Chapter 134: Preaching and hidden reprimand

At the third quarter of the Mao hour, the foundation laying and consecration ceremony of the main hall of the Daci'en Temple was officially held.

Moving earth, erecting beams, sprinkling water, pointing flowers, incense praise, welcoming saints, and other rituals were carried out in an orderly manner, and Buddhist musicians played chimes, bells, and drums in turn.

High monks invited from major temples in Jin Ling, wearing brocade cassocks and holding dharma instruments and prayer beads, circled the place where the main hall was settled, chanting and praying, and the buzzing Sanskrit chanting was soul-stirring.

A solemn and magnificent atmosphere emerged spontaneously, as if circling over the main site of the main hall, unwilling to disperse for a long time.

Finally, the Prince of Ning offered incense to preside over the sacrifice, and the civil and military officials of Jin Ling who participated in the ceremony followed the sacrifice and bowed.

Jia Cong, as the eighth-rank Fengyilang who copied scriptures and prayed for blessings for the Daci'en Temple, spread paper and picked up a pen in the curtain set up in advance.

He concentrated his energy and wrote the wedge of the scripture volume:

"Ten thousand virtues are solemn,

Dharma nature is pure body.

Deeply responding to everything,

Universally benefiting all living beings..."

Qin Ye wondered: "Six or seven hundred people poured into this temple building site, and the quality is mixed. The most afraid of disputes and friction, Liu Platoon Leader should put his manpower on these to prevent it."

The foundation laying and consecration ceremony of the main hall of the Daci'en Temple ended in an extremely solemn atmosphere after an hour, and the officials and monks who participated in the ceremony dispersed in turn.

That day, this Liu Hai had boarded the ship to check Qin Ye and his Ministry of Rites credentials, imperial edicts, and other documents. His thinking was clear, his work was meticulous, and he had left an impression on Jia Cong.

"In addition, I will also send people to guard the official residence of Qin and Jia in the Ding'an Temple."

"I will let my men check the identity credentials of the craftsmen to ensure everything is safe."

That Liu Platoon Leader stepped forward to Qin Ye and bowed: "Qin Master, my 150 garrison soldiers have all been guarding the key checkpoints of the temple site."

Now this Prince of Ning also looks at him differently because of his calligraphy. It is truly one method to prove the Tao and ten thousand methods to pass.

"The Master built a warehouse on the north side to place wood, tree lacquer, lime, and other things used for building the temple. These things are most likely to cause fire. I have added 20 people to the warehouse to guard it strictly to prevent mistakes."

Qin Ye replied with satisfaction: "Liu Platoon Leader is meticulous, and this arrangement is extremely proper."

Qin Ye and Jia Cong, as the two main officials sent by the Divine Capital imperial edict to be responsible for the construction and prayer of the Daci'en Temple, specially sent off the Prince of Yongning.

In addition, 613 mud masons, carpenters, stonemasons, lacquer painters, painters, and other craftsmen, as well as 50 prisoners who worked as coolies, will all arrive within three days.

"My official residence is in the Ding'an Temple. The Ding'an Temple is an ancient temple for many years, with strict gates, so there is no need to send soldiers to guard it, wasting the manpower of Liu Platoon Leader, and it would not be beautiful if it hindered the protection of temple construction."

Liu Hai said: "Qin Master doesn't know, last month, Japanese ronin killed and caused trouble at Longtan Port. These ronin escaped under the siege of the garrison soldiers."

Isn't he a Platoon Leader of the Water Supervision Division of the Jin Ling Guard? He should be handling affairs on the waterway navigation. Why did he run to the construction site of the Daci'en Temple?

This young prince gave Jia Cong a beautiful ivory card when he left, inviting him to drink tea and talk about books at his residence when he had time. With this ivory card, he could pass unimpeded.

Qin Ye on the side looked envious. This young man's calligraphy truly won him great blessings.

At this time, a young man wearing the official uniform of the garrison Platoon Leader walked over. Jia Cong also recognized this person. It was the Jin Ling Guard Water Supervision Division Platoon Leader Liu Hai who led the waterway for them when the official ship entered Yanziji.

Not only is his eighth-rank official status related to it, but it is said that Prince Prince Jia Shun also made friends with him because of his calligraphy, and the Heart Sutra that the Retired Emperor regarded as his favorite was also written by him.

Now the waterways and land roads outside Jin Ling are strictly guarded. These Japanese thieves are afraid that they will not be able to escape for a while, and they are very likely to be hidden somewhere in Jin Ling. Qixia Mountain is quiet, and the mountains are deep and forests are dense.

It is also a place where it is easy to hide tracks. I am also worried that there will be accidents, so it is always good to be careful."

