Chapter 189 A battle of wits and courage, foresight [Please subscribe and vote monthly]
The monks gradually approached the emperor's chariot.
Naturally, this has aroused the vigilance of many Jinwu guards. No matter they are eminent monks or other figures, it is absolutely impossible to approach the emperor without any warning.
Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong are the two patron saints following the emperor this time, one is responsible for the front and the other is responsible for the rear.
At this time, it was Qin Qiong who was responsible for opening the road at the front. He took the lead and blocked all the monks.
"How outrageous, where are you monks from? How dare you rush into the holy chariot?"
Qin Qiong shouted sharply, and the aura on his body suddenly suppressed him, causing the expressions of many eminent monks to change drastically.
Fa Ming was also shocked, "With a thousand years of skill and a land mortal, I never thought that the old Qin Qiong would have such strength."
Many monks were frightened by Qin Qiong's momentum and took several steps back.
Fa Ming said: "General Qin, we are monks from White Horse Temple, and we are here to welcome the Holy Master."
Qin Qiong said: "You are so ignorant of etiquette. Even if you are welcoming the Holy Emperor, you should be under the supervision of Prime Minister Wei and the county guard. How dare you go out of line?!"
Fa Ming said: "These three junior brothers of the poor monk once saved His Majesty from a million soldiers. When they saw Your Majesty coming to Luoyang this time, they were so excited that they reacted violently."
Then he led many monks and put their hands together to salute Qin Qiong.
How dare Qin Qiong endure it?
Fa Ming is the abbot of Baima Temple. He is also a senior elder in Shaoqing Temple. His status is respected and he is already a great master.
The others were all eminent monks of the Tang Dynasty. He had already recognized them. Several of them had entered the palace and were summoned alone by the emperor and empress.
These people may not have real power, but they are deeply trusted by the emperor, and many of his relatives will invite them to banquets.
Their connections are vast, and Qin Qiong is not stupid either.
A scolding is enough. How dare you accept their great gift?
Just ask them to step back.
"You guys, please step back, Your Majesty..."
Before he finished speaking, Li Shimin inside the car was already disturbed. He lifted up his umbrella cover and stood on top of the car.
When he saw Fa Ming and other eminent monks, he immediately smiled.
Faming had been waiting for this opportunity. He just wanted to make trouble and attract the emperor's attention.
At this time, many eminent monks came together and shouted, "Welcome to your Majesty to Luoyang. The poor monks and others pray and chant sutras for your Majesty day and night. I, the Buddha, bless your majesty, may you live forever, and the Dharma be boundless."
Li Shimin still believed in Buddhism very much in the past. Even though he now recognizes Su Chen's Taoism more, Buddhism and Taoism have not yet reached the stage for him to make a choice, which does not prevent him from trusting Buddhism.
What's more, these eminent monks often chanted sutras and chanted Buddhism for him on weekdays to protect his eternal imperial power. There were many temples, so that the common people would not be idle and think about rebellion, but when they had problems, they would pray to God and worship Buddha.
For the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism was a means to stabilize the foundation of the Tang Dynasty.
Many high-ranking officials in the Tang Dynasty believed in Buddhism, and Li Shimin was one of them. This was also the method and medium he used to balance the high-ranking officials.
Therefore, he beckoned and said, "Master Faming, can you come with me?"
Faming and Yourongyan, under the envious eyes of everyone, were about to lead Xuanzang forward.
Qin Qiong said: "Elder Faming, this is..."
Fa Ming said: "My disciple, the future abbot of White Horse Temple, the elder Xuanzang of Shaoqing Temple, and the most profound monk in the Buddhist teachings of the Tang Dynasty."
Although he praised Xuanzang vigorously, Qin Qiong had no intention of getting close to Xuanzang.
"Your Majesty is just letting you approach alone, and please ask Master Xuanzang to wait."
Fa Ming didn't want to mess around anymore, so he just nodded, then stepped forward, and was pulled into the car by the emperor, and they walked all the way.
While driving in the car, Faming saw the queen, and he suddenly became even happier.
The queen paid more attention to Buddhism and would invite eminent monks to the palace to give lectures on Buddhism every now and then. Even he himself went in to give lectures on Buddhism to the queen many times.
When Faming met the queen, he kept talking to the emperor and queen about their many contributions to Buddhism.
but.
At this time, the emperor only wanted to have close contact with Luoyang's civil and military officials and ordinary people.
So he just exchanged a few pleasantries, then went to the carriage shaft and waved to many people.
Wei Zheng also came forward with hundreds of officials to welcome the emperor into the city.
Faming wanted to say something more to the queen, but the queen had to follow the emperor out at this time, so he could only leave him alone in the car.
This made Faming a little embarrassed. After all, the emperor and the empress greeted each other on the carriage shaft, and when they all got off the car at the city gate, how could he, a monk, continue to sit in the carriage?
I could only find an excuse to get out of the car, but I still followed the emperor and empress, enjoying the attention of everyone.
The monks of the White Horse Temple were a little excited when they saw the presiding officer being so majestic. Xuanzang didn't have so many ideas. He just thought how great it would be if he could use the imperial power of the Tang Dynasty to promote Buddhism!
Everyone quickly entered Luoyang.
