Chapter 25: Zhi Bo Breaks His Brush and Departs This World; A Child's Song Leads the Governor-General to Investigate the Injustice

Now, ever since Liang Tianlai had intercepted the Governor's sedan and presented his petition, he had been advised by Zhi Bo that Governor Xiao had accepted it. Yet day after day there was no movement, and his heart grew increasingly anxious; he kept going to inquire and could find no news, until he was tormented by irritation.

One day he went again to inquire, and saw a notice board hanging outside the yamen gate with the four large characters "Verdict for Liang Tianlai" written upon it, with two rows of smaller characters alongside. He rushed to read them: "You, Tianlai, have repeatedly disregarded official rulings and repeatedly filed excessive appeals; you have even dared to accuse officials by name — you are truly a vexatious and litigious villain. You deserve to be beaten to death! Deserve to be beaten to death!" Tianlai, who had come full of hope, reading these two lines felt as if he had been dropped into an ice cellar — his whole body went numb from the cold. He could only go and find Zhi Bo once more. When he entered, he found a monk already seated. Since there was a visitor, Tianlai did not think it appropriate to bring up his affairs. Zhi Bo introduced them: "This is the Venerable Donglai, a learned monk of Haichuang Monastery." Tianlai bowed in greeting. Zhi Bo then asked if there was any news today; at the question, Tianlai first let fall some tears, then recited the verdict from memory. Zhi Bo listened, thought for a long while, and said: "How very strange! Since they accepted the petition, why not hold a hearing — not refer it back to the prefecture or county, not commission a special investigating officer — but simply issue this bare ruling?" Donglai asked what the matter was. Zhi Bo gave him a brief account of the whole background. Donglai said: "Governor Xiao is an extremely clear-headed official; it is inconceivable that he would do something like this. If he intended such a ruling, he might just as well have thrown back the original petition when the sedan was intercepted — why go to the extra trouble? There must be some reason behind this. Could it be that people around him are up to mischief? Why not submit another petition?" Zhi Bo said: "The learned monk's insight is exactly right — there is no other recourse." He thought for another moment and said: "No — this ruling, as it stands, closes the matter. How would we open a new petition?" Donglai took the drafts of the previous petitions from Zhi Bo, read them through, and said: "That is easy. This time, briefly touch upon the nine lives buried in injustice, and then structure the petition around answering this ruling directly." Zhi Bo said: "I know that too — it is the opening lines that—" Donglai laughed: "Zhi Bo is not being so wise today! Why not say: 'I am willing to be beaten to death — I am willing to be beaten to death — rather than die bearing a false accusation'?" Zhi Bo suddenly understood. Donglai took his leave, and Zhi Bo followed this idea to write a new petition, which he handed to Tianlai to submit.

