Han Shizu

Chapter 1423 Torture
"If there is nothing in your heart, why should you be afraid?" Emperor Liu said leisurely.

Hong Tai presided over: "Your Majesty's words are very true, it's the old monk's photoshoot!"

As a result, the host seemed to have realized something again, his face became more peaceful, and his whole body was completely relaxed, calm and calm, with an appearance of allowing you, Emperor Liu, to tease and humiliate you.

Taking Buddha statues to make money is of course a joke of Emperor Liu.Compared with these bronze statues in the temple, Emperor Liu was probably more interested in the reactions of these monks.

In fact, Emperor Liu's visit to Shaolin Mountain Gate this time was mainly to satisfy his curiosity. After all, for him, he did have some shortcomings and would inevitably become a regret.

After getting out of the Daxiong Palace, the host led Emperor Liu to the Sutra Pavilion to take a look. Emperor Liu was able to continue to appreciate the scenery in the ancient temple. sense of tranquility.

Pacing slowly, Emperor Liu asked the old monk Hongtai: "Master, in the Buddhist scripture pavilion in Shaolin, is there any treasured book of martial arts to cultivate the secrets of qi-strengthening heaven and earth?"

The host was a little surprised when he heard about it, and replied: "Your Majesty, there are mostly Buddhist scriptures in the Sutra Pavilion, and there are indeed some methods for strengthening the body and training the body. As for the cultivation of Qi that your Majesty said, it is ignorant and ignorant!"

"Haha! I just asked casually, the host can just listen to it, don't take it seriously!" Emperor Liu said with a smile: "Back then, I met Taoist Chen Tuan and asked him for advice on how to maintain longevity, but he told me I kept a copy of "Zhixuan Chapter 72".

The book is a good book, and the Dharma is good, but it is not suitable for me, a hard-working earthly emperor. I have something to ask for, but if I think about it this way, it’s okay, so I don’t feel embarrassed to preside over it! "

Hearing what Emperor Liu said, the old abbot's expression remained unchanged, and he replied: "Your Majesty is generous, and this old monk admires you!"

"However!" The voice changed, and Emperor Liu said again: "The imperial court is compiling books. When compiling great books, it needs to collect books from all over the world. Confucian classics, Taoist scriptures, Buddhist scriptures, and theories of hundreds of schools all need to be sorted out. In order to perfect the grand ceremony of this country , Shaolin Canon, please don’t begrudge the host!”

Hearing this, Hongtai presided over and said: "Your Majesty, the scriptures stored in the Sutra Pavilion have already been transcribed and reproduced, and presented to the capital!"

"Oh?" Emperor Liu was really surprised, and turned his head to look at Zhang Yong: "Is there such a thing?"

"Return to Your Majesty, it is indeed true!" Zhang Yong replied: "Your Majesty once ordered the three libraries to collect books from all over the world, and Shaolin classics also made contributions!"

After getting an affirmative answer, Emperor Liu acted as if nothing had happened, and smiled: "It's my negligence!"

"Your Majesty is making great efforts to govern the country, taking care of every opportunity, and being single-minded. He is all on state affairs. How can he take care of these little things!" said the host.

"It seems that this kind of flattery is something that everyone will shoot, even monks are no exception. Since the host can spit out lotus flowers, this flattery skill is not shallow!" Emperor Liu teased.

"You made Your Majesty laugh!" The old host didn't move at all.

"Since the book has been presented, I won't go to the Sutra Pavilion!" Stopping, Emperor Liu directly ordered: "As for the Sutra collection, you can choose an eminent monk who studies Buddhist scriptures in the temple to go to the third pavilion. Assist in the compilation! Those scholars and Confucians in the imperial court are experts in compiling texts and compiling books, but they may not be good at studying Buddhist scriptures, Shaolin can help you a little bit!"

"It would be an honor for the monastery to participate in the grand event of the ceremony! Your Majesty ordered that the old monk be selected as the best Buddhist monk in the monastery and go to the capital!" Hongtai presided over.

"The host really understands righteousness!"

Accompanied by a group of people, Emperor Liu wandered aimlessly in the temple, but kept talking: "How many people are there in the temple now?"

Hearing this question suddenly, the presiding officer Hongtai immediately kept his eyes open, however, that point of guard soon dissipated, and he frankly agreed with a little helplessness: "Return to Your Majesty, there are currently 760 monks, big and small, in the temple!"

"It's quite a lot!" Emperor Liu muttered, making the monk's heart tremble, and said again: "However, if there are fewer people in this huge Buddhist temple, wouldn't it be deserted?"

"So many people, why do they make a living?" Emperor Liu asked again.

The host replied: "On weekdays, there are donations from pilgrims and friends, and there are Susukida in front of the mountain and behind the mountain, which can be cultivated!"

