As the story goes, after barely a moment's hesitation the Governor lifted his brush and wrote as follows: "The accused Ju Ji, in improper pursuit of a fare, caused an unidentified woman to jump into a well by accident. The well was in an old uninhabited house, site of many fearsome occurances, and the unsuccessful and tragic attempt at recovering the body was yet another of these. It is found that Pu Ji had no intent to harm or threaten anyone so his life need not be taken in retribution. But causing accidental death by negligence is still a serious matter. It is fitting that he be caned for twenty strokes on his back. He is accordingly to be sent off to the penal battalion in Mizhou, Shandong Province."

The chief then struck out the caning sentence before handing the draft over to the official document producers with his twin gold seals. He then issued orders to have Pu Ji brought and placed in custody of two escorts, Dong Zhao and Xue Xiang by name, for transportation from the Yamen. Now when Pu Ji was brought in front of the Yamen to be bound over he was furious. "I, Pu Ji, have really been framed!" he shouted at the governor's office. "The woman jumped into the well by herself, I absolutely did not intimidate her! And she was a local goddess, not an ordinary person. She was the one that told me to present that precious gift to you! You were supposed to pardon my charges upon receiving it. But instead you send me to Mizhou! I shall struggle from now on to regain my life and good name! When I take this injustice to the Imperial Court and make it known how you took that treasure vessel for your own, you'll have some real explaining to do!"

Dong Zhao watched and heard this diatribe and worriedly moved Pu Ji on. "You're going to involve us both in something terrible with that kind of talk!" admonished Xue Xiang, the other guard. They hurriedly whisked him out of the Yamen and into a small restaurant where they were quickly seated.

"We have been ordered to march you under guard all the way to Mizhou, Shadong. But you'll need some money for your own travelling expenses, as we are allowed none at all for those in our custody. If you've got any relations around you'd better go and borrow some cash from them for the road. We ourselves don't want any of your money."

"Gentlemen!" answered Pu Ji. "I did have some money in my cart but it was pushed off by someone after my arrest. You tell me to ask for money but I'm alone in the world, with no family. There's really nowhere for me to borrow travel money!"

"We've transported a lot of dangerous men but never one with a clever mouth like yours!" answered the guarded, irritated. "No money indeed! Even Vaisravana himself yielded weapons and spices when he was squeezed hard enough! Well, if that's the way you want it you're our live cargo and we won't be handling you so gently!" That said, the escorts paid the bill and left, leading Pu Ji out of the West Gate of Zhengzhou.

Now, just as they settled into their pace a voice was heard from behind.

"Officer Dong!"

Dong Zhao turned to look and spotted Wu, the county secretary of documents. Telling Xue Xiang to mind the prisoner, he backtracked and had and had a brief consultation with the emissary. "I've got something to convey to you," said Wu. "When Pu Ji was ordered to be brought out and bound over to you, the rascal committed an offense right in front of the governor's office in the yamen. As a result the governor has ordered that you two set things right. You are to take him to a quiet and secluded place and finish him off. When you are done, report to the governor with your two seals and you'll be richly rewarded."

Dong Zhao acknowledged the new instructions, caught up to Xue Xiang and discreetly informed him. They then led Pu Ji to a small clearing in the forest ahead.

"Gee, my feet sure ache today!" said Dong Zhao. "I can't go on. Let's catch some sleep here!"

"We're barely thirty li out of the yamen!" exclaimed Xue Xiang. "Why rest now?"

"I guess I got up a bit early this morning. I need a rest! But I'm only afraid that if Pu Ji gets away all the tea in China won't buy our lives back! Say, why don't we tie him up? Then we can sleep with our minds at ease!"

"Whether you tie me up or not," said Pu Ji, "I'm not going anywhere!"

Dong Zhao then took a length of rope and bound the prisoner to a tree trunk, tying the excess to an overhanging branch. Brandishing a staff he then approached the captive.

"Pu Ji!" he bluntly announced, "His excellency the governor has ordered us to punish you. It is not of our doing. Your first mourning will be observed exactly one year from now."

