Crazy at the end of the Ming Dynasty

"Long respect! We can do our best, but there is no need to send money. Although the Runing Army has the responsibility to calm the place, it is not our fault that the thieves and thieves killed it. I am afraid that once the precedent is set, it will change in the future. If it becomes a routine, it will increase a lot of unnecessary expenses!" Deng Qifan put forward his opinion.

"So this time it's just a gift, not compensation." Wu Shigong explained, "The reason why the gentry of Runing and Guide supported our Runing army is because we can protect their homeland. But this time the Shaanxi bandits killed them, they There must be complaints in our hearts, so let's put down our dignity and make friends, and give some small profits to make up for one or two, although it can't fully make up for its losses, it can also eliminate its grievances."

Seeing Wu Shigong's insistence, Deng Qifan stopped persuading him.

Wu Shigong went on to say: "Letting Fu Wenzhai go with him also has other effects. Let him introduce the efforts and helplessness of our Runing Army to those gentry, and seek their understanding. Then let him collect some materials, and wait for Fu Wenzhai After I came back, I compiled a book about the deeds of our Runing Army soldiers and the efforts of the local gentry in fighting the Shan bandits, and then distributed propaganda widely, which can be regarded as compensation for their face."

Deng Qifan thought for a while, then nodded and said: "The Chang Jing is also worried. This time, people are indeed in panic, so it's good to appease. Even the local people are also anxious, but the foreign monk brought back by your lord is like a fish in water. He preaches teachings, The good men and women who believe in him are like crucian carp crossing the river, and even his Xiaoyang Temple is full of people now."

"Oh?" Since he brought Father Carrera back, Wu Shigong didn't care about his actions, that priest often came to the inner house to preach to Wu Shigong.Of course Wu Shigong was just perfunctory and treated him as a relative.Unexpectedly, Father Carrera has created a situation now, which has attracted Wu Shigong's attention.

He hurriedly asked Deng Qifan, "Do you know how many people believe in this foreign religion?"

"There are several thousand!" Deng Qifan replied, "Shan Chuansi also started to stare at him. But this foreign monk didn't do anything. He was doing some things like sending doctors, asking medicines and persuading farmers. That foreign monk Although he is a barbarian, his actions are still righteous."

Those Western missionaries who went to the East to preach at that time, in addition to having very firm beliefs, those missionaries were also very knowledgeable, and they also had a lot of knowledge in encyclopedias, so they helped the local people cure diseases and solve practical difficulties. spread the teachings of Catholicism.

But Wu Shigong began to notice the danger.Because at this time, Catholicism in the West and Islam in the Middle East are both emphasizing the unity of politics and religion, so when they develop and grow, they will definitely challenge the secular regime.therefore.Now Wu Shigong is about to start planning his own religious policy.

Wu Shigong is not willing to ban any religions or carry out some doctrinal reforms for some religions, because he also knows how much he has, and he does not have the ability to do so, and there is no need to form antagonism with religious groups.Again, regardless of belief.As long as this kind of religion exhorts people to do good, it is also a kind of psychological sustenance for believers.

That is.Wu Shigong is now going to define the red line of religion.within the red line.Religion can be spread and believed freely; but outside the red line, the Runing Army will vigorously attack.Taking advantage of the fact that the power of religious groups in the area under our control is still very weak, we should first make a good distance, so as to prevent any unforeseen events and cause internal turmoil when the religion really becomes stronger in the future.

So Wu Shigong tapped his fingers on the table and thought about it carefully.Deng Qifan and Xue Yongli also knew about Wu Shigong's habit, and they were quietly waiting for Wu Shigong to consider it carefully.

After a while, Wu Shigong gave orders to Deng Qifan: "Brother Yuanjin! Set up a Religious Affairs Bureau under Youyou's Foreign Affairs Department to be responsible for all religious affairs. First grasp the following points:"

"In the area controlled by our Runing Army, freedom of preaching and freedom of religious belief are also respected. But we also respect non-believers or worship at temples. In the process of preaching, we can only use oral propaganda and dissemination of scriptures, and we cannot use violence and threats. That is You can use your mouth, but you can’t use your hands. Otherwise, immediately suppress it with all your strength.”

"Second, all religions to be preached must be reported to our Religious Affairs Bureau. First, the two churches of Zhizhi and Priest Kareli should be approved. Other temples in the territory should also be reported to the Religious Affairs Bureau. Otherwise, the spread of .Newly established or newly entered religions must be strictly reviewed. In principle, they will not be approved. There are exceptions: for example, Huihui and Lama churches must have certain believers before they can set up temples. Strictly prevent the spread of cults such as the White Lotus Sect and the Holy Spirit Society. Once discovered, the leader will be hanged immediately, and the believers will be forced to labor immediately. On this point, let Fu Wenzhai also spread the word, and don't let those foolish people offend without knowing it. Otherwise, although it is pitiful, the official The law is like a furnace, and will not forgive."

