明季，濟郡以北數州縣，邪疫大作，比戶皆然。齊東農民韓方，性至孝。父母皆病，因具楮帛，哭禱於孤石大夫之廟。歸途零涕。遇一人，衣冠清潔，問：「何悲？」韓具以告。其人曰：「孤石之神，不在於此，禱之何益？僕有小術，可以一試。」韓喜，詰其姓字。其人曰：「我不求報，何必通鄉貫乎？」韓敦請臨其家。其人曰：「無須。但歸，以黃紙置床上，厲聲言：『我明日赴都，告諸嶽帝！』病當已。」韓恐不驗，堅求移趾。其人曰：「實告子：我非人也。巡環使者以我誠篤，俾為南鄉土地。感君孝，指授此術。目前嶽帝舉枉死之鬼，其有功人民，或正直不作邪祟者，以城隍、土地用。今日殃人者，皆郡城北兵所殺之鬼，急欲赴都自投，故沿途索賂，以謀口食耳。言告嶽帝，則彼必懼，故當已。」韓悚然起敬，伏地叩謝。及起，其人已渺。驚歎而歸。遵其教，父母皆愈。以傳鄰村，無不驗者。
明朝末年，濟郡以北的幾個州縣大起邪祟引發的瘟疫，家家都有人患病。齊東農民韓方極為孝順。父母都病了，他便準備紙錢，到孤石大夫的廟裡哭著祈禱。回來的路上，他還在流淚。遇見一個衣冠整潔的人，問他：「為什麼這樣傷心？」韓方把事情全都告訴了他。那人說：「孤石的神不在這裡，向他祈禱有什麼用？我有個小辦法，你可以試一試。」韓方很高興，問他的姓名。那人說：「我不求報答，何必告訴你姓名籍貫呢？」韓方誠懇地請他到自己家去。那人說：「不用去。你只管回家，把黃紙放在床上，厲聲說：『我明天就到都城，向嶽帝告狀！』病就會好的。」韓方怕沒有效果，堅決請求他親自去一趟。那人說：「實話告訴你：我不是人。巡環使者因為我誠實忠厚，讓我做了南鄉土地。你的孝心感動了我，所以教你這個辦法。如今嶽帝正在挑選枉死的鬼，其中對百姓有功勞，或是正直、不作祟害人的，就任用為城隍、土地。現在禍害人的，都是在郡城被北兵殺死的鬼。他們急著到都城自行投報求職，所以沿途勒索財物，好解決吃飯的問題。你說要向嶽帝告狀，他們一定害怕，所以病就會好。」韓方肅然起敬，伏在地上叩頭道謝。等他起來，那人已經不見了。他又驚訝又感嘆，回了家。按照那人的教導去做，父母都好了。他把這個辦法傳給鄰村的人，沒有不見效的。
明季，济郡以北数州县，邪疫大作，比户皆然。齐东农民韩方，性至孝。父母皆病，因具楮帛，哭祷于孤石大夫之庙。归途零涕。遇一人，衣冠清洁，问：「何悲？」韩具以告。其人曰：「孤石之神，不在于此，祷之何益？仆有小术，可以一试。」韩喜，诘其姓字。其人曰：「我不求报，何必通乡贯乎？」韩敦请临其家。其人曰：「无须。但归，以黄纸置床上，厉声言：『我明日赴都，告诸岳帝！』病当已。」韩恐不验，坚求移趾。其人曰：「实告子：我非人也。巡环使者以我诚笃，俾为南乡土地。感君孝，指授此术。目前岳帝举枉死之鬼，其有功人民，或正直不作邪祟者，以城隍、土地用。今日殃人者，皆郡城北兵所杀之鬼，急欲赴都自投，故沿途索赂，以谋口食耳。言告岳帝，则彼必惧，故当已。」韩悚然起敬，伏地叩谢。及起，其人已渺。惊叹而归。遵其教，父母皆愈。以传邻村，无不验者。
明朝末年，济郡以北的几个州县大起邪祟引发的瘟疫，家家都有人患病。齐东农民韩方极为孝顺。父母都病了，他便准备纸钱，到孤石大夫的庙里哭着祈祷。回来的路上，他还在流泪。遇见一个衣冠整洁的人，问他：“为什么这样伤心？”韩方把事情全都告诉了他。那人说：“孤石的神不在这里，向他祈祷有什么用？我有个小办法，你可以试一试。”韩方很高兴，问他的姓名。那人说：“我不求报答，何必告诉你姓名籍贯呢？”韩方诚恳地请他到自己家去。那人说：“不用去。你只管回家，把黄纸放在床上，厉声说：‘我明天就到都城，向岳帝告状！’病就会好的。”韩方怕没有效果，坚决请求他亲自去一趟。那人说：“实话告诉你：我不是人。巡环使者因为我诚实忠厚，让我做了南乡土地。你的孝心感动了我，所以教你这个办法。如今岳帝正在挑选枉死的鬼，其中对百姓有功劳，或是正直、不作祟害人的，就任用为城隍、土地。现在祸害人的，都是在郡城被北兵杀死的鬼。他们急着到都城自行投报求职，所以沿途勒索财物，好解决吃饭的问题。你说要向岳帝告状，他们一定害怕，所以病就会好。”韩方肃然起敬，伏在地上叩头道谢。等他起来，那人已经不见了。他又惊讶又感叹，回了家。按照那人的教导去做，父母都好了。他把这个办法传给邻村的人，没有不见效的。
Late in the Ming, an evil pestilence broke out in several departments and counties north of Jinan Prefecture. Every household had it. Han Fang, a farmer of Qidong, was a most filial son. When both his parents fell sick, he got together some paper money and went to pray, weeping, at the temple of the Grandee of Lone Rock. He was still in tears on the way home when he met a man in clean clothes and a neat cap, who asked, “Why are you grieving?” Han told him everything. The man said, “The god of Lone Rock is not here. What good is praying to him? I have a small art. You might try it.” Han was glad and asked his name. “I seek no reward,” said the man. “Why should I tell you where I come from?” Han earnestly begged him to come to his house. “There is no need,” said the man. “Just go home, put a sheet of yellow paper on the bed, and say in a fierce voice: ‘Tomorrow I go to the capital to report this to the Emperor of the Peak!’ The sickness should end.” Han was afraid it would not work and kept pressing him to come. The man said, “I will tell you the truth: I am not a man. The Circuit Envoy found me sincere and steadfast, and made me Earth God of the southern township. Your filial piety moved me, so I am showing you this art. Just now the Emperor of the Peak is choosing from among the ghosts of those who died wrongful deaths. Any who did good for the people, or were upright and never made evil hauntings, are to be employed as City Gods and Earth Gods. The ones afflicting people now are all ghosts of those killed in the prefectural city by the northern troops. They are in a hurry to get to the capital and put themselves forward, so they extort bribes along the way to keep themselves fed. Say you will report them to the Emperor of the Peak, and they are bound to be afraid. That is why the sickness should end.” Han was awed. He threw himself on the ground and knocked his head in thanks. When he rose, the man was gone. Han went home marvelling. He did as he had been told, and both his parents recovered. He passed the art on to the neighbouring villages, and it never once failed.