Journey to the West: Man in heaven, working nine to five

#1992 - Tang Monk's Strategy

Tang Seng, seeing the magistrate's reaction, immediately gestured for him to remain calm.

"Magistrate, the power of the Western Paradise is immense, and not something mortals can contend with. Anger is useless."

The magistrate wasn't foolish. He couldn't oppose the Heavenly Court, and naturally, he couldn't oppose the Western Paradise either. Whether the matter was orchestrated by the Heavenly Court or the reckless actions of the Western Paradise, he, as a mortal, was equally helpless.

"Venerable Tang, since you have analyzed the root of the problem, you must have a solution. Please, Elder, guide us and save the people of my Fengxian Prefecture."

The magistrate prostrated himself before Tang Seng, pleading with him.

"Magistrate, there's no need for such a grand gesture. This monk will naturally not stand idly by and watch people die."

Tang Seng rose and helped the magistrate up, calming his emotions.

"Magistrate, the Western Paradise acts in this way because they see mortals as ignorant ants, to be manipulated at will. Therefore, we must first prove to the Western Paradise that we mortals are not to be bullied and harmed."

Tang Seng pondered as he presented his plan to the magistrate.

The Western Paradise's actions have two purposes. The first is to suppress the prestige of the Heavenly Court, to tarnish the reputation of the Heavenly Court and the Jade Emperor, and to diminish the Heavenly Court's power.

The second is to create trials for the Journey to the West, to establish the authority of the Western Paradise through changes and to make the people submit to them.

Therefore, to resist the Western Paradise, we must start from these two aspects, thwarting the Western Paradise's plans and exposing their schemes.

"Venerable Tang, please explain in detail."

The magistrate didn't fully understand Tang Seng's words.

"To put it bluntly, it's simple: destroy the Dharma and make the people understand the sinful actions of the Western Paradise."

Tang Seng explained specifically to the magistrate.

However, the Western Paradise promotes itself as compassionate and always wears a hypocritical mask, which is very tempting and deceptive to the people.

"Magistrate mentioned the Golden Arhat. Since the Western Paradise is deceiving you in this way, then we can go along with it."

Tang Seng then carefully explained the specific plan for the first step to the magistrate.

"Venerable Tang truly possesses great wisdom."

The magistrate, after hearing Tang Seng's plan, couldn't help but praise him.

The next day, the magistrate publicly announced to the people of Fengxian Prefecture that a Golden Arhat had descended from the heavens to give him guidance.

When the people heard that a Golden Arhat had actually descended from the heavens to give guidance to the magistrate, they were certain that the heavens already knew of Fengxian Prefecture's suffering and wanted to save them.

At the same time, the magistrate also gave a public speech to the people.

"Yesterday, a Golden Arhat descended to the mortal realm and explained to me that the reason Fengxian Prefecture has had no rain for three years is because we are not sincere in our worship of Buddha, and the Buddha is testing our ability to endure suffering."

"Therefore, from now on, everyone must go to the temples to burn incense and pray, asking Buddha for forgiveness, only then will sweet rain fall."

The magistrate was a recognized good official with extremely high prestige in the hearts of the people, and the people had no doubt about what he said.

"Could it really be that the Buddha is displeased and has sent down punishment?"

"It seems we must hurry to burn incense and worship Buddha."

"Everyone, hurry to the temples and repent to the Buddha."

The people of Fengxian Prefecture discussed one after another, and some people couldn't wait to rush to the temples to burn incense and kowtow to the Buddha.

Fengxian Prefecture belonged to Tianzhu (India) and was originally a place where Buddhism flourished. There were many temples and pagodas here, and most of the people were believers in Buddhism.

But after the magistrate announced this, the situation became somewhat different. The people's worship of Buddha seemed to have reached a feverish pitch.