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卷二四 列傳第十六 孫搴 陳元康 杜弼

Volume 24 Biographies 16: Sun Qian (Eastern Wei); Chen Yuankang; Du Bi

Chapter 24 of 北齊書 · Book of Northern Qi
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Chapter 24
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1
Sun Cen; Chen Yuankang; Du Bi
2
Sun Cen, styled Yanju, came from Le'an. As a youth he disciplined himself in study. From investigating censor he rose to assistant instructor at the National University. Grand Guardian Cui Guang put him to work on the national history. He served repeatedly as mobile headquarters gentleman and won renown for his writing. When Cui Zuchidi rose in rebellion, Cen had been implicated. He hid in Wang Yuanjing's home and emerged only after an amnesty. Sun Teng recommended him as a clansman, yet he went unnoticed.
3
西 簿 祿簿
When Gao Huan marched west and climbed Fengling, he ordered Li Yishen of the central and outer offices and Li Shilue of the headquarters city bureau to draft a proclamation together. Both declined and asked that Cen take their place. Gao Huan brought Cen into the tent, blew the fire himself, and urged him to write. Cen took up the brush and finished on the spot; the prose was excellent. Gao Huan was delighted and immediately made him chief clerk of the headquarters, put exclusively in charge of correspondence. He also knew Xianbei and helped relay commands. Given the heaviest duties, he was held in exceptional regard. He was given Lady Wei in marriage — a gentleman's daughter, and beautiful besides; contemporaries envied him. Soon he was made left grand master for splendid happiness while continuing as chief clerk.
4
When Gao Cheng first wanted to go to Ye to direct government, Gao Huan would not allow it — he was still too young. Cen spoke up for him, and the plan went ahead. He traded on this favor and asked for extraordinary promotion; Gao Cheng only added the title irregular attendant cavalier. Another mass levy then swept the people of Yan, Heng, Yun, Shuo, Xian, Yu, the two Xia provinces, Gaoping, and Pingliang into the ranks. Anyone who hid — together with his landlord, the three heads of household organization, and local magistrates — faced execution and confiscation of the family property. The haul was enormous; the scheme was Cen's.
5
調
Cen's learning was shallow and his conduct thin. Xing Shao once told him, "You need to read more." Cen replied, "My three thousand picked horsemen are enough to match your tens of thousands of worn-out foot soldiers." He once took thorn-pill medicine. Li He and others teased him, "Your thorns ought to be enough on their own — why look elsewhere?" Those present all laughed. Sima Ziru and Gao Jishi invited Cen to drink; he drank himself to death, aged fifty-two. Gao Huan came in person to mourn him. Ziru kowtowed asking forgiveness. Gao Huan said, "You have broken my right arm — find me a good replacement and give him back." Ziru recommended Wei Shou; Jishi recommended Chen Yuankang to succeed Cen. Posthumously granted equal in protocol to three imperators, minister of personnel, and inspector of Qing Province.
6
忿 使 使 使 便
While Gao Huan built his great enterprise amid heavy military burdens, Yuankang carried out his intent and kept affairs moving fast. Gentle and careful by nature, he understood how things worked in practice. Gao Huan once flew into a rage at Gao Cheng and, in the inner quarters, beat and kicked him while cursing him without restraint. When he came out he told Yuankang. Yuankang remonstrated, "In teaching the heir there are proper ritual norms — conduct others should look up to. How can it go this far? His words were earnest, even to tears. From that time Gao Huan checked his anger. When he still lashed out in anger, he would say, "Do not let Yuankang know." Such was the regard and restraint he inspired. When Gao Zhongmi rebelled, Gao Huan knew Cui Xuan was the cause and meant to kill him. Gao Cheng hid him and pleaded on his behalf. Gao Huan said, "To spare his life I must still lay on a hard beating." Gao Cheng then brought Xuan out and told Yuankang, "If you let Cui be beaten, we are done with each other." Xuan stood in court stripping off his robe to take punishment. Yuankang rushed in, mounting the steps in haste, and said, "My lord is about to entrust the realm to the great general — can you not tolerate one Cui Xuan?" Gao Huan followed this and pardoned him. When Gao Cheng entered the capital to direct affairs, Cui Xuan, Cui Jishu, Cui Ang, and others were all employed; Zhang Liang and Zhang Huizuan were both men Gao Huan favored — yet every appointment still ranked below Yuankang. People said at the time, "The three Cuis and two Zhangs are not the equal of one Kang." Wei vice director of the masters of writing Lu Daovan of Fanyang had a daughter married to the son of Right Guards General Guo Qiong. Qiong was condemned to death and his property seized; Gao Huan memorialized to give the woman to Yuankang as wife. Yuankang abandoned his former wife, Lady Li — and men of judgment condemned him. Yuankang was skilled at winning favor, reading faces and awaiting intent. He pushed many promotions, yet could not judge fairly, drowning in profit — taking bribes beyond counting, lending at interest and trading across commanderies and counties — and was censured by men of pure judgment.
