1
道武七王明元六王太武五王
The Seven Sons of Daowu, the Six Sons of Mingyuan, and the Five Sons of Taiwu
2
列傳第四道武七王明元六王太武五王
Biographies 4 — The Seven Sons of Daowu, the Six Sons of Mingyuan, and the Five Sons of Taiwu
3
道武皇帝十男：宣穆劉後生明元皇帝； 賀夫人生清河王紹； 大王夫人生陽平王熙； 王夫人生河南王曜； 河間王修、長樂王處文二王母氏闕； 段夫人生廣平王連、京兆王黎； 皇子渾及聰母氏並闕，皆早薨，無傳。
Emperor Daowu had ten sons. Empress Liu the Xuanmu bore Emperor Mingyuan; Consort He bore the Prince of Qinghe, Shao; the Great Consort Wang bore the Prince of Yangping, Xi; Consort Wang bore the Prince of Henan, Yao; the mothers of the Prince of Hejian, Xiu, and the Prince of Changle, Chuwén, are unrecorded; Consort Duan bore the Prince of Guangping, Lian, and the Prince of Jingzhao, Li; the princes Hun and Cong—whose mothers are likewise unknown—all died in childhood and have no biographies.
4
清河王紹字受洛拔，天興六年封。 性凶狠險悖，好劫剝行人，斫射犬豕，以為戲樂。 有孕婦，紹剖觀其胎。 道武嘗怒之，倒懸井中，垂死乃出。 明元常以義方責之，由此不協。 而紹母賀夫人有譴，帝將殺之。 會日暮，未決。 賀氏密告急於紹，紹乃與帳下及宦者數人逾宮犯禁。 帝驚起，求弓刀不及，暴崩。 明日，宮門至日中不開，紹稱詔召百寮於西宮端門前北面，紹從門扇間謂曰：「我有父，亦有兄，公卿欲從誰也？」 王公以下皆失色，莫有對者。 良久，南平公長孫嵩曰：「臣等不審登遐狀。」 唯陰平西元烈哭泣而去。 於是朝野凶凶，人懷異志。 肥如侯賀護舉烽於安陽城北，故賀蘭部人皆往赴之。 其餘舊部，亦率子弟，招集故人，往往相聚。 紹聞人情不安，乃出布帛班賜王公以下。
The Prince of Qinghe, Shao, styled Shouluoba, received his fief in the sixth year of Tianxing. Fierce, cruel, and perverse by nature, he delighted in robbing wayfarers and shooting dogs and pigs for sport. When he encountered a pregnant woman, Shao cut her open to inspect the fetus. Daowu once flew into a rage and hung him head-down in a well, hauling him out only when he was nearly dead. Mingyuan often lectured him on right conduct, and from this the two fell out. Meanwhile Shao's mother, Lady He, had been condemned, and the emperor was about to put her to death. Night fell before a decision was reached. Lady He secretly sent Shao word of her peril; Shao then crossed the palace bounds with men of his retinue and several eunuchs in defiance of the prohibition. The emperor started up in alarm but could not reach bow or blade in time, and died on the spot. The next day the palace gates stayed shut until noon. Shao claimed an edict summoning the hundred officials to face north before the western palace's Duan Gate, and called from between the door panels: "I have a father, and I have an elder brother—which of us do you gentlemen mean to follow?" Princes and officials alike turned pale; no one answered. After a long silence Duke of Nanping Changsun Song said: "We do not yet know the circumstances of Your Majesty's passing." Only Yinping Xiyuan Lie wept and withdrew. Court and countryside seethed; every man nursed his own design. Marquis of Feiru He Hu raised beacon fires north of Anyang, and all the old Helan clansmen rallied to him. Other former followers likewise led sons and younger kin, called up old comrades, and gathered in bands across the land. Learning that hearts were unsettled, Shao distributed cloth and silk in largesse among princes and officials.
5
先是，明元在外，聞變乃還，潛於山中，使人夜告北新侯安同，眾皆回應。 衛士執送紹，於是賜紹母子死，誅帳下閹官、宮人為內應者十數人。 其先犯乘輿者，群臣于城南都街生臠食之。 紹時年十六。 紹母即獻明皇后妹也，美而豔。 道武如賀蘭部，見而悅之，告獻明後請納焉。 後曰：「不可。 此過美，不善，且已有夫。」 帝密令人殺其夫而納之，生紹，終致大逆焉。
Earlier Mingyuan had been away from court. Hearing of the upheaval he returned and hid in the hills, sending men by night to inform Marquis of Beixin An Tong; the masses rallied to him. Guards seized Shao and delivered him up. Shao and his mother were granted death, and a dozen eunuchs and palace women who had served as inside accomplices were put to death. Those who had first assaulted the imperial carriage were dismembered alive at the capital's southern street and devoured by the ministers. Shao was sixteen at the time. Shao's mother was a younger sister of Empress Xianming, beautiful and alluring. When Daowu visited the Helan tribe he saw her and was smitten; he told Empress Xianming and asked to take her. The empress said: "You must not. She is too beautiful; that bodes ill—and she already has a husband." The emperor secretly had her husband killed and took her in. She bore Shao—and in the end brought great treason upon the house.
6
陽平王熙，天興六年封，聰達有雅操。 明元練兵於東部，詔熙督十二軍校閱，甚得軍儀，賞賜隆厚。 泰常六年，薨，帝哀慟不已。 長子佗襲爵。
The Prince of Yangping, Xi, was enfeoffed in the sixth year of Tianxing. Clever and accomplished, he bore himself with refined conduct. When Mingyuan drilled troops in the eastern regions he ordered Xi to supervise twelve armies in review. Xi displayed excellent military bearing and received lavish rewards. In the sixth year of Taichang he died, and the emperor mourned without cease. His eldest son Tuo inherited the title.
7
佗性忠厚，武藝無過者。 後改封淮南王，鎮武牢，威名甚著。 孝文時，位司徒，賜安車几杖，入朝不趨。 太和十二年，薨。 時孝文有事太廟，始薦，聞之，廢祭，輿駕親臨哀慟，禮賵有加，諡曰靖王。
Tuo was honest and generous, though in martial skill he had no outstanding peer. Later his fief was changed to Prince of Huainan. He guarded Wulao, and his renown was great. Under Emperor Xiaowen he served as Minister of State and was granted a carriage, staff, and table; he need not hurry when entering court. In the twelfth year of Taihe he died. Xiaowen was then occupied with the Imperial Ancestor Temple and had just begun the offering. Hearing of Tuo's death he canceled the rite, went in person to mourn with deep grief, and added to the funeral gifts. He was posthumously titled Prince Jing.
8
世子吐萬早卒。
His heir Tuwán died young.
9
子僖王顯襲祖爵，薨。
His son Prince Xi Xian inherited the grandfather's title and died.
10
子世遵襲。 孝明時，為荊州刺史。 在邊境，前代以來，互相抄掠，世遵到州，不聽侵擾。 其弟均時在荊州，為朝陽戍主。 有南戍主妻，三月三日遊戲沔水側，均輒遣部曲掠取。 世遵聞之，責均，遂移還本戍，吳人感荷。 後頗行貨賄，散費邊儲，是以聲名有損。 薨于定州刺史，諡曰康王。
His son Shizun inherited. Under Emperor Xiaoming he served as Governor of Jing Province. On the frontier, generation after generation, raids and counter-raids had been the rule. When Shizun reached the province he forbade harassment. His younger brother Jun was then in Jing Province as commandant of Chaoyang garrison. A southern garrison commandant's wife, on the third day of the third month, was playing along the Mian River; Jun sent his troops to seize her. Shizun heard of it, rebuked Jun, and had him transferred back to his original garrison. The Wu people were deeply grateful. Later he took to bribery and squandered frontier stores, and his reputation suffered. He died as Governor of Ding Province and was posthumously titled Prince Kang.
11
吐萬弟鐘葵，早卒。
Tuwán's younger brother Zhongkui died young.
12
長子法壽，累遷安州刺史。 法壽先令所親，微服入境，觀察風俗。 下車便大行賞罰，於是境內肅然。 後於河陰遇害。
His eldest son Fashou rose repeatedly to Governor of An Province. Before taking office Fashou sent trusted men in disguise across the border to observe local customs. On taking his post he at once carried out stern rewards and punishments, and the territory became orderly. Later he was killed at Heyin.
13
子慶智，性貪鄙。 為太尉主簿，事無大小，得物然後判，或十數錢，或二十錢，得便取之，府中號為「十錢主簿。」
His son Qingzhi was greedy and base. As chief clerk to the Grand Commandant, on matters great or small he would judge only after receiving something—ten or twenty coins—and pocket it on the spot. The office called him "Chief Clerk of Ten Coins."
14
法壽弟法僧，位益州刺史，殺戮自任，威怒無恆。 王、賈諸姓，州內人士，法僧皆召為卒伍，無所假縱。 於是合境皆反，招引外寇。 後拜徐州刺史。 法僧本附元叉，以驕恣，恐禍及己，將謀為逆。 時領主書兼舍人張文伯奉使徐州，法僧謂曰：「我欲與卿去危就安，能從我否？」 文伯曰：「安能棄孝義而從叛逆也！」 法僧將殺之，文伯罵曰：「僕甯死見文陵松柏，不能生作背國之虜！」 法僧殺之。 孝昌元年，法僧殺行台高諒，反于彭城。 自稱尊號，改元天啟。 大軍致討，法僧奔梁。 其武官三千餘人戍彭城者，法僧皆印額為奴，逼將南度。 梁武帝授法僧司空，封始安郡王，尋改封宋王，甚見優寵。 又進位太尉，仍立為魏主。 不行，授開府儀同三司、郢州刺史，乃徵為太尉。 卒于梁，諡曰襄厲王。 子景隆、景仲。
Fashou's younger brother Faseng served as Governor of Yi Province. He killed at will and his wrath knew no constancy. The Wang, Jia, and other leading families of the province—Faseng summoned them all as common soldiers and showed no indulgence. Then the whole province rose in revolt and called in outside raiders. Later he was appointed Governor of Xu Province. Faseng had originally attached himself to Yuan Cha. Fearful that his arrogance would bring disaster upon him, he plotted rebellion. At the time Director of Documents and concurrently Gentleman-in-Attendance Zhang Wenbo was on mission to Xu Province. Faseng said to him: "I wish to leave danger for safety with you—will you follow me?" Wenbo said: "How could I abandon filial duty and righteousness to follow a rebel!" Faseng was about to kill him. Wenbo cursed: "I would rather die among the cypresses of Wénling than live as a traitor to the state!" Faseng killed him. In the first year of Xiaochang Faseng killed the touring commissioner Gao Liang and rebelled at Pengcheng. He styled himself with an honorific title and changed the era name to Tianqi. When the great army came to punish him, Faseng fled to Liang. More than three thousand military officers garrisoning Pengcheng—Faseng branded their foreheads as slaves and forced them south. Emperor Wu of Liang appointed Faseng Minister of Works and enfeoffed him Duke of Shian, later changed to Prince of Song, with great favor. He was further promoted to Grand Commandant and set up as ruler of Wei. He would not go. He was appointed Commissioner with the Golden Seal, Minister of Works with the Same Ceremony as the Three Dukes, and Governor of Ying Province, then summoned back as Grand Commandant. He died in Liang and was posthumously titled Prince Xiangli. His sons were Jinglong and Jingzhong.
15
河南王曜，天興六年封。 五歲，嘗射雀于道武前，中之，帝驚歎焉。 及長，武藝絕人，與陽平王熙等並督諸軍講武，眾咸服其勇。 薨。
The Prince of Henan, Yao, was enfeoffed in the sixth year of Tianxing. At five he once shot a sparrow before Daowu and hit it; the emperor marveled. When grown, his martial arts were unmatched. With the Prince of Yangping Xi and others he directed armies in drill, and all submitted to his courage. He died.
16
長子提襲。 驍烈有父風，改封潁川王。 迎昭儀於塞北。 時年十六，有夙成之量，殊域敬焉。 後改封武昌，累遷統萬鎮都大將，甚見寵待。 薨，諡曰成王。
His eldest son Ti inherited. Fierce and bold with his father's spirit, his fief was changed to Prince of Yingchuan. He welcomed the Lady of Brilliant Deportment from beyond the frontier. He was then sixteen, with precocious capacity; the frontier peoples revered him. Later his fief was changed to Wuchang. He rose repeatedly to Grand General commanding Tongwan and was greatly favored. He died and was posthumously titled Prince Cheng.
17
長子和，字善意，襲爵。 初，和聘乙氏公主女為妃，生子顯，薄之。 以公主故，不得遣出。 因忿，遂自落發為沙門。 既不幸其母，乃舍顯，以爵讓其次弟鑒。 鑒固辭。 公主以其外孫不得襲爵，訴于孝文。 孝文詔鑒終之後，令顯襲爵，鑒乃受之。
His eldest son He, styled Shanyi, inherited the title. At first He betrothed the daughter of Princess Yi's clan as consort and bore a son Xian, but held her in low regard. Because of the princess he could not send her away. In anger he shaved his head and became a monk. Displeased with his mother as well, he abandoned Xian and yielded the title to his next younger brother Jian. Jian firmly refused. The princess, because her grandson could not inherit, appealed to Xiaowen. Xiaowen decreed that after Jian's death Xian should inherit; Jian then accepted.
