Honored Guest

"Don't hit me! Don't hit me!" In the immediate chaos, his topknot already askew, Liu Cheng was the first to react. First steadying his hair, he hastily fumbled in his breast pocket for the calling card. A flute tumbled out first; he reached in again before finally producing the card. "I'm not with the Way of the Celestial Masters! This preceptor was merely guiding my way! We didn't come to swindle money today!" He could immediately empathize with the youth who had knocked off his headscarf, well aware that Daoists were habitually fond of swindling people out of money. This was no joke. In these years, both Buddhism and Daoism were in a phase of wild, unchecked growth, making no effort whatever to conceal their greed. If you wanted to join the Daoist order, you had to pay money and turn your entire family into bondservants besides. If an outsider wished to be enrolled in the sacred registers, that required even more money. And if you wished to look at Buddhist sutras, even a single glance cost money—clearly priced. If you wanted an eminent monk to transcribe a copy for you to ensure your family's peace and prosperity, that would cost three dou and three sheng of grain-gold; if you lacked gold, you could simply build them a temple instead. "Right, right! We didn't come to swindle money today!" Preceptor Xu had clearly panicked as well, to the point of speaking without thinking. "So you admit you usually come to swindle money?" The youth had momentarily frozen upon seeing the calling card Liu Cheng offered, but hearing the other man's excuse, his fury flared anew. Clutching the card, he lunged forward to strike. "Jiabin! Jiabin!" Preceptor Xu was truly frantic. Scrambling atop a low table to flee, he shouted at the top of his lungs, spilling fragrant tea all over the tabletop. "You begrudge our Daoist sect for asking for money, but what about the Buddhist sect you favor? Do they not ask for money? Why must you insult us for no reason?" Hearing this, the youth grew even angrier, leveling the calling card like a dagger at him. "The Buddhists at least understand that form is emptiness, yet emptiness is not total annihilation! I have never seen Buddhists come knocking at our door demanding money, yet you Daoists rack your brains trying every trick to come swindle us! How do you have the gall to speak ill of the Buddhists?" Preceptor Xu was struck dumb by the question. Perhaps realizing he desperately needed a way out of the predicament, he hurried to cast an imploring glance at Liu Cheng, remembering that this young man had a silver tongue. Liu Cheng naturally had no desire to meddle. One look at this youth revealed he had to be that boy Xie An mentioned, roughly his own age, from the Xi family... To put it plainly, in the future he would be a humble study companion, while this youth was the young master. Since the boy despised Daoists so thoroughly, why go out of one's way to offend him? Preceptor Xu, on the other hand—though he had done Liu Cheng a favor by giving him a crossbow—had sneered at the Liu kinsmen back then. Meeting him again now only showed his true colors once more; after just a few brief interactions, it was obvious he was no good sort. Yet the problem was, first, one must never offend a petty man; second, since Liu Cheng had traveled alongside him, even if he was not of the Daoist sect, he had to acknowledge having received the man's favor and shared an acquaintance. If he flipped his allegiance the moment this young master made a gesture, what would become of his upright, dependable persona? Could he be certain that turning traitor on the spot would make the young master think highly of him? "Young Master," Liu Cheng had no choice but to bite the bullet, cupping his hands in mediation. "Buddhism fundamentally stems from Daoism. Could the reason Buddhists do not come asking for money simply be that they are few in number in the south and lack the manpower to do so? And could the reason Daoism always seems so eager to make mercenary moves be that its influence is so vast that all manner of sorcery and vulgar superstitions falsely hitch themselves to Daoism, thus corrupting it?" The youth's attention was finally diverted. He turned his head to stare at Liu Cheng. "What do you mean, 'Buddhism fundamentally stems from Daoism'? How could you know the distinction between Buddhism and Daoism? In Buddhism, form is emptiness, yet emptiness is not total annihilation. Where does Daoism have such profound doctrine? Besides, aren't talismans the very essence of their Celestial Masters?" "Young Master, I know nothing of how talismans cause trouble, for I do not understand such authority. But when I said 'Buddhism fundamentally stems from Daoism,' I was not speaking of their ultimate philosophical