Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 436 A Head Hanging Above the City Wall!

News has arrived from the front...

Lu Junyi's scouts delivered the news that Zhao Gou had fled to the emperor...

Those around him tensed up, Gao Liangcheng was also filled with worry, and the most nervous was Yang Hu, who seemed to feel as if the sky had suddenly fallen...

The emperor, with a stern face, rode forward without uttering a word. The crowd exchanged glances several times before Wu Yong finally spoke up: "Your Majesty, this Zhao Gou... is quite adept at escaping; he always manages to escape at the crucial moment..."

Su Wu suddenly laughed, and those around him laughed too, leaving everyone puzzled: was the emperor angry or happy?
"This world is truly vast!" the emperor exclaimed in surprise, then asked, "Where do you think Zhao Gou could go if he continues to flee?"

Everyone hurriedly tried to think, and Wu Yong seemed about to speak.

But the emperor pointed his whip northward and answered his own question: "Going north, there are towering mountains and lofty peaks that reach into the clouds. After crossing countless mountains, one will enter the land of Tibet. He cannot go back, nor can he get through."

Then the emperor pointed his whip southwest again: "This way, there are also deep mountains and dense forests. Beyond that, it's all inhabited by barbarians. The dense forests stretch endlessly, and he can't go there..."

Finally, the emperor pointed his whip northeast again: "Therefore, this Zhao Gou is heading into Shu! He's probably on his way to Chengdu... Once he crosses the mountains and enters the land of abundance, with its fertile plains and countless riches, he's aiming to conquer the world!"

Upon hearing Su Wu's words, everyone gasped. It wasn't that they were afraid Zhao Gou really wanted to seize the throne, but rather that these words coming from the emperor himself would surely enrage him.
Upon hearing this, Wu Song said, "Shu, we've never been to this place before, but we've heard it's extremely wealthy. We've also heard that the three Su scholars were from Shu, so it must be a place of great literary influence... who knows, many of them followed Zhao Gou!"

Wu Song, now, also understands the general trend of the world...

Wu Yong quickly replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured. Shu is surrounded on all sides. The road out of Shu is even more difficult than climbing to heaven. Just like the ancient Shu Han, no matter how hard they tried to march out of Qishan, it was all in vain. Shu has never been able to contend for the world!"

Su Wu still smiled: "Scholar, you're overthinking it. I'm just stating Zhao Gou's thoughts. Zhao Gou doesn't have the abilities of Emperor Zhaolie or Zhuge Liang, much less the likes of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. Going to Shu is good, very good!"

"Brother, where is a good place?" Wu Song asked.

"Didn't you just say that we've never been to Shu before? Now we can go!" Su Wu really felt that Zhao Gou had helped him.

Emperor Huizong and his son Emperor Gou were a great help.

Zhao Ji's faction is in the north and south routes of Jinghu, while Zhao Gou's faction is in the south and north routes of Guanghu. Now they are heading towards Shu.

Since Li Bing and his son built the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, the fields in Sichuan have become boundless, and the amount of grain produced is astronomical. Qin unified the six kingdoms by relying on the grain from Sichuan, and the Chu-Han Contention also relied on the grain from Sichuan.

Just when we were worried about having no reason or excuse to improve the farmland in Sichuan, the opportunity came along.

It's possible that Qin Hui will have to make another trip. Zhao Gou's journey to Shu will likely be accompanied by numerous members of prominent families and scholarly households…

Whether wronged or not, when the cruel officials arrive and the prison is opened, they will naturally demand money, grain, land, houses, courtyards, and shops...

Su Wu suddenly realized that if he returned to Shu, the most prosperous and fertile areas of the land would have been largely consolidated...

Su Wu smiled inwardly, calling it: an ancient, primitive version of state capitalism reform...

