A civilian named Shentu Dun in Luoyang obtained an unearthed bronze tripod from the Han Dynasty.
On its surface, the crisscross designs of clouds and ancient hornless dragons were bright and clear. His neighbor, Lu Sheng, admired it instantly. He commissioned a coppersmith to cast an imitation, soaked it in a special decoction, and buried it underground.
Three years later, he unearthed it. The concoction and soil corrosion had altered the copper's surface, making it remarkably similar to Shentu Dun's genuine artifact.
One day, Lu Sheng presented the fake tripod to an influential official. Delighted as if he had found a treasure, the official hosted a banquet for his guests to admire it.
Shentu Dun, also present, knew the truth. He said, "I have a tripod of similar shape, but I cannot tell which is genuine."
The official immediately asked him to fetch it. After a lengthy examination, the official declared, "This one is not genuine."
The guests all chimed in agreement: "It is indeed not genuine."
Though perturbed, Shentu Dun argued on just grounds. The others rallied to attack, ridicule, and insult him, so he fell silent.
Returning home, he sighed, "Until today, I did not understand the power of authority—how it can confound right with wrong and pass off the fake as real."