Pu Ji was scared out of his skin. "Brother! I am innocent!" he pleaded, teardrops falling. "I have never made a single enemy! What have I done to harm the governor, of all people, that he wants me dead? Brother, I beg of you, find it in your big heart to spare me and you'll enjoy the blessings in all your next lives."

"Your crying and wailing are no use!" said Dong Zhao. "His excellency the governor has accused you of impudence in his presence and wants your life. He is the chief of a district. Who dares to flaunt him! You want your life all right, but I'm not about to go back and face death in your place!"

"Hey, brother" said Xue Xiang, "There's no use wasting your breath on this worm. The sooner we finish him off, the sooner he'll get to tell the King of Hell in person what a fine man he was!" He then grabbed the staff out of Dong Zhao's hand and began beating the prisoner brutally.

"Aargh, stop, oh stop!" screamed Pu Ji in terror and agony. "Spare my life!" Suddenly he remembered so clearly the words of Holy Auntie when she'd passed him that gift, how she'd said he should just call her name if ever in difficulty! "H-o-o-o-l-y A-a-u-u-u-nt-ie!" he screamed at the top of his lungs, over and over, and a man suddenly appeard just outside the wood. "You, official escorts there!" he shouted in a loud voice. "Take your hands off that man! I've heard quite enough already!"

The two guards fled from the scene, terrified. And once in the clear outside the grove they saw that it was a gentleman, a master teacher. What did he look like? Here's a Xijiangyue poem:

Now, that Daoist strode into the grove with his fists down at his sides. "The governor ordered you to transport this prisoner!" he bellowed. "Why have you tied him up and begun taking his life?"

The two escorts shifted and fidgeted nervously. "Master, we've been ordered to do this by the governor. We've got nothinhg against the prisoner ourselves!" one explained.

"Do you expect me to believe that any official in his right mind would take the life of such a pure, innocent soul as this? I'm a man of the cloth and I've got no time for this brutal stupidity. There had to be a reason for that cry of "Holy Auntie" that I heard. Now, untie that man so I can have a word with him!"

Dong Zhao freed Pu Ji without delay.

"Master!" pleaded the prisoner. "Listen to me! On my way back from selling soap in Kaifeng I met a woman in the road. She told me that she couldn't walk because her feet were aching and that she'd give me five hundred coppers to carry her in my cart. Then in front of a vacant house just inside the the East Gate of Zhengzhou she jumped out of the cart and went into that building. I didn't see anything more of her, and then when I went in to search for her, she spotted me and suddenly jumped into the well. Next the neighbors seized me and took me to the officials. The governor finally ordered me to go down the well and recover the corpse myself. When I went down I found it was dry, but there was a path leading to daylight and then I saw a hall. And then I met a fairy nun who gave me a treasure. She told me to present it to the governor and that I would then be absolved by him of guilt. And just before I went back up the well she told me that if I were to run into danger I should shout 'Holy Auntie!'"

The old Daoist listened intently. "I know all about it, son!" he said comfortingly. He then looked at the two guards.

"This fellow Pu Ji isn't fated to die now and that's why I'm here with him. Why don't we just head over to a little place in the town near here for a round of wine, and I'll give you a bit of money for the road. And we'll leave him in the care of some local folks."

"Thank you!" replied the two. All four of them then came out of the grove together. Before walking very far they came upon a small inn, went in and were seated at a table.

"Master Zhang!" exclaimed the proprieter. "How much wine can I bring you?"

"Four cups, and a whole chicken if you've got one!"

"I haven't," answered the owner, "and the market is too far."

The Daoist wondered how they could drink all that wine without even any pickles on the side. "Here's your wine!" said the inkeeper, serving each of the four a bowlful, which they began drinking.

"I'd like to treat you all but there's no food to be had," said the old Daoist, ruefully. Then, looking at the items round the room he spotted a pail by the wall. On going closer for a look he saw that it was full of clear water. He then took a small gourd vial out of his sleeve and tapped a white pill out into the water. He then returned to his stool as before, and called over the owner. "Well," said the old master, "I know what we're going to have with our wine! I've just put a fish in that pail of yours. Why don't you cook it up for us?"

