I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 202 Using Monks to Control Monks! Former Heretic, Now a High Monk
In the afternoon, at the Wenhua Hall.

Yin Zhengmao, Feng Bao, Jin Lijing, and Shen Nian appeared before the young Wanli Emperor.

The young Wanli Emperor had already learned the entire process of the land acquisition at Jietai Temple from Feng Bao.

Yesterday, he repeatedly warned: Do not act violently within Buddhist territory!

Unexpectedly, a fight didn't happen, but someone almost burned to death.

Not surprisingly.

These monks will surely proclaim to the outside world that the officials of Shuntian Prefecture, led by Grand Secretary Yin Zhengmao, forcibly took away the land granted by the Empress Dowager, thereby damaging the Empress Dowager's merits and disturbing the tranquility of the Buddhist community.

In the eyes of many ordinary people in Shuntian Prefecture, temples were their safest refuge.

Therefore, many people would inevitably support the temple and condemn the Shuntian Prefecture for its violent land survey.

If this had happened alone, it wouldn't have been a big deal.

However, during the nationwide land survey, the government's forceful implementation of the land survey policy led to numerous accusations from the public that the government violently surveyed and seized land.

Such voices can be heard from ordinary people.

Most of them are people who own land that has been acquired through consolidation, so naturally they wouldn't speak well of the entire country's land holdings.

In addition, Yin Zhengmao's bad temper is well-known.

If this matter continues to escalate, the negative impact will be enormous, potentially affecting the nationwide land survey process.

Emperor Wanli was very depressed.

He glanced at Yin Zhengmao, intending to criticize him for being too impulsive.

But think about it carefully.

Given Yin Zhengmao's temperament, not taking action was already a sign of restraint.

If you criticize him, he might subtly claim that the situation arose because he didn't issue an order.

This situation is indeed inextricably linked to the fact that the young Wanli Emperor did not issue an edict to "measure the temple lands".

However, the young Wanli Emperor also needed to consider Empress Dowager Li's feelings.

He glanced at Shen Nian, intending to turn and criticize her.

But think about it carefully.

Shen Nian's actions were entirely for the sake of measuring the fields. If Shen Nian hadn't taken such an unorthodox approach, forcing the two monks who had attempted self-immolation to flee out of fear of self-immolation, then the officials who went to Jietai Temple would have become major villains, and would have been cursed by name by monks all over the world.

The situation at Kiyojo-ji will become even more passive and difficult to manage.

Emperor Wanli paused for a moment, then looked at Jin Lijing, the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture.

You should pick the softest persimmons to squeeze.

“Prefect Jin, it’s one thing if you don’t stop Grand Secretary Yin from personally measuring the fields, but when two monks set themselves on fire, couldn’t your men have stopped them immediately? How could you have allowed them to lay out dry branches and grass?”

Jin Lijing was taken aback at first, then quickly knelt on the ground and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I know my crime, I confess!"

He knew that he was the only one who could take the blame for this.

aside.

Yin Zhengmao and Shen Nian both realized that while the young Wanli Emperor seemed to be reprimanding Jin Lijing, he was actually subtly warning them that they were acting too rashly.

……

Just then, Zhang Hong, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, strode over.

Young Wanli quickly asked, "What did Mother Empress say?"

Zhang Hong bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager said that she did indeed bestow a lot of land upon the temples in the Western Hills of the capital, but it has been too long and most of the bestowals were verbal, so I really can't remember the exact number!"

"The Empress Dowager also said that her merits were not important, and that the matter was entirely up to His Majesty to decide, as long as the purity of Buddhism was not tarnished."

Hear this.

Yin Zhengmao and Shen Nian both frowned.

Empress Dowager Li seemingly claimed that she was in charge of everything, but her claim of forgetting the amount of the rewards clearly prevented the court from accurately counting the number of temple lands granted, thus providing the temples in Xishan with a reason to resist.

Secondly, it is said that the purity of Buddhism should not be tarnished.

