Chapter 258: The Emperor, the Dao Lord, and the Tathagata
"Many people don't understand. Why reform? Why revolutionize? Wasn't it fine before? Everyone lived well, in harmony. Now you reform, you revolutionize—isn't it just for your imperial ambition? You've offended the noble families and the sects, all to make the territory of Yancheng a little bigger, right? Now we have natural disasters and man-made calamities year after year. It's all your fault, all the fault of reform. This is nonsense!"
In Bazhou Prefecture, Emperor Yanfeng walked through the streets with his civil and military officials, watching the long lines of people queuing for food at the government-run charity porridge stalls. The Emperor approached one of the stalls. The official distributing the porridge was about to kneel, but Yanfeng waved his hand and said, "It's freezing cold. No need for so many formalities. How much does each person get?"
"Your Majesty, each adult gets a bowl of porridge, two steamed buns, and a ladle of dried vegetables."
The Emperor nodded, dismissing him, and took the ladle himself to serve the disaster victims. Behind him stood the full assembly of court officials. As he ladled, he continued, "Those who lived well before were never the common people! Minister of Agriculture, tell them how many people a single acre of fertile land could support before the National Teacher's reforms."
The Minister of Agriculture quickly replied, "Before the reforms, one acre of fertile land produced three hundred and thirty jin of coarse grain annually. However, at that time, all the land was concentrated in the hands of noble families, temples, and Daoist monasteries. The farmers had no land of their own. A farming household of seven or eight people would cultivate eighty acres, growing grain, fruit trees, vegetables, and medicinal herbs. They worked hard all year, planting two seasons, but had no surplus grain—just barely enough to eat. They might have meat once or twice a month. When natural or man-made disasters struck, they starved to death. In those days, many elderly people, during famine years, would willingly drown themselves in rivers or go up into the mountains to avoid burdening their families. Meanwhile, the noble families, temples, and monasteries hoarded countless grain and wealth."
Emperor Yanfeng said, "Eighty acres to support a family of seven or eight. They toiled all year growing grain—where did it all go? Now you tell them: after the reforms, how many people can one acre of land support?"
The Minister of Agriculture continued, "Your Majesty ordered the National Teacher to reform, nationalizing all land. Noble families, temples, and monasteries were forbidden to hold land. Each adult male received eighty acres, with twenty acres of fertile land. In recent years, the population has multiplied several times, and the territory has expanded significantly, so the rules changed: each adult male now gets forty acres, with ten acres of fertile land. The National Teacher required martial artists and supernatural practitioners to work in agriculture, ensuring harvests regardless of drought or flood—irrigating in dry spells, draining in floods. Thus, there has been no famine for one hundred and sixty years. Now, the yield per acre is eight hundred and twenty jin, with a land tax of two dan. Farming families no longer find meat expensive."
"Three hundred and thirty jin, eight hundred and twenty jin."
Emperor Yanfeng placed two steamed buns into a famine victim's bowl, added a ladle of dried vegetables, and said with emotion, "What is a Buddha? This is a Buddha—a living Buddha, a birth Buddha, the Buddha of all the people! It's not about putting on the title of Tathagata or Dao Lord and spouting some comforting chicken soup for the soul—that doesn't make you a Buddha or a Dao Lord! Minister of Agriculture, I ask you again: since the National Teacher's reforms are so good and grain is abundant, why do famines still occur when natural disasters strike?"
The Minister of Agriculture looked troubled and hesitated. "This..."
"Speak!"
"Yes. Besides the population multiplying several times, there are also reasons like meat consumption and warfare. Feeding livestock requires grain. The military feeds exotic beasts, trains troops, and wages war—all needing provisions. The main reason, however, is the transfer of farmland. Some farmland has been bought back by noble families, major clans, sects, and temples, turning them into landlords."
The Minister continued, "Grain has returned to their hands. The last sect rebellion happened precisely because they had money and grain, making them so bold. And this famine shouldn't have been this severe, but after the war, the national treasury was empty, and these noble families, major clans, sects, and temples refused to release grain. The impact of the last sect rebellion was too great..."
Emperor Yanfeng turned his head, glanced at his ministers, and said, "Noble families, major clans, sects, temples, and Daoist monasteries—they used to sit high above, feasting on delicacies day after day, talking about romance and beauty, discussing Dao techniques and supernatural powers, debating immortals and eternal life. Farmers supported them, but who would lend a hand to those farmers? If the farmers disobeyed, they would directly bring down disasters and calamities! Is this snowstorm strange? Not at all. When sects ruled the country in the past, such snowstorms were common! But it wasn't gods sending disasters or heaven bringing calamities—it was the sects inflicting disasters and calamities to force the people into submission and prevent rebellion!"
