1
蕭明蕭祗蕭退蕭放徐之才
Xiao Ming; Xiao Zhi; Xiao Tui; Xiao Fang; Xu Zhicai
2
蕭明，蘭陵人，梁武帝長兄長沙王懿之子。 在其本朝，甚為梁武所親愛。 少歷顯職，封湞陽侯。 太清中，以為豫州刺史。
Xiao Ming was from Lanling, son of Prince of Changsha Yi, eldest brother of Emperor Wu of Liang. In his own court he was greatly beloved by Emperor Wu of Liang. In youth he held eminent posts and was enfeoffed Marquis of Zhenyang. During the Taiqing era he was made inspector of Yuzhou.
3
梁主旣納侯景，詔明率水陸諸軍趨彭城，大圖進取。 又命兗州刺史南康嗣王會理總馭群帥，指授方略。 明渡淮未幾，官軍破之，盡俘其衆。 魏帝升門樓，親引見明及諸將帥，釋其禁，送於晉陽。 世宗禮明甚重，謂之曰：「先王與梁主和好十有餘年，聞彼禮佛文，常雲奉為魏主，並及先王，此甚是梁主厚意。 不謂一朝失信，致此紛擾。 自出師薄伐，無戰不克，無城不陷，今自欲和，非是力屈。 境上之事，知非梁主本心，當是侯景違命扇動耳。 侯可遣使諮論，若猶存先王分義，重成通和者，吾不必違先王之旨，侯及諸人並卽放還。」 於是使人以明書告梁主，梁主乃致書以慰世宗。
After the Liang ruler accepted Hou Jing, an edict ordered Ming to lead land and river forces toward Pengcheng for a major advance. He also ordered Yanzhou inspector Heir Prince of Nankang Hui Li to take overall command of the generals and set strategy. Ming had crossed the Huai only a short while when the government army defeated him and took his entire force captive. The Wei emperor ascended the gate tower, received Ming and the generals in person, released their bonds, and sent them to Jinyang. Gao Cheng treated Ming with great courtesy and said to him, "The late king and the Liang ruler were on good terms for more than ten years; I heard that when he performed Buddhist rites he would say he did them for the Wei ruler and for the late king as well—this was truly the Liang ruler's great kindness. Who would have thought that in a single morning faith would be broken and bring this turmoil. Since our armies went forth on a light campaign, there has been no battle we did not win, no city we did not take; now that we ourselves wish peace, it is not because our strength is spent. Matters on the border—I know they are not the Liang ruler's true intent; surely Hou Jing defied orders and stirred this up. You may send envoys to consult; if he still honors the late king's bond and restores friendly relations, I need not go against the late king's wish—you and the others will all be released at once." Thereupon he had men report to the Liang ruler with Ming's letter; the Liang ruler then sent a letter in reply to comfort Gao Cheng.
