法苑珠林 28.44

28.44

Under the Tang, there was a man from Zou County in Yanzhou. His surname was Zhang, and his courtesy name is forgotten. He had formerly served as a county defender. In the sixteenth year of Zhenguan, he wished to go to the capital to take part in the civil selection examinations. Passing Mount Tai along the way, he visited the temple to pray for good fortune. Inside the temple, the prefectural lord, his lady, and their several sons all had statues displayed. Zhang made prostrations everywhere, and when he reached the fourth son, he saw from the side that the son's countenance was remarkably refined and handsome. Travelling together with five companions, Zhang alone prayed, saying, 'If only I could associate with the Fourth Young Master, writing poetry, composing rhapsodies, and raising wine cups, my life's fortune would be complete! What need would there be for official service?' After he had walked several li, several tens of mounted riders suddenly came whipping their steeds. The attendants said it was the Fourth Young Master. The Fourth Young Master said, 'Just now I saw your deep courtesy, elder brother, so I have come to pay my respects.' He then went on to say, 'I understand that you wish to attend the selection examinations, elder brother. Yet this year you are not fated to obtain an office, and I also fear that there will be disaster and hardship on the road ahead. You really need not go.' Zhang did not heed his words, and taking his leave, departed. Having travelled for over a hundred li, Zhang and his companions were walking by night when they were robbed by bandits. All their baggage and provisions were completely taken. Zhang then prayed, saying, 'Fourth Young Master, will you not help me?' After a short while, the Fourth Young Master's carriages and riders all arrived. Sighing in astonishment for a long time, he immediately ordered his retinue to pursue and capture the bandits. Tumbling and bewildered, [the bandits] returned to the original spot. The Fourth Young Master ordered his men to beat them with several tens of strokes of the cane; the bandits' thighs and arms were completely lacerated, after which [the Fourth Young Master] parted from [Zhang]. The Fourth Young Master pointed to a large tree, [saying,] 'On the day of your return, elder brother, call for me here.' That year, Zhang indeed failed to obtain an office and returned. Arriving at the agreed-upon place, he loudly called for the Fourth Young Master, who arrived in a short moment. He then led Zhang along, saying, 'Follow me to my residence.' Instantly there were flying towers and patterned belvederes, mounted high and braving the empty void, with jagged parapets of extraordinary grandeur. Guards stood lofty and steep, like the residence of a king. Once Zhang had entered within, before long the Fourth Young Master said, 'You must pay respects to the prefectural lord before you can sit down in comfort.' He then led Zhang inside, hastening through more than ten gates. Arriving below the great hall, he paid homage and saw the prefectural lord, who was remarkably magnificent. Zhang was trembling with fear at the time, not daring to look up. A judge was deciding matters, seemingly writing with vermilion ink, and the characters were all large. The prefectural lord commanded an attendant to proclaim, 'Since you are able to associate with my son, this is a profoundly good path. You should stay for one or two days to feast and gather; then go whenever it is convenient.' He then ordered him to be led out to a separate lodge. A grand feast of delicacies from sea and land was fully prepared; string and bamboo instruments played music, and songs and pipes filled the ears. He then slept in the same room as the Fourth Young Master. After one night had passed, Zhang strolled in the courtyards for amusement in the morning, pacing back and forth. He then peeked into an enclosure and saw his wife standing before several officials, wearing a cangue. When Zhang returned to the hall, he was exceedingly displeased. Surprised, the Fourth Young Master asked the reason, and Zhang related everything in full. The Fourth Young Master was greatly shocked, saying, 'I did not know that my sister-in-law had come here!' He immediately went in person to the offices of the various legal secretaries, of whom there were several tens. Seeing the Fourth Young Master arrive, they all ran down the steps and stood at attention. Beckoning one legal secretary forward with his hand, [the Fourth Young Master] explained the matter completely. The legal secretary replied, 'I dare not disobey your command, but I must report it to the registrar for his awareness.' They then summoned the registrar. The registrar consented, saying, 'It is still necessary to slip this file in among the numerous cases to decide it together as a matter of expediency; only then can it be done.' The legal secretary then pronounced judgment, saying, 'Upon examining another file for this woman, she once possessed the merit of copying scriptures and observing vegetarian fasts; she ought not to die immediately.' He then released her to return. Zhang and the Fourth Young Master parted with tears while standing. [The Fourth Young Master] also instructed Zhang, saying, 'Only performing merits can lengthen one's life.' Zhang rode his own horse, and his wife borrowed a horse from the Fourth Young Master, returning together with him. Although his wife was an ethereal soul, things were just as in normal life. When they were about to reach home, about a hundred paces away from the house, she suddenly disappeared. Zhang was terrified and ran home, where he encountered his sons and daughters wailing, and also learned that she had already been encoffined. Zhang immediately called his sons and daughters to go quickly and unearth her. Opening the coffin, they saw his wife suddenly rise and sit up. Laughing broadly, she said, 'Because I missed our sons and daughters, do not blame me for going ahead.' Thus, having already been dead for six or seven days, she revived. Local people of Yanzhou recount the story thus (this one verification is from the Mingbaoji).