Chapter 309: Thirty-Eight, The Great Buddha and the Celestial Pivot

Thirty-Eight, The Great Buddha and the Celestial Pivot

Early in the morning, Magistrate Ouyang Rong found an excuse to send away the white-haired maid who had come to help him dress.

"What happened last night…"

Outside the window, winter plums bloomed; inside the quiet room, Magistrate Ouyang Rong pulled on his robe, rose, and muttered as he walked to the table and sat down.

He closed his eyes and sank into the Merit Pagoda.

"Strange—suddenly, a substantial amount of merit surged in the middle of the night…"

He stepped inside the pagoda.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong stroked his chin, staring at the merit counter above the small wooden fish—now over five hundred points higher than before he slept.

He fell into deep thought.

In the past, the occasional crisp sound of the wooden fish had been a constant in his ears; he had long grown accustomed to it, and sometimes, when it didn't chime rhythmically, he couldn't sleep.

But last night, while he slept soundly, a sudden series of rapid, crisp wooden fish strikes jolted him awake.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong blinked drowsily, stared blankly for a moment, then rolled over and went back to sleep.

Only this morning did he realize how odd it was.

"One thousand five hundred eighty-nine points of merit now—over five hundred gained in a single night."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong propped his chin on the back of his hand, his tone puzzled:

"It's strange—I slept perfectly fine. Where did this merit come from? I haven't done anything notable lately… Could it have been an unintentional good deed?"

His mind, still foggy upon waking, now cleared slightly as he murmured to himself:

"I even thought maybe the folks in Longcheng had erected another stele or statue in my honor."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

Unable to figure it out, he let it go.

As long as he'd done something good, that was enough—he didn't care who he'd saved or influenced.

The man who practiced one good deed a day smiled sheepishly.

"Perfect. A virtuous day begins with a sudden gain of five hundred merit."

In good spirits, Magistrate Ouyang Rong called for Ye Ye Weilai, washed and ate breakfast, then led out Dongmei and set out with two attendants.

They headed to the Jiangzhou Government Office.

The Yuanzheng holiday was over; along every street he passed on Dongmei, the festive decorations of the New Year had been taken down by households.

The markets of Prince Xunyang City returned to their usual bustle.

In the second year of Tianyou, a fresh beginning—but Jiangzhou's official affairs were especially busy at the start of the year.

Many county-level "annual plans" required Magistrate Ouyang Rong, as the Jiangzhou Longshi, to initiate them.

For example, the Jiangzhou official school's students had gradually arrived from all over; before classes began, a ritual offering to the Sage was needed.

That meant going to the Temple of the Supreme Sage, setting out wine and food to honor the ancient sages and teachers.

Also, according to local boatmen's customs in Jiangzhou, a sacrificial ceremony must be held at Prince Xunyang Ferry at the start of the year,

honoring an ancient sage who drowned in the river, praying for calm winds and favorable rains over the Prince Xunyang River.

This was an officially sanctioned rite by the Great Zhou court—not a heretical or licentious cult.

Even the provincial Jiangzhou Cishi and Jiangzhou Longshi were expected to personally lead it.

This was called aligning with local customs, drawing close to the people.

And so on—there were many such tasks.

While many officials arriving at the Jiangzhou government office still wallowed in the lazy inertia of the holiday season,

Magistrate Ouyang Rong had already sorted his thoughts and thrown himself into the province's duties with full energy.

In the morning, after finalizing the procedures for the Jiangzhou school's offering and the Prince Xunyang Ferry sacrifice,

Magistrate Ouyang Rong ate lunch in the main hall, brought by his attendants, then slumped over his desk for a brief nap.

He was abruptly awakened by a series of footsteps outside the main hall.

"My Lord, Master Dahu's boat has arrived at Prince Xunyang Ferry."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong jolted awake; his crossed knees clicked loudly as they struck the desk.

He blinked, confused: "Who is Master Dahu? Who is this holy figure?"

Yan Yan Liulang, the messenger leading the group, scratched his head:

"Oh, right—I forgot. The flag on the boat says 'Dahu.' It must be Master Venerable Shan Dao.

"They say Master Venerable Shan Dao has widely spread the Pure Land teachings and enjoys great fame among the literati and commoners of Luojing. Before leaving the capital, His Majesty specially granted him the title 'Dahu' and named him National Protector Monk."