7
退 便
After Gao Huan defeated Yuwen Tai of Western Wei at Mount Mang, he convened the generals to debate whether to advance or withdraw. All held that the countryside had no fresh forage, men and horses were exhausted, and distant pursuit was impossible. Yuankang said, "Two great rivals have fought for months. To win such a victory now is heaven's gift — the moment must not be lost. We must press the pursuit. Gao Huan said, "If we meet ambush, how shall I get through? " Yuankang said, "When you before crossed Shazhi and withdrew, they still laid no ambush. Now they flee in rout like this — how can they plan far ahead? If you let them go and do not pursue, it will surely breed later trouble." Gao Huan in the end did not follow his advice. For merit he was enfeoffed viscount of Anping with three hundred households. Soon he was made general who pacifies the south and regular palace attendant, transferred to gentleman of the great mobile headquarters, then moved to right vice director. When Gao Huan's illness grew grave, he told Gao Cheng, "At Mount Mang, not taking Yuankang's counsel — that is the trouble I leave you. With this as my regret, I shall die with eyes unclosed." When Gao Huan died, the death was kept secret and only Yuankang knew.
8
使
Gao Cheng succeeded to power and again showed him trust and favor. He was appointed irregular attendant cavalier and general of the central army, and additionally enfeoffed duke of Changguo with one thousand households. When Hou Jing rebelled, Gao Cheng, pressed by the generals, wished to kill Cui Xuan to appease them and spoke of it secretly to Yuankang. Yuankang remonstrated, "The realm is not yet settled and the laws are in place. If, because several generals are in the field, you would please their hearts and wrongly kill the innocent, damaging the penal code — how does that only fail heaven above? How can you settle the people below? Chao Cuo's affair of old — I beg you to be cautious." Gao Cheng thereupon stopped. Gao Yue campaigned against Hou Jing without success; Gao Cheng wished to send Pan Xiangyue as deputy. Yuankang said, "Xiangyue is slow to adapt — Murong Shaozong is better. Moreover the former king left word that he could match Hou Jing. Place your full trust in this man and Hou Jing need not worry you. Shaozong was then far away; Gao Cheng wished to summon him but feared alarming him into rebellion. Yuankang said, "Shaozong knows I enjoy special favor. He has just sent a man with gold to show his sincere allegiance. I wished to set his mind at ease, so I accepted it and replied generously to his letter. He will surely not waver." Gao Cheng thereupon entrusted Shaozong, and thereby defeated Hou Jing. Yuankang was rewarded with fifty jin of gold. Wang Sizheng entered Ying city; the generals attacked but could not take it. Yuankang offered Gao Cheng a plan: "You assist court government yet have no outstanding achievement of your own. Though Hou Jing was defeated, he was never an outside enemy. Now Ying is about to fall — take advantage and go in person. That is enough to win prestige and settle your enterprise." Gao Cheng ordered Yuankang to ride post-horses and observe. On his return he reported, "It can certainly be taken." Gao Cheng thereupon campaigned in person; when he arrived the city fell, and Yuankang was rewarded with a hundred ingots of gold.
9
Earlier the Wei court had offered Gao Cheng the posts of chancellor of state and Prince of Qi; he repeatedly declined. He then summoned the generals and Yuankang and others to deliberate in secret. The generals all urged Gao Cheng respectfully to accept the court command — Yuankang held it not yet possible. He also told Wei Shou, "Judging by what these men say, they mean only to mislead the prince. I have already told the prince to accept the court command and establish officials — I, unworthy, might obtain yellow gate gentleman — but the times are not yet right." Cui Xuan seized the chance to recommend Lu Yuangui as gentleman of the great mobile headquarters, intending to divide Yuankang's power. Because Yuankang was greedy for bribes, Gao Cheng inwardly came to dislike him; Yuankang too grew afraid. Gao Cheng also meant to make him director of the secretariat, a post that would sideline him — but the matter was not carried out.
