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卷一 補帝紀第一 神武帝上

Volume 1 Annals 1: Emperor Shenwu 1

Chapter 1 of 北齊書 · Book of Northern Qi
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1
Emperor Shenwu, Part One
2
婿
Emperor Shenwu, posthumous temple name Gaozu of Northern Qi, bore the surname Gao; his personal name was Huan and his style Heiliuhun. He came from Tiao in Bohai. In the sixth generation his ancestor Yin had been Administrator of Xuantu under the Jin. Yin fathered Qing, Qing fathered Tai, and Tai fathered Hu; all three generations entered the service of the Murong clan. When Murong Bao suffered defeat and the state collapsed into disorder, Hu brought his band over to the Northern Wei and was appointed Right General. Hu had four sons. The third, Mi, served the Wei court and rose to Attending Censor, but after a legal infraction was banished to live at Huaishuo garrison. Mi fathered Gao Huan's father Shu, a man frank and easy in temperament who cared little for the family trade. He lived south of the White Road, where red light and purple vapors appeared again and again. The neighbors took this for uncanny and urged him to move elsewhere to escape it. Gao Huan's father replied, "How do you know it is not a blessing? And he stayed on as before, unperturbed. When Gao Huan was born his mother Lady Han died, and he was reared in the household of his full elder sister's husband Jing, captain of the garrison prison guard.
3
西 便 使 使使 宿
For generations his family had lived on the northern marches, so Gao Huan grew up in frontier ways and lived much like the Xianbei. As a man he was reserved and far-sighted, generous with money and devoted to worthy companions, and the local men of daring looked to him as their leader. His eyes gleamed, his head was long and his cheekbones high, his teeth white as jade; even in youth he wore the bearing of a man marked for greatness. The family was poor, and only after he betrothed Lady Wuming did he acquire a horse and win appointment as squad chief at the garrison. Duan Chang of Liaoxi, the garrison commander, often admired Gao Huan's looks and told him, "You have the talent to heal the realm; you will not end your days obscurely. And he entrusted his descendants to Gao Huan's care. After Gao Huan rose to power he posthumously enfeoffed Duan Chang as Minister of Works and brought his son Ning into office. Gao Huan moved from squad chief to garrison courier. Once while riding post through Jianxing, clouds and mist darkened the day and thunder rolled after him for half a day, as though heaven itself were answering his passage. Whenever he traveled the roads he seemed untouched by wind and dust. He also dreamed once that he walked treading upon the stars; when he woke he was secretly elated. For six years as courier he went each time to Luoyang, where he was assigned to the clerk Ma Xiang. Xiang once fed him meat; Gao Huan, who never ate standing, sat down to accept it. Xiang took this as an insult and had Gao Huan beaten forty strokes. On his return from Luoyang he poured out his fortune to gather followers. Kinsmen and friends asked what moved him; he answered, "At Luoyang I saw the Feathered Forest guards burn down the residence of Supreme Commander Zhang Yi in a mob, and the court, fearing worse trouble, never punished them. When government runs thus, the course of events is already clear. What good is clinging to property forever? From that day he resolved to set the realm right. He made running companions of Sima Ziru, affairs clerk at Huaishuo's Yunzhong desk, Liu Gui of Xiurong, and Jia Xianzhi of Zhongshan; Sun Teng, the garrison household clerk, and Hou Jing, clerk for external military affairs, joined their circle as well. Liu Gui once came by a white hawk and went hunting on the open steppe with Gao Huan, Jing, Cai Jun, Ziru, Jia Xianzhi, and the rest. They sighted a russet hare that bolted away whenever they closed, and the chase carried them to Huize Marsh. Near a hut on the marsh the hare was nearly inside when a dog rushed out, tore at it, and killed both hawk and hare. Gao Huan, furious, killed the dog with a whistling arrow. Two men burst from the hut and seized Gao Huan's robe in alarm. Their blind mother, leaning on her staff, scolded them: "Why do you lay hands on our great guest! She brought wine from a jar, slaughtered a sheep, and feasted them. Declaring herself skilled in reading fate by touch, she passed her hands over each man and pronounced them all destined for rank, yet said every fortune turned on Gao Huan. She added, "Ziru will rise to high office, but Xianzhi will meet an ill end. After the meal they rode on, but a few li later turned back to find the place, and there was no hut at all—their hosts had not been of this world. From that day his companions held him in still greater awe.
