1
孝昭皇帝演，字延安，神武皇帝第六子，文宣皇帝之母弟也。 幼而英特，早有大成之量，武明皇太后早所愛重。 魏元象元年，封常山郡公。 及文襄執政，遣中書侍郎李同軌就霸府為諸弟師。 帝所覽文籍，源其指歸而不好辭彩。 每歎云：「雖盟津之師，左驂震而不衄。」 以為能。 遂篤志讀《漢書》，至《李陵傳》，恒壯其所為焉。 聰敏過人，所與遊處，一知其家諱，終身未嘗誤犯。 同軌病卒，又命開府長流參軍刁柔代之，性嚴褊，不適誘訓之宜，中被遣出。 帝送出閤，慘然斂容，淚數行下，左右莫不歔欷。 其敬業重舊也如此。
Emperor Xiaozhao, whose personal name was Yan and style name Yan'an, was the sixth son of Emperor Shenwu and the full younger brother of Emperor Wenxuan. Even as a boy he was remarkable, showing early promise of greatness, and Empress Dowager Wuming had cherished him from the start. In the first year of the Yuanxiang era of Wei, he was made Duke of Changshan Commandery. Once Wenxiang took charge of the government, he dispatched Li Tonggui, Gentleman of the Secretariat, to the Overlord's residence to instruct his younger brothers. In whatever he read, he sought the root meaning and cared nothing for fine phrasing. He often sighed and said, "Even when the army stood at Mengjin and the left outer horse shied, they did not break and flee." That, he thought, was real courage." He then applied himself to the Book of Han; when he came to the biography of Li Ling, he always took fierce pride in Li Ling's conduct. Quick beyond ordinary men, he learned the taboo names of everyone he kept company with and never once, in all his life, gave accidental offense. After Tonggui died of illness, Diao Rou, a senior staff officer in the chief's office, was appointed in his place—but Diao was harsh and rigid, ill suited to teaching, and before long was dismissed. The prince walked him out through the gate, his face drawn and still, tears running freely; everyone around him wept. Such was his devotion to his teachers and his loyalty to old ties.
2
天保初，進爵為王。 五年，除幷省尚書令。 帝善斷割，長於文理，省內畏服。 七年，從文宣還鄴。 文宣以尚書奏事，多有異同，令帝與朝臣先論定得失，然後敷奏。 帝長於政術，剖斷咸盡其理，文宣歎重之。 八年，轉司空、錄尚書事。 九年，除大司馬，仍錄尚書。
At the opening of the Tianbao era, he was raised to princely rank. In the fifth year he was made Chief Minister of the Secretariat for the combined provinces. He was sharp in judgment and strong in letters and law, and the whole Secretariat stood in awe of him. In the seventh year he returned to Ye with Emperor Wenxuan. Because memorials from the Secretariat often conflicted, Emperor Wenxuan had the prince and the ministers debate each matter's merits first, and only then bring the decision forward. The prince had a gift for statecraft; every ruling he handed down went to the heart of the matter, and Emperor Wenxuan marveled at him. In the eighth year he was made Minister of Works and Recorder of the Affairs of the Secretariat. In the ninth year he was made Grand Marshal while retaining his post as Recorder of the Secretariat.
