1
後漢書卷五十四楊震列傳第四十四
Book of Later Han, Volume 54: Biography of Yang Zhen (biographical series 44).
2
子秉孫賜曾孫彪玄孫修*
His line continued through son Bing, grandson Ci, great-grandson Biao, and great-great-grandson Xiu.*
3
1.3.1彪子修
1.3.1 Yang Xiu, son of Yang Biao.
4
楊震字伯起，弘農華陰人也。 八世祖喜，高祖時有功，封赤泉侯。 [1]高祖敞，昭帝時為丞相，封安平侯。 父寶，[二]習歐陽尚書。 哀﹑平之世，隱居教授。 居攝二年，與兩龔﹑蔣詡俱征，遂遁逃，不知所處。 [三]光武高其節。 建武中，公車特徵，老病不到，卒於家。
Yang Zhen, styled Boqi, was a native of Huayin in Hongnong commandery. Eight generations back, his ancestor Xi had earned distinction under Han Emperor Gaozu and received the title Marquis of Chiquan. [1] A more remote forebear, Chang, served as chancellor under Emperor Zhao and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Anping. His father, Bao, was trained in the Ouyang tradition of the Book of Documents. Under Emperors Ai and Ping he withdrew from public life and taught privately. In the second year of Wang Mang's regency he was called to court with Gong Sheng, Gong She, and Jiang Xu; he fled into hiding and disappeared. [3] Emperor Guangwu admired his moral resolve. In the Jianwu era the court summoned him by special edict, but citing age and illness he never took office and died at home.
5
注[二]續齊諧記曰：「寶年九歲時，至華陰山北，見一黃雀為鴟梟所搏，墜於樹下，為螻蟻所困。 寶取之以歸，置巾箱中，唯食黃花，百餘日毛羽成，乃飛去。 其夜有黃衣童子向寶再拜曰：『我西王母使者，君仁愛救拯，實感成濟。 』以白環四枚與寶：『令君子孫潔白，位登三事，當如此環矣。 』」注[三]龔勝字君賓，龔捨字君倩，蔣詡字符卿，並以高節著名。 見前書。
[2] The Supplementary Qi Xie Ji relates that at nine Bao went north of Mount Huayin and found a yellow sparrow snatched by a great horned owl, fallen to the ground and beset by ants. He carried it home, kept it in a cloth-lined box, fed it yellow blossoms alone; after a hundred-odd days it was fully fledged and flew off. That night a child in yellow appeared, bowed twice to Bao, and said, 'I am a messenger of the Queen Mother of the West; your kindness in rescuing me has brought me through.' ' He presented four white jade rings: 'May your descendants remain unstained in honor and reach the three highest offices—pure as these rings.' '" [3] Gong Sheng (Junbin), Gong She (Junqian), and Jiang Xu (Yuanqing) were all celebrated for their upright conduct. See the accounts in the Book of Han.
6
震少好學，受歐陽尚書於太常桓郁，明經博覽，無不窮究。 諸儒為之語曰：「關西孔子楊伯起。 」常客居於湖，[一]不荅州郡禮命數十年，[二]觿人謂之晚暮，而震志愈篤。 後有冠雀銜三鱣魚，飛集講堂前，[三]都講取魚進曰：「蛇鱣者，卿大夫服之象也。 數三者，法三台也。 先生自此升矣。 」年五十，乃始仕州郡。
From boyhood Yang Zhen loved study. He learned the Ouyang Book of Documents from Huan Yu, the Chamberlain for Ceremonials, mastered the canonical texts, and read so broadly that nothing escaped his scrutiny. Scholars nicknamed him: 'West of the passes, the Confucius is Yang Boqi.' ' He often lived as a guest at Lake [town], [1] declining provincial and commandery appointments for decades; [2] neighbors said he had missed his moment, but his purpose only deepened. Then a stork appeared with three sturgeon in its bill and settled before the lecture hall; [3] the chief student picked up the fish and presented them, saying, 'The sturgeon resembles ministers' ceremonial patterns—the insignia of the Three Dukes.' Three fish mirror the Three Terraces of state. From this day the master will rise to high office. ' Only at fifty did he begin his career in provincial and local government.
7
注[一]今湖城縣。
[1] That place is present-day Hucheng county.
8
注[二]續漢* (志) **[書]*曰「教授二十餘年，州請召，數稱病不就。 少孤貧，獨與母居，假地種殖，以給供養，諸生嘗有助種藍者，震輒拔，更以距其後，鄉里稱孝」也。
[2] From the Continuation of the Book of Later Han— (treatise) —the text says: 'He lectured for more than twenty years; the province called him again and again, but he always pleaded illness and refused.' Orphaned and poor in youth, he lived alone with his mother, rented land to farm for their support. When students tried to help him grow indigo, he uprooted the plants and moved the crop farther off so they could not profit him—the neighbors called him a model of filial devotion.'"
9
注[三]冠音貫，即鸛雀也。 鱣音善。 韓子云：「鱣似蛇。 」臣賢案：續漢及謝承書「鱣」字皆作「釧」，然則「鱣」「釧」古字通也。 鱣魚長者不過三尺，黃地黑文，故都講云「蛇釧，卿大夫之服象也」。 郭璞云「鱣魚長二三丈，音知然反」，安有鸛雀能勝二三丈乎？ 此為鱣明矣。
[3] 'Capped sparrow' (guan) is read like guan—the stork (guanque). Zhan (sturgeon) is pronounced like shan. Han Feizi says the sturgeon resembles a snake. ' Commentator Li Xian observed that in the Continuation Han and Xie Cheng's Later Han the graphs are written chuan instead of zhan—the two forms were equivalent. Real sturgeon reach only three chi, yellow with black markings—hence the lecturer's phrase 'snakelike chuan' matched ministers' robe patterns. Guo Pu describes fish two or three zhang long—no stork could lift such quarry. The text must mean the smaller sturgeon, not Guo Pu's giant fish.
10
大將軍鄧騭聞其賢而辟之，舉茂才，四遷荊州刺史﹑東萊太守。 當之郡，道經昌邑，[一]故所舉荊州茂才王密為昌邑令，謁見，至夜懷金十斤以遺震。 震曰：「故人知君，君不知故人，何也？ 」密曰：「暮夜無知者。 」震曰：「天知，神知，我知，子知。 何謂無知！ 」密愧而出。 後轉涿郡太守。 性公廉，不受私謁。 子孫常蔬食步行，故舊長者或欲令為開產業，震不肯，曰：「使後世稱為清白吏子孫，以此遺之，不亦厚乎！」
The general-in-chief Deng Zhi recruited him on reputation, nominated him as a flourishing talent, and Yang rose through four posts to Inspector of Jing province and Governor of Donglai. En route to his post he stopped at Changyi, where Wang Mi—once his nominee as flourishing talent from Jing—was magistrate. Wang came to call and that night tried to gift him ten jin of gold. Zhen replied, 'An old friend ought to know you; evidently you do not know your old friend—why is that?' ' Wang said, 'No one will see us at this hour.' ' Zhen answered, 'Heaven knows, the spirits know, I know, and you know.' How can you say no one knows?' ' Ashamed, Wang withdrew. He was later transferred to governor of Zhuo commandery. He was famously honest and refused private solicitations. His family lived plainly—vegetarian meals and travel on foot. When friends urged him to secure land or wealth for them, he refused: 'If later ages simply call my heirs the children of an honest official, I will have left them enough.'"
11
注[一]昌邑故城在今兗州金鄉縣西北也。
[1] The ruins of Changyi lie northwest of Jinxiang county in Yanzhou.
12
元初四年，征入為太僕，遷太常。 先是博士選舉多不以實，震舉薦明經名士陳留楊倫等，[一]顯傳學業，諸儒稱之。
In Yuanchu 4 he was recalled to court as Grand Coachman and soon promoted to Chamberlain for Ceremonials. Doctoral appointments had long been corrupt; Yang nominated distinguished scholars of the classics such as Yang Lun of Chenliu, [1] putting scholarship first—and the scholarly community applauded him.
13
注[一]倫字仲桓。 謝承書云：「薦楊仲桓等五人，各從家拜博士。」
[1] Yang Lun's courtesy name was Zhonghuan. Xie Cheng's Later Han records: 'He put forward Yang Zhonghuan and five others, each of whom received a doctoral appointment without leaving home.'"
14
永寧元年，代劉愷為司徒。 明年，鄧太后崩，內寵始橫。 安帝乳母王聖，因保養之勤，緣恩放恣； 聖子女伯榮出入宮掖，傳通姦賂。 震上疏曰：
In Yongning 1 he succeeded Liu Kai as Minister of Education (Situ). The following year Empress Dowager Deng passed away, and palace favorites began to throw their weight around unchecked. Emperor An's wet nurse Wang Sheng, trading on years of caring for the emperor, parlayed imperial favor into license; her daughter Borong passed freely through the inner palace, brokering intrigue and bribes. Yang Zhen presented a memorial:
15
臣聞政以得賢為本，理以去穢為務。 [一]是以唐虞俊乂在官，四凶流放，天上咸服，以致雍熙。 [二]方今九德未事，[三]嬖倖充庭。 [四]阿母王聖出自賤微，得遭千載，奉養聖躬，雖有推燥居濕之勤，[五]前後賞惠，過報勞苦，而無厭之心，不知紀極，[六]外交屬托，擾亂天下，損辱清朝，塵點日月。 書誡牝雞牡鳴，[七]詩刺哲婦喪國。 [八]昔鄭嚴公從母氏之欲，恣驕弟之情，幾至危國，然後加討，春秋貶之，以為失教。 [九]夫女子小人，近之喜，遠之怨，實為難養。 [一０]易曰：『無攸遂，在中饋。 』[一一]言婦人不得與於政事也。 宜速出阿母，令居外捨，斷絕伯榮，莫使往來，令恩德兩隆，上下俱美。 惟陛下絕婉孌之私，割不忍之心，[一二]留神萬機，誡慎拜爵，減省獻御，損節征發。 令野無鶴鳴之歎，[一三]朝無小明之悔，[一四]大東不興於今，[一五]勞止不怨於下。 [一六]擬蹤往古，比德哲王，豈不休哉！
I have always understood that good government rests on appointing the worthy, and good order on purging what is base. [1] Hence under Yao and Shun worthy men filled office, the Four Fiends were cast out, even Heaven gave its assent, and harmony prevailed. [2] Today the Nine Virtues go unattended; [3] petty favorites crowd the palace. [4] Nurse Wang Sheng began in humble station yet came to nurture the sovereign—a privilege rare in a thousand years. Even counting her sleepless nights beside the crib, [5] every grace she has received already outweighs that labor, yet her greed knows no bounds; [6] outside the palace she peddles influence, unsettles the empire, stains this enlightened reign, and casts a shadow over Your Majesty's brilliance. The Documents forbid hens that crow like roosters; [7] the Odes lampoon clever women who bring ruin upon a state. [8] Long ago Duke Zhuang of Zheng indulged his mother's whims and his spoiled younger brother until the state nearly collapsed—only then did he strike; the Annals fault him for neglecting proper upbringing. [9] Women and petty men flatter you when indulged and resent you when kept at arm's length—they are the hardest company to manage. [10] The Book of Changes says, 'She has no business abroad; her place is the kitchen.' ' [11] meaning that women must not meddle in state affairs. Send the wet nurse out of the inner quarters to a house beyond the walls, cut off Borong's access to the palace, and let no further traffic pass between them—so your grace to them and your virtue to the realm may both stand complete. I beg you to set aside private affection, harden your heart where partiality tempts you, [12] give the myriad affairs of state your full attention, ennoble only the deserving, scale back what is lavished on the harem, and ease taxes and corvée. Then the countryside will not echo the laments of the 'Crane Cry,' [13] the morning court will not relive the remorse of 'Small Bright,' [14] the torments sung in 'Great East' will find no echo today, [15] and common folk who toil will harbor no grievance. [16] Walk in the footsteps of ancient sage-kings and align your virtue with theirs—could any ruler wish for a finer achievement?
16
奏御，帝以示阿母等，內幸皆懷忿恚。 而伯榮驕淫尤甚，與故朝陽侯劉護從兄纓交通，[一七]纓遂以為妻，得襲護爵，位至侍中。
The emperor handed the memorial to the wet nurse and her allies; the palace favorites boiled with resentment. Borong grew ever more brazen and dissolute; she took up with Ying, the former Marquis of Chaoyang Liu Hu's cousin. [17] Ying married her, inherited Hu's title, and climbed to Palace Attendant.
17
震深疾之，復詣闕上疏曰：
Yang Zhen found this intolerable and went again to the palace with another memorial:
18
臣聞高祖與腢臣約，非功臣不得封，故經制父死子繼，兄亡弟及，以防篡也。 [一八]伏見詔書封故朝陽侯劉護再從兄纓襲護爵為侯。 護同產弟威，今猶見在。 臣聞天子專封封有功，諸侯專爵爵有德。 今纓無佗功行，但以配阿母女，一時之閒，既位侍中，又至封侯，不稽舊制，不合經義，行人諠嘩，百姓不安。 陛下宜覽鏡既往，順帝之則。
I understand that Han Gaozu pledged his ministers that only men of proven merit would receive fiefs—hence the rule of father-to-son and brother-to-brother succession, meant to block usurpation. [18] I have read an edict making Ying—Liu Hu's second cousin—marquis in Hu's place. Yet Liu Hu's own brother Wei is still living. The Son of Heaven awards fiefs only for merit; nobles ennoble only the deserving. Ying has achieved nothing beyond marrying the wet nurse's daughter; overnight he holds Palace Attendant and a marquisate—contrary to precedent and the classics. Travelers gossip; the people are unsettled. Your Majesty should take the past as a mirror and follow the pattern set by your imperial predecessors.
19
書奏不省。
The throne ignored his plea.
20
注[一]墨子曰：「夫尚賢者，政本也。 」左傳曰：「為國者，如農夫之務去草焉。」
[1] Mozi states: 'Elevating the worthy is the foundation of rule.' ' The Zuo Commentary adds: 'Governing a realm is like farming—you must tear out the weeds.'"
21
注[二]尚書曰：「四罪而天下咸服。 」又曰：「黎人於變時雍，庶績咸熙。 」雍，和也。 熙，廣也。
[2] The Book of Documents: 'Four criminals punished—and the realm submitted.' ' It also reads: 'The people were transformed in harmonious season; every duty prospered.' ' Yong here means harmony. Xi means flourishing or widespread.
22
注[三]尚書戲繇謨曰：「亦行有九德：寬而栗，柔而立，願而龔，亂而敬，擾而毅，直而溫，簡而廉，剛而塞，強而誼。 」又曰：「九德咸事，俊乂在官。」
[3] The Counsels of Gao Yao in the Book of Documents enumerates the nine virtues—generosity balanced with discipline, suppleness with backbone, and seven further pairings that define fit characters for office.' ' The text continues: 'When those virtues are all at work, the worthy fill the government.'"
23
注[四]謚法曰：「賤而得愛曰嬖。」
[4] Canon of posthumous names: 'One who is base yet favored is called a pet (bi).'
24
注[五]孝經援神契曰「母之於子也，鞠養殷勤，推燥居濕，絕少分甘」也。
[5] The Xiaojing Yuanshen Qi describes a mother's care—she takes the damp bed and gives the dry, saves the savory bit for her child.'"
25
注[六]左傳曰，縉雲氏有不材子，聚斂積實，不知紀極。
[6] The Zuo Commentary tells of a worthless son of the Jinyun clan who piled up riches without satiety.
26
注[七]牝，雌也。 牡，雄也。 尚書：「古人有言，牝雞無晨，牝雞之晨，唯家之索。」
[7] Pin denotes the female. Mu denotes the male. The Documents warn: 'As the ancients said, let no hen announce the dawn—if she crows, the household is doomed.'"
27
注[八]詩大雅曰：「哲夫成城，哲婦傾城。」
[8] The 'Sheng Min' ode says: 'A wise husband builds the wall; a wise wife overturns it.'"
28
注[九]嚴公，莊公也，避明帝諱改焉。 左傳，鄭莊公殺母弟段，稱鄭伯，譏失教也。
[9] 'Duke Yan' stands for Duke Zhuang of Zheng, renamed to honor Emperor Ming's taboo. The Zuo Commentary records Duke Zhuang executing his brother yet styles him merely 'Earl of Zheng'—a rebuke for failed upbringing.
29
注[一０]論語曰「唯女子與小人為難養，近之則不遜，遠之則怨」也。
[10] The Analects: 'Women and petty men are hardest to serve—intimate with them and they grow rude; keep distance and they turn bitter.'"
30
注[一一]家人卦六二爻辭也。 鄭玄注曰：「二為陰爻，得正於內； 五，陽爻也，得正於外。 猶婦人自修正於內，丈夫修正於外。 無攸遂，言婦人無敢自遂也。 爻體離，又互體坎，火位在下，水在上，□之象也。 饋，食也，故云在中饋也。」
[11] That line belongs to the second yin of the Family hexagram. Zheng Xuan explains: 'The second line is yin and holds the correct position within;' the fifth is yang and holds the correct position without.'" Just as the wife orders her conduct within the household, the husband orders his without. 'No venture succeeds abroad' means a wife must not pursue her private will. The hexagram shows Li with an inner Kan—fire below, water above—the figure of [missing graph in source]. Kui means 'to feed,' which is why the line speaks of keeping to the kitchen.'"
31
注[一二]詩國風候人篇序曰：「曹共公遠君子而近小人。 」其詩曰：「婉兮孌兮，季女斯饑。 」婉，少貌。 孌，好貌也。
[12] The preface to 'The Guards' says Duke Gong of Cao favored petty men and spurned gentlemen. ' The poem runs: 'Delicate, lovely—the young bride starves.' ' Wan describes youthful beauty. Luan describes comeliness.
32
注[一三]詩小雅序曰：「鶴鳴，誨宣王也。 」鄭玄注云：「教周宣王求賢人之未仕者。 」其詩曰：「鶴鳴於九戲，聲聞於野。 」言身隱而名著，喻賢者雖隱居，人咸知之。
[13] The Lesser Ya preface: 'Crane Cry' was meant to instruct King Xuan. ' Zheng Xuan explains that it urges King Xuan to recruit talent still outside government. ' The ode says: 'The crane calls in the nine marsh shallows; its cry carries across the moor.' (The received text uses an unusual graph where the standard Ode has 'nine river-bends,' i.e. the nine marshy pools.) ' It praises hermits whose reputations outshine their hiding places.