4
天保六年，梁元為西魏所滅，顯祖詔立明為梁主，前所獲梁將湛海珍等皆聽從明歸，令上黨王渙率衆以送。 是時梁太尉王僧辯、司空陳霸先在建鄴，推晉安王方智為丞相。 顯祖賜僧辯、霸先璽書，僧辯未奉詔。 上黨王進軍，明又與僧辯書，往復再三，陳禍福，僧辯初不納。 旣而上黨王破東關，斬裴之橫，江表危懼，僧辯乃啟上黨求納明，遣舟艦迎接。 王饗梁朝將士，及與明刑牲歃血，載書而盟。 於是梁輿東度，齊師北反。 侍中裴英起衛送明入建鄴，遂稱尊號，改承聖四年為天成元年，大赦天下，宇文黑獺、賊詧等不在赦例。 以方智為太子，授王僧辯大司馬。 明上表遣第二息章馳到京都，拜謝宮闕。 冬，霸先襲殺僧辯，復立方智，以明為太傅、建安王。 霸先奉表朝廷，云僧辯陰謀篡逆，故誅之。 方智請稱臣，永為藩國，齊遣行臺司馬恭及梁人盟於歷陽。 明年，詔徵明。 霸先猶稱藩，將遣使送明，會明疽發背死。
In the sixth year of Tianbao, when Emperor Yuan of Liang was destroyed by Western Wei, Gao Yang issued an edict installing Ming as Liang ruler; Liang generals previously captured, such as Zhan Haizhen, were all allowed to follow Ming home, and Prince of Shangdang Huan was ordered to lead troops to escort them. At that time Liang grand commandant Wang Sengbian and minister of works Chen Baxian were at Jiankang; they installed Prince of Jin'an Fang Zhi as chancellor. Gao Yang bestowed sealed letters on Sengbian and Baxian; Sengbian did not obey the edict. Prince of Shangdang advanced his army; Ming also exchanged letters with Sengbian back and forth several times, setting out fortune and calamity, but at first Sengbian would not accept him. Then Prince of Shangdang broke Dongguan and beheaded Pei Zhiheng; the lands south of the Yangtze were gripped with fear, and Sengbian then memorialized Prince of Shangdang asking to admit Ming and sent warships to receive him. The prince feasted Liang officers and men and, with Ming, slaughtered a victim and drank the blood, loading the covenant onto a chariot. Thereupon the Liang carriage went east across the river and the Qi army turned north. Palace attendant Pei Yingqi guarded and escorted Ming into Jiankang; he then assumed the imperial title, changed the fourth year of Chengsheng to the first year of Tiancheng, and proclaimed a general amnesty—Yuwen Heitu, the rebel Chao, and the like were not within the amnesty. Fang Zhi was made heir apparent; Wang Sengbian was appointed grand marshal. Ming submitted a memorial sending his second son Zhang Chi to the capital to bow in thanks before the palace. In winter Baxian attacked and killed Sengbian, restored Fang Zhi, and made Ming grand tutor and Prince of Jian'an. Baxian submitted a memorial to the court saying Sengbian had plotted treason in secret and was therefore executed. Fang Zhi asked to style himself subject and remain a vassal state forever; Qi sent acting commissioner Sima Gong and Liang men to covenant at Liyang. The next year an edict summoned Ming. Baxian still styled himself vassal and was about to send envoys to deliver Ming, but Ming died of a carbuncle on his back.
5
梁將王琳在江上與霸先相抗，顯祖遣兵納梁永嘉王蕭莊主梁祀。 九年二月，自湓城濟江，三月，卽帝位於郢州，年號天啟，王琳總其軍國，追諡明曰閔皇帝。 明年，莊為陳人所敗，遂入朝，封為侯。 朝廷許以興復，竟不果。 後主亡之日，莊在鄴飲氣而死。
Liang general Wang Lin on the river resisted Baxian; Gao Yang sent troops to install Liang Prince of Yongjia Xiao Zhuang to uphold the Liang succession. In the second month of the ninth year he crossed the river from Pencheng; in the third month he took the throne at Yingzhou, era name Tianqi; Wang Lin directed state and army; posthumous title for Ming was Emperor Min. The next year Zhuang was defeated by Chen men and then entered court; he was enfeoffed marquis. The court had promised restoration, but in the end it did not come to pass. On the day the Last Lord perished, Zhuang died in Ye from pent-up grief.
