After Dong Bacheng led the defeated Hedong Army to the west for thirty miles, he collided with the Tiande Left Army that had secretly sneaked in at a place called Songlindian. When Qiu Shiliang instigated Heshuo, Hedong and other towns to attack the Tiande army, he did not forget to think about the trapped Fengzhou. He sent a secret envoy to the night meeting, and promised him that as long as he raised troops to suppress the rebellion of Meng Bochang and Yang Hao, he would be named the envoy of the Tiande Army and the assassin of Fengzhou.

Don't think about it and feel deeply isolated, he agreed without hesitation. After learning the news that Dong Bacheng crossed the river to attack Feng'an City, don't think about it, he immediately raised troops to the east to reap the benefits of the fisherman in the name of helping the war. In order to hide people's ears and thoughts, the left army waved the banner of the Yongfeng Right Army, which made the Hedong Army, which had become a frightened bird, mistakenly believe that it was Meng Bochang's reinforcements.

When the two strong meet the brave, Dong Bacheng takes the lead, the Hedong Army has just suffered a big defeat, and it is the time when there is nowhere to vent the grief and indignation. The pine forest shop is surrounded by dense black pine forests, and in the middle is a grassland vacant land of thousands of acres. The 3,000 grieving and indignant Hedong elites and the 4,000 well-trained Saiwai powerhouses came to a dragon and tiger fight, and the fierce battle lasted for more than an hour, and the grassland that had just turned green in Songlindian was dyed red with blood.

Dong Bacheng learned that his opponent was outdated, just like swallowing a green-headed fly, and he wanted to cry without tears for a while. He ordered to withdraw from the battlefield, and the Hedong Army calmly retreated to the northeast. Exhausted, Don't think about it, he reluctantly gave up the plan to attack Feng'an, and waved his army back to Feng'an.

After Wu Ming learned the result of the battle in Songlindian, he couldn't help but smile, and he slapped Yang Hao fiercely: "Yang is really a blessing, I think the hope of Zhongxing Datang is on you!" What is even more unexpected is that Dong Bacheng led two thousand remnants of the army to take advantage of the night to bypass the heavily guarded Jiuniang Pass unscathed, and suddenly killed the unsuspecting Tiande army to make Wang Qian, and the panicked Wang Qian abandoned the army and fled back to the surrendered city in the Zhizhi without a single horse. Dong Bacheng gathered more than 10,000 troops from Wang Qian's troops, and went straight to attack the surrendered city, but was defeated by the little-known Wang Qian's younger brother Wang Ben.

Dong Bacheng led the army to attack the east and occupied the surrendered city in the east. The Zhenwu Army, which marched west with Wang Qian, learned that Wang Qian was defeated and Dong Bacheng occupied the city of Dongbei, and was afraid that Dong Bacheng would take advantage of the emptiness in his rear to occupy the territory of the Zhenwu Army, so he also retreated overnight to defend the roots.

————

The imminent danger was lifted in an instant, and the ecstasy from the heart gradually dissipated. A maddening mess ensued, in which 1,300 soldiers and civilians were killed and 3,600 wounded, hundreds of houses and shops were demolished, and tens of thousands of people in the city were suddenly cut off from their livelihoods because the trade routes were cut off. Yang Hao was so poor that even the salaries of hundreds of officials in one state and two counties were released.

Meng Bochang sent 50,000 taels of silver, and reluctantly distributed the salaries of officials and the bereavement of the dead and wounded. At the beginning of the year, in order to stabilize the morale of the army, General Meng Bochang's salary was raised from one tael to two taels per month, and at the end of each quarter, another tael of silver would be issued for clothing and hats.

Feng'an now always has two battalions of the Right Army, a city patrol battalion and a guard of the Assassin's Mansion, totaling 2,800 people, plus the 3,300 soldiers stationed in Jiuniang Pass, Feng'an needs to pay half of the military salary, which means that Yang Hao will take out 31,110 taels of silver at one time at the beginning of April. The problem now is that there are only 328,27 coins of silver in the treasury, which is enough to buy rice and porridge, but it is not enough to pay salaries.

Yang Hao consulted with the state officials for a day and a night, and decided to tear down a wall along the street of the Liushou Mansion and level the land and sell it to the merchants in the city. The walls along the street to the east and north of the Liushou Mansion are two miles long, and the one is one mile long for shops, both of which are prime locations suitable for business and living. As soon as the notice for the sale of shops was hung out, it immediately attracted many people to come to negotiate, and within a few days, the foundations of more than 30 shops were sold, and 3,000 taels of silver were obtained.

