1
孔子曰：“与其不得中庸，必也狂狷乎！ ”又云：“狂者进取，狷者有所不为也。 ”此盖失于周全之道，而取诸偏至之端者也。 然则有所不为，亦将有所必为者矣； 既云进取，亦将有所不取者矣。 如此，性尚分流，为否异适矣。
Confucius said, “If you cannot hold the golden mean, you must throw in your lot with either the fearless strivers or the men of principle who know what they will not do.” Elsewhere he adds, “The ardent drive ahead; the cautious stand fast on what they refuse to touch.” In other words, they miss the perfectly rounded path and lean toward a single, uncompromising extreme. Refuse certain acts, and you inevitably commit yourself to others you will not abandon. Call a man a striver, and you imply there are prizes he will spurn. Human dispositions branch like streams; whether one ends in the right or the wrong depends on the direction each temperament takes.
2
中世偏行一介之夫，能成名立方者，盖亦众也。 或志刚金石，而克扞于强御。 或意严冬霜，而甘心于小谅。 亦有结朋协好，幽明共心； 蹈义陵险，死生等节。 虽事非通圆，良其风轨，有足怀者。 而情迹殊杂，难为条品； 片辞特趣，不足区别。 措之则事或有遗，载之则贯序无统。 以其名体虽殊，而操行俱绝，故总为《独行篇》焉。 庶备诸阙文，纪志漏脱云尔。
In the middle period too, stubborn men of narrow integrity who nonetheless made a name and founded a moral standard of their own were many. Some hardened their resolve like bronze and stone and stood up to brute force at the gate. Some kept a heart as cold as winter frost and willingly paid small personal costs to honor a scruple. Some bound themselves to sworn friends and pledged one heart in life and in death alike. They walked into peril for the sake of duty and treated survival and martyrdom as one indivisible honor. Their choices were seldom “practical” in the worldly sense, yet the example they left remains deeply moving. But motives and deeds run together in a tangle that resists tidy sorting. A stray line or a single telling detail cannot stand as a full portrait. Omit them and important episodes vanish; force them into a single narrative and the thread snaps. They differ in circumstance and temperament, yet each dedication is extraordinary, so I have bracketed them together under “Loners.” May this patch the gaps the standard histories leave unfilled.
3
谯玄字君黄，巴郡阆中人也。 少好学，能说《易》、《春秋》。 仕于州郡。 成帝永始二年，有日食之灾，乃诏举敦朴逊让、有行义者各一人。 州举玄，诣公车，对策高第，拜议郎。
Qiao Xuan, courtesy name Junhuang, came from Langzhong in Ba commandery. As a young man he loved learning and could lecture on the Book of Changes and the Spring and Autumn Annals. He held posts at the provincial and commandery level. In the second year of Yongshi under Emperor Cheng, a solar eclipse was taken as an omen; the court ordered every jurisdiction to nominate one man noted for plain honesty, modesty, and moral conduct. The province put forward Xuan; he presented himself at the capital evaluation office, scored at the top of the policy examination, and received appointment as a Gentleman Consultant.
4
帝始作期门，数为微行。 立赵飞燕为皇后，后专宠怀忌，皇子多横夭。 玄上书谏曰：“臣闻王者承天，继宗统极，保业延祚，莫急胤嗣。 故《易》有干蛊之义，《诗》咏众多之福。 今陛下圣嗣未立，天下属望，而不惟社稷之计，专念微行之事，爱幸用于所惑，曲意留于非正。 窃闻后宫皇子，产而不育。 臣闻之怛然，痛心伤剥，窃怀忧国，不忘须臾。 夫警卫不修，则患生非常。 忽有醉酒狂夫，分争道路。 既无尊严之仪，岂识上下之别！ 此为胡狄起于毂下，而贼乱发于左右也。 愿陛下念天下之至重，爱金玉之身，均九女之施，存无穷之福，天下幸甚。”
The emperor had just formed the palace-guard corps for incognito travel and slipped out of the palace again and again in disguise. Zhao Feiyan became empress, jealously hoarded the emperor’s favor, and one imperial son after another perished in the cradle. Xuan submitted a memorial of remonstrance: “The Son of Heaven exists to carry Heaven’s charge, continue the ancestral line at its summit, and secure the dynasty’s future—and nothing outweighs securing an heir.” That is why the Book of Changes speaks of setting a father’s house in order, and the Odes celebrates the blessing of a numerous line. Today no heir has been named; the empire watches and waits, yet Your Majesty thinks less of the altars of state than of slipping out in disguise, lavishing affection on whoever catches your eye, and bending to whatever is improper. Word reaches me that princes born in the inner palaces never live to grow up. The report leaves me shaken and heartsick; I cannot set aside my anxiety for the realm even for an instant. When escort and security are neglected, danger springs from nowhere you expect. Picture a drunk brawler blocking the road—no warning, no dignity. Without the majesty of the throne, how would anyone recognize who rules and who obeys! It would be as if barbarians rose under the chariot wheels and mutiny broke out at your elbow. I beg Your Majesty to weigh the burden the realm has placed on you, to treasure a life more precious than gold or jade, to spread your favor evenly among the ladies of the harem, and to secure blessings without end—then the empire will count itself blessed.
5
时，数有灾异，玄辄陈其变。 既不省纳，故久稽郎官。 后迁太常丞，以弟服去职。
Disasters and strange portents piled up in those years, and each time Xuan laid out their meaning for the throne. The court never took his advice to heart, so he languished for years in the rank of Gentleman Consultant. He was later promoted to assistant director under the Minister of Ceremonies, then resigned to observe mourning for a younger brother.
6
平帝元始元年，日食，又诏公卿举敦朴直言。 大鸿胪左咸举玄诣公车对策，复拜议郎，迁中散大夫。 四年，选明达政事、能班化风俗者八人。 时并举玄，为绣衣使者，持节，与太仆王恽等分行天下，观览风俗，所至专行诛赏。 事未及终，而王莽居摄，玄于是纵使者车，变易姓名，间窜归家，因以隐遁。
In the first year of Yuanshi under Emperor Ping another eclipse occurred, and an edict instructed the high ministers to nominate men of blunt honesty and outspoken integrity. Grand Herald Zuo Xian sent Xuan up for the capital examination; he again received appointment as Gentleman Consultant and rose to the post of palace attendant grandee. In the fourth year the court picked eight men known for clear grasp of government and for the ability to reshape local custom. Xuan was among those nominated; he was commissioned as an “embroidered-gown” inspector with imperial credentials and, with Grand Coachman Wang Yun and others, toured the empire in separate circuits to survey local practice, empowered to execute or reward on the spot. The mission had not run its course when Wang Mang stepped in as regent; Xuan abandoned his official carriage, took a new name, and stole home to live in seclusion.
7
后公孙述僭号于蜀，连聘不诣。 述乃遣使者备礼征之； 若玄不肯起，便赐以毒药。 太守乃自赍玺书至玄庐，曰：“君高节已著，朝廷垂意，诚不宜复辞，自招凶祸。 ”玄仰天叹曰：“唐尧大圣，许由耻仕； 周武至德，伯夷守饿。 彼独何人，我亦何人。 保志全高，死亦奚恨！ ”遂受毒药。 玄子瑛泣血叩头于太守曰：“方今国家，东有严敌，兵师四出。 国用军资，或不常充足。 愿奉家钱千万，以赎父死。 ”太守为请，述听许之。 玄遂隐藏田野，终述之世。
When Gongsun Shu later declared himself king in Shu, he summoned Xuan again and again, but Xuan never answered the call. Shu then dispatched an envoy with full ceremonial gifts to press him into service; if Xuan still refused to come forward, he was to be handed poison on the spot. The grand administrator brought the sealed rescript to Xuan’s door himself and said, “Your integrity is already famous; the court has singled you out. Further refusal would only invite disaster.” Xuan lifted his eyes to heaven and sighed, “The great Yao was a perfect sage, yet Xu You was ashamed to take office under him; King Wu of Zhou embodied the highest virtue, yet Boyi chose starvation over his bounty. What sort of men were they? What sort of man am I? If I can keep my purpose whole and my integrity intact, I have nothing to regret in death!” He then accepted the poisoned draught. Xuan’s son Ying, weeping until the blood ran, kowtowed to the grand administrator and said, “The realm faces a formidable foe in the east; armies march on every front.” Treasury and war chest are not always full. I offer ten million cash from our household to buy my father’s life. The grand administrator interceded for him, and Gongsun Shu consented. Xuan withdrew to the countryside and stayed hidden for the rest of Shu’s reign.
8
时，兵戈累年，莫能修尚学业，玄独训诸子勤习经书。 建武十一年卒。 明年，天下平定，玄弟庆以状诣阙自陈。 光武美之，策诏本郡祠以中牢，敕所在还玄家钱。
War dragged on for years and few families could keep up serious study; Xuan alone drilled his sons in the classics day after day. He died in the eleventh year of the Jianwu era. The following year, with the empire at peace, Xuan’s younger brother Qing took a written account to the palace gate and laid the whole story before the throne. Emperor Guangwu commended the deed, issued an edict instructing the home commandery to offer a medium-grade sacrifice at his shrine, and ordered the ransom money returned to the family.
9
时，亦有犍为费贻，不肯仕述，乃漆身为厉，阳狂以避之，退藏山薮十余年。 述破后，仕至合浦太守。
About the same time Fei Yi of Qianwei also refused Shu’s service: he disfigured his skin to pass for a leper, played the madman, and lived more than ten years in the mountain wilds. After Shu fell he reentered office and rose to prefect of Hepu.
10
瑛善说《易》，以授显宗，为北宫卫士令。
Ying excelled at lecturing on the Book of Changes and tutored Emperor Ming (Xianzong); he was appointed captain of the guards at the Northern Palace.
11
李业字巨游，广汉梓潼人也。 少有志操，介特。 习《鲁诗》，师博士许晃。 元始中，举明经，除为郎。
Li Ye, courtesy name Juyou, came from Zitong in Guanghan commandery. From youth he showed firm purpose and an uncompromising, solitary integrity. He studied the Lu recension of the Odes under Erudite Xu Huang. During the Yuanshi era he passed the “clarity in the classics” examination and received appointment as a gentleman cadet.
12
会王莽居摄，业以病去官，杜门不应州郡之命。 太守刘咸强召之，业乃载病诣门。 咸怒，出教曰：“贤者不避害，譬犹彀弩射市，薄命者先死。 闻业名称，故欲与之为治，而反托疾乎？ ”令诣狱养病，欲杀之。 客有说咸曰：“赵杀鸣犊，孔子临河而逝。 未闻求贤而胁以牢狱者也。 ”咸乃出之，因举方正。 王莽以业为酒士，病不之官，遂隐藏山谷，绝匿名迹，终莽之世。
When Wang Mang seized the regency, Ye resigned on grounds of illness, barred his gate, and ignored every summons from provincial or commandery authorities. Grand Administrator Liu Xian tried to drag him out by force, so Ye had himself carried to the yamen on a sickbed. Liu Xian flew into a rage and published an order: “A true worthy does not flee danger; it is like loosing a crossbow bolt in a crowded market—the weakling in the way dies first.” I admired Ye’s reputation and meant to work with him—does he answer with a sham illness? He had Ye thrown into jail “to recover,” intending to murder him there. A retainer remonstrated with Liu Xian: “When the state of Zhao executed the worthy Mingdu, Confucius turned his carriage about at the Yellow River.” I never heard of winning a worthy man by threatening him with a cell. Liu Xian released him and then nominated him as “upright and incorrupt.” Wang Mang named him commissioner of wine; Ye pleaded illness and never took up the post, then vanished into the hills and cut off all contact for the rest of Mang’s reign.
