In the summer of the yimao year of Qingyuan, in mid fifth month, Raozhou had great rain for seven days and nights; rivers and lakes all overflowed, and water entering the city rose past six feet — Poyang and Fuliang were worst. Qingtang village lies ninety miles from the prefecture, and the Liu family’s dwelling was there.
At that time several small holes opened in the courtyard, spouting water like jumping beads. The family thought it was merely accumulated water and took no heed. Then on the twenty-second day, around the noon-to-wei hour, they suddenly became two great holes, and springs gushed from them. Only then did they realize a water disaster must come; they gathered their chests and boxes, bound them to the beams, and led the family onto a boat to make for the rear hill.
Scarcely had they reached the hillside when the water came in force; looking back, the old house was utterly gone, swept away downstream, not a beam or tile remaining. When the water receded and they went to look, the place had sunk into a filthy marsh, with no trace of the former dwelling — every utensil of living swept clean.
Those who understood said the flood-dragons had ridden the water’s force to harm men, and that there was nothing to be done about it.
