Volume 79 Biographies 67: Yu Wenshu, Wang Shichong, Duan Da

宇文述王世充段達

Yu Wenshu, Wang Shichong, and Duan Da

列傳第六十七

Biography 67

宇文述雲定興趙行樞述子化及司馬德戡裴虔通王世充段達

Yu Wenshu; Yun Dingxing; Zhao Xingshu; Yu Huaji, son of Wenshu; Sima Dekan; Pei Qiantong; Wang Shichong; and Duan Da

宇文述，字伯通，代郡武川人也。高祖侰與敦、曾祖長壽、祖孤，仕魏，並為沃野鎮軍主。父盛，仕周，位上柱國、大宗伯。

Yu Wenshu, courtesy name Botong, was a native of Wuchuan in Dai Commandery. His great-grandfather Yi and Dun, his great-great-grandfather Changshou, and his grandfather Gu all served Northern Wei as garrison commanders at Woye Fortress. His father Sheng served Northern Zhou, rising to Supreme Pillar of State and Grand Director of Honors.

述少驍銳，便弓馬。年十一時，有相者謂曰：「公子善自愛，後當位極人臣。」周武帝時，以父軍功，起家拜開府。述性謹密，周大塚宰宇文護甚愛之，以本官領護親信。及武帝親總萬機，召為左宮伯，累遷英果中大夫，賜爵博陵郡公，改封濮陽郡公。尉遲迥作亂，述以行軍總管從韋孝寬擊之，破迥將李雋軍於懷州，又與諸將破尉惇于永平橋。以功超拜上柱國，進爵褒國公。

In youth Wenshu was bold and keen, expert with bow and horse. When he was eleven, a physiognomist told him, "Young lord, cherish yourself—you will one day stand at the pinnacle of power among ministers. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, he entered service on his father's military record and was appointed an honorary commander of an independent staff. Wenshu was discreet by nature. Yuwen Hu, the Grand Chancellor of Northern Zhou, favored him greatly and let him keep his existing post while commanding the Protector's personal guard. When Emperor Wu took personal control of government, Wenshu was summoned as Left Palace Bearer, then promoted step by step to Valiant Fruit Central Grand Master, enfeoffed as Duke of Boling, and later transferred to Duke of Puyang. When Yuchi Jiong rebelled, Wenshu served as campaign commander under Wei Xiaokuan, routed Li Jun's forces at Huai Prefecture, and with the other generals defeated Wei Dun at Yongping Bridge. For these deeds he was promoted in one leap to Supreme Pillar of State and advanced to Duke of Bao.

開皇初拜右衛大將軍。平陳之役，以行軍總管自六合而濟。時韓擒、賀若弼兩軍趣丹陽，述據石頭以為聲援。陳主既禽，而蕭瓛、蕭岩據東吳地。述領行軍總管元契、張默言等討之，落叢公燕榮以舟師自東海至，亦受述節度，於是吳會悉平。以功授子化及為開府，徙拜安州總管。時晉王廣鎮揚州，甚善於述，奏為壽州總管。王時陰有奪宗之志，請計於述。述曰：「皇太子失愛已久。大王才能蓋世，數經將領，主上之與內宮，咸所鍾愛，四海之望，實歸大王。然廢立國家大事，能移主上者，唯楊素耳。移素謀者，唯其弟約。述雅知約，請朝京師，與約共圖廢立。」晉王大悅，多齎金寶，資述入關。述數請約，盛陳器玩，與之酣暢，因共博戲，每陽不勝，輸所將金寶。約所得既多，稍以謝述。述因曰：「此晉王賜述，令與公為歡。」約大驚曰：「何為者？」述因為王申意。約然其說，退言於素，亦從之。於是晉王與述情好益密，命述子士及尚南陽公主，後賞賜不可勝計。及晉王為皇太子，以述為左衛率。舊令，率官第四品，以述素貴，遂進率品第三，其見重如此。

At the opening of the Kaihuang era he was made Right Guard Grand General. During the conquest of Chen he crossed the river from Liuhe as campaign commander. While Han Qin and He Ruobi drove on Danyang, Wenshu held Stone City to lend them support. After the Chen emperor was taken, Xiao Huan and Xiao Yan still held eastern Wu. Wenshu led Yuan Qi, Zhang Moyan, and other commanders against them; Yan Rong, Duke of Luocong, arrived by sea from the Eastern Sea and likewise fell under his command, and Wu and Kuai were fully pacified. For his service his son Huaji was granted an independent staff, and Wenshu himself was transferred to commander-in-chief of Anzhou. Prince Jin Guang was then posted at Yangzhou and took a strong liking to Wenshu, recommending him as commander-in-chief of Shouzhou. The prince already harbored secret designs on the succession and sought Wenshu's counsel. Wenshu said, "The crown prince has long since lost the emperor's favor. Your talent outshines the age, you have led armies again and again, and both the emperor and the inner palace favor you—the empire's hopes truly rest on you. Yet deposition and installation are matters of state; only Yang Su can sway the emperor's mind. And the one who can move Yang Su is only his younger brother Yue. Wenshu knew Yue well; he asked leave to go to the capital and plot the succession with him." The prince was delighted and loaded Wenshu with gold and jewels for his journey into the capital. Wenshu invited Yue again and again, displayed fine vessels and curios, drank with him until they were merry, then gambled—always pretending to lose and forfeiting the gold and jewels he had brought. Once Yue had won heavily, he began to thank Wenshu in turn. Wenshu then said, "These were gifts from Prince Jin to me, meant for me to share pleasure with you." Yue was astonished. "What does this mean?" Wenshu then laid out the prince's intentions. Yue accepted the plan, spoke to Yang Su, and Su agreed as well. From then on prince and Wenshu drew still closer; the prince had Wenshu's son Shiji marry the Princess of Nanyang, and thereafter lavished rewards beyond reckoning. When the prince became crown prince, he appointed Wenshu commander of the Left Guard. By regulation the guard commander's post was fourth rank, but because Wenshu had long been eminent his office was raised to third rank—such was the esteem in which he was held.

