1
陳書卷二十九
Book of Chen, Volume 29
2
列傳第二十三
Biographies, Part Twenty-three
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宗元饒司馬申毛喜蔡徵
Zong Yuanrao; Sima Shen; Mao Xi; Cai Zheng
4
遷御史中丞，知五禮事。 時合州刺史陳裒贓汙狼藉，遣使就渚歛魚，又於六郡乞米，百姓甚苦之。 元饒劾奏曰：「臣聞建旟求瘼，實寄廉平，褰帷恤隱，本資仁恕。 如或貪汙是肆，徵賦無猒，天網雖疏，茲焉弗漏。 謹案鍾陵縣開國侯、合州刺史臣裒，因藉多幸，預逢抽擢，爵由恩被，官以私加，無德無功，坐尸榮貴。 譙、肥之地，久淪非所，皇威剋復，物仰仁風。 新邦用輕，彌俟寬惠，應斯作牧，其寄尤重。 爰降曲恩，祖行宣室，親承規誨，事等言提。 雖廉潔之懷，誠無素蓄，而稟茲嚴訓，可以厲精。 遂乃擅行賦斂，專肆貪取，求粟不猒，愧王沉之出賑，徵魚無限，異羊續之懸枯，寘以嚴科，實惟明憲。 臣等參議，請依旨免裒所應復除官，其應禁錮及後選左降本資，悉依免官之法。」 遂可其奏。 吳興太守武陵王伯禮，豫章內史南康嗣王方泰，並驕蹇放橫，元饒案奏之，皆見削黜。
He was promoted to censor-in-chief and placed in charge of the five rites. At that time Hezhou inspector Chen Pou's corruption was notorious; he sent agents to the fisheries to collect fish and further begged rice in six commanderies, and the people suffered greatly. Yuanrao impeached and memorialized: "I have heard that raising banners to seek out affliction truly relies on integrity and fairness; drawing aside the carriage curtain to comfort the hidden truly relies on humaneness and forbearance. If greed and corruption are indulged and levies never satisfied, though Heaven's net may be sparse, it will not let this slip through. I respectfully accuse Marquis of Opening State of Zhongling county, Hezhou inspector Chen Pou: by many strokes of fortune he met early selection; rank came by grace, office by private favor—without merit or worth he sat atop glory and wealth. The lands of Qiao and Fei had long fallen away; when imperial might recovered them, all looked up to the wind of benevolence. A new domain should be ruled lightly and still more awaits generous favor; to be made shepherd here is a charge of special weight. Then bending grace descended; he was seen off at the Xuan Chamber and personally received admonition—in the affair equal to having his ear pulled. Though his mind of integrity was not long stored up, having received this stern instruction he could have sharpened his spirit. Yet he presumptuously imposed levies, monopolized greed and seizure, sought grain without limit—shaming Wang Chen's going out with relief grain; collected fish without bound—differing from Yang Xu's hanging up dried fish; to place him under severe penalty is truly bright law. We jointly deliberate and ask that, according to the decree, Pou be deprived of every office he ought to recover or be exempted from; those who ought to be barred from office and future candidates demoted in original rank—all according to the law for dismissal from office." The memorial was then approved. Wuxing administrator Wang Bolü, Prince of Wuling, and Yuzhang interior administrator Fang Tai, Prince of Nankang, were both arrogant and overbearing; Yuanrao impeached them by memorial and both were stripped and demoted.