4
In the first year of Xiaochang (525), Du Luozhou of Rouxuan garrison rebelled at Shanggu, and Gao Huan and his companions joined him. Disgusted by Luozhou's methods, he secretly plotted with Jing, Duan Rong, and Cai Jun. The plot failed and he fled, with Luozhou's horsemen in pursuit. Wenxiang and the future Empress Yongxi of Wei were still small children; Empress Wuming carried them on the ox in her arms. Wenxiang kept falling from the ox; Gao Huan strung his bow as if to shoot the boy dead and be rid of the burden. Empress Wuming cried to Duan Rong for help, and Rong leapt down in time to catch the boy and save him. He fled next to Ge Rong, then broke away again and took refuge with Erzhu Rong at Xiurong. Liu Gui had long served Erzhu Rong and spoken lavishly of Gao Huan's gifts; now Gao Huan finally met Rong face to face, but worn and haggard as he was, Rong saw nothing remarkable in him. Liu Gui dressed Gao Huan in fresh clothes and arranged another meeting. He then followed Rong into the stables. A vicious stallion was in the stable, and Rong ordered its mane clipped. Gao Huan clipped it without halter or hobble, and the beast never kicked or bit; when he finished he stood and said, "Taming wicked men is like taming this horse. Rong then seated Gao Huan below his couch, dismissed his attendants, and questioned him on the state of the realm. Gao Huan asked, "I hear you pasture horses in twelve valleys, sorted by color—what do you mean to do with them? Rong replied, "Tell me what you have in mind. Gao Huan said, "The emperor is weak and the empress dowager debauched; favored creatures command at will and the court has ceased to govern. With your might, my lord, rise now, strike down Zheng Yan and Xu He, cleanse the emperor's side—and dominion over the realm is yours at a flick of the whip. That is Heiliuhun's counsel. Rong was delighted; they talked from noon until midnight before Gao Huan left. From then on Gao Huan was included in every council of war. Later, when Rong shifted his base to Bing Province, Gao Huan stayed with Pang Cangying of Yangzhou township in a round-walled compound called Tuanjiao. Whenever Gao Huan returned from outside, his host heard from far off footsteps that seemed to shake the earth. Cangying's mother often saw over the compound a scarlet aura blazing up to heaven. One night Cangying tried to enter and a man in blue robes drew a sword and cried, "How dare you disturb the king! When he finished speaking, the figure vanished. At first puzzled, he stole a look inside and saw only a red serpent coiled on the bed; his wonder only grew. He slaughtered an ox and brought Gao Huan generous gifts of meat. Cangying's mother asked to adopt Gao Huan as a son. After Gao Huan rose to power he made the house his own mansion and called it the Southern Residence. Though his new halls grew wide and grand, he left the original Tuanjiao compound plastered in whitewashed stone, never torn down; under Emperor Wenxuan it became a palace. Soon after, Erzhu Rong appointed Gao Huan trusted commander.
