Chapter 10: Two Generals Guard the Palace Gate; Emperor Taizong Revives in the Underworld

Emperor Taizong and Wei Zheng were playing Go in the private hall, each making a move, setting up their positions. This aligns with what "The Classic of Lankezhi" says:

The art of Go emphasizes precision. High-value pieces are in the center, lower-value pieces on the sides, and medium-value pieces in the corners; this is a common practice for Go players.

The principles state:

It is better to lose a single stone than to lose the initiative. If you attack the left, watch the right; if you attack from behind, look forward. Sometimes take the initiative first, sometimes wait. If two groups are alive, do not cut them off; if all are alive, do not connect them. Wide spaces should not be too sparse, dense areas not too cramped. Rather than clinging to stones to survive, it is better to sacrifice them for victory. Rather than acting alone without purpose, it is better to consolidate and reinforce yourself. If they are many and we are few, first secure our survival; if we are many and they are few, strive to expand our influence. Those who are good at winning do not contend; those who are good at arraying do not fight. Those who are good at fighting do not lose; those who are good at losing are not flustered. Go begins with orthodox plays and ends with surprising victories. Any opponent who reinforces themselves without immediate threat has an intention to invade and sever. Those who abandon small gains without saving them have a larger strategy in mind. Those who play impulsively are witless; those who respond without thought are on the path to defeat. As the *Book of Odes* says, "Trembling and cautious, as if approaching a deep chasm." This is what it means.

A poem says: The chessboard is the earth, the stones are the heavens; their colors represent the completeness of Yin and Yang creation. When plays reach the subtle and transformative points, one can boast of the Lankezhi Immortal of old.

The emperor and his minister played this game until 3:45 PM. Before the endgame was finished, Wei Zheng suddenly slumped over the table, deeply asleep and snoring. Emperor Taizong smiled, saying, "My worthy minister truly exerts himself for the state and to establish the empire, which is why he has fallen asleep without realizing it." Taizong let him sleep, not calling out to him. Not long after, Wei Zheng woke up, prostrating himself on the ground and saying, "Your servant deserves ten thousand deaths, ten thousand deaths! I was just dizzy and drowsy, unaware of what I was doing. I beg Your Majesty to pardon my disrespect towards the emperor." Taizong said, "What disrespect have you committed, my lord? Rise. Let us clear the unfinished game and play a new one." Wei Zheng thanked him for the favor. Just as he picked up a stone, loud shouts and cries were heard from outside the palace gates.

It was Qin Shubao, Xu Maogong, and others, who threw a blood-soaked dragon's head before the Emperor, reporting, "Your Majesty, we have seen shallow seas and dry rivers, but never heard of such a strange occurrence." Taizong and Wei Zheng rose and asked, "Where did this object come from?" Shubao and Maogong replied, "It fell from the clouds at the crossroads south of Qianbu Corridor. Your humble servants dared not fail to report it." The Tang Emperor, startled, asked Wei Zheng, "What is the meaning of this?" Wei Zheng turned and kowtowed, saying, "Your servant just slew it in a dream." The Tang Emperor, hearing this, was greatly astonished and said, "My worthy minister, when you were napping, you neither moved nor used a sword. How could you have slain this dragon?" Wei Zheng reported, "My lord, though my body was before you, my spirit departed from Your Majesty—

My body was before you, facing the endgame, eyes closed in a daze; but my spirit, departing from Your Majesty, rode on auspicious clouds, spirited and alert. That dragon, on the Dragon Execution Platform, was bound by celestial soldiers. Your servant declared: 'You have violated the Heavenly Laws, and deserve death. I, by Heaven's command, shall sever your remaining life.' The dragon heard with sorrow, and your servant braced himself. The dragon heard with sorrow, lowered its claws, retracted its scales, and resigned itself to death; your servant braced himself, pulled back his robe, stepped forward, and raised his gleaming blade. With a swooshing sound, the blade passed, and thus the dragon's head fell into the void."

Upon hearing this, Taizong felt a mix of joy and sorrow. His joy was in praising Wei Zheng as an excellent minister; with such a hero in court, why fear an unstable empire? His sorrow was that he had promised to save the dragon in his dream, yet it unexpectedly met its doom. He could only force himself to appear composed, issuing an edict for Shubao to hang the dragon's head in the marketplace as a warning to the common people of Chang'an. At the same time, Wei Zheng was rewarded, and the officials dispersed. That evening, returning to the palace, he felt only gloom. He thought of the dragon from his dream, crying and pleading for its life, yet unexpectedly, it could not escape its fate. After much thought, he gradually felt his spirit weary and his body uneasy.

