1
2
Wei Langen came from Xiaquyang in Julu Commandery. His father Bocheng had served in Wei as administrator of Zhongshan. Langen stood eight chi tall, with a striking presence. He read widely, knew the Zuo Tradition and Book of Changes by heart, and was quick-witted and perceptive. He began as gentleman-attendant in the household of the Prince of Beihai and later served as senior recorder in Ding Province. When his mother died he entered mourning and won renown for filial piety. The burial was to take place in Changshan Commandery, where a shrine to Dong Zhuo already stood, with a cypress tree on the grounds. Langen held that Dong Zhuo, wicked and lawless, ought not to have a shrine surviving to the present. He felled the cypress for coffin timber. Some urged him not to cut the tree; Langen took all he needed without the least fear. When his father died he built a hut beside the tomb and carried earth to mound the grave, grieving until he nearly destroyed himself. Later he served as recorder in the offices of the minister of works and minister over the masses, became chief clerk of the pingbei headquarters in Xia Province, entered service as staff officer to the minister over the masses, and went out as administrator of his home commandery — proving competent in every post.
3
At the end of Zhenguang, Director of the Imperial Secretariat Li Chong was made regional commander of the commandery and led forces against the Rouran, with Langen as his chief clerk. He thereupon said to Li Chong: "The frontier garrisons were meant to control distant borders. When first established, the land was broad and people sparse. Some drew strong clan sons from the interior; some were the state's very flesh and blood, posted as its claws and teeth. In later years the supervising offices lost touch with reality. Called 'garrison households,' they were worked like bond-servants; official marriage-by-roster drove them from the gentry. Yet each clan's original kin still rose to glory — and seeing the contrast, resentment was inevitable. To re-tune policy — the time is now. Quieting the borders is the greatest task of state. Replace the garrisons with provinces and establish commanderies and counties. Free every garrison household as a commoner, restore them to their former place in office — use civil and military together, majesty and grace alike. If this plan prevails, the state may be spared constant watch to the north." Chong reported upward; the proposal died in the bureaucracy. When the army returned, he was made general who wins every battle, then senior clerk on the right of the minister over the masses, with ceremonial staff, conducting affairs of Yu Province.
4
At the beginning of Xiaochang he transferred to inspector of Qi Province. Following Mobile Headquarters Xiao Baoyin, he helped defeat Wanchuan. Captives were made slaves; ten fair women were awarded to Langen as his prize. Langen declined, saying, "This county borders strong enemies. Imperial authority had not yet reached them; with nowhere to turn, they rebelled. Those who are cold should be clothed and those who hunger fed — how can we turn them into bond-servants?" He returned them all to their fathers and elder brothers. In his district wheat often bore five ears on one stalk; neighboring provinces suffered field-mouse plagues, but the blight did not cross into Qi territory. When Qin and Long rose in rebellion, Xiao Baoyin was defeated at Jing Province. Gaoping barbarian bandits pressed Qi Province, and townsfolk forced Langen into captivity to surrender to the rebels. Baoyin reached Yong Province, gathered scattered troops, and military prestige revived. The townsfolk beheaded the rebel inspector Hou Mo-Chen Zhonghe and urged Langen to resume office. Because Langen had won the hearts of the western territories, the court granted him ceremonial staff, made him provisional general who pacifies the west, supervisor of military affairs in Jing, Qi, Eastern Qin, and Southern Qi, and concurrent mobile headquarters master of writing for the four provinces. Soon he entered court and was appointed grand master for splendid happiness.
5
At the end of Xiaochang, refugees from Hebei crossed south. Langen was made concurrent master of writing and sent to pacify Qi, Ji, and the two Yan provinces, establishing commanderies and counties as he went. Xing Gao of Hejian rebelled between Qing and Yan. Gao was Langen's nephew by marriage, and again an edict ordered Langen to bear credentials and reassure him. Gao would not submit; Langen thereupon followed Yuan Tianmu to campaign against him. On return he was made grand director of the imperial storeroom but declined and did not accept. He transferred to general who pacifies the east and master of writing in the secretariat.
