Volume 11 Biographies 3: Six Princes of Wenxiang

北齊書卷十一[1]

Book of Northern Qi, Volume 11 [1]

列傳第三

Biographies 3

文襄六王

The Six Princes of Wenxiang

河南康舒王孝瑜廣寧王孝珩河間王孝琬

Prince Kangshu of Henan (Xiaoyu); Prince of Guangning (Xiaoheng); Prince of Hejian (Xiaowan)

蘭陵武王孝瓘安德王延宗漁陽王紹信

Prince Wu of Lanling (Xiaoguan); Prince of Ande (Yanzong); Prince of Yuyang (Shaoxin)

文襄六男：文敬元皇后生河間王孝琬，宋氏生河南王孝瑜，王氏生廣寧王孝珩，蘭陵王長恭不得母氏姓，陳氏生安德王延宗，燕氏生漁陽王紹信。

Gao Cheng had six sons: Empress Yuan of Wenjing bore Prince Xiaowan of Hejian; Lady Song bore Prince Xiaoyu of Henan; Lady Wang bore Prince Xiaoheng of Guangning; Prince Changgong of Lanling never learned his mother's surname; Lady Chen bore Prince Yanzong of Ande; Lady Yan bore Prince Shaoxin of Yuyang.

武成常使和士開與胡后對坐握槊，孝瑜諫曰：「皇后天下之母，不可與臣下接手。」帝深納之。後又言趙郡王父死非命，不可親。由是叡及士開皆側目。士開密告其奢僭，叡又言山東唯聞河南王，不聞有陛下。帝由是忌之。尒朱御女名摩女，本事太后，孝瑜先與之通，後因太子婚夜，孝瑜竊與之言。武成大怒，頓飲其酒三十七盃。體至肥大，腰帶十圍。使婁子彥載以出，酖之於車。至西華門，煩熱躁悶，投水而絕。贈太尉、錄尚書事。子弘節嗣。

Gao Zhan often had He Shikai and Empress Hu sit facing each other playing shuo; Xiaoyu remonstrated, saying, "The empress is mother to all under Heaven — she must not touch hands with a subordinate minister." The emperor took this deeply to heart. Later he also said that Prince Rui of Zhao Commandery's father had died by violence and should not be kept close. On this account both Gao Rui and He Shikai looked askance at him. He Shikai secretly reported his extravagance and presumption; Gao Rui also said that east of the mountains one heard only of the Prince of Henan, and never of the emperor. The emperor on this account came to resent him. An Erzhu palace woman named Monü had originally served the empress dowager; Xiaoyu had first had relations with her, and later, on the night of the crown prince's wedding, stole away to speak with her. Gao Zhan was greatly enraged and made him drink thirty-seven cups of wine in succession. His body was extremely corpulent, his waist ten arm-spans around. He had Lou Ziyan carry him out and poison him in the carriage. At the West Flowery Gate he grew feverish and stifled with distress, threw himself into the water, and died. He was posthumously appointed Grand Commandant and Recorder of Affairs of the Masters of Writing. His son Hongjie succeeded.

廣寧王孝珩，文襄第二子也。歷位司州牧、尚書令、司空、司徒、錄尚書、大將軍、大司馬。孝珩愛賞人物，學涉經史，好綴文，有伎藝。嘗於廳事壁自畫一蒼鷹，見者皆以為真，又作朝士圖，亦當時之妙絕。

Prince Xiaoheng of Guangning was Gao Cheng's second son. He rose in succession to Governor of Si Province, Chief Minister of the Secretariat, Minister of Works, Minister over the Masses, Recorder of the Masters of Writing, Grand General, and Grand Marshal. Xiaoheng loved and appreciated men of talent; he studied the classics and histories, enjoyed composing literary pieces, and possessed artistic skill. Once on the wall of his reception hall he painted an azure hawk himself; viewers all took it for real. He also made a painting of court gentlemen — both were marvels of the age.

後主自晉州敗奔鄴，詔王公議於含光殿。孝珩以大敵既深，事藉機變。宜使任城王領幽州道兵入土門，揚聲趣并州；獨孤永業領洛州兵趣潼關，揚聲趣長安；臣請領京畿兵出滏口，鼓行逆戰。敵聞南北有兵，自然潰散。又請出宮人珍寶賜將士，帝不能用。承光即位，以孝珩為太宰。與呼延族、莫多婁敬顯、尉相願同謀，期正月五日[2]，孝珩於千秋門斬高阿那肱，相願在內以禁兵應之，族與敬顯自遊豫園勒兵出。既而阿那肱從別宅取便路入宮，事不果。乃求出拒西軍，謂阿那肱、韓長鸞、陳德信等云：「朝廷不賜遣擊賊，豈不畏孝珩反耶？孝珩破宇文邕，遂至長安，反時何與國家事。以今日之急，猶作如此猜疑。」高、韓恐其變，出孝珩為滄州刺史。至州，以五千人會任城王於信都，共為匡復計。周齊王憲來伐，兵弱不能敵。怒曰：「由高阿那肱小人，吾道窮矣！」齊叛臣乞扶令和以矟刺孝珩墜馬，奴白澤以身扞之，孝珩猶傷數處，遂見虜。齊王憲問孝珩齊亡所由，孝珩自陳國難，辭淚俱下，俯仰有節。憲為之改容，親為洗創傅藥，禮遇甚厚。孝珩獨歎曰：「李穆叔言齊氏二十八年，今果然矣。自神武皇帝以外，吾諸父兄弟無一人得至四十者，命也。嗣君無獨見之明，宰相非柱石之寄，恨不得握兵符，受廟算，展我心力耳。」至長安，依例授開府、縣侯。後周武帝在雲陽，宴齊君臣，自彈胡琵琶，命孝珩吹笛。辭曰：「亡國之音，不足聽也。」固命之，舉笛裁至口，淚下嗚咽，武帝乃止。其年十月，疾甚，啟歸葬山東，從之。尋卒，令還葬鄴。

