1
宣皇帝諱懿，字仲達，河內溫縣孝敬里人，姓司馬氏。 其先出自帝高陽之子重黎，為夏官祝融。 歷唐、虞、夏、商，世序其職。 及周，以夏官為司馬。 其後程伯休父，周宣王時，以世官克平徐方，錫以官族，因而為氏。 楚漢間，司馬卬為趙將，與諸侯伐秦。 秦亡，立為殷王，都河內。 漢以其地為郡，子孫遂家焉。 自卬八世，生征西將軍鈞，字叔平。 鈞生豫章太守量，字公度。 量生潁川太守儁，字元異。 儁生京兆尹防，字建公。 帝即防之第二子也。 少有奇節，聰朗多大略，博學洽聞，伏膺儒教。 漢末大亂，常慨然有憂天下心。 南陽太守同郡楊俊名知人，[1]見帝，未弱冠，以為非常之器。 尚書清河崔琰與帝兄朗善，亦謂朗曰：「君弟聰亮明允，剛斷英特，非子所及也。」
Emperor Xuan was posthumously styled Yi; he used the courtesy name Zhongda. He came from Xiaojing Ward in Wen County in Hedong Commandery and belonged to the house of Sima. The line descended from Chongli, son of Zhuanxu, who served as Zhurong in the Ministry of Xia. Across Tang, Yu, Xia, and Shang, his forebears held that post in unbroken succession. When the Zhou reorganized the bureaucracy, the old Xia office became the Ministry of the Marshal. Later, Cheng Bo Xiufu—during King Xuan of Zhou—used his hereditary charge to crush the Xu region and received a clan designation from his title; from that the Sima surname arose. In the turmoil between Chu and Han, Sima Ang commanded troops for Zhao and marched with the alliance against Qin. After Qin collapsed he was enthroned as king of Yin with his seat at Henei. The Han turned that territory into a commandery, and his line took root there. Eight generations down from Ang came General Who Guards the West Jun, whose courtesy name was Shuping. Jun’s son was Liang, prefect of Yuzhang, courtesy name Gongdu. Liang’s son was Jun, prefect of Yingchuan, courtesy name Yuanyi. Jun’s son was Fang, governor of Jingzhao, courtesy name Jiangong. He was the second son of Fang. Even young he revealed unusual steadfastness—acute, far-sighted, erudite, and steeped in the Confucian canon. As Han unraveled, he was repeatedly consumed by anxiety for the empire. Yang Jun of Nanyang—his fellow townsman and a celebrated judge of talent—met him before his cap-and-girdle ceremony and pronounced him a figure of rare promise. Cui Yan of Qinghe, who served in the Secretariat, was close to his elder brother Sima Lang and told Lang, “Your brother combines lucidity with integrity and carries an iron decisiveness—you cannot rival him.”
2
漢建安六年，郡舉上計掾。 魏武帝為司空，聞而辟之。 帝知漢運方微，不欲屈節曹氏，辭以風痹，不能起居。 魏武使人夜往密刺之，帝堅臥不動。 及魏武為丞相，又辟為文學掾，敕行者曰：「若復盤桓，便收之。」 帝懼而就職。 於是使與太子游處，遷黃門侍郎，轉議郎、丞相東曹屬，尋轉主簿。
In Han’s sixth Jian’an year the commandery recommended him as clerk for the capital assessment. Cao Cao, then Minister of Works for Wei, heard of him and ordered him to take office. Knowing the Han house was spent, he refused to humble himself before the Caos and pleaded crippling wind paralysis that kept him from rising. Cao Cao sent an assassin in the dark; he stayed rigidly abed and never stirred. When Cao Cao became Chancellor he summoned him again as literary clerk and told the courier, “If he hesitates once more, seize him.” Terrified, he accepted the appointment. Thereafter he attended the heir apparent, advanced to gentleman at the Yellow Gates, moved through Consultant and aide in the Chancellor’s eastern department, and shortly became chief clerk.
3
從討張魯，言於魏武曰：「劉備以詐力虜劉璋，蜀人未附而遠爭江陵，此機不可失也。 今若曜威漢中，益州震動，進兵臨之，勢必瓦解。 因此之勢，易為功力。 聖人不能違時，亦不失時矣。」 魏武曰：「人苦無足，既得隴右，復欲得蜀！」 言竟不從。 既而從討孫權，破之。 軍還，權遣使乞降，上表稱臣，陳說天命。 魏武帝曰：「此兒欲踞吾著爐炭上邪！」 答曰：「漢運垂終，殿下十分天下而有其九，以服事之。 權之稱臣，天人之意也。 虞、夏、殷、周不以謙讓者，畏天知命也。」
On the expedition against Zhang Lu he urged Cao Cao: “Liu Bei bullied his way into Yi through trickery; the Shu populace still mistrusts him while he reaches for Jiangling—do not let this opening slip. Show strength in Hanzhong and Yi province will reel; press forward and their front will collapse. Ride that tide and the task becomes straightforward. Even the sage neither fights the moment nor lets it pass unused.” Cao Cao replied, “People are never satisfied—take Longyou and they hunger for Shu!” He would not take the counsel. He later joined the campaign against Sun Quan and helped rout him. On the army’s return Sun Quan sent envoys suing for peace, presented a memorial as a vassal, and rehearsed Heaven’s mandate. Cao Cao snapped, “Does that boy mean to roast me over live coals?” He answered: “The Han flame gutters while you hold nine parts in ten yet still bow to the emperor. Sun Quan’s offer to submit answers both Heaven and the human heart. The sage-kings of Yu, Xia, Shang, and Zhou yielded not from timidity but because they revered Heaven and accepted its mandate.”
4
魏國既建，遷太子中庶子。 每與大謀，輒有奇策，為太子所信重，與陳羣、吳質、朱鑠號曰四友。
Once the Wei kingdom was founded he rose to palace attendant to the heir apparent. In every grand council he supplied sharp schemes; the heir relied on him and paired him with Chen Qun, Wu Zhi, and Zhu Shuo as the “Four Friends.”
5
遷為軍司馬，言於魏武曰：「昔箕子陳謀，以食為首。 今天下不耕者蓋二十餘萬，非經國遠籌也。 雖戎甲未卷，自宜且耕且守。」 魏武納之，於是務農積穀，國用豐贍。 帝又言荊州刺史胡脩粗暴，南鄉太守傅方驕奢，並不可居邊。 魏武不之察。 及蜀將關羽圍曹仁於樊，于禁等七軍皆沒，脩、方果降羽，而仁圍甚急焉。
Promoted army marshal, he told Cao Cao: “When Jizi advised the king, grain came first. Today perhaps two hundred thousand arms lie idle from the plough—that is no blueprint for ruling the realm. War gear may still be buckled on, yet we must sow while we guard.” Cao Cao agreed; farming and granaries were stressed until state stores overflowed. He further warned that Hu Xiu, inspector of Jingzhou, was brutish and Fu Fang, prefect of Nanxiang, was decadent—neither belonged on the border. Cao Cao brushed the warning aside. When Guan Yu of Shu penned Cao Ren at Fan and Yu Jin’s seven corps vanished beneath the flood, Hu Xiu and Fu Fang duly defected to Guan Yu and the siege of Fan tightened unbearably.
6
是時漢帝都許昌，魏武以為近賊，欲徙河北。 帝諫曰：「禁等為水所沒，非戰守之所失，於國家大計未有所損，而便遷都，既示敵以弱，又淮沔之人大不安矣。 孫權、劉備，外親內疏，羽之得意，權所不願也。 可喻權所，令掎其後，則樊圍自解。」 魏武從之。 權果遣將呂蒙西襲公安，拔之，羽遂為蒙所獲。
The Han emperor still sat at Xuchang; Cao Cao judged it perilously near the foe and planned to shift the court north of the river. He objected: “Yu Jin’s men drowned—they were not routed in the field. The empire’s strategy is intact; relocating now advertises fear and panics everyone between the Huai and the Han. Sun Quan and Liu Bei are allies in name alone; Sun Quan cannot relish Guan Yu’s triumph. Urge Sun Quan to stab Guan Yu in the rear and the ring around Fan loosens on its own.” Cao Cao adopted the plan. Sun Quan dispatched Lü Meng westward against Gong’an, seized it, and Guan Yu fell into Meng’s hands.
7
魏武以荊州遺黎及屯田在潁川者逼近南寇，[2]皆欲徙之。 帝曰：「荊楚輕脫，易動難安。 關羽新破，諸為惡者藏竄觀望。 今徙其善者，既傷其意，將令去者不敢復還。」 從之。 其後諸亡者悉復業。
Cao Cao meant to uproot the leftover households of Jingzhou and the military colonies in Yingchuan because both fronts skirted the southern enemy. He replied, “The Jing-Chu folk are restless—quick to bolt and slow to reassure. Guan Yu’s fall leaves malcontents skulking in the shadows, watching. Uproot the loyal now and you crush their hearts; refugees will never dare come home.” Cao Cao relented. Later every exile drifted back to his fields.
