In the year of Wuzi, divination was performed regarding Zhao Fuxing's promotion.

占驗十二、戊子四月丙子日壬辰時，予住金陵時，東省孫興功老師占左方伯趙福星公祖何日升遷，知一、反吟，申酉空、寅卯落空。 后陰 貴 亥子丑寅 玄 后龍 空貴 比 壬午 龍 蛇 戌 卯 常 子午 巳亥 鬼 丙子 后 朱 酉 辰 虎 午子 亥丙 比 壬午 龍 六 申未午巳 空 勾青 斷：在仕者占得此課，不惟官難滿任，且有意外之憂。何言之？龍神乘旺氣發用，理應升遷，但惡太歲作鬼，沖剋青龍，驚災所不免。且財官祿馬俱入空絕，意外之虞必應。六月升揚州撫臺，餘自嘆所占不驗，未幾疽發於背而死。餘然後信其數之莫能逃也。 越福星，清廷之鳳陽巡撫。

In the fifth year of the Shunzhi era, on the day of Bingzi in the fourth month of the Wu Zi year, at the hour of Ren Chen, the author was living in Jinling. Master Sun Xinggong from Shandong divined for Left Governor Zhao Fuxing, asking on which day he would be promoted. The lesson pattern was "Zhi Yi" combined with "Fan Yin." In this旬, the empty palace was in Shen and You. The Yin and Mao in the Heaven Plate fell into the empty palace. The four lessons were:亥 added to Bing,巳 added to Hai,午 added to Zi, and Zi added to Wu. The three transmissions were Wu, Zi, and Wu. The initial and final transmissions were both Ren Wu, with the Azure Dragon riding, indicating a fellow official. The middle transmission was Bing Zi, with the Heavenly Empress riding, indicating an official ghost. The interpretation said: a person in officialdom who receives this lesson will not complete their term in office and will also face unexpected troubles. Why? The Azure Dragon is riding a strong and prosperous force, which should indicate promotion. However, the year's master has become an official ghost, clashing and controlling the Azure Dragon, leading to fear and disaster. Moreover, wealth, officialdom, fortune, and horse all fall into the empty palace and the terminal place, so unexpected troubles are certain. In June, this person was indeed promoted to the governor of Yangzhou. The author initially thought the divination was not accurate, but soon after, the person developed a boil on his back and died. Only then did the author believe that fate is unavoidable. In the text, "Yue Fuxing" should be "Zhao Fuxing," who was the governor of Fengyang in the Qing court. This is a rare case of a failed divination in the entire book, and the author does not hide this. In the lesson, the Azure Dragon riding a strong force indicates a promotion, yet the author predicted unexpected troubles because wealth, officialdom, fortune, and horse all fell into the empty and terminal places. The result was that both the promotion and the misfortune came true: in June he was indeed promoted, and soon after he died from a boil on his back. Both good and bad omens appear in the same lesson, showing the difficulty of choosing between them.

此課是陳公獻失手的課例之一。實則龍神乘午為進氣，以巳月午為進氣，日上貴人，德祿臨月建入天門，升官之兆也。為何斷六月？以返吟六沖，太歲子水沖龍神，未上丑合子不沖龍神也。 在仕者得返吟，多不滿任。 但吉中藏凶，此課德喪。祿絕，驛馬空陷，太歲又制龍神，故凶。但凶時必在冬月水旺之時。 由此可知，縱太歲在一年中亦要乘旺時方有作用，“變”之一詞，有過程之意，則變死為活矣，宜深思之。

This is one of the examples where Chen Gongxian made a mistake. In reality, the dragon god is riding the horse of the fifth heavenly stem, which is in the process of rising. In the fourth lunar month, the fifth heavenly stem is ascending. The day stem also has a nobleman, and the day virtue and day fortune are approaching the month builder and entering the heavenly gate, all signs of promotion. Why was the judgment made for the sixth month? Because reverse chant indicates six clashes. The sovereign's water is originally clashing and controlling the dragon god, but by the sixth month, the earth branch of the sixth month, which is the earth ox, combines with the water of the sovereign, so it no longer clashes with the dragon god. Officials who receive the reverse chant lesson are mostly not able to complete their term. However, among the good signs there is hidden danger: in this lesson, the day virtue is lost, the day fortune enters the period of decline, the post-horse is empty and lost, and the sovereign's water controls the dragon god, so the outcome is ultimately bad. The bad outcome should occur in the winter month when water is strong. From this we can see that even the sovereign needs to be in its strong period during the year to have an effect. The character "change" implies a process. Understanding this level brings the meaning to life, and it is worth deep consideration. The commentator's analysis here is meant to correct the bias of only looking at the sovereign without considering the seasonal influence.

占驗十三、丁丑七月甲戌日己巳時，浣中阮胤平太史占經筵講官曲沃李括蒼太史枚卜如何，重審、升階，申酉空、酉戌落空。 空虎 青 午未申酉 常 后陰 六朱 財 庚辰 六 勾 巳 戌 玄 子亥 辰卯 子 辛巳 勾 六 辰 亥 陰 亥戌 卯甲 比 壬午 龍 朱 卯寅丑子 后 蛇貴 斷：太史將來大拜，目今未可得，還有丁艱事。劉曰：其人無父母，如何丁艱。答曰；仕宦逢羅網，主有此應，日下未得入相者，蓋嫌初傳辰卯相害，中傳勾陳脫氣，喜末傳月將青龍，是以將來可。後屢次枚卜，未點入閣，己卯丁庶艱，至癸未冬始入閣，奉命督師討賊。

In the tenth year of the Chongzhen era, on the day of Jiaxu, seventh month, Dingchou, the diviner Yuan Yiping, a high-ranking official, predicted the outcome of the selection process for the imperial court's lecturers, concerning Li Kuocong, a high-ranking official from Quwu. The lesson pattern was "Chongshen" combined with "Shengjie." In this旬, the empty palace was in Shen and You. On the Heaven Plate, You and Xu fell within the empty palace. The four lessons were卯 added to Jia, Chen added to Mao, Hai added to Xu, and Zi added to Hai. The three transmissions were Chen, Si, and Wu, each rising step by step. The first transmission was Gengchen riding the Liuhe, representing wife and wealth; the middle transmission was Xinsi riding the Gouchen, representing sons and daughters; the final transmission was Renwu riding the Qinglong, representing a colleague. The divination said: This official will eventually be appointed as a prime minister, but not yet. In between, he will experience a period of mourning. Mr. Liu said: His parents are both dead, how can he experience mourning? The answer was: Officials who encounter the heavenly and earthly net in their divination will have such an outcome. He is not yet appointed to the cabinet because the first transmission, Chen, harms Mao, and the middle transmission, Gouchen, weakens the energy. However, the final transmission is the month general riding the Qinglong, so he will eventually succeed. Later, he repeatedly participated in the selection process but was not appointed to the cabinet. In the year Jimao, he suffered the loss of his stepmother, and only in the winter of Guiwei year did he enter the cabinet and was ordered to lead an army against rebels. This divination was extremely accurate in predicting the mourning period even though he had no parents left, relying solely on the heavenly and earthly net in official divination. Later, the mourning was for his stepmother, showing that the heavenly and earthly net refers to retirement and mourning, not specifically for one's biological parents.

李建泰，曲沃人，天啟五年（1626丙寅年）進士，歷官國子祭酒，頗著聲望，祟禎十六年（癸未）五月擢吏部右侍郎，十一月辛亥以本官兼東閣大學士。十七年（甲申）春正月（庚寅朔），李自成逼山西，建泰慮鄉邦被禍，而家富於貲，可藉以佐軍，庚子日自請措餉治兵討賊，許之。乙卯，幸正陽門樓，餞李建泰出師。建泰以宰輔督師，兵食並絀，止五百人，甫出都，則曲沃已破，家貲盡沒，驚怛而病，抵保定，農民軍破城，自刎不殊，被執。後清召為內院大學士，未幾罷歸。姜反大同，據太平遙應之，兵敗被擒，伏誅。

The person being referred to as Li Kuacang is Li Jiantei, from Quwo, Shanxi. He passed the imperial examination in the third year of Tianxi (1626), which was the year Bingyin. He held various official posts, including that of Director of the National Academy, and was well respected. In the sixth year of Chongzhen (1636), which was the year Guiwei, in the fifth lunar month, he was promoted to the Deputy Minister of Personnel. In the eleventh lunar month of that year, on the day Xinhai, he was appointed as a Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion while holding his previous post. In the seventh year of Chongzhen (1637), on the first day of the first lunar month of spring, which was the day Gengyin, Li Zicheng's army approached Shanxi. Li Jiantei feared that his hometown would suffer disaster, and also considered that his family had considerable wealth which could be used to support the military effort. Therefore, on the day Gengzi, he volunteered to raise funds and train troops to suppress the rebels, and the emperor approved his request. On the day Yimao, Chongzhen personally came to the Zhengyang Gate to see him off. As a Grand Secretary, he led the military campaign, but his forces and supplies were insufficient, and he only had five hundred men accompanying him. Just after leaving the capital, Quwo had already fallen, and all his family's property was lost. He became frightened and fell ill, and when he reached Baoding, the rebel army captured the city, and he committed suicide but was captured alive. Later, the Qing court invited him to serve as a Grand Secretary of the Inner Council, but he was soon dismissed and returned to his hometown. When Jiang Xiang rebelled against the Qing in Datong, he occupied Pingyang County and supported Jiang Xiang from a distance. After his defeat, he was captured and executed. The two events predicted by Chen Gongxian, namely the grand ceremony and the mourning for parents, both came true in his life.

