The Three Teachings Converge into One: The Path of the Mortal and the Saintly is the Same

Poetry:

The emperor issued an edict to select virtuous and capable officials, but the corrupt officials on the borders were causing trouble for the country.

He encountered hardship on his way to the capital in his green robe, but his compassion brought peace to the displaced people.

It is said that Su Qingxuan astonished everyone at the Pingjiang Literary Gathering with his poetry and his persuasive arguments, and his words on the unity of the three religions resounded throughout Jiangnan. His reputation as a talented scholar spread throughout the Wu region in a single day. After bidding farewell to Lin Wanqing and the Lin family, he walked through the misty rain of mid-autumn in Jiangnan and went straight to the Su family courtyard in Qingxi Town, intending to first visit his parents and fulfill his filial duties before planning his journey to the capital to enter officialdom.

Five years away from home, the courtyard remained unchanged: the two old osmanthus trees stood ever more vigorous, the vegetable patch in the corner was still lush and green, and the silver ingot left by Shen Wanshan on the stone table still sat quietly in its original place, covered with a thin layer of dust, serving as an eternal reminder for the young man to cultivate his character and aspirations. His father, Su Wenyuan, had a few more strands of white hair at his temples, but he was still vigorous and energetic, teaching his students every day without changing his Confucian heart; his mother, Liu, had slightly graying hair, but she still managed the household affairs as before. When she saw her son return, she was overjoyed and wept, and hurriedly went to the kitchen to cook the pastries that she loved most as a child. The warmth of the cooking was filled with her deep love for her child.

Su Qingxuan knelt before his parents, bowing and paying his respects, and recounted in detail his five years of study abroad—from disaster relief in Anfeng, to stopping the war at Hanshi and proving loyalty in the northern frontier, from integrating Taoism at Langya Mountain to meditating in ancient temples in the Western Regions, and finally to enlightening the three religions at Xiude Square in Luoyang and gaining fame at the Pingjiang Literary Gathering. Su Wenyuan stroked his beard and sighed deeply, tears streaming down his face: "My son has not failed our family's tradition of farming and studying, nor the spirit of Confucianism, nor the spiritual roots of the three religions. As his father, I have no regrets in this life!" Liu Shi, however, was full of pity and could only advise him to take care of himself and not to overwork.

Afterwards, the family enjoyed a happy and harmonious time together.

But the good times didn't last long. The family reunion lasted only ten days before the autumn winds of Jiangnan brought an imperial edict from the capital and an official letter from the Pingjiang government.

Since Emperor Jinghe (Xiao Yan) ascended the throne, the Great Xia Dynasty had been plagued by increasingly severe internal and external troubles, reaching a precarious state. In the north, the Di and Man tribes, taking advantage of the autumn harvest and the fatness of their horses, gathered 100,000 cavalry and attacked the three passes of Yanmen, Yunzhong, and Linyu, burning, killing, and looting. The border troops had been out of practice for a long time, and the generals were corrupt and incompetent, resulting in repeated defeats. The flames of war on the border were approaching the capital. In the interior, the administration was lax, the powerful and wealthy seized land, and officials levied exorbitant taxes. In addition, in recent years, the Central Plains had suffered from floods and locust plagues, with floods in Huainan and droughts in Huaibei. Many places had no harvest, and people were displaced. Migrants rose up everywhere, some gathering in the mountains and forests, and others besieging prefectures and counties. The world was in turmoil.

Emperor Jinghe, at the tender age of thirty, was eager to govern diligently, but he was constrained by the faction of Chancellor Zhang Congyao, the maternal uncle Liu Chengye, and the local power of Xiao Jing, the Prince of Heluo. The court was in chaos, and government orders could not even leave the palace. Seeing the country on the verge of collapse, the emperor was uneasy. Disregarding the obstruction of powerful ministers, he issued an edict to establish the "Examination of Worthy and Upright Officials," regardless of background or social status. Anyone who was knowledgeable in classics and history, well-versed in governance, and had a heart for saving the world could be recommended by the local authorities to come to the capital to participate in the palace examination. He would personally examine and appoint them, hoping to promote talented people from humble backgrounds, rectify official corruption, resist foreign aggression, and save the country from collapse.

