Volume 10 Biographies 2: Eleven Princes of Shenwu

高祖十一王

The Eleven Princes of Shenwu

永安簡平王浚平陽靖翼王淹彭城景思王浟上党剛肅王渙襄城景王淯任城王湝高陽康穆王湜博陵文簡王濟華山王凝馮翊王潤漢陽敬懷王洽

Prince Jianping of Yong'an (Jun); Prince Jingyi of Pingyang (Yan); Prince Jingsi of Pengcheng (You); Prince Gangsu of Shangdang (Huan); Prince Jing of Xiangcheng (Yu); Prince of Rencheng (Hui); Prince Kangmu of Gaoyang (Shi); Prince Wenjian of Boling (Ji); Prince of Huashan (Ning); Prince of Fengyi (Run); Prince Jinghuai of Hanyang (Qia)

神武皇帝十五男：武明婁皇后生文襄皇帝、文宣皇帝、孝昭皇帝、襄城景王淯、武成皇帝、博陵文簡王濟，王氏生永安簡平王浚，穆氏生平陽靖翼王淹，大尒朱氏生彭城景思王浟、華山王凝，韓氏生上党剛肅王渙，小尒朱氏生任城王湝，游氏生高陽康穆王湜，鄭氏生馮翊王潤，馮氏生漢陽敬懷王洽。

Gao Huan, the Shenwu Emperor, had fifteen sons: Empress Wuming née Lou bore Gao Cheng, Gao Yang, Gao Yan, Prince Jing of Xiangcheng Yu, Gao Zhan, and Prince Wenjian of Boling Ji; Lady Wang bore Prince Jianping of Yong'an Jun; Lady Mu bore Prince Jingyi of Pingyang Yan; the Grand Lady Erzhu bore Prince Jingsi of Pengcheng You and Prince of Huashan Ning; Lady Han bore Prince Gangsu of Shangdang Huan; the Lesser Lady Erzhu bore Prince of Rencheng Hui; Lady You bore Prince Kangmu of Gaoyang Shi; Lady Zheng bore Prince of Fengyi Run; Lady Feng bore Prince Jinghuai of Hanyang Qia.

永安簡平王浚，字定樂，神武第三子也。初，神武納浚母，當月而有孕，及產浚，疑非己類，不甚愛之。而浚早慧，後更被寵。年八歲時，問于博士盧景裕曰：「『祭神如神在。』為有神邪，無神邪？」對曰；「有。」浚曰：「有神當雲祭神神在，何煩『如』字？」景裕不能答。及長，嬉戲不節，曾以屬請受納，大見杖罰，拘禁府獄，旣而見原。後稍折節，頗以讀書為務。

Prince Jianping of Yong'an (Jun), whose style name was Dingle, was the third son of Gao Huan. When Gao Huan first took Jun's mother into his household, she conceived that same month; when Jun was born he doubted the child was truly his and showed little affection. Yet Jun was precocious, and in time he came to be favored. At eight years of age he asked the Erudite Lu Jingyu, saying, " 'One sacrifices to the spirits as though the spirits were present. Is there a spirit, or is there not?" He replied: "There is." Jun said, "If there is a spirit, one ought simply to say 'One sacrifices to the spirits; the spirits are present' — why bother with the word 'as though'?" Jingyu could not answer. When he grew up he played without restraint; once he used his influence to solicit bribes and was severely beaten and cane-punished, confined in the princely prison, and afterward pardoned. Later he somewhat reformed his conduct and devoted himself to study.

