1
李稚廉封述許惇羊烈源彪
Li Zhilian; Feng Shu; Xu Dun; Yang Lie; Yuan Biao
2
李稚廉，趙郡高邑人也。 齊州刺史義深之弟。 稚廉少而寡欲，為兒童時，初不從家人有所求請。 家人嘗故以金寶授之，終不取，強付，輒擲之於地。 州牧以其蒙稚而廉，故名曰稚廉。 聰敏好學，年十五，頗尋覽五經章句。 屬葛榮作亂，本郡紛擾，違難赴京。 永安中，釋褐奉朝請。 普泰初，開府記室、龍驤將軍、廣州征南府錄事參軍，不行。 尋轉開府諮議參軍事、前將軍。
Li Zhilian came from Gaoyi in Zhao commandery. He was the younger brother of Yishen, inspector of Qi province. Zhilian from youth was sparing in desire; as a child he would not ask his family for anything. His family once deliberately gave him gold and jewels; he never took them, and when they forced them on him he threw them to the ground. The provincial governor, because he was young and yet frugal, gave him the name Zhilian. Clever and fond of learning, at fifteen he had already worked through the chapter-and-commentary texts of the Five Classics. When Ge Rong rose in rebellion the native commandery was in turmoil; he fled the troubles and went to the capital. In the Yong'an era he left private life and was made court gentleman attendant. Early in Putai he was made establishment-office recorder, dragon-prancing general, and recorder in the Guangzhou expeditionary-south establishment office, but did not take office. Soon he was transferred to consulting aide in the establishment office and former general.
3
天平中，高祖擢為泰州開府長史、平北將軍。 稚廉緝諧將士，軍民樂悅。 高祖頻幸河東，大相嗟賞。 轉為世宗驃騎府長史。 詔以濟州控帶川陸，接對梁使，尤須得人，世宗薦之，除濟州儀同長史。 又遷瀛州長史。 高祖行經冀州，總合河北六州文籍，商校戶口增損。 高祖親自部分，多在馬上，徵責文簿，指景取備，事緒非一。 稚廉每應機立成，恒先期會，莫不雅合深旨，為諸州準的。 高祖顧謂司馬子如曰：「觀稚廉處分，快人意也。」 因集文武數萬人，令郎中杜弼宣旨慰勞，仍詰諸州長史、守令等，諸人並謝罪，稚廉獨前拜恩，觀者咸歎美之。 其日，賜以牛酒。 高祖還幷，以其事告世宗。 世宗喜而語人曰：「吾足知人矣。」
In the Tianping era Gao Huan promoted him to chief of staff in the Taizhou establishment office and general who pacifies the north. Zhilian harmonized officers and men, and army and people were pleased. Gao Huan frequently visited Hedong and greatly admired him, praising him aloud. He was transferred to chief of staff in Gao Cheng's swift-cavalry establishment office. An edict said that because Jizhou controlled rivers and roads and received Liang envoys, an especially capable man was needed. Gao Cheng recommended him, and he was made acting chief of staff in Jizhou with insignia equal to the three excellencies. He was again moved to chief of staff in Ying province. Gao Huan was passing through Ji province and gathered the documents of the six Hebei provinces to compare and verify increases and decreases in household registers. Gao Huan personally directed the work, mostly on horseback, demanding documents and pointing to scenes to require completeness—affairs of many kinds. Zhilian each time responded on the spot and finished at once, always meeting the deadline in advance; nothing failed to match the deep intent, and he became the standard for all provinces. Gao Huan turned to Sima Ziru and said, "Watch how Zhilian disposes affairs—it satisfies the mind." He then gathered civil and military officials numbering tens of thousands, had gentleman Du Bi proclaim the edict to comfort and reward them, and still questioned the chiefs of staff, magistrates, and the rest of the provinces. All others bowed in confession of fault, but Zhilian alone stepped forward to bow in thanks for grace, and the onlookers all sighed in admiration. That day he was granted oxen and wine. Gao Huan returned to Bing and told Gao Cheng of the affair. Gao Cheng was pleased and told others, "I am quite able to know men."
