Chapter 106: Great Tang Buddhist Professional Qualification Examination

Hehe, hehe, hehe…

In the Ganzhou prefectural office, within the inspector's study, Fang Chongyong savored the statutes sent from the imperial core, chuckling oddly, as if he were reading a joke book or an erotic manga.

Anaye, curious, took one of the books she had read to examine, and was instantly greatly disappointed.

It was merely a statute requiring local authorities to manage the regional temples. She had heard similar things from her father Li Yiguan, who said the court issues corresponding statutes to bind local officials to proper conduct.

For example, regarding market districts.

In cities with market walls, aside from Chang'an, such as Luoyang, regulations about when market gates open or close, whether entrants are to be inspected, and so on are written down and kept in the relevant local government offices.

Normally no one reads them, but when disputes arise, this thing becomes the standard for judging right and wrong.

Likewise, each prefecture preserves guidelines for market transactions: when a market opens or closes, how theft is handled, how to deal with those who bully merchants, the specifications of official scales, the design of weight‑measuring devices, and of volume‑measuring devices—all are explicitly stipulated.

Fang Chongyong is currently perusing these documents; Anaye sees nothing funny at all—she could fall asleep after a single incense stick's worth of time.

"Is it really that interesting?"

Anaye asked puzzled, unable to grasp Fang Chongyong's behavior pattern and way of thinking.

"Of course it's interesting. I never knew an inspector's authority could be this great!"

Fang Chongyong laughed while slapping the desk, saying,

Official power has distinctions of sufficiency and necessity.

Some matters must be done; others can be handled if one wishes, and no one will blame you for ignoring them. This leaves a huge margin for maneuver.

"Since you sent that thing called a crucible to Chang'an, you've been completely smug. What's really going on?"

Anaye asked anxiously.

"No problem. Go to Xilai Temple and tell the abbot to arrange for me to meet Fang Laique tonight, so he won't delay the court's important matters!"

Fang Chongyong withdrew his smile and said,

He's not someone satisfied with just passing; once he starts playing, he plays big. As long as Ji Ge can still cover him, the potential of Fang Yanei is limitless!

Of course, if Fang Chongyong's "speeding" gets too fast for Ji Ge to cover, that would be the moment some Fang person buries Ganzhou.

Fang Yanei felt he could still keep within the limits.

"Got it, so you take it easy."

Anaye began to caution, uneasy and at a loss for words, and could only let out a long sigh.

The good news is, she thinks Fang Chongyong is trustworthy, and she probably won't be abandoned in the future.

She might even live well.

The bad news is that this Fang Yanei may face a great disaster soon!

This made Anaye feel both hopeful and anxious.

"Go on, go on. Isn't it just that you'll return to Chang'an with you, then be sent to the Imperial Medical Bureau to study medicine? They're just trivial matters not worth mentioning."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand impatiently and said,

Anaye was overjoyed; hearing Fang Chongyong's personal guarantee again steadied her, and she walked away with a spring in her step.

After she left, Fang Chongyong ordered Yan Zhuang, the county magistrate of Zhangye County, to the prefectural office, and the two held a private discussion in the study.

The recruitment of tuanjie soldiers was allocated among several counties within the prefecture, each overseen by its county magistrate. Ganzhou has only two counties: Zhangye County, where the prefectural seat is, and Shandan County to the east. When Yan Zhuang arrived, he asked with a sour face:

"Lord, the autumn defense orders are easy enough; after all, the timing isn't that urgent and can be dealt with gradually."

"But the court has issued a decree urging the recruitment of tuanjie soldiers, and the prefectural office has no funds—surely we can't push it down to the counties?"

"Lean in, I'll tell you,"

Fang Chongyong said in a deep voice, gesturing toward Yan Zhuang.

He recounted the matter of the Heishui Kingdom ruins to Yan Zhuang in painstaking detail.

Yan Zhuang, ever quick‑witted, clapped his hands and laughed loudly upon hearing this:

"Lord, brilliant plan. Now Ganzhou not only avoids the autumn defense order, but Chang'an will have to send money, grain, and troops into Ganzhou!"

