Ghost Story of Liaozhai

Fujian Zeng Juren, after high school Jinshi, and two or three friends on the same list, went to the countryside to play.Hearing that there is a Pilu Buddhist monastery nearby, a fortune teller lives there, so he rode forward to ask for divination.After entering the temple and sitting down, the fortune-teller saw that Zeng was very high-spirited and flattering.Zeng shook his fan and smiled, and asked: "Is there any blessing for me to wear a python robe and a jade belt?" During the light rain, Zeng and his companion took shelter from the rain in the monk's room. In the room was an old monk with deep eyes and high nose, sitting on a futon. When they met each other, their attitude was indifferent and they did not salute.

Everyone raised their hands to ask questions, gossiping in bed, friends all called Zeng as the prime minister, and congratulated in advance, Zeng was full of enthusiasm, pointed to his companion, and said: "Brother Zhang, when I become prime minister, I will definitely recommend you as the governor, a relative in the family, All of them will be promoted to generals and guerrillas; as for their old servants, it is enough to give him the position of general manager." Hearing this, the audience burst out laughing.

It was raining heavily outside Er'er's window, and Zeng felt tired and fell asleep on the couch. Suddenly, two emissaries from the imperial court, holding the emperor's edict, called Zeng Taishi to discuss state affairs.Satisfied, Zeng went to court. The emperor warmly expressed his condolences and ordered officials below the third rank to let him ascend or descend; he rewarded python robes, jade belts and famous horses.Zeng put on his gown, knelt down to thank him, said goodbye and went home. When he arrived at the mansion, the house was magnificent and majestic, not the previous residence.Zeng was full of doubts: Why did he develop so far?However, Nianxu shouted, and the servants coaxed him to promise and let him be dispatched.

Then ministers and ministers came to visit, fawning and giving gifts, respectful and flattering, and there was an endless stream.When the six ministers came, Zeng walked upside down to greet him. The servant came and bowed to salute. The servants below just nodded slightly.The governor of Shanxi came in to present ten girls, all of whom were young and beautiful.Niao Niao, the second daughter of Xianxian, has an especially outstanding appearance and is quite favored.In his spare time, Zeng spent his time drinking and enjoying himself.

One day, I remembered that when I was not prominent in the past, the squire Wang Ziliang often helped me. Now that I am on the top of Qingyun, Brother Wang is still wasting his official career and is depressed, why not help him?Thinking of this, he immediately wrote a letter to start the performance, recommending Wang Ziliang as an admonishing doctor, approved by the imperial decree, and immediately hired him.He also remembered that Guo Taipu had had a grudge with himself, so he ordered his subordinates Lv Gejian, Chen Chang and others to give secret instructions; the next day, there were a steady stream of memorials to impeach Guo Taipu, and the emperor ordered him to be dismissed from office and demoted to a commoner.

The grievances were settled, and Zeng was very happy. He was out on a parade that day, and the guard of honor was attacked by a drunk. Zeng was furious, and immediately escorted this person to the Yamen of the capital, where he was beaten to death with a stick.The rich and wealthy landlords in the capital originally had thousands of hectares of fertile land. Fearing Zeng's power, they donated land one after another and suffered all kinds of bullying.

Zeng robbed and plundered, and since then he has become richer than a country. Soon, immortals died one after another. Zeng was so sad that he missed him day and night.It suddenly occurred to him that the girl from the host family was so beautiful, and he used to want to marry her as a concubine, but because his family was poor and had no money, his ambition was forced to run aground, but now he can get his wish.So he sent a number of servants, gave money as a gift, and forcibly married a girl.In a short time, the sedan chair arrived, and the bride's appearance was gorgeous, even better than in the past.Looking back on my life, my wish is fulfilled and I have no regrets.Another year later, the ministers of the DPRK and China whispered, and seemed to have criticisms of themselves. Zeng did not take it to heart because he believed in his high position and power.