4
世宗嗣事，召詣晉陽，除霸府掾。 謂杜弼曰：「幷州王者之基，須好長史，各舉所知。」 時互有所稱，皆不允。 衆人未答。 世宗乃謂陳元康曰：「我教君好長史處，李稚廉卽其人也。」 遂命為幷州長史。 常在世宗第內，與隴西辛術等六人號為館客，待以上賓之禮。
When Gao Cheng took up affairs he summoned Zhilian to Jinyang and made him a staff member of the hegemon's office. He told Du Bi, "Bingzhou is the king's foundation; a good chief of staff is needed—each of you recommend someone you know." At the time each recommended someone else; none was approved. The crowd had not yet answered. Gao Cheng then told Chen Yuankang, "I will teach you where to find a good chief of staff—Li Zhilian is the man." He then appointed him chief of staff in Bing province. He was constantly within Gao Cheng's residence, and with Xin Shu of Longxi and five others was called lodge guests, treated with the courtesy due a superior guest.
5
封述，字君義，渤海蓨人也。 父軌，廷尉卿、濟州刺史。 述有幹用，年十八為濟州征東府鎧曹參軍。 高道穆為御史中尉，啟為御史。 遷大司馬清河王開府記室參軍，兼司徒主簿。 太昌中，除尚書三公郎中，以平幹稱。 天平中，增損舊事為《麟趾新格》，其名法科條，皆述刪定。 梁散騎常侍陸晏子、沈警來聘，以述兼通直郎使梁。 還，遷世宗大將軍府從事中郎，監京畿事。 武定五年，除彭城太守、當郡督，再行東徐州刺史。 武定七年，除廷尉少卿。 八年，兼給事黃門侍郎。 齊受禪，與李獎等八人充大使，巡省方俗，問民疾苦。 天保三年，除清河太守，遷司徒左長史，行東都事，尋除海州刺史。 大寧元年，徵授大理卿。 河清三年，勑與錄尚書趙彥深、僕射魏收、尚書陽休之、國子祭酒馬敬德等議定律令。 天統元年，遷度支尚書。 三年，轉五兵尚書，加儀同三司。 武平元年，除南兗州刺史。 更滿還朝，除左光祿大夫，又除殿中尚書。
Feng Shu, styled Junyi, came from Tiao in Bohai. His father Gui was director of the court of justice and inspector of Ji province. Shu had administrative ability; at eighteen he was armor-bureau aide in the Ji province expeditionary-east establishment office. Gao Daomu was attendant censor-in-chief and opened a post for him as censor. He was moved to recorder in Prince of Qinghe's grand-marshal establishment office, concurrently chief clerk in the ministry of the masses. In the Taichang era he was made gentleman in the ministry of the three excellencies; he was known as fair and capable. In the Tianping era he revised old precedents into the New Statutes of the Linzhi Hall; its legal articles and clauses were all edited and fixed by Shu. Liang scattered-cavalry regular attendant Lu Yanzi and Shen Jing came on embassy; Shu was made concurrent direct-communication gentleman and sent to Liang. On return he was moved to aide in Gao Cheng's great-general establishment office and overseer of capital-district affairs. In the fifth Wuding year he was made administrator of Pengcheng and supervisor of that commandery, and again acting inspector of eastern Xuzhou. In the seventh Wuding year he was made vice director of the court of justice. In the eighth year he was concurrently supervising gentleman of the yellow gate. When Qi received the mandate he, with Li Jiang and seven others, served as great envoys touring the regions to inquire into local customs and ask after the people's hardships. In the third Tianbao year he was made administrator of Qinghe, moved to left chief of staff in the ministry of the masses, acting director of eastern-capital affairs, and soon made inspector of Haizhou. In the first Daning year he was summoned and appointed director of the great court of justice. In the third Heqing year an edict ordered him together with recorder of the masters of writing Zhao Yanshen, vice director Wei Shou, minister Yang Xiuzhi, and director of the imperial academy Ma Jingde and others to deliberate on laws and ordinances. In the first Tiantong year he was moved to director of the revenue ministry. In the third year he was transferred to director of the five armies ministry and given added rank as acting insignia equal to the three excellencies. In the first Wuping year he was made inspector of southern Yanzhou. When his term ended he returned to court and was made left grand master of gleaming fortune, then again director in the palace ministry.