5
元饒性公平，善持法，諳曉故事，明練治體，吏有犯法、政不便民及於名教不足者，隨事糾正，多所裨益。 遷貞威將軍、南康內史，以秩米三千餘斛助民租課，存問高年，拯救乏絕，百姓甚賴焉。 以課最入朝，詔加散騎常侍、荊雍湘巴武五州大中正。 尋以本官重領尚書左丞。 又為御史中丞。 歷左民尚書、右衛將軍、領前將軍，遷吏部尚書。 太建十三年卒，時年六十四。 詔贈侍中、金紫光祿大夫，官給喪事。
Yuanrao's nature was fair and equitable; he was skilled at holding to law, versed in precedent, and bright in the substance of governance; whenever officials broke the law, policy harmed the people, or matters of name and teaching fell short, he corrected them as the case required, with much benefit. Promoted to general of firm prestige and interior administrator of Nankang, he used more than three thousand piculs of his salary grain to assist the people's rent and taxes, inquired after the aged, and rescued the destitute—the people relied on him greatly. For outstanding administration he entered court; an edict added him as scattered-cavalry regular attendant and grand rectifier of Jing, Yong, Xiang, Ba, and Wu. Soon he again held his former office and additionally led left director of the masters of writing for the people. He again served as censor-in-chief. He passed through minister of the left for the people, general of the right guard, and leading forward general, and was promoted to minister of the masters of writing for personnel. In the thirteenth year of Taijian (581) he died, aged sixty-four. An edict posthumously made him palace attendant and grand master with golden seal and purple ribbon, with officials supplying the funeral.
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司馬申字季和，河內溫人也。 祖慧遠，梁都水使者。 父玄通，梁尚書左民郎。 申早有風概，十四便善弈棋，嘗隨父候吏部尚書到 （仲舉） 〔溉〕，〔一〕時梁州刺史陰子春、領軍朱异在焉。 子春素知申，即於坐所呼與為對，〔二〕申每有妙思，异觀而奇之，因引申遊處。 梁邵陵王為丹陽尹，以申為主簿。 屬太清之難，父母俱沒，因此自誓，菜食終身。
Sima Shen, styled Jihe, came from Wen in Henei commandery. His grandfather Huiyuan was Liang's commissioner of waterways. His father Xuantong was Liang's left director in the masters of writing for the people. Shen from early on had presence of spirit; at fourteen he was already skilled at weiqi. He once followed his father to call on the minister of personnel, Dao Collation variant: (Zhongju). Collation variant: (Gai), [1] At that time Liang inspector of Liangzhou Yin Zichun and director of the palace guard Zhu Yi were present. Zichun had long known Shen and immediately at the gathering called him to play a match, [2] Shen had fine conceptions each time; Yi watched and marveled, and thereafter drew Shen into his company. When Liang's Prince of Shaoling served as governor of Danyang, he made Shen his chief clerk. When the Taqing turmoil came, both his parents died; on this account he vowed to himself and ate vegetables for life.
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梁元帝承制，起為開遠將軍，遷鎮西外兵記室參軍。 及侯景寇郢州，申隨都督王僧辯據巴陵，每進籌策，皆見行用。 僧辯歎曰：「此生要鞬汗馬，或非所長，若使撫眾守城，必有奇績。」 僧辯之討陸納也，申在軍中，于時賊眾奄至，左右披靡，申躬蔽僧辯，蒙楯而前，會裴之橫救至，賊乃退，僧辯顧申而笑曰：「仁者必有勇，豈虛言哉！」 除散騎侍郎。 紹泰初，遷儀同侯安都從事中郎。
When Liang's Emperor Yuan assumed the provisional mandate, Shen was summoned as general who opens the distance and promoted to recorder in the outer military staff of the army on the western wall. When Hou Jing attacked Yingzhou, Shen followed commander Wang Sengbian in holding Baling; every plan he advanced was adopted. Sengbian sighed and said, "This man wants the saddle and a sweating horse—perhaps not his strength; if one had him pacify troops and hold a city, there would surely be extraordinary achievement. When Sengbian campaigned against Lu Na, Shen was in the army; at that time the rebel masses suddenly arrived and those left and right were scattered; Shen personally shielded Sengbian, covered himself with a shield and went forward; when Pei Zhiheng's rescue arrived, the rebels withdrew. Sengbian looked back at Shen and laughed, saying, "The humane surely have courage—is this an empty saying! He was made scattered-cavalry attendant. At the beginning of Shaotai, he was promoted to retainer to Hou Andu with ceremonial parity to the three offices.
