Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 262 The ruthless fear no one, let's strike straight at the heart of the enemy!

Wu Yin smiled, a very kind smile that made him appear even more benevolent.

“Master Zhang is a smart man. Why would he say such a thing, making people laugh and lowering his status?”
Now that I've come here on the Emperor's orders, you should act in accordance with them.

I won't make things difficult for you, and no one will deliberately make things difficult for you.

Everything is crystal clear.

Why do you always try to do something different and think you're special?
Is it possible to transcend the law?

This matter can only be handled according to the rules!

According to the regulations set by His Majesty

Apart from the land bestowed by His Majesty, all other land shall be surveyed and distributed to the landless people!

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuchu's expression grew even more unpleasant.

Where is the otherworldly air about him now?

"Wu Yin, don't push your luck!"

Wu Yin also stopped smiling, and his expression instantly turned cold.

"Zhang Yuchu, don't push your luck."

I have come by imperial decree to handle this vital matter that benefits the country and its people.

Instead of serving the country and cooperating with the work, you are here obstructing, bargaining, and hindering the land survey.

Is this what you, as a Celestial Master, should do?
You know perfectly well who's pushing their luck!
Apart from the land granted by His Majesty, all of your land is illegally acquired.

Why bother talking so much nonsense when you should be settling accounts?
Did I think you were feeling quite wronged?

“Don’t talk nonsense! All the land I own here is of legitimate origin.”

It was bestowed by emperors throughout history!

Zhang Yuchu argued forcefully, and when the matter was brought up, he stood ramrod straight, exuding an aura of profound knowledge and long history.

In the Zhang family, the position of Celestial Master has been passed down to him forty-third generation.

Only the Confucian school can be compared to it.

Even the Confucius family is far inferior to them.

After all, during the Jingkang Incident, the Kong family split into the Southern Kong and the Northern Kong families.

From then on, the two holes stood separately.

The North Confucian school could be said to have a somewhat usurped role, which is not entirely fair.

The Southern Confucian school is more orthodox, but it is not as prestigious as the Northern Confucian school.

The royal family believed that the Northern Confucian school was the legitimate one.

Only the Zhang family has maintained their tradition without ever causing any trouble.

Throughout history, emperors have all respected the Zhang family.

With each successive emperor's bestowal, the Zhang family's land holdings increased.

Even when the current emperor first ascended the throne, didn't he still bestow land upon the Zhang family?

Although it was far less than what other emperors bestowed, it was still a gift.

As a result, they actually took away the gifts bestowed by other emperors.

He really made a good deal!

"Are you a citizen of the Ming Dynasty?" Wu Yin asked, looking at him.

"Naturally, they are people from the Ming Dynasty."

Zhang Yuchu answered the question without hesitation.

That was the only answer he could give.

"Since we are people of the Ming Dynasty, all the previous dynasties have perished."

The Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties are all gone. The Yuan dynasty was even established by the Tartars, but Your Majesty expelled the Tartars and drove them away.

Why bring up the previous dynasty again?

What? You still harbor feelings for the Yuan Dynasty and yearn for the Song Dynasty, wanting to restore their rule? You think the Ming Dynasty treated you badly?

"Have you suffered any injustice living in the Ming Dynasty?"

Wu Yin's words were sharp and incisive, each sentence like an ice dagger, making Zhang Yuchu's heart tremble.

Even if he wanted to admit it, he wouldn't dare.

"You mustn't talk nonsense! I didn't!"

"Isn't that right? I believe you don't have it either."

Since there is none, then let's not mention any gifts from emperors throughout history.

There is only one emperor in the world, and that is the current emperor.

It is now the Ming Dynasty, no longer any other dynasty.

Stop trying to use the rules of other dynasties to fight against the Ming Dynasty.

Furthermore, your statement that the land in Longhu Mountain was bestowed by emperors of successive dynasties is also not entirely accurate.

Before I came, I had already done some research on this matter in detail.

Longhu Mountain did receive a considerable amount of land from the imperial court, but it was far less than the amount of farmland it possesses today!
The land granted by emperors throughout history is only about 30% of the land you have now in Longhu Mountain.

Zhang Yuchu, do you want to explain where the remaining farmland came from?

Which emperor bestowed it upon us?

Zhang Yuchu's expression grew even uglier. Wu Yin, that scoundrel, had truly come prepared.

They came specifically for them!
They had already found out so much about the situation beforehand.

"The remaining land was voluntarily donated to Longhu Mountain by the people and believers during the chaotic times, in order to seek protection and escape the chaos."

He said this with confidence.

Wu Yin scoffed: "Zhang Yuchu, it's fine to say this to laymen, but you don't need to be so righteous and high-sounding when you're talking to me."

My hair hasn't even grown long yet! Who doesn't know who?