If you ask the emperor, or rather the state, what is the purpose of controlling so much land?
Since the state cannot cultivate the land, the land is still given to the people to cultivate. The people may seem to have no land, but in reality, they do have land, and it's not land that they can't buy or sell themselves...

This doesn't need any strict administrative laws or regulations, because it doesn't have land ownership itself.

Another question is, what benefits will ordinary people at the bottom of society receive after they have land?
It is essentially about liberating productive forces.

What is the reason for this?
Just like the common people at the bottom of society, when most of them were tenant farmers, they worked hard all year round, barely making ends meet. The vast majority of their productive value was taken by the landlords. They had no ability to resist risks. If they got sick or suffered disaster, as long as they could no longer work, they could die at any time, and even their whole family could die at any time...

He was also firmly tied to the land, unable to do anything.

Once he owns land, he will have surplus labor and the ability to withstand risks, allowing him to live more comfortably and for a longer period of time...

Furthermore, the grain produced from the same piece of land could feed larger families and more people, instead of allowing landlords to live more luxurious lives...

How can a large population with the ability to withstand risks and live longer not be a liberation of productive forces?

Is it not liberating productive forces to have more people?
This surplus productivity can then be used for many other things: road construction, mining, ditch digging, small workshops, handicrafts...

Even going to more distant places to farm and mine...

This is the best way in this era; there is no other way to liberate productivity in this way.

In the future, this country will certainly have real factories. Some people will have to work in factories, some in the fields, some on ships, and some will have to take firearms and cannons to even more distant places. All of these require manpower...

After all this thinking...

Did people think Su Wu was in a bad mood and furious? Actually, Su Wu was in a very good mood.

Although Sichuan is a large region, as Wu Yong said, it is merely a place surrounded by enemies. Zhao Gou's journey there is like being a turtle in a jar; if he wants to escape, there's nowhere left to run...

He couldn't cross Qishan, couldn't pass Chencang, and couldn't possibly enter Hanzhong or Guanzhong, so he couldn't cause any trouble.

Wu Yong suddenly realized what was happening and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, this Zhao Gou is truly a good man!"

Su Wu suddenly looked up at the sky: "Perhaps everything in this world, every drink and every bite, is preordained... Or perhaps there really is such a thing as destiny, as if Heaven truly knows what I am doing..."

Wu Yong immediately looked up at the sky and replied, "Your Majesty, there should be a grand ceremony to worship Heaven in the future! In my opinion, Mount Tai is the best choice. The Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai has always been a tradition of wise rulers throughout history!"

Su Wu glanced at Wu Yong, and subconsciously felt displeased and unwilling to deal with these things.

This also reminds me of the Fengshan ceremony, which an emperor in the Northern Song Dynasty performed. In the past, the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai was quite prestigious, but for some reason, its prestige gradually declined over time…

Seeing that Su Wu's expression was off, Wu Yong felt a pang of anxiety and quickly said, "Your Majesty, I only..."

Su Wu succinctly replied, "This matter can be done, but there's no need for large-scale construction or a large-scale effort. A trip of three to five hundred people will suffice tomorrow..."

Why did Su Wu suddenly change his mind?

There was no other reason; it was just like how he named this new country "Great Yan" in the past—we'll follow the example of our ancestors.

This land is the ancestral homeland!
A new era has not yet arrived, and Su Wu is still a person of the old era. In the future, he will also be someone else's ancestor. History will be recorded for thousands of generations, and everything will be passed down in the same lineage.

What changes future generations may bring is their business...

What Su Wu wanted to do was to gradually bring these people from the old era into the new era. He was a representative; he represented all the people from the old era.

He led this land and its people forward together.

This wasn't Su Wu being arrogant or self-righteous; rather, it was a heavy sense of responsibility on his shoulders, constantly reminding him what he needed to do each day!
Work, work, and more work!
Su Wu finally realized that all men dream of becoming emperors, of holding power and having beautiful women in their arms.

Actually, all these things are completely unimportant once you become emperor and decide to do something...

