Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 110 Buddhist Temple or Bandit's Den?

Beijing.

Western suburbs.

On the southern slope of Yangtai Mountain, there is an ancient temple called Dajue Temple, which was first built in the fourth year of Xianyong in the Liao Dynasty and was originally named Qingshui Temple.

By the ninth year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, it had a history of nearly six hundred years.

Dajue Temple has been blessed by the emperors of the Ming Dynasty throughout the ages, and by the Wanli era, it had already become a temple built by imperial decree.

Anything that carries the word "royal" is naturally extraordinary.

Recently, the control measures in the capital have been relaxed. Each household is allowed to send one person out to buy items per day with a certificate issued by the Five City Garrison Command.

Those who have a livelihood are mostly allowed to operate within the restrictions.

Ultimately, it was a feudal society with low productivity. If the city were really locked down for a month, countless civilians would starve to death in the capital.

At the foot of the mountain, the imperial court relaxed some restrictions, and a steady stream of believers came to visit. Even with the city lockdown in place, the incense in the temple continued to burn brightly.

Fortunately, nowadays everyone wears masks when they go out, and people are keeping a distance from each other.

The most effective way to quickly change traditional, stubborn ideas is through matters directly related to life and death.

The brothers Zhang Yunxiu and Zhang Jianxiu rode in a carriage and went straight to the foot of the mountain.

After getting off the carriage, Zhang Yunxiu looked at the people climbing the steps and couldn't help but sigh.

"These people can't afford medical treatment or food, but they can't stop sending money to temples for incense. They also have to spend all their money to have a grand funeral after they die. I don't know why they do this?"

Zhang Jianxiu, the fourth brother, answered with some doubt.

"Praying to gods and Buddhas is to sow a good karmic seed. Giving one's parents a grand funeral is a matter of filial piety. If the funeral is not dignified, the deceased will be ashamed in the underworld."

Clearly, the ancients had a completely different view on this matter.

Zhang Yunxiu was too lazy to argue with the other party. He said that there was no such thing as the underworld in this world. He looked at the winding path into the deep forest and exhaled.

"We don't have much time, so let's go inside Dajue Temple. I think we'll make some different discoveries."

The brothers Zhang Yunxiu and Zhang Jianxiu, along with seven or eight Imperial Guards, all dressed in plain clothes, entered Dajue Temple.

Today, Dajue Temple is very popular and not very conspicuous among the crowds.

Following the crowd of worshippers, they mechanically performed various tasks, such as buying incense and candles, entering the temple to pay their respects, and offering incense to the Three Jewels.

Zhang Yunxiu and his companion blended into the crowd of worshippers, appearing only slightly more distinguished, but in no way different from ordinary worshippers.

After wandering around the temple several times, Zhang Jianxiu seemed to lose patience and couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

"Shiyuan, if we just wander around aimlessly like this, will we be able to find any evidence inside Dajue Temple?"

Zhang Jianxiu said with a bitter face.

"If I keep wandering around like this, I'll start to get all bald monks' stupidity off me!"

Zhang Yunxiu raised the incense stick high above his head, looking very devout, and said without turning his head.

"Didn't I say that everything that happens leaves a trace? Dajue Temple is the temple in the capital that holds the most sacrificial ceremonies and altars. There must be something fishy about it!"

Zhang Jianxiu was stunned for a moment. As a senior member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he suddenly felt that his younger brother's words had a profound meaning.

But he hadn't studied for many years and couldn't grasp the essentials at all, so the more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became.

After the two left the main hall, he immediately pulled Zhang Yunxiu aside and said something.

"No way! I can't stand it anymore. These monks are all so uncooperative. Otherwise, let's grab a few monks from the temple and give them a good beating. We're sure we'll get some information out of them!"

Zhang Yunxiu looked at the other person speechlessly.

These martial arts soldiers from the Embroidered Uniform Guard do seem rather crude.
He shook his head and said irritably, "Your methods can only catch petty thieves and corrupt officials. These honest officials are very shrewd. If we alert them, our leads will be cut off."

Furthermore, the monk Fahui of Dajue Temple was the Right Assistant Minister of the Buddhist Registry of the Ministry of Rites, which was considered a sixth-rank official.

If we touch them, the Ministry of Rites will cause another uproar.

"Sixth rank?" Zhang Jianxiu curled his lip, clearly indicating that this rank was not enough in his eyes.

"It's not that we're afraid of them, but we naturally have to be more careful when we're in the shadows," Zhang Yunxiu waved his hand and continued.

