The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 129 - 126: Heroes Emerge, Who Will Be King

Chapter 129: Chapter 126: Heroes Emerge, Who Will Be King

However, Zhang Jiao acquired the "Essential Arts for Peace" taught by Zhuang Zhou, and although the method of becoming immortal was excluded from the "Essential Arts for Peace," the Taoist arts were all-encompassing within it.

Having obtained the book, he studied diligently both day and night, earnestly learning until he made considerable progress.

After about a year, he had mastered Taoist arts to the point of being able to summon wind and call rain. He took the Taoist name "Taiping Daoist," established the "Taiping Sect," and comprehended the "Essential Arts for Peace" along with his two older brothers. However, Zhang Jiao was the one aligned with the Heavenly Dao, possessing stronger fortune. Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang, on the other hand, fell short. Their cultivation in the Taoist arts was nowhere near as formidable as Zhang Jiao’s.

The "Essential Arts for Peace" is divided into three volumes: one discusses the Way of governing a country and cultivating oneself through non-action, one discusses the cultivation of True Qi, and the last discusses the application of Taoist arts. Zhang Jiao revered the book as if it were a deity, and although he knew it inside out, he would still read it daily before he could sleep.

By the first month of the first year of Zhongping, it was New Year’s, and an epidemic broke out. In Jizhou, snow blanketed the ground, and although epidemics mostly spread in warm weather, the fortunes of the Great Han had run out, and strange events occurred yearly. With ghosts causing disturbances here and demons wreaking havoc there, an outbreak of the plague amidst the frigid weather was not a rarity. The three brothers of the Zhang family thus used their Taoist arts to enter the world, aiding the common folk by performing spells to treat diseases. They were hailed as the "Great Benevolent Instructors," the Taiping Sect flourished, and Zhang Jiao gathered five hundred disciples who learned some Taoist arts from him.

Zhang Jiao’s reputation as a sage among the people grew ever larger, ready to rise at the right moment.

Daoist Equal to Heaven arrived in Julu of Jizhou, where the Taiping Sect had already grown immensely. The main altar had been established, and all followers wrapped their heads in yellow turbans, foreshadowing the upcoming Yellow Turbans army.

Daoist Equal to Heaven approached the main altar, and a sect follower guarding the gate saw him and challenged, "Where does this Taoist come from? Are you here to join our Taiping Sect?"

Daoist Equal to Heaven replied with a smile, "No, no! I have long heard of the Taiping Daoist Friend’s great renown and simply wish to catch a glimpse of him at the Taiping Sect’s main altar."

Seeing that Daoist Equal to Heaven had the bearing of a stern and handsome youth but carried an extraordinary demeanor, the follower feared he was a highly moral figure and dared not belittle him. He said, "State your name, and I will ask our Sect Hierarch if he wishes to see you."

Daoist Equal to Heaven mockingly laughed, "Zhang Jiao came from humble beginnings, yet now that he has gained power, he’s put on quite the airs."

The surrounding followers were enraged and exclaimed, "How dare this insolent Taoist come to our main altar and insult our Sect Hierarch! Seize him!"

The followers each grabbed their weapons and chains, and with a toss of the chains, they bound Daoist Equal to Heaven. Daoist Equal to Heaven jokingly let them capture him without resistance, and was brought into the main altar.

Upon entering the altar, someone reported to Zhang Jiao, "An audacious Taoist who insulted the Sect Hierarch has been captured by the disciples. He is waiting for your judgment."

Zhang Jiao then ordered the followers to bring Daoist Equal to Heaven before him, and so, the followers dragged him in chains to the grand hall.

The Left and Right Protectors ordered, "Prostrate yourself before the Sect Hierarch!"

But Daoist Equal to Heaven retorted, "Beneath my knees lies gold; how could I possibly kneel?"

The Left and Right Protectors were furious, and with their practiced Taoist arts, they aimed to strike his knees. However, Daoist Equal to Heaven merely swayed slightly, causing the chains to loosen and slip off naturally as he sidestepped the attack, leaving their spells to hit two of the followers who were escorting him from behind, knocking them to the ground and causing them to cry out in pain.

"I am here to borrow a glimpse of the ’Essential Arts for Peace’ from Taiping Daoist Friend," Daoist Equal to Heaven said with a smile.

His visit was merely to assess Zhang Jiao’s abilities and to casually verify whether history was unfolding as it did in his previous life. As for viewing the "Essential Arts for Peace," he was purely curious, for he had with him the Sage’s Canon and "Blood God Sutra" created by Ancestor Minghe. What use did he have for these mere trifles? The true "Essential Arts for Peace" was not to be taken lightly. Zhuang Zhou wrote two volumes of "Nanhua Sutra," one imparted to mankind as a cautionary teaching, and the other, detailing cultivation methods, came to be known as the "Essential Arts for Peace."

