棍子為號 The Staff as Signal
但只是得一個號令，方敢依令而行；不然，雷雨亂了，顯得大聖無款也。」行者道：「我將棍子為號罷。」但只是得一个号令，方敢依令而行；不然，雷雨乱了，显得大圣无款也。」行者道：「我将棍子为号罢。」
逐句解 Line by line
but we must have some one signal, and only then dare act on the order as it is given;
得一個號令: 得 = dé, to have or get; the falling tone of 個 pulls 一 to yí. 依令而行: 行 = xíng, to act on the order as given.
otherwise the thunder and rain would fall into confusion, and it would make the Great Sage look disorderly.”
雷雨亂了: 了 = le. 顯得: 得 = de, linking the appearance to the cause. 無款 "without proper form, unmethodical" -- and note the anxiety behind it. The thunder gods are not worried about the weather; they are worried about the Great Sage looking sloppy in front of an audience.
Pilgrim said, “I'll use my cudgel for the signal, then.”
我將棍子: 將 = jiāng; 子 = zi. 為號: 為 = wéi, to serve as. 罷 = ba at the end, the shrug that turns it into a suggestion. He is proposing to conduct heaven with a stick.
The gods need a cue they can read, and Wukong has no ritual equipment whatever. So he uses the one instrument always about his person: the iron cudgel, which up to now has been for hitting things.
The substitution is the whole contest in miniature. Where the immortal had a carved command tablet, yellow-paper talismans, a burning furnace and a staff of scribes, the Great Sage has a stick and the standing to wave it. Elaborate machinery on one side, plain authority on the other.
The thunder gods' stated worry -- that muddled weather would make him look 無款, without proper form -- is funny in its own right. They have entirely accepted that their job tonight is to make him look good.