Not long after, Baogong, a scholar of LongTuge University, filed a complaint to impeach the prime minister. The contents were as follows: "The grand master Zeng was originally a rascal in the market, and he was favored by a word of his words. Thinking of sacrificing one's life to serve the country, but acting as a domineering, sinful crime, and countless promotions. Selling officials and nobles, filling private pockets. All the officials and generals join the sect, speculating and gaining profits, just like market peddlers. Relying on Zeng's breath, looking down at the dust and worshiping Those who are uncountable. If there are virtuous men and good ministers who are unwilling to be attached, they will be in idle positions at the least, and dismissed from office and return to the farmland. What's more, Zeng Mou treats the deer as a horse and monopolizes the court. Whoever dares to disobey will be retaliated immediately and assigned to the frontier. Next. The courtiers are chilled, and the court is isolated. The fat and anointing of the people are eaten away, and the women of good families are plundered and robbed. The people's complaints are boiling, and there is no sky. According to the partiality of the procurator, the procuratorate broke the law. Even adopted sons and adopted sons, relatives who were involved, went out to ride in a car, and the wind was thunderous. The local supply was a little slow, and they were flogged and beaten. They poisoned the people, enslaved the government, wherever they went, wild There is no green grass. At present, Zeng has a prominent position and does not know how to repent. He is slandering and slandering. It caused the disaster of recklessness and recklessness. The humble minister risked his death to see him, only to cut off the head of the traitorous minister, confiscate the property of the traitorous minister, calm the anger of the heavens, and appease the hearts of the people. With a knife and a saw, you will never hesitate to die."

The memorial was delivered, and when Zeng heard it, his soul flew away, like drinking ice water.Fortunately, the emperor was tolerant and withheld the memorial.Then various departments, officials of various departments, and ministers of the nine ministers wrote letters one after another.The imperial decree ordered the house to be confiscated, and Zeng was dispatched to Yunnan to serve as an army.His son, who served as the prefect of Pingyang, was also arrested and brought back to Kyoto for interrogation.

When Zeng heard the decree, he was terrified. Dozens of warriors armed with knives and swords went straight to the bedroom, stripped him of his clothes, and tied him up with his wife.Er saw porters shuttle the courtyard, carrying gold, silver and banknotes, millions of them, pearls, emeralds, agates and jades, no less than a hundred dendrobium.There are thousands of curtains, beds, tables and chairs, and porcelain.Even children's swaddling babies and women's embroidered shoes are scattered all over the floor.Seeing it one by one, Zeng Mou was so sad and glaring, a warrior from Er'er dragged the girl from the owner's family out.When Zeng saw this, he was furious, but dared not speak out.

The attic warehouses in Er'er were sealed up one by one. All the warriors shouted loudly and ordered Zeng to leave. not allowed.After traveling ten miles away, his wife fell to the ground with weak legs. Zeng supported her with his hands, and after walking for another ten miles, he was also exhausted.

There was a high mountain in front of him that pierced into the sky. Zeng was worried that he would not be able to climb it, so he wept with his wife.The supervising officers have hideous faces and cannot stop.The sun was setting in the sky, and there was nowhere to buy a store. Zeng had no choice but to stagger up the hill.Halfway up the mountain, his wife was exhausted and sat on the ground crying.Zeng stopped to catch his breath, but the guard yelled at him and urged him on his way.

Suddenly, a group of people clamored, and hundreds of robbers rushed forward with each blade.The guard's expression changed drastically, and he fled in horror.Zeng knelt down on the ground and said: "Everyone is merciful. I have been demoted into the army and have nothing. Please let me go." If you want to harm the wronged people, you only need to kill the head of the thief, and you have nothing else to ask for." Zeng said angrily, "Although the old man is guilty of the crime, he is still an official of the imperial court. How dare you kill me, don't you want to die?"

The thief was also annoyed, he swung his huge axe, and with one blow, Zeng's head fell to the ground. He was still in shock, when two little ghosts stepped forward, cut their hands behind their backs, and escorted him to the prison.A few quarters of an hour later, when they arrived at the capital city, Zeng raised his eyes and stared, only to see a Pluto sitting on top of the palace, with an ugly face.Zeng prostrated himself on the ground, not daring to move. Pluto read the file, only read a few lines, and immediately became furious, saying: "This is the crime of deceiving the king and the country, and it should be thrown into the frying pan according to the law."

All the ghosts echoed in unison, their voices were like thunder.A giant ghost stepped forward, grabbed Zeng, and threw him down the steps. In front of him was a huge tripod, about seven feet high, surrounded by burning charcoal. It was extremely hot, and the legs of the tripod were hot.Zeng Mou flinched and wailed, and had no way to escape. The giant ghost grabbed his hair with his left hand, lifted his foot with his right hand, and threw Zeng Mou into the frying pan.

