Volume 70 Biographies 58: Han Bao, Zhao Su, Zhang Gui, Li Yan, Guo Yan, Liang Xin, Huang Fufan, Xing Qingzhi, Wang Zizhi, Du Gao, Lu Sili, Xu Zhao, Tan Zhu, Meng Xin, Zong Lin, Liu Fan, Liu Xia

韓襃趙肅張軌李彥郭彥梁昕皇甫璠辛慶之王子直杜杲呂思禮徐招檀翥孟信宗懍劉璠柳遐

Han Bao, Zhao Su, Zhang Gui, Li Yan, Guo Yan, Liang Xin, Huang Fufan, Xing Qingzhi, Wang Zizhi, Du Gao, Lu Sili, Xu Zhao, Tan Zhu, Meng Xin, Zong Lin, Liu Fan, and Liu Xia

列傳第五十八

Biographies 58

韓褒趙肅子軌張軌李彥郭彥梁昕皇甫璠子誕辛慶之族子昂王子直杜杲呂思禮徐招檀翥孟信宗懍劉璠子祥兄子行本柳遐子莊

Han Bao; Zhao Su and his son Gui; Zhang Gui; Li Yan; Guo Yan; Liang Xin; Huang Fufan and his son Dan; Xing Qingzhi and his clansman Ang; Wang Zizhi; Du Gao; Lu Sili; Xu Zhao; Tan Zhu; Meng Xin; Zong Lin; Liu Fan, his son Xiang, and his brother's son Xingben; Liu Xia and his son Zhuang

韓褒，字弘業，潁川潁陽人也。祖環，魏平涼郡守、安定郡公。父演，恆州刺史。褒少有志尚，好學而不守章句。其師怪問之，對曰：「文字之間，常奉訓誘，至於商較異同，請從所好。」師因此奇之。及長，涉獵經史，深沈有遠略。屬魏室喪亂，避地夏州。時周文帝為刺史，素聞其名，待以客禮。及賀拔岳為侯莫陳悅所害，諸將遣使迎周文。周文問以去留之計，褒曰：「此天授也，何可疑乎！」周文納焉。及為丞相，引為錄事參軍。賜姓侯呂陵氏。大統初，遷行台左丞，賜爵三水縣伯、丞相府從事中郎，出鎮淅、酈。居二年，徵拜丞相府司馬，進爵為侯。

Han Bao, whose style name was Hongye, came from Yingyang in Yingchuan. His grandfather Huan had served as prefect of Pingliang under Wei and held the title Duke of Anding. His father Yan was governor of Heng Province. From youth Bao harbored high ambitions; he loved learning but refused to be bound by commentarial pedantry. When his teacher questioned this odd habit, he answered, "I always heed your guidance in reading the texts themselves; but when it comes to debating fine points of interpretation, let me follow my own inclinations. His teacher marveled at this reply. As an adult he ranged widely through the classics and histories, and was known for his depth of mind and long-range vision. When the Wei court collapsed into chaos, he took refuge in Xia Province. Yuwen Tai was then regional inspector there; he had long heard of Bao's reputation and treated him as an honored guest. After Heba Yue was murdered by Houmochen Yue, the commanders sent envoys to summon Yuwen Tai. Yuwen Tai asked his advice on whether to accept the summons. Bao said, "This is a mandate from Heaven—why hesitate? Yuwen Tai took his counsel. Once Yuwen Tai became chancellor, he appointed Bao recording secretary on his staff. He was granted the surname Houluoling. Early in the Datong era he was promoted to left assistant of the executive agency, ennobled as Baron of Sanshui, appointed attendant gentleman in the chancellor's office, and sent to command Xi and Li. After two years he was recalled to serve as marshal of the chancellor's office and advanced to marquis.

出為北雍州刺史。州帶北山，多有盜賊。褒密訪之，並豪右所為也，而陽不之知。厚加禮遇，謂曰：「刺史起自書生，安知督盜？所賴卿等共分其憂耳。」乃悉召傑黠少年素為鄉里患者，置為主帥，分其地界，有盜發而不獲者，以故縱論。於是諸被署者莫不惶懼，皆首伏曰：「前盜發者，並某等為之。」所有徒侶，皆列其姓名，或亡命隱匿者，並悉言其所在。褒乃取盜名簿藏之，因大榜州門曰：「自知行盜者，可急來首，即除其罪。盡今月不首者，顯戮其身，籍沒妻子，以賞前首者。」旬日之間，諸盜咸悉首盡。褒取名簿勘之，一無差異，並原其罪，許以自新，由是群盜屏息。入為給事黃門侍郎，遷侍中，除都督、西涼州刺史。羌胡之俗，輕貧弱，尚豪富。豪富之家，侵漁百姓，同于僕錄。故貧者日削，豪者益富。褒乃悉募貧人，以充兵士，優復其家，蠲免徭賦。又調富人財物以振給之。每西城商貨至，又先盡貧者市之。於是貧富漸均，戶口殷實。廢帝元年，為會州刺史。後以驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司，進爵為公，累遷汾州刺史。

He was then appointed governor of North Yong Province. The province lay along the northern mountains, and banditry was widespread. Bao investigated in secret and learned that the leading gentry families were behind the raids, yet he feigned ignorance in public. He treated them with elaborate courtesy and said, "I am only a scholar turned governor—what do I know about catching thieves? I must rely on you to share this burden with me. He then summoned the boldest young troublemakers from each district, appointed them chief constables with fixed jurisdictions, and decreed that any unsolved theft in a district would be charged to the constable responsible for it. Terrified, every man he had appointed confessed at once: "We ourselves committed all the earlier robberies. They named every accomplice, and even fugitives in hiding—they gave up each man's whereabouts. Bao filed away the roster of names and posted a proclamation at the provincial gate: "Anyone who has committed theft may come forward at once and be pardoned. Anyone who fails to surrender before month's end will be executed in public; his wife and children will be enslaved and their property given to those who have already confessed. Within ten days every thief in the province had surrendered. Bao compared the confessions with his hidden register—not a single name was missing. He pardoned them all and allowed them to start anew, and banditry ceased throughout the province. He was recalled to court as gentleman attendant at the Yellow Gate, promoted to attendant-in-ordinary, and appointed regional commander and governor of West Liang. Among the Qiang and Hu peoples, the poor were despised and the wealthy were revered. Rich magnates preyed on commoners and treated them like bondsmen. The poor grew poorer day by day while the powerful grew ever richer. Bao recruited the poor into military service, granted their households tax relief, and exempted them from corvée and levies. He also assessed the wealthy and distributed their goods to support the poor. Whenever merchant caravans arrived from the west, he gave the poor first chance to buy their goods. Gradually the gap between rich and poor narrowed, and the population prospered. In the first year of Emperor Fei he was appointed governor of Hui Province. Later he was made general of agile cavalry with the privilege of an independent staff, advanced to duke, and eventually appointed governor of Fen Province.

先是，齊寇數入，人廢耕桑，前後刺史，莫能防扞。褒至，適會寇來，乃不下屬縣。人既不備，以故多被抄掠。齊人喜於不覺，以為州先未集兵，今還必不能追躡，由是益懈，不為營壘。褒已先勒精銳，伏北山中，分據險阻，邀其歸路。乘其眾怠，縱伏擊之，盡獲其眾。故事，獲生口者，並送京師，褒因是奏曰：「所獲賊眾，不足為多，俘而辱之，但益其忿耳。請一切放還，以德報怨。」有詔許焉。自此抄兵頗息，遷河州總管，仍轉鳳州刺史。尋以年老請致事，詔許之。天和五年，拜少保。褒曆事三帝，以忠厚見知。武帝深相敬重，常以師道處之，每入朝見，必有詔令坐，然始論政事。卒，贈涇、岐、燕三州刺史，諡曰貞。

Northern Qi raiders had repeatedly invaded the region, driving the people from their fields; none of Bao's predecessors had been able to stop them. Shortly after Bao took office, raiders struck again—but he did not warn the subordinate counties. Caught unprepared, many were robbed. The Qi troops, pleased that no alarm had been raised, assumed the province had no forces ready and that no pursuit would follow. They grew careless and made no fortified camp. Bao had already positioned his best troops in ambush in the northern mountains, holding the defiles along the raiders' line of retreat. When the enemy relaxed their guard, he sprang the ambush and captured the entire raiding party. By custom all captives were sent to the capital. Bao memorialized the throne: "These prisoners are too few to matter; holding and humiliating them will only deepen their hatred. I beg that they all be released, so that we may repay enmity with kindness. The emperor approved his request. Raids largely ceased after this. He was appointed commander of He Province and later transferred to governor of Feng. Before long he asked to retire on grounds of age, and the emperor granted his request. In the fifth year of the Tianhe era he was appointed junior mentor to the crown prince. Bao served three emperors and was esteemed for his loyalty and integrity. Emperor Wu held him in the highest regard and always treated him as a teacher. Whenever Bao came to court, the emperor would order him seated before any business was discussed. When he died, he was posthumously honored with the titles of governor of Jing, Qi, and Yan provinces, and given the posthumous name Zhen (Upright).

子繼伯嗣。仕隋，位終衛尉少卿。

His son Jibo succeeded to his line. Under the Sui he rose to vice minister of the guard.

趙肅，字慶壅，河南洛陽人也。世仕河西。及沮渠氏滅，曾祖武始歸於魏，賜爵金城侯。祖興，中書博士。父申侯，舉秀才，為後軍府主簿。肅早有操行，知名于時。孝昌中，起家殿中侍御史，累遷左將軍、太中大夫。東魏天平初，除新安郡守，秩滿還洛陽。大統三年，獨孤信東討，肅率宗人為嚮導。授司州別駕，監督糧儲，軍用不匱。周文帝聞之，謂人曰：「趙肅可謂洛陽主人也。」九年，行華山郡事。

Zhao Su, whose style name was Qingyong, came from Luoyang in Henan. His family had served in the Hexi region for generations. After the fall of the Juqu regime, his great-grandfather Wu was among the first to submit to Wei and was ennobled as Marquis of Jincheng. His grandfather Xing served as a doctoral scholar in the Secretariat. His father Shenhou passed the provincial examination and served as chief clerk in the Rear Army Office. Su was known from youth for his integrity and won renown in his own day. During the Xiaochang era he entered service as a palace censor and rose through the ranks to left general and grand master of the palace. Early in the Eastern Wei Tianping era he was appointed prefect of Xin'an; when his term expired he returned to Luoyang. In the third year of Datong, when Dugu Xin marched east, Su led his clansmen as guides. He was appointed vice governor of Si Province, where he oversaw grain supplies so that the army never wanted for provisions. When Yuwen Tai heard of this, he remarked, "Zhao Su is truly the master of Luoyang. In the ninth year he served as acting administrator of Huashan commandery.

十三年，除廷尉少卿。明年元日，當行朝禮，非有封爵者不得預焉。肅時未有茅土，左僕射長孫儉啟周文請之，周文乃召肅謂曰：「歲初行禮，豈得使卿不預！然何為不早言也？」於是令肅自選封名。肅曰：「河清乃太平之應，竊所願也。」於是封清河縣子。十六年，除廷尉卿，加征東將軍。肅久在理官。執心平允，凡所處斷，咸得其情。廉慎自居，不營產業，時人以此稱之。十七年，進位車騎大將軍、儀同三司、散騎常侍，賜姓乙弗氏。先是，周文命肅撰法律，肅積思累年，遂感心疾。去職，卒於家。子軌。

In the thirteenth year he was appointed vice minister of justice. On New Year's Day the following year, only men holding enfeoffed rank were permitted to attend the court ceremony. Su had not yet received a fief. Left vice director Changsun Jian petitioned Yuwen Tai on his behalf. Yuwen Tai summoned Su and said, "How can I let you miss the New Year ceremony? Why did you not tell me sooner? He then allowed Su to choose his own fief name. Su said, "'The river runs clear' is the sign of an age of peace—that is the name I would choose. He was accordingly enfeoffed as Viscount of Qinghe. In the sixteenth year he was appointed minister of justice with the additional title of general who campaigns east. Su had long served in the judiciary. He judged with evenhanded fairness, and in every case he decided reached a just outcome. He lived modestly and never sought personal gain, for which his contemporaries praised him. In the seventeenth year he was promoted to general of chariots and cavalry with ceremonial privileges equal to the Three Excellencies, appointed irregular attendant-in-ordinary, and granted the surname Yifu. Earlier Yuwen Tai had ordered him to draft a legal code. Su labored over the task for years until he fell ill with a heart condition. He resigned his post and died at home. His son was Gui.

軌少好學，有行檢。周蔡王引為記室，以清苦聞。隋文帝受禪，為齊州別駕，有能名。其東鄰有桑，葚落其家，軌遣人悉拾還其主，戒其諸子曰：「吾非以此求名，意者非機杼物，不願侵人。汝等宜以為戒。」在州考績連最。持節使者郃陽公梁子恭上狀，文帝賜以米帛甚優，令入朝。父老將送者，各揮涕曰：「別駕在官，水火不與百姓交，是以不敢以杯酒相送。公清如水，請酌一杯水奉餞。」軌受飲之。至京，詔與牛弘撰定律令格式。

Gui loved learning from youth and was known for his moral discipline. The Prince of Cai appointed him recorder on his staff; he became known for his austere integrity. After Emperor Wen founded the Sui dynasty, Gui served as vice governor of Qi Province and earned a reputation for competence. Mulberries from his neighbor's tree fell into his courtyard; Gui had every one gathered and returned, then warned his sons: "I am not doing this for reputation. What does not come from one's own loom should never be taken from another. Take this as your rule. His performance evaluations in the province were repeatedly the highest in the realm. Commissioner Liang Zigong, Duke of Heyang, reported his excellence to the throne. Emperor Wen rewarded him generously with grain and silk and summoned him to court. The elders who came to see him off wept and said, "While you held office you never accepted so much as a cup of tea from us—we dare not offer you wine now. You are pure as water—please accept a cup of water in farewell instead. Gui accepted and drank the water. At the capital he was ordered to join Niu Hong in drafting the dynasty's laws and administrative codes.

時衛王爽為原州總管，召為司馬。在道夜行，其左右馬逸入田中，暴人禾。軌駐馬待明，訪知禾主，酬直而去。原州人吏聞之，莫不改操。後檢校硤州刺史，甚有恩惠。轉壽州總管長史。芍陂舊有五門堰，蕪穢不通。軌勸課吏人，更開三十六門，灌田五千餘頃，人賴其利。秩滿歸，卒於家。子弘安、弘智，並知名。

Prince Wei Shuang, regional commander of Yuan Province, then summoned him as his marshal. Traveling by night, his attendants' horses broke loose and trampled a farmer's standing grain. Gui halted and waited until dawn, found the owner, paid full compensation, and went on. When word of this reached the officials of Yuan Province, every one of them resolved to mend his ways. He later served as inspector of Xia Province, where he showed great kindness to the people. He was transferred to chief clerk at the Shouzhou regional headquarters. The old Quepi dam had five sluice gates, but they were choked with weeds and no longer functioned. Gui urged officials and commoners to reopen thirty-six gates, irrigating more than five thousand qing of farmland; the people prospered from the project. When his term ended he returned home and died there. His sons Hong'an and Hongzhi both won renown.

