1
孫搴陳元康杜弼子臺卿房謨子恭懿張纂張亮趙起徐遠張曜王峻王紘敬顯雋平鑒唐邕白建元文遙趙彥深赫連子悅馮子琮子慈明郎基子茂
Sun Qian, Chen Yuankang, Du Bi, Zi Taiqing, Fang Mo, Zi Gongyi, Zhang Zuan, Zhang Liang, Zhao Qi, Xu Yuan, Zhang Yao, Wang Jun, Wang Hong, Jing Xianjun, Ping Jian, Tang Yong, Bai Jian, Yuan Wenyao, Zhao Yanshen, Helian, Zi Yue, Feng Zicong, Zi Ciming, Lang Ji, and Zi Mao
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列傳第四十三
Biographies 43
3
孫搴陳元康杜弼子臺卿房謨子恭懿張纂張亮趙起徐遠張曜王峻王紘敬顯儁平鑒唐邕白建元文遙趙彥深赫連子悅馮子琮子慈明郎基子茂
Sun Qian, Chen Yuankang, Du Bi, Zi Taiqing, Fang Mo, Zi Gongyi, Zhang Zuan, Zhang Liang, Zhao Qi, Xu Yuan, Zhang Yao, Wang Jun, Wang Hong, Jing Xianjun, Ping Jian, Tang Yong, Bai Jian, Yuan Wenyao, Zhao Yanshen, Helian Ziyue, Feng Zicong and Zi Ciming, Lang Ji, and Zi Mao
4
孫搴，字彥舉，樂安人。 世寒賤，少勵志勤學。 自檢校御史再遷國子助教。 太保崔光引修國史。 歷行臺郎。 後預崔祖螭反，逃於王元景家，遇赦乃出。 孫騰以宗情，薦之齊神武，未被知也。 會神武西征，登風陵，命中外府司馬李義深、相府城局李士略共作檄文，皆辭，請以搴代。 神武乃引搴入帳，自為吹火，催促之。 搴神色安然，援筆立就，其文甚美。 神武大悅，即署相府主簿，專典文筆。 又能通鮮卑語，兼宣傳號令，當煩劇之任，大見賞重。 賜妻韋氏，既士人子女，又兼色貌，時人榮之。
Sun Qian, courtesy name Yanju, was a native of Le'an. His family had been poor and humble for generations; from youth he set his mind on diligent study. Starting as an An Examining Censor, he was promoted again to Assistant Instructor at the Imperial Academy. Grand Guardian Cui Guang recruited him to help compile the national history. He served in succession as a secretary in the Executive Office. Later he became involved in Cui Zuchi's rebellion, fled to Wang Yuanjing's house, and did not come out until an amnesty was declared. On grounds of clan kinship, Sun Teng recommended him to Gao Huan, yet he went unrecognized. Once, as Gao Huan marched west and ascended Fengling, he ordered Li Yishen, chief secretary of the inner and outer offices, and Li Shilue of the chancellor's bureau of city affairs to compose a proclamation together. Both refused and asked that Sun Qian take their place. Gao Huan then brought Sun Qian into his tent, blew on the fire himself, and pressed him to write. Sun Qian stayed perfectly calm, took up the brush, and finished at once. The text was superb. Gao Huan was greatly pleased and immediately appointed him chief secretary of the chancellor's office, put in sole charge of literary work. He could also speak Xianbei and relay orders besides; entrusted with heavy and urgent duties, he was greatly valued. He was given Lady Wei as his wife—both a scholar-official's daughter and a woman of striking beauty—and men of the time regarded it as a signal honor.
5
文襄初欲之鄴總知朝政，神武以其年少，未許。 搴為致言，乃果行。 恃此，自乞特進，文襄但加散騎常侍。 時大括人為軍士，逃隱者，身及主人、三長、守、令罪以大辟，沒其家。 於是所獲甚衆，搴之計也。
At first Gao Cheng wished to go to Ye and take general charge of government, but Gao Huan, thinking him too young, would not permit it. Sun Qian spoke on his behalf, and the plan was carried out after all. Counting on this favor, he asked for a special advance in rank for himself; Gao Cheng only added the title of Regular Attendant of the Scattered Cavalry. At that time men were rounded up on a broad scale to serve as soldiers. Those who fled and hid exposed themselves, their masters, the three chiefs, district heads, and county magistrates to execution and confiscation of their households' property. Those seized were therefore very numerous—it was Sun Qian's plan.
6
搴學淺行薄，邢邵嘗謂曰：「須更讀書。」 搴曰：「我精騎三千，足敵君嬴座數萬。」 搴少時與溫子升齊名，嘗謂子升：「卿文何如我？」 子升謙曰：「不如卿。」 搴要其為誓。 子升笑曰：「但知劣於卿便是，何勞旦旦？」 搴悵然曰：「卿不為誓，事可知矣！」 搴常服棘刺丸，李諧調之曰：「卿應自足，何假外求？」 坐者皆笑。
Sun Qian's learning was shallow and his conduct slight; Xing Shao once told him, "You really ought to read more. Sun Qian replied, "My three thousand crack horsemen would be a match for your tens of thousands seated at Ye." In youth Sun Qian was as famous as Wen Zisheng. He once asked Zisheng, "How does your writing compare with mine?" Zisheng answered modestly, "It is not as good as yours." Sun Qian pressed him to swear to it. Zisheng laughed and said, "It is enough to know I am your inferior—why must you have me swear to it day after day? Sun Qian said in disappointment, "Since you will not swear to it, the truth is plain enough!" Sun Qian regularly took thorn-pill medicine. Li Xie teased him, saying, "You ought to be self-sufficient—why seek help from outside?" All those present laughed.
7
司馬子如與高季式召搴飲酒，醉甚而卒。 神武親臨之曰：「折我右臂。」 贈吏部尚書、青州刺史。
Sima Ziru and Gao Jishi summoned Sun Qian to drink wine. He drank to excess and died. Gao Huan came in person and said, "You have broken my right arm. He was posthumously granted Minister of the Civil Service and Governor of Qing Province.
8
陳元康，字長猷，廣宗人也。 父終德，魏濟陰內史，元康貴，贈度支尚書，諡曰貞。
Chen Yuankang, courtesy name Changyou, was a native of Guangzong. His father Zhongde had served as Internal Administrator of Jiyin under Wei. When Yuankang rose to prominence, Zhongde was posthumously made Minister of Revenue and given the posthumous title Zhen.
9
元康頗涉文史，機敏有幹用。 魏正光中，從李崇北伐，以軍功賜爵臨清男。 普泰中，除主書，累遷司徒高昂記室。 初，司馬子如、高季式與孫搴劇飲，搴醉死，神武命求好替，子如舉魏收。 他日，神武謂季式曰：「卿飲殺我孫主簿，魏收作文書，都不稱我意。 司徒嘗道一人謹密，是誰？」 委式以元康對，曰：「是能夜闇書，快吏也。」 召之，一見便授大丞相功曹，內掌機密。 善陳事意，不為華藻。 遷大行臺都官郎，封安平子。 軍國多務，元康問無不知。 神武臨行，留元康在後，馬上有所號令九十餘條，元康屈指數之，盡能記憶。 神武甚親之，曰：「如此人，世間希有，我今得之，乃上天降佐也。」 時趙彥深亦知機密，人謂之陳、趙，而元康勢居趙前。 性又柔謹。 神武之伐劉蠡升，天寒雪深，使人舉氊，元康於氊下作軍書，颯颯運筆，筆不及凍，俄頃數紙。 及出，神武目之曰：「此何如孔子邪？」
Yuankang was well versed in letters and history, quick-witted and capable in action. During the Zhengguang era of Wei he followed Li Chong on the northern campaign and, for military merit, was granted the title Baron of Linqing. In the Putai era he was appointed Master of Documents and, through successive promotions, became recorder to Grand Commandant Gao Ang. Earlier Sima Ziru and Gao Jishi had drunk heavily with Sun Qian until Sun Qian died of drink. Gao Huan ordered a worthy replacement sought, and Ziru recommended Wei Shou. Another day Gao Huan said to Jishi, "You drank my chief secretary Sun to death. Wei Shou writes documents, and none of it suits my taste. The Grand Commandant once spoke of someone careful and discreet—who was he? Jishi answered with Yuankang and said, "He is a man who can write in the dark—a swift clerk indeed." Once summoned, he was immediately made senior clerk of merit in the chancellor's office and put in charge of secret affairs within. He was skilled at stating the substance of affairs and did not indulge in flowery ornament. He was promoted to Director of Personnel in the Executive Office and enfeoffed as Viscount of Anping. With military and state affairs many and pressing, there was nothing Yuankang could not answer when asked. When Gao Huan set out on campaign he left Yuankang behind. From horseback he issued more than ninety orders, and Yuankang counted them on his fingers and remembered every one. Gao Huan was very close to him and said, "A man like this is rare in the world. That I have obtained him is heaven sending down an assistant. At the time Zhao Yanshen also knew secret affairs. People spoke of "Chen and Zhao," but Yuankang's standing was ahead of Zhao's. His nature was also gentle and careful. When Gao Huan campaigned against Liu Lixing, the weather was bitterly cold and snow lay deep. Someone held up a felt screen, and beneath it Yuankang wrote dispatches—his brush swept swiftly and the ink never froze; in a moment he had several sheets. When he came out, Gao Huan looked at him and said, "What is this—a Confucius?"
10
神武嘗怒文襄，親加毆蹋，極口肆罵。 以告元康，元康俯伏泣下霑地曰：「王教世子過矣！」 神武曰：「我性急，瞋阿惠，常如此。」 元康大啼曰：「一度為甚，況常然邪！」 神武自是為之懲忿。 時或恚撻，輒曰：「勿使元康知。」 又謂左右曰：「元康用心誠實，必與我兒相抱死。」 高仲密之叛，神武知其由崔暹，將殺之。 文襄匿暹，為之請，神武曰：「我為爾不殺，然須與苦手。」 文襄乃出暹而謂元康曰：「暹若得杖，不須見我。」 及暹見神武，將解衣受罰。 元康趨入，止伍伯，因歷階升曰：「王方以天下付世子，世子有一崔暹不能免其杖，父子尚爾，況世間人邪？」 神武意解：「不由元康，崔暹得一百。」 乃捨之。
Gao Huan once grew angry at Gao Cheng and personally beat and kicked him, cursing him without restraint. When this was reported to Yuankang, he prostrated himself and wept until his tears wet the ground, saying, "My lord, your instruction of the heir has gone too far! Gao Huan said, "By nature I am hot-tempered. When I am angry at Ah Hui, I am always like this." Yuankang wailed loudly and said, "Once would be more than enough—how much more if it were always so!" From then on Gao Huan restrained his anger on that account. Whenever he was about to lash out in rage, he would say, "Do not let Yuankang know. He also told those around him, "Yuankang's heart is honest and true. In the end he is sure to embrace my son and die with him." When Gao Zhongmi defected, Gao Huan knew it was because of Cui Xuan and was about to kill him. Gao Cheng hid Xuan and pleaded on his behalf. Gao Huan said, "For your sake I will not kill him, but he must still receive a harsh beating. Gao Cheng then produced Xuan and told Yuankang, "If Xuan receives the staff, he need not see me." When Xuan came before Gao Huan and was about to undo his clothes to accept punishment, Yuankang hurried in, stopped the guards, and went up the steps one after another, saying, "My lord is about to entrust the realm to the heir, yet the heir cannot spare Cui Xuan even a beating. If father and son are still like this, how much more the people of the world! Gao Huan's mind eased. "But for Yuankang, Cui Xuan would have received a hundred blows." He then released him.
11
文襄入輔，居鄴下，崔暹、崔季舒、崔昂等並被任用，張亮、張徽纂並為神武待遇，然皆出元康下。 神武每與元康久語，文襄門外待接之。 時人語曰：「三崔二張，不如一康。」 左衙將軍郭瓊以罪死，子婦范陽盧道虔女也，沒官。 神武啟以賜元康為妻。 元康地寒，時以為殊賞。 元康遂棄故妻李氏，識者非之。 元康便辟善理人，而不能平心處物。 溺於財利，受納金帛，不可勝紀，責負交易，遍於州郡，為清論所譏。
When Gao Cheng entered to assist the government and stayed at Ye, Cui Xuan, Cui Jishu, Cui Ang, and others were all employed. Zhang Liang and Zhang Huizuan were also treated well by Gao Huan, yet all stood below Yuankang. Whenever Gao Huan talked at length with Yuankang, Gao Cheng waited outside the gate to receive him. People said at the time, "The three Cuis and two Zhangs are not the equal of one Kang. Left Guard General Guo Qiong was executed for a crime. His daughter-in-law was the daughter of Lu Daoxian of Fanyang and was confiscated for official use. Gao Huan memorialized that she be granted to Yuankang as his wife. Yuankang's family background was humble, and at the time this was regarded as an extraordinary reward. Yuankang then abandoned his former wife, Lady Li—a step that drew disapproval from those who knew. Yuankang was quick at understanding how to manage people, but could not treat affairs with an even heart. He was sunk in love of wealth, accepted gold and silk beyond counting, and his demands, debts, and transactions reached into every province and commandery. The clear-minded spoke ill of him.
12
從神武於芒山，將戰，遺失陣圖，元康冒險求得之。 西師既敗，神武會諸將，議進取策。 或以為人馬疲瘦，不可遠追。 元康曰：「兩雄交爭，歲月已久，今得大捷，便是天授，時不可失，必須乘勝追之。」 神武曰：「若遇伏兵，孤何以濟？」 元康曰：「前沙苑還軍，彼尚無伏，今者奔敗，何能遠謀？ 捨之必成後患。」 神武不從。 累遷大行臺左丞。 及神武疾篤，謂文襄曰：「芒山之戰，不用元康言，方貽汝患，以此為恨，死不瞑目。 事皆當與元康定也。」
He followed Gao Huan at Mangshan. Battle was about to be joined when the battle array chart was lost, and Yuankang braved danger and recovered it. After the western army was defeated, Gao Huan assembled the generals to discuss a plan of advance. Some thought men and horses were exhausted and lean and that a distant pursuit was impossible. Yuankang said, "Two rival powers have contended for a long time. To win a great victory now is heaven's gift—the moment must not be lost. We must press the pursuit while victory is fresh. Gao Huan said, "If we meet an ambush, how shall I, alone, get through?" Yuankang said, "When we withdrew from Shayuan before, they still had no ambush. Now, fleeing in defeat, how could they plan far ahead? To let them go will surely create trouble later." Gao Huan did not follow his advice. Through successive promotions he became Left Assistant Director of the Executive Office. When Gao Huan's illness grew critical, he said to Gao Cheng, "At the battle of Mangshan you did not heed Yuankang's words—that will be a calamity for you. This is my regret, and I cannot close my eyes in death. All affairs should be decided with Yuankang.
13
神武崩，密不發喪，唯元康知之。 文襄嗣事，自晉陽將之鄴，令元康預作神武條教數十紙，留付段孝先、趙彥深，在後以次行之。 別封昌國縣公，以從嘉名。 侯景反，文襄逼於諸將，欲殺崔暹以謝之。 元康諫曰：「今枉殺無辜，虧廢刑典，豈直上負天神，何以下安黎庶？ 晁錯前事，願公慎之。」 文襄乃止。 高岳討侯景未克，文襄欲遣潘相樂副之。 元康曰：「相樂緩於機變，不如慕容紹宗。 且先王有命，稱堪敵景。」 時紹宗在遠，文襄欲召見之，恐其驚叛。 元康曰：「紹宗知元康特蒙顧待，新使人來餉金，以致誠款。 元康欲安其意，故受之而厚答其書，保無異也。」 乃任紹宗，遂破景，賞元康金五十斤。
When Gao Huan died, the death was kept secret and only Yuankang knew. Gao Cheng succeeded to power. Setting out from Jinyang for Ye, he had Yuankang prepare in advance several dozen sheets of Gao Huan's written instructions and leave them with Duan Xiaoxian and Zhao Yanshen to be carried out in order afterward. He was separately enfeoffed as Duke of Changguo County, taking a name from his merit in following with joy. When Hou Jing rebelled, Gao Cheng, pressed by the generals, wished to kill Cui Xuan to appease them. Yuankang remonstrated, "To kill the innocent now would violate and destroy the penal code. How could that fail heaven above alone? How could it put the people at ease below? The case of Chao Cuo lies before us—my lord, be careful. Gao Cheng then stopped. Gao Yue campaigned against Hou Jing without success. Gao Cheng wished to send Pan Xiangle as his second in command. Yuankang said, "Xiangle is slow in adapting to changing situations—he is not the equal of Murong Shaozong. Moreover the late king had a command, saying he was fit to match Hou Jing. At the time Shaozong was far away. Gao Cheng wished to summon and see him but feared this would alarm him into rebellion. Yuankang said, "Shaozong knows that Yuankang is specially favored. He has just sent a man with a gift of gold to show his sincere devotion. Yuankang wishes to set his mind at ease, so I accepted it and replied warmly to his letter. There will certainly be no disloyalty. Shaozong was then given the command, and Hou Jing was defeated. Yuankang was rewarded with fifty catties of gold.
14
王恩政入穎城，諸將攻之不能拔。 元康進曰：「公自匡朝政，未有殊功，雖敗侯景，本非外賊。 今穎城將陷，願公因而乘之，足以取威定業。」 文襄令元康馳驛觀之，覆命曰：「必可拔。」 文襄乃親征穎川，益發衆軍，決既至而克之，賞元康金百鋌。
Wang Sizheng entered Yingcheng. The generals attacked but could not take it. Yuankang advanced and said, "My lord has personally set the government to rights, yet has no outstanding achievement. Though Hou Jing was defeated, he was after all not a foreign enemy. Now Yingcheng is about to fall. I hope my lord will seize the occasion and press on—that will be enough to win authority and establish your enterprise. Gao Cheng sent Yuankang by post horse to observe. On his return he reported, "It can certainly be taken." Gao Cheng then campaigned in person to Yingchuan, sent more troops, and once the dike-breach arrived it was taken. Yuankang was rewarded with a hundred ingots of gold.
