After Cai Jing was busy with these important tasks, he led the government officials and went around inspecting the implementation of the new law with great pride.
Cai Jing sat in a sedan chair and took a group of government servants to the outskirts of Bianliang City to see how the crops were growing after the new law was implemented again, so as to summarize the effects of the Green Crops Law and ask for credit from Emperor Huizong.
At that time, the sky was blue and the clouds were white, the wind was refreshing, the springs were clear and the water was green, the grass and flowers were blooming, the swallows were dancing and the orioles were singing, and it was a beautiful spring scene. But when the breeze blew, the waves of wheat rolled on the fields, and the air was filled with peace.
Seeing this, Cai Jing felt happy. He stopped the sedan chair and went down to the ground. While inspecting the growth of crops in the fields, he smiled and chatted with the local officials who came to accompany him, encouraging them to redouble their efforts to ensure that the new law was implemented. and show results.
Along the field path, Cai Jing talked with local officials.
Cai Jing's government officials followed far behind the officials.
On the field path in the distance, a figure gradually appeared. As the figure gradually approached, he saw an old fortune teller walking towards him with his waist covered, and a banner stuck behind his back with two rows of words written on it.
When the fortune teller came closer, I took a closer look and saw that he was an old man in his fifties, with a fairy-like appearance, wearing a green-gray Taoist robe and a square scarf. He was not blind, and he looked quite good. A little brighter.
There is a circle in the middle of the flag behind the fortune teller, with a big word "test" inside the circle, and the two rows of words next to it are "It is said that the magic of the gods is better than the star divination and the purple fight."
Seeing the fortune teller walking straight towards him, showing no dignity or knowing how to evade, the officer who was clearing the way shouted loudly: "Stupid! Where is this fortune teller from? Quickly get out of the way, don't rush into me..."
Seeing this, Cai Jing interrupted the officer's shouting and reprimanded the officer: "You and other rough guys are so unreasonable! How can you treat the master like this? Stand down!"
The government officials were scolded and retreated.
Cai Jing was very happy because he had a prosperous official career and all his dreams came true. He was achieving his goals and felt happy. Therefore, he pretended to be magnanimous and greeted the fortune teller. He said casually: "Hello, master, are you a fortune teller?"
The fortune teller heard this and thought to himself, "How can I be a fortune teller?" It’s so fortune-telling! Didn't you read the words written by Pindao Banzi: It is said that the magic of immortality is better than that of star divination and Zi Dou. Aren't you blind? It's not like I'm illiterate. I just read. Why do I ask? !
The fortune teller glanced at Cai Jing and saw that although Cai Jing looked smiling, he had a traitorous look on his face, and he felt disgusted. Looking at Cai Jing's entourage, he knew that this traitor was Cai Jing, the current prime minister, Taishi Cai.
Then Cai Jing is originally very knowledgeable, full of knowledge, has read countless people, and is very good at specializing. Why can't he understand this? If it comes to telling people's fortunes, Cai Jing can basically be regarded as the founder.
When Cai Jing first became prime minister, in order to show off his knowledge, he imitated Zhou Gong, made rituals and music, and whitewashed the peace. He created nine tripods, each of which was named and erected outside the court to guide Emperor Huizong to visit and win praise from Emperor Huizong.
Emperor Huizong, accompanied by a group of ministers such as Cai Jing, inspected the tripod one by one with great interest and joy.
When Emperor Huizong walked to the northern treasure tripod, he was watching it with great interest when suddenly there was a loud "bang" sound, which scared Emperor Huizong to jump, his heart almost flew out of his chest, and he was suddenly frightened.
When I looked at the cauldron again, it had cracked, and wine was flowing out from the cracks.
This unexpected situation greatly disappointed Emperor Huizong.
Emperor Huizong was superstitious, so he asked his ministers: "My dear friends, what is the meaning of this cauldron suddenly bursting?"
The reason why the cauldron exploded was simply due to the interaction between the fine wine inside and the temperature outside. What could that mean?
However, science and technology were backward at that time, and any unexpected events were attributed to God's will. Therefore, Huizong wanted to ask what the sudden violence of this tripod meant.
When many ministers asked questions, they inevitably had to play with their knowledge, pretending to be thinking deeply, making speculations and rehearsals in their minds, and then told Huizong: "Your Majesty, according to the speculations of the ministers and others, this is a sign of chaos in the north, isn't it? A good sign."
When Huizong heard this, he felt very depressed.
After everyone else had finished talking and Emperor Huizong was worried and melancholy, Cai Jing spoke.
I saw Cai Jing, who was accompanying Emperor Huizong to visit the cauldron, suddenly clapped his hands happily to attract everyone's attention, and then saluted Emperor Huizong and congratulated him, saying: "Good omen! Great good omen! My emperor is blessed with great blessings in the sky, with immeasurable magical powers, and all people are lucky! Your Majesty , the rupture of Beiding indicates that the northern Liao state will be divided and fall into civil strife. It may not be impossible for our dynasty to use this to restore the sixteen states of Yanyun. I congratulate the Holy One on the great blessings to the sky and the power to the sea."
