The Great Bandit of Journey to the West

Chapter 25, Part 4: The Holy Test of Zen Mind

The Tiantai school was founded by Zhiyi and was the first school to emerge in Chinese Buddhism.

It was the first Buddhist sect to possess an independent theoretical system, its own ancestral temple, a clear lineage of teachings, and a complete set of ritual practices, setting a complete paradigm for later Buddhist sects.

Zhiyi's act of founding a school of Buddhism made him the undisputed number one figure in Buddhism today.

When Yang Guang arrived in Jiangnan, the first sectarian power he tried to win over was him. He not only held a feast for a thousand monks for him and bestowed upon him the title of "Wise Man," but also made him his teacher.

Zhiyi also conferred the Bodhisattva precepts upon Yang Guang and bestowed upon him the Dharma name "Zongchi".

Therefore, in the eyes of outsiders, Yang Guang's status as a Buddhist disciple was more legitimate than Jiang Feng's...

Since it was discovered that the persecution of Buddhism was related to the Tiantai sect, Jiang Feng decided to stay and stand in for Yang Guang, who was "out investigating the people's conditions and had not yet returned," to welcome Zhiyi's arrival outside the city gate.

From afar, Jiang Feng saw a group of more than twenty monks walking towards the city gate.

The leader, Zhiyi, was in high spirits and carried a tin staff and a bowl. Behind him, a group of disciples carried straw mats and bags, traveling light and looking very simple.

As they drew closer, Jiang Feng led Lu Zhiming and other officials from the General Manager's Office to greet them.

"Jiang Feng, the Executive Deputy Chief Administrator of Yangzhou Prefecture and Abbot of Xuyuan Temple, greets Master Zhiyi. Prince Jin is away inspecting the people's conditions and has not yet returned. He specially ordered this humble monk to come and welcome the Master on his behalf."

Zhiyi bowed to Jiang Feng and said, "Zhiyi thanks Prince Jin for his kindness. Prince Jin is busy with official business, and it is this humble monk who has disturbed you. Please tell Prince Jin that he must not let my presence delay the people's livelihood."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Feng couldn't help but reveal a playful expression. It seemed that the master and disciple disliked each other very much...

"The vegetarian feast has been prepared. Please follow me into the city, Master."

Jiang Feng waved his hand, and music began to play. Surrounded by a group of officials, he led the monks into the city.

When some Buddhists learned of Zhiyi's arrival, they spontaneously lined the streets to welcome him and watched them enter the governor's mansion.

At the banquet, Jiang Feng scanned Zhiyi and his disciples, trying to find Fanan in the crowd, but after searching for a long time, he couldn't find a similar figure.

Fa Nan was either not in the monastic community, or he disguised himself every time his divine consciousness descended, just as he had when he impersonated the White Dragon.

Jiang Feng leaned towards the second possibility. After all, ordinary people didn't have many opportunities to come into contact with Yang Guang. Regardless of his purpose, he should accompany Zhiyi to Jiangdu.

Seeing Jiang Feng's gaze shifting between his disciples, Zhiyi said, "These disciples of mine are not accustomed to worldly etiquette. If they have offended you, please forgive them, Deputy Steward."

Jiang Feng withdrew his gaze and explained in a serious tone, "Master, you are too kind. As fellow Buddhist disciples, you can simply call me by my Dharma name."

This was the first time I'd ever seen so many living monks, which is why I took a second look.

Zhiyi: "..."

The way you're saying this makes it sound like you've seen so many dead monks all at once before.

Also, it's fine to call you by your Dharma name, but you should tell me what your Dharma name is first!

Looking at Jiang Feng's serious expression, Zhiyi suddenly felt playful and said with a smile, "Alright, then I'll call you Master from now on."

"ha?"

Jiang Feng was taken aback for a moment, then gave a gentle smile.

That old monk never suffers a loss!

