1
溫嶠
Wen Jiao.
2
溫嶠，字太真，司徒羨弟之子也。 父憺，河東太守。 嶠性聰敏，有識量，博學能屬文，少以孝悌稱於邦族。 風儀秀整，美於談論，見者皆愛悅之。 年十七，州郡辟召，皆不就。 司隸命為都官從事。 散騎常侍庾敳有重名，而頗聚斂，嶠舉奏之，京都振肅。 後舉秀才、灼然。 司徒辟東閣祭酒，補上黨潞令。
Wen Jiao, courtesy name Taizhen, was the son of Wen Dan, younger brother of Minister of Education Wen Xian. His father, Wen Dan, served as administrator of Hedong commandery. Wen Jiao was quick-witted and discerning, erudite and a capable writer; even as a youth he was known among his kinsmen for filial devotion and fraternal respect. He carried himself with polished grace and spoke with uncommon eloquence; everyone who met him warmed to him at once. When he was seventeen, local authorities repeatedly offered him posts; he declined them all. The Metropolitan Governor then appointed him assistant for capital affairs. Yu Ai, the attendant cavalry regular, enjoyed wide renown but also enriched himself through graft; Wen Jiao memorialized against him, and order tightened across the capital. He was later nominated as a cultivated talent and passed the Zhuoran examination. The Minister of Education appointed him libationer of the Eastern Pavilion, after which he served as magistrate of Lu county in Shangdang.
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平北大將軍劉琨妻，嶠之從母也。 琨深禮之，請為參軍。 琨遷大將軍，嶠為從事中郎、上黨太守，加建威將軍、督護前鋒軍事。 將兵討石勒，屢有戰功。 琨遷司空，以嶠為右司馬。 于時并土荒殘，寇盜群起，石勒、劉聰跨帶疆場，嶠為之謀主，琨所憑恃焉。
The wife of Liu Kun—general bearing the title Pacifier of the North—was Wen Jiao's aunt on his mother's side. Liu Kun received him with exceptional respect and invited him to serve as military adviser. When Liu Kun rose to Grand General, Wen Jiao followed as senior clerk and administrator of Shangdang, with the added ranks of General Who Establishes Might and supervisor of the vanguard forces. He campaigned against Shi Le and won repeated distinction on the battlefield. When Liu Kun advanced to Minister of Works, he named Wen Jiao chief of staff on the right. Bingzhou lay in ruins, rebels sprang up everywhere, and Shi Le and Liu Cong dominated the borderlands; Wen Jiao became Liu Kun's chief strategist—the man on whom he depended.
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屬二都傾覆，社稷絕祀，元帝初鎮江左，琨誠繫王室，謂嶠曰：「昔班彪識劉氏之復興，馬援知漢光之可輔。 今晉祚雖衰，天命未改，吾欲立功河朔，使卿延譽江南，子其行乎？」 對曰：「嶠雖無管張之才，而明公有桓文之志，欲建匡合之功，豈敢辭命。」 乃以為左長史，檄告華夷，奉表勸進。 嶠既至，引見，具陳琨忠誠，志在效節，因說社稷無主，天人係望，辭旨慷慨。 舉朝屬目，帝器而嘉焉。 王導、周顗、謝鯤、庾亮、桓彝等並與親善。 于時江左草創，綱維未舉，嶠殊以為憂。 及見王導共談，歡然曰； 「江左自有管夷吾，吾復何慮！」 屢求反命，不許。 會琨為段匹磾所害，嶠表琨忠誠，雖勳業不遂，然家破身亡，宜在褒崇，以慰海內之望。 帝然之。
After Luoyang and Chang'an fell and the dynasty's altars went cold, while the Prince of Langye was still consolidating his position south of the Yangzi, Liu Kun—whose heart was fixed on the house of Jin—said to Wen Jiao: "Long ago Ban Biao saw the Liu clan's restoration coming; Ma Yuan knew Liu Xiu was worth serving. The mandate of Jin may be fraying, but Heaven has not yet changed its charge. I intend to win merit on the northern plain while you carry our cause to the south—will you go?" Wen Jiao answered, "I am no Guan Zhong or Zhang Liang, yet you, my lord, harbor the ambitions of a Duke Huan or Duke Wen. If I may help restore order to the realm, I would not dream of refusing." Liu Kun thereupon appointed him senior clerk on the left, issued proclamations to Chinese and non-Chinese alike, and submitted a memorial urging the prince to assume the throne. Once Wen Jiao reached the court, he was received in audience. He laid out Liu Kun's loyalty and steadfast resolve, then explained that the altars stood without a rightful lord and that both Heaven and the people looked to a leader—speaking with fierce conviction. The entire court watched him with expectation; the emperor valued him highly and praised him openly. He formed close ties with Wang Dao, Zhou Yi, Xie Kun, Yu Liang, Huan Yi, and others. The southern court was still taking shape and its institutions were hardly in place; Wen Jiao found this deeply troubling. After meeting Wang Dao and speaking with him at length, he exclaimed with relief, "The south has its own Guan Zhong—I have nothing left to fear!" He repeatedly asked leave to return north with his answer; each time the court refused. When Duan Pidi murdered Liu Kun, Wen Jiao memorialized on Liu Kun's loyalty: his great enterprise had gone unfinished, yet he had sacrificed family and life alike; the throne should honor him to satisfy sentiment across the realm. The emperor agreed.
