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王渾
Wang Hun
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王渾，字玄沖，太原晉陽人也。 父昶，魏司空。 渾沈雅有器量。 襲父爵京陵侯，辟大將軍曹爽掾。 爽誅，隨例免。 起為懷令，參文帝安東軍事，累遷散騎黃門侍郎、散騎常侍。 咸熙中為越騎校尉。 武帝受禪，加揚烈將軍，遷徐州刺史。 時年荒歲饑，渾開倉振贍，百姓賴之。 泰始初，增封邑千八百戶。 久之，遷東中郎將，監淮北諸軍事，鎮許昌。 數陳損益，多見納用。
Wang Hun, whose courtesy name was Xuanchong, came from Jinyang in Taiyuan commandery. His father Wang Chang had served the Wei as minister of works. He was steady, refined, and broad-minded. He succeeded to his father’s marquisate of Jingling and was hired as an aide on Grand General Cao Shuang’s staff. When Cao Shuang fell he lost his post like the rest of the staff. He was recalled as magistrate of Huai, joined Prince Wen’s eastern command staff, and rose through posts as cavalier gentleman at the Yellow Gate and regular cavalier attendant-in-ordinary. During Xianxi he commanded the agile cavalry regiment. After Emperor Wu took the throne he was named General Who Spreads Ferocity and inspector of Xu. In a time of famine he opened the granaries for relief, and the people owed him their lives. Early in Taishi his fief gained another eighteen hundred households. Later he became eastern center general, supervised Huai-north operations, and was stationed at Xuchang. He often submitted policy advice, much of which the court adopted.
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轉征虜將軍、監豫州諸軍事、假節，領豫州刺史。 渾與吳接境，宣佈威信，前後降附甚多。 吳將薛瑩、魯淑眾號十萬，淑向弋陽，瑩向新息。 時州兵並放休息，眾裁一旅，浮淮潛濟，出其不意，瑩等不虞晉師之至。 渾擊破之，以功封次子尚為關內侯。 遷安東將軍、都督揚州諸軍事，鎮壽春。 吳人大佃皖城，圖為邊害。 渾遣揚州刺史應綽督淮南諸軍攻破之，並破諸別屯，焚其積穀百八十餘萬斛、稻苗四千餘頃、船六百餘艘。 渾遂陳兵東疆，視其地形險易，曆觀敵城，察攻取之勢。
He was made general who conquers captives with acting credentials, overseer of Yu military affairs, and inspector of the province. Along the Wu frontier he projected authority and won a steady stream of defections. Wu generals Xue Ying and Lu Shu advanced with a force said to number one hundred thousand—Lu Shu toward Yiyang, Xue Ying toward Xinxi. Provincial troops were on leave and he had only a single brigade, but he crossed the Huai by stealth and caught Ying off guard. He routed them and enfeoffed his second son Shang as marquis within the passes for the victory. He was promoted to general who guards the east, area commander for Yang Province, and stationed at Shouchun. Eastern Wu expanded state farms at Wancheng, plainly aiming to threaten Jin along the frontier. Wang Hun sent provincial inspector Ying Chuo to lead the Huai-south armies against the colony, overrun its outposts, and burn upward of 1.8 million hu of grain, more than four thousand qing of paddy, and over six hundred ships. He then massed forces along the eastern border, reconnoitered the ground, toured enemy strongholds, and weighed how they might be taken.
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及大舉伐吳，渾率師出橫江，遣參軍陳慎、都尉張喬攻尋陽瀨鄉，又擊吳牙門將孔忠，皆破之，獲吳將周興等五人。 又遣殄吳護軍李純據高望城，討吳將俞恭，破之，多所斬獲。 吳曆武將軍陳代、平虜將軍硃明懼而來降。 吳丞相張悌、大將軍孫震等率眾數萬指城陽，渾遣司馬孫疇、揚州刺史周浚擊破之，臨陣斬二將，及首虜七千八百級，吳人大震。
In the great offensive against Wu he marched from Hengjiang, sent Chen Shen and Zhang Qiao against Laixiang near Xunyang, defeated Wu gate captain Kong Zhong, and captured five Wu commanders including Zhou Xing. He also assigned Li Chun, protector of armies against Wu, to hold Gaowang city, routed the Wu general Yu Gong, and took many heads and prisoners. Two Wu officers—Chen Dai, a yamen gate general, and Zhu Ming, general who pacifies captives—surrendered in fear. Grand counselor Zhang Ti and Grand General Sun Zhen of Wu advanced tens of thousands of men toward Chengyang; Wang Hun sent Sun Chou and provincial inspector Zhou Jun to crush them, killed two generals on the field, and counted 7,800 heads and prisoners, which shook Wu.
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孫皓司徒何植、建威將軍孫晏送印節詣渾降。 既而王濬破石頭，降孫皓，威名益振。 明日，渾始濟江，登建鄴宮，釃酒高會。 自以先據江上，破皓中軍，案甲不進，致在王濬之後。 意甚愧恨，有不平之色，頻奏濬罪狀，時人譏之。 帝下詔曰：「使持節、都督揚州諸軍事、安東將軍、京陵侯王渾，督率所統，遂逼秣陵，令賊孫皓救死自衛，不得分兵上赴，以成西軍之功，又摧大敵，獲張悌，使皓途窮勢盡，面縛乞降。 遂平定秣陵，功勳茂著。 其增封八千戶，進爵為公，封子澄為亭侯、弟湛為關內侯，賜絹八千匹。」 轉征東大將軍，復鎮壽陽。 渾不尚刑名，處斷明允。 時吳人新附，頗懷畏懼。 渾撫循羈旅，虛懷綏納，座無空席，門不停賓。 於是江東之士莫不悅附。
He Zhi, Sun Hao's minister of education, and Sun Yan, general who establishes might, brought the seals of office to Wang Hun and capitulated. Before long Wang Jun took Shitou and forced Sun Hao to surrender, and his own fame grew even louder. The next day Wang Hun crossed the Yangzi for the first time, entered the Jianye palaces, and held a grand victory banquet with a libation rite. He believed he had seized the middle Yangzi first, shattered Sun Hao's main army, and only then halted—yet that pause had let Wang Jun finish ahead of him. Burning with humiliation and resentment, he showed it plainly and filed repeated accusations against Wang Jun, and his contemporaries mocked him for it. In an edict the emperor praised Wang Hun—credential bearer, Yangzhou area commander, general who guards the east, and marquis of Jingling—for driving on Moling so that Sun Hao could only cling to self-defense and could not send help upstream, completing the western army's mission; for shattering the main enemy, capturing Zhang Ti, and leaving Sun Hao no choice but to come bound and beg surrender. The decree declared that Moling was thereby secured and his achievement resplendent. It enlarged his fief by eight thousand households, raised his rank to duke, made his son Wang Cheng a precinct marquis and his brother Wang Zhan a marquis within the passes, and awarded eight thousand bolts of silk. After the edict he was appointed grand general who conquers the east and again stationed at Shouyang. Wang Hun disdained legalistic harshness; his rulings were clear and just. The newly submitted people of Wu were still deeply fearful. Wang Hun put travelers at ease, welcomed men with genuine openness, kept every seat filled, and turned no caller from his door. Men of talent east of the Yangzi readily rallied to him.
