As the story goes so far, Zhang Ying had heard that a Daoist nun in Boping County was making rain from her own pulpit, and shot over there in a puff of smoke. No sooner had he entered the wall of the county seat than he spotted a proclamation hanging in the gateway with an old man sitting silently on a stool beside it. A lot of people were passing through but not many were going to the trouble to stand on their toes to read it. Zhang Ying walked right up and read aloud:

"To whom it may concern:

The Boping County Magistrate Seeks Prayers for Rain A serious drought has been underway in this county for some time. Fields are dry and barren, and our prayers and sacrifices for rain have gone unanswered. Should anyone of any rank or occupation passing through the county know a rain charm to relieve our people's misery, please come forth, for the county awaits your prayers. There is a reward of a thousand strings of cash awaiting on the day that it rains. Please give this your most serious consideration.

Posted on the ( ) day, fourth month, third year of the Tiansheng Reign."

Zhang Ying then politely clasped his hands together and turned toward the old man. "How long has this fine county of yours been without rain?

"There hasn't been a drop of rain since the eleventh month of last year," said the man; "that makes six straight months I reckon!"

"I've heard there's a Daoist nun out there somewhere who they say can make rain. Can it be? And where is she?"

The old man stretched out his knuckles, reared his head and curled out his lips to speak in the local brogue. "Ten thousand people trekked off to be where she was!" he answered.

Zhang laughed. "And where exactly was that?"

"The old nun's surname is Xi, meaning 'slave'. She's over fifty and she calls herself "Fairy Goddess". She had about ten disciples altogether, men and women. The women were called "Fairy Nuns" and the men "Fairy Ministers". To hear her tell it she's from that new Thousand Gorges Regional Commandery down Guizhou way and she can order down rain and wind at will." The man paused, for it was to be a long story.

"When they first posted this notice the magistrate and his men didn't take her too seriously. She set out about ten li from the north gate, selected a site on a high bluff and set up a rainmaking pulpit she called the Wulong Altar. Then they made five dragons cause that's what Wulong means, green, yellow, red, white and black and set each facing in the right direction alongside it. Next she demanded that the county magistrate bring the safe containing all the reward money, the thousand strings of cash they'd collected from everyone and put it on the altar. One after another he went along with her. She was supposedly practicing some kind of lunar lodge craft, and she demanded that each locality report the ages of their pregnant wives. Then she claimed to reckon their fates and proclaimed one to be 'Mother of the Demon of Drought', accusing her of carrying this demon in her belly. Without giving any chance to explain or protest she ordered the woman to be brought before the altar. She sat on top of it and directed those followers of hers to blow horns and beat drums, and then she recited charms while spewing out water from her mouth and nose. And then while they had the poor woman all confused they stripped her bare naked and layed her down on a wooden door, soaking each of her hands and feet and her hair in five bowls of water. Next, one of the "Fairy Ministers" with his hair all wild faced the deadly north and stood and with his right foot on her big belly while leaning on a sword, and recited some kind of mumbo-jumbo. Then her other followers, boys and girls both, and some others carrying flags and beating tiles, danced and chanted wildly. Looking up at the savage scene the young woman was nearly unconscious, scared half to death and exposed to that scorching sun without a cloud in the sky or a bit of shade. At day's end they finally left the ritual ground, and she told them the Dragon King hadn't been home and that she would pray again for rain the next day. She then ordered the magistrate to pay out three strings of cash to the pregnant woman's husband in compensation and ordered her to go back home. Next morning she determined that yet another pregnant woman was a 'Mother of Drought' and ordered her brought to submit before the altar. But by now the crowds of local farmers were enraged. Three or four hundred had gathered by then and rose up as one, throwing bricks and heaving tiles and roaring like thunder in their righteous anger, killing all of her disciples. That Sorceress Xi was terrified, and she switched clothes with a dead follower before running away. The magistrate didn't pursue her, but ordered this plaque hung up at every gate instead. I'm the village chief here, and I'm guarding the proclamation and watching out for troublemakers."

"So," laughed Zhang Ying heartily, "that's what happened! Well, I've got my own bag of tricks, and it's just child's play for me to set up an altar and make rain for you!" And so having spoken he reached up and put his free hand on the plaque but the old man stood up and pulled it away.

"You're talking awfully big, son. Do you mean to claim this for real? Just hold it with the big talk and small results, the unfinished projects...why don't you take a lesson from that so-called Fairy Goddess climbing up one side of the altar and running for her life down the other?"

