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齊宗室諸王下
The Northern Qi Imperial Clan: Princes, Part Two
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列傳第四十齊宗室諸王下
Biography 40: The Northern Qi Imperial Clan—Princes, Part Two
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文襄諸子文宣諸子孝昭諸子武成諸子後主諸子
The Sons of Prince Wenxiang; the Sons of Emperor Wensuan; the Sons of Emperor Xiaozhao; the Sons of Emperor Wucheng; the Sons of the Last Ruler
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文襄六男：文敬元皇后生河間王孝琬； 宋氏生河南王孝瑜； 王氏生廣甯王孝珩； 蘭陵王長恭不得母氏姓； 陳氏生安德王延宗； 燕氏生漁陽王紹信。
Prince Wenxiang had six sons. Empress Yuan of Wenjing bore Prince Xiaowan of Hejian; Lady Song bore Prince Xiaoyu of Henan; Lady Wang bore Prince Xiaohang of Guangning; Prince Changgong of Lanling was not given his mother's surname; Lady Chen bore Prince Yanzong of Ande; Lady Yan bore Prince Shaoxin of Yuyang.
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孝瑜容貌魁偉，精彩雄毅，謙慎寬厚，兼愛文學，讀書敏速，十行俱下，覆棋不失一道。 初，文襄於鄴東起山池游觀，時俗眩之，孝瑜遂于第作水堂龍舟，植幡槊於舟上，數集諸弟，宴射為樂。 武成幸其第，見而悅之，故盛興後園之玩。 於是貴賤慕斅，處處營造。
Xiaoyu was tall and imposing, with a bold and spirited bearing. Modest, cautious, and generous, he loved literature, read with exceptional speed—ten lines at a glance—and in blindfold chess never lost track of a single move. When Prince Wenxiang first built ornamental hills and pools for recreation east of Ye, the fashion swept the court. Xiaoyu followed suit, constructing a water hall and dragon boat at his mansion, fitting the vessel with banners and spears, and often gathering his brothers for feasts and archery. When Emperor Wucheng visited his mansion and took delight in what he saw, ornamental gardens and waterworks became all the rage at court. High and low alike rushed to imitate him, building such displays everywhere.
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武成嘗使和士開與胡後對坐握槊，孝瑜諫曰：「皇后天下之母，不可與臣下接手。」 帝深納之。 後又言趙郡王父死非命，不可而親。 由是睿及士開皆側目。 士開密告其奢僭，睿又言山東唯聞河南王，不聞有陛下。 帝由是忌之。 爾硃御女名摩女，本事太后，孝瑜先與之通，後因太子婚夜，孝瑜竊與之言。 武成大怒，頓飲其酒三十七杯。 體至肥大，腰帶十圍，使婁子彥載以出，鴆之于車。 至西華門，煩熱躁悶，投水而絕。 贈太尉、錄尚書事。 子弘節嗣。
Emperor Wucheng once had He Shikai and Empress Hu sit facing each other at liubo. Xiaoyu remonstrated: "The empress is mother of the realm. She must not play hand to hand with a subject. The emperor took his advice to heart. He went on to say that Prince Rui of Zhao's father had died by violence and that the prince ought not be kept close. From then on both Rui and He Shikai turned against him. He Shikai secretly accused him of extravagance and overstepping his rank, while Rui told the emperor that east of the mountains people spoke only of the Prince of Henan and never of the throne. The emperor therefore grew to resent him. A palace woman of Erzhu stock named Monü had once served the empress dowager. Xiaoyu had earlier taken her as a lover; later, on the night of the crown prince's wedding, he slipped away to speak with her in secret. Wucheng flew into a rage and forced him to drink thirty-seven cups of wine in quick succession. His body was enormously fat—his belt ten arm-spans around. The emperor had Lou Ziyan carry him out and gave him poison in the carriage. At the West Floriate Gate he was seized by feverish agony and threw himself into the water, where he died. He was posthumously appointed Grand Commandant and Recorder of the Affairs of the Masters of Writing. His son Hongjie succeeded to the title.
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廣甯王孝珩，文襄第二子也。 歷位司州牧、尚書令、司空、司徒、錄尚書、大將軍、大司馬。 孝珩愛賞人物，學涉經史，好綴文，有技藝。 嘗於査事壁自畫一蒼鷹，見者皆以為真。 又作朝士圖，亦當時之妙絕。
Prince Xiaohang of Guangning was the second son of Prince Wenxiang. He served in turn as Governor of Sizhou, Director of the Masters of Writing, Minister of Works, Minister over the Masses, Recorder of the Masters of Writing, Grand General, and Grand Marshal. Xiaohang delighted in recognizing talent, was widely read in the classics and histories, enjoyed literary composition, and possessed various artistic skills. Once, on the wall of an office where he heard cases, he painted a goshawk with his own hand; everyone who saw it took it for a live bird. He also painted a group portrait of court officials that was considered a masterpiece of the day.
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後主自晉州敗，奔鄴，詔王公議於含光殿。 孝珩以大敵既深，事藉機變，宜使任城王領幽州道兵入土門，揚聲趣并州； 獨孤永業領洛州道兵趣潼關，揚聲取長安。 臣請領京畿兵出滏口，鼓行逆戰。 敵聞南北有兵，自然潰散。 又請出宮人寶物賞將士，帝不能用。
After the Last Ruler was defeated at Jinyang and fled to Ye, he summoned the princes and dukes to counsel in the Hall of Contained Radiance. Xiaohang argued that with the enemy already deep in Qi territory, the situation called for bold maneuver. The Prince of Rencheng should lead the Youzhou column through Tumen Pass, feigning a drive on Bingzhou; Dugu Yongye should lead the Luozhou column toward Tong Pass, feigning an attack on Chang'an. He himself would lead the capital troops out through Fukou and meet the enemy head-on. Once the enemy heard of threats from north and south, they would surely break and flee. He also urged that palace treasures be given out to reward the troops, but the emperor would not heed him.
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齊王憲問孝珩齊亡所由，孝珩自陳國難，辭淚俱下，俯仰有節。 憲為之改容，親為洗瘡傅藥，禮遇甚厚。 孝珩獨歎曰：「李穆叔言齊氏二十八年，今果然矣！ 自神武皇帝以外，吾諸父兄弟無一人得至四十者，命也。 嗣君無獨見之明，宰相非柱石之寄，恨不得握兵符，受廟算，展我心力耳。」 至長安，依例受開府、縣侯。
Prince Xian of Zhou asked Xiaohang why Qi had fallen. Xiaohang spoke of the realm's ruin with tears streaming down his face, yet his bearing remained measured and dignified throughout. Xian was moved to change expression, personally washed his sores and applied medicine, and treated him with exceptional honor. Xiaohang sighed and said, "Li Mushu said the house of Qi would last twenty-eight years—and so it has proved! Apart from Emperor Shenwu, not one of my uncles or brothers lived to forty. That is fate. The reigning lord lacked vision of his own; his ministers were no pillars of the state. I only wish I could have held the commander's tally, received the court's battle plan, and given my full strength to the realm. At Chang'an he received, by precedent, the rank of Defender-in-Chief and a county marquisate.
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後周武帝在雲陽宴齊君臣，自彈胡琵琶，命孝珩吹笛。 辭曰：「亡國之音，不足聽也。」 固命之，舉笛裁至口，淚下嗚咽，武帝乃止。 其年十月疾甚，啟歸葬山東，從之。 尋卒，還葬鄴。
Later, at Yunyang, Emperor Wu of Zhou entertained the Qi ruler and his court. The emperor played the pipa himself and ordered Xiaohang to play the flute. He declined: "The music of a fallen state is not fit to be heard. When they pressed him again, he lifted the flute only to his lips, then broke down in tears. The emperor let the matter drop. That year, in the tenth month, his illness grew grave. He petitioned to be buried in Shandong, and the request was granted. He died soon after and was buried at Ye.
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時孝琬得佛牙，置於第內，夜有神光。 照玄都法順請以奏，不從。 帝聞，使搜之，得填庫槊幡數百。 帝聞，以為反狀。 訊其諸姬，有陳氏者，無寵，誣對曰：「孝琬畫作陛下形哭之。」 然實是文襄像，孝琬時時對之泣。 帝怒，使武衛赫連輔玄倒鞭撾之。 孝琬呼阿叔。 帝怒曰：「誰是爾叔？ 敢喚我作叔！」 孝琬曰：「神武皇帝嫡孫，文襄皇帝嫡子，魏孝靜皇帝外甥，何為不得喚作叔也？」 帝愈怒，折其兩脛而死。 瘞諸西山，帝崩後乃改葬。
About this time Xiaowan obtained a Buddha tooth relic and kept it in his mansion; at night a supernatural light shone forth. Fashun of the Xuandu Monastery asked permission to present it to the throne, but Xiaowan refused. When the emperor heard of this, he ordered a search of the premises and found several hundred spears and banners stockpiled in the storerooms. The emperor took this as proof of treason. He questioned Xiaowan's consorts. One Lady Chen, who had fallen out of favor, lied and said, "Xiaowan painted Your Majesty's likeness and wept before it. In truth it was a portrait of Prince Wenxiang, before which Xiaowan often wept. The emperor flew into a rage and had the martial guardsman Helian Fuxuan beat him with the reverse of the whip. Xiaowan cried out, "Uncle!". The emperor raged: "Who is your uncle? How dare you call me uncle! Xiaowan replied, "I am the legitimate grandson of Emperor Shenwu, the legitimate son of Prince Wenxiang, and the nephew by marriage of Emperor Xiaojing of Wei. Why may I not call you uncle?" The emperor grew still angrier and broke both his legs, killing him. He was buried on the western hills and given a proper reburial only after the emperor's death.
