1
解系
Xie Xi
2
解系，字少連，濟南著人也。 父修，魏琅邪太守、梁州刺史，考績為天下第一。 武帝受禪，封梁鄒侯。 系及二弟結、育並清身潔己，甚得聲譽。 時荀勖門宗強盛，朝野畏憚之。 勖諸子謂系等曰：「我與卿為友，應向我公拜。」 勖又曰：「我與尊先使君親厚。」 系曰：「不奉先君遺教。 公若與先君厚，往日哀頓，當垂書問。 親厚之誨，非所敢承。」 勖父子大慚，當世壯之。 後辟公府掾，歷中書黃門侍郎、散騎常侍、豫州刺史，遷尚書，出為雍州刺史、揚烈將軍、西戎校尉、假節。 會氐羌叛，與征西將軍趙王倫討之。 倫信用佞人孫秀，與系爭軍事，更相表奏。 朝廷知系守正不撓，而召倫還。 系表殺秀以謝氐羌，不從。 倫、秀譖之，系坐免官，以白衣還第，闔門自守。 及張華、裴頠之被誅也，倫、秀以宿憾收系兄弟。 梁王肜救系等，倫怒曰：「我于水中見蟹且惡之，況此人兄弟輕我邪！ 此而可忍，孰不可忍！」 肜苦爭之不得，遂害之，並戮其妻子。
Xie Xi, whose courtesy name was Shaolian, came from the district of Zhu in Jinan commandery. His father, Xiu, had served Wei as administrator of Langye and as inspector of Liang province, earning the top merit rating in the empire. After Emperor Wu accepted the Wei abdication, Xiu was invested as Marquis of Liangzou. Xie Xi and his brothers Xie Jie and Xie Yu were alike in their spotless conduct and won wide esteem. In that era the house of Xun Xu was dominant enough that everyone at court and beyond walked in fear of it. The sons of Xun Xu told the Xie brothers, “We count you friends, so you ought to pay obeisance to our father.” Xun Xu added, “I was on very close terms with your late father.” Xie Xi replied, “Nothing my late father taught me obliges me to do that. Had you really been intimate with him, you would have written with condolences when our house was in mourning and ruin. I cannot pretend that kind of friendship ever existed between our houses.” Xun Xu and his sons were mortified, and contemporaries admired Xie Xi for his backbone. He later entered the central secretariat, rose to cavalier attendant in regular attendance and inspector of Yu province, then to secretary of the ministry of appointments before being posted as inspector of Yong, as General Who Spreads Might, as colonel of the Western Rong, and as bearer of the credential staff. When the Di and Qiang rose in rebellion, he campaigned alongside Sima Lun, the western expedition general and king of Zhao. Lun favored the vicious favorite Sun Xiu; Sun and Xie wrangled over strategy and traded accusations at the throne. The court knew Xie Xi had stood his ground without yielding and recalled Sima Lun to the capital. Xie Xi asked that Sun Xiu be executed as an offering to the Di and Qiang, but his plea was rejected. Lun and Sun Xiu denounced him; Xie Xi lost his rank, went home in plain clothes, and locked his gates against the world. When Zhang Hua and Pei Wei were put to death, Lun and Sun Xiu—still nursing old grudges—had the Xie brothers arrested. Prince Liang Sima Yong intervened for the Xies, whereupon Lun growled, “I detest even a crab in a stream—let alone brothers who have slighted me! If I tolerate this, there is nothing I cannot swallow!” Yong argued until he had no leverage left; Lun had the Xies killed and wiped out their families.
3
後齊王冏起義時，以裴、解為冤首。 倫、秀既誅，冏乃奏曰：「臣聞興微繼絕，聖主之高政； 貶惡嘉善，《春秋》之美談。 是以武王封比干之墓，表商容之閭，誠幽明之故有以相通也。 孫秀逆亂，滅佐命之國，誅骨鯁之臣，以斫喪王室，肆其虐戾，功臣之後，多見泯滅。 至如張華、裴頠，各以見憚取誅于時，系、結同以羔羊被害，歐陽建等無罪而死，百姓憐之。 陛下更日月之光照，布惟新之明命，然此等未蒙恩理。 昔欒郤降在皁隸，而《春秋》傳其人； 幽王絕功臣之後，棄賢者子孫，而詩人以為刺。 臣備忝右職，思竭股肱，獻納愚誠。 若合聖意，可群官通議。」 八坐議以「系等清公正直，為奸邪所疾，無罪橫戮，冤痛已甚。 如大司馬所啟，彰明枉直，顯宣當否，使冤魂無愧無恨，為恩大矣。」 ，追贈光祿大夫，改葬，加弔祭焉。
Later, when Sima Jiong of Qi rose in righteous rebellion, he listed Pei Wei and Xie Xi chief among the martyred worthies. Once Lun and Sun Xiu had been put to death, Jiong submitted a memorial: “I have heard that reviving ruined houses and restoring broken lines is the hallmark policy of a sage king; while condemning villains and honoring goodness is what the Spring and Autumn Annals celebrate as true judgment. King Wu of old rebuilt Bi Gan’s tomb and highlighted Shang Rong’s lane because justice must reach from this world into the next. Sun Xiu’s coup gutted the families that had sealed the Jin mandate, slaughtered ministers bold enough to speak truth, and ravaged the house of Jin; lineages of old heroes were mutilated wholesale. Zhang Hua and Pei Wei were killed simply because others feared them; Xie Xi and Xie Jie died like lambs led to slaughter; Ouyang Jian and the rest were innocent—ordinary folk still weep for them. Under Your Majesty’s luminous rule such men deserve redress, yet they still await recognition. The Zuo Tradition still commemorated Luan and Xi after they sank to stable-hands—because merit must outlive misfortune. King You, by abandoning the heirs of loyal ministers, earned the Classic of Poetry’s bitter satire—may we never repeat it. Though unworthy to stand at Your right, I beg to exhaust my strength in blunt counsel. If any of this reflects sage intent, let the full bureaucracy debate it together.” The Eight Senior Ministers replied: “Xie Xi and his brothers were upright officials destroyed by villains; they were slaughtered without crime, and their grievance cries to Heaven. Grant the grand marshal’s request: set the record straight so their shades may rest—that would be the ultimate grace.” The court posthumously named Xie Xi grand master of the palace and, with full rites, had him reinterred and honored with mourning sacrifices.
4
結字叔連，少與系齊名。 辟公府掾，累遷黃門侍郎，歷散騎常恃、豫州刺史、魏郡太守、御史中丞。 時孫秀亂關中，結在都，坐議秀罪應誅，秀由是致憾。 及系被害，結亦同戮。 女適裴氏，明日當嫁，而禍起，裴氏欲認活之，女曰：「家既若此，我何活為！」 亦坐死。 朝廷遂議革舊制，女不從坐，由結女始也。 後贈結光祿大夫，改葬，加弔祭。
Xie Jie, courtesy Shulian, was already renowned alongside his elder brother while still young. Summoned as a clerk in the Three Excellencies’ offices, he rose to gentleman of the Yellow Gate, then cavalier attendant in regular attendance, inspector of Yu, prefect of Wei commandery, and imperial secretary. When Sun Xiu ravaged the Guanzhong region, Xie Jie—still at court—argued that Sun deserved death; from that day Sun never forgave him. When Xie Xi was killed, Xie Jie died with him. His daughter was pledged to the Pei clan; her wedding was due the next morning when catastrophe struck. The Peis tried to swear she had never been a Xie. The girl said, “If my family is destroyed, why should I live?” She accepted condemnation with her kin and walked to execution. Her case forced the court to abolish collective guilt for daughters—that reform began with Xie Jie’s child. Later the throne posthumously appointed Xie Jie grand master of the palace, reburied him, and added state sacrifices.
5
結弟育，字稚連，名亞二兄。 歷公府掾、太子洗馬、尚書郎、衛軍長史、弘農太守，與二兄俱被害，妻子徙邊。
His younger brother Xie Yu, courtesy Zhilian, stood a notch below his famous brothers in reputation. He held successive posts—clerk in the central offices, crown prince’s groom, ministry gentleman, chief clerk to the guards army, and governor of Hongnong—before being executed with his brothers; their wives and children were banished beyond the frontier.
