It is said that those who failed to revere the scholars would be killed in a pestilence.
因此，凡是王船所到的地方，百姓都應殺豬宰羊，燒雞烤鴨，供奉鮮果美酒，大事祭拜。因為這三十六名進士是死於非命，且當時殺人不眨眼的明太祖又詔令這些冤魂進士可以「代天巡狩」，所以沿海各地官民都以誠惶誠恐的心情，把王船視作神明來祭拜。