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子正禮嗣。 幼聰穎，能誦《左氏春秋》。 齊亡，遷綿州卒。
His son Zhengli succeeded to the title. As a boy he was exceptionally bright and could recite the *Zuo Commentary* from memory. After the fall of Qi he was relocated to Mianzhou, where he died.
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蘭陵武王長恭，一名孝瓘，文襄第四子也。 累遷并州刺史。 突厥入晉陽，長恭盡力擊之。 芒山之敗，長恭為中軍，率五百騎再入周軍，遂至金墉之下，被圍甚急。 城上人弗識，長恭免胄示之面，乃下弩手救之，於是大捷。 武士共歌謠之，為《蘭陵王入陣曲》是也。 曆司州牧、青瀛二州，頗受財貨。 後為太尉。 與段韶討柏穀，又攻定陽。 韶病，長恭總其眾。 前後以戰功，別封钜鹿、長樂、樂平、高陽等郡公。
Prince Wu of Lanling, Changgong—also known as Xiaogui—was the fourth son of Prince Wenxiang. He rose through the ranks to become Governor of Bingzhou. When the Turks raided Jinyang, Changgong fought them with all his might. At the defeat on Mount Mang, Changgong commanded the center army. He led five hundred horsemen in a second charge into the Zhou lines and fought his way to the foot of the walls of Jinyong, where he was surrounded in desperate straits. The defenders on the walls did not recognize him. Changgong removed his helmet and showed his face, and they sent crossbowmen down to rescue him. A great victory followed. The soldiers sang ballads in his honor—the piece known as *Prince of Lanling Enters the Battle Array*. He served as Governor of Sizhou and of Qing and Ying provinces, and accepted considerable bribes. He later became Grand Commandant. With Duan Shao he campaigned against Bogu and also attacked Dingyang. When Shao fell ill, Changgong took command of his army. For repeated victories he received separate enfeoffments as Duke of Julu, Changlo, Leping, Gaoyang, and other commanderies.
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芒山之捷，後主謂長恭曰：「入陣太深，失利悔無所及。」 對曰：「家事親切，不覺遂然。」 帝嫌其稱家事，遂忌之。 及在定陽，其屬尉相願謂曰：「王既受朝寄，何得如此貪殘？」 長恭未答。 相願曰：「豈不由芒山大捷，恐以威武見忌，欲自穢乎？」 長恭曰：「然。」 相願曰：「朝廷若忌王，於此犯便當行罰，求福反以速禍。」 長恭泣下，前膝請以安身之術。 相願曰：「王前既有勳，今復告捷，威聲大重，宜屬疾在家，勿預時事。」 長恭然其言，未能退。 及江淮寇擾，恐復為將，歎曰：「我去年面腫，今何不發？」 自是有疾不療。 武平四年五月，帝使徐之範飲以毒藥。 長恭謂妃鄭氏曰：「我忠以事上，何辜於天而遭鴆也？」 妃曰：「何不求見天顏？」 長恭曰：「天顏何由可見！」 遂飲藥而薨。 贈太尉。
After the victory on Mount Mang, the Last Ruler told Changgong, "You drove too deep into the enemy lines. Had we lost, regret would have come too late. He replied, "It was family at stake—I acted without thinking how far I had gone." The emperor took offense at his calling it a family matter and began to harbor suspicion against him. While he was at Dingyang, his subordinate Wei Xiangyuan said to him, "Your Highness bears the court's commission—how can you be so grasping and cruel? Changgong made no reply. Xiangyuan said, "Is it not because, after your great victory on Mount Mang, you fear the throne will resent your martial glory and so you mean to discredit yourself? Changgong said, "It is so." Xiangyuan said, "If the court already resents you, this very offense is grounds for punishment. You seek safety but will only bring ruin faster." Changgong wept, knelt forward, and asked how he might preserve himself. Xiangyuan said, "You have won glory before and victory again now. Your fame is too great. You should plead illness and stay home, taking no part in affairs of state. Changgong agreed with him but could not bring himself to retire. When raiders troubled the Jiang-Huai region and he feared being sent to command again, he sighed: "Last year my face swelled up—why does it not flare again now? From then on he let his illness go untreated. In the fifth month of the fourth year of Wuping, the emperor had Xu Zhifan give him poison to drink. Changgong said to his consort, Lady Zheng, "I served the throne in loyalty. What sin against Heaven brought me to poison? His consort said, "Why not beg an audience with the emperor?" Changgong said, "How could I ever see his face again!" He drank the poison and died. He was posthumously appointed Grand Commandant.
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長恭貌柔心壯，音容兼美。 為將，躬勤細事。 每得甘美，雖一瓜數果必與將士共之。 初在瀛州，行參軍陽士深表列其贓，免官。 及討定陽，士深在軍，恐禍及。 長恭聞之曰：「吾本無此意。」 乃求小失，杖深二十，以安之。 嘗入朝而出，僕從盡散，唯有一人。 長恭獨還，無所譴罰。 武成賞其功，命賈護為買妾二十人，唯受其一。 有千金責券，臨死悉燔之。
Changgong had a gentle face but a resolute heart, and his voice and bearing were both striking. As a commander he personally attended to the smallest details. Whenever he obtained something choice to eat—even a single melon or a few fruits—he shared it with his officers and men. While he was first at Yingzhou, the acting army aide Yang Shibiao memorialized listing his corruption, and he was dismissed from office. When Changgong campaigned against Dingyang, Shibiao was with the army and feared retribution. Changgong heard of this and said, "I never had any such intention. He then found a minor fault in Shibiao, had him beaten twenty strokes, and so put his mind at ease. Once when he attended court and departed, his entire retinue had scattered, leaving only a single attendant. Changgong returned alone and punished no one. Emperor Wucheng rewarded his achievements and had Jia Hu purchase twenty concubines for him, but he accepted only one. He held debt notes worth a thousand gold; on his deathbed he burned them all.
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安德王延宗，文襄第五子也。 母陳氏，廣陽王妓也。 延宗幼為文宣所養。 年十二，猶騎置腹上，令溺己臍中。 抱之曰：「可憐，止有此一個。」 問欲作何王，對曰：「欲作沖天王。」 文宣問楊愔，愔曰：「天下無此郡名，願使安於德。」 於是封安德焉。 為定州刺史。 於樓上大便，使人在下，張口承之。 以蒸豬糝和人糞以飼左右，有難色者鞭之。 孝昭帝聞之，使趙道德就州杖之一百。 道德以延宗受杖不謹，又加三十。 又以囚試刀，驗其利鈍。 驕縱多不法。 武成使撻之，殺其昵近九人，從是深自改悔。
Prince Yanzong of Ande was the fifth son of Prince Wenxiang. His mother was Lady Chen, a courtesan in the household of the Prince of Guangyang. In childhood Yanzong was raised by Emperor Wensuan. Even at twelve he was set astride the belly and made to urinate into the navel. Cradling him, he said, "Poor boy—you are the only one I have. Asked what title he wanted, the boy replied, "I want to be Prince Sky-Storming." Wensuan consulted Yang Yin, who said, "No such commandery exists in the realm. Let him rest in virtue instead." He was therefore enfeoffed as Prince of Ande. He was appointed Governor of Dingzhou. He relieved himself from an upper story while men below opened their mouths to catch the filth. He fed his attendants a mash of steamed pork meal mixed with human excrement and whipped anyone who showed disgust. When Emperor Xiaozhao heard of this, he sent Zhao Daode to the province to beat him one hundred strokes. Because Yanzong did not submit properly to the beating, Daode added thirty strokes. He also tested his blades on prisoners to see whether they were sharp or dull. Arrogant and lawless, he committed many outrages. Emperor Wucheng had him beaten and killed nine of his close companions; from then on he deeply reformed himself.
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蘭陵王芒山凱捷，自陳兵勢，諸兄弟咸壯之。 延宗獨曰：「四兄非大丈夫，何不乘勝徑入？ 使延宗當此勢，關西豈得復存！」 及蘭陵死，妃鄭氏以頸珠施佛，廣甯王使贖之，延宗手書以諫，而淚滿紙。 河間死，延宗哭之，淚赤。 又為草人以像武成，鞭而訊之曰：「何故殺我兄！」 奴告之，武成覆臥延宗于地，馬鞭撾之二百，幾死。 後曆司徒、太尉。
When Prince Changgong of Lanling won his victory on Mount Mang and described his military strength, all his brothers were impressed. Yanzong alone said, "My four elder brothers are no true men. Why did they not press the victory and drive straight in? Had I been in their place, the lands west of the passes would not still be standing! When Prince Changgong died, his consort Lady Zheng donated a neck pearl to a Buddhist temple. Prince Xiaohang of Guangning sent to redeem it; Yanzong wrote a remonstrance in his own hand, the paper soaked with tears. When Prince Xiaowan of Hejian died, Yanzong wept until his tears ran red. He fashioned a straw effigy of Wucheng, whipped it, and demanded, "Why did you kill my brother! A slave reported this. Wucheng threw Yanzong face down and beat him two hundred strokes with a horsewhip, nearly killing him. He later served as Minister over the Masses and Grand Commandant.
