Chapter 259 — The Human Emperor, the Dao Sovereign, and the Tathagata
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 5
Just then the queue for food came to a big monk, holding a golden alms bowl, who said with a smile: "Your Majesty speaks very well. But now that the disaster has come, how to stop the disaster and spare the common people suffering — that is the true way."
Yanfeng glanced at the big monk, served him a bowl of rice, two steamed buns, and another spoonful of vegetables, and said: "I do not only speak well; I do better. Great monk, eat slowly, and do not disturb the people of the world."
The big monk assented and went off with his golden bowl.
"Tathagata!" The people behind Yanfeng, seeing this monk, were shaken inwardly.
After the big monk left, an old Daoist came up behind, his robes and cap untidy, his hair somewhat disheveled, holding a bowl and basin, and said with a smile: "Has Your Majesty eaten?"
Yanfeng's face grew grave; he served him food and shook his head: "Not yet."
"Your Majesty should eat something. Only when one is full is one fit to set out on the road."
Yanfeng nodded, took two steamed buns and a bowl of gruel, and said to the assembled ministers: "Come, eat something too. Trouble is upon us."
The ministers watched the monk and the Daoist as though facing a great enemy; the two of them, one with a golden bowl and one with a bowl and basin, squatted in the corner by the street wall, drinking gruel and eating steamed buns with dried vegetables, as content as could be.
The ministers came forward, each took a portion of food, and each squatted in the corner by the street wall; Yanfeng squatted there too, eating in silence.
When they had finished, Yanfeng went to the hand-pump well to draw water and wash his bowl, and the ministers queued behind him. Tathagata and the Dao Sovereign also came up to wash their bowls and chopsticks, saying: "It has been a long time since we tasted the food of the mortal world; it has a flavor all its own."
"I and these ministers have eaten it for several months now."
Yanfeng said earnestly: "You two Daoist brothers should eat it often. Do not let yourselves dwell too high and too far."
"To be high and far is to be free of the vulgar."
The old Dao Sovereign said with a smile: "You are the emperor of the mortal world; what you govern is vulgar men. But to cultivate the Dao or the Buddha is to keep far from the dust and turmoil of the world; once tainted by it, one cannot easily escape."
Yanfeng asked with a smile: "Dao Sovereign, can you become a true god?"
The Dao Sovereign shook his head.
Yanfeng asked Tathagata: "Tathagata, can you become a true Buddha?"
Tathagata shook his head: "The Divine Bridge is broken. Who can become a true god or Buddha?"
"Then what nonsense are you talking? Keeping far from the dust of the world, as though you were something remarkable — Historian, I have used coarse words again. Do not record them; I know. You may withdraw. You are not needed here."
Having said this, Yanfeng walked toward the city gate, the civil and military ministers following. Yanfeng stopped, turned his head, and said with a smile: "Though we go by the rules of the court and not the rules of the jianghu, we still do not need so many people. Those at the Divine Bridge realm, stay. The rest, withdraw."
Many of the ministers halted. Seven followed at Yanfeng's side: Grand Commandant Yuan Kong the monk, Minister over the Masses Xiu Leqing, Minister of Works Wei Pingbo, Grand General of Heavenly Strategy Shen Baoyue, Prince of Mount Tai Ling Xuhua, General of Agile Cavalry Quan Dingwu, and Supreme Minister Su Yunzhi, honored with the ceremonial rank of the Three Excellencies — with the emperor, eight in all.
Tathagata and the Dao Sovereign did not mind, and walked on ahead.
Yanfeng led the others after them; they came out of the city and still did not stop. When they reached the fields outside the city, Yanfeng halted to look at the young crops and asked an old farmer: "Will there be a good harvest?"
"There will!" The old farmer's voice was loud.