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王沈
Biography of Wang Shen.
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王沈，字處道，太原晉陽人也。 祖柔，漢匈奴中郎將。 父機，魏東郡太守。 沈少孤，養于從叔司空昶，事昶如父。 奉繼母寡嫂以孝義稱。 好書，善屬文。 大將軍曹爽辟為掾，累遷中書門下侍郎。 及爽誅，以故吏免。 後起為治書侍御史，轉秘書監。 正元中，遷散騎常侍、侍中，典著作。 與荀顗、阮籍共撰《魏書》，多為時諱，未若陳壽之實錄也。
Wang Shen, whose courtesy name was Chudao, came from Jinyang in Taiyuan commandery. His grandfather Wang Rou had served the Han as Colonel of the Xiongnu. His father Wang Ji had been Wei’s administrator of Dong commandery. Wang Shen lost his parents while still young and was brought up by his cousin, the Minister of Works Wang Chang, whom he honored as he would a father. He cared devotedly for his stepmother and his widowed sister-in-law and won a reputation for filial duty and decency. He was a devoted reader and a skilled writer. The grand general Cao Shuang appointed him to his staff, and he rose step by step to the post of gentleman attendant at the palace gate under the Secretariat. After Cao Shuang was put to death, Wang Shen was removed from office as one of his former retainers. He was later recalled as assistant clerk for judicial documents, then promoted to director of the imperial library. During the Zhengyuan era he rose to regular cavalier attendant and palace attendant and took charge of historiographical compilation. With Xun Yi and Ruan Ji he co-authored the Book of Wei, but it bowed so often to contemporary sensitivities that it fell short of Chen Shou’s straightforward annals.
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時魏高貴鄉公好學有文才，引沈及裴秀數於東堂講宴屬文，號沈為文籍先生，秀為儒林丈人。 及高貴鄉公將攻文帝，召沈及王業告之，沈、業馳白帝，以功封安平侯，邑二千戶。 沈既不忠於主，甚為眾論所非。
The Wei ruler, the Duke of Gaoguixiang, was studious and literary; he repeatedly summoned Wang Shen and Pei Xiu to the Eastern Hall for discourses, banquets, and composition, dubbing Shen “Master of the Archives” and Xiu “Patriarch of the Confucian scholars.” When the Duke of Gaoguixiang prepared to move against Sima Zhao, he called in Wang Shen and Wang Ye; the two men rode at once to warn Sima Zhao. For that service Wang Shen was made marquis of Anping with a fief of two thousand households. Because he had betrayed his sovereign, Wang Shen was roundly condemned in court and country.
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尋遷尚書，出監豫州諸軍事、奮武將軍、豫州刺史。 至鎮，乃下教曰：「自古賢聖，樂聞誹謗之言，聽輿人之論，芻蕘有可錄之事，負薪有廊廟之語故也。 自至鎮日，未聞逆耳之言，豈未明虛心，故令言者有疑。 其宣下屬城及士庶，若能舉遺逸于林藪，黜奸佞于州國，陳長吏之可否，說百姓之所患，興利除害，損益昭然者，給穀五百斛。 若達一至之言，說刺史得失，朝政寬猛，令剛柔得適者，給穀千斛。 謂餘不信，明如皎日。」 主簿陳廞、褚䂮曰：「奉省教旨，伏用感歎。 勞謙日昃，思聞苦言。 愚謂上之所好，下無不應。 而近未有極諫之辭，遠無傳言之箴者，誠得失之事將未有也。 今使教命班下，示以賞勸，將恐拘介之士，或憚賞而不言； 貪賕之人，將慕利而妄舉。 苟不合宜，賞不虛行，則遠聽者未知當否之所在，徒見言之不用，謂設有而不行。 愚以告下之事，可小須後。」
He was soon advanced to minister, then sent out to oversee the armies of Yu province as General Who Inspires Might and provincial inspector. On arriving at his command he promulgated an edict: ‘Since ancient times, the wise have welcomed blunt criticism and heeded what common people say—grass-cutters may offer something worth recording, and wood-gatherers may speak to the needs of the state.’ ‘Since I took up this post I have heard no unwelcome truths; perhaps I have failed to show that I truly wish to listen, and so would-be advisers hold back.’ ‘Publish this to every county seat and to scholars and commoners alike: anyone who can bring forward recluses from the wilds, expose villains in office, judge local magistrates fairly, voice the people’s grievances, or propose clear measures to help the region and curb abuse shall receive five hundred hu of grain.’ ‘If someone offers a truly penetrating judgment—on my own performance as inspector, or on whether central policy strikes the right balance between severity and leniency—the reward shall be one thousand hu of grain.’ ‘As for my sincerity, let the bright sun be witness.’ ’ His chief clerks Chen Xin and Chu Lüe replied, ‘We have read your instruction and are deeply moved.’ ‘You weary yourself with humble diligence and long to hear plain, unwelcome counsel.’ ‘We would observe that subjects always take their cue from what their superiors favor.’ ‘Yet we see no blunt remonstrance close at hand and no far-reaching warnings from afar—perhaps there truly are no issues of right and wrong to report.’ ‘If we now publish this offer of grain, scrupulous men may keep silent for fear of seeming to seek a prize.’ ‘While the corrupt will invent accusations to chase the reward.’ ‘If advice is poor and no bounty is paid without cause, onlookers will still not grasp what was amiss; they will only see counsel spurned and conclude the measure was proclaimed but never implemented.’ ‘We therefore ask that the promulgation of this policy be deferred a little.’
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沈又教曰：「夫德薄而位厚，功輕而祿重，貪夫之所徇，高士之所不處也。 若陳至言于刺史，興益於本州，達幽隱之賢，去祝鮀之佞，立德於上，受分於下，斯乃君子之操，何不言之有！ 直言至理，忠也。 惠加一州，仁也。 功成辭賞，廉也。 兼斯而行，仁智之事，何故懷其道而迷其國哉！」 褚䂮復白曰：「堯、舜、周公所以能致忠諫者，以其款誠之心著也。 冰炭不言，而冷熱之質自明者，以其有實也。 若好忠直，如冰炭之自然，則諤諤之臣，將濟濟而盈庭； 逆耳之言，不求而自至。 若德不足以配唐虞，明不足以並周公，實不可以同冰炭，雖懸重賞，忠諫之言未可致也。 昔魏絳由和戎之功，蒙女樂之賜，管仲有興齊之勳，而加上卿之禮，功勳明著，然後賞勸隨之。 未聞張重賞以待諫臣，懸穀帛以求盡言也。」 沈無以奪之，遂從䂮議。
Wang Shen issued another instruction: ‘High office with meager virtue, and rich stipends for slight achievement—such things attract the grasping but repel the principled.’ ‘Speak the hard truth to your inspector, strengthen this province, lift up recluses of talent, drive out flatterers like Zhu Tuo, let superiors win moral authority and subordinates earn their due—that is how gentlemen behave; who could then refuse to speak up?’ ‘Plain speech that hits the mark is loyalty.’ ‘A policy that blesses the whole province is benevolence.’ ‘To achieve much yet decline reward is integrity.’ ‘Practice all of this and you unite humanity and wisdom—why clutch your principles in private and leave the realm adrift?’ ’ Chu Lüe replied again: ‘Yao, Shun, and the Duke of Zhou won honest counsel because their own sincerity was unmistakable.’ ‘Ice and charcoal need not speak: their cold and heat are obvious because they are real.’ ‘If you truly love blunt integrity as naturally as ice is cold and fire hot, forthright officials will throng your hall.’ ‘Unwelcome truths will come unbidden.’ ‘But if one’s virtue cannot rival the sage-kings of antiquity nor one’s discernment match the Duke of Zhou—if one lacks that elemental clarity—then no heap of grain will buy loyal criticism.’ ‘In old days Wei Jiang was given musicians after pacifying the Rong; Guan Zhong was honored as chief minister after restoring Qi—rewards followed proven achievement.’ ‘I have never heard of posting grain and silk to purchase advice before any deed is done.’ Wang Shen could not refute him and accepted Chu Lüe’s recommendation.
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沈探尋善政，案賈逵以來法制禁令，諸所施行，擇善者而從之。 又教曰：「後生不聞先王之教，而望政道日興，不可得也。 文武並用，長久之道也。 俗化陵遲，不可不革。 革俗之要，實在敦學。 昔原伯魯不悅學，閔馬父知其必亡。 將吏子弟，優閑家門，若不教之，必致遊戲，傷毀風俗矣。」 於是九郡之士，咸悅道教，移風易俗。
Wang Shen studied effective administration, reviewed statutes and bans in force since Jia Kui’s time, and adopted the best of what earlier regimes had tried. He further instructed: ‘If the young never hear the teaching of the ancient kings, you cannot expect government to improve day by day.’ ‘Civil and military arts must work together—that is how a state endures.’ ‘Popular morals are sliding; reform is unavoidable.’ ‘The heart of moral renewal is serious education.’ ‘When Yuan Bolu of old disdained study, Min Mafu foretold his ruin.’ ‘Officers’ sons idle at home; left untaught they turn to dissipation and poison local custom.’ After that, educated men across the nine commanderies embraced his educational policy, and customs began to change for the better.
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遷征虜將軍、持節、都督江北諸軍事。 五等初建，封博陵侯，班在次國。 平蜀之役，吳人大出，聲為救蜀，振盪邊境，沈鎮禦有方，寇聞而退。 轉鎮南將軍。 武帝即王位，拜御史大夫，守尚書令，加給事中。 沈以才望，顯名當世，是以創業之事，羊祜、荀勖、裴秀、賈充等，皆與沈諮謀焉。
He was promoted to General Who Conquers Captives, given the imperial baton, and made area commander of all forces north of the Yangzi. When the five grades of nobility were first instituted, he became marquis of Boling, listed among the second-tier fiefs. During the conquest of Shu, Wu sent a large force toward the frontier on the pretext of aiding Shu; Wang Shen organized the defense so skillfully that the enemy withdrew without a fight. He was reassigned as General Who Guards the South. When Sima Yan took the title of king, Wang Shen was named grandee secretary, acting director of the secretariat, with additional duty as palace attendant. His talent and prestige made him a leading figure of the day, so Yang Hu, Xun Xu, Pei Xiu, Jia Chong, and others all sought his counsel as the new dynasty took shape.