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徵拜尚書左僕射，加散騎常侍。 會朝臣立議齊王攸當之籓，渾上書諫曰：「伏承聖詔，憲章古典，進齊王攸為上公，崇其禮儀，遣攸之國。 昔周氏建國，大封諸姬，以籓帝室，永世作憲。 至於公旦，武王之弟，左右王事，輔濟大業，不使歸籓。 明至親義著，不可遠朝故也。 是故周公得以聖德光弼幼主，忠誠著于《金縢》，光述文武仁聖之德。 攸于大晉，姬旦之親也。 宜贊皇朝，與聞政事，實為陛下腹心不貳之臣。 且攸為人，修潔義信，加以懿親，志存忠貞。 今陛下出攸之國，假以都督虛號，而無典戎幹方之實，去離天朝，不預王政。 傷母弟至親之體，虧友于款篤之義，懼非陛下追述先帝、文明太后待攸之宿意也。 若以攸望重，於事宜出者，今以汝南王亮代攸。 亮，宣皇帝子，文皇帝弟，伷、駿各處方任，有內外之資，論以後慮，亦不為輕。 攸今之國，適足長異同之論，以損仁慈之美耳。 而令天下窺陛下有不崇親親之情，臣竊為陛下不取也。 若以妃後外親，任以朝政，則有王氏傾漢之權，呂產專朝之禍。 若以同姓至親，則有吳楚七國逆亂之殃。 曆觀古今，苟事輕重，所在無不為害也。 不可事事曲設疑防，慮方來之患者也。 唯當任正道而求忠良。 若以智計猜物，雖親見疑，至於疏遠者亦何能自保乎！ 人懷危懼，非為安之理。 此最有國有家者之深忌也。 愚以為太子太保缺，宜留攸居之，與太尉汝南王亮、衛將軍楊珧共為保傅，幹理朝事。 三人齊位，足相持正，進有輔納廣義之益，退無偏重相傾之勢。 令陛下有篤親親之恩，使攸蒙仁覆之惠。 臣同國休戚，義在盡言，心之所見，不能默已。 私慕魯女存國之志，敢陳愚見，觸犯天威。 欲陛下事每盡善，冀萬分之助。 臣而不言，誰當言者。」 帝不納。
He was summoned as vice director of the left of the secretariat and given the concurrent title of regular attendant-in-ordinary. When ministers argued that Prince Sima You of Qi should be sent to his fief, Wang Hun memorialized in protest: he had heard the decree modeling antiquity, elevating Prince You to senior duke, honoring his rites, and ordering him to his domain. When the Zhou founders built their realm they enfeoffed the house of Ji broadly to screen the throne, and that became the enduring model. Even the Duke of Zhou—King Wu's brother—stayed at court to manage affairs and help complete the great work instead of being packed off to a domain. That shows closest kin whose duty is clear must not be banished from the capital. Hence the Duke of Zhou could nurture the boy king with consummate virtue; his loyalty shines in the "Metal-bound Coffer", and he carried forward the humane wisdom of Kings Wen and Wu. Prince You in our Great Jin is the same sort of kinsman as the Duke of Zhou. He ought to support the throne and take part in government; he is, in truth, a trusted minister at your side who will not waver. Moreover Prince You is scrupulous, honest, and steadfast, and as your kinsman he is pledged to loyalty. Now you would send him to his fief with only the empty title of area commander and none of the real authority to raise troops or hold a region, cut off from the capital and excluded from governance. That rends the bond between mother and youngest son, scants the warmth due brothers, and I fear it does not match what the late emperor and Empress Dowager Wenming long meant for Prince You. If princely stature truly requires someone in the field, appoint Prince Sima Liang of Runan in his place. Sima Liang is a son of Emperor Xuan and younger brother of Emperor Wen, while Sima Zhou and Sima Jun already hold posts inside and outside the court; weighed against long-term concerns, their burden is hardly slight. Banishing Prince You now would only fuel partisan talk and tarnish the grace of your kindness. It would let the realm infer that you slight your nearest kin, which I cannot think a wise course. Hand power to in-laws and you invite another Wang Mang who toppled the Han or another Lü Chan who seized the court. Fear your own kinsmen and you summon the disaster of the Rebellion of the Seven States. Survey history, high stakes or low: wherever rulers obsess over one danger, harm follows. You cannot invent elaborate precautions for every hypothetical threat. The right path is to uphold just governance and choose loyal ministers. If everyone is read through a lens of suspicion, even family looks guilty, and those farther out have no way to feel safe! A court full of fear is no recipe for stability. That is the deepest fear of anyone who holds a throne or a household. I submit that the junior tutor to the crown prince stands open: keep Prince You in that office, share the guardians' college with Grand Commandant Sima Liang and Defender Yang Yao, and let them jointly steer the ministries. Three peers can balance one another—gaining breadth of counsel without letting any faction grow heavy enough to overturn the rest. You would show devotion to kin while Prince You still enjoys your sheltering favor. Your servant shares the dynasty's fortunes and must speak his mind; I cannot hold this back. Like the women of Lu who spoke to save their state, I risk my foolish counsel though it offends your majesty. I wish every decision of yours to be for the best and offer this mite of help. If I as your servant keep silent, who is fit to speak up. The emperor rejected the plea.
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太熙初，遷司徒。 惠帝即位，加侍中，又京陵置士官，如睢陵比。 及誅楊駿，崇重舊臣，乃加渾兵。 渾以司徒文官，主史不持兵，持兵乃吏屬絳衣。 自以偶因時寵，權得持兵，非是舊典，皆令皁服。 論者美其謙而識體。
Early in Taixi he became minister of education. Under Emperor Hui he was also named palace attendant, and a corps of artisan officers was assigned to his Jingling estate on the model used at Suiling. After Yang Jun's purge the court honored elder statesmen and authorized Wang Hun to retain armed guards. As minister of education he was a civil officer whose chief registrar bore no arms; armed attendants were crimson-clad staff under him. He knew his guards were an unusual favor, not precedent, and had them all dress in black instead of crimson. Commentators admired his humility and sense of decorum.
