"Grandmaster Xinhui, what should we do?”
"The imperial court's decree this time is clearly directed at us monks.”
"The Buddhist Sect's peaceful land is going to be disturbed by the Imperial Court this time.”
"What have we done wrong? Before the Sui Dynasty, we destroyed Buddhism twice. Now that the dynasty has changed, the imperial court still won't let us go.”
The dozens of abbots entered Daxingshan Temple and started shouting anxiously when they saw Abbot Xinhui and the other four abbots.
Abbot Xin Hui looked at them and said with a solemn expression,"This Penniless Monk called you here this time precisely for this matter.”
"You and I, outsiders, should have realized that Tang Ting's attack on the Buddhist Sect this time is a means to destroy the Buddhist Sect on the surface.”
"Once Tang Ting succeeds, how many temples in the world will remain?”
Dozens of abbots nodded in agreement. Someone asked,"Grandmaster Xin Hui, what countermeasures do you have?”
Abbot Xinhui put his palms together and chanted Amitabha.
"Since monks have already converted to our Buddha, they should see through the secular world and be pure. They shouldn't be bothered by those secular matters.”
"This Penniless Monk has a humble opinion. In the decree issued by the Imperial Court this time, the Ministry of Justice said that monks who commit minor crimes will be exempted from punishment as long as they return to asceticism.”
Upon hearing this, the eyes of the dozens of abbots lit up, and they were enlightened.
Abbot Xin Hui continued with a meaningful tone,
"As for the Bureau of Military Personnel, they have announced that monks who return to the secular world can receive double their salary for a year.”
"However, there is a saying in the secular world that says that it's not the lack of people that worries, but the disparity. If monks who return to asceticism really want to join the army, they will definitely be ostracized and targeted in the army because of the issue of military pay.”
"The Ministry of Revenue said that monks who renounce asceticism don't have to pay taxes for two years. What about after two years?”
"Also, the Ministry of Official Personnel said that as long as a monk renounces asceticism, they will choose the best and give priority to their recruitment. This Penniless Monk wants to ask one more question.”
"Then there's the Ministry of Works. Minister Duan Lun said that if there were any skilled craftsmen who wanted to go to the Ministry of Works, he would arrange for them to have a place to settle down.”
Abbot Xin Hui chuckled and said,
"If they were skilled craftsmen, they could have made a living by relying on their skills. Why would they have to hide in the temple? Craftsmen who had entered the Void Gate would naturally have seen through the secular world and would not think of returning to secularism.”
After hearing his words, the dozens of abbots seemed to have an epiphany. They looked at him sincerely and put their palms together.
"Grandmaster Xin Hui is still the most perceptive.”
"After hearing Master Xin Hui's words, This Penniless Monk heaved a sigh of relief.”
"With Master Xinhui here, we can rest assured.”
Abbot Xinhui looked at them with a smile and said,""Please tell the monks of your respective temples what I have said.”
"We must let them know what the decree issued by the Imperial Court means to them. When the monks understand, they will naturally make the best choice.”
Dozens of abbots lowered their heads and muttered, Amitabha. This Penniless Monk will take his leave."
…………
The next day.
Outside the Vermilion Bird Gate of the Imperial City, many documents appeared.
The civil and military officials sat behind the documents, waiting for the monk to return to asceticism with smiles on their faces.
"There should be many monks renouncing asceticism today, right?”
"Of course. If you were a monk, how could you not be tempted by the contents of the imperial court's decree?”
"The Ministry of Revenue will reduce the taxes of the monks for two years, the Ministry of War will provide double the military pay, the Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Works, and Ministry of Rites will open the door, and the Ministry of Justice will exempt them from punishment for minor crimes.”
"That's why Prime Minister Pei and the others asked us to come and help today.”
The officials laughed and discussed confidently.
Pei Ji was all smiles as he stroked his beard and looked at Feng Deyi, Chen Shuda, Xiao Yu, and the six hall officials. Seeing that they were equally confident, he could not help but grin.
This time, it was time for the little Emperor to see how powerful the civil and military officials were.
At this moment, a middle-aged man with a shiny head ran over from not far away.
The officials 'eyes lit up.
Pei Ji and the others, who were sitting at the front, laughed. The contents of the decree were effective on the monks.
However, when the middle-aged man walked over, the eyes of Pei Ji and the others narrowed.
Although this person's head was shiny, he was not wearing a monk's robe. Instead, he was wearing ordinary cloth clothes.
