Volume 51 Biographies 39: The Northern Qi Imperial Family 1

齊宗室諸王上

The Northern Qi Imperial Clan: Various Princes, Part One

列傳第三十九齊宗室諸王上

Biography 39: The Northern Qi Imperial Clan—Various Princes, Part One

趙郡王琛子睿清河王嶽子勱廣平公盛陽州公永樂襄樂王顯國上洛王思宗子元海弟思好平秦王歸彥兄子普長樂王靈山神武諸子

Prince of Zhao Commandery Chen and his son Rui; Prince of Qinghe Yue and his son Mo; Duke of Guangping Sheng; Duke of Yangzhou Yongle; Prince of Xiangyue Xian'guo; Prince of Shangluo Sizong and his son Yuanhai, with his younger brother Sihao; Prince of Pingqin Guiyan and his nephew Pu; Prince of Changle Lingshan; and the sons of Emperor Shenwu

趙郡王琛，字元寶，齊神武皇帝之弟也。少便弓馬，有志氣。封南趙郡公，累遷定州刺史、六州大都督，甚有聲譽。及斛斯椿等釁結，神武帥師入洛陽，以晉陽根本，召琛留總相府政事，天平中，除御史中尉。正色糾彈，無所回避，遠近肅然。尋亂神武后庭，因杖而斃。時年二十三。，太尉、尚書令，諡曰貞。天平三年，又贈假黃鉞、左丞相、太師、錄尚書事，進爵為王，配享神武廟廷。子睿嗣。

Prince of Zhao Commandery Chen, whose style name was Yuanbao, was the younger brother of Gao Huan, posthumously honored as Emperor Shenwu of Northern Qi. From youth he was adept with bow and horse and possessed a resolute spirit. He was enfeoffed as Duke of Southern Zhao Commandery, rose through successive appointments to Governor of Ding Province and Grand Commander of the Six Provinces, and earned a strong reputation. When Husun Chun and others entered a treacherous compact, Gao Huan led his forces into Luoyang. Because Jinyang was the base of his power, he recalled Chen to remain in charge of the chancellor's office affairs. During the Tianping era Chen was appointed Censor-in-Chief. He investigated wrongdoing with stern impartiality and shrank from nothing; people near and far were awed into discipline. Before long he violated Gao Huan's inner quarters and was beaten to death for it. He was twenty-three years old at the time. He was posthumously appointed Grand Commandant and Director of the Imperial Secretariat, with the posthumous title Zhen. In the third year of Tianping he was further granted the ceremonial yellow axe, the posts of Left Chancellor, Grand Preceptor, and Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat; his rank was advanced to prince; and he was granted a place in the sacrifices at Gao Huan's temple. His son Rui succeeded to his title.

睿小名須拔，幼孤，聰慧夙成，特為神武所愛，養于山公主也。令游娘母之，恩異諸子。魏興和中，襲爵南趙郡公。年至四歲，未嘗識母。其母魏華陽山主也。其從母姊鄭氏戲謂曰：「汝是我姨兒，何倒親遊氏？」睿因訪問，遂失精神。神武疑其感疾，睿曰：「兒無患苦，但聞有所生，欲得暫見。」神武驚，命元夫人至，就宮見之。睿前跪拜，因抱頸大哭。神武甚悲傷，謂平秦王曰：「此兒至孝，吾子無及者。」遂為休務一日。睿讀《孝經》，至「資于事父」，輒流涕噓欷。十歲喪母，神武親送至領軍府。為發哀，舉聲殞絕，三日水漿不入口。神武與武明太后殷勤敦譬，方漸順旨。居喪長齋，骨立，杖而後起。神武令常山王與同臥起，日夜喻之，並敕左右，不許進水。雖絕清漱，午輒不肯食，由是神武食必呼與同案。神武崩，哭泣嘔血。及壯，將婚，貌有戚容。文襄謂曰：「我為爾娶鄭述祖女，何嫌而不樂？」對曰：「自痛孤遺，方從婚冠，彌用感切。」言未卒，鳴咽不自勝，文襄為之憫然。勱之勤學，常夜久方罷。文宣受禪，進爵為王。睿身長七尺，容儀其偉，閑習吏事，有知人之鑒。天保二年，出為定州刺史、六州大都督。時年十七，稱為良牧。六年，詔睿領兵監築長城。于時六月，睿途中屏蓋扇，親與軍人同勞苦。定州先常藏冰，長史宋欽道以睿冒熱，遣倍道送冰，正遇炎盛，咸謂一時之要。睿對之歎曰：「三軍皆飲溫水，吾何義獨進寒冰！」遂至銷液，竟不一嘗，兵人感悅。先是役罷，任其自歸，丁壯先返，羸弱多致僵殞。睿於是親帥營伍，強弱相持，賴全者十三四焉。八年，除都督、北朔州刺史。睿撫慰新遷，量置烽戍，備有條法，大為兵人所安。無水處禱而掘井，泉源湧出，至今號曰趙郡王泉。九年，濟南以太子監國，因立大都督府，與尚書省分理眾事，仍開府置佐史。文宣特崇其選，除睿侍中，攝大都督府長史。睿後因侍宴，帝從容謂常山王演等曰：「由來亦有如此長史不？」

Rui's childhood name was Xubamo. Orphaned while young, he showed precocious intelligence and was especially beloved by Gao Huan, who had him raised by the Princess of Mount Shan. Gao Huan had Youniang act as his foster mother, and the affection shown him differed from that shown to the other sons. In the Xinghe era of Wei he succeeded to the title of Duke of Southern Zhao Commandery. By the age of four he had never met his mother. His mother was the Princess of Mount Hua of Wei. His elder cousin on his mother's side, Lady Zheng, teased him, saying, "You are my nephew by the maternal line—why do you cleave to the You family instead? Rui thereupon made inquiries, and his spirits sank into distress. Gao Huan suspected he had fallen ill. Rui said, "Your son has no affliction; I only heard that I have a birth mother and wish to see her briefly. Gao Huan was startled and ordered Lady Yuan to come so that Rui might see her at the palace. Rui advanced, knelt and bowed, then embraced her neck and wept aloud. Gao Huan was deeply moved and said to the Prince of Pingqin, "This boy is supremely filial; none of my sons can match him. He thereupon suspended official business for a day. When Rui read the Classic of Filial Piety and came to the phrase "take support in serving one's father," he would weep and sob aloud. At ten he lost his mother; Gao Huan personally escorted the coffin to the headquarters of the Palace Guard. When mourning was proclaimed, he cried out until he collapsed; for three days he took neither water nor gruel. Gao Huan and Empress Dowager Wuming earnestly exhorted and comforted him, and only then did he gradually comply with their wishes. During mourning he observed long fasting until he was skin and bone, and could rise only by leaning on a staff. Gao Huan had the Prince of Changshan sleep and rise with him, admonishing him day and night, and also ordered those about him not to let water be brought in. Although he ceased even rinsing his mouth, at noon he still refused food; because of this Gao Huan, whenever he ate, would summon Rui to share his table. When Gao Huan died, Rui wept until he vomited blood. When he reached manhood and was about to marry, his countenance still bore grief. Prince Wenxiang said to him, "I have taken Zheng Shuzu's daughter for you in marriage—why are you displeased and not glad? He replied, "Having long grieved my orphaned state, I am only now entering the capping and marriage years; this makes me feel all the more keenly." Before he finished speaking he sobbed uncontrollably; Wenxiang was moved to pity for him. Rui was diligent in his studies and often did not stop until late at night. When Emperor Wenxuan received the abdication, Rui's rank was advanced to prince. Rui stood seven feet in height, with imposing bearing; he was versed in administrative affairs and had a discerning eye for men. In the second year of Tianbao he went out as Governor of Ding Province and Grand Commander of the Six Provinces. He was seventeen at the time and was acclaimed as an excellent governor. In the sixth year an edict ordered Rui to lead troops in supervising the construction of the Long Wall. It was then the sixth month; on the road Rui set aside canopy and fan and personally shared hardship with the soldiers. Ding Province had long stored ice; the Chief Administrator Song Qindao, seeing Rui suffer the heat, sent ice by forced marches. It happened to be the height of summer, and all said it was a timely necessity. Rui sighed at this and said, "The whole army drinks warm water—what justice is there in my alone taking ice! The ice melted away to liquid, and in the end he did not taste it once; the soldiers were moved and pleased. Previously, when corvée labor ended, men were allowed to return on their own; the strong went back first, and many of the weak collapsed and died on the way. Rui thereupon personally led the camps so that strong and weak supported one another; only thirteen or fourteen in ten survived thanks to this. In the eighth year he was appointed Commander-in-Chief and Governor of Beishuo Province. Rui comforted the newly resettled population, measured out beacon posts and garrisons, and established complete regulations; the soldiers were greatly reassured. Where there was no water he prayed and dug a well; a spring gushed forth, and to this day it is called the Well of the Prince of Zhao Commandery. In the ninth year, because the Prince of Jinan as crown prince supervised the state, a Grand Commander's office was established to divide affairs with the Imperial Secretariat, and a princely establishment with aides and clerks was opened. Wenxuan especially honored the selection and appointed Rui Palace Attendant and acting Chief Administrator of the Grand Commander's office. Later, when Rui attended a banquet, the emperor said at ease to the Prince of Changshan Yan and others, "Has there ever been such a chief administrator as this?"

皇建初，兼併州事。孝昭帝臨崩，預受顧托，奉迎武成於鄴，拜尚書令。天統中，追贈父琛假黃鉞；母元氏贈趙郡王妃，諡曰貞昭，華陽長公主如故。有司備禮儀，就墓拜授。時隆冬盛寒，睿跣步號哭，面皆破裂，嘔血數升。及還，不堪參謝。帝親就第看問，拜司空、攝錄尚書事。

At the beginning of Huangjian he also held the affairs of Bing Province. When Emperor Xiaozhao was near death he received the dying entrustment, welcomed Wucheng at Ye, and was appointed Director of the Imperial Secretariat. In the Tiantong era his father Chen was posthumously granted the ceremonial yellow axe; his mother of the Yuan clan was posthumously made Princess of Zhao Commandery with the posthumous title Zhenzhao, while her title as Princess of Changhua remained as before. The relevant offices prepared the ritual, and the titles were conferred at the tomb. It was deep winter and bitter cold; Rui walked barefoot, wailing as he went, until his face split open and he vomited several sheng of blood. When he returned he could not bear to attend court audiences. The emperor personally visited his residence to inquire after him and appointed him Minister of Works and acting Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat.

河清三年，周師及突厥至并州。武成戎服，將以宮人避之，睿叩馬諫，乃止。帝親禦戎，六軍進止，並令取睿節度，而使段孝先總焉。帝與宮為被緋甲，登故北城以望，軍營甚整。突厥咎周人曰：「爾言齊亂，故來伐之。今齊人眼中亦有鐵，何可當邪！」乃還。至陘嶺，凍滑，乃鋪氈以度。胡馬寒瘦，膝已下皆無毛，比至長城，死且盡。乃截槊杖之以歸。是役也，段孝先持重，不與賊戰，自晉陽失道，為虜所屠，無遺類焉。斛律光自三堆還，帝以遭大寇，抱其頭哭。任城王湝進曰：「何至此！」乃止。光面折孝先於帝前，曰：「段婆善為送女客。」於是以睿為能，加尚書令，封宣城郡公，拜太尉，監五禮。晚節頗以酒色為和士開所構。睿久典朝政，譽望日隆，漸被疏忌。乃撰古忠臣義士，號曰《要言》，以致其意。武成崩。葬後數日，睿與馮翊王潤、安德王延宗及元文遙奏後主云：「和士開不宜仍居內。」併入奏太后。因出士開為袞州刺史。太后欲留過百日，睿正色不許。太后令酌酒賜睿，睿正色曰：「今論國家大事，非為厄酒。」言訖便出。其夜，睿方寢，見一人長可丈五尺，臂丈餘，當門向床，以臂壓睿，良久遂失。甚惡之，起坐歎曰：「大丈夫運命一朝至此！」旦欲入朝，妻子咸諫止之。睿曰：「社稷事重，吾當以死效之。吾寧死事先皇，不忍見朝廷顛沛。」至殿門，又有人曰：「願勿入。」睿曰：「吾上不負天，死亦無恨。」入見太后，太后復以為言，睿執之彌固。出至永巷，被送華林園，於雀離佛院令劉桃枝拉殺之，時年三十六。大霧三日，朝野冤惜之。其年，詔聽以王禮葬，竟無贈諡。子整信嗣，好學有行檢，位儀同三司，後終於長安。