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楚王瑋將害汝南王亮等也。 公孫宏說瑋曰：「昔宣帝廢曹爽，引太尉蔣濟參乘，以增威重。 大王今舉非常事，宜得宿望，鎮厭眾心。 司徒王渾宿有威名，為三軍所信服，可請同乘，使物情有憑也。」 瑋從之。 渾辭疾歸第，以家兵千餘人閉門距瑋。 瑋不敢逼。 俄而瑋以矯詔伏誅，渾乃率兵赴官。 帝嘗訪渾元會問郡國計吏方俗之宜，渾奏曰：「陛下欽明聖哲，光於遠近，明詔沖虛，詢及芻蕘，斯乃周文疇咨之求，仲尼不恥下問也。 舊三朝元會前計吏詣軒下，侍中讀詔，計吏跪受。 臣以詔文相承已久，無他新聲，非陛下留心方國之意也。 可令中書指宣明詔，問方土異同，賢才秀異，風俗好尚，農桑本務，刑獄得無冤濫，守長得無侵虐。 其勤心政化興利除害者，授以紙筆，盡意陳聞。 以明聖指垂心四遠，不復因循常辭。 且察其答對文義，以觀計吏人才之實。 又先帝時，正會後東堂見征鎮長史司馬、諸王國卿、諸州別駕。 今若不能別見，可前詣軒下，使侍中宣問，以審察方國，於事為便。」 帝然之。 又詔渾錄尚書事。
Prince Sima Wei of Chu was plotting to kill Sima Liang of Runan and the other princes. Gongsun Hong told Sima Wei that Emperor Xuan had shared a carriage with Grand Commandant Jiang Ji when he moved against Cao Shuang, the better to lend the act authority. A coup of this kind required a veteran whose prestige would steady the troops. Minister Wang Hun commanded the armies' trust; inviting him to ride along would reassure the soldiers. Sima Wei agreed. Wang Hun pleaded illness, retired home, and barred his gates with more than a thousand family retainers against Sima Wei. Sima Wei dared not force him. When Sima Wei was quickly executed for forging an edict, Wang Hun marched his men back to duty. At a New Year court the emperor asked Wang Hun how provincial accounting officers should be examined on local ways. Hun replied that the sovereign's luminous edict already sought advice even from common woodcutters, in the spirit of King Wen's wide consultation and Confucius's readiness to learn from anyone. By long custom, before the triple audience on New Year's day the clerks came below the gallery, an attendant-in-ordinary read the proclamation aloud, and they knelt to receive it. I believe the formula has been recited unchanged for ages; it no longer shows that you truly care about conditions in the provinces. Let the secretariat issue an explicit mandate asking about regional differences, notable talent, popular customs, farming and sericulture, whether justice is free of abuse, and whether prefects oppress the people. Give brush and paper to any who labor at good government so they can set out their views in full. That would show your concern reaches the farthest corners of the realm instead of recycling empty phrases. Their answers would also reveal how capable these officers really are. Under the late emperor, after the great audience he received in the Eastern Hall the senior staff of field commands, ministers of princely estates, and provincial chief clerks. If a separate audience is impractical, let them advance below the carriage porch while an attendant-in-ordinary poses your questions—an efficient way to learn about the provinces. The emperor approved. He was further ordered to supervise the Secretariat.
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渾所曆之職，前後著稱，及居台輔，聲望日減。 薨，時年七十五，諡曰元。 長子尚早亡，次子濟嗣。
He had won praise in every post until he reached the chancellorship; there his reputation slowly waned. He died at seventy-five and received the posthumous epithet Yuan. His eldest son Shang died young; the second son, Ji, inherited his title.
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子濟
Wang Ji
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=濟字武子。 少有逸才，風姿英爽，氣蓋一時，好弓馬，勇力絕人，善《易》及《莊》、《老》，文詞俊茂，伎藝過人，有名當世，與姊夫和嶠及裴楷齊名。 尚常山公主。 年二十，起家拜中書郎，以母憂去官。 起為驍騎將軍，累遷侍中，與侍中孔恂、王恂、楊濟同列，為一時秀彥。 武帝嘗會公卿籓牧於式乾殿，顧濟、恂而謂諸公曰：「朕左右可謂恂恂濟濟矣！」 每侍見，未嘗不諮論人物及萬機得失。 濟善於清言，修飾辭令，諷議將順，朝臣莫能尚焉。 帝益親貴之。 仕進雖速，論者不以主婿之故，咸謂才能致之。 然外雖弘雅，而內多忌刻，好以言傷物，儕類以此少之。 以其父之故，每排王濬，時議譏焉。
Wang Ji, whose courtesy name was Wuzi, As a youth he showed rare ability, carried himself with dash, and towered over his generation; he excelled at riding and archery, possessed uncanny strength, mastered the "Book of Changes", the "Zhuangzi", and the "Laozi", and wrote with panache; his arts outclassed others, and he stood alongside his brother-in-law He Jiao and Pei Kai. He took the Princess of Changshan as his wife. At twenty he entered service as a gentleman of the palace secretariat but resigned to mourn his mother. Recalled as general of fierce cavalry, he rose to palace attendant alongside Kong Xun, Wang Xun, and Yang Ji—the outstanding men of the moment. Emperor Wu once gathered ministers and regional commanders in Shiqian Hall, glanced at Wang Ji and Kong Xun, and told the assembly, "My attendants are a model of dignity and talent!"—punning on their names. Whenever he attended court, the emperor consulted him on character and policy without fail. He excelled at Qingtan debate, shaped his words with care, and gave supple counsel that none at court could match. The sovereign came to favor him ever more warmly. Even his rapid rise was credited to ability rather than marriage into the imperial clan. Beneath the polish he was jealous and cutting, prone to barbed speech, and contemporaries quietly disdained him. He kept needling Wang Jun over his father's feud, and observers mocked him for it.
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齊王攸當之籓，濟既陳請，又累使公主與甄德妻長廣公主俱入，稽顙泣請帝留攸。 帝怒謂侍中王戎曰：「兄弟至親，今出齊王，自是朕家事，而甄德、王濟連遣婦來生哭人！」 以忤旨，左遷國子祭酒，常侍如故。 數年，入為侍中。 時渾為僕射，主者處事或不當，濟性峻厲，明法繩之。 素與從兄佑不平，佑黨頗謂濟不能顧其父，由是長同異之言。 出為河南尹，未拜，坐鞭王官吏免官。 而王佑始見委任。 而濟遂被斥外，於是乃移第北芒山下。
As Prince Sima You of Qi was sent away, Wang Ji had memorialized in vain; he then sent his wife and Zhen De's spouse, the Princess of Changuang, to throw themselves before the throne weeping, pleading that You be allowed to stay. The emperor snapped to Wang Rong, "Brothers are family; banishing Prince of Qi is my decision, yet Zhen De and Wang Ji keep dispatching their wives to shame me with public tears!" For the affront he was demoted to libationer of the imperial academy while retaining his regular attendant's rank. A few years later he was back at court as palace attendant. While Wang Hun served as vice director of the secretariat, Wang Ji enforced the rules ruthlessly whenever clerks erred. He was estranged from his cousin Wang You, whose followers claimed he dishonored his father—fuel for partisan sniping. Named governor of Henan, he lost the post before taking it because he had whipped an official of a princely household. Meanwhile Wang You started to gain substantive appointments. Pushed to the sidelines, he relocated his residence below Mount Mang north of Luoyang.
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性豪侈，麗服玉食。 時洛京地甚貴，濟買地為馬埒，編錢滿之，時人謂為「金溝」。 王愷以帝舅奢豪，有牛名「八百里駁」，常瑩其蹄角。 濟請以錢千萬與牛對射而賭之。 愷亦自恃其能，令濟先射。 一發破的，因據胡床，叱左右速探牛心來，須臾而至，一割便去。 和嶠性至儉，家有好李，帝求之，不過數十。 濟候其上直，率少年詣園，共啖畢，伐樹而去。 帝嘗幸其宅，供饌甚豐，悉貯琉璃器中。 蒸肫甚美，帝問其故，答曰：「以人乳蒸之。」 帝色甚不平，食未畢而去。
He lived ostentatiously, draped in finery and dining like a king. When capital real estate was ruinously expensive, he bought land for a riding ring and carpeted it with coins—onlookers dubbed the place the "Gold Ditch." Wang Kai, the sovereign's maternal uncle, flaunted his wealth with an ox called "Eight-hundred-li Piebald," always polishing its hooves and horns. Wang Ji staked ten million cash on an archery contest against the animal. Wang Kai, confident in his marksmanship, let Wang Ji open the round. Wang Ji shattered the target in one shot, dropped onto a camp stool, ordered servants to fetch the ox's heart, carved a single slice when it came, and left. He Jiao, a miser, grew excellent plums yet sent the emperor only a handful when asked. Wang Ji waited for He Jiao's palace shift, stormed the garden with young companions, devoured the crop, chopped the tree down, and departed. On an imperial visit his table glittered with crystal vessels and extravagant dishes. The steamed gizzards were exquisite; asked how, he answered coolly, "Human milk." The sovereign's face darkened and he quit the meal unfinished.