"Mr Zhang!" gasped the astounded owner. "You four came in here empty-handed. I mean, I didn't see any food on you at all."

"Well, come look!" said Zhang. The owner came over and saw the water splashing. Reaching in with both hands he lifted out a fine carp, nearly three feet long. "How strange!" he exclaimed. He then took and cleaned it before simmering it in a wok, adding some salt, soy sauce and other condiments before serving it on a large plate to the foursome.

"Thank you so very much for your generosity!" said Dong Zhao.

"This fish is so delicious!" added Xue Xiao. "How about getting us another one?"

"It isn't enough for me, either!" said the gentlemanly teacher. "I normally eat and drink my full every day, but now I've been lucky enough to enjoy your companionship. Within the four seas all folks should get acquainted like this, heh heh! Well, if you don't mind, why not come over to my hut with me. You'll be able to eat and drink to your heart's content and catch a good night's sleep before setting out on your way tomorrow!" How about it, you two?"

Now Xue Xiang was a born follower. "That's really wonderful, Master! What a nice invitation! he replied. It's getting late so let's all go home with you for to pass the night in your fairy hut. But are we really worthy?"

"Now wait a minute!" whispered Dong Zhao, the more worldly and wary of the two, calling his partner over to a secluded spot. "This teacher has just done a really weird thing. Why should we go along to his home just like that?"

"Brother!" objected Xue. "You've been talking suspicious nonsense like that for years! Why, the owner of this inn knows the teacher well. If anything bad happens he would have to answer for letting us go with him."

"Yes, that is correct..." said Dong.

The gentleman then payed the bill and together they left the inn. All the while making small talk as they walked, they had travelled quite a distance before they knew it. And then the master pointed ahead. "Here is your host's hut!" he announced. Dong Zhao looked, and what a fine hut it was, indeed. Not too big, roof thatched with flowers...but there were no living quarters in front or back, and this made him just a bit uneasy.

The gentleman opened the door and asked the them to sit outside while he entered. "Now, no need for you three to worry!" he assured them. "You'll get the food and shelter you need. You'll pass the night and be on your way early!"

This being the mid period of the sixth lunar month the full moon had already risen. He then moved out a table from inside and placed it in the moonlight. Next he made a series of trips back in and laid out a fine feast of pickled stores and other treats. "I couldn't get you enough to eat in the restaurant," he said. "Now you can fill your stomachs before resting."

The two guards now held a little discussion.

"This teacher treated us to wine and food in the inn," said Xue, "and now that we've come to his hut he's laying on another feast. If we pass up his food we'll be hungry tomorrow, but if we take it what will he want from us? Who knows where it'll lead? We had such a big responsibility with this prisoner, and then barely a day out of Zhengzhou we meet this weird Mr Zhang! If we get in trouble it'll be no laughing matter for our families."

"Once you accept hospitality you're at the host's mercy," said Dong Zhao. "We've come this far and we've eaten his food, so let's just see what happens."

The master then came out bearing more wine, and each of the men had scores of cupfuls. They were truly satisfied and thanked their host warmly. "What a feast that was!" said one of the guards. "We three are going to sleep for the night and we'll be on our way at dawn," said the other.

"Too bad I didn't really have enough wine for you!" said the gentleman, modestly. "No need to thank me like that!" He then got up and went into the hut for awhile, finally coming out with two lumps of silver, each weighing fifty ounces. "Each of you gets one, little as they are!" he announced to their surprise.

Xue Xiang couldn't help but gasp. Dong Zhao spoke for the two.

"Thank you again for the wine and food, master! That was already trouble enough for you. We don't dare accept your silver!"

The teacher persisted. "You two feel free to take them, by all means. Really, I insist!" The two were eventually persuaded and each availed himself of one of the silver ingots.

"Now," continued the teacher, "I don't know how you are going to take this, but I've got something to bring up with you.

