With a Stupid Plan the Dragon King Breaks the Laws of Heaven
Minister Wei Sends a Letter to an Officer of Hell
袁守诚妙算无私曲
老龙王拙计犯天条
诗曰：
都城大国实堪观，八水周流绕四山。
多少帝王兴此处，古来天下说长安。
此单表陕西大国长安城，乃历代帝王建都之地。自周、秦、汉以来，三州花似锦，八水绕城流。三十六条花柳巷，七十二座管弦楼。华夷图上看，天下最为头，真是奇胜之方。今却是大唐太宗文皇帝登基，改元龙集贞观。此时已登极十三年，岁在己巳。且不说他驾前有安邦定国的英豪，与那创业争疆的杰士。
①We shall not discuss how Chen Guangrui performed his duties or Xuanzang cultivated his conduct; instead we shall talk about two wise men who lived beside the banks of the River Jing outside the city of Chang'an. One was an old fisherman called Zhang Shao and the other was a woodcutter called Li Ding. They were both advanced scholars who had never taken the official examination, lettered men of the mountains. One day, when Li Ding had sold his load of firewood and Zhang Shao had sold his basketful of carp in Chang'an city, they went into a tavern, drank till they were half tipsy, and strolled slowly home along the banks of the Jing, each holding a bottle in his hand.
“Brother Li,” said Zhang Shao, “it seems to me that people who struggle for fame kill themselves for it; those who compete for profit die for it; those who accept honors sleep with a tiger in their arms; and those who receive imperial favours walk around with snakes in their sleeves. Taking all in all, we are much better off living free among our clear waters and blue hills: we delight in our poverty and follow our destinies.”
“You are right, Brother Zhang,” said Li Ding, “but your clear waters have nothing on my blue hills.”
“Your blue hills are not a patch on my clear waters,” retorted Zhang Shao, “and here is a lyric to the tune of The Butterfly Loves the Flowers to prove it:
却说长安城外泾河岸边，有两个贤人：一个是渔翁，名唤张稍；一个是樵子，名唤李定。他两个是不登科的进士，能识字的山人。
一日，在长安城里，卖了肩上柴，货了篮中鲤，同入酒馆之中，吃了半酣，各携一瓶，顺泾河岸边，徐步而回。张稍道：“李兄，我想那争名的，因名丧体；夺利的，为利亡身；受爵的，抱虎而眠；承恩的，袖蛇而去。算起来，还不如我们水秀山青，逍遥自在，甘淡薄，随缘而过。”李定道：“张兄说得有理。但只是你那水秀，不如我的山青。”张稍道：你山青不如我的水秀。有一《蝶恋花》词为证，词曰：
The skiff is tiny amid the misty expanse of waves;
Calmly I lean against the single sail,
Listening to the voice of Xishi the beauty.
My thoughts and mind are cleared; I have no wealth or fame
As I toy with the waterweed and the rushes.
“To count a few gulls makes the journey happy.
In the reedy bend, under the willow bank,
My wife and children smile with me.
The moment I fall asleep, wind and waves are quiet;
No glory, no disgrace, and not a single worry.”
烟波万里扁舟小，静依孤篷，西施声音绕。
涤虑洗心名利少，闲攀蓼穗蒹葭草。
数点沙鸥堪乐道，柳岸芦湾，妻子同欢笑。
一觉安眠风浪俏，无荣无辱无烦恼。”
“Your clear waters are no match for my blue hills,” said Li Ding, “and there is another lyric to the same tune to prove it. It goes:
李定道：你的水秀，不如我的山青。也有个《蝶恋花》词为证，词曰：
The cloudy woods are covered with pine blossom.
Hush! Hear the oriole sing,
As if it played a pipe with its cunning tongue.
With touches of red and ample green the spring is warm;
Suddenly the summer's here as the seasons turn.
“When autumn comes the look of things is changed;
The scented chrysanthemum
Is enough for my pleasure.
Soon the cruel winter plucks all off.
I am free through four seasons, at nobody's beck and call.”
云林一段松花满，默听莺啼，巧舌如调管。
红瘦绿肥春正暖，倏然夏至光阴转。
又值秋来容易换，黄花香，堪供玩。
迅速严冬如指拈，逍遥四季无人管。
“You don't enjoy the good things in your blue hills that I do on my clear waters,” replied the fisherman, “and I can prove it with another lyric to the tune of The Partridge Heaven:
渔翁道：你山青不如我水秀，受用些好物，有一《鹧鸪天》为证：
In this magic land we live off the cloudy waters;
With a sweep of the oar the boat becomes a home.
We cut open the live fish and fry the green turtle
As steam coils from the purple crab and the red shrimps bubble.
Green reed shoots,
Sprouts of water-lilies,
Better still, water chestnuts and the gorgon fruit,
Delicate louts roots and seeds, tender celery,
Arrowhead, reed-hearts and bird-glory blossom.”
仙乡云水足生涯，摆橹横舟便是家。
活剖鲜鳞烹绿鳖，旋蒸紫蟹煮红虾。
青芦笋，水荇芽，菱角鸡头更可夸。
娇藕老莲芹叶嫩，慈菇茭白鸟英花。
“Your clear waters cannot compare with my blue hills when it comes to the good things they provide,” said the woodcutter, and I can cite another lyric to the tune The Partridge Heaven as evidence:
樵夫道：你水秀不如我山青，受用些好物，亦有一《鹧鸪天》为证：
Mighty crags and towering peaks reach to the sky;
A grass hut or a thatched cottage is my home.
Pickled chicken and duck are better than turtles or crabs,
Roebuck, boar, venison, and hare beat fish and shrimps.
The leaves of the tree of heaven,
Yellow chinaberry sprouts,
And, even better, bamboo shoots and wild tea,
Purple plums and red peaches, ripe gages, and apricots,
Sweet pears, sharp jujubes, and osmanthus blossom.”