"Third, except for their own temples, all religions are not allowed to buy real estate. The temple fields can only be cultivated by themselves, and it is strictly forbidden to hire tenant farmers. Once violations are found, the leased fields will be confiscated immediately and fined. The temple will be severely punished. The guilt of the Lord. It’s really funny. I heard Zhizhi say that there are hundreds of thousands of acres of temple land in one Shaolin Temple. Monks don’t pay attention to practice, they just think about wearing cassocks and fish meat. Tell them, our Runing Army only needs eminent monks Dharma, there is no need for those who discredit the Buddha. In addition, money lending and gambling are strictly prohibited in temples."

In fact, in ancient temples, believers accumulated a lot of wealth and land because of their large donations.In order to increase their income, some temples even put up usury and gambling.Therefore, if there are any traversers who want to carry out these two industries in ancient times, the competitors they face are often those bald monks and Taoist priests.In other words, it will face the joint ban of Shaolin and Wudang.I don't know if he will be ordered to kill him?

Wu Shigong took another sip of wine to moisturize his throat, and then said: "Fourth, every year, the expenses of each temple are listed in the list, and a merit wall is built at the entrance of each temple. The donations of believers are all recorded on the wall of merit. When the donation exceeds the needs of the temple, the excess part is given to the common people as the expenses of opening rescue halls, porridge and medicine, and cemeteries without owners. The temple should not be kept for private use, as the merit of the temple."

"Finally, any temple, monastery, monk or Taoist personnel will be approved and not allowed to exceed at will. And apart from farming tools and sticks, no iron weapons should be left behind. Once found, it will be punished as rebellion. There will be no mercy on this point. of."

Deng Qifan quickly recited silently what Wu Shigong said.Deng Qifan himself was deeply immersed in Confucianism, and he also had an attitude towards religion, "Zi said: respect ghosts and gods and stay away!", so he had no objection to Wu Shigong's religious attitude.

Besides, this religious policy was originally beneficial to the rule of the Runing Army and the healthy development of religion.As long as they are religious leaders who do not want to rebel, they have nothing to object to.However, Deng Qifan still thought of the entrustment of his friend Zhizhi, so he said to Wu Shigong: "Long respect! What you said is very true! But when this foreign religion first came, it was placed on the same status as the temple of Zhizhi. Virtue and the people are dissatisfied!"

"There is nothing to be dissatisfied with!" At this time, Wu Shigong showed strength, "It is because Father Carrera is obedient. Our Runing Army has been here for so long, have any temples from the local Taoist temple come here? As far as they are concerned You look so good, do you want to preach smoothly in the future? You should put down your dignity to us first!"

But Wu Shigong also knew Zhizhi's thoughts, because Zhizhi did not greet Wu Shigong through Deng Qifan.But Father Carrera has done it in a hurry, and now he has some psychological pressure on the intelligence who wants to turn the area controlled by the Runing Army into a Buddhist holy place.

So Wu Shigong went on to explain: "The patriarch of the little bald donkey, Master Bodhidharma, was also from Tianzhu, and he was also a barbarian. How can we explain his intelligence? So we must look at Ned, not just his appearance. Let that little bald donkey go down the mountain! It is very important to practice before the Buddha, and it is also very important to spread the light of Buddha in the world!"

Ever since Wu Shigong ordered the extermination of Leopard Heads, resulting in the death of a large number of innocent people, Zhizhi has been at odds with Wu Shigong.Afterwards, Wu Shigong also visited Zhizhi several times, trying to make up the relationship between the two, but he was always rejected.This made Wu Shigong lose face, so when it comes to intelligence, he always gets a little angry.

"Originally, according to the relationship between wisdom and the two of us, we can always get some convenience when preaching, but look at what this little bald donkey has done? During this expedition, there were many soldiers who got sick and frostbite on the way. I I just want to set up a medical department to take care of all the medical treatment. Brother Yuanjin! You have a good relationship with Zhizhi, so I will work hard to persuade him to let Zhizhi go down the mountain and take care of the medical department first. He has saved others. , isn’t it just spreading Buddha’s light?”

Deng Qifan immediately smiled and said: "Students try their best to persuade!" With Wu Shigong's arrangement, Zhizhi has actually occupied a favorable position in spreading Buddhism, because he has also become a senior official of the Runing Army.Therefore, Deng Qifan thinks that it is not difficult for him to persuade, and Zhizhi will basically agree.

But Deng Qifan remembered another thing, he cupped his hands to Wu Shigong and said: "Speaking of enlightenment! The students are here to congratulate you sir. After the Runing Army opened the school, this time finally produced more than [-] outstanding students After this county examination, seven of them became Tongsheng. The students also tested the knowledge of the seven of them, and thought that one of them had a better chance in the government examination, and the two had a certain chance. Our Runing Army finally passed You have cultivated your own talent!" (To be continued...)