8
及魏武薨于洛陽，朝野危懼。 帝綱紀喪事，內外肅然。 乃奉梓宮還鄴。
When Cao Cao died at Luoyang, court and capital trembled. He imposed discipline on the mourning rites until palace and province stood calm. He convoyed the royal catafalque back to Ye.
9
黃初二年，督軍官罷，遷侍中、尚書右僕射。
In Huangchu’s second year the army-supervisor post was scrapped; he became palace attendant and right vice director of the Secretariat.
10
五年，天子南巡，觀兵吳疆。 帝留鎮許昌，改封向鄉侯，轉撫軍、假節，領兵五千，加給事中、錄尚書事。 帝固辭。 天子曰：「吾於庶事，以夜繼晝，無須臾寧息。 此非以為榮，乃分憂耳。」
In the fifth year the emperor toured south and drilled troops along Wu’s frontier. He stayed to hold Xuchang, was refeoffed marquis of Xiang township, promoted Protector of the Army with credential axe, led five thousand soldiers, and added duties as palace attendant and overseer of Secretariat business. He firmly declined. The emperor said, “I chase paperwork from dusk to dawn without a breath’s pause. That burden is not glory—it is sharing the weight on my shoulders.”
11
六年，天子復大興舟師征吳，復命帝居守，內鎮百姓，外供軍資。 臨行，詔曰：「吾深以後事為念，故以委卿。 曹參雖有戰功，而蕭何為重。 使吾無西顧之憂，不亦可乎！」 天子自廣陵還洛陽，詔帝曰：「吾東，撫軍當總西事； 吾西，撫軍當總東事。」 於是帝留鎮許昌。
The sixth year brought another massive river expedition against Wu; again he was told to stay behind—steady the interior and provision the campaign. Before embarking he proclaimed: “I brood over what follows my reign—so I lay it in your hands. Cao Shen won battles, yet Xiao He anchored the state. Free my mind from the western march—is that too much to ask!” Returning from Guangling to Luoyang he decreed: “When I march east, the Protector commands the west; when I march west, the Protector commands the east.” So he continued to anchor Xuchang.
12
及孫權圍江夏，遣其將諸葛瑾、張霸并攻襄陽，帝督諸軍討權，走之。 進擊，敗瑾，斬霸，并首級千餘。 遷驃騎將軍。
When Sun Quan invested Jiangxia and Zhuge Jin with Zhang Ba struck Xiangyang together, he led the host against Sun Quan and threw him back. He pressed the pursuit, routed Zhuge Jin, slew Zhang Ba, and piled up more than a thousand heads. He was elevated to general of the agile cavalry.
13
太和元年六月，天子詔帝屯于宛，加督荊、豫二州諸軍事。
Taihe’s first year, sixth month: the court ordered him to camp at Wan and added authority over all troops in Jing and Yu.
14
初，蜀將孟達之降也，魏朝遇之甚厚。 帝以達言行傾巧不可任，驟諫不見聽，乃以達領新城太守，封侯，假節。 達於是連吳固蜀，潛圖中國。 蜀相諸葛亮惡其反覆，又慮其為患。 達與魏興太守申儀有隙，亮欲促其事，乃遣郭模詐降，過儀，因漏泄其謀。 達聞其謀漏泄，將舉兵。 帝恐達速發，以書喻之曰：「將軍昔棄劉備，託身國家，國家委將軍以疆埸之任，任將軍以圖蜀之事，可謂心貫白日。 蜀人愚智，莫不切齒於將軍。 諸葛亮欲相破，惟苦無路耳。 模之所言，非小事也，亮豈輕之而令宣露，此殆易知耳。」 達得書大喜，猶與不決。 帝乃潛軍進討。 諸將言達與二賊交構，宜觀望而後動。 帝曰：「達無信義，此其相疑之時也，當及其未定促決之。」 乃倍道兼行，八日到其城下。 吳蜀各遣其將向西城安橋、木闌塞以救達，帝分諸將以距之。
Earlier, when Shu’s general Meng Da defected, Wei showered him with favor. He judged Da’s tongue treacherous and untrustworthy; repeated remonstrance failed, so Da received acting prefect of Xincheng, a marquisate, and the credential axe. Da then stitched Wu to Shu and schemed against the heartland in secret. Zhuge Liang despised his flip-flopping and dreaded the chaos he might unleash. Da quarrelled with Shen Yi of Weixing; Liang hurried matters by sending Guo Mo under false colors past Yi to spill the conspiracy. Once Da learned the secret was out, he prepared to rebel. Fearing a swift rising, he wrote: “You abandoned Liu Bei for us; we placed the border in your hands and tasked you with Shu—your loyalty blazes like noon. Every Shu soul, wise or dull, grinds teeth at your name. Zhuge Liang longs to ruin you yet lacked a lever until now. Mo’s tale is no gossip—would Zhuge Liang broadcast it carelessly? The answer is plain.” Da read the letter with delight yet still wavered. He then stole forward with the army. His officers argued Da colluded with both enemies and urged caution. He said, “Da knows no loyalty—this is the hour of mutual doubt; strike before his camp steadies.” He forced the march and reached the walls in eight days. Wu and Shu each rushed columns toward Xicheng, An Bridge, and Mulansai to rescue Da; he split commands to intercept them.
15
初，達與亮書曰：「宛去洛八百里，去吾一千二百里，聞吾舉事，當表上天子，比相反覆，一月間也，則吾城已固，諸軍足辦。 則吾所在深險，司馬公必不自來； 諸將來，吾無患矣。」 及兵到，達又告亮曰：「吾舉事八日，而兵至城下，何其神速也！」 上庸城三面阻水，達於城外為木柵以自固。 [3]帝渡水，破其柵，直造城下。 八道攻之，旬有六日，達甥鄧賢、將李輔等開門出降。 斬達，傳首京師。 俘獲萬餘人，振旅還于宛。 乃勸農桑，禁浮費，南土悅附焉。
Da once wrote Zhuge Liang: “Wan lies eight hundred li from Luoyang and twelve hundred from me; were I to rebel, Luoyang must memorialize the throne—round-trip paperwork eats a month; by then my walls would stand firm and my troops ready. My terrain is rugged and remote—Lord Sima will never march in person; if only subordinates arrive I need not worry.” When the army appeared Da wired Liang: “Eight days into my rising and they ring my walls—what speed!” Shangyong hugged water on three faces; Da threw up timber palisades beyond the walls. [3] He forded the streams, smashed the stockade, and drove to the moat. He assaulted along eight avenues; sixteen days later Deng Xian the nephew and general Li Fu opened the gates and capitulated. They beheaded Meng Da and forwarded his head to Luoyang. They took over ten thousand prisoners and marched back to Wan with drums beating. He urged tillage and silk production, banned needless expense, and the south rallied to him willingly.
16
初，申儀久在魏興，專威疆埸，輒承制刻印，多所假授。 達既誅，有自疑心。 時諸郡守以帝新克捷，奉禮求賀，皆聽之。 帝使人諷儀，儀至，問承制狀，執之，歸于京師。 又徙孟達餘眾七千餘家於幽州。 蜀將姚靜、鄭他等帥其屬七千餘人來降。
Shen Yi had dominated Weixing for years—running the border like a private fief, minting seals without sanction, and handing out titles at will. Once Meng Da fell, Shen Yi began to doubt his own safety. County governors arrived with congratulations on his fresh triumph; he received every delegation. He hinted until Shen Yi appeared at audience, pressed him on those self-made commissions, arrested him, and shipped him east. He resettled over seven thousand surviving households of Meng Da’s clan in Youzhou. Yao Jing and Zheng Ta of Shu marched in over seven thousand troops to defect.
17
時邊郡新附，多無戶名，魏朝欲加隱實。 屬帝朝於京師，天子訪之於帝。 帝對曰：「賊以密網束下，故下棄之。 宜弘以大綱，則自然安樂。」 又問二虜宜討，何者為先？ 對曰：「吳以中國不習水戰，故敢散居東關。 凡攻敵，必扼其喉而摏其心。 夏口、東關，賊之心喉。 若為陸軍以向皖城，引權東下，為水戰軍向夏口，乘其虛而擊之，此神兵從天而墮，破之必矣。」 天子並然之，復命帝屯於宛。
The newly subdued border prefectures still lacked proper household rolls, and the court meant to audit them. While he was at audience in Luoyang, the emperor took him aside for advice. He answered: “Bandits rule through a thousand petty regulations—that is why their subjects flee. Govern with a loose rein and calm follows without forcing it.” The sovereign then asked which foe—Wu or Shu—should come first. He said: “Wu gambles that we fear naval combat, so they string their lines along the eastern passes. Strike always at throat and heart—that is how wars are won. Xiakou and Dongguan are precisely those vital points. Send infantry toward Wancheng to tug Sun Quan downstream while your fleet thrusts at Xiakou and catches him thin—that is an assault from heaven itself.” The emperor endorsed it wholeheartedly and told him once more to hold Wan.
