Just when Zhu Biao was about to announce the end of today's morning court, the Minister of Punishment came out and said: "We have one more thing to report."
"Some time ago, a scholar surnamed Zhao in Yangzhou disappeared for half a month. The government searched for him without a trace. In the end, he returned home on his own, but he was very thin and depressed. After questioning, the police found out that he had been spotted by nuns outside the city. He was imprisoned in the nunnery and humiliated day and night."
The words of the Minister of Punishment made the atmosphere in the court suddenly become much more cheerful. The military heroes winked and winked, but the civil servants did not think this was something worth mentioning in the morning.
The Minister of Punishment continued: "This is not an important case at first, but based on Zhao Xiucai's confession, the guards dug up several more bones from the nunnery."
Zhu Biao put his hands behind his back and frowned slightly: "Since you have harmed people's lives, you should be questioned and punished according to the law. Why report it?"
Killing several people was naturally a major case, but since the evidence was solid, there was nothing worth saying. If such a trivial matter had to be dealt with in the morning, why would the court have so many local officials?
"Your Highness, when I first heard about it, I just thought it was a small local case. But after a closer look, I found that there are many such cases. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, monks and nuns in Taoist nunneries in various temples have killed countless people due to corruption. If the number reaches hundreds, I think it’s time to investigate the affairs of the temple!”
This matter instantly changed from a small local case to a major religious event targeting the whole country. The officials below turned slightly frivolous and serious. The people were ignorant and had no doubts about the gods, men and ghosts in the countryside, not to mention the two major sects of Buddhism and Taoism. Too much to say.
In the history books, three martial arts and one sect destroyed Buddhism. It can be seen that the motivations of each emperor were different and the circumstances were different. However, in the final analysis, it was due to political reasons, conflicts in the ideological and cultural fields, deficiencies in the moral conduct of the monastic community, or economic interests between monks and laity. Contradictions must fall into one category.
Now, the Minister of Punishment is taking advantage of the shortcomings in the moral conduct of the monks and wants to encourage His Royal Highness to suppress religion while the emperor is away. The incident of the nuns is just a reason.
The warriors sneered at Buddhism. If according to what they said, they who were killed in the mountains of corpses and seas of blood would definitely suffer retribution after death. Haha, retribution?
As we all know, murder, arson, and recruitment are the right path to promotion and wealth. As for retribution, I couldn't afford to live anymore, and I was afraid of retribution if I died, so I will go on a rampage for the rest of my life!
If civil servants can get into the temple, not to mention that they all disdain Buddhism, but most of them don't really believe in it, so they have no intention of resisting what the Minister of Punishment proposes.
It's your suggestion. Whether you agree or not is in the prince's mind. The consequences of success or failure are all your own.
Of course, if the prince agrees, they will support it and wait to share the meat. If the prince refuses, don't blame them for sending a secret letter to the Holy One to impeach you for instigating His Highness the prince. His intention is not legitimate!
Zhu Biao looked at the Minister of the Ministry of Justice with some confusion. Lao Zhu deliberately suppressed religious affairs. Although the eminent monks and heavenly masters of both Buddhism and Taoism still had dignity, their actual power was very low. Compared with the former Yuan Dynasty, it was simply incomparable. Same thing.
Buddhism and Taoism also knew that they could not offend the founding emperor who was decisive and decisive in killing people. They had always allowed them to be beaten and punished. Why did Chen Mingjie suddenly target them?
Zhu Biao thought for a moment and said: "It would not be a big deal to thoroughly investigate several temples suspected of seeking wealth and murder. People from outside the country are also within the laws of the court, and they are nothing more than the people of the Ming Dynasty. We just want to target all Visiting the temple would be like starting a war."
The newly appointed minister of Dali Temple, Zhang Guanglie, has not changed his habit of being a censor. They are particularly disdainful of anyone who is outside the law. If they have the opportunity, they still want to stab him: "I, the Ming Dynasty, rule the world with the teachings of saints, and those of ghosts and gods will rule the world." The matter is nothing more than heretical ways. If ghost ways are allowed to flourish, politics and religion will not prosper, and etiquette and justice will be ruined. I agree with Chen Shangshu's words."
Zhu Biao looked helplessly at Zhang Guanglie. The Minister of Dali Temple had always been a close confidant of the East Palace, and represented Zhu Biao's will among the court officials. From the perspective of outsiders, Zhang Guanglie's words and deeds could easily be misunderstood as Zhu Biao's meaning.
