I studied in modern times

Chapter 762 Zhang Dunli: I don’t accept it!
Fayun Temple is one of the youngest temples in Bianjing City.

But the temple is not inferior to many traditional old temples in terms of incense.

Every day, pilgrims come and go. Devout men and women prostrate themselves before the statue of Putuo Bodhisattva in the temple, praying for their wishes and begging for the protection of the gods and Buddhas so that their wishes can come true.

The reason why Fayun Temple can be what it is today is all due to the fact that the abbot Xiu Zai is well versed in Buddhism, especially in Yuantong Zen, and is a great Zen master of the contemporary era.

However, this great Zen master has been feeling that things have not been going well for him recently, and it seems that some evil force is making things difficult for him.

So he chanted a Buddhist name: "Amitabha!"

"Good! Good!"

He then made the Cundi seal and chanted the mantra in order to achieve inner peace and successful meditation.

However, he had just enjoyed a moment of peace when the arrival of a young monk caused his Zen mind to be disturbed again.

"Host..."

“They’re here to ask for money again…”

Monk Xiuzai raised his head suddenly: "Money!?"

"What kind of money is there?"

The pawnshops have all been taken away by the government!
All the account books, accounting office and clerks were taken away and incorporated into the pawnshop of the first wing of the right army in the inner city.

And this pawnshop was about to be bought out.

I heard that the starting price is one million strings of cash!
Ordinary people didn't even have the qualifications to enter. Even the wealthy families would form groups of three or five to participate in the buying.

Where can he get the money?

But the young monk was not willing to give in: "Master, didn't the government say that after the sale, the principal of the pawnshop will be returned and all the debts of the pawnshop will be paid?"

"In addition, our temple also has a certain amount of shares in the new pawnshop..."

Monk Xiuzai immediately became anxious: "What does that money have to do with them?"

"These are all the inheritance of the Prince Consort's family!"

The young monk looked at Xiuzai's face and said slowly, "Master, do you think they will give up?"

Monk Xiuzai closed his eyes and stopped talking.

Yes, like most other temples, the pawnshop of Fayun Temple adopts the douniu system.

The so-called temple pawnshop is just a white glove in front of the stage.

The ones who truly control the pawnshop are never monks.

But it’s the noble and influential relatives behind the monk!
It was precisely with the protection of these people that the temple's pawnshop business was able to remain stable.

But now, the situation has changed suddenly.

The government took strong action and used pawnshops to swallow up all the pawnshops.

The former protective umbrella knelt down without even resisting in front of the real powerful force.

Now, these cowards are here to force Fayun Temple to pay back the money!
But where does Fayun Temple get the money?
Yes!
Kaifeng Prefecture said that the pawnshop would take over all the deposits and loans of the pawnshop.

The account books, the accounting office, and the clerks were all in the hands of the government.

They were indeed calculating the capital and loans of various pawnshops day and night.

But the problem is...

Is the money in the pawnshop owned by the pawnshop?
No!

It was deposited in the pawnshop by someone else.

In order to maintain its reputation, every transaction in the pawnshop is recorded in black and white.

Today, these account books are in the hands of the government.

In order to ensure its credibility, the government directly launched a major move - according to the official announcement of Kaifeng Prefecture: all deposits in pledge warehouses will no longer be required to pay storage fees after being transferred to the pawnshop.

Moreover, after the pledge, we no longer charge customers storage fees!

Just this one move instantly made countless guests happy and encouraged.

In the past, pawnshops would keep customers' belongings, but they would charge for it.

According to the rules, a storage fee of thirty wen must be paid to the pawnshop for every string of money each year.

Now, pawnshops provide safekeeping services for everyone’s belongings free of charge.

For a time, people rushed to the pawnshop with their withdrawal notices and tokens of trust, and turned their pledge deposits into pawnshop deposits.

Changed to new posts and keepsakes.

So don’t count on saving money.

As for the loans given out?

The government said it and bought it!
The so-called peace purchase means calculating based on cost, right?

What usury?

Don't even think about it!
It is good enough that the government is willing to pay the capital - as for the interest, the officials and soldiers of the government will definitely accept it with pleasure.

But these loans are actually deposits.

As a result, the cash flow of the pawnshop itself was transferred to the pawnshop.

Therefore, in fact, what the pawnshop can finally get is the shares of the pawnshop promised by the government!

According to regulations, each pawnshop needs to reserve 30% of its shares for various pawnshops.

Unfortunately, the pawnshop of Fayun Temple was located in the first wing of the Right Army in the inner city of Bianjing together with the pawnshops of Daxiangguo Temple and Taipingxingguo Temple.

Faced with such huge buildings as Daxiangguo Temple and Taipingxingguo Temple.

The small Fayun Temple is not worth seeing at all!

As a result, the amount of dry shares that can be obtained is pitifully small.

There is not enough for the real big shots!
Not to mention anything else, the prince consort's family will definitely get the biggest share!
Is there any extra to share with others?
The young monk looked at Xiu Zai and said nothing. He frowned and said, "Master..."

