南嶽總勝集 3.33

3.33

湖南馬希聲。嗣父位。連年亢旱。祈禱不應。乃封閉南嶽司天王廟及境內神祠。竟不雨。其兄希震入諫之。飲酒至中夜而退。聞堂前諠譟連召希震。復入見希聲。倒立於階下。衣裳不被。其首已碎。令視信扶上以帛蒙首。翌日發喪。以弟希烈嗣位。先是大將周達自南嶽親見江上雲霧中擁執希聲而去。祕不敢言。此夕有物如黑幕。突入堂前。即時而卒。

Ma Xisheng of Hunan succeeded to his father's position. Drought persisted for consecutive years, yet prayers were not answered; he then shut up the Temple of the Heavenly King of Nanyue and the shrines throughout his domain, but still no rain fell. His elder brother Xizhen came to remonstrate with him, drinking wine until midnight before withdrawing. Hearing a tumult before the hall, [the attendants] repeatedly called for Xizhen. Returning, he found Xisheng standing upside down below the steps, unclad, his head already smashed. He ordered servants to support him up and wrap his head in silk. The next day they announced the mourning, and his younger brother Xilie succeeded to the position. Prior to this, the general Zhou Da had personally seen Xisheng seized and carried off amid the clouds and mist over the river from Nanyue, but kept it secret and dared not speak of it. On this night, an object like a black curtain suddenly burst into the front hall, and he instantly died.