As the king of a country, Li Shimin was well aware of the difficulty of governing the country, and he was even more aware of the sufferings of the people.
The husband is the boat, and the man is the water. Water can carry the boat, but it can also capsize it!
If you treat the people harshly and make their lives difficult, it will eventually lead to the people revolting. Therefore, Li Shimin himself has always been kind to the people, exempting them from excessive taxes and reducing taxes. But now, the Shaolin Temple, a secular temple, actually requires 30% of the tax.
Collect taxes.
The operation of the country must continue.
Official expenses cannot be reduced.
The cost of a response cannot be reduced.
Otherwise, the country will fall into crisis.
Under such a premise, once 30% of the tax is withdrawn, the 30% of the tax will eventually fall on the people, causing heavy pressure on the people.
This is an unbearable burden.
If this continues, I am afraid that within a year and a half, the prosperous Tang Dynasty will become destitute and filled with resentment.
This was unbearable for Li Shimin.
Li Shimin was silent, Zong Jue's eyes narrowed, and the light in the slit of his eyes looked at Li Shimin, as if to penetrate Li Shimin's heart, and said lightly: "Prince Tang, is there any difficulty?"
Although he said it in an understatement, Li Shimin seemed to have trouble breathing.
Under tremendous pressure.
Li Shimin steeled himself and said, "Abbott, before I answer your conditions, I have a question."
Zong Jue said: "What's the problem?"
Li Shimin said: "Does the abbot want a long-term financial source, or does he want a short-term financial increase?"
Zong Jue said: "What do you mean?"
Li Shimin said: "I said that governing a big country is like cooking small dishes. The principles of governing a country and governing the Shaolin Temple are the same. The abbot is a wise man and must know that once 30% of the taxes of the Tang Dynasty are extracted, then
It will be very difficult for Datang to operate."
"People will have a hard time."
"If things continue like this, the country will no longer be a country, and some people will even rise up."
"After all, the imperial court's various expenses are indispensable."
"Nowadays, the annual balance of money in the Tang Dynasty is 15% of the tax, or even less. If the tax collected by the Shaolin Temple is about 10%, at least the people's lives will not be difficult, and everything can continue to operate."
"At most, it will be more difficult for us, the Imperial Family of the Tang Dynasty."
Li Shimin said: "In the short term, it is more appropriate to levy 30% of the tax. In the long term, 10% is better. Of course, for me, this is feasible. How much tax to levy depends on the abbot.
I just have to execute it."
When Zongjue heard this, he immediately fell silent.
He is a wise man.
Otherwise, it would be impossible to serve as the abbot of Shaolin Temple.
Zong Jue raised his head and glanced at Li Shimin, smiled, and the wrinkles on his wrinkled face unfurled, and said with a smile: "Yes, yes, the King of Tang is really enlightened. I was originally asking you, but in turn, he made
I will make the decision. If you follow his own way and give back to him, he is worthy of being the emperor of the Tang Dynasty."
Li Shimin said: "The abbot is making ridiculous compliments. I'm just raising a fact."
Zong Jue said: "As you said, I, the Shaolin Temple, collect the taxes of the Tang Dynasty for one year."
Li Shimin immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
At least it makes sense.
If it doesn't make sense, the situation is a bit tricky.
At least the current situation, even if it is to hand over 10% of the tax, it will be more beneficial than harmful to the entire Tang Dynasty. Because under the current situation, the Tang Dynasty is already in a precarious state under the attack of the Shu Kingdom and is in danger.
Although the Shaolin Temple collected taxes, it could protect the country of the Tang Dynasty.
Li Shimin's eyes rolled, and he said: "Abbott, if you want to increase the source of Shaolin Temple, you must open source. And to open source, just the current territory is not enough. But when it comes to opening up territory and expanding the territory,
The current strength is completely insufficient. Will Shaolin Temple send monks to assist me in the Tang Dynasty's campaign?"
"No!"
Zongjue answered without hesitation.
Li Shimin frowned.
Zong Jue answered too simply, without even the slightest hesitation.
Li Shimin was not even given any room for mediation.
According to Li Shimin's idea, it would be possible to persuade Zongjue to send monks from the Shaolin Temple to help if he could induce him to do so. But in the current situation, Zongjue directly refused.
Li Shimin asked: "May I ask the abbot, what is the reason?"
Zong Jue said: "Our Shaolin Temple appeared in the Tang Dynasty, and then the rest of the Taoist sects, as well as the Confucian sects, will also appear in various places. For the time being, the Shaolin Temple will not participate in the battle. The Tang King and the eighteen-stick monks of the Shaolin Temple will be stationed for the time being.
in Ci'en Temple to ensure the safety of the Tang Dynasty. If another country invades the Shaolin Temple, the Eighteen-Gun Monk will automatically come to help. If there is no war, the Eighteen-Gun Monk will not be able to participate in the war."
Li Shimin said: "I understand."
But he was a little unwilling.
If the Eighteen-stick Monk could be persuaded to join the war and open up territory for the Tang Dynasty, it would definitely be beneficial without any harm.
It's a pity that Zongjue doesn't want to.
Li Shimin's eyes rolled, and he suddenly said: "The abbot, Taoist sect, Confucian sect, etc. are about to be born. Why not take action in advance and seize the opportunity first?"
