Volume 74 Biographies 62: Liu Fang, Liu Qiu, Huang Fuji, Guo Yan, Zhang Heng, Yang Wang, Pei Yun, Yuan Chong, Li Xiong

劉昉柳裘皇甫績郭衍張衡楊汪裴蘊袁充李雄

Liu Fang; Liu Qiu; Huang Fuji; Guo Yan; Zhang Heng; Yang Wang; Pei Yun; Yuan Chong; and Li Xiong.

列傳第六十二

Biography 62

劉昉柳裘皇甫績郭衍張衡楊汪裴蘊袁充李雄

Liu Fang, Liu Qiu, Huang Fuji, Guo Yan, Zhang Heng, Yang Wang, Pei Yun, Yuan Chong, and Li Xiong

劉昉，博陵望都人也。父孟良，仕魏，位大司農卿。從武帝入關，為梁州刺史。昉輕狡，有奸數。周武帝時，以功臣子入侍皇太子。及宣帝嗣位，以技佞見狎，出入宮掖，寵冠一時。位小禦正，與禦正中大夫顏之儀並見親信。及帝不悆，召昉及之儀俱入臥內，屬以後事。帝失喑，不復能言。昉見靜帝幼沖，又素奇隋文帝。時文帝以後父故，有重名於天下，昉遂與鄭譯謀，引帝輔政。帝固讓，不敢當，昉曰：「公若為，當速為之。如不為，昉自為也。」帝乃從之，及帝為丞相，以昉為司馬。時宣帝弟漢王贊居要衝，每與帝同帳而坐。昉飾美妓進贊，贊甚悅之。昉因說贊曰：「大王，先帝之弟，時望所歸。孺子幼沖，豈堪大事！今先帝初崩，群情尚擾，王且歸第。待事寧後，入為天子，此萬全計也。」贊時年未弱冠，性識庸下，以為信然，遂從之。文帝以昉有定策功，拜上大將軍，封黃國公，與沛國公鄭譯皆為心膂。前後賞賜钜萬，出入以甲士自衛，朝野傾矚，稱為黃、沛。時人語曰：「劉昉牽前，鄭譯推後。」

Liu Fang came from Wangdu in Boling commandery. His father Mengliang had served Northern Wei and risen to Grand Minister of Agriculture. He followed Emperor Wu of Zhou west through the passes and was made governor of Liang province. Fang was flighty and sly, full of underhand designs. Under Emperor Wu of Zhou he entered the palace as a meritorious minister's son to attend the crown prince. When Emperor Xuan came to the throne, Fang won favor through arts and flattery, passed freely in and out of the inner quarters, and for a time enjoyed unrivaled intimacy. He held the junior post of Director of the Imperial Household and, together with the senior director Yan Zhiyi, stood among the emperor's most trusted attendants. When the emperor grew gravely ill, he called Fang and Zhiyi into his sickroom to entrust them with what was to come. The emperor had lost his voice and could no longer speak. Fang saw that Emperor Jing was still a child and had long been struck by the stature of Yang Jian, the future Emperor Wen of Sui. Yang Jian, as the empress's father, already enjoyed great renown throughout the realm; Fang therefore joined Zheng Yi in a plan to install him as regent. Yang Jian repeatedly refused, saying he dared not take the role; Fang said, "If you mean to act, sir, act at once. If you will not, then I, Fang, will do it myself." Yang Jian yielded; when he became chancellor he made Fang his marshal. The Prince of Han, Emperor Xuan's younger brother, then held a key post at court and sat with Yang Jian in the same tent every day. Fang sent in beautifully adorned courtesans to the prince, who took great delight in them. Fang then urged the prince: "Your Highness is the late emperor's own brother, and the realm's hopes rest on you. That infant on the throne is far too young to bear the weight of rule! The late emperor has only just died and the realm is still unsettled; withdraw for now to your own residence. When all is calm, come in and take the throne yourself—that is the sure plan." The prince was not yet twenty, dull of mind and shallow in judgment; he took Fang at his word and withdrew as urged. For his decisive role in the succession, Emperor Wen made Fang grand general and Duke of Huang, and together with Zheng Yi, Duke of Pei, treated both men as his closest confidants. Rewards poured in by the tens of thousands; armored guards attended his comings and goings; all eyes at court and in the provinces were on him—and men spoke of "Huang and Pei." A saying of the day ran: "Liu Fang leads from the front, Zheng Yi pushes from behind."

昉自恃功，有驕色。然性粗疏，溺於財利，富商大賈朝夕盈門。于時尉遲迥起兵，帝令韋孝寬討之。至武陟，諸將不一。帝欲遣昉、譯一人往監軍，因謂之曰：「須得心膂以統大軍，公兩人誰行？」昉辭未嘗為將，譯以母老為請，帝不懌。而高熲請行，遂遣之。由是恩禮漸薄。又王謙、司馬消難相繼反，文帝憂之，忘寢與食。昉逸遊縱酒，不以職司為意，相府事多所遺落。帝深銜之，以高熲代司馬。是後益見疏忌。及受禪，進柱國，改封舒國公，閒居無事，不復任使。昉自以佐命元功，中被疏遠，甚不自安。後遇京師饑，上命禁酒。昉使妾賃屋，當壚酤酒。治書侍御史梁毗劾奏之，有詔不問。昉鬱鬱不得志。

Fang took pride in his services and carried himself with arrogance. Yet he was coarse and careless by nature, greedy for gain, and great merchants thronged his gate from dawn to dusk. When Yuchi Jiong rose in rebellion, the emperor sent Wei Xiaokuan against him. At Wuzhi the commanders could not agree on a course. The emperor meant to send either Fang or Yi to supervise the campaign and asked them: "I need a trusted man to take charge of the army—which of you will go?" Fang pleaded that he had never commanded troops; Yi begged off on account of his aged mother. The emperor was displeased. Gao Jiong volunteered, and the emperor sent him instead. From that time their favor at court steadily waned. Wang Qian and Sima Xiaonan then rose in turn, and Emperor Wen was so troubled that he scarcely ate or slept. Fang gave himself to pleasure and drink, paid no heed to his duties, and let much of the chancellery's business go undone. The emperor deeply resented this and replaced him as marshal with Gao Jiong. After that he was increasingly kept at a distance and watched with suspicion. When Yang Jian took the throne, Fang was made a pillar of state and retitled Duke of Shu, but was left idle and given no further appointments. Fang, who had counted himself among the founders of the dynasty, found himself cast aside midway and grew deeply uneasy. Later, when famine struck the capital, the emperor forbade the sale of wine. Fang had a concubine rent a shopfront and sell wine over the counter. The secretarial attendant and imperial censor Liang Pi impeached him, but an edict ordered that the charge not be pursued. Fang brooded in frustration.

時上柱國梁士彥、宇文忻俱失職怨望，時昉並與之交，數相往來。士彥妻有美色，昉與私通，士彥不之知也，情好彌協，遂相與謀反，許推士彥為帝。後事泄，帝窮問之。昉自知不免，默無所封。詔誅之曰：

The senior pillars Liang Shiyan and Yuwen Xin had both lost office and nursed grievances; Fang joined their circle and they met often. Shiyan's wife was beautiful; Fang took her as his lover while Shiyan knew nothing, and their intimacy only deepened until they plotted rebellion together, with Shiyan to be made emperor. When the plot came to light, the emperor interrogated them fully. Fang knew there was no escape and answered nothing in his own defense. The edict condemning them read:

上柱國郕國公梁士彥、杞國公宇文忻、柱國舒國公劉昉等，朕受命之初，並展勤力，酬勳報效，榮高祿重。朝夕宴言，備知朕意。但心如溪壑，志等豺狼，不荷朝恩，忽謀逆亂。

Senior pillar Liang Shiyan, Duke of Xing; Yuwen Xin, Duke of Qi; Liu Fang, Duke of Shu; and the rest—at the beginning of Our reign you all labored hard in Our service, and We rewarded your merit with the highest honors and richest stipends. You dined with Us day after day and knew Our mind as well as any man. Yet your hearts were bottomless as ravines, your wills wolfish; ungrateful for the court's grace, you suddenly turned to treason.

士彥稱有相者，雲其應籙，年過六十，必據九五。初平尉遲迥，暫臨相州，已有反心，彰于道路。朕即遣人代之，不聲其罪。入京之後，逆意轉深。忻、昉之徒，言相扶助。士彥許率僮僕，克期不遠，欲於蒲州起事。即斷河橋，捉黎陽之關，塞河陽之路。自謂一朝奮發，無人當者，其第二子剛，每常苦諫，第三子叔諧，固深勸獎。朕既聞知，猶恐枉濫，及授晉部之任，欲驗蒲州之情。士彥得以欣然，雲是天贊。

Shiyan claimed a physiognomist had told him he was destined for the throne—that after his sixtieth year he would surely take the Nine-Five position. After the defeat of Yuchi Jiong he was briefly made governor of Xiangzhou, but his rebellious intent was already plain to all who passed along the roads. We at once sent another to replace him without publicly charging his crime. Once he came to the capital, his rebellious intent only deepened. Xin, Fang, and their fellows spoke of supporting one another. Shiyan promised to lead his household retainers on a day not far off, intending to raise troops at Puzhou. He would cut the Yellow River bridge, seize Liyang Pass, and block the Heyang route. He believed that once he struck, none could stand against him; his second son Gang pleaded with him again and again, while his third son Shuhan urged him on. When We learned of this We still feared to punish wrongly; We appointed him to the Jin region to test his intentions toward Puzhou. Shiyan rejoiced, calling it Heaven's blessing.

