In the eighth year of Liang ordinary (the third year of Wei Xiaochang), in the first month, Chen Qingyi set off from Shouyang, first south to east, crossed the rolling Yangtze River, and was close to Jiankang at this time.

I listened to Yang Zhong chattering non-stop, quite excited. But it turned out that yesterday I saw the style of the river, although it was in the dry season, it was surging, and it was really far away from the Yellow River and Huaishui.

The boat they took when crossing the river was huge, and Pei Guo and Yang Zhong had never seen it, but when they went to the river, the wind and waves were high, and the boat was rocking, Yang Zhong's face was pale, and he almost vomited. The water and sky in the field of vision are colorful, boundless, and people can't help but be afraid. The name of the great river moat is well deserved.

After crossing the river, the post house stayed overnight, and Yang Zhong relieved himself. Set off this morning, all the way north, straight to Jiankang. Yang Zhong recalled the magnificence of the river, and couldn't help but praise it repeatedly, Pei Guo felt the same way, and nodded yes. Chen Qingzhi was beside him, secretly amused: two people who have lived in the north for a long time are really rare and strange. If you see the ocean one day, don't you say that it was three days and three nights?

It was winter, the snow was dead and the trees were dead, and there was a bleak sight along the way. There are occasionally a few houses, and the houses are dilapidated, and the voices are rarely heard. Pei Guo and Yang Zhong glanced at each other, and both thought: People say that Jiankang is prosperous, and there is no other in the world. But now, it seems, that's just the case.

Turning around a hill forest, the front suddenly opened up.

A large area of buildings appeared in the eye, with yellow walls and red eaves, stretching far away. There is a main building, it is as high as three floors, towering majestically, resplendent and magnificent. This scene alone is unheard of in the land of the Six Towns.

Yang Zhong opened his eyes and said, "Where is this?" How can it be so gorgeous and majestic? Isn't it the emperor's palace? Or have you arrived at Jiankang? ”

Chen Qingzhi burst out laughing and said, "Where will this be His Majesty's palace?" It's not even a healthy city. Jiankang City is gorgeous and beautiful, how can this small temple be compared? ”

At this time, even Pei Guo was surprised: "Such a huge momentum, it's actually just a temple?" ”

"Yes, yes." Chen Qingzhi said: "This is the Buddhist cave temple in the south of the city, which was built in the second year of the Heavenly Prison, and it is also regarded as a strong incense." Compared with Qixia Temple in the east of the city, or Tongtai Temple in the city, it is still far behind. After a pause, he said: "Your Majesty is the most worshipping Buddha, building temples and temples, and donating countless funds. Therefore, near Jiankang, Buddhist temples can be seen everywhere, and I am afraid that there are not as many as four or five hundred. ”

Pei Guo and Yang Zhong were speechless: one temple is already like this, and there are hundreds of them. I don't know how Jiankang City should prosper. Just now I actually laughed at Jiankang's depression, which is really a one-hole opinion, and I am generous when I see a smile.

Walk closer, the mountain gate of the Buddha cave temple is in sight, and the towers and palaces behind it, row upon row, are really magnificent. Pei Guo and Yang Zhong couldn't help but pull their horses and stop, watching again and again. Chen Qingzhi waited on the side, beaming proudly.

At this moment, there was a commotion at the mountain gate, and the sound of quarrels was heard.

The so-called pure place of Buddhism, how can there be disputes? Pei Guo and Yang Zhong became curious, and stared at it at the moment.

I saw a few monks come out, their robes were gorgeous, and they were all full of fat, and they knew at a glance that they were eating and wearing very well on weekdays. He was a few powerful men, and at this time he was pushing and shoving, driving a pair of men and women dressed as mountain people out of the temple gate. The men and women of the mountain people looked at the age of not small, their clothes were ragged, and their bodies were more dry and thin, compared with the monks, one day at a time.

The monk pushed and shoved very hard, and the male mountaineer stumbled and accidentally fell. It was also unfortunate that there was a masonry at the landing place, and the male mountaineer touched it headlong, and suddenly the forehead was cracked, and the blood flowed for a long time. The female mountaineer panicked, threw herself to the ground, and wailed.

But the monk didn't care at all, and still scolded and even laughed.