"Turning the guest into the host, your use of this tactic is superb!"

Yan Zhuang couldn't help but flatter, speaking sincerely rather than merely currying favor.

He was absolutely right.

If the Heishui Kingdom's past ability to smelt iron is confirmed, the matter rises to a strategic level, forcing Ji Ge to discuss it in detail with the chancellor.

Playing deaf and mute is useless, because border towns are a mix of fish and dragons; the news will spread sooner or later.

What Zhangye could accomplish long ago is no reason the great Tang cannot do now.

Moreover, if Tang doesn't seek the Heishui Kingdom's smelting secret, should Ganzhou fall, the Tubo will also discover it.

Or if the Hexi local powers later become independent, they will also look for it. For the Tang central authority, the outcome would only get worse!

Thus Ji Ge's only option is to dispatch experts from the Ministry of Works to Ganzhou to investigate, uncover the whole story, and then decide whether Ganzhou still has smelting capability.

If smelting is possible, Ganzhou must build smelting workshops, forging workshops, and supplement the necessary displaced labor. This would give the Hexi Corridor the ability to produce its own iron tools and weapons, strengthening control over the region.

Once the opening appears, it can't be sealed; you can only try to control it.

Things that could be done but the Tang central government refuses to are always taken up by locals who implement them. Rather than watching regional forces run amok, it's better for the center to take the initiative, plan everything, and maintain full control.

Under such sudden circumstances, policies like the autumn defense order, tuanjie soldiers, local tax hikes, and the like become ill‑timed oppression, no longer necessary to enforce.

Ganzhou already lacks displaced labor for the smelting industry, yet the court adds taxes as if fearing a rebellion.

Any emperor with a sound mind would never do such a thing.

Moreover, once this news reaches Tubo, their conquest target could very likely shift to the strategically valuable Ganzhou!

Then Tang would have to fight, even if it initially chose not to.

Yan Zhuang believes that, by normal logic, the court now would not tax Ganzhou to the bone; instead it would send troops to protect it, even waive some taxes to pacify the people, to prevent the Tubo from winning through chaos!

However, there's a major prerequisite: the "experts" sent by the court must, after investigation, endorse Fang Chongyong's conclusion. If they return and tell Ji Ge that Ganzhou won't be able to smelt for at least a thousand years, then the plan falls apart.

At that point, Ganzhou's taxes would still be levied, just delayed by a few months. In any case, Fang Chongyong's move has already averted an immediate crisis.

Yan Zhuang felt a weight lift from his heart; if the Gan Prefecture office doesn't press, the counties there won't press either, everyone can live in peace—how nice to avoid trouble.

"Over in Shandan County there are few temples, so it's fine not to mention it.

But here in Zhangye County, temples are numerous and monks gather in hordes."

Fang Chongyong said, indicating his meaning.

Yan Zhuang didn't understand, so he tentatively asked:

"The temples here pay a portion of their funds to the prefectural office each year, but what does the governor intend to do? In Hexi there are many ways to skim money, yet much of that money isn't easy to move.

In this regard, the governor must still be cautious."

The Western Regions and Hexi are constantly plagued by war; myriad forces intertwine, and large or small battles, even robbery and murder, never cease. True peaceful years may not have existed even for a single day.

Local temples have accepted the Tang army's protection, so they naturally pay a "protection fee" to the prefectural office—a simple principle. In fact, the Sogdians of Hexi do the same. Different Sogdians may belong to separate settlements; they aren't necessarily united, and mutual raids are not uncommon.

The Tang army maintains order here and, to some extent, recruits their core into the military, acting like a godfather in a secret society—mediating and exploiting conflicts to keep Hexi stable.

However, such protection fees are not something that Fang Chongyong, the single‑horse Prefect, can lay claim to.

Various forces in the border towns play different roles within the Tang‑established frontier system, maintaining a delicate and fragile balance. The tribute money temples give to the prefectural office is the same—an unwritten custom formed over many years.

It does not change with the replacement of the Prefect.