13
及公孙述僭号，素闻业贤，征之，欲以为博士，业固疾不起。 数年，述羞不致之，乃使大鸿胪尹融持毒酒、奉诏命以劫业：若起，则受公侯之位； 不起，赐之以药。 融譬旨曰：“方今天下分崩，孰知是非？ 而以区区之身，试于不测之渊乎！ 朝廷贪慕名德，旷官缺位，于今七年，四时珍御，不以忘君。 宜上奉知己，下为子孙，身名俱全，不亦优乎！ 今数年不起，猜疑寇心，凶祸立加，非计之得者也。 ”业乃叹曰：“危国不入，乱国不居。 亲于其身为不善者，义所不从。 君子见危授命，何乃诱以高位重饵哉？ ”融见业辞志不屈，复曰：“宜呼室家计之。 ”业曰：“丈夫断之于心久矣，何妻、子之为？ ”遂饮毒而死。 述闻业死，大惊，又耻有杀贤之名，乃遣使吊祠，赙赠百匹。 业子翚，逃避不受。
When Gongsun Shu declared himself emperor, he had long admired Li Ye and summoned him for a chair in the imperial academy; Ye pleaded illness and would not stir. Years passed and Shu, ashamed that Ye still eluded him, sent Grand Herald Yin Rong with poisoned wine and a forged rescript to corner him: accept office and you take a duke’s or marquis’s seat; refuse, and drink the poison instead. Yin Rong explained Shu’s meaning: “The realm lies in ruins—who can still tell loyal service from treason?” Why stake your single life on a plunge into depths no one can fathom? The court hungers for your reputation; high posts stand empty; for seven years the seasonal tribute of delicacies has been laid aside for you alone. Serve the prince who esteems you, secure your children’s future, and keep both life and reputation—is that not the better bargain? Years of refusal have bred suspicion; disaster can fall in an instant—stubbornness is no winning strategy. Li Ye sighed and said, “The Master taught: do not enter a state in peril, do not dwell in a state in chaos.” To take part myself in what is wrong—that duty forbids. The gentleman lays down his life when duty calls—why try to hook me with rank and rich bribes? Seeing that Ye’s resolve would not bend, Yin Rong added, “At least consult your wife and children.” Ye replied, “A man of spirit settled this in his own breast long ago—what use are wives and sons?” He drank the poison and died on the spot. Gongsun Shu was shaken when the news came, yet dreaded the stain of having murdered a worthy; he sent envoys to mourn and sacrifice and offered a hundred rolls of silk for the funeral. Ye’s son Hui fled into hiding and refused the gift.
14
蜀平，光武下诏表其闾，《益部纪》载其高节，图画形象。
After Shu fell, Emperor Guangwu issued an edict honoring Li Ye’s lane; the regional Records of Yibu celebrated his integrity, and his portrait was painted for posterity.
15
初，平帝时，蜀郡王皓为美阳令，王嘉为郎。 王莽篡位，并弃官西归。 及公孙述称帝，遣使征皓、嘉，恐不至，遂先系其妻、子。 使者谓嘉曰：“速装，妻、子可全。 ”对曰：“犬马犹识主，况于人乎！ ”王皓先自刎，以首付使者。 述怒，遂诛皓家属。 王嘉闻而叹曰：“后之哉！ ”乃对使者伏剑而死。
Earlier, under Emperor Ping, Wang Hao of Shu commandery served as magistrate of Meiyang while Wang Jia held a gentleman’s post at court. When Wang Mang seized the throne, both men resigned their posts and went home to the west. When Gongsun Shu declared himself emperor, he summoned Wang Hao and Wang Jia; doubting they would obey, he had their wives and children seized first. The envoy told Wang Jia, “Pack at once if you want your family to live.” Jia answered, “Even a dog or a horse knows its master—how much more a man!” Wang Hao cut his own throat first and handed his severed head to the messenger. Enraged, Gongsun Shu had Wang Hao’s entire household put to death. When Wang Jia heard the news he groaned, “I have come too late!” He turned to the envoy, drew his sword, and fell on the blade.
16
是时，犍为任永及业同郡冯信，并好爱博古。 公孙述连征命，待以高位，皆托青盲，以避世难。 永妻淫于前，匿情无言； 见子入井，忍而不救。 信侍婢亦对信奸通。 及闻述诛，皆盥洗更视曰：“世适平，目即清。 ”淫者自杀。 光武闻而征之，并会病卒。
About the same time Ren Yong of Qianwei and Feng Xin from Li Ye’s commandery were both devoted to wide learning in the classics. Gongsun Shu summoned them again and again with lofty titles, but each man feigned total blindness to sit out the turmoil. Ren Yong’s wife carried on an affair before his eyes, yet he kept up the blind man’s silence; when his child fell into a well he made no move to save him. Feng Xin’s maidservant likewise betrayed him under his own roof while he played the sightless fool. When word came that Shu was dead, they washed their faces, opened their eyes, and announced, “Peace has returned—the world can see again.” The adulterers took their own lives. Emperor Guangwu summoned them to court, but both died of illness before they could arrive.
17
刘茂字子卫，太原晋阳人也。 少孤，独侍母居。 家贫，以筋力致养，孝行著于乡里。 及长，能习《礼经》，教授常数百人。 哀帝时，察孝廉，再迁五原属国候，遭母忧去官。 服竟后为沮阳令。 会王莽篡位，茂弃官，避世弘农山中教授。
Liu Mao, courtesy name Ziwei, came from Jinyang in Taiyuan commandery. Orphaned while still a boy, he lived alone with his mother and cared for her. The household was destitute, so he earned their keep by manual labor; his filial devotion became famous in the countryside. As an adult he mastered the Book of Rites and drew hundreds of students to his lectures. Under Emperor Ai he passed the filial-incorrupt recommendation, rose twice to become commandant of the Wuyuan dependent state, then resigned to mourn his mother. When the mourning period was over he was appointed magistrate of Juyang. When Wang Mang seized the throne, Liu Mao resigned, withdrew to the Hongnong hills, and taught students in seclusion.
18
建武二年归，为郡门下掾。 时，赤眉二十余万众攻郡县，杀长吏及府掾史。 茂负太守孙福逾墙藏空穴中，得免。 其暮，俱奔盂县。 昼则逃隐，夜求粮食。 积百余日，贼去，乃得归府。 明年，诏书求天下义士。 福言茂曰：“臣前为赤眉所攻，吏民坏死，奔走趣山。 臣为贼所围，命如丝发，赖茂负臣逾城，出保盂县。 茂与弟触冒兵刃，缘山负食，臣及妻子得度死命，节义尤高。 宜蒙表擢，以厉义士。 ”诏书即征茂，拜议郎，迁宗正丞。 后拜侍中，卒官。
In the second year of Jianwu he came home and took a post as commandery gate clerk. The Red Eyebrows—more than two hundred thousand men—were ravaging the commanderies, executing magistrates and yamen staff wherever they went. Liu Mao hoisted Grand Administrator Sun Fu over the city wall and hid him in a hollow; both survived. That night they fled together to Yu County. They hid by daylight and foraged for food after dark. More than a hundred days passed before the rebels withdrew and they could return to the yamen. The following year an imperial edict called for men of conspicuous integrity from every circuit. Sun Fu reported to the throne: “When the Red Eyebrows besieged us, officials and commoners perished wholesale; the survivors scattered into the hills.” I was trapped with my life hanging by a thread; Liu Mao carried me over the wall and brought me to safety in Yu County. He and his brother braved sword and spear, climbed cliffs, and hauled in provisions so that I, my wife, and my children lived through it—such loyalty is rare indeed. He deserves a public citation and promotion, if only to hearten other men of honor. An edict went out at once summoning Liu Mao; he was named Gentleman Consultant and soon promoted to assistant director of the Bureau of the Imperial Clan. He later became a palace attendant and died in that post.
19
延平中，鲜卑数百余骑寇渔阳，太守张显率吏士追出塞，遥望虏营烟火，急趣之。 兵马掾严授虑有伏兵，苦谏止，不听。 显蹙令进，授不获已，前战，伏兵发，授身被十创，殁于阵。 显拔刃追散兵，不能制，虏射中显，主簿卫福、功曹徐咸遽赴之，显遂堕马，福以身拥蔽，虏并杀之。 朝廷愍授等节，诏书褒叹，厚加赏赐，各除子一人为郎中。
During the Yanping era several hundred Xianbei horsemen raided Yuyang. Grand Administrator Zhang Xian led his men in hot pursuit beyond the frontier; seeing smoke above the enemy camp, he drove straight for it. His military aide Yan Shou suspected a trap and begged him to halt, but Zhang Xian would not listen. Zhang Xian barked the order to advance. Yan Shou had no choice but to ride to the front; ambushers sprang up, and he took ten wounds and died on the field. Zhang Xian drew his sword and tried to rally his broken ranks but could not stem the rout. The Xianbei shot him down. Registrar Wei Fu and merit clerk Xu Xian rushed to his side; Zhang Xian tumbled from the saddle, and Wei Fu threw his own body over his master—the enemy cut them both down. The court honored Yan Shou’s steadfastness with an edict of praise, heaped gifts on the families, and appointed one son of each fallen officer as a gentleman of the palace.
20
永初二年，剧贼毕豪等入平原界，县令刘雄将吏士乘船追之。 至厌次河，与贼合战。 雄败，执雄，以矛刺之。 时小吏所辅前叩头求哀，愿以身代雄。 豪等纵雄而刺辅，贯心洞背即死。 东郡太守捕得豪等，具以状上。 诏书追伤之，赐钱二十万，除父奉为郎中。
In the second year of Yongchu the outlaw Bi Hao and his band crossed into Pingyuan. Magistrate Liu Xiong put his men in boats and gave chase. At the Yanci River they closed with the rebels. Liu Xiong was beaten, seized, and run through with spears. A junior clerk named Suofu stepped forward, kowtowed, and begged to die in the magistrate’s place. Bi Hao let Liu Xiong go but drove a spear through Suofu so that it pierced his breast and emerged from his back; he died on the spot. The grand administrator of Dong commandery captured Bi Hao’s gang and laid the full account before the throne. An edict honored his sacrifice, awarded two hundred thousand cash, and appointed his father Feng to the rank of gentleman of the palace.
21
温序字次房，太原祁人也。 仕州从事。 建武二年，骑都尉弓里戍将兵平定北州，到太原，历访英俊大人，问以策谋。 戍见序奇之，上疏荐焉。 于是征为侍御史，迁武陵都尉，病免官。
Wen Xu, courtesy name Cifang, came from Qi in Taiyuan commandery. He held a post as provincial clerk. In the second year of Jianwu, Cavalry Commandant Gongli Shu led an army to pacify the north. When he reached Taiyuan he called on every eminent scholar and asked their counsel. Gongli Shu was struck by Wen Xu’s ability and memorialized the throne to recommend him. He was summoned as attendant censor, promoted to commandant of Wuling, then retired on grounds of illness.
22
六年，拜谒者，迁护羌校尉。 序行部至襄武，为隗嚣别将苟宇所拘劫。 宇谓序曰：“子若与我并威同力，天下可图也。 ”序曰：“受国重任，分当效死，义不贪生、苟背恩德。 ”宇等复晓譬之。 序素有气力，大怒，叱宇等曰：“虏何敢迫胁汉将！ ”因以节楇杀数人。 贼众争欲杀之。 宇止之曰：“此义士死节，可赐以剑。 ”序受剑，衔须于口，顾左右曰：“既为贼所迫杀，无令须污土。 ”遂伏剑而死。
In the sixth year of Jianwu he became an usher, then colonel for the protection of the Qiang tribes. While on inspection Wen Xu reached Xiangwu, where he was ambushed and seized by Gou Yu, a lieutenant of the warlord Wei Ao. Gou Yu told him, “Stand with us, pool our strength, and the empire itself lies within reach.” Wen Xu replied, “The court has entrusted me with a grave charge; my duty is to die for it. I will not cling to life and betray my sovereign’s kindness.” Gou Yu and his men tried again to argue him round. Wen Xu was a powerful man; he exploded in rage and roared at Gou Yu, “How dare you rebels threaten an officer of Han!” He swung his imperial baton and beat several of them to death. The mob howled to cut him down. Gou Yu held them back: “This is a man of honor meeting death—give him a sword and let him die like a gentleman.” Wen Xu took the blade, clamped his beard between his teeth, and told those beside him, “The rebels force me to die—let not my whiskers touch the ground.” He fell on the sword and died.
