Volume 64 Biographies 52: Wei Xiaokuan, Wei Zhen, Liu Qiu

韋孝寬韋瑱柳虯

Wei Xiaokuan, Wei Zhen, and Liu Qiu

列傳第五十二

Biographies 52

韋孝寬兄夐夐子世康韋瑱子師柳虯弟檜慶慶子機機子述機弟弘旦肅機從子謇之

Wei Xiaokuan's elder brother Xiong; Xiong's son Shikang; Wei Zhen's son Shi; Liu Qiu's younger brothers Gui and Qing; Qing's son Ji; Ji's son Shu; Ji's younger brothers Hong, Dan, and Su; and Ji's nephew Jianzhi

韋叔裕，字孝寬，京兆杜陵人也，少以字行。世為三輔著姓。祖直善，魏馮翊、扶風二郡守。父旭，武威郡守。建義初，為大行台右丞，加輔國將軍、雍州大中正。永安二年，拜右將軍、南豳州刺史。時氐賊數為抄竊，旭隨機招撫，並即歸附。尋卒官，贈司空、冀州刺史，諡曰文惠。孝寬沈敏和正，涉獵經史。弱冠，屬蕭寶夤作亂關右，乃詣闕，請為軍前驅。朝廷嘉之，即拜統軍。隨馮翊公長孫承業西征，每戰有功。拜國子博士，行華山郡事。屬侍中楊侃為大都督，出鎮潼關，引孝寬為司馬。侃奇其才，以女妻之。永安中，授宣威將軍、給事中，尋賜爵山北縣男。普泰中，以都督從荊州刺史源子恭鎮穰城，以功除淅陽郡守。時獨孤信為新野郡守，同隸荊州，與孝寬情好款密，政術俱美，荊部吏人號為連璧。孝武初，以都督鎮城。周文帝自原州赴雍州，命孝寬隨軍。及克潼關，即授弘農郡守。從拎竇泰，兼左丞，節度宜陽兵馬事。仍與獨孤信入洛，為陽城郡守，復與宇文貴、怡峰應接潁川義徒，破東魏將任祥、堯雄於潁川。孝寬又進平樂口，下豫州，獲刺史馮邕。又從戰於河橋。時大軍不利，邊境騷然，乃令孝寬以本將軍行宜陽郡事。尋遷南兗州刺史。是歲，東魏將段琛、堯傑復據宜陽，遣其陽州刺史牛道恆扇誘邊人。孝寬深患之，乃遣諜人訪獲道恆手跡，令善學書者偽作道恆與孝寬書，論歸款意，又為落燼燒跡，若火下書者，還令諜人送于琛營。琛得書，果疑道恆，其所欲經略，皆不見用。孝寬知其離阻，因出奇兵掩襲，禽道恆及琛等，崤澠遂清。大統五年，進爵為侯。八年，轉晉州刺史，尋移鎮玉壁，兼攝南汾州事。先是，山胡負險，屢為劫盜，孝寬示以威信，州境肅然。進授大都督。

Wei Shuyu, styled Xiaokuan, came from Duling in Jingzhao and was known from youth by his style name rather than his given name. His family had for generations ranked among the great clans of the Three Adjuncts around the capital. His grandfather Zhishan had served as prefect of both Fengyi and Fufeng under Wei. His father Xu had been prefect of Wuwei commandery. At the start of the Jianyi era he became Right Director of the Grand Secretariat, with the additional titles of General Who Assists the State and Chief Rectifier of Yong Province. In the second year of Yong'an he was appointed General of the Right and governor of Southern Binzhou. At that time Di raiders struck again and again; Xu pacified them as opportunity allowed, and they all submitted without delay. He soon died in office and was posthumously honored as Minister of Works and governor of Jizhou, with the posthumous name Wenhui. Xiaokuan was grave, perceptive, even-tempered, and upright, with wide learning in the classics and histories. When he came of age, Xiao Baoyin rose in rebellion in the Guanxi region; Xiaokuan went to court and asked to lead the van of the punitive force. The court approved his offer and immediately appointed him army commander. He followed the Duke of Fengyi, Changsun Chengye, on the western campaign and won merit in every engagement. He was made an erudite of the Imperial University and put in charge of Huashan commandery. When Palace Attendant Yang Kan became grand commander and took up post at Tong Pass, he took Xiaokuan on as his chief of staff. Impressed by his ability, Kan gave him his daughter in marriage. During Yong'an he was made General Who Proclaims Might and Attendant Within the Yellow Gates, and soon received the title Baron of Shanbei county. In the Putai era he served as commander under Jingzhou governor Yuan Zigong at Rangcheng and, for his achievements, was appointed prefect of Xiyang commandery. Dugu Xin was then prefect of Xinye, likewise under Jingzhou. He and Xiaokuan were close friends, both renowned for their administration, and the people of Jing called them a matched pair of jades. Early in Emperor Xiaowu's reign he garrisoned the city as area commander. When Emperor Wen of Zhou moved from Yuanzhou to Yongzhou, he ordered Xiaokuan to march with the army. After Tong Pass fell, he was immediately made prefect of Hongnong commandery. He followed Dou Tai, serving concurrently as Left Director and overseeing military affairs at Yiyang. He then entered Luoyang with Dugu Xin and became prefect of Yangcheng. With Yuwen Gui and Yi Feng he linked up with the loyalist bands of Yingchuan and defeated the Eastern Wei generals Ren Xiang and Yao Xiong there. Xiaokuan went on to secure Leyukou, reduced Yuzhou, and took its governor Feng Yong prisoner. He fought again at Heqiao. When the main army was beaten and the frontier erupted in alarm, Xiaokuan was ordered to administer Yiyang commandery while retaining his general's rank. He was soon transferred to governor of Southern Yanzhou. That year the Eastern Wei generals Duan Chen and Yao Jie reoccupied Yiyang and sent their Yangzhou governor Niu Daoheng to stir up and win over the border population. Deeply alarmed, Xiaokuan sent agents who obtained specimens of Daoheng's hand. Skilled scribes forged a letter from Daoheng to Xiaokuan discussing defection; the edges were charred with embers to look as if the letter had been written in a fire. The agents then carried it to Duan Chen's camp. Chen received the letter and duly grew suspicious of Daoheng; none of Daoheng's proposed operations were heeded. Seeing that they were divided, Xiaokuan struck with a surprise force, captured Daoheng, Chen, and their fellows, and the Xiaomian region was pacified. In the fifth year of Datong his title was raised to marquis. In the eighth year he became governor of Jinzhou and soon transferred his headquarters to Yubi, while also overseeing Southern Fenzhou. The Mountain Hu had long used the hills to raid and plunder; Xiaokuan won them with a mix of authority and reassurance, and the region grew calm. He was further promoted to grand commander.

十二年，齊神武傾山東之眾，志圖西入，以玉壁沖要，先命攻之。連營數十里，至於城下。乃于城南起土山，欲乘之以入。當其山處，城上先有兩高樓。孝寬更縛木接之，令極高峻，多積戰具以禦之。齊神武使謂城中曰：「縱爾縛樓至天，我會穿城取爾。」遂于城南鑿地道，又於城北起土山，攻具，晝夜不息。孝寬復掘長塹，要其地道，仍簡戰士屯塹。城外每穿至塹，戰土即擒殺之。又于塹外積柴貯火，敵人有在地道內者，便下柴火，以皮排吹之。火氣一沖，咸即灼爛。城外又造攻車，車之所及，莫不摧毀，雖有排楯，莫之能抗。孝寬乃縫布為縵，隨其所向則張設之。布懸于空中，其車竟不能壞。城外又縛松於竿，灌油加火，規以燒布，並欲焚樓。孝寬復長作鐵鉤，利其鋒刃，火竿一來，以鉤遙豁之，松麻俱落。外又於城四面穿地，作二十一道，分為四路，于其中各施梁柱。作訖，以油灌柱，放火燒之，柱折，城並崩壞。孝寬又隨崩處，豎木柵以捍之，敵不得入。城外盡其攻擊之術，孝寬咸拒破之。神武無如之何，乃遣倉曹參軍祖孝征謂曰：「未聞救兵，何不降也？」孝寬報云：「我城池嚴固，兵食有餘，攻者自勞，守者常逸，豈有旬朔之間，已須救援？適憂爾眾有不反之危。孝寬關西男子，必不為降將軍也。」俄而孝征復謂城中人曰：「韋城主受彼榮祿，或復可爾，自外軍士，何事相隨入湯火中邪？」乃射募格于城中云：「能斬城主降者，拜太尉，封開國郡公，邑萬戶，賞帛萬匹。」孝寬手題書背，反射城外，云：「若有斬高歡者，一依此賞。」孝寬弟子遷，先在山東，又鎖至城下，臨以白刃云：「若不早降，便行大戮。」孝寬慷慨激揚，略無顧意。士卒莫不感勵，人有死難之心。神武苦戰六旬，傷及病死者十四五，智力俱困，因而發疾。其夜遁去。後因此忿恚，遂殂。魏文帝嘉孝寬功，令殿中尚書長孫紹遠、左丞王悅至玉壁勞問，授驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司，進爵建忠郡公。

In the twelfth year Gao Huan of Qi mustered the armies of the east with plans to advance west. Because Yubi was a critical choke point, he ordered it attacked first. His camps stretched for dozens of li, right up to the foot of the walls. South of the city he built an earthen ramp, planning to storm the walls from its height. At the point where the ramp was aimed, two tall towers already stood on the wall. Xiaokuan lashed on more timber to raise them still higher, stockpiled arms on top, and prepared to meet the assault. Gao Huan sent a message into the city: "Even if you raise your towers to the sky, I will bore through the wall and take you. He then drove tunnels under the south wall and built another earthen ramp to the north; siege engines hammered the defenses day and night without pause. Xiaokuan countered by cutting a long trench to block the tunnels and posted picked fighters along it. Whenever the enemy broke through into the trench, the defenders seized and killed them. Outside the trench he piled fuel and kept fires ready; when enemies appeared in a tunnel, his men dropped burning brands and fanned the flames with leather bellows. A single blast of fire scorched them all. Outside the walls they built assault towers that shattered everything in reach; no mantlet or shield could hold them off. Xiaokuan had great sheets of cloth sewn and hung them wherever the towers bore. Suspended in midair, the cloth blunted the towers' blows. Outside they lashed pine to poles, soaked them in oil, and set them burning to destroy the cloth and set the towers afire. Xiaokuan had long iron hooks forged with sharp blades; as each fire pole came up, men snagged it from a distance and pulled, and pine and tow alike fell away. They also mined under the walls on all four sides, opening twenty-one galleries in four directions and propping each with beams and posts. When the work was done they soaked the posts with oil and burned them; the posts gave way and sections of the wall collapsed. Wherever the wall fell, Xiaokuan threw up wooden palisades, and the enemy could not break in. The besiegers tried every assault they knew; Xiaokuan defeated them all. At his wits' end, Gao Huan sent Registrar Zu Xiaozheng to ask: "No relief has come—why not surrender? Xiaokuan answered: "Our walls are strong and our stores ample. Attackers tire themselves while defenders rest easy. Why should we need relief within a month? I am more worried that your army may turn on you. I am a man of the Guanxi west and will never become a general who surrenders." Soon Zu Xiaozheng called out to the garrison: "Commandant Wei draws pay from the enemy—perhaps he has his reasons. But you other soldiers—why follow him into fire and flood?" He shot a bounty notice into the city: "Whoever slays the commandant and surrenders shall be made Grand Commandant, enfeoffed as Duke of a State-Founding Commandery with ten thousand households, and given ten thousand bolts of silk." Xiaokuan wrote on the back and shot it back: "Whoever slays Gao Huan shall receive the same reward." His nephew Qian, who had been in the east, was brought in chains to the wall. A blade was laid to his throat: "Surrender at once, or he dies." Xiaokuan showed no sign of wavering; his bearing was fierce and unshaken. The soldiers were stirred to the core; every man was ready to die where he stood. Gao Huan fought bitterly for sixty days. Four or five men in ten were killed, wounded, or sick; his wits and strength were spent, and illness followed. That night he stole away. Later, brooding over the defeat, he died. Emperor Wen of Wei honored Xiaokuan's achievement and sent Changsun Shaoyuan of the Palace Secretariat and Left Director Wang Yue to Yubi with congratulations. Xiaokuan was made General of Agile Cavalry with an office equal to the Three Excellencies, and his title was raised to Duke of Establishing Loyalty commandery.

廢帝二年，為雍州刺史。先是，路側一里置一土堠，經雨頹毀，每須修之。自孝寬臨州，乃勒部內，當堠處植槐樹代之。既免修復，行旅又得庇陰。周文後見，怪問知之，曰：「豈得一州獨爾，當令天下同之。」於是令諸州夾道一里種一樹，十里種三樹，百里種五樹焉。恭帝元年，以大將軍與燕公於謹伐江陵，平之，以功封穰縣公。還，拜尚書右僕射，賜姓宇文氏。三年，周文北巡，命孝寬還鎮玉壁。周孝閔帝踐祚，拜小司徒。明帝初，參麟趾殿學士，考校圖籍。保定初，以孝寬立勳玉壁，置勳州，仍授勳州刺史。齊人遣使至玉壁，求通互市。晉公護以其相持日久，絕無使命，一日忽來求交易，疑別有故。又以皇姑、皇世母先沒在彼，因其請和之際，或可致之。遂令司門下大夫尹公正至玉壁，共孝寬詳議。孝寬乃于郊盛設供帳，令公正接對使人，兼論皇家親屬在東之意。使者辭色甚悅。時又有汾州胡抄得關東人，孝寬復放東還，並致書一牘，具陳朝廷欲敦鄰好。遂以禮送皇姑及護母等。孝寬善於撫禦，能得人心，所遣間諜入齊者，皆為盡力。亦有齊人得孝寬金貨，遙通書疏。故齊動靜，朝廷皆先知。時有主帥許盆，孝寬度以心膂，令守一城。盆乃以城東入。孝寬怒，遣諜取之，俄而斬首而還。其能致物情如此。

In the second year of Emperor Fei he became governor of Yongzhou. Previously, earthen mile markers had been set along the roads every li; rain ruined them and they had to be repaired again and again. When Xiaokuan took office he ordered that locust trees be planted at every former marker site. Repairs were no longer needed, and travelers gained shade. When Yuwen Tai later saw this he asked how it had been done and said: "Why should one province alone have this? Let the whole realm follow suit. He then ordered every province to plant one tree per li along the highways, three per ten li, and five per hundred li. In the first year of Emperor Gong he marched as grand general with the Duke of Yan, Yu Jin, against Jiangling. After its fall he was enfeoffed as Duke of Xiang county for his service. On his return he was made Right Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat and granted the surname Yuwen. In the third year Yuwen Tai toured the north and ordered Xiaokuan back to Yubi. When Emperor Xiaomin of Zhou took the throne, Xiaokuan was appointed lesser minister of education. Early in Emperor Ming's reign he became an academician of the Linzhi Hall and collated the library collections. At the start of Baoding, in honor of Xiaokuan's defense of Yubi, Merit Prefecture was created and he was made its governor. Qi sent envoys to Yubi seeking to open border trade. The Duke of Jin, Yuwen Hu, noted that after long hostility there had been no contact at all, and suspected some hidden motive when Qi suddenly asked to trade. The emperor's paternal aunt and his father's mother were still held in the east; perhaps they could be recovered while Qi was suing for peace. He sent Grand Master of the Gate Yin Gongzheng to Yubi to work out the details with Xiaokuan. Xiaokuan staged a lavish reception outside the city and had Gongzheng receive the envoys while raising the question of imperial relatives held in the east. The envoys responded with evident satisfaction. Some Fenzhou Hu had captured people from the east; Xiaokuan released them and sent a letter stating the court's wish for neighborly peace. Qi then ceremoniously returned the emperor's paternal aunt, Yuwen Hu's mother, and the others. Xiaokuan excelled at winning loyalty; every spy he sent into Qi served him wholeheartedly. Some men of Qi took his gold and reported back by letter. The court therefore learned of Qi's movements before they happened. A commander named Xu Pen had won Xiaokuan's full trust and was put in charge of a city. Pen promptly surrendered the city to Qi. Enraged, Xiaokuan sent agents after him; they soon returned with his head. Such was his hold on men's hearts.

