Chapter 110 The sea is rolling, who is swimming naked? (5k)
"Dharma protector?"
Tan Fang had no idea what Su Ze was saying.
Buddhism is flourishing in Luoyang today, and it is very normal for temples to teach Buddhist scriptures. In particular, every time eminent monks from India and the Western Regions come to Luoyang, a Dharma assembly will be held. Only monks who succeed in preaching at the Dharma assembly can gain respect in Luoyang.
However, those who preached the Dharma were all monks with a certain level of Buddhist attainment. No eminent monk has ever preached the Dharma to a group of peasants. So what kind of Dharma was he preaching?
Su Ze waved his hand, and the guards who were surrounding Bian Ji stepped forward, surrounded Tan Fang and other monks who were guarding the temple, and pointed at Bian Ji who was preaching seriously and said:
"Please listen carefully to the Venerable's Dharma."
Faced with this group of fierce Yulin, Tan Fang could only reluctantly follow them to Bian Ji and began to listen to Bian Ji's teachings of Buddhism.
As the fourth most important person in Longhua Temple, Tan Fang naturally understands Buddhism.
However, he had been busy managing the external affairs of the temple in recent years and had been somewhat slack in studying Buddhism. However, the Buddhism that Bian Ji talked about was something he had never heard of before.
But this Buddhist teaching that had never been heard of before, surprisingly did not sound difficult at all. The monk in the linen gray robe did not say any profound Buddhist theory, but only spoke words that ordinary people could understand, interspersed with some interesting and vivid Buddhist stories. This set of theories was surprisingly harmonious and self-consistent. With a little thought, one could feel a hint of the true flavor of Buddhism.
Tan Fang looked around and saw that the monks who came with him were all sitting cross-legged on the ground, leaning slightly forward, listening to Bian Ji's teachings very seriously.
The stick monks in the temple are monks of a relatively low level. Many of them become monks not because they are devoted to Buddhism, but because they join the Buddhist temple in order to escape labor and have enough food to eat.
The temple would also organize morning classes for the monks, but the monks under his command would always avoid participating. When they had to attend lectures in the temple, these monks would basically be dozing off.
Tan Fang had never seen them listening to Buddhist teachings so seriously, and there was confusion in his eyes.
The Buddhist teachings taught by Bian Ji are also extremely simple to practice. In the final analysis, they can be summed up in eight words: "Become a Buddha through thoughts, and accumulate virtue by doing good deeds."
To become a Buddha with your mind is to chant the Buddha's name and have good thoughts in your heart. This practice can be said to be quite simple. Everyone has good thoughts, and chanting the Buddha's name is not difficult at all.
Doing good and accumulating virtue is even simpler. Bian Ji simplified merit into something that can be quantified. One can accumulate merit only by doing good deeds, and accumulating merit can lead to different levels of attainment. Then, after becoming a Buddha, one can enjoy corresponding treatment based on the level of attainment.
It just so happened that Bian Ji was an excellent eloquent speaker, and the Pure Land he described was extremely beautiful, which brought great spiritual comfort to the people who had lived in this chaotic world for hundreds of years.
Even Tan Fang gradually began to listen.
Yang Chounu approached Su Ze and asked, "Commander-in-Chief, Master Bianji alone can defeat our entire battalion, why do we need to mobilize the entire battalion?"
Su Ze smiled and said, "Without the Dharma protectors, how can we expect people to listen to the sutras obediently? If it was only Bian Ji, he would have been driven out with sticks long ago. One must have thunderbolt tactics first, then the heart of a bodhisattva."
When the sun was about to set, Tan Fang remembered the original purpose of his trip, but Bian Ji had already left the farm under the escort of the Yulin Army.
Is this over?
Is there still such a dispute over inheritance?
Tan Fang hurried back to Longhua Temple with the monk with a stick. He wanted to report the matter to the abbot.
While he was preaching, some passers-by also came along. The carriages of Princess Chenliu and Princess Shouyang also moved in and listened to Bian Ji's preaching.
After hearing this, Princess Shouyang asked with a lingering feeling: "Sister, is there really a Pure Land of Bliss?"
Princess Chenliu rolled her eyes. She never believed in Buddhist teachings, and she knew very well that Su Ze certainly didn't believe in them either.
She has seen too many cases where good deeds were not rewarded, but evil deeds were rewarded. If Buddhism could really save the world, then your father, Princess Shouyang, would not have been poisoned to death.
But seeing the clear eyes of Shouyang County Princess, Princess Chenliu couldn't help but said lovingly: "Maybe, no, so many Buddhist masters say so, so it should be true."
