In front of the temple gates, a dense crowd held hoes, picks, clubs, and even some gleaming weapons. Their faces were twisted, eyes burning with a fervent resolve, forming a human wall with their flesh to block the soldiers, allowing no retreat!
Seeing this scene, Gu Xuan standing within the army could only sigh.
He had been persuading these people for three whole days.
Utilizing the influence of the Gu Clan, hoping these commoners would disperse on their own, but the impact wasn’t significant.
Though many commoners withdrew, the number of fervent believers was also not small.
Persuade further?
——How else could they be persuaded?
Not only was Gu Xuan helpless, but even Gu Yi was at a loss.
The current extermination of Buddhism was akin to the Buddhist suppression in the Northern Wei period, its brutality etched in history.
The history tells of that bloody storm, eventually forcing the Buddhist monastics to abandon the noble families and bind with royal power to integrate into Kyushu’s order.
This is a calamity this land must endure.
But now——it was the Gu Clan wielding the sword.
Should they retreat?
——Withdrawal was impossible.
If the Gu Clan were to shrink back at this moment, the oath tying the rise and fall of Kyushu to themselves would become the greatest joke.
Taking a deep breath, after contemplating for a long time, Gu Yi had to reach a decision.
With a slight move of his mind,
Gu Xuan gestured, delivering the final judgment to these people.
"Those who drop their weapons——live!"
"Those who resist——kill without mercy!"
"Break the temple! Seize the people!"
Gu Xuan spoke coldly, and the next moment the soldiers in front of him surged forward.
Behind him,
many of the Gu Clan brothers wore extremely complex expressions; some even had red-rimmed eyes, trembling bodies, uncontrollable tears falling.
"Brother.... after this action, will the world still remember the contributions of our Gu Clan?"
A brother couldn’t help but ask.
This was a concern for many family brothers.
The people involved were indeed too many, and it was also the first time since the Gu Clan rose to power that they turned their swords against the people of Kyushu.
Although they kept telling themselves that these people could no longer be termed as commoners, and without control, they were rebelling.
But the hurdle in their hearts was hard to overcome.
"It matters not." Gu Xuan deeply inhaled and then exhaled, "Our Gu Clan has always strived toward the sun, later generations will surely see clearly."
"If——"
His voice paused slightly, his gaze turning increasingly complex at this moment: "If there indeed be infamy, let it all be upon me, Gu Xuan, alone!"
Gu Xuan’s body was also trembling slightly, yet he forcefully restrained it.
Screams continually echoed.
These people could not possibly withstand the trained troops, and under such assault, the formation of these commoners was instantly scattered.
The deep-seated fear of death and the instinct for survival.
Drove many of them to quickly flee.
Some soldiers wanted to pursue but were immediately stopped by Gu Xuan; his target here was only those obstinate ones.
It’s worth mentioning——
Within these people, not all were ordinary commoners; some even dared to fight fiercely against the soldiers.
No need to think it over, Gu Yi knew some local noble families were involved.
However, he was too weary to delve into this matter.
A thorough investigation would undoubtedly trigger greater chaos, and by then it wouldn’t be about stabilizing the Great Tang for another hundred years, but reenacting Gu Xi’s approach of confronting the entire world.
Information spread continuously.
No one could have anticipated Gu Xuan making such a decision, nor the situation escalating to this extent.
Chang’an’s sentiment stirred rapidly.
Fortunately, the Gu Clan’s reputation wasn’t merely fabricated; Gu Xuan immediately sent people to reassure the commoners.
Under the name of the Gu Clan.
Including explaining the stakes, and Buddhism’s various wrongs.
For ordinary commoners, invoking grand justice was useless; simply affecting their interests was already enough.
After several days, Chang’an gradually calmed down.
Under Gu Yi’s manipulation, Gu Xuan executed all the monks within Ximing Temple.
——This act signified an unquestionable stance.
Those daring to incite followers and stir civil strife against national law, regardless of monk or lay, find no escape!
Gu Yi must wisely use the Gu Clan’s centuries of amassed grandeur to suppress the risks of this upheaval to the minimum.
Of course, he did not intend to drive everyone to despair.
As long as the temples did not sway the followers,
Gu Yi would not strike mercilessly.
This was the retreat Gu Yi offered, only the people must accept the arrangements of the Gu Clan.
And as these monks were executed,
the various assets of the Ximing Temple were quickly uncovered.
Although Gu Yi had mentally prepared for this, he still froze in shock upon hearing the numbers.
"Grand Tutor!"
"Under Ximing Temple’s name, properties spread across twenty-three counties in Jingzhao Prefecture, totaling nearly two hundred thousand acres!"
"The temple’s depository stored nearly eight hundred thousand strings of currency!"
"Additionally, it controlled more than seventy granaries and water mills, twenty sea-faring merchant ships, along with various properties in Chang’an, with monthly profits reaching millions, aggregating great sums!"
——Two hundred thousand acres! Eight hundred thousand strings of currency!
Bear in mind, this was just the cash.
There were also numerous promissory notes; if all such debts were accounted for, a single temple’s accumulation exceeded a million strings.
Overall——
If the accumulations of all the temples in the Great Tang were combined, they could be deemed as wealthy as a nation!
How could Gu Yi not be astonished?
He knew these monks were wealthy, but didn’t imagine they were this wealthy!
What if their development was allowed to continue unchecked?
Gu Yi’s resolve became even firmer, and he immediately moved, deciding for Gu Xuan to publicly announce these findings.
Moreover, to cancel the commoners’ promissory notes.
Benefits are the most enticing thing.
If the extermination of Buddhism could bring some benefits to the commoners, the impact would naturally be lessened.
This was an open scheme!
The temple’s land annexation harmed everyone’s interests.
Since the monks could gather followers, why couldn’t the Gu Clan utilize public wrath?
Indeed, as the news spread.
——Guanzhong was in shock!
Then it spread across the realm, with Gu Xuan’s actions causing extensive impact throughout.
Yet precisely in such times.
With the release of Li Bai’s straightforward poem calling for the eradication of Buddhism, gaining significant fame under Yunshao Pavilion’s influence.
Scholars across regions, like hawks spotting prey, moved swiftly.
——The pursuit of fame by scholars.
It was also a benefit Gu Yi offered them.
Starting in Hebei, countless ordinary commoners too began moving, using the plainest language to denote Buddhism’s wrongs.
As these people acted, this massive trend swiftly unfolded across the land.
Of course, there were opposing voices.
Many temples, for such reasons, could not possibly cease resistance.
Yet the trend of growing influence, under these circumstances, gradually subsided. .....
——————
"Third Year of the Zhizhi Era, April, Xuan summoned the abbots of all Luozhong temples to declare new policies.
One monk slipped, blood staining the pillar base.
Soon after, a secret report from the Imperial Censor arrived: concealed land of fourteen million acres.
Guanghua also urgently reported: thousands of fanatic monks gathered, besieging an Imperial Censor on a mountain road, cursing ’divine retribution’, and beating envoy officers.
Xuan closed the document, a copper box fell onto the desk, echoing throughout the quiet room.
In court assembly, Xuan enumerated their crimes, his voice cracking like ice: "They use gods and Buddha as armor, drive commoners as blades, defy royal law... Buddhism must be eradicated."
The court remained silent.
Xuan personally drafted the memorial.
Three days later, the Emperor sanctioned it, and the actions were implemented."
——"Tang Book. Biography of Gu Xuan"
Chapter 647: 97: Using Prognostication to Battle Prognostication—Gu Xuan Destroys Buddhism
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