Volume 13 Biographies 5: Gao Chen; Gao Rui (Northern Qi); Gao Yue (Northern Qi); Gao Mai

趙郡王琛子叡清河王岳子勱

Prince Chen of Zhao Commandery (Gao Chen); his son Rui (Gao Rui); Prince Yue of Qinghe (Gao Yue); his son Mai (Gao Mai)

趙郡王琛，字永寶，高祖之弟也。少時便弓馬，有志氣。高祖既匡天下，中興初，授散騎常侍、鎮西將軍、金紫光祿大夫。既居禁衛，恭勤慎密，率先左右。太昌初，除車騎大將軍、左光祿大夫，封南趙郡公，食邑五千戶。尋拜驃騎大將軍、特進、開府儀同三司、散騎常侍。永熙二年，除使持節、都督定州刺史、六州大都督。琛推誠撫納，拔用人士，甚有聲譽。及斛斯椿等釁結。高祖將謀內討，以晉陽根本，召琛留掌後事，以為幷、肆、汾大行臺僕射，領六州九酋長大都督，其相府政事琛悉決之。天平中，除御史中尉，正色糾彈，無所回避，遠近肅然。尋亂高祖後庭，高祖責罰之，因杖而斃，時年二十三。贈使持節、侍中、都督冀定滄瀛幽殷幷肆雲朔十州諸軍事、驃騎大將軍、冀州刺史、太尉、尚書令，諡曰貞平。天統三年，又贈假黃鉞、左丞相、太師、錄尚書事、冀州刺史，進爵為王，配饗高祖廟庭。子叡嗣。

Prince Chen of Zhao Commandery, styled Yongbao, was a younger brother of Gao Huan. In youth he was skilled at archery and horsemanship, and possessed ambition and spirit. After Gao Huan had set the realm right, at the beginning of the Restoration he was appointed regular attendant of the scattered cavalry, general who pacifies the west, and grand master of the golden seal and purple ribbon. Once he held palace guard duty, he was reverent, diligent, and discreet, taking the lead among those at the emperor's side. At the beginning of Taichang, he was made general of chariots and cavalry, left grand master of the golden seal, and enfeoffed duke of Southern Zhao Commandery with a fief of five thousand households. Soon afterward he was appointed grand general of the agile cavalry, special advance, opener of a government office equal in protocol to three imperators, and regular attendant of the scattered cavalry. In the second year of Yongxi, he was made bearer of the staff of authority, area commander of Ding Province, and area commander-in-chief of six provinces. Chen treated people with sincerity and kindness, promoted men of talent, and enjoyed a very fine reputation. When Hu Sisun and others formed a conspiracy. Gao Huan planned an internal punitive campaign; because Jinyang was the foundation of his power, he summoned Chen to remain and manage affairs in the rear, appointing him vice director of the great eastern headquarters for Bing, Xi, and Fen, and area commander-in-chief of the six provinces and nine chieftains — Chen decided all affairs of the chancellor's office. In the Tianping era he was made censor-in-chief; with stern countenance he investigated and impeached, never shrinking from anyone, and near and far were awed into order. Soon he violated Gao Huan's rear palaces; Gao Huan rebuked and punished him, and he was beaten to death with a staff — he was twenty-three. Posthumously he was appointed bearer of the staff of authority, palace attendant, area commander of military affairs in ten provinces — Ji, Ding, Cang, Ying, You, Yin, Bing, Xi, Yun, and Shuo — grand general of the agile cavalry, governor of Ji Province, grand commandant, and director of the masters of writing; his posthumous title was Zhenping. In the third year of Tiantong he was further posthumously granted the yellow battle-axe, left chancellor, grand preceptor, recorder of affairs of the masters of writing, and governor of Ji Province; his rank was advanced to prince, and he was granted sacrifice in Gao Huan's temple hall. His son Rui succeeded.

叡小名須拔，生三旬而孤，聰慧夙成，特為高祖所愛，養於宮中，令遊娘母之，恩同諸子。魏興和中，襲爵南趙郡公。至四歲，未嘗識母，其母則魏華陽公主也。有鄭氏者，叡母之從母姊妹之女，戲語叡曰：「汝是我姨兒，何因倒親遊氏。」叡因問訪，遂精神不怡。高祖甚以為怪，疑其感疾，欲命醫看之。叡對曰：「兒無患苦，但聞有所生，欲得暫見。」高祖驚曰：「誰向汝道耶？」叡具陳本末。高祖命元夫人令就宮與叡相見，叡前跪拜，因抱頭大哭。高祖甚以悲傷。語平秦王曰：「此兒天生至孝，我兒子無有及者。」遂為休務一日。叡初讀《孝經》，至「資於事父」，輒流涕歔欷。十歲喪母，高祖親送叡至領軍府，為叡發喪，與聲殞絕，哀感左右，三日水漿不入口。高祖與武明婁皇后殷勤敦譬，方漸順旨。居喪盡禮，持佛像長齋，至于骨立，杖而後起。高祖令常山王共臥起，日夜說喻之。並敕左右不聽進水，雖絕清漱，午後輒不肯食。由是高祖食必喚叡同案。其見湣惜如此。高祖崩，哭泣嘔血。及壯，將為婚娶，而貌有戚容。世宗謂之曰：「我為爾娶鄭述祖女，門閥甚高，汝何所嫌而精神不樂？」叡對曰：「自痛孤遺，常深膝下之慕，方從婚冠，彌用感切。」言未卒，嗚咽不自勝。世宗為之憫默。勵己勤學，常夜久方罷。武定末，除太子庶子。顯祖受禪，進封爵為趙郡王，邑一千二百戶，遷散騎常侍。