占驗十四、丁丑八月丙申日癸巳時，浣中阮胤平太史占楚省袁副鯨及同鄉大司空鄭玄嶽兩先生枚卜如何，伏吟、玄胎，辰巳空、辰巳落空。 虎常 空 巳午未申 玄 玄玄 空空 比 乙巳 空 青 辰 酉 陰 申申 巳巳 財 丙申 玄 勾 卯 戌 后 申申 巳丙 父 壬寅 六 六 寅丑子亥 貴 朱蛇 斷：兩公俱不能入相，且主臺省彈劾而回。何也？蓋三傳遞互刑剋，全無和洽之氣，剛日伏吟見馬，歸象已現。此非臺省有言而何？後兩公枚卜不果，袁公當被參去，鄭公為欽仵 獄擬罪而歸。因鄭命見地網日墓，是以罹禍尤重。

In the tenth year of the Chongzhen era, on the day of Bingshen in the eighth month of Dingchou, at the hour of Guisi, Huanzhong's Ruan Yinpeng, the Grand Astronomer, divined the fate of two gentlemen, Yuan Fujing, the deputy commander of Huguang, and Zheng Xuanyue, the great minister of the Ministry of Works, who were both participating in the imperial examination for high office. The lesson pattern was 'Fuyin' combined with 'Xuanyai'. The empty palace of this旬 was in Chen and Si, and the heaven plate's Chen and Si also fell into the empty palace. The heaven and earth plates overlapped, with the four lessons being Si added to Bing, Si added to Si, Shen added to Shen, and Shen added to Shen again. The three transmissions were Si, Shen, and Yin. The first transmission, Yi Si, was accompanied by 'Tiankong' and represented a fellow official. The middle transmission, Bing Shen, was accompanied by 'Xuanwu' and represented wife and wealth. The final transmission, Ren Yin, was accompanied by 'Liuhe' and represented parents. The interpretation stated that both men would not be appointed to the cabinet, and they would be impeached by the censors and dismissed. Why? The three transmissions mutually attacked and restrained each other, showing no harmonious energy. On a day of yang energy, with Fuyin and the post-horse, the sign of returning home was already evident. Is this not the sign of the censors speaking out? Later, neither of the two men was appointed. Yuan was impeached and dismissed, while Zheng was officially charged with imprisonment and returned. This was because Zheng's native palace was under the earth net and also met the day's burial, so his misfortune was especially severe. On the same day, two people were divined, and their fates were distinguished by the palace positions of their native stars. Yuan was only impeached and dismissed, but Zheng's native palace was under the earth net and also met the day's burial, so he was brought to prison and charged. Fuyin usually indicates stillness and no movement, but once the post-horse is added, the stillness becomes a desire for movement, leading to the sign of leaving office and returning home.

凡占仕，三傳遞克是大凶之象。此課縱發用德祿月將，但旬空乘空，空之極矣。此太陽又非在夜方，但竟一毫無用，可見月將不空之說，大謬也，切記，切記！ 由課推論鄭率嶽為戌年生，陰神戌乘天后，戌為地獄，戌為陰暗滯凝之神，黑暗何如之也。

Whenever divining about official careers, if the three transmissions mutually control each other, it is a very ominous sign. In this case, although the initiating transmission carries the day's virtue, day's honor, and the month's general, it has fallen into the empty period and is riding on the heavenly general Tian Kong, which is extremely empty. The sun and the month's general are not in the night direction, yet they are completely ineffective. This clearly shows that the saying "the month's general is not empty" is entirely wrong and must be remembered. According to the divination, Zheng Xuan's birth year is戌, his inherent shadow is戌, which rides on the heavenly empress. The position of戌 is the hell position, and it is also a dark and stagnant deity. The darkness of the situation can be imagined.

占驗十五、甲申十月辛亥日丁亥時，予在無為州時，長兄公明占藩鎮黃虎山功名，知一、曲直，子丑空、辰巳落空。 勾六 青 酉戌亥子 朱 虎后 常貴 父 丁未 虎 空 申 丑 蛇 未卯 午寅 子 辛亥 六 虎 未 寅 貴 卯亥 寅辛 財 乙卯 后 常 午巳辰卯 后 玄陰 斷：據此課，藩臺不得善後矣。蓋課中干乘絕氣，支見死神，兩貴空亡，祿神受制，功名安得久長。且官得空矣，誰與居位？營壘空矣，（支上卯空）誰與禦侮？財星空矣，誰與生官？況太陽西墜，桑榆之返照無多。冬木逢空，腐朽之折傷必應；歲在大梁，餘言必驗。何故也？明歲行年酉為自刑，破壞木局，次年五月御敵自刎。

In the seventeenth year of the Chongzhen era, on the 10th day of the tenth lunar month, at the hour of Xinhai, the author was in Wuzhong State. His elder brother, Gongming, divined the official status of the governor of Huanghuashan. The lesson pattern was "Zhiyi" combined with "Quzhi," and the empty palace of this旬 was in Zi and Chou. The Heaven Plate's Chen and Si fell on the empty palace. The four lessons were:寅 added to Xin, Wu added to Yin, Mao added to Hai, and Wei added to Mao. The three transmissions were Wei, Hai, and Mao, forming a wood pattern. The first transmission, Dingwei, rode the White Tiger as parents; the middle transmission, Xinhai, rode Liuhe as children; the final transmission, Yimao, rode Heavenly Empress as wife and wealth. The divination said: According to this lesson, the governor will not end his life well. The day stem is at its end, the day branch meets the Death Deity, and both noblemen fall into the empty palace. The禄神 is also restrained, how can his official status last long? The official star is empty, who will take the position? The military camp is empty (the卯 on the day branch falls into the empty palace), who will defend against foreign enemies? The wealth爻 is empty, who will generate the official? Moreover, the sun is setting west, and the light of桑榆 is already fading; in winter, the wood also meets the empty palace, so decay and breakage will surely happen. The year god is at the Big Beam, my words will surely come true. Why? Because next year, the year stem is in You, which is self-punishment, destroying the wood pattern in the lesson. In the second month of the following year, this person indeed committed suicide while defending against enemies. This lesson clearly points out the emptiness of the official star, military camp, and wealth爻, and then uses the setting sun and the empty winter wood as a summary, layer by layer pointing to failure. Finally, it uses the self-punishment of the year stem to determine the time of the event. This is the most rigorous example of the method of breaking down the lesson in the entire text.

支為營，支陰為士卒，發用乘虎，雖生干，《畢法》云“虎乘遁反殃非淺”、“金日逢丁凶禍動”，變吉為凶。所以部下叛變，只得自刎。凡支陰克支者，均為屬下害主之象。 黃虎山，總兵黃得功也，封伯爵。1645年6月3日夜，弘光皇帝帶著少數人秘密出城，向西南方向蕪湖附近的黃得功駐地逃去。6月16日在蕪湖的弘光皇帝和留下來的少數支持者打算去杭州。但他還沒來得及動身，劉良佐就領著一支清軍到了。黃得功由於部下的背叛和受了重傷而自殺，皇帝被劉良佐捉去。 占課不知一葉障目，要看方方面面，方可斷之。占功名，干為我，支為宅，貴人為貴氣，祿神為傣祿。 大梁，黃道十二宮之一，對應地支為酉。

The day branch represents the camp, and the hidden spirits of the branch represent soldiers. The initiating transmission spirit rides on the White Tiger, although it is beneficial to the day stem, but according to the "Bi Fa Fu," "the White Tiger riding the hidden transmission brings serious misfortune," and "a metal day stem encountering the Ding spirit brings calamity." Good fortune turns into misfortune, so the subordinate rebels, and he is forced to commit suicide. Whenever the hidden spirits of the branch overcome the day branch, it indicates that subordinates harm the commander. Huanghuashan refers to General Huang Degong, who was granted the title of Marquis. On June 3rd of the first year of Hongguang (1645), the Hongguang Emperor secretly left the city with a small group of attendants, heading southwest towards Huang Degong's base near Wuhu. On June 16th, the Hongguang Emperor and the remaining supporters at Wuhu planned to move to Hangzhou, but had not yet departed when Liu Liangzuo led a Qing army to arrive. Huang Degong committed suicide due to betrayal by his subordinates and serious injuries, and the emperor was captured by Liu Liangzuo. Divination should not be based on a narrow perspective; one must consider all aspects before making a judgment. When divining about achievements, the day stem represents oneself, the day branch represents one's residence, the nobleman represents prestige, and the禄神 represents salary. Daliang is one of the twelve Yellow Paths, corresponding to the earthly branch You. The lesson from this case is that although the initiating transmission spirit is beneficial to the day stem, if the riding heavenly general is凶 and meets the Ding spirit, benefit turns into harm. When divining military affairs, particular attention should be paid to the relationship between the hidden spirits of the branch and the day branch, as this reflects the loyalty or betrayal of subordinates towards the commander.

占驗十六、辛未四月丁酉日癸卯時，同鄉彭城衛經歷劉一純占梁大司馬推冢宰可允否，重審、斬關，辰巳空、亥子落空。 朱六 蛇 子丑寅卯 勾 貴龍 陰六 鬼 己亥 貴 貴 亥 辰 青 亥辰 酉寅 比 甲午 虎 后 戌 巳 空 辰酉 寅丁 子 辛丑 朱 陰 酉申未午 虎 玄常 斷：不惟不遷，尋常退位。蓋日馬坐墓庫，祿神臨絕地，傳將又逆行故耳。況命上官貴履天羅，年上蛇做日鬼，交夏月應有一番風波。幸官鬼俱空，官祿退位卻無大咎。後以浙省大行水公參劾，請告而退。東省萬公名應斗者，在辰時壬申又占此，亦逮問擬罪而回。

In the fourth month of the fourth year of the Chongzhen era (Xinwei), on the day of Dingyou and the hour of Guimao, Liu Yichun, the magistrate of Pengcheng Garrison, divined whether Liang Da Sima would be approved for promotion to the position of Grand Secretary. The lesson pattern was "Chongshen" combined with "Zhangguan." The empty palace of this ten-day period was in Chen and Si, with the Heaven Plate's亥 and Zi falling into the empty palace. The four lessons were寅 added to Ding,酉 added to寅,辰 added to酉, and亥 added to辰. The three transmissions were亥, Wu, and Chou. The first transmission was Ji Hai, riding on the Nobleman, representing official ghost; the middle transmission was Jia Wu, riding on the White Tiger, representing companion; the final transmission was Xin Chou, riding on the Vermilion Bird, representing son and grandson. The divination said: not only would he not be promoted, but he would soon be dismissed. Because the驿马 of the day was sitting in the墓库, the禄神 was in the绝地, and the three transmissions and the Heavenly General were moving in reverse. Moreover, the official and nobleman of his birth day were stepping on the天罗, and the螣蛇 became the day's ghost in his year. At the beginning of summer, there would be some disturbance. Fortunately, the official ghost fell into the empty palace, so although he was dismissed, there would be no great disaster. Later, he was impeached by the great water official of Zhejiang and had to resign. There was also a famous official named Wen Gong Yingdou in Shandong, who on the day of Renshen in the辰 hour also got this same lesson, and was also arrested and charged but eventually released. The two men received the same lesson and experienced the same event, showing that once the lesson pattern is determined, even though the people involved are different, the outcome will be the same. The key to this lesson lies in the official and nobleman entering theStorage and the禄 andThe Post-horse losing their proper positions. When divining about promotion, these are the most to be avoided.

