1
薛安都劉休賓房法壽畢眾敬羊祉
Xue Andou, Liu Xiubin, Fang Fashou, Bi Zhongjing, and Yan Zhi
2
列傳第二十七
Biographies 27
3
薛安都劉休賓房法壽曾孫豹玄孫彥謙族子景伯畢眾敬曾孫義雲羊祉子深孫肅弟子敦烈
Xue Andou; Liu Xiubin; Fang Fashou, his great-grandson Bao, his great-great-grandson Yanqian, and his clansman Jingbo; Bi Zhongjing, his great-grandson Yiyun; Yan Zhi, his son Shen, his grandson Su, and his nephew's son Dunlie
4
薛安都，字休達，河東汾陰人也。 父廣，晉上党太守。 安都少驍勇，善騎射，頗結輕俠，諸兄患之。 安都乃求以一身分出，不取片資，兄許之，居於別廄。 遠近交遊者爭有送遺，馬牛衣服什物充滿其庭。 真君五年，與東雍州刺史沮渠康謀逆，事發奔宋。
Xue Andou, styled Xiuda, came from Fenyin in Hedong. His father Guang had been Administrator of Shangdang in the Jin period. As a youth Andou was bold and fierce, an expert horse archer who kept company with roaming blades; his older brothers worried about him. Andou asked to strike out on his own with nothing from the family estate; his brothers agreed, and he moved into a separate compound. Companions from near and far showered him with gifts until horses, cattle, clothes, and household goods packed his courtyard. In the fifth year of Zhenjun he conspired to rebel with Qu Ju Kang, Inspector of East Yongzhou; when the plot was discovered he fled to the Liu Song.
5
在南以武力見敘，遇宋孝武起江州，遂以為將。 和平六年，宋湘東王殺其主子業而自立，是為明帝。 群情不協，共立子業弟晉安王子勳。 安都與沈文秀、崔道固、常珍奇等舉兵應之。 宋明帝遺將張永討安都。 安都遣使降魏，請兵救援，遣第四子道次為質。 獻文乃遣鎮東大將軍尉元等赴之，拜安都鎮南大將軍、徐州刺史，賜爵河東公。 元等既入彭城，安都中悔，謀圖元等。 元知之，遂不果發。 安都因重貨元等，委罪于女婿裴祖隆。 元乃殺祖隆而隱安都謀。
In the south his fighting ability won him notice, and when Emperor Xiaowu of Song raised forces in Jiangzhou, Andou was appointed a field commander. In the sixth year of Heping, the Prince of Xiangdong murdered his nephew the emperor Ziye and seized the throne as Emperor Ming. Much of the court and provinces refused to accept Ming, and together they proclaimed Ziye's younger brother, the Prince of Jin'an, Zixun, as emperor. Andou joined Shen Wenxiu, Cui Daogu, Chang Zhenqi, and others in taking up arms on Zixun's side. Emperor Ming dispatched Zhang Yong to campaign against Andou. Andou sent envoys to submit to Northern Wei and beg for reinforcements, offering his fourth son Daoci as a hostage. Emperor Xianwen sent Yu Yuan, Commander-in-chief of the East, and other officers to his relief, named Andou Defender-general of the South and Inspector of Xuzhou, and granted him the title Duke of Hedong. After Yuan's forces entered Pengcheng, Andou had second thoughts and plotted to turn on them. Yuan discovered the plot, and the coup never came off. Andou then bribed Yuan heavily and shifted the blame onto his son-in-law Pei Zulong. Yuan executed Zulong but kept Andou's role hidden.
6
皇興二年，與畢眾敬朝于京師，甚見禮重。 子侄群從並處上客，皆封侯，至於門生，無不收敘。 又為起第宅，館宇崇麗，資給甚厚。 卒，贈假黃鉞、秦州刺史、河東王，諡曰康。
In the second year of Huangxing he visited the capital with Bi Zhongjing and received lavish honors at court. His sons, nephews, and kinsmen were all received as honored guests and enfeoffed as marquises, and even his personal pupils were given official posts. The court also built him a residence with grand halls and supplied him handsomely. At his death he was posthumously granted the ceremonial axe, the inspectorship of Qinzhou, and the title King of Hedong, with the posthumous name Kang.
7
子道舣襲爵，位平州刺史，政有聲稱。 曆相、秦二州刺史，卒。 道舣弟道異，亦以勳為第一客。 早卒，贈秦州刺史、安邑侯。 道異弟道次，既質京師，賜爵安邑侯，位秦州刺史，進河南公。
His son Daoyi inherited the title, became Inspector of Pingzhou, and earned a name for capable administration. He held the inspectorships of Xiang and Qin in turn before his death. Daoyi's younger brother Daoyi likewise became a foremost guest of the court by virtue of his family's service. He died young and was posthumously named Inspector of Qinzhou and Marquis of Anyi. Daoyi's younger brother Daoci, who had served as a hostage in the capital, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Anyi, appointed Inspector of Qinzhou, and later promoted to Duke of Henan.
8
安都從祖弟真度，初亦與安都南奔； 及從安都來降，為上客。 太和初，賜爵河北侯，出為平州刺史，假陽平公，後降為伯。 曆荊州、東荊州刺史。 初遷洛後，真度每獻計勸先取樊、鄧，後攻南陽，故大為帝所賞。 改封臨晉縣伯，轉豫州刺史。 景明初，豫州大饑，真度表輒日別出倉米五十斛為粥，救其甚者。 詔曰：「真度所表，甚有憂濟百姓之意，宜在拯恤。」 曆華、荊二州刺史，入為大司農卿。 正始初，除揚州刺史。 還朝，除金紫光祿大夫，加散騎常侍，改封敷西。 卒，贈左光祿大夫，諡曰莊。 有子十二人，嫡子懷徹襲封。
Andou's collateral cousin Zhendu had likewise fled south with him at first; and when he followed Andou in submitting to Wei he too was received as an honored guest. Early in the Taihe reign he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Hebei, posted as Inspector of Pingzhou with acting rank as Duke of Yangping, and later demoted to baron. He held the inspectorships of Jingzhou and East Jingzhou in turn. After the capital was moved to Luoyang, Zhendu repeatedly urged taking Fan and Deng first and only then striking Nanyang, and the emperor valued him highly for this counsel. He was re-enfeoffed as Baron of Linjin County and appointed Inspector of Yuzhou. Early in Jingming, when Yuzhou was stricken by famine, Zhendu petitioned to issue fifty hu of grain from the storehouses each day for gruel kitchens to aid the most desperate. The throne responded: "Zhendu's report reflects genuine solicitude for the common people and deserves praise for relief work." He went on to hold the inspectorships of Hua and Jing in turn, then was appointed Minister of the Grand Granary. Early in the Zhengshi reign he was named Inspector of Yangzhou. When he returned to court he was appointed Grand Master of the Golden Chariot with Purple Tassel and Regular Attendant of the Scattered Cavalry, and his fief was changed to Fuxi. At his death he was posthumously named Left Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, with the posthumous name Zhuang. He had twelve sons; his legitimate heir Huaiche succeeded to the title.
9
初，真度有女妓數十人。 每集賓客，輒命之絲竹歌舞，不輟於前，盡聲色之適。 庶長子懷吉，居喪過周，以父妓十餘人並樂器獻之，宣武納焉。
In his earlier years Zhendu kept several dozen female performers. Whenever he entertained guests he had them perform music and dance without cease, reveling in every pleasure of sight and sound. His eldest son by a concubine, Huaiji, after completing the full mourning cycle presented more than ten of his father's performers along with their instruments, and Emperor Xuanwu took them into the palace.
10
懷吉好勇，有膂力，雖不善書學，亦解達時事。 卒于汾州刺史。 懷吉本不厲清節，及為汾州，偏有聚納之響。 自以支庶，餌誘勝己，共為婚姻。 多攜親戚，悉令同行，兼為之彌縫，恣其取受。 而將勞賓客，曲盡物情，送去迎來，不避寒熱。 性少言，每有接對，但默然而返。 既指授先期明人馬之數，左右密已記錄。 俄而酒饌相尋，芻粟繼至，逮於將別，贈以錢縑，下及廝庸，咸過本望。
Huaiji loved fighting and was powerfully built; though no scholar, he had a keen grasp of practical affairs. He died while serving as Inspector of Fenzhou. Huaiji had never been known for integrity, and as Inspector of Fenzhou he became notorious for extortion and hoarding. As a cadet line he flattered men of higher rank and sealed alliances through marriage. He often took relatives along on his tours of office and covered for their abuses, letting them take what they wanted. Yet with guests he was tirelessly hospitable, seeing them off and welcoming them in without regard for weather. He was a man of few words and would often receive guests in silence and send them away without comment. Yet beforehand he had quietly specified how many men and horses would be needed, and his staff had already noted it down. Soon feasts and fodder arrived in steady streams, and when guests departed he lavished money and silk on them—even servants and grooms received more than they had dared expect.
11
真度諸子既多，其母非一； 同產相朋，因有憎愛。 興和中，遂致訴列，雲以毒藥相害。 顯在公府，發揚疵釁，時人恥焉。
Zhendu had many sons by different mothers; and sons who shared a mother formed factions, breeding mutual hatred and favoritism. During the Xinghe era they finally sued one another in open court, each accusing the others of poisoning. The affair played out in the public courts with every family stain exposed, to the shame of all who heard of it.
12
劉休賓，字處幹，本平原人也。 祖昶，從慕容德度河，家于北海都昌縣。 父奉伯，宋北海太守。 休賓少好學，有文才。 仕宋為兗州刺史。 娶崔邪利女，生子文曄。 崔氏先歸甯在魯郡。 邪利之降，文曄母子與俱入魏。 及慕容白曜軍至，休賓不降。 白曜請崔氏與文曄至，以報休賓。 又執休賓兄延和妻子巡視城下。 休賓答白曜，許待曆城降，當即歸順。 密遣主簿尹文達向曆城，觀魏軍形勢。 文達詣白曜，詐祗侯。 白曜令文達往升城，見其妻子。 文曄哭泣，以爪發為信。 文達回，復經白曜，誓約而還，見休賓。 休賓撫爪發泣，復遣文達與白曜期。 白曜喜，以酒灌地，啟告山河，誓不負休賓。 文達還謂休賓，可早決計。 休賓於是告兄子聞慰。 聞慰固執不可，遂差本契。 白曜尋遣著作佐郎許赤彪夜至梁鄒南門，告城上人曰：「休賓遣文達頻造僕射許降，何得無信！」 於是城內遂相維持，欲降不得。 曆城降，休賓乃出請命。 及立平齊郡，乃以梁鄒人為懷寧縣，以休賓為令。 延興二年卒。
Liu Xiubin, styled Chugan, was originally from Pingyuan. His grandfather Chang had crossed the Yellow River with Murong De and settled the family in Duchang County in Beihai. His father Fengbo had been Administrator of Beihai under the Liu Song. Xiubin loved study from youth and showed real literary talent. He served the Liu Song as Inspector of Yanzhou. He married a daughter of Cui Xieli and fathered a son named Wenhua. Lady Cui had earlier gone home to her family and was staying in Lu Commandery. When Xieli submitted to Wei, Wenhua and his mother went north with him. When Murong Baiyao's army arrived, Xiubin refused to surrender. Baiyao had Lady Cui and Wenhua brought before the walls to show Xiubin. He also took the wife and children of Xiubin's elder brother Yanhe and marched them along the base of the walls. Xiubin answered Baiyao that he would submit as soon as Licheng fell. He secretly sent his Registrar Yin Wenda to Licheng to scout the Wei forces. Wenda called on Baiyao and feigned deference. Baiyao sent Wenda up to the city to see his family. Wenhua wept and sent a token of his fingernails and hair. Wenda returned by way of Baiyao's camp, exchanged sworn pledges, and reported to Xiubin. Xiubin clutched the token and wept, then sent Wenda again to set a date with Baiyao. Baiyao rejoiced, poured a libation to earth and heaven, and swore before the spirits of the land that he would not betray Xiubin. Wenda urged Xiubin to make up his mind at once. Xiubin then told his nephew Wenwei. Wenwei adamantly refused, and the original agreement fell apart. Baiyao soon sent the Assistant Editor of Writings Xu Chibiao by night to the south gate of Liangzou and called up to the defenders: "Xiubin has sent Wenda again and again to my chief of staff to promise surrender—where is your good faith!" At that the garrison turned on one another, each faction blocking the others from surrendering. When Licheng fell, Xiubin came out to submit. When Pingqi Commandery was established, the district of Liangzou was organized as Huaining County and Xiubin was appointed its magistrate. He died in the second year of Yanxing.
13
文曄有志尚，綜覽群書，輕財重義。 太和中，坐從兄聞慰南叛，被徙北邊，孝文特聽還代。 帝曾幸方山，文曄大言求見，申父功厚賞屈。 於是賜爵都昌子，深見待遇，拜協律中郎。 卒于高陽太守，贈兗州刺史，諡曰貞。
Wenhua was a man of high purpose who read widely, scorned wealth, and prized loyalty. During the Taihe reign he was banished to the northern frontier because his cousin Wenwei had defected south; Emperor Xiaowen specially allowed him to return to Dai. When the emperor visited Fangshan, Wenhua called out for an audience, protesting that his father's great service had been richly honored while he himself had been slighted. The emperor then enfeoffed him as Viscount of Duchang, showed him marked favor, and appointed him Harmonist-in-chief. He died while serving as Administrator of Gaoyang and was posthumously named Inspector of Yanzhou, with the posthumous name Zhen.