3
時文宣溺於遊宴，帝憂憤表於神色。 文宣覺之，謂帝曰：「但令汝在，我何為不縱樂？」 帝唯啼泣拜伏，竟無所言。 文宣亦大悲，抵杯於地曰：「汝以此嫌我，自今敢進酒者，斬之！」 因取所御杯盡皆壞棄。 後益沉湎，或入諸貴賤家角力批拉，不限貴賤。 唯常山王至，內外肅然。 帝又密撰事條，將諫，其友王晞以為不可。 帝不從，因間極言，遂逢大怒。 順成后本魏朝宗室，文宣欲帝離之，陰為帝廣求淑媛，望移其寵。 帝雖承旨有納，而情義彌重。 帝性頗嚴，尚書郎中剖斷有失，輒加捶楚，令史姦慝，便即考竟。 文宣乃立帝於前，以刀環擬脅召被帝罰者，臨以白刃，求帝之短，咸無所陳，方見解釋。 自是不許笞箠郎中。 後賜帝魏時宮人，醒而忘之，謂帝擅取，遂以刀環亂築，因此致困。 皇太后日夜啼泣，文宣不知所為。 先是禁友王晞，乃捨之，令侍帝。 帝月餘漸瘳，不敢復諫。
By then Emperor Wenxuan was lost to feasting and pleasure, and the prince's distress and anger showed in his every look. Emperor Wenxuan noticed and said to him, "With you here, why should I not enjoy myself?" The prince could only weep and bow to the ground; in the end he said not a word. Emperor Wenxuan was stricken too. He smashed his cup on the floor and cried, "So this is how you see me! From today on, whoever dares set wine before me shall be executed!" Then he took every cup at hand and smashed them all. After that he only sank deeper into drink. Sometimes he would walk into any house, high or low, and wrestle and brawl without distinction of rank. Only when the Prince of Changshan appeared did the palace fall silent and straighten itself. The prince secretly drew up a list of grievances and prepared to remonstrate, but his friend Wang Xi urged him not to. He would not listen. Seizing a moment alone with Emperor Wenxuan, he spoke with all his force—and provoked a terrible rage. Empress Shuncheng came from the Wei imperial clan. Emperor Wenxuan wanted the prince to turn from her and secretly searched out worthy beauties for him, hoping to draw his heart elsewhere. The prince obeyed and took some of them in, but his devotion to the empress only grew deeper. He could be severe. When a Secretariat gentleman erred in judgment, he had him beaten at once; when a clerk proved corrupt, he had him interrogated to the finish. Emperor Wenxuan made the prince stand before him, brandishing the ring of his sword as a threat. He called in those the prince had punished, put bare blades to their throats, and demanded his faults—but none had any charge to bring, and only then was the prince released. After that he was forbidden to flog the Secretariat gentlemen. Later Emperor Wenxuan gave the prince palace women left from Wei times. When he sobered, he forgot the gift, accused the prince of taking them without leave, and beat him savagely with the sword ring until the prince collapsed from his injuries. The Empress Dowager wept day and night, and Emperor Wenxuan did not know what to do. Wang Xi, his friend, had earlier been placed under restriction; now Emperor Wenxuan freed him and set him to wait on the prince. After a month and more the prince slowly mended, but he never dared remonstrate again.
4
三月甲戌，帝初上省，旦發領軍府，大風暴起，壞所御車幔，帝甚惡之。 及至省，朝士咸集。 坐定，酒數行，執尚書令楊愔、右僕射燕子獻、領軍可朱渾天和、侍中宋欽道等於坐。 帝戎服與平原王段韶、平秦王高歸彥、領軍劉洪徽入自雲龍門，於中書省前遇散騎常侍鄭子默，又執之，同斬於御府之內。 帝至東閤門，都督成休甯抽刃呵帝。 帝令高歸彥喻之，休甯厲聲大呼不從。 歸彥旣為領軍，素為兵士所服，悉皆弛仗，休寧歎息而罷。 帝入至昭陽殿，幼主、太皇太后、皇太后並出臨御坐。 帝奏愔等罪，求伏專擅之辜。 時庭中及兩廊下衛士二千餘人皆被甲待詔，武衛娥永樂武力絕綸，又被文宣重遇，撫刃思效。 廢帝性吃訥，兼倉卒不知所言。 太皇太后又為皇后誓，言帝無異志，唯去逼而已。 高歸彥勑勞衛士解嚴，永樂乃內刀而泣。 帝乃令歸彥引侍衛之士向華林園，以京畿軍入守門閤，斬娥永樂於園。 詔以帝為大丞相、都督中外諸軍、錄尚書事，相府佐史進位一等。 帝尋如晉陽，有詔軍國大政咸諮決焉。
On the jiaxu day of the third month, the prince went to the Secretariat for the first time. At dawn he left the Commander-in-Chief's headquarters; a sudden gale tore the curtains of his carriage, and he took it as a dire omen. By the time he arrived, the court officials had all gathered. They had barely settled in and taken a few cups when he seized Chief Minister Yang Yin, Right Vice Director Yanzi Xian, Commander-in-Chief Kezhuhun Tianhe, Palace Attendant Song Qindao, and the rest where they sat. In armor, with Prince Duan Shao of Pingyuan, Prince Gao Guiyan of Pingqin, and Commander-in-Chief Liu Honghui, he entered through the Cloud Dragon Gate. Before the Secretariat he met Regular Attendant Zheng Zimo, seized him too, and had them all beheaded inside the Imperial Treasury. At