Zhang Yuchu's face flushed slightly.

I don't know if it was out of shame or anger that their secrets were exposed.

"Even if these fields of yours were voluntarily given by the people during times of chaos, it is no longer a time of chaos."

At this point, shouldn't we relinquish those fields and return them to the people? What's the point of keeping these properties?
Do you believe the Ming Dynasty will descend into chaos again? Do you think the Ming Dynasty will remain a period of turmoil? Many people still need your protection? Are you protecting the people, or are you simply greedy for land?

Or will they still use land ownership to control the masses, do as they please, dominate the region, and establish their own legal system?

"Wu Yin! Don't try to smear this with every word! My Zhang family has never had such thoughts!"

Zhang Yuchu raised his voice.

He was truly provoked by what Wu Yin said.

Wu Yin is a man whose heart is despicable. This bald monk's words are all meant to pierce the soul; he only wants to destroy Longhu Mountain.

"If it's not, why are you still haggling here?"
And what's this talk about, 60%?
What do you take this national policy of land surveying for?

Zhang Yuchu's chest heaved as he listened to Wu Yin's words.

But he didn't say anything more.

It's not that he couldn't win the argument, nor that he had nothing to say.

He was able to become a Celestial Master not only because of his good family background, but also because he has been learning a great deal and continues to do so to this day.

When it comes to debating these things, he is not afraid of Wu Yin.

But things are different now; this person comes with imperial power and immense influence.

Even if he could argue about many things, he wouldn't dare to force himself to do so.

The more you argue, the worse things get.

Wu Yin, that bald monk, has ill intentions; he's coming here specifically to target him.

Continuing to argue will not only fail to clarify the truth.

On the contrary, it will only make him suffer more losses.

He closed his eyes, and after a long while, slowly opened his mouth.

"The land on Longhu Mountain, except for what His Majesty has bestowed, is all to be relinquished and returned to the people."

The land survey will be conducted by the government.

Wu Yin nodded upon hearing this, but his expression did not soften.

Because he knew that Zhang Yuchu wouldn't give in so easily.

There will definitely be more to say later.

"However, we cannot actually survey all the fields of the other small Taoist temples."

We need to leave them some. Otherwise, they really won't be able to survive.

This was the choice Zhang Yuchu made after careful consideration.

He can make decisions on Longhu Mountain, and if there's no other choice, he'll just have to give up the farmland.

However, the interests of those small Taoist temples below must be protected.

Otherwise, Longhu Mountain's prestige will be greatly diminished in the future!
Therefore, at this time, he would rather give up the farmland on Longhu Mountain than lose the farmland of these small and medium-sized Taoist temples!

"Zhang Yuchu, Grand Master Zhang, did you not understand what I said?"
Did you not understand the imperial court's orders?
It was said that, apart from the land bestowed by His Majesty, all other lands must be surveyed, including numerous Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries.

Regardless of whether one is a monk, Confucian, or Taoist, or whether one is a high-ranking official, noble, or wealthy family!
No one can be treated specially!

Zhang Yuchu's face was grim, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Wu Yin, do you want all the Taoist priests in the temples below to starve to death!"

"Can they really starve to death?"

Wu Yin countered with a question.

"With the offerings from numerous believers each year, there is enough to eat."

They can also perform rituals, sell amulets, tell fortunes, and so on. These alone are enough to provide for their inexhaustible resources.

Besides, with so many people in each Taoist temple, if it's not enough, we can just move some people out of the temples.

The state has explicit regulations that only monks and nuns with ordination certificates can be considered genuine monks and nuns; all others are illegal.

I see so many Taoist temples in Jiangxi, each one exceptionally prosperous, with a large number of Taoist priests.

Surely the imperial court didn't issue that many ordination certificates?

At least half of them are unlicensed and practice illegal religions.

These people also need to be managed.

"you you!"

Upon hearing Wu Yin's words, Zhang Yuchu immediately became anxious, pointing his finger at Wu Yin with extreme agitation.

"Stop spouting nonsense here!"

In order to control the number of monks and Taoists, the imperial court created the ordination certificate.

It was managed by the imperial court.

This item is not easy to obtain; the key issue is that the imperial court is unwilling to distribute more of it.

However, there are far too many people who want to become monks or Taoist priests.

So what to do?
This naturally leads to the emergence of many Taoist priests or monks without ordination certificates.

It's fine if no one scrutinizes these people regularly.

But once you really investigate, things become very complicated and difficult to explain.

It is indeed illegal.

As a celestial master, he was well aware of these things.

Of the many Taoist temples below, only a small fraction actually have ordination certificates.

At least 70% of the Taoist priests are illegal and do not have ordination certificates.

If things are really done as the court says, the resulting blow will be even more painful than if the court were to liquidate all the Taoist temples' fields!
The blow will be even greater.

