1
裴政李諤鮑宏高構榮毗陸知命梁毗柳彧趙綽杜整
Pei Zheng, Li E, Bao Hong, Gao Gou, Rong Pi, Lu Zhiming, Lian Pi, Liu Yu, Zhao Chao, and Du Zheng
2
列傳第六十五
Biographies 65
3
裴政李諤鮑宏高構榮毗陸知命梁毗柳彧趙綽杜整
Pei Zheng, Li E, Bao Hong, Gao Gou, Rong Pi, Lu Zhiming, Lian Pi, Liu Yu, Zhao Chao, and Du Zheng
4
裴政，字德表，河東聞喜人也。 祖邃，父之禮，並《南史》有傳。 政幼聰明，博聞強記，達于從政，為當世所稱。 仕梁，以軍功封為夷陵侯，給事黃門侍郎。 及魏軍圍荊州，政在外見獲，蕭察謂政曰：「我，武皇帝之孫，不可為爾君乎？ 爾何煩殉身于七父。 若從我計，則貴及子孫，不然，分腰領矣。」 鎖之，送至城下，使謂元帝曰：「王僧辯聞台城破，已自為帝。 王琳孤弱，不能復來。」 政許之。 既而告城中曰：「援兵大至，吾以間使被禽，當以碎身報國。 監者擊其口，終不易辭。 察怒，命趣行戮。 蔡大業諫曰：「此人之望也，殺之，則荊州不可下。 因得釋。 會江陵平，與城中朝士俱送京師。 周文聞其忠，援員外散騎侍郎，引入相府。 命與盧辯依《周禮》建六官，並攢次朝儀，車服器用，多遵古禮，革漢、魏之法，事並施行。 尋授刑部下大夫，轉少司憲。 政明習故事，又參定周律。 能飲酒，至數斗不亂。 簿案盈幾，剖決如流，用法寬平，無有冤濫。 囚徒犯極刑者，乃許其妻子入獄就之。 至冬，將行決，皆曰：「裴大夫致我于死，死無所恨。」 又善鐘律，嘗與長孫紹遠論樂，事在《紹遠傳》。
Pei Zheng, styled Debiao, came from Wenxi in Hedong. His grandfather Pei Sui and his father Pei Zhili both have entries in the History of the Southern Dynasties. Zheng was clever from boyhood, widely read with a formidable memory, adept at public affairs, and acclaimed in his own time. Under the Liang he won military honors, was made Marquis of Yiling, and served as Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate. When Wei forces besieged Jingzhou, Zheng was taken captive outside the walls. Xiao Cha told him, "I am Emperor Wu's grandson — will you not accept me as your sovereign? Why must you throw your life away for your seventh uncle? Follow my counsel and wealth will reach your children and grandchildren; refuse, and I will cut you in two." They bound him and led him beneath the walls, instructing him to tell Emperor Yuan, "Wang Sengbian, hearing the capital had fallen, has already declared himself emperor. Wang Lin stands alone and is too weak to return." Zheng assented. But then he shouted to the city, "Reinforcements are near! Though I was seized while carrying a secret message, I will repay the realm with my shattered body. The guards struck his mouth, yet he never altered his statement. Enraged, Cha ordered him taken at once for execution. Cai Daye urged him: "This man commands public esteem — kill him, and you will never take Jingzhou. On that account he was spared. When Jiangling was pacified, he was sent to the capital along with the city's court officials. Emperor Wen of Zhou, learning of his fidelity, made him Supernumerary Attendant Cavalier and brought him into the chancellor's office. He and Lu Bian were charged to erect the six ministries after the Rites of Zhou, to codify court ceremony, carriages, dress, and regalia — largely reviving ancient practice and overturning Han and Wei custom — and all of it was put into effect. Shortly afterward he became Grand Master of the Ministry of Punishments, then Junior Director of the Censorate. Zheng knew precedent thoroughly and helped draft the Zhou legal code. He could hold his wine — several dou without disorder. Case files stacked his desk, yet he judged like running water; his law was lenient and even, and no innocent suffered. Even for those condemned to death he allowed wives and children into the prison to stay with them. When winter brought the executions, each said, "Vice Minister Pei has brought us to this — we die without complaint." He was also versed in bells and pitch standards; he once debated music with Zhangsun Shaoyuan, as recorded in Shaoyuan's biography.
5
隋開皇元年，為率更令，加上儀同三司。 詔與蘇威等修定律令。 采魏、晉刑典，下至齊、梁，沿革輕重，取其折衷。 同撰著者十餘人，凡疑滯不通，皆取決於政。 進位散騎常侍，轉左庶子。 多所匡正，見稱純愨，東宮凡有大事，皆以委之。 右庶子劉榮，性甚專固。 時武職交番，通事舍人趙元愷作辭見帳，未及成。 太子再三催促，榮令元愷口奏，不須造帳。 及奏，太子問：「名帳安在？」 元愷云：「稟承劉榮，不聽造帳。」 太子即以詰榮，榮便拒諱，太子付政推問。 未及奏狀，阿附榮者先言于太子曰：「政欲陷榮，推事不實。」 太子召責之，政曰：「凡推事有兩，一察情，一據證，審其曲直，以定是非。 臣察榮位高任重，縱實語元愷，蓋是纖介之愆，計不須諱。 又察元愷，受制于榮，豈敢以無端之言妄相點累。 二人之情理正相似。 元愷引左衛率崔茜等證，茜款狀悉與元愷符同。 察情既敵，須以證定。 臣謂榮語元愷非虛。」 太子亦不罪榮，而稱政平直。
In Sui's first Kaihuang year he became Director of the Directorate of Astronomy, with the added rank of Third Rank Commissioner with Distinction. An imperial order set him, with Su Wei and others, to revise statutes and ordinances. They drew on Wei and Jin penal law down through Qi and Liang, weighing shifts in severity, and struck a balanced mean. More than ten men co-authored the work; wherever a knot of doubt remained, Zheng's word settled it. He rose to Palace Attendant and became Left Chief of the Crown Prince's Household. He corrected much and was praised for plain integrity; the crown prince entrusted all weighty Eastern Palace business to him. Liu Rong, Right Chief of the Household, was by nature rigid and unyielding. Military officers were then rotating duty; Master for Communications Zhao Yuankai was drafting a written name roster for the audience but had not finished. The crown prince pressed him again and again; Rong told Yuankai to report orally and said no roster was needed. When the report was given, the crown prince asked, "Where is the name roster?" Yuankai replied, "Liu Rong instructed me — I was forbidden to make one." The crown prince at once confronted Rong, who denied it; the crown prince handed the inquiry to Zheng. Before Zheng could report, Rong's allies told the crown prince, "Zheng means to trap Rong — his inquiry is unfounded. The crown prince summoned and rebuked him. Zheng said, "Every inquiry has two sides: reading the circumstances and weighing the proof — then judging right from wrong. Reading Rong's situation — high rank, heavy duty — even if he truly spoke to Yuankai, it would be a trifling lapse, hardly worth denying. Reading Yuankai — under Rong's thumb — how could he invent a charge without cause? Their circumstances point the same way. Yuankai called Left Guard Leader Cui Qian and others; Qian's testimony matched Yuankai's in full. With circumstances evenly matched, proof must decide. I conclude Rong did speak to Yuankai." The crown prince did not punish Rong, and praised Zheng for his evenhandedness.
