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于栗磾
Yu Lidi
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列傳第十一于栗磾 （孫勁六世孫謹謹子寔寔 〈（子顗）〉 仲文寔 （弟翼翼子璽翼弟義宣敏
Biographies 11: Yu Lidi (Grandson Jin; six generations later, grandson Jin; son Shi; Shi 〈son Yan〉 Zhongwen Shi (Younger brother Yi; Yi's son Xi; Yi's younger brother Yixuan Min
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于栗磾，代人也。 少習武藝，材力過人，能左右馳射。 登國中，拜冠軍將軍，假新安子。 與甯朔將軍公孫蘭，潛自太原，從韓信故道，開井陘關路，襲慕容寶於中山。 道武后至，見道路修理，大悅，即賜其名馬。 及趙魏平，帝置酒高會，謂栗磾曰：「卿，吾之黥、彭也！」 進假新安公。 道武田于白登山，見熊將數子，顧栗磾曰：「能搏之乎？」 對曰：「若搏之不勝，豈不虛斃一壯士！ 自可驅致御前，坐而制之。」 尋皆禽獲，帝顧而謝之。
Yu Lidi came from Dai. From boyhood he trained in arms; his strength outmatched others, and he could shoot from horseback at full gallop. During the Dengguo period he was made Champion General and Acting Lord of Xin'an. With Pacifier of the North Gongsun Lan he stole out of Taiyuan, took Han Xin's old road, opened the Jingxing route, and struck Murong Bao at Zhongshan. Daowu came afterward, saw the roads in order, and was delighted; he immediately gave him renowned horses. After Zhao and Wei were subdued, the Emperor held a great feast and told Lidi, "You are my Ying Bu and Peng Yue! He was promoted to Acting Duke of Xin'an. Daowu was hunting on White Deer Mountain, saw a bear with cubs, and asked Lidi, "Can you grapple with it? Lidi answered, "If I fight and fail, I would waste a brave man for nothing! Better to drive it before Your Majesty and subdue it at a distance. Soon all were taken alive; the Emperor turned and thanked him.
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後為河內鎮將。 劉裕之伐姚泓，栗磾慮北侵擾，築壘河上。 裕憚之，遺栗磾書，假道西上。 題書曰：「黑槊公麾下」。 栗磾以狀表聞，明元因之授栗磾黑槊將軍。 栗磾好持黑槊，裕望而異之，故有其號。 遷豫州刺史，進爵新安侯。 洛陽雖歷代所都，實為邊界，栗磾勞來安集，甚得百姓心。 明元南幸盟津，謂栗磾曰：「河可橋乎？」 栗磾曰：「杜預造橋，遺事可想。」 乃編大船，構橋於野阪。 六軍既濟，帝深歎美之。
He later served as Garrison Commander of Henei. When Liu Yu marched against Yao Hong, Lidi feared incursions from the north and built riverbank fortifications. Yu was wary of him and wrote Lidi requesting a corridor west. The superscription read, "To the Black Spear Duke's command." Lidi memorialized the court; Mingyuan then made him General of the Black Spear. Lidi favored a black spear; Yu glimpsed it from afar and was struck by it, hence the name. He was moved to Inspector of Yuzhou and raised to Marquis of Xin'an. Luoyang had been many dynasties' capital yet lay on the border; Lidi worked to settle the people and won them wholeheartedly. Mingyuan went south to Meng Ford and asked Lidi, "Can we bridge the river? Lidi said, "Du Yu once bridged it; the precedent still stands. He moored great boats and threw a bridge across at Wild Slope. After the six armies crossed, the Emperor marveled aloud.
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太武之征赫連昌，敕栗磾與宋兵將軍周幾襲陝城，長驅至三輔。 進爵為公。 累遷外都大官，平刑折獄，甚有聲稱。 卒，贈太尉。 栗磾自少總戎，迄于白首，臨事善斷，所向無前。 加以謙虛下士，刑罰不濫，太武甚悼惜之。
On Taiwu's campaign against Helian Chang, Lidi and Song General Zhou Ji were sent to take Shancheng and press into the heartland. He was promoted to duke. He rose repeatedly to Grand Officer of the Outer Court and won fame for fair judgment. At his death he was posthumously made Grand Commandant. From youth to white hair Lidi held command; he decided swiftly in the field and none could stand before him. He was moreover modest toward men of worth and sparing in punishment; Taiwu grieved deeply for him.
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子洛拔，有姿容，善應對。 拜侍御中散。 太武甚加愛寵，因賜名焉。 轉監禦曹令。 景穆在東宮，厚加禮遇。 洛拔恆畏避摒退，不敢逆自結納。 頃之，襲爵。 後為侍中、尚書令，百僚憚之。 卒官。 洛拔有六子。
His son Luoba was handsome and quick in speech. He was made Attendant Imperial Scribe. Taiwu doted on him and gave him the name Luoba. He became Supervisor of the Imperial Wardrobe Office. Crown Prince Jingmu in the Eastern Palace honored him warmly. Luoba always held back and shunned advance, not daring to court favor himself. Soon he inherited the fief. He later served as Palace Attendant and Director of the Secretariat; officials stood in awe of him. He died in office. Luoba had six sons.
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長子烈，善射，少言，有不可犯之色。 少拜羽林中郎，累遷侍中、殿中尚書。 于時孝文幼沖，文明太后稱制。 烈與元丕、陸睿、李沖等各賜金策，許以有罪不死。 進爵洛陽侯，轉衛尉卿。 及遷都洛陽，人情戀本，多有異議。 帝以問烈。 曰：「陛下聖略深遠，非愚管所測。 若隱心而言，樂遷之與戀舊，中半耳。」 帝曰：「卿不唱異同，朕深感不言之益。」 敕鎮代，留台庶政，一相參委。 車駕幸代，執烈手曰：「宗廟至重，翼衛不輕。 卿當祗奉靈駕，時遷洛邑。」 烈與高陽王雍奉神主於洛陽，遷光祿卿。
The eldest, Lie, excelled at archery, spoke little, and wore a face none dared cross. Young he entered the Feathered Forest; he rose to Palace Attendant and Director of the Palace Secretariat. Xiaowen was still a child and Empress Dowager Wenming ruled in his name. Lie, Yuan Pi, Lu Rui, Li Chong, and others each received a golden tally promising immunity from capital punishment. He was made Marquis of Luoyang and Commandant of the Guard. At the transfer to Luoyang many clung to the old capital and murmured against it. The Emperor questioned Lie. Lie said, "Your Majesty's design is too deep for a fool to fathom. Speaking honestly, delight in the move and longing for the old divide the people evenly. The Emperor said, "You do not stir dissent; I value deeply what you leave unsaid. He was sent to hold Dai; routine government at the northern capital went through him. On the imperial visit to Dai the Emperor took Lie's hand and said, "The ancestral temple is paramount; guarding it is no small trust. Escort the spirit tablets with reverence and join us at Luoyang in good time. Lie and Prince Yong of Gaoyang brought the spirit lords to Luoyang; he was then made Minister of the Household.
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十九年，大選百僚，烈子登引例求進。 烈表引己素無教訓，請乞黜落。 帝曰：「此乃有識之言，不謂烈能辨此！」 乃引見登，詔曰：「朕今創禮新邑，明揚天下，卿父乃行謙讓之表，而有直士之風，故進卿為太子翊軍校尉。」 又加烈散騎常侍，封聊城縣子。
In year nineteen, during the great selection, Lie's son Deng invoked precedent to seek promotion. Lie submitted that he had never trained his son and begged Deng's removal. The Emperor said, "That is the speech of a man who knows his mind—I did not expect such clarity from Lie! He summoned Deng and said, "I am founding rites in the new capital and seeking talent across the land; your father's modest petition and upright manner move me—I advance you to Assistant Commander of the Crown Prince's Guard. Lie was also made Regular Attendant and enfeoffed Viscount of Liaocheng.
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及穆泰、陸睿謀反舊京，帝幸代，泰等伏法。 賜烈及李沖璽書，述敘金策之意。 時代鄉舊族，同惡者多，唯烈一宗，無所染豫。 帝益器重之。 歎曰：「元儼決斷威恩，深自不惡，然盡忠猛決，不如烈也。 爾日烈在代都，必即斬其五三元首。 烈之節概，不謝金日磾。」 詔除領軍將軍。 以本官從征荊沔，加鼓吹一部。
When Mu Tai and Lu Rui conspired at the old capital, the Emperor went to Dai; Tai and his fellows were put to death. Lie and Li Chong received sealed letters reaffirming the golden tally's promise. Many Dai clans of the day were implicated, but Lie's lineage alone stayed clean. The Emperor prized him still more. He sighed, "Yuan Yan is sharp in reward and punishment and thinks well of himself, yet in loyal daring he falls short of Lie. Had Lie been in Dai that day, he would have struck off the Five Three chiefs at once. Lie in moral fiber does not bow to Jin Midi. He was appointed General of the Guards. He marched on Jing and Mian in that rank and received an extra band of martial music.
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二十三年，齊將陳顯達入寇馬圈，帝輿疾討之。 執烈手，以京邑為托。 帝崩于行宮，彭城王勰秘諱而返。 稱詔召宣武會駕魯陽。 以烈留守之重，密報凶問。 烈處分行留，神守無變。
In year twenty-three Chen Xianda of Qi invaded Maquan; the Emperor, sick in camp, went out against him. He clasped Lie's hand and entrusted the capital to his care. The Emperor died on campaign; Prince Xie of Pengcheng hid the tidings and turned homeward. He issued orders in the late Emperor's name summoning Xuanwu to join the train at Luyang. Knowing Lie's weight as defender, he secretly sent word of the death. Lie arranged the rear guard; his composure never wavered.
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宣武即位，寵任如前。 咸陽王禧為宰輔，權重當時。 曾遣家僮傳言於烈，求舊羽林武賁執仗出入。 烈不許。 禧遣謂烈曰：「我是天子兒，天子叔，元輔之命，與詔何異？」 烈厲色答曰：「向亦不道王非天子兒、叔。 若是詔，應遣官人所由。 若遣私奴索官家羽林，烈頭可得，羽林不可得也！」 禧惡烈剛直，出之為恆州刺史。 烈不願籓授，謂彭城王勰曰：「殿下忘先帝南陽之詔乎？ 而逼老夫乃至於此！」 遂以疾辭。
When Xuanwu succeeded, Lie's favor stood as before. Prince Xi of Xianyang was chief minister and his power dominated the court. Xi once sent a house slave to Lie requesting old Feathered Forest guards to carry arms in his train. Lie refused. Xi sent word: "I am the emperor's son and uncle; a chief minister's order—how is it not an edict? Lie answered coldly, "I never denied you were the emperor's son and uncle. Had it been an edict, proper officers would have borne it. Send a private slave to seize the imperial guard, and you may have my head—but not my guards! Xi hated Lie's stiffness and posted him Inspector of Hengzhou. Lie, unwilling to take a province, told Prince Xie of Pengcheng, "Have you forgotten the late Emperor's charge at Nanyang? And you press an old man so far! He pleaded illness and withdrew.
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宣武以禧等專擅，潛謀廢之。 景明二年正月，礿祭，三公致齋於廟。 帝夜召烈子忠謂曰：「卿父明可早入。」 及明，烈至。 詔曰：「諸父慢怠，今欲使卿以兵召之，卿其行乎？」 烈曰：「老臣曆奉累朝，頗以幹勇賜識。 今日之事，所不敢辭。」 乃將直閣以下六十餘人，宣旨召咸陽王禧、彭城王勰、北海王詳，衛送至帝前。 諸公各稽首歸政。 以烈為領軍，進爵為侯，自是長直禁中，機密大事皆所參焉。
Xuanwu, seeing Xi and his faction monopolize power, secretly planned their removal. In the first month of Jingming year two, at the spring rites, the Three Dukes kept fast at the temple. That night the Emperor called Lie's son Zhong and said, "Let your father come early tomorrow. At dawn Lie came. The edict ran, "My uncles grow insolent; I would have you summon them under arms—will you go? Lie said, "I have served many reigns and am known, if at all, for boldness. Today's task I dare not refuse. He took sixty-odd Direct Attendants and heralds, summoned Princes Xi of Xianyang, Xie of Pengcheng, and Xiang of Beihai, and brought them before the throne. Each bowed low and surrendered his powers. Lie became General of the Guards and Marquis; thereafter he kept constant watch in the palace and every grave secret ran through him.
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咸陽王禧之謀反，宣武從禽於野。 左右分散，倉卒之際，莫知其計。 乃敕烈子忠馳覘虛實。 烈時留守，已處分有備。 因忠奏曰：「臣雖朽邁，心力猶可。 禧等倡狂，不足為慮。 願緩蹕徐還，以安物望。」 帝甚以為慰。 車駕還宮，禧已逃，詔烈追執之。
When Prince Xi of Xianyang rebelled, Xuanwu took him in the field. His attendants scattered; in the confusion none knew what he intended. The Emperor sent Lie's son Zhong to ride out and learn the truth. Lie was on garrison duty and had already made ready dispositions. Zhong reported Lie's words: "I am old, yet my heart and strength still hold. Xi and his crew are reckless fools—not worth fear. Let Your Majesty return slowly and steady the people's gaze. The Emperor took great comfort from this. Back at the palace Xi had fled; Lie was ordered to pursue and seize him.