But compared with 30,000 taels of silver, this is tantamount to a drop in the bucket. The second method adopted by Yang Hao was to the wealthy businessmen in the city, and the high interest rate had to compete with the loan sharks. The officials of the Assassin's Mansion ran all over every household in the city with IOUs with a property of more than 1,000 taels, but one is that Feng'an City is too small, and there are not many rich merchants, and the other is that in troubled times, wars are frequent, and the lord of Feng'an City is changing it like a lamplight, you say that the interest rate is high, but who can guarantee that I can get this interest? So if there is money, it will not lend you. Hundreds of officials were busy for three or five days, and only borrowed 4,800 taels.

Seeing that the date of payment was getting closer and closer, Yang Hao took Cheng Keling and Guan Suo, who had just arrived from Yongfeng, out of the city in civilian clothes. There is a Xiangfu Temple in the north mountain of Feng'an City, there are as many as 1,000 monks, and the south and north of the mountain occupy more than 10,000 acres of forest farms. Yang Hao is here to borrow money from the elder Fuyuan, the presiding officer of Xiangfu Temple, in addition to Guan Suo's description, Yang Hao also privately reviewed the state archives, interviewed a few Feng'an old officials, and learned that although Xiangfu Temple is a place outside the party, but the wealth is abundant, reaching out to him to borrow three or five taels of silver, it should be a breeze.

Yang Hao did not inform other officials on this trip, but he carried Feng'an's official seal in his arms, as long as the monks were willing to help, the interest rate could be higher, and other conditions could also be discussed.

Xiangfu Temple occupies a mountain alone, looking up from the bottom of the mountain reminds Yang Hao of a poem: "Chang'an looks back at the embroidered pile, the top of the mountain is opened a thousand times", the scale of the building of Xiangfu Temple may be far less than the royal palace courtyard, but in Feng'an or plus Fengzhou and Yongfeng are second to none.

Yang Hao couldn't help but sigh: "I can't imagine that the monks are so rich, is it given by Tan Yue or just by ticket income?" Guan Suo is eager to show off his talent, "I believe in the teachings of Lao Zhuang in the Tang Dynasty, but I don't abolish the Buddha." When Emperor Gaozu was the first to set the world, the people's livelihood was in trouble, and the minister Fu Yi listed the evils of the teachings in a book, please abolish them. Tang Gaozu once issued an edict to eliminate monks and nuns, but he did not prohibit it. Taizong regent, amnesty to the world, and the revival of Buddhism. Gaozong, Zhongzong, and Ruizong all believed in Shakya. When Empress Wu was in power, he built Buddha statues, built Ming Hall, cultivated Tianshu, and expounded Buddhism in the world. The majesty of the temple is comparable to that of the palace. When it came to Suzong and Daizong, hundreds of monks chanted Buddha in the palace in the morning and evening. Monks and nuns are not allowed to "drag monks and nuns". For hundreds of years, Shakya's monasteries have spread all over the world, and today half of the wealth is in monasteries. ”

Cheng Keling also hurriedly said: "These thieves boast that they are outside the world, do not pay taxes, and should not be soldiers. Idle all day with nothing to do. It's really the moth of the world. I heard that there are many secret rooms hidden in this Xiangfu Temple, and there are many beautiful women who are privately stored, and the thieves and balds are happy in the temple when they are full of food and drink, which is very unbearable. Adults should take this opportunity to heal them well. ”

Yang Hao scolded with a smile: "Hearsay, don't talk nonsense." We're borrowing money, not robbing it. When you enter the mountain gate, you are polite. ”

Cheng Keling touched his head and was a little embarrassed, but Guan Suo snickered on the side. Yang Hao scolded Guan Suo again, "Especially you, don't think that after reading a few books, you will think that the world is invincible, and you can't speak if you don't want to speak." Guan Suo's face was red, and Cheng Keling was so happy that he smiled.