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及平陽之役，後主自禦之，命延宗率右軍，先戰城下，禽周開府宗挺。 及大戰，延宗以麾下再入，周軍莫不披靡。 諸軍敗，延宗獨全軍。 後主將奔晉陽，延宗言：「大家但在營莫動，以兵馬付臣，臣能破之。」 帝不納。 及至并州，又聞周軍已入鸑鼠穀。 乃以延宗為相國、并州刺史，總山西兵事。 謂曰：「并州阿兄取，兒今去也。」 延宗曰：「陛下為社稷莫動，臣為陛下出死力戰。」 駱提婆曰：「至尊計已成，王不得輒沮。」 後主竟奔鄴。
At the battle of Pingyang the Last Ruler took personal command and ordered Yanzong to lead the right wing. Yanzong fought first below the walls and captured the Zhou Defender-in-Chief Zong Ting. In the great battle Yanzong led his men in a second charge, and the Zhou army broke everywhere before him. When the other armies were routed, Yanzong alone brought his force out intact. As the Last Ruler prepared to flee to Jinyang, Yanzong said, "Your Majesty need only stay in camp and give me the army. I can break the enemy. The emperor would not listen. When he reached Bingzhou, he learned that the Zhou army had already entered Quezui Valley. He then appointed Yanzong Chancellor of State and Governor of Bingzhou, entrusting him with all military affairs west of the mountains. He told him, "Bingzhou is yours, elder brother. Your son is leaving now. Yanzong said, "For the sake of the realm, Your Majesty must not flee. I will fight to the death for you." Luo Tipo said, "His Majesty's plan is already set. Your Highness must not stand in the way." The Last Ruler fled to Ye after all.
19
在並將卒咸請曰：「王若不作天子，諸人實不能與王出死力。」 延宗不得已，即皇帝位。 下詔曰：「武平孱弱，政由宦豎，釁結蕭牆，盜起疆場。 斬關夜遁，莫知所之，則我高祖之業，將墜於地。 王公卿士，猥見推逼，今便祗承寶位，可大赦天下。」 改武平七年為德昌元年，以晉昌王唐邕為宰輔，齊昌王莫多婁敬顯、沐陽王和阿於子、右衛大將軍段暢、武衛將軍相裏僧伽、開府韓骨胡、侯莫陳洛州為爪牙。 眾聞之，不召而至者前後相屬。 延宗容貌充壯，坐則仰，偃則伏，人皆笑之。 及是，赫然奮發，氣力絕異，馳騁行陣，勁捷若飛。 傾府藏及後宮美女以賜將士，籍沒內參千餘家。 後主謂近臣曰：「我甯使周得并州，不欲安德得之！」 左右曰：「理然。」 延宗見士卒，皆親執手陳辭，自稱名，流涕嗚噎。 眾皆爭為死，童兒女子亦乘屋攘袂，投磚石以禦周軍。 特進、開府那盧安生守太谷，以萬兵叛。 周軍圍晉陽，望之如黑雲四合。 延宗命莫多婁敬顯、韓骨胡拒城南； 和阿于子、段暢拒城東； 延宗親當周齊王於城北，奮大槊往來督戰，所向無前。 尚書令史沮山亦肥大多力，捉長刀步從，殺傷甚多。 武衛蘭芙蓉、綦連延長皆死於陣。 和阿于子、段暢以千騎投周軍，周軍攻東門，際昏遂入。 進兵焚佛寺門屋，飛焰照天地。 延宗與敬顯自門入，夾擊之，周軍大亂，爭門相填。 齊人後斫刺，死者一千餘人。 周武帝左右略盡，自拔無路。 承禦上士張壽輒牽馬頭，賀拔佛恩以鞭拂其後，以崎嶇僅得出。 齊人奮擊，幾中馬。 城東厄曲，佛恩及降者皮子信為之導，僅免。 時四更也。 延宗謂周武帝崩於亂兵，使於積屍中求長鬣者，不得。 時齊人既勝，入坊飲酒，盡醉臥，延宗不復能整。 周武帝出城，饑甚，欲為遁逸計。 齊王憲及柱國王誼諫，以為去必不免。 延宗叛將段暢亦盛言城內空虛。 周武帝乃駐馬，鳴角收兵，俄傾復振。 詰旦，還攻東門，克之。 又入南門。 延宗戰，力屈，走至城北，於人家見禽。 周武帝自投下馬，執其手。 延宗辭曰：「死人手何敢迫至尊！」 帝曰：「兩國天子，有何怨惡？ 直為百姓來耳！ 勿怖，終不相害。」 使復衣帽，禮之。
The generals and soldiers at Bing all pleaded, "Unless Your Highness takes the throne, we cannot fight to the death for you. With no alternative, Yanzong took the throne. His edict read: "The Wuping reign was feeble, government was in the hands of eunuchs, disaster arose within the palace, and enemies rose on the frontiers. The ruler fled by night through the passes, and none knew where he had gone. The enterprise of our High Ancestor would have collapsed. The princes, dukes, and ministers, though they pressed this unworthy man forward, now I reverently accept the throne. Let there be a general amnesty. He changed the seventh year of Wuping to the first year of Dechang. He appointed Prince Jinchang Tang Yong as chief minister, with Prince Qichang Moduolou Jingxian, Prince of Muyang He Aziyu, Right Guards General Duan Chang, Martial Guards General Xiangli Sengqia, Defender-in-Chief Han Guhu, and Houmochen Luozhou as his chief supporters. When word spread, men came of their own accord in an unbroken stream. Yanzong was stout and powerful, but when he sat he leaned back and when he lay down he sprawled face down, and everyone laughed at him. Now he blazed with energy. His strength was extraordinary, and galloping through the ranks he was swift as flight. He emptied the treasury and distributed palace women to reward the troops, and confiscated the property of more than a thousand inner attendants. The Last Ruler told his intimates, "I would rather Zhou take Bingzhou than let Ande have it! His attendants said, "That is only reasonable." Yanzong went among the soldiers, took each man's hand, spoke to him by name, and wept until he could barely speak. All vowed to die for him. Even boys and girls climbed onto roofs, rolled up their sleeves, and hurled bricks and stones at the Zhou army. Nalu Ansheng, Special Adviser and Defender-in-Chief, held Tai Valley with ten thousand men and went over to the enemy. The Zhou army besieged Jinyang. From a distance it looked like black clouds closing in from every side. Yanzong ordered Moduolou Jingxian and Han Guhu to hold the south wall; He Aziyu and Duan Chang to hold the east wall; Yanzong personally faced Prince Xian of Zhou at the north wall, wielding a great spear and directing the battle, irresistible wherever he turned. Zu Shan, a clerk in the Masters of Writing office, was also stout and very strong. He followed on foot with a long blade and killed or wounded many. The martial guards Lan Furong and Qilian Yanchang both fell in battle. He Aziyu and Duan Chang defected to the Zhou with a thousand horsemen. The Zhou attacked the east gate and broke in at dusk. They advanced and set fire to the Buddhist temple gate and halls; flames lit heaven and earth. Yanzong and Jingxian entered through the gate and attacked from both sides. The Zhou army fell into chaos, men jamming the gate and trampling one another. The Qi soldiers struck from behind, and more than a thousand perished. Emperor Wu of Zhou's attendants were nearly all gone, and he could find no way to escape. Palace Attendant Zhang Shou seized the horse's head, and Heba Fo'en lashed its hindquarters. By rugged paths the emperor barely escaped. The Qi pressed the attack and nearly struck the horse. East of the city the road was narrow and winding. Fo'en and the defector Pizi Xin guided him, and he barely got away. It was the fourth watch of the night. Yanzong thought the Zhou emperor had died in the melee and had the corpses searched for a man with long whiskers, but found nothing. The victorious Qi troops went into the wards to drink, fell drunk asleep, and Yanzong could no longer restore order. The Zhou emperor left the city starving and considered flight. Prince Xian of Zhou and Pillar of State Wang Yi urged that flight would mean certain capture. Yanzong's defector Duan Chang also insisted the city was empty within. The Zhou emperor halted, sounded the horn to rally his men, and soon his army regrouped. At dawn he attacked the east gate again and took it. He also entered through the south gate. Yanzong fought until exhausted, fled to the north of the city, and was captured in a private house. The Zhou emperor dismounted and took his hand. Yanzong protested, "How dare the hand of a dead man touch Your Majesty! The emperor said, "What enmity lies between two sons of Heaven? I have come only for the sake of the people! Do not be afraid. I will never harm you. He had Yanzong's hat and robes restored and treated him with courtesy.