煬帝嗣位，拜左衛大將軍，參掌武官選事。後改封許國公，尋加開府儀同三司，每冬正朝會，輒給鼓吹一部。從幸榆林，時鐵勒契弊歌稜攻敗吐谷渾。其部攜散，遂遣使請降，求救。帝令述以兵撫納降附。吐谷渾見述擁強兵，懼不敢降，遂西遁。述追至曼頭城，攻拔之。乘勝至赤水城，復拔之。其餘黨走屯丘尼川，進擊，大破之，獲其王公、尚書、將軍二百人。渾主南走雪山，其故地皆空。帝大悅。明年，從帝西巡至金山，登燕支，述每為斥候。時渾賊復寇張掖，述進擊走之。還至江都宮，敕述與蘇威常典選舉，參預朝政。述時貴重，委任與威等，其親愛則過之。帝所得遠方貢獻及四時口味，輒見班賜，中使相望於道。述善於供奉，俯仰折旋，容止便辟，宿衛咸取則焉。又有巧思，凡所裝飾，皆出人意表。數以奇服異物進宮掖，由是帝彌悅焉。言無不從，勢傾朝廷。左衛將軍張瑾與述連官，嘗有評議，偶不中意，述張目瞋之，瑾惶懼而走。文武百僚莫敢違忤。性貪鄙，知人有珍異物，必求取，富商大賈及隴右諸胡子弟，皆接以恩意，呼之為兒。由是競加饋遺，金寶累積。後庭曳羅綺者甚眾，家僮千餘人，皆控良馬，被服金玉。及征高麗，述為扶餘道軍將，臨發，帝謂曰：「禮，七十者行役以婦人從，公宜以家累自隨。古稱婦人不入軍，謂臨戰時耳。至軍壘間，無所傷也。項籍虞兮，即其故事。」述與九軍至鴨綠水，糧盡，議欲班師。諸將多異同，述又不測帝意。會乙支文德來詣其營，述先與于仲文俱奉密旨，令誘執文德。既而緩縱，文德逃歸，述內不自安，遂與諸將度水追之。時文德見述軍中多饑色，欲疲述眾，每鬥便北。述一日中七戰皆捷，既恃驟勝，又內逼群議，遂進，東濟薩水，去平壤城三十里，因山為營。文德復遣使偽降，請述曰：「若旋師者，當奉高元朝行在所。」述見士卒疲弊，不可復戰，又平壤險固，卒難致力，遂因其詐而還。眾半濟，賊擊後軍。於是大潰不可禁止，九軍敗績，一日一夜，還至鴨綠水，行四百五十里。初度遼，九軍三十萬五千人，及還至遼東城，唯二千七百人。帝怒，除其名。明年，帝又事遼東，復述官爵，待之如初。從至遼東，與將軍楊義臣率兵復臨鴨綠水。會楊玄感作亂，帝召述馳驛討玄感。時玄感逼東都，聞述軍至，西遁將圖關中。述與刑部尚書衛玄、右驍衛大將軍來護兒、武衛將軍屈突通等躡之。至閿鄉皇天原，與玄感相及，斬其首，傳行在所。復從東征，至懷遠而還。

When Emperor Yang took the throne, Wenshu was made Left Guard Grand General and helped manage appointments among military officers. He was later enfeoffed as Duke of Xu, soon granted the ceremonial rank of honorary commander with protocol equal to the Three Excellencies, and at each winter court assembly was given a full ensemble of martial music. Accompanying the emperor to Yulin, he found the Tiele leader Qibi Geleng had just routed Tuyuhun. Qibi's tribes scattered in flight, and he sent envoys to surrender and beg for aid. The emperor ordered Wenshu to take troops and receive the surrendering tribes. Seeing Wenshu at the head of a strong force, Tuyuhun dared not submit and fled west. Wenshu pursued to Mantou City and stormed it. Pressing the victory to Chishui City, he took that as well. The remnant bands fled to Qiuni River; he attacked and routed them, capturing two hundred of their princes, ministers, and generals. The Tuyuhun ruler fled south toward Snow Mountain, and his former lands lay empty. The emperor was delighted. The following year, on the western tour to Golden Mountain and the ascent of Yanzhi, Wenshu served repeatedly as advance scout. When Tuyuhun raiders struck Zhangye again, Wenshu advanced and drove them off. Back at the Jiangdu Palace, the emperor ordered Wenshu and Su Wei to oversee selections regularly and join in governing. Wenshu was then at the height of power, entrusted equally with Su Wei, yet favored even more warmly. Tribute from distant lands and seasonal delicacies reached the emperor only to be passed on to Wenshu, palace envoys crowding the road in relays. He excelled at court service—every bow and turn graceful and obsequious—so that even the palace guards took him as their model. He had a gift for design as well; whatever he arranged surprised everyone. He often sent outlandish garments and curios to the inner palace, and the emperor grew still fonder of him. Nothing he said went unheeded; his power overshadowed the court. Left Guard General Zhang Jin served in the same office and once debated a point with Wenshu. When Wenshu took offense he glared, and Zhang fled in terror. Civil and military officials alike dared not cross him. Greedy and base by nature, he seized on anyone known to possess rarities; rich merchants and the sons of frontier Hu families he courted as "sons." They vied to shower him with gifts until gold and jewels piled high. His rear court swarmed with women in silk and brocade; more than a thousand household servants rode fine horses clad in gold and jade. On the Goguryeo campaign Wenshu commanded the Fuyu route army. Before he marched the emperor told him, "Ritual allows a man of seventy to take his women on campaign—you should bring your household along. The ancients said women do not enter the army, but they meant only at the moment of battle. In camp there is no harm in it. Xiang Yu and Lady Yu are the very precedent. Wenshu led the nine armies to the Yalu. Provisions ran out and the commanders debated withdrawal. The generals were divided, and Wenshu could not read the emperor's mind. Ye Zhiven came to his camp. Wenshu and Yu Zhongwen had earlier received secret orders to lure and seize him. They hesitated; Wen De escaped. Uneasy within, Wenshu crossed the river in pursuit with the other generals. Wen De saw hunger in the army and meant to wear them down, feigning retreat whenever they fought. Wenshu won seven battles in a single day. Trusting in swift victory and pressed by his officers, he advanced, crossed the Saba eastward, camped thirty li from Pyongyang against the hills. Wen De sent envoys feigning surrender, promising that if Wenshu withdrew he would deliver King Gao Yuan to the imperial camp. Seeing his troops exhausted and Pyongyang too strong to storm, Wenshu took the ruse for truth and turned back. Halfway across the river the enemy struck the rear. The army collapsed beyond control. The nine armies were ruined; in a day and a night they fled four hundred fifty li back to the Yalu. Three hundred five thousand had crossed the Liao; only twenty-seven hundred returned to Liaodong. The emperor in anger struck his name from the rolls. The next year, campaigning in Liaodong again, the emperor restored his titles and treated him as before. He followed to Liaodong and with Yang Yichen again brought the army to the Yalu. Yang Xuangan rebelled; the emperor summoned Wenshu to ride post relays and crush him. Xuangan was pressing the Eastern Capital; hearing Wenshu was coming, he fled west toward Guanzhong. Wenshu pursued with Wei Xuan, Lai Huer, Qutu Tong, and others. At Huangtian Plain in Wenxiang they overtook him, took his head, and sent it to the emperor's camp. He followed the eastern campaign again as far as Huaiyuan and returned.

突厥之圍雁門也，帝大懼，述請潰圍而出。來護兒及樊子蓋並固諫，帝乃止。及圍解，次太原，議者多勸帝還京師，帝有難色。述奏曰：「從官妻子多在東都，請便道向洛陽，自潼關入。」帝從之。尋至東都，又觀望帝意，勸幸江都宮。

When the Turks besieged Yanmen the emperor was terrified; Wenshu urged breaking out of the encirclement. Lai Huer and Fan Zigai strongly dissuaded him, and the emperor held back. After the siege lifted they halted at Taiyuan. Many urged a return to the capital, but the emperor looked troubled. Wenshu memorialized, "Your attendants' families are mostly in the Eastern Capital. Take the direct road to Luoyang and enter through Tong Pass. The emperor agreed. Soon after reaching the Eastern Capital he read the emperor's mood and urged the tour to the Jiangdu Palace.

