Chapter 654: 101: Renewed Vitality, as if Returning to the Glorious Tang Era

Li Yu’s promise laid the most solid foundation for this reform. And Gu Xuan could finally let go and begin demonstrating his administrative skills to the whole world.

....

The first year of Baoying, June.

Luoyang.

Gu Xuan personally stepped forward to officially commence the leasing of land.

As the first Chapter of the new policies, Gu Xuan was very cautious, investigating the identities of the lessees thoroughly.

Most of them were descendants of the government troops.

This was a reward from Gu Xuan to these soldiers, and also a strategic move to win the military’s support for the Central Hub.

In addition, there were the returning refugees.

Although An Lushan did not capture Luoyang during this campaign, he caused many citizens to flee along the way.

This move was also about reassuring the people’s hearts.

This policy could be described as a sharp blade.

In the face of tangible benefits, the prophecies propagated by Buddhism vanished instantly.

One must realize that these lands were fertile fields.

Not only ordinary people but even many noble families were envious of these benefits.

Now that the lands were allocated to the hands of the people, even if the amount was not much, how could it not be tempting?

Although nominally "leased" — within the context of the new emperor’s "benevolent rule," the cost of leasing and farming the land was entirely bearable.

The news spread, and the vitality of the entire Great Tang was instantly ignited.

The praises for the court seemed like the grand scene of the flourishing Tang had returned.

Although the actual effects would take time to manifest, this favorable public sentiment was crucial for a dynasty.

Only with the people’s trust in the Central Hub could the government’s orders pass through unimpeded.

This was certainly great news for the current Great Tang.

...

The news continued to spread.

And Gu Xuan gradually shifted his position.

He was extremely cautious about this, neither implementing it throughout the entire Kyushu at once nor directly, but instead spreading from Luoyang bit by bit.

Though this was slightly slower.

The benefits were obvious; it allowed the Imperial Censorate’s energy to focus on one area, reducing many disturbances.

He needed to examine everything thoroughly, whether it was the noble families wanting to exchange land.

Or the identity of the people leasing the land.

All of this required him to guard vigilantly, making sure not to sell even the slightest gap.

In short, this reform was essentially a reallocation of land in a different form.

The land occupied by Buddhism had already reached a certain level.

Such a move was a major event in any feudal dynasty, including the last-ditch effort made by Gu Xi in his later years, which was also for this purpose.

This was a remedy for saving a dynasty.

If it weren’t for An Lushan’s rebellion and the various turmoil of Buddhism, this matter wouldn’t have unfolded so smoothly.

It was truly a convergence of opportune timing, geographical convenience, and human harmony—none could be missing.

And Gu Xuan did not waste this opportunity at all, utilizing the Imperial Censorate and Yunshao Pavilion to constantly publicize this matter.

Benefits have always been the key to winning over people’s hearts.

This move would not only make soldiers fight more desperately but also give hope to the people across the land.

In just a few months—

The remaining Buddhist bandits’ situation also became increasingly difficult.

The followers who once seemed "possessed" were becoming fewer and fewer, and those who were once willing to risk their lives to help the monks escape had now turned into active informants.

One tragic scene after another was rekindled.

Almost all citizens began actively reporting the various crimes of local temples to the Imperial Censorate’s officials.

As long as the temples fell, someone among them could be allocated land, and all past debts could be wiped clean.

Who wouldn’t be tempted by such great benefits?

——The situation changed instantly.

The situation of these Buddhist bandits was originally quite difficult, and it became even more so now.

Let alone these monks who had openly rebelled.

Even some deeply hidden temples were unearthed by the people under this prevailing trend.

Of course, there were bound to be wrongful cases.

However, Gu Yi did not choose to interfere with all of this.

In his view, it was an unstoppable trend that people could set aside Buddhism’s prophecies for benefits today.

In the future, their faith in Buddhism would inevitably weaken.

That’s a certainty.

As for the killings caused by these wrongful cases... Gu Yi did not care.

Actually, at this time, no temple was without devout Buddhist practitioners, but under the temple’s influence, even if their hands were not stained with obvious sins.

How could they be considered completely innocent?

This trend prevailing meant that they, too, would ultimately pay for all the temple’s actions.

Isn’t this also their so-called karma?

The situation surged—

By the third year of Baoying, Buddhism’s remnants were thoroughly cleared.

Subsequently, Gu Xuan initiated the water management endeavors.

In the aftermath of the significant measures taken against Buddhism, pursuing this would no longer pose any pressure internally within the court.

Aside from the water conservancy experts cultivated within the Gu Clan in Julu, Gu Xuan began recruiting talent for water management from across the land, evidently planning a large-scale operation.

The current Central Hub of the Great Tang was indeed affluent.

This move against Buddhism had brought astounding revenue to the Central Hub.

Including the controllable development of commerce.

Maritime trade had naturally long since resumed.

And because Gu Xuan focused on managing the conditions of various businesses, today’s maritime trade, though seemingly less diverse than in the past, actually brought increasingly more tax revenue to the Central Hub.