Song Que's secular affairs were very simple. There were only a few main things. The first was to gather all the Song family members and publicly announce their allegiance to the Great Hua Empire, allowing the Great Hua Empire to complete its substantive unification.
The second was to announce his abdication and appoint Song Shidao as the next head of the Song family. Song Zhi would fully support him, and the others could not resist.
The third was to announce that Song Yuzhi would enter the palace in three months and be conferred as a concubine, as per Sei Itō's words and Song Que's wishes. Song Yuzhi, who had long been prepared for this, had a calm expression, as if this was not a major event in her life. She did not express any opinions.
The fourth was to select more than half of the Song Family's clansmen from a small group of elites, according to the possibility that he might cause trouble after breaking through the sky, or other considerations, and then set off to various military camps with the order left by Ito Sei. They would join the expedition to the Western Regions and serve the country.
Under Song Que's deterrence, they naturally didn't have any objections since they didn't know what was going on. They set off obediently.
As for the last one, it was also surprising. However, it was reasonable. After Song Que and Fan Qinghui met, he had completely cut off the last strand of love hidden in his heart, and reached a perfect state of mind.
During this period, Sei Itō, who had obtained Song Que's consent, used his, Yin Kui Sect's, and Ci Hang Jing Zhai's intelligence channels to spread the news of the martial arts competition with Song Que to the world, so that everyone would come to watch the ceremony and use this opportunity to show the world his strength.
Therefore, in order to achieve satisfactory results, Sei Itō and Song Que suppressed the time of the martial arts competition to the fifth day of the eleventh month of the first year of Tianming, and the location was Lingnan!
"Your Majesty. Taoist priest Yan Da of Lou Temple, Ning Daoqi of Zhengyi Sect, Zhen Wenzu of Maoshan Sect, Zuo Youxian of Zhen Chudao, Pi Xuan, Liao Kong of Jing Nian Chanyuan, Fan Qinghui of Ci Hang Jing Zhai, Zhihui of Tiantai Sect, Jiaxiang of Three Lun Sect, Di Xin of Huayan Sect, Dao Xin of Shaolin Temple, Zhu Yuyan of Yin Kui Sect, Hou Xibai of Huajian Sect, registered Taoist priest Yuan Tiangang, Li Chunfeng, Grand Scholar Wang Tong, Li Boyan of Hanlin Academy, Assistant Minister of Rites Kong Quanru, Left Assistant Minister of Revenue Fang Xuanling, Right Assistant Minister Du Ruhui, Assistant Minister of Justice Liu Degui, Consultant Pei Ju (Shi Zhixuan), and others have arrived and are waiting outside the Hall for an audience. " On this day, just as Ito Sei was closing his eyes to rest, a little eunuch entered the imperial study and reported to Ito Sei who was sitting on a chair.
Not to mention how many of their names were famous far and wide, just look at the name of the sect that they came from. And his current position. Any one of them could shock tens of thousands of people. At this time, they were all gathered here. It could be seen that the matter to be discussed this time was very serious.
"Announce," Sei Itō said lightly.
"Announce, Taoist Yan Da, Ning Daoqi, Zhen Wenzu, Yuan Tiangang, Li Chunfeng, Zuo Youxian, Pi Xuan. Monk Liao Kong, Zhi Hui, Jia Xiang, Di Xin, Dao Xin, Nun Fan Qinghui, Zhu Yuyan, Hou Xibai, and all the ministers. "The eunuch shouted loudly.
Everyone outside the hall focused their attention in their own ways. With a solemn expression, they followed the eunuch into the spacious imperial study.
"This poor Taoist (poor monk/commoner/minister) greets Your Majesty." Everyone saluted in unison.
"Sit." Sei Itō pointed to the chairs that were arranged in advance in the study and said lightly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Everyone saluted and thanked him. They each found a place to sit down.
Among them, those from the Buddhist Sect and those who were close to the Buddhist Sect sat together. Those from the Daoist Sect and those who were close to the Daoist Sect sat together. The rest were unrelated. The ministers who only cared about the matters at hand sat casually between the two groups of people, regardless of whether they were from the Buddhist Sect or the Daoist Sect.
After sitting down, these people from the Buddhist Sect and the Daoist Sect did not take the initiative to speak. They all looked like they were meditating.
Fang Xuanling was very perceptive and knew to give the Emperor a way out, so he asked, "Your Majesty, the matter of summoning these ministers …"
Yes, it was Fang Xuanling. After destroying the power of the Li Tang, Sei Itō had gathered all the famous historical ministers in the Heavenly Policy Residence together. Based on their respective historical evaluations, they were either directly recruited to surrender, hypnotized to be thrown to the front lines, or hypnotized to be kept at his side. Thus, people like Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Hou Junji, Hong Funu, and Wei Zheng, who was originally at Li Jiancheng's side, had all become Sei Itō's subordinates.
"The purpose of summoning all of you and the scholars from outside the world is very simple. We want to rectify the religion," Sei Itō said as his gaze swept over the meditating Buddhists and Daoists.
Zhu Yuyan, Fan Qinghui, the transformed Liao Kong, Hou Xibai, and Shi Zhixuan, who was disguised as Pei Ju, the historical minister who had split the Turks, were all prepared and did not show any expression. However, the expressions of the others flickered and they perked up their ears to listen attentively.
"How does Your Majesty want to change it?" Di Xin, who was known as the Holy Monk, asked.
