The Great Bandit of Journey to the West

Chapter 21 Who is Huang Chao?

Investigating the origins of Leiyin Temple is actually quite simple; you could probably find out by asking any aristocratic family in Jiangnan.

After all, there were countless connections among the gentry families of Jiangnan, so if one family built a Buddhist temple, it would not be hidden from the others.

Today, the twelve prominent families of Jiangnan include the four major local Wu families of Jiangnan: Gu, Lu, Zhu, and Zhang, as well as the Langya Wang family, whose members migrated south.

The remaining clans—the Shen clan of Wuxing, the Gao clan of Kuaiji, the Yu clan of Kuaiji, the Wang clan of Jinling, the Zhou clan of Yixing, the Zhuge clan of Danyang, and the Pan clan of Wujun—were all powerful figures in their respective regions.

In the tenth year of the Kaihuang era, Emperor Yang Jian launched a massive census in the former territory of Southern Chen, attempting to reclaim the population held by powerful clans. The Jiangnan gentry joined forces to launch a rebellion, which swept across the entire south.

During the suppression of the rebellion, Yang Guang, with the help of Lu Zhiming, captured seventeen cities without bloodshed, winning the favor of Yang Jian. Yang Jian then sent him to the Yangzhou General Administration Office to pacify the gentry in Jiangnan.

The war eventually ended with a compromise between the two sides. The Jiangnan gentry cooperated with the court to implement the household registration policy, and the court allowed the gentry to keep slaves on a large scale, and rewarded them with permanent land as a reward for keeping slaves.

It seemed that everyone got the result they wanted, but no one cared about the civilians who died in the war or the people who became slaves.

Jiang Feng took some time to attend a wedding banquet and then returned to the foot of Xuyuan Temple Mountain.

The refugees have been organized by Magistrate Zhao. The experienced ones are assigned to build monasteries, while the rest are assigned to repair mountain roads.

Jiang Feng spotted Cui Ying among the busy refugees at a glance.

At this moment, Cui Ying was distributing mung bean soup in front of the thatched hut, with several twelve or thirteen-year-old girls helping her.

Jiang Feng stepped forward and asked, "Why are you dividing up the mung bean soup? Have you finished what I asked you to do?"

Cui Ying handed the spoon to the girl beside her and came out from behind the table: "Everything is done. The portrait is in your room. It's hot, and I was worried that the people building houses would get heatstroke, so I specially made mung bean soup for them to cool down."

Jiang Feng stared at her, clicking his tongue in amazement: "The Cui family actually managed to raise someone like you. It's truly a case of a bad bamboo producing a good shoot. When the temple is being built, I'll reserve a section for you in the Holy Mother Hall, and the statue will be carved in your likeness."

Cui Ying was somewhat dazed: "Holy Mother Temple, that sounds familiar... Wait, were you just insulting the Cui family?"

She suddenly came to her senses, her almond-shaped eyes wide open as she stared at Jiang Feng.

Jiang Feng quickly changed the subject: "I'm going on a long trip these next few days, and I won't be back for at least ten days to half a month. If you need to contact me urgently, just crush the Bodhi seed I gave you."

Here's another task for you. There's a Buddhist temple in Qinglong Mountain, one of the strongholds of the Mahayana sect. Go find a prominent family in Jiangnan and inquire who built the temple. See if you can find out Fa Nan's identity based on that.

Cui Ying asked curiously, "Where are you going?"

Jiang Feng gave a strange smile: "I'm going to deliver a grand gift to our wise and mighty Prince Jin."

……

Jiangdu, the Grand General's Residence of Yangzhou.

Yang Guang was in a good mood today, accompanying Princess Xiao to admire the flowers in the garden.

Just as they were deeply in love, someone announced that Duke Yuwen Shu of Bao State requested an audience.

Yang Guang hurriedly went out to greet him, and seeing Yuwen Shu's anxious expression, asked, "Lord Yuwen, what has happened that makes you so anxious?"

Yuwen Shu said in a low voice, "Your Highness, I have discovered that some gentry in Jiangnan are plotting a rebellion. This is the intelligence I have gathered recently."

