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卷十七 列傳第九 斛律金 子光 羨

Volume 17 Biographies 9: Hulü Jin; Hulü Guang; Hulü Xian

Chapter 17 of 北齊書 · Book of Northern Qi
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1
Hulü Jin; son Guang; Xian
2
殿 祿
Hulü Jin, styled Aluodun, was a native of the Chile tribe in Shuozhou. His great-great-grandfather Beihouli, renowned beyond the frontier for strength and bravery, led his household to submit in the reign of Emperor Daowu of Wei and was granted the title duke of Mengdu. His grandfather Fandijin served as director of the palace secretariat. His father Dana'gui served as director of splendid honors and first chief of the submitted tribes. During Tianping, when Hulü Jin rose high, his father Dana'gui was posthumously made duke of works.
3
Hulü Jin was honest and straightforward by nature, skilled at riding and archery; in campaigning he used Xiongnu methods — reading dust to know how many horse and foot were on the march, sniffing the ground to gauge an army's distance. At first he served as a military commander; with the garrison general of Huaishuo, Yang Jun, he escorted the Ruru ruler Anagui back north. Anagui watched Hulü Jin hunting with bow and arrow and sighed deeply at his skill. Later Anagui raided Gaolu; Hulü Jin resisted and defeated him. At the end of Zhenguang, Poliuhan Baling raised rebellion; Hulü Jin gathered troops and submitted to him, and Baling made Jin a nominal king. Hulü Jin judged that Baling would ultimately be destroyed and annihilated; he then led the ten thousand households under his command to Yunzhou to surrender and was at once appointed second chief of the submitted tribes. He gradually led his force south out of Huangguadui but was defeated by Du Luozhou; his troops scattered, and Hulü Jin and his elder brother Ping alone escaped to Erzhu Rong. Erzhu Rong memorialized to have Hulü Jin made a separate commander; he rose in succession to grand commander. When Emperor Xiaozhuang ascended the throne, Hulü Jin was granted the title baron of Fucheng County and additionally made general who pacifies the north and colonel of the towered cavalry. He followed in the defeats of Ge Rong and Yuan Hao, earned repeated battle merit, and was promoted to grand general who pacifies the south.
4
祿 西 使西 西 使 退 西 使 使
When Erzhu Zhao and others rose in rebellion, Gao Huan secretly harbored a plan to restore the realm; Hulü Jin, together with Lou Zhao, Kudie Gan, and others, approved the great design and then followed in raising the righteous banner. When Gao Huan attacked Ye from the south, he left Hulü Jin to hold Xindu, made him grand commander of the six provinces of Heng, Yun, Yan, Shuo, Xian, and Yu, and entrusted him with rear affairs; separately Jin attacked Li Xiu and defeated him, and was promoted to right director of splendid honors. He joined Gao Huan at Ye and then followed in pacifying Jinyang and pursuing the destruction of Erzhu Zhao. At the beginning of Taichang, Hulü Jin was made governor of Fen Province and grand commander of that province, and his rank was advanced to marquis. He followed Gao Huan in defeating Hediouling west of the river. At the beginning of Tianping, he moved to Ye; Hulü Jin was ordered to lead thirty thousand foot and horse to garrison Fengling against Western raiders; when the campaign ended, he returned to Jinyang. He followed Gao Huan in battle at Shayuan; the army withdrew without success, and for this the cities of eastern Yong were again seized by the Western army; Hulü Jin was dispatched with Wei Jing, Kudie Gan, and others to recover them. In the Yuanxiang era, Yuwen Tai again launched a great campaign toward Heyang. Gao Huan led troops to attack him and sent Hulü Jin straight to Tai Province to form pincers. When Hulü Jin reached Jin Province, because the army had withdrawn he did not advance; he then joined the mobile headquarters commander Xue Xiuyi in besieging the bandits at Qiaoshan. Before long Gao Huan arrived; together they pacified the enemy, and Hulü Jin then followed Gao Huan in capturing several cities including Southern Jiang and Shao Commandery. At the beginning of Wuding, Gao Zhongmi, governor of Northern Yu Province, held the west of the city and rebelled, and Yuwen Tai invaded Luoyang. Gao Huan had Hulü Jin command Liu Feng, Bu Dahan Sa, and others with several tens of thousands of foot and horse to hold Heyang city against him. When Gao Huan arrived, Hulü Jin again followed in defeating Zhongmi. When the army returned, he was made grand marshal, his title was changed to duke of Shicheng Commandery with a fief of one thousand households, and he was transferred to first chief of the submitted tribes. In the third year, Gao Huan led troops on a surprise attack against the Mountain Hu, dividing into two routes. Hulü Jin was made army supervisor of the southern route and went out by Huanglu Ridge. Gao Huan himself went by the northern route, crossed Chihong Ridge, joined Hulü Jin at Wutu Fort, and together they attacked and defeated the enemy. When the army returned, he went out as governor of Ji Province. In the fourth year, an edict ordered Hulü Jin to lead troops by the Wusu route to join Gao Huan at Jin Province, and he then followed in the attack on Yubi. When the army returned, Gao Huan had Hulü Jin command the whole host on the return to Jinyang.