At the second watch of the night, he heard sounds of wailing outside the palace gates, which made Taizong even more terrified. While he was drowsily sleeping, he saw the Jing River Dragon King, holding a bloody head, shouting, "Tang Taizong, give me back my life, give me back my life! Last night you promised to save me, yet at dawn you sent the Human Realm official to kill me? Come out, come out! I will debate with you before King Yama!" It grabbed Taizong, repeatedly yelling and refusing to let go. Taizong was speechless, struggling until he was covered in sweat. Just as the struggle was inextricable, from the due south, fragrant clouds swirled and colorful mists drifted. A female immortal stepped forward, waved a willow branch with her hand, and the headless dragon, wailing sorrowfully, headed straight towards the northwest. It turned out to be Guanyin Bodhisattva, who, by Buddha's decree, was journeying to the Eastern Lands to find a scripture-seeker. She was staying at the City God Temple in Chang'an and, hearing the wailing of ghosts and spirits at night, specifically came to rebuke the karmic dragon and rescue the Emperor. The dragon went directly to the underworld hell to make its complaint, which is not further detailed here.

When Taizong awoke, he kept shouting, "Ghosts, ghosts!" This terrified the empresses of the three palaces, the concubines of the six compounds, and the attending eunuchs, who spent the entire night trembling and sleepless. By the third quarter of the fifth watch, all the civil and military officials were waiting outside the palace gate for the morning audience. They waited until dawn but still did not see the Emperor appear, leaving them all anxious and hesitant. When the sun was three poles high, an imperial decree finally emerged, stating, "My heart is unwell; officials are excused from court." Five to seven days passed quickly. The officials grew anxious, all intending to force their way in to see the Emperor and inquire about his health. Just then, a decree from the Empress Dowager summoned a medical official into the palace to administer medicine. The officials waited at the palace gate for news.

After a while, the medical official emerged. When asked about the illness, he said, "The Emperor's pulse is irregular, weak and rapid; he speaks wildly of seeing ghosts. Furthermore, his pulse skips every ten beats, and his five internal organs lack vital energy. I fear His Majesty may not survive beyond seven days." Hearing this, all the officials were greatly alarmed and and turned pale. While they were in dismay, they heard another decree from the Empress Dowager, summoning Xu Maogong, Duke Huguo, and Duke Yuchi to see the Emperor. The three dukes received the decree and quickly entered beneath the palace tower. After bowing, Taizong, with a stern expression, forced himself to say, "My worthy ministers, I led troops from the age of nineteen, campaigning south and north, east and west, enduring hardships for several years, yet I never encountered the slightest evil or malevolence. But today, I see ghosts!" Duke Yuchi said, "Having established an empire and killed countless people, why fear ghosts?" Taizong said, "You do not believe me. Outside the gates of my sleeping palace, bricks and tiles are thrown, and ghosts wail every night. It is truly unbearable. It is tolerable during the day, but impossible at night." Shubao said, "Your Majesty, set your mind at ease. Tonight, your servant and Jingde will guard the palace gates and see if there are any ghosts." Taizong approved the request, and Maogong thanked him and withdrew.

That evening, each retrieved their armor. The two of them, fully armored and equipped with golden maces and battle-axes, stood guard outside the palace gates. What fine generals! See how they were dressed—

Their golden helmets gleamed, their bodies clad in dragon-scaled armor. Their heart-protecting mirrors shimmered like auspicious clouds, their lion-shaped buckles tightly fastened, their embroidered sashes fresh as colored mist. One had phoenix eyes that even the stars feared to meet; the other's round eyes reflected lightning, with moonlight shimmering within. They were originally heroic and distinguished old ministers, now destined to be called "Door Guards" for a thousand years, and "Door Gods" for all eternity.

