Just as Meton was reporting to Li Shimin, the news of Meton's verbal battle with the monks spread like wildfire in Chang 'an City.
Unexpectedly, this time, Buddhist didn't have the slightest intention of hiding anything. Instead, he told the whole story one by one. While the informants were amazed, they were also puzzled. However, they naturally didn't care about this. They hurriedly memorized this wonderful story and went back to report it.
"Why didn't Senior Brother issue a gag order? Instead, he made the secret discussion between Mo Jiazi and the Buddhists public." In the Wangji Temple, Fa Lin was puzzled.
Master Hui Yuan smiled and said, "After the incident at the Great Mercy Temple, the Buddhists' reputation in Chang 'an City has dropped to a freezing point. On the other hand, Mo Jiazi is like the sun in the sky in Chang' an City."
Master Fa Lin came to a realization and said, "Senior Brother, you mean to use Mo Jiazi's reputation to improve the Buddhists' reputation?"
Master Hui Yuan nodded without hesitation and said, "In today's debate, the Buddhists seemed to be at a disadvantage. However, we took the initiative to give in and sacrificed the Buddhists' interests for the Tang dynasty. In addition, the two Bodhi Rests, the Buddha Ananda's idea of ordinary people and the Love of a Woman on a Stone Bridge, as well as the Buddhists' self-discipline. If the Buddhists did not take this opportunity to promote the Buddhists, even if they paid ten times the price in the future, it would be difficult to achieve today's results. "
The Buddhists' words alone could not change the Buddhists' reputation. However, Mo Jiazi's every move was closely watched in Chang 'an City. In addition, although Mo Jiazi seemed to be persuading the Buddhists, he used the Buddhists' scriptures. This indirectly proved the wisdom and scriptures of the Buddhists. Now that the entire city was paying attention to the debate between the Buddhists and Mo Jiazi, when would the Buddhists not take the opportunity to restore their reputation?
Master Fa Lin said in admiration, "Senior Brother, you are wise. The Buddhists' reputation in Chang 'an City has been ruined. Although it was the fault of the Great Mercy Temple, it was caused by the Mohists. Now, we are using Almsgiver Mo to restore the Buddhists' reputation. This is a cause and effect. It is Heaven's will."
Not to mention the Buddhists' plans, Chang 'an City was already in an uproar.
"My Buddha is merciful, sacrificing himself for the world." In Chang 'an City, a group of believers could not help but feel elated. The wise decision made by the Buddhists allowed them to vent their previous bad luck.
"Better late than never! Mo Sheng is indeed wise. "
"There is no Bodhi tree …"
"I am willing to become a stone bridge …"
However, in Chang 'an City, apart from the believers, there were also many loyal fans of Mo Jiazi. When Mo Jiazi and the Buddhists confronted each other, the classic stories were irresistible.
They might not understand Buddhist scriptures, but through Mo Jiazi, they once again understood Buddhism. This was the scene that Master Hui Yuan had foreseen. He might not have Mo Jiazi's ability to accurately predict what would happen years in the future, but he was very good at grasping people's hearts. For a while, with the help of this debate, the reputation of Buddhism, which had been at its lowest point, soared again.
Ordinary people would only care about the brilliance of the story, and believers would praise the benevolence of the Buddhists. But in the ears of the Hundred Schools of Thought, this was no less than an earthquake.
"The Buddhists actually took the initiative to give in." The people of the Hundred Schools of Thought were all in disbelief. No one would have thought that the Buddhists would accept the identity card system and give up their tax-exempt temple privileges.
Although it was the Buddhists' decision, it had a deeper meaning among the Hundred Schools of Thought, because the Buddhists were the second school after the Mohist to give up their tax-exempt privileges.
"Now it is time for the Buddhists to make a choice." In the Xuandu Temple, the leader of the Buddhists, Li Chunfeng, muttered to himself.
Now that the Buddhists and the Buddhists were both religions, the Buddhists were one step ahead. Now it was up to the Buddhists to decide whether or not they had the determination.