雲定興者，附會於述。初，定興女為皇太子勇昭訓，及勇廢，除名配少府。定興先得昭訓明珠絡帷，私賂於述，自是數共交遊。定興每時節必有賂遺，並以音樂幹述。述素好著奇服，炫耀時人。定興為制馬韉，於後角上缺方三寸，以露白色，世輕薄者率仿學之，謂為許公缺勢。又遇天寒，定興曰：「入內宿衛，必當耳冷。」述曰：「然。」乃制夾頭巾，令深袹耳，人又學之，名為許公袹勢。述大悅曰：「雲兄所作，必能變俗。我聞作事可法，故不虛也。」後帝將事四夷，大造兵器，述薦之，因敕少府工匠並取其節度。述欲為之求官，謂之曰：「兄所制器仗併合上心，而不得官者，為長寧兄弟猶未死耳。」定興曰：「此無用物，何不勸上殺之？」述因奏曰：「房陵諸子，年並成立，今欲動兵征討，若將從駕，則守掌為難；若留一處，又恐不可。進退無用，請早處分。」因鳩殺長寧，又遣以下七弟分配嶺表，于路盡殺之。其年大閱，帝稱甲仗為佳，述奏並雲定興之功也。擢授少府丞。十一年，累遷屯衛大將軍。

Yun Dingxing was a man who curried favor with Wenshu. His daughter had been Lady Zhaoxun to Crown Prince Yong; when Yong was deposed she was struck from the rolls and sent to the Palace Workshop. Dingxing had obtained her pearl-net curtain and secretly bribed Wenshu with it; thereafter they often kept company. Every season brought gifts, and he also used music to win Wenshu's favor. Wenshu had always loved outlandish dress and dazzling the fashionable. Dingxing made him a saddlecloth with a three-inch square cut from the rear corner to show white lining; fops copied it and called it the Duke of Xu's gap. One cold day Dingxing said, "On night duty inside the palace your ears must freeze. Wenshu said, "True." He had a wrapped headcloth made deep enough to cover the ears; imitators called it the Duke of Xu's wrap. Wenshu was delighted. "Brother Yun's inventions are sure to change fashion. I have heard that what one does can set an example—so this is no empty boast. Later, when the emperor prepared campaigns against the four quarters and ordered vast armaments, Wenshu recommended him and put all Palace Workshop craftsmen under his direction. Wenshu wanted an office for him and said, "Your arms and gear suit the emperor perfectly, yet you cannot rise while the Changning brothers still live. Dingxing said, "They are useless—why not urge the emperor to kill them?" Wenshu memorialized, "The sons of Fangling are grown. If they follow the campaign train, guarding them will be hard; if one is left behind, that too is dangerous. They are useless either way—dispose of them soon. He poisoned Changning and sent the seven younger brothers into exile beyond the Ling ranges, killing them all on the road. At the grand review that year the emperor praised the armor; Wenshu credited Yun Dingxing. Dingxing was promoted to assistant director of the Palace Workshop. In year eleven he rose to grand general of the Garrison Guard.

又有趙行樞者，本太常樂戶，家財億計。述謂為兒，受其賂遺，稱為驍勇，起家為折沖郎將。

There was also Zhao Xingshu, once a musician of the Grand Sacrifices office, whose household wealth ran to hundreds of millions. Wenshu called him "son," took his bribes, praised his valor, and had him made a rapid-response colonel.

時李密據洛口，煬帝懼，留淮左，不敢還都。從駕驍果多關中人，久客羈旅，見帝無西還意，謀欲叛歸。時武賁郎將司馬德戡總領驍果，屯於東城，風聞兵士欲叛，未審，遣校尉元武達陰問知情，因謀構逆。共所善武賁郎將元禮、直閣裴虔通互相扇惑曰：「聞陛下欲築宮丹陽，人人並謀逃去。我欲言之，恐先事見誅。今知而不言，後事發當族，將如之何？」虔通曰：「主上實爾。」德戡又謂兩人曰：「我聞關中陷沒，李孝常以華陰叛，陛下囚其二弟，將盡殺之。吾輩家屬在西安，得無此慮？」虔通等曰：「正恐旦暮及誅，計無所出。」德戡曰：「驍果若走，可與俱去。」虔通等曰：「誠如公言。」因遞相招誘。又轉告內史舍人元敏、鷹揚郎將孟景、符璽郎牛方裕，直長許弘仁、薛世良、城門郎唐奉義、醫正張愷等，日夜聚博，約為刎頸交，言無回避，於坐中輒論叛計，並相然許。時李質在禁，令驍果守之，中外交通，所謀益急。又趙行樞先交智及；勳侍楊士覽者，宇文氏之甥。二人同以告智及。智及素狂勃，聞之喜，即共見德戡，期以三月十五日舉兵同叛，劫十二衛武馬，虜掠居人財物西歸。智及曰：「不然。今天實喪隋，英雄並起，因行大事，此帝王業也。」德戡然之。行樞、世良請以化及為主，約定，方告化及。化及性駑怯，初聞之，大懼，色動流汗，久之乃定。

Li Mi held Luokou; Emperor Yang, afraid, lingered south of the Huai and dared not return north. Many valiant guards following the emperor were Guanzhong men. Long away from home, seeing no sign the emperor would return west, they plotted to desert. Martial Guard General Sima Dekan commanded the valiant guards in the eastern city. Hearing rumors of mutiny, he sent Colonel Yuan Wuda to probe, then plotted treason. With his confederates Yuan Li and Pei Qiantong he whispered, "We hear the emperor will build a palace at Danyang—every man plans to run. If I speak first I may be killed for foreknowledge. Yet if I know and stay silent, when it breaks out my clan dies—what then? Qiantong said, "The emperor truly means it." Dekan added, "Guanzhong has fallen; Li Xiaochang rebelled at Huayin. The emperor imprisoned his brothers and will kill them all. Our families are in Xi'an—can we not fear the same? They said, "We fear execution any day—there is no plan." Dekan said, "If the guards flee, we flee with them." They agreed. They began recruiting one another. They drew in Yuan Min, Meng Jing, Niu Fangyu, Xu Hongren, Xue Shiliang, Tang Fengyi, Zhang Kai, and others—gambling nightly, swearing blood brotherhood, debating rebellion openly. Li Zhi was imprisoned under guard by the valiant guards; inside and outside the plot linked up and urgency grew. Zhao Xingshu was already close to Yu Zhi Ji; Meritorious Attendant Yang Shiguan was a Yuwen nephew. Both told Zhi Ji. Zhi Ji was rash and violent; delighted, he met Dekan and set the fifteenth of the third month to rebel, seize the twelve guards' horses, and plunder westward. Zhi Ji said, "No. Heaven has abandoned Sui; heroes rise—seize the moment. This is an emperor's venture. Dekan agreed. Xingshu and Shiliang proposed Huaji as leader; only when all agreed did they tell him. Huaji was dull and timid; at first he turned pale and sweated; only slowly did he steady himself.