Work is the only constant.

Wu Yong, who had been standing by, repeatedly agreed, saying, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I would absolutely not dare to be extravagant in the slightest!"

In the past, when the emperor performed the Fengshan ceremony, he had to build a temporary palace, a Fengshan platform, and roads. This was a huge construction project, and he would be accompanied by a large entourage. Everyone in the country considered it an honor to be accompanied by him. Along the way, he would eat, drink, and relieve himself, which cost a fortune.

Even after the Fengshan ceremony, all those who accompanied the emperor received rewards and were promoted in rank and title...

Su Wu was displeased, and Wu Yong knew it all too well...

The army marched on, and soon after noon, they saw Yangjumei City, finally reaching their destination.

Three monks waited at a distance, with knights arranged by Lu Junyi guarding them.

The monk then approached Su Wu, clasped his hands together, bowed, and said, "Amitabha, I am Duan Zhengyan, Dharma name Guanghong, paying my respects to His Majesty the Emperor of Great Yan!"

Everyone stared in disbelief, and Wu Yong was even more astonished: "This...this is how he became a monk?"

I've never seen anything like this in my life! A deposed king has suddenly become a monk, and he's standing brazenly outside the city gate...

“I have been deeply influenced by Buddhism since childhood. If it weren’t for worldly ties, I would have become a monk long ago. Dali is a country of Buddhism, where everyone values ​​benevolence and non-contention. The land is peaceful and harmonious. Now, I have suddenly realized the truth and entered the Buddhist gate. It is truly my destiny in this life!”

Duan Heyu suddenly adopted the demeanor of a highly virtuous monk.

Wu Yong was at a loss for what to do and hurriedly looked at the Emperor. Even Gao Liangcheng was momentarily speechless. He had thought a lot on his journey, how he would fiercely rebuke and berate the Emperor to vent his anger, but at this moment, he couldn't utter a word…

But then the emperor uttered the words: "It is precisely because he does not contend that no one in the world can contend with him..."

Upon hearing this, Duan Heyu replied, "Your Majesty is a follower of Taoism? This humble monk would like to discuss Taoism with Your Majesty!"

"So you've already fought and suffered a crushing defeat, so you shaved your head, put on monk's robes, and think that's how you end the cause and effect? ​​That's how everything ends?"

Su Wu asked...

If you really look Duan Heyu over, you have to admit, he has a really good appearance. If Emperor Huizong of the past had seen him, he would have treated him like an honored guest.

Duan Heyu's expression changed slightly, but he still looked like a high-ranking monk. He was clearly serious about discussing the Dao with the emperor, and said, "Your Majesty, as the saying goes, 'Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot,' and 'One day of enlightenment and you become a golden body,' this humble monk abandons worldly affairs and is willing to do the good of all living beings!"

On what basis does Duan Heyu think he is qualified to discuss philosophy with Su Wu?

Because in this era, whether it was the Song-Liao dynasty or the Tangut people, Buddhism and Taoism flourished! No one was exempt, from the emperor to the common people, and even the most refined scholars were among them.

Even Su Shi, who seemed so carefree, loved and was proficient in both Buddhism and Taoism.

If everyone is like this, how could Su Wu be any different?
Unfortunately, Su Wu simply didn't like it and wasn't good at it.

But what did Su Wu say?
Su Wu said, "There are thousands of temples in Dali, and countless Buddha statues are gilded. I have a word, and I have a word: in every temple, all the gold statues should be scraped off and put into the Yunnan Prefecture Treasury. A clay statue is a clay statue; why do we need gold statues?"

This is no small sum; one can only imagine the extent to which people worship Buddha in this era.
The gold leaf applied to the Buddha statue wasn't just one layer; it was applied layer by layer by family, with high-ranking officials and nobles competing to apply it to the Buddha.

