1
皇甫嵩
Huangfu Song.
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皇甫嵩字義真，安定朝那人，度遼將軍規之兄子也。 父節，鴈門太守。 嵩少有文武志介，好詩書，習弓馬。 初舉孝廉、茂才。 [1]太尉陳蕃、大將軍竇武連辟，並不到。 靈帝公車徵為議郎，遷北地太守。
Huangfu Song, styled Yizhen, came from Chaona in Anding Commandery and was nephew to General Who Crosses the Liao Huangfu Gui. His father, Huangfu Jie, had been Administrator of Yanmen. From boyhood he showed civil and martial ambition, loved letters, and drilled in bow and saddle. He was first recommended as Filial and Incorrupt and as Abundant Talent. [1] Grand Commandant Chen Fan and General-in-Chief Dou Wu repeatedly summoned him to office, yet he refused every appointment. Emperor Ling called him to the capital as a Court Gentleman Consultant and later promoted him to Administrator of Beidi.
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初，鉅鹿張角自稱「大賢良師」，「良」或作「郎」。 奉事黃老道，畜養弟子，跪拜首過，首音式受反。 符水呪說以療病，病者頗愈，百姓信向之。 角因遣弟子八人使於四方，以善道教化天下，轉相誑惑。 十餘年閒，衆徒數十萬，連結郡國，自青、徐、幽、冀、荊、楊、兗、豫八州之人，莫不畢應。 遂置三十六方。 方猶將軍號也。 大方萬餘人，小方六七千，各立渠帥。 訛言「蒼天已死，黃天當立，歲在甲子，天下大吉」。 以白土書京城寺門及州郡官府，皆作「甲子」字。 中平元年，大方馬元義等先收荊、楊數萬人，期會發於鄴。 元義數往來京師，以中常侍封諝、徐奉等為內應，約以三月五日內外俱起。 未及作亂，而張角弟子濟南唐周上書告之，於是車裂元義於洛陽。 靈帝以周章下三公、司隸，使鉤盾令周斌將三府掾屬，案驗宮省直衛及百姓有事角道者，誅殺千餘人，推考冀州，逐捕角等。 角等知事已露，晨夜馳勑諸方，一時俱起。 皆著黃巾為摽幟，幟音尺志反，又音試。 時人謂之「黃巾」，亦名為「蛾賊」。 蛾音魚綺反，即「蟻」字也。 諭賊衆多，故以為名。 殺人以祠天。 角稱「天公將軍」，角弟寶稱「地公將軍」，寶弟梁稱「人公將軍」，所在燔燒官府，劫略聚邑，州郡失據，長吏多逃亡。 旬日之閒，天下向應，京師震動。 詔勑州郡脩理攻守，簡練器械，自函谷、大谷、廣城、伊闕、轘轅、旋門、孟津、小平津諸關，並置都尉。 大谷、轘轅在洛陽東南，旋門在汜水之西。 召腢臣會議。 嵩以為宜解黨禁，益出中藏錢、西園廄馬，以班軍士。 帝從之。 於是發天下精兵，博選將帥，以嵩為左中郎將，持節，與右中郎將朱儁，共發五校、三河騎士及募精勇，合四萬餘人，嵩、儁各統一軍，共討穎川黃巾。
At first, Zhang Jue of Julu styled himself the "Great Worthy and Good Master"; some copies write the last word as "gentleman" instead of "good". He served the Huang-Lao Way, gathered disciples, and had them kneel, bow, and confess their faults; the note gives the pronunciation of the word for confessing. He healed with talisman water, spells, and preaching; many of the sick recovered, and the people came to trust him. Jue sent eight disciples out in every direction to teach the world his good Way, and the delusion spread from person to person. Over more than ten years his followers grew to several hundred thousand, linking commanderies and kingdoms; across Qing, Xu, You, Ji, Jing, Yang, Yan, and Yu provinces, people answered everywhere. He then organized thirty-six fang. A fang was comparable to a general’s command. A large fang held over ten thousand men, a small one six or seven thousand, each under its own commander. They spread the slogan: "Blue Heaven is dead; Yellow Heaven shall rise. In the jiazi year, the realm will know great fortune." They daubed "jiazi" in white clay on office gates in the capital and on provincial and commandery offices. In Zhongping 1, Ma Yuanyi and others from a large fang gathered tens of thousands from Jing and Yang and fixed a date to rise at Ye. Yuanyi repeatedly moved in and out of the capital, making the palace attendants Feng Xu and Xu Feng his inside agents, with the inside and outside to rise together on the fifth day of the third month. Before the revolt began, Zhang Jue’s disciple Tang Zhou of Jinan reported it in a memorial, and Ma Yuanyi was torn apart by chariots at Luoyang. Emperor Ling sent Zhou’s memorial to the Three Excellencies and the Director of Retainers, and ordered Zhou Bin, Prefect of the Hook-Shield, to lead the clerks of the three offices in investigating palace guards and commoners tied to Jue’s Way. More than a thousand were executed; the inquiry reached Ji Province, and Jue and his followers were pursued. Jue and the others knew the plot had been exposed, so they rushed orders day and night to the various fang, and all rose at once. They all wore yellow kerchiefs as their sign; the note gives two pronunciations for the word "banner". People of the time called them the "Yellow Kerchiefs", also known as the "Moth Bandits". The note explains that the word written "moth" is pronounced like "ant" and means ants. The name compared the rebels’ numbers to swarming ants. They killed people as sacrifices to Heaven. Jue styled himself "General Lord of Heaven"; his brother Bao, "General Lord of Earth"; Bao’s brother Liang, "General Lord of Men". Wherever they appeared they burned offices, plundered settlements, threw provinces and commanderies out of control, and drove many senior officials to flee. Within ten days the realm answered them, and the capital trembled. The throne ordered provinces and commanderies to repair their defenses and prepare weapons; commandants were posted at Hangu, Dagu, Guangcheng, Yique, Huanyuan, Xuanmen, Mengjin, Xiaopingjin, and the other passes. Dagu and Huanyuan lay southeast of Luoyang, and Xuanmen west of the Si River. The court summoned the ministers to deliberate. Huangfu Song argued that the partisan prohibitions should be lifted and that money from the inner treasury and horses from the Western Garden stables should be issued to the troops. The emperor agreed. Elite troops were then raised throughout the realm and commanders broadly chosen. Huangfu Song was made General of the Household Gentlemen of the Left with the staff of authority, and together with General of the Household Gentlemen of the Right Zhu Jun he mobilized the Five Colonels, cavalry from the Three Henei Commanderies, and recruited picked fighters, more than forty thousand men in all. Song and Jun each led one army against the Yellow Kerchiefs of Yingchuan.
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儁前與賊波才戰，戰敗，嵩因進保長社。 波才引大衆圍城，嵩兵少，軍人皆恐，乃召軍吏謂曰：「兵有奇變，不在衆寡。 [7]今賊依草結營，易為風火。 若因夜縱燒，必大驚亂。 吾出兵擊之，四面俱合，田單之功可成也。」 [8]其夕遂大風，嵩乃約勑軍士皆束苣乘城，[9]使銳士閒出圍外，縱火大呼，城上舉燎應之，嵩因鼓而奔其陳，賊驚亂奔走。 會帝遣騎都尉曹操將兵適至，嵩、操與朱儁合兵更戰，大破之，斬首數萬級。 封嵩都鄉侯。 嵩、儁乘勝進討汝南、陳國黃巾，追波才於陽翟，擊彭脫於西華，並破之。 [10]餘賊降散，三郡悉平。
Zhu Jun had already clashed with the rebel Bo Cai and lost; Song therefore moved up and secured Changshe. Bo Cai led a great host to surround the city. Song’s troops were few and his soldiers were all afraid, so he summoned his officers and said: ‘Warfare admits strange shifts; it does not lie in numbers alone. [7] These men have pitched their camps in the dry grass—they are vulnerable to wind and fire. If we wait for night and send flames through their lines, they will break in terror. Then we sortie from the gates and close every side—the feat Tian Dan once pulled off at Jimo can be ours." [8] That night the wind rose as if on cue. Song had every man bundle rushes and take position on the battlements; [9] elite squads slipped through the ring, lit the camps, and roared the alarm; bonfires flared along the wall in reply. Song crashed the drums and drove straight into their ranks. The Yellow Turbans scattered in chaos. At that moment Cao Cao arrived at the head of an imperial column; Song and Cao united with Zhu Jun, renewed the battle, and shattered the defenders, claiming tens of thousands of heads. The court invested Huangfu Song as Marquis of Duxiang. Song and Zhu Jun carried the pursuit into Runan and Chen, ran Bo Cai down at Yangdi, crushed Peng Tuo at Xihua, and broke both bands. [10] The surviving rebels capitulated or melted away, and three commanderies were declared quiet.
