Volume 46 Biographies 34: Sun Shao, Zhang Puhui, Cheng Yan, Fan Shao, Liu Taofu, Lu Yu, Zhang Yao, Liu Daobin, Dong Shao, Feng Yuanxing

孫紹張普惠成淹范紹劉桃符鹿悆張燿劉道斌董紹馮元興

Sun Shao, Zhang Puhui, Cheng Yan, Fan Shao, Liu Taofu, Lu Yu, Zhang Yao, Liu Daobin, Dong Shao, and Feng Yuanxing

列傳第三十四

Biographies 34

孫紹張普惠成淹范紹劉桃符鹿悆張耀劉道斌董紹馮元興

Sun Shao, Zhang Puhui, Cheng Yan, Fan Shao, Liu Taofu, Lu Yu, Zhang Yao, Liu Daobin, Dong Shao, and Feng Yuanxing

孫紹，字世慶，昌黎人也。少好學，通涉經史。初為校書郎，稍遷給事中，後為門下錄事。好言得失，與常景共修律令。延昌中，紹表曰：

Sun Shao, courtesy name Shiqing, was from Changli. From an early age he loved study and gained a thorough command of the classics and historical works. He began as a collator, was gradually promoted to attendant within the gates, and later became a recorder in the Secretariat. He was fond of speaking frankly about policy successes and failures, and together with Chang Jing he worked on revising the statutes and ordinances. During the Yanxi period, Shao submitted a memorial that read:

臣聞建國有計，雖危必安；施化能和，雖寡必盛；政乖人理，雖合必離；作用失機，雖成必敗。此乃古今同然，百王之定法也。今二虢京門，了無嚴防；南北二中，復闕固守；長安、鄴城，股肱之寄；穰城、上黨，腹背所馮。四軍、五校之軌，領、護分事之式，徵兵儲粟之要，舟車水陸之資，山河要害之權，緩急去來之用，持平赴救之方，節用應時之法，特宜修置，以固堂堂之基。持盈之體，何得而忽？且法開清濁，而清濁不平；申滯理望，而卑寒亦免。士庶同悲，兵徒懷怨。中正賣望於下里，主案舞筆於上臺，真偽混淆，知而不糾，得者不欣，失者倍怨。使門齊身等而涇、渭奄殊，類應同役而苦樂縣異，士人居職，不以為榮；兵士役苦，必不忘亂。故有競棄本生，飄藏他土。或詭名托養，散沒人間；或亡命山藪，漁獵為命；或投杖強豪，寄命衣食。又應遷之戶，逐樂諸州；應留之徒，避寒歸暖。職人子弟，隨榮浮游，南北東西，卜居莫定。關禁不修，任意取適，如此之徒，不可勝數。爪牙不復為用，百工爭棄其業。混一之計，事實闕如；考課之方，責辦無日；流浪之徒，決須精校。今強敵窺時，邊黎伺隙，內人不平，久戍懷怨。戰國之勢，竊謂危矣。必造禍源者，北邊鎮戍之人也。若夫一統之年，持平用之者，大道之計也；亂離之期，縱橫作之者，行權之勢也。故道不可久，須文質以換情；權不可恆，隨汙隆以牧物。文質應世，道形自安；汙隆獲衷，權勢亦濟。然則王者計法之趣，化物之規，圓方務得其境，人物不失其地。又先帝時，律、令並議，律尋施行，令獨不出，十餘年矣。臣以令之為體，即帝王之身，分處百揆之儀，安置九服之節，乃是有為之樞機，世法之大本也。然修令之人，亦皆博古，依古撰置，大體可觀，比之前令，精粗有在。但主議之家，大用古制。若令依古，高祖之法，復須升降，誰敢措意有是非哉？以是爭故，久廢不理。然律、令相須，不可偏用，今律班令止，於事甚滯。若令不班，是無典法，臣下執事，何依而行？臣等修律，非無勤止，署下之日，臣乃無名，是謂農夫盡力，他食其秋，功名之所，實懷於悒。

I have heard that when a state is founded with a clear plan, it can be secured even in peril; when governance achieves harmony, a small realm will still flourish; when policy runs counter to human nature, even a united realm will fall apart; and when action misses its moment, even apparent success ends in defeat. This has been true in every age; it is the unchanging principle by which all kings have ruled. Today the two capital gates at Guo have scarcely any serious defense; the northern and southern secondary centers likewise lack solid garrisons; Chang'an and Yecheng are entrusted as the state's right and left arms; Rangcheng and Shangdang support the realm from front and rear. The organization of the four armies and five commandants, the division of duties among commanders and protectors, the levying of troops and storage of grain, transport by land and water, control of strategic passes, provisions for emergencies, balanced relief measures, and timely economies—all of these urgently need to be put in order to secure the foundations of our great state. How can we neglect the task of preserving a realm already at its height? Moreover, though the law distinguishes noble and common ranks, noble and common are not treated equally; and though regulations are meant to clear blockages and set fair expectations, the humble and poor are also exempted. Scholars and commoners alike lament, while soldiers and conscripts nurse grievances. Rectifiers sell favors in the countryside, chief clerks manipulate records at court, truth and falsehood are confused, wrongdoing is known yet left uncorrected, those who gain show no joy, and those who lose are twice as bitter. Families of equal standing are suddenly divided as sharply as the Jing and Wei rivers, men of the same category who should share the same service suffer vastly unequal hardship, and gentlemen in office no longer regard their posts as an honor; while soldiers crushed by harsh service will never forget the urge to revolt. For this reason many abandon their native homes and flee to other regions. Some take false names and live under others' protection, scattering invisibly among the populace; some flee into the mountains and marshes and live by fishing and hunting; and some throw in their lot with powerful clans, depending on them for food and clothing. Meanwhile households that ought to be relocated drift wherever life is pleasant; and those who ought to stay behind leave the cold north for warmer lands. Sons of officials drift after advantage, roaming north, south, east, and west with no settled home. Border controls are neglected, and people go wherever they wish; their numbers are beyond counting. The state's instruments of force are no longer effective, and craftsmen everywhere abandon their trades. Plans for unification are in truth absent; methods of inspection and assessment have no fixed deadline; and the wandering population must be rigorously registered. Strong enemies now watch for their moment, frontier peoples watch for openings, the realm within is unsettled, and troops on long frontier service nurse bitter grievances. The situation resembles that of the Warring States era, and I venture to say it is perilous. The source of calamity will surely be the men of the northern frontier garrisons. In years of unification, to govern with balance and fairness is the plan of the great Way; but in times of disorder and division, to act through alliances and maneuver is the force of expedient rule. The Way cannot long remain unchanged; ornament and substance must alternate to meet the temper of the age; and expedient power cannot be fixed; one must govern according to whether the times are declining or rising. When ornament and substance suit the age, the Way finds its secure form; when decline and ascent reach their proper balance, expedient power also succeeds. Thus the king's methods aim to transform all things so that each form finds its proper place and neither people nor institutions lose their proper footing. Moreover, under the late emperor both statutes and ordinances were drafted; the statutes were soon promulgated, but the ordinances alone were never issued, and more than ten years have passed. I hold that ordinances are the very body of imperial rule—the rites apportioning the hundred offices, the regulations ordering the nine domains; they are the pivot of governance and the great foundation of the law of the age. Those who drafted the ordinances were all deeply learned in antiquity; following ancient models they composed a text that is on the whole impressive, and compared with earlier ordinances it shows real improvement in both refinement and scope. But the leading deliberators relied too heavily on ancient institutions. If the ordinances follow antiquity to the letter, even the laws of Emperor Gaozu would need revision—who would dare raise objections? Because of such disputes they have long lain abandoned without resolution. Yet statutes and ordinances depend on each other and cannot be used alone; now the statutes are promulgated while the ordinances are withheld, which greatly impedes governance. If the ordinances are not promulgated, there is no canonical law—on what basis are officials below to act? We who revised the statutes labored diligently, yet on the day of promulgation my name was omitted—like the farmer who toils while another reaps the harvest; as to where credit is recorded, I am deeply aggrieved.

正光初，兼中書侍郎。紹性抗直，每上封事，常至懇切，不憚犯忤。但天性疏脫，言乍高下，時人輕之，不見采覽。紹兄世元善彈箏，早卒。紹後聞箏聲，便涕泗鳴咽，舍之而去。後為太府少卿，曾因朝見，靈太后謂曰：「卿年稍老矣。」紹曰：「臣年雖老，臣卿乃少。」太后笑之。遷右將軍、太中大夫。

At the beginning of the Zhengguang era he was appointed concurrent vice director of the Secretariat. Shao was upright and outspoken; his sealed memorials were always earnest, and he did not fear giving offense. But he was by nature careless in manner, his speech uneven in tone, and men of the time looked down on him; his views were not adopted. Shao's elder brother Shiyuan was skilled at the zheng harp and died young. Later, whenever Shao heard the zheng played, he would weep and leave the room. Later he became vice director of the Imperial Storehouse. Once at court audience, Empress Dowager Ling said to him, "You are getting on in years." Shao replied, "Though I am old, my wife is still young." The empress dowager laughed. He was promoted to General of the Right and Grand Master of Palace Counsel.

紹曾與百僚赴朝，東掖未開，守門候旦。紹於眾中引吏部郎中辛雄于眾外，竊謂曰：「此中諸人，尋當死盡，唯吾與卿，猶享富貴。」未幾，有河陰之難。紹善推祿命，事驗甚多，知者異之。

Shao once went to court with the other officials. The eastern side gate had not yet opened, and the gatekeepers were waiting for dawn. Shao drew Xin Xiong, a director in the Ministry of Personnel, aside from the crowd and whispered, "Everyone here will soon be dead; only you and I will still enjoy wealth and honor." Before long came the massacre at Heyin. Shao was skilled at calculating fate from birth and office records; events confirmed his predictions in many cases, and those who knew were astonished.

永安中，拜太府卿，以前參議《正光壬子曆》，賜爵新昌子。後卒于右光祿大夫，贈尚書左僕射，諡曰宣。子伯元襲爵。

During the Yong'an era he was appointed director of the Imperial Storehouse; for his earlier participation in drafting the Zhengguang rensi calendar, he was granted the title Marquis of Xinchang. He later died while serving as Right Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and was posthumously awarded Left Vice Director of the Secretariat, with the posthumous name Xuan. His son Boyuan inherited the title.

張普惠，字洪賑，常山九門人也。身長八尺，容貌魁偉，精於《三禮》，兼善《春秋》、百家之說。太和十九年，為主書，帶制局監，頗為孝文所知。轉尚書都令史。任城王澄重其學業，為其聲價。澄為雍州刺史，啟普惠為府錄事參軍，尋行馮翊郡事。

Zhang Puhui, courtesy name Hongzhen, was from Jiumen in Changshan commandery. He stood eight feet tall, with a imposing bearing; he was expert in the Three Rites and also skilled in the Spring and Autumn Annals and the teachings of the hundred schools. In the nineteenth year of the Taihe era he served as chief clerk with concurrent appointment as supervisor of the drafting office, and came to the attention of Emperor Xiaowen. He was transferred to chief clerk in the Department of State Affairs. Prince Cheng of Ren-city valued his scholarship and helped build his reputation. When Cheng became governor of Yong province, he recommended Puhui as recorder-adjutant on his staff and soon had him administer Fengyi commandery.