"The National Teacher's reforms forced the sects to work for the farmers and merchants, and they didn't like it—they didn't want to do it. Then the National Teacher reformed further, establishing elementary schools, middle schools, and imperial academies, teaching the sects' skills to the common people so they could do the work. The sects liked that even less. They wanted to rebel, to kill! Little do they know that if you trace their ancestry back eight generations, they all come from farming stock—none of them are special!"
"All of you, see clearly and hear clearly. This time, I'll cut off their heads. Next time, if you act like them, I'll cut off your heads too! The officials I want are not these lofty sects, these so-called 'high beings' or 'Buddhas.' The officials I want are those who can do solid, practical work! Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants—scholars must be able to serve and work for farmers, artisans, and merchants! There are still some scholar-officials in the court who think they're above others. Damn it—Historian, allow me a curse word. Damn it—they chatter and prattle all day, putting on airs! I wish I could cut off their heads!"
The civil and military officials bowed their heads, not daring to speak.
The two historians exchanged glances, both showing troubled expressions. The older historian whispered, "Your Majesty, a Son of Heaven should be cautious with his words."
Emperor Yanfeng said, "I don't curse often. I wouldn't swear if I weren't so angry. Historians, please bear with me."
Just then, the queue for food reached a large monk holding a golden alms bowl. He smiled and said, "Your Majesty speaks well, but the true path is to stop the natural disaster and prevent the people from suffering."
Emperor Yanfeng looked at the monk, served him a bowl of porridge, two steamed buns, and a ladle of vegetables, and said, "I not only speak well, I act even better. Great monk, eat slowly. Don't disturb the mundane world."
The monk acknowledged and left with his golden bowl.
"Tathagata!" The people behind Emperor Yanfeng recognized the monk, their hearts trembling slightly.
After the monk left, an old Daoist priest came next. His robes were disheveled, his hair somewhat messy. Holding a bowl, he smiled and asked, "Your Majesty, have you eaten?"
Emperor Yanfeng's expression turned serious as he served him food. He shook his head. "Not yet."
"Your Majesty should eat something. It's better to travel on a full stomach."
Emperor Yanfeng nodded, picked up two steamed buns, and took a bowl of porridge. He said to his civil and military officials, "You should eat too. Something has come up."
The officials, on high alert, watched the monk and the Daoist. The two squatted by the roadside wall, drinking porridge, eating steamed buns with dried vegetables, savoring it as if it were a delicacy.
The officials stepped forward, each taking a portion of food, and squatted by the roadside wall. Emperor Yanfeng also squatted there, eating silently.
After finishing, the Emperor went to a hand-pump well to wash his bowl, with the officials lining up behind him. The Tathagata and the Dao Lord also came forward to wash their bowls and chopsticks. The Dao Lord said, "It's been a long time since we've tasted mortal food. It has a unique flavor."
"The Emperor and these ministers have been eating it for several months."
Emperor Yanfeng said earnestly, "You two Daoist brothers should eat it often. Don't let yourselves dwell too high and too far away."
"Being high and far is to avoid the mundane."
The old Dao Lord smiled. "You are the emperor of the mortal world, governing ordinary people. But cultivating Dao or Buddhism requires distancing oneself from worldly distractions. Once contaminated, it's hard to break free."
Emperor Yanfeng smiled and asked, "Dao Lord, can you become a true god?"
The Dao Lord shook his head.
Emperor Yanfeng then asked the Tathagata, "Tathagata, can you become a true Buddha?"
The Tathagata shook his head. "The Divine Bridge is broken. Who can become a true god or Buddha?"
"Then what nonsense are you talking? Distancing yourselves from the world, acting as if you're so impressive—Historian, I cursed again. Don't record it. I know. All of you, withdraw. You're not needed here."
With that, Emperor Yanfeng walked toward the city outskirts. The civil and military officials followed, but he stopped and turned back with a smile. "Although we should follow court rules rather than martial world rules, we don't need so many people. Those at the Divine Bridge realm, stay. The rest, withdraw."
Many officials stopped. Seven people remained by Emperor Yanfeng's side: Grand Commandant Monk Yuankong, Minister of Education Xiu Leqing, Minister of Works Wei Pingbo, Heavenly Strategy General Qin Baoyue, Mount Tai King Ling Xuhua, Cavalry General-in-Chief Quan Dingwu, and Supreme Minister Su Yunzhi. Together with the Emperor, there were eight.