占升遷之要者，日干是否落空受克、日官貴、日祿、日馬、龍常如何。今發用官貴，看似吉利，但亥加於辰，是官、德、馬、貴皆和墓，不能為我所用也。官貴加天羅為退位得罪之徵。故不能升遷而有災。 本命在辰，行年在巳，巳上鬼乘蛇，被太歲克而害，亦主官職發生變化。變化於何時？子臨巳上，巳月有災。故“交夏月應有一番風波”。 《畢法》云“天羅自裹己招非”，此課梁之本命即是官鬼之墓，意義接近，亦是自找麻煩，自投網羅。

The key to divining promotion lies in whether the day stem is falling into emptiness or being overcome, and the status of the day's official, nobleman, day's fortune, day's post-horse, and the positions of the Azure Dragon and Tai Chang. In this lesson, the initiating transmission is the official and nobleman, which seems auspicious. However, the亥 (Hai) is placed on the辰 (Chen), and the official star, day virtue, post-horse, and nobleman all enter the tomb, thus becoming ineffective for me. The official and nobleman are placed on the Heavenly Net, which is a sign of losing position and being punished, so promotion is not possible and disaster is expected. The person's birth stem is in the辰 (Chen), and their current year stem is in the巳 (Si). In the巳 (Si), the official ghost is riding the Teng Snake and is also harmed by the sovereign year, indicating a change in official position. When will this change occur? The子 (Zi) is placed on the巳 (Si), so disaster will occur in the巳 (Si) month, meaning there will be trouble in the summer month. The "Bi Fa Fu" says "Heavenly Net wraps itself, inviting trouble," and in this lesson, the person's birth stem exactly matches the tomb of the official ghost, which is similar in meaning, indicating self-inflicted trouble and falling into a trap. The birth stem coinciding with the tomb of the official ghost is the most important point in this lesson.

梁廷棟，鄢陵人。萬曆四十七年進士，崇禎（辛巳）三年正月特召掌兵部事。廷臣見其驟用，心嫉之。給事中陳良訓首刺之，同官陶崇道其不知兵，崇禎帝不納。五月，永平四城復，賞廷棟調度功，加太子少保，世蔭錦衣僉事。其秋，以兵食不足加賦，得戶部尚書畢自肅助，得錢眾而海內怨，然帝無不從。後給事中葛應斗劾御史袁革納參將胡宗明金，請囑兵部。廷棟亦劾袁某及錦衣衛張某賄狀，二人下獄。並去吏部尚書王永光，以己代之。御史水佳胤者，經勳郡人，劾交接奸人，納賄營私，廷棟疏辯求去，帝猶慰留。有安國棟者，初以通判主插漢撫賞事，廷棟薦其才，特擢職方主事，仍主撫賞，頗為奸利。廷棟庇之，後佳胤坐他事左遷行人司副，復上疏發兩人交通狀，並列其賄鬻將領事，事俱有跡，廷棟危甚，賴中人左右之，得閉往去，能熊某代。八年又為兵部佳郎及右都御史，代總宣大，九年七月兵敗，服大黃藥，數月而死。法司定罪坐大辟，以死不究。

The divination text refers to Liang Tindong, who was the Grand Minister of War. He was from Yancheng, Henan, and became an imperial scholar in the forty-seventh year of Wanli. In the first month of the third year of Chongzhi, he was specially summoned by imperial decree to take charge of the War Department. The court officials saw his sudden rise to power and felt jealous. The imperial censor Chen Liangxun was the first to impeach him, and his colleague Tao Chongdao also said he was not skilled in military affairs, but the emperor did not accept these accusations. In the same year, in May, the four cities of Yongping were recovered, and the court rewarded him for his effective military arrangements, granting him the title of Deputy Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and hereditary appointment as Deputy Inspector of the Imperial Guard. That autumn, due to insufficient military funds, additional taxes were imposed, with the support of the Minister of Revenue Bi Zisù. Although the money was collected, the people throughout the country were greatly resentful, yet the emperor still approved everything. Later, the imperial censor Ge Yingdu impeached a certain imperial censor Yuan for accepting bribes from General Hu Zongming and helping others to influence the War Department; Liang Tindong also turned the tables by impeaching Yuan for accepting bribes with a certain official Zhang from the Imperial Guard, and both were imprisoned. Liang Tindong then removed the Minister of Personnel Wang Yongguang and took his place. The censor Shui Jiayin, from the Xun Jun clan, impeached him for associating with villains and accepting bribes for private gain. Liang Tindong submitted a memorial to defend himself and requested to resign, but the emperor still retained him. There was a man named An Guodong, who initially served as a deputy magistrate in charge of the affairs of the Jiaodong region, and Liang Tindong recommended him for his talent, specially promoting him to the position of Director of Military Affairs, still in charge of the Jiaodong affairs, and he made a great profit from it, and Liang Tindong always protected him. Later, Shui Jiayin was demoted to the position of Deputy Inspector of the Office of Imperial Messengers due to other matters, and he submitted another memorial exposing the collusion between the two men and listing their bribery and selling military positions, all of which were verifiable. Liang Tindong was in a very dangerous situation, but he managed to avoid punishment through the mediation of eunuchs and resigned, with Xiong someone taking over. In the eighth year of Chongzhi, he was again appointed as Deputy Minister of War and Right Grand Censor, in charge of the areas of Xuanfu and Datong. In July of the ninth year, he suffered a military defeat, took a large dose of Da Huang medicine, and died several months later. The legal authorities originally intended to sentence him to death, but since he was already dead, the matter was not pursued further.

占驗十七、戊寅三月丙寅日辛卯時，東省沂州諱昌時王大行來燕京寓中索占，知一、涉害、周遍，戌亥空、巳午落空。 朱六 蛇 子丑寅卯 勾 青陰 常蛇 子 甲子 蛇 貴 亥 辰 青 辰酉 未子 父 辛未 常 后 戌 巳 空 酉寅 子丙 財 丙寅 六 陰 酉申未午 虎 玄常 斷：在朝官占得此課，主有臺省參劾。蓋因官貴履天羅之地，祿馬入空墓之鄉。且身宅坐墓，必自甘受人欺紿，終難解脫。又傳將逆行，仕途得此理應請告而退，否則必掛彈章矣。後知為田大冢宰而占。果如其言，伊子仍被逮下獄。

In the tenth year of the Chongzhen era, the fifth month, the second day of the fifth month, and the third hour of the day, Wang Daxing from the name Changshi in Yizhou, Shandong, came to the lodging in Yanjing to seek a divination. The lesson pattern was "Zhi Yi" combined with "She Hai" and "Zhou Bian." The empty void of this ten-day period was in Xu and Hai, and the heavenly plate's Si and Wu fell into the empty void palace. The four lessons were Zi over Jia Bing, Wei over Zi, You over Yin, and Chen over You. The three transmissions were Zi, Wei, and Yin. The first transmission was Jia Zi riding the Teng Snake as the son and grandson, the middle transmission was Xin Wei riding the Tai Chang as the father and mother, and the final transmission was Bing Yin riding the Liu He as the wife and wealth. The interpretation said: if a court official received this lesson, it indicated that he would be impeached by the censors. Because the official and noble were on the Heavenly Net, the禄神 andThe Post-horse fell into the empty void and the storage place; the self and residence were both in the墓, which meant he would willingly be oppressed by others and ultimately be unable to escape. Moreover, the three transmissions of the heavenly general were in reverse order, so for those in official positions, this indicated that they should report illness and retire, otherwise they would certainly be implicated by official accusations. Later it was found out that this was for Tian Da Zongzai, and indeed, the prediction came true, even his son was arrested and imprisoned. The author did not know beforehand who was being divined, yet he could deduce from the lesson pattern the meanings of being impeached by the censors and willingly being oppressed. Later, these predictions were fully realized in Tian Da Zongzai. The three transmissions in reverse, the official and noble on the Heavenly Net, and the禄神 andThe Post-horse entering the墓, these three factors together in the official world almost certainly lead to resignation from office.

“傳將遞克防諍章”，“三傳遞克眾人欺”，三傳遞剋日干大不吉之象。占官祿要看官、祿、龍、常、日、馬，今官亥貴人入辰庫，祿巳加戌入墓地網，龍常入日陰辰陰洩干氣克官星，在上之人反對我升遷。《畢法》云“人宅坐墓甘昏晦”，主自甘受人欺紿。今傳內六合又俯仰仇丘，故子孫亦不利，因而伊子仍被逮下獄。

The song says, "The transmission of the official will lead to mutual control and prevent disputes," and "Three transmissions leading to mutual control will cause others to take advantage." When the three transmissions mutually control each other and harm the day stem, it is a very inauspicious sign. When predicting official positions, one should look at the official star, the禄神 (Lùshén,禄神), the Azure Dragon, Tai Chang, the day stem, and the post-horse. In this case, the official star, which is亥 (Hài), has entered the辰 (Chén) warehouse with the nobleman. The禄神, which is巳 (Sì), is placed on戌 (Xū) and has entered the tomb and the earth net. The Azure Dragon and Tai Chang are located on the hidden spirit of the day and the hidden spirit of the branch, which both exhaust the energy of the day stem and control the official star. This indicates that the person above is opposing his promotion. The "Bi Fa Fu" says, "When the person's dwelling is in the tomb, it brings darkness and confusion," which suggests that he is willing to be deceived by others. Moreover, the "Liu He" (Six Harmony) in the three transmissions is encountered by enemies both above and below, so it is also unfavorable for his descendants. Therefore, his son was still arrested and imprisoned.

占驗十八、壬午九月丁亥日丁未時，予住埂子街，一僧人偕十餘人相顧，丙午命人索占，元首、玄胎，午未空、卯辰落空。 勾青 六 寅卯辰巳 空 空玄 朱龍 比 癸巳 空 朱 丑 午 虎 巳申 丑辰 父 庚寅 六 蛇 子 未 常 申亥 辰丁 鬼 丁亥 貴 貴 亥戌酉申 玄 后陰 斷：來意必為功名，公乃未年甲榜。曰然。蓋因貴德官星臨年，月將青龍居丁，且羊角相加，故應未年高第。曰：該做京官做外官。曰：歲居干後，日生青龍，理宜先京城而後外任；嫌身祿不得地。此去身不安而祿不養，況歲君臨嗔怒之所，此番當為國家起見耳。後知為吳門錢大鶴先生也。李賊破京遂歸。

In the 15th year of the Chongzhen era, on the day of Dinghai in the ninth lunar month, at the hour of Dingwei, the author was staying on Gengzi Street. A monk came with more than ten people, among whom a man born in the year of Bingwu sought divination. The lesson pattern was "Yuan Shou" combined with "Xuan Tai." In this旬, the empty and void (kongwang) was in the Wu and Wei positions. The Heaven Plate's卯 and辰 fell on the empty and void palace. The four lessons were: Chen added to Ding, Chou added to Chen, Shen added to Hai, and Si added to Shen. The three transmissions were: Si, Yin, and Hai. The first transmission was Gui Si riding the Tian Kong (sky void), representing a companion. The middle transmission was Geng Yin riding Liu He (six harmony), representing parents. The final transmission was Ding Hai riding Guiren (nobleman), representing official ghost. The interpretation said: The intention must be for official rank. You are among the top candidates of the year Wei. The person confirmed this. Because the Guiren, day virtue, and official star all fell on the year pillar, and the month general Qinglong (Azure Dragon) was located at Ding, with the addition of the sheep horn, it should be in the year Wei for high school. The person asked: Should he take a position in the capital or outside? He said: The sovereign is located after the day stem, and the day stem generates the Qinglong. By reasoning, he should first serve in the capital and then be assigned to an outside post. However, he himself and his official luck are not in a favorable position, so his journey will be unstable, and his salary will not be enough to support his family. Moreover, the sovereign is located in the place of anger, so this trip is likely for the country's affairs. Later it was known that the person was Mr. Qian Dach鹤 from Wumen. After Li Zicheng captured the capital, he returned to his hometown. The author did not wait for the person to speak and immediately revealed the intention, relying on the relationship between the day stem's hidden spirit and the month general Qinglong, which was in harmony with the day stem.

