Fu Shifeng

Chapter 148
It was getting dark, and Changqing led the horse to the refugee camp.

It is said to be a camp, but in fact these refugees don't even have proper tents, they just use a few sticks to set up curtains and sleep directly inside. If there is a roll of straw mats on the floor, they are considered wealthy.

Fortunately, it's midsummer right now, and the nights are still hot, so even if there is a lack of bedding, it won't be cold.

Leading the horse past the camp, Changqing was even more shocked.These refugees are all in shabby clothes, sallow and emaciated.A baby in a woman's arms was crying loudly because of hunger. Regardless of others, she directly opened the front of her clothes to feed the baby, but no milk flowed out. .

As for other skinny, skeleton-like men, women and children, they can be seen everywhere.Changqing just finds it unbelievable that they are also ordinary people, and the Hebei area and the two capitals in the east and west have completely different appearances.

At the moment, Changqing was dressed in the clothes of a noble boy, so he was naturally out of tune with the refugees around him, and immediately attracted the surrounding men and women to watch, and most of them had unkind eyes.If it weren't for Changqing's sword at his waist, his tall body and extraordinary bearing, I'm afraid that the refugees from left and right would rush up and loot.

"This fairy master is too courageous."

Outside the refugee camp, a green-clothed clerk exclaimed, "With his outfit, he dares to break in alone without a few guards. Isn't he afraid of being torn to pieces by the hungry refugees?"

County Magistrate Zhang was also secretly nervous for Changqing, but he just pretended to be calm: "What are you afraid of? This Changqing Immortal Master has mana at first glance, so he dared to enter alone."

Seeing that the refugees in the camp were gradually moving around, a middle-aged monk came to Changqing and saluted with palms together: "Tanyue is polite, poor monk enlightened."

"I am Changqingzi of Songyue Fuzang Palace. I have traveled so far. I just saw that you summoned Naga people to spread clouds and rain to relieve drought and disaster. Therefore, I was curious about who is the master, so I came here to pay a visit." Changqing clasped his hands.

"So it's Songyue feather guest, I'm sorry." Qijue was not young, he was wearing only a dusty old monk's robe, with many defects on the hem and cuffs, his face was thin, and he looked even older.

When Qijue came forward to greet him, those refugees naturally didn't dare to do whatever they wanted.Changqing followed him to the center of the camp, where a group of monks dug a stove and made a fire to cook gruel.

Changqing took a glance, and most of these monks looked hungry and thin. Some of them didn't even have shoes on their feet, walking barefoot, their feet were bruised and bruised.

Such a commitment to asceticism is absolutely difficult to sustain without a firm will, which probably explains why there are a lot of refugees following them instead of staying in a rich place to eat and avoid disasters.

"This is the Heavenly Lady of the Great Cloud and Pure Light." Qijue came to the crooked dead tree, and a woman in white was sitting on the root of the twisted tree, with lowered eyebrows and lowered eyes, and the whole body was faintly shining, illuminating the surrounding area, just like a mural in a Buddhist temple. The Buddha and Bodhisattva in the world are generally.

What was even more miraculous was that Changqing could see two guardian ghosts and gods standing beside the woman in white. They were tall and mighty with blue faces and long fangs, each holding an iron rod.

Such Dharma-protecting ghosts and spirits can't be seen or touched by ordinary people, but they can actually hurt the flesh and blood of living people. If they practice Taoism, they can even order Dharma-protecting ghosts and gods to go and capture people.

Chang Qing gave a light salute, and the goddess of pure light raised her eyes, smiled and nodded, she didn't get up, she just lowered her legs and sat comfortably.

Such actions of the Jingguang celestial girl will not appear to be rude, but instead reveal a sense of detachment.Her hair was full of blue hair, which was just casually gathered and hung on one shoulder and neck, without any makeup on her face, just like a lotus in water, her appearance was very beautiful, but she did not seduce her desires.The white clothes on her body seemed to be made of ramie, but she wore them with a sense of innocence. Her feet without shoes were spotless, which was completely different from those barefoot ascetic monks.

Originally, Changqing had guessed that perhaps the goddess Jingguang herself was just an ordinary woman, a puppet used by the monks to gather people's hearts.

But when he witnesses it with his own eyes, he will know that this woman is indeed a high-level Buddhist practitioner. The Buddhist power around her follows her every move and naturally infects others. If she has no concentration, her mind will unconsciously obey her.

The power of defilement is not limited to evil spirits, evil spirits, pollution and poisoning, evil spirits and evil spirits can also be guided to the right path, just like ordinary people in the world are educated to know right from wrong, and to understand good and evil.

It's just that Changqing feels something is wrong. Around this goddess of pure light, the monks practice asceticism and the common people suffer from hunger. Almost all of them are willing to do so. Is such deeds really a good thing?
"Master Jingguang has great supernatural powers and has the merits of helping the common people. He can be called a model for our generation of practitioners." Changqing learned this compliment in those days in Chang'an, and then asked for advice: "I don't know where the master was ordained in the sandalwood forest. ?”