"How much rain do you want? Enough to shock you out of your wits or just amaze you a bit?"

"We only need thirty inches of rain, why, that'll do!"

Zhang laughed heartily. "If I command the rivers and oceans to empty it'll happen in a few hours' time. There's nothing at all to the small amount that you need!"

The old man then offered his stool to someone else and led Zhang Ying down the road to the county seat. The farmers noticed their village chief escorting a Daoist into town and happily concluded that it was certainly in connection with that call for rainmakers, all of them coming for a look. Now, Boping County had now been without rain for six months, a severe drought. Just imagine:

This county naturally had its share of temples staffed with bonzes and wizards who prayed for rain according to their faiths and crafts, reading the sutras, sacrificing and offering charms. County Magistrate Chun Yuhou went early every morning to the Temple of the City Moat to burn joss and pray for Heaven's help, all to no avail. And the people had a little jingle about it:

On this particular day he had finished his prayers and morning services were over. On returning to rest in his quarters he was suddenly aroused by loud shouts and wild drumming in the County Hall. Forgetting his crown in haste and clad in his ordinary gown he came running out of the rear annex. "A Daoist from far away has just arrived with one of the rainmaking proclamations!" announced a guard. "The people are massing in the streets behind him."

The magistrate turned to the village chief and ordered him and all the other people to wait outside. Then he invited the Daoist alone into his quarters for a meeting. Zhang Ying went boldly forward holding that basket of thorns in his left hand and his tortoise shell fan in his right. Formally greeting the magistrate he set down the basket, bowed and kowtowed, and the official hastily returned the formalities.

"What's your full name and title and whereabouts are you from?" asked the magistrate.

"Surname's Zhang, first name's Ying for Oriole. I'm also called Chongxiao Chushi, the Skysoarer. I'd just arrived here in Shandong by sea when I came across the call for rainmakers and came to offer my services."

"You wouldn't by any chance be practicing that 'lunar lodge' craft, would you?" asked the magistrate.

"Not lunar lodge, but sun dimming craft. How can you make it rain without first dimming the sun?"

Both men laughed. "There's a rain altar erected outside the north gate if that'll be all right for you."

"If you've already got an altar I'll be able to get right to work."

"In roughly how many days will the rain arrive?"

"The sooner I mount the altar the sooner it'll rain!"

The magistrate recalled the ugliness that arose out of that Daoist Nun's groteque rituals and was skeptical. "You seem awfully sure of yourself, professor...I still don't quite understand what craft you're using. I'd like you to explain and prepare everything carefully in advance."

I really don't need any special preparations or equipment," said Zhang. "Just have every Buddhist and Daoist in every temple of the county come forth and sanctify the altar, and then just wait."

"So, it's as easy as that!" said the magistrate. "I'll be glad to order it done right away and arrange for you to spend the night at the Temple of the City Moat, and first thing tomorrow morning you'll be able to mount that altar of ours."

"As your excellency orders. There's only one little thing. Even a simple public inn is all right for me to spend the night. I'm just afraid my presence in the Temple of the City Moat might disturb their prayers and get them all upset."

"Of course there are inns." Although the magistrate so answered, he was reluctant to allow this and Zhang knew it.

"I arrived early this morning on an empty stomach so I'd like some quick food and wine."

"Of course we can provide wine," answered the magistrate. "But the food is strictly vegetarian."

"I'm accustomed to having fresh meat with my wine and monks' food simply doesn't suit me, your excellency."

"To tell the truth," explained the magistrate, meat has been forbidden for over three months now while we've been praying for rain. I'm eating only vegetables myself, and I'm afraid your insistance on having fresh meat is really unreasonable."

Zhang Ying laughed. "Your ban on slaughtering has been taken very lightly, excellency. As folks have always said:

'When people don't respect the bans that they are told they must The government looks stupid and the people good and just.'

If your excellency doesn't believe this is the case now, well, just east of these offices at number thirteen the Lyu family just this morning slaughtered a seventy pound full grown hog. And then their neighbor Sun Kongmu bought fifteen pounds of its pork for his son's first birthday banquet. It's in the pans being cooked right now. And west of here Gu's wineshop slaughtered and sold a lamb this morning, and they've still got a pair of its hooves, cooked up all dressed in spices and bamboo and on display atop a fine bucket of rice. If you go there and remind them that they don't have any special permission from the authorities they'll offer you a price you won't refuse."