來意占功名者，以時起三傳，陰神辰為月將青龍，干生龍，主人追求官階。羊角相加者，辰未相加也，《類纂》云“辰未加臨解首逢”，以羊角合為解字故也。未年上見月將青龍，《指掌賦》曰“月將青龍，片言入相”，陰神又見朱雀，文學之象，故主未年高第。凡占功名，干支空大為不利。今丁寄宮未空。又不宜祿空，今午祿又空。故曰“嫌身祿不得地”以空，兼之午虎祿臨酉死地，日未臨戌入地網，此皆不利之徵。

The question is about official rank, so we use the three transmissions based on the time of divination. The day stem's hidden spirit is on the hour stem, which is occupied by the month general 'Azure Dragon'. The day stem also generates the Azure Dragon, indicating that this person is currently seeking an official position. The phrase 'sheep horn added together' refers to the combination of the hour stem and the hour branch, specifically the combination of Chen and Wei. The book 'Lei Zuan' says 'Chen and Wei added together, the first solution meets', because the characters for sheep and horn together form the character for 'solution', so it indicates he will achieve the first place in the examination. Wei year above sees the month general 'Azure Dragon', and the book 'Zhi Zhang Fu' says 'the month general and Azure Dragon, a single word leads to the position of prime minister'. The hidden spirit also sees 'Vermilion Bird', which represents literary knowledge, so it is predicted that he will achieve success in the examination in the Wei year. In general, for divination about official rank, the day stem and day branch falling into empty positions are very unfavorable. In this case, the day stem is in the Wei palace, which is an empty position, and the禄神 (favorable position for official rank) is also not suitable to be empty. The午禄 (favorable position for official rank) is also empty, so it is considered unfavorable for both the self and the禄神. Moreover, the White Tiger is on the午 position, and the禄神 is in the酉 position, which is a dead position. The day branch, which is in the Wei position, does not reach the戌 position and enters the earth net, all of which are signs of unfavorable outcomes.

占驗十九、壬午十二月甲午日辛未時，江西南大司馬熊潭石先生因河北聲息緊迫，急聘予上金陵，隨占一課，知一、鑄印，辰巳空、酉戌落空。 朱蛇 六 戌亥子丑 貴 玄朱 蛇空 父 庚子 蛇 勾 酉 寅 后 辰亥 子未 子 乙巳 常 青 申 卯 陰 亥午 未甲 財 戊戌 六 空 未午巳辰 玄 虎常 斷：熊大司馬功名非久遠之象，來年秋初必解任去。蓋初傳歲破內戰，命上龍馬克下，必因宰執招非，上臺不足，燕京有奏，自欲請退。且斗繫日本，幕貴臨干，為仰丘俯仇，干墓支絕，種種不佳。喜奇儀天赦發用，朱雀皇詔作恩，定然好旨歸里。後果如所占。

In the eleventh year of the Chongzhen era, on the day of Jiawu in the twelfth lunar month, at the hour of Xinwei, Mr. Xiong Tan Shi, a senior official from Jiangxi province serving as the Grand Minister of the Southern Capital, urgently summoned the author to Jinling due to urgent military affairs in Hebei. He then cast a divination. The lesson pattern was "Zhi Yi" combined with "Zhu Yin." In this旬, the empty (kongwang) was in the Chén and Sì positions. The Heaven Plate's You and Xu were located in the empty positions. The four lessons were: Wei added with Jia, Zi added with Wei, Hai added with Wu, and Chen added with Hai. The three transmissions were Zi, Si, and Xu. The first transmission was Gengzi, riding the Teng Snake, representing parents; the middle transmission was Yisi, riding the Tai Chang, representing children; the final transmission was Wuxu, riding the Liu He, representing wife and wealth. The interpretation stated that Mr. Xiong's official position would not last long, and he would certainly resign in the early autumn of the next year. This was because the first transmission was the year's destruction and involved internal conflict, and his own destiny had a dragon mark beneath, which would certainly cause trouble due to the ministers, leading to dissatisfaction from his superiors. Someone in Yancheng would submit a report, and he himself also wished to resign. Moreover, the fighting god was in the position of the day, and the minister of the tent was on the day stem, forming the image of looking up at a hill and encountering an enemy below. The day stem was buried, and the day branch was in its decline, all indicating unfavorable conditions. However, the odd instruments and Heavenly Pardon were in use, with the Vermilion Bird bringing imperial edicts as a benevolent deity, ensuring a favorable imperial decree allowing him to return home. Later events confirmed the prediction. This lesson was ominous yet favorable: the year's destruction and internal conflict, along with the burial of the stem and the decline of the branch, determined his resignation. However, the odd instruments, Heavenly Pardon, and the Vermilion Bird with imperial edicts preserved his dignity, so he was ordered to return home, not dismissed from office.

熊明遇，字良孺，進賢人，萬曆二十九年進士，崇禎四年（壬申）繼梁廷棟為兵部尚書，因私庇擅自與清兵議和之宣府巡撫沈某，被給事中孫三傑等劾，乞休，帝責以疏庸誤事，解任候勘，尋以故官致仕。久之，用薦起南京兵部尚書（即所謂南大司馬），改工部，引疾歸，國變後卒。

Xiong Tan Shi was Xiong Mingyu, style name Liangru, from Jixiang Jinxian, who became a jinshi in the 29th year of Wanli. In the fourth year of Chongzhen, he succeeded Liang Tingdong as Minister of War. Because he favored Xuanshu Prefectural Governor Shen, who had secretly negotiated peace with the Qing forces, he was impeached by officials such as Sun Sanjie, and had to request retirement. The emperor criticized him for negligence and incompetence, causing harm to the state, and ordered him to resign and await investigation. Soon after, he retired with his original rank. After a long time, he was recommended by others and restored to his former position as Minister of War in Nanjing, which is referred to as the Southern Grand Commander in the book. Later, he was transferred to the Ministry of Works, but then claimed illness and returned to his hometown. He died after the fall of the Ming dynasty.

占驗二十、戊寅二月辛丑日癸巳時，東省劉太史諱正宗者相召，座間索占，餘袖傳答之，重審、周遍，辰巳空、酉戌落空。 龍空 勾 戌亥子丑 虎 龍貴 朱玄 財 癸卯 玄 六 酉 寅 常 亥午 申卯 比 丙申 朱 朱 申 卯 玄 午丑 卯辛 父 辛丑 虎 蛇 未午巳辰 陰 貴后 斷：太史所占定是一外官，曾經降罰者。因日生青龍，又上克下故也。曰：家兄任太平知府，為錢糧降罰，看有礙遷升否。曰：支首干尾，格合周遍，何礙升遷。當在何時？余曰：青龍離支六位，初傳月建催官，中傳天馬，傳送為驛郵，為兵馬，為直符，七月內必升吳分兵憲。後果升嘉湖驛傳兵憲。 支為任所，丑應吳越揚州，故斷此也。祿臨辰上，亦是東南之徵。 劉正宗，字可宗，山東安丘人。明崇禎進士，自推官授編修。後降清，官至大學士，蠹國亂政。

In the year of Wuyin, the tenth year of the Chongzhen era, on the day of Xinchou in the second lunar month, at the hour of Guisi, Liu Taishi, whose name was Zhengzong, from Shandong, invited the author to a discussion. During their conversation, Liu asked for a divination. The author cast a divination chart in his sleeve and answered. The pattern of the chart was "Chongshen" combined with "Zhou bian." In this旬, the empty position was in the Chén and Sì positions. The Heaven Plate's You and Xū were located in the empty position. The four lessons were: Mǎo added to Xin, Shen added to Mǎo, Wǔ added to Chǒu, and Hai added to Wǔ. The three transmissions were Mǎo, Shen, and Chǒu. The first transmission was Guimǎo, riding on the Black Tortoise, representing wife and wealth. The middle transmission was Bingshen, riding on the Vermilion Bird, representing a colleague. The final transmission was Xinchǒu, riding on the White Tiger, representing parents. The interpretation said: The person Liu was consulting about was certainly an official serving outside the capital, and had previously been demoted. This was because the day stem was born by the Azure Dragon, and the upper god was overcoming the lower god. Liu said: My elder brother was the magistrate of Taiping, and was demoted for financial matters. Is there any hindrance to his promotion? The answer was: The day branch was the head, and the day stem was the tail, and the pattern matched "Zhou bian." What hindrance is there to promotion? When will this happen? The author said: The Azure Dragon was six positions away from the day branch. The first transmission was the month builder, which urged promotion. The middle transmission was the Heavenly Horse. The transmission of Shen was both a post station, a military unit, and a direct symbol. Therefore, within seven months, he would certainly be promoted to the military supervisor of the region corresponding to Wu. Later, he was indeed promoted to the military supervisor of Jiaxing and Huzhou, responsible for postal services and military affairs. The day branch represented the place of office, and Chǒu corresponded to Wu and Yangzhou, so the prediction was accurate. The禄神 was located on Chén, which was also a sign of the southeast. Liu Zhengzong, whose name was Kezong, was from Anqiu, Shandong. He was a Jinshi in the Chongzhen era, was appointed as a judicial official and then promoted to a Hanlin scholar. Later, he submitted to the Qing dynasty and held high office, becoming a grand secretary and causing harm to the state. The remarkable aspect of this case was that both the time and place of promotion were accurately predicted: within seven months, the promotion was accelerated by the middle transmission, the Heavenly Horse, and the transmission of Shen. The region of Wu was determined by the day branch Chǒu's corresponding region. Later, the prediction was exactly correct.

