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陳書卷十
Book of Chen, Volume 10
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列傳第四
Biographies, Part Four
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Zhou Tiehu; Cheng Lingxi; son Wenji
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Zhou Tiehu came from no known place. Under Liang he crossed south with the migration. He spoke with a heavy northern accent, had uncommon strength, and fought well from horseback with the spear. He served Liang's Prince of Hedong, Xiao Yu, and won a name for bravery. Yu commissioned him military adjutant in the princely staff. When Yu became inspector of Guangzhou, he made Tiehu magistrate of Xingning. When Yu moved to Xiangzhou, Tiehu was again made magistrate of Linzheng. During Hou Jing's rebellion, Emperor Yuan of Liang at Jingzhou sent his heir Fangdeng to replace Yu and marched troops against him. Yu fought back and won a crushing victory. Fangdeng was killed. Tiehu's merit stood first, and Yu relied on him ever more heavily. When Wang Sengbian attacked Yu, he took Tiehu on the field. Sengbian ordered him boiled alive. Tiehu shouted, "Hou Jing is not yet destroyed—why kill a fighting man?" Sengbian was struck by his words, spared him, and returned him to his troops.
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When Hou Jing marched west, Tiehu followed Sengbian against Ren Yue, took Song Zixian prisoner, and earned merit in every fight. Under Emperor Yuan's provisional commission he was made general of benevolent prestige and inspector of Tongzhou, and enfeoffed as Viscount of Dunyang with three hundred households. He again followed Sengbian in recovering the capital, took Xie Daren's surrender, and pacified Lu Na in Xiangzhou. In the second year of Chengsheng (553), for repeated battle honors he was raised to marquis, his fief brought to five hundred households in all. He was then made scattered-cavalry regular attendant and concurrently administrator of Xinyi, retaining his general's rank. When the Founder killed Sengbian, Tiehu surrendered with his command and was restored to his former post.
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Xu Sihui brought Qi troops across the Yangzi. At Banqiao Ford Tiehu shattered their fleet and seized their armor, weapons, and vessels entire. He attacked Liyang, struck the Qi army's foot camps, and won every engagement. After Sihui was suppressed, in the second year of Shaotai (556) he was made scattered-cavalry regular attendant, stern-prestige general, and left defender of the heir.
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又隨文育西征王琳，於沌口敗績，鐵虎與文育、侯安都嵭為琳所擒。 琳引見諸將，與之語，唯鐵虎辭氣不屈，故琳盡宥文育之徒，獨鐵虎見害，時年四十九。 高祖聞之，下詔曰：「天地之寶，所貴曰生，形魄之徒，所重唯命。 至如捐生立節，刋命酬恩，追遠懷昔，信宜加等。 散騎常侍、嚴威將軍、太子左衛率、潼州刺史、領信義太守沌陽縣開國侯鐵虎，器局沈厚，風力勇壯，北討南征，竭忠盡力。 推鋒江夏，致陷凶徒，神氣彌雄，肆言無撓。 豈直溫序見害，方其理鬚，龐德臨危，猶能瞋目。 忠貞如此，惻愴兼深，可贈侍中、護軍將軍、青冀二州刺史，加封一千戶，赠給鼓吹一部，侯如故。」 天嘉五年，世祖又詔曰：「漢室功臣，形寫宮觀，魏朝猛將，名配宗祧，功烈所以長存，世代因之不朽。 故侍中、護軍將軍、青冀二州刺史沌陽縣開國侯鐵虎，誠節梗亮，力用雄敢，王業初基，行閒累及，垂翅賊壘，正色寇庭，古之遺烈，有識同壯。 隕身不屈，雖隆榮等，營魂易遠，言追嘉惜。 宜仰陪壖寢，恭頒饗奠，可配食高祖廟庭。」 子瑜嗣。
He marched west again with Wenyü against Wang Lin. At Dankou the army was broken, and Tiehu, Wenyü, and Hou Andu were all captured. Lin called the generals before him. Only Tiehu answered without bending. Lin spared Wenyü and the rest but put Tiehu to death. He was forty-nine. When the Founder heard, he issued an edict: "Heaven and earth treasure life above all; among mortal men nothing weighs like a single fate. To throw away life for principle and spend one's last breath repaying grace—when the court looks back on such men, honor must rise by degrees. Scattered-cavalry regular attendant, stern-prestige general, left defender of the heir, inspector of Tongzhou, administrator of Xinyi, and Marquis of Dunyang, Tiehu—deep of bearing, fierce in the field—fought north and south until loyalty and strength were spent. He led the charge at Jiangxia and fell into the rebels' hands. His spirit only hardened; he spoke plainly and would not yield. Was this not Wen Xu at his death, stroking his beard, or Pang De at the end still glaring in wrath? Constancy such as this stirs the deepest grief. Let him be posthumously palace attendant, general who protects the army, and inspector of Qing and Ji; add one thousand households to his fief; grant a suite of war drums; let his marquisate stand as before." In the fifth year of Tianjia (564), Emperor Wen again decreed: "Han worthies were painted in the palace; Wei champions were named in the ancestral shrine—so merit lives on and ages do not forget. The late palace attendant, general who protects the army, inspector of Qing and Ji, and Marquis of Dunyang, Tiehu—upright in loyalty, bold in battle—was caught when the dynasty was young, yet in the rebels' camp he kept his color before the foe, a hero of old days whom all who knew him admired. He died unbowed. Though honors were piled on him, his spirit is far; the court speaks only praise and regret. Let him attend the Founder's mound and receive sacrifice with reverence, and share offerings in the Founder's temple." His son Yu succeeded.
