Volume 30 Biographies 22: Cui Xian; Gao Dezheng; Cui Ang

崔暹高德政崔昂

Cui Xian; Gao Dezheng; Cui Ang

崔暹，字季倫，博陵安平人，漢尚書寔之後也，世為北州著姓。父穆，州主簿。暹少為書生，避地渤海，依高乾，以妹妻乾弟慎。慎後臨光州，啟暹為長史。趙郡公琛鎮定州，辟為開府諮議。隨琛往晉陽，高祖與語說之，以兼丞相長史。高祖舉兵將入洛，留暹佐琛知後事。謂之曰：「丈夫相知，豈在新舊。軍戎事重，留守任切，家弟年少，未閑事宜，凡百後事，一以相屬。」握手殷勤，至於三四。後遷左丞、吏部郎，主議《麟趾格》。

Cui Xian, styled Jilun, was a man of Anping in Boling commandery, a descendant of Cui Shi, Han minister of works, and for generations a leading house of the northern provinces. His father Mu was a commandery clerk. In youth Xian was a student; he fled to Bohai and attached himself to Gao Gan, giving his sister in marriage to Gan's brother Shen. When Shen later governed Guangzhou, he had Xian appointed chief clerk. Duke of Zhao Commandery Chen, defending Dingzhou, engaged him as deliberator of the grand marshalate. Following Chen to Jinyang, Gao Huan conversed with him and was pleased, appointing him acting chief clerk to the chancellor. When Gao Huan raised troops to enter Luoyang, he left Xian to assist Chen in managing affairs behind the lines. He said to him, "When men know one another, is it a matter of new or old? Military affairs are weighty and the duty of holding the rear is pressing; my younger brother is young and not yet versed in affairs—for every matter behind, I entrust all to you." They clasped hands earnestly, three or four times over. Later he was moved to left vice director and director of the ministry of personnel, and took chief part in deliberating the Linzhi Code.

暹親遇日隆，好薦人士。言邢卲宜任府僚，兼任機密，世宗因以徵卲，甚見親重。言論之際，卲遂毀暹。世宗不悅，謂暹曰：「卿說子才之長，子才專言卿短，此癡人也。」暹曰：「子才言暹短，暹說子才長，皆是實事，不為嫌也。」高慎之叛，與暹有隙，高祖欲殺之，世宗救免。

Xian's personal favor grew day by day; he delighted in recommending men of talent. He said Xing Shao was fit for a staff post with access to secret affairs; Gao Cheng thereupon summoned Shao, who was greatly favored and trusted. In the course of talk, Shao then slandered Xian. Gao Cheng was displeased and said to Xian, "You speak of Zicai's strengths, yet Zicai speaks only of your faults—this is a foolish man." Xian said, "Zicai speaks of Xian's faults; Xian speaks of Zicai's strengths—each states what is true, without rancor. When Gao Shen rebelled, having a rift with Xian, Gao Huan wished to kill him; Gao Cheng rescued and pardoned him.

武定初，遷御史中尉，選畢義雲、盧潛、宋欽道、李愔、崔瞻、杜蕤、嵇曄、酈伯偉、崔子武、李廣皆為御史，世稱其知人。

At the beginning of Wuding, he was moved to chief inspector; he selected Bi Yiyun, Lu Qian, Song Qindao, Li Yin, Cui Zhan, Du Rui, Ji Ye, Li Bowei, Cui Ziwu, and Li Guang as inspectors—men of the age called this knowing men.

世宗欲假暹威勢，諸公在坐，令暹高視徐步，兩人掣裾而入，世宗分庭對揖。暹不讓席而坐，觴再行，便辭退。世宗曰：「下官薄有蔬食，願公少留。」暹曰：「適受勑在臺檢校。」遂不待食而去，世宗降階送之。旬日後，世宗與諸公出之東山，遇暹於道，前驅為赤棒所擊，世宗回馬避之。

Gao Cheng wished to lend Xian imposing bearing; with the lords seated, he had Xian walk in with head high and slow steps, two men tugging his robes to lead him in; Gao Cheng faced him across the hall and bowed with equal ceremony. Xian would not yield the seat but sat down; after two rounds of wine he took his leave. Gao Cheng said, "This humble officer has a modest vegetarian meal; I hope you will stay a little." Xian said, "I have just received orders to inspect at the bureau." Without waiting for the meal he left; Gao Cheng descended the steps to see him off. Ten days later, Gao Cheng went out to the eastern hills with the lords and met Xian on the road; the outriders were struck with red staffs and Gao Cheng turned his horse aside to avoid him.

