Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 119 The Pit of Fire
Xie Yuyan's words struck a chord with the monk Zhiyuan, who was unwilling to use the temple to seize fertile land and collude with those wealthy gentry.

He watched as the people had no land to cultivate, while the monks in the temple grew fat and wealthy. The temple's religious ceremonies were held with unparalleled grandeur, and the devout men and women, unaware of the truth, believed that the monks were genuinely devout to Buddha and concerned for all sentient beings.

Some monks disregard the precepts and even keep mistresses in secret, using their monastic robes as a cover for their shame. The abbot also uses the ordination certificates in the temple to amass wealth, while those who are truly devoted to Buddhism are unable to obtain them.

He had obtained evidence and brought the monks to the yamen, but the monks received advance notice, absconded with the money, and disappeared without a trace.

Unaware of the truth, the worshippers and believers accused him of framing the abbot. Not wanting to get involved in the conflict, the abbot went to the deep mountains to cultivate alone.

This is why Baode Temple is seeing fewer and fewer worshippers.

He used all the money he had finally obtained to help the refugees, leaving him even less time to manage the temple. In the past two days, he had already lost more than ten novice monks.

The female benefactor was right. She could find a monk to replace him as the abbot of the temple. The monk didn't need to be highly respected; as long as he came to the temple, he could rid Baode Temple of those rumors and gossips, and the worshippers would naturally be willing to come.

But... what kind of person will she look for?

Once that person gains fame by using her "Buddha Charcoal," she will be like those abbots, bribing "abandoned" fertile land, and how many people will suffer as a result?

By then, all his previous efforts will have been in vain.

Baode Temple will then produce many fake monks who do not abide by the precepts.

"Does the Great Monk think what I said is correct?" Xie Yuyan asked. "Haven't you thought about it yet?"

“I will change lotus root charcoal to Buddhist charcoal, and it can even be sold for two coins per pound,” Xie Yuyan said. “At that time, the people will be even more grateful to the abbot who made the lotus root charcoal.”

“I lost money on lotus root charcoal, but Baode Temple became famous because of it. The imperial court will issue more ordination certificates to the temple, and the abbot will recruit more monks. I can then obtain land that is exempt from taxes through the temple.”

"To make money, you don't necessarily have to rely on buying and selling; you can also earn it through reputation."

"The higher the abbot's reputation, the more people believe in him. Besides buying land, there are actually many other things he can do. He can borrow money in the name of the temple, and even lend the temple's grain seeds to the people on credit, repaying them at the autumn harvest, but with a 30% interest rate."

Monk Zhiyuan's eyes widened; he could hardly believe what he was hearing.

Xie Yuyan said, "Can't those people with money and grain at home borrow money? Of course they can. People inevitably encounter disasters. When they come to the temple to pray for blessings, the abbot only needs to say a few words... and they will be willing to borrow money and grain. After all, no one wants misfortune to befall them."

“If they borrow seeds and money and cannot repay them, their land can be taken away. However, the temple is still compassionate and will hire them to cultivate those lands again, so that at least they will not go hungry.”

Monk Zhiyuan didn't want to listen anymore; now even his ears and mind were no longer clean.

Wang Yan, standing to the side, also frowned. What Xie Yuyan said was so similar to the new policies his master wanted to promote.

The only difference was that the imperial court was replaced by a temple.

Wang Yan looked at Xie Yuyan. She was deliberately scaring Zhiyuan to remind him that their new policies had many loopholes that had not been fixed.

All of Xie Yuyan's words have been proven true, such as the story of Wenzheng Gong that she mentioned when she was a child.

If the new policy is not changed and continues to be implemented in this way, it will inevitably cause the same harm.

Fortunately, it's not the right time yet, and the new policies the old master wants to implement are not perfect and have not yet been presented to the imperial court. He can still find ways to improve them.

Xie Yuyan continued, "I have many more ways to make money like this."

Cold sweat was already dripping down the monk Zhiyuan's forehead: "Female benefactor, please don't mention it again."

Xie Yuyan smiled slightly: "It's fine if the senior monk doesn't want to hear it. Once you leave Baode Temple, what happens here will be none of your business. You didn't do the evil deeds, so you won't bear the consequences."

After saying this, Xie Yuyan reached out to take the lotus root charcoal from Zhiyuan's arms. Zhiyuan instinctively protected the charcoal and stepped back.

"What does the Venerable Monk mean by this?" Xie Yuyan asked.

“This humble monk,” Monk Zhiyuan looked at Xie Yuyan, “this humble monk…”

Xie Yuyan said, "It would be difficult for the great monk to deal with me now. If he reports what I said to the yamen, it would really put the officials in a difficult position, since these things haven't happened yet, have they?"

"Even the head monk can't stop me from changing the abbot of the temple."

“The Great Monk wants to do something, but he doesn’t have enough prestige. Unless…” Xie Yuyan said, “the Great Monk can control this Buddhist charcoal. Then, if someone tries to cause trouble in time, the Great Monk can stop them.”

"Does the senior monk think what I said makes sense?"

Xie Yuyan asked again.

Since becoming a monk, Monk Zhiyuan had never felt so...disturbed. He only knew that he absolutely could not hand over the lotus root charcoal in his hand.

Therefore, he had no choice but to agree to what the female benefactor said.

“This humble monk thinks it makes sense.” Monk Zhiyuan’s voice sounded particularly hoarse.

Xie Yuyan nodded: "Then, I will talk to the abbot about how to obtain the broken coal from Baode Temple."

"Crushed coal?" Zhiyuan looked surprised.

Xie Yuyan said, "If there were no broken coal in the temple, how could I have come to find the abbot?"

So that's how it is. Monk Zhiyuan realized that even if he had two more heads, he still wouldn't be a match for this female benefactor.

"Then let's go into the temple and discuss this in detail!" Monk Zhiyuan still held the lotus root charcoal tightly in his hands.

Xie Yuyan didn't remind him that it was just an ordinary piece of lotus root charcoal, nothing special. Once he agreed to let her use the temple's broken coal, the lotus root charcoal became useless.

Xie Yuyan looked at Wang Yan: "Thank you for your help, Lord Wang."

This time, Wang Yan did not calmly agree. Instead, he looked at her carefully. The sunlight above his head pierced through the clouds, and the halo gathered and dispersed on him.

“I should thank you,” Wang Yan said. “What you just said has given me some pointers.”

Xie Yuyan said, "Then let's say we're even." That's better, so she won't have to give him a fake thank you.

Wang Yan shook his head: "Consider it an obligation I owe my wife. I will offer her a reward once this matter is settled."

Xie Yuyan didn't ask Wang Yan what he was talking about, and Wang Yan didn't press her to see if she had brought it up intentionally; it was an unspoken understanding. Xie Yuyan was quite satisfied with this way of getting along.

As they talked, the two entered the meditation room.

The monk Zhiyuan sat slumped on the futon, still clutching the lotus root charcoal in his arms.

"How does the female benefactor intend to obtain the broken coal from the temple?" Monk Zhiyuan asked.

Xie Yuyan said, "That depends on whether the monk wants me to sell it for three coins per pound or two coins per pound."

Monk Zhiyuan frowned again. How could he have fallen from a fiery pit into an icy abyss? What was he to do?
(End of this chapter)