Volume 21 Biographies 9: Yan Feng, Xu Qian,Cui Hong, Zhang Gun, Deng Yanhai

燕鳳許謙崔宏張袞鄧彥海

Volume 21 Biographies 9: Yan Feng, Xu Qian, Cui Hong, Zhang Gun, Deng Yanhai

燕鳳許謙崔宏子浩張袞弟恂鄧彥海

Yan Feng, Xu Qian, Cui Hong (son Hao), Zhang Gun (younger brother Xun), Deng Yanhai

燕鳳，字子章，代人也。少好學，博綜經史，明習陰陽讖緯。昭成素聞其名，使以禮致之，鳳不應聘。及軍圍代，謂城人曰：「鳳不來者，將屠之。」代人懼，遂送鳳。昭成待以賓禮。後拜代王左長史，參決國事。又以經授獻明帝。

Yan Feng, styled Zizhang, came from Dai. As a youth he loved study, mastered the classics and histories, and was expert in yin-yang doctrine and prognostic texts. Emperor Zhaocheng had long heard of him and sent envoys to summon him with full rites; Feng declined to come. When the army besieged Dai, he told the townspeople, "If Feng does not come, I shall slaughter you. The people of Dai were terrified and sent Feng forth. Zhaocheng received him as an honored guest. He was later made Left Chief Scribe to the King of Dai and joined in governing the realm. He also instructed Emperor Xianming in the classics.

嘗使苻堅，堅問鳳曰：「代王何如人？」對曰：「寬和仁愛，經略高遠，一時雄主也。常有併吞天下之志。」堅曰：「卿輩北人，無剛甲利兵，敵弱則進，敵強則退，安能並兼邪？」鳳曰：「北人壯悍，上馬持三仗，驅馳若飛。主上雄雋，率服北土，控弦百萬，號令若一。軍無輜重樵爨之苦，輕行速捷，因敵取資。此南方所以疲弊，北方所以常勝也。」堅曰：「彼國人馬多少？」鳳曰：「控弦之士數十萬，見馬一百萬匹。」堅曰：「卿言人眾則可，說馬太多。」鳳曰：「雲中川自東山至西河二百里，北山至南山百餘里，每歲孟秋，馬常大集，略為滿川。以此推之，使人言猶未盡。」鳳還，堅厚加贈遺。

He was once sent to Fu Jian, who asked Feng, "What manner of man is the King of Dai? Feng answered, "Magnanimous and humane, with far-reaching strategy—the preeminent warlord of the day. He constantly aims to unite the realm. Jian said, "You northerners lack stout armor and keen blades; when enemies are weak you advance, when strong you withdraw—how could you conquer and absorb them? Feng said, "Northerners are hardy and fierce; on horseback each man bears three weapons and rides like the wind. Our lord is heroic, has won the north, commands a million archers, and his orders are obeyed as one. His armies know none of the drag of supply trains or camp kitchens; they march light and fast and live off the foe. That is why the south wears itself down while the north wins again and again. Jian asked, "How many men and horses does that state have? Feng said, "Archers number in the hundreds of thousands; grazing horses exceed a million. Jian said, "Your count of men may stand, but your horses are too many. Feng said, "From East Mountain to West River along the Yunzhong stretch is two hundred li; from North Mountain to South Mountain is over a hundred li. Each year in mid-autumn the horses gather until the valley is nearly full. By that measure, even what people say falls short of the truth. When Feng returned, Jian sent him lavish gifts.

許謙，字元遜，代人也。少有文才，善天文圖讖學。建國時，將家歸附，昭成擢為代王郎中令，兼掌文記。與燕鳳俱授獻明帝經。昭成崩後，謙徙長安。苻堅從弟行唐公洛鎮和龍，請謙之鎮。未幾，以繼母老，辭歸。登國初，遂歸道武，以為右司馬，與張兗等參贊初基。慕容寶之來寇也，道武使謙告難於姚興。興遣將楊佛嵩來援。佛嵩稽緩，道武命謙為書遺之，佛嵩乃倍道兼行。道武大悅，賜謙爵關內侯。寶敗，佛嵩乃還。及慕容垂死，謙上書勸進。并州平，以謙為陽曲護軍，賜爵平舒侯。卒，贈幽州刺史、高陽公，諡曰文。

Xu Qian, styled Yuansun, came from Dai. In youth he showed literary talent and mastered astronomy, charts, and prognostic lore. When the state was founded his family submitted; Zhaocheng made him Palace Gentleman to the King of Dai and put him in charge of documents. He and Yan Feng together instructed Emperor Xianming in the classics. After Zhaocheng's death, Qian went to Chang'an. Fu Jian's younger cousin, the Duke of Xingtang, Luo, governed Helong and asked Qian to join him there. Soon, with his stepmother aged, he asked to return home. At the opening of Dengguo he returned to Daowu, who made him Right Marshal to help Zhang Gun and others lay the foundations of rule. When Murong Bao invaded, Daowu sent Qian to seek aid from Yao Xing. Xing sent the general Yang Fosong to rescue them. Fosong dragged his feet; Daowu had Qian write to him, and Fosong then pressed forward at double speed. Daowu was delighted and enfeoffed Qian as Marquis Within the Passes. After Bao's defeat, Fosong withdrew. When Murong Chui died, Qian memorialized urging Daowu to take the imperial title. After Bing Province was pacified, Qian became Protector of Yangqu and Marquis of Pingshu. At his death he was posthumously made Governor of You Province and Duke of Gaoyang, with the posthumous name Wen.

子洛陽襲爵。明元追錄謙功，以洛陽為雁門太守。洛陽家田三生嘉禾，皆異畝同穎。太武善之，進爵北地公。卒，諡曰恭。

His son Luoyang succeeded to the title. Mingyuan later honored Qian's service and appointed Luoyang Governor of Yanmen. On Luoyang's family fields three stalks of fine grain grew, each from a different furrow yet bearing one ear. Taiwu was pleased and raised him to Duke of Beidi. At his death his posthumous name was Gong.

崔宏，字玄伯，清河東武城人，魏司空林之六世孫也。祖悅，仕石季龍，位司徒右長史。父潛，仕慕容痈，為黃門侍郎。並以才學稱。

Cui Hong, styled Xuanbo, came from Dongwucheng in Qinghe, sixth in descent from Cui Lin, Minister of Works of Wei. His grandfather Yue served Shi Jilong as Right Chief Scribe to the Minister of Works. His father Qian served Murong Yong as Gentleman at the Yellow Gate. Both were renowned for learning and ability.

宏少有雋才，號曰冀州神童。苻融之牧冀州，虛心禮敬。拜陽平公侍郎、領冀州從事。出總庶事，入為賓友，眾務修理，處斷無滯。苻堅聞之，徵為太子舍人。辭以母疾，不就。左遷著作佐郎。太原郝軒名知人，稱宏有王佐之材，近代所未有也。堅亡，避難齊魯間，為丁零翟釗及晉叛將張願所留。郝軒歎曰：「斯人也，遇斯時，不因扶搖之勢，而與鴳雀飛沈，豈不惜哉！」

Hong as a youth showed exceptional talent and was called the prodigy of Ji Province. When Fu Rong governed Ji Province he treated Hong with humble respect. He was made Gentleman to the Duke of Yangping and Concurrent Administrator of Ji Province staff. Abroad he managed affairs; at court he was counselor and friend—every task was set in order and nothing hung unresolved. Fu Jian heard of him and summoned him as Attendant to the Heir Apparent. He pleaded his mother's illness and declined. He was demoted to Assistant in the Office for Compilation. Hao Xuan of Taiyuan, famed for judging men, said Hong had the makings of a chief minister, unmatched in his generation. When Jian's state collapsed, Hong fled to Qi and Lu and was held by the Dingling leader Zhai Zhao and the Jin rebel Zhang Yuan. Hao Xuan sighed, "A man like this, in a time like this—without the updraft of fortune he sinks to fly with sparrows. What a waste!"

仕慕容垂，為吏部郎、尚書左丞、高陽內史，所曆著稱。立身雅正，雖在兵亂，獨厲志篤學，不以資產為意，妻子不免饑寒。

He served Murong Chui as Director of Personnel, Left Assistant in the Secretariat, and Internal Governor of Gaoyang, winning praise in every office. Upright in character, even in war he held to study and took no thought for wealth; his wife and children knew hunger and cold.

道武征慕容寶，次中山。棄郡走海濱。帝素聞其名，遣求。及至，以為黃門侍郎，與張兗對總機要，草創制度。時晉使來聘，帝將報之，詔有司議國號。宏議曰：「三皇、五帝之立號也，或因所生之土，或以封國之名。故虞、夏、商、周始皆諸侯，及聖德既隆，萬國宗戴，稱號隨本，不復更立。唯商人屢徙，改號曰殷。然猶兼行，不廢始基之號。故《詩》云'殷商之旅'，此其義也。國家雖統北方廣漠之土，逮于陛下，應運龍飛。雖曰舊邦，受命惟新。以是登國之初改代曰魏。慕容永亦奉進魏土。夫魏者大名州之上國，斯乃革命之征驗，利見之玄符也。臣愚以為宜號為魏。」道武從之，於是稱魏。

When Daowu marched against Murong Bao he camped at Zhongshan. Hong abandoned his commandery and fled toward the sea. The emperor had long heard of him and sent men to find him. On his arrival he was made Gentleman at the Yellow Gate; with Zhang Gun he shared control of state affairs and drafted new institutions. Jin envoys then came on a friendly mission; the emperor wished to reply and ordered deliberation on the dynastic name. Hong argued, "The Three August Ones and Five Emperors took their titles either from the soil that bore them or from the states they were enfeoffed to rule. Yu, Xia, Shang, and Zhou began as feudal lords; when their virtue towered, all realms acclaimed them and their titles kept to their roots without change. Only the Shang moved their seat again and again and changed their name to Yin. Yet both names were used together and the founding title was never abandoned. Hence the Odes speak of 'the host of Yin and Shang'—that is the sense. Though our state rules the vast northern wastes, under Your Majesty it has answered Heaven and risen like a dragon. Though called an old domain, its mandate is wholly new. Therefore at the opening of Dengguo Dai was renamed Wei. Murong Yong likewise offered up the lands of Wei. Wei is the great name of a state above the commanderies—the sign of revolution and the omen of Heaven's favor. This humble servant believes the dynastic name should be Wei. Daowu agreed, and from then on they were called Wei.

及帝幸鄴，曆問故事。宏應對若流，帝善之。還次恆嶺，帝親登山頂，撫慰新人，適遇宏扶老母登嶺，賜以牛米。因詔諸徙人不能自進者，給以車牛。遷吏部尚書。時命有司制官爵，撰朝儀，協音樂，定律令，申科禁，宏總而裁之，以為永式。及置八部大夫，以擬八坐。宏通署三十六曹，如令、僕統事。深被信任，勢傾朝廷。約儉自居，不營產業，家徒四壁；出無車乘，朝晡步上。母年七十，供養無重膳。帝聞，益重之，厚加饋賜。時人亦或譏其過約，而宏居之愈甚。常引問古今舊事，王者制度，宏陳古人製作之體，及往代廢興之由，甚合上意。未嘗謇諤忤旨，亦不諂諛苟容。及道武季年，大臣多犯威怒，宏獨無譴者，由於此也。

When the emperor visited Ye he questioned Hong at length on precedent. Hong answered fluently and won the emperor's approval. On the return he stopped at Mount Heng; the emperor climbed the summit to comfort new settlers and found Hong helping his old mother up the path—he gave them oxen and grain. He then ordered carts and oxen for migrants who could not travel on foot. Hong was promoted to Minister of Personnel. When the court set ranks and titles, drafted ritual, harmonized music, fixed laws, and enforced prohibitions, Hong directed and shaped them into lasting forms. When the Eight Department grandees were created on the model of the Eight Dignitaries, Hong broadly supervised the thirty-six bureaus as ministers and vice-ministers direct government. Deeply trusted, his influence dominated the court. He lived frugally and amassed no property; his home was bare to the four walls; abroad he had no carriage and walked to court morning and evening. His mother was seventy and he could not give her lavish meals. When the emperor heard, he esteemed him further and sent generous gifts. Some mocked his austerity, yet Hong lived more strictly still. He was often called to discuss antiquity and royal institutions; Hong explained ancient forms and the causes of dynastic rise and fall, greatly pleasing the emperor. He never spoke bluntly to offend, nor flattered for favor. In Daowu's last years many ministers drew imperial wrath, yet Hong alone was never rebuked—for this reason.

帝曾引宏講論《漢書》，至婁敬說漢祖，欲以魯元公主妻匈奴，善之，嗟歎者良久。是以諸公主皆嫁于賓附之國，朝臣子弟、良族美彥不得尚焉。尚書職罷，賜宏爵白馬侯，加周兵將軍。與舊功臣庾岳、奚斤等同班，而信寵過之。

The emperor once had Hong discuss the Book of Han; at Lou Jing's counsel to marry the Princess of Lu to the Xiongnu he was pleased and sighed long. Hence all imperial princesses were married to tributary states, and courtiers' sons and eminent families could not wed them. When the Secretariat was abolished, Hong was enfeoffed Marquis of Baima and made General of Zhoubing. He stood in the same rank as veterans Yu Yue and Xi Jin, yet enjoyed greater favor.

道武崩，明元未即位，清河王紹因人心不安，大出財帛，班賜朝士。宏獨不受紹財，長孫嵩以下咸愧焉。詔遣使者循行郡國，糾察守宰不如法者，令宏與宜都公穆觀等案之，帝稱其平當。又詔宏與長孫嵩等朝堂決刑獄。

When Daowu died, before Mingyuan had taken the throne, Prince Shao of Qinghe, seeing unrest in men's hearts, lavished wealth and silks on the court. Hong alone refused Shao's gifts; from Changsun Song downward the courtiers were ashamed. An edict sent envoys through the commanderies to investigate lawless officials; Hong and the Duke of Yidu, Mu Guan, and others were ordered to judge the cases, and the emperor praised their fairness. Another edict set Hong with Changsun Song and others to decide criminal cases in open court.

明元以郡國豪右大人蠹害，乃優詔征之。人多戀本，而長吏逼遣之。於是輕薄少年，因相扇動，所在聚結。西河、建興盜賊並起，守宰討之不能禁。帝乃引宏及北新侯安同、壽光侯叔孫建、武元城侯元屈等問焉。宏欲大赦以紓之。屈曰：「不如先誅首惡，赦其黨類。」宏曰：「王者臨天下，以安人為本，何顧小曲直也。夫赦雖非正道，而可以權行。若赦而不改，誅之不晚。」明元從之。

Mingyuan, seeing great local magnates ruining the realm, issued a gentle edict summoning them in. Many wished to stay home while local chiefs drove them onward. Then idle youths incited one another and bands formed everywhere. Bandits rose together in Xihé and Jianxing; local officials could not stop them. The emperor summoned Hong, Marquis An Tong of Beixin, Marquis Shusun Jian of Shouguang, Marquis Yuan Qu of Wuyuan, and others for counsel. Hong urged a general amnesty to ease the crisis. Qu said, "Better first execute the ringleaders and pardon the rest. Hong said, "A king holds the realm by keeping the people secure—why cling to petty right and wrong? Amnesty is not orthodox policy, yet it may serve as expedient. If after pardon they do not reform, punishment can wait no longer. Mingyuan accepted Hong's view.

