佛祖統紀 40.54

40.54

Previously, Ye Fashan drowned and died in his youth. Three years later he returned home, having been led by a green-clad lad to meet Lord Lao, which was why he had stayed so long. Once, in a stone chamber, he met a divine being who said, 'You were originally the Left Immortal Minister of the Purple Tenuity, exiled to dwell in the mortal realm. You should establish merit to deliver people. By order of Lord Lao, I transmit to you the method of One, Three, and Five.' Emperor Gaozong summoned him and appointed him Grand Minister, but he did not accept and begged to become a Daoist priest. Later, he went into the Western Mountains to cultivate the Dao. During the Jinglong era, the divine being descended again to transmit Lord Lao's command, saying: 'You must assist Ruizong and the Kaiyuan Emperor, and you must not hide your traces in the mountains and forests' (at that time neither emperor had yet arisen, but both their temple names and reign titles were announced in advance). In the eighth month of that year, he was indeed summoned to the pass. When the Prince of Xiang was later enthroned as Ruizong, and Xuanzong succeeded the throne, Fashan foresaw every auspicious or ominous circumstance and movement, reporting them beforehand. It happened that Tibet sent an envoy offering a precious casket, saying, 'We request Your Majesty to open it yourself and not let others know the secret.' Fashan said, 'This is a lethal device; the Tibetan envoy should be ordered to open it himself.' A crossbow fired from within the casket, struck the Tibetan envoy, and killed him immediately. The Emperor esteemed Fashan and appointed him Grand Master of the Silver-Blue Radiance with the Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon and Duke of Yue. Later, he performed deliverance by means of the corpse and departed.