6
政好面折人短，而退無後言。 時雲定興數入侍太子，為奇服異器，進奉後宮，又緣女寵，來往無節。 政數切諫，太子不納。 政謂定興曰：「公所為不合禮度。 又元妃暴薨，道路籍籍，此于太子非令名也。 願公自引退，不然將及禍。」 定興怒，以告太子，太子益疏政。 由是出為襄州總管，妻子不之官，所受秩奉，散給僚吏。 人犯罪者，陰悉知之，或竟歲不發，至再三犯，乃因都會時，於眾中召出，親案其罪，五人處死，流、徒者甚眾。 合境惶懾，令行禁止，稱為神明，爾後不修囹圄，殆無諍訟。 卒於官。 著《承聖實錄》十卷。 及太子廢，文帝追憶之曰：「向遣裴政、劉行本在，共匡弼之，猶應不令至此。」
Zheng liked to confront others with their faults face to face, yet never spoke of them again once he had withdrawn. Yun Dingxing then often attended the crown prince, sending exotic garments and curios to the inner palace and, trading on his daughter's favor, passing in and out without restraint. Zheng admonished him repeatedly, but the crown prince would not listen. Zheng told Dingxing, "Your behavior violates ritual decorum. The crown princess died suddenly, and gossip fills the streets — this does the crown prince no credit. Withdraw of your own will, or calamity will find you." Dingxing complained to the crown prince, who grew ever colder toward Zheng. On that account he was posted as Inspector-General of Xiangzhou; his family did not go with him, and he gave his stipend to his staff. When men broke the law he often knew in secret; sometimes he waited a full year without acting — only after repeated offenses would he, at a public assembly, call them out, judge them himself, execute five, and banish or transport many more. The whole region trembled; his orders ran and his bans held — men called him a spirit in office; afterward he barely kept the jails in repair, and lawsuits nearly vanished. He died in office. He authored the Veritable Record of the Shésheng reign in ten fascicles. When the crown prince was deposed, Emperor Wen looked back in sorrow: "Had Pei Zheng and Liu Xingben remained to guide him, things might never have reached this pass.
7
子南金，位膳部郎，學涉有文藻，以輕財貴義稱。
His son Nanjin served as Director in the Board of Provisions — learned, literary, and known for prizing integrity over money.
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李諤，字士恢，趙郡人也。 博學解屬文。 仕齊，為中書舍人，有口辯，每接對陳使。 周平齊，拜天官都上士。 諤見隋文帝有帝王志操，深自結納。 及帝為丞相，甚見親待，訪以得失。 時兵革屢動，國用虛耗，諤上《重穀論》以諷焉。 帝納之。 及受禪，曆比部、考功二曹侍郎，賜爵南和伯。 諤性公方，明時務。 遷書侍御史。 上謂群臣曰：「朕昔為大司馬，每求外職，李諤陳十二策，苦勸不許，朕遂決意在內。 今此事業，諤之力也。」 賜物二千段。
Li E, styled Shihui, was from Zhao Commandery. He was widely learned and adept at writing. Under Qi he was Secretariat Master of Documents, quick of tongue — he always received Chen envoys. When Zhou conquered Qi, he was made Senior Clerk in the Directorate of the Heavenly Office. E saw in Emperor Wen of Sui the mettle of a true sovereign and drew close to him. When the emperor became Chancellor, E won deep trust; the emperor asked his counsel on what had gone right and wrong. Wars came one after another and the treasury ran dry; E submitted his "Treatise on Valuing Grain" as a veiled remonstrance. The emperor took his advice. After the founding of Sui he served in turn as Vice Director of Justice and of Personnel, and was made Baron of Nanhe. E was upright by nature, clear-eyed about the times. He was moved to Palace Secretary and Censor. The emperor told his ministers, "When I was Grand Commandant I often wanted an outside post; Li E laid out twelve arguments and pressed me to stay — and I chose to remain at court. What we have built today owes much to E." He was rewarded with two thousand bolts of goods.
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諤見禮教凋弊，公卿薨亡，其愛妾侍婢，子孫輒嫁賣之，遂成風俗，乃上書曰：「臣聞追遠慎終，人德歸厚，三年無改，方稱為孝。 如聞大臣之內，有父祖亡沒，日月未久，子孫無賴，引其妓妾，嫁賣取財，有一於此，實損風化。 妾雖微賤，親承衣履，服斬三年，古今通式。 豈容遽褫衰絰，強傅鉛華，泣辭靈幾之前，送付他人之室？ 凡在見者，猶致傷心，況乎人子，能堪斯忍！ 復有朝廷重臣，位望通貴，平生交舊，情若弟兄。 及其亡沒，杳同行路，朝聞其死，夕規其妾，方便求娉，以得為限。 無廉恥之心，棄友朋之義。 且居家理務，可移於官，既不正私，何能贊務？」 上覽而嘉之。 五品已上妻妾不得改醮，始於此也。
E saw ritual decay: when great ministers died, heirs at once sold or married off favored concubines and maids — a custom grown common — and he memorialized: "I have heard that honoring the dead and minding the end deepens human virtue; only one who keeps mourning three years unchanged may be called filial. I hear that among high ministers, scarcely after a father's or grandfather's death, worthless sons drag out singing-girls and concubines and sell or marry them for coin — even once, this corrodes public morals. Concubines, though low in rank, wore their master's clothes — three years of deepest mourning is the rule in every age. How can one tear off mourning cloth, force on paint and powder, weep before the bier — then send a woman to another man's bed? Even bystanders are cut to the heart — what son could endure it? There are great courtiers of lofty rank who in life were sworn friends, close as brothers. When such a man dies they become strangers: morning brings word of death, evening brings a bid for his concubine — every chance seized, every match pursued. No shame — friendship cast aside. Household conduct mirrors public duty — if a man is crooked at home, how can he serve the state?" The emperor read it and praised it. From this came the ban on remarriage for wives and concubines of fifth-rank officials and above.
10
諤又以時文體尚輕薄，流宕忘反，上書曰：
E also saw the age's writing grow frivolous — drifting ever further — and submitted a memorial:
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臣聞古先哲王之化人也，必變其視聽，防其嗜欲，塞其邪放之心，示以淳和之路。 五教六行，為訓人之本，《詩》、《書》、《禮》、《易》，為道義之門。 故能家復孝慈，人知禮讓，正俗調風，莫大於此。 其有上書獻賦，制誄鐫銘，皆以褒德序賢，明勳證理。 苟非懲勸，義不徒然。 降及後代，風教漸落。 魏之三祖，更尚文詞，忽君人之大道，好雕蟲之小藝。 下之從上，有同影響，競騁文華，遂成風俗。 江左齊、梁，其弊彌甚，貴賤賢愚，唯務吟詠。 遂復遺理存異，尋虛逐微，競一韻之奇，爭一字之巧。 連篇累牘，不出月露之形，積案盈箱，唯是風雲之狀。 世俗以此相高，朝廷據茲擢士。 祿利之路既開，愛尚之情愈篤。 於是閭里童昏，貴遊總卯，未窺六甲，先制五言。 至如羲皇、舜、禹之典，伊、傅、周、孔之說，不復關心，何嘗入耳。 以傲誕為清虛，以緣情為勳績，指儒素為古拙，用詞賦為君子。 故文筆日繁，其政日亂，良由棄大聖之軌模，構無用以為用也。 捐本逐末，流遍華壤，遞相師祖，久而愈扇。
I have heard that sage kings of old, in shaping men, altered sight and hearing, checked appetite and desire, sealed off wayward hearts, and pointed the way to simple harmony. The Five Teachings and Six Conducts are the root of instruction; the Odes, Documents, Rites, and Changes are the gates of right conduct. Thus families recover filial kindness, people learn ritual and forbearance — nothing better reforms custom and tunes the wind of the age. Memorials, rhapsodies, dirges, and inscriptions all exalt virtue, set forth the worthy, and make merit and principle plain. Unless meant to warn and exhort, their purpose would be empty. In later ages, teaching and custom waned. Wei's three founding emperors turned to polished phrasing, neglecting the ruler's great Way and cherishing the small art of ornament. Lower ranks mirrored the upper like shadow to body — all raced for literary display until it became habit. Under Qi and Liang south of the Yangtze the rot ran deeper — high and low, wise and dull, all wrote poetry and nothing else. They forsook substance for novelty, chased the hollow and the fine — vying for one startling rhyme, one clever word. Page after page held nothing but moonlight and dew; dossier on dossier held only wind and cloud. Society prized this above all, and the throne promoted men for it. Once office and profit lay open, devotion to fashion only deepened. Village children and noble scions, before learning their first characters, were already writing pentameter. The classics of Fuxi, Yao, and Yu, the teachings of Yi Yin, the Duke of Zhou, and Confucius — they ignored them entirely; such things never reached their ears. They mistook insolent wit for refinement, mistook sentiment for achievement, called plain Confucian virtue crude, and made polished verse the badge of a gentleman. Writing grew ever more ornate while rule grew ever more chaotic — because men cast aside the sage's pattern and made the useless their standard. Root was cast aside for branch; the tide swept the realm — master after disciple, and the wind only strengthened.