23
序主簿韩遵、从事王忠持尸归敛。 光武闻而怜之，命忠送丧到洛阳，赐城傍为冢地，赙谷千斛、缣五百匹，除三子为郎中。 长子寿，服竟为邹平侯相。 梦序告之曰：“久客思乡里。 ”寿即弃官，上书乞骸骨归葬。 帝许之，乃反旧茔焉。
Registrar Han Zun and aide Wang Zhong recovered his body for burial. Emperor Guangwu was moved with pity, ordered Wang Zhong to escort the coffin to Luoyang, granted a burial plot beside the capital, sent a thousand hu of grain and five hundred bolts of silk for the obsequies, and named all three sons gentlemen of the palace. His eldest son Shou, when mourning was complete, became chancellor to the Marquis of Zouping. Shou dreamed that his father said to him, “I have been a wanderer too long; I long for my native soil.” Shou resigned at once, petitioned to bring his father’s remains home, and buried him in the family graveyard. The emperor granted the request, and Wen Xu was laid to rest in the ancestral cemetery.
24
彭脩字子阳，会稽毘陵人也。 年十五时，父为郡吏，得休，与脩俱归，道为盗所劫。 脩困迫，乃拔佩刀前持盗帅曰：“父辱子死，卿不顾死邪？ ”盗相谓曰：“此童子义士也，不宜逼之。 ”遂辞谢而去。 乡党称其名。
Peng Xiu, courtesy name Ziyang, came from Piling in Kuaiji commandery. When he was fifteen his father, a commandery clerk, had a day off and was walking home with Peng Xiu when bandits waylaid them. Trapped and desperate, Peng Xiu drew his dagger, seized the bandit chief, and cried, “If my father is dishonored I die with him—do you think I fear the blade?” The robbers muttered among themselves, “The lad is a man of honor—let him be.” They apologized and withdrew. The whole district sang his praises.
25
后仕郡为功曹。 时，西部都尉宰祐行太守事，以微过收吴县狱吏，将杀之。 主簿钟离意争谏甚切，祐怒，使收缚意，欲案之，掾史莫敢谏。 脩排阁直入，拜于庭，曰：“明府发雷霆于主薄，请闻其过。 ”祐曰：“受教三日，初不奉行，废命不忠，岂非过邪？ ”脩因拜曰：“昔任座面折文侯，硃云攀毁栏槛，自非贤君，焉得忠臣？ 今庆明府为贤君，主簿为忠臣。 ”祐遂原意罚，贳狱吏罪。
He later became merit assessor of his commandery. Western commandant Zai You was acting grand administrator when he jailed a Wu county prison officer on a trivial charge and prepared to execute him. Registrar Zhongli Yi remonstrated sharply. Zai You flew into a rage, had Zhongli Yi arrested, and prepared charges against him; no one else in the yamen dared speak. Peng Xiu shoved past the doors, strode into the court, and bowed: “My lord vents heaven’s wrath on the chief clerk—may I hear what crime he has committed?” Zai You snapped, “He was given his orders three days ago and has ignored them—disobedience is disloyalty; what further fault do you need?” Peng Xiu bowed again and said, “Long ago Ren Zuo rebuked Marquis Wen of Wei to his face, and Zhu Yun broke the palace railing remonstrating with Emperor Cheng—without a worthy ruler, where would such loyal ministers appear?” I congratulate you, my lord, on proving yourself a worthy magistrate and Zhongli Yi on proving himself your loyal clerk. Zai You dropped the charges against Zhongli Yi and spared the jailer.
26
后州辟从事。 时，贼张子林等数百人作乱，郡言州，请脩守吴令。 脩与太守俱出讨贼，贼望见车马，竞交射之，飞矢雨集。 脩障扞太守，而为流矢所中死，太守得全。 贼素闻其恩信，即杀弩中脩者，余悉降散。 言曰：“自为彭君故降，不为太守服也。”
The province later appointed him provincial clerk. When several hundred rebels led by Zhang Zilin rose, the commandery asked the province to put Peng Xiu in charge as magistrate of Wu. Peng Xiu rode out with the grand administrator; the rebels sighted their escort and volleyed arrows until the sky seemed full of them. Peng Xiu threw himself in front of his chief and took a stray shaft through the body; the grand administrator lived. The rebels had long respected his fairness; they executed the archer who had killed him, and the rest threw down their arms or melted away. They explained, “We yield for Master Peng’s sake, not because we fear the magistrate.”
27
索卢放
Biography of Suolu Fang.
28
索卢放字君阳，东郡人也。 以《尚书》教授千余人。 初署郡门下掾。 更始时，使者督行郡国，太守有事，当就斩刑，放前言曰：“今天下所以苦毒王氏，归心皇汉者，实以圣政宽仁故也。 而传车所过，未闻恩泽。 太守受诛，诚不敢言，但恐天下惶惧，各生疑变。 夫使功者不如使过，愿以身代太守之命。 ”遂前就斩。 使者义而赦之，由是显名。
Suolu Fang, courtesy name Junyang, was a native of Dong commandery. He lectured on the Book of Documents to more than a thousand disciples. He began his career as acting gate clerk of the commandery. Under the Gengshi Emperor an inspector was touring the circuits when Suolu Fang’s grand administrator was condemned to death. Fang stepped forward: “The people turned against Wang Mang and rallied to Han because Your Majesty’s government promised mercy and humanity.” Yet wherever your carriages pass we hear of executions, not of grace. I do not question the governor’s guilt, but if you kill him now the whole land will panic and every district will begin to doubt your rule. The wise ruler turns a fault into loyalty—let my body pay for the governor’s life. He strode forward and laid his neck on the block. Moved by his courage, the envoy spared both men, and Suolu Fang’s name spread through the empire.
29
建武六年，征为洛阳令，政有能名。 以病乞身。 徙谏议大夫，数纳忠言，后以疾去。
In the sixth year of Jianwu he was named magistrate of Luoyang and earned a reputation for able administration. Ill health forced him to resign. He was promoted to remonstrance counselor, where he spoke bluntly more than once, then stepped down again because of sickness.
30
建武末，复征不起，光武使人舆之，见于南宫云台，赐谷二千斛，遣归，除子为太子中庶子。 卒于家。
Late in the Jianwu era the court summoned him once more; he still refused. Emperor Guangwu had him carried in a litter to an audience at the Cloud Terrace of the Southern Palace, presented him with two thousand hu of grain, sent him home in honor, and appointed his son palace attendant to the heir apparent. He died at his own residence.
31
周嘉字惠文，汝南安城人也。 高祖父燕，宣帝时为郡决曹掾。 太守欲枉杀人，燕谏不听，遂杀囚而黜燕。 囚家守阙称冤，诏遣复考。 燕见太守曰：“愿谨定文书，皆著燕名，府君但言时病而已。 ”出谓掾史曰：“诸君被问，悉当以罪推燕。 如有一言及于府君，燕手剑相刃。 ”使者乃收燕系狱。 屡被掠楚，辞无屈桡。 当下蚕室，乃叹曰：“我平王之后，正公玄孙，岂可以刀锯之余下见先君？ ”遂不食而死。 燕有五子，皆至刺史、太守。
Zhou Jia, courtesy name Huiwen, came from Ancheng in Runan commandery. His great-great-grandfather Zhou Yan had served under Emperor Xuan as clerk of the sentencing bureau in the commandery. The grand administrator meant to execute an innocent man; Zhou Yan protested in vain, the prisoner was put to death anyway, and Yan was cashiered. The dead man’s kin kept vigil at the palace gate pleading injustice until the throne ordered the case reopened. Zhou Yan went to the grand administrator and said, “Let every document bear my signature; you need only plead illness at the hearing.” Outside he told the yamen staff, “When they question you, lay every blame on me.” If a single word implicates the magistrate, I will cut you down myself. The imperial investigator had Zhou Yan arrested and thrown into jail. They tortured him again and again, yet he would not change his story. When they were about to castrate him, he cried out, “I am blood of King Ping of Zhou and great-great-grandson of Duke Zheng—shall I meet my ancestors mutilated like a common felon?” He refused all food and starved himself to death. Zhou Yan left five sons, every one of whom rose to regional inspector or grand administrator.
32
嘉仕郡为主簿。 王莽末，郡贼入汝阳城，嘉从太守何敞讨贼，敞为流矢所中，郡兵奔北，贼围绕数十重，白刃交集，嘉乃拥敞，以身扞之。 因呵贼曰：“卿曹皆人隶也。 为贼既逆，岂有还害其君者邪？ 嘉请以死赎君命。 ”因仰天号泣。 群贼于是两两相视，曰：“此义士也！ ”给其车马，遣送之。
Zhou Jia became chief clerk of his commandery. Near the end of Wang Mang’s reign rebels stormed Ruyang. Zhou Jia rode with Grand Administrator He Chang to drive them off; He Chang was struck by a stray shaft, the commandery troops broke and fled, and the enemy closed in ring after ring with naked steel flashing. Jia threw his arms around He Chang and used his own body as a shield. He roared at the mob, “You were born free men of the Han.” Rebellion is crime enough—would you add the murder of your rightful magistrate? Take my life instead of his. He lifted his face to the sky and wept aloud. The rebels exchanged glances and muttered, “This is a man of honor!” They gave him a carriage and escorted both men safely away.
33
后太守寇恂举为孝廉，拜尚书侍郎。 光武引见，问以遭难之事。 嘉对曰：“太守被伤，命悬寇手。 臣实弩怯，不能死难。 ”帝曰：“此长者也。 ”诏嘉尚公主，嘉称病笃，不肯当。
Grand Administrator Kou Xun later nominated him as filial and incorrupt, and he received appointment as gentleman clerk in the Masters of Writing. Emperor Guangwu received him in audience and asked how he had borne up under the siege. Zhou Jia answered, “My lord was wounded and his life hung by a thread in the rebels’ grip.” I was no hero—I failed to die with him in that hour. The emperor said, “There speaks a man of true substance.” An edict offered him an imperial princess in marriage; he pleaded grave illness and declined.
34
稍迁零陵太守，视事七年，卒。 零陵颂其遗爱，吏民为立祠焉。
He rose by stages to grand administrator of Lingling, governed seven years, and died in office. Lingling remembered his kindness long after his death, and officials and commoners built a shrine in his honor.
35
嘉从弟暢，字伯持，性仁慈，为河南尹。 永初二年夏，旱，久祷无应，暢因收葬洛城傍客死骸骨，凡万余人。 应时澎雨，岁乃丰稔。 位至光禄勋。
Zhou Jia’s cousin Zhou Chang, courtesy name Bochi, a gentle and humane man, served as metropolitan governor of Henan. In the summer of the second year of Yongchu a drought lingered despite endless prayers. Zhou Chang had the bones of more than ten thousand strangers who had perished outside Luoyang gathered and given decent burial. Heavy rain fell at once, and the year turned to a bumper crop. He rose to superintendent of the imperial household.
36
范式字巨卿，山阳金乡人也，一名汜。 少游太学，为诸生，与汝南张劭为友。 劭字元伯。 二人并告归乡里。 式谓元伯曰：“后二年当还，将过拜尊亲，见孺子焉。 ”乃共克期日。 后期方至，元伯具以白母，请设馔以候之。 母曰：“二年之别，千里结言，尔何相信之审邪？ ”对曰：“巨卿信士，必不乖违。 ”母曰：“若然，当为尔醞酒。 ”至其日，巨卿果到，升堂拜饮，尽欢而别。
Fan Shi, courtesy name Juqing, of Jinxiang in Shanyang—also recorded under the name Fan Si. In his student days at the Imperial Academy he befriended Zhang Shao of Runan. Zhang Shao’s courtesy name was Yuanbo. The two friends set out for their home districts at the same time. Fan Shi told Zhang Shao, “Two years from now I shall be back this way to greet your parents and see your son.” They fixed an exact day for the visit. As the day drew near, Zhang Shao told his mother everything and asked her to prepare a feast for Fan Shi. His mother said, “You parted two years ago and a thousand li divide you—how can you be so sure he will come?” Zhang Shao answered, “Juqing is a man of his word—he will not break the promise.” She said, “Very well—I shall brew wine for your guest.” On the appointed day Fan Shi arrived as promised; he entered the hall, bowed to Zhang Shao’s parents, and they drank their fill before parting.