20
先是，高都郡有山焉，絕壁臨水，忽有墨書云：「齊亡延宗。」 洗視，逾明。 帝使人就寫，使者改亡為上。 至是應焉。 延宗敗前，在鄴聽事，以十二月十三日晡時受敕守并州，明日建尊號。 不間日而被圍，經宿，至食時而敗。 年號德昌。 好事者言其得二日云。 既而周武帝問取鄴計，辭曰：「亡國大夫不可以圖存，此非臣所及。」 強問之，乃曰：「若任城王援鄴，臣不能知； 若今主自守，陛下兵不血刃。」 及至長安，周武與齊君臣飲酒，令後主起舞。 延宗悲不自持，屢欲仰藥自裁，侍婢苦執諫而止。 未幾，周武誣後主及延宗等，雲遙應穆提婆反，使並賜死。 皆自陳無之，延宗攘袂，泣而不言。 以椒塞口而死。 明年，李妃收殯之。
Earlier, in Gaodu Commandery, a cliff overhanging the water bore writing in ink: "Qi falls—Yanzong. When washed, the characters grew clearer. The emperor sent a man to copy it; the envoy changed "fall" to "rise." Now the prophecy was fulfilled. Before his defeat, at Ye in the audience hall, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month at the hour of the ram he received orders to guard Bingzhou; the next day he was to proclaim himself emperor. Within a day he was besieged; after one night, by mealtime, he was defeated. His reign title was Dechang. Wits said he had reigned for two days. Later the Zhou emperor asked his plan for taking Ye. He declined: "A minister of a fallen state cannot plot survival. That is beyond me. Pressed hard, he finally said, "If the Prince of Rencheng comes to relieve Ye, I cannot say; but if the present ruler holds it himself, Your Majesty's army will take it without shedding blood. At Chang'an the Zhou emperor feasted with the Qi ruler and his ministers and ordered the Last Ruler to dance. Yanzong was overcome with grief and several times tried to take poison, but his serving maids held him back and stopped him. Before long the Zhou emperor falsely accused the Last Ruler, Yanzong, and others of plotting with Mutipo and had them all put to death. All protested their innocence. Yanzong rolled up his sleeves, weeping in silence. They were killed with pepper stuffed in their mouths. The following year, Lady Li collected his body for proper burial.
21
後主之傳位於太子也，孫正言竊謂人曰：「我昔武定中為廣州士曹，聞襄城人曹普演有言：高王諸兒，阿保當為天子，至高德之承之，當滅。 阿保謂天保，德之謂德昌也，承之謂後主年號承元，其言竟信云。」
When the Last Ruler abdicated to the crown prince, Sun Zhengyan confided to others, "During the Wuding era I had served as a staff officer in Guangzhou and heard CaO Puyan of Xiangcheng prophesy: Among Prince Gao's sons, Abao would reign as emperor; when De and Cheng came in succession, the dynasty would fall. Abao referred to Tianbao, De to Dechang, and Cheng to the Last Ruler's era name Chengyuan—and in the end the prophecy came true."
22
漁陽王紹信，文襄第六子也。 曆特進、開府、中領軍、護軍、青州刺史。 行過漁陽，與大富人鐘長命同床坐，太守鄭道蓋來謁，長命欲起，紹信不聽曰：「此何物小人，主人公為起！」 乃與長命結為義兄弟，妃與長命妻為姊妹，責其闔家長幼，皆有贈賄，鐘氏因此遂貧。 齊滅，死于長安。
Prince Shaoxin of Yuyang was the sixth son of Prince Wenxiang. He served successively as Special Adviser, Defender-in-Chief, Director of the Central Army, Director of the Guards, and Governor of Qing. While passing through Yuyang he shared a couch with the wealthy Zhong Changming. When Prefect Zheng Daogai came to pay his respects, Changming started to rise, but Shaoxin stopped him, saying, "What kind of nobody is this, that the master of the house should stand for him! 」He then entered sworn brotherhood with Changming, and his consort with Changming's wife became sworn sisters. He exacted gifts from every member of the Zhong household, young and old, until the clan was reduced to poverty. When Northern Qi fell, he died in Chang'an.
23
文宣五男，李後生廢帝及太原王紹德； 馮世婦生范陽王紹義； 裴嬪生西河王紹仁； 顏嬪生隴西王紹廉。
Emperor Wensuan had five sons. Empress Li bore the Deposed Emperor and Prince Shaode of Taiyuan; Lady Feng bore Prince Shaoyi of Fanyang; Lady Pei bore Prince Shaoren of Xihe; Lady Yan bore Prince Shaolian of Longxi.
24
太原王紹德，文宣第二子也。 天保末，為開府儀同三司。 武成因怒李後，罵紹德曰：「爾父打我時，竟不來救。」 以刀環築殺之，親以土埋之遊豫園。
Prince Shaode of Taiyuan was the second son of Emperor Wensuan. At the end of the Tianbao era he held the rank of Defender-in-Chief with Equivalence to the Three Excellencies. Angered at Empress Li, Emperor Wucheng cursed Shaode, saying, "When your father was beating me, you never came to save me. 」He beat him to death with the ring of his sword and personally buried him in the Garden of Roaming Pleasure.
25
武平元年，詔以范陽王子辨才為後，襲太原王。
In the first year of Wuping, an edict appointed Prince Biancai of Fanyang as Shaode's heir to succeed to the title Prince of Taiyuan.
26
范陽王紹義，文宣第三子也。 初封廣陽，徙封范陽。 歷位侍中、清都尹。 好與群小同飲，擅致內參打殺博士任方榮。 武成嘗杖之二百，送付昭信後，後又杖一百。 及後主奔鄴，以紹義為尚書令、定州刺史。 周武帝克并州，以封輔相為北朔州總管。 此地齊之重鎮，諸勇士多聚焉。 前長史趙穆、司馬王當萬等謀執輔相，迎任城王於瀛州。 事不果，迎紹義。 紹義至馬邑。 輔相及其屬韓阿各奴等數十人，皆齊叛臣，自肆州以北城戍二百八十餘，盡從輔相，及紹義至，皆反焉。 紹義與靈州刺史袁洪猛引兵南出，欲取并州。 至新興而肆州已為周守，前隊二儀同以所部降周。 周兵擊顯州，執刺史陸瓊，又攻陷諸城。 紹義還保北朔。 周將宇文神舉軍逼馬邑，紹義遣杜明達拒之，兵大敗。 紹義曰：「有死而已，不能降人。」 遂奔突厥。 眾三千家，令之曰：「欲還者任意。」 於是哭拜別者大半。
Prince Shaoyi of Fanyang was the third son of Emperor Wensuan. He was first enfeoffed as Prince of Guangyang, then transferred to Prince of Fanyang. He served successively as Palace Attendant and Director of the Capital District. He liked to drink with low companions and on his own authority had palace attendants beat Doctor Ren Fangrong to death. Emperor Wucheng once had him beaten two hundred strokes and sent him to Empress Zhaoxin; later he received another hundred strokes. When the Last Ruler fled to Ye, Shaoyi was appointed Director of the Masters of Writing and Governor of Ding. After Emperor Wu of Zhou captured Bingzhou, he appointed Feng Fuxiang Commander-in-Chief of Northern Shuozhou. The region was a vital Qi stronghold where many fierce warriors had gathered. The former chief clerk Zhao Mu, the aide Wang Dangwan, and others plotted to seize Fuxiang and welcome the Prince of Rencheng at Ying. When the plot failed, they welcomed Shaoyi instead. Shaoyi reached Mayi. Fuxiang and his followers Han Agennu and several dozen others were all Qi defectors. From Sizhou northward, more than two hundred and eighty garrison posts followed Fuxiang, and when Shaoyi arrived they all rose in revolt. Shaoyi and Governor Yuan Hongmeng of Ling led troops south, intending to retake Bingzhou. At Xinxing they found Sizhou already in Zhou hands; two Commanders Unequalled in Honor in the vanguard surrendered their units to Zhou. Zhou forces attacked Xian Province, captured Governor Lu Qiong, and took several cities as well. Shaoyi fell back to defend Northern Shuozhou. The Zhou general Yuwen Shenju pressed Mayi with his army. Shaoyi sent Du Mingda to resist, and his forces were routed. Shaoyi said, "I would rather die than surrender to the enemy. 」He then fled among the Turks. With three thousand households following him, he told them, "Those who wish to return may do as they please. 」More than half wept, bowed farewell, and departed.
27
突厥他缽可汗謂文宣為英雄天子，以紹義重踝似之，甚見愛重。 凡齊人在北者，悉隸紹義。 高寶甯在營州，表上尊號，紹義遂即皇帝位，稱武平元年，以趙穆為天水王。 他缽聞寶甯得平州，亦招諸部，各舉兵南向，雲共立范陽王作齊帝，為其報仇。 周武帝大集兵于雲陽，將親北伐，遇疾暴崩。 紹義聞之，以為天贊己。 盧昌期據范陽，亦表迎紹義。 俄而周將宇文神舉攻滅昌期。 其日，紹義適至幽州，聞周總管出兵于外，欲乘虛取薊城。 列天子旌旗，登燕昭王塚，乘高望遠，部分兵眾。 神舉遣大將軍宇文恩將四千人馳救幽州，半為齊軍所殺。 紹義聞范陽城陷，素服舉哀，回軍入突厥。 周人購之於他缽，又使賀若誼往說之。 他缽又不忍，遂偽與紹義獵于南境，使誼執之，流於蜀。 紹義妃，勃海封孝琬女，自突厥逃歸。 紹義在蜀，遺妃書云：「夷狄無信，送吾於此。」 竟死蜀中。
Taboch Khan of the Turks had called Emperor Wensuan a heroic Son of Heaven; finding that Shaoyi's heavy ankles resembled his, he held him in great esteem. All Qi subjects in the north were placed under Shaoyi's command. Gao Baoning at Ying Province submitted a memorial proposing an imperial title. Shaoyi thereupon proclaimed himself emperor, taking the reign title Wuping year one, and enfeoffed Zhao Mu as Prince of Tianshui. When Taboch heard that Baoning had taken Ping Province, he too summoned the tribes to march south, declaring that they would install the Prince of Fanyang as Qi emperor and avenge his cause. Emperor Wu of Zhou massed a great army at Yunyang and intended to lead a northern campaign in person, but suddenly fell ill and died. When Shaoyi heard this, he took it as Heaven's blessing. Lu Changqi, holding Fanyang, also submitted a memorial welcoming Shaoyi. Before long the Zhou general Yuwen Shenju attacked and destroyed Changqi. That day Shaoyi happened to reach You Province. Hearing that the Zhou commander had marched out with his troops, he intended to exploit the opening and seize Ji. He raised the imperial banners, ascended the tomb-mound of King Zhao of Yan, surveyed the land from on high, and deployed his troops. Shenju sent the great general Yuwen En with four thousand men to gallop to the relief of You Province; half were slain by Qi forces. When Shaoyi learned that Fanyang had fallen, he put on mourning garb and raised a lament, then withdrew among the Turks. The Zhou court offered a bounty for him to Taboch and also sent He Ruoyi to win him over. Taboch could not bring himself to hand him over, so he feigned a hunt with Shaoyi on the southern frontier, had Yi seize him, and sent him into exile in Shu. Shaoyi's consort, a daughter of Feng Xiaowan of Bohai, escaped from the Turks and returned home. While Shaoyi was in Shu, he sent his consort a letter saying, "These barbarians are faithless—they have sent me here. 」He died in Shu in the end.
