1

Twenty-two people returned to Heming Mountain exhausted, as soon as they entered the Taoist temple, everyone was in a hurry to go back to the house to rest, and Duwang Shan came to the Sanqing Hall in front of the statue of Sanqing God to offer incense. Seeing this, Tang Hai also came to the statue and knelt down, bowed respectfully three times, and put on three incense sticks. As soon as he stood up, a Taoist boy entered and said: "Master, a few days ago, Cao Yin, the judge of Jingmen, sent an official messenger to send an official document here, inviting the master to discuss the Tao on Xiangshan on the fifth day of the fifth month of the fifth month. Wang Shan took the official document and looked at it, and the text said:

Jingmen Judge Cao Yin presented Hemingshan Wang Shanzhen to personally enlighten:

The ancients said: The sage regards the world as incurable, just as the child is in fire and water. Today, corruption is rampant, people are displaced, officials do not abide by the law, and people are struggling to make a living. The treacherous gangsters in Shaanxi rose up, intending to mess with our Ming Dynasty, and stateless villains from all over the country took advantage of the fire to rob, in a vain attempt to disturb our peaceful world. Although there is no disaster of war and chaos in the Jiangnan Prefecture, it is a materialistic desire, justice does not exist, deceitful people abound, the generation of bullying and dominating the market is full of urban and rural areas, the flow of treachery is proud, and the hard-working people are struggling. In the case of Cao India, in the long run, the country will be gone, and the world will be in danger.

Fortunately, the heavens have descended to the benevolent Lord, and the world is expected to be clear and clear, and the people can wait for their health.

In today's world, there is the sage Fang Qing in the east, the living Buddha Luokong in the south, and the real person Wang Shan in the west. Honesty is the hope of the world!

Cao Yin, the official of the Guan, although he has the heart to save the world and the ambition to sweep the world again, is only shallow in learning, has the heart but is weak. Now by the emperor's order to go north to practice the law, I am afraid to come, I would like to invite the three sages to gather in Xiangshan on the fifth day of the first month of May to discuss the great plan of practicing the law and reassuring the people, and do not shirk as a blessing.

After Wang Shan finished reading, he handed it over to Tang Hai, who unfolded it and read, and said: "Cao Yin, this person, who is well-versed in the past and the present, knows the law, is determined to innovate, and wants to be today's business king, but he has been unsuccessful in the dynasty for more than ten years. ”

Wang Shan sighed: "Back then, Emperor Guangzong reused the four sages, and the three of them worked hard to preach the East Confucian Fang Qing, the South Flora Kong, and the West Dao Wang Changyue, but they were repeatedly slandered by the world. Hou Wang Zhenren passed on the mantle to me, although I tried hard, but I was also powerless, and now I only rely on the North Law Cao Yin Cao. Although he has repeatedly failed to achieve his will, I heard that the current emperor attaches great importance to him and ordered him to return to Beijing as soon as possible to practice the law, enrich the country and strengthen the army, and revive the Ming Dynasty. ”

Tang Haidao: "It is rumored that this person is loyal to the king and close to foolishness, and respects the law but is close to foolishness, in my opinion, even if he can really practice the law, I am afraid that he will not be able to relieve the people from fire and water." ”

Wang Shandao: "There are loyal ministers in the court, the luck of the country, and the blessing of the society." Although the poor road is not talented, at the time of this national disaster, we should do our meager efforts for the common people in the world, and talk about the road like a mountain, we must go. ”

Tang Hai pleaded: "Tang Hai is not talented, I am willing to go with all my brothers, one is to protect the left and right, the second is to listen to the teachings of the Taoist, and the third is to meet all the people with lofty ideals." ”

Wang Shanxi said: "Okay, I hope that Xiangshan can benefit the people of the world, Gou can be like this, Wang Shan died without regrets, this life is enough!" ”