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及帝受禪，以佐命之勳，轉驃騎將軍、錄尚書事，加散騎常侍，統城外諸軍事。 封博陵郡公，固讓不受，乃進爵為縣公，邑千八百戶。 帝方欲委以萬機，薨。 帝素服舉哀，賜秘器朝服一具、衣一襲、錢三十萬、布百匹、葬田一頃，諡曰元。 明年，帝追思沈勳，詔曰：「夫表揚往行，所以崇賢垂訓，慎終紀遠，厚德興教也。 故散騎常侍、驃騎將軍、博陵元公沈蹈禮居正，執心清粹，經綸墳典，才識通洽。 入歷常伯納言之位，出幹監牧方岳之任，內著謀猷，外宣威略。 建國設官，首登公輔，兼統中朝，出納大命，實有翼亮佐世之勳。 其贈沈司空公，以寵靈既往，使沒而不朽。 又前以翼贊之勳，當受郡公之封，而固辭懇至，嘉其讓德，不奪其志。 可以郡公官屬送葬。 沈素清儉，不營產業。 其使所領兵作屋五十間。」 子浚嗣。 後沈夫人荀氏卒，將合葬，沈棺櫬已毀，更賜東園秘器。 咸寧中，復追封沈為郡公。
After Sima Yan accepted the Wei abdication, Wang Shen was rewarded for his role in the transition with promotion to General of Agile Cavalry, recorder of the secretariat, concurrent regular cavalier attendant, and command of all troops outside the capital. He was offered the ducal title for Boling commandery but firmly declined, accepting instead advancement to county duke with a fief of eighteen hundred households. The emperor was on the verge of handing him the full burden of state when Wang Shen died. The emperor wore mourning dress for him, granted imperial coffin fittings, a full set of court robes, another suit, three hundred thousand cash, a hundred bolts of cloth, and one qing of burial land, and gave him the posthumous name Yuan (“Primordial”). The following year, remembering Wang Shen’s service, the emperor issued an edict: ‘To honor past conduct is to exalt the worthy, instruct posterity, give the dead their due, and teach generosity.’ ‘The late Regular Cavalier Attendant and General of Agile Cavalry, Duke Yuan of Boling, walked the path of ritual and integrity, kept a lucid mind, mastered the classics, and united broad talent with sound judgment.’ ‘At court he held offices that brought counsel to the throne; in the provinces he governed regions and armies; within the capital he framed policy, on the borders he projected authority.’ ‘When the new dynasty was founded he was among the first chief ministers, directed the central government, and conveyed the sovereign’s commands—truly he helped steady the realm.’ ‘Posthumously appoint him Minister of Works so that imperial favor may follow him beyond the grave and his name endure.’ ‘He had earned a commandery dukedom for aiding the throne yet begged to decline it; we honored his modesty and did not force the higher title on him.’ ‘Let his funeral be conducted with the escort due a commandery duke.’ Wang Shen had always lived plainly and accumulated no property. ‘Order the soldiers under his command to erect fifty rooms’ (for his household). ’ His son Wang Jun inherited the title. Later, when Lady Wang née Xun died and was to be buried with him, his original coffin had decayed, so the court again granted Eastern Garden burial fittings. During Xianning he was posthumously raised again to commandery duke.
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子浚
His son Wang Jun.
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=浚字彭祖。 母趙氏婦，良家女也，貧賤，出入沈家，遂生浚，沈初不齒之。 年十五，沈薨，無子，親戚共立浚為嗣，拜駙馬都尉。 太康初，與諸王侯俱就國。 三年來朝，除員外散騎侍郎。 元康初，轉員外常侍，遷越騎校尉、右軍將軍。 出補河內太守，以郡公不得為二千石，轉東中郎將，鎮許昌。
Wang Jun, courtesy name Pengzu (table line). His mother was a poor but respectable young woman surnamed Zhao who frequented the Wang household and bore Wang Jun there; Wang Shen at first refused to acknowledge the boy. When Wang Jun was fifteen, Wang Shen died without a legitimate son; the clan made him heir, and he was appointed commandant of the imperial son-in-law’s escort. Early in Taikang he went to his fief along with the other princes and nobles. In the third year of the era he attended court and was named supernumerary gentleman cavalier attendant. At the opening of Yuankang he moved to supernumerary regular attendant, then rose to colonel of the agile cavalry and general of the right army. He was sent out as administrator of Henei, but a commandery duke could not legally hold a two-thousand-shi post, so he was reassigned as general of the central army of the east and stationed at Xuchang.
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及愍懷太子幽于許昌，浚承賈后旨，與黃門孫慮共害太子。 遷寧北將軍、青州刺史。 尋徙寧朔將軍、持節、都督幽州諸軍事。 于時朝廷昏亂，盜賊蜂起，浚為自安之計，結好夷狄，以女妻鮮卑務勿塵，又以一女妻蘇恕延。
After Crown Prince Minhuai was imprisoned at Xuchang, Wang Jun carried out Empress Jia’s orders and, with the eunuch Sun Lü, murdered the heir. He was promoted to General Who Pacifies the North and inspector of Qing province. Shortly afterward he was reassigned as General Who Stabilizes the Northern Marches, was given the imperial baton, and took overall command of military affairs in You province. With the court in turmoil and banditry spreading, Wang Jun sought his own safety by allying with non-Chinese peoples: he married a daughter to the Xianbei chief Wuwuchen and another to Su Shuyan.
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及趙王倫篡位，三王起義兵，浚擁眾挾兩端，遏絕檄書，使其境內士庶不得赴義，成都王穎欲討之而未暇也。 倫誅，進號安北將軍。 及河間王顒、成都王穎興兵內向，害長沙王乂，而浚有不平之心。 穎表請幽州刺史石堪為右司馬，以右司馬和演代堪，密使演殺浚，並其眾。 演與烏丸單于審登謀之，於是與浚期遊薊城南清泉水上。 薊城內西行有二道，演浚各從一道。 演與浚欲合鹵簿，因而圖之。 值天暴雨，兵器沾濕，不果而還。 單于由是與其種人謀曰：「演圖殺浚，事垂克而天卒雨，使不得果，是天助浚也。 違天不祥，我不可久與演同。」 乃以謀告浚。 浚密嚴兵，與單于圍演。 演持白幡詣浚降，遂斬之，自領幽州。 大營器械，召務勿塵，率胡晉合二萬人，進軍討穎。 以主溥祁弘為前鋒，遇穎將石超于平棘，擊敗之。 浚乘勝遂克鄴城，士眾暴掠，死者甚多。 鮮卑大略婦女，浚命敢有挾藏者斬，於是沉于易水者八千人。 黔庶荼毒，自此始也。
When Sima Lun seized the throne, the three princes rose in revolt; Wang Jun played both sides, blocked their proclamations from his domain, and kept local gentry and commoners from joining the loyalists. Sima Ying of Chengdu wished to punish him but lacked the opportunity. After Sima Lun was put to death, Wang Jun received the higher title General Who Pacifies the North. When Sima Yong of Hejian and Sima Ying of Chengdu marched on the capital and killed Sima Yi of Changsha, Wang Jun nursed a grievance against them. Sima Ying petitioned to appoint Shi Kan, inspector of You, as his right major, then replaced Kan with He Yan as right major and secretly instructed He Yan to kill Wang Jun and seize his army. He Yan conspired with the Wuhuan chanyu Shen Deng and arranged an outing with Wang Jun to the Clear Spring south of Ji. Inside Ji, two roads ran westward; He Yan and Wang Jun each took one. He Yan planned to merge his ceremonial escort with Wang Jun’s and strike during the confusion. A sudden downpour soaked their arms, and the attempt was abandoned. The chanyu then told his followers, ‘He Yan meant to kill Wang Jun; success was within reach when Heaven sent this rain and foiled him—Heaven favors Wang Jun.’ ‘To fight Heaven’s intent is ill-omened; we cannot stay allied with He Yan.’ They revealed the plot to Wang Jun. Wang Jun secretly mobilized his forces and, with the chanyu, besieged He Yan. He Yan came to Wang Jun with a white flag of surrender; Wang Jun executed him anyway and took personal control of You province. He mass-produced arms, summoned Wuwuchen, and marched some twenty thousand Hu and Chinese troops against Sima Ying. He made his chief clerk Qi Hong the vanguard, met Sima Ying’s general Shi Chao at Pingji, and routed him. Following up his victory he seized Ye, where his troops ran wild with looting and slaughter. The Xianbei carried off women in great numbers; Wang Jun decreed death for anyone who concealed captives, and eight thousand people were drowned in the Yi River. The common people’s ordeal began in earnest at that point.
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浚還薊，聲實益盛。 東海王越將迎大駕，浚遣祁弘率烏丸突騎為先驅。 惠帝旋洛陽，轉浚驃騎大將軍、都督東夷河北諸軍事，領幽州刺史，以燕國增博陵之封。 懷帝即位，以浚為司空，領烏丸校尉，務勿塵為大單于。 浚又表封務勿塵遼西郡公，其別部大飄滑及其弟渴末別部大屠甕等皆為親晉王。
Back in Ji, Wang Jun’s power and reputation swelled further. When Sima Yue of Donghai prepared to escort the emperor back, Wang Jun dispatched Qi Hong at the head of Wuhuan mounted raiders as the advance guard. After Emperor Hui returned to Luoyang, Wang Jun was named grand general of agile cavalry, given command of the eastern tribes and Hebei, and kept his post as inspector of You, while the principality of Yan was added to his Boling fief. Emperor Huai appointed Wang Jun minister of works and colonel of the Wuhuan, while elevating Wuwuchen to great chanyu. Wang Jun further petitioned to make Wuwuchen duke of Liaoxi and to ennoble allied chiefs such as the great Piaohua of a collateral branch and Tuweng of Kemò’s band as “princes loyal to Jin.”
