Wang Ho was satisfied with his lot. It was only a question of time until he would be advanced to more responsible positions. (et he had to be careful not to jeopardize this promising career )y frivolous behavior. "It is better to make sure that everything s in order," he decided. The earthquake room was in the center of the building, its entrance sealed. Wang Ho hesitated a moment, then he tore the ;ilk strip with the red seat of the Chancellery. Timorously he examined the huge copper cauldron. The foot of the vessel stood directly upon the foundations of the building and was therefore hidden under the floor. The moonlight barely illumined the room, so that it was difficult to recognize the dragon heads. The dragons, visible from the door, still held their individual balls in their mouths-nothing out of order here. But perhaps there was something not in order on the other side? The young scholar walked slowly around the richly ornamented vessel. Suddenly, his heart stood still; one of the dragon mouths was closed, and the ball that belonged to it now lay in the wide-open mouth of the toad below. An unheard of event! Up to now the earthquake weathercock had reliably recorded every quake and had also given the direction whence it had come. But now the earth had not shook, yet the dragon looking toward the northwest had dropped his ball. What could that mean? Wang Ho felt panic beginning to set in. This had happened during his tour of duty, it could affect his career. Only the future could decide whether this would be in a good or bad sense. Right now Wang Ho had more important things to do than to think about that: the Imperial Court Astronomer had to be informed immediately about this incredible happening.

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