2

It turned out that Cao Yin and the Jing brothers were waiting for the good news of the imperial court while serving in Jingmen, but the wait was two years, and Cao Yin often sighed in his leisure time, and was very depressed. On this day, he instructed his subordinates to send silver taels to his mother, and he was thinking alone about how to revive the Ming Dynasty's decree, and it happened that Jing Fei sent the copywriting of the day before yesterday, Cao Yin said to Jing Fei: "More than ten years ago, the world was declining, the people were deceitful, land annexation, the wealth and the poor were differentiated, there was no fairness and justice in the world, and the world was rare and pure and happy. Now seventeen years have passed, time is no more, and the mountains and rivers are still the same. I am about to go north to the saint, reorganize the law, and intend to invite the Eastern Confucianism, the Southern Buddha, and the Western Dao to Jingmen. Jing Fei said: "That's very good." Cao Yin immediately took off three letters, handed them over to Yicheng, and ordered them to be sent to Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Hengyang, Huguang, and Heming Mountain, Sichuan.

On the second day of the fifth month of the fifth month, Cao Yin handed over the official business to the four brothers of the Jing family, and came to the elephant mountain alone, climbed high and looked far away, full of spirit, facing the blue sky and white clouds, his heart was full of pride, and he couldn't help but let go of his throat and chanted poetry loudly:

Yi Shui is a song of wind and Xiaoxiao, and the flat boat goes down to the ocean to play the waves.

Rather die at the bottom of the sea, do not do duckweed floating on the water.

After Cao Yin finished chanting, he still couldn't get enough of it, and he sang the poem he improvised a few times, and walked around the mountain while singing, unconsciously the sun was sinking in the west, and the sky was already slightly dark, and then he remembered that it was time to go down the mountain, so he walked down the stone steps. When I got to the foot of the mountain, I saw a person sitting in a grass pavilion, staring at the pond by the pavilion, as if looking for something. Cao Yin approached, but heard the man's complaining voice, and sang earnestly:

The grass pavilion is dim and the pond is muddy

The flesh falls into the deep water and cannot be seen

When the grass pavilion is bright, the pond is clear

Scoop my flesh and filial piety

Cao Yin listened to it, and mistakenly heard the "grass pavilion" as the "imperial court", so he stayed to take a closer look at this person, but when he saw a white robe, a long face and a high nose, and a delicate face, but forty appearances, Cao Yin secretly thought: This person is kind and kind, why does he sing and slander the court, isn't he a down-and-out talent who has tried and failed? I should advise and advise, so I approached and said, "Why is this brother not happy? ”

The man smiled, looked Cao Yin up and down, got up and saluted back: "Brother Hui, the younger brother bought a piece of meat, ready to go home to serve the old mother, but I took a nap on this pavilion, and when I woke up, the meat was gone, and the younger brother thought that he must have fallen asleep when his body turned over and dropped the meat, either lost in a remote place in this pavilion, or thrown into this pond, so he was sad." ”

Cao Yin smiled: "Then why do you want to slander the imperial court? You must know that this is your own carelessness, what does it have to do with the court? ”

The man spread his hands, showed a very surprised expression, and said strangely: "When did the junior brother slander the court?" ”

"What are you singing 'the court is faint', 'when will the court be clear', isn't this slandering the court?"

The man laughed and said: "The villain is anxious to find meat, but the sun sets in the west mountain, the grass pavilion is dim and dark, and the pond water is turbid, and the bottom of the water cannot be seen. ”

Cao Yin realized that he had heard it wrong, and hurriedly apologized: "I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed, I misheard it, and mistakenly took the 'grass pavilion' you sang as the 'court'." ”

The man laughed, "Oh, I see, but ......"

"But what?"

The man still smiled like a spring breeze, and said slowly: "The 'court' you said is a hundred times darker than the 'grass pavilion' I sang, and a thousand times more turbid than the pond water I sang. ”

Cao Yin was slightly startled, walked into the grass pavilion and said, "Brother, what do you say?" ”

The man said with a smile: "Today's court does not distinguish between loyalty and treachery, good and evil, sycophants like Li Banghua and his ilk rise to the top, loyal and patriotic people like Cao Yin are far from barbarians, bureaucrats oppress the people, and the head of Qiantou is in dire straits, so, not faint?" Not mixed? ”

Cao Yin bowed deeply, and when the man saw this, he also bowed deeply and returned the salute.