5
使 穿
At that time Emperor Ming of Northern Wei loathed Zheng Yan and Xu He, who dominated Empress Dowager Ling, but dared not move against them openly; he secretly urged Erzhu Rong to march on the capital. Rong made Gao Huan his vanguard. When the army reached Shangdang, the emperor secretly ordered a halt. When the emperor died suddenly, Rong entered Luoyang and prepared to seize the throne himself. Gao Huan remonstrated; fearing Rong would not heed him, he had a Buddha image cast for divination—and when the casting failed, Rong abandoned the plan. When Emperor Xiaozhuang took the throne, Gao Huan was enfeoffed Baron of Tongdi for his role in the settlement. When Erzhu Rong campaigned against Ge Rong, he sent Gao Huan to talk seven rebel kings into surrender. He later joined Mobile Headquarters Commander Yu Hui to defeat Yang Kan at Mount Tai, and soon after joined Yuan Tianmu to crush Xing Gao at Jinan. He rose to become chief of the third garrison peoples and remained constantly at Erzhu Rong's side. Rong once asked his companions, "If I were gone, who could lead these armies? All named Erzhu Zhao. Rong said, "Zhao can lead three thousand horsemen home, but only Heiliuhun is fit to replace me in command of the host. He warned Zhao, "You are no match for him; in the end he will put the ring in your nose. He thereupon appointed Gao Huan inspector of Jin Province. Gao Huan amassed wealth on a grand scale and, through Liu Gui, bought off Erzhu Rong's inner circle until he knew their minds completely. About then a horn in the provincial storehouse sounded of its own accord; Gao Huan took it for an omen—and soon Emperor Xiaozhuang killed Erzhu Rong.
6
使 使
When Erzhu Zhao prepared to march from Jinyang on Luoyang, he summoned Gao Huan. Gao Huan sent his chief clerk Sun Teng to excuse him, claiming the Jiang-Shu and Fen-Hu tribes were on the verge of revolt and he could not abandon his post. Zhao resented the refusal. When Sun Teng returned, Gao Huan said, "Zhao is marching against the throne—he is a traitor, and I cannot serve him much longer. From that moment he began plotting against Erzhu Zhao. When Zhao entered Luoyang and dragged Emperor Xiaozhuang north as a prisoner, Gao Huan was dismayed. He sent Sun Teng to offer Zhao false congratulations while secretly seeking Emperor Xiaozhuang's whereabouts, intending to rescue him and raise the banner of revolt—but the plan failed. He wrote urging Zhao that holding the emperor captive would earn him infamy throughout the realm. Zhao refused heed, killed the emperor, and with Erzhu Shilong and others enthroned Prince Changguang of Changguang, changing the era name to Jianming. Gao Huan was enfeoffed Duke of Pingyang Commandery. When Helouling Bofan of the Feiyetou entered Xiurong and threatened Jinyang, Zhao again summoned Gao Huan. Gao Huan was preparing to march when Heba Yanguo'er urged him to go slowly and wear the enemy down. Gao Huan deliberately lingered, claiming there was no bridge and he could not cross the river. Bu Fan's forces grew overwhelming and Erzhu Zhao was beaten and fled. Earlier, when Emperor Xiaozhuang killed Erzhu Rong, he knew the Erzhu faction would rebel and secretly ordered Bu Fan to attack them from the rear. Once Bu Fan had routed Erzhu Zhao, his army grew stronger by the day, and Zhao turned again to Gao Huan for help. Gao Huan intended to destroy Zhao but feared Bu Fan would prove still harder to remove later, so he joined Zhao and broke Bu Fan between them. After Bu Fan fell, Erzhu Zhao was deeply grateful to Gao Huan and swore brotherhood with him. Erzhu Shilong, Dulü, and Yanbo held the court; Tianguang held the west, Zhao held Bing Province, and Zhongyuan held Dong Commandery—each tyrannized with armed force, and all under heaven groaned.