In the third year of Heqing, Zhou troops and the Turks reached Bingzhou. Wucheng put on military dress and was about to flee with the palace women; Rui seized his horse's bridle and remonstrated, and he stopped. The emperor personally took command; advance and halt of the six armies were all ordered to follow Rui's direction, while Duan Xiaoxian was placed in overall command. The emperor and the palace women donned crimson armor and climbed the old north wall to look out; the army camps were very orderly. The Turks reproached the men of Zhou, saying, "You said Qi was in disorder, and so we came to attack it. Now the men of Qi have iron even in their eyes—how can they be withstood! They then withdrew. At Yin Ridge the ground was frozen and slippery, so they spread felt to cross. The barbarian horses were chilled and thin; below the knee they had no hair, and by the time they reached the Long Wall nearly all were dead. They then cut spear-shafts to use as walking sticks on the return. In this campaign Duan Xiaoxian was cautious and did not engage the enemy; he lost the road from Jinyang and was slaughtered by the invaders, none escaping. Hulü Guang returned from Sandui; because of the great calamity the emperor embraced his head and wept. The Prince of Rencheng Tang advanced and said, "Why go so far! He then stopped. Guang openly rebuked Xiaoxian before the emperor, saying, "Old woman Duan is good at escorting women guests. The emperor thereupon regarded Rui as capable, added the post of Director of the Imperial Secretariat, enfeoffed him as Duke of Xuancheng Commandery, appointed him Grand Commandant, and put him in charge of the Five Rites. In his later years he was largely framed by He Shikai on account of wine and women. Rui had long directed court government; his fame and standing grew daily, and he was gradually viewed with suspicion and jealousy. He thereupon compiled ancient loyal ministers and righteous men, calling the work Essential Words, to express his intent. Wucheng died. Several days after the burial, Rui, together with the Prince of Fengyi Run, the Prince of Ande Yanzong, and Yuan Wenyao, memorialized the Later Lord, saying, "He Shikai should not remain within the palace. They also entered together to memorialize the Empress Dowager. He Shikai was therefore sent out as Governor of Yan Province. The Empress Dowager wished to keep him for a hundred days more, but Rui sternly refused. The Empress Dowager ordered wine poured and bestowed on Rui; Rui said with stern countenance, "We are now discussing great affairs of state, not drinking because of ill fortune. When he had spoken he went out at once. That night, as Rui was about to sleep, he saw a man about one zhang five chi tall with arms more than one zhang long standing at the door facing his bed, pressing on Rui with his arms; after a long while he vanished. Greatly alarmed, he rose and sighed, saying, "A great man's fate has in a single morning come to this! At dawn he wished to enter court; his wife and children all admonished him to stop. Rui said, "The affairs of altars and state are weighty; I ought to offer my life in service. I would rather die serving the late emperor than bear to see the court overturned. At the palace gate another man said, "I beg you not to enter." Rui said, "I am not false to Heaven above; even in death I have no regret." He entered and saw the Empress Dowager; she again spoke on the matter, but Rui held all the more firmly to his position. When he went out to the Eternal Lane he was sent to Hualin Park, where at the Sparrow-departure Buddha Hall Liu Taozhi was ordered to strangle him; he was thirty-six. Heavy fog lasted three days; court and country mourned him as wronged. That year an edict permitted burial with princely rites, but in the end no posthumous title was granted. His son Zhengxin succeeded him. He loved learning and conducted himself with integrity, rose to the third rank of Yitong, and later died in Chang'an.

清河王岳，學洪略，神武從父弟也。父翻，字飛雀，以器度知名，卒於侍御中散。元象中，贈假黃鉞、大將軍、太傅、太尉、錄尚書事，諡孝宣公。嶽幼孤貧，人未之知。長而敦直，姿貌嶷然，深沉有器量。初居洛邑，神武每使入洛，必止嶽舍。岳母山氏嘗夜起，見神武室中無火而有光。移於別室，如前所見。怪之。詣卜者筮，遇《乾》之《大有》。占者曰：「吉，《易》稱'飛龍在天，大人造也'，貴不可言。」山氏歸報神武。神武后起兵於信都，山氏謂嶽曰：「赤光之瑞，今當驗矣，汝可從之。」嶽遂往信都，神武見之大悅。

Prince of Qinghe Yue, whose style name was Honglue, was Gao Huan's younger cousin on the father's side. His father Fan, whose style name was Feique, was known for magnanimity and died while serving as Attendant Censor-in-Chief. In the Yuanxiang era he was posthumously granted the ceremonial yellow axe, the posts of Grand General, Grand Tutor, Grand Commandant, and Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat, with the posthumous title Duke Xiaoxuan. Yue was orphaned while young and poor; people did not yet know him. When grown he was honest and upright, with a lofty bearing, and possessed depth of character and great capacity. When he first lived in Luoyang, whenever Gao Huan sent someone into Luoyang, that person would always lodge at Yue's house. Yue's mother of the Shan clan once rose at night and saw light in Gao Huan's room though there was no fire. She moved to another room and saw the same as before. She thought it strange. She went to a diviner to cast the hexagrams and obtained Qian changing to Dazhuang. The diviner said, "Auspicious. The Book of Changes says, 'A flying dragon in heaven—the great man creates,' nobility beyond words. The Shan clan returned and reported this to Gao Huan. After Gao Huan later raised his army at Xindu, the Shan clan said to Yue, "The omen of red light is now to be fulfilled; you may follow him. Yue thereupon went to Xindu; Gao Huan was greatly pleased to see him.

及戰于韓陵，神武將中軍，高昂將左軍，嶽將右軍。中軍敗，嶽舉麾大呼，橫沖賊陣，神武因大破賊。以功除衛將軍、左光祿大夫，封清河郡公。母山氏封郡君，授女侍中，入侍皇后。天平二年，除侍中、六州軍事都督，尋加開府。岳辟引時賢以為僚屬，論者美之。尋授使持節、六州大都督、冀州大中正。俄拜京畿大都督，其六州事悉隸京畿。時神武統務晉陽，嶽與侍中孫騰等京師輔政。嶽性至孝，母疾，衣不解帶。及遭喪去職，哀毀骨立。神武憂之，每日遣人勞勉。尋起復本位，曆冀、晉二州刺史、西南道大都督，有綏邊之稱。

At the battle of Hanling, Gao Huan commanded the center army, Gao Ang the left army, and Yue the right army. The center army was defeated; Yue raised his banner and shouted loudly, charging straight across the enemy formation, and Gao Huan thereby routed the enemy. For his merit he was appointed General of the Guard and Left Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, and enfeoffed as Duke of Qinghe Commandery. His mother of the Shan clan was enfeoffed as Lady of the Commandery; a daughter was appointed Palace Attendant and entered service to the Empress. In the second year of Tianping he was appointed Palace Attendant and Military Commander of the Six Provinces, and soon after given an open office. Yue recruited worthy men of the time to serve as his staff; commentators praised this. Soon he was appointed Bearer of the Staff, Grand Commander of the Six Provinces, and Chief Rectifier of Ji Province. Shortly he was appointed Grand Commander of the Capital Region, and all affairs of the six provinces were placed under the Capital Region. At that time Gao Huan directed affairs from Jinyang; Yue, together with Palace Attendant Sun Teng and others, assisted government in the capital. Yue was supremely filial; when his mother was ill he did not unfasten his belt even to sleep. When he encountered mourning he left office; his grief wasted him to skin and bone. Gao Huan worried for him and every day sent someone to comfort and encourage him. Before long he was recalled to his former post; he served as Governor of Ji and Jin provinces and Grand Commander of the Southwest Circuit, and was acclaimed for pacifying the frontier.

及神武崩，侯景叛，梁武乘間遣其貞陽侯明於寒山，擁泗水灌彭城，與景為掎角聲援。岳總諸軍南討，與行台慕容紹宗擊破明，禽之。景仍于渦陽與左衛將軍劉豐等相持。嶽又破之。以功除太尉。又統慕容紹宗、劉豐等攻王思政於長社。岳引洧水灌城。紹宗、劉豐為思政所獲。西魏出兵援思政，嶽內外防禦，城不沒者三板。會文襄親臨，數日克城，獲思政等。以功別封真定縣男。文襄以為己功，故賞典不弘。

When Gao Huan died, Hou Jing rebelled; Emperor Wu of Liang seized the opportunity and sent his Marquis of Zhenyang Ming to Han Mountain, damming the Si River to flood Pengcheng, coordinating with Jing in mutual support. Yue commanded all armies in the southern campaign and, together with the Mobile Headquarters Murong Shaozong, defeated Ming and captured him. Jing still held at Woyang against Left Guard General Liu Feng and others. Yue again defeated him. For his merit he was appointed Grand Commandant. He also commanded Murong Shaozong, Liu Feng, and others in attacking Wang Sizheng at Changshe. Yue led the Wei River to flood the city. Shaozong and Liu Feng were captured by Sizheng. Western Wei sent troops to aid Sizheng; Yue defended within and without, and the city was submerged only three boards short of the top. When Prince Wenxiang came in person, the city was taken within days and Sizheng and others were captured. For his merit he was separately enfeoffed as Baron of Zhending County. Wenxiang regarded it as his own achievement, so the rewards were not generous.

文襄崩，文宣出撫晉陽，令嶽以本官兼尚書左僕射，留鎮鄴。天保初，進封清河郡王。五年，加太保。為西南道大行台，統司徒潘相樂等救江陵。師次義陽，西魏克荊州。因略地，克郢州，獲梁郢州刺史陸法和，送鄴。詔岳旋師。嶽自討寒山、長社，及出隨、陸，並有功，威名彌重。性華侈，尤悅酒色，歌姬舞女，陳鼎擊鐘，諸王皆莫及。初，高歸彥少孤，神武令嶽撫養。輕其年幼，情禮甚薄，歸彥內銜之。及歸彥為領軍，嶽謂其德己，更倚仗之。歸彥密構其短，奏岳造城南大宅，僭擬為永巷，但無闕耳。帝后夜行，見壯麗，意不平。仍屬帝召鄴下婦人薛氏入宮，而嶽先嘗迎之，至宅，由其姊也。帝縣薛氏姊而鋸殺之，讓嶽，以為奸人女。嶽曰：「臣本欲取之，嫌其輕薄，非奸也。」帝益怒，使高歸彥就宅賜以鴆。嶽曰：「臣無罪。」彥曰：「飲之！」飲而薨。朝野惜之，時年三十四。詔大鴻臚護喪事。贈太宰、太傅、假黃鉞、給轀輬車，諡曰昭武。敕以城南宅為莊嚴寺。

When Wenxiang died, Wenxuan went out to comfort Jinyang and ordered Yue to retain his former office while also serving as Left Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat, remaining to guard Ye. At the beginning of Tianbao his rank was advanced to Prince of Qinghe Commandery. In the fifth year he was made Grand Guardian. He served as Grand Mobile Headquarters of the Southwest Circuit, commanding Minister of Works Pan Xiangyue and others to rescue Jiangling. The army halted at Yiyang; Western Wei captured Jing Province. They thereupon seized territory, captured Ying Province, took Liang's Governor of Ying Lu Fazhi, and sent him to Ye. An edict ordered Yue to withdraw the army. From his campaigns at Han Mountain and Changshe to his expeditions in Sui and Lu, Yue had merit in all; his fame and prestige grew ever heavier. By nature he was luxurious; he especially delighted in wine and women, with singing girls and dancing women, setting out cauldrons and striking bells—none of the princes could match him. Initially, when Gao Guiyan was orphaned young, Gao Huan had Yue raise him. Yue looked down on him for his youth and showed him very little affection; Guiyan harbored resentment within. When Guiyan became Commander of the Palace Guard, Yue thought he owed him a debt and relied on him all the more. Guiyan secretly framed him and memorialized that Yue had built a great mansion south of the city, modeling it on the Eternal Lane, lacking only the gate-towers. The emperor and empress walked at night, saw its grandeur, and were displeased. It happened that the emperor was to summon a woman of Ye named Xue into the palace; Yue had earlier welcomed her to his residence because she was his elder sister's kin. The emperor had Xue's elder sister strung up and sawed to death, reproached Yue, and said she was the daughter of an adulterer. Yue said, "Your servant originally wished to take her but disliked her frivolity; she was not an adulteress. The emperor grew angrier still and had Gao Guiyan go to the residence and bestow poison. Yue said, "Your servant is without crime. Guiyan said, "Drink it!" He drank and died. Court and country mourned him; he was thirty-four. An edict ordered the Grand Master of Ceremonies to oversee the funeral. He was posthumously made Grand Preceptor and Grand Tutor, granted the ceremonial yellow axe and an imperial carriage, with the posthumous title Zhaowu. An edict turned the mansion south of the city into Zhuangyan Temple.