Cao Yin said: "Brother, can you recognize Cao Yin? ”

"No, I serve my mother every day, how can I have time to meet that idiot."

Cao Yin was shocked and asked, "Since we don't know each other, why do you say that Cao Yin is a fool?" ”

The man looked left and right, nervous and mysterious, and after making sure that there was no one else, he whispered: "I tell my brother the truth today, brother must not go out, I heard that Cao Yin has a seventy-six-year-old mother in his own family who is not supported, but he prefers to listen to the emperor sent to the muddy court to practice the law, not to mention the sage Yun: his parents are not far away, even if he arrives in the capital, with the faintness of the court and the chaos of the world, how can he succeed alone?" I'm afraid that when the time comes, I will be ruined and my life will be ruined, not to mention, even my mother will be implicated. It's ridiculous that Cao Yin read the book of sages in vain, and he didn't understand the truth that the state of danger is not entered, the state of chaos cannot be lived, and the truth that if there is a way in the world, it will be seen, and if there is no way, it will be hidden, so ignorant and unfilial people, what is it if he is not a fool? ”

These words were like a sharp sword piercing Cao Yin's heart, thinking that his mother was alone in Huangmei, Cao Yin felt extremely sad. Cao Yin had no intention of arguing, walked out of the grass pavilion in a dementia, didn't take a few steps, suddenly turned back, and hurriedly took out some broken silver from his sleeve and handed it to the man: "Brother, you are a filial son, it's not early, go to the market again to buy a few catties of good meat, hurry up and go home to honor your mother." ”

The man excused himself and said: "Su Wei Pingsheng, how can I ask for my brother's silver, I will wait for the grass pavilion to be bright and the pond water clear to find my own meat to serve the old mother, thank you, thank you." ”

Cao Yin blamed: "How foolish is the virtuous brother, the grass pavilion is bright and must be tomorrow, this pond water is not as good as the stream water, when will it be clear?" If you wait like this, your mother will already be hungry at home, is it the way of filial piety? ”

When the man heard this, his face changed suddenly, and he slammed the silver in Cao Yin's hand to the ground, and said angrily: "You say I'm not filial? The villain is a little foolish, the adult is a big fool, the villain is not filial, the adult is not filial, you are a big fool, a big unfilial person, how dare you insult me here? After saying that, he brushed his sleeves and left.

Cao Yin was shocked, and he didn't know what to do, so he had to watch the man go away in a daze.

The man laughed a few times and groaned loudly:

It's ridiculous, it's ridiculous, it's ridiculous, and the fool laughs at the fool.

I'm stupid, I'm drunk, I'm not me, I'm not dreaming in a dream.

Cao Yin suddenly woke up when he heard this, it turned out that this person was a peerless master, and deliberately ignited himself here, after Cao Yin realized, he hurriedly stepped forward to chase, respectfully worshiped the master, and stepped forward to grab the man's head and bowed, and said: "Mr. stay, Cao Yin is ignorant, please teach me!" ”

The man laughed, picked up Cao Yin, and smiled without saying a word.

"Cao Yin is not ruthless and unrighteous, how can loyalty and filial piety not be both."

The man smiled and shook his head, but did not speak.

Cao Yin asked, "Dare to ask Mr. Daming!" ”

The man said: "Savage Hua Yu." ”

"Who?"

"The four seas are home."

"Cao Yin is determined to change the law and strengthen the country, Mr. Wanwang will teach you!"

"The adults are incorruptible, ambitious, respectable and admirable, but the traitors in the court are in charge, and the Ming is terminally ill, why should the adults know that they can't do it?"

"Sir, that's a mistake! The benevolent love others, even if the Ming Dynasty is terminally ill, how can the benevolent abandon it? Moreover, the emperor is determined to be strong, and the holy will be passed down in the near future, Cao Yin brings the new law, revitalizes the dynasty, the law is executed, the maladministration is abolished, the law is reached, corruption is destroyed, the monarch and the ministers are of the same heart, the officials and the people are of the same virtue, why worry about the thieves and the instability of the society? Why worry that the country is not strong and the world is uneasy? ”

Hua Yu just shook his head, smiled and said nothing, and said slowly after a long time: "If you succeed, it will naturally be the blessing of the people in the world." Gou Ruo...... Gou Ruogong ......"