6
孫旂
Sun Qi
7
孫旂，字伯旗，樂安人也。 父曆，魏晉際為幽州刺史、右將軍。 旂潔靜，少自修立。 察孝廉，累遷黃門侍郎，出為荊州刺史，名位與二解相亞。 永熙中，徵拜太子詹事，轉衛尉，坐武庫火，免官。 歲餘，出為兗州刺史，遷平南將軍、假節。 旂子弼及弟子髦、輔、琰四人，並有吏材，稱於當世，遂與孫秀合族。 及趙王倫起事，夜從秀開神武門下觀閱器械。 兄弟旬月相次為公府掾、尚書郎。 弼又為中堅將軍，領尚書左丞，轉為上將軍，領射聲校尉。 髦為武衛將軍，領太子詹事。 琰為武威將軍，領太子左率。 皆賜爵開國郡侯。 推崇旂為車騎將軍、開府。 初，旂以弼等受署偽朝，遣小息回責讓弼等，以過差之事，必為家禍。 弼等終不從，旂制之不可，但慟哭而已。 及齊王冏起義，四子皆伏誅。 襄陽太守宗岱承冏檄斬旂，夷三族。
Sun Qi, courtesy Boqi, hailed from Le’an commandery. His father Sun Li, during the handover from Wei to Jin, had served as inspector of You and general of the right. Sun Qi was reserved and meticulous, polishing his conduct from an early age. Raised on the filial-and-incorrupt recommendation, he advanced to gentleman of the Yellow Gate and then inspector of Jing, ranking just below the Xie brothers in prestige. During Yongxi he was recalled as mentor to the crown prince, rotated into commandant of the guards, then dismissed after the imperial armory caught fire. A year later he returned to provincial duty as inspector of Yanzhou and general who pacifies the south, bearing the credential staff. His son Sun Bi and nephews Sun Mao, Sun Fu, and Sun Yan—all four gifted administrators—won contemporary fame and merged their lineage with Sun Xiu’s branch. When Sima Lun mobilized his coup, they slipped out at night with Sun Xiu to unbar Shenwu Gate and inspect weapons. Inside a single month each rose to secretariat posts—clerks in the excellencies and gentlemen of the Secretariat. Sun Bi advanced to stalwart-core general while leading the left section of the Secretariat, then to supreme general overseeing the whistling-arrows garrison. Sun Mao became martial guard general while doubling as mentor to the crown prince. Sun Yan became general of awe-inspiring might while commanding the crown prince’s left escort. Each received a frontier-establishing marquisate at commandery rank. On their recommendation Sun Qi was raised to chariot-and-cavalry general with independent staff. Earlier Sun Qi, horrified that his son and nephews had taken office under the usurper, dispatched his youngest son Sun Hui home to berate them—warning that overreaching ambition would consume the clan. They refused to listen; Sun Qi could not control them and could only weep in despair. When Sima Jiong rose in righteous rebellion, all four youths were arrested and executed. Zong Dai, governor of Xiangyang, answering Jiong’s warrant, executed Sun Qi and extirpated three generations of kin.
8
弟尹，字文旗，歷陳留、陽平太守，早卒。
Sun Qi’s younger brother Sun Yin, courtesy Wenqi, governed Chenliu and Yangping before dying young.
9
孟觀
Meng Guan
10
孟觀，字叔時，渤海東光人也。 少好讀書，解天文。 惠帝即位，稍遷殿中中郎。 賈后悖婦姑之禮，陰欲誅楊駿而廢太后，因駿專權，數言之於帝，又使人諷觀。 會楚王瑋將討駿，觀受賈后旨宣詔，頗加誣其事。 及駿誅，以觀為黃門侍郎，特給親信四十人。 遷積弩將軍，封上穀郡公。 氐帥齊萬年反於關中，眾數十萬，諸將覆敗相繼。 中書令陳准、監張華，以趙、梁諸王在關中，雍容貴戚，進不貪功，退不懼罪，士卒雖眾，不為之用，周處喪敗，職此之由，上下離心，難以勝敵。 以觀沈毅，有文武材用，乃啟觀討之。 觀所領宿衛兵，皆趫捷勇悍，並統關中士卒，身當矢石，大戰十數，皆破之，生擒萬年，威懾氐羌。 轉東羌校尉，徵拜右將軍。
Meng Guan, courtesy Shushi, came from Dongguang county in Bohai. As a boy he loved books and mastered astronomy. After Emperor Hui took the throne he rose slowly to middle gentleman of the palace bureau. Empress Jia despised the rites owed to a mother-in-law; plotting to kill Yang Jun and depose the empress dowager, she harped on Yang’s monopoly of power before the emperor and nudged Meng Guan to back her. When Sima Wei of Chu marched against Yang Jun, Meng Guan relayed the empress’s secret instructions, embellishing the charges as he proclaimed the decree. After Yang’s fall he was promoted to gentleman of the Yellow Gate with forty handpicked attendants. He advanced to rapid-crossbow general and was enfeoffed duke of Shanggu commandery. The Di leader Qi Wannian rebelled in Guanzhong at the head of hundreds of thousands; imperial generals fell one after another. Secretariat director Chen Zhun and overseer Zhang Hua argued that the Wei princes in Guanzhong—pampered imperial in-laws—neither pressed for glory nor feared disgrace, so their hosts would not fight; Zhou Chu’s disaster stemmed from that fatal split between commanders and men. They therefore proposed Meng Guan—tough, steady, and skilled in arms and letters—to take the field. The palace guards he led were picked for speed and ferocity; blending them with Guanzhong levies, he met flights of arrows and stones himself, shattered Qi Wannian’s army in more than a dozen major clashes, took Wannian alive, and cowed every Di and Qiang band. He rotated to colonel of the eastern Qiang and was recalled as general of the right.
11
趙王倫篡位，以觀所在著績，署為安南將軍、監河北諸軍事、假節，屯宛。 觀子平為淮南王允前鋒將軍，討倫，戰死。 孫秀以觀杖兵在外，假言平為允兵所害，贈積弩將軍以安觀。 義軍既起，多勸觀應齊王冏，觀以紫宮帝坐無他變，謂倫應之，遂不從眾議而為倫守。 及帝反正，永饒冶令空桐機斬觀首，傳於洛陽，遂夷三族。
When Sima Lun seized the throne, he prized Meng Guan’s battle record and named him general who pacifies the south, overseer of military affairs north of the Yellow River, with credential staff, stationed at Wan. His son Meng Ping served Prince Huainan Sima Yun as vanguard general against Lun and fell in battle. Sun Xiu, wary that Meng Guan still camped beyond Luoyang with an army, spread word that Meng Ping had been murdered by Yun’s soldiers and soothed the father with a posthumous rapid-crossbow generalship. When the loyalist hosts mobilized, counsellors begged Meng Guan to declare for Sima Jiong; he gazed at the imperial seat asterism, detected no celestial warning, decided Lun matched Heaven’s will, and chose to ignore the clamor—remaining Lun’s partisan. After the emperor was restored, Kongtong Ji, magistrate of the Yongrao foundry office, struck off Meng Guan’s head and forwarded it to Luoyang before annihilating three generations of his kin.
12
牽秀
Qian Xiu
13
牽秀，字成叔，武邑觀津人也。 祖招，魏雁門太守。 秀博辯有文才，性豪俠，弱冠得美名，為太保衛瓘、尚書崔洪所知。 太康中，調補新安令，累遷司空從事中郎。 與帝舅王愷素相輕侮，愷諷司隸荀愷奏秀夜在道中載高平國守士田興妻。 秀即表訴被誣，論愷穢行，文辭亢厲，以譏抵外戚。 于時朝臣雖多證明其行，而秀盛名美譽由是而損，遂坐免官。 後司空張華請為長史。
Qian Xiu, courtesy Chengshu, came from Guanjin in Wuyi commandery. His grandfather Qian Zhao had served Wei as administrator of Yanmen commandery. Qian Xiu was eloquent and literary, swaggering and generous; before he turned twenty he was already famed, noticed by grand tutor Wei Guan and minister Cui Hong. During Taikang he was reassigned magistrate of Xin’an, then rose to senior clerk in the ministry of works. He despised the emperor’s uncle Wang Kai; Wang Kai persuaded metropolitan commandant Xun Kai to impeach Qian Xiu for abducting Tian Xing’s wife on the highway at night. Qian Xiu fired back a shrill memorial proclaiming his innocence and airing Wang Kai’s debauchery, mocking the consort clan in blistering prose. Even though colleagues vouched for him, his luster never recovered and he was cashiered. Later Zhang Hua, minister of works, recruited him as chief clerk.
14
秀任氣，好為將帥。 張昌作亂，長沙王乂遣秀討昌，秀出關，因奔成都王穎。 穎伐乂，以秀為冠軍將軍，與陸機、王粹等共為河橋之役。 機戰敗，秀證成其罪，又諂事黃門孟玖，故見親於穎。 惠帝西幸長安，以秀為尚書。 秀少在京輦，見司隸劉毅奏事而扼腕慷慨，自謂居司直之任，當能激濁揚清； 處鼓鞞之間，必建將帥之勳。 及在常伯納言，亦未曾有規獻弼違之奇也。
Qian Xiu answered to no one and longed for field command. When Zhang Chang revolted, Prince Changsha Sima Yi dispatched Qian Xiu to suppress him; Qian marched through the passes and bolted straight to Sima Ying’s camp in Chengdu. Sima Ying, marching against his brother, named Qian Xiu champion general alongside Lu Ji and Wang Cui for the Heqiao campaign. After Lu Ji collapsed at Heqiao, Qian Xiu twisted testimony to damn him and curried favor with eunuch Meng Jiu, which won Sima Ying’s trust. When Emperor Hui was driven west to Chang’an, Qian Xiu was appointed minister of the secretariat. In his youth Qian Xiu watched metropolitan commandant Liu Yi present memorials with clenched-fist passion and imagined that, once he held the censor’s mace himself, he would scour corruption and trumpet integrity; and that amid the thunder of war drums he would win the laurels of a field commander. Even after he rose to palace spokesman and chief remonstrant, he never mustered the kind of blunt counsel that steadies a throne.
15
河間王顒甚親任之。 關東諸軍奉迎大駕，以秀為平北將軍，鎮馮翊。 秀與顒將馬瞻等將輔顒以守關中，顒密遣使就東海王越求迎，越遣將麋晃等迎顒。 時秀擁眾在馮翊，晃不敢進。 顒長史楊騰前不應越軍，懼越討之，欲取秀以自效，與馮翊大姓諸嚴詐稱顒命，使秀罷兵，秀信之，騰遂殺秀於萬年。
Sima Yong, prince of Hejian, kept him close and relied on him heavily. The eastern coalition, intent on restoring the emperor, named Qian Xiu general who pacifies the north and posted him to Fengyi. Qian Xiu camped with Yong’s generals such as Ma Zhan to hold the Guanzhong line, while Yong secretly begged Sima Yue for rescue; Yue answered by sending Mi Huang and other officers to fetch him. Qian Xiu still commanded a large force at Fengyi, so Mi Huang dared not push forward. Yang Teng, Yong’s chief clerk, had defied Yue’s troops and now hoped to buy pardon by murdering Qian Xiu; he and the Yan magnates of Fengyi forged an order to disarm him, lured him out, and cut him down at Wannian.
