For this reason, they even gave up inciting "Buddha’s miracles".Instead, they delved into the old stories of the Gu Clan ancestors, promoting their achievements while fiercely attacking Gu Xuan’s current "atrocities".
As for the truth of these matters?
It doesn’t matter.
Rumors, whether in the present or modern age, never hinge on truth; it’s enough if people believe them.
Rumors spread like toxic miasma, saturating the land.
But they ultimately underestimated Gu Xuan and the Gu Clan.
The disciples of the Gu Clan were never the so-called "Saints".
Gu Kang managed lands and pacified the people, benefiting the common folk — also, for the grand plan of the Nine Provinces and the rise and fall of the family, he opposed an entire court of ministers alone, supporting Gu Cheng’s military campaign.
Gu Xi supported the dragon court with one hand, stabilizing the nation — also courageously, for the sake of the world, fought against overwhelming odds amidst the downfall of a dynasty.
Gu Chen suppressed for a lifetime — in the midst of mountains of corpses and oceans of blood, has there ever been less flow?
Gu Ye, Gu Yu, Gu Kang, Gu Jing...
Each of these Gu Clan disciples, whose names are recorded in history, was none other than those who burned themselves in the fire, steadfast in their path.
Gu Xuan would indeed face psychological pressure, but these cannot block his path. He will endeavor to awaken these people, but if they persist in ignorance, there is nothing Gu Xuan can do.
He remains ever determined.
Wherever he passed, he would clearly list the reasons for the execution of entire temples, including the various sins committed by these temples, all declared to the world.
It wasn’t for the so-called peace of mind.
He merely wanted to awaken more citizens, so they wouldn’t be obsessed with Buddhism.
Chongfo Temple —
Owned more than seventy thousand mu of land, with 150,000 strings of coins in the treasury and dozens of shops under its name; within the temple, monks held several human lives in their hands;
Bianzhou’s Daxiangguo Temple Branch —
The temple acquired over 300 qing of fertile land along the banks of the Bian River, displacing hundreds of households.
Illegally set up pawnshops with usury, driving over a dozen indebted families to death, concealed crossbows and armor, and participated in the rebellion.
Yangzhou’s Daming Temple Subtemple —
Monopolized canal docks, forcibly collected "incense passage money", merchants and travelers deeply suffered.
The temple’s "Longevity Storehouse" exploited sea merchants, swallowed precious goods, forged sea disasters to seize goods, monks practiced the dark arts of "Wutong Deity", under the guise of "seeking sons", sexually assaulted the wives and daughters of devotees, leading several to suicide.
The temple harbored fugitives, killing dozens for control over salt field benefits.
Each of these cases can be considered major crimes.
Even modern people like Gu Yi would be startled, yet it still wasn’t enough to wake everyone up.
But Gu Xuan no longer cares about this.
Each of these confessions only strengthens his resolve to continue down this path.
He’s even begun to pay attention to public sentiment.
While overseeing battles in various directions, he took the opportunity to think about the future development of Kyushu.
Meanwhile, one Gu Clan disciple after another emerged, heading in all directions.
The Gu Clan of today is no longer the sparsely populated family it once was.
This itself is also a very astonishing force. They did nothing special, just explained the implications to the people.
No great wisdom, just the most genuine words.
Speaking to the people about the crimes caused by those temples, and about the true monks without any sins whom Gu Xuan had spared.
Many never revealed the identity of the Gu Clan disciples from start to finish.
Just as Gu Yu once went toward the entire world.
This is destined to be an extremely long process.
In the original history, the suppression of Buddhism by Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei lasted eight full years without complete success. If not for the death of Emperor Taiwu, the abolition of Buddhism would surely have continued.
And even more so now —
The Gu Clan’s undertaking is not simply as straightforward as that of Emperor Taiwu.
For the Gu Clan,
since they have drawn their sword this time, they must succeed and will not give Buddhism a moment’s respite for adjustment, swiftly enforcing compliance with Kyushu’s system.