If we don't put it up, how can we show our devotion to Buddha?
What's even more interesting is that when there's too much and too thick layer of plaster, the monks would scrape it off in the middle of the night. Otherwise, where would the temple's wealth come from?

But Su Wu continued, “From this day forward, within the Great Yan, anyone with official rank shall not enter palaces, temples, or monasteries, nor meet with monks or Taoists, and shall not contribute incense to palaces, temples, or monasteries. Otherwise, they shall be severely punished. This is the law, and it shall be written into the ‘Yan Law.’ Confucius said, ‘You do not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits.’ Those with official rank are Confucian disciples. Sacrifices shall only be offered to Heaven, Earth, the ruler, parents, teachers, and ancestors. This is the matter of returning to the source! Within the Great Yan territory, all clay statues shall not be gilded; all of them shall be scraped off!”

Su Wu had long wanted to take action against Buddhist temples. As for Taoism, it was collateral damage, as there were countless charlatans and monsters in Taoism during this era.

This is just the first step. The next step, once we return to the capital, is to raid the Xiangguo Temple.

Why is Su Wu breaking with tradition again this time? Let's set aside whether this is a legitimate tradition or not.

Take the persecution of Buddhism by the Three Wu and One Zong emperors, for example. Isn't that a tradition?
How gentle was Su Wu's method?

If we really brought the Three Wu and One Zong here, especially since one of them gave the order that anyone with a bald head should be arrested.

Compared to Su Wu, Su Wu was exceptionally wise and truly the greatest philanthropist in the world.

What about the "four hundred and eighty temples of the Southern Dynasties, how many pavilions and terraces are shrouded in mist and rain"? They've all gone bankrupt. In palaces, temples, and monasteries, either go and eat chaff and wild vegetables to cultivate yourselves properly, or don't go at all!
Su Wu spoke rapidly, almost as if he were reprimanding someone, and finished his speech in several rounds.

Wu Yong nodded and said, "As you command!"

In Wu Yong's heart, he didn't really agree with Su Wu's actions. After all, religious matters had a huge influence in today's society, far greater than imagined...

Su Wu's actions would have many consequences; there was always the possibility of some sorcerer inciting unrest, and a rebellion could easily break out...

At the very least, Su Wu's reputation will suffer greatly. No one in the palaces, temples, or monasteries will speak well of him, and many of these people are extremely influential...

But Wu Yong thought again, does this emperor care about this? Is he afraid of this?

Who knows, in the future, many bald monks and Taoist priests will really seek their own deaths, and there won't be enough prisons to hold them all, nor enough executioners to behead them all...

Then we won't say anything more. The emperor has given the order, so let's do it!

But when the monk Guanghong Duan Heyu heard what he said, he was stunned. How could anyone in the world be so disrespectful to the Buddha?

This was something he could not imagine. He had seen countless people and books from the Central Plains, and the more famous and renowned a person was, the more revered they were of Buddhism.

How could we not have heard that the emperors of the Song and Liao dynasties were all devout people?
In the past, the Dali Kingdom praised itself as a Buddhist country no matter who they met, and everyone treated them with great courtesy.
Why is this person suddenly standing in front of me...?

Duan Heyu immediately retorted, "Your Majesty, have you not heard that everything in this world has a cause and effect, and that retribution is inevitable? Today Your Majesty has so blatantly destroyed Buddhism; in the future, you will likely face a series of retributions..."

"Really?" Su Wu raised an eyebrow to look. Sometimes, people can be so infuriating that they laugh. Just two days ago, this man was leading tens of thousands of troops, ready to fight and kill. Today, he seems to have truly become a high-ranking monk...

Countless corpses lay along the way, not yet having had time to decompose...

This is nothing more than hypocrisy.

Su Wu asked, "In this Buddhist kingdom of Dali, are all the people free from worries about food and clothing? Is that why more and more temples are being built, and the golden statues are getting thicker and thicker? Even the monks' robes are sewn with gold thread?"