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永嘉中，石勒寇冀州，浚遣鮮卑文鴦討勒，勒走南陽。 明年，勒復寇冀州，刺史王斌為勒所害，浚又領冀州。 詔進浚為大司馬，加侍中、大都督、督幽冀諸軍事。 使者未及發，會洛京傾覆，浚大樹威令，專征伐，遣督護王昌、中山太守阮豹等，率諸軍及務勿塵世子疾陸眷，並弟文鴦、從弟末柸，攻石勒于襄國，勒率眾來距，昌逆擊敗之。 末柸逐北入其壘門，為勒所獲。 勒質末柸，遣間使來和，疾陸眷遂以鎧馬二百五十匹、金銀各一簏贖末柸，結盟而退。
During Yongjia, when Shi Le invaded Ji province, Wang Jun sent the Xianbei leader Wen Yang against him and drove him toward Nanyang. The following year Shi Le struck Ji again, killed Inspector Wang Bin, and Wang Jun assumed control of the province as well. The court promoted him to grand marshal, palace attendant, and overall commander of the forces of You and Ji. The messenger had not yet left when Luoyang fell; Wang Jun then ruled by fiat, waging war on his own authority. He sent Wang Chang, Ruan Bao of Zhongshan, and others with allied troops, Wuwuchen’s heir Jilujuan, Jilujuan’s brothers Wen Yang and Mobai, to besiege Shi Le at Xiangguo. Shi Le marched out to meet them, but Wang Chang defeated him in the field. Mobai pursued the retreating enemy into their camp and was taken prisoner by Shi Le. Shi Le kept Mobai as a hostage until Jilujuan sent secret envoys; Jilujuan then ransomed him with two hundred fifty armored horses and baskets of gold and silver, swore a pact, and withdrew.
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其後浚佈告天下，稱受中詔承制，乃以司空荀藩為太尉，光祿大夫荀組為司隸，大司農華薈為太常，中書令李絙為河南尹。 又遣祁弘討勒，及于廣宗。 時大霧，弘引軍就道，卒與勒遇，為勒所殺。 由是劉琨與浚爭冀州。 琨使宗人劉希還中山合眾，代郡、上谷、廣寧三郡人皆歸於琨。 浚患之，遂輟討勒之師，而與琨相距。 浚遣燕相胡矩督護諸軍，與疾陸眷並力攻破希。 驅略三郡士女出塞，琨不復能爭。
Wang Jun then issued a manifesto claiming a secret imperial order and appointed Xun Fan grand commandant, Xun Zu metropolitan superintendent, Hua Hui grand master of ceremonies, and Li Heng governor of Henan. He sent Qi Hong against Shi Le again, and Qi reached Guangzong. A heavy fog fell; Qi Hong marched onto the road, blundered into Shi Le, and was killed. Liu Kun and Wang Jun then vied for Ji province. Liu Kun sent his kinsman Liu Xi into Zhongshan to raise troops, and the populations of Dai, Shanggu, and Guangning rallied to him. Alarmed, Wang Jun broke off his campaign against Shi Le and turned to confront Liu Kun. Wang Jun sent Hu Ju, chancellor of Yan, to command the allied forces; with Jilujuan he crushed Liu Xi. They drove captives from the three commanderies beyond the frontier, and Liu Kun could no longer compete.
17
浚還，欲討勒，使棗嵩督諸軍屯易水，召疾陸眷，將與之俱攻襄國。 浚為政苛暴，將吏又貪殘，並廣占山澤，引水灌田，漬陷塚墓，調發殷煩，下不堪命，多叛入鮮卑。 從事韓咸切諫，浚怒，殺之。 疾陸眷自以前後違命，恐浚誅之。 勒亦遣使厚賂，疾陸眷等由是不應召。 浚怒，以重幣誘單于猗盧子右賢王日律孫，令攻疾陸眷，反為所破。
On his return Wang Jun planned another strike on Shi Le, stationed Zao Song with the army on the Yi, and summoned Jilujuan for a joint assault on Xiangguo. Wang Jun ruled with cruelty; his officers were rapacious. They seized hills and wetlands, diverted streams onto fields, and flooded ancestral graves, while endless levies broke the people, who fled in large numbers to the Xianbei. His aide Han Xian remonstrated bluntly; Wang Jun had him executed in a rage. Jilujuan had repeatedly defied him and feared Wang Jun would put him to death. Shi Le also sent lavish gifts, so Jilujuan and his kinsmen ignored Wang Jun’s call. Enraged, Wang Jun bribed Yituo’s son, the right worthy king Rilüsun, to attack Jilujuan, but Rilüsun was beaten instead.
18
時劉琨大為劉聰所迫，諸避亂遊士多歸於浚。 浚日以強盛，乃設壇告類，建立皇太子，備置眾官。 浚自領尚書令，以棗嵩、裴憲並為尚書，使其子居王宮，持節，領護匈奴中郎將，以妻舅崔毖為東夷校尉。 又使嵩監司冀并兗諸軍事、行安北將軍，以田徽為兗州，李惲為青州。 惲為石勒所殺，以薄盛代之。
Liu Kun was hard pressed by Liu Cong, and many refugee scholars flocked to Wang Jun. As his power grew he held a ritual at the high altar, proclaimed an heir apparent, and installed a full slate of officials. He took the directorate of the secretariat himself, named Zao Song and Pei Xian as secretaries, installed his son in the princely residence with the imperial baton as colonel of the Xiongnu, and made his brother-in-law Cui Bi colonel of the eastern tribes. He put Zao Song in charge of the armies of Si, Ji, Bing, and Yan with the acting title General Who Pacifies the North, appointed Tian Hui over Yan province and Li Yun over Qing. Li Yun fell to Shi Le and was replaced by Bo Sheng.
19
浚以父字處道，為「當塗高」應王者之讖，謀將僭號。 胡矩諫浚，盛陳其不可。 浚忿之，出矩為魏郡守。 前渤海太守劉亮、從子北海太守搏、司空掾高柔並切諫，浚怒，誅之。 浚素不平長史燕國王悌，遂因他事殺之。 時童謠曰：「十囊五囊入棗郎。」 棗嵩，浚之子婿也。 浚聞，責嵩而不能罪之也。 又謠曰：「幽州城門似藏戶，中有伏屍王彭祖。」 有狐踞府門，翟雉入聽事。 時燕國霍原，北州名賢，浚以僭位事示之，原不答，浚遂害之。 由是士人憤怨，內外無親。 以矜豪日甚，不親為政，所任多苛刻； 加亢旱災蝗，士卒衰弱。
Because his father’s courtesy name, Chudao (“dwelling in the Way”), echoed the prophecy that “the one who blocks the high road” would become king, he plotted to seize the imperial style. Hu Ju urged him at length not to do it. Wang Jun, furious, banished him to Wei commandery as administrator. Former Bohai governor Liu Liang, his nephew Bo of Beihai, and ministerial clerk Gao Rou all remonstrated sharply; Wang Jun executed them in anger. He had long resented his chief clerk Wang Ti of Yan and found another pretext to kill him. A children’s rhyme ran: “Bag after bag goes to Master Zao.” Zao Song was Wang Jun’s son-in-law. Wang Jun rebuked Zao Song but could not move against him. Another rhyme said: “Ji’s gate is like a tomb; inside lies the corpse of Wang Pengzu.” A fox perched on the yamen gate and a pheasant walked into the audience chamber. Huo Yuan of Yan was a leading scholar of the north; Wang Jun consulted him about usurpation, and when Huo Yuan refused to reply, Wang Jun had him killed. Gentry and officials turned against him, and he had no allies left inside or out. Growing ever more arrogant, he neglected government himself and staffed his regime with harsh men; drought and locusts wasted the land, and his soldiers wasted away.
20
浚之承制也，參佐皆內敘，唯司馬游統外出。 統怨，密與石勒通謀。 勒乃詐降于浚，許奉浚為主。 時百姓內叛，疾陸眷等侵逼。 浚喜勒之附己，勒遂為卑辭以事之。 獻遺珍寶，使驛相繼。 浚以勒為誠，不復設備。 勒乃遣使克日上尊號於浚，浚許之。
When Wang Jun assumed plenary powers, his staff were promoted at headquarters—except Major You Tong, who was posted away. You Tong nursed a grudge and secretly dealt with Shi Le. Shi Le pretended to submit and promised to acknowledge Wang Jun as his chief. The people were rising against him, and Jilujuan’s people pressed on his borders. Wang Jun welcomed Shi Le’s allegiance, and Shi Le humored him with obsequious letters. He sent a stream of couriers bearing rare gifts. Wang Jun believed him and dropped his guard. Shi Le then proposed a date to proclaim Wang Jun emperor; Wang Jun agreed.
21
勒屯兵易水，督護孫緯疑其詐，馳白浚，而引軍逆勒。 浚不聽，使勒直前。 眾議皆曰：「胡貪而無信，必有詐，請距之。」 浚怒，欲斬諸言者，眾遂不敢復諫。 盛張設以待勒。 勒至城，便縱兵大掠。 浚左右復請討之，不許。 及勒登聽事，浚乃走出堂皇，勒眾執以見勒。 勒遂與浚妻並坐，立浚於前。 浚罵曰：「胡奴調汝公，何凶逆如此！」 勒數浚不忠於晉，並責以百姓餒乏，積粟五十萬斛而不振給。 遂遣五百騎先送浚于襄國，收浚麾下精兵萬人，盡殺之。 停二日而還，孫緯遮擊之，勒僅而得免。 勒至襄國，斬浚，而浚竟不為之屈，大罵而死。 無子。
When Shi Le camped on the Yi, Supervising Protector Sun Wei smelled a trap, rode post-haste to warn Wang Jun, and led troops out to block him. Wang Jun refused to listen and ordered Shi Le’s column to advance unopposed. His officers said: “The barbarians are greedy and faithless; this is a ruse—keep them out.” Wang Jun threatened to execute anyone who objected, and they fell silent. He prepared an elaborate welcome for Shi Le. Shi Le reached the walls and let his men sack the city. His entourage again begged to strike; he refused. When Shi Le entered the audience hall, Wang Jun fled toward the inner court but was seized by Shi Le’s men and dragged before him. Shi Le sat beside Wang Jun’s wife while Wang Jun stood before them. Wang Jun shouted: “You barbarian slave, mocking your betters—what villainy!” Shi Le rebuked him for betraying the Jin, hoarding five hundred thousand hu of grain while the people starved. He sent five hundred horsemen to march Wang Jun to Xiangguo, rounded up his ten thousand elite troops, and slaughtered them. Two days later, on the return march, Sun Wei ambushed the column and Shi Le barely escaped. At Xiangguo Shi Le executed Wang Jun, who cursed him to the last breath. He left no heir.