The two generals stood by the gate. The entire night passed without the slightest evil presence. That night, Taizong slept soundly in the palace. The next morning, he summoned the two generals and richly rewarded them, saying, "Since I fell ill, I haven't been able to sleep for several days. Tonight, thanks to the might of you two generals, I slept very peacefully. Please go rest now, and return to guard again in the evening." The two generals thanked him and left. For two or three nights, their guarding ensured peace, but the Emperor's diet reduced, and his illness felt even heavier. Taizong, unwilling for the two generals to suffer further, again summoned Shubao, Jingde, and Dukes Du and Fang into the palace and instructed them: "Though I have been peaceful these past two days, it is difficult for Generals Qin and Hu to toil all night. I wish to summon skilled painters to capture the true likenesses of the two generals and paste them on the gates, to spare them this labor. What do you think?" The officials immediately complied with the decree, selecting two skilled portrait artists. Generals Hu and Qin donned their armor as before and were painted exactly as they appeared. The portraits were then pasted on the gates, and there was no trouble during the night either.

For two or three days, this continued. Then, sounds of bricks and tiles rattling were heard from the rear palace gate. The next morning, he urgently summoned his ministers, saying, "For days, the front gate has fortunately been peaceful, but tonight the rear gate was disturbed again. Will this not frighten me to death?" Maogong stepped forward and reported, "If the front gate is troubled, Jingde and Shubao guard it; if the rear gate is troubled, Wei Zheng should guard it." Taizong approved the request and summoned Wei Zheng to guard the rear gate that night. Wei Zheng received the decree, dressed neatly that night, and stood before the rear palace gate, holding the precious sword that slew the dragon. Truly a fine hero! See how he was dressed—

With a dark blue silk headscarf tied across his forehead, a brocade robe and jade belt hanging from his waist, and sleeves of a wind-swept cloak fluttering like frost, he exuded a divine and awe-inspiring presence. He wore black boots and sat in a relaxed posture, holding a sharp, formidable blade. With wide-open eyes, he surveyed all directions. What evil spirit would dare approach!

The entire night passed peacefully, without any ghosts or demons. Although the front and rear gates were undisturbed, his body felt increasingly heavy. One day, the Empress Dowager again issued a decree, summoning all ministers to discuss funeral arrangements. Taizong again summoned Xu Maogong and discussed important national affairs, instructing him to follow the example of Liu Bei, Lord of Shu, in entrusting his heir. Having spoken, he bathed, changed his clothes, and awaited his time. Wei Zheng, standing aside, tugged at the emperor's robe and reported, "Your Majesty, rest assured, your servant has something that will guarantee your longevity." Taizong said, "My illness has reached a critical stage, and my life is in peril. How can it be guaranteed?" Wei Zheng replied, "Your servant has a letter to present to Your Majesty. Please take it to the Underworld and deliver it to Cui Jue, the Judge of Fengdu." Taizong asked, "Who is Cui Jue?" Wei Zheng replied, "Cui Jue was a minister before the late Emperor Taishang. He first served as Governor of Cizhou, then was promoted to Vice Minister of Rites. During his lifetime, he and your servant were sworn brothers, knowing each other very well. He has since died and now serves as the Judge of Fengdu in the Underworld, responsible for the Register of Life and Death. He often meets with your servant in dreams. If you take this letter to him, he will, out of consideration for your servant's humble relationship, surely allow Your Majesty to return, ensuring your soul returns to the mortal world and your imperial countenance to the capital." Hearing this, Taizong took the letter, placed it in his sleeve, and then closed his eyes and passed away. The empresses of the three palaces, the concubines of the six compounds, the attending chief, the crown prince, and both ranks of civil and military officials all mourned and wore white. The imperial coffin was placed in the White Tiger Hall, a matter not elaborated further.

Taizong's soul, hazy and indistinct, directly exited before the Five Phoenix Tower. He saw the Imperial Guard cavalry inviting the Imperial Carriage to go hunting outside the court. Taizong gladly followed, drifting away into the ethereal. After traveling for some time, both people and horses vanished. He found himself walking alone amidst wild fields and grassy plains. Just as he was alarmed and struggling to find his way, he saw a person on one side shouting loudly, "Emperor of Great Tang, come this way, come this way!" Hearing this, Taizong looked up and saw that person—

Wearing a black gauze cap on his head and a rhinoceros horn belt around his waist. The soft ribbons of his black gauze cap fluttered, and the golden settings of his rhinoceros horn belt were visible. In his hand, he held an ivory tablet that radiated auspicious mist; his silk robe concealed an auspicious glow. He wore a pair of light-soled boots, ascending clouds and stirring mist; he carried a Register of Life and Death, determining existence and demise. His tousled hair flowed past his ears, and his beard danced around his cheeks. Formerly a minister of Tang, now he oversaw the desk and served King Yama.