When the Last Emperor fled in defeat from Jinyang to Ye, an edict summoned the princes and dukes to deliberate in the Hall of Contained Light. Xiaoheng said that with the great enemy already pressing deep, affairs must rely on swift adaptation. The Prince of Rencheng should be sent to lead the Youzhou-route troops through Tumen Pass, proclaiming that he was marching on Bing Province; Dugu Yongye should lead the Luozhou troops toward Tong Pass, proclaiming that he was marching on Chang'an; your servant asks to lead the capital-region troops out through Fukou and advance with drums beating to meet the enemy. When the enemy heard that there were armies north and south, they would naturally scatter in rout. He also asked that palace women and precious objects be brought out to reward the officers and soldiers; the emperor would not adopt this. When Chengguang succeeded to the throne, Xiaoheng was made Grand Preceptor. He joined with Huyan Zu, Moduolou Jingxian, and Wei Xiangyuan in a common plot, fixing the fifth day of the first month [2]: Xiaoheng was to behead Gao Anaogong at the Gate of a Thousand Autumns; Xiangyuan inside would respond with the forbidden guard; Zu and Jingxian would lead troops out from the Pleasure Garden. Before long Anaogong took a shortcut from another residence into the palace, and the affair did not succeed. He then asked to go out to resist the western army, saying to Anaogong, Han Changluan, Chen Dexin, and the others, "The court will not grant permission to go out and strike the enemy — are you not afraid Xiaoheng will rebel? If Xiaoheng defeats Yuwen Yong and then reaches Chang'an, what will rebellion have to do with the affairs of the state? At today's urgent pass you still harbor such suspicions." Gao and Han, fearing he might change, sent Xiaoheng out as Governor of Cang Province. When he reached the province, he joined the Prince of Rencheng at Xindu with five thousand men to plan together for restoration. Prince Xian of Zhou came to attack; their forces were weak and could not resist. In anger he said, "Because of the petty man Gao Anaogong, my road is at an end!" A Qi turncoat, Qi Fulinghe, stabbed Xiaoheng with a spear and knocked him from his horse; the slave Baize shielded him with his body; Xiaoheng still suffered wounds in several places and was then taken captive. Prince Xian of Zhou asked Xiaoheng the reason for Qi's fall; Xiaoheng himself explained the state's calamity, words and tears together falling, his bearing composed in every movement. Xian changed countenance on his account, personally washed his wounds and applied medicine, and treated him with great courtesy. Xiaoheng sighed alone and said, "Li Mushu said the Qi house would last twenty-eight years — today it has indeed come to pass. Apart from Gao Huan, not one of my fathers and brothers among the clan reached forty — such is fate. The succeeding ruler lacked independent insight; the chief ministers were no pillars to rely upon — I only regret that I could not grasp the tally of command, receive the plans of the temple, and give full play to the strength of my heart." When he reached Chang'an, by precedent he was appointed Opener of the Way and Marquis of a county. Later, when Emperor Wu of Zhou was at Yunyang, he feasted the Qi ruler and ministers, himself playing the barbarian pipa and ordering Xiaoheng to play the flute. He declined, saying, "The music of a fallen state is not worth hearing." Though pressed he obeyed; he raised the flute barely to his lips, tears falling in sobs, and Emperor Wu then stopped. In the tenth month of that year his illness grew severe; he petitioned to be buried back in Shandong, and permission was granted. Before long he died; an order was issued to return his body for burial at Ye.

孝琬以文襄世嫡，驕矜自負。河南王之死，諸王在宮內莫敢舉聲，唯孝琬大哭而出。又怨執政，為草人而射之。和士開與祖珽譖之，云：「草人擬聖躬也。又前突厥至州，孝琬脫兜鍪抵地，云『豈是老嫗，須著此』。此言屬大家也。」初，魏世謠言：「河南種穀河北生，白楊樹頭金雞鳴。」珽以說曰：「河南、河北，河間也。金雞鳴，孝琬將建金雞而大赦。」帝頗惑之。時孝琬得佛牙，置於第內，夜有神光。昭玄都法順請以奏聞[3]，不從。帝聞，使搜之，得鎮庫矟幡數百。帝聞之，以為反。訊其諸姬，有陳氏者無寵，誣對曰「孝琬畫作陛下形哭之」，然實是文襄像，孝琬時時對之泣。帝怒，使武纫赫連輔玄倒鞭撾之。孝琬呼阿叔，帝怒曰：「誰是爾叔？敢喚我作叔！」孝琬曰：「神武皇帝嫡孫，文襄皇帝嫡子，魏孝靜皇帝外甥，何為不得喚作叔也？」帝愈怒，折其兩脛而死。瘞諸西山，帝崩後，乃改葬。子正禮嗣，幼聰穎，能誦左氏春秋。齊亡，遷綿州卒。

