1
世宗文襄皇帝，諱澄，字子惠，神武長子也，母曰婁太后。 生而岐嶷，神武異之。 魏中興元年，立為渤海王世子。 就杜詢講學，敏悟過人，詢甚嘆服。 二年，加侍中、開府儀同三司，尚孝靜帝妹馮翊長公主，時年十二，神情儁爽，便若成人。 神武試問以時事得失，辨析無不中理，自是軍國籌策皆預之。
Emperor Wenxiang, temple name Shizong of Northern Qi, bore the personal name Cheng and the style Zihui. He was the eldest son of Gao Huan; his mother was Empress Dowager Lou. From birth he was precocious and keen; Gao Huan took him for a prodigy. In Zhongxing 1 (531) he was made heir to the Prince of Bohai. He studied under Du Xun; his quickness of mind surpassed all others, and Du Xun came to admire him deeply. In the second year he was made Palace Attendant and Grand Lord Equal to Three Imperator and married Princess Chang of Fengyi, Emperor Xiaojing's sister. He was twelve, handsome and spirited, already bearing himself like a man. Gao Huan tested him on the affairs of the day; his analysis never missed the mark, and from then on he was included in every plan of war and state.
2
天平元年，加使持節、尚書令、大行臺、幷州刺史。 三年，入輔朝政，加領左右、京畿大都督。 時人雖聞器識，猶以少年期之，而機略嚴明，事無凝滯，於是朝野振肅。 元象元年，攝吏部尚書。 魏自崔亮以後。 選人常以年勞為制，文襄乃釐改前式，銓擢唯在得人。 又沙汰尚書郎，妙選人地以充之。 至于才名之士，咸被薦擢，假有未居顯位者，皆致之門下，以為賓客，每山園游燕，必見招攜，執射賦詩，各盡其所長，以為娛適。 興和二年，加大將軍，領中書監，仍攝吏部尚書。 自正光已後，天下多事，在任羣官，廉潔者寡。 文襄乃奏吏部郎崔暹為御史中尉，糾劾權豪，無所縱捨，於是風俗更始，私枉路絕。 乃牓於街衢，具論經國政術，仍開直言之路，有論事上書苦言切至者，皆優容之。
In Tianping 1 (534) he received Bearer of Credentials, Director of the Masters of Writing, Grand Mobile Headquarters, and the inspectorship of Bing Province. In the third year he entered the capital to assist in governance and was given charge of the Left and Right and made Grand Commander of the Capital Region. Though men had heard of his talent, they still treated him as a youth; yet his plans were strict and clear, nothing hung fire, and court and countryside alike were stirred to order. In Yuanxiang 1 (538) he served as acting Minister of Personnel. In Northern Wei, since the time of Cui Liang, appointments had been governed by seniority; Gao Cheng reformed the old practice so that selection rested only on finding the right men. He also sifted the clerks of the Masters of Writing and chose men of talent and standing to fill the posts. Men of talent and reputation he recommended and promoted; those not yet in high office he took into his household as retainers. Whenever he toured gardens and hills he summoned them; they shot arrows, composed verse, and each showed his gift — all for pleasure. In Xinghe 2 (540) he was made Grand General and Director of the Secretariat Supervisor while still serving as acting Minister of Personnel. Since the Zhenguang era the realm had been in turmoil, and among officials in office few were honest. Gao Cheng then had Cui Xuan of the Ministry of Personnel appointed Vice Censor-in-Chief; he impeached the powerful without sparing any, custom was renewed, and private wrongdoing and bribery ceased. He posted notices in the streets setting forth the arts of governing the state and opened a path for blunt speech; those who submitted memorials or letters with bitter and penetrating words he all received with favor.