初，岳與神武經綸天下，家有私兵戎器，儲甲千餘領。文襄末，嶽表求納之，文襄推心相任，不許。文宣時，亦頻請納，又不許。將薨，遺表謝恩，並請上甲。葬畢，方許納焉。皇建中，配享文襄廟庭。後歸彥反，武成知其前譖，以歸彥良賤百口贈岳家。贈岳太師、太保，餘如故。子勱。

Initially, when Yue and Gao Huan were ordering the realm, his household had private soldiers and weapons, storing more than a thousand suits of armor. Near the end of Wenxiang's reign Yue memorialized asking to turn them in; Wenxiang trusted him wholeheartedly and did not permit it. In Wenxuan's time he also repeatedly asked to turn them in, and again it was not permitted. When he was about to die he left a final memorial thanking for grace and also asking to present the armor. Only after the burial was permission given to turn it in. In the Huangjian era he was granted a place in the sacrifices at Wenxiang's temple. Later when Guiyan rebelled, Wucheng knew of his earlier slander and gave a hundred mouths of Guiyan's good and base followers to Yue's family. Yue was posthumously made Grand Preceptor and Grand Guardian; the rest remained as before. His son Mo.

勱字敬德，幼聰敏，美風儀，以仁孝聞。七歲襲爵清河王，十四為青州刺史。曆祠部尚書、開府儀同三司，改封安樂侯。性剛直，有才幹。斛律光雅敬之，每征伐則引為副。遷侍中、尚書右僕射。

Mo, whose style name was Jingde, was clever from childhood, with fine bearing, and was known for benevolence and filial piety. At seven he succeeded to the title of Prince of Qinghe; at fourteen he became Governor of Qing Province. He served as Director of the Imperial Sacrifices, Commissioner with the same powers as the Three Excellencies and an open office, and was re-enfeoffed as Marquis of Anle. By nature he was upright and firm and possessed talent and ability. Hulü Guang greatly respected him and on every campaign took him as deputy. He was promoted to Palace Attendant and Right Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat.

及後主為周師所敗，勱奉太后歸鄴。進宦官放縱，儀同苟子溢尤幸。勱將斬以徇，太后救之，乃得釋。劉文殊竊謂勱曰：「子溢之徒，言成禍福，何得如此！」勱攘袂曰：「今西軍日侵，朝貴多叛，正由此輩弄權。若今日殺之，明日就誅，無恨。」文殊甚愧之。勱勸後主，五品已下家略，悉置三臺上，脅之曰：「若戰不捷，則燒之。此輩必死戰，乃可捷也。」後主不從，遂棄鄴東遷。勱恆後殿，為周軍所得。武帝與語，大悅，因問齊亡所由，勱發言流涕，悲不自勝，帝為改容。授開府儀同三司。

When the Later Lord was defeated by Zhou troops, Mo escorted the Empress Dowager back to Ye. Eunuchs were allowed to run wild; Yitong Gou Ziyi was especially favored. Mo was about to execute him as an example; the Empress Dowager saved him, and he was released. Liu Wenshu privately said to Mo, "Ziyi and his sort make words into fortune and calamity—how can you act thus! Mo rolled up his sleeves and said, "Now the western army advances daily and many court nobles rebel—it is precisely because this crowd manipulates power. If I kill them today, even if I am executed tomorrow, I have no regret." Wenshu was deeply ashamed. Mo advised the Later Lord that households of fifth rank and below in the capital should all be placed on the Three Platforms, and threatened them, saying, "If the battle is not won, they will be burned. This crowd will fight to the death, and only then can victory be won. The Later Lord did not follow this and abandoned Ye to flee east. Mo always brought up the rear and was captured by Zhou troops. Emperor Wu of Zhou spoke with him and was greatly pleased; he asked the cause of Qi's fall, and Mo spoke until he wept, overcome with grief; the emperor changed his expression. He was appointed Commissioner with the same powers as the Three Excellencies and an open office.

隋文帝為丞相，謂曰：「齊亡由任邪佞，公父子忠良，聞於鄰境，宜善自愛。」勱拜謝曰：「勱，亡齊末屬，不能扶危定傾，既蒙獲宥，已多優幸，況濫叨名級，致速官謗。」帝甚器之。再遷楚州刺史。城北有伍子胥廟，其俗敬鬼，祈者必以牛酒，至破產業。勱歎曰：「子胥賢者，豈宜損百姓乎！」告諭所部，自是遂止。百姓賴之。

When Emperor Wen of Sui was Chancellor he said to him, "Qi fell because wicked and flattering men were employed; you father and son are loyal and good, known in neighboring states—you should take good care of yourselves. Mo bowed in thanks and said, "Mo is a remnant subject of fallen Qi and could not shore up peril and right the tipping vessel. Having received pardon, I already enjoy excessive favor; how much more if I presumptuously accept rank and title and hasten official censure." The emperor greatly valued him. He was again transferred to Governor of Chu Province. North of the city was a temple to Wu Zixu; the local custom revered ghosts, and those who prayed had to offer cattle and wine, even to the ruin of their households. Mo sighed and said, "Zixu was a worthy man—how could he be made to harm the common people! He announced this to his jurisdiction, and from then on it ceased. The people came to depend on him.

開皇七年，轉光州刺史。上表曰：「陳氏數年已來，荒悖滋甚，天厭亂德，妖實人興。或空裏時有大聲，或行路共傳鬼怪，或刳人肝以祠天狗，或自捨身以厭妖訛。人神怨憤，怪異薦發。臣以庸才，猥蒙朝寄，頻曆蕃守，與其鄰接。密邇仇仇，知其動靜。天討有罪，此即其時。若戎車雷動，戈船電邁，臣雖駑怯，請效鷹犬。」並上平陳五策，帝嘉之，答以優詔。及大舉伐陳，以勱為行軍總管，從宜陽公王世積下陳江州，以功拜上開府，賜物三千段。時隴右諸羌，數為寇亂。朝廷以勱有威名，拜洮州刺史。下車大崇威惠，人夷悅附，豪猾屏跡，路不拾遺，以善政稱。後吐谷渾來寇，勱時遇疾，不能拒戰，賊遂大掠而去。憲司奏勱亡戶口，坐免，卒於家。大唐褒顯前代名臣，追贈都督四州諸軍事、定州刺史。子士廉最知名。

In the seventh year of Kaihuang, he was made Governor of Guang Province. He submitted a memorial saying, "In recent years the Chen regime has grown ever more lawless and corrupt; Heaven has turned against their disorder, and omens have sprung up through human folly. Sometimes thunderous voices rang from empty sky; travelers traded rumors of ghosts and monsters; some gouged out livers to offer to the Heavenly Dog; others sacrificed themselves to ward off demonic delusions. Heaven and earth seethed with resentment, and uncanny events broke out in succession. I am a man of modest ability who has undeservedly received the court's commission, having served repeatedly on the frontier where our lands adjoin theirs. Living right on Chen's border, I know their every move. Heaven's judgment is upon the guilty—now is the time to strike. When the war chariots thunder forth and the warships race like lightning, though I am slow and faint-hearted, I ask only to serve as your hunting hawk and hound." He also submitted five plans for conquering Chen. The emperor praised him and answered with a gracious edict. When the empire launched its full assault on Chen, Mo was appointed campaign commander-in-chief. Following Yiyang Duke Wang Shiji, he drove down into Chen's Jiang Province; for his service he was made Superlative Opening Grandee and rewarded with three thousand bolts of goods. At that time the Qiang tribes of Longyou were constantly raiding and causing disorder. The court, knowing Mo's reputation for stern authority, appointed him Governor of Tao Province. From the day he took office he combined firm authority with generous kindness. Chinese and tribesmen alike gladly submitted, local bullies disappeared, and people no longer bothered to pick up lost goods on the road—his rule became a byword for good government. Later Tuyuhun invaded while Mo lay ill and unable to fight; the raiders looted the region extensively before withdrawing. The censorate reported that Mo had failed to protect his people; he was removed from office and died at home. When the Tang later honored distinguished ministers of earlier dynasties, Mo was posthumously granted the title of Commander-in-Chief over four provinces and Governor of Ding Province. His son Shilian became the best known of his children.

廣平公盛，神武從叔祖也。寬厚有長者風。神武起兵於信都，盛來赴，以為中軍大都督，封廣平郡公。歷位司徒、太尉。天平三年，薨於位，贈假黃鉞、太尉、太師、錄尚書事。無子，以兄子子瑗嗣。天保初，改封平昌王，卒于魏尹。

Duke of Guangping, Sheng, was Shenwu's granduncle on the maternal line. He was generous and mild, with the dignified bearing of a true elder. When Shenwu raised his army at Xindu, Sheng rallied to his side and was appointed Grand Commander of the Central Army and enfeoffed as Duke of Guangping Commandery. He rose through the ranks to serve as Minister over the Masses and Grand Commandant. In the third year of Tianping he died in office and was posthumously granted the ceremonial yellow battle-axe, the titles of Grand Commandant and Grand Preceptor, and the post of Recorder of the Masters of Writing. He had no sons, so his elder brother's son Ziyuan inherited his line. At the start of the Tianbao reign his title was changed to Prince of Pingchang, and he died in the Wei capital.

陽州公永樂，神武從祖兄子也。太昌初，封陽州縣伯，進爵為公，累遷北豫州刺史。河橋之戰，司徒高昂失利奔退，永樂守洛陽南城。昂走趣城南，西軍追者將至，永樂不開門，昂遂為西軍所禽。神武大怒，杖之二百。後罷豫州，家產不立。神武問其故，對曰：「裴監為長史，辛公正為別駕，受王委寄，鬥酒只雞不敢入。」神武乃以永樂為濟州，仍以監、公正為長史、別駕。謂永樂曰：「爾勿大貪，小小義取莫復畏。」永樂至州，監、公正諫不見聽，以狀啟神武。神武封啟以示永樂，然後知二人清直，並擢用之。永樂卒於州，贈太師、太尉、錄尚書事，諡曰武昭。無子，從兄思宗以第二子孝緒為後，襲爵。天保初，改封脩城郡王。

Duke of Yangzhou, Yongle, was the son of Shenwu's granduncle's elder brother. At the start of Taichang he was made Marquis of Yangzhou County, later raised to duke, and eventually rose to Governor of Northern Yu Province. At the Battle of Heqiao, Minister over the Masses Gao Ang was defeated and fled, while Yongle held the southern quarter of Luoyang. Ang ran for the southern city as the western army closed in, but Yongle refused to open the gates, and Ang was captured by the enemy. Shenwu flew into a rage and had him beaten two hundred strokes with the staff. Later he was removed from Yu Province and never managed to build up his family fortune. Shenwu asked why, and he answered, "Pei Jian was chief administrator and Xin Gongzheng was vice governor. Entrusted by Your Highness, they would not accept even the smallest gift. Shenwu then made Yongle Governor of Ji Province and reappointed Jian and Gongzheng as chief administrator and vice governor. He told Yongle, "Do not be too greedy—but a modest taking on grounds of propriety need not worry you. When Yongle arrived in the province, Jian and Gongzheng protested, but he ignored them and they reported his conduct to Shenwu. Shenwu sealed their report and showed it to Yongle, who then realized how upright and honest the two men were; both were promoted and given greater responsibility. Yongle died in office and was posthumously granted the titles of Grand Preceptor and Grand Commandant and the post of Recorder of the Masters of Writing; his posthumous name was Wuzhao. He had no sons, so his elder clansman Sizong's second son Xiaoxu was adopted as heir and inherited the title. At the start of the Tianbao reign his title was changed to Prince of Xiucheng Commandery.

永樂弟長弼，小名阿伽。性粗武，出入城市，好毆擊行路，時人皆呼為阿伽郎君。以宗室封廣武王。時有天恩道人，至凶暴，橫行閭肆，後入長弼黨，專以鬥為事。文宣並收掩付獄，天恩等十餘人皆棄市，長弼鞭一百。尋為南營州刺史，在州無故自驚走。叛亡入突厥，竟不知死所。

Yongle's younger brother Changbi went by the childhood name Aga. He was rough and violent by nature and liked to assault passersby in the streets; people called him Lord Aga. As a member of the imperial clan he was enfeoffed as Prince of Guangwu. There was a Daoist called Tian'en, a man of extreme violence who terrorized the streets; he later joined Changbi's circle and lived only for fighting. Emperor Wenxuan had them arrested; Tian'en and more than ten others were executed in public, and Changbi was flogged one hundred strokes. He was soon appointed Governor of Southern Ying Province, but while in office he suddenly panicked and fled for no clear reason. He fled to the Turks as a defector, and no one ever learned where he died.