汾州之北，離石以南，悉是生胡，抄掠居人，阻斷河路。孝寬深患之，而地入于齊，無方誅剪。欲當其要處，置一大城。乃於河西征役徒十萬，甲士百人，遣開府姚嶽監築之。嶽色懼，以兵少為難。孝寬曰：「計成此城，十日即畢。既去晉州四百餘里，一日創手，二日偽境始知，設令晉州徵兵，二日方集，謀議之間，自稽三日，計其軍行，二日不到。我之城隍，足得辦矣」。乃令築之。齊人果至南首，疑有大軍，乃停留不進。其夜，又令汾水以南，傍介山、稷山諸村，所在縱火。齊人謂是軍營，遂收兵自固。版築克就，卒如其言。

North of Fenzhou and south of Lishi lived unassimilated Hu who raided settlers and cut the river routes. Xiaokuan was deeply alarmed, but the land lay within Qi's reach and he had no way to destroy them. He resolved to build a major fortress at the key point. He drafted a hundred thousand laborers west of the river with a hundred armored men and sent Director Yao Yue to supervise the work. Yue looked alarmed and protested that the force was too small. Xiaokuan said: "By my plan the city will be finished in ten days. Jinzhou is more than four hundred li away. Work begins on day one; Qi learns on day two. Even if Jinzhou mobilizes, two days pass before troops gather, three more for councils, and two more on the march—they cannot arrive in time. Our walls and moat will be complete." He ordered construction to begin. Qi forces did reach the south bank, suspected a large army, and halted without advancing. That night he ordered fires set in every village south of the Fen, along Jie Mountain, Ji Mountain, and beyond. The Qi troops took the fires for encampments and pulled back to consolidate. The fortifications were finished exactly as he had predicted.

四年，進位柱國。時晉公護將東討，孝寬遣長史辛道憲啟陳不可，護不納。既而大軍果不利。後孔城遂陷，宜陽被圍。孝寬乃謂其將帥曰：「宜陽一城之地，未能損益。然兩國爭之，勞師數載。彼多君子，甯乏謀猷？若棄崤東，來圖汾北，我之疆界，必見侵擾。今宜於華穀及長秋速築城，以杜賊志。脫其先我，圖之實難。」於是畫地形，具陳其狀。晉公護令長史叱羅協謂使人曰：「韋公子孫雖多，數不滿百。汾北築城，遣誰固守？」事遂不行。

In the fourth year he was promoted to Pillar of the State. When the Duke of Jin, Yuwen Hu, prepared an eastern campaign, Xiaokuan sent Chief Clerk Xin Daoxian to argue against it; Hu refused to listen. The main army was indeed defeated. Kongcheng soon fell and Yiyang came under siege. Xiaokuan told his commanders: "Yiyang itself is neither gain nor loss for us. Yet both states have fought over it for years and exhausted their armies. They have able men—do they lack stratagems? If they abandon the east of Xiao and strike north of the Fen, our frontier will surely be threatened. We should quickly fortify Huagu and Changqiu to forestall them. If they move first, we will find it hard to counter. He drew a map and laid out the situation in detail. Yuwen Hu had Chief Clerk Chiluo Xie tell the envoy: "Wei may have many descendants, but they number fewer than a hundred. Who will you leave to hold fortresses north of the Fen? The plan went no further.

天和五年，進爵鄖國公，增邑通前一萬戶。是歲，齊人果解宜陽之圍，經略汾北，遂築城守之。其丞相斛律明月至汾東，請與孝寬相見。明月云：「宜陽小城，久勞戰爭。今既入彼，欲於汾北取償，幸勿怪也。」孝寬答曰：「宜陽彼之要衝，汾北我之所棄。我棄彼圖，取償安在？且若輔翼幼主，位重望隆，理宜調陰陽，撫百姓，焉用極武窮兵，構怨連禍！且滄、瀛大水，千里無煙，復欲使汾、晉之間，橫屍暴骨，苟貪尋常之地，塗炭疲弊之人，竊為君不取。」孝寬參軍曲岩頗知卜筮，謂孝寬曰：「來年東朝必大相殺戮。」孝寬因令岩作謠歌曰：「百升飛上天，明月照長安。」百升，斛也。又言：「高山不摧自崩，槲樹不扶自豎。」令諜人多賚此文，遺之於鄴。祖孝征既聞，更潤色之，明月竟以此誅。

In the fifth year of Tianhe he was made Duke of Yun state, with a combined fief of ten thousand households. That year Qi lifted the siege of Yiyang, turned to the north of the Fen, and built fortified posts. Qi's chancellor Hulu Mingyue came to the east bank of the Fen and asked to meet Xiaokuan. Mingyue said: "Yiyang is a small place that has cost us years of war. Now that we hold it, we mean to take our due north of the Fen—please do not be offended. Xiaokuan answered: "Yiyang is your vital pass; the north of the Fen is ground we have let go. We yield while you seize—where is the compensation in that? You who should steady a young ruler and soothe the people—why exhaust your armies, breed hatred, and invite disaster after disaster? Floods have already laid Cang and Ying waste for a thousand li. To heap corpses between Fen and Jin for a scrap of land and crush an exhausted people—I do not think that suits a man of your station." His aide Qu Yan, skilled in divination, told Xiaokuan: "Next year the eastern court will see bloodshed on a great scale." Xiaokuan had Yan compose a song: "A hundred sheng flies to heaven; the bright moon shines on Chang'an." A hundred sheng" puns on hu—the character in Hulu's name. It also ran: "High mountains fall without a blow; oaks stand upright without a prop. He sent agents to spread the verses in Ye. Zu Xiaozheng heard of it, polished the verses further, and Mingyue was executed because of them.

建德之後，武帝志在平齊。孝寬乃上疏陳三策。

After the Jiande era, Emperor Wu set his mind on conquering Qi. Xiaokuan submitted a memorial outlining three strategies.

其第一策曰：「臣在邊積年，頗見間隙，不因際會，難以成功。是以往歲出軍，徒有勞費，功績不立，由失機會。何者？長淮之南，舊為沃土，陳氏以破亡餘燼，猶能一舉平之。齊人歷年赴救，喪敗而反。內離外叛，計盡力窮。傳不雲乎：'讎有釁焉，不可失也。 '今大軍若出軹關，方軌而進，兼與陳氏共為掎角；並令廣州義旅出自三

The first strategy read: "I have spent years on the frontier and have seen many openings; without seizing the moment, success is hard. Past campaigns have cost labor and treasure without result because the moment was missed. Why? South of the Long Huai was once rich land; Chen, though reduced to embers, still took it in one stroke. Qi sent armies year after year and returned in defeat. Within they are divided and without they face rebellion; their plans and strength are spent. Does not the tradition say: 'When the foe shows a crack, it must not be missed'? If the main army marches out through Zhiguan in full array and coordinates with Chen in a pincer; and order Guangzhou's loyalist forces to advance from San

鵶；又募山南驍銳，沿河而下，復遣北山稽胡絕其並、晉之路。凡此諸軍，仍令各募關、河之外勁勇之士，厚其爵賞，使為前驅。岳動川移，雷駭電激，百道俱進，並趨虜庭。必當望旗奔潰，所向摧殄。一戎大定，實在此機。」

ya; recruits fierce fighters south of the mountains to descend the rivers, and sends the Ji Hu of the northern hills to cut the Bing and Jin roads; each of these columns should recruit bold men beyond the passes and the Yellow River, reward them richly, and use them as van; with forces like moving mountains and rivers, thunder and lightning, a hundred columns advancing together on the enemy capital— they will flee at the first banner and be crushed wherever you strike. To settle all in one campaign—the moment is now."

其第二策曰：「若國家更為後圖，未即大舉，宜與陳人分其兵勢。三鵶以北，萬春以南，廣事屯田，預為貯積。募其驍悍，立為部伍。彼既東南有敵，戎馬相持，我出奇兵，破其疆埸。彼若興師赴援，我則堅壁清野，待其去遠，還復出師。常以邊外之軍，引其腹心之眾。我無宿舂之費，彼有奔命之勞。一二年中，必自離叛。且齊氏昏暴，政出多門，鬻獄賣官，唯利是視，荒淫酒色，忌害忠良。闔境熬然，不勝其弊。以此而觀，覆亡可待。然後乘間電掃，事等摧枯。」

The second strategy read: "If the state defers a full campaign, it should share the burden with Chen and divide Qi's forces. Between Sanya in the north and Wanchun in the south, expand garrison farming and build up stores. Recruit their boldest men and organize them into units. With an enemy in the southeast tying down their horses, we strike with surprise forces and raid their borders. If they march to relieve a post, we fortify and strip the countryside, wait until they withdraw, and strike again. Always use frontier raids to pull their main armies out. We pay no cost of overnight grain; they exhaust themselves in forced marches. Within a year or two they will split and rebel on their own. Qi is benighted and cruel, with government split among factions, offices sold for profit, and debauchery joined to persecution of the loyal. The whole realm groans under these abuses. Judged by this, their fall is only a matter of time. Then strike at the opening like lightning, and the task will be like snapping dry wood."

其第三策曰：「竊以大周土宇，跨據關、河，蓄席捲之威，持建瓴之勢。太祖受天明命，與物更新，是以二紀之中，大功克舉。南清江、漢，西龕巴、蜀，塞表無虞，河右底定。唯彼趙、魏，獨為榛梗者，正以有事三方，未遑東略。遂使漳、滏遊魂，更存餘晷。昔勾踐亡吳，尚期十載；武王取亂，猶煩再舉。今若更存遵養，且復相時，臣謂宜還崇鄰好，申其盟約，安人和眾，通商惠工，蓄銳養威，觀釁而動。斯則長策遠馭，坐自兼併也。」

The third strategy read: "Great Zhou holds the passes and the Yellow River, with the power to sweep all before it and the momentum of water poured from a height. The Grand Ancestor received Heaven's mandate and renewed the realm; within two reign-cycles great deeds were achieved. The south was pacified to the Jiang and Han, the west secured in Ba and Shu, the frontiers were quiet, and the lands west of the river were settled. Only Zhao and Wei remain as thorns, because affairs on three fronts left no leisure for an eastern campaign. Thus the stray remnants along the Zhang and Fu rivers were granted a little more time. Goujian destroyed Wu only after ten years; even King Wu needed two campaigns to conquer a fallen state. If we now practice forbearance and watch the times, I advise renewing neighborly ties and treaties, calming the people, encouraging trade and craft, storing strength, and striking only when a crack appears. That is the long view: absorb them without stirring from your seat."

書奏，武帝遣小司寇淮南西元偉、開府伊婁謙等重幣聘齊。爾後遂大舉，再駕而定山東。卒如孝寬之策。

When the memorial was submitted, Emperor Wu sent Lesser Minister of Justice Xi Yuanwei of Huainan, Director Yilou Qian, and others with rich gifts to court Qi. He then launched a great campaign and on the second expedition settled the east. In the end events unfolded exactly as Xiaokuan had foretold.

孝寬每以年迫懸車，屢請致仕。帝以海內未平，優詔弗許。至是，復稱疾乞骸骨。帝曰：「往已面申本懷，何煩重請也。」

As age pressed on him, Xiaokuan repeatedly asked to retire. Because the realm was not yet settled, the emperor graciously refused. Now he again pleaded illness and asked to be released. The emperor said: "You have already told me your mind in person—why ask again?"

五年，帝東伐，過幸玉壁。觀禦敵之所，深歎美之，移時乃去。孝寬自以習練齊人虛實，請為先驅。帝以玉壁要衝，非孝寬無以鎮之，乃不許。及趙王招率兵出稽胡，與大軍掎角，乃敕孝寬為行軍總管，圍守華谷以應接之。孝寬克其四城。武帝平晉州，復令孝寬還舊鎮。及帝凱旋，復幸玉壁。從容謂孝寬曰：「世稱老人多智，善為軍謀。然朕唯共少年一舉平賊，公以為如何？」孝寬對曰：「臣今衰耄，唯有誠心而已。然昔在少壯，亦曾輸力先朝，以定關右。」帝大笑曰：「實如公言。」乃詔孝寬隨駕還京。拜大司空，出為延州總管，進位上柱國。

In the fifth year the emperor marched east and visited Yubi on the way. He inspected the defenses, sighed in deep admiration, and lingered long before leaving. Knowing Qi's strengths and weaknesses, Xiaokuan asked to lead the van. The emperor held that Yubi was vital and could be held only by Xiaokuan, and refused. When Prince Zhao led troops against the Ji Hu in concert with the main army, the emperor ordered Xiaokuan as campaign commander to besiege Huagu in support. Xiaokuan took four of its cities. After Emperor Wu took Jinzhou, Xiaokuan was sent back to his old post. On his triumphant return he visited Yubi again. He said easily to Xiaokuan: "People say old men are wise and skilled in strategy. Yet I alone, still young, settled the rebels in one stroke—what do you think of that? Xiaokuan answered: "I am old and feeble now and have only loyalty to offer. But in my youth I too served the former court and helped settle the Guanxi west." The emperor laughed and said: "You are quite right." He then ordered Xiaokuan to return to the capital with the imperial procession. He was made Grand Minister of Works, assigned as regional commander of Yan Province, and promoted to Supreme Pillar of State.

及宣帝崩，隋文帝輔政。時尉遲迥先為相州總管，詔孝寬代之。又以小司徒叱列長叉為相州刺史，先令赴鄴。孝寬續進，至朝歌，迥遣其大都督賀蘭貴賚書候孝寬。孝寬留貴與語以察之，疑其有變，遂稱疾徐行。又使人至相州求醫藥，密以伺之。既到湯陰，逢長叉奔還。孝寬兄子魏郡守藝又棄郡南走。孝寬審知其狀，乃馳還。所經橋道，皆令毀撤，驛馬悉擁以自隨。又勒驛將曰：「蜀公將至，可多備肴酒及芻粟以待之。」迥果遣儀同梁子康將數百騎追孝寬，驛司供設豐厚，所經之處，皆輒停留，由是不及。

When Emperor Xuan passed away, Yang Jian assumed the regency. Yuwen Jiong was then regional commander of Xiang Province; an imperial edict named Xiaokuan to replace him. Chilie Changcha was also made governor of Xiang Province with the rank of Junior Minister of Education and sent on ahead to Ye. Xiaokuan pressed on, and at Chaoge Yuwen Jiong's grand commander Helan Gui met him with a greeting letter. Xiaokuan kept Gui for conversation to take his measure, suspected trouble brewing, and feigned illness to slow his march. He also sent agents to Xiang Province under the pretense of seeking medicine, to watch events in secret. By the time he reached Tangyin, Changcha was already racing back in flight. Xiaokuan's nephew Yi, prefect of Wei Commandery, had likewise abandoned his post and fled south. Once Xiaokuan had confirmed what was happening, he turned and rode back at full speed. He had every bridge and stretch of road he crossed torn up, and requisitioned every relay horse along the route. He told the relay masters that "the Duke of Shu is coming—lay in plenty of food, wine, and fodder for him. Yuwen Jiong sent Palace Attendant Liang Zikang after him with several hundred cavalry; at each station the pursuers found lavish provisions and lingered, so they never caught up.

時或勸孝寬，以為洛京虛弱，素無守備，河陽鎮防，悉是關東鮮卑，迥若先往據之，則為禍不小。乃入保河陽。河陽城內，舊有鮮卑八百人，家並在鄴，見孝寬輕來，謀欲應迥。孝寬知之，遂密造東京官司，詐稱遣行，分人詣洛受賜。既至洛陽，並留不遣。因此離解，其謀不成。

Some advised Xiaokuan that Luoyang was thinly defended, that Heyang's garrison was all Xianbei from east of the pass, and that if Yuwen Jiong seized it first the consequences would be grave. So he withdrew into Heyang to secure it. Eight hundred Xianbei inside Heyang, whose families were in Ye, saw Xiaokuan arrive with a small force and plotted to join Yuwen Jiong. Learning of the plot, he forged orders in the name of the Eastern Capital government and sent the men to Luoyang in batches for supposed imperial grants. Once they reached Luoyang, he kept them there and refused to let them return. That broke up their conspiracy and foiled the plot.