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高祖受禪，除安東臨川王諮議參軍。 天嘉三年，遷征北諮議參軍，兼廷尉監。 五年，除鎮東諮議參軍，兼起部郎。 出為戎昭將軍、江乘令，甚有治績。 入為尚書金部郎。 遷左民郎，以公事免。 太建初，起為貞威將軍、征南鄱陽王諮議參軍。 九年，除秣陵令，在職以清能見紀，有白雀巢于縣庭。 秩滿，頃之，預東宮賓客，尋兼東宮通事舍人。 遷員外散騎常侍，舍人如故。
When the Founder took the throne, Shen was made advising officer in the establishment of Pacification East Prince of Linchuan. In the third year of Tiancheng (562), he was promoted to advising officer of the northern expedition and concurrently supervisor of the court of ceremonial rites. In year 5, he was made advising officer of the eastern expedition and concurrently initiating officer in the masters of writing. He went out as general of martial splendor and magistrate of Jiangcheng; his governance had outstanding results. He entered court as gold section director in the masters of writing. He was promoted to director for the people on the left and removed from office for public affairs. At the beginning of Taijian he was summoned as general of firm prestige and advising officer of the southern expedition Prince of Poyang. In year 9, he was made magistrate of Moling; in office he was recorded for integrity and ability, and a white sparrow nested in the county courtyard. When his term ended, shortly thereafter he joined the eastern-palace guest staff; soon he also served concurrently as eastern-palace communicating affairs attendant. Promoted to extraordinary scattered-cavalry regular attendant, attendant post as before.
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及叔陵之肆逆也，事既不捷，出據東府，申馳召右衛蕭摩訶帥兵先至，追斬之，因入城中，收其府庫，後主深嘉之。 以功除太子左衛率，封文 （始） 〔招〕縣伯，〔三〕邑四百戶，兼中書通事舍人。 尋遷右衛將軍，加通直散騎常侍。 以疾還第，就加散騎常侍，右衛、舍人如故。
When Shuling's violent outrage took place, the affair did not succeed and he went out to hold the eastern palace; Shen galloped to summon right guard Xiao Mohe to lead troops and arrive first, pursued and beheaded him, then entered the city and seized his treasury stores—Houzhu deeply commended him. For his merit he was made left leader of the heir apparent's guard, enfeoffed as Wen Collation variant: (Shi). Collation variant: (Zhao) county baron, [3] fief four hundred households, and concurrently secretariat communicating affairs attendant. Soon he was promoted to general of the right guard, with additional unimpeded scattered-cavalry regular attendant. Because of illness he returned to his residence; he was then given additional scattered-cavalry regular attendant, with right guard and attendant posts as before.
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至德四年卒，後主嗟悼久之，下詔曰：「慎終追遠，欽若舊則，闔棺定諡，抑乃前典。 故散騎常侍、右衛將軍、文 （始） 〔招〕縣開國伯申，忠肅在公，清正立己，治繁處約，投軀殉義。 朕任寄情深，方康庶績，奄然化往，傷惻于懷。 可贈侍中、護軍將軍，進爵為侯，增邑為五百戶，諡曰忠。 給朝服一具，衣一襲，剋日舉哀，喪事所須，隨由資給。」 及葬，後主自製誌銘，辭情傷切。 卒章曰：「嗟乎！ 天不與善，殲我良臣。」 其見幸如此。
In the fourth year of Zhide (586) he died; Houzhu mourned him long and issued an edict: "Care in the end and remembrance of the distant, reverence for old norms, closing the coffin and fixing the posthumous title—these suppress former canons. The late scattered-cavalry regular attendant, general of the right guard, Wen Collation variant: (Shi). Collation variant: (Zhao) county founding baron Shen was loyal and solemn in public service, pure and upright in his person, governing complexity with restraint and casting his body to follow righteousness. We entrusted him with deep feeling and were about to bring peace to the people's labors; suddenly he transformed and went—grief pierces the breast. He may be posthumously made palace attendant and protector general, his rank advanced to marquis, his fief increased to five hundred households, posthumous title Zhong. Give one set of court robes, one suit of garments; fix a day for mourning; whatever the funeral requires, supply as needed." At the burial Houzhu himself composed the epitaph inscription; the words were painfully moving. The closing lines say, "Alas! Heaven does not grant good fortune—it destroys my fine minister. Such was the favor shown him.