神瑞初，詔宏與南平公嵩等坐止車門右，聽理機事。并州胡數萬南掠河內，遣將軍公孫表等討之，敗績。帝問計於群臣。宏曰：「表等諸軍，不為不足，但失於處分，故使小盜假息耳。胡眾雖多，而無猛健主將，所謂千奴共一潆詹也。宜得大將素為胡所服信者，將數百騎，就攝表軍以討之。賊聞，必望風震怖。壽光侯建，前在并州，諸將莫及。」帝從之，遂平胡寇。尋拜天部大人，進爵為公。泰常三年夏，宏病篤，帝遣侍中穆觀就受遺言，侍臣問疾，一夜數返。卒，追贈司空，諡文貞公。喪禮一依安城王叔孫俊故事。詔群臣及附國渠帥皆會葬，自親王以外，盡命拜送。子浩襲。太和中，孝文追錄先朝功臣，以宏配饗廟廷。

Early in Shenrui an edict seated Hong with the Duke of Nanping, Song, and others at the right of the Chariot-Halting Gate to hear state business. Tens of thousands of Hu from Bing Province raided south into Henei; the general Gongsun Biao and others were sent against them and were beaten. The emperor asked his ministers for counsel. Hong said, "Biao's forces were ample—they only mishandled deployment, letting petty raiders catch their breath. Though the Hu are numerous, they lack a fierce chief—they are like a thousand slaves sharing one rafter. Send a great general the Hu have long trusted, with a few hundred horsemen, to take over Biao's army and strike them. At the news the raiders will surely break in terror. Marquis Shusun Jian, who once held Bing Province, outshone every general there. The emperor agreed and the Hu raiders were pacified. Soon he was made Grandee of the Heavenly Division and raised to duke. In summer of Taichang year three, Hong grew desperately ill; the emperor sent Palace Attendant Mu Guan for his final counsel; attendants called through the night again and again. At his death he was posthumously made Minister of Works, with the posthumous title Duke Wen Zhen. His funeral wholly followed the precedent of Prince Ancheng, Shusun Jun. An edict required all ministers and subject tribal chiefs to attend; every rank below the princes was ordered to bow him forth. His son Hao succeeded. In the Taihe era Xiaowen honored founders of the prior reign and gave Hong a place in the ancestral temple.

浩字伯深，少好學。博覽經史，玄象陰陽百家之言，無不該覽。研精義理，時人莫及。弱冠為通直郎，稍遷著作郎。道武以其工書，常置左右。道武季年，威嚴頗峻，宮省左右，多以微過得罪，莫不逃避，隱匿目下之變。浩獨恭勤不怠，或終日不歸。帝知之，輒命賜以禦粥。其砥直任時，不為窮通改節若此。明元初，拜博士祭酒，賜爵武城子。常授帝經書，每至郊祀，父子並乘軒軺，時人榮之。明元好陰陽術數，聞浩說《易》及《洪範》五行，善之。因命筮吉凶，參觀天文，考定疑惑。浩總核天人之際，舉其綱紀者，數家多有應驗。恆與軍國大謀，甚為寵密。時有兔在後宮，檢無從得入，帝令浩推之。浩以為當有鄰國貢嬪嬙者。明年，姚興果獻女。

Hao, styled Boshen, loved learning from youth. He read widely in classics, histories, astronomy, yin-yang, and the hundred schools. Probing principle to the root, none of his day could match him. At twenty he was Direct Attendant and later rose to Compiler. Daowu kept him always near, for his skill at calligraphy. In Daowu's last years his wrath was sharp; palace staff were punished for trifles and all hid what they saw. Hao alone stayed respectful and diligent, sometimes not leaving court for a full day. When the emperor learned of it he sent imperial gruel. Such was his upright service and refusal to bend with fortune or ruin. At Mingyuan's accession he was made Libationer of the Erudites and enfeoffed Viscount of Wucheng. He regularly taught the emperor the classics; at each suburban sacrifice father and son rode in light carriages, to the envy of the court. Mingyuan loved yin-yang and numerology; pleased by Hao's lectures on the Changes and the Five Phases of the Great Plan, he ordered Hao to divine fortune, scan the heavens, and settle doubtful matters. Hao mastered the meeting of Heaven and man and laid out their patterns; many of his forecasts proved true. He was constantly drawn into army and state plans and enjoyed deep, secret favor. A hare then appeared in the inner palace with no entry found; the emperor had Hao reason it out. Hao said a neighboring state would soon send a tribute woman. The next year Yao Xing did present a daughter.

神瑞二年，秋穀不登，太史令王亮、蘇坦因華陰公主等言：「讖書云：國家當都鄴，大樂五十年。」勸帝遷都於鄴，可救今年之饑。帝以問浩。浩曰：「非長久策也。東州之人，常謂國家居廣漠之地，人畜無算，號稱牛毛之眾。今留守舊都，分家南徙，恐不滿諸州之地。參居郡縣，處榛林之下，不便水土，疾疫死傷，情見事露，則百姓意阻。四方聞之，有輕侮之意，屈丐及蠕蠕必提挈而來。雲中、平城則有危殆之事，阻隔恆、代，千里之際，須欲救援，赴之甚難。如此，則聲實俱損矣。今居北方，假令山東有變，輕騎南出，燿威桑梓之中，誰知多少？百姓見之，望塵震伏。此是國家威制諸夏之長策也。至春草生，乳酪將出，兼有菜果，足接來秋。若得中熟，事則濟矣。」帝深然之。復使中貴人問浩曰：「今既無以至來秋，或復不熟，將如之何？」浩曰：「可簡窮下之戶，諸州就穀。若秋無年，願更圖也。但不可遷都。」帝於是分人詣山東三州就食，出倉穀以稟之。來年遂大熟，賜浩妾各一人，及御衣綿絹等。初，姚興死之前歲，太史奏熒惑在匏瓜星中，一夜忽然亡失，不知所在。或謂下入危亡之國，將為童謠妖言，而後行其災禍。帝乃召諸碩儒，與史官求其所詣。浩對曰：「案《春秋左氏傅》說神降於萃，其至之日，各其物也。請以日辰推之。庚午之夕，辛未之朝，天有陰雲，熒惑之亡，當在此二日之內。庚與午，皆主于秦，辛為西夷。今姚興據咸陽，是熒惑入秦矣。」諸人皆作色曰：「天上失星，人安能知其所詣，而妄說無征之言！」浩笑而不應。後八十餘日，熒惑果出東井，留守盤旋。秦中大旱赤地，昆明池水竭。童謠訛言，國中喧擾。明年，姚興死，二子交兵，三年國滅。於是諸人乃服。

In Shenrui year two the autumn crop failed; Grand Astrologers Wang Liang and Su Tan, through Princess Huayin and others, said, "Prognostic books say the capital should move to Ye and great fortune for fifty years. They urged moving the capital to Ye to ease the famine. The emperor asked Hao. Hao said, "That is no lasting policy. Easterners constantly say we live in boundless wastes, with men and beasts beyond count, like ox-hair on a hide. If we leave the old capital lightly held while families move south, they may not even fill the eastern commanderies. Set among counties under scrub and forest, unfit for soil and water, sickness and death will expose the plan and hearts will fail. When the realm hears, contempt will follow; Juqu and the Rouran will surely press in. Yunzhong and Pingcheng will be in peril; Heng and Dai cut off a thousand li away, rescue will come too late. Fame and strength will both be lost. Dwelling in the north, if the east should stir, light cavalry can ride south and awe the homeland—who knows how many would bow? The people would see them and tremble into submission. That is the long strategy for ruling the Huaxia. When spring grass returns and dairy comes, with vegetables and fruit besides, we can hold until autumn. If the mid-year crop succeeds, the crisis passes. The emperor was fully convinced. He again sent a palace officer to ask Hao, "We may not last until next autumn, or the crop may fail again—what then? Hao said, "Relieve the poorest households and send the commanderies to gather grain where it exists. If autumn fails, we can plan anew—but do not move the capital. The emperor then sent people to the three eastern provinces for grain and opened storehouses to feed them. The next year brought abundance; Hao received a concubine each and imperial silks. Earlier, the year before Yao Xing died, astrologers reported Mars in the Dipper; one night it vanished, none knew where. Some said it had entered a doomed state and would bring ballads and omens before disaster fell. The emperor summoned leading scholars and clerks to find its course. Hao replied, "The Zuo Commentary says when a spirit descended on Mount Cui, on the day of arrival each thing had its sign. Calculate by the day and its branches. On the evening of gengwu and morning of xinwei the sky was overcast; Mars's vanishing should fall within those two days. Geng and wu both belong to Qin; xin marks the western Yi. Yao Xing holds Xianyang—Mars has entered Qin. All flushed and said, "A star is lost in heaven—how can a man know its path and speak without proof! Hao smiled and said nothing. After eighty-odd days Mars indeed appeared at the Well and lingered there. Qin suffered great drought; the Kunming Pool ran dry. Ballads and rumors threw the realm into uproar. The next year Yao Xing died; his two sons fought and in three years the state was gone. Then all were convinced. In Taichang year one the Jin general Liu Yu attacked Yao Hong and asked to march up the river west with passage granted.

泰常元年，晉將劉裕伐姚泓，欲泝河西上，求假道。詔群臣議之。外朝公卿咸曰：「函谷天險，裕何能西入？揚言伐姚，意或難測。宜先發軍斷河上流，勿令西過。」內朝咸同外計，帝將從之。浩曰：「此非上策也。司馬休之徒擾其荊州，劉裕切齒久矣。今興死子幼，乘其危亡而伐之，臣觀其意，必自入關。勁躁之人，不顧後患。今若塞其西路，裕必上岸北侵。如此則姚無事而我受敵矣。蠕蠕內寇，人食又乏，發軍赴南，則北冠進擊；若其救北，則南州復危，未若假之水道，縱裕西入。然後興兵塞其東歸之路。所謂卞莊刺彪，兩得之勢也。使裕勝也，必德我假道之惠；令姚氏勝也，亦不失救鄰之名。縱裕得關中，懸遠難守。彼不能守，終為我物。今不勞兵馬，坐觀成敗，鬥兩彪而收長久之利，上策也。夫為國之計，擇利為之，豈顧婚姻，酬一女子之惠也？假國家棄恆山以南，裕必不能發吳越之兵爭守河北也。」議者猶曰：「裕西入函谷，則進退路窮，腹背受敵。北上岸，則姚軍必不出關助我。揚聲西行，意在北進，其勢然也。」帝遂從群議，遣長孫嵩拒之。戰于畔城，為晉將硃超石所敗。帝恨不用浩言。

An edict ordered deliberation among the ministers. The outer court said, "Hangu Pass is heaven's rampart—how could Yu enter the west? He claims to attack Yao but his aim may be obscure. Send troops first to block the upper river and forbid his westward march. The inner court agreed; the emperor was ready to follow. Hao said, "That is not the best course. Sima Xiuzhi's faction troubles Jing Province; Liu Yu has long burned for revenge. With Xing dead and the heir a child, he will seize their weakness—I read his intent as certain entry into the Pass. Men fierce and rash do not weigh later harm. Block his western road now and Yu will surely land and raid north. Then Yao is untouched while we take the blow. The Rouran raid within and grain runs short—send armies south and the northern enemy presses in; rescue the north and the south is endangered again—better grant the water road and let Yu go west. Then raise troops to block his road home to the east. This is Bian Zhuang stabbing the leopard—gaining both at once— the posture of winning both prizes. If Yu wins he will owe us for the passage we granted; if Yao wins we still keep the name of aiding a neighbor. Even if Yu takes Guanzhong, it lies far and he cannot hold it. He cannot hold it—in the end it becomes ours. Without moving horses or troops, sit and watch the contest, let two leopards fight and reap lasting gain—that is the superior plan. States choose profit—why heed marriage ties or repay one woman's favor? Even if we abandoned lands south of Mount Heng, Yu could not raise Wu and Yue armies to fight for Hebei. Critics still said, "If Yu enters Hangu from the west he is trapped with enemies fore and aft. If he lands north, Yao's army will not leave the Pass to help us. He proclaims a western march while aiming north—that is how the thrust runs. The emperor followed the assembly and sent Changsun Song to block him. They fought at Pancheng and were beaten by the Jin general Zhu Chaoshi. The emperor regretted not taking Hao's counsel.

二年，晉齊郡太守王懿來降。陳計，稱劉裕在洛，勸以軍絕其後路，則裕軍不戰而可克。書奏，帝善之。會浩在前，進講書傳。帝問浩曰：「裕西伐已至潼關，卿觀事得濟否？」浩曰：「姚興好養虛名而無實用，子泓又病，眾叛親離。乘其危亡，兵精將勇，克之必矣。」帝曰：「裕武能何如慕容垂？」浩曰：「垂承父祖之資，生便尊貴。同類歸之，若夜蛾之赴火；少加倚仗，便足立功。劉裕挺出寒微，不因一卒之用，奮臂大呼，而夷滅桓玄。北禽慕容超，南摧盧循。裕若平姚而篡其主。秦地戎夷混並，裕亦不能守之。秦地亦終當為國家所有。」帝曰：「裕已入關，不能進，不能退，我遣精騎南襲彭城、壽春，裕亦何能自立？」浩曰：「今西北二寇未殄，陛下不可親禦六師。長孫嵩有經國之用，無進取之能，非劉裕敵也。臣謂待之不晚。」帝笑曰：「卿量之已審矣。」浩曰：「臣常私論近世人物，不敢不上聞。若王猛之經國，苻堅之管仲也；慕容恪之輔少主，慕容痈之霍光也；劉裕之平逆亂，司馬德宗之曹操也。」帝曰：「卿謂先帝如何？」浩曰：「太祖用漠北淳樸之人，南入漢地，變風易俗，化洽四海。自與羲、農、舜、禹齊烈，臣豈能仰名。」帝曰：「屈丐何如？」浩曰：「屈丐家國夷滅，一身孤寄，為姚氏封植。不思樹党強鄰，報復仇恥，乃結蠕蠕，背德于姚。撅豎小人，無大經略，正可殘暴，終為人殘滅耳。」帝大悅，說至中夜。賜浩縹醪酒十斛，水精戎鹽一兩，曰：「朕味卿言，若此鹽酒，故與卿同其味也。」

In year two the Jin Governor of Qi Commandery, Wang Yi, surrendered. He urged that with Liu Yu at Luoyang, troops should cut his rear so Yu's army could be taken without fighting. The emperor approved the memorial. Hao happened to be before him lecturing on the classics. The emperor asked Hao, "Yu has marched west to Tong Pass—will he succeed? Hao said, "Yao Xing cultivated empty fame without substance; his son Hong is sick and men have deserted him. Strike their weakness with keen troops and brave generals—victory is certain. The emperor asked, "How does Yu's martial prowess compare with Murong Chui? Hao said, "Chui inherited power and was noble from birth. His kind flocked to him like moths to flame; with slight backing he could win glory. Liu Yu rose from deep poverty; without a single soldier's rank he raised his arm, shouted, and destroyed Huan Xuan. North he took Murong Chao; south he broke Lu Xun. If Yu pacifies Yao he will supplant his lord. Qin mixes Di and Yi peoples; Yu cannot hold it either. Qin will in the end belong to us. The emperor said, "Yu is in the Pass, unable to advance or retreat—if I send elite cavalry south against Pengcheng and Shouchun, how can he stand alone? Hao said, "Foes in the northwest are not yet crushed; Your Majesty cannot lead the Six Armies in person. Changsun Song can govern but cannot press an attack—he is no match for Liu Yu. I say to wait is not too late. The emperor laughed, "Your judgment is already made. Hao said, "I have often privately weighed men of recent times and dare not withhold it. Wang Meng governing the state was Fu Jian's Guan Zhong; Murong Ke guiding a young ruler, Murong Chui was Murong Jun's Huo Guang; Liu Yu crushing rebellion was Sima Dezong's Cao Cao. The emperor asked, "What of the late emperor? Hao said, "The Grand Ancestor took the plain folk of the northern wastes, entered the Han lands, changed customs, and harmonized the realm. He stands with Fu Xi, Shennong, Yao, and Shun—I cannot presume to name his rank. The emperor asked, "What of Juqu? Hao said, "Juqu's house and state are gone; he clings alone in exile, kept alive by Yao. He does not build alliances or avenge his shame but joins the Rouran and betrays Yao. A petty upstart without grand strategy—fit only for cruelty, in the end to be destroyed by others. The emperor was delighted and talked until midnight. He gave Hao ten hu of pale ale and one liang of crystal war-salt, saying, "I savor your words as this salt and wine—so I share the taste with you."

