Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han, was from Zhongyangli, Fengyi, Pei County. His surname was Liu and his courtesy name was Ji. His father was called Taigong and his mother was called Liu Ao. Once, when Liu Ao was resting by a large lake, she dreamed of having coitus with a god. At that time, there was thunder and lightning and the sky was dark. When Taigong went to find her, he saw a dragon on top of her. Later she became pregnant and gave birth to Liu Bang.
He had a high nose bridge, a raised forehead, a beautiful beard, and seventy-two black moles on his left thigh. He was kind, caring, almsgiving, and had a broad mind. He had great ambitions since childhood and was not used to engaging in the production work of ordinary people. When he reached adulthood, he passed the test and became an official, serving as the head of the Sishui Pavilion village. All other officials in the county government were looked down upon, insulted, and made fun of by him. He liked drinking and women. He often bought drinks on credit from Wang Ao and Wu Fu. After getting drunk, he would lie down and sleep. They were very often surprised to see the shadow of a dragon over his body. Every time Liu Bang came to buy drinks, the store’s sales could normally be several times more. Because of these anomalies, at the end of each year, the two lounges often destroyed the debt book and no longer asked him for them.
Liu Bang often went to Xianyang to perform corvée labor. Once, Emperor the First was out in public, and the commoners were allowed to watch. After seeing the emperor, Liu Bang sighed with emotion and said, "Alas, that’s what a real man should be like!"
Lu Gong, a native of Shanfu, was on good terms with the magistrate of Pei county. In order to avoid his enemies, he visited the magistrate's home and later settled down in Pei county. When the noble officials of Pei County heard that the county magistrate had a distinguished guest, they all went to congratulate him. Xiao He was the chief clerk in charge of receiving gifts. He told all the guests, "Those with gifts less than a thousand coins should sit down in the hall." Liu Bang was the village head and had always looked down on other officials, so he lied on the visiting card and said "10,000 coins as a gift", but in fact he did not bring a single coin. After the visiting card was presented, Lu Gong was shocked, he stood up and went to the door to greet Liu Bang. Lu Gong was good at fortune-telling by face-reading. When he saw Liu Bang's appearance, he respected him very much and took him to the banquet. Xiao He said: "Liu Ji likes to talk big, but he rarely gets things done." Liu Bang treated the other guests with contempt and insult, then sat in the seat of honor without any humility. When the banquet was to be over, Lu Gong winked at Liu Bang and hinted him to stay. Liu Bang finished drinks and stayed behind without leaving. Lu Gong said: "When I was young, I was good at face-reading. I have seen many people's features, but no one can compare with your appearance. I hope you will love and respect yourself. I have a daughter whom I hope to marry to you as your helping wife. After the banquet, Lü Ao angrily said to Lü Gong: "You always said that this daughter was different from others and wanted to marry her to a nobleman. The magistrate of Pei County is on good terms with you and asked to marry her, but you refused. Why did you randomly marry her to Liu Ji?" Lu Gong said: "This is not something a woman like you can know." In the end, Lu Gong married his daughter to Liu Ji. Lu Gong's daughter was Empress Lu, who gave birth to Emperor Xiaohui and Princess Lu Yuan.
高祖，沛丰邑中阳里人，姓刘氏，字季。父曰太公，母曰刘媪。其先刘媪尝息大泽之陂，梦与神遇。是时雷电晦冥，太公往视，则见蛟龙于其上。已而有身，遂产高祖。
高祖为人，隆准而龙颜，美须髯，左股有七十二黑子。仁而爱人，喜施，意豁如也。常有大度，不事家人生产作业。及壮，试为吏，为泗水亭长，廷中吏无所不狎侮。好酒及色。常从王媪、武负贳酒，醉卧，武负、王媪见其上常有龙，怪之。高祖每酤留饮，酒雠数倍。及见怪，岁竟，此两家常折券弃责。
高祖常繇咸阳，纵观，观秦皇帝，喟然太息曰：“嗟乎，大丈夫当如此也！”
单父人吕公善沛令，避仇从之客，因家沛焉。沛中豪桀吏闻令有重客，皆往贺。萧何为主吏，主进，令诸大夫曰：“进不满千钱，坐之堂下。”高祖为亭长，素易诸吏，乃绐为谒曰“贺钱万”，实不持一钱。谒入，吕公大惊，起，迎之门。吕公者，好相人，见高祖状貌，因重敬之，引入坐。萧何曰：“刘季固多大言，少成事。”高祖因狎侮诸客，遂坐上坐，无所诎。酒阑，吕公因目固留高祖。高祖竟酒，后。吕公曰：“臣少好相人，相人多矣，无如季相，原季自爱。臣有息女，原为季箕帚妾。”酒罢，吕媪怒吕公曰：“公始常欲奇此女，与贵人。沛令善公，求之不与，何自妄许与刘季？”吕公曰：“此非儿女子所知也。”卒与刘季。吕公女乃吕后也，生孝惠帝、鲁元公主。
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