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

To the tune of the Shortened Form of Magnolia Blossoms (Jianzi Mulanhua):

A hero’s spirit is proud;
He boldly demands an auspicious omen from the gods.
Soaring through the air,
Though no true dragon, he learns to act like one.
Rumors deepen suspicion;
The Duke of Tang is endangered merely for bearing the name Li.
The immortal plum tree spreads its roots,
While the withered willow bears no offspring.

Since ancient times, the fortunes and misfortunes of states, though governed by Heaven’s mandate, have largely arisen from human affairs. Even when destiny is fixed, omens must precede its fulfillment. If men respond to these warnings with fear, reflection, and self-correction, they may turn calamity into good fortune.

As the saying goes, evil portents arise through men and may likewise be extinguished by men. But if a ruler merely harbors suspicions, attempts to suppress the beginnings of disorder, and delights in executions, treacherous ministers will seize the opportunity to plot against others. Such conduct not only fails to avert disaster but actually brings it about.

Now, the Sui ruler, having dreamed of a flood submerging the capital, suspected that someone whose name contained the water radical would bring disaster upon the state.

At that time, an elderly minister at court was Li Hun, Duke of Cheng, originally a distinguished official of Chen. After Chen fell, he had surrendered to Sui and retained his former noble title.

The Sui ruler suddenly thought:

“The character Hun contains the water radical beside the character for army, while his title, Duke of Cheng, refers to a city. This corresponds precisely to my dream of a city submerged by water. Moreover, the character for army signifies soldiers. Could this man be the source of disaster? But he is already old and holds no military command, so he can accomplish little. Perhaps the omen concerns his descendants.”

He asked his attendants:

“How many sons does Li Hun have, and what are their names?”

They replied:

“Li Hun’s eldest son has died. Only his youngest survives, and his childhood name is Hong’er.”

Hearing the name Hong’er, the Sui ruler became still more suspicious.

“In my dream, I saw a tree upon the city walls, bearing fruit. A tree is wood, and its fruit is the child of wood. The two characters ‘wood’ and ‘child’ combine to form the character Li. Now the child of the Li family happens to be called Hong, the very character meaning flood. This agrees even more closely with my dream. The boy will certainly become a danger to the state. He must be eliminated immediately.”

He therefore ordered a palace attendant to carry a handwritten imperial decree to Li Hun’s residence, commanding that Hong’er be put to death.

Constrained by the imperial command, Li Hun had no choice but to obey.

Poor Hong’er lost his life without having committed any offense, and his entire household wept bitterly.

A later poet lamented:

King Gaozong of Yin and King Wen,
Through dreams obtained worthy ministers.
King Xiang of Chu dreamed of romance,
And a divine maiden came to him.
Alas for the Sui founder!
An evil dream increased his delusions.
He killed a man to avert a dream,
An act of extraordinary recklessness.

The Sui ruler’s execution of the Li family’s son became widely known and soon stirred the ambition of another man surnamed Li.

This man was Li Jing, courtesy name Yaoshi, a native of Sanyuan. He was intelligent and resourceful, thoroughly versed in military strategy, and highly skilled in archery and horsemanship. He was truly accomplished in both civil and military arts.

Having lost his parents in childhood, he was raised by his mother’s family. His maternal uncle was none other than Han Qinhu.

Han Qinhu often discussed military affairs with him and praised him, saying:

“If this young man is not worthy of discussing the teachings of Sunzi and Wuzi, who is?”

Li Jing was only about twenty years old, yet already harbored great ambitions.

Seeing the severity of Sui law, he judged that the dynasty could not endure for long.

When he heard that the Sui ruler had killed someone because of a dream, he laughed privately.

“If a man is destined to become king, what use is killing others?”

Then he considered:

“The tree bearing fruit in the dream certainly suggests the character Li. The flood overwhelming everything signifies the unification of the realm. Whoever rules the empire in the future must therefore be someone surnamed Li.”

His thoughts naturally turned toward himself.

One day, Li Jing happened to have business in Huazhou and passed Mount Hua.

Hearing that the mountain deity, the Great King of the Western Mountain, was particularly responsive to prayers, he prepared incense and candles and went to the temple to pay his respects.

There he presented a memorial and prayed silently:

“This commoner, Li Jing, presuming beyond his station, respectfully submits a memorial before His Highness, the Great King of the Western Mountain.”

“I have heard that the clear ascends and the turbid descends, thereby establishing the distinction between Heaven and Earth; that daylight is bright and night is dark, thereby revealing the ways of gods and men.”

“I have also heard that spirits are intelligent, perceptive, upright, and responsive to mankind; that perfect sincerity moves the divine, and that the positions of the gods are not established in vain.”