3
武定四年十一月，神武西討，不豫班師，文襄馳赴軍所，侍衛還晉陽。 五年正月丙午，神武崩，秘不發喪。 辛亥，司徒侯景據河南反，潁州刺史司馬世雲以城應之。 景誘執豫州刺史高元成、襄州刺史李密、廣州刺史暴顯等。 遣司空韓軌率衆討之。 夏四月壬申，文襄朝於鄴。 六月己巳，韓軌等自潁州班師。 丁丑，文襄還晉陽，乃發喪，告喻文武，陳神武遺志。 七月戊戌，魏帝詔以文襄為使持節、大丞相、都督中外諸軍、錄尚書事、大行臺、渤海王。 文襄啟辭位，願停王爵。 壬寅，魏帝詔太原公洋攝理軍國，遣中使敦喻。 八月戊辰，文襄啟申神武遺令，請減國邑分封將督，各有差。 辛未，朝鄴，固辭丞相。 魏帝詔曰：「旣朝野攸憑，安危所系，不得令遂本懷，須有權奪，可復前大將軍，餘如故。」
In the eleventh month of Wuding 4 (546), Gao Huan marched west, fell ill, and withdrew; Gao Cheng raced to the army, attended him, and escorted him back to Jinyang. In the first month of Wuding 5 (547), on bingwu day, Gao Huan died; the death was kept secret. On xinhai day Minister of Works Hou Jing rebelled and held Henan, and Ying Inspector Sima Shiyun opened the city to him. Hou Jing lured and seized Yuzhou Inspector Gao Yuancheng, Xiangzhou Inspector Li Mi, Guangzhou Inspector Bao Xian, and others. Gao Cheng sent Minister of Works Han Gui at the head of an army to attack him. In the fourth month, on renshen day, Gao Cheng attended court at Ye. In the sixth month, on jisi day, Han Gui and the others withdrew from Ying Province. On dingchou day Gao Cheng returned to Jinyang, announced the death, informed civil and military officials, and set forth Gao Huan's final wishes. In the seventh month, on wuxu day, the Eastern Wei emperor issued an edict that Gao Cheng be Bearer of Credentials, Grand Chancellor, Commander-in-Chief of All Armies at Home and Abroad, Recorder of Affairs of the Masters of Writing, Grand Mobile Headquarters, and Prince of Bohai. Gao Cheng memorialized to decline and wished to relinquish the princely rank. On renyin day the emperor issued an edict that Duke of Taiyuan Gao Yang administer military and state affairs and sent a palace envoy to urge him earnestly. In the eighth month, on wuchen day, Gao Cheng memorialized to carry out Gao Huan's final command, asking to reduce the royal fief and enfeoff generals and commanders, each according to rank. On xinwei day he attended court at Ye and firmly declined the chancellorship. The emperor issued an edict, "Since court and countryside rely on you and safety hangs upon you, I cannot let you follow your wish; authority must be taken by necessity. You may resume your former rank of Grand General; the rest remains as before."
4
議者咸云侯景猶有北望之心，但信命不至耳。 又景將蔡遵道北歸，稱景有悔過之心。 王以為信然，謂可誘而致，乃遺景書曰：
Those who debated the matter all said Hou Jing still looked northward, but only the command had not reached him. Again Hou Jing's officer Cai Zundao returned north and said Hou Jing wished to repent. Gao Cheng believed it and thought he could be lured back; he sent Hou Jing a letter saying,
5
先王與司徒契闊夷險，孤子相依，偏所眷屬，義貫終始，情存歲寒。 待為國士者乃立漆身之節，饋以一餐者便致扶輪之效，況其重於此乎？ 常以故舊之義，欲將子孫相托，方為秦晉之匹，共成劉、范之親。 況聞負杖行歌，便以狼顧反噬，不蹈忠臣之路，便陷叛人之地。 力不足以自強，勢不足以自保，率烏合之衆，為累卵之危。 西取救於宇文，南請援於蕭氏，以狐疑之心，為首鼠之事。 入秦則秦人不容，歸吳則吳人不信。 當是不逞之人，曲為無端之說，遂懷市虎之疑，乃致投杼之惑。 比來舉止，事已可見，人相疑誤，想自覺知。 闔門大小，悉在司寇，意謂李氏未滅，猶言少卿可反。 孤子無狀招禍，丁天酷罰，但禮由權奪，志在忘私，聊遣偏裨，前驅致討，南兗、揚州，應時剋復。 即欲乘機，席捲縣瓠，屬以炎暑，欲為後圖，且令還師，待時更舉。
The late king and the Minister of Works shared hardship through peril and isolation; I, his orphan, depended on you—you were his special charge. Righteousness ran from first to last; affection endured through the cold years. Those treated as men of the state would lay down their lives; one who was fed a single meal would repay with the deed of bracing the wheel—how much more when the bond was weightier than this? By the old friendship I ever meant to entrust my descendants to you and make a match like Qin and Jin, forming a kinship like Liu and Fan. Yet I hear that leaning on your staff and singing in the lanes, you turned like a wolf to bite in return, forsook the path of the loyal minister, and fell into the land of the rebel. Your strength is not enough to strengthen yourself; your power is not enough to protect yourself; you lead a rabble host and stand in peril like a pile of eggs. West you seek rescue from Yuwen; south you ask aid from the Xiao house—with a doubting heart you do the deed of a wavering rat. Enter Qin and the men of Qin will not receive you; return to Wu and the men of Wu will not trust you. Surely it was men of disorder who twisted groundless words, so that you harbored the suspicion of the tiger in the market and fell into the confusion of the thrown shuttle. Your conduct of late is already plain to see; men suspect and err, and I think you know it yourself. Your whole household, great and small, is in the hands of the Minister of Justice; I thought that since the Li clan was not yet destroyed, one might still say the Lesser Minister could return. I, the orphan, unworthy, have drawn calamity; heaven has dealt a cruel punishment—yet ritual allows taking authority by necessity, and my aim is to forget private feeling. I have sent only a partial force as vanguard to attack; southern Yanzhou and Yangzhou were recovered at once. I meant to seize the moment and sweep up Xiangcheng, but because of the heat I planned for later and for now ordered withdrawal, to strike again when the time comes.