崔巍峻岭接天涯，草舍茅庵是我家。
腌腊鸡鹅强蟹鳖，獐把兔鹿胜鱼虾。
香椿叶，黄楝芽，竹笋山茶更可夸。
紫李红桃梅杏熟，甜梨酸枣木樨花。
“Your blue hills are really nothing on my clear waters,” replied the fisherman, “and there is another lyric to the tune Heavenly Immortal:
渔翁道：你山青真个不如我的水秀，又有《天仙子》一首：
In my little boat I can stay where I like,
Having no fear of the many misty waves.
Drop the hook, cast wide the net, to catch fresh fish:
Even without fat or sauce,
They taste delicious
As the whole family eats its meal together.
“When there are fish to spare I sell them in Chang'an market
To buy good liquor and get a little drunk.
Covered with my grass cloak I sleep on the autumn river,
Snoring soundly
Without a care,
Not giving a damn for honour and glory.”
一叶小舟随所寓，万迭烟波无恐惧。
垂钩撒网捉鲜鳞，没酱腻，偏有味，老妻稚子团圆会。
鱼多又货长安市，换得香醪吃个醉。
蓑衣当被卧秋江，鼾鼾睡，无忧虑，不恋人间荣与贵。
“Your clear waters still aren't as good as my blue mountains,” came back the woodcutter, “and I too have a Heavenly Immortal lyric to prove it:
樵子道：你水秀还不如我的山青，也有《天仙子》一首：
Where I build a little thatched hut under the hill
The bamboo, orchid, plum, and pine are wonderful.
As I cross forests and mountains to look for dry firewood
Nobody asks awkward questions,
And I can sell
As much or as little as the world wants.
I spend the money on wine and I'm happy,
Content with my earthenware bowl and china jug.
When I've drunk myself blotto I lie in the shade of the pine.
No worries,
No books to balance;
What do I care about success or failure?”
茆舍数椽山下盖，松竹梅兰真可爱。
穿林越岭觅干柴，没人怪，从我卖，或少或多凭世界。
将钱沽酒随心快，瓦钵磁瓯殊自在。
窍菘醉了卧松阴，无挂碍，无利害，不管人间兴与败。
“Brother Li,” said the fisherman, “you don't make as easy a living in the hills as I do on the water, and I can prove it with a lyric to the tune The Moon on the West River:
渔翁道：李兄，你山中不如我水上生意快活，有一《西江月》为证：
The smartweed's flowers are picked out by the moon
While the tangled leaves of rushes sway in the wind.
Clear and distant the azure sky, empty the Chu river:
Stir up the water, and the stars dance.
Big fish swim into the net in shoals;
Little ones swallow the hooks in swarms;
Boiled or fried they taste wonderful—
I laugh at the roaring river and lake.”
红蓼花繁映月，黄芦叶乱摇风。
碧天清远楚江空，牵搅一潭星动。
入网大鱼作队，吞钩小鳜成丛。
得来烹煮味偏浓，笑傲江湖打哄。
“Brother Zhang,” replied the woodcutter, “the living I make in the hills is much easier than yours on the water, and I can prove it with another Moon on the West River lyric:
樵夫道：张兄，你水上还不如我山中的生意快活，亦有《西江月》为证：
Withered and leafless rattan fills the paths,
Old bamboo with broken tips covers the hillside.
Where vines and creepers tangle and climb
I pull some off to tie my bundles.
Elms and willows hollow with decay,
Pines and cedars cracked by the wind—
I stack them up against the winter cold,
And whether they're sold for wine or money is up to me.”
败叶枯藤满路，破梢老竹盈山。
女萝干葛乱牵攀，折取收绳杀担。
虫蛀空心榆柳，风吹断头松楠。
采来堆积备冬寒，换酒换钱从俺。
“Although you don't do too badly in your hills, your life is not as elegant as mine on the water,” said the fisherman, “as I can show with some lines to the tune The Immortal by the River.
渔翁道：你山中虽可比过，还不如我水秀的幽雅，有一《临江仙》为证：
As the tide turns my solitary boat departs;
I sing in the night, resting from the oars.
From under a straw cape the waning moon is peaceful.
The sleeping gulls are not disturbed
As the clouds part at the end of the sky.
Tired, I lie on the isle of rushes with nothing to do,
And when the sun is high I'm lying there still.
I arrange everything to suit myself:
How can the court official compare with my ease
As he waits in the cold for an audience at dawn?”
潮落旋移孤艇去，夜深罢棹歌来。
蓑衣残月甚幽哉，宿鸥惊不起，天际彩云开。
困卧芦洲无个事，三竿日上还捱。
随心尽意自安排，朝臣寒待漏，争似我宽怀？
“Your life on the water may be elegant, but it's nothing compared with mine,” replied the woodcutter, “and I have some lines to the same tune to demonstrate the point:
樵夫道：你水秀的幽雅，还不如我山青更幽雅，亦有《临江仙》可证：
On an autumn day I carry my axe along the greeny path
Bringing the load back in the cool of evening,
Putting wild flowers in my hair, just to be different,
I push aside the clouds to find my way home,
And the moon is up when I tell them to open the door.
Rustic wife and innocent son greet me with smiles,
And I recline on my bed of grass and wooden pillow.
Steamed millet and pear are spread before me,
While the new wine is warm in the pot: This is really civilized.”
苍径秋高拽斧去，晚凉抬担回来。
野花插鬓更奇哉，拨云寻路出，待月叫门开。
稚子山妻欣笑接，草床木枕尚捱。
蒸梨炊黍旋铺排，瓮中新酿熟，真个壮幽怀！”
“All this is about our living and the ways we provide for ourselves,” said the fisherman. “I can prove to you that your leisure is nowhere near as good as mine with a poem that goes:
渔翁道：这都是我两个生意，赡身的勾当，你却没有我闲时节的好处，有诗为证，诗曰：
Idly I watch the white cranes as they cross the sky;
As I Moor the boat at the river's bank, a blue door gives me shade.