16
繆播
Miao Bo
17
繆播，字宣則，蘭陵人也。 父悅，光祿大夫。 播才思清辯，有意義。 高密王泰為司空，以播為祭酒，累遷太弟中庶子。
Miao Bo, courtesy Xuancao, came from Lanling. His father Miao Yue had held the post of grand master of the palace. Miao Bo combined a lucid intellect with eloquence and a strong sense of public duty. When Sima Tai of Gaomi served as minister of works, he took Miao Bo as libationer; Bo later rose to junior mentor in the heir apparent’s household.
18
惠帝幸長安，河間王顒欲挾天子令諸侯。 東海王越將起兵奉迎天子，以播父時故吏，委以心膂。 播從弟右衛率胤，顒前妃之弟也。 越遣播、胤詣長安說顒，令奉帝還洛，約與顒分陝為伯。 播、胤素為顒所敬信，既相見，虛懷從之。 顒將張方自以罪重，懼為誅首，謂顒曰：「今據形勝之地，國富兵強，奉天子以號令，誰敢不服！」 顒惑方所謀，猶豫不決。 方惡播、胤為越遊說，陰欲殺之。 播等亦慮方為難，不敢復言。 時越兵鋒甚盛，顒深憂之，播、胤乃復說顒，急斬方以謝，可不勞而安。 顒從之，於是斬方以謝山東諸侯。 顒後悔之，又以兵距越，屢為越所敗。 帝反舊都，播亦從太弟還洛，契闊艱難，深相親狎。
After Emperor Hui was driven to Chang’an, Sima Yong of Hejian meant to hold the emperor hostage and dictate to the regional lords. Sima Yue of Donghai prepared a loyal rising to bring the ruler home; because Miao Bo’s father had once served under him, Yue treated Bo as a confidant. Bo’s kinsman Miao Yin, captain of the right guard, was the brother of Yong’s divorced consort. Yue sent Bo and Yin west to talk Yong into releasing the court to Luoyang, offering to split authority at the Shan pass like the ancient dukes of Zhou. Yong had always respected the two men; when they arrived he listened with unusual candor. General Zhang Fang, terrified that he would be singled out for execution, urged Yong: “We occupy the strategic west, our treasury is full, and our spears are many; with the emperor in hand we can issue orders that no one dares refuse!” Yong let Zhang Fang’s argument confuse him and stalled. Zhang Fang despised Bo and Yin as Yue’s mouthpieces and plotted their murder. The envoys, fearing Zhang Fang’s temper, fell silent. As Yue’s armies tightened the noose, Bo and Yin renewed their plea: behead Zhang Fang, offer his head as apology, and the east would stand down without another battle. Yong yielded and executed Zhang Fang, sending his head to placate the eastern alliance. He soon regretted the concession, reopened hostilities against Yue, and lost every clash. When the emperor returned to Luoyang, Bo accompanied the heir apparent through every danger, and the two men grew inseparable.
19
及帝崩，太弟即帝位，是為懷帝，以播為給事黃門侍郎。 俄轉侍中，徙中書令，任遇日隆，專管詔命。 時越威權自己，帝力不能討，心甚惡之。 以播、胤等有公輔之量，又盡忠于國，故委以心膂。 越懼為己害，因入朝，以兵入宮，執播等於帝側。 帝歎曰：「奸臣賊子無世無之，不自我先，不自我後，哀哉！」 起執播等手，涕泗歔欷，不能自禁。 越遂害之。 朝野憤惋，咸曰：「善人，國之紀也，而加虐焉，其能終乎！」 及越薨，帝贈播衛尉，祠以少牢。
After Hui’s death that heir became Emperor Huai and named Bo gentleman at the Yellow Gate. Within months Bo rose to palace attendant, then director of the secretariat, monopolizing the drafting of imperial orders. Sima Yue answered to no one; the emperor lacked the power to curb him and nursed a bitter grudge. Huai trusted Bo, Yin, and their circle as men of ministerial stature who would serve the throne, not Yue’s faction. Yue struck first: he marched into the palace with soldiers and dragged Bo and his allies from the emperor’s side. The emperor groaned, “Treachery dogs every age—yet why must it fall on my reign?” He stood, clasped their hands, and wept until he could not speak. Yue had them executed on the spot. Across the capital voices cried, “The good are the backbone of the realm—yet you slaughter them; can the dynasty endure?” After Yue’s death Huai posthumously named Bo commandant of the guard and offered him the lesser victim at the state altar.
20
胤字休祖，安平獻王外孫也，與播名譽略齊。 初為尚書郎，後遷太弟左衛率，轉魏郡太守。 及王浚軍逼鄴，石超等大敗，胤奔東海王越於徐州，越使胤與播俱入關，而所說得行，大駕東還。 越以胤為冠軍將軍、南陽太守。 胤從藍田出武關，之南陽，前守衛展距胤不受，胤乃還洛。 懷帝即位，拜胤左衛將軍，轉散騎常侍、太僕卿。 既而與播及帝舅王延、尚書何綏、太史令高堂沖並參機密，為東海王越所害。
Miao Yin, courtesy Xiuzu, was a grandson on the distaff side of Prince Xian of Anping and matched Bo in reputation. He began as a ministry gentleman, became left captain of the heir’s guard, and then prefect of Wei commandery. When Wang Jun threatened Ye and Shi Chao’s host collapsed, Yin fled to Sima Yue in Xu; Yue sent him with Bo into the pass, their diplomacy secured the emperor’s return east. Yue then named Yin champion general and governor of Nanyang. Yin marched from Lantian through Wu Pass toward Nanyang, but the sitting governor Wei Zhan barred him; he had to withdraw to Luoyang. Under Emperor Huai he became general of the left guard, then cavalier attendant in regular attendance and minister coachman. Later he joined Bo, the emperor’s uncle Wang Yan, He Sui, and Gao Tang Chong in Huai’s inner council until Sima Yue murdered them all.
21
皇甫重
Huangfu Chong
22
皇甫重，字倫叔，安定朝那人也。 性沈果，有才用，為司空張華所知，稍遷新平太守。 元康中，華版為秦州刺史。 齊王冏輔政，以重弟商為參軍。 冏誅，長沙王乂又以為參軍。 時河間王顒鎮關中，其將李含先與商、重有隙，每銜之，及此，說顒曰：「商為乂所任，重終不為人用，宜急除之，以去一方之患。 可表遷重為內職，因其經長安，乃執之。」 重知其謀，乃露檄上尚書，以顒信任李含，將欲為亂，召集隴上士眾，以討含為名。 乂以兵革累興，今始寧息，表請遣使詔重罷兵，徵含為河南尹。 含既就徵，重不奉詔，顒遣金城太守游楷、隴西太守韓稚等四郡兵攻之。
Huangfu Chong, courtesy Lundshu, came from Chaona in Anding commandery. Grave, decisive, and capable, he came to Zhang Hua’s notice and rose to prefect of Xinping. During Yuankang, Zhang Hua issued an extraordinary commission making him inspector of Qin. While Sima Jiong of Qi directed the government, he took Chong’s brother Shang onto his staff. After Jiong fell, Sima Yi of Changsha likewise employed Shang as recorder. Sima Yong of Hejian held the northwest while his general Li Han, who had long hated the brothers, whispered: “Shang serves Sima Yi; Chong will never be yours—cut them down now or the west will burn. Memorialize a transfer for Chong to a capital post and arrest him when he passes through Chang’an.” Chong learned of the ruse, published a manifesto to the ministry accusing Yong and Li Han of treason, and mobilized the Long plateau gentry in a punitive march against Han. Sima Yi, eager to stop another civil war, asked the court to send envoys ordering Chong to stand down while summoning Li Han to the Henan prefecture—hoping to separate the conspirators. Li Han obeyed and went east, yet Chong refused the edict; Yong answered by flinging four commandery armies under You Kai and Han Zhi against his city.
23
頃之，成都王穎與顒起兵共攻乂，以討-{后}-父尚書僕射羊玄之及商為名。 乂以商為左將軍、河東太守，領萬餘人于關門距張方，為方所破，顒軍遂進。 乂既屢敗，乃使商間行齎帝手詔，使遊楷盡罷兵，令重進軍討顒。 商行過長安，至新平，遇其從甥，從甥素憎商，以告顒，顒捕得商，殺之。 乂既敗，重猶堅守，閉塞外門，城內莫知，而四郡兵築土山攻城，重輒以連弩射之。 所在為地窟以防外攻，權變百端，外軍不得近城，將士為之死戰。 顒知不可拔，乃上表求遣御史宣詔喻之令降。 重知非朝廷本意，不奉詔。 獲御史騶人問曰：「我弟將兵來，欲至未？」 騶云：「已為河間王所害。」 重失色，立殺騶。 於是城內知無外救，遂共殺重。
Soon Sima Ying of Chengdu joined Yong in a march against Sima Yi, claiming they meant to punish Empress Yang’s father, Yang Xuanzhi, and Huangfu Shang. Yi named Shang general of the left and governor of Hedong, sent him with ten thousand men to hold the pass against Zhang Fang, lost the battle, and opened the road for Yong’s host. After further defeats Yi smuggled an autograph edict to Shang instructing You Kai to disengage and ordering Chong to turn his guns on Yong. Shang slipped past Chang’an to Xinping, where a cousin who despised him betrayed him to Yong; Yong seized and executed him. Even after Yi’s fall Chong held his walls, sealed the outer gates so no news leaked in, and raked the besiegers’ siege mounds with repeating crossbows. His men burrowed countermines, shifted tactics endlessly, and kept the outer lines from closing until every soldier fought as if it were his last day. Seeing the siege stall, Yong asked Luoyang to send censors with an edict promising Chong safe surrender. Chong saw through the ploy as Yong’s, not the emperor’s, and ignored the summons. He seized a herald from the escort and demanded, “Is my brother’s relief column close?” The man answered, “Prince Yong has already killed him.” Chong went white with rage and slew the messenger on the spot. Once the garrison knew no help was coming, they turned on Chong and cut him down.
