When Mr. Wang Yuncang took up office in the central region of Chu, he planned to climb Dragon-and-Tiger Mountain to pay his respects to the Heavenly Master. When he reached the lake and had just boarded his boat, a man came rowing a small skiff, asking that the boatmen announce him. Mr. Wang saw that he was tall and majestic in appearance; from his bosom he produced the name-card of the Heavenly Master, saying, "Hearing that your train was approaching, I was sent ahead to bear your spear." Wang was surprised that he knew in advance, and held him in even higher awe, going on with all sincerity.
The Heavenly Master prepared a banquet in his honor. The attendants, in their caps and robes and with their beards and whiskers, mostly looked unlike ordinary men, and the earlier messenger stood among them. After a while he whispered to the Heavenly Master, who said to Wang, "This is a fellow countryman of yours. Do you not know him?" Wang asked who he was. "This is Li Zuoche, the Hail God of whom the world tells," he said. Wang was startled and changed countenance. The Heavenly Master said, "He was just saying that he has received orders to send down hail, and so came to take his leave." Wang asked, "Where?" "At Zhangqiu," was the reply. As it bordered his own district, Wang rose from his seat in concern and begged that it be remitted. The Heavenly Master said, "This is the Jade Emperor's decree; hail has its fixed quota. How can I be partial?" Wang pleaded without cease. The Heavenly Master mused for a long while, then turned and charged him, "Let him send down much hail among the mountains and valleys, but not harm the crops." He also charged him, "A noble guest is present; go civilly, not by force." The god went out into the courtyard, and suddenly smoke rose from beneath his feet, spreading in a vapor over the ground. After a while, more than a quarter-hour, he strained and leapt up, only as high as the courtyard trees; he rose again, higher than the towers. With a single clap of thunder he flew northward, shaking the buildings and rattling the vessels on the banquet table. Wang cried in astonishment, "He goes off with thunder!" The Heavenly Master said, "It is because I just admonished him that he was slow; otherwise, with one crack on the level ground, he would have been gone in an instant." Wang took his leave and returned, noting the day and month, and sent a man to ask at Zhangqiu. On that very day there fell a great hailstorm; the ditches were all filled, yet in the fields there were only a few hailstones.