Stunned, Zhang Jiao thought to himself, "This Taoist’s abilities are quite formidable!" He shouted, "Who is this reckless Taoist with some skills who dares to cause trouble here? Today, I shall show you the might of my Taoist arts!"

Zhang Jiao formed a spell, releasing a talisman that transformed into a fireball as large as a bowl, roaring toward Daoist Equal to Heaven’s face. However, Daoist Equal to Heaven nonchalantly lifted his finger and lightly tapped the fireball, shattering it instantly. Zhang Jiao’s cultivation wasn’t advanced, his mastery of immortality incomplete; how could he possibly contend with Daoist Equal to Heaven, a Daluo Golden Immortal? Even more so since Zhang Jiao was destined by the heavens, born to destroy the Han Dynasty, and wasn’t someone that ordinary immortals dared to harm.

Daoist Equal to Heaven remarked indifferently, "Quite impressive indeed. Seeing such prowess, I suspect the ’Essential Arts for Peace’ isn’t much; not worth a look after all!"

It was then that Zhang Jiao realized the man before him was a highly virtuous figure. A cold sweat broke out on his back, and he went ashen. By the time he opened his eyes again to look carefully, the Taoist had vanished without a trace.

Daoist Equal to Heaven nodded inwardly, realizing that history seemed indeed to be unfolding as it had in his previous life. He wondered when Buddhism and Daoism would start their overt and covert struggles. After Emperor Huan of Han’s meddling, Buddhism’s influence in the Eastern Land had indeed grown considerably, yet it struggled to rival the native Taoism. Thus, it remained dormant, continuing to hold the concept of "Laozi converting the barbarians." The Buddhist Sect acknowledged Laozi’s three treasures as their own mantra, scripture, and monk treasures, even constructing the Hall of the Three Treasures. They were gradually absorbing some of the traditions of the Daoist Sect, gaining more acceptance among the people of the Eastern Land.

"I wonder what abilities this friend possesses, yet he deems my ’Essential Arts for Peace’ to be insignificant? Would you care to sit down and discuss?" Daoist Equal to Heaven heard a voice reaching his ears, prompting him to feel a slight surprise, as the mana in this person seemed strong.

Turning his head, Daoist Equal to Heaven saw an old Taoist seated on a rock on the mountain peak below, with clear eyes and youthful complexion despite his white hair—a real embodiment of the True Man of Dao and Virtue.

"This must be Nanhua Old Immortal. I wonder if he is someone I know." Pondering, Daoist Equal to Heaven descended from the clouds and alighted beside the rock.

Daoist Equal to Heaven introduced himself with a smile, "I am Daoist Equal to Heaven."

Zhuang Zhou then bowed and said, "I am none other than the Nanhua Old Immortal."

The Daoist Equal to Heaven then said, "I see that the Old Immortal possesses great mana, but that Zhang Jiao’s Taoist arts are rather average. Surely the Old Immortal has kept something hidden from the ’Essential Arts for Peace’?"

Zhuang Zhou thought to himself, "This Taoist is quite perceptive." He then stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "What you said is correct, this Zhang Jiao after all is someone with a heavenly mandate. He should act in accordance with the heavens. If taught too much, I fear it might interfere with the heavenly design. Thus, I split the complete ’Essential Arts for Peace’ and only passed on some of it."

The Daoist Equal to Heaven nodded and said, "It seems the Old Immortal is quite powerful in mana to have calculated that this Zhang Jiao is someone who conforms to the heavenly mandate! Now that the Great Han Dynasty is on the verge of collapsing, I wonder what your views are?"

Seeing that the Daoist Equal to Heaven was quite genteel, Zhuang Zhou did not hesitate to elaborate, saying, "A hundred years ago, the Celestial Venerable of Spiritual Treasure sacrificed the Four Swords of Celestial Slaying in the South Sea. It is unknown who he was in magic combat with, but that disrupted the dragon qi of Luoyang. Otherwise, the Han Dynasty would not have weakened so quickly. It seems you have intentionally sought out this Zhang Jiao. Could it be that you too wish to enlighten him by passing on some Taoist arts?"

Acting in accordance with heaven can accumulate some merit, so many People of the Immortal Path do so, but those who go against heaven succeed only rarely. Most turn to dust, meeting their fated calamity.

The Daoist Equal to Heaven laughed and said, "Indeed, I have this intention, but since the Old Immortal has taken the first step, I can only seek out another to accumulate some merit."

Under heaven, there are Liu Bei, Sun Quan, and Cao Cao, who were born in accordance with heaven, each gathering qi and luck to themselves. Assisting them in their quest to contend for the Central Plains can also accumulate merit. However, People of the Immortal Path must not interfere with the rise and fall of the Human Path. Assistance should be given, but if one uses divine skills to annihilate an entire army or slay an important opposing general, one might well be called to account by the Heavenly Dao.