Leaning on the sail I teach my son to twist a fishing line,
When rowing's done I dry the nets out with my wife.
A settled nature can really know the calm of the waves;
A still body feels the lightness of the breeze.
Always to wear a green straw cape and a blue straw hat
Is better than the purple robes of the court.”
闲看天边白鹤飞，停舟溪畔掩苍扉。
倚篷教子搓钓线，罢棹同妻晒网围。
性定果然知浪静，身安自是觉风微。
绿蓑青笠随时着，胜挂朝中紫绶衣。
“Your leisure doesn't come up to mine,” replied the woodcutter, “as this poem I shall now recite demonstrates:
樵夫道：“你那闲时又不如我的闲时好也，亦有诗为证，诗曰：
With a lazy eye on the white clouds in the distance,
I sit alone in a thatched but, then close the bamboo door.
When there's nothing to do I teach my son to read;
Sometimes a visitor comes and we play a game of chess.
When I'm happy I take my stick and walk singing along the paths,
Or carry my lute up the emerald hills.
Grass shoes with hempen thongs, a cloak of coarsest cloth,
A mind relaxed: better than wearing silk.”
闲观缥缈白云飞，独坐茅庵掩竹扉。
无事训儿开卷读，有时对客把棋围。
喜来策杖歌芳径，兴到携琴上翠微。
草履麻绦粗布被，心宽强似着罗衣。
“Li Ding,” said the other, “how truly it can be said of us that 'by reciting some verses we become close friends: What need for golden winecups and a sandalwood table?' But there is nothing remarkable in just reciting verses; what would you say if we made couplets in which we each contributed a line about our lives as fisherman and woodcutter?”
“Brother Zhang,” said Li Ding, “that is an excellent suggestion. Please be the one to start.” Here are their couplets:
张稍道：“李定，我两个真是微吟可相狎，不须檀板共金樽。但散道词章，不为稀罕，且各联几句，看我们渔樵攀话何如？”李定道：张兄言之最妙，请兄先吟。
My boat is moored in the green waters amid the misty waves;
My home is in the wilds, deep in the mountains.
How well I like the swollen stream under the bridge in spring;
My delight is a mountain peak swathed in clouds at dawn.
Dragon-sized fresh carp cooked at any time;
Dry, rotten, firewood always keeps one warm.
A full array of hooks and nets to support my old age;
Carrying wood and making twine will keep me till I die.
Lying back in a tiny boat watching the flying geese;
Reclining beside the grassy path and hearing the wild swans call.
I have no stall in the marketplace of tongues;
I've left no trace in the sea of disputation.
The nets hung to dry beside the brook are like brocade;
An axe well honed on rock is sharper than a spear.
Under the shining autumn moon I often fish alone;
I meet nobody on the solitary mountain in spring.
I trade my surplus fish for wine and drink it with my wife;
When I've wood to spare I buy a bottle and share it with my sons.
Singing and musing to myself I'm as wild as I care to be;
Long songs, long sighs, I can let myself be crazy.
I invite my brothers and cousins and fellow boatmen;
Leading my friends by the hand I meet the old man of the wilds.
As we play guess-fingers the cups fly fast;
When we make riddles the goblets slowly circulate.
Saute or boiled crab is a delight every morning;
Plenty of fried duck and chicken cooked in ashes every day.
As my simple wife brews tea, my spirits are untrammelled;
While my mountain spouse cooks supper, my mind is at ease.
At the coming of dawn I wash my stick in the ripples;
When the sun rises I carry firewood across the road.
After the rain I put on my cloak to catch live carp;
I wield my axe before the wind to fell a withered pine.
I cover my tracks and hide from the world, acting the imbecile;
I change my name and pretend to be deaf and dumb.
舟停绿水烟波内，家住深山旷野中。
偏爱溪桥春水涨，最怜岩岫晓云蒙。
龙门鲜鲤时烹煮，虫蛀干柴日燎烘。
钓网多般堪赡老，担绳二事可容终。
小舟仰卧观飞雁，草径斜尚听唳鸿。
口舌场中无我分，是非海内少吾踪。
溪边挂晒缯如锦，石上重磨斧似锋。
秋月晖晖常独钓，春山寂寂没人逢。
鱼多换酒同妻饮，柴剩沽壶共子丛。
自唱自斟随放荡，长歌长叹任颠风。
呼兄唤弟邀船伙，挈友携朋聚野翁。
行令猜拳频递盏，拆牌道字漫传钟。
烹虾煮蟹朝朝乐，炒鸭毳鸡日日丰。
愚妇煎茶情散诞，山妻造饭意从容。
晓来举杖淘轻浪，日出担柴过大冲。
雨后披蓑擒活鲤，风前弄斧伐枯松。
潜踪避世妆痴蠢，隐姓埋名作哑聋。
“Brother Li,” said Zhang Shao. “I unfairly took the first lines just now, so now it's your turn to compose the first lines while I follow you.” Thus they continued:
张稍道：李兄，我才僭先起句，今到我兄，也先起一联，小弟亦当续之。
The man of the mountains acting mad under wind and moon;
The haughty and unwanted dotard of the river.
With his share of idleness, and able to be quite free;
No sound from his voice as he revels in his peace.
On moonlit nights he sleeps secure in a cottage of thatch;
He lightly covers himself at dusk with clothes of reed.
His passion spent, he befriends the pine and the plum;
He is happy to be the companion of cormorant and gull.
Fame and profit count for nothing in his mind;
His ears have never heard the clash of arms.
One is always pouring out fresh rice-wine,
The other has wild vegetable soup with every meal.
One makes a living with two bundles of firewood;
The other supports himself with rod and line.