上洛王思宗，神武從子也。性寬和，頗有武幹。天保初，封上洛郡王。歷位司空、太傅，薨於官。

Prince of Shangluo, Sizong, was Shenwu's nephew. He was gentle and even-tempered by nature, yet showed real talent for military affairs. At the start of the Tianbao reign he was enfeoffed as Prince of Shangluo Commandery. He served as Minister of Works and Grand Tutor in turn and died in office.

子元海，累遷散騎常侍，願處山林，修行釋典，文宣許之。乃入林慮山，經二年，絕棄人事。志不能固，自啟求歸。徵復本任，便縱酒肆情，廣納姬侍。又除領軍將軍。器小志大，頗以智謀自許。皇建末，孝昭幸晉陽，武成居守，元海以散騎常侍留典機密。初，孝昭之誅楊愔等，謂武成雲，事成，以汝為皇太弟。及踐位，乃使武成在鄴主兵，立子百年為皇太子，武成甚不平。

His son Yuanhai rose to Attendant Cavalier in Regular Attendance, but wished to retire to the mountains and devote himself to Buddhist scripture; Emperor Wenxuan allowed it. He withdrew to Mount Linlu and for two years cut himself off entirely from the world. His resolve failed him, and he asked permission to come back. Recalled to his old office, he immediately abandoned restraint, drinking freely and taking concubines in great number. He was later appointed General of the Palace Guard. Petty in talent but grand in ambition, he fancied himself a master of intrigue. At the end of Huangjian, when Emperor Xiaozhao went to Jinyang and Wucheng stayed behind to guard the capital, Yuanhai remained as Attendant Cavalier in Regular Attendance in charge of confidential matters. When Xiaozhao had Yang Yin and his allies killed, he had promised Wucheng, "When this succeeds, I will make you Imperial Younger Brother." Once on the throne, however, he kept Wucheng at Ye in command of troops, made his own son Bainian crown prince, and Wucheng was deeply aggrieved.

先是，恆留濟南於鄴，除領軍厙狄伏連為幽州刺史，以斛律豐樂為領軍，以分武成之權。武成留伏連而不聽豐樂視事。乃與河陽王孝瑜偽獵，謀於野，暗乃歸。先是童謠云：「中興寺內白鳧翁，四方側聽聲雍雍，道人聞之夜打鐘。」時丞相府在北城中，即舊中興寺也；鳧翁謂雄雞，蓋指武成小字步落稽也；道人，濟南王小名也；打鐘，言將被擊也。既而太史奏言，北城有天子氣，昭帝以為濟南應之，乃使平秦王歸彥之鄴，迎濟南赴并州。武成先告元海，並問自安之計。元海曰：「皇太后萬福，至尊孝性非常，殿下不須別慮。」武成曰：「此豈我推誠之意邪？」元海乞還省一夜思之。武成即留元海後堂，元海達旦不眠，唯繞床徐步。夜漏未盡，武成遽出曰：「神算如何？」答云：「夜中得三策，恐不堪用耳。」因說梁孝王懼誅入關事，請乘數騎入晉陽，先見太后求哀，後見主上，請去兵權，以死為限，求不幹朝政，必保太山之安，此上策也；若不然，當具表雲威權大盛，恐取謗眾口，請青、齊二州刺史，沉靖自居，必不招物議，此中策也。更問下策，曰：「發言即恐族誅。」因逼之，答曰：「濟南世嫡，主上假太后令而奪之，今集文武，示以此敕，執豐樂，斬歸彥，尊濟南，號令天下，以順討逆，此萬世一時也。」武成大悅，狐疑，竟未能用。乃使鄭道謙卜之，皆曰：「不利舉事，靜則吉。」又召曹魏祖問之國事，對曰：「當有大凶。」又時有林慮令姓籓，知占候，密謂武成曰：「宮車當晏駕，殿下為天下王。」武成拘之於內以候之。又令巫覡卜之，多雲不須舉兵，自有大慶。武成乃奉詔，令數百騎送濟南于晉陽。及孝昭崩，武成即位，除元海侍中、開府儀同三司、太子詹事。河清二年，元海為和士開譖，被馬鞭六十，責云：「爾在鄴城說我以弟反兄，幾許不義！以鄴城兵馬抗并州，幾許無智！不義無智，若為可使？」出為兗州刺史。

He had long kept Prince Jinan at Ye, appointed Palace Guard General Ku Di Fulin Governor of You Province, and made Hu Lü Fengle the new Palace Guard General to split Wucheng's authority. Wucheng kept Fulin at his side and refused to let Fengle take up office. He then staged a hunting expedition with Prince of Heyang Xiaoyu, plotted with him in the open country, and slipped back under cover of night. A children's rhyme had earlier run, "In Zhongxing Temple, the white duck old man; from every side they listen—his voice is deep and clear; the Daoist hears it and the bell is struck at night. At the time the chancellor's residence stood in the northern city—the site of the old Zhongxing Temple; "duck old man" meant the cock, and referred to Wucheng's childhood name Buluoqi; "the Daoist" was Prince Jinan's childhood name; "beats the bell" meant that he would soon be attacked. Soon the court astronomers reported an imperial aura over the northern city; Emperor Zhao believed Jinan was the omen's subject and sent Prince of Pingqin Guiyan to Ye to bring Jinan to Bing Province. Wucheng confided in Yuanhai first and asked how he might save himself. Yuanhai said, "The Empress Dowager is blessed with long life, and the emperor is profoundly filial—Your Highness has nothing else to fear. Wucheng said, "Is that what you call speaking to me in good faith?" Yuanhai asked leave to withdraw for one night and think it over. Wucheng detained him in the rear hall; Yuanhai did not sleep until dawn, pacing slowly around the bed. Before the night was half over, Wucheng came out abruptly and asked, "Well—what does your divine reckoning say? He answered, "I thought of three plans in the night, though I fear none may serve." He then cited Prince Xiao of Liang, who had fled into the passes fearing death, and urged Wucheng to ride into Jinyang with a small escort, first throw himself on the Empress Dowager's mercy, then ask the emperor to strip him of military power, swear to keep out of politics, and accept death if need be—thus securing safety as firm as Mount Tai; that was the best plan; If not, he should memorialize that his power had grown too great and invited gossip, and ask to be sent as governor of Qing and Qi Provinces to live quietly—surely drawing no scandal; that was the second plan. When pressed for the worst plan, he said, "If I speak, I fear the whole clan will be destroyed. Pressed again, he said, "Jinan is the rightful heir; the emperor took the throne from him with a forged order from the Empress Dowager. Summon the officials, expose the decree, arrest Fengle, kill Guiyan, restore Jinan, and proclaim him to the empire—righteousness against usurpation. Such a chance comes once in an age." Wucheng was delighted but wavered, and in the end could not bring himself to act. He had Zheng Daoqian cast the oracle; all the signs said action would fail and stillness would bring fortune. He also called in Cao Weizu to ask about the realm; the answer was, "Great disaster awaits." There was also the magistrate of Linlu, Fan by surname, skilled in divination, who secretly told Wucheng, "The emperor's carriage will soon stop; Your Highness will rule the realm." Wucheng kept him confined indoors to see whether the prophecy would come true. He had shamans consult the spirits as well; most said he need not mobilize—great fortune would come unbidden. Wucheng then obeyed the order and sent several hundred horsemen to escort Jinan to Jinyang. After Xiaozhao's death Wucheng took the throne and made Yuanhai Palace Attendant, Grand Master with the same powers as the Three Excellencies and an open office, and Tutor of the Crown Prince. In the second year of Heqing, He Shikai slandered Yuanhai; he was flogged sixty strokes with the horsewhip and rebuked: "At Ye you urged me to have a younger brother rebel against his elder brother—how shameless! To raise Ye's armies against Bing Province—how stupid! Faithless and foolish—what use is such a man? He was demoted to Governor of Yan Province.

元海後妻，陸太姬甥也，故尋被追任使。武平中，與祖珽共執朝政。元海多乙太姬密語告珽。珽求領軍，元海不可，珽乃以其所告報太姬。姬怒，出元海為鄭州刺史。鄴城將敗，徵為尚書令。周建德七年，於鄴城謀逆，伏誅。

Yuanhai's second wife was a niece of Empress Lu, so he was soon recalled and given office again. During the Wuping era he and Zu Ting jointly controlled the government. Yuanhai often visited Empress Lu in private and told Ting what she had confided. When Ting asked for the post of Palace Guard General, Yuanhai refused; Ting then told the empress everything Yuanhai had relayed. The empress was furious and had Yuanhai sent out as Governor of Zheng Province. As Ye was on the verge of collapse, he was recalled to serve as Director of the Masters of Writing. In the seventh year of Jiande of Northern Zhou, he plotted rebellion at Ye and was put to death.

元海好亂樂禍，然詐仁慈，不飲酒啖肉。文宣天保末年，敬信內法，乃至宗廟不血食，皆元海所為。及為右僕射，又說後主禁屠宰，斷酤酒。然本心非靖，故終致覆敗。

Yuanhai loved turmoil and courted disaster, yet he feigned kindness and abstained from wine and meat. In the late Tianbao years of Emperor Wenxuan, he led the court to embrace Buddhism so fervently that even the ancestral temple ceased blood sacrifice—all at Yuanhai's instigation. Once made Right Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat, he again urged the Later Lord to forbid slaughter and ban wine sales. Yet his heart was never at peace, and in the end he brought about his own ruin.

思宗弟思好，本浩氏子也，思宗養以為弟，遇之甚薄。少以騎射事文襄。及文宣受命，為左衛大將軍。本名思孝，天保五年討蠕蠕，文宣悅其驍勇，謂曰：「爾擊賊如鶻入鴉群，宜思好事。」故改名焉。累遷尚書令、朔州道行台、朔州刺史、開府、南安王。甚得邊朔人心。

Sizong's younger brother Sihao was born to the Hao clan; Sizong adopted him as a brother but treated him very harshly. In youth he served Prince Wenxiang as a master of horsemanship and archery. When Wenxuan received the mandate, Sihao was appointed General of the Left Guard. His original name was Sixiao. In the fifth year of Tianbao, on campaign against the Rouran, Wenxuan praised his fierce bravery and said, "You strike the enemy like a hawk among crows—you ought to turn that spirit to worthy deeds. He was therefore given a new name. He rose through successive posts to Director of the Imperial Secretariat, Grand Mobile Headquarters of the Shuozhou Circuit, Governor of Shuozhou, Commissioner with an open office, and Prince of Nan'an. He won the deep loyalty of the northern frontier peoples.

後主時，斫骨光弁奉使至州，思好迎之甚謹。光弁倨傲，思好因心銜恨。武平五年，遂舉兵反，與并州諸貴書曰：「主上少長深宮，未辨人之情偽，昵近凶狡，疏遠忠良。遂使刀鋸刑餘，貴溢軒階；商胡丑類，擅權帷幄。剝削生靈，劫掠朝市，暗於聽受，專行忍害。幽母深宮，無復人子之禮；二弟殘戮，頓絕孔懷之義。仍縱子立奪馬於東門，光弁制鷹於西市；駁龍得儀同之號，逍遙受郡君之名。犬馬班位，榮冠軒冕，人不堪役，思長亂階。趙郡王睿，實曰宗英，社稷惟寄。左相斛律明月，世為元輔，威著鄰國，並非有辜，奄見誅殄。孤既忝預皇枝，實蒙殊獎，今便擁率義兵，指除君側之害。幸悉此懷，無致疑惑。」行台郎王行思之辭也。

During the Later Lord's reign, Zhuogu Guangbian arrived at the province on a mission; Sihao received him with scrupulous courtesy. Guangbian behaved arrogantly, and Sihao nursed a grudge. In the fifth year of Wuping he rose in rebellion and wrote to the Bingzhou nobles, saying, "The sovereign was raised deep in the palace and cannot tell honest men from deceivers; he favors the vicious and estranges the loyal. Thus eunuchs and mutilated favorites overflow the palace steps; Sogdian merchants of the vilest sort monopolize power behind the curtain. They strip the people bare, plunder court and market alike, turn a deaf ear to justice, and practice cruelty without restraint. The empress dowager is immured in the palace, denied even a son's proper rites; two imperial brothers were slaughtered, cutting off the ties of kinship. They still let Zili seize horses at the eastern gate and Guangbian train hawks in the western market; Bolong was given the rank of Yitong and Xiaoyao the title of Lady of a Commandery. Dogs and horses hold court rank above true ministers; the people cannot bear their burdens and hunger for chaos. Prince of Zhao Commandery Rui is truly the clan's finest man, the hope of the realm. Left Chancellor Hulü Mingyue, a chief minister for generations whose fame reached neighboring states—both were guiltless yet were suddenly put to death. Though unworthy of the imperial line, I have received extraordinary grace; now I lead righteous troops to purge evil beside the throne. I trust you will understand my purpose and harbor no doubts. The letter was composed by Wang Xingsi of the Mobile Headquarters.

