冥報記 3.21

3.21

Dou Gui, the Area Commander of Luozhou and Duke of Cuan, was cruel by nature and fond of killing. Early on, when he served as vice director of the branch department of state affairs in Yizhou, he killed many officers and soldiers, and also murdered Wei Yunqi, the minister of the branch department. In the winter of the second year of the Zhenguan era, while in Luozhou, he fell gravely ill. He suddenly said, 'Someone has brought me melons as a gift.' His attendants reported, 'There are no melons in winter.' The Duke said, 'A plate of fine melons—how can you say there are none?' Soon, looking in terror, he said, 'They are not melons; they are all human heads demanding the debt of life from me!' He further said, 'Support me to get up; I see Minister Wei.' Having spoken, he died.