One idly tells his innocent son to sharpen the axe of steel;
The other quietly bids his slow-witted child to mend the nets.
In spring one likes to see the willows turning green;
When the seasons change the other enjoys the rushes' blue.
Avoiding the summer heat, one trims the new bamboo;
The other gathers water-chestnuts on cool July evenings.
When frost begins, plump chickens are killed each day;
In mid-autumn the crabs are at their best and always in the pot.
When the sun rises in winter, the one is still asleep;
The other keeps cool in the dog days of summer.
Throughout the year one does as he pleases in the hills;
In all four seasons the other is happy on the lake.
By gathering firewood you can become an Immortal;
There is nothing worldly about fishing.
Sweet smell the wild flowers growing outside my door;
Smooth are the green waves lapping at my boat.
A contented man never speaks of high honors;
A settled nature is stronger than a city wall.
Higher than a city wall for resisting enemy armies;
More illustrious than holding high office and listening to imperial decrees.
Those who are happy with mountains and rivers are few indeed;
Thank Heaven, thank Earth, and thank the spirits.
风月佯狂山野汉，江湖寄傲老余丁。
清闲有分随潇洒，口舌无闻喜太平。
月夜身眠茅屋稳，天昏体盖箬蓑轻。
忘情结识松梅友，乐意相交鸥鹭盟。
名利心头无算计，干戈耳畔不闻声。
随时一酌香醪酒，度日三餐野菜羹。
两束柴薪为活计，一竿钓线是营生。
闲呼稚子磨钢斧，静唤憨儿补旧缯。
春到爱观杨柳绿，时融喜看荻芦青。
夏天避暑修新竹，六月乘凉摘嫩菱。
霜降鸡肥常日宰，重阳蟹壮及时烹。
冬来日上还沉睡，数九天高自不蒸。
八节山中随放性，四时湖里任陶情。
采薪自有仙家兴，垂钓全无世俗形。
门外野花香艳艳，船头绿水浪平平。
身安不说三公位，性定强如十里城。
十里城高防阃令，三公位显听宣声。
乐山乐水真是罕，谢天谢地谢神明。
When the two of them had recited their verses and matched couplets they came to the place where their ways parted and bowed to each other to take their leave. “Brother Li,” said Zhang Shao, “look after yourself on your way home and keep a sharp look-out for tigers up in the hills. If you met with an accident then 'an old friend would be missing on the road tomorrow.'“ This made Li Ding angry.
“You scoundrel,” he said, “I'm your friend; I'd die for you. How could you put such a curse on me? If I'm killed by a tiger, you'll be capsized by a wave.”
“I'll never be capsized!” retorted Zhang Shao.
“'In nature there are unexpected storms and in life unpredictable vicissitudes,'“ quoted Li Ding, “so how can you be sure you'll never have an accident?”
“Brother Zhang,” replied the fisherman, “despite what you just said, it's your life that's insecure, whereas my life is certain: I'm sure that I shan't have an accident.”
“Your life on the water is very dangerous and insecure,” said the woodcutter, “so how can you be so certain?”
“There's something you don't know,” said Zhang Shao. “Every day I give a golden carp to a fortune-teller on the West Gate Street in Chang'an, and he passes a slip into my sleeve telling me I'll catch something every time provided I go to the right place. I went to buy a forecast from him today, and he told me that if I cast my nets to the East of the bend in the Jing River and lowered my lines on the Western bank, I would be bound to get a full load of fish and shrimps to take home. Tomorrow I shall go into town to sell them to buy wine, and we can continue our talk then, brother.” With this they parted.
他二人既各道词章，又相联诗句，行到那分路去处，躬身作别。张稍道：“李兄呵，途中保重！上山仔细看虎。假若有些凶险，正是明日街头少故人！”李定闻言，大怒道：“你这厮惫懒！好朋友也替得生死，你怎么咒我？我若遇虎遭害，你必遇浪翻江！”张稍道：“我永世也不得翻江。”李定道：“天有不测风云，人有暂时祸福。你怎么就保得无事？”张稍道：“李兄，你虽这等说，你还没捉摸。不若我的生意有捉摸，定不遭此等事。”李定道：“你那水面上营生，极凶极险，隐隐暗暗，有什么捉摸？”张稍道：“你是不晓得。这长安城里，西门街上，有一个卖卦的先生。我每日送他一尾金色鲤，他就与我袖传一课，依方位，百下百着。今日我又去买卦，他教我在泾河湾头东边下网，西岸抛钓，定获满载鱼虾而归。明日上城来，卖钱沽酒，再与老兄相叙。”二人从此叙别。
How true it is that if you talk on the road there will be someone listening in the grass. A patrolling yaksha from the Jing River Palace overheard Zhang Shao's remark about always catching fish and rushed straight back to the palace of crystal to make an urgent report of disaster to the dragon king.
“What disaster?” asked the dragon king, and the yaksha replied, “Your subject was patrolling in the water by the river's edge when I heard a fisherman and a woodcutter talking. Just when they were parting they sounded very dangerous. The fisherman said that there is a soothsayer on West Gate Street in Chang'an city whose predictions are very accurate. The fisherman gives him a golden carp every day, and he hands the fisherman a slip saying that he'll catch fish at every attempt. If his calculations are so accurate, won't all we water folk be wiped out? Shall we fortify the water palace, or shall we make some leaping waves to strengthen Your Majesty's prestige?”
