better of his opponents, and shouted “Strike,” and made a final effort, striking Iron Buddha with his staff, knocking him off the bridge into the water below. When Flying Ogre saw this he retreated: but Shi Jin running after him struck him a blow in the back. Flying Ogre fell down and Shi Jin placing his foot on the body stabbed him repeatedly. Lu Da went under the bridge and killed Iron Buddha. We cannot but pity these two ruffians, who were sent to their last sleep in this way, and whose deeds passed like a bad dream.
Lu Da and Shi Jin went into the monastery and got Lu Da’s bundle. They found the old monks had all strangled themselves in order to avoid what they thought would be certain death. When the woman saw Lu Da and Shi Jin, she, too, was afraid and committed suicide by jumping down the well. They went through the now vacant rooms, and found some bundles of clothing lying on a bed which they opened and found silver inside. In the kitchen they found fish, meat, and wine, which gave them a good meal. Before their departure they set fire to the monastery. It happened a strong wind was blowing, so that very soon the whole place was in flames. They walked all night, and at dawn saw a large market town in the distance. Just before reaching it, they stopped at an inn, ordering the waiter to buy meat and rice, and have it cooked for them. Over their wine they discussed their future plans, and Shi Jin said he was going to Mount Shaohua to join the bandits there. They left the inn, and after traveling about seven li, they came to a place where three roads met, and Lu Da decided they must separate, as he was going on to the Eastern Capital.
Lu Da arrived at the Eastern Capital in nine days. The streets were very crowded and noisy. Upon reaching the center of the town he politely asked a passer-by where the Great Xiangguo Monastery was, and was directed. Upon entering the monastery he went towards the small room where guests are received. A servant reported his arrival, and without delay the monk came out to welcome the guest, but when he saw the fierce appearance of Lu Da with his monk’s staff and broad sword he was almost afraid of him. He asked where he had come from, and Lu Da replied that he had come from Mount Wutai, and had a letter for the Abbot. He took the letter from his bundle, and followed the monk when the latter reminded him that as he was going to see the Abbot he should not carry a sword, but should carry a mat, and some sticks of incense, and should kowtow when he met the Abbot. So Lu Da put aside his sword, and after some time got the other things in proper order. The monk also told him how to wear his monk gown, and how to spread the mat. Just then the Abbot appeared on the scene, and the monk introduced Lu Da to him.
Abbot Qing said, “I have not heard from Mount Wutai for a long time.”
The monk reminded Lu Da that he should salute the Abbot at once, but the latter did not know where to put down the incense sticks he was holding, and this made the monk laugh. He took the incense from Lu Da, and placed it in an incense urn. Lu Da then saluted three times, but the monk told him that he should first have presented the letter. The letter was opened by the Abbot who read how Lu Da had been expelled from Mount Wutai, and why he was recommended for employment, and that it was hoped that eventually he would become a reformed character. After reading the letter the Abbot stated that Lu Da could rest in the monks’ quarters.
The Abbot Qing summoned to his living quarters all the staff of the monastery, and addressed them, “I want you all to know that Abbot Zhi Zhen of Mount Wutai is not a good judge of what is good or bad. He has sent us a monk who was previously a military officer and entered our calling because he had killed a man. He made disgraceful rows in the monastery so they have sent him here. But if he stays here he may break our rules so what shall we do?”
The monastery manager spoke, “I have a proposal to make. Just outside of the Suanzao Gate there is our branch temple with a vegetable garden attached. Near the temple is a barracks for soldiers, and every day the soldiers come with hooligans to steal our vegetables. They also bring horses and sheep to feed there. The monk who resides there cannot stop these depredations, so how would it be if we sent this man to live there? He would perhaps control the position.”
The Abbot accepted the suggestion, and sent an attendant to bring Lu Da to see him. Upon the latter’s arrival the Abbot addressed him, “As you have been recommended by Abbot Zhen, I will enter your name on our register. Just outside the Suanzao Gate we have a branch temple with a vegetable garden, and I want you to take charge of that. Every day you must see that the gardeners send ten loads of vegetables to this monastery, and you can have whatever is left over.”
“Abbot Zhen told me that I could do some business here, but instead of being a manager or superintendent you tell me to manage a vegetable garden,” said Lu Da.
“Brother, you do not understand,” said the monk who leads in worship, “you will be entered on our roll, but as you have had no experience, how can you manage a monastery? The management of this vegetable garden, however, is quite an important job.”
“I will not do such work, and must have a position as manager.”
“You just listen to what I have to say,” said the guest’s host. “There must be a chief of the staff who manages our affairs. For instance, I attend to the guests who come here, but more important work is done by the Wei Na (who attends to the monks’ discipline); the Shi Zhe (abbot’s assistant); the Shu Ji (scribe); the Shou Zuo (who conducts the prayers), and all their work is difficult. Then there are the business manager, and his assistant who look after the monastery property. As you have just arrived here, how could you occupy a leading position? Then there is the monk who looks after the storeroom where the holy scriptures are kept, he is called the storekeeper; the monk who keeps the monastery clean is called the hallkeeper; the monk who looks after the upper chamber is called the chamberlain; there are also the subscriptions collector; and the bathhouse keeper. These all manage affairs of the second class. Then there are the pagoda keeper; chief cook; chief tea maker; chief of the lavatories; and chief of the vegetable garden, all managing affairs of the lower class. If you attend to a vegetable garden well for say one year you will be promoted to look after the pagoda, and if you do that work well you will become the bathhouse keeper, and eventually become the superintendent of the temple.”
“As there is a prospect of promotion I will go there tomorrow,” said Lu Da.
This being decided Abbot Qing invited him to rest in his private room for the night. The next day the Abbot signed a notice to this effect, and sent a man to post it at the branch temple. Lu Da then took leave of the Abbot, and proceeded to his new duties with two monks who acted as guides.
We have already mentioned that close to the garden there lived some worthless vagabonds who passed their time gambling, and stole vegetables. When they entered the garden that day they read the notice about the new arrangement, and they agreed among themselves that they must take an early opportunity to pick a quarrel with Lu Da as he would submit to them when he had been beaten. One man had a plan, “We must entice him to the cesspit to receive our congratulations, and while we are knelt down we must seize his legs, and throw him into the manure pit. That will be a nice bit of fun.” The others thought it was a splendid idea, and they awaited Lu Da’s arrival to put it into execution.
When Lu Da arrived, the gardeners all came and saluted him, and the keys were handed over to him. The two monks who had accompanied him, and also the monk whom he had relieved, bid him good-bye and returned to the principal monastery. Lu Da then went into the garden to look round, and there he saw about thirty of the vagabonds who had a basket filled with fruit and wine. When they saw him they smiled and said, “We heard that you have come to live here, and therefore we have come to offer you our congratulations as we are your neighbors.”
Lu Da had no suspicion of a trick, and therefore walked up to them near the manure pit.
A priestly foot was raised on high;
Fierce tigers slunk away;
He raised his fist up to the sky;
Scaly