6
今寒膠向折，白露將團，方憑國靈，龔行天罰。 器械精新，士馬強盛，內外感恩，上下戮力，三令五申，可赴湯火。 使旗鼓相望，埃塵相接，勢如沃雪，事等注熒。 夫明者去危就安，智者轉禍為福，甯人負我，不我負人，當開從善之途，使有改迷之路。 若能卷甲來朝，垂橐還闕者，即當授豫州，必使終君身世。 所部文武更不追攝，進得保其祿位，退則不喪功名。 今王思政等皆孤軍偏將，遠來深入，然其性命在君掌握，脫能刺之，想有餘力。 節相加授，永保疆埸。 君門眷屬，可以無患，寵妻愛子，亦送相還，仍為通家，共成親好。
Now the cold glue is about to break and white dew will soon gather; relying on the state's numen, I march to execute heaven's punishment. Weapons are sharp and new, soldiers and horses strong; within and without men are grateful, above and below strive together; thrice and five times commanded, they would walk into boiling water. Banners and drums face each other, dust and smoke meet; the force is like pouring water on snow, the affair like pouring oil on flame. The clear-sighted leave peril for safety; the wise turn calamity into blessing. Better that others wrong me than that I wrong others—open the path of accepting good, and give a road for correcting error. If you can roll up your armor and come to court, empty your bags and return to the capital, I will at once grant you Yuzhou and see that you hold it for life. Your civil and military subordinates will not be pursued; advance and you keep rank and salary, retreat and you lose neither merit nor fame. Now Wang Sizheng and the rest are isolated generals who came from afar and marched deep; yet their lives are in your hand—if you can stab them, I think you still have strength enough. I will add the seal of minister and forever secure the frontier. Your household kin need not fear; your cherished wife and beloved sons I will also send back—we shall again be allied houses and form a close bond.
7
君今不能東封函谷，南面稱孤，受制於人，威名頓盡。 得地不欲自守，聚衆不以為強，空使身有背叛之名，家有惡逆之禍，覆宗絕嗣，自貽伊戚。 戴天履地，能無愧乎！ 孤子今日不應遣此，但見蔡遵道云：「司徒本無西歸之心，深有悔過之意」，未知此語為虛為實。 吉凶之理，想自圖之。
If you cannot now seal Hangu Pass in the east and call yourself king facing south, but must be controlled by others, your renown will at once be spent. You gain land yet will not hold it yourself; you gather a host yet do not count it strong—in vain you bear the name of rebel and your house the calamity of treason; clan extinguished, line cut off, you bring sorrow on yourself. Wearing heaven on your head and treading earth underfoot—can you be without shame! I, the orphan, ought not to send this today, but I saw Cai Zundao say, "The Minister of Works originally had no mind to go west and deeply wished to repent"—I do not know whether these words are empty or real. The logic of fortune and calamity—I think you will weigh it yourself.