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濟善解馬性，嘗乘一馬，著連乾鄣泥，前有水，終不肯渡。 濟云：「此必是惜鄣泥。」 使人解去，便渡。 故杜預謂濟有馬癖。
Wang Ji read horses well; once, riding a mount in layered mud-flaps, he stopped short of a stream and refused to ford. "It fears ruining the mud-flaps," he said. Men removed the guards and the horse crossed at once. Du Yu joked that Wang Ji was horse-mad.
16
帝嘗謂和嶠曰：「我將罵濟而後官爵之，何如？」 嶠曰：「濟俊爽，恐不可屈。」 帝因召濟，切讓之，既而曰：「知愧不？」 濟答曰：「尺布鬥粟之謠，常為陛下恥之。 他人能令親疏，臣不能使親親，以此愧陛下耳。」 帝默然。
The emperor asked He Jiao whether he should humiliate Wang Ji before granting him honors. He Jiao replied that Wang Ji was too proud to endure a public scolding. The sovereign called him in, dressed him down, then demanded, "Are you ashamed?" Wang Ji answered, "The old ballad about brothers who starved each other shames me for you, sire. Other men may set kin against kin; I cannot make brothers cherish one another—that is how I shame you." The emperor had nothing to say.
17
帝嘗與濟弈棋，而孫皓在側，謂皓曰：「何以好剝人面皮？」 皓曰：「見無禮於君者則剝之。」 濟時伸腳局下，而皓譏焉。
Playing weiqi with Wang Ji while Sun Hao watched, the emperor asked the former Wu ruler why he had enjoyed facial flaying. Sun Hao answered that he had only punished subjects who were rude to their ruler. Wang Ji had his legs stretched under the board—Sun Hao's barb implied he was the rude subject.
18
尋使白衣領太僕。 年四十六，先渾卒，追贈驃騎將軍。 及其將葬，時賢無不畢至。 孫楚雅敬濟，而後來，哭之甚悲，賓客莫不垂涕。 哭畢，向靈床曰：「卿常好我作驢鳴，我為卿作之。」 體似聲真，賓客皆笑。 楚顧曰：「諸君不死，而令王濟死乎！」
Shortly afterward he was made to direct the Minister of Carriages while still in disgraced white robes. He died at forty-six, predeceasing his father, and was posthumously honored as general of swift cavalry. As the funeral approached, the elite of the capital all gathered. Sun Chu revered him, came late, and wept so bitterly that the mourners wept with him. When the lament ended he told the corpse, "You loved my donkey bray; hear it now." His mimicry was perfect and the mourners laughed despite themselves. Sun Chu glared around and cried, "You still live while Wang Ji lies dead?"
19
初，濟尚主，主兩目失明，而妒忌尤甚，然終無子，有庶子二人。 卓字文宣，嗣渾爵，拜給事中。 次聿，字茂宣，襲公主封敏陽侯。 濟二弟，澄字道深，汶字茂深，皆辯慧有才藻，並曆清顯。
The princess he married was blind and fiercely jealous, bore no heir, yet accepted two sons by concubines. Wang Zhuo, courtesy name Wenxuan, inherited Wang Hun's title and became a gentleman attendant. The younger son Wang Yu, courtesy name Maoxuan, took the princess's estate as marquis of Minyang. His brothers Wang Cheng and Wang Wen—courtesy names Daoshen and Maoshen—were gifted writers who climbed to high office.
20
王濬
Wang Jun
21
王濬，字士治，弘農湖人也。 家世二千石。 濬博墳典，美姿貌，不修名行，不為鄉曲所稱。 晚乃變節，疏通亮達，恢廓有大志。 嘗起宅，開門前路廣數十步。 人或謂之何太過，濬曰：「吾欲使容長戟幡旗。」 眾咸笑之，濬曰：「陳勝有言，燕雀安知鴻鵠之志。」 州郡辟河東從事。 守令有不廉潔者，皆望風自引而去。 刺史燕國徐邈有女才淑，擇夫未嫁。 邈乃大會佐吏，令女於內觀之。 女指濬告母，邈遂妻之。 後參征南軍事，羊祜深知待之。 祜兄子暨白祜：「濬為人志太，奢侈不節，不可專任，宜有以裁之。」 祜曰：「濬有大才，將欲濟其所欲，必可用也。」 轉車騎從事中郎，識者謂祜可謂能舉善焉。
Wang Jun, whose courtesy name was Shizhi, came from Hu in Hongnong commandery. His forebears had held ministerial-grade salaries for generations. He read deeply and looked striking, yet neglected reputation and local opinion thought little of him. Later he remade himself—forthright, far-seeing, and hungry for great things. Building a manor, he carved a boulevard tens of paces wide outside his gate. Neighbors mocked the extravagance; he said he needed space for halberds and banners. They laughed; he quoted Chen Sheng—sparrows cannot grasp a swan's aim. He was hired as a clerk in Hedong. Dishonest county magistrates fled at word of his arrival. Xu Miao, inspector of Yan, had a gifted daughter who had found no husband. He assembled his aides and let her observe them from behind a screen. She chose Wang Jun; Xu Miao gave her to him in marriage. He later served on the southern campaign staff, where Yang Hu became his steadfast patron. Yang Ji's nephew warned that Wang Jun's ambition and extravagance required restraint, not sole command. Yang Hu replied that great gifts like Wang Jun's had to be harnessed, not clipped. Wang Jun moved to the chariot and cavalry command staff, and onlookers praised Yang Hu for promoting talent.
22
除巴郡太守。 郡邊吳境，兵士苦役，生男多不養。 濬乃嚴其科條，寬其徭課，其產育者皆與休復，所全活者數千人。 轉廣漢太守，垂惠布政，百姓賴之。 濬夜夢懸三刀於臥屋梁上，須臾又益一刀，濬警覺，意甚惡之。 主簿李毅再拜賀曰：「三刀為州字，又益一者，明府其臨益州乎？」 及賊張弘殺益州刺史皇甫晏，果遷濬為益州刺史。 濬設方略，悉誅弘等，以勳封關內侯。 懷輯殊俗，待以威信，蠻夷徼外，多來歸降。 徵拜右衛將軍，除大司農。 車騎將軍羊祜雅知濬有奇略，乃密表留濬，於是重拜益州刺史。
He became governor of Ba. Hard service on the Wu frontier led families to abandon newborn boys. He stiffened the law but lightened taxes, rewarded child-rearing, and kept thousands of infants alive. As governor of Guanghan he ruled with mercy and won the people's trust. He dreamed of three knives on his rafters, then a fourth—he woke uneasy. Chief clerk Li Yi hailed it as an omen: three blades make the graph for "province," and a fourth foretold the Yizhou post. When Zhang Hong murdered Inspector Huangfu Yan, Wang Jun was raised to inspector of Yi as foretold. He plotted the strike, eliminated Zhang Hong's band, and earned a marquisate within the passes. He won border peoples with authority and grace until many tribes surrendered. He was recalled as general of the right guard and named minister of agriculture. Yang Hu, general of chariots, grasped his strategic mind and secured a second appointment as inspector of Yi.
