Water Margin - (Latest Illustrated Quick Read Popular Edition)

Author: Shi Nai'an
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-06-01
Features: It is said that during the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Great Song Dynasty, on the third day of the third month in the third year of Jiayou, at the stroke of three in the morning, the emperor sat in the Zicheng Palace to receive the court officials' morning audience. It was a sight to behold: auspicious clouds shrouded the Phoenix Pavilion, and auspicious mist enfolded the Dragon Tower. The imperial willows, wreathed in mist, brushed the banners, while the palace flowers, glistening with dew, welcomed the swords and spears. Amidst the fragrance of celestial incense, jade headdresses and red shoes gathered on the vermilion steps; in the melody of immortal music, embroidered robes and fine silks escorted the imperial carriage. The pearl curtains were drawn, revealing the golden chariot on the golden hall; the phoenix feather fans were opened, and the precious chariot halted before the white jade steps. The sound of the pure whip echoed three times, and the civil and military officials stood in two orderly ranks. At that moment, the palace head officer shouted, "Those with matters should come forward early to present them; those with nothing to do should roll up the curtains and leave the court." Among the ranks, the prime minister Zhao Zhe and the vice premier Wen Yanbo stepped forward and said, "At present, the plague is rampant in the capital, causing great harm to the military and civilians. We humbly request Your Majesty to forgive crimes, reduce taxes, avert natural disasters, and relieve the people." Upon hearing their report, the emperor immediately ordered the Hanlin Academy to draft an edict at once. On one side, he pardoned all convicts in the empire and exempted all taxes in the countryside; on the other side, he ordered the imperial palaces and temples in the capital to perform meritorious deeds to avert the disaster. However, that year, the plague grew even worse. Emperor Renzong, upon learning of this, grew uneasy and convened the court officials for discussion. Among the ranks, a minister stepped forward to present his opinion. The emperor looked and saw that it was Fan Zhongyan, the Vice Chancellor of State Affairs. After kowtowing, he said, "At present, natural disasters are rampant, and the military and civilians are suffering greatly, finding it hard to survive day by day. In my humble opinion, to avert this disaster, we should summon the Celestial Master of the Succession of Han to come to the court at night and perform a 36,000-man Grand Atonement Rite in the capital's imperial temples, reporting to the heavens to avert the plague." Emperor Renzong approved the proposal. He immediately ordered the Hanlin Scholars to draft an edict, which he personally inscribed with his imperial brush, along with a stick of imperial incense. He appointed Hong Xin, the Grand Tutor of the Palace Front, as the imperial envoy and sent him to Longhu Mountain in Xinzhou, Jiangxi, to summon the Celestial Master Zhang of the Succession of Han to come to the court at night to avert the plague. The imperial incense was lit in the golden hall, and the imperial edict was handed to Hong Xin, who immediately set off. Hong Xin received the imperial decree, bid farewell to the emperor, carried the edict, and filled it with imperial incense, taking dozens of people with him. They mounted their horses and set off from the capital, heading for Guixi County in Xinzhou, Jiangxi. Along the way, they saw: distant mountains layered in green, clear waters far away. Exotic flowers bloomed like brocade spread across the forest, and tender willows danced as golden threads brushed the ground. The wind was gentle, the sun warm, and they passed through roadside villages and mountain hamlets; the road was straight, the sand flat, and they stayed in post stations and inns at night. The silk robes fluttered amidst the red dust, and the fine horses galloped across the purple roads.
Now, the Grand Tutor Hong Xin, carrying the imperial edict and his entourage, traveled for more than a day before arriving in Xinzhou, Jiangxi. Officials of all ranks came out to greet him. They immediately sent messengers to inform the abbots and monks of the Shangqing Palace on Longhu Mountain to prepare to receive the edict. The next day, officials escorted the Grand Tutor to the foot of Longhu Mountain. They saw that the Shangqing Palace had many monks, ringing bells and beating drums, with fragrant flowers, lanterns, candles, banners, and precious canopies, all descending to welcome the imperial edict until they reached the Shangqing Palace, where they dismounted. The Grand Tutor looked at the palace and thought it was truly magnificent. He saw:
Green pines twisted and turned, and lush cypresses cast deep shadows. The doors were hung with golden inscriptions, and the windows displayed spiritual talismans. Beside the Void Emperor Platform, willow trees and flowers were faintly visible; near the alchemy furnace, ancient pines and cypresses were hidden. On the left, heavenly soldiers and demons attended the True Lord of the Yi; on the right, jade girls and golden boys surrounded the Purple Star Emperor. The True Lord of the North, with his hair disheveled and sword in hand, walked on the turtle and snake; the Old Man of the South, with his feet bare and crown on his head, subdued the dragons and tigers. The Twenty-Eight Constellations and the Thirty-Two Emperors followed. Water flowed below the steps, and the walls were surrounded by beautiful mountains. Cranes were born with red crowns, and tortoises grew green hair. Monkeys offered fruits from the treetops, and white deer carried herbs in the grass. On the Three Pure Ones Hall, monks rang the golden bell and walked in the void; on the Four Saints Hall