18
四年，遷大將軍，加大都督、假黃鉞，與曹真伐蜀。 帝自西城斫山開道，水陸並進，泝沔而上，至於朐䏰，拔其新豐縣。 軍次丹口，遇雨，班師。
Fourth year: he became Grand General and supreme commander with the yellow axe, campaigning beside Cao Zhen against Shu. He hacked a route from Xicheng, drove land and river columns up the Han to Quyu, and seized Xinfeng County. They paused at Dankou until storms forced a withdrawal.
19
明年，諸葛亮寇天水，圍將軍賈嗣、魏平於祁山。 天子曰：「西方有事，非君莫可付者。」 乃使帝西屯長安，都督雍、梁二州諸軍事，[4]統車騎將軍張郃、後將軍費曜、征蜀護軍戴淩、雍州刺史郭淮等討亮。 張郃勸帝分軍住雍、郿為後鎮，帝曰：「料前軍獨能當之者，將軍言是也。 若不能當，而分為前後，此楚之三軍所以為黥布禽也。」 遂進軍隃麋。 亮聞大軍且至，乃自帥眾將芟上邽之麥。 諸將皆懼，帝曰：「亮慮多決少，必安營自固，然後芟麥，吾得二日兼行足矣。」 於是卷甲晨夜赴之，亮望塵而遁。 帝曰：「吾倍道疲勞，此曉兵者之所貪也。 亮不敢據渭水，此易與耳。」 進次漢陽，與亮相遇，帝列陣以待之。 使將牛金輕騎餌之，兵才接而亮退，追至祁山。 亮屯鹵城，據南北二山，斷水為重圍。 帝攻拔其圍，亮宵遁，追擊破之，俘斬萬計。 天子使使者勞軍，增封邑。
Next year Zhuge Liang struck Tianshui and penned Jia Si and Wei Ping inside Qishan. The court said: “Only you can shoulder the western front.” So he moved west to Chang’an as commander for Yong and Liang, directing Zhang He, Fei Yao, Dai Ling, Guo Huai, and the rest against Zhuge Liang. Zhang He proposed splitting forces between Yong and Mei as a reserve; he replied: “If the van can carry the fight alone, you are correct. Split them while the front fails and you repeat Chu’s disaster at Qing Bu’s hands.” He pushed on to Yumi. Hearing the host approach, Zhuge Liang himself crossed into Shanggui to strip the wheat fields. His officers panicked; he said Zhuge Liang hesitates too long—he would secure camp before harvesting—so two nights’ dash would do. They shed baggage and ran nonstop; Zhuge Liang bolted at their dust cloud. He said: “Fatigue from speed is what seasoned troops crave. He will not anchor on the Wei—he is ours to manage.” He moved into Hanyang, met Zhuge Liang, and formed front against him. Niu Jin’s light horse drew him out; after a brush Zhuge Liang ran and they chased all the way to Qishan. Zhuge Liang walled up Lucheng between two ridges and ringed himself with cut rivers. He smashed the rings; Zhuge Liang fled by dark and was chased down—dead and captured beyond count. Imperial envoys brought rewards and added to his appanage.
20
時軍師杜襲、督軍薛悌皆言明年麥熟，亮必為寇，隴右無穀，宜及冬豫運。 帝曰：「亮再出祁山，一攻陳倉，挫衄而反。 縱其後出，不復攻城，當求野戰，必在隴東，不在西也。 亮每以糧少為恨，歸必積穀，以吾料之，非三稔不能動矣。」 於是表徙冀州農夫佃上邽，興京兆、天水、南安監冶。
Du Xi and Xue Ti warned that next harvest Zhuge Liang would return while Longyou starved—haul grain before winter. He answered: “Twice from Qishan, once at Chencang—each time repulsed. Next time he will hunt open battle east of the Long ridges, not west. Grain gnaws at him—every retreat piles granaries. He cannot march for three full crops.” He filed to transplant Ji farmers onto Shanggui fields and to tool imperial armories in Jingzhao, Tianshui, and Nan’an.
21
二年，亮又率眾十餘萬出斜谷，壘于郿之渭水南原。 天子憂之，遣征蜀護軍秦朗督步騎二萬，受帝節度。 諸將欲住渭北以待之，帝曰：「百姓積聚皆在渭南，此必爭之地也。」 遂引軍而濟，背水為壘。 因謂諸將曰：「亮若勇者，當出武功，依山而東。 若西上五丈原，則諸軍無事矣。」 亮果上原，將北渡渭，帝遣將軍周當屯陽遂以餌之。 數日，亮不動。 帝曰：「亮欲爭原而不向陽遂，此意可知也。」 遣將軍胡遵、雍州剌史郭淮共備陽遂，與亮會于積石。 臨原而戰，亮不得進，還於五丈原。 會有長星墜亮之壘，帝知其必敗，遣奇兵掎亮之後，斬五百餘級，獲生口千餘，降者六百餘人。
Year two: Zhuge Liang drove a hundred thousand through Xie Valley and dug in south of the Wei at Mei. The throne detached Qin Lang with twenty thousand foot and horse under his orders. They wanted the north bank; he said every barn lay south—that soil would decide the fight. He crossed and stacked camps against the water. He lectured them: “A daring Zhuge Liang would burst from Wugong along the ridges east. If he climbs Wuzhangyuan westward we may barely need to stir.” Zhuge Liang did march onto the plateau and line up a northern crossing; Zhou Dang feigned at Yangsui. Days passed without Zhuge Liang stirring. He read it: Zhuge Liang coveted the plateau, not Yangsui. Hu Zun and Guo Huai sealed Yangsui and met Zhuge Liang at Jishi. Combat along the heights stalled Zhuge Liang and drove him back to Wuzhangyuan. A comet struck Zhuge Liang’s camp—proof of doom—so raiders hit his rear: five hundred heads, a thousand prisoners, six hundred who yielded.
22
時朝廷以亮僑軍遠寇，利在急戰，每命帝持重，以候其變。 亮數挑戰，帝不出，因遺帝巾幗婦人之飾。 帝怒，表請決戰，天子不許，乃遣骨鯁臣衞尉辛毗杖節為軍師以制之。 後亮復來挑戰，帝將出兵以應之，毗杖節立軍門，帝乃止。 初，蜀將姜維聞毗來，謂亮曰：「辛毗杖節而至，賊不復出矣。」 亮曰：「彼本無戰心，所以固請者，以示武于其眾耳。 將在軍，君命有所不受，苟能制吾，豈千里而請戰邪！」
Court opinion urged haste; orders told him to stay heavy-handed and watch. Zhuge Liang baited him repeatedly; he stayed quiet until women’s kerchiefs arrived. He demanded battle in a memorial; the emperor refused and posted Xin Pi with staff authority to leash him. When Zhuge Liang tried again he nearly rode out—Xin Pi blocked the gate with his baton until he stopped. Jiang Wei had warned: “Xin Pi means no more field battles.” Zhuge Liang answered: “They seek spectacle, not steel—they parade martial theater for the ranks. Field commanders ignore distant edicts—if they could trap me they would not beg Luoyang for permission!”
23
帝弟孚書問軍事，帝復書曰：「亮志大而不見機，多謀而少決，好兵而無權，雖提卒十萬，巳墮吾畫中，破之必矣。」 與之對壘百餘日，會亮病卒，諸將燒營遁走，百姓奔告，帝出兵追之。 亮長史楊儀反旗鳴鼓，若將距帝者。 帝以窮寇不之逼，於是楊儀結陣而去。 經日，乃行其營壘，觀其遺事，獲其圖書、糧穀甚眾。 帝審其必死，曰：「天下奇才也。」 辛毗以為尚未可知。 帝曰：「軍家所重，軍書密計、兵馬糧穀，今皆棄之，豈有人捐其五藏而可以生乎？ 宜急追之。」 關中多蒺䔧，帝使軍士二千人著軟材平底木屐前行，蒺藜悉著屐，然後馬步俱進。 追到赤岸，乃知亮死審問。 時百姓為之諺曰：「死諸葛走生仲達。」 帝聞而笑曰：「吾便料生，不便料死故也。」
Sima Fu’s letter drew a cool reply: Zhuge Liang dreams large but times poorly, hesitates in crisis, loves battle without adaptability—the hundred thousand were already snared. A hundred days of stalemate ended when Zhuge Liang died—his men torched camp and bolted, civilians brought word, and pursuit followed. Yang Yi feigned a counterattack—flags reversed, drums thundering. He refused to harry a desperate foe, so Yang Yi marched away in order. Next day he walked the abandoned works and seized maps, papers, and grain in heaps. The debris told him Zhuge Liang was dead—truly a genius of the age. Xin Pi still urged caution. He shot back: armies do not abandon cipher books, tallies, horses, and grain unless the commander is gone—could anyone shed vital organs and breathe? Pursue now. Guanzhong bristled with caltrops—two thousand men in wooden clogs swept the path clear for horse and foot. Only at Red Shore did rumor harden into fact. People sang: “The dead Zhuge ran off the living Zhongda.” He laughed: “I could read him breathing; I could not read him cold—that was my blind spot.”
