Once upon a time, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty and his minister Wei Zheng were playing chess in the palace. The game was intense, with each move countered by the other, much like a captivating drama. As the classic "Lanke Sutra" suggests, chess requires precision. Skilled players focus on the center, then the edges, and finally the corners—these are standard strategies in the chess world. There's a saying: "Better to lose a piece than miss the opportunity." It's all about strategic foresight, attacking while defending. A good player knows when to hold back and when to advance. Some prefer to sacrifice minor pieces to secure a win, rather than clinging to them for survival. In situations where the enemy outnumbers you, focus on survival; when you outnumber the enemy, aim to expand. True masters don't seek unnecessary battles; they win by strategy. A chess game is won by conventional moves and unexpected strategies. If an opponent defends without reason, it hints at a deeper plan; sacrificing small pieces suggests a greater scheme. Playing without thought is a recipe for defeat. As the "Book of Songs" states, "Be cautious, as if standing on the edge of a deep abyss." That's the essence of it.
As the emperor and his minister played until about three o'clock in the afternoon, the game was still ongoing when Wei Zheng suddenly fell asleep at the table, snoring. Emperor Taizong chuckled, "My dear minister, you must be working too hard for the country to fall asleep during a chess game." So, he let Wei Zheng sleep without waking him. Shortly after, Wei Zheng woke up, quickly kneeling to apologize, "Your Majesty, I deserve to die! I fell asleep just now. Please forgive me." Taizong replied, "You have committed no crime. Get up, let's continue the game." Wei Zheng expressed his gratitude and was about to resume playing when they heard a commotion outside the palace gate. It turned out that Qin Shubao and Xu Maogong, among others, were carrying a bloodied dragon head, which they threw before the emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, we've heard of shallow seas and dry rivers, but such a strange sight is unheard of." Both Taizong and Wei Zheng asked, "Where did this come from?"
Shubao and Maogong replied, "From the southern corridor, at the crossroads, this dragon head fell from the clouds, and we dared not report it." The emperor, shocked, asked Wei Zheng, "What's going on here?" Wei Zheng turned and knelt, saying, "Your Majesty, it was I who beheaded it in my dream." Taizong was astonished, "How could you, while dozing off, without moving or wielding a sword, slay this dragon?" Wei Zheng explained, "Your Majesty, my body was before you, but my spirit left you. In my dream, I rode a cloud, and there on the Dragon Slaying Platform, the heavenly soldiers had bound the dragon. I declared, 'You violated the heavenly laws and deserve death. I am here by divine decree to end your life.' The dragon pleaded, but I remained resolute. As it submitted, I drew my sword and with a swift strike, the dragon's head fell into the void."
Hearing this, Taizong felt both happy and sad. Happy because he praised Wei Zheng as a loyal minister, believing that with such a hero in court, the empire was secure. Sad because he had promised in his dream to save the dragon, yet it was slain. He reluctantly ordered Shubao to hang the dragon's head in the market to inform the people of Chang'an, rewarded Wei Zheng, and then the officials dispersed. That night, returning to the palace, he remained troubled, recalling the dragon king's tearful plea for life in his dream, only to meet a tragic end. Pondering for a long time, he gradually felt his spirit weary and body unwell. Around the second watch of the night, he suddenly heard crying outside the palace gates, which frightened him even more. Half asleep, he saw the Jing River Dragon King, holding his bloodied head, shouting, "Emperor Taizong! Return my life! Return my life! You promised to save me last night, yet at dawn, you allowed me to be slain! Come out, come out! Let's go to the King of Hell for justice!" He grabbed Taizong, refusing to let go, causing the emperor to break out in a cold sweat. In this tense moment, a fragrant cloud appeared from the south, and a celestial woman approached, waving a willow branch. The headless dragon, sobbing, retreated towards the northwest. It was Guanyin Bodhisattva, who, following Buddha's orders to find a scripture seeker in the East, resided in the land temple of Chang'an. Hearing the ghostly cries, she came to dispel the vengeful spirit, saving the emperor. The dragon went straight to the underworld to file a complaint.
When Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty awoke, he kept shouting, "Ghosts! Ghosts!" This frightened the three empresses, the concubines of the six palaces, and the eunuchs so much that they couldn't sleep all night. By the fifth watch, all the civil and military officials were waiting outside the palace gate. However, as dawn broke, the emperor still did not appear to hold court, causing great alarm among everyone. It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky that an edict was issued: "I am not in a good mood, so court is canceled today." This continued for about five to seven days, and the officials grew increasingly worried. Just as they were about to visit the emperor to inquire about his health, an order came from the empress dowager, summoning the imperial physicians to diagnose the emperor's condition, leaving everyone waiting anxiously outside the palace gate.
After a while, the physicians emerged, and everyone hurriedly asked about the emperor's condition. The chief physician replied, "The emperor's pulse is unstable, weak, and rapid. He speaks deliriously of seeing ghosts. Diagnosed with ten disturbances and one deficiency, his five organs lack energy. I fear he may not last beyond seven days." The officials were shocked and dismayed. Amidst the panic, another decree summoned Xu Maogong, the Duke of Protecting the Nation, and Yuchi Gong to the palace. The three ministers quickly entered and paid their respects to Emperor Taizong. The emperor, mustering his strength, said, "My loyal ministers, since I was nineteen, I have led armies in battles across the land, and never have I encountered anything supernatural. Yet now, I have seen a ghost!"
Yuchi Gong replied, "Your Majesty, you have established the empire and defeated countless enemies. What is there to fear from ghosts?" Taizong said, "You do not believe it. Outside my sleeping quarters, there are constant noises of bricks and tiles at night, accompanied by eerie wails, making it unbearable. During the day, it is manageable, but at night, I cannot sleep." Qin Shubao said, "Your Majesty, rest assured. Tonight, Jingde and I will guard the palace gate and see what kind of monster appears."
Taizong agreed, and Xu Maogong expressed his gratitude and left. That night, Qin Shubao and Jingde donned their armor, armed themselves with golden axes, and stood guard outside the palace gate. What a pair of generals they were! Behold their appearance: wearing gleaming golden helmets, clad in dragon-scale armor, their protective breastplates adorned with auspicious clouds, fastened with lion-headed clasps, and newly embroidered sashes of colorful clouds. One had phoenix eyes that intimidated the stars; the other had round eyes that reflected lightning, with a gaze as bright as moonlight. These were seasoned heroes and loyal ministers, now revered as guardian deities.
The two generals stood vigil by the gate all night, but no monsters appeared. That night, Taizong slept peacefully in the palace. The next morning, Taizong summoned the two generals and rewarded them generously: "Since I fell ill, I have not slept well for days. Last night, thanks to the presence of you two generals, I was able to rest peacefully. You may go and rest now, but please return to guard again tonight." The two generals expressed their gratitude and left. For two or three nights, they continued to guard, and the palace remained quiet, though Taizong's condition worsened.
Unwilling to see the two generals toil any longer, Taizong summoned Qin Shubao, Jingde, and other ministers to the palace and said, "Though things have been calm these past few days, Qin and Hu have worked hard. I wish to have a painter capture the likenesses of these two generals and hang them on the doors to spare them further trouble. What do you think?" The ministers complied, selecting two skilled portrait artists to paint the likenesses of Hu and Qin, dressed in their armor, and hung the portraits on the doors, ensuring peace at night.
After two or three days, noises began to emanate from the rear palace gate. The next morning, Taizong urgently summoned the ministers: "The front gate has been quiet these past few days, but last night the rear gate was noisy again. Won't this frighten me once more?" Xu Maogong stepped forward and suggested, "The front gate is guarded by Jingde and Shubao; the rear gate should be entrusted to Wei Zheng." Taizong agreed and summoned Wei Zheng to guard the rear gate that night. Wei Zheng accepted the command, and that night, he donned his armor, wielding the dragon-slaying sword, and stood at the rear palace gate—a true hero! His attire: a silk headband wrapped around his forehead, a brocade robe with a jade belt hanging at his waist, his cloak fluttering like frost, exuding a godly aura. Wearing black boots, he sat with a fierce demeanor, holding a sharp blade. With eyes wide open, scanning the surroundings, what evil spirit would dare approach?