6
蕭祗，字敬式，梁武弟南平王偉之子也。 少聰敏，美容儀。 在梁封定襄侯，位東揚州刺史。 於時江左承平，政寬人慢，祗獨莅以嚴切，梁武悅之。 遷北兗州刺史。 太清二年，侯景圍建鄴。 祗聞臺城失守，遂來奔。 以武定七年至鄴，文襄令魏收、邢卲與相接對。 歷位太子少傅，領平陽王師，封清河郡公。 齊天保初，授右光祿大夫，領國子祭酒。 時梁元帝平侯景，復與齊通好，文宣欲放祗等還南。 俄而西魏剋江陵，遂留鄴都，卒。 贈中書監、車騎大將軍、揚州刺史。
Xiao Zhi, style Jingshi, was son of Emperor Wu of Liang's younger brother Prince of Nanping Wei. In youth he was clever and keen, with fine looks. In Liang he was enfeoffed Marquis of Dingxiang and held the post of eastern Yangzhou inspector. At that time the lands east of the Yangtze were at peace; government was lax and people grew slack—Zhi alone governed with severity, and Emperor Wu of Liang was pleased. He was transferred to northern Yanzhou inspector. In the second year of Taiqing, Hou Jing besieged Jiankang. Zhi heard the capital had fallen and came to surrender. In the seventh year of Wuding he reached Ye; Gao Cheng had Wei Shou and Xing Shao meet and converse with him. He passed through the posts of heir apparent junior tutor and tutor to Prince of Pingyang, and was enfeoffed Duke of Qinghe commandery. At the beginning of Qi Tianbao he was made right bright light grand master and director of the imperial university. When Emperor Yuan of Liang had pacified Hou Jing and renewed friendly relations with Qi, Gao Yang wished to release Zhi and the others to return south. Before long Western Wei took Jiangling; he therefore remained at Ye and died. Posthumous gifts: secretariat director, chariot and cavalry grand general, Yangzhou inspector.
7
蕭退，梁武帝弟司空鄱陽王恢之子也。 退在梁封湘潭侯，位青州刺史。 建鄴陷，與從兄祗俱入東魏。 齊天保中，位金紫光祿大夫，卒。 子慨，深沉有禮，樂善好學，攻草隸書。 南士中稱為長者。 歷著作佐郎，待詔文林館，卒於司徒從事中郎。
Xiao Tui was son of Emperor Wu of Liang's younger brother minister of works Prince of Poyang Hui. In Liang Tui was enfeoffed Marquis of Xiangtan and held Qingzhou inspector. When Jiankang fell, he entered Eastern Wei together with his elder cousin Zhi. In Qi Tianbao he held the post of golden purple light grand master and died. His son Kai was deep and reserved, courteous, fond of goodness and eager to learn, and skilled at cursive and clerical script. Among southern gentlemen he was called an elder. He passed through associate editor of the historiography office and attendant at Wenslin Hall, and died as aide to the director of the masters of writing.
8
蕭放，字希逸，隨父祗至鄴。 祗卒，放居喪以孝聞。 所居廬室前有二慈鳥來集，各據一樹為巢，自午以前，馴庭飲啄，午後更不下樹，每臨時，舒翅悲鳴，全似哀泣。 家人伺之，未常有闕。 時以為至孝之感。 服闋，襲爵。 武平中，待詔文林館。 放性好文詠，頗善丹青，因此在宮中披覽書史及近世詩賦，監畫工作屏風等雜物見知，遂被眷待。 累遷太子中庶子、散騎常侍。
Xiao Fang, style Xiyi, followed his father Zhi to Ye. When Zhi died, Fang's mourning for him won fame for filial piety. Before the mourning hut two loving birds came and gathered; each took a tree for its nest; from before noon they were tame in the courtyard, drinking and pecking; after noon they no longer left the trees; whenever the hour came they spread their wings and cried mournfully, altogether like weeping in grief. The household watched them and never found an absence. People of the time took it as the response of utmost filial piety. When mourning ended he inherited the title. In the Wuping era he was attendant at Wenslin Hall. Fang by nature loved literary composition and was fairly skilled at painting; therefore in the palace he perused histories and recent poetry and rhapsodies, oversaw painters at work on screens and other miscellaneous objects, became known, and was favored. He was promoted repeatedly to heir apparent attendant and attendant-in-ordinary.