22
，詔興滅繼絕，封沈從孫道素為博陵公。 卒，子崇之嗣。 ，改封東莞郡公。 宋受禪，國除。
The court issued an edict to restore fallen houses and enfeoffed Wang Shen’s great-grandnephew Wang Daosu as duke of Boling. When he died, his son Wang Chongzhi inherited the title. The fief was later changed to duke of Dongguan commandery. When the Liu-Song dynasty took the throne, the noble house was struck off.
23
荀顗
Biography of Xun Yi.
24
荀顗，字景倩，潁川人，魏太尉彧之第六子也。 幼為姊婿陳群所賞。 性至孝，總角知名，博學洽聞，理思周密。 魏時以父勳除中郎。 宣帝輔政，見顗奇之，曰：「荀令君之子也。」 擢拜散騎侍郎，累遷侍中。 為魏少帝執經，拜騎都尉，賜爵關內侯。 難鍾會《易》無互體，又與扶風王駿論仁孝孰先，見稱於世。
Xun Yi, courtesy name Jingqian, came from Yingchuan and was the sixth son of Wei’s grand commandant Xun Yu. As a boy he won the esteem of his brother-in-law Chen Qun. He was deeply filial, famous even as a child, widely read, and precise in argument. Under Wei he received a gentleman’s appointment on his father’s merit. When Sima Yi held power he met Xun Yi, marveled at him, and said, “This is the son of Director Xun.” He was raised to gentleman cavalier attendant and eventually to palace attendant. He tutored the Wei young emperor in the classics, was named commandant of cavalry, and received the rank of marquis within the passes. He disputed Zhong Hui’s view that the Zhou yi lacked “interlocking” trigrams, debated with Sima Jun of Fufeng whether benevolence or filial duty took precedence, and won renown.
25
時曹爽專權，何晏等欲害太常傅嘏，顗營救得免。 及高貴鄉公立，顗言于景帝曰：「今上踐阼，權道非常，宜速遣使宣德四方，且察外志。」 毌丘儉、文欽果不服，舉兵反。 顗預討儉等有功，進爵萬歲亭侯，邑四百戶。 文帝輔政，遷尚書。 帝征諸葛誕，留顗鎮守。 顗甥陳泰卒，顗代泰為僕射，領吏部，四辭而後就職。 顗承泰後，加之淑慎，綜核名實，風俗澄正。 咸熙中，遷司空，進爵鄉侯。
When Cao Shuang dominated the court, He Yan and his faction moved against Fu Gu; Xun Yi intervened and saved him. When Cao Mao came to the throne, Xun Yi told Sima Shi: “The new ruler’s accession is irregular; send envoys at once to proclaim your policy in every quarter and to gauge regional loyalties.” Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin soon rose in revolt, just as he had warned. For his part in suppressing the rebels he was advanced to marquis of Wansui hamlet with four hundred households. When Sima Zhao directed the government, Xun Yi was promoted to minister. Sima Zhao left him in charge at the capital during the campaign against Zhuge Dan. When his nephew Chen Tai died, Xun Yi succeeded him as vice director of the secretariat and head of the Ministry of Personnel after four refusals. Building on Chen Tai’s work, he ran the ministry with scrupulous care, matching appointments to real merit, and official conduct grew sound. During Xianxi he became minister of works and was raised to village marquis.
26
顗年逾耳順，孝養蒸蒸，以母憂去職，毀幾滅性，海內稱之。 文帝奏，宜依漢太傅胡廣喪母故事，給司空吉凶導從。 及蜀平，興復五等，命顗定禮儀。 顗上請羊祜、任愷、庾峻、應貞、孔顥共刪改舊文，撰定晉禮。
Past sixty, he cared for his parents with exemplary devotion; when mourning his mother he resigned and nearly wasted away—people everywhere praised him. Sima Zhao petitioned that, following the Han precedent for Hu Guang, the minister of works be granted full funeral escorts for both mourning and celebratory occasions. After Shu fell and the five noble ranks were revived, he was charged with drafting court ritual. He recommended Yang Hu, Ren Kai, Yu Jun, Ying Zhen, and Kong Hao to revise old precedents and codify Jin dynasty ritual.
27
咸熙初，封臨淮侯。 武帝踐阼，進爵為公，食邑一千八百戶。 又詔曰：「昔禹命九官，契敷五教，所以弘崇王化，示人軌儀也。 朕承洪業，昧于大道，思訓五品，以康四海。 侍中、司空顗，明允篤誠，思心通遠，翼亮先皇，遂輔朕躬，實有佐命弼導之勳。 宜掌教典，以隆時雍。 其以顗為司徒。」 尋加侍中，遷太尉、都督城外牙門諸軍事，置司馬親兵百人。 頃之，又詔曰：「侍中、太尉顗，溫恭忠允，至行純備，博古洽聞，耆艾不殆。 其以公行太子太傅，侍中、太尉如故。」
Early in Xianxi he was made marquis of Linhuai. When Sima Yan took the throne, Xun Yi was raised to duke with a fief of eighteen hundred households. Another edict declared: “When Yu appointed the nine ministers and Xie spread the five teachings, it was to magnify royal civilization and give the people a model. I have received a great mandate yet am still learning the Way; I wish to instruct the five relationships and bring peace to the realm. Palace Attendant and Minister of Works Xun Yi is discerning, loyal, and farsighted; he aided my late father and now supports me—true architect of our succession. He should oversee moral education and help harmonize the age. Appoint Xun Yi minister of education.” Soon afterward he was again palace attendant, promoted to grand commandant, given command of the outer garrisons, and allowed a staff major with a hundred household guards. A further edict read: “Palace Attendant and Grand Commandant Xun Yi is gentle, reverent, and loyal; his conduct is flawless; he is learned and still vigorous in old age. Let him serve as grand tutor to the heir apparent while retaining his posts as palace attendant and grand commandant.”
28
時以《正德》、《大豫》雅頌未合，命顗定樂。 事未終，以薨。 帝為舉哀，皇太子臨喪，二宮賻贈，禮秩有加。 詔曰：「侍中、太尉、行太子太傅、臨淮公顗，清純體道，忠允立朝，歷司外內，茂績既崇，訓傅東宮，徽猷弘著，可謂行歸於周，有始有卒者矣。 不幸薨殂，朕甚痛之。 其賜溫明秘器、朝服一具，衣一襲。 諡曰康。」 又詔曰：「太尉不恤私門，居無館宇，素絲之志，沒而彌顯。 其賜家錢二百萬，使立宅舍。」 咸寧初，詔論次功臣，將配饗宗廟。 所司奏顗等十二人銘功太常，配饗清廟。
Because the court hymns Zhengde and Dayu did not harmonize, he was ordered to revise the ritual music. He died before the work was done. The emperor mourned him, the crown prince attended the obsequies, and both palaces sent rich funeral gifts beyond the usual rank. The edict praised him: “Palace Attendant, Grand Commandant, acting grand tutor, Duke of Linhuai—pure in mind and faithful in service, he served both court and camp, achieved great deeds, and instructed the heir with distinction; his life matched the ancient standard from first to last. His death is a heavy blow to me. Grant him the jade-lined burial coffin, one full set of court robes, and another suit. His posthumous title is Kang (“Peaceful”).” Another edict noted: “The grand commandant ignored his own household, owned no fine residence, and his integrity shines all the brighter now that he is gone. Give his family two million cash to build a proper house.” Early in Xianning the court ranked the founding ministers for enshrinement in the ancestral temple. The ministry listed Xun Yi and eleven others to have their deeds recorded by the court of imperial sacrifices and to receive offerings in the high temple.
29
顗明《三禮》，知朝廷大儀，而無質直之操，唯阿意苟合于荀勖、賈充之間。 初，皇太子將納妃，顗上言賈充女姿德淑茂，可以參選，以此獲譏於世。
Xun Yi mastered the Three Rites and court ritual, yet lacked moral backbone, currying favor with Xun Xu and Jia Chong. When the heir was choosing a bride, Xun Yi praised Jia Chong’s daughter as virtuous and fit for selection, for which contemporaries mocked him.
30
顗無子，以從孫徽嗣。 中興初，以顗兄玄孫序為顗後，封臨淮公。 序卒，又絕，孝武帝又封序子恆繼顗後。 恆卒，子龍符嗣。 宋受禪，國除。
Childless, he named his grandnephew Xun Hui as heir. At the Eastern Jin restoration a great-grandnephew of Xun Yi’s elder brother, Xun Xu, was made his heir and enfeoffed as duke of Linhuai. When Xun Xu died without issue, Emperor Xiaowu made his son Xun Heng the next heir to Xun Yi’s line. Xun Heng was succeeded by his son Xun Longfu. The Liu-Song accession ended the noble line.
31
荀勖
Biography of Xun Xu.