"Cao Yin was born for the law, regarded the law as his life, the law was born and preserved, and the law was destroyed!"

Hua Yu was stunned for a moment, and said with a smile: "Hua Yu wants to gamble with Lord Cao...... After a pause, Hua Yu shook his head again and waved his hand and sighed: "Alas, that's it, that's it, that's it!" ”

"What is the gentleman going to bet on me?"

"I wanted to gamble with you on the future of going to the capital, but I think it's better to forget it."

Cao Yin insisted on gambling: "Mr. said a gambling method, and Cao Yin accompanied him." ”

Hua Yu said: "If you enter Beijing this time, if you can't do it, how about coming to Xiongshan, Huguangchen Prefecture to accompany me as a companion." ”

Cao Yin smiled: "Okay, good, what's so difficult about this, Cao Yin's ambition is not successful, and he is willing to be driven by Mr." He also said: "If the law is clear, the Ming Dynasty is revived, and Mr. deigns to go down the mountain and come to the capital to be an official?" ”

Hua Yu laughed and said: "Okay, there is really such a scene, Hua Yu is willing to suffer from the hard work of the case, driven by Lord Cao." ”

Cao Yin was overjoyed, and said: "On the fifth day of May, Xiangshan discussed the Tao, and I also invited Mr. to attend the meeting." ”

Hua Yu hurriedly waved his hand and said: "No, no, governing the country and the country, Hua Yu has no plan and no plan, how dare he participate in national affairs." ”

Seeing that he refused, Cao Yin was unwilling in his heart, and said: "How about Mr. Lao Fu's writing and making notes?" ”

"The mountains and fields are rough, and they don't understand literature and ink," Hua Yu shook his head and declined.

"At that time, there will be Eastern Confucian Fang Qing, Southern Buddha Luokong, Western Dao Wang Shan and other virtuous people to bring their disciples here, so please also ask Mr. to accompany you."

"The village man is only worthy of serving tea and pouring water, how dare he talk at the same table with Coats?"

"In that case, then please bring tea and pour water?" Cao Yin laughed, made up his mind to leave Hua Yu behind, and thought to himself, since you said that you are only worthy of serving tea and pouring water, then I will ask you to serve tea and pour water, and see how you refuse!

Hua Yu was stunned for a moment, and then laughed, and Cao Yin also laughed.

"Since Lord Cao thinks so highly of me, the people of the mountains and wilderness obey the order."

3

On the fourth day of the first month of May, Hua Yu went on an outing, Cao Yin and the Jing family brothers were dealing with official business in the ya, only to hear the scribe Wang Hui hurriedly come to report: "My lord, Fang Qing took six disciples, Luo Kong took three disciples to Jingmen, and I arranged them in the post house." Cao Yin was overjoyed and said to the Jing brothers: "Go, today I will introduce you to the two great sages." Cao Yin strode towards the post house, and the Jing brothers and Wang Hui hurriedly followed behind.

When Cao Yin and the six of them arrived at the pavilion, Luo Kong and Fang Qing were already talking together, and when they saw Cao Yin and the others coming, the two stood up at the same time, Cao Yin quickly stepped forward and said to Fang Qing, who was closest to him: "Welcome Professor Fang." Then he saluted Luo Kong with his palms together: "Amitabha, the master has worked hard. Cao Yin introduced the Jing brothers to the two real people: "This is my students Jing Kui, Jing Ying, Jing Si, and Jing Fei. Fang Qing said: "Fang Qing has heard the name of the Jing family brother for a long time. Luo Kong said: "This is called a famous teacher and a high apprentice." ”

After everyone finished greetings, they all sat down to talk. Fang Qing went to another room to attract Lu Qi, Wang Feng, Wang Yu, Liu Jia, Zhang Chuan, and Qiu Guang to meet with Cao Yin, Luo Kong, and Jing family brothers, and Luo Kong also attracted Ala Tai, Si Ren, and Hong Shi'an to greet everyone.