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除散騎侍郎。 初，嶠欲將命，其母崔氏固止之，嶠絕裾而去。 其後母亡，嶠阻亂不獲歸葬，由是固讓不拜，苦請北歸。 詔三司、八坐議其事，皆曰：「昔伍員志復私讎，先假諸侯之力，東奔闔閭，位為上將，然後鞭荊王之尸。 若嶠以母未葬沒在胡虜者，乃應竭其智謀，仰憑皇靈，使逆寇冰消，反哀墓次，豈可稍以乖嫌，廢其遠圖哉！」 嶠不得已，乃受命。
He was appointed attendant gentleman at the palace gates. When Wen Jiao first prepared to answer Liu Kun's summons, his mother Lady Cui tried to stop him; he tore the hem from her grasp and left anyway. After she died, chaos along the route kept him from returning her remains for burial; he therefore repeatedly declined office and pleaded to be allowed north. The throne ordered the chief ministers to debate the matter. Their verdict: "Long ago Wu Zixu sought private vengeance; he borrowed strength from the feudal lords, fled east to King Helü of Wu, rose to chief commander, and only then lashed the corpse of the king of Chu. If Wen Jiao must leave his mother's bones in barbarian hands until he can redeem them, he should bend every stratagem to crush the rebels under Heaven's blessing—then return to weep at her grave. Shall we discard so vital a design over personal resentment?" Wen Jiao had no choice but to accept the post.
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後歷驃騎王導長史，遷太子中庶子。 及在東宮，深見寵遇，太子與為布衣之交。 數陳規諷，又獻《侍臣箴》，甚有弘益。 時太子起西池樓觀，頗為勞費，嶠上疏以為朝廷草創，巨寇未滅，宜應儉以率下，務農重兵，太子納焉。 王敦舉兵內向，六軍敗績，太子將自出戰，嶠執鞚諫曰：「臣聞善戰者不怒，善勝者不武，如何萬乘儲副而以身輕天下！」 太子乃止。
He later served as chief administrator under Wang Dao, general of agile cavalry, then rose to senior adviser in the heir apparent's household. At the heir's residence he enjoyed exceptional favor; the crown prince treated him as an intimate friend. He offered frequent counsel and presented his "Admonition for Palace Attendants," to great practical benefit. The crown prince had raised elaborate towers and pavilions beside the West Pool at considerable cost; Wen Jiao argued in a memorial that the court was still new and major enemies remained—the ruler should model austerity, stress farming, and build military strength. The heir took his advice. When Wang Dun marched on the capital and the imperial armies collapsed, the crown prince meant to ride out himself; Wen Jiao seized the reins and warned, "The sage commander masters anger before battle; true victory needs no bluster. How can the heir to the throne stake the empire on a single sortie?" The prince relented.
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明帝即位，拜侍中，機密大謀皆所參綜，詔命文翰亦悉豫焉。 俄轉中書令。 嶠有棟梁之任，帝親而倚之，甚為王敦所忌，因請為左司馬。 敦阻兵不朝，多行陵縱，嶠諫敦曰：「昔周公之相成王，勞謙吐握，豈好勤而惡逸哉！ 誠由處大任者不可不爾。 而公自還輦轂，入輔朝政，闕拜覲之禮，簡人臣之儀，不達聖心者莫不於邑。 昔帝舜服事唐堯，伯禹竭身虞庭，文王雖盛，臣節不諐。 故有庇人之大德，必有事君之小心，俾芳烈奮乎百世，休風流乎萬祀。 至聖遺軌，所不宜忽。 願思舜、禹、文王服事之勤，惟公旦吐握之事，則天下幸甚。」 敦不納。 嶠知其終不悟，於是謬為設敬，綜其府事，干說密謀，以附其欲。 深結錢鳳，為之聲譽，每曰：「錢世儀精神滿腹。」 嶠素有知人之稱，鳳聞而悅之，深結好於嶠。 會丹陽尹缺，嶠說敦曰：「京尹輦轂喉舌，宜得文武兼能，公宜自選其才。 若朝廷用人，或不盡理。」 敦然之，問嶠誰可作者。 嶠曰：「愚謂錢鳳可用。」 鳳亦推嶠，嶠偽辭之。 敦不從，表補丹陽尹。 嶠猶懼錢鳳為之姦謀，因敦餞別，嶠起行酒，至鳳前，鳳未及飲，嶠因偽醉，以手版擊鳳幘墜，作色曰：「錢鳳何人，溫太真行酒而敢不飲！」 敦以為醉，兩釋之。 臨去言別，涕泗橫流，出閤復入，如是再三，然後即路。 及發後，鳳入說敦曰：「嶠於朝廷甚密，而與庾亮深交，未必可信。」 敦曰：「太真昨醉，小加聲色，豈得以此便相讒貳。」 由是鳳謀不行，而嶠得還都，乃具奏敦之逆謀，請先為之備。
When Emperor Ming took the throne, Wen Jiao became palace attendant: he helped shape every confidential decision and joined in drafting the emperor's edicts and correspondence. He soon advanced to director of the Secretariat. Wen Jiao carried the weight of a chief minister; the emperor trusted him utterly—so Wang Dun, who resented that influence, secured his appointment as Dun's chief of staff on the left. Wang Dun kept his army idle and stayed away from court, behaving with brutal arrogance; Wen Jiao remonstrated: "Long ago the Duke of Zhou served the young king with exhausting humility—spitting out food and wringing his wet hair—not because he enjoyed drudgery or despised rest! No—great responsibility leaves no room for ease. Yet you now reside at the capital as chief minister without attending court, skipping audiences and flouting the deportment owed a subject—every loyal official grieves at it. Emperor Shun served Yao with humility; Yu gave himself wholly to Shun's court; even mighty King Wen never slipped from proper subservience. Those who shelter the people also honor their sovereign with painstaking loyalty—that is how their fame lasts centuries and their example endures forever. The example of the greatest sages must never be cast aside. Remember how Shun, Yu, and King Wen served their lords, and how the Duke of Zhou broke off every meal to receive visitors—the empire would be profoundly blessed. Wang Dun brushed the advice aside. Seeing that Wang Dun would never relent, Wen Jiao feigned deference, ran headquarters business, and fed him stratagems that matched Dun's ambitions. He cultivated Qian Feng assiduously, praising him at every turn—"Qian Shiyi has wit enough to fill his belly." Wen Jiao's judgment of character was legendary; Qian Feng, pleased by the praise, drew close to him. When the governorship of Danyang fell vacant, Wen Jiao urged Wang Dun: "The capital intendant speaks for the throne; you need someone versed in both civil and military affairs—choose the man yourself. If you leave it to court factions, you may not get the right officer." Wang Dun agreed and asked whom he should appoint. Wen Jiao replied, "Qian Feng would serve admirably." Qian Feng in turn recommended Wen Jiao, who protested modestly. Wang Dun would hear none of it and memorialized Wen Jiao himself as governor of Danyang. Wen Jiao still feared Qian Feng's intrigues. At Wang Dun's farewell banquet he circulated the wine; when he reached Qian Feng, Feng had not yet lifted his cup. Wen Jiao feigned drunken rage, knocked Feng's headcloth off with his tablet, and shouted, "Who is Qian Feng that he refuses a cup from Wen Taizhen!" Wang Dun dismissed it as a drunken spat and excused them both. When he finally departed he wept openly, stepping out of the hall and back in again before he could bring himself to leave. Once Wen Jiao had gone, Qian Feng warned Wang Dun, "He is thick with the court and intimate with Yu Liang—hardly reliable." Wang Dun replied, "Taizhen was drunk last night; I merely scolded him—you cannot call that disloyalty." The warning went nowhere, and Wen Jiao reached the capital, where he laid out Wang Dun's conspiracy and urged immediate precautions.