6
莊帝之將誅尒朱榮也，蘭根聞其計，遂密告尒朱世隆。 榮死，蘭根恐莊帝知之，憂懼不知所出。 時應詔王道習見信於莊帝，蘭根乃托附之，求得在外立功。 道習為啟聞，乃以蘭根為河北行臺，於定州率募鄉曲，欲防井陘。 時尒朱榮將侯深自范陽趣中山，蘭根與戰，大敗，走依渤海高乾。 屬乾兄弟舉義，因在其中。 高祖至，以蘭根宿望，深禮遇之。 中興初，加車騎大將軍、尚書右僕射。 及高祖將入洛陽，遣蘭根先至京師。 時廢立未決，令蘭根觀察魏前廢帝。 帝神采高明，蘭根恐於後難測，遂與高幹兄弟及黃門崔㥄同心固請於高祖，言廢帝本是胡賊所推，今若仍立，於理不允。 高祖不得已，遂立武帝。 廢帝素有德業，而為蘭根等構毀，深為時論所非。
As Emperor Zhuang was about to execute Erzhu Rong, Langen heard of the plan and secretly informed Erzhu Shilong. When Rong died, Langen feared Zhuang would learn of his involvement and was anxious, not knowing what to do. At the time Wang Daoxi, attendant respondent to edicts, enjoyed Zhuang's trust. Langen attached himself to him, seeking merit in the field. Daoxi memorialized on his behalf, and Langen was made Hebei mobile headquarters commissioner, recruiting local levies in Ding Province to guard Jingxing Pass. At the time Erzhu Rong's general Hou Shen advanced from Fanyang toward Zhongshan. Langen fought him, was routed, and fled to join Gao Gan of Bohai. When the Gan brothers raised the righteous banner, he was among them. When Gao Huan arrived, he treated Langen with deep courtesy because of his long-standing repute. At the beginning of Zhongxing he was additionally made grand general of chariots and cavalry and right vice director of the masters of writing. When Gao Huan was about to enter Luoyang, he sent Langen ahead to the capital. As deposition and enthronement were still undecided, he ordered Langen to observe the Wei Former Deposed Emperor. The emperor's bearing was lofty and bright; Langen feared he would prove hard to control later. He joined the Gan brothers and Cui Ling of the yellow gate in pressing Gao Huan: the deposed emperor had been set up by barbarian rebels — to restore him would not be just. Gao Huan, with no choice, thereupon enthroned Emperor Xiaowu. The deposed emperor had long possessed virtue and achievement, yet Langen and others framed and defamed him — and were deeply censured by contemporary opinion.
7
At the beginning of Taichang he was made equal in protocol to the Three Dukes, soon additionally opener of a government office, and enfeoffed marquis of Julu County with seven hundred households. He memorialized to grant his elder brother's son Tongda a portion of the fief. Having shared in the founding merit and now at the summit of office, Langen at last had his Qi Province service recognized and was enfeoffed marquis of Yongxing with one thousand households. When Gao Gan died, Langen took fright, left his house, and took refuge in a monastery. Emperor Xiaowu severely condemned him. Langen, terrified, cited illness and resigned as Vice Director. At the beginning of Tianping, gravely ill, he memorialized asking to return home. The Wei emperor sent Gentleman of the Household Shi Changxuan to visit his home with imperial consolation. He still held opener-of-office protocol and the gate display of posting horses, then returned to his native place. In the second year he died, aged sixty-one. Posthumously granted supervisor of military affairs in Ji, Ding, and Yin provinces, inspector of Ding Province, duke over the masses, and palace attendant, with the posthumous title Wenxuan. Though Langen had risen by merit, he was skilled at trimming to circumstance; in advancing and withdrawing he often calculated first — and was not approved by men of pure judgment.
8
His eldest son Xiangru served as gentleman in the secretariat. For Jianyi merit he was soon additionally made a general. He inherited his father's enfeoffment, became general who pacifies the east and chief clerk in Yin Province, and entered court as attending censor. He died in the third year of Wuding. His second son was Jingzhong. Under Emperor Suzong, founding merit-holders were granted temple companionship — but Langen was not included. Jingzhong petitioned; the emperor, because the edict had already gone forth, found revision difficult but promoted Jingzhong to gentleman in the Ministry of Rites. He died while serving as administrator of Zhangwu.