28
西河王紹仁，文宣第四子也。 天保末，為開府儀同三司。 尋薨。
Prince Shaoren of Xihe was the fourth son of Emperor Wensuan. At the end of the Tianbao era he held the rank of Defender-in-Chief with Equivalence to the Three Excellencies. He died soon after.
29
隴西王紹廉，文宣第五子也。 初封長樂，後改焉。 性粗暴，嘗拔刀逐紹義，紹義走入廄，閉門拒之。 紹義初為清都尹，未及理事。 紹廉先往，喚囚悉出，率意決遣之。 能飲酒，一舉數升，終以此薨。
Prince Shaolian of Longxi was the fifth son of Emperor Wensuan. He was first enfeoffed as Prince of Changle, then given a new title. By nature he was violent and rough. Once he drew a sword and chased Shaoyi, who fled into the stable and barred the door against him. Shaoyi had just been appointed Director of the Capital District and had not yet begun to administer affairs. Shaolian went ahead of him, had all the prisoners brought out, and decided their cases as he pleased. He could hold his wine, drinking several sheng in a single draft, and in the end died of it.
30
孝昭七男：元皇后生樂陵王百年； 桑氏生襄城王亮，出後襄城景王； 諸姬生汝南王彥理、始平王彥德、城陽王彥基、定陽王彥康、汝陽王彥忠。
Emperor Xiaozhao had seven sons. Empress Yuan bore Prince Bainian of Leling; Lady Sang bore Prince Liang of Xiangcheng, who was adopted as heir to Prince Jing of Xiangcheng; his other consorts bore Prince Yanli of Runan, Prince Yande of Shiping, Prince Yanji of Chengyang, Prince Yankang of Dingyang, and Prince Yanzhong of Ruyang.
31
河清三年五月，白虹圍日再重，又橫貫而不達； 赤星見，帝以盆水承星影而蓋之，一夜盆自破。 欲以百年厭之。 會博陵人賈德胄教百年書，百年嘗作數敕字，德胄封以奏。 帝發怒，使召百年。 百年被召，自知不免，割帶玦，留與妃斛律氏。 見帝于玄都苑涼風堂。 使百年書敕字，驗與德胄所奏相似。 遣左右亂捶擊之，又令人曳百年繞堂，且走且打，所過處，血皆遍地。 氣息將盡，曰：「乞命，願與阿叔作奴。」 遂斬之，棄諸池，池水盡赤，於後園親看埋之。
In the fifth month of the third year of Heqing, a white rainbow encircled the sun twice and also ran horizontally across it without completing the passage; a red star appeared. The emperor caught its reflection in a basin of water and covered it, but overnight the basin broke of its own accord. He intended to use Bainian to counter the omen. It happened that Jia Dezhao of Boling was teaching Bainian to write. Bainian once penned several characters in the style of an edict, and Dezhao sealed the sheet and submitted it. The emperor flew into a rage and summoned Bainian. Summoned to appear, Bainian knew he could not escape. He cut off his belt pendant and left it for his consort, Lady Hulu. He appeared before the emperor in the Hall of Cool Breeze in the Mystic Capital Park. The emperor had Bainian write the edict characters, and they matched what Dezhao had submitted. He had attendants beat him at random, then had men drag Bainian around the hall, striking him as he went until blood covered the floor wherever he passed. As his breath failed, he pleaded, "Spare my life—I will be Uncle's slave. 」He was then beheaded and thrown into a pool until the water ran red; in the rear garden the emperor personally watched as he was buried.
32
妃把玦哀號，不肯食，月餘亦死。 玦猶在手，拳不可開，時年十四。 其父光自擘之，乃開。
His consort clutched the pendant and wailed, refusing to eat; after more than a month she too died. The pendant was still clenched in her hand and her fist would not open. She was fourteen years old. Her father Guang pried it open himself before it would release.
33
後主時，改九院為二十七院，掘得小屍，緋袍金帶，一髻一解，一足有靴。 諸內參竅言，百年太子也。 或以為太原王紹德。 詔以襄城王子白澤襲爵樂陵王。 齊亡入關，徙蜀死。
During the Last Ruler's reign the nine courtyards were expanded to twenty-seven, and a small corpse was unearthed in a crimson robe with a gold belt, one topknot undone and one foot still booted. Palace attendants whispered that it was Crown Prince Bainian. Others thought it was Prince Shaode of Taiyuan. An edict appointed Prince Baize of Xiangcheng as heir to succeed to the title Prince of Leling. When Qi fell he was taken west of the Pass and transferred to Shu, where he died.
34
始平王彥德、城陽王彥基、定陽王彥康、汝陽王彥忠與汝南王同受封，並加儀同三司，後事闕。
Prince Yande of Shiping, Prince Yanji of Chengyang, Prince Yankang of Dingyang, and Prince Yanzhong of Ruyang were enfeoffed together with the Prince of Runan, all receiving Equivalence to the Three Excellencies; their later careers are not recorded.
35
武成十三男：胡皇后生後主及琅邪王儼； 李夫人生南陽王綽； 後宮生齊安王廓、北平王貞、高平王仁英、淮南王仁光、西河王仁機、樂平王仁邕、潁川王仁儉、安樂王仁雅、丹楊王仁直、東海王仁謙。
Emperor Wucheng had thirteen sons. Empress Hu bore the Last Ruler and Prince Yan of Langye; Lady Li, a consort, bore Prince Chuo of Nanyang; rear-palace consorts bore Prince Kuo of Qi'an, Prince Zhen of Beiping, Prince Renying of Gaoping, Prince Renguang of Huainan, Prince Renji of Xihe, Prince Renyong of Leping, Prince Renjian of Yingchuan, Prince Renya of Anle, Prince Renzhi of Danyang, and Prince Renqian of Donghai.
36
南陽王綽，字仁通，武成長子也。 以五月五日辰時生，至午時，後主乃生。 武成以綽母李夫人非正嫡，故貶為第二。 初名融，字君明，出後漢陽王。 河清三年，改封南陽，別為漢陽置後。
Prince Chuo of Nanyang, style Rentong, was the eldest son of Emperor Wucheng. He was born on the fifth day of the fifth month at the hour of the dragon, while the Last Ruler was not born until the hour of the horse. Because Chuo's mother Lady Li was not the principal consort, Emperor Wucheng demoted him to second in rank. He was first named Rong, style Junming, and was made heir to the Prince of Hanyang. In the third year of Heqing he was transferred to Nanyang, and a separate heir was established for Hanyang.
37
綽始十餘歲，留守晉陽。 愛波斯狗。 尉破胡諫之，欻然斫殺數狗，狼藉在地。 破胡驚走，不敢復言。 後為司徒、冀州刺史。 好裸人，畫為獸狀，縱犬噬而食之。 左轉定州，汲井水為後池，在樓上彈人。 好微行，遊獵無度，恣情強暴，雲學文宣伯為人。 有婦人抱兒在路，走避入草，綽奪其兒飼波斯狗。 婦人號哭，綽怒，又縱狗使食，狗不食，塗以兒血，乃食焉。 後主聞之，詔鎖綽赴行在所。 至而宥之，問在州何者最樂。 對曰：「多取鲩歇，將蛆混看，極樂。」 後主即夜索鲩歇一斗，比曉，得二三升，置諸浴斛，使人裸臥浴斛中，號叫宛轉。 帝與綽臨觀，喜噱不已。 謂綽曰：「如此樂事，何不早馳驛奏聞？」 綽由是大為後主寵，拜大將軍，朝夕同戲。
While still in his early teens, Chuo remained at Jinyang as regent. He doted on Persian dogs. Wei Pohu remonstrated with him; in a sudden fury he hacked several dogs to death until they lay scattered on the ground. Pohu fled in alarm and never dared speak of it again. He later served as Minister over the Masses and Governor of Ji. He took delight in naked victims, painted them to look like beasts, and set dogs on them to tear them apart and devour them. After his transfer to Dingzhou, he drew well water into a rear pool and from an upper story used a catapult to shoot at people below. He loved traveling in disguise, hunted without restraint, and indulged in violence at will, claiming to take Prince Wenxuan as his model. A woman carrying a child was on the road. As she fled into the grass to escape, Chuo snatched her child and fed it to his Persian dog. The woman wailed in grief. Chuo flew into a rage and set the dog on her again, but the dog would not eat until he smeared it with the child's blood—only then would it feed. When the Last Ruler heard of this, he ordered Chuo shackled and brought to the imperial camp. When Chuo arrived, the emperor pardoned him and asked what had given him the greatest pleasure in the province. He answered, "Gathering great heaps of putrid fish scraps and mixing them with maggots to watch—that is supreme delight. That very night the Last Ruler sent for a peck of putrid fish scraps. By dawn only two or three sheng had been found. They were placed in a bathing tub, and a man was made to lie naked inside it, wailing and writhing in agony. The emperor and Chuo looked on, roaring with laughter without end. He said to Chuo, "For such a delightful amusement, why did you not send a courier posthaste to tell me sooner? From then on Chuo won the Last Ruler's great favor. He was appointed Grand General and spent every day and night at play with him.