"I have no such intention."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand lightly, pointing to a booklet pressed beneath another hand and said, "It says here that every three years a Buddhist personnel examination is held; those who fail must be stripped of their monk status and ordered to return to lay life. Is such a thing in effect?"

He mentioned something that Yan Zhuang found incomprehensible.

"Um, that's roughly it, but it's all just a formality. The assessment that should have been held last year never took place, and the court didn't push.

As far as I know, the examination system has been halted. The court is too ashamed to appear weak, and the temples are reluctant to confront the authorities, so everyone pretends it doesn't exist, dragging it out day by day until everyone forgets."

Yan Zhuang said awkwardly.

This counts as a "unspeakable secret" of the Tang government.

During the Wu Zhou period, Buddhist temples proliferated across the Tang realm to a disastrous extent, reaching a point where they could not be trimmed.

After Ji Ge ascended the throne, he felt that the monks of the temples did not engage in production, corrupting social morals and weakening the Tang state's power, so he adopted various measures to curb Buddhism's growth.

Of course, this also relates to his being a senior Taoist and his obsession with longevity.

However, although Ji Ge's decrees heavily restrained Buddhism, the harsh suppression was ineffective.

It remains true that any thing with demand will inevitably find a niche to survive—that's an indisputable fact. Those who suffer and hope for reincarnation, those who commit evil seeking peace of mind—under such circumstances, how could Buddhism not flourish?

In the end, no one knows who gave Ji Ge a crooked idea: since overt suppression wasn't possible, let's handle it using the imperial examination system.

"Didn't you say you were an enlightened high monk?"

"Didn't you say you had received the Buddha's calling?"

"So I have you memorize ten sutras; you should have no problem with that, right?"

"If you can't recite them, it shows you're unfit to spread my Buddha's brilliance, so ordering you to return to lay life would be fine, right?"

When this policy was issued, it was like a sword drawn from its sheath. The fake monks who blended into temples without learning, the lazy monks who rang the bell only for a day, instantly had nowhere to hide. In its first year, hundreds of thousands of people returned to lay life!

Seeing such success, Ji Ge decreed that every three years a "professional qualification examination" would be held in Buddhist temples nationwide.

How to set the questions and how to implement it are decided by the local prefecture, i. e., the Prefect makes the final decision.

There's no choice; the central treasury is empty, so these side matters must be left to the local authorities. Managing affairs incurs costs!

Then this matter became like the increasingly chaotic imperial examination system—more and more fraudulent, with large temples networking and using various means to preserve monks' statuses.

By the twenty‑sixth year of the Kaiyuan era, Ji Ge ordered the suspension of this system.

The court has not said whether it will continue to administer the qualification exam for Buddhist practitioners in the future, nor has it said what specific rules might change!

The court has neither announced whether the Buddhist professional qualification exams will continue nor detailed any rule changes!

In reality, the situation is even worse than Yan Zhuang described. With the collapse of the equal‑field system and the nominal demise of the militia system, temples have become havens for runaway households; many land‑less peasants across the lands seek shelter under the guise of "monks".

"As the court's Prefect, how can I neglect the central system and maintain any dignity!"

Fang Chongyong sighed with feigned sentiment.

Yan Zhuang was startled, then gave a wry smile: "What purpose does the governor have in opening this examination?"

"It's hard to explain in a few words. In short, draft a notice and post it outside the prefectural office. Then, within Zhangye County, broadcast it to every Buddhist temple without omission!"

After thinking, since it wasn't his responsibility to bear the cost, Yan Zhuang clasped his hands and bowed, saying: "Then, as the envoy said."

After a moment, since he wasn't the one footing the bill, Yan Zhuang crossed his arms and saluted, "Very well, as you say, Governor."

Seeming to recall something, he lowered his voice and added, "These temples have abundant lands and wealth; why not take advantage…"

"Eh, just be kind to others; don't get into all that fighting and killing. When you go to the major temples and negotiate with those abbots, remember to speak politely and keep a low posture. Just say that our office is merely conducting routine business, and the exam questions are very simple. Our office will first hold one at the West Journey Temple; at that time, the various temples can send people to observe."