5
西 西使 退 西 使崿 西
When Gao Cheng succeeded to affairs, Hou Jing held Yingchuan and surrendered to Western Wei; an edict dispatched Hulü Jin to command Pan Le, Xue Guyuan, and others to hold Heyang in defense. Western Wei sent its grand commander Li Jinghe and Jogan Bao leading several tens of thousands of horse and foot, intending to go from Xincheng to relieve Hou Jing. Hulü Jin led troops and halted at Guangwu to intercept them; Jinghe and the others, hearing of it, withdrew and fled. He returned as governor of Si Province and again led his division to build the three forts of Yangzhi, Baijia, and Huyan at Yiyang, posting garrisons before returning. When Hou Jing fled to Southern Yu, Western Wei commissioner with protocol equal to three imperators Wang Sizheng entered and seized Yingchuan. Gao Cheng dispatched Gao Yue, Murong Shaozong, Liu Feng, and others to lead troops and besiege the city. An edict again ordered Hulü Jin to supervise Peng Le, Kezhuhun Daoyuan, and others in going out to encamp at Heyang and cut off their route of rescue. An edict again ordered Hulü Jin to lead troops to join the attack on Yingchuan. When the affair was settled, Hulü Jin was again sent to lead troops from Eban to transport grain to Yiyang. The Western Wei commander of Jiuchu Fort, Ma Shaolong, held a strategic pass and fought; Hulü Jin defeated him. For merit he was separately enfeoffed baron of Anping County.
6
使
When Gao Yang received the abdication, Hulü Jin was enfeoffed prince of Xianyang Commandery, remaining governor as before. That winter he attended court at the Jinyang palace. Hulü Jin fell ill; the emperor visited his residence to look in on him, granted him medicine, and palace envoys came without cease. When his illness healed, he returned to his province. In the third year, he was appointed grand preceptor at his post. The emperor campaigned against Xi bandits, and Hulü Jin followed the emperor on the march. When the army returned, the emperor visited Si Province, feasted and shot with Hulü Jin, and then departed. In the fourth year, he was relieved of his governorship and returned to Jinyang as grand preceptor. The imperial carriage again visited his residence; the six palaces and all the princes followed; wine was set out and music performed, and only at the end of the night did the revel end. The emperor was greatly pleased; he made Hulü Jin's second son Fengle general of martial guards and said to Jin, "Your Grace's founding merit aided the mandate; father and son are loyal — I shall bind us by marriage and make you a frontier shield forever." An edict then ordered Hulü Jin's grandson Wudu to marry Princess Yining. On the day the rites were completed, the emperor followed the empress dowager in visiting Hulü Jin's residence; the empress, crown prince, and all the princes followed — such was the favor and intimacy shown him.
7
西 西
Later, because the Ruru were broken by the Turks and their clans scattered, fearing they would violate the frontier and alarm the border people, an edict ordered Hulü Jin to lead twenty thousand horsemen to encamp at Baidao in defense. The barbarian chieftain Doubatu Jiubei was secretly leading more than three thousand households westward; scouts returned and reported; Hulü Jin drove his division in pursuit and captured the whole host. Ruru Danbo was about to move the whole nation west; Hulü Jin captured his scouts and sent them in, and also memorialized describing how the barbarians could be attacked and taken. Gao Yang thereupon led troops and together with Hulü Jin attacked them at Tulai, capturing more than twenty thousand households before returning. His rank was advanced to right chancellor, with income from Qi Province; he was transferred to left chancellor.