8
景報書曰：
Hou Jing replied in a letter:
9
僕鄉曲布衣，本乖藝用，出身為國，綿曆二紀，犯危履難，豈避風霜，遂得富貴當年，榮華身世。 一旦舉旗掞，援鼓枹，北面相抗者何哉？ 寔以畏懼危亡，恐招禍害故耳。 往年之暮，尊王遘疾，神不祐善，祈禱莫瘳。 遂使嬖幸弄權，心腹離貳，妻子在宅，無事見圍。 及廻歸長社，希自陳狀，簡書未遣，斧鉞已臨。 旣旌旗相對，咫尺不遠，飛書每奏，冀申鄙情。 而群帥恃雄，眇然弗顧，連戰推鋒，專欲屠滅。 掘圍堰水，僅存三版，舉目相看，命縣漏刻。 不忍死亡，出戰城下，拘秦送地，豈樂為之？ 禽獸惡死，人倫好生，僕實不辜，桓、莊何罪。 且尊王平昔見與比肩，戮力同心，共獎帝室，雖復權勢參差，寒暑小異，丞相司徒，雁行而已。 福祿官榮，自是天爵，勞而後授，理不相干，欲求吞炭，何其謬也！ 然竊人之財，猶謂之盜。 祿去公室，抑謂不取。 今魏德雖衰，天命未改，拜恩私第，何足關言。
I, a humble man of the village lanes, by nature unfit for arts and use, entered service for the state and have passed two decades, braving peril and treading hardship without shunning wind and frost—thus I gained wealth in those years and glory in this life. Why did I once raise the banner and beat the drum and face north in resistance? Truly because I feared peril and death and dreaded drawing calamity. In the late months of the year before, the honored king fell ill; the spirits did not bless the good, and prayers brought no cure. Thus favorites played with power, trusted hearts were divided, and though wife and children were at home they were besieged without cause. When I returned to Changshe and hoped to state my case, the summons had not yet been sent and the axe was already at hand. Though banners faced each other and we were not a bowshot apart, I sent letters again and again, hoping to make my humble feeling plain. Yet the commanders relied on their strength and looked down on me; battle followed battle, thrust on thrust, and they sought only to slaughter and destroy. They dug ditches and dammed water until only three boards of wall remained; we looked at each other, lives hanging by the dripping clepsydra. Unable to bear death, I went out to fight below the wall and was seized and sent to Qin—would I do that for pleasure? Beasts hate death; human relations love life—I am truly guiltless; what crime had Huan and Zhuang? Moreover the honored king in former days treated me as an equal; we strove together with one heart and jointly upheld the imperial house—though power was unequal and cold and heat differed slightly, Chancellor and Minister of Works were only like geese in flight. Fortune, salary, office, and glory are heaven's rank; granted after labor—reason does not connect with seeking to swallow charcoal; how absurd! Yet to steal another's goods is still called theft. Salary taken from the public house—can one say it was not taken? Now Wei's virtue though declined, heaven's mandate is not yet changed; to receive favor in a private residence—what need to speak of it?
10
賜嗤不能東封函谷，受制於人，當似教僕賢祭仲而褒季氏。 無主之國，在禮未聞，動而不法，將何以訓？ 竊以分財養幼，事歸令終，舍宅存孤，誰雲隙末？ 復言僕衆不足以自強，身危如累卵。 然億兆夷人，卒降十亂，紂之百克，終自無後，潁川之戰，即是殷監。 輕重由人，非鼎在德，苟能忠信，雖弱必強，殷憂啟聖，處危何苦。 況今梁道邕熙，招攜以禮，被我虎文，縻之好爵，方欲苑五岳而池四海，掃氛穢以拯黎元。 東羈甌越，西道汧隴，吳越悍勁，帶甲千羣，秦兵冀馬，控弦十萬，大風一振，枯幹必摧，凝霜暫落，秋帶自殞，此而為弱，誰足稱雄？ 又見誣兩端，受疑二國，斟酌物情，一何太甚！ 昔陳平背楚，歸漢則強，百里出虞，入秦斯霸。 蓋昏明由主，用舍在人，奉禮而行，神其吐邪！
You mock me for being unable to seal Hangu Pass in the east and for being controlled by others—it is as if you praised Jizhong and commended the Ji clan. A realm without a lord—in ritual I have not heard of it; to act without law—with what will you instruct? I hold that dividing wealth to nurture the young is a matter of proper ending; leaving a house to preserve the orphan—who would call that a petty grudge? Again you say my host is not enough to strengthen myself and my person is in peril like a pile of eggs. Yet when the hundred millions of the Yi people submitted, the ten rebels of Zhou fell; Zhou's hundred victories in the end left him without heirs—the battle at Yingchuan is the warning of Yin. Weight and light depend on the man, not the tripod on virtue; if one can be loyal and faithful, though weak one must become strong; deep sorrow opens the sage, and dwelling in peril—what hardship is there? Moreover now Liang's way is harmonious and bright; it gathers men by ritual, covers them with tiger-pattern robes, and ties them with noble ranks—it intends to park the five peaks as a garden and pool the four seas, sweep foul vapors and save the black-haired people. East it bridles Ou and Yue; west it opens the road to Qian and Long; Wu and Yue are fierce and strong, girded with armor in thousands; Qin troops and Ji horses, bows drawn in tens of thousands—one blast of great wind and dry trunks must break; frost gathers for a moment and autumn girdles fall of themselves—if this is called weak, who is fit to be called strong? Again I see slander of wavering between two sides and suspicion from two states—weighing human feeling, how excessively! Formerly Chen Ping turned from Chu; returning to Han he became strong. Baili left Yu; entering Qin he became hegemon. Dark and bright depend on the lord; use and discard depend on the man—follow ritual in action, and the spirits will reject evil!