9
Langen's clansman Minglang had some learning in the classics and histories and a rough literary bent. He rose repeatedly to legal bureau clerk in the grand marshal's office and concurrently gentleman in the gold section of the masters of writing. When Yuan Hao entered Luoyang, Minglang was attendant on the southern route mobile headquarters and was captured. Later he abandoned Hao and fled back, was made general of nimble cavalry and regular grand master, and granted the noble rank marquis of Julu. At the end of Yong'an, when Langen was Hebei mobile headquarters commissioner, he brought in Minglang as left aide. When Langen was defeated at Zhongshan, both returned to Gao Huan. At the beginning of Zhongxing he was made general who pacifies the army and went out as administrator of Ande. Later he became guard general, right grand master for splendid happiness, and great arbiter of Ding Province. At the beginning of Wuding he was advisory staff officer to Gao Yang. He went out as administrator of Pingyang, was impeached by the censor, and was detained. He fell ill and died.
10
明朗從弟愷，少抗直有才辯。 魏末，辟開府行參軍，稍遷尚書郎、齊州長史。 天保中，聘陳使副。 遷青州長史，固辭不就。 楊愔以聞，顯祖大怒，謂愔云：「何物漢子，我與官不肯就！ 明日將過，我自共語。」 是時顯祖已失德，朝廷皆為之懼，而愷情貌坦然。 顯祖切責之，仍云：「死與長史孰優，任卿選一處。」 愷答云：「能殺臣者是陛下，不受長史者是愚臣，伏聽明詔。」 顯祖謂愔云：「何慮無人作官職，苦用此漢何為，放其還家，永不收采。」 由是積年沈廢。 後遇楊愔於路，微自披陳。 楊答曰：「發詔授官，咸由聖旨，非選曹所悉，公不勞見訴。」 愷應聲曰：「雖復零雨自天，終待雲興四嶽。 公豈得言不知？」 楊欣然曰：「此言極為簡要，更不須多語。」 數日，除霍州刺史。 在職有治方，為邊民悅服。 大寧中，卒於膠州刺史。
Minglang's younger clansman Kai was from youth upright and outspoken, with a gift for debate. At the end of Wei he was recruited as mobile headquarters attendant and gradually rose to master of writing and chief clerk of Qi Province. In Tianbao he served as deputy envoy on a mission to Chen. He was transferred to chief clerk of Qing Province and firmly declined. Yang Yin reported it. Gao Yang flew into a rage and told Yin, "What sort of fellow is this — I offer him office and he refuses! Tomorrow when he passes by, I will speak with him myself." By then Gao Yang had already lost restraint; the whole court feared for Kai, yet his bearing stayed calm. Gao Yang sharply rebuked him, then said, "Death or the chief clerk's post — which is better? Choose as you will." Kai replied, "He who can kill me is Your Majesty; he who refuses the chief clerk's post is your foolish servant. I await your clear command." Gao Yang said to Yin, "Why fear that no one will fill offices — why bother with this fellow? Let him go home and never recall him." Thereby he sank into obscurity for many years. Later he met Yang Yin on the road and briefly unburdened himself. Yang replied, "Edicts granting office issue from the throne — the selection bureau knows nothing of it. You need not appeal to me." Kai answered at once, "Though the scattered rain comes from heaven, in the end one must wait for clouds to rise from the four peaks. How can you say you do not know?" Yang said with delight, "Those words are perfectly apt — no more need be said." Within days he was made inspector of Huo Province. In office he governed effectively and won the border people's trust. In the Daning era he died while serving as inspector of Jiao Province.
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Yanqing's younger brother Tan was learned and had a gift for letters. At the beginning of Wuping he served as palace investigating censor, then was transferred to secretariat attendant and awaited edicts at the Wenlin Hall. Under Sui, in the Kaihuang era, he was attendant to the crown prince and director of composition. He compiled the Book of Later Wei in ninety-two juan, which caught the historiographic manner well; contemporaries praised it.