10
忿 使 使
When Gao Cheng was about to receive the Wei abdication, Yuankang sat with Yang Yin and Cui Jishu in his presence, about to make great transfers and dismissals of court gentlemen, jointly appraising candidates. Gao Cheng's household bondservant Lan Gucheng had earlier run the kitchen and was greatly favored. Earlier Gao Cheng had beaten him several dozen times. A Wu man by nature impetuous, and again relying on old favor, he grew greatly resentful and with his colleague A Gai plotted to kill Gao Cheng. A Gai then served Gao Yang, always carrying a knife in attendance, saying, "If you hear shouting from the Eastern Studio," then turn the blade on Gao Yang. That day the Wei emperor had just established the Eastern Palace and officials were submitting congratulatory memorials. When the ceremony ended, Gao Yang went out the Eastern Stop Chariot Gate, bound elsewhere; before he returned the attack began. Gucheng then came in with food, set a knife beneath the tray, and killed Gao Cheng. Yuankang shielded him with his body; stabbed, gravely wounded, he died that night, aged forty-three. Yang Yin fled in disarray; Jishu hid in the privy; warehouse attendant Hexi Shele died fighting the assailants. Gao Cheng's death was then kept secret; Yuankang was buried in the palace, pretended to have been sent on mission to the southern border, and fictitiously appointed director of the secretariat. The next year an edict said, "Yuankang's insight surpassed the sages of old and his talent the flower of the age — a thousand fathoms none could peer into, ten thousand acres none could fathom. He examined military government and sustained hegemonic rule, drafted plans at Shaoling's founding and aided at the Henei assembly, devised strategy with all his heart, advanced loyalty and repaired faults, abandoned family and died for the state, swept away fleeing bandits and cleared Jing-Chu — like Shen and Fu in elevated Zhou, like Zifang in flourishing Han: the same measure across ages, the same praise across different years. The great enterprise was not yet complete when the mountain suddenly collapsed — grief being so keen, it is fitting to honor him with a rich canon. Posthumously granted bearer of the staff, supervisor of military affairs in Ji, Ding, Ying, Yin, and Cang provinces, grand general of agile cavalry, duke of the works, and inspector of Ji Province; posthumously enfeoffed Wuyi County with one thousand households, the former fief remaining as before — posthumous title Wemu. Funeral goods: one thousand two hundred lengths of silk. The grand master of splendid happiness supervised the funeral. Whatever the funeral required was to be supplied from public funds." Yuan Kang's mother, Lady Li, after his death grieved herself into illness and died; she was posthumously granted Lady of Guangzong commandery with the posthumous title Zhenzhao.
11
Yuan Kang's son Shancang was mild and elegant, with a keen eye for men; at the end of Wuping he held acting insignia equal to three masters of ceremonies and served as attendant of the yellow gate. Under Sui, in the Kaihuang era, he was vice director of the ministry of rites. Early in Daye he died while serving as superintendent of Pengcheng commandery.
12
鹿
Yuan Kang's younger brother Chen rose to grand messenger. Next came Ji Zhuan, grand administrator of Julu, then aide-de-camp of Ji Province. When the Prince of Ping'an Wang Guiyan rebelled, Ji Zhuan held to his integrity and refused to join him, and was killed for it. He was posthumously granted commandant of the guards and governor of Zhao Province.
13
使
Du Bi, styled Fuxuan, came from Quyang in Zhongshan; his childhood name was Fuguo. In his own preface he said he was originally from Dulang in Jingzhao; his ninth-generation ancestor Ao had been Jin attendant cavalry regular and, on a mission, was stranded in Zhao and settled there. His grandfather Yanheng had been grand administrator of Huainan. His father Cidu had been magistrate of Fanzhi. From youth Bi was clever; the family was poor and owned no books; at twelve he lodged at the district school. At the sacrificial rites of instruction his teachers always marveled at him. His fellow townsman Zhen Chen was long secretary of Ding Province; he selected and tested students, saw Bi, and questioned him. Bi's explanations were clear and his answers came like echoes; Chen was greatly struck by him. Chen's son Kuan became Bi's friend. Provincial governor Prince of Rencheng Cheng heard of him and summoned him for questioning, praised him deeply, and declared him fit to serve a king's right hand. Cheng and Chen returned to Luoyang and praised him at court; the chancellor Prince of Gaoyang and others repeatedly sought him out. In the Yan Chang era he entered service through military merit as general of Guangwu and clerk in the ink office of Hengzhou's expeditionary command, where he managed records. Bi excelled at documents and was always recommended by his contemporaries.