義寧二年三月一日，德戡欲告眾人，恐心未一，更譎詐以脅驍果，謂許弘仁、張愷曰：「君是良醫，國家所使，出言惑眾，眾必信。君可入備身府，遍告所識者，言陛下聞驍果欲叛，多醖毒酒，因享會，盡鳩殺之，獨與南人留此。群情必駭，因而舉事，無不諧矣。」其月五日，弘仁等宣佈此言，驍果遞相告，謀反逾急。德戡等知計行，遂以十日總召故人，諭以所為。眾皆伏曰：「唯將軍命！」其夜，奉義主閉城門，門皆不下鑰，至夜三更。德戡於東城內集兵，得數萬人，舉火與城外相應。帝聞有聲，問是何事。虔通偽曰：「草坊被燒，外人救火，故喧囂耳。」中外隔絕，帝以為然。孟景、智及於城外得千餘人，劫候衛武賁馮普樂，共布兵捉郭下街巷。至五更，德戡授虔通兵，以換諸門衛士。虔通因自開門，領數百騎，至成象殿，殺將軍獨孤盛。武賁郎將元禮遂引兵進。宿衛者皆走。虔通進兵排左閤，馳入永巷問：「陛下安在？」有美人出房，指云：「在西閤。」從往執帝。帝謂虔通曰：「卿非我故人乎！何恨而反？」虔通曰：「臣不敢反，但將士思歸，奉陛下還京師耳。」帝曰：「即為汝歸。」虔通自勒兵守之。

On the first day of the third month, second year of Yining, Dekan feared the men were not united and tricked the guards, telling Xu Hongren and Zhang Kai, "You are trusted physicians—your words will be believed. Tell everyone the emperor heard the guards would rebel, brewed poisoned wine, and will poison them at a feast, keeping only southerners. Panic will spread—and the plot will succeed. On the fifth Hongren spread the tale; the guards whispered to one another and mutiny neared. Knowing the moment had come, on the tenth Dekan summoned his circle and told them the plan. All bowed and said, "We obey the general! That night Tang Fengyi kept the gates unbarred until the third watch. Dekan mustered tens of thousands in the eastern city and lit signal fires matching those outside. The emperor heard noise and asked what was happening. Qiantong lied, "Grass workshops are burning—men are fighting the fire, that is all the noise. Cut off from outside, the emperor believed him. Meng Jing and Zhi Ji outside gathered a thousand men, seized Feng Pule, and seized the streets below the wall. At the fifth watch Dekan gave Qiantong troops to replace the gate guards. Qiantong opened the gate himself, led hundreds of horsemen to the Hall of Completed Images, and killed General Dugu Sheng. Yuan Li advanced with his troops. The night guards fled. Qiantong drove into the Eternal Lane and cried, "Where is His Majesty? A palace woman pointed to the western wing. They seized the emperor. The emperor said, "Are you not my old friend! What grudge drives you to rebel? Qiantong said, "I dare not rebel—the soldiers long for home and would escort Your Majesty to the capital, that is all." The emperor said, "I will return at once for you." Qiantong kept troops guarding him.

至旦，孟景以甲騎迎化及。化及未知事果，戰慄不能言，人有謁之，但低頭據案，答曰「罪過」。時士及在公主第，弗之知也。智及遣家僮莊桃樹就第殺之，桃樹不忍，執詣智及，久之乃見釋。化及至城門，德戡迎謁，引入朝堂，號為丞相。令將帝出江都門以示群賊，因復將入。遣令狐行達弑帝于宮中。又執朝臣不同己者數十人，及諸王外戚，無少長皆害之。唯留秦孝王子浩，立以為帝。

At dawn Meng Jing met Huaji with armored cavalry. Huaji did not yet know the coup had succeeded; he trembled and could not speak; to visitors he only bowed over his desk and muttered "guilt." Shiji was at the princess's residence and knew nothing. Zhi Ji sent Zhuang Taoshu to kill Shiji; Taoshu could not bear to and brought him to Zhi Ji, who eventually spared him. At the city gate Dekan welcomed Huaji, led him to court, and hailed him Chancellor. He had the emperor shown at Jiangdu Gate to the rebel throng, then brought him back in. He sent Linghu Xingda to assassinate the emperor in the palace. He seized dozens of dissenting ministers and all princes and imperial kin without regard to age—and killed them all. Only Qin Xiaowang's son Hao was spared and set up as emperor.

十餘日，奪江都人舟楫，從水路西歸。至顯福宮，宿公麥孟才、折沖郎將沈光等謀擊化及，反為所害。化及於是入據六宮，其自奉一如煬帝故事。每帳中南面端坐，人有白事者，默然不對。下牙時，方收取啟狀。共奉義、方裕、世良、愷等參決之。行至徐州，水路不通，復奪人車牛，得二千兩，並載宮人珍寶。其戈甲戎器，悉令軍士負之。道遠疲極，三軍始怨。

After ten days they seized Jiangdu boats and sailed west. At Xianfu Palace Meng Cai and Shen Guang plotted against Huaji and were killed. Huaji then occupied the six palaces and lived like Emperor Yang. In his tent he sat facing south; when men reported affairs he answered not a word. Only after court did he collect the memorials. Fengyi, Fangyu, Shiliang, Kai, and others decided them jointly. At Xuzhou the waterways were blocked; they seized carts and oxen—two thousand teams—and loaded palace women and treasure. Weapons and armor the soldiers had to carry. The march wore on; at last the three armies murmured.

德戡失望，竊謂行樞曰：「君大誤我。當今撥亂，必藉英賢，化及庸暗，事將必敗，若何？」行樞曰：「廢之何難！」因共李孝本、宇文導師、尹正卿等謀，以後軍萬餘兵襲殺化及，立德戡為主。弘仁知之，密告化及，盡收德戡及支黨殺之。引兵向東郡，通守王軌以城降之。

Dekan, disappointed, whispered to Xingshu, "You misled me badly. To settle chaos one needs a hero; Huaji is dull—the venture will fail—what then? Xingshu said, "Deposing him is easy!" With Li Xiaoben, Yuwen Daoshi, Yin Zhengqing, and others they plotted to kill Huaji with the rear guard of ten thousand and make Dekan leader. Hongren learned of it and told Huaji, who seized Dekan and his party and killed them. He marched on Dong Commandery; Wang Gui surrendered the city.

元文都推越王侗為主，拜李密為太尉，令擊化及。密壁清淇，與徐世勣以烽火相應。化及數戰不利，其將軍于弘達為密所禽，送於侗所，鑊烹之。化及糧盡，度永濟渠，與密決戰於童山。遂入汲郡求軍糧，又遣使拷掠東郡人吏，責米粟。王軌怨之，以城歸李密。化及大懼，自汲郡將圖以北諸州。其將陳智略率嶺南驍果萬餘人，張童兒率江東驍果數千人，皆叛歸李密。化及尚有眾二萬，北走魏縣。張愷與其將陳伯謀去之，事覺，為化及所殺。腹心稍盡，兵勢日蹙，兄弟更無他計，但相聚酣宴，奏女樂。醉後，尤智及曰：「我初不知，由汝為計，強來立我。今所向無成，負弑主之名，天下所不納。滅族豈非由汝乎？」抱其兩子而泣。智及怒曰：「事捷之日，都不賜尤；及其將敗，乃欲歸罪。何不殺我以降建德！」兄弟數相鬥鬩，言無長幼，醒而復飲，以此為恆。

Yuan Wendu set up Prince Yue Tong and made Li Mi grand marshal to strike Huaji. Li Mi fortified Qingqi and matched beacon fires with Xu Shiji. Huaji lost battle after battle; Yu Hongda was captured and sent to Tong, where he was boiled alive. Provisions gone, Huaji crossed the Yongji Canal and fought Li Mi at Tong Mountain. He entered Ji Commandery for grain and sent men to torture Dong Commandery officials for rice. Wang Gui, resentful, surrendered the city to Li Mi. Terrified, Huaji planned to flee north from Ji Commandery. Chen Zhilue with ten thousand Lingnan guards and Zhang Tong'er with thousands of Jiangdong guards deserted to Li Mi. Huaji still had twenty thousand men and fled north to Wei County. Zhang Kai and Chen Bo plotted to desert; discovered, they were killed. Confidants dwindled, the army squeezed; the brothers could only drink deep and listen to women's music. Drunk he railed at Zhi Ji, "I never wanted this—you forced the throne on me. Now we gain nothing and bear the name of regicide—the realm will not have us. Our clan's destruction—is it not your fault? He embraced his two sons and wept. Zhi Ji raged, "When we won you gave me no credit; now we are failing you blame me. Why not kill me and surrender to Jian De! The brothers quarreled without regard to rank, drank again when sober—this became their habit.