Xiaowan, as Gao Cheng's legitimate heir of the generation, was proud and self-important. At Prince Xiaoyu of Henan's death, the princes within the palace did not dare raise a sound; only Xiaowan wept loudly and went out. He also resented those in power and made a straw effigy which he shot at. He Shikai and Zu Ting slandered him, saying, "The straw effigy was modeled on the sacred person. Moreover, when the Turks earlier came to the province, Xiaowan took off his helmet and cast it to the ground, saying, 'Am I an old woman that I must wear this?' These words were directed at Your Majesty." Earlier, in Wei times there was a rhyme: "Henan plants grain, Hebei gives birth; on the white poplar's crown a golden cock crows." Ting used this to explain, saying, "Henan and Hebei mean Hejian. The golden cock's crow means Xiaowan will build a golden cock and proclaim a great amnesty." The emperor was quite swayed. At the time Xiaowan had obtained a Buddha tooth and placed it in his residence; at night there was divine light. Fashun of Zhaoxuan Abbey asked to report it to the throne [3]; he would not consent. When the emperor heard of it, he sent men to search the residence and found several hundred spears and banners from the arsenal. When the emperor heard of this, he took it for rebellion. His concubines were interrogated; one surnamed Chen, who had no favor, falsely answered that "Xiaowan painted the emperor's likeness and wept before it" — but in truth it was a portrait of Gao Cheng, before which Xiaowan often wept. The emperor was enraged and ordered the guard Helian Fuxuan to beat him with an inverted whip. Xiaowan cried out "Uncle!" The emperor in anger said, "Who is your uncle? You dare call me uncle!" Xiaowan said, "Grandson of Gao Huan, son of Gao Cheng, nephew of Emperor Xiaojing of Wei — why may I not call you uncle?" The emperor grew still more enraged and broke both his shins, and he died. He was buried on the western hills; after the emperor's death he was reinterred. His son Zhengli succeeded; in youth he was clever and sharp, and could recite the Zuo Tradition. When Qi fell he was transferred to Mian Prefecture, where he died.

蘭陵武王長恭，一名孝瓘，文襄第四子也。累遷并州刺史。突厥入晉陽，長恭盡力擊之。芒山之敗[4]，長恭為中軍，率五百騎再入周軍，遂至金墉之下，被圍甚急，城上人弗識，長恭免冑示之面，乃下弩手救之，於是大捷。武士共歌謠之，為蘭陵王入陣曲是也。歷司州牧、青瀛二州，頗受財貨。後為太尉，與段韶討栢谷，又攻定陽。韶病，長恭總其衆。前後以戰功別封鉅鹿、長樂、樂平、高陽等郡公。

Prince Wu of Lanling, Changgong — also named Xiaoguan — was Gao Cheng's fourth son. He was promoted in succession to Governor of Bing Province. When the Turks entered Jinyang, Changgong exerted himself to the utmost in striking them. At the defeat at Mang Mountain [4], Changgong served as central army commander; leading five hundred horsemen he entered the Zhou army a second time and reached beneath the walls of Jinyong; besieged in extreme peril, those on the walls did not recognize him; Changgong removed his helmet to show his face, and only then did they lower crossbowmen to rescue him — whereupon there was a great victory. The warriors together sang ballads of it — this is the Entry of the Prince of Lanling into Battle. He served in succession as Governor of Si Province and of Qing and Ying provinces, and rather accepted goods and wealth. Later he became Grand Commandant; with Duan Shao he attacked Baigu, and again attacked Dingyang. Shao fell ill; Changgong took overall command of his forces. Before and after, for military merit he was separately enfeoffed Duke of Julu, Changle, Leping, Gaoyang, and other commanderies.

芒山之捷，後主謂長恭曰：「入陣太深，失利悔無所及。」對曰：「家事親切，不覺遂然。」帝嫌其稱家事，遂忌之。及在定陽，其屬尉相願謂曰：「王既受朝寄，何得如此貪殘？」長恭未答。相願曰：「豈不由芒山大捷，恐以威武見忌，欲自穢乎？」長恭曰：「然。」相願曰：「朝廷若忌王，於此犯便當行罰，求福反以速禍。」長恭泣下，前膝請以安身術。相願曰：「王前既有勳，今復告捷，威聲太重，宜屬疾在家，勿預事。」長恭然其言，未能退。及江淮寇擾，恐復為將，歎曰：「我去年面腫，今何不發。」自是有疾不療。武平四年五月，帝使徐之範飲以毒藥。長恭謂妃鄭氏曰：「我忠以事上，何辜於天，而遭鴆也。」妃曰：「何不求見天顏。」長恭曰：「天顏何由可見。」遂飲藥薨。贈太尉。