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又進擊東郡黃巾卜己於倉亭，生禽卜己，斬首七千餘級。 時北中郎將盧植及東中郎將董卓討張角，並無功而還，乃詔嵩進兵討之。 嵩與角弟梁戰於廣宗。 [11]梁衆精勇，嵩不能克。 明日，乃閉營休士，以觀其變。 知賊意稍懈，乃潛夜勒兵，雞鳴馳赴其陳，戰至晡時，大破之，斬梁，獲首三萬級，赴河死者五萬許人，焚燒車重三萬餘兩，悉虜其婦子，繫獲甚衆。 角先已病死，乃剖棺戮屍，傳首京師。
They pushed on to Cangting in Dong command, seized the Yellow Turban leader Bu Ji alive, and piled up over seven thousand heads. Northern Army general Lu Zhi and Eastern Army general Dong Zhuo had failed against Zhang Jiao and withdrawn; the throne now commanded Song to take up the offensive. Song met Zhang Liang—Zhang Jiao’s younger brother—near Guangzong. [11] Liang’s veterans were fierce and fresh, and Song could not break them. The following day he stood down, sealed the camps, and waited to see what the enemy would do. Once he sensed their guard slipping, he moved under cover of darkness, hit their camp at cockcrow, and hammered them until dusk. Liang fell; thirty thousand heads were counted; perhaps fifty thousand drowned in the river; thirty thousand supply carts went up in smoke; dependents were rounded up and prisoners numbered beyond reckoning. Zhang Jiao had died of sickness weeks before; Song’s men exhumed him, dishonored the corpse, and forwarded the head to Luoyang.
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嵩復與鉅鹿太守馮翊郭典攻角弟寶於下曲陽，又斬之。 首獲十餘萬人，築京觀於城南。 [12]即拜嵩為左車騎將車，領冀州牧，封槐里侯，食槐里、美陽兩縣，[13]合八千戶。
With Giant Deer prefect Guo Dian of Fengyi he struck Zhang Bao at Xiaquyang and struck off his head too. They harvested upwards of a hundred thousand heads and prisoners and raised a victory mound of skulls south of the walls. [12] He was named General of Chariots and Cavalry on the Left (the transmitted graph ‘chariot’ is likely a scribal slip for ‘general’), Governor of Ji, Marquis of Huaili with two counties as his fief, [13] totaling eight thousand households.
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以黃巾既平，故改年為中平。 嵩奏請冀州一年田租，以贍饑民，帝從之。 百姓歌曰：「天下大亂兮市為墟，母不保子兮妻失夫，賴得皇甫兮復安居。」 嵩溫恤士卒，甚得衆情，每軍行頓止，須營幔修立，然後就舍帳。 軍士皆食，* (爾) **[己]*乃嚐飯。 吏有因事受賂者，嵩更以錢物賜之，吏懷籩，或至自殺。
With the rebellion crushed, the court adopted the new era name Zhongping. Song asked that Ji province’s grain levy be waived for a year to feed the hungry, and the emperor agreed. Folk sang, "Heaven’s disorder turns bazaars to wasteland; mothers lose sons and wives lose husbands, yet Huangfu gave us back a roof and a hearth." Song warmed to his men and they loved him in return: at every halt he would not retire until the camp stood ready, only then taking his own quarters. Not until every soldier had eaten would Huangfu Song sit down to his own meal. If an aide took a bribe, Song pressed silver and goods on him until shame overcame the man—some went so far as suicide.
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嵩既破黃巾，威震天下，而朝政日亂，海內虛困。 故信都令漢陽閻忠干干謂冒進。
After the Turbans fell, Song’s name terrified every quarter, but Luoyang slid deeper into disorder and the country starved. Yan Zhong, formerly magistrate of Xindu, made a rash approach; the note glosses gan as pressing forward.
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說嵩曰：「難得而易失者，時也； 時至不旋踵者，幾也。 故聖人順時以動，智者因幾以發。 今將軍遭難得之運，蹈易駭之機，而踐運不撫，臨機不發，將何以保大名乎？」 嵩曰：「何謂也？」 忠曰：「天道無親，百姓與能。 今將軍受鉞於暮春，收功於末冬。 [15]兵動若神，謀不再計，摧強易於折枯，消堅甚於湯雪，旬月之閒，神兵電埽，封屍刻石，南向以報，威德震本朝，風聲馳海外，雖湯武之舉，未有高將軍者也。 今身建不賞之功，體兼高人之德，而北面庸主，何以求安乎？」 嵩曰：「夙夜在公，心不忘忠，何故不安？」
He urged Huangfu Song, "Opportunity is hard to win and easy to lose; what comes at its hour yet allows no heel-turn is opportunity. Therefore the sage moves with the times; the wise man strikes when opportunity appears. Now you, General, have met a fortune rarely granted and tread upon an opening that easily alarms others; yet having stepped into fortune you do not seize it, and facing opportunity you do not act—how will you preserve your great name?" Song answered, "Explain yourself." Zhong continued, "Heaven is impartial; the crowd backs whoever shows strength. You took the axe in spring’s last month and sealed success before winter closed. [15] Your armies move like spirits; you plot once and need not plot twice; breaking the strong is easier than snapping dry wood; melting the hardened is swifter than boiling snow. Within the span of a month divine soldiers swept like lightning; corpses were piled and stone monuments carved; reports went south to the throne; awe and virtue shook the capital and your fame raced beyond the seas—not even the deeds of Tang or Wu tower above yours. Now you embody merit beyond any reward and bear the virtue of a towering man, yet you bow north to a mediocre lord—how can you hope for safety?" Song replied, "I serve the common weal day and night; disloyalty is far from my mind, so why should I fear?"
10
忠曰：「不然。 昔韓信不忍一餐之遇，而棄三分之業，利劒已揣其喉，方發悔毒之歎者，機失而謀乖也。 [16]今主上埶弱於劉、項，將軍權重於淮陰，指撝足以振風雲，叱宛可以興雷電。 [17]赫然奮發，因危扺頹，[18]崇恩以綏先附，振武以臨後服，徵冀方之士，動七州之衆，羽檄先馳於前，大軍響振於後，蹈流漳河，飲馬孟津，誅閹官之罪，除腢凶之積，雖僮兒可使奮拳以致力，女子可使褰裳以用命，況厲熊羆之卒，因迅風之埶哉！ 功業已就，天下已順，然後請呼上帝，示以天命，混齊六合，南面稱制，移寶器於將興，[19]推亡漢於已墜，實神機之至會，風發之良時也。 夫既朽不雕，衰世難佐。 若欲輔難佐之朝，雕朽敗之木，是猶逆坂走丸，迎風縱棹，豈云易哉？ 且今豎宦腢居，同惡如市，[20]上命不行，權歸近習，昏主之下，難以久居，[21]不賞之功，讒人側目，如不早圖，後悔無及。」 嵩懼曰：「非常之謀，不施於有常之埶。 創圖大功，豈庸才所致。 黃巾細孽，敵非秦、項，新結易散，難以濟業。 且人未忘主，天不佑逆。 若虛造不冀之功，以速朝夕之禍，孰與委忠本朝，守其臣節。 雖云多讒，不過放廢，猶有令名，死且不朽。 [22]反常之論，所不敢聞。」 忠知計不用，因亡去。 [23]
Zhong said, "That is not how power works. Formerly Han Xin could not bear to cast aside a single meal’s kindness and so threw away the enterprise of three parts; the keen sword was already at his throat before he uttered his bitter regrets—because the moment had slipped and his plans went awry. [16] Your sovereign is weaker than Liu Bang or Xiang Yu ever were, while your authority exceeds the Marquis of Huaiyin’s; a wave of your arm stirs storm, and a shout could pass for thunder. [17] Shake off restraint, ride collapse when it comes; [18] shower favor on early allies and shock the hesitant with arms; rally Ji’s talent, march the levies of seven provinces; let urgent orders fly before you and the main host boom behind. Cross the Zhang, water at Mengjin, put the eunuchs to the sword, and rinse away piled-up corruption. Children would strike for you and women march; need one speak of tiger troops borne on a hurricane? Once the enterprise has been completed and all under heaven has submitted, then call upon the Supreme Thearch, reveal the Mandate of Heaven, unite and equalize the six directions, face south and issue commands, transfer the precious vessels to the power that is about to rise, [19] and push the doomed Han down from where it has already fallen. This is truly the supreme meeting of divine opportunity and the fine moment when the wind has risen. Timber already rotten cannot be carved; a declining age is hard to assist. If you wish to prop up a court beyond aiding and carve wood already spoiled, it is like rolling a ball uphill or rowing straight into the wind—can anyone call that easy? Moreover the eunuchs pack the palace like hawkers [20]; edicts die on the steps while intimates hold the seal; no loyal minister lasts under a dim king; [21] rewards cannot match your fame and slanderers already slant their eyes. Wait, and remorse arrives bare-handed." Song said, shaken, "Plots fit for upheaval do not suit ordinary times. Founding a grand achievement out of nothing—is that something a mediocre talent can accomplish? The Yellow Turbans were petty evil; the foe was no Qin or Xiang Yu; newly gathered bands scatter easily and cannot sustain a great undertaking. Moreover the people have not forgotten their ruler; Heaven does not bless rebellion. If I invent merit that cannot be hoped for and hasten disaster within days, how does that compare with committing loyalty to this court and preserving a minister’s integrity? Though slander may abound, at worst I would be dismissed and cast aside; I would still keep a fair name and die without decay. [22] I will not hear plots against the grain." Zhong saw he had lost Song and vanished. The received edition carries an annotator’s tag for note twenty-three at this point.
11
會邊章、韓遂作亂隴右，明年春，詔嵩回鎮長安，以衛園陵。 章等遂復入寇三輔，使嵩因討之。
When Bian Zhang and Han Sui rose on the Long right, an edict the following spring sent Song back to hold Chang’an and shield the mausolea. They poured into the Three Adjuncts once more, and Song was told to take them in hand.