24
先是，亮使至，帝問曰：「諸葛公起居何如，食可幾米？」 [5]對曰：「三四升。」 次問政事，曰：「二十罰已上皆自省覽。」 帝既而告人曰：「諸葛孔明其能久乎！」 竟如其言。 亮部將楊儀、魏延爭權，儀斬延，并其眾。 帝欲乘隙而進，有詔不許。
Earlier he had asked Liang’s envoy how Zhuge Liang slept and how many sheng of rice he ate. The reply: three or four sheng per meal. On administration: every flogging above twenty strokes crossed his own desk. He later muttered that Kongming could not endure such pace. Time proved him right. Yang Yi murdered Wei Yan and seized his command. He itched to strike the chaos; an imperial veto stopped him.
25
三年，遷太尉，累增封邑。 蜀將馬岱入寇，帝遣將軍牛金擊走之，斬千餘級。
Third year: Grand Commandant, with fiefs piled higher. Ma Dai of Shu raided in; Niu Jin threw him back with a thousand heads.
26
武都氐王苻雙、強端帥其屬六千餘人來降。 [6]
Fu Shuang and Qiang Duan of Wudu Di brought six thousand followers in. Six.
27
關東饑，帝運長安粟五百萬斛輸於京師。
Famine east of the passes—five million hu moved from Chang’an to Luoyang.
28
四年，獲白鹿，獻之。 天子曰：「昔周公旦輔成王，有素雉之貢。 今君受陝西之任，有白鹿之獻，豈非忠誠協符，千載同契，俾乂邦家，以永厥休邪！」
Fourth year: hunters presented a white deer. The emperor cited Zhou Gong’s white pheasant for King Cheng. Now you guard Shaanxi with the same omen—a white deer sealing loyalty across ages.
29
及遼東太守公孫文懿反，徵帝詣京師。 天子曰：「此不足以勞君，事欲必克，故以相煩耳。 君度其作何計？」 對曰：「棄城預走，上計也。 據遼水以距大軍，次計也。 坐守襄平，此成擒耳。」 天子曰：「其計將安出？」 對曰：「惟明者能深度彼己，豫有所棄，此非其所及也。 今懸軍遠征，將謂不能持久，必先距遼水而後守，此中下計也。」 天子曰：「往還幾時？」 對曰：「往百日，還百日，攻百日，以六十日為休息，一年足矣。」
Gongsun Yuan’s revolt pulled him to Luoyang. The emperor apologized: victory had to be certain—that meant bothering him. What gambit did he expect? Best case: abandon Liaodong and run early. Middle course: defend the Liao line. Worst: hide inside Xiangping and await capture. The emperor asked how it would play out. Only a sage weighs both sides and sacrifices pieces ahead—Yuan cannot. An isolated host looks fragile; Yuan will cling to the river—that middling strategy. The emperor pressed for a timetable. He answered: “March out a hundred days, come back a hundred, fight a hundred, rest sixty—that fills a year.”
30
是時大修宮室，加之以軍旅，百姓饑弊。 帝將即戎，乃諫曰：「昔周公營洛邑，蕭何造未央，今宮室未備，臣之責也。 然自河以北，百姓困窮，外內有役，勢不並興，宜假絕內務，以救時急。」
Court architects ran wild while armies marched—the people starved under both burdens. As he prepared to march he urged restraint: incomplete Luoyang palaces were his ministers’ shame—the builders had failed the throne. North of the river peasants were ruined; palaces and armies could not rise together—pause vanity works and feed the hour.”
31
景初二年，帥牛金、胡遵等步騎四萬，發自京都。 車駕送出西明門，詔弟孚、子師送過溫，賜以穀帛牛酒，敕郡守典農以下皆往會焉。 見父老故舊，讌飲累日。 帝歎息，悵然有感，為歌曰：「天地開闢，日月重光。 遭遇際會，畢力遐方。 將掃羣穢，還過故鄉。 肅清萬里，總齊八荒。 告成歸老，待罪舞陽。」 遂進師，經孤竹，越碣石，次于遼水。 文懿果遣步騎數萬，阻遼隧，堅壁而守，南北六七十里，以距帝。 帝盛兵多張旗幟出其南，賊盡銳赴之。 乃泛舟潛濟以出其北，與賊營相逼，沈舟焚梁，傍遼水作長圍，棄賊而向襄平。 諸將言曰：「不攻賊而作圍，非所以示眾也。」 帝曰：「賊堅營高壘，欲以老吾兵也。 攻之，正入其計，此王邑所以恥過昆陽也。 古人曰，敵雖高壘，不得不與我戰者，攻其所必救也。 賊大眾在此，則巢窟虛矣。 我直指襄平，則人懷內懼，懼而求戰，破之必矣。」 遂整陣而過。 賊見兵出其後，果邀之。 帝謂諸將曰：「所以不攻其營，正欲致此，不可失也。」 乃縱兵逆擊，大破之，三戰皆捷。 賊保襄平，進軍圍之。
Jingchu year two: forty thousand horse and foot under Niu Jin and Hu Zun left Luoyang. The sovereign rode to Ximing; Fu and Shi escorted him home to Wen with sacks of grain, silk rolls, oxen, and wine while every county clerk was told to turn out. He lingered with hometown elders over cups for night after night. He composed a marching song—creation renewed, daylight reborn. Seizing the moment he spends his force on far frontiers. He would scour the realm clean and ride again through old Wen lanes. Ten thousand li made pure; the wastelands marshaled as one. Victory reported, he would retire to Wuyang and answer for his charge.” The columns rolled past Guzhu and Jieshi to the Liao. Gongsun Yuan plugged Liaosui with tens of thousands—palisades stretched seventy li along the narrows. Sima Yi feigned strength on the southern bank and drew the Liaodong army off. Under cover of dark water he slipped upstream, burned the crossings, pinned the Liao with earthworks, and ignored the camp for Xiangping. His officers protested: siege lines without battle looked weak. He answered: “They wall up to exhaust us. Storming those walls repeats Wang Yi’s humiliation at Kunyang. Classics teach—strike the rescue point and even high walls must open. Their veterans cling here while Xiangping lies naked. A thrust at Xiangping panics the capital and flushes them out—that ends it.” He aligned divisions and slipped past. The Liaodong army wheeled about to cut him off. He reminded them the feint was bait—do not waste the trap. He hurled the lines forward and routed them thrice running. They fled inside Xiangping; he tightened the ring.
32
初，文懿聞魏師之出也，請救於孫權。 權亦出兵遙為之聲援，遺文懿書曰：「司馬公善用兵，變化若神，所向無前，深為弟憂之。」
Gongsun Yuan had cried to Sun Quan when Wei stirred. Wu dispatched a distant demonstration and warned Yuan: Sima Yi reads war like a spirit—nothing survives his front—I tremble for you, brother.