Beside Yan Yan Liulang, a middle-aged man well-versed in Buddhist doctrine couldn't help interjecting:

"The title 'National Protector Monk' is held by fewer than one hand's worth of monks across all Buddhist sects in the realm—truly a great master."

All the officials looked solemn and reverent.

"Dahu?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong's eyelid twitched involuntarily.

Damn, this Master Venerable Shan Dao, just by going on a trip, not only got fancier but had his title gilded—he barely recognized him anymore.

Had a tragic, thick wall now formed between him and Master Venerable Shan Dao?

Magistrate Ouyang Rong thought to himself.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go—meet Master Venerable Shan Dao… no, Master Dahu."

The Jiangzhou Jiangzhou Longshi nodded calmly and rose.

Among the officials in the corridor, a junior clerk asked:

"Jiangzhou Longshi, there are Ministry of Rites officials on the boat too—nobles from Shenjing. Shouldn't we notify the Jiangzhou Cishi?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong rubbed his reddened, numb right cheek, walked calmly past Yan Yan Liulang and the others, and headed outside.

The group heard the slender back of this young Jiangzhou Longshi casually drop these words:

"Master Wang must have arrived long ago—he never misses such occasions. Why would we need to notify him?"

He smirked: "If he needs us to notify him, he won't go. If he's going, he doesn't need us to notify him."

Yan Yan Liulang and the others froze, then nodded in sudden understanding and hurried after him.

When they reached the Prince Xunyang Ferry dock, they realized the Jiangzhou Longshi had been right.

The Jiangzhou Jiangzhou Cishi Wang's carriage, usually invisible during the day, had been quietly parked for some time beneath a row of tall locust trees outside the dock.

Peering ahead, Wang Wang Lixian had already greeted Master Dahu and the Ministry of Rites officials and was walking out of the dock with them, chatting warmly.

From afar, Magistrate Ouyang Rong spotted the gleaming bald head at the front of the procession.

That gleaming bald head stood obediently beside an elderly monk with an ethereal, benevolent aura.

Seeing these two familiar figures, Magistrate Ouyang Rong smiled.

He glanced again—Master Venerable Shan Dao and his monks' entourage was modest, even low-key.

Except for Master Venerable Shan Dao's purple-gold kasaya, which nearly blinded everyone in the sunlight.

No wonder he's the National Protector Monk.

Someone muttered inwardly.

But as he chewed on it, the title "Dahu" felt oddly off—especially the word "Dahu."

Wait—Dahu means "Great Wisdom," right? Great Wisdom Monk?

Soon after, at the entrance to the Prince Xunyang Ferry neighborhood, Magistrate Ouyang Rong and Wang Wang Lixian received Master Venerable Shan Dao's party.

Wang Wang Lixian beamed with warmth, eager to host a banquet at Prince Xunyang Tower to honor this revered abbot of Donglin Temple, the Buddha's favorite in Luojing's court and streets.

But Master Venerable Shan Dao, with a gentle, kind expression, politely declined, citing fatigue from travel and the monastic principle against extravagance.

Immediately afterward, "Master Dahu" and his disciples, including Xiufa, headed to Chaisang Neighborhood's Lin'an Temple to rest temporarily.

Wang Wang Lixian couldn't press further.

But in the afternoon, this Jiangzhou Jiangzhou Cishi still hurried off with his trusted aides to Lin'an Temple to burn incense, bow, and invite Master Venerable Shan Dao to a quiet Chan debate—after much fuss, he finally left…

Magistrate Ouyang Rong didn't join the crowd in the afternoon; he exchanged a few words with Master Venerable Shan Dao and Xiufa, then turned to receive the Ministry of Rites officials.

After learning the situation, he returned to the Jiangzhou Government Office.

When the evening bell signaled the end of work, he rose immediately and returned to Huaye Lane.

At the gate, he took a warm towel and wiped his face, then ordered an attendant to deliver a sealed note to the Wang Fu, to find Young Miss.

Night deepened.

Half an hour later, Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang's carriage arrived at the Huaye Lane residence.

The gate opened; Zhen Zhen Shuyuan, a devout Buddhist, stepped out with dignified poise, followed by Ye Ye Weilai, who appeared as usual.

