cicada

Chapter 158 Dharma Assembly
The Tiantong Temple in the southeastern Buddhist country is about to hold a dharma meeting, and it is still presided over by Master Hongwu. Ningbo and nearby cities are a sensation, and countless devotees are rejoicing.

This Dharma conference was held on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, which coincided with the day when Shakya Tathagata became enlightened, and the Buddhas were blessed. At the same time, there was also a lecture by Master Hongwu, who talked about breaking attachments.

Therefore, not only ordinary people look forward to it, but also the surrounding temples attach great importance to it, and prepare to send their own abbots and mages there, and the monks of Mount Putuo are no exception.

Tongsuo and Shen Dongxin were dumbfounded. They were thieves all over Mount Putuo, and now the monks were busy with the puja. Even Tongsuo was arrested by the prison temple.

This kid has a sharp mind and eyesight, and is most suitable for serving the daily life of the masters. The prison temple can be considered to know how to use it well, and asked people to conduct emergency training for him, so as not to lose face.

Tongsuo is now accompanied by a few masters when he goes to the bathroom, correcting his behavior, sitting and lying down, accompanied by various lectures, let alone being a thief now, it is difficult for people in the intelligence department to see him.

Without the professional skills of copper locks, the intelligence department and Shen Dongxin could not act at all. Once the monks found out that there were thieves haunting the temple, it was easy to startle them.

Upon receiving the news, Gu Qi immediately found Zuo Zhong, and said anxiously, "Section Chief, what Tiantong Temple has done has disrupted our operation, do you want to discuss it?"

"No, old Gu, please stay safe and don't be impatient." Zuo Zhong laughed and explained: "This is a ceremony I arranged to find out the spy. Putuoshan split half of the staff to work in Tiantong Temple."

Gu Qi was dumbfounded, and quickly asked: "Section Chief, what does this puja have to do with action? Would Tiantong Temple let us in? It's a Buddhist holy place, so we should be careful."

He is considered a half-Buddhist, and he has long heard of the name of Tiantong Temple. Many high-ranking officials and dignitaries often go to offer incense and worship the Buddha.

Zuo Zhong looked outside the study room, and made the arrangement: "Don't worry, Master Hongwu, the abbot of Tiantong Temple, has already agreed, and construction workers are needed for the renovation before the puja and the construction of the altar.

You just enter in the name of workers, and the master will ask someone to cooperate with you when the time comes. You should keep a low profile when you act, and you must not disturb the daily life of the monks, you know. "

Hearing this, the big stone in Gu Qi's heart fell to the ground, just discuss it, and nodded: "I know the section chief, I will tell my brothers, but what are we going to do after we go in, are the spies in Tiantong Temple?"

Zuo Zhong pondered: "The spy is not in Tiantong Temple, so I can only say so much, Old Gu, it's not that I don't believe you, the specific plan really cannot be revealed.

After you go there, get familiar with the terrain of Tiantong Temple, set up surveillance points, and keep an eye on the foreign monks in the puja. The focus is still on the people coming from Putuoshan Temple.

In order to facilitate our actions, Master Hongwu promised me to put their residences together, and you can see if you can monitor, but don't force it. "

Gucci didn't have much thought after hearing it. Intelligence work is so special, keeping secrets has nothing to do with trust, just like he would not disclose his work to his family.

Monitoring, the current monitoring equipment used by the Secret Service is a German-made steel wire recorder with a small and extended microphone, which is very large and is mostly used in fixed places.

He recalled the equipment he brought, and shook his head: "Probably not, our equipment is too conspicuous, and also needs power support, Tiantong Temple is not powered yet, right?"

There was no other way. Tiantong Temple was so far away from the city, how could there be electricity, and the monks would not use expensive generators to generate electricity. It seemed that monitoring was hopeless.

Zuo Zhong finally decided: "Then keep an eye on him. After Tongsuo arrives at Tiantong Temple, let him find a chance to get to know more about the fellows of Mount Putuo, so that it will be convenient for him to move after he returns."

Gu Qi received the order to leave, and the monitoring focus of the urban spies was adjusted to the wharf and the station at the same time, monitoring the passengers coming and going, and tracking and investigating all suspicious persons.

This is a bit like casting a net for fishing, but it has been a while since the fake monk jumped into the sea and committed suicide. Whether the other party went to other temples, this possibility cannot be ignored.

On the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Zuo Zhong went to a monitoring point in person, and looked at the distant pier with a binoculars. He saw groups of bald people walking off the boat under the sun, which was a bit dazzling.

Gu Qi was also on the sidelines, and seeing this group of people came to their spirits: "This group of monks came from Mount Putuo, and the ones who walked in the front were the abbot of Guanyin Temple and the mages of other temples."

After speaking, he stretched out his hand and said with a smile: "Look, section chief, it's the boy Tongsuo." "

Zuo Zhong followed his hand and saw a little bald man in the crowd, wearing a monk's robe, holding a wooden fish in his hand, with a devout expression on his face, where there was no cunning and slickness in the past.

"Pfft." Gui Youguang laughed out loud, thinking it was too funny.

Zuo Zhong glared at him: "What are you laughing at, Tongsuo is going deep into the tiger's den. If it weren't for his skills, we would all have to spend time on Putuo Mountain now, and I'll let you go next time."

Gui Youguang quickly closed his mouth. He had read the information and knew what Tongsuo lived every day. If he was asked to chant scriptures and Buddha every day and only be a vegetarian, he might as well kill him.

"Have the tea stalls along the way been arranged?" Zuo Zhong put down his binoculars and asked Gu Qi.

"It's been arranged. There are three or four tea stalls along the way. There are people from us. The people who are in charge of reception are the guys from the Zuojia restaurant. They speak with a local accent. They just think it's your family doing good deeds." Gu Qi replied immediately.

When monks go to attend the Dharma conference, they naturally don’t take other means of transportation. They walk all the way to Tiantong Temple on one pair of legs. The distance of tens of miles is not too short, so you always need to add some hot water or rest your feet. This is a good time to observe.

Zuo Zhong was very satisfied with this arrangement, turned around and said, "One can't be tense all the time, and relax after being exhausted. Maybe we can find some clues. Let's find a place and wait for these masters."

Gu Qi also meant the same thing. If you don't go to the scene to watch him, you don't feel at ease. There are many outsiders during the Fa conference, and his and Gui Youguang's accents are not a flaw.

But there is no rush, the masters still have to go for a while, the three of them found a restaurant to offer sacrifices to the Wu Zang Temple, and after drinking and eating, they drove a car to catch up with the monks on Mount Putuo, and they were still halfway to Tiantong Temple the distance.

There was a tea stall not far ahead, Zuo Zhong and the other three got out of the car and walked in. The waiter at the tea stall had never seen Shaodong's house before, and he just greeted him as a believer who came to offer incense, "Hi everyone, this is a special tea shop. Those who provide tea to the monks participating in the puja are not businessmen, how many of you are there?"

Zuo Zhong smiled and replied in Ningbo dialect: "It's okay, we also went to Tiantong Temple to offer incense, and take a look at the scenery of Taibai Mountain by the way, just go and do your own work." After speaking, he handed him a banknote.

The clerk looked at the money in his hand, and thought that since the other party was going to Tiantong Temple, it would be nothing to come in and sit around. He planned to ask the new foreign clerk to serve them some hot tea and snacks.

Gu Qi whispered: "Chief, these guys in your family have to take care of them."

Zuo Zhong didn't care at all: "If the water is clear, there will be no fish. As long as they have no problem dealing with people, it's fine. Look, this is coming."

A special agent of the intelligence department carefully brought tea and snacks, and divided them between the two section chiefs and a section chief. This was the first time he had had close contact with Zuo Zhong, and he unconsciously glanced at him.

Gu Qi found out this scene, and put the tea bowl in his hand heavily on the table, the spy was so frightened that he quickly bowed and left, Zuo Chong saw that he didn't speak, this little spy should warn.

Any extra actions in the intelligence operation would arouse suspicion. If the Japanese spy was by his side, he would definitely become curious about Zuo Zhong and the others, which might sabotage the operation.

Gui Youguang is very familiar with the low-level spies. After all, he hangs around in the training ground all day long, and he taught some of the spies' skills. Many newcomers, many people have met you from afar, so they are inevitably curious."

After several operations, the intelligence department has successively recruited some newcomers. They admire Zuo Zhong, the legendary section chief, but this is not a reason for violating operational discipline.

Zuo Zhong reprimanded in a low voice: "If you are curious, you need to do extra actions. Then just get me a notebook and ask me to sign it. We are working now, and we have to put everything after action."

After finishing speaking, Zuo Zhong looked outside the tea stand, seemingly enjoying the scenery, because the team of masters from Mount Putuo was approaching, and the exhausted monks saw that the tea stand quickened their pace.

The one who walked in the front was the abbot of Guanyin Temple, who was much older than Master Hongwu. He had suffered all the way and was so tired that he was out of breath. Fortunately, there was a young novice supporting him.

Walking to the side of the tea stall, the little novice helped the abbot of Guanyin Temple to sit down on the seat, and bowed to the waiter: "This benefactor, I wonder if you can prepare some tea for us, please."

The guy pushed with a smile on his face: "That's natural. This tea shop is specially prepared by our Zuo family for the masters. I will immediately send tea and pastries. Don't worry, it's made by a vegetarian shop in the city."

The masters had encountered the tea shop of Zuo’s family before, and they couldn’t help but sigh that Zuo’s family is really a family of good deeds. It seems that they can go to his house to try to make alms in the future. The abbot of Guanyin Temple even recited a Buddhist name.

"Amitabha, I am really grateful to your master. If there is a chance, I can ask your master to go to the Guanyin Temple in Putuo Mountain. The whole temple will definitely welcome you."

The buddy smiled naively, how could he be the master of the master's house, and hurriedly called others to serve hot tea to the masters, and plates of exquisite dim sum were brought out of the food box.

The masters ate vegetarian snacks and drank hot tea, and the fatigue on the road was swept away. The previously dull eyes came alive, their bodies moved, and their faces showed joy.

Zuo Zhong was sitting with a faint smile on his face, looking at the little novice who was rubbing his back and shoulders for the abbot, he thought to himself that he was really a clever little ghost, no wonder he was brought to attend the puja.

Tongsuo devoted himself to serving the old monk, and in his heart scolded Zuo Zhong who was next to him bloody.

(End of this chapter)