truths. Rather, it is a common saying in the north—a quip our northern gentry and commoners use to mock both Buddhism and Daoism, meaning that both sects curry favor with superiors while oppressing inferiors, and their methods for swindling money are fundamentally identical." Liu Cheng hastily spun a glib rationalization. "If we speak of doctrine, Buddhism certainly has 'emptiness is form, form is emptiness,' but neither the Daodejing nor Free and Easy Wandering in the Daoist canon teaches people to swindle money. Those who swindle are merely worldly men masquerading under the names of monks and Daoists... In the north, Buddhism flourishes; the Jie rulers especially revere it. Monks move freely among high ministers, meddling in court politics and even participating in coups d'état. When they indulge in luxury and amass wealth, they are no different from ordinary mortals. That is why people say 'Buddhism fundamentally stems from Daoism.'" The youth looked up and down at the peer before him, who was barely older than himself, his curiosity finally piqued. "You are from the north?" "I am Liu Cheng, of the Pengcheng Liu clan. In my grandfather's time, our family moved to Qiao Commandery. But when turmoil engulfed the north, both my father and grandfather were stranded there. It was only during the recent internal chaos of Shi Zhao that I managed to escape south and drifted to Jingkou. Fortunately, I met Preceptor Xu there and was given clothes to cover myself. Later, because I carried firewood to Xie Dongshan's household in Wuyi Lane, I received Lord Xie's recommendation to seek refuge with Xi Linhai, asking only for two meals a day to fill my belly." As he spoke, Liu Cheng finally produced the letter and presented it with both hands. As he drew back his hands, he did not forget to make a subtle wave behind his back. Realizing he had run straight into a hornets' nest, Preceptor Xu dared not linger; seizing the opening, he bolted out the side like the wind, not even daring to retrieve his cloak. Liu Cheng, for his part, bent down to pick up his headscarf, calmly put it back on, then picked up the cloak and handed it to a bondservant standing nearby who had long been struck dumb, gesturing for him to return it to Preceptor Xu. The bondservant instinctively looked toward his young master. At that moment, Liu Cheng took the initiative to remind the youth: "May I ask who you are? This is the letter Xie Dongshan wrote to Xi Linhai." The youth had already broken open the letter. Hearing this, he glared at Liu Cheng, glanced at the bewildered bondservant, and sneered at once, "You are not to deliver it!" Having intimidated the bondservant, he turned back to Liu Cheng. "I am the eldest son of Xi Linhai whom you speak of. My name is Xi Chao, courtesy name Jiabin..." "So it is Jiabin before me." Liu Cheng cupped his hands again, as though only now discovering the other's identity. Xi Chao ignored him and read the letter. After scanning it, his expression turned peculiar. Yet he folded the letter, tucked it inside his collar, and asked with his hands behind his back, "You truly come from the north?" "Indeed." Liu Cheng answered with complete frankness. "'Buddhism fundamentally stems from Daoism'?" Xi Chao asked again. "Indeed." "Not surprising, really." Xi Chao suddenly gave a brief smile. "The Buddha is the Buddha, the Dao is the Dao, while people are merely people. Does Buddhism truly have such a foul reputation in the north?" Liu Cheng remained silent. "Let me ask you: do you know what Xie Dongshan wrote about you in this letter?" Xi Chao then asked. "I do not," Liu Cheng replied helplessly. "As you can see, when I arrived in Jingkou, I was virtually a beggar. Had it not been for someone from the Way of the Celestial Masters who traveled south from the north with me, I would not even have had winter clothes. That Xie Dongshan was willing to recommend me was already cause for boundless joy; how could I quibble over what he wrote?" "I asked if you knew, and you go ahead and say you wouldn't quibble." The corner of Xi Jiabin's mouth curved upward. "Xie Dongshan didn't disparage you in secret. He only said you came from the north, and though you seem easygoing, you still harbor the ambition to head north. Is that so?" "It is." Liu Cheng naturally could not deny it. "Then let me ask you: you are all alone, your clan is scattered, and you even rely on the Celestial Masters for your clothes. How can you fulfill this ambition to head north?" Xi Chao tilted his head, his tone seeming partly mocking and partly genuinely earnest. "I never claimed I would certainly succeed; I merely harbor the ambition," Liu Cheng quickly explained. "If you have the ambition, you must believe in your heart that there is a path. Setting aside success