38
韓長鸞間之，除齊州刺史。 將發，長鸞令綽親信誣告其反，奏云：「此犯國法，不可赦。」 後主不忍顯戮，使寵胡何猥薩後園與綽相撲，扼殺之。 瘞於興聖佛寺，經四百餘日乃大斂，顏色毛髮皆如生。 俗雲五月五日生者，腦不壞。
Han Changluan slandered him, and he was transferred to serve as Governor of Qizhou. Just before his departure, Changluan had Chuo's trusted followers falsely accuse him of rebellion, memorializing, "This man has violated the laws of the state and cannot be pardoned. The Last Ruler could not bear a public execution and had his favored Hu attendant He Weisa wrestle with Chuo in the rear garden and strangle him. He was buried at Xingsheng Buddhist Temple. Only after more than four hundred days was the full funeral rite performed, and his complexion and hair were still as in life. Popular lore held that anyone born on the fifth day of the fifth month would not decay in the brain.
39
綽兄弟皆呼父為兄兄，嫡母為家家，乳母為姊姊，婦為妹妹。
Chuo and his brothers all called their father "elder brother," the principal mother "jiajia," the wet nurse "elder sister," and their wives "younger sister."
40
齊亡，妃鄭氏為周武帝所幸，請葬綽，敕所司葬于永平陵北。
When Qi fell, his consort Lady Zheng won the favor of Emperor Wu of Zhou. She requested burial for Chuo, and an edict ordered the authorities to bury him north of Yongping Tomb.
41
琅邪王儼字仁威，武成第三子也。 初封東平王，拜開府、侍中、中書監、京畿大都督、領軍大將軍，領御史中丞。 遷大司徒、尚書令、大將軍、錄尚書事、大司馬。
Prince Yan of Langye, style Renwei, was the third son of Emperor Wucheng. He was first enfeoffed as Prince of Dongping and appointed Opener of a Government Office, Palace Attendant, Director of the Secretariat, Grand Commander of the Capital Region, General-in-Chief of the Palace Guard, and concurrently Censor-in-Chief. He was promoted to Minister over the Masses, Director of the Department of State Affairs, Grand General, Recorder of Affairs in the Department of State Affairs, and Grand Marshal.
42
魏氏舊制，中丞出，千步清道，與皇太子分路行，王公皆遙住車，去牛頓軛於地，以待中丞過。 其或遲違，則赤棒棒之。 自都鄴後，此儀浸絕。 武成欲雄寵儼，乃使一依舊制。 儼初從北宮出，將上中丞，凡京畿步騎，領軍之官屬，中丞之威儀，司徒之鹵簿，莫不畢備。 帝與胡後在華林園東門外，張幕隔青紗步障觀之。 遣中貴驟馬趣仗，不得入，自言奉敕，赤棒應聲碎其鞍，馬驚人墜。 帝大笑，以為善。 更敕令駐車，傳語良久，觀者傾京邑。
Under the old Wei system, when the Censor-in-Chief went abroad the road was cleared for a thousand paces. He traveled by a separate route from the Crown Prince, and princes and nobles all halted their carriages at a distance, unyoked their oxen, and waited for the Censor-in-Chief to pass. Anyone who was slow or disobedient was beaten with the red staff. After the capital was moved to Ye, this ceremony gradually fell into disuse. Emperor Wucheng wished to display Yan in full majesty and had the old system restored in every detail. When Yan first went out from the Northern Palace to assume the post of Censor-in-Chief, all the infantry and cavalry of the capital region, the officers of the Palace Guard, the Censor-in-Chief's guard of honor, and the Minister over the Masses' full retinue were completely assembled. The emperor and Empress Hu watched from outside the east gate of Hualin Garden, seated behind curtains and green gauze screens. He sent a palace eunuch galloping to join the guard formation, but entry was denied. When the man claimed he came by imperial order, a red staff instantly shattered his saddle; the horse bolted and he was thrown to the ground. The emperor laughed heartily and approved. He then ordered the carriage to halt and exchanged words at length, and onlookers filled the entire capital.
43
儼恆在宮中，坐含章殿以視事，諸父皆拜焉。 帝幸并州，儼恆居守。 每送駕，或半路，或至晉陽乃還。 王師羅嘗從駕，後至，武成欲罪之。 辭曰：「臣與第三子別，留連不覺晚。」 武成憶儼，為之下泣，舍師羅不問。 儼器服玩飾皆與後主同，所須悉官給。 于南宮嘗見新冰綠李，還，怒曰：「尊兄已有，我何意無？」 從是，後主先得新奇，屬官及工匠必獲罪。 太上、胡後猶以為不足。 儼嘗患喉，使醫下針，張目不瞬。 又言於帝曰：「阿兄軟，何能率左右！」 帝每稱曰：「此黠兒也，當有所成。」 以後主為劣，有廢立之意。 武成崩，改封琅邪。 儼以和士開、駱提婆等奢恣，盛修第宅，意甚不平。 嘗謂曰：「君等所營宅，早晚當就，何太遲也？」 二人相謂曰：「琅邪王眼光弈弈，數步射人，向者暫對，不覺汗出。 天子門奏事，尚不然。」 由是忌之。
Yan constantly remained in the palace, holding court in Hanzhang Hall, and all his uncles bowed to him. Whenever the emperor visited Bingzhou, Yan remained behind as regent. Each time he escorted the imperial procession, he would turn back either halfway or only after reaching Jinyang. Wang Shiluo once accompanied the imperial procession but arrived late, and Emperor Wucheng wished to punish him. He pleaded, "Your servant parted from the Third Son and lingered so long that I did not notice how late it had grown. Emperor Wucheng thought of Yan and wept; he released Shiluo without further inquiry. Yan's vessels, robes, ornaments, and playthings were all identical to the Last Ruler's, and everything he needed was supplied by the state. In the Southern Palace he once saw fresh ice and green plums. Returning, he said angrily, "My elder brother already has them—why should I not? From then on the Last Ruler always received novelties first, and subordinate officials and artisans were invariably punished. The Retired Emperor and Empress Hu still thought this insufficient. Yan once suffered from a throat ailment and had a physician insert a needle; he kept his eyes open without blinking. He also said to the emperor, "Elder brother is soft—how can he command those around him! The emperor always praised him, saying, "This clever boy will surely achieve something. He considered the Last Ruler inferior and entertained thoughts of deposing and replacing him. When Emperor Wucheng died, Yan's fief was changed to Langye. Yan resented He Shikai, Luo Tipo, and others for their extravagant indulgence and lavish building of mansions. He once said to them, "The mansions you are building should be finished before long—why so slow? The two said to each other, "Prince Yan of Langye's eyes gleam sharply; from several paces they pierce a man. Just now, facing him briefly, we broke out in sweat without noticing. Even when presenting business at the Son of Heaven's gate it is not like this. From this they came to fear and resent him.
44
武平二年，出儼居北宮，五日一朝，不復得無時見太后。 四月，詔除太保，余官悉解，猶帶中丞，且京畿。 以北城有武庫，欲移儼於外，然後奪其兵權。 書侍御史王子宜與儼左右開府高舍洛、中常侍劉辟強說儼曰：「殿下被疏，正由士開間構，何可出北宮，入百姓叢中也？」 儼謂侍中馮子琮曰：「士開罪重，兒欲殺之。」 子琮心欲廢帝而立儼，因贊成其事。 儼乃令子宜表彈士開罪，請付禁推。 子琮雜以他文書奏之，後主不審省而可之。 儼誑領軍厙狄伏連曰：「奉敕，令領軍收士開。」 伏連以諮子琮，且請覆奏。 子琮曰：「琅邪王受敕，何須重奏。」 伏連信之，伏五十人於神獸門外，詰旦，執士開送御史。 儼使馮永洛就台斬之。
In the second year of Wuping, Yan was moved out to reside in the Northern Palace, attending court once every five days, and no longer allowed to see the Empress Dowager at will. In the fourth month an edict removed him as Grand Guardian; all other offices were dismissed, though he still held the post of Censor-in-Chief over the capital region. Because the northern city held the armory, they wished to move Yan outside the walls and then strip him of military authority. Supervising Secretary Wang Ziyi, together with Yan's attendants Opener of a Government Office Gao Sheluo and Palace Attendant Liu Biqiang, urged Yan, saying, "Your Highness has been estranged precisely because of He Shikai's slander—how can you leave the Northern Palace and enter the midst of common people? Yan said to Palace Attendant Feng Zicong, "He Shikai's crimes are grave; I wish to kill him. Zicong inwardly wished to depose the emperor and establish Yan, and therefore encouraged the deed. Yan then had Ziyi memorialize impeaching He Shikai's crimes and request that he be handed over for imprisonment and investigation. Zicong mixed it with other documents in the memorial; the Last Ruler did not examine it closely and approved it. Yan deceived General-in-Chief of the Palace Guard Kudie Fulian, saying, "By imperial order, the General-in-Chief is to arrest He Shikai. Fulian consulted Zicong and also requested confirmation by memorial. Zicong said, "Prince Yan of Langye has received the order—what need is there to memorialize again? Fulian believed him, hid fifty men outside the Divine Beast Gate, and at dawn seized He Shikai and sent him to the Censorate. Yan sent Feng Yongluo to the Censorate to behead him.