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At that time Ma Ming of Xuyi, styled Shilang, had served under Liang the Prince of Poyang, Xiao Fan. In Hou Jing's rebellion he held Lujiang's eastern border and held the rebels at bay at the Lincheng stockade. Emperor Yuan made him scattered-cavalry regular attendant, general who pacifies the north, inspector of Beixi, and concurrently administrator of Lujiang. When Jingzhou fell he submitted to the Founder. In the Shaotai era his offices were restored and he was enfeoffed Marquis of Xihua with two thousand households. He too followed Wenyü west against Wang Lin. At Dankou the army was broken; Ming fought to the death. He was posthumously given the staff of authority, made general who pacifies the west, and inspector of Yingzhou.
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Cheng Lingxi, styled Xuandi, was a native of Haining in Xin'an. From youth he was known for strength and daring. On foot he could cover more than two hundred li in a day; he rode and swam with ease. At the end of Liang, Haining, Yi, She, and the borderlands of Poyang and Xuancheng were thick with bandits, and neighboring counties suffered. Lingxi had long been feared in his home country. Magistrates before and after him constantly had him raise young men to hunt down brigands.
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In Hou Jing's rebellion Lingxi gathered followers and held Yi and She against Jing. Jing's army held Xin'an. The administrator, Marquis of Xiangxi village Xiao Yin, fled to Lingxi, who took him as head of the alliance. Emperor Yuan of Liang at Jingzhou took provisional authority; Lingxi also sent envoys by secret paths to present memorials. Liu Shenmao raised arms at Dongyang against the rebels. Lingxi took Xin'an and acted in concert with him. Emperor Yuan gave him the staff, made him regular attendant of direct communication and commander of all forces in Xin'an, cloud-banner general and inspector of Qiao with credentials, administrator of Xin'an, and Marquis of Baqiu with five hundred households. Shenmao was defeated by Jing. Jing's lieutenant Lü Zirong pressed Xin'an; Lingxi fell back to Yi and She. When Jing fell, Zirong withdrew and Lingxi recovered Xin'an. He advanced on Jiande and captured the rebel chief Zhao Sanggan. For merit he received the staff, was made scattered-cavalry regular attendant, commander of Qing and Ji, and inspector of Qing; his fief rose to one thousand households in all; he kept his general's rank and the administration.
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He was then ordered to lead his command to Yangzhou to help Wang Sengbian hold the garrison. He was named administrator of Wuxing, but before he went Sengbian sent him with Hou Tian west to relieve Jingzhou. Jingzhou fell and he returned to the capital. When the Founder killed Sengbian, Lingxi marched to his aid. His men fought hard at Shitou's western gate. [1] The battle went against them. Messengers were sent to summon and persuade him; only after long delay did he yield. The Founder held his conduct in high esteem. In the first year of Shaotai (555) he received the staff, was made trustworthy-martial general and administrator of Lanling, retaining his attendant post, to help defend Jingkou. When Xu Sihui was suppressed Lingxi earned merit. He was made administrator of South Danyang, enfeoffed Marquis of Suian, his fief brought to one thousand five hundred households in all, and continued to hold Caishi.