After the victory at Mang Mountain, the Last Emperor said to Changgong, "You entered the battle line too deeply; if it had gone badly, regret would have availed nothing." He replied, "Family affairs touch one closely — without noticing it, I did so." The emperor resented his speaking of family affairs and on this account came to be wary of him. When he was at Dingyang, his subordinate Wei Xiangyuan said to him, "Your Highness has received the court's commission — how can you be so greedy and cruel?" Changgong did not reply. Xiangyuan said, "Is it not because of the great victory at Mang Mountain — fearing that your martial prestige would excite jealousy, and wishing to defile yourself?" Changgong said, "It is so." Xiangyuan said, "If the court resents Your Highness, for this offense it ought at once to punish you — seeking fortune instead hastens disaster." Changgong wept; going forward on his knees he asked for a method to preserve himself. Xiangyuan said, "Your Highness already had merit before; now you report victory again — your martial renown is too heavy; you ought to plead illness and remain at home, and not take part in affairs." Changgong agreed with his words but could not withdraw. When bandits harried the Jiang-Huai region, fearing he would again be made a general, he sighed and said, "Last year my face swelled — why does it not break out now?" From then on he had an illness and would not treat it. In the fifth month of the fourth year of Wuping, the emperor had Xu Zhifan make him drink poison. Changgong said to his consort Lady Zheng, "I served the ruler with loyalty — what crime have I against Heaven, that I should meet poison?" The consort said, "Why do you not ask to see the imperial countenance? Changgong said, "How could I ever look upon the emperor's face?" He drank the poison and died. Posthumously he was made grand commandant.

長恭貌柔心壯，音容兼美。為將躬勤細事，每得甘美，雖一瓜數果，必與將士共之。初在瀛州，行參軍陽士深表列其贓，免官。及討定陽，士深在軍[5]，恐禍及。長恭聞之曰：「吾本無此意。」乃求小失，杖士深二十以安之。嘗入朝而僕從盡散，唯有一人，長恭獨還，無所譴罰。武成賞其功，命賈護為買妾二十人，唯受其一。有千金責券，臨死日，盡燔之。

Changgong looked gentle but his heart was bold; in voice and bearing alike he was beautiful. As a general he personally saw to the smallest things; whenever he had anything sweet or fine — even a melon or a few fruits — he shared it with his officers and men. While governor of Ying Province, the acting adjutant Yang Shibiao submitted a detailed list of his corruption, and he was dismissed. During the campaign against Dingyang, Shi Shen was with the army [5] and feared retribution. Changgong heard and said, "That was never my intent." He then found a minor fault, had Shi Shen beaten twenty strokes, and put the matter to rest. Once on his way to court his attendants all fled save one; Changgong returned alone and punished no one. Gao Zhan rewarded his service and ordered Jia Hu to buy him twenty concubines; he accepted only one. He held promissory notes worth a thousand gold; on the day of his death he burned them all.

安德王延宗，文襄第五子也。母陳氏，廣陽王妓也。延宗幼為文宣所養，年十二，猶騎置腹上，令溺己臍中，抱之曰：「可憐止有此一箇。」問欲作何王，對曰：「欲作衝天王。」文宣問楊愔，愔曰：「天下無此郡名，願使安於德。」於是封安德焉。為定州刺史，於樓上大便，使人在下張口承之。以蒸嚢糝和人糞以飼左右，有難色者鞭之。孝昭帝聞之，使趙道德就州杖之一百。道德以延宗受杖不謹，又加三十。又以囚試刀，驗其利鈍。驕縱多不法。武成使撻之，殺其昵近九人，從是深自改悔。蘭陵王芒山凱捷，自陳兵勢，諸兄弟咸壯之。延宗獨曰：「四兄非大丈夫，何不乘勝徑入？使延宗當此勢，關西豈得復存。」及蘭陵死，妃鄭氏以頸珠施佛。廣寧王使贖之。延宗手書以諫，而淚滿紙。河間死，延宗哭之淚亦甚。又為草人以像武成，鞭而訊之曰：「何故殺我兄！」奴告之，武成覆臥延宗於地，馬鞭撾之二百，幾死。後歷司徒、太尉。

Prince Yanzong of Ande was the fifth son of Gao Cheng. His mother was Lady Chen, a courtesan of the Prince of Guangyang. Yanzong was raised from childhood by Gao Yang; even at twelve the emperor would set him astride his belly, make him urinate into his navel, hold him close and say, "Poor child — I have only this one." He asked what title the boy wanted; Yanzong answered, "I want to be Prince Heaven-Storm." Gao Yang asked Yang Yin; Yang said, "No such commandery exists in the realm — let him dwell secure in virtue instead." And so he was enfeoffed Prince of Ande. As governor of Ding Province he would defecate from an upper story while men below opened their mouths to receive it. He mixed steamed grain with human dung to feed his attendants and whipped any who looked disgusted. Emperor Gao Yan heard and sent Zhao Daode to the province to beat him a hundred strokes. Daode, finding Yanzong insufficiently deferential under the rod, added thirty strokes. He also tested blades on prisoners to see whether they were sharp or dull. Arrogant and unrestrained, he broke the law in many ways. Gao Zhan had him flogged and killed nine of his closest intimates; from that Yanzong deeply repented. When Prince Changgong of Lanling reported his victory at Mangshan and described his forces, all his brothers praised him. Yanzong alone said, "Fourth brother is no true man — why not press the victory and march straight in? Had Yanzong held that position, how could the lands west of the passes still stand?" When Changgong of Lanling died, his consort Lady Zheng offered her neck-pearl to the Buddha. The Prince of Guangning sent men to redeem it. Yanzong wrote a letter of remonstrance by hand, the page soaked with tears. When the Prince of Hejian died, Yanzong wept for him with equal grief. He also made a straw effigy in Gao Zhan's likeness, whipped it and demanded, "Why did you kill my brother!" A servant reported it; Gao Zhan had Yanzong thrown face-down and lashed two hundred strokes with a horsewhip, nearly killing him. Later he served as minister over the masses and grand commandant.

