One evening, I was at a ferry on the upper reaches of the Huanxiang River. A white-faced scholar and two servants, tall and short, hurried towards the ferry. The two servants were carrying boxes, which looked heavy.
One of the servants shouted towards the ferry: "Boatman, we have to cross the river!" A boatman came out of the ferry, looked at the three of them and said, "It's getting late today and it's not convenient to sail. Come back tomorrow!"
The white-faced scholar lowered his eyes slightly, seeming to think about it for a moment. Then he said: "I have an emergency at home, so I really can't do it! Please ask the boatman to help me!" The boatman said to the white-faced scholar on the boat: "The river has been unstable recently, and there are often water ghosts. Boating at night is taboo for boatmen, old man It's really embarrassing!" The scholar took out a piece of silver from his arms without hesitation, handed it over and said, "If you really don't have it, please ask the boatman to make it easier!" When the boatman saw the silver, his eyes immediately lit up and he waved. , said: "Get on the boat!"
The three of them moved the boxes onto the ship, and the scholar reminded the two servants not to bump into each other. When the boat reached the middle of the river, it suddenly "crash"! There was a sound of water. The boatman shouted: "No, water ghost!" Then he saw three heads emerging from the water, all with disheveled hair and grinning teeth. He stretched out his hand and pulled the boatman into the water.
After a while, the four heads emerged from the water together. The boatman laughed loudly: "If you fall into my trap, you can't escape!" However, the three people on the boat did not panic because of this. Instead, they were like watching a bird in a cage or a turtle in an urn. The tall and short servants laughed at the same time, and the white-faced scholar also smiled and said to himself: "Water ghost, ha."
The boatman didn't know why and laughed again. But as soon as the laughter started, it turned into a "gurgling" sound. The boatman and one of the "water ghosts" were dragged down from the water for unknown reasons! The short servant pulled his hands and heard a "bang" sound. A "water ghost" howled and his eyes were hit by projectiles! Then there was a "pop" sound, and the other water ghost was whipped on the face and sank.
Within a moment, a "swishing" sound was heard under the water. Then the boatman was brought onto the boat by something unknown in the water, and he was already half dead! The short young man disguised as a servant looked at him and joked: "Zhang Zhenshan, Zhang Mazi, there are so many pockmarks! The rain hits the beach, and the chickens peck at the watermelon rinds!"
Just as he was talking, there were suddenly three more sounds of water coming out. Three "water ghosts" were also sent on board. The short young man took a look at them one by one and said, "How do you think? You fake water ghosts are using my name, and the real water ghosts are not satisfied. Four against one, you all lost so miserably, hehe. But don’t worry, you will soon become real ghosts, haha..."
It turns out that in the past few days, Wu Zhong San Jue and Qiao Zhi County interrogated the bandits one by one, and sent out black cats and goshawks to conduct reconnaissance, and finally caught the whereabouts of the bandit leader Zhang Mazi. This pockmarked man usually disguises himself as a boatman to avoid being attacked, but the pockmarked face must be hidden unless he goes to a place where no one can see him. After figuring out his whereabouts, Wu Zhong San Jue disguised himself as a master and servant to lure Zhang Mazi into taking the bait.
After a while, the magistrate of Qiao County took the bandits back to the county for interrogation and conviction. The next day, during the interrogation, a police official came to report that Mr. Guo, the censor of the inspection, had arrived. Qiao Zhixian was stunned and hurriedly left the hall to greet him.
This Master Guo's name is Guo Qing, and he is a Jinshi in the same discipline as Qiao Zhixian. Qiao Yu is the magistrate who has been exiled, and Guo Qing is the censor who has been exiled. They came here this time precisely because of the relationship between the bandits and the former magistrate. Qiao Yu hurriedly asked Guo Yushi to wait for tea in the back hall to discuss the progress of the case.
During this period, Yushi Guo said: "In addition to official business, there is also a private matter during this endless trip. That is to stop by to see my savior." County Magistrate Qiao quickly replied: "I don't know where Master Guo's benefactor lives. , I can arrange carriages and horses to serve you!" Guo Yushi sighed and said: "I don't know where my benefactors live, I only heard that they are in Wu Ending!"
Qiao Zhixian is the father-in-law of Wuzhong County. Isn't it easy to count heads? So he said: "I don't know the names of your benefactors. I will send a Yamen servant to find out!" Guo Yushi looked troubled: "The names of the three benefactors have not been left." Qiao Yu complained in his heart. If you don’t even know what someone’s name is, where can you find them? However, after all, Guo Yushi was a Jinshi in the same discipline as Qiao Yu, and his official position was higher than his own, so Qiao Zhixian had no choice but to bite the bullet and ask, "What are the characteristics of my benefactor?"