自知必敗，乃歎曰：「人生故當死，豈不一日為帝乎！」於是鳩殺浩，僭皇帝位於魏縣，國號許，建元為天壽，置百官。攻元寶藏于魏州，反為所敗，乃東北趣聊城，將招攜海內諸賊。遣士及徇濟北，徵求餉饋。大唐遣淮安王神通安撫山東，神通圍之十餘日，不克而退。竇建德悉眾攻之。先是，齊州賊帥王薄聞其多寶物，詐來投附。化及信之，與共居守。至是，薄引建德入城，禽化及，悉虜其眾。先執智及、元武達、孟景、楊士覽、許弘仁等，皆斬之。及以檻車載化及至大陸縣城下，數其弑逆，並二子承基、承趾皆斬之，傳首於突厥義城公主，梟之虜庭。士及自濟北西歸長安。

Knowing defeat was certain, he sighed, "Men must die—why not be emperor for one day! He poisoned Hao, declared himself emperor at Wei County with state name Xu and era Heavenly Longevity, and set up the bureaucracy. He attacked Yuan Baocang at Wei Prefecture, was beaten, then fled northeast to Liaocheng to rally bandits nationwide. He sent Shiji to scour Jibei for supplies. Tang sent Prince Huai'an Li Shitong to pacify Shandong; Shitong besieged him ten days, failed, and withdrew. Dou Jiande attacked with his full force. Earlier Wang Bo of Qi, hearing of his treasure, feigned submission. Huaji trusted him and shared the defense. Then Bo let Jiande into the city; Huaji was seized and his army captured. First they seized Zhi Ji, Yuan Wuda, Meng Jing, Yang Shiguan, Xu Hongren, and others—and beheaded them. They caged Huaji beneath Dalu County, denounced his regicide, and beheaded his sons Chenggi and Chengzhi; the head was sent to Princess Yicheng of the Turks and exposed on the frontier. Shiji returned from Jibei to Chang'an.

智及幼頑凶，好與人群聚鬥雞，習放鷹狗。初以父功，賜爵濮陽郡公。蒸淫醜穢，無所不為。其妻長孫氏，妒而告述。述雖為隱，而大忿之，纖芥之愆，必加鞭棰。弟士及，恃尚主，又輕忽之。唯化及事事營護，父再三欲殺，輒救免之，由是頗相親昵。遂勸化及遣人入蕃，私為交易。事發，當誅，述獨證智及罪惡，而為化及請命，帝因兩釋之。述將死，抗表言其凶勃，必且破家。帝后思述，拜智及將作少監。其江都弑逆事，皆智及之謀也。化及為丞相，以為右僕射，領十二衛大將軍。及僭號，封齊王。竇建德獲而斬之，並其党十餘人，皆暴死梟首。

Zhi Ji from youth was violent, loved cockfighting, and trained hawks and hounds. Through his father's merit he was enfeoffed Duke of Puyang. His lusts were foul and unrestrained—there was no depravity he shunned. His wife, of the Changsun clan, jealous, reported him to Wenshu. Wenshu concealed it but was furious; the slightest fault brought the whip. His brother Shiji, married to a princess, looked down on him. Only Huaji protected him; their father several times meant to kill Zhi Ji but Huaji always saved him, and they grew close. He urged Huaji to send men beyond the frontier for private trade. When it was discovered they should have died; Wenshu alone testified to Zhi Ji's crimes yet pleaded for Huaji, and the emperor spared both. When Wenshu was dying he warned that Zhi Ji was violent and would destroy the clan. Later the emperor missed Wenshu and made Zhi Ji director of palace construction. The Jiangdu regicide was Zhi Ji's plot. As chancellor Huaji made him right vice minister and commander of the twelve guards. When Huaji usurped the throne he enfeoffed him Prince of Qi. Dou Jiande captured and beheaded him and more than ten of his party—all exposed headless.

司馬德戡，扶風雍人。父元謙，仕周為都督。德戡幼孤，以屠豕自給。有桑門釋粲，通德戡母娥氏，遂撫教之，因解書計。開皇中，為侍官，漸遷至大都督。從楊素出討漢王諒，充內營左右。進止便僻，俊辯多奸計，素大善之。以勳授儀同三司。大業三年，為鷹揚郎將。從討遼左，進位正議大夫，遷武賁郎將。煬帝甚昵之。從至江都，領左右備身驍果萬人，營於城內。因隋末大亂，乃率驍果反，語在化及事中。既獲煬帝，與党孟景等推化及為丞相。化及首封德戡為溫國公，加光祿大夫，仍統本兵。化及意甚忌之。後數日，化及署諸將，分配士卒，乃以德戡為禮部尚書，外示美遷，實奪其兵也。由是懷怨，所獲賞物皆賂于智及，智及為之言。行至徐州，舍舟登陸，令德戡將後軍。乃與趙行樞、李孝本、尹正卿、宇文導師等謀襲化及，遣人使于孟海公，結為外助。遷延未發，以待使報。許弘仁、張愷知之，以告化及。因遣其弟士及陽為遊獵，至於後軍。德戡不知事露，出營參謁，因命執之，並其黨與。化及責之曰：「與公戮力共定海內，出於萬死。今始事成，願得同守富貴，公又何為反也？」德戡曰：「本殺昏主，苦其毒害。立足下而又甚之，逼於物情，不獲已也。」化及不對，命送至幕下，縊而殺之。

Sima Dekan was from Yong in Fufeng. His father Yuanqian served Zhou as a commander. Orphaned young, Dekan made his living butchering pigs. Monk Shi Can knew his mother Lady E, raised and taught him, and he learned letters and reckoning. Under Kaihuang he was a palace attendant and rose to grand commander. Following Yang Su against Prince Han Liang, he served in the inner camp. Nimble in camp, eloquent and treacherous—Su favored him greatly. For merit he received protocol equal to the Three Excellencies. In Daye year three he was hawkish guard general. On the Liaodong campaign he rose to correct counselor and martial guard general. Emperor Yang favored him warmly. At Jiangdu he commanded ten thousand personal guard valiant troops encamped in the city. As Sui collapsed he led the valiant guards in rebellion—as told in the Huaji account. After seizing the emperor he and Meng Jing's faction made Huaji chancellor. Huaji first enfeoffed him Duke of Wen, made him grand master for splendid happiness, and left him his troops. Huaji deeply feared him. Days later Huaji reassigned commanders, made Dekan minister of rites—a fine title that stripped him of troops. Resentful, he bribed Zhi Ji with his rewards, and Zhi Ji spoke for him. At Xuzhou they left the boats and put Dekan in charge of the rear. With Zhao Xingshu, Li Xiaoben, Yin Zhengqing, Yuwen Daoshi, and others he plotted to strike Huaji and sent to Meng Haigong for aid. They delayed, awaiting the envoy's reply. Xu Hongren and Zhang Kai learned of it and told Huaji. He sent his brother Shiji under pretense of hunting to the rear army. Dekan, not knowing it was exposed, came out to pay respects and was seized with his party. Huaji reproached him, "We strove through ten thousand deaths to settle the realm. Now we have just won and I wished to share fortune—why rebel again? Dekan said, "We killed the tyrant because of his poison. Now you are worse—driven by circumstance I had no choice. Huaji made no answer and had him strangled below the tent.

