Original Text
Historiographer Tang Jiwu once went to Rizhao to attend a funeral for the An family. Passing by the temple of Hail God Li Zuoche, he entered to look around. Before the shrine was a fish pond with water so clear one could see the bottom, where several red fish were playing. Among them was one with a crooked tail, feeding on the surface, unafraid of human approach. Tang picked up a small stone and playfully prepared to throw it, but a Taoist priest urgently advised him not to. When Tang asked why, the priest replied, "All the fish in this pond belong to the dragon clan; offending them will surely bring wind and hail disasters." Tang laughed at the priest's far-fetched and baseless words, yet he still cast the stone. After his tour, Tang mounted his carriage and continued eastward, when a canopy-like black cloud followed his vehicle, and soon hailstones the size of cotton seeds pattered down. After traveling another li or so, the sky cleared. Tang's younger brother Liangwu, following behind, caught up and spoke of this, but Liangwu was unaware of any hailstorm; when asked, those ahead also claimed ignorance. Tang smiled and said, "Could this be Guangwu Jun playing tricks?" Still, he was not deeply suspicious. Outside An Village stood a shrine to Lord Guan, where a small vendor had set down his load to rest. Suddenly, he abandoned his two boxes, rushed into the shrine, drew a large sword from its rack, and whirled it about, declaring, "I am Li Zuoche. Tomorrow I shall accompany Historiographer Tang of Zichuan to attend the funeral; I come now to inform the host." With these words, he awoke, knowing nothing of what he had said, nor recognizing who Tang Jiwu was. The villagers, hearing this, were greatly alarmed. An Village lay over forty li from the Hail God's temple; they reverently prepared paper money and offerings, went to the temple to earnestly pray, begging only for the god's mercy, not daring to trouble his divine presence. Tang, puzzled by their profound reverence and faith, asked them why. The villagers replied, "The Hail God's manifestations are most evident; he often speaks through mortal mouths, and every word comes true without fail. If we do not devoutly pray to block his advance, wind and hail will surely come tomorrow."
The Chronicler of Strange Tales remarks: In bygone days, Lord Guangwu was also a man of deep stratagems and great undertakings. His succession to the post of the Hail God of Rizhao might have been due to his indomitable spirit, which earned him a mandate from Heaven. Yet, since he had already become a deity, why must he flaunt his temperament and display his supernatural powers! The moral integrity and literary brilliance of Grand Historian Tang had long been admired and revered by Heaven and mankind alike—this is precisely why ghosts and gods must seek the trust of the noble-minded.
Commentary
Li Zuoche was a renowned historical and cultural figure of the Han Dynasty, yet the records of his life and native place remain obscure. Many places in Hebei and Shandong vied to claim his birthplace and burial site as their own, seeking to borrow the luster of his name for their own glory. Interestingly, even the legendary Li Zuoche could not escape such worldly vanity; in this tale, he too borrows the name of the contemporary notable Grand Historian Tang to assert his own existence. Thus, Pu Songling remarked with astonishment: "He received his office from Heaven. But since he was already a deity, why must he so conspicuously distinguish himself?" Yet, in turn, might Grand Historian Tang also be suspected of borrowing Li Zuoche's name to "conspicuously distinguish himself"?