忻往定鄴城，自矜不已，位極人臣，猶恨賞薄。朕深念其功，不計無禮，任以武候，授以領軍，寄之爪牙，委之心腹。忻密為異計，樹党宮闈，多奏交友，入參宿衛。朕推心待物，言必依許。為而弗止，心跡漸彰，仍解禁兵，令其改悔。而志規不逞，愈結於懷，乃與士彥情意偏厚，俱營賊逆，逢則交謀。委士彥河東，自許關右，蒲津事建，即望從征討，兩軍結東西之旅，一舉合連橫之勢，然後北破晉陽，還圖宗社。

Xin had pacified Ye city and never ceased to congratulate himself; though he stood at the summit of subjecthood, he still grumbled that his rewards were meager. We weighed his services heavily and overlooked his discourtesy, made him martial marquis, gave him command of the palace guard, and treated him as Our trusted arm and inner confidant. Xin secretly plotted treason, built a faction in the inner palace, repeatedly recommended his friends for office, and placed them in the night guard. We dealt with him in open trust and granted his every request. He would not stop; his intent grew plain; We even restored his command of troops and urged him to repent. Yet his designs went unfulfilled and his resentment only deepened; he grew especially intimate with Shiyan, and together they plotted treason, conferring whenever they met. Shiyan was to hold Hedong while Xin took the west of the Pass; when the rising at Pujin succeeded, Xin would march to join him, their two armies linking east and west in a single stroke of allied power, then break Jinyang in the north and turn on the imperial house.

昉入佐相府，便為非法，三度事發，二度其婦自論。常雲姓是「卯金刀」，名是「一萬日」，劉氏應王，為萬日天子。朕訓之導之，望其修改。口請自新，志存如舊，亦與士彥情好深重，逆節奸心，盡探肝膈。嘗共士彥論太白所犯，問東井之間，思秦地之亂，訪軒轅之裏，願宮掖之災。唯侍蒲阪事興，欲在關內應接，殘賊之策，千端萬緒。

From the day Fang entered the chancellery he broke the law; three times his crimes came to light, and twice his wife pleaded his case in person. He often said his surname meant "mao metal knife" and his name "ten thousand days"—that the house of Liu was fated to rule as emperor for ten thousand days. We admonished and guided him, hoping he would reform. He spoke of reform while his heart stayed unchanged; he was deeply bound to Shiyan, and their treasonous designs were laid bare between them to the last. He once discussed with Shiyan the White Planet's passage, asking what lay between the Eastern Well stars, brooding on turmoil in the Qin lands, seeking the quarter of Xuanyuan, and praying for disaster in the palace. He only waited for the rising at Puban so he could answer from within the Pass; their rebel schemes branched in a thousand ways.

惟忻及昉，名位並高，寧肯北面曲躬，臣於士彥？乃是各懷不遜，圖成亂階，一得擾攘之基，方逞吞併之事。士彥、忻、昉身為謀首，叔諧贊成父意，議實難容，並已處盡。士彥、忻、昉兄弟叔侄，特恕其命。

As for Xin and Fang, both men of the highest rank and standing—would they truly bow north and serve Shiyan as their lord? Each nursed his own insubordination and meant only to set chaos in motion; once turmoil gave them their opening, they would turn on one another. Shiyan, Xin, and Fang were the ringleaders; Shuhan abetted his father's plot—the case admitted no mercy, and all have been executed. The brothers, uncles, and nephews of Shiyan, Xin, and Fang were specially spared.

臨刑，至朝堂，宇文忻見高熲，向之叩頭求哀。昉勃然謂忻曰：「事形如此，何叩頭之有！」於是伏誅，籍沒其家。後數日，帝素服臨射殿，盡取三家資物置於前，命百僚射取之，以為鑒戒云。

At the execution, when they were brought to the court hall, Yuwen Xin saw Gao Jiong and kowtowed to him for mercy. Fang burst out at Xin: "Matters stand as they do—what use is kowtowing now!" They were then executed and their property confiscated. A few days later the emperor came in plain dress to the Archery Hall, had the goods of all three families set out before him, and ordered the officials to shoot for them as a lesson to the court.

柳裘，字茂和，河東解人，南齊司空世隆之曾孫也。祖惔，梁尚書左僕射。父明，太子舍人、義興太守。裘少聰慧，弱冠有令名。在梁，歷位尚書郎、駙馬都尉。梁元帝為魏軍所逼，遣裘請和于魏。俄而江陵平，遂入關中。周明、武間，自麟趾學士累遷太子侍讀，封昌樂縣侯。宣帝即位，進爵為公，轉禦飾大夫。及帝不悆，留侍禁中，與劉昉、韋暮、皇甫績同謀引隋文帝，曰：「時不可失，今事已然，宜早定大計。天與不取，反受其殃。」帝從之。進上開府、內史大夫，委以機密。及尉遲迥作亂，天下騷動，并州總管李穆頗懷猶豫，帝令裘往喻之。裘見穆盛陳利害，穆遂歸心。以奉使功，賜彩三百匹，金九環帶一腰。時司馬消難奔陳，帝即令裘隨便安集淮南，賜馬及雜物。開皇元年，進位大將軍，拜許州刺史。在官清簡，人懷之，轉曹州刺史。後帝思裘定策功，欲加榮秩，將征之，顧朝臣曰：「曹州刺史何當入朝」？或曰：「即今冬也。」乃止。裘尋卒，帝傷惜者久之，諡曰安。子惠音嗣。

Liu Qiu, courtesy name Maohe, came from Jie in Hedong and was the great-grandson of Shilong, minister of works of Southern Qi. His grandfather Tan had been left vice director of the Masters of Writing under Liang. His father Ming had served as attendant of the crown prince and prefect of Yixing. Qiu was clever as a boy and by his twentieth year enjoyed an excellent reputation. Under Liang he rose through the posts of gentleman of the Masters of Writing and commandant of horse equipage. When Emperor Yuan of Liang was hard pressed by Wei forces, he sent Qiu to sue for peace. Soon Jiangling fell, and he passed west into the Guanzhong. Between the reigns of Ming and Wu of Northern Zhou he rose from academician of Linzhi to reader attendant to the crown prince and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Changle. When Emperor Xuan came to the throne, Qiu was advanced to duke and made grand master of imperial adornment. When the emperor fell gravely ill, Qiu stayed within the inner palace and, with Liu Fang, Wei Mu, and Huang Fuji, plotted to install Yang Jian, saying, "The moment must not be lost; the course is already set—you should settle the great design at once. Heaven's gift refused becomes Heaven's curse." Yang Jian accepted. Qiu was made upper opening grandee and grand master of the palace secretariat and entrusted with confidential affairs. When Yuchi Jiong rebelled and the realm was in turmoil, Li Mu, commander-in-chief of Bingzhou, wavered; the emperor sent Qiu to persuade him. Qiu laid out the stakes before Li Mu at length, and Mu thereupon gave his allegiance. For this mission he was rewarded with three hundred bolts of colored silk and a nine-ring gold girdle. When Sima Xiaonan fled to Chen, the emperor sent Qiu at once to pacify and settle Huainan, rewarding him with horses and other gifts. In the first year of Kaihuang he was made grand general and governor of Xu province. His administration was plain and honest, and the people loved him; he was then transferred to governor of Cao province. Later the emperor remembered Qiu's role in the succession and meant to honor him with a summons; he asked the court, "When will the governor of Cao province come to the capital?" Someone answered, "This very winter." The emperor said no more. Qiu soon died; the emperor grieved for him a long while and gave him the posthumous name An. His son Huiyin succeeded him.

皇甫績，字功明，安定朝那人也。祖穆，魏隴東太守。父道，周湖州刺史、雍州都督。績三歲而孤，為外祖韋孝寬所鞠養。孝寬以諸子墮業，督以嚴訓，湣績孤幼，特舍之。績歎曰：「我無庭訓，養於外氏，不能克躬勵已，何以成立！」深自感激，命左右自杖三十。孝寬聞而對之流涕。於是專精好學，略涉經史。周武帝為魯公時，引為侍讀。建德初，轉宮尹中士。武帝嘗避暑雲陽宮，時宣帝為太子監國。衛剌王作亂，城門已閉，百僚多有遁者。績聞難赴之，於玄武門遇皇太子，下樓執績手，悲喜交集。帝聞而善之，遷小宮尹。宣政初，錄前後功，封義陽縣男，累轉禦正下士。宣帝崩，隋文帝總己，績有力焉。加上開府，轉內史中大夫，進封郡公。拜大將軍。開皇元年，出為豫州刺史。尋拜都官尚書。轉晉州刺史。將之官，稽首言陳有三可滅。帝問其狀，績曰：「大吞小，一也。以有道伐無道，二也。納叛臣蕭岩，於我有詞，三也。陛下若命鷹揚之將，臣請預戎行。」上嘉勞而遣之。陳平，拜蘇州刺史。高智慧作亂江南，州人顧子元等發兵應之，因以攻績，相持八旬。子元素感績恩，於冬至日遣使奉牛酒。績遺之書。子元得書，於城下頓首陳謝。楊素援兵至，合擊破之。拜信州總管。俄以病乞骸骨，詔徵還京師，賜以禦藥，中使相望，顧問不絕。卒于家，諡曰安。

