1
申屠剛
Shentu Gang
2
申屠剛字巨卿，扶風茂陵人也。 七世祖嘉，文帝時為丞相。 剛質性方直，常慕史䲡、汲黯之為人。 仕郡功曹。
Shentu Gang, courtesy name Juqing, came from Maoling in Fufeng commandery. Seven generations back, his ancestor Shentu Jia had served as chancellor under Emperor Wen of Han. He was blunt and honest by temperament and modeled himself on Shi Qiu and Ji An. He served as merit assessor for his commandery.
3
平帝時，王莽專政，朝多猜忌，遂隔絕帝外家馮、衛二族，不得交宦，剛常疾之。 及舉賢良方正，因對策曰：
Under Emperor Ping, Wang Mang controlled the court and bred suspicion everywhere; he barred the emperor's maternal relatives of the Feng and Wei houses from office—something Gang bitterly resented. Recommended as worthy, upright, and good, he answered the examination question with this memorial:
4
臣聞王事失則神祇怨怨，奸邪亂正，故陰陽謬錯，此天所以譴告王者，欲令失道之君，曠然覺悟，懷邪之臣，懼然自刻者也。 今朝廷不考功校德，而虛納毀譽，數下詔書，張設重法，抑斷誹謗，禁割論議，罪之重者，乃至腰斬。 傷忠臣之情，挫直士之銳，殆乖建進善之旌，縣敢諫之鼓，辟四門之路，明四目之義也。
Your servant has heard that when royal government fails, the spirits grow resentful and treason drives out integrity, so yin and yang fall out of joint. Heaven sends such warnings to wake a ruler who has strayed from the Way and to strike fear into wicked ministers. Today the court weighs neither merit nor character but swallows praise and blame wholesale; edicts pile up, harsh laws multiply, dissent is silenced and debate outlawed—the worst offenses earn death by waist-cutting. That breaks the hearts of loyal men and dulls the edge of the outspoken—quite at odds with raising the standard for good counsel, hanging the drum for bold remonstrance, opening the four gates, and emulating the far seeing of the four eyes.
5
昔周公先遣伯禽守封於魯，以義寒恩，寵不加後，故配天郊祀，三十餘世。 霍光秉政，輔翼少主，修善進士，名為忠直，而尊崇其宗黨，摧抑外戚，結貴據權，至堅至固，終沒之後，受禍滅門。 方今師傅皆以伊、周之位，據賢保之任，以此思化，則功何不至？ 不思其危，則禍何不到？ 損益之際，孔父攸嘆，持滿之戒，老氏所慎。 蓋功冠天下者不安，威震人主者不全。 今承衰亂之後，繼重敝之世，公家屈竭，賦斂重數，苛吏奪其時，貪夫侵其財，百姓困乏，疾疫夭命。 盜賊群輩，且以萬數，軍行眾止，竊號自立，攻犯京師，燔燒縣邑，至乃訛言積弩入宮，宿衛驚懼。 自漢興以來，誠未有也。 國家微弱，奸謀不禁，六極之效，危於累卵。 王者承天順地，典爵主刑，不敢以天官私其宗，不敢以天罰輕其親。 陛下宜遂聖明之德，昭然覺悟，遠述帝王之跡，近遵孝文之業，差五品之屬，納至親之序，亟遣使者征中山太後，置之別官，令時朝見。 又召馮、衛二族，裁與冗職，使得執戟，親奉宿衛，以防未然之符，以抑患禍之端，上安社稷，下全保傅，內和親戚，外絕邪謀。
Long ago the Duke of Zhou sent Boqin to Lu: duty came before private affection, so favor did not pile up for his kin—and that house sacrificed to Heaven by the suburbs for more than thirty generations. Huo Guang governed for the boy emperor, promoted good men, and passed for loyal—yet he exalted his own clan, crushed the imperial in-laws, bound himself to power so tightly that when he died his whole line was destroyed. Your tutors and guardians stand in the place of Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou and bear the charge to protect wise counsel—if they truly taught reform, what goal could be beyond reach? If they ignore the danger, how can ruin stay away? At the turning between gain and loss Kongzi sighed; holding a full cup—what Laozi warned against. Whoever towers above the realm cannot rest easy; whoever terrifies his ruler cannot stay whole. We stand on the ruins of turmoil: the treasury is dry, taxes multiply, harsh clerks steal farmers' seasons and predators seize their goods; common families starve and pestilence carries off the young. Brigands gather by the tens of thousands; armies march and halts multiply; rebels proclaim themselves and strike toward the capital; towns burn until rumor says crossbows have entered the palace and the night guard trembles. Since the founding of Han nothing like this has been seen. The dynasty is feeble and intrigue unchecked—the six extremes threaten us like eggs stacked high. The true king receives his mandate from Heaven and walks the earth's pattern; he sets ranks and wields punishment—yet he does not treat heavenly office as a family monopoly nor lighten Heaven's sentence for kin. Your Majesty should recover enlightened rule: look far to the ancient kings and near to Emperor Wen—order the five grades of kin, restore precedence among close relatives, send envoys at once to bring the Queen Dowager of Zhongshan to a separate residence, and let her appear at court on schedule. Recall the Feng and Wei houses to nominal posts and halberd duty in the night guard—forestall what has not yet happened and choke off calamity at the source: secure the state above, protect your tutors below, bind kin within, and foil intrigue without.
6
書奏，莽令元後下詔曰：『剛聽言僻經妄說，違背大義。 其罷歸田裏。』
When the memorial went up, Wang Mang made Grand Empress Dowager Wang issue an edict: "Shentu Gang spouts twisted learning and wild doctrine; he offends the great norm. Dismiss him to his fields."