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He followed Zhou Wenyü west against Wang Lin. At Dankou the army was broken and Lin held him prisoner. The next year he escaped back with Hou Andu and the rest. He was concurrently administrator of Danyang, then went out as administrator of Gaotang and Taiyuan and still held Nanling. He was transferred to left defender of the heir. When the Founder died, Wang Lin's vanguard marched east. Lingxi broke it at Nanling, took its troops prisoner, and seized more than ten green-dragon coaches. For merit he received the staff and was made commander of South Yuzhou's river frontier forces, trustworthy-martial general, and inspector of South Yuzhou. Hou Tian and others defeated Wang Lin at Zhakou. Lingxi pressed the rout and took Lushan. He was recalled as left guard general; [2] all else unchanged.
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In the fourth year of Tianjia (563) Zhou Di raided Linchuan again. Lingxi was made commander and, marching from Poyang by a separate route, drove Di back into the hills. In the fifth year he was made central protector of the army, retaining his attendant rank. He went out with the staff as commander of Ying, Ba, and Wu, manifest-resolution general, and inspector of Ying. When the Deposed Emperor came to the throne his title was raised to cloud-banner general.
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When Hua Jiao rebelled he sent envoys to win Lingxi over. Lingxi killed Jiao's messengers and reported it. The court praised his loyalty, reinforced his defenses, granted a suite of war drums, and treated him with full trust, putting his son Wenji in charge of the river force to help hold the post. Zhou then sent its general the Duke of Changhu, Tuoba Ding, with twenty thousand foot and horse to help Jiao besiege Lingxi. Lingxi shut the walls and held. When Jiao withdrew, Lingxi marched out and pursued Ding. Ding could not cross the river and surrendered with his army. He then attacked Zhou's Mian province, took it, and captured its inspector Pei Kuan. For merit his title rose to pacifying-west general; he was re-enfeoffed Duke of Chong'an; his fief reached two thousand households in all.
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Lingxi was harsh by nature and ruled his men with iron severity. Small faults brought military execution; idle moments brought the lash. Yet his orders were clear, he shared hardship with the ranks, and the troops clung to him for it. He loved to plant and worked the fields himself. What suited wet land or dry, when to cut and when to gather—veteran farmers could not match him. His concubines had no idle hands; all were set to spin and weave. When he spent, he did not count small coins. In the second year of Guangda (568) he died in office, aged fifty-five. He was posthumously made garrisoning-west general and opener of an office equal to the three dukes, with the posthumous name Zhongzhuang. In the fourth year of Taijian (572) an edict ordered him to share offerings in the Founder's temple. His son Wenji succeeded.
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Wenji, styled Shaoqing. From boyhood he trained in riding and archery, had his father's resource, and was resolute in his father's mold. At twenty he followed Lingxi on campaign and was always first over the wall and into the breach. When Lingxi, Wenyü, and Hou Andu were beaten at Dankou and held by Wang Lin, the Founder summoned the sons of captured generals and treated them well. Wenji bore himself best and won the Founder's deep regard. In the Yongding era he rose through regular attendant of direct communication to magistrate of Jurong.
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When Emperor Wen succeeded, he was made central straight military adjutant in the establishment of the Manifest Favor Prince of Shixing. The prince was then inspector of Yangzhou, holding Yecheng; all military business of the staff was placed in Wenji's hands.
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In the second year of Tianjia (561) he was made steadfast-resolution general and administrator of Xin'an, and marched east with Hou Andu against Liu Yi. Yi's man Xiang Wenzheng held Xin'an. Wenji took three hundred picked armored men and struck lightly. Wenzheng sent his brother's son Zan to meet him. Wenji routed Zan's force and Wenzheng surrendered.
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In the fourth year Chen Baoying allied with Liu Yi and sent troops with Zhou Di against Linchuan again. Emperor Wen sent Yu Xiaoqing, administrator of Xinyi, by sea against Jin'an with Wenji as vanguard. Everywhere they went they prevailed. When Baoying was suppressed Wenji's battle merit stood first. On return he was made advisory military adjutant of the staff, still commanding the central straight guard. He went out as administrator of Linhai. Before long he sailed a golden-wing warship to help his father hold Yingcheng. After Hua Jiao was suppressed, both Lingxi and Wenji were credited with defensive merit. When Lingxi died, Wenji assumed command of all his troops, was made super-martial general, and continued to help defend Yingzhou. Wenji was deeply filial; though active service set mourning aside, he grew emaciated with grief.
