Chapter 4745 Progress is going well

Chapter 4745 Progress is going well
Ma Zhou has always been resolute and efficient. After receiving the "pilot" task from His Majesty, he immediately summoned officials from Jingzhao Prefecture to discuss how to implement it. He first counted the assets of Taoist temples and monasteries in the jurisdiction, and then checked the registered number of Taoists and monks. After summarizing them one by one, he ordered his subordinates to form a temporary "inspection team" to measure the land and negotiate the tax rate as soon as he negotiated with the Buddhist and Taoist sects.

He even gathered together all the patrol officers and yamen runners of Jingzhao Prefecture, and contacted the Left and Right Leading Army Guards and the Left and Right Jinwu Guards. If anything happened, they would immediately block the roads in and out of Chang'an and suppress any riots and unrest.

Then he discussed the formulation of tax rates with the Minister of Civil Affairs Tang Jian.

Tang Jian warned: "The influence of Buddhism and Taoism is extraordinary. The attitude of raising taxes cannot be too tough. In fact, the court cares more about whether it can find a way to increase taxes on these two sects. The actual amount of tax increase is not important. You must grasp this degree and not be too radical. Otherwise, once you provoke a strong backlash from Buddhism and Taoism, you will be the first to be pushed out to bear the responsibility."

Things in the court are always like this. When things are done, countless people will come out to take the credit, but when things go wrong, they will try every means to shirk responsibility. Given the influence and size of the Buddhist and Taoist sects, if a fierce backlash breaks out, it will definitely be a storm, and by then no matter how much the emperor trusts Ma Zhou, he will not be able to protect him.

Demotion is the least of the punishments, if things go wrong you will be banished 3,000 miles away...

Ma Zhou bowed and accepted the instruction: "Don't worry, Duke Ju. Although I am determined to make this happen at all costs, I will not rush into it and cause this policy to fail in the womb. I will pay attention to the methods and take it step by step."

"You are a teachable kid! This is how things should be done. Don't expect to become a fat man in one go. Instead, be patient and proceed step by step. As long as you stay in this position or even go one step further, you will have a chance to accomplish this. But once you can't even keep your position, everything will go down the drain and you won't have any chance at all."

"Here."

……

Everything was ready. Ma Zhou burned incense and bathed in his mansion, put on purple official uniform, and wore a jade belt and goldfish neatly. He rode out of Mingde Gate with a group of officials from Jingzhao Prefecture and headed straight for Zhuoying County. After arriving in Zhuoying, they passed through the gate but did not enter. Instead, they went straight into Zhongnan Mountain from the south of the city and arrived at Caolou Temple.

At this time, there were only a few days left before the Zhongyuan Festival, and Taoist sects from all over the world sent people to Caolou Temple to participate in the "Zhongyuan Festival". Taoists from all over the mountain came in an endless stream. When they arrived at the mountain gate, Yin Wencao and Cheng Xuanying came together to greet them and welcomed Ma Zhou into Caolou Temple.

The temple was paved with wooden floors and furnished in an elegant, simple and grand style. Yin Wencao personally boiled water and brewed tea, smiling and saying, "Prefect Ma is diligent in his work and loves the people. I have heard of him a lot. I am very lucky to see him today. Please have some tea."

In today's officialdom, no one has the best reputation than Ma Zhou. This man is diligent, loves the people, is simple, and has excellent abilities. He can be regarded as a model official. His reputation among the people can even be compared with that of Fang Jun, who is known as "Buddha of Ten Thousand Families".

Everyone should show some courtesy.

Ma Zhou took the teacup with both hands, took a sip, and smiled happily: "My name is just a small one, not worth mentioning. On the contrary, the two Taoist immortals have long been famous all over the world. I have long admired them and wanted to ask them some difficult questions about health preservation and cultivation. However, I am busy with worldly affairs and have no time to rest. Please forgive me for coming to your door today."

Cheng Xuanying asked with a smile: "Prefect Ma came here today to discuss matters of health preservation and cultivation? Then please ask, I will tell you everything I know."

"Haha, Master Xihua, you are joking. If you want to ask me about cultivation, I must come on a day off. Today is not a day off, so I can't use my official position for personal gain. So I am here for official business."

Ma Zhou was so smart that he would naturally not be led astray by Cheng Xuanying's words.

At this moment, his eyes were scorching and his aura was terrifying, showing the courage and magnanimity of a high-ranking official. He was determined to confront Taoism to see whether the Taoist heritage that had been passed down for thousands of years was more profound or whether the court laws and the emperor's edicts were more majestic.

Of course, we need to be strategic when doing things and not be reckless, but we must also have the determination to "die if we don't succeed". Otherwise, if we are always timid, how can we accomplish anything?

Since it was official business, Cheng Xuanying smiled and said nothing. This was Yin Wencao's territory. Although his status in the underworld was slightly higher than the other party's, he could not interfere in other people's affairs.

Yin Wencao asked, "I wonder what official business Ma Fuyin is talking about?"

Ma Zhou looked at him with burning eyes and said slowly: "All land under heaven belongs to the king, and all people are his subjects. The Tang Dynasty is powerful and awe-inspiring. Your Majesty shines on China and is virtuous. The prosperous times are unparalleled in the world! The ancestor of the Li Tang Dynasty was the sage of Taoism, so Emperor Gaozu designated Taoism as the 'state religion' at the beginning of his reign. After all, they share the same roots and should support each other. However, Your Majesty is benevolent and treats all people equally. Although Taoism is unique in the immortal world, it is also under the rule of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty and cannot be beyond the imperial power."