"I can't believe such things are happening!" said the magistrate. He then instructed the servant in charge of provisions for that day to go and buy five pounds of pork and a pair of lamb's feet from the places that Zhang had mentioned. A short time later he returned with his hands full.

"At first both of them tried denying it but they were were caught dead to rights and for awhile it looked like I'd frightened them speechless. Then they nervously went in back and came out with the goods, handed them over and didn't dare take any money for them."

The magistrate looked at Zhang in amazement. "What kind of maths did you use to reckon that, professor?"

"It just came to me, that's all."

The magistrate then realized that this gentleman was no ordinary soul and he looked on him with real respect. In a little while the servants had warmed and brought in five five or six liters of wine, twenty wheat buns, the pork and and the lamb's hooves and lined them all up on the table.

"I can't thank you enough," said Zhang Ying, hands clasped together in appreciation. Then by bowlfuls and great hunks did he make quick work of devouring it all, and in a very short while three empty plates and a dry winepot were all that remained of the feast.

"Sorry I was so selfish," he finally said. Then he went on to the Temple where he had yet another meal, causing those present to gasp in surprise. "I've never seen anyone eat like that!" remarked one. "What a bottomless gut he's got!"

Suddenly a clever and cute pagegirl stood up behind the magistrate. "What else would such a big mouth be attached to?" she chimed in.

"Your own mouth isn't exactly small either!" answered Zhang, pointing at her. The girl's little button of a red mouth then involuntarily spread grotesquely wide from ear to ear, opening round and wide as a laquered scarlet bowl. Unable to close it or speak, she burst into tears.

Now, this young women was only fifteen years of age, still with bangs over her eyebrows, so very pure and bright and the magistrate's favorite page. Having seen something very strange happening to her and knowing that her broadside against Zhang was the cause, he hurriedly bowed and apologized. "I'm sorry master but the poor child's only fifteen and doesn't have any sense!"

"It didn't really bother me" answered Zhang.

"This kid's always making weird faces!"

"You mean like she's doing now?" asked Zhang, and when the magistrate turned to look he saw her smiling as happily and pleasantly as before.

The a county clerk standing by spoke in a whisper. "Smoke and mirrors!" he hissed.

Zhang Ying heard it but was unruffled. "What's that clerk's name?" he asked the magistrate.

"Why, it's Lu, Lu Mao in fact."

"Good for you, County Clerk Lu!" Zhang replied as Lu nervously slipped away.

The magistrate then had Zhang Ying escorted to a public inn, with instructions that food and drink be provided morning and night. And as they parted for the night he also arranged with Zhang for the two to rise early the next morning and go together to worship at the rain altar. "My staff had better accompany you in person," he added.

Now, earlier that day he had ordered the bonzes and wizards in every temple to prepare to go forth and sanctify the wulong rain altar, By the drumming of the fifth watch at three o'clock the next morning they all began arriving at the altar to await the arrival of Wizard Zhang and welcome him as ordered. He also instructed his staff to be at their posts before dawn, and sent an officially designated horse to the inn for Zhang's use in the morning. That night found Boping County really bustling with activity.

Next morning at daybreak the magistrate left the county hall and was just mounting his palanquin when he spotted Zhang Ying, tortoise shell fan in his right hand and thorn basket in his left swaggering toward him most officiously. His eye's met Zhang's. "It's an honor sir, as usual" he the magistrate.

"I'm here as promised for the walk to the altar."

"But it's a journey of ten li so I sent a horse to the inn for you. Didn't it arrive?"

"Oh, the horse got there all right but I can walk the way."

"Have you had breakfast yet?" enquired the magistrate.

"Yes, I have."

"Well then, why don't you set out first and I'll follow on."

"I don't know where the rain altar is so I'd like to trouble that clerk Lu of yours to show me the way.

The magistrate then ordered Lu Mao to do a good job guiding Zhang Ying.

Now, County Clerk Lu followed the magistrate's orders and went with Zhang, giving constant assistance. But suddenly Zhang Ying disappeared, and he stopped momentarily in fright. Reckoning that Zhang couldn't have fallen behind he then ran ahead and found the gentleman twenty or thirty paces in front.

"It's still OK," thought the guide. "But what if he's only a wandering monk who talked big and is now cutting out when the time comes to deliver, no doubt with some excuse or other for me. Or what if he really doesn't know the way and gets himself lost and the magistrate arrives first, making me look incompetent?"