7
後莽篡位，剛遂避地河西，轉入巴、蜀，往來二十許年。 及隗囂據隴右，欲背漢而附公孫述。 剛說之曰：『愚聞人所歸者天所與，人所畔者天所去也。 伏念本朝躬聖德，舉義兵，龔行天罰，所當必摧，誠天之所福，非人力也。 將軍本無尺土，孤立一隅，宜推誠奉順，與朝並力，上應天心，下酬人望，為國立功，可以永年。 嫌疑之事，聖人所絕。 以將軍之威重，遠在千里，動作舉措，可不慎與？ 今璽書數到，委國歸信，欲與將軍共同吉兇。 布衣相與，尚有沒身不負然諾之信，況於萬乘者哉！ 今何畏何利，久疑如是？ 卒有非常之變，上負忠孝，下愧當世。 夫未至豫言，固常為虛，及其已至，又無所及，是以忠言至諫，希得為用。 誠願反復愚老之言。 』囂不納，遂畔從述。
After Wang Mang seized the throne Gang withdrew west of the river, then moved between Ba and Shu for some twenty years. When Wei Xiao controlled Longyou he meant to abandon Han for Gongsun Shu. Gang urged him: "I have heard that Heaven favors those whom men follow and casts off those whom men desert. Our house embodies sacred virtue, raises righteous arms, and executes Heaven's judgment—what it strikes must break; that is Heaven's favor, not mere manpower. You began without an inch of territory and stand isolated—yield in good faith, march with the court, answer Heaven above and the people below, and win lasting merit for the state. Suspicion is what sages cut short. At your distance and stature every move is watched—how can you afford carelessness? Rescripts have come again and again, offering the state's trust and asking to share fortune and disaster with you. Commoners who shake hands still keep a promise for life—how much more a ruler of ten thousand chariots? What fear, what gain keeps you hesitating so long? If crisis strikes you will fail loyalty and filial piety above and bring shame on your age below. Warnings before disaster sound hollow; once calamity hits it is too late—so honest counsel is seldom heeded. Please reconsider what this foolish old man has said. Wei Xiao refused and turned to Shu.
8
建武七年，詔書征剛。 剛將歸，與囂書曰：『愚聞專己者孤，拒諫者塞，孤塞之政，亡國之風也。 雖有明聖之姿，猶屈己從眾，故慮無遺策，舉無過事。 夫聖人不以獨見為明，而以萬物為心。 順人者昌，逆人者亡，此古今之所共也。 將軍以布衣為鄉裏所推，廊廟之計，既不豫定，動軍發眾，又不深料。 今東方政教日睦，百姓平安，而西州發兵，人人憂憂，騷動惶懼，莫敢正言，群眾疑惑，人懷顧望。 非徒無精銳之心，其患無所不至。 夫物窮則變生，事急則計易，其勢然也。 夫離道德，逆人情，而能有國有家者，古今未有也。 將軍素以忠孝顯聞，是以士大夫不遠千里，慕樂德義。 今茍欲決意僥幸，此何如哉？ 夫天所祐者順，人所助者信。 如未蒙祐助，令小人受塗地之禍，毀壞終身之德，敗亂君臣之節，汙傷父子之恩，眾賢破膽，可不慎哉！ 』囂不納。 剛到，拜侍御史，遷尚書令。
In Jianwu 7 an edict recalled Gang. As Gang prepared to answer the summons he wrote to Wei Xiao: "I have heard that willful rulers stand alone and those who spurn advice are blocked—isolation and blockage are the breath of a dying state. Even the sage bends to the multitude so no plan is missed and no act misjudged. The sage does not trust private judgment but sets his heart on the needs of all. Those who move with the people thrive; those who defy them perish—that has never changed. You rose from common recommendation without a settled strategy for the court; you raised armies without deep reckoning. The east grows orderly and the people rest easy while your province arms itself in fear; rumor spreads, none dare speak plainly, and hearts waver. That is more than loss of nerve—the harm knows no end. Extremity forces change; urgency alters plans—that is how circumstance works. No one who abandons the Way and flouts human hearts has ever kept state or clan. Your fame for loyalty and duty drew scholars from a thousand li who wished to share your moral purpose. If you now gamble everything on a reckless throw—what end do you expect? Heaven aids the obedient; men follow the trustworthy. Without that blessing you will doom followers to ruin, stain your life's virtue, break fealty between lord and minister and love between father and son, and terrify every good man—can you ignore the danger? Wei Xiao still refused. On arrival he was named attendant censor and rose to supervisor of the Masters of Writing.
9
光武嘗欲出遊，剛以隴蜀未平，不宜宴安逸豫。 諫不見聽，遂以頭軔乘輿輪，帝遂為止。
Once Guangwu wished to tour abroad; Gang argued that Long and Shu were still unconquered and ease was unfitting. When the emperor ignored him he wedged his head against the wheel of the carriage until Guangwu gave up the outing.
10
時內外群官，多帝自選舉，加以法理嚴察，職事過苦，尚書近臣，乃至捶撲牽曳於前，群臣莫敢正言。 剛每輒極諫，又數言皇太子宜時就東宮，簡任賢保，以成其德，帝並不納。 以數切諫失旨，數年，出為平陰令。 復征拜太中大夫，以病去官，卒於家。
Most offices were the emperor's own picks; law ran harsh and duties crushed men; imperial secretaries were beaten before the throne while the court stayed silent. Gang remonstrated to the limit and urged again that the heir enter the eastern palace with worthy tutors—Guangwu accepted none of it. After years of blunt advice that missed the ruler's mood he was sent out as magistrate of Pingyin. He was later recalled as grand palace grandee but resigned ill and died at home.
11
鮑永字君長，上黨屯留人也。 父宣，哀帝時任司隸校尉，為王莽所殺。 永少有誌操，習歐陽《尚書》。 事後母至孝，妻嘗於母前叱狗，而永即去之。
Bao Yong, courtesy name Junzhang, was a native of Tunliu in Shangdang. His father Bao Xuan had been metropolitan superintendent under Emperor Ai until Wang Mang had him executed. From boyhood Yong had resolve and studied the Ouyang school of the Documents. He was utterly filial to his stepmother; when his wife shouted at a dog in her presence he divorced her at once.
