Viceroy Wen provided the wine and a victory celebration in the grand hall with rear commander Ming Hao present in a place of honour. The three armies were ordered to set up camp outside the city where rewards and entertainment were provided for the troops. He then memorialised the imperial court, relating in detail the conquest of the sorcerers, the freeing of the city and the legal treatment of the entire district yet to be mandated by the Emperor. Zhuge Suizhi topped the list of individuals who had distinguished themselves by their accomplishments.
"I am just a holy man," he objected, "so what use is fame to me? Save the credit for your deserving generals and men and just let me ride my old horse back to Sweetwater Springs Temple to fulfill the trust of my disciples."
And so presented with a gold medal he could not refuse he took his leave of all the generals and rode out of town with his two monks. Viceroy Wen secretly sent a man to follow them and find out their eventual destination.
Now, at just this moment the original Zhuge Suizhi returned to the monastary after his fifteen years' pilgrimage. The monks all thought that the abbot was returning from his conquest, but Zhuge knew nothing at all about the Viceroy when they asked him. None of them knew quite what to think. Later that day, however, they saw three monks far off in the distance, arriving on horseback. In the saddle was none other than a totally identical Zhuge Suizhi, and of course the monks were all shocked.
"There's no need for us to waste our breath trying to decide," they said among themselves. "Let's just put them together and let them reveal the truth to us by their own contradictory arguments!"
The newly arriving abbot dismounted and strode toward the worship hall where he was met by the other.
"What sort of a demon are you, impersonating me like that?" shouted the original Zhuge upon seeing his double. He was ready to attack the imposter, restrained only by the monks at his side cooling him down. As they looked on the newcomer quickly waved his hands and apologised.
"Oh old Bodhi," he began, "you needn't scold me. I understand how serious this is, and I will explain everything!" He then took a brush and inkstone and upon a study table wrote out the following Zen riddle:
He then penned these four lines:
When finished writing he cast aside the brush, sat with his legs crossed, closed his eyes on the world and passed away. By the time the monks realised what had happened he had already changed back to his original appearance. They saw only thick brows and a high nose, a wide mouth and high cheekbones, obviously Bonze Dan's face. How surprised they were to see that the visitor had been a holy monk after all! Now, those spies of Viceroy Wen's had seen the whole thing and rushed back to report it to him. The Viceroy was shocked, and together with Deputy Cao Wei and Adjutant Wang Xin he rode over to Sweetwater Springs Temple, followed by some troops.
"Viceroy Wen is here!" heard the monks just as they were discussing the laying in. Overwhelmed with surprise even the old abbot himself came forth to receive him, all of them kowtowing at the sight of Imperial Viceroy Wen Yanbo. Wen was still gripped by doubt. "Masters!" he pleaded, "What is this all about?"
"That former guest in our temple who accompanied you in battle, Viceroy, was not our abbot but rather Bonze Dan in disguise!" they answered. "He died sitting in the lotus position and then changed back to his original self."
Viceroy Wen finally believed it. The monks led him into the worship hall where the Viceroy saw his face in death, looking every bit as austere and stern as when he was alive. The Viceroy turned to Deputy Cao.
"Minister Bao warned me that this monk was powerful and told me to be on my guard for him, but now that he's helped us to achieve success we can see what a true immortal he is!" said Wen. The monks handed the two Zen riddles over to the Viceroy, who sighed and wept upon reading them. He then prayed and offered joss with his generals. With worship finished he ordered that a first rate artisan be summoned to properly coat the body with laquer and create an idol with its own niche for people to sacrifice to. He also gave the monks a thousand ounces of silver from army funds for repair and maintenance of the incense burner. And to this very day Bonze Dan's body rests in the Sweetwater Springs Temple, serving above the Temple God and known as Bodhisattva Dan or the "Egghead Saint", worshipped unceasingly. Later folks left this poem there on a temple wall:
Viceroy Wen wrote and submitted another memorial of praise to the court on behalf of Queen Xuan Nyu of Ninth Heaven and the soul of Bonze Dan. The imperial censor passed it on to his majesty, and a broad smile came across Emperor Renzong's dragon face when he read it. He issue the following edict to Beizhou:
The rebel sorcerer Wang Ze is to be slowly sliced and chopped to pieces on the local execution ground. His rebel followers Ren Qian, Wu Wahng, Wang Jun, Shi Qing and others are to be beheaded. Although Hu Yong'r has already been punished by Heaven her head is to be displayed in the capital and every district and county. Zuo Chu's body is to be cremated.