Su Qingxuan's extraordinary talent, demonstrated by his remarkable actions in Luoyang and Pingjiang, had already been discovered by Emperor Jinghe's spies, who immediately recommended him. They reported Su Qingxuan's youthful talent, his mastery of the three teachings (Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism), and his compassionate heart to Emperor Jinghe, requesting that he be summoned to the capital. Emperor Jinghe was overjoyed and immediately issued an edict summoning Su Qingxuan to the capital for the palace examination.

A government official, carrying an official letter, rode swiftly to Qingxi Town to respectfully invite Su Qingxuan to depart immediately for the capital to take the imperial examination.

Although Su Wenyuan and Madam Liu were reluctant to see their son travel to the capital and face the dangers of the court, they knew that the young man harbored a grand ambition to save the world, and this was a great responsibility bestowed upon him by heaven, which he could not refuse. Su Wenyuan took out his family savings to prepare his son's luggage and other necessities, and once again solemnly instructed him while holding the tattered scroll of "The Confucian Mind Method": "Going to the capital is fraught with intrigue and factional strife. You must remember: Cultivating your mind is fundamental, saving the world is essential, do not covet power, do not associate with treacherous officials, uphold the integrity of a Confucian scholar, and practice the benevolence of the three religions, so as not to fail the sages of our ancestors." Madam Liu then worked through the night to make new clothes, and tied the jade pendant safety buckle around her son's waist, tearfully urging him: "The situation in the capital is not like that in Jiangnan. Think thrice before you act, take care of your health, and preserve your life. Your mother will be waiting for your safe return at home."

With tears in his eyes, Su Qingxuan bid farewell to his parents, carefully storing the ancient bronze seal, the withered ancient wood, and the surviving Confucian scriptures close to his body. Shouldering his book trunk, dressed in a brand-new blue robe and carrying an oil-paper umbrella, he embarked alone on his journey to the capital. Without servants or carriages, only a pure heart dedicated to saving the world and bringing peace to the people, and a Daoist heart that harmonized the three teachings, accompanied him through the storms of the Central Plains. At this time, Su Qingxuan was only fifteen years old.

The scenery changes drastically as you move from Jiangnan to Huaibei.

The Jiangnan region is a gentle land of misty rain and fragrant rice paddies, while Huaibei is a desolate wasteland of barren land and withered vegetation. In Huaibei, the drought has lasted for half a year; the soil is cracked, the crops are dying, and what was once fertile land is now nothing but endless yellow sand. Starving corpses litter the roadsides, and refugees, young and old, stumble along, their eyes filled with despair and numbness. Nine out of ten villages are empty, no smoke rises from chimneys, and the few remaining villages are nothing but ruins and ruins.

Su Qingxuan, witnessing this tragic scene along his journey, was filled with grief. He distributed all the dry rations and silver he carried with him to the refugees, but it was ultimately a drop in the ocean—tens of thousands of refugees; how could he possibly save them all by himself? He understood more and more clearly that his father's words, "Cultivate oneself, regulate one's family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world," were empty talk that harmed the country, while practical action brought prosperity. Only by entering officialdom, taking power, reforming the bureaucracy, reducing taxes, and pacifying the people could he truly save them from their suffering.

On this day, when they reached the territory of Ruzhou, which was only about three hundred miles away from Luoyang, the road ahead was suddenly blocked. The shouts of killing, the cries of crying, and the sound of clubs clashing were deafening. A strong sense of violence rushed over them, and even the wind between heaven and earth became unbearably pungent.