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申歷事三帝，內掌機密，至於倉卒之閒，軍國大事，指麾斷決，無有滯留。 子琇嗣，官至太子舍人。
Shen served three emperors and inwardly held confidential affairs; even in hurried moments, on great affairs of army and state, his direction and decisions had no delay. His son Xiu succeeded him and rose to eastern-palace attendant.
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毛喜字伯武，滎陽陽武人也。 祖稱，梁散騎侍郎。 父栖忠，梁尚書比部侍郎、中權司馬。
Mao Xi, styled Bowu, came from Yangwu in Xingyang commandery. His grandfather Cheng was Liang's scattered-cavalry attendant. His father Qizhong was Liang's director in the masters of writing for comparison and central authority army major.
13
世祖嘗謂高宗曰：「我諸子皆以『伯』為名，汝諸兒宜用『叔』為稱。」 高宗以訪于喜，喜即條牒自古名賢杜叔英、虞叔卿等二十餘人以啟世祖，世祖稱善。
Emperor Wen once told Emperor Xuan, "All my sons take 'Bo' in their names; your sons should use 'Shu' in their style." Emperor Xuan consulted Xi; Xi at once listed more than twenty famous men of antiquity such as Du Shuying and Yu Shuqing and reported them to Emperor Wen, and Emperor Wen praised it.
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世祖崩，廢帝沖昧，高宗錄尚書輔政，僕射到仲舉等知朝望有歸，乃矯太后令遣高宗還東府，當時疑懼，無敢措言。 喜即馳入，謂高宗曰：「陳有天下日淺，海內未夷，兼國禍併鍾，萬邦危懼。 皇太后深惟社稷至計，令王入省，方當共康庶績，比德伊、周。 今日之言，必非太后之意。 宗社之重，願加三思。 以喜之愚，須更聞奏，無使奸賊得肆其謀。」 竟如其策。
When Emperor Wen died, the Deposed Emperor was young and ignorant; Emperor Xuan assumed the recorded affairs of the masters of writing as regent; vice director Dao Zhongju and others knew that court expectation had a direction and therefore forged an empress dowager order sending Emperor Xuan back to the eastern palace; at the time there was doubt and fear, and none dared speak. Xi at once galloped in and told Emperor Xuan, "Chen has held the realm only a short time; within the seas it is not yet pacified; moreover national misfortune has struck together, and the myriad states are in peril and fear. The empress dowager deeply weighs the plan for the altars of soil and grain and has ordered the prince to enter the secretariat; we should together bring peace to the people's labors and match the virtue of Yi and Zhou. Today's words surely are not the empress dowager's intent. The weight of the ancestral altars—please add further thought. In my foolishness I must hear the matter reported again, and not let treacherous villains carry out their plot." It turned out as he had planned.
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右衛將軍韓子高始與仲舉通謀，其事未發，喜請高宗曰：「宜簡選人馬，配與子高，并賜鐵炭，使脩器甲。」 高宗驚曰：「子高謀反，即欲收執，何為更如是邪？」 喜答曰：「山陵始畢，邊寇尚多，而子高受委前朝，名為杖順，然甚輕狷，恐不時授首，脫其稽誅，或愆王度。 宜推心安誘，使不自疑，圖之一壯士之力耳。」 高宗深然之，卒行其計。
Right guard general Han Zigao at first conspired with Zhongju; the affair had not yet broken out; Xi asked Emperor Xuan, "You should select men and horses, assign them to Zigao, and also grant iron and charcoal so he may repair weapons and armor." Emperor Xuan was startled and said, "Zigao plots rebellion—we should at once seize him; why do this further?" Xi replied, "The imperial tomb has only just been completed and border enemies are still many; Zigao was entrusted by the former court and is known as holding to obedience, yet he is very frivolous and impetuous—I fear he will not promptly surrender his head; if we hasten to punish him, we may transgress royal measure. You should push aside suspicion and peacefully entice him so he does not doubt himself; to take him is the strength of one stout warrior." Emperor Xuan deeply approved and in the end carried out the plan.
