Finding no means of conquering them, Yang Chien, Chiang Tzu-ya, and Li Ching took counsel together and decided to have recourse to Fu Hsi’s trigrams, and by smearing them with the blood of a fowl and a dog to destroy their spiritual power.

But the two brothers were fully informed of what was designed.  Thousand-li Eye had seen and Favourable-wind Ear had heard everything, so that all their preparations proved unavailing.

Yang Chien then went to Chiang Tzu-ya and said to him:  “These two brothers are powerful devils; I must take more effectual measures.”  “Where will you go for aid?” asked Chiang Tzu-ya.  “I cannot tell you, for they would hear,” replied Yang.  He then left.  Favourable-wind Ear heard this dialogue, and Thousand-li Eye saw him leave.  “He did not say where he was going,” they said to each other, “but we fear him not.”  Yang Chien went to Yue-ch’uean Shan, where lived Yue-ting Chen-jen, ‘Hero Jade-tripod.’  He told him about their two adversaries, and asked him how they were to conquer them.  “These two genii,” replied the Chen-jen, “are from Ch’i-p’an Shan, Chessboard Mountain.  One is a spiritual peach-tree, the other a spiritual pomegranate-tree.  Their roots cover an area of thirty square li of ground.  On that mountain there is a temple dedicated to Huang-ti, in which are clay images of two devils called Ch’ien-li Yen and Shun-feng Erh.  The peach-tree and pomegranate-tree, having become spiritual beings, have taken up their abode in these images.  One has eyes which can see objects distinctly at a distance of a thousand li, the other ears that can hear sounds at a like distance.  But beyond that distance they can neither see nor hear.  Return and tell Chiang Tzu-ya to have the roots of those trees torn up and burned, and the images destroyed; then the two genii will be easily vanquished.  In order that they may neither see nor hear you during your conversation with Chiang Tzu-ya, wave flags about the camp and order the soldiers to beat tom-toms and drums.”

How the Brothers were Defeated

Yang Chien returned to Chiang Tzu-ya.  “What have you been doing?” asked the latter.  Before replying Yang Chien went to the camp and ordered soldiers to wave large red flags and a thousand others to beat the tom-toms and drums.  The air was so filled with the flags and the noise that nothing else could be either seen or heard.  Under cover of this device Yang Chien then communicated to Chiang Tzu-ya the course advised by the Chen-jen.

Accordingly Li Ching at the head of three thousand soldiers proceeded to Ch’i-p’an Shan, pulled up and burned the roots of the two trees, and broke the images to pieces.  At the same time Lei Chen-tzu was ordered to attack the two genii.

Thousand-li Eye and Favourable-wind Ear could neither see nor hear:  the flags effectually screened the horizon and the infernal noise of the drums and gongs deadened all other sound.  They did not know how to stop them.