Taizong walked towards him, and saw him kneeling by the roadside, saying, "Your Majesty, please pardon your servant for failing to greet you sooner!" Taizong asked, "Who are you? Why have you come to greet me?" The person said, "Half a month ago, your humble servant was in the Hall of Justice and saw the ghost dragon of Jing River accusing Your Majesty of promising to save it but instead having it executed. King Qin Guang of the First Hall immediately dispatched ghost envoys to urge Your Majesty to attend the Three Realms Trial. Your servant knew of this, and thus came here to await and greet you. Unexpectedly, I am late today. I beg your forgiveness, forgiveness." Taizong said, "What is your surname and given name? What is your official position?" The person said, "During my lifetime, your humble servant served before the late Emperor in the mortal realm as Governor of Cizhou, and later as Vice Minister of Rites. My surname is Cui, and my given name is Jue. Now in the Underworld, I hold the office of Judge of Fengdu, overseeing the records." Taizong was greatly pleased. He stepped closer and quickly helped him up, saying, "Sir, you have traveled far for me. Wei Zheng, who served before my carriage, has a letter for you. What a fortunate encounter!" The Judge thanked him for the favor and asked where the letter was. Taizong immediately took it from his sleeve and handed it to Cui Jue. Cui Jue accepted it with a bow, opened the seal, and read. The letter said:

"From your humble and beloved younger brother Wei Zheng, bowing his head in writing to my esteemed elder sworn brother, Master Cui of the Grand Capital Tribunal: I recall our past acquaintance, your voice and countenance as if still present. Suddenly, several years have passed, and I have not heard your clear teachings. I merely offer vegetarian sacrifices on festivals, unsure if they reach you. Yet you have not abandoned me, appearing in my dreams, and only then did I learn of your exalted promotion, my elder brother. Alas, Yin and Yang separate us, and we are worlds apart, unable to meet face to face. Now, our Emperor Taizong Wendi has suddenly passed away. I expect he will stand trial in the Three Realms, and undoubtedly meet with you, my elder brother. I earnestly implore you to remember our friendship forged in life, and grant him one or two conveniences, allowing His Majesty to return to the mortal world. This would be a great kindness. I will offer further thanks later. Unfinished."

The Judge read the letter and was filled with joy. He said, "I already knew about Wei Rencao's dream-slaying of the old dragon the other day and cannot praise him enough. Furthermore, he looks after my descendants morning and night. Since there is a letter from him today, Your Majesty, set your mind at ease. Your humble servant will ensure Your Majesty returns to the mortal world and reascends the imperial throne." Taizong expressed his thanks.

As the two were speaking, they saw a pair of green-robed boys on one side, carrying banners and ceremonial canopies, shouting, "The King of Hell invites, invites!" Taizong, Cui Jue, and the two boys then walked forward. Suddenly, they saw a city with a large plaque hanging over its gate, bearing seven large golden characters: "Ghost Gate Pass of the Underworld." The green-robed boy waved the banners, leading Taizong directly into the city, where they walked along the street. They saw, by the side of the street, the late Emperor Li Yuan, his elder brother Jiancheng, and his deceased younger brother Yuanji. They stepped forward, saying, "Shimin has come, Shimin has come!" Jiancheng and Yuanji then lunged to grab and seize his life. Taizong could not evade them in time and was seized. Fortunately, Cui Jue summoned a blue-faced, fanged ghost envoy, who rebuked Jiancheng and Yuanji, allowing Taizong to escape and depart.

After walking only a few li, they saw a magnificent pavilion with green tiles. One could see—

Ten thousand layers of colorful clouds drifted, and a thousand strands of crimson mist faintly appeared. Gleaming eaves soared with monstrous heads, and shining tiles were laid like pairs of mandarin ducks. The doors were studded with several lines of red gold nails, the threshold was a length of white jade. Windows, close to light, emitted morning mist, and the bright curtains shimmered with red lightning. The pavilion rose high to meet the azure sky, its verandas extending to connect with precious courtyards. Fragrant clouds from beast-shaped censers wafted over imperial robes, and crimson gauze lamps lit up palace fans. On the left, fierce ox-heads were displayed; on the right, formidable horse-faces were seen. Golden tokens were used to receive the deceased and send off ghosts; white silks hung to guide souls and summon spirits. It was called the main gate of the Underworld; below it was King Yama's Hall of Justice.