or failure, difficulty or ease, let us speak only of your path." The eldest son of the Xi clan clearly had no intention of letting him off. "The First Sovereign of Shu Han, Liu Xuande, once said: 'In accomplishing great undertakings, one must take people as the foundation.'" Liu Cheng knew this was an interview. Even though his interlocutor was a youth, he dared not treat it lightly, and offered some genuine insights. "To launch a Northern Expedition, one must have an army. And to form an army requires more than money, provisions, and official posts; more importantly, one must have men worthy of trust. Only then can one ensure the army is a usable force..." "And then?" Xi Chao offered neither praise nor blame, only pressing further. "Once one possesses a usable army, one must have a foothold. And to establish a foothold, one cannot rely solely on trusted men; one must also employ professional officials versed in civil administration and mundane affairs. Only in this way can the population, revenues, and armed forces of the territory be forged into a single whole, and subsequently grow stronger in an endless stream." "There is some sense to that." Xi Chao nodded, prompting him without delay. "And after growing strong? What kind of men are needed then?" "After growing strong, one still needs men, but they must be divided into higher and lower tiers... First, recruit local scholars to make the foundation firm; second, enlist extraordinary talents beyond the mundane world to let one's enterprise soar without constraint." The words came readily to Liu Cheng's lips. "No wonder Xie Dongshan recommended you." Xi Chao finally smiled. "Very well, let me ask one more question: what, in your view, is an extraordinary talent beyond the mundane world?" "A so-called extraordinary talent beyond the mundane world is someone whose abilities can momentarily overpower the prevailing situation and shake the overall balance of power. In the early Han, they were known as Liu Bang, Xiang Yu, Han Xin, Zhang Liang, and Xiao He." Liu Cheng had now relaxed. After all, he had entered the realm of keyboard history—or rather, passing judgment on historical figures. At this stage, all that was needed was grand appraisal. "In the late Han, it was Yuan Shao and Cao Cao contending across North China; it was the Sun clan across three generations employing Zhou Gongjin and Lu Boyan to turn the tide; it was the First Sovereign wandering displaced across the realm for decades, yet still accompanied by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, with Zhuge Liang assisting his administration; it was Prefect Xun laying the foundations of Cao Wei while preserving his integrity as a loyal Han subject; and it was our dynasty's King Xuan, with his hawk-like gaze and wolf-like glance, enduring through four reigns to finally secure the four seas." "Fair enough." Xi Chao nodded. "And what of our dynasty?" "Since the southward crossing, our dynasty has been defined by Wang Dao, Lord Tao, and Lord Xi. In the north, Shi Le stood out as a formidable hero." The words flowed effortlessly from Liu Cheng. "And now?" Xi Chao paused, not contesting the list, but pressing further. "In the realm today, who can be considered an extraordinary talent beyond the mundane world?" "Jiabin makes fun of me." Liu Cheng spread his hands at once. "I am only in my teens and have hardly met any eminent figures. How could I know who the heroes across the realm are today? Furthermore, while heroes drive the times, the times also create heroes. Had Cao Cao lived in an age of peace, he would likely have been nothing more than a capable minister in an ordered world—how could one speak of an extraordinary talent? Only when the realm is plunged into turmoil and dragons battle against tigers can one truly know who stands as an extraordinary talent beyond the world..." "I see." Xi Jiabin nodded, showing no inclination to press any further. "Without accomplishments forged under the pressure of the times, speaking rashly of heroes is indeed laughable." However, a person came to Liu Cheng's mind, and he volunteered, "Yet Huan the Western Campaigner's actions and accomplishments make him the figure closest to an extraordinary talent beyond the mundane world at present." Xi Chao was taken aback for a moment, then immediately nodded. "Indeed so." Liu Cheng held his hands clasped and fell silent. Xi Chao scrutinized him once more, speaking with gravity: "Since you have come to my household, you are counted as a retainer, are you not?" "I suppose so." Liu Cheng did not deny it. "Then you must work if you want to eat." Xi Chao nodded. "Come with me. It so happens there is a matter that requires your attention..." With that, he turned and walked straight out. Baffled, Liu Cheng could