And so forward he lunged, trying to overtake the fellow. He saw the professor only walking on slowly in the lead while he, strangely, was found that all his strength was insufficient for him to catch up. Stranger yet, whether he ran faster or only walked the gap remained the same twenty or thirty paces. Eventually he ran himself out of breath and started panting.

"Slow down a bit, professor!" shouted the clerk, "I can't catch up to you!"

"Hah hah," laughed Zhang, "a poor wizard walks a bit too fast and you can't stay in front to guide the way...it looks as though I'll have to go up to Heaven and make rain without you!" Now that clerk ran as if for his life but still saw that he was not closing the gap. And here's a poem:

The clerk was now truly sweating up a storm and trying to catch his breath. "Look, I can see that you've got miraculous powers," he managed to shout; "you've already worn me out!"

"What's so miraculous about 'smoke and mirrors'?" answered Zhang Ying.

Only then did the clerk realize that this had all been the result of his gaff the previous night. He fell at once to his knees and kowtowed in apology. Zhang Ying stopped, turned and clasped his hands in forgiveness, and just as quickly as twin magnets on a plate reversed places with him, once again following the clerk's lead.

The clerk now held on to the great teacher with his free hand as if never to let go, and before long they came to the Wulong altar. Groups of monks and wizards had already been waiting there for some time; on hearing that the new wizard had arrived they formed two groups in front of the altar to welcome him.

Zhang Ying noted that the altar was situated on high ground, surrounded on all sides by forest. The remaining five dragons left behind by the nun Xi had been constructed with bones of bamboo and paper skin pasted on, with scales of the appropriate color painted on each. At the center of the ritual ground stood a large oilcloth tent supported on a frame, with tables and chairs set up inside. Before long the common folk began arriving in throngs, thousands of them from both sides of the wall, but the magistrate was nowhere to be seen.

"He wasn't willing to follow me here," thought Zhang, "and for whatever convenient reason of his made me walk on while he rode in the carriage alone. Well, I'm here to make rain for these good people so I'll just pretend that walking the distance wasn't really an indignity, but why don't I have a little fun with him while I'm at it?" He then called over a young Daoist.

"The county chief hasn't arrived yet, so why don't we start warming things up in advance?" he instructed. He then took hold of the young man's arm and drew it forward, drawing an invisible amulet with his finger on the boy's open palm and folding his own paper sword charm.

"When you meet the county chief, tell him get over here in person and receive his rain. If he can't decide just open this fist and he'll become a believer fast! He can't just wait it out on the road somewhere."

Then he told the youth to remove his shoes and drew charms on the soles, telling him that he'd walk really fast upon putting them back on, and that he could stop by shouting the words "Whoa! Stop!" in a loud voice. Now, when that young man put on those shoes he was moved away at once, swept off as if by the wind. He fairly flew along that road to town for four or five li when he met with the county magistrate and shouted ""Whoa! Stop!" as directed. As a result he came to a gentle stop right in front of the chief's retinue. There was his excellency the magistrate sitting in a veiled bluish green and red summer palanquin, his four bearers and four assistants holding up a large blue tassled parasol for shade. The young Daoist walked up to him and relayed the message as he'd been told to.

"The Wizard requests that you come immediately to receive the rain!"

"And just where is there any rain to be found on a hot day like this?"

"He was afraid you would hesitate so he ordered me to show my palm as a message!" the youth replied, flinging open his fist.

Suddenly a crash of thunder and lightning seemed to come from his open palm, flattening that palanquin down to its carrying poles! The magistrate leapt out of the collapsing sedan chair in horror, hands tightly covering his ears and face like ash. The others lay all over where they had fallen and even the young Daoist cringed dumbly in fear. After a moment of calm the chief sent a man to crawl forth and assist the others nearby, and to go try to borrow a mule or horse to continue the journey. But there were only a few monks to be seen leading a fair number of ordinary folk, all worked up and eager to escort the county chief to worship at the altar.

Now, that magistrate had received a terrible shock and now didn't dare dally around. He could only give the order and off he went, pressed and jostled by the surging crowd as they made their way to the rain altar, having first sent a man back to the county office to bring both horses and palanquin for his return.

Zhang Ying spotted the magistrate approaching and went forth to welcome him to the site. "Why hasn't your excellency come by sedan chair?" he asked.

The county chief then told him how the palanquin had been flattened by that thunderbolt. "Master," he continued, "with powers like yours it won't be difficult at all to bring rain and make all of our people so happy!"