14
調 使簿
Early in Xiao Chang he was made erudite of the Imperial Academy, concurrently acting legal clerk in the Prince of Guangyang's rapid-cavalry office, and chief of the traveling staff's income-and-expenditure section. On returning he was made magistrate of Qucheng in Guang Province. His government was quiet and clean; he strove for humanity and clemency; lawsuits ceased, and he was praised near and far. The age was full of troubles and bandits were everywhere; when troops were conscripted many fled or rebelled on the roads, and the court was troubled. Soldiers were therefore ordered to carry their own gear, with separate carts transporting it along the road; magistrates were also ordered to escort their men personally to the army camp. When Guang Province sent troops, Bi escorted his district as far as Beihai commandery; the provincial soldiers scattered at once, but only the men Bi escorted held firm. Rebel soldiers from other districts came to attack and rob them, urging them to flee together. Bi led his personal troops to fight; in the end none would join the rebels, and they all reached the army camp together. Army clerk Cui Zhong reported the matter upward. Such was his hold on men's hearts. In Pu Tai the personnel bureau sought outstanding magistrates; Bi had already left office and returned home, and Donglai grand administrator Wang Xin nominated him in response. Bi's father was in the district and was killed by bandits; Bi observed mourning for six years. Through regular assignment he was made censor, with the added titles forward general and grand master for splendid happiness, and headed the bureau's internal rectifier of characters. All impeachments in the bureau were Bi's work. Memorial documents submitted by censors on missions were entrusted to Bi for review before they were implemented.
15
西 便
He was promoted to general of the central army and staff major in the Northern Yu Province rapid-cavalry grand general's office. Before he took office, Dou Tai, equal in insignia, commanded the western campaign, and an edict made Bi his supervising army officer. When Tai was defeated and killed himself, Bi fled back with six of his men; the governor of Shan Province, Liu Gui, shackled and sent them to Jinyang. Gao Huan interrogated him, saying, "Commandant Dou on this expedition — I had already laid down how he was to act, yet he disobeyed my words and brought defeat on himself. Why did you not speak a single word in remonstrance?" Bi replied, "A petty clerk with brush and knife, with only slight skill in letters — on matters of convenience debate was not within my reach." Gao Huan grew angrier. Thanks to Fang Mo's remonstrance he was spared. He was demoted to staff major at Xia Guan garrison.
16
Early in Yuanxiang Gao Huan summoned Bi as acting legal clerk in the great chancellor's office, assigned him to secretariat duties, made him chief of the great traveling staff, and soon added general who pacifies the south. Gao Huan also brought Bi in to manage secrets and greatly trusted him. Sometimes when hurried there was no time for a written instruction; he would hand Bi blank paper and order him to read aloud at once. Bi once seized a private moment to urge Gao Huan to accept the Wei abdication; Gao Huan raised his staff and drove him off. Chancellery legal clerk Xin Ziyan, on a consultation matter, said they must take the signature; Ziyan read shu (signature) as shu (tree). Gao Huan raged, "The little man does not even know to avoid another's taboo name!" He had him beaten before the assembly. Bi advanced, "In the Rites, when there are two names one does not avoid half of either; Confucius speaking of Zheng would not say Zai, and speaking of Zai would not say Zheng. Ziyan's crime, by reason, might be forgiven." Gao Huan cursed him, "Seeing a man angry, you still drag in the classics and cite the Rites!" He ordered him out with a shout. Bi had gone about ten paces when he was called back; Ziyan also received release and forgiveness. The heir apparent in the capital heard of it and said to Yang Yin, "At the king's side we rely on this man's uprightness; perhaps all under heaven will benefit, not our house alone."
17
西 使
Because civil and military officials in office rarely had integrity, Bi spoke of it to Gao Huan. Gao Huan said, "Bi, come — I will speak to you. All under heaven is turbid and chaotic; the custom is long-standing. Now the supervisors' and generals' families are mostly in Guanxi; Hei La often invites and entices them, and men's hearts whether to stay or go are unsettled. In Jiangdong there is again an old Wu fellow, Xiao Yan, who devotes himself to caps and robes, rites and music; Central Plain scholars look to him as where the true calendar lies. If I hastily make a net of law and show no forbearance, I fear the supervisors and generals will all go to Hei La and the scholars all flee to Xiao Yan — then people scatter; how can there be a state? You should wait a little; I do not forget this." When the Sha Yuan campaign was about to begin, Bi again asked to remove the inner traitors first, then strike the outer enemies. Gao Huan asked who the inner traitors were. Bi said, "All the meritorious nobles who plunder the myriad people." Gao Huan did not answer; he then ordered soldiers to draw bows with arrows nocked, raise knives, and press spears along the road, made Bi pass through among them, and said, "Surely there will be no harm." Bi trembled in fear, sweat streaming. Gao Huan then explained, "Though arrows are aimed they will not shoot; though knives are raised they will not strike; though spears are pressed they will not stab — yet you still lose soul and gall utterly. The meritorious men touch sharp edges with their bodies — a hundred deaths, one life; even if their greed is base, what they take is great; they cannot be treated by the usual rule." Bi was then greatly afraid; bowing his forehead he thanked him, "Foolish and without wisdom, not knowing the ultimate principle; now, enlightened, I first see the sage and penetrating mind."