"Wu Yin! You...you're going too far!"

"I'm not going too far, I'm just telling the truth."

"Will the one who started this have no descendants? If you do this today, it won't be long before this same knife falls on the heads of your Buddhist community!"

Zhang Yuchu, with red eyes, looked at Wu Yin and spoke.

Wu Yin pointed to the official robe he was wearing: "I am not a Buddhist, but an official appointed by the imperial court."

As for the measurement of land by Buddhist monks, then it is called measurement.

"Our purpose in coming to Jiangxi wasn't just to target your Taoist sect; the same applies to Buddhism."

"Wu Yin! Aren't you afraid of being scorned by the world? Aren't you afraid that Buddhism will call you a disgrace?!"

"Hahaha……"

Wu Yin laughed: "A truly insightful person in Buddhism would never scold me for this."

Those who curse me, slander me, and ridicule me because of this are not true Buddhists.

They can't even achieve a state of purity of mind, yet they value these worldly things so much and are so attached to them.

What kind of spiritual practitioner is he?
Whether it's Buddhism or Taoism, a nation must exist first!

Stop trying to get special treatment!
Zhang Yuchu, you, Zhang Dazhenren, surely you understand these things?
Today, I will tell you the truth clearly.

The fields must be thoroughly surveyed; no one can be sloppy about this.

Not only that, but ordination certificates also need to be investigated!
Those who engage in unethical practices are disobeying the imperial court's orders, which is illegal and constitutes fraud!

No one may continue to act as a fake Taoist priest in a Taoist temple!

"Doesn't engage in production!"

Wu Yin countered sharply, his momentum growing stronger.

"Wu Yin!"

Zhang Yuchu seemed quite exasperated. Pointing a finger at Wu Yin, he said, "Aren't you afraid of causing trouble by being so aggressive?"

"Cause trouble? What kind of trouble could it be?"
If you, Master Zhang, want to cause trouble, then go ahead and cause trouble.

Don't think you can incite so many people!
Let's see if you can cause more trouble, or if the imperial court has more elite troops and generals!
I think the lineage of your Celestial Master's Mansion should end with your generation!
If anyone dares to cause trouble, I, Wu Yin, will lead my men to Longhu Mountain to destroy the mountain and the temple!

Let's see if your head can grow back after it's cut off, Zhang Yuchu!
Let's see if all these gods and Buddhas can show their power and protect you!
Zhang Yuchu, I couldn't be happier for you to do that!

I'm here to be frank with you!

If gods stand in the way, they will kill gods; if they stand in the way of Buddha, they will kill Buddha!
Everything that stands in the way, anything that hinders the land survey, will be reduced to dust; none will be spared!

As Wu Yin spoke, he stood up and looked down at Zhang Yuchu, his eyes filled with sharpness and menacing intent.

Zhang Yuchu's face went from red to white, then back to red, his chest heaving with each passing moment.

It is clear that his emotions had reached their peak.

"Wu Yin, I will report this to His Majesty immediately upon my return! I will tell His Majesty about this matter!"

"His Majesty has granted me full authority to handle all matters related to the land survey in Jiangxi."

This is what I need to do.

Your petition will be useless!

Two days later, the formal land survey will begin!
Don't try to incite the people to cause trouble.

They distort the government's policies, hide behind the scenes to deceive the people, and use them as pawns.

Or they might use certain methods to register the land with other people.

I'll make this clear to you today.

When the land survey was conducted, if anyone tried to obstruct or cause trouble in any village or place, the Taoist priest in that village would be killed!

When the time comes to clear out your Longhu Mountain land, if anyone causes trouble, no matter who it is, we will kill everyone from Longhu Mountain!

You, Zhang Yuchu, don't have more lives than anyone else!

Wu Yin's voice turned sinister as he leaned forward, staring intently at Zhang Yuchu.

Its imposing aura was overwhelming, like a tidal wave crashing down.

The pressure was so intense that Zhang Yuchu couldn't breathe.

It made him subconsciously lean back.

It seems she wanted to use this to distance herself from Wu Yin.

"Wu Yin, you...you will definitely be doomed!"
You will surely be condemned by the world!

"Your knife, the emperor will discard you after he's used it!"

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Wu Yin burst into laughter: "Ever since I took this job, I never thought I would be able to leave Jiangxi alive!"

So be it! So be it!
That's just a matter for later!

As long as I live, I will get this done!

What does it matter if I die?

If I were afraid of dying, I, Wu Yin, would not have taken this job!

Even if I die, those people who were allocated land will at least remember some of my good deeds.

His Majesty will build a shrine for me.

Even if no one remembers my good deeds, even if His Majesty doesn't build a shrine for me, I've still done this."

As he spoke, he slowly pointed to his chest: "I have no regrets!"

(End of this chapter)