The Bridge at Lo-Yang

During the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song, a large river flowed through Quanzhou. The two banks were about two miles apart, so the residents of Quanzhou relied on ferries for daily transportation. However, the river's currents were extremely treacherous, and countless people drowned each year. Legend had it that a turtle and a snake, two demons, were tormenting the river. To ensure the people's safety, Emperor Renzong dispatched Cai Xiang, a top scholar, to Quanzhou to oversee the construction of a bridge. Cai was a filial son; his mother had vowed that if her son achieved the highest honors in the imperial examinations, he would build a bridge in Luoyang. Despite working for the country and out of filial piety for over five years, Cai's efforts to build the bridge yielded no results, instead causing financial losses and hardship for the people. He worried about the treacherous nature of the Luoyang River. Cai thought that if Heaven were to help him, building the bridge would be much simpler…