33
注[一四]詩小雅序曰：「小明，大夫悔仕於亂也。 」小明者，言周幽王日小其明，損其政事，以至於亂。
[14] The Lesser Ya preface: 'Little Bright' voices a minister's regret at serving a chaotic court. ' The title means King You daily dimmed his discernment and ruined governance until chaos followed.
34
注[一五]詩小雅序：「大東，刺亂也。 」其詩曰：「小東大東，杼柚其空。 」鄭玄注云：「小亦於東，大亦於東，言賦斂多也。」
[15] The Lesser Ya preface calls 'Great East' a satire on turmoil. ' It opens: 'East near and east far—the looms are stripped bare.' ' Zheng Xuan glosses: both regions lie east of Zhou—the line protests crushing taxes.'"
35
注[一六]詩大雅序曰：「人勞，刺厲王也。 」其詩曰「人亦勞止，迄可小康」也。 注[一七]護，泗水王歙之從曾孫。
[16] The Greater Ya preface treats 'The People Are Weary' as satire of King Li. ' The verse asks: 'The people are worn out—may we yet taste a little ease?'" [17] Liu Hu was a collateral descendant of Xi, the king of Sishui.
36
注[一八]公羊傳曰：「劉子﹑單子以王猛入於王城者何？ 西周也。 其言入何？ 篡辭也。 冬十月，王子猛卒。 此未踰年之君，其稱王子猛卒何？ 不予當也。 不予當者，不與當父死子繼，兄亡弟及也。」
[18] The Gongyang asks why Liu and Shan led Prince Meng into the royal city— because it was Western Zhou territory. Why does the text use the word 'enter'? The phrasing insinuates usurpation. In the tenth month of winter Prince Meng died. He had not yet completed a year of rule—why is he still called 'Prince' at death? The text denies him full royal standing. To withhold 'proper' is to refuse the regular succession of father to son or brother to brother.'"
37
延光二年，代劉愷為太尉。 帝舅大鴻臚耿寶薦中常侍李閏兄於震，震不從。 寶乃自往候震曰：「李常侍國家所重，欲令公辟其兄，寶唯傳上意耳。 」[一]震曰：「如朝廷欲令三府辟召，故宜有尚書□。 」遂拒不許，寶大恨而去。 皇后兄執金吾閻顯亦薦所親厚於震，震又不從。 司空劉授聞之，[二]即辟此二人，旬日中皆見拔擢。 由是震益見怨。
In Yanguang 2 he succeeded Liu Kai as Grand Commandant. The imperial uncle Geng Bao, Grand Herald, asked Yang to take the older brother of the eunuch Li Run; Yang refused. Geng called on Yang in person: 'Attendant Li is a pillar of the court. The court wants you to give his brother a post—I am only the messenger.' ' [1] Yang replied, 'If the court means the Three Excellencies to appoint him, the edict should come from the Masters of Writing [text damaged].' ' He flatly declined. Geng left in a fury. Yan Xian, the empress's brother and Bearer of the Mace, pushed his own cronies; Yang again refused. Minister of Works Liu Shou, [2] hearing of it, took both men on; within days they were promoted. Yang Zhen made new enemies.
38
注[一]言非己本心，傳在上之意。 注[二]漢官儀：「授字孟春，武原人。」
[1] Geng disclaimed personal motive—he was only passing down the court's will. [2] The Han Guan Yi gives Liu Shou, style Mengchun, as a native of Wuyuan.'"
39
時詔遣使者大為阿母修第，中常侍樊豐及侍中周廣﹑謝惲等更相扇動，傾搖朝廷。 震復上疏曰：
An edict commissioned a grand residence for the wet nurse. Fan Feng, Zhou Guang, Xie Yun, and their circle fanned one another on and began to rock the government. Yang Zhen sent up another memorial:
40
臣聞古者九年耕必有三年之儲，故堯遭洪水，人無菜色。 [一]臣伏念方今□害發起，彌彌滋甚，[二]百姓空虛，不能自贍。 重以螟蝗，羌虜鈔掠，三邊震擾，戰□之役至今未息，兵甲軍糧不能復給。 大司農帑藏匱乏，殆非社稷安寧之時。 伏見詔書為阿母興起津城門內第捨，[三]合兩為一，連裡竟街，[四]雕修繕飾，窮極巧伎。 今盛夏土王，而攻山採石，其大匠左校別部將作合數十處，[五]轉相迫促，為費巨億。 周廣﹑謝惲兄弟，與國無肺腑枝葉之屬，依倚近幸奸佞之人，與樊豐﹑王永等分威共權，屬托州郡，傾動大臣。 宰司辟召，承望旨意，招來海內貪污之人，受其貨賂，至有臧錮棄世之徒復得顯用。 [六]白黑溷淆，清濁同源，天下讙嘩，咸曰財貨上流，為朝結譏。 臣聞師言：『上之所取，財盡則怨，力盡則叛。 』怨叛之人，不可復使，故曰：『百姓不足，君誰與足？ 』[七]惟陛下度之。
I have read that ancient policy required three years' grain in store for every nine farmed; that is why even Yao's flood years did not leave the people gaunt with hunger. [1] I see disaster sprouting on every side, each day more virulent; [2] the common people are destitute and cannot keep themselves. Add caterpillars, locusts, Qiang raids, and strife on every frontier—campaigns [text damaged] still drain the treasury, and we can no longer arm the troops or fill the granaries. The Grand Minister of Agriculture's coffers are empty—this is no season to pretend the altars are safe. Yet I read an edict to build the wet nurse a palace inside the Jin-cheng gate, [3] merging two wards into one compound running the length of the avenue, [4] carved, painted, and furnished with every artisan's trick. It is midsummer, the season when earth predominates, yet laborers tear open hills for stone. The Director of Works and the Left School split crews across dozens of sites, [5] harrying one another at ruinous cost—billions in coin. Zhou Guang and Xie Yun are no kin of the imperial house; they cling to palace favorites, split power with Fan Feng and Wang Yong, pull strings in every province, and sway the highest ministers. Ministers appoint whoever the favorites hint at, taking bribes to reinstate embezzlers and men once banned from office. [6] Right and wrong blur; worthy and base mingle. The realm mutters that silver flows upward and the court becomes a laughingstock. The masters teach: 'When a ruler squeezes his people dry of wealth they resent him; when he exhausts their strength they rebel.' ' A resentful people cannot be governed. Hence the saying: 'If the people lack enough, what can sustain their ruler?' ' [7] I beg Your Majesty to weigh these words.'
41
豐﹑惲等見震連切諫不從，無所顧忌，遂詐作詔書，調發司農錢谷﹑大匠見徒材木，各起家捨﹑園池﹑廬觀，役費無數。
Seeing Yang's repeated warnings ignored, Fan Feng and Xie Yun grew brazen: they forged orders, drew grain and coin from the Grand Minister of Agriculture, stripped timber from convict labor under the Director of Works, and threw up mansions, parks, and towers at limitless expense.
42
注[一]言有儲蓄，人無食菜之饑色也。 注[二]彌彌猶稍稍也。 韋孟詩曰「彌彌其失」也。
[1] i.e., granaries were full and no one showed famine's greenish pallor. [2] Mimi means 'little by little.' Wei Meng wrote of faults spreading 'mimi'—ever wider.'"
43
注[三]津城門，洛陽南面西頭門也。 注[四]合兩坊而為一宅。 裡即坊也。
[3] The Jin-cheng gate is the southwestern gate on Luoyang's south wall. [4] Two residential wards were merged into one compound. Li here means a residential ward (fang).
44
注[五]續漢志將作大匠，秩二千石。 左校令，秩六百石。
[5] Per the Later Han Treatise, the Director of Works ranked two thousand shi. The Left School director ranked six hundred shi.
45
注[六]有臧賄禁錮之人也。 注[七]論語有若對魯哀公之詞。
[6] Men convicted of corruption and barred from office. [7] You Ruo's answer to Duke Ai of Lu in the Analects.
46
震因地震，復上疏曰：
After an earthquake struck, Yang Zhen submitted yet another memorial:
47
臣蒙恩備台輔，不能奉宣政化，調和陰陽，去年十* (一) *[二]月四日，京師地動。 臣聞師言：『地者陰精，當安靜承陽。 』而今動搖者，陰道盛也。 其日戊辰，三者皆土，位在中宮，[一]此中臣近官盛於持權用事之象也。 臣伏惟陛下以邊境未寧，躬自菲薄，宮殿垣屋傾倚，枝柱而已，[二]無所興造，欲令遠近咸知政化之清流，商邑之翼翼也。 [三]而親近幸臣，未崇斷金，[四]驕溢踰法，多請徒士，盛修第捨，賣弄威福。 道路讙嘩，觿所聞見。 地動之變，近在城郭，殆為此發。 又冬無宿雪，春節未雨，百僚燋心，而繕修不止，誠致旱之征也。 書曰：『僭恆陽若，臣無作威作福玉食。 』[五]唯陛下奮干剛之德，[六]棄驕奢之臣，以掩訞言之口，奉承皇天之戒，無令威福久移於下。
I hold a seat among the Three Ducal Ministers yet fail to harmonize yin and yang or spread good rule—last year's tenth [month— (damage marker (一)) [2] —on the fourth day of that month the capital was shaken by an earthquake. The masters say earth embodies yin and should rest quiet beneath yang.' ' When it trembles, yin has grown too strong.' The day was wuchen—stem and branch both earth, seated in the central palace—[1] an omen that palace insiders clutch power. You have tightened the belt because the frontiers smolder—palaces lean on props with no new building, [2] hoping the realm will see your reign as pure as the Shang hymn's well-ordered capital. [3] Yet your favorites share no 'metal-severing' loyalty; [4] they swagger beyond the law, requisition convicts, raise lavish mansions, and traffic in borrowed majesty. Every street buzzes with gossip—even common folk see and hear it. The quake struck at the capital's walls—it surely answers such misconduct. Winter brought no lasting snow; spring no timely rain. Officials fret while construction never stops—a recipe for drought. The Documents warn: 'When rulers grow arrogant, drought-like yang follows; ministers must not play lord or feast like kings.' ' [5] Rouse the firm virtue of Qian; [6] banish arrogant ministers; silence slander; heed Heaven's warning—do not let power and favor linger long below the throne.'
48
注[一]戊干辰支皆土也，並地動，故言三者。 注[二]倚，邪也。 注音竹主反。
[1] Wu (stem) and chen (branch) are both earth elements—together with the quake they make 'three' earth signs. [2] Yi means tilting—here, out of true. The gloss gives the fanqie spelling zhu-zhu.
49
注[三]詩商頌「商邑翼翼，四方之極」也。 注[四]易系辭曰：「二人同心，其利斷金。 」言邪佞之臣，不與上同心。
[3] From the Shang hymn: 'How majestic the royal capital—model to the four quarters.'" [4] The Appended Texts: 'Two minds as one can cut bronze.' ' Flatterers do not share the ruler's purpose.'
50
注[五]尚書洪範之詞也。 僭，差也。 若，順也。 君行僭差，則常陽順之也。 言唯君得專威福，為美食。
[5] Quoted from the 'Great Plan' in the Book of Documents. Jian means transgression or departure from due measure. Ruo means 'to accord with.' When the ruler oversteps, relentless drought-like yang follows. Only the sovereign may wield blessing and terror and feast as supreme.
51
注[六]易曰：「大哉干乎！ 剛健中正，純粹精也。」
[6] The Changes exclaim: 'Great is Qian!' Firm, central, true—pure spirit incarnate.'"
52
震前後所上，轉有切至，帝既不平之，而樊豐等皆側目憤怨，俱以其名儒，未敢加害。 尋有河閒男子趙騰詣闕上書，指陳得失。 帝發怒，遂收考詔獄，結以罔上不道。 震復上疏救之曰：「臣聞堯舜之世，諫鼓謗木，立之於朝； [一]殷周哲王，小人怨詈，則還自敬德。 [二]所以達聰明，開不諱，博采負薪，盡極下情也。 今趙騰所坐激訐謗語為罪，與手刃犯法有差。 乞為虧除，全騰之命，以誘芻蕘輿人之言。 」[三]帝不省，騰竟伏屍都市。
Yang's memorials grew sharper. The emperor bristled; Fan Feng and company glared with hatred yet hesitated to touch a scholar of his stature. Soon Zhao Teng of Hejian presented himself at the palace with a memorial criticizing policy. Enraged, the emperor jailed him under charges of deceiving the throne and grave disloyalty. Yang pleaded for him: 'Under Yao and Shun the court set out drums for complaint and posts for criticism—' [1] Yet the sage kings of Yin and Zhou, when common folk railed at them, renewed their own virtue instead.' [2] They kept ears open, welcomed blunt speech, and even listened to woodcutters so nothing stayed hidden.' Zhao is punished for bitter words on paper—that is not the same as blood on a blade.' Spare his life to encourage rustics and coachmen to speak freely.' ' [3] The emperor ignored the plea; Zhao Teng was executed in the capital market.'
53
注[一]帝王紀曰：「堯置敢諫之鼓，舜立誹謗之木。」
[1] The Di wang ji records Yao's drum for dissenters and Shun's post for public criticism.'"
54
注[二]尚書曰「自殷王中宗及高宗及祖甲及我周文王，茲四人迪哲。 厥或告之曰小人怨女詈女，則皇自敬德」也。
[2] The Book of Documents lists Zhongzong, Gaozong, Zujia, and King Wen as four rulers who practiced discernment.' The text says that when told the people revile them, they turn inward and mend their virtue.'"
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注[三]輿，觿也。 詩曰：「詢於芻蕘。 」左氏傳曰「聽輿人之謀」也。
[3] The gloss equates the cart-drivers (yu) with the tally-bearing youths (xi)—both stand for common folk. The Canon says: ask even the fuel-gatherers.' ' The Zuo Commentary quotes listening to common coachmen.'"
56
會三年春，東巡岱宗，樊豐等因乘輿在外，競修第宅，震部掾高舒召大匠令史考校之，[一]得豐等所詐下詔書，具奏，須行還上之。 豐等聞，惶怖，會太史言星變逆行，遂共譖震云：「自趙騰死後，深用怨懟； [二]且鄧氏故吏，有恚恨之心。 」[三]及車駕行還，便時太學，[四]夜遣使者策收震太尉印綬，於是柴門絕賓客。 豐等復惡之，乃請大將軍耿寶奏震大臣不服罪，懷恚望，有詔遣歸本郡。 震行至城西幾陽亭，乃慷慨謂其諸子門人曰：[五]「死者士之常分。 吾蒙恩居上司，疾奸臣狡猾而不能誅，惡嬖女傾亂而不能禁，何面目復見日月！ 身死之日，以雜木為棺，布單被裁足蓋形，勿歸頤次，勿設祭祠。 」因飲酖而卒，時年七十餘。 弘農太守移良[六]承樊豐等旨，遣吏於陝縣留停震喪，露棺道側，[七]□震諸子代郵行書，道路皆為隕涕。 [八]
In spring of the third year the emperor toured Mount Tai. Fan Feng used the absence of court to race ahead with palace mansions. Yang's aide Gao Shu had the Director of Works clerk audit the projects [1] and uncovered forged edicts; he prepared a full report to file when the ruler returned. Panicked, they waited until the court astrologer reported a retrograde omen, then all accused Yang: 'Since Zhao Teng's execution he has nursed a bitter grudge;' [2] moreover he remains an old client of the Deng house and bears them malice.' ' [3] When the emperor reached Luoyang he paused at the Imperial Academy [4] and that night messengers stripped Yang of his seals. He barred his gate and refused all visitors.' Fan Feng pressed harder: through Grand General Geng Bao he accused Yang of defying sentence and nursing grievance. An edict sent him home to Hongnong. At the Jiyang post west of the city he told his sons and students: [5] 'A scholar's death is no accident;' I rose to the summit yet could not cut down treacherous ministers or halt palace women who shook the state—how dare I face heaven's lights again!' Bury me in a plain wooden coffin with a cloth sheet sized only to cover the body—no lavish tomb, no ancestral sacrifices.' He took poison and died, past seventy years of age. Governor Yi Liang of Hongnong [6] acted on Fan Feng's orders: he stopped the coffin in Shan county and left it open by the road [7]; his sons were driven [graph missing in source] to carry appeals like post riders—travelers wept along the way. [8] (endnote marker)
57
注[一]史謂府吏也。 注[二]懟，怨怒也。 注[三]震初鄧騭辟之，故曰故吏。
[1] 'Scribe' here means the yamen clerk. [2] Dui denotes bitter resentment. [3] Yang had first entered service under Deng Zhi—hence 'former client.'
58
注[四]且於太學待吉時而後入也，故曰便時。 前書「便時上林延壽門」也。
[4] He halted at the academy until an auspicious moment—'choosing the hour' (bian shi). As in the Han shu phrase about entering through Shanglin's Yanshou gate at the chosen hour.'"
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注[五]慷慨，悲歎。 注[六]風俗通曰：「齊公子雍食菜於移，其後氏焉。」
[5] Kangkai: grieving aloud. [6] The Fengsu tong traces the surname Yi to Prince Yong of Qi.'"
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注[七]謝承書曰：「震臨沒，謂諸子以牛車薄簀，載柩還歸。 」注[八]說文：「郵，境上行書捨也。 」廣雅曰：「郵，驛也。」
[7] Xie Cheng records Yang instructing his sons to haul the coffin home on an ox cart with only a thin pallet—' ' [8] The Shuowen defines you as a postal lodge on the frontier road.' ' The Guangya glosses you as a courier station.'"
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注[一]墓在今潼關西大道之北，其碑尚存。
[1] The tomb lies north of the highway west of Tong Pass; the stele still stands.
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注[二]續漢書曰：「大鳥來止亭樹，下地安行到柩前，正立低頭淚出。 觿人更共摩撫抱持，終不驚駭。 」謝承書曰：「其鳥五色，高丈餘，兩翼長二丈三尺，人莫知其名也。」
[2] The Xu Han shu tells of a great bird that perched on the station tree, walked calmly to the coffin, stood before it, bowed its head, and wept—' Townsmen stroked and steadied it; it showed no fear.' ' Xie Cheng adds that it stood over a zhang tall, multicolored, with wings two zhang three chi—no one knew its species.'"