Duan Heyu was wearing a novice monk's robe, but the robes of Masters Liu Xuan and Miao Cheng were truly gleaming with gold.

Duan Heyu, without a hint of guilt, succinctly stated: "All people suffer in this world. The purpose of cultivating oneself in this life is only to escape the sea of ​​suffering in the next life. This journey through the human world is a path to overcome calamities. Only the Western Paradise is the ultimate destination for cultivation!"

"Alright, that's what I've been waiting for!" Su Wu nodded. Actually, he didn't have much patience and hadn't originally planned to kill Duan Heyu. But now, Su Wu changed his mind and said, "Since you say so, then you should get out of this sea of ​​suffering first. It's perfect. You died here today for the sake of all living beings. I imagine that after you die, you will definitely be able to go to the Western Paradise to attain enlightenment."

Duan Heyu was stunned upon hearing this, and for a moment he did not realize that the emperor was going to kill him.
With just a flick of the emperor's wrist, armored soldiers stepped forward to seize the man.

The eminent monk was momentarily flustered, and could no longer press his palms together. He hurriedly said, "Your Majesty's actions today will surely sow the seeds of future disaster. Such sins can never be washed away in this lifetime!"

"Didn't you say that you can become a Buddha by laying down your butcher's knife? If I slaughter a few more people with this butcher's knife today, I'll lay it down tomorrow, and then I'll become a Buddha on the spot!"

Su Wu was indeed eloquent, but he turned to look at Gao Liangcheng and asked, "Are you going to make the move?"

But Gao Liangcheng bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty... Your subject..."

"Your Majesty, let me do it... let me do it!" The speaker was Gao Shouzhen.

"Alright, you come here!" Su Wu raised his hand, pointed to the city wall, and said, "Hang heads on the city wall!"

Gao Shouzhen had already left. He drew his sword, and two soldiers held the man down. He raised his sword and brought it down, cursing as he did so: "You foolish wretch, remember to go and apologize to my Gao family ancestors!"

The heads fell in an instant, and Su Wu didn't even glance at them. He spurred his horse forward and entered the city first.

Whether it's the treasury or the imperial palace, everything that should be confiscated will be confiscated, and everything that should be taken will be taken. The soldiers are still waiting for their rewards.

Of course, all the temples were copied.

Su Wu was anxious, very anxious. What was he anxious about?
He fears that many things will face increasing resistance as time goes on, just like this religious matter.

Su Wu was not afraid of any supernatural forces or supernatural beings, nor of any karmic retribution, nor of any demons bewitching people, nor of any kind of reputation...

Because he knew that his reputation, in the history books, would not be found in the slanderous remarks of Buddhists and Taoists, nor in the mouths of ignorant believers.

After he dies, it will probably be even more difficult for others to handle.

Why not Su Wu?

There were also two masters, standing there dumbfounded...

Su Wu's horse had already passed by, but he glanced back once more, and the two masters immediately lowered their heads to avoid his gaze.

This master doesn't seem to be all that remarkable after all...

Su Wu thought to himself, and smiled slightly.

The headless corpse beside them lay in a pool of blood, its muscles still twitching.

The palace was truly luxurious, with pavilions and towers that rivaled those in the Central Plains and Jiangnan region...

From now on, this place will be the Yunnan Circuit Military Commissioner's Office.

Su Wu sat firmly on the high platform, surrounded by his military advisors. He spoke: "Order Wu Song to lead troops into Shu, with Wu Yong accompanying him to devise strategies. Send fast horses to Jinghu, Hanzhong, and Guanzhong, and together launch an attack into Shu to capture Zhao Gou. I... I will return to the capital first!"

Su Wu, for some reason, has finally started calling himself "朕" (Zhen, meaning "I" or "the Emperor") today. Although he often makes the mistake due to habit, he is intentionally trying to change it. In the past, he didn't care... It's hard to know what his thought process was.

(End of this chapter)