37
式仕为郡功曹。 后元伯寝疾笃，同郡郅君章、殷子徵晨夜省视之。 元伯临尽，叹曰：“恨不见吾死友！ ”子徵曰：“吾与君章尽心于子，是非死友，复欲谁求？ ”元伯曰：“若二子者，吾生友耳。 山阳范巨卿，所谓死友也。 ”寻而卒。 式忽梦见元伯玄冕垂缨屣履而呼曰：“巨卿，吾以某日死，当以尔时葬，永归黄泉。 子未我忘，岂能相及？ ”式怳然觉寤，悲叹泣下，具告太守，请往奔丧。 太守虽心不信而重违其情，许之。 式便服朋友之服，投其葬日，驰往赴之。 式未及到，而丧已发引，既至圹，将窆，而柩不肯进。 其母抚之曰：“元伯，岂有望邪？ ”遂停柩移时，乃见有素车白马，号哭而来。 其母望之曰：“是必范巨卿也。 ”巨卿既至，叩丧言曰：“行矣元伯！ 死生路异，永从此辞。 ”会葬者千人，咸为挥涕。 式因执绋而引柩，于是乃前。 式遂留止冢次，为修坟树，然后乃去。
Fan Shi later became merit assessor of his commandery. Zhang Shao fell mortally ill; Zhi Junzhang and Yin Zizheng of the same commandery sat at his bedside day and night. At the last Zhang Shao sighed, “My only regret is that I cannot see the friend who would die for me!” Yin Zizheng said, “We have worn ourselves out for you—are we not friends unto death? Whom else could you want?” Zhang Shao said, “You two are the friends of my living days—nothing more.” Fan Juqing of Shanyang is the man they call a friend beyond death. He died a little while later. Fan Shi dreamed that Zhang Shao appeared in mourning cap and slippers, crying, “Juqing, I died on such-and-such a day and will be buried at that hour; I go down to the yellow springs forever.” If you have not forgotten me, can you still reach my funeral? Fan Shi started from the dream in tears, laid the whole vision before his magistrate, and begged leave to attend the burial. The magistrate doubted the story yet shrank from refusing such devotion and granted the leave. Fan Shi put on mourning fit for a sworn brother and raced toward the burial on the very day of the funeral. He arrived too late for the procession but reached the open grave just as they were lowering the coffin—and the bier would not move forward. His mother laid her hand on the coffin and whispered, “Yuanbo, is there still something you wait for?” They held the bier still for a long moment until a white carriage and white horse appeared on the road, the rider weeping as he galloped near. His mother cried out, “That must be Fan Juqing!” When Fan Shi reached the grave he knelt by the coffin and said, “Go in peace, Yuanbo!” The living and the dead walk different paths—this is our last farewell. A thousand mourners witnessed it, and every eye was wet. Fan Shi took hold of the guide-ropes and pulled; only then did the coffin slide forward into the grave. He remained to heap the earth, plant trees on the mound, and only then took his leave.
38
后到京师，受业太学。 时诸生长沙陈平子亦同在学，与式未相见，而平子被病将亡，谓其妻曰：“吾闻山阳范巨卿，烈士也，可以托死。 吾殁后，但以尸埋巨卿户前。 ”乃裂素为书，以遗巨卿。 既终，妻从其言。 时式出行适还，省书见瘗，怆然感之，向坟揖哭，以为死友。 乃营护平子妻兒，身自送丧于临湘。 未至四五里，乃委素书于柩上，哭别而去。 其兄弟闻之，寻求不复见。 长沙上计掾史到京师，上书表式行状，三府并辟，不应。
Later he went up to the capital and enrolled again at the Imperial Academy. A fellow student named Chen Pingzi of Changsha had never met Fan Shi, yet as he lay dying he told his wife, “I have heard that Fan Juqing of Shanyang is a man of iron honor—he is the one to whom I may entrust my death.” When I am gone, lay my body before Fan Juqing’s door and nothing more. He tore a strip of plain silk, wrote his last request, and sent it to Fan Shi. When he died his wife did as he had asked. Fan Shi returned from a journey, read the letter, saw the new grave before his gate, and was overcome; he bowed to the mound and wept, accepting Chen Pingzi as a friend beyond death. He provided for Chen’s widow and orphans and personally escorted the coffin to Linxiang for burial. When the cortège was still four or five li short of the cemetery, he laid the silk letter on the bier, wept his farewell, and turned back. Chen’s brothers hurried after him but could not find him again. When the Changsha clerk on annual accounts reached the capital he memorialized Fan Shi’s deeds; the Three Offices summoned him together, but he would not accept.
39
举州茂才，四迁荆州刺史。 友人南阳孔嵩，家贫亲老，乃变名姓，佣为新野县阿里街卒。 式行部到新野，而县选嵩为导骑迎式。 式见而识之，呼嵩，把臂谓曰：“子非孔仲山邪？ ”对之叹息，语及平生。 曰：“昔与子俱曳长裾，游息帝学。 吾蒙国恩，致位牧伯，而子怀道隐身，处于卒伍，不亦惜乎！ ”嵩曰：“侯嬴长守于贱业，晨门肆志于抱关。 子欲居九夷，不患其陋。 贫者士之宜，岂为鄙哉！ ”式敕县代嵩，嵩以为先佣未竟，不肯去。
Nominated flourishing talent of the province, he rose through four promotions to regional inspector of Jingzhou. His friend Kong Song of Nanyang, burdened with aged parents and poverty, changed his name and hired himself out as a street runner in Ali ward of Xinye County. When Fan Shi toured his jurisdiction and came to Xinye, the county magistrate detailed Kong Song as outrider to meet him. Fan Shi recognized him at once, seized his arm, and cried, “You are Kong Zhongshan, are you not?” They sighed together and spoke of their whole lives since the academy days. Fan Shi said, “We once swept the long hems of scholars through the halls of the Imperial Academy.” I have climbed to a governor’s chair on the state’s favor, while you hide your talents among common troopers—is that not a waste! Kong Song answered, “Hou Ying made a career of lowly station; the gatekeeper of the Lu city gate found his purpose in minding a bolt.” The Master said he would gladly live among the eastern barbarians and not mind their roughness. Poverty is a scholar’s natural cloak—what shame is there in that? Fan Shi ordered the magistrate to release Kong Song from service, but Kong insisted his old contract was unfinished and refused to go.
40
嵩在阿里，正身厉行，街中子弟，皆服其训化。 遂辟公府。 之京师，道宿下亭，盗共窃其马，寻问知其嵩也，乃相责让曰：“孔仲山善士，岂宜侵盗乎！ ”于是送马谢之。 嵩官至南海太守。
In Ali ward Kong Song kept an upright life and stern discipline; the young men of the street all yielded to his example. He was eventually summoned to office at one of the high ministries. On the road to the capital he spent the night at a relay inn where thieves stole his horse; when they learned whose mount it was they rebuked one another: “Kong Zhongshan is a good man—we cannot rob him!” They returned the horse with apologies. Kong Song rose to be grand administrator of Nanhai.
41
式后迁庐江太守，有威名，卒于官。
Fan Shi was later transferred to grand administrator of Lujiang, where he earned a reputation for stern justice, and died in that post.
42
李善字次孙，南阳淯阳人也，本同县李元苍头也。 建武中疫疾，元家相继死没，唯孤兒续始生数旬，而赀财千万，诸奴婢私共计议，欲谋杀续，分其财产。 善深伤李氏而力不能制，乃潜负续逃去，隐山阳瑕丘界中，亲自哺养，乳为生湩。 推燥居湿，备尝艰勤。 续虽在孩抱，奉之不异长君，有事辄长跪请白，然后行之。 闾里感其行，皆相率修义。 续年十岁，善与归本县，修理旧业。 告奴婢于长吏，悉收杀之。 时钟离意为瑕丘令，上书荐善行状。 光武诏拜善及续并为太子舍人。
Li Shan, courtesy name Cisun, came from Yuyang in Nanyang; he had begun life as a household bondsman of Li Yuan of the same county. During the Jianwu era plague swept the household of Li Yuan until only a newborn heir, Li Xu, was left amid estates worth millions. The slaves conspired in secret to murder the infant and carve up the fortune. Li Shan grieved for the Li line yet could not overpower the plotters; he stole the baby away and hid in the hills near Xiqiu in Shanyang, nursing the child himself until his own milk flowed for the infant’s food. He gave the child the dry mat and took the damp himself, enduring every hardship of a fugitive life. Though Li Xu was still in swaddling clothes, Li Shan served him as the head of the house, kneeling to ask permission before every decision. The neighbors were so moved by his devotion that they vied with one another in good works. When the boy turned ten, Li Shan brought him home to the county and set the family lands in order again. He denounced the murderous slaves to the magistrate, and every one of them was arrested and executed. Zhongli Yi, then magistrate of Xiuqiu, memorialized the throne with a full account of Li Shan’s deeds. Emperor Guangwu issued an edict appointing both Li Shan and Li Xu retainers of the crown prince.
43
善显宗时辟公府，以能理剧，再迁日南太守。 从京师之官，道经淯阳，过李元冢。 未至一里，乃脱朝服，持锄去草。 及拜墓，哭泣甚悲，身自炊爨，执鼎俎以修祭祀。 垂泣曰：“君夫人，善在此。 ”尽哀，数日乃去。 到官，以爱惠为政，怀来异俗。 迁九江太守，未至，道病卒。
Under Emperor Ming (Xianzong) Li Shan was called to a ministry for his gift at handling the toughest posts, and twice rose to grand administrator of Rinan. On his way from the capital to take up his post he passed through Yuyang and stopped at Li Yuan’s grave. While still a li short of the tomb he stripped off his court dress, took a hoe, and cut the weeds himself. He bowed at the mound and wept bitterly, then kindled the cooking fire with his own hands and carried tripod and offering board through the rites. Through his tears he said, “My lord and lady, your bondsman Shan stands before you.” He poured out his grief for many days before he could leave. In office he ruled with kindness and drew the frontier peoples to allegiance. He was promoted to grand administrator of Jiujiang but died on the road before he could take up the post.
44
续至河间相。
Li Xu rose to be chancellor of the kingdom of Hejian.