Because the people of Beizhou have suffered tremendous cruelty under Wang Ze, the military authorities are to take measures to distribute provisions and ameliorate their hardship and suffering.
The illegal palace that was built by Wang Ze is to be turned into a temple to Queen Xuan Nyu of Ninth Heaven, who is to be known as the Holy Guardian. New government halls are to built on auspicious sites. For his rectification of evil by righteousness and his contributions to the conquest of sorcery Bonze Dan is hereby granted the title of Master Dan, Lord Protector of the Nation. Ma Sui and Ru Gang shall be celebrated for their loyalty and their survivors richly rewarded. A "Monument to Blazing Virtue" is to be erected at the martyred wife Zhao Wuxia's gravesite.
The misdeeds of the late former Beizhou governor are to be compensated for by Wen Yanbo and his administration. The officials of the counties and districts around Hebei who were forced to lend support to the rebels and who have since returned to righteousness are to be considered on an individual basis and treated leniently. As this campaign has been a success, all of the generals who served as guardians of right are to appear together at court to discuss their experiences and receive their rewards and promotions."
When Viceroy Wen and his officials received the edict they began carrying out its commands one by one. Wang Ze, Ren Qian, Wu Wang and the others, eyes filled with tears, just looked at each other in silence that fatal day. The people of Beizhou crowded and jostled closely for a look at the condemned men, some cursing abusively and others lamenting. It was like this:
The executioners came forth to do their awful task at exactly forty-five minutes past noon. They escorted Wang Ze and the others to a crossroads, read the proclamation of his crimes and carried out the sentence of the slow death by slicing, properly and according to law. Poor Wang Ze had been in rebellion for five years and six months before receiving the ultimate penalty this day, thus ending the line of the wealthy Wang Dahu's family. And that five years in power had fulfilled the prophecies of the five characters for "Blessing" tatooed on his back, his childhood name "Fifth Blessing" and his having been fifth born. The presiding officials sat inside of a reed enclosure and watched as the executioners carried out the punishments. Suddenly they saw someone coming forth from the forest of onlookers carrying an old woman. They were clasping their hands and pleading as they advanced, then kowtowing before the bar of justice and presenting eight ingots of silver while wailing and crying. It turned out that they was none other than Guan Yi and his old mother, there on behalf of their kinswoman Zhao Wuxia. She was the one who had hanged herself rather than be dishonored by Wang Ze's predation upon her. The mother had fled to Kaifeng, but having heard of Wang Ze's capture and the imperial edict mandating his disposition in Beizhou both mother and son returned to their hometown. This silver had been Wang Ze's foul money and they begged the officials to take it for public use, in exchange for a few pieces of Wang Ze's flesh in honor of their dead wife and daughter-in-law. Now, the presiding judges didn't dare decide on this and reported the request to Viceroy Wen, who ordered the executioners to present Wang Ze's heart and liver to the mother and son, with the money being returned to them for the buiding of a memorial hall to the loyal wife. He also granted Guan Yi a masters degree in local area studies. He was to subsequently distinguish himself in his scholarly work and never remarry. The saying that "a virtuous husband follows his wife out the gate" comes from this episode.
