Journey to the West: Sun Wukong's Advice System-Chapter 243 - 240: Why Not Take Over, How Big the World Is_2

Chapter 243: Chapter 240: Why Not Take Over, How Big the World Is_2

Bodhisattva Guiyin stepped forward and said, "Buddha, since there is hope for the advancement of human paths, why don’t we also support a unified Human Race dynasty in the Western Niu He Continent?"

In the Mahavira Hall, many Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and Vajras nodded in agreement, which would allow them to compete with the Human Race dynasty of Southern Continent for the fortune of the human path.

In fact, after experiencing the benefits brought by the faith in the Eastern Human Race dynasty, they had wanted to ask this question. Western Niu He Continent, being equally vast, why could it not have a unified Human Race dynasty like that of the Southern Continent?

Jia Ye quickly said, "Buddha, during my trip in the Southern Continent under Liu Xiu, there were innovations in agriculture, including a crop called hybrid rice that could yield up to a thousand kilos per hectare,

if we could introduce it to the Western Niu He Continent, then the number of our western human race would surely surge."

"I wish to atone for my sins by supporting and establishing a great unified Human Race dynasty in the west."

Bodhisattva Guiyin frowned, and some Bodhisattvas and Supreme Ones looked at each other but did not speak.

The Buddha slowly said, "The Three Realms have four great continents, and the sentient beings in them are of mixed good and evil, different everywhere.

Those from the Eastern Prosperity Continent. respect heaven and earth, with tranquility in heart and calm in spirit;

Those from the Northern Kulun Continent, though loving their kin, merely subsist, and their nature is clumsy and their emotions simple, rarely demeaning themselves;

We in the Western Niu He Continent, neither covetous nor murderous, nurture energy and conceal spirit, though not the highest truth, every person has longevity;

But those in the Southern Continent, greedy and reveling in calamity, rampant with killing and strife, exactly as the battlefields of slander and the sea of malevolence.

And the root of its wickedness lies in the ever-changing human heart, one person, one village, one city, one country, the more people, the more varied the thoughts, if gathered together, a sea of evil will thus arise.

Our west originally being a land of demons, only through my Buddhist Law to dispel evil and promote good can living beings maintain their true nature.

If we in the west follow the ways of the Eastern Land, generating a sea of evil, then the land of demons will reappear."

The monks were solemn, Bodhisattva Guiyin and other Bodhisattvas appeared contemplative.

Jia Ye again urgently said, "Buddha, although we in the west cannot establish a unified Human Race dynasty, there are still numerous small countries scattered like stars.

If every individual in these nations follows Buddha and we promote hybrid rice, once food becomes abundant and the population continues to multiply, the Buddhist Law will surely greatly flourish."

It was evident that he was eager to accomplish merit.

Buddha said, "Very well, this task shall be yours to undertake, but remember that the faith of the nations must be cultivated gradually, not to unrestrainedly promote the way of hybrid rice, lest a sudden population increase fosters evil thoughts, making clothes for the demon."

Jia Ye placed his hands together earnestly and said, "Please rest assured Buddha, in this venture I will indeed offset my sins and greatly promote our Buddha Sect!"

Buddha looked around at the monks imperiously and said, "Bodhisattva Guiyin, Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta assist from the side."

The two Bodhisattvas bowed in respect.

Subsequently, Buddha along with Jia Ye, Bodhisattva Guiyin, and Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta proceeded to the inner hall to discuss the details.

They were all aware that the measures decided for spreading the law among the nations of the Western Niu He Continent were essentially a rectification for the previous missionary failures in the Southern Continent.

After all, many of these densely scattered small countries still did not believe in the Buddha Sect, and previously their faith was hardly sufficient, but if the method of hybrid rice Jia Ye spoke of could indeed ensure abundant food, then this faith would definitely be significantly enhanced for the Buddha Sect.

But now the problem was, although the plan was decided, the difficulty of accomplishing it was not insignificant.

Because the situation in the Western Niu He Continent was indeed quite different, if it were like the Southern Continent, the Buddha Sect would have already established a Human Race dynasty on this great land.

Apart from the inherent problem of being a land of demons, there were also numerous demons lurking among the nations of the west, which were not easy to resolve.

When their discussion was nearly complete, it so happened that Golden Cicada rushed back from the Heavenly Court and came to pay his respects.

Golden Cicada said, "Buddha, I heard from Sun Wukong that Ancient Buddha Dipankara had previously subdued a tribe of Asuras, among them a leader with a title of Crazy King Luo Hou."

Upon hearing this, not just Jia Ye, Bodhisattva Guiyin, and Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta, even Buddha’s expression changed.

Clearly, this was information Sun Wukong had intentionally revealed to Golden Cicada.

Whether true or false, it was worth their attention.

...

After Liu Xiu proclaimed himself emperor, he became even busier, working at his desk until late into the night every day.