45
王忳字少林，广汉新都人也。 忳尝诣京师，于空舍中见一书生疾困，愍而视之。 书生谓忳曰：“我当到洛阳，而被病，命在须臾。 腰下有金十斤，愿以相赠，死后乞藏骸骨。 ”未及问姓名而绝。 忳即鬻金一斤，营其殡葬，余金悉置棺下，人无知者。 后归数年，县署忳大度亭长。 初到之日，有马驰入亭中而止。 其日，大风飘一绣被，复堕忳前，即言之于县，县以归忳。 忳后乘马到雒县，马遂奔走，牵忳入它舍。 主人见之喜曰：“今禽盗矣。 ”问忳所由得马，忳具说其状，并及绣被。 主人怅然良久，乃曰：“被随旋风，与马俱亡，卿何阴德而致此二物？ ”忳自念有葬书生之事，因说之，并道书生形貌及埋金处。 主人大惊，号曰：“是我子也。 姓金名彦。 前往京师，不知所在，何意卿乃葬之。 大恩久不报，天以此章卿德耳。 ”忳悉以被、马还之，彦父不取，又厚遗忳。 忳辞让而去。 时，彦父为州从事，因告新都令，假忳休，自与俱迎彦丧，余金俱存。 忳由是显名。
Wang Tun, courtesy name Shaolin, came from Xindu in Guanghan commandery. Once in the capital Wang Tun found a scholar dying alone in an empty inn and took pity on him. The scholar told him, “I was bound for Luoyang, but sickness has cut me down—I have only moments left.” There are ten jin of gold at my belt—take them when I am gone, and give my bones a decent grave. He died before Wang Tun could ask his name. Wang Tun sold one jin of the gold for the funeral and slid the rest beneath the coffin; no one was the wiser. Years after he came home the county appointed him chief of the Dadu relay post. On his first day at the post a riderless horse galloped into the yard and halted. That same day a gale snatched up an embroidered quilt and dropped it at his feet; he reported the find to the magistrate, who let him keep it. Later, riding that horse toward Luo County, the beast bolted and dragged him into a stranger’s courtyard. The householder cried with delight, “At last we have caught the thief!” He demanded to know how Wang Tun had come by the mount; Wang told the whole story, including the quilt. The man stared in silence, then said, “That horse and quilt vanished in a whirlwind—what secret good deed could bring them both back to you?” Wang Tun recalled the buried scholar and related everything—the man’s looks and where the gold lay under the coffin. The father cried out in shock, “That was my son!” His name was Jin Yan. He had left for the capital and we never heard from him again—how did you come to bury him? We could never repay such kindness—Heaven has sent back horse and quilt to show the world your virtue. Wang Tun returned horse and quilt, but Jin’s father refused them and pressed rich gifts on him instead. Wang Tun declined and took his leave. Jin’s father was serving as a provincial clerk; he asked the magistrate of Xindu for Wang Tun’s leave, and together they fetched the son’s coffin—the gold beneath it was untouched. From that day Wang Tun’s name was known across the commandery.
46
仕郡功曹，州治中从事。 举茂才，除郿令。 到官，至斄亭。 亭长曰：“亭有鬼，数杀过客，不可宿也。 ”忳曰：“仁胜凶邪，德除不祥，何鬼之避！ ”即入亭止宿。 夜中闻有女子称冤之声。 忳咒曰：“有何枉状，可前求理乎？ ”女子曰：“无衣，不敢进。 ”忳便投衣与之。 女子乃前诉曰：“妾夫为涪令，之官过宿此亭，亭长无状，贼杀妾家十余口，埋在楼下，悉取财货。 ”忳问亭长姓名。 女子曰：“即今门下游徼者也。 ”忳曰：“汝何故数杀过客？ ”对曰：“妾不得白日自诉，每夜陈冤，客辄眠不见应，不胜感恚，故杀之。 ”忳曰：“当为汝理此冤，勿复杀良善也。 ”因解衣于地，忽然不见，明旦召游徼诘问，具服罪，即收系，及同谋十余人悉伏辜。 遣吏送其丧归乡里，于是亭遂清安。
He rose to merit assessor of the commandery and assistant director of staff for the province. Nominated flourishing talent, he was appointed magistrate of Mei. On his way to take office he stopped for the night at Zhi relay station. The station keeper warned him, “A ghost haunts this post—it has killed many travelers. You must not stay.” Wang Tun answered, “Goodness masters evil; virtue drives off misfortune—why should I fear a ghost?” He went in and spent the night. At midnight he heard a woman’s voice crying out her wrongs. Wang Tun called out, “If you have suffered injustice, step forward and plead your case.” The voice answered, “I have no clothes—I cannot come before you.” Wang Tun tossed his own garments toward her. She came forward and said, “My husband was magistrate of Fu County. On his way to his post he lodged here; the station chief murdered our household of more than ten, buried us under the floor, and stole everything we owned.” Wang Tun asked the murderer’s name. She said, “He is the very man who serves now as your gate patrol officer.” Wang Tun demanded of the spirit, “Why have you killed so many travelers?” She answered, “By day I cannot speak; each night I cried my wrongs, but the guests slept on and never answered. Rage overcame me, and I slew them.” Wang Tun said, “I will see justice done for you—harm no more innocent men.” He laid his clothes on the ground; the apparition vanished. At dawn he summoned the patrol officer, who confessed; Wang Tun arrested him and more than ten accomplices, and all were executed. He sent men to escort the family’s remains home, and the relay station knew peace again.
47
张武者，吴郡由拳人也。 父业，郡门下掾，送太守妻、子还乡里，至河内亭，盗夜劫之，业与贼战死，遂亡失尸骸。 武时年幼，不及识父。 后之太学受业，每节，常持父遗剑，至亡处祭醊，泣而还。 太守第五伦嘉其行，举孝廉。 遭母丧过毁，伤父魂灵不返，因哀恸绝命。
Zhang Wu came from Youquan in Wu commandery. His father Zhang Ye, a commandery gate clerk, was escorting the magistrate’s family home when bandits attacked the relay inn at Henei by night. Zhang Ye fought to the death, and his body was never recovered. Zhang Wu was too young to remember his father. Later, as a student in the capital, he carried his father’s sword to the place of the ambush on every seasonal holiday, poured a libation, and wept before returning. Grand Administrator Diwu Lun admired his devotion and nominated him as filial and incorrupt. When his mother died he mourned past all measure, brooding that his father’s spirit had never come home, and died of grief.
48
陆续字智初，会稽吴人也。 世为族姓。 祖父闳，字子春，建武中为尚书令。 美姿貌，喜着越布单衣，光武见而好之，自是常敕会稽郡献越布。
Lu Xu, courtesy name Zhichu, came from Wu in Kuaiji commandery. The family had been eminent for generations. His grandfather Lu Hong, courtesy name Zichun, served as director of the Masters of Writing under Emperor Guangwu. Lu Hong was handsome and favored the light unlined robes of Yue; Emperor Guangwu admired the style and thereafter ordered Kuaiji to send Yue cloth as tribute every year.
49
续幼孤，仕郡户曹史。 时岁荒民饥，太守尹兴使续于都亭赋民饘粥。 续悉简阅其民，讯以名氏。 事毕，兴问所食几何？ 续因口说六百余人，皆分别姓字，无有差谬。 兴异之。 刺史行部，见续，辟为别驾从事。 以病去，还为郡门下掾。
Lu Xu lost his father while young and became a household clerk in the commandery yamen. In a year of famine Grand Administrator Yin Xing put Lu Xu in charge of doling out gruel at the county relay post. He went through the crowd name by name and face by face. When the distribution was done Yin Xing asked how many people had been fed. Lu Xu recited from memory more than six hundred names, each surname and personal name correct. Yin Xing was astonished. The regional inspector, on tour of the commandery, took him on as chief aide. Ill health forced him to resign; he went back to his old post as gate clerk.
50
是时，楚王英谋反，阴疏天下善士。 及楚事觉，显宗得其录，有尹兴名，乃征兴诣廷尉狱。 续与主簿梁宏、功曹史驷勋及掾史五百余人诣洛阳诏狱就考，诸吏不堪痛楚，死者大半。 唯续、宏、勋掠考五毒，肌肉消烂，终无异辞。 续母远至京师，觇候消息，狱事特急，无缘与续相闻，母但作馈食，付门卒以进之，续虽见考苦毒，而辞色慷慨，未尝易容，唯对食悲泣，不能自胜。 使者怪而问其故。 续曰：“母来，不得相见，故泣耳。 ”使者大怒，以为门卒通传意气，召将案之。 续曰：“因食饷羹，识母所自调和，故知来耳。 非人告也。 ”使者问：“何以知母所作乎？ ”续曰：“母尝截肉，未尝不方，断葱以寸为度，是以知之。 ”使者问诸谒舍，续母果来，于是阴嘉之，上书说续行状。 帝即赦兴等事，还乡里，禁锢终身。 续以老病卒。
Prince Liu Ying of Chu was plotting revolt and secretly drew up a roster of noted scholars across the empire. When the plot came to light Emperor Ming seized the list and found Yin Xing’s name; Yin Xing was hauled to the minister of justice’s prison in the capital. Lu Xu, Registrar Liang Hong, Merit Clerk Si Xun, and more than five hundred yamen staff were marched to the imperial prison at Luoyang. Most of the clerks broke under torture and died. Only Lu Xu, Liang Hong, and Si Xun endured the full range of torments until their flesh hung in strips, yet they never changed their testimony. Lu Xu’s mother traveled to the capital to learn his fate, but the case was so sensitive that she could not reach him. She cooked his favorite dishes and bribed the jailer to carry them in. Though Lu Xu was savagely tortured, he kept a bold face—until he tasted his mother’s cooking and wept uncontrollably. The imperial investigator noticed and demanded an explanation. Lu Xu said, “My mother is here, yet I cannot see her—that is why I weep.” The envoy flew into a rage, suspecting the jailer of carrying messages, and ordered him arrested for questioning. Lu Xu said, “I tasted my mother’s seasoning in the soup—that is how I knew she had come.” No one told me. The investigator asked, “How could you be sure your mother cooked it?” Lu Xu replied, “She always slices meat into perfect squares and cuts scallions to exact inch lengths—I would know her hand anywhere.” He questioned the inns and found that Lu Xu’s mother had indeed arrived in the capital. Deeply impressed, he memorialized the whole story of Lu Xu’s fidelity. The emperor pardoned Yin Xing and the others, sent them home, and barred them from office for life. Lu Xu died of old age and illness.
51
长子稠，广陵太守，有理名。 中子逢，乐安太守。 少子褒，力行好学，不慕荣名，连征不就。 褒子康，已见前传。
His eldest son Lu Chou became grand administrator of Guangling and was known for sound judgment. His second son Lu Feng served as grand administrator of Le’an. His youngest son Lu Bao was a diligent scholar who cared nothing for fame; the court summoned him again and again, but he never accepted. Lu Bao’s son Lu Kang is treated in an earlier chapter.
52
戴封字平仲，济北刚人也。 年十五，诣太学，师事鄮令东海申君。 申君卒，送丧到东海，道当经其家。 父母以封当还，豫为娶妻。 封暂过拜亲，不宿而去。 还京师卒业。 时同学石敬平温病卒，封养视殡敛，以所赍粮市小棺，送丧到家。 家更敛，见敬平行时书物皆在棺中，乃大异之。 封后遇贼，财物悉被略夺，唯余缣七匹，贼不知处，封乃追以与之，曰：“知诸君乏，故送相遗。 ”贼惊曰：“此贤人也。 ”尽还其器物。
Dai Feng, courtesy name Pingzhong, came from Gang in Jibei commandery. At fifteen he entered the Imperial Academy and studied under Master Shen of Donghai, who was then magistrate of Mao. When Master Shen died Dai Feng escorted the coffin to Donghai; the route passed his own village. His parents assumed he would stop at home and had already found him a bride. He stepped in only long enough to greet his parents, then pushed on without spending the night. He returned to the capital to finish his course. When his classmate Shi Jingping died of fever, Dai Feng laid out the body, sold his own travel rations for a small coffin, and saw the funeral train home. When the family opened the coffin for reburial they found every article Shi had carried on the road still inside, and marveled at Dai Feng’s care. Later bandits robbed Dai Feng of everything except seven bolts of silk hidden where they could not find them. He ran after the gang and handed over the silk, saying, “You must be in need—take this.” The robbers exclaimed in wonder, “This is a true gentleman!” They returned everything they had stolen.
53
后举孝廉，光禄主事，遭伯父丧去官。 诏书求贤良方正直言之士、有至行能消灾伏异者，公卿郡守各举一人。 郡及大司农俱举封。 公车征，陛见，对策第一，擢拜议郎。 迁西华令。 时汝、颍有蝗灾，独不入西华界。 时督邮行县，蝗忽大至。 督邮其日即去，蝗亦顿除，一境奇之。 其年大旱，封祷请无获，乃积薪坐其上以自焚。 火起而大雨暴至，于是远近叹服。
He was later nominated filial and incorrupt and served as a clerk in the office of the superintendent of the imperial household; he resigned to mourn an uncle. An edict called for men of integrity who would speak plainly, and for others of supreme moral power who could avert disaster and strange portents; every minister and grand administrator was to nominate one candidate. Both the commandery and the office of the grand minister of agriculture put forward Dai Feng. He was summoned by the capital evaluation office, received audience with the emperor, took first place in the policy examination, and was appointed Gentleman Consultant. He was promoted to magistrate of Xihua. Locusts ravaged the Ru and Ying region but never crossed into Xihua County. When the regional inspector came on circuit, a swarm of locusts suddenly descended. The inspector left that same day and the locusts vanished as suddenly as they had come; the whole county wondered at it. The same year brought severe drought; prayers brought no rain, so Dai Feng heaped a pyre, sat atop it, and prepared to burn himself as an offering. The moment the flames rose a torrent fell; people for miles around were awestruck.