六月，詔發關中兵，以孝寬為元帥東伐。七月，軍次河陽。迥所署儀同薛公禮等圍逼懷州，孝寬遣兵擊破之。進次懷縣永橋城之東南，其城既在要衝，雉堞牢固，迥已遣兵據之。諸將士以此城當路，請先攻取。孝寬曰：「城小而固，若攻而不拔，損我兵威。今破其大軍，此亦何能為也？」於是引軍次於武陟，大破迥子惇，惇輕騎奔鄴。軍次於鄴西門豹祠之南，迥自出戰，又破之。迥窮迫自殺。兵士在小城中者，盡坑之于遊豫園。諸有未服，皆隨機討之。關東悉平。十月，凱還京師。十一月，薨，時年七十二。贈太傅、十二州諸軍事、雍州牧，諡曰襄。

In the sixth month an edict mobilized the armies of Guanzhong and named Xiaokuan supreme commander for the eastern campaign. In the seventh month the army encamped at Heyang. Yuwen Jiong's appointee, Palace Attendant Xue Gongli, besieged Huai Province; Xiaokuan sent troops and routed him. He marched on and camped southeast of Yongqiao in Huai County—a stronghold on a vital route that Yuwen Jiong's troops already held. His officers urged him to take the city first since it blocked their path. Xiaokuan replied: "The place is small but strong. If we besiege it and fail, we will lose face. Break their main force and what can this outpost do? He moved on to Wuzhi, crushed Yuwen Jiong's son Dun, and Dun fled to Ye with a light escort. The army halted south of the Ximen Bao Shrine outside Ye; Yuwen Jiong came out to fight in person and was beaten again. Yuwen Jiong, cornered, took his own life. Soldiers who held out in smaller cities were buried alive at the Youyu Garden. Every holdout was dealt with as circumstances required. East of the pass was fully pacified. In the tenth month he returned to the capital in triumph. In the eleventh month he died, at seventy-two. He was posthumously made Grand Tutor, supreme commander of twelve provinces, and governor of Yong Province, with the posthumous name Xiang.

孝寬在邊多載，屢抗強敵。所有經略，佈置之初，人莫之解；見其成事，方乃驚服。，雖在軍中，篤意文史，政事之餘，每自披閱。末年患眼，猶令學士讀而聽之。又早喪父母，事兄嫂甚謹，所得俸祿，不入私房。親族有孤遺者，必加振贍。朝野以此稱焉。長子諶，年十歲，魏文帝欲以女妻之。孝寬辭以兄子世康年長。帝嘉之，遂以妻世康。

Xiaokuan spent many years on the frontier, repeatedly facing formidable foes. No one understood his strategic dispositions when he first made them; Only when they saw them succeed did they marvel and defer to his judgment. Even while on campaign, he devoted himself to scholarship, and whenever duties allowed he read on his own. In his later years, though his eyes failed, he still had scholars read to him. Orphaned young, he treated his elder brother and sister-in-law with scrupulous care, and never kept his official salary for himself. He unfailingly supported orphaned or needy members of the clan. For this he was praised throughout court and country. When his eldest son Chen was ten, Emperor Wen of Wei wanted to marry a princess to him. Xiaokuan declined, citing his elder brother's son Shikang as the elder candidate. The emperor admired the gesture and gave the princess to Shikang instead.

孝寬有六子，總、壽、霽、津知名。

Xiaokuan had six sons; Zong, Shou, Ji, and Jin were the best known.

總字善會，聰敏好學。位驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司、納言、京兆尹。武帝嘗戲總曰：「卿師尹帝鄉，故當不以富貴威福鄉里邪？」總乃正色對曰：「陛下擢臣非分，竊謂已鑒愚誠。今奉嚴旨，便似未照丹赤。豈可久忝此職，用疑聖慮。請解印綬，以避賢能。」帝大笑曰：「前言戲之耳。」五年，從武帝東征。總每率麾下，先驅陷敵，遂于并州戰歿，時年二十九。贈上大將軍，追封河南郡公，諡曰貞。六年，重贈柱國、五州刺史。

Zong, courtesy name Shanhui, was clever and loved learning. He rose to General of Chariots and Cavalry, grand master with privileges equal to the three ducal ministers, chief clerk for imperial communications, and governor of the capital district. Emperor Wu once teased Zong: "As magistrate of the imperial homeland, you surely don't use your rank to lord it over the neighborhood, do you? Zong answered gravely: "Your Majesty promoted me beyond my merit; I had thought you saw my plain good faith. Now this stern admonishment makes me feel my loyalty has not truly been seen. I cannot hold this office and leave Your Majesty in doubt. I ask to be relieved of my seal and give way to worthier men." The emperor laughed: "I was only joking." In the fifth year he joined Emperor Wu's eastern campaign. Zong always led his men in the van and fell at Bing Province; he was twenty-nine. He was posthumously made Grand General and Duke of Henan Commandery, with the posthumous name Zhen. The following year he was further ennobled as Pillar of State and governor of five provinces.

子國成嗣，後襲孝寬爵鄖國公。隋文帝追錄孝寬舊勳，開皇初，詔國成食封三千戶，收其租賦。

His son Guocheng succeeded him and later inherited Xiaokuan's title as Duke of Yun. Emperor Wen of Sui remembered Xiaokuan's old service; in the first year of Kaihuang, Guocheng was granted a fief of three thousand households with its revenues.

壽字世齡，以貴公子早有令譽。位京兆尹。武帝親征齊，委以後事。以父軍功，賜爵永安縣侯。隋文帝為丞相，以其父平尉遲迥，拜夀儀同三司，進封滑國公。文帝受禪，歷位恆、毛二州刺史，頗有能名。以疾征還，卒於家。諡曰定。仁壽中，文帝為晉王昭納其女為妃。其子保巒嗣。

Shou, courtesy name Shiling, won an excellent reputation early as a nobleman's son. He served as governor of the capital district. When Emperor Wu marched against Qi in person, he left Shou in charge at home. On account of his father's military service he was made Marquis of Yong'an County. When Yang Jian was regent, in recognition of his father's role in suppressing Yuwen Jiong, Shou was made Palace Attendant of the Third Rank and promoted to Duke of Hua. After Yang Jian took the throne, he served as governor of Heng and Mao provinces and earned a solid reputation. Recalled on account of illness, he died at home. His posthumous name was Ding. During the Renshou era, Emperor Wen married Shou's daughter to his son, Prince Jin Zhao. His son Baoluan succeeded him.

壽弟霽，位太常少卿、安邑縣伯。

Shou's younger brother Ji served as vice director of the Imperial Ancestral Temple and Baron of Anyi County.

霽弟津，位內史侍郎、戶部侍郎、判尚書事。

Ji's younger brother Jin was vice director of the palace secretariat and the Ministry of Revenue, and acted as director of the imperial secretariat.

孝寬兄夐。夐字敬遠，志尚夷簡，澹于榮利。弱冠，被召拜雍州中從事，非其好也，遂謝疾去。前後十見徵辟，皆不應命。屬周文帝經綸王業，側席求賢，聞夐養高不仕，虛心敬悅，遣使辟之，備加禮命。雖情諭甚至，而竟不能屈。彌以重之，亦弗之奪也。所居之宅，枕帶林泉。夐對玩琴書，蕭然自逸，時人號為居士焉。至有慕其閑素者，或載酒從之，夐亦為之盡歡，接對忘倦。明帝即位，禮敬愈厚。乃為詩以貽之曰：「六爻貞遁世，三辰光少微。潁陽讓逾遠，滄州去不歸。香動秋蘭佩，風飄蓮葉衣。坐石窺仙洞，乘槎下釣磯。嶺松千仞直，岩泉百丈飛。聊登平樂觀，遙望首陽薇。詎能同四陷，來參余萬機？」夐答帝詩，願時朝謁。帝大悅，敕有司日給河東酒一斗，號之曰逍遙公。時晉公護執政，廣營第宅。嘗召夐至宅，訪以政事。夐仰視其堂，徐而歎曰：「酣酒嗜音，峻宇雕牆，有一於此，未或弗亡。」護不悅。有識者以為知言。陳遣其尚書周弘正來聘，素聞夐名，請與相見。朝廷許之。弘正乃造夐，談謔盡日，恨相遇之晚。後請夐至賓館，夐不時赴。弘正乃贈詩曰：「德星猶未動，真車詎肯來？」其為當時所欽挹如此。

Xiaokuan's elder brother was Xiong. Xiong, courtesy name Jingyuan, lived for plain simplicity and cared nothing for rank or gain. In his early twenties he was appointed attendant of Yong Province, declined the post as not to his taste, and withdrew on grounds of illness. Ten separate summonses left him unmoved—he never took office. As Yuwen Tai was building the Zhou regime, he heard of Xiong's reclusive life and sent envoys with every mark of honor to recruit him. For all his earnest persuasion, he could not prevail upon him. Yuwen Tai only respected him the more and did not press the matter. His home nestled among woods and springs. He spent his days with lute and books in tranquil ease, and contemporaries called him the Lay Recluse. Admirers of his quiet life sometimes brought wine to visit; Xiong welcomed them wholeheartedly and never tired of their company. When Emperor Ming came to the throne, his respect for Xiong grew even deeper. He sent him a poem that began: "Six lines show steadfast withdrawal from the world; three stars burn bright as Shaowei. Yingyang's refusal grows more distant still; from Cangzhou you departed and will not return. Orchid scent stirs on your autumn pendant; lotus-leaf robes flutter in the wind. You sit on stone and peer into immortal caverns; you ride a raft down to the angler's reef. Ridge pines rise a thousand feet straight; cliff springs plunge a hundred yards. You climb for a while to the Pingle terrace, gazing toward the fern-covered slopes of Mount Shouyang. Could you truly remain sunk in reclusion like the four and yet come share my myriad cares of state? Xiong answered with a poem of his own and offered to visit court from time to time. The emperor was delighted, ordered a daily ration of one dou of Hedong wine, and titled him the Carefree Duke. At the time Yuwen Hu, Duke of Jin, held power and built many grand estates. He once summoned Xiong to his mansion to discuss affairs of state. Xiong looked up at the hall and sighed: "Drunkenness, debauchery, towering halls and carved walls—where any one of these appears, ruin is never far behind. Yuwen Hu was displeased. The discerning judged his warning prophetic. Chen sent Minister Zhou Hongzheng on an embassy; knowing Xiong's fame, he asked to meet him. The court agreed. Hongzheng then called on Xiong, and they talked and laughed the day away, lamenting that they had not met sooner. Later he asked Xiong to the embassy guesthouse, but Xiong did not appear when expected. Hongzheng sent him a poem in reply: "The man of virtue has not stirred; why should an honored guest condescend to come? In this way he was admired and respected throughout the age.

武帝嘗與夐夜宴，大賜之縑帛，令侍臣數人負以送出。夐唯取一匹，示承恩旨而已，帝以此益重之。孝寬為延州總管，夐至州，與孝寬相見。將還，孝寬以所乘馬及轡勒與夐。夐以其華飾，心弗欲之。笑謂孝寬曰：「昔人不棄遺簪墜履者，惡與之同出，不與同歸。吾之操行，雖不逮前烈，然舍舊錄新，亦非吾志也。」於是乃乘舊馬以歸。武帝又以佛、道、儒三教不同，詔夐辨其優劣。夐以三教雖殊，同歸於善，其跡似有深淺，其致理如無等級。乃著《三教序》奏之。帝覽而稱善。時宣帝在東宮，亦遺夐書，並令以帝所乘馬迎之，問以立身之道。夐對曰：「《傳》不雲乎，儉為德之恭，侈為惡之大。欲不可縱，志不可滿。並聖人之訓也，願殿下察之。」

Emperor Wu once feasted with Xiong at night and gave him a lavish gift of silk, sending several courtiers to carry the bundles and see him out. Xiong accepted only a single bolt, enough to acknowledge the grace shown him, and the emperor valued him all the more for it. While Xiaokuan served as grand governor of Yan Province, Xiong traveled there to see him. As Xiong prepared to leave, Xiaokuan offered him his own mount, complete with bridle and reins. Xiong disliked the horse's showy fittings and had no wish to take it. He smiled and told Xiaokuan: "Men of old would not leave behind a lost hairpin or fallen shoe, because they hated to set out together yet not return together. My principles may fall short of those of the ancients, but to cast aside the old for something new is not my way either. So he rode his old horse home. Emperor Wu also ordered Xiong to weigh the relative merits of Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism, since the three teachings differed. Xiong replied that though the three teachings differed, all led to goodness; their outward paths might seem deep or shallow, but in ultimate principle they stood on no ladder of rank. He wrote A Preface to the Three Teachings and presented it to the throne. The emperor read it and approved. At the time the crown prince, later Emperor Xuan, was in the Eastern Palace; he too wrote to Xiong, sent the prince's own horse to fetch him, and asked how a man should conduct his life. Xiong answered: "Does not the Commentary say, 'Frugality is the reverence of virtue, and extravagance the greatest of evils'? Desire must not be indulged, and ambition must never be satisfied. These are the teachings of the sages; I hope Your Highness will weigh them carefully."

夐子瓘，行隨州刺史，因疾物故。孝寬子總復于并州戰歿。一日之中，凶問俱至。家人相對悲慟，而夐神色自若，謂之曰：「死生命也，去來常事，亦何足悲！」援琴撫之如舊。夐又雅好名義，虛襟善誘，雖耕夫牧豎，有一介可稱者，皆接引之。特與族人處玄及安定梁曠為放逸之友。少愛文史，留情著述，手自抄錄數十萬言。晚年虛靜，唯以體道會真為務，舊所制述，咸削其槁，故文筆多並不存。

Xiong's son Guan, who was serving as acting governor of Suizhou, died of illness. Xiaokuan's son Zong also died fighting at Bing Province. On the same day news of both deaths arrived. The household wept together, but Xiong's face stayed calm. He told them: "Life and death are fate, and departure an ordinary thing—what is there to mourn? Then he took up his zither and played as he always had. Xiong also cherished honor and integrity, and with an open mind he drew people toward what was good; even farmers and herdsmen, if they showed the least worth, he welcomed and befriended. He was especially close in his carefree companionship with his kinsman Chuxuan and Liang Kuang of Anding. From youth he loved literature and history, took pleasure in writing, and copied out several hundred thousand characters in his own hand. In old age he grew serene and withdrawn, caring only to embody the Way and attain truth; he destroyed the drafts of his earlier writings, so little of his prose survives.

建德中，夐以年老，預戒其子等曰：「昔士安以籧篨束體，王孫以布囊繞屍，二賢高達，非庸才能繼。吾死之日，可斂舊衣，勿更新造。使棺足周屍，牛車載柩，墳高四尺，壙深一丈。其餘煩雜，悉無用也。朝晡奠食，於事彌煩，吾不能頓絕汝輩之情，可朔望一奠而已。仍薦蔬素，勿設牲牢。親友欲以物弔祭者，並不得為受。吾常恐臨終恍惚，故以此言預戒汝輩。瞑目之日，勿違吾志也。」宣政元年二月，卒于家，時年七十七。武帝遣使弔祭，賻賵有加。其喪制葬禮，諸子等並遵其遺戒。子世康。

During the Jiande era, feeling his age, Xiong warned his sons in advance: "Long ago Ruan Ji wrapped himself in coarse matting and Wang Sun bound his corpse in a cloth sack—two sages of exalted detachment, not examples any ordinary man can follow. When I die, dress me in old clothes; do not have new ones made. Let the coffin be only large enough for my body, let an ox cart carry the bier, let the mound rise four feet and the grave pit be one zhang deep. All other elaborate funeral customs are useless. Morning and evening sacrifices would only add to the burden; I cannot ask you to stifle your feelings all at once, so offer food once at the new and full moon only. Use only vegetables and simple fare; do not sacrifice animals. If friends and relatives wish to bring gifts for mourning sacrifices, you must not accept them for me. I have often feared I might be confused at the end, so I give you this warning in advance. When I close my eyes, do not betray my wishes. In the second month of the first year of Xuanzheng he died at home, at the age of seventy-seven. Emperor Wu sent envoys to mourn and sacrifice on his behalf, with generous funeral gifts besides. His sons observed his last instructions in every detail of mourning and burial. His son was Shikang.

