Cheng Xuanying said warmly: "Taoism and the Tang Dynasty are in the same line, and there is no distinction between us. Now that there is a government order issued, we will naturally cooperate fully and never resist. However, Taoism has different inheritances and there are many factions. Although they have contact with each other, they may not share the same
Therefore, if the imperial court treats Buddhism and Taoism differently in terms of tax increases, once the Taoists in the world become violent, it will be difficult for Taoists to restrain them." Taoism has now changed its tune, no longer focusing on harvesting followers, but
Concentrating on the study of Taoist theory and the expansion of natural knowledge, they can allow the court to increase taxes, but Buddhism relies entirely on incense to expand its followers and strengthen its
The impact requires a huge amount of money to support it, and it may not agree with the court's tax increase.
So he has to threaten Ma Zhou, and he must not treat him differently. Don't think that Taoism is a soft persimmon by agreeing to increase taxes so readily. Once Taoism launches its full force, you may not be able to afford the consequences...
Of course, Ma Zhou would not do anything stupid like "differential treatment" and immediately guaranteed: "As long as Taoists fully cooperate with the implementation of the imperial decree, there will be preferential treatment."
Even if it is "differential treatment", it will only give preferential treatment to you Taoists.
They agreed with Yin Wenchao and Cheng Xuanying to start measuring the Taoist properties within the jurisdiction of Jingzhao Mansion in a few days. After all, the land measurement had not yet started in Guanzhong, so Yin and Cheng had no objections. After leaving Caolou Temple, Ma Ma
Zhou let out a long breath. He originally thought that the Taoists with "groups of elites" and "arrogant people" would be the most difficult to deal with, but the result was unexpected. Not only did he not have the slightest will to resist, but he was extremely
Cooperate.
But things in this world are never smooth sailing, and good things are always troubled. Since the Taoist side is smooth sailing, then there will definitely be some surprises when coming to the Buddhist side. However, Ma Zhouyi is not afraid, and returns home to shirk all possible prevarications and excuses from the Buddhist side.
, I even thought about the words and actions of the boycott, prepared countermeasures, and the next day I took a few officials from Jingzhao Prefecture to Daci in a light vehicle.
En Temple. As soon as I entered Jinchangfang, I saw monks everywhere in the square. The monks participating in the "Obon Festival" came from all over the country and spoke a variety of dialects. They danced and made various gestures when they couldn't speak clearly. Not many Buddhists were pure.
since
On the contrary, they are more like traffickers and pawns from all over the world...
After entering the gate of Daci'en Temple, the huge temple was filled with incense and crowded with people. Countless monks were running back and forth carrying out various treasures to prepare for the grand Buddhist meeting.
The entourage was placed in the guest house and led Ma Zhou through the busy crowd and past the buildings one after another until they arrived at the Sutra Translation House hidden in the woods: "The host is busy today and has no time to entertain guests.
Master Yibao is waiting in the courtyard, please come in and meet me."
Ma Zhou nodded. It would be better not to disturb Master Xuanzang with such mundane matters. Otherwise, given his lofty status in Buddhism, once he says something like "no tax increase", there will be no room for change.
Sandalwood scent fills the courtyard, and the environment is elegant. The bustling crowds and figures in other courtyards do not affect the tranquility here. The tall locust tree branches are thick and leafy, and the shade is like a cover. Stepping on the green bricks on the ground, you enter the open hall.
See
The bookshelves on the walls of the hall are piled with volumes of scriptures, and the aroma of books is immersed in them.
Yibao, still wearing a hundred-pin robe, stood up to greet me, smiled and put his hands together: "The task of translating the scriptures is too heavy, so I missed the greeting from afar. I apologize for my sin."
Ma Zhou didn't take it seriously: "I have taken the liberty to come to disturb the master's translation of the scriptures. I am sincerely frightened. I hope the master will not take offense."
He took a few steps forward and leaned over the desk to look at the unfolded scroll of scriptures. The crooked words on it were very strange. He then reached out and touched the slipper with the scriptures engraved on it. It was so thin and fragile that it looked like a leaf.
... Yibao introduced to him: "This kind of slips are taken from the leaves of a kind of tree called Bedolo tree in India. The leaves are wide and flat, tough and stretched. The ancient people of Tianzhu used this as a carrier for writing. It is said that the Buddha was there at that time.
this leaf
Write the secrets of Buddhism on it and pass them on to the world."
Ma Zhou curiously asked: "Isn't it because there is no paper in Tianzhu?" The so-called "Buddhist secret tree" is just to fool the world. The reason why Buddhist scriptures are carved on such leaves is just like the lack of paper in the Qin and Han Dynasties.
Bamboo and wooden slips are used as carriers. As long as there is abundant paper, who will not be dissatisfied with it?
Could you please use this kind of thing?
Nowadays, the bamboo paper of the Tang Dynasty is very popular in Tianzhu and is very expensive. Only the highest-ranking nobles are not allowed to use it...
Yibao was noncommittal and asked Ma Zhou to come to a small square of mat on the other side of the desk by the window, get some boiling water and pour some tea.
"Fu Yin is involved in thousands of families and is busy with affairs. He took the time to come here today, but what is the important matter?"
"Since the master is so straightforward, I won't beat around the bush and speak frankly."
"That's how it should be." Taking a sip of tea, Ma Zhou spoke in a calm tone and with a serious look on his face. He spoke out the words that had been brewing all night. This not only demonstrated the majesty of the imperial court and emphasized that the decree was irreversible, but also did not make the other party feel uncomfortable.