"They said that if Fayun Temple refused to pay back, they would sue the authorities!"

"Once he reports to the authorities, the prince consort will probably lose his dignity!"

Xiuzai just bowed his head and sighed: "Amitabha!"

"Fayun Temple, there is really no money to be taken!"

He looked at the young monk and said earnestly, "Go and have a good talk with those donors..."

"Please ask them to do as much as possible to make it easier for you!"

"If it doesn't work, I'll let them sue the authorities if they really want to!"

Although, suing officials does have a bad impact.

If the matter really gets out of hand, the prince consort will be upset and may even be punished by the court.

But this is not a matter of a few thousand strings of cash.

It is a business worth tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of strings of cash!

No matter what, the prince consort refused to let this huge sum of money go into someone else's pocket.

At worst, we’ll just get embarrassed and red in the face.

It's nothing more than a salary deduction!
Could it be that the Empress Dowager was willing to lock up the husband of her only surviving daughter in the Imperial Academy?
If this really happens, the princess will go to the palace and cry.

He even cried before the portrait of the late emperor in Jingling Palace and in front of the portrait of the late emperor in Ying Temple.

The young monk sighed, knowing that Xiuzai could not be persuaded, so he could only bow and say, "Master, are you really unwilling to make concessions?"

Xiuzai kept silent, looking very solemn.

The young monk had no choice but to leave.

After the young monk left, Xiuzai opened his eyes, shook his head and sighed, "Good! Good!"

"If the court does not respect Buddhism, there will be disaster!"

He looked towards the door of the Zen room. The scorching sun was still burning the courtyard.

"This is the Buddha's punishment for the court's disrespect for the monks!"

...There are a total of twenty wing blocks in the north wing of the new city of Bianjing. The official office of the Zongzheng Temple is located in Fushanfang in the north wing.

Therefore, the northern wing of the new city of Bianjing was filled with the homes of royal family members and foreign relatives.

This is because the Zongzheng Temple was accustomed to building residences of royal family members and relatives by marriage near its own office for the convenience of management.

Therefore, Guangqin House (where the descendants of Qin King Zhao Tingmei live), Muchin House (where the descendants of Pu King live), and Qinxian House (where the late emperor's brothers live) are all in the north wing.

And in this north wing, there is a special place, that is Yongningfang, commonly known as "Princess Fang".

There are many princesses' mansions scattered around the area.

However, according to the system of the Song Dynasty, these princess houses built by the imperial court would be reclaimed after the princess's death.

Only the residence of Princess Wu, the seventh daughter of Emperor Taizong and the younger sister of Zhenmiao, was not reclaimed by the court after her death.

The reason why the Grand Princess of Wu's house was not reclaimed was because her life was extremely miserable, so she converted to Buddhism in her later years and became a nun.

The Zhen Temple was extremely sympathetic to the younger sister and bestowed upon her a plaque inscribed with "Chongzhen Zishengyuan", allowing Princess Xu to practice Buddhism at home.

After the princess passed away, the court mourned, and the Zhen Temple specially ordered that the Chongzhen Zisheng Temple remain preserved, becoming a place of retirement for many palace ladies in their old age, which could be considered as accumulating good karma for the princess.

Therefore, there is a bit of Zen in Yongningfang.

From time to time, you can hear the bells in Chongzhen Zisheng Temple.

At this moment, the sound of a bell echoed in Yongningfang.

In a corner of Yongningfang, near the Anyuan Gate, stands a princess's residence.

This is also the only princess residence in the Song Dynasty today.

The people who live here are naturally about to come out.

In the eighth year of Yuanfeng, Princess Shoukang, who had been promoted to the Grand Princess of Ji State, and her husband Zhang Dunli, the Duke of Fuma and the Governor of Mizhou, and Zhang Dunli's family.

Princess Shoukang is thirty-six years old this year. As the younger sister of the late emperor, the princess has a gentle personality and usually does not like to go out. She only stays in this princess residence, eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist scriptures.

However, the son-in-law Zhang Dunli was a very active relative of the emperor in the city of Bianliang. He was active everywhere, made many connections, and had many friends among the court officials.

At this time, it was already evening.

Zhang Dunli came home drunk just like he always did.

Princess Shoukang brought her maid to help him back to the inner house, and then took care of him as carefully as any other wife in the Song Dynasty.

He took a towel to wipe Zhang Dunli's sweat and brought him tea to help him sober up.

When Zhang Dunli sobered up a little, the princess gently persuaded him, "Why are you so drunk again today, Mr. Zhang?"

Zhang Dunli did not answer, but just asked: "Where is Bingyuan?"

Princess Shoukang said, "My eldest brother was taken to my brother-in-law's residence today..."

The princess and Zhang Dunli had one son and three daughters.

The eldest son, Zhang Bingyuan, was fourteen years old. In the sixth year of Yuanfeng, he was personally chosen by the late emperor to marry his sixth daughter, the younger sister of the current emperor.