33
會霖潦，大水平地數尺，三軍恐，欲移營。 帝令軍中敢有言徙者斬。 都督令史張靜犯令，斬之，軍中乃定。 賊恃水，樵牧自若。 諸將欲取之，皆不聽。 司馬陳珪曰：「昔攻上庸，八部並進，晝夜不息，故能一旬之半，拔堅城，斬孟達。 今者遠來而更安緩，愚竊惑焉。」 帝曰：「孟達眾少而食支一年，吾將士四倍于達而糧不淹月，以一月圖一年，安可不速？ 以四擊一，正令半解，猶當為之。 是以不計死傷，與糧競也。 今賊眾我寡，賊飢我飽，水雨乃爾，功力不設，雖當促之，亦何所為。 自發京師，不憂賊攻，但恐賊走。 今賊糧垂盡，而圍落未合，掠其牛馬，抄其樵采，此故驅之走也。 夫兵者詭道，善因事變。 賊憑眾恃雨，故雖飢困，未肯束手，當示無能以安之。 取小利以驚之。 非計也。」 朝廷聞師遇雨，咸請召還。 天子曰：「司馬公臨危制變，計日擒之矣。」 既而雨止，遂合圍。 起土山地道，楯櫓鉤橦，發矢石雨下，晝夜攻之。
Monsoon floods drowned the plain; men clamored to move. He threatened death for talk of redeployment. Zhang Jing broke the rule and lost his head—the ranks fell silent. The defenders still sent out woodcutters as if dry. Staff urged raids on foragers; he refused each time. Chen Gui recalled Shangyong—eight prongs, no sleep, Meng Da dead in five days. This siege crawls—I cannot fathom it.” He said Meng Da starved while holding a year’s grain; Wei had four times his numbers but less than a month of rice—speed was survival. Odds four-to-one meant half might melt yet we still gambled. We traded blood for calendar days. Today they swarm yet starve while we eat—the mud stalls engines—forcing gains nothing. Since Luoyang I dreaded flight, not assault. Let them drain granaries while our cordon gapes—steal oxen, harass fuel parties—that stampsede them. Combat is deceit; bend each twist. They lean on rain and bodies—starving, they still refuse ropes—feign weakness. Small raids only wake them. That would spoil the snare.” Luoyang heard mud and demanded withdrawal. The emperor answered: Sima Yi thrives in chaos—he will bag Yuan on schedule. Skies cleared; the ring closed. They stacked siege mounds, bored mines, and hailed stone until the walls shook.
34
時有長星，色白，有芒鬣，自襄平城西南流于東北，墜於梁水，城中震慴。 文懿大懼，乃使其所署相國王建、御史大夫柳甫乞降，請解圍面縛。 不許，執建等，皆斬之。 檄告文懿曰：「昔楚鄭列國，而鄭伯猶肉袒牽羊而迎之。 孤為王人，位則上公，而建等欲孤解圍退舍，豈楚鄭之謂邪！ 二人老耄，必傳言失旨，已相為斬之。 若意有未已，可更遣年少有明決者來。」 文懿復遣侍中衞演乞剋日送任。 帝謂演曰：「軍事大要有五，能戰當戰，不能戰當守，不能守當走，餘二事惟有降與死耳。 汝不肯面縛，此為決就死也，不須送任。」 文懿攻南圍突出，帝縱兵擊敗之，斬于梁水之上星墜之所。 既入城，立兩標以別新舊焉。 男子年十五已上七千餘人皆殺之，以為京觀。 偽公卿已下皆伏誅，戮其將軍畢盛等二千餘人。 收戶四萬，口三十餘萬。
A white comet streaked from Xiangping’s southwest to the Liang—terror seized the town. Yuan sent Wang Jian and Liu Fu pleading for the siege to lift so he could come out with bound hands. Sima Yi refused—seized the envoys and took their heads. His bulletin cited ancient Zheng greeting Chu with stripped chest and sheep. He held kingly mandate at senior duke rank—yet they ordered him aside like a treaty foe. Two senile mouthpieces mis-spoke—he killed both. Need another plea—send sharp youths.” Yuan tried again—Wei Yan begging a hostage deadline. He lectured Yan on war’s pentad—fight, hold, run, yield, die. Refusing bonds chooses death—skip hostages.” Yuan rammed the southern sector; Sima Yi crushed him and struck off his head where the comet had plunged. Inside the walls twin posts marked who belonged to the revolt. Seven thousand males above fifteen died for the victory mound. Phony ministers died with two thousand officers including Bi Sheng. Registers captured forty thousand households and three hundred thousand people.
35
初，文懿篡其叔父恭位而囚之。 及將反，將軍綸直、賈範等苦諫，文懿皆殺之。 帝乃釋恭之囚，封直等之墓，顯其遺嗣。 令曰：「古之伐國，誅其鯨鯢而已，諸為文懿所詿誤者，皆原之。 中國人欲還舊鄉，恣聽之。」
Yuan had seized Uncle Gong’s seat and jailed him. On the eve of revolt Lun Zhi and Jia Fan pleaded—Yuan murdered them. Sima Yi freed Gong, rebuilt martyrs’ graves, and ennobled their sons. His edict spared everyone Yuan had duped—execute whales alone. Han subjects longing for old hearths may depart freely.”
36
時有兵士寒凍，乞襦，帝弗之與。 或曰：「幸多故襦，可以賜之。」 帝曰：「襦者官物，人臣無私施也。」 乃奏軍人年六十已上者罷遣千餘人，將吏從軍死亡者致喪還家。 遂班師。 天子遣使者勞軍于薊，增封食昆陽，并前二縣。
Frozen troops begged quilts; he withheld them. Aides noted warehouses bulged with coats. Official cloth stays official—ministers do not play philanthropist. He cashiered thousand greybeards and shipped coffins west. Then he marched home. Envoys met him at Ji with fresh fiefs—Kunyang added to two older counties.
37
初，帝至襄平，夢天子枕其膝，曰：「視吾面。」 俛視有異於常，心惡之。 先是，詔帝便道鎮關中； 及次白屋，有詔召帝，三日之間，詔書五至。 手詔曰：「間側息望到，到便直排閤入，視吾面。」 帝大遽，乃乘追鋒車晝夜兼行，自白屋四百餘里，一宿而至。 引入嘉福殿臥內，升御牀。 帝流涕問疾，天子執帝手，目齊王曰：「以後事相託。 死乃復可忍，吾忍死待君，得相見，無所復恨矣。」 與大將軍曹爽並受遺詔輔少主。
At Xiangping he dreamed the emperor’s head lay in his lap—Look at me. The face looked wrong—he woke uneasy. Orders already told him to guard Guanzhong by detour. At Baiwu five summons arrived in three days. Imperial brush ordered him through the doors at once—look at my face. Panic drove the relay carriage four hundred li overnight. Eunuchs led him to Jiafu’s bedchamber and the throne couch. Weeping at bedside, Cao Fang clasped his arm—Qi Prince watched—my aftermath is yours. I clung to life for this audience—now death is bearable.” He and Cao Shuang sealed regency for the boy emperor.
38
正始元年春正月，[7]東倭重譯納貢，焉耆、危須諸國，弱水以南，鮮卑名王，皆遣使來獻。 天子歸美宰輔，又增帝封邑。
Zhengshi spring month one [7]—Japanese interpreters, Yanqi, southerners beyond Ruoshui, Xianbei chiefs—all brought gifts. The court credited the ministers and fattened Sima Yi’s lands.
39
初，魏明帝好修宮室，制度靡麗，百姓苦之。 帝自遼東還，役者猶萬餘人，雕玩之物動以千計。 至是皆奏罷之，節用務農，天下欣賴焉。 二年夏五月，吳將全琮寇芍陂，朱然、孫倫圍樊城，諸葛瑾、步騭掠柤中，帝請自討之。 議者咸言，賊遠來圍樊，不可卒拔。 挫於堅城之下，有自破之勢，宜長策以御之。 帝曰：「邊城受敵而安坐廟堂，疆埸騷動，眾心疑惑，是社稷之大憂也。」
Mingdi’s terraces had bled the people. Ten thousand corvée hands still carved gewgaws by the thousand. He stopped the yards, urged ploughs—the empire sighed relief. Year two summer—Quan Zong hit Quebei, Zhu Ran and Sun Lun pinned Fan, Zhuge Jin and Bu Zhi ravaged Zhazhong—Sima Yi asked to ride south. Court wise men argued Wu sat far off—Fan would not fall fast. Let prolonged defense drain them. He replied: border alarms while Luoyang lounges shakes the state.
40
六月，乃督諸軍南征，車駕送出津陽門。 帝以南方暑溼，不宜持久，使輕騎挑之，然不敢動。 於是休戰士，簡精銳，募先登，申號令，示必攻之勢。 吳軍夜遁走，追至三州口，斬獲萬餘人，收其舟船軍資而還。 天子遣侍中常侍勞軍于宛。
Sixth month he took supreme command—throne carriage to Jinyang Gate. Humid south forbade long stays—light horse baited Zhu Ran; Ran stayed put. He rested men, culled shock troops, promised ladder gold, showed unstoppable assault. Wu fled by dark—Sanzhou Ford piled ten thousand heads and captured hulls. Palace attendants met him at Wan with imperial wine.
41
秋七月，增封食郾、臨潁，并前四縣，邑萬戶，子弟十一人皆為列侯。 帝勳德日盛，而謙恭愈甚。 以太常常林鄉邑舊齒，見之每拜。 恆戒子弟曰：「盛滿者道家之所忌，四時猶有推移，吾何德以堪之。 損之又損之，庶可以免乎！」
That fall added Yan and Linying to four older counties—ten thousand taxable households—and eleven sons became column marquises. Honors mounted while he grew more deferential. He bowed to Chang Lin of the ministry whenever they crossed paths—hometown seniority demanded it. He lectured kin: Daoism dreads complacency; seasons turn—what merit anchors pride? Cut want again and again—that alone wards fate.”