The court is aggressive
... "Buddhism is prosperous, believers gather, and the Buddhist temple industry spreads throughout the Tang Dynasty. It has become the largest sect in the Tang Dynasty, and has a profound impact on the court's taxes. I hope that Buddhism can take the overall situation into consideration and actively cooperate with the imperial decrees.
To prevent public opinion from being detrimental to Buddhism."
Ma Zhou was good at tempting, flattering and warning... However, Yi Bao seemed to be dismissive of these, and just asked solemnly: "Taoism is regarded as the state religion by the empire. It has always been above all other religions. It is domineering and self-respecting, but I don't know that this is the case."
Are tax hikes the same across denominations across the country?
"This is natural. Although Taoism is not a state religion, it has never been superior to others. The tax policy of the imperial court has never been different from person to person, let alone favoring one over another. For example, if this tax increase is based on recognition, then Buddhism
Required payment
I am afraid that the tax will be more than ten times that of Taoism. You can't bear more taxes just because Buddhism is prosperous and has a large number of believers, right? So the court discussed and decided to use acres of land to measure the amount of tax, which is very fair."
Normally, people try their best to annex and purchase land, and even in various cities and towns, there are clouds of shops and warehouses like rain. They keep claiming that the six senses of outsiders are pure, but in fact, they are amassing money with a lot of money and silk. Naturally, they should be taxed heavily.
If you don't want to pay too many taxes, just disperse all the Buddhist lands and return to the origin of "walking with a hundred steps, pure heart and few desires"... Yibao didn't seem to understand the warning in Ma Zhou's words, and he smiled happily.
, nodded and said: "Master Xuanzang has already discussed with many Buddhist leaders. As long as the court does not treat them differently, then the Buddhists will fully cooperate on how to increase the number of Buddhist monks."
We have no objection to tax increases, no matter how much they are raised.”
Ma Zhou: "..." He couldn't help frowning in thought. First it was Taoism and then Buddhism. The two major sects that were originally thought to be strong in resistance turned out to be obedient to the imperial decrees and kept saying that the national interest is above all else... This is the world.
most
The two major groups that do not pay attention to the imperial power only have their own Buddha and their own Tao in their eyes. They have always regarded themselves as "outsiders". Doesn't it mean that they do not obey the jurisdiction of the emperor in the world?
But now the expected difficulties have not been seen at all, and the little sheep of the two major sects seem to be extremely obedient, which is really unexpected.
Is there any conspiracy behind this? Yi Bao saw Ma Zhou frowning and said with a smile: "The poor monk will ask someone to prepare the title deeds of all the temples within the jurisdiction of Jingzhao Mansion later. Ma Fuyin can send people to come at any time.
Contact, you can pay taxes according to the land deed registered in Jingzhao Mansion
, we can also re-measure the land to see if there is any hidden land. In short, the entire Buddhist sect will cooperate fully."
*****
In the political hall, several prime ministers and senior officials gathered together. They couldn't believe the cooperation between the two factions of Buddhism and Taoism. Everyone in the world was seeking profit, so who would do something that was obviously a loss?
They are all masters of conspiracy and conspiracy, and they are inevitably suspicious of others. "Buddhism and Taoism probably regard this tax increase as a continuation of the struggle between the two parties. In particular, Buddhism must feel the huge pressure brought by His Majesty's edict to build many Taoist temples to support Taoism."
, so I dare not resist the imperial government’s tax increase policy.
Order to avoid Your Majesty’s anger and increase our support for Taoism.”
Liu Ji carefully analyzed the reason why the tax increase decree was implemented so smoothly. Tang Jian said: "It makes sense for the Buddhists to be like this, but why are the Taoists so cooperative? Because His Majesty has given them strong support, so are you reciprocating the favor? Hum, those bull-nosed
Everyone is very arrogant, no matter how much you give them, it’s because
This is as it should be. As long as the desires are hard to satisfy, how can we stop?"
Fang Jun looked at Li Ji.
Li Ji frowned and asked, "What are you doing?" Fang Jun smiled and said nothing. They all said that Li Ji had been a Taoist priest, but he himself did not admit it. Those who were alive in Wagang Village at that time were all secretive about that period of time.
, after all, that time was full of ambition, desire, and betrayal
Rebellion, life and death, and emotional entanglements are extremely complicated, and it is impossible to distinguish between right and wrong.
Now that Tang Jian was scolding him so harshly, if Li Ji had really been a Taoist priest, he would definitely refute it, but looking at Li Ji's expression, maybe he had never been a Taoist priest... Everyone recognized Tang Jian's words. Taoism has been passed down for a long time and has already penetrated into the world.
to all aspects of Chinese society, and because Taoists have always been at the top, they have developed a bossy and ambitious temperament, and they pride themselves on being the most accepting.
As someone who is close to the Immortal Way, he is superior to others, so why did he ever bow his head in front of the imperial court?
As long as the Taoists are not willing, once activated, they can create huge resistance to obstruct the implementation of the imperial decree, and even some of you here may voluntarily or be forced to speak for the Taoists.
Liu Jie pondered: "Perhaps... the Taoist idea is to injure the enemy by one thousand and injure oneself by eight hundred? After all, the Buddhist school is larger in comparison. Once taxes are increased, the tax to be paid will at least be the same as that of the Taoist school."
More than ten or twenty times." Fang Jun was drinking tea at the side and said disapprovingly: "No matter what ideas the Buddhist and Taoist factions have, and whether they cooperate with the imperial decree or resist with all their strength, this decree must be true.
The implementation of the buckle will continue. In this case, why should you care what they think? Just push forward with all your strength. If they have any conspiracy and tricks, they can find tricks during the implementation process. Soldiers will come to block them, and water will come to cover them. The court is upright.