You have truly caused me great suffering!

In the early morning, Chen Shao stretched.

By this time, Jinling was already very hot, and sometimes he thought about finding a cool place to build a summer resort.

Go and stay there for a month or two when it gets hot.

With these chaotic thoughts in mind, Chen Shao sat up in bed and glanced at the empty space beside him.

Several of his personal maids, all familiar faces, came in to help him change clothes and wash.

Upon entering the outer room, Li Shishi was setting out the dishes. Whenever she slept in the Funing Palace, she would definitely take care of Chen Shao's breakfast.

The table wasn't laden with delicacies; there were only two sesame seed cakes and a small dish of wild leeks from Nanjing, cut into short sections, salted for half a day, pressed with a stone to remove the bitterness, mixed with minced ginger and Zhenjiang vinegar—slightly spicy and refreshing.

There was also a bowl of shepherd's purse and tofu soup, with two steamed chestnut cakes on the side, which were made by wrapping chestnut paste in glutinous rice flour and steaming them until cooked through.

"Sit down and eat together."

Chen Shao tugged at her hand, and Li Shishi smiled and said, "I need to take a nap later, and I'll eat when I wake up."

Chen Shao knew she was extremely self-disciplined and had a very regular lifestyle. Looking at her increasingly beautiful and charming face, Chen Shao knew that her self-discipline was not in vain; it was indeed effective.

After having breakfast with her assistance, he went to the front hall to handle government affairs.

A young eunuch brought over a cup of tea. Chen Shao took a sip and leisurely opened the memorial.

The relaxed expression on his face slowly disappeared, and his brows gradually furrowed.

News from Shandong indicates that a cult has sprung up in several coastal prefectures, using the White Lotus as its slogan and secretly forming societies.

Furthermore, it was specifically mentioned that, upon investigation, it was found to have been brought back from Japan by a crew member.

This is truly outrageous! The cult they sent out to spread their message has turned around and is now harming its own people.

On his desk were maps of Japan, Annam, Tatar and other non-Tatar forces, and Mongolia, and in the corner was a nautical chart with lines.
Looking at them now, it all seems utterly boring. While I was working hard to expand, these bastards were doing nothing!
Can't you at least absorb something good?
Is this considered a foreign import or a local cult?

Just then, Chen Chong entered and whispered, "Your Majesty, Wang Yin requests an audience."

"Xuan!"

These days, Wang Yin seems to have become increasingly composed and steady.

Chen Shao remembered that he had once been Fang La's subordinate and knew all too well about such cults and sects.

But he didn't say that first; instead, he asked, "Is there something you need?"

Wang Yin nodded, stepped forward, and said, "Your Majesty, I have discovered that some of Fang La's former subordinates have recently become active again."

"Oh?" This was beyond Chen Shao's expectations; he hadn't anticipated that Fang La still had remnants.

"If I count it up, it's been ten years since I quelled Fang La's rebellion, hasn't it?"

"Exactly ten years!"

Wang Yin could never forget that when Fang La was defeated, it was precisely when he followed Chen Shao.

As a result, their lives underwent earth-shattering changes.

"When Fang La was defeated, some of his followers fled south to Dongting Lake and northern Hunan, where they joined forces with local fishermen and defeated soldiers. Now they have become a force to be reckoned with. They have taken control of many villages and replaced the village heads and security guards. The followers only recognize their 'leader' and do not pay taxes or perform military service."

“These villages are relatively remote, and officials generally dare not or do not want to manage them.”

Chen Shao nodded. This news, combined with the reports he already had, served as a reminder. Since Wang Yin had come to report, it meant he had probably investigated very thoroughly. Moreover, Wang Yin was a senior figure in the Southern sect. Chen Shao asked in a deep voice, "Have you investigated their background thoroughly?"

"It's been investigated. The leader this time is called Zhong Xiang, and his operation has already reached a considerable scale."

Wang Yin was perfectly suited to deal with these kinds of people, because they were basically using the same old tricks he had used back in the day.

After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Fang La was arguably the most powerful of these cult-like rebellions.

Wang Yin was a key figure in Fang La's army, responsible for preaching, fighting, and governing.

Chen Shao nodded and said, "I'll send Brother Pang with his troops to cooperate with your operation and wipe them out in one fell swoop!"

After Wang Yin left, Chen Shao summoned officials again to inquire whether there were any other cults in the country.

A group of officials arrived at the Funing Palace, unaware that His Majesty had been backfired by the white lotus they had created, and were in an extremely bad mood.

Seeing his unpleasant expression, they were all a little worried, but when they heard that he was asking about cults, they immediately felt relieved and spoke freely.

Only then did Chen Shao realize that even in the Central Plains, there were so many ignorant places.

At that time, Jiangxi was a rich and prosperous land, but it was also a disaster area with many evil practices of "killing people to sacrifice to ghosts" and cases of taking livers and hearts to offer as sacrifices to gods.

Many scholars from the south who came to the capital to take the imperial examinations were thoroughly humiliated when they arrived in Jiangxi.

Jinghu is also known for its many evil arts and practices. Every year, Fujian reports numerous cases of people killing passersby to obtain their livers and hearts in pursuit of "divine power" (as recorded in the "Collected Drafts of the Song Dynasty Statutes": "In Fujian, there are annual cases of people killing others to sacrifice to ghosts").

In contrast, such incidents are less common in the north due to constant warfare.

Chen Shao became increasingly alarmed as he listened. He realized he had indeed placed too much emphasis on overseas expansion, neglecting domestic governance. Even when reforms were implemented, they were sweeping and drastic, lacking attention to detail and nuance.

Governing a large country requires the patience and dedication to cook a small dish.