As expected, many officials immediately spoke up to support Chen Mingjie's memorial. Chen Youzong frowned and looked at Zhang Guanglie with dissatisfaction. This person was recommended by him to His Highness the Crown Prince, but he did not expect to be so disrespectful. He was already the Minister of Dali Temple. How can I still do things according to my original habits as a censor?
Zhang Guanglie obviously did not expect that his words would arouse the support of so many people. He had a strong personality but was not a fool. He immediately understood that it was the change in his status that had led to this situation.
He raised his head slightly and looked at the figure standing on the imperial street. He looked at His Highness the Crown Prince for a moment with a somewhat transcendent gaze, and then immediately lowered his head and bent even lower.
Zhu Biao was slightly helpless. The emotion revealed in Zhang Guanglie's eyes was very simple. His behavior just now was due to my negligence, but my suggestion was not wrong. Please think again.
Zhu Biao is still very tolerant of upright officials, especially those who don't even seek fame. Some people are upright and upright not because they don't like money, but because they prefer fame after death, and there are even rarer people who just In order to be worthy of your own heart.
Zhu Biao could only comfort himself, at least he didn't have to worry about Dali Temple being infiltrated. With such an official, although the people below would be jealous and resentful, they would not dare to act for personal gain or bend the law.
The father and son have the same attitude towards religion, giving both kindness and power, leniency and severity, and some corrections during use. The purpose of the corrections is to better maintain the rule. After all, the foundation of the country was unstable at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China. all aspects of society.
Seeing that it was almost done, Hu Weiyong went out and said: "From the Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Song and Yuan Dynasties, the number of monks sometimes numbered two to three million, and as few as hundreds of thousands. They did not farm and lived for food. The ministers thought that the monks and Taoism had been too respected since the founding of the country. There is nothing more serious than living a prosperous life, sitting down and eating, and wasting money and wasting the people."
Chen Liang, the Right Prime Minister of Zhongshu, immediately answered: "We think that from the emperor to the common people, if they flatter themselves in Buddhism, they will neglect their government and lead to the ruin of the country. If monks and Taoists flatter themselves to the princes, they will destroy themselves and even slander the Dharma."
As soon as the people of Hu Weiyong's group exerted their strength, the situation suddenly turned to one side. Chen Youzong came out and said: "The role of Buddhism to the emperor is to educate the stupid and stubborn, and secretly help Wang Gang. If the stubborn are made to respect Buddhism, it will be beneficial to Wang Gang; it will help the stupid." Foolish woman, making offerings to Buddhas and monks is conducive to the integrity of the country, not to mention that this dynasty has established a Sangdaolu Department to control it, so what You Cheng said is too extreme."
Chen Liang returned: "It is detrimental to the people for kings and ministers to linger in the mountains and forests. Buddhism and Taoism are not the place for emperors to achieve enlightenment. If they come here without understanding, they will waste money on Guizhou and Li, government affairs will be reduced day by day, and the streets of the city will groan, then the sky will listen to the humble. Disaster is not far away, and heroes will be born!"
There is no right or wrong in the court. Zhu Biao will not be dissatisfied because Chen Liang and others argue with Chen Youzong, a close minister of the East Palace. He only thinks about what is the purpose of Hu Weiyong and his group in promoting this matter? And will promoting this matter be beneficial to the court? Will it cause unrest?
As for the rest, it doesn't matter. If there is harmony in the court, it would be the most terrifying thing. It means that with powerful ministers, there is no need for an emperor, and the world's government affairs can continue to run.
The warriors obviously didn't think much about it. They asked for orders to go and thoroughly investigate the affairs of the temple. If they were allowed to go, they didn't know what the fate of those nuns would be. Even the handsome monks might not be spared.
Zhu Biao pondered for a moment and said: "This matter will be discussed further by the Ministry of Education. If you have any ideas, you can also write them down in the memorial. Matters related to national affairs cannot be settled lightly. Let's leave the court as it is."
"I accept your order and respectfully see off His Highness the Crown Prince!"
Zhu Biao turned around and left. The civil and military officials waited for Zhu Biao's figure to go away before straightening their backs and walking in groups towards the outside of the palace. Chen Liang, the right prime minister of Zhongshu, smiled at Chen You who was still standing there. Zongdao: "Brother Chen, please don't worry about what I just said. Please forgive me if I'm rude."
Chen Youzong cupped his hands and said: "If there are any disputes in the government, they are all for the sake of the Ming Dynasty. What Brother Chen said is indeed true. Why do you look down on Brother Yu so much?"
The two of them held their arms and smiled, which also meant that there would be no direct conflict between the Prime Minister's family and the Donggong family. This was a matter of narrowing the problem. The other officials who were watching silently gave each other a sigh of relief and talked. Smiling and dispersed.
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