They waited from morning until dusk, but the expected scene did not happen.
Outside the Vermillion Bird Gate, there was not even a shadow of a monk.
"Where are the monks?"
"Why are there no monks who renounce asceticism?？”
"Don't they read the notice?"
The officials couldn't help but shout.
Feng Deyi, Chen Shuda, Xiao Yu, Li Daozong, Duan Lun, and the other officials from the six departments all had gloomy expressions on their faces.
Logically speaking, after seeing the notice, the monks of the various monasteries should be eager to immediately take off their robes and return to secular life to receive preferential treatment here.
However, it was different from what they thought.
For an entire day.
Not a single monk came!
Everyone couldn't help but look at Pei Ji. In the hearts of the officials, he was the backbone of the entire court.
Pei Ji frowned and met the gazes of the officials. He said in a deep voice,
"The notice has only been posted for a day. Although it's unexpected that no monks have returned to asceticism, it's also reasonable.”
"That's all for today. Fellow colleagues, please return.”
The officials acknowledged and packed up their things. They silently bowed to Pei Ji and the others and left.
Pei Ji looked into the distance worriedly. He hoped that what had happened today was really as he had said. It had only been a day since the notice was posted, so no one had come.
If not…
This was a big problem!
Time flew like a white horse, suddenly.
For more than half a month, there had been no rain in Chang 'an. The hot weather made people restless.
In the Imperial City, the Minister of Works, Duan Lun, cursed angrily.
"What's going on? Why haven't any monks renounced asceticism until now?？”
Pei Ji, Xiao Yu, Chen Shuda, Feng Deyi, and the six hall officials were gathered together. They sat on the chairs, each with an unsightly expression.
It had been more than half a month since the imperial court's decree was posted, but he had gained nothing.
"I'm afraid that it's those five abbot's doing behind the scenes.”
" They are the only ones who can convince the abbots of the dozens of temples in Chang 'an to go against the imperial court," Xiao Yu said with a solemn expression.”
" I'm just wondering why no one responded to such a good policy!" Chen Shuda said in a muffled voice.”
Feng Deyi sighed." For the imperial court, there's no problem with government decrees. I'm afraid the abbots of the various temples don't think so.”
Seeing everyone's attention, Feng Deyi continued,
"I've been thinking about this for half a month, and now I have some ideas.”
"The reason why no monks have renounced asceticism is indeed because of the five abbots.”
"After all, the more monks there are in the temple, the more beneficial it is for the temple.”
"Look at which temple doesn't have thousands of acres of grain fields behind it. The fields need manpower. If we hire people to do it, how much would we have to pay?”
"But if they are monks, we only need to ensure their food and accommodation.”
"How can they give up such a good thing just because of a word from the Imperial Court?" Feng Deyi said in disappointment.”
Chen Shuda frowned and said,
"What should we do now?"
" The imperial court wants to make the monk's renascence a hot topic in Chang 'an. If it can't be carried out, won't the imperial court become a laughing stock?”
As soon as he finished speaking, the Shangshu Province fell silent.
Pei Ji was silent for a long time before he said,"Now that such a big mess has happened, we can only report it to His Majesty."”
Hearing this, everyone's expression changed.
Report to the little Emperor?
The officials had done this to prove their abilities to the little Emperor. Now, not only had they failed, but they had even caused trouble. If the little Emperor knew about this, what would he think?
"But…" Duan Lun said anxiously.
Pei Ji waved his hand and looked at him helplessly.
"Minister Duan, this old man knows what you want to say. You want to say that if we can't even do this properly, how can we face the little emperor?”
"But the current situation is beyond our expectations. We are helpless.”
Pei Ji smiled bitterly and said,
" More than ten days have passed, but none of the monks in so many temples in Chang 'an are willing to renounce asceticism. It's obvious that someone is obstructing us. Should we go around them and force those monks to renounce asceticism?"”
Pei Ji said in a deep voice," The example of the previous Sui Dynasty is right there. Our Great Tang cannot repeat the same mistake to avoid arousing the resentment of the people.”