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In Taijian year two he was appointed interior secretary of Yuzhang, keeping his general's rank. When mourning ended he inherited the dukedom of Chong'an county. He followed Zhang Zhaoda, area commander, who led an army to Jingzhou against Xiao Kui. Kui and the Northern Zhou forces built many warships and anchored them in the Qingni channel. With the river swollen and swift, Zhaoda sent Wenji and Qian Daozhi in light craft to strike and burn the entire fleet. As Xiao Kui's men slackened, Zhaoda sent Wenji again by night into the outer city, killing many. Northern Zhou then brought up its main force; Lei Daoqin, interior secretary of Baling, died fighting; Wenji barely escaped alive. For merit he was made supernumerary regular attendant and distant-pacifying general, with five hundred added households.
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In year five Wu Mingche, area commander, marched north against Qin commandery; upstream of the commandery Jiangpu joined (Tu) the Chu River. [3] Qi troops sank great pillars as stakes across the stream; Wenji was sent ahead with picked men to clear them, then Mingche brought the main force up and took Qin commandery. He also detached Wenji to invest Jingzhou, sacked the city, then advanced on Xuyi and captured it. He then joined Mingche in the siege of Shouyang.
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Wenji was exacting and quick in the field and strict with his men; every fortress he took he usually dammed with water, and the earthworks often ran to tens of thousands. Whenever labor was set for the camp, Wenji outworked the other generals, rising before dawn and toiling until night; the whole army admired his industry. He always led the van in battle; Qi troops feared him deeply and nicknamed him "Cheng the beast." [4] For merit he was made scattered-cavalry regular attendant and bright-martial general, with five hundred more households. He also served as acting interior secretary of Xin'an and was promoted to martial-resolute general.
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In year eight he received the staff, commanded armies in Qiao province as distant-pacifying general, and became inspector of Qiao. That year he also took command of Beixu and Renzhou and became inspector of Beixu; his other posts were unchanged. In year nine he again followed Mingche north and helped build the dam at Lüliang, as related in Mingche's biography. In the spring of year ten the army was beaten; Wenji was taken by Zhou but was still given a mansion equal to the three dukes. In year eleven he fled Zhou, was seized by border guards at Guoyang, sent back to Chang'an, and died in prison. The Later Lord had already broken with Zhou and did not yet know. In Zhide year one the Later Lord learned of his fate and posthumously made him scattered-cavalry regular attendant. Soon another edict declared: "The late scattered-cavalry regular attendant and former duke of Chong'an, Lord Wenji, upheld the family line and honored its name. He took the field young; though not supreme commander, he led the van and won renown, yet lost men and transport and was rightly reduced in rank. Lingxi's defensive service is long missed; Wenji lies abroad, which moves deep pity. Recalling his service and grieving this break, his line should keep temple offerings and not be left without sacrifice. Let him be demoted to marquis of Chong'an with one thousand households, his son Xiang to inherit the title."
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史臣曰：程靈洗父子嵭御下嚴苛，治兵整肅，然與红同其勞苦，匪私財利，士多依焉，故臨戎克辦矣。
The historiographer writes: Cheng Lingxi and his son were harsh masters and kept iron discipline, yet shared hardship with the ranks and took no private gain; men followed them willingly, and so they prevailed in war.
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校勘記
Collation notes
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其徒力戰於石頭西門殿本考證云「徒」南史作「夜」。 今按：疑作「夜」是。
On "his troops fought fiercely at Shitou's west gate": the Hall edition notes that the Southern Dynasties history reads by night for troops. Present opinion: "by night" is probably the correct reading.
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徵為左衛將軍「左衛將軍」各本並訛「纫士將軍」，今據南史改。
On "summoned as left guard general": every edition had a corrupt title read as rengshi general; emended per the Southern Dynasties history.
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秦郡前江浦通 (塗) [涂]水據《南史》及《通鑑》改。 按涂水即滁水，《通鑑》胡注云「涂，讀曰滁」。
Before Qin commandery, Jiangpu connected with (Tu) [Tu] River—emended per the Southern Dynasties history and the Comprehensive Mirror. Note: Tu River is the Chu River; Hu's commentary to the Comprehensive Mirror reads "Tu is read as Chu."
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謂為程獸「獸」北監本、殿本作「虎」，此避唐諱。 按《南史》改「虎」為「彪」，亦避唐諱。
On "called Cheng the beast": Northern Supervisory and Hall editions read tiger, avoiding Tang taboo. The Southern Dynasties history changes "tiger" to "biao," likewise avoiding Tang taboo.