張軌，字元軌，濟北臨邑人也。父崇，高平令。軌少好學，志識開朗。初在洛陽，家貧，與樂安孫樹仁為莫逆之友，每易衣而出，以此見稱。軌常謂所親曰：「秦、雍之間，必有王者。」爾硃氏敗後，遂杖策入關。賀拔嶽以軌為記室參軍。典機密。尋轉倉曹。時穀糴踴貴，或有請貸官倉者，軌曰：「以私害公，非吾宿志。濟人之難，詎得相違？」乃賣所服衣物，糴粟以振其乏。及岳被害，周文帝以軌為都督，從征侯莫陳悅。悅平，使於洛陽，見領軍斛斯椿。椿曰：「高歡逆謀，已傳行路，人情西望，以日為年，未知宇文何如賀拔也？」軌曰：「宇文公文足經國，武足定亂，至於高識遠度，非愚管所測。」椿曰：「誠如卿言，真可恃也。」周文為行台，授軌郎中。孝武西遷，除中書舍人，封壽張縣子，肅著作佐郎，修起居注，遷給事黃門侍郎，兼吏部郎中。出為河北郡守。在郡三年，聲績甚著，臨人政術，有循吏之美。大統間言宰人者，多推尚之。入為丞相府從事中郎，行武功郡事。章武公導出鎮秦州，以軌為長史。廢帝元年，進車騎大將軍、儀同三司、散騎常侍。二年，賜姓宇文氏，行南秦州事。恭帝二年，徵拜度支尚書，復除隴右府長史。卒於位，諡曰質。軌性清素，臨終之日，家無餘財，唯有書數百卷。

Zhang Gui, whose style name was Yuangui, came from Linyi in Jibei. His father Chong served as magistrate of Gaoping. From youth Gui loved learning and possessed a keen and far-seeing mind. While living in Luoyang in poverty, he and Sun Shuren of Le'an became sworn friends; they would take turns wearing each other's clothes when going out, and people praised them for it. Gui often told his intimates, "Between Qin and Yong a true king is bound to arise. After the fall of the Erzhu clan, he took up his staff and made his way into the Guanzhong region. Heba Yue appointed him recording secretary. He handled confidential affairs. He was soon transferred to granary clerk. Grain prices soared; some proposed drawing on the official granaries. Gui said, "To sacrifice the public good for private gain has never been my way. To ease the people's distress—how could I refuse? He sold his own clothing, bought grain, and distributed it to the needy. After Yue was murdered, Yuwen Tai appointed Gui a commander and took him on the campaign against Houmochen Yue. After the victory he was sent to Luoyang, where he met the camp commander Husi Chun. Chun said, "Gao Huan's treason is common talk on every road; all eyes turn westward and each day feels like a year. Who knows whether Yuwen Tai can match Heba Yue? Gui replied, "Lord Yuwen's civil talents are enough to govern the realm, his martial prowess enough to quell chaos. As for his depth of vision, that is beyond my poor judgment." Chun said, "If that is so, he is truly a man one can trust." When Yuwen Tai became head of the executive agency, Gui was appointed a gentleman on his staff. When Emperor Xiaowu moved the capital west, Gui was appointed palace secretary, enfeoffed as Viscount of Shouzhang, appointed associate draftsman and compiler of the imperial diary, then promoted to gentleman attendant at the Yellow Gate while also serving as ministerial gentleman in the Ministry of Personnel. He was appointed prefect of Hebei commandery. For three years in the commandery his record was outstanding; in governing the people he displayed the virtues of a model official. Throughout the Datong era, those who discussed potential chief ministers often singled him out for praise. He was recalled as attendant gentleman in the chancellor's office and served as acting administrator of Wugong commandery. When Duke Zhangwu Yuwen Dao was sent to garrison Qin Province, Gui served as his chief clerk. In the first year of Emperor Fei he was promoted to general of chariots and cavalry with ceremonial privileges equal to the Three Excellencies and appointed irregular attendant-in-ordinary. In the second year he was granted the surname Yuwen and served as acting administrator of South Qin. In the second year of Emperor Gong he was summoned as minister of revenue, then reappointed chief clerk of the Longyou headquarters. He died in office and was given the posthumous name Zhi (Plain). Gui lived plainly; when he died his household held no surplus wealth—only several hundred books.

子肅，周明帝初為宣納上士，轉中外府記室參軍、中山公訓侍讀。早有才名，性頗輕猾，時人比之魏諷。卒以罪考竟終。

His son Su, early in the reign of Emperor Ming of Zhou, served as attendant for presenting documents, then became recording secretary of the inner and outer offices and reader to Duke Zhongshan Yuwen Xun. He won early fame for talent but was rather frivolous and slippery; contemporaries compared him to Wei Feng. He died in prison after being tried for his crimes.

李彥，字彥士，梁郡下邑人也。祖光之，魏淮南郡守。父靜，南青州刺史。彥少有節操，好學慕古。孝昌中，解褐奉朝請。孝武入關，兼著作佐郎，修起居注。大統初，除通直散騎侍郎，累遷左戶郎中。十二年，省三十六曹為十二部，改授戶部郎中，封平陽縣子。廢帝初，拜尚書右丞，轉左丞。彥在尚書十有五載，屬軍國草創，庶務殷繁，留心省閣，未嘗懈怠。斷決如流，略無疑滯。台閣莫不歎其公勤，服其明察。遷給事黃門侍郎，仍左丞。賜姓宇文氏。出為鄜州刺史。六官建，改授軍司馬，進爵為伯。彥性謙恭，有禮節，雖居顯要，於親黨之間恂如也。輕財重義，好施愛士，時論以此稱之，然素多疾，而勤於蒞職，雖沈頓枕席，猶理務不輟，遂至於卒。諡曰敬。

Li Yan, whose style name was Yanshi, came from Xiayi in Liang commandery. His grandfather Guangzhi served as prefect of Huainan under Wei. His father Jing was governor of South Qing Province. From youth Yan was principled, loved learning, and revered the examples of antiquity. During the Xiaochang era he entered service as court gentleman for attendance. When Emperor Xiaowu entered the Guanzhong region, he also served as associate draftsman compiling the imperial diary. Early in Datong he was appointed irregular attendant cavalier and rose to left household gentleman. In the twelfth year, when the thirty-six bureaus were consolidated into twelve departments, he was reassigned as household gentleman and enfeoffed as Viscount of Pingyang. At the beginning of Emperor Fei's reign he was appointed right vice director of the Secretariat, then left vice director. Yan served in the Secretariat for fifteen years. The state was newly founded and affairs were pressing; he attended to his duties in the offices without ever slackening. His decisions flowed swiftly, with scarcely a hesitation. Everyone in the bureaucracy admired his diligence and respected his keen judgment. He was promoted to gentleman attendant at the Yellow Gate while retaining his post as left vice director. He was granted the surname Yuwen. He was appointed governor of Fu Province. When the Six Offices were established, he was reassigned as army marshal and advanced to baron. Yan was modest and courteous; though he held high office, he remained deferential among kin and friends. He scorned wealth and prized integrity, was generous to scholars, and won praise for it; yet he had long been ill and still drove himself at his duties—even bedridden he never stopped working, until death overtook him. He was given the posthumous name Jing (Respectful).

彥臨終遺誡其子等曰：「昔人以窾木為櫝，葛累為緘，下不亂泉，上不泄臭，實吾平生之志也。但事既矯枉，恐為世士所譏。今可斂以時服，葬於磽鹈脊之地，勿用明器、芻塗及儀衛等。爾其今哉。」朝廷嘉焉。不奪其志。

On his deathbed Yan admonished his sons: "The ancients used hollow logs for coffins and wrapped them in vines—so that below they would not foul the springs and above they would not reek. That has always been my own wish. But times have changed, and I fear gentlemen of the day would mock such austerity. Bury me in my ordinary clothes on some barren hillside; use no grave goods, no plastered mound, and no funeral guard. See that you obey this. The court commended his wishes. They did not override his intent.

子升明嗣。少曆顯職。大象末，太府中大夫、儀同大將軍。仕隋，終於齊州刺史。

His son Shengming succeeded to his line. From youth he held high office. At the end of the Daxiang era he was grand master of the palace treasury and a general with ceremonial privileges equal to the Three Excellencies. Under the Sui he rose to governor of Qi Province.

子仁政，長安縣長。義軍至，以罪誅。

His son Renzheng served as magistrate of Chang'an county. When the rebel army reached the capital, he was executed for his crimes.

郭彥，太原陽曲人也。其先從官關右，遂居馮翊。父胤，靈武令。彥少知名。周文帝臨雍州，辟為西曹書佐。累遷虞部郎中。大統十二年，初選當州首望，統領鄉兵，除帥都督。以居郎官著稱，封龍門縣子，進大都督。恭帝元年，除兵部尚書，仍以本兵從柱國于謹南伐江陵。進驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司，進爵為伯。六官建，拜戶部中大夫。周孝閔帝踐祚，出為澧州刺史。蠻左生梗，不營農業。彥勸以耕稼，人皆務本，亡命之徒，咸從賦役。先是，以澧州糧儲乏少，每令荊州遞送。自彥蒞職，倉庾充實，無復轉輸之勞。齊南安城主馮顯密遣使歸降，其眾未之知也。柱國宇文貴令彥率兵應接。時齊人先令顯率所部送糧南下，彥懼其眾不從命，乃于路邀之，顯因得自拔。其眾果拒戰，彥縱兵奮擊，並虜獲之。以南安無備，即引軍掩襲，遂有其城。晉公護嘉之，進爵懷德縣公。入為工部中大夫。保定四年，晉公護東討，彥從尉遲迥攻洛陽，迥復令彥與權景宣出汝南。及軍次豫州，使彥鎮之。天和中，為隴右總管府長史。卒於官。贈小司空、宜鄜丹三州刺史。

Guo Yan came from Yangqu in Taiyuan. His forebears had followed official postings into the Guanzhong region and settled in Fengyi. His father Yin served as magistrate of Lingwu. Yan was known by reputation from youth. When Yuwen Tai governed Yong Province, he recruited Yan as western bureau clerk. He rose through the ranks to gentleman of the Parks Bureau. In the twelfth year of Datong he was chosen as leading head of the provincial gentry, commanded local militia, and was appointed commander. For distinguished service as a court gentleman he was enfeoffed as Viscount of Longmen and promoted to grand commander. In the first year of Emperor Gong he was appointed minister of war and, retaining his original command, followed the pillar of state Yu Jin on the southern campaign against Jiangling. He was promoted to general of agile cavalry with an independent staff equal to the Three Excellencies and advanced to baron. When the Six Offices were established, he was appointed grand master of the Household Bureau. When Emperor Xiaomin took the throne, Yan was appointed governor of Li Province. The indigenous peoples of the region were unruly and did not farm. Yan urged them to farm; the people took to agriculture, and fugitives returned to pay taxes and perform corvée. Previously Li Province's granaries had been empty, and grain had to be shipped in from Jing Province. Once Yan took office the granaries were full and the costly relay shipments ceased. Feng Xian, the Qi lord of Nan'an, secretly sent envoys to surrender, but his troops did not yet know. The pillar Yuwen Gui ordered Yan to lead troops to meet the defector. The Qi had ordered Xian to march south with grain; Yan, fearing the troops would not follow orders, intercepted them on the road, allowing Xian to escape. The troops indeed resisted; Yan attacked fiercely and captured them all. Nan'an was undefended; he led a surprise attack and seized the city. Duke Jin Yuwen Hu commended him and advanced his rank to Duke of Huaide. He was recalled as grand master of the Works Bureau. In the fourth year of Baoding, Duke Jin marched east; Yan followed Yuchi Jiong in the attack on Luoyang, and Jiong then ordered Yan and Quan Jingxuan to advance toward Runan. When the army reached Yu Province, Jiong left Yan to garrison it. During the Tianhe era he served as chief clerk of the Longyou regional headquarters. He died in office. He was posthumously honored as minor minister of works and governor of Yi, Fu, and Dan provinces.

梁昕，字元明，安定烏氏人也。世為關中著姓。其先因官，徙居京兆之盩厔。祖重耳，漳縣令。父勸儒，中散大夫，贈涇州刺史。昕少溫恭，見稱州裏。從爾硃天光征討，拜右將軍、太中大夫。周文帝迎魏孝武，軍次雍州，昕以三輔望族上謁。周文見昕容貌瑰偉，深賞異之，即授右府長流參軍。累遷丞相府主簿。大統十二年，除河南郡守，遷東荊州刺史。昕撫以仁惠，蠻夷悅之。封安定縣子。周孝閔帝踐祚，進位驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司。明帝初，進爵胡城縣伯。天和初，拜工部中大夫，出為陝州總管府長史。昕性溫裕，有幹能，曆官內外，咸著聲稱。尋卒官。贈大將軍，諡曰貞。

Liang Xin, whose style name was Yuanming, came from Wushi in Anding. His family had been a leading clan of the Guanzhong region for generations. His forebears had moved to Zhouzhi in Jingzhao following official postings. His grandfather Zhong'er served as magistrate of Zhang County. His father Quanru held the post of Palace Attendant and was posthumously appointed Governor of Jing Province. From youth Liang Xin was gentle and courteous, and was well regarded throughout the province. He followed Erzhu Tianguang on campaign and was appointed General of the Right and Grand Master of Palace Reception. When Emperor Wen of Zhou went to welcome Emperor Xiaowu of Wei and halted his army at Yong Province, Liang Xin—of a leading family of the Three Metropolises—presented himself at court. Zhou Wen was struck by Liang Xin's imposing presence, took a strong liking to him at once, and appointed him chief flowing staff officer of the Right Office. He rose through successive posts to become chief clerk of the chancellor's office. In the twelfth year of Datong he was made Administrator of Henan Commandery and then transferred to Governor of East Jing Province. He ruled with benevolence and kindness, winning the goodwill of the non-Han peoples. He was enfeoffed as Viscount of Anding County. When Emperor Xiaomin of Zhou came to the throne, Liang Xin was promoted to General of Agile Cavalry with an independent office and ceremonial rank equal to the Three Excellencies. Early in the reign of Emperor Ming, he was raised to Baron of Hucheng County. At the opening of the Tianhe era he was appointed Grand Master of the Ministry of Works, then went out to serve as chief clerk of the Shanzhou headquarters. Gentle and generous by nature, he possessed real administrative talent; in office after office, at court and in the provinces alike, he earned a strong reputation. He soon died in office. He was posthumously appointed Great General and given the posthumous name Zhen ("Upright").

昕弟榮，位計部下大夫、開府儀同三司、朝那縣伯。贈涇、寧、幽三州刺史，諡曰靜。

Liang Xin's younger brother Rong rose to Grand Master of the Bureau of Accounts, with an independent office and rank equal to the Three Excellencies, and was enfeoffed as Baron of Chaona County. He was posthumously appointed Governor of Jing, Ning, and You provinces and given the posthumous name Jing ("Calm").