He felt the tasks before him were simply too numerous, as the entire world would change following each of his national policies.

Unlike Wang Mang’s idealistic reforms, the systems he wanted to reform were all learned from his master Sun, and had already been verified during his previous travels across the land, being practical and beneficial to the populace.

But he faced the same issue as Wang Mang, that such reforms would inevitably affect the interests of the elite clans.

"It cannot be done in a day," Liu Xiu sighed.

No matter what, this chronic problem must be solved, or it will eventually destabilize the nation.

"If that’s the case, why not drink with me?"

Suddenly, a melodious voice echoed.

Liu Xiu, delighted, looked towards the source of the sound and saw a Daoist with a clear and thin face appear inside the hall. He hurried forward and respectfully bowed, "Disciple pays respect to Teacher Sun."

Sun Wukong smiled, "Now that you are the Emperor, you need not perform such a grand gesture."

Liu Xiu replied, "Master is the Ziwei Great Emperor incarnate. Even if there were no master-disciple relationship, I should still pay respects."

Sun Wukong smiled, and with a flip of his hand, he produced some liquor.

Liu Xiu’s eyes brightened, "Immortal wine?"

Sun Wukong laughed, "Monkey wine, tastier than immortal wine."

Afterward, the master and disciple, as they had done previously when traveling the world, sat down on the floor inside the hall, drinking and looking out at the vast night sky.

Sun Wukong asked, "Are you worried about the chronic problem of the noble families?"

Liu Xiu nodded, "The one who understands me is my master."

Sun Wukong waved his horsetail whisk, "I have a method that could solve your worries."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiu quickly stood up and respectfully bowed, "Please teach me, Master."

Sun Wukong, with an inscrutable air, "This method is the imperial examination system, which selects and recruits scholars from all over the empire..."

Then, he began to elaborate on the details of the imperial examination system.

Liu Xiu listened attentively, clapping his hands in praise from time to time, laughing heartily, and finally, he exclaimed enthusiastically, "Master’s method will not only relieve the current sorrow but will also benefit future generations for eternity!"

Sun Wukong gently nodded, "We still need to innovate papermaking technology, printing technique, to spread knowledge widely in order to smoothly implement this method. Furthermore, I have..."

He then explained methods to innovate two other techniques, along with gunpowder and metallurgy techniques, all over again. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Someone had already meticulously recorded everything being discussed.

Liu Xiu, after listening, was visibly exhilarated.

In truth, even before he had gone to study at the Imperial Academy, he had learned many innovative techniques from his master such as the Curved Plough, water wheel, and cultivation of seeds.

One could imagine, once all these innovations were distributed all over the empire, then the Great Han could truly achieve what Emperor Xiaowu had proclaimed: "Wherever the sun and moon shine, and the rivers reach, all shall be Han territory," ushering in an unprecedented golden age!

As Liu Xiu indulged in this vision, Sun Wukong suddenly ceased smiling, as if he could see into his heart, and asked, "Do you think this is enough?"

Liu Xiu was startled. He felt that if he accomplished all that he desired, even if he could not match the legendary Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, he could at least be renowned through the ages.

But in his master’s eyes, this was still far from enough. What greater achievements did his master expect him to accomplish?

To become an immortal? That was not a matter for an emperor to engage in.

At that moment, Sun Wukong asked again, "How large do you think this world is?"

Liu Xiu was about to answer, but realizing that his master was the Ziwei Great Emperor incarnate, the world surely was not as simple as he had known it to be. Thus, he took the initiative to ask, "Please enlighten me, Master."

Sun Wukong waved his horsetail whisk and explained seriously, "This realm is divided into Heaven, the underworld, and the mortal realms, with the mortal realm encompassing the Four Seas and the Four Continents."

The land we are currently on is called the Southern Continent,

Beyond this continent, there are the Eastern Continent of Superior Completion, the Western Continent of the Cattle Gift, and the Northern Continent of Kurul Mountain. Each is no smaller than the Southern Continent.

Beyond the four major continents, there are also ten more continents and three islands overseas, all home to immortals, demons, and monsters."

Liu Xiu listened, his emotions surging. The world was so vast! He had heard of the ten continents and three islands. During the time of Emperor Xiaowu, Dong Fangshuo had written records of the seas and continents, and it turned out to be true!

Sun Wukong continued, "Is this the entire expanse of the world?"

Liu Xiu subconsciously shook his head.

Sun Wukong’s eyes shimmered, "Before the three realms, this realm was known as the Vast Wilderness. Its breadth was boundless. Today’s three realms are but a corner of the vast expanse of the Vast Wilderness."

Liu Xiu’s eyes widened, his mind racing.

...

That night, according to the Historical Records, Emperor Liu Xiu of Han met with the Ziwei Great Emperor incarnate in Weiyang Palace, drank a pot of immortal wine, was bestowed with various methods, shocked by the vastness of the world, and thus the destiny of the Great Han peaked.