23
武帝謀伐吳，詔濬修舟艦。 濬乃作大船連舫，方百二十步，受二千餘人。 以木為城，起樓櫓，開四出門，其上皆得馳馬來往。 又畫鷁首怪獸於船首，以懼江神。 舟楫之盛，自古未有。 濬造船於蜀，其木柿蔽江而下。 吳建平太守吾彥取流柿以呈孫皓曰：「晉必有攻吳之計，宜增建平兵。 建平不下，終不敢渡。」 皓不從。 尋以謠言拜濬為龍驤將軍、監梁益諸軍事。 語在《羊祜傳》。
Planning the conquest of Wu, Emperor Wu told Wang Jun to construct a river fleet. He built massive linked hulls, each deck a hundred twenty paces square and carrying over two thousand men. Timber ramparts and towered parapets ringed them with four gates where riders could charge. Fearsome figureheads were painted to cow the river gods. No fleet in memory matched their scale. Shipwrights in Shu sent so much scrap timber downstream that it carpeted the Yangzi. Wu Yan, Wu's governor of Jianping, fished out the chips and warned Sun Hao that Jin was preparing war and Jianping must be strengthened. While Jianping holds, the enemy cannot risk a crossing. Sun Hao ignored him. Court prophecy soon made Wang Jun dragon-leaping general with command over Liang and Yi. The fuller story is told in Yang Hu's biography.
24
時朝議咸諫伐吳，濬乃上疏曰：「臣數參訪吳楚同異，孫皓荒淫凶逆，荊揚賢愚無不嗟怨。 且觀時運，宜速征伐。 若今不伐，天變難預。 令皓卒死，更立賢主，文武各得其所，則強敵也。 臣作船七年，日有朽敗，又臣年已七十，死亡無日。 三者一乖，則難圖也，誠願陛下無失事機。」 帝深納焉。 賈充、荀勖陳諫以為不可，唯張華固勸。 又杜預表請，帝乃發詔，分命諸方節度。 濬於是統兵。 先在巴郡之所全育者，皆堪徭役供軍，其父母戒之曰：「王府君生爾，爾必勉之，無愛死也！」
While ministers counseled delay, Wang Jun argued that Sun Hao's tyranny had turned Jing and Yang against him. The moment favored a rapid strike. Wait, and celestial fortune may turn against us. If Sun Hao died and a capable successor reorganized Wu, the south would become a stubborn enemy. I have spent seven years on this fleet; timbers rot daily; I am seventy and time is short. Lose any one of those three advantages and the campaign becomes doubtful; I beg you not to let this chance slip. The emperor took his advice to heart. Jia Chong and Xun Xu counseled delay, while Zhang Hua alone urged war. Du Yu weighed in as well, so the throne issued orders splintering command among the fronts. Wang Jun assumed field command. The youths Wang Jun had saved in Ba could now serve; their parents told them, "The inspector gave you life—fight without sparing yourselves!"
25
正月，濬發自成都，率巴東監軍、廣武將軍唐彬攻吳丹楊，克之，擒其丹楊監盛紀。 吳人于江險磧要害之處，並以鐵鎖橫截之，又作鐵錐長丈餘，暗置江中，以逆距船。 先是，羊祜獲吳間諜，具知情狀。 濬乃作大筏數十，亦方百餘步，縛草為人，被甲持杖，令善水者以筏先行，筏遇鐵錐，錐輒著筏去。 又作火炬，長十餘丈，大數十圍，灌以麻油，在船前，遇鎖，然炬燒之，須臾，融液斷絕，於是船無所礙。 二月庚申，克吳西陵，獲其鎮南將軍留憲、征南將軍成據、宜都太守虞忠。 壬戌，克荊門、夷道二城，獲監軍陸晏。 乙丑，克樂鄉，獲水軍督陸景。 平西將軍施洪等來降。 乙亥，詔進濬為平東將軍、假節、都督益梁諸軍事。
That month he left Chengdu with Tang Bin, seized Wu's Danyang, and took its governor Sheng Ji. The defenders chained the narrows and seeded the bed with yard-long iron spikes to snag Jin hulls. Yang Hu had already interrogated a Wu agent and knew every detail. Wang Jun floated armored straw figures on massive rafts so the hidden spikes tore free when they struck. Giant oiled torches melted the chains until the fleet could pass unhindered. In mid-spring he stormed Xiling and seized Liu Xian, Cheng Ju, and Yidu's governor Yu Zhong. Days later Jingmen and Yidao fell, along with the Wu overseer Lu Yan. He then seized Lexiang and captured the Wu fleet commander Lu Jing. Shi Hong, general who pacifies the west, defected with his command. The court named him general who pacifies the east with acting credentials over Yi and Liang.
26
濬自發蜀，兵不血刃，攻無堅城，夏口、武昌，無相支抗。 於是順流鼓棹，徑造三山。 皓遣遊擊將軍張象率舟軍萬人禦濬，象軍望旗而降。 皓聞濬軍旌旗器甲，屬天滿江，威勢甚盛，莫不破膽。 用光祿薛瑩、中書令胡沖計，送降文於濬曰：「吳郡孫皓叩頭死罪。 昔漢室失禦，九州幅裂，先人因時略有江南，遂阻山河，與魏乖隔。 大晉龍興，德覆四海，暗劣偷安，未喻天命。 至於今者，猥煩六軍，衡蓋露次，還臨江渚。 舉國震惶，假息漏刻，敢緣天朝，含弘光大。 謹遣私署太常張夔等奉所佩璽綬，委質請命。」 壬寅，濬入於石頭。 皓乃備亡國之禮，素車白馬，肉袒面縛，銜璧牽羊，大夫衰服，士輿櫬，率其偽太子瑾、瑾弟魯王虔等二十一人，造於壘門。 濬躬解其縛，受璧焚櫬，送于京師。 收其圖籍，封其府庫，軍無私焉。 帝遣使者犒濬軍。
His march downriver was a cascade of bloodless surrenders past Xiakou and Wuchang. He then swept downstream toward Three Mountains. Sun Hao sent Zhang Xiang with ten thousand sailors; they surrendered at the first glimpse of Wang Jun's standards. Word that Wang Jun's pennants blacked out the river broke Sun Hao's court. On Xue Ying's advice he sent a capitulation opening with "Sun Hao of Wu kowtows in guilt. He recalled how Wu's founders carved out the south when the Han collapsed. He admitted that Jin's virtue covered the realm while Wu clung to false security. He described Jin's hosts camped along the shore as an unbearable humiliation. He begged for the conquerors' mercy. He offered the imperial seals through an envoy named Zhang Kui." On that day Wang Jun entered Shitou fortress. Sun Hao came in the full costume of submission—white cart, bound hands, jade in his mouth, sheep in tow, ministers mourning, a bier carried before him—leading the heir and princes to Wang Jun's camp. Wang Jun cut his bonds, took the offering disc, burned the ritual bier, and sent him north to Luoyang. He secured archives and treasuries and kept the troops from looting. The court sent officers to feast his soldiers.
