“？？？”
Upon hearing Li Chengdao's words, the dozens of abbots looked at him in confusion. You took back the Mahayana Buddhism?
Xuanzang was also stunned." Your Majesty, Mahayana Buddhism is in India…"
"That's right."
"My Mahayana Buddhism was taken back from India," Li Chengdao said in a tender voice.”
Under everyone's astonished gazes, Li Chengdao clapped his hands.
Immediately, Ji Gang and Yu Huatian, who were outside the hall, brought in twenty Brocade Guards and East Hall foreigners, carrying wooden boxes.
Xuanzang's expression changed slightly. He suppressed the uneasiness in his heart and walked forward to open a box. His face turned pale when he saw the scriptures inside!
The words on the scripture were all in Sanskrit.
The dozens of abbots were terrified. The little emperor really brought back the Mahayana Buddhism from India?!
Abbot Xinhui walked to Xuanzang's side and looked down at the Sanskrit scriptures in the wooden box. He looked up at Li Chengdao and put his palms together."Amitabha. Your Majesty, I feel that this so-called Mahayana Buddhism is not the real Mahayana Buddhism. How can Your Majesty prove that it is real?”
"This Penniless Monk still remembers that Your Majesty's understanding of Buddhist scriptures is not inferior to this Penniless Monk and Master Xuanzang.”
The dozens of abbots regained their senses and nodded slightly.
Two days ago in the Yin Yang Hall, Li Chengdao had memorized the Heart Sutra of the Prajna Paramita.
Moreover, Li Chengdao had not only memorized it backwards, but he had also recited every word in a rhythmic manner.
If one did not have a deep understanding of the Buddhist scriptures, it would be impossible for them to recite it so smoothly, and it would be impossible for them to recite it so rhythmically.
"Don't worry, I have a witness," Li Chengdao said in a childish voice.”
“？？？”Abbot Xinhui looked at him in astonishment. A witness? How could there be a witness?
At this moment, Ji Gang walked out of the hall and soon came in with a monk.
Looking at the foreign monk, Abbot Xinhui gasped.
Indian monk?
What kind of method did the little Emperor use? Not only did he bring back the Mahayana Buddhism, but he also brought back an Indian monk?!
" Your Majesty," Xuanzang suddenly said," there are also monks from India in Chang 'an City of the Tang Empire.”
The dozens of abbots hurriedly nodded. Not only were there people going to India, but there were also Indian monks coming to the Tang Empire. Although there were very few of them, it was not as if there were none.
" I've sent someone to invite him over," Li Chengdao said patiently." At the same time, I've also asked the Indian King to make a customs clearance document. Take a look."”
Yu Huatian quickly left the hall. When he returned, he held a tray in his hand. On the tray was a clearance document.
“……”
Abbot Xinhui opened his mouth, stunned by the little Emperor's wild methods. Why did you prepare everything!
The hall was completely silent.
The dozens of abbots looked at the clearance documents on the tray in disbelief, then at the Indian monk, and then at the boxes of Mahayana Buddhism.
Witnesses and physical evidence were hard to explain.
Xuanzang was silent for a long time. He put his palms together and smiled bitterly.
"Since Your Majesty has already taken back the Mahayana Buddhism, this penniless monk naturally doesn't have to go.”
"With the Mahayana Buddhism, the monks of our Buddhist Sect will naturally be able to comprehend it even more deeply.”
The dozens of abbots reacted and put their palms together, chanting Amitabha in a complicated tone.
They understood that the little Emperor had brought out the Mahayana Buddhism, and Master Xuanzang had no reason to bring hundreds of thousands of monks to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures.
Without a reason, he would not be able to counter the Imperial Court and could only obey the little Emperor's will.
"Comprehension is one thing, but we don't need too many people.”
Li Chengdao didn't waste any time. He glanced at the dozens of abbots present and went straight to the point,
"Why does it have to be in the temple?”
As he spoke, Li Chengdao looked at Xuanzang and said,""Zhen asks you, have you comprehended it?"
"I haven't seen it yet," Xuanzang shook his head.”
"Yes, you haven't seen it yet, so you have to see it first. After you're done, you can teach others.”
Li Chengdao said in a tender voice,
"If you teach others, you have to be able to learn it. Only by learning it can you promote the Buddhist Dharma.”
"Therefore, from today onwards, those who want to convert to Buddhism will have to take the examination first.”
Exam? A monk taking an exam? Dozens of abbots looked at Li Chengdao in disbelief.
Li Chengdao smiled." The exam is actually very simple. Your temple will send people to set the questions, and the imperial court will be responsible for supervising it. This way, we can prevent people from making up the numbers.”
"Moreover, the monks in the temple should value quality over quantity.”
"Why do we need so many monks? Look at you, Master Xuanzang. You're stronger than ten thousand people by yourself.”
"Therefore, in the future, only a fixed number of monks can be selected from each temple. Every year, it should be fixed at 500 people.”
Li Chengdao's tender voice was filled with no doubt."
"It's enough for dozens of temples."
Upon hearing this, Abbot Xinhui could not help but say,
"Your Majesty, there are thousands of acres of land behind each temple.”
"If there are fewer monks, who will take care of these fields?？”
Li Chengdao looked at him with admiration and said,"
"That's the point."
"There are fewer monks in your temple, so there is no need to use so much land. Therefore, I have decided that from now on, the imperial court will take these lands as state property.”