18
鑒字紹達，沉重少言，寬和好士。 為齊州刺史。 時革變之始，鑒上書遵孝文之旨，采齊之舊風。 軌制粲然，皆合規矩。 孝文下詔褒美，班之天下，一如鑒所上。 齊人愛詠，咸曰耳目更新。
Jian, styled Shaoda, was grave and sparing of words, generous and fond of scholars. He served as Governor of Qi Province. At the beginning of the reforms Jian submitted a memorial following Xiaowen's intent, drawing on the old customs of Qi. Regulations were set forth in brilliant order, all conforming to rule. Xiaowen issued an edict of praise and promulgated it throughout the realm, exactly as Jian had submitted. The people of Qi loved to sing of it, all saying their ears and eyes had been renewed.
19
和與鑒子伯崇競求承襲，詔聽和襲，位東郡太守。 先是，郡人孫天恩家豪富，嘗與和爭地，遣奴客打和垂死。 至此，和誣天恩與北賊來往，父子兄弟一時俱戮，資財田宅皆沒於官。 天恩宗從欲詣闕訴冤，以和元叉之親，不敢告列。 和語其郡人曰：「我覓一州，亦應可得。 念此小人，痛入骨髓，故乞此郡，以報宿怨，此後更不求富貴。」 識者曰：「王當沒於此矣！」 薨，贈相州刺史。
He and Jian's son Bochong both pressed to inherit; an edict allowed He to inherit, and he held the post of Governor of Dongjun. Earlier Sun Tian'en of the commandery was a wealthy magnate. He had once disputed land with He and sent slave retainers who beat He nearly to death. Now He accused Tian'en and his sons and brothers of trafficking with northern bandits. Father, sons, and brothers were executed together, and property, goods, fields, and houses were all confiscated. Tian'en's clansmen wished to go to court to plead injustice, but because He was kin to Yuan Cha they dared not lodge a complaint. He told men of his commandery: "If I sought a whole province, I could probably get one. Thinking of this petty man, the pain goes to the marrow—so I begged this commandery to repay an old grudge. After this I will seek no more wealth or rank." Men of insight said: "The prince will perish in this place!" He died and was posthumously made Governor of Xiang Province.
20
河間王修，天賜四年封。 薨，無子，太武詔河南王曜子羯兒襲，改封略陽王。 正平初，有罪賜死，爵除。
The Prince of Hejian, Xiu, was enfeoffed in the fourth year of Tiansi. He died without sons. Taiwu decreed that the Prince of Henan Yao's son Jie'er should inherit, and his fief was changed to Prince of Lüeyang. In the beginning of Zhengping he was guilty and granted death; the title was abolished.
21
長樂王處文，天賜四年封。 聰辯夙成。 年十四，薨。 明元悼傷之，自小僉槠至葬，常親臨哀慟。 陪葬金陵，無子，爵除。
The Prince of Changle, Chuwén, was enfeoffed in the fourth year of Tiansi. Clever and eloquent from youth. At fourteen he died. Mingyuan grieved deeply. From the small catalpa coffin to the burial he often came in person to mourn. He was buried beside Jinling. Having no sons, the title was abolished.
22
廣平王連，天賜四年封。 薨，無子，太武以陽平王熙第二子渾為南平王，以繼連後。 渾好弓馬，射鳥輒曆飛而中之，日射兔得五十頭。 太武嘗命左右分射，勝者中的籌滿，詔渾解之，三發皆中。 帝大悅，器其藝能，常引侍左右。 累遷涼州鎮將、都督西戎諸軍事、領護西域校尉，恩著涼土。 更滿還京，父老皆涕泣追送，如違所親。 薨。
The Prince of Guangping, Lian, was enfeoffed in the fourth year of Tiansi. He died without sons. Taiwu made the Prince of Yangping Xi's second son Hun Prince of Nanping to continue Lian's line. Hun loved bow and horse. Shooting birds he would strike them in flight one after another, and in a day shoot fifty hares. Taiwu once ordered attendants to shoot in turns; the winner filled the tally. He ordered Hun to release, and three shots all hit. The emperor was greatly pleased, valued his skill, and often kept him at his side. He rose repeatedly to Commander of Liang Province, Commander-in-Chief of Western Rong, and Colonel Protecting the Western Regions; his grace was felt throughout Liang. When his term ended and he returned to the capital, elders wept and followed to send him off, as if parting from kin. He died.
23
子飛襲。 後賜名霄。 身長九尺，腰帶十圍，容貌魁偉，雅有風則。 貞白卓然，好直言正諫，朝臣憚之。 孝文特垂欽重，除宗正卿。 詔曰：「自今奏事，諸臣相稱，可雲姓名； 唯南平王一人，可直言其封。」 遷左光祿大夫。 薨，賜東園第一秘器。 孝文緦衰臨霄喪，宴不舉樂，諡曰安王。 子纂襲。
His son Fei inherited. Later he was granted the name Xiao. Nine feet tall, a belt ten spans round, imposing in appearance, with refined bearing. Upright and pure, he loved straight speech and remonstrance; court ministers feared him. Xiaowen especially favored him and appointed him Director of the Imperial Clan. An edict said: "From now on in memorials, ministers addressing one another may give their names; only the Prince of Nanping alone may speak his title directly." He was promoted to Left Grand Master of the Palace. He died and was granted the first-grade secret coffin of the Eastern Garden. Xiaowen wore unhemmed mourning at Xiao's funeral and held no banquets. He was posthumously titled Prince An. His son Zuan inherited.
24
京兆王黎，天賜四年封。 薨。 子吐相襲，改封江陽王。 薨，無子。
The Prince of Jingzhao, Li, was enfeoffed in the fourth year of Tiansi. He died. His son Tuxiang inherited; his fief was changed to Prince of Jiangyang. He died without sons.
25
獻文以南平王霄第二子繼字世仁為後，襲封江陽王。 宣武時，為青州刺史。 為家僮取人女為婦妾，又以良人為婢，為御史所彈，坐免官爵。 及靈太后臨朝，繼子叉先納太后妹，復繼本封； 後徙封京兆王，曆司徒，加侍中。 繼，孝文時已曆內外顯任，靈太后臨朝，入居心膂，曆轉臺司。 頻表遜位，轉太保，侍中如故，加前後部鼓吹。 詔以至節，禮有朝慶，繼位高年宿，可依齊郡王簡故事，朝訖引坐，免其拜伏。 轉太傅，侍中如故。 時叉執殺生之權，拜受之日，送者傾朝，有識者為之致懼。 又詔令乘步挽至殿廷，兩人扶侍，禮與丞相高陽王埒。 後除使持節、侍中、太師、大將軍、錄尚書事、大都督、節度西道諸軍事。 及出師，車駕臨餞，傾朝祖送。 尋加太尉公。 及班師，繼啟求還復封江陽，詔從之。 繼晚更貪婪，牧守令長新除赴官，無不受納貨賄，以相託付。 妻子各別請屬，至乃郡縣微吏，亦不獲平心選舉。 憑叉威勢，法官不敢糾擿，天下患之。 叉黜，繼廢於家。 初，爾硃榮之為直寢，數以名馬奉叉，叉接以恩意，榮甚德之。 建義初，復以繼為太師、司州牧。 永安元年，薨，贈假黃鉞都督九州諸軍，錄尚書事、大丞相如故，諡曰武烈。
Emperor Xianwen made the Prince of Nanping Xiao's second son Ji, styled Shiren, his heir; he inherited as Prince of Jiangyang. Under Emperor Xuanwu he served as Governor of Qing Province. A household slave took a man's daughter as wife and concubine, and also took free persons as maidservants. The censor impeached him and he was stripped of office and title. When Empress Dowager Ling came to court, Ji's son Cha had first taken the dowager's younger sister; Ji recovered his original fief; later his fief was changed to Prince of Jingzhao. He held the posts of Minister of State and was given the additional title of Palace Attendant. Ji, already holding prominent posts inside and outside under Xiaowen, when Ling came to court entered the inner circle of trust and rose through the high offices. He repeatedly memorialized to yield his post, was transferred to Grand Guardian, Palace Attendant as before, with drums before and behind added. An edict said that at the great festivals, when rites require court celebration, Ji by his high rank and long years might follow the precedent of Prince of Qijun Jian—after court he was led to sit, exempt from bowing and prostration. He was transferred to Grand Tutor, Palace Attendant as before. At that time Cha held the power of life and death. On the day of Ji's appointment those who escorted him filled the court, and men of insight were afraid for him. Another edict allowed him to ride in a hand-drawn carriage to the hall, two men supporting him, ceremony equal to the Prime Minister Prince of Gaoyang. Later he was made Bearer of the Staff, Palace Attendant, Grand Preceptor, Grand General, Recorder of the Masters of Writing, Grand Commander, and Commander of Western Route Military Affairs. When the army set out the emperor came to feast him; the whole court saw him off. Soon he was given the additional title Grand Commandant. When the army returned Ji memorialized asking to restore the fief of Jiangyang; the edict assented. In his later years Ji grew greedier. Governors, prefects, and magistrates newly appointed to office—all received his bribes as entrustment. Wife and sons each made separate requests; even clerks of commanderies and counties could not choose fairly. Relying on Cha's power, judicial officers dared not investigate; the realm suffered under it. When Cha was dismissed, Ji was confined at home. At first, when Erzhu Rong was in the Direct Attendance, he several times presented famous horses to Cha. Cha received him with favor, and Rong was deeply grateful. At the beginning of Jianyi he was again made Ji's Grand Preceptor and Governor of Si Province. In the first year of Yong'an he died. He was posthumously granted the golden axe, Commander of Nine Provinces, Recorder of the Masters of Writing, Grand Chancellor as before—posthumous title Prince Wulie.
26
叉字伯俊，小字夜叉。 靈太后臨朝，以叉妹夫，除通直郎。 叉妻封新平君，後遷馮翊君，拜女侍中。 叉女夭，靈太后詔贈鄉主。 叉累加侍中、領軍將軍。 既在門下，兼總禁兵，深為靈太后所信委。 太傅、清河王懌以親賢輔政，每欲斥黜之。 叉遂令通直郎宋維，告司染都尉韓文殊欲謀逆立懌，懌坐禁止。 後窮案無實，懌雖得免，猶以兵衛守于宮西別館。 久之，叉恐懌終為己害，乃與侍中劉騰密謀，詐取主食中黃門胡度、胡定列，誣懌云：「貨度等金帛，令以毒藥置禦食中以害帝。」 騰以具奏。 明帝信之，乃禦顯陽殿。 騰閉永巷門，靈太后不得出。 懌入，遇叉于含章殿后，命宗士及直齋執懌衣袂，將入含章東省。 騰稱詔集公卿議，以大逆論。 咸畏叉，無敢異者。 唯僕射游肇執意不同。 叉、騰持公卿議入奏，夜中殺懌。 於是假為靈太后辭遜詔，叉遂與太師、高陽王雍等輔政。 常直禁中，明帝呼為姨父。 自後百寮重跡。 後帝徙禦徽音殿，叉亦入居殿右，曲盡佞媚，遂出入禁中，恆令勇士持刀劍以自先後。 叉於千秋門外廠下施木闌檻，有時出入，止息其中，腹心防守，以備竊發。
Cha, styled Bojun, childhood name Yecha. When Empress Dowager Ling came to court, as Cha's brother-in-law he was made Regular Attendant. Cha's wife was enfeoffed Lady of Xinping, later Lady of Fengyi, and made Lady Attendant of the Palace. Cha's daughter died young; Ling issued an edict enfeoffing her as District Lady. Cha was repeatedly promoted to Palace Attendant and Commander of the Guards. Once in the Gate Department he also held overall command of the forbidden troops and was deeply trusted by Ling. Grand Tutor Prince of Qinghe Yi, as a kinsman and worthy man assisting in government, often wished to remove him. Cha then had Regular Attendant Song Wei report that Director of the Dye Works Han Wenshu plotted treason to set up Yi. Yi was confined. Later exhaustive investigation found no truth. Though Yi was released he was still guarded by troops in a separate lodge west of the palace. After a long while Cha feared Yi would in the end harm him. With Palace Attendant Liu Teng he secretly plotted, falsely taking the chief food-service eunuchs Hu Du and Hu Ding to accuse Yi: "He bribed Du and others with gold and silk to place poison in the imperial food to harm the emperor." Teng memorialized with the full report. Emperor Ming believed it; he then held court at Xianyang Hall. Teng closed the Eternal Lane gate; the empress dowager could not go out. Yi entered and met Cha behind Hanzhang Hall. He ordered clan guards and direct attendants to seize Yi's sleeves and bring him into the eastern office of Hanzhang. Teng claimed an edict summoning the hundred officials to discuss, charging great treason. All feared Cha and none dared dissent. Only Vice Director You Zhao held a different view. Cha and Teng took the ministers' discussion in to memorialize; in the middle of the night Yi was killed. Then they forged an edict in the empress dowager's name yielding power. Cha then with Grand Preceptor Prince of Gaoyang Yong and others assisted in government. He constantly attended in the forbidden quarters; Ming called him Uncle by marriage. After that the hundred officials trod on one another's heels. Later the emperor moved to Huiyin Hall; Cha also dwelt on the hall's right, flattering to the utmost, and went in and out of the forbidden quarters, always having brave men carry swords before and behind. Cha set wooden railings in the shed outside the Qianqiu Gate. When he went in or out he would rest there, with trusted guards against sudden attack.