11
書稱士馬精新，剋日齊舉，誇張形勢，必欲相滅。 切以寒膠白露，節候乃同，秋風揚塵，馬首何異。 徒知北方之力爭，未識西南之合從，苟欲狥意於前途，不覺坑穽在其側。 去危就安，今歸正朔； 轉禍為福，已脫網羅。 彼當嗤僕之過迷，此亦笑君之晦昧。 今引二邦，揚旌北討，熊虎齊奮，克復中原，荊、襄、廣、潁，已屬關右，項城、縣瓠，亦奉江南，幸自取之，何勞見援。 然權變非一，理有萬途，為君計者，莫若割地兩和，三分鼎峙，燕、衛、趙、晉，足相俸祿，齊、曹、宋、魯，悉歸大樑。 使僕得輸力南朝，北敦姻好，束帛自行，戎車不駕，僕立當世之功，君卒父禰之業，各保疆壘，聽享歲時，百姓乂寧，四人安堵。 孰若驅農夫於壟畝，抗勁敵於三方，避干戈於首尾，當鋒鏑於心腹。 縱太公為將，不能獲存，歸之高明，何以克濟。
Your letter speaks of sharp soldiers and horses and fixing a day for joint advance, exaggerating the situation and surely wishing mutual destruction. Truly cold glue and white dew—the season is the same; wind raises dust and the horses' heads—what difference is there? You know only the north's struggle for strength and do not see the southwest's alliance—if you wish to follow your whim on the road ahead, you do not notice the pitfall at your side. Leave peril for safety—now return to the orthodox calendar; turn calamity into blessing—already escaped the net. They will mock my past confusion; this too laughs at your obscurity. Now I lead two states, raise banners and march north to attack; bears and tigers strive together, recover the central plains—Jing, Xiang, Guang, and Ying already belong to the Guanxi; Xiangcheng and Xianhu already submit to the Jiangnan—take them yourself; what need to ask aid? Yet expedients are not one; reason has ten thousand paths. For your plan, nothing surpasses ceding land and making peace in two parts, three shares standing like the tripod—Yan, Wei, Zhao, and Jin enough for salary; Qi, Cao, Song, and Lu all return to Great Liang. Let me lend strength to the southern court, north I honor kinship by marriage; silks go of themselves, war chariots need not be driven—I stand and achieve merit for the age, you finish your fathers' and grandfathers' enterprise; each keeps his frontier, each enjoys the seasons; the hundred surnames are at peace, the four classes dwell secure. How does that compare with driving farmers from the fields, facing fierce enemies on three sides, avoiding weapons at head and tail, and meeting blades and arrows at the heart? Even if the Grand Duke were general, he could not survive; return to the high and bright—how could success be achieved?