The point is that the nature of Buddhist land should not be turned into land for annexation and plunder, thus damaging the reputation of Buddhism.

These words were a strategic retreat.

They seem to be indifferent, but in reality they are protecting those temples, fearing that their own merits will be ruined.

The young Wanli Emperor looked at Yin Zhengmao.

"Grand Secretary Yin, the nature of the land is unclear. Even if I issue an edict to survey the temple lands, I'm afraid you will have difficulty distinguishing which lands were granted as rewards and which were acquired by the temples themselves. How about we make an exception and use the current temple lands as the standard to draft a land register, so that temples throughout the country can no longer acquire lands?"

Swish!
Yin Zhengmao stood ramrod straight.

"Your Majesty, if the land acquired by temples across the land were only a few hundred or a thousand acres, it would be fine. But the temple lands are now seriously affecting the lives of local people. Many people who could have become wealthy farmers are now forced to become tenant farmers because of these lands. If this continues, when will these people ever be able to have enough to eat?"

"The land owned by temples throughout the land is managed and inspected by themselves, and is only registered with the Ministry of Rites. The actual nature of the land has always been a murky matter, and I know it is difficult to distinguish."

"I propose that, after the land survey, the amount of land to be retained should be determined based on the number of monks in the monastery. Monasteries with fewer than fifty monks should retain a maximum of 200 mu of land for their own use and 300 mu of tax-exempt land (land for rewards, incense offerings, and merit donations); monasteries with more than fifty but fewer than one hundred monks should retain a maximum of 300 mu of land for their own use and 500 mu of tax-exempt land; monasteries with more than one hundred monks should retain a maximum of 500 mu of land for their own use and 1,000 mu of tax-exempt land. All remaining land should belong to the government and be redistributed!"

"In this way, bringing temple lands entirely under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue will not only allow the land surveying process to proceed smoothly throughout the country, but also limit the number of Buddhist monks and reduce the loss of labor from the nation!"

……

Yin Zhengmao had already planned ahead; after measuring the land, his goal was to seize it.

All temple lands that were not owned by the temple monks belonged to the government. The monks only had the right to cultivate the land, while the ownership belonged to the imperial court.

This is not an act of extortion or plunder.

However, the imperial court withdrew the donations that people across the country had made to the temples.

Even without temple lands, monks today can live comfortably on the incense offerings provided by the people of the world.

of course.

After doing this, it will be more difficult for the monks to live off the land without farming, and the situation of wealthy monks becoming like landlords will be less likely to occur again.

The young Wanli Emperor was somewhat at a loss for words, both amused and exasperated.

"Grand Secretary Yin, I also wish to do this, but if this plan is implemented, it will likely cause chaos in the temples of the world. The power of the ancestral temples at present should not be underestimated. I cannot resort to such an extreme strategy!"

Yin Zhengmao bowed slightly.

"Your Majesty, this is a last resort. If it doesn't work, we can only ask these monks to voluntarily return the land, or rather, to donate the land, but I'm afraid that this is not very feasible."

"Get the monks to donate their land? How do we do that?" The young Wanli Emperor's eyes lit up immediately; donating land was the best solution.

Shen Nian also looked at Yin Zhengmao.

Yin Zhengmao stroked his beard lightly and said, "Your Majesty, some of the senior monks in the temples of Xishan, such as abbots and head monks, are still not interested in fame and fortune. I plan to persuade them to donate their land voluntarily under the pretext of discussing Buddhism!"

"Your Majesty, you must not agree to Grand Secretary Yin's request!"

As soon as Yin Zhengmao finished speaking, Feng Bao spoke up, shaking his head like a rattle drum.

Little Wanli looked at Feng Bao.

Feng Baodao said, "The eminent monks on West Mountain are indifferent to worldly affairs and only know how to study Buddhism. They believe in cause and effect and reincarnation. They would never discuss the ownership of temple lands with Grand Secretary Yin. I am worried that if Grand Secretary Yin gets angry, he might blurt out that he is bald... It would be better to send the monks from the Buddhist Registry to communicate with them!"

