Chapter 128: Encountering The Black Water River On The Road
However, Ao Tu used a scheme to make the two countries cease war.
After the Fadi Kingdom general received Ao Tu’s money, he was overjoyed and immediately ordered his subordinates to set up a banquet to entertain Ao Tu and his companion.
A supervising officer heard the news and rushed over, angrily rebuking the general’s actions, daring to harbor enemy spies in broad daylight!
The general said: “Sir Supervising Officer, you do not know. They are not spies. They paid money.”
Upon hearing this, the supervising officer realized his misunderstanding and hurriedly offered fine wine with his own hands to Ao Tu and his companion as an apology.
The group reveled together; though they belonged to different countries, they were as close as brothers.
When the time for battle came, Fadi Kingdom soldiers beat drums and advanced to two hundred paces from Huoluo Kingdom’s city walls, holding spears in their left hands and shields in their right, striking shield against spear, shouting battle cries that shook the heavens, drawing strong bows and shooting arrows, the bowstrings twanging with a buzzing sound.
The Huoluo Kingdom soldiers on the city walls did the same.
The two sides fought for half a month with no clear casualties, each having wins and losses, but many strong bows were fired in vain and damaged.
Seeing the strong bows damaged and arrows useless, the Fadi Kingdom general consulted with Ao Tu and sold the arrows to Huoluo Kingdom, profiting the entire army.
After selling the arrows, the Fadi Kingdom general reported upward, stating that frontline battles were intense, soldiers fought bravely, many bows and arrows were consumed, and requesting supplements of bows, crossbows, and arrows.
The Fadi Kingdom king read the report and issued a decree to supplement military supplies. After handling the report, he asked the officials around him: “How is that Tang Dynasty monk doing in debating sutras?”
The official said: “Your Majesty… that monk is skilled in eloquence; it will take some more time.”
The Fadi Kingdom king said discontentedly: “It has already been over ten days. With monks from the entire country, they still cannot defeat one monk? I want to go see personally what skills Tang Sanzang has!”
The officials, upon hearing this, hurriedly stopped him, saying:
“Why must Your Majesty go personally? That monk has some eloquence, but he is still of mortal flesh; he debates with the crowd of monks daily, rising at dawn and sleeping at midnight. After a long time, even if he is not defeated in debate, he will be worn out from exhaustion. If Your Majesty goes hastily, you might get entangled by him, and it will be hard to end it then, falling into a disadvantage.”
The Fadi Kingdom king thought it reasonable upon hearing this and did not go again.
Another half month passed, and the Fadi Kingdom general reported a shortage of grain.
The Fadi Kingdom king ordered more grain sent and, thinking of Tang Sanzang, asked the officials how Tang Sanzang’s sutra debate was going.
The official cautiously said: “Your Majesty, that Tang Sanzang… he is almost at his limit.”
The Fadi Kingdom king said in some surprise and doubt: “Tang Sanzang is still debating sutras?”
The official hurriedly said: “Your Majesty, do not worry. High Monk Master Ganjia will arrive in our country soon and will surely defeat Tang Sanzang in debate.”
The Fadi Kingdom king nodded upon hearing this and asked no more.
Master Ganjia was a famous high monk in the surrounding areas, over two hundred years old this year, with great prestige. With him taking action, defeating Tang Sanzang was no issue.
Another half month passed, and the Fadi Kingdom general reported a shortage of armor.
The Fadi Kingdom king sent people to procure armor and send it to the front lines.
This war with Huoluo Kingdom had become somewhat difficult by now.
The Fadi Kingdom king had thought that stationing troops to intimidate would make Huoluo Kingdom obediently dismantle the great bridge, but he did not expect the opponent to station troops against him.
In terms of national strength, Fadi Kingdom was somewhat stronger than Huoluo Kingdom.
Huoluo Kingdom was mostly plains, with much land but little iron, mainly agricultural, and its people not martial; Fadi Kingdom had interspersed hills and lands, dwelling between mountains and wilderness, with fierce folk customs.
Therefore, in military power, Fadi Kingdom was relatively stronger and often sent thousands of troops to raid surrounding small countries, being a hegemon among the dozen or so small countries nearby.