12
初，嵩討張角，路由鄴，見中常侍趙忠舍宅踰制，乃奏沒入之。 又中常侍張讓私求錢五千萬，嵩不與，二人由此為憾，奏嵩連戰無功，所費者多。 其秋徵還，收左車騎將軍印綬，削戶六千，更封都鄉侯，二千戶。
During the Zhang Jiao campaign his road ran through Ye; finding Attendant Zhao Zhong’s compound outrageously grand, he seized it by memorial. Attendant Zhang Rang privately demanded fifty million cash and was refused; both men bore a grudge and accused Song of wasting treasure on fruitless battles. In autumn they recalled him, lifted his credentials as General of Chariots and Cavalry on the Left, carved six thousand households from his fief, and reissued him as Marquis of Duxiang at two thousand households.
13
五年，* (梁) **[涼]*州賊王國圍陳倉，復拜嵩為左將軍，督前將軍董卓，各率二萬人拒之。 卓欲速進赴陳倉，嵩不聽。 卓曰：「智者不後時，勇者不留決。 速救則城全，不救則城滅，全滅之埶，在於此也。」 嵩曰：「不然。 百戰百勝，不如不戰而屈人之兵。 是以先為不可勝，以待敵之可勝。 不可勝在我，可勝在彼。
In the fifth year of Zhongping, (Scribal slip: the name should be Liangzhou, not the unrelated Liang.) Rebels from Liangzhou under Wang Guo invested Chen Cang; Song was restored as General of the Left with Dong Zhuo as Forward General—each commanded twenty thousand to hold them off. Zhuo pressed for a forced march to lift the siege; Song refused. Zhuo said: ‘The wise do not lag behind the hour; the brave do not postpone resolution. If we rescue swiftly the city survives; if we do not the city perishes—the outcome of survival or ruin hangs on this." ’ Song said: ‘It is not so. To win a hundred battles a hundred times is not so good as defeating the enemy’s army without fighting. Therefore first make yourself unconquerable and await the enemy’s vulnerability. Being unconquerable lies with me; being vulnerable lies with them.
14
彼守不足，我攻有餘。 [24]有餘者動於九天之上，不足者陷於九地之下。 [25]今陳倉雖小，城守固備，非九地之陷也。 王國雖強，而攻我之所不救，非九天之埶也。 夫埶非九天，攻者受害； 陷非九地，守者不拔。 國今已陷受害之地，而陳倉保不拔之城，我可不煩兵動衆，而取全勝之功，將何救焉！」 遂不聽。
They defend from weakness; we attack from strength. [24] Strength strikes from the ninth heaven; weakness sinks to the ninth abyss. [25] Chen Cang is tiny but its ramparts are tight—not the ‘ninth abyss’ of doomed defense. Wang Guo may be fierce, yet he spends his fury on a city we need not rescue—hardly the stance of strength raining blows from on high. Without that height the attacker bleeds; without that depth the garrison never yields. Wang Guo has stumbled onto ground that consumes attackers, while Chen Cang remains an iron nut—why exhaust our legions when patience buys total victory? What use is a reckless relief?’ Song held his ground.
15
王國圍陳倉，自冬迄春，八十餘日，城堅守固，竟不能拔。 賊衆疲敝，果自解去。 嵩進兵擊之。 卓曰：「不可。 兵法，窮寇勿* (迫) **[追]*，歸衆勿* (追) **[迫]*。 [26]今我追國，是迫歸衆，追窮寇也。 困獸猶鬭，蜂蠆有毒，[27]況大衆乎！」
For eighty days from winter into spring Wang Guo battered Chen Cang and gained no breach. His army frayed and slipped away of its own accord. Song marched after them. Zhuo said: ‘We cannot. The canon says: Never harry a foe driven desperate— (The variant reading is ‘press, harry’.) —nor chase a retreating mass— (The alternate reading is ‘pursue’.) —with further pressure. [26] If we pursue Guo now we press a retreating mass and drive cornered bandits. A cornered beast still fights; hornets and scorpions carry venom—[27] how much more a great multitude!"
16
嵩曰：「不然。 前吾不擊，避其銳也。 今而擊之，待其衰也。 所擊疲師，非歸衆也。 國衆且走，莫有鬭志。 以整擊亂，非窮寇也。」 遂獨進擊之，使卓為後拒。
Song said, "It is not so. Earlier I did not strike because I avoided their keen edge. We strike now precisely because we let their strength run down. Our target is a worn-out army, not men marching home in good order. Wang Guo’s men are on the run and have lost the stomach for battle. We hit chaos with discipline—these are not foe driven to the last ditch." He pressed the pursuit alone and told Dong Zhuo to hold the rear guard.
17
連戰大破之，斬首萬餘級，國走而死。 卓大籩恨，由是忌嵩。
He routed them repeatedly, piled up over ten thousand heads, and Wang Guo bolted only to perish on the road. Dong Zhuo burned with humiliation and jealousy and never forgave Song.
18
明年，卓拜為并州牧，詔使以兵委嵩，卓不從。 嵩從子酈[28]時在軍中，說嵩曰：「本朝失政，天下倒懸，能安危定傾者，唯大人與董卓耳。 今怨隙已結，埶不俱存。 卓被詔委兵，而上書自請，此逆命也。 又以京師昏亂，躊躇不進，此懷奸也。 且其凶戾無親，將士不附。 大人今為元帥，杖國威以討之，上顯忠義，下除凶害，此桓文之事也。」 嵩曰：「專命雖罪，專誅亦有責也。 [29]不如顯奏其事，使朝廷裁之。」 於是上書以聞。 帝讓卓，卓又增怨於嵩。 及後秉政，初平元年，乃徵嵩為城門校尉，因欲殺之。 嵩將行，長史梁衍說曰：「漢室微弱，閹豎亂朝，董卓雖誅之，而不能盡忠於國，遂復寇掠京邑，廢立從意。 今徵將軍，大則危禍，小則困辱。 今卓在洛陽，天子來西，以將軍之衆，精兵三萬，迎接至尊，奉令討逆，發命海內，徵兵腢帥，袁氏逼其東，將軍迫其西，此成禽也。」 嵩不從，遂就徵。 有司承旨，奏嵩下吏，將遂誅之。
The following year Zhuo became Governor of Bing; the court told him to yield command to Song, and he defied the order. Song’s nephew Li [28], then with the army, urged Song: ‘Our dynasty has lost the reins and the realm hangs upside down; only you, sir, and Dong Zhuo can steady the tipping vessel. Now ill will is already tangled; the two of you cannot both endure. Zhuo received an edict to surrender his army yet memorialized to keep it—that is defiance of orders. Again, because the capital is dark with turmoil he hesitates to advance—this is harboring treachery. Moreover he is brutal and trusts no kin; officers and men do not cleave to him. Take the baton as commander-in-chief, invoke imperial dignity against him, show loyalty to the throne and rid the realm of a brute; that is work worthy of Duke Huan or Duke Wen." Song said, "Though acting on one’s own authority is a crime, arbitrary execution also carries blame. [29] Better lay the evidence before the throne and let Luoyang judge." He sent up a full report. The emperor scolded Zhuo, who hated Song all the more. Once Zhuo held the government, in Chuping 1 he recalled Song as Colonel of the City Gates, meaning to murder him. As Song was about to depart, Chief Clerk Liang Yan urged him, "The house of Han is feeble; castrates threw court into chaos; though Zhuo slew them he did not devote loyalty to the state; instead he plundered the capital at will and deposed or enthroned as he pleased. Now if you answer the summons, at worst you court calamity, at best humiliation and bondage. Zhuo holds the east; the emperor flees west. Meet him with thirty thousand veterans, proclaim a loyal crusade, and rally every warlord: Yuan’s coalition pins Zhuo from the east, you from the west, and he is finished." Song declined the gamble and went to the capital. Ministers acting on Zhuo’s nod had Song thrown in jail and readied the headsman.
19
嵩子堅壽與卓素善，自長安亡走洛陽，歸投於卓。 卓方置酒歡會，堅壽直前質讓，責以大義，[30]叩頭流涕。 坐者感動，皆離席請之。 卓乃起，牽與共坐。
His son Jianshou, once friendly with Zhuo, escaped Chang’an for Luoyang and pleaded for his father’s life. Zhuo was mid-feast when Jianshou strode in, upbraided him on honor and duty, [30] and battered his brow on the flags until blood mixed with tears. Guests rose from their cushions, voices tangled in Song’s favor. Zhuo relented, pulled the youth to his own bench, and shared his cup.
20
使免嵩囚，復拜嵩議郎，遷御史中丞。 及卓還長安，公卿百官迎謁道次。 卓風令御史中丞已下皆拜以屈嵩，[31]既而扺手言曰：「義真犕未乎？」 [32]嵩笑而謝之，卓乃解釋。 [33]
He freed Song, restored him as Court Gentleman Consultant, and raised him to Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk. On Zhuo’s return to Chang’an the whole bureaucracy lined the highway to kowtow. Zhuo compelled every clerk from Palace Assistant down to bow—and humiliate—Song; [31] then he sneered, ‘Yizhen, have you learned to wear the harness yet?’ [32] Song forced a smile and mollified him; Zhuo’s temper cooled. [33] The manuscript preserves an editor’s tag at this juncture.