Several days passed, and another ruling was posted outside the yamen gate. This one consisted of eight characters: "The matter has been duly investigated. Submit no further petitions." Tianlai told Zhi Bo. Zhi Bo drafted another petition, the opening of which read: "Complaint that clouds gather thickly but no rain falls — I cannot but petition again." This too was submitted, and after more than ten days, it vanished like an ox plunging into the sea — utter silence. Tianlai had to go inside and inquire, expending untold trouble and tact, before at last learning that this final petition had gone up without receiving any ruling, and had simply been returned. Word was relayed that the original petition was being thrown back to him. Tianlai heard this as if cold water had been poured down his back. He withdrew and went to find Zhi Bo — who was so enraged that his vision blurred and he sat without a word. Tianlai, seeing this, dared not say more. Then he watched as Zhi Bo suddenly took up the brush he habitually used, bent it sharply, and snapped it in two, then gave out a sound and spat a mouthful of blood. Tianlai quickly said: "This is my fate — I am destined to swallow my grievances. Master, why do you let it affect you so?" Zhi Bo sighed and said: "I was unable to help redress eight lives of injustice, and I led Zhang Feng to his death. When I think back on all the legal knowledge I have studied, none of it has served any purpose. It is I who have ruined Brother Liang's cause!" With these words, he vomited several more mouthfuls of bright blood, then his head swam, and he could no longer sit up. Tianlai helped him to bed. Zhi Bo said: "Brother Liang, that monk Donglai whom you met a few days ago — he received his two degrees in the conventional examinations and was a classmate of the current Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, Grand Councilor Kong. He worked in the Board of Punishments for over ten years. A few years ago he saw through the affairs of this world and took his vows, eventually making his way to Guangdong, where he now resides at Haichuang Monastery. He and I have long been acquainted through discussions of legal matters. He is a man of great integrity. After I am gone—" Tianlai said quickly: "Master, why speak of such things? All of this suffering was caused by me overtaxing your mind!" Zhi Bo said: "Listen to what I say. After I am gone, you may go to him and beg for his help. He will certainly find a way to help you vindicate your injustice. If your injustice can be cleared, I will have died without regret!" Tianlai was at once grateful, saddened, and distressed. He sat for a while, then took his leave, went to the Yongji Hall to ask Doctor Cheng Wanli to come and see Zhi Bo, and then returned to his trading house himself.

Before long, Cheng Wanli came and reported: "Zhi Bo's six pulses have all sunk — I fear there is no hope of recovery." Tianlai, hearing this, was doubly heavy-hearted. The next day, word came that Zhi Bo had died. Tianlai went naturally to pay his respects and sent three hundred taels of condolence money. He reflected: of the two men who had helped him, one was squeezed to death by the clamps and one had died vomiting blood. From this point on, if he hoped for revenge and justice, there was no one left to help him. At this thought he could not hold back his tears and wept aloud.

One day his younger brother Junlai came from Tancun to the provincial city. Tianlai had not been home for a long time and was longing for his mother, so he handed the various affairs to Junlai to manage, boarded a boat for Tancun, and went home. Mother and son had been long apart, and there was much to say — that need not be described here. When they spoke of the nine lives buried in injustice, they could not help weeping together. Lady Ling said: "This is all because our family's fortune is poor. I see that there is nowhere left to take this case. You look at Zhang Feng — who came to give testimony and was squeezed to death. We can only say that was the work of those dog-officials, corrupt and lawless. And then there is Shi Zhi Bo — he only wrote petitions for you, and that cost him his life vomiting blood. This shows that we are an ill-starred family, and you are an ill-starred man. From now on stop nursing these futile thoughts of revenge. You must not go dragging others into harm."

Tianlai heard her out, and was silent. He lingered at home for a few days, then bid his mother farewell and set out for the provincial city. On his way to the waterfront to call a boat, he suddenly remembered that on his deathbed, Zhi Bo had mentioned that the monk Donglai was a man of great integrity and might be called upon for help. Why not go first to Haichuang Monastery and test the waters? At this thought, he hired a small boat and rowed across toward the south bank of the river, making straight for Haichuang Monastery to find the monk Donglai.

It turned out that Monk Donglai held the position of guest-reception officer at this monastery. Haichuang Monastery was one of the great monasteries of Guangdong, frequently visited by officials. But Cantonese speech is quite different from Mandarin, making it hard for local monks to converse with visitors from other provinces. The year Donglai arrived here, the abbot — seeing that he was from another province and spoke excellent Mandarin — asked him to stay and serve as guest-reception officer. Now Tianlai came and sought him out, and told him of Zhi Bo's parting words. Donglai said: "For us who have left the household life, compassion is the root and convenience is the gate — there is nothing improper in my helping. But to do something on someone's behalf properly is, as the saying goes, 'if you intend to send off the Buddha, send him all the way to the Western Heaven.' If you are truly determined to seek redress, remain here in the monastery and wait a few days — I will then be able to think of a plan with you." Tianlai was overjoyed and expressed his thanks; he then asked what the plan was. Donglai said: "Don't ask about the plan. Hereafter, if anyone asks you, simply say: 'Because I carry an injustice I cannot have redressed anywhere, I have come here seeking ordination.' Whoever asks, give that answer — and I will make arrangements on your behalf." Tianlai agreed to everything. He wrote a note and asked someone to take it to the provincial city and give it to Junlai, explaining that he would be staying a few days at Haichuang Monastery, and asking him to continue managing the trading house affairs. Then he made himself at ease and settled into the monastery — only to find that seven or eight days passed with no sign of any plan from Donglai. His heart grew restless. He went again to ask Donglai, who said: "Within the next few days, Governor-General Kong will come to this monastery. At that time I will have you state your case to him in person. And I have already helped you write the petition. This time I guarantee your injustice will be cleared — rest easy and stay on." Tianlai, reassured, waited a few more days.