澄功衰在身，欲七月七日集文武北園馬射。普惠奏記於澄曰：

Cheng was in the declining period of mourning for a relative and wished on the seventh day of the seventh month to gather civil and military officials in the northern park for horse archery. Puhui submitted a memorial to Cheng saying:

竊聞三殺九親，別疏昵之敘；五服六術，等衰麻之心。皆因事飾情，不易之道者也。然則莫大之痛，深於終身之外；書策之哀，除于喪紀之內。外者不可無節，故斷之以三年；內者不可遂除，故敦之以日月。況《禮》，大練之日，鼓素琴，蓋推以即吉也；小功以上，非虞祔練除不沐浴，此拘之以制也。曾子問曰：「相識有喪服，可以與於祭乎？」孔子曰：「緦不祭，又何助於人。」祭既不與，疑無宴食之道。又曰：「廢喪服，可以與於饋奠之事乎？」子曰：「脫衰與奠，非禮也。」注云：「謂其忘哀疾。」愚謂除喪之始，不與饋奠，小功之內，其可觀射乎？《雜記》云：「大功以下，既葬適人，人食之。其黨也食之，非其黨不食。」食猶擇人，于馬射為或非宜。伏見明教，立射會之限，將以二七令辰，集城中文武肄武藝於北園，行揖讓於中否。時非大閱之秋，景涉妨農之節，國家縞禫甫除，殿下功衰仍襲，釋而為樂，以訓百姓，便是易先王之典教，忘哀戚之情，恐非所以昭令德、視子孫者也。案射儀，射者以禮樂為本，忘而從事，不可謂禮；鐘鼓弗設，不可謂樂。舍此二事，何用射為！又七日之戲，令制無之，班勞所施，慮違事體，府庫空虛，宜待新調。乞至九月，備飾盡行，然後奏《狸首》之章，宣矍相之命，聲軒縣，建雲鉦，神人忻暢于斯時也。

I have heard that the three degrees of mourning and the nine kinship categories distinguish degrees of closeness in affection; the five grades of mourning garments and six calculations regulate the heart's grief in hemp. All of these adorn feeling according to circumstance; such is the unchanging Way. The greatest grief extends deeper than a single lifetime; while the formal expression of mourning is confined within the period prescribed by ritual. Outward expression cannot be without limit, and so it is cut off at three years; but inward grief cannot be quickly dismissed, and so it is sustained through months and days. Moreover, the Rites prescribe that on the day of great refinement one may drum on a plain zither, which is roughly a move toward auspicious conduct; and for mourning above the lesser merit grade, one does not bathe except at the reassurance, side-altar, and refinement services—such is the binding force of ritual regulation. Zengzi asked, "If one acquainted with the deceased is in mourning garments, may he take part in sacrifice?" Confucius said, "One in the finest hemp mourning does not sacrifice—how then could he assist others?" Since such a person does not take part in sacrifice, I suspect there is no justification for feasting either. He also asked, "If one has cast off mourning garments, may he take part in presenting offerings at a funeral?" The Master said, "To remove the declining hemp mourning and present offerings is not ritual." The commentary says, "This means forgetting grief too hastily." I venture to say that at the beginning of removing mourning one does not present offerings—within the lesser merit period, can one watch archery? The Miscellaneous Records say, "Below the greater merit grade, after burial when one visits another's home, the host may feed him. If he is of the host's party they feed him; if not of the host's party they do not feed him." Even in eating one still chooses one's company—for horse archery this may perhaps be inappropriate. I have seen Your Grace's instruction setting a date for an archery assembly, intending on the seventh day of the seventh month to gather civil and military officials within the city to drill martial arts in the northern park and perform the rituals of bowing and yielding in the central pavilion. This is not the season for a grand military review, nor a time when farming should be interrupted; the state has only just laid aside its mourning garments, and Your Highness is still in the declining period of mourning—to set grief aside for pleasure and thereby instruct the people would be to overturn the canonical teachings of the former kings and forget the obligations of grief; I fear this is not how to display bright virtue or set an example for posterity. According to the archery rites, the archer takes ritual and music as his foundation; to forget them and pursue the activity cannot be called ritual; and if bells and drums are not set out, it cannot be called music. Without these two elements, what purpose does archery serve? Moreover, the seventh-day diversions have no place in current regulations; distributing rewards for labor may violate propriety, and the treasury is empty—rewards should wait until new funds are allocated. I beg that the assembly be postponed until the ninth month, when all preparations are complete, and then perform the "Li Shou" chapter, proclaim the archery master's command, sound the suspended bells, raise the cloud gongs, and let spirits and men rejoice together.

澄意納其言，託辭自罷，乃答曰：「今雖非公制，而此州承前已有斯式。且纂文習武，人之常藝。豈可于常藝之間，要須令制乎？《禮》，兄弟內除，明哀已殺；小功，客至主不絕樂。聽樂則可，觀武豈傷？直自事緣須罷，先以令停，方獲此請，深具來意。」

Cheng was inclined to accept his argument and, using an excuse, called off the event himself; he then replied, "Though this is not now a public regulation, this province has inherited the practice from earlier times. Moreover, literary study and martial training are ordinary human pursuits. Must one insist on imperial regulations for ordinary skills? The Rites say that between brothers internal mourning is removed, showing that grief has been diminished; and for lesser merit mourning, when a guest arrives the host does not cease music. If listening to music is permissible, how could watching martial displays be harmful? It is simply that circumstances require cancellation; I have already ordered a halt by command and have now obtained your request—I deeply appreciate your intent."

澄轉揚州，啟普惠以羽林監領鎮南大將軍開府主簿。普惠既為澄知，曆佐二籓，甚有聲譽。還朝，仍羽林監。

When Cheng was transferred to Yang province, he recommended Puhui as supervisor of the Palace Guard with concurrent appointment as chief clerk of the Southern Pacification Grand General's headquarters. Having won Cheng's confidence, Puhui served as aide in two princely establishments and gained considerable reputation. On returning to court he continued as supervisor of the Palace Guard.

澄遭太妃憂，臣僚為立碑頌，題碑欲云「康王元妃之碑」。澄訪于普惠，普惠答曰：「謹尋朝典，但有王妃，而無元字。魯夫人孟子稱元妃者，欲下與繼室聲子相對。今烈懿太妃作配先王，更無聲子、仲子之嫌，竊謂不假元字以別名位。且以氏配姓，愚以為在生之稱，故《春秋》'夫人姜氏至自齊'；既葬，以諡配姓，故經書'葬我小君文薑'，又曰'來歸夫人成風之襚'，皆以諡配姓。古者婦人從夫諡，今烈懿太妃德冠一世，故特蒙褒錫，乃萬代之高事，豈容於定名之重，而不稱'烈懿'乎。」澄從之。

When Cheng entered mourning for the grand consort, his officials proposed erecting a commemorative stele and wished to inscribe it "Stele of the Primary Consort of Prince Kang." Cheng consulted Puhui, who replied, "Carefully examining court regulations, there is only 'princely consort' and no character yuan meaning 'primary. When Lady Meng of Lu called herself primary consort, she wished to distinguish herself from the successor consort Lady Shengzi. Now the Lieyi grand consort was matched to the former king, and there is no longer any question of successor consorts; I venture to say there is no need for the character yuan to distinguish her rank. Moreover, pairing clan name with surname is, I believe, a designation for the living; thus the Spring and Autumn Annals records 'Lady Jiang arrived from Qi'; after burial, posthumous name is paired with surname; thus the classic records 'We buried our lesser lord Wen Jiang' and also says 'The lady returned with the funeral gifts of Cheng Feng'—all pair posthumous name with surname. In antiquity women followed their husbands in posthumous names; now the Lieyi grand consort's virtue crowned the age, and she was specially honored—this is a matter of the highest dignity for ten thousand generations; how can one, in fixing her name, fail to use 'Lieyi'?" Cheng followed his advice.

後為步兵校尉，以本官領河南尹丞。宣武崩，坐與甄楷等飲酒遊從，免官。故事，免官者，三載之後，降一階而敘，若才優擢授，不拘此限。熙平中，吏部尚書李韶奏普惠有文學。依才優之例，敕除甯遠將軍、司空倉曹參軍。朝議以不降階為榮。時任城王澄為司空，表議書記多出普惠。

Later he became commandant of foot soldiers and concurrently served as assistant to the Intendant of Henan. When Emperor Xuanwu died, he was punished for drinking and roaming in company with Zhen Kai and others and was dismissed from office. By precedent, those dismissed from office are reappointed one rank lower after three years; if talent is outstanding they may be promoted without regard to this limit. During the Xiping era, Li Shao, director of the Ministry of Personnel, memorialized that Puhui possessed literary learning. According to the precedent for outstanding talent, an edict appointed him General Who Pacifies the Distant and staff officer in the storehouse bureau of the Minister of Works. Court discussion regarded it as an honor that he was not demoted in rank. At that time Prince Cheng of Ren-city was Minister of Works, and most memorials and deliberative documents came from Puhui's hand.