世康幼而沈敏，有器度。年十歲，州辟主簿。在魏，弱冠為直寢，封漢安縣公，尚周文帝女襄樂公主，授儀同三司。仕周，歷位典祠下大夫，沔、硤二州刺史。從武帝平齊，授司州總管長史。時東夏初定，百姓未安，世康綏撫之，士庶胥悅。入為戶部中大夫，進位上開府，轉司會中大夫。尉遲迥之亂，隋文謂世康曰：「汾、絳舊是周、齊分界，因此亂階，恐生搖動，今以委公。」因授絳州刺史。以雅望鎮之，闔境清肅。

Shikang was thoughtful and quick-witted from childhood, with real breadth of character. At ten he was recruited by the province as chief clerk. Under Wei, upon coming of age he became a guard of the imperial bedchamber, was enfeoffed as Duke of Han'an County, married Princess Xiangle, daughter of Emperor Wen of Zhou, and received the rank of grand master equal in honor to the three ducal ministers. Under the Zhou he rose through the directorate of sacrifices to lower grand master, and served as governor of Mian and Xia provinces. He followed Emperor Wu in the conquest of Qi and was made chief administrator to the grand governor of Si Province. Eastern Xia had only just been pacified and the people were still unsettled; Shikang reassured them, and officials and commoners alike were delighted. He entered court as middle grand master in the household department, was promoted to upper grand master with an independent command, and then became middle grand master in the directorate of finance. During Yuchi Tong's rebellion, Yang Jian told Shikang: "Fen and Jiang were once the border between Zhou and Qi; this uprising may unsettle the region, so I am entrusting it to you. He was accordingly appointed governor of Jiang Province. His moral authority kept the province in order, and the whole region grew calm and orderly.

世康性恬，素好古，不以得喪幹懷。在州有止足之志，與子弟書曰：「吾生因緒餘，夙沾纓弁，驅馳不已，四紀於茲，亟登袞命，頻蒞方嶽，志除三惑，心慎四知，以不貪而為實，處脂膏而莫潤。如斯之事，頗為時悉。今耄雖未及，壯年已謝。霜早梧楸，風先蒲柳。眼闇更劇，不見細書；足疾彌增，非可趨走。祿豈須多，防滿則退；年不待暮，有疾便辭。況昿襄春秋已高，溫清宜奉，晨昏有闕，罪在我躬。今世穆、世文，並從武役，吾與世沖，復嬰遠任，陟岵瞻望，此情彌切。桓山之悲，倍深常戀。意欲上聞，乞遵禮教，未訪汝等，故遣此及。興言遠慕，感咽難勝。」。諸弟報以事恐難遂，乃止。

Shikang was even-tempered by nature, loved the ways of antiquity, and was unmoved by gain or loss. While serving in the province he felt it was time to know when enough was enough, and wrote to his sons and brothers: "I was born into a distinguished line and entered official life young; for forty years I have never stopped running from post to post, repeatedly receiving imperial favor and governing great provinces. I have tried to guard against the three temptations and to heed the four knows, making integrity my substance and living amid wealth without being stained by it. The world knows these things of me well enough. I am not yet truly old, but my prime is already past. Like the parasol tree and toona that feel the frost early, or the rushes and willows that bow first to the wind, I am aging before my time. My eyes have grown dimmer still, and I can no longer read fine script; my legs trouble me more each day, and I am no longer fit to hurry about. One need not hoard rank and salary—when the measure is full, it is time to step back; one need not wait for old age—when illness comes, one should resign. Moreover, my parents are already old; I ought to tend to them with filial care, and if I fail them morning and evening, the fault is mine alone. Shimug and Shiwen are both away on military duty, while Shichong and I again hold distant posts; the longing I feel when I think of home and parents grows ever sharper. The grief of parting from one's kin is twice as keen as ordinary homesickness. I mean to petition the throne and ask leave to observe filial duty; before consulting you I send this letter. As I write, my longing for home overwhelms me and grief chokes my voice. His brothers answered that the request would likely fail, and he abandoned the idea.

在任有惠政，奏課連最，擢為禮部尚書。世康寡嗜欲，不慕勢貴，未嘗以位望矜物。聞人之善，若己有之，亦不顯人過咎，以求名譽。進爵上庸郡公。轉吏部尚書，選用平允，請托不行。以母憂去職，固辭，乞終私制。上不許。開皇七年，將事江南，議重方鎮，拜襄州刺史。坐事免。未幾授安州總管，遷信州總管。十三年，復拜吏部尚書，前後十餘年間，多所進拔，朝廷稱為廉平。

His tenure brought real benefit to the people, and year after year his performance reviews ranked first; he was promoted to minister of rites. Shikang had few desires, cared nothing for power and rank, and never used his station to condescend to others. He rejoiced in others' virtues as though they were his own, and never exposed their faults to burnish his own name. He was ennobled as Duke of Shangyong commandery. He became minister of the civil service, chose officials fairly, and would not bend to private solicitation. When his mother died he left office, refused recall, and asked to complete the full mourning period. The emperor refused. In the seventh year of Kaihuang, as the court prepared for the campaign against the south and sought to strengthen key frontier posts, he was appointed governor of Xiang Province. He was dismissed for an offense. Before long he was made grand governor of An Province, then transferred to grand governor of Xin Province. In the thirteenth year he returned as minister of the civil service; over more than a decade in that role he advanced many worthy men, and the court praised him as incorrupt and fair.

嘗因休暇，謂子弟曰：「吾聞功遂身退，古人常道。今年將耳順，志在懸車，汝輩以為云何？」子福嗣答曰：「大人澡身浴德，名立官成。盈滿之戒，先哲所重，欲追蹤二疏，伏奉尊命。」後因侍宴，世康再拜陳讓，願乞骸骨。上曰：「冀與公共理天下，今之所請，深乖本望。縱筋力衰謝，猶屈公臥臨一隅。」於是出拜荊州總管。時天下唯置荊、並、楊、益四大總管，並、楊、益三州並親王臨統，唯荊州委于世康，時論以此為美。世康為政簡靜，百姓愛悅。卒於州。上聞而痛惜，贈大將軍，諡曰文。

Once, while on leave, he told his sons and brothers: "I have heard that when one's work is done one should withdraw—this is the ancient way. This year I am nearing sixty, and my wish is to retire; what do you think? His son Fusi replied: "Father, you have refined your character and fulfilled your office; your name stands secure. The warning against overreaching is one the ancients took to heart; if you wish to follow the example of the Two Shus, we respectfully agree." Later, at a court banquet, Shikang bowed low and formally asked to retire. The emperor said: "I had hoped to govern the realm with you; this request goes deeply against my wishes. Even if your strength is failing, I would still ask you to govern one region from your repose. He was then sent out as grand governor of Jing Province. At the time only four grand governorships existed—Jing, Bing, Yang, and Yi; princes directly ruled Bing, Yang, and Yi, while Jing alone was entrusted to Shikang, a distinction widely admired. Shikang governed with simplicity and calm, and the people loved him for it. He died in office. The emperor grieved at the news, posthumously honored him as grand general, and gave him the posthumous name Wen.

世康性孝友，初以諸弟位並隆貴，獨季弟世約宦途不達，共推父時田宅盡以與之。世多其義。

Shikang was filial and devoted to his brothers; when all his younger brothers had risen to high rank except his youngest brother Shiyue, who had not prospered, they jointly gave him all their father's land and houses. The world widely praised his generosity.

長子福子，位司隸別駕。

His eldest son Fuzi served as vice governor of the metropolitan protectorate.

次子福嗣，位內史舍人。後以罪黜。楊玄感之亂，從衛玄戰，敗於城北，為玄感所獲。令為文檄，詞甚不遜。尋背玄感還東都，帝銜之，車裂于高陽。

His second son Fusi served as a secretary in the imperial secretariat. He was later dismissed for an offense. During Yang Xuangan's rebellion he fought under Wei Xu, was defeated north of the city, and was captured by Xuangan. Xuangan forced him to draft a proclamation, and its language was brazenly defiant. He soon deserted Xuangan and returned to the eastern capital, but the emperor never forgave him and had him torn apart by chariots at Gaoyang.

少子福獎，通事舍人。在東都，與玄感戰沒。

His youngest son Fujiang served as a communications attendant. At the eastern capital he fell in battle against Xuangan.

世康兄洸，字世穆。性剛毅，有器幹，少便弓馬。仕周，釋褐直寢上士。數從征伐，累遷開府，賜爵衛國縣公。隋文帝為丞相，從季父孝寬擊尉遲迥于相州，以功拜柱國，進襄陽郡公。時突厥寇邊，皇太子屯咸陽，令洸統兵出原州道。與虜相遇，擊破之。拜江陵總管，俄拜安州總管。伐陳之役，為行軍總管。及陳平，拜江州總管。略定九江，遂進圖嶺南。上與書慰勉之。洸至廣州，嶺表皆降之。上聞而大悅，許以便宜從事。洸所綏集二十四州，拜廣州總管。歲餘，番禺夷王仲宣反，以兵圍洸，洸拒之，中流矢卒。贈上柱國，賜綿絹萬段，諡曰敬。

Shikang's elder brother Guang, whose courtesy name was Shimu. He was firm and resolute by nature, possessed both talent and authority, and from youth excelled at archery and horsemanship. He entered service under the Zhou and, upon leaving mourning, was appointed upper officer of the direct attendants of the inner quarters. He repeatedly took part in campaigns, rose through the ranks to general who opens an office, and was enfeoffed as Duke of Weiguo county. When Emperor Wen of Sui was chief minister, he followed his uncle Xiaokuan to attack Yuwen Jiong at Xiang Province; for his service he was made pillar of state and advanced to Duke of Xiangyang commandery. When the Turks raided the frontier, the crown prince was encamped at Xianyang and ordered Guang to lead troops out by the Yuanzhou route. He met the enemy and defeated them. He was appointed grand governor of Jiangling and soon afterward grand governor of An Province. During the campaign against Chen he served as campaign commander. After Chen was pacified, he was appointed grand governor of Jiang Province. He brought Jiujiang roughly under control and then pressed on toward Lingnan. The emperor sent him a letter of encouragement and praise. When Guang reached Guangzhou, all the lands south of the ranges submitted to him. The emperor was greatly pleased at the news and authorized him to act at his own discretion. For pacifying twenty-four prefectures, he was appointed grand governor of Guangzhou. More than a year later the Yue chieftain Zhongxuan of Panyu rebelled and besieged Guang with troops; Guang held him off but was struck by an arrow and died. He was posthumously honored as upper pillar of state, granted ten thousand bolts of silk, and given the posthumous name Jing.

子協，字欽仁。好學有雅量，位秘書郎。其父在廣州有功，上命協齎詔書勞問，未至而父卒。上以其父死王事，拜協柱國，曆定、息、秦三州刺史，有能名。卒官。

His son Xie, whose courtesy name was Qinren. He loved learning and possessed a generous temperament; he served as a secretary in the palace library. Because his father had rendered distinguished service at Guangzhou, the emperor ordered Xie to carry an edict of commendation—but before he arrived, his father had died. Because his father had died in the emperor's service, the emperor appointed Xie pillar of state; he served in turn as governor of Ding, Xi, and Qin provinces and earned a reputation for competence. He died in office.

洸弟瓘，字世恭。禦正下大夫，儀同三司、行隨州刺史。

Guang's younger brother Guan, whose courtesy name was Shigong. He held the posts of lower grand master of imperial rectification, equal in rank to three offices, and acting governor of Sui Province.

瓘弟藝，字世文。周武帝時，以軍功位上儀同，賜爵修武縣侯，授左旅下大失，出為魏郡太守。及隋文帝為丞相，尉遲迥陰圖不軌，朝廷遣藝季父孝寬馳往代迥。孝寬將至鄴，詐病止傳舍，從迥求藥，以密觀變。藝因投孝寬，即從孝寬擊迥。以功進位上大將軍，改封武威縣公，以修武縣侯別封一子。文帝受禪，進封魏興郡公，拜齊州刺史。為政通簡，士庶懷惠。遷營州總管。藝容貌瑰偉，每夷狄參謁，必整儀衛，盛服以見之，獨坐滿一榻。蕃人畏懼，莫敢仰視。而大修產業，與北夷貿易，家資巨萬。頗為清論所譏。卒官。諡曰懷。

Guan's younger brother Yi, whose courtesy name was Shiwen. Under Emperor Wu of Zhou he rose for military merit to upper equal in rank, was enfeoffed as marquis of Xiuwu county, appointed lower grand master of the left brigade, and sent out as prefect of Wei commandery. When Emperor Wen of Sui was chief minister and Yuwen Jiong was secretly plotting rebellion, the court sent Yi's uncle Xiaokuan posthaste to replace him. As Xiaokuan was nearing Ye, he feigned illness and halted at a relay station, asking Jiong for medicine so he could secretly watch how matters stood. Yi then defected to Xiaokuan and immediately joined him in attacking Jiong. For his service he was promoted to grand general-in-chief, his enfeoffment was changed to duke of Wuwei county, and one son was separately enfeoffed as marquis of Xiuwu county. When Emperor Wen accepted the abdication, Yi was advanced to duke of Weixing commandery and appointed governor of Qi Province. He governed with openness and simplicity, and both gentry and common people were grateful to him. He was transferred to grand governor of Ying Province. Yi was imposing in appearance; whenever barbarians came to pay their respects, he always arrayed an honor guard, received them in full ceremonial dress, and sat alone occupying an entire couch. The frontier peoples feared him and none dared meet his gaze. Yet he greatly expanded his estates, traded with the northern tribes, and amassed household wealth in the tens of thousands. He was widely criticized by men of upright reputation. He died in office. He was given the posthumous name Huai.

藝弟沖，字世沖。以名家子，在周釋褐衛公府禮曹參軍。從大將軍元定度江伐陳，為陳人所虜。周武帝以幣贖還之。帝復令沖以馬千匹使陳，贖開府賀拔華等五十人及元定之柩而還。沖有辭辯，奉使稱旨。累遷小禦伯下大夫，加上儀同，拜汾州刺史。

Yi's younger brother Chong, whose courtesy name was Shichong. As the son of a distinguished family, he entered Zhou service upon leaving mourning as a member of the rituals section in the office of the Duke of Wei. He followed Grand General Yuan Ding in crossing the Yangzi to attack Chen and was captured by the Chen. Emperor Wu of Zhou ransomed him with gifts and had him returned. The emperor again sent Chong as envoy to Chen with a thousand horses, redeemed fifty men including General Who Opens an Office Heba Hua along with Yuan Ding's coffin, and returned. Chong was eloquent, and on diplomatic missions he fully satisfied the emperor's wishes. He rose through the ranks to lower grand master of the lesser imperial guard, was given upper equal in rank, and was appointed governor of Fen Province.

隋文帝踐阼，征兼散騎常侍，進位開府，賜爵安固縣侯。歲餘，發南汾州胡千餘人北築長城，在途皆亡。上呼沖問計，沖曰：「皆由牧宰不稱所致，請以理綏靜，可不勞兵而定。」上因命沖綏懷叛者，月餘，並赴長城。上降書勞勉之。尋拜石州刺史，甚得諸胡歡心。以母憂去職。俄起為南寧州總管，持節撫慰，復遣柱國王長述以兵繼進。沖既至南寧，渠帥首領皆詣府參謁。上大悅，下詔褒揚之。其兄子伯仁隨沖在府，掠人之妻，士卒縱暴，邊人失望。上聞之，大怒，令蜀王秀按其事。益州長史元岩性方正，按沖無所寬貸。竟坐免官。其弟太子洗馬世約譖岩于皇太子。上謂太子曰：「古人云：'酤酒酸而不售者，為噬犬耳。 '今何用世約乎！」世約遂除名。

When Emperor Wen of Sui acceded to the throne, Chong was summoned and made concurrent regular attendant-in-ordinary, advanced to general who opens an office, and enfeoffed as marquis of Angu county. More than a year later, over a thousand Hu from southern Fen Province were sent north to build the Great Wall, and all of them fled along the way. The emperor summoned Chong to ask his advice. Chong said, "This is all because the local governors are unfit. Allow me to calm them through reason, and they can be settled without sending troops. The emperor then ordered Chong to win over the deserters, and after little more than a month they all reported to the Great Wall. The emperor sent down a letter commending and encouraging him. He was soon appointed governor of Shi Province and won the wholehearted support of the various Hu peoples. He left office to observe mourning for his mother. He was soon recalled as grand governor of Nanning Province with imperial credentials to reassure the region, and the pillar of state Wang Changshu was again sent with troops to follow in support. When Chong reached Nanning, all the tribal chieftains came to his headquarters to pay their respects. The emperor was greatly pleased and issued an edict praising him. His nephew Boren accompanied Chong at headquarters, seized another man's wife, and the soldiers ran wild; the frontier people lost all hope in them. When the emperor heard of it, he was furious and ordered Prince Xiu of Shu to investigate. Yuan Yan, chief administrator of Yi Province, was upright by nature and showed Chong no leniency in the investigation. In the end Chong was dismissed from office. His younger brother Shiyue, a court man of the crown prince, slandered Yuan Yan to the crown prince. The emperor said to the crown prince, "The ancients said, 'When wine turns sour and will not sell, it is because of the dog that bites. Why should we employ Shiyue now! Shiyue was thereupon struck from the rolls.

