118.離北京赴長安 Leaving Peking and heading toward Chang An

離北京赴長安

日夜兼程。艱苦萬狀。行至阜平縣。始聞甘藩。岑春煊勤王兵至。護駕出長城。入山西雁門關。有云門寺一老僧。已一百二十四歲。帝賜黃綾及建坊。又西行至平陽。遍地飢荒。

宣化偈曰：

一人有慶兆民賴。萬姓無辜多倒懸。 車駕西行親經歷。遍地飢荒太可憐。

Leaving Peking and heading towards Ch’ang An

Day and night, the forced march continued, despite the many difficulties and bitter sufferings. As they reached Fu P’ing County, the soldiers of Governor Ts’en Ch’un Hsuan of Kansu Province could be heard approaching to accompany the Monarch. They escorted their majesties past the Great Wall. After entering Yen Men (Wild Geese) Pass, Shanhsi Province, the Emperor met a one-hundred-twenty-four-year-old monk in Yun Men (Cloud Gate) Monastery, upon whom he bestowed some fine yellow robe-cloth. He also ordered the construction of an arch. The western march continued, and upon reaching P’ing Yang, they found that famine was widespread.

The gatha says: If a single leader enjoys good fortune, all the people can rely on him. The common people were not at fault, but still were suffering severely. When their majesties fled to the west, they themselves experienced The serious famine which prevailed - it was just too pitiful!