In the Zhenglong era of the Jin, Beishile, governor of Taian, arrived at the capital and went to pay his respects at the Eastern Peak temple, walking through all the shrines.
At the Shuming bedchamber hall there was blood on the ground. He was alarmed, and led his clerks round to examine, and saw that one finger of the empress statue was broken, blood streaming down without stopping, and that her hair ornaments, arm bangles, and the gold and silver vessels on the offering table had all been stolen.
He arrested the custodians and put them in prison and questioned them under torture. Though he applied severe punishment he never got the truth.
Later, at the new moon, he came again to the temple, set out offerings, lit incense, and prayed: “The inner palace is tightly sealed. How could a burglar get in? Now the prison has long been undecided and must be burdening the innocent. The god is supremely clear and wise. I beg that you show the punishment and satisfy the people’s will.” He finished praying and turned his carriage to go.
The next evening a gateman came running to report: “The four horses painted long ago on the west wall of the hall disappeared this morning. People at the foot of the mountain all heard the sound of horses’ hooves but did not see their shapes. After a while each of them carried a man back — a monk, a boy, and two slaves.”
Beishile rode hurriedly over, first thanked the god’s power, and then examined the four prisoners, who were shackled side by side in the colonnade as though held by something.
At the time there was a Jurchen company commander named Ashida who was cruel and exacted bribes from his troops. Two of his men had no way to meet his demands, and plotted with a monk of the Zhulin temple. They cut the tiles and rafters from the roof ridge of the hall, and after ten days just managed to get through, which is why nobody outside knew. They hid the stolen goods at the monk’s place, and the novice boy knew of it.
The matter was reported to the court. Liang ordered the company commander and his two slaves beaten to death, and the monk and boy banished to the far frontier.