27
初，叉之專政，矯情自飾，勞謙待士。 得志之後，便自驕愎，耽酒好色，與奪任情。 乃於禁中自作別庫掌握之，珍寶充牣其中。 叉曾臥婦人於食輿，以晄巴覆之。 輿入禁內，出亦如之，直衛雖知，莫敢言者。 姑姊婦女，朋淫無別。 政事怠墮，綱紀不舉。 州鎮多非其人，於是天下遂亂矣。 叉自知不法，恐被廢黜，乃陰遣弟洪業召武州人姬庫根等與之聚宴。 遂為誓盟，欲令為亂，朝廷必以己為大將軍往伐，因以共為表裏，如此可得自立。 根等然其言，乃厚遺根等，遣還州，與洪業買馬。
At first, when Cha held sole power, he feigned sentiment and adorned himself, laboring humbly to treat scholars. Once he had his wish he turned arrogant and willful, addicted to wine and women, seizing and granting at whim. He made a separate treasury in the forbidden quarters and held it himself; treasures filled it. Cha once had a woman lie in the food carriage covered with a quilt. The carriage entered the inner quarters and left the same way. The guards knew but none dared speak. Aunts, elder and younger sisters, and women—promiscuity without distinction. Government affairs languished; discipline was not upheld. Many provinces and garrisons had unfit men in office; then the realm fell into disorder. Cha knew himself unlawful and feared dismissal. He secretly sent his younger brother Hongye to summon men of Wu Province such as Ji Kugen to feast with him. They swore an oath, intending to stir rebellion so the court would surely appoint him Grand General to campaign. They would then act inside and outside together and so establish himself. Kugen and the rest agreed. He richly rewarded them and sent them back to the province to buy horses with Hongye.
28
從劉騰死後，防衛微緩。 叉頗亦自寬，時宿於外，每日出遊，留連他邑。 靈太后微察知之。 正光五年秋，靈太后對明帝謂群臣，求出家於嵩山閒居寺，欲自下發。 帝與群臣大懼，叩頭泣涕。 遂與太后密謀圖之。 乃對叉流涕，敘太后欲出家憂怖之心。 叉乃勸帝從太后意。 於是太后數禦顯陽，二宮無復禁礙。 舉其親元法僧為徐州刺史，法僧據州反叛。 靈太后數以為言，叉深愧悔。 丞相、高陽王雍雖位重於叉，而甚畏憚。 會太后與帝游洛水，遂幸雍第，定圖叉之計。 後雍從帝朝太后，乃進言叉父子權重。 太后曰：「然。 元郎若忠於朝廷，何故不去領軍，以餘官輔政？」 叉聞之甚懼，免冠求解。 乃以叉為儀同三司、尚書令、侍中、領左右。
After Liu Teng died the guard grew somewhat slack. Cha also grew somewhat at ease. He often lodged outside, going out every day to roam and lingering in other districts. Empress Dowager Ling subtly detected it. In autumn of the fifth year of Zhengguang Ling told Ming and the ministers she wished to leave the world for Xianju Temple on Mount Song and to shave her own head. The emperor and ministers were greatly afraid and kowtowed weeping. They then secretly plotted with the dowager against him. They then wept before Cha and told of the dowager's wish to leave the world and her fearful heart. Cha then urged the emperor to follow the dowager's wish. Then the dowager often held court at Xianyang; the two palaces were no longer barred. His kinsman Yuan Faseng was raised to Governor of Xu Province; Faseng held the province and rebelled. Ling spoke of it repeatedly; Cha was deeply ashamed. Prime Minister Prince of Gaoyang Yong, though higher in rank than Cha, greatly feared him. When the dowager and emperor toured the Luo River they then visited Yong's residence and settled the plan against Cha. Later Yong followed the emperor to audience with the dowager and advanced the argument that Cha father and son held excessive power. The dowager said: "So it is. If Lord Yuan is loyal to the court, why does he not leave command of the guards and assist in government with his other offices?" Cha heard and was greatly afraid. He removed his cap and begged release. Cha was then made Commissioner with the Same Ceremony as the Three Dukes, Director of the Masters of Writing, Palace Attendant, and Commander of the Left and Right.
29
叉雖去兵權，然總任內外，不慮黜廢。 又有閹人張景嵩、劉思逸、屯弘昶、伏景謀廢叉。 嵩以帝嬪潘外憐有幸，說雲，元叉欲害之。 嬪泣訴於帝云：「叉非直欲殺妾，亦將害陛下。」 帝信之。 後叉出宿，遂解其侍中。 旦欲入宮，門者不納。 尋除名。
Though Cha had lost military power he still held overall charge inside and outside and did not fear dismissal. Also eunuchs Zhang Jingsong, Liu Siyi, Tun Hongchang, and Fu Jing plotted to depose Cha. Song, because the emperor's consort Pan Wailian was favored, told Yun that Yuan Cha wished to harm her. The consort wept and told the emperor: "Cha does not only wish to kill me—he will also harm Your Majesty." The emperor believed it. Later when Cha lodged outside they removed his Palace Attendant post. At dawn he wished to enter the palace; the gatekeepers would not admit him. Soon he was struck from the rolls.
30
初，咸陽王禧以逆見誅，其子樹，梁封為鄴王。 及法僧反叛後，樹遺公卿百寮書，暴叉過惡，言：「叉本名夜叉，弟羅實名羅刹。 夜叉、羅刹，此鬼食人，非遇黑風，事同飄墮。 鳴呼魏境！ 離此二災。 惡木盜泉，不息不飲，勝名梟稱，不入不為。 況昆季此名，表能噬物，日露久矣，始信斯言。」 叉為遠近所惡如此。
At first Prince of Xianyang Xi was executed for treason; his son Shu, Liang enfeoffed as Prince of Ye. After Faseng rebelled Shu sent a letter to the hundred officials exposing Cha's crimes, saying: "Cha's original name is Yecha; his younger brother Luo's true name is Luosha. Yecha and Luosha—these demons devour men. Unless you meet a black wind you fall like blown leaves. Alas, Wei territory! Keep far from these two disasters. Evil tree, stolen spring—do not rest, do not drink; a name surpassing the owl—do not enter, do not become. How much more when brothers bear such names, showing they can devour—exposed so long, one finally believes the saying." Cha was hated near and far like this.
31
其後靈太后顧謂侍臣曰：「劉騰、元叉昔邀朕索鐵券，望得不死，朕賴不與。」 中書舍人韓子順對曰：「臣聞殺活，豈計與否。 陛下昔雖不與，何解今日不殺？」 靈太后憮然。 未幾，有人告叉及其弟爪謀反。 先遣其從弟洪業率六鎮降戶反定州； 叉令勾魯陽諸蠻侵擾伊闕，叉兄弟為內應，起有日矣，得其手書。 靈太后以妹婿故，未忍便決。 群臣固執不已，明帝又以為言，太后乃從之。 於是叉及弟爪並賜死於家。 太后猶以妹故，復追贈尚書令、冀州刺史。 叉子舒，秘書郎。 叉死後，亡奔梁，官至征北大將軍、青冀二州刺史。
Later Ling said to attendants: "Liu Teng and Yuan Cha once begged me for an iron certificate, hoping not to die. I relied on not giving it." Central Secretariat Attendant Han Zishun replied: "Your servant hears that killing and sparing do not depend on giving or not. Though Your Majesty did not give then, why not kill today?" Ling was displeased. Before long someone reported that Cha and his younger brother Zhao plotted rebellion. First he sent his cousin Hongye to lead surrendered households of the six garrisons to rebel at Ding Province; Cha ordered Gou of Luyang and various tribes to harass Yique. Cha and his brothers were inside accomplices—the day was set; they obtained his handwriting. Ling, because he was her sister's husband, could not bear to decide at once. The ministers pressed without cease; Ming also spoke; the dowager then assented. Then Cha and his younger brother Zhao were granted death at home. The dowager still because of her sister posthumously restored him Director of the Masters of Writing and Governor of Ji Province. Cha's son Shu was Secretariat Gentleman. After Cha died he fled to Liang and rose to Grand General Conquering the North and Governor of Qing and Ji Provinces.
32
子善，亦名善住。 少隨父至江南，性好學，通涉《五經》，尤明《左氏傳》。 侯景之亂，善歸周，武帝甚禮之，以為太子宮尹，賜爵江陽縣公，每執經以授太子。
His son Shan, also called Shanshan. Young he followed his father to the south. Fond of learning, he was versed in the Five Classics and especially skilled in the Zuo Commentary. In the turmoil of Hou Jing Shan returned to Zhou. Emperor Wu greatly honored him, made him Tutor of the Crown Prince's Palace, enfeoffed Duke of Jiangyang, and often lectured on the classics to the crown prince.
33
隋開皇初，拜內史侍郎，凡有敷奏，詞氣抑揚，觀者屬目。 陳使袁雅來聘，上令善就館受書。 雅出門不拜。 善論舊事有拜之儀，雅未能對。 遂拜，成禮而去。 後遷國子祭酒。 上嘗親臨釋奠，令善講《孝經》，於是敷陳義理，兼之以諫。 上大悅曰：「聞江陽之說，更起朕心。」 齎絹一百匹，衣一襲。 善之通博，在何妥之下，然以風流醖藉，俯仰可觀，音韻清朗，由是為後進所歸。 妥每懷不平，心欲屈善，因講《春秋》。 初發題，諸儒畢集，善私謂妥曰：「名望已定，幸無相苦。」 妥然之。 及就講肆，妥遂引古今滯義以難善，多不能對。 二人由是有隙。
At the beginning of Sui Kaihuang he was made Vice Director of the Secretariat. Whatever he memorialized, the tone rose and fell, and watchers fixed their eyes on him. Chen envoy Yuan Ya came on embassy; the emperor ordered Shan to go to the lodge to receive the letter. Ya went out the door without bowing. Shan argued that by old custom there was a bowing rite; Ya could not answer. He then bowed and left with the rite complete. Later he was transferred to Director of the Imperial Academy. The emperor once came in person to the libation ceremony and ordered Shan to lecture on the Classic of Filial Piety. He then set forth the meaning and also offered remonstrance. The emperor was greatly pleased and said: "Hearing Jiangyang's discourse has renewed my heart." He was given a hundred bolts of silk and one suit of clothes. Shan's breadth was below He Tuo, yet by graceful bearing he was pleasing to behold, his voice clear—thus later scholars looked up to him. Tuo always nursed resentment and wished to humble Shan; he therefore lectured on the Spring and Autumn. When the topic was first announced all the Confucians gathered. Shan privately told Tuo: "Reputation is already settled—please do not press me hard." Tuo agreed. When they came to the lecture hall Tuo then cited obscure points from antiquity to challenge Shan; he often could not answer. From this the two had a rift.
34
善以高熲有宰相之具，嘗言於上曰：「楊素粗疏，蘇威怯懦，元胄、元旻，正似鴨耳。 可以付社稷者，唯獨高熲。」 上初然之。 及熲得罪，上以善言為熲遊說，深責望之。 善憂懼，先患消渴，於是病頓而卒。
Shan, because Gao Feng had the makings of a prime minister, once told the emperor: "Yang Su is coarse, Su Wei timid, Yuan Zhou and Yuan Min are like ducks. He alone to whom the altars may be entrusted is Gao Feng." The emperor at first agreed. When Feng was punished the emperor took Shan's words as lobbying for Feng and blamed him deeply. Shan grew anxious and fearful. He had long suffered from wasting thirst, and now fell ill and died suddenly.
35
叉弟羅，字仲綱。 雖父兄貴盛，而虛己接物。 累遷青州刺史。 叉當朝專政，羅望傾四海，于時才名之士王元景、邢子才、季獎等咸為其賓客，從遊青土。 罷州，入為守正卿。 叉死後，羅通叉妻，時人穢之，或云其救命之計也。 孝武時，位尚書令、開府儀同三司、梁州刺史。 孝靜初，梁遣將圍逼，羅以州降，封南郡王。 及侯景自立，以羅為開府儀同三司、尚書令，改封江陽王。 梁元帝滅景，周文帝求羅，遂得還。 除開府儀同三司、侍中、少師，襲爵江陽王。 舒子善住，在後從南入關，羅乃以爵還善住，改封羅為固道郡公。
Cha's younger brother Luo, styled Zhonggang. Though father and brothers were noble and flourishing he humbled himself in receiving others. He rose repeatedly to Governor of Qing Province. When Cha held court and sole power Luo's fame tilted the four seas. At the time men of talent and name such as Wang Yuanjing, Xing Zicai, and Ji Jiang were all his guests and traveled with him in Qing. Leaving office he entered as Defender of Integrity. After Cha died Luo took Cha's wife; men of the time reviled it, some saying it was a plan to save his life. Under Emperor Xiaowu he held Director of the Masters of Writing, Commissioner with the Same Ceremony as the Three Dukes, and Governor of Liang Province. At the beginning of Xiaojing Liang sent generals to press the siege. Luo surrendered the province and was enfeoffed Prince of Nanjun. When Hou Jing declared himself independent he made Luo Commissioner with the Same Ceremony as the Three Dukes and Director of the Masters of Writing, and changed his fief to Prince of Jiangyang. When Liang Emperor Yuan destroyed Jing, Zhou Emperor Wen sought Luo and he was able to return. He was made Commissioner with the Same Ceremony as the Three Dukes, Palace Attendant, Junior Preceptor, and inherited as Prince of Jiangyang. Shu's son Shanshan, following later, entered the pass from the south. Luo then returned the title to Shanshan and Luo was changed to Duke of Gudao.
36
羅弟爽，字景哲。 少而機警，位給事黃門侍郎、金紫光祿大夫。 卒，諡曰懿。
Luo's younger brother Shuang, styled Jingzhe. Clever and alert from youth, he held Attendant of the Yellow Gate and Grand Master of the Palace with the Golden Seal and Purple Robe. He died; posthumous title Yi.