9
徐之才，丹陽人也。 父雄，事南齊，位蘭陵太守，以醫術為江左所稱。 之才幼而儁發，五歲誦《孝經》，八歲略通義旨。 曾與從兄康造梁太子詹事汝南周舍宅聽《老子》。 捨為設食，乃戲之曰：「徐郎不用心思義，而但事食乎？」 之才答曰：「蓋聞聖人虛其心而實其腹。」 捨嗟賞之。 年十三，召為太學生，粗通《禮》、《易》。 彭城劉孝綽、河東裴子野、吳郡張嵊等每共論《周易》及《喪服》儀，酬應如響。 咸共歎曰：「此神童也。」 孝綽又云：「徐郎燕頷，有班定遠之相。」 陳郡袁昂領丹陽尹，辟為主簿，人務事宜，皆被顧訪。 郡廨遭火，之才起望，夜中不著衣，披紅服帕出房，映光為昂所見。 功曹白請免職，昂重其才術，仍特原之。 豫章王綜出鎮江都，復除豫章王國左常侍，又轉綜鎮北主簿。
Xu Zhicai was a man of Danyang. His father Xiong served Southern Qi as administrator of Lanling and was famed in the lands east of the Yangtze for medical skill. Zhicai in childhood was precocious; at five he recited the Classic of Filial Piety, and at eight he had a rough grasp of its meaning. Once he went with his elder cousin Kang to the house of Liang heir apparent's household chief Runan Zhou She to hear the Laozi. She set out food and then teased him, saying, "Master Xu, you do not apply your mind to meaning but only to eating?" Zhicai answered, "I have heard that the sage empties his mind and fills his belly." She sighed in admiration. At thirteen he was summoned as imperial academy student and had a rough mastery of the Rites and the Changes. Pengcheng Liu Xiaochuo, Hedong Pei Ziye, Wu commandery Zhang Sheng, and others often debated the Book of Changes and mourning-garment ritual with him; his replies came like an echo. They all sighed together, "This is a divine child." Xiaochuo also said, "Master Xu has a swallow jaw—he has the look of Ban Chao the Distance-Pacifier." Chen commandery Yuan Ang held Danyang prefect; he recruited Zhicai as chief clerk, and whenever men had business affairs they were all referred to him for counsel. The prefectural offices suffered fire; Zhicai rose to look and in the night wore no clothes, but came out of the room in a red kerchief over his shoulders; the light caught him and Ang saw it. The merit officer memorialized asking that he be dismissed; Ang valued his talent and skill and specially pardoned him. Prince of Yuzhang Zong went out to garrison Jiangdu; Zhicai was again made left regular attendant of the Yuzhang kingdom, then transferred to Zong's northern campaign chief clerk.
10
及綜入魏，三軍散走，之才退至呂梁，橋斷路絕，遂為魏統軍石茂孫所止。 綜入魏旬月，位至司空。 魏聽綜收斂僚屬，乃訪之才在彭泗，啟魏帝云：「之才大善醫術，兼有機辯。」 詔徵之才。 孝昌二年，至洛，勑居南館，禮遇甚優。 從祖謇子踐啟求之才還宅。 之才藥石多效，又闚涉經史，發言辯捷，朝賢競相要引，為之延譽。 武帝時，封昌安縣侯。 天平中，齊神武徵赴晉陽，常在內館，禮遇稍厚。 武定四年，自散騎常侍轉秘書監。 文宣作相，普加黜陟。 楊愔以其南土之人，不堪典秘書，轉授金紫光祿大夫，以魏收代領之。 之才甚怏怏不平。
When Zong entered Wei the three armies scattered and fled; Zhicai retreated to Lüliang; the bridge was cut and the road gone, and he was stopped by Wei commanding general Shi Maosun. Within a month of Zong's entering Wei he reached the rank of minister of works. Wei allowed Zong to gather his staff; he then inquired after Zhicai at Peng and Si and reported to the Wei emperor, "Zhicai is greatly skilled in medicine and also has ready wit." An edict summoned Zhicai. In the second year of Xiaochang he reached Luoyang; he was ordered to lodge in the Southern Lodge and received very generous treatment. Cousin Zhan's son Jian memorialized asking that Zhicai return home. Zhicai's medicines were often effective; he also dipped into the classics and histories; when he spoke he was sharp and quick; court worthies vied to invite him and spread his fame. In the time of Emperor Wu of Liang he was enfeoffed Marquis of Chang'an county. In the Tianping era Gao Huan summoned him to Jinyang; he was constantly in the inner lodge and his treatment grew somewhat richer. In the fourth year of Wuding he was transferred from attendant-in-ordinary to secretariat director. When Gao Yang became chancellor he promoted and demoted widely. Yang Yin, because he was a man of the southern lands and unfit to direct the secretariat, transferred him to golden purple light grand master and had Wei Shou replace him in that office. Zhicai was very resentful and displeased.