元象中，封永安郡公。豪爽有氣力，善騎射，為文襄所愛。文宣性雌懦，每參文襄，有時涕出。浚常責帝左右，何因不為二兄拭鼻，由是見銜。累遷中書監、兼侍中。出為青州刺史，頗好畋獵，聰明矜恕，上下畏悅之。天保初，進爵為王。文宣末年多酒，浚謂親近曰：「二兄舊來不甚了了，自登祚已後，識解頓進。今因酒敗德，朝臣無敢諫者，大敵未滅，吾甚以為憂，欲乘驛至鄴面諫，不知用吾不。」人有知，密以白帝，又見銜。八年來朝，從幸東山。帝裸裎為樂，雜以婦女，又作狐掉尾戲。浚進言此非人主所宜。帝甚不悅。浚又于屏處召楊遵彥，譏其不諫。帝時不欲大臣與諸王交通，遵彥懼以奏。帝大怒曰：「小人由來難忍！」遂罷酒還宮。浚尋還州，又上書切諫。詔令徵浚，浚懼禍，謝疾不至。上怒，馳驛收浚，老幼泣送者數千人。至，盛以鐵籠，與上黨王渙俱置北城地牢下，飲食溲穢共在一所。明年，帝親將左右臨穴歌謳，令浚和之。浚等惶怖且悲，不覺聲戰。帝為愴然，因泣，將赦之。長廣王湛先與浚不睦，進曰：「猛獸安可出穴。」帝默然。浚等聞之，呼長廣小字曰：「步落稽，皇天見汝！」左右聞者，莫不悲傷。浚與渙皆有雄略，為諸王所傾服，帝恐為害，乃自刺渙，又使壯土劉桃枝就籠亂刺。槊每下，浚、渙輒以手拉折之，號哭呼天。於是薪火亂投，燒殺之，填以石土。後出，皮髮皆盡，屍色如炭，天下為之痛心。

In the Yuanxiang era he was enfeoffed Duke of Yong'an Commandery. Bold and open, possessed of strength, skilled at riding and archery — he was loved by Gao Cheng. Gao Yang was by nature timid and effeminate; whenever he attended upon Gao Cheng, tears would sometimes fall. Jun often rebuked those at the emperor's side, asking why they did not wipe his elder brothers' noses for them — on this account he came to be resented. He was promoted in succession to Supervisor of the Masters of Writing and Concurrent Palace Attendant. He went out as Governor of Qing Province; he was rather fond of hunting, yet intelligent, stern yet forgiving — high and low both feared and delighted in him. At the opening of the Tianbao era he was advanced to princely rank. In the last years of Gao Yang's reign he drank heavily; Jun said to those close to him, "My two elder brothers were never very clear-minded before; since ascending the throne their understanding has suddenly advanced. Now through wine he ruins his virtue, yet none of the court ministers dare remonstrate. The great enemy is not yet destroyed — I am deeply troubled; I wish to take post-horses to Ye and remonstrate face to face — I do not know whether they will heed me." Someone who knew of it secretly reported to the emperor, and again he came to be resented. In the eighth year he came to court and accompanied the emperor on an excursion to Eastern Mountain. The emperor stripped naked for amusement, mingling with women, and also performed the fox-tail dance. Jun remonstrated that this was not fitting for a ruler. The emperor was greatly displeased. Jun also summoned Yang Zunyan in a secluded place and mocked him for not remonstrating. The emperor at that time did not wish great ministers to have dealings with the princes; Zunyan, in fear, reported it. The emperor flew into a rage and said, "Such petty men have always been intolerable!" Thereupon he ended the feast and returned to the palace. Jun soon returned to his province and again submitted a memorial of stern remonstrance. An edict summoned Jun; Jun, fearing disaster, pleaded illness and did not come. The emperor was enraged and sent post-horses to seize Jun; old and young wept as they saw him off — several thousand in number. When he arrived, he was placed in an iron cage and, together with Prince Gangsu of Shangdang Huan, was put in an underground dungeon beneath the northern city wall; food, drink, urine, and filth were all in one place. The next year the emperor personally led his attendants to the pit to sing and chant, ordering Jun to harmonize with him. Jun and the others were terrified and grief-stricken; without knowing it their voices trembled. The emperor was moved to sorrow and wept, intending to pardon them. Prince Changguang Gao Zhan, who had long been on bad terms with Jun, stepped forward and said, "Can a fierce beast safely be let out of its den?" The emperor fell silent. When Jun and the others heard it, they cried out Changguang's childhood name: "Buluoji — Heaven sees you!" Those among the attendants who heard it — none was not grief-stricken. Jun and Huan both possessed bold strategy and were admired and submitted to by the princes; the emperor feared they would do harm and therefore personally stabbed Huan, then had the strong man Liu Taozhi enter the cage and stab wildly. Each time the spear descended, Jun and Huan would grasp it and break it off with their hands, crying out and calling to Heaven. Thereupon firewood was thrown in confusion and they were burned to death, then covered with stone and earth. When they were later dug out, skin and hair were entirely gone and the corpses were black as charcoal; the realm was heart-stricken on their account.