Huang Fuji, courtesy name Gongming, came from Chaona in Anding commandery. His grandfather Mu had been governor of Longdong under Wei. His father Dao had served Zhou as governor of Hu province and area commander of Yong. Fuji lost his father at three and was raised by his maternal grandfather Wei Xiaokuan. Because his own sons were neglecting their studies, Xiaokuan kept them under strict discipline, but pitied the orphaned Fuji and exempted him. Fuji sighed and said, "I have no father's teaching at home and am raised in my mother's house—if I cannot discipline myself, how can I ever make my way!" Deeply stirred, he ordered his attendants to flog him thirty strokes. When Xiaokuan heard of it, he wept before him. From then on he devoted himself to learning and gained some knowledge of the classics and histories. When the future Emperor Wu of Zhou was still Duke of Lu, Fuji was made his reader attendant. At the start of the Jiande era he became palace master gentleman. Emperor Wu once retired to Yunyang Palace for the summer while the crown prince, the future Emperor Xuan, supervised the realm. When Prince Wei of Ci rebelled, the city gates were shut and many officials fled. Fuji heard of the crisis and rushed to the palace; at the Xuanwu Gate he met the crown prince, who came down from the tower, seized his hand, and wept and rejoiced together. The emperor heard and approved, and promoted him to junior palace master. At the start of the Xuanzheng era his past services were recognized with a barony in Yiyang county, and he rose to junior director of the imperial household. When Emperor Xuan died and Yang Jian took power, Fuji had played an important part. He was made upper opening grandee and grand master of the palace secretariat and advanced to commandery duke. He was appointed grand general. In the first year of Kaihuang he was sent out as governor of Yu province. He was soon made minister of justice. He was then transferred to governor of Jin province. Before taking up his post he kowtowed and said Chen could be conquered for three reasons. The emperor asked what he meant; Fuji said, "First, the great may swallow the small. Second, the righteous may strike the unrighteous. Third, they have given us cause by sheltering the rebel minister Xiao Yan. If Your Majesty sends forth your hawk generals, I beg to march with them." The emperor praised him and sent him to his post. After Chen fell, he was made governor of Su province. When Gao Zhihui rebelled in the south, Gu Ziyuan and others of the province rose to join him and besieged Fuji for eighty days. Ziyuan, moved by Fuji's past kindness, sent oxen and wine on the winter solstice. Fuji sent him a letter in reply. Ziyuan received the letter and kowtowed beneath the walls to express his remorse. When Yang Su's relief force arrived, they joined and broke the rebels. He was made commander-in-chief of Xin province. Soon he asked to retire on grounds of illness; the emperor summoned him to the capital, sent imperial physicians, and palace envoys came in an unbroken stream to inquire after him. He died at home and was given the posthumous name An.

子偲嗣。大業中，位尚書主爵郎。

His son Si succeeded him. In the Daye era he served as gentleman in charge of fiefs in the Masters of Writing.

郭衍，字彥文，自雲太原介休人也。父崇，以舍人從魏孝武帝入關，位侍中。衍少驍武，善騎射。建德中，以軍功累遷儀同大將軍。又從周武帝平并州，以功加開府，封武強縣公，賜姓叱羅氏。宣政元年，為右中軍熊渠中大夫。尉遲迥之亂，從韋孝寬討之，以功授上柱國，封武山郡公。密勸隋文帝殺周室諸王，早行禪代，由是大被親昵。開皇元年，衍復舊姓為郭氏。突厥犯塞，以衍為行軍總管，領兵屯平涼。數歲，虜不入境。徵為開漕渠大監。部率水工，鑿渠引渭水，經大興城北，東至潼關，漕運四百餘里，關中賴之，名曰富人渠。五年，授瀛州刺史，遇秋霖大水，其屬縣多致漂沒，人皆上高樹，依大塚。衍親備船筏，並齊糧食拯救之，民多獲濟。衍先開倉賑恤，後始聞奏。上大善之，遷授朔州總管。所部有恆安鎮，北接蕃境，常勞轉運。衍乃選沃饒地，置屯田，歲嬴萬餘石，人免轉輸之勞。又築桑乾鎮，皆稱旨。十年，從晉王廣出鎮揚州。遇江表構逆，命衍為總管，先屯京口。于貴洲南與賊戰，敗之。仍討東陽、永嘉、宣城、黟、歙諸洞，盡平之。授蔣州刺史。

Guo Yan, courtesy name Yanwen, said his family came from Jiexiu in Taiyuan. His father Chong had followed Emperor Xiaowu of Wei west through the passes as an attendant and risen to palace attendant. Yan was bold and skilled in horsemanship and archery from youth. During the Jiande era he rose through military merit to general of the same rank. He followed Emperor Wu in the conquest of Bing province, was given the opening office, enfeoffed as Duke of Wuqiang, and granted the surname Chiluo. In the first year of Xuanzheng he became grand master of the Xiongqu in the right central army. In Yuchi Jiong's rebellion he campaigned under Wei Xiaokuan and was made senior pillar of state and Duke of Wushan commandery. He secretly urged Yang Jian to kill the Zhou princes and seize the throne quickly, and for this won great intimacy with him. In the first year of Kaihuang he resumed the surname Guo. When the Turks raided the frontier, Yan was made campaign commander and stationed at Pingliang. For several years the barbarians did not cross the border. He was recalled to serve as grand supervisor of opening the transport canal. He led the water workers in cutting a canal from the Wei River north of Daxing east to Tong Pass, a transport route of more than four hundred li on which Guanzhong depended; it was called the Rich Men's Canal. In the fifth year he was made governor of Ying province; autumn floods drowned many of its counties, and people took refuge in tall trees and on great mounds. Yan himself prepared boats and rafts and brought grain to rescue them; many lives were saved. Yan opened the granaries for relief before reporting to the throne. The emperor greatly approved and made him commander-in-chief of Shuo province. His jurisdiction included Heng'an Fort on the northern frontier, where transport was a constant burden. Yan chose fertile land for military colonies that yielded more than ten thousand piculs a year and spared the people the burden of transport. He also built Sanggan Fort—all to the emperor's satisfaction. In the tenth year he followed Prince Jin Yang Guang to Yangzhou as his garrison commander. When the south rose in rebellion, he was made campaign commander and encamped first at Jingkou. South of Guizhou he fought the rebels and defeated them. He then pacified the mountain strongholds of Dongyang, Yongjia, Xuancheng, Yi, and She. He was made governor of Jiang province.

衍臨下甚倨，事上甚卑。晉王愛昵之，宴賜隆厚。遷洪州總管。王有奪宗之謀，托衍心腹，遣宇文述以情告之。衍大喜曰：「若所謀事果，自可為皇太子。如其不諧，亦須據淮海，復梁、陳之舊。副君酒客，其如我何！」王因召衍，陰共計議。又恐人疑無故來往，托以妻患癭，王妃蕭氏有術能療之。以狀奏帝，聽共妻向江都，往來無度。衍又詐稱廣州俚反，王乃奏衍行兵討之。由是大修甲仗，陰養士卒。及王入為太子，徵授左監門率，轉左宗衛率。文帝于仁壽宮將大漸，太子與楊素矯詔令衍、宇文述領東宮兵，帖上臺宿衛，門禁並由之。及上崩，漢王起逆，而京師空虛，使衍馳還，總兵居守。

Yan was haughty toward those below and obsequious toward those above. Prince Jin favored him and lavished feasts and gifts upon him. He was transferred to commander-in-chief of Hong province. The prince plotted to seize the succession and made Yan his confidant; he sent Yuwen Shu to disclose his intentions. Yan was delighted and said, "If your plan succeeds, you will naturally become crown prince. If it fails, you must still hold the Huaihai and restore the old domains of Liang and Chen. As for the crown prince and his wine companions—what can they do to us!" The prince then summoned Yan and they plotted in secret. Fearing suspicion at their constant visits, they claimed Yan's wife had goiter and that the prince's consort Lady Xiao could cure it. They reported this to the emperor, who allowed their wives to travel to Jiangdu; thereafter they came and went without restraint. Yan also falsely reported a Li rebellion in Guangzhou, and the prince memorialized that Yan should march to suppress it. On this pretext he greatly expanded his arms and secretly trained troops. When the prince became crown prince, Yan was summoned as left director of the gate guards and then left director of the palace guard. When Emperor Wen lay dying at Renshou Palace, the crown prince and Yang Su forged an edict placing Yan and Yuwen Shu in command of the eastern palace troops to guard the palace gates and terraces. When the emperor died, the Prince of Han rebelled while the capital was undefended; Yan was sent galloping back to gather troops and hold the city.

長子臻，武牙郎將。次子嗣本，孝昌令。

His eldest son Zhen was commandant of the martial fangs. His second son Siben was magistrate of Xiaochang.

張衡，字建平，河內人也。祖嶷，魏河陽太守。父允，周萬州刺史。衡幼懷志尚，有骨梗風。十五，詣太學受業，研精覃思，為同輩所推。周武帝居太后憂，與左右出獵，衡露髻輿櫬，扣馬切諫。帝嘉焉，賜衣一襲，馬一匹，擢拜漢王侍讀。衡又就沈重受《三禮》，略究大旨。累遷掌朝大夫。

Zhang Heng, courtesy name Jianping, came from Henei commandery. His grandfather Ni had been governor of Heyang under Wei. His father Yun had served Zhou as governor of Wan province. From youth Heng held high ambitions and an unyielding character. At fifteen he entered the Imperial Academy, studied with deep concentration, and was esteemed by his peers. When Emperor Wu was in mourning for the empress dowager yet went hunting with his attendants, Heng came with hair unbound, carrying a bier on his shoulder, seized the bridle, and remonstrated sharply. The emperor approved, gave him a suit of clothes and a horse, and made him reader attendant to the Prince of Han. Heng also studied the 《Three Rites》 under Shen Chong and gained a grasp of their essentials. He rose to grand master in charge of the court.