As the night passed, no monsters were seen. Although both the front and rear gates were quiet, Emperor Taizong's health continued to decline. One day, the Empress Dowager issued a decree, summoning the ministers to discuss the emperor's final affairs. Taizong also summoned Xu Maogong, entrusting him with state matters and instructing him to care for the empire as Liu Bei did for his son. After giving these instructions, Taizong bathed and changed clothes, preparing for the end. Wei Zheng, standing by, grasped Taizong's robe and said:
"Your Majesty, rest assured. I have a way to ensure your longevity." Taizong replied, "The illness has reached a critical stage, and my life is nearing its end. How can it be saved?" Wei Zheng said, "I have a letter, Your Majesty, which you can take to the underworld and deliver to Cui Gui, the judge of Fengdu." Taizong asked, "Who is Cui Gui?" Wei Zheng answered, "Cui Gui was a minister during the late emperor's reign, serving as the magistrate of Zizhou and later as the Assistant Minister of Rites. In life, he and I were sworn brothers and very close. He has since passed away and now serves as the judge in charge of the Book of Life and Death in the underworld. He often visits me in dreams. If you deliver this letter to him, he will remember our friendship and surely allow you to return, enabling you to revive and return to the capital." Hearing this, Taizong accepted the letter, closed his eyes, and passed away. The three empresses, the concubines, the crown prince, and all the civil and military ministers mourned and wore mourning clothes, placing Taizong's coffin in the Hall of the White Tiger.
Meanwhile, Emperor Taizong, confused and wandering, found his soul drifting to the Five Phoenix Tower, where he encountered the imperial guards inviting him to go hunting. Delighted, Taizong followed them, but as they walked, he realized that all the people and horses had disappeared, leaving him alone in the desolate wilderness. As he anxiously searched for a way back, he suddenly heard someone shout, "Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, come this way! This way!" Looking up, Taizong saw a man with an impressive appearance: wearing a black gauze cap, a rhinoceros horn belt, holding an ivory tablet, dressed in a silk robe, and wearing boots with white soles.
Taizong approached, and the man quickly knelt by the roadside, saying, "Your Majesty, forgive me for not welcoming you from afar!" Taizong asked, "Who are you, and why are you here to meet me?" The man replied:
"Half a month ago, Your Majesty, I saw in the Hall of Senluo that the ghost dragon of the Jing River accused you of promising to save it but allowing it to be slain. The King of Qin Guang in the First Hall sent ghost messengers to summon you for a trial in the Three Courts. Upon learning this, I came here to wait, but I was late. Please forgive me." Taizong asked, "What is your name, and what position do you hold?" The man replied, "In life, I served the late emperor as the magistrate of Zizhou and later as the Assistant Minister of Rites, named Cui Gui. Now, in the underworld, I serve as the judge in charge of cases in Fengdu." Hearing this, Taizong happily took Cui Gui's hand and said, "Sir, you have worked hard. My minister Wei Zheng has a letter to deliver to you; this is a fortunate encounter." The judge expressed his gratitude and asked for the letter. Taizong took the letter from his sleeve and handed it to Cui Gui. Cui Gui accepted it, thanked him, and opened it to read.
The letter read: "Dear Wei Zheng, I humbly bow and present this letter to my esteemed friend Cui Gui: Remembering our past friendship, it feels as if you are still present. It has been years since we last met, and I wonder how you have been. On every festival, I offer vegetarian dishes in your honor, hoping you might partake. I am grateful for your visits in dreams, informing me of your esteemed position. Alas, the divide between life and death prevents us from meeting. Now, Emperor Taizong has suddenly passed, and he is likely to meet you in the Three Courts. I hope you will consider our past friendship and facilitate his return to life, for which I will be eternally grateful. I shall repay your kindness in due time." After reading the letter, the judge was filled with joy and said, "I have long admired Wei Zheng for his act of slaying the dragon in a dream. He has also taken care of my descendants in the living world. Since he has sent this letter, rest assured, Your Majesty, I will ensure your return to life and your return to the imperial palace." Taizong expressed his heartfelt thanks.