the Eastern Pavilion Gate, the commander Cheng Xiuning drew his sword and shouted at the prince. The prince sent Gao Guiyan to reason with him, but Xiuning roared his refusal. Gao Guiyan, now Commander-in-Chief, was a man the troops had long trusted. At his word they lowered their arms, and Xiuning sighed and stood down. The prince entered Zhaoyang Hall. The young emperor, the Grand Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager all came out to the throne. He laid out the crimes of Yang Yin and his fellows and asked to bear the penalty for acting on his own authority. More than two thousand guards in the courtyard and along both wings of the hall stood armored, awaiting command. E Yongle of the Military Guard was a fighter without equal, and Emperor Wenxuan had greatly favored him; he gripped his blade, ready to give his life. Emperor Fei, now deposed, was slow of tongue and halting in speech; caught in the sudden crisis, he did not know what to say. The Grand Empress Dowager also swore on the empress's behalf that the prince harbored no treasonous design and had acted only to remove those who had been coercing the throne. Gao Guiyan ordered the guards to stand down and thanked them for their service; E Yongle then sheathed his blade and wept. The prince then ordered Gao Guiyan to lead the palace guards to Hualin Garden, posted the capital garrison at the palace gates, and executed E Yongle there. An edict appointed him Grand Chancellor, Commander-in-Chief of all armies at home and abroad, and Recorder of the Affairs of the Secretariat, and all staff of the chancellery were promoted one rank. The prince soon proceeded to Jinyang, where an edict declared that all major civil and military affairs were to be submitted to him for final decision.
5
帝旣當大位，知無不為，擇其令典，考綜名實，廢帝恭己以聽政。 太皇太后尋下令廢少主，命帝統大業。
Once he held real power, he left nothing undone—choosing the best laws, matching appointments to actual merit—while the deposed emperor modestly yielded the throne and listened to his governance. The Grand Empress Dowager soon issued an order deposing the young emperor and commanding him to take up the imperial succession.
6
皇建元年八月壬午，皇帝即位於晉陽宣德殿，大赦，改乾明元年為皇建。 詔奉太皇太后還稱皇太后，皇太后稱文宣皇后，宮曰昭信。 乙酉，詔自太祖創業已來，諸有佐命功臣子孫絕滅，國統不傳者，有司搜訪近親，以名聞，當量為立後； 諸郡國老人各授版職，賜黃帽鳩杖。 又詔謇正之士並聽進見陳事； 軍人戰亡死王事者，以時申聞，當加榮贈； 督將、朝士名望素高，位歷通顯，天保以來未蒙追贈者，亦皆錄奏； 又以廷尉、中丞，執法所在，繩違按罪，不得舞文弄法； 其官奴婢年六十已上免為庶人。 戊子，乙太傅、長廣王湛為右丞相，以太尉、平陽王淹為太傅，以尚書令、彭城王浟為大司馬。 壬辰，詔分遣大使巡省四方，觀察風俗，問人疾苦，考求得失，搜訪賢良。 甲午，詔曰：「昔武王克殷，先封兩代，漢、魏、二晉，無廢茲典。 及元氏統歷，不率舊章。 朕纂承大業，思弘古典，但二王三恪，舊說不同，可議定是非，列名條奏。 其禮義體式亦仰議之。」 又詔國子寺可備立官屬，依舊置生，請習經典，歲時考試。 其文襄帝所運石經，宜即施列於學館。 外州大學亦仰典司勤加督課。 丙申，詔九州勳人有重封者，聽分授子弟，以廣骨肉之恩。
On the renshen day of the eighth month of the first year of Huangjian, the emperor ascended the throne in the Xuande Hall at Jinyang, proclaimed a general amnesty, and changed the era name from Qianming to Huangjian. An edict restored the Grand Empress Dowager to the title of Empress Dowager, gave the former empress dowager the title Empress Wenxuan, and named her residence Zhaoxin Palace. On the yiyou day, an edict declared that since the Founding Emperor's rise to power, wherever the descendants of founding ministers had died out and their lines of succession were broken, officials should search for close relatives, report their names, and appoint successors as appropriate. Elderly men throughout the commanderies and principalities were granted honorary appointments and presented with yellow caps and dove staffs. Another edict permitted upright and outspoken men to come forward and address the throne directly. Soldiers who fell in battle or died in the ruler's service were to be reported promptly and granted posthumous honors. Military governors and court officials of high standing who had held prominent posts but had not received posthumous honors since the Tianbao era were also to be recorded and memorialized. It further ordered the