13
Cui Ling, styled Changru, came from Dongwucheng in Qinghe. His father Xiu had been Wei minister of the seven armories and was posthumously granted vice director of the secretariat. Ling was tall and striking, skilled in bearing; even in youth he had a name, and his contemporaries knew him. He began as a dirge-bearer for Emperor Shizong of Wei and, on leaving that post, was made erudite of the Imperial Academy. In the Yongan era he was dismissed for an offense and returned to his home district. When Gao Huan raised the righteous cause at Xindu, Ling came to join him. Gao Huan saw him and was greatly pleased, appointing him advisory aide. Soon he was made attendant of the yellow gate, then transferred to general and right grand master for splendid happiness. When Gao Huan entered Luoyang, they deliberated on deposing and enthroning. Grand master of the stud Qi Jun lavishly praised the Prince of Putai as worthy and bright, fit to be lord of the realm. Ling said, "If he were bright and sage, he could naturally await our Prince Gao and slowly take the throne. Since rebellious barbarians enthroned him, how can he still be Son of Heaven? If we follow Jun's counsel, what righteous name does the royal army march under?" Thereupon both the Zhongxing and Putai rulers were deposed, and the Prince of Pingyang was enthroned instead. For merit in raising the righteous cause he was enfeoffed duke of Wucheng County with a fief of fourteen hundred households, advanced to general of chariots and cavalry and left grand master for splendid happiness, and still headed the yellow gate office.
14
Ling served in the gate office, trusting in his share in the righteous banner, and grew rather proud and unrestrained. Soon the censorate impeached him for corruption; he fled home and emerged only after an amnesty. Because Ling had originally joined the righteous banner, Gao Huan restored him to the yellow gate. At the beginning of Tianping he was lecturer-in-attendance and supervised the palace library. Soon he was made governor of Xu Province, with three hundred Guangzong retainers and a thousand Qinghe retainers granted him. Ling was arrogant by nature; he favored his concubine Lady Feng and lent her his punitive authority, so she extorted at will and local government collapsed. When Ling was first regular attendant, he sought someone to compile the imperial diary. Someone said, "Wei Shou would do." Ling said, "Shou is nothing but a frivolous fellow." He brought in Zu Hongxun instead. Once he held a pivotal post, he also had Lu Yuanming replace Shou as secretariat gentleman — from this Shou bore a grudge. When Shou went on a mission to Liang and passed through Xu Province, Ling sent him off with a governor's full train of insignia and had a man tell Wei, "Do not wonder at the many guards — it is the power of classical learning." Shou replied, "Tell Governor Cui of Xu: merit in raising the righteous cause — what has that to do with classical learning!" Ling, trusting in his clan's long eminence, was especially displeased at this remark. Shou seized on an old resentment and used the occasion to humiliate him. When he left the province he was made minister of the seven armories and chief clan elder of Qinghe.
15
Li Hun of Zhao commandery once feasted a gathering of eminent men; poetry and wine were in full clamor when Ling arrived late — and the whole table fell silent. Zheng Boyou sighed and said, "Eight feet tall, a face carved in relief, a cough like a great bell, a thousand scrolls in the breast — how could one not fear and submit!"
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㥄每以籍地自矜，謂盧元明曰：「天下盛門，唯我與爾，博崔趙李，何事者哉！」 崔暹聞而銜之。 高祖葬後，㥄又竊言：「黃頷小兒堪當重任不？」 暹外兄李慎以。 㥄言告暹。 暹啟世宗，絕㥄朝謁。 㥄要拜道左，世宗發怒曰：「黃頷小兒，何足拜也！」 於是鏁㥄赴晉陽而訊之。 㥄不伏，暹引刑子才為證，子才執無此言。 㥄在禁，謂子才曰：「卿知我意屬太丘不？」 子才出告㥄子瞻云：「尊公意正應欲結姻於陳元康。」 瞻有女，乃許妻元康子，求其父。 元康為言之於世宗曰：「崔㥄名望素重，不可以私處言語便以殺之。」 世宗曰：「若免其性命，猶當徙之遐裔。」 元康曰：「㥄若在邊，或將外叛。 以英賢資寇敵，非所宜也。」 世宗曰：「既有季圭之罪，還令輸作可乎？」 元康曰：「嘗讀《崔琰傳》，追恨魏武不弘。 㥄若在作所而殞，後世豈道公不殺也？」 世宗曰：「然則奈何？」 元康曰：「崔㥄合死，朝野莫不知之，公誠能以寬濟猛，特輕其罰，則仁德彌著，天下歸心。」 乃舍之。 㥄進謁奉謝，世宗猶怒曰：「我雖無堪，忝當大任，被卿名作黃頷小兒，金石可銷，此言難滅！」
