Chapter 626: Attack Power Maxed

Waiting for Li Yuan to leave with Sizi, Li Shimin's face turned completely dark.

He exchanged a glance with Empress Changsun; the two looked at each other in silence.

After a while, Li Shimin said angrily, "That stinky brat, damn it, has crossed me again!"

"Isn't Cheng Yaojin planning to give him forty canes? Damn his mother, I must find a way to see this through!"

Empress Changsun helplessly placed a hand on her forehead, "Er Lang, forget it; now is the beginning of the anti‑Buddhist affair, and Luoyang still suffers severe floods."

"If you really gave him forty canes, today the trouble wouldn't be just Sizi… Let's hold back, resolve these matters first, and later I'll slowly torment him!"

Li Shimin's face turned sallow, and he waved his hand, "Go, go, go, summon Ke Ming and the others to me… then also summon Ma Zhou."

"Day after day, ignoring Luoyang's floods, eradicate, eradicate, I'll wipe you out, you old man!"

"I will go at once," Wushe said quietly and stepped back.

Empress Changsun sighed, "Er Lang, I'll leave first; you get on with your business."

The next day, the court assembly.

The officials performed the customary salute; Li Shimin sat expressionlessly above, while Wushe, following protocol, announced matters and retired when there were none.

At this moment, the expressions of the civil and military officials were rather subtle.

Because of yesterday's incident, today's assembly was destined not to be calm, yet Chen Yan, the chief of the anti‑Buddhist faction, has already been placed in Dali Temple Prison.

What exactly is happening today remains unknown.

What no one expected was that Xiao Yu, with two large lumps on his head and one eye darkened, still came to attend the court.

"Your Majesty, I have a matter to report!"

Han Zhongliang stood forward with an indifferent expression and bowed, saying.

Li Shimin's head was filled with black lines, "Ministerial Attendant Han, what matter do you wish to report?"

"What I wish to report is not something else, but yesterday's anti‑Buddhist affair." Han Zhongliang was already completely outspoken.

"Earlier, before the Grand Secretary entered, I was ordered to send someone to investigate the specific conditions of the temples around Chang'an City. Because time was tight, yesterday's investigation results had not yet emerged, but I have obtained them today."

Speaking thus, Han Zhongliang retrieved a memorial from his sleeve, cupped it with both hands, and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, it records the conditions of several famous temples in Chang'an City and how much land is registered under their names."

"It also details the exact procedures and processes by which they issue usurious loans that harm the populace."

"I still stand by my view: the temples must not be allowed to remain; their existence now seriously threatens the stability of the state, the treasury's revenue, and all living under heaven."

"Your mother's nonsense…"

"You're the one farting!"

Xiao Yu was about to launch into a tirade; he came to court today under everyone's ridicule, naturally to confront these anti‑Buddhist people, but he didn't expect to be cut off halfway by Du Gou.

He pulled a slab from his chest bearing a large 'Li' character, and coldly said, "The investigation results are already out, yet you stubbornly cling to your view; damn you have the nerve to wear this official robe."

"Ministerial Attendant Han, where is the mistake? Do the temples not severely affect treasury revenue? Do they not issue high‑interest loans that make the people fall deeper into debt? Do they not endanger all living under heaven?"

"Xiao Yu! In life and deeds, you must answer to your conscience!"

"You still call yourself a scholar; have you read the saints' books into a dog's belly? The evidence is right before you, yet you didn't even glance at it before rebutting."

"What's that? Do you still want to taste what 'Li' left by Grand Secretary Chen tastes like?"

Du Ruhui clasped his hands, lowered his head slightly, and a smile spread in his eyes.

This is indeed my son, Du Ruhui!

What can Xiao Yu do? He's finished!

【7】 "Reason! We've already exhausted the argument!" Ma Zhou stared seriously at Xiao Yu, "If Lord Xiao remains obstinate, I wouldn't mind following Grand Secretary Chen's example!"

Reason! We've already talked until we're exhausted! Ma Zhou stared intently at Xiao Yu, "If Lord Xiao remains obstinate and unwilling to understand, I don't mind emulating Minister Chen!"

"Yesterday Grand Secretary Chen was lenient, allowing you to still appear before the court, but I am different; I guarantee that without killing you, I'll make sure you cannot attend tomorrow's assembly."

"By then, even if I end up in Dali Temple Prison, there will still be Ministerial Attendant Han, Lord Fu and the other officials backing the anti‑Buddhist cause."

"Lord Xiao… I advise you to think twice."

At those words, many people's eyes instantly brightened.

Good!

I had thought that Chen Yan would go in today, giving Xiao Yu the upper hand.

But the Ministry of Revenue officials turned out to be so capable, each tougher than the last, truly the subordinates Chen Yan has taken from Weinan County.

They truly didn't let Chen Yan down!

"Unreasonable." Xiao Yu sneered coldly, flicked his sleeve and said, "Your Majesty, the anti‑Buddhist matter is absolutely untenable."

"I do not oppose the eradication of Buddhism because of my faith, but because these people have already been swayed by Chen Yan."

"If Buddhism is eradicated, where will the numerous Buddhist disciples go? Must they all be killed?"

"I think there's no need for such extremity; instead, issue an edict prohibiting temples from continuing to lend money, prohibiting them from seizing the people's land."

"In that case, all problems would be solved: temples would no longer affect treasury revenue, could not annex people's land, and would not affect all living under heaven."

"Moreover, there would be no worry about the fate of Buddhist disciples or their subsequent arrangements; why not be pleased with that?"

"Look, look!" Han Zhongliang laughed mercilessly, pointing at Xiao Yu's nose and addressing the ministers, "See how childish our Lord Xiao is."

"Prohibit?"

"What do you have to prohibit with? The pile of history you have in your head?"

"If prohibition worked, why does the Tang still have so many criminals? Why do so many still break the law? Since the Qin, why has no one solved the Land Annexation problem?"

"Ridiculous!"

"As for those temples that are as hypocritical as you, do you think merely prohibiting them will be effective?"

"Xiao Yu! Don't say it's not because of your faith; you still want to shield these damned bald donkeys."

"Spout this nonsense, you might as well ask everyone, does anyone believe you?"

"Lord Xiao, I really want to ask you, when your parents were alive, did you ever protect them?"

"You...... you......" Xiao Yu pointed at Han Zhongliang, his finger trembling uncontrollably.

He could accept everything before, but that last sentence was really too harsh.

Looking at the suppressed laughter of the many civil and military officials, Xiao Yu only felt his blood surge, his vision gradually blurring.

"Pfft!"

A mouthful of fresh blood spurted from his mouth; Xiao Yu staggered and fell to the ground, fainting.

"......"