1
崔季舒祖珽
Cui Jishu; Zu Ting
2
崔季舒，字叔正，博陵安平人。 父瑜之，魏鴻臚卿。 季舒少孤，性明敏，涉獵經史，長於尺牘，有當世才具。 年十七，為州主簿，為大將軍趙郡公琛所器重，言之於神武。 神武親簡丞郎，補季舒大行臺都官郎中。
Cui Jishu, styled Shuzheng, came from Anping in Boling commandery. His father Yuzhi had been Wei chamberlain for dependent states. Orphaned young, Jishu was bright and quick, read widely in classics and histories, wrote excellent dispatches, and had real gifts for his time. At seventeen he served as provincial chief clerk. Grand General the Duke of Zhao commandery, Chen, favored him and recommended him to Gao Huan. Gao Huan personally screened chancellery and department officers and made Jishu lang in the mobile grand secretariat bureau of offices.
3
文襄輔政，轉大將軍中兵參軍，甚見親寵。 以魏帝左右，須置腹心，擢拜中書侍郎。 文襄為中書監，移門下機事總歸中書，又季舒善音樂，故內伎亦通隸焉，內伎屬中書。 自季舒始也。 文襄每進書魏帝，有所諫請，或文辭繁雜，季舒輒修飾通之，得申勸戒而已。 靜帝報答霸朝，恒與季舒論之，云：「崔中書是我妳母。」 轉黃門侍郎，領主衣都統。 雖迹在魏朝，而心歸霸府，密謀大計，皆得預聞。 於是賓客輻湊，傾心接禮，甚得名譽，勢傾崔暹。 暹嘗於朝堂屏人拜之曰：「暹若得僕射，皆叔父之恩。」 其權重如此。
When Gao Cheng assumed regency, Jishu was moved to staff officer in the grand general central troops bureau and won close favor. The Wei emperor needed trusted men at his side, so Jishu was promoted secretariat gentleman. Gao Cheng supervised the secretariat; secretariat-gate business was folded into it. Because Jishu knew music, inner palace performers also came under him—inner performers now belonged to the secretariat. That practice began with Jishu. Whenever Gao Cheng sent the Wei emperor memorials with remonstrance, Jishu would trim tangled wording so the counsel itself could pass. When Emperor Jing drafted replies to the hegemonic court, he always discussed them with Jishu and said, "Secretariat Gentleman Cui is our wet nurse." He was then made gentleman of the yellow gate and also oversaw the directorate of imperial wardrobe. Though he still walked the Wei court, his heart was with the hegemonic government, and he was let in early on major plans. Guests gathered in force; he met them with open courtesy, won wide renown, and his power eclipsed Cui Xian. Once at court Xian dismissed everyone else and bowed to him, saying, "If Xian wins vice director of the masters of writing, it will be entirely my uncle's favor." His weight in power was such.
4
時勳貴多不法，文襄無所縱捨，外議以季舒及崔暹等所為，甚被怨疾。 及文襄遇難，文宣將赴晉陽，黃門郎陽休之勸季舒從行，曰：「一日不朝，其間容刀。」 季舒性愛聲色，心在閑放，遂不請行，欲恣其行樂。 司馬子如緣宿憾，及尚食典御陳山提等共列其過狀，由是季舒及暹各鞭二百，徙北邊。
Many meritorious nobles then broke the law, and Gao Cheng would not spare them. Outsiders blamed Jishu, Cui Xian, and the rest, and hated them bitterly. When Gao Cheng was killed, Gao Yang was bound for Jinyang. Gentleman of the yellow gate Yang Xiuzhi urged Jishu to go with him, saying, "Miss one day at court and a blade may hide in the interval." Jishu loved music and women and wanted leisure, so he did not ask to go and meant to enjoy himself. Sima Ziru, holding an old grudge, joined Director of Palace Provisions Chen Shanti and others in listing his offenses. Jishu and Xian were each flogged two hundred strokes and exiled north.
5
天保初，文宣知其無罪，追為將作大匠，再遷侍中。 俄兼尚書左僕射、儀同三司，大被恩遇。 乾明初，楊愔以文宣遺旨，停其僕射。 遭母喪解任，起復，除光祿勳，兼中兵尚書。 出為齊州刺史，坐遣人渡淮互市，亦有贓賄事，為御史所劾，會赦不問。 武成居藩，曾病，文宣令季舒療病，備盡心力。 大寧初，追還，引入慰勉，累拜度支尚書、開府儀同三司。 營昭陽殿，敕令監造。 以判事式為胡長仁密言其短，出為西兗州刺史。 為進典籖於吏部，被責免官，又以詣廣寧王宅，決馬鞭數十。 及武成崩，不得預於哭泣。 久之，除膠州刺史，遷侍中、開府，食新安、河陰二郡幹。 加左光祿大夫，待詔文林館，監撰《御覽》。 加特進、監國史。 季舒素好圖籍，暮年轉更精勤，兼推薦人士，獎勸文學，時議翕然，遠近稱美。
Early in Tianbao, Gao Yang knew they were innocent and recalled Jishu as director of imperial works, then promoted him again to regular attendant. Soon he was also left vice director of the masters of writing and ceremonial peer of the three ranks, and was deeply favored. Early in Qianming, Yang Yin, acting on Gao Yang's final instruction, removed him from vice director. He left office for his mother mourning, then was recalled and made director of splendid happiness while also chief of the central troops bureau in the masters of writing. Sent out as governor of Qi, he was impeached for sending men across the Huai to trade and for bribery as well, but was pardoned and not pursued. When Gao Zhan held a princely fief he once fell ill; Gao Yang ordered Jishu to treat him, and Jishu spared no effort. Early in Daning he was recalled, comforted at court, and promoted in turn to director of revenue in the masters of writing and grand ceremonial peer with an opened government office. When the Zhaoyang Palace was raised, he was ordered to oversee construction. Hu Changren privately denounced his faults in a case-review form, and he was sent out as governor of Western Yanzhou. As advance registry clerk in the personnel directorate he was rebuked and dismissed; for visiting Prince of Guangning mansion he was also sentenced to several dozen horsewhip strokes. When Gao Zhan died he was not allowed to join the mourning rites. Long afterward he was made governor of Jiao, then regular attendant and grand ceremonial peer, drawing salary from Xin'an and Heyin commanderies. He was advanced to left grand master of splendid happiness, attended at the Wenslin Hall, and supervised compilation of the Imperial Overview. He was made special advancement and supervisor of the national history. Jishu had always loved books and grew keener in old age. He also recommended men and encouraged letters; opinion converged, and praise spread near and far.