暹前後表彈尚書令司馬子如及尚書元羨、雍州刺史慕容獻，又彈太師咸陽王坦、幷州刺史可朱渾道元，罪狀極筆，並免官。其餘死黜者甚衆。高祖書與鄴下諸貴曰：「崔暹昔事家弟為定州長史，後吾兒開府諮議，及遷左丞吏部郎，吾未知其能也。始居憲臺，乃爾糾劾。咸陽王、司馬令並是吾對門布衣之舊，尊貴親昵，無過二人，同時獲罪，吾不能救，諸君其慎之。」高祖如京師，羣官迎於紫陌。高祖握暹手而勞之曰：「往前朝廷豈無法官，而天下貪婪，莫肯糾劾。中尉盡心為國，不避豪強，遂使遠邇肅清，羣公奉法。衝鋒陷陣，大有其人，當官正色，今始見之。今榮華富貴，直是中尉自取，高歡父子，無以相報。」賜暹良馬，使騎之以從，且行且語。暹下拜，馬驚走，高祖為擁之而授轡。魏帝宴於華林園，謂高祖曰：「自頃朝貴、牧守令長、所在百司多有貪暴，侵削下人。朝廷之中有用心公平，直言彈劾，不避親戚者，王可勸酒。」高祖降階，跪而言曰：「唯御史中尉崔暹一人。謹奉明旨，敢以酒勸，並臣所射賜物千疋，乞回賜之。」帝曰：「崔中尉為法，道俗齊整。」暹謝曰：「此自陛下風化所加，大將軍臣澄勸獎之力。」世宗退謂暹曰：「我尚畏羨，何況餘人。」由是威名日盛，內外莫不畏服。

Xian successively memorialized and impeached Minister of Works Sima Ziru, the minister Yuan Xian, and Administrator of Yong province Murong Xian, and also impeached Grand Tutor Prince of Xianyang Wang Tan and inspector of Bing province Kezhuhun Daoyuan—the charges written to the utmost; all were removed from office. Of the rest, those killed or dismissed were very many. Gao Huan wrote to the nobles at Ye, "Cui Xian once served my younger brother as chief clerk of Dingzhou, later my son's grand marshalate deliberator, and when moved to left vice director and director of the ministry of personnel I did not yet know his ability. Only when he took the inspectorate did he correct and impeach thus. Prince of Xianyang and Minister Sima were both my old companions of common cloth opposite the gate, honored and intimate beyond all others; at the same time they incurred guilt—I could not save them; gentlemen, be wary." When Gao Huan went to the capital, the officials welcomed him at Zimo. Gao Huan took Xian's hand and praised him, "Before, was there no judge in the court? Yet greed ran through the realm and none would impeach. The chief inspector has devoted his heart to the state, not avoiding the powerful, and thus near and far are brought to order and the lords uphold the law. To charge battle lines—there are many such men; to hold office with upright countenance—only now do I see it. Wealth and glory today are simply what the chief inspector has earned for himself; father and son Gao Huan have no way to repay it." He granted Xian a fine horse and had him ride alongside, talking as they went. Xian bowed; the horse bolted in fright; Gao Huan embraced him and handed him the reins. The Wei emperor feasted at Hualin Garden and said to Gao Huan, "Of late, court nobles, prefects and county chiefs, and the hundred offices in every place have many been greedy and violent, encroaching on inferiors. In the court there are those who apply their hearts with fairness and impeach in straight speech, not avoiding kin—Wang may urge them to drink." Gao Huan descended the steps, knelt, and said, "Only Chief Inspector Cui Xian, one man. Reverently following the clear command, I dare urge wine upon him—and furthermore the thousand bolts of cloth from my archery gift, I beg they be turned and given to him." The emperor said, "Chief Inspector Cui upholds the law; ways and customs are alike regulated." Xian thanked him, "This is from Your Majesty's transforming influence, and the urging and reward of my lord Grand General Cheng." Gao Cheng withdrew and said to Xian, "I still fear those impeachments—how much more others." Thereafter his awe-inspiring name grew daily; inside and outside none did not fear and submit.

高祖崩，未發喪，世宗以暹為度支尚書，兼僕射，委以心腹之寄。暹憂國如家，以天下為己任。世宗車服過度，誅戮變常，言談進止，或有虧失，暹每厲色極言，世宗亦為之止。有囚數百，世宗盡欲誅之，每催文帳。暹故緩之，不以時進，世宗意釋，竟以獲免。

When Gao Huan died, before the mourning was announced, Gao Cheng made Xian director of the revenue section and concurrent vice director, entrusting him with matters close to the heart. Xian worried for the state as for his home, taking the realm as his charge. Gao Cheng's carriages and dress exceeded measure, executions were irregular, and in speech and conduct there were sometimes faults; Xian each time spoke sternly and to the utmost, and Gao Cheng also stopped on his account. Several hundred prisoners—Gao Cheng wished to execute them all and daily pressed for the documents. Xian deliberately delayed them and did not submit in time; Gao Cheng's intent relaxed and in the end they were spared.