8
西
Guang, styled Mingyue, from youth was skilled at riding and archery and was renowned for martial prowess. At the end of Wei, he followed Hulü Jin on the western campaign; Yuwen Tai's chief administrator Mo Xiaohui was then in the ranks; Hulü Guang galloped forward and shot him, then captured him on the field — Guang was then seventeen. Gao Huan praised this and at once promoted Hulü Guang to grand commander. When Gao Cheng was heir apparent, Hulü Guang was brought in as a trusted commander; he was gradually promoted to general who represses barbarians and cumulatively advanced to general of the guard. In the fifth year of Wuding, he was enfeoffed viscount of Yongle County. Once he followed Gao Cheng in a hunt at Huan Bridge; he saw a great bird soaring above the clouds; Hulü Guang drew his bow and shot it, striking it square in the neck. The bird was the size of a wheel; it spun downward to earth — it was a great eagle. Gao Cheng took it to look at it and was deeply struck by the marvel. Xing Zichao, an aide in the chancellor's office, saw it and sighed, "This is an eagle-shooter." At the time he was known by the sobriquet Commander Who Drops Eagles. Soon he also served as left general of the guard and his rank was advanced to baron.
9
西 鹿 西 退
When Qi received the abdication, he was granted commissioner with protocol equal to three imperators and separately enfeoffed viscount of Xi'an County. In the third year of Tianbao, he followed a campaign beyond the frontier; Hulü Guang went ahead as vanguard and broke the enemy, beheading many and taking captives, and also seizing mixed livestock. On returning, he was made governor of Jin Province. To the east were the three Zhou forts of Tianzhu, Xin'an, and Niutou, which recruited fugitives and repeatedly raided and plundered. In the seventh year, Hulü Guang led five thousand foot and horse in a surprise attack and broke them; he also greatly defeated the Zhou commissioner Wang Jingjun and others, taking more than five hundred captives and more than a thousand head of mixed livestock before returning. In the ninth year, he again led troops and took the four Zhou forts of Jiangchuan, Baima, Huaijiao, and Yicheng. He was made governor of Shuo Province. In the tenth year, he was made special grand master and commissioner with protocol equal to three imperators. In the second month, he led ten thousand horsemen to attack the Zhou opener of a government office Cao Huigong and beheaded him. The commissioner of Baigu Fort, Xue Yusheng, abandoned the city and fled; Hulü Guang then took Wenhou Fort, established a garrison, set palisades, and returned. In the first year of Ganming, he was made governor of Bing Province. In the first year of Huangjian, his rank was advanced to duke of Julu Commandery. At that time Prince of Yueyang Bainian was crown prince; Gao Zhan, because the Hulü family for generations had been pure and careful and Hulü Guang had also shown merit to the royal house, took his eldest daughter as the crown prince's consort. In the first year of Daning, he was made right vice director of the masters of writing, with income from Zhongshan Commandery. In the second year, he was made grand tutor to the crown prince. In the fourth month of the second year of Heqing, Hulü Guang led twenty thousand foot and horse to build Xunzhang Fort west of Zhiguan Pass and also built two hundred li of the Great Wall, establishing thirteen garrisons. In the first month of the third year, Zhou dispatched generals Daxi Chengxing and others to raid Pingyang; an edict ordered Hulü Guang to lead thirty thousand foot and horse against them; Chengxing and the others, hearing of it, withdrew and fled. Hulü Guang pursued north, entered their territory, and took more than two thousand captives before returning. In the third month of that year, he was transferred to minister over the masses. In the fourth month, he led horsemen north to attack the Turks and took more than a thousand horses. That winter, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou dispatched his pillar of state and grand marshal Yuchi Tong, Duke of Qi State Yuwen Xian, and pillar of state and duke of Yong State Kechi Xiong and others — their host was said to number one hundred thousand — to raid Luoyang. Hulü Guang led fifty thousand horsemen in a forced march to meet and attack them; they fought at Mount Mang, and Tong and the others were utterly defeated. Hulü Guang personally shot Kechi Xiong and killed him; more than three thousand heads and captives were cut down and taken; Yuchi Tong and Yuwen Xian barely escaped with their lives; all their armor, weapons, and baggage were seized, and the dead were heaped into a victory mound. Gao Zhan visited Luoyang, assessed merit and distributed rewards, and transferred Hulü Guang to grand commandant; he was again enfeoffed duke of Champion County. Earlier Emperor Wucheng had ordered Guang's second daughter taken as crown princess; in the first year of Tiantong she was invested empress. That year Guang was made grand general. In the sixth month of the third year he left office upon his father's death; that same month an edict recalled Guang and his younger brother Xian to their former posts. In autumn he was made grand preceptor, succeeded to the title prince of Xianyang and to the office of first chief of the tribal register, was separately enfeoffed duke of Wude Commandery with revenue transferred to Zhao Province, and was promoted to grand tutor.