Coincidentally, in the Kong Family, Kong Yingda was also faced with the same choice. Among the existing Hundred Schools of Thought, the Mohist voluntarily gave up their tax-exempt privileges because Meton allowed Marquis to enjoy them. The Buddhists also gave up their tax-exempt privileges to save themselves, leaving only the Buddhists and the Confucians to enjoy their tax-exempt privileges.
The biggest beneficiary was the Kong Family. The Kong Family had lived in Qufu for generations, and they were the symbol and glory of Qufu. At the same time, they were also Qufu's biggest landlords.
Ever since the Imperial Examinations were held, any scholar who became an Elementary Scholar would be exempted from corvee labor and a certain amount of land taxes. As for the High Scholars, they were exempted from corvee labor and a few hundred mu of land taxes. Thus, when a person became a High Scholar, his relatives and friends would attach their land to the land. The High Scholar would not have to do anything and would be able to reap considerable benefits. As the saying goes, a poor scholar is a rich High Scholar.
Other than that, there were also some members of the imperial family and other influential people who were exempted from even more taxes.
Kong Desheng snorted coldly, "Although the Confucians have their tax-exempt privileges, the number of Elementary Scholars who are exempted from taxes is pitiful. Although there are many High Scholars, only a few have been recruited in three years. It's not worth mentioning."
The tax-exempt quota of the Confucians was naturally not as terrifying as the three million monks and nuns of the Buddhists. Thus, Kong Desheng did not think much of it.
"But now that the School of Mohism and the Buddhists have already given up on their tax-exempt status, if the School of Taoism follows suit, I'm afraid that the Confucians will have a hard time." Kong Yingda said with a frown.
Kong Desheng said disapprovingly, "The School of Taoism is like a gecko cutting off its tail to survive in order to save itself. But the School of Taoism does not have such a hidden danger. Do you think the School of Taoism will cut off its own path of survival?"
Kong Yingda wanted to persuade him again, but in the end, he opened his mouth and did not say anything.
In the Mo Estate, almost everyone was absent-minded. From time to time, they would glance towards the entrance. When Meton's carriage stopped in front of the Mo Estate, the entire Mo Estate could not help but cheer.
"Master is back!" Wu Meiniang exclaimed with a face full of joy. Immediately, everyone in the Mo Estate came forward to welcome him.
"Young master, you're back!" Mo Er hurriedly went forward to pull the carriage and welcomed Meton in.
Meton nodded. Seeing that everyone in the Mo Estate was staring at him in surprise, he could not help but look at his own clothes uncomfortably. He wondered, "What's wrong? Did I wear the wrong clothes today?"
Princess Changle gave Aunt Xu an imperceptible glance. Aunt Xu understood and immediately went forward to take a new set of clothes. She said, "Young master, you've been running around for a day. Your clothes should be dirty. Aunt Xu just made a set of clothes for you. You can change into it."
Meton looked at the new clothes he wore in the morning doubtfully. He wondered, "Is it dirty? Why didn't I notice it?"
"It's dirty indeed!" Immediately, everyone nodded without hesitation.
Aunt Xu took off Meton's coat without any explanation. She said with a look of disgust, "Why is there a sandalwood fragrance? It's too unpleasant. Young master is a man. Only women would want to spray some perfume to decorate themselves."
Princess Changle asked the Mo Estate to produce perfume. Naturally, she did not forget the people in the Mo Estate. Almost all the perfume produced was given to the women in the Mo Estate and Mo Jiazi.
"That's right. Aunt Xu's hands are very skillful. This set of clothes is really beautiful. It's much better than the monotonous robes of those monks." Princess Changle nodded in agreement.
Meton saw that everyone was in a dilemma. He had to change into the new clothes in public. Only then did everyone smile happily.
"Young master, you haven't returned for a day. You must be thirsty and hungry after arguing with the monks. I've prepared some delicacies, and I'm just waiting for you to come back and taste them. "Yu Er continued.
Meton thought carefully. He had been busy for a day and his mouth was dry. Without Empress Zhangsun, Meton did not find a chance to eat. He had already been hungry. He nodded at once.