14
休賓叔父旋之，其妻許氏生二子法鳳、法武，而旋之早卒。 東陽平，許氏攜二子入魏，孤貧不自立，母子並出家為尼僧。 既而反俗，俱奔江南。 法武后改名峻，字孝標，《南史》有傳。
Xiubin's uncle Xuanzhi, whose wife Lady Xu bore two sons, Fafeng and Fawu, died young. After Dongyang was pacified, Lady Xu brought the two boys north; too poor to survive on their own, mother and sons all took Buddhist vows as nuns. They later returned to lay life and fled together to the south. Fawu later changed his name to Jun, styled Xiaobiao, and is the subject of a biography in the "History of the Southern Dynasties."
15
房法壽，小名烏頭，清河東武城人也。 曾祖諶，仕燕，位太尉掾。 隨慕容氏遷于齊，子孫因家之，遂為東清河繹幕人焉。 法壽幼孤，少好射獵，輕率勇果，結諸群小為劫盜，宗族患之。 弱冠，州迎主簿。 後以母老，不復應州郡命，常盜殺豬羊以供母。 招集壯士，恆有數百。 仕宋為魏郡太守。 法壽從祖弟崇吉，母妻為慕容白曜所獲，托法壽為計，法壽與崇吉歸款于白曜。 詔以法壽為平遠將軍，與韓騏驎對為冀州刺史。 及曆城、梁鄒降，法壽、崇吉等與崔道固、劉休賓俱至京師。 以法壽為上客，崇吉為次客，崔、劉為下客。 法壽供給亞于薛安都等，以功賜爵壯武侯，給以田宅奴婢。 性愛酒，好施，親舊賓客率同饑飽，坎壈常不豐足。 畢眾敬等皆尚其通愛。 卒，贈青州刺史，諡敬侯。
Fang Fashou, childhood name Wutou, came from Dongwucheng in Qinghe. His great-grandfather Chen had served the Yan state as an aide in the Grand Commandant's office. When the Murong clan moved to Qi the family settled there, and his line became natives of Yimu in East Qinghe. Orphaned young, Fashou loved the hunt, was reckless and fierce, and ran with a gang of petty thieves until his kinsmen despaired of him. At his capping ceremony the province invited him to serve as Chief Clerk. Later, when his mother grew old, he declined all provincial appointments and routinely stole pigs and sheep to feed her. He gathered stalwart fighters and kept several hundred at his command. He served the Liu Song as Administrator of Weijun. Chongji, Fashou's younger second cousin, had lost his mother and wife to Murong Baiyao's forces and turned to Fashou for a plan; together they surrendered to Baiyao. An edict made Fashou General Who Pacifies the Distance and named him and Han Qilin co-inspectors of Jizhou. After Licheng and Liangzou fell, Fashou and Chongji went to the capital alongside Cui Daogu and Liu Xiubin. Fashou was received as a guest of highest rank, Chongji as second rank, and Cui and Liu as the lowest. His upkeep at court ranked just below Xue Andou's; for his service he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Zhuangwu and given land, a house, and household slaves. He loved wine and was generous to a fault, sharing feast and famine alike with kinsmen and guests, and seldom kept himself comfortably supplied. Bi Zhongjing and others all valued his openhanded warmth. At his death he was posthumously named Inspector of Qingzhou and given the posthumous title Marquis Jing.
16
子伯祖襲，例降為伯，曆齊郡內史。 伯祖訚弱，委事于功曹張僧皓，大有受納，伯祖衣食不充。 後卒于幽州輔國府長史，免官，卒。 子翼，大城戍主，帶宗安太守，襲爵壯武侯。
His son Bozu succeeded to the title, which was reduced by precedent to a barony, and he served as Inner Scribe of Qi Commandery. Timid and ineffectual, Bozu turned the work over to his Merit Officer Zhang Senghao, who took heavy bribes while Bozu himself went without adequate food and clothing. He later died while serving as Chief Clerk of the Support-the-State Bureau in Youzhou; stripped of office, he died. His son Yi, garrison commandant of Dacheng and concurrently Administrator of Zong'an, succeeded to the title Marquis of Zhuangwu.
17
翼子豹，字仲幹。 體貌魁岸，美音儀。 年十七，州辟主簿。 王思政入據潁川，慕容紹宗出討，豹為紹宗開府主簿兼行台郎中。 紹宗自雲有水厄，遂於戰艦中浴，並自投于水，冀以厭當之。 豹白紹宗曰：「夫命也在天，豈人理所能延保。 公若實有水厄，非禳辟所能卻； 若其實無，何禳之有。 今三軍之事，在於明公，唯應達命任理，以保元吉。 方乃乘船入水，雲以防災，豈如岸上指麾，以保萬全也。」 紹宗笑曰：「不能免俗，為復爾耳。」 未幾而紹宗遇溺，時論以為知微。 清河中，除謁者僕射，拜西河太守。 地接周境，俗雜稽胡，豹政貴清靜，甚著聲績。 遷博陵太守，亦有能名。 又遷樂陵太守，風教修理，稱為美政。 郡瀕海，水味多鹹苦。 豹命鑿一井，遂得甘泉，遐邇以為政化所致。 豹罷歸後，井味復咸。 齊滅，遂還本鄉，丘園自養。 頻被征命，固辭以疾。 每牧守初臨，必遣致禮，官佐邑宰皆投刺申敬。 終於家，無子，以兄熊子彥詡嗣。 彥詡明辯有學識，位殿中侍御史，千乘、益都二縣令，有惠政。 熊字子威，性至孝，聰郎有節概。 州辟主簿，行清河、廣川二郡事。 七子。
Yi's son Bao, styled Zhonggan. He was tall and striking in appearance, with a pleasing voice and presence. At seventeen he was recruited by the province as Chief Clerk. When Wang Sizheng seized Yingchuan, Murong Shaozong marched out against him, and Bao became Shaozong's headquarters chief clerk and concurrent secretary on the mobile staff. Shaozong believed himself fated to die by water and bathed aboard a warship, even throwing himself overboard in the hope of turning the omen aside. Bao said to Shaozong, "Life and death are Heaven's decree—what mortal scheme could extend or preserve them? If you truly face a water doom, no rite of warding can turn it aside; if there is no such doom, what is there to ward off at all? The three armies now depend on you, my lord; you need only accept fate and act by reason to preserve the greatest fortune. Yet you board a ship and plunge into the water, claiming it wards off disaster—how can that compare with commanding from the shore and keeping every advantage?" Shaozong laughed and said, "One cannot escape vulgar habit—it always comes to this." Not long afterward Shaozong drowned, and contemporaries took it as proof of Bao's foresight. During the Qinghe reign he was made Vice Director of the Masters of Reverence and Administrator of Xihe. The district bordered Northern Zhou and its population mixed Han with tribal peoples; Bao governed with restraint and won a strong reputation. He was transferred to Bolling and earned renown there as well. He was next made Administrator of Leling, where he restored local customs and was praised for enlightened rule. The commandery lay on the coast, and its water was mostly brackish and bitter. Bao had a well sunk and struck sweet water; people near and far attributed it to the virtue of his rule. After Bao resigned and went home, the well turned brackish again. When Qi fell he returned to his home country and lived in quiet retirement. Repeated summonses reached him, but he steadfastly pleaded illness. Each time a new prefect or commandery chief took up his post, he sent courtesies; local officials and magistrates all called to pay their respects. He died at home childless, and his nephew Yanxu, son of his elder brother Xiong, became his heir. Yanxu was eloquent and learned, rose to Palace Attendant Censor, served as magistrate of Qiansheng and Yidu, and governed with beneficence. Xiong, styled Ziwei, was deeply filial by nature, quick and upright in mind, and firm in moral principle. The province recruited him as Chief Clerk and put him in charge of Qinghe and Guangchuan. He had seven sons.
18
長子彥詢最知名，以魏勳門嫡孫，賜爵永始縣子，特為叔豹所愛重。 病卒，豹取急，親送柩還鄉； 悲痛傷惜，以為喪當家之寶。 初，彥詢少時為監館，嘗接陳使江總。 及陳滅，總入關，見彥詢弟彥謙曰：「公是監館弟邪？」 因慘然曰：「昔因將命，得申言款。」 彥詢所贈總詩，今見載《總集》。
The eldest, Yanxun, was the most celebrated; as the legitimate grandson of a Wei house honored for its service he was enfeoffed as Viscount of Yongshi County and was a particular favorite of his uncle Bao. When illness took him, Bao obtained emergency leave and personally escorted the coffin home; Stricken with grief, Bao mourned him as though the family had lost its greatest treasure. In his youth Yanxun had served as host of the diplomatic lodge and once entertained the Chen envoy Jiang Zong. When Chen fell, Zong entered the Pass and, meeting Yanxun's younger brother Yan Yanqian, said, "Are you the lodge host's younger brother?" Then, with a mournful air, he said, "In former days, on a diplomatic mission, I was able to speak my heart to him in sincerity." The poem Yanxun gave Zong is now preserved in Zong's collected works.
19
彥謙早孤，不識父，為母兄鞠養。 長兄彥詢，雅有清鑒，以彥謙天性穎悟，每奇之，親教讀書。 年七歲，誦數萬言，為宗黨所異。 十五出後叔父子貞，事所繼有逾本生。 子貞哀之，撫養甚厚。 後丁繼母憂，勺飲不入口者五日。 事伯父豹，竭盡心力，每四時珍果，弗敢先嘗。 遇期功之戚，必蔬食終禮，宗從取則焉。 其後受學于博士尹琳，手不釋卷，遂通涉《五經》。 解屬文，雅有詞辯，風概高人。
Yan Yanqian lost his father young and was raised by his elder brother. His elder brother Yanxun was a man of fine judgment; struck by Yanqian's native brilliance, he took a special interest in him and taught him himself. At seven he could recite tens of thousands of characters, and his kinfolk marveled at him. At fifteen he passed to his uncle's son Zizhen in adoption and showed his adoptive family a devotion beyond what he owed his birth kin. Zizhen took pity on him and raised him with exceptional care. When his stepmother died he went five days without food or water. He served his uncle Bao with every ounce of devotion and never tasted the season's first fruits before him. For kin within the circle of formal mourning he kept to plain food until the rites were done, and the clan took him as their standard. He later studied under Erudite Yin Lin, book ever in hand, until he had gained a thorough command of the Five Classics. He wrote well, argued gracefully, and carried himself with a dignity that set him apart.
20
年十八，屬齊廣甯王孝珩為齊州刺史，辟為主簿。 時禁網疏闊，州郡之職，尤多縱弛。 及彥謙在職，清簡守法，州境肅然，莫不敬憚。 及周師入鄴，齊主東奔，以彥謙為齊州中從事。 彥謙痛本朝傾覆，將糾率忠義，潛謀匡輔，事不果而止。 齊亡，歸於家。 周武帝遣柱國辛遵為齊州刺史，為賊帥輔帶劍所執。 彥謙以書諭之，帶劍慚懼，送遵還州，諸賊並各歸首。 及隋文受禪之後，遂優遊鄉曲，誓無仕心。 開皇七年，刺史韋藝固薦之，不得已而應命。 吏部尚書盧愷一見重之，擢授承奉郎，俄遷監察御史。 後屬陳平，奉詔安撫泉、括等十州。 以銜命稱旨，賜物百段、米百石、衣一襲、奴婢七口。
At eighteen, when Prince Guangning Xiaohang became Inspector of Qizhou, Yanqian was recruited as his chief clerk. The law was loosely enforced then, and provincial offices were especially undisciplined. Under Yanqian the office grew austere and lawful; the province settled into order, and everyone held him in wary respect. When Northern Zhou forces entered Ye and the Qi ruler fled east, Yanqian was appointed Attendant of Qizhou. Heartbroken at his dynasty's fall, Yanqian tried to rally loyal men in a secret plot to restore the state, but the plan came to nothing. When Qi fell he went home. Emperor Wu of Zhou dispatched Pillar of State Xin Zun as Inspector of Qizhou, but the bandit leader Fu Daijian captured him. Yanqian wrote to reason with Daijian, who, shamed and afraid, sent Zun back; the other bandits surrendered as well. After Emperor Wen of Sui took the throne, Yanqian lived at ease in his native place and vowed never to serve again. In the seventh year of Kaihuang, Inspector Wei Yi pressed his recommendation until Yanqian, left no choice, accepted appointment. Minister of Personnel Lu Kai took to him immediately, appointed him Gentleman of Presentation, and soon made him an Investigating Censor. After Chen was conquered he was ordered to pacify ten provinces including Quan and Kuo. His mission pleased the throne, and he was rewarded with a hundred bolts of silk, a hundred shi of grain, a suit of clothes, and seven slaves.