12
初為郡功曹。 莽以宣不附己，欲不其子孫。 都尉路平承望風旨，規欲害永。 太守茍諫擁護，召以為吏，常置府中，永因數為諫陳興復漢室，剪滅篡逆之策。 諫每戒永曰：『君長幾事不密，禍倚人門。 』永感其言。 及諫卒，自送喪歸扶風，路平遂收永弟升。 太守趙興到，聞乃嘆曰：『我受漢茅土，不能立節，而鮑宣死之，豈可害其子也！ 』敕縣出升，復署永功曹。 時，有矯稱侍中止傳舍者，興欲謁之。 永疑其詐，諫不聽而出，興遂駕往，永乃拔佩刀截馬當匈，乃止，後數日，莽詔書果下捕矯稱者，永由是知名。 舉秀才，不應。
He began as merit assessor for the commandery. Because Bao Xuan had defied him, Wang Mang meant to destroy his descendants. Commandant Lu Ping, catching Wang Mang's drift, plotted against Yong. Governor Gou Jian shielded him, took him on staff, and kept him at headquarters; Yong repeatedly urged him to restore the Han and destroy the usurper. Jian often warned him: "Junzhang, when plans leak, disaster walks through your door. Yong took the warning to heart. When Jian died Yong escorted the body to Fufeng; Lu Ping seized his younger brother Sheng. The new governor Zhao Xing said: "I hold Han land yet lacked Bao Xuan's courage—how could I harm his son? He ordered Sheng freed and put Yong back in office as merit assessor. Someone impersonating an attendant-in-ordinary stopped at the post station; Zhao Xing meant to pay a call. Yong doubted the impostor; Zhao Xing rode out anyway until Yong slashed the carriage harness with his sword; days later Wang Mang's warrant proved Yong right and made his name. Recommended as "flowering talent," he declined.
13
更始二年征，再遷尚書僕射，行大將軍事，持節將兵，安集河東、并州、朔部，得自置偏裨，輒行軍法。 永至河東，因擊青犢，大破之，更始封為中陽侯。 永雖為將率，而車服敝素，為道路所識。
In Gengshi 2 he was summoned, rose to masters-of-writing vice-director, acted as grand general with tally and troops, pacified Hedong, Bingzhou, and the northern frontier, appointed subordinates, and enforced military law. In Hedong he smashed the Green Calves band and Gengshi enfeoffed him as marquis of Zhongyang. Though a commander he rode in rough plain dress that everyone on the road recognized.
14
時赤眉害更始，三輔道絕。 光武即位，遣諫議大夫儲大伯，持節征永詣行在所。 永疑不從，乃收系大伯，遣使馳至長安。 既知更始已亡，乃發喪，出大伯等，封上將軍列侯印綬，悉罷兵，但幅巾與諸將及同心客百餘人詣河內。 帝見永，問曰：『卿眾所在？ 』永離席叩頭曰：『臣事更始，不能令全，誠慚以其眾幸富貴，故悉罷之。 』帝曰：『卿言大！ 』而意不悅。 時攻懷未拔，帝謂永曰：『我攻懷三日而兵不下，關東畏服禦，可且將故人自往城下譬之。 』即拜永諫議大夫。 至懷，乃說更始河內太守，於是開城而降。 帝大喜，賜永洛陽商裏宅，固辭不受。
The Red Eyebrows killed Gengshi and cut the roads to the capital region. Guangwu sent remonstrance grandee Chu Dabo with tally to summon Yong to court. Yong hesitated, held Chu Dabo under arrest, and sent riders to Chang'an. Learning Gengshi was dead he mourned, freed Dabo, returned seals, dismissed his army, and with a hundred followers in plain cloth went to Henei. The emperor asked: "Where are your troops? Yong kowtowed: "I served Gengshi and could not save him; I would be ashamed to trade those men for rank—so I sent them home. Guangwu replied: "Noble words! But his face stayed cold. Huai still held out after three days; Guangwu said those east of the pass feared Yong's reputation—he should take old allies below the walls to persuade the city. He named Yong remonstrance grandee on the spot. At Huai he talked Gengshi's governor of Henei into opening the gates. Delighted, Guangwu offered a mansion in Luoyang's Shang quarter; Yong firmly refused.
15
時，董憲裨將屯兵於魯，侵害百姓，乃拜永為魯郡太守。 永到，擊討，大破之，降者數千人。 唯別帥彭豐、虞休、皮常等各千餘人，稱『將軍』，不脹下。 頃之，孔子闕里無故荊棘自除，從講堂至於裏門。 永異之，謂府丞及魯令曰：『方今危急而闕里自開，斯豈夫子欲令太守行禮，助吾誅無道邪？ 』乃會人眾，修鄉射之禮，請豐等共會觀視，欲因此禽之。 豐等亦欲圖永，乃持牛酒勞饗，而潛挾兵器。 永覺之，手格殺豐等，禽破黨與。 帝嘉其略，封為關內侯，遷楊州牧。 時南土尚多寇暴，永以吏人痍傷之後，乃緩其銜轡，示誅強橫而鎮撫其餘，百姓安之。 會遭母憂，去官，悉以財產與孤弟子。
Dong Xian's lieutenant was ravaging Lu; Yong was named governor there. He attacked, routed the enemy, and accepted thousands of surrenders. Splinter leaders Peng Feng, Yu Xiu, Pi Chang and others—over a thousand each—styled themselves generals and refused to yield. Soon thorns at Confucius' hometown cleared themselves from the lecture hall to the lane gate. Yong told his aides: "The sage's lane opens in crisis—is the Master bidding me perform the village archery rite and help purge the wicked? He gathered the people for the archery ceremony and invited Peng Feng to watch—planning to seize him there. Peng Feng meant to trap Yong too and came with ox and wine while hiding weapons. Yong saw through it, slew Peng Feng in hand combat, and broke up the band. The emperor approved his plan, enfeoffed him as marquis within the passes, and named him governor of Yangzhou. The south was still plagued by raiders; Yong eased the reins after war had wounded officials and commoners alike—executing the violent few while reassuring everyone else until the people rested easy. When his mother died he resigned and handed his entire estate to a bereaved nephew.