子蠙，仕隋，為給事郎。貞觀中，終於鄭州刺史。

His son Bin served under the Sui as an Attendant Gentleman. During the Zhenguan era he died while serving as Governor of Zheng Province.

皇甫璠，字景瑜，安定三水人也。世為西州著姓，後徙居京兆。父和，本州中從事。大統末，追贈散騎常侍、儀同三司、涇州刺史。璠少忠謹，有幹略，永安中，辟州都督。周文帝為牧，補主簿，以勤事被知。大統四年，引為丞相府行參軍。周孝閔帝踐祚，為守廟下大夫、長樂縣子。保定中，為鴻州刺史，入為小納言。累遷蕃部中大夫，進驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司。璠性平和，小心奉法，安貞守志，恆以清白自處，當時稱為善人。建德三年，為隨州刺史，政存簡惠，百姓安之，卒官，贈交、渭二州刺史，諡曰恭。

Huang Fufan, whose style name was Jingyu, came from Sanshui in Anding. His family had been a leading clan of West Province for generations before later moving to Jingzhao. His father He served as middle attendant of the province. At the end of the Datong era he was posthumously appointed Regular Attendant of the Casual Riding, with ceremonial rank equal to the Three Excellencies, and Governor of Jing Province. From youth Huang Fufan was loyal and conscientious and showed both administrative talent and strategic insight; in the Yongan era the provincial military commissioner recruited him into service. When Emperor Wen of Zhou served as regional governor, Huang Fufan was appointed chief clerk and came to notice for his diligent service. In the fourth year of Datong he was brought into the chancellor's office as an acting staff officer. When Emperor Xiaomin of Zhou came to the throne, he was appointed Grand Master Keeper of the Temples and enfeoffed as Viscount of Changle County. During the Baoding era he served as Governor of Hong Province, then returned to court as Junior Remonstrance Officer. He rose through successive posts to Grand Master of the Barbarian Affairs Bureau and was then promoted to General of Agile Cavalry with an independent office and ceremonial rank equal to the Three Excellencies. Even-tempered and law-abiding, he held fast to his principles and always kept himself above reproach; his contemporaries called him a man of true goodness. In the third year of Jiande he became Governor of Sui Province, governing with simplicity and kindness so that the people lived in peace; he died in office and was posthumously appointed Governor of Jiao and Wei provinces, with the posthumous name Gong ("Respectful").

子諒，少知名。大象中，位吏部下大夫。諒弟誕。

His son Liang was already well known while still young. During the Daxiang era he served as Grand Master of the Ministry of Personnel. Liang's younger brother was Dan.

誕字玄慮，少剛毅，有器局，開皇中，累遷治書侍御史，朝臣入不肅憚焉。後為尚書左丞。時漢王諒為并州總管，朝廷盛選僚佐，拜誕并州總管司馬，總府政事，一以諮之，諒甚敬焉。及煬帝即位，諒用諮議王頍謀，發兵作亂。誕數諫止，諒不納。誕因流涕，以死固請。諒怒囚之。及楊素將至，諒屯清源以拒之。諒主簿豆盧毓出誕於獄，協謀閉城拒諒。諒襲擊破之，並抗節遇害。帝以亡身殉國，嘉悼者久之。詔贈柱國，封弘義公，諡曰明。

Dan, whose style name was Xuanchen, was resolute and far-sighted from youth; during the Kaihuang era he rose through successive posts to Imperial Censor, and ministers entering his presence did not dare treat him lightly. He later became Left Assistant Director of the Masters of Writing. At that time Prince Liang of Han served as military commissioner of Bingzhou, and the court chose his staff with great care; Dan was appointed chief administrator of the headquarters, and Prince Liang entrusted all administrative affairs to him and held him in deep respect. When Emperor Yang came to the throne, Prince Liang followed the advice of his counselor Wang Pi and raised troops in rebellion. Dan remonstrated with him again and again, but Prince Liang would not listen. Dan wept and pleaded with him, swearing he would rather die than assent. Prince Liang flew into a rage and had him imprisoned. When Yang Su was approaching, Prince Liang massed his troops at Qingyuan to oppose him. Prince Liang's chief clerk Dou Lu Yu released Dan from prison, and together they plotted to shut the city gates and resist the prince. Prince Liang attacked and defeated them; both men were killed while steadfastly refusing to submit. The emperor, honoring Dan for having sacrificed his life for the state, praised and mourned him at length. An edict posthumously appointed him Pillar of State, enfeoffed him as Duke of Hongyi, and gave him the posthumous name Ming ("Clear-sighted").

子無逸嗣。尋為淯陽太守，甚有聲稱。大業初，令行，舊爵例除。以無逸誠義之後，賜爵平輿侯。入為刑部侍郎，守右武衛將軍。

His son Wuyi succeeded him. He soon became Administrator of Yuyang and earned a strong reputation. At the beginning of the Daye era the new order took effect, and inherited ranks were abolished by precedent. Because Wuyi was the heir of a man of loyalty and righteousness, he was granted the rank of Marquis of Pingyu. He entered court as Vice Director of the Ministry of Punishments and served concurrently as General of the Right Martial Guard.

初，漢王諒之反，州縣莫不回應。有嵐州司馬陶世模、繁畤令敬釗，並抗節不從。

When Prince Liang of Han first rebelled, nearly every prefecture and county rallied to him. But Lan Prefecture chief administrator Tao Shimou and Fanzhi magistrate Jing Zhao both held firm and refused to join him.

世模，京兆人。性明敏，有器幹。仁壽初，為嵐州司馬。諒反，刺史喬鐘葵將赴之，世模以義拒之。臨之以兵，辭氣不撓，鐘葵義而釋之。軍吏請斬之，於是被囚。及諒平，拜開府，授大興令。從衛玄擊楊玄感，以功進位銀青光祿大夫。

Shimou was a native of Jingzhao. Bright and quick-witted, he possessed real administrative ability. At the beginning of the Renshou era he served as chief administrator of Lan Prefecture. When Prince Liang rebelled, Inspector Qiao Zhongkui prepared to go over to him, but Shimou refused on grounds of loyalty. Though threatened with force, he did not waver in word or bearing; Zhongkui, respecting his integrity, set him free. His subordinates demanded his execution, and he was imprisoned. After the rebellion was put down, he was granted an independent office and appointed Magistrate of Daxing. He followed Wei Xuan in the campaign against Yang Xuangan and, for his service, was promoted to Silver Radiance Grand Master of the Palace.

釗字積善，河東蒲阪人。父元約，周布憲中大夫。釗，仁壽中為繁畤令，甚有能名。漢王諒反，師陷其城，賊帥墨弼執送偽將喬鐘葵，署為代州總管司馬。釗正色拒之，誓之以死。會鐘葵敗，釗遂免。卒於朝邑令。

Zhao, whose style name was Jishan, came from Puban in Hedong. His father Yuanyue served under the Zhou as Grand Master of the Bureau of Proclamations and Edicts. During the Renshou era Zhao served as Magistrate of Fanzhi and earned a strong reputation for competence. When Prince Liang of Han rebelled, rebel troops took his city; the bandit leader Mo Bi seized him and handed him over to the rebel general Qiao Zhongkui, who appointed him chief administrator of the Daizhou headquarters. Zhao refused with a stern face, swearing he would rather die. When Zhongkui was defeated, Zhao was released. He died while serving as Magistrate of Chaoyi.

辛慶之，字余慶，隴西狄道人也。世為隴右著姓。父顯宗，馮翊郡守，贈雍州刺史。慶之少以文學徵詣洛陽，對策第一，除秘書郎。屬爾硃氏作亂，魏孝莊帝令司空楊津為北道行台，節度山東諸軍以討之。津啟慶之為行台左丞，與參謀議。至鄴，聞孝莊帝崩，遂出兗、冀間，謀結義徒，以赴國難。尋而節閔帝立，乃還洛陽。及賀拔嶽為行台，復啟慶之為行台吏部郎。大統初，從周文帝東討，為行台左丞。六年，行河東郡事。九年，入為丞相府右長史，兼給事黃門侍郎，除度支尚書，復行河東郡事。遷南荊州刺史，加儀同三司。慶之位遇雖隆，而率性儉素，車馬衣服亦不尚華侈。志量淹和，有儒者風度，特為當時所重。又以其經明行修。令與盧誕等教授諸王。慶帝二年，拜秘書監。卒官。子加陵，主寢上士。慶之族子昂。

Xin Qingzhi, whose style name was Yuqing, came from Didao in Longxi. His family had been a leading clan of the Longyou region for generations. His father Xianzong served as Administrator of Feny Commandery and was posthumously appointed Governor of Yong Province. In youth Xin Qingzhi was summoned to Luoyang on account of his literary learning, placed first in the palace examination, and appointed Secretary Gentleman. When the Erzhu clan rose in rebellion, Emperor Xiaozhuang of Wei appointed Minister of Works Yang Jin northern route mobile headquarters commissioner to command the armies of Shandong against them. Yang Jin recommended Xin Qingzhi as left assistant of the mobile headquarters and brought him into strategic deliberations. When they reached Ye and learned that Emperor Xiaozhuang had died, he went out into the region between Yan and Ji provinces to rally loyal volunteers against the national crisis. When Emperor Jiemin was soon enthroned, he returned to Luoyang. When Heba Yue became mobile headquarters commissioner, he again recommended Xin Qingzhi as Personnel Director of the mobile headquarters. At the beginning of the Datong era he followed Emperor Wen of Zhou on campaign in the east and served as left assistant of the mobile headquarters. In the sixth year he served as acting administrator of Hedong Commandery. In the ninth year he entered the chancellor's office as right chief clerk, concurrently served as Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, was appointed Minister of Revenue, and again acted as administrator of Hedong Commandery. He was transferred to Governor of South Jing Province with added ceremonial rank equal to the Three Excellencies. Though Xin Qingzhi's rank and favor were great, he remained by nature frugal and plain, never indulging in lavish carriages, horses, or dress. Broad-minded and even-tempered, he carried the bearing of a Confucian gentleman and was especially esteemed in his own day. Because he was also accomplished in the classics and upright in conduct, he was ordered to join Lu Dan and others in instructing the imperial princes. In the second year of the Fei Emperor's reign, he was appointed Director of the Imperial Library. He died in office. His son Jialing served as Senior Gentleman of the Principal Palace. Among Xin Qingzhi's clansmen was Ang.

昂字進君。數歲便有成人志行。有善相人者，謂其父仲略曰：「公家雖世載冠冕，然名德富貴，莫有及此兒者。仲略亦重昂志氣。深以為然。年十八，侯景辟為行台郎中。景後來附，昂遂入朝，除丞相府行參軍。後追論歸朝勳，封襄城縣男。

Ang's style name was Jinjun. Even at a few years of age he already showed the resolve and conduct of a grown man. A man skilled in reading faces said to Ang's father Zhonglue: "Your family has borne official rank for generations, yet in fame, virtue, wealth, and honor none of your forebears has matched this boy. Zhonglue himself also set great store by Ang's spirited resolve. He fully agreed. At eighteen he was recruited by Hou Jing as an attendant of the mobile headquarters. When Hou Jing later submitted to the court, Ang entered imperial service and was appointed acting staff officer of the chancellor's office. Later, when merit for returning to the court was reviewed, he was enfeoffed as Baron of Xiangcheng County.

及尉遲迥伐蜀，昂占募從軍。蜀平，迥表昂為龍州長史，領龍安郡事。州帶山谷，舊俗生梗。昂威惠洽著，吏人畏而愛之。成都一方之會，風俗舛雜，迥以昂達于從政，復表昂行成都令。昂到縣。便與諸生與祭文翁學堂，因共歡宴，謂諸生曰：「子孝臣忠，師嚴友信，立身之要，如斯而已。若不事斯語，何以成名？各宜自勉，克成令譽。」昂言切理至，諸生等並深感悟，歸而告其父老曰：「辛君教誡如此，不可違之。」於是井邑肅然，咸從其化。遷梓潼郡守。六官建，入為司隸上士，襲爵繁昌縣公。

When Yuchi Jiong marched against Shu, Ang recruited volunteers and joined the campaign. After Shu was pacified, Yuchi Jiong memorialized that Ang be appointed chief administrator of Long Province with charge of Long'an Commandery. The province lay among mountains and valleys, and local custom was harsh and intractable. Ang's blend of stern authority and gracious kindness was widely felt; officials and commoners alike stood in awe of him yet held him in affection. Chengdu was the hub of the region, and its customs were tangled and disorderly. Knowing Ang's talent for administration, Yuchi Jiong again memorialized the court to appoint him acting magistrate of Chengdu. When Ang reached the county seat. As soon as he arrived, he joined the students in worship at the Wen Weng Academy, then shared a celebratory feast with them and said: "Be filial sons and loyal ministers; be reverent toward teachers and true toward friends—that is the whole foundation of a worthy life. If you do not live by these precepts, how will you ever win a name worth keeping? Every one of you should strive on your own account to earn an honorable name. Ang spoke with such force and clarity that every student was deeply stirred. When they went home, they told their elders: "The admonitions of Master Xin are not to be disobeyed. From that time the villages and market towns fell quiet and orderly, and all submitted to his reforming influence. He was promoted to governor of Zitong Commandery. After the Six Offices system was instituted, he was appointed senior officer in the Sili inspectorate and succeeded to the title Duke of Fanchang County.

保定二年，為小吏部。時益州殷阜，軍國所資，經途艱險，每苦劫盜。詔昂使于益、梁，軍人之務皆委決焉。昂撫導荒梗，頗得寧靜。天和初，陸騰討信州蠻，詔昂便於通、渠等州運糧饋之。時臨、信、楚、合等諸州人庶多從逆，昂諭以禍福，赴者如歸。乃令老弱負糧，壯夫拒戰，莫有怨者。使還，屬巴州萬榮郡人反叛，圍郡城，昂於是遂募通、開二州，得三千人，倍道兼行，出其不意。又令其眾皆作中國歌，直趣賊壘。謂有大軍赴救，望風瓦解。朝廷嘉其權以濟事，詔梁州總管、杞國公亮即於軍中賞昂奴婢二十口，繒彩四百匹。又以昂威信布于宕梁，遂表為渠州刺史。轉通州。推誠布信，甚得夷獠歡心。秩滿還京，首領皆隨昂詣闕朝覲。以昂化洽夷落，進位驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司。時晉公護執政，昂稍被護親待，武帝頗銜之。及誅護，加之捶楚，因此遂卒。

In the second year of Baoding (562), he was made junior director of the Ministry of Personnel. Yizhou was then rich and fertile—the source of supplies for army and state—but the transport routes were treacherous and brigands were a constant scourge. The emperor ordered Ang to Yi and Liang provinces; all military matters there were placed entirely in his hands. Ang soothed and guided the wild borderlands until a measure of peace was restored. Early in the Tianhe era (566), when Lu Teng marched against the Xinxhou tribes, the court ordered Ang to haul grain from Tong, Qu, and neighboring provinces to feed the campaign. Many people in Lin, Xin, Chu, He, and other provinces had joined the rebels, but when Ang reasoned with them about reward and ruin, they flocked to him as gladly as men returning home. He put the old and weak to carrying grain and the able-bodied men to fighting—and not one man murmured against it. On his way back, the people of Wanrong Commandery in Bazhou rose in revolt and besieged the commandery seat. Ang promptly raised three thousand men from Tong and Kai, forced a double-time march, and fell upon the rebels before they expected it. He also had his men sing Chinese songs as they marched straight for the rebel stronghold. Believing a large relief force was at hand, the rebels broke apart at the first sign of them. The court applauded his resourcefulness in bringing the affair to success and ordered Liangzhou's regional commander, Duke Liang of Qi, to reward Ang on the spot with twenty household slaves and four hundred bolts of silk. Since Ang's authority and credibility now reached throughout Dangliang, the court memorialized him for appointment as governor of Qu Province. He was transferred to Tong Province. By treating them with open sincerity and steadfast trust, he won the deep loyalty of the tribal peoples. When his term ended and he returned to the capital, tribal chiefs accompanied him to court for an imperial audience. In recognition of his civilizing work among the frontier tribes, he was promoted to General of Agile Cavalry with the privilege of an independent command equal to the Three Excellencies. At the time Duke of Jin Yuwen Hu held the reins of government, and Ang gradually won Hu's personal favor—a fact that Emperor Wu took rather badly. When Hu was put to death, Ang was beaten and flogged as well and died from it.

