| Daoxu: |
At the time of Han Wudi there lived a certain Li Shao Jun, who pretended that by sacrificing to the 'Hearth' and abstaining from eating grain he could ward off old age. He saw the emperor, who conferred high honours upon him. Li Shao Jun kept his age and the place where he was born and had grown up secret, always saying that he was seventy old, and could effect that things did not grow old. On his journeys he visited all the princes around, and was not married. On hearing that he could manage that things did not age, people presented him with much richer gifts than they would otherwise have done. He had always money, gold, dresses, and food in abundance. As people believed that he did not do any business, and was yet richly provided with everything, and as nobody knew, what sort of a man he really was, there was a general competition in offering him services.
Li Shao Jun knew some clever manoeuvres and some fine tricks, which did not fail to produce a wonderful effect. He used to feast with the Marquis of Wu An. In the hall there was a man of over 90 years. Li Shao Jun indicated to him the places which his grand-father frequented, when shooting. The old man knew them, having visited them as a child with his father. The whole audience was bewildered.
When Li Shao Jun saw the emperor, the emperor had an old bronze vase, about which he asked him. Li Shao Jun replied that in the 15th year of the reign of Duke Huan of Qi it was placed in the Boqin hall. The inscription was examined, and it was found out that it was indeed a vessel of Duke Huan of Qi. The whole Court was startled, and thought that Li Shao Jun was several hundred years old. After a long time he died of sickness. |