Su Qingxuan's heart sank. He quickly stepped forward and saw thousands of refugees outside the Ruzhou post station, armed with hoes, carrying poles, and machetes. They surrounded the station, their faces sallow and emaciated, yet their eyes gleamed with ferocity as they roared and charged towards the post station gate. At the gate, over a hundred soldiers, clad in armor and wielding swords and spears, held their positions firmly. Commander Wang, heavily armored with a menacing face, brandished a long sword and shouted fiercely, "Rebellion! Rebellion! You unruly people, how dare you gather in a riot! If you don't retreat, I will order my troops to fire arrows and slaughter you all!"

Under the eaves of the post station, a corpse was hanging high. The body was dressed in a black official's uniform, with a woodcutter's knife stuck in its chest. Judging from the style of the uniform, it should be the clerk of Ruzhou Prefecture.

Su Qingxuan grabbed a peddler who was fleeing in panic and whispered the reason. The peddler was pale with fright and said in a trembling voice, "Young master, run! I don't know what's wrong with Ruzhou. For half a year, there has been a locust plague, and for the other half, floods. The land has yielded no harvest, but instead of providing disaster relief, the government has increased the tax on the northern frontier army. They say it's to provide food for the soldiers on the border, but in reality, it's all been embezzled by corrupt officials! That Clerk Zhang is even more vicious. He leads his yamen runners to the countryside to collect taxes. If anyone doesn't pay, they demolish their houses and smash their pots. A few days ago, he beat the only son of an old farmer named Zhou Laogen to death. Zhou Laogen couldn't take it anymore and led the villagers in a rebellion, killing Clerk Zhang. Now the government troops are going to suppress them and slaughter these refugees!"

Upon hearing this, Su Qingxuan was enraged. As the saying goes, oppressive government is more ferocious than a tiger. The common people are inherently good citizens; if they weren't driven to desperation, why would they take such a risk and incite a mass rebellion? This isn't a peasant uprising; it's officials forcing the people to rebel! If the soldiers were to truly unleash their arrows and slaughter them, not only would thousands of peasants perish, but the hearts of the people would be lost. At that point, peasants would rise up everywhere, the world would descend into chaos, and the barbarians would seize the opportunity to invade. The Great Xia Dynasty would truly be doomed!

Commander Wang was already frantic. Seeing that the refugees were unable to retreat after a prolonged siege, he shouted, "Archers, prepare to fire!"

"No!"

A clear shout, like a waterfall striking a rock, pierced through the clamor. Su Qingxuan pushed through the crowd, stepping alone between the soldiers and the refugees. Dressed in a blue robe, his slender figure stood like a mountain, blocking the two sides facing each other with swords drawn.

When Commander Wang saw a young man in plain clothes suddenly appear and stand in front of the archers, he was puzzled and didn't know who he was. So he tentatively pointed his sword at Su Qingxuan and said, "Where... did you come from, you wild brat? Get out of the way at once, or you'll be punished too!"

Among the refugees stood an old farmer, his hair and beard white, covered in dust, holding a wood-chopping knife, his eyes bloodshot – this was their leader, Zhou Laogen. Seeing a young boy blocking their way, he mistook him for a government official and roared, "Boy, get out of the way! Don't aid the wicked! Today, it's either live or die! I'll risk my old life to avenge my child and seek justice for my fellow villagers!"

Thousands of refugees roared in unison, their violent aura soaring into the sky. The government troops stood ready, their bows and arrows nocked, and a bloody battle was about to erupt.

Su Qingxuan took a deep breath, first bowing respectfully to Commander Wang, his voice steady as he subtly channeled the Confucian and Taoist principles of righteousness and the Buddhist purification within him, speaking with an air of grandeur and authority: "Commander Wang, please calm your anger. The Analects says, 'If the people are not well-off, how can the ruler be well-off? If the people are well-off, how can the ruler be lacking?' These people are all subjects of the Great Xia, not rebels. They have been driven to desperation by locust plagues, floods, and oppressive government, leaving them with no other choice but to violently resist. If we slaughter these refugees today, the people of the world will surely lose heart. At that time, refugees from all directions will respond, riots will break out everywhere, and the Di and Man tribes will take advantage of the situation to invade the south. Can you, Commander Wang, bear the responsibility for the downfall of the nation?"