“Your Highness possesses the virtue of towering mountains and a solemn, majestic authority. As a divine power, you command a hundred spirits, holding a place of distinction among the Five Sacred Mountains. Thus your image is enshrined in a pure temple, and you stand as guardian of the western region.”

“Looking back upon the wise kings of former ages, none failed to offer sacrifices at the proper times. When clouds must gather and rain descend, Heaven complies with your will. When calamity must be transformed into blessing, who does not depend upon your aid?”

“Alas, I, Li Jing, am but a man. Why is it that, when I seek advancement, I find no opportunity for employment, and when I withdraw, I obtain no peace?”

“My condition resembles a fish gasping in a drying pond, or a bird that has lost its forest. I cannot rid my heart of sorrow.”

“The foundations of the state are crumbling, the world approaches collapse, ambitious warlords struggle against one another, and the commanderies and counties fall into disorder.”

“I now wish to raise a righteous army and march across the land, sweeping forward like clouds and lightning, slaying the monstrous creatures that trouble the seas and mountains, dispersing the clouds of evil, and restoring order to the rivers and mountains.”

“Thus may the countless people revive and all living things prosper. Such an undertaking would accord with Heaven’s will and the demands of the times.”

“But if the imperial throne is not mine to seek, then I would take up my sword and present myself before a worthy ruler. When the flying dragon rises into Heaven, I shall offer him my loyal heart, devote myself entirely to saving the world, and lay bare my innermost thoughts before his steps.”

“May the god look down upon me and reveal whether I should advance or withdraw, so that I may determine the course of my life.”

“When the time comes to repay your divine favor, I shall surely present my offerings with drums sounding.”

“But if I ask three times and receive no answer, what divine power can you claim?”

“I shall cut off the Great King’s head, burn his temple, and proceed with my own plans for conquest. It will not then be too late.”

“May the god decide!”

Having completed his prayer, Li Jing prepared to cast the divination blocks.

He silently declared:

“If I, Li Jing, am destined to become emperor, I beg you to grant me an auspicious response.”

He threw down the blocks.

Strangely, both pieces landed standing upright upon the ground.

Li Jing became suspicious. He picked them up and cast them again, but once more both stood upright.

At this, anger rose within him.

Standing erect before the deity, he struck the table and cried sternly:

“If I, Li Jing, am not destined for extraordinary fortune, why was I born into this world?”

“The gods are said to be intelligent and responsive to every question. Why, after two divinations, have you failed to distinguish yin from yang?”

“I shall cast them once more. If you do not give me a clear sign, I shall certainly cut off your head and burn down your temple!”

Having made this declaration, he threw the blocks again.

This time they spun upon the ground for a considerable while before coming to rest.

When he looked, they indicated yang.

Li Jing thought:

“Yang represents the sovereign. This, too, is an auspicious omen.”

He gathered up the blocks, bowed deeply, and departed.

Those who had witnessed the incident were astonished by his wild words. Some accused him of blaspheming against the deity, while others suspected that he was mad.

As the verse says:

How can sparrows understand the aspirations of a swan?
Let ordinary eyes laugh at a hero!

That night, Li Jing lodged at an inn.

In a dream, a divine official appeared before him. He wore a black robe, an official’s headcloth, and a horned belt, and held a sheet of yellow paper.

He said:

“I am the Judge of the Western Mountain. By command of the Great King, I have brought you this document. The affairs of your entire life are written upon it.”

Li Jing received the paper and unfolded it.

The writing said:

Do not lament your wanderings in the southern lands;
In the west, a marvelous encounter awaits.
A red thread binds your feet to another;
Within the Duke of Yue’s residence, the phoenix shall rise.
Seek the golden hare upon the destined road;
Your success will depend entirely upon a long guide.
A game of chess shall reveal the true dragon;
Then uphold the radiant heavens of Yao.

Li Jing read the verses in his dream and committed them carefully to memory.

The Judge said:

“All things have their appointed destiny. You must not desire more than is allotted to you, nor should you act impatiently. Wait for the proper time, move when opportunity arrives, and choose a worthy master to serve. Then wealth and honor will surely follow.”

With these words, he vanished.

Li Jing awoke remembering everything clearly.

“Judging from this, I am not destined to become emperor. I can only become a minister who assists the true sovereign. The words of the divine official will find their fulfillment in time.”

From then onward, he abandoned thoughts of becoming king or establishing his own dominion and resolved to await his opportunity.

As the verse says:

For now, he must remain curled like a measuring worm;
In future years, he shall rise like a great roc.