While Taizong was observing from outside, he saw on that side jade pendants jingling and an extraordinary, ethereal fragrance. In front were two pairs of candle bearers, and behind them, the Ten Kings of Hell descended the steps. These were the Ten Kings of Hell: King Qin Guang, King Chu Jiang, King Songdi, King Wuguan, King Yama, King Pingdeng, King Taishan, King Dushi, King Biancheng, and King Zhuanlun. The Ten Kings emerged from the Hall of Justice, bending their backs and bowing deeply to welcome Taizong. Taizong, being humble, dared not step forward. The Ten Kings said, "Your Majesty is the Human King of the mortal realm, and we are the Ghost Kings of the Underworld. This is our natural order; why be overly humble?" Taizong said, "Having offended your subordinates, how dare I speak of the ways of humans and ghosts, Yin and Yang?" He continued to yield. Taizong then stepped forward, entering the Hall of Justice. After exchanging courtesies with the Ten Kings, they sat down, host and guest separated.

After a short while, King Qin Guang cupped his hands and spoke, "The ghost dragon of Jing River accuses Your Majesty of promising to save it but instead having it killed. Why is this?" Taizong said, "I did dream of the old dragon seeking help one night and truly promised him no harm. Unexpectedly, he committed a crime deserving execution, and it fell to my Human Realm official, Wei Zheng, to slay him. I had summoned Wei Zheng to play Go in the palace, unaware that he would slay the dragon in a dream. This was the work of that Human Realm official, who appears and disappears with divine skill, and also the dragon king's crime for which he deserved death. How can this be my fault?" The Ten Kings heard this and bowed, saying, "Before that dragon was born, it was already recorded in the Death Register of the Southern Dipper Constellation that it would be slain by the hand of a Human Realm official. We already knew this. However, it came here to argue its case and insisted that Your Majesty appear for the Three Realms Trial. We have now sent it into the Wheel of Rebirth to be reborn. Now, we have troubled Your Majesty with this visit. We beg your forgiveness for our urgency." Having spoken, they commanded the Judge who oversaw the Register of Life and Death, "Quickly bring the register to see how much earthly lifespan and heavenly fortune His Majesty has remaining!"

Cui Jue quickly returned to his office, bringing the general register of the heavenly fortunes of kings from all nations. He first reviewed them one by one and saw that Emperor Taizong of the Great Tang in Jambudvipa was destined for thirteen years of the Zhenguan reign. Cui Jue was startled. He quickly took a thick-inked brush and added two strokes to the character "一" (one), then presented the register. When the Ten Kings looked from the beginning, they saw that Taizong's name was destined for thirty-three years. King Yama asked in surprise, "How many years has Your Majesty been on the throne?" Taizong said, "I ascended the throne thirteen years ago." King Yama said, "Your Majesty, set your mind at ease and do not worry. You still have twenty years of mortal life. This case has been clearly resolved. Please return to the mortal world." Hearing this, Taizong bowed and expressed his thanks. The Ten Kings of Hell dispatched Cui Jue and Grand Marshal Zhu to escort Taizong's soul back. As Taizong left the Hall of Justice, he raised his hand and asked the Ten Kings, "How are all the old and young in my palace?" The Ten Kings said, "All are well, but we fear your imperial sister's life may not be long." Taizong bowed again and gratefully replied, "When I return to the mortal world, I have nothing to offer in return, only melons and fruits." The Ten Kings happily said, "We have plenty of winter melons and watermelons here, but only lack pumpkins." Taizong said, "I will send them immediately upon my return, immediately." With that, they bowed to each other and parted.

