Chapter 670: The Ins and Outs (2)

As previously mentioned, during the Sui Dynasty, there was a man named Zhao Yu who learned Taoism from a young age in the mountains. During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, he entered the civil service as an official and became the Governor of Mt Emei in Bashu, where he was in charge of water conservation and eliminating evil Flood Dragons, and was thus worshipped as a deity.

In the chaotic times at the end of the Sui Dynasty, Zhao Yu resigned from his official post and went into seclusion, disappearing without a trace. However, in the early Tang Dynasty, every time the Min River flooded, the people would see Zhao Yu riding a white horse with his disciples appearing amidst the clouds and mist, and the water level would immediately drop.

By the time of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Zhao Yu was posthumously conferred the title of Great General of Divine Courage and worshipped at the mouth of the Min River, commonly referred to as Erlang of Guanjiangkou.