後令沖檢校括州事。時東陽賊帥陶子定、吳州賊帥羅慧方並聚眾為亂，沖率兵破之。改封義豐縣侯，檢校泉州事，遷營州總管。沖容貌都雅，寬厚得眾心，撫靺羯、契丹，皆能致其死力。奚、勣畏懼，朝貢相續。高麗嘗入寇，衝擊走之。及文帝為豫章王暕納沖女為妃，徵拜戶部尚書。卒官。少子挺知名。

Later Chong was ordered to inspect affairs in Kuo Province. At that time the bandit leaders Taozi Ding of Dongyang and Luo Huifang of Wu Province both gathered followers in rebellion; Chong led troops and defeated them. His enfeoffment was changed to marquis of Yifeng county; he was assigned to inspect affairs in Quan Province and then transferred to grand governor of Ying Province. Chong was refined and elegant in appearance, generous and steady, and won the hearts of his men; in governing the Mohe and Khitan he could bring them to give their utmost, even unto death. The Xi and Kumo Xi were awed into submission, and tribute missions followed in unbroken succession. When Goguryeo once raided the border, Chong struck and drove them off. When Emperor Wen took Chong's daughter as consort for Prince Zhang of Yuzhang, Yang Jian, Chong was summoned and appointed minister of revenue. He died in office. His youngest son Ting became well known.

韋瑱，字世珍，京兆杜陵人也。世為三輔著姓。曾祖惠度，姚泓尚書郎。隨劉義真過江，仕宋為順陽太守、行南雍州事。後於襄陽歸魏，拜中書侍郎，贈洛州刺史。祖千雄，略陽郡守。父英，代郡守，贈兗州刺史。瑱幼聰敏，有夙成之量。起家太尉府法曹參軍，累遷諫議大夫。周文帝為丞相，封長安縣男。轉行台左丞，遷南郢州刺史，復令為行台左丞。瑱明察有幹局，再居左轄，時論榮之。從復弘農，戰沙苑，加衛大將軍、左光祿大夫。從戰河橋，進爵為子。大統八年，齊神武侵汾、絳，瑱從周文禦之。軍還，以本官鎮蒲津關，帶中氵單城主。曆鴻臚卿。以望族兼領鄉兵，加帥都督，進散騎常侍。

Wei Zhen, whose courtesy name was Shizhen, was a native of Duling in Jingzhao. For generations his family had been a prominent clan of the Three Adjuncts. His great-grandfather Huidu had served Yao Hong as a secretariat gentleman. He followed Liu Yizhen in crossing the Yangzi and served the Song as prefect of Shunyang and acting governor of Southern Yong Province. Later, at Xiangyang, he submitted to Wei, was appointed vice director of the secretariat, and was posthumously honored as governor of Luo Province. His grandfather Qianxiong had been prefect of Lueyang commandery. His father Ying had been prefect of Dai commandery and was posthumously honored as governor of Yan Province. Zhen was clever from childhood and showed the promise of precocious maturity. He began his career as a law-section staff member in the grand marshal's office and rose through the ranks to remonstrating and advising grand master. When Emperor Wen of Zhou was chief minister, he was enfeoffed as baron of Chang'an county. He was transferred to left director of the branch secretariat, promoted to governor of Southern Ying Province, and then again appointed left director of the branch secretariat. Zhen was perceptive and capable in administration; to hold the left directorship twice was regarded at the time as a great honor. He took part in the recovery of Hongnong and fought at Shayuan, and was given the titles of guard general and left grand master of radiant virtue. He fought at Heqiao and was advanced in rank to viscount. In the eighth year of Datong, when Gao Huan of Qi invaded Fen and Jiang, Zhen followed Emperor Wen of Zhou to resist him. When the army returned, he retained his former rank to garrison Pujin Pass and concurrently served as garrison commander of Zhongmian city. He served as chamberlain for dependencies. As a member of an eminent clan he concurrently led local militia, was made commander-in-chief, and advanced to regular attendant-in-ordinary.

魏恭帝二年，賜姓宇文氏。三年，除瓜州刺史。州通西域，蕃夷往來，前後刺史多受賂遺，胡寇犯邊，又莫能禦。瑱雅性清儉，兼有武略，蕃夷贈遺，一無所受。胡人畏威，不敢為寇。公私安靜，夷夏懷之。周孝閔帝踐祚，進爵平齊縣伯。秩滿還京，吏人戀慕，老幼追送，留連十數日方得出境。明帝嘉之，授侍中、驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司。卒，贈岐、宜二州刺史，諡曰惠。又追封為公，詔其子峻襲。

In the second year of Emperor Gong of Wei, he was granted the surname Yuwen. In the third year he was appointed governor of Gua Province. The province lay on the route to the Western Regions, with many tribes passing through; successive governors had often taken bribes, and when Hu raiders struck the frontier none had been able to repel them. Zhen was refined and frugal by nature and also possessed military talent; he accepted none of the gifts offered by the frontier peoples. The Hu feared his authority and did not dare raid. Public and private life were peaceful, and both barbarians and Chinese held him in affection. When Emperor Xiaomin of Zhou acceded to the throne, Zhen was advanced to baron of Pingqi county. When his term expired and he returned to the capital, officials and people alike were loath to see him go; old and young pursued him to bid farewell, and for more than ten days he lingered before he could leave the region. Emperor Ming praised this and appointed him palace attendant, general of agile cavalry, and director of a department equal in rank to the Three Excellencies. He died and was posthumously made governor of Qi and Yi provinces, with the posthumous name Hui. He was further enfeoffed posthumously as duke, and an edict ordered his son Jun to inherit the title.

峻位至車騎大將軍、儀同三司。峻子德政，隋大業中給事郎。峻弟師。

Jun rose to general of chariots and cavalry with rank equal to the Three Excellencies. Jun's son Dezheng served as attendant gentleman during the Daye reign of Sui. Jun's younger brother was Shi.

師字公穎。少沈謹，有至性。初就學，始讀《孝經》，舍書而歎曰：「名教之極，其在茲乎！」少丁父母憂，居喪盡禮，州裏稱其有孝行。及長，略涉經史，尤工騎射。周大塚宰宇文護引為中外府記室，轉賓曹參軍。師雅知諸蕃風俗及山川險易，其有夷狄朝貢，師必接對，論其國俗，如視諸掌。夷人驚服，無敢陷情。齊王憲為雍州牧，引為主簿，本官如故。及武帝親總萬機，轉少府大夫。及齊平，詔師安撫山東。徙為賓部大夫。隋文帝受禪，拜吏部侍郎，賜爵井陘侯。遷河北道行台兵部尚書。奉詔為山東、河南十八州安撫大使。奏事稱旨，兼領晉王廣司馬。

Shi, styled Gongying. From youth he was thoughtful and reserved, with a deeply sincere nature. When he first went to school and began reading the Classic of Filial Piety, he put the book aside and sighed, "The highest point of moral teaching—is it not here! While still young he lost both parents; in mourning he observed every rite, and the district praised his filial devotion. When he grew up, he gained a general knowledge of the classics and histories and was especially skilled at horsemanship and archery. Yuwen Hu, the Zhou grand minister, brought him in as secretary of the central and external office, then transferred him to aide in the guests bureau. Shi knew the customs of the frontier peoples and the lay of their mountains and rivers intimately. Whenever foreign envoys came with tribute, he received them and discussed their countries' ways as clearly as if they lay in the palm of his hand. The envoys were astonished and deferential, and none dared withhold the truth. When Prince Xian of Qi became governor of Yong Province, he brought Shi in as chief clerk while Shi retained his former rank. When Emperor Wu personally assumed control of state affairs, Shi was transferred to grand officer of the privy treasury. When Qi was conquered, an edict ordered Shi to pacify and reassure the Shandong region. He was transferred to grand officer of the guests department. When Emperor Wen of Sui took the throne, Shi was appointed vice director of the ministry of personnel and granted the title Marquis of Jingxing. He was transferred to minister of war of the Hebei circuit mobile headquarters. By imperial order he was made pacification commissioner over the eighteen provinces of Shandong and Henan. His reports pleased the emperor, and he was additionally appointed secretary to Prince Jin Yang Guang.

其族人世康為吏部尚書，與師素懷勝負。于時廣為雍州牧，盛存望第，以司空楊雄、尚書左僕射高熲並為州都，引師為主簿，而世康弟世約為法曹從事。世康恚恨不能食，又恥世約在師之下，召世約數之曰：「汝何故為從事！」遂杖之。

His clansman Shikang was director of the ministry of personnel and had long nursed a competitive rivalry with Shi. At that time Yang Guang was governor of Yong Province, and his princely residence flourished and drew wide admiration. Minister of Works Yang Xiong and Left Vice Director Gao Jiong were both made provincial chiefs; Shi was brought in as chief clerk, while Shikang's younger brother Shiyue served as aide in the legal bureau. Shikang was so resentful he could not eat, and he was ashamed that Shiyue ranked below Shi. He summoned Shiyue and rebuked him: "Why are you serving as a mere aide! He then had him beaten with a staff.

後從上幸醴泉宮，上召師與左僕射高熲、上柱國韓擒等於臥內賜宴，令各敘舊事，以為笑樂。平陳之役，以本官領元帥掾。陳國府藏，悉委于師，秋毫無犯，稱為清白。後上為長寧王儼納其女為妃。除汴州刺史，甚有政名。卒官，諡曰定。

Later he accompanied the emperor to Liquan Palace. The emperor summoned Shi, Left Vice Director Gao Jiong, supreme pillar of state Han Qin, and others to a banquet in the inner apartments and had each tell old stories for amusement. During the campaign to conquer Chen, he retained his former rank and served as aide to the commander-in-chief. The treasuries of the Chen state were all entrusted to Shi; he did not take so much as a hair's worth and was praised for his integrity. Later the emperor had Prince Yan of Changning take Shi's daughter as his consort. He was appointed governor of Bian Province and earned a strong reputation for good administration. He died in office and was given the posthumous name Ding.

師宗人暮，仕周，位內史大夫。隋文帝初，以定策功，累遷上柱國，封普安郡公。開皇初，卒于蒲州刺史。

Shi's clansman Mu served the Zhou and rose to grand secretary. At the beginning of Emperor Wen of Sui's reign, for his merit in settling the succession he was repeatedly promoted to supreme pillar of state and enfeoffed as Duke of Pu'an commandery. At the beginning of the Kaihuang era he died while serving as governor of Pu Province.

柳虯，字仲盤，河東解人也。五世祖恭，仕後趙為河東郡守。後以秦、趙喪亂，率人南徙，居汝、潁間，遂仕江表。祖緝，宋司州別駕、宋安郡守。父僧習，善隸書，敏於當世。與豫州刺史裴叔業據州歸魏，曆北地潁川二郡守、揚州大中正。虯年十三，便專精好學。時貴游子弟就學者，並車服華盛，唯虯不事容飾。遍受五經，略通大義，兼涉子史，雅好屬文。孝昌中，揚州刺史李憲舉虯秀才，兗州刺史馮俊引虯為府主簿。既而樊子鵠為吏部尚書，其兄義為揚州刺史，乃以虯為揚州中從事，加鎮遠將軍。非其好也，並棄官還洛陽。屬天下喪亂，乃退耕于陽城，有終焉之志。

Liu Qiu, styled Zhongpan, was a native of Jie in Hedong. His fifth-generation ancestor Gong served Later Zhao as administrator of Hedong commandery. Later, amid the chaos in Qin and Zhao, he led people south to resettle between the Ru and Ying rivers and then entered service in the Jianghuai region. His grandfather Ji served the Song as vice governor of Si Province and administrator of Song'an commandery. His father Sengxi was skilled in clerical script and quick-witted in the affairs of his day. Together with Governor of Yu Province Pei Shuye he held the province and submitted to Wei, then served successively as administrator of Beidi and Yingchuan commanderies and as chief rectifier of Yang Province. At thirteen Qiu devoted himself wholeheartedly to study. At the time the sons of noble families who went to school all had splendid carriages and dress, but Qiu alone did not bother with adornment. He studied all Five Classics and grasped their main points, also ranged through the masters and histories, and greatly loved writing. During the Xiaochang era, Governor of Yang Province Li Xian recommended Qiu as a cultivated talent, and Governor of Yan Province Feng Jun brought him in as chief clerk of his headquarters. Soon afterward Fan Zihe became director of the ministry of personnel; his elder brother Yi was governor of Yang Province, and Qiu was made central aide of Yang Province with the additional title general who pacifies the distance. These posts did not suit him, and he resigned from both and returned to Luoyang. As the realm fell into chaos, he withdrew to farm at Yangcheng, intending to live out his days there.

大統三年，馮翊王元季海、領軍獨孤信鎮洛陽。于時舊京荒廢，人物罕存，唯有虯在陽城，裴諏在潁川。信等乃俱征之，以虯為行台郎中，諏為北府屬，並掌文翰。時人為之語曰：「北府裴諏，南府柳虯。」時軍旅務殷，虯勵精從事，或通夜不寢。季海常云：「柳郎中判事，我不復重看。」四年入朝，周文帝欲官之，虯辭母老，乞侍醫藥。周文許焉。又為獨孤信開府從事中郎。信出鎮隴右，因為秦州刺史，以虯為二府司馬。雖處元僚，不綜府事，唯在信左右談論而已。因使見周文，被留為丞相府記室。追論歸朝功，封美陽縣男。

In the third year of Datong, Prince Jihai of Fufeng and Director of the Guards Dugu Xin garrisoned Luoyang. At that time the old capital lay in ruins and few people remained; only Qiu was at Yangcheng and Pei Zou at Yingchuan. Xin and the others then summoned them both: Qiu was made secretariat director of the mobile headquarters and Zou aide of the northern headquarters, and both were put in charge of documents. People of the time had a saying: "Pei Zou of the northern headquarters, Liu Qiu of the southern headquarters. At that time military affairs were pressing; Qiu threw himself into his work and sometimes went all night without sleep. Jihai often said, "When Director Liu Qiu decides cases, I need not look them over again. In the fourth year he went to court; Emperor Wen of Zhou wished to appoint him to office, but Qiu declined on the grounds that his mother was old and begged to stay with her and tend her with medicine. Emperor Wen of Zhou granted his request. He also served as attendant secretary of Dugu Xin's independent office. When Xin went out to garrison Longyou and thereby became governor of Qin Province, he made Qiu secretary of both offices. Although he held a senior staff post, he did not manage headquarters affairs but merely talked at Xin's side. On a mission he saw Emperor Wen of Zhou and was kept on as secretary of the chancellor's headquarters. In recognition of his merit in returning to court, he was enfeoffed as Baron of Meiyang county.