15
初，魏朝授文襄相國、齊王，諸將皆勸恭膺朝命。 元康以為未可。 崔暹因間之，薦陸元規為大行臺郎，欲分元康權。 元康既貪貨賄，文襄內漸嫌之，又欲用為中書令，以閑地處之，事未施行。
Initially the Wei court invested Gao Cheng as Chancellor and King of Qi. The generals all urged that he respectfully accept the court's command. Yuankang thought it not yet possible. Cui Xuan took advantage of the interval to recommend Lu Yuangui as a secretary in the Executive Office, intending to divide Yuankang's power. Because Yuankang was greedy for bribes, Gao Cheng gradually came to dislike him within. He also wished to appoint him Director of the Secretariat as a way to sideline him—the matter had not yet been carried out.
16
屬將受魏禪，元康與楊愔、崔季舒並在坐，將大遷除朝士，共品藻之。 文襄家倉頭蘭固成掌廚，與其弟阿改，謀害文襄。 阿改時事文宣，常執刀從，期聞東齋叫，即加刃於文宣。 時文宣別有所之，未還而難作。 固成因進食，置刀盤下，而殺文襄。 元康抱文襄。 文襄曰：「可惜！ 可惜！」 與賊爭刀，髻解，被刺，傷重腸出，猶手書辭母，口占祖孝徵陳權宜。 至夜而終，時年四十三。 時楊愔狼狽走出，遺一靴，崔季舒逃匿于於廁，庫直紇奚捨樂捍賊死，散都督王師羅戰傷。 監廚倉頭薛豐洛率宰人持薪以赴難，乃禽盜。 固成一名京，事見齊本紀。 袐文襄凶問，故殯元康於宮中。 托以出使南境，虛除中書令。 明年，乃贈司空，諡曰文穆。 元康卒後，母李氏哀感發病而終，贈廣宗郡君，諡曰貞昭。 元康子善藏嗣。
When the time came to receive the Wei abdication, Yuankang was seated together with Yang Yin and Cui Jishu. They were about to make great appointments and demotions among court officials and evaluated them together. In Gao Cheng's household the pantry steward Lan Gucheng managed the kitchen. With his younger brother A Gai he plotted to assassinate Gao Cheng. A Gai at the time attended Gao Yang and always carried a knife at his side. They agreed that on hearing a cry from the Eastern Study he would at once put the blade to Gao Yang. At the time Gao Yang had gone elsewhere and had not yet returned when the crisis broke out. Gucheng, coming in with food, placed a knife beneath the tray and killed Gao Cheng. Yuankang embraced Gao Cheng. Gao Cheng said, "What a pity! What a pity! He struggled with the assassin for the knife. His hair knot came loose, he was stabbed, his wound was grave and his intestines protruded. Still he wrote a letter to his mother by hand and dictated orally to Zu Xiaozheng a statement on expedient measures. He died at nightfall, aged forty-three. At the time Yang Yin fled in disarray and left a boot behind. Cui Jishu hid in the privy. The bureau attendant Hexi Shele died defending against the assassin. The scattered commandant Wang Shiluo was wounded in battle. The supervising pantry steward Xue Fengluo led the butchers bearing firewood to the rescue and thus captured the criminals. Gucheng, also named Jing—the affair is recorded in the Basic Annals of Qi. The news of Gao Cheng's death was kept secret, and Yuankang was therefore temporarily interred within the palace. Under the pretext of a mission to the southern frontier, he was fictitiously appointed Director of the Secretariat. The following year he was posthumously made Minister of Works and given the posthumous title Wenmu. After Yuankang's death his mother Lady Li, stricken with grief, fell ill and died. She was posthumously granted Lady of Guangzong Commandery and given the posthumous title Zhenzhao. Yuankang's son Shancang succeeded.
17
善藏溫雅有鑒裁，位給事黃門侍郎。 隋開皇中，尚書郎。 大業初，卒於彭城郡贊務。
Shancang was gentle, refined, and discerning. He reached the office of Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate. In the Kaihuang era of Sui he served as a Secretariat Director. At the beginning of the Daye era he died while serving as Director of Support Affairs in Pengcheng Commandery.
18
杜弼，字輔玄，中山曲陽人也。 祖彥衡，淮南太守。 父慈度，繁畤令。
Du Bi, courtesy name Fuxuan, was a native of Quyang in Zhongshan. His grandfather Yanheng was Administrator of Huainan. His father Cidu was Magistrate of Fanzhi.
19
弼幼聰敏，家貧無書，年十三，寄郡學受業。 同郡甄琛為定州刺史，簡試諸生，見而策問，應答如響，大歎異之，命其二子楷、寬與交。 州牧任城王澄聞而召問，深相嗟賞，許以王佐之才。 澄、琛還洛稱之，丞相高陽王等多相招命。 但父祖官薄，不獲優敘。 以軍功，起家征虜府墨曹參軍，典管記。 弼長於筆札，每為時輩所推。 孝昌初，除太學博士。 遷光州曲城令，為政清靜，遠近稱之。 弼父在鄉，為賊所害，弼居喪六年。 以常調，除侍御史，臺中彈奏，皆見信任。 儀同竇泰西伐，詔弼監軍。 及泰失利自殺，弼與其徒六人，走還陝州。 刺史劉貴鎖送晉陽。 神武責以不諫爭，賴房謨諫以免。
Bi was clever as a child. The family was poor and had no books. At thirteen he lodged at the district school to receive instruction. Zhen Chen of the same commandery was Governor of Ding Province. In selecting and examining the students he saw Bi, questioned him, and Bi answered as if echoing. Zhen was greatly amazed and had his two sons Kai and Kuan become friends with him. The Prefect, the Prince of Rencheng Chen, heard of this and summoned him for questioning. He sighed deeply in admiration and declared him possessed of talent for a king's assistant. Chen and Zhen returned to Luoyang and praised him. The Chancellor, the Prince of Gaoyang, and others repeatedly invited and engaged him. But because his father and grandfather had held low offices, he did not receive favorable preferment. Through military merit he first entered service as Ink-and-Brush Aide on the staff of the General Who Punishes the Barbarians, in charge of documents. Bi excelled at writing and was repeatedly recommended by his contemporaries. At the beginning of the Xiaochang era he was appointed Erudite of the Imperial Academy. He was transferred to Magistrate of Qucheng in Guang Province. His government was clear and quiet, and far and near praised him. Bi's father was in the countryside when he was killed by bandits. Bi observed mourning for six years. Through regular transfer he was appointed Attending Censor. Impeachments within the bureau were all trusted to him. When General-in-Chief Dou Tai campaigned westward, Bi was ordered to oversee the army. When Tai suffered defeat and killed himself, Bi and six of his followers fled back to Shaan Province. Governor Liu Gui had them chained and sent to Jinyang. Gao Huan reproached him for failing to remonstrate. Thanks to Fang Mo's remonstrance he was spared.
20
累遷大行臺郎中，又引典掌機密，甚見信待。 或有造次不及書教，直付空紙，即令宣讀。 承間密勸受禪，神武舉杖擊走之。 相府法曹辛子炎咨事云「取署」，子炎讀「署」為「樹」，神武怒其犯諱，杖之於前。 弼進「孔子言『徵』不言『在』，子炎可恕。」 神武罵曰：「眼看人瞋，乃復牽經引禮！」 叱令出去。 弼行十許步，呼還，子炎亦蒙宥。 文襄在鄴聞之，謂楊愔曰：「王左右賴此人，天下蒙利，豈獨吾家也？」
In successive promotions he became Director in the Executive Office and was again brought in to manage secret affairs. He was greatly trusted. Sometimes when matters arose suddenly and there was no time to write an order, he was given blank paper and ordered to read aloud at once. Seizing an opportunity he secretly urged accepting the abdication. Gao Huan raised his staff and drove him away. Legal Officer of the Chancellor's Office Xin Ziyan consulted on a matter and said "take the signature." Ziyan read "signature" as "tree." Gao Huan was angry at the taboo violation and had him beaten before him. Bi advanced and said, "Confucius said 'zheng' but did not say 'zai'—Ziyan may be forgiven. Gao Huan cursed and said, "The eyes see a man enraged, and yet you still drag in the classics and cite ritual!" He shouted for him to go out. Bi had gone about ten paces when he was called back. Ziyan also received pardon. Gao Cheng at Ye heard of this and said to Yang Yin, "The King relies on this man at his side—the whole realm benefits. Is it not only our house?"
21
初，神武自晉陽東出，改尒朱氏貪政，使人入村，不敢飲社酒。 及平京洛，貨賄漸行。 弼以文武在位，罕有廉潔，言之神武。 神武曰：「弼來，我語爾。 天下濁亂，習俗已久，今督將家屬，多在關西，黑獺常相招誘，人情去留未定； 江東復有一吳老翁蕭衍，專事衣冠禮樂，中原士大夫望之，以為正朔所在。 我若急作法網，恐督將盡投黑獺，士子悉奔蕭衍，則何以為國？ 爾宜少待，吾不忘之。」 及將有沙苑之役，弼又請先除內賊，卻討外寇，指諸勳貴掠奪百姓。 神武不答，因令軍人皆張弓挾矢，舉刀按矛以夾道，使弼冒出其間，曰：「必無傷也。」 弼戰怵流汗。 神武然後喻之曰：「箭雖注不射，刀雖舉不擊，矛雖按不刺，爾猶頓喪魂膽。 諸勳人觸鋒刃，百死一生，縱其貪鄙，所取處大。」 弼頓顙謝曰：「愚人不識至理。」 後破芒山軍，命為露布，弼即書絹，曾不起草。 以功賜爵定陽縣男。
Initially when Gao Huan marched east from Jinyang he reformed the Erzhu clan's greedy government so that when men entered villages they dared not drink the community wine. After pacifying the capital region, bribes gradually spread. Bi told Gao Huan that among civil and military officials in office, few were clean and honest. Gao Huan said, "Bi, come—I will tell you. The realm is turbid and chaotic; custom has been so for long. Now the families of supervising generals are mostly in the Guan region. Yuwen Tai constantly tries to win them over, and men's hearts are unsettled whether to stay or go. In the east there is also an old Wu man, Xiao Yan, devoted to caps and robes, ritual and music. The gentry of the Central Plains look to him as where the legitimate succession lies. If I hastily tighten the net of law, I fear the supervising generals will all go over to Yuwen Tai and the scholars will all flee to Xiao Yan—then how could I maintain a state? You should wait a little. I do not forget this. When the battle of Shayuan was about to come, Bi again asked to eliminate internal traitors first and then drive off external enemies, pointing to the meritorious nobles who plundered the people. Gao Huan did not answer. Instead he had the soldiers all draw bows with arrows set, raise knives and hold spears at the ready along the road, and made Bi dash out among them, saying, "Surely no harm will be done. Bi trembled with fear and sweat streamed down. Gao Huan then explained to him, "Though arrows were nocked they were not shot, though knives were raised they were not struck, though spears were held they were not thrust—and yet you nearly lost soul and courage. The meritorious men meet naked blades—one death in a hundred survivals. Even if they are greedy and base, what they take is still great. Bi bowed his forehead to the ground and said, "The fool does not know the highest principle." Later when the Mangshan army was defeated he was ordered to write the victory bulletin. Bi wrote it on silk at once without ever drafting it. For merit he was granted the title Baron of Dingyang County.
22
奉使詣闕，魏帝見之九龍殿，曰：「聞卿精學，聊有所問。 經中佛性法性，為一為異？」 弼曰：「正是一理。」 又問曰：「說者妄，皆言法性寬，佛性狹，如何？」 弼曰：「在寬成寬，在狹成狹，若論性體，非狹非寬。」 詔曰：「既言成寬成狹，何得非狹非寬？」 弼曰：「若定是寬，則不能為狹； 若定是狹，亦不能為寬。 以非寬非狹，所成雖異，能成恆一。」 上稱善，引入經庫，賜《地持經》一部，帛百疋。 弼性好名理，探味玄宗，在軍恆帶經行。 注老子《道德經》二卷，表上之。 遷廷尉卿。
On a mission to the court, the Wei Emperor saw him in the Hall of Nine Dragons and said, "I hear you are deeply learned—I have some questions. The Emperor continued, "In the scriptures, Buddha-nature and dharma-nature—are they one or different?" Bi said, "They are precisely one principle." The Emperor asked again, "Those who speak falsely all say dharma-nature is broad and Buddha-nature narrow—how is that?" Bi said, "In breadth it becomes broad; in narrowness it becomes narrow. If one speaks of the substance of nature, it is neither narrow nor broad." The decree asked, "Since you say it becomes broad or narrow, how can it be neither narrow nor broad?" Bi said, "If it were fixed as broad, it could not become narrow. If it were fixed as narrow, it could not become broad. Because it is neither broad nor narrow, what is formed may differ, but the power to form is constantly one. The Emperor praised this and led him into the Sutra Treasury and bestowed one copy of the Dizhi Sutra and a hundred bolts of silk. Bi's nature loved Neo-Daoist principle. He savored the mystery of the Way and always carried a classic when in camp. He annotated Laozi's Daodejing in two scrolls and submitted it to the throne. He was transferred to Director of the Court of Justice.
23
會梁貞陽侯蕭明等入寇彭城，大都督高岳、行臺慕容紹宗討之，詔弼為軍司，攝行臺左丞。 臨發，文襄賜胡馬一疋，曰：「此廄中第二馬，孤恆自乘，聊以為贈。」 又令陳政要可為鑒誡者，弼曰：「天下大務，莫過刑賞二端。 賞一人使天下之人喜，罰一人使天下之人服，二事得衷，自然盡美。」 文襄大悅曰：「言雖不多，於理甚要。」 握手而別。 破蕭明廻，破侯景於渦陽。 後魏帝集名僧於顯陽殿講說佛理，敕弼升師子座，莫有能屈。 帝歎曰：「此賢若生孔門，則何如也！」 關中遣王思政據穎州，朝廷以弼行穎州，攝行臺左丞。 及穎州平，文襄曰：「卿試論思政所以禽。」 弼曰：「思政不察逆順之理，不識大小之形，不度強弱之勢，有此三蔽，宜其俘獲。」 文襄曰：「古有逆取順守，大吳困於小越，弱燕能破強齊，卿之三義，何以自立？」 弼曰：「王若順而不大，大而不強，強而不順，於義或偏，得如聖旨。 今既兼備，鄙言可以還立。」
When the Marquis of Zhenyang Xiao Ming of Liang and others invaded Pengcheng, Grand Commandant Gao Yue and Executive Marshal Murong Shaozong campaigned against them. Bi was ordered to serve as Army Supervisor and act as Left Assistant Director of the Executive Office. On the eve of departure Gao Cheng bestowed one Hu horse and said, "This is the second horse in the stable. I always ride it myself—I give it to you as a gift. He also ordered him to state policy essentials that could serve as a mirror and warning. Bi said, "The great affairs of the realm do not exceed the two ends of punishment and reward. Reward one man and the people of the realm rejoice; punish one man and the people of the realm submit. When these two things hit the mark, perfection comes of itself. Gao Cheng was greatly pleased and said, "The words are not many, but the principle is very important." They clasped hands and parted. Xiao Ming was defeated on the return. Hou Jing was defeated at Woyang. Later the Wei Emperor assembled famous monks at the Xianyang Hall to expound Buddhist doctrine and ordered Bi to ascend the lion seat. No one could refute him. The Emperor sighed and said, "If this worthy had been born in Confucius's gate, what would he have been like! The Guan region sent Wang Sizheng to hold Ying Province. The court appointed Bi to administer Ying Province and act as Left Assistant Director of the Executive Office. When Ying Province was pacified Gao Cheng said, "Try to explain why Sizheng was captured. Bi said, "Sizheng did not discern the principle of compliance and opposition, did not recognize the forms of great and small, did not measure the balance of strong and weak. With these three blindnesses, capture was his due." Gao Cheng said, "In antiquity there was taking by rebellion and keeping by compliance. Great Wu was trapped by little Yue, weak Yan could break strong Qi—how do your three arguments stand?" Bi said, "If my lord were compliant yet not great, great yet not strong, strong yet not compliant—in one point of these the principle might be skewed, and your instruction would stand. Now that all are present together, my humble words can still stand as stated.
24
文宣作相，位中書令，仍長史，進爵為侯。 弼志在匡贊，知無不為。 及受命，以預定策功，遷衛尉卿，別封長安縣伯。
When Gao Yang became Chancellor, Bi held the office of Director of the Secretariat and still served as Chief Secretary. He was advanced in rank to Marquis. Bi's will was to support and assist. Where he knew something could be done, he did it. When the mandate was received, for his merit in settling the plan beforehand he was transferred to Minister of the Guards and separately enfeoffed as Earl of Chang'an County.
25
常與邢邵扈從東山，共論名理。 邢以為人死還生，恐是為蛇畫足。 弼曰：「物之未生，本亦無也。 無而能有，不以為疑； 因前生後，何獨致怪？」 邢：「聖人設教，本由勸獎，故懼以有來，望各遂其性。」 弼曰：「聖人合德天地，齊信四時，言則為經，行則為法，而云以虛示物，以詭勸人，安得使北辰降光，龍宮韞檀。 既如所論，福要可以鎔鑄性靈，弘獎風教，為益之大，莫極於斯。 此即真教，何謂非實？」 邢云：「季札言無不之，亦言散盡，若復聚而為物，不得言無不之也。」 弼曰：「骨肉下歸於土，魂氣則無不之，此乃形墜魂遊，往而大盡。 由其尚有，故云無所不之。 若也全無，之將焉適？」 邢云：「神之在人，猶光之在燭，燭盡則光窮，人死則神滅。」 弼曰：「燭則因質生光，質大光亦大； 人則神不系形，形小神不小。 故仲尼之智，必不短於長狄； 孟德之雄，乃遠奇於崔琰。」 其後，別與邢書，前後往復再三，邢理屈而止。 文多不載。
He often followed Xing Shao in attendance at the Eastern Mountain, discussing Neo-Daoist principle together. Xing thought that if men returned to life after death, it would be like adding feet to a snake in the drawing. Bi said, "Before a thing is born, originally there is also nothing. From nothing to having something—one does not treat that as doubtful. Because there was a before and then an after—why alone find it strange? Xing said, "The sages established teaching originally to encourage and reward. Therefore they use fear of what is to come and hope that each may fulfill his nature." Bi said, "The sages unite their virtue with heaven and earth and align their faith with the four seasons. When they speak it becomes scripture; when they act it becomes law. And yet you say they show things with emptiness and encourage men with deceit—how can that make the Pole Star send down its light or the dragon palace hold its sandalwood? If it is as you argue, blessing must be able to melt and cast the nature and spirit, expand and reward custom and teaching—the greatest benefit does not go beyond this. This is the true teaching—how can it be called unreal?" Xing said, "Ji Zha said 'there is nowhere it does not go,' and also said 'it scatters and is exhausted.' If it gathered again into a thing, one could not say 'nowhere it does not go.'" Bi said, "Flesh and bone return below to earth; spirit and breath have nowhere they do not go. This is the form fallen and the soul wandering, going until utterly spent. Because something still remains, it is said 'nowhere it does not go.' If there were utterly nothing, where would 'going' go?" Xing said, "The spirit in a man is like light in a candle. When the candle is spent the light is gone; when the man dies the spirit is extinguished." Bi said, "The candle depends on substance to produce light—the greater the substance the greater the light. In man the spirit is not tied to form—the smaller the form, the smaller the spirit is not. Therefore the wisdom of Zhongni cannot be shorter than that of the Long Di. The heroism of Mengde far surpasses that of Cui Yan. Later he exchanged letters separately with Xing, back and forth several times. Xing's reasoning was exhausted and he stopped. The text is mostly not recorded.