Zeng floated and sank with the oil, his skin was scorched, and his heart ached.Boiling oil enters the mouth, frying and cooking the lungs, just for quick death.After a meal, the giant ghost took Zeng with an iron fork and threw it under the court. Hades inspected the file and said angrily: "If you bully people with power, you should enter the mountain of swords according to the law." The hill is not very wide, the cliffs are sharp, and the sharp blades are vertical and horizontal, like bamboo shoots.Several criminals on the mountain are being punished, with sharp knives piercing their intestines, sharp swords piercing their stomachs, and the sound of crying and wailing is extremely stern.

The giant ghost urged Zeng to go up the mountain, but Zeng cried and shook his head, retreating.The giant ghost stabbed the brain with a poison cone, and Zeng begged for mercy in pain. The giant ghost was furious, lifted Zeng and threw it vigorously. , the pain is unspeakable.After a while, Zeng's body was heavy and he couldn't stop pressing down. The wound gradually widened, and he fell to the ground to escape the danger, but his limbs were curled up and he was already unconscious.

The giant ghost escorted him to see Hades, and Hades said coldly: "This fellow sold off officials and nobles before he was alive. He corrupted the law by corrupting the law, invaded the fields and occupied the land, and his crimes are unforgivable. Let's find out for me, how much money has been embezzled by this thing?" Silver?" His subordinates reported: "3201 million taels." Pluto said: "Very good, let him drink all the corruption."

In a short while, the ghost soldiers took money and piled them on the steps, as many as hills.An iron pot was set up in the main hall, and the fire was burned to melt the silver ingots and copper plates. It was not too big, and the pot was full of iron juice.The ghost soldier used a spoon to pour the iron juice into Zeng's throat one by one. The skin was cracked and the stench was soaring; the internal organs were boiling and it was extremely uncomfortable.Zeng was full of remorse. Before his death, he only hoped that the silver taels would be more and better, but now he wished for a little less, and a little less.

After drinking for half a day, the iron juice was finished.Pluto ordered his subordinates: Take this guy to Ganzhou and reincarnate as a daughter.Walking for a few steps, I saw an iron bar, several feet thick, pierced with a fire wheel, hundreds of miles in diameter, with colorful lights everywhere. The ghost pawn whipped Zeng and ordered him to board the wheel. The body fell, and the wind whistled in the ear.

Opening his eyes again, he was in the form of a baby girl, her parents were in rags and straw sandals, and there was an earthen hut with wooden ladles and bamboo sticks in the room.Zeng felt suddenly: he had become the son of a beggar.In the following life, Zeng went to the street to beg for food every day, hungry, thinly dressed, and biting cold. At the age of 14, Zeng was sold to a scholar to be his concubine. The eldest wife was fierce and beat her with a whip every day, and even burned her breasts with a branding iron.

The owner is evil and young, coveting Zeng's beauty, this day he broke through the wall and entered the house, forcing him to have an affair.Zeng thought to himself that he had committed a lot of crimes in his previous life, and he was punished severely by the indictment company. How could he commit another crime?So they shouted loudly, the scholar couple heard the news and came to rescue, and the evil young man left bitterly.

Not long after we got married, I slept with Xiucai that night, complaining on the pillow, suddenly there was a loud noise, the door was kicked open, and two thieves came in with knives, cut off the scholar's head, searched for property, and robbed. A certain hid in the bed and did not dare to make a sound, and then the thief left. Zeng called his wife loudly. Severe torture and torture, the case was quickly closed, and the verdict was issued: Zeng murdered his husband, according to the law, he should be executed immediately, and executed immediately.

Zeng Mou was full of grievances, only felt that the bottom of the nine nether worlds, and the eighteen hells, there is no such darkness.While weeping, he suddenly heard his companion calling: "Brother Zeng, wake up. Did you have a nightmare?" Zeng got up in shock and saw the old monk sitting cross-legged. Why can't you wake up from a deep sleep?" Zeng was terrified and didn't know what was right.

The old monk smiled and said, "The fortune teller said that you will be the prime minister. Is it true?" Zeng became more and more astonished, bowed down, and asked for advice on Buddhism.The old monk said: "Practice benevolence, and green lotus will grow in the fire pit. The old monk said it all. Please be almsgiver." .