6
述久為法官，明解律令，議斷平允，深為時人所稱。 而厚積財產，一無饋遺，雖至親密友貧病困篤，亦絕於拯濟，朝野物論甚鄙之。 外貌方整而不免請謁，迴避進趨，頗致嗤駭。 前妻河內司馬氏，一息，為娶隴西李士元女，大輸財娉。 及將成禮，猶競懸違。 述忽取供養像對士元打像作誓，士元笑曰：「封公何處常得應急像，須誓便用。」 一息娶范陽盧莊之女。 述又逕府訴云：「送驘乃嫌腳跛，評田則云鹹薄，銅器又嫌古廢。」 皆為吝嗇所及，每致紛紜。 子元，武平末太子舍人。
Shu long served as a judicial officer, clearly understanding statutes and ordinances; his deliberations and judgments were fair and even, and he was deeply praised by men of the time. Yet he amassed wealth in great store and made not a single gift; even to the closest friends, when poor, ill, and in desperate straits, he cut off all relief—court and countryside alike in public talk greatly despised him. Outwardly his appearance was square and orderly, yet he could not avoid private petitions; in avoiding and advancing he often drew sneers of shock. His former wife was of the Sima clan of Henei; he had one son, for whom he took in marriage the daughter of Li Shiyuan of Longxi and lavished bride-price wealth. When the rites were about to be completed they still disputed and hung in delay. Shu suddenly took an offering image and faced Shiyuan, striking the image to swear; Shiyuan laughed and said, "Lord Feng, where do you always get emergency images, that you need a vow and use one at once?" His son took in marriage the daughter of Lu Zhuangzhi of Fanyang. Shu again went straight to the government office to complain, saying, "The mules sent were faulted as lame in the leg; when fields were appraised they were said to be salty and thin; bronze vessels too were faulted as old and worn out." All were matters touched by his stinginess, and each time brought turmoil. His son Yuan, at the end of Wuping, was crown-prince attendant.
7
述弟詢，字景文。 魏員外郎，武定中永安公開府法曹，稍遷尚書起部郎中，轉三公郎，出為東平原郡太守，遷定州長史，又除河間郡守，入為尚書左丞，又為濟南太守。 隋開皇中卒。 詢闚涉經史，清素自持，歷官皆有幹局才具，治郡甚著聲績，民吏敬而愛之。
Shu's younger brother Xun, styled Jingwen. Wei outer-office gentleman; in Wuding he was law-bureau aide in Prince of Yong'an's establishment office, gradually moved to gentleman in the ministry of works' establishment section, transferred to gentleman of the three excellencies, went out as administrator of eastern Pingyuan commandery, moved to chief of staff in Ding province, again made administrator of Hejian commandery, entered court as left director in the masters of writing, and again administrator of Jinan. He died in the Kaihuang era of Sui. Xun ranged through the classics and histories, held himself in pure simplicity, and in every office had administrative talent and equipment; in governing commanderies his reputation and achievement were very marked, and officials and people respected and loved him.
8
許惇，字季良，高陽新城人也。 父護，魏高陽、章武二郡太守。 惇清識敏速，達於從政，任司徒主簿，以能判斷見知，時人號為入鐵主簿。 稍遷陽平太守。 當時遷都鄴，陽平卽是畿郡，軍國責辦，賦斂無準，又勳貴屬請，朝夕徵求，惇並御之以道，上下無怨，治為下天第一。 特加賞異，圖形於闕，詔頒天下。 遷魏尹，出拜齊州刺史，轉梁州刺史，治並有聲。 遷大司農。 會侯景背叛，王思政入據潁城，王師出討，惇常督漕，軍無乏絕。 引洧水灌城，惇之策也。 遷殿中尚書。 惇美鬚髯，下垂至帶，省中號為長鬛公。 顯祖嘗因酒酣，握惇鬚髯稱美，遂以刀截之，唯留一握。 惇懼，因不復敢長，時人又號為齊鬚公。 世祖踐祚，領御史中丞，為膠州刺史。 尋追為司農卿，又遷大理卿，再為度支尚書，歷太子少保、少師、光祿大夫、開府儀同三司、尚書右僕射、特進，賜爵萬年縣子，食下邳郡幹。 以年老致仕於家，三年卒。
Xu Dun, styled Jiliang, came from Xincheng in Gaoyang. His father Hu was Wei administrator of Gaoyang and Zhangwu commanderies. Dun had clear judgment and quick wit, skilled in government; he served as chief clerk in the ministry of the masses and was known for his ability to decide cases; men of the time called him the Iron-Entering Registrar. He was gradually moved to administrator of Yangping. At the time the capital was moved to Ye; Yangping was then a metropolitan commandery, and military and state requisitions and tax levies had no standard; moreover meritorious nobles made requests, seeking day and night—Dun governed all by principle, above and below without resentment, and his governance ranked first under