26
又以本官行鄭州事，未發，為家客告弼謀反，案察無實，久乃見原，因此絕朝見。 復坐第二子廷尉監臺卿斷獄稽遲，與寺官俱為郎中封靜哲所訟，徙臨海鎮。 時楚州人東方白額謀反，鎮為賊帥張綽、潘天命等所攻，弼率厲城人，終得全固。 文宣嘉之，敕行海州事。 後除膠州刺史。 弼所在清靜廉潔，為吏人懷之。 耽好玄理，注《莊子惠施篇》幷《易上下繫》，名曰《新注義苑》，並行於世。
He also administered affairs of Zheng Province in his original office. Before he set out a household retainer denounced Bi for plotting rebellion. The investigation found no substance, and only after long delay was he forgiven. For this reason he ceased attending court audiences. He was again punished because his second son, the Chief of the Court of Justice, and Administrative Clerk Taiqing were slow in deciding cases. Together with the court officials he was sued by Langzhong Feng Jingzhe and was exiled to Linhai garrison. At the time the man of Chuzhou Dongfang Baie plotted rebellion. The garrison was attacked by the bandit chiefs Zhang Chuo and Pan Tianming and others. Bi roused and encouraged the people of the city and at last fully preserved and held it. Gao Yang commended him and ordered him to administer Haizhou. Later he was appointed Governor of Jiao Province. Wherever Bi served, his rule was clear, quiet, and clean, and officials and people cherished him. He was devoted to metaphysical philosophy, annotated Zhuangzi's chapter on Huishi and the Upper and Lower Appendices of the Book of Changes under the title New Commentary Garden of Meaning; both works circulated widely.
27
蕤字子美，學業不如弟臺卿而幹局過之。 武平中，位大理少卿，兼散騎常侍、聘陳使主、吏部郎中。 隋開皇中，終於開州刺史。
Rui, styled Zimei, was less accomplished scholastically than his younger brother Taiqing, but more capable in practical affairs. During the Wuping reign he served as vice director of the Court of Justice, while also holding the posts of palace attendant of the dissipating cavalry, chief envoy to Chen, and director in the Ministry of Personnel. Under Sui, in the Kaihuang reign, he died in office as inspector of Kaizhou.
28
子公贍，仕隋，位安陽令。
His son Gongshan served the Sui and rose to magistrate of Anyang.
29
公贍子之松，大業中，起居舍人。
Gongshan's son Zhisong became an attendant gentleman in the Office of Records during the Daye reign.
30
臺卿字少山，好學博覽，解屬文。 仕齊，位中書、黃門侍郎，修國史。 既居清顯，忌害人物。 趙彥深、和士開、高阿那肱等親信之。 後兼尚書左丞，省中以其耳聾，多戲弄之。 下辭不得理者，乃至大罵。 台卿見其口動，謂為自陳。 令史又故不曉喻，訓對往往乖越，聽者以為嗤笑。 及周武平齊，歸鄉里。 以禮記、春秋講授子弟。 隋開皇初，被徵入朝。 臺卿采《月令》，觸類廣之，為書名《玉燭寶典》十二卷，至是奏之，賜帛二百疋。 患耳，不堪吏職，請修國史，拜著作郎。 後致仕，終於家。 有集十五卷，撰《齊記》二十卷，並行於世。 無子。
Taiqing, styled Shaoshan, was a voracious scholar with broad learning and a gift for literary composition. He served Northern Qi as secretariat and yellow gate gentleman and helped compile the national history. Once elevated to prestigious office, he grew jealous and worked to harm others. Zhao Yanshen, He Shikai, Gao Anagugu, and others favored and trusted him. He later also served as left assistant in the Ministry of State Affairs, where colleagues often ridiculed him for his deafness. When petitioners failed to satisfy him, he would fly into loud abuse. Taiqing saw their lips moving and assumed they were pleading their own cases. The clerks deliberately kept him in the dark, so his instructions and their responses often missed each other, much to the amusement of onlookers. After Emperor Wu of Zhou conquered Qi, he returned to his hometown. He taught the Record of Rites and the Spring and Autumn Annals to his sons and students. At the start of the Kaihuang reign he was summoned to the capital. Taiqing drew on the Monthly Ordinances, expanded the material by analogy, and compiled a twelve-scroll work titled Jade Candle Precious Canon, which he presented on this occasion and for which he received two hundred bolts of silk. Hard of hearing and unfit for routine office, he asked instead to work on the national history and was appointed gentleman for composition. He later retired from office and died at home. He left a fifteen-scroll collected writings and a twenty-scroll Record of Qi; both circulated widely. He had no sons.
31
房謨，字敬放，河南洛陽人也。 其先代人，本姓屋引氏。 少淳厚，雖無造次能，而沈深內敏。 正光末，歷位昌平、代郡太守，所在著廉惠。 及六鎮亂，謨率郡人入九崢山，結壘拒守。 時外無救援，乃率所部奔中山。 遇鮮于修禮之亂，朝廷以謨得北邊人情，以為假燕州事。 北轉至幽州南，為脩禮所執，仍陷葛榮。 榮敗，尒朱榮啟授行冀州事。 尋除太寧太守。 榮死，其黨徵兵，謨不應，前後斬其三使。 遣弟毓詣闕，孝莊以毓為都督，毓弟欽為行臺，並持節詣謨，同為經略。
Fang Mo, styled Jingfang, was from Luoyang in Henan. His family had originally been surnamed Wuyin. From youth he was honest and steady. He lacked quick brilliance, but was thoughtful and inwardly sharp. Near the end of the Zhenguang reign he served in turn as grand administrator of Changping and Dai, earning a reputation for integrity and benevolence wherever he went. When the Six Garrisons rose in revolt, Mo led his commandery's people into Mount Jiuzheng, built fortifications, and held the line. With no relief force forthcoming, he led his men to Zhongshan. During Xianyu Xiuli's rebellion the court, recognizing Mo's grasp of northern frontier sentiment, appointed him acting inspector of Yan Province. Heading north he reached south of You Province, was captured by Xiuli, and subsequently fell into Ge Rong's power. After Ge Rong's defeat, Erzhu Rong recommended him and had him appointed acting inspector of Ji Province. He was soon appointed grand administrator of Taining. After Erzhu Rong's death his followers called for troops; Mo refused and eventually executed three successive envoys they sent. He sent his brother Yu to court; Emperor Xiaozhuang made Yu area commander and Yu's brother Qin mobile-office commissioner, both bearing imperial credentials to join Mo in military planning.
32
及京都淪覆，為賊黨建州刺史是蘭安定執系州獄。 蜀人聞謨被囚，並叛。 安定於是給謨弱馬，令軍前慰勞。 諸賊見謨，莫不遙拜。 謨先所乘馬，安定別給將士，戰敗，蜀人得之，謂謨遇害，莫不悲泣。 善養其馬，不聽乘騎，兒童婦女，競投草粟，皆言此房公馬也。 其結愛人心如此。 尒朱世隆聞而嘉之，捨其罪，以為東北道行臺。 及尒朱氏敗，濟州刺史侯景以謨先款附，推謨降首。 謨以受眷尒朱，不宜先為反覆，不從其計。
When the capital fell, the rebel inspector of Jianzhou, Shi Lan Anding, seized him and held him in the provincial prison. Learning that Mo had been imprisoned, the Shu people all rose in revolt. Anding then provided Mo with a weak horse and sent him forward to console the troops. At the sight of Mo the rebels all bowed to him from a distance. Anding had given Mo's former mount to his officers; when those troops were defeated the Shu recovered the horse, assumed Mo had been killed, and wept in grief. They tended the horse carefully and would let no one ride it; men, women, and children competed to feed it, all saying, "This is Lord Fang's horse." Such was the depth of affection he inspired. Erzhu Shilong, impressed, pardoned him and appointed him northeast route mobile-office commissioner. After the Erzhu clan's defeat, Hou Jing, inspector of Jizhou, urged Mo to lead the surrender, citing his earlier pledge of loyalty. Mo had enjoyed Erzhu Rong's favor and felt it dishonorable to be first to change sides; he refused Hou Jing's plan.
33
神武入洛，再遷穎川太守。 魏孝武帝入關，神武以謨忠貞，遣其弟毓為大使，持節勞問。 時軍國未寧，徵發煩速，至有數使同徵一物，公私勞擾。 謨請事遣一使，下自催勒，朝廷從之。 徵為丞相右長史，以清直甚被賞遇。 謨悉心盡力，知無不為。 前後賜其奴婢，率多免放，神武后賜其生口，多黥面為房字而付之。 神武討關右，以謨兼大行臺左丞，長史如故，總知府省務。 天平三年，行定州事。 請在左右，拾遺補闕，固不肯行，神武責而罷之。
When Gao Huan entered Luoyang, Mo was transferred twice and appointed grand administrator of Yingchuan. When Emperor Xiaowu of Wei withdrew into the passes, Gao Huan, recognizing Mo's loyalty, sent Mo's brother Yu as chief envoy with imperial credentials to offer condolences. Military and civil affairs were still unsettled, and requisitions came so fast that several envoys might demand the same item at once, exhausting the region. Mo proposed that each matter be handled by a single envoy responsible for follow-through below, and the court agreed. Summoned as right chief clerk to the chancellor, he was greatly valued for his integrity and directness. Mo gave himself entirely to his duties and left nothing undone that he could do. He freed most of the slaves Gao Huan gave him; when Gao Huan later sent him captives, he often branded their faces with the character Fang before assigning them to service. When Gao Huan campaigned in Guanxi he made Mo concurrent left assistant of the great mobile office while retaining him as chief clerk, entrusting him with overall administration of headquarters affairs. In the third year of Tianping he served as acting inspector of Dingzhou. Mo asked to stay at Gao Huan's side to advise and fill gaps in policy; he stubbornly refused the Dingzhou appointment, and Gao Huan rebuked him and dismissed him from the post.
34
未幾，出為兗州刺史。 謨選用廉清，廣佈恩信，僚屬守令，有犯必知，雖號細密，百姓安之。 轉徐州刺史。 始謨在兗州，彭城慕其政化，及為刺史，合境欣悅。 謨為政如在瑕丘。 先是，當州兵皆僚佐驅使，饑寒死病，動至千數。 謨至，皆加檢勒，不令煩擾，以休假番代洗沐，督察主司，親自檢視。 又使傭賃，令作衣服，終歲還家，無不溫飽，全濟甚多。 時梁、魏和好，使人入其界者，咸稱歎之。 神武與諸州刺史書，敘謨及廣平太守羊敦、廣宗太守竇瑗、平原太守許季良等清能，以為勸勵。 謨曾啟神武，以天下未寧，宜降婚勳將，收將士心，深見納。 魏朝以河南數州，鄉俗絹濫，退絹一疋，徵錢三百，人庶苦之。 謨乃表請錢絹兩受，任人所樂，朝廷從之。 徵拜侍中，監國史。 謨無他材學，每求退身，不許。 尋兼吏部尚書，加衛大將軍。 以子子遠罪，解官。 久之，詔復本將軍，起為大丞相左長史。
Before long he was appointed inspector of Yanzhou. Mo appointed only honest officials, extended benevolence and trust widely, and kept such close watch on staff and magistrates that no offense escaped notice; though his methods were called finicky, the people lived in peace. He was transferred to inspector of Xuzhou. While Mo had governed Yanzhou, Pengcheng had admired his administration; when he arrived as inspector of Xuzhou the entire region rejoiced. He governed Xuzhou with the same methods he had used at Xiqiu. Previously the provincial troops had been worked mercilessly by staff officers; thousands died of hunger, cold, and disease. Mo tightened oversight, forbade abuse, rotated men off duty for rest and washing, supervised the officers in charge, and inspected conditions himself. He also arranged paid work and clothing for them, and at year's end sent them home warm and fed, saving many lives. Liang and Wei were then at peace, and every envoy crossing his border spoke of his administration with admiration. Gao Huan wrote to his provincial inspectors praising Mo, Guangping's Yang Dun, Guangzong's Dou Yuan, Pingyuan's Xu Jiliang, and others for their integrity and ability, holding them up as examples. Mo once advised Gao Huan that with the realm still unsettled, marriages to imperial kin should be granted to meritorious generals to bind soldiers' loyalty—a suggestion Gao Huan warmly embraced. In several Henan provinces coarse local silk was rejected at inspection, with three hundred coins charged per bolt returned—a burden the people bitterly resented. Mo memorialized that taxpayers should be allowed to pay in either coin or silk, as they preferred, and the court agreed. He was summoned to court as palace attendant and overseer of the national history. Lacking other scholarly accomplishments, Mo repeatedly asked to retire but was never allowed. He soon also served as minister of personnel and was promoted to grand general of guard. He was dismissed because of the crimes of his son Ziyuan. After a long interval an edict restored his rank and recalled him as left chief clerk to the great chancellor.
35
後除晉州刺史，加驃騎大將軍，又攝南汾州事。 先時境接西魏，士人多受其官，為之防守。 至是，酋長、鎮將及都督、守、令前後降附者三百餘人，謨撫接殷勤，人樂為用。 爰及深險胡夷，咸來歸服。 謨常以己祿物，充其饗賚，文襄嘉之，聽用公物。 西魏懼，乃增置城戍。 慕義者，自相糾合，擊破之。 自是龍門已北，西魏戍皆平。 文襄特賜粟千石，絹二百疋，班示天下。 卒於州，州府相帥贈物及車牛，妻子遵其遺志，拒而不納。 謨寡嗜欲，貞白自守； 然內營家產，足為富贍，不假官俸，是以世稱清白。 贈司空，諡曰文惠。
He was later appointed inspector of Jinzhou, promoted to flying-cavalry grand general, and also given charge of southern Fenzhou. The border had adjoined Western Wei, and many local leaders had accepted Wei offices and defended the frontier for them. More than three hundred chieftains, garrison commanders, area commanders, and local officials now submitted in succession; Mo treated them generously and won their willing service. Even tribes in the most remote and rugged country came to submit. Mo often paid for their feasts and gifts from his own salary; Gao Cheng praised this and authorized the use of public funds. Alarmed, Western Wei reinforced its border garrisons. Local men who admired Mo's virtue rallied on their own and drove the Wei garrisons back. From then on all Western Wei garrisons north of Longmen were eliminated. Gao Cheng personally granted him a thousand shi of grain and two hundred bolts of silk and published the reward throughout the realm. He died in office; provincial officials sent gifts and ox-drawn carts, but his wife and children, honoring his wishes, refused them all. Mo lived without excess desire and guarded his integrity; yet he quietly built family wealth sufficient for comfort without relying on his salary, and so he was renowned as incorruptible. He was posthumously made minister of works with the posthumous title Cultured and Kind.
36
謨與子結婚盧氏，謨卒後，盧氏將改適他姓。 有平陽廉景孫者，少厲志節，以明經舉郡孝廉，為謨所重，至是訟之，臺府不為理。 乃持繩詣神廟前北面大呼曰：「房謨清吏，忠事高祖，及其死也，妻子見陵。 神而有知，當助申之。 今引決，訴於地下。」 便以繩自經於樹。 衛士見之，救解送所司。 朝廷哀其至誠，命女歸房族。
Mo's son had married a Lady Lu; after Mo's death she was about to marry into another family. Lian Jingsun of Pingyang, a filial-and-incorrupt recommendee in the classics whom Mo had valued, now sued on her behalf, but the central authorities refused to act. He took a rope to the spirit shrine, faced north, and cried out: "Fang Mo was an incorrupt official who loyally served the High Ancestor; after his death his wife and children were mistreated. If the spirits have any knowledge, they must help me plead this case. I now take my life to plead this case in the world below." Then he hanged himself from a tree with the rope. Guards who saw this cut him down and delivered him to the authorities. Moved by his devotion, the court ordered the woman restored to the Fang family.
37
謨前妻子子遠險薄，謨甚嫌之，不以為子列。 時以謨為後妻盧氏所譖，神武亦以責謨。 謨陳其惡。 神武弗信，自收恤之，令與諸子同學，久乃令還。 後與任冑等謀殺神武，事發，神武歎曰：「知子莫若父，信哉！」 因上言房謨、鄭述祖、李道幡三家，理宜從法，竊以謨立身清白，履行忠謹； 鄭仲禮嚴祖庶兒，晚始收拾； 李世林生自外養，屬絕本宗。 三人特乞罪止一房，魏帝許焉。 及謨卒，子廣嗣。 廣弟恭懿。
Ziyuan, Mo's son by his first wife, was treacherous and shallow; Mo disliked him greatly and did not treat him as his heir. At the time Mo was slandered by his second wife, Lady Lu, and Gao Huan rebuked him as well. Mo laid out Ziyuan's misdeeds. Gao Huan did not believe him, took Ziyuan into his own household, had him study alongside his own sons, and only after a long while sent him back. Later Ziyuan plotted with Ren Zhou and others to assassinate Gao Huan; when the plot was exposed Gao Huan sighed: "No one knows a son like his father—how true that is!" He then submitted that the families of Fang Mo, Zheng Suzu, and Li Daofan deserved legal punishment, yet noted privately that Mo had lived in integrity and served with steadfast loyalty; Zheng Zhongli was a late-adopted son of Yan Zu by a concubine; Li Shilin had been raised outside the family and was cut off from his native clan. He asked mercy so that only their immediate households would be punished, and Emperor Wei granted it. When Mo died, his son Guang succeeded him. Guang's younger brother was Gongyi.