Cai Jing's theological theory naturally scratched Emperor Huizong's itch again. The restoration of Yan was something that Emperor Huizong had been thinking about but was embarrassed to say out loud. The reason why Emperor Huizong has been thinking about it but is embarrassed to say it is because the restoration of the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun has been a wish of all the emperors since Taizu. They all wanted to regain it but could not. If it is in my hands What an honor it would be to have it back in your hands? However, Emperor Huizong also knew in his heart that although Taizu and Taizong's prowess could not recover Yanyun, how could he recover Yanyun with his own ability? Therefore, although Emperor Huizong always thought about recovering Yanyun and achieving the greatest achievement since the Song Dynasty, he was embarrassed to say it out loud. He was afraid that the ministers would laugh at him for not overestimating his abilities.
Cai Jing's words made Emperor Huizong turn his worries into joy. He was so unhappy that he went to the palace in person and received congratulations from hundreds of officials.
Just think about it, Cai Jing is so shrewd, how can he be deceived by a fortune teller?
Moreover, Cai Jing acts with no sense of awe at all. How can he believe in the emptiness of destiny?
Because Cai Jing has no sense of awe at all, and he is very knowledgeable and knowledgeable, so he does not believe in things like fortune telling at all.
However, at this time, Cai Jing was the prime minister for the first time. He was enjoying the spring breeze and his official career was booming. It was inevitable that he would appear to be doing good things. In order to create the illusion of being approachable, Cai Jing pretended to be friendly and chatted with the fortune teller on the roadside.
Cai Jing said: "Master, please forgive my abrupt words, don't take offense."
The fortune teller heard the words and said: "It doesn't matter. I come in the wind and go in the rain. I have seen countless people and been humiliated in every way. What words have I never heard? To me, no words are abrupt." "
Cai Jing said: "Even so, I will go straight and ask the teacher to teach me."
The fortune teller heard this and said, "Sir, just tell me."
Cai Jing looked into the fortune teller's eyes and asked: "As far as I know, most fortune tellers are blind. Why do you have such bright eyes? Since you can see everything in the world, the credibility of fortune telling is naturally less. What do you think, sir?" ah?"
Hearing this, the fortune teller chuckled and said calmly: "What you said is true, it is true. I think fortune tellers are all scheming people. They are clearly seeing, but they pretend to be blind. In general, they can't see." Everything in the world is brought about by fate, just to trick people into believing. Just think about it, sir, if he is really blind, how can he travel across the country? He is obviously lying! Poor people like us know astronomy from the top, but know nothing from the bottom. Geography, knowing human beings, knowing yin and yang, knowing Bagua, knowing strange sects, knowing Dunjia, and being able to see people's past and future lives, is nothing more than true talent and learning, and true ability. Why pretend to be blind? What a waste! "
Hearing this, Cai Jing secretly thought, this old Taoist is absolutely superior in boasting like this. His ability to brag is not inferior to mine. In this case, I have to give him a try to see what his abilities are.
After Cai Jing thought about it, he asked, "Master, do you know who I am?"
Although the fortune teller knew in his heart that the person in front of him was Cai Jing, the grand master of the dynasty, he pretended not to know, shook his head and said: "I don't know who you are specifically, but I don't know who you are. However, when I look at your face, I have a plump sky, a straight nose, and a square mouth. He has an outstanding temperament and impressive talent. He must be full of poems and books, and his talents are high. Looking at the grandeur of the adults' travels, all the people accompanying him are either rich or noble. Therefore, in my humble opinion, except today, only adults live in the temple. Your honor is beyond words."
In fact, the fortune teller also saw one thing, that is, Cai Jing has prominent veins at the corners of his mouth, and he will definitely starve to death in the future!
Cai Jing didn't ask, so naturally the fortune teller couldn't tell him directly.
When Cai Jing heard this, he was secretly happy. Then he thought about it and realized that this person might recognize him, so he refused to say that he didn't know him, so that I could believe him and further please me and defraud me of some money. I'll be more dignified, Mo Yin. A few words of flattery and frivolity.
Therefore, Cai Jing did not show any more pride.
The fortune teller was also careless and started to go.
Cai Jing continued: "Master, stay here. Let me ask you, since you can calculate that this official is so noble, can you also calculate that my fortune will be long?"
The fortune teller stopped when he heard this, turned to look at Cai Jing and replied: "Although there are twists and turns in your life, wealth and honor are hard to change."
After Cai Jing heard this, he thought that the process of becoming an official had indeed been full of twists and turns. He had experienced the twists and turns of Wang Anshi, Sima Guang, Zhang Dun, Zeng Bu and others, but he finally became the prime minister of the dynasty, ranking thousands below one person. If you are above people, doesn't it mean that you have many twists and turns and that wealth is hard to move away from?
Cai Jing became interested in the fortune teller in front of him and continued: "Master knows everything clearly! Master, please go slowly. I also want to ask the master. Master Wanwang can speak frankly."
The fortune teller said: "Your Excellency, you might as well say it bluntly. Pingdao's only job is to provide guidance, but if he notices it, he will tell you everything he knows."
"Okay!" Cai Jing said, "I want to ask Master, what is my lifespan? What will be my future merits?"
Cai Jing said it euphemistically, but in fact he was asking him how he would die in the future.
After hearing this, the fortune teller pondered for a moment and said, "Longevity! But..."
Cai Jing asked impatiently: "But what?"
The fortune teller replied: "But you will suffer from hunger and bad luck in the future."