"Hmmm," went the guards, thinking. "His wine is drunk, his silver accepted, so how can we refuse?"

"Go on, ask us ten favors if you like, not just one!" they answered. "There's no harm in it!"

"Each of you now has got fifty ounces of silver for your families," said the teacher. "You know, I took Pu Ji at first to be a bitter, impoverished man and I didn't pay much attention to him...of course, it's the higher qualities of goodness and mercy that usually merit our notice. But now I can see that he has never had a quarrel in his life with anybody, and that he has been framed as a criminal. I hope that you two will give him a break and leave him to accompany me in my hut. My name, incidently, is Zhang Ying. If the governor should ask, just tell him that I wanted to rescue Pu Ji from your custody and that should do it. How about it, you two?"

Dong Zhao didn't dare utter a sound.

"Mister," shouted Xue Xiang, "you sure are naive! This land and everything in it belongs to the Lord and his officials! Although you are a holy man living in the outskirts of Zhengzhou, your life still comes under the jurisdiction of the district government. This man is convicted of a crime by the officials of the state. How dare you or anyone set him free! Why, you talked us into taking your silver and now you blackmail us! We won't take a dime's worth of your silver. Here, it's all yours!"

"There's nothing to get upset about," said the teacher. "Free him or not, as you wish. You are still welcome to the silver. Now, let me just get some more wine!"

"We've already put you out enough for food and drink, and now for the silver you've given us. Why should we thirst for more wine?"

"It's not for our thirst!" said the master. "Your humble Daoist has got a little trick to show you fellows! For the enjoyment of everyone from the governor on high down to all the common people, let me present a double moon!"

The teacher then reached into his gown and took out a sheet of paper. He then took a scissors in hand and cut out a little round paper moon, upon which he dripped a bit of wine. "Arise!" he shouted, and all you could see was that paper moon soaring up into the sky on his breath.

"OK!" gasped the three in mutual surprise and admiration, just enjoying the sight of those twin moons up in the sky and savoring the double moonlight upon their faces. And here is a poem:

"Have another round of wine as you enjoy those moons of mine!" said the teacher. And all four men drank accordingly. Now of course everyone throughout the district of Zhengzhou from the governor down to the common folk, inside the wall and out, were in an uproar upon seeing those twin full moons shining ever so brightly up in the sky.

"There's only one moon, so how can there now be two of them?" said the knowledgable ones. "It must be a sorcerer's moon!" All the people were, needless to say, astounded. And of course the teacher and his three guests sat back and relaxed, enjoying the strange sight and drinking wine.

"Do a humane deed, you two," said the host, "and leave Pu Ji with me!"

"We've got families, unlike you, sir. If the governor finds out our kin will never understand why they must suffer so!"

"If the governor starts asking questions I'll arrange his death. That's really so easy! Look, I'll fix you two up with a bit of proof to carry back and show the governor!"

The teacher then stripped down to the waist and tied the the sleeves and top of his gown behind him. Next he grabbed hold of Pu Ji, bound him with a chord and tied him to the front of his hut.

"Just this morning you save him and now you tie him up again?" asked Xue Xiang incredulously.

"I told you I was going to give you something to show the governor, didn't I?"

"And what might that something be?" asked Dong Zhao.

"I'm going to slice open his belly and take out his heart for you for you to show the governor as proof of your efficient work!"

"Hey, we can't have that!" said Dong Zhao. "This man hasn't been officially condemned to die. The governor plotted to have him done in for his own private reasons. If we were to return with his heart and liver, sir, and it were known that you had been responsible, you would be charged with his murder. And if it were not known who did it, we ourselves would be accused of murder with a motive of robbery and sent to our deaths for it!"

"So, all along you've just been afraid of punishment!" laughed the teacher. "You two are so funny it's pathetic!" He then untied Pu Ji and set out bedding for the three to sleep on. "When you two return to the yamen, don't forget to tell them how Zhang Ying wanted to save Pu Ji!"

The three then said then settled in for the night and fell asleep outside the hut, while the teacher himself retired indoors.