As the two were speaking, they suddenly saw a pair of attendants dressed in green, holding banners and canopies, loudly proclaiming, "The King of Hell requests your presence, requests your presence." Emperor Taizong, along with Judge Cui and the two attendants, proceeded forward.
Before long, they arrived at a city with a large plaque above the gate that read "Gate of the Ghosts of the Netherworld" in seven large golden characters. The attendants in green waved their banners, leading Taizong into the city and along the streets.
Suddenly, on the side of the street, appeared his late father, Emperor Gaozu (Li Yuan), his late elder brother, Crown Prince Jiancheng, and his late younger brother, Prince Yuanji. They approached, shouting, "Shimin is here! Shimin is here!" Jiancheng and Yuanji rushed forward to seize him, seeking revenge for their deaths. Taizong, unable to dodge, was caught by them. Fortunately, Judge Cui called upon a ghost with a blue face and sharp fangs to drive Jiancheng and Yuanji away, allowing Taizong to escape. After walking a short distance, they came upon a magnificent pavilion with green tiles, truly splendid. The scene was as follows: layers of colorful clouds floated, and strands of red mist lingered. Eaves were adorned with grotesque beasts, and tiles resembled mandarin ducks. The doors were studded with gold, and the thresholds were made of white jade. The windows were bright and clean, and the curtains let in light. The pavilions soared into the clouds, and corridors connected to precious courtyards. The scent of incense wafted through the air, and lights shone brightly. To the left stood an ox-headed demon, and to the right, a horse-faced demon. Gold plaques guided the spirits of the deceased, and white silk summoned souls. This was the main entrance to the underworld, below which was the Hall of Senluo, where the King of Hell resided. As Taizong observed from outside, he heard the clinking of ornaments and smelled fragrant incense. Outside, two pairs of attendants holding candles were followed by the ten Kings of Hell descending the steps. The ten Kings of Hell were: King Qin Guang, King Chu Jiang, King Song Di, King Wu Guan, King Yan Luo, King Ping Deng, King Tai Shan, King Du Shi, King Bian Cheng, and King Zhuan Lun.
The ten kings emerged from the Hall of Senluo, respectfully welcoming Taizong. Taizong humbly declined to proceed, but the ten kings said, "Your Majesty, you are the ruler of the living world, and we are the rulers of the underworld. Each has their own duties, so there is no need for excessive humility." Taizong replied, "I have offended you all; how can I dare to speak of the differences between the living and the dead?" He remained modest. Taizong proceeded into the Hall of Senluo, exchanged greetings with the ten kings, and took his seat as the guest of honor.
After a while, King Qin Guang stepped forward and said, "The ghost dragon of the Jing River accuses Your Majesty of promising to save him but instead allowing him to be killed. How do you explain this?" Taizong explained, "I did indeed promise to save him in a dream, but I did not expect that he would commit a crime, leading my minister Wei Zheng to execute him. At that time, I was playing chess with Wei Zheng and did not know that he had slain the dragon in a dream. This is the wisdom of my earthly officials. The Dragon King committed a crime and deserved death; how can he blame me?" The ten kings listened and bowed, saying, "Before the dragon was born, it was already written in the Book of Death of the Southern Dipper Star that he would die at Wei Zheng's hands. We have long known this, but he argued incessantly, insisting that Your Majesty come to the Three Courts for a trial. We have already sent him to be reincarnated, and we apologize for troubling Your Majesty today." With that, they instructed the judge in charge of the Book of Life and Death to quickly bring the book to check how much life Taizong had left.
Judge Cui hurried back to the archives, retrieved the celestial register of kings from all nations, and examined it one by one. When he saw that Emperor Taizong of the Great Tang in the Southern Continent had a lifespan only until the thirteenth year of the Zhenguan era, he was greatly shocked. He quickly took a thick ink brush and added two strokes to the character for "one," then presented the book. The ten kings reviewed it from beginning to end and found that Taizong's lifespan had changed to thirty-three years. The King of Hell asked in surprise, "How many years has Your Majesty reigned?" Taizong replied, "I have been on the throne for thirteen years." The King of Hell said, "Rest assured, Your Majesty, you still have twenty years of life remaining. Now that everything is clear, please return to the living world."