The Tathagata and the Dao Lord paid no attention and continued walking forward.
Emperor Yanfeng led his group to follow. They didn't stop until they reached the fields outside the city. The Emperor paused to look at the crop seedlings and asked an old farmer, "Will the harvest be good?"
"Yes!" The old farmer's voice was loud and clear.
Emperor Yanfeng smiled and turned to the ministers behind him. "The harvest will be good!"
The Dao Lord said, "Your Majesty, it may be good this year, but not necessarily next year. The old Daoist has brought a scroll, recording the story of the Great Ruins, called the 'Opening Emperor Calamity Sutra.' Your Majesty, read it slowly as we walk slowly. If, after reading it, you still insist on reform, then the sun and moon will change to a new sky."
The Tathagata sighed. "The Dao Lord is merciful."
The Dao Lord shook his head. "He doesn't know the danger here. Once he knows, he'll be like us." He handed the Opening Emperor Calamity Sutra to Emperor Yanfeng.
"Your Majesty, beware of treachery!" Supreme Minister Su Yunzhi warned.
Emperor Yanfeng smiled. "No matter."
He took the sutra from the Dao Lord, opened it, and read it carefully.
They continued walking unhurriedly. Emperor Yanfeng turned page after page, reading the Opening Emperor Calamity Sutra from beginning to end. The Dao Lord and the Tathagata did not rush him, walking silently ahead.
After walking a hundred li, Emperor Yanfeng finished the sutra. He steadied himself, looked up at the sky, and remained silent.
The old Dao Lord said, "Your Majesty, with the welfare of all beings in mind, you should know what to do, right?"
Emperor Yanfeng stared blankly into space. Suddenly, he said, "When I was young, the Yancheng Kingdom didn't have such a large territory, and the emperor wasn't so revered. Back then, various sects and noble families threw their weight around. Once, I accompanied an envoy to a foreign country called the Yuanqi Kingdom, which is now Yuanzhou. They were suffering from a thunder calamity. Dark clouds covered the sky, shrouding the Yuanqi Kingdom. Thunder crackled and boomed incessantly, killing countless livestock and countless people."
"The emperor of the Yuanqi Kingdom knelt with his civil and military officials in the thunder calamity, begging for forgiveness. The people of the kingdom also knelt, asking the heavens to calm their anger. In that thunder calamity, the emperor was struck dead. Later, I learned that the 'heavens' they spoke of weren't celestial gods but the Thunder Seclusion Sect, a sect. Probably because the harvest was poor and the tribute to the Thunder Seclusion Sect was lacking, they brought down the calamity. The thunder tribulation was caused by the sect's town-guarding spiritual treasure, the Nine Heavens Thunder Lead Cover. The emperor took the blame upon himself, so the Thunder Seclusion Sect struck him dead and replaced him with another emperor. At that time, I thought..."
He looked at the Dao Lord and the Tathagata, speaking word by word, "I want to overthrow you! Now, I have done it. But the National Teacher and I haven't done enough, hence this snowstorm. Isn't it just gods? I'll overthrow the gods too!"
The Dao Lord couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, do you not care for the people? Do you want to turn Yancheng into another Great Ruins? You and the National Teacher reformed, you conquered those sects, unified such a vast territory—the old Daoist never stopped you, right? But if you reform further, heaven will be angered, endangering all living beings!"
The old Tathagata said, "Your Majesty, think thrice."
Emperor Yanfeng said, "You have your beliefs. I have mine."
The old Tathagata sighed and said to the Dao Lord, "Old Daoist friend, let's replace the emperor."
The Dao Lord drew his Dao sword and nodded. "Very well. We've said all the good words, but His Majesty is stubbornly deluded. We have no choice but to replace the emperor."
Emperor Yanfeng looked around. He saw old Daoists, old monks, and poor scholars approaching from all directions, surrounding them. Their numbers far exceeded the eight of them.
The Heavenly Strategy General and the others' faces changed drastically.
Emperor Yanfeng was stunned, then laughed in disbelief. "Tathagata, Dao Lord, I thought you would follow martial world rules. I didn't expect you to use court rules."
The Tathagata shook his head. "Circumstances leave us no choice. Please forgive us, Your Majesty. Dao Lord, fellow Daoists, let us send His Majesty on his way together."
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Haha, two chapters will be updated together tonight!
Fighting scenes are hard to write, too damn hard. Currently at two thousand words. By twelve o'clock, I definitely won't reach three thousand—at most two thousand five hundred. So tonight, both chapters will be released together, over six thousand words for everyone to enjoy!