Meton and the people in the Mo Estate returned to the villa. As expected, a table full of delicious food was prepared.
"Young master, please enjoy!" Yu Er said respectfully.
When Meton saw all the delicious food, he was immediately tempted. He immediately ate heartily without hesitation. However, the more he ate, the more he felt something was wrong. Looking at the table full of delicacies, he was puzzled and said, "Why are there only meat dishes? There is no vegetarian dish at all!"
Hearing Meton's words, everyone's expression suddenly changed. Yu Er immediately panicked and said, "Young master, please don't blame me. It's my negligence. I'll cook again."
"Pairing meat and vegetables is the right way to go at a banquet. How could you make such a stupid mistake?" Moton reprimanded, disappointed at his failure to meet his expectations.
Princess Changle on the side said, "Yu Er worked hard to make it. You should make do with it."
Meton suddenly choked. He did not expect Princess Changle, who was usually the most picky, to help Yu Er. He said helplessly, "Okay, it's okay if it's all meat dishes. Why isn't there any saliva?"
"Why drink water with such delicious food? Young master, if you're thirsty, Uncle Fu's addiction to alcohol came up today. You and I haven't sat together for a long time. Today, we can drink a little." At some point, Fu Bo had actually taken out a bottle of Crystal Relieving A Thousand Worries and filled it to the brim for Moton without any explanation.
Meton naturally could not refuse Uncle Fu. He was also very thirsty, so he drank with Uncle Fu.
Seeing Meton drink, the people in the Mo Estate were relieved. Soon, plates of vegetarian dishes were served and tea was served. After drinking and eating to his heart's content, Meton got up with satisfaction.
"Since you've worked hard for a day, we won't disturb you any longer." Only when Uncle Fu saw that Meton had finished eating and drinking did he call the people of the Mo Estate to leave.
Only when everyone left and only when Meton and Princess Changle were left alone did Meton voice his doubts.
"Why is everyone acting so weird today?" Modun and Zhang Er were confused.
Princess Changle rolled her eyes at Meton, "Isn't it because you scared them today? One moment, Bodhi was resting, the next moment, you were abiding by the precepts, the next moment, the school of Buddhism wanted you to be the sixth ancestor. Now that the revival of the school of Mohism is all because of you, don't you think they're nervous?"
Meton did not know whether to laugh or cry, "In that case, Aunt Xu wanted me to pass on beautiful clothes, Yu Er wanted me to eat meat, and Uncle Fu made me drink wine. They were all testing whether I wanted to become a monk or not?"
"Now, everyone in Chang 'an City is saying that you're profound in Buddhist doctrine. Not only did you lose in debate, but you also fought against two people in the secret room. Even Master Hui Yuan and Master Fa Lin were defeated. Who knows if you'll take things too hard and become a monk?" Princess Changle pouted. Since Meton drank wine and ate meat, she was relieved and could not help but complain.
Meton did not know whether to laugh or cry. He did not think that his discussion with Master Hui Yuan and Master Fa Lin in the secret room would be misunderstood like this. However, the topic in the secret room was confidential, so he could not explain himself.
At that moment, he saw Princess Changle's complaining expression and found it adorable. He could not help but want to tease her. He laughed and said, "Do you think that eating meat and drinking wine will break the precepts? It's not stable. Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but the Buddha remains in the heart. As long as the Buddha is in the heart, everywhere is the Western Paradise."
"Ah!" Princess Changle's mouth opened slightly. She was stunned and looked at Meton in disbelief.
Meton smiled slyly and said, "Actually, there's a more direct way to prove whether someone wants to become a monk or not."
"What way?" Princess Changle asked anxiously.
"Jiese!" Meton lowered his head and whispered into Princess Changle's ear with the smell of alcohol.
"Ah!" Princess Changle's face turned red. She naturally knew what Meton meant, but she obediently snuggled into Meton's arms. She allowed Meton to princess carry her up the stairs and into the bedroom upstairs.
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