Chapter 806
Asking a Taoist Priest to Exorcise Ghosts
Who is the most favored person today?
Besides Wang Zhen, there was also Earl of Jingyuan, Wang Ji.
Wang Ji was different from Wang Zhen. This old general had a distinguished military record and an excellent reputation in the army and among the people. Even though he suffered some criticism in the court because of the prolonged siege of Luchuan, many generals before him had failed to capture Luchuan and had suffered more defeats than victories. In comparison, he had at least achieved something and was considered the best performer among them.
Last year, after the victory in the Battle of Luchuan, he became the emperor's most trusted and favorite confidant, to the point that even Wang Zhen had to retreat a step.
This old general was also a man of action. He had just returned from Luchuan when he was sent to patrol the northern border. He discovered that the veterans had been stuck on the border for many years, and the rotation had been changed from two years to indefinite, which had greatly damaged morale and troop strength.
Furthermore, the border guards' winter clothing and military equipment were all old and worn out, and there were signs that the Northern Hu were stirring up trouble. Because of his patrol, the number of Northern Hu raiders who came south to rob the border this autumn has decreased.
Wu Zhihong's family lived in Zhengding. Other officials might not have felt this deeply, but he gleaned some insight from his letters to his family.
How could someone like that collude with Japanese pirates?
How could they possibly ambush and kill the delegation?
Just to oppose the maritime ban?
Wu Zhihong scratched his head, completely baffled, and squatted on the ground, utterly bewildered.
Pan Yun paced back and forth for a while before stopping: "I've met Wang Ji. He has a clean and honest appearance. I believe him if he says he's involved in maritime smuggling, but I don't believe him if he says he colluded with Japanese pirates or even robbed and killed the mission."
Xue Shao said in a low voice, "He may really not know, but who knows? Sun Xin believes he is one of the masterminds, and the King of Lu will also believe he knows. That's why governing the country is like managing a family; if the family is not well-managed, it is difficult to govern the country."
Pan Yun and Wu Zhihong both thought of Yang Shiqi and Yang Ji.
Pan Yun said coldly, "I need to find out whether my Great Ming Dynasty is truly rotten to the core, or whether there is any hope for salvation."
Wu Zhihong held his head, his headache stemming from his report.
Xue Shao couldn't stand it and reminded him, "The case of colluding with pirates to ambush and kill the delegation belongs to Quanzhou Prefecture. You only need to investigate the case of the corpse pit at the Mitsui Villa. Just give a brief account of what you find out."
Wu Zhihong was still holding his head.
Xue Shao said, "If you write a good memorial, the court will consider it a meritorious service, and your previous dereliction of duty may be forgiven."
Wu Zhihong raised his head, his face blank: "But I can't write it. My mind is full of thoughts about Prince Lu and others colluding with Japanese pirates and the northern lands. How can I avoid the important issues?"
Xue Shao remained silent.
Wu Zhihong grabbed his hand and looked at him with a pleading expression: "Brother Xue, please help me, okay?"
Xue Shao was ultimately soft-hearted and wrote a memorial for him.
Wu Zhihong read it over and over again, and was overjoyed: "Well written, well written! You truly deserve to be called a proctor. This memorial is a hundred times better than mine."
He immediately put the draft aside and began to copy it down.
Xue Shao stood to the side for a while and reminded him, "It's best to make a copy of the letters and ledgers for your records."
Wu Zhihong paused, then nodded in agreement.
Wu Zhihong handed the last copy of the evidence to Pan Yun for safekeeping: "If I keep this, I might lose my life. I can only entrust it to you, Master Pan. I feel both at ease and reassured."
Pan Yun nodded and said, "Don't worry."
Wu Zhihong breathed a sigh of relief. Without resting, he ordered the county magistrate to take two trusted men and immediately carry the memorial and evidence to the capital.
Meanwhile, he had also finished writing the official document to conclude the proceedings, but since it was the first day of the Lunar New Year and the government offices were closed, he did not submit it to the prefectural government office.
Pan Yun and the others missed going back for Lunar New Year's Eve, but they could go back for the evening of Lunar New Year's Day.
Xiao Hong had vented her anger enough, and Pan Jun packed her things to take them back to the mountain. However, before they could even leave the house, the prefect's men came knocking on their door.
Pan Yun: ... She turned to look at Xiao Hong and Hong Yan.
The two immediately replied, "We didn't mention your name!"
Pan Yun said in a low voice, "You all stay here and behave yourselves. You're not allowed to go anywhere!"
The two nodded repeatedly.
The person who came to the door was the prefect's steward, who was accompanied by a group of yamen runners.
Wu Zhihong, who was standing by, was sweating profusely. When he saw Pan Yun come out, he quickly stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Where's Xiao Hong?"
Pan Yun gave him a look, then turned to the steward, speaking neither humbly nor arrogantly: "May I ask what business the Prefect has with me?"
The arrogant butler immediately broke into a smile when he saw Pan Yun come out, and greeted him warmly: "This must be Master Pan, the esteemed Taoist priest of Longhu Mountain?"
Seeing the steward bowing deeply, Pan Yun raised an eyebrow and immediately got into character, clasping his hands in a fist and saying, "I dare not claim to be a high-ranking Daoist; I have only studied at the Longhu Mountain Academy and have made some progress. I was unaware that you, sir, have come..."
The butler quickly glanced at Wu Zhihong.
Wu Zhihong understood, and immediately stepped back to give them space to talk, but his ears couldn't help but perk up...
The steward lowered his voice and invited Pan Yun to stay at the prefect's office for two days, as his master had recently become very interested in Taoism.
Pan Yun instantly realized that this was a request for her to exorcise the ghost.
Pan Yun looked up at the sun in the sky and thought that if she hurried, she could still finish the project before sunset.
So he counted on his fingers and said, "I already know why the steward has come. This is not difficult. Give me an hour."
The butler's eyes widened: "The Taoist priest knows?"
Pan Yun nodded, then turned to Wang Cong and said, "Take Xue Shao and wait for me outside the city. I will meet you outside the city before sunset. If I don't go..."
She paused for a moment and then said, "Why don't you come back and stay one more night?"
Wang Cong agreed.
Pan Yun waved to Miao Zhen, Miao He, and Tao Yanbai: "Come on, I'll show you around and broaden your horizons."
The three of them excitedly followed.
The butler hurriedly chased after her, saying, "Master Pan, wait a minute! You said you knew why I invited you?"
"Isn't it just about exorcising ghosts?" Pan Yun looked him up and down and said, "I see you're tainted with yin energy. Has things not been peaceful in your household lately?"
The butler's eyes lit up, and he almost knelt down before Pan Yun. He nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, our master has been frightened. Does Master Pan have any good ideas?"
"Just take care of that ghost, it's not a big problem. Butler, let's hurry up and go. I'm in a rush to get back to Sanqing Mountain for my first dinner of the new year."
"But it will take at least a day to get to Sanqing Mountain..."
Pan Yun quickened her pace, and the butler hurried to catch up.
Xiao Hong and Hong Yan had already gone to the prefect's house to wait.
Pan Yun, along with Miao Zhen and the other two, made arrangements in the backyard of the prefect's residence. Then, they changed into Taoist robes, took peach wood swords, and performed a ritual to exorcise ghosts on the sunny first day of the Lunar New Year.
Hongyan had already hidden herself away, blowing air and casting illusions on the sidelines. Xiaohong, on the other hand, rushed out and fought Pan Yun in the courtyard for twenty rounds. In the end, Pan Yun was in a hurry and glared at her several times. Xiaohong finally gave in unwillingly and was subdued by her. (End of this chapter)