21
遷秦州總管錄事參軍。 因朝集時，左僕射高熲定考課。 彥謙謂熲曰：「《書》稱三載考績，黜陟幽明。 唐、虞以降，代有其法，黜陟合理，褒貶無虧，便是進必得賢，退皆不肖。 如或舛謬，法乃虛設。 比見諸州考校，執見不同，進退多少，參差不類。 況復愛憎肆意，致乖平坦。 清介孤直，未必高第； 卑諂巧官，翻居上等。 真偽混淆，是非瞀亂。 宰貴既不精練，斟酌取捨，曾經驅使者，多以蒙識獲成； 未曆台省者，皆為不知被退。 又四方懸遠，難可詳悉，唯准量人數，半破半成。 徒計官員之少多，莫顧善惡之眾寡。 俗求允當，其道無由。 明公鑒達幽微，平心遇物，今年考校，必無阿枉，脫有前件數事，未審何以裁之？ 唯顧遠布耳目，精加採訪。 褒秋毫之善，貶纖介之惡。 非直有光至道，亦足標獎賢能。」 詞氣侃然，觀者屬目。 熲為之動容，深見嗟賞。 因曆問河西、隴右官人景行，彥謙對之如響。 熲謂諸州總管、刺史曰：「與公言，不如獨共秦州考使語。」 後數日，熲言於帝，帝弗能用。
He was transferred to recording secretary under the Qinzhou area command. At the annual court assembly, Left Vice Director Gao Yong was conducting performance reviews. Yan Yanqian said to Gao Yong, "The Book of Documents says, 'Every three years examine merit, demote the obscure, and promote the clear. From the age of Tang and Yu onward, every dynasty has had its method; when promotion and demotion are just and praise and blame are honest, the worthy rise and the unworthy fall. When the process goes wrong, the law becomes a hollow formality. Lately I have watched the provincial reviews: standards differ, the numbers promoted and dismissed vary wildly, and the results are a jumble. Worse still, personal likes and dislikes run free and fairness is lost. Men who are upright, austere, and uncompromising do not necessarily receive top marks; while the servile and cunning often rank at the top. Truth and falsehood blur together and right and wrong are thrown into confusion. Because the reviewing officials are neither thorough nor skilled, those previously sent on missions mostly pass by personal acquaintance; while those who have never served at court are dismissed as unknown and incompetent. Moreover, the realm is vast and distant posts hard to know in detail, so reviewers simply count heads and fail half while passing half. They tally only how many officials there are, never how many are good or bad. Under such conditions there is no path to the fairness people expect. You, my lord, see what is hidden and meet matters with an even heart; this year's review will surely be free of favor and distortion—yet if these abuses occur, by what standard will you judge them? I ask only that you extend your hearing far and wide and investigate with care. Praise the slightest good and condemn the smallest wrong. That would not only honor the supreme Way but also mark out and reward true talent." He spoke with bold forthrightness, and every eye in the hall turned to him. Gao Yong was visibly moved and praised him warmly. Gao Yong then quizzed him on the records of officials west of the river and in Longyou, and Yanqian answered without hesitation. Gao Yong said to the area commanders and provincial inspectors, "Talking with you gentlemen is not worth speaking alone with the Qinzhou evaluation envoy." Several days later Gao Yong reported to the emperor, but the throne did not act on Yanqian's advice.
22
以秩滿，遷長葛縣令，甚有惠化，百姓號為慈父。 仁壽中，帝令持節使者巡行州縣，察長吏能不。 以彥謙為天下第一，超授鄀州司馬。 吏人號哭相謂曰：「房明府今去，吾屬何用生為！」 其後百姓思之，立碑頌德。 鄀州久無刺史，州務皆歸彥謙，名有異政。 內史侍郎薛道衡，一代文宗，位望清顯。 所與交結，皆海內名賢。 重彥謙為人，深加友敬。 及為襄州總管，辭翰往來，交錯道路。 煬帝嗣位，道衡轉牧番州，路經彥謙所，留連數日，屑涕而別。
At the end of his term he was made magistrate of Changge, where he governed with such kindness that the people called him the Merciful Father. During the Renshou reign the emperor sent credentialed inspectors to tour the provinces and judge the competence of chief officials. Yan Yanqian was rated the finest in the empire and was specially promoted to vice governor of Ezhou. Officials and common people wept and said to one another, "Magistrate Fang is leaving—what use is there in our living!" Afterward the people missed him and erected a stele to praise his virtue. Ezhou had gone without a governor for some time, and all provincial affairs devolved upon Yan Yanqian, whose reputation was for outstanding administration. Xue Daoheng, vice director of the Secretariat, was the leading literary figure of his age, eminent in rank and reputation. All his associates were famed men of talent throughout the realm. He held Yan Yanqian in the highest regard and treated him with deep friendship and respect. Once he became area commander of Xiangzhou, their letters and poems crossed constantly on the roads between them. When Emperor Yang succeeded to the throne, Daoheng was transferred to govern Fan Prefecture; passing Yan Yanqian's home en route, he lingered for days and parted with tears streaming down his face.
23
黃門侍郎張衡亦與彥謙相善。 于時帝營東都，窮極侈麗，天下失望。 又漢王構逆，罹罪者多。 彥謙見衡當塗而不能匡救，書諭之曰：
Zhang Heng, attendant of the Yellow Gate, was also on friendly terms with Yan Yanqian. At that time the emperor raised the Eastern Capital to the utmost luxury, and the realm lost hope in him. Then the Prince of Han rose in rebellion, and many were punished. Seeing that Zhang Heng held power at court yet could not set things right, Yan Yanqian wrote to admonish him, saying:
24
竊聞賞者所以勸善，刑者所以懲惡。 故疏賤之人，有善必賞； 尊賢之戚，犯惡必刑。 未有罰則避親，賞則遺賤者也。 今國家祗承靈命，作人父母，刑賞曲直，升聞於天，夤畏照臨，亦宜謹肅。 故文王云：「我其夙夜畏天之威。」 以此而論，雖州、國有殊，高下懸邈，憂人慎法，其理一也。
I have heard it said that rewards exist to encourage good and punishments to chastise evil. So when the humble and lowly do good, they must be rewarded; and when kinsmen of the noble and worthy do wrong, they must be punished. Never yet has justice meant sparing kin in punishment or forgetting the lowly in reward. The state now reverently bears the sacred mandate and serves as father and mother to the people; the justice of punishments and rewards is heard in Heaven, and under that awesome gaze one ought to be scrupulous and solemn. King Wen therefore said, "I shall early and late stand in awe of Heaven's might." By this standard, though province and state differ and high and low stand far apart, the principle of caring for people and revering law is the same.
25
至如并州釁逆，須有甄明。 若楊諒實以詔命不通，慮宗社危逼，徵兵聚眾，非為幹紀，則當原其本情，議其刑罰； 上副聖主友于之意，下曉愚人疑惑之心。 若審知外內無虞，嗣後纂統，而好亂樂禍，妄有覬覦，則管、蔡之誅，當在於諒。 同惡相濟，無所逃罪； 梟縣孥戮，國有常刑。 遂使籍沒流移，恐為冤濫。 恢恢天網，豈其然乎！ 罪疑從輕，斯義安在！ 昔叔向置鬻獄之死，晉國所嘉； 釋之斷犯蹕之刑，漢文稱善。 羊舌甯不愛弟，廷尉非苟違君，俱以執法無私，不容輕重。
As for the rebellion at Bingzhou, the facts must be clearly sorted out. If Yang Liang truly raised troops because imperial orders never reached him and he feared for the altars of state—not to violate the law—then his original intent should be weighed and his punishment carefully considered; That would answer the emperor's brotherly intent above and settle the doubts of common men below. If it is clear that inside and outside the realm there was no threat, that succession was secure, yet he delighted in chaos and rashly coveted the throne, then the fate of Guan and Cai should be Yang Liang's. Accomplices who aid one another cannot escape guilt; decapitation, public display, and punishment of wives and children—the state has fixed penalties for such crimes. Yet families have been dispossessed and sent into exile—I fear this has become wrongful excess. Heaven's vast net—surely it cannot be so! When guilt is uncertain, leniency should prevail—where is that principle now! Once Shu Xiang had a bribe-taking jailer put to death, and Jin praised him for it; Zhang Shizhi reduced the sentence for a breach of the imperial procession, and Emperor Wen praised his judgment. Yangshe Ning did not spare his own brother, and the commandant of justice did not casually defy his sovereign—both enforced the law without favor and made no allowance for rank or connection.
26
且聖人大寶，是曰神器，苟非天命，不可妄得。 故蚩尤、項籍之驍勇，伊尹、霍光之權勢，李老、孔丘之才智，呂望、孫武之兵術，吳、楚連磐石之據，產、祿承母弟之基，不應曆運之兆，終無帝主之位。 況乎蕞爾一隅，蜂扇蟻聚，楊諒之愚鄙，群小之凶慝，而欲憑陵畿甸，覬幸非望者哉。 開闢以降，書契雲及，帝皇之跡，可得而詳。 自非積德累仁，豐功厚利，孰能道洽幽顯，義感靈祗？ 是以古之哲王，昧旦丕顯，履冰在念，禦朽兢懷。 逮叔世驕荒，曾無戒懼，肆於人上，騁嗜奔欲，不司具載，謂略陳之。
The throne is the sage's great treasure, the divine vessel—without Heaven's mandate it cannot be seized at will. Chiyou and Xiang Yu were matchless in valor; Yi Yin and Huo Guang wielded supreme power; Laozi and Confucius possessed supreme wisdom; Lü Wang and Sun Wu mastered the art of war; Wu and Chu held territory firm as bedrock; Lü Chan and Lü Lu inherited a usurper's foundation—none matched the signs of destiny, and none ever gained the throne. How much less could a petty corner, a swarm of bees and ants—the foolish Yang Liang and his vicious underlings—hope to storm the capital and grasp at the throne! Since the founding of the world, written records abound, and the deeds of emperors can be studied in full. Who but those of accumulated virtue, abundant merit, and lasting benefit could unite the Way in this world and the next and move heaven itself with righteousness? That is why the wise kings of old rose before dawn to govern, ever mindful as if treading on ice, ever anxious as if mending a roof before it collapses. Later ages grew proud and reckless and never took warning; rulers indulged every appetite from their thrones—too many examples to recount here, so I shall mention only a few.
27
曩者，齊、陳二國，並居大位。 自謂與天地合德，日月齊明，罔念憂虞，不恤刑政。 近臣懷寵，稱善而隱惡； 史官曲筆，掩瑕而錄美。 是以人庶呼嗟，終閉塞於視聽； 公卿虛譽，日敷陳於左右。 法網嚴密，刑辟日多，賦役煩興，老幼疲苦。 昔鄭有子產，齊有晏嬰，楚有叔敖，晉有士會，凡此小國，尚足名臣，齊、陳之強，豈無良佐？ 但以執政壅蔽，懷私殉軀，忘國憂家，外同內忌。 設有正直之士，才堪幹時，於己非宜，即加擯棄； 儻遇諂佞之輩，行多穢慝，于我有益，遽蒙薦舉。 以此求賢，何從而至。 夫賢材者，非尚膂力，豈系文華，唯須正身負戴。 確乎不動，譬棟之處屋，如骨之在身，所謂棟樑骨鯁之材也。 齊、陳不任骨鯁，信近讒諛，天高聽卑，監其淫僻。 故總收神器，歸我大隋。 向使二國祗敬上玄，惠恤鰥寡，委任方直，斥遠浮華，卑菲為心，惻隱是務，河朔強富，江湖險隔，各保其業，人不思亂，泰山之固，弗可動也。 然而寢臥積薪，宴安鴆毒，遂使禾黍生廟，務露沾衣，吊影撫心，何嗟及矣！ 故《詩》云：「殷之未喪師，克配上帝。 宜鑒於殷，駿命不易。」 萬機之事，何者不須熟慮哉。
Not long ago Qi and Chen both occupied thrones. Each ruler imagined his virtue matched Heaven and Earth and his brilliance equaled the sun and moon, never heeding danger and neglecting law and governance. Favored courtiers praised every good deed and hid every fault; historians bent their brushes, concealing flaws and recording only virtues. The common people groaned in misery yet remained shut out from the ruler's eyes and ears; while high officials daily filled the throne's ears with empty praise. The law grew ever tighter, punishments multiplied, levies and corvée multiplied, and old and young alike were worn to exhaustion. Once Zheng had Zichan, Qi had Yan Ying, Chu had Sunshu Ao, and Jin had Shi Hui—even small states could boast great ministers; could mighty Qi and Chen have lacked worthy counselors? But those in power blinded their rulers, sacrificed the state for personal gain, forgot the country's needs in family quarrels, and pretended unity while scheming against one another. When an upright man of real talent appeared, if he did not suit their interests they cast him aside; when a flattering scoundrel whose conduct was vile but useful to them appeared, he was promptly promoted. How could true talent ever be found that way? True talent is not a matter of muscle or literary polish; what matters is an upright person who can bear the weight of office. Firm and unmoving, like a ridgepole in a roof or bone in the body—this is what is meant by pillar-and-backbone timber. Qi and Chen refused such backbone men, trusted slanderers and flatterers instead—and Heaven, though high, hears what is below, and watched their debauchery. And so the imperial throne was gathered in and came to our Great Sui. Had both states reverently served Heaven, cared for the helpless, entrusted power to upright men, driven off the ostentatious, embraced humility and compassion—though the north were strong and the south divided by rivers and lakes, each realm would have kept its place, the people would not have dreamed of rebellion, and their thrones would have stood firm as Mount Tai. Instead they slept on kindling and drank poison in false peace until millet grew in their ancestral temples and dew soaked their robes in exile—clutching their hearts alone in misery, what use was regret then! The Book of Odes therefore says, "Before Yin lost its armies, it could match God on high. Take Yin as your mirror—the mandate is not easily kept." Which affair of state does not require the deepest deliberation?