廣陵王恭、北海王顥疑為所生祖母服期與三年，詔群僚會議。普惠議曰：

Princes Gong of Guangling and Hao of Beihai questioned whether mourning for their biological grandmothers should be one year or three years; an edict ordered the assembled officials to deliberate. Puhui argued:

謹案：二王祖母皆受命先朝，為二國太妃，可謂受命于天子，為始封之母矣。《喪服》「慈母如母」，在三年章，傳曰：「貴父命也。」鄭注云：「大夫之妾子，父在為母大功，則士之妾子為母期。父卒，則皆得伸。」此大夫命其妾子，以為母所慈，猶曰貴父命，為之三年；況天子命其子為列國王，命其所生母為國太妃，反自同公子為母練冠之與大功乎。《傳》曰：「始封之君，不臣諸父昆弟。」則當服其親服。若魯、衛列國，相為服期，判無疑矣。何以明之？《喪服》：「君為姑姊妹女子子嫁于國君者。」《傳》曰：「何以大功？尊同也。尊同，則得服其親服。諸侯之子稱公子，公子不得禰先君。」然則兄弟一體，位列諸侯，自以尊同，得相為服，不可還准公子，遠厭天王。故降有四品，君、大夫以尊降，公子、大夫之子以厭降，名例不同，何可亂也。《禮》，大夫之妾子，以父命慈己，申其三年。太妃既受命先帝，光昭一國，二王胙土茅社，顯錫大邦，舍尊同之高據，附不禰之公子，雖許、蔡失位，亦不是過。《服問》曰：「有從輕而重，公子之妻，為其皇姑。」公子雖厭，妻尚獲申，況廣陵、北海，論封君則封君之子，語妃則命妃之孫，承妃纂重，遠別先皇，更以先後之正統，厭其所生之祖嫡，方之皇姑，不以遙乎？今既許其申服，而復限之以期，比之慈母，不亦爽歟？《經》曰：「為君之祖父母、父母、妻、長子」，《傳》曰：「何以期？父母長子君服斬。妻則小君。父卒，然後為祖後者，服斬。」今祖乃獻文皇帝，諸侯不得祖之。母為太妃，蓋二王三年之證。議者近背正經，以附非類，差之毫毛，所失或遠。且天子尊則配天，莫非臣妾，何為命之為國母，而不聽子服其親乎？《記》曰：「從服者，所從亡則已。」又曰：「不為君母之黨服，則為其母之黨服。」今所從既亡，不以親服服其所生，則屬從之服，于何所施？若以諸王入為公卿，便同大夫者，則當今之議皆不須以國為言也。今之諸王，自同列國，雖不之國，別置臣僚，玉食一方，得不以諸侯言之？

Carefully examining the case: both princes' grandmothers received their appointments from the former court and became grand consorts of two states—they may be said to have received appointment from the Son of Heaven and to have been mothers at the time of initial enfeoffment. The Mourning Garments state that 'a nurturing mother is like a mother' in the three-year section; the commentary says, 'This honors the father's command.' Zheng's commentary says, 'The son of a great officer's concubine, while the father lives, wears greater merit mourning for the mother; the son of a servitor's concubine wears one year for the mother. When the father dies, both may extend mourning to three years." This is the great officer commanding his concubine's son, whom the mother cherished—still it is said to honor the father's command and wear three years; how much more when the Son of Heaven commands his son to be king of a feudal state and commands the son's biological mother to be grand consort of the state—can one instead equate them with an heir who wears dyed cap and greater merit mourning for his mother? The commentary says, 'The lord at initial enfeoffment does not treat paternal uncles and brothers as subjects." Then one ought to wear the mourning of close kinship. If Lu and Wei were feudal states mourning each other for one year, there would be no doubt. How is this made clear? The Mourning Garments: 'The lord wears mourning for paternal aunts, sisters, and daughters married to feudal lords." The commentary says, 'Why greater merit mourning? Equal in honor. Equal in honor, then one may wear the mourning of close kinship. The son of a feudal lord is called heir; the heir may not enshrine the former lord as his own ancestor." Thus brothers are one body, both ranked as feudal lords; by equal honor they may mourn each other—they cannot be referred back to the heir standard and distantly suppress the Son of Heaven. Therefore reduction has four grades: lord and great officer reduce by honor; heir and great officer's son reduce by suppression—the categories differ in name; how can they be confused? The Rites: the great officer's concubine's son, when the father commands that the mother cherish him, extends mourning to three years. The grand consort having received appointment from the former emperor and shining over a state, the two princes receiving altars of earth and spirits of grain and bright grants of great domains—to abandon the high ground of equal honor and attach to the heir who cannot enshrine his ancestor would be excessive even for Xu and Cai losing their positions. Questions on Mourning Garments says, 'There is going from light to heavy: the heir's wife mourns for her imperial aunt-in-law." Though the heir is suppressed, his wife may still extend mourning—how much more for Guangling and Beihai: speaking of the enfeoffed lord, they are sons of enfeoffed lords; speaking of the consort, they are grandsons of the appointed consort; they inherit the consort's heavy succession, far separated from the former emperor, yet further use the orthodox line of primary and secondary to suppress the primary grandmother who bore them—compared with the imperial aunt-in-law, is this not more distant? Now having permitted them to extend mourning yet again limiting them to one year—compared with the nurturing mother, is this not inconsistent? The classic says, 'For the lord's grandparents, parents, wife, and eldest son,' and the commentary says, 'Why one year? For parents and eldest son the lord wears cutting hemp. The wife is the lesser lord. When the father dies, then the successor to the grandfather wears cutting hemp." Now the grandfather is Emperor Xianwen; feudal lords may not treat him as grandfather. The mother as grand consort is proof of the two princes' three-year mourning. The debaters nearly betray the correct classic to attach to improper categories—a hair's breadth of difference may lead to vast error. Moreover, when the Son of Heaven is honored he is matched with Heaven—all are his subjects; why command one as mother of the state yet not allow the son to mourn his close kin? The Record says, 'For dependent mourning, when the one followed is gone it ceases." It also says, 'If one does not mourn for the lord mother's party, then one mourns for one's own mother's party.' Now the one followed is already gone; if one does not wear close kin mourning for the one who bore one, then to whom is dependent mourning applied? If because princes enter service as high ministers they are equated with great officers, then in today's debate there is no need to speak in terms of states at all. Today's princes are themselves equal to feudal states; though they do not go to their states, they separately appoint officials and enjoy princely sustenance in a region—can one fail to speak of them as feudal lords?

敢據《周禮》，輒同三年。

I venture to rely on the Rites of Zhou and propose three years alike.

當時議者，亦有同異。國子博士李郁于議罷之後，書難普惠，普惠據《禮》還答，鄭重三反，郁議遂屈。轉諫議大夫，澄謂普惠曰：「不喜君得諫議，唯喜諫議得君。」

Among the debaters at the time there were also agreements and differences. Li Yu, academician of the Imperial University, after the debate ended wrote to challenge Puhui; Puhui replied on the basis of the Rites, solemnly three times, and Yu's argument was defeated. He was transferred to censor; Cheng said to Puhui, "I am not pleased that you obtained the censorate—only pleased that the censorate obtained you."

時靈太后父司徒胡國珍薨，贈相國、太上秦公。普惠以前世後父無太上之號，詣闕上疏，陳其不可。左右畏懼，莫敢為通。會聞胡家穿壙下墳有磐石，乃密表曰：「竊見故侍中、司徒胡公，懷道含靈，實誕聖後，近樞克惟允之寄，居槐體論道之明。故以功餘九錫，褒假鸞纛，深聖上之加隆，極慈後之至愛，憲章天下，不亦可乎！而太上之號，竊謂未衷。何者？《禮記》曰：'天無二日，土無二王，嘗禘郊社，尊無二上。 '竊謂高祖受禪于獻文皇帝，故仰尊為太上皇，此因上上而生名也。皇太后稱令以系敕下，蓋取三從之道，遠同文母，列於十亂，則司徒為太上，恐乖系敕之意。《易》曰'困於上者，必反於下。 '比克吉定兆，而以淺改卜，群心悲惋，亦或天地神靈所以垂至戒，啟聖情。伏願停司徒逼同之號，從卑下不逾之稱，則天下幸甚。」

At that time Empress Dowager Ling's father, Minister of Works Hu Guozhen, died; he was posthumously awarded Chancellor of State and Supreme Lord of Qin. Puhui, because in former ages stepfathers had no title of Supreme, went to the palace gate and submitted a memorial stating that this was impermissible. Those around him were afraid and none dared transmit it. It happened that he heard that when the Hu family dug the tomb chamber a boulder was found below the grave; he then submitted a secret memorial saying, "I have seen the late attendant within the gates and Minister of Works Lord Hu, who embraced the Way and contained spirit, truly begetting the sage descendant; near the pivot he fulfilled the trust of sincerity, in the locust hall he embodied the clarity of discussing the Way. Therefore with merit beyond the nine bestowals, praise and loan of imperial banners, deeply the sage sovereign's added elevation, utmost the compassionate empress's supreme love—establishing regulations for all under Heaven, is this not permissible! Yet the title of Supreme—I venture to say it is not fitting. Why? The Book of Rites says: 'Heaven has no two suns, earth has no two kings; at the seasonal sacrifices to Heaven and Earth and the altars of soil and grain, honor has no second above.' I venture to say that Emperor Gaozu received the abdication from Emperor Xianwen and therefore looked up to honor him as Supreme Emperor—this name arose from having one sovereign above another. The empress dowager uses the title of command to tie edicts downward—this roughly takes the way of the three followings, far matching Mother Wen, listed among the ten disruptors; then for the Minister of Works to be Supreme perhaps violates the intent of tying edicts. The Changes says, 'One trapped above must turn back below.' Now having determined the auspicious omen yet changing the divination because the site is shallow, the hearts of the multitude grieve—perhaps Heaven and Earth and the spirits therefore bestow the utmost warning to awaken sage feeling. I bow and wish that the forced equivalent title for the Minister of Works be stopped and that a humble designation not exceeding propriety be followed—then all under Heaven would be greatly fortunate."

太后覽表，親至國珍宅，召集五品已上博議其事。任城王澄、太傅清河王懌、侍中崔光、御史中尉元匡、尚書崔亮並同有難，普惠並以理正之，無所屈。廷尉少卿袁翻曰：「《周官》：上公九命，上大夫四命，命數雖殊，同名為上，何必上者皆是極尊。」普惠厲聲呵翻曰：「禮有下卿、上士，何止大夫與公。但今所行，乙太加上，二名雙舉，不得非極。雕蟲小藝，微或相許，至於此處，豈卿所及！」翻甚有慚色，默不復言。議者咸以太后當朝，志相黨順，遂奏曰：「張普惠辭雖不屈，然非臣等所同。渙汗已流，請依前詔。」太后復遣元叉、賈璨宣令謂普惠曰：「朕之所行，孝子之志；卿之所陳，忠臣之道。群公已有成議，卿不得苦奪朕懷。後有所見，勿得難言。」

The empress dowager read the memorial and personally went to Guozhen's residence, summoning those of fifth rank and above to debate the matter broadly. Prince Cheng of Ren-city, Grand Tutor Prince Yi of Qinghe, attendant within the gates Cui Guang, censor Yuan Kuang, and director Cui Liang all similarly raised objections; Puhui corrected them all with reason and none prevailed. Yuan Fan, vice director of the Court of Justice, said, "The Offices of Zhou: the highest duke has nine commands, the highest great officer four commands—though the numbers of commands differ, both are named 'upper'; why must 'upper' always mean supreme honor?" Puhui sternly shouted at Fan, "The Rites have lower minister and upper servitor—how limited to great officer and duke! But what is now practiced adds Supreme above—two names raised together cannot but be supreme. Petty ornamental arts—one might slightly concede—but as to this point, is it within your reach!" Fan was deeply ashamed and silently spoke no more. The debaters all thought that with the empress dowager holding court, their wills aligned in partisan compliance; they then memorialized, "Zhang Puhui's words, though not yielding, are not what we agree with. The edict has already been issued in full—we request following the previous decree." The empress dowager again sent Yuan Cha and Jia Can to proclaim the command to Puhui, saying, "What We do is the will of a filial child; what you state is the way of a loyal minister. The assembled lords already have a settled decision—you must not bitterly wrest Our mind. If hereafter you have views, do not speak difficult words."