11
之才少解天文，兼圖讖之學，共館客宋景業參校吉兇，知午年必有革易，因高德政啟之。 文宣聞而大悅。 時自婁太后及勳貴臣咸云關西旣是勁敵，恐其有挾天子令諸侯之辭，不可先行禪代事。 之才獨云：「千人逐免，一人得之，諸人咸息。 須定大業，何容翻欲學人。」 又援引證據，備有條目，帝從之。 登祚後，彌見親密。 之才非唯醫術自進，亦為首唱禪代，又戲謔滑稽，言無不至，於是大被狎昵。 尋除侍中，封池陽縣伯。 見文宣政令轉嚴，求出，除趙州刺史，竟不獲述職，猶為弄臣。
Zhicai from youth understood astronomy and also the learning of prognostic texts; with lodge companion Song Jingye he compared auspice and ill omen and knew that in the wu year there would surely be change; he therefore reported this through Gao Dezheng. Gao Yang heard it and was greatly pleased. At the time from Empress Dowager Lou down to meritorious ministers all said Guanxi was already a formidable foe and feared they would use the phrase of taking the Son of Heaven in hand to command the feudal lords—one must not first carry out the abdication. Zhicai alone said, "A thousand men chase a hare; when one man gets it, all the rest cease. The great enterprise must be settled—how can you turn about and wish to learn from others?" He also cited evidence, fully itemized; the emperor followed him. After he ascended the throne, intimacy grew still closer. Zhicai advanced not only through medical skill; he was also foremost in urging the abdication, and again he jested with wit and buffoonery, speaking without reserve—therefore he was greatly favored and familiar. Before long he was relieved of attendant-in-ordinary and enfeoffed as marquis of Chiyang county. When he saw Emperor Wenxuan's rule turning harsh he asked to leave the capital. He was made inspector of Zhao province but never took up the post and remained a court buffoon.
12
皇建二年，除西兗州刺史。 未之官，武明皇太后不豫，之才療之，應手便愈，孝昭賜采帛千段、錦四百疋。 之才旣善醫術，雖有外授，頃卽徵還。 旣博識多聞，由是於方術尤妙。 大寧二年春，武明太后又病。 之才弟之範為尚藥典御，勑令診候。 內史皆令呼太后為石婆，蓋有俗忌，故改名以厭制之。 之範出告之才曰：「童謠雲：『周裏跂求伽，豹祠嫁石婆，斬冢作媒人，唯得一量紫綖靴。』 今太后忽改名，私所致怪。」 之才曰：「跂求伽，胡言去已。 豹祠嫁石婆，豈有好事？ 斬冢作媒人，但令合葬自斬冢。 唯得紫綖靴者，得至四月，何者？ 紫之為字『此』下『系』，『延』者熟，當在四月之中。」 之範問靴是何義。 之才曰：「靴者革旁化，寧是久物？」 至四月一日，后果崩。
In the second year of Huangjian he was appointed inspector of Western Yan province. He had not yet gone to his post when Empress Dowager Wuming fell ill. Zhicai treated her and she recovered at once. Emperor Xiaozhao rewarded him with a thousand rolls of silk and four hundred bolts of brocade. Because his medical skill was outstanding, though he was granted an outside post he was recalled within a short time. He was widely read and well informed, and on that account became especially skilled in prognostication and the occult arts. In the spring of the second year of Daning the empress dowager Wuming fell ill again. Zhicai's younger brother Zhifan was director of the imperial pharmacy and was ordered to examine and treat her. The inner officials all had the empress dowager addressed as "Stone Granny," a folk taboo-name meant to turn aside misfortune. Zhifan came out and told Zhicai, "A children's rhyme says: 'Within Zhou, Qiqiu Jia; at Leopard Shrine they wed Stone Granny; Cut-grave serves as matchmaker—you get only a measure of purple silk boots. Now the empress dowager has suddenly been renamed—that is a private act that invites ill omens." Zhicai said, "'Qiqiu Jia' is Hu speech for 'already gone. Leopard Shrine weds Stone Granny'—can that portend anything good? Cut-grave as matchmaker'—read it as joint burial arising from the grave. Only a measure of purple silk boots'—she will reach the fourth month. How do I know? The character for purple is 'this' with 'thread' below; 'extended' means ripe. The omen falls in the middle of the fourth month." Zhifan asked what the boots signified. Zhicai said, "Boots: beside 'leather' stands 'transform.' How could that be something that lasts?" On the first day of the fourth month the empress dowager died, just as he had said.