12
及大隋受命，聖道聿興，屏黜浮詞，遏止華偽。 自非懷經抱持，志道依仁，不得引預搢紳，參廁纓冕。 開皇四年，普詔天下，公私文翰，並宜實錄。 其年九月，泗州刺史司馬幼之文表華豔，付所司推罪。 自是公卿大臣感知正道，莫不鑽仰墳素，棄絕華綺，擇先王之令典，行大道於茲世。
When Sui took the throne, the sage Way revived — empty rhetoric was banished and gaudy pretense was stopped. Only those steeped in the classics, devoted to the Way and anchored in benevolence, could enter the ranks of office and wear the court's insignia. In Kaihuang 4 an edict went to all the realm: every public and private document should tell the plain truth. That ninth month, Sima Youzhi of Sizhou submitted a memorial of gaudy prose — and was prosecuted for it. Thereafter ministers, awakened to the true Way, turned to the classics, cast off ornament, took the ancient kings' laws, and walked the great Way in their own time.
13
如聞外州遠縣，仍踵弊風，選吏舉人，未遵典則。 宗黨稱孝，鄉曲歸仁，學必典謨，交不苟合，則擯落私門，不加收齒； 其學不稽古，逐俗隨時，作輕薄之篇章，結朋黨而求譽。 則選充吏職，舉送天朝。 蓋由縣令、刺史，未行風教，猶挾私情，不存公道。 臣既忝憲司，職當糾察。 若聞風即劾，恐掛綱者多，請勒有司，普加搜訪，有如此者，具狀送台。
Yet in remote prefectures and distant counties the old rot persists — in choosing clerks and recommending candidates, the rules are still ignored. If a man was praised for filial piety in his clan and for benevolence in his neighborhood, if his learning rested on the canon and his friendships were serious, he was turned away and not enrolled; If a man's learning ignored antiquity, chased fashion, wrote light verse, and formed factions for praise — Then he was made a clerk and sent up to the capital. The cause lay with magistrates and prefects who failed to teach public morals, indulged private favor, and ignored the public good. I serve in the Censorate, charged with investigation and censure. To impeach every case at once would snare too many — I ask the responsible offices to search broadly and send full reports on every such offender to the capital.
14
諤又以當官者好自矜伐，復上奏具陳其弊。 請加罪黜，以懲風軌。 上以諤前後所奏頒示天下，四海靡然向風，深革其弊。 諤在職數年，務存大體，不尚嚴猛，由是無剛謇之譽，而潛有匡正之志。
E also saw officials fond of self-praise, and submitted another memorial detailing the abuse. He asked that offenders be punished and removed, to reform public conduct. The emperor published E's memorials across the realm; the empire turned toward the Way, and the rot was deeply cut back. E served several years, keeping to broad principles rather than harsh methods — he won no fame for blunt integrity, yet quietly worked to set things right.
15
邳公蘇威以臨道店舍，乃求利之徒，事業汙雜，非敦本之義。 遂奏約遣歸農。 有願依舊者，在所州縣，錄附市籍，仍撤毀舊店，並令遠道，限以時日。 時逢冬塞，莫敢陳訴。 諤因別使，見其如此，以農工有業，各附所安，逆旅之與旗亭，自古非同一概，即附市籍，於理不可。 且行旅之所依託，豈容一朝而廢？ 徒為勞擾，於事非宜。 遂專決之，並令依舊。 使還詣闕，然後奏聞。 文帝善之曰：「體國之臣，當如此矣。」 以年老，出拜通州刺史，甚有惠政，人夷悅服。 卒官。
Su Wei, Duke of Pi, held that roadside inns were haunts of profit, their trade sordid and mixed — not the way to honor fundamental values. He memorialized that innkeepers be reduced and returned to farming. Those who wished to stay in trade were registered on market rolls, their old inns demolished, and they were sent far away within a set time. It was deep winter; no one dared complain. On a separate mission E saw the hardship and argued that farmers and artisans each had their proper trade — inns and taverns had never been the same category since antiquity; registering them on market rolls was wrong in principle. And what travelers depend on — how could that be abolished overnight? It would only bring turmoil, and served no good purpose. He decided on his own authority and ordered all to continue as before. Only after returning to court did he report to the throne. Emperor Wen praised him: "A minister who serves the realm should act as you have." In his old age he was made Prefect of Tongzhou, where his benevolent rule won the glad submission of Chinese and barbarians alike. He died in office.
16
四子。 世子大方襲爵，最有才器。 大業初，判內史舍人。 次大體、大鈞，並位尚書郎。
He had four sons. His eldest son Dafang inherited the title and was the most gifted. At the start of the Daye reign he served as Acting Master of Documents in the Secretariat. Next came Dati and Dajun, both of whom served as Directors in the Ministry.
17
鮑宏，字潤身，東海郯人也。 父機，以才學知名。 仕梁，位書侍御史。 宏七歲而孤，為兄泉之所愛育。 年十二，能屬文，嘗和湘東王繹詩，繹嗟賞不已，引為中記室。 累遷通直散騎侍郎。 江陵平，歸於周，明帝甚禮之，引為麟趾殿學士。 累遷遂伯下大夫。 與杜子暉聘陳，謀伐齊，陳遂出兵度江以侵齊。 帝嘗問巨集取齊策，巨集以為「先皇往日，出師洛陽，彼有其備，每不克捷。 如臣計者，進兵汾、潞，直掩晉陽，出其不虞，以為上策。」 帝從之。 及定山東，除小禦正，賜爵平遙縣伯，加儀同。 隋文帝作相，奉使山南。 會王謙舉兵于蜀，路次潼州，為謙將達奚惎所執，逼送成都，竟不屈節。 謙敗，馳傳入京，文帝嘉之，賜以金帶。 及受禪，加開府，進爵為公。 曆利、邛二州刺史，秩滿還京。 時有尉義臣者，其父崇不從尉遲迥，從復與突厥戰死。 上嘉之，將賜姓金氏。 訪及群下，宏曰：「昔項伯不同項羽，漢高賜其姓劉氏，秦真父能死難，魏武賜姓曹氏。 請賜以皇族。」 帝曰：「善。」 因賜義臣姓楊。 後授均州刺史，以目疾免，卒於家。
Bao Hong, styled Runshen, came from Tan in Donghai. His father Bao Ji was known for talent and learning. Under the Liang he served as Palace Secretary and Censor. Hong lost his father at seven and was lovingly raised by his elder brother Quan. At twelve he could write; he once matched a poem of Prince Yi of Xiangdong, who admired him endlessly and made him Central Recorder. He rose to Regular Attendant Cavalier. When Jiangling fell he went over to Zhou; Emperor Ming honored him and made him an Academician of Linzhi Hall. He rose to Grand Master of Suibo. With Du Zihui he went on mission to Chen to plan war on Qi; Chen then sent troops across the Yangtze to strike Qi. The emperor once asked Hong how to take Qi; Hong said, "When the late emperor marched on Luoyang, Qi was ready each time and we could not win. By my plan, advance through Fen and Lu, strike Jinyang directly, catch them unaware — that is the best course." The emperor followed his advice. When Shandong was pacified he became Junior Director of the Imperial Household, was made Baron of Pingyao, and given the rank of Commissioner with Distinction. When Emperor Wen of Sui became Chancellor, Hong went on mission south of the mountains. Wang Qian rebelled in Shu; at Tongzhou on the road Hong was seized by Qian's general Daxi Ji, forced to Chengdu, and never broke. When Qian fell, Hong rode post-horses to the capital; Emperor Wen praised him and gave him a gold belt. After the founding he was given Opening the Office and raised to Duke. He served as Prefect of Li and Qiong in turn; when his terms ended he returned to the capital. At that time there was Wei Yichen — his father Chong had refused to follow Yuwen Jiong, and Cong had died fighting the Turks. The emperor approved and was about to grant him the surname Jin. Consulting his ministers, Hong said, "Xiang Bo refused to follow Xiang Yu, and Emperor Gao of Han gave him the Liu surname; Qin Zhenfu died for his lord, and Emperor Wu of Wei gave him the Cao surname. Grant him the imperial surname." The emperor said, "Well said." Yichen was given the surname Yang. Later he was made Prefect of Jun, was dismissed for eye disease, and died at home.