思好至陽曲，自號大丞相，置百官，以行台左丞王尚之為長史。武衛趙海在晉陽掌兵，時倉卒，不暇奏，矯詔發兵拒之。軍士皆曰：「南安王來，我輩唯須唱萬歲奉迎耳。」帝聞變，使唐邕、莫多婁敬顯、劉桃枝、中領軍厙狄士文馳之晉陽，帝勒兵續進。思好軍敗，與行思投水而死。其麾下二千人，桃枝圍之，且殺且招，終不降，以至於盡。時帝在道，叱奴世安自晉陽遂露布，于城平都遇斛斯孝卿，孝卿誘使食，因馳詣行宮，叫已了。帝大歡，左右呼萬歲。良久，世安乃以狀自陳。帝曰：「告爾何物事？乃得坐食！」於是賞孝卿而免世安罪。暴思好屍七日，然後屠剝焚之，烹尚之於鄴市，令內參射其妃于宮內，仍火焚殺之。

Sihao reached Yangqu, proclaimed himself Grand Chancellor, set up a full bureaucracy, and made Wang Shangzhi, Left Assistant of the Mobile Headquarters, his chief administrator. Wuwei Zhao Hai commanded troops at Jinyang; in the crisis there was no time for memorials, so he forged an edict and mobilized troops to resist. The soldiers said, "The Prince of Nan'an is here—we have only to shout long life and welcome him. Hearing of the revolt, the emperor sent Tang Yong, Moduolou Jingxian, Liu Taozhi, and Central Palace Guard Commander Ku Di Shiwen racing to Jinyang, then led the army after them. Sihao's army was defeated; he and Xingsi drowned themselves. Taozhi surrounded his two thousand men, killing and summoning by turns; none would surrender, and all were slain. The emperor was still on the road when Chinu Shi'an brought the victory bulletin from Jinyang; at Pingdu in Yucheng he met Hulü Xiaoqing, who persuaded him to eat, then raced to the traveling palace shouting that all was done. The emperor was overjoyed; his attendants shouted long life. Only after a long while did Shi'an present his own report. The emperor said, "What business did you report to him? And yet you sat down to eat! He rewarded Xiaoqing and pardoned Shi'an. Sihao's corpse was exposed seven days, then butchered and burned; Shangzhi was boiled alive in the Ye market; a palace attendant shot his consort inside the palace, then burned her body.

思好反前五旬，有人告其謀反。韓長鸞女適思好子，故奏言有人誣告諸貴，事相擾動，不殺無以息後，乃斬之。思好既誅，死者弟伏闕下訴求贈兄，長鸞不為通也。

Fifty days before the revolt someone reported Sihao's plot. Han Changluan's daughter had married Sihao's son; he memorialized that nobles were being falsely accused and affairs disturbed, and that unless the informant was killed the trouble would not cease—so the man was beheaded. After Sihao's death the informant's younger brother petitioned at the gate for honors for his brother; Changluan refused to transmit it.

平秦王歸彥，字仁英，神武族弟也。父徽，魏末坐事當徙涼州。行至河、渭間，遇賊，以軍功得免流。因於河州積年，以解胡言為西域大使，得胡師子，以功行河東事，遂死焉。徽于神武，舊恩甚篤。及神武平京洛，迎徽喪，與穆同營葬。贈司徒，諡曰文宣。

Prince of Pingqin Guiyan, styled Renying, was Gao Huan's paternal clansman. His father Hui, late in Wei, was convicted and sentenced to banishment in Liang Province. Between the He and Wei rivers he met bandits and, through military merit, was spared exile. He remained many years in He Province; knowing barbarian languages he became envoy to the Western Regions, obtained a barbarian lion, and through merit administered Hedong, where he died. Hui and Gao Huan shared an old bond of deep kindness. When Gao Huan took Luoyang he brought back Hui's coffin and buried him in the same camp as Mu. He was posthumously made Minister over the Masses with the posthumous title Wenhuan.

濟南自晉陽之鄴，楊愔宣敕，留從駕兵五千於西中，陰備非常。至鄴數日，歸彥乃知之，由是陰怨楊、燕等。楊、燕等欲去二王，問計於歸彥。歸彥詐喜，請共元海量之。元海亦口許心違，馳告長廣。長廣於是誅楊、燕等。孝昭將入雲龍門，都督成休甯列仗拒而不內，歸彥諭之，然後得入。進向柏閣、永巷亦知之。孝昭踐阼，以此彌見優重。每入，常在平原王段韶上。以為司空，兼尚書令。齊制，宮內唯天子紗帽，臣下皆戎帽。特賜歸彥紗帽以寵之。孝昭崩，歸彥從晉陽迎武成於鄴。及武成即位，進位太傅，領司徒，常聽將私部曲三人，帶刀入仗。從武成還都，諸貴戚等競要之。其所往處，一坐盡傾。歸彥既地居將相，志氣盈滿，發言陵侮，傍若無人。議者以威權震主，必為禍亂。上亦尋其前翻覆之跡，漸忌之。高元海、畢義雲、高乾和等咸數言其短。上幸歸彥家，召魏收對禦作詔草，欲加右丞相。收曰：「至尊以右丞相登帝位，今為歸彥威名太盛，故出之，豈可復加此號？」乃拜太宰、冀州刺史。即乾和繕寫。晝日，仍敕門司不聽輒內。時歸彥在家縱酒，經宿不知，至明欲參。至門知之，大驚而退。及通名謝，敕令早發，別賜錢帛、鼓吹、醫藥，事事周備。又敕武職督將，悉送至清陽宮。拜而退，莫敢共語。唯與趙郡王睿久語，時無聞者。

When Prince Jinan went from Jinyang to Ye, Yang Yin proclaimed an edict leaving five thousand escort troops in the Western Palace as a secret precaution. Several days after reaching Ye, Guiyan learned of it and secretly resented Yang, Yan, and their faction. Yang, Yan, and their allies wished to remove the two princes and sought Guiyan's advice. Guiyan feigned delight and asked to consult Yuanhai together. Yuanhai promised with his mouth but opposed in his heart, and raced to inform Prince Changguang. Prince Changguang thereupon executed Yang, Yan, and their allies. When Xiaozhao was about to enter Yunlong Gate, Commander Cheng Xiuning drew up troops and barred him; Guiyan persuaded him, and only then was entry granted. He knew the way equally well advancing toward the Cypress Pavilion and the Eternal Lane. When Xiaozhao took the throne, Guiyan was all the more favored for this. Whenever he attended court he was seated above Prince of Pingyuan Duan Shao. He was appointed Minister of Works and concurrently Director of the Imperial Secretariat. Under Qi law only the emperor wore the gauze cap within the palace; all officials wore military caps. Guiyan alone was granted a gauze cap as a special mark of favor. When Xiaozhao died, Guiyan went from Jinyang to Ye to welcome Wucheng. When Wucheng took the throne, Guiyan was made Grand Tutor and head of the Secretariat, and was regularly allowed three armed retainers from his private guard in the honor guard. Returning to the capital with Wucheng, the nobles all competed to host him. Wherever he went, the whole gathering was swayed. Now a general and minister, Guiyan's pride overflowed; he spoke with insulting arrogance as if no one else were present. Observers said his power overshadowed the throne and would surely bring disaster. The emperor also recalled his earlier betrayals and grew suspicious. Gao Yuanhai, Bi Yiyun, Gao Qianhe, and others repeatedly denounced him. The emperor visited Guiyan's home and summoned Wei Shou to draft an edict in his presence, intending to make him Right Chancellor. Shou said, "Your Majesty took the throne as Right Chancellor; now Guiyan's power is too great, so he is being sent away—how can that title be restored? He was instead appointed Grand Preceptor and Governor of Ji Province. Qianhe copied it out immediately. That same day an edict ordered the gate guards not to admit him without permission. Guiyan was at home drinking heavily and knew nothing until dawn, when he set out for court. At the gate he learned the news and fled in alarm. When he presented thanks, an edict ordered him to depart early; money, silks, musicians, and medicines were all lavishly granted. Military supervisors and generals were ordered to escort him to Qingyang Palace. He bowed and withdrew; none dared speak with him. Only with Prince of Zhao Commandery Rui did he speak at length; no one overheard.

至州不自安，謀逆，欲待受調訖，班賜軍士。望車駕如晉陽，乘虛入鄴。為其郎中令呂思禮所告，詔平原王段韶襲之。歸彥舊于南境置私驛，聞軍將逼，報之，便嬰城拒守。先是，冀州長史宇文仲鸞、司馬李祖挹、別駕陳季璩、中從事房子弼、長樂郡守尉普興等疑歸彥有異，使連名密啟，歸彥追而獲之，遂收禁仲鸞等五人。仍並不從，皆殺之。軍已逼城，歸彥登城大叫云：「孝昭皇帝初崩，六軍百萬眾，悉由臣手，投身向鄴迎陛下。當時不反，今日豈有異心？正恨高元海、畢義雲、高乾和誑惑聖上，疾忌忠良。但為殺此三人，即臨城自刎。」其後城破，單騎北走。至交津，見獲，鎖送鄴。帝令趙郡王睿私問其故，歸彥曰：「使黃頷少兒牽挽我，何可不反？」曰：「誰邪？」歸彥曰：「元海、乾和，豈是朝廷老宿？如趙家老公時，又詎懷怨？」於是帝又使讓焉。對曰：「高元海受畢義雲宅，用作本州刺史，給後部鼓吹，臣為蕃王、太宰，仍不得鼓吹。正殺元海、義雲而已。」上令都督劉桃枝牽入，歸彥猶作前語，望活。帝命議其罪，皆云不可赦。乃載以露車，銜枚面縛，劉桃枝臨之以刃，擊鼓隨之，並子孫十五人，皆棄市。贈仁州刺史。

In the province he grew uneasy and plotted rebellion, intending to wait until transfer orders came and he could reward the troops. He hoped the emperor would go to Jinyang so he could strike at Ye. His Bureau Director Lü Sil reported him; an edict ordered Prince of Pingyuan Duan Shao to attack. Guiyan had long kept private courier posts on the southern border; hearing troops approach, he alerted his men and held the city. Earlier Ji Province officials Yuwen Zhongluan, Li Zuyi, Chen Jiji, Fang Zibi, and Wei Puxing had suspected Guiyan and sent a joint secret memorial; he pursued them, seized them, and imprisoned all five. They still refused submission, and all were killed. The army was at the walls; Guiyan climbed the ramparts and shouted, "When Emperor Xiaozhao died, a million men of the six armies were in my hands; I raced to Ye to welcome Your Majesty. I did not rebel then—how could I rebel now? I hate only Gao Yuanhai, Bi Yiyun, and Gao Qianhe, who deceive the emperor and destroy the loyal. Kill these three and I will come to the wall and take my own life. When the city fell he fled north alone on horseback. At Jiaojin he was captured and sent in chains to Ye. The emperor had Prince of Zhao Commandery Rui question him privately; Guiyan said, "When yellow-bearded boys drag me about, how could I not rebel? He was asked, "Who?" Guiyan said, "Yuanhai and Qianhe—are they the court's elder statesmen? When it was men like the old Zhao prince, how could I resent them?" The emperor then sent someone to reproach him again. He replied, "Gao Yuanhai took Bi Yiyun's house for his provincial seat and received imperial musicians; I was a frontier prince and Grand Preceptor yet got none. Killing Yuanhai and Yiyun would be enough. The emperor ordered Commander Liu Taozhi to drag him in; Guiyan still repeated his plea, hoping to live. The emperor ordered his crimes debated; everyone agreed he could not be spared. He was placed on an open cart, gagged and bound face-forward, Liu Taozhi hovering over him with a blade while drums sounded; he and fifteen descendants were all put to death in the market. He was posthumously appointed Governor of Ren Province.

魏時山崩，得石角二，藏在武庫。文宣入庫，賜從臣兵器，特以二石角與歸彥，謂曰：「爾事常山不得反，事長廣得反，反時，將此角嚇漢。」歸彥額骨三道，著幘不安。文宣見之怒，使以馬鞭擊其額，血被面曰：「爾反時，當以此骨嚇漢。」其言反，竟驗云。

In Wei times a landslide yielded two stone horns, which were kept in the imperial armory. Wenxuan entered the armory to distribute weapons among his followers and singled out the two stone horns for Guiyan, saying, "Serving the Prince of Changshan, you never rebelled; serving the Prince of Changguang, you did. When you rebel, scare the Han with these horns. Guiyan's forehead bore three prominent ridges, and a cap would not sit properly on his head. Wenxuan flew into a rage at the sight and had his forehead lashed with a horsewhip until blood streamed down his face, saying, "When you rebel, frighten the Han with these bones of yours. His talk of rebellion proved true in the end.