13
有人患腳跟腫痛，諸醫莫能識。 之才曰：「蛤精疾也，由乘船入海，垂腳水中。」 疾者曰：「實曾如此。」 之才為剖得蛤子二，大如榆莢。 又有以骨為刀子靶者，五色班斕。 之才曰：「此人瘤也。」 問得處，云於古冢見髑髏額骨長數寸，試削視，有文理，故用之。 其明悟多通如此。
A man suffered swollen, painful heels, and no physician could name the disease. Zhicai said, "This is clam-spirit sickness, contracted by sailing the sea and dangling his feet in the water." The patient said, "That is exactly what I did." Zhicai cut him open and took out two clam embryos, each as large as an elm pod. Another man had made a knife handle from bone, five-colored and streaked. Zhicai said, "This man has a tumor." Asked where he had found it, he said that in an old tomb he had seen a skull whose forehead bone was several inches long; he shaved it and found a grain in the bone, so he used it. His keen insight and wide mastery ran to such cases.
14
天統四年，累遷尚書左僕射，俄除兗州刺史，特給鐃吹一部。 之才醫術最高，偏被命召。 武成酒色過度，怳惚不恒，曾病發，自雲初見空中有五色物，稍近，變成一美婦人，去地數丈，亭亭而立。 食頃，變為觀世音。 之才云：「此色欲多，大虛所致。」 卽處湯方，服一劑，便覺稍遠，又服，還變成五色物，數劑湯，疾竟愈。 帝每發動，輒遣騎追之，針藥所加，應時必效，故頻有端執之舉。 入秋，武成小定，更不發動。 和士開欲依次轉進，以之才附籍兗州，卽是本屬，遂奏附除刺史，以胡長仁為左僕射，士開為右僕射。 及十月，帝又病動，語士開云：「恨用之才外任，使我辛苦。」 其月八日，勑驛追之才。 帝以十日崩，之才十一日方到。 旣無所及，復還赴州。 在職無所侵暴，但不甚閑法理，頗亦疏慢，用捨自由。
In the fourth year of Tiantong he rose in steps to left vice director of the imperial secretariat, then was made inspector of Yan province with a special grant of one suite of drums and pipes. Zhicai's medical skill stood above all others, and he alone was repeatedly summoned by imperial order. Emperor Wucheng indulged wine and women beyond measure and was often dazed and unsteady. Once when his illness flared he said that at first he saw a five-colored thing in the air; as it drew nearer it became a beautiful woman standing several zhang above the ground, upright and still. After the time it takes to eat a meal it turned into Guanyin. Zhicai said, "This comes from excessive lust and great depletion of the vital principle." He immediately prepared a decoction. After one dose the vision drew farther away; after another it turned back into a five-colored thing; after several doses the illness was wholly cured. Whenever the emperor's illness flared he sent riders to fetch Zhicai; needles and drugs applied on the spot always worked at once, so Zhicai was often kept in attendance at the bedside. When autumn came Emperor Wucheng grew somewhat settled and no longer suffered flare-ups. He Shikai wished to advance in regular order. Because Zhicai's household register was attached to Yan province, which was his home jurisdiction, he memorialized that Zhicai be sent out as inspector there, with Hu Changren as left vice director and He Shikai as right vice director. In the tenth month the emperor's illness flared again. He told He Shikai, "I regret sending Zhicai out to a provincial post—it has made me suffer." On the eighth day of that month an edict went out by post relay to recall Zhicai. The emperor died on the tenth; Zhicai did not arrive until the eleventh. There was nothing left for him to do, and he returned to his provincial post. In office he committed no oppression or violence, but he was not well versed in law and was rather negligent and casual, appointing and dismissing as he pleased.