Heaven. He received special reward and distinction; his likeness was painted at the palace gate and an edict distributed it throughout the realm. He was moved to metropolitan magistrate of Wei, went out and received appointment as inspector of Qi province, transferred to inspector of Liang province—wherever he governed there was reputation. He was moved to grand director of agriculture. It happened that Hou Jing rebelled; Wang Sizheng entered and held Ying city; the royal army went out to attack; Dun constantly supervised transport, and the army never lacked supplies. Drawing the Wei River to flood the city was also Dun's stratagem. He was moved to director in the palace ministry. Dun had a fine beard hanging down to his belt; within the ministry he was called the Long-Beard Lord. Gao Yang once, when drunk with wine, grasped Dun's beard and praised it, then took a knife and cut it off, leaving only one handful. Dun was afraid and therefore no longer dared let it grow long; men of the time again called him the Trimmed-Beard Lord. When Gao Yan ascended the throne he led the attendant censorate and was inspector of Jiao province. Soon he was recalled as director of the ministry of agriculture, again moved to director of the great court of justice, again director of the revenue ministry, and served in succession as junior guardian and junior tutor of the heir apparent, grand master of gleaming fortune, acting insignia equal to the three excellencies, right vice director of the masters of writing, and specially advanced; he was enfeoffed as baron of Wannian county with dry fief salary from Xiapi commandery. Because of old age he retired to his home and died three years later.
9
惇少純直，晚更浮動。 齊朝體式，本州大中正以京官為之。 同郡邢卲為中書監，德望甚高，惇與卲競中正，遂馮附宋欽道，出卲為刺史，朝議甚鄙薄之。 雖久處朝行，歷官清顯，與邢卲、魏收、陽休之、崔劼、徐之才之徒比肩同列，諸人或談說經史，或吟詠詩賦，更相嘲戲，欣笑滿堂，惇不解劇談，又無學術，或竟坐杜口，或隱几而睡，深為勝流所輕。
Dun in youth was pure and upright; in later years he became more restless. In Qi court practice the great impartial selector of the native commandery was held by a capital official. Xing Shao of the same commandery was supervisor of the secretariat; his virtue and standing were very high; Dun competed with Shao for the impartial selector post and therefore clung to Song Qindao, having Shao sent out as inspector; court opinion greatly despised him for it. Though he long walked the court ranks and held clear, eminent offices, standing shoulder to shoulder with Xing Shao, Wei Shou, Yang Xiuzhi, Cui Jie, Xu Zhicai, and the like—some discussed the classics and histories, some chanted poetry and rhapsodies, mocking one another in turn with laughter filling the hall—Dun did not understand lively talk and had no learning; sometimes he sat the whole time with sealed lips, sometimes hid behind a desk and slept, and was deeply slighted by the leading circles.
10
子文紀，武平末度支郎中。 文紀弟文經，勤學方雅，身無擇行，口無戲言。 武平末，殿中侍御史。 隋開皇初，侍御史，兼通直散騎常侍，聘陳使副，主爵侍郎。 卒於相州長史。
His son Wenji, at the end of Wuping, was gentleman in the revenue ministry. Wenji's younger brother Wenjing was diligent in study, square and refined in manner, with no choice in personal conduct and no jesting words on his lips. At the end of Wuping he was attendant censor within the palace. Early in Sui Kaihuang he was attendant censor, concurrently regular attendant for direct communication, deputy on embassy to Chen, and director of the ministry of enfeoffments. He died as chief of staff in Xiang province.
11
惇兄遜，字仲讓，有幹局，乾明中平原太守，卒贈信州刺史。 遜子文高，司徒掾。
Dun's elder brother Xun, styled Zhongrang, had administrative talent; in the Qianming era he was administrator of Pingyuan and on death was posthumously given inspector of Xin province. Xun's son Wengao was a staff member in the ministry of the masses.
