I Can Control My Ancestors

Chapter 634: Chapter 92: Commanding Two Sects, Gu Clan Ascends to Divinity

Lhasa City.

After careful consideration, Gu Yi arranged for Gu Xuan to meet with the Bon Sect’s Great Sage and the Buddhist Khenpo successively.

The attitude expressed was equally straightforward.

In front of the two sects, the Gu Clan promised to support both.

Simply put, it was to give them a fair competitive arena.

Only in this way could the conflict between the two sects be fully ignited, and given the current situation within Tubo, the struggle between these two sects would entangle everything, leaving them with no time for anything else.

On the surface, Gu Xuan appeared impartial.

But in private meetings, Gu Yi had no hesitation in manipulating Gu Xuan to secretly encourage both sides to engage in debates and attacks on doctrines, rituals, and historical origins.

And beyond that—

Gu Yi also put another matter on the agenda, which was to enshrine Gu Chen as a god within the two sects!

This was a decision that Gu Yi made after careful deliberation.

Although the Gu Clan could choose not to acknowledge superstitions and prophecies, they could not afford to ignore them.

Though the Gu Clan had a notorious reputation in many sects, they had never truly taken the step of deification.

Doing so was also a form of laying groundwork.

As the Gu Clan’s position in religion became gradually stable and with the continuous development over time, once the productivity of Kyushu was sufficient and the Gu Clan’s influence grew, it would undoubtedly accelerate the integration of different regions into Kyushu.

And this was currently the only opportunity.

Because whether it was the Bon Sect or Buddhism, under the current circumstances, they both needed to look up to the Gu Clan.

At least for the next hundred years.

If they wanted to establish a firm foothold in Tubo, they would certainly choose to help build the Gu Clan’s prestige, which was also human nature.

As for why Gu Chen was chosen, it was equally simple.

It was because Gu Chen was essentially the most suitable.

The Gu Clan’s notorious reputation among the sects was almost entirely built by him single-handedly, although Gu Ye and Gu Jing had also gained some fame through expanding territories.

But compared to Gu Chen, they were still quite a bit behind.

Gu Chen truly managed to dominate an entire era single-handedly.

First unifying Kyushu, then campaigning south and north, clearing out foreign races.

This kind of person had already become a god, whether in Buddhism or the Bon Sect, he had already established a certain influence.

Now it was just a natural progression.

The two sects were naturally ambivalent about this proposal.

Though initially hesitant, a few days later they directly agreed to it.

Buddhism called Gu Chen the "Wheel-Sage King who upholds the true Dharma," a great monarch prophesied by the Buddha to protect the Dharma; whereas in the Bon Sect, Gu Chen was referred to as the "War God," the protector of the entire sect.

And for this, special ceremonies were held.

Of course, in the short term, it was naturally impossible for all this to deeply resonate with the people.

But given the profound foundation of the Gu Clan, coupled with the cooperation of the two sects, pushing this matter forward was not too difficult.

Besides this—Gu Yi certainly needed to establish the Gu Clan’s position well.

What does it mean to control religion?

Gu Yi needed to ensure that the Gu Clan was above religion, subtly changing the mindset of the common people in Tubo through this leverage.

This was bound to be an extremely troublesome matter.

The first year of Zhide, late October.

Gu Yi orchestrated a grand ceremony in Lhasa City involving both sects, and raised the banner of the Gu Clan above them.

Such an act would naturally draw much criticism towards the Gu Clan.

Had it been during the Former Han Dynasty, Gu Yi would never have entertained such an idea.

But now things were entirely different.

The Gu Clan was tied to all of Kyushu!

The rise and fall of a single dynasty was no longer the Gu Clan’s concern; as long as it was beneficial for Kyushu, it was enough for the Gu Clan.

The criticisms of others were something the current Gu Clan could completely ignore.

Of course, apart from this, there were many other troubles.

No matter the sect, there were bound to be many fanatical believers, which was a common sight even in modern times, let alone in the current Tubo.

—Chaos brewed once again.

Even the leaders of the two sects harbored some reluctance in their hearts.

However, Gu Yi’s way of handling it was equally simple, using the most direct means to suppress these people.

He even used the situation to establish new rules for the two sects once more.

The enshrinement of Gu Chen’s divine position in important places of both sects was to ensure the Gu Clan’s supremacy over them.

Such a matter would not have been agreeable to either sect in any other period.

—But now was different!

Tsri Songtsen Gampo’s past elevation of Buddhism and suppression of Bon had already dealt a heavy blow to the then-dominant Bon Sect;

With the two sects now deadlocked, their predicament worsened even further.

Even if just for the sake of their sect’s survival, they had no choice but to comply with Gu Yi’s demands.

They feared greatly the wrath of Gu Xuan.

If Gu Xuan were to abandon either of the sects, what awaited them would be utter ruin.

Initially, both sects thought they could rely on various means to influence Gu Xuan, but soon discovered that Gu Xuan truly did not believe in them.

And because of this, they were forced to accept all of Gu Xuan’s demands.

It’s worth mentioning—

Gu Yi initially contemplated directly taking control over the training of the sects’ leaders, but after much deliberation, had to abandon this radical idea.

The repercussions of such an action would be far too significant.

In reality, if he were to do it—

Buddhism aside.

The Bon Sect might be provoked into choosing a hard confrontation with the Gu Clan.

Though the Gu Clan feared not these situations.

If they turned all of Tubo into an inextricable battlefield, it would indeed be quite counterproductive.