自出身從官，常日晏乃歸。侵曉則與兄弟問母之起居，暮則嘗食視寢，然後至外齋對親賓。一生不問家事。魏、梁通和，要貴皆遣人隨聘使交易，暹惟寄求佛經。梁武帝聞之，為繕寫，以幡花寶蓋贊唄送至館焉。然而好大言，調戲無節。密令沙門明藏著《佛性論》而署己名，傳諸江表。子達拏年十三，暹命儒者權會教其說《周易》兩字，乃集朝貴名流，令達拏升高座開講。趙郡睦仲讓陽屈服之，暹喜，擢為司徒中郎。鄴下為之語曰：「講義兩行得中郎。」此皆暹之短也。

From his first entry into office he normally returned only at day's end. At dawn he and his brothers would ask after their mother's health; at evening he would taste food and look in on her sleep, then go to the outer study to face kin and guests. In a lifetime he did not inquire into household affairs. When Wei and Liang made peace, the great and favored all sent men with the envoys to trade; Xian only asked that Buddhist sutras be sent. Emperor Wu of Liang heard of it, had them copied, and sent them to the lodge with streamers, flowers, precious canopies, hymns, and chants. Yet he loved grand talk and joking without restraint. He secretly had the monk Mingzang compose the Treatise on Buddha-nature and affix his own name, transmitting it throughout the Jiang region. His son Dana was thirteen; Xian had a Confucian named Quan Hui teach him to speak two words on the Book of Changes, then gathered court nobles and famous men and had Dana ascend the high seat to open a lecture. Mu Zhongrang of Zhao commandery was made to yield on the spot; Xian was pleased and promoted him to gentleman of the secretariat. Ye had a saying, "Two lines of lecture win a gentleman of the secretariat." These were all Xian's failings.

顯祖初嗣霸業，司馬子如等挾舊怨，言暹罪重，謂宜罰之。高隆之亦言宜寬政網，去苛察法官，黜崔暹，則得遠近人意。顯祖從之。及踐祚，譖毀之者猶不息。帝乃令都督陳山提等搜暹家，甚貧匱，唯得高祖、世宗與暹書千餘紙，多論軍中大事。帝嗟賞之。仍不免衆口，乃流暹於馬城，晝則負土供役，夜則置地牢。歲餘，奴告暹謀反，鎖赴晉陽，無實，釋而勞之。

When Gao Yang first succeeded to the hegemony, Sima Ziru and others, nursing old grudges, said Xian's crimes were heavy and that he ought to be punished. Gao Longzhi also said the government net should be widened, harsh inspecting judges removed, and Cui Xian dismissed—then near and far would be satisfied. Gao Yang followed this. When he took the throne, those who slandered him still did not cease. Gao Yang then had Commander Chen Shanti and others search Xian's house—it was very poor; only a thousand-odd pages of letters from Gao Huan and Gao Cheng to Xian, mostly discussing great military affairs. Gao Yang sighed in admiration. Still he could not silence everyone's mouths; he exiled Xian to Macheng—by day he carried earth for corvée, by night he was shut in a dungeon. After more than a year, a slave reported Xian plotted rebellion; he was chained and taken to Jinyang—without substance; he was released and comforted.

尋遷太常卿。帝謂羣臣曰：「崔太常清正，天下無雙，卿等不及。」初，世宗欲以妹嫁暹子，而會世宗崩，遂寢。至是，羣臣宴於宣光殿，貴戚之子多在焉。顯祖歷與之語，於坐上親作書與暹曰：「賢子達拏，甚有才學。亡兄女樂安主，魏帝外甥，內外敬待，勝朕諸妹，思成大兄宿志。」乃以主降達拏。天保末，為右僕射。帝謂左右曰：「崔暹諫我飲酒過多，然我飲何所妨？」常山王私謂暹曰：「至尊或多醉，太后尚不能致言，吾兄弟杜口，僕射獨能犯顏，內外深相感愧。」十年，暹以疾卒，帝撫靈而哭。贈開府。

Soon he was moved to grand minister of ceremonial. Gao Yang said to the assembled ministers, "Grand Minister of Ceremonial Cui is pure and upright, without peer under heaven—you do not equal him." Earlier, Gao Cheng had wished to marry his sister to Xian's son, but when Gao Cheng died the matter was dropped. At this time the ministers feasted in Xuanguang Hall; many sons of noble kin were there. Gao Yang went round speaking with them; at the seat he personally wrote to Xian, "Your worthy son Dana is very talented in learning. My late elder brother's daughter, Princess Le'an, the Wei emperor's niece, honored inside and outside, surpasses my sisters—I think to fulfill my elder brother's longstanding wish." He then gave the princess to Dana in marriage. At the end of Tianbao he was right vice director. Gao Yang said to those about him, "Cui Xian admonishes me for drinking too much—but what harm is my drinking?" Prince of Changshan said privately to Xian, "The Supreme One may often be drunk; the empress dowager cannot yet speak up; we brothers hold our tongues—only you, vice director, dare to offend his countenance; inside and outside we are deeply moved and ashamed." In the tenth year Xian died of illness; Gao Yang stroked the bier and wept. He was posthumously enfeoffed as grand marshalate.