21
及卓被誅，以嵩為征西將軍，又遷車騎將軍。 其年秋，拜太尉，冬，以流星策免。 [34]復拜光祿大夫，遷太常。 尋李傕作亂，嵩亦病卒，贈驃騎將軍印綬，拜家一人為郎。
When Zhuo fell, Song became General Who Conquers the West, then General of Chariots and Cavalry. Autumn brought him the Grand Commandancy; winter brought a comet and summary dismissal. [34] He returned as Grand Household Minister and rose to Grand Master of Ceremonies. Before long Li Jue rose; Song died sick. The court gave him the posthumous rank of General of Agile Cavalry and ennobled one kinsman as a court gentleman.
22
嵩為人愛慎盡勤，前後上表陳諫有補益者五百餘事，皆手書毀草，不宣於外。 又折節下士，門無留客。 [35]時人皆稱而附之。
Song was meticulous: over five hundred memorials that helped policy passed under his brush, each rough copy burned so gossip never saw them. He humbled himself before talent and kept his gate open past dusk. [35] Contemporaries sang his virtues and flocked to his door.
23
堅壽亦顯名，後為侍中，辭不拜，病卒。
Jianshou won fame too; offered Palace Attendant, he refused and died in bed.
24
朱儁，字公偉，會稽上虞人也。 少孤，母嘗販繒為業。 儁以孝養致名，為縣門下書佐，好義輕財，鄉閭敬之。 時同郡周規辟公府，當行，假郡庫錢百萬，以為冠幘費，而後倉卒督責，規家貧無以備，儁乃竊母繒帛，為規解對。 [36]母既失產業，深恚責之。 儁曰：「小損當大益，初貧後富，必然理也。」
Zhu Jun, styled Gongwei, came from Shangyu in Kuaiji Commandery. Orphaned early, he was raised by a mother who peddled silk. He won notice for supporting her with filial care, clerked at the county office, prized honor over coin, and neighbors tipped their hats. When Zhou Gui of the same county took a capital appointment he borrowed a million from the county vault for travel gear; sudden dunning followed and his kin could not pay—Jun stole his mother’s silk to clear Zhou’s debt. [36] When she discovered the empty chest she scolded him furiously. ‘Small loss, large gain,’ he said; ‘start poor, end rich—that is how heaven balances accounts.’
25
本縣長山陽度尚見而奇之，薦於太守韋毅，稍歷郡職。 後太守尹端以儁為主簿。
Magistrate Du Shang of Shanyang spotted the deed, praised him to Prefect Wei Yi, and Jun climbed the local ladder rung by rung. Prefect Yin Duan later made him chief clerk.
26
熹平二年，端坐討賊許昭失利，為州所奏，罪應棄市。 儁乃羸服閒行，輕繼數百金到京師，賂主章吏，遂得刊定州奏，故端得輸作左校。 端喜於降免而不知其由，儁亦終無所言。
In Xiping 2 Yin Duan attacked bandit Xu Zhao, lost, and the province indicted him for public execution. Jun slipped to Luoyang in rags with a few hundred in gold, greased the memorial office, and had the charge softened to penal labor at the Left Arsenal. Yin Duan thanked fortune and never learned who bought his life; Jun kept silent forever.
27
後太守徐珪舉儁孝廉，再遷除蘭陵令，政有異能，為東海相所表。 會交址部腢賊並起，牧守剁弱不能禁。 又交址賊梁龍等萬餘人，與南海太守孔芝反叛，攻破郡縣。 光和元年，即拜儁交址刺史，令過本郡簡募家兵及所調，[37]合五千人，分從兩道而入。 既到州界，按甲不前，先遣使詣郡，觀賊虛實，宣揚威德，以震動其心； 既而與七郡兵俱進逼之，遂斬梁龍，降者數萬人，旬月盡定。 以功封都亭侯，千五百戶，賜黃金五十斤，徵為諫議大夫。
Prefect Xu Gui recommended him Filial and Incorrupt; two steps up he governed Lanling with such skill that the Donghai chancellor memorialized him. Meanwhile Jiao Province boiled with rebels and civil governors lacked steel to stop them. Liang Long of Jiao led ten thousand men alongside Nanhai prefect Kong Zhi and tore through the delta towns. Guanghe 1 named him Inspector of Jiao; he detoured home to raise household veterans and drafted militia—[37] five thousand in all—in two columns. On arrival he held his lines, sent scouts into each commandery to measure the enemy and broadcast imperial majesty, then marched with seven commanderies’ levies, struck Liang Long dead, and accepted tens of thousands of surrenders—a quiet province within weeks. The throne made him Marquis of Ducheng at fifteen hundred households, poured fifty catties of gold into his lap, and recalled him as Grandee Remonstrant.
28
及黃巾起，公卿多薦儁有才略，拜為右中郎將，持節，與左中郎將皇甫嵩討穎川、汝南、陳國諸賊，悉破平之。 嵩乃上言其狀，而以功歸儁，於是進封西鄉侯，遷鎮賊中郎將。
As Turbans flared, ministers praised his gifts; he became General of the Household on the Right with imperial baton, paired with Huangfu Song on the left, and swept Yingchuan, Runan, and Chen clean. Song reported victory yet handed the glory to Jun, who gained Marquis of Xixiang and the title General Who Suppresses Bandits.
29
時南陽黃巾張曼成起兵，稱「神上使」，衆數萬，殺郡守褚貢，屯宛下百餘日。
In Nanyang, Zhang Mancheng styled himself ‘Supernal Herald,’ slaughtered Prefect Chu Gong, and besieged Wan for months with tens of thousands.
30
後太守秦頡擊殺曼成，賊更以趙弘為帥，衆浸盛，遂十餘萬，據宛城。 儁與荊州刺史徐璆及秦頡合兵萬八千人圍弘，自六月至八月不拔。 有司奏欲征儁。 司空張溫上疏曰：「昔秦用白起，燕任樂毅，皆曠年歷載，乃能克敵。 [38]儁討穎川，以有功效，引師南指，方略已設，臨軍易將，兵家所忌，宜假日月，責其成功。」 靈帝乃止。 儁因急擊弘，斬之。 賊餘帥韓忠復據宛拒儁。 儁兵少不敵，乃張圍結壘，起土山以臨城內，因鳴鼓攻其西南，賊悉衆赴之。 儁自將精卒五千，掩其東北，乘城而入。 忠乃退保小城，惶懼乞降。 司馬張超及徐璆、秦頡皆欲聽之。 儁曰：「兵有形同而埶異者。 昔秦項之際，民無定主，故賞附以勸來耳。 今海內一統，唯黃巾造寇，納降無以勸善，討之足以懲惡。 今若受之，更開逆意，賊利則進戰，鈍則乞降，縱敵長寇，非良計也。」 因急攻，連戰不克。
Prefect Qin Jie slew Mancheng; the bands raised Zhao Hong until over a hundred thousand held the walls of Wan. Jun, Inspector Xu Qiu, and Qin Jie brought eighteen thousand to invest Zhao Hong from summer into autumn without a breach. The ministry urged his recall. Minister of Works Zhang Wen submitted a memorial: ‘Formerly Qin employed Bai Qi and Yan entrusted Yue Yi—both needed years before enemies yielded. [38] Jun proved himself in Yingchuan; his southern thrust is set—changing captains midstream invites defeat; give him time and hold him to outcome.’ Emperor Ling dropped the recall. Jun hammered the walls and struck Zhao Hong down. Lieutenant Han Zhong reopened Wan against him. Outnumbered, he ringed the city, piled siege mounds, drummed the southwest wall until every defender rushed thither, then led five thousand elites up the northeast parapet and poured inside. Han Zhong shrank into the inner citadel, begging terms with shaking voice. Major Zhang Chao, Xu Qiu, and Qin Jie voted to accept. Jun said: ‘War admits forms that look alike yet circumstances differ. In the age of Qin and Xiang Yu the people had no settled lord; therefore rewarding submission encouraged newcomers. Now within the seas there is unity; only the Yellow Turbans make rebellion—to welcome surrender does not encourage good, while crushing them suffices to punish evil. Grant terms now and every rebel learns to fight while winning and kneel while losing—you would nurse the next rising.’ He refused and pressed harder, yet the inner wall held.
31
儁登土山望之，顧謂張超曰：「吾知之矣。 賊今外圍周固，內營逼急，乞降不受，欲出不得，所以死戰也。 萬人一心，猶不可當，況十萬乎！ 其害甚矣。 不如徹圍，並兵入城。 忠見圍解，埶必自出，出則意散，易破之道也。」 既而解圍，忠果出戰，儁因擊，大破之。 乘勝逐北數十里，斬首萬餘級。 忠等遂降。 而秦頡積忿忠，遂殺之。 餘衆懼不自安，復以孫夏為帥，還屯宛中。 儁急攻之。 夏走，追至西鄂精山，又破之。 [39]復斬萬餘級，賊遂解散。 明年春，遣使者持節拜儁右車騎將軍，振旅還京師，以為光祿大夫，增邑五千，更封錢塘侯，[40]加位特進。 以母喪去官，起家，復為將作大匠，轉少府、太僕。
Jun climbed the earth hill to observe, looked back at Zhang Chao and said: ‘I understand them now. The rebels now have their outer ring intact and their inner camp pressed tight; we refuse surrender yet grant no outlet—they therefore fight to the death. When ten thousand share one mind they cannot be withstood—how much more a hundred thousand! The butcher’s bill would choke heaven.’ Better lift the siege and combine troops inside the walls. When Han Zhong sees a gap he will sortie; outside the walls discipline breaks—that is when we cut him down.’ He drew the ring wide; Han Zhong charged out and Jun shattered him. The chase ran dozens of li and left ten thousand heads for the crows. Han Zhong capitulated. Qin Jie’s old grudge moved him to murder the prisoner. Survivors trembled, raised Sun Xia, and barricaded Wan anew. Jun stormed the walls again. Sun Xia bolted; Jun ran him to Mount Jing west of Xi'e and broke him a second time. [39] Another ten thousand heads fell and the rebellion dissolved. Next spring baton-bearing envoys named him General of Chariots and Cavalry on the Right; he brought the army home, took Grand Household Minister, gained five thousand extra households, became Marquis of Qiantang, [40] and received ‘Exceptional Merit’ precedence. Maternal mourning pulled him down; recall raised him Superintendent of the Imperial Clan, then Privy Treasurer, then Coachman.