Yin Wencao said calmly, "I am an outsider, not familiar with official rhetoric. Your words are profound and difficult to understand, and you are implicit. Please forgive me for my ignorance of your true meaning. Can you please ask Ma Fuyin to speak frankly?"

Ma Zhou originally wanted to speak more tactfully and handle things in a roundabout way, leaving some room for both sides so that there would not be a direct clash regardless of success or failure. However, he did not expect the other party to go straight to the point...

Whatever, after all, it's just challenging the other party's bottom line. What's the point of going around in circles?

He coughed lightly and said in a deep voice: "It seems that the empire is prosperous and everything is being revived, but due to the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, the infrastructure in various parts of the country has been dilapidated. Your Majesty has worked hard day and night to govern the country and intends to build a large number of infrastructure. This is a move to revitalize the country, enrich the people, and strengthen the army. Therefore, the subjects of the world should pay taxes and bear corvée labor according to the law, and work together to create a prosperous Tang Dynasty. No one should be independent of the imperial power, and no one can override the national policy."

Yin Wencao suddenly realized: "What Prefect Ma meant...is to increase taxes on the Taoists?"

Ma Zhou nodded: "The Council of State has decided, and His Majesty has decreed, that is exactly what has been done."

There are no secrets that can be kept in the court. It is normal for Buddhism and Taoism to receive the news. He doesn't believe that Yin Wencao understood what he meant and was just pretending to be confused.

Yin Wencao nodded: "Then add it."

Ma Zhou: “…”

He felt a breath stuck in his chest, unable to swallow or exhale, which made him feel a little stunned.

...Then add it? !

Shouldn't we resist?

Why is it so refreshing?

Coming back to his senses, Ma Zhou felt that perhaps outsiders like Yin Wencao did not pay enough attention to the "tax increase" and did not know the meaning of it. He should give him a clear enough understanding. He pondered and said: "Master Yin is very righteous, and this official admires him deeply. This time the court decided to increase taxes on Buddhism and Taoism because the taxes of Buddhism and Taoism in the past were far lower than the standard of taxation, which is not a blessing for the country in the long run. Therefore, this time Jingzhao Prefecture is used as a pilot, and all Taoist temples and monasteries within the jurisdiction are within the scope of the tax increase, and the land of all Taoist temples and monasteries is used as the basis for the tax increase..."

"Why does Prefect Ma need to explain so much?" Yin Wencao waved his hand, looking nonchalant: "I just want to ask one question, is this tax increase consistent with Buddhism and Taoism?"

Ma Zhou said: "It is natural. How can the imperial court's policies be as fair and just as possible? How can it favor one over the other?"

"That's fine. Since it's an imperial decree, no matter how or how much the tax is raised, the Taoists will firmly support it and fully cooperate."

"..."

Ma Zhou was a little stunned. Is he so easy to talk to?
Things went too smoothly, far beyond his previous expectations. All his plans were useless, which made him a little unbelievable for a moment.

I knew that raising taxes during the Buddhist-Taoist dispute would probably result in minimal resistance, but I didn't expect that there would be no resistance at all...

I don’t know what to say.

Cheng Xuanying saw Ma Zhou's surprised look and asked with a smile, "Why, Ma Fuyin is very surprised?"

Ma Zhou was straightforward and nodded when he heard this: "Life is nothing but the pursuit of profit. Why are Taoists so indifferent to the tax increase?"

Cheng Xuanying smiled and said, "Taoism advocates the supreme immortality, and the ultimate pursuit is just the eight words 'no desire, no pursuit, unity of man and nature'. But we are just on the road of seeking immortality, and have not yet reached the end. We still need money to maintain our livelihood and to buy elixirs, mercury, elixirs, and natural treasures. So how can we be indifferent to the tax increase? But everything has its trade-offs. Taoism depends on the body of the empire for its survival. Naturally, the better the empire is, the better Taoism is. Otherwise, where will the hair be attached if the skin is gone? Taoism has always been responsible for things that are beneficial to the country, and will never damage the interests of the empire for its own interests... I have heard that Duke Yue once said something that I admire, that is, 'national interests are above all else', and I agree with it."

Ma Zhou took a deep breath. Regardless of whether the Taoists truly believed that "national interests are above all else" or had other plans, the results were gratifying and the empire should commend them for this.

"I will frankly tell Your Majesty about the support that Taoism has given to the country. I think Your Majesty will be deeply gratified that the royal family and Taoism have the same origin."

"Although Taoists claim to be outsiders, they are still in this world after all, and they are also part of the Tang Dynasty. It is only natural for them to do what they should do."

When it comes to "political talent", Taoists are much better than monks. His seemingly nonchalant words have already dug a big hole for the monks - the ancestor of our Taoism and the ancestor of the Li Tang royal family are of the same origin, and are extremely precious. Even we agree to increase taxes. If Buddhism resists this, shouldn't the court show its strength and teach Buddhism a lesson?
"If everyone in the world has this kind of awareness, why worry about the empire not prospering and all industries not flourishing? Taoism can be a role model for the world."

Ma Zhou was not an idiot in the officialdom, so he naturally understood what Cheng Xuanying meant. However, he did not give a direct answer, but only highly affirmed the contribution of Taoism.

I can't say anything at this time, otherwise if the Buddhists really resist, my hands and feet will be tied, and I will be put in a passive position and unable to adapt flexibly according to the situation.