In today's world, not only do you study and become an official, but you also pay attention to the family background of the prefect, and those who practice Taoism and Buddhism also value the succession of the teacher.If you are a disciple of a famous sect, you will naturally be respected by others, and when you walk outside, the younger generation will not dare to offend you.Even if there is a dispute, it can make people fearful by virtue of their family background.

But the goddess of pure light just shook her head slightly, smiled and said nothing.

Changqing couldn't figure out the other party's intention, looked at Qijue, and the other party replied: "The goddess Jingguang has stopped talking since she heard the Dharma. If Tanyue has any questions, the poor monk can answer them for her."

Changqing has heard about this situation for a long time, and he also knows that Buddhism has always been known for its clear rules and precepts.This pure light celestial girl may be adhering to the precept of not speaking. Once she speaks, her practice will be ruined, and her supernatural powers will be useless.

"Forgive me for my ignorance, but in Buddhism, the title of Celestial Maiden seems to be uncommon." Changqing came up and pointed at the key point: "Could it be the title granted by the imperial court?"

"No, the goddess of pure light is the Bodhisattva of the Great Cloud Secret Store. In order to transform all living beings, she now accepts the female body." Qijue put together a smile and said sincerely: "The Bodhisattva is beneficial to life. body. This is a convenient method, not a real female body."

Changqing felt weird when he heard this, a woman's body is a woman's body, why bother talking about the method of transforming sentient beings and convenient methods?It was as if he had done something bad, but he insisted on playing tricks and explaining sophistry, lest others would question him.

This is also one of the reasons why Changqing doesn't like Buddhism. Buddhism regards women as an impediment to filthy bodies. According to Buddhist scriptures, reincarnation will not be born in the lowly, the three evil ways, and not be equated with female bodies. There is also a saying that "giving up a woman's body to obtain a man's body is the ultimate and true way to get sick".

Daoism has no such paranoia. Since ancient times, there have been many female immortals who have achieved success in cultivation. In the Southern Dynasties, there was a trend of Jurchen passing on the Dharma.In the contemporary Shangqing Dao with great reputation, Mrs. Wei, the first master, is a woman, and no one in the Taoist sect finds it difficult to accept it. It is even more fashionable for princesses of this dynasty to enter the Tao.

But looking at Qijue's sincere face without any pretense, Changqing probably understood that they might really believe that Jingguang Tiannv is the reincarnation of Bodhisattva.

Changqing had heard about the relationship between Dayun Jingguang Tiannv and the heroine Emperor Zhao before.From the perspective of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, this matter is of course tantamount to treason, but what can this Jingguang Tiannv do with a group of refugees who can't get enough to eat?
"Then I don't know why Master Jingguang is here?" Changqing looked towards the refugees who were waiting for the porridge in the distance: "If you want to use supernatural powers to cast spells, shouldn't you bring many people with you?"

Qijue glanced at Jingguang Tiannv, saw her nodding with a smile, and said: "These people all vowed to follow Tiannv, they listen to the Dharma every day, and they are not driven by force. If Tanyue doesn't believe it, you can ask in person, and I won't block."

"So that's the case." Changqing was noncommittal, but shocked in his heart.If this Sangha coerced refugees and used them for itself, it would be easier to deal with.

But in this situation, the minds of the refugees who have been infected by the Dharma may be addicted to it. Even if they are hungry and tired, they still have to follow the Pure Light Goddess. This is the trouble!
"Using magical powers to rain and eliminate disasters is certainly a merit, but has this been approved by the government?" Changqing found another reason: "It's not that I blame Master Jingguang, but thunder, rain and dew are related to the destiny of the country, and it seems that it is not appropriate for me to be arrogant. Pray for yourself, right?"

Changqing’s words are ambiguous upon careful study. Throughout the dynasties, there have been acts of praying for sunshine and rain, or the emperor himself bathed and fasted, and offered sacrifices on the altar, or the imperial court ordered the clan officials to offer sacrifices, or as it is now, sending Buddhist and Taoist priests. People's law, in a word, this kind of power belongs to the emperor and cannot be touched by ordinary people.

It's just that when it comes to reality, when encountering floods and droughts, ordinary people will spontaneously pray to gods and Buddhas, offer sacrifices and pray, and it is not uncommon to invite monks and Taoists.If the government really wants to pursue everywhere, it can't do it.

Therefore, the biggest crime of Jingguang Tiannv and her party is not doing it without authorization, but gathering refugees.

"Tanyue is also a person of righteousness. Could it be that he can turn a blind eye when he sees the suffering of the people?" Qijue retorted: "I am a Buddhist, and I have compassion in my heart. If this action really violates the law of the country, I am willing to suffer the sword and axe." , to prove my heart!"