12
羊烈，字信卿，太山鉅平人也。 晉太仆卿琇之八世孫，魏梁州刺史祉之弟子。 父靈珍，魏兗州別駕。 烈少通敏，自修立，有成人之風。 好讀書，能言名理，以玄學知名。 魏孝昌中，烈從兄侃為太守，據郡起兵外叛。 烈潛知其謀，深懼家禍，與從兄廣平太守惇馳赴洛陽告難。 朝廷將加厚賞，烈告人云：「譬如斬手全軀，所存者大爾，豈有幸從兄之敗以為己利乎？」 卒無所受。
Yang Lie, styled Xinqing, came from Juping in Mount Tai. Eighth-generation descendant of Xiu, grand master of the imperial stud in Jin; nephew of Zhi, Liang inspector. His father Lingzhen was Wei vice-director in Yan province. Lie from youth was penetrating and quick, self-cultivating in conduct, with the bearing of a mature man. Fond of reading books, able to discourse on essential principles, he was known for Dark Learning. In the Wei Xiaochang era Lie's elder cousin by the mother's side Kan was administrator and, holding the commandery, raised troops in external rebellion. Lie had already seen through the scheme. Dreading ruin for his clan, he and his elder cousin Dun, governor of Guangping, raced to Luoyang to raise the alarm. The court meant to heap rewards on him. Lie told others, "It is like cutting off a hand to save the body—what remains is the greater part. How could I profit from a cousin's fall?" In the end he took nothing.
13
弱冠，州辟主簿，又兼治中從事。 刺史方以吏事為意，以幹濟見知。 釋巾太師咸陽王行參軍，遷秘書郎。 顯祖初，為儀同三司開府倉曹參軍事。 天保初，授太子步兵校尉、輕車將軍，尋遷幷省比部郎中，除司徒屬，頻歷尚書祠部、左右民郎中，所在咸為稱職。 九年，除陽平太守，治有能名。 是時，頻有災蝗，犬牙不入陽平境，勑書褒美焉。 皇建二年，遷光祿少卿，加龍驤將軍、兗州大中正，又進號平南將軍。 天統中，除太中大夫，兼光祿少卿。 武平初，除驃騎將軍、義州刺史，尋以老疾還鄉。 周大象中卒。
At weak cap the province summoned him as chief clerk; he also served concurrently as supervisory aide. The prefect cared only for paperwork; Lie won notice for getting things done. He left private life for a staff post under Grand Tutor Prince of Xianyang Xing, then rose to secretariat gentleman. When Xianzu came to power he was grain-supply staff officer in a third-rank opening office. At the opening of Tianbao he was colonel of foot soldiers for the heir apparent and general of the light chariots, soon moved to merged-bureau director in the revenue section, then attendant of the Secretariat, and on through director of temple observances and the left and right people sections—every post he held earned the same verdict: competent. In the ninth year he was made governor of Yangping, and his rule won a name for ability. Locusts ravaged the land year after year, yet their teeth never crossed into Yangping; an edict praised him for it. In Huangjian's second year he was moved to vice director of the imperial household, given the dragon cavalry general's rank and the grand rectifier's post in Yan province, then advanced to General Who Pacifies the South. In Tiantong he was made grand master of splendid happiness while keeping the vice directorship of the imperial household. At the start of Wuping he was made general of the valiant cavalry and governor of Yi province; before long age and illness sent him home. He died in the Zhou Elephant reign.
14
烈家傳素業，閨門修飾，為世所稱。 一門女不再醮。 魏太和中，於兗州造一尼寺，女寡居無子者並出家為尼，咸存戒行。 烈天統中與尚書畢義雲爭兗州大中正，義雲盛稱門閥，云「我累世本州刺史，卿世為我家故吏。」 烈答云：「卿自畢軌被誅以還，寂無人物，近日刺史，皆是疆場之上，彼此而得，何足為言。 豈若我漢之河南尹，晉之太傅，名德學行，百代傳美。 且男清女貞，足以相冠，自外多可稱也。」 蓋譏義雲之帷薄焉。
The Lie line had long kept its proper craft; their inner gates were kept in order, and the age praised them for it. In that household no widow ever married again. In Wei Taihe they built a nunnery in Yan province; widows without sons all took the tonsure and kept the precepts. In Tiantong Lie quarreled with Minister of the Masters of Writing Bi Yiyun over the Yan grand rectifier's post. Yiyun boasted of his gate and house: "For generations we were governors here; your people were always clerks in our household." Lie answered, "Since your Bi Gui was executed, your line has been empty of anyone worth naming. The recent governors were all frontier men who seized the post by turns—what is there to boast of? How does that compare with our Han Governor of Henan and our Jin Grand Tutor—name, virtue, learning, and conduct handed down in beauty for a hundred generations? Our men are pure and our women chaste—enough to crown the rest; beyond that there is much else to praise." He meant it as a jab at the lax curtains in Yiyun's household.