10
鹿 鹿
In the twelfth month Zhou sent generals to besiege Luoyang and choke off its grain routes. In the first month of the first year of Wuping an edict ordered Guang to lead thirty thousand infantry and cavalry against them. The army halted at Dinglong. Zhou generals Zhangye Duke Yuwen Jie, Zhong Province governor Liang Shiyan, and Kaifu director of water affairs Liang Jingxing and others had again encamped at the Lulu crossroads. Guang donned armor, seized a sharp blade, and led from the front; blades had barely crossed when Jie's men broke completely — more than two thousand heads were taken. He pressed on to Yiyang and faced Zhou Prince of Qi Yuwen Xian and Duke of Shen Baba Xianjing in stalemate for a hundred days. Guang built and garrisoned the fortresses Tongguan and Fenghua to keep the road to Yiyang open. On the return march, when the army reached Anye, Xian's force — fifty thousand strong — still trailed behind. Guang unleashed cavalry and Xian's men broke completely. He captured their Kaifu Yuwen Ying, supervisor Yueqin Shiliang, Han Yan, and others, and took more than three hundred heads besides. Xian then ordered Jie and his grand general Central Duke Liang Luodu, together with Jingxing, Shiyan, and others, to post thirty thousand infantry and cavalry at the Lulu pass and cut the vital route. Guang joined Han Guisun, Huyan Zu, Wang Xian, and others in a combined attack and routed them completely, beheading Jingxing and taking a thousand horses. An edict additionally made him right chancellor and governor of Bing Province. That winter Guang again led fifty thousand infantry and cavalry to build the fortresses Huagu and Longmen at Yubi and faced Xian, Xianjing, and the others in stalemate; Xian's men did not dare move. Guang then pressed on to besiege Dingyang and also built the fortress Nanchen. A province was established to press them, and more than ten thousand households of barbarians and Chinese alike came over and submitted.
11
便 便使 使使
In the second year he led troops to build thirteen garrison fortresses, including Pinglong, Weiqi, and Tongrong. Zhou pillar lords Duke of Baohan Putun Wei and Wei Xiaokuan and others, with more than ten thousand infantry and cavalry, came to press Pinglong. They fought Guang north of the Fen River; Guang routed them completely, capturing and slaying more than a thousand. He was again enfeoffed duke of Zhongshan Commandery, with a fief increased by one thousand households. When the army returned, an edict again ordered him to lead fifty thousand infantry and cavalry out by the Pingyang route against the garrison fortresses of Yaoqiang and Baiting; both fell. Nine fortress commanders of Yitong and grand governor rank were captured, along with several thousand prisoners. He was separately enfeoffed duke of Changle Commandery. That month Zhou sent its pillar lord Heggan Guanglue to besiege Yiyang. Guang led fifty thousand infantry and cavalry to the relief. A great battle was fought below the walls; he then took four Zhou garrisons including Jian'an and captured more than a thousand prisoners before returning. Before the army reached Ye, an edict ordered the troops dismissed at once. Guang thought many soldiers had earned merit without yet receiving reward or comfort; if they were dismissed immediately, imperial favor would never reach them. He secretly sent a memorial asking that an envoy proclaim the edict while the army continued to advance. The court's envoy was slow in coming. When the army returned and was nearing Zimo, Guang still encamped and waited for the envoy. When the emperor heard that Guang's army camp was already pressing close, he was deeply displeased and urgently ordered a palace attendant to summon Guang for an audience; only then were the troops rewarded and dismissed. Guang was made left chancellor and separately enfeoffed duke of Qinghe Commandery.