6
祖珽受委，奏季舒總監內作。 珽被出，韓長鸞以為珽黨，亦欲出之。 屬車駕將適晉陽，季舒與張雕議：以為壽春被圍，大軍出拒，信使往還，須稟節度； 兼道路小人，或相驚恐，云大駕向幷，畏避南寇； 若不啟諫，必動人情。 遂與從駕文官連名進諫。 時貴臣趙彥深、唐邕、段孝言等初亦同心，臨時疑貳，季舒與爭未決。 長鸞遂奏云：「漢兒文官連名總署，聲云諫止向幷，其實未必不反，宜加誅戮。」 帝卽召已署表官人集含章殿，以季舒、張雕、劉逖、封孝琰、裴澤、郭遵等為首，並斬之殿庭，長鸞令棄其屍於漳水。 自外同署，將加鞭撻，趙彥深執諫獲免。 季舒等家屬男女徙北邊，妻女子婦配奚官，小男下蠶室，沒入貲產。
Zu Ting received a commission and memorialized that Jishu should oversee all inner construction. When Ting was sent out, Han Changluan treated him as Ting's man and wanted to send Jishu out too. As the emperor was about to go to Jinyang, Jishu and Zhang Diao argued that with Shouchun besieged and the main army out to resist, couriers would need headquarters orders; and petty men on the road might panic, saying the court was fleeing to Bing to avoid the southern enemy; if no remonstrance were submitted, the people's hearts would surely be shaken. They therefore joined the civil officials in the retinue in a joint signed remonstrance. Great ministers Zhao Yanshen, Tang Yong, and Duan Xiaoyan had first agreed, then wavered at the last moment; Jishu argued with them without resolution. Changluan then memorialized: "Han civil officials signed together, claiming to stop the move to Bing, but may in fact be disloyal—they should be executed." The emperor at once summoned every official who had signed to the Hange Hall. Jishu, Zhang Diao, Liu Ti, Feng Xiaoyan, Pei Ze, Guo Zun, and others were taken as ringleaders and beheaded in the courtyard; Changluan had their bodies thrown into the Zhang River. The rest who had signed were to be flogged too, but Zhao Yanshen seized the emperor sleeve in remonstrance and they were spared. The households of Jishu and the others, men and women, were sent north; wives, daughters, and daughters-in-law were assigned to tribal wardens, young sons to the silkworm chamber, and property was confiscated.
7
季舒大好醫術，天保中，於徙所無事，更銳意研精，遂為名手，多所全濟。 雖位望轉高，未曾懈怠，縱貧賤廝養，亦為之療。
Jishu loved medicine deeply. In Tianbao, idle in exile, he studied harder still and became a master who saved many lives. Though rank and reputation rose, he never slackened; he treated even poor servants.
8
庶子長君，尚書右外兵郎中。 次鏡玄，著作佐郎。 並流於遠惡。 未幾，季舒等六人妻以年老放出。 後南安王思好更稱朝廷罪惡，以季舒等見害為詞，悉召六人兄弟子侄隨軍趣晉陽。 事敗，長君等並從戮，六人妻又追入官。 周武帝滅齊，詔斛律光與季舒等六人同被優贈，季舒贈開府儀同大將軍、定州刺史云。
His secondary son Changjun was outer-lang in the right military affairs section of the masters of writing. Next came Jingxuan, assistant in the compositions office. Both were exiled to the far frontier. Before long the wives of the six, being old, were released. Later Prince of Nanan Sihao again denounced the court crimes, citing the killing of Jishu and the others, and summoned the six men brothers and nephews to follow his army toward Jinyang. When the affair failed, Changjun and the rest were executed with him, and the six wives were taken back into palace service. When Emperor Wu of Zhou destroyed Qi, an edict granted posthumous honors to Hulü Guang and the six including Jishu; Jishu was made posthumous grand ceremonial peer, general-in-chief opening a government office, and governor of Ding.
9
祖珽，字孝征，范陽狄遒人也。 父瑩，魏護軍將軍。 珽神情機警，詞藻遒逸，少馳令譽，為世所推。 起家秘書郎，對策高第，為尚書儀曹郎中，典儀注。 嘗為冀州刺史万俟受洛制《清德頌》，其文典麗，由是神武聞之。 時文宣為幷州刺史，署珽開府倉曹參軍。 神武口授珽三十六事，出而疏之，一無遺失，大為僚類所賞。 時神武送魏蘭陵公主出塞嫁蠕蠕，魏收賦《出塞》及《公主遠嫁詩》二首，珽皆和之，大為時人傳詠。
Zu Ting, styled Xiaozheng, came from Di Dao in Fanyang. His father Ying was Wei defender-general. Ting was quick-witted and alert, his phrasing forceful and fluent; from youth he won fame and the age praised him. He began as secretariat lang, ranked high in the policy examination, and became lang in the ritual protocols section of the masters of writing, in charge of ceremonial regulations. Once he wrote the "Eulogy of Pure Virtue" for Ji governor Wanqi Shouluo; the text was elegant, and Gao Huan heard of him. At that time Gao Yang was governor of Bing and appointed Ting army-camp staff officer with an opened government office. Gao Huan dictated thirty-six items to Ting; Ting wrote them into a memorial without losing one, and colleagues admired him greatly. Then Gao Huan was sending Princess Lanling of Wei beyond the frontier to marry the Rouran. Wei Shou wrote "Crossing the Frontier" and "The Princess Far Marriage"; Ting harmonized with both, and the age chanted them widely.
