Great Tang Southern Emperor

Page 395

"This..." Xuanzang's complexion turned even paler. Of course, there were tenants who farmed the land for them.

This was the normal state of Buddhism at that time. Buddhism had a habit called occupying the mountain as the king. That is to say, as long as he built a temple here, the whole mountain would be designated as his own territory by them, plus some famous families The big temples have been passed down for hundreds of years, and the land accumulated under their names is countless. It is normal for some large temples to own tens of thousands of acres of land. Even small temples, as long as they are not too poor, can at least save hundreds acres of land to come.

With so much land, there are so few people in the temple, even if they are asked to work day and night, they can't do it. What's more, they have to chant scriptures and Buddha, and the time is even more difficult to arrange.

Chapter 659

Chapter 22 Blocking is worse than sparseness, and eliminating Buddhas is worse than limiting Buddhas (2)

These lands are actually cultivated by the people nearby, and there are still people rushing to do this kind of work, because the Buddhist land does not need to pay taxes, and even their tenants do not need to pay taxes, that is to say, As long as the tenants have paid enough rent to the Buddhist sect, the rest will be their own. How is such behavior different from that of ordinary landlords?

In addition to the superstition of the ancients, temples do not need to pay any taxes, and Buddhism does not pay taxes, which leads to more and more money and food for Buddhism, and richer and richer monks. After acquiring more land, they will become richer... This forms a vicious circle. In the end, land mergers will appear, and finally the country's capital will be shaken.

"..." Xuanzang really had nothing to say, of course he couldn't tell about the tenants in front of Li Zhen, so he could only bow his head and remain silent.

Xuanzang didn't speak, but Li Zhen didn't intend to let him go: "Master, why didn't you say anything? Since Buddhists can collect rent, why can't I collect their tax burden? If you want to be tax-free, you can , as long as they waive these rents.”

"..." There was a wry smile on Xuanzang's face, but he still didn't say anything, exempt rent?The poor monk has no objection, but for those big temples, it is tantamount to killing their lifeblood. Without renters, they will naturally not let farmers plant the land for them. If there are no farmers to help them plant the land, then There is a lot of land, and they can't grow it, and the free land will be taken away by the government sooner or later, how can they be reconciled?

Li Zhen asked coldly: "Master, you also understand what those people are thinking. There are greedy people who are so filthy. Master himself thinks that it is really good to keep them in the Buddhist gate?"

Xuanzang was a little reconciled, and pointed to another way: "Even if what your Highness said is reasonable, isn't the incense money a little too much? These are all offered by believers to the Buddha, and they are dedicated to the Buddha. Is it a little bit for you to take it away?" Too much? And your Highness, what you charge is a bit too ruthless, right? Just leave [-]% for them, maybe it’s not enough to repair the temple and scrub the body of the Buddha, right?”

"Master, you don't have to worry about this. After the establishment of the Buddhist Association, all temples in the world will be managed by the Buddhist Association, and the Buddhist Association will be directly under the jurisdiction of the imperial court. That is to say, this temple is actually the property of the imperial court. The cost of repairs is naturally It needs to be paid by the court." Li Zhen explained in detail: "Without the pressure of repairing the temple, the remaining [-]% of the money is enough for those eminent monks to live a normal life-you are all good eminent monks. I just eat vegetarian food and chant Buddha, and I have my own property, except for incense, I usually don’t have any expenses, [-]% is enough.”

"But the money was contributed to the Buddha by the believers after all..."

"But how much of this money will fall on the Buddha?" Li Zhen's tone became cold: "There are twelve temples in the city of Chang'an, and there are almost the same number in the suburbs. Master, you can go back and see for yourself. Monk, which one is not fat and slick? If they didn't embezzle the incense money of the believers privately, how could they have so much money and live such a good life?

On the contrary, using the money to adopt some widowed old people, young orphans, this is the real good deeds, which is much better than letting those moths spend it. "

"But..." Xuanzang finally opened his mouth, but the words were only a beginning, but they got stuck in his throat, and finally could only be turned into a long sigh: "Forget it, what your highness said makes sense, poor monk I can't argue with His Highness, I just hope that His Highness can leave a little incense for Buddhism in the end, and don't let us break the inheritance of Buddhism."

Li Zhen nodded and said: "Master, you can rest assured that this king has never meant to destroy Buddhism. Buddhism has been introduced to China for thousands of years and has not collapsed. On the contrary, it has become more and more prosperous. Disciples and believers are all over the world, and they have long been inseparable from Chinese culture. , although this king is not used to the filthiness of Buddhism, but he is not so bold as to go against the sky. Since Buddhism can exist, it has its reasons, not to mention, as the master said, the teachings of Buddhism are good. It's just that some people have distorted the righteousness of Buddhism for their own self-interest.