12
來書曰，妻子老幼悉在司寇，以此見要，庶其可反。 當是見疑褊心，未識大趣。 昔王陵附漢，母在不歸； 太上囚楚，乞羹自若。 矧伊妻子，而可介意。 脫謂誅之有益，欲止不能，殺之無損，復加阬戮，家累在君，何關僕也。 遵道所說，頗亦非虛，故重陳辭，更論款曲。 昔與盟主，事等琴瑟，讒人間之，翻為讐敵。 撫弦搦矢，不覺傷懷，裂帛還書，其何能述。
Your letter says my wife, children, and elders are all held by the Ministry of Justice, and that you mean to use them to force my return. This can only be the work of a suspicious and petty mind that does not grasp the larger design. Long ago Wang Ling sided with Han while his mother was alive in Chu and would not return; the Dowager Empress was held prisoner in Chu yet asked for soup as calmly as ever. How much less, then, should one make a fuss over wife and children! If you think killing them would serve some purpose, you cannot restrain yourself; if it would do you no good, you would still butcher them anyway. Your hostages are in your hands—what is that to me? What Zundao reported was not wholly empty, and so I restate my case and speak again in earnest. Once the alliance leader and I were as harmonious as lute and zither; slanderers came between us, and we became enemies. To touch the strings or grasp the arrow is to feel grief anew; to tear silk and send it back in reply—how can words say enough?
13
王尋覽書，問誰為作。 或曰：「其行臺郎王偉。」 王曰：「偉才如此，何因不使我知？」 王欲間景於梁，又與景書而謬其辭，云本使景陽叛，欲與圖西，西人知之，故景更與圖南為事。 漏其書於梁，梁人亦不之信。
When Gao Cheng had read the letter, he asked who had written it. Someone said, "It was his mobile-court gentleman Wang Wei. Gao Cheng said, "With talent like this, why was I not told? Gao Cheng wished to drive a wedge between Hou Jing and Liang, and wrote to Jing with falsified wording, saying he had originally sent Jing to stir rebellion at Jingyang and meant to plot the west together; when Western Wei learned of it, Jing turned instead to plotting with the south. He leaked the letter to Liang, but the Liang court did not believe it either.
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壬申，東魏主與王獵於鄴東，馳逐如飛。 監衛都督烏那羅受工伐從後呼曰：「天子莫走馬，大將軍怒。」 王嘗侍飲，舉大觴曰：「臣澄勸陛下酒。」 東魏主不悅曰：「自古無不亡之國，朕亦何用如此生！」 王怒曰：「朕！ 朕！ 狗腳朕！」 使崔季舒毆之三拳，奮衣而出。 尋遣季舒入謝。 東魏主賜季舒彩，季舒未敢即受，啟之於王，王使取一段。 東魏主以四百疋與之，曰：「亦一段耳。」 東魏主不堪憂辱，詠謝靈運詩曰：「韓亡子房奮，秦帝魯連恥。 本自江海人，忠義感君子。」 因流涕。
On renshen the Eastern Wei emperor hunted with Gao Cheng east of Ye, galloping as if in flight. Supervisory Guard Commander Wunaluo Shougongfa shouted from behind, "Your Majesty, do not gallop—the Grand General will be angry! Once, while attending him at drink, Gao Cheng raised a great goblet and said, "Your servant Cheng urges Your Majesty to drink. The Eastern Wei emperor said, displeased, "Since antiquity no state has failed to perish—why should I cling so to life! Gao Cheng raged, "Imperial We! Imperial We! Dog-footed Imperial We! He had Cui Jishu strike him three blows with the fist, then flung his robes aside and stormed out. Soon he sent Jishu in to apologize. The Eastern Wei emperor bestowed silk on Jishu; Jishu dared not accept at once and reported to Gao Cheng, who told him to take one bolt. The Eastern Wei emperor gave him four hundred bolts and said, "That too is only one bolt. Unable to bear the anguish and humiliation, the Eastern Wei emperor recited a poem of Xie Lingyun: "When Han perished Zhang Liang rose in zeal; before the Qin emperor Lu Zhong felt shame. Born from river and sea, loyalty and righteousness move the noble heart. And he wept.
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三月辛亥，王南臨黎陽，濟於虎牢，自洛陽從太行而反晉陽。 於路遺書百僚，以相戒勵。 朝野承風，莫不震肅。 又令朝臣牧宰各舉賢良及驍武膽略堪守邊城，務得其才，不拘職業。 六月，王巡北邊城戍，賑賜有差。
On xinhai of the third month Gao Cheng went south to Liyang, crossed at Hulao, and returned to Jinyang from Luoyang by way of the Taihang. On the road he left letters to the hundred officials, admonishing and encouraging them. Court and countryside caught the wind of it; none failed to be shaken into awe. He also ordered court ministers and district governors each to recommend the worthy and the brave with the boldness and strategy to hold border towns, seeking talent alone and not binding themselves to rank or trade. In the sixth month Gao Cheng toured the northern border forts and gave relief in varying measure.