54
迁中山相。 时诸县囚四百余人，辞状已定，当行刑。 封哀之，皆遣归家，与克期日，皆无违者。 诏书策美焉。
He was promoted to chancellor of the kingdom of Zhongshan. More than four hundred convicts from the counties of the kingdom had been sentenced and were awaiting execution. Dai Feng took pity on them, sent them all home, and set a day for their return to prison; not one man broke the pledge. The throne issued a rescript of praise.
55
永元十二年，征拜太常，卒官。
In the twelfth year of Yongyuan he was summoned to be minister of ceremonies and died in that post.
56
李充字大逊，陈留人也。 家贫，兄弟六人同食递衣。 妻窃谓充曰：“今贫居如此，难以久安。 妾有私财，愿思分异。 ”充伪酬之曰：“如欲别居，当醖酒具会，请呼乡里内外，共议其事。 ”妇从充置酒晏客。 充于坐中前跪曰母曰：“此妇无状，而教充离间母兄，罪合遣斥。 ”便呵叱其妇，逐令出门，妇衔涕而去。 坐中惊肃，因遂罢散。 充后遭母丧，行服墓次，人有盗其墓树者，充手自杀之。 服阕，立精舍讲授。
Li Chong, courtesy name Daxun, was a native of Chenliu. The household was poor; six brothers shared one meal and passed a single set of robes from one to another. His wife whispered to him, “We cannot go on forever in poverty like this.” I have a little money of my own—let us set up a separate household. Li Chong answered as if in agreement: “If we are to divide the family, we should brew wine and call kin and neighbors together to settle the matter openly.” His wife helped him prepare the feast and receive the guests. In front of the gathering Li Chong knelt before his mother and said, “This woman has no shame—she urged me to turn against my mother and brothers. She deserves to be cast out.” He drove her from the house with bitter words; she left in tears. The guests sat frozen in silence, then rose and slipped away. When his mother died he mourned at her grave. A man stole trees from the burial ground, and Li Chong killed him with his own hands. When the mourning period was over he built a private hall and taught students there.
57
太守鲁平请署功曹，不就。 平怒，乃援充以捐沟中，因谪署县都亭长。 不得已，起亲职役。 后和帝公车征，不行。 延平中，诏公卿、中二千石各举隐士大儒，务取高行，以劝后进，特征充为博士。 时鲁平亦为博士，每与集会，常叹服焉。
Grand Administrator Lu Ping invited him to serve as merit assessor, but he refused. Lu Ping flew into a rage, had Li Chong thrown into a ditch, then degraded him to chief of the county relay post. With no choice he took up the humiliating post. When Emperor He summoned him through the evaluation office, he did not respond. During the Yanping era an edict instructed the high ministers each to nominate reclusive scholars of great learning and conspicuous virtue to encourage the younger generation; Li Chong was specially summoned as an imperial academician. Lu Ping had also become an academician; whenever they met at court he confessed his admiration.
58
充迁侍中。 大将军邓骘贵戚倾时，无所下借，以充高节，每卑敬之。 尝置酒请充，宾客满堂，酒酣，骘跪曰：“幸托椒房，位列上将。 幕府初开，欲辟天下奇伟，以匡不逮，惟诸君博求其器。 ”充乃为陈海内隐居怀道之士，颇有不合，骘欲绝其说，以肉啖之。 充抵肉于地，曰：“说士犹甘于肉！ ”遂出，径去。 骘甚望之。 同坐汝南张孟举往让充曰：“一日闻足下与邓将军说士未究，激刺面折，不由中和，出言之责，非所以光祚子孙者也。 ”充曰：“大丈夫居世，贵行其意，何能远为子孙计哉！ ”由是见非于贵戚。
Li Chong rose to the post of palace attendant. General-in-chief Deng Zhi, the most powerful man at court, bowed to no one, yet he treated Li Chong with humble respect because of his stainless integrity. Once Deng Zhi feasted him with a hall full of guests; when the wine ran high Deng knelt and said, “I owe my rank to ties with the empress’s kin and stand among the highest generals.” My staff is new—I mean to recruit the finest talent in the land to remedy my shortcomings; I look to you gentlemen to find them for me. Li Chong began to list worthy recluses from every quarter; Deng Zhi found little to his taste and tried to silence him by stuffing meat into his mouth. Li Chong dashed the meat to the floor and cried, “Praising a worthy man is sweeter than any feast!” He walked out and left without a backward glance. Deng Zhi nursed a deep grudge against him. His table companion Zhang Mengju of Runan later rebuked him: “The other day you cut short your talk of worthies with General Deng and insulted him to his face—that is not the way to win safety for your children.” Li Chong replied, “A man of spirit lives to follow his conscience—he does not scheme for distant descendants!” From that day the great clans at court held him in dislike.
59
迁左中郎将，年八十八，为国三老。 安帝常特进见，赐以几杖。 卒于家。
He rose to be left leader of court gentlemen, and at eighty-eight was honored as one of the three elders of the state. Emperor An often received him in special audience and presented him with a seat and walking staff. He died at his residence.
60
缪肜字豫公，汝南召陵人也。 少孤，兄弟四人，皆同财业。 及各娶妻，诸妇遂求分异，又数有斗争之言。 肜深怀愤叹，乃掩户自挝曰：“缪肜，汝修身谨行，学圣人之法，将以齐整风俗，奈何不能正其家乎！ ”弟及诸妇闻之，悉叩头谢罪，遂更为敦睦之行。
Miu Tong, courtesy name Yugong, came from Shaoling in Runan commandery. Orphaned early, he and three brothers held their property in common. After each brother married, the wives demanded separate households and quarreled constantly. Miu Tong shut himself in and beat his breast, crying, “Miu Tong, you study the sages to set the world aright—why can you not rule your own kin!” His brothers and sisters-in-law heard him, kowtowed in shame, and thereafter lived in harmony.
61
仕县为主簿。 时县令被章见考，吏皆畏惧自诬，而肜独证据其事。 掠考苦毒，至乃体生虫蛆，因复传换五狱，逾涉四年，令卒以自免。
He became chief clerk of the county. When the magistrate was impeached and investigated, every clerk broke down and confessed falsely; Miu Tong alone testified to the truth. They tortured him until worms bred in his wounds and shuttled him through five prisons for four years, yet in the end the magistrate went free thanks to his testimony.
62
太守陇西梁湛召为决曹史。 安帝初，湛病卒官，肜送丧还陇西。 始葬，会西羌反叛，湛妻、子悉避乱它郡，肜独留不去，为起坟冢。 乃潜穿井旁以为窟室，昼则隐窜，夜则负土，及贼平而坟已立。 其妻、子意肜已死，还见大惊。 关西咸称传之，共给车马衣资，肜不受而归乡里。
Grand Administrator Liang Zhan of Longxi appointed him clerk of the sentencing bureau. Early in Emperor An’s reign Liang Zhan died in office; Miu Tong escorted the coffin west to Longxi. Just as they were about to bury him, the western Qiang rose in revolt; Liang’s family fled to safety, but Miu Tong stayed behind and built the tomb alone. He dug a hiding place beside the well, crept out by night to heap earth on the grave, and finished the mound before the rebels were crushed. His family had given him up for dead and were amazed to find him alive. The whole northwest sang his praises and offered him travel funds; he refused everything and went home.
63
辟公府，举尤异，迁中牟令。 县近京师，多权豪。 肜到，诛诸奸吏及托名贵戚宾客者百有余人，威名遂行。 卒于官。
Summoned to a high ministry and cited for outstanding merit, he was promoted to magistrate of Zhongmou. The county lay close to the capital and swarmed with powerful families. Miu Tong executed more than a hundred corrupt yamen underlings and hangers-on of the great houses; his stern name spread through the region. He died in office.
64
陈重字景公，豫章宜春人也。 少与同郡雷义为友，俱学《鲁诗》、《颜氏春秋》。 太守张云举重孝廉，重以让义，前后十余通记，云不听。 义明年举孝廉，重与俱在郎署。
Chen Chong, courtesy name Jinggong, came from Yichun in Yuzhang commandery. In youth he befriended Lei Yi of the same commandery; together they studied the Lu recension of the Odes and Yan’s Spring and Autumn Annals. Grand Administrator Zhang Yun nominated Chen Chong as filial and incorrupt; Chen Chong declined in favor of Lei Yi more than ten times in writing, but Zhang Yun would not agree. The following year Lei Yi received the nomination, and both men served as gentlemen cadets.
65
有同署郎负息钱数十万，责主日至，诡求无已，重乃密以钱代还。 郎后觉知而厚辞谢之。 重曰：“非我之为，将有同姓名者。 ”终不言惠。 又同舍郎有告归宁者，误持邻舍郎绔以去。 主疑重所取，重不自申说，而市绔以偿之。 后宁丧者归，以绔还主，其事乃显。
A fellow gentleman owed several hundred thousand in interest; the creditor hounded him daily. Chen Chong secretly paid the debt for him. When the man discovered the truth he thanked Chen Chong profusely. Chen Chong said, “I did nothing—some other man must share my name.” He never admitted the kindness. Another roommate went home on leave and by mistake carried off the neighbor’s trousers. The owner blamed Chen Chong, who said nothing but bought a new pair to replace them. When the traveler returned and restored the trousers, the truth came out.
66
重后与义俱拜尚书郎，义代同时人受罪，以此黜退。 重见义去，亦以病免。
Later both became gentlemen clerks in the Masters of Writing; Lei Yi took the punishment meant for another man and was cashiered. When Lei Yi fell, Chen Chong resigned on grounds of illness.
67
后举茂才，除细阳令。 政有异化，举尤异，当迁为会稽太守，遭姊忧去官。 后为司徒所辟，拜侍御史，卒。
He was later nominated flourishing talent and appointed magistrate of Xiyang. His administration was so remarkable that he was cited for outstanding merit and slated for grand administrator of Kuaiji, but he resigned to mourn an elder sister. The minister of education later summoned him; he became attendant censor and died in office.
68
雷义字仲公，豫章鄱阳人也。 初为郡功曹，尝擢举善人，不伐其功。 义尝济人死罪，罪者后以金二斤谢之，义不受。 金主伺义不在，默投金于承尘上。 后葺理屋宇，乃得之。 金主已死，无所复还，义乃以付县曹。
Lei Yi, courtesy name Zhonggong, came from Poyang in Yuzhang commandery. As commandery merit assessor he promoted worthy men without claiming credit. He once saved a man from execution; the man sent two jin of gold in thanks, but Lei Yi refused it. The donor waited until Lei Yi was out and hid the gold in the ceiling recess. When the roof was repaired he found it. The donor had died and could not be repaid, so Lei Yi turned the gold over to the county treasury.
69
后举孝廉，拜尚书侍郎，有同时郎坐事，当居刑作。 义默自表取其罪，以此论司寇。 同台郎觉之，委位自上，乞赎义罪。 顺帝诏皆除刑。
Nominated filial and incorrupt, he became a gentleman clerk in the Masters of Writing. A fellow clerk faced charges that would send him to hard labor. Lei Yi quietly memorialized to take the man’s guilt upon himself and was sentenced by the minister of justice. The other clerk learned of it, resigned his post, and begged to suffer in Lei Yi’s stead. Emperor Shun issued an edict pardoning both men.