初，普惠被召，傳詔馳驊騮馬來，甚迅速，佇立催去。普惠諸子憂怖涕泗。普惠謂曰：「我當休明之朝，掌諫議之任，若不言所難言，諫所難諫，便是唯唯，曠官屍祿。人生有死，死得其所，夫復何恨。然朝廷有道，汝輩勿憂。」及議罷，旨勞還宅，親故賀其幸甚。

Earlier, when Puhui was summoned, the edict-transmitter came on a piebald horse, very swiftly; he stood waiting and urged departure. Puhui's sons were anxious and fearful, weeping. Puhui said, "I serve a brilliant age in the office of remonstrator. If I fail to speak the unspeakable and remonstrate where remonstrance is perilous, I am no better than one who nods along—holding a post in name only while living off the state's pay. Every life must end; if one dies where duty calls, what room is there for regret? The court still holds to the Way. You need not worry. When the audience ended, an edict commended him and sent him home. Relatives and friends congratulated him on his extraordinary good fortune.

時中山杜弼遺書普惠曰：「明侯深儒碩學，身負大才，執此公方，來居諫職，謇謇如也，諤諤如也。一昨承在胡司徒弟，當庭面諍，雖問難鋒至，而應對響出。宋城之帶始縈，魯門之柝裁警，終使群後逡巡，庶僚拱默。雖不見用於一時，固已傳美於百代。聞風快然，敬裁此白。」普惠美其此書，每為口實。

At that time Du Bi of Zhongshan wrote to Puhui: "Your Excellency is a scholar of profound learning and great talent. With such impartial integrity you have taken up the remonstrator's post—steadfast in principle, fearless in speech. Only yesterday I heard that at Minister of Works Hu Guozhen's residence you remonstrated to his face in open court. Though the cross-examination cut like a blade, your answers rang back clear and swift. Like the girding of the sash at Songcheng, like the first alarm at Lu Gate—you made the great ministers hang back and the whole assembly fall silent. Though your counsel was not taken then, your renown will endure for a hundred generations. Delighted to hear of it, I respectfully send this brief letter. Puhui admired the letter and often quoted it afterward.

普惠以天下人調，幅度長廣，尚書計奏，復徵綿麻，恐人不堪命。上疏曰：「伏聞尚書奏復綿麻之調，遵先皇之軌。夙宵惟度，欣戰交集。仰惟高祖廢大鬥，去長尺，改重秤，所以愛萬姓，從薄賦。知軍國須綿麻之用，故云幅度之間，億兆應有綿麻之利，故絹上稅綿八兩，布上稅麻十五斤。萬姓得廢大鬥，去長尺，改重秤，荷輕賦之饒，不適於綿麻而已。故歌舞以供其賦，奔走以役其勤。夫信行於上，則億兆樂輸於下。自茲已降，漸漸長闊，百姓嗟怨，聞於朝野。伏惟皇太后未臨朝之前，陛下居諒暗之日，宰輔不尋其本，知天下之怨綿麻，不察其幅廣、度長、秤重、鬥大，革其所弊，存其可存，而特放綿麻之調，以悅天下之心。此謂悅之不以道，愚臣所以未悅者也。」

Puhui saw that corvée levies across the realm had grown ever broader and heavier, and when the Ministry calculated and memorialized to restore the hemp-and-silk tax, he feared the people could not endure it. He submitted a memorial that read: "I humbly learn that the Ministry has proposed restoring the hemp-and-silk levy in accord with the former emperor's precedent. Day and night I have weighed the matter, my heart torn between hope and fear. I reflect that Emperor Gaozu abolished the oversized bushel, shortened the extended foot-rule, and lightened the heavy steelyard—all to show care for the people and keep taxes low. Knowing that army and state still needed hemp and silk, he held that within the standard measures of cloth the people could afford such levies—eight liang of floss on each bolt of silk, fifteen jin of hemp on each bolt of cloth. The people gained relief from oversized measures and heavy weights and enjoyed the bounty of lighter taxes—not in hemp and silk alone, but in every levy. They sang as they paid their taxes and hurried willingly to their corvée duties. When the throne keeps faith, the people pay their dues with goodwill. Since then the burdens have steadily widened and deepened, until the people's complaints resounded through court and countryside alike. I humbly reflect that before Empress Dowager Ling assumed the regency, while Your Majesty was still in mourning seclusion, the chief ministers never traced the problem to its root. They knew the realm resented the hemp-and-silk tax, yet instead of correcting the inflated measures—the broad cloth widths, long foot-rules, heavy steelyards, and oversized bushels—they merely abolished the hemp-and-silk levy alone, hoping thereby to win the people's hearts. That is pleasing the people without following the Way—and that is why this humble servant cannot rejoice."

普惠又表乞朝直之日，時聽奉見。自此之後，月一陛見。又以孝明不親視朝，過崇佛法，郊廟之事，多委有司，上疏曰：「伏惟陛下重暉纂統，欽明文思，天地屬心，百神佇望。伏願躬致郊廟之虔，親紆朔望之澤，釋奠成均，竭心千畝，明發不寐，潔誠禋祼，孝弟可以通神明，德教可以光四海。然後精進三寶，信心如來。道由化深，故諸漏可盡；法隨禮積，故彼岸可登。量撤僧寺不急之華，還復百官久折之秩。已興之構，務從簡成；將來之造，權令停息。但仍舊貫，亦何必改作。庶節用愛人，法俗俱賴。」尋別敕付外，議釋奠之禮。

Puhui memorialized again, asking that on his days of court attendance he be granted regular audiences. Thereafter he was granted one audience at the palace steps each month. He also noted that Emperor Xiaoming no longer presided at court in person, honored Buddhism to excess, and left most suburban and temple rites to subordinates. He submitted a memorial: "Your Majesty has inherited a doubly radiant throne and carries forward a civil and literary legacy. Heaven and Earth look to you; the hundred spirits await your lead. I humbly pray that Your Majesty will personally perform the rites at the suburban altars and ancestral temples, personally grant the blessings of the new and full moon, offer the libation at the Imperial Academy, devote yourself to the sacred plowing field, rise before dawn in sleepless devotion, and with pure sincerity perform the burnt and libation offerings—for filial piety and brotherly duty can reach the spirits, and moral teaching can illuminate the four seas. Only then should you advance in the Three Treasures and place your faith in the Tathāgata. Through deepening cultivation the Way can drain away every defilement; and through the accumulation of ritual and Law one can reach the farther shore. Trim the needless extravagance of Buddhist temples and restore the salaries long withheld from the officials. Projects already under way should be finished as modestly as possible; and new construction should be suspended for the time being. Where old ways still serve, there is no need to alter them for alteration's sake. In this way thrift and care for the people may benefit both the Buddhist order and the civil realm. Soon afterward a separate edict was sent to the outer offices to deliberate the rites of the libation offering.

時史官克日蝕，豫敕罷朝。普惠以逆廢非禮，上疏陳之。又表論時政得失：一曰審法度，平鬥尺，租調務輕，賦役務省。二曰聽輿言，察怨訟，先皇舊事有不便於政者，請悉追改。三曰進忠謇，退不肖，任賢勿貳，去邪勿疑。四曰興滅國，繼絕世，勳親之胤，所宜收敘。書奏，孝明、靈太后引普惠于宣光殿，隨事難詰。延對移時，太后曰：「小小細務，一一翻動，更成煩擾。」普惠曰：「聖上之養庶物，若慈母之養赤子。今赤子幾臨危壑，將赴水火，以煩勞而不救，豈赤子所望于慈母！」太后曰：「天下蒼生，寧有如此苦事？」普惠曰：「天下之親懿，莫重于太師彭城王，然遂不免枉死。微細之苦，何可得無？」太后曰：「彭城之苦，吾已封其三子，何足復言。」普惠曰：「聖後封彭城之三子，天下莫不忻至德，知慈母之在上。臣所以重陳者，凡如此枉，乞垂聖察。」太后曰：「卿雲興滅繼絕，意復誰是？」普惠曰：「昔淮南逆終，漢文封其四子，蓋骨肉之不可棄，親親故也。竊見咸陽、京兆，乃皇子皇孫，一德之虧，自貽悔戾；沈淪幽壤，緬焉弗收，豈是興滅繼絕之意？」太后曰：「卿言有理，當命公卿博議。」

At that time the historiographers calculated the date of an eclipse, and an advance edict canceled court. Puhui held that canceling court preemptively violated ritual propriety and submitted a memorial explaining why. He also submitted a memorial on the strengths and failings of current policy. First: scrutinize standards of measure, restore fair bushels and foot-rules, keep land taxes and corvée levies as light as possible, and reduce labor service to the minimum. Second: heed what people say in the streets, investigate grievances and lawsuits, and revise every former emperor's policy that no longer serves good governance. Third: promote the loyal and outspoken, dismiss the unworthy, appoint the capable without second thoughts, and remove the corrupt without hesitation. Fourth: restore extinguished houses and continue broken lineages—the descendants of meritorious kin ought to be gathered and given their due. When the memorial arrived, Emperor Xiaoming and Empress Dowager Ling summoned Puhui to Xuanguang Hall and questioned him closely on each point. The audience dragged on for a long while. The Empress Dowager said, "These are trifling matters. To stir up each one only creates more trouble. Puhui replied, "The sage sovereign nourishes the people as a loving mother nourishes her infant. Now that infant stands at the edge of a chasm, about to fall into fire and water—if the mother refuses to save him for fear of trouble, is that what an infant expects of its mother?" The Empress Dowager said, "Can the people of the realm truly suffer so grievously?" Puhui said, "Of all those honored and close to the throne, none ranked higher than Grand Tutor the Prince of Pengcheng—yet even he died unjustly. How then can the humble and lowly be free of suffering?" The Empress Dowager said, "As for the Prince of Pengcheng, I have already enfeoffed his three sons. There is no need to speak of it again." Puhui said, "When Your Majesty enfeoffed the Prince of Pengcheng's three sons, all under Heaven rejoiced at your supreme virtue and knew a loving mother sat upon the throne. I raise the matter again because every such injustice, I beg, deserves your sagely attention." The Empress Dowager said, "You spoke of restoring extinguished houses and continuing broken lineages—whom do you have in mind?" Puhui said, "When the Prince of Huainan's rebellion ended, Emperor Wen of Han enfeoffed his four sons—for bone and flesh must not be cast aside. That is the principle of cherishing one's kin. I observe that the Princes of Xianyang and Jingzhao were imperial sons and grandsons. A single lapse in virtue brought ruin upon themselves; yet they lie buried in darkness, their lines left unrestored—is that the meaning of restoring the fallen and continuing the broken?" The Empress Dowager said, "Your argument has merit. I shall order the grand ministers to deliberate the matter fully."

