Fang Yingwu stood in the hall and stared at Monk Xingxian for a long time, but Monk Xingxian didn't take it seriously and continued to sweep the hall. Then he sat under the Buddha statue, holding a wooden fish and chanting sutras. Namo Amitabha!
Send the donor a night of joy and joy? When he thought of this sentence, Fang Yingwu was so angry that he was itching his teeth. Is this also called repayment? The spiritual world of religious monks has its own closed system. Using their own logic to sophistry is an endless loop. Normally,
No one can get in at all.
Qi Guiqi, but the magistrate of the county magistrate cannot be exerted here, and he really cannot beat or scold this idle monk.
Fang Yingwu was bored listening to the idle monk chanting sutras in Jialan Hall, so he went out to see if he could find another way, and found the old abbot of Baoguo Temple to chat.
"How did Master Xingxian come to your temple?" Fang Zhixian asked with great interest.
The old abbot, whose Dharma name was Yuantong, heard the county magistrate's inquiry and replied diligently: "Ten years ago, Xingxian was seriously ill and fell in front of the temple. The old abbot couldn't bear it, so he carried him into the temple. Since then, I have become a Buddha.
Bless him and make him well. With such a leisurely nature, he sincerely worships me and becomes a monk in this temple."
Fang Zhixian sighed: "It seems that your master and disciples get along well. Who would have expected that Master Xingxian is actually the younger brother of the Holy Mother of the Eastern Dynasty? You haven't thought of it for so many years! It's just that Master Xingxian has a firm heart towards the Buddha.
I don’t want to be involved in the world of mortals anymore. The Holy Mother wants to recognize me but I can’t, so I can’t do anything about it.”
Hearing this, although the old monk Yuantong did not speak, he could not help but sigh softly. Fang Yingwu sighed while not forgetting to observe his words and expressions. Seeing this, he thought to himself, there seems to be a way!
In this way, Fang Yingwu seemed to be bringing up his usual routine and asked in a persuasive manner: "When was your temple built? How was it built?"
Old monk Yuantong replied: "The temple has a long history. However, it was abandoned when Emperor Wen launched an army to suppress the calamity. Later, the previous abbot rebuilt the temple in the wilderness. It has been fifty years now."
Fang Yingwu asked casually: "Rebuilding in the wilderness? Do you have land deeds for the land and house?"
The old monk Yuantong was at a loss for words. During the Jingnan period, there was a chaos of war outside Peiping City, and ten houses were empty. Later, after the war ended, the old abbot of the previous generation randomly found an open space in the village and fields to build a temple. It was first come, first served, and there was no trading.
Yes, it's not occupying other people's space, so how can there be any land title?
But the old monk then thought about it and wondered whether the county magistrate wanted to apply for a land deed document for Baoguo Temple. In that case, the temple land would be a permanent property, which would be a good thing.
The old monk said "Amitabha" and replied calmly: "The temple has been covered by this for many years, but the land deed has never been used."
"Oh." Fang Zhixian looked at the sky, thought for a moment, and then said: "Everyone knows that Chongwenmen is located in a strategic location. It is the richest among the nine gates. In fact, Xuanwumen in Wanping County is not the same.
Gather wealth.”
Old monk Yuantong was originally a sophisticated man, but now he is completely confused. He has no idea what the county magistrate wants to say? Isn't this topic too out of the ordinary?
Fang Yingwu didn't pay attention to the old monk's attitude and thought to himself: "According to what I see, your temple is located outside Xuanwu Gate. It is close to the main road, with Zhili in the south and Shanxi in the west. Business travelers from Shanxi enter the capital by land, and they must also come from
Passing by."
The old monk was even more confused. Could it be that the county magistrate wanted to ask Baoguo Temple to set up a card to collect taxes? That would really be a Buddha! In the name of the Buddha, should I do it or not?
"The county is in financial straits. It has been unable to make ends meet, and the deficit is really huge. Therefore, we must do something to increase revenue. Therefore, our officials came up with a plan to expropriate the land of your temple and set up a market here, and the county government collected tax money.
Maybe we can make up for the shortfall a little!”
What! Old monk Yuantong was so shocked that he went around in circles for a long time. He was not trying to do good things for Baoguo Temple, but he was planning to seize the land of Baoguo Temple and then use this land to make money!
No wonder the county magistrate just asked insinuatingly whether there is a land deed! If there is no land deed, then it is the fist that has the final say, and whoever has the bigger fist can occupy it! I often hear that after farmers reclaim wasteland, they are usurped by the powerful and become tenants.
I thought something similar would happen in this temple!
The old monk was so angry that he trembled and asked, "Donor! How can this be allowed?"
Fang Yingwu stood up, stretched and said: "What's wrong with this? Isn't the Ming Dynasty's public land under your feet? And I'm not here to discuss it with you. I'll send someone to measure the land tomorrow, and then
We need to demolish the temple and start construction on another one!"
After saying this, the magistrate waved his sleeves and left Baoguo Temple with his entourage, leaving only four government officials to continue to monitor here to prevent Master Xingxian from disappearing and running away again.
Abbot Yuantong watched the county magistrate leave in a daze. He originally thought that the true identity of the idle disciple was exposed and that the temple would raise chickens and dogs to heaven, but he did not expect to attract such a disaster! No wonder as the saying goes, the magistrate who destroys the family and the county will destroy the magistrate!
As the county magistrate walked, he said to Lou Tianhua: "Tomorrow, ask the county office clerk to bring a few craftsmen to come here to measure the land for the house."
Lou Tianhua wrote it down and said worriedly: "Does the proprietor plan to renovate the temple? The idea is good, but there is no money left in the county treasury."
Fang Yingwu glanced sideways at Lou Tianhua and said, "Who said they want to renovate? They want to demolish the temple!"
When Lou Tianhua heard this, he was even more surprised than Abbot Yuantong, and shouted: "This can't be done! Isn't the Queen Mother's younger brother in the temple? Why did the proprietor go to Hushan Mountain knowing that there are tigers in the mountain?"
Fang Yingwu snorted coldly, "It would be great if Master Xingxian really went to the Queen Mother to file a complaint against me! Destroying a ruined temple is no big deal!"
Lou Tianhua was astonished and after thinking about it carefully, it did make some sense. This proprietor is really unconventional and creative in his work...
When we returned to the county government office, it was already afternoon. Fang Yingwu met with the clerks in each room and handled a few urgent official matters in the back hall. Then he saw Zhang Gui hurriedly entered the hall. Looking closer, he saw
Zhang Bantou was disheveled, his face was clearly red and swollen, and there were a few faint marks.
Zhang Gui knelt down on the ground with a plop, crying like a ghost and howling like a wolf: "The elder has to make the decision for the younger one!" Fang Yingwu frowned and shouted: "Zhang Zhang, get up and talk! What's going on?"
"This morning, I was ordered to deliver the summons to Uncle Yongping's Mansion. When I got there, the steward of the mansion slapped me twice in the face and drove me out with a stick!"
Fang Yingwu was not surprised. This was normal, so he asked again: "What about the summons?"
"The summons was torn to pieces on the spot." Team leader Zhang suddenly felt aggrieved. He was beaten for being brave enough to do official business, but the county boss only asked about the summons. He was too inconsiderate of his loyal subordinates! He couldn't help but howl again.
: "The elder must make the decision for the younger one!"
Fang Yingwu waved his hand and said: "I know! I'll make the decision for you now. You go and gather all the servants in the Yamen!"
PS: I have something to do today. I’ll post the next chapter if I can finish it before 12pm. If I can’t finish it, I’ll get up early in the morning to finish it and post it.