"It's no idle boast of mine, either," said Zhang; "that wind, thunder, cloud and rain are all things I carry around in the little bag on my belt. A little theatrics and you'll see for yourself. Now if I may trouble you for a big umbrella..."

The magistrate called out, came up with three blue silk umbrellas and passed them to Zhang Ying, who took one in hand, whirled around twice and leapt up with his arms raised. "Rise!" he shouted, and upon his breath that umbrella ascended ever so gradually into the sky. At its maximum height it changed into a dark cloud, covering the sun and holding back its red rays. The assembled folk all raised their faces to behold the sight, and Zhang then beckoned with his hand for the cloud to obligingly descend and change back into that umbrella, and once again the fiery round sun came out.

The magistrate was at once delighted and afraid and asked Master Zhang to take to the altar and quickly pray for rain to relieve the entire region's drought.

"We mustn't overdo the formalities," announced Zhang. "Ten days ago I encountered a heavy rainstorm while passing Mt Nanminshan, and I'm going to bring those clouds here now to fulfill their destiny right over your fine county!"

He then reached into his thorn basket, took out a tiny gourd medicine vial and held it before the altar, instructing the magistrate to burn incense and pray. Zhang then folded slips and recited charms, and when they had taken effect he collected the resulting potion on his tortoise shell fan and poured it into the vial. Suddenly a blast of strong wind arose before the altar while a black ether rose into the sky from out of that gourd vial, and the two combined into a heavy overcast. He then put away the vial, walked over beside those bamboo and paper dragons and chanted:

Then what did they see but the dragon's scales and fins all beginning to move, and then suddenly it soared up into the sky and disappeared. A few moments later lightning flashed wildly and thunder cracked and rumbled, and raindrops as big as fists began falling. The people roared in amazed delight and ran for cover every which way.

The county magistrate also wanted to leave but his palanquin hadn't yet arrived from the county hall, so he was forced to take shelter under the big canopy together with his men and all of the monks and wizards. In an instant it was coming down in torrents, but the cloth of the tent had been treated with hot oil and placed carefully high up on the frame above them so that very little water dripped inside. They had to use tables and chairs, however, to block the unprotected sides from the rain and gale. Some of the people had brought parasols, but the wind caught them and turned them inside out. Then all of a sudden just as the storm was at the peak of its fury what should appear but a golden snake, attacking wildly to the accompanyment of crashing and rolling thunder and just swirling left and right without leaving the altar! "Dare I ask, Master," enquired the Magistrate, "why the Thunder God is so angry?"

"I suppose he's seen inside our hearts and knows there are some wicked people here, eh?" answered Zhang, who then addressed the serpent in a loud voice:

"Lord of Thunder, hear my pronouncement of Heaven's law! If there really is a corrupt clerk or official, fallen monk or rogue wizard among us then you must punish him at immediately! If not, go away at once!"

At that moment the the thunder roared and crashed without cease while the magistrate fell down in prayer, crying out regrets for his past failings. The clerks and officials present were likewise saying what they no doubt thought to be their last prayers as were the Buddists and Daoists, all falling over each other in heaps as they chanted frantically for forgiveness. Zhang Ying saw everything with that flawless eyesight of his and laughed.

After about an hour the sound of rain stopped and the lightning and thunder ceased as well. The people felt relieved, and clambered forth from the ritual ground to take in the sights and sounds of the mist-veiled mountains so full of fowl, the gushing streams and overflowing ponds, clear evidence that three feet of rain had indeed fallen.

Zhang Ying looked down and saw a Daoist with a crippled leg doing the talking. Slight of build and in filthy clothing, he was carrying a green wooden staff. During the heavy rain he had hobbled up to the altar yet he didn't have a drop of water on his entire body. Mounting the altar he cast down his stick, clasped his hands and kowtowed to the magistrate, much to the shock of all present.

"You begging priest!" exclaimed Zhang. "I succeed in making rain from this very altar, saving all the living souls here, and you stand here besmirching my good name and deeds! Would you dare to enter a little duel of sorcery against me?"

"Whatever magic you think you know, I'll see you and do you one better!" said the cripple, who was of course our very own Quezi.

Enraged, Zhang Ying dropped his tortoise shell fan. "Go hit that beggar priest!" he shouted, and the fan sailed forth gradually bound for Quezi's scalp, causing him to laugh loudly and raise his head, making up his turban rise up as if on a pair of stilts to catch the that fan in mid air! They looked just like two fighting eagles, one on top of the other!

