Conquests in the South and North
Four hundred and eighty temples in the Southern Dynasties.
Although the imperial court suppressed Buddhism and confiscated a large number of Buddhist fields and temple properties, being a monk was almost a lifelong career. It is impossible to close down just because the number of pilgrims dwindled. Besides, Jiangnan was originally the place where the practice of practicing Buddhism was strongest. Among the people,
The small temple was not greatly affected by the suppression of Buddhism.
For example, this Bodhi Zen Temple is located in the countryside. It does not have many Buddhist fields and temple properties, and it does not have any great protectors from the gentry and officials. Naturally, it does not matter whether it suppresses the Buddha or not.
The empty space in front of the temple is a market. People from all over the country go to the market regularly to sell agricultural products and buy household items. Monks and secular people live in peace and harmony here.
At this moment, there are a few strange figures among the crowd in the market. They are wearing ordinary clothes and look like people going to the market. However, they do not ask about the price of vegetables or buy small household appliances like others. They just use cold
His eyes carefully scanned every citizen who gathered together.
Xia Xun held Ming'er's hand and just walked into the market not far away when he discovered these people with abnormal behavior. Compared with the professional beggars pretending to be beggars and spies, these professional spies pretending to be ordinary people were obviously too amateur.
Xia Xun was startled and wanted to go back, but his departure was undoubtedly more obvious at this time. He turned around and saw the Bodhi Temple. Before the spy who was scanning around like a hound could catch him, he turned and walked towards the temple.
Xu Ming'er noticed his nervousness and glanced at him, but did not speak. Instead, she speeded up her pace tacitly. A spy was like an alert hound. He stared at the figure who hurriedly entered the temple, and felt a slight feeling in his heart.
There was a trace of doubt. He stopped and whispered to his companion, and the two of them pretended to be leisurely and chased towards the temple.
There are many pilgrims in the temple. It is not correct to say that they are pilgrims, because most of them go to the market and drop by the temple to have a look. Therefore, although there are many people, the incense is not strong. There are some stalls on the corridors on both sides of the temple.
, there were a few novice monks there selling some incense candles and small ornaments for consecration, but no one paid any attention to them.
Xia Xun entered the temple without stopping for a moment, then ducked into the left side hall, where the Four Vajras were enshrined. A banner hung under the lintel with four big words: "Free Interpretation of the Scriptures."
When Xia Xun saw an old woman who was about to sit on her seat, she hurriedly stepped aside and occupied the seat first. Ming'er obediently stood next to him. The old woman carrying a vegetable basket glared at him dissatisfiedly.
She stood at the back angrily, barely able to block him. Looking from the outside, it looked like an old woman and her little granddaughter were waiting for the monk to explain the scriptures.
Behind the desk, a monk in his forties, with a big face, a red face, and kind eyes looked him up and down, smiled serenely, clasped his hands together, and said gently: "Isn't the donor a local?"
Xia Xun hurriedly put his hands together and said, "Yes, Xinnan came from Hezhou and Wujiang to Yangzhou to visit relatives and friends."
The great monk smiled, nodded slowly and said, "Well, we are thousands of miles away, and the donor passed by here by chance. This is also fate!"
"Is it a thousand miles from Wujiang River to here?"
Xia Xun wanted to laugh, but he was busy but held it back, and responded devoutly: "Yes, it is fate. Xinnan and Buddhism have always been destined."
At this time, the two men had already chased into the temple, swept around the tourists in the courtyard, and then chased into the main hall.
The great monk's eyes were shining with kindness and wisdom. He pointed behind him and said kindly: "Since the fate has arrived, why don't you invite a stick of incense to worship the Buddha?"
Xia Xun looked behind him and saw a narrow wooden board in front of the wall, with many bundles of the crudest grass incense placed on it. The great monk said: "A stick of incense costs nine cents, and a stick of incense costs ninety-nine cents.
But it’s not expensive, it’s just a tribute to the Buddha.”
Xia Xun glanced at the main courtyard and said with a smile: "Master, Xinnan came all the way. He is short of money. He went to the temple today just to hear the master explain the scriptures."
After hearing this, the great monk still had a calm and indifferent smile like that of an eminent monk on his face, but his eyelids drooped downwards, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. He opened a fat palm and gently touched it as if playing with water.
Swing it outward, very elegant.
Xia Xun said in surprise: "Master?"
The great monk's eyes closed, and the corners of his mouth turned downward even more. He did not speak, but just waved his hands outward again.
"oh!"
Xia Xun nodded quickly, raised his butt and left.
"Why is this monk..."
Ming'er became indignant. Xia Xun squeezed her palm and walked to the door of the temple without saying a word. Xia Xun bought a vegetable dumpling and carried it upright on his shoulders, blocking half of his face, and pulled Ming'er
His hand moved forward step by step with the crowd...
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When Xia Xun saw the tight security on the upper reaches of the Qinhuai River, he realized that he had underestimated Luo Kedi. He was by no means safe after leaving the city. This cat-and-mouse game had just begun.
He carefully analyzed it and believed that it was very dangerous to go south at this time. His whereabouts had already been leaked. If he forced his way south to contact the contact person he had arranged, he would definitely fall into a trap. So he decisively gave up going south to contact the contact person.
The idea was to go north instead. As expected, the security was not very tight along the way.
Obviously, the carriage had attracted the attention of the Jin Yiwei. Their main force had already rushed to the south, where a huge net was spread out, scraping the ground three feet away to search him out. At this time, he walked back,
On the contrary, there was no danger. Xia Xun walked back. Of course, he did not go back to Nanjing City. When he entered the city, he just resigned himself to fate. He did not want to leave his life to the mercy of God.