昂族人仲景，好學，有雅量。其高祖欽，後趙吏部尚書、雍州刺史，子孫因家焉。父歡，魏隴州刺史、硃陽公。仲景年十八，舉文學，對策高第。拜司空府主簿。建德中，位內史下大夫、開府儀同三司。卒於家。子衡。

Ang's kinsman Zhongjing was fond of study and possessed a generous, refined temperament. His ancestor Qin had been Minister of Personnel and governor of Yong Province under Later Zhao, and the family had settled there. His father Huan served Wei as governor of Long Province and held the title Duke of Zhuyang. At eighteen Zhongjing was nominated for the literary examination and placed at the head of the policy debate. He was appointed chief clerk in the Minister of Works' office. During the Jiande era he rose to junior grand master of the Inner Scribe with the same privileges as a Three Departments commissioner. He died at home. His son was Heng.

子宣禮，柱國府參軍。

His son Xuanli served as staff officer in a pillar-general's headquarters.

杜杲，字子暉，京兆杜陵人也，祖建，魏輔國將軍，贈蒙州刺史。父皎，儀同三司、武都郡守。杲學涉經史，有當世幹略，其族父攢，清貞有識鑒，深器重之，常曰：「吾家千里駒也。」攢時仕魏，為黃門侍郎，兼度支尚書、衛大將軍、西道大行台，尚孝武妹新豐公主，因薦之朝廷。永熙三年，起家奉朝請。周明帝初，為脩城郡守。屬鳳州人仇周貢等構亂，攻逼脩城，杲信洽於人，部內遂無叛者。尋率郡兵與開府趙昶合勢，並破平之。入為司會上士。

Du Guo, courtesy name Zihui, was a native of Duling in Jingzhao. His grandfather Jian had been a general who supports the state under Wei and was posthumously made governor of Meng Province. His father Jiao held the rank of commissioner with privileges equal to the Three Departments and served as governor of Wudu Commandery. Guo was broadly versed in the classics and histories and possessed real talent for affairs of the day. His clansman Zan, upright and discerning, thought very highly of him and often said: "Here is the thousand-li colt of our clan." Zan was then in Wei service as Gentleman at the Yellow Gate, concurrently Minister of Revenue, General of the Guard, and Grand Commissioner of the Western Circuit; married to Emperor Xiaowu's sister, Princess Xinfeng, he recommended Guo to the court. In the third year of Yongxi (533), he entered service as a palace attendant. Early in the reign of Emperor Ming of Northern Zhou, he was appointed governor of Xiucheng Commandery. When Qiu Zhougong and others of Fengzhou raised a rebellion and pressed the siege of Xiucheng, Guo's trust among the people was so complete that no one in his district joined the rebels. Before long he led the commandery troops to join Commissioner Zhao Chang, and together they routed the rebels and restored order. He was appointed senior officer in the Ministry of Justice.

初，陳文帝弟安成王頊為質于梁，及江陵平，頊隨例遷長安。陳人請之，周文帝許而未遣。至是，帝欲歸之，命杲使焉。陳文帝大悅，即遣使報聘，並賂黔中數州地，仍請畫野分疆，永敦鄰好。以杲奉使稱旨，進授都督，行小禦伯，更往分界。陳於是歸魯山郡。帝乃拜頊柱國大將軍，詔杲送之還國。陳文帝謂杲曰：「家弟今蒙禮遣，實是周朝之惠。然不還魯山，亦恐未能及此。」杲答曰：「安成之在關中，乃咸陽一布衣耳。然是陳之介弟，其價豈止一城？本朝親睦九族，恕己及物，上遵太祖遺旨，下思繼好之義，所以發德音者，蓋為此也。若知止侔魯山，固當不貪一鎮。況魯山梁之舊地，梁即本朝籓臣，若以始末言之，魯山自合歸國。雲以尋常之土，易已骨肉之親，使臣猶謂不可，何以聞諸朝廷！」陳文帝慚恧久之，乃曰：「前言戲之耳！」自是接遇有加常禮。及還，引升殿，親降御座，執手以別。朝廷嘉之，授大都督、小載師下大夫，行小納言，復聘于陳。及華皎來附，詔令衛公直、都督元定等援之。定等並沒。自是連兵不息，東南搔動。武帝授杲禦正中大夫，使陳，論保境息人之意。陳宣帝遣其黃門侍郎徐陵謂杲曰：「兩國通好，彼朝受我叛人，何也？」杲曰：「陳主昔在本朝，非慕義而至，主上授以柱國，位極人臣，子女玉帛，備禮將送，今主社稷，孰謂非恩？郝烈之徒，邊人狂狡，曾未報德，而先納之。今受華氏，正是相報。過自彼始，豈在本朝！」陵曰：「彼納華皎，志圖吞噬。此受郝烈。容之而已。且華皎方州列將。竊邑叛亡。郝烈一百許戶，脫身逃竄。大小有異，豈得同年而語乎？」杲曰：「大小雖殊，受降一也。若論先後，本朝無失。」陵曰：「周朝送主上還國，既以為恩，衛公共元定度江，孰云非怨？計恩與怨，亦足相埒。」杲曰：「元定等軍敗身囚，其怨已滅。陳主負扆馮玉，其恩猶在。且怨由彼國，恩起本朝，以怨酬恩，未之聞也。」陵笑而不答。杲因陳和通之便，陵具以聞。陳宣許之，遂遣使來聘。

Earlier, Chen Emperor Wen's younger brother, Prince Xu of Ancheng, had been held as a hostage in Liang; when Jiangling fell, Xu was moved to Chang'an with the other captives. Chen asked for his return; Northern Zhou Emperor Wen agreed in principle but did not yet release him. On this occasion the emperor decided to send Xu home and dispatched Guo as envoy. Chen Emperor Wen was delighted, promptly sent envoys in return, offered several prefectures in Qianzhong as a gift, and asked that borders be drawn so that good relations might endure. Because Guo's embassy had fully satisfied the throne, he was promoted to regional commander and acting Junior Defender Baron and sent back to settle the frontier. Chen thereupon restored Lushan Commandery. The Zhou emperor then enfeoffed Xu as Pillar General and ordered Guo to escort him home. Chen Emperor Wen said to Guo: "My brother has now been honorably sent home—a genuine kindness from your court. Yet had Lushan not been returned, I doubt this would have been possible. Guo replied: "When Prince Xu of Ancheng was in Guanzhong, he was no more than a commoner of Xianyang in plain cloth. Yet he is Chen's own brother—is his worth no more than one walled town? Our court cherishes kinship through the nine degrees of relation, extends forbearance from oneself to others, honors above the founding emperor's testament and below the duty of lasting friendship—that is why this gracious decree was issued. If Prince Xu were worth no more than Lushan, we would certainly not covet a single commandery. Moreover Lushan was former Liang territory, and Liang was itself our court's vassal; judged by the whole course of events, Lushan ought by rights to have returned to us. To propose trading ordinary soil for one's own flesh and blood—even I find that impossible; how could I report such a thing to my court! Chen Emperor Wen was abashed for some time, then said: "What I said before was only in jest! From then on he treated Guo with honors beyond the usual protocol. When Guo was leaving, the emperor led him into the hall, came down from the throne in person, and clasped his hand in farewell. The Zhou court commended him, appointing him Grand Regional Commander, junior grand master under the Master of Carriages, and acting Junior Remonstrator, and sent him on another embassy to Chen. When Hua Jiao defected to Zhou, an edict ordered Duke Yuwen Zhi of Wei, Regional Commander Yuan Ding, and others to go to his aid. Ding and his men were wiped out. From then on the fighting never let up, and the southeast was in turmoil. Emperor Wu appointed Guo Chief Straightening Grand Master and sent him to Chen to propose securing the borders and giving the people peace. Chen Emperor Xuan sent his Gentleman at the Yellow Gate, Xu Ling, to say to Guo: "Our two states are at peace—why does your court take in our deserters? Guo said: "Your ruler once lived at our court—not because he admired our righteousness; our sovereign made him a Pillar of State, raised him to the highest rank, and sent him home with sons, daughters, jade, and silks in full ceremony. Now he sits upon the Chen throne—who would call that anything but grace? Men like Hao Lie were wild, cunning border folk who had never repaid a kindness, yet you took them in first. Our acceptance of the Hua clan is simply repayment in kind. The offense began on your side—how can the fault be ours! Ling said: "In taking Hua Jiao, your court aims at swallowing us whole. In this case we took in Hao Lie. We merely gave him shelter—that is all. Moreover Hua Jiao was a frontier commander and a ranked general. He seized his command and fled in rebellion. Hao Lie was no more than a hundred-odd households who slipped away in flight. The cases differ in scale—how can they be mentioned in the same breath? Guo said: "Great or small, the principle of accepting surrender is the same. If we speak of who acted first, our court was not in the wrong. Ling said: "Your Zhou court sent our ruler home and call that kindness; Duke Yuwen Zhi of Wei and Yuan Ding crossed the Yangtze—is that not cause for grievance? Set kindness against grievance, and the two are enough to cancel each other out. Guo said: "Yuan Ding and his men were defeated and taken prisoner—the grievance from that is already spent. Your ruler sits upon the throne with the jade screen before him—the grace you received still stands. Moreover the grievance came from your state and the grace from ours—to answer grace with grievance is something I have never heard of. Ling smiled and said nothing. Seizing the opening to discuss peace, Guo pressed his case, and Ling reported the whole exchange to his sovereign. Chen Emperor Xuan agreed and thereupon sent envoys on a formal visit.

建德初，授司城中大夫，仍使于陳。宣帝謂杲曰：「長湖公軍人等雖築館處之，然恐不能無北風之戀。王褒、庾信之徒既羈旅關中，亦當有南枝之思耳。」杲揣陳宣意欲以元定軍將士易王褒等，乃答之曰：「長湖總戎失律，臨雖苟免，既不死節，安用此為！且猶牛之一毛，何能損益。本朝之議，初未及此。」陳宣帝乃止。及杲還，至石頭，又遣謂之曰：「若欲合從，共圖齊氏，能以樊、鄧見與，方可表信。」杲答曰：「合從圖齊，豈唯弊邑之利？必須城鎮，宜待得之于齊。先索漢南，使臣不敢聞命。」還，除司倉中大夫，又使于陳。杲有辭辯，閑於占對，前後將命，陳人不能屈，陳宣帝甚敬異之。時元定已卒，乃禮送開府賀拔華及定棺樞，杲受之以歸。除河東郡守，遷溫州刺史，賜爵義興縣伯。大象元年，徵拜禦正中大夫，復使陳。二年，除申州刺史，加開府儀同大將軍，進爵為侯。除同州刺史。隋開皇元年，以杲為同州總管，進爵為公。俄遷工部尚書。二年，除西南道行台兵部尚書。尋以疾卒。

At the opening of the Jiande era (572), he was made Grand Master of the City Guard and again dispatched to Chen. Emperor Xuan said to Guo: "Although Duke Changhu's soldiers and the like are lodged in comfort, I fear they cannot be without longing for the northern wind. Wang Bao, Yu Xin, and their fellows, living as exiles in Guanzhong, must likewise yearn for the southern branch. Guo guessed that Emperor Xuan meant to trade Yuan Ding's captured officers and men for Wang Bao and the others, and answered: "Duke Changhu lost command of his army; though he narrowly escaped with his life, since he did not die in loyal service, of what use is he! Besides, they are but one hair from an ox's hide—what difference could they make either way? Our court's deliberations never touched on any such exchange. Chen Emperor Xuan then dropped the matter. When Guo was on his way back and reached Shitou, Chen again sent word saying: "If you wish to ally and jointly move against Qi, you must give us Fan and Deng before we can show good faith. Guo answered: "An alliance to move against Qi would benefit more than our state alone— if you insist on fortified towns, wait until they are taken from Qi. To demand Han-nan first leaves your envoy no choice but to refuse the commission. On his return he was made Grand Master of the Granary and again dispatched to Chen. Guo was eloquent and quick in repartee; mission after mission, the Chen envoys could not get the better of him, and Chen Emperor Xuan came to admire him greatly. By then Yuan Ding was already dead; Chen ceremonially sent back the staff of headquarters commander Heba Hua together with Ding's coffin and bier, and Guo received them and brought them home. He was made Administrator of Hedong Commandery, then promoted to Governor of Wen Province and enfeoffed as Baron of Yixing County. In the first year of Daxiang (579), he was summoned to court as Grand Master of the Imperial Rectitude and again sent to Chen. The next year he was made Governor of Shen Province, granted the rank of Grand Master of the Headquarters with ceremonial parity to a great general, and raised to Marquis. He was appointed Governor of Tong Province. In the first year of Kaihuang (581), Guo was made overall commander of Tong Province and raised to Duke. Before long he was transferred to Minister of Works. In the second year he was made Minister of the Bureau of Military Affairs on the Southwestern Circuit Headquarters. Soon afterward he died of illness.

子運，大象末，宣納上士。

His son Yun, at the end of the Daxiang era, served as Attendant-in-Ordinary for Presentation.

杲兄長暉，位儀同三司。

Guo's elder brother Changhui held the third rank of ceremonial parity.