Feng Bao swallowed one of the vulgar words, but everyone knew what he was going to say.

Yin Zhengmao glanced at Feng Bao.

"Eunuch Feng, if the Buddhist Registry could resolve this matter, it wouldn't have escalated to this point. Are you afraid that if I succeed, it will harm the interests of your adopted sons and grandsons?"

After saying this, Yin Zhengmao bowed to the young Wanli Emperor once again.

“Your Majesty, this old minister would not be so crude! If they are truly enlightened monks, they should know that the law of the king is greater than the law of Buddhism, and they should comply with the new policies of the court. If they refuse to listen, I implore the court to introduce a policy to suppress Buddhism. When Emperor Shizong (Jiajing) promoted Taoism and suppressed Buddhism, they did not dare to be so arrogant!”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wanli knew that if Yin Zhengmao tried to negotiate, he would definitely resort to force if soft tactics failed.

In the end, it will most likely end up being a complete disaster.

"Grand Secretary Yin, you mustn't be so rash. The atmosphere of Buddhist devotion is very strong in both the court and among the people right now. It can't be enforced simply with a policy or regulation. We mustn't let this cause a popular uprising!" said the young Wanli Emperor. He knew the monks wouldn't rebel.

However, there are many Buddhists nowadays, and if he suppresses them, it will bring a lot of trouble.

If any natural disasters or man-made calamities occur, the young Wanli Emperor will issue another edict of self-reproach.

At this moment, Shen Nian raised her head.

"Your Majesty, I believe that the best solution at present is to have the monks of Xishan Temple in the capital voluntarily donate their land. What Grand Secretary Yin said, that under the pretext of discussing Buddhist teachings, we should persuade the abbots and chief monks of various temples to voluntarily donate their land, is also a good strategy."

"However, Buddhist temples have always been secluded places, and it is not appropriate for officials to discuss this. I have a monk in mind who may be able to persuade the eminent monks of the various temples to donate their land voluntarily!"

"Which eminent monk?"

Xiao Wanli, Yin Zhengmao, Feng Bao, and Jin Lijing all looked at Shen Nian with suspicion.

Given Shen Nian's personality, there was no way he would believe in Buddhism, yet he actually knew a high-ranking monk.

"The monk Jishan, whose secular name was He Xinyin, lived at Kuluo Temple on the outskirts of Beijing!"

"It's him?" The young Wanli Emperor immediately smiled.

He Xinyin.

He was once an anti-government leader who advocated family autonomy, a utopian theorist, and a heretic leader.

Students and believers are found all over the world.

After the Hundred Schools of Thought debated politics, He Xinyin's beliefs collapsed, so he became a monk at Kuluo Temple on the outskirts of Beijing and even obtained a monk's certificate.

In the past two years, he has frequently discussed Buddhism with monks, and his reputation has gradually grown.

present.

In Jiangnan, there was also a group of scholars who followed He Xinyin's ideas and promoted heretical views.

If He Xinyin can help the court resolve this matter, it will be a huge blow to the scholars in Jiangnan.

The former anti-government leader is now working for the government.

"Your Majesty, I am not entirely confident, but I am willing to give it a try!"

The young Wanli Emperor stood up and looked at Feng Bao.

"Alright! Summon Shi Qing and order him to escort Shen Qing to Ku Luo Temple immediately. Elder Yin, let's wait for news!"

Emperor Wanli was afraid that Yin Zhengmao would ruin things if he went with him.

Yin Zhengmao smiled helplessly.

He would never act recklessly towards a truly virtuous monk.

However, due to Feng Bao's embellishment of the story, he was almost portrayed as a brute who only knew how to use violence in the eyes of the young Wanli Emperor.

……

More than an hour later.

Wearing a gray cloth shirt, Shen Nian arrived at Kuluo Temple on the outskirts of the capital, escorted by Shi Qing and several other plainclothes Imperial Guards.

Kulok Temple is a small temple with only a dozen or so monks.

