Ma Jun 馬鈞

Chapter 105 of the Romance says that in the 13th year of Jianxing of Shu-Han, that is, the 3rd year of Qinglong (235) of Cao Rui, ruler of Wei, none of the three states raised troops, and relates how the ruler of Wei appointed Sima Yi Grand Commandant to guard the frontiers. The ruler of Wei builds palaces at Xuchang, and at Luoyang he builds the Chaoyang Hall, the Taiji Hall and the Zongzhang Belvedere, each ten zhang high. He also erects the Chonghua Hall, the Qingxiao Pavilion, the Phoenix Tower and the Nine Dragons Pool and has the Erudite Ma Jun supervise the works, so that carved beams and painted pillars, blue-green tiles and golden bricks dazzle in the sunlight. More than 30,000 skilled artisans from across the realm and more than 300,000 laborers work day and night, and the people are exhausted and their complaints never cease. Romance, Ch. 105 §35–36

Cao Rui also starts works in Fanglin Park and makes the high ministers carry earth and plant trees there. When the Minister over the Masses Dong Xun submits a memorial remonstrating, he strips him of office and makes him a commoner, and when Zhang Mao, Retainer of the Heir Apparent, remonstrates, he has him beheaded. That same day Cao Rui summons Ma Jun and tells him that he is raising lofty terraces and towering pavilions in order to consort with immortals and seek a way to live long without growing old. Romance, Ch. 105 §37 · 39

Ma Jun reports that of the twenty-four emperors of Han, only Emperor Wu reigned longest and lived to a very great age, because he partook of the essence of the sun and the splendor of the moon. He says that Emperor Wu built the Boliang Terrace in the palace at Chang'an and set on it a bronze figure holding up a plate, called the Dew-Collecting Plate, and collected the night dew that descends from the Northern Dipper at the third watch, which was called Heavenly Nectar or Sweet Dew. And he says that if this water is mixed with powdered fine jade and drunk, an old man can turn back into a child. Romance, Ch. 105 §40

Overjoyed, Cao Rui orders him to lead laborers to Chang'an through the night, dismantle the bronze figure and move it into Fanglin Park. Ma Jun reaches Chang'an with 10,000 men and has wooden scaffolding put up all around, and 5,000 men, joining ropes and hauling, climb to the top of the Boliang Terrace, which is twenty zhang high. When Ma Jun has the bronze figure taken down first, tears stream from its eyes, and everyone is greatly alarmed. Suddenly a violent wind rises at the edge of the terrace, sending sand flying and stones rolling; the terrace tilts and the pillar falls, crushing more than a thousand people to death. Romance, Ch. 105 §41–42

Ma Jun returns to Luoyang with the bronze figure and the golden plate and presents them to the ruler of Wei. Asked where the bronze pillar is, Ma Jun reports that the pillar weighs a million jin and could not be transported, and Cao Rui has the pillar broken up and brought, casts two bronze figures from it, naming them Wengzhong, and has bronze dragons and phoenixes made and set up. The Junior Tutor Yang Fu submits a memorial remonstrating, but Cao Rui pays no heed and only urges Ma Jun on to build a high terrace and install the bronze figure and the Dew-Collecting Plate on it. Romance, Ch. 105 §42–44 · 46