達拏溫良清謹，有識學，少歷職為司農卿。入周，謀反伏誅。天保時，顯祖嘗問樂安公主：「達拏於汝何似？」答曰：「甚相敬重，唯阿家憎兒。」顯祖召達拏母入內，殺之，投屍漳水。齊滅，達拏殺主以復讐。

Dana was gentle, good, pure, and careful, with knowledge and learning; in youth he held office as minister of the state granaries. After entering Zhou he plotted rebellion and was executed. In the Tianbao era Gao Yang once asked Princess Le'an, "How does Dana compare with you?" She answered, "We greatly respect each other—only Mother-in-law hates the boy." Gao Yang summoned Dana's mother into the palace, killed her, and threw the body into the Zhang River. When Qi was destroyed, Dana killed the princess to avenge his mother.

高德政，字士貞，渤海蓚人。父顥，魏滄州刺史。德政幼而敏慧，有風神儀表。顯祖引為開府參軍，知管記事，甚相親狎。高祖又擢為相府掾，委以腹心。遷黃門侍郎。世宗嗣業，如晉陽，顯祖在京居守，令德政參掌機密，彌見親重。世宗暴崩，事出倉卒，羣情草草。勳將等以纘戎事重，勸帝早赴晉陽。帝亦回遑不能自決，夜中召楊愔、杜弼、崔季舒及德政等，始定策焉。以楊愔居守。

Gao Dezheng, styled Shizhen, was a man of Su in Bohai. His father Hao was Wei inspector of Cangzhou. Dezheng was clever and keen in youth, with spirit and dignified bearing. Gao Yang brought him in as staff officer to the grand marshalate in charge of records, and was very intimate. Gao Huan also promoted him as staff officer to the chancellor's residence, entrusting him as confidant. He was moved to gentleman of the yellow gates. Gao Cheng succeeded to the enterprise and went to Jinyang; Gao Yang remained in the capital as defender and had Dezheng share in secret affairs, and favor grew still greater. Gao Cheng died suddenly; affairs came in haste and the mood of the masses was disorderly. The meritorious generals held that continuing the military enterprise was weighty and urged Gao Yang to go quickly to Jinyang. Gao Yang also hesitated and could not decide; in the night he summoned Yang Yin, Du Bi, Cui Jishu, Dezheng, and others, and only then settled the plan. Yang Yin was left to hold the capital.

德政與帝舊相昵愛，言無不盡。散騎常侍徐之才、館客宋景業先為天文圖讖之學，又陳山提家客楊子術有所援引，並因德政勸顯祖行禪代之事。德政又披心固請。帝乃手書與楊愔，具論諸人勸進意。德政恐愔猶豫不決，自請馳驛赴京，託以餘事，唯與楊愔言，愔方相應和。

Dezheng and Gao Yang had long been intimate and affectionate; in speech nothing was withheld. Regular attendant Xu Zhicai and retainer Song Jingye were versed first in astronomy and apocrypha; also Chen Shanti's household retainer Yang Zishu had connections—all through Dezheng urged Gao Yang to carry out the abdication and succession. Dezheng again laid bare his heart and pressed the matter without relenting. Gao Yang then wrote in his own hand to Yang Yin, explaining in full how the others meant to urge him onto the throne. Dezheng feared Yin would still waver; he asked to ride post-haste to the capital on a pretext of other business and spoke with Yin alone — and Yin at last fell in with him.

德政還未至，帝便發晉陽，至平城都，召諸勳將入，告以禪讓之事。諸將等忽聞，皆愕然，莫敢答者。時杜弼為長史，密啟顯祖云：「關西是國家勁敵，若今受魏禪，恐其稱義兵挾天子而東向，王將何以待之？」顯祖入，召弼入與徐之才相告。之才云：「今與王爭天下者，彼意亦欲為帝，譬如逐兔滿市，一人得之，衆心皆定。今若先受魏禪，關西自應息心。縱欲屈強，止當逐我稱帝。必宜知機先覺，無容後以學人。」弼無以答。帝已遣馳驛向鄴，書與太尉高岳、尚書令高隆之、領軍婁睿、侍中張亮、黃門趙彥深、楊愔等。岳等馳傳至高陽驛，帝使約曰：「知諸貴等意，不須來。」唯楊愔見，高岳等並還。帝以衆人意未協，又先得太后旨云：「汝父如龍，汝兄如虎，尚以人臣終，汝何容欲行舜、禹事？此亦非汝意，正是高德政教汝。」又說者以為昔周武王再駕盟津，然始革命，於是乃旋晉陽。自是居常不悅。徐之才、宋景業等每言卜筮雜占陰陽緯侯，必宜五月應天順人，德政亦勸不已。仍白帝追魏收。收至，令撰禪讓詔册、九錫建臺及勸進文表。