The required time will surely be even longer.
However, Gu Yi would not let Gu Xuan devote all his attention only to this.
As the Grand Tutor of the present dynasty, it’s enough for Gu Xuan to take the lead during this most challenging first step!
Time passed swiftly.
The sixth year of the Zhide era, in July.
The monk Huinan, who first instigated rebellion, was ultimately tracked down and captured by the Tang Army in the Shu Region.
If it were any other rebel army, capturing and killing such a leader would surely cause great panic.
But this time was different.
Huinan, a monk capable of inciting rebellion, naturally had considerable renown and followers across the land.
His death instead caused those followers to lose reason, leading to even greater chaos.
But no matter how great the chaos, it is ultimately futile.
From the beginning, this rebellion’s insufficient impact already sealed their fate.
The current turmoil only adds to the casualties.
Yet Gu Xuan persists in remaining at the forefront of the army, adhering to his habit since the abolition of Buddhism, publicizing the sins of all temple monks to the world.
It wasn’t due to Gu Yi’s manipulation; it was entirely Gu Xuan’s own resolve.
As he once said —
Those who face the sun fear no rumors and slanders.
This is precisely his practice of walking his path.
And with such persistence, and through the efforts of all the Gu Clan disciples, the wind direction of the world finally began to shift a little.
At least in the core regions of Kyushu, these monks are no longer universally revered.
Families aware of Gu Xuan’s stance need no further explanation.
The focus remains on the common folk.
This signifies a cognitive advancement among the people, rendering them less susceptible to deceit.
It is worth noting that under Gu Yi’s direction, Gu Xuan prepared special "passes" for those monks sincerely devoted to Buddhism, sufficient to verify their identity.
Additionally, Gu Yi implemented special registers for these individuals, facilitating future management.
All these monks were individuals sincerely devoted to Buddhism.
Gu Yi would never completely eradicate Buddhism, as obedient Buddhism within Kyushu serves the role of stabilizing the populace, and cannot be wholly dismissed.
However, Gu Yi also imposed strict restrictions on them.
It was decreed that a temple could not contain more than thirty monks, and each time an apprentice is accepted, it must be reported to local authorities; a problematic temple would face punishment.
This is only a temporary measure.
Just like in the Great Han’s past reform of the recommendation system, only those who "misrecommend" are punished, thus swiftly addressing accumulated grievances and clearing entrenched issues.
For this reason,
through the promotion by countless scholars and citizens, the people of Kyushu now know how to discern true from false monks.
This originates from progress in cognition.
Achieving this step within just a few years was already quite a feat.
Keep in mind this doesn’t just signify something as simple as augury.
As long as this path of development continues, Gu Yi can sooner lay the groundwork for scientific advancement, allowing all of Kyushu to rise ahead of the world.
This is the true key.
Everything requires gradual progression, including the historical Industrial Revolution, which was itself an outcome birthed by the world reaching that stage of development.
Today’s progress lays the foundation for such magnificent momentum in the future.
The significance of this for all of Kyushu needs no further explanation!
Even Gu Yi developed many ideas, thinking of deepening his original plans.
Of course, this is for the future.
The immediate priority remains to completely resolve the Buddhist suppression and set the tone for future development.
This shift in cognition will undoubtedly take much time.
Gu Yi will not waste time on this matter.
Originally, he thought no big troubles would arise next, just a matter of time consumption.
But unexpectedly —
The eighth year of the Zhide era, in June,
A quick rider sped from the Eastern Capital Luoyang into the capital, bringing thunderous news.
Emperor Li Heng, suddenly passed away in Luoyang!...
...
(Ps: Begging for monthly tickets, urging brothers to support more, thousands of thanks from Fish.)
Chapter 651: 99: Gu Clan Scions Traverse Kyushu, Li Heng’s Demise
7 min read