王世充，字行滿，本西域胡人也。祖支頹褥，徙居新豐。頹褥死，其妻少寡，與儀同王粲野合，生子曰瓊，粲遂納之以為小妻。其父收幼孤，隨母嫁粲，粲愛而養焉，因姓王氏。官至懷、汴二州長史。

Wang Shichong, courtesy name Xingman, was originally a Hu from the Western Regions. His grandfather Zhi Tuilu moved to Xinfeng. Tuilu died; his young widow lay with palace companion Wang Can and bore a son Qiong; Can took her as concubine. His father was raised by Can after the marriage and took the surname Wang. He rose to long administrator of Huai and Bian prefectures.

世充捲髮豺聲，沉猜多詭詐，頗窺書傳，尤好兵法，曉龜策推步盈虛，然未嘗為人言也。開皇中，為左翊衛，後以軍功拜儀同，授兵部員外郎。善敷奏，明習法律，而舞弄文墨，高下在心。或有駁難之者，世充利口飾非，辭義鋒起，從雖知其否而莫能屈，稱為明辯。

Shichong had curly hair and a harsh voice, was deep and treacherous, read widely especially in military arts and divination, yet never spoke of it. Under Kaihuang he was left wing guard; later by military merit he became palace companion and war ministry aide. He excelled at memorials and knew law, yet twisted documents to his will. When challenged he talked his way out with a sharp tongue; men knew he was wrong yet could not refute him and called him eloquent.

煬帝世，累遷至江都郡丞。時帝數幸江都，世充善候人主顏色，阿諛順旨，每入言事，帝善之。又以郡丞領江都宮監，乃雕飾池台，陰奏遠方珍物，以媚於帝，由是益昵之。大業八年，隋始亂，世充內懷徼幸，卑身禮士，陰結豪俊，多收眾心。江淮間人素輕薄，又屬賊盜群起，人多犯法，有系獄抵罪者，世充枉法出之，以樹私恩。及楊玄感反，吳人硃燮、晉陵人管崇起兵江南以應之，自稱將軍，擁眾十餘萬。帝遣將軍吐萬緒、魚俱羅討之，不能克。世充募江都萬餘人，擊頻破之。每有克捷，必歸功於下，所獲軍實，皆推與士卒，身無所取。由此人爭為用，功最居多。

Under Emperor Yang he rose to Jiangdu commandery aide. The emperor often visited Jiangdu; Shichong watched his mood, flattered him, and pleased him whenever he spoke. As commandery aide he oversaw the Jiangdu palace, adorned pools and terraces, and sent rare tribute to win favor. In Daye eight, as Sui collapsed, Shichong courted fortune, humbled himself before scholars, and secretly won heroes' hearts. Jiang-Huai men were frivolous; as bandits rose he illegally freed prisoners to buy loyalty. When Yang Xuangan rebelled, Zhu Xie of Wu and Guan Chong of Jinjing raised Jiangnan with over a hundred thousand men. The emperor sent Tu Wanxu and Yu Juluo; they could not win. Shichong raised ten thousand Jiangdu men and repeatedly defeated them. He always credited subordinates and gave all booty to the troops, keeping nothing. Men vied to serve him; his victories were the greatest.

十年，齊郡賊帥孟讓自長白山寇掠諸郡，至盱眙，有眾十餘萬。世充以兵拒之，而羸師示弱，保都梁山為五柵，相持不戰。後因其懈馳，出兵奮擊，大破之，乘勝盡滅諸賊，讓以數十騎遁去，斬首萬人，六畜軍資，莫不盡獲。帝以世充有將帥才略，始遣領兵，討諸小盜，所向破之。然性多矯偽，詐為善，能自勤苦，以求聲譽。十一年，突厥圍帝於雁門，世充盡發江都人往赴難。在軍中，垢面悲泣，曉夜不解甲，藉草而坐。帝聞之，以為愛己，益信任之。

In year ten Meng Rang of Qi from Changbai raided the commanderies to Xuyi with a hundred thousand men. Shichong resisted but feigned weakness, holding Mount Liangshan in five camps without fighting. When they slackened he struck, routed them, destroyed the bandits; Rang fled with dozens of horsemen; ten thousand heads fell and all booty was taken. Seeing his talent, the emperor sent him against lesser bandits and he broke them wherever he went. Yet he was pretentious, feigned virtue, and toiled publicly for reputation. In year eleven, when Turks besieged Yanmen, he mustered all Jiangdu to the rescue. In camp he wept with a filthy face, never removing armor, sitting on straw. The emperor thought this showed devotion and trusted him more.

十二年，遷為江都通守。時厭次人格謙為盜數年，兵十餘萬，在豆子<鹵亢>中。世充破斬之，威振群賊。又擊盧明月，破之於南陽。後還江都，帝大悅，自執杯酒以賜之。時世充又知帝好內，乃言江淮良家多有美女，願備後庭，無由自進。帝愈喜，因密令世充閱觀諸女，資質端麗合法相者，取正庫及應入京物以聘納之。所用不可勝計，帳上所司雲敕別用，不顯其實。有合意者，則厚賞世充，或不中者，又以賚之。後令以船送東京，而道路賊起，使者苦役，于淮泗中沉船溺殺之者，前後十數。或有髮露，世充為秘之，又遽簡閱以供進。是後益見親昵。遇李密攻陷興洛倉，進逼東都，官軍數敗，光祿大夫裴仁基以武牢降於密。帝惡之，大發兵，將討焉。特發中詔遣世充為將，軍於洛口以拒密。前後百餘戰，互有勝負。世充乃引軍度洛水，逼倉城。李密與戰。世充敗績，赴水溺死者萬餘人。時天寒，大雨雪，兵既度水，衣皆沾濕，在道凍死者又數萬人，比至河陽，才以千數。世充自系獄請罪，越王侗遣使赦之，召令還都。收合亡散，屯於含嘉城中，不敢復出。

In year twelve he became Jiangdu transit governor. Ge Qian of Yanci had been a bandit for years with a hundred thousand men in the Douzi marshes. Shichong defeated and killed him, shaking the bandits. He defeated Lu Mingyue at Nanyang. Returning to Jiangdu the emperor himself gave him a cup of wine. Knowing the emperor loved women, he said Jiang-Huai had many beauties for the rear court but he could not present them himself. The emperor secretly ordered him to select women of fine looks and betroth them with treasury goods. The cost was beyond counting; accounts were hidden under separate imperial orders. If the emperor was pleased he richly rewarded Shichong; if not, he still gave him gifts. They were to be sent by boat to the Eastern Capital; bandits blocked the roads; envoys drowned women in the Huai and Si—more than ten such cases. When exposed Shichong concealed it and hurried more women forward. After this he grew still more intimate. Li Mi took Xingluo Granary and pressed the Eastern Capital; government troops were repeatedly beaten; Pei Renji surrendered Wulao to Mi. The emperor, angered, mobilized a great army to strike him. A secret edict sent Shichong as general to camp at Luokou and hold Li Mi. They fought more than a hundred battles, each side winning some. Shichong crossed the Luo and pressed the granary city. Li Mi gave battle. Shichong was routed; more than ten thousand drowned in the river. It was bitter cold with rain and snow; clothes froze on their backs and tens of thousands died on the march—only a thousand reached Heyang. Shichong bound himself and asked punishment; Prince Yue Tong pardoned him and recalled him to the capital. He gathered the survivors, held Hancheng, and dared not venture out.

