This day is a solemn day for worshiping heaven in Xujiang County. Basically all the officials of the county government must be dispatched. The academic officers and students of the county school cannot run away. They are all ordered to line up on the platform. There are also representatives of the gentry in Li Dian Shi Xiao Out of great righteousness, he volunteered to support me.
In the early morning, before the elder set off from the county government office, Li You was so busy that he had a dry mouth and ordered the helpers to pack large and small luggage into boxes, as well as prepare sunshades, buckets and other items.
When Chen Zhixian came out of the county government office, he was really surprised to see the boxes and cages like a hill.
Mr. Huang, who stayed at the county government but came out to see him off, was also confused. Even if Li You wanted to express himself, he didn't have to be so exaggerated. It was too much.
Chen Zhixian coughed, and Master Huang stepped forward and asked Li You: "The county magistrate only went to the northern suburbs to worship heaven, not a long trip. What are you doing with all these things? It's a waste of public money."
Li You replied: "You can use it, you can use it."
"The county minister went to worship heaven for at least half a day, but you said it was necessary? You are confused!" Master Huang said.
"Half a day?" Li You asked doubtfully: "The old gentleman didn't care about praying for rain these days, right? My subordinates specially sent people at the city gate and dock to inquire about the situation in the surrounding counties from passing merchants. I learned that Wuxian County in Fucheng The county magistrate, in full official uniform, stayed on the altar for three days and three nights. He knelt down and prayed to God despite being exposed to the wind and sun. He passed out on the stage the day before yesterday. When he was carried back to the county government office, people all over the city flocked to it, and they all cried and worshiped on the roadside. , shouting loudly to the blue sky, the loving father!"
Chen Zhixian's young face couldn't help but secretly twitch.
"After that, the county magistrate of Cheung Chau County." Li You continued: "Since praying for rain, he has settled in the suburbs. He goes to the stage to pray every morning at sunrise, and continues to pray all day long until he leaves the stage at dusk. This is true every day, and it continues to this day. His tongue was mute and almost unable to speak, but he still used his pen to speak for himself and kept writing scriptures. People from all over the county came in droves, wept and worshiped under the altar, shouting that the blue sky would be kind to my old parents!"
Chen Zhixian's young face twitched again.
"And that..."
"That's so long-winded!" Zhixian Chen interrupted Li You's briefing irritably.
"So, my subordinates have prepared these things in advance. What's wrong?" Li You asked carefully.
"This..." Mr. Huang was also in a dilemma. With his knowledge, he really could not have expected that such a situation would happen. What is going on these days? Then forget about the magistrate of Wuxian County in Fucheng committing suicide. The prefecture and county are in the same city. Everyone can understand. When you are a county magistrate under the nose of the magistrate, sometimes you can't get along without working hard.
But Cheung Chau, the county magistrate, is simply out of date. He feels good about self-flagellation, but how do other magistrates in the surrounding areas deal with themselves? Does not following the trend and self-flagellation mean that he is not as loving as he is about caring for the people? Master Huang hates such people the most.
The most important thing is that with Chen Xianzun's skill, it can only be said that he has barely reached the level of being cruel to others. He is far from being able to be more cruel to himself. He cannot compete with his peers in self-abuse.
Li You had already known the case, and seeing an opportunity for his performance, he stepped forward and offered his advice: "My lord, I have a busy schedule and don't have time to worship at the altar for a long time." My subordinate heard from Mr. Huang that there was a sage in ancient times who lived during a long drought. I made an oath early in the morning that if it didn't rain by noon, I would pile up firewood and burn it to show my sincerity and win praise from all the people. It did rain at noon. This method takes a short time and has quick results. Why don't you imitate the sages?"
Will you burn yourself if it doesn’t rain? Who dares to guarantee that it will rain if you ask for it? Chen Zhixian glared at Li You and gritted his teeth and said: "Thieves kill talents! Are you afraid that I will die soon?"
Master Huang realized something and clapped his hands together and said, "This method is very good! The county magistrate may wish to give it a try."
Li You whispered a few words to Magistrate Chen. After that, Li You instructs a servant: "Blow the gong and shout along the street to ask the people in the county to watch the great master worship the heaven."
After that, all the county officials walked out of the city to the altar. The teachers and students of the county school and some gentry were already waiting. The county magistrate Chen looked at everyone and went up to the altar to pray for rain. Only Li You accompanied him and waited on him, doing some beatings on the side.
I won’t go into details about the procedures such as burning incense, making offerings, praying, burning paper, and kneeling down. A group of people gradually gathered under the altar.
After the procedure was temporarily completed, County Magistrate Chen stepped down from the altar and told Li You in front of everyone: "Go and get some firewood, pile it on the platform and light a fire. Make sure the fire stays bright and does not go out until noon."