及任城王澄薨，普惠荷其恩待，朔望奔赴，至於禫除，雖寒暑風雨，無不必至。初，澄嘉賞普惠，臨薨啟為尚書右丞。靈太后既深悼澄，覽啟從之。詔行之後，尚書諸郎以普惠地寒，不應便居管轄，相與為約，並欲不放上省，紛紜多日乃息。

When Prince Cheng of Ren-city died, Puhui, deeply indebted to his kindness, attended on the first and fifteenth of every month through the full mourning period. Through heat and cold, wind and rain, he never missed a visit. Earlier Cheng had greatly admired Puhui, and on his deathbed recommended him for appointment as Right Vice Director of the Ministry. Empress Dowager Ling, grieving deeply for Cheng, read the recommendation and approved it. After the edict was issued, the Ministry clerks held that Puhui's family background was too lowly for immediate supervisory office. They made a pact among themselves and refused to admit him to the Ministry—a dispute that raged for many days before it subsided.

正光二年，詔遣楊鈞送蠕蠕主阿那瑰還國。普惠謂遣之將貽後患，上疏極言其不可。表奏不從。魏子建為益州刺史，有贓罪，普惠被使驗之，事遂得釋，故子建父子甚德之。時梁西豐侯正德詐稱降款，朝廷頗事當迎。普惠請付揚州，移還蕭氏，不從。俄而正德果逃還。後除光祿大夫，右丞如故。

In the second year of Zhengguang, an edict ordered Yang Jun to escort Ana Gui, lord of the Ruanruan, back to his homeland. Puhui warned that sending him back would invite future disaster and submitted a memorial arguing forcefully against the plan. The memorial went unheeded. When Wei Zijian, governor of Yizhou, was charged with corruption, Puhui was sent to investigate the case and secured his exoneration. Zijian and his son were deeply grateful. At that time Zheng De, Marquis of Xifeng in Liang, feigned surrender, and the court began making elaborate preparations to receive him. Puhui asked that he be handed over to Yang Province and sent back to the Xiao house. The court refused. Before long Zheng De did indeed flee back. Later he was appointed Grand Master for Splendid Happiness while retaining his post as vice director.

先是，仇池武興郡氐數反，西垂郡戍，租連久絕。詔普惠以本官為持節、西道行台，給秦、岐、涇、華、雍、豳、東秦七州兵武三萬人，任其召發；送南秦、東益二州兵租，分付諸戍。其所部將統，聽于關西牧守之中隨機召遣。軍資板印之屬，悉以自隨。事訖還朝，賜絹布一百段。時詔訪冤屈，普惠上疏，多所陳論。出除東豫州刺史。淮南九戍十三郡，猶因梁前弊，別郡異縣之人錯雜居止。普惠乃依次括比，省減郡縣，上表陳狀，詔許之。宰守因此，綰攝有方，奸盜不起，人以為便。

Earlier the Di of Wuxing Commandery in Qiuchi had rebelled repeatedly, and tax deliveries to the western frontier garrisons had long ceased. An edict appointed Puhui, retaining his existing rank, as Commissioner with the Staff and head of the Western Circuit Mobile Office, with thirty thousand troops from Qin, Qi, Jing, Hua, Yong, Bin, and Eastern Qin at his disposal and authority to mobilize them as needed; and with orders to deliver military provisions from Southern Qin and Eastern Yizhou and distribute them among the garrisons. The generals and commanders under his command might be drawn at need from among the governors and guard officials west of the passes. Military supplies, official seals, and the like were all placed at his personal disposal. When the mission was finished he returned to court and was rewarded with one hundred bolts of silk and cloth. When an edict called for reports of wrongful punishment, Puhui submitted memorials setting forth many cases. He was sent out and appointed governor of Eastern Yuzhou. In the nine garrisons and thirteen commanderies of Huainan, the old disorders of Liang rule still lingered, with people from different commanderies and counties living jumbled together. Puhui then conducted a systematic census, consolidated and reduced commanderies and counties, submitted a memorial detailing the changes, and received imperial approval. Magistrates and guard officials were thereby able to govern effectively. Banditry ceased, and the people found the new arrangement a great improvement.

普惠不營財業，好有進舉，敦於故舊。冀州人侯堅固少時與其遊學，早終。其子長瑜，普惠每於四時請祿，無不減贍，給其衣食。及為豫州，啟長瑜解褐，攜其合門拯給之。在州卒，諡曰宣恭。

Puhui did not pursue wealth. He delighted in promoting worthy people and was steadfast toward old friends. Hou Jiangu of Jizhou had been his companion in travel and study in youth, but died young. His son Changyu—each season Puhui would set aside part of his salary and never failed to provide for him, supplying food and clothing. When he became governor of Yuzhou, he recommended Changyu for his first official appointment and took in his entire household, providing for them all. He died in office and was posthumously titled Xiangong, "Sincere and Respectful."

成淹，字季文，上谷居庸人也。好文學，有氣尚。仕宋為員外郎，領軍主，援東陽、曆城。皇興中，降慕容白曜，赴闕，授兼著作佐郎。時獻文于仲冬月欲巡漠北，朝臣以寒甚固諫，並不納。淹上《接輿釋遊論》，帝覽之，詔尚書李䐶曰：「卿諸人不如成淹論，通釋人意。」乃敕停行。

Cheng Yan, courtesy name Jiwen, was from Juyong in Shanggu. He loved literature and possessed a spirited, principled character. He served the Song as an external clerk and garrison commander, reinforcing Dongyang and Licheng. During the Huangxing era he surrendered to Murong Baiyao, went to the capital, and was appointed acting Assistant Director in the Historiography Office. At that time Emperor Xianwen planned a mid-winter tour of the northern deserts. The court ministers remonstrated firmly against it because of the bitter cold, but none of their counsel was accepted. Yan submitted his "Jie Yu's Explanation of Wandering." The Emperor read it and said to Minister Li Shen, "None of you match Cheng Yan's essay—it gets to the heart of what people mean. An edict was issued canceling the tour.

太和中，文明太后崩，齊遣其散騎常侍裴昭明、散騎侍郎謝竣等來吊，欲以朝服行事。主客不許，昭明等執志不移。孝文敕尚書李沖選一學識者更與論執。沖奏遣淹。昭明言：「不聽朝服行禮，義出何典？」淹言：「玄冠不吊，童孺共聞。昔季孫將行，請遭喪之禮，千載之下，猶共稱之。卿方謂義出何典，何其異哉！」昭明言：「齊高帝崩，魏遣李彪通吊，初不素服，齊朝亦不為疑。」淹言：「彪通吊之日，朝命以吊服自隨。彼不遵高宗追遠之慕，乃逾月即吉。齊之君臣，皆已鳴玉盈庭，彪行人，何容獨以衰服間衣冠之中？我皇處諒暗以來，百官聽於塚宰，卿豈得以此方彼也？」昭明乃搖膝而言曰：「三皇不同禮，亦安知得失所歸。」淹言：「若如來談，卿以虞舜、高宗為非也？」昭明相顧笑曰：「非孝者，宣尼有成責，行人亦弗敢言。使人唯齎袴褶，不可以吊，幸借衣颻，以申國命。今為魏朝所逼，還南日，必得罪本朝。」淹言：「彼有君子也，卿將命折中，還南日，應有高賞。若無君子也，但令有光國之譽，雖非理得罪，亦復何嫌。南史、董狐，自當直筆。」既而敕送衣颻給昭明等，明旦引入，皆令文武盡哀。後正佐郎。

During the Taihe era, after Empress Dowager Wenming died, Qi sent Attendant Cavalier Pei Zhaoming, Attendant Cavalier Xie Jun, and others to offer condolences, intending to perform the rites in court dress. The host officials refused, but Zhaoming and his party would not yield. Emperor Xiaowen ordered Minister Li Chong to choose a learned scholar to debate the matter with them further. Chong memorialized recommending Yan for the task. Zhaoming said, "If court dress may not be worn for mourning rites, on what canonical authority does that rule rest? Yan replied, "The black cap is not worn for condolence visits—even children know that. When Jisun was about to set out on a journey, he asked to observe the rites for encountering mourning—and a thousand years later people still praise him for it. And you ask me on what canonical authority this rests—how extraordinary!" Zhaoming said, "When Emperor Gaodi of Qi died, Wei sent Li Biao to offer condolences. He did not wear unadorned mourning dress, and the Qi court raised no objection." Yan replied, "On the day Li Biao went to offer condolences, the court ordered him to bring mourning dress with him. They did not observe Gaozong's example of honoring the departed, but ended mourning after little more than a month. The ruler and ministers of Qi already fill the court in full court dress with jade at their belts—how could Envoy Li Biao alone wear mourning sackcloth among them? Since our emperor entered mourning seclusion, all officials have deferred to the chief minister—how can you set this case beside that one?" Zhaoming shifted in his seat and said, "The Three Sovereigns observed different rites—who can say where right and wrong truly lie?" Yan replied, "If that is what you mean, then you hold Yu Shun and Gaozong to be in the wrong?" Zhaoming exchanged glances with his companions and smiled. "On the question of unfilial conduct, Confucius has already pronounced judgment—an envoy would hardly dare speak of it. Our envoys brought only riding jacket and trousers and cannot properly offer condolences. We beg you to lend us mourning dress so that we may carry out our state's commission. Now that the Wei court has forced this upon us, when we return south we are sure to offend our own court." Yan said, "If your court has men of principle, you carried out your mission with reasonable compromise—when you return south you should receive a generous reward. If there are no such men, so long as you bring honor to your state, even if you are punished without cause, what is there to regret? The historians of the south and men like Dong Hu will surely set down the truth without fear." An edict was then issued sending mourning dress to Zhaoming and his party. The next morning they were admitted to court, and all civil and military officials were required to observe full mourning. He was later appointed Regular Assistant Director.

其後，齊遣其散騎常侍庾蓽、散騎侍郎何憲、主書邢宗慶等來聘，孝文敕淹接於外館。宗慶語淹言：「南北連和既久，而比棄信絕好，為利而動，豈是大國善鄰之義？」淹言：「夫為王者不拘小節，豈得眷眷守尾生之信！且齊先主曆事宋朝，當應便爾欺奪？」宗慶、庾蓽及從者皆相顧失色。何憲知淹昔從南入，以手掩目曰：「卿何不作于禁而作魯肅？」淹言：「我舍逆效順，欲追蹤陳、韓，何于禁之有！」憲亦不對。

Afterward Qi sent Attendant Cavalier Yu Bi, Attendant Cavalier He Xian, Master of Documents Xing Zongqing, and others on a diplomatic visit, and Emperor Xiaowen ordered Yan to receive them at the outer guesthouse. Zongqing said to Yan, "North and south have been at peace for a long time, yet recently you broke faith and cut off friendly relations, acting only for gain—is that how a great state honors good-neighbor relations? Yan replied, "One who would be king does not bind himself to petty scruples—how could he cling stubbornly to Wei Sheng's rigid code of honor! Moreover Qi's founding lord served the Song dynasty for generations—would he simply have seized territory by fraud?" Zongqing, Yu Bi, and their attendants all looked at one another and turned pale. He Xian, knowing Yan had once come from the south, covered his eyes with his hand and said, "Why play Lu Su when you ought to play Yu Jin? Yan replied, "I abandoned the losing cause and followed what is right, hoping to follow in the footsteps of Chen Ping and Han Xin—what has that to do with Yu Jin!" He Xian made no reply.