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順後既立，以世父之重，彌見優禮。 及卒，宣武舉哀於朝堂，給東園第一秘器，贈太尉，封钜鹿郡公。 子祚襲。
After Empress Shun's elevation, as her father's uncle he won still finer treatment. At his death Xuanwu mourned in the hall, gave the finest funeral regalia, posthumously made him Grand Commandant, and enfeoffed him Duke of Julu. His son Zuo inherited the title.
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祚弟忠，字思賢，本字千年。 弱冠，拜侍御中散。 文明太后臨朝，刑政頗峻，侍臣左右，多以微譴得罪。 忠樸直少言，終無過誤。 太和中，授武騎侍郎，因賜名登。 累遷左中郎將，領直寢。 元禧之亂，車駕在外，變起倉卒。 忠曰：「臣父為領軍，計必無所慮。」 帝遣忠馳觀之，烈嚴備，果如所量。 忠還，宣武撫其背曰：「卿差強人意。 先帝賜卿名登，誠為美稱。 朕嘉卿忠款，今改名忠，既表貞固之誠，亦以名實相副也。」 以父憂去職。 徙為司空長史。
Zuo's younger brother Zhong, styled Sixian, had originally been named Qiannian. At twenty he was Attendant Imperial Scribe. Under Empress Dowager Wenming's regency justice ran harsh; many at the Emperor's side fell for trifling faults. Zhong was plain, upright, and sparing of speech; he never stumbled. In the Taihe era he became Martial Cavalry Gentleman and received the name Deng. He rose to Left Palace Gentleman and commanded the Direct Guard. When Yuan Xi rebelled the Emperor was abroad and crisis struck in an instant. Zhong said, "My father commands the guards; he will have left nothing to chance. The Emperor sent Zhong to look; Lie stood in full readiness, just as Zhong had said. Zhong returned; Xuanwu clapped his shoulder and said, "You exceed expectation. The late Emperor named you Deng—a fine name indeed. I honor your loyalty; I rename you Zhong—showing constancy and matching name to deed. He left office to mourn his father. He became Chief Clerk to the Minister of Works.
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時太傅、錄尚書、北海王詳親尊權重，將作大匠王遇多隨詳所欲而給之。 忠於詳前謂遇曰：「殿下國之周公，阿衡王室，何至阿諛附勢，損公惠私也？」 遇既不寧，詳亦慚謝。 以平元禧功，封魏郡公。 及遷散騎常侍、兼武衛將軍，每以鯁氣正辭，為北海所忿。 面責忠曰：「我憂在前見爾死，不憂爾見我死時也。」 忠曰：「人生自有定分，若應死王手，避亦不免； 不爾，王不能殺。」 詳因忠表讓之際，密勸帝以忠為列卿，於是詔停其封，優進太府卿。
Grand Tutor and Recorder Prince Xiang of Beihai was close kin and powerful; Director of Construction Wang Yu indulged his every wish. Before Xiang, Zhong told Yu, "Your Highness is the realm's Duke of Zhou—how can you fawn on power, wound the public good, and serve private ends? Yu was uneasy; Xiang himself apologized in shame. For pacifying Yuan Xi he was enfeoffed Duke of Wei. As Regular Attendant and Martial Guard General he spoke with blunt bone; Beihai bore him a grudge. Xiang rebuked him to his face: "I fear I shall see you die before I die—not you me. Zhong said, "Each man has his fate; if I am to die by your hand, flight will not save me. If not, you cannot kill me. Xiang, under cover of Zhong's resignation memorial, secretly urged the Emperor to make him a ranked minister; the court stayed his enfeoffment and advanced him Minister of the Palace Treasury.
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正始二年，詔忠以本官使持節、兼侍中，為西道大使。 刺史、鎮將贓罪顯暴者，以狀聞。 守令以下，便行決斷。 與尚書李崇分使二道。 忠劾并州刺史高聰贓罪二百餘條，論以大辟。 除華州刺史。 遭繼母憂，不行。 服闋，再遷衛尉卿、河南邑中正。 忠與吏部尚書元暉、度支尚書元匡、河南尹元萇等推定代方姓族。 高肇忌其為人，乃言于宣武，稱中山要鎮，作捍須才，乃出忠為定州刺史。 既而帝悔，復授衛尉卿、領左衛將軍、恆州大中正，密遣使詣忠，慰勉之。 延昌初，除都官尚書，領左衛、中正如故。 又加散騎常侍。 嘗因侍宴，賜之劍杖，舉酒屬忠曰：「卿世執貞節，故恆以禁衛相委。 昔以卿行忠，賜名曰忠。 今以卿才堪禦侮，以所禦劍杖相錫。 循名取義，意在不輕，出入恆以自防也。」 遷侍中、領軍將軍。 忠辭無學識，宣武曰：「學識有文章者不少，但心直不如卿。 欲使卿劬勞於下，我當無憂於上。」
In Zhengshi year two Zhong was ordered, retaining his rank, to bear the staff as Concurrent Attendant and Western Circuit envoy. Where inspectors and garrison commanders' graft was flagrant, he reported it. For prefects, magistrates, and below, he judged and punished on the spot. He and Director Li Chong split the realm between them. Zhong impeached Bingzhou Inspector Gao Cong on over two hundred counts of corruption and sought capital punishment. He was made Inspector of Huazhou. His stepmother died; he did not take the post. After mourning he again became Commandant of the Guard and Chief Rectifier of Henan. Zhong with Yuan Hui of Personnel, Yuan Kuang of Revenue, Yuan Chang as Mayor of Henan, and others fixed the Dai clans' registers. Gao Zhao hated his manner and told Xuanwu that Zhongshan needed a strong hand; Zhong was posted Inspector of Dingzhou. Soon the Emperor repented, restored him Commandant of the Guard, General of the Left Guard, and Chief Rectifier of Hengzhou, and secretly sent envoys to comfort him. At Yan chang's opening he became Director of Justice, retaining Left Guard and Chief Rectifier. He was also made Regular Attendant. At a feast he was given sword and staff; raising his cup he told Zhong, "Your line has held fast for generations—hence I always trust you with the inner guard. Once, because you acted loyally, I named you Zhong. Now, seeing your talent can turn insult aside, I give you the arms at my side. Name and gift match in meaning—do not treat them lightly; bear them whenever you pass the gates. He became Palace Attendant and General of the Guards. Zhong pleaded lack of scholarship; Xuanwu said, "Learned men with polished prose are plentiful, but none has your straight heart. Labor below that I may rest above."
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及帝崩夜，忠與侍中崔光遣右衛將軍侯剛迎明帝於東宮而即位。 忠與門下議，以帝沖年，未親機政，太尉高陽王雍屬尊望重，宜入居西柏堂，省決庶政； 任城王澄明德茂親，可為尚書令，總攝百揆。 奏中官，請即敕授。 御史中尉王顯欲逞奸計，與中常侍、給事中孫蓮等厲色不聽，寢門下之奏。 孫蓮等密欲矯太后令，以高肇錄尚書事，顯與高猛為侍中。 忠即殿中收顯殺之。
The night the Emperor died, Zhong and Attendant Cui Guang sent Right Guard General Hou Gang to bring Mingdi from the Eastern Palace to the throne. Zhong and the Secretariat held that the boy emperor had not yet taken the reins; Grand Commandant Prince Yong of Gaoyang, eminent in kinship and name, should enter the Western Cypress Hall and decide routine affairs. Prince Cheng of Rencheng, virtuous and close in blood, should be Director of the Secretariat and oversee the ministries. They memorialized the inner palace asking immediate edicts. Censor Wang Xian plotted treachery; with Secretary Sun Lian and others he glared down the Secretariat memorial. Sun Lian and his circle meant to forge the Empress Dowager's order making Gao Zhao Recorder, with Xian and Gao Meng as Attendants. Zhong seized Xian in the hall and killed him on the spot.
19
忠既居門下，又總禁衛，遂執朝政，權傾一時。 初，太和中，軍國多事，孝文以用不足，百官祿四分減一。 忠既擅朝，欲以惠澤自固，乃悉復所減之祿，職人進位一級。 舊制：百姓絹布一匹之外，各輸綿麻八兩。 忠悉以與之。 乃白高陽王雍，自雲宣武本許優轉。 雍憚忠威權，便順意加忠車騎大將軍。 忠自謂新故之際，有安社稷功，諷百僚令加己賞。 太尉雍、清河王懌、廣平王懷難違其意，封忠常山郡公。 忠又難於獨受，乃諷朝廷，同在門下者加封邑。 尚書左僕射郭祚、尚書裴植以忠權勢日盛，勸雍出忠。 忠聞之，逼有司誣奏其罪。 祚有師傅舊恩，植擁地入國，忠並矯詔殺之。 朝野憤忿，無不切齒。 王公以下，畏之累跡。 又欲殺高陽王雍，侍中崔光固執乃止，遂免雍太尉，以王還第。 自此詔命生殺，皆出於忠。 既尊靈太后為皇太后，居崇訓宮，忠為儀同三司、尚書令、崇訓衛尉，侍中、領軍如故。
Holding Secretariat and guards together, Zhong seized the government; his power bent the age. Earlier in Taihe, with war and statecraft pressing, Xiaowen had cut official salaries by a quarter for lack of funds. Monopolizing court, Zhong sought to bind men with favor: he restored the salary cuts and raised every officer one rank. By old rule, beyond one bolt of silk or cloth per household, eight ounces of cotton and hemp were due. Zhong remitted all of it to the people. He told Prince Yong of Gaoyang that Xuanwu had promised him preferment. Yong feared Zhong's might and promptly made him General of Chariots and Cavalry. Zhong thought his service at the dynastic turn had saved the state and nudged officials to enlarge his reward. Grand Commandant Yong, Prince Yi of Qinghe, and Prince Huai of Guangping could not refuse; they enfeoffed him Duke of Changshan. Unwilling to stand alone, he hinted that fellow Secretariat ministers should gain fiefs too. Vice Director Guo Zuo and Director Pei Zhi, seeing Zhong's power swell, urged Yong to post him away. Zhong heard and forced the bureaus to frame charges against them. Zuo had been the Emperor's tutor; Zhi had surrendered estates to the crown—Zhong forged edicts and had both killed. Court and country raged; men ground their teeth. From princes down, all feared him and crowded his path. He would have killed Prince Yong; Attendant Cui Guang blocked it; Yong was stripped of Grand Commandant and sent home. From then every order of life and death issued from Zhong. When Empress Dowager Ling was honored and dwelt at Chongxun, Zhong became Honored Companion, Director of the Secretariat, Chongxun Commandant, still Attendant and General of the Guards.
20
靈太后臨朝，解忠侍中、領軍、崇訓衛尉，止為儀同、尚書令、侍中。 忠為令旬余，靈太后引門下侍官，問忠在端右聲聽。 咸曰不稱厥任，乃出為冀州刺史。 太傅清河王等奏：「忠擅殺樞納，輒廢宰輔，朝野駭心，遠近怪愕。 功過相除，悉不合賞，請悉追奪。」 靈太后從之。
When she took the regency she stripped him of Attendant, Guards, and Chongxun Commandant, leaving Honored Companion, Director, and Attendant. After barely ten days as Director the Empress Dowager called Secretariat officers and asked whether Zhong's conduct at her right hand was fit. All said he failed his charge; he was posted Inspector of Jizhou. Grand Tutor Prince Yi of Qinghe memorialized, "Zhong murdered key ministers and deposed chief counselors on his own authority; the realm shook. Merit and crime cancel his rewards—we beg all honors be revoked. The Empress Dowager agreed.
21
熙平元年，御史中尉元匡奏：「忠以鴻勳盛德，受遇累朝，幸國大災，專擅朝命，無人臣之心。 裴、郭受冤於既往，宰輔黜辱於明世。 又自矯旨為儀同三司、尚書令、領崇訓衛尉。 原其此意，便欲無上自處。 既事在恩後，宜加顯戮。 請遣御史一人、令史二人，就州行決。」 靈太后令，以忠事經肆眚，遂不追罪。 又詔以忠歷任禁要，誠節皎然，賜爵靈壽縣公。
In Xiping year one Censor Yuan Kuang wrote, "Zhong, favored through reigns for great deeds, used the dynastic crisis to seize commands—no subject's heart. Pei and Guo were wronged; chief ministers were disgraced in broad daylight. He forged edicts making himself Honored Companion, Director, and Chongxun Commander. By that intent he plainly meant to stand above all. Though the general amnesty had passed, he deserved open punishment. Send one censor and two clerks to execute judgment in his province. The Empress Dowager ruled that the great pardon covered Zhong; punishment was not pursued. She also decreed that his long service in the inner guard showed bright loyalty and granted him Duke of Lingshou.