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注[三]藩，樊也。 詩云：「營營青蠅，止於樊，愷悌君子，無信讒言。 」青蠅，污白使黑，污黑使白，喻佞人變亂善惡也。
[3] Fan means fence or enclosure. The ode warns: blue flies swarm the fence—true gentlemen never heed slander.' ' Flies smear white to black and black to white—like flatterers who invert right and wrong.'
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注[四]禮記曰：「孔子將終，歌曰：『泰山其頹乎！ 梁木其壞乎！ 』」震之被譖也，高舒亦得罪，以減死論。 及震事顯，舒拜侍御史，至荊州刺史。
[4] The Book of Rites records Confucius' final song: 'Mount Tai may crumble!' The great beam may snap!' ' When Yang fell under accusation, Gao Shu was sentenced to commute death to penal labor.' After Yang was vindicated, Gao Shu rose to attending secretary and eventually inspector of Jing province.
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震五子。 長子牧，富波相。 [一]
Yang Zhen had five sons. The eldest, Mu, served as chancellor of Fubo county. [1] (note marker)
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注[一]富波，縣，屬汝南郡。
[1] Fubo was a county in Runan commandery.
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牧孫奇，靈帝時為侍中，帝嘗從容問奇曰：「朕何如桓帝？ 」對曰：「陛下之於桓帝，亦猶虞舜比德唐堯。 」帝不悅曰：「卿強項，真楊震子孫，[一]死後必復致大鳥矣。 」出為汝南太守。 帝崩後，復入為侍中□尉，從獻帝西遷，有功勤。 及李傕脅帝歸其營，奇與黃門侍郎鐘繇誘傕部曲將宋曄﹑楊昂令反傕，傕由此孤弱，帝乃得東。 [二]後徙都許，追封奇子亮為陽成亭侯。 [三]
Mu's grandson Qi became a palace attendant under Emperor Ling. One day the emperor casually asked how he compared with Emperor Huan. ' Qi answered, 'Your Majesty stands to Emperor Huan as Shun beside Yao.' ' The emperor snapped, 'Stubborn as they say—every inch Yang Zhen's heir [1]—you'll summon another giant bird when you die!' ' He was banished to governor of Runan. After Ling died he returned as palace attendant and [missing office graph] captain and followed Emperor Xian west, earning merit. When Li Jue dragged the emperor to his camp, Qi and Zhong Yao turned Jue's officers Song Ye and Yang Ang against him, isolating Li so the sovereign could flee east. [2] After the court moved to Xu, Qi's son Liang was posthumously enfeoffed as village marquis of Yangcheng. [3] (note marker)
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注[一]強項，言不低屈也，光武謂董宣為「強項令」也。
[1] 'Stiff-necked' means refusing to bend—the label Guangwu gave Magistrate Dong Xuan.'"
69
注[二]魏志曰，繇為黃門侍郎，傕脅天子，繇與尚書郎韓斌同策謀。 天子得出長安，繇有力焉。
[2] The Wei zhi states that Zhong Yao, as Yellow Gate Gentleman, plotted with Han Bin of the Masters of Writing when Li Jue held the emperor hostage. Zhong Yao's hand helped the emperor escape Chang'an.
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注[三]亮舊宅在閿鄉縣西南。
[3] Liang's former estate lay southwest of Wenxiang county.
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震少子奉，奉子敷，篤志博聞，議者以為能世其家。 敷早卒，子觿，亦傳先業，以謁者僕射從獻帝入關，累遷御史中丞。 及帝東還，夜走度河，觿率諸官屬步從至太陽，拜侍中。 [一]建安二年，追前功封蓩亭侯。 [二]
The youngest son Feng and grandson Fu were devoted scholars; contemporaries thought them worthy heirs to the Yang tradition. Fu died young; his son Xi upheld the family legacy. As supervisor of petitioners he followed Emperor Xian west through the passes and rose to palace assistant secretary. When the court fled east by night across the Yellow River, Xi walked his staff all the way to Taiyang and was named palace attendant. [1] In Jian'an 2 he received retroactive credit for his service with a village marquisate at Mao. [2] (note marker)
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注[一]太陽，縣，屬河東郡。 注[二]郡國志桃林縣有蓩鄉，音莫老反。
[1] Taiyang lay in Hedong commandery. [2] The treatise locates Mao village in Taolin county, read mo-lao.
73
震中子秉。
Yang Zhen's second son was Yang Bing.
74
秉字叔節，少傳父業，兼明京氏易，博通書傳，常隱居教授。 年四十餘，乃應司空辟，拜待御史，頻出為豫﹑荊﹑徐﹑兗四州刺史，遷任城相。 自為刺史﹑二千石，計日受奉，余祿不入私門。 故吏繼錢百萬遺之，閉門不受。 以廉潔稱。
Yang Bing, styled Shujie, inherited his father's learning, mastered the Jing-school Book of Changes, read widely, and for years taught in reclusion. After forty he took the Minister of Works' summons, became an awaiting secretary, then served in turn as inspector of Yu, Jing, Xu, and Yan and as chancellor of Rencheng. As inspector and two-thousand-shi official he drew pay strictly by the calendar and never pocketed extra into his household. When old subordinates tried to give him a million in cash, he barred his gate. He was celebrated for integrity.
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桓帝即位，以明尚書征入勸講，[一]拜太中大夫﹑左中郎將，遷侍中﹑尚書。 帝時微行，私過幸河南尹梁胤府捨。 [二]是日大風拔樹，晝昏，秉因上疏諫曰：
When Emperor Huan mounted the throne he summoned Yang for his expertise in the Documents [1] as lecturer-in-residence, named him grand household grandee and left general of the gentlemen of the household, then palace attendant and master of writing. The emperor sometimes slipped out incognito to stay privately at the mansion of Liang Yin, governor of Henan. [2] That day a gale tore up trees and noon turned dark; Yang Bing presented a memorial:
76
臣聞瑞由德至，□應事生。 傳曰：『禍福無門，唯人所召。 』[三]天不言語，以□異譴告，是以孔子迅雷風烈必有變動。 詩云：『敬天之威，不敢驅馳。 』[四]王者至尊，出入有常，警蹕而行，靜室而止，[五]自非郊廟之事，則鑾旗不駕。 [六]故詩稱『自郊徂宮』，[七]易曰『王假有廟，致孝享也』。 [八]諸侯如臣之家，春秋尚列其誡，[九]況以先王法服而私出盤遊！ [一０]降亂尊卑，等威無序，[一一]侍□守空宮，紱璽委女妾，設有非常之變，任章之謀，[一二]上負先帝，下悔靡及。 臣奕世受恩，[一三]得備納言，[一四]又以薄學，充在講勤，特蒙哀識，見照日月，恩重命輕，義使士死，敢憚摧折，略陳其愚。
I am taught that auspicious omens follow virtue and prodigies answer human deeds [graph missing in source]. The tradition runs: weal and woe have no door—we summon them ourselves.' ' [3] Heaven speaks through omens [graph missing]; therefore Confucius said thunder or fierce wind portends change.' The Odes say: stand in awe of Heaven's majesty and never rush about lightly.' ' [4] A sovereign travels by fixed ritual—roads cleared, quarters swept [5]—and rolls out chariots only for suburban sacrifices or ancestral shrines.' [6] Hence the ode moves 'from the meadow rite to the ancestral hall'; [7] the Changes says the king 'draws near the shrine' to offer devotion.'" [8] The Annals fault even feudal lords who slip into ministers' houses; [9] how grave when the Son of Heaven trades ritual robes for secret pleasure trips!' [10] High and low blur and ceremonial rank collapses; [11] attendants [graph missing] guard empty halls while seals sit with concubines—should crisis strike like Ren Zhang's plot, [12] you wrong your ancestors above and regret below will come too late.' My house owes generations of grace [13]; I hold office among those who speak truth to power [14]. Though my learning is slight I lecture at court and enjoy sunlight from your favor—obligation outweighs life—so though this may destroy me I venture these blunt words.'
77
帝不納。 秉以病乞退，出為右扶風。 太尉黃瓊惜其去朝廷，上秉勸講帷幄，不宜外遷，留拜光祿大夫。 是時大將軍梁冀用權，秉稱病。 六年，冀誅後，乃拜太僕，遷太常。
The emperor brushed him aside. Yang Bing pleaded illness and took assignment as governor of Right Fufeng. Grand Commandant Huang Qiong argued he should stay as imperial lecturer rather than leave the capital and kept him as household grandee. While Grand General Liang Ji dominated court, Yang Bing feigned illness. Six years later, after Liang Ji fell, he accepted posts as grand coachman and then chamberlain for ceremonials.
78
注[一]勸講，猶侍講也。 注[二]胤，梁冀子也。 注[三]左傳閔子馬之詞。
[1] 'Encouraging lecture' equals lecturer-in-waiting. [2] Liang Yin was Liang Ji's son. [3] A line from Min Zima in the Zuo Commentary.
79
注[四]詩大雅曰「敬天之怒，無敢戲豫，敬天之渝，無敢馳驅」，與此文稍異也。
[4] The canonical ode reads 'Revere Heaven's wrath—no idle sport; heed Heaven's shifts—no reckless riding,' slightly different from Yang's quotation.
80
注[五]蹕，止行人也。 靜室謂先使清宮也。 前書音義曰，漢有靜室令也。 注[六]漢官儀曰「前驅有雲罕，皮軒鑾旗車」也。
[5] Bi clears the thoroughfare of pedestrians. 'Quiet chamber' means the palace was swept before the ruler rested. The Han shu glossary notes a Director of the Quiet Chamber. [6] The Han Guan Yi describes heralds with cloud banners and bell-decked chariots.'"
81
注[七]詩大雅雲漢之詞也。 郊，祭天也。 注[八]萃卦詞也。 假，至也。 假音格。
[7] From the Greater Ya ode 'Granary of Clouds.' The suburban rite sacrifices to Heaven. [8] A line from the Gathering hexagram. Jia means 'to arrive.' Read jia like ge.
82
注[九]左傳，齊莊公如崔杼之家，為杼所殺也，注[一０]法服謂天子服，日、月、星辰、山、龍、華蟲、藻、火、粉、米、*[黼、黻]*十二章。
[9] Duke Zhuang of Qi died visiting Cui Zhu; [10] 'ritual robes' are the twelve-pattern imperial gown—sun, moon, constellations, mountains, dragon, pheasant, algae, fire, rice, grain, *[axes and fu motifs]*.
83
注[一一]等威謂威儀有等差也。 左傳曰「貴有常尊，賤有等威」也。
[11] 'Ranked awe' means prescribed ceremonial rank. The Zuo Commentary says the noble retain dignity and the humble keep their station.'"
84
注[一二]前書曰，代郡太守任宣坐謀反誅，宣子章為公車丞，亡在渭城界中，夜玄服入廟，居郎閒，執戟立於廟門，待上至，欲為逆，發覺伏誅也。
[12] The Han shu tells of Ren Zhang, son of the rebel governor Ren Xuan, who hid in Weicheng, slipped into the shrine in black, posed among the attendants with a halberd, and waited to assassinate the emperor—he was caught and killed.'
85
注[一三]奕猶重也。 注[一四]納言，尚書。
[13] Yi here means 'accumulated' or 'successive.' [14] 'Speech intake' denotes the Masters of Writing.
86
延熹三年，白馬令李雲以諫受罪，秉爭之不能得，坐免官，歸田裡。 [一]其年冬，復徵拜河南尹。 先是中常侍單超弟匡為濟陰太守，以臧罪為刺史第五種所劾，窘急，乃賂客任方刺兗州從事□羽。 事已見種傳。 及捕得方，囚系洛陽，匡慮秉當窮竟其事，密令方等得突獄亡走。 尚書召秉詰責，秉對曰：「春秋不誅黎比而魯多盜，[二]方等無狀，釁由單匡。 刺執法之吏，害奉公之臣，復令逃竄，寬縱罪身，元惡大憝，終為國害。 乞檻車征匡考核其事，則奸慝蹤緒，必可立得。 」而秉竟坐輸作左校，以久旱赦出。
In Yanxi 3 Li Yun of Baima was punished for criticizing the throne. Yang Bing defended him in vain, lost his post, and went home. [1] The same winter he was recalled as governor of Henan. Earlier Shan Kuang, brother of the eunuch Shan Chao, had been impeached for corruption by Inspector Di Wuzhong. Desperate, he paid Ren Fang to murder the Yanzhou adjutant [name damaged]. The full story is told in the biography of Di Wuzhong. When Ren Fang was jailed in Luoyang, Shan Kuang feared Yang Bing would expose the plot and secretly arranged a breakout. The Masters of Writing challenged Yang Bing. He answered: 'The Annals did not execute Li Bi yet Lu filled with bandits [2]; Ren Fang's crimes stem from Shan Kuang.' They attacked officers of the law and loyal ministers, then let the killers escape—shielding guilt and nurturing the arch-villain who will ruin the state.' Send a prison cart for Shan Kuang and examine him—the whole conspiracy will surface at once.' ' Yang Bing himself was sentenced to hard labor at the Left School but was freed under an amnesty during the drought.'
87
注[一]謝承書曰：「秉免歸，雅素清儉，家至貧窶，并日而食。 任城故孝廉景慮繼錢百餘萬，就以餉秉，秉閉門距絕不受。」
[1] Xie Cheng records that after dismissal Yang lived in austere poverty, eating only every other day—' —while Jing Lu of Rencheng tried to send more than a million cash; Yang barred his door.'"
88
注[二]左傳曰：「邾庶其以漆閭丘來奔，於是魯多盜。 」臣賢案：黎比，莒國之君，恐別有所據也。
[2] The Zuo Commentary links unchecked refugees to a plague of banditry in Lu.' ' Commentator Li Xian warns that 'Li Bi' may indicate a ruler of Ju rather than the classical gloss.'
89
會日食，太山太守皇甫規等訟秉忠正，不宜久抑不用。 有詔公車征秉及處士韋著，二人各稱疾不至。 有司並劾秉、著大不敬，請下所屬正其罪。 尚書令周景與尚書邊韶議奏：「秉儒學侍講，常在謙虛； 著隱居行義，以退讓為節。 俱徵不至，誠違側席之望，然逶迤退食，足抑苟進之風。 [一]夫明王之世，必有不召之臣，[二]聖朝弘養，宜用優游之禮。 可告在所屬，喻以朝庭恩意。 如遂不至，詳議其罰。 」於是重征，乃到，拜太常。
A solar eclipse prompted Huangfu Gui and others to urge reinstatement of the upright Yang Bing. An edict summoned Yang Bing and the recluse Wei Zhu by imperial carriage; both pleaded illness. Officials charged both with grave disrespect and asked local authorities to sentence them. Director Zhou Jing and Bian Shao replied: 'Yang Bing is a scholar-lecturer of retiring habits;' Wei Zhu lives by integrity in seclusion and prizes yielding.' Their refusal disappoints the court's eager search for talent, yet their leisurely withdrawal curbs opportunists.' [1] Even enlightened ages keep ministers who refuse summons; [2] our dynasty should honor them with patience.' Let local officials explain the court's goodwill.' If they still refuse, then debate punishment.' ' A second summons brought them in; Yang Bing became chamberlain for ceremonials.'
90
注[一]詩國風羔羊詩曰：「退食自公，委憨委憨。 」退食謂減膳也。 從於公謂正直順於事也。 委憨，委曲自得之貌。
[1] The 'Lamb Hide' ode reads 'withdraw from court meals, serene and easy' (the received text repeats a rare binome where standard editions have 'serpentine ease'). ' 'Withdraw for meals' means taking simpler fare after court.' 'From the duke' means conducting oneself uprightly in office.' The repeated phrase describes easy, unforced poise (variant graphs in received text).
91
注[二]堯時許由，禹時伯成子高，湯時務光等。
[2] Examples include Xu You under Yao, Bocheng Zigao under Yu, and Wuguang under Tang.'
92
五年冬，代劉矩為太尉。 是時宦官方熾，任人及子弟為官，[一]佈滿天下，競為貪淫，朝野嗟怨。 秉與司空周景上言：「內外吏職，多非其人，自頃所征，皆特拜不試，致盜竊縱恣，怨訟紛錯。 舊典，中臣子弟不得居位秉埶，而今枝葉賓客布列職署，或年少庸人，典據守宰，上下忿患，四方愁毒。 可遵用舊章，退貪殘，塞□謗。 請下司隸校尉、中二千石、二千石、城門五營校尉、北軍中候，各實核所部，應當斥罷，自以狀言，三府廉察有遺漏，續上。 」帝從之。
In winter of the fifth Yanxi year he succeeded Liu Ju as grand commandant. Eunuchs placed kin and clients everywhere [1]; greed ran riot and court and countryside groaned. Yang Bing and Minister of Works Zhou Jing reported: 'Inside and out the wrong men hold office—lately appointments skip probation, embolden criminals, and clog the courts with suits.' Statute barred inner-court families from power, yet clients and kin pack every yamen—young mediocrities rule provinces and counties while resentment spreads everywhere.' Reapply the old rules: purge the corrupt and choke off slander [graph missing].' Order the metropolitan commandant, ranking ministers, commandery governors, city-gate commanders, and northern army inspectors to audit their jurisdictions, dismiss the unfit, report in writing, and send follow-ups if the Three Offices miss anyone.' ' The emperor agreed.'
93
於是秉條奏牧守以下匈奴中郎將燕瑗、青州刺史羊亮、遼東太守孫諠等五十餘人，或死或免，天下莫不肅然。
Yang Bing impeached more than fifty officials from colonels Yan Yuan and Yang Liang down to county magistrates—some executed, some cashiered—and the realm stood in awe.
94
注[一]任謂保任。
[1] Ren refers to sponsored nomination.
95
時郡國計吏多留拜為郎，秉上言三署見郎七百餘人，[一]帑臧空虛，浮食者觿，而不良守相，欲因國為池，澆濯釁穢。 宜絕橫拜，以塞覬覦之端。 [二]自此終桓帝世，計吏無復留拜者。
County clerks were routinely kept as gentlemen-at-court; Yang reported over seven hundred idle gentlemen [1], empty treasuries, swarms of sinecures, and corrupt governors turning provinces into pools to rinse away scandal.' End irregular appointments to choke off naked ambition.' [2] For the rest of Emperor Huan's reign no clerk was kept on as gentleman.'
96
注[一]三署郎，解見安帝紀。 注[二]左傳曰：「下無覬覦。 」杜預注曰：「無冀望上位。」
[1] On the Three Departments gentlemen see the annals of Emperor An.' [2] The Zuo Commentary: 'The lowly will not covet high place.' ' Du Yu glosses: no ambition for another's throne.'"