15
五年冬，後王徵之才。 尋左僕射闕，之才曰：「自可復禹之績。」 武平元年，重除尚書左僕射。 之才於和士開、陸令萱母子曲盡卑狎，二家苦疾，救護百端。 由是遷尚書令，封西陽郡王。 祖珽執政，除之才侍中、太子太師。 之才恨曰：「子野沙汰我。」 珽目疾，故以師曠比之。
In the winter of the fifth year the last ruler summoned Zhicai. Soon the left vice directorship fell vacant. Zhicai said, "Surely I can repeat Yu's achievement." In the first year of Wuping he was again appointed left vice director of the imperial secretariat. Toward He Shikai and Lu Lingxuan, mother and son, Zhicai was utterly obsequious and familiar; when the two households fell gravely ill he contrived a hundred ways to save them. On that account he was promoted to director of the imperial secretariat and enfeoffed as prince of Xiyang commandery. When Zu Ting held power he appointed Zhicai attendant-in-ordinary and grand tutor of the heir apparent. Zhicai said resentfully, "Ziye has winnowed me out." Ting suffered from an eye ailment, so Zhicai compared him to Music Master Kuang.
16
之才聰辨強識，有兼人之敏，尤好劇談謔語，公私言聚，多相嘲戲。 鄭道育常戲之才為師公。 之才曰：「旣為汝師，又為汝公，在三之義，頓居其兩。」 又嘲王昕姓云：「有言則訁王，近犬便狂，加頸足而為馬，施角尾而為羊。」 盧元明因戲之才云：「卿姓是未入人，名是字之誤，『之』當為『乏』也。」 卽答云：「卿姓在亡為虐，在丘為虛，生男則為虜，養馬則為驢。」 又嘗與朝士出遊，遙望群犬競走，諸人試令目之。 之才卽應聲云：「為是宋鵲，為是韓盧，為逐李斯東走，為負帝女南徂。」 李諧於廣坐，因稱其父名曰：「卿嗜熊白生否？」 之才曰：「平平耳。」 又曰：「卿此言於理平否？」 諧遽出避之，道逢其甥高德正。 德正曰：「舅顏色何不悅？」 諧告之故。 德正徑造坐席，連索熊白。 之才謂坐者曰：「箇人諱底？」 衆莫知。 之才曰：「生不為人所知，死不為人所諱，此何足問？」 唐邕、白建方貴，時人言云：「幷州赫赫唐與白。」 之才蔑之。 元日，對邕為諸令史祝曰：「見卿等位當作唐、白。」 又以小史好嚼筆，故嘗執管就元文遙口曰：「借君齒。」 其不遜如此。
Zhicai was clever in debate and had a strong memory, with more than ordinary quickness. He especially loved witty talk and raillery; at public and private gatherings people often mocked one another in sport. Zheng Daoyu often jested that Zhicai was "Master-and-Duke." Zhicai said, "Since I am your teacher and also your duke, among the Three Bonds I suddenly hold two of the roles." He also mocked Wang Xin's surname: "Add speech and you get the character wang; put it near a dog and it becomes 'mad'; add neck and legs and it is 'horse'; put on horns and a tail and it is 'sheep.'" Lu Yuanming jested with Zhicai, "Your surname is 'not yet entered among men'; your given name is a mistaken character—'zhi' should be 'fa' (lack)." He answered at once, "Your surname with 'death' added is 'tyrant'; on a mound it is 'void'; if you bear a son he is a 'captive'; if you raise a horse it is an 'ass.'" He also once went out with court gentlemen and from afar saw a pack of dogs racing. The others asked him to name them on sight. Zhicai answered at once, "Are they Song Que or Han Lu—or chasing Li Si eastward, or carrying the Emperor's Daughter south?" At a great gathering Li He invoked his father's name and said, "Do you like raw bear's paw?" Zhicai said, "So-so." He also said, "Is what you said logically fair?" He fled at once to avoid him. On the road he met his nephew Gao Dezheng. Dezheng