"Where are you, my stick?" shouted Quezi. Suddenly that green wooden staff was seen jumping right up, bounding over and striking Zhang Ying, who brushed off his sleeve and made that thorn basket of his rise up in front of him as if at the end of a carrying pole. The onlookers could only gasp in amazement and step aside, and even the magistrate didn't dare get too close. Each of the combatants stood his ground but neither could gain the advantage and both received a harsh dose of Heaven's law.

In great anger did Zhang Ying then pull himself together for another effort. "Black dragon, come at once!" he shouted, raising his arms toward the north. Quezi heard this and enlisted the help of that yellow dragon by the altar. That same black dragon that had previously soared on high to make rain could now be seen flying back through the clouds and fog toward the altar, while the yellow dragon, its scaley wings and fins drumming to life, leapt off the ground and soared up to meet it in aerial combat! Now, since olden times it has been said that "earth blocks water", and accordingly the black dragon could not best his yellow adversary. "Green dragon, go up to assist!" ordered Zhang Ying. Then Quezi ordered the white dragon off to intercept them. Gnashing his teeth Zhang Ying quickly ordered the red dragon up to help out. The five dragons then danced and swirled wildly as they grappled in the sky, the five elements gold, wood, water, fire and earth mutually joining and blocking each other and making a great commotion. A wild wind then arose and blew down the tent and bamboo scaffold.

Now, just as the people were struggling back to their feet yet another monk walked onto the scene. With gold rings hanging from his ears and wearing a cassock with a flame design, he was holding a small crystal monk's bowl in his palm. Nobody had even seen which way he'd just come from!

"All right, I'm here to break it up!" he shouted. "You're both about the same in skill and you're just harming yourselves with your combined powers!" He then cocked his arm and threw that crystal monk's bowl with all his might up into the sky, where it changed into a bright, five-colored pearl. The five dragons were then attracted to this treasure and deployed themselves in a circle around it. Quezi recognized the interloper at once as Bonze Dan, and although secretly pleased he went along with it without giving them both away. All eyes were on the monk as he spoke.

"You two have battled to a draw with Heaven's charms as weapons. Well, whichever of you can snatch up that cystal bowl of mine and give it back to me I'll proclaim the master!"

"No problem at all!" said Zhang Ying and Quezi in harmony, accepting the challenge. They then chanted to themselves and received powers, and suddenly those dragons were once again just bamboo with paper pasted on, sitting inanimately in their old places without having left a trace of their return flight for anyone to see. And there in front of everybody Zhang Ying caught the crystal bowl in his sleeve and returned it to the monk.

"It's a fraud!" shouted Quezi. It's really right here on me!" And sure enough he removed the very same crystal bowl, same size and all, from inside the seat of his pants! The monk would take neither as his original, but instead stroked his own sleeve and produced that same bowl. "Mine is here," he laughed. "Now quit fooling around, you two!"

Actually, Zhang Ying's "crystal bowl" was only a transformation of his little gourd medicine vial, while Quezi's was merely transformed out of his own gourd flask. As soon as the real crystal bowl appeared these two fakes returned to their original forms, and everybody had a good laugh while putting them away.

Secretly, Zhang Ying was shocked. "That begging monk's powers really are a match for mine," he fumed, "and the wild bonze is just too much!" And here's a poem:

There was only noise and commotion to be heard and seen among those gathered before the altar, with everyone streaming forth endlessly to welcome the three new masters to the county. The magistrate's fresh horses and palanquin had by this time arrived from the county hall, and he finally dared address the three.

"I've just had the priveledge of meeting three men of awesome skill and power, each equal to the others. In my humble opinion your different religions flow from the same source, and if you'll just put aside your rivalries I think I'm speaking for all in reverently inviting you to our little county town. I've got horses ready for the journey and we'd be delighted if you would ride.

Quezi was thrilled to see horses at the altar and wanted to mount right up, but Zhang Ying still harbored some unsettled suspicions, chief among these a doubt that Quezi was really lame.

"We're not permitted to ride on animals," he said, trying his best to irritate, "so let's just plan on arriving late, eh?"

"Now I know you must be a dimwit!" said Quezi.

"A dimwit? Why?"

"Why then would you walk when you can ride?"

The onlookers all laughed heartily. "Well," said the magistrate, If you won't ride I'll be obliged to walk along with you.

