Pei Ji quickly told him everything that had happened in the past half a month, from inviting the five abbots who represented the major temples in Chang 'an to the Ministry of Shangshu for discussion, to the civil and military officials waiting for the monks to return to asceticism in front of the Vermilion Bird.
He told Li Chengdao everything, no matter how big or small.
Li Chengdao shook his head and said in a tender voice,""You did the right thing."
"But the direction is wrong."
Wrong direction? Everyone was startled. Pei Ji hurriedly said,"Your Majesty, please explain."
Li Chengdao's tender voice said unhurriedly,
"The decree you issued was indeed for the sake of the monks who had returned to asceticism. However, from the abbot's point of view, not only did they not gain any benefits from it, but their interests were also damaged.”
"Let's take the simplest example. Behind each temple, there are thousands of acres of land.”
"The monks are part of the temple, and they have the responsibility to manage these fields. The more monks there are, the more beneficial it is for the temple.”
Li Chengdao looked at the four prime ministers, the six ministers, and the assistant ministers. He said,"
"On the contrary, if the number of monks in the temple is reduced, who will take care of the fields?”
"That's why the temple can only hire commoners. It's fine if it's just a dozen acres of land, but how many people do you have to hire and how much money do you have to spend on thousands of acres?”
"This is only part of the benefits."
"There are too many aspects involved, so it's only natural that the five abbots would feel conflicted.”
Seeing everyone nod, Li Chengdao continued,
"The decree you issued did not have any effect on the monk's renascence. In the end, it was because your methods were too soft.”
Pei Ji could not help but say,"Your Majesty, when it comes to monks renouncing asceticism, we can only let them do it willingly and not force them."”
"In the previous Sui Dynasty, an imperial edict was issued to force all monks to return to asceticism. In the end, the men and women of the people believed that the imperial court wanted to destroy Buddhism and destroy their faith. Under the boiling resentment of the people, the matter was eventually left unsettled.”
"This is the problem of the method," Li Chengdao said solemnly.”
"Your understanding of 'voluntary' is too passive. If those monks want to volunteer, you should let them volunteer. If they don't, you should help them volunteer.”
“？？？”Everyone looked at him in a daze. If the monk was unwilling to renounce asceticism, how could he help him voluntarily renounce asceticism? This train of thought was a little strange.
"Your Majesty, I don't understand." Pei Jiku laughed.”
Li Chengdao glanced at him, then looked at the three prime ministers standing behind him, as well as the six ministers and assistant ministers. He muttered,
"The matter of monks returning to asceticism has developed to this day. We can't just let it go like this. It will damage the face of the imperial court.”
"From now on, I will take over."
Hearing this, everyone was shocked. The little Emperor was going to personally take action?
Everyone looked at Li Chengdao with burning gazes, full of curiosity. How exactly was the little Emperor going to help those monks 'voluntarily' renounce asceticism?
Li Chengdao looked at Ji Gang, who was standing at the side, and said,""Take the Jinyiwei to every temple in Chang 'an and call all the abbots.”
"Yes!" Ji Gang cupped his fists and said.
Pei Ji, Chen Shuda, Xiao Yu, Feng Deyi, and the six hall officials looked at each other. The little Emperor was really swift and decisive in doing things.
————
Daxing Temple.
Xin Hui, Dao Yu, Jie Kuan, Ming Xu, and Xuan Wen were sitting in the meditation room, drinking tea. Their faces were filled with smiles.
"Grandmaster Xinhui, this poor monk shall toast you.”
Abbot Dao Yu of the Great Meditation Monastery picked up his teacup and smiled at Xin Hui.
" It has been more than half a month since then, but none of the monks in the dozens of temples in Chang 'an City have returned to secular life. They all rely on your insight to ensure the safety of Buddhism.”
"This Penniless Monk also offers a toast to Master Xinhui.”
"Master Xin Hui is the stabilizing needle of our Buddhist Sect.”
The other three abbots also smiled and raised their cups.
"This Penniless Monk can't afford to be the Godly Sea Steadying Needle. The real Godly Sea Steadying Needle is someone else.”
Abbot Xinhui raised his teacup and returned the favor. He took a sip and smiled.
"It's not just this Penniless Monk's credit that we were able to pass the imperial court's decree this time. It's because we Buddhist cultivators have worked together and united as one.”
Suddenly, footsteps were heard outside the meditation room. A young novice monk hurried in and said to Abbot Xinhui with his palms pressed together,"Abbot, the imperial court has sent someone to Daxing Shan Temple to invite you and the abbots to the Yin and Yang Hall.”
Yin Yang Hall? The five abbot's eyes narrowed. This was the emperor's palace, and the one who summoned them was the little emperor who had just ascended the throne?
Li Chengdao's fame had long spread throughout Chang 'an.
He single-handedly resisted two hundred thousand Turkic soldiers and led six thousand elite soldiers to capture Jie Li Khan alive.
Because of this, the little Emperor was like a god of war in the hearts of the people of Chang 'an.
Abbot Xin Hui hurriedly stood up and said with a solemn expression,"The emperor has summoned us. We can't delay or give him authority. Let's quickly enter the palace.”
Dao Yu, Jie Kuan, Ming Xu, and Xuan Wen put down their teacups and stood up, following Xin Hui into the palace.
When they arrived outside the Yin and Yang Palace, the five abbots were surprised to find that the abbots of dozens of temples in Chang 'an City had all come.
"Grandmaster Xin Hui, you're here too?"
"With you here, This Penniless Monk can be considered relieved.”
Upon seeing Abbot Xin Hui, dozens of abbots came forward and surrounded him, putting their palms together and saluting him.
Abbot Xin Hui put his palms together and returned the greeting. He asked,"The emperor also summoned you, why?”
Dozens of abbots shook their heads.
"I'm not sure. When the palace sent someone to my temple, they only said that His Majesty had summoned them and nothing else.”
"This Penniless Monk thought that Master Xin Hui knew and wanted to ask you.”
Abbot Xinhui frowned as he listened to their conversation. So all the abbot abbots of the temples didn't know why the emperor summoned them?
What was the little Emperor trying to do?
Could it be…
Was it also for the matter of renouncing asceticism?
Thinking of this, Abbot Xinhui's heart tightened. He turned around and looked at the four abbots who came with him.
The four abbots also thought of this, and their expressions became more solemn as they looked at the tightly shut doors of the Yin and Yang Palace.
Creak--
Right at this moment, the door to the hall suddenly opened. An eight-year-old child wearing a crown and a dragon robe walked out with his hands behind his back.
"Are all the abbots of the temples in Chang 'an City here?”
A tender voice sounded in everyone's ears.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。