38
恭懿字慎言，沈深有局量，達於從政。 仕齊，歷平恩令、濟陰太守，並有能名。 齊亡，不得調。 後預尉遲迥亂，廢于家。 隋開皇初，吏部尚書蘇威舉為新豐令，政為三輔最。 上聞而嘉之，賜物四百段。 以所得賜，分給窮乏。 未幾，復賜米三百石，又振貧人。 上聞止之。 時雍州諸縣令，每朔朝謁，上必呼恭懿至榻前，訪以化下之術。 威又薦之，歷澤、德二州司馬。 盧愷復奏其政美，上甚異之，復賜以帛。 諸州朝集，稱為勸勵之首，以為「上天宗廟之所佑助，豈朕寡薄能致？ 朕即拜為刺史，卿等宜師之」。 乃下詔褒美，因授海州刺史。
Gongyi, styled Shenyan, was thoughtful and substantial, possessed of real judgment, and adept at government. Under Northern Qi he served as magistrate of Ping'en and grand administrator of Jiyin, earning a reputation for competence in both posts. After Qi's fall he received no appointment. He later joined Yuchi Jiong's rebellion and was stripped of rank and confined at home. At the start of the Kaihuang reign Su Wei, minister of personnel, recommended him as magistrate of Xinfeng, where his administration ranked first in the capital region. The emperor heard of this and rewarded him with four hundred bolts of goods. He distributed his reward among the destitute. Soon he received another three hundred shi of rice, which he again used to aid the poor. When the emperor learned of this he told him to stop. At the monthly audience of Yongzhou magistrates the emperor always summoned Gongyi to his couch to ask how best to govern the people. Su Wei recommended him again, and he served in turn as marshal of Ze and De provinces. Lu Kai again praised his governance; the emperor was deeply impressed and granted him more silk. At the provincial assembly he was held up as the foremost example, the emperor declaring: "This is Heaven's and the ancestral temple's blessing—how could my slight merit have achieved it? I will appoint him inspector at once; you should all take him as your model." An edict of praise followed, and he was appointed inspector of Haizhou.
39
未幾，國子博士何妥奏恭懿尉遲迥之黨，威、愷曲相舉薦。 上大怒，恭懿竟放嶺南。 未幾徵還，至洪州卒。 論者冤之。
Soon National University doctor He Tuo accused Gongyi of ties to Yuchi Jiong and charged that Su Wei and Lu Kai had improperly favored one another in recommending him. The emperor flew into a rage and Gongyi was banished to Lingnan. He was soon recalled but died at Hongzhou on the way. Observers regarded his treatment as unjust.
40
張纂，字徽纂，代郡平城人也。 初事尒朱榮，又為尒朱兆長史，使於神武，遂被顧識。 及相州城拔，參丞相軍事，封武安縣伯。 累遷神武行臺右丞。 從征玉壁，大軍將還山東，至晉州忽遇寒雨，士卒饑凍有死者。 州以邊禁，不聽入城。 時纂為別使，遇見，輒令開門內之，分寄人家，給其火食，多所全濟。
Zhang Zuan, styled Huizuan, was from Pingcheng in Dai Commandery. He first served Erzhu Rong, then became chief clerk to Erzhu Zhao; an embassy to Gao Huan won him notice and favor. When Xiangzhou fell he joined the chancellor's military staff and was enfeoffed as marquis of Wu'an county. He rose to become right assistant on Gao Huan's mobile office staff. On the return from the Yubi campaign, the army was caught by a sudden cold rain at Jinzhou; soldiers died of hunger and exposure. Frontier restrictions kept them from entering the city. Zuan was serving as a separate envoy; whenever he saw them he ordered the gates opened, lodged them with local families, provided food and fire, and saved many lives.
41
神武聞而善之。 纂性便僻，事神武二十餘歲，通傳教令，甚見親賞。 文宣時，卒於護軍將軍。
Gao Huan praised this when he heard of it. Accommodating by nature, he served Gao Huan for more than twenty years relaying orders and edicts and enjoyed exceptional trust. He died in office as general who protects the army during Gao Yang's reign.
42
張亮，字伯德，西河隰城人也。 初事尒朱兆，兆奔秀容，左右皆密通誠款； 唯亮獨無啟疏。 及兆敗，竄於窮山，令亮及倉頭陳山提斬己首以降，皆不忍。 兆乃自縊於樹，亮因伏屍哭。 神武嘉歎之，授丞相府參軍，漸見親待，委以書記之任。 天平中，為文襄行臺郎中，典七兵事。 雖為臺郎，常在神武左右。 遷右丞。
Zhang Liang, styled Bode, was from Yincheng in Xihe. He first served Erzhu Zhao; when Zhao fled to Xiurong his attendants all secretly sent pledges of loyalty to the enemy; only Liang sent no such letter. When Zhao was defeated he hid in the mountains and ordered Liang and his steward Chen Shanti to cut off his head and surrender; neither could bring himself to do it. Zhao hanged himself from a tree; Liang fell on the body and wept. Gao Huan praised his loyalty, made him an aide in the chancellor's office, gradually drew him close, and entrusted him with secretarial work. During Tianping he served Gao Cheng as mobile-office gentleman in charge of military matériel. Though nominally on Gao Cheng's staff, he was often at Gao Huan's side. He was promoted to right assistant.
43
高仲密之叛，與大司馬斛律金守河陽。 周文帝於上流放火船，欲燒河橋。 亮乃備小艇百餘，皆載長鎖，鎖頭施釘，火船將至，即馳小船，以釘釘之，引鎖向岸，火船不得及橋。 橋全，亮之計也。 後自太中大夫拜幽州刺史。 薛琡嘗夢亮於山上掛絲，以告亮，且占之曰：「山上絲，幽字也，君其為幽州乎？」 數月而驗。 累遷尚書右僕射、西南道行臺。
When Gao Zhongmi rebelled he and grand marshal Hulu Jin defended Heyang. Emperor Wen of Zhou sent fire ships downstream to burn the river bridge. Liang prepared more than a hundred small boats rigged with long chains tipped with nails; as the fire ships approached he sent the boats out, grappled the burning vessels with the nails, and towed them ashore by the chains before they could reach the bridge. The bridge was saved by Liang's stratagem. He was later promoted from grand master of palace attendance to inspector of Youzhou. Xue Su once dreamed of Liang hanging silk on a mountain; he told Liang and interpreted it: "Silk on a mountain forms the character for You—will you become inspector of Youzhou?" Within months the omen came true. He rose to right vice director of the secretariat and southwest route mobile-office commissioner.
44
亮性質直，勤力強濟，深為神武、文襄信委。 然少風格，好財利，久在左右，不能廉潔。 及歷數州，咸有黷貨之號。 天保初，別封安定縣男，位中領軍。 卒，贈司空。
Plainspoken, industrious, and forcefully effective, he enjoyed the deep trust of both Gao Huan and Gao Cheng. Yet he lacked high-mindedness, was fond of profit, and after long service at court could not keep his hands clean. In every province he served he acquired a reputation for graft. At the start of Tianbao he was separately enfeoffed as baron of Anding county and appointed central camp commander. He died and was posthumously made minister of works.
45
時霸府又有趙起、徐遠者，並見任委。
The chief's headquarters also employed Zhao Qi and Xu Yuan, both of whom were trusted with responsibility.
46
起，廣平人，性沉謹。 神武頻以為相府騎兵二局，典兵馬十餘載。 至文宣即位，累遷大鴻臚卿。 雖歷九卿、侍中，常以本官監兵馬，出內居腹心寄，與二張相亞。 武平中，卒於師，贈都督、滄州刺史。
Qi, a native of Guangping, was sober and cautious by nature. Gao Huan repeatedly put him in charge of the chancellor's two cavalry bureaus, where he managed horses for more than a decade. Under Gao Yang he rose to grand master of splendid happiness. Though he held posts among the nine ministers and as palace attendant, he always retained his original charge over horses as a trusted insider, ranking just below the two Zhangs. He died on campaign during Wuping and was posthumously made area commander and inspector of Cangzhou.
47
遠，廣寧人，為丞相騎兵參軍事，深為神武所知。 累遷東楚州刺史，政有恩惠。 郭邑大火，城人亡產業，遠躬自赴救，對之流涕，仍為經營，皆得安立。 卒於衛尉卿。 起、遠前書並有傳，更無異跡，今附此云。
Yuan, from Guangning, served as cavalry aide in the chancellor's office and enjoyed Gao Huan's deep confidence. He rose to inspector of Dongchuzhou, where his administration was marked by kindness. When a great fire destroyed the outer city and ruined the townspeople, Yuan went in person to help, wept before the victims, and saw to their resettlement until all were restored. He died in office as commandant of the guard. Qi and Yuan had appeared in earlier histories; having nothing further of note, they are appended here.
48
張曜，字靈光，上谷昌平人也。 少貞謹，韓軌為御史劾，州府僚佐及軌左右以贓掛網者百餘人，唯曜以清白免。 天保初，賜爵都鄉男，累遷尚書右丞。 文宣曾近出，令曜居守。 帝夜還，曜不時開門，勒兵嚴備。 帝駐驛門外久之，催迫甚急。 曜以夜深，須火至面識，門乃可開。 於是獨出見帝。 帝笑曰：「卿欲效郅君章也？」 乃使曜前開門，然後入。 嗟賞之，賜以錦采。 大寧初，遷秘書監。
Zhang Yao, styled Lingguang, was from Changping in Shanggu. From youth he was upright and careful; when Han Gui as censor investigated corruption, more than a hundred provincial officials and Gui's own staff were implicated—only Yao was cleared for his integrity. At the start of Tianbao he was enfeoffed as baron of Duxiang and rose to right assistant in the Ministry of State Affairs. Gao Yang once made a short trip and left Yao in charge of the palace. When the emperor returned at night Yao did not open the gate immediately but instead mustered the guard in full readiness. The emperor waited a long time outside the gate, growing increasingly impatient. Yao insisted that in the deep of night he must see the emperor's face by torchlight before he would open the gate. He then went out alone to meet the emperor. The emperor laughed: "Are you trying to be another Zhi Junzhang?" He had Yao open the gate first, then entered. He praised Yao warmly and rewarded him with brocade and silk. At the start of Daning he was appointed director of the secretariat.
49
曜歷事累世，奉職恪勤，咸見親待，未嘗有過。 每得祿賜，輒散之宗族。 性節儉率素，車服飲食，取給而已。 好讀《春秋》，月一遍，時人比之賈梁道。 趙彥深嘗謂之曰：「君研尋左氏，豈求杜、服繆邪？」 曜曰：「何為其然乎？ 左氏之書，備敘言事，惡者可以自戒，善者可以庶幾。 故勵已溫尋，非欲詆訶古人得失也。」
Serving through several reigns, he performed his duties with scrupulous diligence, enjoyed favor under each emperor, and never once faulted. Whenever he received salary or gifts he at once shared them with his clan. Plain and frugal by nature, he took only what he needed for carriage, dress, food, and drink. He read the Spring and Autumn Annals through once a month; contemporaries compared him to Jia Liangdao. Zhao Yanshen once asked him: "In your study of the Zuo Commentary, are you hunting for the mistakes of Du Yu and Fu Qian?" Yao replied: "Why would you think that? The Zuo Commentary records events in full; what is evil can warn us, what is good can be our model. I study it to strengthen myself, not to pick quarrels with the ancients over their right and wrong."
50
天統元年，奏事，暴疾，仆於御前。 武成下坐臨視，呼不應。 帝泣曰：「失我良臣也。」 旬日卒，贈尚書右僕射，諡曰貞簡。
In the first year of Tiantong he collapsed with a sudden illness while reporting to the throne. Emperor Wucheng came down from the throne to see him; Yao did not answer when called. The emperor wept: "I have lost a fine minister." He died within ten days and was posthumously made right vice director of the secretariat with the posthumous title Steadfast and Plain.
51
王峻，字巒嵩，靈丘人也。 明悟有幹略。 歷事神武、文襄，為相府佐，賜爵北平男，除營州刺史。 營州地接邊賊，數為人患。 峻至州，遠設斥候，廣置疑兵，賊不敢發，合境獲安。 先是，刺史陸士茂詐殺室韋八百餘人，因此朝貢遂絕。 至是，峻要其行路，大破之。 虜其酋帥，厚加恩禮，放遣之。 室韋遂獻誠款，朝貢不絕，峻有力焉。 蠕蠕主庵羅辰東徙，峻設伏大破之，於此遁走。 歷位尚書。
Wang Jun, styled Luansong, was from Lingqiu. He was intelligent and possessed sound judgment. He served Gao Huan and Gao Cheng as a chancellor's aide, was enfeoffed as baron of Beiping, and appointed inspector of Yingzhou. Yingzhou bordered hostile frontier peoples and was frequently raided. Jun posted scouts far afield, spread decoy forces widely, and kept the raiders from striking; the whole region was pacified. His predecessor Lu Shimao had treacherously killed more than eight hundred Shiwei, after which tribute missions ceased entirely. Jun then ambushed them on the road and routed them. He captured their chieftain, treated him generously, and sent him home. The Shiwei then renewed their tribute in good faith, and Jun deserved much of the credit. When the Rouran khan Anluochen moved east, Jun ambushed and routed him, driving him into flight. He rose to secretariat director.
52
河清中，位南道行臺，坐違格私度禁物，幷盜截軍糧，有司定處斬刑，家口配沒。 詔決鞭一百，除名配甲坊，蠲其家口。 武平初，卒於侍中，贈司空。
During Heqing he served as south route mobile-office commissioner; for illegally trafficking in contraband and seizing military grain the authorities sentenced him to execution and confiscation of his household. An edict commuted the sentence to a hundred strokes of the whip, struck his name from the rolls, and assigned him to the armor workshops while sparing his family. At the start of Wuping he died in office as palace attendant and was posthumously made minister of works.
53
王紘，字師羅，太安狄那人也。 父基，頗讀書，有智略。 初從葛榮，與周文帝相知。 及周文據關中，神武遣基與長史侯景同往焉。 周文留基不遣，後乃逃歸。 歷南益、北豫二州刺吏，所歷皆好聚斂，然性和直，吏人不甚怨苦。 後為奴所害，贈吏部尚書。
Wang Hong, styled Shiluo, was from Dina in Tai'an. His father Ji was well read and quick-witted. He first followed Ge Rong and came to know Emperor Wen of Zhou. When Zhou Wen held the Guanzhong region Gao Huan sent Ji there with his chief clerk Hou Jing. Zhou Wen detained Ji but he eventually escaped and returned. He served as inspector of Nanyi and Beiyu in turn; though he was given to extortion in every post, his blunt honesty kept officials and people from hating him overmuch. He was later killed by a slave and posthumously made minister of personnel.
54
紘善騎射，愛文學，性敏捷。 年十三，見揚州樂太原郭元貞，撫其背曰：「讀何書？」 曰：「誦《孝經》。」 曰：「《孝經》云何？」 曰：「在上不驕，為下不亂。」 元貞曰：「吾豈驕乎？」 紘曰：「君子防未萌，亦願留意。」 元貞稱善。 十五，隨父在北豫州，行臺侯景與人論掩衣法為當左右。 尚書敬顯儁曰：「孔子云：『微管仲，吾其被髮左衽。』 以此言之，右衽應是。」 紘進曰：「國家龍飛朔野，雄步中原，五帝異儀，三王殊制，掩衣左右，何足是非？」 景奇其早慧，賜以名馬。 興和中，文襄召為庫直、奉朝請。 文襄遇禍，紘冒刃捍禦。 以忠節，進爵平春縣男。
Hong excelled at riding and archery, loved literature, and was quick-witted. At thirteen he met Guo Yuanzhen of Taiyuan, director of music at Yangzhou, patted his back, and asked: "What are you reading?" Yuanzhen answered: "The Classic of Filial Piety." Hong asked: "What does it say?" Yuanzhen quoted: "Above, do not be arrogant; below, do not create disorder." Yuanzhen said: "Am I arrogant, then?" Hong replied: "A gentleman guards against trouble before it appears—I hope you will take heed." Yuanzhen approved. At fifteen, while with his father in Beiyu, mobile-office commissioner Hou Jing was debating with others whether the lapel should fold left or right. Secretariat director Jing Xianjun said: "Confucius said: 'Without Guan Zhong we would wear our hair loose and fold our lapels to the left. By that token the right lapel should be correct." Hong stepped forward: "Our state rose in the northern wilds and marched through the central plains; the Five Emperors had different rites and the Three Kings different customs—what point is there in arguing over left or right?" Hou Jing admired his precocious wit and gave him a fine horse. During Xinghe Gao Cheng summoned him as storehouse attendant and court presenter. When Gao Cheng was assassinated Hong threw himself against the blades to defend him. For his loyalty he was enfeoffed as baron of Pingchun county.