The Daoist Equal to Heaven also didn’t know whether the Buddhist Sect or the Taoist Sect would support which side. Perhaps for now the qi and luck of Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan have yet to reveal themselves, for the qi and luck of the Han Dynasty are in disarray, and everyone has a chance to fight for supremacy. When the dust settles, the qi and luck of the Human Path will then be conferred upon them.

It’s not to say that those with strong qi and luck are bound to contend for supremacy. For example, Xiang Yu, a descendant of Emperor Ku, possessed strong qi and luck, yet was defeated by Liu Bang.

Qi and luck are not fixed entities; they can be seized. That’s why the fight between Buddhism and Daoism is so fierce—they each want to take the other’s qi and luck.

Qi and luck are essential to rise and fall, development, and are indispensable. If a Sect’s qi and luck run out, then its time of demise has come.

The Emperors of the Human Path are the beings most likely to determine qi and luck. A single word from Emperor Wu of Han depleted the qi and luck of the Hundred Schools of Thought, causing the qi and luck of Confucianism to rise as if the midday sun. This Emperor Wu of Han truly is a sinner of the ages, erasing the qi and luck of the Hundred Schools and leading to a homogenized civilization in the Eastern Land. If there had been diversity, Buddhism would have found it a thousand-fold more difficult to enter the Eastern Land."

Zhuang Zhou then said, "I’ve heard that in Zhuo County, there is a man named Liu Bei, a descendant of King Jing of Zhongshan, Liu Sheng, and a great-grandson of Emperor Jing of Han. This man has accumulated qi and luck and is also someone born in accordance with heaven. Perhaps you could assist him."

The Daoist Equal to Heaven nodded in agreement and replied, "Thank you for the guidance, Old Immortal. I shall indeed go and meet this Liu Bei." He couldn’t help but think to himself, "What is the background of this Nanhua Old Immortal, knowing already that Liu Bei is a man of qi and luck? Judging by how the Nanhua Old Immortal conducts himself, he seems to be from the Taoist Sect, but he looks completely unfamiliar to me; I wonder which sect he belongs to!"

Zhuang Zhou continued, "If you find Liu Bei unsatisfactory, you may also look to the east, in Wu County, for another. His name is Sun Jian, who also carries qi and luck."

The qi and luck of Eastern Wu first gathered in Sun Jian and then in Sun Ce. Only after the death of these two, did it fully accumulate in Sun Quan.

The Daoist Equal to Heaven frowned slightly and thought to himself, "Could it be that the Daoist Sect intends to support Liu Bei and Sun Quan? If only they supported Cao Cao, that would be for the best... Maybe someone has beaten me to it in supporting Cao Cao?" He then said, "I have also seen a few people with qi and luck. One of them is named Yuan Shao. I see that he is quite good, with considerable qi and luck. Another is named Cao Cao, who also has a little bit of qi and luck."

Zhuang Zhou asked, "Could it be that you are considering joining the Buddhist Sect?"

The Daoist Equal to Heaven exclaimed, "Could it be that those individuals are already being supported by the Buddhist Sect?"

Zhuang Zhou just calmly nodded in response.

The Daoist Equal to Heaven thought, "The Buddhist Sect moves quickly indeed! I had wanted to support Cao Cao to sabotage the Buddhist Sect’s qi and luck, but it seems they have taken the initiative and found Cao Cao first. This Tathagata really does have a keen eye!"

To find out what happens next, please tune in to the following installment.

PS: Some have mentioned a problem with Zhang Jiao’s identity as a "Failed Scholar," arguing that the imperial examination system didn’t begin until the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Although the term "xiucai" (scholar) existed during the Han Dynasty, the concept of "luodi" (failing the exam) did start with the imperial examination system.

I wrote it this way because the original "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" referred to Zhang Jiao as a "non-graduating scholar," which I don’t think I’m misremembering. Those who don’t believe can go and check; it’s not my own fabrication.

It’s a common practice, or perhaps a common problem, in romance fiction, as seen when characters quote poetry as proof in "Investiture of the Gods," which is set during the Shang and Zhou periods. Could anyone compose poetry back then when even the "Book of Songs" had not been created? Aren’t historical idioms from later times also used in the book?

But when it comes down to it, terms like "ludi" and "bu di" are appropriate regardless, as during that time, the selection was based on the "filial and incorrupt" (xiao lian) recommendation system, but "ludi" and "bu di" can be translated to mean failing to pass or be selected. Just like a friend pointed out, my use of the phrase "self-destruct the Great Wall," which is derived from a story during the Southern and Northern Dynasties documented by Li Yanshou in "The History of the Southern Dynasties" during the Tang Dynasty, which I previously misremembered as from the Song Dynasty. And the concept of "passing the Imperial Examination" ("jidi") is understood in the same way when combined with history. "Bu di" and "ludi" can be taken by readers to mean failing an election or being rejected without being overly critical, after all, such writing has become traditional. If idiomatic expressions and terms from later times aren’t allowed, these novels could not be written.

I will explain more about similar issues and welcome any questions.