The king founded the Buddhist Association for the same reason. The Buddhist Association is not restricting the development of Buddhism. His role is more to play a supervisory role, supervising Buddhism to go to the state on the right way, instead of taking those crooked ways, and at the same time helping Buddhism go. Save the chaff, let him develop more healthily and upwardly.

Therefore, Master, there is no need to panic about this. The momentum of Buddhism may be suppressed in a short period of time, but as long as you are doing well, are you afraid that there will be a day when it will flourish again? "

Li Zhen's words are sincere. Buddhism has been introduced to China for thousands of years, and it has already integrated with Chinese culture, becoming the most important part of Chinese culture. Since such a religion can exist for thousands of years without weakening, it naturally has its own advantages. The reason for existence, although the teachings of Buddhism are a bit overbearing, as long as it is corrected and spread as a knowledge, it is still no problem.

Besides, in terms of domineering, monotheism is more domineering, especially teaching - you either believe me or I kill you, this theory is much more domineering than Buddhism.Even this kind of religion can be tolerated and absorbed by Chinese culture. If Li Zhen can't tolerate people like Buddhism, then his tolerance is too small.

"I hope so." Xuanzang sighed again, and asked again: "Let's talk about the Buddhist Association. Since it is an association, there should be a leader, right? I don't know which Gaode His Highness plans to choose for this position. ?”

"The Buddhist Association is just a temporary idea of ​​my king. I didn't plan to implement it immediately. The main reason is that there is no master with enough prestige to take on the first important task of the association." Speaking of this, Li Zhen suddenly stopped, and both of them Looking straight at Xuanzang: "But now, I am going to advance the Buddhist Association because I have met a very suitable candidate..."

Xuanzang understood Li Zhen's meaning in seconds, and pointed at himself in disbelief: "Your Highness is not talking about the poor monk, is it?"

"It's the master." Li Zhen did not deny it, and said bluntly: "The master was already an eminent Buddhist monk before he went to Tianzhu. After this trip to Tianzhu, his prestige has broken through the sky. Widely worshiped, even within Buddhism, the prestige will increase greatly, and even establish a sect, becoming the suzerain of a party is definitely not a problem."

Chapter 660 Restricting religion, the king is ruthless

Chapter 23 Restricting religion, the king is ruthless

"Your Highness has won the award, and the poor monk is ashamed." Xuanzang quickly refused. He knew what Li Zhen meant by saying this. This position, he is really a little embarrassed - the Buddhist Association is a department that supervises and manages Buddhism, and it is estimated that it will be affiliated with the imperial court department in the future.

Not to mention whether taking up this position will delay my time and interrupt my translation of Buddhist scriptures, just say that the seat of the head of the meeting is on fire below, and I may burn myself to death at any time-this is destined to offend All fellow Buddhists, even if returning from the Buddhist scriptures has brought them endless prestige, it is a matter of life and death for the Buddhist sect, and I am afraid that there will be many people who would like to kill themselves.

"Could it be that the master is afraid?" Li Zhen provoked Xuanzang a little.

Xuanzang nodded, admitted it honestly, and said with a wry smile: "Amitabha, to tell you the truth, poor monks are indeed a bit afraid, even poor monks dare not sit in such an offending job.

What's more, although the poor monk took the scriptures back from Tianzhu, he still needed the poor monk to sort out and translate them. This job alone was enough for the poor monk to do for a lifetime. For managing a Buddhist association, the poor monk was really powerless. "

"In this case, forget it." Li Zhen's tone became indifferent: "Without the Buddhist Association, the court can only let the court come by itself, but this king wants to apologize to Master in advance. Court officials are not monks after all. It is inevitable that there are deficiencies in the Buddhist scriptures, if there is any place that collides with your teaching, please don't mind, master."

"..." Xuanzang could only hear the hairs on his back explode, and cold sweat instantly covered his back.

Li Zhen's meaning couldn't be more obvious. If he doesn't agree to take the position of the head of the meeting, then he will avoid Buddhism and prepare to let the court do it himself. The Buddhism has no acquaintances to take care of it in the Buddhist Association. If you issue an order that is not conducive to the Buddhism, the Buddhism can really only stand by, and there is no power to resist anymore-after the power of the Buddhism has been greatly hit, if you do this again, then the Buddhism will really have to fight. Become a slave of the court.