隋文帝受禪，拜司門侍郎。及晉王廣為河北行台，衡曆刑部、度支二曹郎。行台廢，拜并州總管掾。王轉牧揚州，衡復為掾。王甚親任之，衡亦竭慮盡誠。奪宗之計，多衡所建。遷揚州總管司馬。熙州李英林反，署置百官，以衡為行軍總管討平之，拜開府。及王為皇太子，拜衡右庶子。

When Emperor Wen took the throne, Heng was made vice director of the department of gates. When Prince Jin Yang Guang was made executive abode of Hebei, Heng served in the bureaus of punishments and of revenue. When the executive abode was abolished, he was appointed aide to the governor-general of Bing province. When the prince transferred his governorship to Yang province, Heng again served as his aide. The prince held him in great favor and trust, and Heng in turn gave his mind and loyalty without reserve. Many of the plans to seize the succession were Heng's proposals. He was promoted to chief commandant of the Yangzhou governor-general's headquarters. Li Yinglin of Xizhou rebelled, set up a full bureaucracy, and appointed Heng marching commander-general; Heng suppressed the revolt and was then appointed to the Opening Office. When the prince became crown prince, Heng was made his right chief supporter.

煬帝嗣位，除給事黃門侍郎、銀青光祿大夫。遷御史大夫，甚見親重。大業三年，帝幸榆林郡，還至太原，謂衡曰：「朕欲過公宅，可為朕作主人也。」衡馳至河內，與宗族具牛酒。帝上太行，開直道九十里，以抵其宅。帝悅其山泉，留宴三日，因謂衡曰：「往從先皇拜太山之始，途經洛陽，瞻望於此，深恨不得相過，不謂今日得諧宿願。」衡俯伏辭謝，奉觴上壽。帝益歡，賜其宅傍田三十頃、良馬一匹、金帶、縑彩六百段、衣一襲、禦食器一具。衡固讓，帝曰：「天子所至稱幸者，蓋為此也，不足為辭。」衡復獻食於帝，帝令頒賜公卿，下至衛士，無不沾給。衡以籓邸之舊，恩寵莫與為比，頗自驕貴。明年，帝幸汾陽宮。時帝欲大汾陽宮，令衡與紀弘整具圖奏之。衡承間進諫，以比年勞役，百姓疲敝為請。帝意甚不平。後嘗目衡謂侍臣曰：「張衡自謂由甚計畫，令我有天下。」時齊王暕失愛於上，帝密令人求其罪。有人譖暕違制，將伊闕令皇甫詡從之汾陽宮。又錄前幸涿郡及祠恆岳時，父老謁見者，衣冠不整。帝譴衡以憲司皆不能舉正，出為榆林太守。

When Emperor Yang succeeded to the throne, Heng was made attendant of the Yellow Gate Department and lustered grand master of the palace. He was promoted to censor-in-chief and was greatly favored and esteemed. In the third year of Daye, the emperor visited Yunlin commandery; on returning to Taiyuan he said to Heng, "I wish to visit your home — you can play host for me. Heng raced to Henei and, with his clan, prepared cattle and wine. The emperor crossed the Taihang range, opened a straight road ninety li long, and reached his house. The emperor delighted in his mountain streams, lingered three days for a banquet, and said to Heng, "When I once followed my late father on the journey to pay homage at Mount Tai, passing through Luoyang I looked toward this place and deeply regretted that I could not visit you — I never expected today to fulfil that long-held wish. Heng prostrated himself in thanks and raised a cup to wish him long life. The emperor grew still more merry and bestowed on him thirty qing of good fields beside his residence, a fine horse, a gold belt, six hundred lengths of silk brocade, a suit of clothes, and a set of imperial dining vessels. Heng firmly declined; the emperor said, "Wherever the Son of Heaven arrives and calls it a visitation, it is for this — do not decline. Heng again presented food to the emperor; the emperor ordered it distributed to the public ministers down to the guardsmen, and none went without a share. Because of his old ties from the prince's establishment, his favor and distinction were unmatched, and he grew quite proud and self-important. The next year the emperor visited the Fenyang Palace. At that time the emperor wished to enlarge the Fenyang Palace and ordered Heng and Ji Hongzheng to prepare plans and present them. Heng seized an opportune moment to remonstrate, pleading on behalf of the people worn out by labor levies in recent years. The emperor was greatly displeased. Later the emperor looked at Heng and said to his attendants, "Zhang Heng claims that through his schemes he has given me the empire. At that time the Prince of Qi Yang Yong had lost the emperor's favor, and the emperor secretly had people seek his faults. Someone slandered Yong for violating regulations in taking Huangfu Xu, magistrate of Yique, with him to the Fenyang Palace. He also recorded that on the emperor's earlier visits to Zhuo commandery and his sacrifice at Mount Heng, the elders who came to audience were not properly dressed. The emperor blamed Heng because the censorate officials could not impeach and correct these matters, and sent him out as governor of Yulin.

明年，帝復幸汾陽宮，衡督役築樓煩城，因而謁帝。帝惡衡不損瘦，以為不念咎，因謂曰：「公甚肥澤，宜且還郡。」衡復之榆林。俄而敕衡督役江都宮。有人詣衡訟宮監者，衡不為理，還以訟書付監，其人大為監所困。禮部尚書楊玄感使至江都，其人詣玄感稱冤。玄感固以衡為不可。」及與相見，未有所言，又先謂玄感曰：「薛道衡真為枉死。」玄感具上其事。江都郡丞王世充又奏衡頻減頓具。帝怒，鎖衡詣江都市，將斬之。既而除名，放還田里。帝每令親人覘衡所為。

The next year the emperor again visited the Fenyang Palace; Heng supervised labor on Loufan city and thereupon had audience with the emperor. The emperor disliked that Heng had not grown lean and took it that he did not dwell on his fault; he therefore said, "You are quite fat and sleek — you had better return to your commandery for now. Heng returned to Yulin. Soon an edict ordered Heng to supervise work on the Jiangdu Palace. Someone came to Heng to sue the palace overseer; Heng would not hear the case and instead returned the petition to the overseer, and the man was greatly harassed by the overseer. Minister of Rites Yang Xuangan sent an envoy to Jiangdu; the man went to Xuangan to proclaim his grievance. Xuangan firmly maintained that Heng was unacceptable. When they met, before anything was said, he first said to Xuangan, "Xue Daohang truly died a wrongful death." Xuangan reported the whole affair in full to the throne. Wang Shichong, deputy magistrate of Jiangdu commandery, also memorialized that Heng repeatedly cut back provisions and equipment. The emperor was furious, chained Heng, and sent him to Jiangdu city to be executed. Shortly thereafter his name was removed from the registers and he was released to return to his home village. The emperor often had his kin spy on what Heng was doing.

八年，帝自遼東還都，妄言衡怨望，謗訕朝政，帝賜死於家。臨死，大言曰：「我為人作何物事，而望久活！」監刑者塞耳，促令殺之。武德初，以為死非其罪，贈大將軍、南陽郡公，諡曰忠。子希玄。

In the eighth year, when the emperor returned from Liaodong to the capital, he falsely claimed that Heng resented and slandered the government, and the emperor had him put to death at home. As he faced death he cried out loudly, "What sort of man's work have I done, that I should hope to live long! The supervising executioner stopped his ears and urged that he be killed at once. At the beginning of the Wude era, it was held that his death was not his crime; he was posthumously made grand general and Duke of Nanyang, with posthumous title Zhong. His son was Xi Xuan.

楊汪，字元度，本弘農華陰人也。曾祖順，居河東。父琛，儀同三司。及汪貴，追贈平鄉縣公。汪少凶疏，與人群鬥，拳所毆擊，無不顛踣。長更折節勤學，專精《左氏傳》，通《三禮》。解褐周冀王侍讀，王甚重之，每曰：「楊侍讀德業優深，孤之穆生也。」後問《禮》於沈重，受《漢書》于劉臻，二人曰：「吾弗如也。」由是知名。累遷夏官府都上士。

Yang Wang, courtesy name Yuandu, was originally from Huayin in Hongnong. His great-grandfather Shun lived in Hedong. His father Chen was palace attendant of the third rank. When Wang rose to prominence, his forebears were posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of Pingxiang county. In youth Wang was violent and undisciplined; in brawls none struck by his fists failed to topple. When he grew older he reformed his conduct and studied diligently, specializing in the 《Left Tradition》 and mastering the 《Three Rites》. On leaving the gray, he was reader to the Prince of Ji of Zhou; the prince greatly esteemed him and often said, "Reader Yang's virtue and learning are profound — he is my Mushang! Later he studied the 《Rites》 under Shen Chong and received the 《Book of Han》 from Liu Zhen; both men said, "We are not his equal." Thereby he became renowned. He was repeatedly promoted to chief officer of the Xia Offices in the palace directorate.