王肅之至，鑾輿行幸。肅多扈從，敕淹將引，若有古跡，皆使知之。行到朝歌，肅問：「此是何城？」淹言：「紂都朝歌城。」肅言：「故應有殷之頑人。」淹言：「昔武王滅紂，悉居河洛，中因劉、石亂華，仍隨司馬東度。」肅知淹寓青州，乃笑謂曰：「青州何必無其餘種。」淹以肅本隸徐州：「若言青州，本非其地，徐州間今日重來，非所知也。」肅遂伏馬上掩口笑，顧謂侍御史張思甯曰：「向聊因戲言，遂致辭溺。」思甯馳馬以聞，孝文大悅，謂彭城王勰曰：「淹此段足為制勝。」輿駕至洛，肅因侍宴，帝戲肅曰：「近者行次朝歌，聞成淹共卿殊有往復，卿試重敘之。」肅言：「臣於朝歌失言，一之已甚，豈宜再說。」遂大笑。肅又言淹才詞，宜應敘進。帝言：「若因此進淹，恐辱卿轉甚。」肅言：「臣屈己達人，正可顯臣之美。」帝曰：「卿為人所屈，欲求屈己之名，復於卿大優。」肅言：「淹既蒙進，臣得屈己申人，此所謂陛下惠而不費。」遂酣笑而止。賜淹龍廄上馬一匹，並鞍勒宛具，朝服一襲。轉謁者僕射。

When Wang Su arrived, the emperor set out on an imperial tour. Su often accompanied the imperial retinue, and an edict ordered Yan to serve as guide and inform him of every ancient site they passed. When they reached Chaoge, Su asked, "What city is this? Yan replied, "Chaoge, the capital of King Zhou of Shang." Su said, "Then there ought still to be the stubborn remnant people of Yin here." Yan said, "When King Wu destroyed Zhou, they were all resettled in the He-Luo region. Later, during the chaos wrought by the Liu and Shi dynasties, they followed the Sima clan east across the river." Su, knowing Yan had once lived in Qingzhou, smiled and said, "Why should Qingzhou be without its share of that remnant stock?" Yan, noting that Su was originally from Xuzhou, replied, "If you speak of Qingzhou, that was never your home ground. As for Xuzhou and your people coming back today—I know nothing of that." Su leaned over his saddle, covering his mouth as he laughed, and turned to Attending Censor Zhang Sining. "A passing jest just now drew forth far too much eloquence from him." Sining galloped ahead to report what had happened. Emperor Xiaowen was greatly pleased and said to Prince Pengcheng Xie, "In this exchange Yan more than held his own." When the imperial procession reached Luoyang, Su attended a banquet. The Emperor teased him, "On the recent stop at Chaoge I heard that Cheng Yan and you had quite a back-and-forth—try telling it again." Su said, "Your servant misspoke at Chaoge. Once was already too much—how could I tell it again?" At that everyone burst into laughter. Su also praised Yan's literary gifts and said he ought to be promoted. The Emperor said, "If I promote Yan because of this, I fear it would humiliate you all the more. Su said, "Your servant humbles himself to advance another—that only shows my virtue." The Emperor said, "You were bested by another, yet you seek the reputation of self-abasement—that reflects even greater credit on you." Su said, "Since Yan is to be promoted, your servant can humble himself and lift another up—this is what is called Your Majesty's bounty without cost." They laughed heartily at that and let the matter rest. Yan was granted a horse from the imperial stables, complete with saddle, bridle, and full trappings, and one set of court dress. He was transferred to the post of Director of the Palace Receptionists.

時遷都，帝以淹家貧，敕給事力，送至洛陽，使與家累相隨。及車駕濟淮，敕征淹。淹于路左請見，曰：「敵不可小，願聖明保萬全之策。伏聞發洛已來，諸有諫者，解官奪職，恐非聖明納下之義。」帝優而容之。

During the move of the capital, the Emperor, knowing Yan's family was poor, ordered household servants provided and sent him on to Luoyang so that his family could accompany him. When the imperial carriage crossed the Huai River, an edict summoned Yan. Yan requested an audience at the roadside and said, "The enemy must not be underestimated. I pray Your Sagely Wisdom will hold to a strategy of absolute safety. I have heard that since leaving Luoyang, every man who remonstrated has been dismissed from office. I fear that does not accord with a sage ruler's way of accepting counsel from below. The Emperor received him graciously and accepted his counsel.

帝幸徐州，敕淹與閭龍駒專主舟楫，將汎泗入河，溯流還洛。軍次磝碻，淹以黃河浚急，慮有傾危，乃上疏陳諫。帝敕淹曰：「朕以恆、代無運漕之路，故京邑人貧。今移都伊、洛，欲通運四方。黃河急浚，人皆難涉，我因此行乘流，所以開百姓之心。知卿誠至而不得相納。」賜驊騮馬一匹，衣冠一襲。除羽林監、主客令。

The Emperor visited Xuzhou and ordered Yan and Lu Longju to take exclusive charge of the boats, intending to sail the Si River into the Yellow River and return upstream to Luoyang. When the army halted at Qiaoque, Yan, fearing disaster because the Yellow River ran swift and deep, submitted a memorial remonstrating against the plan. The Emperor replied to Yan, "Because Heng and Dai had no route for transporting grain tribute, the people of the capital district were poor. Now that we are moving the capital to Yi and Luo, I wish to open transport links to all four quarters. The Yellow River runs swift and deep, and everyone finds it hard to cross. I am making this journey by riding the current precisely to open the people's hearts. I know your sincerity is complete, yet I cannot accept your counsel. He was granted a bay stallion and one set of robes and cap. He was appointed Supervisor of the Feathered Forest and Director of Host Affairs.

于時宮殿初構，運材日有萬計。伊、洛流澌，苦於厲涉。淹遂啟求敕都水造浮航。帝賞納之，意欲榮淹於眾。朔旦受朝，百官在位，乃賜帛百匹，知左右二都水事。景明三年，出除平陽太守。還朝，病卒，贈光州刺史，諡曰定。

At that time palace construction had just begun, and timber transported each day numbered in the tens of thousands. The Yi and Luo rivers ran with ice floes, making crossing painfully difficult. Yan then petitioned for an edict ordering the Directorate of Waterways to build pontoon bridges. The Emperor praised and accepted the proposal, intending to honor Yan before the whole court. On the first day of the month at court audience, with all officials present, the Emperor granted him a hundred bolts of silk and put him in charge of both the Left and Right Directorates of Water Affairs. In the third year of the Jingming era he was sent out and appointed Administrator of Pingyang. After returning to court he died of illness. He was posthumously awarded the title Governor of Guangzhou and given the posthumous name Ding.

子宵，字景鸞，好為文詠，坦率多鄙俗，與河東薑質等朋游相好，詩賦間起，知音之士所共嗤笑。卒于書侍御史。

His son Xiao, courtesy name Jingluan, loved composing verse. Frank and often coarse in manner, he formed close friendships with Jiang Zhi of Hedong and others and occasionally produced poetry and rhapsodies—all of which discerning readers mocked together. He died while serving as Attending Secretary in the Imperial Library.

范紹，字始孫，燉氇皇龍勒人也。少聰敏。年十二，父命就學，師事崔光。以父憂廢業。母又誡之曰：「汝父卒日，令汝遠就崔生，稀有成立。今已過期，宜遵成命。」紹還赴學。太和初，充太學生，轉算生，頗涉經史。孝文選為門下通事令史，遷錄事，掌奏文案。帝善之，又為侍中李沖、黃門崔光所知。帝曾謂近臣曰：「崔光從容，範紹之力。」後朝廷有南討計，發河北數州田兵，通緣淮戍兵合五萬餘人，廣開屯田。八座奏紹為西道六州營田大使，加步兵校尉。紹勤於勸課，頻歲大獲。又詔與都督、中山王英論攻鐘離。紹觀其城隍，恐不可陷，勸令班師，英不從。紹還，具以狀奏聞。俄而英敗。後歷位并州刺史、太常卿。莊帝初，遇害河陰。

Fan Shao, courtesy name Shisun, was from Huanglongle in Dunhuang. From an early age he was clever and quick-witted. At the age of twelve his father ordered him to pursue his studies, and he took Master Cui Guang as his teacher. During mourning for his father he abandoned his studies. His mother admonished him, "On the day your father died he told you to go far away to study under Master Cui, hoping you would make something of yourself. The mourning period has now passed. You should follow his final command. Shao returned to his studies. At the beginning of the Taihe era he entered the imperial university, then became a calendar student, and gained a considerable grounding in the classics and histories. Emperor Xiaowen selected him as Clerk for General Affairs in the Secretariat, then promoted him to Recorder and put him in charge of memorial documents. The Emperor thought well of him, and he also won the recognition of Attendant Within Li Chong and Cui Guang of the Yellow Gate. The Emperor once said to his close ministers, "Cui Guang supplies the easy grace; Fan Shao supplies the driving force. Later, when the court planned a southern campaign, farming soldiers from several Hebei provinces were mobilized. Together with garrison troops stationed along the Huai, they numbered more than fifty thousand men, and military colonies were opened on a broad scale. The Eight Ministers memorialized appointing Shao Military Colony Commissioner for the six provinces on the western route, with the additional title Commandant of Foot Soldiers. Shao was diligent in encouraging cultivation, and year after year the harvests were abundant. An edict also ordered him to confer with the area commander, Prince Zhongshan Ying, on the attack on Zhongli. Shao inspected the city's walls and moat and feared it could not be taken. He urged withdrawal, but Ying would not listen. Shao returned and reported the full situation to the throne in a memorial. Before long Ying was defeated. He later served successively as Governor of Bingzhou and Minister of Ceremonies. At the beginning of Emperor Zhuang's reign he was killed at Heyin.

劉桃符，中山盧奴人也。生不識父，九歲喪母。性恭謹，好學。舉孝廉，射策甲科。曆碎職，累遷中書舍人。以勤明見知，久不遷職。宣武謂曰：「揚子雲為黃門，頓曆三世。卿居此任始十年，不足辭也。」東豫州刺史田益宗居邊貪穢，宣武頻詔桃符慰喻之。桃符還，具稱益宗老耄，而諸子非理處物。宣武后欲代之。恐其背叛，拜桃符東豫州刺史，與後將軍李世哲領眾襲益宗。語在《益宗傳》。桃符善恤蠻左，為人吏所懷。久之，徵還。病卒，贈洛州刺史。

Liu Taofu was from Lunu in Zhongshan. He never knew his father in life, and at the age of nine he lost his mother. By nature deferential and careful, he loved learning. Recommended as Filial and Incorrupt, he placed in the top class in the archery-and-policy examination. He passed through minor posts and was repeatedly promoted until he became a Secretariat Drafter. Known for diligence and clarity, he went for a long time without promotion. Emperor Xuanwu said to him, "Yang Ziyun served at the Yellow Gate through three reigns in succession. You have held this post for only ten years—it is too soon to ask to leave it. Eastern Yuzhou Governor Tian Yizong, stationed on the frontier, was greedy and corrupt, and Emperor Xuanwu repeatedly ordered Taofu to go and counsel him. When Taofu returned, he reported fully that Yizong was old and senile while his sons handled affairs unreasonably. Afterward Emperor Xuanwu wished to replace him. Fearing rebellion, he appointed Taofu Governor of Eastern Yuzhou and, together with Rear General Li Shizhe, led troops in a surprise attack on Yizong. The full account is given in the biography of Yizong. Taofu was good at caring for the tribal peoples of the south and was beloved by officials and commoners alike. After a long tenure he was recalled to court. He died of illness and was posthumously awarded the title Governor of Luozhou.

