| | Pei Guo Liu Hong was a man of firm and upright character. His father served as Zhechong Duwei. When Xue Chuyu was in Fanyang, he summoned Liu Hong to serve as an army officer. Hong followed him to Ji, and thus had the opportunity to serve under Chuyu. Chuyu was pleased with him. Chuyu appointed officers for garrisons, and Hong requested to go on an assignment. There was a garrison named Taihe in Tanzhou; those who were assigned there always died, and the garrison had thus fallen into disuse. Hong then requested to take charge of it. Chuyu considered it a dangerous task, so Hong said: Evil omens arise from human actions; they do not create themselves. If I am fearless, how can you be so reluctant? Chuyu then appointed Hong as the officer of Taihe garrison. Hong led his subordinates and officials to the garrison. The garrison had an old ruined village, so Hong built houses based on its layout. Just as the craftsmen were carrying axes to measure and cut wood, a tree branch broke off by itself and struck one of them, killing him instantly. Hong became angry, scolded the officials and soldiers, and had the craftsmen lifted up and beaten with a bamboo stick. He asked: Who are you, that while I am just setting up this garrison, you dare to interfere? You have committed a capital offense and will not be spared. After several lashes, the craftsman spoke out. I beg you to show me mercy; I am not one of those who previously killed the garrison officers. Those who have killed the garrison officials are none other than Fuguo Jiangjun (the General in Charge of Auxiliary Troops). Their residence is not far from here. I am merely the spirit guarding the foundation of a Buddhist temple. This ruined village was originally a Buddhist temple. Because it is a sacred place, I have been guarding it. I was assigned to guard this foundation because of past human sins. Only when the foundation is level with the ground will I be able to leave. I have come now, therefore I appeal to you. If you level it for me, I will then be able to depart and become a human again. Hong said: You say that Fuguo is not far away; bring him here immediately. The spirit said: Yes." After a short while, the craftsman said: Liu Hong, I am General Fuguo. You are a strong and upright man with talent; I greatly respect you and will assign you an official position. Now I shall recommend you for office, and you will soon attain great wealth and honor. Strive to do well. He then asked for paper and composed two poems. The craftsman and soldiers, who had never known poetry before, were astonished. When he put pen to paper, the handwriting was especially exquisite, comparable to that of Wang Youjun. Xue Chuyu took it and treasured it. The poem read: A black bird flies in the sky. The dark-colored colt follows and stays by the wilds. Now recorded in household registers, names pass like sparse green leaves. The second poem read: A tree's branches are worn smooth. Three blossoms, five faces weep. Moving home to pass the days. Who notices dusk? . . The sun dipped low, and with the poem completed, he left. The craftsman was a laborer assigned to the garrison. After several days, his illness worsened, and he was carried to Fanyang. His father visited the famous physician Xue, who also happened to be ill. Hong spoke as usual. And two colds, secretly invaded by cold qi; not long after, he was prescribed a remedy. And the two cold conditions were secretly invaded by cold energy; shortly afterward, prescriptions were prepared. The Huang Ben version reads: "and the two people secretly mediated qi invasion; not long after, a prescription was prepared." . When Hong first received the spirit's poem, he could not understand its meaning. When he died, his body turned black, so they placed it in a coffin. Names are now recorded in household registers. This refers to Hong's name. One who hopes for life. It speaks of Hong's death and his image. The second poem: "A tree's branches are worn smooth." Therefore, the branch is worn smooth. "Three blossoms, five faces crying"—this refers to: Hong's family had eight members; Hong himself and two others died—hence the reference to "three blossoms." Five people wept for him, hence the phrase "five faces crying." Twenty days after Hong's death, an old subordinate saw Hong in a purple robe, followed by two hundred horsemen, with a very vigorous and dignified appearance, in the wilds. He told the official: I have now been appointed by General Fuguo and attained great wealth and honor. Now I am riding with my entourage to the capital to welcome my mother. His mother was previously in the capital. Originally, Hong's maternal uncle had a daughter who was raised by the Liu family; she was of an age similar to Hong and once said to him: I have heard that the dead are aware. If either of us dies first, we must disturb those still living and let them know. On that day, as the girl was walking ahead of Hong's mother, she suddenly felt someone pulling her clothes and preventing her from moving forward. The girl found this strange. After a short while, she managed to move forward again. Again, someone pulled at her headscarf. They took her hairpin as if in a familiar and intimate manner. Hong's mother was startled and said: Hong! . She was in the army and had long been out of touch by letter or message. Now I see you are dead? How does this agree with what you said in life? Before the mother could finish speaking, Hong appeared before her in the courtyard, dressed in purple with golden insignia and accompanied by many attendants. The mother asked: Why have you come? Hong has already attained wealth and honor, and his body is no longer that of a human. The happiness and pleasures are hard to describe, so I have come to welcome Mother for care and support. At this moment, the carriages all advanced; the mother then entered one of them, Hong served as an attendant and followed her, and they departed. After they left, the mother passed away; the day when Hong was seen by his former subordinate was also the day of her death. From "Jiwen" (Recorded Accounts)
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