You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

"presumptuous!"

The moment Shen Luoyan had that thought, she heard Lu Zuo's shout in her ear!

Looking back, I saw him step forward and shout sternly:

"This official hereby orders the Buddhist community to return the farmland that it has seized and plundered in the past, and to distribute it to the landless and land-poor people according to their household status."

"This is a benevolent policy that returns land to the people and saves their lives!"

"Those monks and nuns in the temples claim to be compassionate, but in reality they are greedy and despicable. They seize land and live off wealth, yet they repeatedly defy the imperial decrees and treat the livelihoods of the people as nothing!"

"What's the point of keeping it?"

"You should be the beneficiaries of the land redistribution, yet instead of appreciating the government's good intentions, you have been misled by Buddhism, gathered a crowd to cause trouble, and stormed the government offices!"

"Ignorant! Foolproof! Despicable!"

"Since you are willing to be the lackeys of Buddhism, disregarding your own well-being, then I have no need to show you any mercy!"

"Chu Yunlong!"

"exist!"

"Take down all these lawless thugs who were incited by Buddhism and stormed the prefectural governor's office!"

"Revoke his Nantong household registration and immediately expel him from Nantong Prefecture!"

"From this day forward, anyone who is misled by Buddhism and incites disturbances will be punished according to this precedent!"

After he finished speaking, the entire room fell into dead silence!

The crowd, which had been shouting and raging just moments before, now looked ashen-faced, their mouths agape but unable to utter a sound.

Removal from household registration, expulsion, land confiscation...

Fear and unease quietly began to grow in the hearts of these hundreds of people.

Without him...

Since the Nantong aristocratic families were wiped out, they have benefited greatly!

Originally just tenant farmers, each of them was allocated more than ten acres of land.

Logically, these people should support Lu Zuo's policies.

But they have been Buddhists for many years and have worshipped the Buddha for many years. They are loyal believers in Buddhism!

Therefore, after just a few words from those monks, they gathered together and stormed the government office in an attempt to change the government's decision.

But believers also need to eat!

With the removal of Nantong household registration, the dozen or so acres of land that I had just acquired were gone!

Some people have already begun to regret their actions, while others remain steadfast in their "faith," stubbornly glaring at Lu Zuo.

But it's too late for regrets, and even those with unwavering faith can't change anything...

"Take it down!"

Chu Yunlong gave a deep shout, and a large number of soldiers rushed forward.

The crowd that had been so dense just moments before suddenly surged backward, and chaos erupted at the scene!

The men in the front row who were shouting the loudest were neatly and cleanly handcuffed behind their backs and forced to kneel by the guards.

The woman who was shouting "Lu Zuo will be punished by heaven" had her vegetable basket fall from her hand, the half-wilted vegetable leaves were trampled, and she was lifted up by two soldiers, her legs kicking futilely in the air.

Cries, pleas, and curses mingled together, making the area in front of the mansion as chaotic as a marketplace.

"Isn't that a bit too forceful?"

Shen Luoyan opened her beautiful eyes wide and stared blankly at Lu Zuo, her heart filled with worry.

Too hasty...

Such forceful measures may temporarily quell the situation, but these believers are backed by hundreds of temples and over 100,000 followers!

Today, these hundreds of people were stripped of their official status and driven away. When the news spreads, doesn't it confirm the tyranny of the government?

If this sparks a larger-scale popular uprising, or even leads to a coalition of believers from surrounding counties...

Nantong is currently short of military forces; how can it be suppressed?

Madam Cai nodded, thinking to herself, "A swift and decisive move, hitting the nail on the head."

"This Lord Lu is indeed well-versed in the weaknesses of the human heart, and his attack hits the mark with a single blow."

"only……"

"With such ruthless methods, can you handle the subsequent backlash?"

Zhu Yuyan's gaze swept over Lu Zuo's tall and straight back, then turned to the people who had been driven away.

"This Lord Lu truly has quite the air of the Demonic Sect..."

……

Shortly afterward, the riot ended.

Buddhist believers were all imprisoned and interrogated severely. After their household registration was investigated, they were expelled from Nantong.

Lu Zuo and the others returned to the council hall.

Upon entering, Shen Luoyan expressed her unease: "Lord Lu, once the news spreads today, it may incite even more panic and indignation among the believers."

"If those temples were to use this opportunity to spread rumors and portray the official as a tyrannical and oppressive ruler, they could incite even larger-scale uprisings and even garner support from believers in surrounding counties..."

"What will we do if Nantong lacks sufficient troops at that time?"

She paused, then said, "I think it might be better to adopt a more conciliatory approach?"

"For example, those arrested today, only the ringleaders should be investigated, while the accomplices should be punished and released, ordered to atone for their crimes by assisting the government in investigating temple property and persuading their neighbors?"

"In this way, we can both divide and weaken them, and avoid giving others grounds for criticism."

Lu Zuo gave her an approving look.

It must be said that Shen Luoyan is resourceful and handles matters with much more composure.

but……

He doesn't have that much time to take his time!

Given the utterly corrupt state of the Southern Chen dynasty, how could it have cultivated a sufficient force to resist the Sui dynasty before its invasion without a pure and fertile ground for development?

Keeping these Buddhist believers around is like keeping a ticking time bomb!

In the future, not only will it be difficult to implement government orders, but there is also the possibility of them resisting the government, spying, and acting as spies for the Sui Dynasty.

Okay...

We will give you land, teach you skills, teach you to read, and teach you martial arts.

Yet you still support Buddhism and oppose the government?

Then get lost!

Lu Zuo pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "What Prefect Shen said makes sense, but the Buddhist believers are too fanatical."