10
珽性疏率，不能廉慎守道。 倉曹雖云州局，乃受山東課輸，由此大有受納，豐於財產。 又自解彈琵琶，能為新曲，招城市年少歌舞為娛，遊集諸倡家。 與陳元康、穆子容、任胄、元士亮等為聲色之遊。 諸人嘗就珽宿，出山東大文綾幷連珠孔雀羅等百餘疋，令諸嫗擲樗蒲賭之，以為戲樂。 參軍元景獻，故尚書令元世雋子也，其妻司馬慶雲女，是魏孝靜帝姑博陵長公主所生。 珽忽迎景獻妻赴席，與諸人遞寢，亦以貨物所致。 其豪縱淫逸如此。 常云：「丈夫一生不負身。」 已文宣罷州，珽例應隨府，規為倉局之間，致請於陳元康，元康為白，由是還任倉曹。 珽又委體附參軍事攝典簽陸子先，並為畫計，請糧之際，令子先宣教，出倉粟十車，為僚官捉送。 神武親問之，珽自言不受署，歸罪子先，神武信而釋之。 珽出而言曰：「此丞相天緣明鑒，然實孝徵所為。」 性不羈放縱，曾至膠州刺史司馬世雲家飲酒，遂藏銅疊二面。 廚人請搜諸客，果於珽懷中得之，見者以為深恥。 所乘老馬，常稱騮駒。 又與寡婦王氏姦通，每人前相聞往復。 裴讓之與珽早狎，於衆中嘲珽曰：「卿那得如此詭異，老馬十歲，猶號騮駒； 一妻耳順，尚稱娘子。」 于時喧然傳之。 後為神武中外府功曹，神武宴僚屬，於坐失金叵羅，竇泰令飲酒者皆脫帽，於珽髻上得之，神武不能罪也。 後為秘書丞，領舍人，事文襄。 州客至，請賣《華林遍略》。 文襄多集書人，一日一夜寫畢，退其本曰：「不須也。」 珽以《遍略》數帙質錢樗蒲，文襄杖之四十。 又與令史李雙、倉督成祖等作晉州啟，請粟三千石，代功曹參軍趙彥深宣神武教，給城局參軍事過典簽高景略，疑其定不實，密以問彥深，彥深答都無此事，遂被推檢，珽卽引伏。 神武大怒，決鞭二百，配甲坊，加鉗，其穀倍徵。 未及科，會幷州定國寺新成，神武謂陳元康、溫子升曰：「昔作《芒山寺碑》文，時稱妙絕，今《定國寺碑》當使誰作詞也？」 元康因薦珽才學，並解鮮卑語。 乃給筆札就禁所具草。 二日內成，其文甚麗。 神武以其工而且速，特恕不問，然猶免官，散參相府。 文襄嗣事，以為功曹參軍。 及文襄遇害，元康被傷創重，倩珽作書屬家累事，幷云：「祖喜邊有少許物，宜早索取。」 珽乃不通此書，喚祖喜私問，得金二十五鋌，唯與喜二鋌，餘盡自入己。 又盜元康家書數千卷。 祖喜懷恨，遂告元康二弟叔諶、季璩等。 叔諶以語楊愔，愔嚬眉答曰：「恐不益亡者。」 因此得停。 文宣作相，珽擬補令史十餘人，皆有受納，據法處絞，上尋捨之。 又盜官《遍略》一部。 事發，文宣付從事中郎王土雅推檢，並書與平陽公淹，令錄珽付禁，勿令越逸。 淹遣田曹參軍孫子寬往喚，珽受命，便爾私逃。 黃門郎高德正副留臺事，謀云：「珽自知有犯，驚竄是常，但宣一命向秘書，稱『奉幷州約束頒《五經》三部，仰丞親檢校催遣』，如此則珽意安，夜當還宅，然後掩取。」 珽果如德正圖，遂還宅。 薄晚，就家掩之，縛珽送廷尉。 據犯枉法處絞刑。 文宣以珽伏事先世，諷所司命特寬其罰，遂奏免死除名。 天保元年，復被召從駕，依除免例，參於晉陽。
Ting was careless by nature and could not keep office with integrity and caution. Though the army-camp post was called a provincial bureau, he took levies from east of the mountains, accepted bribes in quantity, and grew very rich. He could play pipa and compose new tunes, gathered city youths to sing and dance for pleasure, and haunted singing-houses. With Chen Yuankang, Mu Zirong, Ren Zhou, Yuan Shiliang, and others he pursued music and women. When they once lodged with him, he brought out east-of-the-mountains damask and linked-pearl peacock gauze, more than a hundred bolts, and had the women gamble at dice for sport. Staff officer Yuan Jingxian was son of former Minister over the Masses Yuan Shijun; his wife was daughter of Sima Qingyun, child of Emperor Jing aunt, the great Princess of Boling. Ting suddenly brought Jingxian wife to the feast and passed her among the company in turn—again for gain. His license was such. He often said, "A man lives once and must not betray his body." After Gao Yang left the province Ting should have followed headquarters, but schemed for the grain-store post through Chen Yuankang, who spoke for him, and he returned to army-camp duty. Ting also attached himself to chief registry clerk Lu Zixian, acting military staff officer, and they plotted together; when grain was requested Zixian proclaimed the order, ten cartloads were issued, and colleagues seized them for trial. Gao Huan questioned him in person. Ting said he had no commission and blamed Zixian; Gao Huan believed him and released him. Coming out he said, "The chancellor heaven-sent clarity sees through—but in truth Xiaozheng did it." Unrestrained by nature, he once drank at Jiao governor Sima Shiyun home and hid two bronze mirrors. The cook asked to search the guests; they were found in Ting bosom, and onlookers thought it deep shame. The old horse he rode he always called a piebald colt. He also lay with the widow Wang, exchanging messages openly before others. Pei Rangzhi, long intimate with him, mocked him before the crowd: "How can you be so strange—a ten-year horse still called a piebald colt; a sixty-year wife still called Mistress." The crowd roared and the story spread. Later he was merit officer in Gao Huan inner and outer government office. At a feast Gao Huan lost a gold bowl; Dou Tai made every drinker remove his cap—it was found in Ting's hair; Gao Huan could not punish him. Later he was secretariat assistant, leading gentlemen-in-attendance, serving Gao Cheng. A provincial visitor came offering to sell the Forest Compendium. Gao Cheng gathered copyists and finished a copy in one day and one night, then returned the original, saying, "Not needed." Ting pledged several volumes of the Compendium for dice gambling; Gao Cheng had him flogged forty strokes. Again with clerk Li Shuang, granary overseer Cheng Zu, and others he drafted a Jinzhou memorial for three thousand shi of grain; standing in for merit officer Zhao Yanshen he proclaimed Gao Huan order to garrison merit officer and passing registry clerk Gao Jinglue. Jinglue doubted the amount, secretly asked Yanshen, and Yanshen said there was no such order. Investigation followed, and Ting confessed at once. Gao Huan was furious: two hundred strokes, assignment to the armor ward, irons added, and the grain levied at double. Before the levy was collected, the new Dingguo Temple in Bingzhou was finished. Gao Huan said to Chen Yuankang and Wen Zisheng, "The Mangshan Temple stele was called peerless—who should write the Dingguo Temple stele now? Yuankang recommended Ting learning and said he also understood Xianbei. Brush and paper were sent, and he drafted it in confinement. He finished in two days; the text was very fine. Gao Huan, impressed by his skill and speed, especially pardoned him, though he still removed him from office to serve scattered in the chancellor office. When Gao Cheng took up the succession