宇文化及殺帝于江都，世充與太府卿元文都、將軍皇甫無逸、右司郎盧楚奉侗為主。侗以世充為吏部尚書，封鄭國公。及侗用元文都、盧楚之謀，拜李密為太尉、尚書令，密遂稱臣，復以兵拒化及于黎陽，遣使獻捷。眾皆悅，世充獨謂其麾下諸將曰：「文都之輩，刀筆吏耳。吾觀其勢，必為李密所禽。且吾軍人馬每與密戰，殺其父兄子弟，前後已多，一旦為之下，吾屬無類矣。」出此言以激怒其眾。文都知而大懼，與楚等謀，將因世充入內，伏甲而殺之。期有日矣，將軍段達遣女婿張志以楚等謀告之。世充夜勒兵圍宮城，將軍費曜、田世闍等與戰於東太陽門外。曜軍敗，世充遂攻門而入。無逸以單騎遁走。獲楚，殺之。時宮門尚閉，世充遣人扣門言於侗曰：「元文都等欲執皇帝降于李密，段達知而以告臣。臣非敢反，誅反者耳。」文都聞變，入奉侗于乾陽殿，陳兵衛之。令將帥乘城以拒難，兵敗，侗命開門以納世充。世充悉遣人代宿衛者，明日入謁，頓首流涕而言曰：「文都等無狀，謀相屠害，事急為此，不敢背國。」侗與之盟。世充尋遣韋節等諷侗，命拜為尚書左僕射、總督內外諸軍事。又授其兄惲為內史令，入居禁中。未幾，李密破化及還，其勁兵良馬多戰死，士卒皆倦。世充欲乘其弊而擊之，恐人心不一，乃假託鬼神，言夢見周公，乃立祠于洛水之上，遣巫宣言周公欲令僕射急討李密，當有大功，不則兵皆疫死。世充兵多楚人，俗信妖妄，故出此言以惑之。眾皆請戰，世充簡練精勇得二萬餘人，馬千餘匹，營洛水南。密軍偃師北山上，時密新得志於化及，有輕世充之心，不設壁壘。世充遣二百餘騎，潛入北山，伏溪穀中，令軍秣馬蓐食。既而宵濟，人馬賓士，比明而薄密。密出兵應之，陣未成列而兩軍合戰，其伏兵蔽山而上，潛登北原，乘高而下，壓密營。營中亂，無能拒者，即入縱火。密軍大驚而潰，降其將張童兒、陳智略。進下偃師。初，世充兄偉及子玄應隋化及至東郡，密得而囚之於城中。至是，盡獲之。又執密長史邴元真妻子、司馬鄭虔象之母及諸將子弟，皆撫慰之，各令潛呼其父兄。兵次洛口，元真、鄭虔象等舉倉城以應之。密以數十騎遁逸，世充收其眾而還。東盡于海，南至於江，悉來歸附。

When Huaji killed the emperor at Jiangdu, Shichong with Yuan Wendu, Huangfu Wuyi, and Lu Chu set up Prince Yue Tong. Tong made Shichong minister of personnel and enfeoffed him Duke of Zheng. Tong followed Wendu and Lu Chu's plan to make Li Mi grand marshal; Mi submitted, fought Huaji at Liyang, and sent victory reports. All rejoiced; Shichong alone told his generals, "Wendu's crowd are mere clerks. I see they will fall to Li Mi. Our men have killed Mi's kin in battle after battle; if we bow to him we are finished. He said this to inflame his troops. Wendu, terrified, plotted with Chu to ambush Shichong in the palace. The day was set; Duan Da's son-in-law Zhang Zhi revealed the plot. Shichong by night surrounded the palace; Fei Yao and Tian Shikan fought him at the East Sun Gate. Yao was beaten and Shichong broke in. Wuyi fled alone on horseback. They seized Chu and killed him. The gates were still shut; Shichong sent word to Tong, "Wendu meant to hand you to Li Mi; Duan Da warned me. I do not rebel—I kill rebels, that is all. Wendu heard and brought Tong to Qianyang Hall under guard. He ordered the walls held; when troops failed Tong opened the gates to Shichong. Shichong replaced the guards; next day he knelt weeping, "Wendu plotted murder in urgency—I could not betray the state. Tong made peace with him. Shichong had Wei Jie urge Tong to make him left vice minister and supreme commander. He made his brother Yun interior secretary and moved into the palace. Soon Li Mi defeated Huaji and returned, his best troops dead and his men exhausted. Shichong wished to strike but feared disunity; he feigned a dream of the Duke of Zhou, built a shrine on the Luo, and had shamans say the duke demanded an attack on Li Mi or the army would perish of plague. His troops were mostly Chu men who believed in omens—so he deceived them. All clamored for battle; he picked twenty thousand elite and a thousand horses and camped south of the Luo. Li Mi camped on the northern hills at Yanshi, fresh from victory over Huaji, despising Shichong and building no ramparts. Shichong sent two hundred horsemen to hide in the northern hills and valleys and ordered the army to feed horses and sleep rough. At night they crossed; by dawn they were upon Li Mi. Li Mi met them before his lines were formed; the ambush climbed the heights and fell on the camp. The camp collapsed; they entered and set fires. Li Mi's army broke; Zhang Tong'er and Chen Zhilue surrendered. They took Yanshi. Shichong's brother Wei and son Xuanying had been taken prisoner in the city. Now they were recovered. They seized the families of Bing Yuanzhen, Zheng Qianxiang, and other officers, comforted them, and had them call their kin. At Luokou Yuanzhen and Zheng Qianxiang opened the granary city to him. Li Mi fled with a few dozen horsemen; Shichong gathered the army and returned. From the sea to the south all submitted.

世充又令韋節諷侗，拜己為太尉，置署官屬，以尚書省為其府。尋自稱鄭王，遣其將高略帥師攻壽安，不利而旋。又帥師攻圍穀州，三日而退。明年，自稱相國，受九錫，備法物，是後不朝侗矣。有道士桓法嗣者，自言解圖讖，世充昵之。法嗣乃上《孔子閉房記》，畫作丈夫持一干以驅羊。法嗣云：「楊，隋姓也。幹一者，王字也。王居楊後，明相國代隋為帝也。」又取《莊子人間世》、《德充符》二篇上之，法嗣釋曰：「上篇言世，下篇言充，此則相國名矣。當德被人間，而應符命為天子也。」世充大悅曰：「此天命也。」再拜受之。即以法嗣為諫議大夫。世充又羅取雜鳥，書帛系其頸，自言符命而散之於空。或有彈射得鳥而來獻者，亦拜官爵。既而廢侗，陰殺之，僭即皇帝位，建元曰開明，國號鄭。

Shichong had Wei Jie urge Tong to make him grand marshal and take the Masters Ministry as his headquarters. He declared himself King of Zheng and sent Gao Lue against Shou'an without success. He besieged Gu Prefecture three days and withdrew. The next year he made himself chancellor, received the Nine Bestowals, and ceased attending Prince Tong. The Daoist Huan Fasi claimed to read prophecies; Shichong favored him. Fasi presented the Record of Confucius Closing the Chamber, showing a man with a pole driving sheep. Fasi said, "Yang is the Sui surname. Gan-yi is the character for wang—king. Wang after Yang means the chancellor replaces Sui as emperor. He cited Zhuangzi's "Human World" and "Seal of Virtue"—shi and chong, he said, spelled the chancellor's name. His virtue would fill the world and he would answer heaven's mandate. Shichong was delighted. "This is Heaven's command." He bowed twice and accepted it. He made Fasi remonstrance and counsel. He tied prophecy silk to birds' necks and released them. Those who shot down a bird and brought it were also rewarded with office. He deposed Tong, killed him secretly, seized the throne with era Kaiming and state name Zheng.

