ɪnˈɪʃəli, lˈɪuː ʃˈaʊ ænd lˈɪuː dʒˈʌn ɹᵻkwˈɛstᵻd ðæt jˈæn jˈuːs mˈædʒɪkəl pˈaʊɚz tə plˈiːd tə ðə ɡˈɑːdz ænd ɡˈoʊsts sˌoʊ ðæt ˈɛmpɚɹɚ wˈɛn wʊd nˌɑːt hˈɪɹ ðɛɹ fˈɔlts.
Initially, Liu Shao and Liu Jun requested that Yan use magical powers to plead to the gods and ghosts so that Emperor Wen would not hear their faults.