If you traveled back to ancient times, while others ate Guanyin clay, you would actually have giant

Tie Dan, relying on his frequent delivery of firewood to Jin Guang Temple, and with the abbot absent and the monks lazy and indifferent, did not take Tie Dan seriously, easily stole the account book.

After leaving the temple, he ran quickly towards Song Gong, who was already waiting for him in the woods not far away.

"Brother Song, the things are here."

Panting, Tie Dan handed the things in his hands to Engineer Song.

After receiving the package, Song casually opened it to check, but the contents shocked even this former street urchin.

"This thing is indeed their lifeline. Wait for me, I'll take it to the higher-ups to take a look and then make a decision."

"it is good."

As expected, it was evidence of a crime, so Tie Dan was relieved; his risk hadn't been in vain.

Song Gong didn't dare to delay for a moment and rode his fast horse straight to the capital.

Jinshan Temple was not far from the capital. Song Gong rode a fast horse and arrived in the capital in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. After entering the city, he could no longer ride a fast horse and could only run at full speed.

When Song Gong arrived in front of Zhou Wu, he was already soaked to the bone.

It's already winter, so it's clear this man has given it his all.

"Go change your clothes quickly. It's so cold, and you're covered in sweat. Even an iron body can't withstand that."

Zhou Wu took the accounts but didn't rush to look at them. Instead, he was concerned about Song Gong's illness.

Zhou Wu's unintentional act deeply moved Song Gong, and a sense of righteous indignation arose in his heart.

"The little one is in good health; he's been a rascal since he was a child."

"Go quickly, and don't say any more."

Zhou Wu immediately had the maid lead Song Gong downstairs and find him a set of clothes to change into. These were all people who worked for him, and since they were his own people, Zhou Wu naturally wouldn't be harsh on them.

Zhou Wu slowly began to look at the ledger, but after only reading a few pages, he was able to advance his worldview.

"Isn't Buddhism all about compassion?"

"Isn't it about being free from the six senses?"

"Aren't you supposed to be detached from worldly affairs?"

This account book completely overturned Zhou Wu's impression of Buddhism.

This is a loan ledger, clearly recorded that the Buddhist community secretly used all the merits of believers and pilgrims to lend out money, and all of these loans were made to ordinary people. The exorbitant interest rates were simply impossible for them to repay, ultimately forcing these people to use their houses, land, and even their children to pay off their debts.

"This is not Buddhism, this is demons."

At this moment, Engineer Song had already changed his clothes and came out, just in time to hear Zhou Wu's words.

"My lord, it's not really a secret that Buddhist sects do this kind of thing. Otherwise, why would they own so much real estate?"

"You mean all Buddhist sects do this?"

Zhou Wu thought Jin Guang Temple was an isolated case, but judging from what Song Gong said, it seemed to be quite common.

"That's not true. There are still good monks, but at least nine out of ten temples do these kinds of things."

"Doesn't the government care at all?"

"Sir, I'm just telling you, how many officials in this government are truly clean? Aren't they all just taking money from those bald monks?"

Looking at Zhou Wu, Song Gong said with some difficulty that, in his eyes, apart from Zhou Wu, none of the other officials were any good.

"Collect money? How much can you make from farming? After taxes are paid, is it enough for the government and the monks to split the profits?"

Farming doesn't yield much, but temples rely on accumulating wealth little by little. However, if a portion of the profits is given to officials, how many monks will be left?

"Sir, didn't you know that temple land is exempt from taxes?"

"What?! No taxes?! On what grounds?"

It's hard to imagine that in an era when the imperial court relied entirely on agricultural taxes for revenue, there was such a thing as tax exemption.

"This is a regulation issued by the imperial court; there's nothing we can do about it."

Zhou Wu had made up his mind to severely punish the Buddhist sect. Since all the gods and Buddhas were doing nothing, he would let himself, a mere mortal, take the lead.

"Mr. Song, take this back and find someone to write it for me."

"Yes, my lord."

As the master's intelligence agent, Song Gong didn't ask any questions. Although he didn't know why the master wanted to find a place to write for him, he knew that the master would not let those bald monks off so easily.

. . . . . . . .

The Zhou residence, study.

Song Gong specifically sought out a reliable person, knowing that this person would likely be involved in the adults' plan against the bald monk.

"I'll talk, you write."

"It's an adult."

"In the first chapter of Journey to the West, the spiritual root is nurtured, the source flows forth, and the mind cultivates the Great Dao."

The poem says:

Chaos is not divided into chaos, and no one sees it.

Since Pangu broke the Harmony, opened up a clear and turbid distinction.

Covering the group of students and admiring benevolence, inventing everything to be good.

If you want to know the power of creation, you must read Journey to the West. "

Indeed, the person Zhou Wu sought to write the Journey to the West was the one who would do so.

Because there are many chapters in Journey to the West that praise Buddhism, but in reality, Zhou Wu planned to undermine Buddhism at its peak and cause it to fall.

In just three days, Zhou Wu and the scribe worked together to copy the entire Journey to the West.

"My lord, this story is truly a masterpiece that will be passed down through the ages. I am honored to have participated in its copying."

Zhou Wu shamelessly wrote his own name on the original text of this book, and also wrote the name of the writer on it. Although it was just a copy, it was enough to make the writer so excited that he almost fainted.

After seeing the writer off, Zhou Wu instructed Song Gong to find a storyteller.

. . . . . . .

"Zhou Wu, what are you doing?"

Zhou Wu was confined to his quarters, and no one was allowed to visit him, but this rule seemed to have no effect on Li Xixue.

She entered through the main gate openly and honestly. So what if someone saw her? She was the emperor's most beloved princess, and even other princes and princesses treated her with deference. What could the ministers possibly say?

"We're waiting for someone."

"Waiting for someone? Waiting for whom? Wait, that's not right. You're under house arrest. Father won't let anyone come to see you. Fine, I'm going to sue you."

Li Xixue suddenly realized that Zhou Wu was secretly sending people in, which was disobeying the imperial edict.

"Tch, you're here now, why don't you accuse yourself first?"

"Hmph, I was just worried you'd be bored and not have any fun by yourself. You don't appreciate it at all."

"Then I should thank you?"

"No need to be so polite, haha."

The two were bickering as usual when the storyteller that Engineer Song had hired arrived.

"Sir, the person has been found."

There was a gaunt old man, dressed in somewhat tattered clothes, but his appearance perfectly matched the image of a storyteller in Zhou Wu's mind.

"Tell me a passage first, and I'll listen."

Zhou Wu wanted to first see what level storytelling was at in this era, whether it could evoke emotions or was just dry storytelling.

"Everyone, today I'm going to tell you a story. The name of this story is..."

Sure enough, Zhou Wu didn't listen to much of the dry, uninteresting story told by the old man before quickly stopping the storyteller.