On the outskirts of Chao'an County, on the banks of the Evil River.
Han Yu, wearing casual clothes, looked extremely ugly as he looked at a group of people who had laid out three animal sacrifices and burned incense and bowed to the vast water.
He had just asked people to find out, and found out that a shepherd boy was herding cattle by the water a few days ago. As a result, both the cattle and the man were dragged away by the crocodiles in the water.
According to what the man said, originally, although this big river got the name "Evil Creek" due to its ferocious water flow, there were no such dangerous creatures as crocodiles.
About a hundred years ago, a group of crocodiles suddenly moved here and made this evil creek their home.
These crocodiles are numerous in number, large in size and ferocious in temperament. They often prey on livestock raised by people along both sides of the river, and sometimes attack humans. They have become a serious problem in Chaozhou.
At the beginning, the government mobilized and the people organized voluntarily, and prepared boats, rafts and poisonous arrows to clear out the crocodiles. However, huge waves suddenly arose in the evil stream, overturning all the boats and rafts. After the people on the rafts fell into the water, a large number of people were killed. The crocodile took advantage of the situation and attacked, killing and injuring countless people. The entire river was dyed red with blood.
Subsequently, a giant crocodile as big as a hill emerged from the water, and then turned into a fierce general covered in dark iron armor and stood on the waves. He claimed that he was the "Crocodile God" in charge of the evil creek crocodile clan, and demanded that the people of Chaozhou A temple was built for him, a golden body was built, and incense was offered to him all year round. On the four o'clock and eight festivals of each year, three animals had to be thrown into the water as a sacrifice to restrain the crocodile and not kill anyone.
Facing the irresistible force, the people of Chao'an had to swallow their anger or even grovel in order to survive.
From then on, in addition to paying various taxes as usual, the people also had to contribute an extra amount of incense money to worship the "Crocodile God", so their lives naturally became more and more difficult.
However, the "Crocodile God" was greedy and demanded more and more incense and sacrifices year after year. Moreover, every time the sacrifices were slightly unsatisfactory, he would indulge the crocodiles to kill the people as punishment. The death of the shepherd boy this time was the reminder. A warning about debt collection.
"Although I have been demoted to this position, as long as I serve as an official, I should benefit the country. How can I allow the people under my rule to be poisoned by this evil god and evil beast!"
After making a decision silently in his heart, Han Yu said in a deep voice to the attendants beside him: "Let's go to Chaozhou Yamen immediately!"
On the same day, Han Yu took over the post of governor of Chaozhou, but the first order he issued was that early tomorrow morning, he would personally go to the bank of Crocodile Creek to worship the Crocodile God.
For many years, it has been common practice for new officials to offer sacrifices to the crocodile god in order to ensure peace in their rule. The officials in the governor's office were not surprised and only asked about the quantity and specifications of the sacrifices required.
Han Yu waved his hand and said that no incense or candles were needed for the sacrifice, only a sacrificial text written in his own handwriting was enough.
This time, everyone was really shocked. They all looked at each other in confusion, guessing that the governor, who was the contemporary Wenzong, was probably coming with bad intentions.
Although everyone wanted to give some advice, but seeing Han Yu's serious expression, they swallowed their thoughts.
The next day, Han Yu actually wrote a memorial poem that he had written all night long, and came to the bank of the Crocodile River in light clothes.
He looked at the mighty flowing water in the distance, took out the sacrificial inscription, looked up into the sky and recited it loudly, which said:
"In the past, the king had the world and the mountains and rivers. He used ropes and swords to get rid of insects, snakes and evil creatures that were harmful to the people, and drove them away from the four seas..."
His tone was sonorous, like a bell, and he stated in turn the reasons why crocodiles are entrenched in this area, his determination as a local governor to drive away crocodiles and prevent them from becoming rampant. In the end, he stated that "those who are stubborn and do harm to the people and property... will select skilled personnel to recruit people." , use a strong bow and poisonous arrows to engage the crocodiles, and they will kill them all and then stop them."
What kind of sacrificial article is this? It is clearly an article to criticize the people and crusade against crocodiles!
When he finished reading an article, Han Yu raised his hand and threw the page of paper into the water.
The paper flew ten feet in the wind and then landed on the water. The water suddenly spun around, rolled up the paper, and sank.
When the servant behind Han Yu saw this, his expression changed, and he hurriedly said: "Sir, there seems to be something strange in the water, you might as well step back."
Han Yu stood still and said calmly: "It's good to be weird. It means that my memorial has alarmed the crocodile god. Now let's see how he responds!"
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a real response in the water, but it was a large black mass of crocodiles half-floating on the water like a log, gathering from everywhere and surrounding Han Yu and others in a semicircle by the water.
"My lord, retreat immediately!"
All the followers were shocked. They drew their swords together and stepped forward to protect Han Yu.
"Stay back!" Han Yu shouted at his followers, but took a few steps closer to the crocodile that was about to land in front of him. Zhang Yao, with his beard and halberd, pointed at the water and shouted angrily, "In the whole world, there is nothing but the land of the king; on the shore of the land, Could it be that he is a minister of the king? If the evildoer dares to harm the officials of the Tang Dynasty, is it that he is not afraid of the power of the thunder of the imperial court!"
A sneer suddenly reached Han Yu's ears: "Hey! If the Tang Dynasty was still dominating the eastern land and all nations surrendered, if there were still those Emperors of the Tang Dynasty who were in power and followed the rules, Naturally, I am a little afraid of you. But nowadays, the Tang Dynasty is declining, and it is difficult to continue the country with a little luck. Do you dare to use it to threaten me?"
While he was talking, the crocodile in the water finally landed and approached Han Yu and others from the front and left and right. A pair of pea-sized beast eyes flashed with cold murderous intent, and its huge mouth with dense rows of staggered fangs was half-opened and half-closed, trying to choose someone to kill. bite.
Han Yu's face was stern, his eyes fixed on the crocodile closest to him, but he refused to step back even an inch.
The few followers around him were all loyal, and they refused to abandon their master even in this almost certain death situation. They each clenched the hilt of the horizontal sword and prepared for attack.
The crocodiles all stopped in unison, either because of Han Yu's awe-inspiring righteousness or because they were wary of the cold light flashing from a few long knives.
But they only hesitated for a moment, and then they were ready to move again.
Seeing that Han Yu and others were about to be buried in the crocodile's belly, a melodious flute sound suddenly came from outside the sky, sobbing and weeping.
The crocodiles that were about to pounce immediately regained their composure. They closed their huge mouths and closed their eyes slightly, as if they were immersed in the increasingly gentle and gentle sound of the flute.
After a while, the song ended, and hundreds of crocodiles turned around and crawled back into the water, scattering in all directions and disappearing in the blink of an eye.
"Who dares to go against me? Get out!"
Accompanied by a roar like a thunderstorm, the water of Crocodile Creek parted on both sides, and a tall man over ten feet tall, covered in black iron heavy armor, appeared with his feet on a pile of snowflakes.
A scholar in a blue shirt with an impressive figure and handsome appearance appeared in front of Han Yu out of thin air. He held a crystal jade flute in his arms and raised his hands to the water. He said loudly: "Han Xiang, a poor man, has seen the Crocodile God!"
"Xiang'er?"
Han Yu couldn't help being surprised and happy when he saw his grandnephew who he had single-handedly raised and later traveled far away from home to visit immortals and seek enlightenment. He couldn't help but be surprised and happy, as if he was in a dream.