37
爽弟蠻，仕齊，歷位兼度支尚書，行潁州事。 坐不為繼母服，為左丞所彈。 後除開府儀同三司。 齊天保十年，大誅元氏。 昭帝元後，蠻之女也，為苦請，自市追免之，賜姓步六孤氏。 卒，贈司空。 蠻弟爪，字景邕，位給事中，與兄叉同時誅。
Shuang's younger brother Man served Qi and rose to Acting Director of Revenue and acting Governor of Ying Province. He was impeached by the Left Director for not wearing mourning for his stepmother. Later he was made Commissioner with the Same Ceremony as the Three Dukes. In the tenth year of Qi Tianbao the Yuan clan was greatly slaughtered. Emperor Zhao's Yuan empress was Man's daughter. She pleaded bitterly and bought herself back from the market to be spared; she was granted the surname Buliugu. He died and was posthumously made Minister of Works. Man's younger brother Zhao, styled Jingyong, held Attendant; with his elder brother Cha he was executed at the same time.
38
繼弟羅侯，遷洛之際，以墳陵在北，遂家于燕州之昌平郡。 內豐資產，唯以意得為適。 不入京師，在賓客往來者，必厚相禮遺，豪據北方，甚有聲稱。 以叉執權，尤不樂入仕，就拜昌平太守。
Ji's younger brother Luohou, at the move to Luoyang, because the tombs were in the north settled his household in Changping commandery of Yan Province. Rich within, he did only as he pleased. He did not enter the capital. Among guests who came and went he always gave lavish gifts and held great renown in the north. Because Cha held power he especially disliked entering office and accepted appointment as Governor of Changping alone.
39
明元皇帝七男：杜密皇后生太武皇帝； 大慕容夫人生樂平戾王丕； 安定殤王彌闕母氏； 慕容夫人生樂安宣王範； 尹夫人生永昌莊王健； 建甯王崇、新興王俊二王並闕母氏。
Emperor Mingyuan had seven sons. The Du Secret Empress bore Emperor Taiwu; the Great Consort Murong bore the Prince of Leping Li, Pi; the Prince of Anding Mi—the mother's name is unknown; Consort Murong bore the Prince of Le'an Xuan, Fan; Consort Yin bore the Prince of Yongchang Zhuang, Jian; the Prince of Jianning Chong and the Prince of Xinxing Jun—both mothers unknown.
40
樂平王丕，少有才幹。 泰常七年封，拜車騎大將軍。 後督河西、高平諸軍討南秦王楊難當。 軍至略陽，禁令齊肅，所過無私，百姓爭致牛酒。 難當懼，還仇池。 而諸將議曰：「若不誅豪帥，軍還之後，必聚而為寇。」 又以大眾遠出，不有所掠，則無以充軍實，賞將士。 將從之，時中書侍郎高元參丕軍事，諫曰：「今若誅之，是傷其向化之心，恐大軍一還，為亂必速。」 丕以為然，於是綏懷初附，秋豪無犯。
Prince of Leping, Pi, showed talent and ability from youth. In the seventh year of Taichang he received his fief and was made Grand Commandant of Cavalry. He later directed the Hexi and Gaoping armies against the Southern Qin king Yang Nandang. At Lueyang his discipline was severe and impartial; the people competed to bring him cattle and wine. Nandang, in fear, withdrew to Chouchi. The generals argued: "Unless we kill the local strongmen, they will rally into rebels once we withdraw. Besides, an army this far from home must seize something or it cannot fill its stores and pay the troops. They were about to agree when Secretariat Attendant Gao Yuan, on Pi's staff, objected: "Slaughter now will destroy their willingness to submit; the moment our main force leaves, revolt will come fast. Pi accepted this and pacified the new subjects, harming not even the lightest property.
41
初，馮弘之奔高麗，太武詔遣送之，高麗不遣。 太武怒，將討之。 丕上疏以為和龍新定，宜復之，使廣修農殖，以饒軍實，然後進圖，可一舉而滅。 帝納之，乃止。 後坐劉潔事，以憂薨，事在《潔傳》，諡曰戾王。 子拔襲爵。 後坐事賜死，國除。
Earlier, when Feng Hong had fled to Goguryeo, Emperor Taiwu ordered him handed over; Goguryeo refused. Taiwu grew angry and prepared to attack. Pi memorialized that Helong had only just been secured: restore it, expand farming to fill the granaries, then strike — Goguryeo could be taken at one blow. The emperor agreed and dropped the campaign. He later died of grief over the Liu Jie affair, treated in Liu Jie's biography; his posthumous name was Li. His son Ba inherited the title. Later, for an offense, he was ordered to die and the fief was abolished.
42
丕之薨及日者董道秀之死也，高元遂著《筮論》曰：「昔明元末，起白台，其高二十餘丈。 樂平王嘗夢登其上，四望無所見。 王以問日者董道秀。 筮之，曰：「大吉」。 王默而有喜色。 後事發，王遂憂死，而道秀棄市。 道秀若推六爻以對王曰：「易稱亢龍有悔。 窮高日亢，高而無人，不為善也。」 夫如是，則上甯于王，下保於己，福祿方至，豈有禍哉？ 今舍於本而從其末，咎釁之至，不亦宜乎！」
After Pi's death and the execution of the day-augur Dong Daoxiu, Gao Yuan wrote On Divination: "At the end of Emperor Mingyuan's reign a White Tower was built, more than twenty zhang high. The Prince of Leping once dreamed he climbed it and looked about on every side but saw nothing. The prince asked Dong Daoxiu to divine it. Daoxiu cast the hexagrams and said, "Great good fortune." The prince said nothing, but his face showed delight. When the affair broke, the prince died in grief; Daoxiu was executed in the market. Had Daoxiu read the six lines and told the prince, "The Changes says: 'The exalted dragon has regret, to rise daily higher, lofty yet without support — that is not auspicious," then above he would have kept the prince safe, below preserved himself, and fortune would have come — how could disaster follow? But he forsook the root for the branch; blame and ruin came — as they should.
43
安定王彌，泰常七年封。 薨，諡曰殤王。 無子，國除。
Prince of Anding, Mi, was enfeoffed in the seventh year of Taichang. He died; his posthumous name was Shang. He left no sons; the fief was abolished.
44
長子良，太武未有子，嘗曰：「兄弟之子猶子。」 親撫養之。 長而壯勇多知，嘗參軍國大計。 文成時，襲王，拜長安鎮都大將、雍州刺史，為內都大官。 薨，諡曰簡王。
The eldest son, Liang: before Emperor Taiwu had sons of his own, he said, "A brother's son is as one's own. He raised Liang himself. Grown, Liang was strong, brave, and well informed, and took part in major state and military decisions. Under Emperor Wencheng he inherited the princedom, became Grand General of Chang'an and Governor of Yongzhou, and served as Inner Metropolitan Official. He died; his posthumous name was Jian.
45
建甯王崇，泰常七年封。 文成時，封崇子麗濟南王。 後與京兆王杜元寶謀逆，父子並賜死。
Prince Jianning, Chong, was enfeoffed in the seventh year of Taichang. Under Wencheng, Chong's son Li was made Prince of Jinan. Later he conspired with Prince of Jingzhao Du Yuanbao; father and son were both ordered to die.
46
新興王俊，泰常七年封。 少善騎射，多藝。 坐法，削爵為公。 俊好酒色，多越法度。 又以母先遇罪死，而己被貶削，恆懷怨望，頗有悖心。 後事發，賜死，國除。
Prince of Xinxing, Jun, was enfeoffed in the seventh year of Taichang. In youth he excelled at mounted archery and had many skills. For an offense his rank was reduced to duke. Jun loved wine and women and often broke the law. His mother had earlier been condemned and died; he himself had been demoted. He nursed resentment and a rebellious temper. When the plot was exposed he was ordered to die and the fief was abolished.
47
子提襲，為梁州刺史。 以貪縱削除，加罰，徙配北鎮。 久之，提子員外郎穎免冠請解所居官，代父邊戍，孝文不許。 後昭提從駕南伐。 至洛陽，參定遷都之議。 尋卒，以預參遷都功，追封長鄉縣侯。 宣武時，贈雍州刺史，諡曰「懿」。
His son Ti inherited the line and became Governor of Liangzhou. For greed and license his title was stripped, further penalties imposed, and he was sent to the Northern Garrison. Long afterward Ti's son Ying, a staff attendant, begged to resign his office and take his father's frontier post; Emperor Xiaowen refused. Later, on the southern campaign, Ti accompanied the emperor. At Luoyang he took part in deciding the capital transfer. He soon died; for helping move the capital he was posthumously made Marquis of Changxiang. Under Emperor Xuanwu he was posthumously made Governor of Yongzhou with the posthumous name Yi.
48
子彧，字文若，紹封。 彧少有才學，當時甚美。 侍中崔光見而謂人曰：「黑頭三公，當此人也。」 少與從兄安豐王延明、中山王熙，並以宗室博古文學齊名，時人莫能定其優劣。 尚書郎范陽盧道將謂吏部清河崔休曰：「三人才學雖並優美，然安豐少於造次，中山皁白太多，未若濟南風流寬雅。」 時人為之語曰：「三王楚琳琅，未若濟南備員方。」 彧姿制閑裕，吐發流美。 琅邪王誦，有名人也，見之未嘗不心醉忘疲。 奏鄭廟歌詞，時稱其美。 除給事黃門侍郎。
His son Yu, courtesy name Wenruo, inherited the fief. Yu was gifted in letters from youth and was widely admired. Attendant-in-ordinary Cui Guang saw him and said, "Here is a young man who will reach the Three Excellencies. In youth he and his cousins Prince of Anfeng Yanming and Prince of Zhongshan Xi, all imperial clansmen learned in the classics, were equally famed; contemporaries could not rank them. Secretariat Gentleman Lu Daojiang of Fanyang told Personnel Minister Cui Xiu of Qinghe: "All three are brilliant, but Anfeng lacks quick wit, Zhongshan argues too much in black and white — neither matches Jinan's easy grace. People said: "The three princes are Chu jade, but none equals Jinan's completeness." Yu's manner was relaxed and ample; his speech flowed beautifully. Prince of Langye Wang Song, a man of renown, never met him without losing himself in delight and forgetting fatigue. He submitted temple hymns for the Zheng shrine; they were praised at court. He was appointed Supervising Attendant of the Yellow Gate.
49
彧本名亮，字仕明，時侍中穆紹與彧同署，避紹父諱，啟求改名。 詔曰：「仕明風神運吐，常自以比荀文若，可名彧，以取定體相倫之美。」 彧求復本封，詔許復封臨淮，寄食相州魏郡。 又長兼御史中尉。 彧以為倫敘得之，不謝。 領軍於忠忿，言之朝廷曰：「臨淮雖復風流可觀，而無骨鯁之操，中尉之任，恐非所堪。」 遂去威儀，單車而還，朝流為之歎息。 累遷侍中、衛將軍、左光祿大夫，兼尚書左僕射，攝選。 後以本官為東道行台。 會爾硃榮入洛，殺害元氏，彧撫膺慟哭，遂奔梁。 梁武遣其舍人陳建孫迎接，並觀彧為人。 建孫稱彧風神閑俊。 梁武亦先聞名，深相器待。 見彧于樂遊園，因設宴樂。 彧聞聲歔欷，涕淚交下，梁武為之不樂。 自前後奔叛，皆候旨稱魏為偽，唯彧表啟常雲魏臨淮王。 梁武體彧雅性，不以為責。 及知莊帝踐阼，彧以母老請還，辭旨懇切。 梁武惜其人才，又難違其意，遣其僕射徐勉私勸彧留。 彧曰：「死猶願北，況於生也？」 梁武乃以禮遣。 彧性至孝。 自經違離，不進酒肉； 憔悴容貌，見者傷之。 歷位尚書令、大司馬，兼錄尚書。
Yu's original name was Liang, courtesy Shimming; Attendant-in-ordinary Mu Shao shared his office and, to avoid Shao's father's taboo, asked that Yu be renamed. The edict said: "Shimming's bearing is lofty and fluent; he compares himself to Xun Yu — let him be named Yu, to match that stature. Yu asked to recover his original fief; the court restored Linhuai, with provisions from Weijun in Xiangzhou. He long served concurrently as Censor Commandant. Yu thought the appointment proper by seniority and did not decline. Army Supervisor Yu Zhong, resentful, told the court: "Linhuai may look elegant, but he lacks backbone — I doubt he can bear the censor's office. Yu thereupon set aside his insignia and returned in a plain cart; court opinion sighed over him. He rose through Attendant-in-ordinary, Guard General, and Left Honored Grandee to concurrent Left Vice Director of the Secretariat, overseeing appointments. Later he became Eastern Route Commissioner while keeping his prior offices. When Erzhu Rong entered Luoyang and slaughtered the Yuan, Yu beat his breast and wept, then fled to Liang. Emperor Wu of Liang sent his attendant Chen Jiansun to welcome him and take his measure. Jiansun reported that Yu's bearing was easy and handsome. The Liang emperor had already heard of him and valued him highly. He received Yu at Leyou Garden and gave a banquet with music. Yu sighed and wept at the music; the emperor was displeased. Other defectors called Wei a false dynasty at court's cue; only Yu in his memorials still wrote Prince of Linhuai of Wei. The Liang emperor respected Yu's refinement and did not reproach him. Learning that Emperor Zhuangang had taken the throne, Yu begged to return because his mother was old; his plea was urgent and sharp. The emperor prized his talent but could not refuse his wish; he sent Vice Director Xu Mian privately to persuade him to stay. Yu said, "Even in death I would choose the north — how much more while I live? The Liang emperor then sent him home with full ceremony. Yu was deeply filial. From the day he left his mother he took no wine or meat; his face grew haggard; all who saw him were moved. He served as Minister Director, Grand Marshal, and concurrent Recorder of the Secretariat.
