"Mr. Marquis, I have arranged a residence for you. Please move to your dormitory to rest."

The old abbot came to the stone pavilion and looked respectfully not like the abbot of a temple, but a bit like the companion of Eunuch Gao. Li Mu and Li Siwen both ate with oil, and there was a bag of jerky meat piled up next to him. In this pure Buddhist place, it was somewhat indecent. Li Mu himself felt embarrassed, but the old abbot didn't care at all, as if he couldn't see it, and still had a smile.

"This...we'll clean up later,"

"It's okay, there are monks responsible for cleaning," the old abbot said thoughtfully: "The monks in this temple will recite scriptures and salvation. When cleaning up, they can help the marquis perform a ritual for the dead chicken. The marquis and the donor will not commit sins."

Li Siwen couldn't help laughing and said, "Brother, the old abbot is a wonderful person, wise, I like it!"

Li Mu frowned slightly. When he met twice, the old abbot's attitude changed a lot, so he couldn't help but think too much. When he first met, he didn't even greet him. Although there was no verbal conflict, his attitude was enough to be called rude. However, this time he was humble. Not only did he send someone early to express his willingness to provide assistance to disaster relief, but he was also willing to take out the stored grain from Baima Temple to supply it to the city. After a 180-degree turn, people had to wonder if there was any conspiracy behind this.

But no matter what conspiracy was, Li Mu thought he was still under control. The lady Lu had left Chang'an and had not hidden whereabouts. The spies from the secret guard kept watching the group leave the Luoyang territory. As soon as Mrs. Lu left, Li Mu didn't take the remaining group of cattle and horses in Luoyang City seriously.

Thinking of this, Li Mu smiled and said, "I came to Baima Temple to bother you twice. I still don't know the abbot's name. Can you tell me?"

The old abbot hurriedly said, "The monks' names of secular world have long been forgotten. The Dharma name is Deyan. When they were in their teens, they followed their master to Baima Temple and took over the position of abbot at the age of 44. Now it has been twenty years."

Li Mu nodded slightly, but was surprised in his heart that when Changsun Chong planned to deal with Ci'en Temple, he had collected information about the Buddhist leaders. This master and that famous person must be among them. But why didn't he remember hearing Deyan's name? No one mentioned that White Horse Temple is not the first temple in the Central Plains and the largest Buddhist scripture translation site? Is there no such thing as arranging?

"Please follow me." Abbot Deyan personally served as a guide and led Li Mu and others to the dormitory for pilgrims in the temple. Li Mu once saw the dormitory in Ci'en Temple, which was luxurious. The materials were all made of good wood, and the flowing water was not corrupt. Even the inner courtyard of the palace could not achieve such quality. The dormitory in Baima Temple seemed much more ordinary in comparison. Although the wood was good, the quality was more than one level.

And I don’t know if it’s a special design, but Li Mu always thinks that the wood looks color difference? A beam seems to have a connection in the middle, two colors, and it seems that it is not a kind of wood. Li Mu is also an "intermediate carpenter", so he couldn’t help but take a few more glances.

"I will feel wronged tonight and have a rest here." Abbot Deyan said the Buddha's name and held his hand to greet him. Seeing Li Mu staring at Daliang, he did not make a sound, but waited patiently.

When Li Mu heard the voice, he realized that the abbot Deyan was looking at him. He was a little embarrassed and said, "I am rude, abbot Haihan." Since the person has discovered it, there is no need to hide it. Li Mu pointed at Daliang and said, "This is..."

"As the marquis saw, it was made of splicing." Abbot Deyan admitted it openly without any concealment. Li Mu couldn't help but look up to the old monk. Everyone in the world covered their shortcomings and showed their growth. Places like temples are proud of their magnificence. The use of splicing wood is mostly concealed, but he admitted it openly. Li Mu couldn't help but wonder, could this old monk want to cry and take me to this dormitory?

As if seeing Li Mu's doubts, the abbot Deyan smiled and said, "I can guess what the Marquis thinks in his heart. As the Marquis sees, many of the wood used in this dormitory are spliced. And not only this row of dormitory, except for a few halls, most of the wood used in other places in this temple is spliced. Look at these slightly charred wood, all of which are damaged by war during the turmoil at the end of the Sui Dynasty, and they are used to pick up all the beams and pillars of the hall that are damaged by war during the turmoil at the end of the Sui Dynasty."

