the Five Precepts of Buddhism. It was rumored that a new Buddha had appeared, dispelling the old demons. They burned temples, destroyed scriptures and images, and killed monks and nuns. They deluded the people into sacrificing themselves, treating them like pigs and dogs. Such evil deeds are despicable. Such brutality and inhumanity, how can we tolerate it?"
"Mmm, Father, Daughter understands. Such beasts, we should uphold righteousness and virtue, and eliminate evil and aid the good." Deng Ling Yao Yao nodded at his words.
Did he not want to join the Lesser Vehicle Sect at that time because he also hated the actions of the Lesser Vehicle Sect? Deng Ling Yao Yao secretly pondered in her heart.
No, it certainly wasn't that. Deng Ling Yao Yao immediately dismissed the thought. He was saving his own life...
Deng Ling Yao Yao had saved Zhou Fugui and naturally knew some things about him.
"Mmm, uphold righteousness and virtue, and eliminate evil and aid the good." Deng Ling Wei nodded with satisfaction. "Promote the benefits of the world and eliminate the harms of the world! This is what my Mohist disciples should do! Words must be followed, actions must be fruitful, promises must be kept with sincerity! Not sparing one's own body, rushing to the aid of a fellow scholar in distress, spreading righteousness for a thousand miles!"
Deng Ling Yao Yao slowly stood up, stood respectfully in the inner chamber, and clasped her hands, raising them slowly to her forehead before saying to Deng Ling Wei, "Words must be followed, actions must be fruitful, promises must be kept with sincerity! Not sparing one's own body, rushing to the aid of a fellow scholar in distress, spreading righteousness for a thousand miles!"
Deng Ling Wei stood up and returned the禮.
"Yao Yao..." Deng Ling Wei then said to Deng Ling Yao Yao, "If you want to act chivalrously and eliminate evil and aid the good, you cannot do it without good martial arts. Alas, it is a pity that you are a woman."
"Father..." Deng Ling Yao Yao immediately became unhappy at this. She looked at Deng Ling Wei and said, "Daughter is no less capable than men... Hmph, those men are no match for Daughter."
Was he her opponent? At this moment, Deng Ling Yao Yao thought of Zhou Fugui again...
After getting to know him, she hadn't sparred with him yet, had she? Deng Ling Yao Yao thought to herself. No, they had sparred a few times. His meager skills, how could they be her match?
With such paltry skills, he dared to fight for justice? Deng Ling Yao Yao found it amusing to think about it, and a slight smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.
"Hehe, that's because you haven't encountered a true master. A few minor characters can't prove anything." Deng Ling Wei looked at Deng Ling Yao Yao and smiled. "Yao Yao, this time when you return to the mountain, you should not descend for the time being."
"Father, why is that? Are you the same as Mother?" Deng Ling Yao Yao asked petulantly.
"What happened to your mother? Wasn't it for your own good?" Deng Ling Wei shook his head slightly. "Your mother and I only have you as our daughter, so there can be no accidents. Yao Yao, only when you have achieved something can I rest assured that you can travel the martial world."
"What is considered 'achieved something'?" Deng Ling Yao Yao asked.
"Women are naturally weaker than men in strength, so it is inconvenient to learn heavy weapons such as sabers, spears, swords, halberds, and axes. You must learn hidden weapons to have a chance to fight against men," Deng Ling Wei replied.
"Hidden weapons?" Deng Ling Yao Yao asked, thinking as she did.
"A flash of cold light appears, killing people invisibly!" Deng Ling Wei stared at Deng Ling Yao Yao and said, "However, practicing hidden weapons requires a sincere heart and focused intent. Yao Yao, what are you thinking about?"
"Nothing... I'm not thinking about anything!" At this moment, Deng Ling Wei's two gazes were like two hidden weapons, gleaming coldly, as if they could see through Deng Ling Yao Yao's mind, making her somewhat flustered.
"Mmm, I hope you are sincere," Deng Ling Wei said after a moment. "With a sincere heart, focused intent, and a calm mind, one can achieve mastery in hidden weapons!"
"Yes, Daughter understands." Deng Ling Yao Yao replied, lowering her head obediently.
It was all that hateful person's fault. Deng Ling Yao Yao couldn't help but think of that person again...
"In Yanjing City, have you seen your martial uncle?" Deng Ling Wei asked Deng Ling Yao Yao, sighing softly.
"Uncle Tang? Yes, I have," Deng Ling Yao Yao replied.
"What did he say?" Deng Ling Wei asked again.
"Martial Uncle Tang said that we need to lie low for the time being. My Mohist school will eventually see the light of day again," Deng Ling Yao Yao replied.
"Hmph, 'lie low for the time being'? That's just coveting wealth and status," Deng Ling Wei snorted coldly at her words.
Deng Ling Wei then sighed.
After Mozi's death, the Mohist school diverged. To this day, there are mainly three branches: the Mohism of Xiangli, the Mohism of Dengling, and the Mohism of Xiangfu.
Mohism flourished during the Warring States period. During the time of Han Fei, Mohism and Confucianism were considered prominent schools of thought. Unfortunately, after the unification of the six states by Qin, it gradually declined and became increasingly obscure. Currently, there are very few Mohist disciples scattered across the nine provinces. Especially after the northern barbarians rode their horses into the Central Plains, Mohist disciples either went into hiding or pledged allegiance to others, almost disappearing completely. For example, Deng Ling Wei and others have been living in seclusion in Zhuying Mountain.
The aspiration of Deng Ling Wei and others is, of course, to bring Mohist learning back into the light and even to promote it greatly.
The sole veneration of Confucianism and the dismissal of the hundred schools of thought did not only harm Mohism.
"That little girl, what is her background? How do you plan to treat her?" Deng Ling Wei asked after a long pause.
"Father, Xiao Yu Nu is indeed an orphan. Her parents died in the chaos of battle in Guangling Commandery. Later, she was abducted by a broker. After Daughter rescued her, she wished to adopt her. Please grant your permission, Father," Deng Ling Yao Yao replied.
"Mmm, she is also a pitiable person." Deng Ling Wei nodded at her words. "The world is vast, yet it cannot accommodate a little girl. Let her stay on the mountain. If you wish to adopt her, then adopt her. Yao Yao, do you plan to have her learn martial arts?"
"Mmm, Daughter wants her to learn from..." Deng Ling Yao Yao had originally intended for Xiao Yu Nu to study under her father, and she would be her senior sister. However, in order to gain an advantage over Zhou Fugui, she quickly changed her mind and said, "To become my disciple, I will teach her martial arts."
Isn't Xiao Yu Nu Zhou Fugui's younger sister? Then, if she becomes her master, she will be one generation higher than him. When they meet again, how will he address her? Deng Ling Yao Yao thought it was amusing.
But one is in the north, and the other is in the south. This vast distance, will there be a chance to meet again?
"To become your disciple?" Deng Ling Yao Yao, as the junior sister of Shangzhi Pavilion on Zhuying Mountain, actually wanted to be a master?
Deng Ling Wei also found it amusing. However, since it was an insignificant matter, he might as well indulge her. Thus, he smiled and nodded.
"You want to be her master? You yourself are still quite immature, it won't do. I still want to be her master," said Xue Hong Niang at this moment, leading Tang Yu Nu into the inner chamber.