後帝以其妃陸氏配儀同劉郁捷，舊帝蒼頭也，以軍功見用，時令郁捷害浚，故以配焉。後數日，帝以陸氏先無寵於浚，勑與離絕。乾明元年，贈太尉。無子，詔以彭城王浟第二子準嗣。

Later the emperor gave Jun's consort Lady Lu in marriage to Palace Attendant Equal to the Third Rank Liu Yujie — a former personal attendant of the emperor who had been employed for military merit; at the time he had ordered Yujie to kill Jun, and therefore she was given to him. Several days later the emperor, because Lady Lu had never been favored by Jun, ordered that the marriage be severed. In the first year of the Qianming era he was posthumously enfeoffed Grand Commandant. Having no sons, an edict appointed Prince Jingsi of Pengcheng You's second son Zhun as heir.

彭城景思王浟，字子深，神武第五子也。元象二年，拜通直散騎常侍，封長樂郡公。博士韓毅教浟書，見浟筆跡未工，戲浟曰：「五郎書畫如此，忽為常侍開國，今日後宜更用心。」浟正色答曰：「昔甘羅幼為秦相，未聞能書。凡人唯論才具何如，豈必動誇筆跡。博士當今能者，何為不作三公？」時年蓋八歲矣。毅甚慚。

Prince Jingsi of Pengcheng (You), whose style name was Zishen, was the fifth son of Gao Huan. In the second year of the Yuanxiang era he was appointed Regular Attendant and enfeoffed Duke of Changle Commandery. The Erudite Han Yi taught You to write; seeing that You's handwriting was not yet skilled, he joked with You, saying, "Fifth Lord's writing and drawing are like this — suddenly to become Regular Attendant and establish a state, from today onward you ought to apply yourself more diligently." You replied with a stern countenance, "In former times Gan Luo in youth became Chancellor of Qin — one never heard that he could write. For a man one considers only what his talents and capacity are like — why must one always boast of one's handwriting? If the Erudite is so capable today, why does he not become one of the Three Excellencies?" He was then about eight years old. Yi was deeply ashamed.

武定六年，出為滄州刺史，為政嚴察，部內肅然。守令參佐，下及胥吏，行遊往來，皆自賚糧食。浟纖介知人間事。有濕沃縣主簿張達嘗詣州，夜投人舍，食雞羹，浟察知之。守令畢集，浟對衆曰：「食雞羹何不還價直也？」達卽伏罪。合境號為神明。又有一人從幽州來，驢馱鹿脯。至滄州界，腳痛行遲，偶會一人為伴，遂盜驢及脯去。明旦，告州。浟乃令左右及府僚吏分市鹿脯，不限其價。其主見脯識之，推獲盜者。轉都督、定州刺史。時有人被盜黑牛，背上有白毛。長史韋道建謂中從事魏道勝曰：「使君在滄州日，擒姦如神，若捉得此賊，定神矣。」浟乃詐為上府市牛皮，倍酬價直，使牛主認之，因獲其盜。建等歎服。又有老母姓王，孤獨，種菜三畝，數被偷。浟乃令人密往書菜葉為字，明日市中看菜葉有字，獲賊。爾後境內無盜，政化為當時第一。天保初，封彭城王。四年，徵為侍中，人吏送別悲號。有老公數百人相率具饌曰：「自殿下至來五載，人不識吏，吏不欺人，百姓有識已來，始逢今化。殿下唯飲此鄉水，未食此鄉食，聊獻疏薄。」浟重其意，為食一口。七年，轉司州牧，選從事皆取文才士明剖斷者，當時稱為美選。州舊案五百餘，浟未期悉斷盡。別駕羊脩等恐犯權戚，乃詣閤諮陳。浟使告曰：「吾直道而行，何憚權戚，卿等當成人之美，反以權戚為言。」脩等慚悚而退。後加特進，兼司空、太尉，州牧如故。太妃薨，解任，尋詔復本官。俄拜司空，兼尚書令。濟南嗣位，除開府儀同三司、尚書令、領大宗正卿。皇建初，拜大司馬，兼尚書令，轉太保。武成入承大業，遷太師、錄尚書事。浟明練世務，果於斷決，事無大小，咸悉以情。趙郡李公統預高歸彥之逆，其母崔氏卽御史中丞崔昂從父子，兼右僕射魏收之內妹也。依令，年出六十，例免入官。崔增年陳訴，所司以昂、收故，崔遂獲免。浟摘發其事，昂等以罪除名。