22
初，宣武崩後，高太后將害靈太后。 劉騰以告侯剛，剛以告忠。 忠請計于崔光。 光曰：「宜置胡嬪於別所，嚴兵守衛。」 忠從之，具以此意啟靈太后，太后意乃安。 故太后深德騰等四人，並有寵授。
After Xuanwu's death, Empress Dowager Gao had plotted harm to Empress Dowager Ling. Liu Teng warned Hou Gang; Gang told Zhong. Zhong sought Cui Guang's counsel. Guang said, "Place the Hu consorts apart under strict guard. Zhong obeyed, reported fully to Empress Dowager Ling, and her mind was eased. The Empress Dowager therefore deeply favored Teng and the other three and richly rewarded them.
23
忠以毀之者多，懼不免禍，願還京，欲自營救。 靈太后不許。 二年四月，除尚書右僕射，加侍中，將軍如故。
Many slandered Zhong; fearing ruin, he begged to return to the capital to save himself. The Empress Dowager refused. In the second year, fourth month, he became Right Vice Director and Attendant, retaining his generalship.
24
神龜元年三月，復儀同三司。 疾，未拜。 見裴、郭為祟，自知必死，先表養亡弟第二子司徒掾永超為子，乞以為嫡。 靈太后許之。 薨，贈司空。 有司奏太常少卿元端議：「案諡法，剛強理直曰武，怙威肆行曰晗鬼，宜諡武晗鬼公。」 太常卿元修義議：「忠盡心奉上，翦除凶逆。 依諡法，除偽甯直曰武，夙夜恭事曰敬，宜諡武敬公。」 二卿不同。 靈太后令依正卿議。
In Shengui year one, third month, he was again Honored Companion. He fell ill before he could take the post. Haunted by visions of Pei and Guo, he knew death was near; he memorialized to adopt his late brother's second son Yongchao, a registrar of Works, as heir. The Empress Dowager consented. At his death he was posthumously made Minister of Works. The bureaus memorialized; Vice Director Yuan Duan argued, "By the posthumous canon, rigid uprightness is Martial; bullying power is Violent—the name should be Martial Violent Duke. Director Yuan Xiuyi argued, "Zhong served with all his heart and cut down traitors. By canon, rooting out falsehood is Martial; tireless service is Reverent—the name should be Martial Reverent Duke. The two directors disagreed. The Empress Dowager followed the senior director.
25
忠性多阻忌，不交勝己，唯與直閣將軍章初環、千牛備身楊保元為斷金之交。 李世哲求寵於忠，私以金帛貨初環、保元，二人談之，遂被賞愛，引為腹心。 忠擅權昧進為崇訓之由，皆世哲計也。
Zhong was jealous and would not befriend his betters; only Direct Attendant Zhang Chuhuan and Thousand-Ox Guard Yang Baoyuan were his sworn brothers. Li Shizhe courted Zhong, bribing Chuhuan and Baoyuan with gold and silk; they spoke for him and he became Zhong's confidant. Zhong's seizure of power and blind promotions at Chongxun were Shizhe's doing.
26
忠弟景，字百年。 忠薨後，為武衛將軍。 謀廢元叉，叉黜為懷荒鎮將。 及蠕蠕主阿那瑰叛，鎮人請糧，景不給。 鎮人遂執縛景及其妻，拘守別室，皆去其衣服，令景著皮裘，妻著故絳旗襖，毀辱如此。 月餘，乃殺之。
Zhong's younger brother Jing had originally been named Bainian. After Zhong's death he became Martial Guard General. He plotted to depose Yuan Cha; Cha sent him to Garrison Commander of Huaihuang. When Rouran lord Anagui rebelled, the garrison begged grain; Jing refused. The garrison seized Jing and his wife, stripped them, clothed him in furs and her in a tattered crimson banner-coat, and shamed them so. After a month they killed them both.
27
烈弟果，嚴毅直亮，有父兄風。 曆朔、華、並、恆四州刺史，賜爵武城子。
Jing's younger brother Guo was stern, upright, and bright, in the mold of father and brother. He held Shuo, Hua, Bing, and Heng and was made Viscount of Wucheng.
28
果弟勁。 勁字鐘葵，頗有武略，位沃野鎮將，賜爵富昌子。 宣武納其女為後，封勁太原郡公，妻劉氏為章武郡君。 後為征北將軍、定州刺史。 卒，贈司空，諡曰恭莊公。 自栗磾至勁，累世貴盛，一皇后，四贈公，三領軍，二尚書令，三開國公。 勁雖以後父，但以順後早崩，竟不居公輔。
Guo's younger brother was Jin. Jin, styled Zhongkui, was skilled in war; he commanded Woye and was Viscount of Fuchang. Xuanwu made his daughter empress, enfeoffed Jin Duke of Taiyuan, and made his wife Lady Liu Lady of Zhangwu. He later became General Who Pacifies the North and Inspector of Dingzhou. At his death he was posthumously Minister of Works with the posthumous name Duke Gongzhuang. From Lidi to Jin the house flourished for generations—one empress, four posthumous dukes, three Guard generals, two Secretariat directors, three founding dukes. Though Jin was the empress's father, Empress Shun's early death kept him from the highest office.
29
子暉，字宣明，後母弟也。 少有氣幹。 襲爵，位汾州刺史。 暉善事人，為爾硃榮所親，以女妻其子長儒。 曆侍中、河南尹。 後兼尚書僕射、東南道行台，與齊神武討平羊侃於兗州。 元顥入洛，害之。
His son Hui, styled Xuanming, was born of the later wife. Young he showed spirit and capacity. He inherited the fief and became Inspector of Fenzhou. Hui knew how to win hearts; Erzhu Rong favored him and gave him his daughter for son Changru. He served as Palace Attendant and Mayor of Henan. He later became Vice Director and Southeastern Commissioner and with Qi Shenwu crushed Yang Kan in Yanzhou. When Yuan Hao took Luoyang, Hui was killed.
30
勁弟天恩，位內行長、遼西太守。 贈平東將軍、燕州刺史。 天恩子仁生，位太中大夫。 仁生子安定，平原郡太守、高平郡都將。 安定子子提，隴西郡守、茂平縣伯。 周保定二年，以子謹著勳，追贈太保、建平郡公。
Jin's younger brother Tian'en was Inner Steward and Governor of Liaoxi. He was posthumously General Who Pacifies the East and Inspector of Yanzhou. Tian'en's son Rensheng was Grand Palace Counselor. Rensheng's son Anding was Administrator of Pingyuan and Chief Commandant of Gaoping. Anding's son Ziti was Governor of Longxi and Baron of Maoping. In Zhou Baoding year two, for son Jin's merit, Ziti's line was posthumously made Grand Guardian and Duke of Jianping.
31
謹字思敬，小名巨引。 沈深有識量，略窺經史，尤好《孫子》兵書。 屏居未有仕進志。 或有勸之者，謹曰：「州郡之職，昔人所鄙，台鼎之位，須待時來。」 太宰元天穆見之，歎曰：「王佐材也。」 及破六韓拔陵首亂北境，引蠕蠕為授，大行台元纂討之。 夙聞謹名，辟為鎧曹參軍事，從軍北伐。 蠕蠕逃出塞，纂令謹追之，前後十七戰，盡降其眾。 後率輕騎出塞覘賊，屬鐵勒數千騎奄至。 謹以眾寡不敵，乃散其騎，使匿叢薄間。 又遣人升山指麾，若分部軍眾。 賊望見，雖疑有伏，恃眾不以為慮，乃進逼謹。 以常乘駿馬一紫一騧，賊先所識，乃使二人各乘一馬，突陣而出。 賊以為謹，爭逐之。 乃率餘軍擊其追騎。 賊走，因得入塞。
Jin, styled Sijing, childhood name Juyin. Deep, reserved, and discerning, he skimmed the classics and especially loved Sunzi's Art of War. In retirement he had no wish for office. When urged to serve, Jin said, "Prefectures and commanderies ancients scorned; the highest offices wait on the hour. Grand Preceptor Yuan Tianmu saw him and sighed, "A king's right hand. When Poliuhan Baling first rebelled in the north and called in the Rouran, Commissioner Yuan Zuan marched against him. Zuan had long heard of Jin and made him Armor Registrar on the northern campaign. The Rouran fled the border; Zuan sent Jin after them; seventeen battles later all had submitted. Later he led light horse beyond the passes to scout; thousands of Tiele horsemen fell upon him. Outnumbered, Jin scattered his riders into the brush. He sent men up the hills to signal as though deploying divisions. The enemy saw this; though they feared ambush, their numbers made them bold and they pressed Jin. His usual mounts were a bay and a piebald the enemy knew; he set two men on those horses to break the line. The foe took them for Jin and gave chase. Jin then struck the pursuers with his remnant force. They fled and he re-entered the passes.
32
正光四年，行台、廣陽王元深北伐，引謹為長流參軍。 特相禮接，使其世子佛陁拜焉。 遂與廣陽破賊主斛律野穀祿等。 謹請馳往喻之。 謹兼解諸國語，乃單騎入賊，示以恩信，於是西部鐵勒酋長也列河等三萬餘戶並款附，相率南遷。 廣陽與謹至析郭嶺迎接之。 謹曰：「拔陵兵眾不少，聞也列河等款附，必來要擊。 彼若先據險，則難與爭鋒。 今以也烈河等鉺之，當競來抄掠，然後設伏而待，必指掌破之。」 廣陽然其計。 拔陵果來要擊，破也列河於嶺上，部眾皆沒。 謹伏兵發，賊大敗，悉破收也列河之眾。
In Zhengguang year four Prince Yuan Shen of Guangyang marched north and took Jin as Long Stream Registrar. Shen honored him specially and had his heir Fotuo perform obeisance. With Guangyang he broke the bandit chief Hulu Yegulu and his fellows. Jin asked to ride ahead and win them by persuasion. Jin knew many tongues; alone he rode into the enemy camp, showed grace and faith, and western Tiele chiefs including Yelie He—thirty thousand households—submitted and moved south. Guangyang and Jin met them at Xige Ridge. Jin said, "Baling's host is large; hearing of Yelie He's submission, he will intercept. If he seizes the passes first, we cannot fight him on equal ground. Use Yelie He as bait; Baling will rush to plunder; then ambush him and break him in the palm of your hand. Guangyang agreed. Baling came to intercept, shattered Yelie He on the ridge, and destroyed his following. Jin's ambush rose; the rebels were routed and he recovered Yelie He's people.
33
孝昌元年，又隨廣陽王征鮮于修禮。 軍次白斗牛邏。 會章武王為修禮所害，遂停軍中山。 侍中元晏宣言于靈太后曰：「廣陽盤桓不進，坐圖非望。 又有于謹者，智略過人，為其謀主，恐非陛下純臣。」 靈太后詔于尚書省門外立榜，募獲謹者，許以重賞。 謹聞之，請詣闕披露腹心，廣陽許之。 謹遂到榜下，曰：「吾知此人。」 眾共詰之，謹曰； 「我即是也。」 有司以聞。 靈後見之，大怒。 謹備述廣陽忠款，兼陳停軍之狀。 靈後遂舍之。 後從爾硃天光與齊神武戰于韓陵山，天光敗，謹遂入關。
In Xiaochang year one he again followed Guangyang against Xianyu Xiuli. The army camped at White Bull Fighting Camp. Prince Zhangwu fell to Xiuli; the army halted at Zhongshan. Attendant Yuan Yan told Empress Dowager Ling, "Guangyang stalls and plots beyond his station. His chief planner Yu Jin exceeds ordinary wit—I fear he is no loyal servant of Your Majesty. The Empress Dowager posted a placard at the Secretariat gate offering a rich reward for Jin's capture. Jin heard and asked to go to court and lay bare his heart; Guangyang consented. Jin came to the placard and said, "I know this man. The crowd pressed him; Jin said: "I am he. The officers reported it. The Empress Dowager received him in great anger. Jin laid out Guangyang's loyalty and the army's reasons for halting. The Empress Dowager spared him. Later he followed Erzhu Tian Guang against Qi Shenwu at Hanling; Tian Guang lost and Jin entered the passes.
