Chapter 320: Chapter 269: The Barbarian Temple
"So, what exactly is going on here?"
In a corner of Dengzhou City, near the warehouse originally meant for foreigners, Bai Wujiu made a rare personal appearance this time.
It’s all because, without his permission, the foreigners’ temple was surprisingly built. This is a significantly non-compliant act; even without considering his authority, under the Da Chen law, this should not be allowed.
Although Da Chen has always been indifferent towards religious matters—except for the monks and Daoists who can build temples themselves—the government usually recognizes some local folk beliefs if they erect temples. However, this recognition is strictly limited to Da Chen’s indigenous customs, and foreign entities like these foreigners’ temples would absolutely not receive any approval from the government.
The reasons are twofold: firstly, the locals are not amenable. In these troubled times, they are already struggling with their mystical beliefs; why should a foreigner come in and compete for their livelihood?
Secondly, the Da Chen government remains somewhat wary of these foreign cults. It’s widely known that monks have warrior monks, and Daoists mostly practice swordsmanship, while those folk shamans often dabble in wielding knives and guns. These potential risks to public order are already numerous; there’s no need to add more.
This means, reasonably and logically, his subordinates should not have agreed to this matter. Even if Dengzhou City is on the verge of rebellion, nothing would happen without Bai Wujiu’s nod.
"Uh, this matter... Mister Bai, we were about to report it."
Facing the furious Bai Wujiu, who was ready to deal with traitors, the called-upon clerks had no idea how to explain.
"Well, this matter, it’s not actually a temple."
"Hmm?"
Bai Wujiu’s eyes widened immediately.
Daring to talk back rather than resolve the issue—what does this mean? Are they really taking advantage of his good nature assuming he wouldn’t kill?
Only after the clerks babbled their explanations did Bai Wujiu realize that there was indeed something unusual about this.
Originally, the foreigners did intend to build a temple; however, not even the clerks below would agree—yet these foreigners had clever ideas and changed their tactics to build an ancestral hall instead.
Da Chen forbids foreigners from constructing temples, but has never stated a prohibition against building ancestral halls. After all, ancestor worship is important for the people of Chen themselves, and merely constructing an ancestral hall is something families can easily manage, requiring no special procedures.
"So, are you really worshipping your ancestors?"
Bai Wujiu, along with a group of clerks, stormed into the foreigner’s temple. He wouldn’t let them exploit any loopholes.
"Don’t assume that lying to them means you can lie to me."
"It’s truly ancestral worship, truly ancestral worship."
Facing the fierce Bai Wujiu, the head foreign elder was all smiles.
According to the foreign elder, the ancestral hall was erected to commemorate their ancestors’ benevolence. Long ago, these foreigners were enslaved by another group until a foreign ancestor performed great miracles to overthrow those oppressors, and even divided the sea with a cudgel, forging a miraculous path for the oppressed.
It was because of this great favor that later generations built ancestral halls, continuously burning incense and praying for the ancestors’ protection.
"It’s not the ancestors’ protection; ancestors don’t protect us, nor do they allow us to honor them."
The foreign elder corrected Bai Wujiu’s wording error.
"The reason we constructed this hall is largely to adhere to ancestral teachings; the gods and the ancestors established agreements that we descendants must abide by."
"Ancestral teachings?"
Bai Wujiu frowned slightly.
Soon, his frown eased.
The reason for his relief was due to the foreign elder producing ancestral teachings that appeared to be legitimate. The teachings consisted of ten commandments, all advocating virtues and prohibiting evil conduct. If there is any issue, it lies in the first commandment, which starts by mentioning service to deities.
However, this isn’t much of a concern; many foreigners believe in gods and spirits. It’s not unusual for them to include deity worship in their genealogy.
In this context, the foreigners indeed built an ancestral hall, the respect for teachings even carrying a style reminiscent of Da Chen’s cultural heritage—white Wujiu’s affinity towards them increased. After all, he was also a scholar, encountering such courteous individuals even if they were foreign felt somewhat familiar.
Given the familiarity, it naturally led to more conversation, and once the engagement began, it didn’t seem like it could stop.
At least when Bai Wujiu returned to his senses intending to leave, he found himself at a table holding a cup.
"This is wine from our homeland, only brought out to entertain friends."
Just as Bai Wujiu prepared to put down his cup, the foreign elder filled it again.
"Come, friend, try the exquisite wine from our ancestral land."
"I..."
Bai Wujiu couldn’t speak for a long moment.
Under these circumstances, what reason did he have left to refuse?
"Don’t say anything more; everything resides in the wine, everything resides in the wine."
The foreign elder toasted repeatedly, and even Bai Wujiu, who had a decent tolerance, soon couldn’t withstand it.
When Bai Wujiu woke up again, he was back in his home, as though everything that occurred was a mere illusion—yet he soon realized it wasn’t a hallucination. Upon arriving at the gubernatorial office, he already received intelligence that those foreigners’ trade post had broken ground.
When personnel from the office were dispatched to question them, the foreigners produced Bai Wujiu’s handwritten approval.
The document even included Bai Wujiu’s seal.
"It’s over; I’ve been duped by the foreigners."
Bai Wujiu slapped his forehead; he suspected that yesterday’s feast wasn’t so innocuous.
However, now it’s too late for regret, and for a mere foreign trade post, he couldn’t execute a drastic reversal—moreover, Bai Wujiu had been curious about why these foreigners were intent on establishing themselves in Dengzhou.
Thinking this, Bai Wujiu assigned people to monitor them closely. If the foreigners behaved, so be it; if not, during a rebellion when Dengzhou was in turmoil, the deaths of a few households wouldn’t matter.
What Bai Wujiu didn’t anticipate was that sending people to observe indeed led to revelations.
According to his subordinates, these foreigners from the west were secretly searching for something—for a Saint.
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