16
建武十一年，征為司隸校尉。 帝叔父趙王良尊戚貴重，永以事劾良大不敬，由是朝廷肅然，莫不戒慎。 乃辟扶風鮑恢為都官從事，恢亦抗直不避強禦。 帝常曰：『貴戚且宜斂手，以避二鮑。 』其見憚如此。
In Jianwu 11 he was summoned to serve as metropolitan superintendent. When Yong impeached the emperor's uncle, Prince Zhao Liang of Zhao, for grave disrespect, the whole court sat up straight—no one dared take liberties. He employed Bao Hui of Fufeng as metropolitan clerk-investigator—another man as blunt as Yong who did not flinch from the powerful. Guangwu warned his kin: "Keep your hands clean and stay clear of the two Baos. Such was the fear he inspired.
17
永行縣到霸陵，路經更始墓，引車入陌，從事諫止之。 永曰：『親北面事人，寧有過墓不拜！ 雖以獲罪，司隸所不避也。 』遂下拜，哭盡哀而去。 西至扶風，椎牛上茍諫冢。 帝聞之，意不平，問公卿曰：『奉使如此何如？ 』太中大夫張湛對曰：『仁者行之宗，忠者義之主也。 仁不遺舊，忠不忘君，行之高者也。 』帝意乃釋。
Inspecting Baling he passed Gengshi's tomb, turned onto a lane toward it; his aide urged him not to. Yong said: "I once faced north as his subject—how pass his grave without bowing? Even if it costs me—there are duties a metropolitan superintendent does not dodge. He dismounted, bowed, wept his fill, and rode on. West of the capital he slaughtered an ox on Governor Gou Jian's grave. Guangwu heard and bristled; he asked his ministers what he thought of such behavior. Zhang Zhan answered: "Humaneness is the root of conduct; loyalty is the master of duty. The humane do not cast off old ties; the loyal do not forget their lord—that is the summit of conduct. The emperor's anger cooled.
18
後大司徒韓歆坐事，永固請之不得，以此忤帝意，出為東海相。 坐度田事不實，被征，諸郡守多下獄。 永至成臯，詔書逆拜為兗州牧，便道之官。 視事三年，病卒。 子昱。
When Grand Minister Han Xin fell foul of the court Yong pleaded for him in vain and offended Guangwu, who sent him out as chancellor of Donghai. He was cited for false reports on the land survey; many governors landed in jail with him. At Chenggao an edict met him and named him governor of Yanzhou; he took the direct route to his post. After three years in office he fell ill and died. His son was Bao Yu.
19
論曰：鮑永守義於故主，斯可以事新主矣。 恥以其眾受寵，斯可以受大寵矣。 若乃言之者雖誠，而聞之未譬，豈茍進之悅，易以情納，持正之忤，難以理求乎？ 誠能釋利以循道，居方以從義，君子之概也。
The historian concludes: Yong kept faith with his old master—so he could honor the new. Ashamed to trade his troops for favor—he earned the greater favor. When advice is honest yet fails to register, is it because flattery slips in through feeling while plain truth cannot win a hearing on reason alone? To renounce gain for the Way and hold square to righteousness—that is a gentleman's measure.
20
昱字文泉。 少傳父學，客授於東平。 建武初，太行山中有劇賊，太守戴涉聞昱鮑永子，有智略，乃就謁，請署守高都長，昱應之，遂討擊群賊，誅其渠帥，道路開通，由是知名。 後為沘陽長，政化仁愛，境內清凈。
Bao Yu, courtesy name Wenquan. In youth he carried on his father's scholarship and taught abroad in Dongping. Early in Jianwu, Taihang bandits ran riot; Governor Dai She, hearing that Bao Yu was Yong's talented son, called on him and made him acting magistrate of Gaodu. Yu crushed the bands, slew their leaders, and opened the roads—making his name. Later as magistrate of Biyang he ruled with kindness and kept the district calm.
21
荊州刺史表上之，再遷，中元元年，拜司隸校尉，詔昱詣尚書，使封胡降檄。 光武遣小黃門問昱有所怪不？ 對曰：『臣聞故事通官文書不著姓，又當司徒露布，怪使司隸下書而著姓也。 』帝報曰：『吾故欲今天下知忠臣之子復為司隸也。 』昱在職，奉法守正，有父風。 永平五年，坐救火遲，免。
The Jingzhou inspector recommended him; after two promotions, in Zhongyuan 1 he became metropolitan superintendent. The emperor summoned him to the Masters of Writing to seal a proclamation to surrendering barbarians. Guangwu sent a junior Yellow Gate eunuch to ask whether anything struck Yu as odd. Yu replied: "By precedent routine documents omit surnames; edicts for the Grand Minister of Education go bare—yet my commission bears my surname. Guangwu answered: "I meant the empire to see a loyal minister's son serve again as metropolitan superintendent. Yu enforced the law like his father. In Yongping 5 he was dismissed for slow response to a fire.
22
後拜汝南太守。 郡多陂池，歲歲決壞，年費常三千餘萬。 昱乃上作方梁石洫，水常饒足，溉田倍多，人以殷富。
He was later named governor of Runan. The commandery abounded in dikes and reservoirs that burst each year at a cost of thirty million cash or more. Yu built stone sluices and aqueducts so water stayed plentiful; irrigated acreage doubled and the people grew rich.
23
四年，代牟融為太尉，六年，薨，年七十餘。
In year 4 he succeeded Mou Rong as grand commandant; he died in year 6 in his seventies.