"Ah, I understand, remember the bitterness and sweetness." As for feelings, as a person who has traveled through time, Li Mu can understand this emotion. He already felt what the old monk was going to say, so he quickly pulled the topic apart.

The old monk's nose almost turned crooked and corrected, "I don't have money!" Without waiting for Li Mu to speak, the old monk showed up and said, "Mr. Marquis, I might as well say it straight. On the ground in Luoyang, I am a bit of a shame. If the Marquis promises to help the White Horse Temple in the future, I am willing to surrender to the Marquis, but the Marquis will follow the Marquis's leader."

Li Mu; “…”

Li Mu was really shocked. What the hell is this old monk? It is as secular as a thug in the city. What is this inexplicable thing to say? What do I want a monk to surrender? Just as I was about to refuse, Li Mu stopped again. He looked at the old monk up and down and said, "As a Buddhist, it is probably inappropriate to be so secular?"

The old monk showed a self-deprecating smile and said, "I dare not deceive the marquis. My long-cherished wish in my life is to not be a monk. Now being this abbot is not what I want, but I promised my master that if I cannot restore the past situation of White Horse Temple, I cannot return to secular life. Originally, the abbot was not my turn, but my brothers of the same generation died one after another, and only my seniority was the largest, and I couldn't do it--"

As if he opened up the conversation, the old monk couldn't hold him in his arms: "Reply to the past situation of White Horse Temple? It's easy to say, but how easy is it to do? Did the Marquis see the ruins of the former site of White Horse Temple? For example, the White Horse Temple is more than twice as wide as possible. I wonder where the money comes from? How many monks in the temple can have?"

"At the most glorious time, the White Horse Temple held a scripture translation conference every year. Later, in order to save money, I also asked me to cut off the Buddhist masters. Because of this, they also annoyed those Buddhist masters. One or two of them had cut off contact with the White Horse Temple. Amitabha Buddha, the Buddha was here, is it not expensive to hold the scripture translation conference? Those bald donkeys didn't even leave for ten days and half a month. The White Horse Temple is no longer as good as before. How could they eat and drink for free? "

Listening to the monk scolding the bald donkey, it was novel. Li Mu couldn't help laughing and said, "So you asked Mrs. Lu to hug her thighs? So, Mrs. Lu is the financial owner of your White Horse Temple? Since she is your financial owner, why did you find me again?"

The old monk smiled and said, "Mr. Marquis, you don't tell lies in front of the Ming people. I have lived in my sixties and have a look at people. Marquis' Heaven is full of pavilions, with starry eyebrows, sword eyes, extraordinary temperament, and deep trust and reliance on His Majesty. This is the right way. On the other hand, although Mrs. Lu has certain talents, she is inevitably a bit of accusations of being evil and crooked. I am not stupid, so I naturally know how to choose."

Of course Li Mu is not stupid, so he would not be fooled by these few words. He quietly looked at the abbot Deyan without expressing his opinion. Deyan waited for a while, and finally spoke again, saying, "Marty, I have heard about Ci'en Temple."

"Think of an exception? Impossible."

"I am definitely not wanting an exception." Abbot Deyan hurriedly denied: "On the contrary, I want to stand up and support the Marquis' new policy and set an example for the Buddhist sects in the world." He pointed to the splicing of the beams and pillars and said: "Mr. Marquis, look, my White Horse Temple is so simple, and it is clearly different from the Ci'en Temple and the like. Buddhism encourages people to be kind, and Buddhist disciples are all dedicated to the Buddha. However, there are some worms like monks in Ci'en Temple that ruin the reputation of Buddhism, which will make His Majesty angry and the people resent. Please ask the Marquis to understand."

Li Mu knew that this old monk had a great goal. He not only wanted money, but also wanted a name. Over the years, Baima Temple has lost its status as a Buddhist tyrant because of its "poverty" relationship and was replaced by Ci'en Temple. Now that Ci'en Temple is in trouble, he wants to take the opportunity to regain reputation and status. This person has a first-class vision and smell.

Li Mu could only believe half of what the old monk said, but Li Mu was a little interested in the old monk's proposal.