In the sixth year of the Wuding era he went out as Governor of Cang Prefecture; his governance was strict and searching, and within his jurisdiction all was orderly. Prefects, magistrates, aides, and subordinates, down to clerks and petty officials — all who traveled on business brought their own provisions. You knew of the smallest matters among the people. The chief clerk of Shiwo County, Zhang Da, once came to the province; at night he lodged in a private house and ate chicken broth — You detected it. When the prefects and magistrates had all assembled, You said before the crowd, "You ate chicken broth — why did you not pay the price?" Da immediately confessed his guilt. The entire jurisdiction called him divine in judgment. There was also a man who came from You Province, his donkey laden with dried venison. When he reached the border of Cang Prefecture his foot ached and he walked slowly; by chance he met a man who became his traveling companion, and that man stole the donkey and the venison and fled. The next morning he reported it to the province. You then ordered his attendants and provincial staff to buy dried venison in the markets, without limiting the price. The owner saw the venison and recognized it; pursuing it, he captured the thief. He was transferred to be Area Commander and Governor of Ding Province. At that time a man had a black ox stolen; on its back there was white hair. Chief Clerk Wei Daojian said to Senior Clerk Wei Daosheng, "When the lord was in Cang Prefecture he captured wrongdoers like a spirit; if he catches this thief, he will surely be divine." You then falsely announced that the superior office was buying ox hides in the market, paying double the price, and had the ox's owner identify them — thereby capturing the thief. Daojian and the others sighed in admiration. There was also an old woman surnamed Wang, alone and without support, who planted vegetables on three mu; they were stolen repeatedly. You then had men secretly go and write characters on the vegetable leaves; the next day, seeing characters on the leaves in the market, they captured the thief. After that there were no thieves within the borders, and his governance and transformation ranked first in the age. At the opening of the Tianbao era he was enfeoffed Prince of Pengcheng. In the fourth year he was summoned as Palace Attendant; officials and commoners saw him off with wailing lament. Several hundred old men together prepared provisions and said, "From the time Your Highness arrived until now, five years — the people do not know officials, and officials do not deceive the people; from the time the common people have had understanding until now, they have only now encountered such transformation. Your Highness has only drunk this district's water and has not yet eaten this district's food — we humbly offer this poor fare." You, honoring their intent, ate one mouthful. In the seventh year he was transferred to Governor of Si Province; in selecting aides he took only men of literary talent skilled in clear judgment — at the time this was called a fine selection. The province had more than five hundred old cases; before the term was out You had judged them all. Vice Prefect Yang Xiu and others, fearing they might offend powerful kin, therefore came to the gate to consult and report. You sent word saying, "I walk the straight path — why should I fear powerful kin? You ought to help others achieve excellence; instead you speak of powerful kin." Xiu and the others withdrew in shame and fear. Later he was additionally appointed Special Advancement, Concurrent Minister of Works and Grand Commandant, his governorship unchanged. When the Princess Consort died he was relieved of office; soon an edict restored him to his original post. Before long he was appointed Minister of Works and Concurrent Chief Minister of the Masters of Writing. When the Emperor of Jinan succeeded, he was removed to Opener of the Way Equal in Honor to the Three Excellencies, Chief Minister of the Masters of Writing, and Director of the Imperial Clan. At the beginning of the Huangjian era he was appointed Grand Marshal and Concurrent Chief Minister of the Masters of Writing, then transferred to Grand Tutor. When Gao Zhan succeeded to the great enterprise, he was transferred to Grand Preceptor and Recorder of Affairs of the Masters of Writing. You was clear and practiced in affairs of the age, decisive in judgment; matters great and small he handled entirely according to the merits of each case. Li Gongtong of Zhao Commandery took part in Gao Guiyan's rebellion; his mother Lady Cui was the daughter of a younger cousin of Censor-in-Chief Cui Ang, and also the younger sister by marriage of Right Vice Director Wei Shou. According to the statute, those over sixty years of age were by rule exempt from being taken into official service. Cui added years to her age and submitted a petition; the responsible office, because of Ang and Shou, therefore exempted Cui. You exposed the matter; Ang and the others were stripped of their names and offices on account of the crime.