24
子德，修誌節，有名稱，累官為南陽太守。 時歲多荒災，唯南陽豐穰。 吏人愛悅，號為神父。 時郡學久廢，德乃修起橫舍，備俎豆黻冕，行禮奏樂。 又尊饗國老，宴會諸儒。 百姓觀者，莫不勸服。 在職九年，征拜大司農，卒於官。
His son Bao De cultivated principle and rose to governor of Nanyang. Years of famine stalked the empire—only Nanyang had full granaries. Officials and commoners loved him and called him "Father Spirit." The county school had long lain idle; De rebuilt the halls, set out vessels and vestments, and held rites with music. He gave place of honor to village elders and feasted local scholars. Every spectator went home persuaded. After nine years he was recalled as grand minister of agriculture and died in office.
25
子昂，字叔雅，有孝義節行。 初，德被病數年，昂俯伏左右，衣不緩帶； 及處喪，毀瘠三年，抱負乃行； 服闋，遂潛於墓次，不關時務。 舉孝廉，辟公府，連征不至，卒於家。
His grandson Bao Ang, courtesy name Shuya, was famed for filial duty and integrity. When De lay ill for years, Ang stayed at his bedside without loosening his belt; in mourning he wasted away for three years and had to be carried; when the rites ended he stayed by the tomb and shunned public life. Recommended as filial and honest and called to high office, he never answered and died at home.
26
郅惲字君章，汝南西平人也。 年十二失母，居喪過禮。 及長，理《韓詩》、《嚴氏春秋》，明天文歷數。
Zhi Yun, courtesy name Junzhang, came from Xiping in Runan. He lost his mother at twelve and mourned beyond the prescribed rites. As a man he mastered the Han school of the Odes and Yan's Spring and Autumn Annals and understood astronomy and numerology.
27
王莽時，寇賊群發，惲乃仰占玄象，嘆謂友人曰：『方今鎮、歲、熒惑並在漢分翼、軫之域，去而復來，漢必再受命，福歸有德。 如有順天發策者，必成大功。 』時左隊大夫逯並素好士，惲說之曰：『當今上天垂象，智者以昌，愚者以亡。 昔伊尹自鬻輔商，立功全人。 惲竊不遜，敢希伊尹之蹤，應天人之變。 明府儻不疑逆，俾成天德。 』並奇之，使署為吏。 惲不謁，曰：『昔文王拔呂尚於渭濱，高宗禮傅說於巖築，桓公取管仲於射鉤，故能立弘烈，就元勛。 未聞師相仲父，而可為吏位也。 非窺天者不可與圖遠。 君不授驥以重任，驥亦俯首裹足而去耳。 』遂不受署。
Under Wang Mang, Yun read the stars and told friends: "Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars stand together in the Wings and Chariot—the Han asterism; they left and returned—Han will receive the mandate again and fortune will favor the worthy. Whoever answers Heaven's call will win a great achievement. Lu Bing of the Left Corps loved talent; Yun urged him: "Heaven is signing—wise men rise and fools fall. Yi Yin once sold himself to aid Shang and saved the people. I dare aspire to Yi Yin's path and answer Heaven and humanity. If you do not doubt omens of revolt, you will fulfill Heaven's power. Bing marveled and offered him a clerkship. Yun declined: "Wen met Taigong by the Wei; Wuding hailed Fu Yue from the cliffs; Huan Gong took Guan Zhong from captivity—never were chief ministers hired as mere clerks. No one ever treated a chief counselor like a petty clerk. Only one who reads Heaven may plan for the long term. If you will not give the stallion a great burden, it will lower its head and walk away. He refused the post.
28
西至長安，乃上書王莽曰：
In Chang'an he submitted a memorial to Wang Mang:
29
臣聞天地重其人，惜其物，故運機衡，垂日月，含元包一，甄陶品類，顯表紀世，圖錄豫設。 漢歷久長，孔為赤制，不使愚惑，殘人亂時。 智者順以成德，愚者逆以取害，神器有命，不可虛獲。 上天垂戒，欲悟陛下，令就臣位，轉禍為福。 劉氏享天永命，陛下順節盛衰，取之以天，還之以天，可謂知命矣。 若不早圖，是不免於竊位也。 且堯、舜不以天顯自與，故禪天下，陛下何貪非天顯以自累也？ 天為陛下嚴父，臣為陛下孝子。 父教不可廢，子諫不可拒，惟陛下留神。
Your servant has heard that Heaven and Earth treasure mankind and their creatures; they set the Dipper, raise sun and moon, fashion all things, and ordain the succession long before it arrives. Han's span was fixed in Confucius' crimson charter so that fools would not misrule the age. The wise succeed by following Heaven; the foolish perish by opposing it—the throne has its destiny and cannot be seized in vain. Heaven warns you to step down from usurped rank and turn doom into blessing. The house of Liu holds Heaven's long decree; you took power when fate waned—take it from Heaven and return it to Heaven and you may be called wise to destiny. Refuse to plan now and you steal the throne beyond recall. Yao and Shun did not monopolize celestial omens but yielded the realm—why cling to a stolen sign and ruin yourself? Heaven is your stern father; your servant is your dutiful son. A father's lesson stands; a son's warning must be heard—think on this.
30
莽大怒，即收系詔獄，劾以大逆。 猶以惲據經讖，難即害之，使黃門近臣脅惲，令自告狂病恍忽，不覺所言。 惲乃瞋目詈曰：『所陳皆天文聖意，非狂人所能造。 』遂系須冬，會赦得出，乃與同郡鄭敬南遁蒼梧。
Wang Mang flew into a rage, jailed him under the edict prison, and charged him with high treason. Because Yun cited omens, Mang hesitated to kill him and had eunuchs pressure him to plead madness. Yun glared and swore: "Every word came from Heaven's pattern—not mad ravings. He was held until winter; after an amnesty he fled south with Zheng Jing of his district to Cangwu.