45
儼徒本意唯殺士開。 及是，因逼儼曰：「事既然，不可中止。」 儼遂率京畿軍士三千餘人，屯千秋門外。 帝使劉桃枝將禁兵八十人召儼。 桃枝遙拜，儼命反縛，將斬之，禁兵散走。 帝又使馮子琮召儼。 儼辭曰：「士開昔來實合萬死，謀廢至尊，剃家家頭使作阿尼，故擁兵馬，欲坐著孫鳳珍宅上。 臣為是，矯詔誅之。 尊兄若欲殺臣，不敢逃罪； 若放臣，願遣姊姊來迎臣，臣即入見。」 姊姊即陸令萱也，儼欲誘出殺之。 令萱執刀帝后，聞之戰慄。 又使韓長鸞召儼。 儼將入，劉辟強牽衣諫曰：「若不斬提婆母子，殿下無由得入。」 廣甯、安德二王適從西來，欲助成其事，曰：「何不入？」 辟強曰：「人少。」 安德王顧眾而言曰：「孝昭殺楊遵彥，止八十人，今乃數千，何言人少？」 後主泣啟太后曰：「有緣，更見家家，無緣，永別。」 乃急召斛律光，儼亦召之。 光聞殺士開，撫掌大笑曰：「龍子作事，固自不似凡人。」 入見後主於永巷。 帝率宿衛者步騎四百，授甲將出。 光曰：「小兒輩弄兵，與交手，即亂。 鄙諺云：'奴見大家心死。 '至尊宜自至千秋門，琅邪必不敢動。」 皮景和亦以為然，後主從之。 光步道，使人走出曰：「大家來。」 儼徒駭散。 帝駐馬橋上，遙呼之，儼猶立不進。 光就謂曰：「天子弟殺一漢，何苦？」 執其手，強引以前。 請帝曰：「琅邪王年少，腸肥腦滿，輕為舉措，長大自不復然，願寬其罪。」 帝拔儼帶刀環，亂築辮頭，良久乃釋之。 收伏連及高舍洛、王子宜、劉辟強、都督翟顯貴于後園，帝親射之而後斬，皆支解，暴之都街下。 文武職吏，盡欲殺之。 光以皆勳貴子弟，恐人心不安，趙彥深亦云「《春秋》責帥」，於是罪之各有差。 儼之未獲罪也。 鄴北城有白馬佛塔，是石季龍為澄公所作。 儼將修之，巫曰：「若動此浮圖，此城失主。」 不從，破至第二級，得白蛇，長數丈，迴旋失之。 數旬而敗。
Yan's followers had originally intended only to kill He Shikai. At this point they pressed Yan, saying, "The affair having come this far, it cannot be halted. Yan then led more than three thousand capital-region soldiers and encamped outside the Qianqiu Gate. The emperor sent Liu Taozhi with eighty palace guards to summon Yan. Taozhi bowed from afar. Yan ordered him bound hand and foot and was about to behead him, and the palace guards scattered and fled. The emperor again sent Feng Zicong to summon Yan. Yan declined, saying, "He Shikai in the past truly deserved ten thousand deaths. He plotted to depose the Supreme Sovereign and shave jiajia's head to make her a nun. For this reason I gathered troops and horses, intending to take up residence in Sun Fengzhen's house. Your servant did this and, by forged edict, executed him. If my elder brother wishes to kill your servant, I dare not flee punishment; if he releases your servant, I wish that elder sister be sent to receive me, and your servant will then enter to have audience. Elder sister was Lu Lingxuan; Yan wished to lure her out and kill her. Lingxuan held a knife to the emperor and empress; hearing this, they trembled in fear. They again sent Han Changluan to summon Yan. As Yan was about to enter, Liu Biqiang seized his robe and remonstrated, saying, "Unless Tipo and his mother are beheaded, Your Highness will have no way to enter. Prince Xiaohang of Guangning and Prince Ande happened to come from the west wishing to help accomplish the affair, and said, "Why not enter? Biqiang said, "Our men are too few. Prince Ande looked at the crowd and said, "When Emperor Xiaozhao killed Yang Zunyan, he had only eighty men; now we number in the thousands—how can you say our men are too few? The Last Ruler wept and reported to the Empress Dowager, saying, "If fate allows, I shall see jiajia again; if not, this is eternal parting. They then urgently summoned Hulu Guang; Yan summoned him as well. Guang heard that He Shikai had been killed, clapped his hands, and laughed heartily, saying, "A dragon's son acts—naturally he is not like ordinary men. He entered to see the Last Ruler in Yong Lane. The emperor led four hundred infantry and cavalry of the palace guard, armed them, and was about to go out. Guang said, "These boys are playing with arms; if you cross swords with them, there will be chaos at once. A vulgar proverb says, 'When a slave sees the master, his heart dies. The Supreme Sovereign should go in person to the Qianqiu Gate; Prince Yan of Langye will surely not dare move. Pi Jinghe also thought this correct, and the Last Ruler followed his advice. Guang walked on foot and had a man run out, saying, "The master comes. Yan's followers were terrified and scattered. The emperor halted his horse on the bridge and called to him from afar; Yan still stood and did not advance. Guang went up to him and said, "The Son of Heaven's younger brother killed one commoner—why such distress? He seized his hand and forcibly pulled him forward. He petitioned the emperor, saying, "Prince Yan of Langye is young, fat of belly and full of brain, and acts rashly; when he grows up he will no longer be so—I beg that his crime be forgiven. The emperor drew the ring of Yan's girdle knife and beat his braided hair at random; only after a long while did he release him. Fulian, Gao Sheluo, Wang Ziyi, Liu Biqiang, and Commander Zhai Xiangui were seized in the rear garden. The emperor personally shot them and then beheaded them. All were dismembered and exposed beneath the capital's main street. They wished to kill all the civil and military officials and clerks involved. Guang, because they were all sons of meritorious nobles, feared popular unrest; Zhao Yanshen also cited the *Spring and Autumn* dictum that "the commander is held responsible," and so their punishments were graded accordingly. Before Yan had yet been punished for his crime, In the northern city of Ye there was a White Horse Buddhist pagoda, built by Shi Jilong for Master Cheng. Yan was about to repair it when a shaman said, "If this stupa is moved, this city will lose its lord. He did not listen, broke through to the second tier, found a white serpent several zhang long, and it coiled away and vanished. Within several tens of days he was destroyed.
46
自是，太后處儼于宮內，食必自嘗之。 陸令萱說帝曰：「人稱琅邪王聰明雄勇，當今無敵，觀其根表，殆非人臣。 自專殺以來，常懷恐懼，宜早為計。」 何洪珍與和士開素善，亦請殺之。 未決，以食輦密迎祖班問之。 班稱周公殺管叔，季友鴆慶父，帝納其言。 以儼之晉陽，使右衛大將軍趙元侃誘執儼。 元侃曰：「臣昔事先帝日，見先帝愛王，今寧就死，不能行。」 帝出元侃為豫州刺史。 九月下旬，帝啟太后曰：「明旦欲與仁威出獵，須早早還。」 是夜四更，帝召儼，儼疑之。 陸令萱曰：「兄兄喚，兒何不去？」 儼出至永巷，劉桃枝反接其手。 儼呼曰：「乞見家家、尊兄！」 桃枝以袖塞其口，反袍蒙頭負出，至大明宮，鼻血滿面，立殺之，時年十四。 不脫靴，裹以席，埋於室內。 帝使啟太后，臨哭十餘聲，便擁入殿。 明年三月，葬於鄴西，贈諡曰楚恭哀帝，以慰太后。
From then on the Empress Dowager kept Yan within the palace and always tasted his food herself before he ate. Lu Lingxuan urged the emperor, saying, "People call Prince Yan of Langye clever and heroically brave, unmatched in the present age. Judging from his essential bearing, he is scarcely fit to remain a subject. Since the unauthorized killing, he has constantly lived in fear. You should act early. He Hongzhen, who had long been on good terms with He Shikai, also requested that Yan be killed. Before a decision was made, they secretly brought Zu Ban in a food carriage to consult him. Ban cited the Duke of Zhou's execution of Guan Shu and Jiyou's poisoning of Qing Fu, and the emperor accepted his argument. Yan was sent to Jinyang, and Right Guard General Zhao Yuankan was ordered to lure and seize him. Yuankan said, "When I formerly served the late emperor, I saw how deeply he loved the prince. Now I would rather die than carry this out. The emperor transferred Yuankan out to serve as Governor of Yuzhou. In the latter part of the ninth month the emperor reported to the Empress Dowager, saying, "Tomorrow I wish to go hunting with Renwei and must return early. That night at the fourth watch the emperor summoned Yan, and Yan grew suspicious. Lu Lingxuan said, "Elder brother calls—why will you not go? Yan went out to Yong Lane, and Liu Taozhi bound his hands behind his back. Yan cried out, "I beg to see jiajia and my elder brother! Taozhi stuffed his mouth with a sleeve, covered his head with a reversed robe, and carried him out. At Daming Palace, with blood from his nose covering his face, he was immediately killed. He was fourteen years old. Without removing his boots, they wrapped him in a mat and buried him inside the room. The emperor had someone report to the Empress Dowager. She wept over the body for a dozen cries, then was escorted into the hall. In the third month of the following year he was buried west of Ye and posthumously given the title Emperor Gong'ai of Chu, to console the Empress Dowager.