97
七年，南巡園陵，特詔秉從。 南陽太守張彪與帝微時有舊恩，以車駕當至，因傍發調，多以入私。 秉聞之，下書責讓荊州刺史，以狀副言公府。 [一]及行至南陽，左右並通姦利，詔書多所除拜。 秉復上疏諫曰：「臣聞先王建國，順天制官。 [二]太微積星，名為郎位，[三]入奉宿□，出牧百姓。 戲陶誡虞，在於官人。 [四]頃者道路拜除，恩加豎隸，爵以貨成，化由此敗，所以俗夫巷議，白駒遠逝，[五]穆穆清朝，遠近莫觀。 宜割不忍之恩，以斷求欲之路。 」於是詔除乃止。
In the seventh year the emperor toured the southern tombs and ordered Yang Bing to accompany him. Zhang Biao of Nanyang, an old patron from the emperor's youth, levied extra taxes ahead of the tour and pocketed most of it. Yang Bing censured the Jingzhou inspector in writing and copied the memorial to the Three Ducal Ministers. [1] At Nanyang the entourage traded favors freely and edicts showered appointments.' Yang Bing warned again: 'The sage-kings founded states and aligned offices with Heaven.' [2] The asterism called 'gentlemen' [3] marks officials who guard the palace by night [graph missing] and shepherd the people abroad.' Gao Yao's counsel to Yu was to appoint the right men.' [4] Lately offices sell on the road to slaves; titles go to the highest bidder and morale collapses—commoners gossip in the lanes and worthy men flee like the white colt ode; [5] none near or far beholds the majesty of your pure court.' Cut indulgent favor and block the road of greed.' ' The rash of appointments ceased.'
98
注[一]南陽郡，荊州所部也。
[1] Nanyang was part of Jing province.
99
注[二]尚書曰：「明王奉若天道，建邦設都。 」孔安國注云：「天有日、月、北斗、五星、二十八宿，皆有尊卑相正之法。 明王奉順此道，建國設都。」
[2] The Book of Documents: the enlightened king models himself on Heaven in founding the capital.' ' Kong Anguo explains that sun, moon, Dipper, planets, and lodges each observe a hierarchy that mirrors good government.' The wise king follows that pattern in building the realm.'"
100
注[三]史記天官書曰，太微宮五帝坐，後聚二十五星蔚然，曰郎位。 積，聚也。
[3] The Shiji 'Heavenly Offices' places twenty-five stars behind the Five Thrones in the Supreme Tenuity palace—the asterism named 'gentlemen.' Ji means 'clustered' or 'heaped.'
101
注[四]尚書戲陶誡舜曰「在知人，在官人」也。
[4] Gao Yao in the Documents tells Shun that rule rests on knowing men and staffing offices.'"
102
注[五]孔子曰：「天下有道，庶人不議。 」詩小雅曰：「皎皎白駒，食我□苗，所謂伊人，於焉逍遙。 」言宣王官失其人，賢者乘白駒而去之。
[5] Confucius: when the Way prevails, commoners do not murmur in the lanes.' ' The Lesser Ya 'White Colt' laments a guest who eats one's fodder [graph missing] yet roams away untethered.' ' It means King Xuan's court lost good men, who departed like the white colt of the ode.'"
103
時中常侍侯覽弟參為益州刺史，累有臧罪，暴虐一州。 明年，秉劾奏參，檻車征詣廷尉。 參惶恐，道自殺。 [一]秉因奏覽及中常侍具瑗曰：
Hou Lan's brother Can was inspector of Yi province, notorious for embezzlement and terrorizing the commandery. The next year Yang Bing impeached him and had him hauled to the capital in a prison wagon for the Commandant of Justice. Can killed himself en route. [1] Yang Bing then indicted Hou Lan and the eunuch Ju Yuan:
104
臣案國舊典，宦豎之官，本在給使省闥，司昏守夜，而今猥受過寵，執政操權。 其阿諛取容者，則因公□舉，以報私惠； 有忤逆於心者，必求事中傷，肆其凶忿。 居法王公，富擬國家，飲食極餚軹，僕妾盈紈素，雖季氏專魯，穰侯擅秦，何以尚茲！ [二]案中常侍侯覽弟參，貪殘元惡，自取禍滅，覽顧知釁重，必有自疑之意，臣愚以為不宜復見親近。 昔懿公刑邴歜之父，奪閻職之妻，而使二人參乘，卒有竹中之難，春秋書之，以為至戒。 [三]蓋鄭詹來而國亂，四佞放而觿服。 [四]以此觀之，容可近乎？ 覽宜急屏斥，投畀* (有) **[豺]*虎。 [五]若斯之人，非恩所宥，請免官送歸本郡。 」書奏，尚書召對秉掾屬曰：[六]「公府外職，而奏劾近官，經典漢制有故事乎？ 」秉使對曰：「春秋趙鞅以晉陽之甲，逐君側之惡。 [七]傳曰：『除君之惡，唯力是視。 』[八]鄧通懈慢，申屠嘉召通詰責，文帝從而請之。 [九]漢世故事，三公之職無所不統。
By statute eunuchs were meant only for inner-palace night service; today they receive outrageous favor and seize the levers of state.' Flatterers trade public office [graph missing] to repay private debts;' anyone who crosses them is framed and ruined in blind fury.' They live like princes, wealth rivals the treasury, feast on the rarest viands, and fill their halls with silk-clad concubines—the Ji clan of Lu and Marquis Rang of Qin never matched this excess!' [2] Can was Hou Lan's creature and chief villain—his suicide proves the guilt is grave; Hou Lan must know he is suspect. I beg you not to keep such men close.' Duke Yi of Qi mutilated Bing Chou's father, seized Yan Zhi's wife, yet made both ride in his chariot—and died in the bamboo grove; the Annals record it as the gravest warning.' [3] Zhan of Zheng brought chaos; when the Four Fiends were cast out the realm submitted.' [4] Judging by this—can he be kept near?' Banish Hou Lan at once and cast him out among jackals and tigers, as the Odes bid when ridding the realm of the wicked.' (variant manuscript marker) (The line continues the Shijing formula: cast him to the jackals and tigers.) [5] Men like this deserve no indulgence—strip their offices and send them home.' ' When the memorial went up, the Masters of Writing challenged Yang Bing's staff: [6] 'The Excellencies are outside posts—do the classics or Han precedent allow impeaching inner courtiers?' ' Yang Bing's men answered: the Annals praise Zhao Yang of Jin for marching from Jinyang to purge evil beside the throne.' [7] The tradition says: extirpate evil for the ruler with every ounce of strength.' ' [8] When Deng Tong slighted court ritual, Chancellor Shen Tu Jia summoned and rebuked him, and Emperor Wen intervened on Deng's behalf.' [9] Han precedent gives the Three Excellencies authority over all affairs.'
105
尚書不能詰。 帝不得已，竟免覽官，而削瑗國。 每朝廷有得失，輒盡忠規諫，多見納用。
The Masters of Writing had no reply. The emperor had to dismiss Hou Lan and strip Ju Yuan's fief. Whenever policy faltered he remonstrated to the limit, and much of his counsel was adopted.
106
注[一]謝承書曰：「秉奏『參取受罪臧累億。 牂柯男子張攸，居為富室，參橫加非罪，雲造訛言，殺攸家八人，沒入廬宅。 又與同郡諸生李元之官，共飲酒，醉飽之後，戲故相犯，誣言有淫慝之罪，應時捶殺。 以人臣之勢，行桀紂之態，傷和逆理，痛感天地，宜當愨持，以謝一州』。 又曰『京兆尹袁逢於長安客舍中得參重車三百餘乘，金銀珍玩，不可稱記。 』」注[二]季氏，魯卿，世專魯政。 孔子曰：「季氏富於周公。 」史記曰，穰侯魏冉者，秦昭王母宣太后弟也，為秦相國，侈富於王室。 尚猶加也。
[1] Xie Cheng records Yang's memorial: 'Can extorted bribes worth hundreds of millions—' Zhang You of Zangke was a wealthy commoner; Can trumped up charges, called it slander, murdered eight of his family, and seized his property.' With fellow townsman Li Yuan he drank, then on a jest falsely accused him of debauchery and beat him to death at once.' Wielding a minister's power like Jie or Zhou, he violated nature and outraged Heaven—he must be seized to appease the province.'" It added that Governor Yuan Feng of Jingzhao found more than three hundred loaded carts of gold, silver, and treasure in a Chang'an inn—beyond counting.'" '" [2] The Ji were Lu ministers who seized hereditary control.'" Confucius said the Ji were richer than the Duke of Zhou.' ' The Shiji says Marquis Rang, the queen mother's brother, served as Qin chancellor and outspent the royal house.'" Shang here means 'still more' or 'surpass.'
107
注[四]公羊傳曰：「鄭詹自齊逃來，何以書？ 甚佞也，曰佞人來矣。 」後魯莊公取齊淫女，卒為後敗。 四佞即四凶也。
[4] The Gongyang asks why the flight of Zheng Zhan from Qi is recorded.' Because a thoroughgoing flatterer had arrived.'" ' Later Duke Zhuang of Lu married a debauched woman of Qi and was ruined by her.' The four flatterers are the same as the Four Fiends of old.'
108
注[五]畀，與也。 詩小雅曰：「取彼譖人，投畀豺虎。 」注[六]召秉掾屬問之。
[5] Bi means 'to cast among' or 'to give over.' The Lesser Ya says: seize slanderers and throw them to jackals and tigers.' ' [6] The court summoned Yang Bing's staff for questioning.'
109
注[七]公羊傳曰：「趙鞅取晉陽之甲，以逐荀寅、士吉射。 曷為此？ 逐君側之惡人也。」
[7] The Gongyang records Zhao Yang leading armed men from Jinyang to expel Xun Yin and Shi Jishe.' Why did he do this?' To purge evil men from the ruler's side.'"
110
注[八]左傳曰晉寺人披言也。
[8] A line from the eunuch Pi of Jin in the Zuo Commentary.'
111
注[九]前書鄧通，文帝幸臣，為太中大夫，居上傍怠慢。 丞相申屠嘉罷朝，坐府中，召通至，不為禮，責曰：「通小臣，戲殿上，大不敬，當斬。 」通頓首，首盡出血。 上使使持節召通而謝丞相：「此吾弄臣，君釋之。」
[9] Deng Tong, Emperor Wen's favorite, served as grand household grandee and behaved disrespectfully at court.' Chancellor Shen Tu Jia, after court, summoned Deng Tong to his yamen, refused courtesy, and said: 'You are a petty minister who frolics in the hall—capital crime.' ' Deng Tong knocked his head on the ground until it bled.' The emperor sent an envoy with tally to summon Deng and apologized to the chancellor: 'He is my jester—release him.'"
112
秉性不飲酒，又早喪夫人，遂不復娶，所在以淳白稱。 嘗從容言曰：「我有三不惑：酒，色，財也。 」八年薨，時年七十四，賜塋陪陵。 子賜。
Yang Bing drank no wine, lost his wife young, never remarried, and everywhere was praised for plain integrity. He once remarked calmly: 'Three things never tempt me—wine, lust, and money.' ' He died in the eighth year of his tenure, aged seventy-four, with a tomb granted beside the imperial mausoleum.' His son was Yang Ci.
113
秉子賜
Yang Ci, son of Yang Bing
114
賜字伯獻。 少傳家學，篤志博聞。 常退居隱約，教授門徒，不荅州郡禮命。 後辟大將軍梁冀府，非其好也。 出除陳倉令，因病不行。 公車徵不至，連辭三公之命。 後以司空高第，再遷侍中、越騎校尉。
Yang Ci, courtesy Boxian. From youth he inherited the family scholarship, devoted himself to study, and read widely. He lived quietly, taught students, and ignored provincial appointments. Later he was called to Grand General Liang Ji's staff—work he disliked. He was named magistrate of Cangcang but never took office because of illness. Imperial summons failed to bring him; he repeatedly refused the Three Excellencies. On the strength of top scores under the Minister of Works he rose twice to palace attendant and colonel of agile cavalry.
115
建寧初，靈帝當受學，詔太傅、三公選通尚書桓君章句宿有重名者，三公舉賜，乃侍講於華光殿中。 [一]遷少府、光祿勳。
Early in Jianning, when Emperor Ling began his classical studies, the court ordered the grand tutor and Three Excellencies to choose a noted scholar of the Documents in Huan's tradition; they nominated Yang Ci, who lectured in the Huaguang Hall. [1] He was promoted to minister steward and household grandee.
116
注[一]洛陽宮殿名曰：「華光殿在崇光殿北。」
[1] The Luoyang palace gazetteer places Huaguang Hall north of Chongguang Hall.'"
117
熹平元年，青憨見御坐，帝以問賜，賜上封事曰：
In Xiping 1 a green snake appeared on the throne; the emperor asked Yang Ci, who submitted a sealed memorial:
118
臣聞和氣致祥，乖氣致□，休征則五福應，[一]咎徵則六極至。 [二]夫善不妄來，□不空發。 王者心有所惟，意有所想，雖未形顏色，而五星以之推移，陰陽為其變度。 以此而觀，天之與人，豈不符哉？ 尚書曰：『天齊乎人，假我一日。 』是其明征也。 [三]夫皇極不建，則有蛇龍之孽。 [四]詩云：『惟虺惟蛇，女子之祥。 』[五]故春秋兩蛇□於鄭門，昭公殆以女敗； [六]康王一朝晏起，關睢見幾而作。 [七]夫女謁行則讒夫昌，讒夫昌則苞苴通，故殷湯以之自戒，終濟亢旱之□。 [八]惟陛下思干剛之道，別內外之宜，崇帝乙之制，受元吉之祉，[九]抑皇甫之權，割艷妻之愛，[一０]則蛇變可消，禎祥立應。 殷戊、宋景，其事甚明。 [一一]
I have read that harmony brings blessing and discord brings prodigy [graph missing]; good omens summon the five blessings [1], ill omens bring the six extremes.' [2] Blessing never comes without cause, nor calamity without reason [graph missing].' What the ruler harbors in mind moves the five planets and shifts yin and yang before his face shows it.' From this we see Heaven and man are not unaligned.' The Documents says Heaven aligns with mankind and grants the ruler his day.' ' That is plain proof.' [3] When the great norm is not upheld, snake and dragon portents appear.' [4] The Odes say: only snakes and lizards—omens of a woman's power.' ' [5] The Annals record two snakes [action missing] at Zheng's gate—Duke Zhao nearly fell to a woman's intrigue;' [6] King Kang of Zhou rose late one morning, and the 'Guanju' ode warned him at the first sign.' [7] When women peddle influence, slander thrives, bribes flow, and even Tang of Yin took warning—thus he overcame great drought [graph missing].' [8] Ponder the firm virtue of Qian, separate inner from outer court, honor Emperor Yi's marriage rites, embrace the great blessing; [9] curb the Huangfu faction, [10] set aside infatuation with a favorite—then the snake omen will lift and good fortune return at once.' The cases of King Taiwu of Yin and Duke Jing of Song make this plain.' [11] (note marker)
119
注[一]休，美也。 征，驗也。 五福：一曰壽，二曰富，三曰康寧，四曰逌好德，五曰考終命。
[1] Xiu means auspicious or favorable.' Zheng means a verified sign.' The five blessings are long life, wealth, health, love of virtue, and a peaceful end.'
120
注[二]咎，惡也。 六極：一曰凶短折，二曰疾，三曰憂，四曰貧，五曰惡，六曰弱。 並見尚書。
[2] Jiu means calamity or fault.' The six extremes are premature death, disease, grief, poverty, wickedness, and frailty.' Both lists appear in the Book of Documents.'
121
注[三]我謂君也。 天意欲整齊於人，必假於君也。 今尚書文「假」作「俾」。 俾，使也。 義亦通。
[3] 'We' here means the ruler.' Heaven orders mankind through the sovereign.' Some recensions write bi instead of jia.' Bi means 'to commission.' The sense still holds.'
122
注[四]洪範五行傳曰。 皇，大也。 極，中也。 建，立也。 孽，□也。 君不合大中，是謂不立。 蛇龍，陰類也。
[4] From the Hong Fan Wuxing zhuan.' Huang means 'great.' Ji means the central norm.' Jian means 'to establish.' Nie denotes a prodigious misgrowth [graph missing in source].' When the ruler misses the great mean, the norm is said to be 'unestablished.' Snakes and dragons belong to the yin category of omens.'
123
注[五]詩小雅也。 虺蛇，穴居，陰之類，故為女子之祥也。
[5] From the Lesser Ya.' Burrowing snakes are creatures of yin—hence omens of women's power.'
124
注[六]洪範五行傳曰：「初，鄭厲公劫相祭仲而篡兄昭公，立為鄭君。 後雍愨之難，厲公出奔，鄭人立昭公。 既立，內蛇與外蛇□鄭南門中。 內蛇死。 是時傅瑕仕於鄭，欲內厲公，故內蛇死者，昭公將敗，厲公將勝之象也。 是時昭公宜布恩施惠，以撫百姓，舉賢崇德，以厲腢臣，觀察左右，以省奸謀，則內變不得生，外謀無由起矣。 昭公不覺，果殺於傅瑕，二子死而厲公入，此其效也。 詩云：『惟虺惟蛇，女子之祥。 』鄭昭公殆以女子敗矣。」
[6] The Hong Fan Wuxing zhuan: Duke Li of Zheng seized Chancellor Zhong and supplanted Duke Zhao—' After the Yongque crisis Li fled and the people enthroned Zhao.' Once enthroned, inner and outer snakes [action missing] at Zheng's south gate.' The inner snake died.' Fu Xia then schemed to restore Li; the dead inner snake foretold Zhao's fall and Li's triumph.' Zhao should have spread kindness, promoted worth, stiffened his ministers, and watched his flanks—then no coup could form within or intrigue without.' He did not; Fu Xia killed him, both princes died, and Li returned—proof of the omen.' The ode says: only snakes—omens of a woman's rise.' So Duke Zhao of Zheng fell to a woman's faction.'"
125
注[七]前書曰：「佩玉晏鳴，關睢歎之。 」音義曰：「後夫人，雞鳴佩玉去君所。 周康王后不然，故詩人歎而傷之。 此事見魯詩，今亡失也。」
[7] The Han shu: late jade chimes at cockcrow—'Guanju' laments it.' ' The glossary notes the queen should leave for court at cockcrow with jade sounding.' Queen Kang of Zhou did not—hence the poet's lament.' The story survives only in the Lu school text, now lost.'"