三年，彗星出天津，入太微，經北斗，絡紫微，犯天棓。八十餘日，至天漢而滅。帝復召諸儒、術士問之，曰：「災咎將在何國？朕甚畏之。」浩曰：「災異由人而起，人無ＩＯ，妖不自作。《漢書》載王莽篡位之前，彗星出入，正與今同。國家主尊臣卑，人無異望。是為僭晉將滅，劉裕篡之之應也。」諸人莫能易浩言，帝深然之。五年，宋果代晉，南鎮上宋改元赦書。時帝幸東南舄氵齒池，射鳥，聞之，驛馳召浩，告曰：「往年卿言彗星之占驗矣。朕今日始信天道。」初，浩父疾篤。乃翦爪截發，夜在庭中仰禱鬥極，為父請命，求以身代。叩頭流血，歲餘不息，家人罕有知者。及父終，居喪盡禮，時人稱之。襲爵白馬公。

In year three a comet appeared at Tianjin, entered Taiwei, crossed the Northern Dipper, threaded Ziwei, and struck Tianbang. For eighty-odd days it reached the Heavenly River and faded. The emperor again summoned scholars and technicians and asked, "Which state will bear the omen? I fear it deeply. Hao said, "Omens rise from men; when men harbor no fault, portents do not arise of themselves. The Book of Han records that before Wang Mang seized the throne the comet's course matched today's. Our state has a revered lord and humble ministers; the people have no other wish. This answers to Jin's usurping house about to fall and Liu Yu's seizure of it. None could refute Hao; the emperor was fully convinced. In year five Song replaced Jin; southern garrisons presented Song's amnesty and new era name. The emperor was shooting birds at the southeastern Chichi Pool; hearing the news he summoned Hao by post horse and said, "Years ago your comet reading proved true. Today I first trust Heaven's way. Earlier, when Hao's father lay gravely ill, Hao cut his nails and hair and at night in the courtyard prayed to the Pole Star, begging life for his father and offering his own in exchange. He knocked his head until blood ran for more than a year; few in the household knew. When his father died he mourned in full rite; the age praised him. He inherited the dukedom of Baima.

自朝廷禮儀，優文策詔，軍國書記，盡關於浩。浩能為雅說，不長屬文，而留心於制度科律及經術之言。作《家祭法》，次序五宗，蒸嘗之禮，豐儉之節，義理可觀。性不好莊老之書，每讀不過數十行，輒棄之，曰：「此矯誣之說，不近人情，必非老子所作。老聃習禮，仲尼所師，豈設敗法之言以亂先王之教。袁生所謂家人筐篋中物，不可揚于王庭。」

Court ritual, edicts, policy documents, and military records all passed through Hao. Hao excelled at refined discourse but not at literary composition; he focused on institutions, law, and classical learning. He wrote a Family Sacrificial Code, ordering the five lines of ancestry and seasonal rites with rules of plenty and restraint that stood on principle. He disliked Zhuangzi and Laozi; after a few dozen lines he would cast them aside, saying, "These are deceiving doctrines, remote from human feeling—they cannot be Laozi's work. Old Dan studied ritual and was Confucius's teacher—how could he write to ruin law and disorder the sages' teaching? What Yuan Sheng called goods kept in a family basket—not to be aired in the royal court."

帝恆有微疾，而災異屢見，乃使中貴人密問浩曰：「今茲日蝕於胃、昴，盡光趙、代之分野。朕疾疹彌年，恐一旦奄忽，諸子並少，其為我設圖後計。」浩曰：「陛下春秋富盛，聖業方融，德以除災，幸就平愈。昔宋景見災修德，熒惑退舍。願陛下遺諸憂慮，恬神保和，無以暗昧之說，致損聖思。必不得已，請陳瞽言。自聖化龍興，不崇儲貳，是以永興之始，社稷幾危。今宜早建東宮，選公卿忠賢陛下素所委仗者，使為師傅；左右信臣簡在帝心者，以充賓友。入總萬機，出統戎政，監國撫軍，六柄在手。若此，則陛下可以優遊無為，頤神養壽。此乃萬代之令典，塞禍之大備也。今長皇子諱，年漸一紀，明睿溫和，眾情所系，時登儲副，則天下幸甚。立子以長，禮之大經，若須並大，成人而擇，倒錯天倫，則生履霜堅冰之禍。自古以來，載籍所記，興衰存亡，鮮不由此。」帝納之，於是使浩奉策告宗廟，令太武為國副主，居正殿臨朝。司徒長孫嵩、高陽公奚斤、北新公安同為左輔，坐東廂，西面。浩與太尉穆觀、散騎常侍丘堆為右弼，坐西廂，東面。百寮總己以聽焉。明元居西宮，時隱而窺之，聽其決斷。大悅，謂左右侍臣曰：「長孫嵩宿德舊臣，曆事四世，功存社稷；奚斤辯捷智謀，名聞遐邇；安同曉解俗情，明於校練；穆觀達政事要，識吾旨趣；崔浩博聞強識，精於天人之會；丘堆雖無大用，然在公專謹。以六人輔吾子，足以經國。吾與汝曹遊行四境，伐叛柔服，可以得志於天下矣。」群臣時奏事所疑。帝曰：「此非我所知，當決之于汝曹國主也。」

The emperor often fell ill while omens multiplied; he secretly asked Hao, "This year the sun eclipses the Stomach and Pleiades, darkening the territories of Zhao and Dai. My illness has lasted years; I fear sudden death—all my sons are young; plan for what follows. Hao said, "Your years are still full and your sacred work is rising; virtue dispels disaster—you will recover in peace. Song Jing once met omens with virtue and Mars withdrew. Put aside anxious thoughts, calm your spirit, and do not let obscure doctrines harm your mind. If you must have counsel, I offer blind words. Since the sacred rise, the heir has not been firmly established—at the opening of Yongxing the altars nearly fell. Build the Eastern Palace early; choose loyal ministers you have long trusted as tutors; choose trusted men close to your heart as companions. Let him govern within, command armies without, oversee the realm and comfort the hosts—six handles in his grasp. Then Your Majesty may roam at ease, nurturing spirit and prolonging life. That is the eternal statute and the great safeguard against calamity. The eldest son Tao is nearing twelve, bright and gentle, the hope of all—install him as heir and the realm is blessed. The eldest son is ritual's great canon; wait until all are grown and you reverse heaven's order and invite the calamity of thin ice. From antiquity in the records, few rises and falls lack this cause. The emperor agreed; Hao presented the edict at the ancestral temple, made Taiwu national deputy to preside in the main hall. Minister of Works Changsun Song, Duke Xi Jin of Gaoyang, and Duke An Tong of Beixin were left assistants in the east wing, facing west. Hao with Grand Marshal Mu Guan and Palace Attendant Qiu Dui were right assistants in the west wing, facing east. The hundred offices reported wholly to them. Mingyuan stayed in the Western Palace and sometimes watched in secret, listening to their judgments. Greatly pleased, he told his attendants, "Changsun Song is an old minister of four reigns whose merit preserved the altars; Xi Jin is quick in debate and famed far and wide; An Tong understands the people and excels at drill; Mu Guan grasps government and knows my mind; Cui Hao is learned with prodigious memory, skilled in Heaven and man; Qiu Dui lacks grand talent but is scrupulous in office. These six can govern the state for my son. I with you will roam the four borders, crushing rebels and soothing the submitted—we may fulfill our will under heaven. The ministers then brought doubtful matters for their decision. The emperor said, "That is not for me to decide—it belongs to you, the lords of the realm."

會聞宋武帝殂，帝欲取洛陽、武牢、滑台。浩曰：「陛下不以劉裕欻起，納其使貢，裕亦敬事陛下。不幸今死，乘喪伐之，雖得之，不令。《春秋》晉士丐侵齊，聞齊侯卒，乃還。君子大其不伐喪，以為恩足以感孝子，義足以動諸侯。今國家未能一舉而定江南，宜遣人弔祭，恤其凶災，布義風於天下，令德之事也。且裕新死，黨與未離，不如緩之，待其惡稔。如其強臣爭權，變難必起，然後命將揚威，可不勞士卒而收淮北之地。」帝銳意南伐，語浩曰：「劉裕因姚興死而滅其國。裕死，我伐之，何為不可！」浩固執曰：「興死，二子交爭，裕乃伐之。」帝大怒，不從。

When news arrived that Emperor Wu of Song had died, the emperor wanted to seize Luoyang, Wulao, and Huatai. Hao said, "Your Majesty accepted Liu Yu when he rose abruptly, received his tribute, and Liu Yu in turn honored the throne. Now that he is dead, to invade in their hour of mourning might win ground but would not be honorable. The Spring and Autumn Annals records how Shi Gai of Jin invaded Qi but turned back on hearing the marquis had died. The noble man praised refusing to strike a house in mourning—grace enough to touch filial sons, righteousness enough to move the feudal lords. The realm cannot conquer the south in a single campaign. Send envoys to mourn, succor their disaster, and spread righteous fame under heaven—that is the deed of a ruler of commanding virtue. Moreover, Liu Yu is newly dead and his faction not yet split apart. Better to wait until their wickedness ripens. If powerful ministers fight for power, crisis will follow. Then send generals to show force and take the Huai north without exhausting the army. The emperor was set on war in the south and told Hao, "Liu Yu destroyed Yao Xing's state when Yao Xing died. Liu Yu is dead—why should I not attack?" Hao held firm: "Yao Xing died and his two sons fought each other—only then did Liu Yu attack." The emperor flew into a rage and would not heed him.

遂遣奚斤等南伐，議于監國之前曰：「先攻城，先略地？」斤請先攻城。浩曰：「南人長於固守，苻氏攻襄陽，經年不拔。今以大國之力，攻其小城，若不時克，挫損軍勢，危道也。不如分軍略地，至淮為限，列置守宰，收斂租穀。滑台、武牢反在軍北，絕望南救，必沿河東走。若或不然，即是囿中之物。」公孫表請先圖其城。斤等濟河，先攻滑台，經時不拔，表請濟師。帝怒，乃親南巡，拜浩為相州刺史，隨軍謀主。及車駕還，浩從幸西河、太原，下臨河流，傍覽川城，慨然有感。遂與同寮論五等郡縣之是非，考秦皇、漢武之違失。時伏其言。

He sent Xi Jin and others south. Before the heir apparent's court they debated whether to take cities first or overrun territory first. Xi Jin asked to attack the cities first. Hao said, "Southerners excel at stubborn defense. Fu Jian's siege of Xiangyang dragged on more than a year without success. With the full strength of the empire against their small towns, failure to take them quickly will blunt the army's momentum—a dangerous course. Better to divide the army and overrun territory up to the Huai, posting governors and magistrates to collect rent and grain. Huatai and Wulao would lie north of our forces, cut off from southern relief, and would surely flee east along the river. Otherwise they would be beasts inside a pen. Gongsun Biao urged attacking the cities first. Xi Jin crossed the river and attacked Huatai first. After a long stalemate, Gongsun Biao asked for reinforcements. The emperor, enraged, marched south in person, made Hao governor of Xiangzhou, and kept him as chief strategist with the army. When the imperial train returned, Hao accompanied the tour to Xihe and Taiyuan, stood above the river, looked along the towns on its banks, and was stirred to deep reflection. He then debated with colleagues the merits of restoring the five ranks of nobility versus the commandery-county system, weighing the failures of the First Emperor of Qin and Emperor Wu of Han. At the time all were impressed by his argument.

天師寇謙之每與浩言，聞其論古興亡之跡，常自夜達旦，竦意斂容，深美之，曰：「斯人言也惠，皆可底行，亦當今之皋陶也。但人貴遠賤近，不能深察之耳。」因謂浩曰：「吾當兼攸儒教，輔助太平真君，而學不稽古。為吾撰列王者政典，並論其大要。」浩乃著書二十餘篇，上推太初，下盡秦、漢變弊之跡，大旨先以復五等為本。太武，左右忌浩正直，共排毀之。帝雖知其能，不免群議，故浩以公歸第。及有疑議，召問焉。浩纖妍白皙如美婦人。性敏達，長於謀計，自比張良，謂己稽古過之。既歸第，因欲修服食養性術，而寇謙之有《神中錄圖新經》，浩因師事之。

The Celestial Master Kou Qianzhi often talked with Hao. Hearing him trace the rise and fall of past ages, Kou would sit from night till dawn, rapt and composed, and say in deep admiration, "This man's words are beneficent and can all be put into practice. He is a Gao Yao for our age. Only men prize what is far away and slight what is close at hand, and fail to study him deeply. He then told Hao, "I mean to embrace both Confucian teaching and the Way, to assist the Perfect Lord of Great Peace, yet my learning does not reach back to antiquity. Compose for me the political canons of successive kings and set out their main themes." Hao wrote more than twenty chapters, reaching from the Grand Beginning down through the rise and fall of Qin and Han, with restoration of the five ranks as the central theme. Those about Emperor Taiwu, resenting Hao's uprightness, joined in slandering him. Though the emperor knew his talent, he could not defy the crowd's clamor, and Hao was sent home while retaining his noble title. Whenever doubts arose, he was summoned for counsel. Hao was slight, fair-skinned, and delicate as a beautiful woman. Quick and penetrating by nature, skilled in stratagem, he likened himself to Zhang Liang and claimed his command of antiquity surpassed Zhang's. Back at home he wished to practice dietetics and longevity arts. Kou Qianzhi possessed the Scripture of the Divine Central Record and New Classic, and Hao became his disciple.