32
自黃巾賊後，復有黑山、黃龍、白波、左校、郭大賢、於氐根、青牛角、張白騎、劉石、左髭丈八、平漢、大計、司隸、掾哉、[41]雷公、浮雲、飛燕、白雀、楊鳳、於毒、五鹿、李大目、白繞、畦固、苦唒之徒，[42]並起山谷閒，不可勝數。 其大聲者稱雷公，騎白馬者為張白騎，輕便者言飛燕，多髭者號於氐根，[43]大眼者為大目，如此稱號，各有所因。 大者二三萬，小者六七千。
Behind the Turbans rose Black Mountain, Yellow Dragon, White Wave, Left School, Guo Daxian, Yu Digēn, Qing Niujiao, Zhang Baiqi, Liu Shi, Left-Zī Eight-Foot, Ping Han, Grand Clerk, Metropolitan Clerk Zai, [41] Thunder Duke, Drifting Cloud, Flying Swallow, White Sparrow, Yang Feng, Yu Du, Wulu, Big-Eye Li, Bai Rao, Gui Gu, Bitter-Shriek, [42]—hosts beyond numbering in the hills. [43] Loud shouters were ‘Thunder Duke,’ white horse riders ‘Zhang Baiqi,’ foot-quick men ‘Flying Swallow,’ bushy-bearded bands ‘Yu Digēn,’ wide-eyed chiefs ‘Big Eye’—every nickname had its tale. Major camps counted twenty or thirty thousand blades; minor ones six or seven thousand.
33
賊帥常山人張燕，輕勇趫捷，故軍中號曰飛燕。 善得士卒心，乃與中山、常山、趙郡、上黨、河內諸山谷寇賊更相交通，衆至* (伯) **[百]*萬，號曰黑山賊。
Changshan’s Zhang Yan was lightning on his feet—troops dubbed him Flying Swallow. He bound his soldiers with loyalty and coordinated every hill stronghold from Zhongshan to Henei until their numbers mounted toward— (Critical note: graph should read ‘hundred,’ not ‘elder brother.’) They swelled past a million blades and earned the name Black Mountain rebels.
34
河北諸郡縣並被其害，朝廷不能討。 燕乃遣使至京師，奏書乞降，遂拜燕平難中郎將，使領河北諸山谷事，歲得舉孝廉、計吏。
Every district north of the great river burned while Luoyang mustered no answer. Zhang Yan sued for peace, won General Who Pacifies Crisis, superintended the northern hills, and kept yearly rights to recommend Filial-and-Incorrupt candidates and fiscal clerks.
35
燕後漸寇河內，逼近京師，於是出儁為河內太守，將家兵擊却之。 其後諸賊多為袁紹所定，事在紹傳。 復拜儁為光祿大夫，轉屯騎，尋拜城門校尉、河南尹。
When Zhang Yan probed Henei and threatened the throne, Zhu Jun took that prefecture and repelled him with family retainers. Yuan Shao later crushed most of those bands—see his chapter. He rotated back through Grand Household Minister and Garrison Cavalry to City Gates colonel and Henan governor.
36
時董卓擅政，以儁宿將，外甚親納而心實忌之。 及關東兵盛，卓懼，數請公卿會議，徙都長安，儁輒止之。 卓雖惡儁異己，然貪其名重，乃表遷太僕，以為己副。 使者拜，儁辭不肯受。 因曰：「國家西遷，必孤天下之望，以成山東之釁，臣不見其可也。」 使者詰曰：「召君受拜而君拒之，不問徙事而君陳之，其故何也？」 儁曰：「副相國，非臣所堪也； 遷都計，非事所急也。 辭所不堪，言所非急，臣之宜也。」 使者曰：「遷都之事，不聞其計，就有未露，何所承受？」 儁曰：「相國董卓具為臣說，所以知耳。」
Dong Zhuo ran the court; toward Jun the old warhorse he smiled in public and worried in private. As the eastern league grew, Zhuo summoned ministers again and again to debate moving west—Jun blocked every session. Zhuo hated the obstruction yet wanted Jun’s prestige, so he nominated him Coachman as nominal lieutenant. The imperial messenger offered the seal; Jun refused it. He said, "Shift the court west, and you orphan every loyal heart while handing Shandong a banner; I see no wisdom there." The envoy pressed, "You were called to office yet resist; nobody consulted you on moving the capital, yet you preach. Why?" Jun said, "To serve as deputy to the Imperial Chancellor is beyond what this subject can bear; a plan to move the capital is not what pressing affairs require. Refusing what outmatches me and faulting what can wait; that is how a servant should speak." The envoy asked, "Who spoke of the western move? No such edict has aired." Jun said, "Chancellor Dong Zhuo told me himself; that is my source."
37
使人不能屈，由是止不為副。
The envoys yielded; Zhuo dropped the deputy appointment.
38
卓後入關，留儁守洛陽，而儁與山東諸將通謀為內應。 既而懼為卓所襲，乃棄官奔荊州。 卓以弘農楊懿為河南尹，守洛陽。 儁聞，復進兵還洛，懿走。 儁以河南殘破無所資，乃東屯中牟，移書州郡，請師討卓。 徐州刺史陶謙遣精兵三千，餘州郡稍有所給，謙乃上儁行車騎將軍。 董卓聞之，使其將李傕、郭汜等數萬人屯河南拒儁。 儁逆擊，為傕、汜所破。 儁自知不敵，留關下不敢復前。
When Zhuo marched through the passes he left Jun in Luoyang; Jun plotted with the eastern alliance as their man inside. Fearing Zhuo’s knives, he shed his seals and fled south into Jing. Zhuo named Yang Yi of Hongnong Henan governor to hold the eastern capital. Jun marched back on word of Yang Yi; the placeholder governor ran. Henan was stripped bare—Jun quartered at Zhongmou, mailed every governor, and begged levies against Zhuo. Tao Qian sent three thousand elites; other jurisdictions trickled aid until Tao petitioned Jun as acting General of Chariots and Cavalry. Zhuo countered by posting Li Jue and Guo Si with tens of thousands south of the Yellow River. Jun attacked and was shattered by Li and Guo. Knowing the odds, he hugged the barrier forts and advanced no farther.
39
及董卓被誅，傕、汜作亂，儁時猶在中牟。 陶謙以儁名臣，數有戰功，可委以大事，乃與諸豪桀共推儁為太師，因移檄牧伯，同討李傕等，奉迎天子。 乃奏記於儁曰：「徐州刺史陶謙、前楊州刺史周干、琅邪相陰德、東海相劉馗、[44]彭城相汲廉、北海相孔融、沛相袁忠、太山太守應劭、汝南太守徐璆、前九江太守服虔、博士鄭玄等，敢言之行車騎將軍河南尹莫府：[45]國家既遭董卓，重以李傕、郭汜之禍，幼主劫執，忠良殘敝，長安隔絕，不知吉凶。 是以臨官尹人，搢紳有識，莫不憂懼，以為自非明哲雄霸之士，曷能克濟禍亂！ 自起兵已來，於茲三年，州郡轉相顧望，未有奮擊之功，而互爭私變，更相疑惑。 謙等並共諮諏，議消國難。 僉曰：『將軍君侯，既文且武，應運而出，凡百君子，靡不顒顒。』 故相率厲，簡選精悍，堪能深入，直指咸陽，多持資糧，足支半歲，謹同心腹，委之元帥。」 會李傕用太尉周忠、尚書賈詡策，征儁入朝。 軍吏皆憚入關，欲應陶謙等。 儁曰：「以君召臣，義不俟駕，[46]況天子詔乎！ 且傕、汜小豎，樊稠庸兒，無他遠略，又埶力相敵，變難必作。 吾乘其閒，大事可濟。」 遂辭謙議而就傕征，復為太僕，謙等遂罷。
When Dong Zhuo was executed and Li Jue and Guo Si raised disorder, Jun was still at Zhongmou. Tao Qian deemed Jun a famed commander fit for great trust and, with regional strongmen, acclaimed him Grand Tutor, circulated summons to every governor, and vowed to crush Li Jue and welcome the emperor. They therefore submitted a memorial to Jun: ‘Inspector Tao Qian of Xu Province, former Inspector Zhou Gan of Yang Province, Chancellor Yinde of Langye, Chancellor Liu Kui of Donghai, [44] Chancellor Ji Lian of Pengcheng, Chancellor Kong Rong of Beihai, Chancellor Yuan Zhong of Pei, Administrator Ying Shao of Taishan, Administrator Xu Qiu of Runan, former Administrator Fu Qian of Jiujiang, Erudite Zheng Xuan, and others venture to address the acting General of Chariots and Cavalry and Governor of Henan at headquarters: [45] the state has already suffered Dong Zhuo and, doubly, the disaster of Li Jue and Guo Si; the young sovereign is held hostage, loyal men are broken, Chang’an is cut off and we know not whether it stands or falls. Therefore incumbent officials and gentry of insight are alike fearful, believing that unless a wise, enlightened, and heroic hegemon appears, who can settle such calamity! Since armies rose it has been three years; provinces and commanderies watch one another without daring a decisive blow, while wrangling private quarrels and doubting each other. Qian and the rest jointly consulted on ending the national crisis. All said: “You marry letters to arms; fate raised you; every gentleman cranes toward you.” So we steeled ourselves, chose shock troops for a drive on Xianyang, stocked six months’ grain, and pledged life and fortune to you as commander-in-chief.” Before plans matured Li Jue—on Zhou Zhong’s and Jia Xu’s counsel—summoned Jun to Chang’an. Jun’s officers feared the barrier and urged joining Tao Qian. Jun said: ‘When the lord summons his minister, propriety does not await the harnessing of horses—[46] how much less an imperial edict! Moreover Jue and Si are petty fellows; Fan Chou is a mediocrity; they harbor no grand designs and their strengths balance each other—crisis and mutiny are sure to arise. Exploit their cracks and Han may rise.’ He spurned Tao Qian, obeyed Li Jue, resumed the Coachmanship, and the eastern league dissolved.