After resolving the locust plague, Li Mu's reputation in the hearts of the people was at its peak. However, the opposition and contradiction with merchants became increasingly prominent. Although there was nothing scary, the merchants would not do anything without their backbone. But Li Mu had to do things and had to rely on these merchants to contribute money and work. But in the current situation, both sides were "embarrassing" here. Li Mu could not show goodwill first, and the merchants also felt that Li Mu would definitely hold grudges and dare not appear in front of him again. There was no way to go on both sides, so things could not be done.

But Deyan has been the abbot of Baima Temple for many years, and there is nothing he doesn't know about Luoyang City. If he had threaded a needle and thread, wouldn't there be steps? As long as there were steps, things would be easier to handle. Many tacit things were not necessary to explain. Smart people knew how to do it.

Judging from the immediate interests, let alone the future, Li Mu will not suffer any loss in cooperation with Deyan.

Li Mu cleared his throat and said, "Although the locust plague has passed, the road construction project of this marquis has been delayed. I promised in front of His Majesty that before the first snow, the road from Chang'an to Luoyang would be unobstructed. Now that it has been delayed for so many days, it is probably difficult to do it. If someone can help this marquis complete this matter..." Li Mu said "tsk" and said, "Old abbot, what do you think?"

"Ah..." Deyan showed a look of pride and said solemnly: "Don't worry, I will be the marquis to maintain this matter."

"It's so good, wait for good news." After pausing, Li Mu said again: "When the locust plague is over, I will report to Your Majesty to commend those who are righteous in the disaster. The old abbot is so enthusiastic that he will definitely appear on the list at that time."

"Thank you, Marquis."

The two of them smiled tacitly, and the old monk left, Li Mu smiled and rested.

...

The next day, the old monk called on the monks to dig a cellar to store potatoes. Li Mu asked Dugu Jiu to arrange someone to watch here, then said goodbye to the abbot Deyan and took Li Siwen back to Luoyang City.

This is not the first time Li Siwen has come to Luoyang. When he was young, he lived in Luoyang City for several months. He is familiar with the main places and can recognize the road wherever he mentions. However, Li Mu mostly rides carriages back and forth. The coachman knows the road, but he may not know. There are only a few more famous places, and he can find the market in the north and south, and the others are basically blind.

When he returned to the mansion, Li Siwen first met his sister-in-law and gave his wife Qin Yu the gift prepared for Bai Qiaoqiao, and then returned to the lobby to find Li Mu. There was only one gift, but it was not that Li Siwen and his wife had a shortage of money, and Qin Yu wanted to prepare it, but in Li Siwen's heart, his sister-in-law was only Bai Qiaoqiao, and he didn't treat others as sister-in-law. Although he had never shown disrespect, there was a very difference in doing things.

Of course Li Mu noticed it, but what could he say? He didn't know, and the others, one is that the family is not bad for this thing, and the other is that Bai Qiaoqiao is really different in Li Mu's heart. Li Siwen is Li Mu's brother, and it is obviously not worth it if he is unhappy for this thing. Therefore, neither Wang Ou nor Zhang Tianai had ever expressed dissatisfaction. Only Li Zhien muttered a few times, and did not say anything when he saw Li Mu, and then stopped talking.

Several officials in charge of the Hou Mansion were there, including Ma Zhou, Wei Yingluo, Gongsun Kang, Li Tai, and several clerks who were mainly responsible for affairs. Li Mu introduced Li Siwen to them and said, "This is my brother, Li Siwen, some who know and some who don't know. Now I know them. From now on, he will be Sima in the Hou, and will work with Ma Changshi to assist him."

Li Siwen had met Ma Zhou, and Ma Zhou knew about Li Siwen, but there was no intersection between the two. They had seen each other's courtesy, but there was nothing to say, so they sat down again.

"The locust plague has passed. If you persist for a few more days, the new grain will come down and the crisis will be lifted. Many things that are delayed by the locust plague must be done again. The most urgent task is to build the road. How to make up for the delayed construction period, how to make up for the lack of manpower, and where to recruit are all issues that must be considered. I plan to hand this over to Li Siwen. Don't underestimate my brother. He has experience in building a city in Dingxiang. Building a road is much simpler than building a city, and he is competent." As he said that, he looked at Gongsun Kang and said, "You should do the specific construction matters, and follow Sima's arrangements."

Gongsun Kang quickly agreed and greeted Li Siwen. Before the completion of the practice of Chidao, Li Siwen was his immediate boss.
Chapter completed!