24
先是，重被圍急，遣養子昌請救于東海王越，越以顒新廢成都王穎，與山東連和，不肯出兵。 昌乃與故殿中人楊篇詐稱越命，迎羊-{后}-於金墉城入宮，以后令發兵討張方，奉迎大駕。 事起倉卒，百官初皆從之，俄而又共誅昌。
Earlier, under tight siege, Chong’s adopted son Chang had begged Sima Yue for troops; Yue, who had just reconciled with Yong after deposing Ying, refused to march. Chang then forged Yue’s orders with palace agent Yang Pian, freed Empress Yang from Jinyong fortress, and tried to mobilize the capital against Zhang Fang in the emperor’s name. Officials briefly followed the coup, then sobered up and executed Chang.
25
張輔
Zhang Fu
26
張輔，字世偉，南陽西鄂人，漢河間相衡之後也。 少有幹局，與從母兄劉喬齊名。 初補藍田令，不為豪強所屈。 時強弩將軍龐宗，西州大姓，護軍趙浚，宗婦族也，故僮僕放縱，為百姓所患。 輔繩之，殺其二奴，又奪宗田二百餘頃以給貧戶，一縣稱之。 轉山陽令，太尉陳准家僮亦暴橫，輔復擊殺之。 累遷尚書郎，封宜昌亭侯。
Zhang Fu, courtesy Shiwei, came from Xi’e in Nanyang and traced his line to the Han minister Zhang Heng, who had served as chancellor of Hejian. He showed administrative talent early and was reckoned the equal of his elder cousin Liu Qiao. As magistrate of Lantian he refused to bend before local magnates. The general Pang Zong, a western magnate, let his in-laws—protector Zhao Jun among them—terrorize the district with armed retainers. Fu enforced the statute, executed two of Pang’s slaves, confiscated more than two hundred qing of clan land for the destitute, and won the county’s praise. Transferred to Shanyang, he likewise beat Chen Zhun’s swaggering housemen to death. He rose to ministry gentleman and village marquis of Yichang.
27
轉御史中丞。 時積弩將軍孟觀與明威將軍郝彥不協，而觀因軍事害彥，又賈謐、潘岳、石崇等共相引重，乃義陽王威有詐冒事，輔並糾劾之。 梁州刺史楊欣有姊喪，未經旬，車騎長史韓預強聘其女為妻。 輔為中正，貶預以清風俗，論者稱之。 用孫秀執權，威構輔於秀，秀惑之，將繩輔以法。 輔與秀箋曰：「輔徒知希慕古人，當官而行，不復自知小為身計。 今義陽王誠弘恕，不以介意。 然輔母年七十六，常見憂慮，恐輔將以怨疾獲罪。 願明公留神省察輔前後行事，是國之愚臣而已。 「秀雖凶狡，知輔雅正，為威所誣，乃止。
Next he became imperial secretary. While Meng Guan used his command to ruin rival Hao Yan, Jia Mi, Pan Yue, and Shi Chong built a mutual praise ring, and Prince Sima Wei of Yiyang faced fraud charges—Fu impeached the whole pack. Liang inspector Yang Xin was still mourning his sister when chief clerk Han Yu tried to seize his daughter for a forced marriage within ten days of the death. As regional appraiser Fu demoted Han to set a moral example, and opinion applauded him. Once Sun Xiu dominated the court, Sima Wei slandered Fu; Sun almost had him indicted. Fu wrote Sun Xiu: “I have only tried to imitate the ancients—do the job, not count the cost to myself. Prince Wei of Yiyang has already forgiven the affair. But my mother is seventy-six and sick with worry that spite will destroy me. I beg you to review my record—I am merely a clumsy servant of the law. Sun Xiu, vicious as he was, recognized Fu’s integrity, saw through Wei’s malice, and dropped the case.
28
後遷馮翊太守。 是時長沙王乂以河間王顒專制關中，有不臣之跡，言于惠帝，密詔雍州刺史劉沈、秦州刺史皇甫重使討顒。 於是沈等與顒戰于長安，輔遂將兵救顒，沈等敗績。 顒德之，乃以輔代重為秦州刺史。 當赴顒之難，金城太守游楷亦皆有功，轉梁州刺史，不之官。 楷聞輔之還，不時迎輔，陰圖之。 又殺天水太守封尚，欲揚威西土。 召隴西太守韓稚會議，未決。 稚子朴有武幹，斬異議者，即收兵伐輔。 輔與稚戰于遮多穀口，輔軍敗績，為天水故帳下督富整所殺。
He was later promoted to prefect of Fengyi. When Sima Yi of Changsha concluded that Yong was ruling Guanzhong like a separatist, he persuaded Emperor Hui to issue secret orders for Liu Shen and Huangfu Chong to strike him. Battle flared at Chang’an; Zhang Fu marched to Yong’s relief and shattered Liu Shen’s host. Grateful, Yong replaced Huangfu Chong with Zhang Fu as inspector of Qin. You Kai of Jinshang had earned merit in the same crisis and was named inspector of Liang, though he never took up the post. You Kai, learning that Fu was coming west, delayed his reception and schemed against him. He murdered Feng Shang, the prefect of Tianshui, to cow the northwest. He called Longxi governor Han Zhi to council, but they could not agree. Han Zhi’s son Pu had military grit; he executed the waverers and mobilized troops against Fu. The armies met at Zhedu Gorge; Fu lost, and Fu Zheng, once a household captain in Tianshui, struck off his head.
29
初，輔嘗著論云：「管仲不若鮑叔，鮑叔知所奉，知所投。 管仲奉主而不能濟，所奔又非濟事之國，三歸反坫，皆鮑不為。」 又論班固、司馬遷云：「遷之著述，辭約而事舉，敘三千年事唯五十萬言； 班固敘二百年事乃八十萬言，煩省不同，不如遷一也。 良史述事，善足以獎勸，惡足以監誡，人道之常。 中流小事，亦無取焉，而班皆書之，不如二也。 毀貶晁錯，傷忠臣之道，不如三也。 遷既造創，固又因循，難易益不同矣。 又遷為蘇秦、張儀、范睢、蔡澤作傳，逞辭流離，亦足以明其大才。 故述辯士則辭藻華靡，敘實錄則隱核名檢，此所以遷稱良史也。」 又論魏武帝不及劉備，樂毅減於諸葛亮，詞多不載。
Fu once argued in an essay that Guan Zhong fell short of Bao Shuu because Bao knew whom to serve and when to change sides. Guan served a doomed liege, fled to courts that could not save the realm, and flaunted the luxuries Bao Shuu never touched.” He also compared Ban Gu with Sima Qian: “Qian’s prose is spare yet covers three millennia in half a million graphs; Ban Gu needs eight hundred thousand graphs for two centuries—one is prolix, the other lean; Ban trails by a wide margin. A worthy historian praises enough to inspire and censures enough to warn—that is the moral office of history. Ban pads his annals with trivia Qian would have dropped—that is a second way he falls short. He vilifies Chao Cuo and betrays the ethic of loyal ministers—that is a third failing. Qian invented the Grand Scribe’s form while Ban only inherited it; their labors were not comparable. Qian’s chapters on Su Qin, Zhang Yi, Fan Ju, and Cai Ze let rhetorical brilliance run free—enough to show genius at work. When Qian writes persuaders his prose dazzles; when he records fact he is spare and exact—hence historians call him a master. He likewise ranked Cao Cao below Liu Bei and Yue Yi below Zhuge Liang; the full text is too long to quote.
30
李含
Li Han
31
李含，字世容，隴西狄道人也。 僑居始平。 少有才幹，兩郡並舉孝廉。 安定皇甫商州裏年少，少恃豪族，以含門寒微，欲與結交，含距而不納，商恨焉，遂諷州以短檄召含為門亭長。 會州刺史郭奕素聞其賢，下車擢含為別駕，遂處群僚之右。 尋舉秀才，薦之公府，自太保掾轉秦國郎中令。 司徒遷含領始平中正。 秦王柬薨，含依臺儀，葬訖除喪。 尚書趙浚有內寵，疾含不事己，遂奏含不應除喪。 本州大中正傅祗以名義貶含。 中丞傅咸上表理含曰：
Li Han, courtesy Shirong, came from Didao in Longxi commandery. His family had settled in Shiping. Young Li Han showed administrative promise and won simultaneous filial-and-incorrupt nominations from two prefectures. Huangfu Shang, a swaggering local magnate from Anding, offered friendship; Li Han, scorning his pedigree, rebuffed him, so Shang had the province appoint Han petty warden of the gate—public humiliation. Inspector Guo Yi, who had long admired Han, raised him straight to chief clerk, placing him above the rest of the staff. He soon passed the cultivated-talent exam, entered the central offices, and moved from clerk to the grand tutor into the household ministry of the Qin princedom. The minister of education named him chief appraiser for Shiping. When Prince Qin Sima Jian died, Li Han ended mourning on schedule per board regulations. Minister Zhao Jun, a palace favorite, hated Han for ignoring him and impeached him for leaving mourning early. Provincial grand appraiser Fu Di struck his name from the rolls for violating ritual. Imperial secretary Fu Xian sent up a long memorial defending Li Han:
32
帝不從，含遂被貶，退割為五品。 歸長安，歲餘，光祿差含為壽城邸閣督。 司徒王戎表含曾為大臣，雖見割削，不應降為此職。 詔停。 後為始平令。
The throne ignored Fu Xian; Han was stripped to fifth-rank status. Back in Chang’an a year later, the household grandee parked him as warden of the Shoucheng hostel. Wang Rong protested: a man who had served as a senior minister should not be parked at a porter’s post. An edict stayed the demotion. He was later restored as magistrate of Shiping.