虯以史官密書善惡，未足懲勸，乃上疏曰：「古者人君立史官，非但記事而已，蓋所為鑒誡也。動則左史書之，言則右史書之，彰善癉惡，以樹風聲。故南史抗節，表崔杼之罪；董狐書法，明趙盾之愆。是知執筆於朝，其來久矣。而漢、魏已還，密為記注，徒聞後世，無益當時。非所謂將順其美，匡救其惡者。且著述之人，密書縱能直筆，人莫知之。何止物生橫議，亦自異端互起。故班固致受金之名，陳壽有求米之論。著漢、魏者非一氏，造晉史者至數家。後代紛紜，莫知准的。伏惟陛下則天稽古，勞心庶政，開誹謗之路，納忠讜之言。諸史官記事者，請皆當朝顯言其狀，然後付之史閣。庶令是非明著，得失無陷，使聞善者日修，有過者知懼。」事遂施行。十四年，除秘書丞，領著作。舊丞不參史事，自虯為丞，始令監掌焉。遷中書侍郎，修起居注，仍領丞事。時人論文體者，有今古之異。虯又以為時有古今，非文有古今，乃為文質論。文多不載。廢帝初，遷秘書監，加車騎大將軍、儀同三司。

Qiu believed that historians' secret recording of good and evil was insufficient to warn and encourage, and so submitted a memorial saying, "In antiquity when rulers established historiographers, it was not merely to record events but to provide a mirror and a warning. When they acted, the left historiographer recorded it; when they spoke, the right historiographer recorded it—making good manifest and evil reproved, so as to establish moral example. Thus the southern historiographer held firm and exposed Cui Zhu's crime; Dong Hu's writing made Zhao Dun's fault clear. From this one knows that wielding the brush at court has a long history. Yet from Han and Wei onward records were kept in secret; later ages alone heard of them, with no benefit to the present age. This is not what is meant by supporting what is good and correcting what is evil. Moreover, among those who write history, even if secret records could be written with an upright brush, no one would know of it. Not only would the public give rise to reckless talk, but conflicting heresies would also arise. Thus Ban Gu was accused of taking bribes, and Chen Shou was accused of begging for rice. More than one family wrote histories of Han and Wei, and as many as several families compiled Jin histories. Later generations were tangled in confusion, with no clear standard to follow. I humbly consider that Your Majesty takes Heaven as model and examines antiquity, labors over the myriad affairs of government, opens the path for criticism, and accepts loyal remonstrance. I request that all historiographers who record affairs speak their accounts openly at court, and only then deliver them to the historiographical archive. Thus right and wrong would be made clear, gains and losses would not be hidden, those who heard of good would daily improve, and those with faults would know fear. The proposal was carried out. In the fourteenth year he was appointed assistant director of the secretariat and concurrently head of the historiographical office. Formerly the assistant director did not take part in historiographical affairs; from Qiu's tenure as assistant director, he was first ordered to supervise them. He was transferred to vice director of the central secretariat, compiled the diaries of activity and repose, and still concurrently held the assistant director's duties. People of the time who discussed literary style distinguished ancient from modern styles. Qiu also held that times have ancient and modern phases, but writing itself does not, and so he composed the Treatise on Literary Quality. Most of the treatise is not preserved. At the beginning of the deposed emperor's reign he was transferred to director of the secretariat and given the additional titles general of chariots and cavalry and bearer of rank equal to the Three Excellencies.

虯脫略人間，不事小節，弊衣蔬食，未嘗改操。人或譏之。虯曰：「衣不過適體，食不過充饑，孜孜營求，徒勞思慮耳。」恭帝元年冬卒，時年五十四。贈兗州刺史，諡曰孝。有文章數十篇，行於世。子鴻漸嗣。虯弟檜。

Qiu was detached from worldly affairs, did not fuss over minor points, wore worn clothes and ate plain food, and never changed his ways. Some people mocked him for it. Qiu said, "Clothing need only fit the body; food need only fill hunger. To strive constantly after more is merely wasted thought. In winter of the first year of Emperor Gong he died, at the age of fifty-four. He was posthumously made governor of Yan Province and given the posthumous name Xiao. Several tens of his essays circulated in his day. His son Hongjian succeeded him. Qiu's younger brother was Gui.

檜字季華。性剛簡，任氣少文，善騎射，果於斷決。年十八，起家奉朝請。居父喪，毀瘠骨立。服闋，除陽城郡丞、防城都督。大統四年，從周文戰於河橋，先登有功。授都督，鎮鄯州。八年，拜湟河郡守，仍典軍事。尋加平東將軍、太中大夫。吐谷渾入寇郡境，時檜兵少，人懷憂懼，檜撫而勉之，眾心乃安。因率數十人先擊之，渾人潰亂，餘眾乘之，遂大敗而走。以功封萬年縣子。時吐谷渾強盛，數侵疆埸，自檜鎮鄯州，屢戰必破之。數年之後，不敢為寇。十四年，遷河州別駕，轉帥都督。俄拜使持節、撫軍將軍、大都督。居三載，征還京師。

Gui, styled Jihua. By nature he was firm and plain-spoken, hot-tempered and unrefined, skilled at horsemanship and archery, and decisive in judgment. At eighteen he first entered service as attendant at court. During mourning for his father he wasted away until he was skin and bones. When mourning ended he was appointed assistant administrator of Yangcheng commandery and defense commissioner of the city. In the fourth year of Datong he followed Emperor Wen of Zhou in battle at Heqiao and earned merit by being first to scale the walls. He was appointed commander and garrisoned Shan Province. In the eighth year he was appointed administrator of Huanghe commandery and still directed military affairs. Soon he was additionally appointed General Who Pacifies the East and grand master of palace counsel. Tuyuhun invaded the commandery borders. Gui had few troops at the time, and the people were anxious and afraid, but he comforted and encouraged them until their spirits settled. He then led several dozen men in a first strike. The Tuyuhun broke and scattered, his remaining troops pressed the advantage, and routed them completely. For his merit he was enfeoffed as viscount of Wannian county. Tuyuhun was then at the height of its power and repeatedly raided the frontier. From the time Gui garrisoned Shan Province, he defeated them in every engagement. Within a few years they no longer dared raid. In the fourteenth year he was transferred to vice-governor of He Province, then became regional commander. Soon he was appointed commissioner bearing the staff, general who pacifies the army, and grand commander. After three years in office he was summoned back to the capital.

時檜兄虯為秘書丞，弟慶為尚書左丞。檜嘗謂兄弟曰：「兄則職典簡牘，褒貶人倫；弟則管轄九司，股肱朝廷。可謂榮寵矣。然而四方未靜，車書不一，檜唯當蒙矢石，履危難，以報國恩耳。」頃之，周文謂檜曰； '卿昔在鄯州，忠勇顯著。今西境肅清，無勞經略。九曲，國之東鄙，當勞君守之。」遂令檜鎮九曲。

At the time Gui's elder brother Qiu served as secretary director, and his younger brother Qing as left assistant director of the Masters of Writing. Gui once told his brothers, "You, elder brother, oversee the archives and judge human conduct; you, younger brother, administer the nine ministries and serve as the court's arms and legs. That is honor enough. But the realm is still unsettled and not yet united under one rule. I alone must face arrows and stones, endure hardship, and repay the state's grace. Before long, Emperor Wen of Zhou said to Gui: "When you were in Shan Province, your loyalty and bravery were outstanding. The western frontier is now secure; there is no need for further campaigning. Jiuqu is the eastern marches of the realm. I must ask you to hold it. With that, he ordered Gui to garrison Jiuqu.

尋從大將軍王雄討上津、魏興，平之，即除魏興、華陽二郡守。安康人黃眾寶謀反，連結黨與，將圍州城，乃相謂曰：「常聞柳府君勇悍有餘，不可當。今既在外，方為吾徒腹心之疾也，不如先擊之。」遂圍檜郡。郡城卑下，士眾寡弱，又無守禦之備。連戰積十餘日，士卒僅有存者。於是力屈城陷，身被十餘創，遂為賊所獲。既而眾寶等進圍東梁州，乃縛檜置城下，欲令誘城中。檜乃大呼曰：「群賊烏合，糧食已罄，行即退散，各宜勉之！」眾寶大怒，乃臨檜以兵曰：「速更汝辭！不爾便就戮矣。」檜守節不變，遂害之，棄屍水中。城中人皆為之流涕。眾寶解圍之後，檜兄子止戈方收檜屍還長安。贈東梁州刺史。子斌嗣。

Soon afterward he followed Grand General Wang Xiong in the campaign against Shangjin and Weixing. After they were pacified, he was immediately appointed administrator of Weixing and Huayang commanderies. Huang Zhongbao of Ankang plotted rebellion, rallied allies, and was about to besiege the provincial capital. They said among themselves, "We have often heard that Prefect Liu is fiercely brave beyond measure and cannot be faced. Now that he is away, he is the thorn in our side. We had better strike him first. So they besieged Gui's commandery. The city was low and vulnerable, its garrison small and weak, and there were no proper defenses. After more than ten days of fighting, only a handful of men remained. Their strength finally gave out and the city fell. Gui took more than ten wounds and was captured by the rebels. Zhongbao and his followers then moved to besiege Eastern Liang Province. They bound Gui and placed him beneath the wall, hoping to make him persuade the city to submit. Gui shouted at the top of his voice, "These rebels are a disorderly mob. Their grain is gone, and they will soon break up and withdraw. Hold firm! Zhongbao flew into a rage, leveled a weapon at Gui, and said, "Change your words at once! If not, you die here. Gui would not yield. They killed him and threw his body into the river. Everyone in the city wept for him. After Zhongbao lifted the siege, Gui's nephew Zhige recovered his body and brought it back to Chang'an. He was posthumously honored as inspector of Eastern Liang Province. His son Bin succeeded him.

斌字伯達。年十七，齊公憲召為記室。早卒。

Bin, styled Boda. At seventeen, Duke Xian of Qi summoned him as recorder. He died young.

斌弟雄亮，字信誠。父檜在華陽見害，雄亮時年十四，哀毀過禮，陰有復讎之志。武帝時，眾寶率其部歸長安，帝待之甚厚。雄亮手斬眾寶於城中，請罪闕下。帝特原之。後累遷內史中大夫，賜爵汝陽縣子。隋文帝受禪，拜尚書考功侍郎，遷給事黃門侍郎。尚書省凡所奏事，多所駁正，深為公卿所憚。俄以本官檢校太子左庶子，進爵為伯。秦王俊鎮隴右，出為秦州總管府司馬，領山南道行台左丞。卒。子贊嗣。

Bin's younger brother Xiongliang, styled Xincheng. When his father Gui was killed at Huayang, Xiongliang was fourteen. His mourning exceeded the prescribed rites, and secretly he resolved on revenge. During Emperor Wu's reign, Zhongbao led his followers to Chang'an and submitted. The emperor treated him with great favor. Xiongliang personally beheaded Zhongbao in the city, then went to the palace gates to plead for punishment. The emperor specially pardoned him. He was later promoted to palace secretary grand master and granted the title viscount of Ruyang county. When Emperor Wen of Sui accepted the throne, he was appointed vice director of the Ministry of Personnel for evaluating merit, then transferred to attendant gentleman of the yellow gate. Of all matters submitted through the Secretariat, he rejected and corrected many, and the high ministers deeply feared him. Soon, retaining his existing office, he was made acting left vice-crown prince and advanced in rank to marquis. When Prince Jun of Qin garrisoned Longyou, he was sent out as military administrator of the Qin Province general headquarters and also served as left assistant director of the Southern Mountains circuit executive. He died. His son Zan succeeded him.

檜弟鷟，好學善屬文，卒于魏臨淮王記室參軍事。

Gui's younger brother Zhuo loved learning and was skilled at literary composition. He died while serving as recorder and military adviser to the Prince of Linhuai of Wei.

子帶韋，字孝孫。深沈有度量，少好學，身長八尺三寸，美風儀，善占對。周文辟為參軍事。侯景作亂江南，周文令帶韋使江、郢二州，與梁邵陵、南平二王通好。行至安州，遇段寶等反，帶韋乃矯為周文書以安之，並即降附。及見邵陵，具申周文意。邵陵遣使隨帶韋報命。以奉使稱旨，授輔國將軍、中散大夫。

His son Daiwei, styled Xiaosun. Deep and steady in temperament, from youth he loved learning. He stood eight feet three inches tall, had a fine bearing, and was skilled at impromptu replies. Emperor Wen of Zhou recruited him as military adviser. When Hou Jing rebelled in the Jiangnan region, Emperor Wen of Zhou sent Daiwei as envoy to Jiang and Ying provinces to establish friendly relations with the Liang princes Shaoling and Nanping. When he reached An Province he encountered Duan Bao and others in rebellion. Daiwei forged a letter from Emperor Wen of Zhou to pacify them, and they submitted at once. When he met Shaoling, he fully conveyed Emperor Wen of Zhou's intentions. Shaoling sent an envoy to accompany Daiwei back with his report. Because his mission fulfilled the emperor's wishes, he was appointed general who assists the state and palace attendant grand master.

時譙王儉為益州總管，漢王贊為益州刺史。武帝以帶韋為益州總管府長史，領益州別駕，輔弼二王，總知軍事。及大軍東討，徵為前軍總管齊王憲府長史。齊平，以功授上開府儀同大將軍，進爵為公。陳王純鎮并州，以帶韋為并州司會、并州總管府長史。卒官，諡曰愷。

At the time Prince Jian of Qiao was general commander of Yi Province, and Prince Zan of Han was inspector of Yi Province. Emperor Wu appointed Daiwei chief administrator of the Yi Province general headquarters and vice-governor of Yi Province, to assist the two princes and oversee all military affairs. When the great army marched east on campaign, he was summoned as chief administrator on the staff of Prince Xian of Qi, grand commander of the forward army. When Qi was pacified, he was granted senior commandant with honors equal to an independently established office and advanced to duke for his merit. When Prince Chun of Chen garrisoned Bing Province, Daiwei was made Bing Province controller and chief administrator of the Bing Province general headquarters. He died in office and was given the posthumous name Kai.

子祚嗣。少有名譽，位宣納上士。入隋，位司勳侍郎。

His son Zuo succeeded him. He enjoyed a fine reputation from youth and rose to the rank of attendant who proclaims affairs, senior clerk. After the Sui dynasty was founded, he served as vice director of the Ministry of Honors.

鷟弟慶。慶字更興。幼聰敏有器量，博涉群書，不為章句，好飲酒，閑於占對。年十三，因暴書，父僧習試令慶于雜賦集中取賦一篇千餘言，誦之。慶立讀三遍，便誦之無所漏。時僧習為潁川郡守，地接都畿，人多豪右。將選鄉官，皆依貴勢，競來請托。選用既定，僧習謂諸子曰：「權貴請托，吾並不用。其使欲還，皆須有答。汝各以意為吾作書。」慶乃具書草。僧習讀，歎曰：「此兒有意氣，丈夫理當如是。」即依慶所草以報。起家奉朝請。

Zhuo's younger brother was Qing. Qing, styled Gengxing. As a child he was clever and broad-minded. He read widely without fussing over textual glosses, loved wine, and was adept at impromptu conversation. At thirteen, while books were being aired in the sun, his father Sengxi tested him by having Qing take from a miscellaneous collection of fu one piece of more than a thousand words and recite it. Qing read it through three times on the spot and recited it without missing a word. At the time Sengxi was administrator of Yingchuan commandery. The region bordered the capital, and many powerful local magnates lived there. When local officials were to be selected, the powerful families all leaned on their influence and pressed their requests. Once the selections were settled, Sengxi told his sons, "I have refused every request from the powerful. Their messengers will still need answers on their way home. Each of you write replies for me as you think best. Qing drafted all the letters. Sengxi read them and sighed, "This boy has backbone. That is how a man ought to be. He sent replies based on Qing's drafts. He first entered service as attendant at court.

慶出後第四叔，及遭父憂，議者不許為服重。慶泣曰：「禮緣人情，若於出後之家，更有苴斬之服，可奪此以從彼。今四叔薨背已久，情事不追。豈容奪禮，乖違天性！」時論不能抑，遂以苫塊終喪。既葬，乃與諸兄負土成墳。

Qing had been made heir to his fourth uncle. When his father died, critics argued that he should not wear the full mourning garb. Qing wept and said, "Rites grow out of human feeling. If one were still bound by mourning for the adoptive house, one might set this grief aside for that obligation. But my fourth uncle has been dead for years; that tie cannot be revived. How can I cast off the rites and betray my own nature! Public opinion could not sway him, and he observed the full mourning on a straw mat to the end. After the burial he joined his elder brothers in carrying earth to build the tomb mound.

孝武將西遷，慶以散騎侍郎馳傳入關。慶至高平，見周文，共論時事。周文即請奉迎輿駕，仍令慶先還復命。時賀拔勝在荊州，帝屏左右謂慶曰：「朕欲往荊州，何如？」慶曰：「關中金城千里，天下之強國也。荊州地無要害，寧足以固鴻基？」帝納之。及帝西遷，慶以母老不從。獨孤信之鎮洛陽，乃得入關。除相府東閣祭酒。

When Emperor Xiaowu was about to move west, Qing entered the pass by express relay in his capacity as palace attendant cavalier. Qing reached Gaoping, met Emperor Wen of Zhou, and discussed current affairs with him. Emperor Wen of Zhou at once asked to escort the imperial carriage and sent Qing back ahead to report. Heluo Sheng was then in Jing Province. The emperor dismissed his attendants and asked Qing, "I am thinking of going to Jing Province. What do you think? Qing said, "The Guanzhong region is a thousand-li fortress, the strongest realm under heaven. Jing Province has no strategic strongpoints. Can it truly secure the imperial foundation? The emperor accepted his advice. When the emperor moved west, Qing did not follow because his mother was old. Only when Dugu Xin garrisoned Luoyang was he able to enter the pass. He was appointed eastern pavilion libationer in the chancellor's office.