27
初，詔書使濬下建平，受杜預節度，至秣陵，受王渾節度。 預至江陵，謂諸將帥曰：「若濬得下建平，則順流長驅，威名已著，不宜令受制於我。 若不能克，則無緣得施節度。」 濬至西陵，預與之書曰：'足下既摧其西籓，便當徑取秣陵，討累世之逋寇，釋吳人於塗炭。 自江入淮，逾於泗汴，溯河而上，振旅還都，亦曠世一事也。」 濬大悅，表呈預書。 及濬將至秣陵，王渾遣信要令暫過論事，濬舉帆直指，報曰：「風利，不得泊也。」 王渾久破皓中軍，斬張悌等，頓兵不敢進。 而濬乘勝納降，渾恥而且忿，乃表濬違詔不受節度，誣罪狀之。 有司遂按濬檻車征，帝弗許，詔讓濬曰：「伐國事重，宜令有一。 前詔使將軍受安車將軍渾節度，渾思謀深重，案甲以待將軍。 云何徑前，不從渾命，違制昧利，甚失大義。 將軍功勳，簡在朕心，當率由詔書，崇成王法，而於事終恃功肆意，朕將何以令天下？」 濬上書自理曰：
Earlier orders had placed him under Du Yu until Jianping and under Wang Hun at Moling. Du Yu told his officers that if Wang Jun cleared Jianping he should not be tethered to his own command. If Wang Jun stalled, coordination would be pointless anyway. Du Yu urged him by letter to drive straight on Moling and finish the war. A victory march to Luoyang, he said, would crown the age. Delighted, Wang Jun submitted Du Yu's letter to the throne. Wang Hun demanded a parley; Wang Jun answered that a fair wind forbade stopping. Wang Hun had shattered Sun Hao's main force and killed Zhang Ti but then froze. Wang Jun took the credit for accepting surrender, so Wang Hun accused him of insubordination. The ministry wanted Wang Jun arrested; the emperor demurred but scolded him for divided command. The edict had told Wang Jun to obey Wang Hun, who had halted deliberately for coordination. The emperor charged him with rushing ahead for glory at the cost of good order. He acknowledged Wang Jun's feat yet insisted that defying orders undermined the law. Wang Jun answered with a long self-defense.
28
渾又騰周浚書，雲濬軍得吳寶物。 濬復表曰：
Wang Hun circulated Zhou Jun's claim that Wang Jun's men looted Wu's hoard. Wang Jun filed a second rebuttal.
29
濬至京都，有司奏，濬表既不列前後所被七詔月日，又赦後違詔不受渾節度，大不敬，付廷尉科罪。 詔曰：「濬前受詔徑造秣陵，後乃下受渾節度。 詔書稽留，所下不至，便令與不受詔同責，未為經通。 濬不即表上被渾宣詔，此可責也。 濬有征伐之勞，不足以一眚掩之。」 有司又奏，濬赦後燒賊船百三十五艘，輒敕付廷尉禁推。 詔曰「勿推」。 拜濬輔國大將軍，領步兵校尉。 舊校唯五，置此營自濬始也。 有司又奏，輔國依比，未為達官，不置司馬，不給官騎。 詔依征鎮給五百大車，增兵五百人為輔國營，給親騎百人、官騎十人，置司馬。 封為襄陽縣侯，邑萬戶。 封子彝楊鄉亭侯，邑千五百戶，賜絹萬匹，又賜衣一襲、錢三十萬及食物。
At Luoyang prosecutors wanted him tried for omitting edict dates and ignoring Wang Hun after the general amnesty. The emperor ruled that Wang Jun had first been told to rush Moling, then to defer to Wang Hun. Late orders could not fairly be treated as refusal. Only the delay in reporting Wang Hun's message was culpable. His conquest outweighed a minor slip. Prosecutors also attacked him for burning 135 Wu ships after the pardon. The throne told them to drop it. He was named bulwark grand general and colonel of infantry. The sixth infantry colonelcy was created for him. Clerks claimed the new title lacked senior perquisites. The emperor overruled them with wagons, escort, and a staff major. He received a marquisate of Xiangyang with a ten-thousand-household fief. His son Yi gained a lesser marquisate, silk, robes, cash, and provisions.
30
濬自以功大，而為渾父子及豪強所抑，屢為有司所奏，每進見，陳其攻伐之勞，及見枉之狀，或不勝忿憤，徑出不辭。 帝每容恕之。 益州護軍範通，濬之外親也。 謂濬曰：「卿功則美矣，然恨所以居美者，未盡善也。」 濬曰：「何謂也？」 通曰：「卿旋旆之日，角巾私第，口不言平吳之事。 若有問者，輒曰：'聖主之德，群帥之力，老夫何力之有焉！ '如斯，顏老之不伐，龔遂之雅對，將何以過之。 藺生所以屈廉頗，王渾能無愧乎！」 濬曰：「吾始懼鄧艾之事，畏禍及，不得無言，亦不能遣諸胸中，是吾偏也。」 時人咸以濬功重報輕，博士秦秀、太子洗馬孟康、前溫令李密等並表訟濬之屈。 帝乃遷濬鎮軍大將軍，加散騎常侍，領後軍將軍。 王渾詣濬，濬嚴設備衛，然後見之，其相猜防如此。
Believing his reward meager, he quarreled with Wang Hun's faction, railed at audiences, and stormed out. Emperor Wu bore with his outbursts. His in-law Fan Tong, protector in Yi, offered counsel. Fan Tong said his victory was glorious but his conduct afterward was not. Wang Jun asked what he meant. Fan Tong advised him to have gone home modestly and stayed silent about the conquest. He should have credited only the emperor and his comrades. Such humility would have rivaled ancient paragons. Fan Tong hinted that humility would have shamed Wang Hun as Lian Po was shamed. Wang Jun answered that fear of another Deng Ai trap had forced him to speak his mind. Scholars petitioned, saying his honors were unjustly slight. The court raised him to garrison grand general with a rear-army command. Wang Hun had to pass a cordon of guards to see him.
31
濬平吳之後，以勳高位重，不復素業自居，乃玉食錦服，縱奢侈以自逸。 其有辟引，多是蜀人，示不遺故舊也。 後又轉濬撫軍大將軍、開府儀同三司，加特進，散騎常侍、後軍將軍如故。 卒，時年八十，諡曰武。 葬柏谷山，大營塋域，葬垣周四十五里，面別開一門，松柏茂盛。 子矩嗣。
After the conquest he flaunted wealth—jade tableware, brocade robes, lavish ease. He favored Shu-born aides to remember old ties. He was later made bulwark grand general with separate headquarters equaling the Three Excellencies, honored with the tejin distinction, and kept his old concurrent posts. He died at eighty with the posthumous epithet Wu, "martial." His tomb on Mount Baigu sprawled over forty-five li of walled parkland. His son Wang Ju inherited the title.