隋文帝居相，引知兵事，遷掌朝下大夫。及受禪，賜爵平鄉縣伯，曆秦州總管府長史。每聽政暇，必延生徒講授，時人稱之。入為尚書兵部侍郎。數年，帝謂諫議大夫王達曰：「卿為我覓一好左丞。」達遂私于汪曰：「我當薦君為左丞，若事果，當以良田相報也。」汪以達言奏之，達竟獲罪，卒拜汪尚書左丞。汪明習法令，果於剖斷，當時號為稱職。未幾，坐事免。後拜洛州長史，轉荊州長史。煬帝即位，追為尚書左丞，尋守大理卿。視事二日，帝將親省囚徒。時系囚二百餘人，汪通宵究審，詰朝而奏，曲盡事情，一無遺誤，帝甚嘉之。歲餘，拜國子祭酒。帝令百僚就學，與汪講論。天下通儒碩學多萃焉，論難鋒起，皆不能屈。帝令御史書其問答奏之，省而大悅，賜良馬一匹。後加銀青光祿大夫。

When Emperor Wen of Sui was regent at Xiang, he drew Wang in to know military affairs and promoted him to grand master in charge of the court. When he received the abdication, Wang was granted the title of Earl of Pingxiang county and served as chief clerk of the Qinzhou governor-general's headquarters. Whenever he had leisure after hearing cases, he would always invite students to lecture, and people of the time praised him. He entered court as vice minister of the Ministry of War. After several years the emperor said to remonstrating grand master Wang Da, "Find me a good left vice minister. Da then privately told Wang, "I intend to recommend you as left vice minister; if it succeeds, I shall repay you with good fields." Wang reported Da's words to the throne; Da ended up being punished, and Wang was at last appointed left vice minister of the Masters of Writing. Wang was well versed in statutes and decisive in judgment; at the time he was acclaimed as competent in office. Before long he was dismissed on account of an offense. Later he was appointed chief magistrate of Luozhou, then transferred to chief magistrate of Jingzhou. When Emperor Yang took the throne, Wang was recalled as left vice minister of the Masters of Writing and soon served as acting minister of justice. After two days in office the emperor was going personally to review the prisoners. At the time more than two hundred prisoners were held; Wang examined them through the night, reported at dawn, and set forth the cases fully without a single error; the emperor greatly approved. After more than a year he was appointed director of the Imperial Academy. The emperor ordered the hundred officials to attend study and debate with Wang. The empire's leading Confucians and great scholars largely gathered there; challenges flew thick and fast, yet none could overcome him. The emperor ordered the censor to record their questions and answers and present them; he read them with great delight and bestowed a fine horse. Later he was advanced to lustered grand master of the palace.

及楊玄感反，河南贊務裴弘策出師禦之，戰不利，奔還，遇汪而屏人交語。既而留守樊子蓋斬弘策，以狀奏汪，帝疑之，出為梁郡通守。後煬帝崩，王世充推越王侗為主，徵拜吏部尚書，頗見親委。及世充僭號，汪復用事。世充平，遂以凶黨伏誅。

When Yang Xuangan rebelled, coordinator of Henan Pei Hongce went out with troops to resist; the fight went badly and he fled back, met Wang, and dismissed others to speak with him privately. Then the garrison commander Fan Zigai executed Hongce and memorialized the facts regarding Wang; the emperor was suspicious and sent Wang out as communications commissioner of Liang commandery. Later, when Emperor Yang died, Wang Shichong installed the Prince of Yue Yang Tong as ruler, summoned Wang as minister of personnel, and greatly trusted him. When Shichong usurped the throne, Wang again held power. When Shichong was overthrown, Wang was executed as a member of the evil faction.

裴蘊，河東聞喜人也。祖之平，父忌，並《南史》有傳。忌在陳，與吳明徹同見俘于周，周賜爵江夏公，在隋十餘年而卒。蘊明辯有吏幹，仕陳，曆直閣將軍、興甯令。以父在北，陰奉表于隋文帝，請為內應。及陳平，上悉閱江南衣冠之士，次至蘊，以夙有向化心，超授儀同。僕射高熲不悟上旨，諫曰：「蘊無功于國，寵逾倫輩，臣未見其可。」又加上儀同，復諫。上曰：「可加開府。」乃不敢復言。即日拜開府儀同三司，禮賜優洽。曆洋、直隸三州刺史，俱有能名。

Pei Yun was from Wenxi in Hedong. His grandfather Zhiping and his father Ji both have biographies in the 《Records of the Southern Dynasties》. Ji was in Chen; he and Wu Mingche were captured together by Zhou; Zhou enfeoffed him as Duke of Jiangxia, and he died after more than ten years in Sui. Yun was bright in debate and skilled in administrative affairs; he served Chen as general of the direct office and magistrate of Xingning. Because his father was in the north, he secretly submitted a memorial to Emperor Wen of Sui asking to serve as an inside collaborator. When Chen was pacified, the emperor reviewed the cap-and-gown scholars of the south in turn; when it came to Yun, because he had long had a heart set on coming over to Sui, he was exceptionally appointed palace attendant of the first rank. Vice director Gao Jiong did not grasp the emperor's intent and remonstrated, "Yun has no merit to the state; his favor exceeds his rank — I do not see how this is acceptable. The emperor again added senior palace attendant of the first rank, and Gao again remonstrated. The emperor said, "He may be made Opening Office. Thereupon he did not dare speak again. That very day Yun was appointed palace attendant of the first rank with the opening office, with ritual courtesies and gifts liberal and appropriate. He served successively as governor of Yang, Zhili, and San provinces, all with a reputation for ability.

大業初，考績連最。煬帝聞其善政，徵為太常少卿。初，文帝不好聲技，遣牛弘定樂，非正聲清商及九部四舞之色，皆罷遣從百姓。至是，蘊揣知帝意，奏括天下周、齊、梁、陳樂家子弟，皆為樂戶。其六品已下，至於凡庶，有善音樂及倡優百戲者，皆直太常。是後異技淫聲咸萃樂府，皆置博士，遞相教傳，增益樂人至三萬餘。帝大悅，遷戶部侍郎。時猶承文帝和平後，禁網疏闊，戶口多漏。或年及成丁，猶詐為小，未至於老，已免租賦。蘊曆為刺史，素知其情，因是條奏，皆令貌閱。若一人不實，則官司解職，鄉正、里長皆遠流配。又許民相告，若糾得一丁者，令被糾之家代輸賦役。是歲大業五年也。諸郡計帳，進丁二十四萬三千，新附口六十四萬一千五百。帝臨朝覽狀，謂百官曰：「前代無好人，致此罔冒。今進民口皆從實者，全由裴蘊一人用心。古語雲，得賢而理，驗之信矣。」由是漸見親委，拜京兆贊務，發扌適纖毫，吏民懾憚。

At the beginning of Daye, his merit evaluations were consecutively the highest. When Emperor Yang heard of his good governance, he summoned him as vice minister of court ceremonials. Initially Emperor Wen did not favor musical arts; he had Niu Hong fix the music, and nonstandard tones, clear shang, and the colors of the nine departments and four dances were all dismissed to return to commoners. By then Yun guessed the emperor's mind and memorialized to round up the sons and younger brothers of musician families throughout the empire from Zhou, Qi, Liang, and Chen, and all were made music households. From the sixth rank down to commoners, anyone skilled in music or in performers and hundred entertainments was all assigned straight to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Thereafter exotic arts and licentious sounds all gathered in the Music Office; masters were established in succession to teach one another, and musicians were increased to more than thirty thousand. The emperor was greatly pleased and promoted Yun to vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue. The times still bore the peace after Emperor Wen, and the prohibition net was slack; many household registrations were omitted. Some reached the age of full adulthood yet falsely claimed to be young; before reaching old age they were already exempted from rent and tax. Yun had served as governor and long knew these conditions; he therefore memorialized item by item, and all were ordered to undergo physical inspection. If even one person was found false, the registering officials lost their posts, and the district head and hamlet chief were all exiled to distant penal service. He also allowed the people to inform on one another: if one adult male was turned in, the household denounced had to pay that man's taxes and corvée labor in his place. That year was the fifth year of Daye. The provincial registry accounts reported 243,000 newly registered adult males and 641,500 newly attached dependents. The emperor attended court to review the returns and said to the officials: "Former ages had no good men, and that is what led to such fraud. Now the population submitted is all truthful — entirely through Pei Yun's devoted effort alone. As the old saying has it, 'obtain a worthy man and the realm is governed' — how true that proves. Thereupon he was gradually entrusted with intimate duties, appointed assistant commissioner of the capital district, and exposed wrongdoing down to the finest thread; officials and commoners alike were in awe of him.

未幾，擢授御史大夫，與裴矩、虞世基參掌機密。蘊善候伺人主微意，若欲罪者，則曲法順情，鍛成其罪；所欲宥者，則附從輕典，因而釋之。是後大小之獄皆以付蘊，憲部、大理莫敢與奪，必稟承進止，然後決斷。蘊亦機辯，所論法理，言若懸河，或重或輕，皆由其口，剖析明敏，時人不能致詰。楊玄感之反也，帝遣蘊推其黨與，謂蘊曰：「玄感一呼，從者十萬。益知天下人不欲多，多即相聚為盜耳。不盡加誅，則後無以勸。」蘊由是乃峻法理之，所戮者數萬人，皆籍沒其家。帝大稱善，賜奴婢十五口。司隸大夫薛道衡以忤意獲譴，蘊知帝惡之，乃奏曰：「道衡負才恃舊，有無君之心。見詔書每下，便腹非私議，推惡于國，妄造禍端。論其罪名，似如隱昧，源其情意，深為悖逆。」帝曰：「然。我少時與此人相隨行役，輕我童稚，共高熲、賀若弼等外擅威權。自知罪當誣罔，及我即位，懷不自安，賴天下無事，未得反耳。公論其逆。妙體本心。」於是誅道衡。又帝問蘇威以討遼之策，威不願帝復行，且欲令帝知天下多賊，乃詭答：「今者之役，不願發兵，但詔赦群盜，自可得數十萬。遣關內奴賊及山東曆山飛、張金稱等頭別為一軍，出遼西道；諸河南賊王薄、孟讓等十餘頭，並給舟楫，浮滄海道。必喜於免罪，競務立功，一歲之間，可滅高麗矣。」帝不懌曰：「我去尚猶未克，鼠竊安能濟乎！」威出後，蘊奏曰：「此大不遜，天下何處有許多賊！」帝悟曰：「老革多奸，將賊脅我。欲搭其口，但隱忍之，誠極難耐。」蘊知上意，遣張行本奏威罪惡，帝付蘊推鞫之，乃處其死。帝曰：「未忍便殺。」遂父子及孫三世並除名。

