法苑珠林 77.50

77.50

Zhang Shan, Prefect of Yangdi under the Qi, was harsh, cruel, greedy, and gluttonous, so that his evil reputation spread widely. The Censorate dispatched Censor Wei Huijun to the commandery to investigate and punish him. The evidence of his bribery was strewn about, and his crime was worthy of death. From prison, Shan had someone deliver a petition, falsely accusing Huijun in reverse of accepting bribes from the people and unjustifiably interrogating and binding him. Emperor Wenxuan was furious, believing that the judicial authorities were biased and perverse and had to be thoroughly investigated and corrected. He ordered Lu Fei, Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, to re-examine the case. Fei, currying favor with the imperial will, finalized Huijun's charge sheet and submitted it, and Huijun was beheaded in the marketplace. Huijun left instructions to a clerk, saying: 'You are well aware of the facts and truth of my case. What more can be done about today's matter? Prepare one hundred sheets of paper, two writing brushes, and an inkstick to accompany my corpse. If there are divine spirits, I will surely hope to avenge this wrong.' The clerk grieved and mourned, sold his own clothes to provide a burial for him, and also prepared the paper and brushes. Fifteen days later, Zhang Shan fell ill, crying out only: 'I kowtow to Board Director Wei!'—'Board Director' being the customary general title used by worldly people for envoys of the Censorate. Within ten days, he died. Barely two months later, Lu Fei was implicated for criticizing the History of the Wei (Weishu) and was impeached by Wei Shou; Emperor Wen [xuan] had him beaten to death. (This one verification is from the Mingxiang ji).