始光中，進爵東郡公，拜太常卿。時議伐赫連昌，群臣皆以為難，唯浩曰：「往年以來，熒惑再守羽林，越鉤陳，其占秦亡。又今年五星並出東方，利以西伐。天應人和，時會並集，不可不進。」帝乃使奚斤等擊蒲阪，而親率輕騎掠其都城，大獲而還。後復討昌，次其城下，收眾偽退。昌鼓噪而前，舒陣為兩翼。會有風雨從東南來，揚沙昏冥，宦者趙倪進曰：「今風雨從賊後來，我向彼背，天不助人。又將士饑渴，願陛下攝騎避之，更待後日。」浩叱之曰：「是何言歟！千里制勝，一日之中，豈得變易？賊前行不止，後已離絕，宜分軍隱山，掩擊不意。風道在人，豈有常也？」帝曰：「善。」分騎奮擊，昌軍大潰。

In the Shiguang era he was raised to Duke of Dongjun and made Minister of Ceremonies. When the court debated attacking Helian Chang, every minister called it hard—only Hao said, "For years Mars twice held the Feathered Forest and crossed the Hooked Array—an omen of Qin's fall. This year the five planets all stand in the east, favoring a western campaign. Heaven answers man, the seasons converge—you must advance. The emperor sent Xi Jin and others against Puban while he personally led light cavalry to raid their capital and returned with great booty. Later he attacked Chang again, halted below his walls, and feigned a withdrawal. Chang advanced with drums and shouts and spread his line into two wings. Wind and rain came from the southeast, whipping sand until the sky went dark. The eunuch Zhao Ni stepped forward and said, "The storm comes from behind the enemy while we face their backs—Heaven is not with us. The troops are hungry and thirsty. I beg Your Majesty to gather the cavalry and withdraw until another day. Hao shouted him down: "What talk is this! Victory a thousand li away cannot be thrown away in a single day—how can plans be changed? The enemy presses on without pause and their rear is already cut off. Divide the army, hide in the hills, and strike them unawares. Wind serves those who use it—how could it be constant?" The emperor said, "Well said." They split the cavalry, struck hard, and Chang's army collapsed in rout.

神抅二年，議擊蠕蠕，朝臣內外盡不欲行，保太后亦固止帝，帝皆不聽。唯浩贊成之。尚書令劉潔、左僕射安原等乃使黃門侍郎仇齊推赫連昌太史張深、徐辯說帝曰：「今年己巳，三陰之歲，歲星襲月，太白在西方，不可舉兵。北伐必敗，雖克不利於上。」又群臣共贊深等云：「深少時常諫苻堅不可南征，堅不從而敗。今天時人事都不和協，如何舉動？」帝意不快，乃召浩與深等辯之。

In the second year of Shenjue the court debated attacking the Rouran. Ministers inside and out opposed the campaign, and Empress Dowager Bao also firmly dissuaded the emperor, but he would not listen. Only Hao supported it. Director Liu Jie, Left Vice Director An Yuan, and others had Yellow Gate Attendant Qiu Qi bring forward Helian Chang's grand astrologer Zhang Shen and Xu Bian to tell the emperor, "This year is jisi, a year of triple yin. The Year Star assaults the moon and the White Star stands in the west—arms must not be raised. A northern campaign will fail; even victory will not benefit the throne. The ministers together praised Shen and the others, saying, "In youth Shen often warned Fu Jian against a southern campaign. Jian would not listen and was defeated. Now heaven, the seasons, and human affairs are all out of harmony—how can we move?" The emperor was displeased and summoned Hao to debate Shen and the others.

浩難深曰：「陽者德也，陰者刑也，故月蝕修刑。夫王者之用刑，大則陳之原野，小則肆之市朝。戰伐者，用刑之大者也。以此言之，三陰用兵，蓋得其類，修刑之義也。歲星襲月，年饑人流，應在他國，遠期十二年。太白行蒼龍宿，于天文為東，不妨北伐。深等俗生，志意淺近，牽於術數，不達大體，難與遠圖。臣觀天文，比年以來，月行掩昴，至今猶然。其占，三年天子大破旄頭之國。蠕蠕、高車，旄頭之眾也。夫聖明禦時，能行非常之事。古人語曰：'非常之原，黎人懼焉；及其成功，天下晏然。 '願陛下勿疑。」深等慚曰：「蠕蠕荒外無用之物，得其地不可耕而食，得其人不可臣而使。輕疾無常，難得而制，有何汲汲而勞苦士馬。」

Hao refuted Shen: "Yang is virtue and yin is punishment, so a lunar eclipse means repairing punishment. When a king uses punishment, on a grand scale he displays it in the wilds; on a small scale he exposes it in market and court. War is the greatest use of punishment. From this view, using arms in a triple-yin year fits the category—it is the meaning of repairing punishment. The Year Star assaulting the moon means famine and exodus—it applies to another state, twelve years hence. The White Star moving through the Azure Dragon lodges—in astronomy that is the east. It does not hinder a northern campaign. Shen and the rest are vulgar scholars, shallow in purpose and near in vision, dragged by numerology and unable to grasp the larger design—hard to plan far with them. I observe the heavens: in recent years the moon's course has covered the Pleiades, and it still does. Its omen: within three years the Son of Heaven will shatter the Mao-tou peoples. The Rouran and Gaoche are Mao-tou peoples. When a sage illumines the age, he can perform extraordinary deeds. The ancients said, 'At the source of the extraordinary the people fear; when it succeeds, all under heaven is tranquil. I beg Your Majesty not to doubt. Shen and the rest said shamefacedly, "The Rouran are useless folk beyond the wilds. Take their land and you cannot farm it; take their people and you cannot make them serve. They are light, swift, and unsteady—hard to seize and control. Why be so eager and weary horses and men?"

浩曰：「深言天時，是其所職；若論形勢，非彼所知。斯乃漢世舊說常談，施之於今，不合事宜。何以言之？夫蠕蠕者，舊是國家北邊叛隸，今誅其元惡，收其善人，令復舊位，非無用也。漠北高涼，不生蚊蚋，水草美善，夏則北遷，田牧其地，非不可耕而食也。蠕蠕子弟來降，貴者尚公主，賤者將軍、大夫，居列滿朝。又高車號為名騎，非不可臣而畜也。夫以南人追之，則患其輕疾；于國兵則不然。何者？彼能遠走，我亦能遠逐，非難制也。往數入塞，國人震驚。今夏不乘虛掩進，破滅其國，至秋復來，不得安臥。自太宗之世，迄於今日，無歲不警，豈不汲汲乎哉？世人皆謂深、辯通解數術，明決成敗，臣請試之。問其西國未滅之前，有何亡征？知而不言，是其不忠；若實不知，是其無術。」

Hao said, "Shen speaks of heaven's seasons—that is his office. If one discusses situation and form, that is not what they know. That is Han-era platitude applied to today—it does not fit the affairs of the time. How so? The Rouran were once our northern border rebels and thralls. Execute their chief villains, gather their good men, restore them to their old posts—they are not useless. North of the desert it is high and cool, free of gnats and mosquitoes, with fine grass and water. In summer they migrate north to pasture and farm—not land that cannot feed you. Rouran youths who surrender marry princesses if noble or become generals and grandees if humble—they fill the court ranks. The Gaoche are famed horsemen—not impossible to make subjects and keep. If southerners pursue them, they fear their lightness and speed. With the state's troops it is not so. How so? They can flee far; we can pursue far—not hard to control. In past years they raided the passes again and again and the people were shaken. If this summer you do not strike while they are exposed and destroy their state, they will return in autumn and you cannot rest in peace. From Emperor Taizong's day to now there has been no year without alarm—is that not urgent? The world says Shen and Bian master numerology and judge success and failure. I ask to test them. Ask what signs of ruin their western state showed before it fell. If they knew and did not speak, that is disloyalty. If they truly did not know, that is lack of skill."

時赫連昌在坐，深等自以無先言，慚不能對。帝大悅，謂公卿曰：「吾意決矣。亡國之臣不可與謀，信哉！」而保太后猶疑之。復令群臣至保太后前評議，帝命浩善曉之令寤。

Helian Chang was present. Shen and the rest, knowing they had given no prior warning, were ashamed and could not answer. The emperor was greatly pleased and told the ministers, "My mind is made up. One cannot plot with ministers of a destroyed state—how true! Yet Empress Dowager Bao still doubted. She had the ministers debate again before the empress dowager, and the emperor ordered Hao to explain matters clearly and win her over.

既罷朝，或有尤浩曰：「吳賊侵南，舍之北伐，師行千里，其誰不知？蠕蠕遠遁，前無所獲，後有南侵之患，此危道也。」浩曰：「今年不摧蠕蠕，則無以禦南賊。自國家並西國以來，南人恐懼，揚聲動眾，以衛淮北。彼北我南，彼征我息，其勢然矣。北破蠕蠕，往還之間，故不見其至也。何以言之？劉裕得關中，留其愛子，精兵數萬，良將勁卒，猶不能固守，舉軍盡沒，號哭之聲至今未已。如何正當國家休明之世，士馬強盛之時，而欲以駒犢齒虎口也？設國家與之河南，彼必不能守之。自量不能守，是以必不來。若或有眾，備邊之軍耳。夫見瓶水凍，知天下之寒；嘗肉一臠，識鑊中之昧。物有其類，可推而得。且蠕蠕恃遠，謂國家力不能至，自寬來久。故夏則散眾放畜，秋肥乃聚，背寒向溫，南來寇抄。今掩其不備，大軍卒至，必驚駭，望塵奔走。牡馬護牧，牝馬戀駒；驅馳難制，不得水草；未過數日，朋聚而困弊，可一舉而滅。暫勞永逸，時不可失也。唯患上無此意。今聖慮已決，如何止之？」遂行。天師謂浩曰：「是行可果乎？」浩曰：「必克。但恐諸將瑣瑣，前後顧慮，不能乘勝深入，使不全舉耳。」

When court ended, some blamed Hao: "Wu bandits invade the south, yet you leave that and march north—a host a thousand li on the road, who does not know it? The Rouran flee far—you gain nothing ahead while southern invasion threatens behind. That is a perilous course. Hao said, "If we do not crush the Rouran this year, we cannot defend against the southern enemy. Since the state annexed the western kingdom, the south has lived in fear, raising alarms and moving armies to guard the Huai north. They are north, we south; they campaign, we rest—that is the pattern. Break the Rouran in the north and, in the going and returning, you will not see them arrive. How so? Liu Yu took Guanzhong, left his beloved son, tens of thousands of elite troops and fierce commanders—yet could not hold it. The whole army was lost and the sound of wailing has not ceased to this day. How, in the state's brilliant age with strong horses and men, can you set a foal's teeth against a tiger's maw? Suppose we gave them the lands south of the Yellow River—they could not hold them. Knowing they cannot hold them, they will certainly not come. If they field troops at all, it will be only border guards. See water freeze in a bottle and know the cold of all under heaven. Taste one slice of meat and know the flavor in the cauldron. Things have their kind—you can infer from one to all. The Rouran rely on distance and think the empire cannot reach them—they have grown complacent a long while. In summer they scatter herds; when autumn fat comes they gather, turning from cold toward warmth and raiding south. Strike them unprepared now. The great army arrives suddenly—they will flee in terror at the sight of dust. Stallions guard the herds, mares cling to foals. Driven in flight they are hard to control and cannot find grass and water. Within days they cluster, exhausted and weak, and can be destroyed in one stroke. Brief toil for lasting ease—the moment cannot be lost. Only I fear the throne lacks this intent. Now the sage mind is decided—how can it be stopped?" They then marched. The Celestial Master asked Hao, "Will this campaign succeed? Hao said, "It will surely conquer. Only I fear the generals will be petty, looking before and behind, unable to press the victory deep, so the whole prize cannot be taken."

及軍到，入其境，蠕蠕先不設備。於是分軍搜討，東西五千里，南北三千里，所虜及獲畜產車廬數百萬。高車殺蠕蠕種類歸降者三十餘萬落。虜遂散亂。帝沿弱水，西至涿邪山，諸大將果慮深入有伏兵，勸帝止。天師以浩曩日言，固勸帝窮討，帝不聽。後有降人言：「蠕蠕大檀先被疾，不知所為，乃焚穹廬，科車自載，將百人入山南走。人畜窘聚，方六十里，無人領統。相去百八十里，追軍不至，乃徐西遁，唯此得免。」聞涼州賈胡言：「若復前行二日，則盡滅之矣。」帝深恨之。

When the army entered their territory, the Rouran at first made no preparations. They divided the army to search five thousand li east and west and three thousand li north and south. Captives and livestock, carts and tents taken numbered in the millions. Gaoche who killed Rouran kin and surrendered numbered more than three hundred thousand clans. The Rouran then scattered in disorder. The emperor followed the Ruoshui west to Zhuoye Mountain. The great generals feared ambush in a deep advance and urged him to stop. The Celestial Master, citing Hao's earlier counsel, firmly urged pursuit to the end; the emperor would not listen. Later a surrendered man said, "Khan Datan had fallen ill, not knowing what to do. He burned his tents, loaded carts, and with a hundred men fled south into the mountains. Men and livestock crowded together in an area sixty li square with no one to command them. A hundred and eighty li away, the pursuing army did not arrive. They then fled west at leisure and only thus escaped. A Liangzhou merchant was heard to say, "Had you advanced two more days, you would have destroyed them utterly." The emperor deeply regretted it.

大軍既還，南軍竟不能動，如浩所料。

When the great army returned, the southern army indeed could not move—as Hao had foreseen.

浩明識天文，好觀星變。常置金銀銅鋌於酢器中，令青，夜有所見，即以鋌畫紙作字，以記其異。太武每幸浩第，多問以異事。或倉卒不及束帶，奉進蔬食，不暇精美，帝為舉匕箸，或立嘗而還。其見寵愛如此。於是引浩出入臥內。加侍中、特進、撫軍大將軍、左光祿大夫，以賞謀謨之功。帝從容謂浩曰：「卿才智深博，事朕祖考，忠著三世，朕故延卿自近。其思盡規諫，勿有隱懷。朕雖當時遷怒，若或不用，久可不深思卿言也？」因令歌工曆頌群臣，事在《長孫道生傳》。又召新降高車渠帥數百人，賜酒食於前。指浩以示之曰：「汝曹視此人纖尪懦弱，手不能彎弓持矛，其胸中所懷，乃逾於兵甲。朕始時雖有征討之志，而慮不自決，前後克捷，皆此人導吾令到此矣。」乃敕諸尚書曰：「凡軍國大計，卿等所不能決，皆先咨浩然後行。」

Hao had a clear grasp of astronomy and loved to watch the stars. He often placed gold, silver, and copper styli in vinegar to turn them green; when he saw something at night he scratched characters on paper with a stylus to record the anomaly. Whenever Emperor Taiwu visited Hao's house he asked much about strange matters. Sometimes, in haste, Hao could not gird his belt and would offer plain vegetables without time to refine them; the emperor would lift spoon and chopsticks for him, or stand, taste, and leave. Such was the favor he enjoyed. He was then admitted in and out of the imperial sleeping quarters. He was further made Attendant-in-Ordinary, Special Advance, General Who Pacifies the Army, and Left Grand Master of the Palace to reward his stratagems. The emperor said gently to Hao, "Your talent and wisdom run deep. You served my grandfather and father with loyalty through three reigns, and I therefore keep you near. Give me your fullest remonstrance and counsel; hide nothing in your heart. Though I may flare in anger and not heed you at once, in time might I not deeply weigh your words? He then had court musicians sing through praises of the ministers—the matter is recorded in the Biography of Changsun Daosheng. He also summoned several hundred newly surrendered Gaoche chieftains and feasted them. Pointing at Hao he told them, "You see this man—slight, frail, unable to bend a bow or hold a spear—yet what he carries in his breast surpasses armor and arms. At first I wished to campaign yet feared I could not decide alone. Every victory before and after came because this man guided me here. He then charged the Masters of Writing, "Whatever great plans of army and state you cannot decide, consult Hao first, then act."