42
三年春，天子追封諡皇考京兆尹為舞陽成侯。
Spring of year three brought a posthumous marquisate on his father Fang.
43
三月，奏穿廣漕渠，引河入汴，溉東南諸陂，始大佃於淮北。
He broke ground on the Guang canal, tapping the Yellow River into the Bian to flood Huai-north paddies.
44
先是，吳遣將諸葛恪屯皖，邊鄙苦之，帝欲自擊恪。 議者多以賊據堅城，積穀，欲引致官兵。 今懸軍遠攻，其救必至，進退不易，未見其便。 帝曰：「賊之所長者水也，今攻其城，以觀其變。 若用其所長，棄城奔走，此為廟勝也。 若敢固守，湖水冬淺，船不得行，勢必棄水相救，由其所短，亦吾利也。」
Zhuge Ke’s Wan garrison tormented the border—Sima Yi meant to lead the strike personally. Critics said Wu baited Wei toward granary walls. A lone expedition invites rescue columns—movement becomes clumsy. He answered: probe Wan and watch Wu dance. If they bolt, the court wins without a siege. If they cling on, winter strands their hulls—they trade away naval strength for our gain.”
45
四年秋九月，帝督諸軍擊諸葛恪，車駕送出津陽門。 軍次於舒，恪焚燒積聚，棄城而遁。
Autumn, ninth month, year four: full command against Zhuge Ke—throne carriage to Jinyang Gate. At Shu Ke torched grain and ran.
46
帝以滅賊之要，在於積穀，乃大興屯守，廣開淮陽、百尺二渠，又修諸陂於潁之南北，萬餘頃。 [8]自是淮北倉庾相望，壽陽至於京師，[9]農官屯兵連屬焉。
He bankrolled victory with dirt—Huaiyang and Baichi cuts, Ying basin dikes, ten thousand qing wet. [8] North Huai burst with bins; [9] colony troops stitched Shouyang to Luoyang.
47
五年春正月，帝至自淮南，天子使持節勞軍。
Year five spring: back from Huainan with imperial baton and wine.
48
尚書鄧颺、李勝等欲令曹爽建立功名，勸使伐蜀。 帝止之，不可，爽果無功而還。
Deng Yang and Li Sheng pushed Shuang toward a Shu raid for glory. Sima Yi blocked it—Shuang marched anyway and limped home empty.
49
六年秋八月，曹爽毀中壘中堅營，以兵屬其弟中領軍羲。 帝以先帝舊制禁之，不可。
Autumn eight, year six: Shuang stripped the inner ramparts and handed steel to brother Xi. He cited Mingdi’s bans—Shuang shrugged.
50
冬十二月，天子詔帝朝會乘輿升殿。
Winter: Sima Yi earned carriage access to the throne hall.
51
七年春正月，吳寇柤中，夷夏萬餘家避寇北渡沔。 帝以沔南近賊，若百姓奔還，必復致寇，宜權留之。 曹爽曰：「今不能修守沔南而留百姓，非長策也。」 帝曰：「不然。 凡物致之安地則安，危地則危。 故兵書曰『成敗，形也； 安危，勢也』。 形勢，御眾之要，不可以不審。 設令賊以二萬人斷沔水，三萬人與沔南諸軍相持，萬人陸梁柤中，將何以救之？」 爽不從，卒令還南。 賊果襲破柤中，所失萬計。
Spring seven: Wu smashed Zhazhong—ten thousand families splashed north over the Han. He argued refugees must stay north—returning invited another plunge. Shuang called it folly to trap civilians without fixing southern walls. Sima Yi disagreed. Terrain decides fate. The canon reads: fortune rides terrain— calamity rides circumstance.” Shape and slope command armies—study both. Imagine twenty thousand blocking the ford, thirty pinning the south bank, ten thousand looting Zhazhong—how relieve them?” Shuang forced the migration south anyway. Wu shattered Zhazhong—myriad gone.
52
八年夏四月，夫人張氏薨。
Eighth year summer: wife Zhang passed.
53
曹爽用何晏、鄧颺、丁謐之謀，遷太后於永寧宮，專擅朝政，兄弟并典禁兵，多樹親黨，屢改制度。 帝不能禁，於是與爽有隙。
Shuang locked the dowager away, stacked brothers on the guards, rewrote laws with He Yan’s cabal. Sima Yi could not brake him—rift opened.
54
五月，帝稱疾不與政事。 時人為之謠曰：「何、鄧、丁，亂京城。」
He pleaded sick and vanished from council. Street rhyme: He, Deng, Ding wreck Luoyang.
55
九年春三月，黃門張當私出掖庭才人石英等十一人，與曹爽為伎人。 爽、晏謂帝疾篤，遂有無君之心，與當密謀，圖危社稷，期有日矣。 帝亦潛為之備，爽之徒屬亦頗疑帝。 會河南尹李勝將莅荊州，來候帝。 帝詐疾篤，使兩婢侍，持衣衣落，指口言渴，婢進粥，帝不持杯飲，粥皆流出霑胸。 勝曰：「眾情謂明公舊風發動，何意尊體乃爾！」 帝使聲氣纔屬，說「年老枕疾，死在旦夕。 君當屈并州，并州近胡，善為之備。 恐不復相見，以子師、昭兄弟為託」。 勝曰：「當還忝本州，非并州。」 帝乃錯亂其辭曰：「君方到并州。」 勝復曰：「當忝荊州。」 帝曰：「年老意荒，不解君言。 今還為本州，盛德壯烈，好建功勳！」 勝退告爽曰：「司馬公尸居餘氣，形神已離，不足慮矣。」 他日，又言曰：「太傅不可復濟，令人愴然。」 故爽等不復設備。
Zhang Dang smuggled eleven palace women to Shuang’s revels. They thought Sima Yi dying and schemed usurpation with Zhang Dang. Sima Yi armed in shadows while Shuang’s men sniffed trap. Li Sheng called before leaving for his province. He staged palsy—maids, spilled porridge, sodden robes. Li Sheng gasped at the corpse impression. He whispered of imminent death. He confused Bingzhou—warned of Hu proximity. Entrust his sons—farewell forever.” Li Sheng corrected: native Jingzhou, not Bing. Sima Yi doubled down on Bingzhou. Li Sheng repeated Jingzhou. Playing senile—what did you say? Go win laurels on home soil!” Li Sheng reported a dying husk—no threat. He added theatrical pity. Shuang stood down his guard.