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及敦構逆，加嶠中壘將軍、持節、都督東安北部諸軍事。 敦與王導書曰：「太真別來幾日，作如此事！」 表誅姦臣，以嶠為首。 募生得嶠者，當自拔其舌。 及王含、錢鳳奄至都下，嶠燒朱雀桁以挫其鋒，帝怒之，嶠曰：「今宿衛寡弱，徵兵未至，若賊豕突，危及社稷，陛下何惜一橋。」 賊果不得渡。 嶠自率眾與賊夾水戰，擊王含，敗之，復督劉遐追錢鳳於江寧。 事平，封建寧縣開國公，賜絹五千四百匹，進號前將軍。
When Wang Dun rose in revolt, Wen Jiao received the titles general of the central rampart, credential bearer, and area commander for the northern sector east of the capital. Wang Dun wrote to Wang Dao, "Taizhen has been gone only days—how dare he turn on me like this!" He memorialized for the execution of "treacherous ministers," naming Wen Jiao first. He promised reward to anyone who took Wen Jiao alive—then rip out his tongue. When Wang Han and Qian Feng suddenly appeared below the walls, Wen Jiao burned the Vermilion Sparrow Bridge to check their advance; the emperor rebuked him. Wen Jiao replied, "The palace guard is thin and reinforcements have not arrived—if the rebels break through like wild boars and threaten the altars, why cherish a wooden bridge?" The rebels never forced the crossing. Wen Jiao led his troops in battle across the river, routed Wang Han, then directed Liu Xia's pursuit of Qian Feng at Jiangning. After the victory he was enfeoffed as duke of Jianning with five thousand four hundred bolts of silk and promoted to general of the van.
9
時制王敦綱紀除名，參佐禁固，嶠上疏曰：「王敦剛愎不仁，忍行殺戮，親任小人，疎遠君子，朝廷所不能抑，骨肉所不能間。 處其朝者恒懼危亡，故人士結舌，道路以目，誠賢人君子道窮數盡，遵養時晦之辰也。 且敦為大逆之日，拘錄人士，自免無路，原其私心，豈遑晏處，如陸玩、羊曼、劉胤、蔡謨、郭璞常與臣言，備知之矣。 必其凶悖，自可罪人斯得； 如其枉入姦黨，宜施之以寬。 加以玩等之誠，聞於聖聽，當受同賊之責，實負其心。 陛下仁聖含弘，思求允中； 臣階緣博納，干非其事，誠在愛才，不忘忠益。」 帝從之。
Policy called for striking Wang Dun's staff from the rolls and detaining his aides. Wen Jiao memorialized: "Wang Dun was obstinate and merciless, slaughtered at will, favored petty men and spurned gentlemen—beyond the court's control and impervious even to kin. Those who attended him lived in daily dread, so men fell silent and exchanged only glances in the street—it was the hour when good officials could only withdraw and bide their time. Moreover, when Dun rebelled he seized hostages from among the gentry; none could escape. Lu Wan, Yang Man, Liu Yin, Cai Mo, and Guo Pu often confided in me—I know their hearts. Where men were truly vicious, let justice take its course; where they were swept into the net innocently, show mercy. Lu Wan and his fellows have proved their loyalty to Your Majesty's ears; to punish them as traitors would betray every honest impulse. You are humane and magnanimous; you seek a fair middle course; I speak beyond my station only because I cherish worthy men and loyal counsel." The emperor granted his request.