But no matter how good Fadi Kingdom was at war, it was still just a small country; six thousand troops were already half its army. After over a month of sustained combat with mixed wins and losses, grain and fodder and military equipment were severely consumed, and the Fadi Kingdom king was starting to consider retreat.
The money and grain consumed by the war now was almost equal to a year’s payment from Huoluo Kingdom. Continuing would mean losses exceeding gains.
But the Fadi Kingdom king had boasted boldly before, and now retreating would be awkward, like dismounting a tiger.
A few days later, a frontline report came: the general lured the enemy out and achieved a small victory, but grain and fodder was unfortunately raided and half burned by the enemy army…
The Fadi Kingdom king angrily slammed the report on the ground.
A small victory was won, but grain and fodder was burned; if fighting continued, he would need to supplement a large amount again.
The Fadi Kingdom king wanted to replace the general, but a small country like Fadi had no better generals to swap. Moreover, the general had mixed merits and faults, some defeats but no major errors, not easy to replace casually. More importantly, half the country’s army was in his hands.
Pacing irritably in the palace, the Fadi Kingdom king ordered ministers summoned to the palace for discussion.
The ministers hurried to the palace and, learning the situation, basically guessed the king’s thoughts, so they proactively suggested the king retreat.
The Fadi Kingdom king felt much better upon hearing this.
He was not retreating on his own initiative, but the ministers advised against it, forcing his hand.
Feeling better, the Fadi Kingdom king thought of Tang Sanzang and asked:
“How is that Tang Dynasty monk now? Has he left after losing the sutra debate?”
The official broke out in cold sweat and said: “This…”
The Fadi Kingdom king said: “Could it be he hasn’t left yet?”
The official helplessly said: “Your Majesty, he is still debating sutras. The Tang Dynasty monk debated sutras in the city for over thirty days initially; over a thousand monks in our city were no match for him, and over a hundred monks even followed him voluntarily. I saw his momentum growing and feared he would stir up trouble among the people, so on the thirty-third day, I expelled him from the city. Unexpectedly, he set up an altar outside the city and continued debating sutras without defeat; it has been over half a month now, and many monks and common people watching have been convinced by him.”
The Fadi Kingdom king stood up in shock upon hearing this and said: “Is there such a thing! What skills does this Tang Dynasty monk have to defeat all the monks of my country? I must go see personally.”
The Fadi Kingdom king rode in his imperial carriage and personally went outside the city to watch.
Arriving outside the city, there was indeed an altar with three or four hundred common people watching, including monks, merchants, and common people.
The Fadi Kingdom king watched from the imperial carriage and saw Tang Sanzang debating with an old monk on the altar.
Tang Sanzang had a rosy complexion, calm and composed, speaking clearly.
The old monk was emaciated and trembling slightly.
The two debated Buddhist principles, which the Fadi Kingdom king could not fully understand.
The official said: “That is Master Ganjia. It is said he has been debating with Tang Sanzang for thirteen days.”
The Fadi Kingdom king nodded and asked: “Who has the upper hand?”
The official said: “This…”
As he spoke, Master Ganjia cried out loudly and fell from the altar, landing on the ground with his head broken and bleeding.
His disciples, scared, hurried to support him, but Master Ganjia got up himself, raised both hands high, and madly said: “Namo Spirit Mountain King Buddha! Namo Spirit Mountain King Buddha!” Then he limped away.
This King said: “No need to say more; this king already knows.”
The official said: “I am guilty.”
The Fadi Kingdom king glanced at the official, intending to punish him, but thinking he would retreat anyway and could use Tang Sanzang as a step, he said: “Never mind, your offense is temporarily pardoned for now; we will settle it later. Issue a decree summoning Tang Sanzang to the palace.”
The official said: “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Tang Sanzang entered the palace.
The Fadi Kingdom king claimed he was convinced by the high monk’s sutras and agreed to retreat troops and cease war.
Tang Sanzang was greatly pleased.
All the ministers were pleased.
All said Your Majesty is wise and enlightened.