18
初，周武帝敕宏修《皇室譜》一部，分為《帝緒》、《疏屬》、《賜姓》三篇。 有集十卷，行於世。
Earlier, Emperor Wu of Zhou had ordered Hong to compile a Royal Clan Genealogy in three parts: Imperial Lineage, Distant Kin, and Granted Surnames. He left collected works in ten fascicles, which circulated in his time.
19
高構，字孝基，北海人也。 性滑稽多智，辯給過人，好讀書，工吏事。 仕齊，曆蘭陵、平原二郡太守。 齊滅，周武帝以為許州司馬。 隋文帝受禪，累遷戶部侍郎。 時內史侍郎晉平東與兄子長茂爭嫡，尚書省不以斷，朝臣三議不決。 構斷而合理，上以為能，召入內殿，勞之曰：「我聞尚書郎上應列宿，觀卿才識，方知古人之言信矣。 嫡庶者，禮教之所重，我讀卿判數遍，詞理愜當，意所不能及也。」 賜米百石。 由是知名。
Gao Gou, styled Xiaoji, came from Beihai. He was witty and clever, surpassingly eloquent, fond of books, and skilled in administration. Under Qi he served as Prefect of Lanling and Pingyuan in turn. When Qi fell, Emperor Wu of Zhou made him Prefectural Secretary of Xuzhou. After Emperor Wen of Sui took the throne, Gou rose to Vice Director of the Ministry of Revenue. Vice Director Jin Pingdong and his nephew Changmao disputed who was the legitimate heir; the Ministry could not decide, and three rounds of court debate failed to settle it. Gou decided the case soundly; the emperor, impressed, summoned him to the inner hall and said, "They say Ministry Attendants match the stars — your talent proves the ancients right. Legitimate and secondary succession is what ritual weighs most heavily; I have read your judgment again and again — its logic satisfies me beyond my own reach." He was rewarded with a hundred shi of rice. From this he became famous.
20
馮翊武鄉女子焦氏既瘂又聾，嫁之不售。 嘗樵菜于野，為人所犯而有孕，遂生一男。 時年六歲，莫知其姓，於是申省。 構判曰：「母不能言，窮究理絕。 案《風俗通》，姓有九種，或氏於爵，或氏所居。 此兒生在武鄉，可以武為姓。」 尋遷雍州司馬，以明斷見稱。 歲餘，轉吏部侍郎，號為稱職。 復徙雍州司馬，坐事左轉盩厔令，甚有能名。 上善之，復拜雍州司馬。 仁壽初，又為吏部侍郎，以公事免。
In Wuxiang, Fufeng, a woman named Jiao was mute and deaf — no one would marry her. Gathering firewood in the wild, she was assaulted and became pregnant, bearing a son. At six the boy had no surname; the case went to the provincial office. Gou ruled: "The mother cannot speak — inquiry reaches its limit. The Customs and Commonplaces lists nine kinds of surname — some from rank, some from place. This child was born in Wuxiang — let his surname be Wu." Soon he became Prefectural Secretary of Yongzhou, praised for clear judgment. A year later he became Vice Director of Personnel and was called competent. He returned to Yongzhou as Prefectural Secretary, was demoted to Magistrate of Zhouzhi for an offense, and won high praise for ability. The emperor approved and restored him as Prefectural Secretary of Yongzhou. At the start of Renshou he again became Vice Director of Personnel and was dismissed for an official matter.
21
煬帝立，召令復位。 時為吏部者多以不稱去職，唯構最有能名，前後典選之官，皆出其下，時人以構好劇談，頗謂輕薄，然其內懷方雅，特為吏部尚書牛弘所重。 後以老病解職，弘時典選，凡將有所擢用，輒遣人就第問其可不。 河東薛道衡才高當世，每稱構有清鑒，所為文筆，必先以草呈觀構而後出之。 構有所詆訶，道衡未嘗不嗟伏。 大業七年，終於家。 所舉薦杜如晦、房玄齡等，後皆自致公輔，論者稱構有知人之鑒。
When Emperor Yang took the throne, Gou was summoned back to office. Most Personnel directors of that era failed and were removed — only Gou was most famed for competence; every prior selection chief ranked below him. Men called him frivolous for his sharp tongue, yet inwardly he was upright and elegant, and Niu Hong especially valued him. Later illness forced his retirement; when Hong managed selection, he always sent someone to Gou's home to ask whether a candidate was fit. Xue Daohang of Hedong, the age's greatest talent, said Gou had clear judgment — he always sent drafts to Gou before publishing his writing. Whenever Gou criticized his work, Daohang sighed and accepted. In Daye 7 he died at home. Those he recommended — Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, and others — all rose to the highest offices; men said Gou could truly judge talent.
22
開皇中，昌黎豆盧實為黃門會郎，稱為慎密。 河東裴術為右丞，多所糾正。 河內士燮、平原東方舉、安定皇甫聿道，俱為刑部，並執法平允。 京兆韋焜為戶部郎，屢進讜言。 南陽韓則為延州，甚有惠政。 此等事行遺闕，皆有吏幹，為當時所稱。
In Kaihuang, Dou Lushi of Changli served as Attendant of the Yellow Gate and was called careful and thorough. Pei Shu of Hedong served as Right Vice Director and corrected many abuses. Shi Xie of Henei, Dongfang Ju of Pingyuan, and Huangfu Yudao of Anding all served in Punishments and upheld the law with equal fairness. Wei Kun of Jingzhao served as Director in Revenue and repeatedly offered blunt counsel. Han Ze of Nanyang served as Prefect of Yanzhou with great benevolent rule. These men's conduct in office, though imperfect, showed real administrative skill and won praise in their day.
23
榮毗，字子諶，北平無終人也。 父權，魏兵部尚書。 毗少剛鯁，有局量，涉獵群言。 仕周，位內史下士。 隋開皇中，累遷殿內局監。 時以華陰多盜賊，妙選長史，楊素薦毗為華州長史，世號為能。 素之田宅，多在華陰，左右放縱，毗以法繩之，無所寬貸。 毗因朝集，素謂之曰：「素之舉卿，適以自罰也？」 毗答曰：「奉法一心者，但恐累公所舉。」 素笑曰：「前言戲耳。 卿之奉法，素之望也。」 時晉王在揚州，每令人密覘京師消息，遣張衡于路次往往置馬坊，以畜牧為辭，實給私人也。 州縣莫敢違，毗獨遏絕其事。 上聞而嘉之，賚絹百匹，轉蒲州司馬。
Rong Pi, styled Zichen, came from Wuzhong in Beiping. His father Rong Quan served as Minister of War under Wei. Pi was upright and resolute from youth, broad in outlook, and widely read. Under Zhou he served as Clerk in the Secretariat. In Sui's Kaihuang era he rose to Supervisor of the Palace Bureau. Huayin was rife with bandits; Yang Su recommended Pi as Chief Secretary of Huazhou — and the age called him able. Su owned much land in Huayin; his men ran wild, but Pi held them to the law without mercy. At court assembly Su said to him, "Did I recommend you just to punish myself?" Pi answered, "I serve the law with all my heart — I only fear I may disgrace your recommendation." Su laughed: "That was a joke. Your fidelity to the law is exactly what I wanted." The Prince of Jin was then in Yangzhou, sending men to spy on the capital; Zhang Heng set up horse farms along the roads — nominally for breeding, in fact for private supply. No prefecture or county dared refuse — only Pi stopped it. The emperor heard and praised him, gave a hundred bolts of silk, and made him Prefectural Secretary of Puzhou.
