Be Clear about Cause and Effect: Good Will Be Rewarded with Good (Part 2)
 
Afterward, Emperor Xiaozong said to his prime minister, Jiang Yushan, "Yesterday, Zhao Xiong, the governor of Shu, came to court to report. When I asked him about the scenery in the gorge, he cited two lines of a poem by Du Fu. I could see the view of the Three Gorges right in front of my eyes. He is well versed in poetry. You can give him a ministerial post." When Wang Yushan came out, he said to Zhao Xiong, "You did well with the two lines of poetry. You really have quick thinking." Zhao Xiong told him about how he cared about the people and accumulated virtue and how Lord Wenchang came to help him as a result. Wang Yushan said, "So this is what happened. Now the emperor wants you to have a ministerial post. If you are in such a position, the emperor will summon you very often. If he questions you again, what will you answer? It's better that you return to Shu." Zhao Xiong agreed. The next day, Wang Yushan reported in court, "I passed the message from Your Excellency, but he did not want to stay here." Emperor Xiaozong said, "This man can retreat in such a quiet manner. His conduct is really praiseworthy. You can promote him to another position." Then the emperor approved of his appointment. A few years later, Zhao Xiong became a prime minister. Zhao thought that he had little talent and lacked knowledge, so he tried to give the position to others several times. Nevertheless, the more he wanted to step back, the more Emperor Xiaozong denied him.
 
One day, when Zhao Xiong was about to enter the imperial court, he saw a governor surnamed Xi exiting the court. The entrance security asked him, "How come you have such a strange surname?" Xi replied. "There was Xi Wei in the Spring and Autumn Period, and there was Xi Fugong in the Han Dynasty. This surname has existed throughout history. How can you say it is a strange surname?" Zhao Xiong heard this and remembered the exchange. By coincidence, after Xi finished reporting, Zhao Xiong happened to have something to report to the emperor. Emperor Xiaozong said to him, "Just now there was a governor surnamed Xi. How come there is such a strange surname?" Zhao Xiong immediately said, "There was Xi Wei in the Spring and Autumn Period, and there was Xi Fugong in the Han Dynasty. Xi has always been a surname." The emperor was very pleased to hear his explanation and said, "You have so much knowledge. We really need scholars to be prime ministers." Zhao Xiong told the emperor that he had only just heard about this himself. Emperor Xiaozong was even more pleased with his honesty. Afterwards, whenever there were questions from the emperor, he always got hints beforehand or from dreams. He never made a mistake. He was really fortunate.
 
When Zhao Xiong served as prime minister, he often reminded Emperor Xiaozong to not forget the shame of Jingkang and that the masses of people in central China were still suffering. He held the view that it was important to recover central China and to put those who wanted to fight for the lost territory in important positions. He also protected loyal officials. He was tolerant and generous towards others and was keen to recommend talented people. Numerous people of outstanding talent and conduct benefited from his recommendations, and he was duly respected and praised. Later he resigned from his official post and went back to Linquan to spend his retirement. Everyone said he had enjoyed complete blessings on earth.
 
Since ancient times, those who have understood cause and effect all regarded moral character and good deeds with primary importance, and they regulated and adjusted their conduct to conform to the heavenly laws. Thus, it made sense for people throughout history to remind others to perform good deeds.
 
明识因果　善有善报 (下)
 
随后，孝宗对宰相江玉山说：“昨日蜀中郡守赵雄入对，朕问以峡中风景如何，他诵两句杜诗以对，三峡之景，宛然如在目前，可谓善言诗也。可与寺丞、寺簿之官做。”汪玉山出朝来对赵雄说：“你这两句杜诗对的好，真是才思敏捷。”赵雄于是把爱护百姓、积德行善之事感得文昌帝君佑护说了一遍。汪玉山道：“原来如此！今圣上要与你寺丞、寺簿之官做，如做了此官，不时召见，倘再问对，你怎得对，不如仍归蜀郡。”赵雄同意。次日，汪玉山入朝奏道：“臣昨以圣意传语，彼不愿留此。”孝宗道：“此人恬退如此，真可嘉也。可与他节宪使做。”遂御批为节宪使。几年后渐渐做到宰相，赵雄想自己才疏学浅，遂屡辞宰相之位。孝宗见他恬退，越不容辞职。
 
一日，赵雄将入朝，只见一个息太守辞朝。阁门吏问这太守说：“你怎么姓这般一个怪姓？”息太守答道：“春秋时有个息妫，汉时有个息夫躬，从来有这息姓，怎生说是怪异？”赵雄偶然听见，记在心下。适值息太守辞朝之后，恰好赵雄奏事。孝宗问道：“适才有一个姓息的太守辞朝，世上怎生有这个怪异之姓？”赵雄即奏道：“春秋时有息妫，汉朝有息夫躬，此是从来所有之姓，非怪异也。”孝宗大喜道：“卿学问该博如此，真‘宰相须用读书人’也。”赵雄于是说自己也是刚听到的，孝宗更喜他诚实。自此之后，凡有问对，或是梦寐之间影响之际，定有些先兆预报，一一无差，真福至心灵也。赵雄任宰相，经常提醒孝宗勿忘靖康之耻和中原父老备受蹂躏，主张收复中原，重用主战派，保护忠臣。他待人宽厚，极肯荐举人才，荐拔贤士不计其数，为人称道。后来辞官归老林泉，人皆称其真人间全福也。
 
自古以来明晓因果、认知事理的人，总是把品德和善行看作是最重要和最可信赖的，规范调整自己的行为去符合天道的规律。所以历来的人们向人劝善并不是没有原因的。