"Sir, why is this happening?" Li Dianshi asked with eyes wide open in surprise, "Please explain clearly."
Chen Zhixian looked around at the crowd and said sadly: "There has been a long drought without rain. This is because I have failed in my moral character. I can't bear to suffer the consequences of my sins on the people of Li. I swear an oath here. If there is no rain at noon, I will walk in the fire."
Make your mind clear to heaven and ask for sweet rain to save the common people!"
"Master, you must not do this!" Li Dianshi shouted with an extremely distorted face.
Chen Zhixian scolded: "Go quickly! How dare you disobey me?"
Li Dianshi sighed and frowned, turning around three times and leaving helplessly. But in just a moment, he led a few servants to carry large bundles of firewood, piled them on the altar and lit them. The two servants looked over from time to time, adding more firewood.
.
More than two hundred people waited together until after noon. There was still no cloud in the sky, the sun was as hot as fire, and no rain fell. Everyone was sweating profusely, looking at Chen Zhixian. Could it be that the young and energetic young man really wanted to play with fire?
?
It is also the case that Chen Zhi County usually advocates a dignified style as an official, and is not close to the officials in the government office. Everyone is not familiar with him, and no one can guess what the elder is thinking at this time.
Chen Zhixian stood by the fire and sighed: "That's all, my heart must be sincere and I can't feel it. I am praying for rain for the people, why should I cherish this life!" After saying this, he slowly walked towards the fire, wearing his official robe.
It was wide and the sleeves were already burning.
But I heard someone shouting: "I'm rude!" Then Li Dianshi rushed out of the air. He wanted to hug the man, but suddenly he felt that hugging the man was too disgusting, so he immediately changed the hug to grabbing, and struggled to hold Chen Zhixian.
With a jade belt around his waist, he shouted at the top of his lungs: "Master Sheji's thighs and thighs! How can you take your own life so lightly!" As he spoke, he knocked away the fire on Chen Zhixian's body.
At this time, who among the officials in the nearby county government could not understand? They all knelt down and said: "It is me and other officials who are not clear about the administration and have offended God. Why should you blame yourself!"
Chen Zhixian was furious and said: "You want me to break my oath! How can a man stand in heaven and earth without faith! How can God send rain if I don't obey my oath? I protect a place with the emperor's grace, so I should bear the responsibility! Stop!
Much more to say!”
At this time, some of the common people came out in groups, went straight to the stage, knelt at the feet of Magistrate Chen, hugged his legs and cried: "Although my life is humble, I dare to ask you to go to the fire to offer sacrifices to heaven on behalf of the great master!"
A clerk named Wang Zhong from the river engineering office saw it and thought to himself, it turned out to be Zhang San, a white servant under Li Dianshi, who had some good fortune to be able to hug the county magistrate's lap.
Some people rushed to the stage, knelt on the ground and cried loudly: "Since Lord Qingtian took office, thousands of families have been blessed with Buddhas. How can An Neng abandon all the people in our county? The little people are also willing to sacrifice themselves for him!"
Wang Zhong, a junior official, took a look and continued thinking, it turned out to be Li Si, another white servant under Li Dianshi. I don't know what kind of blessing he had achieved... Aha! I'm still confused about what to do. I don't know when to wait for more information.
Thinking of this, Wang Zhong stepped forward and shouted: "My lord has always been kind-hearted, how can I see the people going to die! What is more important, the oath or the lives of the people? How dare I ask the lord to think about the people!"
The wheel of history is rolling again, and since then the life paths of Wang Zhong and Yuan Ming, two common clerks, have diverged.
In the face of the crowd's comments, Chen Zhixian closed his eyes and said with tears: "You have trapped me into injustice."
Among the crowd was Sun Ji, a well-known and skilled helper in the county. He seized the opportunity to raise his arms and shouted: "The great master is kind and righteous, loves the people, and is willing to walk through fire. He is truly the parent of the blue sky. We in this county are lucky to have the great master make the decision! The great master cannot go!"
Immediately the crowd shouted in unison, "Qingtian parents!"
Now you can call it a day!
The Chronicle of Xujiang County says: Duke Chen, the county magistrate at that time, felt pity for the people due to a long drought and no rain, and wanted to burn himself to show his sincerity. However, due to his prestige and official robes, he was blocked by the common people and officials, but he had no choice but to do so again. He swore that there would be no rain for one day and that the fire would not damage his official robe. Woohoo! Even if the sacrifice was not successful, he would not lose the name of his parents in Qingtian, and he would become a famous official for a while. Note: There were many people who imitated him later, and they all followed suit. !