"Hey, be friendly, don't resort to violence. When you negotiate with the abbots of the major temples, speak politely and adopt a humble demeanor. Say the office is merely handling routine matters and the exam questions are very simple. Our office will first hold an event inside the Western Journey Temple, after which each temple may send representatives to observe."

Fang Chongyong said dismissively.

Is this meant to be a grand scheme or just a casual affair? What exactly are you trying to do?

Yan Zhuang wore a puzzled expression, unsure how to begin. Yet recalling that Fang Chongyong is usually a resourceful man, he quickly agreed and hurried away.

"Keep reading; learning makes me grow!"

Fang Chongyong sat on the grand master chair, holding a booklet while mentally weighing the pros and cons.

Late at night, Fang Chongyong saw Fang Laique, dressed in a small-sized black regular uniform, in a meditation room of the West Journey Temple.

Late at night, Fang Chongyong entered a meditation chamber of the Western Journey Temple and saw Fang Laique dressed in a small‑size black regular robe.

His slightly plump body looked as rotund as a Buddha statue.

His small, vacant eyes, not knowing what they were gazing at, seemed inscrutable and unfathomable.

His gluttonous, lazy rogue aura, framed by the monk's robes, gave the impression of a deity untouched by worldly affairs.

His rude, casual stance fully displayed the contempt a Buddha's disciple should have toward secular power.

In short, attire makes the man, as a saddle makes the horse. He is still the same person, but once Fang Laique dons the monk's habit, he naturally looks like a monk, his demeanor perfectly fitting.

【121】 No, one should say the monastic vocation truly suits him!

However, the bare, hairless patch atop his head was so drastically different from before that it left this "Holy Son" feeling utterly dejected.

"Young Master, per your instructions, I still have to pretend to be blind here.

There's no meat in the meals, and no one talks to me either.

When will this kind of life ever end?"

The moment they met, Fang Laique could not help but complain.

Being a monk was one thing, but pretending to be blind was simply too much!

"Having you pretend to be blind is to maintain your high-status persona. Bear with it for now. When your name as the Holy Son has spread throughout Hexi, that will be the time to leave Ganzhou.

Once we reach Chang'an, you can become a monk if you want, or stay by my side if you want—whatever you like. In short, right now I need you to be the Holy Son at West Journey Temple!"

"Become a monk? Impossible. I'm still thinking about marrying a chancellor's daughter in the future."

Fang Laique said stubbornly.

Fang Chongyong gave a slight nod, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Let this little fool think whatever he wants. He couldn't very well deprive him of even his fantasies—how tragic would life be then!

"Show him."

Fang Chongyong instructed Anaye beside him.

Anaye held back a laugh and handed Fang Laique a scroll of the Diamond Sutra from the medicine chest.

"Take a look and memorize it."

Fang Chongyong said solemnly, without a trace of a smile on his face.

Fang Laique was most afraid of this kind of expression from him. He hastily took the Buddhist scripture scroll, looked at it this way and that, and finally let out a long sigh, pleading helplessly, "Young Master, please don't make me read anymore. I can't take in a single word no matter what. I can't even remember the name of this scripture scroll."

The words "Diamond Sutra" are hard to remember?

Fang Chongyong took the Buddhist scripture back in puzzlement and handed it to Anaye, saying, "Recite the name to him."

With a bitter face, Anaye gave Fang Chongyong a resentful glance, then recited the scripture's name in full.

"Isn't it just the Diamond Sutra? I can't remember things from reading, but when someone reads it aloud to me, I hear it once, remember it, and never forget it!"

Fang Laique immediately perked up!

Oho, so the method of use was wrong all along!

Hearing Fang Laique's words, Fang Chongyong had a sudden realization. Fang Laique was this miraculous—he didn't even need the cheating steps anymore!

"In three days, the Buddhist practitioner qualification examination will take place. Over the next few days, I will have Abbot Facheng teach you to chant scriptures hand in hand! When the time comes, you must stand out from the crowd!

