according to ge xuan, the emperor han wenti a keen student of the "tao te ching", had heard that heshang gong was an expert on that text, and sent for him to come to the emperor to teach him. the hermit declined the invitation to teach the emperor, saying, "tao is esteemed and te honored, one cannot ask much about them." annoyed, the emperor went to the hermit and sternly informed him that as he resided within the bounds of the empire, and the emperor had the power to make him rich or poor. heshang gong immediately rose into the air and replied, "above: "now above i have not reached heaven, in the middle i am not bound to men, below i am not staying on earth. how do i belong to the people? how could your majesty want to make me rich and honored or poor and despised?"