28
伏惟皇帝望雲就日，仁孝夙彰，錫社分珪，大成規矩。 及總統淮海，盛德日新，當璧之符，遐邇僉屬。 纘曆甫爾，寬仁已布，率土蒼生，翹足而喜。 并州之亂，變起倉卒，職由楊諒詭惑，詿誤吏人； 非有構怨本朝，棄德從賊者也。 而有司將帥，稱其願反，非止誣陷良善，亦恐大玷皇猷。
Your Majesty, like one who turns toward clouds and sun, has long shown benevolence and filial piety; enfeoffed and granted jade, you have fully established the norms of rule. When you governed the Huai-Hai region your virtue grew daily brighter, and the mandate of the jade tally was acclaimed far and near. Hardly had you ascended the throne when mercy and kindness were proclaimed, and all the people rejoiced in expectation. The Bingzhou revolt erupted suddenly, stirred by Yang Liang's deception and the misleading of officials and people; not because they bore grievances against the dynasty or chose rebellion over loyalty. Yet officials and generals call them willing rebels—this not only falsely condemns the innocent but may grievously stain your imperial purpose.
29
足下宿當重寄，早預心膂，粵自籓邸，柱石見知，方當書名竹帛，傳芳萬古，稷、契、伊、呂，彼獨何人。 既屬明時，須存謇諤，立當世之大誡，作將來之憲范，豈容曲順人主，以愛虧刑； 又使脅從之徒，橫貽罪譴。 忝蒙眷遇，輒寫微誠，野人愚瞽，不知忌諱。
You have long borne heavy trust and been close to the throne's inner circle; known as a pillar since the princely years, your name is destined for the histories alongside Ji, Qi, Yi Yin, and Lü Wang—who were they, that you should not be? In an enlightened age you must speak blunt truth, set a warning for the present and a standard for the future—how can you bend to the sovereign's feelings and weaken justice for affection's sake; or leave those who were forced to follow bearing punishment they do not deserve? Graced as I am by your favor, I venture these honest thoughts—a rustic man, foolish and blind to what should not be said.
30
衡得書，歎息而不敢奏聞。
Zhang Heng received the letter, sighed deeply, and dared not report it to the throne.
31
彥謙知王綱不振，遂去官，隱居不仕。 將結構蒙山之下，以求其志。 會置司隸官，盛選天下知名之士。 朝廷以彥謙公方宿著，時望所歸，征授司隸刺史。 彥謙亦慨然有澄清天下之志，凡所薦舉，皆人倫表式。 其有彈射，當之者曾無怨言。 司隸別駕劉灹陵上侮下，訐以為直，刺史憚之，皆為之拜。 唯彥謙執志不撓，抗禮長揖。 有識嘉之，
Yan Yanqian saw that imperial authority was failing, resigned his post, and withdrew into seclusion. He planned to build a retreat beneath Mount Meng to pursue his ideals. Just then the Metropolitan Inspectorate was established and the court sought out the most renowned men in the land. The court, recognizing Yan Yanqian's long-standing integrity and the esteem in which he was held, summoned him as metropolitan inspector. Yan Yanqian took up the post with a resolute will to cleanse the realm; every man he recommended was a model of moral worth. Those he impeached never uttered a word of complaint. Liu Ye, a vice director of the Metropolitan Inspectorate, bullied his superiors and insulted his subordinates while posing as blunt honesty; provincial inspectors feared him and all bowed to him. Only Yan Yanqian held firm, returning his greeting with an equal bow but no deference. Men of judgment praised him for it,
32
灹亦不恨。
and Liu Ye bore no resentment.
33
大業九年，從駕度遼，監扶餘道軍事。 其後隋政漸亂，莫不變節，彥謙直道守常，頗為執政者所嫉。 出為涇陽令，終於官。
In the ninth year of Daye he accompanied the emperor on the Liaodong campaign and oversaw forces on the Fuyu route. As Sui politics grew chaotic, others all shifted with the times, but Yan Yanqian held to the straight path and was much resented by those in power. He was demoted to magistrate of Jingyang and died in that post.
34
彥謙居家，每子侄定省，常為講說督勉之，亹癖不倦。 家有舊業，資產素殷，又前後居官所得俸祿，皆以周恤親友，家無餘財。 車服器用，務存素儉。 自少及長，一言一行，未嘗涉私。 雖致屢空，怡然自得。 嘗從容獨笑，顧謂其子玄齡曰：「人皆因祿富，我獨以官貧。 所遺子孫，在於清白耳。」 所有文筆，恢廓閒雅，有古人之深致。 又善草隸，人有得其尺牘者，皆寶玩之。 太原王劭、北海高構、蓧縣李綱、中山郎茂、郎穎、河東柳彧、薛孺，皆一時知名雅澹之士，彥謙並與為友。 雖冠蓋成列，而門無雜賓。 體資文雅，深達政務，有識者咸以遠大許之。
At home, whenever his sons and nephews came on their daily visits, he would instruct and encourage them tirelessly. The family had inherited wealth, and every salary he earned in office went to help relatives and friends, leaving nothing behind. His carriages, clothing, and household goods were kept plain and frugal. From youth to age, not a word or deed of his ever served private ends. Though poverty often left his house bare, he remained cheerful and at ease. Once, smiling quietly to himself, he turned to his son Xuanling and said, "Others grow rich from office; I alone have grown poor from it. All I leave my descendants is a name for integrity." His prose was broad, easy, and refined, with the deep resonance of antiquity. He was also skilled in cursive and clerical script, and anyone who obtained even a letter of his treasured it. Wang Shao of Taiyuan, Gao Gou of Beihai, Li Gang of Diaoxian, Lang Mao and Lang Ying of Zhongshan, Liu Yu of Hedong, and Xue Ru were all celebrated men of refined character in their day, and Yan Yanqian counted them all as friends. Though officials called constantly, his door admitted no unworthy guest. Refined in bearing and deeply versed in governance, discerning men all credited him with greatness yet to come.
35
初，開皇中平陳之後，天下一統，論者咸雲將致太平。 彥謙私謂所親趙郡李少通曰：「主上性多忌克，不納諫諍。 太子卑弱，諸王擅威。 在朝惟行苛酷之政，未弘遠大之體，天下雖安，方憂危亂。」 少通初謂不然。 及仁壽、大業之際，其言皆驗。 貞觀初，以子玄齡著勳庸，贈徐州都督、臨淄縣公，諡曰定。
Early on, after the conquest of Chen in the Kaihuang era united the realm, many predicted an age of peace. Yan Yanqian confided to his friend Li Shaotong of Zhao Commandery, "The emperor is jealous by nature and will not hear remonstrance. The crown prince is weak, and the princes wield power on their own. The court pursues only harsh policies and never the broader vision of rule; though the realm seems secure, I already foresee trouble ahead." At first Li Shaotong disagreed. By the Renshou and Daye reigns, every word of his had come true. Early in the Zhenguan reign, because his son Fang Xuanling had earned great merit, he was posthumously made regional commander of Xuzhou and Duke of Linzi, with the posthumous name Ding.
36
伯祖弟幼湣，安豐、新蔡二郡太守，坐事奪官。 居家，忽聞門有客聲，出無所見，還至庭中，為家群犬所噬，卒。
His uncle's younger brother Youmin had served as administrator of Anfeng and Xincai, but lost his post after an offense. At home one day he suddenly heard what sounded like a visitor at the door. He went out and saw no one, but when he returned to the courtyard the family dogs set upon him and he died.
37
景伯字良暉，法壽族子也。 祖元慶，仕宋。 曆七郡太守，後為沈文秀青州建威府司馬。 宋明帝之殺廢帝子業，子業弟子勳起兵。 文秀後歸子勳，元慶不同，為文秀所害。 父愛親，獻文時，三齊平，隨例內徙，為平齊人。 以父非命，疏服終身。
Fang Jingbo, styled Lianghui, was a clansman of Fang Fashou. His grandfather Fang Yuanking had served the Liu Song. He governed seven commanderies in succession and later became chief clerk on Shen Wenxiu's Jianwei staff in Qingzhou. When Emperor Ming of Song killed the deposed emperor Ziye, Ziye's younger brother Zixun took up arms. Wenxiu later joined Zixun's side, but Yuanking refused and was killed by Wenxiu. His father Aiqin, after the Three Qi were pacified in the reign of Emperor Xianwen, was relocated inland by the usual rule and registered as a Pingqi subject. Because his father had died by violence, he wore simple mourning dress for the rest of his life.
38
景伯生於桑乾，少喪父，以孝聞。 家貧，傭書自給，養母甚謹。 尚書盧陽烏稱之于李沖。 沖時典選，拔為奉朝請。 累遷齊州輔國長史。 會刺史亡，敕行州事。 政存寬簡，百姓安之。 後除清河太守。 郡人劉簡武曾失禮于景伯，聞其臨郡，闔家逃亡。 景伯督切屬縣，追捕禽之。 即署其子為西曹掾，令喻山賊。 賊以景伯不念舊惡，一時俱下，論者稱之。 舊制，守令六年為限。 限滿將代，郡人韓靈和等三百餘人表訴乞留，復加二載。 後為司空長史，以母疾去官。
Fang Jingbo was born at Sanggan, lost his father young, and was known for filial devotion. The family was poor, so he copied books for hire to support himself and cared for his mother with scrupulous devotion. Lu Yangwu of the Ministry of Interior recommended him to Li Chong. Li Chong then oversaw appointments and selected him as Attendant at Court. He rose in succession to chief clerk on the Pacification of the State staff in Qizhou. When the provincial inspector died, he was ordered by edict to govern the province. He governed with leniency and restraint, and the people were content. He was later appointed administrator of Qinghe. Liu Jianwu of the commandery had once offended Fang Jingbo; when he learned Jingbo was coming to govern the district, his whole family fled. Jingbo pressed the subordinate counties to hunt him down and had him captured. He at once appointed the man's son as western bureau assistant and sent him to persuade the mountain bandits. Because Jingbo bore no old grudge, the bandits all surrendered at once, and commentators praised his conduct. By old rule, prefects and magistrates served a six-year term. When his term was up and a successor was due, more than three hundred petitioners led by Han Linghe begged the court to keep him, and he was granted two more years. He later served as chief clerk to the Minister of Works but resigned when his mother fell ill.
39
景伯性復淳和。 涉獵經史，諸弟宗之，如事嚴親。 及弟亡，蔬食終喪，期不內禦，憂毀之容，有如居重。 其次弟景先亡，其幼弟景遠期年哭臨，亦不內寢。 鄉里為之語曰：「有義有禮，房家兄弟。」 廷尉卿崔光韶好標榜人物，無所推尚，每雲景伯有士大夫之行業。 及母亡，景伯居喪，不食鹽菜。 因此遂為水病，積年不愈。 卒于家，贈左將軍、齊州刺史。
Fang Jingbo was further noted for a gentle, upright character. He read widely in the classics and histories, and his younger brothers revered him as they would a stern elder. When a younger brother died, he ate only plain food through the mourning period, did not enter the inner quarters for a full year, and wore an expression of grief as deep as for a parent. When his next younger brother Fang Jingxian died, his youngest brother Fang Jingyuan mourned for a full year and likewise slept outside the inner chambers. People in the district had a saying: "Righteous and courteous, the Fang brothers." Grand Minister of Justice Cui Guangshao loved to pass judgment on men yet praised almost no one; he always said Fang Jingbo possessed the bearing and achievement of a true gentleman. When his mother died, Fang Jingbo went into mourning and took neither salt nor vegetables. This brought on edema from which he suffered for years without recovery. He died at home and was posthumously made General of the Left and inspector of Qizhou.
40
景伯子文烈，位司徒左長史，與從父弟逸祐並有名。
Jingbo's son Fang Wenlie served as chief clerk of the left under the Minister over the Masses and, together with his father's younger cousin Yiyou, enjoyed wide renown.
41
文烈性溫柔，未嘗嗔怒。 為吏部郎時，經霖雨絕糧，遣婢糴米，因爾逃竄，三四日方還。 文烈徐謂曰：「舉家無食，汝何處來？」 竟無捶撻。 子山基，仕隋，曆戶部、考功侍郎，並著能名，見稱于時。
Fang Wenlie was gentle by nature and never grew angry. While serving as secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, prolonged rains cut off their food supply. He sent a maid to buy rice, but she ran off and did not return for three or four days. Fang Wenlie said calmly to her, "The whole household has nothing to eat; where have you been?" He never raised a hand to punish her. His son Fang Shanji served the Sui, held posts as vice minister in the ministries of revenue and evaluation, won renown for his ability, and was widely praised in his day.
42
景先字光胄，幼孤貧，無資從師，其母自授《毛詩》、《曲禮》。 年十二，請其母曰：「豈可使兄傭賃以供景先也？ 請自求衣，然後就學。」 母哀其小，不許。 苦請乃從之。 遂得一羊裘，忻然自足。 晝則樵蘇，夜誦經史，遂大通贍。
Fang Jingxian, styled Guangzhou, was orphaned and poor as a boy, could not afford a teacher, and was instructed at home by his mother in the Mao Odes and the Ceremonial Records. At twelve he said to his mother, "How can I let my elder brother hire himself out to support me? Let me earn my own clothes, and then I will go to school." His mother, pitying his youth, refused. He pleaded until she gave in. He obtained a sheepskin coat and was perfectly content. By day he gathered firewood; by night he read the classics and histories until he had mastered them thoroughly.