Seeing that he did not refute, Zhiyi continued, "His Dharma name is Master. What specific arrangements does the Governor's Office have for this humble monk's mission to spread Buddhism in Yangzhou?"

Jiang Feng thought for a moment and said, "Master, you will stay in Jiangdu to spread the Dharma, while your disciples will go to other counties in groups of four. How does this arrangement sound?"

Zhiyi nodded: "Good. I have five disciples who have followed me the longest and have the deepest understanding of Buddhism. They are now capable of handling things on their own. Let them lead their respective teams this time."

"Guanding, Zhiyue, Zhizao, Zhixi, Zhiming, come forward and greet Master Jiang Feng!"

Upon hearing the old monk's summons, the five disciples quickly rose and came over, bowing to Jiang Feng.

"This time you are the ones presiding over the Dharma preaching on your own, and I have high hopes for you. Do not let your teacher down."

The five disciples had different expressions: one was quite excited, another looked hesitant, and the remaining three monks remained calm.

Ordinary disciples wouldn't have the ability to persuade aristocratic families to build a Buddhist temple for them, so the most likely person to cause trouble for the Dharma should be among these five monks.

Jiang Feng carefully examined the five monks before him, praising them as he said, "These five senior brothers are all highly promising Buddhist talents. May I ask what each of you excels at?"

Zhiyi said, "Guan Ding is precocious. He became a monk at the age of seven and has been studying Buddhism with me ever since. I have the highest hopes for him to continue my lineage."

"Zhiyue was strict in observing the precepts, had a pure and honest moral character, and was good at managing temple affairs."

Zhi Zao was resilient and pragmatic, and he was in charge of all the liaison work with the government.

Zhixi was diligent in his spiritual practice and skilled at educating the public in a popular way. Zhiming was earnest and meticulous, and adept at organizing the monastic community.

Jiang Feng nodded repeatedly as he listened. Zhiyi possessed great wisdom, and even if Fa Nan was good at disguising himself, it was impossible for him to fake everything in front of him. Therefore, Jiang Feng trusted his evaluation of these five disciples.

Guan Ding had always served Zhiyi and was also a lineage holder of the Tiantai school, so he can be directly ruled out.

Zhi Zao was responsible for liaising with the government and had the most opportunities to come into contact with powerful families, making him the most suspicious.

Another strong suspect is Zhi Xi, who is adept at educating the public in a popular way; in other words, he is skilled at bewitching people...

As for the remaining two, we can put them on hold for now.

After arranging their destination in the county town, Zhiyi told them to prepare well, then dismissed the banquet and left Jiang Feng alone in the banquet hall.

"Master, I sense you are testing my five disciples. What are your true intentions?"

Jiang Feng said casually, "I observe that one of your five disciples lacks a firm Buddhist heart, but I cannot be certain which one it is. Therefore, I have devised a clever plan to test their Zen resolve. Would you like to hear it?"

Zhiyi felt somewhat bewildered and murmured, "Why do I suddenly find it hard to understand human speech?"

One of the five of them lacks a firm Buddhist heart, but you don't know who it is? How did you figure that out?

Jiang Feng said confidently, "Don't worry about that, I just figured it out."

Zhiyi glanced at him sideways and said, "How do you intend to test them? This humble monk would like to hear the details."

Jiang Feng said confidently, "I will arrange eight hundred axemen on their way to other counties. When they pass the axemen's ambush, we will smash a cup as a signal and swarm them to subdue them."

Finally, I took charge and sent them to Amitabha Pure Land, Maitreya Pure Land, the Great Buddha Hall of Mount Ling, and the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha's Bodhimanda, respectively, so that the four Venerable Ones could personally examine their Zen minds.

I call this ingenious plan—"The Four Sages Test the Mind of Zen!" What do you think, Master?

Zhiyi: "..."

How about giving it back to me? I think you want to destroy our Tiantai sect so you can inherit my legacy!

You wiped out my five disciples in one fell swoop, severing my lineage. Even the Demon King Mara isn't as ruthless as you!