7
使 使 便 使 宿
More than two hundred thousand of Ge Rong's followers had drifted into Bing and Si; bullied by the Jie-Hu, they could scarcely survive. There were twenty-six rebellions, large and small; half the rebels were killed, yet brigandage never stopped. Erzhu Zhao was vexed by this and asked Gao Huan's counsel. Gao Huan said, "The Six Garrisons rebels cannot all be slaughtered. Send men you trust in private to command them. When crimes occur, punish only the commander, and few will suffer. Zhao said, "Well said—who should take it?" Heba Yun, who was present, named Gao Huan. Gao Huan struck him with his fist and broke a tooth, saying, "In the days of the Heavenly Pillar you crawled to his commands like hunting dogs. The realm now rests with you, my lord, yet this flatterer dares deceive you—I ask leave to kill him. Erzhu Zhao took Gao Huan for sincere and entrusted the command to him. While Zhao was drunk, Gao Huan feared he might afterward grow suspicious; he went out and proclaimed that, empowered to command the provincial garrisons, the troops were to assemble east of the Fen for orders. At Yangqu Stream he raised his headquarters banner and organized his divisions. A man in a red kerchief and robe came to the gate, calling himself the Gengyang relay runner, and asked to serve at Gao Huan's side. Inquiry showed he was famed for strength and had killed men in brawls at the Bingzhou market; Gao Huan made him a personal guard. The troops had long hated Erzhu Zhao and welcomed Gao Huan, so all rallied to him. Before long Gao Huan sent Liu Gui to ask Zhao: Bing and Si had suffered frost and drought for years; surrendered households dug out yellow rats to eat, faces gaunt and wasted. Let them move east to forage in Shandong and settle once they are fed, he urged. Zhao agreed. His chief secretary Murong Shaozong warned, "You cannot do this. The realm is in turmoil and men turn their hopes elsewhere; Gao Huan is ambitious and now commands a great army—this cannot stand. Zhao said, "We swore a blood oath at the incense altar—what is there to fear?" Shaozong replied, "Full brothers cannot trust each other—what use is a sworn oath?" By then Zhao's attendants had taken Gao Huan's gold and accused Shaozong of an old feud with Gao Huan; Zhao imprisoned Shaozong and pressed Gao Huan to march. Gao Huan marched out of Jinyang through Fukou Pass. On the road he met the Northern Xiangchang Princess, Erzhu Rong's widow, riding from Luoyang with three hundred horses—and seized every one. When Erzhu Zhao heard, he released Shaozong and asked his meaning. Shaozong said, "It is still something clasped in your palm. He set out in pursuit himself. At Xiangyuan the Zhang River had swollen and broken the bridge. Gao Huan bowed from across the water and said, "I took the princess's horses only to provision against bandits in the east. You came because of her complaint—but if I ford the river now and die, I will not refuse; this army will rebel. Zhao swore he meant no harm, rode across lightly, and sat with Gao Huan under the tent to apologize; he handed over a knife and offered his neck for Gao Huan to strike. Gao Huan wept and said, "Since the Heavenly Pillar died, Heiliuhun has no one else to serve. Live ten thousand years, my lord, that I may still put my strength at your use. Others have driven this wedge between us—how can you speak so again! Zhao cast the knife aside; they sacrificed a white horse and swore brotherhood again, staying up drinking through the night. Jing had hidden strong men ready to seize Zhao; Gao Huan bit his arm to stop him, saying, "Kill him now and his faction will scatter and regroup. Our troops are hungry and our horses spent—we cannot afford a split. If some hero rises, the harm will be worse. Better to leave him be for now. Zhao is fierce but witless—not worth plotting against. Next day Zhao returned to camp and summoned Gao Huan again; Gao Huan was about to ride to him, but Sun Teng seized his robe and held him back. Zhao cursed him from across the river and galloped back to Jinyang. Nianxian, a trusted man of Zhao's, camped apart with the families of surrendered households; Gao Huan feigned friendship, snatched the blade at his belt, and killed his escort—the rest scattered. The army rejoiced and rallied to him in greater numbers. In Emperor Taiwu's day, court scholars reported that Shangdang bore the aura of an emperor—at Dawang Mountain in Huguan. Emperor Taiwu marched south to suppress it, piled stones into three cairns, and cut down Northern Fenghuang Mountain to break its form. Later the Shangdang exiles at Jinyang lived in what was called Shangdang Ward—and Gao Huan had lived there. On this march he camped at Dawang Mountain for sixty days before advancing. Before leaving Fukou he tightened discipline sharply—not the smallest thing might be taken. Passing wheat fields, he always led his horse on foot. Near and far men praised Commandant Gao for his disciplined troops and gave him their hearts. He marched on and encamped at Ye, but Liu Dan, governor of Xiang Province, refused him grain. He took it himself from the military storehouses.