及平陽之役，後主自禦之，命延宗率右軍先戰，城下擒周開府宗挺。及大戰，延宗以麾下再入周軍，莫不披靡。諸軍敗，延宗獨全軍。後主將奔晉陽，延宗言：「大家但在營莫動，以兵馬付臣，臣能破之。」帝不納。及至并州，又聞周軍已入雀鼠谷[6]，乃以延宗為相國、并州刺史，總山西兵事。謂曰：「并州，阿兄自取，兒今去也。」延宗曰：「陛下為社稷莫動，臣為陛下出死力戰。」駱提婆曰：「至尊計已成，王不得輒沮。」後主竟奔鄴。在并將率咸請曰：「王若不作天子，諸人實不能出死力。」延宗不得已，即皇帝位，下詔曰：「武平孱弱，政由宦豎，釁結蕭牆，盜起疆埸。斬關夜遁，莫知所之，則我高祖之業將墜於地。王公卿士，猥見推逼，今便祗承寶位。可大赦天下，改武平七年為德昌元年。」以晉昌王唐邕為宰輔，齊昌王莫多婁敬顯、沭陽王和阿于子[7]、右纫大將軍段暢、武纫將軍相里僧伽、開府韓骨胡、侯莫陳洛州為爪牙。衆聞之，不召而至者，前後相屬。延宗容貌充壯，坐則仰，偃則伏，人笑之，乃赫然奮發。氣力絕異，馳騁行陣，勁捷若飛。傾覆府藏及後宮美女，以賜將士，籍沒內參千餘家。後主謂近臣曰：「我寧使周得并州，不欲安德得之。」左右曰：「理然。」延宗見士卒，皆親執手，陳辭自稱名，流涕嗚咽。红皆爭為死，童兒女子亦乘屋攘袂，投蝋石以禦周軍。特進、開府那盧安生守太谷，以萬兵叛。周軍圍晉陽，望之如黑雲四合。延宗命莫多婁敬顯、韓骨胡拒城南，和阿于子、段暢拒城東。延宗親當周齊王於城北，奮大矟，往來督戰，所向無前。尚書令史沮山亦肥大多力，捉長刀步從，殺傷甚多。武衞蘭芙蓉、綦連延長皆死於陣。

At Pingyang Houzhu personally took command, ordering Yanzong to lead the right wing in the first attack; below the walls they captured Zhou general Zong Ting. In the great battle Yanzong led his men twice into the Zhou army, and none could stand before them. The other armies broke; Yanzong alone kept his force intact. As Houzhu prepared to flee to Jinyang, Yanzong said, "Your Majesty need only stay in camp; give me the army and I can break them. The emperor would not listen. At Bing Province, hearing Zhou troops had entered Queyu Valley [6], he made Yanzong chancellor and governor of Bing Province, giving him overall command of military affairs west of the mountains. He told him, "Bing Province — elder brother takes it for himself; your son leaves now." Yanzong said, "Your Majesty must not stir for the altars of state; your servant will fight to the death for you." Luotipo said, "His Majesty's plan is set — the prince must not obstruct it. Houzhu fled to Ye after all. The commanders at Bing all petitioned: "If the prince will not become emperor, we truly cannot fight to the death." Yanzong had no choice but to take the throne and issued an edict: "The Wuping reign was feeble; government lay with eunuchs; strife rose within the palace walls and invaders on the borders. He who should hold the passes fled by night, none knew where — and our founder's enterprise was about to crash to earth. Lords and ministers, though unworthy, have pressed me; I now reverently take the throne. Let there be a general amnesty; change the seventh year of Wuping to the first year of Dechang." He made Prince Tang Yong of Jinchang chief minister; Prince Moduolou Jingxian of Qichang; Prince Ah-Yuzi of Shuyang [7]; Right Guard General Duan Chang; Martial Guard General Xiangli Sengqie; opening-gates general Han Guhu; and Houmochen Luozhou his strong arms. When word spread, men came unbidden in endless succession. Yanzong was full and sturdy of build; seated he leaned back, lying down he sprawled — people laughed until he suddenly blazed into action. His strength was beyond compare; charging through battle lines he was swift and fierce as flight. He emptied the treasury and the palace women to reward the troops and confiscated the property of more than a thousand inner attendants. Houzhu told his close attendants, "I would rather Zhou take Bing Province than let Ande have it." Those beside him said, "That is only reasonable." When Yanzong met the soldiers he grasped each man's hand, spoke his own name, weeping and choking with sobs. All competed to die for him; boys and girls too climbed rooftops, baring their sleeves, and hurled wax-stones at the Zhou army. Special advance and opening-gates general Nalu Ansheng held Taigu with ten thousand men and rebelled. Zhou troops besieged Jinyang; seen from afar they were like black clouds closing on every side. Yanzong ordered Moduolou Jingxian and Han Guhu to hold the south wall, and Ah-Yuzi and Duan Chang the east. Yanzong personally faced Zhou's Prince of Qi at the north wall, wielding a great spear, riding back and forth to direct the fight — nowhere could anyone stand before him. Ju Shan, records clerk of the Masters of Writing, also fat and immensely strong, followed on foot with a long blade and killed or wounded many. Martial Guard Lan Furong and Qilian Yanchang both died in battle.