32
荀勖，字公曾，潁川潁陰人，漢司空爽曾孫也。 祖棐，射聲校尉。 父肸，早亡。 勖依于舅氏。 岐嶷夙成，年十餘歲能屬文。 從外祖魏太傅鍾繇曰：「此兒當及其曾祖。」 既長，遂博學，達于從政。 仕魏，辟大將軍曹爽掾，遷中書通事郎。 爽誅，門生故吏無敢往者，勖獨臨赴，眾乃從之。 為安陽令，轉驃騎從事中郎。 勖有遺愛，安陽生為立祠。 遷廷尉正，參文帝大將軍軍事，賜爵關內侯，轉從事中郎，領記室。
Xun Xu, courtesy name Gongzeng, came from Yingyin in Yingchuan and was a great-grandson of the Han minister of works Xun Shuang. His grandfather Xun Fei had been colonel of the skilled archers. His father Xun Xi died while he was still young. He was raised by his mother’s family. Precocious, he could write polished essays before he was fifteen. His maternal grandfather, Wei grand tutor Zhong Yao, said, “This boy will rival his great-grandfather.” As an adult he became widely read and adept at administration. Under Wei he entered Cao Shuang’s staff as a clerk and rose to a secretariat post handling routine memorials. When Cao Shuang was executed, his former followers dared not mourn him; Xun Xu alone went, and others then followed his example. He served as magistrate of Anyang, then became an aide on the staff of the General of Agile Cavalry. The people of Anyang loved him and built a shrine in his honor. He rose to senior judge in the ministry of justice, joined Sima Zhao’s military staff, received the rank of marquis within the passes, and became an aide in charge of the headquarters secretariat.
33
高貴鄉公欲為變時，大將軍掾孫佑等守閶闔門。 帝弟安陽侯榦聞難欲入，佑謂榦曰：「未有入者，可從東掖門。」 及榦至，帝遲之，榦以狀白，帝欲族誅佑。 勖諫曰：「孫佑不納安陽，誠宜深責。 然事有逆順，用刑不可以喜怒為輕重。 今成倅刑止其身，佑乃族誅，恐義士私議。」 乃免佑為庶人。 時官騎路遺求為刺客入蜀，勖言於帝曰：「明公以至公宰天下，宜杖正義以伐違貳。 而名以刺客除賊，非所謂刑于四海，以德服遠也。」 帝稱善。
When Cao Mao planned his coup, Sun You and other aides of the grand general held the Changhe Gate. Cao Mao’s brother Cao Gan tried to rush in; Sun You told him, “No one has entered yet—use the eastern side gate.” Cao Gan arrived too late and explained what Sun You had done; Sima Zhao wanted to exterminate Sun You’s entire clan. Xun Xu argued: “Sun You certainly deserves harsh blame for turning Cao Gan away. But justice must follow the rights of the case, not the ruler’s mood. Cheng Cui was punished only in his own person; to wipe out Sun You’s whole clan would shock fair-minded men.” Sun You was reduced to commoner status instead. When a guardsman named Lu Yi volunteered to assassinate someone in Shu, Xun Xu told Sima Zhao: “You rule by fairness; you should strike rebels with open justice. Hired murder is not how you teach the empire law or win the far lands by virtue.” Sima Zhao agreed.
34
及鍾會謀反，審問未至，而外人先告之。 帝待會素厚，未之信也。 勖曰：「會雖受恩，然其性未可許以見得思義，不可不速為之備。」 帝即出鎮長安，主簿郭奕、參軍王深以勖是會從甥，少長舅氏，勸帝斥出之。 帝不納，而使勖陪乘，待之如初。 先是，勖啟「伐蜀，宜以衛瓘為監軍」。 及蜀中亂，賴瓘以濟。 會平，還洛，與裴秀、羊祜共管機密。
Word of Zhong Hui’s rebellion reached the court before official confirmation. Sima Zhao had long favored Zhong Hui and refused to believe the report. Xun Xu said: “Zhong Hui may be favored, but he is not the sort to choose duty over gain—we must arm against him at once.” Sima Zhao set out for Chang’an. Guo Yi and Wang Shen noted that Xun Xu was Zhong Hui’s cousin and had grown up in Zhong’s household, and urged his dismissal. Sima Zhao refused, kept Xun Xu in his carriage as before, and trusted him as ever. Earlier Xun Xu had recommended Wei Guan as army supervisor for the Shu campaign. When Shu erupted in mutiny, Wei Guan’s steadiness saved the situation. After Zhong Hui fell he returned to Luoyang and, with Pei Xiu and Yang Hu, directed confidential affairs of state.
35
時將發使聘吳，並遣當時文士作書與孫皓，帝用勖所作。 皓既報命和親，帝謂勖曰：「君前作書，使吳思順，勝十萬之眾也。」 帝即晉王位，以勖為侍中，封安陽子，邑千戶。 武帝受禪，改封濟北郡公。 勖以羊祜讓，乃固辭為侯。 拜中書監，加侍中，領著作，與賈充共定律令。
When envoys were sent to Wu, leading scholars each drafted letters to Sun Hao; Sima Zhao chose Xun Xu’s version. After Sun Hao replied favorably, Sima Zhao told him, “Your letter did more to bring Wu to heel than an army of a hundred thousand.” When Sima Yan took the title of king of Jin, Xun Xu became palace attendant and marquis of Anyang with a thousand-household fief. After Sima Yan’s accession the fief was raised to duke of Jibei commandery. Following Yang Hu’s example he insisted on remaining a mere marquis. He was named director of the secretariat with concurrent posts as palace attendant and chief compiler, and with Jia Chong codified the legal code.
36
充將鎮關右也，勖謂馮紞曰：「賈公遠放，吾等失勢。 太子婚尚未定，若使充女得為妃，則不留而自停矣。」 勖與紞伺帝間並稱「充女才色絕世，若納東宮，必能輔佐君子，有《關雎》后妃之德。」 遂成婚。 當時甚為正直者所疾，而獲佞媚之譏焉。 久之，進位光祿大夫。 既掌樂事，又修律呂，並行於世。 初，勖于路逢趙賈人牛鐸，識其聲。 及掌樂，音韻未調，乃曰：「得趙之牛鐸則諧矣。」 遂下郡國，悉送牛鐸，果得諧者。 又嘗在帝坐進飯，謂在坐人曰：「此是勞薪所炊。」 咸未之信。 帝遣問膳夫，乃云：「實用故車腳。」 舉世伏其明識。 俄領秘書監，與中書令張華依劉向《別錄》，整理記籍。 又立書博士，置弟子教習，以鐘、胡為法。
When Jia Chong was ordered to the northwest, Xun Xu told Feng Dan, “If he leaves the capital we lose our footing. The heir’s marriage is still open—if Jia Chong’s daughter enters the Eastern Palace, his transfer will be dropped.” They waited on Sima Yan’s mood and praised Jia Chong’s daughter as incomparably gifted and beautiful, fit for the heir and worthy of the virtuous queens praised in the Guan ju ode.” The match was made. Men of principle despised him, and he was mocked as a flatterer. In time he was promoted to grand master of splendid carriage. As director of music he recalibrated the pitch standards, and his system was adopted at court. Once on the road he heard an ox bell from a Zhao merchant and remembered its tone. When court pitch proved out of tune, he said, “We need that Zhao ox bell to match the scale.” Orders went to every commandery to send ox bells until the matching tone was found. At an imperial meal he told the company, “This rice was cooked over seasoned firewood.” No one believed him. The emperor questioned the cook, who admitted using old cart axles for fuel. The court marveled at his acuity. He soon directed the imperial library and, with Zhang Hua, reorganized the archives on the model of Liu Xiang’s Bielu. He founded professorships in calligraphy with students drilled in the styles of Zhong Yao and Hu Zhao.
37
咸寧初，與石苞等並為佐命功臣，列于銘饗。 及王浚表請伐吳，勖與賈充固諫不可，帝不從，而吳果滅。 以專典詔命，論功封子一人為亭侯，邑一千戶，賜絹千匹。 又封孫顯為潁陽亭侯。
Early in Xianning he was named among the founding meritocrats honored in the temple inscriptions. When Wang Jun, the general who would lead the river assault on Wu, urged that campaign, Xun Xu and Jia Chong strongly opposed it; the emperor overruled them, and Wu fell as planned. For his monopoly on drafting imperial orders, one son was enfeoffed as village marquis with a thousand households and a thousand bolts of silk. His grandson Xian was also enfeoffed as marquis of Yingyang hamlet.
38
及得汲郡塚中古文竹書，詔勖撰次之，以為《中經》，列在秘書。
When the ancient bamboo texts were recovered from a Ji commandery tomb, he was ordered to edit them into the Zhong jing collection in the palace library.
39
時議遣王公之國，帝以問勖，勖對曰：「諸王公已為都督，而使之國，則廢方任。 又分割郡縣，人心戀本，必用嗷嗷。 國皆置軍，官兵還當給國，而闕邊守。」 帝重使勖思之，勖又陳曰：「如詔准古方伯選才，使軍國各隨方面為都督，誠如明旨。 至於割正封疆。 使親疏不同誠為佳矣。 然分裂舊土，猶懼多所搖動，必使人心聰擾，思惟竊宜如前。 若于事不得不時有所轉封，而不至分割土域，有所損奪者，可隨宜節度。 其五等體國經遠，實不成制度。 然但虛名，其於實事，略與舊郡縣鄉亭無異。 若造次改奪，恐不能不以為恨。 今方了其大者，以為五等可須後裁度。 凡事雖有久而益善者，若臨時或有不解，亦不可忽。」 帝以勖言為允，多從其意。
When the court debated sending imperial princes to their fiefs, Xun Xu answered: “They already hold regional commands; packing them off to their kingdoms would strip those posts. Carving up commanderies would uproot people attached to their homes and provoke widespread outcry. Each princely state would need troops drawn from the regular army, weakening frontier garrisons.” Asked again, he said: “Your plan to revive classical regional governors and align military with geographic commands is sound. But redrawing territorial boundaries to separate princes of the blood from more distant nobles would indeed be ideal yet dismantling existing provinces would unsettle the realm and stir popular unrest; I would rather keep the present arrangement. If transfers of fiefs become unavoidable, do them case by case without carving up whole territories or seizing land wholesale. The five ranks of nobility look impressive for the long term but do not yet form a workable system. In practice they are hollow titles—administration stays much like the old commandery, county, and township setup. Sudden revocations would breed lasting resentment. We are still settling larger issues; the five-rank system can wait for a later decision. Some reforms improve with time, but anything we do not fully grasp must not be rushed.” The emperor judged his advice sound and largely followed it.
