Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

If she still doesn't talk, she should rest; this thing can kill a person.

An experienced official from the Ministry of Justice asked, "Where are the stolen money and goods hidden?"

“Tennoji Temple… Abbot…” Wang Shi closed her eyes after saying that.

Pan Liangui personally led several officials and borrowed some constables from the Luoyang government office, rushing towards Tianwang Temple in a great hurry.

Tianwang Temple in Luoyang and Xiangguo Temple in Kaifeng were the two most influential temples in the Ming Dynasty, and each of them enshrined a Buddha tooth.

It was a cloudy day with a cool and pleasant temperature.

Countless devout men and women come to worship Buddha, and many ordinary people also come here to stroll around.

Just like shopping in a mall, the area around Tianwang Temple is part of Luoyang's central business district, offering a wide variety of goods.

If you get tired of walking around, you can take a stroll inside the temple.

But then an official and his entourage came rushing towards them. Tourists and believers made way for them, watching them enter the temple in astonishment.

Instead of being afraid, the people's gossip spirit ignited, and they flocked in to watch the spectacle.

The monk in charge of receiving guests stepped forward to greet them with a smile and clasped hands: "May I ask what business you gentlemen have?"

Fearing that he might alert the enemy, Pan Liangui did not single out any particular person, but instead said, "Call out the abbot, the chief abbot, the supervisor, the chant master, the deputy abbot... call them all out!"

"Yes, everyone, please wait a moment." The guest monk knew something serious had happened and hurriedly went inside to report the news.

Soon, the abbot of Tennoji Temple, Daihui Zonggao, arrived with a group of senior monks to greet them.

Just as Dahui Zonggao was about to utter the Buddha's name, Pan Liangui preemptively asked, "Where is Jinghai, the abbot of Tianwang Temple?"

A monk of about fifty years old stepped forward: "This humble monk is Jinghai, I don't know..."

"Arrest them! Search the Tennoji storeroom!" Pan Liangui ordered.

The head of a temple is, of course, the abbot, but highly accomplished monks rarely concern themselves with worldly affairs.

The second-in-command is the chief steward, equivalent to the head steward.

The third-in-command is the supervisor of the temple, who manages the temple's treasury and assets.

Chapter 3927 Buddhist Treasures

Wang entrusted the ill-gotten gains to the third-in-command of Tianwang Temple for safekeeping.

She could bring small items and banknotes into the temple herself under the guise of offering incense.

As for large items like red coral, they were wrapped in cloth and carried into the temple by people, who claimed they were donated to the temple.

The highly accomplished monk Dahui Zonggao watched in utter bewilderment as the officials rushed toward the storeroom, completely unaware of what his subordinates had done.

He only needs to study Buddhism, receive a few distinguished guests, and give lectures to believers regularly; he doesn't need to concern himself with any other secular affairs of the temple.

The abbot, Jinghai, was also dragged to the storeroom, where he stubbornly denied having any connection with the Wang family.

After searching for more than an hour, I finally found red coral.

It was wrapped in velvet inside, linen outside, and then oilcloth outside, and carefully packed in a large box.

This red coral is over half a meter tall, with a vibrant color that looks as if it is dripping blood.

Pan Liangui pointed at the coral: "What is this?"

Jinghai replied, "It was donated by believers."

"Such a treasure, why is it hidden so tightly instead of being shown off?" Pan Liangui questioned.

Jinghai retorted, "I'm afraid it will get damaged if I leave it outside."

Pan Liangui said, "The Buddhist Registry has regulations that all donations from believers to monasteries throughout the country must be registered and recorded. Bring out the donation register!"

The donation booklets filled more than a dozen volumes, all from after the founding of the Ming Dynasty.

I carefully went through all the donation booklets, but still couldn't find any record of red coral.

Pan Liangui questioned, "Why isn't it in the booklet?"

Jinghai forced a smile and replied, "Maybe...maybe I forgot to write it."

Pan Liangui sneered: "You could miss writing about a priceless red coral? And if you missed it, how could you hide it so well?"

Ruined!

Jingchun, the second-in-command of Tianwang Temple, suddenly felt his legs go weak and he could not stand steadily.

He was in charge of all the affairs of the temple, but the storeroom was so big and had so many items, how could he possibly inspect it personally?

Although he was not involved in the fact that his subordinates helped hide stolen goods, he was still responsible for failing to properly manage his subordinates and for neglecting his duties.

He definitely won't be able to get this position.

Pan Liangui looked at Jingchun: "You come back to the Ministry of Justice with me." Then he ordered, "Seal this place off, leave a few people to guard it and search it thoroughly!"

……

The palace and the garden.

The emperor was having tea with a high-ranking monk.

After taking a sip, Dahui Zonggao said, "Your Majesty, there are monks at Tianwang Temple who are embezzling. I request to resign from my position as abbot."

"No need, the Zen master is unaware of this,"

Zhao Yuan smiled broadly, seemingly unconcerned, but then changed the subject...

“The Zen Master should continue to serve as the abbot of Tianwang Temple. If you feel ashamed because of the monks’ involvement in the misappropriation of property, you may withdraw the title of ‘Dahui’.”

Even though Dahui Zonggao was a master of Buddhism, he was taken aback upon hearing this, and then replied with a smile, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for removing my afflictions and obstacles."

This high monk is not particular about food, clothing, or daily necessities. So what if he can't become the abbot of Tennoji Temple?

He would never go hungry, no matter where he went; countless temples were eager to invite him.

Revoking the title "Da Hui" would be the real punishment.

Zhao Yuan's smile vanished: "Give half of the wealth in the Tennoji storeroom to the public."