12
忿
When Guang entered court he would often sit behind the hanging curtain in the hall of audience. Zu Ting did not know and rode past in front of him. Guang was furious and said to others, "This man dares behave so!" Later Ting was in the inner secretariat speaking in a loud, insolent voice. Guang happened to pass by, heard it, and grew angry again. Ting knew Guang's wrath and bribed one of Guang's attendants to ask, "Is the Prince angry with Xiaozheng?" The answer came: "Since you took power, the Prince every night sits hugging his knees and sighs, 'The blind man has entered — the state is sure to fall! Mu Tipo asked to marry Guang's concubine-born daughter; permission was refused.' The emperor bestowed on Tipo fields at Jinyang. Guang said at court, "These fields since the Shenwu Emperor have always been sown with grain to feed several thousand horses against enemy raids. To give them to Tipo now — will this not cripple military affairs?" From this Zu and Mu nursed deep resentment.
13
西 西 使 使駿
Zhou general Wei Xiaokuan, jealous of Guang's valor, composed slanderous verses and had spies leak the text at Ye: "A hundred pints fly up to heaven; Bright Moon shines on Chang'an," and also, "The high mountain needs no push to collapse; the oak needs no prop to stand straight." Zu Ting then added to them: "The blind old husband carries a great axe on his back; the sharp-tongued old woman cannot speak." He had children sing them in the streets. Tipo heard of it and told his mother Ling Xuan. Xuan took "sharp-tongued" as a reproach against herself and "blind old husband" as referring to Ting. They therefore joined in plotting and reported the verses to the emperor, saying, "The Hulü clan for generations has been great generals; Bright Moon's fame shakes the lands west of the passes, Fengle's authority reaches the Turks; a daughter is empress and sons marry princesses — the verses are truly fearsome." The emperor asked Han Changluan; Changluan said it could not be done, and the matter rested. Zu Ting again saw the emperor and asked for a private audience; only He Hongzhen was at his side. The emperor said, "I received your earlier memorial and at once wished to carry it out; Changluan said there was no reason for it." Before Ting could answer, Hongzhen stepped forward and said, "If there had never been such intent, that would be one thing; but once such intent exists and is not decisively carried out, what if it leaks?" The emperor said, "Hongzhen speaks rightly." He still hesitated, undecided. It happened that chief administrator of the chancellor's office Feng Shirang sent a secret memorial saying, "When Guang returned from the western campaign, an edict ordered the troops dismissed; Guang kept the army pressing the imperial capital, intending treason, but the plot failed and stopped. At home he hoards crossbows and armor and keeps a thousand-odd slaves and servants; he constantly sends messengers to Fengle and Wudu, plotting back and forth in secret. If he is not dealt with early, I fear matters may become unpredictable." The memorial's words "the army pressing the imperial capital" matched the emperor's earlier suspicions. He said to He Hongzhen, "Heaven's mind is also a great sage — I earlier suspected he wished to rebel, and so it proves." The emperor was by nature extremely timid. Fearing an immediate outbreak, he ordered Hongzhen to gallop and summon Zu Ting to tell him. He also feared that if Guang were summoned he would not obey. Ting therefore said, "If you summon him directly, I fear he will suspect and refuse to enter. You should send an envoy to bestow a fine horse on him, saying, 'Tomorrow I shall go to the Eastern Hills for an outing; the Prince may ride this horse and come with me' — Guang will surely come to give thanks, and you can then bring him in and seize him." The emperor did as he said. Before long Guang arrived. He was brought into the Cool Breeze Hall, and Liu Taozhi strangled him from behind and killed him. He was fifty-eight. Thereupon an edict was issued declaring that Guang had plotted rebellion and had now paid with his life; the rest of his household need not be investigated. Soon another edict was issued exterminating the entire clan.
14
Guang by nature spoke little, was stern and quick-tempered, and strict with subordinates; in drilling troops and supervising the ranks he relied solely on awe and punishment. In corvée labor for wall-building he whipped gentlemen and was widely called brutal. From the time he first bound his hair and took up arms he never once lost discipline, and neighboring enemies deeply feared him. His guilt was never made clear, yet in a single day he was slaughtered to extinction; court and common people alike mourned and lamented. When Emperor Wu of Zhou heard that Guang was dead he rejoiced greatly and proclaimed an amnesty within his borders. Later, when he entered Ye, he posthumously enfeoffed Guang as pillar of state and duke of Chong. Pointing at the edict he said, "If this man were still alive, how could I have reached Ye!"