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是時天下凋弊，國用不足，詔公卿以下詣都坐論時政之所先，嶠因奏軍國要務。 其一曰：「祖約退舍壽陽，有將來之難。 今二方守禦，為功尚易。 淮泗都督，宜竭力以資之。 選名重之士，配征兵五千人，又擇一偏將，將二千兵，以益壽陽，可以保固徐豫，援助司土。」 其二曰：「一夫不耕，必有受其飢者。 今不耕之夫，動有萬計。 春廢勸課之制，冬峻出租之令，下未見施，惟賦是聞。 賦不可以已，當思令百姓有以殷實。 司徒置田曹掾，州一人，勸課農桑，察吏能否，今宜依舊置之。 必得清恪奉公，足以宣示惠化者，則所益實弘矣。」 其三曰：「諸外州郡將兵者及都督府非臨敵之軍，且田且守。 又先朝使五校出田，今四軍五校有兵者，及護軍所統外軍，可分遣二軍出，并屯要處。 緣江上下，皆有良田，開荒須一年之後即易。 且軍人累重者在外，有樵採蔬食之人，於事為便。」 其四曰：「建官以理世，不以私人也。 如此則官寡而材精。 周制六卿莅事，春秋之時，入作卿輔，出將三軍。 後代建官漸多，誠由事有煩簡耳。 然今江南六州之土，尚又荒殘，方之平日，數十分之一耳。 三省軍校無兵者，九府寺署可有并相領者，可有省半者，粗計閑劇，隨事減之。 荒殘之縣，或同在一城，可并合之。 如此選既可精，祿俸可優，令足代耕，然後可責以清公耳。」 其五曰：「古者親耕耤田以供粢盛，舊置耤田、廩犧之官。 今臨時市求，既上黷至敬，下費生靈，非所以虔奉宗廟蒸嘗之旨。 宜如舊制，立此二官。」 其六曰：「使命愈遠，益宜得才，宣揚王化，延譽四方。 人情不樂，遂取卑品之人，虧辱國命，生長患害。 故宜重其選，不可減二千石見居二品者，」其七曰：「罪不相及，古之制也。 近者大逆，誠由凶戾。 凶戾之甚，一時權用。 今遂施行，非聖朝之令典，宜如先朝除三族之制。」 議奏，多納之。
The empire was impoverished and the treasury empty; the throne summoned senior officials to debate priorities, and Wen Jiao submitted his program for army and state. First: "Zu Yue has pulled back toward Shouyang—trouble will follow. For now both fronts can still be held without extreme effort. The commander on the Huai and Si must pour every resource into supporting them. Send a respected officer with five thousand levied troops and a deputy with another two thousand to thicken the line at Shouyang—that will secure Xu and Yu and relieve the central plain." Second: "When one farmer leaves his fields, someone goes hungry. Tens of thousands of laborers now stand idle. Spring orders to promote farming are ignored; winter brings harsh rent demands—commoners hear only taxes, never relief. Taxes cannot cease altogether, yet we must give the people means to become prosperous again. Restore the Minister of Works' field clerks—one per province—to promote farming and sericulture and judge magistrates' performance, as in former times. Choose men who are honest, diligent, and devoted to the public good; the gain will be immense." Third: "Commanders and area forces not engaged at the front should farm as they garrison. Earlier courts sent the Five Camps to till the soil; detach two armies from the metropolitan forces and outer commands of the Guards to colonize strategic points. Good land lies all along the Yangzi; one year of clearing fallow makes cultivation easy. Soldiers long stationed abroad can gather fuel and greens on their own—a practical economy." Fourth: "Offices exist to govern the realm, not to enrich private clients. That keeps the bureaucracy lean and fills each post with able men. Under the Zhou the six grand ministers ran the government; in the Spring and Autumn era they rotated between court as chief counselors and the field as army commanders. Later ages piled on titles because some duties are heavy and others light. Yet the six southern provinces remain devastated—perhaps a tenth of their former productive land. Strip empty military slots from the three departments; merge overlapping bureaus of the nine ministries or cut their rolls in half; weigh idle against overburdened posts and abolish what you can. Ruined counties that sit within one city wall should be consolidated. Tighter appointment lists allow richer salaries—pay men enough to live like landowners, then hold them to unstained public duty." Fifth: "Ancient kings tilled the sacred field themselves so the ancestral vessels would never lack grain; the old statutes created stewards for those fields and for the granary and sacrificial beasts. Buying grain on the open market profanes the highest ritual and bleeds the commoners—it is no way to honor the shrines with autumn and spring offerings. Restore the traditional offices for those two duties." Sixth: "The farther an envoy travels, the abler he must be, for he carries the king's civilizing mandate and the court's reputation abroad. No one wants the job, so petty men are sent—they disgrace the imperial charge and invite disaster. Raise the bar for envoys: do not demote candidates who already hold second rank at two thousand dan." Seventh: "Collective punishment was abolished in antiquity. The recent rebellion sprang from vicious cruelty. Harsh collective guilt was a wartime expedient. To keep it on the books dishonors a civilized court—restore the earlier Jin rule that spared extended kin." The throne accepted most of his program.
11
帝疾篤，嶠與王導、郗鑒、庾亮、陸曄、卞壼等同受顧命。 時歷陽太守蘇峻藏匿亡命，朝廷疑之。 征西將軍陶侃有威名於荊楚，又以西夏為虞，故使嶠為上流形援。 咸和初，代應詹為江州刺史、持節、都督、平南將軍，鎮武昌，甚有惠政，甄異行能，親祭徐孺子之墓。 又陳豫章十郡之要，宜以刺史居之。 尋陽濱江，都督應鎮其地。 今以州帖府，進退不便。 且古鎮將多不領州，皆以文武形勢不同故也。 宜選單車刺史別撫豫章，專理黎庶。」 詔不許。 在鎮見王敦畫像，曰：「敦大逆，宜加斲棺之戮，受崔杼之刑。 古人闔棺而定諡，《春秋》大居正，崇王父之命，未有受戮於天子而圖形於群下。」 命削去之。
The dying emperor entrusted Wen Jiao along with Wang Dao, Xi Jian, Yu Liang, Lu Ye, Bian Kun, and others with his final orders. Su Jun of Liyang was sheltering outlaws, and the court had begun to mistrust him. Tao Kan, the general who guarded the west, was famed in Jing and Chu; fearing the northwestern frontier, the court stationed Wen Jiao upstream as his strategic reserve. Early in Xianhe he replaced Ying Zhan as governor of Jiangzhou, credential bearer, area commander, and General Who Pacifies the South, with headquarters at Wuchang. His rule was humane: he singled out able men and visited Xu Ruzi's grave to offer sacrifice himself. He urged that the ten Yuzhang commanderies were the region's pivot and deserved their own inspector. Xunyang fronts the great river—an area commander should anchor there. Subordinating the province to the army command fouls every movement. Frontier commanders once kept civil and military authority apart for good reason. Send a lightweight provincial inspector to handle Yuzhang alone and mind the people. The emperor refused. At his post he confronted Wang Dun's portrait and declared, "This traitor deserves his coffin split like a criminal's and the humiliation Cui Zhu dealt his corpse. Antiquity sealed the coffin before fixing a posthumous name; the Spring and Autumn classics exalt legitimate rule—no man condemned by the emperor should hang in offices below." He had the likeness scraped away.