70
义归，举茂才，让于陈重，刺史不听，义遂阳狂被发走，不应命。 乡里为之语曰：“胶漆自谓坚，不如雷与陈。 ”三府同时俱辟二人。 义遂为守灌谒者。 使持节督郡国行风俗，太守令长坐者凡七十人。 旋拜侍御史，除南顿令，卒官。
Back home he was nominated flourishing talent and tried to yield the honor to Chen Chong; when the regional inspector refused, Lei Yi feigned madness, let his hair hang loose, and fled the summons. The countryside coined a saying: “Glue and lacquer boast of their bond—it is nothing beside Lei and Chen.” The Three Offices summoned both men at once. Lei Yi then accepted appointment as acting usher in the palace summons office. Commissioned with imperial credentials to inspect custom in the commanderies and kingdoms, he impeached seventy grand administrators and magistrates. He was soon named attendant censor, then magistrate of Nundun, and died in that post.
71
子授，官至苍梧太守。
His son Lei Shou rose to be grand administrator of Cangwu.
72
范冉字史云，陈留外黄人也。 少为县小吏，年十八，奉檄迎督邮，冉耻之，乃遁去。 到南阳，受业于樊英。 又游三辅，就马融通经，历年乃还。
Fan Ran, courtesy name Shiyun, came from Waihuang in Chenliu commandery. As a young county clerk of eighteen he was ordered to welcome the regional inspector; ashamed of such servile work, he ran away. He went to Nanyang and studied under Fan Ying. He then traveled the capital region and completed his classical studies under Ma Rong before returning home years later.
73
冉好违时绝俗，为激诡之行。 常慕梁伯鸾、闵仲叔之为人。 与汉中李固、河内王奂亲善，而鄙贾伟节、郭林宗焉。 奂后为考城令，境接外黄，屡遣书请冉，冉不至。 及奂迁汉阳太守，将行，冉乃与弟协步赍麦酒，于道侧设坛以待之。 冉见奂车徒骆驿，遂不自闻，惟与弟共辩论于路。 奂识其声，即下车与相揖对。 奂曰：“行路仓卒，非陈契阔之所，可共到前亭宿息，以叙分隔。 ”冉曰：“子前在考城，思欲相从，以贱质自绝豪友耳。 今子远适千里，会面无期，故轻行相候，以展诀别。 如其相追，将有慕贵之讥矣。 ”便起告违，拂衣而去。 奂瞻望弗及，冉长逝不顾。
Fan Ran delighted in defying fashion and shunning the crowd; his ways were sharp and eccentric. He modeled himself on Liang Hong and Min Zhongshu. He was close to Li Gu of Hanzhong and Wang Huan of Henei, but held Jia Biao and Guo Tai in contempt. When Wang Huan became magistrate of Kaocheng, which bordered Fan Ran’s home county, he wrote again and again, but Fan Ran never visited. When Wang Huan was promoted to grand administrator of Hanyang and set out for his post, Fan Ran and his brother walked out carrying malt wine and built a small altar by the road to greet him. Seeing Wang Huan’s long escort pass, Fan Ran did not step forward but argued philosophy aloud with his brother in the middle of the road. Wang Huan recognized his voice, leaped from the carriage, and bowed. Wang Huan said, “The road is no place for a proper talk—let us go on to the next relay inn and speak of the years between us.” Fan Ran answered, “When you were in Kaocheng I longed to join you, but my mean station forbade me to trouble a man of your rank.” Now you journey a thousand li and we may never meet again—I came on foot only to take my leave. If I followed you to the inn, men would say I clung to the powerful. He rose, bowed farewell, and walked away with a sweep of his sleeve. Wang Huan watched until he was out of sight; Fan Ran never looked back.
74
桓帝时，以冉为莱芜长，遭母忧，不到官。 后辟太尉府，以狷急不能从俗，常佩韦于朝。 议者欲以为侍御史，因遁身逃命于梁沛之间，徒行敝服，卖卜于市。
Under Emperor Huan he was named magistrate of Laiwu but never took up the post because he was mourning his mother. Summoned to the grand commandant’s staff, he knew his temper was too harsh for easy company, so he wore a soft-leather girdle at court to remind himself to bend. When the court meant to appoint him attendant censor, he fled into the Liang–Pei region on foot in rags and earned his bread as a street fortune-teller.
75
遭党人禁锢，遂推鹿车，载妻子，捃拾自资。 或寓息客庐，或依宿树廕。 如此十余年，乃结草室而居焉。 所止单陋，有时粮粒尽，穷居自若，言貌无改。 闾里歌之曰：“甑中生尘范史云，釜中生鱼范莱芜。”
When the partisan proscriptions struck, he pushed a handcart with his wife and children aboard and scavenged a living. Sometimes they slept in wayside inns, sometimes under a tree. More than ten years passed before he built a thatched hut and settled. His shelter was bare; often the grain ran out, yet he kept his composure and his bearing never changed. The neighbors sang: “Dust in the rice steamer—Fan Shiyun; fish swimming in the kettle—Magistrate Fan of Laiwu.”
76
及党禁解，为三府所辟，乃应司空命。 是时西羌反叛，黄巾作难，制诸府掾属，不得妄有去就。 冉首自劾退，诏书特原不理罪。 又辟太尉府，以疾不行。
When the proscription ended the Three Offices summoned him, and for the first time he accepted appointment under the minister of works. The western Qiang and the Yellow Turbans were in revolt, and an order bound all ministry staff from resigning without leave. Fan Ran was the first to memorialize for dismissal; the throne pardoned him without penalty. He was summoned again to the grand commandant’s staff but pleaded illness and stayed away.
77
中平二年，年七十四，卒于家。 临命遗令敕其子曰：“吾生于昏暗之世，值乎淫侈之俗，生不得匡世济时，死何忍自同于世！ 气绝便敛，敛以时服，衣足蔽形，棺足周身，敛毕便穿，穿毕便埋。 其明堂之奠，干饭寒水，饮食之物，勿有所下。 坟封高下，令足自隐。 知我心者，李子坚、王子炳也。 今皆不在，制之在尔，勿令乡人宗亲有所加也。 ”于是三府各遣令史奔吊。 大将军何进移书陈留太守，累行论谥，佥曰宜为贞节先生。 会葬者二千余人，刺史郡守各为立碑表墓焉。
In the second year of Zhongping, at seventy-four, he died at home. On his deathbed he told his sons: “I was born in a benighted age of excess. I could not save the world in life—shall I follow its vulgar ways in death?” When I die, wrap me at once in whatever garments I have—only enough to cover the body, only a coffin that fits. Lower me into the grave the same day; no delay. Do not lay dried grain, cold water, or other food offerings in the grave. Heap the mound only high enough to hide the coffin from sight. Li Gu and Wang Huan understood my heart—but they are gone. They are dead; you alone decide—let no neighbor or kinsman add costly rites. The Three Offices each sent clerks to mourn him in haste. General-in-chief He Jin wrote to the grand administrator of Chenliu; after debate all agreed the posthumous style should be Master of Upright Integrity. More than two thousand mourners attended; the regional inspector and grand administrator each set up a stone at his grave.
78
戴就字景成，会稽上虞人也。 仕郡仓曹掾，杨州刺史欧阳参奏太守成公浮臧罪，遣部从事薛安案仓库簿领，收就于钱唐县狱。 幽囚考掠，五毒参至。 就慷慨直辞，色不变容。 又烧鋘斧，使就挟于肘腋。 就语狱卒：“可熟烧斧，勿令冷。 ”每上彭考，因止饭食不肯下，肉焦毁墯地者，掇而食之。 主者穷竭酷惨，无复余方，乃卧就覆船下，以马通薰之。 一夜二日，皆谓已死，发船视之，就方张眼大骂曰：“何不益火，而使灭绝！ ”又复烧地，以大针刺指爪中，使以把土，爪悉墯落。 主者以状白安，安呼见就，谓曰：“太守罪秽狼藉，受命考实，君何故以骨肉拒□邪？ ”就据地答言：“太守剖符大臣，当以死报国。 卿虽衔命，固宜申断冤毒，奈何诬枉忠良，强相掠理，令臣谤其君，子证其父！ 薛安庸騃，忸行无义，就考死之日，当白之于天，与群鬼杀汝于亭中。 如蒙生全，当手刃相裂！ ”安深奇其壮节，即解械，更与美谈，表其言辞，解释郡事。 征浮还京师，免归乡里。
Dai Jiu, courtesy name Jingcheng, came from Shangyu in Kuaiji commandery. As granary clerk of the commandery he was caught when Regional Inspector Ouyang Shen of Yangzhou impeached Grand Administrator Cheng Gong Fu for corruption and sent aide Xue An to audit the books; Dai Jiu was jailed at Qiantang. He was locked in darkness and tortured with every severity the law allowed. Dai Jiu answered boldly and never changed color. They heated an iron axe-head and forced him to press it under his arms. He told the jailers, “Heat the blade white-hot—do not let it cool.” At each flogging he refused food; when charred flesh dropped from his limbs he picked it up and ate it. When the torturers had no new cruelties left, they pinned him under an upturned boat and burned horse manure beneath it. After a night and two days they thought him dead; when they lifted the boat he glared and roared, “More coals—why let the fire die?” They heated the floor, drove great needles under his nails, and made him clutch hot soil until the nails tore away. Xue An was told and had Dai Jiu brought before him. “The magistrate’s guilt is plain,” he said. “We are ordered to establish the facts—why do you shield him with stubborn silence?” Dai Jiu answered from the floor: “The grand administrator holds the imperial tally—his duty is to die for the state.” You bear the court’s charge—you should right wrongs, not frame the loyal or torture confessions until ministers slander their lord and sons denounce their fathers! Xue An, you are a witless brute; the day I die I will accuse you before Heaven and hunt you with a legion of ghosts to this very post! If I live, I will carve you apart with my own hands! Xue An was awestruck by his courage, freed him from the rack, spoke with him at length, and memorialized his words until the commandery case was cleared. Cheng Gong Fu was recalled to the capital and sent home unpunished.
79
太守刘宠举就孝廉，光禄主事，病卒。
Grand Administrator Liu Chong nominated him as filial and incorrupt; he became a clerk in the superintendent’s office and died of illness.
80
赵苞字威豪，甘陵东武城人。 从兄忠，为中常侍，苞深耻其门族有宦官名势，不与忠交通。
Zhao Bao, courtesy name Weihao, came from Dongwucheng in Ganling. His cousin Zhao Zhong was a powerful eunuch; Zhao Bao was ashamed of the connection and would not deal with him.
81
初仕州郡，举孝廉，再迁广陵令。 视事三年，政教清明，郡表其状，迁辽西太守。 抗厉威严，名振边俗。 以到官明年，遣使迎母及妻子，垂当到郡，道经柳城，值鲜卑万余人入塞寇钞，苞母及妻子遂为所劫质，载以击郡。 苞率步骑二万，与贼对阵。 贼出母以示苞，苞悲号谓母曰：“为子无状，欲以微禄奉养朝夕，不图为母作祸。 昔为母子，今为王臣，义不得顾私恩、毁忠节，唯当万死，无以塞罪。 ”母遥谓曰：“威豪，人各有命，何得相顾，以亏忠义！ 昔王陵母对汉使伏剑，以固其志，尔其勉之。 ”苞即时进战，贼悉摧破，其母妻皆为所害。 苞殡敛母毕，自上归葬。 灵帝遣策吊慰，封鄃侯。
He began in provincial and commandery office, passed the filial-incorrupt recommendation, and rose to magistrate of Guangling. After three years of rule noted for clarity, the commandery memorialized his merit and he was promoted grand administrator of Liaoxi. His stern justice made his name feared along the frontier. The year after his arrival he sent for his mother, wife, and children. Near Liucheng their party met a Xianbei horde of more than ten thousand raiding inside the frontier; the women were seized as hostages and driven before the enemy host against Zhao Bao’s city. Zhao Bao led twenty thousand foot and horse and drew up his line against them. The enemy paraded his mother before the lines. Zhao Bao wept and cried, “I am an unfilial son—I meant to support you on a magistrate’s pay, not bring this ruin on you.” Yesterday we were mother and son; today I am the emperor’s officer—I cannot choose kin over duty. I deserve death a thousand times for the crime this brings on you. His mother called back, “Weihao, every man has his allotted span—do not spare us and betray your charge!” Wang Ling’s mother took the sword before the Han envoy to steel her son’s will—do you less than she commanded. Zhao Bao attacked at once, broke the enemy, and lost his mother and wife to the slaughter. He buried his kin, then memorialized for leave to escort the coffins home. Emperor Ling sent condolences and enfeoffed him as marquis of Ju.