阿于子、段暢以千騎投周。周軍攻東門，際昏，遂入。進兵焚佛寺門屋，飛燄照天地。延宗與敬顯自門入，夾擊之，周軍大亂，爭門相填壓，齊人從後斫刺，死者二千餘人。周武帝左右略盡，自拔無路，承御上士張壽輒牽馬頭，賀拔佛恩以鞭拂其後，崎嶇僅得出。齊人奮擊，幾中焉。城東阨曲，佛恩及降者皮子信為之導，僅免，時四更也。延宗謂周武帝崩於亂兵，使於積屍中求長鬣者，不得。時齊人既勝，入坊飲酒，盡醉臥，延宗不復能整。周武帝出城，饑甚，欲為遁逸計。齊王憲及柱國王誼諫，以為去必不免。延宗叛將段暢亦盛言城內空虛。周武帝乃駐馬，鳴角收兵，俄頃復振。詰旦，還攻東門，剋之，又入南門。延宗戰，力屈，走至城北，於人家見禽。周武帝自投下馬，執其手。延宗辭曰：「死人手何敢迫至尊。」帝曰：「兩國天子，有何怨惡，直為百姓來耳。勿怖，終不相害。」使復衣帽，禮之。先是，高都郡有山焉，絕壁臨水，忽有黑書見，云「齊亡延宗」，洗視逾明。帝使人就寫，使者改亡為上。至是應焉。延宗敗前，在鄴廳事，見兩日相連置，以十二月十三日晡時受勑守并州，明日建尊號，不間日而被圍，經宿，至食時而敗。年號德昌，好事者言其得二日云。既而周武帝問取鄴計。辭曰：「亡國大夫不可以圖存，此非臣所及。」強問之，乃曰：「若任城王援鄴，臣不能知，若今主自守，陛下兵不血刃。」

Ah-Yuzi and Duan Chang defected to Zhou with a thousand horsemen. Zhou troops assaulted the east gate; at dusk they broke through. They advanced, burning the gate and hall of the Buddhist temple; soaring flames lit heaven and earth. Yanzong and Jingxian entered from the gate and struck from both sides; the Zhou army fell into chaos, men crowding the gate and crushing one another; Qi troops hacked and stabbed from behind — more than two thousand dead. Emperor Wu of Zhou's attendants were nearly all gone; he could not extricate himself. Senior attendant Zhang Shou seized the bridle, Helu Fo'en lashed from behind — over broken ground they barely escaped. Qi troops pressed the attack and nearly struck him down. East of the wall the paths twisted narrow; Fo'en and the defector Pizi Xin guided him, and he barely survived — it was the fourth watch. Yanzong believed Emperor Wu of Zhou had fallen in the turmoil and had men search the heaped corpses for a man with long whiskers; they found none. By then the Qi men, victorious, went into the wards to drink until all were drunk and asleep — Yanzong could no longer restore order. Emperor Wu of Zhou left the city, racked with hunger, and planned to flee. Prince Xian of Qi and pillar of state Wang Yi remonstrated, saying that if he left he would surely not escape. Yanzong's defecting general Duan Chang also loudly declared the city empty within. Emperor Wu of Zhou halted his horse, sounded the horn to recall his troops, and in a moment rallied again. At dawn they attacked the east gate again, took it, and entered the south gate as well. Yanzong fought until his strength gave out, fled to the north of the city, and was captured in a commoner's house. Emperor Wu of Zhou himself dismounted and took his hand. Yanzong declined: "The hand of a dead man — how dare it touch Your Majesty." The emperor said, "Two sovereigns — what hatred between us? I came only for the people. Do not fear; in the end I will not harm you." He had Yanzong restored to cap and robes and treated him with courtesy. Before this, in Gaodu Commandery there was a mountain with sheer cliffs over water; suddenly black writing appeared: "Qi falls — Yanzong"; washed, it grew clearer still. The emperor sent men to copy it; the envoy changed "falls" to "rises." Now it was fulfilled. Before Yanzong's defeat, at the hall in Ye he saw two suns placed one above the other; on the thirteenth of the twelfth month in the afternoon watch he received orders to hold Bing Province; the next day he took the throne; without a day's interval he was besieged; one night passed, and by mealtime he was defeated. The era name was Dechang — gossips said he had gotten his "two suns." Soon after, Emperor Wu of Zhou asked for a plan to take Ye. He declined: "A minister of a fallen state cannot plot survival — this is beyond me." Pressed hard, he finally said, "If the Prince of Rencheng comes to relieve Ye, I cannot say; if the present sovereign holds it himself, Your Majesty's army need not draw blood."