12
嶠聞蘇峻之徵也，慮必有變，求還朝以備不虞，不聽。 未幾而蘇峻果反。 嶠屯尋陽，遣督護王愆期、西陽太守鄧嶽、鄱陽內史紀瞻等率舟師赴難。 及京師傾覆，嶠聞之號慟。 人有候之者，悲哭相對。 俄而庾亮來奔，宣太后詔，進嶠驃騎將軍、開府儀同三司。 嶠曰：「今日之急，殄寇為先，未效勳庸而逆受榮寵，非所聞也，何以示天下乎！」 固辭不受。 時亮雖奔敗，嶠每推崇之，分兵給亮。 遣王愆期等要陶侃同赴國難，侃恨不受顧命，不許。 嶠初從之，後用其部將毛寶說，復固請侃行，語在寶傳。 初，嶠與庾亮相推為盟主，嶠從弟充言於嶠曰：「征西位重兵彊，宜共推之。」 嶠於是遣王愆期奉侃為盟主。 侃許之，遣督護龔登率兵詣嶠。 嶠於是列上尚書，陳峻罪狀，有眾七千，灑泣登舟，移告四方征鎮曰：
Learning that Su Jun had been summoned to the capital, Wen Jiao foresaw disaster and asked to return and guard against surprises; the court refused. Soon Su Jun rose in revolt. He camped at Xunyang and dispatched Wang Yanqi, Deng Yue of Xiyang, Ji Zhan of Poyang, and others with the river forces toward the capital. News that the capital had fallen reached him in a storm of grief. Visitors found him weeping face to face with whoever entered. Yu Liang soon arrived as a fugitive bearing the empress dowager's order promoting Wen Jiao to general of agile cavalry with honors matching the Three Ducal Ministers. Wen Jiao replied, "Annihilating the rebels comes first; taking glittering rewards before victory—such a thing is unheard of. What lesson would that teach the empire?" He steadfastly declined. Though Yu Liang had fled a defeated army, Wen Jiao continued to praise him and shared troops with him. He sent Wang Yanqi to coax Tao Kan into the coalition; Kan, bitter over being left out of the testament, would not budge. Wen Jiao first accepted that answer, then took his officer Mao Bao's counsel and pressed Tao Kan again—as told in Mao Bao's memoir. Wen Jiao and Yu Liang had each declined the coalition leadership until Wen Chong urged his cousin, "The western commander outranks us and commands the strongest host—yield the banner to him." Wen Jiao then dispatched Wang Yanqi to install Tao Kan as alliance leader. Tao Kan agreed and sent Gong Deng with reinforcements to Wen Jiao's camp. Wen Jiao then memorialized the Secretariat with Su Jun's offenses, embarked seven thousand men in tears, and issued a call to arms to every provincial garrison:
13
時陶侃雖許自下而未發，復追其督護龔登。 嶠重與侃書曰：
Tao Kan had promised to lead the march himself but still delayed, even summoning Gong Deng back. Wen Jiao wrote Tao Kan another letter:
14
峻時殺侃子瞻，由是侃激勵，遂率所統與嶠、亮同赴京師，戎卒六萬，旌旗七百餘里，鉦鼓之聲震於百里，直指石頭，次于蔡洲。 侃屯查浦，嶠屯沙門浦。 時祖約據歷陽，與峻為首尾，見嶠等軍盛，謂其黨曰：「吾本知嶠能為四公子之事，今果然矣。」
Su Jun had executed Tao Kan's son Tao Zhan, which finally galvanized Kan. He brought his army with Wen Jiao and Yu Liang toward the capital—sixty thousand men, seven hundred li of banners, drums audible for a hundred li—bearing down on Stone City and anchoring at Cai Isle. Tao Kan camped at Zha Creek; Wen Jiao at Shamen Creek. Zu Yue held Liyang in tandem with Su Jun. Seeing Wen Jiao's host, he told his officers, "I knew Wen Jiao could pull together the great coalition—now he has."