126
注[八]說宛曰：「湯自伐桀後，大旱七年，洛川竭，使人持三足鼎祝於山川曰：『政不節邪？ 使人疾邪？ 苞苴行邪？ 讒夫昌邪？ 宮室榮邪？ 女謁行邪？ 何不雨之極！ 』言未已而天大雨。」
[8] The Shuoyuan: after Tang conquered Jie, seven years of drought dried the Luo; he sent men with a tripod to pray: 'Is my government lax?' Do the people suffer?' Do bribes run unchecked?' Do slanderers thrive?' Are palaces too lavish?' Do women meddle in state affairs?' Why will you not send rain?' ' Before he finished, Heaven sent a downpour.'"
127
注[九]易泰卦六五曰「帝乙歸妹，以祉元吉」也。
[9] Tai hexagram, fifth line: Emperor Yi weds his daughter—supreme good fortune.'"
128
注[一０]艷妻，周幽王后褎姒也。 皇甫卿士等皆後之黨，用後嬖寵而居位也。 詩曰「皇甫卿士，艷妻煽方處」也。
[10] 'Dazzling wife' is Bao Si, queen of King You of Zhou.' Huangfu Qing and his ilk were the queen's party, advanced through her favor.' The ode reads: 'Huangfu at court, the dazzling wife fanning her flame.'"
129
注[一一]殷王太戊時，桑谷共生於朝，修德而桑谷死。 景公時，熒惑守心，修德而星退捨。 並見史記。
[11] Under Taiwu of Yin, mulberry and grain sprouted together in the hall; virtue withered the growth.' Under Duke Jing of Song, Mars lodged in the heart mansion; virtue made it withdraw.' Both stories appear in the Records of the Historian.'
130
二年，代唐珍為司空，以□異免。 復拜光祿大夫，秩中二千石。 五年，代袁隗為司徒。 是時朝廷爵授，多不以次，而帝好微行，游幸外苑。 賜覆上疏曰：
In the second year he succeeded Tang Zhen as minister of works but left office citing ominous signs [graph missing].' He was again named household grandee at middle two-thousand-shi rank.' In the fifth year he succeeded Yuan Kui as minister of education.' Titles were handed out without order while the emperor loved incognito jaunts in the outer parks.' Yang Ci sent another memorial:
131
臣聞天生蒸民，不能自理，[一]故立君長使司牧之，[二]是以唐虞兢兢業業，[三]周文日□不暇，[四]明慎庶官，俊乂在職，三載考績，[五]以觀厥成。 而今所序用無佗德，有形埶者，旬日累遷，守真之徒，歷載不轉，勞逸無別，善惡同流，北山之詩，所為訓作。 [六]又聞數微行出幸苑囿，觀鷹犬之埶，極盤遊之荒，[七]政事日墮，[八]大化陵□。 陛下不顧二祖之勤止，[九]追慕五宗之美蹤，[一０]而欲以望太平，是由曲表而欲直景，卻行而求及前人也。 [一一]宜絕慢□之戲，念官人之重，割用板之恩，慎貫魚之次，[一二]無令醜女有四殆之歎，[一三]遐邇有憤怨之聲。 臣受恩偏特，忝任師傅，不敢自同凡臣，括囊避咎。 [一四]謹自手書密上。
Heaven made the people unable to rule themselves [1], so it set up rulers to shepherd them [2]. Yao and Shun trembled with care [3], King Wen had no day off [graph missing] [4], scrutinized every office, filled posts with the worthy, and reviewed merit every three years [5] to judge results.' Today the well-connected leap ranks in days while the steadfast stagnate for years—no difference between toil and ease, good and evil mingle—exactly the wrong the 'North Mountain' ode was written to condemn.' [6] I hear you often slip out to the hunting parks to watch hawks and hounds [7]; government slips daily [8] and the great transformation falters [graph missing].' [9] You ignore the tireless example of your two imperial forebears [10] and the five temples' glorious paths yet hope for peace—it is like bending a rod and expecting a straight shadow, or walking backward to overtake those ahead.' [11] End frivolous pastimes [graph missing], remember the weight of staffing, curb favor shown by edict, keep palace women in due order [12], lest plain consorts sigh like Zhongli Chun's 'four perils' [13], and grumbling spread far and wide.' I have received extraordinary favor as imperial tutor; I cannot hide like a common courtier who ties his purse and stays silent.' [14] I therefore submit this in my own hand, sealed.'"
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注[一]蒸，觿也。 注[二]司，主也。 牧，養也。
[1] Zheng (teeming masses) glosses the common people.' [2] Si means to govern or oversee.' Mu means to shepherd and nurture.'
133
注[三]兢兢，戒慎。 業業，危懼。 尚書戲陶謨曰：「兢兢業業，一日二日萬機。」
[3] Jingjing: watchful care.' Yeye: awe at grave responsibility.' The Counsels of Gao Yao: 'Be ever vigilant—a single day holds myriad affairs of state.'"
134
注[四]尚書曰：「文王自朝至於日中仄，弗遑暇食。 」注[五]尚書曰「三載考績，黜陟幽明」也。
[4] The Documents: King Wen from dawn to dusk had no time to eat.' ' [5] The Documents: review merit every three years and advance or dismiss accordingly.'"
135
注[六]詩小雅曰：「陟彼北山，言采其□。 偕偕士子，朝夕從事。 大夫不均，我從事獨賢。」
[6] The 'North Mountain' ode: climb the north hill to gather its herbs [graph missing].' Sturdy scholars toil morning and night.' The great officers are unfair—I alone am overworked.'"
136
注[七]盤，樂也。 詩曰：「盤於游田。 」書曰：「內作色荒，外作禽荒。 」注[八]許規反。
[7] Pan means sport or revelry.' The ode warns against endless hunting.' ' The Documents: debauchery within and hunting without ruin a ruler.' ' [8] Read with the fanqie xu-gui.'"
137
注[九]二祖，高祖、光武也。 詩曰：「文王既勤止。 」注[一０]文帝太宗、武帝世宗、宣帝中宗、明帝顯宗、章帝肅宗也。
[9] The two ancestors are Han Gaozu and Guangwu.' The ode says King Wen never ceased his labors.' ' [10] The five temples: Taizong (Wen), Shizong (Wu), Zhongzong (Xuan), Xianzong (Ming), Suzong (Zhang).'
138
注[一一]孫卿子曰：「猶立枉木而求其影之直也。 」韓詩外傳曰：「夫明鏡所以照形也，往古所以知今也。 夫知惡往古之惡而不知修今之善，惡往古之所以危亡而不知襲積其所以安存，則無以異乎□行而求逮於前人也。」
[11] Xunzi: it is like planting a crooked post and expecting a straight shadow.' ' The Han waizhuan: a bright mirror shows your face; antiquity shows the present.' To loathe ancient evils yet not mend today's rule, to shun ancient ruin yet not copy what preserved states—no different from walking backward to overtake someone ahead [graph missing].'"
139
注[一二]板謂詔書也。 易剝卦曰：「貫魚，以宮人寵。 」言王者御宮人，如貫魚之有次序也。
[12] 'Tablet' here means edicts of favor.' The Peeling hexagram: string fish like palace women—each in her turn.' ' The king should order his harem like fish strung on a cord.'"
140
注[一三]劉向列女傳曰：「鐘離春者，齊無鹽邑之女，齊宣王之正後也。 其為人也，極醜無雙，臼頭深目，長壯大節，卬鼻結喉，肥項少發，折□出匈，皮膚若漆。 年四十，行嫁不售，自謁宣王，舉手拊膝曰：『殆哉！ 殆哉！ 』曰：『今王之國，西有衡秦之患，南有強楚之讎，外有二國之難，一旦山陵崩□，社稷不安，此一殆也。 漸台五重，萬人罷極，此二殆也。 賢者伏匿於山林，諂諛者強於左右，此三殆也。 飲酒沉湎，以夜繼晝，外不修諸侯之禮，內不秉國家之政，此四殆也。』」
[13] Liu Xiang's Biographies of Women: Zhongli Chun of Wuyan became Queen Xuan of Qi's chief consort.' She was famously hideous—sunken eyes, massive frame, snub nose, knotted throat, thick neck, sparse hair, jutting chest [graph missing], skin dark as lacquer.' At forty she had found no husband; she sought King Xuan, struck her knee, and cried, 'Peril!' Peril upon peril!' ' She said: 'West lies Qin, south Chu—two great threats; should the throne suddenly fall [graph missing], the altars would shake—that is the first peril.' Your five-tiered terrace exhausts ten thousand men—the second peril.' Worthies hide in the hills while sycophants crowd your ears—the third peril.' You drink day into night, neglect foreign rites and domestic rule—the fourth peril.'"
141
注[一四]括，結也。 易曰：「括囊無咎無譽。」
[14] Kuo means to bind up.' The Changes: tie the mouth of the bag—no blame and no praise.'"
142
臣聞之經傳，或得神以昌，或得神以亡。 [五]國家休明，則鑒其德； 邪辟昏亂，則視其禍。 今殿前之氣，應為虹蜺，皆妖邪所生，不正之象，詩人所謂蝃蝀者也。 [六]於中孚經曰：『蜺之比，無德以色親。 』[七]方今內多嬖倖，外任小臣，上下並怨，諠嘩盈路，是以□異屢見，前後丁寧。
The classics teach that spirits may bless a state or destroy it.' [5] When the realm is bright, spirits mirror its virtue;' when it is depraved and dark, they show its punishments.' The vapor before your hall is a rainbow—born of perverse qi, an ill omen—the 'Rainbow' ode's creature.' [6] The Zhong Fu apocryphon: the lesser rainbow means intimacy without virtue, by beauty alone.' ' [7] Favorites fill the inner palace while petty men hold border posts; high and low mutter in the streets—hence prodigies [graph missing] repeat and Heaven warns again and again.'
143
今復投蜺，可謂孰矣。 [八]案春秋讖曰：『天投蜺，天下怨，海內亂。 』[九]加四百之期，亦復垂及。 [一０]昔虹貫牛山，管仲諫桓公無近妃宮。 [一一]易曰：『天垂象，見吉凶，聖人則之。 』[一二]今妾媵嬖人閹尹之徒，共專國朝，欺罔日月。 又鴻都門下，招會腢小，造作賦說，以蟲篆小技見寵於時，[一三]如驩兜﹑共工更相薦說，[一四]旬月之閒，並各拔擢，樂松處常伯，任芝居納言。
Now a rainbow appears again—the omen is complete.' [8] A Spring and Autumn prophecy reads: Heaven casts a rainbow—the realm resents, the empire riots.' ' [9] The four-hundred-year cycle of Han also nears its end.' [10] When a rainbow spanned Ox Mountain, Guan Zhong warned Duke Huan not to dally in the harem.' [11] The Changes: Heaven displays images of fortune and woe; the sage takes them as his model.' ' [12] Concubines, favorites, and eunuchs now monopolize court and mock your radiance.' [13] Under Hongdu Gate petty men trade doggerel for favor like Huan Dou and Gonggong recommending each other; [14] within weeks Yue Song became Changbo and Ren Zhi Nayin.'
144
□儉﹑梁鵠俱以便辟之性，佞辯之心，各受豐爵不次之寵，而令搢紳之徒委伏毿畝，口誦堯舜之言，身蹈絕俗之行，棄捐溝壑，不見逮及。 冠履倒易，陵谷代處，[一五]從小人之邪意，順無知之私慾，不念板﹑蕩之作，虺蜴之誡。 [一六]殆哉之危，莫過於今。 [一七]幸賴皇天垂象譴告。 周書曰：『天子見怪則修德，諸侯見怪則修政，卿大夫見怪則修職，士庶人見怪則修身。 』惟陛下慎經典之誡，圖變復之道，[一八]斥遠佞巧之臣，速征鶴鳴之士，內親張仲，外任山甫，[一九]斷絕尺一，抑止盤遊，留思庶政，無敢怠遑。 冀上天還威，觿變可弭。 老臣過受師傅之任，數蒙寵異之恩，豈敢愛惜垂沒之年，而不盡其慺慺之心哉！ [二０]
[Name missing] Jian and Liang Hu, slick flatterers, hold unearned rank while gentry who chant Yao and Shun and live beyond reproach rot unseen in ditches.' [15] Caps and sandals are reversed, hill and valley trade places—you follow petty whims and ignore the warnings of 'Ban' and 'Dang' and the ode on poisonous lizards.' [16] Never was the peril of Zhongli Chun's warning graver than today.' [17] Yet Heaven still sends omens to warn you.' The Zhou shu says: the Son of Heaven responds to prodigies with virtue, lords with policy, ministers with duty, commoners with self-cultivation.' ' [18] Heed the classics, chart reform, banish clever sycophants, summon worthy hermits, trust upright kin within and Shanfu without; [19] stop selling edicts, end hunting excess, fix your mind on government, never slacken.' Then Heaven may withdraw its wrath and these omens fade.' This old tutor owes you too much to hoard what little life remains and not speak my whole heart!'" [20] (note marker)
145
書奏，甚忤曹節等。 蔡邕坐直對抵罪，徙朔方。 賜以師傅之恩，故得免咎。
The memorial enraged Cao Jie and his faction. Cai Yong was punished for blunt answers and banished to Shuofang. Yang Ci escaped harm because of his standing as imperial tutor.'
146
注[一]洛陽記，殿在九龍門內。 郭景純注爾雅曰：「雙出，色鮮盛者為雄，曰虹； 闇者為雌，曰蜺。」
[1] The Luoyang record places the hall inside the Nine Dragons Gate.' Guo Pu's Erya gloss: when both arcs appear, the brighter male arc is the hong—' the dimmer female arc is the ni.'"
147
注[二]戴延之西征記曰：「太極殿西有金商門。」
[2] Dai Yanzhi's Western Campaign record: west of the Taiji Hall stands the Jinshang Gate.'"
148
注[三]張禹，成帝時為丞相，以師傅恩，禹每疾，輒以起居聞，車駕日臨問之，拜禹默下。 禹頓首謝恩，言「老臣有四男一女，愛女甚於男，遠嫁為張掖太守蕭咸妻，不勝父子私情，思與女相近」。 上實時徙咸為弘農太守。 又禹少子未有官，上臨候禹，禹數視其少子，上即禹默下拜為黃門給事中也。
[3] Zhang Yu served Emperor Cheng as chancellor; as former tutor he reported each illness, the emperor visited daily, and bowed to him in the carriage.' Zhang Yu kowtowed and said he loved his daughter more than his sons; she had married Xian, governor of Zhangye, and he longed to be near her.' The emperor promptly transferred Xian to Hongnong so they could be closer.' When the emperor visited the ailing Zhang Yu, Yu kept glancing at his youngest son; the emperor appointed the boy Yellow Gate attendant on the spot.'"
149
注[四]朱雲字游。 張禹以帝師尊重，雲上書求見，公卿在前，雲曰：「今朝廷大臣不能匡主，臣願得尚方斬馬□，斷佞臣一人頭，以厲其餘。 」上問：「誰也？ 」對曰：「安昌侯張禹。 」尚方，少府之屬官也，作供御器物，故有斬馬□，利可以斬馬也。 並見前書。
[4] Zhu Yun, courtesy You.' Zhang Yu was honored as imperial preceptor. Zhu Yun demanded an audience and told the assembled ministers: 'If great officers will not correct the throne, give me the Imperial Workshop's horse-beheading sword [graph missing] and one flatterer's head to warn the rest.' ' The emperor asked, 'Whom do you mean?' ' 'Anchang Marquis Zhang Yu,' he answered.' ' The Imperial Workshop forges imperial gear, including the horse-beheading blade [graph missing] sharp enough to sever a horse.'" Both episodes appear in the Han shu.'"
150
注[五]左傳曰：「有神降於莘，周內史過曰：『國之將興，明神降之，監其德也。 將亡，神又降之，觀其惡也。 故有得神以輿，亦有以亡。 』」國語曰「昔夏之興也，祝融降於崇山； 其亡也，回祿信於黔遂。 商之興也，檮杌次於* (平) *[丕]山； 其亡也，夷羊在牧。 周之興也，鸑鷟鳴於岐山； 其衰也，杜伯射王於鄗」也。
[5] The Zuo: when a spirit descended at Shen, the Zhou scribe Guo said a rising state receives spirits to watch its virtue—' a failing state receives them to witness its vice.' Thus spirits may bring rise or ruin.' '" The Guoyu: at Xia's rise Zhurong descended on Mount Chong—' at its fall Huiluo appeared at Qiansui.' At Shang's rise Taowu halted at— (variant reading marker) —Mount Pi (variant graph).'" At Shang's fall strange sheep appeared in the pastures.' At Zhou's rise the phoenix sang on Mount Qi—' at Zhou's decline Du Bo shot the king at Hao.'"
151
注[六]韓詩序曰：「蝃蝀，刺奔女也。 蝃蝀在東，莫之敢指，詩人言蝃蝀在東者，邪色乘陽，人君淫佚之征。 臣子為君父隱臧，故言莫之敢指。 」蝃音帝。 蝀音董。
[6] The Han preface: 'Rainbow' satirizes eloping women.' The rainbow in the east that none dare point to means yin vice riding yang—a sign of a ruler's debauchery.' Subjects veil a father's shame, hence 'none dare point.'" Di is read like di.' Dong is read like dong.'"
152
注[七]易稽覽圖中孚經之文也。 比，類也。 鄭玄注曰：「霓，邪氣也。 陰無德，以好色得親幸於陽也。 」注[八]孰，成也。
[7] From the Jilan tu Zhong Fu apocryphon.' Bi means 'analogy' or 'likeness.' Zheng Xuan: the secondary rainbow is perverse qi—' yin without virtue wins the yang ruler by beauty alone.'" ' [8] Shu here means 'fully ripe' or 'complete.'"
153
注[九]春秋演孔圖曰：「霓者，斗之亂精也。 失度投霓見。 」宋均注曰：「投霓，投應也。」
[9] The Yan Kong tu: the lesser rainbow is corrupt essence of the Dipper—' when the Dipper loses measure, a rainbow appears.' ' Song Jun glosses 'cast rainbow' as 'Heaven's response.'"
154
注[一０]漢終於四百年，解見獻帝紀。
[10] Han's four-hundred-year span is explained in the annals of Emperor Xian.'