The dragon king seized his sword in a great rage, intending to go straight to Chang'an city and destroy this fortune-teller, but then his dragon sons and grandsons, shrimp officials, crab soldiers, shad generals, mandarin-fish ministers, and carp premier submitted a joint memorial that read: “We beg Your Majesty not to act in anger. As the saying goes, 'words overheard are not to be trusted.' If Your Majesty were to go now you would have to be accompanied by clouds and helped by rain; and if this frightens the common people of Chang'an, Heaven may take offence. Your Majesty is capable of making all sorts of transformations, and of appearing and vanishing unexpectedly; so you should change into a scholar for this visit to Chang'an. If you find that it is true, you will be able to punish him at your leisure; and if it turns out to be false, you will avoid killing an innocent man.” Taking their advice, the dragon king put aside his sword, and without raising clouds or rain he climbed out on the back, shook himself, and turned into a scholar dressed in white. He was
这正是路上说话，草里有人。原来这泾河水府有一个巡水的夜叉，听见了百下百着之言，急转水晶宫，慌忙报与龙王道：“祸事了，祸事了！”龙王问：“有甚祸事？”夜叉道：“臣巡水去到河边，只听得两个渔樵攀话。相别时，言语甚是利害。那渔翁说：长安城里西门街上，有个卖卦先生，算得最准。他每日送他鲤鱼一尾，他就袖传一课，教他百下百着。若依此等算准，却不将水族尽情打了？何以壮观水府，何以跃浪翻波辅助大王威力？”龙王甚怒，急提了剑就要上长安城，诛灭这卖卦的。旁边闪过龙子、龙孙、虾臣、蟹士、鲥军师、鳜少卿、鲤太宰，一齐启奏道：“大王且息怒。常言道，过耳之言，不可听信。大王此去，必有云从，必有雨助，恐惊了长安黎庶，上天见责。大王隐显莫测，变化无方，但只变一秀士，到长安城内，访问一番。果有此辈，容加诛灭不迟；若无此辈，可不是妄害他人也？”
龙王依奏，遂弃宝剑，也不兴云雨，出岸上，摇身一变，变作一个白衣秀士，真个——
Handsome and noble,
Towering into the clouds.
His step was stately
And he observed the rules of conduct.
In his speech he showed his respect for Confucius and Mencius,
His manners were those of the Duke of Zhou and King Wen.
He wore a gown of jade-green silk,
A cloth wrapped casually round his head.
丰姿英伟，耸壑昂霄。
步履端祥，循规蹈矩。
语言遵孔孟，礼貌体周文。
身穿玉色罗蝠服，头戴逍遥一字巾。
Once on the road he strode straight to West Gate Street in Chang'an city, where he saw a crowd of people pushing and shouting. One of them was proclaiming grandiloquently, “He who was born under the Dragon will clash with the one who belongs to the Tiger. Although the cyclical characters are supposed to be in concordance, I'm afraid that the Year Planet may be offended by the Sun.” As soon as he heard this the dragon king knew that this was the place where fortunes were told, so he pushed through the crowds to look inside. He saw:
上路来拽开云步，径到长安城西门大街上。只见一簇人，挤挤杂杂，闹闹哄哄，内有高谈阔论的道：“属龙的本命，属虎的相冲。寅辰巳亥，虽称合局，但只怕的是日犯岁君。”龙王闻言，情知是那卖卜之处，走上前，分开众人，望里观看，只见——
Four walls covered with pearls,
A room full of silken embroideries,
Incense ever rising from a burner,
Clear water in a porcelain pot.
On either side were paintings by Wang Wei;
High above the seat hung a picture of the Devil Valley Hermit.
An inkstone from Duanxi County,
“Golden smoke” ink,
On which leant a large brush of finest hairs;
A forest of fiery pearls,
The prediction of Guo Pu,
As he diligently compared them to the Tai Zheng Xin Jing.
He was deeply versed in the six lines of the diagrams,
A great expert on the Eight Trigrams.
He understood the principles of Heaven and Earth,
And saw into the feelings of gods and devils.
He knew all about the cyclical numbers,
And had a clear picture of the constellations.
He saw the events of the future,
The events of the past,
As if in a mirror.
Which house would rise,
Which house would fall,
He could tell with divine perception.
He knew when good and bad was coming,
Could predict death and survival.
His words hastened wind and rain;
When he wielded his writing-brush, gods and devils trembled.
His name was written on a signboard:
Master of Divination Yuan Shoucheng.
四壁珠玑，满堂绮绣。
宝鸭香无断，磁瓶水恁清。
两边罗列王维画，座上高悬鬼谷形。
端溪砚，金烟墨，相衬着霜毫大笔；
火珠林，郭璞数，谨对了台政新经。
六爻熟谙，八卦精通。
能知天地理，善晓鬼神情。
一脖子午安排定，满腹星辰布列清。
真个那未来事，过去事，观如月镜；
几家兴，几家败，鉴若神明。
知凶定吉，断死言生。
开谈风雨迅，下笔鬼神惊。
招牌有字书名姓，神课先生袁守诚。
Who was he? He was Yuan Shoucheng, the uncle of Yuan Tiangang the Imperial Astrologer. He was famous throughout the country, and the leading member of his profession in Chang'an. The dragon king went in to see him, and when they had greeted each other he asked the dragon king to sit down, while a servant brought tea.
“What have you come to ask about, sir?” asked the soothsayer, and the dragon king replied, “I beg you to uncover the secrets of the sky for me.” The soothsayer passed him a slip of paper from his sleeve and said, “Clouds obscure the mountain peak, mist covers the tree tops. If there is to be rain, it will certainly come tomorrow.”
“When will it rain tomorrow,” asked the dragon king, “and how many inches of rain will fall?”
“Tomorrow the clouds will gather at mid-morning; late in the morning there will be thunder; at noon it will start to rain; and in the early afternoon the rain will finish, after 3 feet 3.48 inches have fallen,” replied the soothsayer.
“I trust that you are not fooling,” said the dragon king. “If it rains tomorrow at the time and to the depth you have predicted I shall pay you a fee of fifty pieces of gold. If it does not rain, or if it does not rain at the time and to the depth you say it will, then I'm telling you straight that I'll smash up your shopfront, tear down your sign and run you out of Chang'an so that you won't be able to deceive the people a moment longer.”