33
及趙王倫篡位，或謂孫秀曰：「李含有文武大才，無以資人。」 秀以為東武陽令。 河間王顒表請含為征西司馬，甚見信任。 頃之，轉為長史。 顒誅夏侯奭，送齊王冏使與趙王倫，遣張方率眾赴倫，皆含謀也。 後顒聞三王兵盛，乃加含龍驤將軍，統席薳等鐵騎，回遣張方軍以應義師。 天子反正，含至潼關而還。
During Lun’s coup someone told Sun Xiu, “Li Han is brilliant in civil and military affairs but lacks powerful friends— you can win him cheaply.” Sun Xiu named him magistrate of Dongwuyang. Sima Yong then took him west as expedition marshal and trusted every word he spoke. Soon he rose to chief clerk. Yong’s execution of Xiahou Shi, his shipment of Sima Jiong to Sima Lun, and Zhang Fang’s march east were all Li Han’s plots. When the allied princes grew formidable, Yong gave Han the dragon-soaring banner, iron cavalry under Xi Sui, and ordered Zhang Fang to swing about and join the loyalists. Once the emperor was restored, Li Han marched only as far as Tong Pass before Yong recalled him.
34
初，梁州刺史皇甫商為趙王倫所任，倫敗，去職詣顒，顒慰撫之甚厚。 含諫顒曰：「商，倫之信臣，懼罪至此，不宜數與相見。」 商知而恨之。 及商當還都，顒置酒餞行，商因與含忿爭，顒和釋之。 後含被徵為翊軍校尉。 時商參齊王冏軍事，而夏侯奭兄在冏府，稱奭立義，被西籓枉害。 含心不自安。 冏右司馬趙驤又與含有隙，冏將閱武，含懼驤因兵討之，乃單馬出奔於顒，矯稱受密詔。 顒即夜見之，乃說顒曰：「成都王至親，有大功，還籓，甚得眾心。 齊王越親而專執威權，朝廷側目。 今檄長沙王令討齊，使先聞于齊，齊必誅長沙，因傳檄以加齊罪，則冏可擒也。 既去齊，立成都，除逼建親，以安社稷，大勳也。」 顒從之，遂表請討冏，拜含為都督，統張方等率諸軍以向洛陽。 含屯陰盤，而長沙王乂誅冏，含等旋師。
Earlier, Liang inspector Huangfu Shang had served Sima Lun; after Lun’s fall he fled to Yong, who welcomed him like an old friend. Li Han warned Yong: “Shang was Lun’s intimate; he comes in fear, not friendship—do not court him openly.” Shang learned of the slight and hated Han. At Shang’s farewell banquet the two men nearly came to blows until Yong separated them. Later the court summoned Han as colonel of the assisting guards. Meanwhile Shang sat on Sima Jiong’s staff while Xiahou Shi’s brother petitioned that Shi had died a loyal martyr at Yong’s hands. Li Han saw the trap closing and could not sleep. Jiong’s right marshal Zhao Xiang also despised him; when Jiong scheduled a military review, Han bolted to Yong’s camp claiming he carried a secret edict. Yong admitted him by torchlight; Han whispered: “Sima Ying is the emperor’s closest kinsman, a proven champion sent home to his fief—he still commands love in the army. Sima Jiong, nearer the throne, hoards every spear; the whole court glares at him. Issue an edict telling Sima Yi to strike Jiong; leak word so Jiong murders Yi first, then publish Jiong’s crimes—Jiong will fall into your net. Cut Jiong away, elevate Ying, break the choke hold and bind the family to the throne—that would be a deed for the ages.” Yong agreed, memorialized for war on Jiong, and named Han supreme commander with Zhang Fang’s legions rolling toward Luoyang. Han camped at Yinpan, but Sima Yi killed Jiong before the blow landed, so the western army marched home.
35
初，含之本謀欲並去乂、冏，使權歸於顒，含因得肆其宿志。 既長沙勝齊，顒、穎猶各守籓，志望未允。 顒表含為河南尹。 時商復被乂任遇，商兄重時為秦州刺史，含疾商滋甚，復與重構隙。 顒自含奔還之後，委以心膂，復慮重襲己，乃使兵圍之，更相表罪。 侍中馮蓀黨顒，請召重還。 商說乂曰：「河間之奏，皆李含所交構也。 若不早圖，禍將至矣。 且河間前舉，由含之謀。」 乂乃殺含。
Han’s deeper design had been to destroy both Yi and Jiong so Yong—and Han—could seize the government. With Jiong dead but Yi alive, Yong and Ying stayed bottled in their domains—Han’s ambitions stalled. Yong then appointed him prefect of Henan. Shang resurfaced as Yi’s favorite while his brother Chong held Qin; Li Han’s hatred doubled, and he turned Chong against Yong. Yong, who had staked everything on Han, now feared Chong would attack him first, besieged Chong’s city, and traded accusations with Luoyang. Attendant Feng Sun, Yong’s partisan, urged the court to recall Chong. Shang told Yi: “Every petition from Yong is Li Han’s poison pen. Move before he moves or you will burn. Remember: Yong’s first eastern march was Han’s idea.” Yi believed him and executed Li Han.
36
張方
Zhang Fang
37
張方，河間人也。 世貧賤，以材勇得幸于河間王顒，累遷兼振武將軍。 永寧中，顒表討齊王冏，遣方領兵二萬為前鋒。 及冏被長沙王乂所殺，顒及成都王穎復表討乂，遣方率眾自函谷人屯河南。 惠帝遣左將軍皇甫商距之，方以潛軍破商之眾，遂入城。 乂奉帝討方於城內，方軍望見乘輿，於是小退，方止之不得，眾遂大敗，殺傷滿於衢巷。 方退壁於十三里橋，人情挫衄，無復固志，多勸方夜遁。 方曰：「兵之利鈍是常，貴因敗以為成耳。 我更前作壘，出其不意，此用兵之奇也。」 乃夜潛進逼洛城七里。 乂既新捷，不以為意，忽聞方壘成，乃出戰，敗績。 東海王越等執乂，送于金墉城。 方使郅輔取乂還營，炙殺之。 於是大掠洛中官私奴婢萬餘人，而西還長安。 顒加方右將軍、馮翊太守。
Zhang Fang came from the Hejian princedom. Born poor, he won Sima Yong’s trust through sheer nerve and rose to concurrent general who shakes might. During Yongning Yong sent Fang east with twenty thousand van-guards against Sima Jiong. After Jiong fell to Sima Yi, Yong and Sima Ying renewed the war and ordered Fang through Hangu into Henan. Emperor Hui sent Huangfu Shang to hold the line; Fang ambushed him and stormed Luoyang. Yi rode out with the emperor; Fang’s men faltered at the sight of the imperial carriage, routed in the alleys in a bloodbath. Fang fell back to the Thirteen-Li Bridge, where shattered morale nearly drove him to a midnight retreat. Fang barked, “Armies win and lose—that is normal; genius lies in turning rout into victory. We will creep closer, throw up new walls, and strike before they recover—that is how you steal a war.” That night he slipped within seven li of the walls. Yi, drunk on his recent win, ignored the threat until Fang’s new camp rose; he sallied forth and lost everything. Sima Yue and the eastern lords seized Yi and locked him in Jinyong fortress. Fang sent Zhi Fu to drag Yi back and burned him alive. He then looted Luoyang of over ten thousand men and women and marched west to Chang’an. Yong promoted him to general of the right and governor of Fengyi.
38
蕩陰之役，顒又遣方鎮洛陽，上官已、苗願等距之，大敗而退。 清河王覃夜襲已、願，已、願出奔，方乃入洛陽。 覃于廣陽門迎方而拜，方馳下車扶止之。 於是復廢皇后羊氏。 及帝自鄴還洛，方遣息羆以三千騎奉迎。 將渡河橋，方又以所乘陽燧車、青蓋素升三百人為小鹵簿，迎帝至芒山下。 方自帥萬餘騎奉雲母輿及旌旗之飾，衛帝而進。 初，方見帝將拜，帝下車自止之。
At Tangyin Yong sent Fang back to Luoyang; Shangguan Yi and Miao Yuan shattered his line. Prince Qinghe Sima Tan raided the defenders at night; when they fled, Fang walked into an empty capital. Sima Tan kowtowed at Guangyang Gate; Fang leapt down to raise him. He then deposed Empress Yang again. When the emperor traveled from Ye to Luoyang, Fang sent his son Pi with three thousand riders to escort him. At the crossing he supplied the imperial sun-mirror carriage, green canopy, and three hundred attendants in miniature escort as far as Mang Hill. He personally led ten thousand cavalry with mica palanquins and silken banners to screen the sovereign. Earlier, when Fang tried to kowtow, the emperor stepped from his carriage to forbid it.