8
使 西
In the second month of Wei Putai 1 (531), Gao Huan halted at Xindu; Gao Gan and Feng Longzhi opened the gates, and he seized Ji Province. That month Erzhu Dulü deposed Yuan Ye and enthroned Emperor Jiemin, hoping to bind Gao Huan. In the third month he had Emperor Jiemin enfeoff Gao Huan as Prince of Bohai and summoned him to court. Gao Huan declined. On the guisi day of the fourth month he was further given Eastern Route Grand Chief and First Chief of the Garrison Peoples. Pang Cangying fled from Taiyuan; Gao Huan made him a chief's clerk, then governor of An Province. Turning east into Shandong, Gao Huan drilled troops and repaired armor, forbade pillaging, and won the people. He forged a letter claiming Erzhu Zhao would assign the Six Garrisons men to the Jie-Hu as retainers, and the army groaned with anger. He also forged a Bingzhou conscription order to fight the Buluoji. He called up ten thousand men to send away; Sun Teng and Jing twice asked for a five-day delay. Gao Huan escorted them to the suburbs himself, weeping as he took leave; the men wailed until the earth seemed to shake. Gao Huan told them, "We are all exiles from home, one family in name—I never thought they would summon you like this. March west and you die; miss the deadline and you die; be handed to the Jie-Hu and you die—what can we do? The men cried, "We can only rebel!" Gao Huan said, "Rebellion is the urgent move—but we must choose a leader. They wanted Gao Huan. Gao Huan said, "Your kind is hard to rule—have you forgotten Ge Rong? A million men, and without law he perished to nothing. Make me your leader and things will differ: no cheating Han subjects, no breaking army law. Give me your lives and I will lead you—or leave and be mocked by the realm. They bowed to the ground and pledged their lives to his command. Gao Huan said, "If there is no other way." Next day he slaughtered an ox to feast the troops and declared war on the Erzhu. Feng Longzhi came forward and said, "A moment that comes once in a thousand years—all heaven is fortunate. Gao Huan said, "Punishing these rebels is righteousness itself; saving the age is great endeavor. I am no warrior, but I will follow with my life—how could I refuse!"
9
使 滿 西 滿 椿 椿
On the gengzi day of the sixth month he raised the banner at Xindu, not yet openly breaking with the Erzhu. When Li Yuanzhong and Gao Gan took Yin Province and brought Erzhu Yusheng's head, Gao Huan struck his breast and said, "Today the break is made. He appointed Yuanzhong governor of Yin Province. His army's strength now shown, he submitted a memorial denouncing the Erzhu clan. Shilong and the rest suppressed the memorial and never forwarded it. In the eighth month Erzhu Zhao took Yin Province and Li Yuanzhong fled to Gao Huan. Sun Teng argued that with the court cut off, only a provisional emperor could hold men's hopes. On the renyin day of the tenth month they enthroned Lang, son of Prince Zhangwu Rong and governor of Bohai, as emperor under the era Zhongxing—the later Deposed Emperor. Dulü and Zhongyuan halted at Yangping, and Erzhu Zhao joined them. Using Dou Tai's counsel, Gao Huan spread discord and Dulü and Zhongyuan withdrew without fighting. Gao Huan then defeated Erzhu Zhao at Guang'a. In the eleventh month he attacked Ye; Liu Dan, governor of Xiang Province, barred the gates and held firm. Gao Huan built earthworks and dug tunnels, propping them with great pillars that he burned at once—the walls collapsed into the earth. Ma Xiang was magistrate of Tangyin; Gao Huan called out, "Prefect Ma! Ashamed, Xiang fled. On the renwu day of the first month of Yongxi 1 (532), he took Ye