"Stay in Nantong, latest update, now online, awaiting your interpretation. It's hard to guarantee it won't become a major problem."

He paused, then added, "As far as I know, many temples in Nantong have secret dealings with the Sui Dynasty and provide them with intelligence."

"Keeping these Buddhist followers alive is like keeping a group of spies!"

I see……

Shen Luoyan was enlightened!

"But……"

"Surely we can't just expel all 100,000+ Buddhist believers from Nantong?"

Lu Zuo waved his hand: "No need for that."

"Those who dare to support Buddhism and openly defy the government are beyond redemption; these are the people who should be expelled."

"As for the others..."

"Once Nantong loses its Buddhist temples, the environment will gradually change them."

At this point, Lu Zuo's eyes darkened: "It seems we don't need to wait ten days. We have to act before the Buddhist sect transfers its assets."

Afterwards, the group discussed the matter for more than two hours and finally decided to take action tonight!

Completely eliminate the Buddhist problems in Nantong!

……

The night was thick, and dark clouds obscured the moon.

In the backyard of Ci'en Temple, more than a dozen mule carts were parked outside the gate, their bodies completely covered with dark tarpaulins.

Dozens of burly monks were carrying heavy wooden crates out of the cellar and loading them onto vehicles.

"Hurry up!!"

A dark-skinned, stout monk urged in a low voice, then cursed angrily, "That damned, corrupt official Lu Zuo!"

"Those wicked villains who cut off our Buddhist temple's incense offerings and seized our temple's property will surely be punished by heaven and cast into the deepest hell after death, never to be reborn!"

Another older monk sighed: "The Buddha is compassionate, but he also has a fierce side."

"I'll kill that corrupt official sooner or later!"

"This money was donated by devout believers; how can it benefit those poor peasants!"

"Alright, that's enough!"

The burly, dark-skinned monk hissed, "Hurry up and load the truck; the waiting boat is at the dock..."

Whoosh! Snap!

A whistling arrow tore through the night sky, exploding into a blinding red light above Ci'en Temple, instantly turning the backyard a ghastly crimson.

"Who is it?"

"Government troops are confiscating the traitor's property. Everyone, kneel down and be bound!"

"Those who disobey orders will be killed without exception!"

Chu Yunlong suddenly appeared with a group of soldiers, who poured into the backyard from all directions, the cold tip of his blade pointing at the monks in the courtyard.

"Are they government troops?"

"How could they...?"

"Let's give it our all!"

A young monk suddenly pulled a long knife from the car and lunged at Chu Yunlong!

"Stubborn and obstinate."

Chu Yunlong snorted coldly, his figure dodging the blade like a ghost, and then flicking his arm!

Whoosh!

A cold light flashed across the night sky, and the young monk was decapitated!

……

On the other side, Baoguang Temple.

The compassionate Buddha statue inside the hall was illuminated by the flickering firelight.

Huang Ye and Lin Ruhai led a team of elite soldiers, making knocking and banging noises throughout the hall.

"Sir, there's nothing underneath the floor!"

A yamen runner pried open the bluestone slab in front of the offering table, revealing a dark hole underneath. A torch was inserted, illuminating a dazzling golden light.

Several constables immediately jumped down and quickly brought up several heavy wooden boxes covered with copper corners.

The box was opened, revealing neatly stacked gold and silver ingots, various gemstones, and uncarved jade, all shimmering and dazzling in the firelight.

"No! That can't be!!"

An old monk, his hands bound behind his back by two constables, roared, "This is all the wealth accumulated by my Baoguang Temple over ten generations!"

"You, you can't take it!"

"Buddha will punish you! You'll suffer retribution!"

Huang Ye sneered: "The accumulation of more than ten generations?"

"They're nothing more than sucking the blood of those they've bewitched!"

"They create pretexts to seize farmland, don monk robes, chant Buddhist mantras, and engage in exploitative and ruthless activities."

"You dare to use the word 'compassion'?"

……

Jizhao Nunnery is located at the foot of the mountain.

"Lord Lu, you have some impressive skills."

"In just half a day, everything was arranged and hundreds of temples near Nantong were firmly under control."

Madam Cai walked side by side with Lu Zuo, whispering, "However..."

"Isn't Lord Lu afraid of retaliation from the Buddhist sect?"

Lu Zuo smiled and said, "If I'm afraid, I won't do it."

"Madam Cai, I am not a member of the martial arts world and am not very familiar with its affairs. May I ask which masters of the Inner Heaven and Earth Opening cultivation level exist within the Buddhist community of Nantong?"

Madam Cai paused slightly, turned her head to look at Lu Zuo, and the moonlight cast a faint silver glow on her exquisite face.

"In Nantong's Buddhist community, there are indeed two individuals who have attained the realm of inner enlightenment."

"Firstly, Master Jingxuan of Qingheng Dreamland."

"She came from Cihang Jingzhai, and was personally taught by the previous abbot. Later, for reasons unknown, she established her own sect and settled in Chen State."

"Secondly, the abbot of Zhisheng Buddhist Temple, Master Wangzheng."

"This person's Great Sun Tathagata True Scripture has reached the Pure Yang realm, and his palm power is unparalleled. He is known for his palm strikes that are like the Great Sun patrolling the sky."

"but……"

"The real threat to Lord Lu lies not in the martial world, but in the imperial court."

"Many prominent families in the world have intricate connections with Buddhism."

"I'm worried that once the six great families learn of this, they will jointly submit a memorial to the court, putting pressure on the emperor..."

"At that time, what will become of Lord Lu's future remains to be seen..."