Before long he was promoted to imperial censor-in-chief and, together with Pei Ju and Yu Shiji, shared control of confidential state business. Yun was adept at watching the sovereign's subtle intent: if the emperor wished someone punished, he would bend the law to suit his mood and forge a conviction; if the emperor wished someone pardoned, he would cite lighter statutes and thereby set the person free. Thereafter all criminal cases, great and small, were handed to Yun; the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review dared not contest his judgments — they had to await his instructions before deciding anything. Yun was also quick-witted in debate: when he argued points of law his speech poured like a hanging river; whether the penalty was heavy or light, all hung on his word. His analysis was lucid and sharp, and no one of the day could cross-examine him. When Yang Xuangan rebelled, the emperor sent Yun to investigate his associates and said to him: "Xuangan gave one shout and a hundred thousand men followed him. This only proves that the people under Heaven do not want to be numerous — when they are too numerous they simply gather and become bandits. If we do not put them all to death, afterward there will be no way to enforce obedience. Yun therefore applied the law with extreme severity; those executed numbered in the tens of thousands, and all their households were confiscated. The emperor praised this highly and bestowed fifteen households of slaves. Supervisor-in-chief Xue Daoheng was punished for offending the emperor; Yun knew the emperor hated him and memorialized: "Daoheng relies on his talent and his long standing; he harbors a heart that disowns his ruler. Whenever an edict is issued he privately voices discontent, shifts blame onto the state, and recklessly manufactures disaster. Judged by the name of his offense it seems obscure, but traced to his intent it is deeply treasonous. The emperor said: "Exactly. When I was young I served corvée alongside this man; he looked down on me as a boy and, together with Gao Jiong, He Ruo Bi, and others, arrogated power on the outside. He knew his crimes deserved denial and deceit; when I took the throne he could not feel secure — only because the realm was at peace did he not yet rebel. State the case of his treason. You have grasped the heart of the matter beautifully." Thereupon Daoheng was executed. The emperor also asked Su Wei about strategy against Liaodong; Wei did not want the emperor to campaign again and wished the emperor to know how many bandits there were in the realm, so he answered deceitfully: "For this campaign I would rather not send troops; merely issue an edict pardoning the bandit hosts and you will yourself obtain several hundred thousand men. Dispatch the slave bandits within the passes and the Shandong chiefs Lishan Fei, Zhang Jincheng, and others as a separate army by the Liaoxi route; give boats to the more than ten Henan bandit chiefs such as Wang Bo and Meng Rang and send them by sea across the Bohai. They will surely rejoice at escaping punishment and compete to win merit; within a year Koguryŏ can be destroyed. The emperor, displeased, said: "When I went I still could not conquer them — how could thieving rats get the job done!" After Wei left, Yun memorialized: "This is gross insubordination — where under Heaven are there so many bandits!" The emperor understood and said: "That old rebel is full of treachery — he means to use bandits to threaten me. I want to shut his mouth, yet can only bear with it in silence — truly this is almost unbearable." Yun knew the emperor's mind, sent Zhang Xingben to memorialize Wei's crimes, and the emperor entrusted Wei to Yun for investigation and prosecution; thus he was sentenced to death. The emperor said: "I cannot yet bring myself to kill him outright. Thereupon father, son, and grandson for three generations were all struck from the registers.

蘊又欲重己權勢，令虞世基奏罷司隸刺史以下官屬，增置御史百餘人。於是引致奸黠，共為朋黨，郡縣有不附者，陰中之。于時軍國多務，凡是興師動眾，京都留守，及與諸蕃互市，皆令御史監之。賓客附隸，遍于郡國，侵擾百姓，帝弗之知也。以度遼之役，進位銀青光祿大夫。及司馬德戡將為亂也，江陽長張惠紹夜弛告之。蘊共惠紹謀，欲矯詔發郭下兵民，盡取榮公護兒節度，收在外逆党宇文化及等，仍發羽林殿腳，遣范富婁等入自西苑，取梁公蕭钜及燕王處分，扣門援帝。謀議已定，遣報虞世基。世基疑反者不實，抑其計。須臾，難作。蘊歎曰：「謀及播郎，竟誤人事！」遂見害。子愔，為尚輦直長，亦同日死。

Yun again wished to increase his own power and had Yu Shiji memorialize to abolish the officials below the provincial inspector of the secretariat patrol, while adding more than a hundred censors. Thereupon he drew in the crafty and wicked to form factions; wherever prefectures and counties would not submit, he secretly struck at them. At the time military and state affairs were pressing; whenever troops were raised, when the capital was left under guard, and when trading with the various frontier peoples, censors were ordered to supervise. Clients and dependents attached to him throughout the commanderies and kingdoms, harassing the people — yet the emperor did not know of it. For the campaign across the Liao he was promoted to grand master of splendid happiness with silver seal. When Sima Degan was about to raise a rebellion, the magistrate of Jiangyang, Zhang Huishao, rode through the night to warn him. Yun plotted with Huishao to forge an edict mobilizing troops and commoners around the capital, take full command under Duke of Rong Lai Hushen, seize the outside rebel party led by Yuwen Huaji and others, dispatch Palace Guard foot soldiers, and send Fan Fulou and others in through the Western Park to obtain orders from Duke of Liang Xiao Ju and the Prince of Yan, break down the gate, and rescue the emperor. Once the plan was settled he sent word to Yu Shiji. Shiji doubted that the report of rebellion was true and suppressed the plan. In a moment the crisis broke out. Yun sighed: "When we took counsel with Bo-lang, we ruined the whole affair after all! Thereupon he was killed. His son Yin, who served as director of the palace carriage office, died the same day.

袁充，字德符，本陳郡陽夏人也。其後寓居丹陽。祖昂，父君正，俱為梁侍中。充少警悟，年十餘歲，其父党至門，時冬初，充尚衣葛衫。客戲充曰：「袁郎子，絺兮綌兮，淒其以風。」充應聲答曰：「唯絺與綌，服之無斁。」以是大見嗟賞。仕陳，年十七，為秘書郎。曆太子舍人、晉安王文學、吏部侍郎、散騎常侍。及陳滅歸國，曆蒙、鄜二州司馬。充性好道術，頗解占候，由是領太史令。時上將廢皇太子，正窮東宮官屬，充見上雅信符應，因希旨進曰：「比觀玄象，皇太子當廢。」上然之。充復表奏隋興以後，日景漸長，曰：「開皇元年，冬至日影一丈二尺七寸二分，自爾漸短。至十七年，冬至影一丈二尺六寸三分。四年冬至，在洛陽測影，一丈二尺八寸八分。二年，夏至影一尺四寸八分，自爾漸短。至十六年，夏至影一尺四寸五分。《周官》以土圭之法正日影，日至之影尺有五寸。鄭玄云：'冬至之影一丈三尺。 '今十六年夏至之影，短於舊影五分，十七年冬至之影，短於舊影三寸七分。日去極近，則影短而日長；去極遠，則影長而日短。行內道，則去極近；外道，則去極遠。《堯典》曰：'日短星昴，以正仲冬。 '據昴星昏中，則知堯時仲冬，日在須女十度。以歷數推之，開皇已來冬至，日在鬥十一度，與唐堯之代，去極並近。謹案《春秋元命包》云：'日月出內道，璿璣得常，天帝崇靈，聖王相功。 '京房《別對》曰：'太平日行上道，升平行次道，霸世行下道。 '伏惟大隋啟運，上感乾元，影短日長，振古未之有也。」上大悅，告天下。將作役功，因加程課，丁匠苦之。

Yuan Chong, styled Defu, was originally from Yangxia in Chen commandery. Later his family settled in Danyang. His grandfather Ang and his father Junzheng both served Liang as palace attendants. Chong was quick-witted from childhood; when he was just over ten, a comrade of his father came to the door — it was early winter, yet Chong still wore a thin hemp shirt. The guest teased him: "Young Master Yuan — 'Fine thin cloth, fine coarse cloth — how bitterly the wind cuts!' Chong answered on the spot: "'Only the thin cloth and the coarse — wear them and never tire of them.'" For this he was greatly praised and admired. He served Chen; at seventeen he became a secretary gentleman. He served successively as crown prince household attendant, literary accoutrement to the Prince of Jin'an, vice director of the Ministry of Personnel, and ordinary attendant-in-attendance. When Chen fell he returned to the [Sui] state and served as military administrator of Meng and Fu prefectures. Chong was fond of the Way and its arts and understood something of divination and celestial observation; thereby he held the post of director of the astronomic bureau. The emperor was about to depose the crown prince and was thoroughly investigating the Eastern Palace staff; Chong saw that the emperor deeply trusted omens and portents and, to please him, advanced: "I have recently observed the celestial signs — the crown prince ought to be deposed. The emperor assented. Chong again memorialized that since the rise of Sui the length of days had gradually increased, saying: "In the first year of Kaihuang, the winter solstice shadow was one zhang, two chi, seven cun, and two fen; from then it gradually shortened. By the seventeenth year the winter solstice shadow was one zhang, two chi, six cun, and three fen. On the fourth year's winter solstice, when shadows were measured at Luoyang, they were one zhang, two chi, eight cun, and eight fen. In the second year the summer solstice shadow was one chi, four cun, and eight fen; from then it gradually shortened. By the sixteenth year the summer solstice shadow was one chi, four cun, and five fen. The 《Rites of Zhou》 uses the earth-sight method to correct the solar shadow; at the solstice the shadow is one chi and five cun. Zheng Xuan says: 'At the winter solstice the shadow is one zhang and three chi.' Now the sixteenth year's summer solstice shadow is five fen shorter than the old shadow, and the seventeenth year's winter solstice shadow is three cun and seven fen shorter than the old shadow. When the sun is near the pole the shadow is short and the day is long; when it is far from the pole the shadow is long and the day is short. Traveling the inner path, one is near the pole; the outer path — far from the pole. The 《Canon of Yao》 says: 'The days are short and the stars culminate at Mao — thereby the midwinter of the second month is rectified.' According to the culmination of Mao at dusk, one knows that at Yao's midwinter the sun was at ten degrees of Maiden. Calculated by the calendar, since Kaihuang the winter solstice sun has been at eleven degrees of Dipper — as in the age of Tang Yao, alike near the pole. Respectfully examining the 《Spring and Autumn Elemental Fate Apocryphon》: it says, 'When sun and moon emerge on the inner path, the pivot is kept constant; the Heavenly Lord honors the numinous; sage kings match their merit.' Jing Fang's 《Separate Responses》 says: 'In great peace the sun travels the upper path; in moderate ascent the middle path; in hegemonic ages the lower path.' Bowing low — great Sui inaugurates its mandate, moved by the primordial heaven — shorter shadows and longer days are something unheard of since antiquity. The emperor was greatly pleased and proclaimed it throughout the realm. The director of palace construction's corvée labor was increased on that account, and the conscript artisans suffered greatly.