Emperor Liu: "How many fields are there?"

The host has nothing to hide: "There are more than two thousand acres of land in each class?"

"With the deduction of two taxes, can it be maintained?" Emperor Liu pointed to some monks standing obediently in the distance, and said, "It's not easy to raise these hundreds of monks!"

To say that Emperor Liu's attack on the Buddhist monks is mainly two, one is that the land he owns needs to be taxed, and the other is to strengthen the supervision of personnel.As for the deprivation of property at the beginning, it was basically a one-shot transaction. The Buddhist sect may regret it, but the patience has passed. The huge blow is the above two points, which have basically inhibited the development of Buddhist temples in the world in the past two decades.

"It can still be maintained!" The old monk replied concisely.

"All the farmers are monks in the temple?"

"Exactly!"

"That's right, it's not enough to eat fast and chant Buddha, you have to support yourself!" Emperor Liu said.

"How many monks are there?" Emperor Liu asked abruptly.

The host looked slightly stagnant, and finally there was a touch of caution in his tone, and he replied: "Your Majesty, although there are some monks in this temple, they only practice martial arts. In order to strengthen their bodies, how can they be called soldiers?"

"I have no other intentions. The host needn't be nervous, let alone worry about it. The martial arts of the Han Dynasty is strong, and martial arts is popular among the people. The monks are also the people of the Han Dynasty. Practicing martial arts is not taboo!" Emperor Liu said with a smile, which made the host feel a little lighthearted. Fall lightly.

"During the Qianyou period, the imperial court promulgated the regulations on the management of Shimen. Can the local government conduct regular inspections and supervision every year?"

"Once a year, never miss!"

"From the host's point of view, how effective is it?"

"Having the government's supervision and encouragement is really good for the education of monks and the development of Buddhism, and the monastery has also benefited a lot!" The host replied.

"Impossible!" Hearing this, Emperor Liu had an unpredictability in his eyes, and he said with a relaxed smile: "How much Buddhist principles can be understood by government officials, and asking them to study Buddhism among monks, isn't it an outsider commanding an insider?

Even if it has some effect at the beginning, I am afraid that it will only achieve a supervisory effect. After a long time, I am afraid that it will be superficial. How can the officials not slack off?The host thinks, is what I said reasonable? "

Hearing this, the old monk Hongtai was silent for a while, and under the gaze of Emperor Liu, he sighed softly: "Your Majesty's eyes are like a torch, and you can clearly see every detail!"

"Then how to solve this problem?" Emperor Liu asked leisurely.

In this regard, the presiding officer responded: "How dare the old monk speak falsely about the affairs of the court, it is still necessary for your Majesty and the temple's sages to use their wisdom and think of ways to benefit!"

"I just got a chance to preside over the evaluation!" Emperor Liu followed the words and said: "I think it is not only necessary to determine the number of monasteries in Daozhou in the world, but also to implement a quota for the number of monks in each monastery. The government only needs to check the number of people in the temples according to the book! As for the internal affairs of the temples, the temples take care of themselves. Presumably, with this premise, the temples should not allow some fake people to hide among them."

"The host thinks, what is my idea, is it feasible?"

Hearing Emperor Liu's discussion, the presiding officer Hongtai showed obvious shock on his face, he regained his senses after a while, and replied calmly but with difficulty: "Your Majesty's plan is feasible!"

He said so on the lips, but the bitterness in his heart became stronger.With the vision and wisdom of the old monk Hongtai, he naturally understands that if Emperor Liu's method is strictly implemented, then the restrictions on Buddhism that have been gradually loosened over the years will be tightened again, and the curse will be firmly worn in the world again. Shimen head.

Of course, the imperial court has relaxed its interference in the internal affairs of Buddhism, but the first limit is the monastery, and the second limit is the monks. No matter how you develop, you have set a ceiling that cannot be broken.

Without taking into account the host's psychology, Emperor Liu continued: "Buddhism is a place outside the law. The host thinks it is a place outside the law? What I'm talking about is the law of the Han Dynasty!"

"The host thinks, if the Buddha enters the world, should I worship him or should he worship me?"

"I stand side by side with the Buddha. Should the presiding officer worship me first or the Buddha first?"

"I see that the emperors of ancient times, those who had the act of destroying the Buddha and suppressing the Buddha, were so rare to end well. I still don't understand the reason. What does the presiding officer think, what will be my ending in the future?"

"."

Emperor Liu's seemingly relaxed and casual asking for advice made the presiding officer Hongtai sweat profusely. It was hot in midsummer, but it was not as cold as his heart.

Seeing that he was speechless and unable to restrain himself, Emperor Liu smiled again and said: "I asked casually, the host can think about the answer slowly. I am tired, please prepare a room in the guest house, and let me have a taste of the fast food in this temple."

(End of this chapter)