Chapter 29: As the Celestial Orb Emerges, Countless Souls on Earth Gaze Upward

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The Liu Ji mentioned by Zhang Jingzhai was actually a successful candidate in the imperial examinations during the Yuan dynasty. Later, when Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming dynasty, Liu Ji switched allegiance and, by the third year of the Hongwu era, held a significant official position.

“Even someone like Liu Ji was treated that way, let alone your uncle?” Zhang Jingzhai rose and paced thoughtfully. “Liu Ji ranked fifth in the palace examination and was admitted to the Hanlin Academy. I myself have read his examination papers—they are truly masterpieces, unmatched under heaven!”

County Magistrate Tang tugged at his beard. “But wasn’t it the Hongwu Emperor himself who secretly summoned him from retirement?”

Zhang Jingzhai’s face darkened like still water. “Exactly him.”

There was a famous story about this, recorded in history alongside Emperor Taizu of Song Zhao Kuangyin’s legendary “Snowy Night Visit to Pu,” celebrated as a fine tale.

Once, Zhu Yuanzhang, disguised and on a private visit to Liu Ji’s home, happened to see a tray of small dishes brought by the Zhang and Wang families from Jiangnan. When opened, it revealed not food but gold nuggets shaped like melon seeds.

This infuriated Zhu Yuanzhang, who exclaimed, “Does he think all affairs of the realm depend solely on scholars like you?”

The next day, Liu Ji was demoted to be the county magistrate of Qingtian, and later, still unsatisfied, the emperor ordered him poisoned to death.

County Magistrate Tang grew uneasy and looked at Zhang Jingzhai sincerely. “What should we do about this matter?”

He adjusted his sleeve, hoping to show a humble eagerness to learn.

Zhang Jingzhai quickly stepped aside to assist him, and once they all sat down again, feigned a moment of deep thought.

“By my humble opinion, someone must already be keeping an eye on your uncle. Perhaps your uncle should turn the tables by playing along.”

“Oh?” Magistrate Tang asked eagerly, “How do you propose to do that?”

Zhang Jingzhai suddenly exchanged a glance with Fan Jin. Seeing Fan Jin’s calm and confident demeanor, he was struck with surprise and thought, “Surely Mr. Fan has a plan!”

Fan Jin, quietly sipping tea, hesitated briefly, feeling unexpectedly implicated, but seeing all eyes on him, he did not falter.

“This is simple,” Fan Jin said. “Why not use this opportunity to make a show of it? Have him serve tonight, then during tomorrow’s court session, order the old master locked up and given thirty or forty lashes. Then place a large cangue on him, pile beef upon it, and post a notice declaring his audacity.”

At the end, Fan Jin smiled and added, “You could also have this matter widely publicized and reported to the Prefect. He will surely praise you for your righteous action, and your promotion will be just around the corner.”

Zhang Jingzhai, noticing Fan Jin’s calculated and seasoned approach despite not yet being in official service, regarded him with newfound respect, speaking with a tone nearly bordering on flattery.

County Magistrate Tang considered Fan Jin’s clever plan, then struck the table with approval. “A brilliant stratagem!”

They resumed their drinking and toasting, continuing late into the night.

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At dawn, as the rooster crowed and daylight brightened, County Magistrate Tang had already left to hold the morning court. Meanwhile, gentlemen Zhang and Zhou proposed observing the proceedings from the rear hall.

Fan Jin, having never witnessed an ancient official preside over a case, gladly agreed to join them.

In the main hall of the county yamen,

County Magistrate Tang adjusted his black official hat and struck the gavel, calling out, “Bring the man forward!”

Soon, a thief accused of stealing chickens was escorted in by clerks.

The plaintiff wailed loudly, while the thief offered every excuse.

The magistrate’s clerk whispered into Tang’s ear, causing the magistrate’s face to flush red as he growled, “How many times have you slipped up in my court, you scoundrel? Yet you never learn!”

He sighed with some helplessness. “Such petty thieves fear no lashes, and no one is truly hurt by the punishment. Soon enough, they’re back on their feet, causing trouble again.”

The clerk opened his mouth to speak, “Your Honor, perhaps a light punishment to warn others would suffice.”

These ragged vagabonds couldn’t be killed, nor could they be locked away for long, wasting public funds.

Tang sighed and suddenly had an idea. Silently he thought, “Got it!”

He ordered a red brush brought and, descending from the dais, wrote “Chicken Thief” on the man’s face. Then he had the thief’s stolen chicken tied to his head in a cangue, head forward, tail backward, and paraded him through the county gates.

Unexpectedly, before they had even left the county, the chicken squatted and defecated, a foul mess dripping from the thief’s face down to the cangue.

Everyone burst into uproarious laughter.

After the laughter died down, Tang ordered the old master from the previous night brought before the court.

The old man was dragged forward by two groups of clerks and thrown to the ground. As he struggled to rise, he saw the once kindly magistrate now icy and stern, scolding him fiercely as a “brazen dog slave!”

Not satisfied with mere words, Tang ordered thirty lashes, beating the man nearly to the point of breathlessness.

Finally, he had a large cangue brought and piled with fifty pounds of beef, securing it tightly around the man’s face and neck, leaving only his eyes visible, to be displayed outside the county office.

By noon the sun blazed hot, and until sunset, the cangue was not removed.

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Fan Jin approached Magistrate Tang and advised, “Master Fang, this matter should end here.”

“Why so?” Tang feigned ignorance.

Fan Jin urged, “Your actions serve as a warning. Now that the purpose is achieved, there’s no need to persist. The old master is aged and has not eaten for a day. If the cangue remains for another day or two, he might die.

“If the Hui people cause trouble over this, it would be difficult to control.”

“I’ve been reckless!” Tang was alarmed. The Hui community in Gaoyao was large and diverse, spanning all walks of life. If someone died, unrest would surely follow.

Moreover, if news spread of cruelty toward the Muslim community, he would lose face before his hometown elders.

He hastily ordered the cangue removed, arranged food and drink, and sent the old master home intact.

Within days, Magistrate Tang’s good reputation spread throughout Gaoyao County and even reached the prefectural capital. Officials from the provincial administration had heard of him.

After a few days, Fan Jin and gentlemen Zhang and Zhou prepared to take their leave.

Tang would not hear of it, insisting they stay one more day, sharing food and wine, before setting out early the next morning.

They tried to decline but had to comply.

That night, under a bright moon with stars sparse, Magistrate Tang ordered the banquet moved outdoors into the garden.

After some eating, Tang raised his cup with a smile. “On such a fine evening, Master Jin, might you favor us with a poem?”

Clearly, he had heard of Fan Jin’s “Bamboo and Rock” poem during their stay, and his impression of Fan Jin had shifted.

Gentlemen Zhang and Zhou nodded in agreement. “Brother Fan is well regarded by Master Zhou, a disciple of a great scholar. Surely he is no stranger to poetry!”

Fan Jin rose, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the round, jade-like moon. In that moment, a heroic spirit surged within him, and he recited:

“When on the fifteenth night, the moon reunites,
Its bright light guards the jade balcony;
A single orb emerges in heaven’s vault,
Below, all the people look up and admire.”