Si Ren saw Wang Feng and Wang Yu, pointed at the two of them and smiled at Alla Tai: "Big brother, look, do you remember the two of them?" I often heard the master say that Professor Fang is a great sage of the Central Plains, a benevolent gentleman, how did he accept two liars as apprentices. He stepped forward again and grabbed the second king and shouted: "Shangfeng Temple is selling wine fakely, really cheating money, and using stones to trick me, how did you turn into a person who came to Professor Fang's door today?" ”

The second king pushed Siren away, and Wang Feng smiled: "I don't think you are a monk. Wang Yu is even more cunning: "Since you are a disciple of Buddhism, how can you drink, my brothers and I sell you with stones instead of wine, to prevent you from breaking the vows, so well-intentioned, you don't thank you, why blame us?" Wang Feng said: "Isn't it that the disciples of Master Luokong don't need to keep the precepts?" ”

Seeing that Si Ren was open-mouthed, Ala Tai hurt Fang Qing's reputation as soon as he spoke, and hurriedly pulled Si Ren back and said: "Brother, why should you care about the small grievances in the past, these two brothers have now joined Professor Fang's disciple, they will definitely change their ways, and what they did in the past mentioned him." ”

Liu Jia saw that the words of the two kings alluded to Luo Kong, and also persuaded the two kings: "Master Luo Kong is a living Buddha today, and the two brothers should not talk nonsense." ”

Fang Qing and Luo Kong laughed.

Cao Yin listened to Fang Qing and Luo Kong's introduction, and knew that these nine people were originally people from the rivers and lakes, and they changed their ways and entered the right path halfway, and saw that the nine people of Ala Tai were all energetic and energetic, and immediately said with great joy: "The king of the Western Dao will also bring nine disciples to come, and after they arrive, we will discuss the plan to determine the peace of the country." ”

Fang Qing said happily: "Lord Cao is ambitious, and Fang Qing is willing to do his best. Luo Kong also said: "All beings are ignorant, fascinated by money and things, and are trapped in endless distress, hoping that the imperial court will customize a good law to educate all sentient beings, and we Buddhists are willing to do our best to help." Cao Yin's face showed joy, and he turned to the Jing family brothers and said: "Where there is a will, there is a way, as long as we work together, why worry about not succeeding in big things." ”

While he was talking, the post house announced that Wang Shan of the West Dao led the nine disciples to the party. Cao Yin was overjoyed, and led Luo Kong, Fang Qing and others out to greet them. After receiving Wang Shan and finishing the ceremony, Cao Yin said: "I'm ashamed, when I was in the capital, I promised your brother Wang De that I would avenge his brother, but when I met in Wudang Mountain, I didn't know that the elder brother was the one who was wronged. Wang Shan said: "When Wang Shan was wronged, he did not meet a clean official like Lord Cao, it was Cao Yin Fubo, I hope that in the future, Lord Cao will reorganize the dynasty, and there will be no more unjust cases in the world." ”

Wang Shan asked Tang Hai and the nine people to come to the ceremony, and Cao Yin and the Jing brothers suddenly saw that the four big men who had made a big fuss in the Huangmei County Yagong Hall and the wolf tyrant who killed and robbed people on the Han River ferry two years ago were following behind Wang Shan, and they couldn't help but be shocked.

Tang Hai, Shan Yong, Lin Yuan, Ye Yang, and Wolf Ba were smiling, and Tang Hai saluted: "Lord Cao, the disciples and the brothers used to be competitive and competitive, and many of them violated the royal law, but now they have realized that all laws are empty, and they have escaped into the Daomen, determined to follow the royal Taoist to educate sentient beings, and ask Lord Cao to forgive their sins." ”

Long before coming to Jingmen, the wolf bully heard that Wang Shan's trip was at the invitation of Cao Yin, and he thought that he had almost killed Cao Yin on the Han River two years ago, so he was worried and worried about throwing himself into the net. Coupled with Tang Hai's persuasion, Duan Qi's encouragement, and Ye Yang's instigation, he boldly came to the meeting.