“That is entirely up to you,” replied the other cheerfully. “We shall meet again tomorrow after the rain.”
此人是谁？原来是当朝钦天监台正先生袁天罡的叔父，袁守诚是也。那先生果然相貌稀奇，仪容秀丽，名扬大国，术冠长安。龙王入门来，与先生相见。礼毕，请龙上坐，童子献茶。先生问曰：“公来问何事？”龙王曰：“请卜天上阴晴事如何。”先生即袖传一课，断曰：“云迷山顶，雾罩林梢。若占雨泽，准在明朝。”龙王曰：“明日甚时下雨？雨有多少尺寸？”先生道：“明日辰时布云，巳时发雷，午时下雨，未时雨足，共得水三尺三寸零四十八点”。龙王笑曰：“此言不可作戏。如是明日有雨，依你断的时辰数目，我送课金五十两奉谢。若无雨，或不按时辰数目，我与你实说，定要打坏你的门面，扯碎你的招牌，即时赶出长安，不许在此惑众！”先生欣然而答：“这个一定任你。请了，请了，明朝雨后来会。”
The dragon king took his leave and went back to his watery palace from Chang'an. The greater and lesser water spirits greeted him with the question, “How did Your Majesty's visit to the soothsayer go?”
“It was all right,” he replied, “but he was a smooth-tongued fortune-teller. When I asked him when it would rain, he said tomorrow. When I asked what time of day it would be and how much would fall, he said that at mid-morning the clouds would gather, late in the morning it would thunder, at noon it would start to rain, and early in the afternoon it would stop raining. He also said that 3 feet 3.48 inches of rain would fall. I made a wager with him that if his prediction turned out to be true, I'd give him fifty ounces of gold; but if he got it at all wrong, I'd smash up his shopfront id drive him out, so that he wouldn't be able to deceive the public any longer. The watery tribe laughed and said, “Your Majesty is the General Superintendent of the Eight Rivers and the Great Dragon God of the Rain, so only you can know whether there will be rain. How dare he talk such nonsense? That fortune-teller is bound to lose, absolutely bound to.”
龙王辞别，出长安，回水府。大小水神接着，问曰：“大王访那卖卦的如何？”龙王道：“有，有，有！但是一个掉嘴口讨春的先生。我问他几时下雨，他就说明日下雨；问他什么时辰，什么雨数，他就说辰时布云，巳时发雷，午时下雨，未时雨足，得水三尺三寸零四十八点，我与他打了个赌赛；若果如他言，送他谢金五十两；如略差些，就打破他门面，赶他起身，不许在长安惑众。”众水族笑曰：“大王是八河都总管，司雨大龙神，有雨无雨，惟大王知之，他怎敢这等胡言？那卖卦的定是输了，定是输了！”
Just as all the dragon sons and grandsons were laughing and talking about this with the fish ministers and crab soldiers a shout was heard from the sky: “Dragon King of the Jing River, prepare to receive an Imperial Decree.” They all looked up and saw a warrior in golden clothes coming towards the watery palace with a decree from the Jade Emperor in his hands. This alarmed the dragon king, who straightened his clothes, stood up solemnly, burnt incense and received the decree. The gold-clad warrior returned to the sky. Giving thanks for the imperial grace the dragon king opened the letter and read:
“We order the Superintendent of the Eight Rivers to travel with thunder and lightning and succor the city of Chang'an with rain.”
The time and the amount on the decree were exactly the same as those foretold by the soothsayer, which so startled the dragon king that he passed out. When he came round a moment later he said to the watery tribe, “How can there be a man of such powers in the mortal world? He is really someone who knows everything about Heaven and Earth—I'm bound to be beaten by him.”
“Your Majesty should not worry,” submitted General Shad in a memorial. “There will be no difficulty about beating him. Your subject has a humble plan that I can guarantee will shut that scoundrel's mouth.” When the dragon king asked what the plan was, the general replied, “Make it rain at the wrong time and not quite enough, so that his predictions are wrong, and then you will surely beat him. There will be nothing to stop you smashing his sign to smithereens and running him out of town.” The dragon king accepted his advice and stopped worrying.
此时龙子龙孙与那鱼鲫蟹士，正欢笑谈此事未毕，只听得半空中叫：“泾河龙王接旨。”众抬头上看，是一个金衣力士，手擎玉帝敕旨，径投水府而来。慌得龙王整衣端肃，焚香接了旨。金衣力士回空而去。龙王谢恩，拆封看时，上写着：“敕命八河总，驱雷掣电行；明朝施雨泽，普济长安城。”旨意上时辰数目，与那先生判断者毫发不差，唬得那龙王魂飞魄散。少顷苏醒，对众水族曰：“尘世上有此灵人，真个是能通天彻地，却不输与他呵！”鲥军师奏曰：“大王放心。要赢他有何难处？臣有小计，管教灭那厮的口嘴。”龙王问计，军师道：“行雨差了时辰，少些点数，就是那厮断卦不准，怕不赢他？那时扌卒碎招牌，赶他跑路，果何难也？”龙王依他所奏，果不担忧。
The next day he ordered Viscount Wind, Duke Thunder, the Cloud Youth and Mother Lightning to go to the sky above the city of Chang'an. He waited till late in the morning before spreading the clouds, unleashed the thunder at noon, started the rain in the early afternoon, and stopped it in the late afternoon, when only three feet and 0.4 inches had fallen. He had thus changed the times by two hours and reduced the amount of rain by .08 inches. After the rain he dismissed his generals and his hosts and put away his clouds; then he changed back into a white-clad scholar and charged into Yuan Shoucheng's fortune-telling stall on West Gate Street. Without even asking for an explanation he smashed up Yuan's sign, his brush, his inkstone, and everything else, while the fortune-teller remained calmly in his chair without moving.
