The Prefect listened to Lin Chong’s statement, and then gave instructions for a dispatch to be prepared for the Marshal of the Imperial Guard. He gave instructions for the cangue and handcuffs to be placed on Lin Chong who was to be taken to the prison. Lin Chong’s family supplied him with food and money while he was in prison. Lin Chong’s father-in-law bribed many court officials to try to arrange matters for him. Fortunately in the court was a secretary named Sun Ding, who was a very honest and exceedingly good man, and was always trying to help people in distress. Because of his character everybody called him “Sun, the Buddha.” He understood the case, and spoke to the Prefect several times about it. He said, “I think this case has been brought up simply to injure Lin Chong, and it would be better for you to show mercy to him.”
The Prefect said, “He has committed a grave offense and the Marshal of the Imperial Guard has instructed me to question him as to (1) why he had a sword in his hand; (2) why he entered the Private Hall; (3) why he intended to kill the Marshal. How can I help him?”
Sun Ding spoke sarcastically, “This yamen does not receive its authority from the Imperial Court, but evidently from the Marshal of the Imperial Guard.”
“Nonsense!” said the Prefect.
Sun Ding said, “Does not everybody know that the Marshal Gao Qiu, uses his great influence to oppress people? and, moreover, those under him do the same thing? And if a man unintentionally breaks the least fraction of the law, Gao sends him here under arrest. If he wants him killed he is killed, if he wants him hacked to pieces that is done. So does it not appear that this yamen belongs to him?”
The Prefect said, “Assuming that what you say is correct how could this case of Lin Chong be settled in any other way?”
Sun Ding said, “According to Lin Chong’s evidence he is quite innocent, but the difficulty is that we cannot arrest the two junior officers. Now you had better tell him to admit that he ought not to have unintentionally entered the Private Hall with his sword in his belt. And having branded him you can banish him to a distant military outpost.”
Prefect Teng thought the plan a good one, and decided to go to see Marshal Gao Qiu, and repeat to him the evidence of Lin Chong. Marshal Gao was aware of the weakness of his case, and had to agree to the sentence of the Prefect. Straightway he returned to the judgment hall and gave an order for the cangue to be taken off Lin Chong, and that he was to receive twenty blows on his back. He then told the workman who branded prisoners to brand Lin Chong on his cheek. He was to be banished to the prison at Cangzhou.
A cangue was at once made weighing ten pounds with round corners, and strips of metal nailed to it, and with a paper pasted on to seal the two halves together. A document giving particulars of the case was then handed to two constables who were to escort the prisoner to Cangzhou. The two men were named Dong Chao and Xue Ba, and as soon as they got the official documents they left the yamen.
At the gate of the yamen a large number of neighbors with Drill Instructor Zhang (Lin Chong‘s father-in-law) were assembled and they conducted Lin Chong and the two constables to a wine shop near the Zhou Bridge where they all sat down.
Lin Chong said, “Fortunately I have been helped by the secretary Sun, and although I was beaten with a bamboo yet I can walk without pain.”
Drill Instructor Zhang told the waiters to bring wine and fruit, and treat the two constables well. After they had drunk a few cups of wine Drill Instructor Zhang took out some silver, and presented it to the constables.
Lin Chong raising his handcuffed hands to his father-in-law said, “Please listen to what I say. This year I have had misfortunes, and since I offended Master Gao I have been wrongly prosecuted. Today I wish to speak to you, and request your attention. I am indebted to you for your kindness. Three years ago you gave me your daughter, and since that time we have had no quarrels. Although she has not had any children, yet we have not had the least bit of dispute about it. But now this calamity has resulted in me being banished to Cangzhou, and now even my life is uncertain. My wife remains at home, but I shall always be thinking of her. I am very much afraid that Master Gao will press his suit very strongly. As my wife is quite young I do not want to stand in her way of being happy. It is my own will, not influenced by any outside pressure at all. Now in the presence of all my neighbors I will write a bill of divorcement so that she may marry another husband as she will and there will be no dispute. In this way I shall be contented, and she will avoid any injury from Master Gao.”
Drill Instructor Zhang said, “My worthy son-in-law! What are you talking about? You have been unlucky, and have encountered a calamity which was arranged by your enemy. You are going to Cangzhou today to avoid the coming trouble. When heaven have pity on you, and allow you to come back, you will be reunited to your wife. At my home there is plenty of money, and your wife, and her maid Jin Er, can both live at my home and whether they are there for three or five years I will look after them. So Master Gao shall not get the opportunity to see your wife. I will be responsible for this, and you need not worry about it. While you are in the prison at Cangzhou I will write you letters, and send you clothes frequently. You can go with a contented mind, and must not be anxious.”
Lin Chong replied, “I am extremely grateful for your kindness. But I cannot rid myself of concern about my wife in the present state and any delay would only be a sorrow to each of us. I hope you will accept my wishes, and then I shall die with a peaceful mind.”
Drill Instructor Zhang was unwilling to agree to do this. All the neighbors who were there also said that it could not be done.
Lin Chong said, “If you will not do as I wish I swear on my oath that when I return from prison I shall not live with my wife.”
Drill Instructor Zhang said, “As it is that way then even if you write down such a wish I shall certainly not take your wife, and marry her to another man. He then told the waiter to buy a sheet of paper and then find a man who could write a letter. Upon the arrival ot the letter writer Lin Chong dictated the following:
“I, Drill Instructor Lin Chong of the Imperial Guards of Eastern Capital, am banished to Cangzhou because I have committed a serious crime, and as it is uncertain whether I shall die there or not I write this letter to express my willingness to give my young wife (family name Zhang) full liberty to marry a second husband, so that there shall be no dispute about it afterwards. This is certainly my wish, and there shall be no obstacle in the way of this being done. I have therefore written this document so that hereafter it may be proof of my desire.”
Lin Chong saw that the date had been inserted, and then affixed his seal, and impressed his fingerprint on the document. When this had been completed he went to hand the document to Drill Instructor Zhang, but the former’s wife just then arrived, bewailing loudly. With her was the maidservant Jin Er who was carrying a bundle of clothes. Lin Chong rose to receive her, and said, “Wife, I have something to tell you which I have already imparted to your father. I have had to submit to a serious injustice. I have to go to Cangzhou, and whether I shall survive is uncertain. I am very much afraid that this will spoil the days of your youth and therefore I have signed this document expressing my fervent hope that you will not wait for my return, but if there is a suitable man you will marry him, and not allow me to stand in the way of such a virtuous wife.”
His wife wept upon hearing this and said, “Husband, I have not the slightest stain on my character, so why do you dismiss me in this way?”
“Wife, I have the best of intentions, but I am afraid that they cannot be realized, and I do not want to deceive you.”
Drill Instructor Zhang said, “My daughter, be contented. Although my son-in-law wants to arrange your affairs in this way I will promise you that I shall not press you to remarry. If we do this business in the way suggested he will depart with a contented mind, and if he does not return then I will provide for you at my home for the remainder of your life so that you can maintain your chastity.”
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