Rui's childhood name was Xuba; he was orphaned at thirty days, precocious and clever from infancy, and was especially loved by Gao Huan; he was raised in the palace and entrusted to Youniang as foster mother, receiving favor equal to the other sons. In the Xinghe era of Wei, he inherited the title duke of Southern Zhao Commandery. By the age of four he had never known his mother — his mother was the Princess Huayang of Wei. There was a Lady Zheng, daughter of a maternal cousin of Rui's mother, who playfully said to Rui, "You are my cousin's child — why do you instead show affection for the You clan?" Rui thereupon made inquiries, and his spirits grew troubled. Gao Huan thought it very strange, suspected he had fallen ill, and wished to summon a physician to examine him. Rui replied, "Your son has no illness or pain — I only heard that I have a birth mother, and wish to see her for a time." Gao Huan said in astonishment, "Who told you this?" Rui fully explained the sequence of events. Gao Huan ordered Lady Yuan to come to the palace and meet Rui; Rui went forward, knelt and bowed, then embraced her head and wept loudly. Gao Huan was deeply grieved. He said to Prince of Pingqin Guiyan, "This child is filial by nature — none of my sons can match him." Thereupon he suspended official business for one day. When Rui first read the Classic of Filial Piety, upon reaching "drawing upon in serving one's father" he would weep and sigh. At ten he lost his mother; Gao Huan personally escorted Rui to the commandant's headquarters, held mourning for him, and wailed until his voice failed — his grief moved those around him, and for three days he took neither water nor food. Gao Huan and Empress Lou Wuming earnestly urged and admonished him, and only then did he gradually comply. In mourning he observed every rite, kept a long fast before a Buddha image until he was wasted to the bone, and only rose with the aid of a staff. Gao Huan had Prince of Changshan Gao Yan share bed and board with him, exhorting him day and night. He also ordered those at his side not to allow water to be brought in; though he cut off even rinsing his mouth, after noon he still refused food. From this Gao Huan always summoned Rui to share his table at meals. Such was the pity and tenderness shown him. When Gao Huan died, Rui wept until he vomited blood. When he came of age and was to marry, his countenance still bore sorrow. Gao Cheng said to him, "I will marry you to the daughter of Zheng Shuzu — her family standing is very high; what do you find objectionable, that your spirits are not glad?" Rui replied, "Since I was orphaned early, I have always deeply yearned for the warmth beneath my parents' knees; now, on the eve of cap and marriage, I feel this all the more keenly." Before he finished speaking, he sobbed uncontrollably. Gao Cheng was moved to pity and fell silent. He disciplined himself in study, often reading late into the night before stopping. At the end of Wuding he was made junior tutor to the crown prince. When Gao Yang received the abdication, Rui's enfeoffment was advanced to prince of Zhao Commandery with a fief of twelve hundred households, and he was transferred to regular attendant of the scattered cavalry.

叡身長七尺，容儀甚偉，閑習吏職，有知人之鑒。二年，出為定州刺史，加撫軍將軍、六州大都督，時年十七。叡留心庶事，糾摘姦非，勸課農桑，接禮民儁，所部大治，稱為良牧。三年，加儀同三司。六年，詔叡領山東兵數萬監築長城。于時盛夏六月，叡在途中，屏除蓋扇，親與軍人同其勞苦。而定州先有冰室，每歲藏冰，長史宋欽道以叡冒犯暑熱，遂遣輿冰，倍道追送。正值日中停車，炎赫尤甚，人皆不堪，而送冰者至，咸謂得冰一時之要。叡乃對之嘆息云：「三軍之人，皆飲溫水，吾以何義，獨進寒冰，非追名古將，實情所不忍。」遂至消液，竟不一嘗。兵人感悅，遐邇稱嘆。先是，役徒罷作，任其自返。丁壯之輩，各自先歸；羸弱之徒，棄在山北，加以饑病，多致僵殞。叡於是親帥所部，與之俱還，配合州鄉，部分營伍，督帥監領，強弱相持，遇善水草，即為停頓，分有餘，贍不足，屯以全者十三四焉。

Rui stood seven feet in height, his bearing very imposing; he was versed in administrative duties and possessed a discerning eye for men. In the second year he went out as governor of Ding Province, with the additional titles general who pacifies the army and area commander-in-chief of six provinces — he was seventeen. Rui attended to all manner of affairs, investigated and exposed wrongdoing, encouraged agriculture and sericulture, received worthy commoners with courtesy, and his jurisdiction was greatly governed — he was called an excellent governor. In the third year he was given the additional title equal in protocol to three imperators. In the sixth year an edict ordered Rui to lead tens of thousands of eastern troops to supervise construction of the Long Wall. At that time it was the height of summer in the sixth month; Rui was on the road, set aside parasols and fans, and personally shared the labor and hardship with the soldiers. Ding Province had formerly possessed an ice house; each year ice was stored, and the chief administrator Song Qindao, because Rui was braving the summer heat, sent a carriage of ice after him at double speed. It happened to be midday when they halted; the blazing heat was especially fierce and no one could bear it — when the ice arrived, all said that obtaining ice was the need of the moment. Rui sighed in response, saying, "The troops all drink warm water — on what grounds should I alone take cold ice? It is not to chase the fame of ancient generals; truly my heart cannot bear it." He let it melt away completely and never tasted it once. The soldiers were moved and delighted; near and far praised and marveled. Previously, when corvée labor finished work, the laborers were allowed to return on their own. The strong and able went home first; the weak and frail were abandoned north of the mountains, and with hunger and sickness added, many collapsed and died. Rui thereupon personally led his command and returned together with them, assigning them to their districts and townships, organizing them into companies and squads, with overseers supervising — strong and weak supporting one another; wherever good grass and water were found they halted; surplus was divided and deficiency supplied — of those who encamped along the way, roughly three or four out of ten were preserved intact.

