My Lady Always Lacks Ambition

Chapter 1303 - 1225: Seizing Faith to Stir Up Trouble

The New Dynasty has taken shape, and whether it’s eliminating bandits or cleaning up corrupt officials, the New Emperor has been resolute in his efforts, leading to quick results in bandit suppression across various regions. This has eased the minds of many traveling merchants and common people; with fewer bandits, they no longer live in constant fear, worried about their livelihoods.

For refugees who fled their homes, the New Dynasty ordered two years of tax exemption and free distribution of grain seeds this year, encouraging many to voluntarily return home to cultivate their land. When there’s hope for a better life, who would want to remain far from their native land?

However, not everyone is willing to return home. Some have grown accustomed to a lazy lifestyle, especially in Shengjing where powerful people are everywhere, allowing them to gain food just by feigning pity and begging. Why would they choose hardship on the road again? The New Dynasty may seem stable, but in truth, the national treasury is empty, and battles at the border haven’t ceased, which could potentially escalate into a major war.

Why?

Naturally, everyone knows that Da Feng has changed emperors, and some want to seize land, women, slaves, and wealth before everything consolidates internally.

Who knows if a great war might break out with nowhere to hide? Even in Shengjing, it isn’t too bad; at least, with many powerful people here, they can provide some resistance.

In general, even though there are policies benefiting the people, not everyone has confidence in the current national situation. To create a prosperous Dynasty, the New Emperor still has a long journey ahead.

Securing the country is a responsibility that falls on every official donned in official robes. The hundred officials can draft plans with pen or defend the nation with sword, but who can tell them why, with the establishment of the New Dynasty, so many strange forces and ghosts have emerged?

This is completely beyond what they have learned.

Indeed, as the New Emperor and his hundred officials strive to stabilize the national situation and cultivate peace, some Taoists in Da Feng’s temples suddenly stopped venerating the Grandmaster and began worshiping other Divines.

You might say they’re following the Evil Path, but that’s not quite right. These monks are officially recognized by their dudie, meaning they’re officially acknowledged. They merely betrayed their own Grandmaster and turned to another God.

One cannot blame them for switching faiths; belief is not something you can mandate.

There are many deities within the Buddhist and Taoist paths, just like some believe in the Bodhisattva Guanyin, others in The Buddha, and still others in Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad. Thus, worshiping other Gods is quite normal.

It can only be said that the Grandmaster or a certain Bodhisattva had their believers taken by this Divine.

Moreover, this Divine isn’t fictional but real, as a Water God from Yu Hang Green Lake, who has saved countless civilians over hundreds of years and kept protecting Yu Hang’s populace, earning great reverence and belief from the citizens. Locally, there are numerous tales about the Water God; some say he’s actually a river dragon hidden in Green Lake, while others claim he’s a gentle beauty or a formidable figure brimming with Divine Power.

The more stories are spread, and with monks preaching, belief in the Water God grows stronger among the people. For the court officials, this is a signal that’s not favorable to the nation.

Not to mention that strange forces and gods are measured within everyone’s heart. Belief brings existence; disbelief and they vanish, respect them within, and it’s sufficient.

But the current overall phenomenon leads to people believing in Gods more than the court and Saints, which is frightening. Over time, people may become brainwashed. If the Buddhist and Taoist paths harbor rebellion, fueled by people’s fanaticism for faith, stirring trouble with a call to arms, it would be terrifying.

History has witnessed events where the State Preceptor demon monk controlled the court, and when demon monks take power, it’s a catastrophic disaster.

Preventing it before it happens, extinguishing danger in its cradle, is what the officials should understand.

Many local officials petition to close some temples, banning the spreading of teachings, whether Buddhist, Taoist, or Loose Dao, prohibiting missionary work.

Just like the New Emperor wished to be like his great-grandfather, fiercely suppressing the Taoist Sect—no, even more, this time it’s extending even to the Buddhist Sect.

Another wave of officials argued against the wholesale suppression, saying not all monks and Taoists are the same, and stifling them throughout Da Feng might provoke backlash from the citizens.

Actually, it’s not just ordinary citizens; even these court officials have family members like old ladies or wives and concubines who believe in Buddha or Dao. If they wholeheartedly support the suppression and closure of temples, they might lose peaceful days, labeled as unfilial or barred from their chambers by their spouses.

Supporters immediately cite past catastrophic history where demon monks held power and devastated a country.

Opponents argue that the whole populace worships not only one deity, and suppressing all would leave them nowhere to worship, only leading to stronger opposition.

Both factions argue incessantly in the court.

Qi Qian’s expression darkened like a pot bottom; he hadn’t anticipated that being Emperor meant deciding whether faith should be eradicated and that this debate would erupt among the court officials.

Their focus should be on how to create sources of revenue and nurture peace, enabling the people to live happily and enjoy peace.

To fully suppress the closure of temples, that’s impossible, as Qi Qian, as Monarch, also holds beliefs.

His belief is in Qin Liuxi!

Just recently, with the treasury empty, otherwise, he would have constructed a golden temple and golden statue for Qin Liuxi, honoring her as the Statue Goddess of the nation, instead of just setting a small altar with a small golden statue in Taiping Palace, offering incense day and night.

If he agreed with the supporters, wouldn’t Qingping Temple suffer as well?

Qi Qian was displeased, he slammed a dragon chair heavily and said, "Why do the people worship that Water God, if you don’t seek answers from the root cause, just saying suppression and crackdown, does it help? Belief can’t disappear simply by suppression. If a nation lacks belief, what chaos will ensue? Belief isn’t just the spiritual ideology of the populace; it’s also a form of culture. Since ancient times, the Buddhist Path has endured only through belief. If you suppress it like this, are you trying to obliterate the culture of ancestors or compete against Heaven?"

"Your Majesty, please calm down," the hundred officials collectively knelt.

"Belief is a kind of power, not something that disappears through suppression. Instead of pondering suppression, why not consider how to guide the populace? Having belief shouldn’t mean being controlled by it, becoming slaves, and losing thought under a Tightening Spell."

Qi Qian stood up and said, "Solving the problem shouldn’t be through blanket punishment or becoming someone’s one-man show. Otherwise, what difference is such conduct from burning books and burying scholars? I don’t want to witness monk people fleeing and disbanding, like those scholars."

Everyone was shaken, bowing low and exclaiming, "Your Majesty is wise."

"Court dismissed," Qi Qian swished his sleeves and left.

Only after the dragon robe disappeared did the hundred officials stand up from the ground, looking at each other. Though the New Emperor is young and ascended quickly, he is not easily deceived.

Lin Xiang and Elder Yu exchanged a glance, eyes expressing satisfaction.

The promising young ruler—strength in hope for a strong nation.