82
苞葬讫，谓乡人曰：“食禄而避难，非忠也； 杀母以全义，非孝也。 如是，有何面目立于天下！ ”遂欧血而死。
After the funeral he told his neighbors, “To draw pay and shirk peril is disloyal; to let my mother die for duty is unfilial.” What face have I left to walk under heaven? He spat blood and died.
83
向栩字甫兴，河内朝歌人，向长之后也。 少为书生，性卓诡不伦。 恒读《老子》，状如学道。 又似狂生，好被发，著绛绡头。 常于灶北坐板床上，如是积久，板乃有膝踝足指之处。 不好语言而喜长啸。 宾客从就，辄伏而不视。 有弟子，名为“颜渊”、“子贡”、“季路”、“冉有”之辈。 或骑驴入市，乞丐于人。 或悉要诸乞兒俱归止宿，为设酒食。 时人莫能测之。 郡礼请辟，举孝廉、贤良方正、有道，公府辟，皆不到。 又与彭城姜肱、京兆韦著并征，栩不应。
Xiang Xu, courtesy name Fuxing, of Zhaoge in Henei, was a descendant of Xiang Chang. As a young scholar he was wildly eccentric. He always had the Laozi in hand and looked like a Daoist adept. He also looked like a madman, with loose hair and a crimson silk kerchief. He sat for years on a plank by the stove until the wood wore hollows for his knees, ankles, and toes. He seldom spoke but loved to give long, piercing whistles. When visitors came he lay face down and would not look at them. He gave his disciples the names Yan Yuan, Zigong, Jilu, Ran You, and so on. Sometimes he rode a donkey into town and begged in the streets. Sometimes he gathered street urchins, brought them home for the night, and feasted them. No one could fathom him. The commandery courted him with every honor—filial-incorrupt, worthy and upright, man of the Way, summons from the high ministries—and he ignored them all. He was nominated together with Jiang Hong of Pengcheng and Wei Zhu of Jingzhao, but would not answer.
84
后特征，到，拜赵相。 及之官，时人谓其必当脱素从俭，而栩更乘鲜车，御良马，世疑其始伪。 及到官，略不视文书，舍中生蒿莱。
A special summons at last brought him to court as chancellor of Zhao. Men expected him to take office in sackcloth humility; instead he drove a splendid carriage and fine horses, and the world decided his former poverty had been a pose. In office he ignored paperwork and let weeds choke his yamen.
85
征拜侍中，每朝廷大事，侃然正色，百官惮之。 会张角作乱，栩上便宜，颇讥刺左右，不欲国家兴兵，但遣将于河上北向读《孝经》，贼自当消灭。 中常侍张让谗栩不欲令国家命将出师，疑与角同心，欲为内应。 收送黄门北寺狱，杀之。
Summoned as palace attendant, he spoke bluntly on great questions of state and the whole bureaucracy feared him. When Zhang Jiao rose, he memorialized a mocking plan: instead of sending armies, put a general on the north bank of the Yellow River to chant the Classic of Filial Piety northward—the rebels would melt away of themselves. The eunuch Zhang Rang slandered him, claiming he opposed mobilizing the army because he was in league with Zhang Jiao and meant to act as a fifth column. He was thrown into the eunuchs’ North Temple prison and executed.
86
谅辅字汉儒，广汉新都人也。 仕郡为五官掾。 时夏大旱，太守自出祈祷山川，连日而无所降。 辅乃自暴庭中，慷慨咒曰：“辅为股肱，不能进谏纳忠，荐贤退恶，和调阴阳，承顺天意，至令天地否隔，万物焦枯，百姓喁喁，无所诉告，咎尽在辅。 今郡太守改服责己，为民祈福，精诚恳到，未有感彻。 辅今敢自祈请，若至日中不雨，乞以身塞无状。 ”于是积薪柴聚茭茅以自环，搆火其旁，将自焚焉。 未及日中时，而天云晦合，须臾澍雨，一郡沾润，世以此称其志诚。
Liang Fu, courtesy name Hanru, came from Xindu in Guanghan commandery. He served as clerk of the five bureaus in the commandery yamen. One summer a terrible drought held the land; the grand administrator prayed at the rivers and hills for days without a drop. Liang Fu stripped and stood in the courtyard, crying out, “I am the magistrate’s right hand—yet I have not urged good counsel, raised worthy men, or helped harmonize Heaven and man. The land is baked bare and the people groan with no recourse—the blame is mine.” Our magistrate has donned mourning dress and blamed himself for the people’s sake; his prayers are utterly sincere, yet Heaven does not answer. I now vow: if no rain falls by noon, let my worthless body pay the debt. He heaped straw and faggots around himself and kindled a fire at the edge, ready to leap into the flames. Before noon the sky blackened, then burst in a soaking rain that refreshed the whole commandery; men ever after cited his devotion as proof that Heaven hears the just.
87
刘翊字子相，颍川颍阴人也。 家世丰产，常能周旋而不有其惠。 曾行于汝南界中，有陈国张季礼远赴师丧，遇寒冰车毁，顿滞道路。 翊见而谓曰：“君慎终赴义，行宜速达。 ”即下车与之，不告姓名，自策马而去。 季礼意其子相也，后故到颍阴，还所假乘。 翊闭门辞行，不与相见。
Liu Yi, courtesy name Zixiang, came from Yinyin in Yingchuan commandery. His family was wealthy for generations, yet he helped others freely without hoarding credit for kindness. Once in Runan he met Zhang Jili of Chen, hurrying to a teacher’s funeral; ice had wrecked the man’s cart and left him stranded on the road. Liu Yi said to him, “You go to honor the dead and do right—you must not be delayed.” He stepped down, handed over his own carriage, gave no name, and rode off on his spare mount. Zhang Jili guessed his benefactor was Liu Yi (“Zixiang”) and later went to Yinyin to return the carriage. Liu Yi barred his gate and refused to receive him.
88
常守志卧疾，不屈聘命。 河南种拂临郡，引为功曹，翊以拂名公之子，乃为起焉。 拂以其择时而仕，甚敬任之。 阳翟黄纲恃程夫人权力，求占山泽以自营植。 拂召翊问曰：“程氏贵盛，在帝左右，不听则恐见怨，与之则夺民利，为之奈何？ ”翊曰：“名山大泽不以封，盖为民也。 明府听之，则被佞□之名矣。 若以此获祸，贵子申甫，则自以不孤也。 ”拂从翊言，遂不与之。 乃举翊为孝廉，不就。
He clung to his principles, pleaded illness, and ignored every summons to office. When Zhong Fu became metropolitan governor of Henan he offered Liu Yi the post of merit assessor; Liu Yi accepted only because Zhong Fu was son of a renowned minister. Zhong Fu respected him all the more for taking office only when he chose. Huang Gang of Yangzhai, leaning on Lady Cheng’s influence at court, demanded a monopoly on local hills and wetlands for his own estates. Zhong Fu called Liu Yi in and asked, “The Chengs are powerful favorites at court—refuse them and we earn their hatred; yield and we rob the common people. What should I do?” Liu Yi answered, “Famous hills and great marshes are withheld from private enfeoffment precisely to protect the people.” If you consent, my lord, you will wear the name of a toadying magistrate. If we suffer for doing right, your worthy sons will know their father was no coward and will not count themselves orphaned of honor. Zhong Fu took his advice and refused Huang Gang. He then nominated Liu Yi as filial and incorrupt, but Liu Yi declined.
89
后黄巾贼起，郡县饥荒，翊救给乏绝，盗其食者数百人。 乡族贫者，死亡则为具殡葬，嫠独则助营妻娶。
When the Yellow Turbans rose and famine gripped the commanderies, Liu Yi fed the starving; hundreds who stole his grain he let go unpunished. He paid for the funerals of poor kin and neighbors, and helped widowers and widows marry.
90
献帝迁都西京，翊举上计掾。 是时寇贼兴起，道路隔绝，使驿稀有达者。 翊夜行昼伏，乃到长安。 诏书嘉其忠勤，特拜议郎，迁陈留太守。 翊散所握珍玩，唯余车马，自载东归。 出关数百里，见士大夫病亡道次，翊以马易棺，脱衣敛之。 又逢知故困馁于路，不忍委去，因杀所驾牛，以救其乏。 众人止之，翊曰：“视没不救，非志士也。 ”遂俱饿死。
When Emperor Xian moved the court west, Liu Yi was nominated clerk on the annual accounts mission. Rebels choked the roads and few couriers reached the capital. Liu Yi traveled by night and hid by day until he reached Chang’an. An edict praised his loyalty and named him Gentleman Consultant, then promoted him to grand administrator of Chenliu. He gave away every gift and gewgaw he had received, kept only a carriage and horses, and set out for home in the east. A few hundred li east of the pass he found a gentleman dying by the roadside; he traded his horse for a coffin and wrapped the body in his own robes. Farther on he met an old friend starving on the road; unable to leave him, he slaughtered his draft ox to feed him. Travelers begged him to relent. He said, “To watch a man die and do nothing is not the way of a man of spirit.” He and his companion starved together on the journey.
91
王烈字彦方，太原人也。 少师事陈寔，以义行称乡里。 有盗牛者，主得之，盗请罪曰：“刑戮是甘，乞不使王彦方知也。 ”烈闻而使人谢之，遗布一端。 或问其故，烈曰：“盗惧吾闻其过，是有耻恶之心。 既怀耻恶，必能改善，故以此激之。 ”后有老父遗剑于路，行道一人见而守之，至暮，老父还寻，得剑，怪而问其姓名，以事告烈。 烈使推求，乃先盗牛者也。 诸有争讼曲直，将质之于烈，或至涂而反，或望庐而还。 其以德感人若此。
Wang Lie, courtesy name Yanfang, was a native of Taiyuan. In youth he studied under Chen Shi and was known in his district for upright conduct. A cattle thief was caught by the owner and pleaded, “Beat or execute me as you will—only do not let Wang Yanfang hear of my shame.” Wang Lie heard the story, sent thanks to the thief, and gave him a bolt of cloth. When asked why, Wang Lie said, “He dreaded my learning of his crime—that means he is still capable of shame.” Shame is the seed of reform—I meant to encourage him. Later an old man dropped a sword in the road; a traveler stood guard over it until evening; when the owner returned, puzzled, he asked the man’s name and told Wang Lie the story. Wang Lie had inquiries made: the honest traveler was the same man who had stolen the ox. Litigants bound for his gate to settle disputes often turned back halfway or at sight of his roof—ashamed to trouble him. Such was the power of his moral example.
92
察孝廉，三府并辟，皆不就。 遭黄巾、董卓之乱，乃避地辽东，夷人尊奉之。 太守公孙度接以昆弟之礼，访州政事，欲以为长史。 烈乃为商贾自秽，得免。 曹操闻烈高名，遣征不至。 建安二十四年，终于辽东，年七十八。
Recommended filial and incorrupt, summoned by all three high ministries, he refused every post. When the Yellow Turbans and Dong Zhuo threw the realm into chaos, he fled to Liaodong, where the frontier peoples honored him as a sage. Grand Administrator Gongsun Du treated him as a sworn brother, asked his counsel on government, and wished to appoint him chief clerk. Wang Lie pretended to peddle goods like a common trader and so escaped appointment. Cao Cao heard of his fame and summoned him, but he would not go. He died in Liaodong in the twenty-fourth year of Jian’an, at the age of seventy-eight.
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赞曰：乘方不忒，临义罔惑。 惟此刚洁，果行育德。
The historian praises them: they held fast to principle without wavering and faced duty undazzled. Such stern purity, such resolute deeds—these are what nurture true virtue.