Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

Chapter 65 Usury Privileges!
The group was slightly taken aback, but then they realized what was happening.

Cheng Tiehuan almost laughed.

The monks looked displeased.

Feeling offended, they realized that Xiao Ran was just toying with them.

The veins on Wang Gui's neck bulged, and his whip cracked, sending mud flying: "You worthless scoundrel! How dare you make fun of the Buddha!"

He pointed at Xiao Ran's nose, his stubble trembling with anger. "Three strings of cash can turn into a hundred strings of cash. That's a blessing predetermined before the Bodhisattva. Do you think the ruler of Daxingshan Temple is just for show?"

Before Xiao Ran could speak, Li Lizhi stepped forward, her expression composed, and said, "The Tang Dynasty's Six Codes clearly state that 'the number of sons accepted cannot exceed five-tenths.'"

That is, the monthly interest rate shall not exceed 5%, and the annual interest rate shall not exceed 60%.

This standard applies to private lending. The principal of 3 guan that Daxingshan Temple lent to Zhang Huaiyou can be calculated as follows: the maximum interest over three years would be 3 guan × 5% × 36 months = 5.4 guan, and the total principal and interest would be 8.4 guan.

The temple demanded repayment of 123 strings of cash, far exceeding the legal limit.

Li Lizhi's phoenix eyes swept over the bulging money pouch at Huikong's waist. "This amount of one hundred strings of cash, could it be that the Bodhisattva annotated the method of compound interest in the scriptures?"

Li Lizhi continued, “The Tang Code Commentary on Miscellaneous Regulations adds: ‘The monthly interest shall not exceed six percent, and even if the accumulated interest is high, it shall not exceed double.’”

That is, the total interest shall not exceed one time the principal.

Even with a more lenient monthly interest rate of 6%, the maximum interest on a principal of 3 kan is still 3 kan, for a total of 6 kan.

"Is Daxingshan Temple trying to roll interest into principal, like those street thugs doing 'donkey rolling'?" Li Lizhi questioned the group.

Xiao Ran was not familiar with these legal provisions, but he knew it was impossible for the amount to be over a hundred strings of cash.

This is pure bullying.

Judging from Li Lizhi's attire, even the monk Huikong and Wang Gui dared not act recklessly; she was clearly of high status and wealth.

They're not to be trifled with.

Wang Gui jabbed his whip at the ground and sized up Li Lizhi: "My lady is of noble birth, how could you know the ways of a poor country bumpkin?"

“Zhang Huaiyou knelt before the Buddha statue and pressed his handprint. When the temple accountant was calculating the blessings, he even kowtowed three times. Now that he is dead, the debts are still there. How can we allow outsiders to interfere?”

Wang Gui remained silent about the legal provisions.

Li Lizhi said that Wang Gui naturally knew these things, but he didn't follow them.

Most ordinary people don't understand the law, so Wang Gui can say whatever he wants.

Normally, one can use the law to intimidate people, but today, when encountering someone who understands the law, one naturally cannot speak of the law.

"Amitabha!" Huikong chanted, pressing his palms together.

Xiao Ran felt something was off no matter how he looked at it.

“Zhang Huaiyou borrowed money from charity to save his wife before his death, which was an act of good deeds. Now he refuses to repay the debt. Will he suffer the torment of being bitten by copper snakes in Avici Hell?”

"Buddhism emphasizes cause and effect and reincarnation. Aren't you afraid of suffering retribution?"

Seeing that Li Lizhi was about to speak again, Xiao Ran preemptively said, "We really don't have that much money. What would you gentlemen like to do?"

"Amitabha!" Huikong remained silent.

Wang Gui, who was standing nearby, looked around the yard and saw chickens, ducks, geese, and cows in the cowshed. Finally, his gaze fell on Zhang Erya.

There were some things that Huikong couldn't say, so naturally Wang Gui had to say them.

“When Zhang Huaiyou signed the contract, he said that if he was unable to repay the debt, he would let his children enter the temple to ‘temporarily reside and practice’.”

He pointed to the ruminating cows in the cowshed, saying, "This animal can also be considered a 'Bodhisattva using the forms of sentient beings to save people,' so let's make up for it all."