24
漢王諒之反也，河東豪傑以城應諒。 刺史丘和覺變，遁歸關中。 長史渤海高義明謂毗曰：「河東國之東門，若失之，則為難不細。 在中雖復匈匈，非悉反也。 但收桀黠者十餘人斬之，自當立定耳。」 毗然之。 義明馳馬追和，將與協計。 至城西門，為渤海所殺，毗亦被執。 及諒平，拜書侍御史，帝謂曰：「今日之舉，馬坊之事也。 無改汝心。」 帝亦敬之。 毗在朝侃然正色，為百僚所憚。 後以母憂去職。 歲餘，起令視事。 尋卒官。 贈鴻臚少卿。
When Prince Han Liang rebelled, Hedong's powerful families surrendered the city to him. Prefect Qiu He sensed trouble and fled to Guanzhong. Chief Secretary Gao Yiming of Bohai told Pi, "Hedong is the realm's eastern gate — lose it, and the damage is grave. The turmoil within does not mean everyone has turned. Seize and behead a dozen ringleaders — order will restore itself." Pi agreed. Yiming rode after He to coordinate plans. At the west gate Yiming was killed by Bohai men; Pi was seized as well. When Liang fell, Pi became Palace Secretary and Censor; the emperor said, "This promotion is for the horse-farm affair. Do not change your heart." The emperor respected him as well. In court Pi was stern and upright, and officials feared him. Later he left office to mourn his mother. After a year he was recalled to duty. Soon he died in office. He was posthumously made Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
25
毗兄建緒，性甚亮直，兼有學業。 仕周，為載師下大夫、儀同三司。 及平齊之始，留鎮鄴城，因著《齊紀》三十卷。 建緒與文帝有舊，及為丞相，加位開府，拜息州刺史。 將之官，時帝陰有禪代之計，因謂建緒曰：「且躊躇，當共取富貴耳。」 建緒自以周之大夫，因義形於色曰：「明公此旨，非僕所聞。」 帝不悅。 建緒遂行。 開皇初來朝，上謂之曰：「卿亦悔不？」 建緒稽首曰：「臣位非徐廣，情類楊彪。」 上笑曰：「朕雖不解書語，亦知卿此言不遜也。」 兼始、洪二州刺史，俱有能名。
Pi's elder brother Jianxu was bright, upright, and learned. Under Zhou he was Grand Master of the Transport Office and Third Rank Commissioner with Distinction. When Qi was first conquered he stayed to garrison Ye and wrote the Qi Chronicle in thirty fascicles. Jianxu was old friends with Emperor Wen; when Wen became Chancellor he gave him Opening the Office and made him Prefect of Xi. As Jianxu prepared to leave, the emperor, planning abdication, said, "Wait — we shall share wealth and glory together." Jianxu, a Zhou grandee, showed outrage: "My lord, such words I have never heard." The emperor was displeased. Jianxu departed. In early Kaihuang he came to court; the emperor asked, "Do you regret it now?" Jianxu bowed: "I am no Xu Guang — my heart is Yang Biao's." The emperor laughed: "I may not know the classics, but I know impudence when I hear it." He served as Prefect of Shi and Hong, both with a name for competence.
26
陸知命，字仲通，吳郡富春人也。 父敖，陳散騎常侍。 知命性好學，通識大體，以貞介自持。 仕陳，為太學博士、南獄正。 及陳滅，歸於家。 會高智慧等作亂于江左，晉王廣鎮江都，以其三吳之望召令諷諭反者。 以功拜儀同三司，賜以田宅，復用其弟恪為汧陽令。 知命以恪非百里才，上表陳讓，朝廷許之。 時見天下一統，知命詣朝堂上表，請使高麗以宣示皇風，使彼君臣面縛闕下。 書奏，天子異之。 歲餘，授普寧鎮將。 人或言其正直者。 由是待詔于御史臺。 煬帝嗣位，拜書侍御史，侃然正色，為百僚所憚。 帝甚敬之。 後坐事免。 歲餘，復職。 時齊王暕頗驕縱，昵近小人，知命奏劾之，暕竟得罪，百僚震栗。 遼東之役，為東暆道受降使者，卒于師。 贈御史大夫。
Lu Zhiming, styled Zhongtong, came from Fuchun in Wu Commandery. His father Lu Ao was Attendant Cavalier under Chen. Zhiming loved learning, grasped the larger pattern, and held himself with upright integrity. Under Chen he was Erudite of the Imperial Academy and Corrector of the Southern Prison. When Chen fell he went home. When Gao Zhihui rebelled in the lower Yangtze, Prince Guang of Jin, stationed at Jiangdu, summoned him — for his standing in the Three Wu — to persuade the rebels. For his service he received Third Rank Commissioner with Distinction, fields and a house, and his brother Ke was made Magistrate of Qianyang. Zhiming held Ke unfit for a magistracy and memorialized to decline — the court agreed. Seeing the realm unified, Zhiming memorialized from the court hall asking that an envoy go to Goguryeo to proclaim imperial virtue and bring their ruler bound to the palace steps. The emperor was struck by the memorial. A year later he was made Garrison General of Puning. Some praised his uprightness. On that account he awaited edicts at the Censorate. When Emperor Yang succeeded he became Palace Secretary and Censor — stern, upright, and feared by officials. The emperor greatly respected him. Later he was dismissed for an offense. After a year he was restored. Prince of Qi Yang was arrogant and fond of petty men; Zhiming impeached him — Yang was punished, and officials trembled. In the Liaodong campaign he was Surrender Envoy on the Dongyi Route and died on campaign. He was posthumously made Censor-in-Chief.
27
梁毗，字景和，安定烏氏人也。 祖越，魏涇、豫、洛三州刺史，郃陽縣公。 父茂，周滄、兗二州刺史。 毗性剛謇，頗有學涉。 仕周，累遷布憲下大夫。 宣政中，封易陽縣子，遷武藏大夫。 隋文帝受禪，進爵為侯。 開皇初，以鯁正，拜書侍御史，名為稱職。 轉大興令，遷雍州贊務。 毗既出憲司，復典京邑，直道而行，無所回避，頗失權貴心，由是出為西寧州刺史，改封邯鄲縣侯。 在州十一年。
Lian Pi, styled Jinghe, came from Wushi in Anding. His grandfather Lian Yue was Prefect of Jing, Yu, and Luo under Wei and Duke of Heyang. His father Lian Mao was Prefect of Cang and Yan under Zhou. Pi was blunt and upright by nature, and well learned. Under Zhou he rose to Grand Master of Proclaiming the Law. In the Xuanzheng era he was made Viscount of Yiyang and transferred to Grand Master of Military Affairs. When Emperor Wen of Sui took the throne, Pi was raised to Marquis. In early Kaihuang his blunt integrity won him Palace Secretary and Censor — and a name for competence. He became Magistrate of Daxing, then Assistant Administrator of Yongzhou. Leaving the Censorate to govern the capital, Pi walked the straight path without flinching — and lost the powerful; he was sent out as Prefect of Xining and made Marquis of Handan. He governed the prefecture eleven years.
