Chapter 87: Fengxian County Ends the Rain by Force Great Sage Sun Advises Good Deeds to Bring Rain

The Great Way is profound and mysterious; its secrets, if revealed, would startle gods and spirits. It contains the universe, dissects mystic light, and brings a true joy unmatched in this world. Before Vulture Peak, a precious pearl is revealed, brightly reflecting five kinds of luster. It illuminates all beings above and below heaven and earth; those who understand it live as long as mountains and seas.

Now, Xuanzang and his three disciples, having bid farewell to the woodcutter, descended from Hidden Fog Mountain and set off on the main road. After several days of travel, they suddenly saw a city approaching. Xuanzang said, "Wukong, look at that city ahead. Could that be India?" Monkey shook his head, "No, no! Though the Buddha's abode is called the Western Paradise, it has no cities. It's a great mountain with pavilions and halls called the Great Thunderclap Temple on Vulture Peak. Even if we reach India, it won't be the Buddha's dwelling. India is still who knows how far from Vulture Peak. That city must be an outlying district of India. We'll know for sure when we reach the border." Before long, they arrived outside the city. Xuanzang dismounted and entered through the triple gate, where he saw a desolate populace and deserted streets. At the market entrance, they saw many people dressed in green, standing on either side, and several officials in caps and sashes standing under the eaves. As the four of them walked down the street, those people did not move aside. Pigsy, being uncouth, poked his long snout forward and cried, "Make way, make way!" Those people suddenly looked up, saw his appearance, and were so terrified that their bones softened and their muscles went numb. They stumbled and cried out, "Demons are here! Demons are here!" The officials under the eaves, trembling with fear, bowed and asked, "From where do you come?" Fearing they might cause trouble, Xuanzang stepped forward and addressed the crowd, "This humble monk is from the Great Tang in the East, sent to India to seek scriptures from the Buddha at the Great Thunderclap Temple. Passing through your esteemed region, first, we don't know the place name, and second, we haven't found lodging. We just entered the city, so we've been disrespectful in not yielding the way. We beg your pardon." Only then did the officials bow and say, "This is an outlying district of India, called Fengxian Prefecture. For several years, there has been a severe drought, and the Prefect has sent us here to post a proclamation, inviting Dharma Masters to pray for rain and save the people." Hearing this, Monkey asked, "Where is your proclamation?" The officials replied, "It's right here. We just finished sweeping the eaves and haven't hung it yet." Monkey said, "Let me see it." The officials immediately unfolded the proclamation and hung it under the eaves. Monkey and the three others stepped forward to read it together. It read:

Shangguan, Prefect of Fengxian Prefecture in the Great Indian Nation, issues this proclamation to invite enlightened masters and seek a great Dharma ceremony. The prefecture, despite its vast territory and the former prosperity of its military and common people, has suffered continuous severe droughts for several years. People's fields and ponds have dried up, military lands are barren, rivers run shallow, and irrigation channels are empty. Wells are waterless, and springs have no flow. The wealthy barely survive, while the poor struggle to stay alive. A peck of grain costs a hundred pieces of gold; a bundle of firewood costs five taels. A ten-year-old girl is traded for three pints of rice; a five-year-old boy is taken away by others. In the city, people fear the law and pawn clothes and goods to survive; in the countryside, they defy authority, resorting to robbery and even cannibalism to preserve their lives. Therefore, this proclamation is issued, calling upon the wise and virtuous from all directions to bring forth rain and save the people. Such kindness will be greatly rewarded; we pledge a thousand pieces of gold as gratitude, with no false promises. This proclamation is hereby issued.

After reading the proclamation, Monkey asked the officials, "What is this 'Prefect Shangguan'?" The officials replied, "Shangguan is his surname. It is the Prefect's family name." Monkey chuckled, "That's a rare surname." Pigsy piped up, "Brother, you haven't studied. After the 'Hundred Family Surnames,' there's a line that says 'Shangguan and Ouyang'." Xuanzang interjected, "Disciples, stop chattering. Whoever can pray for rain, should do so to bring forth a timely rain to relieve the people's suffering. This is a deed of immense virtue. If you cannot, then let's move on; don't delay our journey." Monkey boasted, "What's so difficult about praying for rain? I, Old Monkey, can overturn rivers and oceans, shift stars and constellations, kick the heavens and move wells, spit fog and spray clouds, carry mountains and chase the moon, call forth rain and summon wind. Which of these wasn't a mere game for me in my youth? What's so remarkable about it?"

Upon hearing this, two officials rushed back to the prefecture to report, "Master, a great joy has arrived!" The Prefect was currently burning incense and silently praying. Hearing the good news, he immediately asked, "What joy?" The official reported, "Today, we took the proclamation to the market entrance to hang it. Immediately, four monks, claiming to be from the Great Tang in the East, sent to India to seek scriptures from the Buddha at the Great Thunderclap Temple, saw the proclamation and said they could pray for rain. We've come to report this specifically." The Prefect immediately straightened his clothes and walked, without needing a palanquin or many attendants, directly to the market entrance to respectfully invite them. Suddenly, someone announced, "The Prefect has arrived!" Everyone stepped aside. The Prefect, upon seeing Xuanzang, and undeterred by his disciples' hideous appearances, prostrated himself in the middle of the street and bowed, saying, "Your humble servant, Shangguan, Prefect of Fengxian Prefecture, having cleansed myself with incense, humbly invites you, Master, to pray for rain and save the people. We implore your great compassion, to use your divine powers to deliver us, deliver us!" Xuanzang returned the courtesy, "This is not the place to talk. Let this humble monk go to a temple or monastery, where it would be more appropriate to conduct such matters." The Prefect said, "Master, please come to my humble yamen; there is a clean place there." The master and disciples then led their horse and carried their burdens, going directly to the Prefect's residence, where they were formally introduced. The Prefect immediately ordered tea and a vegetarian meal to be served. A short while later, the meal