39
方在洛既久，兵士暴掠，發哀獻皇女墓。 軍人喧喧，無復留意，議欲西遷，尚匿其跡，欲須天子出，因劫移都。 乃請帝謁廟，帝不許。 方遂悉引兵入殿迎帝，帝見兵至，避之于竹林中，軍人引帝出，方於馬上稽首曰：「胡賊縱逸，宿衛單少，陛下今日幸臣壘，臣當捍禦寇難，致死無二。」 於是軍人便亂入宮閣，爭割流蘇武帳而為馬帴。 方奉帝至弘農，顒遣司馬周弼報方，欲廢太弟，方以為不可。
Fang’s troops had occupied Luoyang so long they grew bored with mere looting and opened Princess Aixian’s tomb. They clamored to move the court west but hid the plan until they could march the emperor out and hijack him. Fang asked leave to escort the emperor to the imperial shrines; the emperor refused. Fang then marched into the palace, flushed the emperor from a bamboo grove, and said from horseback, “Barbarians press the frontiers and the palace guard is thin; come to my camp and I will die shielding you.” His men poured into the harem, hacking silk curtains into saddlecloths. At Hongnong Yong’s courier Zhou Bi urged deposing the crown prince; Fang refused.
40
帝至長安，以方為中領軍、錄尚書事，領京兆太守。 時豫州刺史劉喬檄稱潁川太守劉輿迫脅范陽王虓距逆詔命，及東海王越等起兵于山東，乃遣方率步騎十萬往討之。 方屯兵霸上，而劉喬為虓等所破。 顒聞喬敗，大懼，將罷兵，恐方不從，遲疑未決。
In Chang’an the emperor named Fang chief of the central guard, recorder of appointments, and governor of the capital district. When Liu Qiao’s manifesto accused Liu Yu of forcing Prince Fanyang Sima Xiao to defy the edict and Sima Yue mobilized Shandong, Yong hurled a hundred thousand men under Fang eastward. Fang camped at Bashang while Liu Qiao collapsed before Sima Xiao. Yong panicked at the news yet dared not recall Fang for fear he would mutiny.
41
初，方從山東來，甚微賤，長安富人郅輔厚相供給。 及貴，以輔為帳下督，甚昵之。 顒參軍畢垣，河間冠族，為方所侮，忿而說顒曰：「張方久屯霸上，聞山東賊盛，盤桓不進，宜防其未萌。 其親信郅輔具知其謀矣。」 而繆播等先亦構之，顒因使召輔，垣迎說輔曰：「張方欲反，人謂卿知之。 王若問卿，何辭以對？」 輔驚曰：「實不聞方反，為之若何？」 垣曰：「王若問卿，但言爾爾。 不然，必不免禍。」 輔既入，顒問之曰：「張方反，卿知之乎？」 輔曰：「爾。」 顒曰：「遣卿取之可乎？」 又曰：「爾。」 顒於是使輔送書于方，因令殺之。 輔既昵于方，持刀而入，守閣者不疑，因火下發函，便斬方頭。 顒以輔為安定太守。 初繆播等議斬方，送首與越，冀東軍可罷。 及聞方死，更爭入關，顒頗恨之，又使人殺輔。
Years earlier, when Fang was a penniless adventurer from the east, magnate Zhi Fu had bankrolled him. Fang repaid the debt by making Zhi Fu his household captain and confidant. Adjutant Bi Yuan, a proud noble Yong had assigned to Fang’s staff, seethed at Fang’s insults and whispered to Yong: “Fang idles at Bashang while Shandong swells—cut him before he turns on you. His favorite Zhi Fu knows every detail of his schemes.” Miao Bo’s faction had said the same; Yong summoned Zhi Fu, but Bi Yuan waylaid him: “They say you helped Fang plot treason. When Yong questions you, what will you say?” Zhi Fu stammered, “Rebellion? I never heard—what should I say?” Yuan murmured, “Just nod and agree. Otherwise you will not escape the axe.” At the interview Yong demanded, “Is Fang plotting treason?” Zhi Fu whispered, “Yes.” Yong pressed, “Would you fetch his head for me?” Yong added another flat “yes”—the signal Zhi Fu was waiting for. Yong told Zhi Fu to hand Zhang Fang a letter, then use the meeting as cover for murder. Zhi Fu, still Zhang Fang’s confidant, walked past the guards with a blade, opened the “letter” by candlelight, and struck off Fang’s head. Yong rewarded him with the Anding prefecture. Earlier Miao Bo’s faction had urged beheading Fang and shipping his head east to satisfy Sima Yue. When word came that Fang was dead, those same easterners rushed the passes anyway; Yong cursed their greed and had Zhi Fu killed too.
42
:史臣曰：晉氏之禍難薦臻，實始籓翰。 解系等以幹時之用，處危亂之辰，並托跡府朝，參謀王室。 或抗忠盡節，或飾詐懷奸。 雖邪正殊途，而咸至誅戮，豈非時艱政紊，利深禍速者乎！ 古人所以危邦不入，亂邦不居，戒懼於此也。
The compilers write: Jin’s ruin came in waves, and every wave began with the armed princes who were meant to shield the throne. Men like Xie Xi had talent the age demanded, yet they tethered their fortunes to one prince after another while the dynasty collapsed around them. Some died for honest loyalty; others thrived on double-dealing. Wicked or worthy, nearly every man in this roll met a violent end—such is politics when profit outruns principle. Hence the sages’ warning: do not enter a tottering state or live in a rebel court.
43
閻鼎
Yan Ding (western restoration minister).
44
閻鼎，字臺臣，天水人也。 初為太傅東海王越參軍，轉卷令，行豫州刺史事，屯許昌。 遭母喪，乃於密縣間鳩聚西州流人數千，欲還鄉里。 值京師失守，秦王出奔密中，司空荀籓、籓弟司隸校尉組，及中領軍華恆、河南尹華薈，在密縣建立行臺，以密近賊，南趣許潁。 司徒左長史劉疇在密為塢主，中書令李暅、太傅參軍騶捷劉蔚、鎮軍長史周顗、司馬李述皆來赴疇。 僉以鼎有才用，且手握強兵，勸籓假鼎冠軍將軍、豫州刺史，蔚等為參佐。
Yan Ding, courtesy Taichen, came from Tianshui commandery. He began on Sima Yue’s staff, became archives director, and served as acting inspector of Yu with headquarters at Xuchang. During mourning for his mother he mustered thousands of homesick westerners hiding in Mi county. When Luoyang fell the Prince of Qin fled to Mi, where Xun Fan, Xun Zu, Hua Heng, and Hua Hui set up a field headquarters; fearing Mi’s exposed position, they pushed south toward the Xu–Ying corridor. Liu Chou of the ministry of education commanded the Mi fortress; Li Xuan, Zou Jie, Liu Wei, Zhou Yi, and Li Shu rallied to him. They argued that Ding commanded real soldiers and real talent, so Xun Fan should name him champion general and inspector of Yu with the others as aides.
45
鼎少有大志，因西土人思歸，欲立功鄉里，乃與撫軍長史王毗、司馬傳遜懷翼戴秦王之計，謂疇、捷等曰：「山東非霸王處，不如關中。」 河陽令傅暢遺鼎書，勸奉秦王過洛陽，謁拜山陵，徑據長安，綏合夷晉，興起義眾，克復宗廟，雪社稷之恥。 鼎得書，便欲詣洛，流人謂北道近河，懼有抄截，欲南自武關向長安。 疇等皆山東人，咸不願西入，荀籓及疇、捷等並逃散。 鼎追籓不及，暅等見殺，唯顗、述走得免。 遂奉秦王行，止上洛，為山賊所襲，殺百餘人，率餘眾西至藍田。 時劉聰向長安，為雍州刺史賈疋所逐，走還平陽。 疋遣人奉迎秦王，遂至長安，而與大司馬南陽王保、衛將軍梁芬、京兆尹梁綜等並同心推戴，立王為皇太子，登壇告天，立社稷宗廟，以鼎為太子詹事，總攝百揆。
Ding nursed large ambitions; playing on westerners’ homesickness he and Wang Pi and Fu Xun urged Liu Chou’s circle: “The central plain cannot sustain a rival king—only Guanzhong can.” Fu Chang of Heyang wrote urging him to march the Prince of Qin through Luoyang, pay homage at the tombs, seize Chang’an, rally Di and Chinese alike, and rebuild the dynasty. Ding wanted the northern route through Luoyang; the refugees, fearing river pirates, voted for Wu Pass into Shaanxi. Liu Chou and the easterners refused to march west; Xun Fan and the rest slipped away overnight. Ding failed to catch Xun Fan; Li Xuan died in the chaos while Zhou Yi and Li Shu escaped. He shepherded the Prince of Qin toward Shangluo, lost a hundred men to brigands, and limped on to Lantian. Meanwhile Liu Cong advanced on Chang’an until Jia Pi drove him back to Pingyang. Jia Pi’s escort brought the prince into Chang’an, where he, Sima Bao, Liang Fen, Liang Zong, and others enthroned him as crown prince, rebuilt the state altars, and named Ding mentor to the heir with sweeping civil powers.
46
梁綜與鼎爭權，鼎殺綜，以王毗為京兆尹。 鼎首建大謀，立功天下。 始平太守曲允、撫夷護軍索綝並害其功，且欲專權，馮翊太守梁緯、北地太守梁肅，並綜母弟，綝之姻也，謀欲除鼎，乃證其有無君之心，專戮大臣，請討之，遂攻鼎。 鼎出奔雍，為氐竇首所殺，傳首長安。
Ding murdered Liang Zong in a turf fight and replaced him with Wang Pi as governor of Jingzhao. Yan Ding had masterminded the restoration and deserved the credit. Qu Yun and Suo Chen, jealous of his clout, incited Liang Wei and Liang Su—brothers of the slain Liang Zong and Suo Chen’s in-laws—to accuse Ding of disloyalty and lese-majesty, then struck his camp. Ding fled toward Yong and died at the hands of the Di chieftain Dou Shou; his head went to Chang’an on a pike.
