高僧傳 5.12

5.12

Earlier, Fu Jian had succeeded to the chaos of the Shi clan. By this time, the households were wealthy and numerous, and the four quarters were largely pacified: reaching to the vast sea in the east, annexing Kucha in the west, encompassing Xiangyang in the south, and extending to the desert in the north; only Jianye in one corner had not yet submitted. Whenever Jian conversed with his attendants, he never failed to express his wish to unify the Jiangzuo region, making the Jin emperor a Vice-Director and Xie An a Palace Attendant. Jian's younger brother Rong, Duke of Pingyang, along with court ministers Shi Yue, Yuan Shao, and others, all remonstrated vigorously, but could not sway him in the end. Because Dao'an was trusted and revered by Jian, the assembly collectively pleaded with him, saying: "The Sovereign is about to undertake a campaign in the southeast; why can you, Venerable Master, not say a word on behalf of the common people?" It happened that Jian went out to the East Park and ordered Dao'an to mount his carriage to ride together. The Vice-Director Quan Yi remonstrated: "I have heard that the Son of Heaven's imperial carriage is to be accompanied by a Palace Attendant; Dao'an has disfigured his body, so how can he participate?" Jian turned red with anger and said: "Master Dao'an's virtue and Way are worthy of reverence; I would not trade him for the empire. The honor of sharing a carriage does not even match his virtue." He immediately ordered the Vice-Director to assist Dao'an into the carriage. Shortly after, he looked back and said to Dao'an: "I shall travel south with you to Wu and Yue, arraying the six armies to conduct an imperial tour of inspection, traversing Kuaiji to view the vast sea; would that not be delightful?" Dao'an replied: "Your Majesty acts in accordance with Heaven to govern the realm, possessing the wealth of tribute from the eight provinces. Residing in the central land to control the four seas, you should let your spirit rest in non-action, rivaling the heights of Yao and Shun. Now you wish to use an army of a million to pursue the inferior lands of the south. Furthermore, the land of the southeast is low-lying and its miasma is virulent; in ancient times Shun and Yu traveled there and did not return, and the Qin Emperor went there and never came back. In this poor monk's view, it is not something with which my foolish heart agrees. The Duke of Pingyang is your close kin, and Shi Yue is an important minister; both stated it is inadmissible, yet they were still rebuffed. This poor monk is shallow and insignificant, and my words will certainly not be accepted; but having received your generous favor, I merely offer my sincere devotion." Jian said: "It is not that the land is not broad or the people insufficient to govern; it is rather to examine Heaven's mind and make clear where the great turn of destiny lies. Touring in accordance with the seasons is also recorded in the ancient canons; according to your words, would rulers have no texts about inspecting the provinces?" Dao'an said: "If the imperial carriage must move, you may first visit Luoyang, display your might and accumulate vigor, and transmit a summons to Jiangnan; if they do not submit, it will not be too late to attack them." Jian did not listen. He sent the Duke of Pingyang, Rong, and others with an elite force of two hundred and fifty thousand as the vanguard, while Jian personally led six hundred thousand infantry and cavalry. Soon, Jin sent General Who Suppresses Bandits Xie Shi and Inspector of Xuzhou Xie Xuan to resist them. Jian's vanguard suffered a great collapse west of Bagong Mountain; the Jin army pursued them northward for more than thirty li, and the dead lay pillowing one another. Rong's horse fell and he was beheaded; Jian fled on a single horse, exactly as Dao'an had warned.