自車駕巡幸，浟常留鄴。河清三年三月，群盜田子禮等數十人謀劫浟為主，詐稱使者，徑向浟第，至內室，稱勑牽浟上馬，臨以白刃，欲引向南殿。浟大呼不從，遂遇害，時年三十二，朝野痛惜焉。初浟未被劫前，其妃鄭氏夢人斬浟頭持去，惡之，數日而浟見殺。贈假黃鉞、太師、太尉、錄尚書事，給轀輬車。子寶德嗣，位開府，兼尚書左僕射。

Whenever the emperor went on tour, You often remained at Ye. In the third month of the third year of the Heqing era, several dozen bandits led by Tian Zili plotted to make You their figurehead; posing as imperial envoys, they went straight to his residence, entered the inner chamber, declared an edict, dragged him onto a horse, held blades to his throat, and tried to march him toward the Southern Hall. You shouted his refusal and would not submit; he was murdered on the spot. He was thirty-two. Court and realm mourned. Before the attack, his consort Lady Zheng dreamed of a man severing You's head and carrying it away; she took it as an ill omen, and within days You was dead. Posthumously he was granted the acting yellow battle-axe, grand preceptor, grand commandant, and recorder of the Masters of Writing, with an imperial mourning carriage. His son Baode succeeded, serving as opener of the way and concurrent left vice director of the Masters of Writing.

上黨剛肅王渙，字敬壽，神武第七子也。天姿雄傑，俶儻不群，雖在童幼，恒以將略自許。神武壯而愛之，曰：「此兒似我。」及長，力能扛鼎，材武絕倫。每謂左右曰：「人不可無學，但要不為博士耳。」故讀書頗知梗概，而不甚耽習。

Prince Gangsu of Shangdang (Huan), whose style name was Jingshou, was the seventh son of Gao Huan. Naturally heroic and bold, unmatched even in boyhood, he always counted himself born for command. Gao Huan admired him and said, "This boy is my image." Grown to manhood he could lift a bronze tripod; in arms and valor none could match him. He often told his attendants, "A man must have learning — he need only avoid becoming a pedant." He read enough to grasp the main points, but never lost himself in books.

元象中，封平原郡公。文襄之遇賊，渙年尚幼，在西學，聞宮中嘩，驚曰：「大兄必遭難矣！」彎弓而出。武定末，除冀州刺史，在州有美政。天保初，封上党王，歷中書令、尚書左僕射。與常山王演等築伐惡諸城。遂聚鄴下輕薄，淩犯郡縣，為法司所糾。文宣戮其左右數人，渙亦被譴。六年，率衆送梁王蕭明還江南，仍破東關，斬梁特進裴之橫等，威名甚盛。八年，錄尚書事。

In the Yuanxiang era he was enfeoffed Duke of Pingyuan Commandery. When Gao Cheng fell to assassins, Huan was still a boy at the Western Academy; hearing uproar in the palace, he cried, "Eldest brother has met disaster!" He strung his bow and ran out. At the end of the Wuding era he was appointed governor of Ji Province and governed with distinction. At the opening of the Tianbao era he was enfeoffed Prince of Shangdang and rose through director of the Secretariat and left vice director of the Masters of Writing. With Prince of Changshan Gao Yan and others he built fortified camps for punitive raids. He then gathered ruffians from Ye who harassed the counties and were denounced by the judiciary. Gao Yang executed several of his attendants and rebuked Huan himself. In the sixth year he escorted Liang's Prince Xiao Ming south to Jiangnan, broke Dong Pass, and slew Liang's special advance Pei Zhiheng and others — his fame standing at its height. In the eighth year he was made recorder of the Masters of Writing.

