Chapter 161: Battle of Bianji (5k)
While holding Princess Chenliu in his arms and talking about monetary economics, Su Ze suddenly remembered a joke on the Internet in his previous life, "Never do anything political with your girlfriend during Sage Time!"
Su Ze held back his laughter. Seeing Princess Chenliu listening attentively to the lecture, Su Ze wanted to reply online: "That's because you haven't met a woman who can play politics with you in Sage Time!"
Playing the keyboard in the sage time has become a daily routine for Su Ze and Princess Chen Liu. Even every time he finishes playing the keyboard and sees Princess Chen Liu's admiring eyes, Su Ze can withdraw from the sage time and continue to pick up his gun and mount his horse.
The topic returned to the issue of bad money driving out good money. Su Ze said, "What happens when a store receives bad money? They will definitely spend it immediately before the money depreciates, and when they encounter good money, they will definitely save it. If this continues, there will be more bad money than good money in the market."
"What's going to happen next is that merchants will raise prices, and prices will continue to rise."
"When prices rise, people are even less willing to save money and spend it immediately. This will lead to more coins on the market and further increases in prices."
"Ordinary merchants couldn't sell their goods, and ordinary people couldn't afford to buy things with money. The whole market was in chaos."
Princess Chenliu never thought that a change in the casting of Buddhist coins would lead to such consequences, but after listening to Su Ze's analysis, she felt that all this was bound to happen.
Princess Chenliu asked: "What should we do next?"
Su Ze said: "The next best business is the grain business."
"Why?"
Su Ze said: "Although there are fields around Luoyang, it is not self-sufficient in food. All food needs to be transported to Luoyang by merchants by land and water."
This was almost a common problem in the classical imperial era, because land prices were high in the capital area and farming was the least economical option. Even crops were planted, they were mainly high-value-added agricultural products such as vegetables, fruits, and other agricultural products. In addition, the Northern Wei princes, ministers, and Buddhist temples occupied land without restraint, so Luoyang's grain self-sufficiency rate had long been very low.
The agglomeration effect of the dynasty's capital also led to the population of Luoyang being filled with a large number of officials, merchants, scholars, and tens of thousands of imperial guards such as the Yulin Huben.
Luoyang, a city with a population of hundreds of thousands, is also the most populous city on earth today. The amount of food it consumes every day is an astonishing number.
This is also due to Luoyang's superior geographical location and the developed water and land transportation network that allows the price of grain in Luoyang to be maintained at a relatively low price.
When the Tang Dynasty established its capital in Guanzhong, it became more difficult to transport grain into the pass. The Tang Dynasty developed a system of two capitals. Starting from Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi, he often took the imperial guards and ministers to Luoyang to "get food" in order to ease the population and food pressure in Chang'an City.
Su Ze added: "If we cannot be self-sufficient in food, it will cause serious problems. It is okay on weekdays, but once there is a fluctuation in food prices, the price will quickly rise to the sky."
Princess Chenliu still lacked understanding of this. In the twenty years since Emperor Xiaowen's reform, although there had been struggles among the upper echelons of the Northern Wei Dynasty, they were basically internal struggles among the top leaders and rarely affected the people of Luoyang.
The monetary system only appeared in the Northern Wei Dynasty for 20 years. You should also know that the practice of ministers receiving salaries for work only started for 20 years. Before Emperor Xiaowen's reform, corruption was condoned by officials in office. There were even businessmen who followed ministers to take office and started usury operations in wherever they took office.
Economics seemed a little too advanced for the Northern Wei Dynasty.
Su Ze explained: "Because other things can go up in price, but food cannot."
"As long as there is a 10% shortage of grain in Luoyang, the price will go up until all of the people in Luoyang can no longer afford to buy grain."
Su Ze's words were filled with irrefutable rational logic, but the chill in them made Princess Chenliu in his arms tremble slightly.
Su Ze said, "Let's go to other states to buy some food. If Your Highness is kind-hearted, you can donate it in Luoyang, which can be regarded as doing good deeds and accumulating virtue."
Princess Chenliu nodded slightly. She was just an insignificant participant in this "feast" and the disaster in Luoyang was not something she could prevent.
The following scenario was just as Su Ze had expected. When the market opened the next day, commodities in the four cities of Luoyang began to rise wildly. Those merchants from the Western Regions simply took their caravans and temporarily left Luoyang. Among them, the fastest rising commodity was food.
People rushed to take out their money to buy food, and thinner and lower quality Buddhist coins began to appear on the market.