呂思禮，東平壽張人也。性溫潤，不雜交遊。年十四，受學于徐遵明，長於論難，諸生為之語曰：「講《書》論《易》鋒難敵。」十九，舉秀才，對策高第，除相州功曹參軍。葛榮圍鄴，思禮有守禦勳，賜爵平陵縣伯，除欒城令。普泰中，僕射司馬子如薦為尚書二千石郎中。尋以地寒被出，兼國子博士。乃求為關西大行台郎中，與姚幼瑜、茹文就俱入關。為行台賀拔嶽所重，專掌機密，甚得時譽。岳為侯莫陳悅所害，趙貴等議遣赫連達迎周文帝，思禮預其謀。及周文為關西大都督，以思禮為府長史，尋除行台右丞。以迎魏孝武功，封汶陽縣子，加冠軍將軍。拜黃門侍郎。魏文帝即位，領著作郎，除安東將軍、都官尚書，兼七兵、殿中二曹事。從禽竇泰，進爵為侯。大統四年，以謗訕朝政賜死。

Lu Sili came from Shouzhang in Dongping. Gentle and even-tempered by nature, he kept to himself and rarely mingled in society. At fourteen he studied under Xu Zunming and excelled in debate; the students said of him: "When he lectures on the Documents and disputes over the Changes, no one can stand against his thrust. At nineteen he was nominated as a xiucai, ranked first in the policy examination, and appointed Army Aide of Merit in Xiang Province. When Ge Rong besieged Ye, Sili won distinction in the defense; he was enfeoffed as Baron of Pingling County and made Magistrate of Luancheng. During the Putai era, Vice Director Sima Ziru recommended him for the post of Langzhong in the Ministry of the Two Thousand Bushels. Before long he was dismissed on account of his low birth and concurrently appointed Erudite of the Directorate of Education. He then sought appointment as Langzhong on the Great Western Circuit Headquarters and entered the Pass with Yao Youyu and Ru Wenjiu. Heba Yue of the circuit headquarters prized him, entrusted him with confidential affairs alone, and he won wide renown. When Yue was murdered by Hou Mo Chen Yue, Zhao Gui and the others planned to send Helian Da to welcome the Duke of Zhou, and Sili joined the conspiracy. When the Duke of Zhou became Grand Commander of the Western Pass, he made Sili Chief Clerk of his headquarters and soon afterward Right Assistant Director of the Circuit Headquarters. For escorting Emperor Xiaowu of Wei to safety, he was enfeoffed as Viscount of Wenyang and made General Who Conquers the Enemy. He was appointed Attendant-in-Ordinary at the Yellow Gate. When Emperor Wen of Wei acceded, he served as Director of the Bureau of Compilation, was made General Who Pacifies the East and Minister of Punishments, and concurrently oversaw the bureaus of the Seven Armies and the Palace. After Dou Tai was taken captive, he was raised to Marquis. In the fourth year of Datong (538), he was executed for slandering the court.

思禮好學有才，雖務兼軍國，而手不釋卷。晝理政事，夜即讀書，令蒼頭執燭，燭燼夜有數升。沙苑之捷，命為露布，食頃便成，周文歎其工而且速。所為碑誄表頌，並傳於世。七年，追贈車騎將軍、定州刺史。

Sili loved learning and was gifted; though he shouldered both military and civil duties, he never let his books out of his hands. By day he governed; at night he read, with a servant holding the candle—by morning the melted tallow filled several sheng. After the victory at Shachuan he was ordered to draft the victory bulletin; he finished it in the time it takes to eat a meal, and the Duke of Zhou marveled at its polish and speed. The stele inscriptions, dirges, memorials, and eulogies he wrote all passed into circulation. In the seventh year he was posthumously made Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry and Governor of Ding Province.

子亶嗣。大象中，位至駕部下大夫。

His son Dan succeeded him. In the Daxiang era he rose to Grand Master under the Imperial Carriage.

時有博陵崔騰，早有名譽，曆職清顯，為丞相府長史，亦以投書謗議賜死。

At that time Cui Teng of Boling, long celebrated and repeatedly promoted to distinguished posts, who served as Chief Clerk of the Chancellor's Headquarters, was likewise executed for circulating letters of slander and criticism.

徐招，字思賢，高平金鄉人也。世為著姓。招少好法律及朝廷舊事，發言措筆，常欲辯析秋毫，初入洛陽，雖未登仕，已為時知，朝廷疑事多預議焉。延昌中，從征浮山堰有功，賜爵高文男。及廣陽王深北討鮮于脩禮，啟為員外散騎侍郎、深府長流參軍。招陳策請離間之，葛榮竟殺脩理，自為魁帥。以功進爵為侯。永安初，射策甲科，除員外散騎常侍，領尚書儀曹郎中。招少習吏事，未能精究朝儀，常恨才達，恐名跡不立。久之，方轉二千石郎中。爾硃榮死，爾硃世隆屯兵河橋，莊帝以招為行台左丞，自武牢北度，引馬場、河內之眾以抗世隆。後爾硃兆得招，鎖送洛陽，仲遠數招罪，將斬之。招曰：「不虧君命，得死為幸。」仲遠重之，曰：「凡人受命，理各為主。今若為戮，何以勸人臣？」乃釋之，用為行台右丞。及仲遠南奔，招獨還洛。永熙末，從孝武入關中，拜給事黃門侍郎，兼尚書右丞。時朝廷播遷，典章遺闕，至於台省法式，皆招所記，論者多焉。大統三年，拜驃騎將軍、侍中。時文帝舅子王起化犯罪死，有詔追贈，招執奏正之。後卒于度支尚書。子山雲嗣。

Xu Zhao, whose style name was Sixian, came from Jinxiang in Gaoping. His family had been a prominent clan for generations. From youth Zhao loved law and the court's ancient precedents; in speech and writing he always strove to split hairs finer than an autumn down. When he first came to Luoyang, though he had not yet entered office, he was already known in the capital, and the court often sought his opinion on doubtful matters. During the Yanchang era he took part in the campaign against the Fushan Dam and won distinction; he was enfeoffed as Baron of Gaowen. When the Prince of Guangyang marched north against Xianyu Xiuli, Zhao was recommended as Supernumerary Attendant-in-Ordinary and Chief Aide on the prince's staff. Zhao proposed a stratagem to set them at odds; Ge Rong ended by killing Xiuli and proclaimed himself chief leader. For this service he was raised to Marquis. At the opening of Yong'an he placed first in the archery examination, was made Supernumerary Attendant-in-Ordinary, and served as Langzhong in the Ministry of Ceremonies. Zhao had trained in clerical work from youth and had not yet mastered court ritual in full; he always feared that talent had outpaced learning and that his name would not endure. Only after a long delay was he transferred to Langzhong in the Ministry of the Two Thousand Bushels. When Erzhu Rong died, Erzhu Shilong encamped at Heqiao; Emperor Zhuang appointed Zhao Left Assistant Director of the Circuit Headquarters, and he crossed north from Wulao at the head of the forces of Machang and Henei to resist Shilong. Later Erzhu Zhao captured Zhao, bound him, and sent him to Luoyang; Zhongyuan recited his crimes and was about to behead him. Zhao said: "I have not betrayed my lord's commission—to die would be my good fortune. Zhongyuan respected him and said: "Every man who receives a commission is bound to serve his own master. If we execute him now, what encouragement is that to other ministers? He thereupon released him and appointed him Right Assistant Director of the Circuit Headquarters. When Zhongyuan fled south, Zhao alone returned to Luoyang. At the end of Yongxi he followed Emperor Xiaowu into Guanzhong and was made Attendant-in-Ordinary in the Service of Affairs and concurrently Assistant Director of the Right in the Ministry of State. The court was then in exile and its statutes in disarray; the forms and rules of the ministries and inspectorates were largely Zhao's record, and many men drew on his work. In the third year of Datong (537) he was made General of Agile Cavalry and Palace Attendant. At that time Emperor Wen's nephew by marriage, Wang Qihua, had been executed for a crime; an edict ordered posthumous honors, but Zhao memorialized the throne and corrected the mistake. He later died while serving as Minister of Revenue. His son Shanyun succeeded him.

檀翥，字鳳翔，高平金鄉人也。六世祖毓，晉步兵校尉。父江，始還北，仁至太常少卿，贈兗州刺史。翥十歲喪父，還京師宅，與營人雜居。雖幼孤寒，不與鄰人來往。好讀書，解屬文，能鼓琴，早為琅邪王誦所知。年十九，以名家子為魏明帝挽郎。後客游三輔，時毛遐為行台，鎮北雍，表翥為行台郎中。莊帝既誅爾硃榮，遐使翥詣亦師，因除著作佐郎，郎中如故。後孝武帝西幸，除兼中書舍人，修國史。大統初，又兼著作佐郎。以守關迎賀勳，封高唐子。後坐談論輕躁，為黃門侍郎徐招所糾，死于廷尉獄。

Tan Zhu, whose style name was Fengxiang, came from Jinxiang in Gaoping. His sixth-generation ancestor Yu had been Infantry Commandant under Jin. His father Jiang, after first returning to the north, rose as far as Vice Minister of Ceremonies and was posthumously made Governor of Yan Province. Zhu lost his father at ten, returned to the family house in the capital, and lived among the laborers who camped there. Though still a boy, orphaned, and poor, he kept apart from his neighbors. He loved books, could write linked prose, played the zither, and from early on won the notice of the Prince of Langye. At nineteen, as the son of an eminent house, he served as a mourning attendant at the funeral of Emperor Ming of Wei. Later, while traveling as a guest in the Three Metropolises, he came to the notice of Mao Xia, who held a circuit headquarters and guarded northern Yong; Xia memorialized that Zhu be made Langzhong on his staff. After Emperor Zhuang executed Erzhu Rong, Xia sent Zhu to the capital, where he was appointed Assistant Director in the Bureau of Compilation while retaining his post as Langzhong. Later, when Emperor Xiaowu fled west, Zhu was made Supernumerary Secretariat Attendant and charged with compiling the national history. At the opening of Datong he again concurrently served as Assistant Director in the Bureau of Compilation. For guarding the pass and welcoming He, he was enfeoffed as Viscount of Gaotang. Later, for reckless speech he was impeached by Attendant-in-Ordinary Xu Zhao and died in the prison of the Minister of Justice.

孟信，字脩仁，廣川索盧人也。家世貧寒，頗傳學業。信常曰：「窮則變，變則通。吾家世傳儒學，而未有通官，當由儒非世務也。」遂感激，棄書從軍。永熙末，除奉朝請。從孝武帝入關，封東州子，趙平太守。政尚寬和，權豪無犯。山中老人會以遥酒饋之，信和顏接引，殷勤勞問，乃自出酒，以鐵鐺溫之，素木盤盛蕪青菹，唯此而已。又以一鐺借老人，但執一杯，各自斟酌，申酬酢之意，謂老人曰：「吾至郡來，無人以一物見遺，今卿獨有此餉。且食菜已久，欲為卿受一遥髆耳。酒既自有，不能相費。」老人大悅，再拜，擘遥進之。酒盡方別。及去官，居貧無食。唯有一老牛，其兄子賣之，擬供薪米。券契已訖，市法應知牛主住在所。信適從外來，見買牛人，方知其賣也。因告之曰：「此牛先來有病，小用便發，君不須也。」杖其兄子二十。買牛人嗟異良久，呼信曰：「孟公，但見與牛，未必須其力也。」苦請不得，乃罷。買牛者，周文帝帳下人，周文深歎異焉。未幾，舉為太子少師，後遷太子太傅，儒者榮之。特加車騎大將軍、儀同三司、散騎常侍。辭老請退，周文不奪其志，賜車馬、几杖、衣服、床帳。卒於家。贈冀州刺史，諡曰戴。子儒。

Meng Xin, whose style name was Xiuren, came from Suolu in Guangchuan. His family had been poor for generations, yet had kept up its scholarly tradition. Xin often said: "When cornered, one changes; when one changes, one finds a way through. Our house has handed down Confucian learning for generations, yet none of us has won high office—it must be because scholarship is not the business of the age. Stirred by this, he cast aside his books and took up arms. At the end of Yongxi he was appointed Attendant at Court. He followed Emperor Xiaowu into the Pass, was enfeoffed as Viscount of Dongzhou, and made Administrator of Zhaoping. His rule was mild and conciliatory, and even the powerful did not dare cross him. An old man from the hills once brought him wine and cured loin as a gift; Xin received him kindly, welcomed him warmly, and asked after his health, then brought out his own wine, warmed it in an iron pot, and set before him only a plain wooden tray of pickled greens—nothing more. He also lent the old man a pot; each held a single cup and poured for himself, exchanging toasts as equals, and said: "Since I came to this commandery, no one has given me a single thing—you alone have brought me this gift. I have lived on vegetables a long time and only wished to accept one piece of your cured loin—for your sake. The wine is my own; I cannot let you pay for it. The old man was delighted, bowed twice, broke off a piece of the cured loin, and offered it to him. They parted only when the wine was gone. When he left office he lived in poverty and had nothing to eat. He owned only one old ox; his elder brother's son sold it, intending to buy firewood and grain. The contract was already settled; market law required that the ox's owner be known to live on the premises. Xin happened to return from outside, saw the man buying the ox, and only then learned it had been sold. He told the buyer: "This ox was sick before; if you put it to work it will sicken again—you do not want it. He then beat his elder brother's son twenty strokes. The buyer marveled a long while, then called to Xin and said: "Master Meng, just give me the ox—I may not need its strength at all. Though Xin pressed him hard, the man would not accept and left. The buyer was a man in Emperor Wen of Zhou's tent guard, and the Emperor marveled greatly at the story. Before long he was recommended as Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince; later he was promoted to Grand Tutor, to the glory of the scholars. He was further promoted to Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, granted the third rank of ceremonial parity, and made Regular Attendant-in-Ordinary. Citing his age, he asked to retire. Emperor Wen of Zhou would not deny him and sent carriages and horses, a staff and armrest, clothing, bedding, and curtains. He died at home. He was posthumously made Governor of Ji Province and given the posthumous title Dai. His son was Ru.