43
太和中，例得還鄉，解褐太學博士。 時太常劉芳、侍中崔光當世儒宗，歎其精博，奏兼著作佐郎，修國史。 侍中穆紹又啟景先撰《宣武起居注》。 累遷步兵校尉，領尚書郎、齊州中正，所曆皆有當官稱。
In the Taihe era he was allowed to return home under the usual rule and took his first office as erudite of the National University. Liu Fang, grand commandant of the Ministry of Rites, and Cui Guang, attendant-in-ordinary, were the leading scholars of the age; impressed by Jingxian's breadth of learning, they memorialized that he also serve as assistant drafter and help compile the national history. Attendant-in-Ordinary Mu Shao further recommended that Jingxian compile the Daily Records of Emperor Xuanwu. He rose to colonel of foot soldiers while serving concurrently as a gentleman of the interior and primary evaluator of Qizhou, and in every post earned praise worthy of his rank.
44
景先沈敏方正，事兄恭謹，出告反面，晨昏參省，側立移時，兄亦危坐，相敬如賓。 兄曾寢疾，景先侍湯藥，衣冠不解，形容毀瘁。 親友見者，莫不哀之。 卒，特贈洛州刺史，諡曰文。 景先作《五經疑問》百餘篇，其語典該。 符璽郎王神貴益之，名為《辯疑》，合成十卷，亦有可觀。 節閔帝時，奏上之。 帝親自執卷，與神貴往復，嘉其用心。 子延祐，武定末太子家令，後隸魏收修史。
Fang Jingxian was thoughtful, upright, and serious; toward his elder brother he was reverent and exact, reporting when he went out and presenting himself on return, attending morning and evening, standing respectfully for long stretches while his brother sat upright. They treated each other with the courtesy due a guest. When his elder brother fell ill, Jingxian nursed him night and day without removing cap or robes, until he was haggard with worry. Relatives and friends who saw him were deeply moved. At his death he was specially made inspector of Luozhou posthumously, with the posthumous name Wen. Fang Jingxian wrote more than a hundred chapters of Questions on the Five Classics, written in a style both authoritative and thorough. Wang Shengui of the Office of Seals expanded the work and named it Resolving Doubts; the ten scrolls together make worthwhile reading. In the reign of Emperor Jiemin it was submitted to the throne. The emperor read the scroll himself and discussed it back and forth with Shengui, praising their careful work. His son Fang Yanyou served late in the Wuding era as steward of the heir apparent's household and later joined Wei Shou in compiling the history.
45
景遠字叔遐，重然諾，好施與。 頻歲凶儉，分贍宗親； 又於通衢以飼餓者，存濟甚眾。 平原劉郁行經齊、兗之境，忽遇劫賊，已殺十餘人。 次至郁，呼曰：「與君鄉近，何忍見殺。」 賊曰：「若言鄉里，親親是誰？」 鬱曰：「齊州主簿房陽是我姨兄。」 陽是景遠小字。 賊曰：「我食其粥得活，何得殺其親。」 遂還衣物，蒙活者二十餘人。
Fang Jingyuan, styled Shuxia, held his word sacred and loved to give generously. In years of famine he shared his stores with his kin; and along the main roads he fed the hungry, saving countless lives. Liu Yu of Pingyuan, traveling through Qi and Yan, suddenly fell in with bandits who had already killed more than ten people. When they came to Yu, he cried out, "We are from neighboring districts; how can you bear to kill me?" The bandits said, "If you claim kin from nearby, name your relatives." Yu said, "Fang Yang, chief clerk of Qizhou, is my elder cousin on my mother's side." Yang was Jingyuan's childhood name. One bandit said, "I lived on his gruel; how could I kill his kin?" They returned the travelers' goods, and more than twenty lives were spared.
46
景遠好史傳，不為章句。 天性小急，不類家風。 然事二兄至謹，撫養兄孤，恩訓甚篤。 益州刺史傅豎眼慕其名義，啟為昭武府功曹參軍。 以母老不應，豎眼頗恨之。 卒於家。 子敬道，永熙中開府參軍。
Fang Jingyuan loved history and biography and cared little for textual glossing. By nature he was a little quick-tempered and did not resemble the family's usual manner. Yet he served his two elder brothers with the utmost care and raised their orphaned children with devoted affection and instruction. Fu Shuyan, inspector of Yizhou, admired his reputation and recommended him as army aide on the Zhaowu staff. He declined because his mother was elderly, and Shuyan resented the refusal. He died at home. His son Fang Jingdao served in the Yongxi era as staff officer on an opening-of-government staff.
47
畢眾敬，小名奈，東平須昌人也。 少好弓馬射獵，交結輕果，常於疆境盜掠為業。 仕宋，位太山太守。 湘東王彧殺其主子業而自立，是為明帝。 遣眾敬詣兗州募人。 到彭城，刺史薛安都召與密謀，云：「晉安有上流之名，且孝武第三子，當共卿西從晉安。」 眾敬從之。 東平太守申纂據無鹽城，不與之同。 及宋明平子勳，授纂兗州刺史。 會有人發眾敬父墓，令其母骸首散落。 眾敬發喪行服，疑纂所為。 弟眾愛，為薛安都長史，亦遣人密至濟陰，掘纂父墓，以相報答。
Bi Zhongjing, childhood name Nai, came from Xuchang in Dongping. As a youth he loved horsemanship, archery, and the hunt, ran with reckless men, and made a living raiding across the border. He served the Liu Song as administrator of Taishan. The Prince of Xiangdong, Liu Yu, killed his nephew Emperor Ziye and seized the throne as Emperor Ming. Emperor Ming sent Zhongjing to Yanzhou to raise troops. When he reached Pengcheng, Inspector Xue Andou summoned him to a secret council and said, "The Prince of Jin'an has rightful claim to the throne and is moreover the third son of Emperor Xiaowu. Let us go west together to join him." Zhongjing agreed. Shen Zuan, administrator of Dongping, held Wuyan city and refused to join them. After Emperor Ming defeated Zixun, he made Shen Zuan inspector of Yanzhou. Someone then desecrated Zhongjing's father's tomb and scattered his mother's bones. Zhongjing went into mourning for the desecration and suspected Shen Zuan. His younger brother Zhongai, chief clerk to Xue Andou, secretly sent men to Jiyin to desecrate Shen Zuan's father's tomb in retaliation.
48
及安都以城入魏，眾敬不同其謀。 子元賓以母並百口悉在彭城，恐交致禍，日夜啼泣，遣請眾敬，眾敬猶未從之。 眾敬先已遣表謝宋，宋明授眾敬兗州刺史，而以元賓有他罪，獨不舍之。 眾敬拔刀破柱曰：「皓首之年，唯有此子，今不原貸，何用獨全！」 及尉元至，乃以城降。 元遣將入城，事定。 眾敬悔恚，數日不食。 皇興初，就拜散騎常侍、兗州刺史，賜爵東平公，與中書侍郎李璨對為刺史。 慕容白曜攻克無鹽，獲申纂，無殺纂意。 而城中火起，纂為所燒死。 眾敬聞克無鹽，懼不殺纂，乃與白曜書，並表朝廷，雲家酷由纂。 聞纂死。 乃悅。 二年，與薛安都朝京師，賜甲第一區。 後復為兗州刺史，征還京師。
When Xue Andou surrendered Pengcheng to Northern Wei, Zhongjing would not join the plot. His son Yuanbin, knowing that his mother and the entire family of more than a hundred souls were in Pengcheng, feared disaster and wept day and night, begging Zhongjing to yield, but Zhongjing still refused. Zhongjing had already sent a memorial submitting to the Song court; Emperor Ming made him inspector of Yanzhou but, because Yuanbin stood accused of another crime, alone refused to pardon him. Zhongjing drew his sword and struck a pillar, crying, "In my old age I have only this one son. If you will not pardon him, what use is there in sparing me alone!" When Wei general Wenyuan arrived, he at last surrendered the city. Wenyuan sent a general into the city and the matter was settled. Zhongjing was consumed with remorse and rage and went days without eating. Early in the Huangxing reign he was made attendant-in-ordinary of the dispersed cavalry and inspector of Yanzhou, created Duke of Dongping, and paired with Secretariat drafter Li Can as co-inspectors. Murong Baiyao took Wuyan and captured Shen Zuan, with no intention of killing him. But fire broke out in the city, and Shen Zuan burned to death in the blaze. When Zhongjing heard Wuyan had fallen, he feared Shen Zuan would be spared; he wrote to Baiyao and memorialized the court, declaring that Zuan was responsible for the cruelty done to his family. When he learned Shen Zuan was dead, he was pleased. In the second year he went with Xue Andou to attend court at the capital and was granted a first-class suit of armor. Later he was again appointed inspector of Yanzhou and recalled to the capital.
49
眾敬善自奉養，食膳豐華，必致他方遠味。 年已七十，發須皓白，而氣力未衰，跨鞍馳騁，有若少壯。 篤於姻類，深有國士之風。 張讜之亡，躬往營視，有若至親。 太和中，孝文賓禮舊老，眾敬與高允引至方山。 雖文武奢儉，好尚不同，然亦與允甚相愛敬，接膝談款，有若平生。 後以篤老，乞還桑梓，朝廷許之。 眾敬臨還，獻真珠榼四具、銀裝劍一口、刺彪矛一枚、仙人文綾一百疋。 文明太后與帝引見於皇信堂，賜以酒饌車馬絹等，勞遣之。 卒於兗州。
Zhongjing took excellent care of himself. His table was lavish, and he always procured rare delicacies from distant regions. Though he was already seventy, with hair and beard snow-white, his strength had not faded; in the saddle he could still gallop like a young man. Deeply devoted to his kin and in-laws, he had the bearing of a true man of honor. When Zhang Yan died, he went in person to oversee the funeral arrangements as though for his own closest kin. During the Taihe reign, Emperor Xiaowen treated the aged veterans as honored guests and had Zhongjing and Gao Yun brought to Mount Fang. Though one was martial and one literary, one lavish and one austere, and their tastes differed, they cherished and respected each other deeply, talking knee to knee with the easy intimacy of old friends. Later, on account of his advanced age, he asked to return home, and the court consented. Before his departure Zhongjing presented four pearl-inlaid vessels, one silver-mounted sword, one spear embroidered with leaping tigers, and one hundred bolts of figured silk woven with immortals. Empress Dowager Wenming and the emperor received him in the Huangxin Hall, bestowed wine, food, horses, carriages, and silk, and sent him off with honors. He died in Yanzhou.
50
子元賓，少豪俠有武幹，涉獵書史。 與父同建勳誠，至京師，俱為上賓，賜爵須昌侯。 後拜兗州刺史，假彭城公。 父子相代為本州，當世榮之。 時眾敬以老還鄉，常呼元賓為使君。 每元賓聽政時，乘板輿出至元賓所，先遣左右敕不聽起，觀其斷決，忻忻然喜見顏色。 眾敬善持家業，猶能督課田產，大致儲積。 元賓為政清平，善撫人物，百姓愛樂之。 以父憂解任，喪中，遙授長兼殿中尚書。 卒，贈衛尉卿，諡曰平。
His son Yuanbin was in youth bold and chivalrous, skilled in arms, and widely read in history and the classics. He and his father alike won distinction through loyalty; at the capital both were honored as chief guests, and he was created Marquis of Xuchang. Later he was made inspector of Yanzhou and given acting rank as Duke of Pengcheng. Father and son governed their home province in turn, an honor their age greatly envied. By then Zhongjing had retired home in old age and always called Yuanbin "My Lord Governor." Whenever Yuanbin held court, Zhongjing would ride out in a palanquin to his son's seat, send attendants ahead to forbid him to rise, and watch his judgments with pleased delight written on his face. Zhongjing was adept at managing the family estate and could still oversee the fields and dues, amassing considerable stores. Yuanbin governed with clarity and fairness, treated people with kindness, and the common folk loved him. He resigned on account of his father's death; during mourning he was granted the concurrent post of Director of the Palace Secretariat from afar. When he died he was posthumously made Minister of the Guard and given the posthumous name Ping.
51
元賓入魏，初娶東平劉氏，有四子，祖朽、祖髦、祖歸、祖旋。 賜妻元氏，生二子，祖榮、祖暉。 祖朽最長，祖暉次祖髦。 故事，前妻雖先有子，後賜之妻子皆承嫡。 所以劉氏先亡，祖暉不服重。 元氏後卒，祖朽等三年終禮。
After Yuanbin entered Wei he first married a Liu of Dongping, by whom he had four sons: Zuxiu, Zumao, Zugui, and Zuxuan. His imperially granted wife, née Yuan, bore two sons: Zurong and Zuhui. Zuxiu was the eldest; Zuhui ranked after Zumao in age. By precedent, even when an earlier wife had borne sons first, the sons of the later imperially granted wife were all treated as legitimate heirs. Therefore, because Lady Liu had died first, Zuhui did not observe full mourning for her. When Lady Yuan died later, Zuxiu and the others completed the full three-year mourning.