18
西 使殿便
Later, following Gao Huan, he defeated Western Wei at Mount Mang; ordered to compose the victory bulletin, Bi wrote on silk at once by hand without ever drafting first. For merit he was enfeoffed baron of Dingyang county with a fief of two hundred households and was added direct attendant cavalry regular and central army general. On mission to the court the Wei emperor received him in the Hall of Nine Dragons and said, "When I first read the Zhuangzi I encountered the name of Qin; surely you embody the Way and attain the true, mystery same and all things equal. Hearing you are skilled in learning, I have a question. In the sutras, are Buddha-nature and dharma-nature one or different?" Bi replied, "Buddha-nature and dharma-nature are only one principle." The emperor again asked, "If Buddha-nature is already not dharma-nature, how can they be one?" He replied, "Nature is nowhere not present; therefore one does not speak of two." The emperor again asked, "Speakers all say dharma-nature is broad and Buddha-nature narrow; broad and narrow are already distinct — if not two, how?" Bi again replied, "In the broad it becomes broad, in the narrow it becomes narrow; if one discusses the substance of nature, it is neither broad nor narrow." The emperor asked, "Since you say it becomes broad and becomes narrow, how can it be neither broad nor narrow? If fixed as narrow, it also cannot become broad." He replied, "Because it is not broad or narrow, therefore it can become broad or narrow; what broad and narrow become may differ, but what can become is constantly one." The emperor was pleased and praised it as good. He then led him into the sutra library and granted one copy of the Dizhi Sutra and one hundred bolts of silk. Prince of Pingyang Yan was governor of Bing Province; Gao Huan also ordered Bi to serve concurrently as chief clerk of Bing's rapid-cavalry office.
19
穿
By nature Bi loved subtle principle and tasted the profundities of the Way; from his time in the army he carried sutras on campaign. He annotated Laozi's Daode Jing in two juan and memorialized, "Your servant has heard that riding the wind one adjusts the arrow and pursues swift feathers in high clouds; standing by the wave one commands the hook and draws submerged scales from the great abyss. If one obtains its Way one masters the work; in things it is so, in principle likewise naturally so. I venture to consider the two classics Dao and De — they illuminate the dark utmost; their purport is dark in motion and stillness; their use pervades common and sage. Speaking of practice: pure, quiet, soft and yielding; speaking of traces: success and achieving order. Truly the Yangtze and sea among all streams, the root of all arts. Your servant from youth browsed sutras and was especially devoted; though serving in the army office he did not abandon leisure pursuit. Drilling into the flavor long, patterns emerged as if he had insight; compared with earlier commentaries he slightly judged them different from the old doctrine. Feeling arising within and manifesting without, lightly using a tube to peer, he thus produced forced interpretation. No borrowing from the roaming blade; shame before the wielding axe. If the reasoning cannot match the finest hair-splitting, how can it loosen the linked rings? I had meant to keep this within my own household, to leave it for children at their first lessons, and also to shore up my own dullness nearby, privately filling gaps in what I remembered. I did not grasp that on Mount Guye the spirit gathers, that Fenyang sends down its light — the lofty hears the humble, and what is said close at hand must be scrutinized. Late in spring I received the edict and was graciously encouraged; the present sovereign's commentary on the Laozi — I respectfully present it sealed, with a preface submitted separately." The edict replied: "Master Li roams the spirit in the dark void, alone contemplates the dim and vague, is mysteriously one with creation, and takes the multitude of beings as his end. From within reaching outward, a comprehensive response can shape and complete; from the self to things, operation can supply what is needed. To exalt the house and settle the realm — that meaning belongs to this learning. Your talent and thought are excellent and thorough; your pursuits are lofty and far-reaching. You rested in the Confucian gate and ranged through the Daoist hall — you have both opened a school of your own and made plain the teachings of Buddhism and Laozi. Households arrayed, gates open; paths connected, routes direct — principle and affairs both set forth, ability and use both shown. What those worthies had not grasped, what old recluses had not heard — the aim is utmost subtlety, the words exhaust depth and wonder. We relish the two classics and are weary of old explanations; having reviewed new commentaries, our gain is already great — the esteem we feel does not spring from one cause alone. We have already ordered it bound in green silk and stored in the Yan Pavilion." He also presented one copy to Gao Huan and one to Shizong.