31
建武三年，又至廬江，因遇積弩將軍傅俊東徇揚州。 俊素聞惲名，乃禮請之，上為將兵長史，授以軍政。 惲乃誓眾曰：『無掩人不備，窮人於厄，不得斷人支體，裸人形骸，放淫婦女。 』俊軍士猶發冢陳屍，掠奪百姓。 惲諫俊曰：『昔文王不忍露白骨，武王不以天下易一人之命，故能獲天地之應，克商如林之旅。 將軍如何不師法文王，而犯逆天地之禁，多傷人害物，虐及枯屍，取罪神明？ 今不謝天改政，無以全命。 願將軍親率士卒，收傷葬死，哭所殘暴，以明非將軍本意也。 』從之，百姓悅服，所向皆下。
In Jianwu 3 he was in Lujiang when Massed-Crossbow General Fu Jun campaigned east through Yangzhou. Fu Jun, who had long heard of Yun, treated him with ceremony and had him named senior clerk with military authority. Yun harangued the troops: "Strike no unprepared foe; drive no foe to hopeless straits; mutilate no captives, strip no corpses, molest no women. Jun's men still looted tombs and ravaged the people. Yun urged Fu Jun: "King Wen would not leave bones bare; King Wu would not trade the realm for one life—thus they won Heaven and shattered Shang like chaff. Why not imitate Wen yet break Heaven's law, harm the living and dead, and offend the gods? Unless you repent and change course you cannot save your mandate. Lead the troops yourself: bury the dead, mourn the wronged, and show the world this was not your wish. Jun obeyed; the people rejoiced and every city submitted.
32
七年，俊還京師，而上論之。 惲恥以軍功取位，遂辭歸鄉裏。 縣令卑身崇禮，請以為門下掾。 惲友人董子張者，父先為鄉人所害。 及子張病，將終，惲往候之。 子張垂歿，視惲，歔欷不能言。 惲曰：『吾知子不悲天命，而痛仇不復也。 子在，吾憂而不手； 子亡，吾手而不憂也。 』子張但目擊而已。 惲即起，將客遮仇人，取其頭以示子張。 子張見而氣絕。 惲因而詣縣，以狀自首。 令應之遲，惲曰：『為友報仇，吏之私也。 奉法不阿，君之義也。 虧君以生，非臣節也。 』趨出就獄。 令跣而追惲，不及，遂自至獄，令拔刃自向以要惲曰：『子不從我出，敢以死明心。 』惲得此乃出，因病去。
In year 7 Fu Jun returned to the capital and praised him to the throne. Ashamed to gain office by mere battlefield credit, Yun went home. The county magistrate humbled himself and offered Yun a post as clerk. His friend Dong Zizhang's father had been murdered by townsfolk. When Zizhang lay dying Yun visited him. Zizhang, near death, could only stare at Yun and weep. Yun said: "You do not fear death—you ache that your father is unavenged. While you lived I held back from striking in your stead; Now that you are gone I will kill without regret. Zizhang answered only with his eyes. Yun rose at once, led his men to cut off his enemy, and brought the head back for Zizhang to see. Zizhang looked—and died. He went straight to the magistrate and gave himself up. When the magistrate hesitated, Yun said: "Blood revenge for a friend is my private duty as your clerk. Serving the law without favor—that is your honor as magistrate. I cannot save myself at your expense—that would violate every duty I owe you. He strode to the jail and locked himself in. The magistrate ran after him barefoot, failed to overtake, followed him into the cell, and set a blade to his own breast: "Leave with me or I die to prove my heart. Yun relented; he later resigned on grounds of illness.
33
久之，太守歐陽歙請為功曹。 汝南舊俗，十月饗會，百里內縣皆賫牛酒到府宴飲。 時臨饗禮訖，歙教曰：『西部督郵繇延，天資忠貞，稟性公方，摧破奸兇，不嚴而理。 今與眾儒共論延功，顯之於朝。 太守敬嘉厥休，牛酒養德。 』主簿讀教，戶曹引延受賜。 惲於下坐愀然前曰：『司正舉觥，以君之罪，告謝於天。 案延資性貪邪，外方內員，朋黨構奸，罔上害人，所在荒亂，怨慝並作。 明府以惡為善，股肱以直從曲，此既無君，又復無臣，惲敢再拜奉觥。 』歙色慚動，不知所言。 門下掾鄭敬進曰：『君明臣直，功曹言切，明府德也。 可無受觥哉？ 』歙意少解，曰：『實歙罪也，敬奉觥。 』惲乃免寇謝曰：『昔虞舜輔堯，四罪鹹服，讒言弗庸，孔任不行，故能作股肱，帝用有歌。 惲不忠，孔任是昭，豺虎從政，既陷誹謗，又露所言，罪莫重焉。 請收惲、延，以明好惡。 』歙曰：『是重吾過也。 』遂不宴而罷。 惲歸府，稱病，延亦自退。
Later Governor Ouyang She named him merit assessor. By old Runan custom, in the tenth month every county within a hundred li hauled beef and wine to the commandery for a great feast. When the rite ended, She announced: "Our western clerk Yao Yan is loyal, just, and has broken the bandits without harshness. I ask the scholars to praise his deeds and make them known at court. I honor his goodness with this beef and wine. The chief clerk read the order; the household clerk led Yan forward to accept the gift. From the lowest seat Yun stepped forward: "The toastmaster lifts the cup against your offense before Heaven. Yan is greedy and crooked: square in face, round in theft; he forms cliques, cheats his superiors, and leaves turmoil and hatred wherever he serves. When you call such a man good and your aides bow to wrong, there is neither true ruler nor true minister—I offer this cup of reproof. She flushed and could not answer. Clerk Zheng Jing said: "A wise governor welcomes blunt counsel—that proves your virtue. Will you refuse the cup? She said: "The fault is mine—I drink. Yun bowed: "When Shun aided Yao the Four Evils fell; slander failed and bad appointments ceased—then ministers became true limbs and the emperor had cause to sing. I have been disloyal by exposing this villain; jackals hold office and my charge rings louder—no guilt weighs more than mine. Arrest Yun and Yan together and let the court judge good from evil. She answered: "That would only deepen my shame. He broke off the feast. Yun went home feigning illness; Yan resigned as well.
