(Minghui.org) (Continued from Part 1)
Some people believe in karmic relationships, while some do not. But, regardless if one believes in it or not, if it is real, it would apply to humans, as they are subject to the laws of nature.
There are many stories that tell of people who received blessings or were rewarded after they performed good deeds. And then there are the stories of wrongdoers facing consequences, known as karmic retribution.
Heavenly Principle: No Bad Deed Goes Unpunished
Xiang Zichang, a sili (an official who oversees the filing of lawsuits) in Yuan Zhou during the Song Dynasty, took a trip to another city to meet with officers Huang and Zheng. When he planned to return to his home base, Zheng asked to accompany him for personal reasons. They asked Huang to join them.
Huang refused, but Xiang and Zheng twisted his arms, so he agreed to come along, although unhappily. On arrival, he did not want to enter the city, but Xiang did not take no for an answer and took him to the government compound.
While inside the city walls, Huang came down with a stomachache that made him cry out in pain through the entire night.
Xiang and Zheng asked him the next morning, “When we invited you to come, you refused our invitation. Now, you look severely ill. Please, tell us what is going on?”
Huang said he would die soon, and he hoped to see his mother and wife before he passed on. Xiang acceded to Huang's request. While waiting for the arrival of the two people, Huang told them his story.
Several years ago, when Huang was a sili in Yuan Zhou, a county military officer sent three marshals to the countryside to buy farm animals. They did not return after 40 days, so their wives asked the governor for the whereabouts of their husbands.
The military officer, a friend of the governor, said there was a gang of bandits in the mountains, so he had sent those three people to investigate. He explained, “The bandits may have killed them.” He promised to search for them.
A contingent of marshals, headed by the officer, searched the mountains for two months, but did not find anything.
Out of despair, the officer saw four modest peasants working in the field. He offered them a large sum of money for admitting to the murder. “As the military officer for this district, I know you could be sentenced to death. But actually, you will only be whipped, put in detention, and then set free.”
The peasants believed him and turned themselves in. The county head interrogated them and Huang, sili of Yuan Zhou, sentenced them to death.
However, he had second thoughts, because the four inmates did not look like bandits. He asked them what had happened and was told the entire story. Huang was shocked and untied them.
The military officer was informed about it and told the governor that Huang had received a bribe for the release of the inmates. The governor reprimanded Huang, who explained what actually had happened and refused to execute the four farmers.
This argument between Huang and the governor went on for more than 10 days, but they could not reach an agreement.
Then the execution date was close. The governor knew that, if Huang refused to sign the documents ordering the execution, he would face problems during an audit. He thus asked other officials to persuade Huang, “There is no point for you to argue any more since the four inmates will be executed anyway. Plus, everyone knows that the execution was ordered by the governor.” Seeing so many officers had turned against and isolated him, Huang signed the paperwork.
Two days later, four officials that were involved in the case died. Then, several days later, the military officer was struck by thunder and died. The county head and governor died soon afterwards too.
In a dream, the four inmates came to Huang and said, “We were wronged and died. Heavenly officers decreed that it is your turn to die, too. We have tried to stop it since you tried to help us. Plus, seven people have already died and that is enough to pay for the karmic debts. But the heavenly officers said that we would not have been executed without your signature. Plus, it was you who sentenced us to death in the first place. Nonetheless we continued to beg them and finally they gave you three more years to live.”
Huang told Xiang and Zheng that three years had passed, and he had somehow seen those four inmates as he walked in the government compound.
Xiang and Zhang prayed, hoping that Huang could at least see his mother and wife before his death.
After Huang's mother and wife arrived, Huang greeted them and immediately died.
(To be continued)
Category: Traditional Culture