40
時又議省州郡縣半吏以赴農功，勖議以為：
When the court debated halving local clerks to free labor for farming, Xun Xu submitted:
41
勖論議損益多此類。
Most of his policy papers balanced reform and caution in this vein.
42
太康中詔曰：「勖明哲聰達，經識天序，有佐命之功，兼博洽之才。 久典內任，著勳弘茂，詢事考言，謀猷允誠。 宜登大位，毗贊朝政。 今以勖為光祿大夫、儀同三司、開府辟召，守中書監、侍中、侯如故。」 時太尉賈充、司徒李胤並薨，太子太傅又缺，勖表陳：「三公保傅，宜得其人。 若使楊珧參輔東宮，必當仰稱聖意。 尚書令衛瓘、吏部尚書山濤皆可為司徒。 若以瓘新為令未出者，濤即其人。」 帝並從之。
A Taikang-era edict declared: “Xun Xu is discerning, quick-witted, versed in cosmic pattern, a founding meritocrat, and a scholar of wide learning. Long entrusted with inner-court duties, he has earned great merit, weighs counsel carefully, and serves with loyal judgment. He should take higher office and help steer the government. He is named grand master of splendid carriage with three-ducal honors and the right to open his own bureau, while keeping the secretariat directorship, palace attendant post, and marquisate.” When Jia Chong and Li Yin died and the heir lacked a grand tutor, Xun Xu wrote: “The three elder statesmen who tutor the throne must be well chosen. If Yang Yao assists the Eastern Palace, he will satisfy your aims. Either Wei Guan, director of the secretariat, or Shan Tao, minister of personnel, can serve as minister of education. If Wei Guan cannot leave Luoyang because he is new as director, then Shan Tao is the man.” The emperor accepted every recommendation.
43
明年秋，諸州郡大水，兗土尤甚。 勖陳宜立都水使者。 其後門下啟通事令史伊羨、趙咸為舍人，對掌文法。 詔以問勖，勖曰：今天下幸賴陛下聖德，六合為一，望道化隆洽，垂之將來。 而門下上稱程咸、張惲，下稱此等，欲以文法為政，皆愚臣所未達者。 昔張釋之諫漢文，謂獸圈嗇夫不宜見用； 邴吉住車，明調和陰陽之本。 此二人豈不知小吏之惠，誠重惜大化也。 昔魏武帝使中軍司荀攸典刑獄，明帝時猶以付內常侍。 以臣所聞，明帝時唯有通事劉泰等官，不過與殿中同號耳。 又頃言論者皆云省官減事，而求益吏者相尋矣。 多云尚書郎太令史不親文書，乃委付書令史及幹，誠吏多則相倚也。 增置文法之職，適恐更耗擾台閣，臣竊謂不可。」
The following autumn floods struck many provinces, worst in Yan. He urged creation of a commissioner for water control. The Chancellery then nominated clerks Yi Xian and Zhao Xian as attendants to oversee legal paperwork in pairs. The emperor consulted him. Xun Xu replied: “Under your sage rule the realm is united; we look to moral influence that will last for generations.” Yet the Chancellery cites Cheng Xian and Zhang Yun and would run government by legal minutiae—something I cannot endorse.” Zhang Shizhi warned Han Wendi not to promote a mere park keeper; Bing Ji halted his carriage to teach that balancing yin and yang comes first; those men were not blind to petty convenience—they guarded the larger civilizing task. Cao Cao once put Xun You in charge of penal affairs; Mingdi still entrusted such work to inner eunuchs. In Mingdi’s day there were only general-affairs posts like Liu Tai’s—titles much like palace clerks. Everyone talks of cutting offices, yet requests for more clerks never stop. They say secretariat gentlemen leave paperwork to subclerks and aides—piling on clerks only breeds mutual slack. Adding legal specialists would only burden the ministries—I oppose it.”
44
時帝素知太子闇弱，恐後亂國，遣勖及和嶠往觀之。 勖還盛稱太子之德，而嶠云太子如初。 於是天下貴嶠而賤勖。 帝將廢賈妃，勖與馮紞等諫請，故得不廢。 時議以勖傾國害時，孫資、劉放之匹。 然性慎密，每有詔令大事，雖已宣佈，然終不言，不欲使人知己豫聞也。 族弟良曾勸勖曰：「公大失物情，有所進益者自可語之，則懷恩多矣。」 其婿武統亦說勖「宜有所營置，令有歸戴者」。 勖並默然不應，退而語諸子曰：「人臣不密則失身，樹私則背公，是大戒也。 汝等亦當宦達人間，宜識吾此意。」 久之，以勖守尚書令。
Knowing the heir was dull, the emperor sent Xun Xu and He Qiao to assess him. Xun Xu lavishly praised the prince; He Qiao reported that he was unchanged—still unfit. The world respected He Qiao and scorned Xun Xu. When the emperor considered deposing Empress Jia, Xun Xu and Feng Dan dissuaded him. Critics ranked him with Sun Zi and Liu Fang as men who had ruined a dynasty. Yet he was tight-lipped: even after major edicts were issued he never hinted that he had known beforehand. His cousin Xun Liang urged him to share news with allies so they would feel obliged. His son-in-law Wu Tong likewise told him to build a client network. Xun Xu stayed silent and later told his sons: “Loose talk ruins a minister; private factions betray the public—that is my rule. When you serve in the world, remember this.” Eventually he was named acting director of the secretariat.
45
勖久在中書，專管機事。 及失之，甚罔罔悵恨。 或有賀之者，勖曰：「奪我鳳皇池，諸君賀我邪！」 及在尚書，課試令史以下，核其才能，有暗于文法，不能決疑處事者，即時遣出。 帝嘗謂曰：「魏武帝言'荀文若之進善，不進不止； 荀公達之退惡，不退不休'。 二令君之美，亦望於君也。」 居職月餘，以母憂上還印綬，帝不許。 遣常侍周恢喻旨，勖乃奉詔視職。
He had long run the secretariat and its confidential business. Losing that post left him despondent. When people congratulated him on his new job, he snapped, “You have stolen my Phoenix Pool—why congratulate me?” At the Ministry of Personnel he tested junior clerks and expelled anyone who could not master statutes or settle cases. The emperor quoted Cao Cao: “As Xun Yu promoted good, he never stopped pushing good; as Xun You curbed evil, he never stopped rooting it out. I expect the same excellence from you.” After a month his mother died; he tried to resign, but the emperor refused. Regular attendant Zhou Hui conveyed the imperial will, and he returned to duty.
46
勖久管機密，有才思，探得人主微旨，不犯顏忤爭，故得始終全其寵祿。 卒，詔贈司徒，賜東園秘器、朝服一具、錢五十萬、布百匹。 遣兼御史持節護喪，諡曰成。 勖有十子，其達者輯、藩、組。
He long handled secrets, read the ruler’s wishes, and never argued face to face, which preserved his favor to the end. On his death he was posthumously named minister of education, with Eastern Garden coffin fittings, court robes, five hundred thousand cash, and a hundred bolts of cloth. A censor escorted the funeral, and his posthumous title was Cheng (“Accomplished”). Of his ten sons, Ji, Fan, and Zu became prominent.
47
輯嗣，官至衛尉。 卒，諡曰簡。 子畯嗣。 卒，諡曰烈。 無嫡子，以弟息識為嗣。 輯子綽。
Xun Ji inherited the title and rose to commandant of the guards. His posthumous name was Jian. His son Xun Jun succeeded. He received the posthumous name Lie. Without a legitimate heir, he named his nephew Xun Shi as successor. His grandson was Xun Chuo.
48
綽字彥舒，博學有才能，撰《晉後書》十五篇，傳於世。 永嘉末，為司空從事中郎，沒于石勒，為勒參軍。
Xun Chuo, courtesy name Yanshu, wrote the fifteen-chapter Jin hou shu. Late in Yongjia he served on the staff of the minister of works, fell into Shi Le’s hands, and became his aide.
50
子藩
His son Xun Fan.
51
=藩字大堅。 元康中，為黃門侍郎，受詔成父所治鐘磬。 以從駕討齊王冏勳，封西華縣公。 累遷尚書令。 永嘉末，轉司空，未拜而洛陽陷沒，藩出奔密。 王浚承制，奉藩為留台太尉。 及愍帝為太子，委藩督攝遠近。 薨於開封，年六十九，因葬亡所。 諡曰成，追贈太保。 藩二子：邃、闓。
Xun Fan, courtesy name Dajian (genealogical table entry). During Yuankang he was a yellow-gate gentleman and finished his father’s musical project on the bells. He earned the county duchy of Xihua for joining the expedition against Sima Jiong. He rose to director of the secretariat. Late in Yongjia he was named minister of works, but before he could take office Luoyang fell; he fled to Mi. Wang Jun, acting on his own authority, made him grand commandant of the exiled court. When Emperor Min was heir, he put Xun Fan in charge of coordinating loyalist forces. He died in Kaifeng at sixty-nine and was buried on the spot. His posthumous title was Cheng; he was later honored as grand guardian. Xun Fan’s sons were Xun Sui and Xun Kai.
53
藩子邃、闓
The sons of Xun Fan: Xun Sui and Xun Kai.