Princess Shouyang clasped her hands together and said, "Then I will chant the Buddha's name every day in the future to pray for my deceased grandfather!"
Seeing my cousin's otherworldly appearance, the afterglow of the setting sun enveloped her body, as if covered with a layer of Buddha's light.
Even Princess Chenliu doubted the existence of the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
But she soon thought of Su Ze's "conquest" of her that night, and the Buddhist thoughts in her heart disappeared.
This evil thing that harms people!
Princess Chenliu knew that this thing must have been concocted by Su Ze, who had deceived her kind cousin. She gritted her teeth and said, "Let's go back home first."
When they returned to the city, the assembly bell rang from Longhua Temple next to the yard, and Princess Chenliu smiled slyly.
Even I was defeated by Su Ze, so these bald donkeys are going to bleed a lot, right?
As Princess Chenliu had expected, the abbot of Longhua Temple found the gate of Tunqiying the next day.
No one knew what Su Ze talked about with the abbot, but Longhua Temple immediately returned the fertile land that had been occupied by Tunqiying. In addition, it converted the grain harvested in recent years into money and returned it to Tunqiying.
The monks from Longhua Temple escorted Bian Ji back to Longhua Temple.
After taking back the land occupied by Longhua Temple, Su Ze summoned all the soldiers again and announced that the land would be distributed in order of their positions in the army.
There are now a total of 1,300 acres of arable land in the Tunqi Camp. Su Ze announced that each household in the Tunqi Camp would be granted 20 acres of land, and ordinary soldiers would be granted 10 acres of land. As long as they handed over 40% of the grain from these lands to the household yard and 20% to the army, they could keep the rest of the grain for themselves.
The soldiers who did not train seriously before and were unable to wait for the war horses regretted it even more. If they could become team leaders, they could be granted ten more acres of land!
Sure enough, after the land was granted, the soldiers trained more enthusiastically. Last time, Su Ze promised that there were still two horses that had not been given to anyone, which means that as long as they train well, they may have a chance to be promoted to team leaders!
The Tunqi Battalion began intensive training, but various rumors began to spread throughout the Yulin Army.
The topic of southern goods became the most heatedly discussed topic among the entire Yulin Army.
Even in the Tunqi Camp, there were discussions about the same topic, but they were all suppressed by Su Ze.
-
A small courtyard in the streets of Xuanfanfang, next to the Henan government office.
After the sun set, Su Cho left the Henan government office. He was not an official there, so in order not to embarrass Li Daoyuan, Su Cho rented a small courtyard in Xuanfanfang where the government office was located.
Su Cho actually had a residence in Luoyang. When he first came to Luoyang, he lived with his brother Su Liang in the house given by Danyang Duke Xiao Baoyin.
But Luoyang was too big, and the house was too far from Henan Prefecture, so Su Liang moved out of his brother's house.
But today, when Su Chao just arrived at the door of his house, he saw a familiar figure and called out, "Brother!"
Su Liang turned around and smiled at his brother.
The two brothers have depended on each other since childhood. Su Chao also studied with Su Liang when he was young, and they have a very close relationship.
Su Chao quickly opened the door and welcomed Su Liang in. Su Liang put down the lunch box in his hand and said:
"Your sister-in-law always complains about me not letting you live at home. This is the cake she prepared."
"I wanted to move out on my own, but thank you for your concern, sister-in-law."
Su Chao took out the tea set from the house, and Su Liang said, "Don't make tea, Duke Danyang has something waiting for me. Isn't the government office busy today?"
Su Chao said truthfully: "Today, the governor took people to handle the case of the Treasure Pavilion. There are not many miscellaneous matters in the government office. I will be back after I finish handling them."
Su Liang frowned and asked, "Why didn't you follow?"
Su Cho said: "I didn't go, to avoid suspicion."
"avoid arousing suspicion?"
Su Chuo raised his head, stared at Su Liang and asked, "Brother, don't you know about the Treasure Pavilion?"
Su Liang's expression did not change, and Su Chao continued, "Isn't it Duke Danyang who is behind the Treasure Pavilion? Aren't the southern goods that have recently appeared in Luoyang backed by Duke Danyang?"
"Ling Chuo, does Mr. Li have any evidence?"
Su Chao said deflatedly, "No."
"Since there is no answer, then don't say anything. You are now Li Gong's disciple, and what you say can represent Li Gong's meaning. Even if you don't think about your brother, you should think about your teacher." Su Chuo said solemnly, "Chuo is grateful for your advice."
