Original Text
Yang Fu, the commander-in-chief of Fujian, had a boy whom he used for his carnal pleasures. Suddenly, the boy felt a stirring in his abdomen. After ten full months, he dreamed that a divine being opened two openings on both sides of his ribs and then departed. Upon waking, he found two baby boys crying on his left and right. Rising to examine his ribs, the marks of the incisions were clearly visible. He named the two children Tian She and Di She.
The Chronicler of Strange Tales says: This occurred before Wu Sangui's rebellion. After Wu Sangui's revolt, Governor Cai of Fujian suspected Yang Fu of intending to harm him and, fearing insurrection, summoned Yang Fu on other pretexts. Yang Fu's wife, always both wise and brave, suspected Governor Cai's ulterior motives and advised her husband not to go, but Yang Fu disregarded her counsel. His wife saw him off with tears. Upon returning home, she assembled all the officers, had them don armor and grasp their weapons, and awaited news of Yang Fu. Soon, learning that her husband had been slain, she raised an army to attack Governor Cai, who was thrown into panic and confusion. Fortunately, his soldiers held fast in defense, and Yang Fu's wife, failing to take the city, withdrew. After she had retreated far away, Governor Cai finally donned his battle robe, emerged from the city, and led his troops in a clamorous charge. This incident became a laughingstock among the people. Several years later, the rebellious soldiers were pacified. Shortly thereafter, Governor Cai died suddenly. On his deathbed, he saw Yang Fu entering with weapons, and those around him witnessed it as well. Alas! Though Yang Fu's ghost was fierce, his head could never be reattached! The strange matter of bearing a son—perhaps that was an omen of his impending doom?
Commentary
This account is also recorded in Wang Yuyang's "Chibei Occasional Talks: Strange Tales, Volume Five": "Yang Fu, the General-in-Chief of Fujian, had a favored boy who bore him two sons; Yang adopted them, naming them Tian She and Di She. Wei Weidu, styled Xian, witnessed this with his own eyes. Yang later served as the Military Governor of Jiangxi." The names differ slightly. To prove that a man giving birth was indeed true, Wang Yuyang relied on eyewitness testimony, stating that "Wei Weidu, styled Xian, witnessed it with his own eyes," while Pu Songling depended on vivid detail, describing that "when they looked under his ribs, the cut marks were still clearly visible."