55
頗為文宣所知，為領左右都督。 帝嘗與左右飲酒，曰：「快哉大樂！」 紘曰：「亦有大苦。」 帝曰：「何苦？」 紘曰：「長夜荒飲，不悟國破，是謂大苦。」 帝默然。 後責紘曰：「爾與紇奚舍樂同事我兄，捨樂死，爾何不死？」 紘曰：「君亡臣死，自是常節，但賊豎力薄，故臣不死。」 帝使燕子獻反縛之，長廣王捉頭，帝手刃將下。 紘呼曰：「楊遵彥、崔季舒逃難，位至僕射、尚書； 冒危效命之士，翻見屠戮。 曠古未有此事。」 帝投刃於地曰：「王師羅不得殺。」 遂舍之。
Gao Yang came to know him well and made him colonel directing the imperial guard. Once, drinking with his attendants, the emperor cried: "What supreme pleasure!" Hong replied: "There is also supreme suffering. The emperor asked, "What's so bitter about it?" Hong replied, "Carousing through endless nights without seeing that the state is collapsing—that is true misery." The emperor said nothing. Later he upbraided Hong: "You and Hexi She Le served my elder brother together. She Le died—so why didn't you? Hong answered, "When the lord dies, the minister follows—that is the proper way. But the assassin was weak, so I survived." The emperor had Yan Zixian tie his arms behind him. The Prince of Changgung gripped his head while the emperor raised his blade to kill him. Hong shouted, "Yang Zunyan and Cui Jishu fled for their lives and became Grand Master and Master of Writing; men who risked everything to serve are butchered instead. Nothing like this has ever happened in all of history. The emperor threw his blade to the floor. "Wang Shiluo is not to be killed." He spared him.
56
後拜驃騎大將軍。 武平初，加開府儀同三司。 上言突厥與周男女來往，必相影響，南北寇邊，宜為之備。 五年，陳人寇淮南，封輔相議討之。 紘曰：「若復出頓江、淮，恐北狄西寇，乘弊而來。 莫若薄賦省徭，息人養士，使朝廷協睦，遐邇歸心，征之以仁義，鼓之以道德，天下皆當肅清，豈直江南偽陳而已。」 高阿那肱謂衆曰：「從王武衛者南席。」 衆皆同焉。 尋兼侍中，聘周。 使還即正。 未幾卒。
Later he was made General-in-Chief of Cavalry. At the start of the Wuping era he was granted the additional rank of Opening the Mansions with Honors Equal to the Three Dukes. He memorialized the throne that Turks and Northern Zhou were sending men and women back and forth, bound to affect each other, and that both north and south would raid the frontier—defenses should be readied. In the fifth year, when Chen troops invaded Huainan, the ministers debated an expedition against them. Hong said, "If we mass troops on the Yangtze and Huai again, the northern tribes may strike from the west while we are overextended. Better to cut taxes, ease labor, let the people recover, and keep the court united so all look to us. Win them with righteousness and stir them with virtue, and the whole world will be pacified—not just the pretender Chen in the south. Gao Anagong told the gathering, "All who side with Wang Wuwei, sit on the south side." Everyone agreed. Shortly afterward he was also made Palace Attendant and dispatched on an embassy to Zhou. When he returned from the embassy his appointment was confirmed. He died soon after.
57
紘好著述，作《鑒誡》二十四篇。
Hong was fond of authorship and wrote twenty-four chapters of Admonitions and Warnings.
58
敬顯儁，字孝英，陽平太平人也。 少英俠，從神武信都義舉，歷位度支尚書。 神武攻鄴，顯儁督造土山，以功封永安縣侯。 出內多歷顯官，所在著名。 河清中，卒於兗州刺史。
Jing Xianjun, styled Xiaoying, came from Taiping in Yangping commandery. As a young man he was spirited and heroic. He joined Gao Huan's righteous uprising at Xindu and eventually became Director of Revenue in the Masters of Writing. When Gao Huan besieged Ye, Xianjun oversaw the construction of siege ramparts and, for that service, was enfeoffed Marquis of Yong'an county. He held many prominent posts at court and in the provinces and was respected in every assignment. During the Heqing era he died in office as Regional Inspector of Yanzhou.
59
子長瑜，武成時為廣陵太守，多所受納，刺史陸駿將表劾之。 以貨事和士開，以書屏風詐為長瑜獻，武成大悅，駿表尋至，遂不問焉。 遷合州刺史，陷於陳，卒。 子德亮，齊亡後，負屍歸。
His son Changyu served as Prefect of Guangling under Emperor Wucheng and accepted many bribes. Regional Inspector Lu Jun prepared to impeach him. He bribed He Shikai, who had a painted screen forged as Changyu's gift. Wucheng was delighted. When Lu Jun's memorial arrived, the case was dropped. He was moved to Prefect of Hezhou, was captured by Chen, and died. His son Deliang, after the fall of Qi, brought the body home for burial.
60
德亮，隋開皇中，卒於尚書郎。
Deliang died in the Kaihuang era of Sui while serving as a Master of Writing Attendant.
61
平鑒，字明達，燕郡薊人也。 祖延，魏安平太守。 父勝，安州刺史。
Ping Jian, styled Mingda, was from Ji in Yan commandery. His grandfather Yan was Administrator of Anping under Wei. His father Sheng served as Regional Inspector of Anzhou.
62
鑒少聰敏，受學於徐遵明，受詩、禮於弘農楊文懿，通大義，不為章句。 雅有豪俠氣。 孝昌末，見天下將亂，乃之洛陽，與慕容儼以客騎馬為業，兼習弓矢。 鑒性巧，夜則胡畫，以供衣食。 俄奔尒朱榮，榮大奇之。 以軍功累遷襄州刺史。 神武起兵信都，鑒棄州自歸，即授本官。 文襄輔政，封西平縣伯，遷懷州刺史。 鑒奏請於州西故軹關道築城，以防西軍，從之。 尋西魏將楊摽來攻。 時新築之城，糧仗未集。 素乏水，南門內有大井，隨汲即竭。 鑒具衣冠，俯井而祝，至旦而井泉湧溢，有異於常，合城取足，揚示敵人。 將士既觀非常，勇氣自立。 楊摽敗，以功進開府儀同三司。 累遷揚州刺史。 其妻生男，鑒因喜酣醉，擅免境內囚，誤免關中細作二人。 醒而知之，上表自劾。 文宣特原其罪，賜犢百頭、羊二百口、酒百石，令作樂。 河清二年，重拜懷州刺史。 時和士開使求鑒愛妾阿劉，即送之。 仍謂人曰：「老公失阿劉，與死何異？ 要自為身計，不得不然。」 後卒於都官尚書，贈司空，謚曰文。
Jian was bright from childhood. He studied under Xu Zunming and learned the Odes and Rites from Yang Wenyi of Hongnong, grasping their substance rather than parsing every line. He had a bold, chivalrous temperament. Near the end of the Xiaochang era, seeing chaos coming, he went to Luoyang. With Murong Yan he hired out as armed escorts and trained with bow and arrow. Jian was deft with his hands. At night he painted decorative work to pay for food and clothing. Soon he joined Erzhu Rong, who thought him extraordinary. Through military service he rose repeatedly until he became Regional Inspector of Xiangzhou. When Gao Huan raised his army at Xindu, Jian left his post and surrendered. He was at once restored to his former rank. Under Gao Cheng's regency he was enfeoffed Baron of Xiping county and appointed Regional Inspector of Huaizhou. Jian asked permission to fortify the old Zhiguan road west of the province against western forces, and the court agreed. Soon afterward Western Wei general Yang Biao attacked. The new fort had not yet stockpiled grain or arms. The place was chronically short of water. A large well inside the south gate emptied the moment anyone drew from it. Jian dressed in formal robes, leaned over the well, and prayed. By dawn the water flowed abundantly as never before, enough for the entire city, and he showed the enemy. The soldiers, seeing this wonder, found their courage renewed. Yang Biao was beaten, and for this achievement Jian was promoted to Opening the Mansions with Honors Equal to the Three Dukes. He rose through several posts to Regional Inspector of Yangzhou. His wife gave birth to a son. Overjoyed, Jian drank himself senseless and, on his own authority, pardoned prisoners in his district—accidentally releasing two Guanzhong spies. When he woke and understood what he had done, he memorialized the throne to impeach himself. Gao Yang specially forgave him and gave him a hundred calves, two hundred sheep, and a hundred piculs of wine, with orders to celebrate. In the second year of Heqing he was again made Regional Inspector of Huaizhou. He Shikai then asked for Jian's favorite concubine, A Liu, and Jian sent her immediately. He told others, "Losing A Liu is no different from dying for this old man. But one must look after oneself—there was no other choice. He later died as Director of the Imperial Clan in the Masters of Writing and was posthumously made Minister of Works with the posthumous title Wen.
63
子子敬嗣，輕險無賴，奸穢所至，禽獸不若。 隋開皇中，為晉州行參軍，為并州總管秦王所殺。
His son Zijing inherited the line: reckless, vicious, and corrupt beyond anything animal. Under Sui's Kaihuang reign he served as a route staff officer in Jinzhou and was killed by the Prince of Qin, Grand Commander of Bingzhou.
64
唐邕，字道和，太原晉陽人也。 其先自晉昌徙焉。 父靈芝，魏壽陽令，邕貴，贈司空公。
Tang Yong, styled Daohé, came from Jinyang in Taiyuan. His family had moved there from Jinchang. His father Lingzhi had been Magistrate of Shouyang under Wei. When Yong became prominent, Lingzhi was posthumously made Duke of Works.
65
邕少明敏，有材幹。 初直神武外兵曹，以幹濟見知，擢為文襄大將軍督護。 文襄崩，事出倉卒，文宣部分將校，鎮壓四方，夜中召邕支配，造次便了。 帝甚重之。 天保初，稍遷給事中，兼中書舍人，封廣漢鄉男。 及從征奚虜，黃門侍郎袁猛舊典騎兵事，至是為割配遲留，鞭杖一百，仍令邕監騎兵事，以猛賜邕。 文宣頻年出塞，邕必陪從，專掌兵機，承受敏速。 自軍吏已上勞效由緒，無不諳練，占對如響。 或御前簡閱，邕多不執文簿，唱官名未嘗謬誤。 七年，於羊汾堤講武，令邕總為諸軍節度。 事畢，仍監宴射之禮。 親執其手，引至太后前，坐於丞相斛律金上。 啟太后云：「邕一人當千。」 仍別賜錢采。 邕非唯強濟明辯，亦善揣上意，是以委任彌重。 帝嘗白太后云：「邕手作文書，口且處分，耳又聽受，實是異人。」 一日中六度賜物。 又嘗解所服青鼠皮裘賜邕云：「朕意在與卿共弊。」 除兼給事黃門、中書舍人。 文宣嘗登并州童子佛寺望并州城，曰：「此何等城？」 或曰：「金城湯池，天府之國。」 帝云：「我謂唐邕是金城，此非也。」 後謂邕云：「高德正妄說卿短，而薦主書郭敬，朕已殺之。 卿劬勞既久，欲除卿作州，頻敕楊遵彥求堪代卿者，如卿實不可得，所以遂停。」 文宣或切責侍臣云：「觀卿等，不中與唐邕作奴！」 其愛遇如此。
Yong was bright and capable from youth. He first served in Gao Huan's chancellor's office in the external military bureau. Recognized for his efficiency, he was promoted to Grand General Supervisor under Gao Cheng. When Gao Cheng died without warning, Gao Yang hurriedly posted commanders across the realm. In the dead of night he called Yong to organize affairs, and everything was settled at once. The emperor held him in high regard. At the start of Tianbao he rose to Supervising Censor and concurrent Palace Scribe and was enfeoffed Baron of Guanghan township. On campaign against the Xi, Yellow Gate Attendant Yuan Meng, who had long handled cavalry, was slow distributing horses. He was flogged a hundred strokes and Yong was put in charge of cavalry; Meng was given to Yong as a gift. Year after year Gao Yang campaigned beyond the frontier, and Yong always went with him, handling military affairs alone with swift judgment. From army clerks upward, every record of service and merit was at his fingertips; he answered on the spot. When the emperor inspected troops, Yong often called names without documents and never made a mistake. In the seventh year, at a martial review on the Yangfen embankment, Yong was made commander of all forces. When it was over he also oversaw the banquet archery ceremony. The emperor took his hand and led him to the empress dowager, seating him above Chancellor Hulü Jin. He told the empress dowager, "Yong alone is worth a thousand men. He also gave him money and silks. Yong was not only forceful and quick-witted; he also knew how to read the emperor's mind, and his responsibilities grew ever greater. The emperor once told the empress dowager, "Yong writes with his hands, decides with his mouth, and listens with his ears—he is a man apart. Six times in one day he received gifts. Once he took off his own blue sable coat and gave it to Yong, saying, "I mean to share hardship with you. He was made concurrent Supervising Censor of the Yellow Gate and Palace Scribe. Gao Yang once climbed Tongzi Buddhist Temple on Bingzhou and gazed at the city below. "What kind of city is this? Someone answered, "An impregnable fortress—the treasury of heaven itself." The emperor said, "I say Tang Yong is the impregnable fortress. This is not it." Later he told Yong, "Gao Dezheng slandered you while recommending Chief Clerk Guo Jing. I have killed him. You have served long and hard. I wanted to make you a provincial governor and repeatedly asked Yang Zunyan for a replacement, but no one could truly take your place, so I let it drop. Gao Yang sometimes scolded his attendants: "Not one of you is fit to be Tang Yong's servant!" Such was the favor shown him.
66
孝昭作相，署相府司馬。 皇建元年，除給事黃門侍郎。 太寧元年，除大司農卿。 河清元年，突厥入寇，遣邕驛赴晉陽，纂集兵馬。 在路聞虜將逼，邕斟酌事宜，改敕，更促期會，由此兵士限前畢集。 後拜侍中、并州大中正、護軍將軍。 從武成幸晉陽，帝至武軍驛，因醉責虞候都督范洪，將殺之。 邕諫，以為若非酒行戮，族誅人無所怨； 假實有大罪，因酒殺人，恐招橫議。 洪因得免死。 邕又以軍人教習田獵，依令十二月，月別三圍，以為疲弊，請每月兩圍。 又奏河陽、晉州，與周連境，請於河陽、懷州、永橋、義寧、烏籍各徙六州軍人幷家，立軍府安置，以備機急之用。 帝並從之。 未幾，出為趙州刺史，侍中、護軍、大中正悉如故。 謂曰：「朝臣未有帶侍中、護軍、中正臨州者，以卿舊勳，故有此舉。 放卿百餘日休息，至秋間，當即召。」 邕政頗嚴酷，然抑挫豪強，公事甚理。 尋除中書監，仍侍中，遷尚書右僕射。
When Emperor Xiaozhao was regent, Yong was made Marshal of the regent's office. In the first year of Huangjian he was appointed Supervising Censor of the Yellow Gate Attendant. In the first year of Taining he became Grand Minister of Agriculture. In the first year of Heqing, when the Turks raided, Yong was dispatched post-haste to Jinyang to muster troops and horses. En route he learned the enemy was near. Yong revised the orders and shortened the deadline, so the troops assembled in time. He was subsequently appointed Palace Attendant, Grand Rectifier of Bingzhou, and General Who Guards the Army. Accompanying Emperor Wucheng to Jinyang, the emperor reached Wujun post station, drunk, berated Patrol Commander Fan Hong, and was about to execute him. Yong remonstrated: if Hong had truly committed a grave offense, execution sober would leave no complaint; but killing a man in drunkenness would invite scandal. Hong was spared. Yong also argued that monthly field hunts for troop training—three hunts each month by regulation—were exhausting, and asked for two hunts per month instead. He also memorialized that Heyang and Jinzhou bordered Zhou and asked that troops and families from six provinces be relocated to Heyang, Huaizhou, Yongqiao, Yining, and Wuji to establish garrison prefectures for emergencies. The emperor approved all of it. Soon he was sent out as Regional Inspector of Zhaozhou while keeping Palace Attendant, General Who Guards the Army, and Grand Rectifier. He told him, "No minister has ever held Palace Attendant, General Who Guards the Army, and Grand Rectifier while governing a province. This is for your long service. Take more than a hundred days to rest. In autumn I will recall you. His rule was harsh, but he suppressed the great clans and handled public affairs soundly. Soon he was made Director of the Palace Library while remaining Palace Attendant, then promoted Right Vice Director of the Masters of Writing.
67
武平初，坐斷事阿曲，為御史所劾，除名。 久之，以舊恩，復除將軍、開府，累遷尚書令，封晉昌王。 高思好構逆，令邕赴晉陽監勒諸軍。 事平，錄尚書事。 屬周師攻洛陽，右丞相高阿那肱赴援，邕配割不甚從允，那肱譖之，由是被疏。 七年，車駕將幸晉陽，敕斛律孝卿總騎兵，事多自決。 邕恃舊，一旦為孝卿所輕，鬰怏形於辭色。 帝從平陽敗後，狼狽歸鄴，邕懼那肱譖愬，恨孝卿輕已，遂留晉陽，與莫多婁敬顯等樹安德王為帝。 尋降周，邕依例授上開府儀同大將軍。 再遷戶部，轉少司馬，封安福郡公，遷鳳州刺史。 隋開皇初，卒。
At the start of Wuping he was impeached by the censorate for twisting judgments and stripped of rank. After a long interval, owing to past favor, he was restored as General and Opening the Mansions, rose to Director of the Masters of Writing, and was enfeoffed Prince of Jinchang. When Gao Sihao rebelled, Yong was sent to Jinyang to oversee the armies. When the rebellion was crushed, he was recorded as Director of the Masters of Writing. When Zhou troops attacked Luoyang, Right Chancellor Gao Anagong went to relieve the city. Yong's allocations were not fully accepted; Anagong slandered him and he fell from favor. In the seventh year, as the emperor prepared to visit Jinyang, Hulü Xiaoqing was put in charge of all cavalry and decided many matters himself. Yong, trusting in long service, was suddenly treated lightly by Xiaoqing, and his resentment showed. After the emperor's rout at Pingyang and frantic return to Ye, Yong feared Anagong's accusations and resented Xiaoqing's contempt. He stayed in Jinyang with Modu Lou Jingxian and others and enthroned the Prince of Ande. Soon they surrendered to Zhou, and Yong was given the usual rank of Opening the Mansions with Honors Equal to the Grand General. He was promoted to the Ministry of Revenue, then Vice Minister of War, enfeoffed Duke of Anfu commandery, and made Regional Inspector of Fengzhou. He died at the start of Sui's Kaihuang reign.