俄而南籓諸將表宋師欲犯河南，請兵三萬，先其未發逆擊之。因誅河北流人在界上者，絕其鄉導，足以挫其銳氣，使不敢深入。詔公卿議之，咸言宜許。浩曰：「此不可從也。往年國家大破蠕蠕，馬力有餘。南賊喪精，常恐輕兵奄至，故揚聲動眾，以備不虞，非敢先發。又南土下濕，夏月蒸暑，非行師之時。且彼先嚴有備，必堅城固守。屯軍攻之，則糧食不給；分兵肆討，則無以應敵。未見其利。就使能來，待其勞倦，秋涼馬肥，因敵取食，徐往擊之，萬全之計。在朝群臣及西北守將，從陛下征討，西滅赫連，北破蠕蠕，多獲美女珍寶，馬畜成群；南鎮諸將，聞而生羨，亦欲南抄，以取資財。是以妄張賊勢，披毛求瑕，冀得肆心。既不獲聽，故數稱賊動以恐朝廷。背公存私，為國生事，非忠也。」帝從浩議。

Soon the southern frontier generals reported that Song troops meant to invade the lands south of the Yellow River and asked for thirty thousand men to strike before they marched. They would also execute northerners stranded on the border, cut off their guides, blunt the enemy's edge, and keep them from advancing deep. An edict ordered debate among the ministers; all said it should be granted. Hao said, "This must not be followed. In years past the state shattered the Rouran and our horses still have strength. The southern enemy has lost its elite and constantly fears sudden light attack. They raise alarms and move hosts to guard the unexpected—they do not dare strike first. The south is low and wet; summer months steam—not the season for armies. They have already made strict preparations and will hold their walls firm. Station troops to attack and grain will not suffice. Divide troops to raid widely and there will be none to meet the enemy. I see no profit in it. Even if they come, wait until they are weary. When autumn cools and horses grow fat, take food from the enemy and strike slowly—that is the plan of complete safety. Ministers at court and northwestern frontier generals who followed Your Majesty west destroyed Helian and north shattered the Rouran, gaining beautiful women, treasures, horses and herds in droves. Southern garrison generals, hearing this, grew envious and also wished to raid south for goods and wealth. Therefore they falsely inflate enemy strength and pluck hairs to seek flaws, hoping to indulge their hearts. Denied approval, they repeatedly report enemy movement to frighten the court. They turn their backs on the public to serve private ends and create trouble for the state—that is not loyalty. The emperor followed Hao's counsel.

南鎮諸將表賊至，而自陳兵少，求簡幽州以南戍兵佐寧。就漳水造船，嚴以為備。公卿議者僉然，欲遣騎五千，並假署司馬楚之、魯軌、韓延之等，令誘引邊人。浩曰：「非上策也。彼聞幽州已南，精兵悉發，大造舟船，輕騎在後，欲存立司馬，誅除宋族，必舉國駭擾，懼於滅亡，當悉發精銳，來備北境。後審知官軍有聲無實，恃其先聚，必喜而前行，徑來至河，肆其侵暴。則我守將，無以禦之。若彼有見機之人，善設權譎，乘間深入，虞我國虛，生變不難。非制敵之良計。今公卿欲以威力攘賊，乃所以招令速至也。夫張虛聲而召實害，此之謂矣。不可不思，後悔無及。我使在彼，期四月前還，可待使至，審而後發，猶未晚也。楚之人徒，是彼所忌，將奪其國，彼安得端坐視之？故楚之往則彼來，楚之止則彼息，其勢然也。且楚之等瑣才，能招合輕薄無賴，而不能成就大功。為國生事，使兵連禍結，必此之群矣。臣嘗聞魯軌說姚興，求入荊州。至則散敗，乃不免蠻賊掠賣為奴，使禍及姚泓，已然之效。」

The southern garrison generals reported enemies at hand yet declared themselves short of troops and asked to draw garrison forces south of Youzhou to reinforce them. They built boats on the Zhang River and made strict preparations. The debating ministers were unanimous, wishing to send five thousand cavalry and provisionally appoint Sima Chuzhi, Lu Gui, Han Yanzhi, and others to entice frontier people. Hao said, "This is not the best stratagem. When they hear elite troops south of Youzhou are all sent, great boat-building, light cavalry in the rear, and plans to establish Sima and exterminate the Song clan, they will be alarmed throughout the state, fear destruction, and send all elite strength to guard the northern border. Later, learning the official army has sound without substance, they will rely on their prior gathering, advance gladly, come straight to the river, and indulge in outrage. Then our defending generals will have nothing with which to resist them. If they have men who read the moment, skilled in stratagem, seizing the interval to advance deep while our state looks empty, trouble is not hard to raise. That is not a fine plan for controlling the enemy. Now the ministers wish to repel the enemy by show of force—that is precisely what summons them quickly. Raise empty sound and summon real harm—that is what is meant. You cannot fail to think—regret will come too late. Our envoys are there, due back before the fourth month. Wait until they return and investigate before acting—still not late. Chu's faction is what they hate—they will seize their state. How can they sit and watch? Therefore when Chu goes they come; when Chu stops they rest—that is the pattern. Moreover Chu and the rest are petty talents, able to gather the light and worthless but unable to achieve great merit. Creating trouble for the state and linking arms to calamity—surely this crowd will do it. I once heard Lu Gui persuade Yao Xing to let him enter Jingzhou. When he arrived he scattered and was defeated, was seized and sold as slaves by barbarian bandits, and brought calamity on Yao Hong—an outcome already seen."

浩又陳天時不利於彼，曰：「今茲害氣在揚州，不宜先舉兵，一也。午歲自刑，先發者傷，二也。日蝕滅光，晝昏星見，飛鳥墮落，宿當斗、牛，憂在危亡，三也。熒惑伏匿於翼、軫，戒亂及喪，四也。太白未出，進兵者敗，五也。夫興國之君，先修人事，次盡地利，後觀天時，故萬舉而萬全，國安而身盛。今宋新國，是人事未周也；災變屢見，是天時不協也；舟行水涸，是地利不盡也。三事無一成，自守猶或不安，何得先發而攻人哉？彼必聽我虛聲而嚴，我亦承彼嚴而動，兩推其咎，皆自以為應敵。兵法當分災，迎受害氣，未可舉動也。」帝不能違眾，乃從公卿議。浩復固爭，不從。遂遣陽平王杜超鎮鄴，琅邪王司馬楚之等屯潁川。於是寇來遂疾，到彥之自清水入河，

Hao also argued that heaven's seasons favored the enemy, saying, "The baleful qi now sits in Yangzhou—one should not strike first. That is the first sign. A wuwu year punishes itself—whoever strikes first is wounded. That is the second. An eclipse extinguishes light; day dims and stars appear; birds fall from the sky; lodges correspond to Dipper and Ox—worry lies in peril and ruin. That is the third. Mars hides in Wings and Axletree, warning disorder and mourning. That is the fourth. The White Star has not appeared—whoever advances is defeated. That is the fifth. The ruler who founds a state first cultivates human affairs, next exhausts earthly advantage, last observes heaven's seasons—then ten thousand acts bring ten thousand successes, the state secure and the ruler flourishing. Song is a new state—human affairs are not complete. Calamities appear again and again—heaven's seasons are not in harmony. Boats sail while waters dry—earthly advantage is not exhausted. Of the three, none is accomplished—even defense may be unsafe. How can you strike first and attack others? They will hear our empty alarm and grow strict; we take their strictness and move—each pushes blame, both thinking they respond to the enemy. In the art of war one should divide calamity and meet the baleful qi—you must not act. The emperor could not defy the multitude and followed the ministers' plan. Hao argued again but was not heeded. They then sent Prince of Yangping Du Chao to garrison Ye and Prince of Langye Sima Chuzhi and others to camp at Yingchuan. The raiders then came swiftly. Dao Yanzhi entered the river from Qingshui,

泝流西行，分兵列守南岸，西至潼關。

sailed upstream west, divided troops to hold the south bank, and reached Tong Pass.

帝聞赫連定與宋縣分河北，乃先討赫連。群臣皆曰：「義隆軍猶在河中，舍之西行，前寇未可必克；而義隆乘虛，則東州敗矣。」帝疑焉，問計於浩。浩曰：「義隆與赫連定同惡相連，招結馮跋，牽引蠕蠕，規肆逆心，虛相唱和。義隆望定進，定待義隆前，皆莫敢先入。以臣觀之，有似連雞，不得俱飛，無能為害也。臣始謂義隆軍屯住河中，兩道北上，東道向冀州，西道沖鄴。如此則陛下當自致討，不得徐行。今則不然，東西列兵，徑二千里中，一處不過千，形分勢弱。以此觀之，儜兒情見，正望固河自守，免死為幸，無北度意也。赫連定殘根易摧，擬之必僕。ＩＮ定之後，東出潼關，席捲而前，威震南極，江淮以北無立草矣。聖策獨發，非愚近所及，願陛下必行無疑。」

Hearing that Helian Ding and Song were dividing Hebei, the emperor first campaigned against Helian. The ministers all said, "Yilong's army is still on the river. Leave them and march west—the foe ahead cannot be surely taken. Yet if Yilong seizes the opening, the eastern provinces will be lost. The emperor hesitated and asked Hao for counsel. Hao said, "Yilong and Helian Ding are joined in the same evil, recruiting Feng Ba, drawing the Rouran, scheming rebellion, singing empty encouragement to each other. Yilong waits for Ding to advance; Ding waits for Yilong ahead—neither dares enter first. In my view they are like chickens tied by a cord, unable to fly together, and cannot harm us. I first thought Yilong's army would halt on the river with two routes north—the eastern toward Jizhou, the western against Ye. If so Your Majesty would need to campaign in person and could not advance slowly. Now it is not so. East and west they array troops; within two thousand li no post holds more than a thousand—form divided, momentum weak. From this the weaklings' intent appears: they only hope to hold the river, escape death as fortune, with no intent to cross north. Helian Ding's remnant root is easy to break; strike him and he will surely fall. After Ding is crushed, march east out of Tong Pass, sweep forward, and awe will shake the southern pole—north of the Yangtze and Huai not a blade of grass will stand. The sage stratagem issues alone—not what the foolish and near can grasp. I beg Your Majesty to act without doubt."

平涼既平，其日宴會，帝執浩手以示蒙遜使曰：「所雲崔公，此是也。才略之美，當今無比。朕行止必問，成敗決焉，若合符契。」

When Pingliang was pacified, at the banquet that day the emperor took Hao's hand to show Meng Xun's envoy, saying, "The Lord Cui I spoke of—this is he. His talent and stratagem have no peer today. My every move I must ask him; success and failure he decides—as if tally and seal matched."

後冠軍安頡軍還，獻南俘，因說南賊之言云：「宋敕其諸將，若北國兵動，先其未至，徑前入河。若其不動，住彭城勿進。」如浩所量。帝謂公卿曰：「卿輩前謂我用浩計為謬，驚怖固諫。常勝之家，自謂逾人遠矣，至於歸終，乃不能及。」遷浩司徒。

Later Champion General An Li returned with southern captives and reported the enemy's words: "Song charged its generals: if northern troops move, enter the river before they arrive. If they do not move, halt at Pengcheng and do not advance. It was as Hao had measured. The emperor told the ministers, "You said my following Hao's plan was wrong and remonstrated in terror. The ever-victorious think themselves far beyond others; in the end they still cannot match him. Hao was made Minister of Education.

時方士祁纖奏立四王，以日東西南北為名，欲以致禎吉，除災異。詔浩與學士議之。浩曰：「先王建國，以作籓屏，不應假名其福。夫日月運轉，周曆四方，京師所居，在於其內。四王之稱，實奄邦畿，名之則逆，不可承用。」先是，纖奏改代為萬年，浩曰：「昔太祖道武皇帝應期受命，開拓洪業，諸所制宜，無不循古。以始封代土，後稱為魏。故代、魏兼用，猶彼殷、商。國家積德，著在圖史，當享萬億，不待假名以為益也。纖之所聞，皆非正義。」帝從之。

At the time the adept Qi Xian memorialized establishing four kings named for the sun's east, south, west, and north, wishing to bring fortune and remove calamities. An edict ordered Hao to debate with the scholars. Hao said, "Former kings founded the state to make frontier screens; one should not borrow names for fortune. The sun and moon turn and circle the four directions; the capital dwells within them. The title of four kings in fact covers the imperial domain; to name it is rebellious and cannot be accepted. Earlier Xian had memorialized changing Dai to Wannian. Hao said, "Grand Ancestor Emperor Daowu received the mandate in his season and opened the great enterprise; all he established followed antiquity. Because he was first enfeoffed on the soil of Dai, he later was called Wei. Therefore Dai and Wei were used together, like Yin and Shang. The state's accumulated virtue is recorded in the histories; it should enjoy endless ages without borrowing a name for increase. What Xian proposes is all unrighteous." The emperor agreed.

時河西王沮渠牧犍內有貳意，帝將討焉，先問於浩。浩對曰：「牧犍噁心已露，不可不誅。官軍往年北伐，雖不ＩＮ獲，實無所損。于時行者，內外軍馬三十萬匹，計在道死傷，不滿八千。歲常羸死，恆不減萬，乃不少於前。而遠方承虛，便謂大損，不能復振。今出其不圖，大軍卒至，必驚懼騷擾，不知所出，擒之必矣。牧犍幼弱，諸弟驕恣，爭權縱橫，人心離解。加以比年以來，天災地變，都在秦、涼，成滅之國也。」

At the time Hexi king Juqu Mujian harbored divided loyalty. The emperor was about to campaign and first asked Hao. Hao replied, "Mujian's wicked heart is already exposed—he must be executed. When the official army campaigned north in years past, though it did not capture all, in truth there was no harm. At that time inner and outer forces mustered three hundred thousand horses; dead and wounded on the road numbered fewer than eight thousand. Each year lean deaths alone are constant, never fewer than ten thousand—not less than the campaign's toll. Yet distant lands heard empty report and thought the great loss meant we could not rise again. Strike them unawares now. The great army arrives suddenly—they will be terrified and in turmoil, not knowing what to do, and capture is certain. Mujian is young and weak; his brothers are arrogant, contending for power; hearts are divided. Moreover in recent years heaven's disasters and earth's changes have all fallen in Qin and Liang—a state ripe for destruction."

