Li Jing Reveals His Ambitions To The God Of The Western Mountain; Zhang Heng Fabricates Prophecies To Endanger Li Yuan (3)

The old mistress greeted him with a troubled expression.

“Young gentleman, do not be alarmed. This place is in truth a dragon palace, and I am the Dragon Mother.”

“My two sons are registered among the officials of Heaven and bear responsibility for bringing rain.”

“We have just received a heavenly command. Within a region extending five hundred li westward and then southward from here, rain must fall during the third watch tonight and cease by dawn. The prescribed time must not be violated by so much as a moment.”

“Unfortunately, my eldest son has gone to escort his younger sister to a distant marriage, while my second son has just taken a bride at Dongting. Neither can be summoned in time.”

“I am a woman, and my servants lack the authority to undertake the task.”

“Fortunately, a distinguished gentleman such as yourself has happened to lodge here tonight. I venture to ask you to undertake this duty temporarily.”

“When the task is complete, you shall receive a modest reward. I earnestly beg you not to refuse.”

Li Jing was young, courageous, bold, and spirited.

Hearing her explanation, he showed no fear or hesitation.

He merely asked:

“I am an ordinary mortal. How can I perform the work of a dragon god and bring rain?”

The old mistress replied:

“If you are willing to undertake it, there is a method for bringing rain.”

“Then I see no reason why I cannot act in their place.”

The old mistress was delighted and immediately ordered a cup of wine brought forth.

When it arrived, she handed it to Li Jing.

“Drink this. It will enable you to withstand wind and thunder and strengthen your courage.”

Li Jing took the cup.

A delightful fragrance rose from the wine.

He drank it in a single draught and immediately felt his strength and spirit increase beyond their usual measure.

The old mistress continued:

“A dragon horse has already been prepared outside.”

“Mount it, and allow it to rise into the sky. You need not fear falling, for it will carry you securely.”

“A small glass bottle is fastened to its saddle. The bottle is filled with clear water. This is the Mother of Waters.”

“A small golden spoon hangs beside the mouth of the bottle.”

“Whenever the dragon horse leaps, use the spoon to take one drop of water from the bottle and place it upon the horse’s mane.”

“Neither more nor less than one drop must be used.”

“This is the method of bringing rain. Remember it carefully, and make no mistake!”

“When the rain has been delivered, the dragon horse will return of its own accord. You need not concern yourself with finding the way.”

Li Jing promised to follow every instruction.

He went outside and mounted the horse.

It was an unusually tall and powerful animal, with a remarkable coat.

After taking only a few steps, it rose into the air and began galloping upon the wind.

Its movement was remarkably steady, and it climbed higher and higher.

In an instant, thunder rolled and lightning flashed beneath its hooves.

Li Jing was entirely unafraid.

Following the old mistress’s instructions, whenever the horse leaped, he placed a drop of water upon its mane.

He did not know how many places he had passed in this manner.

Gradually, the sky began to brighten.

Presently, the horse reached another place and leaped again.

Li Jing was about to take another drop of water when, looking down through the dawn light, he recognized the very place where he had stopped to drink tea the previous day.

He thought:

“I saw with my own eyes how dry and hard the fields were here. What good can a single drop of water accomplish?”

“Since I now possess the power to bring rain, why should I not bestow a more generous blessing?”

“Besides, the farmer kindly gave me tea. It is only right that I repay his hospitality with abundant rain.”

He therefore dropped more than twenty drops in succession.

Before long, his task was complete.

The dragon horse turned back and galloped toward the residence.

Upon reaching the gate, it descended from the sky.

Li Jing dismounted and entered.

There he found the old mistress with her hair disheveled, dressed in plain clothing, and wearing an expression of profound grief.

She greeted him:

“Young gentleman, how could you have brought such disaster upon me?”

“One drop of water from that bottle produces one foot of rain in the mortal world.”

“You were instructed to use only one drop at each place. Why did you release more than twenty drops over a single district?”

“The water now stands two zhang deep across the level ground. Fields, houses, and people have all been submerged.”

“Because I carelessly entrusted this task to another, I have already received Heaven’s punishment: one hundred lashes upon my back. My sons, too, will be punished!”

Li Jing was greatly shocked.

He was filled with shame and remorse, scarcely knowing where to look.

The old mistress said:

“Perhaps this, too, was determined by fate. How could I dare blame you?”

“You have nevertheless labored on our behalf, and I must reward you.”

“But gold, pearls, and precious stones are surely not what a gentleman like yourself desires. I shall therefore give you something else.”

She summoned two young women dressed in blue.

Both were exceedingly beautiful, but one wore a cheerful smile while the other showed a faintly angry expression.

The old mistress said:

“One of these is a literary maidservant, the other a martial maidservant. You may choose either one, or take both if you wish.”

Li Jing politely declined.

“I have failed in the task entrusted to me and brought trouble upon your household. I am already filled with shame and regret.”

“That you do not punish me is more than enough. How could I dare accept such generous gifts?”

The old mistress said:

“Do not refuse, young gentleman. Choose quickly and depart. My sons will soon return, and their arrival may cause difficulties.”

Li Jing thought:

“If I take both women, I shall appear greedy. But if I choose only the literary maidservant, I shall appear weak.”

He therefore pointed to the martial maidservant.

“If you insist upon rewarding me, I should like this woman.”

The old mistress immediately ordered the elderly servant to bring back Li Jing’s own horse.

Another horse was prepared for the young woman, who was to accompany him.

Li Jing thanked the old mistress, departed through the gate, and mounted his horse.

The young woman rode beside him.

After traveling only a few steps, he looked back.

The great residence had vanished.

They continued for several li.

Then the young woman said:

“Had you chosen both women just now, you would have possessed both civil and military talents. In future, you would have served as both general and chief minister.”

“But you rejected the literary maidservant and chose the martial one. Thus you may become a famous general, but nothing more.”

She took a book from her sleeve and handed it to Li Jing.

“Study this thoroughly, and you will be able to defeat enemies in battle and assist your sovereign in achieving great deeds.”

Then she raised her whip and pointed ahead.

“Your lodging is not far from here.”

“Take care upon your future journey, young gentleman.”

“The old mistress did not send me with you because she truly intended to give me to you. She wished me to deliver this book.”

“In the future, you will encounter a beautiful woman destined to become your companion.”

“I am not a woman of the mortal world and cannot serve you as a wife. Permit me to take my leave here.”

Li Jing was about to ask her to remain, but she had already turned her horse around.

The animal immediately rose into the air, and in an instant both horse and rider vanished.

Li Jing was filled with amazement and bewilderment.

He urged his horse onward.

When he reached the place he had passed the previous day, he saw nothing but a vast expanse of water.

There was not a human being in sight.

He could not help sighing bitterly, overcome with remorse.

Finding his way back to his lodging, he opened the book the young woman had given him.

It contained essential principles of military strategy, together with diagrams and methods for constructing weapons, war chariots, and armor.

As the verse says:

A mortal performed the dragon god’s work of bringing rain,
Only to raise floodwaters toward the heavens.
The Dragon Mother willingly bore a hundred heavenly lashes,
Yet still rewarded him with a book of military arts.

After obtaining this book, Li Jing’s knowledge of warfare became still more profound. There is no need to elaborate further.