50
莊帝追崇武宣王為文穆皇帝，廟號肅祖，母李妃為文穆皇后。 將遷神主於太廟，以孝文為伯考。 彧表諫，以為：「漢祖創業，香街有太上之廟； 光武中興，南頓立春陵之寢。 元帝之于光武，疏為絕服，猶尚身奉子道，入繼大宗。 高祖之于聖躬，親實猶子，陛下既纂洪緒，豈宜加伯考之名？ 且漢宣之繼孝昭，斯乃上後叔祖，豈忘宗承考妣？ 蓋以大義斯奪。 及金德將興，宣王受寄，景王意在毀冕，文王心規裂冠。 雖祭則魏主，而權歸晉室。 昆之與季，實傾曹氏。 且子元宣王塚胤，文王成其大業。 故晉武繼文祖武，宣有伯考之稱。 以今類古，恐或非儔。 高祖德溢寰中，道超無外。 肅祖雖勳格宇宙，猶曾奉贄稱臣。 穆後稟德坤元，復將配享乾位。 此乃君臣並筵，嫂叔同室，曆觀墳籍，未有其事。」 時莊帝意銳，朝臣無敢言者，唯彧與吏部尚書李神俊並有表聞。 詔報曰：「文穆皇帝勳格四表，道邁百王，是用考循舊範，恭上尊號。 王表雲漢太上於香街，南頓於春陵。 漢高不因瓜瓞之緒，光武又無世及之德，皆身受符命，不由父祖。 別廟異寢，于理何差？ 文穆皇帝天眷人宅，歷數有歸。 朕忝承下武，遂主神器。 既帝業有統，漢氏非倫。 若以昔況今，不當移寢。 則魏太祖、晉景帝雖王跡已顯，皆以人臣而終，豈得與餘帝別廟，有闕餘序？ 漢郡國立廟者，欲尊高祖之德，使饗遍天下」非關太廟神主，獨在外祠薦。 漢宣之父，亦非勳德所出，雖不追尊，不亦可乎？ 伯考之名，自是尊卑之稱，何必准古而言非類也。 復雲君臣同列，嫂叔共室。 當以文穆皇帝昔遂臣道，以此為疑。 《禮》'天子元子猶士'，禘祫豈不得同室乎？ 且晉文、景共為一代，議者雲世限七，主無定數。 昭穆既同，明有共室之理。 禮既有祔，嫂叔何嫌？ 《禮》，大祖、禰一廟，豈無婦舅共室也？ 若專以共室為疑，容可更議遷毀。」 莊帝既逼諸妹之請，此詞意黃門侍郎常景、中書侍郎邢子才所贊成也。 又追尊兄彭城王為孝宣帝。 彧又面諫曰：「陛下作而不法，後世何觀？ 曆尋書籍，未有其事。」 帝不從。 及神主入廟。 復敕百官悉陪從，一依乘輿之式。 彧上表以為：「爰自中古，迄于下葉，崇尚君親，褒明功懿，乃有皇號，終無帝名。 今若去帝，直留皇名，求之古義，少有依准。」 又不納。
Emperor Zhuangang posthumously honored Martial Emperor Wu of Xuan as Cultured and Solemn Emperor, temple name Su Ancestor, and his mother Consort Li as Cultured and Solemn Empress. When the court prepared to move their spirit tablets into the Ancestral Temple, it treated Emperor Xiaowen as a father's younger brother in the rites. Yu remonstrated in a memorial: "When the Han founder began the enterprise, Xiang Street held the Grand Supreme's temple; when Guangwu restored the house, Nandun had Chunling's shrine. Emperor Yuan to Guangwu was only a distant kinsman, past the mourning limit, yet still served him as a son and entered the great lineage. Gaozu to Your Majesty's person was in truth like father to son; having inherited the great succession, how can you add a father's younger brother to the temple? When Han Xuandi succeeded Xiaozhao, he elevated a younger uncle — yet he did not forget the lineage that received father and mother in sacrifice. Great principle overrode kinship. When Jin's mandate rose, Prince Xuan took the regency; Prince Jing aimed to cast off the crown; Prince Wen plotted to split the realm. Sacrifice still named Wei, but power passed to Jin. Sima Kun and Ji in fact overturned the Cao house. Ziyuan was Xuan's line from the tomb; Wen finished the great enterprise. Thus Jin Wudi succeeded the literary and martial ancestors; Xuan rightly bore the title of father's younger brother. To compare today with that past, I fear the cases do not match. Emperor Gaozu's virtue filled the realm; his Way surpassed all bounds. Su Ancestor's merit spanned the cosmos, yet he had once offered tribute and called himself a subject. Empress Mu embodied earth's virtue and was again to be paired with heaven in sacrifice. That would seat ruler and subject at one table and brother's wife with husband's brother in one hall — in all the tombs and annals, nothing like it exists. Zhuangang's mind was set; no minister dared speak — only Yu and Personnel Minister Li Shenjun submitted memorials. The edict answered: "Cultured and Solemn Emperor's merit reached the four seas and his Way surpassed the hundred kings; we therefore follow old precedent and raise his honored title. Your memorial cites Han's Grand Supreme at Xiang Street and Nandun at Chunling. Han Gaozu did not inherit through collateral lines; Guangwu had no hereditary merit — both received the mandate themselves, not from forefathers. Separate temples and different shrines — what difference in principle? Cultured and Solemn Emperor had heaven's favor and the people's dwelling; the succession had its due return. We humbly inherit the martial line and now hold the imperial throne. Since the imperial line is continuous, the Han cases are not parallel. If the past governs the present, you say we should not move the shrine. Yet Wei Taizu and Jin Jingdi, though their kingship was plain, died as subjects — can they have separate temples apart from other emperors and break the sequence? When Han commanderies and kingdoms built temples, it was to spread Gaozu's virtue through offerings everywhere — not the Ancestral Temple tablets kept in outer shrines. Xuandi's father likewise owed nothing to merit — though not ennobled posthumously, is that not acceptable? The title father's younger brother is itself a rank of seniority — why must antiquity forbid what fits? You also object that ruler and subject would sit in one row and brother's wife with husband's brother in one chamber. That is because Cultured and Solemn Emperor once stood in the subject's place — hence your doubt. The Rites say the crown prince is still like a scholar — for di and fu sacrifices, may they not share one hall? Jin Wen and Jing belong to one generation; some say the limit is seven generations, but the main line has no fixed count. If zhao and mu align, they clearly may share a chamber. The Rites already allow fu pairing — what scruple remains for brother's wife and husband's brother? Great Ancestor and Father Ancestor share one temple in the Rites — may wife's uncle not share a hall? If sharing a chamber alone is the objection, we may debate removal instead. Zhuangang, pressed by his younger sisters' plea, adopted language that Yellow Gate Attendant Chang Jing and Secretariat Attendant Xing Zicai had endorsed. He also posthumously honored his elder brother Prince of Pengcheng as Filial and Solemn Emperor. Yu remonstrated again in person: "Your Majesty acts without precedent — what will posterity see? Search the books — nothing like this exists. The emperor would not listen. When the tablets entered the temple, he again ordered every official to attend, all in the form reserved for the imperial carriage. Yu memorialized: "From middle antiquity to later ages, honoring rulers and kin and praising merit used imperial titles, never emperor names. To drop emperor and keep only imperial title finds little support in antiquity. Again the court did not accept it.
51
爾硃榮死，除彧司徒公。 及爾硃兆率眾奄至，出東掖門，為賊所獲。 見兆，辭色不屈，為群胡所毆，薨。 孝武帝末，贈大將軍、太師、太尉公、錄尚書事，諡曰文穆。 彧美風韻，善進止，衣冠之下，雅有容則。 博覽群書，不為章句，所制文藻，雖多亡失，猶有傳於世者。 然居官不能清白，所進舉止於親婭，為識者所譏。 無子。
After Erzhu Rong's death, Yu was made Minister of Works. When Erzhu Zhao's army suddenly arrived, Yu left by the eastern side gate and was seized. Before Zhao his speech and bearing did not break; the Hu mob beat him to death. At the end of Emperor Xiaowu's reign he was posthumously made Grand General, Grand Preceptor, Grand Commandant, and Recorder of the Secretariat, with the posthumous name Cultured and Solemn. Yu had fine presence and grace in movement; even in ordinary dress he kept an elegant bearing. He read widely without pedantic glossing; much of his writing is lost, but some still circulates. Yet in office he was not clean-handed; his promotions favored in-laws, which the knowing mocked. He had no sons.
52
弟孝友，少有時譽，襲爵臨淮王，累遷滄州刺史。 為政溫和，好行小惠，不能清白，而無所侵犯，百姓亦以此便之。 魏靜帝宴齊文襄于華林園，孝友因醉自譽，又云：「陛下許賜臣能。」 帝笑曰：「朕恆聞王自道清。」 文襄曰：「臨淮王雅旨舍罪。」 於是君臣俱笑而不罪。 孝友明于政理，嘗奏表曰：
His younger brother Xiaoyou, famed in youth, inherited Linhuai and rose to Governor of Cangzhou. His rule was mild and fond of small favors; he was not clean but did not prey on the people, who found him easy to live under. Emperor Jing of Wei feasted Qi Wenxiang at Hualin Garden; Xiaoyou, drunk, boasted and said, "Your Majesty promised to grant me talent. The emperor laughed: "We always hear you call yourself incorrupt." Wenxiang said, "Prince of Linhuai in his refinement pardons the slip." Ruler and ministers laughed and let it pass. Xiaoyou understood governance and once submitted a memorial:
53
令制百家為黨族，二十家為閭，五家為比鄰。 百家之內，有帥二十五，徵發皆免，苦樂不均。 羊少狼多，復有蠶食。 此之為弊久矣。 京邑諸坊，或七八百家，唯一里正、二史，庶事無闕，而況外州乎？ 請依舊置，三正之名不改，而百家為於，四閭，閭二比，計族少十二丁，得十二匹貲絹。 略計見管之戶，應二萬餘族，一歲出貲絹二十四萬匹。 十五丁出一番兵，計得一萬六千兵。 此富國安人之道也。
"Present law makes a hundred households a party, twenty a lane, five a neighborhood. Within each hundred households are twenty-five leaders exempt from levy and corvée — the burden falls unevenly. Too few bear the load, too many feed on it; layer on layer they devour the people. This abuse is old. In the capital some wards have seven or eight hundred households yet only one lane chief and two clerks, and affairs still run — how much more in the provinces? Restore the old structure, keep the three chief titles, but make a hundred households the unit, four lanes, two neighborhoods per lane — twelve fewer adult males per clan, twelve bolts of silk tribute gained. Roughly, registered households yield more than twenty thousand clans — twenty-four thousand bolts of silk a year. Fifteen ding supply one rotating soldier — about sixteen thousand troops. That is the way to enrich the state and secure the people.
54
古諸侯娶九女，士有一妻二妾。 《晉令》：諸王置妾八人； 郡君、侯，妾六人。 《官品令》：第一、第二品有四妾； 第三、第四有三妾； 第五、第六有二妾； 第七、第八有一妾。 所以陰教聿修，繼祠有廣。 廣繼嗣，孝也。 修陰教，禮也。 而聖朝忽棄此數，由來漸久，將相多尚公主，王侯娶後族，故無妾媵，習以為常。 婦人多幸，生逢今世，舉朝略是無妾，天下殆皆一妻。 設令人強志廣娶，則家道離索，身事迍邅，內外親知共相嗤怪。 凡今之人，通無准節。 父母嫁女，則教之以妒； 姑姊逢迎，必相勸以忌。 持制夫為婦德，以能妒為女工。 自雲受人欺，畏他笑我。 王公猶自一心，以下何敢二意！ 夫妒忌之心生，則妻妾之禮廢； 妻妾之禮廢，則姦淫之兆興，斯臣之所以毒恨者也。 請以王、公、第一品娶八，通妻以備九女； 稱事二品備七； 三品、四品備五； 五品、六品則一妻二妾。 限以一周，悉令充數。 若不充數，及待妾非禮，使妻妒加捶撻，免所居官。 其妻無子而不娶妾，斯則自絕，無以血食祖父，請科不孝之罪，離遣其妻。
Ancient feudal lords took nine wives; scholars had one wife and two concubines. Jin law allowed princes eight concubines; commandery lords and marquises six. Office Rank law gave first and second ranks four concubines; third and fourth ranks three; fifth and sixth two; seventh and eighth one. Thus the women's quarter was maintained and the sacrificial line broadened. Many heirs are filial piety. Maintaining the women's quarter is ritual. Yet the court has long abandoned these numbers; ministers marry imperial princesses, kings and marquises take empresses' kin — concubines vanished and custom froze. Women are fortunate to live now: the court almost has no concubines; the realm is nearly all monogamous. If a man forced himself to take many wives, his household would fracture, his affairs stall, and kin and neighbors would laugh. Today everyone lacks a standard. Parents marrying daughters teach jealousy; aunts and sisters urge suspicion. Controlling the husband is called wifely virtue; skill in jealousy, woman's craft. They say they are bullied and fear being mocked. Even kings and dukes keep one heart — how dare inferiors have two! When jealousy rises, wife-and-concubine ritual dies; when that ritual dies, adultery follows — this your subject bitterly hates. Let kings, dukes, and first rank take eight concubines plus wife for nine women; second rank seven; third and fourth five; fifth and sixth one wife and two concubines. Within one year all must fill their quota. Whoever falls short, or keeps concubines irregularly, or lets a jealous wife beat them — strip his office. A wife without sons who will not accept concubines cuts off the line — sentence unfilial conduct and divorce her.