40
初平四年，代周忠為太尉，錄尚書事。 明年秋，以日食免，復行驃騎將軍事，持節鎮關東。 未發，會李傕殺樊稠，而郭汜又自疑，與傕相攻，長安中亂，故儁止不出，留拜大司農。 獻帝詔儁與太尉楊彪等十餘人譬郭汜，令與李傕和。
Chuping 4 promoted him Grand Commandant over Zhou Zhong with Secretariat oversight. Next autumn an eclipse cost him his post; he became acting General of Agile Cavalry with baton to pacify the east. Before he marched Li Jue slew Fan Chou; Guo Si attacked Li Jue and Chang’an boiled—Jun stayed, took Minister of Agriculture, and never crossed the pass. Emperor Xian sent Jun with Yang Biao and a dozen ministers to coax Guo Si toward peace with Li Jue.
41
汜不肯，遂留質儁等。 儁素剛，即日發病卒。
Guo Si refused and held Jun’s party hostage. Jun’s spine was steel; rage and shame struck him dead the same day.
42
子皓，亦有才行，官至豫章太守。
His son Zhu Hao matched him in gifts and governed Yuzhang.
43
論曰：皇甫嵩、朱儁並以上將之略，受脤倉卒之時。 [47]及其功成師克，威聲滿天下。 值弱主蒙塵，獷賊放命，斯誠葉公投袂之幾，翟義鞠旅之日，[48]故梁衍獻規，山東連盟，而捨格天之大業，蹈匹夫之小諒，卒狼狽虎口，為智士笑。 [49]豈天之長斯亂也？ 何智勇之不終甚乎！ 前史晉平原華嶠，稱其父光祿大夫表，[50]每言其祖魏太尉歆[51]稱「時人說皇甫嵩之不伐，汝豫之戰，歸功朱儁，張角之捷，本之於盧植，收名斂策，而己不有焉。 [52]蓋功名者，世之所甚重也。 誠能不爭天下之所甚重，則怨禍不深矣」。 如皇甫公之赴履危亂，而能終以歸全者，其致不亦貴乎！ 故顏子願不伐善為先，斯亦行身之要與！ [53]
The historian’s verdict: Song and Jun bore marshal-class minds when crisis handed them the axe. [47] Victory crowned them and awe filled the realm. [48] Yet when the boy emperor wandered and wolves held the capital—the hour Ye Gong cast his sleeve, the day Zhai Yi beat the drum—they heard Liang Yan and Shandong’s oaths yet clung to common scruples, forsook heaven-high deed, and stumbled into the tiger’s mouth for wise men to mock. [49] Did Heaven mean to stretch this night? How shallow courage proved when the road turned long! Earlier historian Hua Qiao of Pingyuan in Jin observed that his father, Grand Household Minister Hua Biao, [50] often said his grandfather, Wei Grand Commandant Hua Xin, [51] reported that men of the age praised Huangfu Song for not boasting: "in the battles of Ru and Yu he credited Zhu Jun; in the victory over Zhang Jiao he traced the root to Lu Zhi—gathering renown while folding his strategies, keeping nothing for himself. [52] Achievement and fame are what the age esteems most deeply. Refuse that prize and malice lacks teeth.’ To cross chaos like Song and finish with name and body whole—that jewel shines rare. So Yan Hui ranked ‘no boasting of virtue’ above every wish—sound craft for any life. [53] The commentary apparatus inserts note fifty-three at this point.
44
贊曰：黃妖沖發，嵩乃奮鉞。 孰是振旅，不居不伐。 [54]儁㨗陳、穎，亦弭* (于) **[於]*越。 [55]言肅王命，並遘屯蹷。 [56]
Encomium: Yellow Chaos broke—Song lifted the axe. Who recalled the columns yet seized no fief and claimed no praise? [54] Jun swept Chen and Ying, (variant graph yú ‘at/in’) and quieted the Yue marches. [55] Both bore imperial mandate—and both tripped on fate. [56] The stanza ends with commentary tag fifty-six.
45
校勘記
Textual collation notes
46
二二九九頁二行皇甫嵩朱儁列傳第六十一按：汲本「朱儁」作「朱雋」，正文同。
Page 2299, line 2: "Biographies of Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun," biography 61. Note: the Ji woodblock writes Zhu Jun with a different graph; the main text is the same.
47
二二九九頁九行遂置三十六方按：《集解》引惠棟說，謂袁紀「方」作「坊」。
A parallel text reads ‘wards’ where this one reads ‘cells.’
48
二三〇〇頁五行寶弟梁按：《集解》引惠棟說，謂袁紀「梁」作「良」。 《通鑒》考異據《九州春秋》云「角弟梁，梁弟寶」。
Yuan-era sources write "Liang" with a different graph in Zhang Liang’s name. Zizhi tongjian cites Jiuzhou Chunqiu as saying, "Jue’s younger brother was Liang, and Liang’s younger brother was Bao."
49
二三〇〇頁一一行廣城按：殿本「城」作「成」，《通鑒》同。
Page 2310, line 11: Guangcheng. Note: "The palace edition writes the place name with a different final character; Comprehensive Mirror agrees with the palace form."
50
二三〇〇頁一五行旋門在汜水之西殿本、《集解》本「汜」作「泛」。 按：此水《漢書》作「泛水」，如淳音祀，水經始作「汜水」，後多從《水經》。
Page 2310, line 15: "Xuan Gate lies west of the Si River. Palace edition and Collected Explanations use a different first character for the river name." Hydronym note: Hanshu writes "Fan River", while Shuijing writes "Si River".
51
二三〇二頁一行繫獲甚衆按：殿本「繫」作「擊」。
Palace text ‘strike’ for ‘bind captives.’
52
二三〇二頁一〇行* (爾) **[己]*乃嘗飯據殿本改。 按：王先謙謂作「己」是。
Manuscript asterisk (phonetic gloss ěr) Emended per palace text to ‘then he tasted food.’ Note: "Wang Xianqian states that the personal-pronoun graph in the received line is the correct form."
53
二三〇四頁二行主親授鉞按：汲本「主」作「王」。
The Ji imprint says ‘king’ at a point other editions read ‘ruler.’
54
二三〇四頁一三行統三十六* (郡) **[部]*《集解》引惠棟說，謂「郡」當作「部」，今據改。 按：《董卓傳》注引此亦作「部」。
Line break: thirty-six (commanderies) ‘[bu].’ Collected Explanations cites Hui Dong: the word meaning commanderies should read sections; editors adopted his reading. The Dong Zhuo commentary also writes the word as "section".
55
二三〇五頁三行* (梁) **[涼]*州賊王國圍陳倉《集解》引洪頤粻說，謂《靈帝紀》作「涼州賊王國」，此「梁」字誤。 今據改。
Asterisk (graph Liang) [Liang]zhou rebel Wang Guo besieged Chen Cang. Collected Explanations cites Hong Yisun: Lingdi ji writes ‘Liangzhou rebel Wang Guo’; the graph Liang here is erroneous. Emended.
56
二三〇五頁一一行窮寇勿* (迫) **[追]*歸衆勿* (追) **[迫]*據汲本、殿本改。 按：下云「是迫歸衆，追窮寇也」，明當作「窮寇勿追，歸衆勿迫」。
Phrase begins ‘cornered foe do not’ + lacuna (Here the gloss intends the graph meaning press or harry.) Middle lacuna in paired prohibition (Here the gloss intends the graph meaning pursue.) Closing lacuna filled per Ji and palace texts. Note: The following text says ‘this is pressing a returning host and pursuing a cornered foe,’ showing it should read ‘do not pursue a cornered foe; do not press a returning host.’
57
二三〇六頁五行嵩從子酈按：《集解》引惠棟說，謂袁紀「酈」作「邐」，又作「麗」。
Yuan texts record the nephew’s name as "Li", with two other homophone spellings.
58
二三〇六頁八行專命雖罪專誅亦有責也按：《集解》引王補說，謂《通鑒》作「違命雖罪」，故胡注卓不釋兵為違命，嵩勑討卓為專誅。
Wang Bu notes that Zizhi tongjian reads, "Disobeying orders is a crime", which explains Hu Sanxing’s distinction between Dong Zhuo’s disobedience and Huangfu Song’s unauthorized execution order.