34
周文帝臨夏州，以謹為防城大都督，兼夏州長史。 及賀拔岳被害，周文赴平涼。 謹言于周文曰：「關中秦漢舊都，古稱天府。 今若據其要害，招集英雄，足觀時變。 且天子在洛，逼迫群凶。 請都關右，然後挾天子而令諸侯，千載一時也。」 周文大悅。 會有敕追謹為關內大都督，謹因進都關中策。 魏帝西遷，仍從周文征潼關，破回洛城，授北雍州刺史，進爵藍田縣公。 大統三年，大軍東伐，為前鋒，進拔弘農，禽東魏陝州刺史李徽伯。 神武至沙苑，謹力戰，進爵常山郡公。 又從戰河橋，拜大丞相府長史，兼大行台尚書。 再遷太子太保。 芒山之戰，大軍不利，謹率麾下偽降，立于路左。 神武乘勝逐北，不以為虞。 謹自後擊之，敵人大駭。 獨孤信又收兵於後奮擊，神武軍亂，以此大軍得全。 十二年，拜尚書左僕射，領司農卿。 及侯景款附，請兵為援，謹諫以為景情難測，周文不聽。 尋兼大行台尚書、大丞相長史，率兵鎮潼關，加授華州刺史，賜秬鬯一卣，珪瓚副焉。 俄拜司空。 恭帝元年，除雍州刺史。
When Zhou Wendi came to Xiazhou he made Jin Grand Defender and Concurrent Administrator. When Heba Yue was murdered, Wendi went to Pingliang. Jin told Wendi, "Guanzhong was Qin and Han's capital, the ancient Storehouse of Heaven. Hold its passes and gather heroes and we can read the times. The Son of Heaven sits in Luoyang, harried by villains. Move the capital west of the passes, hold the Son of Heaven, and command the lords—a chance once in a millennium. Wendi was delighted. An edict recalled him as Grand Commander Within the Passes; Jin advanced the Guanzhong capital plan. When the Wei Emperor moved west he followed Wendi to Tong Pass, took Huiluo, became Inspector of Beiyong, and was made Duke of Lantian. In Datong year three, as eastern vanguard he took Hongnong and captured Eastern Wei Inspector of Shaan Li Huibo. Shenwu came to Shayuan; Jin fought hard and was advanced Duke of Changshan. He fought at Heqiao and became Chief Clerk to the Grand Chancellor and Concurrent Director of the Grand Commissioner's Secretariat. He was transferred again to Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. At Mang Mountain the main force was losing; Jin led his men in a false surrender and posted them on the left side of the road. Gao Huan, riding the victory in pursuit, suspected nothing. Jin struck from behind, and the enemy panicked. Dugu Xin rallied men behind them and hit hard; Gao Huan's lines broke, and the main army escaped intact. In year twelve he became Left Vice Minister of the Masters of Writing and also Director of the Directorate of Agriculture. When Hou Jing submitted and asked for reinforcements, Jin warned that Jing's loyalty was unknowable; Yuwen Tai would not hear it. Soon he was also Grand Master of Writing on the Great Pacification Commission and chief clerk to the Grand Chancellor, commanding troops at Tong Pass; he was made Governor of Hua, granted a jar of black-millet ale and jade libation vessels besides. Shortly afterward he was made Minister of Works. In the first year of Emperor Gong of Wei he was appointed Governor of Yong.
35
初，梁元帝於江陵嗣位，密與齊交通，將謀侵軼。 其兄子岳陽王詧時為雍州刺史，以梁元帝殺其兄譽，逐結隙，據襄陽來附。 乃命謹出討。 周文餞于青泥穀。 長孫儉曰：「為蕭繹計將如何？」 謹曰：「曜兵漢沔，席捲度江，直據丹陽，是其上策。 移郭內居人，退保子城，以待援至，是其中策。 若難於移動，據守羅郭，是其下策。」 儉曰：「裁繹出何策？」 謹曰：「必用下。」 儉曰：「何也？」 對曰：「蕭氏保據江南，綿歷數紀。 屬中原有故，未遑外略。 又以我有齊氏之患，必謂力不能分。 且繹懦而無謀，多疑少斷。 愚人難與慮始，皆戀邑居，既惡遷移，當保羅郭。 所以用下策。」 謹令中山公護及大將軍楊忠等先據江津，斷其走路。 梁人豎木柵於外城，廣輪六十里。 尋而謹至，悉眾圍之。 旬有六日，外城遂陷，梁主退保子城。 翌日，率其太子以下，面縛出降。 尋殺之。 虜其男女十餘萬人，收其府庫珍寶。 得宋渾天儀、梁日晷、銅表、魏相風烏、銅蟠螭趺、大玉徑西尺圍七尺及諸輿輦法物以獻，軍無私焉。 立蕭詧為梁主，振旅而旋。 周文親至其第，宴語極歡。 賞謹奴婢一千口。 及梁寶物，並金石絲竹樂一部，別封新野郡公。 謹固辭，不許。 又令司樂作《常山公平梁歌》十首，使工人歌之。
Earlier, when Emperor Yuan of Liang took the throne at Jiangling, he had secretly dealt with Qi and planned an incursion. His nephew Cha, Prince of Yueyang, held Yong; when Yuan killed Cha's brother Yu, the rift was beyond repair—Cha seized Xiangyang and defected. Jin was ordered to march against him. Yuwen Tai saw him off at Qingni Valley. Changsun Jian asked, "What plan will you make for Xiao Yi? Jin said, "Mass troops on the Han and Mian, sweep down the Yangtze, and seize Danyang—that is the best plan. Evacuate the outer city into the inner citadel and wait for aid—that is the middling plan. If he cannot bear to move and merely holds the outer walls—that is the worst plan." Jian said, "Which will Yi choose?" Jin said, "The worst—certainly." Jian asked, "Why?" He replied, "The Xiao have held the south for generations. While the central plains were in turmoil they had no leisure to look outward. And seeing our trouble with Qi, he will assume we cannot spare a force. Yi himself is timid, unstrategic, suspicious, and slow to decide. Common men hate upheaval; they will cling to their homes, dread moving, and defend the outer walls. So he will take the worst plan." Jin sent the Duke of Zhongshan Hu and the great general Yang Zhong to seize Jiangjin first and cut off retreat. The Liang raised wooden palisades around the outer city, sixty li around. Soon Jin arrived and invested the place with his full strength. In sixteen days the outer city fell; the Liang ruler withdrew into the inner citadel. The next day he led the crown prince and his court out, bound in ropes, and surrendered. Soon afterward he was executed. They took more than a hundred thousand captives and seized the palace treasuries. They took Song's armillary sphere, the Liang sundial, bronze instruments, Wei's wind-vane bird, a coiled-dragon bronze pedestal, a great jade disk seven feet across, and chariots and ritual gear—all sent up; the army kept nothing private. Cha was installed as Liang ruler; the army withdrew in good order. Yuwen Tai came in person to his house; their feast ran to great merriment. Jin was rewarded with a thousand slaves. With Liang treasures came a full court orchestra; he was separately enfeoffed Duke of Xinye. Jin firmly declined; it was not allowed. The Music Office was ordered to compose ten songs, "The Duke of Changshan Pacifies Liang," for artisans to sing.
36
謹自以久當權重，功名既立，願保優閑，乃上先所乘駿馬及所著鎧甲等。 周文識其意，曰：「今巨猾未平，公豈得便爾獨善？」 遂不受。 六官建，拜大司寇。
Jin, long in power with his fame made, wished for ease and returned the fine horses and armor he had used. Yuwen Tai read his intent and said, "The great foe is not yet down—can you seek comfort alone? He would not accept them. When the Six Offices were established, he became Grand Minister of Justice.
37
及周文崩，孝閔帝尚幼，中山公護雖受顧命而名位素下，群公各圖執政。 護深憂之，密訪於謹。 謹曰：「夙蒙丞相殊眷，今日必以死爭之。 若對眾定策，公必不得讓。」 明日，群公會議。 謹曰：「昔帝室傾危，丞相志存匡救。 今上天降禍，奄棄百寮。 嗣子雖幼，而中山公親則猶子，兼受顧托，軍國大事，理須歸之。」 辭色抗厲，眾皆悚動。 護曰：「此是家事，護何敢有辭！」 謹既周文等夷，護每申禮敬。 至是，謹乃起而言曰：「公若統理軍國，謹等便有所依。」 遂再拜。 群公迫於謹，亦拜。 眾議始定。
When Yuwen Tai died, Emperor Xiaomin was still a child; Hu of Zhongshan, though named in the will, had always ranked low, and every duke plotted for power. Hu was deeply worried and sought Jin in secret. Jin said, "I have long owed the Chancellor; today I will dispute this to the death. Settle it before the assembly, and you cannot be refused. The next day the dukes met. Jin said, "When the house was falling, the Chancellor meant to set it right. Heaven has sent calamity and taken him from the hundred officials. The heir is young, but Hu of Zhongshan is kin like a son and named in the will—state and army belong to him. His tone was fierce; everyone flinched. Hu said, "This is family business—how dare I refuse! Jin had stood as Yuwen Tai's equal; Hu always treated him with ceremony. Now Jin rose and said, "Take army and state, and we have someone to follow. He bowed twice. Pressed by Jin, the dukes bowed as well. The matter was settled.
38
孝閔踐阼，進封燕國公，邑萬戶，遷太傅、太宗伯，與李弼、侯莫陳崇等參議朝政。 及賀蘭祥討吐谷渾，明帝令謹遙統其軍，授以方略。
When Xiaomin took the throne, Jin was made Duke of Yan, fief of ten thousand households, Grand Tutor and Grand Director of the Ancestral Temple, and deliberated policy with Li Bi and Hou Mo Chen Chong. When Helan Xiang marched on Tuyuhun, Emperor Ming had Jin direct the army from afar and gave him the strategy.
39
保定二年，謹以年老，乞骸骨，優詔不許。
In Baoding year two, Jin asked to retire on account of age; a gracious edict refused.
40
三年，以謹為三老，固辭，又不許。 賜延年杖。 武帝幸太學以食之。 三老入門，皇帝迎拜屏間，三老答拜。 有司設三老席於中楹，南向。 太師、晉公護升階，設席施幾。 三老升席，南面馮幾而坐，師道自居。 大司冠、楚國公寧升階，正舄。 皇帝升，立於斧扆之前，西面。 有司進饌，皇帝跪設醬豆，親自袒割。 三老食訖。 皇帝又親跪授爵以酳。 有司撤訖。 皇帝北面立訪道。 三老乃起立于席。 皇帝曰：「猥當天下重任，自惟不才，不知政術之要，公其誨之。」 三老答曰：「木從繩則正，君從諫則聖。 自古明王聖主，皆虛心納諫，以知得失，天下乃安。 惟陛下念之。」 又曰：「為國之本，在乎忠信。 古人去食去兵，信不可失。 國家興廢，莫不由之，願陛下守而勿失。」 又曰：「為國之道，必須有法。 法者，國之綱紀，不可不正。 所正在於賞罰。 若有功必賞，有罪必罰，則為善者日益，為惡者日止。 若有功不賞，有罪不罰，則天下善惡不分，下人無所措其手足。」 又曰：「言行者，立身之基，言出行隨，誠願陛下慎之。」 三老言畢，皇帝再拜受之，三老答拜，禮成而出。
In year three he was made one of the Three Elders; he declined again and was refused again. He was granted the staff of longevity. Emperor Wu came to the Imperial Academy to serve him. As the Three Elders entered, the emperor met and bowed beyond the screen; the Elder bowed in return. Officials set the Elder's mat at the central pillar, facing south. The Grand Preceptor, Duke of Jin Hu, mounted the steps and set mat and armrest. The Elder took the mat, faced south, leaned on the armrest, and held the teacher's place. The Grand Minister of Justice, Duke of Chu Ning, mounted the steps and straightened his shoes. The emperor mounted and stood before the axe-screen, facing west. Food was brought; the emperor knelt to set sauce and beans and cut the meat himself. When the Elder had finished eating, the emperor knelt again and offered the rinsing cup. The vessels were cleared away. The emperor stood facing north to ask about the Way. The Elder rose and stood at his mat. The emperor said, "I bear the realm's weight unworthily and do not know governance—teach me. The Elder answered, "Wood follows the line and grows straight; a ruler who hears remonstrance becomes sage. Sage kings of old all welcomed honest counsel to know their errors, and the realm was secure. May Your Majesty remember this." He also said, "The root of statecraft is loyalty and trust. The ancients would give up food or arms, but never trust. States rise and fall by this—hold it and do not let it go." He also said, "To govern there must be law. Law is the state's net—it must be straight. What must be straight is reward and punishment. Reward merit and punish crime, and good grows while evil stops. Without reward or punishment, good and evil blur and men have nowhere to stand." He also said, "Word and deed are a man's foundation—deeds follow words; be cautious, Majesty." When the Elder had finished, the emperor bowed twice to receive the teaching; the Elder bowed in return; the rites ended and they withdrew.
41
及晉公護東伐，謹時有病。 護以其宿將舊臣，猶請與同行，詢訪戎略。 軍還，賜鐘磬一部。 天和二年，又賜安車一乘。 尋授雍州牧。 三年，薨，年七十六。 武帝親臨。 詔譙王儉監護喪事，賜繒千段、粟夢千斛，贈本官，加使持節、太師、雍恆等二十州諸軍事、雍州刺史，諡曰文。 及葬，王公以下，咸送郊外。 配享于文帝廟庭。
When Duke of Jin Hu marched east, Jin was ill. Hu, honoring an old commander, still asked him along and sought his counsel on strategy. On the army's return he was given bells and chimes. In Tianhe year two he was again granted a cushioned carriage. Soon he was made Governor of Yong. In year three he died, aged seventy-six. The emperor came in person. Prince of Qiao Jian was ordered to oversee the funeral; a thousand bolts of silk and a thousand hu of grain were granted; his offices were posthumously confirmed, with Bearer of the Staff, Grand Preceptor, command over twenty provinces including Yong and Heng, Governor of Yong, posthumous title Wen. At the burial, princes and dukes alike escorted him beyond the city. He was given paired sacrifice in Emperor Wen's temple.
