Old Chinese tales create modern-day magic

There's a story that's been told and retold so many times that it was probably true in some form or another at some point in time. I heard it like this:

A boy is riding with his father when they come to a traffic jam. Up ahead, a huge truck has got itself jammed under a bridge and all the tow trucks, cranes and emergency workers can't pry it loose. The boy innocently says to his father: "Why don't they let the air out of the tires?" And the day is saved.

Now, from 2,000 years ago, comes the story of 6-year-old Cao Chong, the son of Cao Cao, warlord of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). The emperor of the Wu Dynasty (222-280) sent Chong's father a fabulous birthday present, something no one in the realm had ever laid eyes on before - an elephant.