As he spoke, he handed several sheets of paper to Yang Guang.

"They're going to rebel? Really?"

Yang Guang looked surprised and took the intelligence report to read it.

On June 20th, Shen Guang got drunk at Songhelou Restaurant, where he cursed the emperor for being incompetent and tyrannical, and wrote a poem on the wall:

When autumn comes on the ninth day of the ninth month, my flowers bloom and all others wither. Their fragrance fills Chang'an, and the whole city is adorned in golden armor.

On June 23, Yu Shiji lamented at the academy that he was born at the wrong time, that the young Yang Jian had usurped the throne, and composed a poem:

A brisk west wind fills the courtyard, the blossoms are cold and fragrant, butterflies dare not come. If I were the Green Emperor in future years, I would make the peach blossoms bloom all together.

Yang Guang gasped in shock, looking at Yuwen Shu in disbelief: "Lord Yuwen, is all this information true?"

Yuwen Shu nodded solemnly: "With witnesses and physical evidence, this matter is absolutely true."

Yang Guang's expression gradually darkened: "I have treated the gentry of Jiangnan very well, almost always granting their requests. Why would they rebel? No, I must summon Mr. Lu to get to the bottom of this!"

Yuwen Shu stopped him, saying, "Your Highness, please look at the last one first."

Yang Guang pulled out the last intelligence report with a puzzled look. It read: "[On the 24th of June, Lu Zhiming was fishing in the middle of the river and composed a poem:]"

My heart is in Shandong, my body in Wu; adrift on rivers and seas, I sigh in vain. If one day I achieve my lofty ambitions, I dare to laugh at Huang Chao for not being a true man!

After reading it, Yang Guang was stunned. He looked up at Yuwen Shu, his eyes blank, and asked, "Who is Huang Chao?"

Yuwen Shu exclaimed in alarm, "My lord, what time is it? Why are you still concerned about Huang Chao? Can't you see that the gentry of Jiangnan have long harbored rebellious intentions, and now they've even brought it up openly!"

"Several of these people are staff members of the Grand Steward's office, which shows that our every move is being monitored by them. Your Highness, you should make plans soon!"

Yang Guang was already suspicious, and feeling betrayed by the Jiangnan gentry, he was immediately enraged. A hint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes as he ordered, "Lord Yuwen, send men to strengthen the defenses of Jiangdu, and order Zhou Fashang to gather troops along the Huai River. Lai Huer should be on standby at any time."

"I, the king, will test the mettle of these Jiangnan gentry and see where their confidence comes from!"

Yuwen Shu received the order and left in a hurry.

Just then, another messenger came in and said, "Your Highness, a monk has arrived outside. He claims to be Jiang Feng, the abbot of Xuyuan Temple, and has come to deliver a great gift to you."

Yang Guang was in a bad mood and had no interest in accepting gifts. Just as he was about to order his men to send the person away, he suddenly remembered something.

"The Wishing Temple, the one that Cui Ying funded and built? Let him in."

Before long, Jiang Feng was brought before Yang Guang.

Yang Guang looked at Jiang Feng, who had a dignified and solemn appearance, and said with an admiring look, "He has such a handsome appearance, truly a natural-born Buddha."

Jiang Feng looked at Yang Guang, who was in his early twenties and full of vigor, and replied with a smile, "Your Highness is indeed wise and mighty. Seeing is believing."

Yang Guang laughed heartily: "I heard you came to deliver a gift to me, but I see your hands are empty. Where did the gift go?"

Jiang Feng smiled and said, "The gift I gave Your Highness can be summed up in just two words—'noble family'."

Yang Guang's pupils contracted: "What aristocratic family? What exactly do you mean by that?"

Jiang Feng said calmly, "The gentry of Jiangnan are plotting a rebellion."

Yang Guang gasped, looking at Jiang Feng with suspicion: "Where did you get this information? Even I only just learned about it."

Jiang Feng replied mysteriously, "Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed, otherwise this humble monk will face mortal danger."

Do you expect me to tell you that I was the one who orchestrated all of this? If I did, you'd probably kill me on the spot!