59
二三〇七頁一五行嵩為人愛慎盡勤按：《刊誤》謂當作「愛畏勤盡」。
Page 2307, line 15: ‘Song by nature was loving, cautious, and thoroughly diligent.’ Note: Kanwu states it should read ‘loving fear, diligent to the utmost.’
60
二三〇八頁四行同郡周規按：《集解》引汪文台說，謂《御覽》八一四引張璠《漢紀》，「規」作「起」。
Imperial Readings preserves the personal name "Zhou Gui" with another graph.
61
二三〇九頁六行殺郡守褚貢按：殿本「貢」作「裒」。
The palace block prints "Chu Gong" with a different final graph.
62
二三〇九頁九行以有功效殿本「以」作「已」。 按：以已古通作。
Collation: palace text reads ‘already’ for ‘because’. Editors note those graphs could substitute for each other.
63
二三一〇頁一二行昔郡議曹華信* (義) **[議]*立此塘《刊誤》謂案文「義」當作「議」。 今據改。 按：《御覽》八三六引《錢塘記》，作「郡議曹華信象家富，乃議立此塘」。 又七四引《錢塘記》，作「往時郡議曹華家信富，乃議立此塘」。 《御覽》引文亦有訛，然「義」當作「議」，固無疑也。
Collation line breaks mid-name before emendation. (variant graph suggesting righteousness) deliberation] planned this dike. Kanwu argues that "righteousness" should be emended to "deliberation". Emended. Note: Imperial Readings 836 citing Qiantang ji reads ‘district deliberation officer Hua Xin’s clan was wealthy; therefore they deliberated on building this dike.’ Imperial Readings 74 citing Qiantang ji reads ‘formerly district deliberation officer Hua’s household Xin was wealthy; therefore they deliberated on building this dike.’ "The Imperial Readings quotations also contain errors, yet that righteousness should read deliberation admits no doubt."
64
二三一〇頁一四行青牛角按：《袁紹傳》注引《九州春秋》及《三國·魏志·袁紹傳》，並作「張牛角」。
Page 2310, line 14: ‘Green Ox Horn.’ Note: Commentary to Biography of Yuan Shao citing Jiuzhou Spring and Autumn and Wei Chronicle biography of Yuan Shao both write ‘Zhang Niujiao.’
65
二三一〇頁一四行左髭丈八按：《魏志·張燕傳》注引張璠《漢紀》，云「又有左校郭大賢左髭丈八三部也」。 趙一清謂郭大賢疑是左校之帥，故下云三部。 潘眉則謂蓋左校一部，郭大賢一部，左髭丈八一部也。 如趙說，則左校郭大賢為一部，左髭為一部，丈八為一部。 如潘說，則左髭與丈八各為一部。 《通鑒》作「左髭文八」，胡注云朱儁傳「左髭文八」作「左髭丈八」，是胡氏亦以左髭丈八連讀，今從潘說。
Page 2310, line 14: ‘Left Beard Eight Feet.’ Note: Wei Chronicle biography of Zhang Yan, citing Zhang Fan’s Han ji, says ‘there were also Left School Guo Daxian, Left Beard Eight Feet—three divisions.’ Zhao reads Guo as Left School’s chief. Pan parses three separate aliases. Zhao’s partition: school band, Guo band, beard-and-eight band. Pan splits beard-chief from eight-feet epithet. Zizhi tongjian writes "Left Beard Wen Eight"; Hu Sanxing’s note says Zhu Jun’s biography writes "Left Beard Eight Feet", so Hu too reads the phrase as one epithet. I follow Pan’s view here.
66
二三一〇頁一五行掾哉按：《通鑒》作「緣城」。
Page 2310, line 15: ‘clerk zai.’ Note: Comprehensive Mirror writes ‘scaling the walls.’
67
二三一〇頁一五行于毒汲本作「干毒」。 按：《袁紹傳》亦作「干毒」，《通鑒》作「于毒」。
Page 2310, line 15: ‘Yu Du.’ Ji edition writes ‘Gan Du.’ Note: Biography of Yuan Shao likewise writes ‘Gan Du’; Comprehensive Mirror writes ‘Yu Du.’
68
二三一一頁一行畦固按：《集解》引惠棟說，謂《通鑒》作「眭固」。
Page 2311, line 1: ‘Gui Gu.’ Note: Collected Explanations cites Hui Dong: Comprehensive Mirror writes ‘Sui Gu.’
69
二三一一頁四行掾哉作緣城按：汲本「緣城」作「緣哉」，殿本作「緣成」。
Page 2311, line 4: ‘clerk zai rendered scaling walls.’ Note: Ji edition writes ‘scaling zai’; palace edition writes ‘scaling cheng.’
70
二三一一頁八行衆至* (伯) **[百]*萬據殿本改。
Line breaks before lacuna. (scribal elder graph) Palace text fills lacuna with million.
71
二三一二頁二行不聞其計按：「計」原作「討」，逕據汲本、殿本改正。
Page 2312, line 2: ‘have not heard its plan.’ Note: The graph plan originally read punish; corrected directly per Ji and palace editions.
72
二三一三頁七行諸州刺史上郡並列卿府按：《刊誤》謂案刺史在郡上，何緣有「上郡」之文，蓋本言「刺史並郡上列卿府」云云。
Page 2313, line 7: ‘the various provincial inspectors and superior commanderies together ranked with ministerial offices.’ Note: Kanwu argues inspectors ought to precede commanderies—how could superior commanderies appear—probably the original said inspectors together with commanderies ranked beneath ministerial headquarters.
73
《續漢書》曰：「舉孝廉為郎中，遷霸陵、臨汾令，以父喪遂去官。」
Xu Han shu says, "After being nominated Filial and Incorrupt, he became a gentleman consultant, was promoted magistrate of Baling and Linfen, then left office for his father’s mourning."
74
「良」或作「郎」。
‘Good’ may also be written ‘gentleman.’
75
首音式受反。
Fan Ye fanqie on head-graph.
76
幟音尺志反，又音試。
Fanqie double reading for banner.
77
蛾音魚綺反，即「蟻」字也。 諭賊衆多，故以為名。
"Moth is glossed yu-qi fan—that is the ant graph." Nickname referenced sheer swarm.
78
大谷、轘轅在洛陽東南，旋門在汜水之西。
Geographic gloss for passes east of capital.
79
《孫子兵法》曰：「凡戰者，以正合，以奇勝者也。 故善出奇，無窮如天地，無竭如江海。 戰勢不過奇正。 奇正之變，不可勝也。」
Sunzi states: ‘In general those who wage war join with the orthodox and prevail through the unorthodox. Therefore one skilled at deploying the unorthodox is inexhaustible as heaven and earth, unfailing as rivers and seas. Battle momentum does not go beyond the unorthodox and the orthodox. The transformations of unorthodox and orthodox cannot be exhausted.’
80
田單為齊將，守即墨城。 燕師攻城，田單取牛千頭，衣以五采，束矛盾於其角，繫火於其尾，穿城而出，城上大噪，燕師大敗。 事見《史記》。
Intro to Jimo fire-cattle stratagem. Full Jimo cattle stratagem narrative. Cross-reference to Shiji.
81
苣音巨。 說文云：「束葦燒之。」
Fanqie on torch reading. Explaining Graphs states: ‘bundled reeds set ablaze.’
82
西華，縣，屬汝南。
Administrative note.
83
今貝州宗城縣。
Song-era cartographic gloss.
84
杜元凱注《左傳》曰：「積屍封土於其上，謂之京觀。」
Du Yu annotating Zuo Tradition says: ‘Heaping corpses and sealing earth atop them is called a victory mound.’
85
並屬扶風。
Huaili and Meiyang jurisdiction.
86
干謂冒進。
Gloss on presumptuous petition.
87
老子曰：「天道無親，常與善人。」 易曰：「人謀鬼謀，百姓與能。」 淮南子曰：「凡命將，主親授鉞，曰：『從此上至天，將軍制之。』」
Laozi states: ‘Heaven’s way shows no partiality but constantly sides with the good.’ Change states: ‘human schemes and ghostly schemes—the hundred clans invest those who prove capable.’ Huainanzi states: ‘Whenever commanders are commissioned the ruler personally hands the axe and says: From here up to heaven the general commands it.’
88
前書，項羽使武涉說韓信，信曰：「漢王解衣衣我，推食食我，背之不祥。」 又蒯通說信，令信背漢，參分天下，鼎足而立。 信曰：「漢王遇我厚，豈可背之哉？」 後信謀反，為呂後所執，歎曰：「吾不用蒯通計，為女子所詐，豈非天哉！」
Earlier Documents states Xiang Yu sent Wu She to persuade Han Xin; Xin said: ‘The king of Han stripped his coat for me and pushed his food to me—it would be ill-omened to betray him.’ Kuai Tong tripartite scheme. Han Xin said, "The king of Han treats me generously; how could I betray him?" When he later rebelled and Empress Lu seized him, he sighed, "I did not use Kuai Tong’s plan and was tricked by a woman; was this not Heaven!"
89
「撝」即「麾」字，古通用。 叱宛，怒聲也。
"The graph command-banner is the banner graph in antiquity—they interchange." Gloss Zhuo’s insult.
90
扺音紙。 扺，擊也。
Fanqie for strike-graph. Definition.
91
寶器猶神器也，謂天位也。
Metaphor for imperial mandate.