That day Governor-General Kong indeed arrived. This was Kong Dapeng, the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, a Shandong man known for his upright and clean administration. Since Donglai had been his classmate in their worldly days, Kong often came to Haichuang Monastery to call on him. On this occasion Kong Dapeng had come to the south bank of the river to inspect the salt administration, and took the opportunity to pay Donglai a visit. Donglai welcomed him to the abbot's chamber, offered tea, and had a vegetarian feast prepared to receive his guest. The two men drank and talked of poetry and scenery — of the injustice of Liang Tianlai, not a word was mentioned. Tianlai, waiting outside, kept craning his head to listen for news, growing secretly anxious, longing to burst in and cry out his grievances at the top of his voice.

Then a young monk of twelve or thirteen, smiling broadly, came singing a folk song as he went inside; walking along the corridor, he sang out in a loud voice: "In Guangzhou city there is no clean official!" Donglai scolded: "There is a distinguished guest here — get out at once!" Governor-General Kong said: "Wait, Monk. Hold on. He was singing something about 'no clean official in Guangzhou city' — I would like to ask him about it." Donglai said: "This is just a ditty made up by children outside — why ask about it!" The Governor-General said: "But this is precisely a child's song, and it touches upon our officials' reputations — how can I not inquire?" Donglai called the young monk over and had him bow to the Governor-General, who reached over from his seat and gave the boy some fruit, then asked: "What you were just singing — you didn't finish it. Sing the rest for me." The young monk then sang: "In Guangzhou city there is no clean official; / Above they want gold and silver, below they want cash; / With money you can buy your way above the law; / Nine lives of injustice lie buried at the ocean's floor!" The Governor-General said: "Who taught you this song?" The young monk said: "I heard the children outside singing it, and I learned it." The Governor-General said: "Has it been sung for a long time, or is it recent?" The young monk said: "I can't say — I only learned it these past few days." The Governor-General was puzzled: "What 'nine lives of injustice'? How have I not heard of it?" Donglai pretended to be surprised: "Has Your Excellency not heard of this case? In that great city of Guangzhou, can it really be that there is not one upright official? I know not about others — but both Prefect Liu and Governor Xiao I have always understood to be honest and clear-headed men. How have they handled this matter so confusedly? I have made careful inquiry into the circumstances of the various hearings — things must have been obscured by those around them, with subordinates committing irregularities. That is why when Tianlai asked me to write a petition for him, I did not agree right away but insisted on waiting until Your Excellency came here, so that he could state his case to you in person. My fear was that anything sent to the yamen would pass through too many hands, and even with Your Excellency's great acuity, there are things your subordinates might conceal that you would have no way to discover." The Governor-General changed expression and said with sincere respect: "Monk, this thoughtfulness of yours not only helps a commoner's injustice — it also safeguards my own official reputation. I am most moved and most grateful!" He then bid the monk farewell and returned. Tianlai also thanked Donglai and hurried back to the provincial city.

Will this case be tried and concluded by Governor-General Kong? Read on to the next chapter.