Song Guoying, a native of Dongping, originally served as an instructor in the Hanlin Academy before being appointed the Magistrate of Lucheng County.

Song Guoying was known for his avarice and brutality, oppressing the populace without restraint, with the forceful collection of taxes being his particular specialty.

The number of commoners who perished under Song's bludgeon was countless.

My friend, Xu Baishan, once passed through Lucheng and witnessed Song's tyrannical ways. He sarcastically remarked, "My Lord, serving as the parent official to the people, you certainly wield impressive authority and spirit!"

Song Guoying swelled with pride and chuckled, "Not at all, not at all. Though my official rank is humble, in the mere hundred days since taking office, I have already executed fifty-eight souls."

Six months later, Song Guoying was poring over documents in his yamen when he suddenly leaped up, his eyes wide, his hands and feet flailing wildly as if resisting an unseen adversary, crying out, "I am guilty, I am guilty! I deserve death, I deserve death!" The bailiffs rushed him to the back hall, and not long after, he drew his last breath.