占驗二十一、癸酉八月壬戌日戊申時，丹陽賀中令先生任大寅臺時，占升遷吉凶，元首、玄胎，子丑空、酉戌落空。 朱蛇 六 寅卯辰巳 貴 蛇陰 貴空 財 丁巳 貴 勾 丑 午 后 辰未 巳申 子 甲寅 六 青 子 未 陰 未戌 申壬 比 癸亥 空 空 亥戌酉申 玄 虎常 斷：目今必然榮轉，日後因他人之事請告。蓋因傳將遞互相生，城吏二馬出現，定有公卿推薦，但嫌鬼臨三四，必主他非退位。應於何年？丁丑行年蛇墓剋日，必自驚憂而退。月內昇天津撫臺，後以標官劫皇銷事發，請告歸里。

In the sixth year of the Chongzhen era, on the day of Renxu in the eighth lunar month of the year Guiyou, Mr. He Zhongling of Danyang was serving as the magistrate of Dayin Platform and divined the fortune of his promotion. The lesson pattern was "Yuan Shou" combined with "Xuan Tai." In this旬, the empty palace was in Zi and Chou. The Heaven Plate's You and Xu were in the empty palace. The four lessons were Shen added to Ren, Si added to Shen, Wei added to Xu, and Chen added to Wei. The three transmissions were Si, Yin, and Hai. The first transmission was Ding Si riding the Nobleman, representing wife and wealth. The middle transmission was Jiayin riding the Liu He, representing children. The final transmission was Gui Hai riding the Tian Kong, representing a fellow official. The interpretation said: at present, there would certainly be a promotion and transfer, but later he would have to resign due to matters involving others. Because the three transmissions and the Heavenly General were successively generated, the city god, the official god, and two驿马 were all present, indicating that there would certainly be recommendations from high officials. However, the official ghost was present on the third and fourth lessons, indicating that he would eventually resign due to the faults of others. When would this happen? In the year Dingchou, the year pillar's Teng Snake would enter its tomb and come to克 the day stem, which would certainly cause him personal worry and resignation. In that month, he was promoted to the governor of Tianjin, but later, due to the embezzlement of imperial funds by officers under his command, he resigned and returned home. This lesson first showed good fortune and then bad fortune, with a clear boundary: the three transmissions successively generating each other indicated immediate promotion, while the official ghost on the third and fourth lessons indicated future troubles caused by others. The timing was determined by the Teng Snake entering its tomb in the year Dingchou on the year pillar, and this method can be used for all divinations regarding promotion.

占驗二十二、戊子六月乙未日癸未時，山右司化南在淮陰占得此課；己丑正月寫出，求斷何官所占，重審、曲直，辰巳空、申酉落空。 朱蛇 六 酉戌亥子 貴 玄蛇 貴勾 父 己亥 蛇 勾 申 丑 后 卯亥 子申 兄 癸卯 玄 青 未 寅 陰 亥未 申乙 財 乙未 青 空 午巳辰卯 玄 虎常 斷：此必林木舟車官也，非科甲中人，卻作科甲之官。將來功名遠大。蓋夏占木局枝葉正見茂盛，況蛇化為龍，定然居官榮耀。因幕貴坐空，是以不由科甲也。卯為林木舟車見於中傳，故知為舟車之官。問果何官？曰：印爻發用，末傳皇恩必是恩蔭之官。問能升兵憲否。答曰：正官在日，偏印居支，先升知府，後轉司道。曰：此清江劉工部所占也。後果升鎮江太守。

In the fifth year of the reign of Shunzhi, during the fifth month of the Wuzi year, on the Yiwei day and Guiwei hour, Si Hua Nan from Shanxi divined this lesson in Huaiyin. He did not write it down until the first month of the Jichou year in the sixth year of Shunzhi. The question is to determine which official cast this lesson. The lesson pattern is "Chongshen" combined with "Quzhi." In this旬, the empty palace is in Chen and Si. The heavenly plate's Shen and You fall into the empty palace. The four lessons are Shen added to Yi, Zi added to Shen, Hai added to Wei, and Mao added to Hai. The three transmissions are Hai, Mao, and Wei, forming a wood pattern. The first transmission is Ji Hai, riding on Teng Snake, representing parents. The middle transmission is Gui Mao, riding on Black Tortoise, representing brothers. The final transmission is Yi Wei, riding on Azure Dragon, representing wife and wealth. The interpretation says: this must be an official in charge of forests, boats, and vehicles. The person is not from the imperial examination system, yet holds an office usually held by those from the examination system. In the future, his official rank will be great. Because in summer, the wood pattern is formed, and the branches and leaves are flourishing. Moreover, Teng Snake transforms into Azure Dragon, indicating honor in officialdom. The ministerial noble sits in the empty palace, so he did not come from the examination system. The Mao represents forests, boats, and vehicles, appearing in the middle transmission, so it is known that he is an official in charge of boats and vehicles. The question is, what specific office is it? The answer is: the imprint爻 initiates the transmission, and the final transmission also carries imperial favor, so it must be an office obtained through imperial favor. Another question: can he be promoted to the position of military governor? The answer is: the official is in the day stem, and the biased imprint is in the day branch. He will first be promoted to the position of prefect, then later to a provincial commissioner. The person said: this is the lesson of Liu Gongbu from Qingjiang. Later, he indeed became the magistrate of Zhenjiang. This is an example of retroactively interpreting an old lesson after half a year: not knowing who cast it, yet from the Mao representing forests, boats, and vehicles, the ministerial noble sitting in the empty palace, and the imprint爻 initiating the transmission, the person's duties, origin, and promotion sequence were deduced. This shows the detailed imagery used in the Six壬 system.

占驗二十三、丁卯正月丁巳日癸卯時，京營參將塗松亭先生為彭南溟占升遷，蒿矢、玄胎，子丑空、酉戌落空。 勾青 六 寅卯辰巳 空 貴六 常青 鬼 癸亥 貴 朱 丑 午 虎 亥寅 丑辰 財 庚申 玄 蛇 子 未 常 寅巳 辰丁 兄 丁巳 空 貴 亥戌酉申 玄 后陰 斷：太歲月建生日，目今必然遷擢，多是山環水繞之地。蓋支為任所，寅艮為山，與亥水相合，故應此也。蒿矢逢金即箭有簇，又貴德驛馬入傳，財官城吏全逢，催官迅速之象。但忌日之陰陽制官，須防陳王田姓人為祟。癸亥日隨授南京巡捕營都司，未幾田大司馬以添注參將罷之。

In the seventh year of Tianxi, on the fourth day of the first lunar month, at the hour of Dingmao, Tu Songting, a senior officer of the capital garrison, divined for Peng Nanming regarding his promotion. The lesson pattern was "Hao Shi" combined with "Xu Tai," and in this旬, the empty palace was in the Zi and Chou. The Heaven Plate's You and Xu fell into the empty palace. The four lessons were Chen added to Ding, Chou added to Chen, Yin added to Si, and Hai added to Yin. The three transmissions were Hai, Shen, and Si. The first transmission was Guihai riding the Nobleman, representing official ghosts; the middle transmission was Gengshen riding the Black Tortoise, representing wife wealth; and the final transmission was DingSi riding the Sky Void, representing brothers. The interpretation stated that the sovereign and the month builder both came to the day stem, indicating that promotion was certain, and the place of assignment was likely surrounded by mountains and water. Since the day branch represents the position, Yin belongs to Gen, which is mountain, and also combines with Hai water, thus confirming this prediction. The Hao Shi lesson meets the metal, meaning the arrow has a tip; the Nobleman, day virtue, and post-horse all entered the three transmissions, with wealth, official, city, and officials all present, indicating a rapid promotion. However, the day's yin and yang spirits restrained the official star, so one should be cautious of people surnamed Chen, Wang, and Tian. Soon after, Peng Nanming was appointed as a deputy commander of the Nanjing patrol garrison, but soon Tian the Grand Minister of War dismissed him on the grounds of adding a supplementary appointment. The interpretation even named the people causing trouble, based on the day's yin and yang spirits restraining the official star. Later, this indeed happened to Tian the Grand Minister of War, showing that divination based on images of people is not empty talk.

占驗二十四、庚辰正月丁丑日癸卯時，同鄉潘雲從占安慶撫臺鄭潛奄公祖升遷，元首、從革，申酉空、辰巳落空。 六勾 朱 丑寅卯辰 龍 空陰 貴勾 比 辛巳 空 蛇 子 巳 空 巳酉 亥卯 子 丁丑 朱 貴 亥 午 虎 酉丑 卯丁 財 乙酉 陰 后 戌酉申未 常 陰玄 斷曰：不惟難以遷轉，且當請退。蓋傳將遞生空亡，太歲龍神落陷（太歲辰乘龍臨申落空），互乘死氣（干上卯為支丑之死地，支上酉為干丁之死地，公獻只用五行長生且以土長生在申也）。諸事只宜休息，況春得金局為四時返本，定然官難滿任。一交巳年即宜請告。巳年果被安慶縉紳參劾而回，又被徐撫臺接參，奉旨逮問，李賊破燕方歸。（朱雀臨巳，是斷應期之法也。不用行年。）

In the thirteenth year of the Chongzhen era, on the day of Dingchou in the month of Zhengyue, at the hour of Guimao, a fellow townsman named Pan Yuncong divined the promotion prospects of the ancestor of Zheng Qianyan, the governor of Anqing. The lesson pattern was "Yuan Shou" combined with "Cong Ge," and the empty void of this旬 was in Shen and You. The Heaven Plate's Chen and Si fell within the empty void. The four lessons were卯 added to Ding,亥 added to Mao, You added to Chou, and Si added to You. The three transmissions were Si, Chou, and You, forming a metal trinity. The first transmission was Xin Si riding the Tian Kong as a companion, the middle transmission was Ding Chou riding the Vermilion Bird as a son, and the final transmission was Yi You riding the Tai Yin as a wife's wealth. The interpretation stated that not only would promotion be difficult, but he should be asked to resign. Because although the heavenly generals of the three transmissions successively generated each other, they fell within the empty void. The sovereign and dragon god both fell into the void (the year's sovereign, Gengchen, rode the Azure Dragon and fell into the void). Moreover, they both rode the death qi (the day stem's Mao is the death place of the day branch's Chou, and the day branch's You is the death place of the day stem's Ding; Chen Gongxian only used the method of the five phases' growth, and considered earth's growth to be in Shen). Therefore, all matters are suitable only for rest. Moreover, in spring, getting a metal trinity is the sign of returning to the original state in the four seasons, and being an official will certainly not complete the term. As soon as the year of Si comes, he should resign. In the year of Si, this person was indeed impeached by the scholars and officials of Anqing, then further impeached by Xu the governor, and ordered to be arrested by imperial decree, until Li Zicheng captured Yanzheng, he was finally allowed to return home. The annotator said: the Vermilion Bird riding Si is the method for determining the time of the event, without using the years' progression. The key point of this lesson is: the three transmissions successively generated the main subject, but the places they generated all fell into the empty void, so the recommendation became empty talk. Moreover, the metal trinity conflicted with the stem and harmed the branch, turning joy into worry, so not only could promotion not be achieved, but he should be asked to resign. The author was able to predict the disaster in the year of Si, relying precisely on the Vermilion Bird riding the Ding spirit on Si.

