In ancient Chinese folklore, there is a tradition that people who have made outstanding contributions in the world and are respected by people when they are alive are praised as gods. The famous one is Guan Yu. After canonization, he gradually became the martial saint Guan Gong; Qin Qiong and Yu Chi Gong, because of their outstanding military exploits and guarding the palace gate for Li Shimin, were gradually mythized as door gods; Bao Zheng was known as the door god because of his selflessness and impartiality in law enforcement. As Bao Qingtian, he became the King of Hell after his death.

There are many stories like this. Of course, Pu Songling will not let go of this hot topic. He wrote two "Hail God" in "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio", both after the famous Han Dynasty general Li Zuoche became a god. story. "Hail God" Volume 1

"Wang Gong Yuncang came to Chuzhong. He planned to climb Longhu Mountain to pay homage to the Heavenly Master."

Wang Yuncang did exist in history. , he is from Zichuan and a fellow villager of Pu Songling. He once served as an official to the left and was in charge of politics. He was later dismissed for offending Wei Zhongxian. It is said here that when he was an official in the Chu region, he climbed Mount Longhu to pay homage to Zhang Tianshi.

To go to Longhu Mountain, you have to take the water route through Poyang Lake. On this day, just as you were about to set off, someone came by boat and asked to see the prince. This man had a good appearance. He took out Zhang Tianshi's famous post and said to the prince: "When I heard that Cong Zou was coming, I sent him to bear the crossbow."

I heard that you were coming. The Heavenly Master specially sent me to welcome you.

The prince was shocked at that time, thinking that Zhang Tianshi was indeed a god with the ability to predict the future, which made him even more full of admiration for Zhang Tianshi. On reaching the mountain, the prince received a grand audience, including the envoys who had greeted him earlier.

During the banquet, Tianshi Zhang pointed at the messenger and said to the prince: "This is your fellow countryman. Do you know him?" Of course the prince did not know him, so he asked who it was. The angel said: "The Hail God in folk legend. Li Zuoche is him." The Maharaja was once again shocked.

Zhang Tianshi continued: "He has received an order to go to Zhangqiu to be hailed, so he cannot accompany you." The prince thought to himself that Zhangqiu is close to his hometown, and it would not be good if he suffered a disaster. , so he asked Zhang Tianshi and Li Zuoche if they could avoid this natural disaster.

Zhang Tianshi said that this is the decree of the Jade Emperor, and we cannot resist the decree at will. Let's do this. He turned to Li Zuoche and said:

"If it falls in the valley, don't do it." It's okay to damage the crops."

Just keep the hail in the lower valley and don't damage the crops. He also asked: "Slow down when you leave, don't disturb the distinguished guests." It turns out, but. Whenever a god like Li Zuoche leaves, there will be a thunder on the ground, and then he will fly away in the clouds. When the prince arrives for the first time, there will be a sudden thunder, and he will be frightened.

After the Hail God left, the prince talked with Zhang Tianshi for a while, and then went home. He also sent someone to Zhangqiu to inquire about the hail. The envoy came back and said:

"It rained heavily that day and the ditches were full, but there were only a few in the fields."

It really rained heavily that day, and the ditches and canals were full, but there were only a few in the fields. It's just a grain, and it didn't suffer at all. "Hail God" Volume 12

"Tang Taishi Jiwu, the sun shines on Hui An's burial. The road passes through the Hail God Li Zuoche Temple, and you can look at it when you enter."

Tang Jiwu There is indeed a person who is also from Zichuan, a fellow villager of Pu Songling. He also wrote the preface to "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio" and has a good relationship with Pu Songling. On this day, Tang Jiwu went to attend the funeral of An family. On the way, he passed the ancestral hall of Li Zuoche, the hail god, and stopped in for a tour.

There is a pond in the ancestral hall. The water is clear and there are many fish swimming around. Tang Jiwu was so stupid that he picked up a pebble and was about to throw it at the fish. The Taoist priest around him quickly stopped him and said:

"The scales in the pond are all dragons, and touching them will cause wind and hail."

The fish in this pond are all dragons. Don't mess around, otherwise you will attract hail. Tang Jiwu chuckled after hearing this and said, "If you say you're talking nonsense, I'll throw it away, hum." When it was done, he left with satisfaction.

As he walked forward, dark clouds gathered behind him and hail began to fall. Tang Jiwu didn’t know about this. It was only after his younger brother caught up with him from behind and told him that he knew it was really hail. , and half-jokingly said: "Is it really Lord Guangwu (God of Hail) who caused the trouble?" Even so, he didn't take it seriously.

The conversation was divided into two parts. Regarding the holy temple in Ancun, a vendor was resting outside the ancestral hall. Suddenly he went crazy, ran into the ancestral hall, picked up a big knife and waved it while saying: "I am Li Zuoche, and I will meet Tang Jiwu tomorrow." Let’s go to the funeral together, and I’ll tell you in advance, so be prepared!”

The villagers in Ancun were horrified after hearing this, and they all prepared the sacrifices respectfully and traveled more than 40 miles outside the village. We worship at the Haili God Shrine, just ask the great god to spare everyone, but don’t do anything stupid.

At this time, Tang Jiwu also arrived. He was wondering why the people here believed in the Hail God so much. It turns out that in Ancun, it often happens that the Hail God entrusts people to appear holy. Every time, what he said will come true, so everyone comes to worship, otherwise there will be hail tomorrow. Li Zuoche

Li Zuoche's family has been a famous general for generations. His grandfather was Li Mu during the Warring States Period.

At the end of the Qin Dynasty, the Six Kingdoms rose again. Li Zuoche made great military exploits for Zhao and was named Lord Guangwu. Later, Han Xin destroyed Zhao. He respected Li Zuoche very much and asked for advice on strategies to destroy Qi and Yan. Han Xin followed Li Zuoche's strategy of "victory in a hundred battles" and succeeded in capturing Qi and Yan. He also left a famous saying for future generations: "A wise man will surely lose something if he thinks a lot; a fool will gain something if he thinks a lot." It has been passed down to this day, and he also wrote a military book called "Guangwu Junlue".

After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, in order to contain Han Xin, Liu Bang transferred Li Zuoche to assist the prince Liu Ying. Han Xin was killed, and Li Zuoche also resigned and lived in seclusion. He returned to his hometown, retired to the countryside, and devoted himself to enlightenment.

Shortly after his death, black clouds covered the sun in the sky, and thunderous sounds like the sky was falling and the earth was cracking went straight into the sky. In the yard where Li Zuoche was alive, a crack opened in the stone, and spring water flowed out, forming a pool. Clear spring.

Legend has it that the vision that day was that the Jade Emperor was canonizing Li Zuoche, making him the god of hail in charge of the wind and rain in the world. Since then, Li Zuoche’s hometown has never been hit by hail disasters again. , and the clear spring is the witness of Li Zuoche's death, and is called hail spring by the locals.