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05 The Dragon King Is Beheaded

One day Zhang Shao and Li Ding went into Chang'an, the one to sell the carp in his basket, the other the firewood on his shoulder. Together they went to a wineshop, ordered food and drink, and drank until they were half tipsy. Then, each with a flask of wine, they set off home together along the Jing River. On the way Zhang Shao praised the freedom of fishing and Li Ding the ease of cutting wood, and each capped the other's verses as they argued the point. When they came to the parting of the road Zhang Shao let slip: "On West Gate Street in Chang'an there is a fortune-teller. Every day I give him a golden carp, and he tells me where to cast my net — and never once has he been wrong. So how can your woodcutting compare with the free life I lead as a fisherman?" Words spoken on the road are heard in the grass. The talk of the fisherman and the woodcutter was overheard by a water-patrolling yaksha of the Jing River palace. The yaksha hurried back to the Crystal Palace and reported to the Dragon King: "Your Majesty, ill news — disaster, disaster!" Then he repeated the fishermen's conversation in full. The Dragon King of the Jing River flew into a rage and seized his sword. "If such a seer exists, my water kin will be fished to the last one. I shall go into the city and kill this fortune-teller." His sturgeon adviser said, "My lord, calm yourself. Why not go and look into the matter first? If the man is truly there, killing him later will not be too late — and you will not have shed innocent blood." The Dragon King took the advice, put down his sword, left the water palace and rode an auspicious cloud straight for Chang'an. As the city drew near he brought his cloud to earth, transformed himself into a scholar in white, and came to West Gate Street. The street thronged with people and rang with noise. A crowd surrounded the fortune-teller's stall, and inside the fortune-teller held forth at length. The Dragon King pushed through the crowd and went in. Silken hangings filled the hall, pearls gleamed on the four walls, and in the place of honour hung a portrait of Guigu. Beneath it sat a man of rare and remarkable bearing, with the air of an immortal about him. This was Yuan Shoucheng, uncle of Yuan Tiangang, the Emperor's chief astronomer. After they had exchanged courtesies Yuan Shoucheng asked the Dragon King to be seated, ordered his page to serve tea, and asked, "What is it you have come to ask?" The Dragon King cupped his hands. "You claim wondrous calculation. Can you tell me when it will rain, and how much?" Yuan Shoucheng replied, "Tomorrow at noon it will surely rain, and the water will come to three feet, three inches and forty-eight drops." The Dragon King laughed. "If it truly rains tomorrow, and the hour and the measure are exactly as you say, I will pay you fifty taels of gold. But if your words prove false, I will smash your signboard and drive you out of Chang'an." With that he went straight back to the water palace. Back at the palace the Dragon King told his water kin what had passed. They laughed: "You are the Commander-in-Chief of the Eight Rivers and the Great Dragon God who governs rain. That fortune-teller shows off his axe at Lu Ban's door, daring to talk such nonsense. He has surely lost!" Even as they were laughing, a voice rang from midair: "Dragon King of the Jing River, receive the decree!" They looked up and saw a golden-robed herald drifting down with the Jade Emperor's edict. The Dragon King straightened his robes and cap and knelt to receive it.

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