This noblewoman and the Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Shigui daughter had apparently arranged to visit the temple together; they boarded the same carriage and headed to Lin'an Temple.

The two women entered the temple to burn incense…

Deep into the night.

As Zhen Zhen Shuyuan and Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang linked arms, accompanied by most of Lin'an Temple's monks, touring the main Buddha Hall,

Magistrate Ouyang Rong, dressed in plain clothes, stood quietly in a solitary side hall behind them, having arrived discreetly in his own carriage.

After waiting a while, he finally met secretly with Master Venerable Shan Dao and the young monk Xiufa.

The master and disciple entered; Magistrate Ouyang Rong sized them up.

After his trip to the capital, the white-bearded old monk had grown thinner, but the bald young novice's face had grown rounder—clearly, the palace vegetarian meals were good.

He glanced again at this "Great Wisdom Monk," draped in purple-gold kasaya, radiating an ethereal aura.

He sighed.

It's no wonder the Master became a great monk—there's good reason for it; just look, this is what true monastic discipline looks like.

"County Magistrate!" Xiu Fa blurted out happily.

Master Venerable Shan Dao tapped Xiu Fa's shiny bald head with a finger:

"Foolish disciple, why call him County Magistrate anymore? The Mingfu is now the Chief Administrator of an entire province—don't use his old title."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong waved his hand dismissively:

"It's just a form of address, no need to be so formal. By the way, I haven't yet congratulated you, Master. Your journey to Shenjing Luoyang was a complete success—both fame and fortune."

He smiled faintly.

Master Venerable Shan Dao immediately shook his head earnestly:

"Mingfu, you flatter me. Without your flawless planning, I'd still be eating vegetarian meals and chanting sutras in some remote Longcheng."

The old monk spoke with deep emotion.

Xiu Fa couldn't help interjecting:

"Master, weren't we also solving dreams and drawing lots for female devotees every day in Longcheng? Shenjing Luoyang isn't much different—just busier… Ouch! Master, stop tapping, it hurts…"

Master Venerable Shan Dao's face hardened. "Foolish disciple, stop talking nonsense."

Watching the little monk clutch his aching head in grievance, Magistrate Ouyang Rong couldn't help but smile.

After a moment, his expression returned to seriousness. "This is due to your own deep cultivation and profound Buddhist wisdom. Any ordinary monk would have missed such an opportunity. Master, you're being too modest."

"It's the Mingfu who is modest," Master Venerable Shan Dao sighed. "I didn't realize until I came here—Shenjing Luoyang is truly magnificent. Truly, 'falling petals blur the eyes.'"

Xiu Fa rubbed his small bald head in agreement:

"Yes, Shenjing Luoyang is wonderful—but too wonderful. It's enchanting.

"If we stay much longer, my hair and the Master's will grow back. Master says this is called 'troublesome hair.' He also says if we stay, we'll forget our temple on Longcheng and Mount Mount Dagu."

Before Master Venerable Shan Dao's face darkened and he raised his hand, Xiu Fa widened his eyes, seized the excuse, clutched his head, and bolted away.

Master Venerable Shan Dao turned his gaze from the doorway and sighed:

"Ah, my disciple just loves to speak nonsense. When I return, I'll make him eat plain gruel and reflect on his behavior. Don't take his jests seriously, Mingfu."

"Ah, this disciple of mine has a habit of speaking nonsense; when I return, I'll make him fast on bitter gruel to reflect on his ways. Those were just jests, my lord, don't take them seriously."

The two chatted idly for a few more moments in the great hall.

Master Venerable Shan Dao stepped closer, studying Magistrate Ouyang Rong for a moment longer:

"Hmm, Mingfu, have you had any romantic encounters these past two days?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong remained expressionless. "I don't know. Why ask?"

Master Venerable Shan Dao shook his head. "Your yintang is pale with a pink flush, entwined with peach energy. You've recently had a stroke of romantic fortune—quite the luck.

"But this peach fortune seems difficult to navigate—it may trouble you continuously…"

The not-so-clever monk spoke with surprising authority.

"…." Magistrate Ouyang Rong.

His mind immediately flashed to his vow with Wanwan, and the strange blessing he'd recently exchanged.

Could it be tied to one of them?

He kept the thought to himself, looked up at the calm, white-bearded old monk, and asked:

"Master, you read physiognomy? Why didn't I know this before?"