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及眾軍北伐，得淮南地，喜陳安邊之術，高宗納之，即日施行。 又問喜曰：「我欲進兵彭、汴，於卿意如何？」 喜對曰：「臣實才非智者，安敢預兆未然。 竊以淮左新平，邊氓未乂，周氏始吞齊國，難與爭鋒，豈以弊卒疲兵，復加深入。 且棄舟楫之工，踐車騎之地，去長就短，非吳人所便。 臣愚以為不若安民保境，寢兵復約，然後廣募英奇，順時而動，斯久長之術也。」 高宗不從。 後吳明徹陷周，高宗謂喜曰：「卿之所言，驗於今矣。」
When the mass of armies marched north and gained the lands south of the Huai, Xi presented methods for securing the border; Emperor Xuan adopted them and put them into effect that very day. He again asked Xi, "I wish to advance troops to Peng and Bian—what do you think?" Xi replied, "My talent is truly not that of the wise; how would I dare to foretell what has not yet happened? I privately think that south of the Huai has only just been pacified and the border people are not yet settled; Zhou has only begun to swallow Qi and is hard to contend with in the blade—how could one with worn troops and weary soldiers press the advance further? Moreover to abandon the craft of boats and oars and tread the ground of chariots and horses is to leave the long for the short—not what men of Wu find convenient. In my foolish view it would be better to settle the people and secure the borders, let the weapons sleep and renew the covenant, then broadly recruit outstanding men and move according to the times—that is the method for long endurance." Emperor Xuan did not follow him. Later Wu Mingche was defeated by Zhou; Emperor Xuan told Xi, "What you said has been verified today."
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十二年，加侍中。 十三年，授散騎常侍、丹陽尹。 遷吏部尚書，常侍如故。 及高宗崩，叔陵構逆，敕中庶子陸瓊宣旨，令南北諸軍，皆取喜處分。 賊平，又加侍中，增封并前九百戶。 至德元年，授信威將軍、永嘉內史，加秩中二千石。
In year 12 he was given additional palace attendant. In year 13 he was appointed scattered-cavalry regular attendant and governor of Danyang. He was promoted to minister of the masters of writing for personnel, regular attendant as before. When Emperor Xuan died, Shuling plotted treason; an order had central palace attendant Lu Qiong proclaim the intent, ordering northern and southern armies alike to take Xi's disposition. When the rebels were pacified he was again given additional palace attendant, his enfeoffment increased together with the previous to nine hundred households. In the first year of Zhide (583) he was appointed trustworthy prestige general and interior administrator of Yongjia, with additional stipend of middle two thousand piculs.
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初，高宗委政於喜，喜亦勤心納忠，多所匡益，數有諫諍，事並見從，由是十餘年閒，江東狹小，遂稱全盛。 唯略地淮北，不納喜謀，而吳明徹竟敗，高宗深悔之，謂袁憲曰：「不用毛喜計，遂令至此，朕之過也。」 喜既益親，乃言無回避，而皇太子好酒德，每共幸人為長夜之宴，喜嘗為言，高宗以誡太子，太子陰患之，至是稍見疏遠。
At first Emperor Xuan entrusted government to Xi; Xi also devoted his heart in loyal service, with much correction and benefit; he often remonstrated and his advice was followed—in more than ten years, though the Jiangdong realm was small, it was called fully flourishing. Only in seizing land north of the Huai did he not take Xi's advice; Wu Mingche was defeated in the end. Emperor Xuan deeply regretted it and told Yuan Xian, "Had I followed Mao Xi's plan, this would not have happened—it is my fault." As Xi grew closer still, he spoke without reserve. Yet the heir apparent loved wine and nightly revels with his favorites. Xi often remonstrated; Emperor Xuan used this to warn the heir, who secretly resented him and by then had grown somewhat distant.
