One Hundred and Twelve         The City God takes office

During the Qingli period of the Northern Song Dynasty, a scholar named Wang Tao in Gongyi County, Luoyang Prefecture. His only son, his father died early, and his mother was alive. He was weak at a young age and suffered from severe illness. After being weak, he was lying in bed all year round and seeking experts from Xinglin. He had no results in treatment. He was terminally ill and had no skills to turn the world back, so he was waiting for him to die.

One day in summer, Wang Tao drank the decoction with the support of his family, and suddenly felt refreshed. He heard the sound of horse hooves outside the window, and there was still footsteps. The sound gradually moved towards the front of the courtyard gate. There was a rolling saddle and getting off the horse. After a moment, someone outside the gate shouted: "Please go up to the horse and go to the city to take the exam, don't delay it!" Wang Tao was confused and asked his family, "I heard that someone from outside the gate called me to come to the city to take the exam. Now, it is not the time for the autumn examination, so how can I take the exam?"

The visitor was a book boy. He got off the horse, pushed the door and went straight into the room, urging Wang Tao to set off immediately, and must not be delayed. What a strange thing! Wang Tao actually felt that his illness had been cured and there was no discomfort. He was discharged from the hospital with the book boy, led his white horse, rode his horse on his body, and walked west with a whip.

On the way, Wang Tao met a scholar who took the exam and claimed to be from Yanshi County, with his surname Li and his name. The two of them had the same idea as each other and had a close conversation. They both appreciated each other's talent and knowledge and were very pleased with them. They both felt that they met too late. At a fork, Li Jin said that there was something important to travel south and made an appointment to meet him at the trial.

The book boy guided the way, and Wang Tao continued to travel west. Along the way, Wang Tao felt that the scenery on the side of the road was particularly unfamiliar and had never seen it. The two of them whipped their horses and ran forward. Soon after, they arrived at a city. The walls were tall and magnificent, and the city tower was magnificent and dazzling, comparable to Kaifeng Imperial City.

When Wang Tao went downstairs, several book children greeted the city gate, greeted and greeted each other, led the way forward. After entering the city, he saw tall buildings in the city, merchants standing in a row, bustling with people coming and going, bustling, and very prosperous. Wang Tao was surprised that for the first time in his life, he saw such a brilliant and spectacular city wall, and he couldn't help but secretly praise him.

Under the guidance of the book boys, I came to a mansion, which was a jade building with jade buildings, carved beams and painted pillars, high eaves, intrigues, and very magnificent. Compared with today's imperial palaces, it is not as good as that.

Wang Tao walked into the mansion and entered the lobby. He saw hundreds of carved tables and chairs neatly placed on both sides of the hall, with pens, ink, paper and inkstone on the table. Dozens of people were sitting there, and the rest were still empty. He looked up at the lobby and saw several examiners sitting upright behind the desk, with different expressions, strange faces and majestic.

The examiner checked the name and found it in line with the case file. He then ordered the book boy to instruct Wang Tao to take the seat according to the number. Soon, Li Jin entered the hall and the two saw it and waved to show their peace. The exam began, and the book boy sent the test papers, each sent one. Wang Tao showed it and saw the test question: One person and two people, with intention but not intention.

When the candidates saw the test questions, they had different shapes, some thoughts; some sighs; some frowns; some lift their pens and writes quickly without thinking. Wang Tao thought for a long time, and finally solved the question and answered it with a pen, saying: One person is single, single is lonely; two people are companions, and those who are companions are friends. If you are willing to do good, you will not reward even if you are good; if you are not willing to do evil, you will not punish even if you are evil...

At the end of the exam, the examinees finished the answer, and the children collected the papers and held the papers. However, the examinees did not judge the papers. The examinees ordered the children to set up a furnace in front of the hall and put the papers into the furnace. The test papers were burned and swallowed in the fire. When the examinees saw it, for some reason, they all looked angry and wanted to get up and leave with their sleeves to show their resistance.

At this time, the children of the book tell the candidates to be calm and please continue to look at them. The candidates held their breath and waited. After a while, they saw the examiner getting up to the stove. The examiner looked very strange. He had leopard eyes, lion's nose, long cheeks, square crowns, and holding tablets in front of his chest. He opened his mouth into the furnace, and blew it on his hands. The fire in the furnace was divided to both sides. The fire test papers were all turned into ashes, but only two were left. He reached out to the fire and took them. The flames moved away, and his hands did not hurt at all. The examiner saw it and was stunned.

The two unburned test papers were written by Wang Tao and Li Jin. The examiner Zhan looked at them and praised them first. He ordered the book boy to send the two test papers to the bottom for circulating. After reading them, all the candidates praised them.