55
臣之赤心，義唯家國，欲使吉凶無不合禮，貴賤各有其宜。 省人帥以出兵丁，立倉儲以豐穀食。 設賞格以禽奸盜，行典令以示朝章。 庶使足食足兵，人信之矣。 又冒申妻妾之數，正欲使王侯將相，功臣子弟，苗胤滿朝，傳祚無窮，此臣之志也。
Your subject's sole aim is the family and state: let ritual govern fortune and misfortune, and each rank keep its place. Cut petty chiefs to raise soldiers; build granaries to fill them. Set rewards to catch thieves; publish statutes to show the court's law. Then food and arms will suffice and the people will trust the throne. I also urge restoring concubine quotas so princes, ministers, and their sons may fill the court with heirs and the line never end — that is my wish."
56
詔付有司，議奏不同。
The edict went to the ministries; their report disagreed.
57
孝友又言：「今人生為皁隸，葬擬王侯，存沒異途，無復節制。 崇壯丘隴，盛飾祭儀，鄰里相榮，稱為至孝。 又夫婦之始，王化所先，共食合瓢，足以成禮。 而今之富者彌奢，同牢之設，甚於祭槃。 累魚成山，山有林木，林木之上，鸞鳳斯存。 徒有煩勞，終成委棄，仰惟天意，其或不然。 請自茲以後，若婚葬過禮者，以違旨論。 官司不加糾劾，即與同罪。
Xiaoyou added: "Men live like bondsmen yet bury like princes — life and death follow different rules, and restraint is gone. They raise great mounds and lavish funerals; neighbors praise it as perfect filial piety. Marriage is the start of royal teaching; shared food and joined gourds are ritual enough. Yet the rich grow more extravagant; wedding feasts outdo sacrificial spreads. They pile fish into mountains, set trees on them, and perch phoenixes atop — mere labor ending in waste. Heaven's intent, I think, is otherwise. Henceforth, whoever exceeds ritual in marriage or burial violates the edict. Officials who fail to investigate share the guilt.
58
孝友在尹積年，以法自守，甚著聲稱。 然性無骨鯁，善事權勢，為正直者所譏。 齊天保初，准例降爵，封臨淮縣公，拜光祿大夫。 二年冬，被詔入晉陽宮，出與元暉業同被害。
Xiaoyou served many years as capital intendant, kept the law himself, and won a strong reputation. Yet he lacked backbone and courted the powerful; the upright mocked him for it. At the start of Qi Tianbao his rank was reduced by precedent to Marquis of Linhuai county and Honored Grandee of Light. In the second winter he was summoned to Jinyang Palace and killed together with Yuan Huiye.
59
昌弟孚，字秀和，少有令譽。 侍中游肇、并州刺史高聰、司徒崔光等見孚，咸曰：「此子當准的人物，恨吾徒衰暮，不及見耳。」 累遷兼尚書右丞。 靈太后臨朝，宦者幹政，孚乃總括古今名妃賢後，凡為四卷，奏之。 遷左丞。
His clansman younger brother Fu, courtesy Xiuhe, was famed in youth. You Zhao, Gao Cong of Bingzhou, Cui Guang, and others said of him: "This boy will match the great men of the age — pity we are old and will not see it. He rose to concurrent Right Vice Director of the Secretariat. When Empress Dowager Ling ruled and eunuchs meddled, Fu compiled four scrolls of famous consorts and worthy empresses and presented them. He was promoted to Left Vice Director.
60
蠕蠕主阿那瑰既得反國，其人大饑，相率入塞，阿那瑰上表請台振給。 詔孚為北道行台，詣彼振恤，孚陳便宜表曰：
When the Rouran lord Anagui recovered his realm his people starved and poured through the passes; Anagui asked the court for relief. The court made Fu Northern Route Commissioner to bring aid; he memorialized:
61
皮服之人，未嘗粒食，宜從俗因利，拯其所無。 昔漢建武中，單于款塞，時轉河東米Я二萬五千斛、牛羊三萬六千頭以給之。 斯則前代和戎，撫新柔遠之長策也。 乞以牸牛產羊，糊其口食。 且畜牧繁息，是其所便； 毛血之利，惠兼衣食。
"Leather-clad peoples have never lived on grain; aid should follow their ways and supply what they lack. In Han Jianwu, when the Shanyu came to the frontier, the court sent twenty-five thousand hu of Hedong grain and thirty-six thousand head of cattle and sheep. That was the old policy of pacifying the Rong and winning the newly submitted. Grant breeding cattle and ewes and feed them dairy. Herding is their strength; wool and meat serve both clothing and food.
62
又尚書奏云：如其仍住七州，隨寬置之。 臣謂人情戀本，寧肯徙內？ 若依臣請，給振雜畜，愛本重鄉，必還舊土。 如其不然，禁留益損。 假令逼徙，事非久計。 何者？ 人面獸心，去留難測。 既易水草，屙恙將多； 憂愁致困，死亡必甚。 兼其餘類，尚在沙磧； 脫出狂勃，翻歸舊巢，必殘掠邑裏，遺毒百姓。 亂而方塞，未若杜其未萌。 又貿遷起於上古，交易行於中世。 漢與胡通，亦立關市。 今北人阻饑，命懸溝壑； 公給之外，必求市易。 彼若願求，宜見聽許。
The Secretariat also proposed settling them across seven provinces wherever space allowed. I say people cling to home — will they willingly move inland? If you follow my plan and give mixed herds, cherishing home, they will return to their old lands. Otherwise detention only deepens the harm. Forced migration is no long-term policy. Why? Human faces hide beast hearts; loyalty is hard to read. Change their pasture and sickness multiplies; grief and want will kill many. Their kin remain in the desert; if they break free and return, they will ravage the border and poison the people. To seal the passes after chaos is worse than stopping the sprout. Trade is ancient; barter flourished in middle antiquity. Han dealt with the Hu and set border markets. Now the north starves; lives hang over the abyss. Beyond public relief they must trade. If they ask to buy, grant it.
63
又云：
He also wrote:
64
營大者不計小名，圖遠者弗拘近利。 雖戎狄衰盛，歷代不同，叛服之情，略可論討。 周之北伐，僅獲中規； 漢氏外攘，裁收下策。 昔在代京，恆為重備，將帥勞止，甲士疲力。 計前世苦之，力未能致。 今天祚大魏，亂亡在彼。 朝廷垂天覆之恩，廓大造之德，鳩其散亡，禮送令反，宜因此時，善思遠策。 竊以理雖萬變，可以一觀； 來事雖懸，易以往卜。 昔漢宣之世，呼韓款塞，漢遣董忠、韓昌領邊郡士馬，送出朔方，因留衛助。 又光武時，亦令中郎將段彬置安集掾史，隨單于所在，參察動靜。 斯皆守吉之元龜，安邊之勝策。 計今朝廷成功，不減曩時，蠕蠕國弊，亦同疇日。 宜准昔成謀，略依舊事，借其所閑地，聽使田牧。 粗置官屬，示相慰撫。 嚴戒邊兵，以見保衛。 馭以仁寬，縻以久策。 使親不至矯詐，疏不容叛反。 今北鎮諸將，舊常雲一人代外邏，因令防察。 所謂天子有道，守在四夷者也。
"Great undertakings ignore petty reputation; distant plans do not cling to immediate gain. Barbarian strength shifts with each age, but their pattern of submission and revolt can be weighed. Zhou's northern campaigns barely achieved middling success; Han outward expansion often took the lesser plan. At the old capital Dai the frontier was always heavily garrisoned; generals wore out and soldiers drained away. Past dynasties suffered this because force alone could not finish the work. Now heaven favors great Wei; their disorder is their own. The court spreads sheltering grace and vast mercy, gathers their scattered, and sends them home with ritual — this is the moment for far-sighted policy. Principle shifts in ten thousand ways yet may be read in one glance; the future, though uncertain, may be divined from the past. In Han Xuandi's time Huhanye came to the passes; Han sent Dong Zhong and Han Chang with border troops to escort him beyond Shuofang and left guards to assist. Under Guangwu, Central Gentlemen Duan Bin placed Pacification clerks with the Shanyu to watch his movements. Those were the tortoise of good fortune and the winning border strategy. Today's court is no weaker than those ages; Rouran's exhaustion matches yesterday's. Follow the old completed plans: lend idle land and let them herd. Place officials to show care. Warn the border troops to protect them visibly. Rule them with kindness and bind them with long policy. Keep the near from deceit and the far from revolt. Northern Garrison generals still rotate one officer to the frontier for inspection. That is what it means to say: when the Son of Heaven holds the Way, defense lies in the four barbarians.
65
又云：
He also wrote:
66
先人有奪人之心，待降如受強敵。 武非尋外，亦以防內。 若從處分割配，諸州鎮遼遠，非轉輸可到，悔叛之情，變起難測。 又居人畜業，布在原野，戎夷性貪，見則思盜； 防彼肅此，少兵不堪。 渾流之際，易相干犯。 驅之還本，未必樂去，配州內徙，復不肯從。 既其如此，為費必大。
"Forefathers kept the heart of conquest even toward those who submitted. Arms serve not only the frontier but the interior. If we split and assign them among distant provinces, supply cannot follow and repentant revolt may arise unmeasured. Their herds lie open on the steppe; barbarians are greedy and theft tempts them; guarding one place leaves too few men elsewhere. In turbulent times clashes come easily. Drive them home and they may not wish to go; move them inland and they will refuse. Either way the cost will be vast.
67
朝廷不許。
The court did not accept.
68
孚持白武幡勞阿那瑰于柔玄、懷荒二鎮間。 阿那環瑰眾號三十萬，陰有異意，遂拘留孚。 載以韞車，日給酪一升、肉一段。 每集其眾，坐孚車廂，稱為行台，甚加禮敬。 阿那瑰遂南過，至舊京。 後遣孚等還，因上表謝罪。 有司以孚事下廷尉，丞高謙之雲孚辱命，處孚流罪。
Fu carried the white peace banner to console Anagui between Rouxuan and Huaihuang. Anagui's following was said to number three hundred thousand; he secretly harbored other plans and detained Fu. They loaded him in a covered cart and gave him daily a sheng of curd and a portion of meat. Whenever he assembled his men he seated Fu in the carriage compartment, called him Route Commissioner, and treated him with great honor. Anagui then marched south to the old capital. Later he sent Fu and the others back and submitted an apology. The ministries referred Fu to the Court of Justice; Vice Director Gao Qianzhi said Fu had disgraced his commission and urged exile.
69
後拜冀州刺史。 孚勸課農桑，境內稱慈父，鄰州號曰神君。 先是，州人張孟都、張洪建、馬潘、崔獨憐、張叔緒、崔醜、張天宜、崔思哲等八人，皆屯保林野，不臣王命，州郡號曰八王。 孚至，皆請入城，願致死效力。 後為葛榮所陷，為榮所執。 兄祐為防城都督，兄子禮為錄事參軍。 榮欲先害子禮，孚請先死以贖子禮，叩頭流血，榮乃舍之。 又大集將士，議其死事。 孚兄弟各誣己引過，爭相為死。 又孟都、潘紹等數百人皆叩頭就法，請活使君。 榮曰：「此魏之誠臣義士也。」 凡同禁五百人，皆得免。 榮卒，還除冀州刺史。 元顥入洛，授孚東道行台、彭城郡王。 孚封顥逆書送朝廷，天子嘉之。 顥卒，封孚萬年鄉男。
He was later made Governor of Jizhou. Fu promoted sericulture and farming; his province called him kind father, neighboring ones divine lord. Eight men of the province — Zhang Mengdu, Zhang Hongjian, Ma Pan, Cui Dulian, Zhang Shuxu, Cui Chou, Zhang Tianyi, and Cui Sizhe — had held wild fortresses and defied the throne; the region called them the Eight Kings. When Fu arrived they all entered the cities and offered their lives in service. Later Ge Rong captured him. His brother You was Defense City Metropolitan Commander; his nephew Li was Recording Office Attendant. Rong meant to kill Li first; Fu begged to die in his stead, knocking his head until blood ran, and Rong spared Li. Rong again gathered his officers to decide Fu's fate. Fu's brothers each claimed the fault as his own and vied to die. Mengdu, Pan Shao, and hundreds more bowed their heads for execution, begging Rong to spare their lord. Rong said, "These are Wei's loyal and righteous men. Five hundred held with him were all released. After Rong's death he returned as Governor of Jizhou. When Yuan Hao entered Luoyang he made Fu Eastern Route Commissioner and Prince of Pengcheng. Fu sealed Hao's rebel letters and sent them to court; the emperor praised him. When Hao died, Fu was enfeoffed Marquis of Wannian township.