155
注[一一]春秋文曜鉤曰：「白虹貫牛山，管仲諫曰：『無近妃宮，君恐失權。 』齊侯大懼，退去色黨，更立賢輔，使後出望，上牛山四面聽之，以厭神。 」宋均注曰：「山，君位也。 虹蜺，陰氣也。 陰氣貫之，君惑於妻黨之象也。 望謂祭以謝過也。 」流俗本「山」作「升」者，誤也。
[11] The Wen Yao gou apocryphon: a white rainbow spanned Ox Mountain; Guan Zhong warned, 'Do not linger in the harem or you will lose authority.' ' The duke of Qi was terrified, dismissed his favorites, raised worthy ministers, sent the queen to perform a wang sacrifice on Ox Mountain, and listened on all sides to appease the spirits.' ' Song Jun: the mountain stands for the ruler's position.' The rainbow is yin vapor.' Yin piercing it shows the ruler misled by his wife's kin.' Wang here means a rite of expiation.' ' Popular texts wrongly read 'mountain' as 'ascend.'"
156
注[一二]上系之詞。 則，效也。 注[一三]法言曰「賦者，童子彫蟲篆刻，壯夫不為」也。
[12] Wording from the upper wing of the hexagram.' Ze means 'to take as model.' [13] Yang Xiong's Fa yan: rhapsodies are boyish carving—grown men disdain them.'"
157
注[一四]尚書驩兜曰：「都，共工方鳩僝功。 」注[一五]楚詞曰：「冠履兮雜處。 」詩曰「高岸為各，深谷為陵」也。
[14] Huan Dou in the Documents: 'Ah, Gonggong is everywhere claiming merit he has ruined.' ' [15] The Chu ci: caps and shoes jumbled together.' The ode says the high bank sinks and the deep valley becomes a hill (the received text often reads 'valley' where this edition has a variant character).
158
注[一六]詩大雅序曰：「板，凡伯刺厲王也。 」其詩曰：「上帝板板，下人卒癉。 」蕩，邵穆公傷周室大壞也。 其詩：「蕩蕩上帝，下人之辟。 」又云：「哀今之人，胡為虺蜴。 」注云：「蜴，蠑螈也。 虺蜴之性，見人則走。 哀哉，今之人何為如是！ 傷時政也。」
[16] The preface to 'Ban': Fan Bo satirizes King Li.' ' The poem runs: 'God on high is contrary; the people are worn out.' ' 'Dang' is Duke Shao of Mu lamenting Zhou's collapse.' It opens: 'How vast is God on high, the people's sovereign.' ' It adds: 'Alas for men today—why are they like poisonous lizards?' ' The gloss: yi is the newt.' Such creatures flee at the sight of man.' Alas that men today behave so!' A rebuke of the times.'"
159
注[一七]無鹽之詞也，解見上。 注[一八]謂變改而銷復之。
[17] Zhongli Chun's speech—explained above.' [18] i.e., reform and restore order.'
160
注[一九]詩曰：「張仲孝友。 」又曰：「袞職有闕，仲山甫補之。 」皆周宣王賢臣也。
[19] The ode praises Zhang Zhong as filial and fraternal.' ' It also says Zhong Shanfu mends every gap in the king's robe.' ' Both were worthy ministers of King Xuan of Zhou.'"
161
注[二０]慺慺猶勤勤也。 音力侯反。
[20] Lou lou means earnest diligence.' Read with the fanqie li-hou.'"
162
其冬，行辟雍禮，引賜為三老。 復拜少府﹑光祿勳，代劉合為司徒。 帝欲造畢圭靈琨苑，賜覆上疏諫曰：「竊聞使者並出，規度城南人田，欲以為苑。 昔先王造囿，裁足以修三驅之禮，薪萊芻牧，皆悉往焉。 先帝之制，左開鴻池，右作上林，[一]不奢不約，以合禮中。 今猥規郊城之地，以為苑囿，壞沃衍，[二]廢田園，驅居人，畜禽獸，殆非所謂『若保赤子』之義。 [三]今城外之苑已有五六，[四]可以逞情意，順四節也，[五]宜惟夏禹卑宮，[六]太宗露台之意，[七]以尉下民之勞。 」書奏，帝欲止，以問侍中任芝﹑中常侍樂松。 松等曰：「昔文王之囿百里，人以為小； 齊宣五里，人以為大。 [八]今與百姓共之，無害於政也。 」帝悅，遂令築苑。
That winter, at the Biyong ceremony, Yang Ci was honored as one of the Three Elders.' He was again minister steward and household grandee, then succeeded Liu He as minister of education.' The emperor planned the Bigui Lingkun park. Yang Ci wrote again: 'I hear envoys are surveying farmland south of the city for a new hunting ground.' Ancient kings kept parks only large enough for the three-sided hunt; woodcutters and herdsmen could still use them.' Our forebears opened Hong Pool to the east and Shanglin to the west [1], neither extravagant nor stingy—just right by ritual.' Now you would seize suburban farmland for a park [2], ruin rich soil, destroy farms, evict families, and pen beasts—hardly the 'cherish the people as a newborn' that the Documents praise.' [3] Five or six royal parks already ring the city [4]—enough for pleasure and seasonal hunts [5]. Follow Yu's humble halls [6] and Taizong's refusal of a costly terrace [7] to ease the people's burden.' When the memorial arrived, the emperor wavered and consulted Palace Attendant Ren Zhi and Regular Palace Attendant Yue Song. They said: 'King Wen's hundred-li park seemed small to the people;' King Xuan of Qi's five li seemed large.' [8] Sharing it with the people does no harm to rule. The emperor was pleased and ordered the park built.
163
注[一]鴻池在洛陽東，上林在西。 注[二]杜預注左傳曰：「衍沃，平美之地也。」
[1] Hong Pool lay east of Luoyang, Shanglin to the west.' [2] Du Yu glosses yanwo as rich, level farmland.
164
注[三]書曰「若保赤子，唯人其康乂」也。
[3] The Documents line means cherish the people as an infant so they may thrive in peace.
165
注[四]陽嘉元年起西苑，延熹二年造顯陽苑。 洛陽宮殿名有平樂苑﹑上林苑。 桓帝延熹元年置鴻德苑也。
[4] The Western Garden began in Yangjia 1; the Xianyang Garden in Yanxi 2.' Luoyang palace records list Pingle and Shanglin gardens.' Emperor Huan added the Hongde Garden in Yanxi 1.'
166
注[五]逞，快也。 四節謂春搜﹑夏苗﹑秋獮﹑冬狩也。 注[六]孔子曰「禹惡衣服，卑宮室」也。
[5] Cheng means to indulge or enjoy.' The four seasons are the spring sou, summer miao, autumn xian, and winter shou hunts. [6] Confucius said Yu wore plain clothes and kept his halls humble.
167
注[七]文帝欲作露台，召匠計之，直百金。 帝曰「百金，中人十家之產。 吾奉先帝宮室，常恐羞之，何以台為」也。
[7] Emperor Wen planned an open terrace; when he had artisans estimate the cost, it came to a hundred catties of gold. He said, 'A hundred catties of gold is what ten middling families own together.' I inherited the halls of my predecessors and already fear I dishonor them—why would I need a terrace?'
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注[八]孟子齊宣王問曰：「文王之囿方七十里，人猶以為小； 寡人之囿方四十里，人猶以為大。 何也？ 」曰：「文王之囿方七十里，芻蕘者往焉，雉菟者往焉，與人同之，人以為小，不亦宜乎？ 」此雲文王百里，齊宣五里，與孟子不同也。
[8] Mencius records King Xuan of Qi asking: King Wen's seventy-square-li park still seemed small to people; yet my forty-square-li park still seemed large to them.' Why was that?' The reply: King Wen shared his seventy li with woodcutters and hunters; because it was open to all, it seemed small—was that not fitting?' The passage above gives King Wen a hundred li and King Xuan of Qi five li, which differs from Mencius's figures.'
169
四年，賜以病罷。 居無何，拜太常，詔賜御府衣一襲，[一]自所服冠幘綬，玉壺革帶，金錯鉤佩。 [二]
In the fourth year Yang Ci resigned on grounds of illness. Before long he was appointed Grand Master of Ceremonies; an edict gave him a full set of robes from the imperial wardrobe [1], the cap, kerchief, and ribbons he had worn himself, a jade flask, a leather belt, and gold-inlaid belt hooks and pendants. This sentence marks the second commentary note in sequence.
170
注[一]衣單復具曰襲。 注[二]金錯，以金閒錯其文。
[1] A complete outfit of inner and outer garments is called a xi (set). [2] Gold inlay (jin cuo) means patterns worked with gold set into the metal.
171
五年冬，復拜太尉。 中平元年，黃巾賊起，賜被召會議詣省合，切諫忤旨，因以寇賊免。
In winter of the fifth year he was again appointed Grand Commandant. In Zhongping 1 the Yellow Turbans rose; Yang Ci was summoned to a council at the secretariat, spoke bluntly against policy, offended the throne, and was removed on the pretext of the rebellion.
172
先是黃巾帥張角等執左道，稱大賢，以誑耀百姓，天下襁負歸之。 賜時在司徒，召掾劉陶告曰：「張角等遭赦不悔，而稍益滋蔓，今若下州郡捕討，恐更騷擾，速成其患。 且欲切□刺史﹑二千石，簡別流人，各護歸本郡，以孤弱其黨，然後誅其渠帥，可不勞而定，何如？ 」陶對曰：「此孫子所謂不戰而屈人之兵，廟勝之術也。 」[一]賜遂上書言之。 會去位，事留中。 [二]後帝徙南宮，閱錄故事，得賜所上張角奏及前侍講注籍，[三]乃感悟，下詔封賜臨晉侯，邑千五百戶。 [四]初，賜與太尉劉寬﹑司空張濟[五]並入侍講，自以不宜獨受封賞，上書願分戶邑於寬﹑濟。 帝嘉歎，復封寬及濟子，拜賜尚書令。 數日出為廷尉，賜自以代非法家，言曰：「三後成功，惟殷於民，戲陶不與焉，蓋吝之也。 」[六]遂固辭，以特進就第。
Earlier, Zhang Jue and other Turban leaders had preached deviant doctrines, styled themselves great sages, dazzled the common folk, and people from every quarter flocked to them with infants on their backs. Yang Ci was Minister of Education; he called in his clerk Liu Tao and said, 'Zhang Jue and his followers were pardoned yet show no remorse; their movement only spreads. If we now order every province and commandery to hunt them down, we may stir greater unrest and hasten the disaster.' I would rather sternly admonish the provincial governors and two-thousand-dan officials, sort the displaced, escort each group home to its native commandery to isolate and weaken the sect, then strike the ringleaders—could we not settle this with less turmoil? What do you think?' Liu Tao replied, 'That is what Sunzi meant by subduing the enemy without fighting—the art of winning in the ancestral temple before the campaign.' [1] Yang Ci then submitted a memorial explaining the plan. Before long he left office, and the proposal was shelved inside the palace. [2] Later the emperor moved to the Southern Palace, reviewed old files, and found Yang Ci's memorial on Zhang Jue and the annotated lecture rolls from his days as instructor [3]. Moved, he issued an edict enfeoffing Yang Ci as marquis of Linjin with fifteen hundred households. [4] Earlier, Yang Ci had joined the lecture corps with Grand Commandant Liu Kuan and Minister of Works Zhang Ji [5]. Believing he should not keep the reward alone, he petitioned to share the fief with Kuan and Ji. The emperor praised his generosity, enfeoffed Liu Kuan and Zhang Ji's son as well, and appointed Yang Ci Director of the Secretariat. Within days he was sent out as Commandant of Justice. Yang Ci knew he was succeeding men who were not specialists in law and said, 'The Documents praises the three ministers whose merit enriched the people, yet omits Xi and Tao from the reckoning—the text is sparing them out of shame.' [6] He firmly declined and retired to private life with the rank of Exceptionally Advanced.
173
注[一]孫子曰：「未戰而廟勝，得筭多也。 未戰而廟不勝，得筭少也。 」注[二]謂所論事留在禁中，未施用之。
[1] Sunzi said: To prevail in the ancestral temple before fighting means your calculations were many. To lose in the temple before fighting means your calculations were few. [2] That is, the proposal was held in the inner palace and never carried out.
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注[三]所注之籍錄。 注[四]臨晉，縣，屬馮翊，故城在今同州朝邑縣西南。
[3] The annotated roster from those lecture sessions. [4] Linjin was a county in Fengyi; its old wall lay southwest of Chaoyi county in modern Tong prefecture.
175
注[五]濟字符江，細陽人也，張* (輔) *[酺]曾孫。
[5] Zhang Ji, courtesy name Zijiang, was a native of Xiyang; the Zhang clan genealogy is damaged at this point in the text. The supplied given name is Fu (editorial restoration). He was a great-grandson of Zhang Pu (emended reading).
176
注[六]吝，恥也。 殷，盛也。 尚書曰：「伯夷降典，折人惟刑，禹平水土，主名山川，稷降播種，農殖嘉谷，三後成功，惟殷於人。 」言戲陶不預其數者，蓋恥之。
[6] Here lin means shame—the commentator implies the classic is ashamed to name them. Yin in the line means flourishing abundance. The Documents: Boyi gave the code and tempered the people with law; Yu tamed the floods and set the mountains and rivers in order; Ji spread sowing so the fields bore good grain—three ministers earned their merit, and the blessing was poured out on the people. The passage omits Xi and Tao from that tally because the classic is ashamed to rank them with the three.
177
二年九月，復代張溫為司空。 其月薨。 天子素服，三日不臨朝，贈東園梓器襚服，賜錢三百萬，布五百匹。 策曰：
In the second year, ninth month, he again replaced Zhang Wen as Minister of Works. He died that same month. The emperor wore mourning, stayed away from court for three days, sent an Eastern Park coffin and grave clothes, and granted three million cash and five hundred bolts of cloth. The edict of praise read:
178
故司空臨晉侯賜，華岳所挺，九德純備，[一]三葉宰相，輔國以忠。 朕昔初載，授道帷幄，[二]遂階成勳，以陟大猷。 師範之功，昭於內外，庶官之務，勞亦勤止。 七在卿校，殊位特進，五登袞職，弭難乂寧。 雖受茅土，未荅厥勳，哲人其萎，將誰諮度！ 朕甚懼焉。 [三]禮設殊等，物有服章。 今使左中郎將郭儀持節追位特進，[四]贈司空驃騎將軍印綬。
The late Minister of Works, Marquis of Linjin Yang Ci, was nurtured by Mount Hua; the nine virtues were whole in him [1]; for three generations his house held the highest office and served the state with loyalty. In my youth he taught me within the curtain [2], helped me build merit step by step, and guided me toward the great design. His work as my master and model shone at court and in the realm; the burden of every ministry wore hard on him, yet he never slackened. Seven times he served among ministers and colonels; he rose to the exalted rank of Exceptionally Advanced; five times he wore the chancellor's robes and quelled crises until the realm was still. Though enfeoffed with land, we never matched his service; now the wise man is gone—whom shall we ask to counsel the realm! I am deeply afraid of what lies ahead. [3] Rites set ranks apart; goods and vestments bear their proper emblems. The court sent Left General of the Household Guo Yi with imperial tallies to posthumously advance him to Exceptionally Advanced rank and to present the seals and ribbons of Minister of Works and cavalry general.
179
及葬，又使侍御史持節送喪，蘭台令史十人發羽林騎輕車介士，[五]前後部鼓吹，又□驃騎將軍官屬司空法駕，送至舊塋。 [六]公卿已下會葬。 謚文烈侯。 及小祥，又會焉。 子彪嗣。 [七]
At the burial the emperor also sent an Attending Secretary with tallies to escort the cortège, ten Orchid Terrace clerks to lead Yulin guards in light war carts and armored escorts, front and rear bands of drums and pipes, and the full law chariot of a cavalry general and Minister of Works (one graph missing in the text) to the family cemetery. Dukes, ministers, and all ranks below them attended the funeral. He was given the posthumous title Marquis Cultured and Resolute. At the lesser auspicious anniversary of his death they gathered again. His son Yang Biao inherited the title. This line marks the seventh commentary note in sequence.
180
注[一]挺，生也。 九德即戲陶謨九德。 注[二]詩大雅曰：「文王初載。 」毛萇注云：「載，識也。」
[1] Ting here means to be born or reared (by the mountain). The nine virtues are those listed in the Counsels of Yao and Shun section of the Documents. [2] The Greater Odes line begins: In King Wen's early years (zai marks his coming of age). Mao Chang glosses zai as the point when King Wen came of age.
181
注[三]禮記曰； 「孔子負手曳杖，消搖於門，歌曰：『太山其頹乎，梁木其壞乎，哲人其萎乎！』」
[3] The Record of Rites records the following scene. Confucius came to the gate with his hands behind his back, dragging his staff, and sang that Mount Tai would crumble, the great beam would break, and the wise man would fade away.
182
注[四]前書，張禹為丞相，以老罷就第，以列侯朝朔望，位特進，見禮如丞相。 漢雜事曰：「諸侯功德優盛，朝廷所敬異，賜位特進，在三公下。」
[4] The Han shu notes that when Zhang Yu retired as chancellor he kept his marquis rank, attended court on the new and full moons, held the title Exceptionally Advanced, and was received with the ceremony due a chancellor. Han assorted affairs states that when a noble's merit was outstanding the court granted him the rank of Exceptionally Advanced, immediately below the Three Excellencies.
183
注[五]續漢志：「輕車，古之戰車也，洞朱輪輿，不巾不蓋，菑矛戟幢麾。 」菑音側事反。 菑謂插也。
[5] The Treatise on the Later Han: the light cart was the old war chariot, with hollow vermilion wheels, no canopy, and spears, halberds, and command banners fixed to the frame. Read zai with the fanqie ce-shi (to insert). Zai means to set or plant the weapons upright in the cart.
184
注[六]續漢志「三公﹑列侯車，倚鹿，伏熊，黑轓，朱班輪，鹿文飛軨，九游降龍。 騎吏四人，皆帶□持棨戟為前列，三百石長導從，置門下五吏，賊曹﹑功曹皆帶□車道，主簿﹑主記兩車為從」也。
[6] The Treatise describes the funeral chariots of the Three Excellencies and ranked marquises: deer and bear motifs, black sideboards, vermilion-spotted wheels, deer-pattern flying hubs, and nine pennants with the descending-dragon design. Four mounted escorts (text damaged) carried tally halberds in the van; a chief guide of three hundred shi rank led the column; five clerks of the gate followed; the thieves and merit bureaus rode with escorts (text damaged) along the route; the chief registrar and chief recorder each had a carriage in the rear train.