Ling often prided himself on his registered pedigree and said to Lu Yuanming, "Among the great houses under Heaven, only you and I; the Bo, Cui, Zhao, and Li clans — what are they worth!" Cui Xian heard of it and bore a grudge. After Gao Huan's burial, Ling again spoke in private, "Can this yellow-bearded boy bear heavy responsibility?" Cui Xian's cousin by marriage Li Shen reported Ling's words to Xian. Xian memorialized Emperor Wen, and Ling's court attendance was cut off. Ling wanted to bow by the roadside; Emperor Wen flared in anger and said, "Yellow-bearded boy — what is there to bow to!" Thereupon Ling was shackled and taken to Jinyang for interrogation. Ling would not confess; Xian cited Xing Zicai of the ministry of justice as witness, and Zicai maintained that no such words had been spoken. Ling, in detention, said to Zicai, "Do you know my mind is set on Taqiu?" Zicai went out and told Ling's son Zhan, "Your father's intent surely is to ally by marriage with Chen Yuankang." Zhan had a daughter; he thereupon betrothed her to Yuankang's son and sought his father's release. Yuankang spoke for him to Emperor Wen, saying, "Cui Ling's renown has long been weighty; he must not be put to death over private words." Emperor Wen said, "If his life is spared, he should still be banished to the far marches." Yuankang said, "If Ling is on the frontier, he may yet defect abroad. To supply the enemy with a man of talent is not fitting." Emperor Wen said, "Since he has the crime of Jigui, might he still be sent to corvée labor?" Yuankang said, "I once read the biography of Cui Yan and regretted that Wei Wu was not magnanimous. If Ling dies in the labor camp, will later ages not say that you killed him after all?" Emperor Wen said, "Then what is to be done?" Yuankang said, "Cui Ling deserves death — court and countryside alike know it; if you can temper severity with leniency and especially lighten his punishment, benevolent virtue will shine the brighter and all under Heaven will turn their hearts to you." Thereupon he was released. Ling came forward to offer thanks; Emperor Wen was still angry and said, "Though I am unworthy, I shamefully bear great responsibility — yet you named me 'yellow-bearded boy.' Metal and stone may wear away; this saying is hard to extinguish!"
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At the beginning of Tianbao he was made palace attendant and supervised the imperial diary. At the abdication and succession he took part in managing ritual; he was separately enfeoffed baron of Xinfeng County with a fief of two hundred households, which he turned over to his ninth younger brother Yue. Throughout Ling's clan, marriages were all into the finest official families; rites for auspicious and inauspicious occasions were praised in his day. Empress Dowager Lou took Ling's younger sister as consort for the Prince of Boling and charged the palace envoy, "Use proper ceremonial forms — do not let the Cui family laugh at others." On the wedding night Emperor Wenxuan raised his cup and prayed, "May the new bride bear sons, be filial and obedient, rich and noble." Ling submitted, "Filial obedience comes from my clan; wealth and honor are grace from Your Majesty."
18
In the fifth year he went out as governor of Eastern Yan Province, again taking Lady Feng's retainers with him. Ling soon suffered hemiplegia, while Lady Feng grew arrogant and unrestrained; her bribes lay in disorder, and the censorate impeached them — Ling and she were both summoned before the minister of justice. Soon a separate edict came down; Feng was beheaded in the market. Ling died of illness in prison at age sixty-one.
19
Ling read widely and had literary talent; from the Zhongxing enthronement down to Emperor Wu, most edicts, mandates, memorials, and proclamations were his work. Yet by nature he was extravagant and proud, sunk in wealth and women; among his brothers he could not fully achieve harmonious kinship — and public opinion reproached him for it. Ling had long been at odds with Wei Shou; once Shou came to monopolize the national history, Ling feared slander and flattered him, saying, "In old times there was Ban Gu; today there is Master Wei." Shou smiled, yet his resentment did not lift. His son Zhan succeeded.