大唐太宗帥師圍之。世充頻出兵，戰輒不利，諸城相繼降款。世充窘迫，遣使請救于竇建德，建德率兵援之。至武牢，太宗破之，禽建德以詣城下。世充將潰圍而出，諸將莫有應之者，於是出降。至長安，為仇家所殺。

Tang's Prince of Qin besieged him. Shichong sallied again and again and lost; cities surrendered one after another. Desperate, he begged Dou Jiande for aid; Jiande marched to help. At Wulao the Prince of Qin defeated Jiande and brought him before the walls. Shichong meant to break out; no general would follow—he surrendered. At Chang'an an enemy clan killed him.

段達，武威姑臧人。父岩，周朔州刺史。達在周，年始三歲，襲爵襄坦縣公。及長，身長八尺，美須髯，便弓馬。隋文帝為丞相，以為大都督，領親信兵，常置左右。及踐祚，為左直齋，遷車騎將軍，督晉王府軍事。以擊高智慧功，授上儀同。又破汪文進等，加開府。仁壽初，為太子左衛副率。大業初，以籓邸之舊，拜左翊衛將軍。從征吐谷渾，進位金紫光祿大夫。帝征遼東，平原郝孝德、清河張金稱等並起為盜，帝令達擊之，數為金稱等所挫，諸賊輕之，號為段姥。後用鄃令楊善會謀，更與賊戰，方致克捷。還京師，以公事坐免。明年，帝征遼東，使達留守涿郡。俄復拜左翊衛將軍。高陽魏刀兒聚眾，自號曆山飛，寇掠燕、趙。達率涿郡通守郭絢擊敗之。時盜賊既多，達不能因機決勝，唯持重自守，時人皆謂之為怯懦。

Duan Da was from Guzang in Wuwei. His father Yan was inspector of Shuozhou under Zhou. In Zhou he inherited the title Duke of Xiangtan at age three. Grown tall with a fine beard, he was expert with bow and horse. When Wen of Sui was chancellor he made Da grand commander of his personal guard. At enthronement he was left direct guard, then cavalry general supervising the Jin prince's forces. For defeating Gao Zhihui he received upper palace companion rank. Defeating Wang Wenjin and others won him an independent staff. At Renshou he was the crown prince's left guard deputy. At Daye, through old ties to the prince, he became left wing guard general. On the Tuyuhun campaign he rose to grand master for splendid happiness with the golden purple seal. On the Liaodong campaign bandits rose; Da was sent against them, was repeatedly beaten by Zhang Jincheng, and the bandits mocked him as Old Mother Duan. Using Yang Shanhui's plan he finally won. Back in the capital he was dismissed for an official offense. The next year he was left to guard Zhuo Commandery during the Liaodong campaign. Soon he was again made left wing guard general. Wei Dao'er of Gaoyang gathered a host, styled himself Flying over the Mountains, and raided Yan and Zhao. Da with Guo Xuan defeated him. Bandits were everywhere; Da would not risk battle and only held his ground—men called him cowardly.

十二年，帝幸江都宮，詔達與太府卿元文都等留守東都。李密縱兵侵掠城下，達與監門郎將龐玉、武牙郎將霍世舉禦之，以功遷左驍衛大將軍。王世充之敗也，密進據北芒，來薄上春門，達與判戶部尚書韋津拒之。達見賊，不陣而走，軍大潰，津沒於密。

In year twelve the emperor went to Jiangdu and left Da with Yuan Wendu to guard the Eastern Capital. Li Mi raided the walls; Da with Pang Yu and Huo Shiju held the city and was made left valiant cavalry grand general. When Shichong fell, Li Mi held Beimang and pressed Shangchun Gate; Da with Wei Jin resisted. Da saw the enemy and fled without forming ranks; the army collapsed and Wei Jin died.

及帝崩于江都，達與文都等推越王侗為主，署開府儀同三司，兼納言，陳國公。元文都等之謀誅王世充，達預焉。既而陰告世充，達為之內應。及事發，迫越王送文都於世充，世充甚德于達。既破李密，諷越王禪讓。世充僭號，以達為司徒。及東都平，坐斬，妻子籍沒。

When the emperor died at Jiangdu, Da helped set up Prince Yue Tong as grand master with protocol equal to three offices and chief speaker, Duke of Chen. Da took part in Wendu's plot to kill Shichong. Then he secretly informed Shichong and became his inside man. When it broke out he forced the prince to hand Wendu to Shichong, who was deeply grateful. After defeating Li Mi he urged the prince to abdicate. When Shichong usurped the throne he made Da minister of education. When the Eastern Capital fell he was beheaded and his family confiscated.

論曰：宇文述便辟足恭，柔顏取悅。君所謂可，亦曰可焉，君所謂不，亦曰不焉。無所是非，不能輕重，默默苟容，偷安高位，甘素餐之責，受彼己之譏。此固君子所不為，亦丘明之深恥。化及以此下才，負恩累葉。時逢崩拆，不能竭命，乃因利乘便，先圖幹紀，率群不逞，職為亂階，擾本塞源，裂冠毀冕。釁深指鹿，事切食蹯，天地所不容，人神所同憤矣，世充頭筲小器，遭逢時幸，與蒙獎擢，禮越舊臣。而躬為戎首，親行鳩毒。竟而蛇豕丑類，繼踵誅夷，梟獍凶魁，相尋菹戮。垂炯戒于來葉，快忠義于當年，為人臣者，可無殷鑒哉！

The historian comments: Yu Wenshu was obsequious and fawning, ever softening his face to please. Whatever the ruler approved he approved; whatever the ruler rejected he rejected. He stood for nothing, weighed nothing, silently clung to office, stole ease in high rank, accepted the shame of an empty salary, and earned the scorn of others. Such conduct a gentleman will not abide; it is what Qiu Ming held in deepest shame. Huaji, a man of low talent, betrayed favors heaped on his house for generations. When the dynasty crumbled he would not give his life; he seized opportunity, plotted first against order, led the lawless as the vanguard of rebellion, upended root and source, and rent crown and regalia. His crime was as deep as calling a deer a horse, as vile as devouring human flesh—intolerable to Heaven and Earth, detested by men and spirits alike. Shichong was a petty man of small measure who, meeting a lucky hour, was raised and honored above veteran ministers. Yet he himself led the armies and with his own hands wrought murder by poison. In the end such snake-and-swine villains were cut down one after another, and such owl-and-bear chiefs butchered in turn. They leave a bright warning to later ages and gave joy to the loyal in their own day—let any who serve as ministers take this stern mirror to heart!

Cite this Chapter