15
使
Guang had four sons. The eldest, Wudu, rose through the posts of special advance, grand preceptor to the crown prince, Kaifu Yitong Third Rank, and governor of Liang and Yan Provinces. Everywhere he served he showed no administrative achievement and devoted himself only to amassing wealth, plundering the common people. When Guang died, an envoy was sent to the province to behead him. Next was Xuda, central guard general and Kaifu Yitong Third Rank; he died before Guang. Next was Shixiong, Kaifu Yitong Third Rank. Next was Hengga, acting Kaifu Yitong Third Rank. All were granted death. Guang's youngest son Zhong, only a few years old, was spared. Under the Zhou dynasty he inherited the enfeoffment as duke of Chong. In the Kaihuang era of Sui he died as general of fast cavalry.
16
西 西
Xian, styled Fengle, was quick-witted from youth and especially skilled in archery; Gao Huan saw him and praised him. Gao Cheng promoted him to staff officer of Kaifu. He was transferred to general who captures barbarians and palace attendant, additionally made general who pacifies the west, advanced in enfeoffment to viscount of Daxia County, and made governor of Tong Province. When the Founding Emperor received the abdication, Xian's title was advanced to general who campaigns west and he was separately enfeoffed baron of Xianqin County.
17
使 使 宿 使 退 使
In the third year of Heqing he was transferred to bearer of the staff of authority and area commander of military affairs in the six provinces of You, An, Ping, South Camp, North Camp, and East Yan, and governor of You Province. That autumn more than a hundred thousand Turks came raiding the borders of the province; Xian took overall command of the generals to resist them. The Turks saw that the army's bearing was very orderly and did not dare fight; they at once sent envoys seeking terms. Fearing treachery, he also instructed them, saying, "Your journey this time was never a tribute mission; you changed only when you saw your chance — that is not a long-held intent. If you have real sincerity, you should quickly return to your nests and send another envoy." Thereupon they withdrew and fled. In the fifth month of summer in the first year of Tiantong the Turk khan Muhan sent envoys requesting audience and tribute; Xian reported it for the first time. From then on tribute missions came every year without interruption — Xian had much to do with it. An edict additionally made him vice director of the mobile office. Because northern barbarians repeatedly violated the frontier and unexpected trouble had to be guarded against, from Kudui Garrison eastward to the sea he followed the mountains in a winding line of more than two thousand li. Within two hundred li of that stretch, wherever there was strategic ground, he either cut down mountains to build walls or blocked valleys to raise barriers, and in all established more than fifty garrison posts at intervals. He also diverted the Gaoliang River northward to join Yijing and eastward to meet the Lu, and thereby irrigated fields. Frontier stores accumulated year by year, transport costs were saved, and both public and private interests profited. In the sixth month of that year, on his father's death he left office; he and his elder brother Guang were both recalled from mourning to their posts and returned to garrison Yan and Ji. In the third year his rank was advanced to special advance. In the fourth year he was transferred to director of the masters of writing of the mobile office and separately enfeoffed marquis of Gaocheng County. In the first year of Wuping he was additionally made general of fast cavalry. At that time Guang's son Wudu was governor of Yan Province. Xian had served several emperors and was esteemed for his prudence and integrity; though he reached the utmost honor he did not pride himself on it — but now, with the whole house grown noble and powerful, he was deeply troubled. He therefore submitted a memorial yielding his rank, begging to be released from his offices; a gracious edict did not permit it. That autumn he was raised to Prince of Jingshan Commandery.