42
謹有智謀，善於事上。 名位雖重，愈存謙挹，每朝參往來，不過從兩三騎而已。 朝廷凡有軍國之務，多與謹決。 謹亦竭其智慧，故功臣中特見委信，始終若一，人無間言。 每誡諸子，務存靜退。 加以年齒遐長，禮遇隆重，子孫繁衍，皆至顯達，當時莫比。 子寔嗣。
Jin was resourceful and skilled at serving his superiors. For all his rank he grew more modest; going to court he took only two or three riders. Whenever the court faced army or state matters, it mostly settled them with Jin. Jin gave his wit fully; among the great ministers he alone was trusted start to finish, without a whisper against him. He always warned his sons to seek quiet and withdrawal. He lived to great age in heavy honor; his descendants multiplied and rose high—none could match it then. His son Shi succeeded him.
43
寔字賓實，少和厚，以軍功封萬年縣子。 大統十四年，累遷尚書。 是歲，周文帝與魏太子西巡，寔時從行。 周文刻石隴山上，錄功臣名位，以次鐫勒，預以寔為開府儀同三司，至十五年方授之。 尋除渭州刺史，特給鼓吹一部，進爵為公。 魏恭帝二年，羌東令姐率部落反，西連吐谷渾。 大將軍豆盧甯討之，逾時不克。 又令寔往，遂破之。 周文手書勞問，賜奴婢一百口，馬百匹。
Shi, styled Bingshi, was gentle from youth; for military merit he was made Viscount of Wannian. In Datong year fourteen he rose to Master of Writing. That year Yuwen Tai and the Wei crown prince toured west; Shi went with them. Yuwen Tai carved the meritorious on Long Mountain in order of rank; Shi was named in advance to Opening the Government with Three Excellencies' standing, but received it only in year fifteen. Soon he was Governor of Wei, granted drums and pipes, and raised to duke. In Emperor Gong's second year the Qiang chieftain Donglingjie rebelled, allying west with Tuyuhun. The great general Doulu Ning campaigned but could not break him. Shi was sent again and defeated them. Yuwen Tai wrote in his own hand to praise him, granting a hundred slaves and a hundred horses.
44
孝閔帝踐阼，授戶部中大夫，進爵延壽郡公。 天和二年，延州蒲川賊郝三郎反，攻丹州。 遣寔討平之，仍除延州刺史。 五年，襲燕國公，進位柱國。 以罪免。 尋復本官，除涼州總管。 大象二年，加上柱國，拜大左輔。 隋開皇元年，薨，贈司空，諡曰安。 子顗。
When Xiaomin took the throne, he became Chief of the Households Bureau and Duke of Yanshou. In Tianhe year two, Hao Sanlang of Yan's Pu River rebelled and attacked Dan. Shi was sent to crush them and was made Governor of Yan. In year five he inherited the dukedom of Yan and became Pillar of State. He was dismissed for a crime. Soon his office was restored and he was made Commander-in-Chief of Liang. In Daxiang year two he was made Supreme Pillar of State and Grand Left Assistant. In Sui's founding year he died, posthumously Minister of Works, titled An. His son Yan.
45
顗字元武，身長八尺，美鬚眉。 周大塚宰宇文護見而器之，以女妻之。 以父勳，賜爵新野郡公。 曆左右宮伯、郢州刺史。 大象中，以水軍總管從韋孝寬經略淮南。 尉遲迥之反，時總管趙文表與顗素不協，顗將圖之，因臥閣內，詐疾。 文表獨至，顗殺之。 因言文表與迥通謀，其麾下無敢動者。 時隋文帝以迥未平，慮顗復生邊患，因宥免之，即拜吳州總管。 以頻敗陳師，賜采數百段。 及隋受禪，文表弟詣闕稱兄無罪。 上令按其事，太傅竇熾等議顗當死。 上以其門著勳績，特原之，貶為開府。 後襲爵燕國公。 尋拜澤州刺史。 免，卒於家。 子世虔。 顗弟仲文。
Yan, styled Yuanwu, stood eight feet with handsome beard and brows. Yuwen Hu, Zhou's Grand Chancellor, favored him and gave him his daughter. For his father's merit he was enfeoffed Duke of Xinye. He served as Left and Right Palace Defender and Governor of Ying in turn. Under Daxiang he commanded the water army under Wei Xiaokuan in Huainan. When Yuchi Jiong rebelled, Commander Zhao Wenbiao was Yan's enemy; Yan feigned illness in his pavilion to trap him. Wenbiao came alone; Yan killed him. He claimed Wenbiao had conspired with Jiong; his troops dared not stir. Emperor Wen, Jiong not yet down, feared Yan would stir the frontier and pardoned him, making him Commander of Wu at once. For repeated victories over Chen he was granted hundreds of bolts of silk. When Sui took the throne, Wenbiao's brother came to court pleading his innocence. The emperor ordered an inquiry; Grand Tutor Dou Chi and others ruled Yan should die. The emperor, honoring the family's merit, pardoned him specially and demoted him to Opening the Government. Later he inherited the dukedom of Yan. Soon he was made Governor of Ze. Dismissed, he died at home. His son Shiqian. Yan's younger brother Zhongwen.
46
仲文字次武，少聰敏，髫齔就學，耽習不倦。 父寔異之，曰：「此兒必興吾宗。」 九歲，嘗于雲陽宮見周文帝。 問曰：「聞兒好讀書，書有何事？」 對曰：「資父事君，忠孝而已。」 周文甚嗟歎之。 後就博士李詳受《周易》、《三禮》，略通大義。 及長，倜儻有大志，氣調英拔。 起家為趙王屬，安固太守。 有任、杜兩家各失牛，後得一牛，兩家俱認，州郡久不決。 益州長史韓伯俊曰：「于安固少年聰察，可令決之。」 仲文曰：「此易解耳。」 乃令二家各驅牛群至，乃放所認者，牛遂向任氏群中。 又使人微傷其牛，任氏嗟惋，杜氏自若。 仲文遂訶詰杜氏，服罪而去。 始州刺史屈突尚，宇文護之黨也。 先坐事下獄，無敢繩者。 仲文至郡，窮之，遂竟其獄。 蜀中語曰：「明斷無雙有於公，不避強禦有次武。」 徵為禦正下大夫，封延壽郡公，以勳授儀同三司。
Zhongwen, styled Ciwu, was clever as a boy; he studied without tiring even in childhood. His father Shi said in wonder, "This boy will raise our house. At nine he met Yuwen Tai at Yunyang Palace. Yuwen Tai asked, "I hear you love books—what is reading for? He answered, "To support one's father and serve one's lord—loyalty and filial piety, nothing more." Yuwen Tai sighed in deep admiration. Later he studied the Changes and the Three Rites under Erudite Li Xiang and grasped their main points. Grown, he was bold and ambitious, his bearing striking. He began as Attendant to the Prince of Zhao and Governor of Angu. The Ren and Du families each lost an ox; when one was found both claimed it, and the prefecture could not decide. Yi Province chief clerk Han Bojun said, "The young man of Angu is sharp—let him decide. Zhongwen said, "That is easily settled." He had both herds driven up and turned the disputed ox loose; it walked straight to Ren's herd. He had the ox lightly hurt; Ren's people wailed, Du's were unmoved. Zhongwen pressed the Du family; they confessed and withdrew. Qu Tu Shang of Shizhou was Yuwen Hu's man. He had been jailed for a crime; none dared touch him. When Zhongwen took the commandery he investigated to the end and closed the case. Shu said, "Clear judgment without peer—Duke Yu; fearing no power—Ciwu. He was summoned as Junior Master of Rectitude, made Duke of Yanshou, and for merit given Opening the Government's ceremonial rank.
47
宣帝時，為東郡太守。 及尉遲迥作亂，使誘仲文，仲文拒之。 迥遣儀同宇文威攻之。 仲文迎擊，大破威，以功授開府。 迥又遣其將宇文胄度石濟。 宇文威、鄒紹自白馬，二道俱進，復攻仲文。 郡人赫連僧伽、敬子哲率眾應迥。 仲文自度不能支，棄妻子，潰圍而遁，達于京師。 迥屠其三子一女。 隋文帝引入臥內，為之下泣，賜采五百段，黃金二百兩。 進位大將軍，領河南道行軍總管，給鼓吹。 馳傳詣洛陽發兵，討迥將檀讓。
Under Emperor Xuan he was Governor of Dong Commandery. When Jiong rebelled he tried to win Zhongwen; Zhongwen refused. Jiong sent Yuwen Wei to attack him. Zhongwen met him and routed him; for the merit he was made Opening the Government. Jiong again sent Yuwen Zhou across the Stone Ford. Yuwen Wei and Zou Shao came from Baima; two columns struck again. Helian Sengqie and Jing Zizhe of the commandery rallied men to Jiong. Seeing he could not hold, he left wife and children, broke out, and reached the capital. Jiong killed his three sons and one daughter. Emperor Wen brought him to the inner chamber and wept, granting five hundred bolts of silk and two hundred taels of gold. He was made Great General and Commander-in-Chief on the Henan circuit, with drums and pipes. He raced to Luoyang to raise troops against Jiong's general Tan Rang.
48
時韋孝寬拒迥於永橋。 仲文詣之，有所計議。 總管宇文忻頗有自疑心，因謂仲文曰：「尉遲迥誠不足平，正恐事寧後，更有藏弓之慮。」 仲文懼忻生變，謂曰：「丞相寬仁大度，明識有餘，仲文在京三日，頻見三善，非常人也。」 忻曰：「三善何如？」 仲文曰：「有陳萬敵新從賊中來，丞相即令其弟難敵召募鄉曲，從軍討賊。 此大度一也。 上士宋謙奉使勾檢，謙緣此別求他罪。 丞相責之曰：'入綱者自可推求，何須別訪，以虧大體。 '此不求人私二也。 言及仲文妻子，未嘗不潸泫。 此有仁心三也。」 忻自是遂安。
Wei Xiaokuan then held Jiong at Yong Bridge. Zhongwen went to him to plan. Commander Yuwen Xin was suspicious and said to Zhongwen, "Jiong is easy—but when birds are gone, bows are stored away. I fear that after victory. Fearing Xin would turn, Zhongwen said, "The Chancellor is generous and far-sighted; in three days in the capital I saw three virtues—no ordinary man." Xin asked, "What three?" Zhongwen said, "Chen Wandi had just defected; the Chancellor had his brother Nandi raise village men to fight bandits. That is magnanimity—the first. Song Qian was sent to investigate; he used it to hunt other crimes. The Chancellor rebuked him: 'Those in the net can be pursued—why hunt elsewhere and harm the whole?' That is the second—not fishing for private gain. Speaking of Zhongwen's wife and children he never failed to weep. That is the third—a benevolent heart." Xin was reassured.