武興王普，字德廣，歸彥兄歸義之子也。性寬和，有度量。九歲歸彥自河州俱入洛，神武使與諸子同遊處。天保初，封武興郡王。武平二年，累遷司空。六年，為豫州道行台尚書令。後主奔鄴，就加太宰。周師逼，乃降。卒于長安，贈上開府、豫州刺史。

Prince Pu of Wuxing, whose style name was Deguang, was the son of Guiyi, Guiyan's elder brother. He was mild and magnanimous by nature, with a generous temperament. When he was nine, Guiyan brought him from He Province to Luoyang; Gao Huan had him live and study alongside his own sons. In the opening years of Tianbao he was enfeoffed as Prince of Wuxing Commandery. In the second year of Wuping he rose through successive posts to Minister of Works. In the sixth year he was made Chief of the Imperial Secretariat at the Yuzhou Circuit Mobile Headquarters. When the Later Lord fled to Ye, Pu was immediately given the additional title of Grand Mentor. As Zhou forces closed in, he surrendered. He died in Chang'an and was posthumously appointed Upper General Who Opens an Office and Governor of Yu Province.

長樂太守靈山，字景嵩，神族族弟也。從神武起兵信都，終長樂太守，贈大將軍、司空，諡曰文宣。子懿，卒于武平鎮將。無子，文宣以靈山從父兄齊州刺史建國子伏護為靈山后。

Lingshan, Administrator of Changle, styled Jingsong, was a clansman of Gao Huan's family. He joined Gao Huan's uprising at Xindu, served ultimately as Administrator of Changle, and was posthumously made Grand General and Minister of Works with the posthumous title Wensuan. His son Yi died while serving as garrison commander of Wuping. With no heir of his own, Wenxuan appointed Fuhu—son of Jianguo, Governor of Qi Province and Lingshan's cousin on the father's side—as Lingshan's successor.

伏護字臣援，粗有刀筆。天統初，累遷黃門侍郎。伏護曆事數朝，恆參機要，而性嗜酒，每多醉失。末路逾劇，乃至連日不食，專事酣酒，神識恍惚，遂以卒。贈袞州刺史。建國侯。孫乂襲。

Fuhu, styled Chenyuan, had a modest talent for letters and administration. In the early Tiantong era he rose through successive appointments to Attendant at the Yellow Gate. Fuhu served several emperors and was always involved in confidential matters, but he loved wine and frequently blundered while drunk. In his final years the habit worsened until he went days without eating and drank without cease; his mind clouded over, and he died. He was posthumously appointed Governor of Yan Province. He was enfeoffed as Marquis of Jianguo. His grandson Yi inherited the title.

乂少謹，武平末，給事黃門侍郎。隋開皇中為太府少卿，坐事死。

Yi was dutiful from youth; at the end of Wuping he served as Attendant-in-Ordinary at the Yellow Gate. During Sui's Kaihuang era he served as Vice Director of the Palace Storehouse and was executed for a crime.

神武皇帝十五男：武明婁皇后生文襄皇帝、文宣皇帝、孝昭皇帝、襄城景王清、武成皇帝、博陵文簡王濟；王氏生永安簡平王浚；穆氏生平陽靖翼王淹；大爾硃氏生彭城景思王浟、華山王凝；韓氏生上党剛肅王渙；小爾硃氏生任城王湝；游氏生高陽康穆王氵是；鄭氏生馮翊王潤；馬氏生漢陽敬懷王洽。

Emperor Shenwu Gao Huan had fifteen sons. Empress Wuming of the Lou clan bore Emperor Wenxiang, Emperor Wenxuan, Emperor Xiaozhao, Prince Qing of Xiangcheng Jing, Emperor Wucheng, and Prince Ji of Boling Wensuan; Lady Wang bore Prince Jun of Yong'an Jianping; Lady Mu bore Prince Yan of Pingyang Jingyi; Lady Da Erzhu bore Prince You of Pengcheng Jingsi and Prince Ning of Huashan; Lady Han bore Prince Huan of Shangdang Gangsu; Lady Xiao Erzhu bore Prince He of Rencheng; Lady You bore Prince Xie of Gaoyang Kangmu; Lady Zheng bore Prince Run of Fengyi; Lady Ma bore Prince Qia of Hanyang Jinghuai.

永安簡平王浚字定樂，神武第三子也。初，神武納浚母，當月而有孕。及產浚，疑非己類，不甚愛之。而浚早慧，後更被寵。年八歲，謂博士盧裕曰：「祭神如神在，為有神邪？無神邪？」對曰：「有。」浚曰：「有神，當云祭神神在，何煩如字？」景裕不能答。及長，嬉戲不節。曾以屬請受納，大見杖罰，拘禁府獄，既而見原。後稍折節，頗以讀書為務。元象中，封永安郡公。豪爽有氣力，善騎射，為文襄所愛。文宣性雌懦，每參文襄，有時洟出。浚恆責帝左右：「何因不為二兄拭鼻？」由是見銜。累遷中書監、兼侍中。出為青州刺史。雖頗好畋獵，聰明矜恕，上下畏悅之。保定初，進爵為王。

Prince Jun of Yong'an Jianping, whose style name was Dingle, was Gao Huan's third son. When Gao Huan first took Jun's mother, she conceived within the same month. When Jun was born, Gao Huan doubted the child was truly his and showed little affection. But Jun proved precocious, and in time he won greater favor. At eight he asked the Academician Lu Yu, "When the text says 'sacrifice to the spirits as if they were present,' does that mean spirits exist? Or that they do not? Lu Yu answered, "They exist." Jun said, "If spirits exist, one should say 'the spirit is present at the sacrifice.' Why add 'as if'?" Jingyu had no reply. As he grew older he indulged in unrestrained amusements. Once he was caught taking bribes through intermediaries, severely flogged, and confined in the princely prison before being pardoned. Later he checked his ways somewhat and devoted himself to study. During the Yuanxiang era he was enfeoffed as Duke of Yong'an Commandery. He was bold and vigorous, skilled at riding and archery, and was beloved by Prince Wenxiang. Wenxuan was timid by nature; whenever he attended Prince Wenxiang his nose would sometimes drip. Jun would scold the emperor's attendants: "Why don't you wipe Second Brother's nose for him? Wenxuan took deep offense at this. He rose through successive posts to Supervisor of the Palace Secretariat and concurrent Master of Writing. He was sent out as Governor of Qing Province. Though fond of the hunt, he was clever, self-controlled, and merciful; men above and below him both respected and admired him. At the start of Baoding his title was raised to prince.

文宣末年多酒，浚謂親近曰：「二兄舊來，不甚了了，自登阼已後，識解頓進。今因酒敗德，朝臣無敢諫者。大敵未滅，吾甚以為憂。欲乘驛至鄴面諫，不知用吾不？」人有知，密以白帝，又見銜。八年，來朝，從幸東山。帝裸裎為樂，雜以婦女，又作狐掉尾戲。浚進言，此非人主所宜。帝甚不悅。浚又于屏處召楊遵彥，譏其不諫。帝時不欲大臣與諸王交通，遵彥懼，以奏帝。大怒曰：「小人由來難忍！」遂罷酒還宮。浚尋還州，又上書切諫。詔令徵浚，浚懼禍，謝疾不朝。上怒，馳驛收浚，老幼泣送者數千人。至，盛以鐵籠，與上党王渙俱置北城地牢下，飲食溲穢，共在一所。

In Wenxuan's later years he drank heavily. Jun told his intimates, "Second Brother was never very sharp, but since taking the throne his judgment has improved dramatically. Now wine is destroying his character, and not one court official dares speak up. Our great enemy is still undefeated, and I am deeply worried. I want to take the post road to Ye and remonstrate with him in person. Will he listen to me? Someone overheard and secretly informed the emperor, who nursed another grievance against him. In the eighth year he came to court and joined the emperor on an excursion to Mount Dong. The emperor amused himself naked among the women and staged the "fox wagging its tail" game. Jun spoke up that such conduct was unbecoming of a ruler. The emperor was greatly displeased. Jun also pulled Yang Zunyan aside and rebuked him for failing to remonstrate. The emperor had forbidden senior ministers from consorting with princes; Zunyan, alarmed, reported the conversation. He exploded in anger: "That wretch has always been unbearable! He broke off the revelry at once and returned to the palace. Soon after returning to his province, Jun sent another memorial of blunt remonstrance. An edict summoned Jun to court; fearing punishment, he pleaded illness and refused to come. The emperor sent fast riders to arrest him; thousands of old and young wept as they watched him go. On arrival he was shut in an iron cage and thrown into an underground pit beneath the north city together with Prince Huan of Shangdang, where they ate and relieved themselves in the same confined space.

明年，帝親將左右，臨穴歌謳，令浚等和之。浚等惶怖且悲，不覺聲戰。帝為愴然，因泣，將赦之。長廣王湛先與浚不睦，進曰：「猛獸安可出穴？」帝默然。浚等聞之，呼長廣王小字曰：「步落稽，皇天見汝！」左右聞者，莫不悲傷。浚與渙皆有雄略，為諸王所傾服。帝恐為害，乃自刺渙，又使壯士劉桃枝就籠亂刺。槊每下，浚、渙輒以手拉折之，號哭呼天，於是薪火亂投籠，燒殺之，填以石土。後出，皮發皆盡，屍色如炭，天下為之痛心。

The following year the emperor brought his attendants to the pit, sang songs himself, and ordered Jun and the others to join in. Jun and the others, terrified and grief-stricken, could not keep their voices steady. The emperor was touched, wept, and was on the verge of granting a pardon. Prince Zhan of Changguang, who had long been at odds with Jun, stepped forward and said, "You cannot let a savage beast out of its lair. The emperor said nothing. Hearing this, Jun and the others shouted Prince Changguang's childhood name: "Buluoqi—Heaven is watching you! Every attendant who heard was overcome with grief. Jun and Huan were both men of bold counsel, and the other princes looked up to them. Fearing they would prove dangerous, the emperor stabbed Huan himself, then sent the strongman Liu Taozhi to thrust wildly into the cage. Each time a spear thrust down, Jun and Huan grabbed and snapped it, wailing to Heaven; then firewood was heaped into the cage and they were burned alive, and the pit was filled with stone and earth. When the bodies were later dug up, skin and hair had burned away and the corpses were black as charcoal; the whole realm mourned them.

後帝以其妃陸氏配儀同劉鬱捷，舊帝蒼頭也，以軍功見寵。時令鬱捷害浚，故以配焉。後數日，帝以陸氏先無寵於浚，敕與離絕。乾明元年，贈太尉。無子，詔以彭城王浟第二子准字茂則嗣。

Later the emperor gave Jun's consort, Lady Lu, to Liu Yujie, a Yitong who had once been the emperor's personal servant and risen through military merit. He had earlier ordered Yujie to kill Jun, and so gave her to him as a wife. Days later, citing the fact that Lady Lu had never been favored by Jun, the emperor ordered them parted. In the first year of Ganming he was posthumously appointed Grand Commandant. With no heir of his own, an edict named Zhun, styled Maoze, second son of Prince You of Pengcheng, as his successor.

彭城景思王浟，字子深，神武第五子也。元象二年，拜通直散騎常侍，封長樂郡公。博士韓毅教浟書，見浟筆跡未工，戲浟曰：「五郎書畫如此，忽為常侍開國，今日後，宜更用心！」浟正色答曰：「昔甘羅為秦相，未聞能書。凡人唯論才具何如，豈必勤勤筆跡。博士當今能者，何為不作三公？」時年蓋八歲矣。毅甚慚。

Prince You of Pengcheng Jingsi, whose style name was Zishen, was Gao Huan's fifth son. In the second year of Yuanxiang he was made Regular Attendant on Fast Direct Access and enfeoffed as Duke of Changle Commandery. The Academician Han Yi tutored You in writing; seeing his penmanship was still poor, he teased him, "Fifth Son, with handwriting like this—and yet you've become a Regular Attendant and received a fief! From now on you'd better work harder! You replied sternly, "Gan Luo became Chancellor of Qin at a young age, and no one ever praised his calligraphy. What matters in a man is talent and ability—why must one slave over pen strokes? If you are so accomplished, Academician, why aren't you one of the Three Dukes? He was then about eight years old. Yi was deeply ashamed.