Sure enough, they checked in directly at the Luoyang Palace.
In the palace.
Li Shimin summoned officials of all sizes in Luoyang City, as well as representatives of noble families and gentry from all over the country.
As well as the three religions and nine schools who lived in Luoyang City, such as Buddhism, Taoism, and other great Confucians.
The whole palace is packed to the brim.
Li Shimin was very proud to see so many people coming to worship him. Especially when he entered Luoyang City, the people lined the streets to welcome him, which made him very happy and excited.
The country of the Tang Dynasty still belongs to Li Shimin.
Li Shimin had cordial conversations with representatives of local aristocratic families and squires, and even toasted them with a toast.
"Luoyang's prosperity cannot be achieved without your contribution. I would like to toast you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. The prosperity of Luoyang is all due to Your Majesty."
Everyone was also sensible and said all kinds of kind words.
There was great joy all over the palace.
Everyone's face was full of smiles, except for Wei Zheng's expression as he swept around among the crowd.
He needs to coordinate this matter, and he has already seen that the family representatives, monks and eunuchs are already ready to make a move.
As expected.
Representatives of the family began to come out to ask for credit and rewards.
The head of the Wang family in Luoyang said: "Your Majesty, your Majesty has granted you the title of Marquis of Luoyang. It is really an honor for us to receive your Majesty this time. Even if we spend some money and food for this, it is worthy."
The emperor smiled and said: "Prince, you know that I don't like extravagance and waste. This time, everything will be kept simple when receiving me."
After he finished speaking, he glanced at Wei Zheng, worried that Wei Zheng would blame him for his extravagance and waste.
The head of the Wang family said: "Your Majesty, the cost this time is not much, which is only 60,000 dans of grain and 30,000 taels of silver. Being able to receive your Majesty is all voluntary by the people in Luoyang City."
As soon as these words came out, Li Shimin was shocked.
It cost so much.
Sixty thousand dans of grain were enough to feed ten thousand soldiers for three months.
Thirty thousand taels of silver was an outrageous amount. It was Luoyang's annual tax revenue, and it was all used to receive him!
and.
From the words of Mr. Wang, it seems that they were donated by the people in Luoyang City.
The queen frowned.
Li Shimin also loved the people like a son, and he knew that these accounts must be falsely reported, but if it was really the common people who chipped in the money, Luoyang spent a year's tax revenue to receive him.
He will definitely repay it.
No matter what, it is impossible for the common people to suffer.
What's more, even if he is happy, Wei Zheng will definitely not be happy either.
He didn't even have to look at it at this moment to know that Wei Zheng's face must be ugly and he would think he was extravagant and wasteful.
result.
Before he could speak, Wei Zheng stepped forward.
Wei Zheng said: "The prince is joking, the expense is so huge, how can you say it is nothing?"
Patriarch Wang smiled and said, "The people are happy with it."
Wei Zheng said: "The people of Luoyang welcome Your Majesty. This is what the people want. We cannot let them down."
"Your Majesty!" Wei Zheng clasped his fists towards the emperor and said, "I believe that the people of Luoyang should be rewarded."
Patriarch Wang's face changed slightly.
He wanted to use the people of Luoyang to kidnap Li Shimin and then reward him.
but.
Wei Zheng directly asked the emperor to reward the people, but he had nothing to do.
Li Shimin said: "What you say makes sense, how should you reward it?"
Wei Zheng said: "This amount of money and food is worth a year's taxes in Luoyang City. Why don't your Majesty exempt the people of Luoyang from taxes for three years as a reward?!"
Patriarch Wang's face changed drastically.
The aristocratic families were also confused.
Freeing people from taxes, what the hell does it have to do with them?!
Li Shimin's eyes lit up, this was a very good move.
He originally wanted to allocate three or four times the money and food to return to the people, but he also knew that most of it would definitely fall into the hands of aristocratic families.
If the people do not do well, they will not appreciate his good deeds.
but.
If it is tax-free, it will definitely support him.
It provides real benefits to the people, and Li Shimin does not need to pay immediately.
It’s just the tax in Luoyang, it’s not worth anything, it’s exactly three years of tax exemption, which reflects his kindness!
Li Shimin nodded repeatedly, "What Prime Minister Wei said makes sense, it's accurate."
The princes and others' cheeks suddenly twitched. In order to welcome the emperor, they had to go in a lot, but in the end they didn't get a penny of reward.
The people have been exempted from taxes for three years. Who would be willing to work for them? They just go home and farm the fields.
As a result, their fields were abandoned and the people went home to farm, and three years of taxes were in vain.
Even if they steal the chicken but lose the rice!
At this time, they already hated Wei Zheng deeply, but there was nothing they could do.
The aristocratic family was finally defeated!
The eunuchs and monks were all ready to make a move, and then the eminent monks from the White Horse Temple came forward.
Faming wholeheartedly wanted to push Xuanzang to Li Shimin, but Baima Temple wanted to take this opportunity to make a fortune.
Therefore.
The acting abbot of Baima Temple, the old monk Fachuan, quickly came forward. The family used the common people as a cover so that they could give the common people tax exemptions.
However, they, the White Horse Temple, renovated the Luoyang Palace, but they didn’t have to pay taxes. You can’t help but give them real money and silver to thank them, right?!