49
仲文軍至汴州東，頻破迥將。 進攻梁郡，迥守將劉孝寬棄城走。 初，仲文在蓼堤，諸將皆曰：「軍自遠來，疲弊不可決戰。」 仲文令趣食列陳，既而破賊。 諸將問其故，笑曰：「吾所部將士皆山東人，果於速進，不宜持久。 乘勢擊之，所以制勝。」 諸將皆曰：「非所及也。」 進擊曹州，獲迥所署刺史李仲康及上儀同房勁。 檀讓以余眾屯成武，謂仲文未能卒至，方椎牛饗士。 仲文選騎襲之，遂拔成武。 迥將席毗羅，眾十萬，屯沛縣，將攻徐州。 其妻子在金鄉。 仲文遣人詐作毗羅使，謂金鄉城主徐善淨曰：檀讓明日午時到金鄉，將宣蜀公令，賞將士。」 金鄉人謂為信然，皆喜。 仲文簡精兵，偽建迥旗幟。 善淨以為檀讓至，出城迎謁。 仲文執之，遂取金鄉。 諸將勸屠之，仲文曰：「當寬其妻子，其兵可自歸。 如即屠之，彼皆絕矣。」 眾皆稱善。 於是毗羅恃眾來薄官軍，仲文背城結陣，設伏，兵發，俱拽柴鼓譟。 毗羅軍潰，皆投洙水死，水為不流。 獲檀讓，檻送京師，河南悉平。 毗羅匿榮陽人家，執斬之，傳首闕下。 勒石紀功，樹於泗上。 入朝京師，文帝引入臥內，宴享極歡。 賜雜采千段，妓女十人，拜柱國。 屬文帝受禪，不行。
Zhongwen's army reached east of Bian and repeatedly beat Jiong's generals. He attacked Liang; Liu Xiaokuan abandoned the city and fled. At Liaodi the generals said, "We are far from home and spent—we cannot fight. Zhongwen ordered a quick meal and battle lines; soon the enemy was broken. Asked why, he smiled, "My men are Shandongers—swift attack, not a long fight. Strike while hot—that is how we win. The generals said, "Beyond us." He pressed Cao, taking Jiong's governor Li Zhongkang and the ceremonial peer Fang Jin. Tan Rang camped at Chengwu with the remnant, sure Zhongwen could not come at once, feasting his men. Zhongwen chose cavalry, struck, and took Chengwu. Jiong's general Xi Piluo camped at Pei with a hundred thousand men, set to strike Xu. His family was at Jinxiang. Zhongwen sent a false envoy to Jinxiang's lord Xu Shanjing: "Tan Rang arrives tomorrow at noon to proclaim the Duke of Shu's order and reward the troops." Jinxiang believed it and rejoiced. Zhongwen picked elite troops and flew Jiong's banners falsely. Shanjing thought Tan Rang had come and went out to welcome him. Zhongwen seized him and took Jinxiang. The generals urged massacre; Zhongwen said, "Spare their families and the soldiers will come over. Slaughter them now and every man will fight to the death. All approved. Piluo, trusting his numbers, pressed the government army; Zhongwen formed with his back to the wall, set ambush, and at the signal every man dragged brushwood drums and roared. Piluo's army broke; men threw themselves into the Zhu until the river would not flow. Tan Rang was taken in a cage cart to the capital; Henan was pacified. Piluo hid in Xingyang; seized and beheaded, his head was sent to the capital. A stone was carved to record the victory and set up on the Si. He came to court; Emperor Wen brought him to the inner chamber and feasted him in great joy. He was given a thousand bolts of silk, ten singing girls, and made Pillar of State. Just then Wen received the abdication and Zhongwen did not attend.
50
未幾，其叔父太尉翼坐事下獄，仲文亦為吏所簿，於獄中上書曰：「曩者尉迥逆亂，所在景從。 臣任處關河，地居沖要，嘗潆詹枕戈，誓以必死。 迥時購臣，位大將軍，邑萬戶。 臣不顧妻子，不愛身命。 冒白刃，潰重圍，三男一女，相繼淪沒。 披露肝膽，馳赴闕庭。 蒙陛下授臣以高官，委臣以兵革。 于時河南凶寇，狼顧鴟張。 臣以羸兵八千，掃除氛祲。 摧劉寬于梁郡，破檀讓於蓼堤； 平曹州，復東郡，安成武，定永昌； 解亳州圍，破徐州賊。 席毗羅十萬之眾，一戰土崩。 河南蟻聚之徒，應時戡定。 當群凶問鼎之際，生靈乏主之辰，臣第二叔翼先在幽州，總馭燕、趙。 南鄰群寇，北掃旄頭，內安外撫，得免罪戾。 臣第五叔智建ＣＭ黑水，與王謙為鄰，式遏蠻陬，鎮綏蜀道。 臣兄顗作牧淮南，坐制勍敵，乘機剿定，傳首京師。 王謙竊據二州，叛換三蜀。 臣第三叔義受脤廟庭，恭行天罰。 自外父叔兄弟，皆當文武重寄。 或銜命危難，或侍衛鉤陣，合門誠款，冀有可明。 伏願垂泣辜之恩，降雲雨之施，則寒灰更然，枯骨還肉。」 上覽表，並翼釋之。
Soon his uncle Grand Commandant Yi was jailed; Zhongwen was audited too and from prison wrote: "When Yuchi Jiong rebelled, men followed him everywhere. I held the passes in a vital post, rinsed my belt and slept with my spear, sworn to die. Jiong offered me Great General and ten thousand households. I gave up wife and children and my own life. I broke through steel; three sons and a daughter fell one after another. I laid bare my heart and came to the throne. Your Majesty gave me high rank and an army. Henan's rebels glared like wolves and spread like kites. With eight thousand worn men I swept the miasma away. I broke Liu Xiaokuan at Liang and Tan Rang at Liaodi; pacified Cao, recovered Dong, held Chengwu, settled Yongchang; lifted Bozhou's siege and beat Xu; Piluo's hundred thousand fell in one fight. Henan's swarms were cut down in season. When traitors fought for the realm and the people had no lord, my second uncle Yi held You, commanding Yan and Zhao. South he faced rebels, north he swept the frontier, within and without he kept the peace and stood clear. My fifth uncle Zhi raised the standard at Heishui beside Wang Qian, checked the barbarian passes, and held the Shu road. My brother Yan held Huainan, pinned fierce foes, struck when he could, and sent heads to the capital. Wang Qian held two provinces and rebelled across Shu. My third uncle Yi took the temple charge and carried out Heaven's punishment. Beyond them, father, uncles, and brothers all bore heavy trust of court and camp. Some took orders in peril, some guarded the throne—the whole house loyal, and something may yet be shown. Grant tears for the guiltless and rain from heaven, and cold ash will live and dry bone grow flesh again. The emperor read it and freed both Yi and Zhongwen.
51
明年，拜行軍元帥，統十二州總管以擊胡。 出服遠鎮，遇虜，破之。 於是從金河出白道。 遣總管辛明瑾、元滂、賀蘭志、呂楚、段諧等二萬人出盛樂道，趣那頡山。 至護軍州北，與虜遇。 可汗見仲文軍容整肅，不戰而退。 仲文逾山追之。 及還，上以尚書省文簿繁雜，吏多奸詐，令仲文勘錄省中事，所發擿甚多。 上嘉其明斷，厚加勞賞。 上每憂轉運不給，仲文請決渭水，開漕渠。 上然之，使仲文總其事。 及伐陳之役，拜行軍總管。 高智慧等作亂江南，仲文復以行軍總管討之。 時三軍乏食，米粟踴貴，仲文私糶軍糧，坐除名。 明年，復官爵，率兵屯馬邑以備胡。 晉王廣以仲文有將領才，每常屬意，至是奏之，乃令督晉王軍府事。 後突厥犯塞，晉王為元帥，使仲文將前軍，大破賊而還。
Next year he was Campaign Commander-in-Chief over twelve provinces against the Hu. At Fuyuan he met the barbarians and beat them. Then from the Golden River he marched by White Road. He sent Xin Mingjin, Yuan Pang, Helan Zhi, Lü Chu, Duan Xie, and others with twenty thousand by the Shengle road toward Napie Mountain. North of Protecting-the-Army they met the enemy. The khan saw Zhongwen's ranks trim and stern and withdrew without battle. Zhongwen crossed the mountains in pursuit. On his return, finding the Masters of Writing's records tangled and clerks corrupt, the emperor had Zhongwen audit the ministry; he exposed many. The emperor praised his clarity and rewarded him richly. The emperor often worried over supply; Zhongwen proposed cutting the Wei and opening a canal. The emperor agreed and put Zhongwen in charge. In the campaign against Chen he was Campaign Commander-in-Chief. When Gao Zhihui rebelled in the south, Zhongwen again commanded the campaign. The armies starved and grain soared; Zhongwen sold army grain privately and was struck from the rolls. Next year his rank was restored and he garrisoned Mayi against the Hu. Prince Guang valued his generalship and now recommended him; he was ordered to supervise the prince's headquarters. When Turks raided the border, Prince Guang was supreme commander and sent Zhongwen with the vanguard; he routed them and returned.
52
煬帝即位，遷左翊衙大將軍，參掌文武選事。 從帝討吐谷渾，進位光祿大夫，甚見親重。 遼東之役，仲文率軍指樂浪道。 次烏骨城，仲文簡羸馬驢數千，置於軍後，既而率眾東過。 高麗出兵掩襲輜重，仲文回擊，大破之。 至鴨綠水，高麗將乙支文德詐降，來入其菅。 仲文先奉密旨，若遇高元及文德者，必禽之。 至是，文德來，仲文將執之。 時尚書右丞劉士龍為慰撫使，固止之。 仲文遂舍文德。 尋悔，遣人紿文德曰：「更有言議，可復來也。」 文德不從，遂濟。 仲文選騎度水追之，每戰破賊。 文德遺仲文詩曰：「神策究天文，妙算窮地理。 戰勝功既高，知足願雲止。」 仲文答書諭之，文德燒柵而遁。 時宇文述以糧盡欲還，仲文議以精銳追文德，可以有功。 述固止之，仲文怒曰：「將軍杖十萬之眾，不能破小賊，何顏以見帝？ 且仲文此行也，固無功矣！」 述因厲聲曰：「何以知無功？」 仲文曰：「昔周亞夫之為將也，見天子，軍容不變。 此決在一人，所以功成名遂。 今者人各其心，何以赴敵？」
When Emperor Yang took the throne, Zhongwen became Grand General of the Left Wing Guard and helped choose civil and military men. He followed the emperor against Tuyuhun, was made Grand Master of Splendid Brightness, and was deeply trusted. In the Liaodong war he led the Lelang column. At Wugu he placed several thousand lean horses and donkeys at the rear, then marched east. Goryeo struck the baggage train; he turned and broke them. At the Yalu, Goryeo's Yi Zhizhi Wen De feigned surrender and entered his camp. He had a secret order to seize Gao Yuan and Wen De if he met them. Wen De came; Zhongwen was about to seize him. Right Vice Director Liu Shilong, the soothe commissioner, firmly stopped him. Zhongwen let Wen De go. Soon he regretted it and sent word: "There is more to discuss—come again. Wen De refused and crossed the river. Zhongwen crossed with cavalry and beat them in every fight. Wen De sent a poem: "Divine stratagems probe heaven, subtle reckoning exhausts earth. Your victory is high; knowing enough, rest upon the clouds. Zhongwen answered instructing him; Wen De burned his camp and fled. Yuwen Shu, grain gone, wished to retreat; Zhongwen argued elite pursuit of Wen De could win. Shu refused; Zhongwen snapped, "You lead a hundred thousand and cannot crush this flea—what face will you show the emperor? And this campaign of mine is already ruined! Shu barked, "How do you know there is none?" Zhongwen said, "When Zhou Yafu commanded, he met the Son of Heaven and the army's bearing never shifted. Victory hung on one will—therefore fame was made. Now every man has his own heart—how can we fight?"
53
初，帝以仲文有計畫，令諸軍諮稟節度，故有此言。 由是述等不得已而從之。 遂行，東至薩水。 宇文述以兵餒退歸，師遂敗績。 帝以屬吏，諸將皆委罪于仲文。 帝大怒，釋諸將，獨系仲文。 仲文憂恚發病，困篤，方出之。 卒于家，時年六十八。 撰《漢書刊繁》三十卷、《略覽》三十卷。 有子九人，欽明最知名。
The emperor had given Zhongwen command over the armies—hence these words. Shu and the rest had no choice but to follow. They marched east to Sa Water. Yuwen Shu retreated for hunger; the army was ruined. The emperor handed them to the law; every general blamed Zhongwen. The emperor raged, freed the generals, and jailed Zhongwen alone. Zhongwen, sick with grief, grew desperate; only then was he released. He died at home, aged sixty-eight. He wrote Abridgment of the Han Histories in thirty scrolls and Overview in thirty scrolls. He had nine sons; Qinming was best known.
54
寔弟翼，字文若，美風儀，有識度。 年十一，尚文帝女平原公主，拜員外散騎常侍，封安平縣公。 大統十六年，進爵郡公，加大都督，領文帝帳下左右，禁中宿衛。 遷武衛將軍。 謹平江陵，所賜得軍實，分給諸子。 翼一無所取，唯簡賞口內名望子弟有士風者，別待遇之。 文帝聞之，賜奴婢二百口，翼固辭不受。 尋授車騎大將軍、開府儀同三司。 六官建，除左宮伯。
Shi's younger brother Yi, styled Wenruo, had grace and judgment. At eleven he married Emperor Wen's daughter, Princess of Pingyuan, became Supernumerary Cavalier Attendant, and was enfeoffed Duke of Anping. In Datong year sixteen he was made commandery duke and Grand Commander, guarding Emperor Wen's tent by night. He became General of the Martial Guard. When Jin took Jiangling, he divided the military spoils among his sons. Yi took nothing; he only singled out reputable youths of scholar's bearing in his household and favored them. Emperor Wen heard and granted two hundred slaves; Yi firmly refused. Soon he was Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry with Opening the Government's ceremonial rank. When the Six Offices were set up, he was removed as Left Palace Steward.