Dong Zhao and Xue Xiang slept until dawn and received a shock when they opened their eyes. For Pu Ji was no longer beside them, nor was there any trace of the hut or the teacher. They were lying in a pile of sacrificial paper money on the floor of the Temple of the Mountain God, a local farmers' and hunters' shrine of the usual sort. "Oh no!" they exclaimed in panic. "We've been hoodwinked out of our prisoner! What should we do now?"

"OK," said Dong Zhao, "Let's not panic. We'll go together and tell the governor what happened."

And so the two guards returned straight away to the city and went directly to the governors's office in the yamen, where they bowed deeply. "You two were transporting Pu Ji to Shandong. Why are you back so soon?" asked the governor.

"Your excellency!" they answered, almost in unison. "Yesterday we set out with Pu Ji to Shandong. But thirty li out of town we ran into a Daoist who took us to his hut and demanded Pu Ji stay with him. We resisted but that wizard had strange powers. He cut out a paper moon and blew it up into the sky on his breath, and then we saw twin moons shining!"

"Yes," said the governor, "a strange act indeed! We saw it, too. In fact the entire city was in panic over that double moon! What happened next?"

"That Daoist then told us to sleep there at the hut. But when we opened our eyes this morning we were in a pile of ritual scrip in the Temple of the Mountain God, without a clue as to where Pu Ji and the Daoist had gone. That wizard, incidently, called himself Zhang Ying."

"Well, at least we've got his name. All the better to apprehend the sorcerer brigand!" That very day an arrest warrant was issued and distributed to the officers of the law, with the usual manhunt resulting.

In a short while a man in a Daoist crown, straw slippers and black gown strode right up to the governor's office. "The poor Daoist Zhang Ying is present!" he reported loudly and somewhat irreverently. The governor was furious.

"You sorcerer! How dare you be so impudent!"

"You are the chief of a district," answered Zhang Ying. "How dare you falsely accuse your people of crimes and take their lives at your whim? Pu Ji committed no offense but you banished him to hard labor in Shandong, and then you secretly plotted to have him killed in transport. Yet you had taken that treasure vessel that he'd presented to you. Where's the justice in that?"

"Stop talking nonsense!" shouted the governor. "Just what kind of 'treasure vessel' did he have?"

"The golden tripod vessel, the sacrificial caudron in your vault, which I shall now summon here!" And the Daoist could then be seen chanting:

Suddenly the governor and all those in attendance, both inside the office and out, were dumstruck with awe. For what did they see but that golden vessel with three hollow legs, soaring right down out of the sky on the flapping wings of its own two handles, flying right into the place!

"How weird!" gasped the governor, "How very weird!" He then silently watched as somebody hidden inside climbed out of it. Now, who was that man but Pu Ji, leaping in a single step out of the golden caudron. Sword in his right hand, he seized the governor with his left and sliced him in two, right there in his own office. All those present fell to their hands and knees, momentarily unmoving, upon seeing the governor slain. And then a call went up.

"The governor has been murdered! Catch them!"

All rose to their feet again and rushed forth to seize the Daoist and Pu Ji. Seeing their pursuers closing in, thsy placed the vessel upon a platform and, side by side, dipped their feet into it and stood together. "So long, folks!" they shouted in farewell, "Off we go!" And down into the holy vessel they disappeared.

"Did we really see that or what?" gasped all the onlookers in hushed disbelief. Then they got the officials to provide a coffin in which to lay the governor's remains. Next, after putting out warrants for the two guards, they began searching high and low for Zhang Ying and Pu Ji. And all the while the district officials jointly prepared a memorial to the Imperial Court, reporting the events.

And so it all escalates from this point... to stir up all Hebei and to embroil Kaifeng in ferment. The Court fields its troops and horses but is unable to apprehend the brigands until a really great official takes command, to govern the state and calm the people. It's like this:

To see where that memorial up to the Throne will lead, into the coming chapter should you turn the page and read...

Conclusion of Chapter 26 Click to continue to Chapter 27 Table of Contents