"Do monks who renounce asceticism sign here? I'm a monk, I've renounced asceticism!"
The middle-aged man ran over, panting heavily, and shouted at the officials.
According to the decree of the imperial court, all monks who renounced asceticism had to come to the Vermilion Bird Gate to sign their names. Only after they were recorded could they enjoy preferential treatment such as tax exemption.
Pei Ji looked suspiciously at the middle-aged man and asked,"What's your name?"
"My name is Feng Tao," the middle-aged man hurriedly replied.”
"Feng Tao?" Pei Ji raised his eyebrows and laughed coldly."The monk actually has a name? You have entered the Void Gate and your six roots are pure. Where did you get your name? Shouldn't you have announced your Dharma name?”
Feng Tao was stunned." What's a Dharma name?”
“？？？”The officials were stunned. You don't even know your Dharma name? Are you a monk?
Pei Ji became even more suspicious. He stood up and walked to his side. He pressed down on his forehead and looked at him. He said angrily,"Where's your scar?"
Feng Tao was stunned again. He waved his hand and said,"I don't stutter."
Pei Ji glared at him." Who cares if you stutter or not? I'm asking about the scar. Do you know what a scar is?"”
"I really don't stutter. The imperial court has stipulated that only stutterers can be exempted from taxes," Feng Tao said in puzzlement. Why didn't it say on the notice that although I don't stutter, I can pretend. I'm very good at pretending. This, this, this, Ke, can I?”
Pei Ji's mouth twitched as he looked at this fake monk called Feng Tao who was pretending to stutter in front of him. He wished he could slap him in the face.
At this moment, another middle-aged man ran over with the sound of footsteps.
Unlike Feng Tao, this person was wearing a monk's robe.
Pei Ji pointed at the figure running over and said coldly to Feng Tao,"Do you see that? This is a real monk.”
When the middle-aged man ran over, Pei Ji asked with a smile,""Which temple are you from?"
The middle-aged man's face was a little fat. He grinned and puffed up his cheeks. He chuckled and said,"This Penniless Monk is a monk from Daxing Shan Temple!”
Hearing this, the smile on Pei Ji's face grew wider as he asked,""How many monks like you in Daxing Temple have renounced asceticism?”
The middle-aged man touched his shiny head and said with a smile,""Just me."
Pei Ji was surprised." That's impossible. You're the only monk in such a big Daxing Shan Temple to renounce asceticism?"”
The middle-aged man in the monk's robe was stunned and asked in confusion,""Are there many monks in Daxing Shan Temple?”
“？？？”The smile on Pei Ji's face stiffened as he sized him up.
At this moment, he realized that the monk's robe on his body was obviously a little bigger. He suddenly felt a little uneasy and asked,"What is the name of the abbot of Daxing Shan Temple?”
“……”
The middle-aged man in the monk robe opened his mouth. His face turned red, but he did not say a word.
Pei Ji laughed in anger." You don't even know the abbot of Daxing Shan Temple, and you still have the face to say that you're a monk of Daxing Shan Temple?"”
"You, and you."
Pei Ji's face was stern as he glared at the two of them and shouted,""Tell me the truth. Who are you? You only have one chance. If you're wrong, I'll send you to the Ministry of Justice's prison!”
Their faces turned pale.
"I heard that monks who renounce asceticism will be given preferential treatment by the imperial court, so I shaved my hair and wanted to come over to give it a try.”
"I'm the same as him."
"I rented this monk robe in Xi City for three copper coins a day.”
"I live in…"
"My father is…"
In the surroundings, one could hear a pin drop. Only the two fake monks stood there and talked non-stop.
The officials sitting behind the documents were all silent and looked at the two with unfriendly gazes.
The two of them felt the murderous gazes of the civil and military officials and couldn't help but be frightened. Without a word, they turned around and ran.
"A bunch of unruly people!"
Pei Ji cursed with a cold expression. He turned around and said to the Minister of Justice, Li Daozong,"Minister Li, you are a member of the Ministry of Justice. Send someone to post another notice in the name of the Ministry of Justice. If anyone impersonates a monk and returns to asceticism again, they will be imprisoned!”
"Yes!" Li Daozong stood up and said.
After the new notice was posted, there were no more fake monks.
The officials outside the Vermillion Bird Gate didn't let out a sigh of relief. Instead, their expressions became even more serious.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]