Cai Jing was shocked because he recognized that it was this fortune teller who had told Cai Jing thirty years ago. At that time, Cai Jing, who had just become an official, saw that Emperor Huizong was interested in Wang Anshi's reform again, so he took advantage of the situation and firmly supported Wang Anshi's reform regardless of the opposition of other senior officials and powerful officials. This was appreciated by Emperor Huizong. From this, he was very proud and his official career was prosperous. That day, Cai Jing and his entourage inspected the growth of spring seedlings in the suburbs of Beijing, and saw a fortune teller coming over. Although Cai Jing did not fear heaven and earth, out of curiosity, he asked the fortune teller to tell him a fortune. The fortune teller gave Cai Jing a fortune at that time, saying that Cai Jing would be rich and prosperous in his life, but he would starve to death on the way if the outcome was not good. Cai Jing was dissatisfied and asked the fortune teller what his fate would be. The fortune teller smiled and said, "It's better than the master's. In the future, my fate will be to choke to death from eating meat." This made Cai Jing very unhappy, so he sent someone to kill the fortune teller who had gone away, hoping that the fortune teller would not choke to death on eating meat, but die violently with a knife. Unexpectedly, when the killers approached the fortune teller, a strong wind suddenly came up, making the sky dark and the earth dark, and the fortune teller disappeared.
Now, the fortune teller appeared next to his sedan again, which surprised Cai Jing. Cai Jing still admired this fortune teller in his heart. The fortune teller said that he would be rich and honorable throughout his life and have a prosperous official career. But he would be rich and honorable all his life. Moreover, he had served as prime minister four times, which can be said to be unprecedented and probably unprecedented.
After Cai Jing recognized the fortune teller, he hurriedly asked the bearer to stop his arrogance, got off the sedan himself, bowed to the fortune teller, and said, "Sir, are you okay?" The fortune teller trembled and said, "It's okay, it's okay. Life is bleak." Cai Jing turned to the bearers and said, "We are old friends. We must be careful not to scold you rudely." The yamen bearers replied, "I obey Grand Master Jun's order." Cai Jing then turned his head again. He said to the fortune teller: "How old are you sir? I should treat you like a brother. Please get on the sedan chair. I will accompany you beside the sedan chair and respectfully invite you into the house." The fortune teller said hurriedly: "What a despicable person you are! You dare to sit in the Prime Minister's sedan chair! The poor Taoist's food is here!" Cai Jing said with a smile: "Sir, you have a long life, which is very desirable, sir. It's okay to ride on it." The fortune teller said: "The poor Taoist will do the fortune-telling throughout his life. It has been calculated long ago that there will be no chance of success. The prime minister's sedan is a blessing; please also ask the prime minister to get on the sedan, and Pindao will accompany the sedan, and go into the mansion to listen to the prime minister's advice." Cai Jing was not polite, got on the sedan, arranged for the government servants to support the fortune teller, and went back to his mansion together. went.
Back at the mansion, Cai Jing treated the fortune teller very well and arranged a banquet for him. Cai Jing said: "Sir, my family has been living in various places, and it has been bumpy and miserable. I have to meet you again, so I should treat you as a landlord. Don't be polite, just eat meat. As long as you don't choke to death on the meat, it's fine. The meat is mine. , life belongs to Mr.
There was a lot of ridicule in Cai Jing's words, because the fortune teller once said that he would choke to death from eating meat in the future.
After hearing this, the fortune teller smiled and said: "There is not much left, it's just a matter of a few days." Cai Jing was confused and didn't understand what the fortune teller meant, so he looked at the fortune teller doubtfully. The fortune teller said: "You are talking about the poor life of a poor man." Cai Jing said: "Sir, you are too worried. I think you can live more than a hundred years." The fortune teller smiled and said: "Life and death have destiny, wealth and honor are in heaven, not What human power can change.”
When Cai Jing heard this, he thought of himself again and wanted to know what his next fate would be? What should I do? Thinking of this, Cai Jing then asked: "Nowadays, the Song and Jin Dynasties are at odds with each other. The Jin soldiers have crossed the Yellow River and are approaching Bianjing. In my opinion, what will happen next?" The fortune teller looked at Cai Jing sideways and said, He said cynically: "Let me do the calculation." The fortune teller made a pretentious calculation and said: "There is no danger, there is no big danger in the short term, but soon, the situation will change drastically." Cai Jing was shocked when he heard this, and asked again: "What will the situation be like? Sir, he speaks frankly." The fortune teller said: "Your Majesty will move south, the dragon throne will change its owner, and the people will be displaced and miserable!" How can Cai Jing care about anything else? He only worried about himself, so he asked: "What will happen to me?" The fortune teller said: "Let nature take its course and trust in fate!"
In fact, the fortune teller had already calculated that Cai Jing would be exiled and would starve to death on the way to exile. However, the fortune teller was soft-spoken at this time and did not directly tell Cai Jing what would happen next. Cai Jing was always worried and kept asking the fortune teller some questions. The fortune teller talked about him and dealt with Cai Jing.
After the banquet was over, the fortune teller got up to say goodbye as his stomach was full. Cai Jing said to the people around him: "When you go here, you may have something to eat, so hang a roast chicken around your neck so that you can be ready when you get hungry." The fortune teller smiled and said, No words. Cai Jing's men then took a roast chicken, tied it with a rope, and hung it around the fortune teller's neck. The fortune teller lowered his head, took a bite of the roast chicken, and said with a smile: "The height is just right, just enough to eat." Then he left the house with a smile. Seeing the fortune teller tremblingly leaving the house, Cai Jing secretly laughed in his heart and thought, how long can a roast chicken last? I don't think it would be surprising if you didn't starve to death. Instead, you lied to me that the prime minister would starve to death on the way. How could he? You're not telling a big joke! Then he stopped paying attention to the fortune teller.
After the fortune teller came out of Cai Jing's house, he walked tremblingly along the street corner. After all, he was old and frail. After a while, he got tired again, so he sat under the south wall to rest. After the fortune teller sat down, the roast chicken tied around his neck was placed on his mouth. The fortune teller smiled, reached out and tore off a chicken leg, and said to himself: "I can't imitate the prime minister and starve to death; even if I die, I still have to eat well." As he spoke softly, he took a bite of the chicken leg.
Suddenly, a group of cavalry came galloping over. The fortune teller was startled, and the meat in his mouth choked on his throat. No matter how hard the fortune teller coughed, he couldn't get it out. His face turned red from holding it in, and he waved his hands and kicked his legs again. After a while, , Alas, the dead ball fell.
A government servant in Cai Jing's house was out on business. He happened to pass by and saw the fortune teller choked to death from eating meat. After returning home from the business, he reported what he saw to Cai Jing. The yamen servant said: "Grandpa, the old fortune teller who was in the house this morning has died." Cai Jing was shocked when he heard this and asked urgently: "How did he die? Didn't he choke to death from eating meat?" The yamen servant replied: " According to the master, the old fortune teller choked to death on meat. When the younger one saw it, he was lying in the corner with a chicken leg stuffed in his mouth."
Cai Jing said, feeling sad and silent.