28
先是，蠻夷酋長皆服金冠，以金多者為豪俊，由是遞相陵辱，每尋干戈，邊境略無寧歲。 毗患之，後因諸酋長相率以金遺之，於是置金座側，對之慟哭，謂曰：「此饑不可食，寒不可衣，汝等以此相滅。 今將此來，欲殺我邪！」 無所納，悉以還之。 於是蠻夷感悟，遂不相攻。 文帝聞而善之，徵為散騎常侍、大理卿。 處法平允，時人稱之。 歲餘，進位上開府。 毗見左僕射楊素貴重擅權，百僚震懾，恐為國患，因上封事曰：「竊見左僕射越國公素，幸遇愈重，權勢日隆，所私皆非忠讜，所進咸是親戚，子弟布州，兼州連縣。 天下無事，容息奸圖，四海稍虞，必為禍始。 夫奸臣擅命，有漸而來。 王莽資之於積年，桓玄基之于易世，而卒殄漢祀，終傾晉祚。 陛下若以素為阿衡，臣恐其心未必伊尹也。」 帝大怒，命有司禁止，親自詰之。 毗極言曰：「素既擅權寵，作威作福，將領之處，殺戮無道。 又太子、蜀王罪廢之日，百僚無不震悚，唯素揚眉奮肘，喜見容色，利國家有事以為身幸。」 毗發言謇謇，有誠亮之節，帝無以屈也，乃釋之。 素自此恩寵漸衰。 但素任寄隆重，多所折挫，當時朝士無不懾伏； 有敢與相是非，辭氣不撓者，獨毗與柳彧及尚書左丞李綱而已。 後上不復專委于素，蓋由察毗之言。
Barbarian chiefs had worn gold crowns — the most gold meant the greatest standing — and they fought endlessly; the frontier knew no peace. Pi was troubled; when chiefs brought him gold in succession, he set it beside his seat and wept: "This cannot feed hunger or clothe cold — yet you kill each other for it. Have you brought this to kill me?" He accepted none and returned it all. The barbarians were moved and stopped fighting each other. Emperor Wen heard and praised him, summoning him as Palace Attendant and Director of Judicial Review. He applied the law fairly, and men praised him. A year later he was given Upper Opening the Office. Pi saw Left Vice Director Yang Su honored and powerful, feared a national calamity, and submitted a sealed memorial: "Left Vice Director Duke of Yue Su grows ever more favored and powerful; his favorites are never loyal counselors, his promotions are all kin; sons and brothers fill prefectures across linked counties. In peace treachery may sleep — but let trouble stir, and he will be its source. Treacherous ministers who seize power come by degrees. Wang Mang built over years; Huan Xuan over a changed age — yet both ended Han sacrifice and overturned Jin's throne. If Your Majesty treats Su as your Yi Yin, I fear his heart is not Yi Yin's." The emperor raged, ordered him restrained, and interrogated him personally. Pi spoke bluntly: "Su already monopolizes power and favor, makes might and blessing — wherever he commands, he kills without justice. When the crown prince and Prince of Shu were deposed, every official trembled — only Su raised his brows in delight, treating the state's trouble as his good fortune." Pi spoke with blunt integrity the emperor could not refute — and released him. From this Su's favor waned. Su remained heavily entrusted and suffered many setbacks; courtiers all feared him; Only Pi, Liu Yu, and Left Assistant Director Li Gang dared dispute him without bending. Later the emperor no longer entrusted everything to Su — largely because of Pi's words.
29
煬帝即位，遷刑部尚書，並攝御史大夫事。 奏劾宇文述和私役部兵，帝議免述罪，毗固爭，因忤旨，遂令張衡代為大夫。 毗憂憤卒。 帝令吏部尚書牛弘吊之。
When Emperor Yang succeeded, Pi became Minister of Punishments and concurrently handled the Censorate. He impeached Yuwen Shu for privately employing departmental troops; the emperor meant to pardon Shu — Pi contested fiercely, offended the throne, and Zhang Heng replaced him as Censor-in-Chief. Pi died of grief and anger. The emperor ordered Minister of Personnel Niu Hong to mourn him.
30
子敬真，位大理司直。 時煬帝欲成光祿大夫魚俱羅罪，令敬真案其獄，遂希旨陷之極刑。 未幾，敬真有疾，見俱羅為祟而死。
His son Jingzhen served as Directing Secretary in Judicial Review. Emperor Yang wished to convict Palace Attendant Yu Jurong and ordered Jingzhen to try the case — Jingzhen toed the imperial will and framed him to death. Before long Jingzhen fell ill, saw Jurong's ghost, and died.
31
柳彧，字幼文，河東人也。 世居襄陽。 父仲禮，《南史》有傳。 仲禮，梁敗見囚于周，復家河東。 彧少好學，頗涉經史。 周大塚宰宇文護引為中外府記室，久而出為甯州總管掾。 武帝親總萬機，彧詣闕求試。 帝異之，以為司武中士。 轉鄭令。 平齊之後，帝賞從官，留京者不預。 彧上表曰：「今太平告始，信賞宜明，酬勳報勞，務先有本。 屠城破邑，出自聖規，斬將搴旗，必由神略。 若負戈擐甲，征扞劬勞。 至於鎮撫國家，宿衛為重。 俱稟成算，非專己能，留從事同，功勞須等。」 於是留守並加品級。
Liu Yu, styled Youwen, came from Hedong. His family had long lived in Xiangyang. His father Liu Zhongli has an entry in the History of the Southern Dynasties. When Liang fell, Zhongli was taken by Zhou; the family returned to Hedong. Yu loved learning from youth and read widely in the classics and histories. Yuwen Hu took him as Recorder of the Inner and Outer Offices; later he became Staff Officer to the Inspector-General of Ningzhou. When Emperor Wu took personal charge of government, Yu petitioned at court for a trial appointment. The emperor was impressed and made him Clerk in the Office of Military Affairs. He became Magistrate of Zheng. After Qi was pacified the emperor rewarded his followers — but not those who had stayed in the capital. Yu memorialized: "Peace is newly won — rewards must be clear; merit and toil deserve a foundation. Storming cities and breaking settlements come from the sage plan; seizing banners and beheading generals follow divine strategy. If men bear arms and armor, campaigning and defending with toil — Pacifying the state and guarding the capital are equally weighty. All shared the same plan — no man acted alone; those who stayed and those who marched shared the work — merit should be equal." Those who had remained were all given added rank.
32
隋文帝受禪，曆尚書虞部、屯田二侍郎。 時制三品已上，門皆列戟。 左僕射高熲子弘德封應國公，申牒請戟。 彧判曰：「僕射之子更不異居，父之戟槊已列門外，尊有厭卑之義，子有避父之禮，豈容外門既設，內閣又施？」 事竟不行。 熲聞而歎伏。 後遷書侍御史，當朝正色，甚為百僚敬憚。 上嘉其婞直，謂曰：「大丈夫當立名於世，無容容而已。」 賜錢十萬，米百石。
When Emperor Wen of Sui took the throne, Yu served as Vice Director of Works and of Colonies in turn. Third-rank officials and above were required to display halberds at their gates. Left Vice Director Gao Jiong's son Hongde, Duke of Ying, petitioned for gate halberds. Yu ruled: "The Vice Director's son lives with his father — halberds already stand at the gate; honor surfeits the lowly, sons avoid fathers — how can the outer gate bear halberds and the inner hall bear them too?" The request was denied. Jiong heard and sighed in admiration. Later he became Palace Secretary and Censor — upright at court, greatly feared and respected. The emperor praised his blunt integrity: "A great man must make a name in the world — not merely accommodate." He was given a hundred thousand coins and a hundred shi of rice.