"Go and wander around. All the prayer and sacrificial rites in the capital are handled by Dajue Temple. The abbot was only recommended by the Ministry of Rites to take office half a year ago. I don't believe you won't find out a little bit of something fishy!"

"Without torture, how can we find clues? How can we solve the case? We're extremely pressed for time!"

Zhang Jianxiu still seemed impatient.

Zhang Yunxiu shook his head and said, "Slow and steady wins the race. With Grand Secretary Shen backing us up in the court, he's truly great! We can't let down the sacrifices he's made for us. We must find out everything about the likes of Xu Xuemo!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jianxiu's expression became somewhat unnatural, feeling that his younger brother was trying to trick him again.

Considering the overwhelming force of those people in the court, even the emperor couldn't withstand them. Could an old man like Shen Shixing really hold his own?

However, Zhang Jianxiu was still pleased that Zhang Yunxiu hadn't tricked him, and he nodded helplessly.

"You're smart, so I'll listen to you."

After wandering around aimlessly all morning, Zhang Jianxiu couldn't help but feel frustrated, having gotten up early but gained nothing.

Just as the two were strolling near the Guanyin Temple, a quarrel suddenly drew their attention.

It turned out that there was a young novice monk in front of the Guanyin Hall, muttering something incoherently, and he did not appear to be from the north.

Pilgrims wanted to enter the temple to worship, but they couldn't understand what the temple was saying at all. Regular visitors were fine, but those who didn't come often and wanted to ask questions were completely confused.

An elderly woman said somewhat anxiously, "Young master, what are you saying? I really don't understand!"

The young novice monk was also somewhat anxious, gesturing wildly as he spoke.

"Oh, where in the district are you referring to?"

Zhang Jianxiu frowned, thinking that there must be something fishy about the Ministry of Rites, which was why they even recruited a novice monk who didn't understand Mandarin.

He was hurling insults and profanities at Xu Xuemo, Zhang Siwei, and others.

Just as Zhang Jianxiu was about to leave, a hand grabbed him. Zhang Jianxiu looked at his younger brother Zhang Yunxiu with some surprise.

The latter remained silent, but subtly pointed in the direction of the young novice.

A short while later, it seemed that the young novice had gone to seek help from someone, and a burly, square-faced monk came out and chanted a Buddhist prayer to the crowd.

"Please forgive us, benefactors. These are novices who have only recently joined the temple and are not yet fluent in Mandarin. This humble monk will guide you in offering incense."

The two stood there for a long time, and Zhang Yunxiu did not say a word.

Afterwards, Zhang Jianxiu saw his younger brother ask a few questions to one or two monks before hurriedly leaving Dajue Temple.

On the return journey in the carriage, Zhang Jianxiu was still completely bewildered.

He looked at his thoughtful younger brother and couldn't help but ask, "Shiyuan, what exactly did you figure out?"

A few of my men sneaked into the abbot's meditation room, but found nothing. The only strange thing was that one of the side rooms was empty. What kind of clue was that?
And why are you asking about the origins of the novice monk and the abbot?

Zhang Jianxiu looked constipated. He knew what Zhang Yunxiu had discovered, but he couldn't figure out what the other party had thought of, no matter how hard he racked his brains. He was so anxious!

Zhang Yunxiu let out a breath, and only after the carriage left the Yangtaishan area did he give his simple-minded but physically strong fourth brother a word of advice.

“I’ve said before that everything that happens leaves a trace. Now that we’ve come to Dajue Temple, tell me what we’ve seen?”

"What did you see?" Zhang Jianxiu felt like he was being taught like a child, but he was used to it and answered subconsciously.

"It was just a few people. The young novice was from the south, the abbot of Dajue Temple was also from the south, and there was an empty room in the meditation room, as if they had just moved out. Finally, the monk complained that the food had been a bit poor lately."

Zhang Jianxiu meticulously recounted every single difference he had discovered.

The last point was particularly amusing: Zhang Yunxiu found a young monk and chatted with him for a long time about the food, which was really hard to understand.

“That’s right, isn’t the answer obvious?” Zhang Yunxiu said matter-of-factly.

"What are you talking about?!" Zhang Jianxiu suddenly became angry. "You keep saying there's only one truth, so tell me what the truth is!"

Zhang Yunxiu's habit of keeping things a secret is truly annoying.

Finally, seeing his third brother nearly explode, Zhang Yunxiu slowly said, "You know that novice monks have a southern accent, but do you know which accent it is?"

(End of this chapter)