15
祉子深，魏中書令。 深子肅，以學尚知名，世宗大將軍府東閤祭酒。 乾明初，冀州治中。 趙郡王為巡省大使，肅以遲緩不任職解，朝議以肅無罪，尋復之。 天統初，遷南兗州長史。 武平中，入文林館撰書，尋出為武德郡守。
Zhi's son Shen was Wei secretariat director. Shen's son Su was known for scholarship; he was eastern-pavilion libationer in the great general's establishment of the heir apparent. At the start of Qianming he was supervisory aide of Ji province. When the Prince of Zhao commandery toured as inspection envoy, Su was dismissed for slowness and unfitness; court opinion held him guiltless, and he was soon restored. At the start of Tiantong he was moved to chief aide of Southern Yan province. In Wuping he entered the Wenslin Hall to compile books, then went out as governor of Wude commandery.
16
烈弟脩，有才幹，大寧中卒於尚書左丞。 子玄正，武平末將作丞。 隋開皇中民部侍郎。 卒於隴西郡贊治。
Lie's younger brother Xiu had talent and drive; in Daning he died as left vice director in the Masters of Writing. His son Xuanzheng, at the end of Wuping, was director of palace construction. Under Sui Kaihuang he was vice minister of the people. He died while serving as overseer of Longxi commandery.
17
源彪，字文宗，西平樂都人也。 父子恭，魏中書監、司空，文獻公。 文宗學涉機警，少有名譽。 魏孝莊永安中，以父功賜爵臨潁縣伯，除員外散騎常侍。 天平四年，涼州大中正。 遭父憂去職。 武定初，服闋，吏部召領司徒記室，加平東將軍。 世宗攝選，沙汰臺郎，以文宗為尚書祠部郎中，仍領記室。 轉太子洗馬。 天保元年，除太子中舍人。 乾明初，出為范陽郡守。
Yuan Biao, styled Wenzong, came from Ledu in Xiping. His father Zigong had been Wei secretariat supervisor, Minister of Works, and Duke of Literature. Wenzong was learned, alert, and quick-witted; from youth he had a name for ability. In Emperor Xiaozhuang's Yong'an era, for his father's merit he was given the barony of Linying and made irregular-attendant cavalier attendant. In Tianping's fourth year he was grand rectifier of Liang province. When his father died he left office. At the start of Wuding, when mourning ended, the Ministry summoned him to head the secretariat records office and gave him the additional rank General Who Pacifies the East. When the heir apparent took charge of selection and terrace gentlemen were winnowed, Wenzong was made director of temple observances while still heading the records office. He was moved to groom of the heir apparent. In Tianbao's first year he was made heir-apparent palace aide. At the start of Qianming he went out as governor of Fanyang commandery.
18
皇建二年，拜涇州刺史。 文宗以恩信待物，甚得邊境之和，為鄰人所欽服，前政被抄掠者，多得放還。 天統初，入為吏部郎中，遷御史中丞，典選如故。 尋除散騎常侍，仍攝吏部，加驃騎大將軍。 屬秦州刺史宋嵩卒，朝廷以州在邊垂，以文宗往蒞涇州，頗著聲績，除秦州刺史，乘傳之府，特給後部鼓吹。 文宗為治如在涇州時。 李孝貞聘陳，陳主謂孝貞曰：「齊朝還遣源涇州來瓜步，真可謂和通矣。」 尋加儀同三司。 武平二年，徵領國子祭酒。 三年，遷秘書監。
In Huangjian's second year he was made governor of Jing province. Wenzong treated people with favor and trust and won deep harmony on the frontier; neighbors admired him, and many captives taken under earlier rule he secured and sent home. At the start of Tiantong he entered court as director in the civil service section, then imperial censor, still overseeing selection as before. Soon he was regular-attendant cavalier attendant while still running the civil service section, with the additional rank general of the valiant cavalry. When Song Song, governor of Qin, died, the court judged the province a frontier post; Wenzong's record at Jing had been strong, so he was made governor of Qin, rode post relay to the seat, and was specially granted rear escort music. Wenzong governed Qin as he had governed Jing. Li Xiaozhen went on embassy to Chen; the Chen ruler told him, "Qi has again sent Governor Yuan of Jing to Guabu—surely that is harmony in full." Soon he was given the additional rank establishment of the third rank. In Wuping's second year he was summoned to head the Directorate of the Sons of the State. In the third year he was moved to secretariat supervisor.