大統十年，除尚書都兵郎中，並領記室。時北雍州獻白鹿，群臣欲賀。尚書蘇綽謂慶曰：「近代已來，文章華靡，逮于江左，彌復輕薄。洛陽後進，祖述未已。相公柄人軌物，君職典文房，宜制此表，以革前弊。」慶操筆立成，辭兼文質。綽讀而笑曰：「枳橘猶自可移，況才子也！」

In the tenth year of Datong he was appointed lang of the Ministry of Personnel's military section, also serving concurrently as recorder. At the time Northern Yong Province presented a white deer, and the ministers wished to offer congratulations. Minister Su Chuo said to Qing, "In recent times literary style has grown ornate and extravagant, and south of the Yangzi it has become even more frivolous and shallow. Young writers in Luoyang still follow and imitate that fashion without letup. The Chancellor holds authority over men and sets standards for affairs, and your office is in charge of the literary bureau—you should draft this memorial to reform these abuses. Qing took up his brush and finished it on the spot, his language combining grace with substance. Chuo read it and laughed, saying, "If trifoliate orange and bitter orange can change when transplanted, how much more so can a talented man!"

尋以本官領雍州別駕。廣陵王欣，魏之懿親。其甥孟氏，屢為凶橫。或有告其盜牛。慶捕得實，趣令就禁。孟氏殊無懼容，乃謂慶曰：「若加以桎梏，後獨何以脫之？」欣亦遣使辨其無罪。孟氏由此益驕。慶乃大集僚吏，盛言孟氏倚權侵虐之狀。言畢，令笞殺之。此後貴戚斂手。

Soon he was appointed Adjunct Administrator of Yong Province while retaining his original rank. Prince of Guangling Xin was a close kinsman of the Wei imperial house. His nephew of the Meng clan repeatedly committed acts of violence and bullying. Someone reported that he had stolen cattle. Qing arrested him, verified the charge, and had him taken into custody at once. Meng showed no fear at all and said to Qing, "If you put me in shackles, how will you get me out afterward? Xin also sent a messenger to plead that he was innocent. After this the Meng clan grew even more arrogant. Qing then assembled all his subordinates and spoke at length about how the Meng clan relied on power to bully and abuse others. When he finished speaking, he ordered Meng flogged to death. After that the powerful families held themselves in check.

有賈人持金二十斤詣京師，寄人居止。每欲出行，常自執管鑰。無何，緘閉不異而並失之。謂主人所竊。郡縣訊問，主人自誣服。慶疑之，乃召問賈人曰：「卿鑰恆置何處？」對曰：「恆自帶之。」慶曰：「頗與人同宿乎？」曰：「無。」「與同飲乎？」曰：「日者曾與一沙門再度酣宴，醉而晝寢。」慶曰：「沙門乃真盜耳。」即遣捕沙門，乃懷金逃匿。後捕得，盡獲所失金。十二年，改三十六曹為十二部，以慶為計部郎中，別駕如故。

A merchant carrying twenty jin of gold came to the capital and stayed as a guest in someone's home. Whenever he went out he always kept the keys on him. Before long, though locks and seals seemed undisturbed, the gold was gone. He accused his host of stealing it. When the district and county interrogated the case, the host falsely confessed under duress. Qing was suspicious and summoned the merchant, asking, "Where do you usually keep the keys? He replied, "I always carry them with me. Qing asked, "Do you ever share lodging with anyone? He said, "No." Do you ever drink with anyone? He said, "The other day I drank twice with a monk till we were thoroughly merry; I got drunk and slept through the day. Qing said, "The monk is the real thief. He immediately sent men to arrest the monk, who was hiding with the gold. The monk was later captured and all the missing gold was recovered. In the twelfth year the thirty-six bureaus were reorganized into twelve departments; Qing was made lang of the Accounting Department while retaining his post as adjunct administrator.

又有胡家被劫，郡縣按察，莫知賊所，鄰近被囚者甚多。慶以賊是烏合，可以詐求之。乃作匿名書，多榜官門曰：「我等共劫胡家，徒侶混雜，終恐洩露。今欲首伏，懼不免誅。若聽先首免罪，便欲來告。」慶乃復施免罪之牒。居二日，廣陵王欣家奴面縛自告牒下，因此盡獲黨與。慶之守正明察，皆此類也。每歎曰：「或於公斷獄無私，辟高門以待封。儻斯言有驗，吾其庶幾乎。」封清河縣男，除尚書左丞，攝計部。

Another case involved a Hu household that was robbed; district and county investigators could not find the thieves, and many neighbors were imprisoned. Qing judged that the thieves were a loosely banded mob and could be flushed out by a ruse. He wrote anonymous notices and posted many at the government gate: "We jointly robbed the Hu household; our group is mixed and disorganized, and we fear we will be exposed. We now wish to surrender, but fear we cannot escape punishment. If whoever turns himself in first is granted amnesty, we will come forward. Qing then posted another amnesty proclamation. Two days later a household slave of Prince Guangling Xin came forward, hands bound, to surrender under the proclamation; the whole gang was thus captured. Qing's integrity and sharp discernment were all of this kind. He often sighed, "They say that when Yu Gong judged without favor, his family was rewarded with high rank. If that saying should prove true, perhaps I might come close to it. He was enfeoffed as Baron of Qinghe County, appointed left assistant director of the Ministry of Personnel, and put in charge of the Accounting Department.

周文嘗怒安定國臣王茂，將殺之，而非其罪。朝臣咸知，而莫敢諫。慶乃進爭之。周文逾怒曰：「卿若明其無罪，亦須坐之。」乃執慶於前。慶辭氣不撓，抗聲曰：「竊聞君有不達者為不明。臣有不爭者為不忠。慶謹竭愚誠，實不敢愛死，但懼公為不明之君耳。」周文乃悟而赦茂，已不及矣。周文默然。明日，謂慶曰：「吾不用卿言，遂令王茂冤死。可賜茂家錢帛，以旌吾過。」尋進爵為子。慶威儀端肅，樞機明辯。周文每發號令，常使慶宣之。天性抗直，無所回避。周文亦以此深委仗焉。恭帝初，進位驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司、尚書右僕射，轉左僕射，領著作。六官建，拜司會中大夫。

Zhou Wen once grew angry at Wang Mao, a minister of Anding domain, and was about to execute him though he was innocent. The court ministers all knew, yet none dared speak up. Qing stepped forward to argue against it. Zhou Wen grew even angrier and said, "If you insist he is innocent, you will share his punishment. He had Qing seized and brought before him. Qing did not flinch; raising his voice he said, "I have heard that a ruler who fails to see clearly is unenlightened. A minister who does not speak up is disloyal. Qing spoke with all the sincerity he could muster; he did not hold back his life, but feared only that his lord would prove an unenlightened ruler. Zhou Wen then understood and pardoned Mao—but it was already too late. Zhou Wen fell silent. The next day he said to Qing, "I did not heed your advice, and Wang Mao died unjustly. Bestow money and silk on Mao's family to mark my fault. Soon afterward his noble rank was raised to viscount. Qing was dignified in bearing and clear and decisive in critical affairs. Whenever Zhou Wen issued orders, he had Qing proclaim them. By nature he was upright and blunt, never yielding. Zhou Wen for this reason deeply relied on him. At the start of Emperor Gong's reign he was promoted to general of agile cavalry, granted the privileges of an independent command equal to the Three Excellencies, made right vice director of the Ministry of Personnel, then left vice director, and put in charge of the compilation bureau. When the six offices were established, he was appointed grand master of the treasury.

周孝閔帝踐祚，賜姓宇文氏，進爵平齊縣公。晉公護初執政，欲引為腹心。慶辭之，頗忤旨。又與楊寬有隙，及寬參知政事，慶遂見疏忌，出為萬州刺史。明帝尋悟，留為雍州別駕，領京兆尹。武成二年，除宜州刺史。慶自為郎，迄為司會，府庫倉儲，並其職也。及在宜州，寬為小塚宰，乃囚慶故吏，求其罪失。案驗積六十餘日，吏或有死於獄者，終無所言，唯得乘錦數匹。時人服其廉慎。又入為司會。

When Emperor Xiaomin of Zhou took the throne, Qing was granted the surname Yuwen and raised to duke of Pingqi county. When Duke of Jin Yuwen Hu first took power, he wished to make Qing his trusted confidant. Qing declined, which displeased him considerably. He also had a feud with Yang Kuan; when Kuan joined in governing, Qing fell under suspicion and was sent out as governor of Wan province. Emperor Ming soon saw his worth, kept him as adjunct administrator of Yong province, and made him metropolitan governor of Jingzhao. In the second year of Wucheng he was appointed governor of Yi province. From his time as a bureau lang until he became treasurer, treasuries, storehouses, and granaries had all been within his responsibilities. While Qing was in Yi province, Yang Kuan served as junior steward and imprisoned Qing's former clerks, searching for evidence of wrongdoing. The investigation lasted more than sixty days; some clerks died in prison, yet none incriminated him—the only evidence was a few bolts of brocade he had accepted as gifts. People of the time admired his integrity and discretion. He was again appointed treasurer.

先是，慶兄檜為魏興郡守，為賊黃眾寶所害。檜子三人皆幼弱，慶撫養甚篤。後眾寶歸朝，朝廷待以優禮。居數年，檜次子雄亮白日手刃眾寶于長安城中。晉公護聞而大怒，執慶諸子侄皆囚之，讓慶擅殺人。對曰：「慶聞父母之讎不同天，昆弟之讎不同國。明公以孝臨天下，何乃責於此乎？」護逾怒，慶辭色無屈，竟以俱免。卒。贈鄜、綏、丹三州刺史，諡曰景。子機嗣。

Earlier, Qing's elder brother Gui, administrator of Weixing commandery, had been killed by the bandit Huang Zhongbao. Gui's three sons were still very young; Qing raised them with devoted care. Later Zhongbao submitted to the court and was treated with special courtesy. Several years later Gui's second son Xiongliang openly killed Zhongbao with his own hand in Chang'an. Duke of Jin Yuwen Hu was furious; he had Qing's sons and nephews seized and imprisoned, and rebuked Qing for unauthorized killing. Qing replied, "I have heard that one's parents' enemy cannot live under the same sky, and one's brother's enemy cannot live in the same state. Your Lordship rules all under heaven through filial piety—why reproach me for this? Hu grew angrier still, but Qing did not flinch; in the end all were released. He died. He was posthumously honored with the rank of governor over Fu, Sui, and Dan provinces, and given the posthumous title Jing. His son Ji succeeded him.

機字匡時。偉容儀，有器局，頗涉經史。年十九，周武帝時為魯公，引為記室。及帝嗣位，累遷太子宮尹，封平齊縣公。宣帝時，為禦正上大夫。機見帝失德，屢諫不聽，恐禍及己，托于鄭譯，求出，拜華州刺史。及隋文帝作相，征還京師。時周代舊臣皆勸禪讓，機獨義形於色，無所陳請。俄拜衛州刺史。及踐祚，進爵建安郡公，徵為納言。機性寬簡，有雅望，當近侍，無所損益。又好飲酒，不親細務。數年，出為華州刺史，奉詔每月朝見。尋轉冀州刺史。後征入朝，以其子述尚蘭陵公主，禮遇益隆。初，機在周，與族人文城公昂俱曆顯要，及此，昂、機並為外職。楊素時為納言，方用事，因上賜宴，素戲曰：「二柳俱摧，孤楊獨聳。」坐者歡笑，機竟無言。未幾還州。前後作守，俱稱寬惠。後以征還，卒於家。贈大將軍、青州刺史，諡曰簡。子述嗣。

Ji's courtesy name was Kuangshi. He had a handsome bearing, breadth of character, and considerable learning in the classics and histories. At nineteen, when the future Emperor Wu of Zhou was still Duke of Lu, he was made Ji's recorder. When the emperor succeeded to the throne, Ji rose through successive posts to palace administrator of the crown prince and was enfeoffed as duke of Pingqi county. Under Emperor Xuan he served as superior grand master of the imperial correctives. Seeing the emperor's misconduct, Ji remonstrated again and again without being heard; fearing he would be implicated, he turned to Zheng Yi, sought a provincial post, and was appointed governor of Hua province. When Emperor Wen of Sui became chancellor, Ji was recalled to the capital. Old ministers of the Zhou all urged abdication in Yang Jian's favor; Ji alone showed open disapproval and made no petition. He was soon appointed governor of Wei province. When Yang Jian took the throne, Ji was raised to duke of Jian'an commandery and recalled as censor-in-chief. Easygoing and unassuming, Ji enjoyed a fine reputation; as a close attendant he neither helped nor hindered affairs much. He also loved wine and did not bother with minor details. Several years later he was sent out as governor of Hua province, with orders to attend court monthly. He was soon transferred to governor of Ji province. Later he was recalled to court; because his son Shu had married Princess Lanling, his honors grew still greater. Earlier, during the Zhou, Ji and his kinsman Duke Wencheng Ang had both held high office; by now both were serving outside the capital. Yang Su, then censor-in-chief and very much in power, joked at an imperial banquet: "Both willows have fallen, while the lone poplar stands tall. Those present burst out laughing; Ji said nothing in reply. Before long he returned to his province. In successive terms as regional governor, he was praised alike for his leniency and kindness. Later he was recalled to court and died at home. Posthumously named grand general and governor of Qing province, with the posthumous title Jian ("Simple"). His son Shu inherited his title.

述字業隆。性明敏，有幹略，頗涉文藝。以父廕為太子親衛。後以尚主故，拜開府儀同三司、內史侍郎。上于諸婿中特見寵遇。歲餘，判兵部尚書事。父艱去職。未幾，起攝給事黃門侍郎事，襲爵建安郡公。

Shu, whose courtesy name was Yelong. Bright and quick by nature, he had talent for leadership and was well versed in literature and the arts. Through his father's hereditary privilege he was made a close guard of the crown prince. Later, having married an imperial princess, he was made grand master with privileges equal to the Three Excellencies and vice minister of the inner secretariat. Among the emperor's sons-in-law he was singled out for special favor. After a year or so, he was put in charge of war ministry affairs. He left office upon his father's death. Before long he was recalled to serve concurrently as attendant gentleman of the yellow gate and inherited the title duke of Jian'an commandery.

仁壽中，判吏部尚書事。述雖職務修理，為當時所稱，然不達大體，暴於馭下，又怙寵驕豪，無所降屈。楊素時方貴重，朝臣莫不讋憚，述每陵侮之，數於上前面折素短。判事有不合，素意或令述改，輒謂將命者曰：「語僕射，道尚書不肯。」素由是銜之。俄而楊素被疏忌，不知省事。述任寄逾重，拜兵部尚書，參掌機密。述自以無功可紀，過叨匪服，抗表陳讓。上許之，命攝兵部尚書。

During the Renshou reign era he was put in charge of personnel ministry affairs. Though Shu ran his affairs efficiently and won praise at the time, he failed to see the larger picture, was harsh toward subordinates, and, secure in imperial favor, grew arrogant and bowed to no one. Yang Su then held great power and prestige, and no courtier dared cross him—yet Shu habitually slighted and insulted him, openly exposing Su's faults before the emperor on several occasions. When a ruling did not suit Su, Su would sometimes order Shu to change it; Shu would tell the messenger: "Tell the vice minister that the minister refuses. Su therefore came to bear a deep grudge against him. Before long Yang Su fell out of favor and was relieved of his routine duties. Shu's responsibilities grew heavier still; he was appointed minister of war and took part in confidential state business. Feeling he had no achievements to his credit and had received an unmerited appointment, Shu submitted a memorial declining the post. The emperor agreed and had him serve concurrently as minister of war.