32
矩弟暢，散騎郎。 暢子粹，，武帝詔粹尚潁川公主，仕至魏郡太守。
Wang Ju's brother Wang Chang served as gentleman cavalry attendant. Wang Chang's son Wang Cui married the Princess of Yingchuan and became governor of Wei commandery.
33
濬有二孫，過江不見齒錄。 安西將軍恆溫鎮江陵，表言之曰：「臣聞崇德賞功，為政之所先； 興滅繼絕，百王之所務。 故德參時雍，則奕世承祀； 功烈一代，則永錫祚胤。 案故撫軍王濬曆職內外，任兼文武，料敵制勝，明勇獨斷，義存社稷之利，不顧專輒之罪。 荷戈長鶩，席捲萬里，僭號之吳，面縛象魏，今皇澤被于九州，玄風洽于區外，襄陽之封，廢而莫續； 恩寵之號，墜於近嗣。 遐邇酸懷，臣竊悼之。 濬今有二孫，年出六十，室如懸磬，糊口江濱，四節蒸嘗，菜羹不給。 昔漢高定業，求樂毅之嗣； 世祖旌賢，建葛亮之胤。 夫效忠異代，立功異國，尚通天下之善，使不泯棄，況濬建元勳于當年，著喜慶於身後，靈基托根于南垂，皇祚中興于江左，舊物克彰，神器重耀，豈不由伊人之功力也哉！ 誠宜加恩，少垂矜憫，追錄舊勳，纂錫茅土。 則聖朝之恩，宣暢于上，忠臣之志，不墜於地矣。」 卒不見省。
Two grandsons fled south with the court yet went unrecorded in the rolls. Huan Wen, guarding Jiangling, argued that rewards should favor old service. He cited the duty to preserve extinguished houses. Merit and virtue, he said, deserved perpetual remembrance. He tied honors for heirs to dynastic gratitude. He praised Wang Jun's lone decision to save the realm. He noted that Jin ruled all under heaven while Wang Jun's marquisate lapsed. Imperial favor had not reached the living line. Huan Wen said the neglect shamed the court. Two grandsons lived in destitution by the Yangzi. He compared them to Gaozu's care for Yue Yi's line. And to Guangwu's revival of Zhuge Liang's house. Wang Jun's foundational merit for the eastern Jin restoration deserved the same care. He asked that their fief be restored. Only then would grace and loyalty align. The court never acted on the plea.
34
唐彬
Tang Bin
35
唐彬，字儒宗，魯國鄒人也。 父台，太山太守。 彬有經國大度，而不拘行檢。 少便弓馬，好遊獵，身長八尺，走及奔鹿，強力兼人。 晚乃敦悅經史，尤明《易經》，隨師受業，還家教授，恆數百人。 初為郡門下掾，轉主簿。 刺史王沈集諸參佐，盛論距吳之策，以問九郡吏。 彬與譙郡主張惲俱陳吳有可兼之勢，沈善其對。 又使彬難言吳未可伐者，而辭理皆屈。 還遷功曹，舉孝廉，州辟主簿，累遷別駕。
Tang Bin, courtesy name Ruzong, came from Zou in Lu commandery. His father Tang Tai had been governor of Taishan. Tang Bin thought like a statesman and cared little for petty respectability. In youth he was a superb rider and archer, stood eight feet tall, could outrun a deer, and out-muscled ordinary men. Later he immersed himself in the canon, above all the "Changes," studied abroad, and came home to lecture to hundreds. He began as a commandery gate clerk and rose to chief clerk. Inspector Wang Shen convened his aides to plan anti-Wu strategy and canvassed clerks from nine jurisdictions. Tang Bin and Zhang Yun of Qiao argued that Wu could be taken; Wang Shen approved. He then had Tang Bin dismantle the anti-war case until every objection collapsed. He advanced through merit assessor, filial-and-incorrupt nomination, and provincial chief clerk to senior adjutant.
36
彬忠肅公亮，盡規匡救，不顯諫以自彰，又奉使詣相府計事，于時僚佐皆當世英彥，見彬莫不欽悅，稱之于文帝，薦為掾屬。 帝以問其參軍孔顥，顥忌其能，良久不答。 陳騫在坐，斂板而稱曰：「彬之為人，勝騫甚遠。」 帝笑曰：「但能如卿，固未易得，何論於勝。」 因辟彬為鎧曹屬。 帝問曰：「卿何以致辟？」 對曰：「修業陋巷，觀古人之遺跡，言滿天下無口過，行滿天下無怨惡。」 帝顧四坐曰：「名不虛行。」 他日，謂孔顥曰：「近見唐彬，卿受蔽賢之責矣。」
Loyal and blunt in counsel, he served the chancellery mission so well that Sima Zhao's brilliant staff praised him to Prince Wen. Sima Zhao asked Kong Hao, who stayed silent out of jealousy. Chen Qian broke in: "Tang Bin is far my superior." Sima Zhao laughed that matching Chen Qian was rare enough, let alone surpassing him. He hired Tang Bin for the armory office. Sima Zhao asked how he had won the post. Tang Bin cited modest study, imitation of antiquity, and blameless speech and conduct. Sima Zhao told the room the reputation was deserved. Later he rebuked Kong Hao for concealing Tang Bin.
37
初，鄧艾之誅也，文帝以艾久在隴右，素得士心，一旦夷滅，恐邊情搔動，使彬密察之。 彬還，白帝曰：「鄧艾忌克詭狹，矜能負才，順從者謂為見事，直言者謂之觸迕。 雖長史司馬，參佐牙門，答對失指，輒見罵辱。 處身無禮，大失人心。 又好施行事役，數勞眾力。 隴右甚患苦之，喜聞其禍，不肯為用。 今諸軍已至，足以鎮壓內外，願無以為慮。」
Fearing mutiny after Deng Ai's death, Sima Zhao sent Tang Bin to sound Longyou opinion. Tang Bin reported that Deng Ai had been jealous and petty, punishing candor and rewarding flattery. Even senior aides who misspoke faced abuse. His rudeness had cost him every bond of loyalty. He had also worn the people out with endless corvée. The northwesterners hated him and would not rally to his memory. Jin's army could hold the region; Tang Bin urged Sima Zhao not to fret.
38
俄除尚書水部郎。 泰始初，賜爵關內侯。 出補鄴令，彬道德齊禮，期月化成。 遷弋陽太守，明設禁防，百姓安之。 以母喪去官。 益州東接吳寇，監軍位缺，朝議用武陵太守楊宗及彬。 武帝以問散騎常侍文立，立曰：「宗、彬俱不可失。 然彬多財欲，而宗好酒，惟陛下裁之。」 帝曰：「財欲可足，酒者難改。」 遂用彬。 尋又詔彬監巴東諸軍事，加廣武將軍。 上征吳之策，甚合帝意。
He was soon named waterworks secretary in the ministry. Early in Taishi he received a marquisate within the passes. As magistrate of Ye he ruled through ritual and remade local custom in a month. As Yiyang's governor he posted clear laws and kept the people safe. He resigned to mourn his mother. With Yi Province facing Wu and the overseer seat empty, the court shortlisted Yang Zong and Tang Bin. Emperor Wu polled Wen Li, who refused to choose between them. He warned that Tang Bin loved money and Yang Zong loved drink. The emperor judged greed easier to curb than alcoholism. He picked Tang Bin. Tang Bin was soon made overseer of Ba-East with the rank of Guangwu general. His Wu campaign memorial suited Emperor Wu perfectly.