34
鄭敬素與惲厚，見其言許歙，乃相招去，曰：『子廷爭繇延，君猶不納。 延今雖去，其勢必還。 直心無諱，誠三代之道。 然道不同者不相為謀，吾不能忍見子有不容君之危，盍去之乎！ 』惲曰：『孟軻以強其君之所不能為忠，量其君之所不能為賊。 惲業已強之矣。 障君於朝，既有其直，而不死職，罪也。 延退而惲又去，不可。 』敬乃獨隱於弋陽山中，居數月，歙果復召延，惲於是乃去，從敬止，漁釣自娛，留數十日。 惲誌在從政，既乃喟然而嘆，謂敬曰：『天生俊士，以為人也。 鳥獸不可與同群，子從我為伊、呂乎？ 將為巢、許，而父老堯、舜乎？ 』敬曰：『吾足矣。 初從生步重華於南野，謂來歸為松子，今幸得全軀樹類，還奉墳墓，盡學問道，雖不從政，施之有政，是亦為政也。 吾年耄矣，安得從子？ 子勉正性命，勿勞神以害生。 』惲於是告別而去。 敬字次都，清誌高世，光武連征不到。
Zheng Jing, Yun's friend, said: "You challenged Yan in open court and the governor still would not listen. Yan may leave but he will surely come back. Plain speech without concealment was the way of the Three Ages. Men who differ in principle cannot scheme together—I cannot watch you risk banishment—let us go! Yun quoted Mencius: "To urge on your lord past his strength is loyalty; to demand what he cannot give is harm. I have already pressed him hard. Having challenged him in open court, to flee office now would itself be a crime. If Yan goes and I follow, it cannot be done. Jing hid alone in the Yiyang hills; months later She recalled Yan, and Yun joined Jing to fish and idle away weeks. Yun still hungered for office and sighed to Jing: "Heaven breeds heroes for the world's use. Will you roam with beasts or follow me as Yi Yin and Lü Wang? Or hide like Chaofu and Xu You while I serve Yao and Shun? Jing said: "I have had enough. Long ago I walked with Shun in the southern wastes and dreamed of becoming the immortal Chisongzi; now I am content to keep this body, tend my parents' graves, and study—though I hold no office, teaching is also ruling. I am too old to march with you. Tend your nature and spare your soul. Yun said farewell and departed. Zheng Jing, courtesy name Cidu, kept aloof; Guangwu summoned him many times in vain.
35
惲遂客居江夏教授，郡舉孝廉，為上東城門候。 帝嘗出獵，車駕夜還，惲拒關不開。 帝令從者見面於門間。 惲曰：『火明遼遠』。 遂不受詔。 帝乃回從東中門入。 明日，惲上書諫曰：『昔文王不敢槃於遊田，以萬人惟憂。 而陛下遠獵山林，夜以繼晝，其於社稷宗廟何？ 暴虎馮河，未至之戒，誠小臣所竊憂也。 』書奏，賜布百匹，貶東中門候為參封尉。 後令惲授皇太子《韓詩》，侍講殿中。 及郭皇後廢。 惲乃言於帝曰：『臣聞夫婦之好，父不能得之於子，況臣能得之於君乎？ 是臣所不敢言。 雖然，願陛下念其可否之計，無令天下有議社稷而已。 』帝曰：『惲善恕己量主，知我必不有所左右而輕天也。 』後既廢，而太子意不自安，惲乃說太子曰：『久處疑位，上違孝道，下近危殆。 昔高宗明君，吉甫賢臣，及有纖介，放逐孝子。 《春秋》之義，母以子貴。 太子宜因左右及諸皇子引愆退身，奉養母氏，以明聖教，不背所生。 』太子從之，帝竟聽許。
Yun taught in Jiangxia, was recommended as filial and honest, and became warden of the Upper East Gate. The emperor returned from a hunt by night; Yun would not open the gate. Guangwu told his escort to show themselves in the gate light. Yun called back: "The light is too distant to tell who you are." He refused the order until sure. The emperor detoured through the Eastern Middle Gate. Next day he memorialized: "King Wen would not sport in the fields while his people suffered. Yet Your Majesty hunts deep in the hills day and night—what of the altars and shrines? Rushing tigers and fording rivers—the Classic warns before disaster—I tremble for you. Guangwu sent silk but demoted the eastern middle gate warden to commandant of Shenfeng. He was later told to instruct the heir apparent in the Han Odes inside the palace. When Empress Guo was set aside. Yun told the emperor: "Even a father cannot command love between husband and wife—how dare a subject lecture his ruler? That is why I held my tongue. Still I beg you to weigh the matter lest the realm rumble about the fate of the state. Guangwu answered: "Yun knows how to put himself in my place—he trusts I would not twist Heaven's intent for private ends. After the empress fell the heir lived in fear; Yun urged him: "To linger in doubt offends filial piety above and courts ruin below. King Gaozong and Jifu were paragons, yet the slightest fault sent the dutiful crown prince into exile. The Spring and Autumn Annals say the mother rises with the son. Withdraw through your brothers, serve your mother's kin, and prove you do not abandon her who bore you. The heir obeyed and the emperor consented.
36
惲再遷長沙太守。 先是，長沙有孝子古初，遭父喪未葬，鄰人失火，初匍匐柩上，以身扞火，火為之滅。 惲甄異之，以為首舉。 後坐事左轉芒長，又免歸，避地教授，著書八篇。 以病卒。 子壽。
Yun rose twice to governor of Changsha. Earlier, Gu Chu of Changsha had lain on his father's unburied coffin to stop a neighbor's fire and smothered the flames. Yun singled him out and ranked him first among recommendations. Later he was demoted to magistrate of Mang, dismissed, taught privately, and wrote eight essays. He died of illness. His son was Zhi Shou.
