Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

"He promised to return to his hometown if he submitted to the Ming Dynasty."

"Very good, you're quite talented too,"

"Bring on any other strategies you may have."

Zhang Shun didn't know much about the situation in Fujian.

They are eager to get things done with the help of local officials.

Cao Zai seized the opportunity to say, "The Prefect of Zhangzhou is my contemporary."

"I can write a letter to persuade him to surrender."

Mao Kui also said, "Shanghang has the Zhongliao Gold Mine."

"We must guard against the troops from Zhejiang and Jiangsu looting the treasury,"

"We must also guard against officials there lining their own pockets,"

"General, you can send several hundred elite troops to take over."

Cao Zai, having had his mind opened, continued,

"Nan Jian Prefecture has the Longmen Silver Exchange, Meiying Silver Exchange, Longquan Silver Exchange, Shicheng Silver Exchange, Dayan Silver Exchange, and Shipai Silver Exchange,"

"The prefect of Nan Jian Prefecture must keep a close eye on this,"

'At times like these, it's easy for large amounts of silver to be embezzled!'

"So many silver mines?" Zhang Shun asked in surprise.

These officials, in order to curry favor with the new dynasty

He racked his brains to come up with ideas for Zhang Shun.

They weren't this enthusiastic about serving as officials for the Song Dynasty.

.....

He returned to Fuzhou with a group of surrendered soldiers.

Although a considerable amount of supplies were also captured,

But Zhang Shun felt even more troubled.

Fearing that causing trouble would result in punishment from the Crown Prince,

Zhang Shun dared not easily dismiss the surrendered soldiers.

But maintaining these soldiers would consume a lot of food.

After much deliberation, Zhang Shun decided to first dismiss the new recruits brought in by Tong Guan.

Next, the old and weak soldiers from Fujian were eliminated.

But those Zhejiang soldiers cannot be moved for the time being.

We need to send them back to their hometown first.

Otherwise, they would have plundered their way back to Zhejiang.

Chapter 1811 Monk's Temple

Upon arriving in Fuzhou, Zhang Shun summoned both civil and military officials.

What are the largest temples in Fuzhou?

Mao Kui replied, "Four Zen temples: east, south, west, and north."

Zhang Shun then asked, "Which one is the most famous?"

Mao Kui said, "Dongchan Temple is the most famous."

"In the third year of the Yuanfeng era, Dongchan Temple gathered eminent monks from all directions."

"Preparing to compile and carve the Tripitaka."

"It took thirty years to complete."

"Because it was carved during the Chongning era,"

This sutra is also known as the Chongning Tripitaka.

"It was also presented to..."

"Yes, it is dedicated to the tyrannical emperor."

"Dongchan Temple in Fuzhou was granted two temple titles by the old Song Dynasty court."

One name is "Eastern Chan Pure Land," a name originating from the Tang Dynasty.

"One is 'Long Live Chongning,' a title given to a tyrannical emperor."

Xie Ruyi said, "Inside Dongchan Temple, there is also a handwritten letter bestowed by the tyrannical emperor."

"Some time ago, Tong Guan ordered all temples to hand over grain,"

"Dongchan Temple brought out the emperor's calligraphy, which was written by a tyrannical ruler."

"Tong Guan dared not push him any further."

"When Tong Guan supported the false emperor,"

"They even invited the abbot, Zen Master Guanghui Dagao,"

"This makes the identity of the false emperor more convincing."

"So, Dongchan Temple has the most grain?" Zhang Shun muttered.

Xie Ruyi said, "Dongchan Temple is simply the one with the most money and the greatest reputation."

"Their wealth mainly comes from donations from believers and business operations."

"But the temple with the most grain was Xichan Temple,"

"The western suburbs of Fuzhou are rich in fertile farmland,"

"Six or seven out of ten belong to the temple lands of Xichan Temple."

Zhang Shun then asked, "How prestigious is the abbot of Xichan Temple?"

Cao Zai said, "The abbot of Xichan Temple is Zen Master Guangji Zhaogao."

"He was also invited to attend the coronation ceremony of the pseudo-emperor,"

He was a highly respected monk in Fujian, second only to Zen Master Guanghui Dagao.

Zhang Shun slammed his fist on the table: "So he's also a heretical monk who resists the new dynasty!"

"I should lead troops to teach him a lesson he won't forget!"

Xie Ruyi lowered her head and smiled.

He had long disliked these monks.

Mao Kui also gloated.

Because he is a Taoist.

I can't be bothered with the fate of those bald monks.

Cao Zi, the transport judge from Fujian, was greatly alarmed.

"The two Zen masters, Guanghui and Guangji,"

"They are all highly respected in Fuzhou."

"They participated in installing the false emperor on the throne,"

"That was also due to coercion by Tong Guan,"

"It must not be handled lightly,"

"Otherwise, it will surely cause a popular uprising."

"I'm not afraid of even a mutiny,"

"I'm afraid of popular uprisings,"

Zhang Shun scanned the crowd.

"You also participated in supporting the false emperor, didn't you?"

"Could they be colluding with those monks?"

"Trying to secretly rebel and overthrow the new dynasty?"

"That's absolutely not the case!"

Cao Zai was so frightened that he immediately changed his story.

“We were forced,”

“Those monks, however, did so voluntarily,”

"The general should immediately lead troops to arrest him!"

Zhang Shun's childhood environment

They were exposed to Confucian classics from every day.

He had no interest in Buddhism or Taoism.

Food shortages are now...

The temple stockpiled food again.

Naturally, they would target the monks.

Moreover, Zhao Yuan's policies in Shandong

Zhang Shun also personally participated in the garrisoning of troops in Kuizhou.

He was very familiar with this process of destroying temples.

The hundreds of temples in Fuzhou,

They control over more than 70% of the local economy.

Industry, agriculture, and commerce all got involved.

They were just short of sending monks to sail out to sea to engage in maritime trade (they also supplied goods to maritime merchants and purchased goods brought in by them).

The Pu family of Quanzhou who betrayed the Southern Song Dynasty

It was impossible for it to prosper in the late Northern Song Dynasty.

Because trade in Quanzhou was also controlled by temples.

Until the rise of Neo-Confucianism in the Southern Song Dynasty,

Fujian was also the base of Neo-Confucianism.

Only then did they launch a counterattack with the help of the government.

The influence of Buddhism was continuously weakened during the mid-to-late Southern Song Dynasty.

Civil officials took the initiative to suppress Buddhism.

It started with Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism.

Previously, the main focus was on destroying illicit cults.

Those local officials in the Ming Dynasty

Regardless of whether one is from the Neo-Confucian school or the School of Mind,

As long as they are people of strong character,

There are more or less stories of temple destruction.

They also like to demolish temples to expand schools.

.....

Fuzhou Xichan Temple