Sun Ning went to Jiangnan in person with the respect of the emperor, which really flattered Xie Ao, which he didn't expect to happen at all.

In addition, he was more nervous and panicked, for fear that something would go wrong after the emperor arrived in Hangzhou, and the consequences would not be something that a mere Xie family could bear.

So he was really careful along the way, and he didn't dare to relax in the slightest, even after returning to Hangzhou, he was always on guard and didn't dare to tell the people around him about the real situation.

It was Sun Ning and them, who seemed very relaxed. Not only did he come to Jiangnan to talk and laugh all the way and enjoy the scenery of the south, but after arriving in Hangzhou, he also quickly entered the state, and asked Guo Chong to take people to visit the local area to explore the situation of the Buddhist temple under the guidance of several cronies of the Xie family.

And Sun Ning and Xiao Qian also came to West Lake with great interest today when the weather was slightly better after the New Year.

After all, Hangzhou West Lake has always been famous, no matter ancient or modern, if you come to Hangzhou and do not visit the West Lake, it can be regarded as a trip in vain.

At this time, the West Lake is also quite different from later generations, many scenic spots have not yet been developed, and the overall lake surface is much larger than a few hundred years later, so that when Sun Ning walked along the Su Causeway, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart - although a few hundred years is not enough to turn the sea into a mulberry field, but the changes of time to nature are still quite obvious.

Xiao Qian was looking at the beautiful scenery around her, and at the same time she was still immersed in the legend of the white snake, and from time to time she thought about something.

Xie Ao's eldest son, Xie Yu, who accompanied them out to enjoy the West Lake, glanced at Sun Ning with some anxiety, and only whispered after a while: "The emperor ...... Brother Sun, do you mean anything when you mention this Fahai in the story? ”

"Oh? Xie Gongzi is quite discerning, since the local Buddhist monks in Hangzhou are in trouble, it makes sense to let them play the villain in the story. Sun Ning smiled and nodded.

To be honest, he really didn't think about it so deeply, the story of the White Snake is also ready-made, who would have thought that the two would have such a fit.

Xie Yu said with some pleasure: "This is really a method, although many people in Hangzhou are now oppressed and exploited by monks, but everyone dares to be angry after all, and too many people still have reverence for Buddhism, even if someone points out the crimes of Buddhism, there are many defenders."

"But if it is widely circulated among the people in the form of stories, those who rely on Buddhism for a living and speak for them will not be able to speak out."

Seeing that he looked eager to try, Sun Ning was also a little encouraged, so he smiled and said, "Then this matter will be handed over to you Gongzi Xie." I think that with the status and influence of the Xie family in Jiangnan, it will not be too difficult to find some people to spread this story. ”

"I understand, I'll make arrangements when I go back." Xie Yu replied with a full mouth, and when he looked at Sun Ning again, there was already a little more admiration in his eyes.

Originally, he was still a little worried and disapproving that his father had invited such an emperor from the southwest.

After all, Sun Ning's reputation among the people is really not good, and he is about the same age as Xie Yu, so it is naturally rare for him to agree.

But today, after traveling together, just relying on a story passed down by the White Snake made Xie Yu have a great change in his opinion of the emperor, and felt that he could really help the Xie family.

With this thought, his mind became more lively, so he pointed to the road where many people were gathering in the distance and said, "Brother Sun, not far from that place is where my largest temple in Hangzhou, Yunlin Temple, is located, are you interested in going on a trip?" ”

"Yunlin Temple?" Sun Ning's eyebrows raised, and he suddenly became interested.

This temple is the most famous temple in Hangzhou in later generations, and even in the entire Zhejiang, but I don't know what the situation is like in the era when Buddhism is prevalent in the south of the Yangtze River?

"Then let's go and have a look, so that I can appreciate how much influence Jiangnan Buddhism has in the people today!" Sun Ning nodded, and then glanced at a few pious people in the distance, one by one, walking towards the temple.

At that moment, a few people didn't say much, and followed the growing crowd towards the most famous temple by the West Lake.

This Yunlin Temple is indeed remarkable, just that it can be located on the edge of the picturesque West Lake, it is enough to see its status is extraordinary, and when it is about to enter the temple gate, Sun Ning has seen the wealth of the first temple in Hangzhou.

I saw that there are large areas of snow-covered fertile fields at the bottom of the mountain, and above there are forests of tea trees, and there are many mulberry trees in the middle......

Xie Yu whispered on the side: "Now the entire mountain where Yunlin Temple is located has entered the temple property of its temple. According to preliminary estimates, there are as many as 300 hectares of fertile land alone, and there are dozens of tea trees and mulberry groves on the mountain...... What we see now is only one corner, and more fields and forests are in the area behind the mountains. ”

Sun Ning squinted and nodded: "With so many fields and forests, it shouldn't be done by the monks in the temple to take care of them on weekdays, right?" ”

"Of course, how can these worldly people be able to work with the monks in the temple? It is the lowest novice, and that is also the person who listens to it in front of the Buddha, and it is the most noble.

Therefore, these industries naturally have to be handed over to many ordinary farmers and ordinary people under the mountain to take care of. Moreover, because they could be sheltered by the temple as long as they took refuge in it, and they were even exempt from taxes and forced labor, they received very little wages.

"In this way, the temple can harvest a large amount of grain, tea and silk at a very small price, and then sell them at a price below the market price, and make a lot of money."

Sun Ning nodded clearly, the temple relied on the grace of the former imperial court and the acquiescence of the gentry of the local government, and it really did a decent business. It may also take advantage of many local merchants who should have benefited from it, because they can't afford to hire people for a fraction of the wages of a temple.

Coupled with the tax, I am afraid that even a local family like the Xie family will be completely suppressed by the temple.

Thinking about it this way, it is even more reasonable that the Xie family is hostile to Buddhism, and cutting off people's wealth is like killing their parents.

"Brother Sun, don't you know, this Yunlin Temple's means of making money are not only this, in fact, if you really talk about it, it is the smallest part of the income of the monks here to grab profits through the production of tea and silk from COFCO. The bigger ones are yet to come......"

Xie Yu tried to lower his voice again and led them to continue to go up, but Xiao Qian, who had only watched and listened all the way and had never spoken, became even more interested: "Oh, this is still a small head, so where is the income of their big head?" Is it all about faith? ”

At this time, in front of them, many people could already be seen reverently bowing up the steps step by step, this attitude alone was enough to make people shocked, and Sun Ning narrowed his eyes even more.