宗懍，字元懍，南陽涅陽人也。八世祖孫，永嘉亂，討陳敏有功，封柴桑縣侯，除宜都郡守。卒官。子孫因居江陵。父高之，梁山陰令。懍少聰敏，好讀書，晝夜不倦，語輒引古事，鄉里呼為「小兒學士」。梁大同六年，舉秀才。以不及二宮元會，例不對策。及梁元帝鎮荊州，謂長史劉之遴曰：「貴鄉多士，為舉一有意少年。」之遴以懍應命，即日引見，令兼記室。嘗夕被召宿省，使制《龍川廟碑》，一夜便就。詰朝呈上，梁元帝歎美之。後曆臨汝、建城、廣晉三縣令。遭母憂去職，哭輒歐血，兩旬之內，絕而復蘇者三。每旦有君烏數千集於廬舍，候哭而來，哭止而去，時論以為孝感所致。梁元帝即位，擢為尚書侍郎，封信安縣侯，累遷吏部尚書。懍父高之先為南台書侍御史，犯憲。懍願父釋罪，當終身菜食。高之理雪，故懍菜食，鄉里稱之。在元帝府，府中多言其矯。至是，大進魚肉，國子祭酒沛國劉玨讓之曰：「本知卿不忠，猶謂卿孝。今日便是忠孝並無。」懍不能對。懍博學有才藻，口未嘗譽人，朋友以此少之。初，侯景平後，梁元帝議還建鄴，唯懍勸都渚宮，以鄉在荊州故也。及江陵平，與王褒等入關。周文帝以懍名重南土，甚禮之。周孝閔帝踐祚，拜車騎大將軍、儀同三司。明帝即位，又與王褒等在麟趾刊定群書，數蒙宴賜。保定中，卒。有集二十卷行於世。

Zong Lin, whose style name was Yuanlin, came from Nieyang in Nanyang. His eighth-generation ancestor Sun, during the chaos of the Yongjia era, won distinction in the campaign against Chen Min, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Chaisang, and appointed Administrator of Yidu Commandery. He died in office. His descendants thereafter made their home in Jiangling. His father Gaozhi served as Magistrate of Liangshan. From youth Lin was quick-witted and loved books, reading day and night without fatigue. In conversation he constantly drew on ancient examples, and neighbors called him the "little scholar." In the sixth year of the Liang era Datong, he was recommended as a xiucai. Because he had not attended the New Year's assembly at the Two Palaces, by precedent he was not examined in the palace examination. When Emperor Yuan of Liang was stationed in Jing Province, he told Chief Clerk Liu Zhilun, "Your district has many talented men. Recommend one promising young man to me. Zhilun nominated Lin, who was summoned that very day, received an audience, and was appointed Acting Master of Records. One evening he was summoned to remain at the provincial office and ordered to compose the "Longchuan Temple Stele Inscription"—and finished it in a single night. At dawn he submitted it, and Emperor Yuan of Liang sighed in admiration. He later served in succession as magistrate of Linru, Jiancheng, and Guangjin counties. When his mother died he left office. In mourning he vomited blood so violently that within twenty days he stopped breathing and revived three times. Each morning thousands of crows gathered at his mourning hut, arriving when he began to weep and leaving when he stopped. People of the time took this as a sign that filial devotion had moved Heaven. When Emperor Yuan of Liang ascended the throne, Lin was promoted to Gentleman of the Masters of Writing, enfeoffed as Marquis of Xin'an, and eventually rose to Minister of the Masters of Writing. Lin's father Gaozhi had earlier served as Attendant Censor of the Southern Secretariat and broken the law. Lin vowed that if his father's guilt were cleared he would eat only vegetables for the rest of his life. When Gaozhi's case was cleared, Lin kept to a vegetarian diet, and people in the neighborhood praised him for it. While serving in Emperor Yuan's princely household, many there said he was only pretending. Then he greatly increased the fish and meat in his diet. Liu Jue, Director of the Imperial Academy from Pei, rebuked him: "I already knew you were not loyal, but I still thought you filial. Today you have proved yourself devoid of both. Today you are devoid of both loyalty and filial piety. Lin had no answer. Lin was broadly learned and gifted in letters, yet he never praised anyone in speech, and his friends thought less of him for it. After Hou Jing was suppressed, Emperor Yuan of Liang debated returning the capital to Jiankang; Lin alone urged keeping the court at Zhugong, because his home lay in Jing Province. When Jiangling fell, he entered the pass together with Wang Bao and others. Emperor Wen of Zhou, knowing Lin's reputation in the south, treated him with great respect. When Emperor Xiaomin of Zhou took the throne, Lin was appointed Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry with the third rank of ceremonial parity. When Emperor Ming took the throne, he again joined Wang Bao and others at Linzhi in collating the books of the realm and was repeatedly honored at banquets. He died during the Baoding era. A collection of his writings in twenty scrolls circulated in his day.

劉璠，字寶義，沛人也。六世祖敏，以永嘉亂，徙居廣陵。父臧，性方正，篤志好學，居家以孝聞。仕梁，為著作郎。璠九歲而孤，居喪合禮。少好讀書，兼善文筆。十七，為上黃侯蕭曄所器重。范陽張綰，梁之外戚，才高口辯，見推於世。以曄懿貴，亦假借之。璠年少未仕，而負才使氣，不為之屈。綰嘗于新渝侯宅，因酒後詬京兆杜杲曰：「寒士不遜。」璠厲色曰：「此坐誰非寒士？」璠本意在綰，而曄以為屬己，辭色不平。璠曰：「何王之門不可曳長裾也！」遂拂衣而去。曄謝之，乃止。後隨曄在淮南。璠母在建康遘疾，璠弗之知。嘗忽一日舉身楚痛，尋而家信至，雲其母病。璠即號泣戒道，絕而又蘇。當身痛之辰，即母死之日。居喪毀瘠，遂感風氣，服闋後一年，猶杖而後起。及曄終於毗陵，故吏多分散，璠獨奉曄喪還都，墳成乃退。梁簡文暼寺在東宮，遇曄素重，諸不送者多被劾責，唯璠獨被優嘗賞。解褐王國常侍，非其好也。

Liu Fan, whose style name was Baoyi, came from Pei. His sixth-generation ancestor Min, fleeing the chaos of the Yongjia era, moved the family to Guangling. His father Zang was upright in character, devoted to learning, and renowned at home for filial conduct. Under Liang he served as a Gentleman of the Secretariat. Fan lost his father at nine and observed mourning in full accordance with ritual. From youth he loved books and was also skilled with the brush. At seventeen he won the deep esteem of the Marquis of Shanghuang, Xiao Ye. Zhang Wan of Fanyang, a Liang imperial in-law, was talented and eloquent and widely admired. Because Ye was of high rank and noble birth, Wan also relied on his patronage. Fan was still young and had not yet entered office, yet trusting in his talent and proud in spirit, he would not defer to Wan. Once at the residence of the Marquis of Xinyu, Wan, after drinking, reviled Du Gao of Jingzhao: "A poor scholar knows no deference. Fan said sharply, "Who at this table is not a poor scholar?" Fan's remark was really aimed at Wan, but Ye thought it was meant for him and showed his displeasure. Fan said, "Under whose gate may one not trail a long robe! With that he shook out his robes and walked away. Ye apologized, and only then did Fan relent. Later he followed Ye to Huainan. Fan's mother fell ill in Jiankang, but Fan knew nothing of it. One day his whole body was suddenly racked with pain; soon afterward a letter from home arrived saying his mother was ill. Fan at once wailed and set out on the road; he stopped breathing and revived. The day his body was racked with pain was exactly the day his mother died. In mourning he wasted away and then contracted a wind ailment; even a year after the mourning period ended he still needed a staff to rise. When Ye died at Piling, many of his former subordinates scattered, but Fan alone escorted the coffin back to the capital and withdrew only after the tomb was finished. When Jianwen of Liang was crown prince at the Eastern Palace, Ye had long been held in high esteem, and many who failed to attend his funeral were impeached and punished; Fan alone received special commendation and reward. On first taking office he became Regular Attendant of a princely domain, a post that did not suit him.

璠少慷慨，好功名，志欲立事邊城，不樂隨牒平進。曾宜豐侯蕭脩出為北徐州刺史，即請為其輕車府主簿，兼記室參軍。脩為梁州，又板為中記室，補華陽太守。屬侯景度江，梁室大亂，脩以璠有才略，甚親委之。時寇難繁興，未有所定，璠乃喟然賦詩以見志。其末章曰：「隨會平王室，夷吾匡霸功。虛薄而時用，徒然慕昔風。」脩開府，置佐史，以璠為諮議參軍，仍領記室。梁元帝承制，授樹功將軍、鎮西府諮議參軍。賜書曰：「鄧禹文學，尚或執戈；葛洪書生，且雲破賊。前修無遠，屬望良深。」元帝尋以脩紹鄱陽之封，且為雍州刺史，復以璠為為脩平北府司馬。

From youth Fan was generous and hungered for fame and achievement; he wished to make his mark on the frontier and took no pleasure in routine promotion. When the Marquis of Yifeng, Xiao Xiu, was appointed Governor of Northern Xu Province, Fan at once asked to serve as Master of Records in his Light Chariot Office and concurrently as Recording Army Adjutant. When Xiu became Governor of Liang Province, Fan was again appointed by written commission as Senior Master of Records and made Administrator of Huayang. When Hou Jing crossed the Yangtze and the Liang court fell into chaos, Xiu, recognizing Fan's talent and strategic mind, entrusted him with great confidence. Raids and troubles arose on every side and nothing was settled; Fan sighed and composed a poem to declare his resolve. Its final stanza reads: "Sui Hui stabilized the royal house; Guan Zhong restored hegemony. I am slight in talent yet used by the times; in vain I admire the heroes of old. When Xiu opened a princely headquarters and appointed aides and clerks, he made Fan Consulting Army Adjutant and still head of the secretariat. When Emperor Yuan of Liang assumed provisional authority, Fan was appointed General Who Establishes Merit and Consulting Army Adjutant of the Pacifying West Headquarters. An imperial letter said, "Deng Yu was a man of letters, yet still took up arms; Ge Hong was a scholar, and yet it is said he broke bandits. The ancients are not far off; my hopes for you run very deep. Emperor Yuan soon had Xiu succeed to the fief of Poyang and also made him Governor of Yong Province, and again appointed Fan Chief of Staff of Xiu's Pacifying North Headquarters.

及武陵王紀稱制於蜀，以璠為中書侍郎。遣召璠，使者八反，乃至蜀。又以為黃門侍郎，令長史劉孝勝深布心腹，使工畫《陳平度河歸漢圖》以遺之。璠苦求還，中記室韋登私曰：「殿下忍而蓄憾，足下不留，將致大禍。脫使盜遮於葭萌，則卿殆矣。孰若共構大廈，使身名俱美哉！」璠正色曰：「卿欲緩頰於我邪？我與府侯分義已定，豈以寵辱夷險易其心乎！丈夫立志，當死生以之耳。殿下方布大義於天下，終不逞志於一人。」紀知不為己用，乃厚贈而遣之。臨別，紀又解其佩刀贈璠曰：「想見物思人。」璠曰：「敢不奉揚威靈，克翦奸宄。」紀於是遣使拜脩為益州刺史，封隨郡王，以璠為府長史，加蜀郡太守。

When the Prince of Wuling, Xiao Ji, declared himself emperor in Shu, he made Fan Gentleman of the Secretariat. Ji sent to summon Fan; the envoy returned eight times before Fan finally reached Shu. He again made Fan Gentleman of the Yellow Gate and ordered Chief Clerk Liu Xiaosheng to plant trusted agents deeply; he also had an artist paint "Chen Ping Crossing the River to Return to Han" and sent it to Fan as a gift. Fan bitterly begged to return. Senior Master of Records Wei Deng said privately, "The Prince broods and harbors resentment; if you do not stay, great disaster will follow. If robbers waylay you at Jiameng, you are finished. Would it not be better to build the great house together and let your person and your name both shine? If robbers waylay you at Jiameng, you are finished. Would it not be better to build the great house together and let your person and your name both shine? Fan said sternly, "Do you wish to soften my resolve? My bond with the Prince is already fixed in duty; how could favor and disgrace, ease and danger, change my heart? A man who sets his will should hold to it through life and death. Your Highness is now spreading great righteousness throughout the realm; in the end he will not indulge his whim against one man." Ji knew Fan would not serve his purposes, so he gave him rich gifts and sent him away. At parting Ji again unfastened his girdle knife and gave it to Fan, saying, "When you see this object, think of the man. Fan said, "How dare I fail to carry forth your authority and cut down traitors and rebels?" Ji thereupon sent an envoy to appoint Xiu Governor of Yi Province, enfeoff him as Prince of Suichun, and make Fan Chief of Staff and concurrently Administrator of Shu Commandery.

還至白馬西，屬達奚武軍已至南鄭，璠不得入城，遂降武。周文帝素聞其名，先戒武曰：「勿使劉璠死。」故武先令璠赴闕。周文見之如舊，謂僕射申徽曰：「劉璠佳士，古人何以過之！」徽曰：「晉人滅吳，利在二陸。明公今平梁漢，得劉璠也。」時南鄭尚拒守，達奚武請屠之，周文將許焉，唯令全脩一家而已。璠乃請之于朝，周文怒而不許也。璠泣而固請，移時不退。柳仲禮侍側，曰：「此烈士也。」周文既納蕭脩降，又許其反國。脩至長安累月，未之遣也。璠因侍宴，周文曰：「我于古誰比？」曰：「常以公命世英主，湯、武莫逮。今日所見，曾是齊桓、晉文之不若。」周文曰：「我不得比湯、武，望與伊、周為匹，何桓、文之不若乎？」對曰：「齊桓存三亡國，晉文不失信于伐原。」語未終，周文撫掌曰：「我解爾意，欲激我耳。」即命遣脩。脩請與璠俱還，周文不許。以璠為中外府記室，遷黃門侍郎、儀同三司。嘗臥疾居家，對雪興感，乃作《雪賦》以遂志焉。初，蕭脩在漢中與蕭紀箋，及答西魏書、移襄陽文，皆璠辭也。

On returning west to White Horse, Daxi Wu's army had already reached Nanzheng; Fan could not enter the city and surrendered to Wu. Emperor Wen of Zhou had long heard Fan's name and beforehand warned Wu: "Do not let Liu Fan die. Therefore Wu first sent Fan to the capital. Emperor Wen received him as of old and said to Vice Director Shen Hui, "Liu Fan is an excellent man—how did the ancients surpass him! Hui said, "When the Jin destroyed Wu, the profit lay in the two Lus. Your lordship now pacifies Liang and Han and has gained Liu Fan." Nanzheng still held out in defense. Daxi Wu asked to slaughter the city; Emperor Wen was about to consent, ordering only that Xiu's household be spared. Fan then pleaded at court, but Emperor Wen was angry and refused. Fan wept and pleaded firmly, and for a long time would not withdraw. Liu Zhongli, attending at his side, said, "This is a man of heroic resolve. Emperor Wen both accepted Xiao Xiu's surrender and promised that he might return to his state. Xiu reached Chang'an and for months was not sent back. While attending a banquet, Fan was asked by Emperor Wen, "Among the ancients, to whom do you compare me? He said, "I have always regarded Your Lordship as a hero of the age; even Tang and Wu could not match you. What I see today falls short even of Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin." Emperor Wen said, "I cannot compare with Tang and Wu; I hope to stand equal to Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou—why should I fall short of Huan and Wen?" He replied, "Duke Huan of Qi preserved three extinguished states; Duke Wen of Jin did not break faith in the campaign against Yuan." Before he finished speaking, Emperor Wen clapped his hands and said, "I understand your meaning—you wish to spur me on." He at once ordered Xiu sent back. Xiu asked to return together with Fan, but Emperor Wen refused. Fan was made Master of Records of the Central and Outer Headquarters, then promoted to Gentleman of the Yellow Gate with the third rank of ceremonial parity. Once, ill at home, he was moved by the sight of snow and composed the "Rhapsody on Snow" to express his resolve. When Xiao Xiu was in Hanzhong, his letters to Xiao Ji, his replies to Western Wei, and his proclamation to Xiangyang were all written by Fan.