詳此課，可思量者多矣。 《畢法》云“三傳遞生人舉薦”，必因推薦，故問升遷也。又云“合中犯煞蜜中砒”，三傳合金局，沖干刑支，一片不和之氣。此喜裡生憂，功敗垂成這象也。 但此象尚不足以言凶，今三傳遞生空亡，主推薦之人自身朝不保保夕，或不出實力也。又貴臨卯酉，動搖不定，此象更明。中陷末空，只餘中傳丑土，丁寄未宮，是丁馬乘朱雀沖我，為有人言沖我也。貴人加卯，受三傳沖剋，貴人不安，官職不穩矣。且青龍乘太歲而落空，是貴氣全無。 《會纂》云“丁動刃逢遭縲紲”，“朱勾剋日莫興詞”，日上勾刃，中傳雀丁神沖我，是牢狼之征也，故被參拿問。應巳年者，以巳上丁神朱雀也。 為何不應於巳月，以應近不應遠，應旺不應衰，切記！ 月將貴人臨干陰，竟是無喜事，可思之。

Looking closely at this divination, there are many points to consider. The "Bi Fa Fu" says, "Three transmissions indicate recommendations from others," which must be because someone recommended him, so he is asking about promotion. It also says, "Harmony is tainted by malevolent forces, like honey mixed with arsenic." In this case, the three transmissions form a metal formation, yet they clash with the day stem and injure the day branch, creating an atmosphere of discord, which symbolizes joy turning to worry and failure at the last moment. However, this alone is not enough to determine misfortune. Now, the three transmissions, although they generate each other, fall into the empty position, indicating that the person making the recommendation is unstable or unwilling to commit. The nobleman is located on the卯 and酉 positions, which are unstable, making this meaning even clearer. The middle transmission is trapped and the final transmission is empty, leaving only the middle transmission's丑 earth. The 丁 is located in the未 position, which means the 丁 is riding on the Vermilion Bird to attack me, indicating that someone is making false accusations. The nobleman is placed on the卯, which is attacked by the three transmissions, showing the nobleman's instability, thus the official position is unstable. Additionally, the Azure Dragon is riding on the year and falls into the empty position, meaning there is no auspicious influence. The "Hui Zuan" says, "The 丁 moves with the blade and meets imprisonment," and "The Vermilion Bird attacks the day, and no words can be spoken." In this case, the day stem has the Gou Chen and Yang Ren, and the middle transmission's Vermilion Bird and 丁 spirit attack me, indicating a sign of imprisonment, so he is accused and investigated. The year should be in巳 because there is the 丁 spirit and Vermilion Bird in巳. Why should it not be in巳 month? Because the response should be close rather than distant, and strong rather than weak. This must be remembered. The month general and nobleman are located on the阴神 of the day stem, yet there is no good news, which is worth considering. This passage can serve as a commentary on Chen Gongxian's interpretation of official careers, and it should be read carefully layer by layer.

占驗二十五、庚寅二月癸卯日壬子時，偶會徽友程孝延程翔云，因引部孫楊二公京師議論未定，占看來否，重審、亂首、迴環，辰巳空、寅卯落空。 后陰 貴 卯辰巳午 玄 勾朱 空勾 鬼 辛丑 朱 蛇 寅 未 常 亥丑 酉亥 兄 己亥 勾 朱 丑 申 虎 丑卯 亥癸 父 丁酉 空 六 子亥戌酉 空 勾龍 斷曰：引部四月必來赴任，但居官不久耳。以兩貴旺相，且虛巳貴以合三傳之局，故知其四月赴任也。但嫌太歲克戰，三貴空陷，虛喜而已。況傳將退入極陰，格合迴環，必主來而復去。故知其居官不久也。又干神臨支，被支所克，縱來亦失意。果五月奉旨撤回，六月驛馬加未行矣。 按：干神歸支受克，無有不被迫動者。

In the seventh year of the Shunzhi era, Gengyin month, second lunar month, Guimao day, Renzi hour, the author met by chance his friend from Huizhou, Cheng Xiaoyan and Cheng Xiangyun. Because the two elders, Sun and Yang, in the Yinfu were still discussing matters in the capital, he divined a lesson to see whether they would come or not. The lesson pattern was "Chongshen" combined with "Luan Shou" and "Huian". The empty position of this ten-day period was in Chen and Si, and the heavenly plate's Yin and Mao fell on the empty position. The four lessons were: Zi added to Gui, You added to Zi, Chou added to Mao, and Zi added to Chou. The three transmissions were Chou, Zi, and You, each successively retreating. The first transmission was Xin Chou riding the Vermilion Bird, representing official ghosts; the middle transmission was Ji Hai riding Gou Chen, representing brothers; and the final transmission was Ding You riding Tian Kong, representing parents. The divination said that the two elders would certainly come to take office in the fourth lunar month, but they would not hold office for long. Because the two noblemen were prosperous and strong, and a nobleman borrowed from the position of Si to complete the three transmissions, it was known that they would come in the fourth month. However, the year's stem was in conflict, and the three noble spirits were empty and trapped, so it was just empty joy. Moreover, the three transmissions' heavenly generals retreated step by step into extremely yin positions, forming the pattern of "Huian", which inevitably meant that they would come and then leave, so it was concluded that they would not hold office for long. Also, the day's stem was located on the day's branch and was thus defeated by the day's branch, so even if they came, they would not be successful. Later, they indeed received an imperial decree to withdraw in the fifth month, and departed in the sixth month with the post-horse added to Wei. The commentator said: when the day's stem is located on the day's branch and is defeated by it, there is no way to avoid forced change. When divining whether someone will come or not, one must not only determine whether they will come, but also whether they can stay. This lesson used the two noblemen being prosperous and strong to determine that they would certainly come, and the pattern of Huian and the retreating transmissions to determine that they would leave again. Both coming and going were contained within the same lesson.

占驗二十六、辛未四月己未日戊辰時，東省吏科宋太斗先生，在仇兵科宅中占功名，八專、絕嗣、鑄印，子丑空、巳午落空。 蛇貴 朱 戌亥子丑 后 白貴 虎貴 父 丁巳 虎 六 酉 寅 陰 巳子 巳子 兄 壬戌 朱 勾 申 卯 玄 子未 子己 鬼 乙卯 玄 龍 未午巳辰 常 空虎 斷曰：月內定轉長垣，居官難以久任。蓋因月建虎馬發用，其力更見雄矣。又鑄印乘軒定應遷轉。但嫌貴臨空害，故難久任耳。果隨轉吏長垣，後因提武場事，降大行。 宋太斗者，宋玫，字文玉，萊陽人，“玫方值母喪，起故官（吏科給事中），歷刑科都給事中。”

In the fourth month of the fourth year of the Chongzhen era, on the day of Jiwei and at the hour of Wu Chen, Song Taodu, a senior official in the personnel department of Shandong, divined about his official career in the residence of Qiu Bingke. The lesson pattern was 'Eight Special' combined with 'No Succession' and 'Casting Seal', and the empty palace of this ten-day period was in Zi and Chou. The Heaven Plate's Si and Wu fell on the empty palace. The four lessons were Zi over Ji, Si over Zi, Zi over Wei, and Si over Zi. The three transmissions were Si, Xu, and Mao. The first transmission, Si with the White Tiger, represented parents; the middle transmission, Ren Xu with the Vermilion Bird, represented brothers; and the final transmission, Yi Mao with the Black Tortoise, represented official ghosts. The interpretation said that within this month he would certainly be transferred to Changyuan, but his official position would not last long. This was because the monthly builder of April carried the White Tiger and the Post-horse, which had great strength; and the pattern of casting a seal and riding a carriage was the most desirable in the official career section, indicating that he would certainly be transferred. However, the nobleman was in the empty palace and met with a harmful aspect, so he could not hold the position for long. Later, he was indeed transferred to Changyuan in the personnel department, and later, due to his involvement in the examination of the military department, he was demoted. Song Taodu was Song Mei, whose courtesy name was Wenyu, from Laeyang. History records that he was appointed to his original position as a senior official in the personnel department after mourning his mother and completing his mourning period. He also held various posts, including the senior official in the criminal department. The pattern of casting a seal and riding a carriage is the most desirable in the official career section, indicating that the seal would be obtained and the official position would be transferred. However, in this case, the nobleman was both empty and harmful, meaning that although the seal was cast, it could not be held for long, so the divination predicted that although his transfer would be quick, his tenure would be short. Later, his demotion due to the military examination incident exactly matched this interpretation.

占驗二十七、辛巳十月己未日癸酉時，東省莘縣孫興功父師仕揚刻文時占功名，八專、鑄印、絕嗣，子丑空、巳午落空。 蛇貴 朱 戌亥子丑 后 虎貴 虎貴 父 丁巳 虎 六 酉 寅 陰 巳子 巳子 兄 壬戌 朱 勾 申 卯 玄 子未 子己 鬼 乙卯 陰 龍 未午巳辰 常 空虎 斷曰：仲冬月令必有起膏之徵。因子上貴雖空，幸乘進氣，交仲冬子水司令，填實旬空矣。且喜虎馬丁神發用，作歲君生日，又四墓覆生，已廢復興之象。起官何疑？後果然。凡有官君子得此，定主遷官轉職，面君奏事。次年冬，推補兵部車駕司。

In the 14th year of the Chongzhen era, on the 16th day of the 10th lunar month, at the hour of Guiyou, Sun Xinggong, a father and teacher from Sheng County, Shandong, who was serving as an official in Yangzhou and engaged in printing books, divined about his official career. The lesson pattern was "Eight Specials" combined with "Casting Seal" and "No Succession," and the empty palace of this旬 was in Zi and Chou. The Heaven Plate's Si and Wu fell on the empty palace. The four lessons were Zi over Ji, Si over Zi, Zi over Wei, and Si over Zi; the three transmissions were Si, Xu, and Mao. The first transmission was Ding Si riding the White Tiger, representing parents; the middle transmission was Ren Xu riding the Vermilion Bird, representing brothers; and the final transmission was Yi Mao riding the Tai Yin, representing officials. The divination said that in the middle of winter there would certainly be signs of revival. Although the nobleman on Zi was in the empty palace, it was fortunate that it was riding an advancing qi. When the middle of winter arrived, Zi water would be in command, filling the empty palace. Also, the White Tiger, the Post-horse, and the Ding spirit all initiated the transmission together. The heavenly stem was born by the day stem, and the four burial spirits repeatedly generated each other, indicating a situation where something that had been abandoned would be revived. So, how could there be any doubt about being revived in official position? Later, it indeed happened. Anyone with an official position who receives this lesson is certain to be promoted or transferred, and to have an audience with the emperor. In the following winter, he was recommended and appointed to the position of the Vehicle Department in the Ministry of War. This lesson and the previous one had almost the same four lessons and three transmissions, except that the final transmission was riding the Tai Yin instead of the Black Tortoise, and the time of the divination was moved from April to October. The divination changed from being difficult to hold a position for long to being revived from abandonment, showing that the same lesson pattern can have completely different fortune outcomes depending on the month.