武定六年，出為滄州刺史。為政嚴察，部內肅然。守令參佐，下及胥吏，行遊往來，皆自齎糧食。浟纖介知人間事，有隰沃縣主簿張達，嘗詣州，夜投人舍，食雞羹，浟察知之。守令畢集，浟對眾曰：「食雞羹何不還他價直也？」達即伏罪，合境號為神明。又有一人從幽州來，驢馱鹿脯。至滄州界，腳痛行遲，偶會一人為伴，遂盜驢及脯去。明旦告州，浟乃令左右及府僚吏分市鹿膊，不限其價。其主見脯識之，推獲盜者。轉都督、定州刺史。時有人被盜黑牛，背上有白毛。長史韋道建謂中從事魏道勝曰：「使君在滄州日，禽奸如神。若捉得此賊，定神矣。」浟乃詐為上符，市牛皮，倍酬價直。使牛主認之，因獲其盜。建等嘆服。又有老母姓王，孤獨，種菜三畝，數被偷。浟乃令人密往書菜葉為字，明日，市中看菜葉有字，獲賊。爾後境內無盜，政化為當時第一。

In the sixth year of Wuding, he was posted as Governor of Cang Province. He governed with strict scrutiny, and his domain was thoroughly subdued. Prefects, magistrates, and their aides, down to the clerks and runners—everyone traveling on official business had to carry his own food. You knew the smallest details of human affairs. Zhang Da, chief secretary of Xiwo County, once visited the capital; one night he lodged at a private house and ate chicken soup, and You found out. When the prefects and magistrates had all gathered, You said before them all, "You ate chicken soup—why not pay the owner what you owe? Zhang Da immediately confessed, and the whole region proclaimed You a divine judge. Another man came from You Province with a donkey carrying dried venison. When he reached the border of Cang Province, his foot hurt and he walked slowly; he happened to meet a traveling companion, who then stole his donkey and venison and fled. The next morning he reported to the provincial office; You then ordered his attendants and the staff of the prefectural office to go out separately and buy venison shoulder, with no limit on price. The owner saw the venison and recognized it; following the lead, they captured the thief. He was transferred to Area Commander and Governor of Ding Province. At the time someone had a black ox stolen; it had white hair on its back. Chief Administrator Wei Daojian said to Senior Aide Wei Daosheng, "When our lord was in Cang Province, he caught criminals as if by divine power. If he catches this thief, he will surely prove divine again. You then forged an imperial directive and had ox hides purchased at double the market price. He had the ox's owner identify it, and thus captured the thief. Wei Daojian and the others sighed in admiration. There was also an old woman surnamed Wang, living alone, who planted vegetables on three mu of land and was robbed again and again. You secretly had someone inscribe characters on the vegetable leaves; the next day, when the leaves with writing appeared in the market, they captured the thief. After that there were no thieves in the region, and his governance was ranked first in the age.

浟明練世務，果於斷決，事無大小，咸悉以情。趙郡李公統預高歸彥之逆，其母崔氏，即御史中丞崔昂從父姊，兼右僕射魏收之內妹也。依令，年出六十，例免入官。崔增年陳訴，所司以昂、收故，崔遂獲免。浟摘發其事，昂等以罪除名。自後車駕巡幸，浟常留鄴。河清三年三月，群盜白子禮等數十人，謀劫浟為主。詐稱使者，徑向浟第。至內室，稱敕呼浟，牽上馬，臨以白刃，欲引向南殿。浟大呼不從，遂遇害，時年三十二。朝野痛惜焉。初浟未被劫前，其妃鄭氏夢人斬浟頭持去，惡之。數日而浟見殺。贈假黃鉞、太師、太尉、錄尚書事，給轀輬車。子寶德嗣。位開府，兼尚書左僕射。

You was thoroughly versed in affairs of state, resolute in judgment; matters great and small were all decided according to the facts. Li Gongtong of Zhao Commandery was implicated in Gao Guiyan's rebellion; his mother Lady Cui was the paternal cousin of Elder Censor-in-Chief Cui Ang and also the younger sister of Right Vice Director Wei Shou's wife. According to the law, anyone over sixty was by precedent exempt from being seized for official punishment. Lady Cui falsely added years to her age in her petition; the responsible office, out of regard for Cui Ang and Wei Shou, granted her exemption. You exposed the affair, and Cui Ang and the others were dismissed and stripped of their names for their offense. From then on, whenever the emperor went on tour, You was regularly left behind at Ye. In the third month of the third year of Heqing, a band of dozens led by the outlaw Bai Zili plotted to seize You and make him their chief. They pretended to be imperial envoys and went straight to You's residence. Reaching the inner chambers, they claimed an edict and summoned You, dragged him onto a horse, held naked blades to his throat, and tried to lead him toward the Southern Hall. You cried out and refused to obey; he was thereupon killed, at the age of thirty-two. The court and the common people mourned him deeply. Before You was seized, his consort Lady Zheng dreamed that someone cut off You's head and carried it away; she took it as an evil omen. Within days You was killed. Posthumously he was granted the ceremonial yellow battle-axe, Grand Preceptor, Grand Commandant, and Recorder of the Affairs of the Masters of Writing, along with an imperial funeral carriage. His son Bao De succeeded him. He rose to Commissioner with an Open Office and concurrently served as Left Vice Director of the Masters of Writing.

上党剛肅王渙，字敬壽，神武第七子也。天姿雄傑，俶儻不群。雖在童幼，恆以將略自許。神武壯而愛之，曰：「此兒似我。」及長，力能扛鼎，材武絕倫。每謂左右曰：「人不可無學，但要不為博士耳。」故讀書頗知梗概，而不甚耽習。

Prince Gangsu of Shangdang, Huan, whose style name was Jingshou, was the seventh son of Shenwu. By nature he was heroic and outstanding, bold and unlike the common run of men. Even as a child, he constantly prided himself on his military talent. Shenwu admired him and loved him, saying, "This boy is like me. When he grew up, he had the strength to lift a cauldron; in talent and martial prowess he had no equal. He often told his attendants, "A man must not be without learning—he need only avoid becoming a pedantic scholar. Thus he read books and grasped the main points, but did not devote himself deeply to study.

元象中，封平原郡公。文襄之遇賊，渙年尚幼，在西學。聞宮中訁雚，驚曰：「大兄必遭難矣！」彎弓而出。武定末，除冀州刺史，在州有美政。天保初，封上党王，曆中書令、尚書左僕射。與常山王演等築伐惡諸城。遂聚鄴下輕薄，陵犯郡縣，為法司所糾。文宣戮其左右數人，渙亦被譴。六年，率眾送梁王蕭明還江南，仍破東關，斬梁特進裴之橫等，威名甚盛。八年，錄尚書事。初，術士言亡高者黑衣，由是自神武后每出行不欲見桑門，為黑衣故也。是時文宣幸晉陽，以所忌問左右曰：「何物最黑？」對曰：「莫過漆。」帝以渙第七，為當之，乃使庫真都督破六韓伯升之鄴徵渙。渙至紫陌橋，殺伯升以逃，憑河而度，土人執以送帝。鐵籠盛之，與永安王浚同置地牢下。歲餘，與浚同見殺，時年二十六。以其妃李氏配馮文洛，是帝家舊奴，積勞位至刺史。帝令文洛等殺渙，故以其妻妻焉。至乾明元年，收二王餘骨葬之，贈司空，諡曰剛肅。有敕李氏還第，而文洛尚以故意，修飾詣李。李盛列左右，引文洛立於階下，數之曰「遭難流離，以至大辱，志操寡薄，不能自盡。幸蒙恩詔，得反籓闈。汝是誰家孰奴？猶欲見侮！」於是杖之一百，流血灑地。

During the Yuanxiang era he was enfeoffed as Duke of Pingyuan Commandery. When Wenxiang was killed by assassins, Huan was still young and studying in the Western Academy. Hearing uproar in the palace, he cried out in alarm, "The eldest brother must have met disaster! He strung his bow and rushed out. At the end of Wuding he was appointed Governor of Ji Province, where his governance won praise. At the beginning of Tianbao he was enfeoffed as Prince of Shangdang, and successively served as Director of the Palace Secretariat and Left Vice Director of the Masters of Writing. Together with Prince of Changshan Yan and others, he built the Fae fortresses. He then gathered the idle and dissolute of Ye, harassing prefectures and counties, and was impeached by the judiciary. Wenxuan executed several of his attendants, and Huan himself was reprimanded. In the sixth year he led troops escorting Prince Xiao Ming of Liang back to the Jiangnan, then broke through Dongguan Pass and slew Liang's Special Advance Pei Zhiheng and others; his martial fame grew greatly. In the eighth year he was appointed Recorder of the Affairs of the Masters of Writing. Earlier, a diviner had said that the Gao who would perish would wear black; for this reason, from Shenwu's time onward, whenever the family traveled abroad they did not wish to encounter Buddhist monks, because monks wore black. At this time Wenxuan was visiting Jinyang and, brooding on what he feared, asked his attendants, "What thing is blackest? They answered, "Nothing blacker than lacquer." The emperor, thinking Huan was seventh in birth and therefore the one foretold, sent Kuguan Commander Poluohan Bosheng to Ye to summon Huan. Huan reached Zimo Bridge, killed Bosheng to escape, and forded the river; local men seized him and delivered him to the emperor. He was confined in an iron cage and placed together with Prince Yong'an Jun in an underground dungeon. After more than a year he was executed together with Jun, at the age of twenty-six. His consort Lady Li was given in marriage to Feng Wenluo, a former household slave of the imperial family who through long service had risen to provincial governor. The emperor had Feng Wenluo and the others kill Huan, and therefore gave him Huan's wife as his own. In the first year of Ganming the remaining bones of the two princes were gathered and buried; Huan was posthumously given Minister of Works and the posthumous title Gangsu, "Resolute and Stern." An edict ordered Lady Li to return to her own residence, but Feng Wenluo, still acting on their old relationship, dressed himself up and went to visit Lady Li. Lady Li arrayed her attendants in full and had Feng Wenluo brought to stand below the steps; she upbraided him, saying, "I met disaster and was cast into exile, coming to this great humiliation; my resolve was too weak and I could not end my own life. By good fortune I received an imperial edict and was allowed to return to my princely household. What family's lowborn slave are you, yet you still wish to insult me! She then had him beaten one hundred strokes until blood spread across the ground.

渙無嫡子，庶長子寶嚴，以河清二年襲爵。位終金紫光祿大夫、開府儀同三司。

Huan had no legitimate son; his eldest born son Bao Yan succeeded to the title in the second year of Heqing. He ultimately held the posts of Grand Master of Golden Letters and Purple Radiance and Commissioner with the privilege equal to the Three Excellencies.

亮字彥道，性恭孝，美風儀，好文學。為徐州刺史，坐奪商人財物，免官。後主敗，奔鄴，亮從焉。遷兼太尉、太傅。周師入鄴，亮于啟夏門拒守，諸軍皆不戰而敗，周軍于諸城門皆入，亮軍方退走。亮入太廟行馬內，慟哭拜辭，然後為周軍所執。入關，依例授儀同，分配遠邊，卒于龍州。

Liang, whose style name was Yandao, was by nature respectful and filial, with a fine bearing, and loved literature. As Governor of Xu Province he was dismissed from office for seizing merchants' property. When the Later Lord was defeated and fled to Ye, Liang followed him. He was promoted to serve concurrently as Grand Commandant and Grand Tutor. When Zhou troops entered Ye, Liang defended at Qixia Gate; the other armies all collapsed without fighting, Zhou forces entered through every city gate, and only then did Liang's army withdraw. Liang entered the Imperial Temple within the Horse Gallop precinct, wept bitterly in farewell obeisance, and only then was seized by Zhou troops. After entering the pass he was granted Yitong by custom, assigned to the far frontier, and died at Long Province.