Court of Judicial Review and the Censorate, as the organs charged with enforcing the law, to investigate violations and assign guilt strictly according to statute, without twisting the law for their own purposes. Official slaves aged sixty or older were freed and made commoners. On the wuzi day, Grand Tutor and Prince of Changgang Gao Zhan was made Right Chancellor; Grand Commander and Prince of Pingyang Gao Yan was made Grand Tutor; and Minister of the Left and Prince of Pengcheng Gao You was made Grand Marshal. On the renchen day, an edict ordered envoys to be sent throughout the realm to inspect local conditions, inquire into the people's hardships, assess what had succeeded or failed, and seek out worthy and able men. On the jiawu day, an edict stated: "When King Wu of Zhou conquered the Shang, he first enfeoffed descendants of the two preceding dynasties. The Han, Wei, and two Jin dynasties likewise never abandoned this precedent. But when the Northern Wei held power, they ceased to follow the old rites. We have inherited the imperial enterprise and wish to restore the ancient practice, but scholars disagree on the rites for enfeoffing descendants of prior dynasties; let the matter be debated, the correct view determined, and the names submitted in memorial. The ritual forms and ceremonial standards should likewise be submitted for deliberation." Another edict ordered the Directorate of the National University to restore its full staff, enroll students as before, have them study the classics, and hold seasonal examinations. The stone classics commissioned by Emperor Wenxiang should immediately be set up and displayed in the academy. The provincial universities should likewise be diligently supervised and examined by the responsible offices. On the bingshen day, an edict declared that meritorious men of the nine provinces who held multiple enfeoffments might divide and grant them to sons and younger brothers, so as to extend the bonds of kinship.
7
九月壬申，詔議定三祖樂。
On the renshen day of the ninth month, an edict ordered deliberation on the ritual music for the three ancestral temples.
8
冬十一月辛亥，立妃元氏為皇后，世子百年為皇太子。 賜天下為父後者爵一級。 癸丑，有司奏太祖獻武皇帝廟宜奏《武德》之樂，舞《昭烈》之舞； 世宗文襄皇帝廟宜奏《文德》之樂，舞《宣政》之舞； 顯祖文宣皇帝廟宜奏《文正》之樂，舞《光大》之舞。 詔曰可。 庚申，詔以故太師尉景、故太師竇泰、故太師太原王婁昭、故太宰章武王厙狄幹、故太尉段榮、故太師万俟普、故司徒蔡儁、故太師高乾、故司徒莫多婁貸文、故太保劉貴、故太保封祖裔、故廣州刺史王懷十二人配饗太祖廟庭，故太師清河王岳、故太宰安德王韓軌、故太宰扶風王可朱渾道元、故太師高昂、故大司馬劉豐、故太師万俟受洛干、故太尉慕容紹宗七人配饗世宗廟庭，故太尉河東王潘相樂、故司空薛脩義、故太傅破六韓常三人配饗顯祖廟庭。 是月，帝親戎北討庫莫奚，出長城，虜奔遁，分兵致討，大獲牛馬，括總入晉陽宮。
On the xinhai day of the eleventh month, Consort Yuan was installed as empress and the heir apparent Gao Bainian as crown prince. All men throughout the realm who were heirs to their fathers were granted one rank of nobility. On the guichou day, officials memorialized that the temple of the Founding Emperor, Emperor Xianwu, should use the hymn "Martial Virtue" and the dance "Illustrious Fierceness." The temple of Emperor Wenxiang should use the hymn "Civil Virtue" and the dance "Proclaiming Governance." The temple of Emperor Wenxuan should use the hymn "Correct Civil Virtue" and the dance "Great Radiance." The edict approved the proposal. On the gengshen day, an edict ordered twelve deceased ministers to receive associated sacrifice in the Founding Emperor's temple, including Wei Jing, Dou Tai, Lou Zhao, She Digan, Duan Rong, Wan Sipo, Cai Jun, Gao Gan, Moduo Lou Daiwen, Liu Gui, Feng Zuyi, and Wang Huai; seven others in Emperor Wenxiang's temple, including Princes Yue, Han Gui, and Kezhuhun Daoyuan, Liu Feng, Wan Sipo Shouluogan, and Murong Shaozong; and three more in Emperor Wenxuan's temple—Pan Xiangle, Xue Xiuyi, and Poliuhan Chang. That month the emperor personally led a campaign north against the Kumo Xi. He passed beyond the Great Wall; the enemy fled in rout; he sent columns in pursuit and captured large herds of cattle and horses, which were tallied and brought into Jinyang Palace.