七年，詔以本官都督滄、瀛、幽、安、平、東燕六州諸軍事、滄州刺史。八年，徵叡赴鄴，仍除北朔州刺史，都督北燕、北蔚、北恒三州，及庫推以西黃河以東長城諸鎮諸軍事。叡慰撫新遷，量置烽戍，內防外禦，備有條法，大為兵民所安。有無水之處，禱而掘井，鍬鍤裁下，泉源湧出，至今號曰趙郡王泉。

In the seventh year an edict made him, in his existing office, area commander of military affairs in six provinces — Cang, Ying, You, An, Ping, and Dongyan — and governor of Cang Province. In the eighth year Rui was summoned to Ye and was made governor of Beishuo Province, area commander of Beiyan, Beiwei, and Beiheng, and of the garrison towns along the Long Wall west of Kutui and east of the Yellow River. Rui comforted and settled the newly relocated population, measured out beacon towers and garrisons, defended within and guarded without — regulations were complete in every detail, and soldiers and civilians were greatly reassured. Where there was no water, he prayed and dug a well; as soon as the spade and hoe were lowered, a spring gushed forth — to this day it is called the Prince of Zhao Commandery Spring.

九年，車駕幸樓煩，叡朝於行宮，仍從還晉陽。時濟南以太子監國，因立大都督府，與尚書省分理衆事，仍開府置佐。顯祖特崇其選，乃除叡侍中、攝大都督府長史。叡後因侍宴，顯祖從容顧謂常山王演等曰：「由來亦有如此長史不？吾用此長史何如？」演對曰：「陛下垂心庶政，優賢禮物，須拔進居蟬珥之榮，退當委要之職，自昔以來，實未聞如此銓授。」帝曰：「吾於此亦自謂得宜。」十年，轉儀同三司、侍中、將軍、長史，王如故。尋加開府儀同三司、驃騎大將軍、太子太保。

In the ninth year the imperial carriage visited Loufan; Rui attended audience at the traveling palace and returned with the emperor to Jinyang. At that time the Prince of Ji'nan, as crown prince, supervised the state; a great area commander's office was therefore established to divide affairs with the masters of writing, and a government office with staff was opened. Gao Yang especially honored the selection and made Rui palace attendant and acting chief administrator of the great area commander's office. Later, while attending a banquet, Gao Yang casually turned to Prince of Changshan Gao Yan and others and said, "Has there ever been a chief administrator like this? What do you think of my using this chief administrator?" Yan replied, "Your Majesty attends to the myriad affairs of government with care, honors the worthy and treats them with courtesy — at promotion one should occupy the glory of the cicada ear ornament; at retirement one should hold weighty posts of trust. From antiquity until now, truly none has heard of such an appointment." The emperor said, "In this too I consider myself to have hit the mark." In the tenth year he was transferred to equal in protocol to three imperators, palace attendant, general, and chief administrator — his princely title unchanged. Soon afterward he was given the additional titles opener of a government office equal in protocol to three imperators, grand general of the agile cavalry, and grand preceptor to the crown prince.

皇建初，行幷州事。孝昭臨崩，預受顧托，奉迎世祖於鄴，以功拜尚書令，別封浮陽郡公，監太史，太子太傅，議律令。又以討北狄之功，封潁川郡公。復拜尚書令，攝大宗正卿。天統中，追贈叡父琛假黃鉞，母元氏贈趙郡王妃，諡曰貞昭，華陽長公主如故，有司備禮儀就墓拜授。時隆冬盛寒，叡跣步號哭，面皆破裂，嘔血數升。及還，不堪參謝，帝親就第看問。拜司空，攝錄尚書事。突厥嘗侵軼至幷州，帝親禦戎，六軍進止皆令取叡節度。以功復封宣城郡公。攝宗正卿，進拜太尉，監議五禮。叡久典朝政，清真自守，譽望日隆，漸被疏忌，乃撰古之忠臣義士，號曰《要言》，以致其意。

At the beginning of Huangjian he acted as administrator of Bing Province. When Gao Yan faced death he received the imperial testament in advance, welcomed Gao Zhan at Ye, and for his service was appointed director of the masters of writing; he was separately enfeoffed duke of Fuyang Commandery, made supervisor of the grand astrologer, grand preceptor to the crown prince, and charged with deliberating on the code of laws. For merit in campaigning against the northern barbarians he was also enfeoffed duke of Yingchuan Commandery. He was again appointed director of the masters of writing and acting director of the grand clan court. In the Tiantong era Rui's father Chen was posthumously granted the yellow battle-axe; his mother the Yuan clan was posthumously made princess of Zhao Commandery with the posthumous title Zhenzhao — her title Princess Huayang remained unchanged — and the relevant offices prepared the rites and went to the tomb to invest her by proclamation. It was deep winter and bitterly cold; Rui walked barefoot, wailing and crying until his face split open, and he vomited several sheng of blood. When he returned he could not bear to attend court in audience; the emperor personally visited his residence to inquire after him. He was appointed minister of works and acting recorder of affairs of the masters of writing. The Turks once raided as far as Bing Province; the emperor personally took the field, and the advance and halt of the six armies all followed Rui's command. For his merit he was again enfeoffed duke of Xuancheng Commandery. Acting director of the grand clan court, he was promoted to grand commandant and made supervisor of the deliberation on the five rites. Rui had long managed court politics, kept himself pure and upright, and his reputation rose day by day; he was gradually viewed with distant suspicion, and so he compiled ancient loyal ministers and righteous men in a work called Essential Words to express his intent.