鹿悆，字永吉，濟陰乘氏人也。祖壽興，沮渠氏庫部郎。父生，再為濟南太守，有政績。獻文嘉其能，特徵赴季秋馬射，賜以驄馬，加以青服，彰其廉潔。時三齊始附，人懷苟且，蒲博終朝，頗廢農業。生立制斷之，聞者嗟善。後卒于淮陽太守，追贈兗州刺史。悆好兵書、陰陽、釋氏之學，彭城王勰召為館客。嘗詣徐州，馬疲，附船而至大梁。夜睡，者上岸，竊禾四束飼馬。船行數里，悆覺，即停船至取禾處，以縑三丈置禾束下而反。

Lu Yu, courtesy name Yongji, was from Chenshi in Jiyin. His grandfather Shouxing had been a Kubu-lang of the Juqu clan. His father Sheng served twice as Administrator of Jinan and won a record of good governance. Emperor Xianwen praised his ability and specially summoned him to the autumn horse-archery review, bestowing a piebald horse and green robes to honor his integrity and incorruptibility. At that time the Three Qi regions had only recently submitted; the people were given to lax ways, gambling from morning to night and greatly neglecting agriculture. Sheng established regulations forbidding it, and those who heard of it sighed in approval. He later died while serving as Administrator of Huaiyang and was posthumously enfeoffed as Governor of Yanzhou. Yu loved military texts, yin-yang studies, and Buddhist learning, and Prince of Pengcheng Xie summoned him as a lodge guest. Once when traveling to Xuzhou his horse grew weary, so he took passage by boat and arrived at Daliang. At night while he slept, his attendant went ashore and stole four sheaves of grain to feed the horse. After the boat had gone several li, Yu noticed. He immediately stopped, returned to where the grain had been taken, placed three zhang of silk beneath the sheaves, and went back.

初為真定公子直國中尉，恆勸以忠廉之節。嘗賦五言詩曰：「嶧山萬丈樹，雕鏤作琵琶，由此材高遠，糸玄響藹中華。」又曰：「援琴起何調？幽蘭與白雪，絲管韻未成，莫使糸玄響絕！」子直少有令問，悆欲其善終，故以諷焉。後隨子直鎮梁州，州有兵糧和糴，和糴者靡不潤屋，悆獨不取。子直強之，終不從。

At first he served as Commandant of the Principality for Zizhi, Prince of Zhending, and constantly exhorted him to uphold loyalty and integrity. Once he composed a five-character poem that read: "A tree ten thousand zhang tall on Mount Yi, carved and inlaid to make a pipa—because its timber is lofty and far-reaching, its deep strings resound through the Central Lands." He also wrote: "When you draw the zither forth, what mode do you begin? Orchid in Seclusion" and "White Snow"—the silk strings and pipes have not yet formed their harmony; do not let the deep strings' sound die away!" Zizhi had a fine reputation in youth, and Yu wished him to finish well, so he offered these verses as admonition. Later he followed Zizhi to garrison Liangzhou. The province had military grain he-di purchases, and those who handled them all enriched their houses to overflowing, but Yu alone took nothing. Zizhi pressed him, but he never complied.

孝莊為御史中尉，悆兼殿中侍御史，監臨淮王彧軍。時梁遣其豫章王綜據徐州，綜密信通彧，雲欲歸款。眾議謂不然，悆遂請行，曰：「綜若誠心，與之盟約；如其詐也，豈惜一人命乎！」時徐州始陷，邊方騷擾，綜部將成景俊、胡龍牙並總強兵，內外嚴固。悆遂單馬間出，徑趣彭城。未至之間，為綜軍主程兵潤所止。問其來狀。悆曰：「我為臨淮王所使。」兵潤遣人白龍牙等。綜既有誠心，聞悆被執，語景俊等曰：「我每疑元略規欲叛城，將驗虛實，且遣左右為元略使，入魏軍中喚彼一人。其使果至，可令人詐作略身，在一深室，托為患狀，呼使戶外，令人傳語。」時略始被梁武追還。綜又遣腹心人梁話迎悆，密語意狀，令善酬答。引悆詣龍牙所。龍牙語悆曰：「元中山甚欲相見，故令喚卿。」又曰：「安豐、臨淮，將少弱卒，規復此城，容可得乎？」悆曰：「彭城，魏之東鄙，勢在必爭，可否在天，非人所測。」龍牙曰：「當如卿言。」復詣景俊住所，停悆外門，久而未入。時夜已久，有綜軍主薑桃來與悆言，謂曰：「元法僧魏之微子，拔城歸梁，梁主待物有道。」乃上指曰：「今歲星在鬥，吳之分野，君何不歸梁國？」悆答曰：「法僧，莒僕之流，而梁納之，無乃有愧于季孫也！今月建鶉首，斗牛受破，歲星木也，逆而克之，吳國敗喪不久。且衣錦夜遊，有識不許。」言未盡，乃引入見景俊。景俊良久謂曰：「卿不為刺客也？」答曰：「今者為使，欲反命本朝，相刺之事，更卜後圖。」為設食，悆強飲多食，向敵數人，微自誇矜。諸人相謂曰：「壯哉！」乃引向元略所，一人引入戶，指床令坐。一人別在室中出，謂悆曰：「中山王有教：'我昔有以向南，且遣相喚，欲問卿事。晚來患動，不獲相見。 '遂辭而退。須臾天曉，綜軍主范勖、景俊司馬楊暼票等，競問北朝士馬多少，悆陳士馬之盛。尋而與梁話盟契訖。未旬，綜降詔封悆定陶縣子，除員勻散騎常侍。永安中，為右將軍、給事黃門侍郎，進爵為侯。雖任居通顯，志在謙退，迎送親賓，加於疇昔。而自無屋宅，常假賃居止，布衣糲食，寒暑不變。孝莊嘉其清潔，時復賜以錢帛。

When Emperor Xiaozhuang served as Censor-in-Chief, Yu concurrently served as Palace Attendant Censor, overseeing the army of Prince of Linhuai Yu. At the time Liang sent its Prince of Yuzhang Zong to hold Xuzhou, and Zong secretly sent letters to Yu saying he wished to surrender. The assembly argued otherwise, but Yu then asked to go himself, saying, "If Zong is sincere, I shall make a pact with him; if he is deceitful, what is one man's life that it should be spared!" At that time Xuzhou had just fallen and the frontier was in turmoil. Zong's subordinate generals Cheng Jingjun and Hu Longya both commanded strong troops, and defenses within and without were strict. Yu then rode out alone by a hidden route and went straight to Pengcheng. Before he arrived he was stopped by Zong's army commander Cheng Bingrun. Bingrun questioned him about the purpose of his visit. Yu said, "I am sent by Prince of Linhuai." Bingrun sent men to report to Longya and the others. Since Zong already had sincere intent, when he heard Yu had been seized he said to Jingjun and the others, "I have often suspected Yuan Lue was plotting to betray the city. I wish to test whether this is true, and will send attendants posing as Yuan Lue's envoys into the Wei army to summon that one man. If the envoy truly arrives, someone can feign to be Lue himself in a deep inner room, pretend illness, call the envoy from outside the door, and have another relay the words." At that time Lue had just been recalled by Emperor Wu of Liang. Zong also sent his trusted man Liang Hua to welcome Yu, secretly explaining the situation and instructing him to answer skillfully. He led Yu to Longya's quarters. Longya said to Yu, "Prince of Zhongshan greatly wishes to see you, and so sent for you." He also said, "Anfeng and Linhuai, leading a small force of weak troops, plan to recover this city—can that possibly succeed?" Yu said, "Pengcheng is Wei's eastern border; the situation makes it certain to be contested. Whether it can be taken lies with Heaven, not something men can measure." Longya said, "It should be as you say." He then went to Jingjun's residence, kept Yu waiting at the outer gate, and long went without admitting him. The night was already deep when Zong's army commander Jiang Tao came to speak with Yu, saying, "Yuan Faseng was Wei's Weizi; he abandoned his city and came over to Liang, and the Liang ruler treats men with propriety." He then pointed upward and said, "This year the Year Star is in the Dipper, the allotted region of Wu—why do you not return to the Liang state?" Yu replied, "Faseng is of the sort of Jufu, yet Liang took him in—is that not a disgrace before Jisun! This month the station is at Quishou; the Ox and Dipper receive destruction; the Year Star is of wood—going against it to overcome it, Wu's defeat and ruin will come soon. Moreover, to parade in brocade by night is something no man of discernment would approve." Before he had finished speaking, they led him in to see Jingjun. After a long while Jingjun said, "You are not an assassin, are you?" He replied, "Today I come as an envoy and wish to return and report to my own court; as for assassination, that can be considered on another occasion." They set out food; Yu forced himself to drink heavily and eat much, facing several enemies across the table, and slightly showed off. The men said to one another, "How bold!" They then led him toward Yuan Lue's quarters; one man brought him inside the door and pointed to a bed, telling him to sit. Another came out separately from an inner room and said to Yu, "Prince of Zhongshan has an instruction: 'I once had reason to go south and now send to summon you, wishing to ask you about affairs. This evening my illness flared up and I could not meet you. He then took his leave and withdrew. Before long dawn broke; Zong's army commanders Fan Xu, Jingjun's aide-de-camp Yang Wenpiao, and others all competed in asking how many men and horses the Northern Court had, and Yu described their strength in full. Soon afterward he completed the covenant with Liang Hua. Within ten days Zong issued an edict enfeoffing Yu as Viscount of Dingtao and appointing him Extraordinary Attendant-in-Ordinary. In the Yong'an era he served as Right General and Supervising Secretary of the Yellow Gate and was advanced in rank to Marquis. Although his office was eminent and conspicuous, his intent remained humble and retiring; in receiving and sending off kin and guests he was more attentive than in former days. Yet he owned no house of his own and always rented lodgings, wearing coarse cloth and eating plain food unchanged through cold or heat. Emperor Xiaozhuang praised his purity and integrity and from time to time bestowed money and silk upon him.