47
索靖
Suo Jing (calligrapher and general).
48
索靖，字幼安，敦煌人也。 累世官族，父湛，北地太守。 靖少有逸群之量，與鄉人泛衷、張甝、索紾、索永俱詣太學，馳名海內，號稱「敦煌五龍」。 四人並早亡，唯靖該博經史，兼通內緯。 州辟別駕，郡舉賢良方正，對策高第。 傅玄、張華與靖一面，皆厚與之相結。 拜駙馬都尉，出為西域戊己校尉長史。 太子僕同郡張勃特表，以靖才藝絕人，宜在臺閣，不宜遠出邊塞。 武帝納之，擢為尚書郎。 與襄陽羅尚、河南潘岳、吳郡顧榮同官，咸器服焉。 靖與尚書令衛瓘俱以善草書知名，帝愛之。 瓘筆勝靖，然有楷法，遠不能及靖。
Suo Jing, courtesy You’an, hailed from Dunhuang. His clan had served for generations; his father Suo Zhan governed Beidi. As a youth he towered over peers; with Fan Zhong, Zhang Dan, and the Suo cousins he studied at the academy and became famed as Dunhuang’s “Five Dragons.” The other four died young; Jing alone mastered the canon, histories, and apocryphal weft books. The province took him as chief clerk; the commandery nominated him worthy-and-upright; he topped the policy exam. A single audience with Fu Xuan and Zhang Hua won him their lasting patronage. He became commandant of the consort’s carriage horses, then chief clerk on the western frontier staff. His townsman Zhang Bo, steward to the heir, begged the throne to keep such a genius in the capital rather than waste him beyond the passes. Emperor Wu agreed and pulled him into the ministry as a gentleman. He served alongside Luo Shang, Pan Yue, and Gu Rong, each of whom deferred to him. He and palace minister Wei Guan were celebrated cursive calligraphers; the emperor prized them both. Wei Guan’s brush was stronger overall, but in the disciplined elegance of draft script he could not touch Suo Jing.
49
靖在臺積年，除雁門太守，遷魯相，又拜酒泉太守。 惠帝即位，賜爵關內侯。
After long service at court he became prefect of Yanmen, then tutor to the Lu kingdom, then governor of Jiuquan. Emperor Hui ennobled him as a secondary marquis within the passes.
50
靖有先識遠量，知天下將亂，指洛陽宮門銅駝，歎曰：「會見汝在荊棘中耳！」
He foresaw chaos, pointed at the palace bronze camels, and muttered, “One day I will find you buried in thorns.”
51
元康中，西戎反叛，拜靖大將軍梁王肜左司馬，加蕩寇將軍，屯兵粟邑，擊賊，敗之。 遷始平內史。 及趙王倫篡位，靖應三王義舉，以左衛將軍討孫秀有功，加散騎常侍，遷後將軍。 太安末，河間王顒舉兵向洛陽，拜靖使持節、監洛城諸軍事、遊擊將軍，領雍、秦、涼義兵，與賊戰，大破之，靖亦被傷而卒，追贈太常，時年六十五。 後又贈司空，進封安樂亭侯，諡曰莊。
During Yuankang’s western rising he joined Sima Yong’s staff as left marshal and general who smashes bandits, camped at Suiyi, and broke the raiders. His next post was interior minister of Shiping commandery. When Sima Lun seized the throne, Suo Jing fought for the three princes as general of the left guard, crushed Sun Xiu, earned the right to attend the emperor, and rose to rear general. In Tai’an’s closing months Yong marched east; Suo Jing held Luoyang as raiding general with staff, commanding Di and Qiang auxiliaries, shattered the attackers, and died of wounds at sixty-five; the court enshrined him as minister of cults. He was later posthumously named minister of works, village marquis of Anle, with the posthumous epithet Zhuang (“Stalwart”).
52
靖著《五行三統正驗論》，辯理陰陽氣運。 又撰《索子》、《晉詩》各二十卷。 又作《草書狀》，其辭曰：
He wrote a treatise on the five phases and the three unities to explain cosmic cycles. He also compiled twenty scrolls each of Suozi and Jin Poems. He likewise drafted the descriptive rhapsody “Portrait of Cursive Script,” which opens:
54
先時，靖行見姑臧城南石地，曰：「此後當起宮殿。」 至張駿，於其地立南城，起宗廟，建宮殿焉。
Once, passing the stone plain south of Guzang, he prophesied, “Palaces will rise here.” Under Zhang Jun’s Later Liang the prophecy came true: he walled the southern quarter, raised temples, and built palaces on that very soil.
55
靖有五子：鯁、綣、璆、聿、綝，皆舉秀才。 聿，安昌鄉侯，卒。 少子綝最知名。
His five sons—Geng, Quan, Qiu, Yu, and Chen—all passed the cultivated-talent exam. Yu held the village marquisate of Anxiang and died young. The youngest, Chen, became the most famous.
57
少子綝
The youngest son was Chen.
58
=綝字巨秀，少有逸群之量，靖每曰； 「綝廊廟之才，非簡劄之用，州郡吏不足汗吾兒也。」 舉秀才，除郎中。 嘗報兄仇，手殺三十七人，時人壯之。 俄轉太宰參軍，除好畤令，人為黃門侍郎，出參征西軍事，轉長安令，在官有稱。
Suo Chen, courtesy Juxiu, showed the same precocious talent; his father used to say: “This boy belongs in the high councils, not copying documents; a county post would insult him.” He passed the cultivated-talent exam and entered the palace as a gentleman. To avenge a brother he slew thirty-seven men single-handed; contemporaries called him fearless. He rose through the grand steward’s staff, governed Haozhi, served in the Yellow Gate, joined the western headquarters, and won praise as Chang’an’s magistrate.
59
及成都王穎劫遷惠帝幸鄴，穎為王浚所破，帝遂播越。 河間王顒使張方及綝東迎乘輿，以功拜鷹楊將軍，轉南陽王模從事中郎。 劉聰侵掠關東，以綝為奮威將軍以禦之，斬聰將呂逸，又破聰党劉豐，遷新平太守。 聰將蘇鐵、劉五斗等劫掠三輔，除綝安西將軍、馮翊太守。 綝有威恩，華夷向服，賊不敢犯。
When Sima Ying dragged Emperor Hui to Ye and then collapsed before Wang Jun, the sovereign was cast adrift again. Sima Yong sent Zhang Fang and Suo Chen east to recover the emperor; Chen earned the generalship of the hawk standard and a post on Sima Mo’s staff. Against Liu Cong’s raids he was named general who rouses might, cut down Lü Yi, shattered Liu Feng, and became prefect of Xinping. When Su Tie and Liu Wudou ravaged the capital approaches, Chen took the banners of general who pacifies the west and governor of Fengyi. His blend of terror and mercy made Chinese and tribesmen alike obey; raiders avoided his borders.
60
及懷帝蒙塵，長安又陷，模被害，綝泣曰：「與其俱死，寧為伍子胥。」 乃赴安定，與雍州刺史賈疋、扶風太守梁綜、安夷護軍麹允等糾合義眾，頻破賊黨，修復舊館，遷定宗廟。 進救新平，小大百戰，綝手擒賊帥李羌，與閻鼎立秦王為皇太子，及即尊位，是為湣帝。 綝遷侍中、太僕，以首迎大駕、升壇授璽之功，封弋居伯。 又遷前將軍、尚書右僕射、領吏部、京兆尹，加平東將軍，進號征東。 尋又詔曰：「朕昔遇厄運，遭家不造，播越宛楚，爰失舊京。 幸宗廟寵靈，百辟宣力，得從籓衛，托乎群公之上。 社稷之不隕，實公是賴，宜贊百揆，傅弼朕躬。 其授衛將軍，領太尉，位特進，軍國之事悉以委之。」
After Huai’s capture and Mo’s murder he swore, “I will not die quietly—I will be another Wu Zixu.” He rode to Anding, joined Jia Pi, Liang Zong, and Qu Yun, rallied loyalists, cleared the approaches, and rebuilt the imperial shrines. He fought a hundred actions to relieve Xinping, seized the rebel Li Qiang, and with Yan Ding enthroned the Prince of Qin—later Emperor Min. For escorting the throne and presenting the seal he became palace attendant, minister coachman, and marquis of Yiju. He added forward general, right vice-director of personnel, concurrent Jingzhao governor, and general who pacifies the east, then general of the east. An edict soon read: “I once fled disaster, wandered through Wan and Chu, and lost the old capital. Only because the spirits and ministers fought did I return atop the feudatory host. The realm survives thanks to you; take charge of all offices and steady the throne. We name you guard general, grand commandant, specially advanced in rank, with every civil and military file on your desk.”