世祖崩，葬後數日，叡與馮翊王潤、安德王延宗及元文遙奏後主云：「和士開不宜仍居內任。」並入奏太后，因出士開為兗州刺史。太后曰：「士開舊經驅使，欲留過百日。」叡正色不許。數日之內，太后數以為言。有中官要人知太后密旨，謂叡曰：「太后意既如此，殿下何宜苦違。」叡曰：「吾國家事重，死且不避，若貪生茍全，令國家擾攘，非吾志也。況受先皇遺旨，委寄不輕。今嗣主幼沖，豈可使邪臣在側。不守之以正，何面戴天。」遂重進言，詞理懇切。太后令酌酒賜叡。叡正色曰：「今論國家大事，非為卮酒！」言訖便出。其夜，叡方寢，見一人可長丈五，臂長丈餘，當門向床，以臂壓叡，良久，遂失所在。叡意甚惡之，便起坐獨嘆曰：「大丈夫命運一朝至此！」恐為太后所殺，旦欲入朝，妻子咸諫止之。叡曰：「自古忠臣，皆不顧身命，社稷事重，吾當以死效之，豈容令一婦人傾危宗廟。且和士開何物豎子，如此縱橫，吾寧死事先皇，不忍見朝廷顛沛。」至殿門，又有人曰：「願殿下勿入，慮有危變。」叡曰：「吾上不負天，死亦無恨。」入見太后，太后復以為言，叡執之彌固。出至永巷，遇兵被執，送華林園，於雀離佛院令劉桃枝拉而殺之，時年三十六。大霧三日，朝野冤惜之。期年後，詔聽以王禮葬，竟無贈諡焉。

When Gao Zhan died, several days after the burial Rui, together with Prince of Fenyang Gao Run, Prince of Ande Gao Yanzong, and Yuan Wenyao, memorialized the Last Emperor, saying, "He Shikai should not continue to hold an inner appointment." They all entered to memorialize the empress dowager, and He Shikai was sent out as governor of Yan Province. The empress dowager said, "Shikai has long served at my command — I wish to keep him for a hundred days more." Rui with stern countenance would not permit it. Within a few days the empress dowager repeatedly spoke on his behalf. A favored eunuch who knew the empress dowager's secret intent said to Rui, "Since the empress dowager's wish is already thus, why should Your Highness stubbornly oppose it?" Rui said, "Affairs of state and family are weighty — I would not shrink even from death; if I clung to life and sought safety, letting the state fall into turmoil, that is not my intent. Moreover I received the late emperor's testament — the trust placed in me is no light matter. The succeeding ruler is young and tender — how can an evil minister be kept at his side? If I do not uphold what is right, with what face can I look up to Heaven?" He thereupon pressed his argument again, his words earnest and forceful. The empress dowager ordered wine poured and granted to Rui. Rui with stern countenance said, "We are now discussing great affairs of state — this is not for a cup of wine!" When he finished speaking he went out at once. That night Rui lay asleep when he saw a figure some fifteen chi tall, arms more than ten chi long, blocking the doorway and leaning over the bed. The arm pressed down on him a long while — then the apparition was gone. The omen filled Rui with dread. He sat up alone and sighed: "A great man's fate — to reach this in a single morning!" Fearing the empress dowager meant to kill him, at dawn he would go to court; wife and children all pleaded with him to stay. Rui said, "Loyal ministers since antiquity have never counted their lives; the realm matters more than I — I should die for it. How can I let one woman overturn the altars? And what is He Shikai but a base upstart, strutting as he pleases? I would rather die serving the late emperor than watch the court come apart." At the palace gate another voice said, "Do not go in, Highness — there may be treachery." Rui said, "I owe Heaven; if I die, I die without regret." He went in to the empress dowager; she argued as before, but Rui would not yield. Leaving the palace he reached Eternal Lane, was seized by soldiers, and sent to Hualin Garden. At Sparrow-Departure Cloister Liu Taozhi strangled him. He was thirty-six. Thick fog shrouded the land for three days; court and countryside grieved the injustice. A year later an edict allowed princely burial — but no posthumous name was ever granted.

子整信嗣。歷散騎常侍、儀同三司。好學有行檢，少年時因獵墜馬，傷腰腳，卒不能行起，終於長安。琛同母弟惠寶早亡，元象初，贈侍中、尚書令、都督四州諸軍事、青州刺史。天統三年，重贈十州都督，封陳留王，諡曰文恭，以清河王岳第十子敬文嗣。

His son Zheng succeeded him. He rose in turn to regular attendant of the scattered cavalry and honorary equal to the three ducal ministers. He loved learning and kept his conduct straight. As a youth he fell from his horse on a hunt and injured waist and legs; he never walked again and died at Chang'an. Chen's younger half-brother Huibao died young; in the first year of Yuanxiang he was posthumously made palace attendant, chief minister of the Masters of Writing, and military governor of four provinces and governor of Qing Province. In the third year of Tiantong he was again posthumously made military governor of ten provinces and enfeoffed Prince of Chenliu, posthumous name Wengong; Gao Yue's tenth son Jingwen was made his heir.