55
孝閔帝踐阼，出為渭州刺史。 翼兄寔先蒞此州，頗有惠政。 翼又推誠布信，事存寬簡，夷夏感悅，比之大小馮君焉。 時吐谷渾入寇河右，涼、鄯、河三州咸被攻圍，使來告急。 秦州都督遣翼赴援，不從，寮屬咸以為言。 翼曰：「攻取之術，非夷俗所長。 此寇之來，不過鈔掠邊牧耳，安能頓兵城下，久事攻圍！ 掠而無獲，勢將自走。 勞師以往，亦無所及。 翼揣之已了，幸勿復言。」 數日，問至，果如翼所策。 賀蘭祥討吐谷渾，翼率州兵，先鋒深入，以功增邑。 尋徵拜右宮伯。
When Emperor Xiaomin ascended, Yi was sent out as Inspector of Weizhou. Yi's elder brother Shi had governed the province before him and left a record of kindness. Yi in turn ruled with sincerity and trust, keeping government lenient and spare. Barbarian and Chinese alike rejoiced, likening him to the greater and lesser Lords Feng. Tuyuhun then raided the west bank of the Yellow River. Liang, Shan, and He were all under siege, and urgent dispatches arrived. The Area Commander of Qinzhou ordered Yi to relieve them. He refused, and every member of his staff remonstrated. Yi said, "Storming walled places is not what these tribes do best. This raid is only border plunder. How could they camp under our walls and sit in a long siege? Raid without booty, and they will withdraw of themselves. To weary our troops marching there would gain us nothing. I have already read this through to the end—please say no more. Within days the reports came in, exactly as Yi had predicted. When Helan Xiang campaigned against Tuyuhun, Yi led provincial troops as vanguard deep into enemy country and, for merit, received an enlarged fief. He was soon recalled and made Right Palace Steward.
56
明帝雅愛文史，立麟趾學，在朝有藝業者，不限貴賤，皆聽預焉。 乃至蕭捴、王褒等與卑鄙之徒同為學士。 翼言於帝曰：「捴，梁之宗子； 褒，梁之公卿，今與趨走同躋，恐非尚賢貴爵之義。」 帝納之，詔翼定其班次，於是有等差矣。
Emperor Ming loved letters and history. He founded the Linqi Academy, and every courtier with learning, noble or humble, might attend. Thus Xiao Kou, Wang Bao, and others sat as fellows beside men of low birth. Yi told the emperor, "Kou is a prince of Liang; Bao is a Liang grandee. To share the runners' stair with them is hardly honoring worth and rank. The emperor agreed and ordered Yi to set their seating order, and gradations were established.
57
明帝崩，翼與晉公護同受遺詔，立武帝。 保定元年，徙軍司馬。 三年，改封常山郡公。 天和初，遷司會中大夫。 三年，皇后阿史那氏至自突厥，武帝行親迎之禮，命翼總司儀制。 狄人雖蹲踞無節，然咸憚翼之禮法，莫敢違犯。 遭父憂去職，居喪過禮，為時輩所稱。 尋有詔起令視事。 武帝又以翼有人倫之鑒，皇太子及諸王等相傅以下，並委翼選置。 其所擢用，皆民譽也，時論僉謂得人。 遷大將軍，總中外宿衛兵事。
When Emperor Ming died, Yi and Duke of Jin Hu received the deathbed edict and enthroned Emperor Wu. In Baoding year one he became Army Marshal. In year three he was enfeoffed Duke of Changshan commandery. At the opening of Tianhe he was promoted to Director of the Bureau of Accounts, Grand Master. In year three the Ashina empress arrived from the Turks. Emperor Wu went out to greet her in person and put Yi in charge of all court ritual. Though the Di still squatted without ceremony, they all feared Yi's ritual discipline and dared not break it. On his father's death he left office and mourned beyond the prescribed rites, to the praise of his peers. Soon an edict recalled him to duty. The emperor also, trusting Yi's eye for men, entrusted him with choosing tutors and attendants for the crown prince and every prince. Every man he advanced enjoyed public renown, and contemporaries agreed he had chosen well. He was made Grand General and commanded all palace guards within and without.
58
晉公護以帝委翼腹心，內懷猜忌，轉為小司徒，加拜柱國。 雖外示崇重，實疏斥之。 及誅護，帝召翼，遣往河東取護子中山公訓，仍代鎮蒲州。 翼曰：「塚宰無君陵上，自取誅夷。 元惡既除，餘孽宜殄。 然皆陛下骨肉，猶謂疏不間親。 陛下不使諸王，而使臣異姓，非直物有橫議，愚臣亦所未安。」 帝然之，乃遣越王盛代翼。
Duke of Jin Hu, seeing the emperor trust Yi as his intimate, grew jealous inwardly. Yi was shifted to Junior Minister of Education with the added title Pillar of State. Outwardly he was honored; in truth he was pushed aside. When Hu was killed, the emperor summoned Yi, sent him to Hedong to seize Hu's son Duke of Zhongshan Xun, and left him to hold Pu Prefecture. Yi said, "The Chancellor lorded it over his sovereign and earned his own destruction. The chief villain is gone; the remnant brood should be wiped out. Yet they are Your Majesty's own kin, and it is said the distant must not come between the near. If Your Majesty sends not a prince but me, a man of another surname, the world will murmur—and I myself will not be at ease. The emperor agreed and sent Prince of Yue Sheng in Yi's place.
59
先是，與齊、陳二境，各修邊防，雖通聘好，而每歲交兵。 然一彼一此，不能有所克獲。 武帝既親萬機，將圖東討，詔邊城鎮並益儲峙，加戍卒。 二國聞之，亦增修守禦。 翼諫曰：「疆埸相侵，互有勝敗，徒損兵儲，非策之上者。 不若解邊嚴，減兵防，繼好息人，敬待來者。 彼必喜於通和，懈而無備，然後出其不意，一舉而山東可圖。」 帝納之。
Earlier, along the Qi and Chen frontiers each side had strengthened its defenses. Envoys still came with courtesies, yet every year brought battle. Victory shifted from side to side, yet neither could win a lasting gain. Once Emperor Wu took the reins himself and planned an eastern campaign, he ordered every border town to stock more grain and add garrison troops. Qi and Chen heard of it and strengthened their defenses in turn. Yi remonstrated: "Border raids trade victories and defeats, but only waste men and grain. That is not the best policy. Better to ease the frontier, cut garrisons, renew friendship, let the people rest, and receive arrivals with courtesy. They will rejoice in peace, grow slack and unready—then strike where they do not expect, and the east of the mountains may be taken at a stroke. The emperor accepted his advice.
60
建德二年，出為安州總管。 時大旱，溳水絕流。 舊俗每逢亢旱，禱白兆山祈雨。 帝先禁群祀，山廟已除。 翼遣主簿祭之，即日澍雨。 歲遂有年。 百姓感之，聚會歌舞頌之。
In Jiande year two he went out as Area Commander of Anzhou. A great drought struck; the Yu River ran dry. By old custom, in severe drought the people prayed for rain at Mount Baizhao. The emperor had forbidden mass sacrifices, and the mountain shrine had been torn down. Yi sent his chief clerk to sacrifice there, and that very day a soaking rain fell. The year brought a harvest. The people were moved. They gathered, sang, danced, and praised him.
61
四年，武帝將東伐，朝臣未有知者。 遣納言盧韞前後三乘驛詣翼問策。 翼贊成之。 及軍出，詔翼自宛，葉趣襄城，旬日下齊一十九城。 所過秋毫無犯。 所部都督輒入人村，即斬以徇。 由是百姓欣悅，赴者如歸。 屬帝有疾，班師，翼亦旋鎮。 轉宜陽總管。 以宜陽地非襟帶，請移鎮於陝。 詔從之，仍除陝州刺史，總管如舊。 其年，大軍復東討，翼自陝入，徑到洛陽。 齊洛州刺史獨孤承業開門降，河南九州三十鎮，一時俱下。 襄城人庶等喜復見翼，並壺漿道左。 除河陽總管，仍徙豫州。 陳將魯天念久圍光州，聞翼到汝南，望風退散。
In year four the emperor planned an eastern campaign, unknown to the court. He sent Censor Lu Yun by relay post, three times in succession, to ask Yi's counsel. Yi endorsed the plan. When the army marched, Yi was ordered from Wan and Ye toward Xiangcheng. In ten days he took nineteen Qi cities. Where he passed, not a hair was harmed. Any subordinate commander who entered a civilian village was beheaded on the spot as a warning. The people rejoiced and came to him as to their own home. The emperor fell ill and withdrew the army; Yi too returned to his post. He was transferred to Area Commander of Yiyang. Yiyang was no strategic choke point; he asked to move headquarters to Shan. The edict granted it. He was made Inspector of Shan while keeping the area command. That year the main army campaigned east again. Yi entered from Shan and went straight to Luoyang. Qi's Governor of Luoyang Dugu Chengye opened the gates and surrendered. Nine provinces and thirty Henan garrisons fell at once. The people of Xiangcheng rejoiced to see Yi again and lined the road with pots of drink. He was made Area Commander of Heyang, then transferred to Yuzhou. Chen general Lu Tiannian had long besieged Guang Prefecture. When he heard Yi had reached Runan, he broke camp and fled.
62
大象初，徵拜大司徒。 詔翼巡長城，立亭鄣。 西自雁門，東至碣石，創新改舊，咸得其要害。 仍除幽州總管。 先是，突厥屢為抄掠，居人失業。 翼素有威武，兼明斥候，自是不敢犯塞，百姓安之。 及尉遲迥據相州舉兵，以書招翼。 翼執其使，並書送之。 時隋文帝執政，賜翼雜繒一千五百段，並珍寶服玩等。 進位上柱國，封任國公，增邑通前五千戶，別食任城縣一千戶，收其租賦。 翼又遣子讓通表勸進，並請入朝，許之。
At the opening of Daxiang he was recalled and made Grand Minister of Education. An edict ordered Yi to tour the Long Wall and set up beacon towers and border posts. From Yanmen in the west to Jieshi in the east, whether newly built or old and refitted, every post sat on a key point. He was also made Area Commander of Youzhou. Earlier the Turks had raided again and again, and the people lost their livelihood. Yi had long held martial awe and knew reconnaissance. From then on they dared not cross the passes, and the people lived in peace. When Yuchi Jiong seized Xiang Prefecture and rebelled, he wrote to win Yi over. Yi seized the envoy and forwarded him with the letter. Yang Jian then held power. He gave Yi fifteen hundred lengths of mixed silk, with treasures, robes, and fine objects. He was advanced to Senior Pillar of State and enfeoffed Duke of Ren, five thousand households in all with earlier grants. He separately received the tax of Rencheng county, one thousand households. Yi also sent his son Rang with a memorial urging Yang Jian to take the throne and asked leave to come to court; both were granted.
63
隋開皇初，翼入朝，上降榻握手極歡。 數日，拜太尉。 或有告翼往在幽州，欲同尉遲迥。 按驗，以無實見原。 三年，薨於本位。 加贈六州諸軍事、蒲州刺史，諡曰穆。 翼性恭儉，與物無競，常以滿盈自戒，故能以功名終。 子璽嗣。
At the opening of Kaihuang, Yi came to court. The emperor stepped down from the couch, took his hand, and rejoiced exceedingly. Within days he was made Grand Commandant. Someone reported that Yi, while in Youzhou, had meant to join Yuchi Jiong. Investigation found no truth in it, and he was forgiven. In year three he died in office. Posthumously he was made commander over six provinces' armies and Inspector of Pu, with posthumous name Mu. Yi was respectful and frugal and contended with no one. He constantly warned himself against fullness, and so ended his days in merit and fame. His son Xi succeeded.
64
璽字伯符，少有器幹。 仕周，位職方中大夫，封黎陽縣公。 宣帝嗣位，轉右勳曹中大夫。 尋領右忠義。 隋文帝受禪，加上大將軍，進爵郡公。 曆汴、邵二州刺史，所曆並有恩惠。 後檢校江陵總管，邵州人張願等數十人詣闕上表，請留璽。 上嘉歎良久，令還邵州，父老相賀。 尋曆洛、熊二州刺史，亦粗有惠政。 以疾還京師，卒於家，諡曰靜。 有子志本。
Xi, styled Bofu, showed talent and resolve early. Under Zhou he was Director of the Masters of Equipage, Grand Master, and Duke of Liyang county. When Emperor Xuan succeeded, he became Director of the Right Merit Bureau, Grand Master. Soon he also commanded the Right Righteousness Guard. When Emperor Wen took the throne, Xi was made Grand General and advanced to a commandery duke. He served as Inspector of Bian and Shao in turn, and in each post showed kindness. Later, as acting Area Commander of Jiangling, several dozen men of Shao, led by Zhang Yuan, petitioned at the palace gate to keep Xi. The emperor sighed long in admiration and sent him back to Shao. The elders congratulated one another. He soon held Luo and Xiong in turn and showed a rough but genuine kindness in office. Illness brought him back to the capital; he died at home, posthumous name Jing. He had a son Zhiben.
65
璽弟詮，位上儀同三司、吏部下大夫、常山公。 詮弟讓，儀同三司。 翼弟義。
Xi's younger brother Quan was Senior Colonel of the Third Rank, Junior Minister of Personnel, and Duke of Changshan. Quan's younger brother Rang was Colonel of the Third Rank. Yi's younger brother Yi.