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初，後主為始興王所傷，及瘡愈而自慶，置酒於後殿，引江總以下，展樂賦詩，醉而命喜。 于時山陵初畢，未及踰年，喜見之不懌，欲諫而後主已醉，喜升階，陽為心疾，仆于階下，移出省中。 後主醒，乃疑之，謂江總曰：「我悔召毛喜，知其無疾，但欲阻我懽宴，非我所為，故姦詐耳。」 乃與司馬申謀曰：「此人負氣，吾欲將乞鄱陽兄弟聽其報讎，可乎？」 對曰：「終不為官用，願如聖旨。」 傅縡爭之曰：「不然。 若許報讎，欲置先皇何地？」 後主曰：「當乞一小郡，勿令見人事耳。」 乃以喜為永嘉內史。
Earlier Houzhu had been wounded by the Prince of Shixing. When his wounds healed he celebrated alone, set wine in the rear hall, summoned Jiang Zong and others, spread music and composed verse, and when drunk called for Xi. The imperial tomb had only just been completed and a full year had not yet passed. Xi was displeased and wished to remonstrate, but Houzhu was already drunk. Xi mounted the steps, feigned heart trouble, collapsed on the steps, and was carried out of the secretariat. When Houzhu woke he grew suspicious and said to Jiang Zong, "I regret calling Mao Xi. I know he is not ill—he only wanted to spoil my feast. That is not my way; he is deceitful." He then plotted with Sima Shen and said, "This man is proud. I want to hand him to the Poyang brothers to let them take revenge—is that acceptable?" He replied, "He will never serve the state again. I bow to Your Majesty's will." Fu Zai objected, "That will not do. If you allow revenge, where does that leave the late emperor?" Houzhu said, "Give him a small commandery and keep him from court affairs." Xi was then made interior minister of Yongjia.
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喜至郡，不受俸秩，政弘清靜，民吏便之。 遇豐州刺史章大寶舉兵反，郡與豐州相接，而素無備禦，喜乃修治城隍，嚴飾器械。 又遣所部松陽令周磻領千兵援建安。 賊平，授南安內史。 禎明元年，徵為光祿大夫，領左驍騎將軍。 喜在郡有惠政，乃徵入朝，道路追送者數百里。 其年道病卒，時年七十二。 有集十卷。 子處沖嗣，官至儀同從事中郎、中書侍郎。
When Xi reached the commandery he took no salary; his rule was open and quiet, and people and officials were well served. When Fengzhou inspector Zhang Dabao rebelled, the commandery bordered Fengzhou but had never been defended. Xi repaired walls and ditches and arrayed weapons. He also sent his subordinate Songyang magistrate Zhou Pan with a thousand men to relieve Jian'an. When the rebels were pacified he was made interior minister of Nan'an. In the first year of Zhenming he was summoned as grand master for splendid happiness and left valiant-cavalry general. Xi had ruled with kindness; when he was recalled to court, escorts followed him for hundreds of li. That year he died of illness on the road, aged seventy-two. He left collected works in ten scrolls. His son Chuchong succeeded him and rose to aide on a staff equal in ceremony to the Three Dukes and gentleman attendant of the secretariat.
21
蔡徵字希祥，侍中、中撫軍將軍景歷子也。 幼聰敏，精識彊記。 年六歲，詣梁吏部尚書河南褚翔，翔字仲舉，〔四〕嗟其穎悟。 七歲，丁母憂，居喪如成人禮。 繼母劉氏性悍忌，視之不以道，徵供侍益謹，初無怨色。 徵本名覽，景歷以為有王祥之性，更名徵，字希祥。
Cai Zheng, styled Xixiang, was the son of attendant-in-ordinary and central pacifying-army general Cai Jingli. As a boy he was clever, with sharp judgment and a strong memory. At six he visited Liang minister of the board of civil office Chu Xiang of Henan; Xiang's style was Zhongju [4], and he marveled at the boy's quick wit. At seven he mourned his mother and observed mourning like an adult. His stepmother Lady Liu was fierce and jealous and treated him harshly. Zheng served her all the more carefully and at first showed no resentment. Zheng's original name was Lan. Jingli thought he had Wang Xiang's nature, renamed him Zheng, and styled him Xixiang.