56
嘉平元年春正月甲午，天子謁高平陵，爽兄弟皆從。 是日，太白襲月。 帝于是奏永寧太后廢爽兄弟。 時景帝為中護軍，將兵屯司馬門。 帝列陣闕下，經爽門。 爽帳下督嚴世上樓，引弩將射帝，孫謙止之曰：「事未可知。」 三注三止，皆引其肘不得發。 大司農桓範出赴爽，蔣濟言於帝曰：「智囊往矣。」 帝曰：「爽與範內疏而智不及，駑馬戀短豆，[10]必不能用也。」 於是假司徒高柔節，行大將軍事，領爽營，謂柔曰：「君為周勃矣。」 命太僕王觀行中領軍，攝羲營。 帝親帥太尉蔣濟等勒兵出迎天子，屯于洛水浮橋，上奏曰：「先帝詔陛下、秦王及臣升於御牀，握臣臂曰『深以後事為念』。 今大將軍爽背棄顧命，敗亂國典，內則僭擬，外專威權。 羣官要職，皆置所親； 宿衞舊人，並見斥黜。 根據槃互，縱恣日甚。 又以黃門張當為都監，專共交關，伺候神器。 天下洶洶，人懷危懼。 陛下便為寄坐，豈得久安？ 此非先帝詔陛下及臣升御牀之本意也。 臣雖朽邁，敢忘前言。 昔趙高極意，秦是以亡； 呂霍早斷，漢祚永延。 此乃陛下之殷鑒，臣授命之秋也。 公卿羣臣皆以爽有無君之心，兄弟不宜典兵宿衞； 奏皇太后，皇太后敕如奏施行。 臣輒敕主者及黃門令罷爽、羲、訓吏兵，各以本官侯就第。 若稽留車駕，以軍法從事。 臣輒力疾將兵詣洛水浮橋，伺察非常。」 爽不通奏，留車駕宿伊水南，伐樹為鹿角，發屯兵數千人以守。 桓範果勸爽奉天子幸許昌，移檄徵天下兵。 爽不能用，而夜遣侍中許允、尚書陳泰詣帝，觀望風旨。 帝數其過失，事止免官。 泰還以報爽，勸之通奏。 帝又遣爽所信殿中校尉尹大目諭爽，指洛水為誓，爽意信之。 桓範等援引古今，諫說萬端。 終不能從，乃曰：「司馬公正當欲奪吾權耳。 吾得以侯還第，不失為富家翁。」 範拊膺曰：「坐卿，滅吾族矣！」 遂通帝奏。 既而有司劾黃門張當，并發爽與何晏等反事，乃收爽兄弟及其黨與何晏、丁謐、鄧颺、畢軌、李勝、桓範等誅之。 蔣濟曰：「曹真之勳，不可以不祀。」 帝不聽。
Jiaping New Year: emperor worshipped Gaoping tombs—Shuang clan rode escort. Metal star gnawed the moon that dawn. Empress warrant arrived—strip Shuang brothers. Sima Shi held Sima Gate. Sima Yi formed ranks below Duan—passed Shuang mansion. Yan Shi aimed—Sun Qian seized his elbow thrice. Three drawn bolts—three stays—never fired. Huan Fan galloped to Shuang—Jiang Ji sighed the brain left. Sima Yi sneered: jealous nag loves crib feed—[10] Shuang cannot harness Huan Fan. Gao Rou borrowed seals—play Zhou Bo—seize Shuang barracks. Wang Guan seized Xi’s guards. He marched to the pontoon memorializing Mingdi’s deathbed clutch. Shuang betrayed late edicts—inside apes king—outside terror. Every ministry stuffed with kin; veteran guards banished. Their net tightened daily. Zhang Dang policed palace gates—coveting throne. Empire roiled. Throne became hostage seat. Not Mingdi’s handshake intent. Even decayed—remember oath. Zhao Gao drowned Qin; Early strike on Lü clans extended Han. Your lesson—my duty. Court agrees Shuang unfits arms; dowager sealed warrant. Strip Shuang/Xi/Xun commands—marquis retire. Hold emperor—martial sentence. Sima Yi sickbed—still rushing pontoon.” Shuang bottled emperor south of Yi—palisade trees—few thousand men. Fan beg march to Xuchang—levy realm. Shuang failed nerve—sent Xu Yun and Chen Tai to sniff terms. Sima Yi listed crimes—offer stripped posts. Chen Tai urged surrender memorial. Yin Damu swore on Luo—Shuang believed. Fan pleaded classics till hoarse. Shuang whined Sima Yi wanted title alone. Retire rich—that suffices.” Fan howled Shuang doomed kin. Shuang folded—sent memorial. Indictments landed—Zhang Dang flipped—Shuang ring executed wholesale. Jiang Ji beg mercy for Zhen’s shrine. Sima Yi refused.
57
初，爽司馬魯芝、主簿楊綜斬關奔爽。 及爽之將歸罪也，芝、綜泣諫曰：「公居伊周之任，挾天子，杖天威，孰敢不從？ 舍此而欲就東市，豈不痛哉！」 有司奏收芝、綜科罪，帝赦之，曰：「以勸事君者。」
Lu Zhi and Yang Zong had bolted to Shuang. As Shuang prepared surrender Lu Zhi and Yang Zong sobbed: hold emperor and mandate—who refuses? Yield now and you march to execution—is pain not bitter!” Court wanted Lu Zhi punished—Sima Yi spared them to honor loyalty.
58
二月，天子以帝為丞相，增封潁川之繁昌、鄢陵、新汲、父城，并前八縣，邑二萬戶，奏事不名。 固讓丞相。
February: chancellor, four Yingchuan counties stacked on eight—twenty thousand households—name suppressed on memorials. He refused the chancellor seal.
59
冬十二月，加九錫之禮，朝會不拜。 固讓九錫。
Winter: Nine tins—stood straight at audience. He refused the nine insignia.
60
二年春正月，天子命帝立廟于洛陽，置左右長史，增掾屬、舍人滿十人，歲舉掾屬任御史、秀才各一人，增官騎百人，鼓吹十四人，封子肜平樂亭侯，倫安樂亭侯。 帝以久疾不任朝請，每有大事，天子親幸第以諮訪焉。
Spring year two: Luoyang ancestral shrine, full clerical staff, ten advisors, yearly recommendations, hundred escorts, fourteen pipes—sons Rong and Lun petty marquises. Too ill for court—emperor rode to his gate for counsel.
61
兗州刺史令狐愚、、太尉王淩貳於帝，謀立楚王彪。
Yanzhou’s Linghu Yu and Wang Ling turned traitor—raising Prince Biao of Chu.
62
三年春正月，王淩詐言吳人塞涂水，請發兵以討之。 帝潛知其計，不聽。
Year three spring: Wang Ling lied Wu jammed Tu ford—begged arms. Sima Yi saw through it—denied arms.
63
夏四月，帝自帥中軍，汎舟沿流，九日而到甘城。 淩計無所出，乃迎於武丘，[11]面縛水次，曰：「淩若有罪，公當折簡召淩，何苦自來邪！」 帝曰：「以君非折簡之客故耳。」 即以淩歸于京師。 道經賈逵廟，淩呼曰：「賈梁道！ 王淩是大魏之忠臣，惟爾有神知之。」 至項，仰鴆而死。 收其餘黨，皆夷三族，并殺彪。 悉錄魏諸王公置于鄴，命有司監察，不得交關。
Fourth month: central army by river—nine days to Gancheng. Wang Ling yielded at Wuqiu—[11] ropes at landing—bitter that summons never came. You rate full expedition—not postcard summons. Marched Wang Ling east. At Jia Kui shrine Wang Ling screamed for Liangdao. Wang Ling stayed Wei loyal—only shrine ghosts testify. At Xiang he swallowed poison. Purged networks—three kin wipes—and Prince Biao. Caged Wei royalty at Ye—wardens barred intrigue.
64
天子遣侍中韋誕持節勞軍于五池。 帝至自甘城，天子又使兼大鴻臚、太僕庾嶷持節，策命帝為相國，封安平郡公，孫及兄子各一人為列侯，前後食邑五萬戶，侯者十九人。 固讓相國、郡公不受。
Wei Dan brought wine to Wuchi camp. Second investiture: minister of state, Anping duke, nineteen marquis slots—fifty thousand households. Refused duke and minister posts.
65
六月，帝寢疾，夢賈逵、王淩為祟，甚惡之。 秋八月戊寅，崩於京師，時年七十三。 天子素服臨弔，喪葬威儀依漢霍光故事，追贈相國、郡公。 弟孚表陳先志，辭郡公及轀輬車。
Summer sixth: nightmares of Jia Kui and Wang Ling. Died Luoyang seventy-three. The emperor wore mourning and oversaw rites on the Huo Guang model—then piled minister of state and duke honors on the dead. Sima Fu cited Sima Yi’s will—refusing ducal rank and the ornate burial cart.
66
九月庚申，葬于河陰，諡曰文，後改諡宣文。 [12]先是，預作終制，於首陽山為土藏，不墳不樹； 作顧命三篇，斂以時服，不設明器，後終者不得合葬。 一如遺命。 晉國初建，追尊曰宣王。 武帝受禪，上尊號曰宣皇帝，陵曰高原，廟稱高祖。
Buried Heyin—first Wen then Xu Wen. [12] Pre-dug Shouyang grave—flat earth—no mound trees; three wills—seasonal shroud—no mingqi—no later joint burial. Burial obeyed will. Jin raised him King Xuan. Yan crowned him Emperor Xuan—Gaoyuan tomb—Gaozu temple.
67
帝內忌而外寬，猜忌多權變。 魏武察帝有雄豪志，聞有狼顧相，欲驗之。 乃召使前行，令反顧，面正向後而身不動。 又嘗夢三馬同食一槽，甚惡焉。 因謂太子丕曰：「司馬懿非人臣也，必預汝家事。」 太子素與帝善，每相全佑，故免。 帝於是勤於吏職，夜以忘寢，至於芻牧之間，悉皆臨履，由是魏武意遂安。 及平公孫文懿，大行殺戮。 誅曹爽之際，支黨皆夷及三族，男女無少長，姑姊妹女子之適人者皆殺之，既而竟遷魏鼎云。 明帝時，王導侍坐。 帝問前世所以得天下，導乃陳帝創業之始，及文帝末高貴鄉公事。 明帝以面覆牀曰：「若如公言，晉祚復安得長遠！」 迹其猜忍，蓋有符於狼顧也。
Inside jealous—outside mild—paranoia masked. Cao Cao tested wolf-turn rumor. Ordered forward—snap neck—wolf stare. Dreamed three horses one trough—dread. Warned Pi: Sima Yi exceeds minister—will seize house. Pi shielded him—survived. Burned ledgers nightly—Cao Cao relaxed. Liaodong butcher block. Shuang purge erased kin—even married women—then stole Wei. Emperor Ming of Jin held Wang Dao beside him. Ming asked Jin’s rise—Wang Dao traced Sima Yi through Gaoguixiang coup. Ming hid face—such origins doom longevity! His cruelty matched wolf stare.