清河王岳，字洪略，高祖從父弟也。父翻，字飛雀，魏朝贈太尉，諡孝宣公。岳幼時孤貧，人未之知也，長而敦直，姿貌嶷然，沈深有器量。初，岳家於洛邑，高祖每奉使入洛，必止于岳舍。岳母山氏，嘗夜起，見高祖室中有光，密往覘之，乃無燈，即移高祖於別室，如前所見。怪其神異，詣卜者筮之，遇《幹》之《大有》，占之曰：「吉，《易》稱『飛龍在天，大人造也』，飛龍九五大人之卦，貴不可言。」山氏歸報高祖。後高祖起兵於信都，山氏聞之，大喜，謂岳曰：「赤光之瑞，今當驗矣，汝可間行從之，共圖大計。」岳遂往信都。高祖見之，大悅。

Prince of Qinghe Gao Yue, courtesy name Honglüe, was a younger cousin of Gao Huan. His father Gao Fan, courtesy name Feique, was posthumously made grand preceptor by Wei and given the posthumous title Duke Xiaoxuan. Yue was orphaned and poor in youth; no one yet marked him. Grown, he was honest and upright, of striking bearing — deep, reserved, and possessed of great capacity. At first Yue's household was at Luoyang; whenever Gao Huan came to the capital on business he always stayed at Yue's house. Yue's mother Lady Shan once rose at night and saw light in Gao Huan's room. She stole a look — no lamp burned — and moved him to another chamber; the same radiance appeared there. Struck by the omen, she consulted a diviner and obtained Qian changing to Dayou. The reading ran: "Auspicious. The Changes says, 'The flying dragon is in heaven — the great man creates.' The fifth line — the great man's hexagram; honor beyond words." Lady Shan went back and told Gao Huan. When Gao Huan later raised troops at Xindu, Lady Shan heard and rejoiced. She told Yue, "The omen of red light is fulfilled — go by a secret route and join him; together you will shape the great design." Yue went to Xindu. Gao Huan saw him and was greatly pleased.

中興初，除散騎常侍、鎮東將軍、金紫光祿大夫，領武衛將軍。高祖與四胡戰于韓陵，高祖將中軍，高昂將左軍，岳將右軍。中軍敗績，賊乘之，岳舉麾大呼，橫沖賊陣，高祖方得回師，表裏奮擊，因大破賊。以功除衛將軍、右光祿大夫，仍領武衛。太昌初，除車騎將軍、左光祿大夫，領左右衛，封清河郡公，食邑二千戶。母山氏，封為郡君，授女侍中，入侍皇后。時尒朱兆猶據幷州，高祖將討之，令岳留鎮京師，遷驃騎大將軍、儀同三司。天平二年，除侍中、六州軍事都督，尋加開府。岳辟引時賢，以為僚屬，論者以為美。尋都監典書，復為侍學，除使持節、六州大都督、冀州大中正。俄拜京畿大都督，其六州事悉詣京畿。時高祖統務晉陽，岳與侍中孫騰等在京師輔政。元象二年，遭母憂去職。岳性至孝，盡力色養，母若有疾，衣不解帶，及遭喪，哀毀骨立，高祖深以憂之，每日遣人勞勉。尋起復本任。二年，除兼領軍將軍。興和初，世宗入總朝政，岳出為使持節、都督、冀州刺史，侍中、驃騎、開府儀同如故。三年，轉青州刺史。岳任權日久，素為朝野畏服，及為二藩，百姓望風讋憚。武定元年，除晉州刺史、西南道大都督，得綏邊之稱。時岳遇患，高祖令還幷治療，疾瘳，復令赴職。

At the beginning of Zhongxing he was made regular attendant of the scattered cavalry, general who pacifies the east, and grand master of the gold seal and purple ribbon, concurrently commanding the martial guard. Gao Huan fought the Four Hus at Hanling: he himself held the center, Gao Ang the left, Yue the right. The center broke; the enemy pressed in. Yue raised his banner and shouted, driving straight through their line — Gao Huan could wheel about, and front and rear together smashed the foe. For this he was made guard general and right grand master of the gold seal and purple ribbon, still commanding the martial guard. At the beginning of Taichang he was made chariot-and-horse general and left grand master of the gold seal and purple ribbon, commanding the left and right guards, enfeoffed Duke of Qinghe Commandery with two thousand households. His mother Lady Shan was enfeoffed lady of the commandery; a daughter was made lady attendant within and entered to serve the empress. Erzhu Rong still held Bing Province; Gao Huan meant to attack him and left Yue to guard the capital, promoting him to grand general of the flying cavalry and honorary equal to the three ducal ministers. In the second year of Tianping he was made palace attendant and military governor of six provinces; soon opening-establishment was added. Yue recruited the worthy of the age for his staff; commentators praised it. Soon he was made director of the palace library, again tutor to the heir, bearer of the staff, military governor of six provinces, and chief rectifier of Ji Province. Shortly he was made grand governor of the capital region; all six provinces' business came under the capital region. Gao Huan then directed affairs from Jinyang; Yue with palace attendant Sun Teng and others governed at the capital. In the second year of Yuanxiang he left office to mourn his mother. Yue was utterly filial, serving her with every devotion; when she was ill he never unbelted his robe; in mourning he wasted to skin and bone. Gao Huan was deeply troubled and sent men daily to comfort him. Soon he was recalled to his former post. In the second year he was additionally made concurrent commander of the army. At the beginning of Xinghe the heir apparent took charge of government; Yue went out as bearer of the staff, military governor, and governor of Ji Province; palace attendant, flying-cavalry general, and opening-establishment honors remained. In the third year he was transferred to governor of Qing Province. Yue had held power long; court and countryside alike feared him. As governor of two provinces the people looked to the wind and trembled. In the first year of Wuding he was made governor of Jin Province and grand governor of the southwest circuit, winning praise for pacifying the frontier. When Yue fell ill Gao Huan had him return to Bing for treatment; when he recovered he was sent back to his post.