Commander Wang was taken aback. Although he was a military man, he understood the power of popular support. However, he had been blinded by the riots. Now, Su Qingxuan's words had awakened him. His hand holding the knife paused slightly, but he remained firm: "They killed officials and rebelled, which is a heinous crime of treason. According to the law, they should be executed! I am only acting under orders!"

"The law is meant to bring peace to the people, not to oppress them," Su Qingxuan said solemnly.

After speaking, Su Qingxuan turned to Zhou Laogen and the refugees, his tone suddenly softening, filled with profound compassion, "Uncle, fellow villagers, I know you have grievances, hatred, and pain in your hearts! Wives and children starving to death, fields lying fallow, corrupt officials demanding taxes, beating relatives to death—such injustices are unbearable for anyone!"

A single, empathetic remark struck a nerve with all the refugees. Zhou Laogen's wood-chopping knife clattered to the ground, and he squatted down, bursting into tears: "My son! Only twelve years old, beaten to death by Zhang Kui! Heaven is blind! We just wanted to live, we just wanted food to eat, was that wrong?"

Thousands of refugees laid down their farm tools, knelt on the ground, and wept bitterly, their cries shaking the heavens, filled with unbearable grief. The violent atmosphere gradually dissipated amidst the weeping, replaced by endless despair and suffering.

Seeing this, Su Qingxuan knew that it was better to guide than to block. His words struck a nerve with the refugees, allowing them to vent their emotions. This was the benevolence of Confucianism.

He then continued with the calming power of Taoism, soothing the hearts of the people: "Fellow villagers, rioting can only quell temporary anger, but it cannot save lives in the long run. Today you have killed one Magistrate Zhang, but tomorrow the government will send more soldiers. Then the blood will flow like rivers, and the old, weak, women, and children will not escape. This is not revenge, but courting death! The way of Heaven is constant; follow the natural order. Only by living can there be hope; only by living can we wait for the light of day! The Tao says, 'The sage is always good at saving people, therefore there are no abandoned people.' The government is unjust; we cannot give up on ourselves, much less use violence to quell violence, going against the natural order of life!"

His voice was already gentle, and with the addition of his profound internal energy, it seeped into the hearts of the refugees like a spring breeze and gentle rain. The Taoist principle of "following the natural order and not killing indiscriminately" gradually calmed the restless refugees, and the fierce light in their eyes faded, replaced by a sense of clarity.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Su Qingxuan once again used Buddhist compassion to dispel the anger in his heart: "When will this cycle of revenge end? Zhang Dianshi committed numerous evils and has already died to atone for his sins; corrupt officials who harm the country and its people will be punished by the law and subject to the cycle of karma. The cycle of karma is real; who can escape its judgment? Even the Buddha himself cut off his own flesh to feed the eagle and sacrificed himself to feed the tiger, all out of compassion for all beings. Although I am not the Buddha, I feel your suffering deeply and am filled with sorrow. However, to fight violence with violence, to risk everything, is not a wise move." "Know that even if the fish dies, the net may not break; only more casualties will occur. How will your wives, children, and elderly parents bear such a fate? Listen to me! I am a disciple personally selected by the Emperor himself, and I am about to go to the capital to meet him. Today, lay down your weapons, and I, Su Qingxuan, guarantee with my life that after arriving in the capital, I will personally report to the Emperor the disasters, oppressive policies, and corrupt officials in Ruzhou, earnestly requesting tax reductions, reconstruction of our homes, opening of granaries to distribute grain, punishment of corrupt officials, and the attainment of justice for all of you! If I break this oath, may I be struck by lightning and meet a terrible end!"

After saying this, Su Qingxuan knelt down and kowtowed deeply to the thousands of refugees.

This kneeling is a kneeling to all living beings, a kneeling to the benevolent heart of Confucian scholars, and a kneeling to the compassion of the three religions.