68
制曰：夫天地之大，黎元為本； 邦國之貴，元首為先。 治亂無常，興亡有運。 是故五帝之上，居萬乘以為憂； 三王已來，處其憂而為樂。 競智力，爭利害，大小相吞，強弱相襲。 逮乎魏室，三方鼎峙，干戈不息，氛霧交飛。 宣皇以天挺之姿，應期佐命，文以纘治，武以棱威。 用人如在己，求賢若不及； 情深阻而莫測，性寬綽而能容。 和光同塵，與時舒卷，戢鱗潛翼，思屬風雲。 飾忠于已詐之心，延安于將危之命。 觀其雄略內斷，英猷外決，殄公孫於百日，擒孟達於盈旬，自以兵動若神，謀無再計矣。 既而擁眾西舉，與諸葛相持。 抑其甲兵，本無鬭志，遺其巾幗，方發憤心。 杖節當門，雄圖頓屈，請戰千里，詐欲示威。 且秦蜀之人，勇懦非敵，夷險之路，勞逸不同，以此爭功，其利可見。 而返閉軍固壘，莫敢爭鋒，生怯實而未前，死疑虛而猶遁，良將之道，失在斯乎！ 文帝之世，輔翼權重，許昌同蕭何之委，崇華甚霍光之寄。 當謂竭誠盡節，伊傅可齊。 及明帝將終，棟樑是屬，受遺二主，佐命三朝，既承忍死之託，曾無殉生之報。 天子在外，內起甲兵，陵土未乾，遽相誅戮，貞臣之體，寧若此乎！ 盡善之方，以斯為惑。 夫征討之策，豈東智而西愚？ 輔佐之心，何前忠而後亂？ 故晉明掩面，恥欺偽以成功； 石勒肆言，笑姦回以定業。 古人有云，「積善三年，知之者少； 為惡一日，聞于天下」，可不謂然乎！ 雖自隱過當年，而終見嗤後代。 亦猶竊鍾掩耳，以眾人為不聞； 銳意盜金，謂市中為莫覩。 故知貪于近者則遺遠，溺于利者則傷名； 若不損己以益人，則當禍人而福己。 順理而舉易為力，背時而動難為功。 況以未成之晉基，逼有餘之魏祚？ 雖復道格區宇，德被蒼生，而天未啟時，寶位猶阻，非可以智競，不可以力爭，雖則慶流後昆，而身終於北面矣。
Edict: realm rests on people; state treasures ruler. Times turn—fate shifts. Five emperors ruled anxious; three kings sought joy in care. Brains and blades—swallow or be swallowed. Wei era—three kingdoms—war-smoke. Xuan paired mandate—civil weave—martial awe. He treated appointments like personal errands and chased worthy men as if always too late. His feelings ran dark and impossible to read; his manner stayed broad enough to absorb insult. Merged dust—hid claws—waited storm. Feigned loyalty—bought time. Shuang feats—Yuan hundred days—Da ten—thought genius flawless. West face Zhuge—stalemate. Women’s ribbons—shame battle. Xin Pi gate—fake rage. Shu vs Wei terrain uneven odds. Stalled behind walls—cowardice mistaken prudence! Regency rivaled Xiao He-Huo Guang. Should match Yi Yin purity. Two deathbeds—three reigns—no martyr payment. Emperor absent—Luoyang coup—fresh tomb—bloodbath—loyalty? Perfection veils doubt. Wise east foolish west? Same heart? Ming hid eyes—shamed fraud victory; Shi Le mocked Jin hypocrisy. The proverb runs—three years of hidden good go unseen; evil loud! Hidden sins mocked later. Like the bell thief plugging his ears— gold thief blind. Greed for what is near forfeits what is far; hurt others gain self. Move with the pattern and effort comes easily; How much more when Jin’s foundation was still unbuilt and it pressed against a Wei mandate that yet had life in it? Heaven withheld throne—died Wei subject.
69
南陽太守同郡楊俊「南陽」，各本皆作「南郡」。 錢大昕廿二史考異 〈以下簡稱考異〉 ：「魏志俊為南陽太守，非南郡。」 今據改。
Collation: editions wrongly print Nan commandery for Nanyang. Scholarly title: Qian Daxin’s collation. 〈Abbreviated hereafter as Kǎoyì.〉 Wei zhi: Nanyang not Nan jun. Text amended.
70
屯田在潁川者逼近南寇張熷讀史舉正 〈以下簡稱舉正〉 ：「南寇」謂吳，潁川未為逼近，資治通鑑 〈以下簡稱通鑑〉 六八作「漢川」，是也。
Note heading: Zhang Zeng Jǔzhèng. 〈Abbreviated hereafter as Jǔzhèng.〉 Wu rival—Yingchuan wrong—Tongjian 〈Abbreviated hereafter as Tongjian.〉 The Tongjian at scroll 68 reads “Han river basin,” which is correct.
71
為木柵以自固何超晉書音義 〈以下簡稱音義〉 「木柵」作「水柵」。
He Chao Yīnyì. 〈Abbreviated hereafter as Yīnyì.〉 Some manuscripts read “water palisade” instead.
72
都督雍梁二州諸軍事據三國志魏志以下僅稱魏志、蜀志或吳志。 陳留王紀，梁州置於景元四年十二月，在此後三十餘年。 司馬懿督二州係代曹真，景初三年趙儼代懿，魏志曹真傳、趙儼傳都作「雍涼」。 疑當從魏志。
The line cites the Records of Wei alone—the standard abbreviation used below. Liangzhou dated later decades. Yi succeeded Zhen—Yan succeeded Yi—text Yong-Liang. Editors conclude the text should align with the Wei zhi.
73
食可幾米太平御覽 〈以下簡稱御覽〉 三七八引魏明帝詔曹植云「食幾許米」，幾許即幾何，為漢魏常語，「幾」下疑當有「許」字。
Citation line: Taiping yulan gloss on rice ration. 〈Abbreviated hereafter as Yulan.〉 Yulan quotes Mingdi: ji-xu mi parallels ji-he—variant drops xu.
74
武都氐王苻雙強端帥其屬六千餘人來降據蜀志張嶷傳、華陽國志七，武都氐王苻健降蜀，其弟率眾就魏。 苻雙並非氐王，疑「王」字衍。
Scholia: Zhang Yi records Fu Jian to Shu, brother to Wei—names diverge. Fu Shuang likely lacked wang title—ghost graph.
75
又修諸陂於潁之南北萬餘頃吳仕鑑晉書斠注 〈以下簡稱斠注〉 ：食貨志作「大治諸陂于潁南潁北，穿渠三百餘里，溉田二萬頃」。 紀文「萬餘頃」上似脫「溉田」二字。
Heading: Wu Shijian Zhu commentary. 〈Abbreviated hereafter as Zhu.〉 Monograph counts twenty thousand qing irrigation. Annals omits gai tian before wan.
76
壽陽至於京師「壽陽」，食貨志作「壽春」。 按：東晉時始改壽春為壽陽，此處當作「壽春」。 書中壽春、壽陽雜出，類此以下不再校。
Variant Shouyang vs Shouchun. Anachronism: use Shouchun for Wei era. Editors waive exhaustive collation.
77
駑馬戀短豆武英殿本 〈以下簡稱殿本〉 及魏志曹爽傳注引干寶晉紀、資治通鑑七五「短豆」作「棧豆」，御覽八九五引干寶晉紀作「芻豆」。
Palace block imprint heading. 〈Abbreviated hereafter as Dianben.〉 Variants duan dou vs zhan dou vs chu dou.
78
武丘魏志王淩傳、通鑑七五作「丘頭」。 魏志文帝紀甘露三年「魏帝命改丘頭曰武丘」，高貴鄉公紀同。 改名在後，此時當作「丘頭」。
Place-name Wuqiu vs Qiutou. Later imperial rename explains gloss. Chronology demands Qiutou.
79
諡曰文後改諡宣文各本皆作「諡曰文貞，後改諡文宣」。 考異：「按禮志，魏朝初諡宣帝為文侯，景帝為武侯。 文王表不宜與二祖同，於是改諡宣文、忠武。 然則初諡文，無『貞』字也。 禮志及文帝紀並稱舞陽宣文侯，宋書禮志同。 此云『文宣』，亦轉寫之誤。」 今據改。
Witnesses read Wen-zhen then Wen-Xuan. Rites list original Wen marquis. Titles shifted to Xuanwen Zhongwu. Original lacked zhen. Parallel texts say Xuan Wen hou. Wen-Xuan is copy error. Corrected per collation.