Qin Ye felt terrified in his heart when he heard this. He had long heard that those Japanese ronin were bloodthirsty and didn't blink when killing people. Now that there are these hidden dangers in Jin Ling City, it is really necessary to be more careful.

"Since this is the case, everything is arranged according to Liu Platoon Leader. Building the Daci'en Temple is the Emperor's edict and an important matter for the imperial court. I will entrust the protection of the construction to Liu Platoon Leader."

"I will do my best!"

Jia Cong looked at Liu Hai's departing back and asked: "Qin Master, I remember that Liu Hai is a Platoon Leader of the Water Supervision Division of the Jin Ling Guard, doing waterway navigation affairs. Why was he transferred here to guard the construction site?"

Qin Ye replied: "I have had several dealings with the Jin Ling Guard on official business, so I know some roots. Last month, Japanese ronin caused trouble at Longtan Port in Jin Ling and killed a Thousand-Household of the Jin Ling Guard."

This Thousand-Household was named Liu Bingsheng, who was Liu Hai's own second uncle. Three or four years ago, Liu Hai was brought into the Jin Ling Guard by his second uncle.

Because he was young and capable, and had the care of Thousand-Household Liu, he was promoted to Platoon Leader in a few years. The uncle and nephew had a deep relationship. That Thousand-Household Liu died in the hands of ronin. Liu Hai was extremely concerned about the case of Japanese ronin causing trouble in order to seek justice for his second uncle.

He heard that he found some roots himself, but had a dispute with his superiors, and was sent here to guard the construction site.

Jia Cong realized that it was because he was squeezed out by his superiors.

At first, he heard Jia Yucun talk about the chaos of Japanese ronin, saying that a group of ronin confronted the garrison soldiers, and another group took the opportunity to rob 200,000 guan of foreign goods and escaped into the Yangtze River waterway. The Water Supervision Division dispatched a large number of people to search, but found nothing.

At that time, he felt that things were a bit unreasonable. I don't know what roots Liu Hai found, and he was excluded because of this. Could it be that the chaos of Japanese ronin really had hidden secrets?

In fact, he heard about this from hearsay and knew very little about it. After guessing like this, he didn't take it to heart. Anyway, it had nothing to do with him.

Qin Ye said: "No matter what, this Liu Hai is capable and is a very good talent. With such a person guarding the construction site, I am much more at ease."

Jia Cong finished his work, took his luggage in the carriage, picked up Xiang Ling, and asked Guo Zhigui to drive the carriage back to the mansion first, and pick him up in three days.

Four hundred and eighty temples in the Southern Dynasty, how many towers and pavilions are in the misty rain.

After the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the four dynasties of Song, Qi, Liang, and Chen all established their capitals in Jin Ling.

These four dynasties all worshipped Buddhism, and built a large number of temples in Jin Ling through the four dynasties. Four hundred and eighty temples are just a virtual number, and the actual number is even higher.

However, after the changes of the long historical years, how many were destroyed in the war of Zhu Rong? Only two or three out of ten could remain.

This Ding'an Temple is an ancient temple built in the Southern Liang Dynasty. Although the scale of the temple is not very large, believers have funded repairs every year, and the momentum of the temple halls is quite impressive, and the sound of bells and chanting often lingers.

The official residence of Qin Ye and Jia Cong is in the east corner of the temple. It was originally a three-story book building. After the Ding'an Temple was renovated last year, the scriptures were moved to other places for storage, and this place was temporarily vacant.

Standing on the third floor of the book building, you can see the situation of the Daci'en Temple construction site not far away. This is also an important reason why Qin Ye requisitioned this place as a construction official residence.

Since Jia Cong settled down in the official residence with Xiang Ling, Jia Cong went to the Ci'an Hall where the spirit tablet of Empress Dowager Xianxiao was temporarily placed every day at the Si hour.

Under the golden body of the Buddha, in the sound of wooden fish chanting, according to the list drawn up by the Ministry of Rites, he copied the volumes of Buddhist scriptures to pray for blessings for Empress Dowager Xianxiao.

These copied scriptures will be permanently preserved in the scripture pavilion in the temple after the Daci'en Temple is built.

After lunch, he would take Xiang Ling to stroll around or take a nap. When the bells and drums of the Ding'an Temple rang at the Shen hour, he would return to the Ci'an Hall to copy scriptures again.

The reason for choosing the two hours of Si and Wei to copy scriptures in a day also has its own reasons.

The Si hour is also known as the corner, which is before the scorching sun is in the sky at noon; the Wei hour is also known as the sun, which is when the sun is slightly west after noon.

These two hours are the time when the purple energy and divine light are the most gentle in a day. It is most suitable for concentrating energy and gathering blessings, communicating with heaven and earth, and naturally it is also the most suitable for copying scriptures and praying for blessings.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 135 =====