and held it. The Deposed Emperor promoted Gao Huan to Grand Chancellor, Pillar-of-State Grand General, and Grand Preceptor. At the same time Qing Province rose in rebellion; Grand Commanders Cui Lingzhen and Geng Xiang both sent envoys to submit. Liu Gui, who was administering Fen Province, abandoned his post and surrendered. In the intercalary third month Erzhu Tianguang marched from Chang'an, Zhao from Bing Province, Dulü from Luoyang, and Zhongyuan from Dong Commandery to meet at Ye with a force said to number two hundred thousand. They camped along the Huan River while Emperor Jiemin put Changsun Chengye in overall command as Grand Eastern Chief. Gao Huan left Feng Longzhi to hold Ye and marched out to encamp at Zimo. He had fewer than two thousand horse and not thirty thousand foot—the odds were impossible. At Hanling he formed a ring formation and chained oxen and donkeys to block retreat. Officers and men alike resolved to die, then struck from every side. Erzhu Zhao accused Gao Huan of betrayal. Gao Huan said, "We joined forces to serve the throne—where is the emperor now? Zhao said, "Emperor Yong'an wrongly killed the Heavenly Pillar. I am only avenging him. Gao Huan said, "I heard the Heavenly Pillar's plan myself—you stood at the gate. Can you say you never meant to rebel? When a lord kills his minister, what vengeance is owed? Today our bond of righteousness is broken. They joined battle and routed him utterly. Erzhu Zhao clutched his chest before Murong Shaozong and cried, "Had I listened to you, this would never have happened! He was about to flee with a light escort. Shaozong reversed the banners and sounded the horns, rallied the scattered troops, restored order, and marched west. Gao Jishi pursued with seven riders, crossed Yema Ridge, and met Zhao. Gao Ao looked and could not see him; he wept and said, "I have lost my brother! Late that night Jishi returned, his sleeves drenched in blood. Husi Chun raced ahead by forced marches and seized the River Bridge first. Earlier, in the tenth month of Wei Putai 1 (531), Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, and Venus gathered at Zi and Shen, shining with unusual brilliance. The court astronomers divined that a true king would rise. Gao Huan had risen at Xindu—and by now he had broken Zhao and the rest. In the fourth month Husi Chun seized Tianguang and Dulü and sent them to Luoyang. Changsun Chengye sent commanders Jia Xianzhi and Zhang Huan into Luoyang to seize Shilong and Yanbo and behead them. Zhao fled to Bing Province. Zhongyuan fled to Liang Province and died there. With the wicked eliminated, the court rejoiced. Before the battle, in the month prior, Zhang Shao of Zhangwu was seized at night by several horsemen who carried him over the wall to a great general. He was ordered to guide the army toward Ye for one who had received Heaven's mandate to destroy the wicked. Shao looked back—the host was beyond counting, marching in perfect silence. Nearing Ye, they released him. On the day of battle Erzhu soldiers saw horsemen closing in from every side of the field—Heaven's aid, men said.
10
Soon Gao Huan reached Luoyang, deposed Emperor Jiemin and the Zhongxing emperor, and enthroned Emperor Xiaowu. Once enthroned, Emperor Xiaowu made Gao Huan Grand Chancellor, Pillar-of-State Grand General, Grand Preceptor, and hereditary governor of Ding Province, raising his fief to one hundred fifty thousand households in all. Gao Huan declined the Pillar-of-State title and surrendered fifty thousand households. On the renchen day he returned to Ye; the Wei emperor saw him off at Ganfu Mountain, clasping hands in parting.