20
使使
In the Wuding era he was promoted to commandant of the guards. When Liang sent the Marquis of Zhenyang, Xiao Ming, and others to invade Pengcheng, Grand Commander Gao Yue and expeditionary commander Murong Shaozong led the armies against them; an edict appointed Bi army adjutant and acting left director of the expeditionary secretariat. Before he set out, Shizong gave him a Hu horse and said to Bi, "This is the second horse in the stable; I always ride it myself. Now that we part for a distant campaign, I offer it to you in passing." He also ordered him to set down one or two points of important administration that could serve as mirrors and warnings. Bi asked to state them orally: "Under Heaven's great tasks, nothing surpasses reward and punishment; reward one man and all under Heaven rejoice, punish one man and all under Heaven submit. If only these two are kept true, perfection follows of itself." Shizong was greatly pleased and said, "Your words are few, but in principle they matter greatly." They clasped hands and parted. They defeated Xiao Ming at Hanshan; separately, with army commander Pan Yue, Bi attacked and took Liang's Tong Prefecture, and still with Yue and the others comforted the troops and showed mercy to the people — the whole circuit leaned on them.
21
殿
On the eighth day of the fourth month of the sixth year, the Wei emperor gathered famed monks at the Xianyang Hall to expound Buddhist doctrine; Bi, together with Minister of Personnel Yang Yin, Secretariat Director Xing Shao, Secretariat Supervisor Wei Shou, and others, all attended the dharma mat. An edict ordered Bi to ascend the lion seat and expound before the assembly. Zhaoxuan Director of Monks Da and the monk Daoshun, both eminent in the sangha, pressed questions like blades; back and forth for several dozen rounds, none could overcome him. The emperor said, "If this worthy had been born at Confucius's gate, then what?"
22
調
Guanzhong sent Yitong Wang Sizheng to hold Ying Prefecture; Grand Marshal Gao Yue and others attacked him. Bi handled the affairs of Ying Prefecture and acted as left director of the expeditionary secretariat. At that time the great army was in the territory and levies cost dearly; Bi balanced hardship and ease, and both public and private interests were served — the people of the prefecture praised him greatly. When Ying Prefecture was pacified, Shizong said, "Tell me why Wang Sizheng was captured." Bi said, "Sizheng did not examine the principle of rebellion and obedience, did not know the forms of great and small, and did not measure the situation of strong and weak — with these three blind spots, capture was fitting." Shizong said, "In antiquity there was taking by rebellion and guarding by obedience; great Wu was trapped by small Yue, and weak Yan could break strong Qi. Your three points — how do they stand? " Bi said, "If a king is obedient but not great, great but not strong, or strong but not obedient, in principle he may be partial and would not match the sage's intent. Now that all victories are combined, my crude words can stand again." Shizong said, "In debate one ought to have a fixed aim — how can one wrap up every principle and try to secure oneself with many arguments?" Bi said, "Great King's prestige and virtue combine every excellence; meaning is broad, so words are broad — it is not piling words beyond the meaning." Shizong said, "If so, why was it not taken in a full year, yet when I came it fell at once?" Bi said, "This was surely Heaven's intent wanting to display Great King's merit."
23
Xianzu summoned him as concurrent chief administrator, added guard general, transferred him to secretariat director, and he still served as chief administrator. He was advanced in enfeoffment to marquis of Dingyang, with a fief combined with the previous grant reaching five hundred households. Bi's aim was to support and aid; there was nothing he knew of that he did not do. When Xianzu was about to receive the Wei abdication, traveling from Jinyang to the capital at Pingcheng, he ordered Bi and Sikong Sima Ziru's son Ziru to ride post-horses in advance and observe the people's feelings. After he took the throne, an edict ordered the left and right document boxes brought into the Cypress Pavilion. For merit in deciding policy, he was promoted to flying cavalry general and commandant of the guards, and was separately enfeoffed as baron of Chang'an.
