CHAPTER 148: CHAPTER 148: PAYING HOMAGE TO THE BUDDHA

This is not the first time County Magistrate Lei has met the Commandery Princess.

When Prince Nanyang was still alive, he had toured various counties with his granddaughter. County Magistrate Lei clearly remembered that the last time he saw the Commandery Princess was three years ago.

Three years later, the young girl had grown into a little maiden, with bright eyes and white teeth, unparalleled beauty, dignity, and a sweeping gaze that made his heart skip a beat. The response he had prepared suddenly became difficult to utter.

Jiang Shaohua’s expression was slightly cold.

A flash of anger darkened Chen Zhuo’s eyes as he said in a low voice, "The Commandery Princess is asking a question, County Magistrate Lei, why don’t you answer? Is there something you find difficult to say?"

County Magistrate Lei quickly returned to his senses and promptly bowed, saying, "Please calm your anger, Commandery Princess. I am indeed embarrassed and do not know how to respond."

Jiang Shaohua said lightly, "Just speak truthfully."

County Magistrate Lei had no choice but to tell the truth: "Today is the first day of the sixth month, and Master Pusuan from White Cloud Temple gives a day-long Buddhist lecture at the beginning of every month. Almost all the townsfolk have gone there. I feared there might be crowding incidents due to too many people in the temple, so I sent the County Magistrate and three classes of government officials to maintain order."

Jiang Shaohua tugged at her lips but had yet to speak when Chief Historian Chen spoke first in anger, "This is absurd! A Buddhist festival in a temple requires the county government officials to maintain order. Where does this place the Commandery Princess?"

Cold sweat streamed down County Magistrate Lei’s forehead, and he immediately knelt to beg forgiveness, "It is all due to my incompetence; please let the Commandery Princess punish me!"

The County Magistrate, Chief Clerk, and others behind him also knelt down to plead for forgiveness.

Incompetence?

These two words were quite intriguing.

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes flashed with a hint of chill, "I understand County Magistrate Lei’s meaning. The government officials must have been volunteering to maintain order at White Cloud Temple on the first day of every month. Even when the Commandery Princess arrives, to them, the Buddhist festival is more important, so they go to the temple."

County Magistrate Lei’s face was full of guilt, and he gritted his teeth while replying, "Most of the officials are local and all believe in Buddhism. They attend the Buddhist festival at the beginning of each month. As the parental official of the county, I can do nothing with them. I have to send the County Magistrate along to lead."

"It is my own incompetence; please punish me, Commandery Princess!"

Jiang Shaohua said coldly, "As a County Magistrate, not being able to control the government officials is indeed incompetent."

County Magistrate Lei was so ashamed he couldn’t lift his head.

Buddhism flourished in Da Liang, and it was common for the people to believe in Buddhism. However, the people of Zhi County were fanatically devout.

On the first day of each month, regardless of age or gender, almost everyone flocked to White Cloud Temple. Families so poor they couldn’t open a pot would rather go hungry but take their last bit of rice to the temple.

Such extreme acts of devotion and worship were commonplace in Zhi County.

As a County Magistrate, he usually only managed the county government. His words were not even as influential as those of a guest monk at White Cloud Temple.

Chen Zhuo, suppressing his anger, said in a low voice, "This is not a place to talk; Commandery Princess, please first rest at the county government."

Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly and rode into the city gate.

Chen Zhuo glared at the unpropitious County Magistrate Lei, "Get up quickly. Once you’re at the county government, answer honestly whatever the Commandery Princess asks, without concealment."

County Magistrate Lei responded obediently, got up, and wiped his forehead with his sleeve.

...

Although Zhi County was poor, the county seat was not small, with a population of more than eight thousand. The roads in the county were unexpectedly wide and smooth.

After entering the county government, Jiang Shaohua sat at the head of the main hall and casually asked, "The road to the county government is well built."

County Magistrate Lei, remembering Chief Historian Chen’s advice, dared not hide a word, "Commandery Princess, this road was built with silver from White Cloud Temple. Besides building roads, White Cloud Temple often sets up porridge stalls to distribute porridge, so the people are full of gratitude when mentioning it."

Jiang Shaohua sneered, "Where does White Cloud Temple get its silver? It comes from the offerings of the people. They take out a little to do good deeds and become great philanthropists."

County Magistrate Lei sighed, "I am naturally aware of this logic, but the people just single-mindedly trust White Cloud Temple. I also have no solution."

This was indeed the plain truth.

The people’s devotion to Buddhism was fervent, and this aggrieved County Magistrate had no means to change that.

Jiang Shaohua shot a glance at the useless County Magistrate Lei, not bothering to engage with him, and turned to Chen Zhuo, "Let everyone rest and settle down. Decide further after Commander Song returns."

Chen Zhuo bowed and accepted the order.

Everyone went to the back residence of the county government to settle down and rest.

By evening, Commander Song finally returned from White Cloud Temple.

"Commandery Princess, I pretended to be a believer and spent most of the day at White Cloud Temple. I witnessed how fervent the people’s devotion to Buddhism is here," Song Yuan’s face was a bit serious, "The merit box at White Cloud Temple was filled within half a day. Some impoverished folks, with sallow faces and no silver, came with bags of rice to the temple."

"The abbot of White Cloud Temple is Monk Pusuan. On the first day of each month, he holds a Buddhist festival and lectures on Buddhist scriptures. Only those who contribute significant silver can enter the Buddhist Hall to listen: the rest must crowd outside."

"White Cloud Temple covers a hundred acres and was full of people today. Not only did the populace of Zhi County come, but many people from nearby counties and even other states came for worship."

Jiang Shaohua did not hide her disdain in front of Song Yuan and snorted, "This White Cloud Temple, under the guise of spreading Buddhism, is actually amassing wealth and deceiving the people. It is truly detestable!"

The harm from White Cloud Temple far exceeded that of the bandits in Li County!

As the Commandery Princess of Nanyang, Jiang Shaohua could not tolerate this!

After contemplating for a moment, Song Yuan said in a low voice, "I understand the Commandery Princess’s displeasure. However, when dealing with White Cloud Temple, it should not be too direct, to avoid rousing the ignorant people’s resentment against the Commandery Princess."

If public anger is incited and escalates beyond control, it would not be worth it.

Jiang Shaohua exhaled a pent-up breath, "Uncle, rest assured, I know the gravity. I won’t act rashly! We must come up with a clever and discreet method."

...

The next day, Jiang Shaohua led the group to inspect the grain warehouse.

As expected, more than half of Zhi County’s Taiping Grain Warehouse was empty, with less than thirty percent stock, and all the grain was over two years old.

After Chief Clerk Wen checked, his face darkened.

Usually smooth and never offending anyone, Chief Clerk Wen uncharacteristically frowned, "County Magistrate Lei, before spring plowing, the Prince Mansion sent out official documents requiring each county to replenish the Taiping Grain Warehouse. All the counties inspected so far have replenished their stock. Only Zhi County’s warehouse is lacking. How did you manage to let this happen?"

County Magistrate Lei’s old face was already thrown to the ground, looking somewhat resigned, "Chief Clerk Wen, the people of Zhi County are impoverished, and the land tax has been insufficient every year. The county government has no silver. Even this stale grain was bought out of my own pocket. I truly have no other way."

Chief Clerk Wen was so angry he blew his beard and glared.

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes flashed cold.

Why could the people not pay land taxes? Because they had to support the incense and offerings to Buddha daily.

At the heart of it all, it circled back to White Cloud Temple!