33
時刺史多任武將，類不稱職，彧上表曰：「伏見詔書以上柱國和幹子為杞州刺史，其人年垂八十。 鐘鳴漏盡。 前在趙州，暗於職務，政由群小，賄賂公行。 百姓籲嗟，歌謠滿道，乃云：'老禾不早殺，余種穢良田。' 古人云：'耕當問奴，織當問婢。' 此言各有所能也。 幹子弓馬武用，是其所長； 臨人蒞職，非其所解。 如謂優老尚年，自可厚賜金帛，若令刺舉，所損殊大。 臣死而後已，敢不竭誠。」 上善之，幹子竟免。 有應州刺史唐君明，居母喪，娶雍州長史厙狄士文之從父妹。 彧劾之曰：「君明忽劬勞之痛，惑嬿爾之親，冒此苴縗，命彼褕翟。 不義不昵，《春秋》載其將亡：無禮無儀，詩人欲其遄死。 士文贊務神州，名位通顯，棄二姓之重匹，違六禮之軌儀。 請禁錮終身，以懲風俗。」 二家竟坐得罪。 隋承喪亂之後，風俗頹壞，彧多所矯正，上甚嘉之。 又見上勤於聽受，百僚奏請多有煩碎，因上疏諫曰：「人君出令，誡在煩數。 是以舜任五臣，堯咨四嶽，設官分職，各有司存，垂拱無為，天下以乂。 所謂勞於求賢，逸于任使。 比見事無大小，咸關聖職。 陛下留心政道，無憚疲勞，至乃營造細小之事，出給輕微之物，一日之內，酬答百司，至乃日旰忘食貧，分夜未寢，動以文簿，憂勞聖躬。 伏願思臣至言，少減煩務。」 上覽而嘉之。 以其家，敕有司與之築宅，因曰：「柳彧正直之士，國之龜寶也。」 其見重如此。
Most prefects were military men and incompetent; Yu memorialized: "The edict makes Upper Pillar He Ganzi Prefect of Qi — he is nearly eighty. His hour has come. In Zhaozhou he was blind to duty — petty men ruled and bribes flowed openly. The people lamented — songs filled the roads: "If the old stalk is not cut early, the seed fouls the good field." The ancients said, "Ask the slave about plowing, the maid about weaving." Each has his own skill. Ganzi excels at bow, horse, and war; Governing men and office he does not understand. If you wish to honor his age, give him gold and silk — but make him investigate and report, and the harm is great. I will not stop until death — how can I fail to speak plainly?" The emperor approved; Ganzi was spared. Prefect Tang Junming of Yingzhou, while mourning his mother, married the younger sister of Assistant Administrator Qiu Di Shiwen's paternal uncle. Yu impeached him: "Junming ignored mourning's pain, was led astray by intimacy, wore hemp mourning yet took brocade and pheasant dress. Without righteousness or intimacy — the Spring and Autumn Annals says such men are doomed; without ritual or propriety — the poets wish them dead. Shiwen serves the sacred realm, famous and high — yet cast aside proper marriage between two surnames and violated the Six Rites. Confine both for life, to warn custom." Both families were punished. Sui rose after chaos — customs were ruined; Yu corrected much, and the emperor praised him. The emperor listened diligently but officials' memorials grew trivial; Yu remonstrated: "When a ruler issues orders, the danger is frequency. Shun employed five ministers, Yao consulted the Four Peaks, divided offices — each had his charge; arms draped, the realm was governed. Labor in seeking talent, ease in employing it. Lately matters great and small all reach the throne. Your Majesty attends to every detail without rest — even small constructions and trivial grants; within a day you answer a hundred offices — until sunset without food, until midnight without sleep, worn by documents. I beg Your Majesty to heed my words and lighten the burden of trivial affairs." The emperor read and praised it. He ordered a house built for Yu, saying, "Liu Yu is upright — a national treasure." Such was the esteem he won.
34
右僕射楊素當途顯貴，百僚懾憚，無敢忤者，嘗以少譴，敕送南台。 素恃貴，坐彧床。 彧從外來，見素如此，於階下端笏整容曰：「奉敕推公罪。」 素遽下。 彧據案坐，立素於庭前，辯詰事狀。 素由是銜之。 彧時方為上所信任，故素未有以中之。
Right Vice Director Yang Su was powerful — officials feared him, none opposed; once for a minor fault an edict sent him to the Southern Censorate. Su, relying on rank, sat on Yu's couch. Yu entered, saw Su sitting there, and at the steps straightened his tablet: "By edict I investigate your offense." Su hurried down. Yu sat at his desk, made Su stand in the courtyard, and examined the case. Su nursed a grudge. Yu was then trusted by the emperor — Su could not strike at him.
35
彧見近代以來，都邑百姓每至正月十五日，作角抵戲，遞相誇競，至於糜費財力，上奏請禁絕之曰：「竊見京邑，爰及外州，每以正月望夜，充街塞陌，鳴鼓聒天，燎炬照地，人戴獸面，男為女服，倡優雜伎，詭狀異形。 外內共觀，曾不相避。 竭貲破產，競此一時。 盡室並孥，無問貴賤，男女混雜，緇素不分。 穢行因此而生，盜賊由斯而起。 非益於化，實損於人。 請頒天下，並即禁斷。」 詔可其奏。
Yu saw that every Lantern Festival capital residents performed wrestling games, wasting wealth — and memorialized to ban it: "Every full moon of the first month fills streets — drums thunder, torches blaze; beast masks, men in women's dress, actors in bizarre shapes. Inside and outside watch together without restraint. Men exhaust wealth competing for this one night. Whole households turn out — noble and base, men and women mixed, lay and clerical undistinguished. Filthy conduct arises; theft follows. It benefits no one — it harms all. Ban it throughout the realm at once." The edict approved.
36
是歲，持節巡河北五十二州，奏免長吏贓汙不稱職者二百餘人，州縣肅然，莫不震懼。 上嘉之，賜絹布二百匹，氈三十領，拜儀同三司，歲餘，加員外散騎常侍。 仁壽初，持節巡省太原道十九州。 及還，賜絹百五十匹。
That year he inspected fifty-two Hebei prefectures and dismissed more than two hundred corrupt officials — prefectures and counties trembled. The emperor praised him, gave two hundred bolts of silk and thirty felts, made him Third Rank Commissioner with Distinction, and a year later Supernumerary Palace Attendant. At Renshou's start he inspected nineteen prefectures on the Taiyuan Route. On return he received a hundred fifty bolts of silk.
37
彧嘗得博陵李文博所撰《政道集》十卷，蜀王秀遣人求之。 彧送之於秀，秀復賜彧奴婢十口。 及秀得罪，楊素奏彧以內臣交通諸侯，除名，配戍懷遠鎮。 行達高陽，有詔徵進。 至晉陽，遇漢王諒作亂，遣使馳召彧入城。 而諒反形已露，彧入城，度不得免，遂詐中惡不食，自稱危篤。 諒怒囚之。 及諒敗，楊素奏彧心懷兩端，以候事變，跡雖不反，心實同逆。 坐徙敦煌。 素卒，乃自申理，有詔徵還。 卒於道。
Yu obtained Li Wenbo of Boling's Collected Writings on Governance in ten fascicles — Prince of Shu Xiu sent to request it. Yu sent it to Xiu; Xiu gave him ten slaves and maidservants in return. When Xiu fell, Su memorialized that Yu, an inner official, had dealings with princes — Yu was struck from the rolls and sent to garrison Huaiyuan. At Gaoyang an edict summoned him forward. At Jinyang he met Prince Han Liang's rebellion — an envoy summoned him into the city. Liang's rebellion was already plain; Yu entered the city, knew he could not escape, feigned sudden illness, refused food, and called himself dying. Liang imprisoned him in rage. When Liang fell, Su memorialized that Yu waited on events with divided loyalty — though he did not rebel openly, his heart was treasonous. He was exiled to Dunhuang. When Su died, Yu appealed — an edict summoned him back. He died on the road.
38
有子紹，為介休令。
He had a son Shao, Magistrate of Jiexiu.
39
趙綽，字士倬，河東人也。 性質直剛毅。 周初為天官府史，以恭謹恪勤，擢授夏官府下士。 稍以明幹見知，為內史中士。 父艱去職，哀毀骨立，世稱其孝。 隋文帝為丞相，知其清正，引為錄事參軍。 遷掌朝大夫，從行軍總管是雲暉擊叛蠻，以功拜儀同。
Zhao Chao, styled Shizhuo, came from Hedong. He was straightforward, upright, and firm by nature. In early Zhou he was a clerk in the Heavenly Office; for diligence and care he rose to Clerk in the Summer Office. For clarity and competence he became Secretariat Clerk. He left office to mourn his father — grief wasted him to the bone — men called him filial. When Emperor Wen was Chancellor, knowing his integrity, he made him Recording Advisor. He became Grand Master Who Holds Court and followed Army Inspector-General Shiyun Hui against rebellious barbarians — for merit he received Commissioner with Distinction.
40
文帝受禪，授大理丞。 處法平允，考績連最。 曆大理正、尚書都官侍郎，每有奏讞，正色侃然，漸見禮重。 上以盜賊不禁，將重其法，綽進諫曰：「律者天下之大信，其可失乎！」 上忻然納之，因謂曰：「若更有聞見，宜數言之。」 遷大理少卿。
When Emperor Wen took the throne, Chao became Assistant Director of Judicial Review. He applied the law fairly; his evaluations were always top-ranked. He served as Directing Secretary of Judicial Review and Vice Director of Justice — stern at every judgment, he won growing respect. The emperor meant to toughen the law because theft would not stop — Chao remonstrated: "Law is the realm's great trust — it cannot be lost!" The emperor gladly accepted and said, "If you see more, speak often." He became Vice Director of Judicial Review.