Before Dezheng returned, Gao Yang had already left Jinyang, reached the fortress at Pingcheng, summoned the meritorious generals, and told them of the abdication. The generals heard it all at once and stood stunned; none dared speak. Du Bi was chief clerk at the time; he secretly reported to Gao Yang, "Guanxi is the state's hard enemy. If you accept Wei's abdication now, I fear they will call it a righteous army, take the Son of Heaven in hand, and march east — how will you meet them?" Gao Yang went in and summoned Bi to tell Xu Zhicai together. Xu Zhicai said, "Whoever contends with you for the realm today wants to be emperor too — like chasing a rabbit through a crowded market: once one man catches it, every heart settles. Accept Wei's abdication first and Guanxi should quiet of itself. Even if they mean to force the issue, at most they will chase us in declaring themselves emperor. You must know the moment and move first — no learning from others after the fact." Bi had nothing to say. Gao Yang had already sent post-horses toward Ye with letters to Grand Commandant Gao Yue, Director of the Masters of Writing Gao Longzhi, army supervisor Lou Rui, palace attendant Zhang Liang, yellow gate Zhao Yanshen, Yang Yin, and the rest. Yue and the others rode express to the Gaoyang post-station; Gao Yang sent word, "I know what you nobles intend — you need not come." Only Yang Yin was received; Gao Yue and the others all turned back. Because the men's hearts were not yet one, Gao Yang had also received the empress dowager's word earlier: "Your father was like a dragon and your brother like a tiger, yet both died as subjects — how can you think to play Yao and Shun? This is not your thought either; it is Gao Dezheng teaching you." Others said that in old times King Wu of Zhou crossed the Meng Ford twice before he began the revolution — and so he turned back to Jinyang. From then on he was often ill at ease. Xu Zhicai, Song Jingye, and others kept speaking of divination, mixed auguries, yin and yang, and omens in the weft-texts — that May was the time to answer Heaven and win men; Dezheng urged on without pause. They also reported to Gao Yang to recall Wei Shou. When Shou arrived, he was ordered to draft the abdication edicts and registers, the Nine Bestowals, the founding terrace, and the memorials urging accession.

至五月初，帝發晉陽。德政又錄在鄴諸事條進於帝，帝令陳山提馳驛賫事條並密書與楊愔。大略令撰儀註，防察魏室諸王。山提以五月至鄴，楊愔卽召太常卿邢卲、七兵尚書崔㥄悛、度支尚書陸操、詹事王昕、黃門侍郎陽休之、中書侍郎裴讓之等議撰儀注。六日，要魏太傅咸陽王坦等總集，引人北宮，留于東齋，受禪後，乃放還宅。帝初發至亭前，所乘馬忽倒，意甚惡之，大以沉吟。至平城都，便不復肯進。德政、徐之才苦請帝曰：「山提先去，若為形容，恐其漏泄不果。」卽命司馬子如、杜弼馳驛續入，觀察物情。七日，子如等至鄴，衆人以事勢已決，無敢異言。

At the start of the fifth month Gao Yang left Jinyang. Dezheng also compiled the items of business at Ye and presented them to Gao Yang; Gao Yang had Chen Shanti ride post-haste with the list and a secret letter to Yang Yin. In outline he was to draft ritual regulations and keep watch on the princes of Wei. Shanti reached Ye in the fifth month; Yang Yin at once summoned director of ceremonies Xing Shao, minister of the seven armies Cui Lingjun, minister of revenue Lu Cao, household mentor Wang Xin, yellow gate attendant Yang Xiuzhi, secretariat gentleman Pei Rangzhi, and others to draft the ritual regulations. On the sixth day he required Wei grand tutor Prince of Xianyang Wang Tan and the rest to assemble, brought them into the Northern Palace, and kept them in the eastern study — only after the abdication were they released to their homes. When Gao Yang first set out and reached the pavilion front, his mount suddenly fell — he took it as a very ill omen and brooded long. At the fortress of Pingcheng he would go no farther. Dezheng and Xu Zhicai pressed Gao Yang hard: "Shanti went ahead — if appearances give it away, I fear the leak will ruin everything." He then ordered Sima Ziru and Du Bi to ride post-haste after them and read the mood of the crowd. On the seventh day Ziru and the others reached Ye; seeing the affair already settled, none dared speak against it.

八日，楊愔書中旨，以魏襄城王旭並司空公潘相樂、侍中張亮、黃門趙彥深入通奏事。魏孝靜在昭陽殿引見。旭云：「五行遞運，有始有終，齊王聖德欽明，萬方歸仰，臣等昧死聞奏，願陛下則堯禪舜。」魏帝便斂容曰：「此事推挹已久，謹當遜避。」又道：「若爾，須作詔。」中書侍郎崔劼奏云：「詔已作訖。」卽付楊愔進於魏靜帝。凡有十餘條，悉書。魏靜云：「安置朕何所，復若為去？」楊愔對：「在北城別有館宇，還備法駕，依常仗衛而去。」魏靜帝於是下御坐，就東廊，口詠範蔚宗《後漢書贊》云：「獻生不辰，身播國屯，終我四百，永作虞賓。」所司尋奏請發。魏靜帝曰：「人念遺簪弊屨，欲與六宮別，可乎？」乃入與夫人嬪御以下訣別，莫不歔欷掩涕。嬪趙國李氏口誦陳思王詩云：「王其愛玉體，俱享黃髮期。」魏靜帝登車出萬春門，直長趙道德在車中陪侍，百官在門外拜辭。遂入北城下司馬子如南宅。