24
使 使
Once, attending Xianzu on the Eastern Mountain together with Xing Shao, they discussed essential principles. Xing held that when a man dies he returns to life — he feared drawing feet on a snake. Bi replied, "Generally this means that when a man dies he returns to nothing and has no power to give life. Yet things not yet born originally had no existence either; from nothing can come being — this is not regarded as doubtful. From a prior life to a later life, why alone cause wonder?" Xing said, "The sages set up teaching fundamentally to encourage and reward; therefore they use fear of what is to come so that each may attain his nature as principle hopes." Bi said, "The sages combine virtue with Heaven and Earth and equal trust to the four seasons; their speech becomes the classic and their conduct becomes law — yet you say they use emptiness to show things and deceit to encourage the people. That would be like the book in the fish's belly and unlike the edict drilled into the pillar — how could the North Star send down its light and the dragon palace hold its casket? Just as in your discussion, reward and fruit can melt and cast the nature of the spirit and greatly encourage moral teaching — in benefit nothing surpasses this. This is true teaching; why call it unreal?" Xing said, "In speaking of death, 'si' means the spirit is exhausted." Bi said, "This 'si' is like an arrow shot to exhaustion — the hand is exhausted. The Xiaoya says 'no grass does not die,' and the Monthly Ordinances also says 'decaying grass dies' — plants that move and plants that stand differ, yet they belong to the same category. Unfeeling plants can still return to life; things that hold spirit — why should re-creation be hindered? If you say that when grass dies seed still remains within, then again when a man dies there is also consciousness. Seed and consciousness are not seen and are therefore called nonexistent. Spirit in the form is also not self-visible; even Li Zhu's brightness cannot see it. Though Mencius could examine the pupils, worthy and foolish could be distinguished; Zhong You, hearing music, made mountains and waters appear in form — yet these are the spirit's workmanship; how are they the spirit's substance? It is like jade and silk not being ritual, or bells and drums not being music; push from this and the meaning is seen." Xing said, "When Ji Zha said 'nothing does not go,' he also meant scattered exhaustion; if it gathers again to become a thing, one cannot say 'nothing does not go.'" Bi said, "Flesh and bone below return to earth, while soul and breath then have nowhere they do not go — this is the form fallen and the soul roaming; gone, yet not exhausted. It is like a bird leaving the nest or a snake leaving its hole. Because something still exists, there is nowhere it does not go; if you make it nothing, where would it go? Yanling had the knowledge to discern the subtle and knew that it does not follow the form; Confucius uttered a sigh at studying the rites and praised that it differs from the form. If you permit the broad and empty, then everyone would be Ji Zi. This is not called lofty discourse — to hold this as nothing." Xing said, "Spirit in a person is like light in a candle; when the candle is exhausted the light ends, and when the person dies the spirit perishes." Bi said, "The old learning and former Confucians repeat this saying; the crowd's doubts and the multitude's confusions all arise from this. Generally, those who discriminate are not refined and those who think are not earnest. I have a slight point not yet seen that can be verified thereby. A candle generates light because of its substance; the larger the substance, the larger the light. A person is not one whose spirit is tied to the form; the smaller the form, the spirit is not smaller. Thus Confucius's wisdom was certainly not shorter than the Long Di's; Cao Cao's heroism was far beyond Cui Yan's. Spirit to form is also like a lord having a state. The state is truly what the lord governs; the lord is not what the state gives birth to. Not born together — who says they perish together?" Xing said, "Leaving this and adapting to that — birth upon birth is always present. Should Zhou and Confucius not be the same as Zhuang Zhou drumming on a pot and harmonizing with Sanghu's following song? " Bi said, "Sharing shade and resting still has the sorrow of impending parting; driving an exhausted cart to roam also has the sigh of mid-journey. How much more when bodies joined and breath shared are transformed into different things — mourning suited to feeling; what harm to a sage?" Xing said, "A hawk transforms into a dove, a rat changes into a quail, and a yellow mother into a turtle — all are categories of birth. Categories transform yet give birth to one another, like light leaving this candle and again igniting that candle." Bi said, "Before the hawk has transformed into a dove, the dove does not exist. If the rat already has two existences, how can both stand? Light leaves this candle and can ignite that candle; spirit leaves this form and also entrusts itself to that form — again, what confusion?" Xing said, "To want earth to transform into a human and wood to grow eyes and a nose — creation's spirit ought not to be like this." Bi said, "Rotten grass becomes fireflies and old wood scorpions — creation cannot do it; who makes it so of itself?"
25
Afterward he separately wrote Xing a letter saying, "In establishing words and clarifying principle, one ought to issue from canonical evidence; yet you turn your back on Confucius and Buddha and stand alone as a gentleman. If one does not take the sages as teachers, each thing has its own heart — if the horse's head wants east, who can resist? What is taken from hitting the center, and what is valued in obtaining the one? Elegant rhyme though high, narrow view not understood." Before and after, back and forth again and again three times; Xing Shao's argument gave way and he stopped — much of the text is not recorded.
26
忿
Again, while still in his original post, he was ordered to handle affairs at Zhengzhou. Before he set out, a household retainer accused him of plotting rebellion. He was arrested and jailed; the inquiry found nothing, and only after a long while was he forgiven. After that he stopped coming to court. He was punished again when his second son Taiqing, as supervisory official of the court of the imperial clan, was slow in deciding cases, and he and the court officials were all impeached by langzhong Feng Jingzhe. When the matter reached the throne, Gao Yang flew into a rage and transferred Bi to Linhai garrison. At that time Dongfang Bai'e of Chuzhou rose in rebellion with echoes north and south. Linhai garrison was attacked by bandit leaders Zhang Chuo, Pan Tianhe, and others. Bi rallied the townspeople and in the end held the place secure. Gao Yang praised this and ordered him to administer Haizhou — the very province to which he had been sent. In the province he memorialized on Tongling road and the old Han Xin road. East of the province along the coast he also raised a long dike, holding back the salt tide outside and drawing fresh water within. Edicts approved all of it and it was carried out. He was transferred to inspector of Xuzhou; before he took up the post he was again made inspector of Jiaozhou.