"The north has suffered severe drought in the past two years, and all the confiscated property of Tianwang Temple has been used to provide relief to the disaster victims."

Chapter 3928 Master

Zen Master Zonggao said, “If the imperial court does not allocate grain for disaster relief, Tianwang Temple will still distribute porridge according to custom.”

"In recent years, the Ming Dynasty has been effective in disaster relief, so monks no longer need to distribute porridge, which has saved the temple a lot of money and food."

"Your Majesty accepted half of the wealth today, which is something the Tennoin should have given long ago."

Zhao Yuan was filled with awe and repeatedly praised, "The Zen Master's Buddhist teachings are indeed profound. I will send someone to Kaifeng immediately to convey these words to the abbot of Xiangguo Temple."

"Hahaha, Your Majesty's words are brilliant!"

Zen Master Zonggao was genuinely amused, and he planned to go to Xiangguo Temple another day to drink tea and discuss Buddhism.

The emperor and the monk seemed to be joking, but in reality, the high monk was already giving it his all.

If handled improperly, the Buddha's tooth relic of Tennoji Temple will be taken back!

After a few cups of tea, Zen Master Zonggao clasped his hands in prayer and took his leave.

Zong Gao walked out of the Imperial Garden, where a middle-aged official had been waiting for a long time. The two nodded to each other and passed by.

The middle-aged official was named Zhang Yuangan, and he was related to Emperor Huizong of Song by marriage—he was the nephew of Xiang Ziyin, who was Emperor Huizong's cousin.

"Your subject Zhang Yuangan greets Your Majesty!" Zhang Yuangan bowed and said.

Zhao Yuan picked up the teapot: "Sit down and have some tea."

The emperor personally poured the tea, and Zhang Yuangan quickly accepted it with both hands.

Zhao Yuan said, "I think your poems are very good."

"Upright and honest, positive and progressive, occasionally gentle but never losing his true nature."

"Your Majesty is so complimentary."

Zhang Yuangan still doesn't understand why he was suddenly summoned back to the capital when he was doing well as an academic official in the countryside.

Moreover, as soon as he reported to the Ministry of Personnel, he was summoned to the palace to meet the emperor.

He met the emperor, but talked to him about poetry.

Could it be that the emperor has suddenly become obsessed with literature and wants to follow the example of the incompetent emperors of the former Song Dynasty by keeping a large number of literary officials around him?

Zhao Yuan put down the teapot and casually spread it out to the side. Immediately, a eunuch handed him a newspaper.

"What is this?" Zhao Yuan asked.

Zhang Yuangan glanced at it: "Official Gazette".

Zhao Yuan then asked, "Who is the official gazette for?"

Zhang Yuangan replied, "Officials at all levels."

During the Song Dynasty, the imperial court encouraged officials to read the official gazette, firstly to keep them informed of central policies, and secondly to serve as a warning to them (the gazette contained information on punishments for officials).

Historically, Zhao Gou proclaimed himself emperor in Shangqiu and appointed Li Gang as his right prime minister.

Deng Su wrote to Li Gang, saying, "I saw in the newspaper that you've become the prime minister. Hurry up and report to the new court!"

Thus, Li Gang learned from a friend's letter that his friend had obtained the news of his appointment as prime minister through the newspaper...

Zhao Yuan said:

"I intend to reform the Imperial Gazette. In the past, the content of the Imperial Gazette was too concise and complicated, and it was mostly excerpted according to time."

"After the reform of the official gazette, it will be published monthly. Major events will be listed first, and they will be described in detail."

"The minor events follow closely behind, and are described in slightly more detail."

"Ordinary events can be placed at the end and described briefly."

"There are also editor's notes, which are like Sima Qian's comments, briefly commenting on recent major events."

"You can also include one or two poems or essays, as well as the latest academic achievements of the Hanlin Academy."

"The writing should not be too difficult; it should be understandable even to children who have been literate for a few years."

"what do you think?"

Zhang Yuangan thought carefully: "It's not so dry to read anymore, and the main points are clearly distinguished, with appropriate detail. Even scholars from the common people would enjoy reading such a gazette."

Chapter 3929 Reform Gazette

Zhao Yuan said, "The most important reform is that anyone can buy and read it!"

In the Song Dynasty, not everyone was qualified to read the official gazettes.

Officials can read it, clerks cannot, and ordinary people certainly cannot.

Of course, in practice, some officials, gentry, and wealthy merchants would also secretly copy and read the official gazette.

Private tabloids did not yet exist; they were something that only appeared in the Ming Dynasty and required commercial development to reach a certain level.

"You'll work on this newspaper," Zhao Yuan said.

Zhang Yuangan had already guessed it and quickly asked, "The former Song Dynasty official gazette came from the Ministry of Revenue."

"The Imperial Gazette of the Ming Dynasty was published by the Tongzhengyuan (Court of State Affairs)."

"After the reforms, will it still be under the Tongzhengyuan (Office of Communications)?"

Zhao Yuan said, "Ministry of Justice."

The decision that the Ming Dynasty Daily was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice was not unreasonable.

During the Northern Song Dynasty, the official gazette was always produced by the Ministry of Justice's Revenue Department.

If we only consider the convenience of collecting manuscripts, it would be most suitable to have the Tongzhengyuan leadership's newspaper, but Zhao Yuan also considered the issue of channels for expressing opinions.

The Tongzheng Yuan already has control over the submission and rejection of memorials. If they were to also control the newspapers, wouldn't it be too easy to deceive the emperor?

Zhao Yuan said, "Set up a Gazette Office in the Ministry of Justice. The head of the Gazette Office is one rank higher than an ordinary physician."