The dragon king brandished the door in the air, ready to hit him with it, and began to pour abuse on him: “You evil man, with all your reckless talk about blessings and disasters; you stinking deceiver of the masses. Your predictions are false, and you talk nonsense. You got the time and the amount of today's rain quite wrong, but you still sit there so high and mighty. Get out at once if you want me to spare your life.” Yuan Shoucheng, who was as calm and unfrightened as ever, looked up to the sky with a mocking smile.
“I'm not afraid,” he said, “I'm not afraid. I've committed no capital offence, but I fear that you have. You may be able to fool other people, but you can't fool me. I know who you are. You're no scholar; you're the Dragon King of the River Jing. You flouted a decree of the Jade Emperor by changing the time of the rain and cutting down the amount, which is a crime against the laws of Heaven. I'm afraid that you're for the executioner's blade on the Dragon-slicing Scaffold. Are you going to keep up that abuse of me?”
On hearing this the dragon king trembled from fear and his hair stood on end. Dropping the door at once he straightened his clothes and made gestures of submission, kneeling to the soothsayer and saying, “Please do not be angry with me, sir; I was only joking. I never thought that it would be taken seriously. Whatever am I to do if I have broken the laws of Heaven? I beg you to save me, sir. If you don't I shall haunt you after my death.”
“I can't save you,” replied Yuan Shoucheng, “but I can suggest one way by which you may be able to save your skin.”
“I beg you to tell me,” implored the dragon king.
“Tomorrow afternoon at half past one you will have to go to the office of the official in charge of personnel, Wei Zheng, to be beheaded. If you want to stay alive you must report at once to the present Tang Emperor, Taizong, as Wei Zheng is a minister of his; and if you can get him to speak for you, you will be all right.” The dragon king took his leave of the soothsayer with tears in his eyes and went away. The sun was setting in the West, and the moon and stars were coming out.
至次日，点札风伯、雷公、云童、电母，直至长安城九霄空上。他挨到那巳时方布云，午时发雷，未时落雨，申时雨止，却只得三尺零四十点，改了他一个时辰，克了他三寸八点，雨后发放众将班师。他又按落云头，还变作白衣秀士，到那西门里大街上，撞入袁守诚卦铺，不容分说，就把他招牌、笔、砚等一齐扌卒碎。那先生坐在椅上，公然不动。这龙王又轮起门板便打、骂道：“这妄言祸福的妖人，擅惑众心的泼汉！你卦又不灵，言又狂谬！说今日下雨的时辰点数俱不相对，你还危然高坐，趁早去，饶你死罪！”守诚犹公然不惧分毫，仰面朝天冷笑道：“我不怕，我不怕！我无死罪，只怕你倒有个死罪哩！别人好瞒，只是难瞒我也。我认得你，你不是秀士，乃是泾河龙王。你违了玉帝敕旨，改了时辰，克了点数，犯了天条。你在那剐龙台上，恐难免一刀，你还在此骂我？”龙王见说，心惊胆战，毛骨悚然，急丢了门板，整衣伏礼，向先生跪下道：“先生休怪。前言戏之耳，岂知弄假成真，果然违犯天条，奈何？望先生救我一救！不然，我死也不放你。”守诚曰：“我救你不得，只是指条生路与你投生便了。”龙曰：“愿求指教。”先生曰：“你明日午时三刻，该赴人曹官魏征处听斩。你果要性命，须当急急去告当今唐太宗皇帝方好。那魏征是唐王驾下的丞相，若是讨他个人情，方保无事。”龙王闻言，拜辞含泪而去。不觉红日西沉，太阴星上，但见——
As clouds settle round the mountains the crows fly back to roost,
The travelers on long journeys find inns for the night.
The returning geese sleep on a sandbank by the ford,
As the Milky Way appears.
While the hours push on
A lamp in the lonely village burns with barely a flame.
Pure is the monastery as the reed smoke curls in the breeze;
Men disappear in the butterfly dream.
As the moon sinks, flower shadows climb the rails,
The stars are a jumble of light.
The hours are called,
The night is already half way through.
烟凝山紫归鸦倦，远路行人投旅店。
渡头新雁宿眭沙，银河现。
催更筹，孤村灯火光无焰。
风袅炉烟清道院，蝴蝶梦中人不见。
月移花影上栏杆，星光乱。
漏声换，不觉深沉夜已半。
The Dragon King of the River Jing did not return to his watery palace but stayed in the sky until the small hours of the morning, when he put away his cloud and his mist horn, and went straight to the gate of the Imperial Palace. At this very moment the Tang Emperor dreamt that he went out of the palace gate to stroll among the flowers in the moonlight. The dragon king at once took human form, went up to him and knelt and bowed before him, crying, “Save me, Your Majesty, save me.”
“Who are you, that we should save you?” asked Taizong.
“Your Majesty is a true dragon,” replied the dragon king, “and I am a wicked dragon. As I have offended against the laws of Heaven, I am due to be beheaded by Your Majesty's illustrious minister Wei Zheng, the official in charge of personnel, so I have come to beg you to save me.”
“If you are supposed to be beheaded by Wei Zheng, we can save you, so set your mind at rest and go along now,” said the Tang Emperor. The dragon king, who was extremely happy, kowtowed in thanks and went away.
Taizong remembered his dream when he woke up. It was now half past four in the morning, so Taizong held court before the assembled civil and military officials.
这泾河龙王也不回水府，只在空中，等到子时前后，收了云头，敛了雾角，径来皇宫门首。此时唐王正梦出宫门之外，步月花阴，忽然龙王变作人相，上前跪拜。口叫“陛下，救我，救我！”太宗云：“你是何人？朕当救你。”龙王云：“陛下是真龙，臣是业龙。臣因犯了天条，该陛下贤臣人曹官魏征处斩，故来拜求，望陛下救我一救！”太宗曰：“既是魏征处斩，朕可以救你。你放心前去。”龙王欢喜，叩谢而去。
却说那太宗梦醒后，念念在心。早已至五鼓三点，太宗设朝，聚集两班文武官员。但见那——
Mist wreathed the palace gates,
Incense rose to the dragon towers.