68
邕性識明敏，在齊一代，典執兵機。 是以九州軍士，四方勇募，強弱多少，番代往還，器械精粗，糧儲虛實，精心勤事，莫不諳知。 自太寧以來，奢侈糜費，比及武平之末，府藏漸虛，邕支度取捨，大有裨益。 然既被任遇，意氣漸高，其未經府寺陳訴越覽辭牒，條數甚多，俱為憲臺及左丞彈劾，並御注放免。 司空從事中郎封長業、太尉記室參軍平濤並為徵官錢違限，邕各杖背三十。 齊時宰相，未有撾撻朝士，至是，大駭物望。
Yong was sharp by nature. Through the Qi dynasty he controlled military affairs. Soldiers of the nine provinces, recruits from every direction, their numbers and strength, their rotations, the quality of weapons, the state of granaries—he knew it all through tireless attention. From Taining on, extravagance grew; by the end of Wuping the treasury was nearly empty, yet Yong's budgeting helped greatly. Once favored, he grew proud. Many petitions he handled without proper channels; the censorate and left vice director impeached him repeatedly, but the emperor annotated each case and dismissed it. Feng Changye, Attendant of the Ministry of Works, and Ping Tao, Recorder of the Grand Marshal's office, both exceeded recruitment fee limits; Yong had each flogged thirty strokes on the back. No Qi chancellor had ever beaten a court gentleman before; the shock to public opinion was immense.
69
三子：長子君明，開府儀同三司，開皇初，卒於應州刺史。 次子君徹，中書舍人，隋戎、順二州刺史，大業中，卒於武賁郎將。 少子君德，以邕降周，伏法。
He had three sons. The eldest, Junming, Opening the Mansions with Honors Equal to the Three Dukes, died early in Kaihuang as Regional Inspector of Yingzhou. The second, Junche, was a Palace Scribe and in Sui served as Regional Inspector of Rong and Shun; he died in the Daye era as General of the Martial Tiger Guard. The youngest, Junde, was executed because Yong surrendered to Zhou.
70
齊朝因神武作相，丞相府外兵、騎兵曹，分掌兵馬。 及受禪，諸司咸歸尚書，唯此二曹不廢，令唐邕、白建主之，謂之外兵省、騎兵省。 後邕、建位望轉隆，各置省主，令中書舍人分判二省事，故世稱唐、白雲。
Under Qi, when Gao Huan was regent, the chancellor's office had external military and cavalry bureaus that managed troops and horses separately. After the founding, every bureau returned to the Masters of Writing except these two, which remained. Tang Yong and Bai Jian headed them—the External Military Office and Cavalry Office. Later Yong and Jian rose higher still. Each office had its own head, with palace scribes dividing their work—hence the age called them Tang and Bai of the Clouds.
71
白建，字彥舉，太原陽邑人。 初入大丞相府任兵曹，典文帳，明解書計，為同局所推。 天保末，兼中書舍人。 孝昭輔政，除大丞相騎兵參軍。 河清二年，除員外散騎常侍，仍舍人。 三年，突厥入境，代、忻二牧，悉是細馬，合數萬疋，在五台山北栢谷中避賊。 賊退，敕建送馬定州，付人養飼。 建以馬瘦，違敕以便宜從事。 戎馬無損，建有力焉。 武平末，歷位尚書、特進、侍中、中書令，封高昌郡公。 父長命，贈開府儀同三司、都官尚書。
Bai Jian, styled Yanju, came from Yangyi in Taiyuan. He first entered the Grand Chancellor's office as a military bureau clerk in charge of records. Clear with accounts, he was recommended by his colleagues. At the end of Tianbao he was also made Palace Scribe. When Emperor Xiaozhao was regent, he was made Cavalry Attendant of the Grand Chancellor. In the second year of Heqing he was made Extraordinary Attendant of Scattered Cavalry while keeping his scribe post. In the third year, when Turks crossed the border, the Dai and Xin pastures held only small horses—tens of thousands—hidden from raiders in Cypress Valley north of Wutai Mountain. When the raiders withdrew, an edict ordered Jian to send the horses to Dingzhou for raising. Finding the horses too thin, Jian disobeyed the edict and acted as circumstances required. The war horses suffered no loss, largely thanks to Jian. At the end of Wuping he held Master of Writing, Special Advance, Palace Attendant, and Director of the Palace Library, and was enfeoffed Duke of Gaochang commandery. His father Changming received posthumous honors as Opening the Mansions with Honors Equal to the Three Dukes and Director of the Imperial Clan in the Masters of Writing.
72
建雖無他才伎，勤於在公，以溫柔自處。 與唐邕俱以典執兵馬，致位卿相。 諸子幼弱，俱為州郡主簿； 男女婚嫁，皆得勝流。 卒，贈司空。
Jian had no other special talents, but he was diligent in office and gentle in manner. He and Tang Yong both rose to minister and chancellor by managing troops and horses. His sons were young and all served as chief clerks in provinces and commanderies; their marriages all joined prominent families. At his death he was posthumously granted the title Minister of Works.
73
元文遙，字德遠，河南洛陽人也。 魏昭成皇帝六世孫也。 五世祖常山王遵。 父唏，有孝行，父卒，廬於墓側而終。 文遙貴，贈特進、開府儀同三司、中書監，諡曰孝。
Yuan Wenyao, styled Deyuan, came from Luoyang in Henan. He descended in the sixth generation from Emperor Zhaocheng of Wei. Five generations back his forebear was Prince Changshan Zun. His father Xi was filial; when his father died he lived in a hut by the tomb until he died there. When Wenyao became prominent, Xi was posthumously made Special Advance, Opening the Mansions with Honors Equal to the Three Dukes, and Director of the Palace Library, with the posthumous title Xiao.
74
文遙敏慧夙成，濟陰王暉業每云：「此子王佐才也。」 暉業常大會賓客，時有人將《何遜集》初入洛，諸賢皆贊賞之。 河間邢邵試命文遙誦之，幾遍可得。 文遙一覽便誦，時年始十餘歲。 濟陰王曰：「我家千里駒，今定如何？」 邢云：「此殆古來未有。」 起家員外散騎侍郎。 遭父喪，服闋，除太尉東閣祭酒。 以天下方亂，遂解官侍養，隱於林慮山。
Wenyao was precocious. Prince of Jiyin Huiye often said, "This child has the makings of a king's right hand. Huiye often hosted large gatherings. Someone had just brought He Xun's collected works to Luoyang, and every scholar praised them. Xing Shao of Hejian tested Wenyao by having him recite the book; after a few readings he could. Wenyao read it once and recited it whole. He was barely past ten. The Prince of Jiyin said, "A thousand-li colt in my house—what will he become? Xing said, "Perhaps nothing like this has existed since antiquity." He entered service as Extraordinary Attendant of Scattered Cavalry. After his father's death he mourned; when mourning ended he became Sacrificing Wine of the Eastern Pavilion of the Grand Marshal. With the realm in chaos he resigned to care for his family and withdrew to Mount Linlü.
75
文遙歷事三主，明達世務，每入軒大集，多令宣敕，號令文武，聲韻高朗，發吐無滯。 然探測上旨，時有委巷之言，故不為知音所重。 齊因魏，宰縣多用廝濫，至於士流，耻居百里。 文遙以縣令為字人之功，遂請革選。 於是密令搜揚貴游子弟，發敕用之。 猶恐其披訴，總召集神武門，令趙郡王叡宣旨唱名，厚加慰喻。 士人為縣，自此始也。 既與趙彥深、和士開同被任遇，雖不如彥深清貞守道，又不為士開貪淫亂政，在於季孟之間。 然性和厚，與物無競，故時論不在彥深之下。 初，文遙自洛遷鄴，唯有地十餘頃，家貧，所資衣食。 魏之將季，宗姓被侮，有人冒相侵奪，文遙即以與之。 及貴，此人尚在，乃將家逃竄。 文遙大驚，追加慰撫，還以與之，彼人愧而不受。 彼此俱讓，遂為閒田。
Wenyao served three sovereigns and understood the times. At great assemblies he often proclaimed edicts; his voice rang clear and his orders flowed without stumbling. Yet in reading the ruler's mind he sometimes used vulgar speech, and men of discernment did not respect him for it. After Wei, Qi filled county magistracies with low-born men; gentlemen were ashamed to govern a hundred-li district. Wenyao held that magistrates were the foundation of governing the people and asked to reform appointments. Secret orders went out to find sons of noble houses, and edicts appointed them. Fearing protests, all were summoned to Gao Huan Gate. Prince of Zhao Commandery Rui read the edict and called each name, comforting them generously. From this began the practice of gentlemen serving as county magistrates. He shared favor with Zhao Yanshen and He Shikai. He was not as pure as Yanshen nor as corrupt as Shikai; he stood between them. Yet he was gentle and easy, contending with no one, and opinion did not rank him below Yanshen. When Wenyao moved from Luoyang to Ye he had only a dozen acres; his family was poor and lived on that land. Near the end of Wei, imperial clansmen were bullied. Someone seized his land by fraud, and Wenyao simply gave it to him. When Wenyao rose to power the man was still alive and fled with his family. Wenyao was alarmed, sent after him with reassurance, and returned the land. The man was ashamed and refused it. Both yielded until the land stood unused.
76
至後主嗣位，趙郡王叡、婁定遠等謀出和士開，文遙亦參其議。 叡見殺，文遙由是出為西兗州刺史。 詣士開別，士開曰：「處得言地，使元家兒作令僕，深負朝廷。」 既言而悔，仍執手慰勉之。 猶慮文遙自疑，用其子行恭為尚書郎，以慰其心。 士開死，自東徐州刺史徵入朝，竟不用，卒。
When the Later Lord succeeded, Prince of Zhao Commandery Rui, Lou Dingyuan, and others plotted to oust He Shikai, and Wenyao joined them. Rui was killed, and Wenyao was sent out as Regional Inspector of West Yanzhou. Bidding Shikai farewell, Shikai said, "You got a post where you can speak freely. Making a Yuan boy chief minister wrongs the court deeply. Having said it he regretted it, but still took his hand and encouraged him. Still fearing Wenyao's unease, he appointed his son Xinggong Master of Writing Attendant to reassure him. When Shikai died, Wenyao was recalled from East Xuzhou but was never used and died.
77
行恭美姿貌，有父風，兼俊才。 位中書舍人，待詔文林館。 齊亡，與陽休之等十八人同入關，稍遷司勳下大夫。 隋開皇中，位尚書郎，坐事徙瓜州而卒。 行恭少頗驕恣，文遙令與范陽盧思道交遊。 文遙嘗謂思道云：「小兒比日微有所知，是大弟之力。 然白擲劇飲，甚得師風。」 思道答云：「六郎辭情俊邁，自是克荷堂構。 而白擲劇飲，亦天性所得。」
Xinggong was handsome, had his father's manner, and was gifted. He was Palace Scribe and Attendant at the Forest of Literature Hall. After Qi fell he entered the pass with Yang Xiuzhi and seventeen others and rose to Vice Director in the Ministry of Merits. Under Sui's Kaihuang reign he was Master of Writing Attendant and died exiled to Guazhou for an offense. Xinggong was proud and wild in youth. Wenyao had him befriend Lu Sidao of Fanyang. Wenyao once told Sidao, "The boy has learned something lately—mostly your doing. But gambling and heavy drinking—he has your style down perfectly. Sidao replied, "The Sixth Lord's speech is brilliant—he will surely uphold the family. Gambling and heavy drinking are gifts of nature too."
78
行恭弟行如，亦聰慧早成。 武平末，著作佐郎。
Xinggong's younger brother Xingru was also bright and precocious. In the final years of Wuping he served as Assistant Editor in the Historiography Office.
79
趙隱，字彥深，自雲南陽宛人，漢太傅喜之後。 高祖父難為齊州清河太守，有惠政，遂家焉。 清河後改為平原，故為平原人也。 隱避齊廟諱，改以字行。 父奉伯，仕魏，位中書舍人，行洛陽縣令。 彥深貴，贈司空。
Zhao Yin, styled Yanshen, claimed descent from Wan in Nanyang and from Han Grand Tutor Xi. His great-grandfather Nan was Administrator of Qinghe in Qizhou. For his humane rule the family settled there. Qinghe was later renamed Pingyuan, so he was counted a man of Pingyuan. Yin avoided the Qi temple taboo and used his courtesy name in public. His father Fengbo held office under Wei as Palace Scribe and Magistrate of Luoyang county. When Yanshen rose to prominence, Fengbo was posthumously made Minister of Works.
80
彥深幼孤貧，事母甚孝。 年十歲，曾候司徒崔光。 光謂賓客「古人觀眸子以知人，此人當必遠至。」 性聰敏，善書計，安閒樂道，不雜交遊，為雅論所歸服。 昧爽，輒自掃門外，不使人見，率以為常。
Yanshen was orphaned young and poor and served his mother with deep filial piety. At ten he once attended Minister of Works Cui Guang. Guang told his guests, "The ancients read men in their eyes. This boy will go far. He was clever, skilled with accounts, calm and devoted to the Way, kept to himself, and men of taste respected him. At dawn he always swept outside his own gate unseen, as a daily habit.
81
初為尚書令司馬子如賤客，供寫書。 子如善其無誤，欲將入觀省舍。 隱靴無氊，衣帽穿弊，子如給之。 用為書令史，月餘，補正令史。 神武在晉陽，索二史，子如舉彥深。 後拜子如開府參軍，超拜水部郎。 及文襄為尚書令攝選，沙汰諸曹郎，隱以地寒，被出為滄州別駕，辭不行。 子如言於神武，徵補大丞相功曹參軍，專掌機密。 文翰多出其手，稱為敏給。 神武曾與對坐，遣造軍令，以手捫其額曰：「若天假卿年，必大有所至。」 每謂司徒孫騰曰：「彥深小心恭慎，曠古絕倫。」
At first he was a humble guest of Master of Writing Sima Ziru, copying books. Ziru admired his accuracy and wanted to bring him into the office to see the archives. Yin's boots had no felt lining and his clothes were threadbare; Ziru provided them. He was made a secretariat clerk and, after a month, a regular clerk. While Gao Huan was at Jinyang he requested the two histories, and Ziru put forward Yanshen. Later he was made Opening-the-Mansion Attendant to Ziru and was promoted beyond the usual course to Director of the Water Bureau. When Gao Cheng was Master of Writing and acting head of selection, he purged bureau directors. Yin, deemed too low-born, was sent out as Vice Prefect of Cangzhou and refused. Ziru spoke to Gao Huan, and Yin was recalled as Merit Officer of the Grand Chancellor, handling secrets exclusively. Most documents came from his hand; he was called quick and capable. Gao Huan once faced him and ordered a military command drafted. Stroking Yin's forehead he said, "If Heaven grants you years, you will go far. He often told Minister Sima Teng, "Yanshen is careful and reverent beyond anything in antiquity."
82
及神武崩，秘喪事，文襄慮河南有變，仍自巡撫，乃委彥深後事，轉大行臺都官郎中。 臨發，握手泣曰：「以母弟相托，幸得此心。」 既而內外寧靜，彥深之力。 及還發喪，深加褒美，乃披郡縣簿為選，封安國縣伯。 從征穎川，時引水灌城，城雉將沒，西魏將王思政猶欲死戰。 文襄令彥深單身入城告喻，即日降之，便手牽思政出城。 文襄大悅。 先是文襄謂彥深曰：「吾昨夜夢獵，遇一群豕，吾射，盡獲之。 獨一大豕不可得，卿言當為吾取，須臾獲豕而進。」 至是，文襄笑曰：「夢驗矣。」 即解思政佩刀與彥深曰：「使卿常獲此利。」
When Gao Huan died the death was kept secret. Gao Cheng feared trouble in Henan and went to pacify the region himself, entrusting affairs to Yanshen and making him Director of the Imperial Clan in the Grand Route Office. Before leaving he took his hand and wept: "I entrust my mother's brother to you. Keep faith with this heart. Afterward court and country were calm—Yanshen's doing. When he returned and mourning was announced, Gao Cheng praised him greatly, used the commandery and county registers for appointments, and enfeoffed him Baron of Anguo county. On campaign at Yingchuan, as diverted water was about to swallow the walls, Western Wei general Wang Sizheng still meant to fight to the death. Gao Cheng sent Yanshen alone into the city to persuade them. That day they surrendered, and he led Sizheng out by the hand. Gao Cheng was delighted. Earlier Gao Cheng had told Yanshen, "Last night I dreamed of a hunt. I met a herd of pigs and shot them all down. One great boar I could not take. You said you would fetch it for me, and soon you drove the boar in. Now Gao Cheng laughed and said, "The dream is fulfilled." He unfastened Sizheng's belt knife and gave it to Yanshen. "May you always win such spoils."
83
文宣嗣位，仍典機密，進爵為侯。 天保初，累遷秘書監。 以為忠謹，每郊廟，必令兼太僕，執御陪乘。 轉大司農。 帝或巡幸，即輔贊太子知後事。 出為東南道行臺尚書、徐州刺史。 為政尚恩信，為吏人所懷。 多所降下，所營軍處，士庶追思，號趙行臺頓。 文宣璽書勞勉，徵為侍中，仍掌機密。
When Gao Yang succeeded, Yanshen still handled secrets and was promoted to Marquis. At the start of Tianbao he rose repeatedly to Director of the Palace Library. Trusted for loyalty and care, at every suburban sacrifice he was made concurrent Grand Master of the Stud and drove in attendance. He was moved to the post of Grand Minister of Agriculture. Whenever the emperor toured the realm, he assisted the crown prince in managing state affairs. He was posted as Director of the Southeast Circuit Mobile Office and Governor of Xuzhou. He governed with kindness and integrity, and officials and people alike cherished him. Many came over to his side, and wherever he had stationed troops the people long remembered him, calling the place Zhao's Mobile Office Encampment. Gao Yang sent an imperial letter praising his service, recalled him as Palace Attendant, and again entrusted him with confidential state business.