On the stone steps in front of the temple gate, the two sweeping monks were giggling and laughing side by side, and when they saw Yang Hao and the three of them coming, they didn't see anything and ignored it. Cheng Keling held his breath and was about to have a seizure, when he suddenly remembered Yang Hao's instructions, so he said patiently: "Two masters, please report it, Lord Feng'an stabbed Shi Yang to pay a visit." ”

A monk glanced at Cheng Keling and said, "What Lord Yang, Feng'an's surname is Liu, you don't want to talk nonsense here." Another sneered: "I don't look at what kind of place this is, I dare to come and deceive and kill you alive." Guan Suo said with a smile: "Dare to ask the two masters, are you a monastery where monks practice or a cottage where strongmen are entrenched, are the two of you a disciple of Shakya or a mountain king who robs people of money?" ”

The two monks were embarrassed by him, and they both jumped up and started to beat the rope with the bamboo broom. Cheng Keling drew his knife and shouted: "Do you want to do it?" ”

"Stop." At the gate of the temple, a big monk with a meaty face shouted, followed by a group of beautifully dressed old monks, and the two sweeping monks hurriedly retreated to the side when they saw the big monk.

"The new Feng'an Assassin Yang Hao came to visit Elder Fuyuan." Yang Hao was very respectful.

"The abbot has expected Lord Yang to visit today, and the special monk is waiting here, and the stubborn man is rude to invite Yang Hao Haihan." The great monk is vicious, but he speaks politely.

"Dare to ask the mage."

"This is the first Lisheng master in my temple." A thin monk with long eyebrows next to him replied with a stammer.

In addition to the abbot monk as the leader, there are also four major class leaders: the first seat, the west hall, the back hall and the hall master, and the eight deacons: the superintendent, the Zhike, the Vena, the pawn, the liao yuan, the mantle, the secretary, and the monk jointly assist the abbot. The first position is second only to the abbot monk, and it is often filled by the moral and professional cultivators in the temple. The division leads the jungle, assists the abbot, and enlightens the Houkun.

Monk Lisheng led Yang Hao into the mountain gate and then through the triple hall before arriving at the abbot's room, it turned out that Elder Fuyuan was nearly eighty years old, and he was unable to go out to greet him because of his inconvenient legs.

Yang Hao looked at this old monk with long eyebrows and thin eyebrows, and thought to himself: "This is a bit of a high-ranking monk. Yang Hao sat down, and a novice offered fragrant tea. Yang Hao said straight to the point: "I came here to visit the elders, and secondly, I have something to ask for." It's just a little hard to speak for a while. Elder Fuyuan smiled and said, "You don't have to make it difficult, the old monk already knows everything." When Fuyuan said this, the monk who was standing beside him put a signed slip and an IOU in front of Yang Hao.

It was an IOU for thirty thousand taels of silver and a sign for one thousand taels of silver. Yang Hao's heart was slightly shocked. said quietly: "The old monk is indeed a high-ranking monk, but Yang still has an IOU on him, do you want to see it?" ”

Elder Fuyuan shook his head, "Feng'an has been decided, and all kinds of waste are waiting to be revived, so that the king puts the people first, and all the treasury is compassionate to the people. The 30,000 taels of silver were obtained by the sale of the mountains, forests and acres of the court, and the old monk did not dare to give it to the envoy in vain for the future food and clothing of the jungle law. But how dare they attach interest and exploit the people? And this thousand taels of silver is the sincere saving of the monks to help the king to help the poor. ”

Yang Hao got up to thank him, and was about to let Guan Suo use the seal, and the first one said: "Wait, please sign it by Lord Shi." Guan Suo smiled: "Isn't the official seal credible?" Elder Fuyuan smiled and said: "Don't be surprised, the jungle is outside the country, and you don't dare to have anything to do with the official family, and this money will still fall on the envoy in the future." ”

Yang Hao said with a smile: "It's rare for a great monk to trust Yang Hao, so I'll paint it." "Signed the mortgage and made the settlement. Guan Suo asked: "We are waiting for the rice to go to the pot, when will the monk's rice arrive in my storehouse?" Li Sheng said: "There are many people in the daytime, and tonight I will cut at the north gate." Guan Suo sneered: "Monk, don't break the contract." The monk smiled: "The monks don't speak. ”

Yang Hao and Elder Fuyuan sat down and discussed for a while, only to feel that although his words were simple and unpretentious, they often had subtle and penetrating opinions, and they wanted to be close to him very much, but it was difficult to stay in the city for a long time after all, so they drank two cups of tea and got up to say goodbye, and their words were quite reluctant. Elder Fuyuan saw through his scheming, and said: "There is a door in the jungle, and the door of Buddhism is unlocked, so that you don't have to knock on the door again, and go straight to the abbot." Yang Hao thanked him and came down the mountain.

At night, Guan Suo, Cheng Keling, Feng An Sicao and other officials handed over 31,000 taels of silver to Lisheng outside the north gate, and a looming financial crisis came to an end.