After Tang Hai finished speaking, the wolf bully also stepped forward and bowed: "Lord Cao." ”

Cao Yin was still suspicious, Wang Shan smiled and said: "Back then, Emperor Guangzong gave the Eastern Confucian, Southern Buddha, and Western Dao to pass the sin card, and gave Lord Cao Tongtianwa, the sin card can save the sinners in the world, and the sin card can go directly to the Jinluan Treasure Palace. ”

After listening to Wang Shan's words, Cao Yin clarified his thoughts, it turned out that the nine demons in front of him were also like the six ghosts under Fang Qing and the three demons under Luo Kongmen, all of whom were sinners in the rivers and lakes who had reformed their ways. Cao Yin said: "That is the case, it is really gratifying and congratulating, I hope that you and the three demons, six ghosts and nine evils will concentrate on goodness from now on, do not disappoint the emperor's grace, and sincerely return to the king." ”

Tang Hai, Ala Tai, Liu Jia and other eighteen people said in unison: "Follow the teachings of adults!" ”

After that, everyone introduced each other, the three demons, the six ghosts, and the nine demons greeted each other, as if relatives met each other, each recounting the old feelings, and it was very lively.

Tang Xi thanked the six Liujia people for saving their lives. Lu Qi said to Tang Xi: "I really didn't expect that you would follow Wang Daochang." Tang Xi also said: "I didn't expect that you would become a disciple of Professor Fang." Jin Zi also came over and saluted Liu Jia and the others: "Six big brothers, we meet again." The six ghosts also felt strange, this little girl actually entered the Tao, which was really surprising. Shi'an said goodbye to Tang Hai, Tang Xi and others, and asked for warmth, like brothers.

Cao Yin saw that it was late, so he ordered someone to arrange a vegetarian banquet, after eating, they all stayed in the pavilion, Cao Yin and everyone agreed to climb the Elephant Mountain the next morning, gather righteousness, business law, and Anbangguo.

Cao Yin took the Jing brothers out of the pavilion, and Jing Fei said: "Teacher, Jing Fei is faintly worried in his heart. ”

Cao Yin was slightly startled and asked, "I saw that you have been having a sad face, and I was about to ask you, what are your worries about today's happy day?" ”

Jing Fei said: "The disciple heard the names of the Three Demons, the Six Ghosts, and the Nine Evils, and knew that none of them were good, especially this Tang Hai, known as the world's No. 1 thief ......."

Cao Yin was shocked when he heard this, and said to himself: "It turns out that he is a thief." ”

Jing Kui said: "Three demons, six demons and nine evils, doing many evils, wild and difficult to collect, he eighteen people converted to the good religion I am afraid that it is not sincere, but he has broken the law, he is afraid of the power of heaven, and he temporarily borrowed the gold medal to protect himself." ”

Cao Yin pondered silently, and said for a long time: "I said straight to the three real people to convince people with virtue, influenced a group of scoundrels, and taught them to abandon evil and follow good, which is a good thing, but I never thought that I took in the gangsters in the rivers and lakes and sheltered the murderers in the court." However, all three of them have a card to commit crimes, and as long as they do not commit the felony of disobedience, I will not be able to arrest these people after they enter the Tao. ”

Jing Kui said: "Yes, the imperial decree is like this, how dare you disobey it." ”

Jing Ying said: "The Three Demons, the Six Ghosts, and the Nine Demons are notorious, and it is difficult to completely attribute them to Wang Hua." ”

Jing Si said: "Let's wait and see what happens, if they dare to commit it again, then they will be punished according to law." ”

Cao Yin said: "I have already warned him of eighteen people, I hope they will really return to Wanghua, if they dare to commit it again, I will arrest them according to law." ”

When the five of them returned to the state office, Jing Fei said, "Teacher, I'm more worried...... If they are really demons, there will be people in the court who will make a statement to the emperor, saying that the teacher and the court are gathering together to plot wrongdoing, and the emperor is suspicious, and he will definitely issue an order to ask for the guilt, and then he will ......"

Cao Yin said with a smile: "It doesn't matter, they are all disciples of the real people, they came with the teacher, and they are protected by the gold medal given by Emperor Guangzong, and we have not violated the law when we get together." ”