The Grand Marshal held a soul-guiding banner, leading the way. Cui Jue followed, protecting Taizong, and they proceeded directly out of the Underworld. Taizong looked around and saw it was not the familiar path. He asked the Judge, "Is this the wrong way?" The Judge said, "It is not wrong. In the Underworld, it is like this: there is a way in, but no way out. Now, we are escorting Your Majesty out through the Wheel of Rebirth. Firstly, it is to invite Your Majesty to tour the Underworld; secondly, it is to teach Your Majesty to grant rebirth and salvation to others." Taizong could only follow the two of them as they led the way. After walking a few li, they suddenly saw a high mountain, with dark clouds hanging low to the ground and black mist obscuring the sky. Taizong said, "Master Cui, what mountain is that over there?" The Judge said, "It is the Shady Back Mountain of the Underworld." Taizong said fearfully, "How can I go there?" The Judge said, "Your Majesty, set your mind at ease. Your servants will guide you." Taizong, trembling with trepidation, followed the two of them up the mountain rock. He looked up and saw—

Its form was mostly rugged and uneven, its terrain even more treacherous. Steep as the Shu Mountains, high as Mount Lu's cliffs. Not a famous mountain of the mortal world, but truly a perilous place of the Underworld. Thorny thickets concealed goblins and monsters; phosphorescent rocky cliffs hid evil spirits. No cries of beasts or birds were heard, only the movement of ghosts and demons was seen. The yin wind whistled, black mist billowed. The whistling yin wind was smoke exhaled from the mouths of spirit soldiers; the billowing black mist was gas secretly spewed forth by evil entities. Looking high and low, there was no scenery; gazing left and right, only rampant destruction. There were mountains, peaks, ridges, caves, and ravines; but the mountains bore no grass, the peaks did not pierce the sky, the ridges had no travelers, the caves did not contain clouds, and the ravines had no flowing water. Before the banks were all wraiths, beneath the ridges were all demons and devils. Wild ghosts were harbored in the caves, evil spirits hidden at the bottom of the ravines. Before and behind the mountains, ox-headed and horse-faced figures clamored wildly; half-hidden, half-revealed, hungry ghosts and impoverished souls wept to each other from time to time. The Judges of Life and Death hurried to issue their summons; the Grand Marshals of Soul Pursuit shouted and urged forward their documents. Agile messengers rolled like whirlwinds, and underworld officials were shrouded in black mist.

Taizong relied entirely on the Judge's protection to cross the Shady Mountain. Proceeding further, they passed through many yamen offices, each place filled with ear-splitting wails and terrifying, monstrous creatures. Taizong again asked, "What place is this?" The Judge said, "This is the eighteen layers of hell behind Shady Mountain." Taizong said, "Which eighteen layers?" The Judge said, "Listen to me:

The Hanging Sinew Prison, the幽枉 Prison, the Fire Pit Prison: desolate and sorrowful, where all who committed countless misdeeds in life come to suffer their retribution after death. The Fengdu Prison, the Tongue-Pulling Prison, the Skin-Flaying Prison: filled with weeping and wailing, utterly miserable, for those who, being disloyal and unfilial, violated heavenly principles and, with 'Buddha's mouth and snake's heart,' fell into this gate. The Grinding Prison, the Pounding Prison, the Cart-Crushing Prison: where flesh is torn and teeth bared, for those who were dishonest and unjust, using cunning words and flowery speech to secretly harm others. The Ice Prison, the Shell-Shedding Prison, the Intestine-Drawing Prison: where faces are filthy and hair disheveled, brows furrowed with worry, for those who used large measures and small weights to cheat the foolish, bringing disaster upon themselves. The Oil Pot Prison, the Dark Prison, the Sword Mountain Prison: where people tremble and weep bitterly, all because they violently bullied the good and kind, hiding their heads and shrinking their necks in utter loneliness. The Blood Pool Prison, the Avici Prison, the Steelyard Prison: where skin is peeled and bones exposed, arms broken and tendons severed, solely for those who plotted to harm lives for wealth, slaughtered animals and living beings, falling into torment for a thousand years with no relief, sinking forever without turning over. Each is tightly bound and shackled, tied with ropes and cords, overseen by red-haired ghosts and black-faced ghosts with long spears and short swords; ox-headed ghosts and horse-faced ghosts with iron rods and copper hammers. They are beaten until their faces are wrinkled with pain and bloodied, crying out to earth and sky with no salvation. Truly, in life, one must not deceive their conscience, for when gods and ghosts manifest, who can be spared? Good and evil will ultimately be repaid, it is only a matter of sooner or later."