仁壽初，充言上本命與陰陽律呂合者六十餘條而奏之，因上表曰：「皇帝載誕之初，非止神光瑞氣，嘉祥應感。至於本命行年，生月生日，並與天地日月、陰陽律呂，運轉相符，表裏合會。此誕聖之異，寶曆之元。今與物更新，改年仁壽，歲月日子，還共誕聖之時並同，明合天地之心，得仁壽之理。故知洪基長算，永永無窮。」上大悅，賞賜優崇，儕輩莫之比。

At the beginning of Renshou, Chong stated that the emperor's natal destiny matched yin-yang and the pitch-pipes in more than sixty articles and submitted them; he therefore submitted a memorial saying: "At the hour when the emperor was born, it was not only divine light and auspicious vapors — fortunate signs answered in response. As for natal year, the year's circuit, birth month, and birth day — all accord with heaven and earth, sun and moon, yin and yang, and the pitch-pipes; their revolutions match inside and out. This is the wonder of a sage birth, the origin of a precious succession. Now, as things renew, the era is changed to Renshou; year, month, day, and hour again align with the hour of the sage birth — clearly conforming to the heart of heaven and earth and obtaining the principle of Renshou. Thus one knows the great foundation's long reckoning will go on without end. The emperor was greatly pleased; rewards and favor were exceptional, and none of his peers could compare.

仁壽四年甲子歲，煬帝初即位，充及太史丞高智寶奏言：「去歲冬至，日景逾長。今歲皇帝即位，與堯受命年合。昔唐堯受命四十九年，到上元第一紀甲子，天正十一月庚戍冬至；陛下即位，其年即當上元第一紀甲子，天正十一月庚戍冬至，正與唐堯同。自放勳以來，凡經八上元，其間綿代，未有仁壽甲子之合。謹案：第一紀甲子，太一在一宮，天目居武德，陰陽曆數，並得符同唐堯。唐堯丙辰生，丙子年受命，止合三五。未若己丑甲子，支干並當六合。允一元三統之期，合五紀九章之會，共帝堯同其數，與皇唐比其蹤。信所謂皇哉唐哉，唐哉皇哉者矣。」仍諷齊王暕率百官拜表奉賀。後熒惑守太微者數旬，時繕修宮室，征役繁重，充乃上表稱「陛下修德，熒惑退舍」。百僚畢賀。帝大喜，前後賞賜將萬計。時軍國多務，充候帝意欲有所為，便奏稱天文見象，須有改作，以是取媚於上。大業六年，遷內史舍人。從征遼東，拜朝請大夫、秘書少監。

In the fourth year of Renshou, the jiazi year, when Emperor Yang first took the throne, Chong and the deputy director of the astronomic bureau Gao Zhibao submitted: "Last winter solstice the solar shadow grew yet longer. This year the emperor ascends the throne, matching the year when Yao received the mandate. Formerly Tang Yao received the mandate in the forty-ninth year, arriving at the jiazi of the first epoch of the upper origin — celestial standard, eleventh month, gengxu, winter solstice; when your majesty ascends the throne, that very year is the jiazi of the first epoch of the upper origin — celestial standard, eleventh month, gengxu, winter solstice, exactly as with Tang Yao. Since the time of Fangxun, eight upper origins have passed in all; through the long dynasties there has never been a Renshou-jiazi conjunction. Respectfully examined: for the jiazi of the first epoch, Great Unity in the first palace, Celestial Eye dwelling in military virtue — yin-yang and calendar numbers all matching Tang Yao. Tang Yao was born in bingchen and received the mandate in bingzi, matching only the Three and Five. It cannot equal jichou-jiazi — stem and branch both in full sixfold harmony. It fulfills the period of the one origin and three systems and joins the conjunction of five epochs and nine chapters — sharing Emperor Yao's number and comparing with august Tang's traces. Truly this is what is meant by 'How glorious is Tang! How glorious, how glorious!' He also urged the Prince of Qi Yang Yong to lead the hundred officials in submitting a memorial of congratulation. Later Mars lingered in the Tail Enclosure for several weeks. At the time the palace was under repair and corvée labor was crushing. Chong submitted a memorial claiming, "Your Majesty cultivates virtue, and Mars has withdrawn from its station." All the officials offered congratulations. The emperor was delighted and showered him with rewards that soon approached ten thousand items in all. Military and civil affairs pressed on every side. Chong watched what the emperor wished to undertake and would memorial that the heavens showed signs requiring some new measure, thereby currying favor at court. In the sixth year of Daye he was promoted to Secretary within the Palace. He accompanied the Liaodong campaign and was appointed Gentleman for Court Appearance and Junior Supervisor of the Secretariat.

後天下大亂，帝初罹雁門之厄，又盜賊益起，心不自安。充復托天文，上表陳嘉瑞以媚上曰：

Later the empire plunged into chaos. The emperor had barely survived the crisis at Yanmen, and rebels were rising everywhere; he could not set his mind at rest. Chong again invoked astronomy and submitted a memorial praising auspicious omens to flatter the throne, saying:

伏惟陛下握錄圖而馭黔首，提萬善而化八紘，以百姓為心，匪一人受慶，先天罔違所欲，後天必奉其時。是以初膺寶曆，正當上元之紀；乾之初九，又與本命符會。斯則聖人冥契，故能動合天經。謹案去年已來，玄象星瑞，毫釐無爽。謹錄尤異，上天降祥、破突厥等狀七事。

I humbly consider that Your Majesty grasps the celestial chart and guides the black-haired people, lifts every good to transform the eight directions, and takes the common people to heart — not one man alone receives blessing. What Heaven affirms beforehand none may oppose; what Heaven ordains afterward must be met in its season. Thus, at first receiving the sacred calendar, you rightly stand in the epoch of the upper origin; the initial nine of Qian moreover coincides with the tally of your natal fate. This is the sage's secret accord with Heaven; therefore your every movement aligns with its law. Respectfully examined: since last year the dark signs and stellar omens have not deviated by a hair's breadth. I respectfully record the most extraordinary instances — seven matters in all, including Heaven sending blessings and the destruction of the Turks.

其一，去八月二十八日夜，大流星如鬥，出王良北，正落突厥營，聲如崩牆。其二，八月二十九日夜，復有大流星如鬥，出羽林，向北流，正當北方。依占，頻二夜流星墜賊所，賊必敗散。其三，九月四日夜，頻有兩星大如鬥，出北斗魁，向東北流。依占，北斗主殺伐，賊必破敗。其四，歲星主福德，頻行京都二處分野。依占，國家之福。其五，去七月內，熒惑守羽林，九月七日已退舍。依占，不出三日，賊必敗散。其六，去年十一月二十日夜，有流星赤如火，從東北向西南，落賊帥盧明月營，破其橦車。其七，十二月十五日夜，通漢鎮北有赤氣互北方，突厥將亡之應也。依勘《城錄》，河南、洛陽並當甲子，與乾元初九爻及上元甲子符合。此是福地，永無所慮。旋觀往政，側聞前古，彼則異時間出，今則一朝總萃。豈非天贊有道，助殲凶孽？方清九夷於東濊，沉五狄於北溟，告成岱岳，無為汾水。

First: on the night of the twenty-eighth of the eighth month last year, a great meteor the size of the Dipper emerged north of Wang Liang and fell straight into the Turk camp with a sound like a wall collapsing. Second: on the night of the twenty-ninth of the eighth month, another great meteor the size of the Dipper emerged from the Feathered Forest and streamed north, straight toward the northern quarter. By divination, when meteors fall on the enemy's position two nights in succession, the rebels are sure to be broken and scattered. Third: on the night of the fourth of the ninth month, two stars as large as the Dipper repeatedly emerged from the handle of the Northern Dipper and streamed northeast. By divination, the Northern Dipper governs slaughter; the rebels are certain to be shattered. Fourth: Jupiter governs fortune and virtue and has repeatedly crossed the two territorial divisions of the capital. By divination this is the state's blessing. Fifth: within the seventh month last year Mars lingered in the Feathered Forest; by the seventh of the ninth month it had already withdrawn. By divination, within three days the rebels are sure to be broken and scattered. Sixth: on the night of the twentieth of the eleventh month last year, a meteor red as fire passed from northeast to southwest and fell on the camp of the rebel chief Lu Mingyue, destroying his siege towers. Seventh: on the night of the fifteenth of the twelfth month, north of Tonghan Pass red vapor stretched across the northern sky — the sign that the Turks would perish. According to examination of the 《City Record》, both Henan and Luoyang fall on jiazi, in accord with the initial nine line of Qian and the jiazi of the upper origin. These are blessed lands; you need never fear for them. Looking back at past reigns and recalling antiquity, such omens there appeared at separate times; now they have gathered in a single morning. Is this not Heaven aiding the righteous Way and helping annihilate vicious rebels? You are about to pacify the nine Yi in the eastern marshes and sink the five Di in the northern sea, proclaim your achievement on Mount Tai, and rule in effortless ease beside the Fen River.