The place is remote and there are few worshippers.

The monks found joy in a simple life; they were almost all people who had seen through the world and were free from desires.

Shen Nian immediately handed the visiting card to a gatekeeper monk.

……

After a while.

Inside a simple meditation room.

An old monk with a very thin face and a wisp of white beard under his chin was chanting Buddhist scriptures and occasionally striking a wooden fish.

He was none other than He Xinyin, who was sixty-two years old at the time.

The once arrogant and outspoken cynic who lectured with disdain has now become a kind-faced old man.

Just then, a young monk approached him with a visiting card in his hand.

"Master, an old friend has come to visit!"

He Xinyin stopped using the wooden mallet and looked at the young monk.

"Since entering the monastery, I have no old friends left. Please refuse!"

"The visitor is Shen Nian, the current lecturer of the Hanlin Academy," the young monk said.

This young monk was a student of He Xinyin.

He had followed He Xinyin for several years and knew everything that happened during the Hundred Schools of Thought's political discussions. He became a monk in order to take care of He Xinyin.

He Xinyin was taken aback for a moment, then said, "I won't see you!"

Say it.

The mallet in his hand suddenly fell to the ground.

He Xinyin stared at the wooden mallet on the ground and murmured, "I thought I had seen through everything, but I didn't expect that hearing his name would still... still make it hard to forget worldly matters!"

During the period of political debate, neither Zhang Juzheng nor Hai Rui could persuade him, but Shen Nian's discourse on the importance of the court to the people directly caused his beliefs to collapse, which led to his current decision to shave his head and become a monk.

“My heart is still not pure. Please let him in!” He Xinyin said.

……

Not long after.

Shen Nian arrived at He Xinyin's meditation room, where the latter was brewing tea.

Shen Nian cupped his hands and said, "Junior Shen Nian greets Mr. He!"

“Benefactor Shen, you may call me Jishan. Please sit!” He Xinyin gestured for him to sit.

The two immediately sat down facing each other.

He Xinyin placed the brewed tea in front of Shen Nian.

"Thank you, Master Jishan!" Shen Nian said politely, pressing her palms together.

After chatting for a while around Kuluo Temple, Shen Nian revealed the purpose of their visit.

He Xinyin paused for a moment.

“Benefactor Shen, I have already entered the Buddhist order and only discuss Buddhist teachings with the monks in the capital, without concerning myself with worldly matters. I’m afraid you’ll have made a wasted trip!”

“Master Jishan, entering the Buddhist order is not about isolating yourself from the world, but about having a pure heart and doing good deeds. You always participate in the distribution of porridge and clothing at Kuluo Temple. Now that you can save even more people, why do you want to give it up?”

"Are you worried that this matter will ruin the reputation of the holy monk you have just established, or are you only thinking of escaping because your own beliefs cannot be put into practice?"

"The clearing of temple lands is a national policy that benefits the people. I believe you are aware of the actions of some monks and understand that clearing temple lands is beneficial to all people. Why would you refuse such a virtuous and benevolent act?"

……

After Shen Nian finished speaking, He Xinyin put her hands together, first said "Amitabha," and then said, "Everything is preordained by Heaven and has its own cause and effect. I should not interfere!"

"Heaven's will? Karma? Heaven's will is that the temple lands are not measured, the people suffer, and the court has no choice but to suppress or even destroy Buddhism; karma is that some monks with excessive greed will go to the eighteen levels of hell after their death!"

“Master Jishan, assisting in the implementation of the new policy at this moment is truly an act of doing good and accumulating merit, and it is the best time for monks to demonstrate their compassion!”

……

Shen Nian stood up and said, "Mr. He, I thought you were going to become a monk, but I didn't expect you were just hiding. Farewell!"
Then, Shen Nian was about to leave.

Just as Shen Nian was about to step out of the Zen gate.

He Xinyin said to Shen Nian, "Benefactor Shen, let me give it a try!"

call!
Shen Nian breathed a sigh of relief; things were finally looking up.

(End of this chapter)