185
注[七]禮「開而小祥」，「又開而大祥」。 鄭玄注曰：「祥，吉也，言其漸即吉也。」
[7] The Rites distinguish the lesser auspicious mourning after the first lifting of mourning restrictions and the greater auspicious after the second. Zheng Xuan: xiang means auspicious—mourning gradually gives way to normal life.
186
賜子彪
Yang Ci's son: Yang Biao
187
彪字文先，少傳家學。 初舉孝廉，州舉茂才，辟公府，皆不應。 熹平中，以博習舊聞，公車徵拜議郎，[一]遷侍中﹑京兆尹。 光和中，黃門令王甫使門生於郡界辜榷官財物七千餘萬，[二]彪發其奸，言之司隸。 司隸校尉陽球因此奏誅甫，天下莫不愜心。 征還為侍中﹑五官中郎將，遷穎川﹑南陽太守，復拜侍中，三遷永樂少府﹑太僕﹑□尉。
Yang Biao, courtesy name Wenxian, learned his father's scholarship from boyhood. He was first nominated Filial and Incorrupt, then the province nominated him Flourishing Talent, and he was summoned to the excellencies' bureaus, but he declined every offer. During the Xiping era his wide learning in classical tradition led to summons by imperial coach; he was appointed Gentleman Consultant and rose to Palace Attendant and governor of the capital region. During Guanghe the Yellow Gate director Wang Fu had his followers monopolize and squeeze official property worth more than seventy million cash in the commandery; Yang Biao exposed the fraud and reported it to the metropolitan commandant. Metropolitan Commandant Yang Qiu memorialized for Wang Fu's execution, and people everywhere felt vindicated. Recalled to court he served as Palace Attendant and general of the household for all purposes, then as grand warden of Yingchuan and Nanyang, again as Palace Attendant, and after three promotions as privy treasurer of Yongle, coachman, and commandant (one character missing in the text).
188
注[一]華嶠書曰：「與馬日磾﹑盧植﹑蔡邕等著作東觀。 」注[二]華嶠書曰：「甫使門生王翹辜榷。 」解見靈帝紀。
[1] Hua Qiao's history says he worked with Ma Midi, Lu Zhi, Cai Yong, and others compiling texts in the Eastern Watchtower library. Hua Qiao also records that Wang Fu had his follower Wang Qiao run the monopoly racket. The full account appears in the annals of Emperor Ling.
189
中平六年，代董卓為司空，其冬，代黃琬為司徒。 明年，關東兵起，董卓懼，欲遷都以違其難。 [一]乃大會公卿議曰：「高祖都關中十有一世，光武宮洛陽，於今亦十世矣。 案石包讖，宜徙都長安，以應天人之意。 」百官無敢言者。 彪曰：「移都改制，天下大事，故盤庚五遷，殷民胥怨。 [二]*[昔]*關中遭王莽變亂，宮室焚蕩，民庶塗炭，百不一在。 光武受命，更都洛邑。 今天下無虞，[三]百姓樂安，明公建立聖主，光隆漢祚，無故捐宗廟，棄園陵，恐百姓驚動，必有糜沸之亂。 [四]石包室讖，妖邪之書，豈可信用？」
In Zhongping 6 he replaced Dong Zhuo as Minister of Works, and that winter he replaced Huang Wan as Minister of Education. The next year armies rose east of the passes; Dong Zhuo grew afraid and wanted to move the capital to escape the crisis. [1] He summoned the high ministers and said, Gaozu made Guanzhong his capital for eleven reigns; Guangwu ruled from Luoyang, and we are now in the tenth generation there. The Stone Bundle prophecy says we should move the capital to Chang'an to answer the will of Heaven and men. Not one of the officials dared answer. Yang Biao said, To move the capital and remake institutions is a matter for the whole realm; when Pan Geng moved five times, the Yin people all grumbled together. [2] Long ago Guanzhong suffered Wang Mang's rebellion: palaces burned, the people were ruined, and hardly one in a hundred survived. Emperor Guangwu received the mandate and moved the capital to Luoyang. Today the realm is untroubled [3], the people live in peace, and you, my lord, have set up a sage Son of Heaven and enlarged Han's mandate. To abandon the ancestral shrines and imperial tombs without cause would terrify the people and bring the porridge-boiling chaos of revolt. [4] The Stone Bundle chamber prophecy is a book of sorcery; how can we trust it?
190
卓曰：「關中肥饒，故秦得併吞六國。 且隴右材木自出，致之甚易。 又杜陵南山下有武帝故瓦陶醋數千所，並功營之，可使一朝而辨。 百姓何足與議！ 若有前□，我以大兵驅之，可令詣滄海。 」[五]彪曰：「天下動之至易，安之甚難，惟明公慮焉。 」卓作色曰：「公欲沮國計邪？ 」[六]太尉黃琬曰：「此國之大事，楊公之言得無可思？ 」卓不荅。 司空荀爽見卓意壯，恐害彪等，因從容言曰：「相國豈樂此邪？ 山東兵起，非一日可禁，故當遷以圖之，此秦﹑漢之埶也。 」卓意小解。 爽私謂彪曰：「諸君堅爭不止，禍必有歸，故吾不為也。 」議罷，卓使司隸校尉宣播以□異奏免琬﹑彪等，詣闕謝，即拜光祿大夫。 十餘日，遷大鴻臚。 從入關，轉少府﹑太常，以病免。 復為京兆尹﹑光祿勳，再遷光祿大夫。
Dong Zhuo said, Guanzhong is rich and fertile; that is how Qin swallowed the six states. Timber comes readily from Longyou, so hauling it in is easy. South of Duling lie thousands of Emperor Wu's old tile-kiln and pottery works; put labor on them together and they can be ready in a single day (text may read kilns rather than vinegar). The commoners are not worth consulting! If anyone stands in the way beforehand, I will drive them off with main force and send them to the eastern sea. [5] Yang Biao said, It is easiest to throw the realm into turmoil and hardest to settle it again; I beg you to weigh that, my lord. Dong Zhuo's face darkened. Do you mean to block the state's plan? [6] Grand Commandant Huang Wan said, This is a great matter of state; should we not think over what Lord Yang has said? Dong Zhuo made no reply. Minister of Works Xun Shuang saw Dong Zhuo's resolve harden and feared for Yang Biao; he said lightly, Surely the chancellor takes no pleasure in this? The Shandong armies will not be stopped in a day, so a move is the way to handle them; that was the logic of Qin and Han as well. Dong Zhuo's manner softened a little. Xun Shuang said privately to Yang Biao, If you keep arguing, disaster will find its target; that is why I will not join you. When the debate ended, Dong Zhuo had metropolitan commandant Xuan Bo memorialize on a pretext (text damaged) to dismiss Huang Wan, Yang Biao, and others; they went to the palace to apologize and were immediately appointed grand household grandees. After ten days or so he was promoted to grand herald. He followed the court into the passes, served as minister steward and grand master of ceremonies, then retired on grounds of illness. He again became governor of the capital region and household grandee, then was promoted twice to grand household grandee.
191
三年秋，代淳於嘉為司空，以地震免。 復拜太常。 興平元年，代朱儁為太尉，錄尚書事。 及李傕﹑郭汜之亂，彪盡節□主，崎嶇危難之閒，幾不免於害。 語在董卓傳。 及車駕還洛陽，復守尚書令。
In the third year, autumn, he replaced Chunyu Jia as Minister of Works but stepped down after an earthquake. He was again appointed grand master of ceremonies. In Xingping 1 he replaced Zhu Jun as grand commandant with authority over Secretariat business. During the revolt of Li Jue and Guo Si he held full loyalty to the sovereign (one graph missing) amid peril and barely escaped harm. The account is given in the biography of Dong Zhuo. When the imperial train returned to Luoyang he again served as director of the Secretariat.
192
注[一]違，避也。
[1] Wei here means to evade or avoid.
193
注[二]盤庚，殷王之名也。 胥，相也。 遷都於亳，殷人相與怨恨。 湯遷亳，仲丁遷囂，河但甲居相，祖乙居耿，並般庚五也。
[2] Pan Geng was the name of an Yin-dynasty king. Xu means all together or mutually. When the capital was moved to Bo, the Yin people shared a common resentment. Tang moved to Bo, Zhong Ding to Ao, He Dan Jia (emended from He Dan Jia in some texts) to Xiang, Zu Yi to Geng—together with Pan Geng these are the five removals.
194
注[三]虞，度也。 言無可度之事也。 書曰：「四方無虞。 」注[四]如麋粥之沸也。 詩曰：「如沸如羹。」
[3] Wu yu means there is nothing to worry about (yu: to reckon or measure). That is, there is no cause for alarm. The Documents says, The four quarters are without peril. [4] Like porridge boiling over—a image of turmoil. The Odes says it will seethe like a pot and bubble like gruel.
195
注[五]言不敢避險難也。 注[六]沮，止也。
[5] That is, he did not shrink from danger in speaking out. [6] Ju means to obstruct or block.
196
注[一]獻帝春秋曰：「[融見]操[曰]：『刑之不濫，君之明也。 楊彪獲罪，懼者甚觿。』」
[1] The Annals of Emperor Xian: when Kong Rong saw Cao Cao he said, To keep punishments within bounds shows a ruler's clarity. When Yang Biao was charged, many were seized with fear (text variant for the last word).
197
注[二]左傳曰：「康誥曰：『父不慈，子不祗，兄不友，弟不恭，不相及也。 』」注[三]易文言曰：「積善之家，必有餘慶。」
[2] The Zuo cites the Kang gao: if fathers are unkind, sons irreverent, elder brothers unfriendly, or younger brothers disrespectful, guilt does not spread from one to another. [3] The Wen yan commentary on the Changes: a house that piles up goodness will have blessings left over for its descendants.
198
注[四]說文曰：「纓，冠索也。 」鄭玄注禮記曰：「緌，冠飾也。 紳，帶也。 搢，插也，插笏於紳也。 」或作「縉」者，淺赤，言帶之色。
[4] The Shuowen defines ying as the cord of a cap. Zheng Xuan on the Record of Rites: rui is the tassel or fringe at the cap's brim. Shen is the sash. Jin means to insert, as when one slips the tablet into the sash. Some manuscripts read jin for a light red that describes the sash.
199
注[五]左傳曰，季文子謂晉韓穿曰：「四方諸侯，誰不解體！ 」杜預注曰：「言不復肅敬也。」
[5] The Zuo: Ji Wenzi said to Han Chuan of Jin, Which of the feudal lords is not limp with terror? Du Yu: they could no longer maintain solemn reverence.
200
注[六]若以非罪殺彪，融則還為魯國一男子，不復更來朝也。
[6] If Yang Biao were executed without guilt, Kong Rong would go home a mere commoner of Lu and never attend court again.
201
四年，復拜太常，十年免。 十一年，諸以恩澤為侯者皆奪封。 [一]彪見漢祚將終，遂稱恭攣不復行，積十年。 後子修為曹操所殺，操見彪問曰：「公何瘦之甚？ 」對曰：「愧無日磾先見之明，猶懷老牛舐犢之愛。 」[二]操為之改容。
In the fourth year he was again appointed grand master of ceremonies; in the tenth year he was dismissed. In the eleventh year everyone who had been enfeoffed as a marquis purely by favor lost the title. [1] Seeing that Han was near its end, Yang Biao pleaded a foot ailment and stayed away from office for ten years (gongluan may be a scribal form for lameness). Later his son Yang Xiu was put to death by Cao Cao. When Cao saw Yang Biao he asked, Why have you grown so thin? He replied, I lack Jin Midi's foresight, yet I still feel the old cow's love that licks her calf. [2] Cao Cao's expression softened at that.
202
注[一]彪父賜，以師傅封臨晉侯。
[1] Yang Biao's father Yang Ci was enfeoffed as marquis of Linjin for serving as imperial tutor.
203
注[二]前書曰，金日磾子二人，武帝所愛，以為弄兒。 其後弄兒壯大，不謹，自殿下與宮人戲，日磾適見之，惡其淫亂，遂殺弄兒。
[2] The Han shu relates that Emperor Wu doted on two sons of Jin Midi and kept them as his playmates. When the boys grew careless and sported with palace women below the hall, Jin Midi caught them, detested their debauchery, and killed them himself.
204
彪子修
Yang Biao's son: Yang Xiu
205
修字德祖，好學，有俊才，為丞相曹操主簿，[一]用事曹氏。 及操自平漢中，欲因討劉備而不得進，欲守之又難為功，護軍不知進止何依。 操於是出教，唯曰「雞肋」而已。 外曹莫能曉，修獨曰：「夫雞肋，食之則無所得，□之則如可惜，公歸計決矣。 」乃令外白稍嚴，操於此回師。 修之幾決，多有此類。 修又嘗出行，籌操有問外事，乃逆為荅記，□守舍兒：「若有令出，依次通之。 」既而果然。 如是者三，操怪其速，使廉之，知狀，[二]於此忌修。 且以袁術之甥，慮為後患，遂因事殺之。 [三]
Yang Xiu, courtesy name Dezu, loved learning and had rare ability; he became chief clerk to Chancellor Cao Cao and handled business for the Cao house. After Cao Cao had subdued Hanzhong himself, he wanted to press the advantage against Liu Bei yet could not move forward, and if he tried to hold what he had he saw little prospect of gain. His officers could not tell whether to advance or stand fast. Cao Cao then sent down an order that consisted of a single phrase: "chicken ribs." No one in the outer offices grasped it, but Yang Xiu said, "Chicken ribs: eat them and there is no real meat; throw them away and it feels wasteful. The Duke has made up his mind to withdraw." He had the camp staff tighten the watchword and routine, and on that signal Cao Cao marched his army home. Time and again Yang Xiu read Cao Cao's intentions this sharply. On another occasion Yang Xiu went out but expected Cao Cao to inquire about outside business, so he drafted replies in advance and instructed the houseboy: "If orders come out, deliver these responses in sequence." Events unfolded exactly as he had foreseen. This happened three times. Cao Cao marveled at how fast the answers came, had the matter looked into, learned the truth, [two] and began to resent Yang Xiu. He was also Yuan Shu's nephew by marriage, which Cao Cao saw as a latent threat, so he found a pretext and had him executed. Editor's note marker [3].
206
注[一]典略曰：「修，建安中舉孝廉，除郎中，丞相請署倉曹屬主簿。 是時軍國多事，修總知內外事，皆稱意。 自魏太子以下，並爭與交好。」
Note [1]: The Dianlüe says Yang Xiu was recommended as xiaolian during the Jian'an era, appointed langzhong, and the Chancellor had him attached as chief clerk of the Granary Bureau. With military and civil business piling up, he oversaw both inner and outer affairs and satisfied Cao Cao's expectations in every case. From the Wei crown prince on down, everyone vied for his friendship."
207
注[二]廉，察也。 注[三]續漢書曰：「人有白修與臨淄侯曹植飲醉共載，從司馬門出，謗訕鄢陵侯章。 太祖聞之大怒，故遂收殺之，時年四十五矣。」
Note [2]: Lian here means "to inquire into" or "investigate." Note [3]: The Xù Hànshū records that someone accused Yang Xiu and Cao Zhi, the Marquis of Linzi, of riding drunk in one carriage out through the Sima Gate and reviling Zhang, the Marquis of Yanling. When Cao Cao heard this he was furious and had Yang Xiu arrested and executed; he was forty-five.
208
修所著賦、頌、碑、贊、詩、哀辭、表、記、書凡十五篇。
Yang Xiu left fifteen works in all—rhapsodies, hymns, stele texts, encomia, poems, laments, memorials, records, and letters.
209
及魏文帝受禪，欲以彪為太尉，先遣使示旨。 彪辭曰：「彪備漢三公，遭世傾亂，不能有所補益。 耄年被病，豈可讚惟新之朝？ 」遂固辭。 乃授光祿大夫，賜几杖衣袍，[一]因朝會引見，令彪著布單衣、鹿皮冠，杖而入，待以賓客之禮。
After Cao Pi accepted the Han abdication, he wanted to make Yang Biao Grand Commandant and first dispatched an envoy to sound him out. Yang Biao refused: "I have already served as one of the Three Excellencies of Han; the age was chaos, and I accomplished nothing for it." I am old and ill—how could I lend dignity to a brand-new dynasty?" He held firm to his refusal. He was instead given the title Grand Household Grandee with the gift of a folding stool, staff, and robes. [1] At court audiences he was summoned in plain hemp robe, deer-skin cap, and leaning on his staff, and received as an honored guest rather than a minister.
210
年八十四，黃初六年卒於家。 自震至彪，四世太尉，德業相繼，與袁氏俱為東京名族雲。 [二]
He died at home in the sixth year of Huangchu, aged eighty-four. From Yang Zhen to Yang Biao, four generations held the rank of Grand Commandant, their moral stature and service passing down in an unbroken line; with the Yuans they ranked among the great houses of Later Han Luoyang. Editor's note marker [2].
211
注[一]續漢書曰「魏文帝詔曰：『先王制几杖之賜，所以賓禮黃耇。 太尉楊彪，乃祖以來世著名績，其賜公延年杖。 延請之日便使杖入』」也。
Note [1]: The Xù Hànshū quotes Cao Pi's edict: "Ancient kings gave stools and staffs to show ritual respect for the very old." Grand Commandant Yang Biao's line has been illustrious for generations; let him have the longevity staff." On the day he is summoned, he shall be allowed to enter leaning on it."'
212
注[二]華嶠書曰：「東京楊氏、袁氏，累世宰相，為漢名族。 然袁氏車馬衣服極為奢僭； 能守家風，為世所貴，不及楊氏也。」
Note [2]: Huá Qiào writes that in Luoyang the Yangs and Yuans produced generation after generation of chief ministers and were celebrated houses of the Han. The Yuans, however, flaunted carriages, dress, and display to the point of presumption; while those who kept their household standards and won the world's respect never quite matched the Yangs."