He believed that after more than a year of experience, his subordinates had acquired the basic fighting wisdom. They would definitely go with the flow, build a bigger momentum, and attract more attention from the government. Going north was his most likely destination, but then
As the news spread that their traces were found on the south road, Luo Qianshi would definitely mobilize a large number of manpower to search south, so the number of outposts and spies in the north would be greatly reduced.
Sure enough, along the way, the number of people deployed at checkpoints had been greatly reduced. Xia Xun took a small path and escaped safely to the bank of the Yangtze River. Going further, it was not easy. There was a small pier in front of it, not very big. This is the place to park.
There is no large cargo ship with a deep waterline, and it is not a dedicated pier for ferrying guests. It is a small pier built by fishermen along the river to facilitate fishing boats to dock. However, even such a small pier is guarded.
Xia Xun quietly observed that those people should be the local patrol inspectors and their thugs. The four men with knives were obviously the inspectors in the yamen. In addition, there were more than ten people with water and fire sticks.
Xia Xun looked at the thugs who were not regular soldiers. He stared at the location of these people and the weapons they carried, thinking about how to seize the ship.
After he had some idea in his mind, he whispered to Xu Ming'er: "Ming'er, it's too dangerous to take you to grab the boat. You go down the river and go farther, at least a few miles away.
Wait for me by the river downstream, and I will find you after I seize the boat."
After Xia Xun finished speaking, he didn't hear Xu Ming'er's answer. He turned his head and looked at Ming'er with some surprise. Ming'er was lying next to him, with a pair of big bright eyes open, looking at him without blinking an eye.
As if he wanted to see a flower on his face, Xia Xun raised his eyebrows and asked doubtfully: "What's wrong?"
Ming'er shook her head, pursed her lips and said nothing.
Xia Xun said: "Four patrols and a dozen helpers are not easy to deal with. Moreover, once it is exposed that we are two people, a man and a woman, the target will be even more obvious. Go downstream and wait for me.
I seized the ship. If... I never show up, you can... go back to the Zhongshan Palace first. I know you don't want to go back, but..."
"I know!"
Xu Ming'er said something serious with a sullen face. She bit her lower lip until it turned white. After saying that, she ducked and ran towards the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Xia Xun was a little confused about the change in her expression, but this time
He didn't think much about it at the time. He turned to the dock again, focusing on the patrols and helpers, thinking about a plan to seize the ship.
Another fishing boat docked, and the two bamboo baskets on the boat were filled with most of the fresh fish. An inspector came up to meet him, bent down to take a look, and saw that the silvery things in the basket were all fresh fish, and a few of them were still fresh fish.
As he kept jumping up and down, he couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Oh, ho, Ren Laoshi, you are so lucky, you came home with a full load."
As he spoke, he broke off a long piece of weed from the beach, removed the leaves, and left only the stem. Then he bent down and picked at the basket in a polite manner.
Picking big, fat fish with delicious meat and skewering them with grass stalks, a patrolman next to him sat lazily on the side of a small boat with his legs crossed and said to him: "Pick a few for me too."
The older ones come out and go home to have wine and dinner in the evening."
After hearing this, the man picked out a few more big fish, then waved his hand and said, "Okay, let's go!"
"Damn it, these bastards, why don't they get retribution!"
Ren LaoShi cursed secretly, but did not dare to show the slightest displeasure on his face. He quickly nodded and bowed in agreement, carried the basket ashore, took out a pole, and just lifted the basket onto his shoulder. Before he walked out ten steps, a man in clothes
A young man wearing short gray cloth walked towards him and passed by him.
"Stop, what are you doing?"
The patrolman carrying the fish became very suspicious. He didn't look like a fisherman in his clothes. This was not a ferry. What was he doing here?
Xia Xun didn't allow him to ask any more questions. Before the inspector's hand touched the handle of the knife, Xia Xun had already taken action. He bent his five fingers, and his fist was shaped like a blunt shovel. With a "pop" sound, the shovel hit the inspector.
The inspector didn't say a word and fell on his back. There was a roar in his throat. Xia Xun's punch probably even shattered his throat bones.
Big fish were scattered all over the ground. As soon as a few big fish that were still alive landed on the sand, they slapped their tails desperately. One of the fish jumped and jumped onto his face, and the big tail slapped continuously.
Even if you slap him in the face, he won't move.
When Ren Laoshi saw this scene, he was so shocked that the pole slipped from his shoulders: "Oh my god, are you really so smart?"
Upon seeing this, several patrol inspectors and helpers immediately roared and rushed over. Among them, the one who reacted the slowest was the patrol inspector sitting on the side of the boat. Xia Xun rushed forward and kicked a piece of sand under his feet.
We had the most intimate contact with his face. The inspector's face suddenly became colorful and his nosebleeds flowed. He just grunted and slipped to the side of the boat. His body was immersed in the river water and he passed out. Fortunately, here
The water is shallow, you can only cover your feet, otherwise you will drown.
Xia Xun took action boldly. He had no choice but to take action. The road guide on his body did not have the official defense of Jinling Mansion, but the person showed up here, and everything was revealed during the first inspection. He had no choice but to strike first. He kicked the inspection officer unconscious, and Xia Xun
As soon as he bent down, he pulled out his saber. The remaining two patrol inspectors waved their steel knives and shouted and urged from behind. A dozen gangsters wielded water and fire sticks, and relying on the strength of their numbers, they rushed towards Xia Xun like they were desperate.
Come.
To be continued...