9
十二月丙午，車駕至晉陽。
On the bingwu day of the twelfth month, the emperor arrived at Jinyang.
10
二年春正月辛亥，祀圓丘。 壬子，禘於太廟。 癸丑，詔降罪人各有差。
On the xinhai day of the first month of the second year, he sacrificed at the Altar of Heaven. On the renzi day, he performed the di sacrifice at the Grand Ancestral Temple. On the guichou day, an edict commuted the sentences of criminals, each according to the circumstances of his case.
11
二月丁丑，詔內外執事之官從五品已上及三府主簿錄事參軍、諸王文學、侍御史、廷尉三官、尚書郎中、中書舍人，每二年之內各舉一人。
On the dingchou day of the second month, an edict ordered that every two years each official of fifth rank or above in the central and provincial governments, along with chief clerks of the Three Offices, literary instructors to the princes, attendant censors, judicial review officials, ministry directors, and secretariat drafters, should each recommend one candidate.
12
冬十月丙子，以尚書令、彭城王浟為太保，長樂王尉粲為太尉。 己酉，野雉棲于前殿之庭。
On the bingzi day of the tenth month, Minister of the Left and Prince of Pengcheng Gao You was made Grand Guardian, and Prince of Changle Wei Can was made Grand Commander. On the jiyou day, wild pheasants roosted in the courtyard of the front hall.
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帝聰敏有識度，深沉能斷，不可窺測。 身長八尺，腰帶十圍，儀望風表，迥然獨秀。 自居臺省，留心政術，閑明簿領，吏所不逮。 及正位宸居，彌所剋勵。 輕徭薄賦，勤恤人隱。 內無私寵，外收人物，雖后父位亦特進無別。 日昃臨朝，務知人之善惡，每訪問左右，冀獲直言。 曾問舍人裴澤在外議論得失。 澤率爾對曰：「陛下聰明至公，自可遠侔古昔，而有識之士，咸言傷細，帝王之度，頗為未弘。」 帝笑曰：「誠如卿言。 朕初臨萬機，慮不周悉，故致爾耳。 此事安可久行，恐後又嫌疏漏。」 澤因被寵遇。 其樂聞過也如此。 趙郡王叡與厙狄顯安侍坐，帝曰：「須拔我同堂弟，顯安我親姑子，今序家人禮，除君臣之敬，可言我之不逮。」 顯安曰：「陛下多妄言。」 曰：「若何？」 對曰：「陛下昔見文宣以馬鞭撻人，常以為非，而今行之，非妄言耶？」 帝握其手謝之。 又使直言。 對曰：「陛下太細，天子乃更似吏。」 帝曰：「朕甚知之，然無法來久，將整之以至無為耳。」 又問王晞，晞答如顯安，皆從容受納。 性至孝，太后不豫，出居南宮，帝行不正履，容色貶悴，衣不解帶，殆將四旬。 殿去南宮五百餘步，雞鳴而去，辰時方還，來去徒行，不乘輿輦。 太后所苦小增，便即寢伏閤外，食飲藥物盡皆躬親。 太后常心痛不自堪忍，帝立侍帷前，以爪掐手心，血流出袖。 友愛諸弟，無君臣之隔。 雄斷有謀，于時國富兵強，將雪神武遺恨，意在頓駕平陽，為進取之策。 遠圖不遂，惜哉！
The emperor was quick-witted and far-sighted, deep and decisive—his inner thoughts could not be read. He stood eight feet tall, with a waist ten spans around; in bearing and presence he stood apart, towering above all others. From his years in the central administration he devoted himself to governance and mastered records and accounts with a clarity clerks could not match. Once he ascended the throne, he applied himself all the more vigorously. He lightened corvée labor and reduced taxes, and diligently attended to the people's hidden hardships. He showed no private favoritism within the palace and gathered talented men from without; even the empress's father, for all his honors, received no special treatment beyond his nominal rank. He held court until the sun was low in the west, striving to discern men's strengths and failings; he constantly questioned those around him, hoping to hear frank counsel. He once asked Attendant Gentleman Pei Ze what people were saying about his policies when he was away from court. Pei Ze answered without hesitation: "Your Majesty is intelligent and utterly fair and could indeed rival the sages of antiquity, but men of discernment all say you are too exacting in small matters—the magnanimity proper to an emperor is still somewhat lacking. The emperor smiled and said, "You are quite right. When I first assumed the throne, I had not yet grasped every detail of governance, and that is why this happened. This cannot go on indefinitely—I am afraid you will later find me negligent again." Pei Ze was thereupon showered with imperial favor. Such was his pleasure in being told of his faults. Prince of Zhao Gao Rui and Kudi Xian'an were seated in attendance. The emperor said, "Xu Ba is my cousin; Xian'an is my aunt's son. Today we observe family etiquette and put aside the formalities of ruler and subject—you may tell me where I fall short." Xian'an said, "Your Majesty says many things that are not true." The emperor asked, "How so?" He replied, "Your Majesty once saw Emperor Wenxuan lash people with a riding crop and