"It's too muddy for that," said Quezi. "No need for county officials to stand on ceremony like that. I'll just walk on ahead with my colleagues here and whoever arrives in town first will just wait for the others."

And so the two Daoists stepped down from the altar leading each other by the hand, and joined Bonze Dan. The people, who had first come to recognize only the rainmaking master were now suddenly faced with two additional personalities, a lame wizard and a bonze, with no idea of where they might even have come from! Truly awed, they stepped back in rows on either side, clearing a way for them to depart first. Bonze Dan led the way with Zhang Ying next and Quezi bringing up the rear. Not so many paces into the journey Quezi, laboriously hobbling along, spoke up.

"This rough trail isn't so bad at this slow pace of yours!" he called out.

Now, Zhang Ying knew at once that he had Quezi just where he wanted him. Running ahead he tugged at Bonze Dan's gown, quietly exhorting him to walk faster.

"Argh!" they suddenly heard heard from behind. Looking back they saw that Quezi's good foot had sunk into one of the puddles by the trail's edge. He tried to pull it out as they watched, but his lame left leg slipped and he fell down down into the water with a "kerplunk".

"Disgraceful!" pronounced Zhang Ying.

"Never mind!" said Bonze Dan. "Let's just go on and wait for him at the county hall!"

By the time they entered the gates and caught their first glimpse of the county hall, however, they saw none other than a man with a green wooden staff hobbling out to greet them. "What made you both so late?" he shouted.

Zhang Ying was mortified, for that man was unmistakably Quezi himself and nobody else! He then realized that the fall into the mud had been a trick involving blockage of the water phase and that put him at ease. Walking on into the compound he properly greeted the waiting fellow and after all this time finally asked his name and title.

"My real name is Zuo Chu, the 'Zuo' for 'left', but I changed it to Zuo Que when by left leg went lame from an injury. Among my fellow Daoists I'm called Teacher Que. This gentleman here is called Bonze Dan, my senior, and he's also known as Master Dan."

"Ah," said Zhang Ying, "so you're the two that practiced under Holy Auntie, over at Deputy Magistrate Yang's place in Huayin County!"

"How did you know that?" asked Quezi.

"While I was over in the Yongxing area I heard a lot of people praising her but I wasn't fated to meet her then. I sure am happy to have bumped into you fellows now!"

He then got down on his knees in respect, with Quezi and Bonze Dan hurriedly returning the ceremonies. "And you, Master?" they then asked. "Who are you?"

Zhang Ying gave his name and title, and the two were astounded. "Why, Chongxiao Chushi is just who Holy Auntie wants to meet do badly!" said Bonze Dan in disbelief.

Zhang Ying was just about to follow up on this when the magistrate suddenly arrived. He already knew that the three masters had arrived first, so he dismounted from the palanquin outside the hall and walked in through the gate followed by those same monks and wizards and a host of ordinary folk. He ordered a red carpet rolled out and invited Zhang Ying to step forth first and receive his share of adulation and thanks, but he hesitated.

"I myself kneel often before the people," said the magistrate; "it's expected of us now!" And so they exchanged a couple of bows and a few humble gestures with each other and then Zhang received two worshipful bows from the people. Next he called the two others to come forth and be seen. They asked for the red carpet to be removed out of modesty and the host bowed to their request. Now seeing the trio together all of the monks and priests and multitudes of people present fell to the ground as one and roared like thunder in appreciation. Zhang Ying said a few reassuring words, turned to the magistrate and excused himself. Bonze Dan next led a moral revival service and the Daoist Quezi then conducted the sacrifice of a rooster in thankfulness to Heaven, and by the time he was finished the remaining people had all returned home.

The magistrate then informed them that a banquet had been prepared in the rear hall where the three were now awaited. He didn't even know the names or titles yet of Bonze Dan and Quezi and finally asked them as they entered the feast. Zhang Ying introduced them both.

"How do you know them?" asked the county chief.

"We had a lot in common back in happier times," said Zhang; "we found that out once we started talking."

"You see?" said the magistrate; "My encouraging you to stop fighting and get along with each other was to thank for all that! Well, as you three are immortals I don't dare interfere in your affairs. Why don't you decide the seating order among yourselves?"

"Zhang Ying is the man of the hour!" said Bonze Dan; "He should be in the leading place." The magistrate agreed. Zhang Ying was hesitant but could only accept, while Quezi nominated Bonze Dan for the second seat and he himself took the third, with the magistrate accompanying them just below.