On that same day Viceroy Wen sent the heads of the executed rebels to the capital for their eventual disposition. The then had his officials directly engage in soothing the local people and troops. After fitting out a proper site for worship to Queen Xuan Nyu he offered a sacrifice to the Many Eyed Spirit, directing his men to join him in offering prayers and incense. Then Wen Yanbo spent seven days and nights in the temple exorcising spirits and ghosts, praying to Lord Buddha for the salvation of his lost troops and officers and as well as driving away the vengeful ghosts remaining in Beizhou. This finished, he selected a date for his return to the capital. Indeed...to tinkling of stirrups all were chatting busily, with all the people singing happy songs of victory! All the while the army had followed strictest rules so as never to cause harm to the people. When folks learnt that Viceroy Wen in his eigth decade of life had conquered sorcery and suppresed the rebellion, a great achievement, they all wished to come forth so as not to miss the opportunity of seeing Wen Yanbo's face. Afraid to cause harm to the people by stampedes or crushes he rode his horse in plain sight rather than ride in a palanquin daily. All hailed him warmly.
"In the beginning the Grand Duke Lyu Shang at eighty years of age met King Wen and helped him crush the last king of Shang, and then the house of Zhou ruled supreme. And now due to the right ways of our Emperor, Wen Yanbo with his beautiful spirit has come forth to restore order to the world. What a great deed on behalf of us common folk!"
To make a long story short, a few days later they were all in Kaifeng meeting with the Emperor Renzong who lauded and rewarded their accomplishments. Wen Yanbo was appointed prime minister and dubbed the Duke of Lu. Bao Zheng was sought as his assistant and duly appointed as chief secretary. Cao Wei was promoted to office as privy councillor, and the others from Wang Xin on down were all placed in official posts. Li Yugeng was made a territorial governor and Liu Yanwei was appointed superintendant of Hebei. Now, before long Di Qing had subdued the Yongzhou revolt of Nong Zhigao and sent messengers announcing victory. Fan Zongyan was on his way to crushing the Xixia when Zhao Yuanhao, fearful of losing all, surrendered and agreed to pay yearly tribute. It was like this...If the emperor is righteous people live in peace and joy, and peace prevails on earth for every nation to enjoy. And that's all there is to it.
Now, after Queen Xuan Nyu of Ninth Heaven had extirpated the sorcerers' revolt she got together with Yuan Gong and they jointly memorialised the Jade Emperor. The Ruler of the Universe then erased the White Ape God's previous guilt with his great victory and restored his title of Lord of White Cloud Cave, and he was once again placed in charge of the secret writings in the Cultural Affairs Ministry of Heaven.
Bonze Dan had already been reborn as a bodhisattva, and no more than that need be said. Now, although all those celestial foxes had pleaded for Holy Auntie her crimes were not to be taken lightly by the Jade Emperor, and he placed her down in White Cloud Cave as eternal guardian of its writings. Although she had lost her son and daughter she was glad to be leaving the dungeon of Heaven at long last, and she was delighted at being cast down to such a fine place.
"I'm going to mind Heaven's books," she realised, "even the Thirty-Six Transformations of Heaven's Solar Winds. They are all so important and consequential!" But after her arrival the small mountain collapsed with a roar from under the fog-making jade incense burner, which was then taken away to Heaven. The debris from the mountain sealed the cave entrance and to this day it has never again been been visited by mankind. This was done out of the Jade Emperor's desire to prevent future tragedies.
Because Emperor Renzong's holy brightness served goodness he was able to restore order with wisdom and kindness. Heaven granted him a long rule and abundant blessings. Forty-three years did his reign continue until an inexplicable event arose and he was unwilling to appoint an heir. His ministers submitted a flood of memorials without persuading him. Then suddenly one day he summoned Hanlin Academician Wang Gui and together they wrote a rescript establishing a regency.
That very evening he went to have a bath in the Hall of Blessed Peace, and as he sat and removed his slippers he lost strength and died. His lifespan was over exactly as predicted Fairy music of mid Heaven could suddenly be heard throughout the halls of the palace, and there floated the fragrance of other-worldly incense. He had indeed gone to take the place of his ancestor, the great fairy Barefoot. A poem says:
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