及高祖崩，侯景叛，世宗徵岳還幷，共圖取景之計。而武帝乘間遣其貞陽侯明率衆於寒山，擁泗水灌彭城，與景為掎角聲援。岳總帥諸軍南討，與行臺慕容紹宗等擊明，大破之，臨陣擒明及其大將胡貴孫，自餘俘馘數萬。景乃擁衆於渦陽，與左衛將軍劉豐等相持。岳回軍追討，又破之，景單騎逃竄。六年，以功除侍中、太尉，餘如故，別封新昌縣子。又拜使持節、河南總管、大都督，統慕容紹宗、劉豐等討王思政於長社。思政嬰城自守，岳等引洧水灌城。紹宗、劉豐為思政所獲，關西出兵援思政，岳內外防禦，甚有謀算。城不沒者三板。會世宗親臨，數日城下，獲思政等。以功別封真定縣男，世宗以為己功，故賞典弗弘也。

When Gao Huan died and Hou Jing rebelled, Gao Cheng summoned Yue back to Bing to plan the campaign against Jing. Emperor Wu of Liang seized the moment and sent his Marquis of Zhenyang Ming with an army to Hanshan, damming the Si to flood Pengcheng and coordinating with Jing in pincer support. Yue led the armies south; with field headquarters Murong Shaozong and others he attacked Ming, routed him completely, captured Ming and his great general Hu Guisun on the field, and took tens of thousands more captive. Jing then massed troops at Woyang, locked in stalemate with left guard general Liu Feng and others. Yue wheeled to pursue and defeated him again; Jing fled alone on horseback. In the sixth year, for merit, he was made palace attendant and grand preceptor; other offices unchanged; separately enfeoffed viscount of Xinchang. He was also made bearer of the staff, grand governor of Henan, and grand commander, leading Murong Shaozong, Liu Feng, and others against Wang Sizheng at Changshe. Sizheng held the city; Yue and the rest diverted the Wei River to flood it. Shaozong and Liu Feng were captured by Sizheng; troops from west of the Pass came to aid him; Yue defended within and without with shrewd calculation. Only three boards' thickness of wall stood above the flood. Gao Cheng came in person; within days beneath the walls Sizheng and the rest were captured. For merit he was separately enfeoffed baron of Zhending; Gao Cheng claimed the credit, so rewards were not fully granted.

世宗崩，顯祖出撫晉陽，令岳以本官兼尚書左僕射，留鎮京師。天保初，進封清河郡王，尋除使持節、驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司、宗師、司州牧。五年，加太保。梁蕭繹為周軍所逼，遣使告急，且請援。冬，詔岳為西南道大行臺，統司徒潘相樂等救江陵。六年正月，師次義陽，遇荊州陷，因略地南至郢州，獲梁州刺史司徒陸法和，仍剋郢州。岳先送法和於京師，遣儀同慕容儼據郢城。朝廷知江陵陷，詔岳旋師。

When Gao Cheng died Gao Yang went out to administer Jinyang and left Yue at his original post while additionally serving as left vice minister of the Masters of Writing, guarding the capital. At the beginning of Tianbao he was advanced to Prince of Qinghe Commandery; soon made bearer of the staff, grand general of the flying cavalry, opener with honors equal to the three ducal ministers, preceptor of the imperial clan, and governor of Si Province. In the fifth year grand preceptor was added. Xiao Yi of Liang, pressed by Zhou armies, sent envoys begging aid. In winter an edict made Yue grand field headquarters of the southwest circuit, commanding minister of state Pan Xiangyue and others to rescue Jiangling. In the first month of the sixth year the army halted at Yiyang; Jing Province had fallen; they raided south to Ying Province, captured Liang governor and minister of state Lu Fahé, and took Ying. Yue first sent Fahé to the capital and dispatched honorary equal Murong Yan to hold Ying city. When the court learned Jiangling had fallen, an edict ordered Yue to withdraw.

岳自討寒山、長社及出隨、陸，並有功績，威名彌重。而性華侈，尤悅酒色，歌姬舞女，陳鼎擊鐘，諸王皆不及也。初，高歸彥少孤，高祖令岳撫養，輕其年幼，情禮甚薄。歸彥內銜之而未嘗出口。及歸彥為領軍，大被寵遇，岳謂其德己，更倚賴之。歸彥密構其短。岳於城南起宅，聽事後開巷。歸彥奏帝曰：「清河造宅，僭擬帝宮，制為永巷，但唯無闕耳。」顯祖聞而惡之，漸以疏岳。仍屬顯祖召鄴下婦人薛氏入宮，而岳先嘗喚之至宅，由其姊也。帝懸薛氏姊而鋸殺之，讓岳以為姦民女。岳曰：「臣本欲取之，嫌其輕薄不用，非姦也。」帝益怒。六年十一月，使高歸彥就宅切責之。岳憂悸不知所為，數日而薨，故時論紛然，以為賜鴆也。朝野嘆惜之。時年四十四。詔大鴻臚監護喪事，贈使持節、都督冀定滄瀛趙幽濟七州諸軍、太宰、太傅、定州刺史，假黃鉞，給轀輬車，赗物二千段，諡曰昭武。