only follow him out, only to find that Preceptor Xu had failed to escape after all. Instead, he had been firmly pinned to the roadside by several well-prepared horsemen, his mouth stuffed with horse dung. Catching sight of his traveling companion emerging, tears and snot streamed down his face as he whimpered. What could Liu Cheng do? He could only point to himself, indicating that he would do his utmost to save him. Yet even now, Liu Cheng still had no idea what was actually going on. By rights, the Xi family was the legendary fifth of the four great aristocratic clans—the foremost family outside the four ruling clans clearly expounded in The Aristocratic Politics of Eastern Jin. Having governed Jingkou and exerted a lasting influence over the Northern Garrison, their presence spanned the entire history of our Great Jin after the southward crossing. Moreover, Xi Chao's father was said to have amassed vast fortunes in Linhai; he shouldn't be begrudging these Daoists swindling a little money. From what Liu Cheng had heard so far, the eldest son of the Xi family seemed completely different from his father, leaning far more toward Buddhism... Could it be because of this? No, the fellow didn't seem like a true believer... It was more that he claimed to believe in Buddhism out of disgust for the Daoist sect. It just so happened that Buddhism had indeed imported the high-level philosophical thought that 'form is emptiness and emptiness is form' from South Asia, which won a measure of his approval. If that was the case, it had to be that the head of the Xi family, Xi Linhai, was excessively devoted to Daoism—so devoted that trouble had ensued. Pondering this, Liu Cheng followed the youth up to the mounted party and hastily explained, "My horsemanship is abysmal. I can only ride a mule." "You are a northerner, yet you cannot ride a horse?" Xi Chao looked back in astonishment, but waved his hand immediately. "No matter. We will ride together." With no alternative, Liu Cheng climbed onto a tall, fine horse behind him, gripping his waistband. Fortunately, though young, Xi Chao possessed superb riding skills. Despite the bumpy ride, they quickly arrived at the foot of a nearby mountain and entered a temple complex. Xi Chao dismounted in the courtyard and pointed toward the rear quarters. "My father is utterly obsessed with the Way of the Celestial Masters. He meets with Celestial Masters Daoists almost daily, having them draw talismans, which he then swallows raw... Yesterday, right here in Master Shen's—Zhu Faqian's—retreat, he was seized with excruciating abdominal pain. We hurriedly summoned the monk Yu Fakai, who is skilled in medicine. After a single bowl of his medicinal decoction, he ended up purging every single one of those talismans... He is still lying there unable to move! And yet, even in such a state, he refuses to listen to reason, insisting it is merely because his Daoist cultivation has not progressed far enough. If you can persuade my father to stop eating raw talismans, not only will I let that Preceptor Xu who is tied to you go, but I will also treat you as an honored guest." "Just persuade Xi Linhai to stop eating raw talismans so he doesn't upset his stomach again and endanger his life?" Liu Cheng asked earnestly. "That will suffice?" "Yes," Xi Chao answered concisely. "That is simple," Liu Cheng replied with equal brevity. *** Xi Yin was exceedingly devoted and diligent in his faith in the Way, and frequently suffered from abdominal distress which none of the physicians could cure. Hearing that Yu Fakai was renowned, he sent to summon him. Upon arrival, Yu Fakai felt his pulse and said, "Your Lordship's ailment is caused entirely by an excess of religious zeal." He compounded a medicinal decoction and administered it to him. With a single dose, he purged violently, discharging several clumps of paper the size of fists. When cut open and inspected, they proved to be the talismans he had previously swallowed. — A New Account of the Tales of the World, "Technical Arts," Chapter 20 At that time, Taizu (Emperor Gao) held grand ambitions in his heart. He once discussed the heroes of the realm with Chao, weighing extraordinary figures from Emperor Gao of Han down to King Xuan, Sima Yi. They then touched upon the southward crossing, speaking of Wang Dao, Tao Kan, Xi Jian, and Huan Wen. When Chao questioned him further, Taizu only laughed: "Do you wish to boil tea and discuss heroes? Though you and I harbor grand ambitions, we have accomplished no great deeds yet, so how can we speak of extraordinary talents beyond the mundane world?" Chao laughed as well: "If one harbors no grand ambitions, how can one speak of great deeds?" Thenceforth, their mutual regard deepened. — New Book of Qi, Biographies, Volume 13