Upon hearing this, Taizong bowed and expressed his gratitude. The ten Kings of Hell appointed Judge Cui and Commander Zhu to escort Taizong's soul back. As Taizong exited the Hall of Senluo, he asked the ten kings, "How are my relatives in the palace?"
The ten kings replied, "They are well, except for your sister, whose life may not be long." Taizong thanked them again, saying, "When I return to the living world, I have nothing to offer in gratitude except for fruits." The ten kings happily said, "We have melons from the east and west, but we lack southern melons." Taizong said, "I will send them upon my return." With that, they bid farewell.
Commander Zhu waved the soul-guiding banner to lead the way, while Judge Cui escorted Taizong from behind, leading him directly out of the underworld. Taizong looked up and saw that it was not the original path, so he asked the judge, "Is this the correct way?"
The judge replied, "It is correct. The underworld is such that there is a way in but not a way out. Now we are taking Your Majesty through the Wheel of Reincarnation, allowing you to tour the underworld while also helping you return to life."
Taizong had no choice but to follow them. After walking several miles, they suddenly saw a tall mountain shrouded in dense clouds and black mist. Taizong asked, "Mr. Cui, what mountain is that over there?" The judge replied:
"That is the Mountain of Shadows in the Netherworld." Taizong, frightened, said, "How can I cross it?" The judge reassured him, "Rest assured, Your Majesty, we will guide you." Taizong, trembling, followed them up the cliff, looking up to see: the mountain's terrain was rugged and its shape bizarre. Steep as the Sichuan mountains, towering like the Lu cliffs. Not a famous mountain of the living world, but a treacherous place of the underworld. Thorny bushes hid monsters, and rocky cliffs concealed demons.
In the eerie silence, there were no sounds of animals or birds, only the sight of ghosts wandering about. A chilling wind blew, and a dense black fog enveloped the surroundings. The chilling wind was the breath of divine soldiers, and the black fog was the exhalation of lurking spirits. Looking around, there was no scenery to behold, only rampant ghosts everywhere. There were mountains, peaks, ridges, caves, and ravines; however, the mountains were barren, the peaks did not touch the sky, the ridges were impassable, the caves did not hold clouds, and the ravines had no flowing water. The shores were filled with spirits and demons, and the valleys were inhabited by malevolent beings. Wild ghosts were captured in the caves, and evil souls were hidden at the bottom of the ravines. Before and behind the mountains, ox-headed and horse-faced demons shouted chaotically; half-hidden and half-exposed, hungry ghosts and lost souls wept together. Judges hastily issued warrants; commanders shouted orders to expedite documents. Swift-footed messengers rolled like whirlwinds, and officials in charge of souls emerged from the black mist. Emperor Taizong relied on the protection of the judge to cross the shadowy mountains. Continuing forward, they passed numerous offices, each filled with sorrowful cries and terrifying monsters. Taizong asked, "What place is this?" The judge replied, "This is the eighteen levels of hell behind the shadowy mountains." Taizong inquired, "What are these eighteen levels?" The judge explained, "Listen as I tell you: the Hanging Sinews Hell, the Wrongful Imprisonment Hell, the Fiery Pit Hell—silent and desolate, filled with troubles and worries, all for the evil deeds committed in life, now punished in death. The Fengdu Hell, the Tongue Extraction Hell, the Skinning Hell—filled with cries and lamentations, for those who were disloyal and unfilial, with deceitful hearts. The Grinding Hell, the Crushing Hell, the Car Wreck Hell—where skin is flayed and flesh torn, for those who were unjust and harmed others in secret. The Ice Hell, the Shell Shedding Hell, the Intestine Extraction Hell—where brows are furrowed and faces filled with sorrow, for deceivers who brought disaster upon themselves. The Oil Cauldron Hell, the Darkness Hell, the Mountain of Blades Hell—where trembling and sorrow abound, for those who oppressed the good and innocent. The Blood Pool Hell, the Avici Hell, the Scale Hell—where skin is peeled and bones exposed, for those who killed for wealth and slaughtered living beings, trapped for millennia without release. Each one tightly bound and shackled, with red-haired and black-faced demons wielding long spears and short swords; ox-headed and horse-faced demons with iron rods and copper hammers. They are beaten until their faces are bloodied, calling out to heaven and earth with no response. Indeed, one should never deceive the heart, for the divine and ghosts see all. Good and evil will be repaid; it is only a matter of time." Taizong listened, filled with fear and trepidation.
