Imperial Envoy laughed, and said, “Nonsense! You only falsely declare there is something strange, in order to deceive the innocent people. You purposedly arrange such places and tell people that demons are locked up inside so as to show off your spiritual powers. I have read hundreds of volumes of books, and yet have never read of the king of the demons being imprisoned here. There is no way by which man can know about the supernatural. I do not believe that the king of the demons is inside here. Quickly open the door, and I want see what this demon is.”
The abbot still declined to do this, as he was afraid that somebody would be injured.
Marshal Hong became angry, and pointing at the Taoists, said, “As you will not open the door I shall first report that you refused to obey the Imperial orders, and not allow me to see the Heavenly Teacher. Also I will say that you are falsely declaring that the king of the demons is imprisoned here, in order to deceive decent people. Your license will be canceled, and you will all be banished to some distant places.”
The priests were all afraid of his great influence, and therefore they summoned servants to tear off the seals, and break the big lock. This was done, and when the door was opened they all went inside, but could not see anything because it was pitch dark there. So Marshal Hong ordered the servants to light about ten torches, and with these he made a close examination. There was not a single thing except a stone tablet in the center of the hall. It was about six feet in height, and was resting on a stone tortoise which was almost half in the soil. On the tablet were characters of the very ancient style, and they could not make out any of them. But upon examining the other side of the tablet they found four characters which read, “Open when Hong comes.” The Imperial Envoy Marshal Hong Xin was much pleased at this, and turning to the Taoists said, “You tried to obstruct me, but many hundred years ago they wrote my name here, and predicted that I would come here, and open the door. The fiends, I see, are imprisoned under this tortoise. Dig out the stone tortoise for me!”
The Taoists were terrified at the order, and said that it was not safe to do such a thing.
Marshal Hong was angry at this continuous obstruction, and abused them as ignorant. He insisted upon the excavation being begun immediately. As on the stone tablet it was stated that he would open the place so although the Taoists still objected they at last gave way, and told the workmen to dig. The men removed the soil and the tortoise. After digging about three feet down they unearthed a square slab of stone. Marshal Hong told them to lift it out, and in spite of objections from the Taoists, the stone was raised, and carried out of the hole.
It was evident that the slab was the cover of a very deep well. Now that the cover was removed a loud strange noise was heard far down in the cavity, and instantly a black cloud shot out from below, breaking a corner of the roof of the hall, and escaped through the aperture. The cloud ascended very high in the sky, and then burst forth into more than a hundred rays of light and disappeared in all directions.
All the spectators were astounded and rushed away from the hall. Even Marshal Hong was thunderstruck, and his countenance changed to a pale yellow color. He went out to the veranda where he met the abbot who lamented the result. Upon his asking what the demon was which had escaped the superintendent replied, “You do not understand. The fact is that our former Master Dong Xuan imprisoned here the thirty-six heavenly spirits, and seventy-two baneful stars which make a total of 108 fiends. The names of these fiends are inscribed on the stone in ancient writing. As they have now all been released they will bring calamity to the people. What are you going to do in the matter?”
Upon hearing this Marshal Hong was covered with cold perspiration and trembled with fear. Without saying a word he went to pack his baggage and calling together his retinue he quickly departed down the mountain on his way back to the Capital.
On the way Marshal Hong told his suite that they must not mention to anybody what had happened as he was afraid that if the Emperor heard of it he would be punished. They traveled both night and day, and soon reached the Capital, Bianliang, in modern Kaifeng. There he found that the Taoist Heavenly Teacher had arrived, and had held seven days’ service against the pestilence and had written magical spells for the sick people and as the pestilence had abated the Heavenly Teacher had flown back on his stork to the mountain.
The following morning Marshal Hong attended the early audience, and addressed the Emperor, “The Heavenly Teacher traveled by crane, and as I could only travel by horse relays he had been here and returned before I could arrive.”
The Emperor did not reply, but rewarded him for his work.
After this the Emperor reigned for forty-two years, and upon his death as he had no children the son of an illustrious Prince succeeded to the throne with the title Yingzong. This Emperor reigned for four years, and was followed by his son who reigned as Emperor Shenzong for eighteen years. Then after this Emperor Zhezong reigned, and during his reign there was peace in the empire. But if there had been nothing but peace, what in this book are we going to relate? My good reader, rest assured that this is merely a prelude; and in the following chapters we have:
Footnote
41 Emperor Shizong of the Later Zhou Dynasty.
42 An “immortal” is one who has achieved Taoist enlightenment.
43 The Dao (Tao) or “The Way” (also path, route, doctrine, or principle). It is the fundamental unifying and holistic truth of the nature of the universe, of which its understanding is what Taoists seek to attain.
CHAPTER 1
Drill Instructor Wang Goes Stealthily to Yanan Prefecture; Shi Jin Defends His Village
DURING the reign of the Emperor Zhezong of the Song Dynasty there lived at the Eastern Capital Bianliang, in Kaifeng Prefecture, a loose profligate, named Gao.44 He could handle well either spear or cudgel, and was an extremely good player at football. He was the second son of a Gao family, but instead of calling him Gao the Second,45 people gave him the nickname of Gao Qiu meaning Gao “the Ball.” Later on, however, he adopted another character, also pronounced Qiu.
He could play well on wood or string instruments, but was no good at poetry or literature. If there was a discussion of benevolence, justice, propriety, wisdom, or virtue he was unable to take part. He wasted his time in the company of the son of a wealthy man, and every day these two spent their time in pleasure resorts. His conduct became so bad that at last the wealthy man lodged a complaint before the Prefect who had him arrested, punished with twenty blows of the bamboo, and then banished from the capital.
Gao Qiu went to Huaixi in Linhuai Prefecture where he found refuge in a gambling den, which afforded shelter to all the lazy rascals from all places. Three years after this, however, the Emperor granted an amnesty so as to show his benevolence. Upon hearing of this, Gao Qiu decided to return to the capital, and got an introduction to a man named Dong Jiangshi who kept a drug store at the Jinliang Bridge. Upon reading the letter, this man remembered the bad reputation of Gao Qiu, and was afraid that if he lived at his house he might have an evil influence on his children. So after about ten days Dong spoke to Gao Qiu, “Here we can offer you little help. I will however recommend you to a certain Su the Younger, a scholar, who may assist you in cutting a fine career. What do you think of that?”
Gao Qiu was much pleased at this and thanked Dong Jiangshi. Dong wrote a note and sent this with Gao Qiu to the residence of the high official.