周明帝初，授內史中大夫，掌綸誥。尋封平陽縣子。在職清白簡亮，不合于時。左遷同和郡守。璠善於撫禦，蒞職未期，生羌降附者五百餘家。前後郡守多經營以致貲產，唯璠秋毫無所取。妻子並隨羌俗，食麥衣皮，始終不改。洮陽、洪和二郡羌常越境詣璠番訟理。蔡公廣時鎮隴右，嘉其善政。及遷鎮陝州，欲啟璠自隨，羌人樂從者七百人，聞者莫不歎異。陳公純作鎮隴右，引為總管府司錄，甚禮敬之。卒於官。著梁典三十卷，有集二十卷，行於世。子祥。

At the beginning of Emperor Ming of Zhou's reign, Fan was appointed Grand Master of the Palace Secretariat and put in charge of edicts. Soon he was enfeoffed as Viscount of Pingyang. In office he was pure, upright, and plainspoken, and did not fit the temper of the times. He was demoted to Administrator of Tonghe Commandery. Fan was skilled at winning people over; within a single term more than five hundred households of raw Qiang submitted. Former and later commandery administrators mostly engaged in business to amass property; Fan alone took not the slightest thing. His wife and children all followed Qiang custom, eating wheat and wearing skins, and never changed their ways. The Qiang of Taoyang and Honghe commanderies often crossed the border to bring lawsuits before Fan for judgment. Duke Cai Guang, then stationed in Longyou, praised his good governance. When he was transferred to station at Shaan Province, he wished to have Fan accompany him; seven hundred Qiang gladly followed, and all who heard of it marveled. When Duke Chen Chun was stationed in Longyou, he summoned Fan as Chief Clerk of the Regional Headquarters and treated him with great respect. He died in office. He wrote the Liang Canon in thirty scrolls and left a collected works in twenty scrolls that circulated in his day. His son was Xiang.

祥字休徵。幼聰慧，賓客見者皆號神童。事嫡母以至孝聞。其伯父黃門郎璆，有名江左，在嶺南，聞而奇之，乃令名祥字休徵。後以字行於世。十歲能屬文，十二通《五經》。仕梁，為宜豐侯記室參軍。江陵平，隨例入關中。齊公憲召為記室，府中書記皆令掌之。封漢安縣子。憲進爵為王，以休徵為王友。俄除內史上士。武帝東征，休徵陪侍帷幄，平齊露布即休徵文也。累遷車騎大將軍、儀同大將軍。曆長安、萬年二縣令，頗獲時譽。卒於官。初，璠所選《梁典》始就，未及刊定而卒，臨終謂休徵曰：「能成我志，其在此書乎！」休徵修定繕寫。勒成一家，行於世。

Xiang, whose style name was Xiuzheng. From childhood he was clever and bright; every guest who saw him called him a prodigy. In serving his stepmother he was known for utmost filial devotion. His father's elder brother Qiu, Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, was famous east of the Yangtze; hearing of the boy in Lingnan, he marveled and had him named Xiang with the style Xiuzheng. Later he was known in the world by his style name. At ten he could compose prose; at twelve he had mastered the Five Classics. Under Liang he served as Recording Army Adjutant to the Marquis of Yifeng. When Jiangling fell, he entered the pass with the other captives. Duke Yuwen Xian summoned him as Master of Records, and all documents in the princely headquarters were put under his charge. He was enfeoffed as Viscount of Han'an. When Xian was raised to princely rank, Xiuzheng was made Friend of the Prince. Soon he was appointed Senior Clerk of the Palace Secretariat. When Emperor Wu campaigned east, Xiuzheng attended him in the command tent; the victory bulletin on the pacification of Qi was written by Xiuzheng. He was repeatedly promoted to Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry and Grand General with the great rank of ceremonial parity. He served in succession as magistrate of Chang'an and Wannian counties and won considerable praise in his time. He died in office. The Liang Canon that Fan had compiled was just finished but not yet edited and published when he died; on his deathbed he told Xiuzheng, "To fulfill my wish—will it not lie in this book! Xiuzheng edited, corrected, and copied it. He brought it to completion as a work in its own right, and it circulated in his day.

行本，璠兄子也。父環，仕梁，曆職清顯。行本起家梁武陵王國常侍。遇蕭脩以梁州北附，遂與叔父璠歸周，寓居新豐。每以諷讀為事，精力忘疲，雖衣食乏絕，晏如也。性剛烈，有不可奪之志。周大塚宰宇文護引為中外府記室。武帝親總萬機，轉禦正中士，兼領起居注。累遷掌朝下大夫。周代故事，天子臨軒，掌朝典筆硯，持至御坐，則承禦大夫取進之。及行本為掌朝，將進筆於帝，承禦復欲取之。行本抗聲曰：「筆不可得。」帝驚視問之，行本曰：「臣聞設官分職，各有司存。臣既不得佩承禦刀，承禦亦焉得取臣筆？」帝曰：「然。」因令二司各行所職。及宣帝嗣位，多失德，行本切諫忤旨，出為河內太守。及尉遲迥作亂，攻懷州，行本率吏人拒之，拜儀同，賜爵文安縣子。

Xingben was the son of Fan's elder brother. His father Huan served Liang and successively held clear, eminent posts. Xingben first entered office as Regular Attendant of the Princely Domain of Wuling of Liang. When Xiao Xiu brought Liang Province north to submit, he returned to Zhou together with his uncle Fan and made his home in Xinfeng. He always made recitation and reading his occupation, driving himself without fatigue; though food and clothing ran short, he remained perfectly at ease. By nature he was stern and resolute, with a will that could not be wrested away. Yuwen Hu, Grand Minister of Zhou, summoned him as Master of Records of the Central and Outer Headquarters. When Emperor Wu personally took charge of all affairs, Xingben was transferred to Senior Clerk of the Imperial Secretariat and concurrently put in charge of the Daily Record. He was repeatedly promoted to Grand Master of Court Attendance. By Zhou custom, when the Son of Heaven faced the hall, the Court Attendance Master held the brush and inkstone and, on reaching the imperial seat, the Assistant Master of Attendance took them and presented them. When Xingben was Court Attendance Master and was about to present the brush to the Emperor, the Assistant Master again tried to take it. Xingben said loudly, "The brush cannot be taken. The Emperor looked up in surprise and asked why; Xingben said, "I have heard that in establishing offices one divides duties, and each has its keeper. Since I may not wear the Assistant Master's knife at my belt, how may the Assistant Master take my brush?" The Emperor said, "So it is." He therefore ordered the two offices each to perform its own duty. When Emperor Xuan succeeded to the throne and often lost virtue, Xingben remonstrated sharply and offended the imperial will; he was sent out as Administrator of Henei. When Wei Chijiong rebelled and attacked Huaizhou, Xingben led clerks and people to resist him; he was granted ceremonial parity and enfeoffed as Viscount of Wen'an.

隋文帝踐祚，拜諫議大夫，檢校中書侍郎。上嘗怒一郎，於殿前笞之。行本進曰：「此人素清，其過又小。」上不顧。行本正當上前曰：「陛下不以臣不肖，令臣在左右。臣言若是，陛下安得不聽？臣言若非，當致之于理，安得輕臣而不顧？臣所言非私！」因置笏於地而退，上斂容謝之，遂原所笞者。

When Emperor Wen of Sui ascended the throne, Xingben was appointed Remonstrance Grand Master and Inspector of Gentleman of the Secretariat. Once the Emperor was angry with a Gentleman and had him beaten with the rod before the hall. Xingben stepped forward and said, "This man has always been upright, and his offense is small. The Emperor paid no heed. Xingben stood directly before the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, knowing I am unworthy, still keeps me at your side. If my words are right, how can Your Majesty fail to heed them? If my words are wrong, I should be handed over to the law; how can Your Majesty lightly disregard me and pay no heed? What I say is not for private ends! He then laid down his tablet and withdrew; the Emperor composed his face and apologized, and finally pardoned the man who had been beaten.

時天下大同，四夷內附，行本以党項羌密邇封域，最為後服，上表劾其使者曰：「臣聞南蠻遵校尉之統，西域仰都護之威。比見西羌，鼠竊狗盜，不父不子，無君無臣，異類殊方，於斯為下。不悟羈縻之惠，詎知含養之恩，狼戾為心，獨乖正朔。使人近至，請付推科。」上奇其志。雍州別駕元肇言於上曰：「有一州吏，受人饋錢二百文，律令杖一百。然臣下車之始，與其為約。此吏故違，請加徒一年。」行本駁之曰：「律令之行，蓋發明詔。今肇乃敢重其教命，輕忽憲章，虧法取威，非人臣之禮。」上嘉之，賜絹百匹。

At that time the realm was united and the four barbarians submitted within; Xingben, because the Tangut Qiang lay close to the border and were the last to submit, memorialized impeaching their envoy: "I have heard that the southern barbarians obey the command of the Commandant, and the Western Regions look to the Protector-General's authority. Of late I have seen the western Qiang, thieving like rats and dogs, neither honoring fathers nor rearing sons, without lord or minister—a foreign race in a distant land, lowest of all. They do not understand the grace of bridled submission, nor know the kindness of nurturing care; wolfish and unruly in heart, they alone defy the royal calendar. Their envoy has just arrived; I ask that he be handed over for investigation and punishment. The Emperor marveled at his resolve. Yuan Zhao, Assistant Administrator of Yong Province, said to the Emperor, "There was a clerk of one province who received two hundred cash in gifts; by law he should be beaten one hundred strokes. Yet when I first took office I made an agreement with him. This clerk deliberately violated it; I ask that one year of penal servitude be added. Xingben rebutted him, saying, "The execution of laws and orders should clarify the imperial edicts. Now Zhao dares to aggravate his own command and lightly disregard the statutes, damaging the law to seize authority—this is not the conduct of a minister." The Emperor praised this and bestowed one hundred bolts of silk.

拜太子左庶子，領書侍御史如故。皇太子虛襟敬憚。時唐令則為左庶子，太子昵狎之，每令以弦歌教內人。行本責之曰：「庶子當匡太子以正道，何嬖昵房帷之間哉！」令則甚慚而不能改。時沛國劉臻、平原明克讓、河南陸爽等並以文學為太子所親。行本怒其不能調護，每謂三人曰：「卿等正解讀書耳。」時左術率長史夏侯福為太子所昵，嘗於閤內與太子戲。福大笑，聲聞於外。行本時在閤下聞之，待其出，數之曰：「汝何小人，敢為褻慢！」因付執法者推之。太子為請，乃釋之。太子嘗得良馬，令福乘而觀之。太子甚悅，因欲令行本復乘。行本正色曰：「至尊置臣於庶子位，欲輔導殿下以正道，非為殿下作弄臣。」太子慚而止。復以本官領大興令，權貴憚其方正，無敢至其門者。由是請托路絕，吏人懷之。未幾，卒於官，上甚傷惜之。及太子廢，上曰：「嗟乎！若使劉行本在，勇當不及此乎！」行本無子。

He was appointed Left Assistant to the Heir Apparent while still serving as Attendant Censor of the Masters of Writing. The Crown Prince treated him with open respect and restraint. At that time Tang Lingze was Left Assistant; the Crown Prince was intimate with him and often had him teach the inner household with string music. Xingben reproached him, saying, "The Assistant should guide the Crown Prince by the upright Way—why dally in fond intimacy within the bedchamber! Lingze was deeply ashamed but could not change. At that time Liu Zhen of Pei, Ming Keyang of Pingyuan, Lu Shuang of Henan, and others were all favored by the Crown Prince for their literary learning. Xingben was angry that they could not guide and protect the prince, and often said to the three, "You gentlemen only know how to read books, that is all. At that time Chief Clerk of the Left Guard Xiahou Fu was favored by the Crown Prince and once played with the Crown Prince inside the pavilion. Fu laughed loudly, and the sound was heard outside. Xingben was below the pavilion and heard it; when Fu came out he rebuked him, saying, "What sort of petty man dares behave with such disrespect! He then handed him over to the law officers for investigation. The Crown Prince pleaded for him, and only then was he released. The Crown Prince once obtained a fine horse and had Fu ride it to show it off. The Crown Prince was greatly pleased and therefore wished to have Xingben ride it as well. Xingben said sternly, "Your Majesty placed me in the post of Assistant to the Heir Apparent to guide the Crown Prince by the upright Way, not to be a plaything for the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was ashamed and stopped. He again held his original office and concurrently served as Magistrate of Daxing; the powerful and noble feared his uprightness, and none dared come to his gate. Because of this the path of private requests was cut off, and clerks and commoners cherished him. Before long he died in office, and the Emperor deeply mourned his loss. When the Crown Prince was deposed, the Emperor said, "Alas! If Liu Xingben were still alive, would Prince Yong not have come to this! Xingben had no son.

柳遐，字子升，河東解人，宋太尉元景從孫也。祖叔珍，義陽內史，事見《南史》。父季遠，梁宜都太守。遐幼而爽邁，神彩嶷然，髫歲便有成人之量。篤好文學，動合規矩。其世父慶遠特器異之，謂曰：「吾昔逮事伯父太尉公，嘗謂吾云：'我昨夢汝登一樓，甚峻麗，吾以坐席與汝。汝後名宦必達，恨吾不及見耳。 '吾向聊復晝寢，又夢將昔時坐席還以賜汝，汝之官位當復及吾。特宜勉勵，以應嘉祥也。」梁西昌侯藻鎮雍州，遐時年十二，以百姓禮修謁，風儀端肅，進止詳雅。藻羨之，試遣左右踐遐衣裾，欲觀其舉措。遐徐步稍前，曾不顧盼。仕梁稍遷尚書功論郎。陳郡謝舉時為僕射，引遐與語，甚嘉之，顧謂人曰：「江漢英靈見於此矣。」

Liu Xia, whose style name was Zisheng, came from Jie in Hedong and was a collateral descendant of Song Grand Marshal Yuanjing. His grandfather Shuzhen was Administrator of Yiyang; his career is recorded in the History of the Southern Dynasties. His father Jiyuan served as Administrator of Yidu under Liang. From childhood Xia was bright and lofty in spirit; even in infancy he already had the measure of a grown man. He deeply loved literature and learning, and in conduct always accorded with rule and measure. His father's elder brother Qingyuan especially valued him and said, "I once served our father's elder brother the Grand Marshal, and he once told me, 'Yesterday I dreamed that you climbed a tower, very high and splendid, and I gave you my seat cushion. Your later fame and office will surely reach far; I regret that I shall not live to see it. I have just dozed again in the daytime and dreamed that I gave you back the seat cushion of old; your official rank will again reach mine. You should especially exert yourself to answer this auspicious sign. When the Marquis of Xichang, Xiao Zao, was stationed at Yong Province, Xia at twelve paid a visit in the manner of a common subject; his bearing was dignified and his movements refined and elegant. Zao admired him and tested him by sending attendants to tread on the hem of Xia's robe, wishing to observe his conduct. Xia walked slowly forward and never looked back. Under Liang he was gradually promoted to Gentleman of Merit Evaluation in the Masters of Writing. Xie Ju of Chen Commandery was then Vice Director; he drew Xia into conversation, greatly praised him, and turning to others said, "The heroic spirit of the Jiang and Han is seen here."