上于仁壽宮寢疾，述與楊素、黃門侍郎元岩等侍疾宮中。時皇太子無禮于陳貴人，上知之，大怒，令述召房陵王。述與元岩出外作敕書。楊素見之，與皇太子謀，矯詔執述、岩屬吏。及煬帝嗣位，述坐除名。公主請與同徙，帝不聽。述在龍川數年，復徙寧越，遇瘴癘死。

When the emperor fell ill at Renshou Palace, Shu joined Yang Su, Yuan Yan of the yellow gate, and others in attending him in the palace. The crown prince had been disrespectful toward Lady Chen; when the emperor learned of it he flew into a rage and ordered Shu to summon the Prince of Fangling. Shu and Yuan Yan went outside the palace to draft the edict. Yang Su saw what was happening, conspired with the crown prince, and forged an edict to have Shu and Yan arrested and handed over to the judicial officers. When Emperor Yang took the throne, Shu was stripped from the official rolls. The princess asked to share his exile; the emperor would not allow it. Shu spent several years in Longchuan, was then transferred to Ningyue, and died there of pestilential disease.

機弟弘，字匡道。少聰穎，工草隸，博涉群書，辭采雅贍。與弘農楊素為莫逆交。解巾中外府記室。建德初，除內史上士。曆小宮尹、禦正上士。陳遣王偃人來聘，武帝令弘勞之。偃人謂弘曰：「來日至藍田，正逢滋水暴長，所賚國信，溺而從流。今所進，假之從吏。請勒下流人見為尋此物。」弘曰：「昔淳於之獻空籠，前史稱以為美。足下假物而進，詎是陳君命乎？」偃人慚不能對。武帝聞而嘉之，盡以偃人所進物賜弘，仍令報聘。占對敏捷，見稱于時。後卒于禦正下大夫。贈晉州刺史。楊素誄之曰：「山陽王弼，風流長逝；潁川荀粲，零落無時。修竹夾池，永絕梁園之賦；長楊映沼，無復洛川之文。」其為士友所痛惜如此。有文集行於世。

Ji's younger brother Hong, whose courtesy name was Kuangdao. Clever from youth, he was skilled in cursive and clerical script, widely read, and wrote with elegant, abundant style. He formed a close friendship with Yang Su of Hongnong. On entering official life he became secretary in a government office. At the start of the Jiande era he was appointed senior clerk in the inner secretariat. He successively served as junior palace master and senior clerk of imperial rectitude. Chen sent Wang Yanren on a diplomatic mission, and Emperor Wu had Hong receive and entertain him. Yanren said to Hong: "On the day we reached Lantian we met the Zi River in sudden flood, and the state credentials we carried were drowned and swept downstream. What we are presenting now was borrowed from our accompanying clerks. We ask that you order people downstream who have seen them to search for these items. Hong said: "In former times Chunyu's presenting of an empty cage was praised in history as admirable. You present borrowed items—can this really be on the orders of the lord of Chen? Yanren was ashamed and had no reply. Emperor Wu heard of this and was pleased; he gave Hong all the items Yanren had presented and ordered him to return the diplomatic visit. Quick and clever in debate, he was praised at the time. He later died while serving as junior grand master of imperial rectitude. Posthumously named governor of Jin province. Yang Su composed an elegy for him: "Wang Bi of Shanyang, gone with his elegant spirit; Xun Can of Yingchuan, cut down before his time. Bamboo groves flanking the pond—the Liang Garden fu is ended forever; Changyang groves mirrored in the marsh—the Luo River prose will never return. Such was the grief of his friends among the literati. His collected writings circulated widely.

子燮，官至河內郡掾。

His son Xie rose to the rank of clerk in Henei commandery.

旦弟肅，字匡仁。少聰敏，閑於占對。仕周，位宣納上士。隋文帝作相，引為賓曹參軍。開皇初，授太子洗馬。陳使謝泉來聘，以才學見稱，詔肅宴接，時論稱其華辯。曆太子內舍人，遷太子僕。太子廢，坐除名。大業中，帝與段達語及庶人罪惡。達云：「柳肅在宮，大見疏斥。」帝問其故。答曰：「學士劉臻嘗進章仇太翼宮中，為巫蠱事。肅知而諫曰：'殿下位當儲貳，戒在不孝，無患見疑。劉臻書生，鼓搖脣舌，適足以相詿誤。願勿納之。 '庶人不懌，他日，謂臻曰：'汝何漏泄，使柳肅知之，令面折我！ '自是後，言皆不用。」帝曰：「肅橫除名。」乃召守禮部侍郎。坐事免。後守工部侍郎，大見親任，每幸遼東，常委于涿郡留守。卒官。

Dan's younger brother Su, whose courtesy name was Kuangren. Clever from youth, he was skilled at impromptu repartee. He served the Zhou and held the post of senior clerk of the secretariat. When Emperor Wen of Sui became chancellor, he was invited to serve as aide in the guests bureau. At the start of the Kaihuang era he was appointed groom of the heir apparent. When Chen sent Xie Quan on a diplomatic mission, Su was ordered to host him; renowned for his talent and learning, Su was praised at the time for his eloquence and brilliance. He successively served as inner gentleman of the heir apparent and was promoted to steward of the heir apparent. When the crown prince was deposed, he was struck from the official rolls. During the Daye era the emperor spoke with Duan Da about the deposed prince's misconduct. Da said: "While serving at the palace, Liu Su was greatly alienated and rejected. The emperor asked why. He replied: "The scholar Liu Zhen once brought Zhang Qiu Taiyi into the palace for sorcery. Su learned of it and remonstrated: 'Your Highness holds the position of heir apparent; guard against unfilial conduct—there is no need to fear suspicion. Liu Zhen is a mere bookish man who wags his lips and tongue—he is quite enough to lead you astray. I beg you not to admit him. The deposed prince was displeased; another day he said to Zhen: 'Why did you leak this, letting Liu Su know and causing him to confront me to my face! From then on, none of his advice was heeded. The emperor said: "Restore Liu Su's name—he should never have been struck from the rolls. He then summoned him to serve concurrently as vice minister of rites. He was dismissed because of an offense. Later he served concurrently as vice minister of works and was greatly trusted; whenever the emperor went on campaign to Liaodong, he regularly entrusted him with staying behind as guardian of Zhuo commandery. He died in office.

機從子謇之，字公正。父蔡年，周順州刺史。謇之身長七尺五寸，儀容甚偉，風神爽亮，進止可觀。為童兒時，周齊王憲遇之於途，異而與語，大奇之，因奏為國子生。以明經擢第，拜宮師中士，轉守廟下士。武帝有事太廟，謇之讀祝文，音韻清雅，觀者屬目。帝善之，擢為宣納上士。開皇初，拜通事舍人，尋遷內史舍人。曆兵部、司勳二曹侍郎。朝廷以謇之雅望，善談謔，又飲酒至一石不亂，由是，每梁陳使至，輒令接對。遷光祿少卿。出入十餘年，每參掌敷奏。

Ji's nephew Jianzhi, whose courtesy name was Gongzheng. His father Cai Nian was governor of Shun province under the Zhou. Jianzhi stood seven feet five inches tall, with a commanding appearance, bright and spirited bearing, and dignified deportment. As a boy he was met on the road by Prince Qi Xian of Zhou, who found him remarkable, spoke with him, and was so impressed that he had him enrolled as a student of the imperial academy. Having passed the classics examination with distinction, he was appointed middle clerk in the palace masters office and transferred to serve as lower clerk of the ancestral temple. When Emperor Wu performed rites at the grand ancestral temple, Jianzhi read the prayer text in clear, elegant tones, and all eyes turned to him. The emperor was pleased and promoted him to senior clerk of the secretariat. At the start of the Kaihuang era he was appointed attendant master of affairs and soon transferred to attendant of the inner secretariat. He successively served as vice minister in the bureaus of war and of meritorious service. Because of Jianzhi's fine reputation, his gift for witty banter, and his ability to drink a full shi of wine without losing his composure, the court always had him receive envoys from Liang and Chen. He was transferred to vice director of the imperial household. For more than ten years in court service he regularly took part in drafting and presenting memorials.

會吐谷渾來降，朝廷以宗女光化公主妻之，以謇之兼散騎常侍，送公主于西域。及突厥啟人可汗求和親，復令謇之送義成公主于突厥。前後使二國，得贈馬二千餘匹，雜物稱是，皆散之宗族，家無餘財。出為肅、息二州刺史，俱有惠政。煬帝踐祚，復拜光祿。大業初，啟人可汗自以內附，遂畜牧於定襄、馬邑間。帝使謇之諭令出塞。還，拜黃門侍郎。

When Tuyuhun submitted, the court married a clanswoman, Princess Guanghua, to their leader and appointed Jianzhi concurrently as regular attendant of the secretariat to escort the princess to the Western Regions. When the Türk Qimin Qaghan sought a marriage alliance, Jianzhi was again ordered to escort Princess Yicheng to the Türks. On his two missions he received more than two thousand horses in gifts, along with a comparable amount of other goods, and distributed them all among his clansmen, leaving nothing for his household. He was sent out as governor of Su and Xi provinces, and in both he governed with benevolent policies. When Emperor Yang took the throne, he was again appointed director of the imperial household. At the start of the Daye era Qimin Qaghan, having submitted to the dynasty, pastured his herds between Dingxiang and Mayi. The emperor sent Jianzhi to instruct him to move beyond the frontier. On his return he was appointed vice minister of the yellow gate.

時元德太子初薨，朝野注望，以齊王當立。帝方重王府之選，拜為齊王長史。帝法服臨軒，命齊王立於西朝堂，遣吏部尚書牛弘、內史令楊約、左衛大將軍宇文述等從殿廷引謇之詣齊王所，西面立。弘宣敕謂齊王曰：「我出蕃之初，時年十二。先帝立我於西朝堂，乃令高熲、虞慶則、元旻等從內送王子相于我。誡我曰：'以汝未更世事，令子相作輔於汝，事無大小，皆可委之。無得昵近小人，疏遠子相。若從我言者，有益於社稷，成立汝名行；如不用此言，唯國及身，敗無日矣。 '吾受敕，奉以周旋，不敢失墜。微子相之力，吾幾無今日矣。若與謇之從事，一如子相也。」又敕謇之曰：「今以卿作輔于齊，副朕所望。若齊王德業修備，富貴自當鍾卿一門。若有不善，罪亦相及。」時齊王擅寵，喬令則之徒，深見昵狎，謇之知其非，不能匡正。及王得罪，謇之竟坐除名。及帝幸遼東，召檢校燕郡事。帝班師至燕郡，坐供頓不給，配戍嶺南，卒於洭口。子威明。

Crown Prince Yuande had just died, and court and country alike expected the Prince of Qi to be named heir. The emperor was then placing great emphasis on appointments to princely households and made him chief administrator to the Prince of Qi. The emperor in ceremonial robes came to the front hall, had the Prince of Qi stand in the western court hall, and sent Minister of Personnel Niu Hong, Director of the Inner Secretariat Yang Yue, General of the Left Guard Yuwen Shu, and others from the palace hall to lead Jianzhi to the prince's side, where he stood facing west. Hong announced the edict and said to the Prince of Qi: "When I first went out to my fief, I was twelve years old. When the late emperor installed me in the Western Court Hall, he had Gao Jiong, Yu Qingze, Yuan Min, and others bring Prince Zixiang to me from the inner palace. He warned me: 'You are still inexperienced in worldly affairs, so I set Zixiang to assist you. Great matters and small—you may entrust them all to him.' Do not cozy up to petty men or keep your distance from Zixiang. If you heed my words, the realm will benefit and your name and conduct will stand firm; if you ignore them, ruin for the state and for yourself will come soon. I received that command and have lived by it ever since, not daring to let it slip. Without Zixiang's help, I would scarcely be where I am today. Work with Jianzhi as you would with Zixiang. He also told Jianzhi: "I appoint you to assist the Prince of Qi, as I have long wished. If the Prince of Qi's virtue and achievement are complete, wealth and honor will naturally come to your whole house. If anything goes wrong, you will share the blame as well." The Prince of Qi then held the emperor's exclusive favor; men like Qiao Lingze grew dangerously close to him. Jianzhi saw the danger but could not correct it. When the prince was condemned, Jianzhi was stripped of office. When the emperor campaigned in Liaodong, Jianzhi was called to oversee Yan commandery. When the emperor withdrew to Yan commandery, Jianzhi was punished for failing to provision the army, sent to garrison Lingnan, and died at Kuangkou. His son was Weiming.

論曰：高氏藉四胡之勢，跨有山東，周文承二將之餘，創基關右，似商、周之不敵，若漢、楚之爭雄。又連官渡之兵，未定鴻溝之約。雖弘農、沙苑，齊卒先奔；而河橋、北芒，周師橈敗。於是競圖進取，各務兵戈，齊謂兼併有餘，周則自守不足。韋孝寬奇材異度，緯武經文，居要害之地，受幹城之托。東人怙恃其眾，悉力來攻，將欲釃酒未央，飲馬清渭。孝寬乃馮茲雉堞，抗彼仇讎，事甚析骸，勢危負戶，終能奮其智勇，應變無方，城守六旬，竟摧大敵。齊人既焚營宵遁，高氏遂憤恚而殂。雖即墨破燕，晉陽存趙，何以能尚？若使平陽不守，鄴城無眾人之師；玉壁啟關，函谷失封泥之固。斯豈一城之得喪，實亦二國之興亡者歟。韋夐陷不負人，貞不絕俗，怡神墳籍，養素丘園，哀樂無以動其心，名利不足幹其慮，確乎不拔，實近代之高人也。明帝比諸園、綺，豈徒然哉！世康風神雅量，一代稱偉，簪纓人物，見重京華。瑱素望高風，亦云美矣。柳虯兄弟，雅道是基，並能譽重搢紳，豈虛至也。慶束帶立朝，匪躬是蹈，蒞官從政，清白著美。至於畏避權寵，違忤宰臣，雖取詘于一時，實獲申於千載矣。機立身行已，本以寬雅流譽，至於登朝正色，可謂不違直道。雖陵谷遷貿，終以雅正自居，古所謂以道事人，斯之謂矣。述雖幹略見稱，終乃敗於驕寵，惜矣。

The historian comments: The Gao clan rode the power of the frontier peoples and held the east; Zhou Wen took up the legacy of two great generals and founded his realm in the Guanxi west—like the clash of Shang and Zhou, like the rivalry of Han and Chu. Battle followed battle as at Guandu, yet no truce like that at Honggou ever held. Though at Hongnong and Shayuan Qi's troops broke first; at Heqiao and Beimang Zhou's armies were routed. Each side then pressed for advantage and poured everything into war: Qi believed conquest was within reach, while Zhou felt it could barely hold its own. Wei Xiaokuan was a man of rare ability, equally adept in arms and letters, holding a critical post entrusted with the defense of the realm. The easterners trusted in their numbers and attacked with full force, intending to celebrate in Weiyang and water their horses in the Wei. Xiaokuan manned those walls against his foes through hunger and desperation, yet roused all his wit and courage, adapted without fixed plan, held the city sixty days, and broke the great enemy at last. When Qi burned its camps and stole away by night, Gao Huan brooded himself to death. The sieges of Jimo and Jinyang pale beside this—how could they compare? Had Pingyang fallen, Ye would have lost its army; had Yubi's gates opened, Hangu Pass would have lost its seal. This was not merely one city's fate—it was the rise or fall of two kingdoms. Wei Xiong did not betray others in hardship and did not cut himself off from the world in integrity. He found joy in the classics and simplicity in his garden; neither joy nor grief moved him, neither fame nor profit swayed him—unyielding, a true lofty spirit of his age. When Emperor Ming compared him to the recluses Yuan and Qi, he did not speak in vain! Shikang's bearing and generous spirit made him the wonder of his generation; as a court gentleman he was honored in the capital. Zhen's unadorned reputation and lofty integrity were admirable as well. The Liu Qiu brothers grounded themselves in refined conduct and won the esteem of the gentry—such praise was not undeserved. Qing served at court with sash bound tight, devoted himself without reserve, and won fame for integrity in office. In shunning power and defying chief ministers he suffered for a season, yet won vindication for a thousand years. Ji was known for generous elegance in his conduct; when he took his place at court with stern integrity, he did not stray from the straight path. Though fortunes rose and fell, he held to refined integrity to the end—what the ancients meant by serving others through the Way. Shu won praise for ability and strategy, yet was destroyed by arrogant favor—a pity.

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