39
後與王濬共伐吳，彬屯據沖要，為眾軍前驅。 每設疑兵，應機制勝，陷西陵、樂鄉，多所擒獲。 自巴陵、沔口以東，諸賊所聚，莫不震懼，倒戈肉袒。 彬知賊寇已殄，孫皓將降，未至建鄴二百里，稱疾遲留，以示不競。 果有先到者爭物，後到者爭功，于時有識莫不高彬此舉。 吳平，詔曰：「廣武將軍唐彬受任方隅，東禦吳寇，南監蠻越，撫寧疆埸，有綏禦之績。 又每慷慨，志在立功。 頃者征討，扶疾奉命，首啟戎行，獻俘授馘，勳效顯著。 其以彬為右將軍、都督巴東諸軍事。」 徵拜翊軍校尉，改封上庸縣侯，食邑六千戶，賜絹六千匹。 朝有疑議，每參預焉。
Beside Wang Jun he seized critical ground and led the van. Feints and timing won Xiling and Lexiang with heavy captures. East of Baling and the Han estuary every Wu garrison panicked and capitulated. Seeing victory certain, he halted two hundred li from Jianye feigning illness so no one could accuse him of racing for glory. While early victors fought over loot and credit, observers praised his restraint. The victory edict praised Tang Bin for holding the southeast and pacifying barbarians. It noted his zeal for service. Despite illness he had led the van and delivered captives. He was named general of the right with Ba-East command. Recalled as colonel of the wing guards, he gained a Shangyong marquisate, six thousand households, and silk. He sat in on doubtful policy debates.
40
北虜侵掠北平，以彬為使持節、監幽州諸軍事、領護烏丸校尉、右將軍。 彬既至鎮，訓卒利兵，廣農重稼，震威耀武，宣喻國命，示以恩信。 於是鮮卑二部大莫廆、擿何等並遣侍子入貢。 兼修學校，誨誘無倦，仁惠廣被。 遂開拓舊境，卻地千里。 復秦長城塞，自溫城洎于碣石，綿亙山谷且三千里，分軍屯守，烽堠相望。 由是邊境獲安，無犬吠之警，自漢魏征鎮莫之比焉。 鮮卑諸種畏懼，遂殺大莫廆。 彬欲討之，恐列上俟報，虜必逃散，乃發幽冀車牛。 參軍許祗密奏之。 詔遣御史檻車征彬付廷尉，以事直見釋。 百姓追慕彬功德，生為立碑作頌。
When steppe raiders hit Beiping, he became Youzhou overseer, Wuhuan protector-colonel, and general of the right. He trained soldiers, pushed agriculture, flashed force, and broadcast Jin's good faith. Two Xianbei confederations under Damokuai and Zhihe sent hostages and gifts. He rebuilt schools and taught patiently until his kindness covered the frontier. He recovered a thousand li of lost ground. He refortified the Qin wall from Wencheng to Jieshi, nearly three thousand li of watchtowers and camps. The steppe fell so quiet that no Han or Wei frontier had matched it. Fearing him, the Xianbei assassinated Damokuai. Planning a punitive strike without losing surprise, he requisitioned transport across You and Ji. His adjutant Xu Zhi tattled to the capital. Censors jailed him until an inquiry cleared his action. Locals raised a stele praising him while he still lived.
41
彬初受學于東海閻德，門徒甚多，獨目彬有廊廟才。 及彬官成，而德已卒，乃為之立碑。
His teacher Yan De of Donghai, amid hundreds of pupils, marked him for high office. When Tang Bin rose, Yan De was dead, so he honored him with a monument.
42
元康初，拜使持節、前將軍、領西戎校尉、雍州刺史。 下教曰：「此州名都，士人林藪。 處士皇甫申叔、嚴舒龍、姜茂時、梁子遠等，並志節清妙，履行高潔。 踐境望風，虛心饑渴，思加延致，待以不臣之典。 幅巾相見，論道而已，豈以吏職，屈染高規。 郡國備禮發遣，以副於邑之望。」 於是四人皆到，彬敬而待之。 卒官，時年六十，諡曰襄，賜絹二百匹，錢二十萬。 長子嗣，官至廣陵太守。 少子岐，征虜司馬。
Early in Yuankang he became forward general, western-tribes colonel, and Yongzhou inspector. He proclaimed Yongzhou a haven of scholars. He named recluses whose integrity shone. He invited them with honors fit for peers, not underlings. He promised philosophical conversation without bureaucratic condescension. He ordered counties to escort them with full ceremony. All four came, and Tang Bin treated them deferentially. He died on duty at sixty with the posthumous name Xiang, plus silk and cash. His eldest son Tang Si became governor of Guangling. His younger son Tang Qi served as major to the general who conquers captives.
43
史評
Historians' judgment
44
史臣曰：孫氏負江山之阻隔，恃牛鬥之妖氛，奄有水鄉，抗衡上國。 二王屬當戎旅，受律遄征，渾既獻捷橫江，濬亦克清建鄴。 于時討吳之役，將帥雖多，定吳之功，此焉為最。 向使弘范父之不伐，慕陽夏之推功，上稟廟堂，下憑將士。 豈非茂勳茂德，善始善終者歟！ 此而不存，彼焉是務。 或矜功負氣，或恃勢驕陵，競構南箕，成茲貝錦。 遂乃喧黷宸扆，斁亂彝倫，既為戒于功臣，亦致譏於清論，豈不惜哉！ 王濟遂驕父之褊心，乖爭子之明義，俊材雖多，亦奚以為也。 唐彬畏避交爭，屬疾遲留，退讓之風，賢於渾濬遠矣。 傳云「不拘行檢」，安得長者之行哉！
The editors write that Sun Wu used terrain and astrology to defy the north. Both Wangs campaigned: Wang Hun triumphed at Hengjiang and Wang Jun took Jianye. Many commanded, but they decided Wu's fate. Had they shown Fan Wenzi's modesty and Chen Shi's generosity, trusting throne and troops, they might have matched the best beginnings and endings. Ignoring that example while chasing lesser goals— they flaunted pride, abused power, and traded accusations like court intriguers. Their quarrels shamed the court and warned future generals—a pity. Wang Ji aped his father's pettiness and scanted filial duty despite his gifts. Tang Bin's feigned delay showed a humility Wang Hun and Wang Jun lacked. The text calls him lax in deportment, yet his choices were those of a true elder.
45
贊曰：二王總戎，淮海攸同。 渾既害善，濬亦矜功。 武子豪桀，夙參朝列。 逞欲牛心，紆情馬埒。 儒宗知退，避名全節。
The ode praises both Wangs on the Huai front. One envied worthies; the other boasted. Wang Ji, Wuzi, swaggered in office young. He wasted wit on wagers and racetracks. Tang Bin, Ruzong, chose retreat and kept his honor.