"That's it."
"Let's go together and tell the little emperor about this. Let's see what the little emperor has in mind.”
"If even he can't do it, I really don't know who else can." Pei Ji said with a complicated expression.”
Everyone was silent for a long time before nodding helplessly in agreement. They followed Pei Ji and walked toward the Yin and Yang Palace.
————
"It's finally settled."
In the Yin and Yang Palace, Li Chengdao put down the memorial he had written and read, yawning and stretching.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Ji Gang and Yu Huatian's pale faces. Li Chengdao tilted his head and asked in confusion,"Why do you look so pale?"
Yu Huatian and Ji Gang looked at him faintly.
For more than half a month, they had been working around the clock. On one hand, they had to recruit people for the Embroidered Uniform Guards and the foreigners of the East Chamber, and on the other hand, they had to deal with the "several things" that Li Chengdao had instructed them to do.
Now that they were standing in the Yin and Yang Palace, they were most afraid that Li Chengdao would order them to do a few things.
It was not a simple word at all.
Instead, it was a bunch of questions.
And it wasn't just the two of them. The entire Embroidered Uniform Guards and the East Chamber's foreigners were all complaining. Even the donkey that pulled the mill couldn't withstand such torment.
Wang Yu was also trembling with fear at the side. These few days, he experienced what it meant to travel through the stars and the moon without rest.
The little Emperor's diligence was hundreds of thousands of times more terrifying than he had imagined.
Li Chengdao was like a machine that never stopped. He could stay up all night reading memorials and read them for two to three days straight.
The memorials from the three provinces, six departments, and twelve divisions were no longer enough to satisfy Li Chengdao.
Apart from taking care of the " several matters " that he had assigned to them, the East Chamber's foreigners and the Brocade Guard were also responsible for collecting official business from the surrounding counties of Chang 'an and submitting it to Li Chengdao.
Wang Yu faintly felt that after a period of time, the surrounding counties would probably become idle yamen.
How could he know the reason for Li Chengdao's actions?
Li Chengdao felt uneasy at the thought that the Great Tang still had a long way to go before the golden age.
The path to prosperity was bound to be dangerous.
Only by taking preventive measures could one avoid unexpected twists and turns and face all problems calmly.
At this moment, footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the hall.
Li Chengdao turned his head and saw Pei Ji walking in with Chen Shuda, Feng Deyi, Xiao Yu, and the six hall officials.
"I am Pei Ji, Xiao Yu, Feng Deyi, and Chen Shuda.”
"I am Li Daozong, Gao Shilian, Duan Lun, Sun Fujia, Doulu Kuan, and Li Jing.”
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Looking at their salutations, Li Chengdao raised his small hand to dismiss them. Then, he asked curiously,
"I remember that you have been dealing with the matter of monks returning to asceticism recently. Why do you have the time to come to the Yin and Yang Hall? Has everything been resolved?"
Pei Ji, Xiao Yu, and the others revealed a bitter smile. They bowed to Li Chengdao and said in shame,
"We are useless."
Hearing this, Li Chengdao was stunned. He tilted his head and looked at them in confusion."What happened?"
For the past half a month, he had not left the Yin and Yang Palace. Every day, he had to deal with all the memorials from the three provinces, six departments, and twelve divisions. He also had to dispatch the Brocade Guard and the East Chamber to prepare for the rainy day.
Even if he was free, he would go to the official documents of the county government outside Chang 'an City brought back by the Jinyiwei and the East Chamber.
He couldn't care less about them.
Moreover, from Li Chengdao's point of view, the matter of letting monks renounce asceticism was not as difficult as he had imagined. Pei Ji and the others should be able to handle it.
But now, looking at Pei Ji and the rest's ashamed expressions, Li Chengdao rubbed his cheeks and said with interest,"
"Tell me everything that has happened recently. What kind of extraordinary ability do those monks have to stump you?”
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。