20
Zhan, styled Yantong, was bright and studied hard; he had literary sensibility, skilled bearing, a lofty and striking mien, and did not speak idly. At fifteen Governor Gao Ang summoned him as chief clerk; the Duke of Qinghe, Yue, recruited him as libationer of the western pavilion of the open government. Cui Xian was commandant of justice; he memorialized to appoint Zhan censor — he was taken in for talent and reputation, which was not to Zhan's liking. When Gao Huan entered court and returned to Jinyang, Zhan was summoned together with the Prince of Beihai Xi to attend in company; both became companion-friends to the sons. He then served as middle army aide in the chancellor's government and was transferred to chief clerk. When Emperor Wen died the death was kept secret; Emperor Wenxuan ordered Zhan concurrently to serve as marshal of the chancellor's government and go to Ye. Emperor Xiaojing of Wei, on the Human Day, ascended the Cloud Dragon Gate; his father Ling attended the feast, and the emperor also ordered Zhan to draw near the imperial seat; he too had a poem in response to the imperial command, and the emperor asked Xing Shao and the others, "How does this poem compare with his father's?" All said, "Ling is broad, elegant, and grand; Zhan's tone is fresh and clear — both crown the poets of the age." When the feast ended they sighed in admiration together, all saying, "Today's banquet belonged alike to father and son, the Cui Zhan pair."
21
At the beginning of Tianbao he concurrently served as bureau director in the ministry of personnel of the parallel province. Soon he entered mourning; when mourning ended he was summoned as aide to the minister of state. Yang Yin wished to bring Zhan in as secretariat vice director. At the time Lu Sidao was on duty in the secretariat; he therefore asked Sidao, "These days I am overwhelmed with affairs and have not seen Cui Zhan's literary talent at all; you are on intimate terms with him and ought by rights to know him well." Sidao answered, "Cui Zhan's literary phrasing is truly praiseworthy, but the world values his romantic air, and therefore his talent is overshadowed." Yin said, "This remark has reason." He thereupon memorialized to employ him. Once the matter had been carried out. Yin again said, "In Jin times Pei Zan was secretariat gentleman; his spirit was lofty and far-reaching — each time he passed in and out of the forbidden gate the night guards would soberly stir. Master Cui's imposing appearance should likewise be no disgrace to Master Pei."
22
皇建元年，除給事黃門侍郎。 與趙郡李概為莫逆之友。 概將東還，瞻遺之書曰：「仗氣使酒，我之常弊，詆訶指切，在卿尤甚。 足下告歸，吾於何聞過也？」 瞻患氣，兼性遲重，雖居二省，竟不堪敷奏。 加征虜將軍，除清河邑中正。 肅宗踐祚，皇太子就傅受業，詔除太子中庶子，徵赴晉陽。 勑專在東宮，調護講讀，及進退禮度，皆歸委焉。 太子納妃斛律氏，勑瞻與鴻臚崔劼撰定婚禮儀注。 仍面受別旨曰：「雖有舊事，恐未盡善，可好定此儀，以為後式。」 大寧元年，除衛尉少卿，尋兼散騎常侍，聘陳使主。 瞻詞韻溫雅，南人大相欽服，乃言：「常侍前朝通好之日，何意不來？」 其見重如此。 還除太常少卿，加冠軍將軍，轉尚書吏部郎中。 因患急十餘日。 舊式，百日不上解官，吏部尚書尉瑾性褊急，以瞻舉指舒緩，曹務繁劇，遂附驛奏聞，因而被代。 瞻遂免歸鄉里。 天統末，加驃騎大將軍，就拜銀青光祿大夫。 武平三年，卒，時年五十四。 贈使持節、都督濟州軍事、大理卿、刺史，諡曰文。
In the first year of Huangjian, he was appointed Attendant Gentleman of the Palace Gate. He was an intimate friend of Li Gai of Zhao Commandery. When Gai was about to return east, Zhan sent him a letter: "Relying on temper and letting wine drive me are old faults of mine; in sharp rebuke and pointed criticism, I have been hardest on you. Now that you are going home, from whom will I hear my faults?" Zhan suffered from a qi ailment and was slow and grave by nature; though he served in the two departments, he was ultimately unsuited to formal presentation at court. He was additionally made General Who Campaigns against Caitiffs and appointed chief clan elder of Qinghe. When Suzong ascended the throne and the crown prince began studying with his tutor, an edict appointed Zhan Palace Aide to the Crown Prince and summoned him to Jinyang. An imperial order assigned him exclusively to the Eastern Palace, entrusting him with supervising lectures and readings and with the etiquette of movement and audience. When the crown prince took Lady Hulu as consort, Zhan and Grand Herald Cui Jie were ordered to draft the marriage rites. He also received a separate personal instruction: "Although there are precedents, I fear they are not entirely sound. Settle this rite carefully so it can serve as the later model." In the first year of Daining, he was appointed Vice Minister of the Guards; soon he concurrently served as Scattered-Cavalry