| Ming Cheng, the magistrate of Xian County, was a native of Yingshan.
On one occasion he could not make up his mind to redress a wrong case for
fear of his superior's disapproval. Wang, a servant at the county's
Confucian School by the nickname "Demi-Immortal", was acquainted with a
fox that could predict future occurrences in people's daily lives.
Ming Cheng sent Wang to consult the fox on the matter. Assuming a
serious expression, the fox replied, "The Magistrate, Mr. Ming, should
look after the people in this county with the solitudes of a parent.
Thus he should ask himself whether the case is wrong, regardless of whether
his superior will approve of him. Doesn't he remember the words of
Governor-General Li Wei?"
When Wang brought him the fox's reply, Ming Cheng was deeply affected,
knowing the fox was referring to an incident that happened to Li Wei before
he became a high official. Li was once ferrying across to river when
he found a Taoist priest on board. As a quarrel broke out between
a passenger and a boatman, the Taoist sighed, "Why squabble over a few
cents in your life will end in a minute?" A short moment later the
passenger, accidentally swept by the sail, fell into the river and was
drowned. Li Wei was astonished. In midstream a gust rose threatening
to overturn the boat. The Taoist began to walk in circles while chanting
incantations, and the wind soon stopped. When the boat moored safely,
Li Wei bowed to the Taoist to thank him for saving his life. The
Taoist replied, "I could not save the man falling into the river a moment
ago because that was decreed by his fate. I could not help saving
you because, as a worthy man, you are destined to turn ill luck into good.
What do you thank me for then?" Wei bowed again saying, "I will bear
your instruction in mind and resign myself to fate for the rest of my life."
"You are only partially correct," said the Taoist. "Weather a
man will attain wealth and honor is decreed by fate, so he should accept
what comes by without question. Otherwise he would commit various
misdeeds for personal gains, pushing other people aside or even trampling
over them. As for matters concerning national welfare and people's
livelihood, one must not depend on fate. It is precisely to complement
the deficiency of fate that talents are created by heaven and officials
appointed by the Imperial Court. If someone in a position to give
orders simply folds his hands, leaving everything to the dictates of destiny,
why should heaven have endowed him with his ability or the Imperial Court
appointed him an official?"
Li Wei respectfully received instruction from the Taoist, and then asked
to know his name. "I might scare you by disclosing my name," said
the Taoist. He left the ferryboat and, after a few dozen steps, suddenly
vanished into thin air. Later Li Wei recounted his experience to
some friends, and somehow the fox learned of the story too. |
