Chapter 234 Special Buildings
Su Ze was only wearing casual clothes, but he had a Diao Chan crown on his head and had guards following him. Anyone with a discerning eye would know that he must be extraordinary. He easily walked into the Junshi Mansion with Su Liang.
As soon as he entered the Junshi Mansion, Su Ze found a prompt on the system:
[A special building - Junshi Mansion has been discovered. Should we deploy the building? 】
Special buildings?
What's new?
Su Ze immediately opened the building interface, and sure enough, a new building appeared.
【Nanzheng Junshi Mansion】
Building Type: Religious Building;
Level: Large (can accommodate 100 Dao officials);
Purpose: As the religious center building of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, it has the function of rallying people’s hearts, pacifying the common people, and establishing local religious order.
Building function:
1. To train Taoist officials, you can entrust followers with training functions to explain Taoist scriptures and train Taoist officials in this building.
2. Prayer ceremonies, such as praying for clear weather, praying for rain, driving away locusts, eliminating diseases, getting rid of plague, praying for offspring, praying for longevity, praying for blessings, and praying for national fortune, can increase the stability of local believers.
3. Manage Taoist followers. You can issue Taoist decrees to manage local believers. The effectiveness of the organization depends on the selected [sect].
4. Collect Taoist taxes and offerings from believers. The collection ratio depends on the selected [sect].
sect:
The sect currently selected for this building is [Northern Tianshi Dao], and the effects of this sect are:
1. Restrict Taoist officials. They must be enthroned by the Junshifu and have their certificates issued. This measure can reduce obscene worship among the people, improve the positive prestige of the sect, slow down the speed of proselytizing, and reduce the sect's organizational strength.
2. Abolish the five-peck rice tax. Our sect will only collect " sheets of paper, a pen, and a stick of ink" as voluntary donations from believers when they join the sect. This will improve the sect's reputation among government officials, reduce the sect's income, reduce the sect's organizational strength, and increase the speed of dissemination among ordinary believers.
The switchable sects are: [Five Pecks of Rice Sect], [Southern Tianshi Sect].
What a powerful building!
But think about it, the Hanzhong regime established by Zhang Lu with the help of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect maintained its rule for nearly thirty years through the integration of politics and religion.
Even after Zhang Lu surrendered to Cao Cao, he was treated with considerable courtesy because of his religious prestige.
However, the current Junshi Mansion seems to be different from the Five Pecks of Rice Sect during Zhang Lu's time.
Su Ze summoned the Taoist who stayed at the Junshi Mansion and asked him:
"How much does the Junshi Mansion charge for admission now?"
Although the Taoist priest did not know Su Ze's identity, he saw that he had many followers and looked extraordinary, so he said honestly:
"According to the Taoist order of Kou Tianshi, the only fee required when entering the sect is '30 sheets of paper, a brush, and a stick of ink'. This is also a voluntary donation from believers. There is no coercion. There is no other fee."
Su Ze nodded. As expected, as shown on the system, although this Junshi Mansion was a Taoist palace built by Zhang Lu in the past, it implemented the laws of the Northern Tianshi Dao that had been improved by Kou Qianzhi.
In fact, Kou Qianzhi and Lu Xiujing were almost contemporaries. Before they launched Taoist reforms in the south and the north, Taoism was quite powerful and was deeply feared by the rulers.
From the Yellow Turban Sect in the late Han Dynasty, to Zhang Lu's Five Pecks of Rice Sect, and then to the "Great Pirate King" Sun En in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, who also gathered believers through the Five Pecks of Rice Sect and launched the "Sun En Lu Xun Rebellion."
It was precisely because of the overly powerful influence of Taoism that it caused suppression by the rulers of the north and the south, which led to the Taoist reforms by Kou Qianzhi and Lu Xiujing.
The main direction of the reform is to "disarm oneself".
The focus of the reform of Beitianshidao was to abolish the original tight Taoist official system and change the bureaucratic system similar to the government into a loose "lineage" system of master and apprentice, which completely undermined the Taoist's organizational capabilities.
The five-dou rice tax collected annually based on the total wealth of believers was changed to a one-time voluntary donation for admission, thus cutting off the financial income of Taoism.
By exchanging the Taoist organizational and financial rights with the emperor, Kou Qianzhi once gained the favor of the Northern Wei rulers, was canonized as the national teacher, and achieved rapid development in that era.
However, success and failure are both due to the king. In his later years, Kou Qianzhi was involved in Cui Hao's national history case, and Taoism was excluded by the emperor.
Then, starting from Emperor Xiaowen, the Northern Wei royal family turned to worship Buddhism. From then on, Taoism declined and Buddhism rose, and the Northern Tianshi Dao never recovered.
However, in Su Ze's opinion, Kou Qianzhi's reform direction is correct.
The rulers of this land will never allow religion to rule over their heads.
Although this reform of Taoism meant destroying one's own martial arts, it also made the Taoist sect more resilient.
In the thousands of years that followed, there were three emperors who destroyed Buddhism, but no emperor destroyed Taoism.