On the eighth day Yang Yin wrote the central order, sending Wei Prince of Xiangcheng Wang Xu with grand master of ceremonies Pan Xiangyue, palace attendant Zhang Liang, and yellow gate Zhao Yanshen to report at court. Emperor Xiaojing of Wei received them in the Zhaoyang Hall. Xu said, "The Five Agents turn in succession — all things have beginning and end. The Prince of Qi's sacred virtue is bright; the ten thousand regions look to him. We risk death to report: we pray Your Majesty will follow Yao in yielding to Shun." The Wei emperor composed himself and said, "This has long been pressed upon me — I shall respectfully yield." He added, "If so, an edict must be made." Secretariat gentleman Cui Jie reported, "The edict is already done." It was at once given to Yang Yin to present to Emperor Jing of Wei. There were more than ten articles in all, each written out. Emperor Jing said, "Where will you lodge me — and how am I to leave?" Yang Yin replied, "In the northern city there is a separate lodge; the imperial equipage will be prepared, and you will go with the usual guards and escort." Emperor Jing of Wei stepped down from the throne, went to the eastern gallery, and recited Fan Ye's encomium from the History of Later Han: "Xian was born untimely, his person cast upon the state's ordeal — ending our four hundred years, forever guest of Yu." The responsible office soon memorialized asking that he depart. Emperor Jing said, "Men cherish even a lost hairpin or worn shoes — may I bid farewell to the six palaces?" He went in to take leave of the ladies, consorts, attendants, and those below — none without weeping and covering their faces. Lady Li of Zhao recited Prince Si of Chen's lines: "My lord, cherish your jade body — may we together reach the years of yellow hair." Emperor Jing mounted his carriage and went out the Wanchun Gate; chief controller Zhao Daode attended him in the carriage; the hundred officials bowed farewell outside the gate. He entered the northern city and lodged at Sima Ziru's southern residence.

帝至城南頓所。受禪之日，除德政為侍中，尋封藍田公。七年，遷尚書右僕射，兼侍中，食渤海郡幹。德政與尚書令楊愔綱紀政事，多有弘益。

Gao Yang reached the halt south of the city. On the day the mandate was received, Dezheng was made palace attendant; soon after he was enfeoffed as duke of Lantian. In the seventh year he was moved to right vice director of the Masters of Writing, concurrently palace attendant, with income from Bohai commandery. Dezheng and Director Yang Yin set the order of government; they brought much that profited the realm.

顯祖末年，縱酒酣醉，所為不法，德政屢進忠言。後召德政飲，不從，又進言於前，諫曰：「陛下道我尋休，今乃甚於旣往，其若社稷何，其若太后何！」帝不悅。又謂左右云：「高德政恒以精神淩逼人。」德政甚懼，乃稱疾屏居佛寺，兼學坐禪，為退身之計。帝謂楊愔曰：「我大憂德政，其病何似？」愔以禪代之際，因德政言情切至，方致誠款，常內忌之。由是答云：「陛下若用作冀州刺史，病卽自差。」帝從之，德政見除書而起。帝大怒，召德政謂之曰：「聞爾病，我為爾針。」親以刀子刺之，血流沾地。又使曳下，斬去其趾。劉桃枝捉刀不敢下。帝起臨階砌，切責桃枝曰：「爾頭卽墮地！」因索大刀自帶，欲下階。桃枝乃斬足之三指。帝怒不解，禁德政於門下，其夜開城門，以氈輿送還家。旦日，德政妻出寶物滿四床，欲以寄人。帝奄至其宅，見而怒曰：「我府藏猶無此物！」詰其所從得，皆諸元賂之也。遂曳出斬之。時妻出拜，又斬之，並其子祭酒伯堅。德政死後，顯祖謂羣臣曰：「高德政常言宜用漢人，除鮮卑，此卽合死。又教我誅諸元，我今殺之，為諸元報讐也。」帝後悔，贈太保，嫡孫王臣襲焉。

In Gao Yang's later years he drank deep and long; his acts broke the law — Dezheng remonstrated again and again. Later he summoned Dezheng to drink; Dezheng refused and spoke before him again: "Your Majesty said I would soon rest — yet now you go further than before. What of the altars? What of the empress dowager!" Gao Yang was displeased. He also told those at his side, "Gao Dezheng always uses his spirit to overawe people." Dezheng was deeply afraid; he claimed illness and withdrew to a Buddhist temple, also learning seated meditation — a plan to step back. Gao Yang said to Yang Yin, "I am deeply worried about Dezheng — how is his illness?" Yin, because at the abdication Dezheng had spoken with such piercing force that Gao Yang gave him full sincerity, inwardly always resented him. He therefore answered, "If Your Majesty makes him inspector of Ji province, the illness will at once improve." Gao Yang agreed; Dezheng saw the appointment edict and rose. Gao Yang flew into a rage, summoned Dezheng, and said, "I heard you were ill — I have come to needle you myself." He stabbed him with a knife himself; blood ran and soaked the ground. He also had him dragged down and his toes struck off. Liu Taozhi took up the blade but dared not bring it down. Gao Yang rose to the stair treads and rebuked Taozhi sharply: "Your head will be next on the ground!" He then demanded a great blade, girded it himself, and meant to come down the steps. Taozhi then cut off three of his toes. Gao Yang's rage did not ease; Dezheng was held at the Gate Department — that night the city gates were opened and he was sent home in a felt litter. At dawn Dezheng's wife brought out treasures filling four couches, meaning to leave them with others for safekeeping. Gao Yang came suddenly to the house, saw them, and said in anger, "My treasury does not even hold such things!" He questioned where they came from — all were bribes from the various Yuan. Dezheng was dragged out and beheaded. When his wife came out to bow, she was beheaded too, together with their son Bojian the libationer. After Dezheng's death Gao Yang told the ministers, "Gao Dezheng always said one should employ Han men and remove the Xianbei — for that alone he deserved death. He also urged me to execute the various Yuan — now that I have killed him, I have avenged the Yuan." Gao Yang later regretted it; Dezheng was posthumously made grand guardian; his eldest grandson's son Wangchen inherited the title.

