法苑珠林 78.56

78.56

Zhang Xuan, Grand Administrator of Wuchang under the Liang, was once travelling by boat. There was a retainer whose labor was slightly unsatisfactory, and Xuan personally beat him; at a single blow, he fell dead, showing no sign of reviving. Xuan thereupon pushed him into the river. In a short while, he saw this man emerge from the water, fold his hands before Xuan, and say, 'My crime did not warrant death; your lordship murdered me unjustly. Now I have come to take revenge!' He then leapt into Xuan's mouth. Because of this, Xuan fell ill and died after a few days.