After the Sui and Tang Dynasties, even though Taoism was in decline, it still had the status of a state religion and was often used as a means to suppress Buddhism.
In this way, Kou Qianzhi's reforms were also effective.
These Taoist temples can play a role in maintaining stability, providing basic religious and social welfare, and are also stabilizers and adhesives for society.
Not to mention Taoism, a religion that has been improved to the point of being almost "harmless".
Kou Qianzhi's reforms were also very effective. Even Hanzhong, a region that only joined the Northern Wei Dynasty in the later period and was the base camp of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect at that time, completely abandoned the old Five Pecks of Rice Sect and switched to the more moderate "Northern Tianshi Sect."
Su Ze visited Junshi Mansion again and was very satisfied with the Taoist temple. He asked the Taoist official who accompanied him:
"Are there many believers in Liangzhou?"
The official sighed and said:
"Master, I am incompetent. Nowadays, Buddhism is flourishing in both the north and south, while Taoism is declining. Liangzhou is no exception."
When Su Ze thought of the crazy number of Buddhist temples in Luoyang and the fanatical crowds when Bian Ji was preaching, he realized how prosperous Buddhism was today.
Whether it is Emperor Xuanwu and Empress Dowager Hu who are in power in the north, or the current King of Jiangyang Yuan Yi, they are all quite devout Buddhists.
As for the south, needless to say, Emperor Xiao Yan, who sacrificed his life three times for the Bodhisattva in Tongtai Temple, let’s just say whether he worships Buddhism or not.
What the superior likes, the subordinates must follow. Even in Longxi County, there are a large number of Buddhist temples. There are even more Buddhist temples in Hezhou and Liangzhou. There are also the famous Dunhuang Grottoes near Dunhuang.
The Taoist priest said:
"However, in recent years, according to Governor Fu's instructions, we have sent priests to the tribes of the Shudi and Shanyue peoples, and we have gained a lot of new believers."
Su Ze looked at the Taoist official in surprise. Fu Shuyan was indeed a talented person. No wonder he had been able to firmly control Liangzhou for so long. He even thought of using Taoism to control these Shu, Di, Shanyue tribes.
That’s right, these barbarian tribes all have primitive religions. If Taoism can’t defeat Buddhism, can’t it defeat you witches and sorcerers?
While the foreign Buddhist sect was "conquering cities and territories" in China, the local Taoist sect was preaching to the southern barbarian tribes.
Su Ze found this world increasingly incomprehensible.
However, Su Ze also planned to continue Fu Shuyan's strategy, using religious infiltration to disintegrate the centrifugal tendencies of these barbarian tribes and win them over to work for him.
He thought about summoning a Taoist priest next time the building was refreshed to take control of this special building.
Su Ze took Su Liang out of the Military Advisor's Mansion. At this time, someone came to report that a scholar named Feng Shu came to Nanzheng to ask to see Su Ze, holding a letter of recommendation written by Su Chao who was in the rear.
"Feng Shu?" Su Ze remembered this name. It was on the list he wrote to Princess Chenliu, but he forgot for a moment why his name was recorded in history books.
Su Liang spoke first, "Feng Shu, Feng Junyi? My lord, this guy is a great talent!"
Su Liang was afraid that Su Ze would not believe him, so he tried his best to promote Feng Shu:
"My lord, the Feng family of Bohai is a well-known family of jurisprudence. Lord Feng Yi was well versed in ancient and modern laws at the age of fourteen, and had the ambition to revise the laws of Wei when he was crowned."
"I have interacted with him in Luoyang before and know his talents. Ling Chuo also knows his talents, so he sent him to Nanzheng to meet the Lord!"
Su Ze then remembered that Feng Shu was the most famous jurist in the Northern Dynasty!
Although the later Sui and Tang dynasties inherited the Northern Zhou, their legal systems were inherited from the Northern Qi's "Laws of Northern Qi". The legislative spirit and legal format of the "Kaihuang Laws" and "Tang Law Commentaries" were almost all copied from the "Laws of Northern Qi".
And the main compiler of "Laws of Northern Qi" was this Feng Shu!
After thinking of Feng Shu's identity, Su Ze said happily:
"Come on, Jingshun, follow me to meet this great talent!"
Su Liang looked at the excited Su Ze and couldn't help but think of his old boss Xiao Baoyin.
Everyone says that Xiao Baoyin is eager to recruit talented people, but Su Liang knows that this is just the character setting of Xiao Baoyin. What Xiao Baoyin is looking for is just "talent" from a high-class family. No matter how talented a child from a poor family is, it is difficult for him to be praised by Xiao Baoyin.
Loving talents is just one of Xiao Baoyin's personality traits, and he is also very suspicious. Although he has recruited many talents, he does not give full play to their roles. Instead, he arranges some miscellaneous tasks to waste other people's talents.
Su Liang and Yang Kan, who were sent to Su Ze's side, were suppressed and pushed to Su Ze by Xiao Baoyin.
But Su Ze is different.
Su Ze is really eager to recruit talented people.
Su Ze treats all talented people who come to him equally, regardless of their background.