初，術士言亡高者黑衣，由是自神武后，每出行，不欲見沙門，為黑衣故也。是時文宣幸晉陽，以所忌問左右曰：「何物最黑？」對曰：「莫過漆。」帝以渙第七子為當之，乃使庫真都督破六韓伯昇之鄴徵渙。渙至紫陌橋，殺伯昇以逃，憑河而度，土人執以送帝。鐵籠盛之，與永安王浚同置地牢下。歲餘，與浚同見殺，時年二十六。以其妃李氏配馮文洛，是帝家舊奴，積勞位至刺史，帝令文洛等殺渙，故以其妻妻焉。

Diviners had once said the destroyer of the Gao would wear black; after Gao Huan's death the court on its travels avoided Buddhist monks for that reason. Gao Yang was then at Jinyang; acting on this fear he asked his attendants, "What is blackest of all?" They answered, "Nothing surpasses lacquer." The emperor decided Huan, as the seventh son, must be the omen, and sent storehouse commissioner Poliuhan Bosheng to Ye to summon him. At Zimo Bridge Huan killed Bosheng and fled; he forded a river, but local men seized him and delivered him to the emperor. He was caged in iron and shut in the underground dungeon with Prince Jianping of Yong'an Jun. After more than a year he was killed together with Jun. He was twenty-six. His consort Lady Li was given to Feng Wenluo — an old household slave of the imperial clan who through long service had risen to provincial governor; the emperor had ordered Wenluo and others to kill Huan, and so gave him Huan's wife.

至乾明元年，收二王餘骨葬之，贈司空，諡曰剛肅。有勑李氏還第。而文洛尚以故意，修飾詣李，李盛列左右，引文洛立於階下，數之曰：「遭難流離，以至大辱，志操寡薄，不能自盡，幸蒙恩詔，得反藩闈。汝是誰家孰奴，猶欲見侮！」於是杖之一百，流血灑地。渙無嫡子，庶長子寶嚴以河清二年襲爵，位金紫光祿大夫、開府儀同三司。

In the first year of the Qianming era the scattered bones of both princes were gathered and buried; Huan was posthumously made minister of works with the posthumous name Gangsu. An edict ordered Lady Li back to her own residence. Wenluo, still nursing his old grievance, dressed finely and came to call; Lady Li arrayed her attendants, had Wenluo stand below the steps, and upbraided him: "Cast into calamity and exile, I suffered unspeakable shame; my spirit was too weak to die, and only by grace of an edict could I return home. What household wretch are you, to dare present yourself and insult me again!" She had him beaten a hundred strokes until blood spread across the floor. Huan had no son by his principal wife; Baoyan, eldest son by a concubine, inherited in the second year of the Heqing era as golden-chalice grand master of splendor and opener of the way equal in honor to the three excellencies.

亮字彥道，性恭孝，美風儀，好文學。為徐州刺史，坐奪商人財物免官。後主敗奔鄴，亮從焉，遷兼太尉、太傅。周師入鄴，亮於啟夏門拒守。諸軍皆不戰而敗，周軍於諸城門皆入，亮軍方退走。亮入太廟行馬內，慟哭拜辭，然後為周軍所執。入關，依例授儀同，分配遠邊，卒於龍州。

Liang, styled Yandao, was respectful and filial by nature, graceful in bearing, and devoted to letters. Made governor of Xu Province, he was dismissed for seizing merchants' property. When Houzhu was defeated and fled to Ye, Liang went with him and was made concurrent grand commandant and grand tutor. When Zhou troops entered Ye, Liang held Qixia Gate. The other armies broke without a fight; Zhou soldiers entered every gate before Liang's troops finally withdrew. Liang entered the horse-course within the imperial temple, wept his farewell, and was then taken by Zhou troops. Taken into Guan he received the rank of yitong by regulation, was posted to a distant frontier, and died at Long Province.