18
使 便 使 使 滿使
In the seventh month of the third year, after Guang was put to death, an edict sent Central Palace Army Commander Helba Fu'en and a dozen others by relay horse to seize Xian. Campaign commander Grand General Xianyu Taozhi and Luozhou circuit executive assistant Dugu Yongye were ordered to mobilize Ding Province cavalry at once as reinforcements, and Yongye was to replace Xian in office. When Fu'en and his men arrived, the gatekeepers reported that the envoys wore armor beneath their robes and their horses ran wet with sweat — the city gates ought to be barred. Xian said, "How can one meet an imperial envoy with suspicion and turn him away?" He went out to receive them. Fu'en took his hand — and seized him. He died in the chief administrator's hall. At the end he sighed: "Wealth and honor such as this — a daughter made queen, princesses in every corner of the house, three hundred armed retainers always at call — how could we not fall?" His five sons Shida, Shiqian, Shibian, Shiyou, and Fuhu were put to death; those fifteen or younger were spared. Before Xian was executed, he suddenly had five or six sons then in the province — from Fuhu on down — led out of the city with chains at their throats, riding donkeys. The whole household wept and escorted them to the gate, then returned as evening fell. Officials and commoners alike were struck with wonder and dread. Ma Siming, acting magistrate of Yan Commandery — a physician Xian held in esteem — privately asked what it meant. Xian answered, "We need a rite to turn aside ill fortune." Within days the calamity arrived.
19
Both Xian and Guang were skilled in riding and archery from youth. Each day their father sent them out to hunt; on their return he compared the game each had taken. If Guang's bag was light, he always drove his arrow through the turtle's shell and out beneath the armpit. Xian might take more, but never in the vital places. Guang was often praised and rewarded; Xian was sometimes beaten with the rod. When people asked why, Jin answered: "Mingyue always plants his arrow in the beast's back. Fengle strikes wherever he can — though the count may be greater, he falls far short of his elder brother." All who heard were convinced.
20
便 殿
Jin's elder brother Ping was skilled with bow and horse and had real capacity for command. In the Jingming era of Wei he entered service as a palace guard general and was transferred to Xiangwei General. At the end of Zhengguang, when the six garrisons fell into turmoil, he served under Grand General Yu Bin on the northern campaign. The army was defeated and he was taken by the rebels. Later he fled to his brother Jin at Yunzhou and was advanced to Dragon-Tiger General. With Jin he led their following south. At Huangguadui they were broken by Du Luozhou and their tribes scattered. When they returned to Erzhu Rong, he was treated with great favor, and Ping inherited their father's title as First Chieftain of Registered Tribal Peoples.
21
滿 姿 西 西
The historian writes: Hulü Jin, at the outset when Gao Huan was settling the chaos, helped establish the royal enterprise. His loyalty was complete, and so this great achievement was won — thus he lived out his years in full and stood above all the hundred ministers. Yet see how the warning against overflowing fullness moves in small ways: it had scarcely touched the next generation when execution and extermination followed. Though the weight of power was great, it still matched what the Daoist masters warn against. Guang, as the son of a supreme general, bore a grave and resolute bearing. In tactical craft and military command he matched hidden stratagem — facing the enemy he seized victory, shifting without fixed form. Since the passes and the Yellow River divided the realm, nearly four decades had passed. At the height of Gao Huan's hegemony, in the very days when the Yuwen clan was first founding its state, their armies went forth on punitive raids and again and again blunted the enemy's edge. But from the Daning era onward, the eastern neighbor weakened by degrees. In the west they first took Bashu, then destroyed Jiangling — the tide ran downhill for war, and the spirit of annexation gathered strength. The Hulü clan disciplined the army, rallied the host, and held the border fast — in battle no enemy line stood whole; in siege scarcely a city held intact. Qi could always bring the foe to bay; Qin no longer had a plan to force the passes open. Yet in an age of disorder, talent itself became a triumph — and fraud clothed itself in the majesty that overawes a ruler. The ruler was dim, the times were hard, and the realm tore down its own ramparts. Long ago, when Li Mu served Zhao as general, he cut down the northern raiders and drove back the armies of Qin. Guo Kai slandered him; Li Mu died, and Zhao was destroyed. Were those who counseled Guang's death perhaps Qin's agents of division? Same craft, same ruin! Within, they had the generals disband; without, they repaid a powerful neighbor's grudge. Alas! Men of later times — let this be a warning deeply taken.
22
The encomium says: Steadfast Xianyang — brilliance of clan and state. Mingyue, loyal and mighty — general and minister through generations. His fame shook the lands west of the passes; his stature outran the regard of his age. Pressed by such renown, slander easily rose. It began with clever speech — and ended in mutual ruin.
23
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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