及至長安，周武與齊君臣飲酒，令後主起舞，延宗悲不自持。屢欲仰藥自裁，傅婢苦執諫而止。未幾，周武誣後主及延宗等，云遙應穆提婆反，使並賜死。皆自陳無之，延宗攘袂，泣而不言。皆以椒塞口而死。明年，李妃收殯之。 [8]

At Chang'an Emperor Wu of Zhou drank with the Qi lords and ministers, ordering Houzhu to dance; Yanzong's grief was beyond his control. Repeatedly he wished to take poison and kill himself; his serving women clung to him and remonstrated until he stopped. Before long Emperor Wu of Zhou falsely charged Houzhu, Yanzong, and the rest with remotely responding to Mutipo's rebellion and ordered them all put to death. All protested their innocence; Yanzong rolled up his sleeves, wept, and said nothing. All were killed with pepper stuffed in their mouths. The next year Consort Li gathered their remains for burial. Footnote 8 in the source text.

後主之傳位於太子也，孫正言竊謂人曰：「我武定中為廣州士曹[9]，聞襄城人曹普演有言，高王諸兒，阿保當為天子，至高德之承之當滅。阿保謂天保，德之謂德昌也，承之謂後主年號承光，其言竟信云。」

When the Later Lord yielded the throne to the crown prince, Sun Zhengyan confided to someone: "In the Wuding era I was a clerical officer at Guangzhou[9]. I heard Cao Puyan of Xiangcheng prophesy: 'Of King Gao's sons, Abao will wear the crown; by the time of Dezhi and Chengzhi, the line will end. Abao' meant the Tianbao reign, 'Dezhi' meant Dechang, and 'Chengzhi' meant the Later Lord's Chengguang era—and in the end every word came true."

漁陽王紹信，文襄第六子也。歷特進、開府、中領軍、護軍、青州刺史。行過漁陽，與大富人鍾長命同祷坐。太守鄭道蓋謁，長命欲起，紹信不聽，曰：「此何物小人，而主人公為起。」乃與長命結為義兄弟，妃與長命妻為姊妹，責其闔家幼長皆有贈賄，鍾氏因此遂貧。齊滅，死於長安。

Prince Shaoxin of Yuyang was the sixth son of Gao Cheng. He rose through special eminence, opener of the government, director of the central guard, protector of the army, and governor of Qing Province. On the road through Yuyang he sat at prayer with the wealthy merchant Zhong Changming. When Prefect Zheng Daogai came to pay his respects, Changming started to rise; Shaoxin stopped him and said, "What sort of wretch is this, that the host should stand for him?" He then swore brotherhood with Changming; his consort and Changming's wife became sworn sisters. He extorted gifts from every member of the household, young and old, until the Zhong family was beggared. When Qi fell he died at Chang'an.

北齊書卷十一按此卷原缺，後人以北史卷五二齊宗室諸王傳下文襄諸子傳補。三朝本、南本卷後有宋人校語「此卷與北史同」。

Book of Northern Qi, juan 11: This juan was originally lost; later editors restored it from the account of Wenxiang's sons in Beishi, juan 52, Biographies of Princes of the Imperial Clan of Qi. At the end of the juan, the Song-era collation note in the Three Dynasties and Southern editions reads: "This juan matches the Beishi."

期正月五日諸本「月」作「旦」。北史卷五二及冊府卷二八六三三六八頁作「月」。按正旦五日不可通，今據北史改。

On "set for the fifth day of the first month": various editions read daybreak for month. Beishi juan 52 and Cefu yuangui, juan 286, p. 3368, read month. "Fifth daybreak" is impossible; emended per Beishi.

夜有神光昭玄都法順請以奏聞諸本「昭」作「照室」二字，北史卷五二單作「照」。按魏書卷一一四釋老志、隋書卷二七百官志中，魏末齊初管理佛教的機構叫「昭玄」，北齊置大統一人，統一人。昭玄大統也叫昭玄都，北史卷三二崔暹傳見昭玄都法上，本書卷二四杜弼傳見昭玄都僧達。北史「昭」訛「照」，補此傳者以為不可通，妄加「室」字，今改正。

On "At night there was divine light; Zhaoxuan Director Fashun asked that it be reported to the throne": various editions read the two characters Zhaoshi for Zhaoxuan; Beishi juan 52 has Zhao alone. Weishu juan 114, Treatise on Buddhism and Daoism, and Suishu juan 27, Treatise on Offices, show that the agency governing Buddhism in late Wei and early Qi was called Zhaoxuan; Northern Qi placed one grand director and one director over it. The grand director of Zhaoxuan was also styled Director of Zhaoxuan; Beishi juan 32, biography of Cui Xian, names Director of Zhaoxuan Fashang, and this book's supplementary biography of Du Bi, juan 24, names Director of Zhaoxuan Sengda. Beishi corrupted Zhao into the homophone for "illuminate"; the restorer of this biography, unable to make sense of it, added shi without cause—now corrected.