22
梁承聖初，高祖為南徐州刺史，召補迎主簿，尋授太學博士。 天嘉初，遷始興王府法曹行參軍，歷外兵參軍事、尚書主客郎，所居以幹理稱。 太建初，遷太子少傅丞、新安王主簿、通直散騎侍郎、晉安王功曹史、太子中舍人，兼東宮領直，中舍人如故。 丁父憂去職，服闋，襲封新豐縣侯，授戎昭將軍、鎮右新安王諮議參軍。
At the start of Liang's Chengsheng era the Founder was inspector of South Xuzhou, summoned him as reception chief clerk, and soon made him erudite of the National University. At the start of Tianjia he became acting legal-cadre staff officer in the Prince of Shixing's household, then outside-troops staff officer and master of guests in the masters of writing; wherever he served he was praised for able administration. At the start of Taijian he was aide in the heir apparent's junior tutor's office, steward of the Prince of Xin'an, regular attendant of the scattered cavalry on direct communication, registrar in the Prince of Jin'an's household, heir-apparent palace attendant, and concurrently head of straight service in the eastern palace; palace attendant as before. He left office to mourn his father; when mourning ended he inherited as Marquis of Xinfeng and was made sagely-dawn general and advising officer on the staff of the right-pacifying Prince of Xin'an.
23
至德二年，遷廷尉卿，尋為吏部郎。 遷太子中庶子、中書舍人，掌詔誥。 尋授左民尚書，與僕射江總知撰五禮事。 尋加寧遠將軍。 後主器其材幹，任寄日重，遷吏部尚書、安右將軍，每十日一往東宮，於太子前論述古今得喪及當時政務。 又敕以廷尉寺獄，事無大小，取徵議決。 俄有敕遣徵收募兵士，自為部曲，徵善撫卹，得物情，旬月之閒，眾近一萬。 徵位望既重，兼聲勢熏灼，物議咸忌憚之。 尋徙為中書令，將軍如故。 中令清簡無事，或云徵有怨言，事聞後主，後主大怒，收奪人馬，將誅之，有固諫者獲免。
In Zhide year 2 he became director of the Court of Judicial Review, then vice director of the ministry of personnel. He was made heir-apparent aide and secretariat attendant, in charge of edicts. Soon he was minister of the left household and, with vice director Jiang Zong, directed compilation of the five rites. Soon he was also made pacifying-far general. Houzhu valued his talent and relied on him more each day. He was made minister of personnel and secure-the-right general; every ten days he went to the eastern palace and before the heir discussed gain and loss in history and current affairs. An edict also ordered that in the Court of Judicial Review's prison, all cases great and small were to be decided on Zheng's advice. Soon an edict sent Zheng to recruit soldiers for his own command. He was good at comfort and won hearts; within a month his force neared ten thousand. Zheng's rank and fame were already great, and his influence blazed; opinion feared and resented him. Soon he was transferred to secretariat director; his generalship was unchanged. The secretariat director's post was pure and light; some said Zheng had complained. When Houzhu heard, he was furious, seized his men and horses, and was about to kill him; only firm remonstrance saved him.
24
禎明三年，隋軍濟江，後主以徵有幹用，權知中領軍。 徵日夜勤苦，備盡心力，後主嘉焉，謂曰「事寧有以相報」。 及決戰於鍾山南崗，敕徵守宮城西北大營，尋令督眾軍戰事。 城陷，隨例入關。
In Zhenming year 3 the Sui army crossed the Yangzi. Houzhu, trusting Zheng's ability, had him provisionally direct the central army supervisor's office. Zheng labored day and night with all his strength. Houzhu praised him and said, "When this is over I shall repay you." At the decisive battle on Zhongshan's southern ridge he was ordered to hold the great camp northwest of the palace city; soon he was told to supervise all armies in battle. When the city fell he entered the Pass like the others.