he made him army-camp merit officer. When Gao Cheng was killed Yuankang wounds were grave; he had Ting write a letter entrusting family matters, and also said, "Zu Xi at the border has a little property—take it soon." Ting did not deliver the letter but summoned Zu Xi privately; he got twenty-five ingots of gold, gave Xi only two, and kept the rest. He also stole several thousand scrolls from Yuankang's house. Zu Xi nursed a grudge and told Yuan Kang's younger brothers Shu Chen and Ji Ji, among others. Shu Chen told Yang Yin. Yin knit his brow and said, "I doubt that will help the dead." On that account the matter was dropped. When Wenxuan was regent, Ting proposed more than ten clerk appointments, every one of them bought. By law they merited strangulation, but in the end the sovereign let them off. He also stole an office copy of the Comprehensive Digest. When the theft came to light, Wenxuan put Attendant of the Masters of Writing Wang Tuya in charge of the inquiry and wrote Prince of Pingyang Yan as well, telling him to take Ting into custody and allow no escape. Yan sent field officer Sun Zikuan to fetch him. Ting answered the summons, then slipped away the same night. Yellow gate gentleman Gao Dezheng was deputy for affairs at the secondary capital. They plotted: "Ting knows he is guilty and will bolt—that is only natural. But issue an order to the secretariat, saying, 'By Bingzhou's command, distribute three sets of the Five Classics; the deputy director is to inspect and hurry delivery in person.' Then Ting will feel safe, come home at night, and we can take him." Ting did exactly as Dezheng had planned and went home. Near dusk they raided his house, bound him, and sent him to the minister of justice. By the charges, his illegal acts called for strangulation. Wenxuan, because Ting had served the house in earlier reigns, hinted that the office should show special leniency. The memorial asked to spare his life and strike his name from the rolls. In Tianbao's first year he was summoned again to follow the carriage. Under the usual rule for men struck from office, he took part at Jinyang.
11
珽天性聰明，事無難學，凡諸伎藝，莫不措懷，文章之外，又善音律，解四夷語及陰陽占侯，醫藥之術尤是所長。 文宣帝雖嫌其數犯憲，而愛其才伎，令直中書省，掌詔誥。 珽通密狀，列中書侍郎陸元規，敕令裴英推問，元規以應對忤旨，被配甲坊。 除珽尚藥丞，尋遷典禦。 又奏造胡桃油，復為割藏免官。 文宣每見之，常呼為賊。 文宣崩，普選勞舊，除為寧武太守。 會楊愔等誅，不之官，授著作郎。 數上密啟，為孝昭所忿，勑中書門下二省斷珽奏事。
Ting was clever by nature; nothing was hard for him to learn. Of every craft and art he took hold; beyond letters he knew music, the tongues of the four quarters, and yin-yang divination—and medicine above all was what he did best. Emperor Wenxuan disliked how often Ting broke the law, yet loved his talents and kept him in the secretariat drafting edicts. Ting sent a secret denunciation of secretariat attendant Lu Yuangui. An edict ordered Pei Ying to question him. Yuangui's answers offended the throne and he was sent to the works compound. Ting was made superintendent of medicines and soon promoted to director of the imperial pharmacy. He also memorialized to supply walnut oil and again lost his post for skimming the storehouses. Whenever Wenxuan saw him he called him "thief." When Wenxuan died, in the general selection of old servants he was made administrator of Ningwu. Yang Yin and the others were executed just then; he never took up the post and was made a compiler in the writings office. He sent secret memorials again and again until Emperor Xiaozhao grew furious. An edict barred the secretariat and masters of writing from accepting his papers.
12
珽善為胡桃油以塗畫，乃進之長廣王，因言「殿下有非常骨法，孝徵夢殿下乘龍上天」。 王謂曰：「若然，當使兄大富貴。」 及卽位，是為武成皇帝，擢拜中書侍郎。 帝於後園使珽彈琵琶，和士開胡舞，各賞物百段。 士開忌之，出為安德太守，轉齊郡太守，以母老乞還侍養，詔許之。 會江南使人來聘，為中勞使。 尋為太常少卿、散騎常侍、假儀同三司，掌詔誥。 初，珽於乾明、皇建之時，知武成陰有大誌，遂深自結納，曲相祗奉。 武成於天保世頻被責，心常銜之。 珽至是希旨，上書請追尊太祖獻武皇帝為神武，高祖文宣皇帝改為威宗景烈皇帝，以悅武成，從之。
Ting knew how to make walnut oil for painting and offered it to the Prince of Changgang, saying, "Your Highness has the bones of an uncommon man. Xiao Zheng dreamed you rode a dragon into heaven." The prince said, "If that is so, my elder brother should grow very rich indeed." When he took the throne as Emperor Wucheng, he promoted Ting to secretariat attendant. In the rear garden the emperor had Ting play the pipa while He Shikai danced the Hu step. Each man received a hundred bolts of goods. Shikai envied him and sent him out as administrator of Ande, then moved him to Qi commandery. His mother was old; he begged to return and tend her, and the edict allowed it. When envoys came from the south on a courtesy mission, he was made commissioner for receiving them. Soon he was vice director of the imperial ancestral temple, regular attendant of the scattered cavalry, and acting three excellencies of honor, drafting edicts. Early in the Qianming and Huangjian reigns Ting saw that Wucheng nursed great designs in secret and bound himself to him, flattering him at every turn. In the Tianbao years Wucheng had been blamed again and again and carried the grudge in his heart. Ting now played to the throne and memorialized to posthumously honor Gao Huan as Emperor Shenwu and change High Ancestor Wenxuan's temple style to Weizong Jinglie Emperor. Wucheng was pleased and assented.
