Once settled in the place, Ch’un-yue set himself to become thoroughly acquainted with the manners and customs of the people, and to relieve distress.  To Chou-pien and Tzu-hua he confided all questions of administration, and in the course of twenty years a great improvement was to be noticed in the affairs of the province.  The people showed their appreciation by erecting a monument to his honour, while the King conferred upon him an estate and the dignity of a title, and in recognition of their services promoted Chou-pien and Tzu-hua to very high posts.  Ch’un-yue’s children also shared their father’s rewards; the two sons were given office, while the two daughters were betrothed to members of the royal family.  There remained nothing which could add to his fame and greatness.

He meets with Disasters

About this period the state of T’an-lo made an incursion on the province of Nan-k’o.  The King at once commanded that Chou-pien should proceed at the head of 30,000 men to repel the enemy.  Chou-pien, full of confidence, attacked the foe, but sustained a disastrous defeat, and, barely escaping with his life, returned to the capital, leaving the invaders to plunder the country and retire.  Ch’un-yue threw Chou-pien into prison, and asked the King what punishment should be visited upon him.  His Majesty granted Chou-pien his pardon; but that same month he died of disease.

A few days later Ch’un-yue’s wife also fell ill and died, whereupon he begged permission to resign his post and return to Court with his wife’s remains.  This request was granted, and Tzu-hua was appointed in his stead.  As Ch’un-yue, sad and dejected, was leaving the city with the funeral cortege, he found the road lined with people giving loud expression to their grief, and almost ready to prevent his taking his departure.

He returns Home

As he neared the capital the King and Queen, dressed in mourning, were awaiting the bier in tears.  The Princess, after a posthumous title had been conferred upon her, was buried with great magnificence a few miles to the east of the city, while Ch’un-yue remained in the capital, living in such state, and gaining so much influence, that he excited the King’s jealousy; and when it was foretold, by means of signs in the heavens, that ruin threatened the kingdom, that its inhabitants would be swept away, and that this would be the work of an alien, the prophecy seemed to point to ambitious designs on the part of Ch’un-yue, and means were taken to keep him under restraint.