19
陳將吳明徹寇淮南，歷陽、瓜步相尋失守。 趙彥深於起居省密訪文宗曰：「吳賊侏張，遂至於此，僕妨賢旣久，憂懼交深，今者之勢，計將安出？ 弟往在涇州，甚悉江淮間情事，今將何以禦之？」 對曰：「荷國厚恩，無由報效，有所聞見，敢不盡言。 但朝廷精兵必不肯多付諸將，數千已下，復不得與吳楚爭鋒，命將出軍，反為彼餌。 尉破胡人品，王之所知。 進旣不得，退又未可，敗績之事，匪朝伊夕。 王出而能入，朝野傾心，脫一日參差，悔無所及。 以今日之計，不可再三。 國家待遇淮南，失之同於蒿箭。 如文宗計者，不過專委王琳，淮南招募三四萬人，風俗相通，能得死力，兼領舊將淮北捉兵，足堪固守。 且琳之於曇頊，不肯北面事之明矣，竊謂計之上者。 若不推赤心於琳，別遣餘人掣肘，復成速禍，彌不可為。」 彥深歎曰：「弟此良圖，足為制勝千里，但口舌爭來十日，已不見從。 時事至此，安可盡言！」 因相顧流涕。
Chen's general Wu Mingche invaded Huainan; Liyang and Guabu fell one after another. Zhao Yanshen, in private at the Office for Imperial Progress, asked Wenzong, "Wu the bandit swells and has come to this. I have long stood in the way of better men and live in worry and fear. What plan will serve today's situation? You once governed Jing and know the Huai and Jiang country well—how will you defend against them now?" He answered, "I owe the state deep favor and have no way to repay it; what I have seen and heard I dare not hold back. But the court will never give its crack troops in large numbers to field commanders; a few thousand at most cannot stand against Wu and Chu. To send generals out is only to feed the enemy. Your Majesty already knows Wei Pohu's character. He cannot advance with success; he cannot retreat in safety; defeat is not a matter of mornings and evenings. If Your Majesty goes out and can come in again, court and country will lean on you; if one day things go awry, there will be no place left for regret. On today's plan there must be no third try. The state's treatment of Huainan has failed it like a mere arrow of wormwood. By Wenzong's reckoning nothing surpasses putting everything in Wang Lin's hands: recruit thirty or forty thousand men in Huainan—customs match, they will fight to the death—and let him also command the old officers' north-of-the-Huai draft troops; that is enough to hold firm. Moreover Lin toward Chen's Xuandi plainly will not bow north and serve him—I venture this is the plan above all plans. If you do not give Lin your open heart but send others to check him, you will again bring swift disaster—still less can that be done." Yanshen sighed and said, "Brother, this fine plan would win a thousand li away—but tongues have argued for ten days already and no one will follow it. The times have come to this—how can everything be spoken!" Thereupon they looked at each other and wept.
20
武平七年，周武平齊，與陽休之、袁聿修等十八人同勑入京，授儀同大將軍、司成下大夫。 隋開皇初，授莒州刺史，至州，遇疾去官。 開皇六年卒，年六十六。 文宗以貴遊子弟升朝列，才識敏贍，以幹局見知。 然好遊詣貴要之門，故時論以為善於附會。
In Wuping's seventh year, when Zhou pacified Qi, he was issued an edict into the capital with Yang Xiuzhi, Yuan Yuxiu, and eighteen others, and made general of the establishment of the same rank and junior mentor in the Directorate of the Sons of the State. At the start of Sui Kaihuang he was made governor of Ju province; on reaching the province he fell ill and left office. In Kaihuang's sixth year he died, at sixty-six. Wenzong rose through the court ranks as a young man of noble houses, quick in talent and insight and known for practical capacity. Yet he loved to visit the gates of the powerful, so opinion of the time held that he was skilled at currying favor.