Yue himself had merit at Hanshan, Changshe, and the campaigns through Sui and Lu; his martial name weighed ever heavier. Yet by nature he was extravagant, especially fond of wine and women; singing girls, dancing women, cauldrons set and bells struck — no prince matched him. Gao Guiyan was orphaned young; Gao Huan ordered Yue to raise him. Yue thought him too young and treated him with very thin courtesy. Guiyan nursed resentment within but never spoke of it. When Guiyan became commander of the army and was greatly favored, Yue thought he owed a debt and relied on him all the more. Guiyan secretly built up his faults. Yue built a mansion south of the city; behind the audience hall he opened a lane. Guiyan memorialized the emperor: "Prince of Qinghe builds his mansion in imitation of the palace, with an Eternal Lane — only the gate-towers are missing." Gao Yang heard and hated it; he gradually grew distant from Yue. It happened that Gao Yang summoned a woman of Ye named Xue into the palace; Yue had earlier summoned her to his house — through his elder sister. The emperor had Xue's elder sister suspended and sawn apart, reproaching Yue for violating commoners' daughters. Yue said, "I originally meant to take her but found her frivolous and did not — it was not violation." The emperor grew angrier still. In the eleventh month of the sixth year he sent Gao Guiyan to Yue's house to rebuke him sharply. Yue, anxious and fearful, knew not what to do; within days he died — contemporary talk widely held he had been given poisoned wine. Court and countryside mourned him. He was forty-four. An edict ordered the grand master of ceremonies to oversee the funeral; posthumously he was made bearer of the staff, military governor of seven provinces, grand preceptor, grand tutor, and governor of Ding Province; the yellow battle-axe was granted, an imperial carriage for the coffin provided, and two thousand bolts of burial goods; posthumous name Zhaowu.

初，岳與高祖經綸天下，家有私兵，並畜戎器，儲甲千餘領。世宗之末，岳以四海無事，表求納之。世宗敦至親之重，推心相任，云：「叔屬居肺腑，職在維城，所有之甲，本資國用，叔何疑而納之。」文宣之世，亦頻請納，又固不許。及將薨，遺表謝恩，並請上甲于武庫，至此葬畢，方許納焉。皇建中，配享世宗廟庭。後歸彥反，世祖知其前譖，曰：「清河忠烈，盡力皇家，而歸彥毀之，間吾骨肉。」籍沒歸彥，以良賤百口賜岳家。後又思岳之功，重贈太師、太保，餘如故。子勱嗣。

At first Yue with Gao Huan had ordered the realm; the household kept private troops and stored weapons; more than a thousand suits of armor were hoarded. At the end of Gao Cheng's reign Yue, because the realm was at peace, memorialized asking to turn them in. Gao Cheng, honoring close kin, gave him his full trust and said, "Uncle is of our inner flesh; your charge is to guard the walls — the armor you hold is meant for the state; why doubt and turn it in?" In Gao Yang's reign he also repeatedly asked to turn them in, and again was firmly refused. When about to die he left a final memorial thanking grace and again asked to submit the superior armor to the armory; only when the burial was complete was surrender permitted. In the Huangjian era he was given paired sacrifice in Gao Cheng's temple hall. Later when Guiyan rebelled, Gao Zhan knew his earlier slander and said, "Prince of Qinghe was loyal and fierce, exerting himself for the royal house — yet Guiyan destroyed him and came between my flesh and bone." Guiyan's property was confiscated; a hundred mouths of good and low slaves were granted to Yue's household. Later, remembering Yue's merit, he was again posthumously made grand preceptor and grand tutor; other honors unchanged. His son Gao Mai succeeded him.

勱，字敬德，夙智早成，為顯祖所愛。年七歲，遣侍皇太子。後除青州刺史，拜日，顯祖戒之曰：「叔父前牧青州，甚有遺惠，故遣汝慰彼黎庶，宜好用心，無墜聲績。」勱流涕對曰：「臣以蒙幼，濫叨拔擢，雖竭庸短，懼忝先政。」帝曰：「汝既能有此言，吾不慮也。」尋追授武衛將軍、領軍、祠部尚書、開府儀同三司。以清河地在畿內，改封樂安王。轉侍中、尚書右僕射，出為朔州行臺僕射。

Gao Mai, courtesy name Jingde, was precocious from youth and loved by Gao Yang. At seven he was sent to attend the crown prince. Later he was made governor of Qing Province; on the day of investiture Gao Yang admonished him, "Your uncle formerly governed Qing with lasting kindness; therefore I send you to comfort those people. Use your heart well — do not fall from his renown." Mai answered through tears, "I have been rashly promoted while still young; though I exhaust my limited powers, I fear disgracing my predecessor's governance." The emperor said, "Since you can speak thus, I need not worry." Shortly afterward he was further appointed guard general, commandant of the capital garrison, minister of sacrifices, and opening-establishment equal in rank to the three dukes. Because Qinghe lay within the capital region, he was re-enfeoffed as Prince of Le'an. He was made palace attendant and right vice director of the Masters of Writing, then sent out as executive-office vice director at Shuozhou.