54
邃字道玄，解音樂，善談論。 弱冠辟趙王倫相國掾，遷太子洗馬。 長沙王乂以為參軍。 乂敗，成都王為皇太弟，精選僚屬，以邃為中舍人。 鄴城不守，隨藩在密。 元帝召為丞相從事中郎，以道險不就。 愍帝就加左將軍、陳留相。 父憂去職，服闋，襲封。 愍帝欲納邃女，先徵為散騎常侍。 邃懼西都危逼，故不應命，而東渡江，元帝以為軍諮祭酒。 太興初，拜侍中。 邃與刁協婚親，時協執權，欲以邃為吏部尚書，邃深距之。 尋而王敦討協，協黨與並及於難，唯邃以疏協獲免。 敦表為廷尉，以疾不拜。 遷太常，轉尚書。 蘇峻作亂，邃與王導、荀崧並侍天子于石頭。 峻平後卒，贈金紫光祿大夫，諡曰靖。 子汪嗣。
Xun Sui, courtesy name Daoxuan, knew music and was a fine conversationalist. At twenty he joined Sima Lun’s staff and became attendant to the crown prince. Sima Yi of Changsha made him an aide. After Sima Yi fell, Sima Ying as imperial younger brother chose him as palace gentleman. When Ye fell he joined his father in Mi. Emperor Yuan offered him a post on the chancellor’s staff, but the journey was too perilous. Emperor Min later named him general of the left and administrator of Chenliu. He resigned for his father’s mourning, then inherited the noble title. The emperor wanted Sui’s daughter as consort and first summoned him as regular cavalier attendant. Fearing the doomed western court, he ignored the summons, crossed south of the Yangzi, and became military adviser to Emperor Yuan. Early in Taixing he was palace attendant. Related by marriage to Diao Xie, he firmly refused when Diao tried to make him minister of personnel. When Wang Dun moved against Diao Xie, the faction was ruined, but Xun Sui’s aloofness saved him. Wang Dun nominated him as commandant of justice; illness kept him from accepting. He became grand master of ceremonies, then minister. During Su Jun’s revolt he stayed with the emperor at Shitou alongside Wang Dao and Xun Song. He died after Su Jun’s defeat and was honored as golden-purple grand master with the posthumous name Jing. His son Xun Wang inherited.
55
闓字道明，亦有名稱，京都為之語曰：「洛中英英荀道明。」 大司馬、齊王冏辟為掾。 冏敗，暴屍已三日，莫敢收葬。 闓與冏故吏李述、嵇含等露板請葬，朝議聽之，論者稱焉。 為太傅主簿、中書郎。 與邃俱渡江，拜丞相軍諮祭酒。 中興建，遷右軍將軍，轉少府。 明帝嘗從容問王暠曰：「二荀兄弟孰賢？」 暠答以闓才明過邃。 帝以語庾亮，亮曰：「邃真粹之地，亦闓所不及。」 由是議者莫能定其兄弟優劣。 歷御史中丞、侍中、尚書，封射陽公。 卒，追贈衛尉，諡曰定。 子達嗣。
Xun Kai, courtesy name Daoming, was famous; Luoyang sang, “Splendid in Luoyang—Xun Daoming.” Grand marshal Sima Jiong took him as clerk. After Jiong’s defeat his corpse lay in the square three days untended. Xun Kai, Li Shu, and Ji Han petitioned for burial; the court agreed, and people praised them. He served as chief clerk to the grand tutor and palace gentleman. He crossed the Yangzi with his brother and became the chancellor’s military adviser. After the restoration he became general of the right army, then minister of the imperial clan. Emperor Ming once asked Wang Gao which Xun brother was the better man. Wang Gao said Xun Kai was cleverer. Yu Liang replied that Xun Sui’s integrity was beyond Xun Kai. Critics never settled which brother was greater. He held palace assistant clerk, palace attendant, and minister, and was duke of Sheyang. Posthumously he was named commandant of the guards with the title Ding. His son Xun Da inherited.
56
=藩弟組=
Xun Zu, younger brother of Xun Fan (genealogical table entry).
57
組字大章。 弱冠，太尉王衍見而稱之曰：「夷雅有才識。」 初為司徒左西屬，補太子舍人。 司徒王渾請為從事中郎，轉左長史，歷太子中庶子、滎陽太守。
Xun Zu, courtesy name Dazhang. As a young man he impressed Grand Commandant Wang Yan, who called him refined, capable, and astute. He began as an aide on the minister of education’s staff, then became a gentleman of the heir’s household. Wang Hun took him as staff aide; he rose to left chief clerk, then palace aide to the crown prince, then governor of Xingyang.
58
趙王倫為相國，欲收大名，選海內德望之士，以江夏李重及組為左右長史，東平王堪、沛國劉謨為左右司馬。 倫篡，以組為侍中。 及長沙王乂敗，惠帝遣組及散騎常侍閭丘沖詣成都王穎，慰勞其軍。 帝西幸長安，以組為河南尹。 遷尚書，轉衛尉，賜爵成陽縣男，加散騎常侍、中書監。 轉司隸校尉，加特進、光祿大夫，常侍如故。 于時天下已亂，組兄弟貴盛，懼不容於世，雖居大官，並諷議而已。
When Sima Lun was chancellor he recruited eminent men, naming Li Chong of Jiangxia and Xun Zu as his chief clerks and Wang Kan of Dongping and Liu Mo of Pei as his majors. After Sima Lun seized the throne, Xun Zu became palace attendant. After Sima Yi of Changsha fell, Emperor Hui sent Xun Zu and Lüqiu Chong to console Sima Ying’s army. When the court fled to Chang’an, Xun Zu was named governor of Henan. He became minister, then commandant of the guards, baron of Chengyang, and added posts as cavalier attendant and secretariat director. He was metropolitan commandant with the honorific “specially advanced” and grand master of splendid carriage, keeping his cavalier attendant post. As the realm collapsed, the Xun brothers feared for their lives; though they held high rank, they offered only muted advice.
59
永嘉末，復以組為侍中，領太子太保。 未拜，會劉曜、王彌逼洛陽，組與藩俱出奔。 懷帝蒙塵，司空王浚以組為司隸校尉。 組與藩移檄天下，以琅邪王為盟主。
Late in Yongjia he was again palace attendant and grand guardian to the heir. Before he could take office, Liu Yao and Wang Mi threatened Luoyang; he fled with Xun Fan. During Emperor Huai’s ordeal, Wang Jun named him metropolitan commandant. He and Xun Fan issued a manifesto making the prince of Langye, Sima Rui, leader of the loyalist league.
60
愍帝稱皇太子，組即太子之舅，又領司隸校尉，行豫州刺史事，與藩並保滎陽之開封。 建興初，詔藩行留台事。 俄而藩薨，帝更以組為司空，領尚書左僕射，又兼司隸，復行留台事，州征郡守皆承制行焉。 進封臨潁縣公，加太夫人、世子印綬。 明年，進位太尉，領豫州牧、假節。
When Emperor Min was heir apparent, Xun Zu as his uncle served as metropolitan commandant and acting inspector of Yu, holding Kaifeng with Xun Fan. Early in Jianxing, Xun Fan was put in charge of the exiled court. When Xun Fan died, Xun Zu became minister of works, vice director of the secretariat, and again metropolitan commandant and head of the provisional government, with regional officials obeying his writs. He was promoted to duke of Linying and his mother and heir received formal seals. The next year he became grand commandant, governor of Yu, with the imperial baton.
61
元帝承制，以組都督司州諸軍，加散騎常侍，餘如故。 頃之，又除尚書令，表讓不拜。 及西都不守，組乃遣使移檄天下共勸進。 帝欲以組為司徒，以問太常賀循。 循曰：「組舊望清重，忠勤顯著，遷訓五品，實允眾望。」 於是拜組為司徒。
Sima Rui authorized him as commander of Si province forces with added cavalier attendant rank. He was named director of the secretariat but declined. When Chang’an fell, he sent circulars urging Sima Rui to take the throne. The emperor asked He Xun whether Xun Zu should be minister of education. He Xun replied that Xun Zu’s prestige and loyal service made him the obvious choice for the ministry of education. Xun Zu was appointed minister of education.
62
組逼于石勒，不能自立。 太興初，自許昌率其屬數百人渡江，給千兵百騎，組先所領仍皆統攝。 頃之，詔組與太保、西陽王羕並錄尚書事，各加班劍六十人。 永昌初，遷太尉，領太子太保。 未拜，薨，年六十五。 諡曰元。 子奕嗣。
Hemmed in by Shi Le, he could not hold his ground. Early in Taixing he brought several hundred followers from Xuchang across the Yangzi; the court gave him a thousand foot and a hundred horse and let him keep his old command. Soon he was ordered to share secretariat duties with Sima Yi, prince of Xiyang, each with sixty guards bearing honor swords. In Yongchang he was named grand commandant and grand guardian to the heir. He died before taking office, at sixty-five. His posthumous title was Yuan. His son Xun Yi inherited.
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組子奕
The son of Xun Zu: Xun Yi.
64
奕字玄欣。 少拜太子舍人、駙馬都尉，侍講東宮。 出為鎮東參軍，行揚武將軍、新汲令。 愍帝為皇太子，召為中舍人，尋拜散騎侍郎，皆不就。 隨父渡江。 元帝踐阼，拜中庶子，遷給事黃門郎。 父憂去職，服闋，補散騎常侍、侍中。
Xun Yi, courtesy name Xuanxin. Young, he was gentleman to the heir, commandant of the imperial son-in-law’s escort, and lecturer in the Eastern Palace. He served on the eastern headquarters staff as acting General Who Displays Might and magistrate of Xinji. When Emperor Min was heir, he was summoned as palace gentleman and then cavalier gentleman, but refused both posts. He crossed south with his father. After Sima Rui took the throne he became palace aide, then supervising gentleman of the yellow gate. He resigned for his father’s death, then returned as cavalier attendant and palace attendant.
65
時將繕宮城，尚書符下陳留王，使出城夫。 奕駁曰：「昔虞賓在位，《書》稱其美； 《詩》詠《有客》，載在《雅》《頌》。 今陳留王位在三公之上，坐在太子右，故答表曰書，賜物曰與。 此古今之所崇，體國之高義也。 謂宜除夫役。」 時尚書張闓、僕射孔愉難奕，以為：「昔宋不城周，《陽秋》所譏。 特蠲非體，宜應減夫。」 奕重駁，以為：「《陽秋》之末，文武之道將墜於地，新有子朝之亂，于時諸侯逋替，莫肯率職。 宋之于周，實有列國之權。 且同巳勤王而主之者晉，客而辭役，責之可也。 今之陳留，無列國之勢，此之作否，何益有無！ 臣以為宜除，于國職為全。」 詔從之。
When the palace was to be rebuilt, the ministry ordered the prince of Chenliu to furnish laborers. Xun Yi objected: “The Shang shu praises the Shang who honored the guest-king Yu; the Book of Odes celebrates the guest in pieces preserved in the Ya and Song. Today the prince of Chenliu ranks above the three dukes and sits to the heir’s right; he receives letters and gifts in special forms. That is the dignity the state owes him. He should be excused from corvée. Zhang Kai and Kong Yu countered that Chunqiu mocked Song for refusing to wall Zhou for the Zhou king, and that exemptions should still mean fewer laborers. They argued that even a special exemption ought to trim the corvée, not cancel it entirely.’ Xun Yi replied that in the late Chunqiu age lords had abandoned their duties amid Zichao’s turmoil, and Song toward Zhou had been a peer polity with real leverage, so refusing labor then was a different matter from today. The prince of Chenliu is no feudal rival; exempting him hurts nothing and gains the state’s honor. He urged full exemption as proper policy. The emperor agreed.