帝命公卿議之，恆農王奚斤等三十餘人皆表曰：「牧犍西垂下國，雖心不為純臣，然繼父修職貢，朝廷接以蕃禮。又王姬厘降，罪未甚彰，謂且羈縻而已。令士馬勞止，可宜小息。又其地鹵斥，略無水草，大軍既到，不得久停。彼聞軍來，必完聚城守，攻則難拔，野無所掠。」於是尚書古弼、李順之徒皆曰：「自溫闈河以西至於涼州，地純枯石，了無水草，不見流川。皆言姑臧城南天梯山上，冬有積雪深一丈，至春夏消液，下流成川，引以溉灌。彼聞軍至，決此渠口，水不通流，則致渴乏。去城百里之內，赤地無草，不任久停軍馬。斤等議是也。」帝乃命浩以其前言與斤共相難抑。諸人不復餘言，唯曰彼無水草。浩曰：「《漢書地理志》稱'涼州之畜，為天下饒'，若無水草，何以畜牧？又漢人為居，終不於無水草之地築城郭立郡縣也。又雪之消液，裁不斂塵，何得通渠引漕，溉灌數百萬頃乎？此言大詆誣於人矣。」

The emperor ordered debate. Prince of Hengnong Xi Jin and more than thirty others memorialized, "Mujian is a western frontier petty state. Though not a pure vassal at heart, he succeeded his father in tribute and the court received him with frontier ritual. A royal princess was sent in marriage; his crime is not glaring—we say only to keep him on a loose rein. Horses and men are weary and should rest a little. Their land is brackish and barren, almost without grass and water; when the great army arrives it cannot long halt. When they hear the army comes they will complete walls and hold the city; attack is hard and the wild offers nothing to seize. Then Director Gu Bi, Li Shun, and the rest said, "From west of Wen Gate River to Liangzhou the land is pure dry stone, utterly without grass, water, or flowing streams. All say south of Guzang on Tianti Mountain winter snow piles one zhang deep; by spring and summer it melts, flows down, and is drawn for irrigation. When they hear the army comes they will break the channel so water does not flow and bring thirst and exhaustion. Within a hundred li of the city is red earth without grass—it cannot long support horses and men. Xi Jin and the rest are right." The emperor then ordered Hao to take his former argument and debate sharply with Xi Jin. The others had no further argument and only repeated that there was no grass or water. Hao said, "The Book of Han's Treatise on Geography says, 'The livestock of Liangzhou are the richest under heaven.' Without grass and water, how could they pasture? Han people dwell there—they would never build walls, cities, commanderies, and counties on land without grass and water. When snow melts it can barely wet dust—how could it open channels and irrigate millions of qing? This talk grossly slanders the truth."

李順等復曰：「吾曹目見，何可共辯？」浩曰：「汝曹受人金錢，欲為之辭，謂我目不見便可欺也！」帝隱聽，聞之乃出，親見斤等。辭旨嚴厲，形於神色。群臣乃不敢復言。於是遂討涼州，平之。多饒水草，如浩所言。

Li Shun and the rest said again, "We have seen it with our own eyes—how can we debate together? Hao said, "You received men's gold and wish to speak for them—you think because I did not see it I can be deceived!" The emperor listened in secret, heard this, and came out to see Xi Jin and the rest in person. His words were stern and severity showed in his face. The ministers then dared speak no more. They then campaigned against Liangzhou and pacified it. Grass and water were abundant, as Hao had said.

乃詔浩總理史務，務從實錄。於是監秘書事，以中書侍郎高允、散騎侍郎張偉參著作，續成前紀。至於損益褒貶，折衷潤色，浩所總焉。浩有鑒識，以人倫為己任。明元、太武之世，征海內賢才，起自仄陋。及所得外國遠方名士，拔而用之，皆浩之由也。至於禮樂憲章，皆歸宗於浩。

An edict then ordered Hao to oversee historical affairs and strive for truthful records. He supervised secretariat affairs, with Palace Secretariat Attendant Gao Yun and Palace Cadet Zhang Wei joining the compilation to continue the former chronicle. Additions, subtractions, praise, blame, weighing, and polishing were all in Hao's hands. Hao had discernment and took human relations as his charge. In the eras of Mingyuan and Taiwu the state sought worthy talent across the realm, raising men from humble places. Worthy men from foreign and distant lands obtained and employed—all came through Hao. Ritual, music, statutes, and regulations all looked to Hao as their source.

及景穆始總百揆，浩復與宜都王穆壽輔政事。又將討蠕蠕，劉潔復致異議。帝愈欲討之，乃召問浩。浩對曰：「往擊蠕蠕，師不多日，潔等各欲回還。後獲尚書，雲軍還之時，去賊三十里，是潔等之計過矣。夫北土多積雪，至冬時，常避寒南徙。若因其時，潛軍而出，必與之遇。既與之遇，則可禽獲。」帝以為然。乃分軍四道，諸將俱會鹿渾海。期日有定，而潔恨計不用，沮誤諸將，無功而還。

When Jingmu first held the hundred offices, Hao again assisted government with Prince of Yidu Mu Shou. They were again about to campaign against the Rouran; Liu Jie again objected. The emperor wished all the more to campaign and summoned Hao. Hao replied, "In the past campaign against the Rouran, the army had not been out many days when Jie and the rest each wished to return. Later we obtained an enemy letter saying when the army returned it was thirty li from the bandits—that was Jie and the rest pushing the plan too far. The northern lands hold much snow; in winter they always flee cold and migrate south. Use that season, march the army out secretly, and you will surely meet them. Once you meet them, you can capture them. The emperor agreed. They divided the army into four routes; the generals all met at Luhun Sea. The rendezvous day was fixed, but Jie, resenting that his plan was not used, discouraged and misled the generals, and they returned without merit.

帝西巡至東雍，親臨汾曲，觀叛賊薛永宗壘，進軍圍之。永宗出兵欲戰，帝問浩曰：「今日可擊否？」浩曰：「永宗未知陛下自來，人心安固。北風迅疾，宜急擊之，須臾必破。若待明日，恐見官軍盛大，必夜遁走。」帝從之，永宗潰滅。車駕濟河，前驅告賊在渭北。帝至洛水橋，賊已夜遁。詔問浩曰：「蓋吳在長安北九十里，渭北地空，穀草不備，欲度渭南西行，何如？」浩曰：「蓋吳營去此六十里，賊魁所在。擊蛇之法，當先破頭，頭破則尾豈能動？宜乘勢先擊吳。今軍往，一日便到。吳平之後，回向長安，亦一日而至。一日之乏，未便損傷。愚謂宜從北道。若從南道，則蓋吳徐入北山，卒未可平。」帝不從，乃度渭南。吳聞帝至，盡散入北山，果如浩言。軍無所克，帝悔之。後以浩輔東宮之勤，賜繒絮布各千段。

The emperor toured west to East Yong, came personally to Fenqu, viewed rebel Xue Yongzong's ramparts, and advanced to besiege them. Yongzong sent troops to fight. The emperor asked Hao, "Can we strike today? Hao said, "Yongzong does not know Your Majesty has come in person; his men's hearts are secure. The north wind is swift. Strike urgently and you will break them in a moment. Wait until tomorrow and, seeing the official army's grandeur, they will flee by night." The emperor followed this counsel; Yongzong collapsed and was destroyed. The imperial carriage crossed the river; the vanguard reported bandits on the north bank of the Wei. The emperor reached Luoshui Bridge; the bandits had already fled by night. The emperor asked Hao: "Gai Wu lies ninety li north of Chang'an. North of the Wei the country is bare—no grain, no fodder. We mean to cross the Wei and march west. What do you say?" Hao answered: "Gai Wu's camp is sixty li away. That is where the rebel leader sits. Strike a serpent: break the head first. Break the head and the tail cannot move. Take the moment and strike Gai Wu first. March now and we arrive in a day. Once Gai Wu is down, we turn back to Chang'an—again one day. One day's weariness will not yet harm the men. I would take the northern road. Take the southern road and Gai Wu will slip into the northern hills at leisure—and never be crushed." The emperor would not listen. He crossed south of the Wei. Gai Wu heard the emperor was coming. His men scattered into the northern hills—exactly as Hao had warned. The army won nothing. The emperor repented. Later, for his service to the crown prince, Hao received a thousand bolts each of floss silk and cloth.

帝蒐於河西，詔浩詣行所議軍事。浩表曰：「昔漢武患匈奴強盛，故開涼州五郡，通西域，廣農積穀，為滅賊之資，東西迭擊。故漢未疲而匈奴已弊，後遂入朝。昔平涼州，臣愚以為北賊未平，征役不息，可不徙其人，案前世故事，計之長者。若徙其人，則土地空虛，雖有鎮戍，適可禦邊而已。至於大舉，軍資必乏。陛下以此事闊遠，竟不施用。如臣愚意，猶如前議，募徙豪強大家，充實涼土。軍舉之日，東西齊勢，此計之得者。」

On a hunt in Hexi the emperor summoned Hao to the camp to discuss military affairs. Hao memorialized: "Han Wudi feared the Xiongnu while they were strong. He opened Liangzhou's five commanderies, reached the Western Regions, farmed and stored grain, and built the means to destroy the foe—striking east and west in turn. Han had not yet worn itself out when the Xiongnu were spent—and later they came to court. When Liangzhou was pacified I argued, foolishly, that with northern rebels still abroad and levies unceasing, its people should not be moved—that ancient precedent was the far-sighted plan. Move the people and the land goes hollow. Garrisons may remain, but they can only hold the border. For a great campaign, supplies will fail. Your Majesty thought the matter too distant and did not adopt it. My view is unchanged: recruit and settle great families to fill the Liang country. When armies move, strike east and west together—that is the winning plan."

浩又上《五寅元曆》。表曰：「太宗即位元年，敕臣解《急就章》、《孝經》、《論語》、《詩》、《尚書》、《春秋》、《禮記》、《周易》，三年成訖。復詔臣學天文星曆、《易》式、九宮，無不盡看。三十九年，晝夜無廢。臣稟性弱劣，力不及健婦人，更無餘能，是以專心思書，忘寢與食。至乃夢共鬼爭義，遂得周公、孔子之要術。始知古人有虛有實，妄語者多，真正者少。自秦始皇燒書之後，經典絕滅。漢高祖以來，世人妄造曆術者十餘家，皆不得天道之正。大誤四千，小誤甚多，不可言盡。臣湣其如此。今遭陛下太平之世，除偽從真，宜改誤曆，以從天道。是以臣前奏造曆，今始成訖，謹以奏。惟恩省察，以臣曆術，宣示中書博士，然後施用。非但時人，天地鬼神知臣得正，可以益國家萬世之名，過於三皇、五帝矣。」浩又以《晉書》諸家並多誤，著《晉後書》，未就，傳世者五十餘卷。

Hao also presented the Five Yin Primordial Calendar. His memorial said: "In Taizong's first year I was ordered to master the Rapid Writing Primer, Filial Piety, Analects, Odes, Documents, Spring and Autumn, Rites, and Changes—finished in three years. He again ordered me to study stars, calendars, Yi forms, and the Nine Palaces—I read everything through. For thirty-nine years I did not rest, day or night. I am weak by nature—no stronger than a hardy woman—and have no other gift. I gave my mind to books and forgot sleep and food. I even dreamed I argued meaning with ghosts—and so came to the essentials of the Duke of Zhou and Confucius. Then I knew the ancients mixed empty with full: false words were many, true words few. After Qin Shihuang burned the books, the classics died. Since Han Gaozu more than ten houses rashly made calendars—and none caught Heaven's Way. Great errors ran to four thousand; small errors beyond count. I pitied it. Now, in Your Majesty's peace, casting out falsehood for truth, the false calendar should be corrected to Heaven's Way. I memorialized earlier to make a calendar. It is done. I submit it humbly. I beg Your Majesty to examine it, show my art to the Secretariat erudites, and then put it in use. Not only men of this age—Heaven, Earth, and ghosts will know I have the right measure. The nation's fame for ten thousand generations may surpass the Three August Ones and Five Thearchs. Finding the Jin histories mostly wrong, Hao wrote a Post-Jin History. It was unfinished; more than fifty scrolls still circulated.

初，道武詔秘書郎鄧彥海著國記十餘卷，編年次事，體例未成，逮於明元，廢不著述。神蒨二年，詔集諸文人摭錄國書。浩及弟覽、高讜、鄧穎、晁繼、范享、黃輔等共參著作，敘成國書三十卷。著作令史太原閔堪、趙郡郤標素諂事浩，乃請立石，銘載國書，以彰直筆。並勒浩所注《五經》。浩贊成之，景穆善焉。遂營於天郊東三里，方百步，用功三百萬乃訖。

At first Daowu ordered Deng Yanhai to write a National Record of more than ten scrolls, year by year, but the form was never settled. By Mingyuan the work was abandoned. In Shenqi year two an edict gathered scholars to compile the national annals. Hao, his brothers Lan and Gao Dan, Deng Ying, Chao Ji, Fan Xiang, Huang Fu, and others compiled together and finished a thirty-scroll National Record. Compiling clerks Min Kan of Taiyuan and Xi Biao of Zhao commandery, who had always fawned on Hao, asked to set up stone and inscribe the National Record—to show the straight brush. They also carved Hao's commentaries on the Five Classics. Hao approved; Jingmu was pleased. They built three li east of the suburban altar on a square plot a hundred paces across—three million work-units before it was finished.

浩書國事備而不典，而石銘顯在衢路，北人咸悉忿毒，相與構浩於帝。帝大怒，使有司案浩，取秘書郎及長曆生數百人意狀。浩服受賕。真君十一年六月，誅浩。清河崔氏無遠近，及范陽盧氏、太原郭氏、河東柳氏，皆浩之姻親，盡夷其族。其秘書郎史以下盡死。

Hao's account of state affairs was full but not canonical—yet the stone stood plain on the highway. Northerners burned with hate and together denounced him to the emperor. The emperor raged and ordered an inquiry, taking statements from hundreds of secretarial clerks and calendar officers. Hao confessed to taking bribes. In the sixth month of Zhenjun eleven, Hao was executed. The Qinghe Cui, near and far, with the Fanyang Lu, Taiyuan Guo, and Hedong Liu—all Hao's kin by marriage—were exterminated to the last. Secretarial clerks and recorders below them—all were killed.

浩始弱冠，太原郭逸以女妻之。浩晚成，不曜華采，故時人未知。逸妻王氏，宋鎮北將軍王仲德姊也。每奇浩才能，自以為得婿。俄而女亡，王氏深以傷恨，復欲以少女繼昏。逸及親屬以為不可，王氏固執與之。逸不能違，遂重結好。浩非毀佛法，而妻郭氏敬好釋典，時時讀誦。浩怒，取而焚之，捐灰廁中。及浩幽執，被置檻內，送于城南，使衛士數十人溲其上，呼聲嗷嗷，聞于行路。自宰司之被戮辱，未有如浩者，世皆以為報應之驗。

At his capping, twenty, Taiyuan Guo Yi gave him his daughter. Hao bloomed late and wore no brilliance; men of the time did not yet know him. Yi's wife Wang was elder sister to Song's General of Pacifying the North Wang Zhongde. She always marveled at Hao's gifts and thought she had won a true son-in-law. Soon the daughter died. Dame Wang grieved deeply and wished to give him a younger daughter in marriage again. Yi and kin thought it could not be, but Dame Wang insisted. Yi could not refuse. The marriage bond was renewed. Hao did not slander the Buddhist Law, but his wife Guo revered the sutras and read them often. Hao seized them in anger, burned them, and threw the ashes in the privy. Imprisoned, he was caged and sent south of the city. Dozens of guards urinated on him. His howls reached the road. No minister had ever been shamed and killed like Hao. The world called it retribution.

