cicada

Chapter 160 Indecision
On the morning of the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, before dawn, the road from Ningbo to Taibai Mountain was full of pedestrians, believers from all over the world who came to participate in the Tiantong Temple Dharma Conference.

Zuo's family was walking on the road in a car. Zuo Zhong didn't bring too many people with him this time. There were only three cars in total, and the intelligence department didn't send anyone to accompany them. The colleagues were the most sensitive. It was too conspicuous for dozens of spies to appear together. It is difficult to hide from Japanese spies.

Moreover, the Ningbo Police Station also sent a large number of police officers to help today. Coupled with the secret agents in disguise in Tiantong Temple, it is safe enough.

Zuo Jun looked at the excited people outside the car window, and was a little puzzled, so he asked Zuo Zhong: "Brother, why do you think these people are so happy?"

Zuo Zhong thought for a while, then said leisurely: "I want something, I get something, so I am happy."

Zuo Jun didn't understand, so he just closed his eyes and went to sleep. Zuo Duo seemed to understand something. After all, he studied in a missionary school and was no stranger to faith, but he became depressed when he thought of going back to school.

Seeing the appearance of his siblings, Zuo Zhong smiled slightly, thinking about today's puja, wondering if he could catch that fox's tail, it would be a pity to waste this opportunity.

The car was parked outside Wansong Avenue, the sun had already risen, and the mist shrouded the mountains. It seemed that today was a sunny day, but the temperature in the mountains was surprisingly cold, and it was still early, so the Zuo family didn’t have to compete with ordinary good people Everyone stayed in the car to rest, Zuo Jun and Zuo Duo had already fallen asleep.

Zuo Chong put on gloves, wrapped himself in the cashmere coat, opened the car door carefully, got out of the car quietly and closed the door, and then let out a breath of white air.

At this time, Gu Qi appeared beside him like a ghost, and reported in a low voice: "Section Chief, Tongsuo received a letter. Last night's mission was successful, but the result was not good. Those masters are more or less presbyopic. A few people, these are photos and approximate files, and it will take time to get the details.”

After speaking, he handed over a bag of documents to Zuo Zhong. Zuo Zhong took it and didn't open it directly. He lifted his foot and walked aside: "Go to your car and have a look. There are too many people here. Brothers, have you arranged your meals?"

Gu Qi followed suit, and replied cautiously: "In order to prevent accidents, the meals the brothers ate were all vegetarian meals brought from the city. They did not disturb Hong Wu and other masters. Please rest assured, the section chief."

The two got into Gu Qi's car, Zuo Zhong opened the wire-wound clasp on the file bag, took out the files inside, and pictures of old monks with kind faces or dignified faces appeared in his eyes.

Zuo Zhong looked at it for a long time, and then took out the corresponding personal information. These people are all the abbots of various temples or lecturers.

Gu Qi explained on the side: "These people are basically born as orphans. Either they were thrown at the gate of the temple in a disaster year, or the whole family only had one person alive, and they could only entrust themselves to Buddhism. And because of the needs of preaching and traveling, their whereabouts are not easy to check. .”

Zuo Zhong sneered: "What a good reason and excuse, the Japanese really took great pains."

Gu Qi also agreed: "Yes, if it is another identity, no matter how true the background information is, we can still trace and investigate. They will be troublesome if they are like this, and they can't go to the underworld to investigate."

Zuo Zhong put the materials into the file bag, and while wrapping the sealing rope, he said: "These people are keeping an eye on them, to see if they can find some witnesses from the same township, neighbors, etc. They won't all be dead, right? There is one Count it as one, bring me all the witnesses to Ningbo, and let the regional stations cooperate."

Gu Qi bowed his head and said: "Yes, section chief, I will let the intelligence teams of each district station handle this matter as soon as possible. It is just about to celebrate the New Year, and the personnel are easy to find. They will not all return home."

Zuo Zhong thought it was right: "That's the reason. Nothing in the world is difficult for those who have a heart. We have done a solid job. Even if we catch a spy, we can use it as evidence. After all, the identity of a spy should have a lot of influence. Conventional torture methods It’s not easy to use it on him, you need to be cautious in everything.”

Only then did Gu Qi realize that if there is no solid evidence, even if there is a suspicious person, it is useless. You can't put the revered master on the electric chair as a light bulb.

The temperature gradually increased, and the mist condensed on the car window into water droplets, which slowly slid down from the top of the glass, forming traces. Zuo Zhong suddenly heard his sister Zuo Duo calling him outside.

Zuo Zhong stuffed the file bag to Gu Qi: "I'm leaving first. If you have something to do, go to the viewing platform to find me. Remember to restrain yourself. Although the other party is a monk and a spy, he is absolutely professional and can't be careless."

After finishing speaking, without waiting for Gu Qi to speak, he opened the car door and walked out. When he saw Zuo Duo running around looking for him, Zuo Zhong waved his hand: "Duo Duo, I'm here, what's wrong?"

Zuo Duo ran over bouncingly and looked at the car behind him. She recognized that it was her own car, and thought that it might be used by her brother's colleagues, so she gave up her curiosity and said charmingly: "Father, mother." Say you can go."

Zuo Zhong looked at his watch. Before he knew it, it was past six o'clock, and the Fa conference started at seven o'clock, so he could indeed set off. It's okay to be late for this matter.

"Let's go."

