高僧傳 9.31

9.31

Fotudeng had a disciple named Daojin, whose learning encompassed both inner and outer texts, and who was held in high regard by Shi Hu; he once spoke about the matter of recluses. Shi Hu said to Daojin: 'There is a certain Yang Ke, who is a subject of Mine. I summoned him for more than ten years, yet he did not respect the royal command. When I went in person to see him, he lay there haughtily. Though I lack virtue, I reign over the myriad states; wherever the imperial carriage turns, Heaven boils and Earth surges. Though I cannot make trees and stones bow their knees, why should a mere commoner persist in haughtiness? Formerly, when the Grand Duke went to Qi, he first executed Hua Shi. The Grand Duke was a worthy sage; could he have been mistaken?' Daojin replied: 'Formerly Shun treated Puyi with generosity, and Yu visited Baocheng; Marquis Wen of Wei leaned on his carriage bar in respect for Duan Ganmu, and the Han praised Zhou Dang; Guan Ning did not answer the summons of the Cao family, and Huangfu Mi did not yield to the Jin dynasty. The two sages and four rulers all honored their integrity, wishing thereby to stimulate and admonish the greedy and contentious, so as to foster a lofty and pure moral wind. May Your Majesty emulate the virtue of Shun and Yu, and not imitate the Grand Duke's use of execution. Every move of a ruler must be recorded by the scribes; how can you let the history of the Zhao have no biography of recluses?' Shi Hu was pleased with his words and immediately sent Yang Ke back to his dwelling, assigning ten families to supply his needs. When Daojin returned, he recounted all of this to Fotudeng. Fotudeng smiled broadly and said: 'Your words were good, but Ke's life hangs by a thread.' Later, during a military rebellion in Qin Province, Ke's disciples mounted Ke upon an ox and fled westward. The barbarian troops gave chase and captured them, and all were killed.