70
永安末，樂器殘缺，莊帝命孚監儀注。 孚上表曰：
At the end of Yong'an the ritual instruments were broken; Emperor Zhuangang ordered Fu to supervise the regulations. Fu memorialized:
71
昔太和中，中書監高閭、太樂令公孫崇修造金石，數十年間，乃奏成功。 時大集儒生，考其得失。 太常卿劉芳請別營造，久而方就。 復召公卿量校合否，論者沸騰，莫有適從。 登被旨敕，並見施用。 往歲大軍入洛，戎馬交馳，所有樂器，亡失垂盡。 臣至太樂署，問太樂令張乾龜等，雲承前以來，置宮懸四箱，栒虡六架，東北架編黃鐘之磬十四。 雖器名黃鐘，而聲實夷則； 考之音制，不甚諧韻。 姑洗懸于東北，太蔟編於西北，蕤賓列於西南。 並皆器象差位，調律不和。 又有儀鐘十四，虡懸架首，初不叩擊，今便刪廢，以從正則。 臣今據《周禮鳧氏》修廣之規，《磬氏》倨句之法，吹律求聲，叩鐘求音； 損除繁雜，討論實錄。 依十二月為十二宮。 各准辰次，當位懸設。 月聲既備，隨用擊奏。 則會還相為宮之義，又得律呂相生之體。 今量鐘磬之數，各以十二架為定。
"In the great Taihe era, Secretariat Supervisor Gao Lu and Grand Music Master Gongsun Chong rebuilt the bells and stones; decades passed before they reported success. Confucian scholars were gathered to judge the result. Grand Minister Liu Fang asked for a separate set; long after, that too was finished. Dukes and ministers were summoned to compare them; debate boiled and no consensus held. Emperor Xiaowen ordered both adopted. Last year the great army entered Luoyang; in the fighting nearly all instruments were lost. At the Grand Music Office, Grand Music Master Zhang Qian'gui told me that since former times the court kept four cases of palace bells, six wooden frames, and on the northeast frame fourteen Yellow Bell chimes. Though named Yellow Bell, they actually sound Yize; and measured against the pitch standard they are badly out of tune. Gu Xian hung in the northeast, Tai Cu in the northwest, Rui Bin in the southwest. Every instrument stood in the wrong place; pitch and tuning did not agree. Fourteen ceremonial bells on beast-headed frames had never been struck; he now proposed abolishing them to restore proper order. He followed the Zhou Rite's Bell-Maker for dimensions and the Stone-Chime-Maker for angles, blowing pipes to fix pitch and striking bells to test tone. He stripped away excess and settled on what the records actually required. He aligned the twelve months with twelve palace stations. Each matched its season and hung where it belonged. Once every month's tone was in place, musicians could strike them as the rite demanded. Thus the bells could cycle through the modes and embody the law by which pitches beget one another. He fixed the count of bells and stone chimes at twelve frames each.
72
奏可。 于時搢紳之士，咸往觀聽，靡不咨嗟歎服而反。 太傅、錄尚書長孫承業妙解聲律，特復稱善。
The emperor approved. Court gentlemen flocked to hear the new arrangement and left sighing in admiration. Grand Tutor Changsun Chengye, a master of pitch, praised the reform again.
73
復從孝武帝入關，除尚書左僕射、扶風郡王。 尋監國史。 歷位司空、兼尚書令、太保。 時蠕蠕主與孚相識，先請見孚，然後遣女。 於是乃使孚行。 蠕蠕君臣見孚，莫不歡悅，奉皇后來歸。
He followed Emperor Xiaowu west, became left vice director of the Masters of Writing, and was enfeoffed Prince of Fufeng. Soon he supervised the national history. He rose through Minister of Works, concurrent director of the Masters of Writing, and Grand Guardian. The Rouran khan knew Fu and insisted on seeing him before sending his daughter. The court therefore sent Fu on the embassy. Rouran lord and ministers rejoiced at Fu and escorted their queen into Wei marriage.
74
孚性機辯，好酒，貌短而禿。 周文帝偏所眷顧，嘗於室內置酒十瓨，瓨餘一斛，上皆加帽，欲戲孚。 孚適入室，見即驚喜，曰：「吾兄弟輩甚無禮，何為竊入王家，匡坐相對？ 宜早還宅也。」 因持酒歸。 周文撫手大笑。 後遇風患，手足不隨，口不能言，乃左手畫地作字，乞解所任。 三奏不許。 遷太傅。 薨。 帝親臨，百官赴吊。 贈大司馬、錄尚書事，諡曰文簡。
Fu was quick-witted, fond of wine, short, and bald. Emperor Wen of Zhou favored him; once he set ten capped jars in the room, each holding over a bushel, to tease him. Fu entered, feigned shock and delight, and said, "Brothers, how rude—why break into the royal house and sit drinking together? Go home at once. He carried off the wine. Emperor Wen clapped and laughed. Later wind illness left him mute and paralyzed; he wrote on the floor with his left hand, begging to be relieved. Three memorials were refused. He was made Grand Tutor. He died. The emperor came in person; officials attended the mourning. He was posthumously Grand Marshal and director of the Masters of Writing, posthumous name Wenjian.
75
子端嗣，位大行台尚書、華州刺史。 性疏佷，頗以基地驕物，時論鄙之。
His son Duan inherited, becoming director on the grand marshalate staff and inspector of Hua. Coarse and proud of his estates, he looked down on others; men of the day despised him.
76
石侯弟嘉，少沉敏，喜慍不形於色，兼有武略。 孝文初，拜徐州刺史，甚有威惠。 後封廣陽王，以紹建後。 孝文南伐，詔嘉斷均口。 嘉違失指授，令賊得免。 帝怒責之曰：「叔祖定非世孫，何太不上類也！」 及將大漸，遺詔以嘉為尚書左僕射，與咸陽王禧等輔政。 遷司州牧。 嘉表請於京四面築坊三百二十，各周一千二百步，乞發三正復丁，以充茲役。 雖有暫勞，奸盜永止。 詔從之。 拜衛大將軍、尚書令，除儀同三司。
Jia, younger brother of the Stone Marquis, was grave and keen from youth; joy and anger never showed, and he had military talent. At Xiaowen's accession he became inspector of Xuzhou, stern yet merciful. Later he was enfeoffed Prince of Guangyang to continue the founding house. On Xiaowen's southern campaign he ordered Jia to seal Junkou. Jia missed his orders and let the enemy escape. The emperor raged: "Uncle, you cannot be a true heir of the house—how unlike your line! On his deathbed he named Jia left vice director, with Prince Xi of Xianyang and others as regents. Jia became governor of Sizhou. He asked to ring the capital with three hundred twenty wards of twelve hundred paces each, levying every corvée category to build them. The labor would be brief, he said, but theft would end for good. The edict approved. He became guards general and director of the Masters of Writing with rank equal to the Three Excellencies.
77
嘉后妃宜都王穆壽孫女，司空從妹也。 聰明婦人。 及為嘉妃，多所匡贊，光益家道。
His consort was granddaughter of Prince Yidu Mu Shou and cousin to the Minister of Works. She was a clever woman. As Jia's princess she often guided him and brought honor to the house.
78
子深，字知遠，襲爵。 孝明初，拜肆州刺史。 預行恩信，胡人便之，劫盜止息。 後為恆州刺史，在州多所受納，政以賄成。 私家有馬千匹者，必取百匹，以此為恆。 累遷殿中尚書，未拜。 坐淫城陽王徽妃於氏，為徽表訟。 詔付丞相、高陽王雍等宗室議決其罪，以王還第。
His son Shen, style Zhiyuan, inherited the title. At Xiaoming's accession he became inspector of Si. He ruled with grace beforehand; the Hu were content and banditry stopped. Later as inspector of Heng he took endless bribes; office ran on graft. Households with a thousand horses owed him a hundred by custom. He was promoted palace director but never received investiture. He lay with Prince Hui of Chengyang's consort Lady Yu; Hui sued him. The edict sent him to Prince Yong of Gaoyang and kinsmen for judgment; he was sent home.
79
及沃野鎮人破六韓拔陵反叛，臨淮王彧討之失利，詔深為北道大都督，受尚書令李崇節度。 時東道都督崔暹敗于白道，深等諸軍退還朔州。 深上書曰：
When Woye rose under Pa-ling, Prince Yu of Huaiyang failed; Shen was named northern commander under Director Li Chong. Eastern commander Cui Xian lost at White Way; Shen's armies fell back to Shuozhou. Shen memorialized:
80
邊豎構逆，以成紛梗，其所由來，非一朝也。 昔皇始以移防為重，盛簡親賢，擁麾作鎮，配以高門子弟，以死防遏。 不但不廢仕宦，至乃偏得復除。 當時人物，忻慕為之。 及太和在曆。 僕射李沖當官任事，涼州土人，悉免廝役； 豐沛舊門，仍防邊戍。 自非得罪當世，莫肯與之為伍。 征鎮驅使為虞候、白直，一生推遷，不過軍主。 然其往世房分，留居京者，得上品通官； 在鎮者，便為清途所隔。 或投彼有北，以禦魑魅，多復逃胡鄉。 乃峻邊兵之格，鎮人浮游在外，皆聽流兵捉之。 於是少年不得從師，長者不得游宦。 獨為匪人，言者流涕。
"Border rebels did not arise in a day. In Huangshi's day garrison duty was sacred: kinsmen and worthies commanded the passes, noble sons sent to die on the frontier. They kept office and full tax exemptions. Men envied the posting. When the Taihe era began, Vice Director Li Chong freed Liangzhou natives from corvée while Feng and Pei clans still garrisoned the border. None but the disgraced would serve with them. Garrison soldiers became scouts and runners; a lifetime might end as company commander. Kin who stayed in the capital won high office; those at the posts were barred from promotion. Some fled north or into Hu lands. Rules tightened; any garrison man abroad was treated as a deserter and seized. Youths could not study; elders could not seek office. They became outcasts, and men wept to speak of it.
81
自定鼎伊洛，邊任益輕，唯底滯凡才，出為鎮將。 轉相模習，專事聚斂。 或有諸方奸吏，犯罪配邊，為之指蹤，過弄官府； 政以賄立，莫能自改。 咸言奸吏為此，無不切齒增怒。 及阿那瑰背恩，縱掠竊奔，命師追之。 十五萬眾度沙漠，不日而還。 邊人見此援師，便自意輕中國。 尚書令臣崇時即申聞，求改鎮為州，將允其願，抑亦先覺。 朝廷未許。 而高闕戍主，率下失和，拔陵殺之為逆命； 攻城掠地，所見必誅。 王師屢北，賊党日盛。 此段之舉，指望銷平。 其崔暹雙輪不反，臣崇與臣，逡巡復路。 今者相與，還次雲中。 馬首是瞻，未便西邁。 將士之情，莫不解體。 今日所慮，非止西北，將恐諸鎮尋亦如此。 天下之事何易可量！
After the capital moved to Luoyang, frontier command grew contemptible; only mediocrities were sent as generals. They copied one another and specialized in plunder. Criminal officials banished to the frontier taught them how to squeeze the government; rule ran on bribes, and none reformed. All blamed such officials and gnashed their teeth. When Anagui betrayed the court and fled, the court sent an army in pursuit. A hundred fifty thousand crossed the desert and were home again within days. Frontier men saw that army and despised the Middle Kingdom. Director Li Chong then asked to turn garrisons into provinces; the court would have agreed, and he foresaw the danger. The court refused. A Gaogue commander lost his men; Pa-ling killed him and rebelled; wherever he marched he slaughtered. Imperial armies retreated again and again while rebels swelled. This campaign was meant to crush them. Instead Cui Xian never returned; Chong and I limped back. We halt again at Yunzhong. The army will not yet march west. Soldiers' hearts are broken. The peril is not only the northwest; every garrison may follow. Who can measure what comes next under heaven?
82
時不納其策。 東西部敕勒之叛，朝議更思深言。 遣兼黃門侍郎酈道元為大使，欲復鎮為州，以順人望。 會六鎮盡叛，不得施行。 深後上言：「今六鎮俱叛，二部高車亦同惡黨，以疲兵討之，必不制敵。 請簡選兵，或留守恆州要處。 更為後圖。」
The court ignored him. When eastern and western Tiele rebelled, the court remembered Shen's warning. They sent Li Daoyuan as envoy to turn garrisons into provinces and appease the frontier. All six garrisons rose before he could act. Shen wrote again: "All six garrisons rebel and both Gaoche divisions join them; weary troops cannot win. Choose fresh troops or hold Heng's key passes and plan again when the moment comes."
83
及李崇征還，深專總戎政。 拔陵避蠕蠕，南移度河。 先是，別將李叔仁以拔陵來逼，請求迎援，深赴之，前後降附二十萬人。 深與行台元纂表求恆州北別立郡縣，安置降戶，隨宜振賚，息其亂心。 不從。 詔遣黃門侍郎楊置分散之于冀、定、瀛三州就食。 深謂纂曰：「此輩復為乞活矣。 禍亂當由此作。」
When Li Chong returned, Shen alone held military authority. Pa-ling evaded the Rouran and crossed the river south. General Li Shuren had begged relief when Pa-ling pressed him; Shen marched to him and two hundred thousand surrendered. Shen and Yuan Zuan of the mobile office asked to settle the surrendered north of Heng in new counties, feeding them to quiet rebellion. The court refused. An edict sent Yang to scatter them among Ji, Ding, and Ying for grain. Shen told Zuan, "You have made beggars of them again. Disaster will follow."