及東徐城人呂文欣殺刺史元大賓，南引梁人，詔悆以使持節、散騎常侍、安東將軍為六州大使，與行台樊子鵠討破之。悆又購斬文欣。還，拜金紫光祿大夫，兼尚書右僕射、東南道三徐行台。與都督賀拔勝等拒爾硃仲遠，軍敗還京。

When Lü Wenxin of Dongxu city killed Governor Yuan Dabin and summoned Liang troops from the south, an edict appointed Yu as envoy bearing credentials, Attendant-in-Ordinary, and General Who Pacifies the East, making him Great Envoy of Six Provinces; with Mobile Headquarters Fan Zihu he attacked and defeated them. Yu also offered a reward for Wenxin's capture and execution. On his return he was appointed Grand Master of the Purple-Gold Light, concurrently Right Vice Minister of the Masters of Writing and Mobile Headquarters for the Three Xus of the Southeast Route. Together with Area Commander Heba Sheng and others he resisted Erzhu Zhongyuan; the army was defeated and he returned to the capital.

天平中，除梁州刺史。時滎陽人鄭榮業反，圍州城。城降，滎業送悆于關西。

In the Tianping era he was appointed Governor of Liangzhou. At the time Zheng Rongye of Xingyang rebelled and besieged the provincial capital. The city surrendered, and Rongye sent Yu to Guanxi.

張耀，字景世，自雲南陽西鄂人也。仕魏，累遷步兵校尉。永寧寺塔大興，經營務廣。靈太后曾幸作所，凡有顧問，耀敷陳指畫，無所遺闕，太后善之。後為別將，以軍功封長平男。曆岐、東荊州刺史。

Zhang Yao, courtesy name Jingshi, was originally from Xie in Nanyang of Yun. He served Wei and was repeatedly promoted until he became Commandant of Footsoldiers. Construction of the Yongning Temple pagoda was greatly expanded, and the works were broad in scope. Empress Dowager Ling once visited the construction site; whenever she asked anything, Yao fully explained and directed without omitting anything, and the Empress Dowager approved. Later he served as a separate commander and, for military merit, was enfeoffed as Baron of Changping. He successively served as Governor of Qi and Eastern Jingzhou.

天平初，遷鄴草創，右僕射高隆之、吏部尚書元世俊奏曰：「南京宮殿，毀撤送都，連筏竟河，首尾大至，自非賢明一人，專委受納，則恐材木耗損，有關經構。耀清直素著，有稱一時，臣等輒舉為大將。」詔從之。耀勤於其事，尋轉營構左都將。興和初，加衛大將軍。宮殿成，除東徐州刺史。卒于州，贈司空公，諡曰懿。

At the beginning of Tianping, when the move to Ye was newly begun, Right Vice Minister Gao Longzhi and Minister of Personnel Yuan Shijun memorialized, "The palaces of the Southern Capital are being dismantled and sent to the capital; rafts linked end to end fill the river, great from stem to stern—unless one worthy and clear man is solely entrusted with receiving and storing them, I fear timber will be wasted and construction will suffer. Yao's purity and uprightness have long been renowned and he is praised throughout the age; we venture to recommend him as Great Commander." An edict approved this. Yao was diligent in the task and soon was transferred to Left Commander of Construction. At the beginning of Xinghe he was given the additional title of Defender General. When the palaces were completed he was appointed Governor of Eastern Xuzhou. He died in office and was posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of the Ministry of Works with the posthumous title Yi.

劉道斌，武邑灌津人也。有器幹，腰帶十圍，須髯甚美。初拜校書郎，轉主書，頗為孝文所知。從征南陽，還，加積射將軍、給事中。帝謂黃門郎邢巒曰：「道斌是行，便異儕流矣。」宣武即位，遷謁者僕射。後曆恆農太守、岐州刺史，所在有清貞稱。卒于州，諡曰康。道斌在恆農，修立學館，建孔子廟堂，圖畫形像。去郡後，故吏追思之，復立道斌形于孔像之西而拜謁焉。

Liu Daobin was from Guanjin in Wuyi. He had ability and capacity; his belt measured ten wei around, and his beard and whiskers were very fine. At first appointed Collator, then transferred to Master of Documents, he came to be well known to Emperor Xiaowen. He followed the campaign against Nanyang, and on his return he was given the additional titles of General of Accumulated Archery and Attendant. The Emperor said to Yellow Gate Gentleman Xing Luan, "In this campaign Daobin has already distinguished himself from his peers." When Emperor Xuanwu acceded he was transferred to Master of Ceremonies. He later served successively as Administrator of Hengnong and Governor of Qi, and wherever he was he was praised for purity and integrity. He died in office and was given the posthumous title Kang. While Daobin was in Hengnong he established a school hall and built a Confucius temple with painted images. After he left the commandery, former subordinates, longing for him, again erected Daobin's image west of Confucius's image and came to pay homage.

董紹，字興遠，新蔡鮦陽人也。少好學，頗有文義。起家四門博士，累遷兼中書舍人，為宣武所賞。豫州城人白早生以城南叛，詔紹慰勞，為賊鎖禁送江東。梁領軍呂僧珍暫與紹言，便相器重。梁武聞之，使勞紹云：「忠臣孝子不可無之，今當聽卿還國。」紹曰：「老母在洛，無復方寸，既奉恩貸，實若更生。」乃引見之，謂曰：「戰爭多年，人物塗炭，是以不恥先言，欲與魏朝通好，卿宜備申此意。若欲通好，今以宿豫還彼，彼當以漢中見歸。」及紹還，雖陳說和計，朝廷不許。後除洛州刺史。紹好行小惠，頗得人情。蕭寶夤反于長安，紹上書求擊之，云：「臣當出瞎巴三千，生啖蜀子。」孝明謂黃門徐紇曰：「此巴真瞎也？」紇答：「此紹之壯辭，雲巴人勁勇，見敵無所畏，非實瞎也。」帝大笑，敕紹速行。以拒寶夤功，賞新蔡縣男。爾硃天光為關右大行台，啟為大行台從事，兼吏部尚書。天光敗，賀拔嶽復請紹為其開府諮議參軍。岳後攜紹于高平牧馬，紹悲而賦詩曰：「走馬山之阿，馬渴飲黃河。甯謂胡關下，復聞楚客歌！」岳死，周文帝亦重之。及孝武西遷，除御史中丞，非其好也。鬱鬱不得志，或行戲街衢，或與少年游聚，不自拘持，頗類失性。孝武崩，周文與百官推奉文帝，上表勸進，令呂思禮、薛憕作表，前後再奏，帝尚執謙沖不許。周文曰：「為文能動至尊，唯董公耳！」乃命紹為第三表，操筆便成。表奏，周文曰：「開進人意，不當如此也？」及登祚，方任用之，而紹議論朝廷，賜死。孫嗣。

Dong Shao, courtesy name Xingyuan, was from Ziyang in Xincai. From youth he loved learning and had considerable literary understanding. He began his career as a Four Gates Doctor and was repeatedly promoted to Concurrent Secretariat Drafter, and was appreciated by Emperor Xuanwu. When Baizaosheng of Yuzhou city rebelled with the south of the city, an edict sent Shao to comfort and reassure the people; he was chained by the rebels and sent to Jiangdong. Liang's army commander Lü Sengzhen briefly spoke with Shao and at once valued him highly. When Emperor Wu of Liang heard of this he sent to comfort Shao, saying, "Loyal ministers and filial sons must not be lacking; now I shall allow you to return to your state." Shao said, "My old mother is in Luoyang and I have no peace of mind; having received this gracious allowance, it is as if I were born again." He then had him brought in for an audience and said, "War has gone on for many years and the people have been scorched and burned; therefore I am not ashamed to speak first, wishing to establish good relations with the Wei court—you should fully explain this intent. If you wish good relations, I now return Suyu to them; they should return Hanzhong to us." When Shao returned, although he set forth the plan for peace, the court did not agree. He was later appointed Governor of Luozhou. Shao liked to perform small favors and won considerable goodwill among the people. When Xiao Baoyin rebelled at Chang'an, Shao submitted a memorial requesting to attack him, saying, "I will lead out three thousand fierce Ba warriors and devour the Shu rebels alive." Emperor Xiaoming said to Xu Zhi of the Yellow Gate, "Are these Ba warriors truly blind?" Zhi replied, "This is Shao's bold rhetoric—he means the Ba are fierce and brave and fear no enemy; they are not actually blind." The emperor laughed heartily and ordered Shao to depart at once. For his merit in resisting Baoyin he was ennobled as Baron of Xincai county. When Erzhu Tianguang served as grand commissioner for the western route, he recommended Shao as staff officer on the grand commission with concurrent appointment as director of the Ministry of Personnel. When Tianguang was defeated, Heba Yue again requested Shao as advisory adjutant on his staff. Later Yue took Shao to herd horses at Gaoping; grieving, Shao composed a poem: "Galloping horses on the mountain slope, thirsty horses drink from the Yellow River. Can it be that below the Hu passes, the song of the Chu traveler is heard again!" When Yue died, Emperor Wen of Zhou also valued him highly. When Emperor Xiaowu moved west, Shao was appointed censor—a post that did not suit him. Depressed and unfulfilled, he sometimes played in the streets or gathered with young men in revelry, not restraining himself—almost as if he had lost his true self. When Emperor Xiaowu died, Zhou Wen and the hundred officials urged Emperor Wen to ascend the throne, submitting memorials encouraging his advance; he had Lü Sil and Xue Kui compose the memorials, and after two submissions the emperor still modestly refused. Zhou Wen said, "Only Duke Dong can write words that move the supreme sovereign!" He then ordered Shao to compose the third memorial; Shao took up the brush and finished it at once. When the memorial was presented, Zhou Wen said, "To open his mind toward accepting the throne—should it not be like this?" Once the throne was taken, he was finally put to use, but Shao criticized the court in discussion and was sentenced to death. His son Si succeeded him.

時有濟郡曹昂，有學識，舉秀才。永安中，除太學博士，兼尚書郎。常徒步上省，以示清貧，忽遇盜，大失綾縑，時人鄙其矯詐。

At that time there was Cao Ang of Ji commandery, a learned man who was recommended as cultivated talent. During the Yong'an era he was appointed academician of the Imperial University with concurrent appointment as a director in the Secretariat. He often walked on foot to the provincial offices to display his purity and poverty; suddenly he was robbed and lost a great quantity of silk brocade—men of the time despised his hypocrisy.

論曰：孫紹關左之士，又能指論時務。張普惠明達典故，強直從官，侃然不撓，其有王臣之風矣。成淹、范紹、劉桃符、鹿悆、張耀、劉道斌、董紹、馮元興等，身遭際會，俱得效其所能，苟曰非才，亦何能致於此也。

The judgment says: Sun Shao was a man of the western passes who could also point out and discuss affairs of the age. Zhang Puhui was clear in classical precedents, upright as a remonstrating official, bold and unyielding—he had the bearing of a true royal minister. Cheng Yan, Fan Shao, Liu Taofu, Lu Yu, Zhang Yao, Liu Daobin, Dong Shao, Feng Yuanxing, and the rest—all encountered their moment and were able to display their abilities; if one says they lacked talent, how could they have reached such heights?

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