47
有遺腹四男，生數月，皆幽死。 以平陽王淹孫世俊嗣。 儼妃李祖欽女也，進為楚帝后，居宣則宮，齊亡，乃嫁焉。
There were four posthumous sons; within a few months of birth, all were secretly killed. Prince Yan of Pingyang's grandson Shijun was made heir. Yan's consort was a daughter of Li Zuqin. She was promoted to Empress of the Emperor of Chu and resided in Xuanze Palace. When Qi fell, she remarried.
48
齊安王廓，字仁弘，武成第四子也。 性長者，無過行，位特進、開府儀同三司、定州刺史。
Prince Kuo of Qi'an, style Renhong, was the fourth son of Emperor Wucheng. By nature he was a man of forbearance and without misconduct. He held the posts of Special Advancement, Opener of a Government Office with Equivalence to the Three Excellencies, and Governor of Dingzhou.
49
北平王貞，字仁堅，武成第五子也。 沉審寬恕，帝常曰：「此兒得我鳳毛。」 位司州牧、京畿大都督、兼尚書令、錄尚書事。 帝行幸，總留台事。 積年，後主以貞長大，漸忌之。 阿那肱承旨，令馮士幹劾，系貞於獄，奪其留後權。
Prince Zhen of Beiping, style Renjian, was the fifth son of Emperor Wucheng. Deep, careful, and forgiving, the emperor often said, "This boy has inherited my fine plumage. He held the posts of Governor of Sizhou, Grand Commander of the Capital Region, concurrent Director of the Department of State Affairs, and Recorder of Affairs in the Department of State Affairs. When the emperor traveled, Zhen took overall charge of affairs at the capital. Over the years, as Zhen grew to maturity, the Last Ruler gradually came to resent him. An Nagu, following the emperor's intent, had Feng Shigan impeach him, imprisoned Zhen, and stripped him of his authority as regent at the capital.
50
高平王仁英，武成第六子也。 舉止軒昂，精神無檢格。 位定州刺史。
Prince Renying of Gaoping was the sixth son of Emperor Wucheng. His bearing was lofty, and his spirit was unrestrained. He held the post of Governor of Dingzhou.
51
淮南王仁光，武成第七子也。 性躁又暴，位清都尹。 次西河王仁機，生而無骨，不自支持。 次樂平王仁邕； 次潁川王仁儉； 次安樂王仁雅，從小有暗疾； 次丹楊王仁直； 次東海王仁謙，皆養于北宮。
Prince Renguang of Huainan was the seventh son of Emperor Wucheng. By nature he was irritable and violent. He held the post of Prefect of Qingdu. Next was Prince Renji of Xihe, born without firm bones and unable to support himself. Next was Prince Renyong of Leping; next was Prince Renjian of Yingchuan; next was Prince Renya of Anle, who from childhood had a speech ailment; next was Prince Renzhi of Danyang; and next was Prince Renqian of Donghai—all were raised in the Northern Palace.
52
琅邪王死後，諸王守禁彌切。 武平末年，仁邕已下，始得出外，供給儉薄，取充而已。 尋後主窮蹙，以廓為光州，貞為青州，仁英為冀州，仁儉為膠州，仁直為濟州刺史。 自廓已下，多與後主死于長安。 仁英以清狂，仁雅以喑疾，獲免，俱徙蜀。 隋開皇中，追仁英，詔與蕭琮、陳叔寶修其本宗祭祀。 未幾而卒。
After Prince Yan of Langye died, the restrictions on the princes grew ever tighter. In the last years of Wuping, Renyong and those below him were at last allowed to go outside. Their supplies were meager, barely enough to get by. Soon, as the Last Ruler fell into desperate straits, Kuo was sent to Guangzhou, Zhen to Qingzhou, Renying to Jizhou, Renjian to Jiaozhou, and Renzhi to serve as Governor of Jizhou. From Kuo downward, most died together with the Last Ruler in Chang'an. Renying, because of his wild eccentricity, and Renya, because of his speech ailment, were spared and both were transferred to Shu. In the Kaihuang era of Sui, Renying was recalled and ordered, together with Xiao Cong and Chen Shubao, to maintain the sacrifices of his original clan. Before long he died.
53
後主五男：穆皇后生幼主； 諸姬生東平王恪，次善德，次質德，次質錢； 胡太后以恪嗣琅邪王，尋夭折。
The Last Ruler had five sons: Empress Mu bore the Infant Ruler; consorts bore Prince Ke of Dongping, then Shande, then Zhide, then Zhiqian; Empress Dowager Hu made Ke heir to Prince Yan of Langye, but he soon died young.
54
齊滅，周武帝以任城已下大小三十王歸長安，皆有封爵。 其後不從戮者，散配西土，皆死邊。
When Qi fell, Emperor Wu of Zhou sent the thirty princes great and small from Prince Rencheng downward back to Chang'an, all receiving titles of nobility. Afterward those who were not executed with the rest were scattered and assigned to the western regions, and all died on the frontier.
55
論曰：文襄諸子，咸有風骨。 雖文雅之道，有謝間、平，然武藝英姿，多堪禦侮。 縱咸陽賜劍，殲覆有徵，若使蘭陵獲全，未可量也。 而終見誅翦，以至土崩，可為太息者矣。 安德以時艱主暗，晦跡韜光； 及平陽之陣，奮其忠勇，蓋以臨難見危，義深家國。 德昌大舉，事迫群情，理至淪亡，無所歸命。 廣甯請出後宮，竟不獲遂，非孝珩辭致，有謝李同，自是後主心識，去平原已遠。 存亡事異，安可同年而說。 武成殘忍奸穢，事極人倫； 太原跡異猜嫌，情非釁逆，禍起昭信，遂及淫刑。 嗟乎！ 欲求長世，未之有也。 以孝昭德音，庶可慶流後嗣，百年之酷，蓋濟南之濫觴。 其云「莫效前人」之言，可為傷歎。 各愛其子，豈其然乎？ 琅邪雖無師傅之資，而早聞氣尚，士開淫亂，多曆歲年，一朝剿絕，慶集朝野，以之受斃，深可痛焉。 然專戮之釁，未之或免。 贈帝諡恭，矯枉過直。 觀過知仁，不亦異於是乎！
Commentary: The sons of Prince Wenxiang all possessed force of character. Although in literary refinement they fell short of the likes of Lin Xiangru and Lord Pingyuan, in martial skill and heroic bearing many were fit to repel insult. Even if swords had been granted at Xianyang and signs of annihilation had already appeared, had Prince Changgong of Lanling been preserved, the outcome might have been beyond reckoning. Yet in the end they were executed and cut down until the state collapsed—a matter for deep sighing indeed. Prince Ande, because the times were hard and the ruler benighted, hid his tracks and concealed his brilliance; at the battle of Pingyang he exerted his loyalty and courage—surely because, facing danger in crisis, his devotion to state and family ran deep. The Dechang campaign was forced by popular feeling; reason led all the way to ruin, and there was nowhere to turn for deliverance. Prince Xiaohang of Guangning's request to lead troops out of the rear palace was ultimately not granted. It was not that Xiaohang lacked eloquence, but that he fell short of Li Tong. From then on the Last Ruler's understanding was far removed from Pingyuan. Survival and destruction are different matters—how can they be spoken of in the same breath? Emperor Wucheng was cruel, wicked, and debauched, his conduct exceeding the bounds of human relations; Prince Shaode of Taiyuan's conduct aroused suspicion, yet his intent was not rebellion. Disaster arose from Zhaoxin, and excessive punishments followed. Alas! To seek long life for the dynasty—there has never been such a thing. With Emperor Xiaozhao's virtuous pronouncement, blessings might have flowed to later generations. A century of cruelty had its source in the Prince of Jinan. His words, "Do not imitate your predecessors," are a matter for grief and sighing. Each loving his own son—is it really so? Although Prince Yan of Langye lacked the training of tutors, he early showed force of character. He Shikai's debauchery had lasted many years; in one morning it was cut off, and rejoicing filled court and countryside. That he was put to death for it is deeply lamentable. Yet the offense of unauthorized execution could scarcely be escaped. To posthumously grant him an emperor's title and the posthumous name Gong was to overcorrect past wrongs. To know virtue by observing faults—is it not different from this!