This is said impassionedly, if it is pretending, it can deceive many people.

However, in the current situation, if the Jingguang Sangha is arrested rashly, these refugees will rebel immediately.

Chang Qing thought of the county magistrate Zhang, and Xue Yongnian, the governor of Weizhou, all of whom were officials and perfunctory, in order to avoid being impeached and lose their positions. Something big happened.

In addition, the imperial court still has a law that allows immigrants to use millet, so they are allowed to come and go.One glimpse shows the whole situation. If you think about it, all the prefectures and counties in Hebei adopted this kind of strategy. In the future, if the imperial court intervenes, everyone will do the same, so the law will not blame everyone.

"That being said, I see that these people are suffering from hunger, but they have to travel around. Isn't it more miserable?" Changqing simply discussed the matter: "It is best to settle them somewhere first, and let the government raise food for them. .After the drought this year is over, everyone will return to their hometowns and regain their jobs. This is the right way.”

"Does Tanyue know why we trek around?" Qijue sighed softly: "Every time we go to a state or county, the local governors say that the warehouses are empty and there is no food for relief, and it is not yet the harvest season. Ordinary people have food in their homes. There are few, we have nothing to do, we can only lead the people to wander around."

"Hebei Road is not full of food." Changqing said: "Weizhou in the south is adjacent to the canal, and the warehouses are abundant. The court Xuanfu envoy is coming soon. I have come all the way, and I also found that many people went south to eat. You Why not go?"

Qijue said: "Tanyue has never escaped famine. You need to know that there are different types of people who flee famine to eat. Some households have food reserves. Seeing the severe drought, this year's harvest has been greatly reduced, so some family members are sent away to eat. On the way They also have to live on their own food. But some poor people can’t even go to far away to eat, so they can only wait to die. Although the goddess has supernatural powers, she can’t conjure food out of thin air. All she can do is Go to one place and beg the government for relief, and repay it with supernatural powers and rain."

"This reason is too far-fetched." Changqing said.

Qijue was silent for a while, looking at Jingguang Tiannv, she saluted Changqing with a single palm, Qijue seemed to understand something, and asked, "Could it be that Tanyue was sent by the court?"

Changqing frowned slightly, presumably she had just talked with Zhang County Magistrate, and was observed by the ghosts and spirits who were guarding the Dharma beside the Jingguang Tiannv.

That being the case, Changqing no longer deliberately concealed it, nodded and admitted: "Yes, the sage learned that Hebei was suffering from drought, so he dispatched us to build an altar to pray for rain to reassure the people, so Master Jingguang doesn't have to go around anymore Busy."

Even if the source is discovered, Changqing still hopes to stabilize the Jingguang Tiannv as much as possible. As long as the affected people can be settled well, it will be easy for the isolated monks to deal with it.

"Tan Yue is joking, we are not rushing here and there just to get food for the common people." Qi Jue said: "And now it is midsummer, more than half of the grain in the fields has withered, some states and counties are almost at a loss , How could it be saved by a few rains?"

Chang Qing frowned slightly, he found that the monk could no longer persuade with words, they already had a set of truths in their hearts, they would not listen to the kind advice from outsiders, and always used their own ideas to deal with it.

"If I say that enough food can be raised to allow these people to survive the calamity, there is no need for Master Jingguang to take them wandering around?" Changqing asked with a plan.

The goddess Jingguang didn't answer, but seeing her expression was not completely thoughtless, she nodded after a moment of silence.

Qijue went on to say: "Tanyue, the food we are carrying now is only enough for a few days. Anping County has been unwilling to provide food for a long time, and I will leave tomorrow."

"Three days, within three days I will get the food, and you will stay here." Changqing said firmly.

"Okay." Qijue thought about it again and again, and nodded heavily: "Tan Yue is a man of righteousness, and he will not lie if he thinks about it. I will stay here for three days."

After saying this, Chang Qing bowed his hands and said goodbye, and immediately led Huang Puma to leave the refugee camp.

The magistrate Zhang, who had been waiting outside the camp for a long time, was about to ask questions when he saw Chang Qing riding a horse and galloping southeast all the way, his little donkey couldn't catch up at all.

Changqing galloped for a while, and saw Cheng Sanwu and Afu in an uninhabited farmhouse.

"How is it? Those monks didn't make things difficult for you, did they?" Cheng Sanwu asked as soon as he came up.

Changqing shook his head, and then said, "I will stabilize the group of monks for the time being, and prevent them from taking the refugees to other places. But the condition is that within three days, they will provide food that will allow these refugees to survive this year."

Cheng Sanwu was taken aback when he heard the words, and Afu next to him sneered and said, "The food for thousands of refugees for more than half a year can be provided within three days? What are you crazy about?"

"No! I have a solution!" Changqing immediately said: "The Cui family's bungalow in Boling is here. They have worked hard for generations, and the storage must be abundant. Ask them to borrow food!"

(End of this chapter)