When Wang Xian got excited, he stood up and said with a serious face: "Wherever the money in the world has gone, it has been gathered into the hands of His Majesty through the depreciation of treasure banknotes. This is how the Yongle Dynasty's civil and military skills came into being!
With the glorious city of Beijing! Only then can the Ming Dynasty still be able to cope with His Majesty's willfulness even after ten years of bankruptcy of the national treasury!"
"Then..." His Highness the Prince's hands and feet felt cold, and his voice trembled: "How long can it last?"
"..." Wang Xian didn't answer, but the prince was convinced. What he saw and heard along the way clearly told him that the people had reached the point where their oil was exhausted, and even if they were pressed on a mill, they would only be enough.
I can squeeze out some bone residue like leftover sugar cane...
"Tell me about this situation." It was already autumn, and he needed a blanket at night, but the prince was covered in sweat. He grabbed Wang Xian's hand tightly and asked with great difficulty: "Is it time to catch up with the end of the Yuan Dynasty?"
"I have never experienced the end of the Yuan Dynasty, but I feel that although it is not close, it is not far either." Wang Xian said in a low voice.
"The achievements of Qin and Sui have lasted for thousands of years, but they all died in the second generation," Zhu Gaochi said in a trembling voice: "Strictly speaking, they are also second generation now. Is there not... the worry of national subjugation?"
"I dare not speak nonsense." Although experience told him that the Ming Dynasty would still last for a long time, Wang Xian would rather the prince thought that it would be a blessing to the people.
Zhu Gaochi's vision went dark and he almost fainted. Wang Xian quickly supported him and called out in a low voice: "Your Highness..."
"I'm fine," Zhu Gaochi waved his hand, sighed, and took Wang Xian's hand and said, "Zhongde, I understand your painstaking efforts... I can't wait any longer, and I must persuade my father to do light duty from now on.
Only by paying small taxes and resting with the people can we continue to have a glimmer of vitality for the Ming Dynasty!"
"So, on behalf of the people of the world, I thank you, Your Highness!" Wang Xian stepped back and saluted the prince respectfully, but was supported by the prince. Zhu Gaochi choked and said, "I should be the one thanking you."
"Your Highness...".
In the next two days, the group stopped traveling and waited to rendezvous with the fleet in Yuncheng as planned. With nothing to do during the day, the prince and Wang Xian wandered around Yuncheng County to gain a deeper understanding of the sufferings of the people.
Secondly, I also want to visit the former residence of Song Gongming.
In this era, the government forced the people to rebel, and the "Water Margin" that upheld justice for heaven has become a household name. The names of Yuncheng County and Liangshanbo are naturally familiar... However, legends are legends after all. No trace of Song Jiang has been found in Yuncheng County, but
It was obvious that more and more people were gathering together, many times more than the day we first arrived!
"It's only been two days," the prince said in surprise when he saw the bustling crowd on the street, "How come there are so many people?"
"It is said that a Dharma conference is going to be held here," Wang Xian looked worried. He had already asked people to find out more about the changes in Yuncheng County. "It seems that there is some kind of Buddhist goddess who wants to come to Yuncheng to teach Dharma.
"
"Buddha Mother?" The prince was stunned. He had read many scriptures and naturally knew that Buddha Mother had many teachings: "Does it mean Buddha Dharma? Or the Buddha's biological mother Maya, or the adoptive mother's great love?"
"None of them..." Wang Xian shook his head and was about to speak when he suddenly saw a commotion in front of him, the sound of Buddhist music came, and then the people shouted: "Buddha Mother has entered the city!" When everyone followed the sound, they saw hundreds of people.
Young men and women wearing yellow shirts, holding flags, blowing Buddhist trumpets, knocking on wooden fish, and carrying a huge chariot, came from afar.
The street, which was still noisy before, suddenly became silent. All the people, men and women, looked at the wind and bowed, prostrate themselves on both sides of the street, and knelt down to greet the group of people devoutly.
Wang Xian hurriedly pulled the prince and hid in a shop. After a while, he saw the carriage passing by. The flags and curtains on the carriage were floating, and he could vaguely see a woman inside, sitting on a lotus throne... That
For a moment, Wang Xian seemed to have returned to Shanxi. When he saw Gu Xiaolian dressed as a saint and paraded through the streets in Guangling County, he couldn't help but feel in a trance.
"Zhongde." The prince's voice called Wang Xian out of his wandering. Wang Xian calmed down and found that the team of the Buddha Mother had passed by. He looked at the prince and heard him ask: "What is the origin of this Buddha Mother? Why are these people
So pious?"
Wang Xian shook his head and indicated that this was not the place to talk. He led the prince through the still excited people, returned to the inn where he was staying, closed the door, and said in a deep voice: "White Lotus Sect."
"Ah?!" The prince was startled. In his impression, the White Lotus Sect was the kind of cult that hides in the dark and cannot be seen in the light. He was surprised: "How dare they walk through the market like this?"
King Wuye? answered, and the prince had the answer. Looking at the people all over the street prostrating themselves in front of the Buddha Mother, you would know who the master of Yuncheng is. "Are all of them White Lotus believers?"
"Yes." Wang Xian nodded heavily. Poverty and despair are the breeding ground for cults. The White Lotus Sect has been operating in Shandong for decades and has penetrated into thousands of households. However, I have never heard of such a Buddha Mother before.