always condemned it; yet now you do the same—is that not saying one thing and doing another?" The emperor took his hand and thanked him. He again asked them to speak plainly. They replied, "Your Majesty is too detail-minded—the Son of Heaven ends up acting more like a petty official." The emperor said, "I am well aware of that, but things cannot stay this way forever. I mean to set affairs in order until governance can proceed effortlessly on its own." He then questioned Wang Xi, who answered as Xian'an had; the emperor received all their remarks with composure. He was deeply filial. When the empress dowager fell ill and moved to the Southern Palace, the emperor walked unsteadily, his face gaunt and drawn; he slept in his clothes without removing his belt for nearly forty days. The palace hall was over five hundred paces from the Southern Palace. He rose at cockcrow and did not return until mid-morning, walking the whole way on foot without taking a carriage or palanquin. Whenever the empress dowager's illness worsened even slightly, he would immediately bed down outside her chamber and personally attend to all her food, drink, and medicine. When the empress dowager was often racked with unbearable heart pain, the emperor would stand in attendance before her curtain, digging his nails into his palms until blood ran down his sleeves. He was loving toward his younger brothers, with none of the distance that normally separates ruler from subject. Bold and decisive, he was also a man of strategy. The realm was then rich and its armies strong, and he meant to avenge the grievances left by Emperor Shenwu, planning to establish his headquarters at Pingyang as a base for conquest. His grand designs were never realized—what a pity!
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初，帝與濟南約不相害。 及輿駕在晉陽，武成鎮鄴，望氣者云鄴城有天子氣。 帝常恐濟南復興，乃密行鳩毒，濟南不從，乃扼而殺之。 後頗愧悔。 初苦內熱，頻進湯散。 時有尚書令史姓趙，於鄴見文宣從楊愔、燕子獻等西行，言相與復讐。 帝在晉陽宮，與毛夫人亦見焉。 遂漸危篤。 備禳厭之事，或煮油四灑，或持炬燒逐。 諸厲方出殿梁，騎棟上，歌呼自若，了無懼容。 時有天狗下，乃於其所講武以厭之。 有兔驚馬，帝墜而絕肋。 太后視疾，問濟南所在者三，帝不對。 太后怒曰：「殺之耶？ 不用吾言，死其宜矣！」 臨終之際，唯扶服床枕，叩頭求哀。 遣使詔追長廣王入纂大統，手書云：「宜將吾妻子置一好處，勿學前人也。」
At first the emperor and the Prince of Jinan had pledged not to harm each other. When the emperor was at Jinyang and Wucheng (Gao Zhan) held Ye, geomancers declared that Ye possessed the aura of imperial destiny. The emperor, fearing that the Prince of Jinan might regain power, secretly sent poison; when the prince refused to take it, he was strangled to death. Afterward he was deeply remorseful. At first he was troubled by internal fever and took medicinal broths and powders repeatedly. A clerk in the Secretariat surnamed Zhao, while at Ye, saw a vision of Emperor Wenxuan leading Yang Yin, Yan Zixian, and others westward, saying they had come to take revenge. The emperor, in the Jinyang Palace, saw the same vision, as did Lady Mao. His illness thereupon grew steadily worse. Every sort of exorcism was performed—oil was boiled and splashed in all directions, or torches were carried to burn and drive spirits away. When evil spirits seemed to emerge from the palace beams, he climbed onto the rafters, singing and shouting as if unperturbed, showing not the slightest fear. When a celestial portent appeared, he held military exercises at the spot to ward it off. A rabbit startled his horse, and the emperor fell, breaking his ribs. The empress dowager came to see him in his illness and three times asked where the Prince of Jinan was; the emperor did not reply. The empress dowager said angrily, "Did you kill him? You refused to listen to me—you deserve to die!" On his deathbed he could only cling to his bed and pillow, kowtowing and pleading for his life. He dispatched envoys with an edict summoning the Prince of Changgang to succeed him, writing in his own hand: "See that my wife and children are placed somewhere safe—do not do as those before you did."