The refugees were deeply moved to tears when they saw a young scholar kneeling and swearing an oath for them. Zhou Laogen quickly helped Su Qingxuan up, choking back tears, "Young master, please rise! Please rise! I believe you! We believe you! We won't rebel anymore, we won't rebel anymore!"

"We won't rebel! We'll listen to you, young master!"

"Young master is a good person, we believe you!"

The refugees also knelt down and kowtowed to Su Qingxuan. The sound of thousands of people kowtowing reverberated throughout Ruzhou.

Commander Wang was deeply shocked by what he saw. He had fought in the army for many years and witnessed countless brutal suppressions, but he had never seen anyone quell a riot of thousands single-handedly with just a few words. This young man was no ordinary scholar; he possessed great talent, virtue, and wisdom, and moreover… he was about to go to the capital to meet the Emperor! With this thought, he immediately sheathed his sword and bowed respectfully to Su Qingxuan: “Young Master Su, your talent is truly admirable! I was reckless just now and almost made a grave mistake. I will leave everything to your arrangements!”

Su Qingxuan stood up, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and then methodically arranged the aftermath:

Firstly, they pleaded for the people, earnestly requesting that Commander Wang temporarily move the official and military rations out of the post station and set up soup kitchens to provide porridge to the refugees and alleviate their immediate needs. Commander Wang then ordered the officers and soldiers not to harass the refugees, with violators to be punished according to military law, in order to appease the refugees' emotions.

Secondly, he personally wrote down a document about the disasters, oppressive government, corrupt officials, and the plight of displaced people in Ruzhou. He affixed the seal of his Pingjiang Literary Society and a letter of recommendation from the local government, and ordered it to be sent to the capital by fast horse. He then submitted it to Emperor Jinghe, requesting that an imperial envoy be dispatched immediately to provide disaster relief and to punish the corrupt officials in Ruzhou.

Thirdly, he found wealthy merchants and gentry in Ruzhou City and admonished them with the principles of the three religions: "Confucianism says, 'When you are successful, you should help the world; Taoism says, 'Benefit all living beings; Buddhism says, 'Giving alms brings blessings.' You all possess vast wealth. If you can donate grain and silver to help the refugees, you will be accumulating virtue and doing good deeds, sowing seeds of blessings. If you sit idly by and do nothing, one day the refugees will riot, and your wealth will be hard to protect." The wealthy merchants and gentry were impressed by Su Qingxuan's righteousness and courage, and they opened their granaries to distribute grain and donated silver to help with the relief efforts. Su Qingxuan also used the spiritual energy of the three religions to control the situation.

Fourth, the refugees were organized according to their villages and towns. The able-bodied men were assigned to cultivate the wasteland on the outskirts of the city, while the elderly, women, and children were assigned to care for soup kitchens and repair villages. Everyone was assigned a place and fulfilled their responsibilities, allowing the village to regain its vitality. Zhou Laogen served as the leader of the refugees, restraining the villagers and ensuring they followed his arrangements. There was no longer any sign of rebellion.

Within ten days, the riots in Ruzhou were quelled, the refugees were settled, and the once turbulent and violent land gradually regained its normalcy.

Standing atop the city wall of Ruzhou, Su Qingxuan watched the refugees below orderly receiving porridge and working, and felt a sense of peace. The ancient bronze seal in his bosom quietly warmed, and a wisp of righteous and peaceful energy permeated his body, seemingly dissolving the remaining violent aura around him as if moistened by spring rain; even the ancient withered trees revealed a faint hint of green, echoing the vitality on the refugees' bodies; the Confucian scroll trembled slightly, and the words "Cultivate oneself to bring peace to the people" on the pages became increasingly clear.