Su Ze would make use of talented people, give them enough power, and let them display their talents with confidence.
From this point of view, Su Ze is very similar to Cao Mengde.
Su Liang thought again of Emperor Wu of Cao Wei's evaluation that he was "a capable minister in times of peace and a hero in times of chaos." Now that the times of chaos are approaching, he wondered whether Su Ze would follow Cao Cao's path again.
-
Feng Shu was waiting anxiously for an audience with Su Ze in front of the Nanzheng military camp.
Feng Shu and his wife went through many hardships along the way and finally arrived in Hezhou.
He went to Jincheng, but learned from Su Chao that Su Ze had already led his troops to Longxi County.
Su Chao knew Feng Shu's talents, and tried his best to invite Feng Shu to stay in Hezhou, and when Su Ze returned to Hezhou, he would recommend him to join Su Ze's military headquarters.
But Feng Shu had his own ideas.
The relationship between the lord and his subjects is also two-way.
The king chooses his ministers, and the ministers choose their king.
Feng Shu traveled thousands of miles, leaving King Qinghe to join Su Ze. Of course, he also wanted to see Su Ze with his own eyes to see if he was a lord worthy of his service.
Feng Shu took Su Cho's letter of recommendation, left his wife in Jincheng, and rushed to Longxi County.
When they arrived at Longxi County, the battle in Longxi was over. Feng Shu took Su Cho's letter and found Murong Shaozong who stayed in Xincheng.
When Murong Shaozong saw Su Cho's letter, he always respected Su Cho, Su Ze's steward, and immediately sent troops to escort Feng Shu to Liangzhou.
After Feng Shu entered Liangzhou, he heard that Su Ze had captured Wuxing and had led his troops to Nanzheng.
When rushing to Nanzheng, Feng Shu had already learned the news that Prince Qinghe had fallen in the Xuanguang coup.
Feng Shu could only be thankful that he decisively left Luoyang, a place of trouble.
But Feng Shu was also very anxious. Along the way, he saw signs that the world was about to fall into chaos, and he had to find a lord to whom he could surrender.
He could only continue to be escorted by Murong Shaozong's cavalry into Hanzhong, and finally asked to see Su Ze in Nanzheng City.
While Feng Shu was waiting, a group of people came from outside the military camp. The military officer in the lead, who was wearing a Diao Chan crown, grabbed Feng Shu and said,
"Is this Feng Lang? My name is Su Ze. I have heard of your talent when I was in Luoyang, but unfortunately we served different masters at that time. Today I finally get to meet you!"
After saying that, Su Ze pulled Feng Shu and walked towards the military camp.
Su Ze was so enthusiastic that he made Feng Shu confused.
He was nervous all the way because what he learned were the laws and regulations of past dynasties. Not to mention a warrior like Su Ze, even orthodox literati and scholars did not take them seriously.
Otherwise, King Qinghe would not have let him go so easily.
There is no way around it. The legal system is originally part of the superstructure.
Laws, calendars, and history books are three things that are usually only considered for compilation when a country is founded and its national strength is at its peak.
The current situation of the Northern Wei court left no opportunity for revision of the law.
Naturally, no one took it seriously.
Feng Shu was still thinking about how to introduce himself and wanted to sell the importance of law to Su Ze, but he didn't expect Su Ze to be so enthusiastic.
Feng Shu was even more moved when he thought of the cold treatment he received at the Qinghe Palace.
Su Ze did not live in the Liangzhou Governor's Mansion in Nanzheng, but let Fu Shuyan recuperate and Yang Kan handle civil affairs. He preferred to live in the barracks with the soldiers.
Along the way, Feng Shu heard a lot about Su Ze's great fighting skills. He saw that the military camps were well-organized and the soldiers were well-trained. Although he didn't understand military affairs, he knew that Su Ze's soldiers were the most disciplined he had seen along the way.
Su Ze's office was also very simple, and Feng Shu had a better impression of Su Ze.
He came from a family of law, so he was naturally more inclined to Legalist thought and was also against extravagance and waste.
After pulling Feng Shu to sit down, Su Liang said to Feng Shu:
"Jun Yi (Feng Shu's courtesy name), when General Su heard the news of your arrival, he did not even bother to visit Master Jun's residence, and hurried back to the barracks."
This is how Su Ze and Su Liang cooperated these days. Su Liang would flatter him, and Su Ze would express his admiration for him. This would win the favor of the local scholars in Liangzhou, and Su Ze would quickly gain a reputation as a "talent lover".
This kind of reputation may not have a direct effect, but it will have unexpected effects when Su Ze recruits talents in the future.
Along the way, Feng Shu also heard of Su Ze's reputation for loving talents, so he insisted on rushing to Nanzheng to meet Su Ze.
Before Feng Shu introduced himself, Su Ze said:
"This general believes that there are major problems with our dynasty's laws. There is a lack of general principles that govern the basics of the laws, and the legal provisions are confusing in detail. Local corruption is rampant, with innocent people being severely punished for minor crimes, and powerful people being able to get away with major crimes."
"Jun Yi, how do you think we can solve these problems?"
(End of this chapter)