Some brave guys even cut off the edges of the Buddha coins to reduce the metal content, and use the cut parts to continue to melt and cast Buddha coins.
There was great chaos in the market in Luoyang, and this crazy atmosphere also bred a kind of madness, the madness before doomsday.
A large amount of money poured into the market, creating a distorted prosperity. The streets of Luoyang were filled with people, and the people were frantically spending everything they had, wanting to spend the money they had.
At this time, another major event that attracted the attention of the people in Luoyang City was that Master Bianji, a famous monk in Luoyang City, was going to fight with Liu Lingzhu, a master from Jizhou!
Moreover, this battle will take place in Longhua Temple where Master Banji preaches, and both sides will display their magical powers!
This piece of news was like pouring a large bowl of cold water into the boiling oil pot of Luoyang City, causing it to explode quickly.
Longhua Temple is speeding up the construction of the platform. It is said that King Qinghe, who regards Liu Lingzhu as a guest of honor, will also come to Longhua Temple in person to watch the battle between the two masters.
At the Duke Danyang's mansion, Princess Nanyang had her face covered with a veil. If the veil was removed, one could see the red palm prints on her face.
At this time, her almond-shaped eyes were swollen from crying. Princess Nanyang had originally planned to go to Longhua Temple to seek Buddhist advice today, but in her current state, she didn't dare to go out.
The personal maid walked in and said to Princess Nanyang, "Your Highness! Tomorrow Master Banji will compete with Liu Lingzhu, the guest of the Qinghe Palace, in magical powers! The news has spread all over Luoyang!"
Supernatural powers?
Princess Nanyang stopped crying and wanted to compete with her in supernatural powers? Did Master Bianji really have supernatural powers?
Princess Nanyang, whose relationship with her husband was breaking down, seemed to have found a life-saving straw. She hurriedly asked, "Are we going to compete in public?"
The maid nodded repeatedly and said, "We are talking about a competition in public!"
Compete in public!
Princess Nanyang saw hope. If Master Bian Ji really had supernatural powers, could he really reconcile her and her husband?
Without caring about the handprints on her face, Princess Nanyang stopped crying and told her maid, "Send someone to Longhua Temple to reserve a seat. Tomorrow the palace will go to watch the two masters fight!"
Not only Princess Nanyang, many dignitaries in Luoyang City are preparing to go to Longhua Temple in person to see whether this eminent monk who is now famous in Luoyang City and the master who is very famous in Youji really have magical powers!
Even Su Yuyao heard the news and dragged Su Ze to watch the fun. Even Princess Chenliu wanted to go in plain clothes.
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The next day, the square in front of Longhua Temple was packed with people, because Prince Qinghe also wanted to watch the fight. The Minister of Household Affairs simply cleared out the Household Affairs yard across the river from Longhua Temple and built a viewing platform overnight, so that all the high-ranking officials, ministers and royal family members in Luoyang could watch the fight from the platform without the trouble of crowding with common people.
The dump next to Longhua Temple was the transit station for the government to deliver taxes. When Su Ze entered the dump with his sister, he caught a glimpse of the empty barn in the yard. It seemed that this Minister of Revenue was good at guessing the intentions of his superiors, but was not good at managing the termites under his command.
Princess Chenliu did not reveal her identity, but dressed in casual clothes and blended into Su Ze's entourage. Su Ze's rank was not high so he could only watch from a relatively remote position.
Fortunately, the monks of Longhua Temple had also held many debates. Although fighting and debating are different, they still built a high platform at the entrance of the temple and set up two cushions at both ends of the platform. Although even the monks of Longhua Temple did not know how the two were going to fight, no matter who won or lost, this battle would make Longhua Temple famous in Luoyang. All the monks of Longhua Temple, from the abbot to the receptionist, were laughing so hard that their mouths were numb.
Su Ze was also looking at the platform. Just before the fight began, King Qinghe's team also appeared in front of Longhua Temple.
All that was seen was a hundred scholars in snow-white brocade robes leading the way, and the magnificent carriage of Prince Qinghe appeared in front of Longhua Temple.
After the carriage stopped, Prince Qinghe climbed onto the platform surrounded by scholars in white.
There were also many nobles and powerful officials of the Northern Wei sitting around Prince Qinghe. Even after Empress Dowager Hu heard about this, she sent her Grand Chamberlain Liu Teng to come and watch.