為什麼斷他有膏之徵呢？課得鑄印，這種課最適宜問功名仕宦，課中見鬼，說明當官的事已經提到了上司面前，但遭到一些暗中的反對，因為鬼乘太陰。恰好發用生身，雖然巳火印綬落空，但太歲填實，則不為空，此謂天恩，皇上降恩澤，所以可斷官運有利。 起在何時呢？古法云，太歲發用應在當年，又太歲乘丁馬，會很快有好消息，因為白虎驛馬信息乘丁來生我，這個消息還能慢嗎？當在哪個月呢？巳落在子上，現在是亥月，巳落在建前一位上。一般情況下，發用落在月建上，與月建發用是一樣的。而落在建前一位，也與建前一位發用同。而建前一位發用，事必應在下個月，故斷他子月會有好消息。

The commentator further explains why it is indicated that he will be reinstated: this divination pattern is of the casting seal type, which is most suitable for questioning about official rank and government service. The appearance of the official ghost in the chart indicates that the proposal to appoint him has already been presented to his superior, but it is encountering some hidden resistance, because the official ghost is riding on Tai Yin. Fortunately, the initiating transmission god is coming to support the day stem. Although the巳 fire seal is falling into emptiness, the year stem fills it in, so it is not completely empty. This is called Heavenly Grace, which is the grace bestowed by the emperor, so it can be concluded that his official career is favorable. As for the time of his reinstatement: according to ancient methods, the year stem as the initiating transmission should occur in the current year, and since the year stem is riding on the丁 god and the post-horse, the message comes very quickly. The White Tiger, a god associated with messages, is riding on the丁 to support me, so how could the message be slow? As for the specific month: the巳 is located on the子, and at that time it was the亥 month. The巳 is exactly on the previous position of the month builder. Usually, if the initiating transmission falls on the month builder, it is treated the same as the month builder itself; if it falls on the position before the month builder, it is treated the same as the position before the month builder. When the initiating transmission is on the position before the month builder, the event must occur in the following month. Therefore, it is concluded that he will have good news in the子 month. This passage explains most clearly the relationship between the initiating transmission god and the month builder, and is the most practical rule in the entire chapter for calculating the timing of events.

合起來斷，就是巳年子月會有驛馬來。 所謂遷官轉職者，面君奏事者，因為馬星丁馬臨太歲發用，當然要見皇上了。 推補車駕司者，因卯木官星是林木舟車之官，又是二馬發用也。 為什麼“仕揚刻文”呢？因為日辰之上貴人空，貴者貴人，日克之，是自以為是，得罪了貴人。被貴人無中生有（貴人空克），矇騙皇上（貴人克太歲即是欺瞞之意），當然沒有好果子吃。 為什麼要這麼看呢？因為“四課現狀，三傳看發展”，事情的原因，可以從四課上去找。

The commentator continues the explanation from the previous lesson: combining the year stem and the month stem for divination indicates that in the year of Si and the month of Zi, the "Post-horse" (Yi Ma) will arrive. This "Post-horse" is a divine sign associated with movement and travel. The reason for promotion or change of position and the opportunity to present matters to the emperor is because the "Post-horse" star and the "Ding" deity are both in the first transmission, which naturally relates to court affairs. The prediction of a transfer to the carriage office is because the wood of Mao is an official star and belongs to the category of forests, boats, and vehicles. Moreover, the presence of both the "Heavenly Horse" and the "Ding Horse" stars in the initiating transmission reinforces this. As for why it is predicted that he will face difficulties while engraving texts in Yangzhou, it is because the "Nobleman" (Guiren) above the day branch falls into "Kongwang" (void). The "Nobleman" is a superior authority, but the day stem is attacking it, indicating self-assurance and offending the superior. When the "Nobleman" falls into "Kongwang" and is attacked, it signifies being falsely accused without cause. Furthermore, the "Nobleman" attacking the year stem implies deceit towards the sovereign, leading to inevitable misfortune. Why is it interpreted this way? Because the "Four Lessons" reflect the current situation, while the "Three Transmissions" indicate future developments. The cause of the matter must be sought in the "Four Lessons."

占驗二十八、戊子七月丙寅日己亥時，揚州兵鹽道胡公祖相召未去，隨令喬中軍來占，指一晚字算十二筆，用亥時，涉害、周遍，戌亥空、巳午落空。 勾龍 六 子丑寅卯 空 白貴 陰六 鬼 甲子 六 朱 亥 辰 虎 辰酉 未子 子 辛未 陰 蛇 戌 巳 常 酉寅 子丙 父 丙寅 龍 貴 酉申未午 玄 后陰

This divination was cast on the day of Jihai in the seventh lunar month of the year Wuzi. Hu Daotai, who was in charge of military affairs and salt policy in Yangzhou, invited Chen Gongxian but he could not attend, so Hu sent Qiao Zhongjun to inquire instead. The visitor casually pointed to the character "晚" (late), which has twelve strokes, twelve corresponding to the hour亥, so the divination was started from the hour of Jihai. The pattern of the lesson belongs to "涉害" (involving harm), meaning that in the four lessons, several instances of upper overcoming lower occur, and the most deeply involved harmful deity is taken as the first transmission. The structure also forms "周遍" (comprehensive). In this旬, "空亡" (void) falls on Xu and Hai. The two deities巳 and午 on the heaven plate happen to be located in the Xu and Hai mansions, so it is said that巳 and午 fall into the void. The following lines show the arranged lesson chart: the twelve square grids represent the twelve mansions. The earthly branches inside the grids are the heaven plate deities derived from the month general added to the hour and rotated. The characters "六" (six), "朱" (Zhu), "蛇" (she), "贵" (gui), etc., outside the grids are the twelve heavenly generals: Liu He, Zhu Que, Teng She, and Guiren. The middle two columns, read from right to left, are the first to fourth lessons. The upper character is the heaven plate deity, and the lower character is the day stem or the branch it is resting on. The rightmost column, read from top to bottom, is the first, middle, and final transmissions, each noting the six relations, the hidden stem and branch, and the deity it rides upon.

斷曰：日得夜時，見官貴旬空，返為不祥。蓋因太歲發用剋日，傳將遞互相剋，提防臺諫封章。且龍神克下，主君上臺諫不喜。況干支俱傷，日祿空墓，秋末冬初定有他憂。後請告未久，隨被北臺參劾勘問。

Chen Gongxian interpreted that the day branch fell in the hour of night, and both the official star and nobleman were in the旬空, which became an ominous sign. Since the Tai Suai started the first transmission and controlled the day stem, the three transmissions and the heavenly generals they rode upon successively controlled and fought each other. One should beware of accusations from the court censors. The "Azure Dragon," which is a favorable deity, turned around to control the lower deity, indicating that the sovereign and the officials would not like him. Moreover, both the day stem and day branch were harmed, the day's fortune fell into the旬空 and also entered the tomb. There would certainly be another worry in late autumn and early winter. Later, the official Hu Daotai returned home on leave soon after, and indeed was impeached by the Beijing Ducha Yuan.

此為殃咎課，三傳遞剋日干，太歲克我為天禍課，豈能不大倒其黴？

The commentator points out that this lesson belongs to the "Yangjue Lesson," where the three transmissions successively attack the day stem; the sovereign year also attacks me, making it a "Tianhuo Lesson." When a person encounters such a lesson pattern, how could they not suffer great misfortune.

占驗二十九、戊寅二月丙午日戊戌時，淮陰蔡熙陽任漢中府時占推吳淞總戎可得否，涉害、斬關，寅卯空、未申落空。 貴后 蛇 戌亥子丑 陰 白貴 常蛇 子 甲辰 白 朱 酉 寅 玄 辰亥 卯戌 財 己酉 朱 六 申 卯 常 亥午 戌丙 父 甲寅 玄 勾 未午巳辰 虎 龍空

This divination was cast on the day of Bingwu in the year Wuyin, during the second lunar month. Cai Xiyang, a native of Huaiyin and currently serving as the governor of Hanzhong, consulted about whether he would be appointed to the position of general commander (zongbing) at Wusong. The lesson pattern still belongs to the category of "shihai" (involving harm), and it also violates the "zhangguan" pattern, which occurs when the qiu gang (a celestial stem) is placed on the day branch and initiates the transmission. This indicates matters of breaking through barriers, moving about, and changing positions. In this旬, the empty position (kongwang) is in the branches of Yin and Mao, and the heavenly generals in the heaven plate, namely Wei and Shen, are located in the positions of emptyness. The following is the divination chart for that day: within the twelve positions of the square, there are the twelve earthly branches of the heaven plate, and outside the square, the twelve heavenly generals are noted for each branch. In the middle, the two columns from right to left represent the four lessons, and the rightmost column, from top to bottom, represents the initial, middle, and final transmissions, each with notes on the six relations, hidden stems, and heavenly generals. The initial transmission is Jiachen, representing the son, riding on the White Tiger; the middle transmission is Jiyou, representing wealth, riding on the Vermilion Bird; the final transmission is Jiayin, representing the father, riding on the Black Tortoise.

斷曰：先推吾兄後推翁也。何以見之？蓋因亥貴作官星臨支，亥乃吾兄之命，辰乃翁之命，辰入辰陰發用，是以先推亥命者，且辰自亥發傳，與陳同姓同音，故知如此。果未及旬日推吾兄吳淞總鎮，兩月後，推蔡狼山提督。

Chen Gongxian explained: In this election, the first person recommended was my elder brother, and later it was Cai Gong. Why? Because the nobleman is riding on the亥 branch and acting as an official star, and it is also located on the day branch. The亥 branch is the true birth year of my elder brother, while the辰 branch is the true birth year of Cai Gong. Now the辰 branch is entering the辰 branch's hidden spirit and initiating the first transmission, so it first applies to the person born in the亥 branch. Moreover, the transmission comes from the亥 branch to the辰 branch, and the辰 branch sounds the same as "Chen," which refers to the Chen family. Therefore, this conclusion was reached. Indeed, within ten days, my elder brother was appointed as the commander of Wusong. Two months later, Cai Xiyang was appointed as the commander of Langshan.