37
壽字伯孝，善文章，以廉能稱，舉孝廉，稍遷冀州刺史。 時，冀部屬郡多封諸王。 賓客放縱，類不檢節，壽案察之，無所容貸。 乃使部從事專住王國，又徙督郵舍王宮外，動靜失得，即時騎驛言上奏王罪及劾傅相，於是藩國畏懼，並為遵節。 視事三年，冀土肅清。 三遷尚書令。 朝廷每有疑議，常獨進見。 肅宗奇其智策，擢為京兆尹。 郡多強豪，奸暴不禁。 三輔素聞壽在冀州，皆懷震竦，各相檢敕，莫敢幹犯。 壽雖威嚴，而推誠下吏，皆願效死，莫有欺者。 以公事免。 復征為尚書僕射。
Zhi Shou, courtesy name Boxiao, excelled at prose and was known for honesty; recommended as filial and honest, he rose to inspector of Jizhou. Many commanderies in Ji hosted imperial princes. Their retainers ran wild; Shou investigated relentlessly and granted no indulgence. He stationed aides in each kingdom, moved the supervising clerks outside princely gates, and reported every fault by courier—soon every fief trembled and obeyed the law. In three years he cleared Ji province. Three promotions brought him to supervisor of the Masters of Writing. Whenever court debated a doubt, he often saw the emperor alone. Emperor Zhang admired his counsel and named him governor of the capital region. The capital teemed with bullies the law could not check. The three capital districts had heard of his work in Jizhou—everyone quaked and minded their conduct. Though fierce with magnates, he dealt honestly with subordinates; they would die for him and none deceived him. He lost office over an administrative matter. He was recalled as masters-of-writing vice-director.
38
是時，大將軍竇憲以外戚之寵，威傾天下。 憲嘗使門生賫書詣壽，有所請托，壽即送詔獄。 前後上書陳憲驕恣，引王莽以誡國家。 是時，憲征匈奴，海內供其役費，百憲及其弟篤、景並起第宅，驕奢非法，百姓苦之。 壽以府臧空虛，軍旅未休，遂因朝會譏刺憲等，厲音正色，辭旨甚切。 憲怒，陷壽以買公田誹謗，下吏當誅。 侍御史何敞上疏理之曰：『臣聞聖王辟四門，開四聰，延直言之路，下不諱之詔，立敢諫之旗，聽歌謠於路，爭臣七人，以自鑒照，考知政理，違失人心，輒改更之，故天人並應，傳福無窮。 臣伏見尚書僕射郅壽坐於臺上，與諸尚書論擊匈奴，言議過差，及上書請買公田，遂系獄考劾大不敬。 臣愚以為壽機密近臣，匡救為職。 若懷默不言，其罪當誅。 今壽違眾正議，以安宗廟，豈其私邪？ 又臺閣平事，分爭可否，雖唐、虞之隆，三代之盛，猶謂諤諤以昌，不以誹謗為罪。 請買公田，人情細過，可裁隱忍。 壽若被誅，臣恐天下以為國家橫罪忠直，賊傷和氣，忤逆陰陽。 臣所以敢犯嚴威，不避夷滅，觸死瞽言，非為壽也。 忠臣盡節，以死為歸。 臣雖不知壽，度其甘心安之。 誠不欲聖朝行誹謗之誅，以傷晏晏之化，杜塞忠直，垂譏無窮。 臣敞謬豫機密，言所不宜，罪名明白，當填牢獄，先壽僵仆，萬死有餘。 』書奏，壽得減死，論徙合浦。 未行，自殺，家屬得歸鄉裏。
Grand General Dou Xian, favored as imperial in-law, overshadowed the realm. Dou once sent a follower with a note soliciting favor; Shou jailed the man at once. He repeatedly memorialized against Dou's arrogance, citing Wang Mang as a warning. While Dou campaigned against the Xiongnu at public expense, he and his brothers Du and Jing raised mansions in lavish defiance of statute—the people groaned under the burden. With the treasury empty and armies still in the field, Shou mocked Dou at court in harsh rebukes. Dou retaliated with charges about buying public land and demanded execution. Attendant censor He Chang argued: "Sage kings kept channels open for criticism and swift reform—Heaven and earth answered with blessing. He noted that Shou had debated the Xiongnu campaign heatedly and sought to buy public land—hardly crimes worthy of prison. Shou stands at the emperor's side to right wrongs. Silence in crisis would deserve death. Now he speaks against the crowd to protect the shrines—how is that private interest? Even in Yao and Shun's age ministers wrangled openly—truth flourishes when frank speech is no crime. Buying land is a venial fault that mercy may cover. Execute Shou and the world will say the court murders loyalty and wounds Heaven's balance. I brave your wrath and risk annihilation to speak though death closes my eyes—not for Zhi Shou's sake alone. A loyal subject serves to the limit and accepts death as his destination. I scarcely know Shou, yet I believe he would bear the sentence without regret. I cannot bear to see the dynasty punish honest speech, wound mild rule, choke off loyal men, and invite endless shame. I intruded on secrets I should not know and spoke out of turn—my guilt is plain; I belong in chains before Shou falls—death ten thousand times over would not suffice. When the memorial went up, Shou's sentence was commuted from death to exile in Hepu. Before he set out he took his own life; his family was allowed home.
39
【贊】
Eulogy
40
贊曰：鮑永沈吟，晚乃歸正。 誌達義全，先號後慶。 申屠對策，郅惲上書。 有道雖直，無道不愚。
The summation runs: Bao Yong hesitated long before he turned to the right path. His purpose matched duty and brought him through lament to blessing. Shentu Gang answered the examination; Zhi Yun laid memorials before the throne. Under a rightful Way they were blunt; even in a wrongful age they were never fools.