15
峻聞嶠將至，逼大駕幸石頭。 時峻軍多馬，南軍杖舟楫，不敢輕與交鋒。 用將軍李根計，據白石築壘以自固，使庾亮守之。 賊步騎萬餘來攻，不下而退，追斬二百餘級。 嶠又於四望磯築壘以逼賊，曰：「賊必爭之，設伏以逸待勞，是制賊之一奇也。」 是時義軍屢戰失利，嶠軍食盡，陶侃怒曰：「使君前云不憂無將士，惟得老僕為主耳。 今數戰皆北，良將安在？ 荊州接胡蜀二虜，倉廩當備不虞，若復無食，僕便欲西歸，更思良算。 但今歲計，殄賊不為晚也。」 嶠曰：「不然。 自古成監，師克在和。 光武之濟昆陽，曹公之拔官渡，以寡敵眾，杖義故也。 峻、約小豎，為海內所患，今日之舉，決在一戰。 峻勇而無謀，藉驕勝之勢，自謂無前，今挑之戰，可一鼓而擒也。 奈何捨垂立之功，設進退之計！ 且天子幽逼，社稷危殆，四海臣子，肝腦塗地，嶠等與公並受國恩，是致命之日，事若克濟，則臣主同祚，如其不捷，身雖灰滅，不足以謝責於先帝。 今之事勢，義無旋踵，騎猛獸，安可中下哉！ 公若違眾獨反，人心必沮。 沮眾敗事，義旗將廻指於公矣。」 侃無以對，遂留不去。
Su Jun, hearing of Wen Jiao's approach, marched the emperor to Stone Fortress. Su Jun's men were cavalry-heavy; the southern allies stuck to their boats and hesitated to engage. They adopted Li Gen's plan: seize White Rock, throw up walls, and put Yu Liang in charge. Ten thousand rebel horse and foot assaulted the walls without success and fled; the allies killed over two hundred in pursuit. Wen Jiao threw up another bastion at Siwang Jetty to pinch the rebels. "They will fight for this ground," he said—set an ambush and let eager fatigue—classic bait. The loyalists kept losing; Wen Jiao's supplies ran out. Tao Kan growled, "You insisted you needed no talent beyond this old man as figurehead. Every battle goes wrong—where are these splendid generals now? Jingzhou borders barbarians west and Shu south—the granaries must stay full. Starve us again and I march home to rethink. Still, we can finish the bandits this year if we hold firm." Wen Jiao answered, "Not so. History shows victorious armies march in harmony. Emperor Guangwu took Kunyang; Cao Cao took Guandu—both beat bigger hosts because justice was theirs. Su Jun and Zu Yue are rabble hated across the realm—this war turns on a single clash. Su Jun is fierce yet witless, drunk on victory—taunt him into the open and one assault bags him. Why throw away a winning stroke for wavering plans? The emperor is penned and imperiled; the altars totter. Every loyal subject would die for the throne. Wen Jiao and you alike owe everything to the state—this is the hour to spend your lives. Victory lifts ruler and minister together; defeat reduces us to ash still owing the late emperor an apology. Duty leaves no retreat—you ride a tiger midway. Withdraw alone against every ally and you break every heart. Broken morale loses the war—and the allies' spears turn on you." Tao Kan had no reply and stayed.
16
嶠於是創建行廟，廣設壇場，告皇天后土祖宗之靈，親讀祝文，聲氣激揚，流涕覆面，三軍莫能仰視。 其日侃督水軍向石頭，亮、嶠等率精勇一萬從白石以挑戰。 時峻勞其將士，因醉，突陣馬躓，為侃將所斬，峻弟逸及子碩嬰城自固。 嶠乃立行臺，布告天下，凡故吏二千石、臺郎御史以下，皆令赴臺。 於是至者雲集。 司徒王導因奏嶠、侃錄尚書，遣間使宣旨，並讓不受。 賊將匡術以臺城來降，為逸所擊，求救於嶠。 江州別駕羅洞曰：「今水暴長，救之不便，不如攻榻杭。 榻杭軍若敗，術圍自解。」 嶠從之，遂破賊石頭軍。 奮威長史滕含抱天子奔于嶠船。 時陶侃雖為盟主，而處分規略一出於嶠，及賊滅，拜驃騎將軍、開府儀同三司，加散騎常侍，封始安郡公，邑三千戶。
Wen Jiao raised a field shrine, spread the ritual arena, and prayed to Heaven, Earth, and the imperial ancestors, reading the invocation himself until his voice cracked and tears masked his face—soldiers could not lift their eyes. That day Tao Kan drove the fleet toward Stone City while Yu Liang, Wen Jiao, and ten thousand elite troops sortied from White Rock. Su Jun was feasting his troops, rode out drunk, fell from his horse, and Tao Kan's men killed him. His brother Su Yi and son Su Shuo locked themselves inside. Wen Jiao opened a field headquarters and summoned every former two-thousand-dan official and Secretariat clerk to rally there. They came in clouds. Wang Dao petitioned to name Wen Jiao and Tao Kan recording secretaries; secret messengers carried the order—both refused. The turncoat Kuang Shu offered the palace quarter but Su Yi attacked him; he begged Wen Jiao for relief. Luo Dong of Jiangzhou said, "The flood tide makes rescue risky—strike the Ta-hang bastion instead. Crush that garrison and Kuang Shu's trap springs open." Wen Jiao agreed and smashed Su Jun's army at Stone City. Teng Han of the Swift Might staff carried the emperor into Wen Jiao's boat. Although Tao Kan titled himself alliance chief, Wen Jiao shaped every plan. After victory he became general of agile cavalry with Three Ducal honors, plus attendant cavalry regular, enfeoffed duke of Shi'an at three thousand households.
17
初，峻黨路永、匡術、賈寧中途悉以眾歸順，王導將褒顯之，嶠曰：「術輩首亂，罪莫大焉。 晚雖改悟，未足以補前失。 全其首領，為幸己過，何可復寵授哉！」 導無以奪。
Early on Lu Yong, Kuang Shu, and Jia Ning had defected with their troops; Wang Dao meant to honor them until Wen Jiao said those men began the revolt. Belated repentance cannot erase that guilt. Letting them keep their heads was mercy enough—never reward them. Wang Dao yielded.