84
彥深歷事累朝，常參機近，溫柔謹慎，喜怒不形於色。 自皇建以還，禮遇稍重，每有引見，或升御榻，常呼官號而不名也。 凡諸選貢，先令銓定，提獎人物，皆行業為先，輕薄之徒，弗之齒也。 孝昭既執朝權，群臣密多勸進，彥深獨不致言。 孝昭嘗謂王晞云：「若言衆心皆謂天下有歸，何不見彥深有語？」 晞以告，彥深不獲已，陳請。 其為時重如此。 常遜言恭己，未嘗以驕矜待物，所以或出或處，去而復還。
Yanshen served several reigns, always close to the center of power. Gentle, cautious, and self-controlled, he never let joy or anger show on his face. From the Huangjian era on he was treated with growing honor. When summoned to audience he was sometimes seated on the imperial couch, and the emperor usually called him by his office title rather than by name. In every selection and recommendation he personally weighed candidates first, valuing character and conduct above all else; he would not admit frivolous men into their ranks. After Emperor Xiaozhao seized control of the court, many ministers secretly urged him to ascend the throne, but Yanshen alone kept silent. Emperor Xiaozhao once told Wang Xi, "If everyone says the realm is ready to submit, why has Yanshen not said a single word? When Xi relayed this, Yanshen, unable to hold back any longer, submitted his petition. Such was the weight he carried in his age. He always spoke with humility and never treated others with arrogance, which is why he could leave office and be recalled again and again.
85
母傅氏，雅有操識。 彥深三歲，傅便孀居，家人欲以改適，自誓以死。 彥深五歲，傅謂之曰：「家貧兒小，何以能濟？」 彥深泣而言曰：「若天哀矜，兒大當仰報。」 傅感其意，對之流涕。 及彥深拜太常卿，還，不脫朝服，先入見母，跪陳幼小孤露，蒙訓得至於此。 母子相泣久之，然後改服。 後為宜陽國太妃。
His mother, Lady Fu, was a woman of integrity and discernment. When Yanshen was three, Lady Fu was widowed. The family wanted her to remarry, but she swore she would die first. When Yanshen was five, Lady Fu said to him, "We are poor and you are still small. How are we to live? Yanshen wept and said, "If Heaven shows us mercy, when I grow up I shall repay you in full." Lady Fu was moved by his words and wept with him. When Yanshen was appointed Grand Master of Ceremonies and returned home, he kept on his court robes and went first to his mother, knelt, and told her how, orphaned and alone as a child, he had come this far only through her guidance. Mother and son wept together for a long time before he changed out of his court dress. She later became Princess Dowager of the Principality of Yiyang.
86
彥深有七子，仲將知名。 沈敏有父風溫良恭儉，雖妻子亦未嘗怠慢，終日儼然。 學涉群書，善草隸，雖與弟書，書字楷正。 云：「草不可不解，若施之於人，即似相輕易； 若當家卑幼，又恐其疑所在宜爾。 是以必須隸筆。」 彥深乞轉萬年縣子授之，位給事黃門侍郎、散騎常侍。 隋開皇中，位吏部郎，終於安州刺史。
Yanshen had seven sons; Zhongjiang was the most famous. Shenmin had his father's bearing: warm, good, respectful, and frugal. He never slackened even with wife and children, and remained dignified all day long. He read widely and was skilled in cursive and clerical script; even in letters to his brothers he wrote in regular script. He said, "One must know cursive script, but to use it with others makes one seem to treat them lightly; and if one writes to juniors in the household, they may think such informality is proper everywhere. So one must use clerical script. Yanshen petitioned to transfer to him his own title of Viscount of Wannian County. Zhongjiang served as Attendant at the Yellow Gate and Regular Cavalry. Under Sui's Kaihuang reign he served as Director of the Ministry of Personnel and ended his career as Governor of Anzhou.
87
齊朝宰相，善始令終唯彥深一人。 然諷朝廷以子叔堅為中書侍郎，頗招物議。 時馮子琮子慈明、祖珽子君信並相繼居中書，故時語云：「馮、祖及趙，穢我鳳池。」 然叔堅身才最劣。
Of all the chancellors of Northern Qi, Yanshen alone began well and ended well. Yet he persuaded the court to appoint his son Shujian Vice Director of the Secretariat, which drew considerable public criticism. At the time Feng Zicong's son Ciming and Zu Ting's son Junxin held successive posts in the Secretariat, so people said, "Feng, Zu, and Zhao have befouled our Phoenix Pool. Yet Shujian was by far the least talented of them.
88
赫連子悅，字士欣，僭夏赫連勃勃之後也。 神武起兵時，為濟州別駕，勸刺史侯景赴神武。 後除林慮太守。 文襄往晉陽，由郡境，問所不便。 悅云：「臨水、武安，去郡遙遠，山嶺重疊。 若東屬魏郡，則地平路近。」 文襄笑曰：「卿徒知便人，不覺損幹。」 悅答曰：「所言者人所疾苦，不敢以私潤負公心。」 文襄善之，乃敕依事施行。 自是人屬近便，行路稱之。
Helian Ziyue, courtesy name Shixin, was a descendant of Helian Bobo of Xia. When Gao Huan raised his army, Ziyue was Assistant Administrator of Jizhou and urged Governor Hou Jing to join him. He was later appointed Administrator of Linlu. When Gao Cheng traveled to Jinyang and passed through the commandery, he asked what caused inconvenience there. Ziyue said, "Linshui and Wu'an lie far from the commandery seat, with mountains piled between them. If they were placed under Weijun to the east, the land would be level and the roads shorter. Gao Cheng laughed and said, "You only know how to make things convenient for people and do not notice you are cutting into the commandery's territory." Ziyue replied, "What I speak of is what people suffer from. I dare not let private gain outweigh the public good." Gao Cheng approved and ordered the change carried out as proposed. From then on the people were close at hand and travel convenient, and wayfarers praised the change.
89
天保中，為揚州刺史。 先是城門早閉晚開，廢於農作。 子悅到，乃命以時開閉，人吏便之。 累遷鄭州刺史，政為天下之最。 入為都官尚書。 鄭州人馬子韶、崔孝政等八百餘人，請立碑頌德，有詔許焉。 加位開府，歷行北豫州事，兼吏部尚書。 子悅在官，唯以清勤自守，既無學術，又闕風儀，人倫清鑒，去之彌遠，一旦居銓衡之首，大招物議。 由是除太常卿，兼侍中，聘周使主，卒。
In the Tianbao era he served as Governor of Yangzhou. Previously the city gates had been closed early and opened late, which disrupted farm work. When Ziyue arrived, he ordered the gates opened and closed on schedule, to the convenience of people and officials alike. Promoted repeatedly, he served as Administrator of Zhengzhou, where his governance ranked first in the realm. He entered the capital as Director of the Ministry of Justice. More than eight hundred men of Zhengzhou, including Ma Zishao and Cui Xiaozheng, petitioned to erect a stele praising his virtue, and the throne granted permission. He was further given the rank of Grand Master, served in charge of affairs in North Yuzhou, and also held the post of Director of the Ministry of Personnel. In office Ziyue relied only on integrity and diligence. He had no learning and lacked bearing; in judging men he fell ever farther from the mark, and once he stood at the head of selection he drew great public criticism. For this he was made Grand Master of Ceremonies while retaining Palace Attendant, served as chief envoy on a mission to Zhou, and died.
90
子仲章，中書舍人。
His son Zhongzhang served as Secretariat Attendant.
91
馮子琮，字子琮，長樂信都人，北燕主馮弘之後也。 祖嗣興，相州刺史。 父靈紹，尚書郎、太中大夫。 子琮貴，贈開府儀同三司。
Feng Zicong, courtesy name Zicong, was a native of Xindu in Changlo and a descendant of Feng Hong of Northern Yan. His grandfather Sixing was Governor of Xiangzhou. His father Lingshao was a Gentleman of the Secretariat and Grand Master of Palace Counsel. When Zicong rose high, his father was posthumously granted the rank of Grand Master of State with equal ceremony to the Three Excellencies.
92
子琮性識聰敏，為外祖滎陽鄭伯猷所異。 初襲爵滎陽縣子。 齊天保初，改為長安縣男。 皇建初，為尚書駕部郎中，攝庫部。 孝昭曾閱簿領，試令口陳。 子琮諳對無有遺失。 時梁丞相王琳歸國，孝昭詔子琮觀其形勢。 琳即與赴鄴，甚見嘉賞。 子琮妻，胡皇后妹也，故詔與胡長粲輔導太子。 後轉太子中庶子。
Zicong was intelligent and quick by nature and was regarded as extraordinary by his maternal grandfather Zheng Boyou of Xingyang. At first he inherited the title Viscount of Xingyang County. At the beginning of Northern Qi's Tianbao era the title was changed to Baron of Chang'an County. At the beginning of Huangjian he served as Director in the Ministry of Transport and acted as head of the Storehouse Bureau. Emperor Xiaozhao once reviewed the ledgers and tested him by having him recite them orally. Zicong answered fluently without omitting a single item. At the time the Liang chancellor Wang Lin returned to the state, and Emperor Xiaozhao ordered Zicong to observe the situation. Lin went with him to Ye and was greatly praised and rewarded. Zicong's wife was the younger sister of Empress Hu, so an edict appointed him and Hu Changcan to guide and instruct the crown prince. He was later transferred to Vice Director of the Crown Prince's Household.
93
及武成崩，和士開秘喪三日。 子琮問其故。 士開引神武、文襄初崩，並秘不舉喪，至尊年少，恐王公貳，欲追集，然後與詳議。 時趙郡王叡先預帷幄之謀，子琮素知士開忌叡及領軍婁定遠，恐其矯遺詔出叡外任，奪定遠禁衛權，因答云：「大行，神武之子，今上又是先皇傳位，君臣富貴，皆至尊父子之恩，但令一無改易，必無異望。 世異事殊，不得與霸朝相比。 且公不出宮門，已經數日，升遐之事，行路皆傳，久而不舉，恐有他變。」
When Emperor Wucheng died, He Shikai kept the death secret for three days. Zicong asked the reason. Shikai cited the cases of Gao Huan and Gao Cheng at their first deaths, when mourning was kept secret; the sovereign was still young, they feared disloyalty among princes and nobles, and wished first to gather them before discussing matters in detail. At the time Prince of Zhao County Rui had already taken part in secret planning at the throne. Zicong knew Shikai resented Rui and Commandant of the Guard Lou Dingyuan, and feared Shikai would forge the late emperor's testament to send Rui to an outside post and strip Dingyuan of command over the palace guard. He replied, "The late emperor was Gao Huan's son, and the present sovereign likewise received the throne by transmission. The wealth and honor of lord and ministers all come from the grace of sovereign and father. If nothing is changed, there will certainly be no disloyal designs. Times differ and circumstances change; this cannot be compared with the founding dynasty. Moreover, you have not left the palace gate for several days; news of the emperor's passing is known to everyone on the road. If mourning is delayed too long, I fear some other change may arise."
94
及發喪，元文遙以子琮太后妹夫，恐其獎成太后干政，說趙王叡及和士開出之。 拜鄭州刺史。 既非後主本意，賞賜甚厚。 仍轉滄州別駕，封寧都縣伯。 太后為齊安王納子琮長女為妃，子琮因請假赴鄴，遂授侍中、轉吏部尚書。 其妻放縱，請謁公行，賄貨填積。 守宰除授，先定錢帛，然後奏聞。 其所通致，事無不允。 子琮亦不禁制。 又廣拓傍隣，增修宅宇，以夜繼晝，未曾休息。 斛律光將兵度玉壁，至龍門。 周有移書，別須籌議。 詔子琮乘傳赴軍，與周將韋孝寬面相要結。 龍門等五城，因此內附。 後主以為子琮之功，封昌黎郡公。 遷尚書右僕射，仍攝選，侍中如故。
When mourning was proclaimed, Yuan Wenyao, because Zicong was the empress dowager's brother-in-law, feared he would encourage her to meddle in government and persuaded Prince of Zhao Rui and He Shikai to send him out. He was appointed Administrator of Zhengzhou. Since this was not the Later Lord's own wish, the rewards were very generous. He was then transferred to Assistant Administrator of Cangzhou and enfeoffed as Baron of Ningdu County. The empress dowager took Zicong's eldest daughter as consort for the Prince of Qi'an, and Zicong, asking leave to go to Ye, was appointed Palace Attendant and transferred to Director of the Ministry of Personnel. His wife was unrestrained; requests and petitions were carried out openly, and bribes piled up. Before prefects and magistrates were appointed, the price in cash and silk was fixed first and only then was the matter reported. Whatever they requested through her was granted without exception. Zicong also did not restrain her. He also expanded his neighboring properties and enlarged his residence, working night and day without rest. Hulü Guang led troops across Yubi and reached Longmen. Zhou sent a dispatch that required separate deliberation. An edict ordered Zicong to travel post-haste to the army and meet face to face with the Zhou general Wei Xiaokuan to arrange terms. Longmen and four other cities therefore submitted from within. The Later Lord considered this Zicong's achievement and enfeoffed him as Duke of Changli Commandery. He was promoted to Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs while still acting in selection matters, and his post as Palace Attendant remained unchanged.
95
和士開居要日久，子琮舊所附托，中雖阻異，其後還相彌縫。 士開弟士休與盧氏成婚，子琮檢校趨走，與士開府僚不異。 時內外除授，多由士開奏擬，子琮既恃內戚，兼帶選曹，自擅權寵，頗生間隙。 時陸媼勢震天下，太后與之結為姊妹，而和士開於太后有醜聲。 子琮欲陰殺陸媼及士開，因廢帝而立琅邪王儼。 以謀告儼，儼許之，乃矯詔殺士開。 及儼見執，言子琮教己。 太后怒，又使執子琮，遣右衛大將軍侯呂芬就內省以弓弦絞殺之。 使內參以庫車載–{尸}-歸其家。 諸子方握槊，聞庫車來，以為賜物，大喜，開視乃哭。
He Shikai had long held a key position; Zicong had once relied on him, and though they had been at odds in between, afterward they mended matters again. Shikai's younger brother Shixiu married a woman of the Lu clan, and Zicong attended and hurried about no differently from the staff of Shikai's office. At the time most appointments inside and outside the court were submitted and proposed by Shikai. Zicong, relying on his connection by marriage and also holding the selection bureau, arrogated power and favor to himself, and considerable friction arose. At the time Lady Lu's influence shook the realm; the empress dowager had become sworn sisters with her, and He Shikai had an ugly reputation with the empress dowager. Zicong wished secretly to kill Lady Lu and Shikai, depose the emperor, and set up Prince of Langye Yan. He told Yan of the plot; Yan agreed, and they forged an edict to kill Shikai. When Yan was seized, he said Zicong had instructed him. The empress dowager was enraged and had Zicong seized as well, sending General of the Right Guard Hou Lüfen to the inner palace to strangle him with a bowstring. She had a palace attendant carry his corpse home in a treasury cart. His sons were just playing pitch-pot when they heard the treasury cart arrive and thought it brought gifts; greatly pleased, they opened it and wept.
96
子琮微有識鑒，頗慕存公。 及位望轉隆，宿心頓改，擢引非類，公為深交，縱其子弟，不依倫次。 又專營婚媾，歷選上門，例以官爵許之，旬月便驗。 頓丘李克、范陽盧思道、隴西李胤伯、李子希、滎陽鄭庭堅並其女婿，皆至超遷。 其矯縱如此。 祖珽先與子琮有隙，於後具奏此事，諸子並坐此除名。 太后以為言，又被擢用。 子琮有五子，慈明最知名。
Zicong had some discernment and at first admired public-mindedness. When his rank and reputation rose, his old resolve suddenly changed; he promoted unworthy men, treated them as close friends, and indulged their sons and younger brothers without regard to order. He also devoted himself to arranging marriages, choosing families of high standing and habitually promising them office and rank, which was fulfilled within ten days or a month. Li Ke of Dunqiu, Lu Sidao of Fanyang, Li Yinbo and Li Zixi of Longxi, and Zheng Tingjian of Xingyang were all his sons-in-law and all rose to extraordinary promotion. Such was his arrogance and indulgence. Zu Ting had earlier been at odds with Zicong; afterward he submitted a full report on this matter, and the sons were all stripped of rank on that account. The empress dowager spoke on their behalf, and they were again promoted and employed. Zicong had five sons; Ciming was the best known.
97
慈明字無佚，在劉為中書舍人。 隋開皇中，兼內史舍人。 大業中，位尚書兵部郎，加朝請大夫。 十三年，攝江都郡丞事。
Ciming, courtesy name Wuyi, served in Liu as Secretariat Attendant. In Sui's Kaihuang era he also served as Attendant in the Palace Secretariat. In the Daye era he served as Director in the Ministry of War and was given the additional title Grand Master for Court Audience. In the thirteenth year he acted in the affairs of Assistant Administrator of Jiangdu Commandery.
98
李密之逼東都，詔慈明追兵擊密，為密黨崔樞所執。 密延與坐，論以舉兵之意。 慈明曰：「慈明直道事人，有死而已，不義之言，非所敢對。」 密厚禮之，冀其從己。 慈明潛使奉表江都，及致書東都留守，論賊形勢。 密知，又義而釋之。 出至營門，為賊帥翟讓所瞋責。 慈明勃然曰：「天子使我來，正欲除爾輩，不圖為賊黨所獲，我豈從汝求活邪？ 須殺但殺，何須罵詈！」 讓益怒，亂刀斬之。 梁郡通守楊汪上狀，煬帝歎惜之，贈銀青光祿大夫，拜其二子怦、惇俱為尚書承務郎。 王世充推越王侗為主，重贈柱國、戶部尚書、黎郡公，諡曰壯武。
When Li Mi pressed upon the Eastern Capital, an edict ordered Ciming to pursue him with troops; he was captured by Mi's follower Cui Shu. Mi invited him to sit and discussed with him the reasons for raising troops. Ciming said, "Ciming serves others by the straight path and knows only death; words of injustice I dare not answer. Mi treated him generously, hoping he would join him. Ciming secretly sent someone to submit a memorial to Jiangdu and also wrote to the Eastern Capital garrison reporting on the rebels' situation. When Mi learned of it, he again released him out of righteousness. When he went out to the camp gate he was reproached in anger by the rebel leader Zhai Rang. Ciming said fiercely, "The Son of Heaven sent me here precisely to destroy you lot. I never expected to be captured by rebel followers—do you think I would beg you for my life? If you mean to kill me, then kill me—why must you revile me! Rang grew still angrier and hacked him to death with random blades. Yang Wang, Commandery Administrator of Liang, submitted a report; Emperor Yang sighed in regret and posthumously granted him the rank of Grand Master of the Silver Seal and Blue Ribbon, appointing both his sons Peng and Dun as Assistant Directors in the Department of State Affairs. When Wang Shichong set up Prince of Yue Tong as sovereign, he posthumously granted him again the rank of Pillar of State, Director of the Ministry of Revenue, and Duke of Li Commandery, with the posthumous title Zhuangwu.