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七月，王還晉陽。 辛卯，王遇盜而殂，時年二十九。 葬于峻成陵。 齊受禪，追諡為文襄皇帝，廟號世宗。 時有童謠曰：「百尺高竿摧折，水底燃燈燈滅。」 識者以為王將殂之兆也。 數日前，崔季舒無故於北宮門外諸貴之前誦鮑明遠詩曰：「將軍旣下世，部曲亦罕存。」 聲甚淒斷，淚不能已，見者莫不怪之。 初，梁將蘭欽子京為東魏所虜，王命以配廚。 欽請贖之，王不許。 京再訴，王使監廚蒼頭薛豐洛杖之，曰：「更訴當殺爾。」 京與其黨六人謀作亂。 時王居北城東柏堂蒞政，以寵琅邪公主，欲其來往無所避忌，所有侍衛，皆出於外。 太史啟言宰輔星甚微，變不出一月。 王曰：「小人新杖之，故嚇我耳。」 將欲受禪，與陳元康、崔季舒等屏斥左右，署擬百官。 京將進食，王却，謂諸人曰：「昨夜夢此奴斫我，宜殺却。」 京聞之，置刀於盤，冒言進食。 王怒曰：「我未索食，爾何據來！」 京揮刀曰：「來將殺汝！」 王自投傷足，入于床下。 賊黨去床，因而見殺。 先是訛言曰：「軟脫帽，床底喘」，其言應矣。 時太原公洋在城東雙堂，入而討賊，臠割京等，皆漆其頭。 秘不發喪，徐出言曰：「奴反，大將軍被傷，無大苦也。」
In the seventh month Gao Cheng returned to Jinyang. On xinmao Gao Cheng fell to assassins and died; he was twenty-nine. He was buried at Juncheng Tomb. When Qi received the abdication, he was posthumously titled Emperor Wenxiang, with the temple name Shizong. At the time a children's song ran, "A hundred-foot pole snaps; lamps lit beneath the water go out. Those who understood took it as an omen that Gao Cheng would die. Days before, Cui Jishu for no apparent reason recited before the nobles outside the North Palace Gate a poem of Bao Mingyuan: "The general having left this world, his followers scarcely remain. His voice was deeply mournful and tears would not stop; all who saw it found it strange. Earlier, Zi Jing, son of the Liang general Lan Qin, had been captured by Eastern Wei; Gao Cheng ordered him assigned to the kitchen staff. Lan Qin asked to ransom him; Gao Cheng refused. Jing appealed again; Gao Cheng had the kitchen-overseer bondman Xue Fengluo beat him and said, "Complain again and you will be killed. Jing and six of his cohort plotted mutiny. At the time Gao Cheng held court at the East Cypress Hall in the North City; favoring the Princess of Langye, he wished her comings and goings to be without restraint, and had all guards posted outside. The court astronomer reported that the minister-and-councilor star was very faint and that change would come within a month. Gao Cheng said, "That wretch was just flogged—he only wants to frighten me. About to receive the abdication, he with Chen Yuankang, Cui Jishu, and others dismissed attendants and drafted appointments for the hundred offices. When Jing was about to bring food, Gao Cheng held back and told the others, "Last night I dreamed this slave hacked at me—I ought to kill him. Jing heard this, hid a knife in the serving tray, and came forward as if to bring food. Gao Cheng raged, "I did not ask for food—why do you press in! Jing swung the knife and said, "I have come to kill you! Gao Cheng threw himself aside, wounded in the foot, and crawled under the bed. The assassins dragged him from the bed and killed him. Before this a rumor ran, "Soft hat off, gasping under the bed"—and the words came true. At the time Prince of Taiyuan Gao Yang was at the Twin Hall east of the city; he entered and punished the traitors, dismembering Jing and the rest and lacquering their heads. They kept the death secret, then slowly announced, "The slave rebelled; the Grand General was wounded—nothing grave."
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全文以中華書局、一九七二年十一月、第一版《北齊書》為本校。
This text was collated against the Zhonghua Shuju first edition of the Book of Northern Qi (November 1972).