The more you believe me, the more real it becomes.

Chapter 16, "The Song of Enlightenment"

The words "Imperial Decree" resounded with a deafening clang, as if the bronze bells on the eaves had frozen in mid-air. Magistrate Zhang was so startled his ears rang. Master Ziyun nearly fainted.

He was just trying to take advantage of the situation, how did he end up in jail?!
They could only look to Magistrate Zhang for help.

The other person didn't look at him, but quickly regained his composure and asked the magistrate of Fang County:
"We both live in the government office, why didn't I know?"

It's not doubt, it's question.

Although Magistrate Zhang did not have a good impression of his superior, who came from a poor family and was an official in exile, he still knew what kind of person the man was.

Let alone something as important as this, he wouldn't even make a joke.

Magistrate Fang flicked his official robe, and the mandarin ducks embroidered on it trembled as if they were about to emerge.

To Zhang, the county magistrate, who was puzzled, he took out a red-lacquered official document from under his official robe.

Just from the color, Magistrate Zhang knew it came from the Grand Secretariat.

"This was delivered this morning. You weren't in the yamen at the time, so you didn't know. I was waiting for you to come back so I could tell you all at once, but now it's just the right time."

"Here you go, this is a cabinet draft that has been approved with the imperial edict."

County Magistrate Zhang hurriedly received the draft document.

Upon inspection, it was indeed the case.

"The southwest is suffering from a severe drought, and sorcerers are inciting the people to rebel, and the number of followers has grown rapidly. Given this situation, the Emperor will naturally order local authorities to take strict precautions against the recurrence of such foolish acts."

“It’s understandable that Magistrate Zhang was unaware before, but now that you know, don’t you?”

Looking at the solid draft in my hand.

After a few heaving swallows, Magistrate Zhang gave in.

"It is my fault for being so foolish!"

Seeing this, the constables who had come in after hearing the noise finally apprehended Master Ziyun, whose expression had changed drastically, under the magistrate's slightly displeased gaze.

The latter was naturally unwilling to be imprisoned in a death row cell. He struggled desperately, saying:
"The one causing trouble in the southwest is a sorcerer, but I am not, Your Excellency. A zombie! A zombie has really appeared in Qing County, right here in Qiaoshui Town!"

He should have kept quiet, because once he did, Magistrate Fang was furious.

"Zombie! Zombie! That sorcerer from the southwest even said he could turn beans into soldiers! Guards, give him another thirty lashes!"

That would be sixty strokes of the cane!
How could I possibly survive?!
Master Ziyun cried out in increasing terror:
"It's true, I'm telling the truth. If you don't believe me, go to Qiaoshui Town and you'll see!"

"Still daring to spread these rumors! Drag him away! Beat him, beat him to death!"

And so, amidst Master Ziyun's wailing and lamenting,

The magistrate of Fang County said to the assistant magistrate of Zhang County with great resentment:
"You, you, it's one thing under normal circumstances, but how could you dare bring such a piece of trash to the yamen at a critical moment?"

"Do you find the Censorate too boring, with no opportunity to impeach us?"

Under normal circumstances, the Censorate only conducts regular inspections and random checks at the county level.

However, things are different now. The southwest is in great turmoil, and the imperial court has directly created a new position of censor to be assigned to various counties.

The purpose is to regulate local areas.

To prevent anyone from trying to emulate the Southwest during a year of disaster.

You should know that this is how the current dynasty replaced the previous one.

Magistrate Zhang, feeling ashamed, cupped his hands and said:

"This person is quite famous in Qing County, and I have had some dealings with him. In addition, he spoke with great certainty beforehand. How could I not still be worried about the people of Qing County?"

Magistrate Fang shook his head repeatedly upon hearing this:
"So you actually believe in something as ridiculous as zombies?"

Magistrate Fang even wondered if Magistrate Zhang was trying to take advantage of the situation.

But now he felt he was overthinking things, because any normal person should know that at this critical juncture when there were evil sorcerers causing trouble in the southwest, engaging in such supernatural and bizarre practices was absolutely like trying to catch fire in a latrine—it was courting death.

County Magistrate Zhang felt increasingly embarrassed, but he still couldn't help asking, "What about Qiaoshui Town?"

"What else? You're really going to lead a bunch of constables to investigate zombies? My god, can you please stop looking for trouble!"

"Well, well, better safe than sorry!"

Magistrate Fang was utterly amazed; most of the legal battles he had previously fought against the other side were probably just a battle of wits against thin air.

In the end, Magistrate Fang could only look at his seemingly dim-witted colleague with pity and say:
"Do you believe that the sorcerers of the Southwest can really conjure soldiers from beans and summon wind and rain?"

"That's definitely not possible!"

If this were truly possible, turning beans into soldiers, the imperial court would have already collected taxes a hundred years from now!

As for summoning wind and rain, that's even more absurd. If it were that powerful, would the southwest have been drought-stricken for three years?
"If that's the case, you still believe in zombies? What, did one come out and bite someone?"

County Magistrate Zhang, his face flushed, cupped his hands and said:

"I'll take my leave!"

"Don't go yet. You're from this area, so help me contact the gentry in the county. The imperial court has increased the tax again, and I want them to raise the money first. Otherwise, the end of this year will truly be the end of the year for the people of Qing County!"

After saying this, Magistrate Fang was about to pull Magistrate Zhang out, but before leaving, he didn't forget to give instructions to the Registrar:
"By the way, Registrar Zhang, draft a few notices and post them out. Say that if any lewd monks or heretics dare to show up again, arrest them immediately and bring them to the county office for questioning, no matter what the reason!"
-
On the official road of Qing County.

A group of men were enjoying the cool shade under a tree.

They weren't itinerant merchants like caravans; they were just a group of ordinary farmers on their way.

At this moment, they are all chatting idly under the shade of the trees, talking about all sorts of things.

One minute they'd be talking about how many vegetables they'd carried into the county town that day had been sold, and the next they'd be saying they'd seen that woman cheating on her husband.

Just as everyone was having a great time and enjoying themselves,

Suddenly they heard someone singing in the distance:

Everyone knows that immortals are good, but they can't forget gold and silver!

"All day long I only regret that we don't have enough to gather, but when we have plenty, my eyes are closed."

Straightforward yet full of flavor.

Furthermore, because it is written in vernacular Chinese, it does not adhere to any particular structure or rhythm, and thus lacks any barriers of elegance.

It's the kind of thing that even a rough, uneducated man can appreciate.

Therefore, upon hearing this, the men all fell silent and looked over.

I want to know who is singing this.

Following the sound, I saw a young man with short hair standing under an old locust tree by the roadside. His simple clothes swayed gently in the mountain breeze as he recited poetry with his hands behind his back.

Everyone knows the immortals are wonderful, but only a beloved wife can't be forgotten!

"While you were alive, you spoke of love and kindness every day; now that you're dead, you've gone with someone else."

After singing half a verse, the men saw the young man tilt his head and smile at them. The setting sun on the horizon happened to peek through the branches, gilding the man's entire body with a reddish-gold hue, making him look like a wandering immortal who had fallen from the clouds.

Du Yuan's meticulously planned scene naturally surprised the men for a moment.

They all felt that this person must be extraordinary. At least he knew more than these rough men.

Before long, a man called out:
"Young man, it's still early, why don't you come over for a chat?"

Du Yuan responded with a cupped hand:

"It's easy to talk about."

Cao Xueqin's "Song of the End" is still very useful. It expresses both the yearning for immortality and the refined tastes of ordinary people. It is also clear, straightforward, and perfectly suited to the background of this era.

(End of this chapter)