Zong Jue said: "Prince Tang, the policy of the Shaolin Temple has its own way of doing things. You don't have to worry so much."
Li Shimin said: "I understand."
Zong Jue waved his hand and said: "Since King Tang has made it clear, there is no need to say more. King Tang please come back."
"Farewell!"
Li Shimin didn't linger, got up and walked out.
But as soon as he reached the door, he suddenly turned back, looked at Zong Jue, and said, "Abbott, I have one more thing."
Zong Jue said: "King Tang, please tell me."
Li Shimin said: "Nowadays, there are countless people with outstanding martial arts skills. Under such circumstances, my safety may not be reliable. No one in my royal family is extremely powerful and cannot protect my safety. In case of assassination
, I’m afraid I can’t resist it. Just like Wang Can of Shu, he is enough to sneak into the Forbidden Palace and behead me.”
Zong Jue said: "So what do you mean?"
Li Shimin replied: "I hope that the abbot can arrange someone to protect my safety and ensure that I will not be assassinated."
This is Li Shimin's little calculation.
It would be a waste if all the eighteen stick monks stayed in Ci'en Temple.
This is not cost effective.
It is always necessary to recruit a few people to give full play to the role of the monks in the Shaolin Temple.
At least, he should get a bodyguard first.
Then, think of a solution.
Li Shimin's face showed an expectant look.
Zong Jue smiled and said: "The request of King Tang is also reasonable. No problem. How about the old monk sending Xuanyuan as a bodyguard to protect King Tang's safety personally?"
"Thank you Abbot!"
Li Shimin breathed a long sigh of relief and smiled on his face.
Finally got some benefits.
Under such circumstances, even if he pays 10% of the profit, it is still worth it.
Zong Jue immediately called Xuanyuan over and ordered Xuanyuan to personally protect Li Shimin. Finally, he said: "Although you are personally protecting the King of Tang, you are also a monk of the Shaolin Temple. Every move represents the majesty of the Shaolin Temple, and more importantly, the power of the Shaolin Temple."
Face. The old monk hopes that you can control yourself."
Xuanyuan said: "Xuanyuan should keep the abbot's words in mind."
"Go for it!"
Zong Jue waved his hand.
Li Shimin took Xuanyuan and left immediately. After they walked out of Ci'en Temple, Li Shimin did not strike up a conversation with Xuanyuan. Because of the current situation, the relationship between the two parties was not harmonious. It would not be too late to inquire about Xuanyuan's information after the two parties became familiar with each other.
.
Li Shimin went straight back to the palace.
After he returned to the palace, he immediately arranged a place for Xuanyuan to live.
The place where Xuanyuan lived was not far from his palace. Even if Li Shimin was assassinated, Xuanyuan would be able to rush to his rescue immediately. Furthermore, with Xuanyuan's strength, once someone sneaked in, he would be able to detect it immediately.
After Li Shimin returned to the palace, he met Empress Changsun first. The two briefly chatted for a few words, and then Li Shimin went straight to Tai Chi Palace to see Li Yuan.
He came outside Li Yuan's palace with a solemn expression.
He has always been strict with himself and made himself a holy lord and wise king.
But now, he failed miserably.
Li Shentong was killed!
Qin Qiong was captured!
The army suffered heavy losses.
Even the Shaolin Temple that suddenly appeared weighed down the entire Tang Dynasty.
Li Shimin almost suffocated.
However, Li Shimin had to calm down and brace himself to deal with the coming situation. After a short pause, he stepped in and saw Li Yuan who was listening to singing and dancing.
When Li Yuan saw Li Shimin coming back, he waved his hand for the singers to leave, and asked: "How is the situation?"
"Failed!"
Li Shimin replied in a low voice.
He walked directly to the bottom of the hall, sat cross-legged casually, looked at Li Yuan, and said: "Father, in this battle, Uncle Wang was killed, Qin Qiong was captured, and our army suffered heavy casualties."
Li Yuan's expression changed drastically.
Unexpectedly, the result was so tragic.
For a while, Li Yuan stopped criticizing Li Shimin and asked, "What's going on?"
Li Shimin did not hide anything. He explained the situation in detail, including Wang Can pretending to be Li Duan, the appearance of the Shaolin Temple, and even the signing of a treaty between him and the Shaolin Temple.
Li Shimin explained everything clearly.
After talking about everything, Li Shimin said: "I can't understand today's world. But Shaolin Temple is willing to escort us, and I chose to agree. Under the current situation, we have no choice but to endure the humiliation and bear the burden first.
To facilitate future rise.”
Li Yuan also frowned deeply.
He is a well-informed person and is used to seeing all kinds of storms and waves, but now after hearing what happened to Li Shimin, he also felt a headache, and he felt that even he himself might not be able to do better than Li Shimin.
"Thanks a lot."
Li Yuan sighed.
Li Shimin said: "I don't have to work hard, as long as I can stabilize the Tang Dynasty, no matter how much I pay, it will be worth it."
Li Yuan also nodded and said: "The biggest problem now is personal strength. There are many talents in my Li family. You can find a way to let them study in Shaolin Temple and strive to increase our strength first.
.With strength, things will be easier to handle in the future.”
Li Shimin's eyes lit up.
He didn't expect this.
Li Shimin said: "I will remember my father's teachings and I will start arranging this matter after I return."
He and Li Yuan talked about many things before getting up and leaving. (To be continued)
