usatvline Chapter 91 The Anti-Buddhist Movement is Inevitable!
Chapter 91 The Anti-Buddhist Movement is Inevitable!
Master Fangzheng was one of the few masters in Shaolin Temple who was proficient in the Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic).
His powerful energy erupted, and when he fought against everyone, no one could defeat him.
Master Fang Zheng moved with ease amidst the flashing swords and shadows.
He was also truly enraged, and he held nothing back in his attacks, fighting with all his might, each move fatal!
Moments later, all the agents from the East and West Depots had been killed by him.
Blood stained the ground of Shaolin Temple, and corpses littered the Buddhist hall. The solemn Buddha statues watched the carnage unfold indifferently, remaining silent.
When only Master Fangzheng and the official in charge of the Ministry of Revenue remained on the scene, Master Fangzheng clasped his hands together to conclude his practice.
"Amitabha Buddha, well said, well said."
After bowing, the master of the formation looked at the livid-faced official from the Ministry of Revenue and spoke coldly.
"I will spare your dog's life."
"Go back and tell your emperor that he wants to collect taxes on the land of other temples, but this humble monk will not interfere."
"But there's absolutely no way we can collect taxes from the Shaolin Temple's lands!"
"Shaolin Temple is unwilling to get involved in worldly disputes, but that does not mean that Shaolin Temple is afraid of anyone."
"If you dare to bring up the matter of taxation again, don't blame us monks for breaking the precept against killing!"
After saying this, Master Fangzheng left the Buddhist hall.
The official in charge of the Ministry of Revenue looked at the corpses scattered on the ground with a grim face. Without saying a word, he turned around and left Shaolin Temple immediately.
There was no point in saying more; his most important task at the moment was to report this matter back to His Majesty as soon as possible and ask for His Majesty's decision!
Master Fangzheng stood upstairs, watching the disheveled figure of the Ministry of Revenue official as he left, before turning and entering the Sutra Repository behind him.
"Fang Zheng, has he left?"
Master Fangzheng clasped his hands in a Buddhist salute and said, "Reporting to the abbot, they have already left."
"Yes, you did a great job. There are some things we will never back down from."
"We want the imperial court to know that our Shaolin Temple neither causes trouble nor is afraid of trouble. If they want to collect taxes from us, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty is not qualified."
"The abbot is right."
Master Fangzheng bowed once again to Abbot Xuanci, the true leader of Shaolin Temple.
Abbot Xuanci had been in charge of Shaolin Temple for many years, but in recent years he had devoted himself to martial arts and no longer cared about the temple's mundane affairs.
Instead, his other disciples took turns serving as abbots to manage the secular affairs of Shaolin Temple.
Besides Master Fangzheng, there were also Venerable Monk Kongjian, Master Jueyuan, Master Du'e, Master Tianfeng, Master Baocan, and others.
It just so happens that it was Master Fangzheng's turn to take charge of the work during this period.
Besides Master Xuanci, the other rotating abbots were also in the room.
They were all highly skilled in martial arts, had been living in the world for a long time, and were used to the servile Ming officials, so they had no respect for the court.
They wholeheartedly agreed with Master Fangzheng's actions, and no one felt that there was anything wrong with him killing a few government officials who came to collect taxes.
They were confident that, with the profound foundation of their Shaolin Temple, dozens of top-notch martial arts masters, and tens of thousands of lay monks, the Ming Dynasty had no way to deal with them!
"Shh...shh...shh..."
Outside the library, an elderly monk was sweeping the floor.
He was very old, with completely white hair and beard, and had been sweeping the floor here for decades.
He knew everything that had just happened, but he didn't care.
He simply swept his own floor day after day, year after year.
In his heart, he didn't think his life would change in any way.
He will continue sweeping like this until he dies of old age.
……
Forbidden City.
Cining Palace.
The official in charge of the Ministry of Revenue knelt before Zhu Houzhao, trembling with fear.
Beside him, Zhou Jing was also kneeling on the ground, his forehead dripping with cold sweat, not daring to raise his head.
"You mean, not only did Shaolin Temple refuse to pay taxes, but they also killed the garrison eunuch and the tax supervisor who came to collect them?"
After an unknown amount of time, Zhu Houzhao's deep voice finally rang in their ears.
Just by listening to Zhu Houzhao's voice, the two of them could feel how deep the anger he was suppressing was in his words.
The official in charge of the Ministry of Revenue answered tremblingly, "Yes, Your Majesty."
"They said that His Majesty should stop coveting their Shaolin Temple, and that it is not His Majesty's place to collect taxes from the Shaolin Temple."
"They also said that if His Majesty still wants to collect taxes from Shaolin Temple, then don't blame Shaolin Temple for unleashing a massacre."
"presumptuous!"
Zhu Houzhao slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly!
Zhou Jing and the Ministry of Revenue officials immediately lowered their heads, not daring to face Zhu Houzhao's rage.
At this moment, Zhu Houzhao was furious. The Shaolin Temple's attitude in provoking him had already made him want to kill them!
The Shaolin Temple's attitude towards the imperial court is a very typical example of how martial arts practitioners treat the imperial court.
This group of lawless, contemptuous monks should have been killed long ago!
It's not just Shaolin Temple; the entire martial arts world needs a thorough overhaul!
An anti-Buddhist movement that would sweep across the entire Ming Dynasty was now inevitable!
"Liu Jin!"
"This old servant is here!"
Liu Jin held her breath and entered the room, her eyes fixed on the ground, not daring to look around.
Even he, waiting outside the door, knew that Zhu Houzhao was furious. Liu Jin was cautious and dared not provoke Zhu Houzhao.
"Go, bring Cao Zhengchun, Yu Huatian, Zhuge Zhengwo, and Shen Lian to me!"
"Hurry!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Liu Jin quickly left the room, not daring to linger for a moment, and immediately went to summon the ministers whose names had been called by Zhu Houzhao.
When conveying his message to these ministers, Liu Jin specifically instructed them that Zhu Houzhao was currently in a very bad mood and that they should be careful in their actions.
Soon, Cao Zhengchun, Yu Huatian, Zhuge Zhengwo, and Shen Lian knelt before Zhu Houzhao.
"Your humble servant pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
Upon seeing the four men, Zhu Houzhao immediately gave them orders.
"You lot, along with Zhu Wushi, immediately lead your teams to Shaolin Temple. No matter what methods you use, no matter what price you pay, you must raze Shaolin Temple to the ground for me!"
"Slaughter the entire Shaolin Temple, leave not a single dog alive!"
Zhu Houzhao couldn't wait a moment longer to destroy the Shaolin Temple!
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Seeing that Zhu Houzhao was indeed furious, the four men's spirits sank to the bottom, and they solemnly bowed and accepted the order.
A subject must die for his sovereign. Zhu Houzhao's military orders were absolute. Since Zhu Houzhao could no longer keep Shaolin Temple, they had to spare no effort to completely eradicate it!
"Furthermore, after destroying the Shaolin Temple, order me to conduct a nationwide investigation into illegally constructed temples and monks without ordination certificates!"
"Smash every temple that isn't recorded in the imperial archives!"
"All monks without an ordination certificate from the imperial court shall be forced to return to secular life!"
"Those who disobey will be killed without mercy!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
After accepting the order, the four men immediately organized their forces and headed to Mount Song to destroy the Shaolin Temple!