41
故陳將蕭摩訶，其子世略在江南作亂，摩訶當從坐。 上曰：「世略年未二十，亦何能為！ 以其名將之子，為人逼耳。」 因赦摩訶。 綽固諫不可，上不能奪，欲待綽去而赦之，因命綽退食。 綽曰：「臣奏獄未決，不敢退朝。」 上曰：「大理其為朕特放摩訶也。」 因命左右釋之。 刑部侍郎辛亶嘗衣緋褌，俗雲利官，上以為厭蠱，將斬之，綽曰：「據法不當死，臣不敢奉詔。」 上怒甚，謂曰：「卿惜辛亶而不自惜也？」 命左僕射高熲將綽斬之。 綽曰：「陛下寧可殺臣，不可殺辛亶。」 至朝堂，解衣當斬。 上使人謂綽曰：「竟如何？」 對曰：「執法一心，不敢惜死。」 上拂衣入，良久乃釋之。 明日，謝綽，勞勉之，賜物三百段。
Former Chen general Xiao Mohe's son Shilue rebelled in the south — Mohe was to be punished by association. The emperor said, "Shilue is not yet twenty — what could he do? He is a famous general's son — men forced him, that is all." Mohe was pardoned. Chao insisted it could not stand — the emperor could not override him and planned to pardon Mohe once Chao left, ordering Chao to withdraw for his meal. Chao said, "My case is not yet decided — I dare not leave court." The emperor said, "Let Judicial Review specially pardon Mohe for me." Attendants released him. Vice Director Xin Dan wore red trousers — folk said they brought office; the emperor took it for sorcery and meant to behead him; Chao said, "By law he should not die — I dare not obey." The emperor raged: "You spare Xin Dan but not yourself?" He ordered Left Vice Director Gao Jiong to execute Chao. Chao said, "Your Majesty may kill me — you cannot kill Xin Dan." At the court hall he stripped for execution. The emperor sent to ask, "Well?" Chao answered, "I uphold the law with all my heart — I do not fear death." The emperor turned away; after a long while he released him. Next day he apologized, encouraged Chao, and gave three hundred bolts of goods.
42
時上禁行惡錢，有二人在市以惡錢易好者，武候執以聞，上悉令斬之。 綽諫曰：「此人坐當杖，殺之非法。」 上曰：「不關卿事。」 綽曰：「陛下不以臣愚暗，置在法司，欲妄殺人，豈得不關臣事？」 上曰：「撼大木不動者，當退。」 對曰：「臣望感天心，何論動木！」 上復曰：「啜羹者，熱則置之。 天子之感，欲相挫邪？」 綽拜而益前，訶之不肯退。 上遂入。 書侍御史柳彧復上奏切諫，上乃止。 上以綽有誠直之心，每引入閣中，或遇上與皇后同榻，即呼綽坐，評論得失。 前後賞賜以萬計。 後進開府，贈其父為蔡州刺史。
The emperor banned debased coin — two men in the market traded bad coin for good; guards reported them; the emperor ordered all beheaded. Chao remonstrated: "Their crime warrants beating — killing them is unlawful." The emperor said, "It is none of your business." Chao said, "You placed me in the legal office — if you kill wrongly, how is it not my business?" The emperor said, "When a great tree will not shake, one should step back." Chao replied, "I hope to move Heaven's heart — what talk of trees!" The emperor said again, "One who sips hot broth sets it aside. Does the Son of Heaven wish to be thwarted?" Chao bowed, advanced, reproached him, and would not withdraw. The emperor withdrew. Palace Secretary Liu Yu submitted another sharp remonstrance — the emperor then stopped. Because Chao was sincere and straight, the emperor often brought him into the inner chambers — even when emperor and empress shared a couch, he called Chao to sit and discuss policy. Rewards over time numbered in the tens of thousands. Later he received Opening the Office; his father was posthumously made Prefect of Cai.
43
時河東薛胄為大理卿，俱名平恕。 然胄斷獄以情，而綽守法，俱為稱職。 上每謂綽曰：「朕於卿無所愛惜，但卿骨相不當貴耳。」 仁壽中，卒官，上為之流涕，中使弔祭，鴻臚監護喪事。 二子元方、元襲。
Xue Zhou of Hedong was then Director of Judicial Review — both were known for fairness. Zhou decided cases by circumstance; Chao upheld the law — both were called competent. The emperor often told Chao, "I would withhold nothing from you — but your bone structure is not suited to high rank." In the Renshou era he died in office; the emperor wept, sent envoys to mourn, and the Director of Imperial Sacrifices supervised the funeral. He had two sons: Yuanfang and Yuanxi.
44
杜整，字皇育，京兆杜陵人也。 祖盛，魏潁川太守。 父辟，渭州刺史。 整少有風概，九歲丁父憂，哀毀骨立，事母以孝聞。 及長，驍勇有膂力，好讀《孫吳兵法》。 魏大統末，襲爵武鄉侯。 周文引為親信。 累遷儀同三司、武州刺史。 從武帝平齊，加上儀同，進爵平原縣公，入為勳曹中大夫。 隋文帝為丞相，進位開府。 及帝受禪，加上開府，進封長廣郡公，拜左武衛將軍。 開皇六年，突厥犯塞，詔衛王爽北伐，以整為行軍總管，兼元帥長史。 至合川，無虜而還。 密進取陳策，上善之，以為行軍總管，鎮襄陽。 卒，上傷之，諡曰襄。
Du Zheng, styled Huangyu, came from Duling in Jingzhao. His grandfather Du Sheng was Prefect of Yingchuan under Wei. His father Du Pi was Prefect of Wei. From youth Zheng had spirit; at nine he mourned his father — grief wasted him to the bone — and he was known for filial service to his mother. Grown, he was brave and strong, fond of reading Sun Wu's Art of War. At the end of Wei's Great Unity he inherited the title Marquis of Wuxiang. Emperor Wen of Zhou took him as a trusted intimate. He rose to Third Rank Commissioner with Distinction and Prefect of Wu. Following Emperor Wu in pacifying Qi, he received Commissioner with Distinction, was made Duke of Pingyuan, and entered court as Grand Master of Meritorious Achievement. When Emperor Wen of Sui was Chancellor, he received Opening the Office. When the emperor took the throne, he received Upper Opening the Office, was made Duke of Changguang, and appointed General of the Left Guard. In Kaihuang 6 the Turks raided the frontier — Prince of Wei Shuang was ordered north; Zheng was Army Inspector-General and Chief of Staff. At Hechuan he found no enemy and returned. He secretly submitted a strategy against Chen — the emperor approved and made him Army Inspector-General at Xiangyang. He died; the emperor grieved and posthumously titled him Xiang.
45
子楷嗣，位開府。
His son Kai inherited the title with the rank of Opening the Office.
46
整弟肅，亦有志行，位北地太守。
Zheng's younger brother Su also had will and integrity, serving as Prefect of Beidi.
47
論曰：大廈之構，非一本之枝，帝王之功，非一士之略，長短殊用，大小異宜，郐咨棁棟樑，莫可棄也。 裴政、李諤、鮑宏、高構、榮毗、陸知命等，或文能道義，或才足幹時，識用顯于當年，故事留於台閣。 參之有隋多士，取其開物成務，皆廊廟之榱桷，亦北辰之眾星也。 趙綽居大理，囹圄無冤。 柳彧之處憲台，奸邪自肅。 然不畏禦，梁毗得之矣。 邦之司直，柳彧近之矣。 杜整以聲績著美，其有以取之乎！
The commentators say: A great hall needs more than one beam — an emperor's achievement needs more than one man's strategy; long and short serve different ends, great and small fit different roles — rafters, purlins, beams, ridgepoles — none may be discarded. Pei Zheng, Li E, Bao Hong, Gao Gou, Rong Pi, Lu Zhiming, and others — some conveyed moral principle in writing, some had talent to serve the age — all distinguished in their time, their deeds preserved in the archives. Among Sui's many scholars they opened things and completed tasks — all rafters of the state, stars of the Northern Pole. Zhao Chao presided over Judicial Review — no innocent languished in prison. Liu Yu at the Censorate — the wicked corrected themselves. Not fearing the throne — Lian Pi attained this. The state's straight officer — Liu Yu came near. Du Zheng won renown through achievement — did he not earn it!