時有婦人臨汾水浣衣，有乘馬人換其新靴馳而去者。婦人持故靴詣州言之。湝召居城諸嫗，以靴示之，紿曰：「有乘馬人于路被賊劫害，遺此靴，焉得無親屬乎？」一嫗撫膺哭曰：「兒昨著此靴向妻家。」如其語，捕獲之，時稱明察。武平初，遷太師、司州牧。出為冀州刺史，加太宰，遷右丞相、都督、青州刺史。湝頻牧大蕃，雖不潔己，然寬恕，為吏人所懷。五年，青州人崔蔚波等夜襲州城。湝部分倉卒之際，咸得齊整，擊賊大破之。拜左丞相，轉瀛州刺史。及後主奔鄴，加湝大丞相。及安德王稱尊號于晉陽，使劉子昂修啟於湝：「至尊出奔，宗廟既重，群公勸迫，權主號令。事甯終歸叔父。」湝曰：「我人臣，何容受此啟。」執子昂送鄴。帝至濟州，禪位於湝，竟不達。

At the time a woman was washing clothes beside the Fen River when a man on horseback swapped her new boots for his old ones and galloped away. The woman took the old boots and reported the matter at the provincial office. Tang summoned all the old women living in the city and showed them the boots, falsely saying, "A man on horseback was robbed and killed on the road; he left these boots behind—surely he must have relatives among you? One old woman beat her breast and wept, saying, "My son wore these boots yesterday when he went to his wife's family." Following her words, they captured the culprit; at the time he was praised for his perspicacity. At the beginning of Wuping he was promoted to Grand Preceptor and Governor of Si Province. He was sent out as Governor of Ji Province, given the additional title of Grand Steward, then transferred to Right Chancellor, Area Commander, and Governor of Qing Province. Tang repeatedly governed great territories; though not personally incorruptible, he was lenient and won the loyalty of officials and commoners alike. In the fifth year Cui Weibo of Qing Province and others attacked the provincial capital by night. Tang deployed his forces in the sudden emergency, every unit kept in good order, and struck the rebels a crushing defeat. He was appointed Left Chancellor and transferred to Governor of Ying Province. When the Later Lord fled to Ye, Tang was given the additional title of Grand Chancellor. When the Prince of Ande proclaimed himself sovereign at Jinyang, he had Liu Ziang draft a missive to Tang: "The supreme sovereign has fled in exile; the ancestral temple weighs heavily upon us; the lords pressed their counsel, and we provisionally hold command. When affairs are settled, power will ultimately return to you, Uncle. Tang said, "I am a subject—how could I accept such a missive?" He seized Liu Ziang and sent him to Ye. When the emperor reached Ji Province he attempted to abdicate in Tang's favor, but the message never reached him.

湝與廣甯王孝珩于冀州召募，得四萬餘人，拒周軍。周齊王憲來伐，先遣送書，並赦詔。湝並沉諸井。戰敗，湝、孝珩俱被禽。憲曰：「任城王，何苦至此！」湝曰：「下官神武帝子，兄弟十五人，幸而獨存。逢宗社顛覆，今日得死，無愧墳陵。」憲壯之，歸其妻子。將至鄴城，湝馬上大哭。自投於地，流血滿面。至長安，尋與後主同死。

Tang and Prince Xiaohang of Guangning raised troops in Ji Province, mustering more than forty thousand men to resist the Zhou army. Prince Xian of Qi of Zhou came to attack, first sending ahead a letter along with an amnesty edict. Tang had them all thrown into wells. When the battle was lost, Tang and Xiaohang were both taken prisoner. Xian said, "Prince of Rencheng, why must you come to this! Tang said, "I am a son of Emperor Shenwu. Of fifteen brothers, I alone was spared. Now that the altars and state lie in ruin, to die today is to owe no shame to the ancestral graves." Xian was moved by his bearing and restored his wife and children to him. As they neared Ye city, Tang broke into loud weeping on horseback. He threw himself from the horse, blood streaming over his face. After reaching Chang'an, he was soon put to death together with the Later Lord.

妃盧氏，賜斛斯徵。盧蓬首垢面，長齋不言笑，徵放之，乃為尼。隋開皇三年，表請文帝，葬湝及五子于長安北原。

His consort, Lady Lu, was bestowed upon Husizheng. Lady Lu wore her hair loose and her face unwashed, kept long fasts, and neither spoke nor smiled. Husizheng released her, and she took the tonsure. In the third year of Kaihuang under Sui, a memorial was submitted to Emperor Wen requesting burial for Tang and his five sons on the northern plain at Chang'an.

高陽康穆王湜，神武第十一子也。天保元年封。十年，稍遷尚書令。以滑稽便辟，有寵于文宣。在左右行杖，以撻諸王，太后深銜之。其妃父護軍長史張晏之，嘗要道拜湜，湜不禮焉。帝問其故，對曰：「無官職漢，何須禮！」帝於是擢拜晏之為徐州刺史。文宣崩，湜兼司徒，導引梓官。吹笛云：「至尊頗知臣不？」又擊胡鼓為樂。太后杖湜百餘，未幾薨。太后哭之哀，曰：「我恐其不成就，與杖，何期帶創死也！」乾明初，贈假黃鉞、太師、司徒、錄尚書事。子士義襲爵。

Prince Kangmu of Gaoyang, Shi, was the eleventh son of Gao Huan, posthumously honored as Emperor Shenwu. He received his enfeoffment in the first year of Tianbao. In the tenth year he was gradually promoted to Director of the Imperial Secretariat. Witty and skilled at fawning, he won Wenxuan's favor. He walked at the emperor's side carrying a staff and used it to beat the other princes; the Empress Dowager deeply resented him for it. Zhang Yanzhi, Chief Administrator of the Guard Corps and father of Shi's consort, once blocked the road to pay his respects, but Shi refused to acknowledge him. When the emperor asked why, he replied, "A commoner with no office—why should I honor him? The emperor thereupon promoted Yanzhi and appointed him Governor of Xu Province. When Wenxuan died, Shi also served as Minister of Public Works and led the imperial coffin in the funeral procession. He played the flute and said, "Does His Majesty truly know me at all? He also beat a foreign drum for his own amusement. The Empress Dowager had Shi beaten more than a hundred times; before long he died. The Empress Dowager wept for him in anguish and said, "I feared he would never amount to anything and gave him a beating—who thought he would die of the wounds! At the beginning of Ganming he was posthumously granted the ceremonial yellow axe, Grand Preceptor, Minister of Public Works, and Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat. His son Shiyi succeeded to the title.

博陵文簡王濟，神武第十二子也。天保元年封。濟嘗從文宣巡幸，在路忽憶太后，遂逃歸。帝怒，臨以白刃，因此驚怳。歷位太尉。河清初，出為定州刺史。天統五年，在州語人云：「計次第，亦應到我。」後主聞之，陰使人殺之。贈假黃鉞、太尉、錄尚書事。子智襲爵。

Prince Wenjian of Boling, Ji, was the twelfth son of Gao Huan, posthumously honored as Emperor Shenwu. He received his enfeoffment in the first year of Tianbao. Ji once accompanied Wenxuan on tour; on the road he suddenly longed for the Empress Dowager and fled home. The emperor was enraged and threatened him with drawn blades; from this he fell into shock and confusion. He rose through successive posts to Grand Commandant. At the beginning of Heqing he was sent out as Governor of Ding Province. In the fifth year of Tiantong, while governing the province he told others, "Counting in order of succession, my turn ought to come next. When the Later Lord heard of this, he secretly sent men to kill him. He was posthumously granted the ceremonial yellow axe, Grand Commandant, and Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat. His son Zhi succeeded to the title.

馮翊王潤，字子澤，神武第十四子也。幼時，神武稱曰：「此吾家千里駒也。」天保初封，歷位東北道行台右僕射、都督、定州刺史。潤美姿儀。年十四五，母鄭妃與之同寢，有穢雜之聲。及長，廉慎方雅，習於吏職。至於摘發隱偽，奸吏無所匿其情。開府王回洛，與六州大都督獨孤枝侵竊官田，受納賄賂，潤按舉其事。二人表言：王出送台使，登魏孝文舊壇，南望歎息，不測其意。武成使元文遙就州宣敕曰：「馮翊王少小謹慎，在州不為非法，朕信之熟矣。登高遠望，人之常情，鼠輩欲輕相間構，曲生眉目。」於是回洛決鞭二百，獨孤枝決杖一百。尋為尚書令，領太子少師，曆司徒、太尉、大司馬、司州牧、太保、河南道行台、錄尚書，別封文成郡公，太師、太宰，復為定州刺史。薨，贈假黃鉞、左丞相。子茂德嗣。

The Prince of Fengyi, Run, styled Zize, was the fourteenth son of Gao Huan, posthumously honored as Emperor Shenwu. In his youth Gao Huan said of him, "This is the thousand-league colt of our house. He was enfeoffed at the beginning of Tianbao and rose through successive posts to Right Vice Director of the Grand Mobile Headquarters of the Northeast Circuit, Commander-in-Chief, and Governor of Ding Province. Run was handsome in bearing. At fourteen or fifteen, his mother Princess Zheng shared his bed, and obscene sounds were heard. When he grew up he was honest, cautious, upright, and refined, and well versed in administrative work. When it came to exposing hidden wrongdoing, corrupt officials could conceal nothing from him. Wang Huailuo of the princely establishment and Dugu Zhi, Grand Commander of the Six Provinces, had encroached on public fields and taken bribes; Run investigated and impeached them. The two men memorialized that the prince, while escorting an imperial envoy, had climbed the old altar of Emperor Xiaowen of Wei, looked south, and sighed—his intent could not be fathomed. Wucheng sent Yuan Wenyao to the province to proclaim an edict: "The Prince of Fengyi has been careful since youth; in his province he has done nothing unlawful—I trust him completely. To climb high and gaze into the distance is only human; petty men wished to drive a wedge between us and invented the whole affair. Huailuo was thereupon sentenced to two hundred strokes of the whip and Dugu Zhi to one hundred strokes of the staff. Before long he became Director of the Imperial Secretariat and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, then successively Minister of Public Works, Grand Commandant, Grand Marshal, Governor of Si Province, Grand Guardian, head of the Henan Circuit Grand Mobile Headquarters, and Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat; he was separately enfeoffed Duke of Wencheng Commandery and promoted to Grand Preceptor and Grand Mentor, then again appointed Governor of Ding Province. When he died he was posthumously granted the ceremonial yellow axe and Left Chancellor. His son Maode succeeded him.

漢陽敬懷王洽，字敬延，神武第十五子也。天保元年封，五年薨，年十三。乾明元年，贈太保、司空。無子，以任城王第二子建德為後。

Prince Jinghuai of Hanyang, Qia, styled Jingyan, was the fifteenth son of Gao Huan, posthumously honored as Emperor Shenwu. Enfeoffed in the first year of Tianbao, he died in the fifth year, aged thirteen. In the first year of Ganming he was posthumously granted Grand Guardian and Minister of Works. Having no son, Jiande, the second son of the Prince of Rencheng, was appointed his heir.

論曰：趙郡王以跗萼之親，當顧命之重，安夫一德，固此貞必，踐畏途而不疑，履危機而莫懼，以其忠義，取斃凶匿。豈道光四海，不遇周成之明；將朝去三仁，終見殷墟之禍。不然，則邦國殄瘁，何若斯之速歟？清河屬經綸之期，青雲自致，出將入相，翊成鴻業。雖漢朝劉賈，魏室曹洪，俱未足諭其風烈，適足以彰文宣之失德焉。思好屬昏亂之機，歸彥因猜嫌之釁，咫尺鄴都，以速其禍，智小謀大，理則宜然。神武諸王，多有聲譽。永安以諫爭遇禍，固齊室之比干，彭城蒞人布政，乃與循良比跡，求之近古，未為易遇。上党申威淮海，受辱牢阱，以英俠之氣，迫悲歌之思，欲食藜藿之羹，處茅茨之下，其可得乎！馮翊廉慎閑明，妄被讒匿，以武成陰忌之朝，而見免夫《角弓》之刺，已為幸矣。

The historians comment: The Prince of Zhao Commandery, bound to the throne as calyx to flower, bore the weight of the dying sovereign's charge. He sought to hold the realm together through single-minded loyalty, steadfast in integrity, treading a perilous path without wavering and facing crisis without fear—and so, for his loyalty and righteousness, he met death while villains schemed in the shadows. Was it that his virtue illumined the four seas, yet he found no ruler with the clarity of King Cheng of Zhou; or that the court cast out the Three Worthies and in the end beheld the ruin of the Yin dynasty? Otherwise, how could the altars and state have collapsed so swiftly? The Prince of Qinghe came of age in the era of state-building; he rose by his own merit, going out as general and in as minister, and helped establish the great enterprise. Even Liu Jia of Han and Cao Hong of Wei cannot fully measure up to his stature and heroism—and that fact alone exposes Wenxuan's want of virtue. Sihao seized the hour of chaos; Guiyan exploited mutual suspicion—both within a stone's throw of Ye, yet both hastened to ruin. Small wisdom paired with grand ambition: by right it could not have ended otherwise. Of Shenwu's sons, many enjoyed fine reputations. Prince Yong'an met disaster through remonstrance—truly the Bigan of the Qi house; Prince Pengcheng governed the people and spread good policy, ranking with the finest administrators—such men were not easily found even in recent antiquity. Prince Shangdang displayed his might on the Huai-Hai frontier, yet suffered disgrace in a dungeon; with a hero's spirit pressed toward lament, could he still eat coarse vegetable broth and live beneath a thatched roof? Prince Fengyi was honest, cautious, and clear-minded, yet was falsely slandered; in Wucheng's secretly jealous court, to escape the sting of the Jiaogong complaint was already a mercy.

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