崔昂，字懷遠，博陵安平人也。祖挺，魏幽州刺史。昂年七歲而孤，伯父吏部尚書孝芬嘗謂所親曰：「此兒終當遠至，是吾家千里駒也。」昂性端直少華，沈深有志略，堅實難傾動。少好章句，頗綜文詞。世宗廣開幕府，引為記室參軍，委以腹心之任。

Cui Ang, styled Huaiyuan, was a man of Anping in Boling. His grandfather Ting was Wei inspector of You province. Ang was orphaned at seven; his father's elder brother, minister of personnel Xiaofen, once told those close to him, "This boy will go far in the end — he is our family's thousand-li colt." Ang was upright and sparing of show, deep and steady in design — firm and hard to move. In youth he loved exegetical study and was fairly versed in literary phrasing. Gao Cheng broadly opened his headquarters and brought him in as recording army advisor, entrusting him with duties at the heart.

世宗入輔朝政，召為開府長史。時勳將親族兵客在都下放縱，多行不軌，孫騰、司馬子如之門尤劇。昂受世宗密旨，以法繩之，未幾之間，內外齊肅。遷尚書左丞，其年，又兼度支尚書。左丞之兼尚書，近代未有，唯昂獨為冠首，朝野榮之。

When Gao Cheng entered to assist at court, he was summoned as chief clerk of the opening office. At the time the meritorious generals' kin and military retainers in the capital ran wild, many acting outside the law — the households of Sun Teng and Sima Ziru were worst. Ang received Gao Cheng's secret order and bound them with law; within no long time inner and outer were alike disciplined. He was moved to left assistant in the Masters of Writing; that same year he also held minister of revenue concurrently. An assistant concurrently holding a ministry had not occurred in recent times — Ang alone was first; court and country honored him.

武定六年，甘露降於宮闕，文武官僚同賀顯陽殿。魏帝問僕射崔暹、尚書楊愔等曰：「自古甘露之瑞，漢、魏多少，可各言往代所降之處，德化感致所由。」次問昂，昂曰：「案《符瑞圖》，王者德致於天，則甘露降。吉凶兩門，不由符瑞，故桑雉為戒，實啟中興，小鳥孕大，未聞福感。所願陛下雖休勿休。」帝為斂容曰：「朕旣無德，何以當此。」

In the sixth year of Wuding, sweet dew fell on the palace gates; civil and military officials together offered congratulations at the Xianyang Hall. The Wei emperor asked vice director Cui Xuan, minister Yang Yin, and others, "Since antiquity the auspice of sweet dew — in Han and Wei, how often? Tell where it fell in past ages and by what moral transformation it was drawn down." Ang was asked next; Ang said, "According to the Charts of Omens, when a king's virtue reaches Heaven, sweet dew descends. Good fortune and ill are two gates — they do not turn on omens. The mulberry cock was a warning yet truly opened restoration; a small bird bearing a great thing — I have not heard that called a blessing drawn down. What I wish is that Your Majesty, though at rest, never cease to rest." The emperor composed himself and said, "I have no virtue — how could I deserve this?"

齊受禪，遷散騎常侍，兼太府卿、大司農卿。二寺所掌，世號繁劇，昂校理有術，下無奸偽，經手歷目，知無不為，朝廷歎其至公。又奏上橫市妄費事三百一十四條，詔下，依啟狀速議以聞。其年，與太子少師邢卲議定國初禮，仍封華陽縣男。又詔刪定律令，損益禮樂，令尚書右僕射薛琡等四十三人在領軍府議定。又勑昂云：若諸人不相遵納，卿可依事啟聞。」昂奉勑笑曰：「正合生平之願。」昂素勤慎，奉勑之後，彌自警勗，部分科條，校正今古，所增損十有七八。轉廷尉卿。昂本性清嚴，凡見黷貨輩，疾之若讐，以是治獄文深，世論不以平恕相許。