後主晉州敗，太后從土門道還京師，敕勱統領兵馬，侍衛太后。時佞幸閽寺，猶行暴虐，民間雞豬，悉放鷹犬搏噬取之。勱收儀同三司茍子溢徇軍，欲行大戮。太后有令，然後釋之。劉文殊竊謂勱曰：「子溢之徒，言成禍福，何容如此，豈不慮後生毀謗耶？」勱攘袂語文殊曰：「自獻武皇帝以來，撫養士卒，委政親賢，用武行師，未有折衂。今西寇已次幷州，達官多悉委叛，正坐此輩專政弄權，所以內外離心，衣冠解體。若得今日斬此卒，明日及誅，亦無所恨。王國家姻婭，須同疾惡，返為此言，豈所望乎！」太后還至鄴，周軍續至，人皆恟懼，無有鬭心，朝士出降，晝夜相屬。勱因奏後主曰：「今所翻叛，多是貴人，至於卒伍，猶未離貳。請追五品已上家屬，置之三臺，因協之曰：『若戰不捷，即退焚臺。』此曹顧惜妻子，必當死戰。且王師頻北，賊徒輕我，今背城一決，理必破之，此亦計之上者。」後主卒不能用。齊亡入周，依例授開府。隋朝歷楊、楚、光、洮四州刺史。開皇中卒。

When Houzhu was defeated at Jinyang, the Empress Dowager returned to the capital by the Tumen Road; an edict put Mai in overall command of troops to escort her. Favored eunuchs still ran riot; they loosed hawks and dogs on the people's chickens and pigs and took them by force. Mai seized Gou Ziyi, an official of equal-in-rank third rank, paraded him before the army, and meant to execute him on the spot. Only when the Empress Dowager sent an order was Gou released. Liu Wenshu whispered to Mai, "Men like Ziyi can make or break us with a word — how can you treat them so? Will you not fear what men will say afterward?" Mai rolled up his sleeves and told Wenshu, "Since Gao Huan, we have nurtured soldiers, entrusted rule to kin and worthies, and taken the field — never once were we broken. Now the western invaders stand at Bingzhou; great officials defect in droves. It is because men like these hold power and twist affairs that court and countryside have lost heart and the gentry have come undone. If I can cut off this man's head today and die for it tomorrow, I will not regret it. Our houses are joined by marriage; we ought to hate the same evil. To speak to me like this — is this what I expected of you!" When the Empress Dowager reached Ye, Zhou armies pressed on without pause; panic spread and no one would fight; court officials surrendered day and night without end. Mai therefore memorialized Houzhu: "Those who have turned are mostly nobles; among the common ranks many have not yet gone over. I ask that the families of every official of fifth rank and above be gathered into the Three Platforms, and that they be told: 'If we do not win, we withdraw and burn the platforms.' Those men, for wife and child, will fight to the death. Our armies have retreated again and again; the enemy holds us cheap. One decisive battle with our backs to the wall must break them — that too is the highest plan." Houzhu in the end would not take his counsel. When Qi fell he entered Zhou and, by precedent, was granted an opening establishment. Under the Sui he served in turn as governor of Yang, Chu, Guang, and Tao provinces. He died in the Kaihuang era.

史臣曰：《易》稱：「天地盈虛，與時消息，況於人乎！」蓋以通塞有期，汚隆適道。舉世思治，則顯仁以應之；小人道長，則儉德以避之。至若負博陸之圖，處藩屏之地，而欲迷邦違難，其可得乎。趙郡以跗萼之親，當顧命之重，高揖則宗社易危，去惡則人神俱泰。是用安夫一德，同此貞心，踐畏途而不疑，履危機而莫懼。以斯忠義，取斃尹凶慝。豈道光四海，不遇周成之明；將朝去三仁，終見殷墟之禍。不然則邦國殄瘁，何影響之速乎！清河屬經綸之會，自致青雲，出將入相，翊成鴻業，雖漢朝劉賈，魏室曹洪，俱未足論其高下。天保不辰，易生悔咎，固不可掩其風烈，適以彰顯祖之失德云。

The historian writes: The Changes says, "Heaven and earth fill and empty; they rise and fall with the season — how much more is this true of men!" For passage and blockage have their season; decline and ascent follow the Way. When the world longs for order, show humane rule to answer it; when petty men hold the road, practice restrained virtue to slip clear of harm. But for one who holds a Huo Guang's map yet stands as a screen for the realm — if he would lose the state and turn from hardship, can he succeed? Zhao Commandery, close as stem to calyx, bore a deathbed charge of grave weight: to yield the high seat would have endangered the altars; to purge evil would have brought peace to men and gods alike. So he anchored himself in one virtue, kept one steadfast heart, walked a perilous road without wavering, and met crisis without fear. With loyalty and righteousness such as this, he could have seized and killed Yin the wicked. Yet though his virtue might have lit the four seas, he did not meet a King Cheng of Zhou; rather, as when a court loses its three worthies, he lived to see the ruin of Yin. Otherwise how could the state have withered so fast — as if at a shadow's touch! Qinghe came up in the age of founding, climbed to the blue clouds by his own strength, went out as general and in as minister, and helped raise the great enterprise — not even Han's Liu Jia nor Wei's Cao Hong can be set above or below him. Tianbao was an ill hour, quick to breed regret and blame; yet his heroic stature cannot be hidden — it only throws Gao Yang's fault and his virtue into sharper light.

贊曰：趙郡英偉，風範凝正。天道無親，斯人斯命。赫赫清河，于以經國。末路小疵，非為敗德。

Appraisal: Zhao Commandery — heroic and grand; bearing composed, mien upright. Heaven's Way shows no favor; such a man, such a fate. Illustrious Qinghe — by him the state was governed. A small flaw at the end of the road — not a collapse of virtue.

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 has been collated against the November 1972 first edition of the Book of Northern Qi published by Zhonghua Shuju.

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