Taizong heard this, and his heart was terribly shaken. After walking forward for a short while, they saw a group of ghost soldiers, each carrying banners, kneeling by the roadside and saying, "The bridge emissaries have come to greet you." The Judge ordered them to rise, then stepped forward, led Taizong, and crossed over a golden bridge. Taizong also saw a silver bridge on the other side, where loyal, filial, virtuous, and just individuals walked, also guided by banners. On another side, there was yet another bridge, where cold winds howled, blood waves surged, and cries of wailing were incessant. Taizong asked, "What is the name of that bridge?" The Judge said, "Your Majesty, that is called the Bridge of Sighs (Naihe Bridge). If you return to the mortal world, you must definitely spread this message: beneath that bridge are all those—

Rushing, vast waters and a perilous, narrow path. It looks like a strip of white silk draped over the Yangtze River, yet it is like a pit of fire floating to the upper realm. The yin energy pierces, chilling to the bone; the foul wind stings the nostrils, paining the heart. Waves churn and roll, with no ferry to cross; barefoot and disheveled, all who come and go are karmic ghosts. The bridge is several li long, only three paces wide, a hundred feet high, and a thousand layers deep. Above, there are no handrails; below, there are fierce monsters that seize people. Shackled and manacled, they are forced onto the treacherous path of Naihe. Look at the fierce and stubborn divine generals by the bridge, and the truly tormented karmic souls in the river. On the gnarled trees, colorful silk clothes of green, red, yellow, and purple are hung; before the towering cliffs, lewd and shrewish women who slandered their in-laws squat. Bronze snakes and iron dogs contend for meals, forever fallen into Naihe with no way out."

A poem says: From time to time, the wailing of ghosts and spirits is heard, bloodied waters surge ten thousand feet high. Countless ox-headed and horse-faced figures fiercely guard the Bridge of Sighs.

As they spoke, the bridge emissaries had already departed. Taizong's heart was again startled and fearful. He nodded and sighed inwardly, grieving in silence, as he followed the Judge and the Grand Marshal, already having passed the treacherous waters of Naihe and the bitter realm of the Blood Pool. They then arrived at the City of the Wrongfully Dead, where they heard a clamor of people clearly shouting, "Li Shimin has come, Li Shimin has come!" Hearing the shouts, Taizong was terrified. He saw a group of ghosts with broken waists and severed arms, or with legs but no heads, step forward to block his path, all crying, "Give me back my life, give me back my life!" Taizong, in a panic, dodged and hid, only able to cry out, "Master Cui, save me, Master Cui, save me!" The Judge said, "Your Majesty, those are the ghosts of the sixty-four bandits and seventy-two rebels, and the princes and chieftains; all are souls who died wrongfully, without anyone to collect or manage them, unable to attain rebirth, and without money or travel provisions. They are all solitary, hungry ghosts. If Your Majesty gives them some money, I can save you." Taizong said, "I came here empty-handed; where would I get money?" The Judge said, "Your Majesty, there is a person in the mortal world who has deposited a certain amount of gold and silver here in my Underworld. Your Majesty can issue a bond in your name, and your humble judge can act as guarantor. We can borrow one vault from him to distribute among these hungry ghosts; only then can you pass." Taizong asked, "Who is this person?" The Judge said, "He is a native of Kaifeng Prefecture in Henan, named Xiang Liang. He has thirteen vaults of gold and silver here. If Your Majesty borrows from his funds, you can repay him upon your return to the mortal world." Taizong was very pleased and willingly issued a bond to borrow the funds. He then drafted a document for the Judge, borrowing one vault of gold and silver from Xiang Liang, instructing the Grand Marshal to distribute it all. The Judge then further instructed them, "You may all equally divide and use this gold and silver. Let your Great Tang Grandpa pass; his mortal life is still long. I have received the Ten Kings' decree to escort his soul back. I will instruct him to hold a grand 'Water and Land' Buddhist mass in the mortal world to grant you all rebirth, so cause no more trouble." Hearing this, the ghosts, having received the gold and silver, all nodded in agreement and retreated. The Judge ordered the Grand Marshal to wave the soul-guiding banner, leading Taizong out of the City of the Wrongfully Dead and onto the great Pingyang Road, where they drifted away. It is unknown by what path he ultimately emerged. Let us hear the next chapter for the explanation.