84
既而鮮于修禮叛於定州，杜洛周反于幽州，其餘降戶，猶在恆州，遂欲推深為主。 深乃上書乞還京師。 令左衛將軍楊津代深為都督，以深為侍中、右衛將軍、定州刺史。 時中山太守趙叔隆、別駕崔融討賊失利，台使劉審考核未訖，會賊逼中山，深乃令叔隆防境。 審馳驛還京，雲深擅相放縱。 城陽王徽與深有隙，因此構之。 乃征深為吏部尚書、兼中領軍。 及深至都，明帝不欲使徽、深相憾，敕因宴會，令相和解。 徽銜不已。
Soon Xianyu Xiuli rebelled at Ding, Du Luozhou at You; the remaining surrendered at Heng tried to make Shen their chief. Shen memorialized begging to return to the capital. Left guards general Yang Jin replaced him; Shen became attendant-in-ordinary, right guards general, and inspector of Ding. When Zhao Shulong and Cui Rong failed against rebels and inspector Liu Shen had not finished his review, bandits pressed Zhongshan; Shen ordered Shulong to hold the line. Liu Shen raced to the capital accusing Guangyang Shen of lax command. Prince Hui of Chengyang hated Shen and framed him. Shen was recalled as director of personnel and central army commander. At the capital Emperor Ming ordered a banquet to reconcile Shen and Hui. Hui's grudge never ended.
85
後河間王琛等為鮮于修禮所敗，乃除深儀同三司、大都督。 章武王融為左都督，裴衍為右都督，並受深節度。 徽因奏靈太后構深曰：「廣陽以愛子握兵在外，不可測也。」 乃敕章武王等潛相防備。 融遂以敕示深。 深懼，事無大小，不敢自決。 靈太后聞之，乃使問深意狀，乃具言曰：
When Prince Chen of Hejian fell to Xianyu Xiuli, Shen was made grand commander with rank equal to the Three Excellencies. Prince Rong of Zhangwu commanded the left, Pei Yan the right, both under Shen. Hui told Empress Ling, "Guangyang keeps his beloved son in command abroad—who can trust him? She secretly ordered Rong and the others to watch him. Rong showed Shen the edict. Shen grew afraid and dared decide nothing alone. The empress dowager asked his mind; he answered at length:
86
往者元叉執權，移天徙日，而徽托附，無翼而飛。 今大明反政，任寄唯重，以徽褊心，銜臣次骨。 臣以疏滯，遠離京輦，被其構阻，無所不為。 然臣昔不在其後，自此以來，翻成陵谷。 徽遂一歲八遷，位居宰相； 臣乃積年淹滯，有功不錄。
"When Yuan Cha moved heaven and earth, Hui clung to him and rose without wings. Now the throne is restored, yet Hui's narrow heart hates me to the bone. Far from court, I was framed at every turn. I was never his follower; since then he has buried me. Hui was promoted eight times in a year to chancellor; I stagnated for years while merit went unrecorded.
87
自徽執政以來，非但抑臣而已，北征之勳，皆被擁塞。 將士告捷，終無片賞； 雖為表請，多不蒙遂。 前留元摽據乎盛樂，後被重圍，析骸易子，倒懸一隅。 嬰城二載，賊散之後，依階乞官，徽乃盤退，不允所請。 而徐州下邳戍主賈勳，法僧叛後，暫被圍逼，固守之勳，比之未重，乃立得州，即授開國。 天下之事，其流一也，功同賞異，不平謂何！ 又驃騎李崇北征之日，啟募八州之人，聽用關西之格。 及臣在後，依此科賞。 復言北道征者，不得同于關西。 定襄陵廟之至重，平城守國之要鎮，若計此而論功，亦何負于秦楚？ 但以嫉臣之故，便欲望風排抑。
Since he took power he has blocked not only me but every northern merit. Soldiers who won received nothing; memorials for reward were refused. Yuan Biao held Shengle until besieged; men ate their children; the city hung by a thread. After two years he begged office by rank; Hui refused. Jia Xun held Xiapi through Faseng's siege with lesser merit yet won a province and a founding marquisate. Merit is equal, reward unequal—what justice is that? When Li Chong marched north he promised Guanxi pay to recruits from eight provinces. Behind him I paid by that scale. Hui then said northern troops must not match Guanxi. Dingxiang's tombs and Pingcheng's walls weigh as heavy as Qin and Chu—how are their defenders less deserving? He suppresses them only because they follow me.
88
然其當途以來，何直退勳而已。 但是隨臣征者，即便為所嫉。 統軍袁叔和曾經省訴，徽初言有理，又聞北征隸臣為統，應時變色。 復令臣兄子仲顯異端訟臣，緝緝翩翩，謀相誹謗。 言臣惡者，接以恩顏； 稱臣善者，即被嫌責。 甄琛曾理臣屈，乃視之若仇讎； 徐紇頗言臣短，即待之如親戚。 又驃騎長史祖瑩，昔在軍中，妄增首級； 矯亂戎行，蠹害軍府，獲罪有司，避命山澤。 直以謗臣之故，徽乃還雪其罪。 臣府司馬劉敬，比送降人，既到定州，翻然背叛，賊如決河，豈其能擁。 且以臣府參僚，不免身首異處。 徽既怒遷，舍其元惡，及胥徒。 從臣行者，莫不悚懼。 頃恆州之人，乞臣為刺史，徽乃斐然言不可測。 及降戶結謀，臣頻表啟，徽乃因執言此事。 及向定州，遠彼奸惡，又復論臣將有異志。 翻覆如此，欲相陷沒。 致令國朝，遽賜遷代。 賊起之由，誰使然也？
His spite does not stop at denying merit. Anyone who marched with me becomes his enemy. Commander Yuan Shuhe appealed; Hui first agreed, then turned hostile when he learned Shuhe served under me. He set my nephew Zhongxian to sue me with endless slander. He smiles on those who call me wicked; he punishes those who praise me. Zhen Chen once judged my case fairly and became his foe; Xu He spoke my faults yet is treated like kin. Zu Ying, chief clerk to the cavalry general, once inflated head counts in camp; he corrupted the army, fled justice to the hills, yet Hui cleared him because he slandered me. My marshal Liu Jing escorted surrendered men who rebelled at Ding like a bursting river—how could he hold them? Because he served my office, he died dismembered. Hui punished clerks and spared the chief culprit. All who followed me tremble. When Heng begged me as inspector, Hui called me unpredictable. When the surrendered plotted, I reported it; he seized the tale. As I went to Ding he again said I meant treason. He twists every way to destroy me. The court hurried my recall. Who made the rebels rise?
89
徽既優幸，任隆一世，慕勢之徒，于臣何有！ 是故餘人攝選，車馬填門。 及臣居邊，賓遊罕至。 臣近比為慮其為梗，是以孜孜乞赴京闕。 屬流人舉斧，元戎垂翅，復從後命，自安無所； 僶俛先驅，不敢辭事。 及臣出都，行塵未滅，已聞在後，復生異議。 言臣將兒自隨，證為可疑之兆。 忽稱此以構亂。 悠悠之人，復傳音響，言左軍臣融、右軍臣衍皆受密敕，伺察臣事。 徽既用心如此，臣將何以自安？ 竊以天步未夷，國難猶梗； 方伯之任，於斯為急。 徽昔臨籓，乃有人譽，及居端右，無聞焉爾。 今求出之為州，使得申其利用。 徽若外從所長，臣無內慮之切。 脫蒙，公私幸甚。
Hui is favored for a generation; who courts power visits him, not me. When others held appointments, their gates choked with carriages. On the frontier my gate was empty. I begged the capital fearing he would block me. When exiles took up axes and armies folded, I obeyed again with nowhere to rest; I bowed and marched ahead, not daring refuse. I had barely left the capital when fresh slander followed. He said I brought my son as proof of treason. He used that to cry rebellion. Rumors said Rong on the left and Yan on the right held secret orders to spy on me. With Hui's heart thus, how can I be safe? The realm is not yet at peace; calamity still blocks the way. Provincial command is urgent now. Hui was praised on the frontier; at court center he is unheard of. Send him out to a province where he may prove useful. If he serves abroad by his talent, I need not fear him within. Grant this and public and private alike will prosper."
90
深以兵士頻經退散，人無鬥情，連營轉柵，日行十里。 行達交津，隔水而陣。 賊修禮常與葛榮謀，後稍信朔州人毛普賢，榮常銜之。 普賢昔為深統軍，及在交津，深傳入諭之，普賢乃有降意。 又使錄事參軍元晏說賊程殺鬼。 果相猜貳。 葛榮遂殺普賢、修禮而自立。 榮以新得大眾，上下未安，遂北度瀛州。 深便率眾北轉。 榮東攻章武王融，融戰敗于白牛還。 深遂退走，趣定州。 聞刺史楊津疑其有異志，乃止于州南佛寺。 停二日夜，乃召都督毛諡等六七人，臂肩為約，危難之際，期相拯恤。 諡疑深意異，乃密告津，雲深謀不軌。 津遣諡討深。 深走出，諡叫噪追躡。 深與左右行至博陵郡界，逢賊遊騎，乃引詣葛榮。 賊徒見深，頗有喜者。 榮新自立，內惡之，乃害深。 莊帝追復王爵，贈司徒公，諡曰忠武。
Shen's men had retreated so often they would not fight; he chained camps and crept ten li a day. At Jiaojin he drew up across the water. Xiuli often plotted with Ge Rong but later trusted Mao Puxian of Shuozhou, whom Rong resented. Puxian had served under Shen; at Jiaojin Shen urged him and he wavered toward surrender. He sent Yuan Yan to sway the bandit Cheng Shagui. Suspicion split the rebels. Ge Rong killed Puxian and Xiuli and took command. Rong, uneasy with his new horde, marched north into Ying. Shen turned north after him. Rong struck Prince Rong of Zhangwu and broke him at White Ox Return. Shen fled toward Ding. Hearing that Inspector Yang Jin suspected treason, he halted at a temple south of the city. After two nights he arm-linked Mao Mi and six officers, swearing to save one another in peril. Mi doubted him and told Jin that Shen plotted rebellion. Jin sent Mi against him. Shen fled; Mi shouted and pursued. At Boling he met rebel scouts and was brought to Ge Rong. Many rebels rejoiced to see him. Rong, newly risen, hated him inwardly and killed him. Emperor Zhuang restored his princely rank, posthumously made him Minister of Works, posthumous name Zhongwu.
91
湛弟瑾，尚書祠部郎。 後謀殺齊文襄。 事泄，合門伏法。
Zhan's younger brother Jin was director of sacrifices in the Masters of Writing. Later he plotted to kill Emperor Wenxiang of Qi. The plot failed; the whole clan was executed.
92
湛子法輪，紫光所生也。 齊王矜湛覆滅，乃啟原之，復其爵土。
Zhan's son Falun was born to Lady Ziguang. The Qi emperor pitied Zhan's fall and restored Falun's title and lands.
93
南安王餘，真君三年封吳王，後改封南安王。 太武暴崩，中常侍宗愛矯皇太后令迎立之，然後發喪。 大赦，改年為永平。 餘自以非次而立，厚遺群下，取悅於眾。 為長夜之飲，聲樂不絕。 旬月之間，帑藏空罄。 尤好弋獵，出入無度。 邊方告難，餘不恤之，百姓憤惋，而余晏如也。 宗愛權恣日甚，內外憚之。 餘疑愛變，謀奪其權。 愛因餘祭廟，夜殺餘。 文成葬以王禮，諡曰隱。
Yu, Prince of Nan'an, was enfeoffed Prince of Wu in Zhenjun year three, later Prince of Nan'an. When Taiwu died suddenly, Zong Ai forged the empress dowager's order, enthroned Yu, then announced mourning. He declared a great amnesty and the era Yongping. Knowing his accession irregular, Yu lavished gifts on the court to win favor. He held endless night feasts; music never stopped. Within a month the treasury was bare. He loved hunting beyond measure. The frontier cried for help; Yu ignored it; the people raged while he remained serene. Zong Ai's power grew daily; court and realm feared him. Yu suspected Ai's treachery and plotted to seize his power. Ai killed Yu on a night of ancestral sacrifice. Emperor Wencheng buried him with princely rites, posthumous name Yin.
94
論曰：梟獍為物，天實生之。 觀夫元紹所懷，蓋亦特鐘沴氣。 平陽以降，並多夭促； 英才武略，未顯高年。 靖、簡二王，為時稱首。 鑒既有聲，渾亦見器。 霄、繼荷遇太和之日，名位豈妄及哉！ 叉階緣寵私，遂亂天下，殺身全祀，固為幸焉。
The commentators say: Owls and jackals are creatures heaven itself begets. Yuan Shao's heart, they say, was specially steeped in foul breath. From Pingyang downward, princes died young; talent and arms rarely reached old age. Princes Jing and Jian were the age's foremost. Jian won renown; Hun was esteemed as well. Xiao and Ji flourished under Taihe—who could match their rank lightly? Cha rose by favor and wrecked the realm; to die yet keep his rites was fortune enough.
95
樂平、樂安俱以將領自效，竟以憂迫而逝，驗克終之為鮮。 莊王才力智謀，一時之傑，與夫建寧、新興，不同日也。
Leping and Le'an served as generals yet died under strain—few finish the course. Prince Zhuang's wit was a hero of his day, unlike Jianning and Xinxing.
96
太武之子，秦、晉才賢。 而翰之遇酷，倚伏豈可量矣。 臨淮之後，彧為盛德； 廣陽之世，嘉實為美，深之闕惡於元徽，所謂盜憎之義。 作之見殺，不基晚歟！
Among Taiwu's sons, Qin and Jin showed talent. Yet Han met cruelty—who can measure fortune's turn? After Huaiyang, Yu bore abundant virtue; Guangyang's Jia was fair; Shen's evil toward Yuan Hui was the thief hating the just. That Zuo was slain was no late ruin!