213
論曰：孔子稱「危而不持，顛而不扶，則將焉用彼相矣」。 [一]誠以負荷之寄，不可以虛冒，[二]崇高之位，憂重責深也。 延、光之閒，震為上相，抗直方以臨權枉，[三]先公道而後身名，可謂懷王臣之節，[四]識所任之體矣。 遂累葉載德，[五]繼踵宰相。 信哉，「積善之家，必有餘慶」。 先世韋、平，方之蔑矣。 [六]
The historian's judgment: Confucius said, "When the state totters and you do not steady it, when it falls and you do not prop it—what good is such a minister?". [1] The burden of office must not be taken lightly; [2] the higher the station, the heavier the care and the deeper the accountability. In the Yanguang years Yang Zhen stood as chief minister, confronting abuse with blunt integrity, [3] putting public principle ahead of private reputation—true ministerial fiber, [4] and a clear sense of what the office demanded. So virtue accumulated generation after generation, [5] and the chancellorship passed down the line. Truly, "a house that piles up good deeds will have blessings to spare." Beside them the old Wei and Ping ministerial lines pale into insignificance. Editor's note marker [6].
214
注[一]論語載孔子之言也。 相扶持者，諭臣當輔君也。 注[二]負荷之寄，周公、霍光之儔。
Note [1]: The quotation comes from the Analects. The image of "supporting" means ministers are meant to steady their lord. Note [2]: "The burden entrusted" refers to figures such as the Duke of Zhou and Huo Guang.
215
注[三]坤六二曰「直方大不習無不利」也。 注[四]易曰：「王臣謇謇，匪躬之故。」
Note [3]: From the Zhou yi, hexagram Kun, second line: "Straight, square, great; without rehearsal, nothing is unpropitious." Note [4]: The Zhou yi: "The king's minister, toilsome—not for the sake of his private self."
216
注[五]易曰：「德積載。 」載，重也。 注[六]韋賢、平當父子並相繼為丞相。
Note [5]: The Zhou yi says, "When goodness piles up, it bears a weight"—the line breaks here in the lemma. —closing the quotation—zài means "heavy" or "heaped in layers." Note [6]: Wei Xian and Ping Dang and their sons each served as chancellor in turn.
217
贊曰：楊氏載德，仍世柱國。 [一]震畏四知，秉去三惑。 賜亦無諱，彪誠匪忒。 [二]修雖才子，渝我淳則。 [三]
Encomium: The Yangs carried their virtue forward; age after age they were the state's mainstay. [1] Yang Zhen shrank from the "four knowings"; Yang Bing turned his back on the "three seductions." Yang Ci spoke without reserve; Yang Biao proved steadfast. [2] Yang Xiu had genius, yet he violated the plain standard. Editor's note marker [3].
218
注[一]言世為國柱臣也。 注[二]忒，差也。 注[三]渝，變也。
Note [1]: That is, they were the dynasty's supporting ministers generation after generation. Note [2]: Te means "error" or "deviation." Note [3]: Yu means "to alter" or "corrupt."
219
校勘記
Collation notes (critical apparatus).
220
一七五九頁三行八世祖喜按：集解引惠棟說，謂太尉楊震碑作「熹」，喜讀為熹也。
1759.3: "eighth-generation ancestor Xi"—Huì Dòng (Collected Explanations) notes the Grand Commandant Yang Zhen stele writes 熹; Xi should be read as xī (熹).
221
一七六０頁四行續漢* (志) **[書]*曰集解引沉欽韓說，謂「志」當作「書」，今據改。 按：御覽九百九十六引作「謝承後漢書」。
1760.4: Xù Hàn [lacuna in text]. (reading zhì "treatise") **[shū]*—Shěn Qīnhán (Collected Explanations) says zhì should be shū; the text is emended accordingly. Note: Taiping yulan juan 996 quotes this as Xiè Chéng's Hòu Hàn shū.
222
一七六一頁二行倫字仲桓按：集解引惠棟說，謂案儒林傳。 倫字仲理，東昏人。 倫理名字相副，作「桓」者未詳。
1761.2: "Lún, courtesy name Zhòng Huán"—Huì Dòng (Collected Explanations) refers to the Rúlín biography. His courtesy name is Zhòng Lǐ, from Eastern Hūn. Lǐ and Lún match as name and courtesy name; the reading Huán is unexplained.
223
一七六三頁八行篡辭也按：「辭」原斗「亂」，逕據汲本、殿本改正。
1763.8: "usurping the wording"—"wording" was corrupted to "disorder"; corrected from the Jí and Diàn recensions.
224
一七六五頁四行去年十* (一) **[二]*月四日京師地動按：延光二年十二月戊辰，京師及郡國三地震。 通鑒考異謂下文「其日戊辰」，十一月丙申朔，戊辰乃十二月四日也。 今據改。
1765.4: "last year, tenth [month—lacuna]." (variant "one") **[second]* month, fourth day, earthquake in the capital—Yángguāng 2, twelfth month, wùchén: the capital and three commanderies quaked (per the basic annals). Zizhi tongjian Kaoyì argues that "that day wùchén" below, with eleventh month bǐngshēn new moon, makes wùchén the fourth of the twelfth month. The text is emended on that basis.
225
一七六六頁四行小人怨詈則還自敬德汲本「還自敬德」作「皇自敬德」，腢書治要作「洗目改聽」。 按：李慈銘謂案無逸「皇自敬德」今文尚書作「況自敬德」，隸釋載漢熹平石經尚書殘碑「況」作「兄」，兄即古況字，王肅尚書注訓為滋益。 石經用今文，楊震受歐陽尚書，故此疏用今文作「況自敬德」，因誤作「洗目改聽」，皆因形近致鬥。 章懷注僅引古文尚書「皇自敬德」，後人不解「況」字，遂改作「還」字，幸治要四字皆誤，轉可推求而得。
1766.4: The Shàng shū line rendered as "When the petty man rails and curses, then turn and revere virtue" appears in the Jí and Diàn recensions as "then augustly revere virtue," while the Zhenguan zhengyao corrupts it into "wash the eyes and reform the hearing." Lǐ Címíng: Wúyì's "huáng zì jìng dé" appears as kuàng zì jìng dé in the jīnwén version; the Xīpíng stele writes kuàng as xiōng (ancient kuàng); Wáng Sù glosses kuàng as "more." The stele followed the modern-text Shàng shū; Yang Zhen had trained in the Ōuyáng recension, so the memorial quoted kuàng zì jìng dé in that tradition, which then miscopied graphically into the nonsense phrase "wash the eyes and reform the hearing." Lǐ Xián only quoted the gǔwén "huáng zì jìng dé"; later readers, not knowing kuàng, substituted huán—ironically the Zhengyao's four-character corruption preserves enough clues to restore the reading.
226
一七六六頁一四行震行至城西幾陽亭汲本、殿本「幾」作「夕」。 集解引惠棟說，謂東觀記作「洛陽都亭」，袁宏紀作「洛陽沉亭」，通鑒作「幾陽亭」。 今按：清胡克家翻刻元刊胡注本通鑒作「夕陽亭」，章鈺校宋刊本通鑒三種及明孔天胤本，並作「幾陽亭」。
1766.14: "Zhen reached the Jīyáng pavilion west of the city"—Jí/Diàn write 夕 for 幾. Huì Dòng: Dōngguān jì has Luòyáng dū tíng; Yuán Hóng has Chén tíng; Zizhi tongjian has Jīyáng tíng. Hú Kèjiā's Yuan recension of the annotated Tongjian reads Xīyáng tíng; Song editions collated by Zhāng Yù and Kǒng Tiānyìn's Ming print keep Jīyáng tíng.
227
一七六八頁一０行帝嘗從容問奇曰按：「嘗」原作「常」，逕據汲本、殿本改。
1768.10: "The emperor once casually asked Qí"—the character for "once" (嘗) had been corrupted to "constantly" (常) and is restored from the Jí and Diàn recensions.
228
一七六九頁六行桃林縣有蓩鄉按：「桃林」當作「弘農」。 集解引惠棟說，謂郡國志宏農郡宏農縣有桃邱聚，故桃林，有蓩鄉。 桃林非縣名，注訛。
1769.6: "Táolín county has Mǎo township"—should be Hóngnóng commandery. Huì Dòng: Jun guō zhì places Táoqiū (old Táolín) and Mǎo township under Hóngnóng county in Hóngnóng commandery. Táolín was never a county name; the gloss is mistaken.
229
一七六九頁八行秉字叔節按：校補引柳從辰說，謂御覽二百七引張璠漢記作「字叔卿」。
1769.8: "Bǐng, courtesy Shūjié"—Liǔ Cóngchén (Jiǎobǔ) notes Yùlǎn 207 / Zhāng Fán Hàn jì gives Shūqīng.
230
一七六九頁一二行私過幸河南尹梁胤府捨按：集解引沉欽韓說，謂袁宏紀雲幸梁不疑府，梁冀子為河南尹在元嘉初元之後，袁紀是。
1769.12: "privately visited Hénán governor Liáng Yǐn's house"—Shěn Qīnhán: Yuán Hóng records a visit to Liáng Bùyí; Liáng Jì's son governed Hénán only after Yuánjiā 1—Yuán Hóng is correct.
231
一七七０頁四行特蒙哀識集解引王補說，謂袁紀「哀識」作「光識」。 按：校補謂「哀」字疑當作「表」。
1770.4: "especially received āi shí (favor/recognition)"—Wáng Bǔ: Yuán Hóng reads guāng shí. Jiǎobǔ suggests āi may be a corruption of biǎo.
232
一七七０頁五行太尉黃瓊按：校補引柳從辰說，謂「太尉」袁紀作「太常」，又袁紀載秉上疏在元嘉元年，而瓊為太尉在永興二年，則作「太常」是也。
1770.5: "Grand Commandant Huáng Qióng"—Liǔ Cóngchén: Yuán Hóng has Grand Chamberlain, and Bǐng's memorial is dated Yuánjiā 1 while Qióng was not Grand Commandant until Yǒngxīng 2—so Grand Chamberlain is the right title.
233
一七七０頁一六行日月星辰山龍華蟲藻火粉米*[黼黻]*十二章據汲本、殿本補。
1770.16: the twelve emblem patterns on the robe—fǔ and fú restored from Jí/Diàn.
234
一七七一頁二行居郎閒汲本、殿本「郎」斗「廊」。 按：前書顏注，郎著皁衣，故章玄服以廁也。
1771.2: "among the palace gentlemen"—Jí/Diàn corrupt 郎 to 廊. Note: Yán Shīgǔ on the Qián Hàn shū says palace gentlemen wore black; hence Zhāng Xuán donned dark dress to pass among them.
235
一七七一頁七行中常侍單超弟匡按：集解引錢大昕說，謂案第五種傳以匡為超兄子，宦者傳以為超弟子。
1771.7: Shàn Chāo's brother Kuāng—Qián Dàxīn: Dìwǔ Zhǒng's biography calls Kuāng Chāo's nephew; the eunuch treatise says nephew (different line of transmission).
236
一七七二頁一行可告在所屬按：刊誤謂案文多一「在」字。
1772.1: "may inform the relevant office"—Kanwù finds a superfluous zài "at."
237
一七七四頁四行覽顧知釁重汲本、殿本「顧」作「固」。 按：顧固通。
1774.4: "Lǎn glanced back and knew the fault was serious"—Jí/Diàn have gù for gù. Note: The characters are interchangeable here.
238
一七七四頁七行投畀* (有) **[豺]*虎刊誤謂「有」當作「豺」，注無它說，知與詩同。 今據改。
1774.7: the lemma "cast among" ends with an asterisk marking damaged text in the source apparatus. (erroneous yǒu "have") **[chāi]* tigers—Kanwù: yǒu should be chāi "jackals," as in the Shījīng. Emended accordingly.
239
一七七五頁一０行左傳曰晉寺人披言也「言」原斗「吉」，逕改正。 按：「曰」字疑衍。
1775.10: "Zuǒzhuàn says—the words of Jìn eunuch Pī"—yuē was corrupted to jí; corrected. Note: yuē may be redundant.
240
一七七五頁一五行賜字伯獻按：集解引惠棟說，謂太尉楊公碑及文烈楊公碑皆云字伯猷，袁宏紀字子猷。 又引沉欽韓說，謂謝承書作「伯欽」。 又校補引柳從辰說，謂今袁紀作「字子獻」，又東觀記作「字伯獻」，與此同。
1775.15: "Cì, courtesy Bóxiàn"—Huì Dòng: Grand Commandant Yang and Wénliè Yang steles read Bóyóu; Yuán Hóng has Zǐyóu. Shěn Qīnhán adds that Xiè Chéng's text has Bóqīn. The Jiǎobǔ adds Liǔ Cóngchén's note: the current Yuán jì gives the courtesy as Zǐxiàn, while the Dōngguān jì agrees with the Bóxiàn recorded here.
241
一七七七頁六行布恩施惠按：「惠」原斗「志」，逕改正。
1777.6: the phrase about showing kindness was corrupted from zhì to huì and has been emended.
242
一七七七頁一四行景公時按：陳景雲謂「景公」上脫「宋」字。
1777.14: "in Duke Jǐng's day"—Chén Jǐngyún observes that 宋 is missing before 景公.
243
一七七八頁一行周文日□不暇汲本、殿本「□」作「昃」。 按：昃本作□，□為□之或字。
1778.1: the line on King Wen of Zhōu and having no respite from dawn until the declining sun—the Jí and Diàn recensions supply the graph 昃 for the damaged character. Note: the gloss explains that the afternoon-sun character was once spelled differently, and that spelling counted as an acceptable variant of 昃.
244
一七七八頁一一行文王自朝至於日中仄汲本、殿本「仄」作「昃」。 按：仄昃通。
1778.11: "from court until the sun stood at mid-slant"—Jí and Diàn print 昃 where other witnesses read 仄. Note: 仄 and 昃 are used interchangeably in this context.
245
一七七九頁五行長壯大節集解引沉欽韓說，謂列女傳「壯」作「指」。 今按：初學記引作「壯」。
1779.5: the phrase about stature and steadfastness—Shěn Qīnhán notes the Liènǚ zhuàn reads 指 where this text has 壮. The Chūxué jì quotation, however, supports the reading 壮.
246
一七七九頁六行折□出匈汲本、殿本「出」作「凸」。 按：列女傳作「出」，初學記引同。
1779.6: a damaged phrase about ribs or chest projecting—Jí and Diàn emend 出 to 凸. The Liènǚ zhuān and the Chūxué jì both keep 出, supporting that reading.
247
一七七九頁六行年四十按：集解引沉欽韓說，謂「四十」新序及初學記並作「三十」。
1779.6: "aged forty"—Shěn Qīnhán points out that the Xīnxù and Chūxué jì both say thirty instead.
248
一七七九頁六行行嫁不售按：集解引沉欽韓說，謂列女傳「行」作「衒」。
1779.6: the line about failing to find a husband—Shěn Qīnhán notes the Liènǚ zhuàn uses 衒 where this text has 行.
249
一七八一頁四行禹數視其少子按：「少」原斗「小」，逕改正。
1781.4: "Yǔ often glanced at his youngest son"—shǎo had been corrupted to xiǎo and is restored.
250
一七八一頁九行檮杌次於* (平) **[丕]*山據殿本改。
1781.9: the lemma "Táowù next in order" breaks off where the apparatus marks damaged text. The gloss supplies píng "level" as a mistaken reading. The text is emended to read Mount Pī, following the Diàn recension.
251
一七八一頁一二行蝀音董按：汲本「董」作「東」。
1781.12: the phonetic gloss on 蝀—Jí prints 東 where Diàn has 董.
252
一七八三頁四行齊宣五里按：集解引惠棟說，謂王懋雲世說舉樂松之語，雲齊五十里，乃知非五里也，當時史文於「五」字下脫一「十」字。 蓋七十里近於百里，四十里近於五十里。 樂松舉其大要耳。
1783.4: "Duke Xuān of Qí, five lǐ"—Huì Dòng, citing Wáng Màoyún on Yuè Sōng, shows the figure should be fifty lǐ; a copyist dropped 十 after 五. Seventy lǐ rounds rhetorically to a hundred, and forty lǐ rounds to fifty in the same way. Yuè Sōng was giving a rough figure, not a precise measurement.
253
一七八五頁二行張* (輔) **[酺]*曾孫據校補引柳從辰說改。 按：張濟為張酺曾孫，已見酺傳。
1785.2: the surname Zhāng followed by a lacuna marker in the apparatus. The gloss proposes fǔ "assist" as the missing graph. Emended to Zhāng Pū's great-grandson on the authority of the Jiǎobǔ and Liǔ Cóngchén. The commentary notes that Zhāng Jì was the great-grandson of Zhāng Pū, as stated in Pū's biography.
254
一七八六頁三行三百石長導從置門下五吏賊曹功曹皆帶□車道按：刊誤謂案後漢志文，此不合有「三百石長」四字。 又云「賊曹、督盜賊、功曹皆帶□，三車導」，此文少「督盜賊」三字，又少一「三」字，又誤「導」字也。 蓋門下五吏，賊曹一，督盜賊一，功曹一，主簿一，主記一，凡五車也。
1786.3: a garbled passage on ranks and escort chariots—Kanwù argues against retaining the phrase "three-hundred-shi chief," which does not belong in the Treatises wording. The parallel clause should name the supervisor of bandit-catching and speak of three escort vehicles; this line drops those words, omits a numeral, and miswrites the character for dǎo in the sense of leading an escort. The five gate officers—thieves bureau, bandit supervisor, merit bureau, chief clerk, and recorder—account for the five escort vehicles.
255
一七八六頁一三行光武宮洛陽於今亦十世矣按：沈家本謂魏志董卓傳注「十世」作「十一世」，是也。 此奪「一」也。
1786.13: "ten reigns since Guangwu at Luoyang"—Shěn Jiāběn notes the Wèi zhī Dǒng Zhuō commentary reads eleven generations, and that is the better figure. The numeral "one" has fallen out of the text.
256
一七八六頁一五行*[昔]*關中遭王莽變亂據汲本、殿本補。
1786.15: the word xī "formerly," lost in some prints before the clause on Guānzhōng under Wáng Mǎng, is restored from Jí and Diàn.
257
一七八七頁一二行及車駕還洛陽按：「還」原斗「遷」，逕改正。
1787.12: "when the chariot returned to Luoyang"—huán had been miswritten as qiān and is corrected.
258
史記曰：「喜追殺項羽，以功封」
The Shǐ jì quotation breaks off mid-sentence: "Xǐ pursued Xiàng Yǔ to the death and for that merit received a fief" (the remainder is lost in this lemma).