Unbeknownst to him, a figure in grey robes stood silently for a long time in the shadow of an ancient locust tree by the roadside, his gaze fixed on him with approval. This man, with white hair and beard, dressed in a grey Taoist robe, was none other than the hermit he had "encountered by chance" at the Su family's courtyard years ago, and also one of the three guardians of the Tao who had secretly observed him at the Luoyang Taoist Square. The old man murmured to himself, "Confucianism embodies benevolence, Taoism embodies tranquility, and Buddhism embodies compassion. The three religions are united, and he has the ambition to bring peace and prosperity to the world. The fate of the Great Xia Dynasty and the turning point of the Dharma-ending Age will depend on this young man. He is indeed the one destined for this calamity." After speaking, his figure flashed and quietly disappeared into the mountains and forests, leaving no trace.

Unbeknownst to anyone, in a corner of the refugee crowd, a man with a black turban and sinister eyes, a bronze whistle with a wolf's head pattern concealed at his waist, was a spy planted by Di Man in the interior. He had intended to incite a rebellion among the refugees, disrupting the rear of the Central Plains and coordinating with the northern cavalry's southward advance, but Su Qingxuan had happened to witness the uprising and quelled it. Seeing his mission fail, the man gritted his teeth, but dared not act rashly. He quietly slipped into the crowd, turned, and left, intending to relay Su Qingxuan's message back to Di Man's camp.

In the crowd, a sallow-faced, thin child tugged at Su Qingxuan's sleeve and whispered, "Sir, I've eaten the porridge from Anfeng Embankment." Su Qingxuan's heart softened, and he patted the child's head. Recalling the past disaster relief efforts in Anfeng, he didn't say much—this was an orphan from the Anfeng floods of that year, who had wandered here and their reunion today was a matter of fate.

After settling the refugees in Ruzhou, Su Qingxuan bid farewell to Zhou Laogen, Commandant Wang, and the villagers. Without delay, he immediately set off for Luoyang. The refugees knelt down to see him off, their cries echoing, all calling out "Su Qingtian" (a term of respect for the upright official Su Qingxuan).

On his journey, Su Qingxuan received a letter from Lin Wanqing, delivered through a messenger. The letter was written in a gentle hand, expressing concern for his safety on his trip to the capital, praising his talent and benevolence in quelling the riot, and mentioning that the scholars of Jiangnan had jointly recommended him and were willing to speak on his behalf in the court. The last sentence, "Take care, my lord, Wanqing awaits good news," concealed a tender concern and a deep affection that was not outwardly expressed.

Su Qingxuan carefully put away the letter, his heart pounding. This unspoken understanding between the two of them allowed the young man to taste the sweetness of love for the first time. But as he gazed in the direction of Luoyang, his eyes hardened with unwavering resolve—the path to enlightenment is always lonely, but there are always those who silently light your way, turning the world's ugliness into an upward driving force.

Su Qingxuan then reflected on his trip to Ruzhou: he used Confucian benevolence to empathize with the people, Daoist tranquility to pacify the masses, and Buddhist compassion to resolve grievances and resolve conflicts. No one died or was injured; he changed the local government's indifference to the people's livelihood, quelled the riot of thousands of displaced people, and although he had not formally entered the political arena, he had begun to demonstrate the governing power of the three religions combined. He could foresee that the political turmoil in Luoyang was far more dangerous than the Ruzhou riots; the Prime Minister, the Emperor's brother-in-law, and the regional princes were all eyeing him covetously; the foreign threat from the Di barbarians hung like a sword over his head; and the deep-rooted corruption in the bureaucracy was rampant. But he... was fearless.

His Confucian ideals of perseverance, his desire to unite the three religions, and his wish to save the world and bring peace to the people were the sharp blades that enabled him to overcome all obstacles.

The figure of the young man in the blue robe, stepping on the autumn wind of the Central Plains, drew ever closer to the imperial capital, Luoyang. His journey to save the world in the imperial court had only just begun; the great path of mortals and saints walking together was gradually becoming clear through the tempering of the mortal world.

It is:

A wise and capable man has just begun to bring peace and tranquility, and all hostility has vanished under the gentle breeze.

Do not say that a man in a blue robe has no great weapons; one day he may save the world and turn the tide of history.