Hearing this, the expressions of the dozens of abbots changed drastically and they cried out involuntarily,
"No!"
"Your Majesty, you must not do this!"
"Why not?" Li Chengdao asked curiously.”
Abbot Xin Hui said with a solemn expression,
"Your Majesty, if we take back the land, what will the monks in the temple eat and drink?”
Li Chengdao waved his small hand." The imperial court has taken over the land, but it's only state-owned. It doesn't mean that you can't farm anymore. You can start farming, but you have to pay taxes.”
"For example, if one mu of land produces one thousand catties, give half to the Imperial Court and keep the rest.”
"As for the land that the Imperial Court has taken, it will be distributed to the poor people who believe in Buddhism. The civil and military officials will not take a single cent.”
"Moreover, Zhen temporarily does not collect taxes on incense money.”
Upon hearing this, the dozens of abbots heaved a sigh of relief. However, when they figured out what he meant, their hearts could not help but tighten.
"Your Majesty, do you mean that not collecting the incense money tax is temporary?" asked Abbot Dao Yu carefully.”
"You didn't hear wrongly. It's just temporary."
"Why do you collect incense money from the commoners?" Li Chengdao asked seriously. It was to help Buddha, Bodhisattva, and Arhat build a golden body again.”
"The imperial court has always collected taxes from the people and used them for the people. Shouldn't you take incense from the people and use them for the people on behalf of Buddha and Bodhisattva?”
"How can we promote Buddhism and let the people feel the care of Buddha and Bodhisattva? I'll give you an idea to help the poor people in the world.”
"For example, if a place is affected by a disaster and you go to help and use this money to provide porridge to ensure that those believers will not starve to death, will they feel the care of Buddha? Are you more inclined to Buddhism?"
“？？？？”
The dozens of abbots looked at Li Chengdao with wide eyes. Was he working for Buddha or for you?
Are we helping Buddha with his disaster relief?
Would Buddha agree?
However, the abbots did not dare to ask this question. They were afraid that the little Emperor would send people to send them to meet Buddha.
"Of course, this is all for later.”
Li Chengdao continued,"
"The first thing you have to do is to take the exam.”
"I won't set any questions for you abbots. Go back and think about whether you're suitable to be abbots. If you think you're capable, do as I say. If you think you're not capable enough, I can allow you to renounce asceticism.”
The dozens of abbots looked at each other. The little Emperor had arranged the Buddhist Sect clearly.
If he really did this…
Buddhism was bound to decline!
However, facing the little Emperor, the dozens of abbots did not dare to make a sound. They had witnessed Li Chengdao's strength. His strength was not in his words or actions, but because he was too well-prepared!
Xin Hui, Dao Yu, Ming Xu, Jie Kuan, and Xuan Wen looked at each other and smiled bitterly.
They were no match for the little Emperor.
At this moment, Xuanzang, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly looked up at Li Chengdao and asked,
"Your Majesty, this poor monk has something that I don't understand.”
Li Chengdao asked curiously," Tell me.”
"Why does Your Majesty have to keep an eye on the Buddhist Sect? Could it be that only the Buddhist Sect was like this in the world?”
"In this world, there's another Buddhist temple like ours. It's a Daoist temple!" Xuanzang said in a deep voice.”
Hearing this, Li Chengdao laughed involuntarily." I understand."”
Xuanzang sighed. The little Emperor was so intelligent. Since he had made it clear, then he really understood. He put his palms together and said,"
"This poor monk will take his leave."
After saying that, he turned around and strode out of the hall.
The dozens of abbots looked at each other and looked at Abbot Xin Hui. Seeing that he had also left helplessly, they could only bite the bullet and bid farewell to Li Chengdao before leaving quickly.
Taiji Palace was instantly silent.
Li Chengdao sat on the throne and swept his gaze across the civil and military officials. He saw that they were looking at him with admiration. He couldn't help but smile at them, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.
"Prime Minister Pei, what do you think about the Taoist temple that those monks talked about?”
Pei Ji was feeling Li Chengdao's figure in his heart growing taller and taller. Suddenly hearing Li Chengdao's words, he hurriedly bowed and said,
"Your Majesty, I think we should treat everyone equally.”
"You're right."
Li Chengdao also thought so and nodded slightly."Then let's treat them equally."
"Let me think, what should I do…"
Hearing this, the expressions of all the officials in the court changed.
Pei Ji was also shocked and hurriedly said,
"Your Majesty, leave this matter to us!”
Chen Shuda also stood up and echoed,"You're busy every day. Why bother?"”
Xiao Yu cupped his hands solemnly." There's no need to trouble Your Majesty with such a small matter. We will do our best to do this well!"”
"Alright then."
Li Chengdao had wanted to do it himself, but seeing the court officials volunteer, he thought for a moment and said,"
"You can do it, but you have to remember one thing. This matter of the Buddhist Sect will definitely serve as a warning to those Daoist temples. It won't be so easy for you to deal with them.”
The civil and military officials were delighted and said in unison,
"We understand."
Li Chengdao smiled and waved his hand."Then let's withdraw."
"We respectfully send you off, Your Majesty."
The civil and military officials bowed to the end and said respectfully.
After Li Chengdao left, the officials slowly stood up, secretly sweating.
Good heavens.
He almost stole the job again!
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]