52
祖榮早卒，子義允襲祖爵東平公，例降為侯。 卒，子僧安襲。
Zurong died young; his son Yiyun inherited the grandfather's title of Duke of Dongping, reduced by regulation to marquis. When he died his son Seng'an succeeded.
53
祖朽身長八尺，腰帶十圍。 涉獵經史，好為文詠，善與人交。 襲父爵須昌侯，例降為伯。 以本州中正為統軍，隸邢巒討梁師，以功封南城縣男。 曆散騎侍郎、中書侍郎。 神龜末，除東豫州刺史。 祖朽善撫邊，清平有信，百姓稱之。 後為瀛州刺史，卒。 贈吏部尚書、兗州刺史。 無子，以弟祖歸子義暢為後，襲爵。
Zuxiu stood eight chi tall, with a girth of ten wei about the waist. He ranged widely in the classics and histories, loved literary composition, and made friends easily. He inherited his father's marquisate of Xuchang, reduced by regulation to earl. As provincial rectifier he served as commander-in-chief under Xing Luan against Liang armies and was enfeoffed Baron of Nancheng County for his merits. He served in turn as Gentleman of the Dispersed Cavalry and Secretariat Drafter. Near the end of the Shengui reign he was made inspector of Eastern Yuzhou. Zuxiu governed the frontier with skill, fairness, and integrity, and the people praised him. Later he was made inspector of Yingzhou and died there. He was posthumously made Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and inspector of Yanzhou. He had no son and adopted his younger brother Zugui's son Yichang as heir, who inherited the title.
54
義暢傾巧無士業，善通時要，位中書侍郎、兗州大中正。 後除散騎常待，坐事伏法。 祖髦以兄祖朽別封南城，以須昌伯回授之，位東平太守，卒于本州別駕。
Yichang was cunning and unscrupulous, without scholarly calling, but skilled at reading the times; he rose to Secretariat Drafter and grand rectifier of Yanzhou. Later he was made attendant-in-ordinary of the dispersed cavalry but was executed for his crimes. Because his elder brother Zuxiu had been separately enfeoffed at Nancheng, Zumao was given the Xuchang earldom in exchange; he rose to administrator of Dongping and died while serving as vice inspector of his home province.
55
祖暉早有器幹，為豳州刺史，以全守勳，封新昌縣子。 逢蕭寶夤退敗，祖暉拔城，東趣華陰，坐免官爵。 尋行豳州事。 建義中，詔復州、爵。 後為賊宿勤明達所攻沒。 長子義勰襲爵，齊受禪，例降。 義勰弟義云。
Zuhui showed talent and capability early; as inspector of Binzhou he was enfeoffed Viscount of Xinchang County for successfully holding his post. When Xiao Baoyin was routed in retreat, Zuhui abandoned the city and fled east toward Huayin; he was dismissed and stripped of rank for it. Soon he was put in charge of Binzhou affairs. During the Jianyi era an edict restored his provincial post and title. Later he was overrun in an attack by the rebel Suqin Mingda. His eldest son Yixie inherited the title; when Qi took the throne the title was reduced by regulation. Yixie's younger brother was Yiyun.
56
義雲小字陀兒，少粗俠。 家在兗州北境，常劫掠行旅，州裏患之。 晚方折節從官，累遷尚書都官郎中。 性嚴酷，事多幹了。 齊文襄作相，以為稱職，令普勾偽官，專以車輻考掠，所獲甚多，然大起怨謗。 曾為司州吏所訟，雲其有所減截，並改換文書。 文襄以其推偽，眾人怨望，並無所問。 乃拘吏，數而斬之。 因此銳情訊鞫，威名日盛。
Yiyun, styled Tuo'er, was rough and chivalrous in youth. His family lived on Yanzhou's northern frontier and often robbed travelers; the prefecture found them a plague. Only late did he reform his ways and enter office, rising in turn to director of the Capital Crimes Bureau in the Ministry of State. He was harsh by nature and generally efficient in affairs. When Wenxiang of Qi became chancellor he found Yiyun well suited to the task and ordered a general hunt for false officials; Yiyun tortured suspects with cart-wheel spokes, uncovering many cases but stirring widespread hatred. Once an official of Sizhou sued him, claiming he had skimmed funds and falsified documents. Wenxiang, since Yiyun's work had exposed false officials and the public was already hostile to him, investigated nothing. Instead he seized the accuser, condemned him, and had him beheaded. Thereafter he threw himself into interrogation with redoubled zeal, and his fearsome reputation grew daily.
57
文宣受禪，除書侍御史，彈射不避勳親。 累選御史中丞，繩劾更切。 然豪橫不平，頻被怨訟。 前為汲郡太守翟嵩啟列：義雲從父兄僧明負官債，先任京畿長史，不受其屬，立限切征，由此挾嫌，數遣御史過郡訪察，欲相推繩。 又坐私藏工匠，家有十餘機織錦，並造金銀器物，乃被禁止。 尋見釋，以為司徒左長史。
When Emperor Wenxuan took the throne Yiyun was made palace attendant censor and impeached without sparing even meritorious kinsmen. He rose repeatedly to chief censor, and his prosecutions grew even harsher. Yet he was domineering and unjust and was frequently sued in bitterness. Previously, as administrator of Ji Commandery, Zhai Song had memorialized the throne that Yiyun's elder male cousin Sengming owed official debts; Sengming had once served as chief secretary of the capital region and had refused Yiyun's authority; Yiyun set a harsh deadline for collection and, nursing a grudge, repeatedly sent censors through the commandery to investigate, seeking to prosecute him. He was also charged with keeping craftsmen in private employ: more than ten looms in his house wove brocade, and he also produced gold and silver goods; he was placed under detention. Soon he was released and made left chief secretary to the Minister of State.
58
子瑞從兄消難為北豫州刺史。 義雲遣御史張子階詣州采風聞，先禁其典簽家客等。 消難危懼，遂叛入周。 時論歸罪義雲，雲其規報子瑞。 事亦上聞。 爾前宴賞，義雲常預，從此後集見稍疏，聲望大損。 乾明初，子瑞遷御史中丞。 鄭子默正被任用，義雲之姑即子默祖母，遂除度支尚書，攝左丞。 子默誅後，左丞便解。
Zirui's elder male cousin Xiaonan was inspector of Northern Yuzhou. Yiyun sent censor Zhang Zijie to the province to gather intelligence, first detaining Xiaonan's registry clerks and household retainers. Terrified, Xiaonan defected to Zhou. Public opinion blamed Yiyun, claiming he had plotted revenge against Zirui. The matter also reached the throne. Before this Yiyun had always been present at imperial feasts and rewards; thereafter he was seen at court somewhat less often, and his prestige suffered greatly. Early in the Ganming era Zirui was made chief censor. Zheng Zimo was then in high favor; Yiyun's paternal aunt was Zimo's grandmother, and Yiyun was accordingly made Minister of Revenue and acting left vice director. After Zimo was executed the acting left vice directorship ended.
59
孝昭赴晉陽，高元海留鄴，義雲深相依附。 知其信向釋氏，常隨之聽講，為此款密，無所不至。 及孝昭大漸，顧命武成。 高歸彥至都，武成猶致疑惑。 元海遣犢車迎義雲入北宮參審，遂與元海等勸進。 仍從幸晉陽，參預時政。 尋除兗州刺史，給後部鼓吹，即本州也。 軒昂自得，意望銓衡之舉，見諸人自陳，逆許引接。 又言離別暫時，非久在州。 先有鐃吹，至於按部行遊，兩部並用。 猶作書與元海，論敘時事。 元海入內，不覺遺落，給事中李孝貞得而奏之。 為此，元海漸疏，孝貞因是兼中書舍人。 又高歸彥起逆，義雲在州私集人馬，並聚甲仗，將以自防，實無他意，為人密啟。 及歸彥被擒，又列其朋黨專擅，為此追還。 武成猶錄其往誠，竟不加罪，除兼七兵尚書。
When Emperor Xiaozhao went to Jinyang, Gao Yuanhai remained at Ye, and Yiyun clung closely to him. Knowing Yuanhai's devotion to Buddhism, he often accompanied him to hear lectures; in this close bond nothing was held back. When Emperor Xiaozhao lay dying he entrusted the throne to Wucheng. When Gao Guiyan reached the capital Wucheng still held doubts. Yuanhai sent an ox-cart to bring Yiyun into the Northern Palace to deliberate, and together with Yuanhai and others urged Wucheng to take the throne. He then accompanied the emperor to Jinyang and took part in governance. Soon he was made inspector of Yanzhou and granted rear guard musicians -- his native province. Proud and self-satisfied, he looked to wield power over appointments; when men came to recommend themselves he bluntly promised them posts and took them in. He also said his departure would be brief and that he would not remain long in the province. He already had cymbals and pipes; on inspection tours he employed both bands at once. He still wrote to Yuanhai discussing affairs of state. When Yuanhai entered the palace he dropped one without noticing; supervising secretary Li Xiaozhen found it and memorialized the throne. Because of this Yuanhai gradually lost favor, and Xiaozhen thereby gained the concurrent post of secretariat drafter. When Gao Guiyan rebelled, Yiyun privately gathered men and horses in the province and stockpiled arms, intending only self-defense and with no other purpose, but someone secretly denounced him. When Guiyan was captured, others also denounced his faction's monopoly of power, and Yiyun was recalled for it. Wucheng still credited his past loyalty and did not punish him in the end, appointing him concurrent Minister of the Seven Armies.
60
義雲性豪縱，頗以施惠為心。 累世本州刺史，家富於財，士之匱乏者，多有拯濟。 及貴，恣情驕侈，營造第宅宏壯，未幾而成。 閨門穢雜，聲遍朝野。 為郎時，與左丞宋遊道因公事忿競。 遊道廷辱之，云：「《雄狐》之詩，千載為汝。」 義雲一無所答。 然酷暴殘忍，非人理所及。 為家尤甚，子姓僕隸，恆瘡痍遍體。
Yiyun was by nature extravagant and unrestrained, and rather prided himself on generosity. For generations his family had governed Yanzhou and was wealthy; he aided and supported many needy scholars. Once elevated he gave free rein to pride and luxury, building a vast mansion that was finished in no time. His household was disorderly and dissolute, and the scandal spread through court and countryside. When he was a director he quarreled angrily with left vice director Song Youdao over official business. In court Youdao humiliated him, saying, "The ode of the male fox -- a thousand years it has waited for you." Yiyun made no reply whatsoever. Yet he was cruel, violent, and ruthless beyond ordinary human measure. At home it was worst of all: sons, clansmen, and servants were constantly covered in wounds.
61
有孽子善昭，性至凶頑，與義雲侍婢奸通。 搒掠無數，為其著籠頭，系之庭樹，食以芻秣，十餘日乃釋之。 夜中，義雲被賊害，即善昭所佩刀也，遺之於善昭庭中。 善昭聞難奔哭。 家人得佩刀，善昭怖，便走出，投平恩墅舍。 旦日，武成令舍人是蘭子暢就宅推之。 爾前，義雲新納少室范陽盧氏，有色貌。 子暢疑盧奸人所為，將加栲掠。 盧具列善昭云爾。 乃收捕，系臨漳獄，將斬之。 邢邵上言，此乃大逆，義雲又是朝貴，不可發。 乃斬之於獄，棄屍漳水。
He had a bastard son, Shanzhao, who was vicious and incorrigible by nature and carried on an affair with one of Yiyun's maidservants. He beat and tortured him without count, put a head-cage on him, tied him to a tree in the courtyard, fed him fodder, and did not release him until more than ten days had passed. In the night Yiyun was murdered by bandits with Shanzhao's own sword, which was left in Shanzhao's courtyard. Hearing of the murder, Shanzhao ran to the scene weeping. When the household recovered the sword, Shanzhao was terrified and fled at once to the Ping'en villa estate. The next morning Wucheng sent his palace attendant Lan Zichang to investigate at the residence. Shortly before, Yiyun had taken Lady Lu of Fanyang as a concubine; she was beautiful. Zichang suspected Lu had been the adulterer's accomplice and was about to put her to torture. Lu gave a full account of Shanzhao's conduct along these lines. Shanzhao was then arrested, held in Linzhang prison, and sentenced to execution. Xing Shao memorialized that this was treason of the highest degree, and since Yiyun was a court noble the affair must not be made public. Shanzhao was beheaded in prison and his body thrown into the Zhang River.
62
祖歸位建甯太守。 子義遠，位平原太守。 義遠弟義顯、義攜，性並豪率。 天平以後，梁使人還往，經歷兗城。 前後州將以義攜兄弟善營鮭膳，器物鮮華，常兼長史，接宴賓客。 祖旋，太尉行參軍。 卒，贈都官尚書、齊兗二州刺史。
Zu Gui served as administrator of Jianning. His son Yiyuan served as administrator of Pingyuan. Yiyuan's younger brothers Yixian and Yixie were both bold and uninhibited. After the Tianping era, envoys from Liang traveled back and forth through Yanzhou. Successive governors, finding the Yixie brothers adept at preparing fine salmon feasts with splendid tableware, regularly gave them concurrent posts as chief clerk to entertain guests. Zu Xuan served as acting aide to the grand commandant. At his death he was posthumously made Minister of Court Affairs and inspector of Qi and Yan provinces.