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論曰：神武平定四方，威權在己，遷鄴之後，雖主器有人，號令所加，政皆自出。 文宣因循鴻業，內外葉從，自朝及野，群心屬望，東魏之地，舉國樂推，曾未期月，遂登宸極。 始則存心政事，風化肅然，數年之間，朝野安出。 其後縱酒肆欲，事極倡狂，昏邪殘暴，近代未有，饗國不永，實由斯疾。 濟南繼業，大革其弊，風教粲然，搢紳稱幸。 股肱輔弼，雖懷厥誠，旣不能贊弘道德，和睦親懿，又不能遠慮防身，深謀衛主，應斷不斷，自取其咎。 臣旣誅夷，君壽廢辱，皆任非其器之所致爾。 孝昭早居臺閤，故事通明，人吏之間，無所不委。 文宣崩後，大革前弊。 及臨尊極，留心更深，時人服其明而識其細也。 情好稽古，率由禮度，將封先代之胤，且敦學校之風，徵召英賢，文武畢集。 于時周氏朝政移於宰臣，主將相猜，不無危殆。 乃眷關右，實懷兼併之志，經謀宏遠，實當代之明主，而降年不永，其故何哉？ 豈幽顯之間，實有報復，將齊之基宇止在於斯，帝欲大之，天不許也？
Commentary: Emperor Shenwu pacified the realm and kept power firmly in his own hands. After the capital was moved to Ye, though a sovereign sat on the throne, every command and every policy issued from him alone. Emperor Wenxuan inherited this great enterprise; court and country fell into step, and from the capital to the provinces all looked to him. Throughout Eastern Wei the people rallied to his cause, and within a month he had taken the throne. At first he applied himself diligently to governance, and discipline prevailed; within a few years the realm was at peace. Later he gave himself over to wine and licentiousness to the point of madness—confused, wicked, cruel, and violent as few rulers in memory had been. His reign was brief, and the fault lay in this very failing. The Prince of Jinan succeeded him and vigorously reformed these abuses; culture and morals flourished anew, and the gentry spoke of their good fortune. His chief ministers, for all their loyalty, could neither promote virtue and harmony among the imperial kin, nor forestall danger or counsel their lord with far-sighted care. Where decisive action was needed, they failed to act—and brought disaster on themselves. Ministers were put to death and the sovereign's life ended in humiliation—all because the wrong men had been placed in office. Emperor Xiaozhao had long served in the imperial secretariat, knew its precedents inside out, and was entrusted with every matter great and small. After Emperor Wenxuan's death he undertook sweeping reforms of earlier abuses. Once he ascended the throne his attentiveness only deepened; contemporaries admired his clarity of mind and noted his eye for detail. He cherished antiquity and governed by ritual propriety; he planned to ennoble descendants of earlier dynasties, revive the culture of learning, and summon men of talent until scholars and soldiers alike had gathered at court. At that time power in the Northern Zhou court had passed to its chief ministers; ruler and generals eyed one another with suspicion, and peril was never far away. He then looked westward beyond the Pass, harboring real designs of conquest; his plans were bold and far-reaching—he was truly a ruler of rare ability in his time—yet his life was cut short. What was the cause? Was there retribution at work between the seen and unseen worlds—and was the Northern Qi destined to rise no higher? He sought to expand its domain, but Heaven would not allow it.
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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。
The entire text of this chapter has been collated against the first edition of the Book of Northern Qi (Zhonghua Shuju, November 1972).