及安德王稱尊號於晉陽，使劉子昂修啟於湝：「至尊出奔，宗廟旣重，群公勸迫，權主號令，事甯終歸叔父。」湝曰：「我人臣，何容受此啟。」執子昂送鄴。帝至濟州，禪位於湝，啟竟不達。湝與廣甯王孝珩于冀州召募得四萬餘人，拒周軍。周齊王憲來伐，先遣送書並赦詔，湝並沉諸井。戰敗，湝、孝珩俱被擒。憲曰：「任城王何苦至此？」湝曰：「下官神武帝子，兄弟十五人，幸而獨存，逢宗社顛覆，今日得死，無愧墳陵。」憲壯之，歸其妻子。將至鄴城，湝馬上大哭，自投於地，流血滿面。至長安，尋與後主同死。

When Prince Yanzong of Ande proclaimed himself at Jinyang, he had Liu Zi'ang draft a memorial to Hui: "The sovereign has fled, the ancestral temple hangs in the balance, the lords press us to act; we hold command only for the moment — in the end it must return to Your Highness." Hui said, "I am the emperor's subject — how could I accept this?" He seized Zi'ang and sent him to Ye. When the emperor reached Ji Province and abdicated in Hui's favor, the memorial never reached him. Hui and Prince Xiaogong of Guangning mustered more than forty thousand men in Ji Province to resist Zhou. Zhou's Prince of Qi Yuwen Xian marched against them, first sending letters and an amnesty edict; Hui drowned them all in a well. Defeated, Hui and Xiaogong were both taken. Xian said, "Prince of Rencheng — why must it end like this?" Hui said, "I am a son of Gao Huan; of fifteen brothers I alone survive. To see the altars overturned and die today — I need feel no shame before our tombs." Xian admired his spirit and restored his wife and children. Approaching Ye, Hui wept on horseback and threw himself to earth, blood covering his face. At Chang'an he soon died together with Houzhu.

妃盧氏，賜斛斯徵，蓬首垢面，長齋不言笑。徵放之，乃為尼。隋開皇三年，表請文帝葬湝及五子於長安北原。

His consort Lady Lu was given to Husi Zheng; unkempt and mute, she kept long fasts and neither spoke nor smiled. When Zheng released her, she took the tonsure. In the third year of the Kaihuang era of Sui she petitioned Emperor Wen to bury Hui and his five sons on Chang'an's north plain.

高陽康穆王湜，神武第十一子也。天保元年封。十年，稍遷尚書令。以滑稽便辟，有寵于文宣，常在左右，行杖以撻諸王。太后深銜之。其妃父護軍長史張晏之嘗要道拜湜，湜不禮焉。帝問其故，對曰：「無官職漢，何須禮。」帝於是擢拜晏之為徐州刺史。文宣崩，兼司徒，導引梓宮，吹笛，云「至尊頗知臣不」，又擊胡鼓為樂。太后杖湜百餘，未幾薨。太后哭之哀，曰：「我恐其不成就，與杖，何期帶創死也！」乾明初，贈假黃鉞、太師、司徒、錄尚書事。子士義襲爵。

Prince Kangmu of Gaoyang (Shi) was the eleventh son of Gao Huan. He was enfeoffed in the first year of the Tianbao era. In the tenth year he rose to chief minister of the Masters of Writing. Glib, amusing, and adept at flattery, he won Gao Yang's favor, kept always at his side, and carried a staff with which he beat the other princes. The empress dowager bitterly resented him. His consort's father, chief commandant's senior aide Zhang Yanzi, once intercepted the road to pay respects; Shi did not return them. Asked why, Shi said, "A commoner without office — why should I bow?" The emperor promptly made Yanzi governor of Xu Province. When Gao Yang died Shi served as minister of works, led the coffin procession, played the flute saying "The sovereign knew me well," and beat the Hu drum for sport. The empress dowager had him beaten more than a hundred strokes; he died shortly after. The empress dowager wept bitterly: "I feared he would never amount to anything and struck him — who dreamed the blows would kill him!" At the opening of the Qianming era he was posthumously granted the acting yellow battle-axe, grand preceptor, minister of works, and recorder of the Masters of Writing. His son Shiyi inherited.