61
及劉曜侵逼王城，以綝為都督征東大將軍，持節討之。 破曜呼日逐王呼延莫，以功封上洛郡公，食邑萬戶，拜夫人荀氏為新豐君，子石元為世子，賜子弟二人鄉亭侯。 劉曜入關芟麥苗，綝又擊破之。 自長安伐劉聰，聰將趙染杖其累捷，有自矜之色，帥精騎數百與綝戰，大敗之，染單馬而走。 轉驃騎大將軍、尚書左僕射、錄尚書，承制行事。
When Liu Yao besieged Chang’an, Chen took staff as supreme commander against him. He shattered Liu Yao’s vanguard Huyan Mo, earned the duchy of Shangluo with ten thousand households, ennobled Lady Xun, named his heir Shiyuan, and enfeoffed two younger sons. When Liu Yao slipped in to burn the winter wheat, Chen routed him again. Marching east against Liu Cong, Chen met Zhao Ran, who swaggered on past victories; Chen shattered his elite cavalry and sent Ran fleeing alone. He rose to general-in-chief who displays might, left vice-director, and recorder of appointments with full delegated powers.
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劉曜復率眾人馮翊，帝累徵兵于南陽王保，保左右議曰； 「蝮蛇在手，壯士解其腕。 且斷隴道，以觀其變。」 從事中郎裴詵曰：「蛇已螫頭，頭可截不？」 保以胡崧行前鋒都督，須諸軍集，乃當發。 麹允欲挾天子趣保，綝以保必逞私欲，乃止。 自長安以西，不復奉朝廷。 百官饑乏，采穭自存。 時三秦人尹桓、解武等數千家，盜發漢霸、杜二陵，多獲珍寶。 帝問綝曰：「漢陵中物何乃多邪？」 綝對曰：「漢天子即位一年而為陵，天下貢賦三分之，一供宗廟，一供賓客，一充山陵。 漢武帝饗年久長，比崩而茂陵不復容物，其樹皆已可拱。 赤眉取陵中物不能減半，於今猶有朽帛委積，珠玉未盡。 此二陵是儉者耳，亦百世之誡也。」
Liu Yao struck Fengyi again; Min begged Sima Bao for reinforcements, but Bao’s staff murmured: “Grip a pit viper and a hero severs his own wrist. Sever the Long Road and watch how the crisis plays out.” Adjutant Pei Shen shot back, “The viper has already struck the head—do you cut off the head?” Bao still named Hu Song vanguard and refused to march until every column had massed. Qu Yun wanted to drag the emperor west to Bao; Chen blocked the scheme, sure Bao would pocket the throne. West of the pass no one obeyed Luoyang anymore. Courtiers starved and scraped the hills for wild grain. Thousands of Qin refugees led by Yin Huan and Xie Wu plundered the tombs of Emperors Ba and Du of Han, hauling out jewels. The emperor asked Suo Chen why Han graves held such wealth. Chen explained: “Every Han emperor began his mausoleum in his first year and split tribute three ways—for the temples, for diplomacy, and for the tomb. Emperor Wu lived so long that Maoling overflowed with treasure while its cypresses grew thick as a man’s embrace. Even the Red Eyebrows could not carry half away; rotting brocade and jade still litter those vaults. Those were the modest tombs—imagine the rest. Let that be a lesson for every dynasty.”
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後劉曜又率眾圍京城、綝與麹允固守長安小城。 胡崧承檄奔命，破曜於靈臺。 崧慮國家威舉，則麹、索功盛，乃案兵渭北，遂還槐里。 城中饑窘，人相食，死亡逃奔不可制，唯涼州義眾千人守死不移。 帝使侍中宋敞送箋降於曜。 綝潛留敞，使其子說曜曰：「今城中食猶足支一歲，未易可克也。 若許綝以車騎、儀同、萬戶郡公者，請以城降。」 曜斬而送之曰：「帝王之師，以義行也。 孤將軍十五年，未嘗以譎詭敗人，必窮兵極勢，然後取之。 今索綝所說如是，天下之惡一也，輒相為戮之。 若審兵食未盡者，便可勉強固守。 如其糧竭兵微，亦宜早悟天命。 孤恐霜威一震，玉石俱摧。」 及帝出降，綝隨帝至平陽，劉聰以其不忠於本朝，戮之於東市。
When Liu Yao returned to ring Chang’an, Suo Chen and Qu Yun held the inner citadel. Hu Song answered the muster and shattered Liu Yao at the Spirit Terrace. Hu Song dreaded seeing Qu and Suo steal the glory, so he froze his army on the north bank of the Wei and withdrew to Huaili. Inside the walls men starved and cannibalized one another; only a thousand Liangzhou loyalists stood their ground to the last breath. Emperor Min dispatched Song Chang with a letter of capitulation to Liu Yao. Suo Chen held Song Chang hostage and sent his own son to Liu Yao with a lie: “We still have a year’s provisions— make Suo Chen chariot general with Three Excellencies honors and a ten-thousand-household duchy, and we will open the gates.” Yao executed the envoy and returned his head with a message: “Kings wage righteous war— I have campaigned fifteen years without buying victory by treachery; I break cities by force alone. Suo Chen’s bargain is the vilest treason—execute him as an example. If you truly have grain and spears left, defend as long as you can. If you are hollow, read Heaven’s will and yield. Once my host strikes, jade and tile will shatter together.” When Min walked out to yield, Suo Chen followed him to Pingyang; Liu Cong judged him disloyal and had him cut down in the eastern market.
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賈疋
Jia Pi (general who restored the western throne).
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賈疋，字彥度，武威人，魏太尉詡之曾孫也。 少有志略，器望甚偉，見之者莫不悅附，特為武夫之所瞻仰，願為致命。 初辟公府，遂曆顯職，遷安定太守。 雍州刺史丁綽，貪橫失百姓心，乃譖疋于南陽王模，模以軍司謝班伐之。 疋奔瀘水，與胡彭蕩仲及氐竇首結為兄弟，聚眾攻班。 綽奔武都，疋復入安定，殺班。 湣帝以疋為驃騎將軍、雍州刺史，封酒泉公。 時諸郡百姓饑饉，白骨蔽野，百無一存。 疋帥戎晉二萬餘人，將伐長安，西平太守竺恢亦固守，劉粲聞之，使劉曜、劉雅及趙染距疋，先攻恢，不克，疋邀擊，大敗之，曜中流矢，退走。 疋追之，至於甘泉。 旋自渭橋襲蕩仲，殺之。 遂迎秦王，奉為皇太子。 後蕩仲子夫護帥群胡攻之，疋敗走，夜墮於澗，為夫護所害。 疋勇略有志節，以匡復晉室為己任，不幸顛墮，時人咸痛惜之。
Jia Pi, courtesy Yandu, of Wuwei, was the great-grandson of the Wei strategist Jia Xu. He combined ambition with charisma; soldiers idolized him and would die at his word. Summoned to the central offices, he rose through prominent posts to governor of Anding. Yong inspector Ding Chuo was so corrupt that he lost the region; he slandered Jia Pi to Sima Mo, who sent Xie Ban against him. Jia Pi fled to the Lu, allied with the chieftain Peng Dangzhong and Dou Shou, and turned on Xie Ban. Ding Chuo bolted to Wudu while Jia Pi reoccupied Anding and killed Xie Ban. Emperor Min named him general-in-chief who displays might, inspector of Yong, and duke of Jiuquan. Famine stripped the commanderies until bones whitened the fields—perhaps one soul in a hundred still drew breath. Jia Pi led twenty thousand Di and Chinese toward Chang’an; Zhu Hui of Xiping held his walls; Liu Can sent Liu Yao, Liu Ya, and Zhao Ran to block Jia Pi, first besieging Zhu Hui without success; Jia Pi counterattacked, broke the siege, and put a shaft in Liu Yao’s flesh. He chased them all the way to Sweet Springs. Doubling back across the Wei Bridge he ambushed Peng Dangzhong and killed him. He then escorted the Prince of Qin to Chang’an as crown prince. Later Peng’s son Fuhu led tribal riders against him; Jia Pi fled by night, fell into a ravine, and Fuhu killed him. He had meant to restore the Jin house and died before the work was done; contemporaries mourned him.
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:史臣曰：自永嘉蕩覆，宇內橫流，億兆靡依，人神乏主。 于時武皇之胤，惟有建興，眾望攸歸，曾無與二。 閻鼎等忠存社稷，志在經綸，乃契闊艱難，扶持幼孺，遂得纂堯承緒，祀夏配天，校績論功，有足稱矣。 然而抗滔天之巨寇，接凋弊之餘基，威略未申，尋至傾覆。 昔宗周遭犬戎而東徙，有晉違獷狄而西遷，彼既靈慶悠長，此則禍難遄及，豈湣皇地非奧主，將綝允材謝輔臣，何修短之殊途，而成敗之異數者也？
The compilers write: After Yongjia’s catastrophe the realm dissolved and neither people nor gods had a true sovereign. Among Sima Yan’s progeny only the Jianxing court still commanded universal hope. Yan Ding and his allies kept faith with the altars, carried the boy emperor through fire, and briefly restored a legitimate line—deeds worth recording. Yet they faced invaders who blotted out the sky with only a ruined corner of Jin to stand on, and they fell almost as soon as they rose. Zhou fled the Quanrong eastward yet endured; Jin fled west and perished—was the soil wrong, or were Suo Chen and Qu Yun the wrong ministers, that fate treated the two courts so differently?
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【贊】
Subsection title: “Appreciation.”
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贊曰：懷惠不競，戚籓力爭。 狙詐參謀，憑凶亂政。 為惡不已，並羅非命。 解繆忠肅，無聞余慶。 湣皇纂戎，實賴群公。 鼎圖福始，綝遂凶終。
The eulogy reads: Emperor Huai was gentle and lost the contest; kinsmen princes fought like wolves. Schemers trafficked in treachery and violence until law collapsed. Evildoers who would not stop fell one after another to the headsman. The loyal Xies and Miaos won no lasting fortune for their houses. Emperor Min’s brief reign rested on those same loyal lords. Yan Ding opened the road to restoration; Suo Chen closed it in ruin.