"Monasteries and monasteries must pay taxes, the land is limited, and all personnel must register and record their birthplace! In addition, the registered monks and Daoists must accept the official unified examination and certification. Those who pass can retain their Buddhist and Daoist birthplace. Those who do not pass will be forced to return to the secular world. If there are any criminals among them, they will be investigated by the Ministry of Justice! Moreover, in the future, anyone who wants to become a monk, a Daoist, or a Buddhist must hold the monasteries, official documents, family documents, and personal documents. Otherwise, they will not be allowed to enter their birthplace! "Sei Itō said in a sonorous tone.
If it could be said that the faces of the Buddhists and Daoists were grave before, then now their faces were heavy. Unexpectedly, all of them frowned and remained silent.
"Your Majesty's request is really making things difficult for us," Zhen Wenzu said with a wry smile.
"Moreover, Your Majesty should know that the majority of the disciples in our monasteries and monasteries are orphans with no one to rely on. If we force them to live like this, won't we make them have no one to rely on and commit the sin of murder along the way?"
With these two people speaking, except for Yuan Tiangang, Li Chunfeng, Ning Daoqi, Yan Da, Liao Kong, Fan Qinghui, Zuo Youxian, and Pi Chen who remained silent, the others all spoke up one by one. There was even a moment where it looked like the Buddhists and Daoists were working together to suppress the government.
"This time, I summoned you here not to discuss with you, but simply to announce my decision to you. As for what you think, it has nothing to do with me. As long as I find out who among you is resisting, I will definitely send an army to wipe them out. There will be no tolerance." Sei Itō looked coldly at the people who were speaking in the field and said.
"Your Majesty, do you want to risk the world's injustice and incite a rebellion?" Jia Xiang said with a kind expression.
"Are you threatening me?" Sei Itō released a murderous aura and directly pressed down on Jia Xiang. He said coldly, "You can try and see if my hand is faster or if your actions are faster."
As soon as this scene appeared, the Four Holy Monks, who were also one body, immediately stirred up their Genuine Qi and looked like they were ready to fight at any time.
"Your Majesty, my Kind Boathouse is willing to accept the reorganization." Seeing that the situation was about to erupt, Fan Qinghui could not help but speak up to dispel the tense atmosphere in the room.
Hearing Fan Qinghui's words, the Four Holy Monks who were ready to fight were immediately stunned. They looked at Fan Qinghui, who had her head lowered and was not looking at them, in disbelief. They did not understand what was wrong with Fan Qinghui.
However, before the Four Holy Monks could come back to their senses, Liao Kong said, "My Jingnian Zen Temple agrees."
Then, Zuo Youxian and Pi Chen also said, "My Zhen Chudao also agrees with Your Majesty."
"You, you …" Although Zuo Youxian and Pi Chen could represent Taoism, they had nothing to do with the Four Holy Monks. However, Kind Boathouse and Jingnian Zen Temple were different. Buddhist disciples had practically raised them into holy lands. Thus, when the Four Holy Monks came back to their senses, they trembled and pointed at Liao Kong, who had his eyes closed, and Fan Qinghui, who had her eyes slightly lowered. They were so angry that they could not say anything.
On the side, Zhu Yuyan, Hou Xibai, Zuo Youxian, Pi Xuan, and the other Devil Sect people who were happy to see the Buddhists fight among themselves were all smiling as they watched the Buddhists fight among themselves.
"This matter will be jointly carried out by the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Rites. I will send someone to deliver the specific plan to you later." Sei Itō ignored the angry Four Holy Monks, as well as Lou Guandao and the Maoshan Sect people who were stunned and did not know what to do, and looked at Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and the other ministers.
"Yes." The ministers looked at each other, then stood up and responded.
"Since you are in such a situation, you can end it yourselves. I hope you do not make me start another war in the Central Plains. That would not be good for anyone." Sei Itō stood up and said. After that, he did not pay attention to the others' reactions and directly used teleportation to disappear from the Imperial Study. He wanted to take the opportunity to once again intimidate this group of people who, according to past practice, would definitely be able to carry out an assassination.
While everyone was shocked by Sei Itō's methods, Shi Zhixuan, who was disguised as Pei Ju, found the four of them and said, "Taoist Ning, Taoist Yan, Taoist Zhen, Taoist Yuan, Taoist Li, I wonder if you can step aside and talk?"
The several Taoist priests looked at each other and nodded. They followed Pei Ju and then Zuo Youxian and Pi Chen out of the Imperial Study. They went out of the palace and entered a mansion that was temporarily transformed into the Pei Residence. They sat down one by one.
"I wonder what Lord Pei wants to talk to us about?" Zhen Wenzu, who could not stop talking, asked.
"It's about Taoism." Pei Ju smiled.
"Taoism?" Ning Daoqi and the others asked curiously with some vigilance.
"That's right, Taoism." Pei Ju nodded and confirmed. Then he chuckled and said, "In fact, His Majesty himself does not have a bad impression of Taoism like Buddhism. It can even be said that he has a certain good impression of it. It's just that how to make this good impression last is the purpose of this Pei looking for you to talk."
The people present were all smart people. When they heard this, how could they not understand that the Taoist matter had taken a turn for the better? Even this time, Pei Ju looking for them could possibly be arranged by the Emperor. So at this time, their expressions changed and they said solemnly, "Please explain, Lord Pei."
Pei Ju smiled slightly and according to Sei Itō's method, he explained to the Taoist priests present one by one.
"This …" After listening to Pei Ju's explanation, Ning Daoqi, Yan Da, Li Chunfeng, Yuan Tiangang, and Zhen Wenzu looked at each other in dismay. They were somewhat unable to make a decision.
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