Liu Jizu understood Chen Shao. Seeing his silence and grim expression, he knew that Chen Shao was about to take drastic measures to deal with the situation.

He immediately said, "Your Majesty, to quell this chaos, the best course of action is to first enact laws!"

"legislation?"

"That's right, so that when it comes to punishment, there's no law to follow, and it also gives corrupt officials and cruel bureaucrats the opportunity to escalate the situation and persecute innocent people."

Chen Shao nodded, agreeing that this was indeed the case; often, the imperial decrees, though well-intentioned, would be distorted when they reached the local level.

These kinds of things are hard to avoid.

Liu Jizu said, "We need to define what constitutes a cult first before we can take targeted measures and strike precisely at it!"

Zhang Xiaochun nodded and said, "After promulgating the laws, we should set up an investigation bureau to spread our spies among the people. I think these ignorant people, although blindly obedient, are still citizens of the Great Jing Dynasty. We should not be too harsh on them. We can divide and weaken them, coerce them into submission, and punish the ringleaders!"

These words struck a chord with Li Tangchen, who feared that the crackdown might be too harsh and kill many ignorant believers. He quickly stood up and said, "We must strictly prohibit and investigate private bookstores that publish heretical books and scriptures. We must get to the root of the problem, educate the people with orthodox learning, and guide customs with rites and music. We must promote community schools and village covenants, and support Buddhism and Taoism."

Chen Shao tapped his fingers on the table and said, "The Secretariat and the Chancellery should come up with a general plan as soon as possible. I don't want to wait too long. These malignant tumors must be eradicated, otherwise they will surely harm my people."
-
Only after Chen Shao began to take this matter seriously did he realize how dark it was.

Fang La's practice of eating vegetables and worshipping demons was already considered relatively good.

Murder and worshiping ghosts, possessing weapons, practicing martial arts and breaking the law. There are even those who violate ethics, mix men and women, and "share a bed and sleep together" when they gather at night, which is called "harmony".
Abandoning human relationships: Believers refer to fellow believers as "parents" and regard their own parents as "demons".

This touches a raw nerve in the culture of the Central Plains, where the orthodox tradition has always governed the world with loyalty and filial piety. This heresy is utterly devoid of conscience and morality, and is truly a heinous crime.

"That's outrageous!"

Chen Shao slammed his hand on the table, startling Yuwen Xuzhong, who stood up and asked, "Your Majesty, what has angered you?"

"I don't want to wait a moment longer; they must be eliminated."

Yuwen Xuzhong wiped his eyelids, thinking that His Majesty must be angry about the cult, so he said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. This matter is not something that has been brewing for a day, but rather a chronic problem that has existed for centuries."

"The court needs to continuously invest resources to gradually eradicate them. These thieves are now forming secret societies, which are difficult for the government to detect. In addition, their doctrines are simple and easily mislead the common people."

“Such things cannot be stopped by severe punishment; the people must be given a stable source of income before they can be reformed.”

Chen Shaoquan took these words to heart. He rubbed his forehead and calmed down.

"We can let the monks and Taoist priests do it. They can't just stay in the temple all day chanting scriptures and refining elixirs. Let them deal with the cult!"

Five days later, the imperial court issued an edict, informing all regions:

Any group that gathers at night and disperses at dawn, privately transmits incantations, falsely claims to be the reincarnation of gods or Buddhas, or extorts money and misleads the public, is a cult.

Those who practice Buddhism and Taoism, as well as those who practice in official temples and monasteries, are not subject to this restriction.

He granted plaques to legal Buddhist temples and Taoist monasteries, ordering them to preach "loyalty, filial piety, integrity, and righteousness";
Monks and Taoist priests are prohibited from "practicing supernatural arts and drawing talismans to cure diseases."

All compliant and legal temples and Taoist temples with proper permits must send people to go door-to-door every day to investigate cults and preach the true path and the true Dharma.

Otherwise, the certificate will be revoked, and the practitioner's qualification will be revoked.

The monks and Taoist priests naturally complained bitterly, but no one dared to resist. Some who were genuinely virtuous felt that this was a great act of merit and were willing to go to remote villages to preach the Dharma.

As for the White Lotus sect, which was brought back from Japan, it became a key target for Chen Shao's crackdown.

His methods were so ruthless that they spread too quickly in Japan.

For those who suffer, this is a book of rebellion, the most effective way to seduce people.

Meanwhile, Wang Yin, along with Mei Zang Pang Ge, had already embarked on the journey to Dongting Lake.

Riding a tall horse along the roads of Jiangnan, Wang Yin couldn't help but recall the days when he preached.

Now I can ride a horse during the day instead of only traveling at night, and I can face the government troops openly and honestly.

My Lord, if you were living in this prosperous era, in the Great Jing Dynasty instead of the Great Song Dynasty, I believe you wouldn't have rebelled.
Beside him, Pang Ge, without much ulterior motive, cheerfully said to Wang Yin, "Brother, was this my recommendation? No need for further words, I owe you a favor!"

"General, please don't misunderstand. His Majesty personally appointed you. I would not dare to presume to recommend you for such an important matter."

"Well, you found that opportunity, so thank you anyway. After we've done this job, I'll treat you to some drinks!"

How could Pang Ge not know that Wang Yin would absolutely not recommend anyone for such a task?

He often considered himself Chen Shao's personal guard, which was pretty much true, and of course he knew how formidable Wang Yin was.

This person is His Majesty's eyes and ears; we must not offend him.

"I heard there are some of your old acquaintances here. If you want to let any of them go, just tell my underlings, and we'll treat them leniently and make them repent!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yin said calmly, "No need. The imperial court has already issued an edict; proceed according to the rules!" (End of Chapter)