11
椿
On the renyin day of the seventh month Gao Huan led his army north against Erzhu Zhao. Feng Longzhi said, "Palace Attendants Husi Chun, Helü Sheng, and Jia Xianzhi once served the Erzhu and all turned on their masters. Now favored in the capital, they will surely sow discord. Gao Huan took this to heart and sent Tianguang and Dulü back to the capital to be executed. He then entered through Fekou Pass. Erzhu Zhao plundered Jinyang and retreated north to hold Xiurong. Bing Province was pacified. Because Jinyang was walled in on four sides, Gao Huan built his Grand Chancellor's headquarters there and made it his base. At Xiurong Zhao split his forces to hold the passes and raided back and forth. Gao Huan loudly proclaimed he would attack, yet his army marched out and halted four times, until Zhao grew careless. Guessing Zhao would be feasting at the New Year, Gao Huan sent Dou Tai with elite cavalry at a gallop—three hundred li in a day and a night—and followed with the main army. In the first month of the second year Dou Tai suddenly arrived at Erzhu Zhao's headquarters. The troops were drunk and idle from feasting; seeing Dou Tai's army they fled in panic. He pursued and broke them at Chihong Ridge. Zhao hanged himself; Gao Huan came in person and gave him a lavish burial. Murong Shaozong held Wutu City with Erzhu Rong's family and the remnants; he surrendered, and for old righteousness's sake Gao Huan treated him with great generosity.
12
椿 使 使 鹿 使
When Gao Huan entered Luoyang, commanders Qiao Ning and Zhang Ziqi of Erzhu Zhongyuan's force submitted from Huatai. Gao Huan beheaded them for aiding rebellion and for repeated treachery. Husi Chun was inwardly ill at ease; with Prince Nanyang Baoqu and Military Guard Generals Yuan Pi, Wei Guang, and Wang Sizheng he slandered Gao Huan to the Wei emperor. Palace Attendant Yuan Shibi also memorialized that Gao Huan had shown great disrespect in receiving imperial edicts. Thus the Wei emperor turned his heart toward Helü Yue. Earlier, in Emperor Xiaoming's day, Luoyang folk struck two daggers together, and a song ran: "Bronze dagger strikes iron dagger—the Yuan clan's great generals will end. The curious took the two daggers to mean Tuoba and Helü—both clans, they said, were doomed to fall. Minister of Works Gao Qian secretly warned Gao Huan that the emperor's heart was divided; Gao Huan sealed the letter and forwarded it. The Wei emperor had him killed and secretly ordered East Xuzhou governor Pan Shaoye to tell Changle governor Pang Cangying to kill his younger brother Gao Ao. Ao had already heard of his brother's death. He drove his spear into a pillar, set strong men to seize Shaoye on the road, found the secret edict in his robe collar, and fled to Gao Huan. Gao Huan clasped his head and wept, saying, "The Son of Heaven wrongly killed the Minister of Works! He at once sent the white martial banner to condole with his family. Gao Qian's next-youngest brother Shen was in Guang Province, governing with harsh severity and taking bribes from his subordinates; the Wei emperor sent someone to replace him. Shen heard of the trouble and was about to flee to Liang. His followers said, "Your family's merit is great—they will surely not punish brothers together. He put on shabby clothes, pushed a deer cart, and returned to Bohai. He met the imperial envoy on the road and fled to Gao Huan as well. The breach between the Wei emperor and Gao Huan was now complete.
13
使便 西
The Azhiluo barbarians had regularly paid tribute before Zhengguang; once the Wei court fell into turmoil, they all rebelled. Gao Huan sent envoys to summon them and they at once submitted. Earlier an edict had dissolved the Eastern Headquarters because the rebels were pacified. Now, because distant peoples had submitted, Gao Huan was again given the Grand Eastern Headquarters with discretion to act as needed. Gao Huan regularly bestowed grain and cloth on them; advisers called it wasted expense, but he would not listen and continued to comfort them as before. Their chieftains such as Tuchen were grateful and obeyed every order—rescuing Cao Ni and taking Moqi Shouluogan—proving of great use. The Feiyetou barbarian of Hexi, Qidouling Yili, held Hechi behind strong terrain with a great following; Gao Huan's chief secretary Hou Jing repeatedly summoned him, but he would not submit.
14
This text was collated against the Zhonghua Shuju first edition of the Book of Northern Qi (November 1972).
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