Unfortunately, the princess died of a sudden illness in the seventh year of Yuanfeng.

Otherwise, with the current emperor's favor towards his sisters, the Zhang family's wealth and prosperity would surely continue.

However, the emperor of the time still has two younger sisters.

Therefore, Princess Shoukang often brought her son into the palace and showed up in front of the two palaces.

It is to pave the way for my son so that they can have closer relatives in the future.

When Zhang Dunli heard that his son was taken away by his brother-in-law Wang Shiyue, he was somehow very unhappy.

"Didn't I tell you to have less contact with the Wang family?" Zhang Dunli looked at Princess Shoukang angrily, "Why did you let Master Wang take Bingyuan over?!"

Princess Shoukang said helplessly: "My brother-in-law is a favorite of the emperor and a role model among the relatives of the emperor."

"I sent my eldest brother there in the hope that my brother-in-law could give me some more advice..."

"A reminder... a reminder... a reminder!" Zhang Dunli's face suddenly fell.

"In the end, all the benefits will go to the Wang family!"

"What are the current ranks of the two young masters of the Wang family?"

In the eighth year of Yuanfeng, the current emperor ascended the throne. Soon after, he was deeply saddened because the eldest princess of Yan State passed away on the same day as the previous emperor.

So, the princess immediately granted her two sons the title of Princess Enyin.

The eldest son, Wang Shu, was promoted from the envoy of Dongranyuan to the envoy of the imperial city and was appointed as the envoy of Chengzhou militia.

The second son, Wang Zhi, was promoted from the deputy envoy of Liuzhai to the envoy of Liuzhai and was appointed the commander of the militia of Lizhou.

Two rampant officials in one day!
The key point is that these two people were only in their early twenties at the time!

You know, many princes and grandchildren have to work hard for many years to climb to this position! Many princes and grandchildren, even if their hair turns white, still can't become a powerful official!

Forget it!
The key point is that Wang Shiyue has become a celebrity in front of the current emperor, and has been praised by imperial edicts many times, regarded as a model for foreign relatives and a model for contemporary princes-in-law.

In the first year of Yuanyou, Wang Shiyue was promoted from the Jinzhou Surveillance Envoy to the Acting Jiedushi of Zhen'an Army and was given the Jieyue!
Not only that, the Wang family's business is growing bigger and bigger, and more and more prosperous!
It is said that Wang Shiyue and Cao Yi, Prince of Xingyang, jointly decided on a pawnshop during this rush to buy the pawnshop.

If this is true.

This proves that Wang Shiyue will take over the Cao family and become the leader of the foreign relatives of the Yuanyou Dynasty!

Zhang Dunli didn't know what others thought.

But Zhang Dunli was very unhappy!

Why?
Why?!
They are all princes-in-law and uncles of the emperor, so why can the Wang family rise to prominence?

But his Zhang family is standing still!
He refused to accept it! He refused to accept it!

Naturally, no matter how I looked at Wang Shiyue, I just didn't like him.

Unfortunately, the pawnshop that the family had managed with great difficulty was forcibly taken back by the imperial court.

Zhang Dunli's resentment towards Wang Shiyue naturally grew.

Princess Shoukang looked at her husband's expression and could only say softly, "Don't worry, Zhang Lang..."

"My mother and the Queen Mother in the palace have told me everything!"

"After two years, when my eldest brother is crowned, I will let him enter the palace and serve as a confidant of the emperor, so that he can be the future emperor!"

But Zhang Dunli scoffed at this.

He snorted and said, "Wang Shu of the Wang family was specially appointed as the personal commander of the second commander of the first general of Yulong in the first month of this year!"

"Maybe by the end of the year I'll be entering the palace, starting as a gatekeeper!"

"Our Bingyuan is just a promise..."

"When Bingyuan comes of age and the emperor takes over the government, the emperor will be the one who keeps his word!"

"Given the government's partiality to the Wang family, I'm afraid my Bingyuan will have to live under the shadow of the Wang family for the rest of his life!"

If Wang Shiyue really took over Cao Yi's position, he would become the leader of the foreign relatives.

He, Zhang Dunli, and his descendants will always be suppressed by him!

Princess Shoukang listened and sighed helplessly: "Zhang Lang..."

"Thunder, lightning, rain and dew are all grace from the Lord!"

Zhang Dunli snorted twice and said, "Not necessarily!"

"I see that the present generation has committed such perverse acts, which has caused the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people. The Buddha is furious and has sent down such a disaster!"

"I'm afraid it may not last long..."

"If there is a royal carriage one day..."

Princess Shoukang immediately covered his mouth and said, "Are you crazy?"

"How dare you say such outrageous words?!"

"If this gets out, your whole family will be implicated because of you!"

"I'll implicate you if you want me to!" Zhang Dunli refused to give in and continued to shout, "Can't I tell the truth?"

But he no longer dared to mention Buddha or disasters.

(End of this chapter)