Taizong continued onward and soon saw a group of ghost soldiers holding banners, kneeling by the roadside, shouting in unison, "The Bridge Messenger has arrived to receive you!" Judge Cui ordered them to rise and then led Taizong across the Golden Bridge.
As they walked, Taizong saw a Silver Bridge beside them, where several virtuous and loyal people were being guided across with banners. On the other side, however, was a bridge where cold winds howled, blood waves surged, and cries echoed endlessly. Taizong curiously asked, "What is the name of that bridge?" The judge replied, "Your Majesty, that is called the Naihe Bridge. When you return to the living world, you must tell everyone that beneath this bridge are turbulent waters, and the bridge itself is perilous and narrow, like a white ribbon stretched across the Yangtze River, or a fiery pit floating in the heavens. The cold air penetrates to the bone, and the foul wind is suffocating. The waves are tumultuous, with no ferries, only barefoot and disheveled ghosts coming and going. The bridge spans several miles, is only three feet wide, a hundred feet high, and a thousand layers deep. There are no railings on the bridge, and monsters below snatch at people. Those ghosts bound in chains are driven onto the treacherous path of the Naihe Bridge. Look at the fierce deities guarding the bridge, and the suffering souls in the river. The clothes hanging on the trees are those of the disgraced, and the ghosts squatting on the cliffs are those who have been humiliated. Bronze snakes and iron dogs compete to devour them, eternally trapped in the Naihe River with no way out." As they spoke, the bridge messengers had already departed. Taizong, both frightened and awed, sighed inwardly and followed the judge and commander, finally crossing the treacherous waters of the Naihe River and leaving the realm of the blood basin's suffering.
Next, they arrived at the City of Wrongful Deaths, where the noise was deafening, and Taizong clearly heard someone shout, "Li Shimin has arrived! Li Shimin has arrived!" Taizong felt a surge of anxiety. A group of ghosts with twisted waists, broken arms, and heads without feet blocked the path, crying out, "Return our lives! Return our lives!" Taizong, terrified, tried to hide and could only shout, "Mr. Cui, save me! Mr. Cui, save me!" The judge explained, "Your Majesty, these are the ghosts of the sixty-four places of smoke and dust and the seventy-two places of bandits. They are wrongful souls, with no one to manage them, unable to reincarnate, and without wealth, they are all lonely wandering ghosts. If Your Majesty could provide them with some wealth, I could save you." Taizong, helpless, said, "I came here empty-handed; where would I find wealth?" The judge said, "Your Majesty, there is someone in the living world with considerable wealth deposited here in the underworld. You can sign your name to make a contract, and I can guarantee it, temporarily borrowing a treasury to distribute among these hungry ghosts, allowing us to pass." Taizong asked, "Who is this person?" The judge replied, "He is from Kaifeng in Henan, named Xiang Liang, and he has thirteen treasuries of gold and silver here. If Your Majesty borrows from him, you can repay him upon returning to the living world." Taizong was pleased to hear this and agreed to sign his name for the loan. A document was drafted for the judge, borrowing one treasury of gold and silver, which Commander Zhu distributed among the ghosts. The judge also instructed, "You may divide these gold and silver among yourselves, but let the Grandfather of the Great Tang pass, for he still has a long life ahead. I am ordered by the ten kings to escort him back to life. When he returns to the living world, he will hold a grand ceremony to help you reincarnate, so refrain from causing further trouble." The ghosts, hearing this, received the gold and silver and retreated. The judge directed Commander Zhu to wave the soul-guiding banner, leading Taizong away from the City of Wrongful Deaths, onto the smooth road, drifting away. Where Taizong ultimately reincarnated will be revealed in the next chapter.