13
時皇后愛少子東平王儼，願以為嗣，武成以後主體正居長，難於移易。 珽私於士開曰：「君之寵幸，振古無二，宮車一日晚駕，欲何以克終？」 士開因求策焉。 珽曰：「宜說主上，云襄、宣、昭帝子俱不得立，今宜命皇太子早踐大位，以定君臣。 若事成，中宮少主皆德君，此萬全計也。 君此且微說，令主上粗解，珽當自外上表論之。」 士開許諾。 因有彗星出，太史奏云除舊布新之徵。 珽於是上書，言：「陛下雖為天子，未是極貴。 按《春秋元命苞》云：『乙酉之歲，除舊革政。』 今年太歲乙酉，宜傳位東宮，令君臣之分早定，且以上應天道。」 並上魏獻文禪子故事。 帝從之。 由是拜秘書監，加儀同三司，大被親寵。
The empress then doted on her younger son, Prince Dongping Yan, and wanted him for heir. Wucheng, because the Later Sovereign stood first in proper order, found the succession hard to move. Ting said privately to He Shikai, "Your favor has no match in all antiquity. When the carriage halts one evening, how will you finish your days?" Shikai thereupon asked him for a plan. Ting said, "Persuade the sovereign that the sons of Emperor Xiang, Emperor Xuan, and Emperor Zhao could none of them take the throne. Now the crown prince should ascend early and fix ruler and minister in their places. If it succeeds, empress and young sovereign alike will owe you their fortune—a plan without a crack in it. You hint a little for now until he roughly understands. I will argue it from outside in a memorial." He Shikai agreed. Then a comet appeared. The grand astrologer reported it as an omen to remove the old and spread the new. Ting then memorialized: "Though Your Majesty is Son of Heaven, you are not yet at the summit of honor. The Spring and Autumn Yuanming Bao says, 'In the yiyou year, remove the old and reform the government.' This year's Grand Year is yiyou. The Eastern Palace should receive the succession so ruler and minister are fixed early—and so answer Heaven above." He also cited Wei Emperor Xianwen's abdication to his son. The emperor followed his advice. He was made director of the secretariat and acting three excellencies of honor and grew greatly in favor.
14
旣見重二宮，遂志於宰相。 先與黃門侍郎劉逖友善，乃疏侍中尚書令趙彥深、侍中左僕射元文遙、侍中和士開罪狀，令逖奏之。 逖懼不敢通，其事頗泄，彥深等先詣帝自陳。 帝大怒，執珽詰曰：「何故毀我士開？」 珽因厲聲曰：「臣由士開得進，本無欲毀之意，陛下今旣問臣，臣不敢不以實對。 士開、文遙、彥深等專弄威權，控制朝廷，與吏部尚書尉瑾內外交通，共為表裏，賣官鬻獄，政以賄成，天下歌謠。 若為有識所知，安可聞於四裔！ 陛下不以為意，臣恐大齊之業隳矣。」 帝曰：「爾乃誹謗我！」 珽曰：「不敢誹謗，陛下取人女。」 帝曰：「我以其儉餓，故收養之。」 珽曰：「何不開倉賑給，乃買取將入後宮乎？」 帝益怒，以刀環築口，鞭杖亂下，將撲殺之。 大呼曰：「不殺臣，陛下得名，殺臣，臣得名。 若欲得名，莫殺臣，為陛下合金丹。」 遂少獲寬放。 珽又曰：「陛下有一范增不能用，知可如何？」 帝又怒曰：「爾自作范增，以我為項羽邪！」 珽曰：「項羽人身亦何由可及，但天命不至耳。 項羽布衣，率烏合衆，五年而成霸王業。 陛下藉父兄資，財得至此，臣以項羽未易可輕。 臣何止方於范增，縱張良亦不能及。 張良身傅太子，猶因四皓，方定漢嗣。 臣位非輔弼，疏外之人，竭力盡忠，勸陛下禪位，使陛下尊為太上，子居宸扆，於己及子，俱保休祚。 蕞爾張良，何足可數。」 帝愈恚，令以土塞其口，珽且吐且言，無所屈撓。 乃鞭二百，配甲坊，尋徙於光州。 刺史李祖勳遇之甚厚。 別駕張奉禮希大臣意，上言：「珽雖為流囚，常與刺史對坐。」 勑報曰：「牢掌。」 奉禮曰：「牢者，地牢也。」 乃為深坑，置諸內，苦加防禁，桎梏不離其身，家人親戚不得臨視。 夜中以蕪菁子燭熏眼，因此失明。
Once both palaces valued him, he set his heart on the chancellorship. He had been friendly with secretariat attendant Liu Ti. He now memorialized the crimes of attendant-in-ordinary and director of the masters of writing Zhao Yanshen, attendant-in-ordinary and left vice director Yuan Wenyao, and attendant-in-ordinary He Shikai, and told Ti to present it. Ti was afraid and did not dare forward it. Word leaked. Yanshen and the others went first to the emperor and confessed. The emperor flew into a rage, seized Ting, and demanded, "Why do you ruin my Shikai?" Ting answered in a harsh voice, "I rose through Shikai and never meant to ruin him. Since Your Majesty asks, I dare not answer except with the truth. Shikai, Wenyao, Yanshen, and the rest twist power and run the court. With director of the ministry of personnel Wei Jin they traffic inside and out, outer shell and inner hand, selling offices and peddling verdicts until government is bought with bribes—the realm sings of it. If men with eyes knew this, how could it reach the four quarters and stand? Your Majesty pays no heed. I fear the great enterprise of Qi is being ruined." The emperor said, "You are slandering me!" Ting said, "I do not slander. Your Majesty took a man's daughter." The emperor said, "I took her because she was poor and starving and I adopted her." Ting said, "Why not open the granaries and give relief, instead of buying her into the rear palace?" The emperor grew angrier still, struck his mouth with the knife ring, and blows from cane and club rained down until they were ready to beat him dead. He shouted, "If you do not kill me, Your Majesty wins a name. Kill me, and I win a name. If you want a name, do not kill me—I will compound golden elixir for Your Majesty." On that he was spared, a little. Ting also said, "Your Majesty has a Fan Zeng you will not use—what does that tell you?" The emperor raged again. "You make yourself Fan Zeng and call me Xiang Yu!" Ting said, "Xiang Yu as a man—who could match him? Only Heaven's mandate never came. Xiang Yu in plain cloth led a rabble army and in five years built a hegemon's realm. Your Majesty, on your father's and brother's capital, reached only this. I say Xiang Yu is not to be despised lightly. I am not merely Fan Zeng's equal—even Zhang Liang falls short of me. Zhang Liang attended the heir in person, yet still needed the Four Whiteheads of Shang Mountain to settle Han's succession. I am no chief minister, only an outsider, yet I spend myself in loyalty, urging Your Majesty to abdicate so you stand honored as grand emperor and your son holds