初，浩害李順，基萌已成，夜夢以火爇順寢室，火作而順死。浩與室家群立觀之。俄而順弟息號哭而出，曰：「此輩吾賊也！」以戈擊之，悉投於河。寤而以告館客馮景仁，曰：「此真不善也。夫以火爇人，暴之極也。且兆始惡者有終殃，積不善者無餘慶。厲階成矣，公其圖之。」浩曰：「吾方思之。」而不能悛，至是而族。

When Hao harmed Li Shun the seed was already sown. He dreamed he burned Shun's chamber; the fire rose and Shun died. Hao and his household stood watching. Soon Shun's younger kinsman ran out crying: "These are my enemies!" He struck them with a spear and cast them all into the river. Waking, he told his guest Feng Jingren: "This is truly ill-omened. To burn a man is violence at its height. An omen that starts in evil ends in ruin. He who heaps up wrong has no surplus of blessing. The stair of ruin is built. You must reckon with it." Hao said: "I am thinking about it." He could not repent—and now his clan was destroyed.

浩既工書，人多托寫《急就章》，從少至老，初不憚勞。所書蓋以百數，必稱「馮代強」，以示不敢犯國。其謹也如此。浩書體勢及其先人，而巧妙不如也。世寶其跡，多裁割綴連，以為摹楷。

Skilled in calligraphy, many entrusted him with the Rapid Writing Primer. From youth to age he never shirked the work. His copies ran to hundreds. He always signed "Feng Daiqiang"—to show he would not offend the state. Such was his caution. Hao's forms followed his forebears; in subtle craft he fell short. The world treasured his traces. Many trimmed and patched them into copy models.

浩母，盧諶孫女也。浩著《食經序》曰：「餘自少及長，耳目聞見，諸母諸姑所修婦功，無不蘊習酒食。朝夕養舅姑，四時供祭祀，雖有功力，不任僮使，常手自親焉。昔遭喪亂，饑饉仍臻，饣稟蔬餬口，不能具其物用，十餘年間，不復備設。先妣慮久廢忘，後生無所知見，而少不習書，乃占授為九篇。文辭約舉，婉而成章，聰辯強記，皆此類也。親沒之後，遇國龍興之會，平暴除亂，拓定四方。餘備位台鉉，與參大謀。賞獲豐厚，牛羊蓋澤；貲累巨萬，衣則重錦，食則粱肉。遠惟平生，思季路負米之時，不可復得。故序遺文，垂示來世。」

Hao's mother was Lu Chen's granddaughter. Hao wrote the Preface to the Food Classic: "From youth to age I saw and heard the woman's work of every aunt—brewing and cuisine, all stored in mind. Morning and evening they tended parents-in-law; in the four seasons they made offerings. Though they had servants, they worked with their own hands. In chaos and famine coarse food could not supply the full table. For more than ten years the full spread was not set. My late mother feared forgetting and that the young would never see it. I had not studied in youth. She dictated nine chapters. The words were terse and graceful; wit and memory were of that kind. After my parents died the realm rose like a dragon—violence pacified, the four quarters fixed. I stood at the highest terrace and joined great counsel. Rewards were rich; cattle and sheep might have drowned a marsh; wealth to tens of millions; clothes heavy brocade; food fine grain and meat. Looking back on life I think of Ji Lu carrying rice on his back—a time that cannot return. So I set down this surviving text for generations to come."

浩弟簡，字仲亮，一名覽。好學，少以善書知名。道武初，曆中書侍郎，爵五等侯，參著作事。卒。簡弟恬，字叔玄，小名白。位豫州刺史，爵武陽侯。坐浩伏誅。

Hao's brother Jian, styled Zhongliang, also called Lan. He loved learning and was known in youth for fine calligraphy. Under Daowu he was Central Secretariat Gentleman, enfeoffed Fifth-Rank Marquis, and helped compile the National Record. He died. Jian's brother Tian, styled Shuxuan, childhood name Bai. He was Inspector of Yuzhou and Marquis of Wuyang. He was executed by association with Hao.

宏祖悅，與范陽盧諶並以博藝齊名。諶法鐘繇，悅法衛瓘，而俱習索靖之草，皆盡其妙。諶傳子偃，偃傳子邈；悅傳子潛，潛傳子宏。世不替業，故魏初重崔、盧之書。宏自非朝廷文誥，四方書檄，初不妄染，故世無遺文。尤善草隸，為世摹楷，行押特盡精巧，而不見遺跡。始宏因苻氏亂，欲避地江南，為張願所獲，本圖不遂。乃作詩以自傷，而不行于時，蓋懼罪也。浩誅，中書侍郎高允受敕收浩家書，始見此詩，允知其意。允孫綽錄于允集。

Hong's ancestor Yue and Fanyang's Lu Chen were famed alike for broad arts. Chen followed Zhong Yao; Yue followed Wei Guan. Both studied Su Jing's cursive to the full. Chen passed to Yan; Yan to Miao; Yue passed to Qian; Qian to Hong. Their craft never lapsed—so in early Wei the Cui and Lu scripts were prized. Unless it was court edict or dispatch to the realm, Hong would not lightly take brush—so no writings of his survive. He excelled in cursive and clerical script, the age's model; running and draft were exquisite—yet no traces remain. When Fu Jian's house fell into chaos Hong meant to flee south but Zhang Yuan seized him. The plan failed. He wrote a poem to mourn himself, but it did not circulate—likely from fear of punishment. At Hao's death Gao Yun was ordered to collect Hao's books and first saw this poem. Yun understood it. Yun's grandson Chuo copied it into Yun's collected works.

初，宏父潛為兄渾等誄手筆本草，延昌初，著作佐郎王遵業買書於市，遇得之。年將二百，寶其書跡，深藏秘之。武定中，遵業子松年將以遺黃門郎崔季舒，人多摹拓之。左光祿大夫姚元標以工書知名于時，見潛書，以為過於浩也。

At first Hong's father Qian had written in his own hand for his brother Hun a eulogy on herbal medicine. In early Yan chang Wang Zunyue bought books in the market and found it. Nearly two hundred years had passed. He treasured the trace and kept it hidden. In Wuding Zunyue's son Songnian meant to give it to Cui Jishu of the Yellow Gate. Many made rubbings. Yao Yuanbiao, famed for calligraphy, saw Qian's hand and thought it surpassed Hao's.

宏弟徽，字玄猷，少有文才，與勃海高演俱知名。歷位秘書監，賜爵貝丘侯。樂安王范鎮長安，選舊德之士與範俱，以徽為平西將軍副將，行樂安王傅，進爵濟南公。徽為政務存大體，不親小事。性好人倫。引接賓客，或談及平生，或講論道義，誨誘後進，終日不止。以疾，征還京師，卒，諡曰元公，士類無不嘆惜。

Hong's brother Hui, styled Xuanyou, had literary talent in youth and was famed with Bohai's Gao Yan. He was Director of the Secretariat and Marquis of Beiqiu. Prince of Le'an Fan held Chang'an and chose elders to accompany him. Hui was made Vice General of Pacifying the West and acting tutor to the prince, advanced to Duke of Jinan. In office Hui kept the great pattern and left small matters alone. He loved human worth by nature. He received guests—talking of his life, of the Way, teaching the young—all day without stop. Ill, he was recalled to the capital and died. Posthumous name Duke Yuan. Scholars mourned.

始清河崔寬祖肜，隨晉南陽王保避地隴右，遂仕西涼及沮渠氏。

Qinghe's Cui Kuan traced to Tong, who followed Prince of Nanyang Bao south to Longyou and served Western Liang and the Juqu.

肜生剖，字伯宗，每慷慨有懷東土。常歎曰：「風雨如晦，雞鳴不已，吾所庶幾！」及太武西巡，剖乃總率同義，使子寬送款。太武嘉之，拜寬岐陽令，賜爵延水男。遣使與寬俱西，撫慰初附。征部詣京師，未至而卒。文成以剖誠著先朝，贈涼州刺史、武陵公，諡曰元。

Tong begot Pou, styled Bozong, often stirred with longing for the east. He often sighed: "Wind and rain, yet the cock crows—that is what I hope for!" When Taiwu toured west, Pou rallied like-minded men and sent his son Kuan to submit. Taiwu was pleased. Kuan was made Magistrate of Qiyang and Baron of Yanshui. An envoy went west with Kuan to comfort the newly attached. Pou was summoned to the capital but died on the way. Wencheng, for Pou's loyalty in the former reign, posthumously made him Inspector of Liangzhou and Duke of Wuling, posthumous name Yuan.

寬字景仁，還京，封安國子，位弘農太守。初，寬通款見浩，浩與相齒次，厚存接之。及浩誅，以遠來疏族，獨得不坐。遂家于武城，居司空林舊墟，以一子繼浩。與浩弟覽妻封氏相奉如親。寬後襲爵武陵公，陝城鎮將。三崤地險，人多寇劫。而寬性滑稽，誘接豪右，宿盜魁帥，與相交結。傾衿待遇，不逆細微，莫不感其意氣。時官無祿力，唯取給於人，寬善撫納，招致禮遺，大有取受，而與之者無恨。又恆農出漆蠟竹木之饒，路與南通，貿易來往，家產豐富，而百姓樂之。諸鎮之中，號曰能政。及解鎮，人人追戀，詣闕上疏者三百餘人。卒，遺言薄葬，斂以時服。

Kuan, styled Jingren, returned, was made Viscount of Anguo, and Governor of Hongnong. When Kuan first submitted he met Hao. Hao matched him in age and received him warmly. At Hao's death, a distant clan come from afar, he alone escaped punishment. He settled in Wucheng on Sikong Lin's old ground, with one son to continue Hao's line. He and Hao's brother Lan's wife Feng tended each other like kin. Later Kuan inherited Duke of Wuling and was garrison commander of Shancheng. The Three Gorges were rugged. Men often robbed. Kuan was witty. He drew in local powers and bandit chiefs and befriended them. He received them with open heart, not refusing the smallest courtesy. All were moved by his spirit. Officials had no salary then and lived on others' gifts. Kuan soothed and gathered them, accepting much—yet givers bore no grudge. Hengnong was rich in lacquer, wax, bamboo, and timber. Trade ran south. His house was rich and the people content. Among garrisons he was called able in government. When he left, men followed with longing. More than three hundred memorialized at court. He ordered a plain burial in timely dress.

長子敞，字公世，襲爵，例降為侯，為平原相。敞性狷急，與刺史楊椿迭相表列，敞坐免官。宣武初，為钜鹿太守。弟朏之逆，敞為黃木軍主韓文殊所藏。其家悉見籍沒，唯敞妻李氏以公主之甥，自隨奴婢田宅二百餘口得免。正光中，普釋禁錮，敞復爵郡侯，卒于趙郡太守。

Eldest son Chang, styled Gongshi, inherited—reduced by rule to marquis—and was Chancellor of Pingyuan. Chang was narrow and hasty. He and Inspector Yang Chun denounced each other in memorials. Chang was dismissed. In early Xuanwu he was Governor of Julu. At Fei's rebellion Chang was hidden by Han Wenshu, commander of the Huangmu Army. His household was confiscated. Only his wife Li, a princess's niece, with her servants, fields, and houses—more than two hundred souls—was spared. In Zhengguang, when bonds were lifted, Chang recovered his marquisate and died as Governor of Zhao commandery.

敞弟鐘，字公祿，奉朝請。弟朏之逆，以出後被原。曆司徒右長史、金紫光祿大夫、冀州大中正。敞亡後，鐘貪其財，誣敞息子積等三人非兄胤，辭訴累歲，人士疾之。爾硃世隆為尚書令，奏除其官，終身勿齒。朏好學，有文才，為京兆王愉錄事參軍，與愉同逆，伏法。

Brother Zhong, styled Gonglu, was Court Gentleman. At Fei's rebellion, adopted out, he was pardoned. He was Right Chief Clerk of the Minister of Education, Grandee of Golden Purple and Bright Light, and Rectifier of Ji. After Chang died Zhong coveted his wealth and claimed Chang's sons Ji and two others were not true heirs. Lawsuits ran for years. Gentlemen despised him. Erzhu Shilong as Minister of the Masters of Writing stripped him of office for life. Fei loved learning and had literary talent. He was recorder to Prince of Jingzhao Yu, rebelled with Yu, and was executed.

宏同郡董謐。謐父京，與同郡崔康時、廣陽霍原等，俱以碩學，播名遼海。謐好學，傳父業。中山平，入朝，拜儀曹郎，撰朝覲、饗宴、郊廟、社稷之儀。

In Hong's commandery lived Dong Mi. Mi's father Jing, with Cui Kangshi and Guangyang's Huo Yuan, were great scholars famed across Liaohai. Mi loved learning and inherited his father's craft. When Zhongshan fell he entered court as Gentleman of the Ceremonial Office and wrote rites for audience, feast, suburban sacrifice, and altars of soil and grain.

張袞，字洪龍，上谷沮陽人也。祖翼，父卓，位並太守。袞篤實好學，有文才。道武為代王，選為左長史。從追蠕蠕五六百里。諸部帥因兗言糧盡，不宜深入。帝問袞：「殺副馬足三日食乎？」皆言足。帝乃倍道追及於廣漠赤地南床山下，大破之。既而帝問袞曰：「卿曹外人，知我前問三日糧意乎？蠕蠕奔走數日，畜產失飲，至水必留。計其道程，三日足及。輕騎卒至，出其不意，彼必驚散，其勢然矣。」部帥聞之，咸曰：「聖策，非所及也。」袞常參大謀，每告人曰：「主上天資傑邁，必能囊括六合。夫遭風雲之會，不建騰跳之功者，非人豪也。」遂策名委質，竭誠伏事。時劉顯地廣兵強，跨有朔裔，會其兄弟乖離，共相疑阻。袞言于道武曰：「顯志大意高，今因其內釁，宜速乘之。」帝從之，遂破走顯。又從破賀訥。道武登勿居山遊宴，從官請聚石為峰，以記功德，乃命袞為文。

Zhang Gun, styled Honglong, was from Jieyang in Shanggu. Grandfather Yi and father Zhuo were both governors. Gun was sincere, loved learning, and had literary talent. When Daowu was Prince of Dai, Gun was chosen Left Chief Clerk. He followed pursuit of the Rouran five or six hundred li. Tribal chiefs, hearing Yan say grain was gone, said they should not go deep. The emperor asked Gun: "Slaughter the spare horses—food for three days?" All said yes. He doubled the march and caught them south of Bed Mountain on the broad red desert and broke them utterly. Afterward he asked Gun: "You outsiders—did you grasp my three-days' grain? The Rouran run for days. Their herds lose drink and must halt at water. Count their route—three days is enough. Light horse arrives unawares—they scatter. That is the momentum." The chiefs said: "Sacred stratagem—beyond us." Gun often joined great counsel and told others: "Our lord's talent is heaven-born. He will embrace the six directions. Meet wind and cloud and build no soaring merit—that is no hero. He pledged his name and served with utmost loyalty. Liu Xian held broad land and strong troops across the north. His brothers quarreled and suspected each other. Gun told Daowu: "Xian's will is great. Strike now while they split within. The emperor listened and broke Xian and drove him off. He also followed in defeating He Na. Daowu feasted on Wuju Mountain. Attendants asked to pile stones as a peak to record merit. Gun was ordered to write the text.