Su Liang said, "Don't think that it's wrong for us to make money for Duke Danyang. What can be done in the court without spending money? Although Duke Danyang is the son-in-law of the Duke, the expenses in the palace are also huge. You will understand when you reach this position in the future."
"Emperor Xiaowen ordered the imperial guards to sell southern goods in order to get them to sell their spoils so they could fight harder on the battlefield."
"But now the Imperial Guards are not dispatched for the southern expedition. The Imperial Guards only want to make profits from southern goods, and the military discipline is lax. If we can cut off the southern goods trade, we can also improve the discipline of the Imperial Guards."
Su Chao shook his head and said, "It's not okay for the Imperial Guards to make money, but it's okay for the Duke of Danyang to make money, right?"
Su Liang stood up and said, "Duke Danyang has the ambition to help the world. Is his way of making money the same as those imperial guards?"
Su Chao was silent. Su Liang thought he had convinced his brother. He said, "Doesn't Lord Li understand this? This case was committed by Yulin. With this, Henan Prefecture can be cleared. Lord Li doesn't have to worry about the next thing."
"So, brother, you are not here to deliver cakes today, but to lobby?"
"We are just chatting among brothers. How can we be lobbyists?"
Su Chao shook his head and said, "This is why I took the initiative to withdraw from this case. I can't help my brother in this matter."
Su Liang was not angry at Su Chao's answer.
Su Liang put down the lunch box and said, "Come back home when you have time. It's normal for two brothers in our aristocratic family to serve different masters. We can't let this affect the brotherhood."
After saying this, Su Liang left Su Chao's courtyard directly.
Su Liang climbed onto his horse with a smile on his face. He had not come here to persuade his brother. He certainly knew Li Daoyuan's character and temper, and he would never change his mind because of his brother's influence.
The purpose of Su Liang's visit was to pull Su Chao out of this vortex to avoid him being involved in the struggle among the upper echelons of the court.
Unexpectedly, his younger brother was more cautious than he thought, and took the initiative to avoid suspicion and withdraw from the investigation, which actually suited Su Liang's wishes.
But things were not as simple as Su Cho thought. This struggle had evolved from a simple dispute over interests to a high-level struggle in the court. Even if Duke Danyang was willing to give up the profits from smuggling southern goods, the situation did not allow him to give up.
The attack on the Treasure Pavilion has evolved into an attack on the entire Imperial Guard, and then extended to an attack on Qinghe King Yuan Yi who commanded the Imperial Guard.
This involved the suppression of military generals with military merits by civil servants from aristocratic families in the court, and also involved the struggle between the Han noble families and the Xianbei ethnic groups.
In such a struggle, the Danyang Mansion and the Henan Mansion have become insignificant characters, and even the case of the Treasure Pavilion is no longer the focus of attention.
Su Liang rode his horse and told his followers, "Go to the Jiangyang Palace."
Su Liang sighed secretly. Deep down, he was unwilling to see Xiao Baoyin and Jiangyang King Yuanyi cooperate, but in the end things went against his wishes and now he had no choice but to cooperate with King Jiangyang.
Xiao Baoyin initially wanted to make friends with Qinghe Prince Yuan Yi.
Yuan Yi and Xiao Baoyin both loved literature and had a reputation as people who valued literature.
In order to make friends with Prince Qinghe, Xiao Baoyin also made friends with Prince Song Liu Hui, and tried to establish a relationship with Princess Lanling and then make friends with Prince Qinghe.
But the result was that Prince of Song Liu Hui and Princess Lanling broke up. Because Xiao Baoyin was close to Liu Hui, he became an enemy in the eyes of Princess Lanling, which also caused Xiao Baoyin's plan to make friends with Prince of Qinghe to fail.
Just at this time, King Jiangyang Yuan Yi extended an olive branch, and Xiao Baoyin had no choice but to form an alliance with Yuan Yi.
Su Liang left the palace today on the order of Danyang Duke Xiao Baoyin to go to Jiangyang Palace to have a secret talk with Yuan Yi.
-
In the villa of Situ Zhang Yi's house, Zhang Zhongyu was still having a night banquet.
However, the scale of this banquet was much larger than the previous ones, and the participants were all the most influential children of aristocratic families that Zhang Zhongyu could win over, including some young officials who had been appointed to important positions.
Through the so-called elixir, Zhang Zhongyu has established a very close relationship with these people, and often gathers them in the villa to take the elixir.
But Zhang Zhongyu summoned them today not to take the elixir. He had the doors and windows closed, and ordered the maids to leave. Then he said:
"The Yulin people attacked my family's shop, and the Henan government has been slow to give an explanation. This is really intolerable!"