the hinge—for you and your son alike, fortune preserved. That scrap of a Zhang Liang—what is he worth counting!" The emperor grew still more furious and ordered earth stuffed into his mouth. Ting spat and spoke on, never bending. They flogged him two hundred strokes and sent him to the works compound; soon he was moved to Guang province. Inspector Li Zuxun treated him very generously. Vice director Zhang Fengli, courting the great ministers, memorialized, "Though Ting is a banished man, he constantly sits facing the inspector as an equal." The edict answered, "Put him in a cell." Fengli said, "'Cell' means a pit in the earth." They dug a deep pit and put him in it, tightened every guard, and fetters never left his body. Kin were forbidden to visit. At night they burned turnip-seed candles to smoke his eyes, and he went blind.
15
武成崩，後主憶之，就除海州刺史。 是時陸令萱外干朝政，其子穆提婆愛幸。 珽乃遺陸媼弟悉達書曰：「趙彥深心腹深沈，欲行伊、霍事，儀同姊弟豈得平安，何不早用智士耶？」 和士開亦以珽能決大事，欲以為謀主，故棄除舊怨，虛心待之。 與陸媼言於帝曰：「襄、宣、昭三帝，其子皆不得立，今至尊猶在帝位者，實由祖孝徵。 此人有大功，宜報重恩。 孝徵心行雖薄，奇略出人，緩急真可憑仗。 且其雙盲，必無反意，請喚取問其謀計。」 從之，入為銀青光祿大夫、秘書監，加開府儀同三司。 和士開死後，仍說陸媼出彥深，以珽為侍中。 在晉陽，通密啟請誅琅邪王。 其計旣行，漸被任遇。
When Wucheng died, the Later Sovereign remembered him and at once made him inspector of Hai province. Lu Lingxuan then meddled in court affairs from outside, and her son Mu Tipo stood in favor. Ting sent a letter to Dame Lu's younger brother Sida: "Zhao Yanshen's heart runs deep and hidden. He means to play Yi Yin and Huo Guang—the lady's brother and sister, how will they stay safe? Why not take a clever man into counsel early?" He Shikai too, because Ting could decide great affairs, wanted him for chief strategist, set aside old grudges, and received him with an open heart. With Dame Lu he told the emperor, "Of Emperors Xiang, Xuan, and Zhao, not one son could take the throne. That the Present Sovereign still sits there is truly Ancestor Xiao Zheng's doing. The man has great merit and should be repaid in full. Xiao Zheng's heart is thin, but his stratagems surpass other men; in urgency he may truly be trusted. And he is blind in both eyes—surely he has no thought of rebellion. Summon him and ask his counsel." The emperor agreed. Ting entered as silver-green grand master of the palace, director of the secretariat, and acting grand three excellencies of honor. After He Shikai died he again urged Dame Lu to remove Yanshen and made Ting attendant-in-ordinary. At Jinyang he sent a secret memorial asking to execute the Prince of Langya. Once the plan succeeded, favor on him grew step by step.
16
又太后之被幽也，珽欲以陸媼為太后，撰魏帝皇太后故事，為太姬言之。 謂人曰：「太姬雖云婦人，實是雄傑，女媧已來無有也。」 太姬亦稱珽為國師、國寶。 由是拜尚書左僕射，監國史，加特進，入文林館，總監撰書，封燕郡公，食太原郡幹，給兵七十人。 所住宅在義井坊，旁拓鄰居，大事修築，陸媼自往案行。 勢傾朝野。 斛律光甚惡之，遙見竊罵云：「多事乞索小人，欲行何計數！」 常謂諸將云：「邊境消息，處分兵馬，趙令嘗與吾等參論之。 盲人掌機密來，全不共我輩語，止恐誤他國家事。」 又珽頗聞其言，因其女皇後無寵，以謠言聞上曰：「百升飛上天，明月照長安。」 令其妻兄鄭道蓋奏之。 帝問珽，珽證實。 又說謠云：「高山崩，槲樹舉，盲老翁背上下大斧，多事老母不得語。」 珽幷云「盲老翁是臣」，云與國同憂戚，勸上行，語「其多事老母，似道女侍中陸氏」。 帝以問韓長鸞、穆提婆，幷令高元海、段士良密議之，衆人未從。 因光府參軍封士讓啟告光反，遂滅其族。
When the empress dowager was confined, Ting wished to make Dame Lu empress dowager. He compiled Wei precedents on the emperor's mother and empress dowager and laid them before the Grand Dame. He told others, "Though the Grand Dame is called a woman, she is a hero in truth—since Nüwa there has been no one like her." The Grand Dame in turn called Ting State Teacher and National Treasure. He was made left vice director of the masters of writing, supervised the national history, given special advancement, entered the Forest of Literature to oversee compilation, enfeoffed as duke of Yan commandery, drew dry grain from Taiyuan commandery, and was given seventy soldiers. His house stood in Yijing Ward. He bought out neighbors and undertook great building; Dame Lu herself went to inspect the work. His power bent court and countryside. Hulü Guang hated him deeply. Seeing him from afar he would mutter, "Busy beggarly little man—what scheme is he running now!" He often told the generals, "Border news and the disposition of troops—Director Zhao used to debate them with us. A blind man holds the secrets and will not speak with us at all. I only fear he will ruin the state's affairs." Zu Ting had heard him plainly enough. With the empress out of favor, he carried the verse to the emperor: "A hundred pints fly up to heaven; bright moon shines on Chang'an." He had his wife's elder brother Zheng Daogai submit the accusation. The emperor questioned Zu Ting, and Ting swore it was true. He added another verse: "The high mountain collapses; the oak tree rises; a blind old man carries a great axe on his back; a meddlesome old woman cannot speak." He said "the blind old man" meant himself — one who shared the state's weal and woe — and pressed the emperor to move. "The meddlesome old woman," he said, was Attendant-in-Ordinary Lu of the Way. The emperor consulted Han Changluan and Mu Tipo and secretly ordered Gao Yuanhai and Duan Shiliang to weigh the matter; none of them would go along. Then Feng Shirang, a staff officer in Guang's headquarters, memorialized that Guang was plotting rebellion, and the whole clan was wiped out.