"How dare you be so deceitful?" Pei Guo and Yang Zhong were furious, jumped off their horses, and waited to step forward. Chen Qingzhi hurriedly stopped and persuaded: "This man and woman must be tenants of the temple." Even if there is a dispute, it is a matter between the owner's family and the tenant himself, and outsiders can not take care of it. ”

"Temple property?" Yang Zhong was stunned: "Could it be that this temple still has its own land?" ”

"That's nature." Chen Qingzhi nodded: "There are many temples in Jiankang, during which there are more than 100,000 monks and nuns, if you only rely on incense to worship, how can you survive?" His Majesty is benevolent, and the heart of the Buddha is heavy, and he gives more mountains, forests and farmland, thinking that it is a temple property. ”

Yang Zhong let out an "oh" sound, and suddenly said: "Your Majesty is merciful, and has given so many temple properties, no wonder this monk is fat and big-eared." But why didn't His Majesty give some of his kindness to the mountain people and peasant households, and let him wait for him to be so poor? ”

Chen Qingzhi's face turned red, and he was speechless for a while.

At this time, the male mountain people had already struggled to get up, thinking that they were afraid of the fierceness of the monks and did not dare to stay any longer, but they supported the female mountain people together, crying and leaving.

Pei Guo sighed, and pulled Yang Zhong, who was puffing up his anger: "Let's go." ”

The two turned over and got on the horse, and they were still fascinated by Jiankang City, and suddenly felt no interest.

The horse's hooves were gained, and the group was silent. Chen Qingzhi came to his senses, and wanted to excuse Xiao Yan, the lord of Liang, but unexpectedly said, "Actually, Your Majesty worships the Buddha and fasts", and saw that a horse came like a fly, which was the messenger sent to contact the city before.

The messenger jumped off his horse and said hurriedly: "General! Something went wrong. The gift of the prisoners was to be pushed back, and the city asked me to stay at the post house first. ”

Chen Qingyi was shocked: "What happened, it turned out to be like this?" ”

The messenger looked helpless: "Just yesterday, Your Majesty went to Tongtai Temple to give up his life and become a monk, and he will definitely preside over the four uncovered conferences." ”

"What?" Chen Qingzhi was dumbfounded: "Your Majesty is a monk?" How... How so? Sweating profusely, it took a long time before he spoke again: "What should the princes of the court do?" ”

"Zhu Zheng is raising money, saying that he wants to donate 100 million yuan to redeem the emperor and Bodhisattva."

Chen Qingzhi was speechless, and his face turned the color of pig liver. Yang Zhong was beside him, hehe sneered.

Pei Guoshen thought longly: When I was in the north, I heard Ye Ye say that Xiao Yan, the lord of Liang, believed in Buddhism and persuaded people to be kind, which was a good thing, but if he did too much, he would be suspected of being a Buddha. The so-called upward and downward effects, do what they like, if the atmosphere goes, it will be harmful. Now it seems that this is indeed the case, in the land of Jiankang Gyeonggi, the monks have abundant assets, but the people are in ruins; And that Xiao Yan, the supreme of a country, actually became a monk and fraudulently donated, it is ridiculous...

。。。。。。

Unconsciously, it has arrived at the foot of Jiankang City.

Through the Vermilion Bird Truss, Qinhuai Qingwei, boats shuttle; In the long trunk, the green tiles and white walls are gentle, and the rain flowers are gentle.

Crossing the river, you can see the rows of buildings, and the houses are boastful; Wandering through the long street, there are stalls and liquor shops everywhere, and the crowds are crowded. Although it is winter, Jiankang City is full of flowers, which is simply dizzying. Further north, the palace city is threefold, embracing Sangbo, leaning on Zhongshan, towering and stacking, curling with smoke.

Eastern Wu, Eastern Jin Dynasty, Song, Qi, Liang five dynasties stretched, at this time Jiankang City, Wenchang business, population of millions, is worthy of the name of the first big city in the United States, Hugh said that the six towns of the bitter cold place, is the Great Wei capital Luoyang compared with it, that is far less.

It's a pity that in Pei Guo's eyes, he only sees hungry beggars on the side of the road, and what he thinks in his heart is only four words: there is nothing to see.