When Qi received the mandate, Ang was moved to attendant cavalry and made concurrently grand steward and grand minister of agriculture. What the two offices controlled was known as vexingly heavy; Ang had method in auditing — below him there was no fraud; whatever passed his hands and eyes he knew and undertook; the court praised his utmost fairness. He also memorialized three hundred fourteen items of wasteful spending at the cross-market; an edict went down to deliberate quickly on his memorial and report back. That year, with junior tutor Xing Shao, he fixed the rites at the dynasty's founding; he was then enfeoffed as baron of Huayang. An edict also ordered revision of laws and statutes and changes in ritual and music — forty-three men including right vice director Xue Xu were charged to deliberate at the army supervisor headquarters. He again ordered Ang, saying, "If the others will not obey and accept, report to me as the facts warrant." Ang took the order and laughed. "That is just what I have wished all my life." Ang had always been diligent and careful. After the order he redoubled his watch on himself, set out the legal articles, and collated past and present usage — his additions and cuts came to seven or eight parts in ten. He was transferred to minister of justice. Ang was by nature austere and strict. Anyone he saw taking bribes he hated like an enemy; for that reason his judgments ran deep and hard, and public opinion did not credit him with fairness.

顯祖幸東山，百官預宴，升射堂。帝召昂於御坐前，謂曰：「舊人多出為州，我欲以臺閣中相付，當用卿為令仆，勿望刺史。卿六十外當與卿本州，中間州不可得也。」後九卿以上陪集東宮，帝指昂及尉瑾、司馬子瑞謂太子曰：「此是國家柱石，汝宜記之。」未幾，復侍宴金鳳臺，帝歷數諸人，咸有罪負，至昂曰：「崔昂直臣，魏收才士，婦兄妹夫，俱省罪過。」天保十年，策拜儀同燕子獻，百司陪列，昂在行中。帝特召昂至御所，曰：「歷思羣臣可綱紀省闥者，唯冀卿一人。」卽日除為兼右僕射。數日後，昂因入奏事，帝謂尚書令楊愔曰：「昨不與崔昂正者，言其太速，欲明年真之。終是除正，何事早晚，可除正僕射。」明日，卽拜為真。楊愔少時與昂不平，顯祖崩後，遂免昂僕射，除儀同三司。後坐事除名。卒祠部尚書。

Gao Yang visited Eastern Mountain. The hundred officials joined the feast and went up to the shooting hall. The emperor called Ang before the throne and said, "The old hands mostly go out to the provinces. I mean to put the terrace offices in your hands — you shall serve as director and vice director of the secretariat. Do not look for a provincial inspectorship. After you pass sixty I will give you your home province. Between now and then you will not get one." Later, when the nine ministers and above attended the crown prince at the Eastern Palace, the emperor pointed to Ang, Wei Jin, and Sima Zirui and told the heir, "These are the state's pillars. Mark them well." Before long he again attended a feast at Golden Phoenix Terrace. The emperor went down the roster, charging each man with some fault, until he came to Ang and said, "Cui Ang is a straight minister; Wei Shou is a man of letters — brothers-in-law, both of you are excused." In the tenth year of Tianbao, at the ceremony investing Yan Zixian as equal in insignia with opening office, the hundred offices lined the route — Ang stood among them. The emperor called Ang alone to the throne room and said, "I have weighed every minister who could keep order in the secretariat. I rely on you alone." That same day he was made acting right vice director of the secretariat. A few days later Ang came in on business. The emperor said to Yang Yin, director of the secretariat, "Yesterday I did not give Cui Ang the full post — I said it was too soon and meant to make it formal next year. A full appointment is a full appointment — what does early or late matter? Give him the full vice directorship." The next day he was invested at once in the full rank. Yang Yin had been at odds with Ang since they were young. After Gao Yang's death he stripped Ang of the vice directorship and made him equal in insignia to three departments. Later he was struck from the rolls for an offense. He died as director of the office for sacrifices.

昂有風調才識，舊立堅正剛直之名。然好探揣上意，感激時主，或列陰私罪失，深為顯祖所知賞，發言獎護，人莫之能毀。議曹律令，京畿密獄，及朝廷之大事多委之。尚嚴猛，好行鞭撻，雖苦楚萬端，對之自若。前者崔暹、季舒為之親援，後乃高德政是其中表，常有挾恃，意色矜高，以此不為名流所服。子液嗣。

Ang had presence, talent, and judgment; he had long borne a name for firm, upright conduct. Yet he liked to read the ruler's mind and repay the favor of his times; he would sometimes set out men's hidden faults, and Gao Yang knew and prized this, speaking up to praise and shield him so that none could bring him down. Deliberations on law, the capital's secret prisons, and the weightiest court business were largely left to him. He favored severity and the whip; though pain ran to every extremity, his face stayed calm. At first Cui Xian and Cui Jishu backed him closely; later his cousin Gao Dezheng was his patron. He always had someone behind him and carried himself high — for that the leading men did not respect him. His son Ye succeeded him.

全文以中華書局、一九七二年十一月、第一版《北齊書》為本校。

The full text has been collated against the Zhonghua Shuju first edition of the Book of Northern Qi, November 1972.

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