岳陽王蕭詧於襄陽承制，授遐吏部郎，賜爵聞喜公。尋進位持節、侍中、驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司。及詧踐帝位於江陵，以襄陽來歸，辭詧曰：「陛下中興鼎業，龍飛舊楚。臣昔因幸會，早奉名節，理當以身許國，期之始終。自晉氏南遷臣宗族蓋寡，從祖太尉、世父儀同、從父司空，並以位望隆重，遂家于金陵；唯留先臣獨守墳栢，嘗誡臣等，使不違此志。今襄陽既入北朝，臣若陪隨鑾蹕，進則無益塵露，退則有虧先旨。」詧重違其志，遂許之，因留鄉里，以經籍自娛。

The Prince of Yueyang, Xiao Cha, assuming provisional authority at Xiangyang, appointed Xia Gentleman of the Masters of Writing and enfeoffed him as Duke of Wenxi. Soon he was further promoted to Bearer of the Staff, Attendant-in-Ordinary, Rapid Cavalry Grand General, and Grand Master with the third rank of ceremonial parity. When Cha ascended the throne at Jiangling and Xiangyang came over in submission, Xia declined Cha, saying, "Your Majesty restores the imperial enterprise in mid-flourish; the dragon flies again in old Chu. I once, through early fortune, received your honored favor; by right I should devote my body to the state from beginning to end. Since the Jin moved south my clan has grown sparse; my collateral ancestor the Grand Marshal, my father's elder brother with ceremonial parity, and my father's younger brother the Minister of Works all, because of weighty rank and eminence, made their home in Jinling; only my late father remained alone to guard the tombs and cypresses, and often admonished us not to violate this resolve. Now that Xiangyang has entered the Northern court, if I followed the imperial carriage, in advancing I would add nothing but dust and dew, and in retreat I would fail my forefathers' intent. Cha, deeply unwilling to violate his resolve, consented and left him in his home district to amuse himself with the classics.

周文帝、明帝頻征，固辭以疾。及詧殂，遐舉哀，行舊臣之服。保定中，又征之，遐始入朝，授驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司、霍州刺史。遐導人務先以德，再三不用命者，乃微加貶異，示恥而已。其下感而化之，不復為過，咸曰：「我君仁惠如此，其可欺乎！」卒，贈金、安二州刺史。

Emperors Wen and Ming of Zhou repeatedly summoned him, but he firmly declined on grounds of illness. When Cha died, Xia observed mourning and wore the garb of an old subject. In the Baoding era he was again summoned; Xia then entered court and was appointed Rapid Cavalry Grand General, Grand Master with the third rank of ceremonial parity, and Governor of Huo Province. In guiding people Xia always put virtue first; only when someone repeatedly disobeyed orders did he lightly impose demotion or distinction, showing shame and nothing more. His subordinates were moved and reformed and no longer committed offenses, all saying, "Our lord is so benevolent and gracious—how could we deceive him! On his death he was posthumously made Governor of Jin and An provinces.

遐有至行。初為州主簿，其父卒于揚州，遐自襄陽奔赴，六日而至，哀感行路，毀悴不可識。後奉喪西歸。中流風起，舟中人相顧失色。遐抱棺號慟，訴天求哀，俄頃風止浪息。其母嘗乳間發疽，醫云：「此疾無可救理，唯得人吮膿，或望微止其痛。」遐應聲即吮，旬日遂瘳。咸以為孝感所致。性又溫裕，略無喜慍之容。弘獎名教，未嘗論人之短。尤尚施與，家無餘財。臨終遺誡簿葬，其子等並奉行之。有十子，靖、莊最知名。

Xia was a man of utmost moral conduct. While serving as Chief Clerk of the province, his father died in Yang Province; Xia rushed from Xiangyang and arrived in six days. Grief moved those on the road, and he was so wasted that he could not be recognized. Later he escorted the coffin westward. Midstream a wind arose, and those in the boat looked at one another in alarm. Xia embraced the coffin and wailed, crying out to Heaven and begging for pity; in a moment the wind stopped and the waves subsided. His mother once developed a sore between her breasts; the physician said, "This illness cannot be cured; only if someone sucks out the pus may the pain perhaps be slightly eased. Xia at once answered and sucked; within ten days she recovered. All held that this was caused by filial devotion moving Heaven. By nature he was also warm and generous, with scarcely any look of joy or anger. He broadly encouraged the teaching of names and ritual and never discussed people's faults. He especially valued giving, and his household had no surplus wealth. On his deathbed he left instructions for a plain burial, and his sons all followed them. He had ten sons; Jing and Zhuang were the most renowned.

靖字思休，少方雅，博覽墳籍。仕梁，正員郎。隨遐入周，授大都督，曆河南、德廣二郡守。所居皆有政術，吏人畏而愛之。然性愛閑素，其于名利澹如也。及秩滿還鄉，便有終焉之志。隋文帝踐極，特詔征之，以疾固辭。優遊不仕，閉門自守，所對唯琴書如已。足不曆園庭，殆將十載。子弟奉之若嚴君焉。其有過者，靖必下帷自責，於是長幼相率拜謝於庭，靖然後見之，勖以禮法。鄉里亦慕而化之，或有不善者，皆曰：「唯恐柳德廣知也。」時論方之王烈。前後總管到官，皆親至靖家問疾，遂以為故事。秦王俊臨州，賚以几杖，並致衣物。靖唯受几杖，餘並固辭。其為當時所重如此。開皇中，壽終。

Jing, whose style name was Sihui, from youth was upright and elegant and broadly read the classics. Under Liang he served as Regular Gentleman. Following Xia into Zhou, he was appointed Grand Commander and successively served as Administrator of Henan and Deguang commanderies. Wherever he served he had governing skill; clerks and commoners feared yet loved him. Yet by nature he loved quiet simplicity, and toward fame and profit he was indifferent. When his term ended he returned home and already had the resolve to end his days there. When Emperor Wen of Sui ascended the throne, he was specially summoned by edict but firmly declined on grounds of illness. At ease and unoccupied, he kept his door closed and guarded himself; his companions were only the zither and books, as if alone. His feet did not cross the garden courtyard for nearly ten years. Younger and elder kin served him as if he were a stern lord. When any had faults, Jing would always draw the curtain and blame himself; then young and old together would bow in apology in the courtyard, and only then would Jing see them and exhort them with ritual and law. The neighborhood also admired and was transformed; if any did wrong they would say, "We only fear that Liu Deguang will know. Contemporary opinion ranked him with Wang Lie. Former and later regional commanders, on taking office, all personally visited Jing's home to inquire after his health, and this became precedent. When Prince Jun of Qin came to the province, he bestowed an armrest and staff and also sent clothing. Jing accepted only the armrest and staff; the rest he firmly declined. Such was the weight in which he was held in his time. In the Kaihuang era he died at full years.

莊字思敬，少有器量，博覽墳籍，兼善辭令。濟陽蔡大寶有重名于江左，時為岳陽王蕭詧諮議，見莊，歎曰：「襄陽水鏡，復在於茲！」大寶遂以其女妻之。俄而察辟為參軍。及詧稱帝，累遷鴻臚卿。及隋文帝輔政，蕭巋令莊奉書入關。時三方構難，文帝懼巋有異志，及莊還，謂曰：「孤昔以開府從役江陵，深蒙梁主殊眷。今主幼時艱，猥蒙顧托。梁主弈業重光，委誠朝廷，而今已後，方見松筠之節。君還申孤此意于梁主也。」遂執莊手而別。時梁之將帥咸請與尉遲迥連衡，進可盡節于周氏，退可席捲山南，唯巋疑不可。會莊至自長安，申文帝結托之意，遂言於巋曰：「今尉遲迥雖曰舊將，昏耄已甚。消難、王謙常人之下者，非有匡合之才。況山東、庸蜀從化日近，周室之恩未洽於朝廷。臣料之，迥等終當覆滅，隨公必私周國，未若保境息人，以觀其變。」巋深以為然。未幾，消難奔陳，迥及謙相次就戮。巋謂莊曰：「近若從眾言，社稷已不守矣。」文帝踐祚，莊又入朝，帝深慰勉之。及為晉王廣納妃于梁，莊因是往來四五反，前後賜物數千段。梁國廢，授開府儀同三司，除給事黃門侍郎。

Zhuang, whose style name was Sijing, from youth had capacity and measure, broadly read the classics, and was also skilled in elegant speech. Cai Dabao of Jiyang had heavy fame east of the Yangtze; at that time he was Consulting Advisor to the Prince of Yueyang Xiao Cha and, on seeing Zhuang, sighed, "The mirror of Xiangyang water is found here again! Dabao thereupon gave him his daughter in marriage. Soon Cha summoned him as Adjutant. When Cha declared himself emperor, Zhuang was repeatedly promoted to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. When Emperor Wen of Sui served as regent, Xiao Kui had Zhuang carry a letter into the pass. At that time the three regions were embroiled in conflict; Emperor Wen feared Kui had a different intent, and when Zhuang returned he said to him, "I once followed the open headquarters in service at Jiangling and deeply received the Liang ruler's special favor. Now the ruler is young and the times are hard; I have undeservedly received his trust as regent. The Liang ruler's imperial enterprise shines anew; he has entrusted his loyalty to the court, and from now on we shall see the steadfastness of pine and bamboo. When you return, convey this intent of mine to the Liang ruler. He then took Zhuang's hand in parting. At that time Liang's generals all asked to ally with Wei Chijiong—advancing, they could exhaust their loyalty to the house of Zhou; retreating, they could sweep up the lands south of the mountains—only Kui doubted and would not agree. When Zhuang arrived from Chang'an and conveyed Emperor Wen's intent of entrusted alliance, he then said to Kui, "Now Wei Chijiong, though called an old general, is already deeply senile. Xiao Nan and Wang Qian are men below the common run and lack the talent to restore unity. Moreover, east of the mountains and in Yong-Shu submission draws nearer day by day, and Zhou's grace has not yet reached the court. By my estimate, Chijiong and the others will in the end be overthrown; Duke Sui will surely seize Zhou for himself—it is better to guard the borders and give the people rest, and watch how things change. Kui deeply thought this right. Before long Xiao Nan fled to Chen, and Chijiong and Qian were executed in succession. Kui said to Zhuang, "Had I lately followed the crowd's advice, the altars would already have been lost. When Emperor Wen ascended the throne, Zhuang again entered court, and the Emperor deeply comforted and encouraged him. When the Prince of Jin Guang took a consort from Liang, Zhuang therefore went back and forth four or five times and was repeatedly given gifts numbering thousands of lengths. When the Liang state was abolished, he was appointed Grand Master with the third rank of ceremonial parity and made Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate for Presentation of Affairs.

莊明習舊章，雅達政事，凡所駁正，帝莫不稱善。蘇威為納言，重莊器識，常奏帝云：「江南人有學業者，多不習世務；習世務者，又無學業。能兼之者，不過柳莊。」高熲亦與莊甚厚。莊與陳茂同官，不能降意。茂見上及朝臣多屬意于莊，心每不平。帝與茂有舊，譖訴頗行。尚書省嘗奏犯罪人，依法合流，而上處以大辟。莊據法執之，帝不從，由是忤旨。俄屬尚藥進丸藥不稱旨，茂因奏莊不親監，帝怒。十一年，徐璒等反於江南，詔莊以行軍總管長史，隨軍討之。璒平，即授饒州刺史，甚有能名。卒於官。

Zhuang clearly knew old regulations and was elegantly versed in administration; whatever he corrected, the Emperor always praised as good. Su Wei as Chief Speaker valued Zhuang's capacity and insight and often memorialized the Emperor, saying, "Among men of the south with learning, many do not practice worldly affairs; those who practice worldly affairs have no learning. Those who combine both are no more than Liu Zhuang. Gao Jiong was also very close to Zhuang. Zhuang and Chen Mao held the same office but could not lower his will. Mao saw that the Emperor and court ministers mostly favored Zhuang, and in his heart he was always displeased. The Emperor had old ties with Mao, and slander and complaints often took effect. The Masters of Writing once memorialized a criminal; by law he should be banished, but the Emperor sentenced him to death. Zhuang held to the law and resisted; the Emperor would not follow, and thereby Zhuang offended the imperial will. Soon the Office of Imperial Pharmacy presented pills that did not suit the imperial will, and Mao thereupon memorialized that Zhuang had not personally supervised; the Emperor was angry. In the eleventh year, Xu Yan and others rebelled in Jiangnan; an edict appointed Zhuang Chief Clerk to the Campaigning Regional Commander to follow the army in suppression. When Yan was pacified, Zhuang was at once appointed Governor of Rao Province and won a considerable reputation for ability. He died in office.

論曰：韓褒奉事三帝，以忠厚知名。趙肅平允當官，張軌循良播美，李彥譽流省閣，郭彥信著蠻貃，曆官出納，並當時之選也。梁昕、皇甫璠、辛慶之、王子直、杜杲之徒，並關右之舊族。或紆組登朝，獲當官之譽，或張旃出境，有專對之才，既茂國猷，克隆家業，美矣！魏文帝云「文人不護細行。」其呂思禮之謂乎！徐招、檀翥、孟信各以才學自業，又加之以清介，並志能之士也。宗懍才辭幹局，見重梁元，逮乎播越秦中，不預政事，豈亡國俘虜不與圖存者乎？梁氏據有江東五十餘載，挾策紀事，蓋亦多人。劉璠學思通博，有著述之譽，雖傳疑傳信，頗有詳略，而屬辭比事，為一家之言。行本正色抗言，具存乎骨鯁。柳遐立身之道，進退有節，觀其眷戀墳隴，其孝可移於朝廷；盡禮舊主，其忠可事於新君。夫能推此類以求賢，則知人幾于易矣。莊亮直之風，不殞門表，忠而獲謗，蓋亦自古有之。

The commentary says: Han Bao served three emperors and was known for loyalty and honesty. Zhao Su was fair and upright in office; Zhang Gui spread the fame of good governance; Li Yan's reputation flowed through the inner offices; Guo Yan's trustworthiness was known among the frontier barbarians; in successive posts of receipt and disbursement they were all the choice men of their age. Liang Xin, Huang Fufan, Xing Qingzhi, Wang Zizhi, Du Gao, and their kind were all old clans of Guanzhong. Some, trailing ribbons, ascended court and won praise in office; some, unfurling banners, went beyond the borders and had the talent to answer alone on behalf of the state. They enriched the state's plans and carried on the family enterprise—beautiful indeed! Emperor Wen of Wei said, "Men of letters do not guard minor conduct. Was this not meant of Lu Sili! Xu Zhao, Tan Zhu, and Meng Xin each made talent and learning their profession, and to this added purity and integrity—they were all men of resolve and ability. Zong Lin had talent in composition and capacity in affairs and was valued by Emperor Yuan of Liang; when he reached exile in Qin he did not participate in government—was this not because a captive of a fallen state does not join in plans for survival? The Liang house held the lands east of the Yangtze for more than fifty years; in holding brushes to record events, there were surely many men. Liu Fan's learning and thought were broad and penetrating and he had a reputation for authorship; though in transmitting doubt and certainty he was somewhat detailed or brief, in arranging words and comparing events he formed a school of his own. Xingben's stern countenance and bold speech are fully preserved in his unyielding bones. In Liu Xia's way of establishing himself, advance and retreat had measure; seeing his attachment to tombs and hills, his filial piety could be transferred to the court; in exhausting ritual toward his old lord, his loyalty could serve the new ruler. If one can extend this kind of example to seek the worthy, then knowing men is nearly easy. Zhuang's bright and upright wind did not fade from the family's banner; loyalty yet receiving slander—this too has existed from ancient times.

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