92
《左氏傳》韓宣子曰：「同惡相求，如市賈焉。」
Zuo Tradition has Han Xuanzi say, "Those with the same evil seek one another, like traders in a market."
93
《史記》范蠡曰：「大名之下，難以久居。」
Records of the Grand Historian has Fan Li say, "Under a towering name it is hard to dwell long."
94
二句皆《左傳》之辭。
Attribution of prior couplet.
95
《英雄記》曰：「梁州賊王國等起兵，劫忠為主，統三十六* (郡) **[部]*，號『車騎將軍』。 忠感慨發病死。」
Heroic Records states, "Liangzhou rebels Wang Guo and others rose, seized Bian Zhang as leader, and united thirty-six (commanderies graph) sections, styling him General of Chariots and Cavalry. Bian Zhang, moved with indignation, fell ill and died."
96
孫子之文。
Attribution.
97
《孫子兵法》曰：「善守者藏於九地之下，善攻者動於九天之上。」 玄女三宮戰法曰：「行兵之道，天地之寶。 九天九地，各有表裏。 九天之上，六甲子也。 九地之下，六癸酉也。 子能順之，萬全可保。」
Sunzi states: ‘Those skilled in defense hide in the ninth layer of earth; those skilled in attack move in the ninth sphere of heaven.’ Maiden Xuan’s Three-Palace Battle Methods states: ‘The way of campaigning is heaven and earth’s treasure. The nine heavens and nine earths each have outer and inner aspects. Above the nine heavens are the six jiazi cycles. Below the nine earths are the six guiyou cycles. If you can follow them, complete safety can be preserved.’
98
司馬兵法之言。
Attribution.
99
皆左氏傳文。
Group attribution.
100
酈音歷。
Fanqie on nephew’s surname.
101
《春秋左氏傳》曰：「稟命則不威，專命則不孝。」
Zuo Tradition states, "Reporting upward lacks awe; acting alone lacks filial piety."
102
質，正也。
Gloss on rebuke sense.
103
風音諷，謂諷動也。
Wind as indirect order.
104
犕音服。 說文曰：「犕牛乘馬。」 「犕」，即古「服」字也，今河朔人猶有此言，音備。
Fanqie on draft-animal graph. Explaining Graphs states, "Pair oxen and ride horses." "Pair" is the ancient graph for submit; northerners along the Yellow River still say this, reading bei.
105
《獻帝春秋》曰：「初卓為前將軍，嵩為左將軍，俱征邊章、韓遂，爭雄。 及嵩拜車下，卓曰：『可以服未？』 嵩曰：『安知明公乃至於是？』 卓曰：『鴻鵠固有遠志，但燕雀自不知耳。』 嵩曰：『昔與明公俱為鴻鵠，但明公今日變為鳳皇耳。』」
Chronicle of Emperor Xian states, "At first Zhuo was Forward General and Song Left General; both campaigned against Bian Zhang and Han Sui and vied for supremacy. When Song bowed beneath the carriage, Zhuo said, ‘Have you learned to submit yet?’ Song answered, ‘Who knew my lord would reach this pass?’ Zhuo said, ‘Great swans keep lofty aims; sparrows and swallows simply cannot know.’ Song answered, ‘Once we were both great swans; only today my lord has turned phoenix.’"
106
《續漢書》曰以日有重珥免。
Alternative reason for Song’s removal.
107
言汲引之速。
Gloss on rapid promotion metaphor.
108
規被錄占對，儁為備錢以解其事。
Zhou Gui debt gloss.
109
家兵，僮僕之屬。 調謂調發之。
Definition of family-host. Gloss on diao.
110
《史記》曰：白起，郿人也，善用兵，事秦昭王為大良造。 攻魏，拔之。 後五年，攻趙，拔光狼城。 後七年，攻楚，拔鄢、鄧五城。 明年，拔郢，燒夷陵，遂東至竟陵。 樂毅，趙人也，賢而好兵，燕昭王以為亞卿，後為上將軍。 伐齊，入臨淄，靚齊五歲，下齊七十餘城。
Bai Qi capsule biography opens. Early Bai Qi feat. Second campaign. Chu campaign. Deep Chu thrust. Yue Yi introduction. Yan conquest tally.
111
西鄂故城在今鄧州向城縣南，精山在其南。
Geographic note on pursuit site.
112
錢塘，今杭州縣也。 《錢塘記》云：「昔郡議曹華信* (義) **[議]*立此塘，以防海水。 始開募，有能致土石一斛，與錢一千，旬日之閒，來者雲集。 塘未成而譎不復取，皆遂棄土石而去，塘以之成也。」
Qiantang is modern Hangzhou county. Qiantang ji states: ‘Formerly, commandery deliberation clerk Hua Xin— (variant righteousness graph) —planned to build this dike to guard against the seawater. At first they announced recruitment: whoever could bring one hu of earth or stone would receive one thousand cash; within ten days people gathered like clouds. Before the dike was finished, the promised collection was craftily stopped; everyone therefore abandoned their earth and stone and left, and by this the dike was completed.’
113
《九州春秋》「大計」作「大洪」，「掾哉」作「緣城」。
"Jiuzhou Spring and Autumn writes Grand Clerk as Grand Flood and clerk zai as scaling the walls."
114
《九州春秋》「唒」作「蝤」，音才由反。
"Jiuzhou Spring and Autumn writes the syllable as qiú with fanqie cai-you."
115
《左氏傳》曰：「于思于思，棄甲復來。」 杜預注云：「于思，多鬚之貌也。」
Zuo Tradition has the taunt, "Yu si, yu si; cast off armor and come again." Du Yu’s commentary says, "Yu si describes a heavily bearded appearance."
116
馗音巨眉反。
Fanqie note on personal name.
117
蔡質《典職儀》曰； 「諸州刺史上郡並列卿府，言『敢言之』。」
Citation header from Cai Zhi. ‘Provincial inspectors together with commanderies rank alongside ministerial headquarters—the phrase is “venture to address.”’
118
《論語》曰：「君命召，不俟駕行矣。」 俟，待也。
Analects states: ‘When the lord’s command summons one does not wait for the carriage to be yoked.’ Gloss on wait-graph.
119
《春秋左氏傳》曰：「國之大事在祀與戎。 祀有執膰，戎有受脤。」 脤，宜社之肉也。 爾雅曰：「舉大事，動大衆，必先有事於社然後出，謂之宜。」
Zuo Tradition states: ‘The great affairs of state lie in sacrifice and war. Sacrifice versus campaign ritual meats." Definition of shen meat. Erya states: ‘When undertaking great affairs and moving great hosts one must first conduct business at the altar of soil before departing—this is called yi.’
120
新序曰：「楚白公勝既殺令尹、司馬，欲立王子閭為王。 王子閭不肯，劫之以刃。 王子閭曰：『吾聞辭天下者，非輕其利以明其德也。 不為諸侯者，非惡其位以絜其行也。 今子告我以利，威我以兵，吾不為也。』 白公強之，不可，遂殺之。 葉公子高率楚衆以誅白公，而反惠王於國。」 投袂，奮袂也，言其怒也。 《左氏傳》曰：「楚子聞之，投袂而起。」 翟義，方進之子，舉兵將誅王莽，事見前書。 詩曰：「陳師鞠旅。」 鄭玄注云：「鞠，告也。」
New Arrangements states: ‘Chu noble Gong Sheng Bai had already killed the chief minister and marshal and wished to enthrone Prince Min. Coercion scene. Prince Min’s refusal speech opens. Second parallel clause. Refusal to usurp. Murder for refusal. Restoration after coup." Gloss on sleeve metaphor. Zuo Tradition states, "When the Chu ruler heard it, he cast aside his sleeve and rose." Zhai Yi reference. Odes states: ‘Array the hosts and announce the march.’ Zheng Xuan’s commentary says, "Ju means proclaim."
121
山東連盟謂上雲腢帥及袁氏也。 書稱「伊尹格於皇天」。 《論語》曰：「豈若匹夫匹婦之為諒也。」 《莊子》云，孔子見盜跖，退曰：「吾幾不免虎口。」
Gloss tying coalition to note. Documents praises ‘Yi Yin aligning with August Heaven.’ Analects says, "How can it compare to common men and women clutching petty good faith?" Zhuangzi says Confucius met Robber Zhi and withdrew saying, "I barely escaped the tiger’s jaws."
122
華嶠譜序曰：「表字偉容，歆之子也。 年二十餘，為散騎常侍。」
Hua Qiao’s genealogical preface states: ‘Biao, courtesy name Weirong, was Xin’s son. Early office."
123
《魏志》曰：「歆字子魚。」
Wei Chronicle states: ‘Xin’s courtesy name was Ziyu.’
124
斂策，不論其功。
Idiom gloss on modesty.
125
《論語》曰，顏回曰：「願無伐善，無施勞。」
Analects has Yan Hui say, "I wish not to boast of goodness nor broadcast my labors."
126
老子曰：「功成而不居。」
Laozi states: ‘When merit is achieved do not dwell on it.’
127
儁㨗陳、穎，亦弭越。
Junjie, Chen, and Ying also pacified Yue.
128
謂平許昭也。* (于) **[於]*，語辭，猶云「句吳」之類矣。
Cross-reference to Zhu Jun campaign. (particle graph) as] a grammatical particle—like the initial syllable in ‘Gou Wu.’
129
蹷，猶躓也。
Gloss on stumble-graph in encomium.