17
珽又附陸媼，求為領軍，後主許之。 詔須覆奏，取侍中斛律孝卿署名。 孝卿密告高元海，元海語侯呂芬、穆提婆云：「孝徵漢兒，兩眼又不見物，豈合作領軍也？」 明旦面奏，具陳珽不合之狀，幷書珽與廣寧王孝珩交結，無大臣體。 珽亦求面見，帝令引入。 珽自分疏，並云與元海素相嫌，必是元海譖臣。 帝弱顏不能諱，曰：「然。」 珽列元海共司農卿尹子華、太府少卿李叔元、平準令張叔略等結朋樹黨。 遂除子華仁州刺史，叔元襄城郡太守，叔略南營州錄事參軍。 陸媼又唱和之，復除元海鄭州刺史。 珽自是專主機衡，總知騎兵、外兵事。 內外親戚，皆得顯位。 後主亦令中要數人扶侍出入，著紗帽直至永巷，出萬春門向聖壽堂，每同禦榻論決政事，委任之重，羣臣莫比。
Ting courted Lu Matron again and asked for command of the guards; the Later Sovereign agreed. The edict had to be confirmed by memorial, with the signature of attendant-in-ordinary Hulu Xiaqing. Xiaqing secretly warned Gao Yuanhai. Yuanhai told Hou Lü Fen and Mu Tipo, "Xiaozheng is a Han man, and his eyes can barely make out a thing — how is he fit to command the guards?" Next morning he spoke to the throne in person, listing every reason Ting was unfit, and charged that Ting was thick with Prince of Guangning Xiaohang and lacked a minister's dignity. Ting demanded an audience; the emperor had him admitted. Ting pleaded his case and said Yuanhai had always hated him — this accusation could only be Yuanhai's slander. The emperor flushed and could not deny it. "True," he said." Ting named Yuanhai, director of the granaries Yin Zihua, vice director of the imperial storehouse Li Shuyuan, director of market regulation Zhang Shulüe, and others as men who formed factions and built cliques. Zihua was sent out as governor of Renzhou, Shuyuan as governor of Xiangcheng commandery, and Shulüe as headquarters recorder in Southern Camp Province. Lu Matron joined the chorus, and Yuanhai was packed off as governor of Zhengzhou. From then on Ting alone held the levers of state and directed every matter of cavalry and field armies. Kinsmen inside and outside the court all won eminent posts. The Later Sovereign had several inner attendants steady him coming and going. He wore a gauze cap through the Eternal Lane, out the Wanchun Gate to the Hall of Sacred Longevity, and daily shared the imperial couch to settle affairs — a commission no minister could rival.
18
自和士開執事以來，政體隳壞，珽推崇高望，官人稱職，內外稱美。 復欲增損政務，沙汰人物。 始奏罷京畿府，併於領軍，事連百姓，皆歸郡縣。 宿衛都督等號位從舊官名，文武章服並依故事。 又欲黜諸閹豎及羣小輩，推誠延士，為致治之方。 陸媼、穆提婆議頗同異。 珽乃諷御史中丞麗伯侓令劾主書王子沖納賄，知其事連穆提婆，欲使贓罪相及，望因此坐，幷及陸媼。 猶恐後主溺於近習，欲因后黨為援，請以皇后兄胡君瑜為侍中、中領軍，又徵君瑜兄梁州刺史君璧，欲以為御史中丞。 陸媼聞而懷怒，百方排毀，卽出君瑜為金紫光祿大夫，解中領軍，君璧還鎮梁州。 皇后之廢，頗亦由此。 王子沖釋而不問。 珽日益以疏。 又諸宦者更共譖毀之，無所不至。 後主問諸太姬，憫默不對，及三問，乃下床拜曰：「老婢合死，本見和士開道孝徵多才博學，言為善人，故舉之。 比來看之，極是罪過，人實難知。 老婢合死。」 後主令韓長鸞檢案，得其詐出勑受賜十餘事，以前與其重誓不殺，遂解珽侍中、僕射，出為北徐州刺史。 珽求見後主，韓長鸞積嫌於珽，遣人推出栢閣。 珽固求面見，坐不肯行。 長鸞乃令軍士牽曳而出，立珽於朝堂，大加誚責。 上道後，令追還，解其開府儀同、郡公，直為刺史。
Since He Shikai's tenure the body politic had rotted. Ting exalted men of standing, put officials in posts that suited them, and won praise at court and beyond. He again meant to trim government and sift the ranks. First he memorialized to abolish the Capital Region office and fold it into the guards, returning every matter that touched common people to the commanderies and counties. Titles like commander of the night guard would revert to older names; civil and military insignia and dress would follow precedent. He also meant to dismiss the eunuchs and petty favorites, extend sincerity, and summon scholars — his recipe for order. Lu Matron and Mu Tipo argued on opposite sides. Ting therefore nudged vice director of the censorate Li Boju to impeach chief clerk Wang Zichong for bribery, knowing the case would rope in Mu Tipo — he meant the taint of graft to spread and pull Lu Matron down with them. Still fearing the Later Sovereign was drowning in favorites, he sought backing from the empress's kin: he asked that her elder brother Hu Junyu be made attendant-in-ordinary and central commander of the guards, and summoned Junyu's brother Junbi, governor of Liang Province, intending to make him vice director of the censorate. Lu Matron heard and burned with anger. She slandered them by every means, had Junyu made bearer of the golden seal and purple ribbon and stripped of the guards, and sent Junbi back to Liang Province. The empress's deposition owed much to this as well. Wang Zichong was released without inquiry. Ting grew more distant by the day. The eunuchs again joined in slandering him, to every extreme. The Later Sovereign questioned Tai Ji. She grieved in silence until he asked a third time; then she left the couch and bowed. "This old serving-woman deserves death," she said. "He Shikai told me Xiaozheng was learned and gifted and a good man, and so I raised him up. Watching him now, he is nothing but guilt — men are hard to know. This old serving-woman deserves death." The Later Sovereign ordered Han Changluan to investigate. They found more than ten cases of forged edicts and illicit gifts. Because of an earlier solemn oath not to kill him, Ting was stripped of attendant-in-ordinary and vice director and sent out as governor of Northern Xuzhou. Ting begged an audience with the Later Sovereign. Han Changluan, who had long hated him, sent men to thrust him from the Cypress Pavilion. Ting insisted on seeing him face to face and sat, refusing to budge. Changluan ordered soldiers to drag him out, set him in the court hall, and reviled him without mercy. After he had set out, an order recalled him, stripped his open office, state equal to the Three Excellencies, and commandery dukedom, and left him a plain governor.