25
徵美容儀，有口辯，多所詳究。 至於士流官宦，皇家戚屬，及當朝制度，憲章儀軌，戶口風俗，山川土地，問無不對。 然性頗便佞進取，不能以退素自業。 初拜吏部尚書，啟後主借鼓吹，後主謂所司曰「鼓吹軍樂，有功乃授，蔡徵不自量揆，紊我朝章，然其父景歷既有締構之功，宜且如所啟，拜訖即追還」。 徵不脩廉隅，皆此類也。 隋文帝聞其敏贍，召見顧問，言輒會旨，然累年不調，久之，除太常丞。 歷尚書民部儀曹郎，轉給事〔郎〕，〔五〕卒，時年六十七。 子翼，治尚書，官至司徒屬、德教學士。 入隋，為東宮學士。
Zheng was handsome and eloquent and had studied many fields deeply. On gentry and officials, imperial kin, current institutions, statutes and ritual, household registers and customs, mountains, rivers, and land—whatever one asked, he answered correctly. Yet by nature he was given to flattery and advancement and could not rest in modest retirement. When he was first made minister of personnel he asked Houzhu to lend him ceremonial music. Houzhu told the office, "Ceremonial music is military music, granted only for merit. Cai Zheng does not know his place and confuses court rules—yet since his father Jingli helped found the state, grant it for now, but take it back as soon as the appointment rite is done." Zheng did not keep his conduct clean—this was typical. Emperor Wen of Sui heard of his quick mind, summoned him for consultation, and his words always hit the mark—yet for years he received no post; after long delay he was made aide in the directorate of ceremonial affairs. He served as gentleman in the civil-affairs and ritual section of the masters of writing, was moved to supervisor-of-matters attendant [attendant], [5] and died, aged sixty-seven. His son Yi studied the Documents and rose to clerk on the Three Dukes' staff and academician of virtuous instruction. Under Sui he was an eastern-palace academician.
26
史臣曰：宗元饒夙夜匪懈，濟務益時。 司馬申清恪在朝，攻苦立行，加之以忠節，美矣。 毛喜深達事機，匡贊時主。 蔡徵聰敏才贍，而擅權自躓，惜哉。
The historiographer says: Zhuang Yuanrao never slackened from dawn to night, aiding affairs and benefiting the age. Sima Shen was pure and strict at court, toiling in hardship to establish his conduct; with loyal integrity added, he was admirable. Mao Xi deeply understood circumstances and aided the ruler of his time. Cai Zheng was clever and richly talented, yet by seizing power he tripped himself—a pity.
27
校勘記
Collation notes
28
〔一〕嘗隨父候吏部尚書到 （仲舉） 〔溉〕據南史改。 按到仲舉為到洽之子，見梁書到洽傳，未嘗為吏部。 梁書到溉傳云溉以建安內史遷中書郎兼吏部。 又云梁武帝每與對棋，從夕達旦。 是「到仲舉」明為「到溉」之訛。
[1] Once when he followed his father to call on the Minister of Personnel, Dao (Zhongju) On "[Gai]": emended per the Southern History. Dao Zhongju was Dao Qia's son; see the Book of Liang biography of Dao Qia—he never served as minister of personnel. The Book of Liang biography of Dao Gai says he moved from interior minister of Jian'an to secretariat gentleman, concurrently minister of personnel. It also says Emperor Wu of Liang played chess with him from evening until dawn. Thus "Dao Zhongju" is plainly an error for "Dao Gai."
29
〔二〕即於坐所呼與為對「為對」北監本、汲本、殿本作「對弈」。
On "called him to play": the Northern Supervisory, Ji, and Hall editions read play chess.
30
〔三〕封文 （始） 〔招〕縣伯據百衲本南史本傳改。 殿本南史亦作「始」。 張元濟校勘記云作「招」是。 南齊書州郡志文招縣屬廣州晉康郡。 三八八頁同。
[3] Enfeoffed as (Shi) On "[Zhao] county marquis": emended per the patchwork Southern History biography. The Hall edition Southern History also reads Shi. Zhang Yuanji's collation note says Zhao is correct. The Book of Southern Qi, Geography of Commanderies and Counties, places Wenzhao county in Jin'kang commandery of Guangzhou. Page 388 agrees.
31
〔四〕翔字仲舉「字仲舉」三字疑衍文。 按褚翔梁書有傳，其字為「世舉」，非「仲舉」。
On "Xiang's style Zhongju": the three words style Zhongju are probably superfluous. Chu Xiang's Book of Liang biography gives his style as Shiju, not Zhongju.
32
〔五〕轉給事〔郎〕據南史補。 按隋開皇六年詔吏部置給事郎，見通典職官典三。
On "moved to supervisor-of-matters [attendant]": supplied per the Southern History. The Tongdian, Offices Canon, says that in Sui Kaihuang year 6 an edict had the ministry of personnel establish the post of supervisor-of-matters attendant.