18
朝議將留輔政，嶠以導先帝所任，固辭還藩。 復以京邑荒殘，資用不給，嶠借資蓄，具器用，而後旋于武昌，至牛渚磯，水深不可測，世云其下多怪物，嶠遂燬犀角而照之。 須臾，見水族覆火，奇形異狀，或乘馬車著赤衣者。 嶠其夜夢人謂己曰：「與君幽明道別，何意相照也？」 意甚惡之。 嶠先有齒疾，至是拔之，因中風，至鎮未旬而卒，時年四十二。 江州士庶聞之，莫不相顧而泣。 帝下冊書曰：「朕以眇身，纂承洪緒，不能光闡大道，化洽時雍，至乃狂狡滔天，社稷危逼。 惟公明鑒特達，識心經遠，懼皇綱之不維，忿凶寇之縱暴，唱率群后，五州響應，首啟戎行，元惡授馘。 王室危而復安，三光幽而復明，功格宇宙，勳著八表。 方賴大猷以拯區夏，天不憖遺，早世薨殂，朕用痛悼于厥心。 夫褒德銘勳，先王之明典，今追贈公侍中、大將軍、持節、都督、刺史，公如故，賜錢百萬，布千匹，諡曰忠武，祠以太牢。」
The court wanted Wen Jiao to stay as regent; he insisted Wang Dao held the late emperor's trust and returned to his Jiangzhou command. The capital remained ruined and broke, so Wen Jiao borrowed provisions and gear before sailing back to Wuchang. At Niuzhu Jetty the depths were immeasurable—folk said monsters lurked below—so he burned rhinoceros horn to light the river. Momentarily he saw river beings draped in fire—grotesque shapes, some in red riding horse-drawn carts. That night he dreamed a voice said, "We belong to separate realms—why burn light upon us?" The omen sickened him. Plagued by toothache, he had the teeth pulled and suffered a stroke; he died within ten days of reaching post, forty-two years old. Every household in Jiangzhou wept when they heard. The emperor's edict read, "We inherit a vast mandate yet failed to spread the Way or pacify the times—rebels ran riot and the throne tottered. You alone foresaw danger, roused the provinces, and marched first—the chief rebel lost his head. You restored the house and brought back the sun, moon, and stars—your merit fills heaven and earth. We looked to your counsel to save the heartland, yet Heaven stole you—Our grief is boundless. The kings of old honored merit—we posthumously add palace attendant, grand general, credential, area command, and governor; your ducal rank stands; grant cash and silk; posthumous name Loyal and Martial; sacrifice with the grand victim."
19
初葬于豫章，後朝廷追嶠勳德，將為造大墓於元明二帝陵之北，陶侃上表曰：「故大將軍嶠忠誠著於聖世，勳義感于人神，非臣筆墨所能稱陳。 臨卒之際，與臣書別，臣藏之篋笥，時時省視，每一思述，未嘗不中夜撫膺，臨飯酸噎。 '人之云亡'，嶠實當之。 謹寫嶠書上呈，伏惟陛下既垂御省，傷其情旨，死不忘忠，身沒黃泉，追恨國恥，奬臣戮力，救濟艱難，使亡而有知，抱恨結草，豈樂今日勞費之事。 願陛下慈恩，停其移葬，使嶠棺柩無風波之危，魂靈安於后土。」 詔從之。 其後嶠後妻何氏卒，子放之便載喪還都。 詔葬建平陵北，幷贈嶠前妻王氏及何氏始安夫人印綬。
He was first buried in Yuzhang. Court artisans later planned a mausoleum north of Emperors Yuan and Ming until Tao Kan memorialized, "The late Wen Jiao's loyalty outshone his age; words fail his service. His deathbed letter to me still sits in my chest—I read it nights and clutch my breast; meals stick in my throat. As the ode runs, "When good men vanish from the world"—that line was written for Wen Jiao. He copied Wen Jiao's letter to the throne: even beyond death Wen Jiao burned to redeem national shame and urged Tao Kan onward—ghost or man, he would scorn empty pageantry over his bones. He begged the emperor to cancel the grand reburial so Wen Jiao's coffin need not brave the rivers and his shade could rest undisturbed." The emperor granted the petition. After Wen Jiao's second wife Lady He died, Wen Fangzhi convoyed both cortèges to Jiankang. The court buried them north of Jianping Ling and posthumously titled Wen Jiao's first wife Lady Wang and Lady He as ladies of Shi'an with full insignia.
20
放之嗣爵，少歷清官，累至給事黃門侍郎。 以貧，求為交州，朝廷許之。 王述與會稽王牋曰：「放之溫嶠之子，宜見優異，而投之嶺外，竊用愕然。 願遠存周禮，近參人情，則望實惟允。」 時竟不納。 放之既至南海，甚有威惠。 將征林邑，交阯太守杜寶、別駕阮朗並不從，放之以其沮眾，誅之，勒兵而進，遂破林邑而還。 卒于官。
Wen Fangzhi inherited the dukedom, rose through respectable posts, and reached attendant gentleman at the palace gates. Poor official pay drove him to ask for Jiaozhou; the throne agreed. Wang Shu warned the Prince of Kuaiji: "Wen Fangzhi is Wen Jiao's heir—he deserves favor, not exile beyond the mountains. Balance distant precedent from the Zhou against plain humanity—that would satisfy both honor and sense." The advice went nowhere. Once he reached Nanhai he ruled with firm justice and mercy. He planned a strike on Linyi; Du Bao of Jiaozhi and aide Ruan Lang balked—he executed them for mutiny, marched, crushed Linyi, and sailed home. He died in post.
21
弟式之，新建縣侯，位至散騎常侍。
His brother Wen Shizhi held the marquisate of Xinjian and became attendant cavalry regular.
22
郗鑒
Xi Jian.