Everyone present was a regular at Zhang Zhongyu's evening banquets, so naturally they would speak up for the Zhang family at a time like this, and the mood in the villa became very excited.
Zhang Zhongyu looked around and couldn't help feeling a little proud. Although he was not as valued by his father as his brother, he made friends with a large number of people with the help of the "magic pill". These people were the second generation second sons and illegitimate sons of powerful families in Luoyang. Although they could not be compared with the legitimate sons of the family like his brother when led alone.
But as long as they unite together, they can also make their voices heard in the court, which is also the purpose of Zhang Zhongyu making friends with them.
This time when the family shop was attacked, his father Zhang Yi claimed to be ill and could not go out, and his eldest brother Zhang Shichu also said nothing.
Zhang Zhongyu could understand his father's silence. His brother was obviously the heir of the Zhang family, but he did not care about the damage to the Zhang family's interests. That must be because he was about to follow the Yuan general to attack Jizhou, and he did not want to cause trouble for his own future!
When he thought of this, Zhang Zhongyu was so jealous that he could not sleep. His brother was five years older than him and was already the governor of the military governor Yuan Yao's office. As long as he made military achievements in Jizhou, he could rise to the ranks of middle and senior officials.
During all these years since I entered the officialdom, I am still a Censor-in-Chief and have never had the opportunity to be promoted.
Moreover, his father only discussed the Zhang family's affairs with his elder brother and never asked Zhang Zhongyu for his opinion.
This kind of situation is not only encountered by Zhang Zhongyu, but also by the second sons and concubines of large families.
Ever since Emperor Wu of Han used the Enfeoffment Order to deal with the princes, the powerful families who replaced the princes and became the local power groups in the Eastern Han Dynasty have always refused to split up.
No matter how big a family is, its resources are limited. Only heirs like Zhang Shijun can obtain the greatest resources from the head of the family. Second sons and illegitimate sons like Zhang Zhongyu have to learn from Wang Mang and rely on their own abilities if they want to succeed.
Of course, their starting point is much higher than that of children from poor families, and they can also get some support from their families. For example, Zhang Zhongyu can get dividends from his family’s shops in Luoyang, and can also get things like "immortal pills".
Zhang Zhongyu even had a conspiracy theory that his brother was keeping silent at this time in order to bring disaster to the family business, reduce the dividends he received from the family, and suppress him.
With this idea in mind, Zhang Zhongyu could no longer hold back. He gathered everyone for a night banquet at the villa to discuss countermeasures together.
The atmosphere of the night banquet gradually became heated, and Zhang Zhongyu put forward his long-planned proposal.
"I am going to write a petition to the court to set up a special selection criteria, exclude military personnel, and not allow them to be selected as Qing officials. I ask the Ministry of Personnel to stop selecting officials from the imperial guards!"
"it is good!"
Everyone began to cheer and suppress the military men. This was in line with the political correctness of the nobles, and this slogan naturally gained everyone's support.
Zhang Zhongyu continued, "Besides that, since Emperor Xiaowen's reform, he has granted the Imperial Guards the right to sell captured southern goods. This is just a convenient strategy, but the Imperial Guards used it to sell southern goods for profit."
"In recent years, the Imperial Army's southern expedition has performed poorly because they are reluctant to give up the profits of the southern goods trade and don't use their full strength!"
"I am going to write a petition to the court to prohibit the Imperial Army from trafficking southern goods and to close down all shops with Imperial Army backgrounds in the four cities of Luoyang."
After saying this, Zhang Zhongyu received overwhelming support.
The families of the people he made friends with were also involved in the new round of smuggling trade of southern goods. They were competitors of the Imperial Guards. If the Imperial Guards' trade could be cut off, their families could also profit from it.
If they shut down the shops of the imperial guards in the four cities of Luoyang, they can rob these shops. These are the shops in the four cities of Luoyang! Each shop can bring huge profits.
Several second-generation officials who held official positions stood up and said to Zhang Zhongyu, "Brother Zhang, please write a letter! We will be your subordinate!"
“I’m also writing a letter of support!”
Those without official positions also stood up and said, "We will build momentum in Luoyang! Call on everyone to unite and suppress the warriors!"
Zhang Zhongyu looked at the excited crowd and laughed, "It's done! Come here! The elixir of life!"
The beautiful maids came into the house carrying "magic pills" and fine wine, and the decadent sounds of banquets and music could be heard in the villa.
On the eaves, a dark shadow quickly climbed out of the Situ Mansion and headed towards Jianyangli.
Today 8k completed
(End of this chapter)