said, "Uncle, why do you look displeased?" He told him the reason. Dezheng went straight to the gathering and repeatedly demanded bear's paw. Zhicai said to those seated, "Whose taboo is it?" No one knew. Zhicai said, "Alive he was unknown to others; dead he is not tabooed to others—why is that worth asking?" Tang Yong and Bai Jian were then in high favor; people said, "In Bingzhou, Tang and Bai blaze bright." Zhicai despised them. On New Year's Day, facing Yong, he said to the clerks in blessing, "May you gentlemen in rank become Tang and Bai." Because a junior clerk liked to chew his brush, he once held the tube to Yuan Wenyao's mouth and said, "Lend me your teeth." His insolence ran to such lengths.
17
歷事諸帝，以戲狎得寵。 武成生齻牙，問諸醫。 尚藥典御鄧宣文以實對，武成怒而撻之。 後以問之才，拜賀曰：「此是智牙，生智牙者聰明長壽。」 武成悅而賞之。 為僕射時，語人曰：「我在江東，見徐勉作僕射，朝士莫不佞之。 今我亦是徐僕射，無一人佞我，何由可活！」 之才妻魏廣陽王妹，之才從文襄求得為妻。 和士開知之，乃淫其妻。 之才遇見而避之，退曰：「妨少年戲笑。」 其寬縱如此。 年八十，卒。 贈司徒公、錄尚書事，諡曰文明。
Serving several emperors, he won favor through jesting familiarity. Emperor Wucheng had buck teeth and asked the physicians about them. Director of the imperial pharmacy Deng Xuanwen answered truthfully; Wucheng in anger had him flogged. Later he asked Zhicai, who bowed in congratulation and said, "These are wisdom teeth; one who grows wisdom teeth is clever and long-lived." Wucheng was pleased and rewarded him. When he was vice director he told people, "In the southeast I saw Xu Mian serve as vice director, and no court gentleman failed to flatter him. Now I too am Vice Director Xu—yet not one person flatters me. How am I to live!" Zhicai's wife was a sister of the prince of Guangyang of Wei; Zhicai had obtained her as wife through Gao Cheng. He Shikai learned of this and violated his wife. Zhicai happened upon them and avoided them. He withdrew and said, "I am hindering the young man's sport." His indulgence ran to such lengths. He died at the age of eighty. He was posthumously made duke of the state of Situ and recorder of affairs of the imperial secretariat, with the posthumous title Civil and Bright.
18
長子林，字少卿，太尉司馬。 次子同卿，太子庶子，之才以其無學術，每嘆云雲：「終恐同《廣陵散》矣。」
The eldest son Lin, style Shaoqing, was marshal of the grand commandant. The second son Tongqing was a household attendant of the heir apparent. Because Tongqing had no learning, Zhicai often sighed and said, "In the end I fear he will share the fate of the Guangling melody."
19
弟之範，亦醫術見知，位太常卿，特聽襲之才爵西陽王。 入周，授儀同大將軍。 開皇中卒。
His younger brother Zhifan was also known for medical skill. He reached minister of ceremonies and was specially permitted to inherit Zhicai's title as prince of Xiyang. After entering Zhou he was appointed general of the household with insignia equal to three offices. He died in the Kaihuang era.
20
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.