Not far from Prince Qinghe, Princess Nanyang, wearing a white veil, was also very eye-catching. The customs of the Northern Wei Dynasty were open, and the clothes were not as conservative as those in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Even in her light-colored palace dress, part of her snow-white skin was exposed, and the dress also brought out Princess Nanyang's mature figure.
Su Ze felt a pain in his waist, and turned around to see the pretty face of Princess Chen Liu beside him. It turned out that Princess Chen Liu followed Su Ze's gaze and whispered in his ear: "Is my sister pretty?" Su Ze quickly begged for mercy: "Not as pretty as Your Highness."
"Don't look around. You don't know how much attention you are attracting now."
"Then Your Highness will you still come with me?"
"I am good at disguising myself, don't worry, you can just treat me as your maid today."
"Today all day long?"
Su Ze's waist hurt even more. He could only hold back the pain and think about how to "teach a lesson" to this disrespectful "maid" at night and let her know who is on top!
At this time, cheers were heard from the Longhua Temple Square, and a middle-aged man in a black robe was the first to climb onto the platform.
Judging from the expressions of the servants around Prince Qinghe, this should be Liu Lingzhu, the alchemist whom Prince Qinghe trusted very much.
Liu Lingzhu was wearing a black robe and a beard, and he really looked like a wizard or a demon. The people were a little afraid of him when they saw him like this, and their cheers were suppressed a little.
After a while, Bian Ji, dressed in a white cassock, also climbed onto the platform.
Obviously, compared with Liu Lingzhu in black robe, Bian Ji's attire is closer to the imagination of a great Taoist master in people's minds.
The monk in a white robe and a bald head had a warm smile on his face and held Buddhist beads in his hands. He looked very handsome and immediately aroused cheers from the believers.
Seeing such a fanatical scene, Su Ze finally understood the great role of religion in the Southern and Northern Dynasties. No wonder, in the timeline before he traveled through time, after Erzhu Rong's death, Liu Lingzhu was able to mobilize the people of the four states to rise up in rebellion by relying on his magic to bewitch the people.
Think about the Yellow Turban Rebellion at the end of the Han Dynasty and the Sun En Rebellion in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and all of this is not surprising.
Liu Lingzhu's voice was hoarse. He looked at Bian Ji in front of him and spoke first: "I came from Youzhou. When I was young, I dreamt that Master Fotucheng had given me supernatural powers. Later, I learned astrology and divination. I have great respect for Buddhism. Today, I will be the first to show my ugliness."
After saying this, Liu Lingzhu didn't wait for Bian Ji to answer, and directly asked his disciples to bring up six stone molds.
Liu Lingzhu continued, "Among the methods taught by Master Fotucheng in his dream, the most miraculous one is this method of casting statues. These six stone molds are all carved with the faces of court officials using the lost wax method. If they can be formed into images after being poured with molten copper, they are loyal and virtuous officials recognized by the heavens. If they are treacherous and flattering officials, the stone molds will explode and the images will not be formed!"
The people looked at the stone molds curiously, but unfortunately, they did not have the ability to see through, so they could not see whose faces the Buddha statues were inside the six stone molds.
Liu Lingzhu stepped down from the cushion and began to dance with the sword around the six stone molds, while his disciples began to heat the molten copper, waiting for it to melt and pour into the stone molds.
The entire square was filled with Liu Ling's mumbling spells, but both the ministers and the common people were watching with great fascination.
Su Ze couldn't help but laugh secretly. If this Liu Lingzhu were in modern times, he would probably be able to reach the level of a Venerable. These alchemists who pretended to be gods really understood human nature. The suspense was really good.
As the molten copper melted, assistant Liu Ling held a wooden sword and pointed it at the first stone mold. Four disciples used wooden poles to hold the crucible and poured the molten copper into it through the small holes on the stone mold.
The people all held their breath and waited until all the molten copper was poured in. Liu Lingzhu pointed with his wooden sword and muttered something. Just as he finished the spell, flames suddenly came out of the stone mold that had been tightly fitted!
Then there was another sound of thunder in the stone mold, and flames continued to emerge from the gap between the molten copper and the stone mold. The stone mold instantly turned into a colorful fireball!
The nobles on the viewing platform and the common people on the square all cried out in surprise. Then there was a loud noise, the solid stone mold shattered, and a Buddha statue with a distorted body and face appeared in front of everyone.
The face of the Buddha statue was distorted, and it was impossible to tell who it belonged to. Liu Lingzhu sighed and said, "The casting of this Buddha statue failed."
The people had never seen such a scene before. Was the doomsday-like failure scene just now also Liu Lingzhu's magical power? Cheers broke out immediately!
