Chapter 22 Meng Xiao

Later, Meng Xiao went to Chongguang Temple in Xinfan County to see the Taoist priest in black. He entered the temple, which was built in the seventh year of Yuanfeng, and saw the portrait of Emperor Taizu painted on the temple wall by the monk Daohui two hundred years ago. But he did not see the portraits of Emperor Taizong, Zhenzong, Renzong, Yingzong, and Shenzong, which were delivered by Zi Quanzhen, a Taoist priest from Shangqing Taiping Palace in Zhongnan Mountain, escorted by Wu Gong, and brought to this place by Zhang Gong. This was in May of the fourth year of Gandao. A few years later, Meng Xiao told Meng Quan that I handed the bundle to the Taoist priest in black that night. I didn't want to hand it over, after all, it was my grandfather's masterpiece. I told him, if I'm not mistaken, this is something from my Meng family. He handed the material to me and said, "Then I'll give it back to you. Do you dare to take it?" I said, "You Taoist priest, it turns out you are a worldly person." After that, I left. I don't know anything more.

This is impossible. Meng Quan said that the Taoist priest did not leave the temple at midnight, and his body was discovered by the guards guarding the imperial portrait at noon. The body was taken to the Xinfan County government office, where an examination by the coroner confirmed that he had been strangled. The guard said that no one had come that night except the Taoist priest and Mr. Meng. How could the Taoist priest have strangled himself?

To hear the truth, Meng Quan confessed to Meng Xiao, "I am your long-lost cousin. Zhao Langzhong, the Imperial Secretary, has learned of your exile and sent me to recruit you for a great cause." After the brothers recognized each other, Meng Xiao held Meng Quan's hand and finally told him the truth of that night.

It turned out that the shady man simply didn't believe there were only seven items in the bundle. Although he didn't believe it, he didn't ask what else was in it. Meng Xiao knew he didn't believe it, so he didn't explain why the bundle didn't contain anything else. That night, the two of them stood under the umbrella canopy, in front of the brass shield of the imperial portrait, and it was the shady man who spoke first.

The black-robed Taoist said, "Ever since Wu Lang took office at the Tea and Horse Department, he's come here to pay homage during every ceremony. He also comes here every few months to pay homage. Currently, there are eighteen officials in the Wu family, serving in distant places like the capital, Chengzhou, and Xingzhou, and not a single one of them has not paid homage to this imperial statue. Yet, civil and military officials from Yizhou rarely come here to pay homage. Do you know why?"

The black-robed Taoist explained that this imperial portrait was painted by Daohui, a monk from this temple, and remained untouched for a hundred years. It wasn't that successive prefectural officials were unaware of it, but rather that within that century, there had first been the Qingcheng uprising, then the Wang Jun Rebellion, and finally the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895. The court official, serving as the governor of Yizhou, was known for his brutality and cruelty. Later, Zhao Yan requested the construction of a temple, but Emperor Shenzong disapproved, granting only fences and shields for protection. Temples in Yangzhou, Jingzhou, and other places had received special treatment for enshrining the imperial portrait, but this place wasn't allowed. Furthermore, it was Zhao Yan who requested the temple. From the imperial court, it was clear that Shu's tax revenue was substantial. Shu's remoteness and weak population led to lawlessness, and the county magistrates provided subsidies to each other. It was Zhao Yan who brought the corrupt officials of "poor towns and villages" to heel, greatly delighting the people of Shu. Thus, he achieved great success. So, how did Zhao Yan become prefect?

The black-robed Taoist went on to say that the first two times, perhaps the people of Shu couldn't do without his supervision. At least that's what the court said. He was still needed the third time because of the Xining Reforms. The traitor Wang Yan usurped power over state affairs, and Zhao Yan, who opposed him, was sent to Chengdu, where the prefect's right to "act at his own discretion" was abolished. Zhao Yan opposed the new laws and wanted to use the people of Shu as an excuse, arguing that Shu politics differed from the court's and the people of Shu were different from those of other states. He built a palace for Taizu's portrait, insisting on following the ancestral family rules. Shenzong refused. In the Yuanfeng period, a spy-like eunuch was sent to build the palace, but still didn't give it a name or offer sacrifices, because Taizu didn't know the people of Shu, and the "Shang" didn't know Shu. Ultimately, the only officials who recognized the people of Shu were those like Zhao Yan who came to make great contributions. After two or three years, these officials were promoted and left, each singing their own tune, while the Qiumiao and Maizhi Yizhe changes never ceased. As long as the people of Shu paid their taxes, they could ignore Taizu. You don't need to know the reason, just pay the full tax. Before Jianyan, the so-called governance of Shu meant sending people from the capital to govern. When the people from the capital came, whether they would govern or not depended on whether they wanted to be promoted. During Jianyan, the north fell, and Zi Quanzhen, a Taoist priest from the Shangqing Taiping Palace in Zhongnan Mountain, took the portraits of Taizong and Zhenzong to Zhang Gong. Zhang Gong placed the portraits of Taizong and Zhenzong there. Then, in Shaoxing, Wu Gong escorted the portraits of Renzong, Yingzong, and Shenzong to this place. This is the beginning of the six portraits of the emperor in this temple. Taizong ordered the construction of the Shangqing Taiping Palace in Taipingxingguo, with Zhang Shouzhen as the master of the palace. To be honest, I am Zhang Shouzhen's disciple. Zi Quanzhen took the portraits of Taizong and Zhenzong to Zhang Gong because I asked him to do so.

Meng Xiao asked, "May I ask how old you are this year?"

The Taoist in black said that he was two hundred and ten years old.