“Girls who enter the temple can become ‘incense and lamp attendants,’ chanting sutras and prayer beads for the Bodhisattva every day. This not only pays off their father’s debts but also accumulates good karma. It’s much better than toiling in this muddy ground and being reborn as a pig or dog in the next life.”

Xiao Ran's disgust for monks reached its extreme.

Not only did they lend money at exorbitant interest rates, they also forced ordinary people to sell themselves into slavery.

They speak in high-sounding terms, but all they do is prey on people without spitting out the bones.

Zhang Erya was terrified and desperate. The people in front of her looked like they were not to be trifled with.

It is estimated that Huikong's ability to collect 'merit money' and 'blessings' owed by others at the Merit Temple is also related to his appearance.

With such an imposing presence, no ordinary person would dare to offend them.

"Hmph!" Xiao Ran laughed angrily.

Xiao Ran suddenly spat at Huikong's feet: "Three strings of cash turned into a hundred strings? Did you use the Book of Life and Death from the King of Hell to make your temple's abacus?"

"They usually use 'Bodhisattva's miracles' to scare people, but now they're calculating interest rates that are even more vicious than the 'donkey roll' of the unscrupulous merchants in the West Market!"

"They talk about merit and blessings all the time, but aren't they just using the bones of orphans and widows to make oil for lamps?"

"How much blood of wronged souls is stained on this string of beads? It's probably more stench than the chopping board in the slaughterhouse of Chang'an's West Market!"

"If there really is cause and effect, and if there really are so-called Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, the first ones they will punish are those beasts who do nothing but talk nicely, but what they do is all the wicked things that eat people alive."

"Aren't you afraid of retribution for doing so many heinous things?"

Xiao Ran felt he had to vent, and getting it all out made him feel much better.

"You brat! Do you want to die?!" Wang Gui roared in fury.

The others tried to grab Xiao Ran and take action.

Xiao Ran protected Zhang Erya, standing in front of her.

"You still want to fight!" Xiao Ran wasn't afraid of these people.

"You dare!" Li Wu shouted.

At the same time, Cheng Tiehuan also stood in front of Li Lizhi and Princess Yuzhang.

"Who do you think you are? You dare to meddle in the affairs of Daxingshan Temple? Mind your own business!" Wang Gui's finger was practically poking Li Wu.

During this period, Buddhism held an extremely high status, and many large temples were built or bestowed with imperial funds directly by the royal family.

These types of temples are equivalent to "religious institutions within the system," and may have connections with members of the imperial family, nobles, or eminent monks behind them, so local officials dare not easily offend them.

Li Lizhi was the eldest daughter of the legitimate wife, and her noble status allowed her to overshadow the "official background" of the temple, but ordinary people simply did not have this kind of confidence.

Temples lend money under the guise of "merit money" and "blessings," essentially exploiting the public's awe of Buddhism.

Believers believe that borrowing money from temples is "borrowing the compassion of the Bodhisattva," and that defaulting on the loan is "offending the Buddha," and they may even be threatened with "going to hell" or "suffering retribution."

This kind of mind control makes people afraid to resist when they are exploited, and even willingly accept unreasonable terms such as pressing their fingerprints or kowtowing.

According to the law, officially recognized temples are exempt from taxes and can accept donations of land and property from believers.

Many large temples thus possessed numerous estates, slaves, and dependent populations, making their economic power comparable to that of local tyrants.

Behind this is the support of its vast financial resources and network of connections. When ordinary people borrow money, temples often require land, livestock, or even children as collateral. This is because temples have the ability to control resources and the means to collect debts.

Many officials and members of the royal family are Buddhists or have financial ties with temples.

Temples established networks of connections and formed a "protective umbrella" by "donating merits" and "performing rituals" for officials.

Their confidence comes not only from religion, but also from the indulgence of secular power.

Li Wu grabbed Wang Gui's hand and twisted it, causing Wang Gui to cry out in pain.

"Ouch! Ouch! You're asking for it!"

Seeing Wang Gui in pain, the others quickly stepped in to help.

The situation looked like it was about to get out of control.

Cheng Tiehuan raised his leg and kicked, sending the man at the front flying backward.

Li Wu and Cheng Tiehuan were already of high status, so naturally they were not afraid of the people in front of them.

"Stop, stop, stop!" Xiao Ran quickly stopped them, having already made up his mind.

(End of this chapter)