19
至州，會有陳寇，百姓多反。 珽不關城門，守埤者皆令下城靜坐，街巷禁斷行人，雞犬不聽鳴吠。 賊無所聞見，不測所以，疑惑人走城空，不設警備。 珽忽然令大叫，鼓噪聒天，賊大驚，登時走散。 後復結陣向城，珽乘馬自出，令錄事參軍王君植率兵馬，仍親臨戰。 賊先聞其盲，謂為不能拒抗，忽見親在戎行，彎弧縱鏑，相與驚怪，畏之而罷。 時穆提婆憾之不已，欲令城陷沒賊，雖知危急，不遣救援。 珽且戰且守十餘日，賊竟奔走，城卒保全。 卒於州。
On reaching his province, Chen raiders struck and much of the populace rose against him. Ting did not shut the gates. He ordered the rampart guards down to sit in silence, barred the streets to foot traffic, and forbade chickens and dogs to make a sound. The bandits heard and saw nothing, could not guess his design, took fright as men fled and the city seemed empty, and posted no watch. Ting suddenly ordered a great shout; drums and clamor shook the sky; the bandits panicked and scattered at once. Later they formed ranks and marched on the city again. Ting rode out himself, ordered recorder Wang Junzhi to lead horse and foot, and still fought in the front line. The bandits had heard he was blind and thought him helpless; then they saw him in the battle line, bending the bow and loosing shafts. They stared in shock, feared him, and broke off. Mu Tipo still hated him without end and wished the city would fall to the bandits. Though he knew the peril was acute, he sent no rescue. Ting fought and held for more than ten days. The bandits at last fled, and the city stood. He died in office.
20
子君信，涉獵書史，多諸雜藝。 位兼通直散騎常侍、聘陳使副、中書郎。 珽出，亦見廢免。 君信弟君彥，容貌短小，言辭澀訥，少有才學。 隋大業中，位至東平郡書佐。 郡陷翟讓，因為李密所得，密甚禮之，署為記室，軍書羽檄皆成其手。 及密敗，為王世充所殺。
His son Junxin ranged widely in books and histories and mastered many miscellaneous arts. He held concurrent posts as regular attendant of the unimpeded staff, deputy envoy on the mission to Chen, and secretariat langzhong. When Ting fell, Junxin was dismissed as well. Junxin's younger brother Junyan was short in stature, halting in speech, and slight in talent. In Sui's Daye era he rose to clerk of Dongping commandery. When the commandery fell to Zhai Rang, Li Mi took him, treated him with great courtesy, and made him recorder; military documents and urgent dispatches all passed through his hand. When Mi was defeated, Wang Shichong killed him.
21
珽弟孝隱，有文學，早知名。 詞章雖不逮兄，亦機警有辯，兼解音律。 魏末為散騎常侍、迎梁使。 時徐君房、庾信來聘，名譽甚高，魏朝聞而重之，接對者多取一時之秀，盧元景之徒並降階攝職，更遞司賓。 孝隱少處其中，物議稱美。
Ting's younger brother Xiaoyin had literary gifts and was known early. His compositions did not match his brother's, yet he was quick-witted and eloquent and understood music. At the end of Wei he was regular attendant of the scattered cavalry and received the Liang envoy. Xu Junfang and Yu Xin came on embassy then, men of towering fame. The Wei court, hearing of them, treated the occasion with gravity and chose the day's finest to meet them — Lu Yuanjing and others all stepped down a rank to assist, taking turns as masters of reception. Xiaoyin, still young among them, won praise in public discussion.
22
孝隱從父弟茂，頗有辭情，然好酒性率，不為時重。 大寧中，以經學為本鄉所薦，除給事，以疾辭，仍不復仕。 珽受任寄，故令呼茂，茂不獲已，暫來就之。 珽欲為奏官，茂乃逃去。
Xiaoyin's cousin Mao had a gift for words but loved wine and was blunt by nature, and the age did not esteem him. In the Daning era his native district recommended him for classical learning; he was made gentleman attendant, declined on grounds of illness, and never served again. When Ting received a weighty commission he summoned Mao; Mao could not refuse and came for a time. Ting meant to memorialize and give him an office; Mao fled.
23
珽族弟崇儒，涉學有辭藻，少以幹局知名。 武平末，司州別駕、通直常侍。 入周，為容昌郡太守。 隋開皇初，終宕州長史。
Ting's clansman Chongru was versed in learning and had literary polish; in youth he was known for practical ability. At the end of Wuping he was vice governor of Si Province and regular attendant. After Zhou took the realm he was governor of Rongchang commandery. At the beginning of Sui's Kaihuang era he ended as chief administrator of Dang Province.
24
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 uses the Zhonghua Shuju first edition of the Book of Northern Qi (November 1972) as the base for collation.