In the shimmering light the silken screen moves,
As the clouds shake the imperial glory spreads.
Monarch and subject as faithful as Yao and Shun,
Imposing music and ritual rivaling Zhou and Han.
Pages hold lanterns,
Palace women hold fans,
In brilliant pairs.
Pheasant screens,
Unicorn halls,
Shimmering everywhere.
As the call “Long Live the Emperor” goes up,
The Empress is wished a thousand autumns.
When the Rod of Silence descends three times,
The uniformed officials bow to the emperor.
The brightly coloured palace flowers have a heavenly scent;
The delicate willows on the bank sing royal songs.
Pearl curtains,
Jade curtains,
Are hung high from golden hooks;
Dragon and phoenix fans,
Landscape fans,
Rest by the royal chariot.
Elegant are the civil officials,
Vigorous the generals.
By the Imperial Way high and low are divided;
They stand by rank beneath the palace steps.
The ministers with their purple corded seals ride three elephants.
May the Emperor live as long as Heaven and Earth!
烟笼凤阙，香蔼龙楼。
光摇丹郡动，云拂翠华流。
君臣相契同尧舜，礼乐威严近汉周。
侍臣灯，宫女扇，双双映彩；
孔雀屏，麒麟殿，处处光浮。
山呼万岁，华祝千秋。
静鞭三下响，衣冠拜冕旒。
宫花灿烂天香袭，堤柳轻柔御乐讴。
珍珠帘，翡翠帘，金钩高控；
龙凤扇，山河扇，宝辇停留。
文官英秀，武将抖擞。
御道分高下，丹墀列品流。
金章紫绶乘三象，地久天长万万秋。
When the officials had all done homage they divided into their groups. The Tang Emperor looked at them one by one with his dragon and phoenix eyes. Among the civil officials he observed Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Xu Shiji, Xu Jingzong, Wang Gui and others; and among the military officers he saw Ma Sanbao, Duan Zhixian, Yin Kaishan, Cheng Yaojin, Liu Hongji, Hu Jingde, and Qin Shubao among others. Every one of them was standing there solemnly and with dignity, but he could not see Minister Wei Zheng among them.
He summoned Xu Shiji into the palace hall and said to him, “We had a strange dream last night in which a man came and bowed to us, claiming that he was the Dragon King of the River Jing. He had broken the laws of Heaven, and was due to be beheaded by the official in the personnel department, Wei Zheng. He begged us to save him, and we agreed. Why is it that the only official missing at court today is Wei Zheng?”
“If this dream is true,” replied Xu Shiji, “Wei Zheng must be summoned to the palace, and Your Majesty must not let him out of doors. Once today is over the Dragon King will be saved.” The Tang Emperor was overjoyed and he sent a personal aide with a decree summoning Wei Zheng to court.
众官朝贺已毕，各各分班。唐王闪凤目龙睛，一一从头观看，只见那文官内是房玄龄、杜如晦、徐世卞、许敬宗、王圭等，武官内是马三宝、段志贤、殷开山、程咬金、刘洪纪、胡敬德、秦叔宝等，一个个威仪端肃，却不见魏征丞相。唐王召徐世勣上殿道：“朕夜间得一怪梦，梦见一人迎面拜谒，口称是泾河龙王，犯了天条，该人曹官魏征处斩，拜告寡人救他，朕已许诺。今日班前独不见魏征，何也？”世勣对曰：“此梦告准，须臾魏征来朝，陛下不要放他出门。过此一日，可救梦中之龙。”唐王大喜，即传旨，着当驾官宣魏征入朝。
That night the minister Wei Zheng had been reading the stars in his residence and was just burning some precious incense when he heard a crane calling in the sky. It was a messenger from Heaven with a decree from the Jade Emperor ordering him to behead the Dragon King of the River Jing in a dream at half past one the following afternoon. The minister thanked Heaven for its grace, fasted and bathed himself, tried out the sword of his wisdom, and exercised his soul. This was why he did not go to court. When the imperial aide came with a summons he was frightened and nonplussed; but he did not dare to delay in obeying an order from his monarch, so he hurriedly tidied his clothes, tightened his belt, and went to the palace with the summons in his hands. He kowtowed to the Emperor and admitted his fault.
“We forgive you,” said the Emperor. The officials had not yet withdrawn, so the Emperor now ordered the curtains to be lowered and dismissed them. The only one of them he kept behind was Wei Zheng, whom he ordered to mount the golden chariot and come to his private quarters with him, where they discussed the policies to bring peace and stability to the country.
At about noon he ordered the palace ladies to bring a large weiqi chess set and said, “We shall now have a game of chess.” The Imperial concubines brought in a chess board and set it on the Emperor's table. Thanking the Tang Emperor for his grace, Wei Zheng started to play with him.
却说魏征丞相在府，夜观乾象，正爇宝香，只闻得九霄鹤唳，却是天差仙使，捧玉帝金旨一道，着他午时三刻，梦斩泾河老龙。这丞相谢了天恩，斋戒沐浴，在府中试慧剑，运元神，故此不曾入朝。一见当驾官赍旨来宣，惶惧无任；又不敢违迟君命，只得急急整衣束带，同旨入朝，在御前叩头请罪。唐王出旨道：“赦卿无罪。”那时诸臣尚未退朝，至此，却命卷帘散朝，独留魏征，宣上金銮，召入便殿，先议论安邦之策，定国之谋。将近巳末午初时候，却命宫人取过大棋来，“朕与贤卿对弈一局。”众嫔妃随取棋枰，铺设御案。魏征谢了恩，即与唐王对弈。毕竟不知胜负如何，且听下回分解。