63
眾敬弟眾愛，隨兄歸魏，以勳為第一客，賜爵钜平侯。 卒，贈徐州刺史。 諡曰康。
Zhongjing's younger brother Zhong'ai followed him back to Wei; for his merit he was made chief retainer and enfeoffed as Marquis of Juping. At his death he was posthumously made inspector of Xuzhou. He was posthumously titled Kang.
64
子聞慰，字子安。 有器幹，襲爵，例降為伯。 延昌初，累遷清河內史，固以疾辭。 後試守廣平內史。 正光初，相州刺史中山王熙起兵，謀誅元叉。 聞慰斬其使，發兵拒之。 叉以為忠於己，遷滄州刺史，甚有政績。 後除散騎常侍、東道行台，尋為都督、安樂王鑒軍司馬，攻元法僧，敗。 奔還京師，被劾，遇赦免。 卒，贈散騎常侍、兗州刺史，伯如故，諡曰恭。
His son Wenwei, styled Zi'an. A man of ability, he inherited the title, which by regulation was reduced to baron. At the start of the Yanchang era he rose through successive posts to internal administrator of Qinghe, but firmly declined on grounds of illness. Later he was provisionally appointed internal administrator of Guangping. At the start of the Zhenguang era, Prince of Zhongshan Xi, inspector of Xiangzhou, raised troops in a plot to kill Yuan Cha. Wenwei executed his envoy and raised troops to resist him. Cha considered him loyal and transferred him to Cangzhou, where he achieved notable results in office. Later he was appointed attendant cavalier and eastern route mobile headquarters; soon he served as army chief of staff under Commander Prince Anle Jian, attacked Yuan Faseng, and was defeated. He fled back to the capital, was impeached, and was pardoned by amnesty. At his death he was posthumously made attendant cavalier and inspector of Yanzhou; his barony remained unchanged, and he was posthumously titled Gong.
65
子祖彥，字修賢。 涉獵書傳，風度閒雅，為時所知。 以侍卸史為元法僧監軍，法僧反，被逼南入。 後還，曆中書侍郎，襲爵钜平伯。 卒，贈尚書右僕射、兗州刺史。 祖彥弟祖哲，秘書郎。 諸畢當朝，不乏榮貴，但幃薄不修，為時所鄙。
His son Zuyan, styled Xiuxian. Well read in books and records, he had a relaxed and refined bearing and was known in his day. Serving as attendant censor and oversight commander for Yuan Faseng, he was forced south when Faseng rebelled. After returning he served as vice director of the secretariat and inherited the barony of Juping. At his death he was posthumously made vice director of the right of the secretariat and inspector of Yanzhou. Zuyan's younger brother Zuzhe served as secretary of the palace library. The Bi clan held many posts at court and did not lack for honor, but their households were disorderly and they were despised in their time.
66
申纂者，本魏郡人，申鍾曾孫也。 皇始初，道武平中山，纂舉室南奔，家于濟陰。 及在無鹽，仕宋為兗州刺史。 既敗，子景義入魏。
Shen Zuan was originally from Wei Commandery, a great-grandson of Shen Zhong. At the start of the Huangshi era, when Emperor Daowu pacified Zhongshan, Zuan fled south with his entire household and settled in Jiyin. While at Wuyan he served the Liu Song as inspector of Yanzhou. After his defeat his son Jingyi entered Wei.
67
羊祉，字靈祐，太山钜平人，晉太僕卿琇之六世孫也。 父規之，宋任城令。 太武南討，至鄒山，規之與魯郡太守崔邪利及其屬縣徐遜、愛猛之等俱降，賜爵钜平子，拜雁門太守。
Yang Zhi, styled Lingyou, was from Juping in Taishan, a sixth-generation descendant of Jin grand master of ceremonies Yang Xiu. His father Guizhi was magistrate of Rencheng under the Liu Song. When Emperor Taiwu marched south to Zou Mountain, Guizhi surrendered together with Cui Xieli, administrator of Lu commandery, and officials of his subordinate counties including Xu Xun and Ai Mengzhi; he was enfeoffed as Viscount of Juping and appointed administrator of Yanmen.
68
祉性剛愎，好刑名。 為司空令、輔國長史，襲爵钜平子。 侵盜公資，私營居宅，有司按之，抵死。 孝文特恕遠徙。 後還。 景明初，為將作都將，加左軍將軍。 四年，持節為梁州軍司，討叛氐。 正始二年，王師伐蜀，以祉假節龍驤將軍、益州刺史，出劍閣而還。 又以本將軍為秦、梁二州刺史，加征虜將軍。 天性酷忍，又不清潔，坐掠人為奴婢。 為御史中尉王顯所彈，免。 高肇執政，祉復被起為光祿大夫，假平南將軍、持節，領步騎三萬，先驅趣涪。 未至，宣武崩，班師。 夜中引軍，山有二徑，軍人迷而失路，祉便斬隊副楊明達，梟首路側。 為中尉元昭所劾，會赦免。 後加平北將軍，未拜而卒。 贈安東將軍、兗州刺史。
Zhi was stubborn and unyielding by nature and fond of penal law. He served as chief of the ministry of works and chief clerk of the auxiliary state army, inheriting the viscounty of Juping. He embezzled public funds to build a private residence; the authorities investigated and he was sentenced to death. Emperor Xiaowen specially pardoned him to exile in a distant place. Later he returned. At the start of the Jingming era he became director of the palace construction corps and was additionally made general of the left army. In the fourth year he was credentialed as military commander of Liangzhou to suppress rebellious Di tribes. In the second year of Zhengshi the imperial army campaigned against Shu; Zhi was appointed provisional general of agile cavalry and inspector of Yizhou, marched through Jian'ge Pass, and returned. He was also made inspector of Qin and Liang with his previous general's rank and additionally titled general who captures barbarians. By nature he was cruel and ruthless and also corrupt; he was convicted of seizing people as slaves. Censor-in-chief Wang Xian impeached him and he was dismissed. When Gao Zhao held power, Zhi was recalled as grand master for splendid happiness, made provisional general who pacifies the south with imperial credentials, and sent ahead with thirty thousand infantry and cavalry toward Fu. Before he arrived Emperor Xuanwu died and the army withdrew. Leading the army by night over a mountain with two paths, the soldiers lost their way; Zhi immediately beheaded squad deputy Yang Mingda and displayed his head by the road. Censor Yuan Zhao impeached him, but he was pardoned in an amnesty. Later he was given the additional title of general who pacifies the north but died before he could accept it. He was posthumously made general who pacifies the east and inspector of Yanzhou.
69
太常少卿元端、博士劉台龍議諡曰：「祉志存埋輪，不避強禦； 及贊戎律，熊武斯裁； 仗節撫籓，邊夷識德，化沾殊類，繈負懷仁。 謹依諡法，布德行剛曰景，宜諡為景。」 侍中侯剛、給事黃門侍郎元纂等駁曰：「臣聞唯名與器，弗可妄假。 定諡准行，必當其跡。 按祉志性急酷，所在過威，布德罕聞，暴聲屢發。 而禮官虛述，諡之為景，非直失於一人，實毀朝則。 請還付外，准行更量虛實。」 靈太后令曰：「依駁便議。」 元端、台龍上言：「竊惟諡者行之跡，狀者跡之稱。 然尚書銓衡是司，厘品庶物，若狀與跡乖，應抑而不受，錄其實狀，然後下寺，依諡法准狀科上。 豈有舍其行跡，外有所求，去狀去稱，將何所准。 檢祉以母老辭籓，乃降手詔云：'卿綏撫有年，聲實兼著，安邊寧境，實稱朝望。 '及其沒也，又加顯贈，言祉誠著累朝，效彰出內，作牧岷區，字萌之績驟聞。 詔冊褒美，無替倫望。 然君子使人，器之，義無求備。 德有數德，優劣不同，剛而能克，亦為德焉。 謹依諡法，布德行剛曰景，謂前議為允。」 司徙右長史張烈、主簿李枿刺稱：「按祉曆官累朝，當官允稱。 委捍西南，邊隅靖遏，准行易名，獎誡攸在，竊謂無虧體例。」 尚書李詔又述奏以府寺為允，靈太后可其奏。
Vice director of grand sacrifices Yuan Duan and erudite Liu Tailong proposed a posthumous title, saying, "Zhi's purpose was to bury the wheel -- he did not shrink from the powerful and overbearing; In assisting military law he was bold as a bear in martial judgment; Bearing imperial credentials he pacified the frontier; border peoples recognized his virtue, his transforming influence reached all peoples, and even infants in slings felt his benevolence. Respectfully following the law of posthumous names, 'spreading virtue with resolute conduct' is Jing; he should be posthumously titled Jing." Attendant-in-ordinary Hou Gang, supervising master of affairs and yellow gate vice director Yuan Zuan, and others objected, saying, "We have heard that names and insignia may not be recklessly bestowed. When assigning a posthumous name according to conduct, it must match his actual deeds. On investigation Zhi's disposition was harsh and cruel; wherever he served he exceeded in severity; spreading virtue was rarely heard of, and reports of violence arose again and again. Yet the ritual officials wrote empty praise and would posthumously title him Jing; this is not merely an error about one man but truly undermines court standards. We ask that the matter be returned to the outer offices to reweigh truth and falsehood according to conduct." Empress Dowager Ling ordered, "In accordance with the objection, reconsider and decide." Yuan Duan and Tailong memorialized, "We humbly consider that the posthumous name is the trace of conduct, and the epitaph is the name of that trace. Yet the Ministry of Personnel weighs and grades all things; if the epitaph and the record of conduct disagree, it should be rejected, the true facts recorded, and only then sent to the temples to assign a name according to the law of posthumous names based on the epitaph. How could one set aside his conduct and records, seek something from outside, discard epitaph and designation -- on what basis would one decide? Examining the records: when Zhi declined his frontier post because his mother was old, an imperial hand-edict was issued, saying, 'You have pacified and comforted the people for years; your reputation and achievement are both notable; securing the border and settling the frontier truly match the court's hopes. At his death an eminent posthumous grant was also added, stating that Zhi's loyalty was evident across several reigns, his achievements known within and without, governing the Min region where the fruits of his policies spread quickly. Imperial edicts and grants praised him without diminishing his standing among peers. Yet the gentleman employs men according to their capacities; one ought not demand perfection. Virtue takes many forms, not all of equal weight; resoluteness that can overcome is also a virtue. Respectfully following the law of posthumous names, 'spreading virtue with resolute conduct' is Jing; we hold the earlier proposal acceptable." Right chief clerk of the ministry of education Zhang Lie and registrar Li Wei submitted a memorial, saying, "Investigating Zhi's service across successive reigns, in office he was duly worthy. Entrusted to guard the southwest, he quieted and checked the border regions; assigning a posthumous name according to conduct carries reward and warning alike; we humbly consider there is no breach of precedent." Minister Li Shao also memorialized endorsing the offices' view, and Empress Dowager Ling approved.
70
祉自當官，不憚強禦。 朝廷以為剛斷，時有檢覆，每令出使。 然好慕刑名，頗為深文，所經之處，人號天狗下。 及出將臨州，並無恩潤，兵人患其嚴虐。 子深。
From the time he took office, Zhi did not fear the powerful. The court considered him resolute and decisive; when investigations were needed he was always sent on missions. Yet he loved penal law and tended toward harsh interpretation; wherever he passed, people called him 'the heaven-dog descended.' When he went out as a general to govern a province he showed no kindness; soldiers and commoners suffered under his harsh cruelty. His son Shen.
71
深字文泉，早有風尚，學涉經史，兼長几案。 少與隴西李神俊同志相友。 自司空記室參軍，再遷尚書駕部郎中。 于時沙汰郎官，務精才實，深以才堪見留。 在公明斷，尚書僕射崔亮、吏部尚書甄琛咸敬重之。 明帝行釋奠之禮，講《孝經》，深儕輩中獨蒙引聽，時論美之。
Shen, styled Wenquan, had refined tastes from youth; his learning ranged through the classics and histories, and he was also skilled at administrative work. In youth he was a kindred spirit and close friend of Li Shenjun of Longxi. Starting as recorder of the ministry of works, he was promoted twice to director of the chariot section in the secretariat. At that time the director posts were being sifted for talent and substance; Shen was retained on account of his ability. Clear and decisive in public affairs, he was respected by vice director Cui Liang and minister of personnel Zhen Chen. When Emperor Ming performed the academy sacrifice and lectured on the Classic of Filial Piety, Shen alone among his peers was invited to attend, and public opinion praised this.