Regular Attendant and chief envoy on a mission to Chen. Zhan's diction and bearing were gentle and refined, and the southerners greatly admired him, saying, "Regular Attendant, when the former court kept up friendly relations, why did you never come?" Such was the esteem in which he was held. On returning, he was appointed Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, additionally made Champion General, and transferred to Director in the Ministry of Personnel of the Department of State Affairs. He then suffered an acute illness for more than ten days. Under the old rule, an official absent for one hundred days was removed. Minister of Personnel Wei Jin was narrow and impatient; because Zhan moved slowly while bureau business was heavy and urgent, Wei sent a memorial by post, and Zhan was replaced. Zhan was therefore dismissed and returned to his home district. At the end of Tiantong, he was additionally made Grand General of Agile Cavalry and appointed Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Silver Seal and Blue Ribbon. In the third year of Wuping, he died at the age of fifty-four. He was posthumously granted Bearer of the Staff, Commander of military affairs in Ji Province, Minister of Judicial Review, and Inspector; his posthumous title was Wen.
23
Zhan was terse and proud by nature; he prided himself on talent and pedigree; those with whom he associated were all men of name and standing in the age. While at the censorate he constantly had food sent to his residence, furnished with every delicacy; in a separate room he dined alone, comporting himself at ease. There was a man of Hedong surnamed Pei who was also a censor; he watched for Zhan's mealtime and went to visit him. Zhan did not converse with him, nor did he offer chopsticks and spoon. Pei sat watching until Zhan finished eating and withdrew. The next day Pei brought his own chopsticks and spoon and ate and drank to his heart's content. Zhan then said to Pei, "At first I did not invite you to eat, nor did I speak with you, yet you were able to disregard petty restraints. Long ago Liu Yi at Jingkou shamelessly demanded roast goose — is this not much the same? You are a true man of note." From then on he shared every meal with him.
24
㥄昆季仲文，有學尚，魏高陽太守、清河內史。 興和中，為丞相掾。 沙苑之敗，仲文持馬尾以渡河，波中乍沒乍出。 高祖望見曰：「崔掾也。」 遽遣船赴接。 既濟，勞之曰：「卿為親為君，不顧萬死，可謂家之孝子，國之忠臣。」 加中軍將軍。 天保初，拜散騎常侍、光祿大夫。 七年卒，年六十。 子偃，武平中，歷太子洗馬、尚書郎。 偃弟儦，學識有才思，風調甚高。 武平中，瑯琊王大司馬中兵參軍。 參定五禮，待詔文林館。 隋仁壽中，卒於通直散騎常侍。 叔仁，魏潁州刺史。 子彥武，有識用，朝歌令。 隋開皇初，魏州刺史。 子侃，魏末兼通直常侍，聘梁使。 子極，武平初太子僕，卒於武德郡守。 子聿，魏東莞太守。 子約，司空祭酒。
Ling's brother Zhongwen pursued learning and held to what is right; under Wei he served as prefect of Gaoyang and interior minister of Qinghe. In the Xinghe reign he was a staff officer to the chancellor. When Shayuan was lost, Zhongwen seized a horse's tail to ford the river, now swallowed by the water, now breaking the surface again. Gao Huan saw him and said, "That is Staff Officer Cui." At once he sent a boat to bring him in. When he had crossed, Gao Huan comforted him: "You risked everything for family and for your lord — at home a filial son, to the state a loyal minister." He was promoted to general of the central army. At the opening of Tianbao he was made regular attendant-in-ordinary and grand master for splendid happiness. In the seventh year he died, aged sixty. His son Yan, in the Wuping era, served in turn as palace secretary and gentleman of the masters of writing. Yan's younger brother Biao was learned and quick of mind, with real literary gift; his manner and tone were very high. In Wuping he was military staff officer in the great army headquarters of the Prince of Langya. He took part in fixing the Five Rites and awaited orders at the Forest of Letters Hall. Under the Sui, in Renshou, he died in office as regular attendant-in-ordinary with unrestricted access. Shuren served under Wei as administrator of Ying Province. His son Yanwu had judgment and practical ability; he was magistrate of Chaoge. At the opening of Sui Kaihuang he was governor of Wei Province. His son Kan, in the final years of Wei, also served as unrestricted regular attendant and went as envoy to the Liang court. His son Ji, at the start of Wuping, was master of the palace household; he died in office as prefect of Wude Commandery. His son Yu was Wei administrator of Dongguan. His son Yue was libationer to the minister of works.
