Tang Sanzang had asked the King of Jisai Kingdom for money and grain, only to come under attack from the assembled ministers.
Tang Sanzang argued his case on sound grounds.
Unfortunately, he was only one man. How could he outargue all those ministers?
First, the ministers said flood control was useless; then they claimed Tang Sanzang wanted the money and grain so he could embezzle them.
Tang Sanzang explained that he was a monk and had no need for worldly possessions.
At this, the ministers claimed he wanted the money to gild the Buddha's Golden Body.
Some even said Tang Sanzang was colluding with Gaochang Kingdom and the like.
Others went further still, claiming that more farmland and larger grain harvests would actually harm the common people.
The ministers' rebuttals left Tang Sanzang reeling. Back in Fadi Kingdom, he had single-handedly defeated an entire kingdom's monks in debate without finding it particularly taxing, yet now he could barely hold his ground.
Tang Sanzang could only turn his gaze toward the King of Jisai Kingdom.
The King of Jisai Kingdom said, "State Preceptor, it is not that I refuse to give you money and grain. The treasury has been impoverished for years, and flood control would cost a great deal. Even maintaining the palace's expenses is difficult now. We truly have no money or grain to spare."
At this, all the ministers declared His Majesty wise.
The King of Jisai Kingdom sighed. "When the National Treasure was here, four kingdoms brought us tribute. Our exalted realm was the metropolis of five kingdoms, a divine capital in a land of plenty. Merchants flocked here, and eminent people lived in splendor. How could we ever have lacked such funds? State Preceptor, you had better have your eldest disciple retrieve the National Treasure soon!"