27
使
Bi was refined and forgiving, and above all skilled in the historian's craft. Wherever he served he kept things clean, and officials and common people held him dear. He loved the profundities of the dark learning; in old age he grew only more devoted. He also annotated the "Hui Shi" chapter of the Zhuangzi and the upper and lower appendices of the Changes, under the title New Annotated Garden of Meanings, and both circulated in his day. Bi's nature was straight; in the hegemonic court he often set things right. When Gao Yang became chancellor and rose to head the staff, on first hearing talk of yielding the throne he still spoke against it. Gao Yang once asked Bi, "In governing a state, whom should one employ?" He replied, "For Xianbei chariot-and-horse men, one still must use Chinese men." Gao Yang took this as a jibe at himself. Gao Dezheng held a key post and could not bring himself below Bi; before the assembly he openly rebuked him: "Yellow Gate men stand at the emperor's side — how can they hear what is good and not be stirred, and only love to pare away and crush?" Dezheng nursed deep hatred and spoke of his faults again and again. He also had chief secretary Du Yongzhen secretly report that in Bi's days as chief clerk he took bribes and on a great scale staged marriage festivities. Gao Yang nursed it inwardly. Bi, trusting in old ties, still pressed official requests. In the summer of the tenth year the emperor, while drinking, piled up his faults and sent orders to execute him in his province; he was sixty-nine. Soon he regretted it and sent couriers in pursuit, but they could not catch up. His eldest son Rui and fourth son Guang were exiled far to Linhai garrison. His second son Taiqing had already been exiled to Eastern Yuzhou. At the opening of Ganming they were all allowed to return to Ye. In the fifth year of Tiantong, Bi was posthumously given bearer of the staff, command of Yang and E provinces, grand master equal in rank to the three dukes, right vice director of the masters of writing, and inspector of Yang Province, with posthumous title Wen Su.
28
使 祿
Rui and Taiqing both had learning. Taiqing's brush was especially fine, and his own age praised him. Rui, styled Zimei, in Wuping was vice director of the court of judicature and concurrent regular attendant, and headed the mission to Chen. In his later years he was a langzhong in the ministry of personnel. Under Sui Kaihuang he ended his days as inspector of Kai Province. Taiqing, styled Shaoshan, served in turn as secretariat and Yellow Gate vice director, and concurrently as grand author and compiler of the national history. At the end of Wuping he was libationer of the imperial university and concurrently left vice director in the masters of writing. When Emperor Wu of Zhou pacified Qi, he ordered eighteen noted court scholars from Yang Xiuzhi, left vice director of the masters of writing, downward to follow the train into Guan; the Rui brothers were not on the list. Taiqing was later summoned, but because of deafness he was released and sent home. Under Sui Kaihuang he was summoned as author in the masters of writing; after a little more than a year, on account of age he retired, and an edict allowed it. His rites were especially favored; salary was granted for life, and before long he died.
29
便
The historian writes: Sun Qian stood at the prince's side in the place of brush and ink; he had entered the staff not long, yet affection was already deep. When he suddenly died, Gao Huan said he had broken his right arm — though the banners of war had not yet been furled, he cherished men of talent; otherwise how could one achieve a hegemon's work. The Grand Historian said: "It is not dying that is hard; it is facing death that is hard." Some weigh heavier than Mount Tai; some are lighter than a goose feather." Such is the meaning. Yuankang, with intelligence and talent, gave himself to the hegemonic court, intimate in the command tent, with weighty trust. At the crisis he did not seek escape; he forgot life and followed righteousness — one may say he met his place. Yang Yin thought himself of unusual conduct and talent above the barbarian ranks; at the regicide he rushed to flee — so it is not that facing death is hard; dying is hard too. Gao Yang in youth concealed his gifts; no court minister knew him. At the crisis of the Northern Palace, by order of age he was pressed forward — so the succession was not yet accepted at the time. Du Bi's learning was discerning and clear; his speech was upright counsel. At the abdication he was first to raise a different plan. The king's anger had not yet cooled when he at last suffered open execution. Straight words were many — who could avoid coming to this?
30
The encomium says: Yanjun galloping — talent high, conduct crooked. Yuankang loyal and brave — he gave up life and kept righteousness. Lofty Fuxuan — thought reached talk of heaven; the Way was lost, the times dark; body destroyed, name whole.
31
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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