博陵文簡王濟，神武第十二子也。天保元年封。濟嘗從文宣巡幸，在路忽憶太后，遂逃歸。帝怒，臨以白刃，因此驚恍。歷位太尉。河清初，出為定州刺史。天統五年，在州語人云：「計次第亦應到我。」後主聞之，陰使人殺之。贈假黃鉞、太尉、錄尚書事。子智襲爵。

Prince Wenjian of Boling (Ji) was the twelfth son of Gao Huan. He was enfeoffed in the first year of the Tianbao era. Ji once accompanied Gao Yang on tour; on the road he suddenly missed the empress dowager and fled home. The emperor threatened him with naked steel; from that shock Ji was never right again. He served through the rank of grand commandant. At the opening of the Heqing era he was made governor of Ding Province. In the fifth year of the Tiantong era he told people at his post, "By order of succession it should be my turn next." Houzhu heard and secretly had him killed. Posthumously granted the acting yellow battle-axe, grand commandant, and recorder of the Masters of Writing. His son Zhi inherited.

馮翊王潤，字子澤，神武第十四子也。幼時，神武稱曰：「此吾家千里駒也。」天保初封。歷位東北道大行臺、右僕射、都督、定州刺史。潤美姿儀，年十四五，母鄭妃與之同寢，有穢雜之聲。及長，廉慎方雅，習於吏職，至摘發隱偽，姦吏無所匿其情。開府王迴洛與六州大都督獨孤枝侵竊官田，受納賄賂，潤按舉其事。二人表言，王出送臺使，登魏文舊壇，南望歎息，不測其意。武成使元文遙就州宣勑曰：「馮翊王少小謹慎，在州不為非法，朕信之熟矣。登高遠望，人之常情，鼠輩欲橫相間構，曲生眉目。」於是回洛決鞭二百，獨孤枝決杖一百。尋為尚書令，領太子少師，歷司徒、太尉、大司馬、司州牧、太保、河南道行台、領錄尚書，別封文成郡公、太師、太宰，復為定州刺史。薨，贈假黃鉞、左丞相。子茂德嗣。

Prince of Fengyi (Run), whose style name was Zize, was the fourteenth son of Gao Huan. In boyhood Gao Huan called him "the thousand-li colt of our house." He was enfeoffed at the opening of the Tianbao era. He served as northeast-route grand mobile headquarters, right vice director of the Masters of Writing, area commander, and governor of Ding Province. Run was handsome; at fourteen or fifteen he shared a bed with his mother Consort Zheng, and lewd sounds were heard. Grown, he was upright, cautious, and skilled in office; in exposing hidden fraud no clerk could hide from him. Opener of the way Wang Huiluo and six-province commander-in-chief Dugu Zhi had encroached on public land and taken bribes; Run investigated and impeached them. The two memorialized that when Run saw off a capital envoy he climbed Cao Pi's old platform, gazed south, and sighed — no one could read his mind. Gao Zhan sent Yuan Wenyao with an edict: "Prince Run has been careful from youth and committed no crime in office — I know him thoroughly. To climb high and look far is only human; these vermin would invent treason out of thin air." Huiluo received two hundred lashes; Dugu Zhi one hundred strokes of the staff. He became chief minister of the Masters of Writing and junior tutor of the crown prince, then minister of works, grand commandant, grand marshal, governor of Si Province, grand tutor, Henan-route grand mobile headquarters, and recorder of the Masters of Writing; he was separately enfeoffed duke of Wencheng, grand preceptor and grand preceptor of the realm — and again made governor of Ding Province. At his death he was posthumously granted the acting yellow battle-axe and left chancellor. His son Maode succeeded.

漢陽敬懷王洽，字敬延，神武第十五子也。天保元年封。五年，薨，年十三。乾明元年，贈太保、司空。無子，以任城王第二子建德為後。

Prince Jinghuai of Hanyang (Qia), whose style name was Jingyan, was the fifteenth son of Gao Huan. He was enfeoffed in the first year of the Tianbao era. In the fifth year he died, aged thirteen. In the first year of the Qianming era he was posthumously made grand tutor and minister of works. Having no son, Jiande, second son of the Prince of Rencheng, was made his heir.

全文以中華書局、一九七二年十一月、第一版《北齊書》為本校。

Throughout, this text has been collated against the first Zhonghua Shuju edition of the Book of Northern Qi (November 1972).

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