Remember, no matter what happens before then, on the day of the examination, you absolutely must not open your eyes even if beaten to death!"

"Not opening my eyes? No problem. Rest easy, Young Master."

Fang Laique patted his chest and gave his guarantee.

Fang Chongyong looked at him doubtfully, feeling that this little fool was not very reliable.

Who would have known that just then, Anaye whispered to Fang Chongyong, "Young Master, I have a kind of eye ointment. Once applied, it temporarily prevents the eyes from opening…"

This one was no ordinary person either—he had forgotten she studied medicine.

Fang Chongyong ruefully slapped his forehead, then quickly waved his hand and said, "That won't be necessary. He'll have to open his eyes eventually, otherwise the play can't go on."

"The play?"

Anaye asked in puzzlement.

"Yes, staging an earth-shattering grand play!"

Fang Chongyong clenched his fist and chuckled darkly, "Heh heh."

Whatever Brother Ji this or Brother Ya that—in Ganzhou there was only one Brother, and that was him, "Brother Yong." Since he'd already decided to go all out, then let's see whose posture is more bewitching!

Get fired up, Brother Ji!

Fang Chongyong roared in his heart.

……

Young Master Fang was temporarily rid of the trouble of recruiting militia troops, but the trouble itself had not disappeared—it had simply been kicked over to the Chang'an central court like a ball.

The crucibles, iron blocks, and unburnt coal fragments excavated from the ruins of the Black Water Kingdom were packed up intact and delivered to the Zichen Hall of the Daming Palace, brought before the Tang Emperor, Li Longji.

Not a single one of the five prefectures in the Hexi Corridor could smelt weapons or forge iron agricultural tools—this was common knowledge in the minds of the Tang sovereign and his ministers. Yet now, a ten-year-old child was telling them that their common knowledge was entirely wrong: anywhere from several hundred to several thousand years ago, the ancients were already smelting iron in the Ganzhou area.

How could this be explained? How could this possibly be a coincidence?

"Ge Nu, what do you make of this matter?"

Li Longji walked several circles around the excavated crucible with its square exterior and round inner groove, and asked with a grave expression.

"In reply to the Sage, this matter cannot be faked. But your humble servant has no experience governing local regions, so it would be better to let Lord Zhang speak on it.

Your humble servant recalls that Lord Zhang was formerly the commander of the Jiankang Army, and the Jiankang Army was stationed in Ganzhou. Lord Zhang's words carry a hundred times more weight than your humble servant's."

Li Linfu said with great modesty.

As a veteran politician, Li Linfu understood perfectly that in fields unfamiliar to him, there was no credit to be gained. Rather than speaking recklessly, it was better to be cautious with his words.

"In reply to the Sage, Ganzhou has no smelting capability—this your humble servant knows very well. As for the items Inspector Fang sent, they appear to be objects from a smelting workshop, but beyond that, your humble servant cannot say for certain."

Zhang Shougui likewise did not know how to explain it.

The main thing was that this matter was simply too bizarre!

"Sage, if this is a careless report from the local authorities, then it should be severely punished. But if this matter is true, then it is no small thing and must be taken seriously."

Li Linfu suggested abruptly.

These words struck right at the heart of Li Longji's thoughts.

Could he not know what strategic significance Ganzhou's ability to smelt would carry?

This matter had two sides, and for the moment it was hard to say whether it was good or bad.

If Ganzhou could produce wrought iron, it meant the five prefectures of the Hexi Corridor formed a self-contained system, capable of forging their own weapons.

And this was also horse-producing territory, which meant there was no shortage of horses either.

Moreover, the Hexi colonization has a hundred‑year history, and its irrigation system is already well developed.

So, in other words, Hexi's population is still lagging behind, and therefore the threat is not yet great.

If the population swells, there will always be the possibility of secessionist enclaves!

That is the downside.

But in theory, any region could fall under warlord fragmentation, for example the nearby Hebei!

Compared with the negative effects, the positive impact of Ganzhou's production of refined iron is far greater!

Iron farming tools, weapons, and armor can all be produced locally.