25
Ling's clansman Jingfeng, styled Luanshu, was a great-great-grandson on the distant line of Ling's fifth-generation forebear Cheng. Jingfeng ranged through learning and won renown for medicine. Under Wei he was imperial physician-in-chief of the pharmacy; under Tianbao he was governor of Qiao Province. Jingfeng's elder brother Jingzhe was, under Wei, grand master of palace counsel and chief clerk to the minister of works. His son Guo, styled Fajun, loved learning from boyhood, read widely in the classics and histories, mastered many arts, and above all excelled at physiognomy. At the opening of Tianbao he was imperial physician-in-chief of the pharmacy; in Qianming he was made administrator of Gaoyang Commandery and master of the heir apparent's household; in Wuping he was given honorary commissioner equal in rank to the three dukes; he died in office as minister herald. In the sixth year of Wuping Fajun followed the imperial train at Jinyang and once told secretariat vice director Li Delin: "Today, reading the faces of civil and military men from the Prince of Xiang down, I saw each fate run to its end — my mouth cannot bear to say what I saw. Only my younger brother will know still greater wealth and rank — in another realm, not in this court; I shall not live to see it either." Such was the fineness of his art.
26
Ling's clansman Cui Zhaoshi was a grandson of Cui Liang, Vice Director of the Masters of Writing under Northern Wei. His father Shitai was a Remonstrance Counselor. In youth Zhaoshi was loose and unrestrained; as he matured he changed his ways and grew careful and solid. He ranged through the classics and histories and had real literary turn of mind. He inherited his father's title, baron of Leling. Upon leaving the robe he was sacrificial wine of the eastern pavilion of the opened government, then transferred to military staff officer in the ministry of works, and promoted to recording master in the great army headquarters. At the opening of Tianping he was transferred to vice director for direct access and sent as envoy to comfort Qing Province. When he reached the border of Qi Province, local bandits led by Cui Jiaye seized him and wanted to force him to join them. Zhaoshi held to his integrity and did not stir; he set out fortune and ruin before them, and the bandits let him go. He then made a circuit through the Qing region to offer comfort and returned. In the Yuanxiang era he several times, as palace draftsman, received Liang envoys. In the Wuding era he again concurrently served as correcting member and escorted Liang envoys to Xuzhou. On his return he was ordered to compile the imperial diary. Soon he also served as regular attendant-in-ordinary with unrestricted access and went as deputy envoy to Liang. He was transferred to secretariat draftsman. At the opening of Tianbao he took part in fixing the rites of abdication and enthronement; he was enfeoffed as baron of Xiangcheng and still held the post of secretariat vice director. In the second year he died, aged forty-nine.
27
The historian writes: Lan Gen early won a name for conduct that men of the age praised; Changru's talent and bearing were splendid, and his own time held him in honor. Both took part in the work of founding the realm and rose to open, shining rank — with Li Yuanzhong and Lu Wenwei, are they not men of the righteous banner? Wei courted the great and the favored; the Cuis leaned on birth and pride — though each bore something of the Duke of Zhou's grace, that still weighed on their moral credit, to say nothing of judging who stood higher or lower. Zhan's phrasing ran warm and fine, his spirit bright and quick to show — a leader among men of that day as well.