66
時又通議元會日帝應敬司徒王導不。 博士郭熙、杜援等以為禮無拜臣之文，謂宜除敬。 侍中馮懷議曰：「天子修禮，莫盛於辟雍。 當爾之日，猶拜三老，況今先帝師傅。 謂宜盡敬。」 事下門下，奕議曰：「三朝之首，宜明君臣之體，則不應敬。 若他日小會，自可盡禮。 又至尊與公書手詔則曰'頓首言'，中書為詔則云'敬問'，散騎優冊則曰：'制命'。 今詔文尚異，況大會之與小會，理豈得同！」 詔從之。
The court debated whether the emperor should bow to Wang Dao at the new-year audience. Doctors Guo Xi and Du Yuan said rites never required the sovereign to bow to a subject. Palace attendant Feng Huai countered that the emperor’s highest ritual was the lecture hall at the moat school. On that occasion the ruler still bowed to the three elders—how much more should he honor his late father’s tutor. He favored the emperor showing full deference. Xun Yi held that at the grand new-year levee the ruler-subject distinction must be clear, so no bow was proper, while smaller meetings could allow personal courtesies. Imperial notes to Wang Dao used humble phrasing unlike ordinary edicts, so grand audiences and private audiences could not follow one rule. The emperor accepted Xun Yi’s view.
67
卒，追贈太僕，諡曰定。
Posthumously he was grand coachman with the title Ding.
68
馮紞
Biography of Feng Dan.
69
馮紞，字少胄，安平人也。 祖浮，魏司隸校尉。 父員，汲郡太守。 紞少博涉經史，識悟機辯。 歷仕為魏郡太守，轉步兵校尉，徙越騎。 得幸于武帝，稍遷左衛將軍。 承顏悅色，寵愛日隆。 賈充、荀勖並與之親善。 充女之為皇太子妃也，紞有力焉。 及妃之將廢，紞、勖幹沒救請，故得不廢。 伐吳之役，紞領汝南太守，以郡兵隨王浚入秣陵。 遷御史中丞，轉侍中。
Feng Dan, courtesy name Shaozhou, came from Anping. His grandfather Feng Fu had been Wei metropolitan commandant. His father Feng Yuan was governor of Ji commandery. He read widely in the classics and histories and was sharp in debate. He governed Wei commandery, then commanded the foot-soldier and agile-cavalry guards. Favored by Sima Yan, he rose to general of the left guard. He flattered the emperor and grew ever more favored. Jia Chong and Xun Xu were his allies. He helped make Jia Chong’s daughter crown princess. When she faced deposition, he and Xun Xu intervened to save her. During the Wu conquest he led Runan troops with Wang Jun into Moling. He became palace assistant clerk, then palace attendant.
70
帝病篤得愈，紞與勖見朝野之望，屬在齊王攸。 攸素薄勖。 勖以太子愚劣，恐攸得立，有害於己，乃使紞言於帝曰：「陛下前者疾若不差，太子其廢矣。 齊王為百姓所歸，公卿所仰，雖欲高讓，其得免乎！ 宜遣還藩，以安社稷。」 帝納之。 及攸薨，朝野悲恨。 初，帝友于之情甚篤，既納紞、勖邪說，遂為身後之慮，以固儲位。 既聞攸殞，哀慟特深。 紞侍立，因言曰：「齊王名過於實，今得自終，此乃大晉之福。 陛下何乃過哀！」 帝收淚而止。
After Sima Yan’s recovery, he and Xun Xu saw the realm looking to Sima You. Sima You despised Xun Xu. Fearing Sima You would replace the feeble heir and ruin their faction, Xun Xu had Feng Dan warn that Sima You would have taken the throne had the emperor died. The people and elite favored Sima You; he could not refuse the throne forever. He should be sent to his princedom for the dynasty’s safety.” The emperor agreed. When Sima You died, officials and commoners mourned bitterly. Sima Yan had loved his brother; after believing Feng Dan and Xun Xu, he secured the infirm heir at terrible cost. Learning of the death, he grieved intensely. Feng Dan said Sima You’s fame outran his worth and his natural death was Jin’s good fortune, and urged the emperor not to mourn excessively. Sima Yan checked his tears.
71
初謀伐吳，紞與賈充、荀勖同共苦諫不可。 吳平，紞內懷慚懼，疾張華如讎。 及華外鎮，威德大著，朝論當徵為尚書令。 紞從容侍帝，論晉魏故事，因諷帝，言華不可授以重任，帝默然而止。 事具《華傳》。
He had fiercely opposed the Wu campaign alongside Jia Chong and Xun Xu. After Wu fell he loathed Zhang Hua for having proved him wrong. When Zhang Hua governed the provinces with great prestige, the court meant to recall him as secretariat director. Feng Dan used history lessons to persuade Sima Yan not to give Zhang Hua central power, and the idea was dropped. The full story appears in Zhang Hua’s biography.
72
，紞疾，詔以紞為散騎常侍，賜錢二十萬、床帳一具。 尋卒。 二子：播、熊。 播，大長秋。 熊字文羆，中書郎。 紞兄恢，自有傳。
When he fell ill, the court named him cavalier attendant and gave him two hundred thousand cash and bedding. He died soon after. His sons were Feng Bo and Feng Xiong. Feng Bo became grand prolonger of autumn at court. Feng Xiong, courtesy name Wenpi, was a palace gentleman. Feng Dan’s elder brother Feng Hui has a separate biography.
73
史評==史臣曰：夫立身之道，曰仁與義。 動靜既形，悔吝斯及。 有莘之媵，殊《北門》之情； 渭濱之叟，匪西山之節。 湯武有以濟其功，夏殷不能譏其志。 王沈才經文武，早屍人爵，在魏參席上之珍，居晉為幄中之士，桐宮之謀遽泄，武闈之禍遂臻。 是知田光之口，豈燕丹之可絕； 豫讓之形，非智氏之能變。 動靜之際，有據蒺藜，仁義之方，求之彌遠矣。 彭祖謁由捧雉，孕本貿絲，因家乏主，遂登顯秩。 擁北州之士馬，偶東京之糜沸，自可感召諸侯，宣力王室。 而乘間伺隙，潛圖不軌，放肆獯虜，遷播乘輿。 遂使漳滏蕭然，黎元塗地。 縱貪夫于藏戶，戮高士于燕垂，阻越石之內難，邀世龍之外府。 惡稔毒痡，坐致焚燎，假手仇敵，方申凶獷，慶封之戮，慢罵何補哉！ 公曾，慈明之孫； 景倩，文若之子，踐隆堂而高視，齊逸軌而長騖。 孝敬足以承親，周慎足以事主，刊姬公之舊典，采蕭相之遺法。 然而援朱均以貳極，煽褒閻而偶震。 雖廢興有在，隆替靡常，稽之人事，乃二荀之力也。 至於鬥粟興謠，逾裏成詠，勖之階禍，又已甚焉。 馮紞外騁戚施，內窮狙詐，斃攸安賈，交勖仇張，心滔楚費，過逾晉伍。 爰絲獻壽，空取慰於仁心，紞之陳說，幸收哀於迷慮，投畀之罰無聞，《青蠅》之詩不作矣。
Commentary: The historian writes that the foundation of character is benevolence and righteousness. Once deeds appear, regret and blame attach to them. The Yi bride who attended Tang was not like the bitter official in the Beimen ode; the old man by the Wei was not the hermit of the Western Hills. Tang and Wu could finish their work; Xia and Shang could not fault their purpose. Wang Shen had ability yet betrayed his lord; honored in Wei and Jin, he leaked Cao Mao’s plot and brought calamity on the house. As with Tian Guang, a loyal mouth cannot be silenced by fear; nor could the Zhi clan break Yurang’s resolve by destroying his body. Between action and inaction lie hidden snares; true benevolence and right become harder to reach. Wang Jun rose from a humble mother and a pheasant-offering plea, yet climbed to power without a legitimate heir’s line. With northern armies during Luoyang’s collapse, he could have aided the throne. Instead he intrigued, used barbarian allies, and hounded the emperor. The heartland was stripped bare and the people ruined. He harbored villains, murdered scholars, thwarted Liu Kun, and curried Shi Le. His wickedness brought fire and death at an enemy’s hands—curses availed nothing. Xun Xu was grandson of the revered Xun Shuang; Xun Yi was Xun Yu’s son, lofty in station and ambition. They were dutiful sons and careful ministers, codifying ritual like the Duke of Zhou and Han precedents. Yet they cited wicked precedents to shake the succession and stirred palace factions. Their choices, not fate alone, steered the realm’s rise and fall. The rhymes foretold disaster, and Xun Xu’s scheming made it worse. Feng Dan flattered, schemed, eliminated Sima You for Jia Chong, and with Xun Xu ruined Zhang Hua—villainy rivaling the worst ministers of old. No punishment fit his crimes; the slander of Qing ying never sounded for him.
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贊曰：處道文林，胡貳爾心，彭祖凶孽，自貽伊戚。 臨淮翼翼，孝形於色。 安陽英英，匪懈其職。 傾齊附魯，是為蝥賊。 紞之不臧，交亂罔極。
Verse: Wang Shen the scholar betrayed his lord; Wang Jun the brute reaped sorrow. Xun Yi of Linhuai was reverent and filial. The marquis of Anyang shone in office without slacking. Betraying kin for faction makes a pest of the state. Feng Dan’s evil knew no bound.