After the exam, the list was announced on the spot. Shutong held the list and said, "In this exam, Gongyi County scholar Wang Tao won the top spot, Yanshi County scholar Li Jin was the second, and now he is in the position of the City God Controller of Luoyang, Henan Province. Wang Tao won the talent and was kind-hearted, so he ordered him to take office..."

When Wang Tao heard this, he immediately explained it. He thought that he had an old mother in his family and needed to support him. He was so unbearable that he could take office at this time. He knelt down to the examiner and asked, "The students are talented and knowledgeable, and now they are appreciated by the gods. They are afraid of being terrified. They should have been tragic to repay the kindness of their encounters, but they dare not refuse. However, the mother at home is in her 80s and has no one to support her. Please ask the gods to be filial and wait for the students to go home to fulfill their filial piety. The mother will take the post to fulfill her duties after she is old? "

After hearing this, the examiner pondered for a moment and ordered his subordinates, "How many years will it take to investigate Wang Tao's mother's life?" After receiving the order, the official with a red beard full of cheeks, holding a book of life and death in his hand, he quickly checked it, and replied, "After investigation, his mother's life is still eight years."

The examiner looked puzzled and discussed with the officials on both sides. Those who have suggestions said that Li Jin could temporarily replace him. Xu Wangtao's eight-year vacation will be on his way to take office after the holiday. Now Li Jin will temporarily replace him as the City God of Luoyang, Henan.

Then the letter to the boy announced again: "Wang Tao should have taken the post as the City God of Luoyang, Henan, immediately, but he was worried that Wang Tao's family had an old mother and needed his support. Therefore, Wang Tao had a long holiday in eight years and then went to the post after the holiday. Now his post will be replaced by Li Jin for a temporary replacement."

Wang Tao bowed and thanked him endlessly, and thanked him again to Li Jin. Li Jin pulled Wang Tao's hand and sent Wang Tao together to the outside of the city. The two bid farewell. When they broke up, Li Jin said, "There are flowers and wine, spring is always there, and there is no candle or lamp to be bright at night. Long holidays are filial piety, and we will meet again in the next year." At this time, the book boy brought the white horse that Wang Tao rode when he came. Wang Tao flew on his horse, bowed his hand to say goodbye, and whipped it back with a quick horse.

When Wang Tao returned, he entered the house and saw that the house was covered with white silk, with a black body of "Dian" hanging high in the hall, which was particularly eye-catching. When Wang Tao saw it, he secretly cried out, "The big thing is not good!" He rushed to the old mother's room and saw that it was empty. He shouted, "Mother, don't hurt your son's body, I'm back!"

Looking for it everywhere, there was no result. When night fell, Wang Tao saw his mother crying and returned with the help of her relatives. It was a metaphor that his body had been buried in a coffin. If the soul did not return to his body quickly, he could not return to the world. Time was urgent, so it was not too late!

When Yeyou Shen arrived here, Wang Tao rushed forward and stopped him, complained about the whole story, begging Yeyou Shen to show his spirit in front of the crowd and save his life. Yeyou Shen heard this, and felt his filial piety and agreed to him. Then he showed his spirit in front of the crowd and told him, "Wang Tao has not yet died, and he can be resurrected." When the crowd heard it, he was shocked and suspicious. However, his mother firmly believed it, and the crowd was so stubborn that she could only go out of the village to dig a grave and open a coffin. Wang Tao's soul returned to his body quickly.

When the crowd opened the coffin, they saw Wang Tao awakening and sitting up, yawning, as if he was awakened in a deep sleep. Everyone was shocked and surprised. Wang Tao returned home, and his trauma was healed without treatment! When he heard about it, he sighed at all.

Wang Tao ordered his servant to go to Yanshi to find out if someone named Li Jin died. The servant went there and went back the next day, and reported, "There is indeed a scholar named Li Jin from Yanshi County who died of illness a few days ago." Wang Tao heard this and bowed to Yanshi, thanking him, "Thank you brother Li Jin to take over his post, and has been working hard."

Eight years later, Wang Tao's mother returned to her bedtime. After finishing the funeral, she burned incense and bathed at home, changed into dark clothes and hats, and sat quietly in the hall waiting for her.

Late at night, the neighbor suddenly heard that the people in the village were neighing happily and were peeping through the crack of the door. He saw a group of people beating gongs and drums, flags waving, and walked through the door and entered Wang Tao's house. The neighbors didn't know why. They were all shocked and stood up to Wang Tao's house to ask. When they entered the hall, they saw Wang Tao sitting upright in front of the hall, and had already died.

Everyone was looking for the people who had just entered the door. He heard the sound of gongs and drums outside the backyard, and the people and horses had already passed through the wall. Those who were brave and enthusiastic follow outside the village and saw the people and horses walking west. Under the moonlight, they saw the four black characters "Luoyang City God" embroidered in front of the team. They gradually drifted away and disappeared in the night.
Chapter completed!