慕容寶之來寇也，袞言于道武曰：「寶乘滑台功，因長子捷，頌財竭力，難與爭鋒，宜羸師以侈其心。」帝從之，果破之參合。遷給事黃門侍郎。道武南伐，次中山，袞遺寶書，喻以成敗。寶見書，大懼，遂奔和龍。既克中山，聽入八議，拜幽州刺史，賜爵臨渭侯，百姓安之。

When Murong Bao raided, Gun said: "Bao rides Huatai's merit and Changzi's victory. He has spent wealth and strength—hard to meet in the spear. Show a weak army and swell his heart. The emperor listened and broke Bao at Canhe. He was made Gentlemen Attendant of the Yellow Gate. On Daowu's southern campaign he halted at Zhongshan. Gun sent Bao a letter on success and failure. Bao read it and was greatly afraid. He fled to Helong. After Zhongshan fell he entered the Eight Discussions, was Inspector of Youzhou and Marquis of Linwei. The people were settled.

天興初，征還京師。後與崔逞答晉將郗恢書失旨，黜為尚書令史。袞遇創業之初，始以才謀見任，率心奉上，不顧嫌疑。道武曾問南州人於袞，袞與盧溥州裏，數稱薦之。又未嘗與崔逞相識，聞風稱美。及中山平，盧溥聚黨為逆，崔逞答書不允，並乖本言，故忿之。

In early Tianxing he was recalled to the capital. Later he and Cui Cheng answered Jin general Xi Hui's letter badly and he was demoted to chief clerk of the Minister of the Masters of Writing. Gun met the realm at its founding and was first trusted for talent, serving openly without fear of suspicion. Daowu once asked Gun about southern men. Gun and Lu Pu were townsmen. He praised Pu again and again. He had never met Cui Cheng but heard his fame and praised him. When Zhongshan fell Lu Pu rebelled and Cui Cheng's reply was not compliant—both against his word—and he resented them.

袞年過七十，闔門守靜，手執經書，刊定乖失。愛好人物，善誘無倦，士類以此高之。永興二年，卒。太武后追錄舊勳，遣大鴻臚即墓策贈太保，諡文康公。

Past seventy Gun closed his gates, held the classics, and collated errors. He loved worthy men and taught without weariness. Gentlemen honored him. In Yongxing year two he died. Later Taiwu's empress recorded old merit and sent the Grand Herald to his tomb with patent, posthumously Grand Preceptor, posthumous name Duke Wenkang.

子度，少有學尚，襲爵臨渭侯，卒於中都大官。

Son Du in youth had learning, inherited Marquis of Linwei, and died as Grand Provisioner of the Central Capital.

度子白澤，年十一，遭母憂，以孝聞。長而博學。文成初，除殿中曹給事中，甚見寵任。白澤本字鐘葵，獻文賜名白澤，納其女為嬪。出行雍州刺史。清心少欲，人吏安之。獻文詔諸監臨官取所監羊一口、酒一斛者，罪至大辟；與者以從坐論。糾得尚書以下罪狀者，各隨所糾官輕重而授之。白澤上表，以為此法若行之不已，恐奸人窺望，勞臣懈節，請依律令舊法。獻文納之。太和初，懷州人伊祁苟初三十餘人謀反，文明皇太后欲盡誅一城人。白澤諫，以為《周書》父子兄弟罪不相及，不誣十室，而況一州。後從之，乃止。轉散騎常侍、殿中尚書。卒，贈相州刺史、廣平公，諡曰簡。

Du's son Baize at eleven mourned his mother and was known for filial piety. Grown, he was broadly learned. In early Wencheng he was Attendant of the Palace Bureau and greatly favored. Baize's original name was Zhongkui. Xianwen granted the name Baize and took his daughter as consort. He went out as Inspector of Yongzhou. Clear-minded and few in desires, officials and people were at ease under him. Xianwen issued an edict: overseers who took one sheep or one hu of wine from those they oversaw faced capital punishment; those who gave were judged accomplices. Whoever exposed guilt among officials to Masters of Writing and below would be appointed according to the rank of the man exposed. Baize memorialized: carry this law on forever and treacherous men will watch while diligent ministers slacken. Follow the old statutes. Xianwen accepted it. In early Taihe more than thirty men of Huai, Yi Qi Gou and others, plotted rebellion. Empress Dowager Wencheng wished to kill the whole city. Baize remonstrated: the Documents of Zhou do not link father, son, and brother in guilt. Do not implicate ten houses—how much less a commandery. The empress later followed him and stopped. He was made Regular Attendant and Attendant of the Palace Masters of Writing. He died. Posthumously Inspector of Xiangzhou and Duke of Guangping, posthumous name Jian.

長子倫，字天念，大司農少卿、燕州大中正。熙平中，蠕蠕主醜奴遣使來朝，抗敵國之禮，不修臣敬。朝議將依漢答匈奴故事，遣使報之。倫表以為：「虜雖慕德，亦來觀我。懼之以強，儻或歸附；示之以弱，窺覦或起。《春秋》所謂以我卜也。高祖、世宗知其若此，來既莫逆，去又不追。必其委贄玉帛之辰，屈膝籓方之禮，則豐其勞賄，藉以珍物。至於王人遠役，銜命虜庭，優以匹敵之尊，加之想望之寵，恐徒生虜慢，無益聖朝。」不從。孝莊初，卒于大司農卿。

Eldest son Lun, styled Tiannian, was Vice Minister of the Grand Granary and Rectifier of Yan. In Xiping the Rouran lord Chounu sent envoys using rival-state ritual, without minister's courtesy. Court wished to follow Han's answer to the Xiongnu and send envoys in reply. Lun memorialized: "Though the barbarians admire virtue, they also come to observe us. Awe them with strength and perhaps they submit; show weakness and covetous eyes may open. The Spring and Autumn says: they take us as their oracle. Gaozu and Shizong knew this: when they came, none opposed; when they left, none pursued. Only when they came with jade and silk and bent the knee in vassal ritual did the court heap rewards and lend treasures. Send royal envoys far into the barbarian court, honor them as equals, add longing favor—I fear only barbarian insolence, little gain for the holy court." They did not listen. In early Xiaozhuang he died as Minister of the Grand Granary.

袞弟恂。恂字洪讓，隨兄袞歸北，參代王軍事。說道武宜收中土士庶之望，以建大業。帝深加器異。皇始初，拜中書侍郎。帷幄密謀，頗亦參預。賜爵平皋子，出為廣平太守。恂招集離散，勸課農桑，流人歸者數千戶。遷常山太守。恂開建學校，優禮儒士，吏人歌詠之。時喪亂之後，罕能克厲者，唯恂當官清白，仁恕臨下，百姓親愛之，政為當時第一。明元即位，徵拜太中大夫。卒。恂性清儉，死日家無餘財。贈并州刺史、平皋侯，諡曰宣。

Gun's younger brother Xun. Xun, styled Hongrang, followed Gun north and joined the Prince of Dai's military affairs. He advised Daowu to win the hopes of central gentry and people to build great enterprise. The emperor greatly valued him. In early Huangshi he was Central Secretariat Gentleman. He also joined secret stratagems. He was enfeoffed Viscount of Pinggao and went out as Governor of Guangping. Xun gathered the scattered, urged farming and sericulture. Thousands of refugee households returned. He was transferred to Governor of Changshan. Xun founded schools and honored scholars. Officials and people sang of him. After chaos few were strict. Only Xun in office was pure, benevolent below—the people loved him. His government was first in the age. When Mingyuan acceded he was summoned Grand Master of the Palace. He died. Xun was pure and frugal. On the day he died his house had no surplus. Posthumously Inspector of Bingzhou and Marquis of Pinggao, posthumous name Xuan.

子純，字道尚，襲爵。坐事除。

Son Chun, styled Daoshang, inherited. Stripped for an offense.

純弟代，字定燕，陳留、北平二郡太守。卒，贈營州刺史，諡惠侯。代所曆著稱，有父遺風。

Brother Dai, styled Dingyan, was Governor of Chenliu and Pingbei. He died. Posthumously Inspector of Yingzhou, posthumous name Marquis Hui. Where Dai served he was praised. He had his father's style.

代子萇年，為汝南太守。郡人劉崇之兄弟分析，家貧，唯一牛，爭不能決，訟於郡庭。萇年淒而見之，謂曰：「汝曹當以一牛，故致此競；脫有二牛，必不爭。」乃以己牛一頭賜之。於是境中各相戒約，咸敦敬讓。卒於郡。子琛，字寶貴，少有孝行，位至太子翊軍校尉。卒。

Dai's son Changnian was Governor of Runan. Brothers Liu Chongzhi divided property. Poor, with one ox, they disputed and sued at the commandery court. Changnian saw them in grief and said: "You quarrel because you have one ox; had you two, you would not dispute. He gave them one of his own oxen. Within the district each warned the other. All became respectful and yielding. He died in office. Son Chen, styled Baogui, had filial conduct in youth and reached Colonel of the Crown Prince's Supporting Army. He died.

鄧彥海，安定人也。祖羌，苻堅車騎將軍。父翼，河間相。慕容垂之圍鄴，以為冀州刺史，爵真定侯。拒對使者曰：「先君忠於秦室，翼豈可先叛乎？忠臣不事二主，未敢聞命。」垂遣喻之曰：「吾與車騎結為異姓兄弟，卿亦猶吾子弟，安得辭乎？」翼曰：「冀州宜任親賢，翼請他役效命。」垂乃用為河間太守。後卒于趙郡內史。

Deng Yanhai was from Anding. Grandfather Qiang was Chariots and Cavalry General under Fu Jian. Father Yi was Chancellor of Hejian. When Murong Chui besieged Ye, Yi was made Inspector of Ji and Marquis of Zhending. He refused the envoy: "My father was loyal to Qin. How can Yi betray first? A loyal minister does not serve two masters. I dare not obey. Chui persuaded him: "Your grandfather and I were sworn brothers. You are as my son—how can you refuse?" Yi said: "Ji should go to kin and worthies. Give Yi another post to die in." Chui made him Governor of Hejian. Later he died as Internal Governor of Zhao commandery.

彥海性貞素，言行可復，博覽經書，長於《易》筮。道武定中原，擢為著作郎，再遷尚書吏部郎。彥海明解制度，多識故事，與尚書崔宏參定朝儀、律令、音樂，及軍國文記、詔策多是彥海所為。賜爵下博子。道武詔彥海撰國記十餘卷，唯次年月，起居行事而已，未有體例。彥海謹於朝事，未嘗忤旨。其從父弟暉時為尚書郎，凶俠好奇，與定陵侯和跋厚。跋有罪誅，其子弟奔長安。或告暉將送出之，由是道武疑知情，遂賜彥海死。既而悔之。時人咸湣惜焉。

Yanhai was pure and plain, his words traceable. He read the classics broadly and excelled in Yi divination. When Daowu pacified the central plains Yanhai was Compiler, then twice Gentleman of the Ministry of Personnel. Yanhai knew institutions and precedents. With Cui Hong he fixed court ritual, law, music, and state documents—much was Yanhai's. He was granted Viscount of Xiabo. Daowu ordered Yanhai to compile a National Record of more than ten scrolls—only year, month, and daily acts, without form. Yanhai was careful at court and never went against intent. His cousin Hui was then Gentleman of the Masters of Writing—fierce, curious, thick with Marquis of Dingling He Ba. Ba was executed for a crime. His sons and brothers fled to Chang'an. Someone reported Hui would send them out. Daowu suspected knowledge and granted Yanhai death. Afterward he repented. All pitied him.

子穎襲爵，稍遷中書侍郎。太武詔太常卿崔浩集諸文學撰述國書，穎與浩弟覽等俱參著作事。太武幸漠南，高車莫弗庫若干率騎數萬餘，驅鹿百餘萬詣行所。詔穎為文，銘于漠南，以記功德。兼散騎常侍，使宋。進爵為侯。卒，諡曰文恭。子怡襲爵，位荊州刺史，賜爵南陽公。卒。

Son Ying inherited and rose to Central Secretariat Gentleman. Taiwu ordered Cui Hao to gather scholars for the National Record. Ying joined with Hao's brother Lan and others. Taiwu favored the southern desert. Gaoche Mo Fu Ku Yu Gan led tens of thousands of horse, driving more than a million deer to the camp. Ying was ordered to write the text and inscribe it on the southern desert to record merit. Also Regular Attendant, envoy to Song. Advanced to marquis. He died. Posthumous name Marquis Wengong. Son Yi inherited, was Inspector of Jing, Duke of Nanyang. He died.

子侍，孝文賜名述，位齊州刺史。初改置百官，始重公府元佐，以述為太傅元丕長史。座于司空長史。諡曰貞。

Son Shi. Xiaowen granted the name Shu. He was Inspector of Qi. At the first reorganization of offices the grand tutor's chief aide was prized anew. Shu was Chief Clerk to Grand Tutor Yuan Pi. He sat as Chief Clerk to the Minister of Works. Posthumous name Zhen.

論曰：昭成、道武之時，雲雷方始，至於經邦緯俗，文武兼資。燕鳳博識多聞，首膺禮命。許謙才術俱美，驅馳艱虞。不然，何以成帝業也。崔宏家世雋偉，仍屬權輿，總機任重，守正成務，禮從清廟，固其宜也。浩才藝通博，究覽天文，政事籌策，時莫之二。此其所以自比於子房焉。屬明元為政之秋，太武經營之日，言聽計從，甯廓區夏，遇既深矣，勤亦茂哉。謀雖蓋世，威未震主，末途邂逅，遂不自全。豈鳥盡弓藏，人惡其上，將器盈必概，陰害貽禍，何斯人而遭斯酷乎？至若張袞才策，不免其戾，彥海貞白，禍非其罪，亦足痛云。洪讓世著循吏，家風良可貴矣。

The commentators say: In the age of Zhaocheng and Daowu, clouds and thunder were rising. To order the realm and weave custom took men of civil and martial gift together. Yan Feng was broad in learning and hearing; he was first to receive ritual appointment. Xu Qian's talent and craft were fine together, galloping through hardship and peril. Otherwise how could imperial enterprise stand? The Cui Hong house was lofty for generations. In the founding hour Hong bore the pivot, kept rectitude and finished the work—rites for the clear temple, as was fitting. Hao's arts ran broad; he mastered astronomy; in counsel and statecraft none stood second. This is why he likened himself to Zifang. In Mingyuan's autumn and Taiwu's campaigning days his words were heard and plans obeyed. He swept the central land. Favor was deep; diligence was rich. Though stratagem covered the age, his awe never shook the throne. At the road's end chance struck—and he could not save himself. Was it birds gone, bow stored—men hate the heights? Vessel full, must be leveled—hidden harm brings ruin? Why did such a man meet such cruelty? Zhang Gun's talent could not escape a harsh end. Yanhai's pure whiteness—disaster not for his crime. Pain enough to tell. Hongrang was famed through the age as an upright official. His household style is worth prizing.

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