The Great Tang can manage the Hexi Corridor at a lower cost, even saving a huge sum on the massive transport fees for weapons; in the future it would only need to ship items such as bows, crossbows and arrow shafts.

Therefore, what Fang Chongyong sent over is actually very promising, even crucial!

It's not enough to consider ourselves; we must also consider Tubo. If Tubo captures Ganzhou, the Hexi Corridor would be split in two, and Tubo could borrow Ganzhou's refined iron to turn the Hexi Corridor into a forward base and main camp for the campaign against Guanzhong!

Who could stand that!

At that point, we might really have to move the capital from Chang'an to Luoyang.

Thus, for Li Longji this is a major issue that must be dealt with, leaving no room for any luck!

"Reduce Ganzhou's annual tax, redeploy the Jiankang Army to camp outside Zhangye City, dispatch a detachment of the Chishui Army to garrison Daduo Valley, and prevent Tubo raids."

Ganzhou may forgo the autumn defense order, allowing the populace to recuperate.

The central administration in Chang'an will allocate funds to transport one hundred thousand bolts of silk to Ganzhou, encouraging the soldiers to defend the land.

Li Longji issued several successive edicts.

Simply put, as Fang Chongyong anticipated, Ganzhou is no longer a tax‑paying entity but rather a subsidized one!

The aim is to lay the groundwork for developing Ganzhou's smelting capacity, lessen civilian burdens, and increase the garrison size.

These are matters Li Longji can decide on his own; however, as Li Linfu pointed out, whether Ganzhou can truly smelt refined iron is not something Brother Ji can decide by himself.

It requires a "professional," who must go on site to find the answer.

"Who can go to Ganzhou to investigate this?"

Li Longji asked casually.

Li Linfu's mind worked swiftly. He quickly crossed his hands in a salute and said:

"Niu Xiankè, who has served in Hexi for decades, has already pacified the mixed barbarians of the Six Prefectures, and is now in the northern frontier; Hexi is not far from there."

Rather than sending Niu Xiankè back to Chang'an for a report, it is better to dispatch him straight to Ganzhou. He is the Minister of Works and knows Hexi's local conditions; he certainly would not be fooled by the Ganzhou governor.

Whether true or false, a thorough investigation will reveal it; there is no obstacle.

Li Linfu's single remark neatly wrapped up the local affairs, planning to return to Chang'an for a report, and prepared to dismiss the Minister of Works Niu Xiankè who was about to take a central post!

It is neither a slanderous report nor does it sideline a potential future chancellor.

Indeed, Li Longji nodded with satisfaction and said, "Very well, I think the same. Then let the decree be drafted immediately, sending Minister of Works Niu Xiankè to Ganzhou to inspect the situation, and have him report his findings back to Chang'an for my review."

Zhang Shougui watched Li Linfu effortlessly dismiss Niu Xiankè's return to Chang'an without causing any stir, and felt a chill creep through his heart.

Is Niu Xiankè the Minister of Works? Is he solely assigned to this task?

Yes, Li Linfu's suggestion is sound.

Has Niu Xiankè served in Hexi for decades? Is he familiar with Ganzhou's populace?

Yes, Li Linfu's recommendation is reasonable.

Is Niu Xiankè high‑ranking and influential enough to keep order?

Yes, Li Linfu's attitude is proper.

Li Longji accepted it wholesale, offering no suggestions for improvement.

Li Linfu's proposal left Zhang Shougui unable to find any flaw! It seemed the mission was tailor‑made for Niu Xiankè.

Heaven knows how long Li Linfu has been scheming this!

Zhang Shougui, whose military achievements in the border garrison were outstanding, was accustomed to the unblinking killings of the Qiu Ba. Yet even the combined tricks of those Qiu Ba could not match Li Linfu, who could strike and kill without a drop of blood.

"Minister Zhang, what do you think?"

Li Longji turned and asked, seeming to have made up his mind.

"I have no objections, Minister Li's suggestion is excellent."

Zhang Shougui said with a bitter mouth.

"Then let's do it that way. Whether Ganzhou can truly smelt, that must be clarified."