21
子師，少好學，明辨有識悟，尤以吏事知名。 河清初，司空參軍事，歷侍御史、太常丞、尚書左外兵郎中。 隋開皇中，尚書比部、考功侍郎。 大業初，卒於大理少卿。
His son Shi from youth loved learning, was clear in judgment and keen in understanding, and was especially known for clerical affairs. At the start of Heqing he was staff officer in the Ministry of Works, then passed through attendant censor, director in the Grand Imperial Sacrifices, and director in the left outer military section. Under Sui Kaihuang he was director in the revenue section and vice director of merit assessment. Early in Daye he died as vice minister of justice.
22
文宗弟文舉，亦有才幹，歷尚書比部、二千石郎中、定州長史，帶中山郡守。 卒於太尉長史。
Wenzong's younger brother Wenju also had talent and capacity; he passed through director in the revenue section, director of the two-thousand-bushel section, and chief aide of Ding province while concurrently governing Zhongshan commandery. He died as chief aide of the Grand Commandant.
23
文宗從父兄楷，字那延，有器幹，善草隸書。 歷尚書左民部郎中、治書侍御史、長樂中山郡守、京畿長史、黃門郎、假儀同三司。
Wenzong's elder cousin Kai, styled Nayian, had capacity and drive and was skilled in cursive and clerical script. He passed through director in the left people section, investigating censor, governor of Changle and Zhongshan, metropolitan chief aide, gate gentleman, and acting establishment of the third rank.
24
齊滅，朝貴知名入周京者：度支尚書元脩伯，魏文成皇帝之後，清素寡欲，明識理體。 少歷顯職，尚書郎、治書侍御史、司徒左長史、數郡太守、光州刺史，所在皆著聲績。 及為度支，屬政荒國蹙，儲藏虛竭，賦役繁興。 脩伯憂國如家，恤民之勞，兼濟時事，詢謀宰相，朝夕孜孜，與錄尚書唐邕廻換取捨，頗有裨益。 周朝授儀同大將軍、載師大夫。 其事行史闕，故不列於傳。 齊末又有幷省尚書隴西辛愨、散騎常侍長樂潘子義並以才幹知名。 入仕周、隋，位歷通顯云。
When Qi fell, eminent men known by name who entered the Zhou capital included Yuan Xiubo, Minister of Revenue, a descendant of Emperor Wencheng of Wei—pure, sparing in desire, clear in grasp of principle and form. From youth he passed through eminent posts—gentleman in the Masters of Writing, investigating censor, left chief aide of the Secretariat, several commandery governorships, and governor of Guang—and wherever he served won a name for achievement. When he became Minister of Revenue, government was wasteful and the state narrow; storehouses stood empty and levies and corvée multiplied. Xiubo grieved for the state as for his own house, pitied the people's labor, and together aided the affairs of the time; morning and evening he sought counsel from the chancellor with tireless zeal, and with Recorder Tang Yong exchanged views on what to take and what to leave—quite to the good. The Zhou court made him general of the establishment of the same rank and master of the carriage office. His deeds are missing from the histories, so he is not given a biography here. At the end of Qi there were also Xin Ti of Longxi, merged-bureau director in the Masters of Writing, and Pan Ziyi of Changle, regular-attendant cavalier attendant—both known for talent and capacity. They entered service under Zhou and Sui and rose to eminent posts, it is said.
25
論曰：李稚廉等以材能器幹，所在咸著聲名。 封述聚積財賄，敝於鄙吝，季良以學淺為累，文宗以附會見稱。 然則羊、李二賢足為具美，士人君子，可不慎與！
The historiographer writes: Li Zhilian and the others, by talent and capacity, won fame wherever they served. Feng Shu amassed wealth and was worn down by stinginess; Xu Dun, styled Jiliang, was held back by shallow learning; Wenzong was praised for currying favor. Yet the two worthies Yang and Li were complete in virtue—gentlemen, should they not take care!
26
贊曰：惟茲數賢，幹事貞固。 生被雌黃，歿存縑素。 封及源、許，終為身蠹。
Praise: Only these several worthies—work steadfast and firm. In life touched by censure, in death preserved in silk. Feng and Yuan, Xu—ended as worms in their own flesh.
27
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.