99
長子忱，先在東都。 王世充破李密，忱亦在軍中，遂遣奴負父屍柩詣東都，身不自送。 未幾，又盛華燭納室，時論醜之。
His eldest son Chen was already in the Eastern Capital. When Wang Shichong defeated Li Mi, Chen was also in the army; he sent a slave to carry his father's coffin to the Eastern Capital but did not go himself. Before long he again took a wife with lavish candles and flowers, and public opinion reviled him.
100
郎基，字世業，中山新市人也。 祖智，魏魯郡太守，贈兗州刺史。 父道恩，開府、陽平郡守。 基身長八尺，美鬚髯，汎涉墳籍，尤長吏事。 齊天保四年，除海西鎮將。 遇東方白額稱亂淮南，州郡皆從逆。 梁將吳明徹攻圍海西，基固守，乃至削木為箭，剪紙為羽。 圍解還朝，僕射楊愔迎勞之曰：「卿本文吏，遂有武略，削木剪紙，皆無故事，班、墨之思，何以相過。」 御史中丞畢義雲引為侍御史。 趙州刺史尉粲，文宣外弟； 揚州刺史郭元貞，楊愔妹夫。 基不憚權威，並劾其贓罪。
Lang Ji, courtesy name Shiye, was a native of Xinshi in Zhongshan. His grandfather Zhi was Administrator of Lu Commandery in Wei and was posthumously granted the rank of Governor of Yanzhou. His father Dao'en was a Grand Master and Administrator of Yangping Commandery. Ji was eight feet tall, with a fine beard; he read widely in the classics and was especially skilled in administrative affairs. In the fourth year of Northern Qi's Tianbao era he was appointed General of Haixi Garrison. When the White Forehead of the East raised rebellion in Huainan, prefectures and commanderies all followed him. The Liang general Wu Mingche besieged Haixi; Ji held firm, even carving wood for arrow shafts and cutting paper for fletching. When the siege was lifted and he returned to court, Director of the Department of State Affairs Yang Yin welcomed and comforted him, saying, "You were originally a civil official, yet you showed military skill; carving wood and cutting paper have no precedent—how could the thought of Ban and Mo be surpassed? Director of the Censorate Bi Yiyun recommended him as Attending Censor. Wei Can, Administrator of Zhaozhou, was Gao Yang's maternal younger brother; Guo Yuanzhen, Administrator of Yangzhou, was Yang Yin's brother-in-law. Ji did not fear authority and impeached them both for corruption.
101
皇建初，除鄭州長史，帶穎川郡守。 西界與周接境，因侯景背叛，其東西分隔，士人仍緣姻舊，私相交易。 而禁格嚴重，犯者非一。 基初蒞職，披檢格條，多是權時，不為久長。 州郡因循，失於請讞，緻密綱久放，得罪者衆。 遂條件申台省，仍以情量事科處，自非極刑，一皆決放。 積年留滯，案狀膠加，數日之中，剖判咸盡。 尋而台省報下，並允基所陳。 條綱既疏，獄訟清靜。 基性清慎，無所營求，嘗語人云：「任官之所，木枕亦不須作，況重於此乎？」 唯頗令人寫書。 潘子義曾遺之書云：「在官寫書，亦是風流罪過。」 基答云：「觀過知仁，斯亦可矣。」 卒於官，贈驃騎大將軍、和州刺史，謚曰惠。 柩將還，遠近赴送，莫不攀轅悲哭，哀不自勝。
At the beginning of Huangjian he was appointed Chief Administrator of Zhengzhou while also serving as Administrator of Yingchuan Commandery. Its western border adjoined Zhou territory; because Hou Jing had rebelled, east and west were cut off, yet gentry still maintained ties of marriage and old acquaintance and traded privately. Yet the prohibitions were severe, and offenders were not few. When Ji first took office he examined the regulations and found that most were temporary measures, not meant to last. Prefectures and commanderies had followed old habit and failed to request review; the dense net had long been left in place, and those convicted were many. He therefore submitted the items to the central offices and, judging each case on its merits, released all who were not subject to the death penalty. Cases left pending for years were piled up; within a few days he had judged them all. Soon the reply came down from the central offices, approving all that Ji had submitted. Once the regulations were loosened, lawsuits and prison affairs became quiet. Ji was by nature pure and cautious and sought nothing for himself. He once told someone, "In the place where one holds office, even a wooden pillow is unnecessary—how much less anything heavier than that? He only had people copy books for him rather often. Pan Ziyi once sent him a letter saying, "Copying books while in office is also a frivolous fault. Ji replied, "To observe faults and know benevolence—that too may suffice." He died in office and was posthumously granted the rank of General of Agile Cavalry and Governor of Hezhou, with the posthumous title Hui. When the coffin was to be returned, people near and far came to escort it; none failed to cling to the carriage and weep in grief beyond bearing.
102
初，基任瀛州騎兵時，陳元康為司馬，畢義雲為屬，與基並有聲譽，為刺史元嶷所目：「三賢俱有當世才，後來皆當遠至。 唯郎騎兵任真過甚，恐不足自達。」 陳、畢後並貴顯，而基位止郡守。 子茂。
Earlier, when Ji served as Cavalry Officer in Yingzhou, Chen Yuankang was Chief Administrator, Bi Yiyun was Assistant, and Ji shared their reputation; Governor Yuan Ni marked them out: "All three have talent for the age and later will surely rise far. Only the Cavalry Officer Lang Ji is too blunt by nature; I fear he may not fully reach his goal. Chen and Bi later both rose to high prominence, while Ji stopped at commandery administrator. His son was Mao.
103
茂字蔚之，少敏慧，七歲誦《騷》、《雅》，日千餘言。 十五，師事國子博士河間權會，受《詩》、《易》、《三禮》及玄象刑名之學。 又就國子助教長樂張奉禮受《三傳》群言，至忘寢食。 家人恐成病，常節其燭。 及長，以博學稱，歷位保城令，有能名。 周平齊，上柱國王誼薦之，授陳州戶曹。 屬隋文帝為亳州總管，命掌書記。
Mao, courtesy name Weizhi, was clever as a child; at seven he could recite the Elegies and the Odes, more than a thousand words a day. At fifteen he studied under Quan Hui, Doctor of the National University from Hejian, learning the Book of Songs, the Book of Changes, the Three Rites, and the studies of metaphysics, law, and names. He also studied under Zhang Fengli, Assistant Instructor of the National University from Changlo, learning the Three Commentaries and various texts, until he forgot sleep and food. His family feared he would fall ill and often rationed his candles. When he grew up he was known for broad learning and served as Magistrate of Baocheng, where he gained a reputation for ability. When Zhou conquered Qi, Senior Pillar Wang Yi recommended him and he was appointed Registrar of Households in Chenzhou. When Emperor Wen of Sui was Grand Prefect of Bozhou, he ordered Mao to serve as secretary.
104
周武帝為《象經》，隋文從容謂茂曰：「人主之所為也，感天地，動鬼神，而《象經》多亂法，何以致久。」 茂竊歎曰：「此言豈常人所及！」 陰自結納。 隋文亦親禮之。 後還家，為州主簿。 及隋文為丞相，以書召之，言及疇昔，甚歡。 授衛州司錄，有能名。
Emperor Wu of Zhou composed the Classic of Images; Emperor Wen of Sui said casually to Mao, "What a ruler does moves Heaven and earth and stirs ghosts and spirits, yet the Classic of Images mostly confuses the law—how can rule last long? Mao sighed secretly and said, "These words—how could an ordinary man reach them! He secretly attached himself to him. Emperor Wen also treated him with personal honor. Later he returned home and served as Chief Clerk of the prefecture. When Emperor Wen became Chancellor, he summoned Mao by letter; they spoke of old times and were very pleased. He was appointed Recorder of Weizhou and gained a reputation for ability.
105
尋除衛國令，時有繫囚二百，茂親自究審，數日釋免者百餘人。 歷年辭訟，不詣州省。 魏州刺史元暉謂曰：「長史言衛國人不敢申訴者，畏明府耳。」 茂曰：「人猶水也，法令為隄防，隄防不固，必致奔突，苟無決溢，使君何患哉！」 暉無以應。 有部人張元預與從父弟思蘭不睦，丞尉請加嚴法。 茂曰：「元預兄弟，本相憎嫉，又坐得罪，彌益其忿，非化人之意也。」 乃遣縣中耆舊，更往敦諭，道路不絕。 元預等各生感悔，詣縣頓首請罪。 茂曉之以義，遂相親睦，稱為友悌。
Soon he was appointed Magistrate of Weiguo; at the time there were two hundred prisoners, and Mao personally examined them, releasing more than a hundred within a few days. For years there had been no lawsuits brought to the prefecture or central offices. Yuan Hui, Administrator of Weizhou, said to him, "The Chief Administrator says the people of Weiguo dare not bring lawsuits because they fear you, Magistrate. Mao said, "People are like water and laws are like dikes; if the dikes are not firm they will surely burst forth. If there is no breach and overflow, what worry has the lord? Hui had no reply. A man of the district, Zhang Yuanyu, was on bad terms with his father's younger brother's son Silan; the assistant magistrate and constable asked that strict law be applied. Mao said, "Yuanyu and his brother were already mutually hostile, and now that they are punished their anger will only increase; this is not the intent of one who transforms others. He then sent elders of the county again and again to instruct them, and the road never lacked such messengers. Yuanyu and the others were each moved to repentance and came to the magistrate's office to knock their heads and ask forgiveness. Mao enlightened them with reason, and they became close and harmonious, praised as fraternal friends.
106
開皇中，累遷戶部侍郎。 時尚書右僕射蘇威立條章，每歲責人間五品不遜。 或答者乃云：「管內無五品家。」 不相應領，類多如此。 又為餘糧簿，擬有無相贍。 茂以為繁紆不急，皆奏罷之。 又奏身死王事者，子不退田； 品官左貶不減地。 皆發於茂。 茂性明敏，剖決無滯，當時以吏幹見稱。
In the Kaihuang era he was promoted repeatedly to Vice Director of the Ministry of Revenue. At the time Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs Su Wei established regulations requiring each year that people report fifth-rank families that were not compliant. Some who answered said, "Within my jurisdiction there are no fifth-rank families. The responses did not match the registers; cases of this sort were many. There was also a surplus-grain register, intended to balance surplus and shortage. Mao considered these tangled and not urgent and memorialized to abolish them all. He also memorialized that when a man died in the king's service his sons should not surrender their land; when an official of rank was demoted his land should not be reduced. All these proposals originated with Mao. Mao was by nature bright and quick, and in deciding cases he never stalled; at the time he was praised for administrative skill.
107
時帝每巡幸，王綱已紊，茂既先朝舊臣，明習世事，然無謇諤之節，見帝忌刻，不敢措言，唯竊歎而已。 以年老乞骸骨，不許。 會帝征遼，以茂為晉陽宮留守。 其常山贊務王文同與茂有隙，奏茂附下罔上。 詔納言蘇威、御史大夫裴蘊雜推之。 茂素與二人不平，因深文其罪，及弟司棣別駕楚之，皆除名徙且末郡。 茂怡然任命，不以為憂，在途作《登隴賦》以自慰。 後附表自陳，帝頗悟。 十年，追還京兆，歲餘卒。 子知年。
At the time the emperor toured frequently and the bonds of royal rule were already disordered. Mao was an old minister of the former dynasty and understood worldly affairs clearly, yet he lacked the integrity to speak bluntly; seeing the emperor's harshness and suspicion, he dared not speak and could only sigh in secret. Because of old age he asked to retire; permission was not granted. When the emperor campaigned against Liaodong, Mao was made custodian of Jinyang Palace. Wang Wentong, Assistant Administrator of Changshan, had a grudge against Mao and memorialized that Mao fawned on subordinates and deceived superiors. An edict ordered Su Wei, Director of the Chancellery, and Pei Yun, Director of the Censorate, to investigate jointly. Mao had long been at odds with the two men, so they exaggerated his crimes; his younger brother Chuzhi, Assistant Administrator of Sidi, was also stripped of rank and exiled to Qiemo Commandery. Mao accepted his appointment calmly and was not troubled; on the road he composed "Rhapsody on Ascending the Long Slope" to comfort himself. Later he submitted a memorial explaining himself, and the emperor came partly to understand. In the tenth year he was recalled to the capital region; after more than a year he died. His son was Zhinian.
108
論曰：孫搴入幕未久，倉卒致斃，神武以情寄之重，義切折肱，若不愛才子，何以成夫王業。 元康以知能才幹，委質霸朝，綢繆帷幄，任寄為重，及難無苟免，忘生殉義，可謂得其地焉。 杜弼識學甄明，發言讜正，禪代之際，先起異圖，王怒未終，卒蒙顯戮，直言多矣，能無及於此乎？ 房謨忠勤之操，始終若一。 恭懿循良之風，可謂世有人矣。 張纂、張亮、張曜、王峻、王紘等並事霸朝，申其力用，皆有齊之良臣也。 伯德之慟哭伏屍，靈光之拒關駐驆，有古人之風焉。 顯儁明達、文武驅馳、盡其知力、不遑甯處。 可謂德以稱位能以稱官。
The commentary says: Sun Zhan entered the staff not long before he was suddenly killed; Gao Huan, because of the weight of his personal attachment, grieved as though his arm had been broken—if he did not cherish men of talent, how could he have achieved his royal enterprise? Yuankang, by knowledge, ability, and talent, pledged himself to the founding dynasty, planned closely within the command tent, and was entrusted with weighty responsibility; when disaster came he did not seek to escape, forgetting life and dying for righteousness—one may say he found his proper place. Du Bi's learning and judgment were clear, and his speech was upright and correct; at the time of the transfer of the mandate he first raised a divergent plan. The king's anger had not yet ended when he suddenly suffered conspicuous execution—straight speech is often dangerous; could he have avoided this? Fang Mo's loyalty and diligence were consistent from beginning to end. Gongyi's gentle and good governance may be said to show that the age had its men. Zhang Zuan, Zhang Liang, Zhang Yao, Wang Jun, Wang Hong, and others all served the founding dynasty, exerting their strength and ability—they were all worthy ministers of Qi. Bode's weeping over the corpse and Lingguang's blocking the pass and halting the carriage had the air of the ancients. Xianjun was clear and penetrating; in civil and military affairs he drove himself on, exhausting his knowledge and strength and never finding rest. One may say his virtue matched his rank and his ability matched his office.
109
道和爰從霸府，以終末路，四十餘載，典綜兵機，識用閑明，甚為朝臣所服。 及于後主奔遁、莫知所之，首贊延宗，以從權變。 既而晉陽傾覆，運極途窮，還鄴則義隔德昌，死事則情乖舊主，雖復全生握節，豈比背叛之流歟?
Daohe followed the founding office to the end of his road; for more than forty years he managed military affairs, clear and skilled in judgment and use, and was greatly respected by court ministers. When the Later Lord fled in panic and no one knew where he had gone, he was the first to support Yan Zong and followed the expedient course. Yet when Jinyang fell and fortune reached its limit and the road ran out, to return to Ye meant estrangement from virtue and prosperity, while to die in service meant disloyalty to the old lord—though he preserved life and held to integrity, how could he be compared with those who betrayed their masters?
110
夫縣宰之寄，綿曆古今，親人任功，莫尚於此。 漢氏官人，尚書郎出宰百里，晉朝設法，不宰縣不得為郎。 皆所以貴方城之職，重臨人之要。 後魏令長、多選舊令史為之，故縉紳之流、耻居其位。 爰逮有齊，此途未改。 寧都公革斯流弊，弘之在人，固為美矣。
The charge of county magistrate extends through past and present; entrusting kin with achievement—nothing is more honored than this. Under Han, officials were sent from Gentleman of the Secretariat to govern a hundred-li district; under Jin a law was established that one could not become a Gentleman without having governed a county. All this was to honor the office of guarding the land and to weight the importance of governing the people. Under Later Wei, many magistrates and prefects were chosen from former clerks, so gentry and silk-robed officials were ashamed to hold such posts. Down to Qi this practice was unchanged. The Duke of Ningdu reformed this corrupt practice and spread it among the people—this was indeed admirable.
111
司徒器度沈遠，有宰臣之量，始從文吏，終致台輔，出內有常，夷險若一。 而世人諭之胡廣，譏其不能廷爭。 然古稱「見幾而作」，又曰「相時而動」，若時有開悟，、或可希舜一功，而終遇姦回，便恐舟壑俱運、斯蓋趙公之志也。
The Minister's breadth of mind was deep and far-reaching and he had the measure of a chief minister; beginning as a civil clerk, he ended as a pillar of the court, constant in going out and coming in, the same in calm and peril. Yet people of the age compared him to Hu Guang and mocked him for failing to remonstrate in court. Yet antiquity praised "acting when one sees the moment" and also said "moving according to the times." If the moment had brought enlightenment, he might perhaps have hoped for a single achievement like Shun's—but in the end he met with wicked men, and one fears both boat and ravine were swept away together; such, it seems, was the will of Duke Zhao.
112
子悅牧宰流譽、子琮簿領見知、及居藻鏡、俱稱尸祿。 馮溺於賄貨，於斯為甚。 慈明赴蹈之義，蓋有銜鬚之節。 郎基政績有聞，蔚之克荷堂構，美矣乎！
Ziyue won flowing reputation as a prefectural governor; Zicong was known for his mastery of ledgers; yet when they stood at the mirror of selection they were both called salary thieves. Feng was drowned in bribes—here it was at its worst. Ciming's rushing forward in righteousness surely had the integrity of one who bites his beard. Lang Ji's governance was well known, and Weizhi was able to bear the family structure—how admirable!
113
全文以中華書局、一九七四年十月、第一版《北史》為本校。
The full text has been collated against the first edition of the History of the Northern Dynasties published by Zhonghua Book Company in October 1974.