Li Longji said solemnly.

He did not want to be led by anyone's nose.

Neither the Tubo nor Fang Chongyong can!

…

Ganzhou is actually holding a Buddhist professional qualification exam!

The news struck like a thunderclap on a clear day, shaking every monk in every temple of Ganzhou!

Assessments of this sort are hard to define.

If you're capable you're fine; if not, you're still fine.

If you're deemed incapable, you're not; even if you're capable, you're not.

In short, without compliance it's impossible.

Who dares claim invincibility and be sure to pass the assessment?

However, this decree has in fact been tacitly rescinded by the Great Tang authorities, though they lack the face to announce it, fearing it would embolden the temples' arrogance.

Fang Chongyong, as the governor of Ganzhou, at this critical moment when the autumn harvest has just ended, employing such a bizarre tactic is rather 'un‑martial.'

Yet the temples of Ganzhou seem unable to find any flaw. The authorities handle it procedurally, with complete paperwork, and have reported it to the Hexi Military Governorate!

After all, the triennial examination is originally a power granted by the imperial court to local inspectors; moreover, the court has never said this system was abolished!

If it hasn't been abolished, then carrying it out according to the old rules—what's wrong with that?

Thus, whether there is a gray area between 'allowed' and 'not allowed' has become something many temple abbots want to clarify.

In recent days, the gates of the Gan Prefecture office have almost been trampled by these monks.

Fang Chongyong is even-tempered, showing his consistent people-friendly style. No matter which temple, whether Exoteric or Esoteric Sect, he receives everyone without refusal, treating them all kindly.

"Rest assured, the court wants the border region stable and will not act rashly; everything is done by the rules."

"Impossible! This office is certainly not here to extort temples; even if you, the abbot, want to offer money, I, the official, will absolutely not accept it."

"Anyone who takes money will be reported; once verified, they will be immediately dismissed and investigated."

"The examination is simple; I won't make things difficult for you. Gan Prefecture is not idle, just waiting to laugh at you masters."

"With your great wisdom, abbot, could I possibly deceive you? You are the Buddha's earthly representative—just relax."

……

From morning till night explaining, Fang Chongyong's voice went hoarse. He had Anaye prepare some fat sea herb shipped from the southeastern coast.

Steep it in water and drink.

This herb sells at exorbitant prices in Hexi, and ordinary drugstores can't even obtain it.

"Let me tell you, after this Buddhist exam is over, I'll definitely drag out some of these bald donkeys and beat them with boards, swelling their buttocks!"

"Look, you've made my voice hoarse from talking."

Fang Chongyong couldn't help complaining to Anaye.

"Sigh, being an official isn't this exhausting; saying a few less words won't kill you."

Anaye wanted to laugh but dared not, fearing that if Fang Chongyong got angry he would discard her, this Liangzhou country girl.

She placed both hands on Fang Chongyong's shoulders and kneaded; he let out two contented hums.

Just then, Yan Zhuang entered the study, saw Fang Chongyong flirting with Anaye, looking very intimate, and froze, unsure whether to withdraw.

In aristocratic circles it's chaotic; some people only like girls like her. Who knows whether Fang Chongyong is precocious or planning to play some tricks.

"Come in, what's the matter?"

Fang Chongyong asked with a hoarse throat.

"Lord Fang, the court is sending people to Gan Prefecture; the document is here."

Yan Zhuang respectfully handed it to Fang Chongyong, eyes straight, not daring to look at Anaye, fearing to see something improper, which would be a taboo.

Having received the document, Fang Chongyong suddenly didn't want to look at it. No matter who comes to Gan Prefecture, forging iron requires strength; his own operations are aboveboard, and even if Ji Ge came, it wouldn't change the overall situation.

"Tell the Liangzhou Prefecture office that I will personally go to receive them."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand, signaling Yan Zhuang to leave so as not to delay his 'massage service.' After the massage, he still needed to go to the courtyard to exercise.

Young Master Fang is extremely busy; every minute has something to do, really no spare time to waste on trivial matters.

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(End of chapter)