"Forget it... Amitabha, if I don't go to hell, who will go to hell?" Xuanzang was silent for a long time, and smiled wryly: "Since Your Highness thinks highly of the poor monk, if the poor monk refuses again, it will appear that the poor monk doesn't know how to flatter you. Just want the poor It is also possible for a monk to serve as the head of the association, but there is a small request - that is, I hope that His Highness will not make this proposal to His Majesty for the time being. After the poor monk returns to Chang'an, the poor monk will propose it to the Holy One. I wonder what His Highness would like? "

"Of course there is no problem with this." Li Zhen thought for a while, nodded and agreed: "Just in time, in two months, the Nanyang Prisoner Presentation Ceremony organized by the father will also come, and there will be some things about my king in Lingnan. I have harvested it, and I am planning to go back to Beijing to report to my father, the master can go back with me."

This was originally Li Zhen's plan. Xuanzang's reputation has not yet spread throughout the Tang Dynasty. If the Buddhist Association is established at this time, some people will inevitably be dissatisfied with his position as the head of the association.

So before that, I have to help him promote it, and raise his reputation to the highest in the shortest possible time, preferably even more sensational than in history—these two months are just enough.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"..."

After sending Xuanzang away, a person came out from behind the screen and said with a smile, "Your Highness, it's too disrespectful to bully an honest man like this."

"Honest man?" Li Zhen was obviously in a good mood, and said with a smile when she heard the words: "Sir, you actually think that a person who has the guts to smuggle out of the country and travel more than 5 miles alone, just to obtain the scriptures, would be a person." An honest man?"

"Hehe, the old minister is thinking about it..." Cen Wenwen sneered: "But this Xuanzang is indeed an outstanding man. If he can return to Chang'an smoothly this time, he will definitely become famous and even fall into decline. Buddhism will also be revived—His Highness took the lead in taking him under his command today, and this step is really wonderful."

"This king thinks so too." A sneer appeared on the corner of Li Zhen's mouth: "This king wants to see, when those so-called Buddhist high virtues, after seeing the people they admired so much, put forward the idea of ​​the Buddhist Association in person. , what kind of expression will it be?"

"Hahaha... that will be exciting." Cen Wenwen also laughed.

"However, Your Highness, this attack on the Buddhist family is probably not your whole plan, Your Highness?"

"Of course not." Li Zhen shook her head and said, "Not only Buddhism, but also Confucianism, aristocratic families, those hidden forces, and even Taoism, I have no intention of letting go."

"What? Taoism?" Cen Wenwen's eyes widened: "The Taoist school has always been on His Highness's side. The status has been elevated to the point where it is second only to Dao Zun—you want to restrict them now...this...is it a bit unreasonable?"

"Sir, I want to say that this move is a bit like killing a donkey, right?" Li Zhen smiled lightly, and explained softly: "Of course, this king didn't mean to kill a donkey. The king was very grateful for saving this king's life, and would give them enough repayment afterwards, how could such a thing be done.

But kindness belongs to kindness, and state affairs belong to state affairs. This point must be clearly distinguished.

Taoism is kind to me, so I will naturally remember it, but religion needs to be restricted, there is no doubt about it.

Otherwise, in the name of the imperial court, let them continue to develop unscrupulously and without restrictions, and sooner or later tomorrow's Taoism will become like today's Buddhism-Sir, I don't want our Tang Dynasty to restrict Taoism again one day in the future, right? "

"Your Highness is far-sighted, and I admire you." After hearing Li Zhen's analysis, Cen Wenwen was completely convinced.

But then the problem came again: "It's just that His Highness wants to reward Taoist sects while restricting their development. The balance between this is not easy to strike. If the rewards are light and the restrictions are heavy, His Highness will inevitably be criticized. Cheng is cool by nature, but if the rewards are too heavy and the restrictions are too light, it won't have the corresponding effect... I don't know what His Highness is going to do?"

"This matter is easier said than done." Li Zhen thought for a moment, and said, "Let's just reward and limit."

"Heavy rewards and heavy limits? What do you mean?"

Li Zhen said indifferently: "When I return to Beijing this time, I want to ask my father to confer Taoism as the state religion of the Tang Dynasty, and canonize the suzerains of Taoism as heavenly masters, and promise a huge amount of gold and silver."

"I'm afraid they don't care much about these things." Cen Wenwen said: "Taoist people cultivate their moral character and like to live in seclusion in the mountains and escape from the world. Although the imperial court rewards them generously, they are all external things to them."