芒山之敗冊府卷二一八二六一六頁「敗」作「戰」，通志卷八五北齊宗室傳作「役」。按河清三年五六四芒山之戰，北齊獲勝，詳見本書卷一六段韶傳、卷一七斛律光傳，此段下文也說「大捷」這裏「敗」字必誤。

On "Defeat at Mangshan": Cefu yuangui juan 218, p. 2616, reads battle for defeat; Tongzhi juan 85, Biographies of the Northern Qi Imperial Clan, reads campaign. In the third year of Heqing, 564, Northern Qi won at Mangshan; see the biographies of Duan Shao in juan 16 and Hu Lüguang in juan 17 of this book. The lines below also speak of a "great victory"—defeat here must be wrong.

及討定陽士深在軍諸本「定」下有「州」字，北史無。按定州屬北齊，這時並未發生什麼變化，高長恭是北齊王子，怎會去攻討。上文已云長恭和段韶攻定陽，這裏正指此事。後人以「陽士深」連讀，妄增「州」字，今據北史刪。

On "When campaigning against Ding, Yang Shishen was in the army": various editions insert zhou after Ding; Beishi does not. Ding Province was Northern Qi territory and had not changed hands—how could Gao Changgong, a prince of Qi, have marched against his own province? Above, Changgong and Duan Shao are already said to have attacked Dingyang; this line refers to that same campaign. Later readers read Yang Shishen as attached to Ding and added zhou without warrant; now deleted per Beishi.

又聞周軍已入雀鼠谷三朝本、南本、北本、殿本「雀」作「浔」，即「貂」字。汲本、局本作「润」，不成字。按水經注卷六汾水「又南過冠爵津」，注云：「汾津名，在界休縣之西南，俗謂之雀鼠谷，數十里間道險隘。」通鑑卷一七二五三六〇頁衅周軍追齊後主事，胡注引宋白曰：「靈石縣東南有高壁嶺、雀鼠谷、汾水關，皆汾西險固之地。」雀鼠谷是周軍自晉州經靈石、介休向太原進軍的必經之路，別無所謂「浔鼠谷」，今改正。

On "Again they heard the Zhou army had entered Sparrow-Mouse Gorge": in the Three Dynasties, Southern, Northern, and Hall editions, que (sparrow) reads Xun—the character diao. The Jiju and Bureau editions read run, which is not a valid character. Commentary on the Water Classic, juan 6, Fen River: "It flows south again past Guanjue Ford," with a note: "A ford on the Fen southwest of Jiexiu county, commonly called Sparrow-Mouse Gorge—a narrow road for several tens of li." The Comprehensive Mirror, juan 172, p. 5360, recounting the Zhou pursuit of the Northern Qi emperor, cites Hu Guang's note on Song Bai: "Southeast of Lingshi county lie Gaobi Ridge, Sparrow-Mouse Gorge, and Fen River Pass—all strong points on the west bank of the Fen." Sparrow-Mouse Gorge was the route the Zhou army had to take from Jizhou through Lingshi and Jiexiu toward Taiyuan; no place called Xun-Mouse Gorge exists—now corrected.

沭陽王和阿于子諸本及北史卷五二「沭」作「沐」，局本及通鑑卷一七二五三六二頁、通志卷八五北齊宗室傳作「沭」。按沭陽屬東海郡，見隋書卷三一地理志下，今從局本。

On "Prince of Shuyang and Aguzi": various editions and Beishi juan 52 read Mu (the cited text) for Shu (the cited text); the Bureau edition, Comprehensive Mirror juan 172 p. 5362, and Tongzhi juan 85, Biographies of the Northern Qi Imperial Clan, read Shu (the cited text). Shuyang lay in Donghai commandery; see Suishu juan 31, Treatise on Geography, part 2—now following the Bureau edition.

李妃收殯之諸本「妃」作「起」，北史卷五二作「妃」。按本書卷三七魏收傳補、北史卷三三李孝貞傳都說延宗娶李氏，作「妃」是，今據改。

On "Consort Li gathered his remains for burial": various editions read Qi for consort (fei); Beishi juan 52 reads fei. The supplementary biography of Wei Shou in juan 37 of this book and the Beishi biography of Li Xiaozhen, juan 33, both say Yanzong married a woman of the Li clan—consort is correct; emended accordingly.

我武定中為廣州士曹諸本「武定」作「保定」，北史作「武定」。按此事又見本書卷四九綦母懷文傳補，亦作「武定」。保定是周武帝年號，這時高洋早已稱帝，與下文「高王諸兒」云云不符。今據北史改。

On "During the Wuding era I served as Guangzhou clerical officer": various editions read Baoding for Wuding; Beishi reads Wuding. The same episode appears in the supplementary biography of Qimu Huaiwen in juan 49 of this book, which also reads Wuding. Baoding is an era of Emperor Wu of Zhou—by then Gao Yang had long reigned, which cannot square with what follows about "the sons of King Gao." Now emended per Beishi.

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