"A vegetarian meal for you, Master?" the magistrate asked Bonze Dan.

"I eat everthing, meat included!" he answered.

"I've never in all my years seen holy men like these!" thought the magistrate, darkly.

In a while they'd been through three rounds of wine and two dishes when the magistrate suddenly stood to address the banquet. He first called out for a payment voucher, which he received and presented to Zhang Ying.

"This is a very meager reward from our district. Please do not quarrel and bicker over it. When you continue on your way just redeem this for your gift at the county treasury."

Now, at that time during the Song Dynasty a thousand strings of cash was worth a thousand ounces of silver, too much for a man to carry. The thousand strings of cash was impossible to hand over and transport as well.

"That money will really come in handy someday, you'd better take it!" he advised.

Zhang Ying nodded and asked for a brush and paper, and wrote for the entire sum to be delivered to the Temple of the City Moat where he was temporarily lodging. He then requested that the county treasurer burn that piece of paper in the temple's offering furnace, and the magistrate silently beckoned the man and instructed him to do so, and to deliver the thousand strings of coin right before the altar.

The treasurer agreed publicly but had other thoughts. "The money will be delivered to the fellow in the Temple, all right, but some has already been spent. Maybe tonight under cover of darkness I'll take it home and count it. If it comes up a bit short as it's bound to I'd better keep it from everybody's eyes and ears! It's already an official matter and if it's exposed in the temple it'll be hard to hide. Why, I know...I'll just bring the boodle over there and plan it with the chief Daoist for us each to get a cut. If the county asks about the shortfall we'll just say that the God of the City Moat took it, and where's the receipt to inspect? Good plan, good plan!"

Later that night after bidding farewell to those at the feast he managed, one way or the other, to muster and transport a thousand strings of cash to the Temple. After first informing the chief Daoist of the plan, he burnt Zhangs Ying's written paper charm and then took the cash and dumped it on either side of the altar, just like two earthen mounds. Then he agreed with the priest to divide the loot the next evening after sunset and went home. Now, this priest had a larcenous heart of his own. "Folks say 'Not taking what is on display is giving it away!'" he thought. "Why should I share this here money with anybody else? I'll just get my disciples to help me carry it out to that big fishpond behind the temple and heave it in. We'll write it off to the God of the Moat, who we'll say took it invisibly and left no tracks. Won't I look clean? Then I'll wait till it's all over to collect the money and spend it."

He then hurriedly opened the temple gate and roused his monks, rearranged the furniture and prepared to transport the load.

Now, as soon as the chief priest picked up a string of that cash he felt it wriggling and moving in his hand. When he picked it up for a close look he saw that it was a silky red snake and let it go in fright. His disciples then cried out in horror, seeing the twin mounds of money moving wildly, both having become piles of snakes, entwined together and slinking along toward the shrine. It was the fifteenth day of the fifth lunar month and the rain had past, leaving a clear sky and bright moonlight. Suddenly they heard a knock on the door; why, it was the county treasurer! The priest immediately told him of the money having changed into snakes. Now, how could he believe that? Taking a torch he went forth into the shrine and didn't see a single snake. He then reckoned that the priest had hidden away all strings of money, for there was none to found anywhere, and he was really agitated. He then brought the matter to the attention of the county magistrate who became furious and gave the treasurer twenty whacks of the paddle and expelled him in disgrace. The chief priest was ordered out of the temple never to return. But that all came later, and here's a poem about it:

As the tale goes Zhang Ying and the others ate their full until the moon was high and bright in the evening sky. They rose and said goodnight to the magistrate and seemed ready to be off on their seperate ways when the magistrate spoke.

"You three have favored me with this visit so why not spend the night as my guest in a public inn, and tomorrow you'll be asked to teach again!"

"I've got my own grass hut," said Bonze Dan; "I guess I dare spend some time here with your excellency and join a round of the festivities."

And where might that palace of yours be?" asked the magistrate?

"Not far from here."

As the magistrate escorted them to the front hall Bonze Dan called out for a bowl of water, which was immediately brought by a page. Bonze Dan picked it up and began chanting, then filled his mouth with water and spit it out with a splash before them; it changed into a broad river with heaving, rolling waves and swells, reflecting the silvery moon. Zuo Chu then picked the dried willow gourd out of his belt and cast it down onto the water where it became a small boat. This just about sums it up: