1
楊愔燕子獻宋欽道鄭頤
Yang Yin; Yan Zixian; Song Qindao; Zheng Yi
2
楊愔，字遵彥，小名秦王，弘農華陰人。 父津，魏時累為司空侍中。 愔兒童時，口若不能言，而風度深敏，出入門閭，未嘗戲弄。 六歲學史書，十一受《詩》、《易》，好《左氏春秋》。 幼喪母，曾詣舅源子恭，子恭與之飲，問讀何書，曰：「誦《詩》。」 子恭曰：「誦至《渭陽》未邪？」 愔便號泣感噎，子恭亦對之歔欷，遂為之罷酒。 子恭後謂津曰：「常謂秦王不甚察慧，從今已後，更欲刮目視之。」 愔一門四世同居，家甚隆盛，昆季就學者三十餘人。 學庭前有柰樹，實落地，群兒咸爭之，愔頹然獨坐。 其季父暐適入學館，見之大用嗟異，顧謂賓客曰：「此兒恬裕，有我家風。」 宅內有茂竹，遂為愔於林邊別葺一室，命獨處其中，常以銅盤具盛饌以飯之。 因以督厲諸子曰：「汝輩但如遵彥謹慎，自得竹林別室、銅盤重肉之食。」 愔從父兄黃門侍郎昱特相器重，曾謂人曰：「此兒駒齒未落，已是我家龍文。 更十歲後，當求之千里外。」 昱嘗與十餘人賦詩，愔一覽便誦，無所遺失。 及長，能清言，美音制，風神俊悟，容止可觀。 人士見之，莫不敬異，有識者多以遠大許之。
Yang Yin, styled Zunyin, childhood name Prince of Qin, was from Huayin in Hongnong. His father Jin had served Wei repeatedly as director of works and palace attendant. As a child Yin seemed barely able to speak, yet was deeply perceptive in manner; in and out of the household gates he never played about. At six he studied historical works; at eleven he took up the Odes and the Changes, and loved the Zuo Tradition of the Spring and Autumn Annals. He lost his mother young and once visited his maternal uncle Yuan Zigong; Zigong drank with him and asked what book he was reading. He said, "I am reciting the Odes." Zigong said, "Have you recited as far as 'On the Wei-yang'?" Yin at once wailed and choked with grief; Zigong wept in answer, and thereupon stopped the drinking. Later Zigong said to Jin, "I always said Prince of Qin was not very sharp; from now on I shall view him with new eyes." One household in Yin's clan lived together four generations; the family was very prosperous, and more than thirty brothers and cousins went to school. Before the school court stood a crabapple tree; when fruit fell to the ground the boys all scrambled for it, while Yin sat apart in calm. His uncle Wei happened to enter the school hall, saw it, and greatly marveled; turning to the guests he said, "This boy is tranquil and ample—he has our family's air. Within the residence were thick bamboos; he therefore built a separate room for Yin at the edge of the grove and ordered him to live there alone, regularly serving him a full meal in a bronze tray. He thereby urged and admonished the sons, saying, "You need only be as careful as Zunyin, and you will yourselves win a bamboo-grove chamber and bronze-tray feasts of heavy meat." Yin's cousin by the father's line, palace attendant Yu, especially valued him and once told others, "This boy's colt teeth have not yet fallen, yet already he is our family's dragon pattern. Ten years hence you will have to seek him a thousand li away." Yu once composed a poem with more than ten men; Yin read it once and recited it, missing nothing. When grown he could hold pure talk, had a fine voice, was spiritually handsome and quick of wit, and his bearing was worth watching. Gentlemen who met him all regarded him with respect and wonder; those with insight mostly promised him a far-reaching future.
3
正光中，隨父之幷州。 性旣恬默，又好山水，遂入晉陽西縣甕山讀書。 孝昌初，津為定州刺史，愔亦隨父之職。 以軍功除羽林監，賜爵魏昌男，不拜。 及中山為杜洛周陷，全家被囚縶。 未幾，洛周滅，又沒葛榮。 榮欲以女妻之，又逼以偽職。 愔乃託疾，密含牛血數合，於衆中吐之，仍佯喑不語。 榮以為信然，乃止。 永安初，還洛，拜通直散騎侍郎，時年十八。 元顥入洛，時愔從父兄侃為北中郎將，鎮河梁。 愔適至侃處，便屬乘輿失守，夜至河。 侃雖奉迎車駕北渡，而潛欲南奔，愔固諫止之。 遂相與扈從達建州。 除通直散騎常侍。 愔以世故未夷，志在潛退，乃謝病，與友人中直侍郎河間邢卲隱於嵩山。
In the Zhenguang era he followed his father to Bing province. His nature being tranquil and silent and also fond of mountains and rivers, he entered Weng Mountain in Jinyang West county to read books. At the beginning of Xiaochang, Jin became inspector of Dingzhou and Yin also followed his father to his post. For military merit he was made supervisor of the Feathered Forest, enfeoffed as Marquis of Weichang, and did not accept. When Zhongshan fell to Du Luozhou, the whole family was taken prisoner. Before long Luozhou was destroyed and they fell again to Ge Rong. Rong wished to marry his daughter to him and also pressed a false office on him. Yin then feigned illness, secretly held several he of ox blood in his mouth, spat it out in the crowd, and still pretended to be mute and speechless. Rong believed it real and thereupon stopped. At the beginning of Yong'an he returned to Luoyang and was appointed attendant gentleman of the unimpeded staff; he was then eighteen. When Yuan Hao entered Luoyang, Yin at the time had a cousin Kan serving as general of the north center, garrisoning He Bridge. Yin happened to reach Kan's post just as the imperial carriage lost its place; at night they came to the river. Though Kan received the carriage and escorted it north across the river, in secret he wished to flee south; Yin firmly remonstrated and stopped him. They thereupon together escorted the court as far as Jian province. He was made regular attendant gentleman of the unimpeded staff. Yin, because worldly troubles were not yet settled, wished to withdraw in seclusion; he therefore pleaded illness and with his friend Hejian Xing Shao, attendant gentleman of the central straight, hid on Mount Song.
4
及莊帝誅尒朱榮，其從兄侃參贊帷幄。 朝廷以其父津為幷州刺史、北道大行臺，愔隨之任。 有邯鄲人楊寬者，求義從出藩，愔請津納之。 俄而孝莊幽崩，愔時適欲還都，行達邯鄲，過楊寬家，為寬所執。 至相州，見刺史劉誕，以愔名家盛德，甚相哀念，付長史慕容白澤禁止焉。 遣隊主鞏榮貴防禁送都。 至安陽亭，愔謂榮貴曰：「僕家世忠臣，輸誠魏室，家亡國破，一至於此。 雖曰囚虜，復何面目見君父之讐仇！ 得自縊於一繩，傳首而去，君之惠也。」 榮貴深相憐感，遂與俱逃。 愔乃投高昂兄弟。
When Emperor Zhuang executed Erzhu Rong, his cousin Kan took part in planning within the curtains. The court made his father Jin inspector of Bingzhou and grand commissioner of the northern route; Yin followed him to his appointment. There was a Handan man named Yang Kuan who sought to follow in righteous service when Jin went out to his province; Yin asked Jin to take him in. Before long Emperor Xiaozhuang was imprisoned and died; Yin at the time was about to return to the capital, reached Handan on the road, passed Yang Kuan's house, and was seized by Kuan. Reaching Xiang province he saw inspector Liu Yan; because Yin was of a famous house and lofty virtue, Yan greatly pitied him and handed him to chief clerk Murong Baize to detain. He sent squad chief Gong Ronggui to guard and escort him to the capital. At Anyang Pavilion Yin said to Ronggui, "My house for generations has been loyal ministers, pouring sincerity into the Wei house; now family is destroyed and state broken—things have come to this. Though called a captive, what face have I to see our lord and father's mortal foes! If I may hang myself on one cord and send my head away, that will be your kindness." Ronggui deeply pitied and was moved, and thereupon fled with him together. Yin then threw himself on Gao Ao's brothers.
5
旣潛竄累載，屬神武至信都，遂投刺轅門。 便蒙引見，贊揚興運，陳訴家禍，言辭哀壯，涕泗橫集，神武為之改容。 即署行臺郎中。 大軍南攻鄴，歷楊寬村，寬於馬前叩頭請罪。 愔謂曰：「人不識恩義，蓋亦常理，我不恨卿，無遐驚怖。」 時鄴未下，神武命愔作祭天文，燎畢而城陷。 由是轉大行臺右丞。 于時霸圖草創，軍國務廣，文檄教令，皆自愔及崔㥄悛出。 遭離家難，以喪禮自居，所食唯鹽米而已，哀毀骨立。 神武愍之，恒相開慰。 及韓陵之戰，愔每陣先登，朋僚咸共怪嘆曰：「楊氏儒生，今遂為武士，仁者必勇，定非虛論。」
Having lurked in hiding for several years, when Gao Huan reached Xindu he thereupon presented his card at the camp gate. He was at once granted audience, praised the rising fortune, and stated his family's calamity; his words were mournful and strong, tears streamed across his face, and Gao Huan changed countenance for it. He was immediately appointed gentleman of the mobile staff. When the great army attacked Ye southward and passed Yang Kuan's village, Kuan knelt before the horse and begged forgiveness. Yin said to him, "Men not knowing grace and righteousness is also the ordinary rule; I bear you no hatred—have no distant terror." At the time Ye had not yet fallen; Gao Huan ordered Yin to compose the text for a sacrifice to Heaven; when the burning was done the city fell. Thereupon he was transferred to right aide of the grand mobile staff. At that time the hegemonic design was newly begun and military and state affairs were broad; proclamations, orders, and edicts all issued from Yin and Cui Xian. Having met family disaster, he took mourning ritual as his own rule; what he ate was only salt and rice, and in grief he wasted until only bone remained. Gao Huan pitied him and constantly comforted him. At the battle of Hanling, Yin each time took the van in the line; colleagues all marveled together and said, "The Yang clan's Confucian—now he has become a warrior; the benevolent must be brave—surely no empty saying."
6
頃之，表請解職還葬。 一門之內，贈太師、太傅、丞相、大將軍者二人，太尉、錄尚書及中書令者三人，僕射、尚書者五人，刺史、太守者二十餘人。 追榮之盛，古今未之有也。 及喪柩進發，吉凶儀衛亙二十餘里，會葬者將萬人。 是日隆冬盛寒，風雪嚴厚，愔跣步號哭，見者無不哀之。 尋徵赴晉陽，仍居本職。
Before long he memorialized asking to leave office and return for burial. Within one gate, two men had been posthumously given grand preceptor, grand tutor, chancellor, and grand general; three had been grand commandant, recorder of the masters of writing, and director of the secretariat; five had been vice directors and masters of writing; more than twenty had been inspectors and grand administrators. The glory of posthumous honors—never had there been such in past and present. When the coffin set out, auspicious and inauspicious guards and escorts stretched more than twenty li; those attending the burial were nearly ten thousand. That day was deep winter and bitter cold, wind and snow severe and thick; Yin walked barefoot wailing, and those who saw it were without exception moved to pity. Before long he was summoned to Jinyang and still held his former post.
7
愔從兄幼卿為岐州刺史，以直言忤旨見誅。 愔聞之悲懼，因哀感發疾，後取急就雁門溫湯療疾。 郭秀素害其能，因致書恐之曰：「高王欲送卿於帝所。」 仍勸其逃亡。 愔遂棄衣冠於水濱若自沉者，變易名姓，自稱劉士安，入嵩山，與沙門曇謨徵等居成削迹。 又潛之光州，因東入田橫島，以講誦為業。 海隅之士，謂之劉先生。 太守王元景陰佑之。
Yin's cousin Youqing was inspector of Qi province; for blunt words that offended the intent he was put to death. When Yin heard it he was grieved and afraid; grief and shock brought on illness, and later he took urgent leave to go to the hot springs at Yanmen to treat his illness. Guo Xiu by nature envied his ability and therefore sent a letter threatening him, saying, "The Prince of Qi wishes to send you to the Emperor's place." He also urged him to flee. Yin thereupon cast off hat and robes at the water's edge as though drowning himself, changed his name, called himself Liu Shi'an, entered Mount Song, and with the monk Tan Mo and others dwelt in seclusion, his traces cut away. He also lurked in Guang province and then went east into Tianheng Island, making lecturing and recitation his livelihood. Gentlemen of the sea's edge called him Master Liu. Grand administrator Wang Yuanjing secretly aided him.
8
神武知愔存，遣愔從兄寶猗賫書慰喻，仍遣光州刺史奚思業令搜訪，以禮發遣。 神武見之悅，除太原公開府司馬，轉長史，復授大行臺右丞，封華陰縣侯，遷給事黃門侍郎，妻以庶女。 又兼散騎常侍，為聘梁使主。 至碻磝戍，州內有愔家舊佛寺，入精廬禮拜，見太傅容像，悲感慟哭，嘔血數升，遂發病不成行，輿疾還鄴。 久之，以本官兼尚書吏部郎中。 武定末，以望實之美，超拜吏部尚書，加侍中、衛將軍，侍學典選如故。
Gao Huan knew Yin was alive, sent Yin's cousin Baoyi with a letter to comfort and instruct him, and still sent Guangzhou inspector Xi Siye to search him out and send him off with ritual. Gao Huan was pleased to see him, made him staff officer of the Prince of Taiyuan's establishment, transferred him to chief clerk, again gave him right aide of the grand mobile staff, enfeoffed him as Marquis of Huayin county, promoted him to attendant gentleman of the yellow gate, and gave him a concubine's daughter in marriage. He also concurrently served as regular attendant gentleman and was chief envoy on a mission of betrothal to Liang. Reaching Qiaoqiu garrison, within the prefecture was an old Buddhist temple of Yin's family; he entered the pure hall to bow in worship, saw the image of the grand tutor, was moved to grief and wailed, vomited several sheng of blood, and thereupon fell ill and could not travel; he was carried ill back to Ye. After a long while, in his former office he was made concurrently gentleman of the ministry of personnel in the masters of writing. At the end of Wuding, for the beauty of his reputation and substance he was promoted over others to director of the ministry of personnel, with concurrent palace attendant and guards general; he attended study and directed selection as before.
9
天保初，以本官領太子少傅，別封陽夏縣男。 又詔監太史，遷尚書右僕射。 尚太原長公主，即魏孝靜後也。 會有雉集其舍，又拜開府儀同三司、尚書左僕射，改封華山郡公。 九年，徙尚書令，又拜特進、驃騎大將軍。 十年，封開封王。 文宣之崩，百僚莫有下淚，愔悲不自勝。 濟南嗣業，任遇益隆，朝章國命，一人而已，推誠體道，時無異議。 乾明元年二月，為孝昭帝所誅，時年五十。 天統末，追贈司空。
At the beginning of Tianbao, in his former office he was made heir apparent junior tutor and separately enfeoffed as Baron of Yangxia county. An edict also ordered him to supervise the grand astrologer; he was moved to right vice director of the masters of writing. He married the Princess of Taiyuan, who was Empress Xiaojing of Wei. Once a pheasant alighted on his residence; he was again appointed commissioner with the same ceremonial as the three excellencies and left vice director of the masters of writing, and his enfeoffment was changed to Duke of Huashan commandery. In the ninth year he was moved to director of the masters of writing and again appointed special emissary and general of agile cavalry. In the tenth year he was enfeoffed as Prince of Kaifeng. When Gao Yang died, among the hundred officials none shed tears; Yin grieved beyond bearing. Jinan succeeded to the enterprise; his appointment and favor grew still greater; court regulations and state commands were his alone—he extended sincerity and embodied the Way, and for a time there was no dissenting voice. In the second month of the first year of Qianming he was executed by Emperor Xiaozhao; he was then fifty. At the end of Tiantong he was posthumously given director of works.
10
愔貴公子，早著聲譽，風表鑒裁，為朝野所稱。 家門遇禍，唯有二弟一妹及兄孫女數人，撫養孤幼，慈旨溫顏，咸出人表。 重義輕財，前後賜與，多散之親族，羣從弟侄十數人，並待而舉火。 頻遭迍厄，冒履艱危，一飧之惠，酬答必重，性命之讐，捨而不問。
Yin was a nobleman's son who early won reputation; his bearing, judgment, and discernment were praised by court and countryside alike. When his house met calamity, only two younger brothers, one younger sister, and several elder brother's granddaughters remained; he reared the orphaned young with kind intent and warm countenance, all beyond the common measure. He valued righteousness and held wealth light; gifts before and after he mostly scattered among kin; more than ten younger cousins and nephews all depended on him for their cooking fires. Repeatedly meeting adversity, he braved hardship and danger; a single meal's kindness he repaid heavily; a life-and-death foe he could set aside and not inquire after.
11
典選二十餘年，獎擢人倫，以為己任，然取士多以言貌，時致謗言，以為愔之用人，似貧士市瓜，取其大者。 愔聞，不屑焉。 其聰記強識，半面不忘。 每有所召問，或單稱姓，或單稱名，無有誤者。 後有選人魯漫漢，自言猥賤，獨不見識。 愔曰：「卿前在元子思坊，騎禿尾草驢，經見我不下，以方麴曲鄣面，我何不識卿？」 漫漢驚服。 又調之曰：「名以定體，漫漢果自不虛。」 又令吏唱人名，誤以盧士深為士琛，士琛自言，愔曰：「盧郎玉潤，所以從玉。」 自尚公主後，衣紫羅袍，金縷大帶。 遇李庶，頗以為恥，謂曰：「我此衣服，都是內裁，旣見子將，不能無愧。」
Directing selection for more than twenty years, he promoted human worth and took it as his own charge; yet in taking gentlemen he mostly relied on words and looks, and at times drew slander—people said Yin's employing of men was like a poor man buying melons, taking the big ones. When Yin heard it he disdained to heed it. His clever memory and strong retention—half a face once seen, never forgotten. Whenever he was summoned and questioned, whether only the surname or only the given name was spoken, there was never a mistake. Later there was a candidate Lu Manhan who said of himself that he was base and lowly and alone went unrecognized. Yin said, "You before, in Yuan Zisi's lane, rode a bald-tailed grass donkey; passing me you did not dismount; you screened your face with square-curled bread—how should I not know you?" Manhan was startled and submitted. He also teased him, saying, "The name fixes the substance—Manhan indeed is not empty." He also had a clerk call out men's names and by mistake called Lu Shishen Shichen; Shichen spoke up himself, and Yin said, "Master Lu, jade lustrous—therefore the jade radical. From nature it is so. After he married the princess he wore purple gauze robes and a great belt threaded with gold. When he met Li Shu he was ashamed and said, "These clothes were all cut in the inner palace; now that I have seen you, my general, I cannot help feeling shame."
12
及居端揆，權綜機衡，千端萬緒，神無滯用。 自天保五年已後，一人喪德，維持匡救，實有賴焉。 每天子臨軒，公卿拜授，施號發令，宣揚詔冊。 愔辭氣溫辯，神儀秀發，百僚觀聽，莫不悚動。 自居大位，門絕私交。 輕貨財，重仁義，前後賞賜，積累巨萬，散之九族，架篋之中，唯有書數千卷。 太保、平原王隆之與愔鄰宅，愔嘗見其門外有富胡數人，謂左右曰：「我門前幸無此物。」 性周密畏慎，恒若不足，每聞後命，愀然變色。
Once he stood at the head of government and held the levers of power, ten thousand matters came before him and his mind never lagged. From the fifth year of Tianbao onward, when the emperor lost his virtue, the realm's stability and repair truly depended on him. Whenever the emperor appeared at court for investitures and edicts, Yang Yin proclaimed the orders and read out the imperial writs. Yang Yin's diction was warm and fluent, his bearing brilliant; the officials who watched and listened were all stirred. From the time he rose to supreme power he shut his gate to private friendships. He valued righteousness over wealth; rewards that accumulated to vast sums he gave away among his clansmen, and in his cupboards he kept only several thousand books. Grand mentor Prince Longzhi of Pingyuan lived next to Yang Yin. Yin once saw several wealthy foreigners at Longzhi's gate and told his attendants, "Fortunately there is none of that at my gate. His nature was thorough and cautious, always as if he fell short; whenever he heard a fresh order his face fell.
13
文宣大漸，以常山、長廣二王位地親逼，深以後事為念。 愔與尚書左僕射平秦王歸彥、侍中燕子獻、黃門侍郎鄭子默受遺詔輔政，並以二王威望先重，咸有猜忌之心。 初在晉陽，以大行在殯，天子諒暗，議令常山王在東館，欲奏之事，皆先諮決。 二旬而止。 仍欲以常山王隨梓宮之鄴，留長廣王鎮晉陽。 執政復生疑貳，兩王又俱從至于鄴。 子獻立計，欲處太皇太后於北宮，政歸皇太后。 又自天保八年已來，爵賞多濫，至是，愔先自表解其開府封王，諸叨竊恩榮者皆從黜免。 由是嬖寵失職之徒，盡歸心二叔。 高歸彥初雖同德，後尋反動，以疏忌之跡盡告兩王。 可朱渾天和又每云：「若不誅二王，少主無自安之理。」 宋欽道面奏帝，稱二叔威權旣重，宜速去之。 帝不許曰：「可與令公共詳其事。」 愔等議出二王為刺史。 以帝仁慈，恐不可所奏，乃通啟皇太后，具述安危。 有宮人李昌儀者，北豫州刺史高仲密之妻，坐仲密事入宮，太后以昌儀宗情，甚相昵愛。 太後以啟示之，昌儀密啟太皇太后。 愔等又議不可令二王俱出，乃奏以長廣王為大司馬、幷州刺史，常山王為太師、錄尚書事。
As Emperor Wenxuan sank toward death, he worried deeply about the aftermath, for the princes of Changshan and Changgung stood too close in kinship and power. Yang Yin with left vice director Prince Guiyan of Pingqin, palace attendant Yan Zixian, and yellow gate vice director Zheng Zimo received the deathbed testament to govern as regents; because the two princes already carried such weight, all harbored suspicion. At first in Jinyang, while the late emperor lay in state and the young emperor mourned in seclusion, the regents proposed that the prince of Changshan stay at the eastern lodge and that all memorials pass through him first. This lasted twenty days and then ceased. They next wished the prince of Changshan to accompany the coffin to Ye and the prince of Changgung to hold Jinyang. The regents again grew divided and doubtful, and both princes followed on to Ye together. Zixian proposed housing the grand empress dowager in the northern palace so that power would rest with the empress dowager. Moreover, since the eighth year of Tianbao enfeoffments and rewards had run wild; now Yin was first to memorial requesting release from his privy chamber and royal title, and all who had improperly gained rank were stripped. Hence the displaced favorites all threw their loyalty to the two princes. Gao Guiyan had first shared their purpose, but soon turned against them and told the two princes everything the regents had done out of suspicion. Kezhuhun Tianhe also said repeatedly, "Unless the two princes are killed, the young emperor can never be secure. Song Qindao reported to the emperor in person that the two uncles' power was already too great and they should be removed at once. The emperor refused and said, "Take the matter up in full counsel with the director. Yang Yin and the others debated posting the two princes to provincial inspectorates. Fearing the benevolent emperor would not approve their memorial, they sent a private report to the empress dowager explaining the danger in full. A palace woman named Li Changyi, wife of North Yuzhou inspector Gao Zhongmi, had entered the palace because of her husband's case; the empress dowager, who was kin to Changyi, favored her greatly. The empress dowager showed her the report; Changyi secretly informed the grand empress dowager. The regents then decided the two princes must not both leave the capital and memorialized appointing the prince of Changgung grand marshal and Bingzhou inspector, and the prince of Changshan grand preceptor and recorder of the masters of writing.
14
及二王拜職，於尚書省大會百僚，愔等並將同赴。 子默止之，云：「事不可量，不可輕脫。」 愔云：「吾等至誠體國，豈有常山拜職，有不赴之理，何為忽有此慮？」 長廣旦伏家僮數十人於錄尚書後室，仍與席上勳貴數人相知。 並與諸勳胄約，行酒至愔等，我各勸雙杯，彼必致辭。 我一曰「捉酒」，二曰「捉酒，」三曰「何不捉，」爾輩即捉。 及宴如之。 愔大言曰：「諸王構逆，欲殺忠良邪？ 尊天子，削諸侯，赤心奉國，未應及此。」 常山王欲緩之，長廣王曰：「不可。」 於是愔及天和、欽道皆被拳杖亂毆擊，頭面血流，各十人持之。 使薛孤延、康買執子默於尚藥局。 子默曰：「不用智者言，以至於此，豈非命也！」
When the two princes were to take their offices the court planned a great assembly of officials at the Masters of Writing; Yang Yin and the others were all to attend. Zimo restrained them, saying, "The outcome cannot be foreseen; do not go unprepared. Yang Yin said, "We serve the state in utter loyalty. How could we fail to attend when the prince of Changshan takes office? Why this sudden fear? The prince of Changgung hid dozens of household slaves in the recorder's rear chamber and confided in several honored nobles at the banquet. He agreed with the meritorious young nobles: when wine reaches Yang Yin and the others, each of us urges a double cup—they are sure to decline. At my first cry of 'Seize them!' and second 'Seize them!' and third 'Why not seize them?'—you seize them at once. At the banquet all went as planned. Yang Yin cried out, "You princes plot treason—do you mean to kill loyal men? We honor the emperor, curtail the princes, and give our loyal hearts to the state—we should not come to this! The prince of Changshan wished to relent; the prince of Changgung said, "No. Thereupon Yang Yin, Tianhe, and Qindao were beaten with fists and clubs until blood ran from their heads and faces; ten men held each of them. They sent Xue Guyan and Kang Mai to seize Zimo at the imperial pharmacy bureau. Zimo said, "By not heeding the wise man's counsel we have come to this—is it not fate?"
15
二叔率高歸彥、賀拔仁、斛律金擁愔等唐突入雲龍門。 見都督叱利騷，招之不進，使騎殺之。 開府成休寧拒門，歸彥喻之，乃得入。 送愔等於御前。 長廣王及歸彥在朱華門外。 太皇太后臨昭陽殿，太后及帝側立。 常山王以磚叩頭，進而言曰：「臣與陛下骨肉相連。 楊遵彥等欲擅朝權，威福自己，王公以還，皆重足屏氣。 共相唇齒，以成亂階，若不早圖，必為宗社之害。 臣與湛等為國事重，賀拔仁、斛律金等惜獻皇帝基業，共執遵彥等領入宮，未敢刑戮，專輒之失，罪合萬死。」 帝時默然，領軍劉桃枝之徒陛衛，叩刀仰視，帝不睨之，太皇太后令卻仗，不肯。 又厲聲曰：「奴輩即今頭落。」 乃卻。 因問楊郎何在，賀拔仁曰：「一目已出。」 太皇太后愴然曰：「楊郎何所能，留使不好耶！」 乃讓帝曰：「此等懷逆，欲殺我二兒，次及我，爾何縱之？」 帝猶不能言。 太皇太后怒且悲，王公皆泣。 太皇太后曰：「豈可使我母子受漢老嫗斟酌。」 太后拜謝。 常山王叩頭不止。 太皇太后謂帝：「何不安尉爾叔？」 帝乃曰：「天子亦不敢與叔惜，豈敢惜此漢輩？ 但願乞兒性命，兒自下殿去，此等任叔父處分。」 遂皆斬之。 長廣王以子默昔讒己作詔書，故先拔其舌，截其手。 太皇太后臨愔喪，哭曰：「楊郎忠而獲罪。」 以御金為之一眼，親內之，曰：「以表我意。」 常山王亦悔殺之。 先是童謠曰：「白羊頭尾禿，羖屆歷頭生角。」 又曰：「羊羊喫野草，不吃野草遠我道，不遠打爾腦。」 又曰：「阿麼姑禍也，道人姑夫死也。」 羊為愔也，「角」文為用刀，「道人」謂廢帝小名，太原公主嘗作尼，故曰「阿麼姑」，愔子獻、天和皆帝姑夫云。 於是乃以天子之命下詔罪之，罪止一身，家口不問。 尋復簿錄五家，王晞固諫，乃各沒一房，孩幼兄弟皆除名。
The two princes led Gao Guiyan, Heba Ren, and Hulu Jin in hustling Yang Yin and the others through Cloud Dragon Gate. They saw commander Chilü Sao, summoned him, and when he would not advance they had horsemen cut him down. Cheng Xiuning, who held privy chamber rank, blocked the gate; Guiyan persuaded him, and they entered. They brought Yang Yin and the others before the emperor. The prince of Changgung and Guiyan waited outside Vermilion Flower Gate. The grand empress dowager presided in Zhaoyang Hall; the empress dowager and the emperor stood at her side. The prince of Changshan knocked his head on the brick floor and said, "Your servant and Your Majesty are bound in the same flesh. Yang Zunyan and his circle meant to monopolize court power and keep bounty in their own hands; from kings and dukes down everyone stood in dread. They were mouth and gum to one another and piled step on step toward chaos; unless checked early they would ruin the altars of state. Your servant and Zhan took the weight of state upon ourselves; Heba Ren and Hulu Jin cherished Gao Huan's foundation; we seized Zunyan and his fellows and brought them into the palace. We have not yet executed them; for our presumption we deserve ten thousand deaths. The emperor said nothing. Garrison-general Liu Taozhi and his guards stood on the stairs, hands on their blades, looking up at him; the emperor would not meet their eyes. The grand empress dowager ordered them to stand down; they refused. She shouted again, "Slaves—off with your heads this instant! Then they withdrew. She asked where Master Yang was; Heba Ren said, "One eye is already gone. The grand empress dowager said in grief, "What harm could Master Yang have done—was it not better to keep him! She reproached the emperor: "These men plotted rebellion; they meant to kill my two sons and next would reach me—why did you indulge them? The emperor still could not speak. The grand empress dowager was torn between anger and grief; the princes and dukes wept. The grand empress dowager said, "How can you let us mother and son be ruled by an old Han woman! The empress dowager bowed in apology. The prince of Changshan kept knocking his head on the floor. The grand empress dowager said to the emperor, "Why do you not comfort your uncle? The emperor then said, "Even the Son of Heaven dares not withhold them from his uncle—how much less these Han fellows? I beg only for my son's life; your son will leave the hall—dispose of this lot as you will. Thereupon all were beheaded. The prince of Changgung, because Zimo had once slandered him in an edict, first tore out his tongue and cut off his hands. The grand empress dowager attended Yang Yin's mourning and wept, "Master Yang was loyal yet was punished. She had an eye made of imperial gold and placed it in the coffin herself, saying, "This shows my heart. The prince of Changshan also regretted the killing. Earlier a children's rhyme had run, "The white sheep's head and tail are bare; the year of the ram brings horns on its brow. Another ran, "Sheep, sheep, graze the wild grass; leave the grass and you leave my road; stay near and I'll crack your skull. Another said, "Auntie brings ruin; the tonsured princess's husbands die. Sheep stood for Yin; the character for 'horn' splits into 'use' and 'knife'; 'Daoist' meant the deposed emperor's childhood name; the princess of Taiyuan had once been a nun, hence 'Auntie'; Zixian and Tianhe, both sons-in-law of the house, were tied to the rhyme. Thereupon an edict in the emperor's name condemned them, limiting guilt to the men themselves and exempting their households. Before long registers were drawn up against five families; Wang Xi protested firmly; in the end one branch of each house was confiscated and brothers and children were struck from the rolls.
16
遵彥死，仍以中書令趙彥深代總機務。 鴻臚少卿陽休之私謂人曰：「將涉千里，殺騏驥而策蹇驢，可悲之甚。」 愔所著詩賦表奏書訟甚多，誅後散失，門生鳩集所得者萬餘言。
After Zunyan's death, secretariat director Zhao Yanshen was put in charge of state affairs in his place. Palace reception vice director Yang Xiuzhi said privately, "One is about to cross a thousand li, yet kills the qilin and drives a lame donkey—how pitiful. Yang Yin left many poems, fu, memorials, and pleading documents; after his execution most were lost, but his disciples gathered more than ten thousand words of what survived.
17
可朱渾天和，道元之季弟也。 以道無勳重，尚東平公主。 累遷領軍大將軍、開府。 濟南王即位，加特進，改博陵公，與楊愔同被殺。
Kezhuhun Tianhe was the youngest brother of Daoyuan. Because his clan had little merit he was married to the princess of Dongping. He rose through posts to garrison-general, grand general, and privy chamber. When the prince of Jinan took the throne he was made special advance and duke of Boling, and was killed together with Yang Yin.
18
宋欽道，廣平人，魏吏部尚書弁孫也。 初為大將軍主簿，典書記。 後為黃門侍郎。 又令在東宮教太子習事。 時鄭子默以文學見知，亦備親寵。 欽道本文法吏，不甚諳識古今，凡有疑事，必詢於子默。 二人幸於兩宮，雖諸王貴臣莫不敬憚。 欽道又遷秘書監。 與楊愔同誅，贈吏部尚書、趙州刺史。
Song Qindao was from Guangping, grandson of Wei minister of personnel Song Bian. He began as chief clerk to the grand general, keeping the records. Later he became yellow gate vice director. He was also assigned to the eastern palace to instruct the crown prince in affairs of state. At that time Zheng Zimo was known for his learning and shared intimate favor at court. Qindao was by training a legal clerk, not deeply versed in history; whenever he was unsure he asked Zimo. Both were favorites of the two palaces; even princes and great ministers feared them. Qindao was later promoted to director of the secretariat library. He was executed with Yang Yin and posthumously made minister of personnel and inspector of Zhao.
19
鄭頤，字子默，彭城人。 高祖據，魏彭城守，自滎陽徙焉。 頤聰敏，頗涉文義。 初為太原公東閣祭酒，與宋欽道特相友愛，欽道每師事之。 楊愔始輕宋、鄭，不為之禮。 俄而自結人主，與參顧命。 欽道復舊與濟南款狎，共相引致，無所不言。 乾明初，拜散騎常侍。 二人權勢之重，與愔相埒。 愔見害之時，邢子才流涕曰：「楊令君雖其人，死日恨不得一佳伴。」 頤後與愔同詔追贈殿中尚書、廣州刺史。 頤弟抗，字子信，頗有文學。 武平末，兼左右郎中，待詔文林館。
Zheng Yi, style Zimo, was a man of Pengcheng. His distant ancestor Ju held Pengcheng for Wei and moved there from Xingyang. Yi was clever and well read in the literary tradition. He first served as eastern-pavilion libationer to the prince of Taiyuan and was especially close to Song Qindao, who treated him as his teacher. Yang Yin at first despised Song and Zheng and did not treat them with courtesy. Before long Zheng Yi bound himself to the ruler and joined the regency. Qindao renewed his old closeness with the prince of Jinan; they drew each other on and held nothing back. At the beginning of Qianming Zheng Yi was made attendant cavalier in regular attendance. The two men's authority weighed as heavily as Yin's. When Yin was killed, Xing Zicai wept and said, "Lord Yang was truly such a man — on the day of his death, how one wished he had a worthy companion at his side." Later, by the same edict as Yin, Yi was posthumously made palace secretary and inspector of Guangzhou. Yi's younger brother Kang, styled Zixin, was well versed in letters. At the end of Wuping he served concurrently as left and right langzhong, awaiting summons at the Forest of Literary Excellence.
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.