Dekleti in bog gore Lu

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Dekleti in bog gore Lu

Zhang Pu, whose courtesy name was Gongzhi, was a man of unknown origin. He served as governor of Wu Commandery. When he was summoned back to court, his journey took him past Mount Lu, where his children went to look around the shrine. A maid pointed to a statue and said teasingly to his daughter, “We shall marry you to this one.” That night, Pu’s wife dreamed that the Lord of Mount Lu came bearing betrothal gifts and said, “My unworthy son has been fortunate enough to find favor in your eyes. I have come to offer this modest token of our regard.” She awoke bewildered, and the maid told her what had happened. Frightened, she urged Pu to set off at once. In midstream, however, their boat would go no farther. Everyone aboard was terrified. They threw their belongings into the water, but still the boat would not move. Someone said, “Throw in the girl,” and at once the boat began to advance. They all said, “The god’s wishes are plain enough. How can we let an entire household perish for the sake of one girl?” Pu said, “I cannot bear to watch.” He went up to the cabin above and lay down, telling his wife to sink their daughter in the water. His wife substituted the orphaned daughter of Pu’s deceased elder brother. They laid a mat on the water and seated the girl upon it, and only then could the boat move on. When Pu saw that his own daughter was still aboard, he said angrily, “How can I ever face the world again?” He then cast his own daughter into the water as well. Once they had crossed, they saw the two girls some distance away below them. An official standing beside the bank said, “I am the chief clerk of the Lord of Mount Lu. My lord offers his apologies. He knows that spirits and mortals are not fit marriage partners. Moreover, he honors your righteousness, and so he has returned both girls.” Later, when they questioned the girls, they said, “We saw only fine houses, officials, and guards. We never knew we were in the water.”