72
正光末，北地人車金雀等率羌、胡反叛，高平賊宿勤明達寇豳、破諸州，北海王顥為都督、行台討之。 以深為行台右丞、軍司，仍領郎中。 顥敗，還京。 頃之，遷尚書左丞。 蕭寶夤反，攻圍華州，王平、薛鳳賢等作逆。 敕深兼給事黃門侍郎，與大行台、僕射長孫承業共會潼關，規模進止。 事平，以功賜爵新泰男。 靈太后曾幸芒山，集僧尼齋會，公卿盡在坐。 太后引見深，欣然勞問之。 顧謂左右曰：「羊深真忠臣也。」 舉坐傾心。
At the end of the Zhenguang era, Che Jinque of Beidi and others led Qiang and Hu in rebellion; the Gaoping bandit Suqin Mingda raided Bin and devastated several prefectures; Prince of Beihai Yuan Hao was made commander and mobile headquarters to suppress them. Shen was made right vice director of the mobile headquarters and army chief of staff while retaining his director post. When Hao was defeated, he returned to the capital. Before long he was transferred to left vice director of the secretariat. Xiao Baoyin rebelled, attacked and besieged Hua Province, and Wang Ping, Xue Fengxian, and others rose in revolt. By edict Shen was appointed concurrently attendant gentleman of the yellow gates; he joined great mobile headquarters vice director Changsun Chengye at Tong Pass to plan strategy and movements. When the rebellion was put down, he was enfeoffed as baron of Xintai for his service. Empress Dowager Ling once visited Mount Mang for a gathering of monks and nuns; every high minister was in attendance. The empress dowager summoned Shen and graciously inquired after him. Turning to those beside her, she said, "Yang Shen is a true loyal minister." All present were deeply moved.
73
莊帝踐阼，除太府卿，又為二兗行台。 深處分軍國，損益隨機，亦有時譽。 初爾硃榮殺害朝士，深第七弟侃為太山太守。 性粗武，遂率鄉人外招梁寇。 深在彭城，忽得侃書，招深同逆。 深慨然流涕，斬使人，並收表聞。 莊帝乃下詔褒其忠烈，令還朝受敕。 乃歸京師，除名。 久之，除金紫光祿大夫。 元顥入洛，以深兼黃門侍郎。 景平，免官。 普泰初，為散騎常侍、衛將軍、右光祿大夫，監起居注。
When Emperor Zhuang took the throne, he was appointed grand minister of the treasury and made mobile headquarters of the two Yan provinces. He managed military and civil affairs, adapting policy to circumstances, and won some contemporary praise. When Erzhu Rong first massacred court officials, Shen's seventh younger brother Kan was administrator of Taishan. Rough and martial by nature, he led local men to invite Liang invaders from outside. Shen was at Pengcheng when he suddenly received a letter from Kan inviting him to rebel together. Shen sighed, wept, executed the messenger, and submitted a memorial reporting the matter. Emperor Zhuang then issued an edict praising his loyalty and ordered him back to court. He returned to the capital and was dismissed from his post. After some time he was appointed grand master of splendid happiness with golden seal and purple ribbon. When Yuan Hao entered Luoyang, Shen was appointed concurrently vice director of the yellow gates. When the revolt was crushed, he was dismissed. At the beginning of the Putai era he was regular attendant, guard general, and right grand master of splendid happiness, and supervised the daily records.
74
自天下多事，東西二省，官員委積。 節閔帝敕深與常侍盧道虔、元晏、元法壽選人補定，自奉朝請以上，各有沙汰。 尋兼侍中。 節閔帝甚親待之。 時膠序廢替，名教陵遲。 深乃上疏，請修立國學，廣延胄子，帝善之。 孝武初，除中書令。 永熙三年，以深兼御史中尉、東道軍司。 及帝入關，深與樊子鵠不從齊神武，起兵於兗州，子鵠署深為齊州刺史。 天平二年正月，東魏軍討破之，斬於陣。
With turmoil across the realm, the eastern and western secretariats had accumulated far too many officials. Emperor Jiemin ordered Shen, regular attendant Lu Daoqian, Yuan Yan, and Yuan Fashou to review appointments; from court gentleman upward, each rank was sifted. Before long he was also made palace attendant. Emperor Jiemin treated him with great favor. Schools had fallen into neglect, and Confucian moral teaching was in decline. Shen submitted a memorial asking to restore the national academy and enroll more noble scions; the emperor approved. At the beginning of Emperor Xiaowu's reign he was appointed director of the secretariat. In the third year of Yongxi he was made concurrently censor commander and eastern-route army chief of staff. When the emperor withdrew into the passes, Shen and Fan Zihu refused to follow Gao Huan and raised troops in Yan Province; Zihu appointed Shen inspector of Qi Province. In the first month of the second year of Tianping, Eastern Wei troops routed them and beheaded him on the field.
75
深子肅，武定末儀同、開府、東閣祭酒。 以學尚知名。 乾明初，為冀州中從事。 趙郡王為巡省大使，肅以遲緩不任職解。 朝議以肅無罪，尋復之。 武平中，入文林館撰書。 尋為武德郡守。
Shen's son Su, by the end of the Wuding era, held ceremonial equal rank with an opened office and served as director of the eastern pavilion academy. He was known for his scholarship. At the beginning of the Ganming era he was chief clerk of Ji Province. When the prince of Zhao served as touring-inspection envoy, Su was dismissed for sluggishness and failure to perform his duties. The court judged him innocent, and he was soon reinstated. During the Wuping era he entered the Wenlin Academy to compile books. Before long he was made administrator of Wude Commandery.
76
祉弟靈引，好法律。 李彪為中丞，以為書侍御史，固辭，彪頗銜之。 及為三公郎，坐兄祉事知而不糾，彪劾奏免官。 甚為尚書令高肇所昵。 京兆王愉與肇深相嫌忌。 及愉出鎮冀州，肇與靈引為愉長史，以相間伺。 靈引私恃肇勢，每折於愉。 及愉作逆，先斬靈引於門。 時論云：「非直愉自不臣，抑亦由肇及靈引所致。」 事平，贈平東將軍、兗州刺史，諡曰威。
Zhi's younger brother Lingyin had a passion for the law. When Li Biao was censor-in-chief, he wanted to appoint him palace attendant censor; Lingyin firmly declined, and Biao resented it. When he became a director in the three excellencies office, he was charged with knowing of his brother Zhi's misconduct yet failing to investigate; Biao impeached him and he was dismissed. Minister of the Secretariat Gao Zhao favored him greatly. Prince of Jingzhao Yuan Yu and Gao Zhao deeply detested each other. When Yu went out to govern Ji Province, Gao Zhao installed Lingyin as Yu's chief administrator to spy on him. Lingyin privately relied on Gao Zhao's backing, yet Yu repeatedly overruled him. When Yu rebelled, he beheaded Lingyin at the gate first. Contemporary opinion held: "It was not only that Yu himself was disloyal; Gao Zhao and Lingyin brought it about as well." When the rebellion was put down, he was posthumously granted general who pacifies the east and inspector of Yan Province, with posthumous name Wei.
77
子敦，字元禮，性尚閑素，學涉書史。 以父死王中，除給事中。 出為本州別駕。 公平正直，見非法，終不判署。 後為衛將軍、廣平太守，甚有能名。 奸吏局蹐，秋毫無犯。 雅性清儉，屬歲饑，家饋未至，使人外尋陂澤，采藕根食之。 遇有疾苦，家人解衣質米以供之。 然政尚威嚴。 朝廷以其清白，賜穀一千斛，絹一百匹。 卒官，吏人奔哭，莫不悲慟。 贈衛大將軍、吏部尚書、兗州刺史，諡曰貞。 武定初，齊神武以敦及中山太守蘇淑在官奉法，清約自居，宜見追褒，仍上言請加旌錄。 詔各賞帛一百匹，粟五百斛，下郡國，咸使聞知。
His son Dun, styled Yuanli, favored quiet simplicity; his learning ranged through books and histories. Because his father died in the prince's rebellion, he was appointed attendant within the yellow gates. He was sent out as vice governor of his native province. Fair and upright, he never signed approval for anything unlawful. Later he served as guard general and administrator of Guangping and won a strong reputation for competence. Corrupt clerks cowered before him; nothing was violated, however small. Pure and frugal by nature, during a famine year, before household provisions arrived, he sent men to search ponds and marshes and gathered lotus roots to eat. When he met the sick and destitute, his family pawned their clothes for rice to help them. Yet his rule emphasized stern authority. The court rewarded his integrity with a thousand bushels of grain and a hundred bolts of silk. He died in office; officials and commoners rushed to mourn, and all were stricken with grief. He was posthumously granted great general of the guard, minister of personnel, and inspector of Yan Province, with posthumous name Zhen. At the beginning of the Wuding era, Gao Huan felt that Dun and Zhongshan administrator Su Shu had served the law faithfully and lived in austere integrity, and deserved posthumous praise; he submitted a memorial asking that they be commended and recorded. An edict awarded each a hundred bolts of silk and five hundred bushels of grain and circulated the decree through the commanderies and kingdoms.
78
靈引弟瑩，字靈珍，兗州別駕從事。 子烈。
Lingyin's younger brother Ying, styled Lingzhen, was attendant clerk to the vice governor of Yan Province. His son Lie.
79
烈字信卿，少通敏，頗自修立，有成人風。 好讀書，能言名理，以玄學知名。 魏孝昌末，烈從兄侃為太山太守，據郡起兵外叛。 烈潛知共謀，深懼家禍，與從兄廣平太守敦馳赴洛陽告難。 朝廷將加厚賞，烈告人云：「譬如斬手全軀，所存者大故爾，豈有幸從兄之敗，以為己利乎。」 卒無所受。
Lie, styled Xinqing, was clever and quick from youth, disciplined himself carefully, and had the bearing of a grown man. He loved reading, could discourse on principle, and was known for Neo-Daoist learning. At the end of the Xiaochang era, Lie's cousin Kan was administrator of Taishan; he seized the commandery and rebelled against the court. Lie secretly learned of the plot and feared disaster for his clan; with his cousin Dun, administrator of Guangping, he raced to Luoyang to report the danger. When the court was about to reward him generously, Lie said: "It is like cutting off a hand to save the whole body; the greater part is preserved, that is all. How could I welcome my cousin's downfall to profit myself?" In the end he accepted nothing.
80
天保中，累遷尚書祠部、左右戶郎中，在官咸為稱職。 除陽平太守，有能名。 時頻有災蝗，犬牙不入陽平境，敕書褒美焉。 遷光祿少卿、兗州大中正。 天平初，除義州刺史，以老還鄉，卒於家。
During the Tianbao era he rose through director of the sacrifices section and director of the left and right household sections; in every post he was judged competent. He was appointed administrator of Yangping and won a reputation for competence. Locust plagues struck repeatedly, yet the swarms never crossed into Yangping; an imperial edict praised him. He was transferred to vice director of the imperial household and chief arbiter of Yan Province. At the beginning of the Tianping era he was appointed inspector of Yi Province; in old age he returned home and died there.
81
烈家傳素業，閨門修飭，為世所稱。 一門女不再醮。 魏太和中，於兗州造一尼寺，女寡居無子者，並出家為尼，咸存戒行。 烈天統中與尚書畢義雲爭兗州大中正。 義雲盛稱門代累世，本州刺史，卿世為我家故史。 烈云：「自畢軌被誅以還，寂無人物。 近日刺史，皆疆場之上，彼此而得，何足為言。 豈若我之漢河南尹、晉朝太傅，名德學行，百世傳美。 且男清女貞，足以相冠，自外多可稱也。」 蓋譏義雲之帷薄焉。
The Lie family passed down plain virtue from generation to generation; their household conduct was disciplined and widely praised. No woman in the clan ever remarried. In the Taihe era they built a nunnery in Yan Province; widowed women without sons all became nuns and kept the precepts. During the Tiantong era Lie contested the chief arbiter post of Yan Province with minister of the secretariat Bi Yiyun. Yiyun vaunted his family's generations of office: "For generations your clan were retainers in my family's service when we governed this province." Lie said: "Since Bi Gui was executed, your house has produced no one of note. Your recent governors won their posts back and forth on the frontier; hardly worth mentioning. How does that compare with our governor of Henan under Han and grand tutor under Jin, whose fame, virtue, learning, and conduct have been praised for a hundred generations? Moreover our men are pure and our women chaste, enough to set us above you, and much else besides is worthy of praise." This was apparently a jibe at the lax moral conduct of Yiyun's household.
82
烈弟修，有才幹，卒于尚書左丞。 子玄正。 武平末，將作丞。 隋開皇中，戶部侍郎。 卒於隴西郡贊務。
Lie's younger brother Xiu was talented and capable; he died while serving as left vice director of the secretariat. His son Xuanzheng. At the end of the Wuping era he was director of palace construction. During the Kaihuang era of Sui he was vice director of the ministry of revenue. He died while serving as administrative aide of Longxi Commandery.
83
論曰：薛安都一武夫耳，雖輕於去就，實啟東南。 事窘圖變，而竟保寵祿，優矣。 休賓窮而委質； 孝標名重東南； 法壽拓落不羈，克昌厥後； 景伯兄弟儒素，良可稱乎。 眾敬舉地納誠，榮曜朝國； 人位並列，無乏于時。 羊祉剛酷之風，得死為幸。 深以才幹從事，聲跡可稱。 敦、烈持己所遵，殆時彥也。
Commentary: Xue Andou was only a fighting man; though fickle in his allegiances, he truly opened the way in the southeast. When cornered he adapted, yet in the end kept favor and stipend; no small feat. Xiubin, brought to extremity, submitted his loyalty; Xiaobiao's name carried great weight in the southeast; Fashou was free-spirited and unrestrained, and his line flourished after him; The Jingbo brothers were scholarly and plain; truly worth praise. Zhongjing offered the land and pledged loyalty, bringing glory to court and kingdom; Men and offices stood side by side, never wanting in their day. Yang Zhi's harsh and cruel temperament; to die was his good fortune. Shen served through talent and ability; his reputation and deeds deserve mention. Dun and Lie held to the principles they lived by; nearly the finest men of their age.