書奏，帝大悅，超拜秘書令。親待逾昵，每欲征討，充皆預知之，乃假託星象，獎成帝意，在位者皆切患之。宇文化及弑逆之際，並誅充。

When the memorial was submitted, the emperor was delighted and promoted him by exceptional leap to Secretary-in-Chief. The emperor favored him ever more closely. Whenever he wished to launch a campaign, Chong would anticipate it and, feigning astral signs, encourage his designs. Everyone at court deeply resented him. When Yuwen Huaji carried out his regicide, Chong was executed along with the rest.

李雄，勃海蓚人也。父棠，名列《誠義傳》。雄少慷慨，有壯志。弱冠，從周武帝平齊，以功授帥都督。隋文帝作相，從韋孝寬破尉遲迥，拜上開府，賜爵建昌縣公。伐陳之後，以功進位大將軍。曆郴江二州刺史，並有能名。後坐事免。漢王諒之反，煬帝將發幽州兵討之。時竇抗為幽州總管，帝恐其貳，問可任者於楊素。素遂進雄，授上大將軍，拜廉州刺史。馳至幽州，止傳舍，召募得千餘人。抗恃素貴，不時相見。雄遣人諭之，後二日，抗從鐵騎二千來詣雄所。雄伏甲禽抗，悉發幽州兵步騎三萬，自井陘討諒。遷幽州總管。尋徵拜戶部尚書。雄明辯有器幹，帝甚任之。新羅嘗遣使朝貢，雄至朝堂與語，因問其冠制所由。其使者曰：「古弁遺象，安有大國君子不識？」雄因曰：「中國無禮，求諸四夷。」使者曰：「自至已來，此言外未見無禮。」憲司以雄失辭，奏劾其事，竟坐免。俄而復職。從幸江都，帝以仗衛不整，顧雄部伍之。雄立指麾，六軍肅然。帝大悅曰：「公真武侯才也。」尋轉右候衛大將軍。復坐事除名。遼東之役，帝令從軍自效，因從來護兒自東萊將指滄海。會楊玄感反于黎陽，帝疑之，詔鎖雄送行在所。雄殺使亡歸玄感，玄感每與計焉。及玄感敗，伏誅，籍沒其家。

Li Xiong was a native of Liu in Bohai. His father Tang is recorded in the 《Biographies of Sincerity and Righteousness》. In youth Xiong was open-handed and ambitious. At his coming of age he followed Emperor Wu of Zhou in pacifying Qi and, for merit, was appointed Commandant of the Guards. When Emperor Wen of Sui was chancellor, he followed Wei Xiaokuan in defeating Yuwen Yong, was appointed Senior Captain Opening Office, and was enfeoffed as Duke of Jianchang county. After the campaign against Chen he was promoted to Grand General for his achievements. He served as prefect of Chen and Jiang prefectures and in both posts earned a reputation for competence. Later he was dismissed for an offense. When Prince Han Yang Liang rebelled, Emperor Yang was about to mobilize the Youzhou army to suppress him. At the time Dou Kang was General-in-Chief of Youzhou. The emperor feared he might defect and asked Yang Su whom he could trust. Su thereupon recommended Xiong, who was appointed Senior Grand General and Inspector of Lian prefecture. He rode swiftly to Youzhou, lodged at the relay station, and recruited more than a thousand men. Kang, relying on Su's prestige, did not come to see him promptly. Xiong sent a messenger to summon him. Two days later Kang arrived at Xiong's quarters with two thousand armored horsemen. Xiong concealed armed men and seized Kang, then mobilized all thirty thousand infantry and cavalry of Youzhou and marched from Jingxing to attack Liang. He was appointed General-in-Chief of Youzhou. Soon afterward he was summoned and appointed Minister of Revenue. Xiong was sharp in debate and capable in office; the emperor relied on him heavily. Silla once sent envoys with tribute. Xiong met them in the audience hall and, in conversation, asked the origin of their style of cap. The envoy said, "It is the surviving form of the ancient cap — how could a gentleman of a great state fail to recognize it? Xiong then said, "When China lacks ritual, one must seek it among the four barbarians. The envoy said, "Since I arrived, apart from this remark I have seen no want of ritual. The censorate held that Xiong had misspoken, memorialized to impeach him, and in the end he was dismissed from office. Before long he was restored to office. On the journey to Jiangdu, because the guard retinue was disorderly, the emperor turned to Xiong to put his troops in order. Xiong stood directing them, and the six armies fell into perfect order. The emperor was delighted and said, "You truly have the talent of the Marquis of Wu. Soon afterward he was transferred to Grand General of the Right Guard. Again he was punished for an offense and struck from the rolls. During the Liaodong campaign the emperor ordered him to follow the army and redeem himself. He accompanied Lai Hu'er from Donglai, intending to strike across the open sea. When Yang Xuangan rebelled at Liyang, the emperor grew suspicious and ordered Xiong shackled and sent to the traveling palace. Xiong killed his escort and fled to Xuangan, who consulted him on every plan. When Xuangan was defeated, Xiong was executed and his household goods were confiscated.

論曰：隋文肇基王業，劉昉實啟其謀，于時當軸執鈞，物無異論。不能忘身急病，以義斷恩，方乃慮難求全，偷安懷祿。其在周也，靡忠貞之節；其奉隋也，愧竭命之誠。非義掩其前功，蓄怨興其後釁，而望不陷刑辟，保貴全生，難矣。柳裘、皇甫績，因人成事，好亂樂禍，大運光啟，並參樞要。斯固在人欲其悅己，在我欲其罵人，理自然也。晏嬰有言曰：「一心可以事百君，百心不可以事一君。」於昉等見之矣。郭衍，文皇締構之始，當爪牙之寄；煬帝經綸之際，參心膂之謀。而如脂如韋，以水濟水，君所謂可，亦曰可焉，君所謂不，亦曰不焉，功雖居多，名不見重。然則立身行道，可不慎歟！語曰：「無為權首，將受其咎。」又曰：「無始禍，無兆亂。」夫忠為令德，施非其人尚或不可，況托足邪徑，又不得其人者歟！張衡奪宗之計，實兆其謀，夫動不以順，能無及於此也？楊汪以學業自許，其終不令，惜乎！裴蘊素懷奸險，巧於附會，作威作福，唯利是視，滅亡之禍，其可免乎！袁充少在江東，初以警悟見許，委質隋氏，更以玄象自矜，要求時幸，幹進附入，變動星占，謬增晷景，厚誣天道，亂常侮眾。刑茲勿舍，其在斯乎！李雄斯言為玷，取譏夷翟，以亂從亂，何救誅夷。

The historians remark: When Emperor Wen of Sui laid the foundations of his rule, Liu Fang truly opened the conspiracy. At that time he held the reins of power, and no one disputed his authority. He could not forget himself in urgent peril and sever ties of favor on grounds of righteousness. Instead he sought safety amid difficulty and clung to ease and salary. Under the Zhou he showed no loyal steadfastness; serving the Sui, he lacked the devotion of giving his life to the end. He used injustice to cover his earlier achievements and stored up resentment that bred later strife, yet hoped to escape punishment, preserve his rank, and keep his life whole — a vain hope indeed. Liu Qiu and Huang Fuji rose through others' efforts, loved turmoil and delighted in calamity, and when the great mandate dawned each took a place among the inner circle. This is only natural: others want those who please them; I want those who will curse others on my behalf — such is the way of the world. Yan Ying once said, "One loyal heart can serve a hundred lords; a hundred hearts cannot serve one lord. In Fang and his like we see the truth of it. Guo Yan, at the beginning of Emperor Wen's founding, bore the charge of fang and claw; in Emperor Yang's ordering of the realm, shared counsel at the ruler's right hand. Yet he was soft as grease and pliant as leather, like water poured on water: what the lord approved, he approved; what the lord rejected, he rejected. Though his achievements were many, his reputation carried little weight. How careful one must be, then, in establishing oneself and walking the Way! The proverb says, "Do not be the foremost wielder of power, or you will bear its punishment. And again: "Do not be the first to bring calamity, nor the first sign of disorder. Loyalty is the foremost virtue; to bestow it on the wrong person may still be unwise — how much more to set foot on a crooked path and fail to find the right master! Zhang Heng's plot to seize the succession was itself the first omen of his treachery. When action is not grounded in righteousness, can disaster fail to follow? Yang Wang prided himself on scholarship, yet came to a bad end — a pity indeed! Pei Yun always harbored treacherous designs, was skilled at attaching himself to power, made might and made blessing, and looked to profit alone — could he escape the calamity of ruin? Yuan Chong spent his youth in the Jiangdong region and was first praised for quick wit. Having pledged himself to the Sui, he prided himself on celestial lore, courted the favor of the times, schemed for advancement, altered star divination, falsely lengthened the gnomon's shadow, grossly slandered Heaven's Way, and overturned the norms to deceive the people. When punishment is due, let it not be spared — is that not the case here? Li Xiong's remark was a disgrace that drew the scorn of barbarians. Having joined rebellion with rebellion, what could save him from execution?

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