The people also wanted to know which Buddha statue could be cast successfully and who was the loyal and virtuous minister in the court?
Su Ze sneered secretly. He thought that Liu Lingzhu must have mixed some chemical substances into the stone mold to create such a deceptive light and shadow effect. To put it bluntly, his magical power was just magic.
But he is also a master at manipulating people's hearts. Now that prices in Luoyang are turbulent, the people are hoping that the court can send out loyal and wise officials to stabilize the situation.
Su Ze glanced at King Qinghe again. He was afraid that the people did not know that the loyal and virtuous ministers in their hearts were the initiators of all this.
Next, Liu Lingzhu cast four more stone molds in succession. Each one was the same as the first one. The stone molds shattered and the casting failed. The people had begun to get anxious. They no longer doubted whether Liu Lingzhu really had supernatural powers, but instead wanted to know whether there were any loyal and virtuous ministers in the court.
At this time, they arrived at the last Buddha statue. After the disciples poured the copper water in, Liu Lingzhu waved the wooden sword again. This time, after the spell was recited, golden flames also came out of the stone mold!
The people wailed! Are there only treacherous officials in the court? No wonder the lives of the people in Luoyang are getting worse year by year!
Even the nobles on the high platform became anxious. Although the unfinished stone molds could not be seen clearly, if they said that all six stone molds were treacherous ministers, wouldn't that be an insult to all the nobles in the court?
When the flames died down, Liu Lingzhu stepped forward and inserted a sword into the gap of the stone mold. The stone mold then cracked to the left and right, and a lifelike Buddha statue appeared in front of everyone!
The face of this Buddha statue is exactly the face of Qinghe King Yuan Yi!
The people exclaimed in surprise, and the nobles on the platform looked at King Qinghe. King Qinghe also stood up excitedly and looked at the bronze statue of his own face on the platform!
Su Ze admired Liu Lingzhu even more. Regardless of whether he cooperated with King Qinghe or not, this move was really brilliant. He grasped King Qinghe's eagerness to show that he was a loyal minister, and also grasped the people's desire to have a wise king in charge.
The people looked at the Buddha statue, knelt down and said, "Wise King! Wise King of Qinghe!"
Liu Lingzhu ordered his disciples to lift up the newly cast Buddha statue and show it to the people below, and then knelt down to worship King Qinghe on the high platform.
Princess Chenliu saw the people's enthusiasm and whispered in Su Ze's ear:
"When my brother was in power, there was a prophecy popular in Luoyang: 'A white-robed man will support the new master, and a thousand riders will come to Luoyang.' After that, my brother Qinghe changed the palace's entourage to white-robed scholars. Liu Lingzhu will now be more favored by my brother Qinghe. It is unknown whether it is a blessing or a curse for the country to have such a monster."
Prophecy?
A prophecy is a prediction.
From the Han, Wei and Jin Dynasties to the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the theory of prophecies was very popular, and many rebellions used prophecies as slogans.
But this “A white-robed man supports the new master, and a thousand riders come to Luoyang”, is this really referring to Prince Qinghe?
Su Ze had a strange look on his face, because he knew that in the history before he traveled through time, there really was a general in a white robe who escorted the new emperor of Northern Wei all the way from the south into Luoyang.
To some extent, has this prophecy really come true?
After Liu Lingzhu finished his performance, he stood on the podium with his hands behind his back, looking at Bianji with a look full of provocation.
In fact, he had already started preparing for the statue, but someone just happened to suggest that he and Bian Ji fight each other in magic, and the effect would naturally be better if they performed in public.
He had learned these bewitching "techniques" since he was young, and when he saw the fanatical people in the audience, he felt that he had a sure win. He really couldn't understand how the monk in front of him could surpass himself!
Kou Qianzhi, the most famous Taoist priest in the Northern Wei Dynasty, was canonized as the national teacher. Even the emperor at that time, Emperor Taiwu, became Kou Qianzhi's disciple and ordered the construction of Taoist temples across the country. Kou Qianzhi himself served as both the national teacher and the imperial teacher. It can be said that he was extremely honored and favored!
Liu Lingzhu looked at Bian Ji, waiting to see how he would fight with him.
I'm too tired at work this week, so I'll take a break on the weekend.
The subsequent plot still needs to be sorted out, and there are some historical materials to read. Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, the update will be changed to 8k per day, and the update will continue to next Monday.
Ps: Recommend a book to a friend!
(End of this chapter)