"It turns out that when Lin San was here, the White Lotus Sect never made trouble. With Ji Gang's protection, the imperial court knew almost nothing about the situation here."
"That's it." Zhu Gaochi nodded heavily. He felt that the picture of hungry people everywhere in front of him overlapped with the picture of believers filling the streets, turning into a huge gunpowder keg, and the spark that could cause a big explosion was sitting on a table.
Your Majesty, the White Lotus Buddha Mother is worshiped by all.
After pondering for a moment, the prince raised his head and asked in a deep voice: "When will the ceremony be held?"
"Tomorrow at midnight, in the open space outside the city." Wang Xian replied softly.
"Let's go take a look." The prince made up his mind.
"Your Highness, the son of a rich man cannot sit down in the hall." Wang Xian admonished, "I have sent someone to sneak in. I will report to Your Highness the details of tomorrow's Dharma meeting without missing a beat."
"I have to go and see for myself," Zhu Gaochi said firmly, "I have to see with my own eyes what this White Lotus Buddha is capable of and what she wants to do."
"Your Highness, proceed with caution!" Wang Xian urged.
"You don't have to say it." Once Zhu Gaochi made up his mind, he had no reason to change it. He smiled and said: "Besides, we are in casual clothes and disguised. Who knows our identities?"
"Hey, okay..." Wang Xian knew he couldn't persuade him any more, so he had no choice but to agree and go out to carefully prepare for tomorrow's security matters...
Early the next morning, the prince went out accompanied by Wang Xian and Ling Xiao. There was no need to think about where to go, because the huge flow of people were all heading in the same direction - out of the west gate of the county seat.
After leaving the west gate of the county town and walking less than two miles, I saw a vast mountainous field, densely packed with at least 100,000 people, and there were more people coming from all directions. This scene made the prince's scalp numb, it was really
I can't imagine what it would be like if these 100,000 people rose up.
"Unexpectedly, this Buddha Mother has such terrifying appeal!" Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but exclaimed. However, these words attracted angry rebuke from the surrounding believers: "Be brave, don't be disrespectful to the Buddha Mother!" "How dare you question the Buddha Mother?
?!"
"Master, be careful what you say." Wang Xian hurriedly told the prince, pulling him and squeezing in. Zhou Yong and others were secretly helping around, and soon they squeezed deep into the crowd and occupied a high point with a good view.
The crowd of believers who were squeezed away glared at Zhou Yong and others, but seeing their ferocious looks, they could only curse a few words.
"Sir, let's watch from here." Wang Xian looked ahead. He could see the altar set up here, but it was still a little far away, so he was afraid that he could not hear the voice of the Buddha Mother clearly.
"Go further in." Zhu Gaochi disagreed.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to squeeze through..." Wang Xian looked confused: "Look, the front is circled."
The prince took a look, and sure enough he saw a wall made of sorghum stalks a dozen steps ahead. He was about to give up.
"As long as you ask for a talisman of the Buddha Mother, you can go to the inner circle to watch." Someone nearby heard their conversation and reminded them kindly.
"Thank you." Wang Xian glared at the man. He never expected that this Buddha Mother was quite financially savvy and even sold VIP tickets.
As expected, the prince ordered: "Go and get one."
"Hey..." Wang Xian had no choice but to do as he was told...
After a while, Wang Xian held up a piece of yellow paper with peach charms painted on it and opened the way in front, while the prince and Ling Xiao walked behind. It's amazing to say that the crowd, which was originally packed with water, all gave way when they saw the yellow paper.
The road ahead is more impressive than the Dragon King's water-splitting beads.
The three of them arrived in front of the sorghum pole fence. A man with a red scarf on his head guarded the entrance. After checking the yellow paper, he let them in.
As soon as he entered the inner circle, there were not so many people inside, and the prince breathed a sigh of relief. He was fat and had difficulty walking. He had been squeezing around outside for a long time, and he had long been a mess.
"This thing works quite well." The prince could not help but admire in a low voice.
"That's five hundred taels of silver a piece." There was an old man who looked like a gentleman next to him and answered with a pained face.
"Ah!" The prince looked at Wang Xian in surprise. Seeing him nodding with a wry smile, he realized how much he had paid to get this yellow paper.
"Why, it's too expensive?" Others stopped, accusing the old man of being ungrateful: "This is just in time for the Buddha's arrival, and you can't get it even with a thousand taels of silver!"
"That's right, if you think it's too expensive, give it to me! I'll add a hundred taels for you!" Another rich businessman looked like he made an offer directly.
"That's not possible!" The old man clutched his chest tightly and refused flatly: "I still have to take it back to my house!"
"This thing..." After listening to their conversation, the prince was very curious. Halfway through, he saw the angry glare and quickly changed his words: "What is the use of this talisman?"
"You don't know?!" Everyone looked at him like an idiot.
The prince shook his head, and Wang Xian hurriedly explained: "My master came from Jiangnan because of his reputation. He has never seen the talisman before."
"Oh..." Seeing that the prince was so pious, everyone explained to him: "This talisman was painted by the mother of Buddha. It has boundless power and infinite uses. It can subdue demons, exorcise demons, control homes, cure diseases, and seek children.
Aphrodisiac..."
"My God!" The prince said in shock: "That's really not expensive..."
"Of course!" Everyone nodded together and were about to express their opinions one after another, but when they heard the sound of a gong, they all closed their mouths and turned their heads to look in the same direction.