The black-robed Taoist explained that after Fuping, Zongbi marched south, intending to invade Shu. Wu Lang ascended to Heshangyuan, while Zhang Gong retreated to Langzhong, where he was crowned King Zhaohui Lingxian and King Zhongxian, and sent officials to enshrine the two saints beside Taizu. At the time, some court officials accused Zhang Gong of acting on his own initiative and behaving unworthy of a minister. The "higher-ups" did not take action, as they could not afford to lose on the front lines. Arriving in Shaoxing, Wu Gong achieved a great victory. The Jin army, with its heavy forces, attempted to break through the Shu Pass, but Wu Gong secured another victory. Wu Gong personally escorted the three sacred statues of Emperor Renzong, Emperor Yingzong, and Emperor Shenzong to this place. Though humble, this place boasts the Six Saints, just as Shu, despite its remoteness, commands substantial tax revenue. From then on, Shu boasted the Six Saints and Wu Gong. Do you think Zhang Gong and Wu Gong are superior to the officials in the capital?

Without waiting for Meng Xiao to answer, the black-robed Taoist continued, "This Chongguang Temple houses six saints in one hall, but has no name for the temple. Once, Yang Chun from Meishan requested permission for repairs, and Wang Gangzhong requested a name for the temple. Neither was granted permission. Since then, prefects have said that this place is remote and out of reach, and wanted to take the imperial portrait away. Others have challenged the Grand Secretariat, requesting military power. This was all done to suppress Wu Gong's Xuanfu Division and Xingzhou Dutong Division, like power-grabbing pawns. They couldn't accomplish anything, not because they couldn't suppress the Wu family, but because they didn't trust anyone above them. The emperor sent officials to govern Shu. Although Shu was governed by court officials, Shu had its own Shuxue, just as Beijing had its Taixue. It had the Imperial Portrait Hall, just as Beijing had its Jingling Hall. If Shu also had a military division, it would be another Beijing court."

To be honest, the court didn't trust Wu Gong either. They didn't trust anyone, not Wu Gong or the officials he sent, but Shu and its people. Just like he didn't want the imperial portrait to be worshipped by the Shu people, he refused to perform the rituals, and no matter who asked, it wouldn't work. Without Zhang Gong and Wu Gong, the imperial portrait wouldn't be retained in Shu. Without a place in the Imperial Portrait Hall, the Shu people have no dignity. They paid more taxes than anyone else. No matter how many times you say, "The chaos in Shu wasn't caused by the Shu people," it's useless. The court's face was cold; it only wanted the autumn seedlings and the purchase of money, and horses in exchange for Shu tea. If the Shu people could pay the taxes and exchange tea for horses, they could give it to anyone. But it couldn't work; these were two separate things within the same thing, with no order of priority. One thing couldn't have two separate things. So, besides the taxes, there had to be something else. The Shu people were Song people, so how could they not have dignity? At the beginning of Shaoxing, the war broke out, and Shu had the Imperial Portrait Hall. Shu relied on the Dutongsi to maintain its dignity. It was only after the Dutongsi won a victory in Shaanxi that Shu was able to become one with the imperial court. Don't you agree?

Meng Xiao said, yes.

The black-robed Taoist said, "You are from Shu, and so am I. After all this, you should now know who is your backer. This is in addition to our personal relationship. Speaking of which, the bundle should have arrived here, but it hasn't. Mr. Wu is dead, and no one knows what's inside. No one knows who sent the bundle either. But if a spy learns it was lost and forges false evidence to the court, accusing the Wu family of being unrighteous, then the Wu family's reputation for loyalty will be completely ruined. Someone deliberately set up a trap and sent someone to steal Mr. Wu's will. How could he not frame him? This won't do. You are from Shu, don't conspire with outsiders."

Meng Xiao said that anyone who fabricates false testimony to accuse Wu of being unjust should be put to death.

The Taoist in black said, Privy Council, Machine Speed ​​Room.

Meng Xiao said that anyone who dares to give false testimony and accuse the Wu family of being unjust should die.

The Taoist in black said, "That man, like you, has a history. As far as I know, he is the eighth-generation grandson of the Secretary."

Meng Xiao said, if I kill him, wouldn’t that be a good way to avenge my ancestors?

The Taoist in black turned around and looked at Meng Xiao. Taizu was watching them from the wall. The Taoist in black turned around again and looked at Taizu. The Taoist in black said:

You must give me your heart.

These were the last words the black Taoist said. According to Meng Xiao, he had told the black Taoist several times that there was nothing else in the bundle. The black Taoist didn't believe him, but he let him go.

Meng Quan said it was impossible. When asked again, Meng Xiao stopped answering. So, Meng Quan spoke the truth for Meng Xiao. Meng Quan said that whether or not there was a will from Wu Gong, whether it was true or false, and what was written in it, it made no difference. Wu couldn't tarnish his reputation for loyalty, so anyone who had seen or handled the bundle and its contents couldn't. When it came to Wu's reputation for loyalty, everyone, from Feng Yu to the fourth brother, to Qing Hua Li and then to his elder brother, was in the same boat. Either they produced Wu Gong's will or they didn't; the outcome would be the same.

Meng Xiao said, "From what you said, my dear brother, the gangsters are also on this rope."

Meng Quan said, "What he said about the capital and Shu is not without reason."

Meng Xiao said: "No, what he said does not make sense at all."

Meng Quan said, "Brother, if you won't protect the Wu family's reputation, will you consider the stability of the country?"

Meng Xiao said, "I can get a tattoo of 'Serve the Country with Loyalty' on my body."

Meng Quan looked at Meng Xiao and said, "You remind me of someone."

Meng Xiao said: "No, even though our ancestors were unfaithful, it doesn't prevent us from being loyal."

Meng Quan said, "It's not him."

Meng Xiao asked: "Which one?"

Meng Quan said, "You may not know him. Has Prince Gao ever told you about his master?"