66
義字慈恭，少矜嚴，有操尚，篤志好學。 大統末，以父功賜爵平昌縣伯。 後改封廣都縣公。 周閔帝踐阼，遷安武太守。 專崇教化，不尚威刑。 有郡人張善安、王叔兒爭財相訟，義曰：「太守德薄不勝所致。」 於是以家財分與二人，喻而遣去。 善安等各懷恥愧，移貫他州。 於是風化大洽。 進封建平郡公。 明、武世，曆西兗、瓜、邵三州刺史。 數從征伐，進位開府。
Yi, styled Cigong, was stern and dignified in youth, principled, and devoted to learning. At the end of Great Dominion he was enfeoffed Baron of Pingchang for his father's merit. Later he was made Duke of Guangdu county. When Emperor Xiaomin ascended, he became Governor of Anwu. He devoted himself to civilizing the people and did not rely on harsh punishments. Two men of the commandery, Zhang Shan'an and Wang Shuer, sued one another over property. Yi said, "This comes from the prefect's thin virtue and failure to bear the weight of office." He took his own household wealth, divided it between them, admonished them, and dismissed the case. Shan'an and the others were shamed into moving their households to other provinces. Customs were thereby greatly harmonized. He was advanced and enfeoffed Duke of Jianping commandery. Under Emperors Ming and Wu he held Xi Yan, Gua, and Shao in turn. He followed several campaigns and was advanced to Opening Office, Equal in Honor to the Three Excellencies.
67
宣帝即位，政刑日亂，義上疏諫帝。 時鄭譯、劉昉以恩幸當權。 謂義不利於己，先惡之於帝。 帝覽表色動，謂侍臣曰：「於義謗訕朝廷也。」 禦正大夫顏之儀進曰：「古先哲王立謗訕之木，置敢諫之鼓，猶懼不聞過。 於義之言，不可罪也。」 帝乃解。
When Emperor Xuan succeeded, law and punishment grew daily more chaotic. Yi submitted a memorial of remonstrance. Zheng Yi and Liu Fang then held power through imperial favor. They said Yi's words harmed them and first slandered him to the emperor. The emperor read the memorial, his face changed, and he told the attendants, "Yi is slandering the court. Correcting Master of the Left Yan Zhiyi stepped forward: "Ancient sage kings set up a post for slander and a drum for bold remonstrance, yet still feared never hearing their faults. Yi's words cannot be punished. The emperor thereupon dropped the matter.
68
及王謙構逆，隋文帝謀將于高熲，熲言義可為元帥。 文帝將任之，劉昉曰：「梁睿任望素重，不可居義下。」 乃以睿為元帥，義為行軍總管，將左軍，破謙將達奚惎於開遠。 尋拜潼州總管，賜奴婢五百口，雜采三千段，超拜上柱國。 歲餘，以疾免歸，卒于京師。 贈豫州刺史，諡曰剛。 子宣道、宣敏，並知名。
When Wang Qian rebelled, Yang Jian meant to make Gao Jiong commander. Jiong said Yi could lead the army. Yang Jian was about to appoint him, but Liu Fang said, "Liang Rui's standing is too great to serve under Yi. Rui was made commander-in-chief instead, with Yi as Campaigning Area Commander leading the left wing. He defeated Qian's general Daxi Ji at Kaiyuan. He was soon made Area Commander of Tong, granted five hundred slaves and concubines and three thousand lengths of mixed silk, and leap-promoted Senior Pillar of State. After more than a year illness relieved him of office. He returned and died in the capital. Posthumously he was Inspector of Yu, posthumous name Gang. He had sons Xuandao and Xuanmin, both well known.
69
宣道字元明，性謹密，不交非類。 仕周，以父功，賜爵城安縣男，位小承禦上士。 隋文帝為丞相，引為外兵曹。 及踐阼，遷內史舍人，進爵為子。 父憂，水漿不入口者累日。 歲餘，起令視事。 免喪，拜車騎將軍，兼右衛長史，舍人如故。 後遷太子左衛副率，進位上儀同。 卒。
Xuandao, styled Yuanming, was careful and reserved and kept no unworthy company. Under Zhou, for his father's merit, he was Baron of Cheng'an and Junior Bearer of the Imperial Carriage, Senior Gentleman. When Yang Jian was Chancellor, Xuandao was brought in as Outer Master of Troops. When Yang Jian took the throne, Xuandao became Palace Scribe and was advanced to Viscount. In mourning for his father he took neither water nor broth for many days. After more than a year he was recalled to duty. When mourning ended he was General of the Chariots and Cavalry and Right Guard Chief Commandant, retaining his post as Palace Scribe. He was later Deputy Commandant of the Crown Prince's Left Guard and Senior Colonel of the Third Rank. He died.
70
子志甯，早知名。 出繼叔父宣敏。
His son Zhiyu was known early. He went out to succeed his uncle Xuanmin.
71
宣敏字仲達，少沈密，有才思。 年十一，詣周趙王招，命之賦詩。 宣敏為詩，甚有幽貞之志。 招大奇之，坐客莫不嗟賞。 起家右侍上士，遷千牛備身。 隋文帝踐阼，拜奉車都尉，奉使撫慰巴、蜀。 及還，上疏曰：
Xuanmin, styled Zhongda, was deep and reserved in youth, with literary talent and purpose. At eleven he visited Prince of Zhao Zhao, who ordered him to compose a poem. Xuanmin's poem breathed secluded integrity. Zhao marveled at it; every guest present sighed in admiration. He began as Right Attendant Senior Gentleman and was promoted Thousand-Ox Guard. When Emperor Wen took the throne, Xuanmin was Commandant of the Imperial Carriage and sent to comfort Ba and Shu. On his return he submitted a memorial:
72
臣聞開磐石之宗，漢室於是惟永； 建維城之固，周祚所以靈長。 昔秦皇置牧守而罷諸侯，魏後昵謟邪而疏骨肉，遂使宗社移於他族，神器傳於異姓。 此事之明，甚於觀火。 然山川設險，非親勿居。 且蜀土沃饒，人物殷阜，西通邛、僰，南屬荊、巫。 周德之衰，茲土遂成戎首； 炎政失禦，此地便為禍先。 是以明者防于無形，安者制其未亂，方可慶隆萬世，年逾七百。
I have heard that by opening the bedrock lineage the house of Han endured; by establishing the secure rampart-city the fortune of Zhou remained numinous and long. Qin's First Emperor set pasture governors and abolished the feudal lords; Later Han doted on flatterers and kept kin at a distance—so the altars passed to another clan and the sacred vessel to another surname. This lesson is clearer than watching fire. Yet mountains and rivers set their barriers, and none but kin should hold them. Shu's soil is rich, its people numerous; west it reaches Qiong and Bo, south it joins Jing and Wu. When Zhou's virtue declined, this land became the barbarians' head; when the Han house lost its grip, this place became disaster's source. The enlightened guard before form appears; the secure control disorder before it rises—only then may fortune celebrate ten thousand generations and exceed seven hundred years.
73
伏惟陛下日角龍顏，膺樂推之運； 參天貳地，居揖讓之期。 億兆宅心，百神受職。 理須樹建籓屏，封植子孫，繼周、漢之宏圖，改秦、魏之覆軌。 抑近習之權勢，崇公族之本枝。 但三蜀、二齊，古稱天險，分王戚屬，今正其時。 若使利建合宜，封樹得所，則巨猾息其非望，奸臣杜其邪謀。 盛業洪基，同天地之長久； 英聲茂實，齊日月之照臨。 臣雖學謝多聞，然情深體國，輒申管見，戰灼惟深。
I bow before Your Majesty's heaven-marked brow and dragon face, bearing the fortune of the people's upward push; matching heaven and assisting earth, in the season of yielding the throne. The hundred million fix their hearts; the hundred spirits receive their offices. It is right to plant the realm's screen, enfeoff and nurture sons and grandsons, continue Zhou and Han's great design, and turn from Qin and Wei's overturned path. Restrain near favorites' power and exalt the ducal clan's root branches. The Three Shus and Two Qis are anciently called heaven's barriers—to enfeoff kingly kin there is no better time. If establishment is fitting and enfeoffment well placed, great villains will quiet their improper hopes and treacherous ministers stop their crooked plots. The flourishing enterprise and great foundation will share heaven and earth in long endurance; splendid fame and lush achievement will equal sun and moon in shining down. Though my learning falls short of wide hearing, my feeling runs deep for the state. I venture this narrow view, trembling with the utmost fear."
74
帝省表嘉之，謂高熲曰：「於氏世有人焉。」 竟納其言，遣蜀王秀鎮於蜀。
The emperor read the memorial with praise and told Gao Jiong, "The Yu house for generations has produced such men. He finally accepted the advice and sent Prince of Shu Xiu to hold Shu.
75
宣敏常以盛滿之誡，昔賢所重，每懷靜退。 著《述志賦》以見志焉。 未幾，卒官，年二十九。
Xuanmin constantly heeded the warning against fullness that former worthies prized and longed for quiet withdrawal. He wrote the "Rhapsody on Stating My Will" to declare his intent. Before long he died in office, aged twenty-nine.
76
義弟禮，上將軍、趙州刺史、安平郡公。
Yi's younger brother Li was Senior General, Inspector of Zhao, and Duke of Anping commandery.
77
禮弟智，初為開府。 以受宣帝密旨，告齊王憲反，遂封齊國公。 尋拜柱國，位大司空。 智弟紹，上開府、綏州刺史、華陽郡公。 紹弟弼，上儀同、平恩縣公。 弼弟蘭，上儀同、襄陽縣開國公。 蘭弟曠，上儀同。 贈恆州刺史。
Li's younger brother Zhi at first held Opening Office. Receiving Emperor Xuan's secret order, he reported Prince of Qi Xian for rebellion and was enfeoffed Duke of Qi. He was soon Pillar of State and Grand Minister of Works. Zhi's younger brother Shao was Senior Opening Office, Inspector of Sui, and Duke of Huayang. Shao's younger brother Bi was Senior Colonel of the Third Rank and Duke of Ping'en county. Bi's younger brother Lan was Senior Colonel of the Third Rank and founding Duke of Xiangyang county. Lan's younger brother Kuang was Senior Colonel of the Third Rank. Posthumously he was Inspector of Heng.
78
論曰：魏氏平定中原，于栗磾有武功於三世。 兼以虛己下物，罰不濫加，斯亦諸將所稀矣。 洛拔任參內外，以功名自終。 烈氣概沈遠。 受任艱危之際，有柱石之質，殆禦侮之臣乎！ 忠以梗樸見親，乘非其據，遂擅威權，生殺自已。 苟非女主之世，何以全其門族？ 不至誅滅，抑其幸也。 謹負佐時之略，逢興運之期，為大廈之棟樑，擬巨川之舟楫。 卒以耆年碩德，譽高望重。 禮備上庠，功歌司樂。 而常以滿盈為誡，覆折是憂，不有君子，何以能國。 翼既功臣之子，地則姻親，荷累葉之恩，兼文武之寄，理同休戚，與存與亡。 加以總戎馬之權，受扞城之托，智能足以衛難，勢力足以勤王。 曾無釋位之心，但務隨時之義。 弘名節以高貴，豈所望於斯人！ 仲文博涉書記，以英略自許，尉迥之亂，遂立功名。 自茲厥後，屢當推穀。 遼東之役，實喪師徒。 斯乃大樹將顛，蓋非一繩之罪也。 義運屬時來，宣其力用，崇基弗墜，析薪克荷，盛矣！
The commentators say: When Wei pacified the central plains, Yu Lidi won military merit through three reigns. He also emptied himself before others and did not punish recklessly—rare among generals even then. Luoba took charge within and without and ended in merit and fame. Lie was deep and far in spirit and bearing. Trusted in peril's hour, he had a pillar's substance—perhaps a minister to repel insult! Zhong won favor through blunt simplicity, then seized power not his to hold and made life and death his own. Had it not been an empress's age, how could his house have survived whole? That he escaped extermination was luck as much as merit. Jin bore the strategy of assisting his age, met a rising fortune, was rafter beam to the great hall and boat on the great stream. He ended in venerable years and great virtue, his reputation high and his hope weighty. Rites were complete in the upper school; his merit was sung in the Director of Music. Yet he constantly warned himself against fullness and feared overturn—without such a gentleman, how could the state stand? Yi was son of a meritorious minister and a marriage kinsman by position. Favor piled through generations; civil and martial trust rested on him together—his fate was bound to the throne's. He held overall command of armies and the trust of defending the realm. Wit enough to guard peril, power enough to stir the royal house. He never showed a heart to release his post, only the art of following the time. To exalt integrity and win honor—is that all one could ask of such a man! Zhongwen was versed in documents and records and measured himself by heroic strategy. In Yuchi Jiong's rebellion he won merit and fame. From then on he several times held the army's hub. The Liaodong campaign in fact lost army and followers. The great tree was already toppling—it was not the fault of one rope alone. Yi's fortune met the time's coming; Xuandao and Xuanmin showed their strength—the lofty foundation did not fall, split firewood could be borne. How flourishing!