占驗三十、丁丑六月己未日甲戌時，浣中阮胤平太史占推皖撫成否，日後結局如何，曲直、八專，子丑空、申酉落空。 朱六 蛇 丑寅卯辰 勾 后六 后六 鬼 乙卯 六 貴 子 巳 龍 亥卯 亥卯 財 癸亥 后 后 亥 午 空 卯未 卯己 比 己未 虎 陰 戌酉申未 虎 玄常

On the day of Jiwei (己未) in the sixth lunar month of the Dingchou (丁丑) year, at the hour of Jiaxu (甲戌), the divination was performed by Huan Zhong person Ruan Yinping, a historian of the Hanlin Academy, to inquire whether he would be successfully appointed as the governor of Anhui and what his future outcome would be. The three transmissions form the trinity of wood (亥, Mao, Wei), so the lesson pattern is called "Quzhi" (曲直). The day stem and day branch are in the same position, forming the "Bazhuan" (八专) lesson. In this旬, the empty position (kongwang) is in Zi and Chou. The heavenly generals Sheng and You fall into the empty positions. The following is the divination chart for that day: within the squares are the twelve heavenly branches of the heaven plate, and outside each is noted the heavenly general riding it. The middle two columns, from right to left, are the four lessons. The rightmost column, from top to bottom, is the initial, middle, and final transmissions, along with their six relations, hidden stems, and heavenly generals. The initial transmission is Yimao (乙卯), representing official ghost, riding the Liuhe (六合). The middle transmission is Guihai (癸亥), representing wealth, riding the Tianhou (天后). The final transmission is Jiwei (己未), representing companion, riding the Bahu (白虎). The three characters Hai, Mao, and Wei form the trinity of wood.

斷曰：目今會推必遂，但結局不佳耳。蓋因用合干支，傳成官局，推升必矣。但干支死傷喪吊全逢，又貴履天羅，斗繫日本，且行年酉金沖破官局，未受大有不如意事，若出兵擊賊，必有被圍失利也。其後流賊犯界，統副將程龍、潘可大敵之，全軍覆沒。己卯歲撫軍丁艱而歸。

Chen Gongxian interpreted that this particular divination indicates smooth progress at the beginning, but an unfavorable ending. This is because the first transmission aligns with the day stem and day branch, and the third transmission forms an official structure, indicating certain promotion; however, death qi, injury qi, the mourning-and-condolence spirit, and the spirit of mourning and guests all gather together, while the nobleman stands on the heavenly net hour, the star of destiny is attached to the day stem itself, and the year branch酉 metal clashes with the wooden official structure, leading to great dissatisfaction within the official position. If military action is taken against rebels, it will certainly result in being surrounded and defeated. Later, when bandits invaded the territory, he led his deputy generals Cheng Long and Pan Ke Da to resist, and indeed the entire army was destroyed. By the year Jimao, this governor also resigned from his post due to the mourning of his parents and returned home.

兵敗事在崇禎十年（戊寅）。 問官者喜見官也。

The annotator added a note: This military defeat occurred in the tenth year of the Chongzhen era, Wuyin. It also pointed out: Whenever someone asks about their official position, it is a good omen if the official star appears in the divination chart.

占驗三十一、辛卯三月癸酉日乙卯時，揚州府糧廳周公祖相召占課，涉害、斬關，戌亥空、巳午落空。 勾六 龍 子丑寅卯 朱 空蛇 朱玄 子 卯 朱 空 亥 辰 蛇 亥辰 卯申 官 戌 虎 虎 戌 巳 貴 辰酉 申癸 財 巳 貴 常 酉申未午 后 玄陰

In the year Xinmao, third month, day Guiyou, and time Yimao, Chen Gongxian was asked to cast a divination by Zhou Daotai, the official in charge of grain storage in Yangzhou. The lesson pattern belongs to the category of involved harm, and it also violates the cutting gate pattern. In this旬, the empty place is in Xu and Hai, and the Heaven Plate's巳 and午 deities are located in the empty place. The following is the divination board at that time: the twelve branches within the square are the Heaven Plate, and the annotations outside are the deities riding the Heavenly Generals. In the middle, from right to left, are the four lessons. On the right, from top to bottom, are the first, middle, and final transmissions, each with annotations of the Six Relations, hidden stems, and Heavenly Generals. The day stem is Gui, and the day branch is You. Both the stems and branches above the Heaven Plate must be combined with the three transmissions to determine the location of good or bad fortune.

斷曰：太歲乘朱雀發用，主有文書動事於朝廷，嫌中末財官空陷，占功名必有始無終。第支上月建蛇墓剋日，主上臺不足，幸初末兩貴拱支，中傳虎鬼沖蛇，以凶制凶，目今修為少解。然貴人入空墓，龍祿克絕，終非善後之象。且太歲坐克方，玄申臨日上，必有喜裡成憂，貪汙敗名之事。後果被總漕吳公祖參罷。

Chen Gongxian interpreted that the Tai Sui (Celestial Stem) riding the Vermilion Bird (a deity associated with documents and speech) was the first transmission, indicating actions related to documents in the court. Unfortunately, the wealth hexagram and official star in the middle and final transmissions were both empty and trapped, suggesting that efforts for official rank would start but not finish. The day branch was also under the influence of the Month Builder riding the Teng Snake into a grave, which attacked the day stem, indicating dissatisfaction from the superior. Fortunately, the first and final transmissions had two noblemen supporting the day branch, and the ghost ridden by the White Tiger in the middle transmission attacked the Teng Snake, turning a bad situation into a less severe one. However, the noblemen were both empty and buried, the Azure Dragon and the day's fortune were attacked and in a dead place, indicating an unfavorable outcome. Moreover, the Tai Sui was sitting in a position being attacked, and the Black Tortoise riding the Shen was placed on the day stem, leading to a situation of initial joy followed by worry, and failure due to greed and corruption. Later, he was indeed impeached and dismissed from office by Wu Gongzu, the Grand Superintendent of the Grand Canal.

太歲乘朱雀，主文書涉於明廷，如生我則有益於我，克我則不利於我，我生則送信去也。 此月將在戌，且虎乘官鬼，乃催官使者，最利仕途，以月將不空論之，鑄印課成矣，大吉之征也。但竟以凶斷，可見月將不空者，全不可憑。月將入課者，一神煞耳。 又大象為凶，雖有一二吉處，亦不過減其凶勢而已，主次之法不可忽也。

The commentator explains: The sovereign year riding the Vermilion Bird indicates matters related to official documents involving the court. If the Vermilion Bird is born to the day stem, it is advantageous for me; if it comes to overcome the day stem, it is disadvantageous. If the day stem goes on to generate the Vermilion Bird, it signifies sending out messages. This divination lesson has the "Month General" (the palace where the sun resides, which changes each month) in戌, and the White Tiger also occupies the official ghost, which is exactly the messenger for official positions, and this should be most favorable for official career. However, if we consider the Month General not falling into an empty position, it becomes the "Great Favor" lesson of casting the seal. But Chen Gongxian strangely interprets it as凶, showing that the principle of the Month General not being empty is completely unreliable. The presence of the Month General in the lesson is no more than a deity sign. Moreover, since the overall image of the lesson is凶, even if there are a couple of favorable aspects, they can only alleviate the凶 aspect. The method of distinguishing main and secondary, and the weight of importance, cannot be ignored.

占驗三十二、癸未正月己亥日辛未時，予在金陵卞聖瑞書房，偶有兩客進坐索占，涉害、曲直、迴環，辰巳空、申酉落空。 朱蛇 六 酉戌亥子 貴 龍玄 玄蛇 比 乙未 青 勾 申 丑 后 未卯 卯亥 財 己亥 蛇 龍 未 寅 陰 卯亥 亥己 鬼 癸卯 玄 空 午巳辰卯 玄 虎常

On the day of Jihai in the first lunar month of the Guiwei year, at the hour of Xinwei, Chen Gongxian was in the study of Bian Shengrui in Jinling when two guests happened to come in and sit down to seek divination. The lesson pattern belongs to the category of "involved harm," and the three transmissions form a wood pattern, thus being called "curved and straight." The beginning and end connect to form a "circular return." In this旬, the empty position is in Chen and Si, and the heavenly generals of Shen and You fall into the empty positions. Here is the divination board at that time: the square boxes contain the twelve earthly branches of the heaven plate, with the heavenly generals they ride noted outside. The middle two columns, read from right to left, are the four lessons. The rightmost column, read from top to bottom, is the initial, middle, and final transmissions, along with their six relations, hidden heavenly stems, and heavenly generals. The initial transmission is Yiwei, a companion riding the Azure Dragon; the middle transmission is Jihai, a wealth hexagram riding the Teng Snake; the final transmission is Guimao, an official ghost riding the Black Tortoise. The combinations of Hai, Mao, and Wei form a wood pattern, indicating a complete image of official stars.

斷曰：龍神發用，傳課結成官局，來意必占今年功名事。六月即有欽召之應。蓋春得進旺之木，遇夏則枝葉茂密，將來事業遠大。早：六月之說何也？緣歲建皇恩發用，中傳天詔，是以六月定有佳音。後知來占者即趙忻城昆弟也。果於是月奉詔進京授京營提督，甲申又升京營戎政。

Chen Gongxian explained: The Azure Dragon serves as the first transmission, and the four lessons and three transmissions form an official star pattern, indicating that the person consulted is asking about his official rank this year. There will be verification of an imperial summons in June. This is because the wood obtained in spring is currently flourishing, and by summer the branches and leaves will naturally be abundant, ensuring a great future. Someone asked: Where does the mention of June come from? The answer is: Because the year's stem and the imperial favor serve as the first transmission, and the middle transmission is the imperial decree, so it is concluded that there will certainly be good news in June. Later it was found out that the person consulted was indeed Zhao Xincheng's brother. Indeed, he was summoned to the capital in this month and appointed as the commander of the capital's military, and in the Jiashen year he was promoted to the military affairs of the capital.

此以神煞斷，可見靈機通變，在乎一心。

The commentator says: This divination is based on the spiritual influences and omens, showing that the flexibility and adaptability in divination entirely depend on the mind of the diviner.