After trying hard to recall, Guo Yushi said: "There are not many characteristics, except that one of the three benefactors is a tall and heroic warrior, the other is a young man of short stature, and the third It's hard to say who he is. This third benefactor is wearing a long sword and looks like a white-faced scholar." Speaking of the three people, Guo Yushi suddenly remembered something and said, "That's right! I, the three My benefactor is dressed differently from the rest of the world, and that attire is something you and I have never seen before!"
At this point, the momentum in Qiao Yu's heart finally came to an end. It turns out that Guo Yushi's benefactor is his close friend, the three most powerful people. However, Qiao Yu did not like to show off like most people. Instead, he smiled and said to Guo Yushi: "In this way, I already know who Guo Yushi's three benefactors are. Guo Yushi needs to be quiet. In a few days, the three masters will definitely come here to talk to each other."
Guo Qing didn't take Qiao Yu's words too seriously at this time, even if Qiao Yu was so sure. After all, in Guo Qing's opinion, Magistrate Qiao, as a parent official, and he had described the characteristics of his benefactor in such detail, Magistrate Qiao would definitely find him. However, little did he know that Wu Ending Sanjue and Qiao Yu were close friends.
On that day, Qiao Yu hosted a banquet in honor of Guo Yushi. During the dinner, Qiao Yu asked Guo Yushi about his friendship with his three benefactors. Guo Yushi said: "To be honest with you, Brother Qiao, if there were not three benefactors, not only Without me, Guo Qing, in this life, I will not be able to escape the catastrophe of a short life even in the next life and every life after life!"
Everyone present was surprised, wondering if this Guo Yushi was a bit exaggerated? However, only Qiao Yu knew that the matter that required the help of his three brothers was worthy of Guo Yushi's words.
I'm talking about the National Day exams on the way. The barren mountains and ridges feel like walking in a steamer. There is no sun in the sky, and I don't know how it can be so hot in the mountains. Guo Qing looked around and saw a large rock on a hill in front of him under a big tree where he could rest and cool down. He hurried towards it. When I got closer, I saw three people already lying on the big rock. They were lying half-dead to cool off and chatting at the same time.
Guo Qing stepped forward and clasped his fists, "Guo Qing, a young student, passed by here on his way to Beijing to take the exam. I disturbed the three Qingxiu!" The three people looked up and one of the big men handed over a water bag and said, "It's hot in the weather, drink some water." Let's rest for a while." Only then did Guo Qing see clearly that the three people were holding something white in their mouths, with green smoke coming out. What concerned Guo Qing the most was that the three people were dressed in something he had never seen before. Guo Qing felt as if he had met an overseas immortal.
Guo Qing drank a few sips of cold water in a row, and suddenly felt sweat pouring down his face. He clasped his fists and said, "Thank you three." A short man among the three people moved to the side to make room. Said: "Sit down and take a rest."
The four of them chatted while resting. Guo Qing soon discovered that although these three people were not scholars participating in scientific examinations or studying poetry and books, their insights were extraordinary. Many of the things they knew were things I had never heard of. I really didn’t know what books they had read. I simply suspected that the three of them were reading heavenly books.
Speaking of this year's Qiu Wei, Guo Qing asked: "Listening to what the three of them said, I think the three of them must be... They are experts, and they are proficient in Yili. I also ask the three of you to look at the future for me. I don't know. Can you reveal some secrets?"
The dwarf among the three said: "Tell me your birth date." Guo Qing gave him the birth date. The dwarf counted it with his fingers, then his face became solemn, and sweat poured down his face. I don't know whether it was the hot weather or his own fate that shocked the master. The master calculated for a moment, then called to the scholar-looking master with a solemn expression: "Look, his fortune..."
After listening to the divination reported by the short man, the scholar-like master made a few gestures with his fingers and said, "That's right. It's a cycle." The short mage tentatively said, "Accept it?" Master Murong shook his head. , said: "It is certain to accept, but not now." After saying that, he greeted Guo Qing and said: "Brother Guo, I will teach you two secrets. You must remember them and remember to use them at critical moments." As he spoke, he leaned closer to Guo Qing. Something was said in his ear, and Guo Qing suddenly opened his mouth in shock.
Later in the day. It was not yet dark when Guo Qing was walking in the mountains and it began to rain heavily. No wonder it's so muggy during the day, it turns out it's going to rain. It's no longer hot now, but it's getting cold again, and there's almost nothing around except weeds and shrubs. At this time, he urgently needed to find a place to take shelter from the rain, because the books in his package would soon be destroyed by the heavy rain. Looking around, there was a bit of light in one direction. Guo Qing thought to himself, there must be someone there! So he hurriedly stumbled towards the light. As we got closer, suddenly a flash of lightning illuminated the surrounding scenery as if it were daytime. There was indeed a temple in front of us.