A group of the Zuo family boarded the mountain road. This time Zuo Xuechen would not let Zuo Zhong carry anything on his back. The old man who had rested was very energetic.

On the road, there is no distinction between high and low in the crowd, and they all walk on a pair of feet, but they are divided into high and low when they arrive at the temple. , as well as hot water pastries.

It is very close to the altar, so you can clearly listen to Master Hongwu's lectures, and there is a wall behind it to block the cold wind, which is very comfortable.

Those who can be in this place are either high-ranking officials or wealthy businessmen. As soon as Zuo Xuechen and Zuo Shanwen arrived, they greeted their acquaintances frequently, and Zuo Zhong hid behind them.

Those who do his job will not show their faces unless they can. Anyway, in Ningbo City, only the eldest son of the Zuo family is known, and not many people have seen him.

Ordinary people also took up seats at this meeting. Apart from being crowded, there were no quarrels. It seemed that everyone was very polite in front of the Buddha.

At seven o'clock, the presiding officer Hongwu walked out of the main hall surrounded by Tiantong Temple. Under the timely sunshine, the master was like a fairy.

Zuo Zhong understood why the Dharma conference started at seven o'clock. This was the time when the sun was rising and the mist was slightly dispersing, so it was convenient for people to show their holiness in front of them.

Otherwise, if the master came out under the dark sky, no matter how high the level of Dharma cultivation is, he would not be able to show the dusty air. This is also the product packaging.

"The merits and virtues of the monks who chant the Buddha and make offerings in front of the Buddha, dedicate to all living beings auspiciousness and avoidance of difficulties, growth of blessings and wisdom, ease of mind and body, well-being of the whole family, smoothness of everything, and fulfillment of good wishes. I pray that the Dharma will live for a long time, and that the luck of the Dharma will be prosperous. This is for the present world to cultivate blessings and wisdom to obtain peace and happiness, and to prepare for the lotus state in future generations!"

As Master Hongwu announced the start of the puja, monks from Tiantong Temple and other temples began to chant sutras loudly, and some of the congregation knelt down.

Zuo Zhong was behind his family, scanning the group of monks with his eyes, especially the dozen or so people in the file, but Zuo Zhong was taken aback when he saw them.

Why do these masters look like rabbits, their blood red eyes are really scary, when the cold wind blows, the monks burst into tears.

Zuo Zhong felt a little sorry, knowing that this must be caused by Gu Qi's hands and feet, and there are many masters who suffered from the disaster.

But there is no way, there must be sacrifices. The Buddha also cut meat to feed eagles in the past. He stared at these people closely, wanting to see if there was anything unusual.

But until the end of the chanting, Zuo Zhong didn't find anything. These masters were very familiar with the scriptures they were chanting, and they spoke clearly and in a natural state.

Zuo Zhong was not disappointed, and the Japanese spy would not hide even if he had no ability. The next thing is to see the effect of Master Hongwu's lecture.

The theme of this lecture is to get rid of attachments. That spy must be looking forward to it. Will the flaws in the mind be enlarged under such circumstances?

Master Hongwu walked up to the Dharma altar, sat down cross-legged, and began to give lectures. During the speech, the words were difficult to understand, and the diction was profound. Except for the monks and a few good people, everyone else was at a loss, such as Zuo Zhong's family.

In the Buddhist temple not far away, Gu Qi and several spies with cameras in their hands looked out through the crack of the door.

He ordered in a low voice: "Take pictures immediately, and take pictures of all the expressions and movements of those dozen people. If the case is solved, I will ask for credit for you. The section chief can watch outside. You must not be careless."

The agents found several best angles, observed the masters, and kept pressing the shutter, leaving only the inaudible sound of the shutter in the hall.

With the deepening of the lectures, the expressions of these masters became richer, some were smiling, some were doubtful, some were expressionless, and Zuo Zhong gradually set his sights on the three of them.

Zhanjing, Benzhi, Shenku, these three are the abbots or preachers of the Putuo Mountain Great Temple, and the reaction of the three of them is the strangest, but they don't know whether they have broken their attachments long ago or are hiding something.

Zhan Jing listened attentively to Master Hongwu's lecture, while fiddling with the rosary beads with his hands, and sometimes shook his head slightly. It seemed that he disagreed with what was said on the altar, and he didn't know who he was performing for.

Ben didn't express any objection, but he straightened his feet and sat on the ground like a countryman.

Shen Ku was the one who listened most attentively among the three. The others, because of their old age and infirmity, or because of the cold weather, would move their bodies every once in a while, but he was the only one who remained motionless.

So Zuo focused his attention slowly on Shen Ku. Shen Ku, 67 years old, taught the Dharma at Haichao Nunnery in Putuo Mountain, and had a great reputation in the Jiangnan area.

Haichao Temple is one of the three major temples on Putuo Mountain. It was commended and rewarded by the imperial court many times in the previous dynasty, and it was even named Huguo Zhenhai Temple.

Looking back on this person's information, Zuo Zhong was hesitant. This person has been in Haichao Nunnery for ten years. He usually does not do anything special, and even rarely leaves Mount Putuo. Could he be a spy?
The job of a spy is to obtain information, but he does not have any high-ranking officials among his followers, nor does he make friends with dignitaries everywhere. The most he does is to pray for the poor and eliminate disasters. It is unreasonable what information he can obtain.

(End of this chapter)