Master Venerable Shan Dao would never admit he'd only discovered this after arriving in the capital—that Shenjing Luoyang's nobles adored such readings, and his peers had grown rich from them. This was his newly expanded service.

Master Venerable Shan Dao wore an air of lonely profundity. "I know many things. You'll learn them in time, Mingfu."

Master Venerable Shan Dao wore an expression of profound solitude, his tone inscrutable:

Soon, idle talk ended. Magistrate Ouyang Rong brought up the matter at hand:

"Master, did the Ministry of Rites come regarding the statue construction?"

Master Venerable Shan Dao nodded.

"Correct. The Emperor's decree will arrive in two days—just slightly after I do."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong stared at him.

"Prince Xunyang is indeed a fine place. But why was it specifically chosen?"

Master Venerable Shan Dao replied calmly: "I recommended the location."

"Do you know how much labor and expense this will cost?"

"I know. And I also know four great statues are to be built across the realm, each placed at a strategic point in the ten northern and southern circuits. Jiangzhou is one of them."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong frowned. "Then why did you still…"

"I know. Moreover, I know that the Great Buddha statues are to be built across four sites, all chosen at critical points in the empire's ten circuits—Jiangzhou is one of them."

"The idea to build four great statues came from the fengshui masters. I merely suggested a location.

"I thought: rather than burden another region, let the Mingfu handle it. I know your abilities—you'll find a way to avoid harming the people."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong fell silent.

He hesitated, then asked: "And you have no personal motive at all?"

Master Venerable Shan Dao looked slightly guilty, cleared his throat:

"Besides promoting Donglin Buddhism, there is a small personal wish…

"Though both are famous southern temples, the temples on Mount Mount Kuanglu have always looked down on our Donglin Temple in Longcheng due to their superior location. I have a desire to return in glory. I hope you won't blame me."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong said nothing, gave no reply.

Master Venerable Shan Dao looked at him, then suddenly added:

"By the way, the Emperor doesn't just plan to build four great statues across the realm—he also intends to construct a magnificent Songde Tian Shu in Shenjing Luoyang.

"That is the real centerpiece. The four statues are merely its accompaniment. This idea came from the fengshui masters of the Wei clan and Shangyang Palace. The Emperor is deeply intrigued and is about to issue the decree."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong blinked. "Songde Tian Shu?"

"This is the real centerpiece; the four Buddha statues are merely its accompaniment. It seems the Wei clan and the Shangyang Palace's fengshui masters devised this, and His Majesty was deeply intrigued—he's about to issue an edict."

"Yes. A Songde Tian Shu built with copper gathered from across the realm, using the entire nation's strength. Its surface will bear the achievements of the Zhou dynasty, standing in the Divine Capital to suppress the Zhou's prosperity and prolong its golden age."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong's eyelid twitched. "Copper gathered from across the realm?"

Master Venerable Shan Dao pondered. "The fengshui masters said something like that. It sounds like it'll cost a fortune."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong frowned, his expression shifting.

Master Venerable Shan Dao added gently:

"But don't worry, Mingfu. I learned from the Emperor that the provinces building the great statues won't need to contribute copper or funds for the Songde Tian Shu—it'll ease your burden."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong replied coldly: "The realm isn't just Jiangzhou. Jiangzhou is wealthy, yes—but what of the other provinces?"

Master Venerable Shan Dao looked confused. "Each province contributes a little—it should be easy to gather enough."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong pressed his lips shut. Some things weren't that simple.

He didn't know how the Master Philosopher, as the empire's steward and cook, balanced accounts and prepared meals.

But having risen from County Magistrate to Jiangzhou Chief Administrator, having served two months as the "steward" of an entire province, he knew how hard "accounting" truly was.

Governing a great state is like cooking a small fish—pull one hair, and the whole system trembles.

But Magistrate Ouyang Rong had been promoted from county magistrate to Jiangzhou's Chief Secretary, serving two months as the province's 'steward'—he knew how hard it was to balance the books.

Master Venerable Shan Dao chanted a Buddhist phrase, and like Magistrate Ouyang Rong, lowered his gaze in silence.

The great hall fell still.

(End of Chapter)

The grand hall fell silent for a time.

(End of Chapter)