23
郗鑒，字道徽，高平金鄉人，漢御史大夫慮之玄孫也。 少孤貧，博覽經籍，躬耕隴畝，吟詠不倦。 以儒雅著名，不應州命。 趙王倫辟為掾，知倫有不臣之迹，稱疾去職。 及倫篡，其黨皆至大官，而鑒閉門自守，不染逆節。 惠帝反正，參司空軍事，累遷太子中舍人、中書侍郎。 東海王越辟為主簿，舉賢良，不行。 征東大將軍苟晞檄為從事中郎。 晞與越方以力爭，鑒不應其召。 從兄旭，晞之別駕，恐禍及己，勸之赴召，鑒終不廻，晞亦不之逼也。 及京師不守，寇難鋒起，鑒遂陷於陳午賊中。 邑人張實先求交於鑒，鑒不許。 至是，實於午營來省鑒疾，既而卿鑒。 鑒謂實曰：「相與邦壤，義不及通，何可怙亂至此邪！」 實大慙而退。 午以鑒有名於世，將逼為主，鑒逃而獲免。 午尋潰散，鑒得歸鄉里。 于時所在饑荒，州中之士素有感其恩義者，相與資贍。 鑒復分所得，以賉宗族及鄉曲孤老，賴而全濟者甚多，咸相謂曰：「今天子播越，中原無伯，當歸依仁德，可以後亡。」 遂共推鑒為主，舉千餘家俱避難於魯之嶧山。
Xi Jian of Jinxiang in Gaoping—courtesy Daohui—descended from the Han imperial counselor Xi Lu. He grew up poor and fatherless but devoured the canon, tilled his own fields, and never tired of poetry and song. Scholars praised his cultivation; he ignored appointments from the province. Prince Zhao Lun offered him a staff post; seeing Lun's treasonous ambitions, he resigned on grounds of illness. When Sima Lun seized the throne his followers climbed to power; Xi Jian barred his doors and kept clean of the coup. After Emperor Hui returned, Xi Jian joined the minister of works' staff and rose to secretary and palace attendant to the heir. Sima Yue of Donghai named him chief clerk and nominated him as "worthy and good"; he declined. Gou Xi, general who conquered the east, summoned him as senior clerk. Gou Xi and Sima Yue were at war; Xi Jian ignored the call. His cousin Xi Xu—Gou Xi's aide—feared for himself and urged compliance; Xi Jian still refused, yet Gou Xi did not press him. When Luoyang fell and rebels multiplied, Xi Jian fell captive to Chen Wu's gang. A neighbor, Zhang Shi, had courted his friendship before; Xi Jian rejected him. Zhang Shi then visited him sick in Chen Wu's camp and presumed upon familiarity. Xi Jian told him, "We were neighbors yet never exchanged courtesy—how dare you exploit rebellion to force intimacy!" Zhang Shi withdrew in shame. Chen Wu meant to make the celebrated Xi Jian his figurehead; Xi Jian escaped. Chen Wu's band soon dissolved and Xi Jian went home. Famine stalked the region, yet local scholars who remembered his decency pooled supplies for him. He shared the gifts with kinsmen and destitute neighbors. Many survived thanks to him. They said, "The emperor is a refugee and the heartland lacks a lord—only humane leadership offers shelter." They chose Xi Jian as their leader and moved more than a thousand households to Yi Mountain in Lu for safety.
24
元帝初鎮江左，承制假鑒龍驤將軍、兗州刺史，鎮鄒山。 時荀藩用李述，劉琨用兄子演，並為兗州，各屯一郡，以力相傾，闔州編戶，莫知所適。 又徐龕、石勒左右交侵，日尋干戈，外無救援，百姓饑饉，或掘野鼠蟄燕而食之，終無叛者。 三年間，眾至數萬。 帝就加輔國將軍、都督兗州諸軍事。
When Sima Rui secured the south, he named Xi Jian interim general of the soaring dragon and inspector of Yanzhou at Zou Mountain. Xun Fan backed Li Shu while Liu Kun backed his nephew Liu Yan—both claimed Yanzhou, split garrisons, and wrestled for households who had nowhere to turn. Xu Kan and Shi Le pressed from both sides without relief; people ate dormice and cave swallows—yet none deserted Xi Jian. In three years his host numbered tens of thousands. The prince promoted him to general who supports the state and area commander for Yanzhou.
25
永昌初，徵拜領軍將軍，既至，轉尚書，以疾不拜。 時明帝初即位，王敦專制，內外危逼，謀杖鑒為外援，由是拜安西將軍、兗州刺史、都督揚州江西諸軍、假節，鎮合肥。 敦忌之，表為尚書令，徵還。 道經姑孰，與敦相見，敦謂曰：「樂彥輔短才耳。 後生流宕，言違名檢，考之以實，豈勝滿武秋邪？」 鑒曰：「擬人必于其倫。 彥輔道韻平淡，體識沖粹，處傾危之朝，不可得而親疏。 及愍懷太子之廢，可謂柔而有正。 武秋失節之士，何可同日而言！」 敦曰：「愍懷廢徙之際，交有危機之急，人何能以死守之乎！ 以此相方，其不減明矣。」 鑒曰：「丈夫既潔身北面，義同在三，豈可偷生屈節，靦顏天壤邪！ 苟道數終極，固當存亡以之耳。」 敦素懷無君之心，聞鑒言，大忿之，遂不復相見，拘留不遣。 敦之黨與譖毀日至，鑒舉止自若，初無懼心。 敦謂錢鳳曰：「郗道徽儒雅之士，名位既重，何得害之！」 乃放還臺。 鑒遂與帝謀滅敦。
Early in Yongchang he was recalled as colonel of the guards; transferred to secretary but declined on grounds of illness. Emperor Ming faced Wang Dun's dictatorship and stationed Xi Jian west as general who pacifies the west, inspector of Yanzhou, area commander from the Yangzi westward—with credential and headquarters at Hefei. Wang Dun envied him and engineered his recall as director of state affairs. At Gushu Wang Dun sneered, "Yue Guang is second-rate. Those gifted youngsters break every rule—tell me how Yue Guang outranks Man Yi." Xi Jian replied, "Compare like with like. Yue Guang moves through a dangerous court with serene detachment—neither push nor pull him off balance. When they cashiered Crown Prince Minhuai he remained gentle yet principled. Man Yi broke his oath—no comparison." Wang Dun shot back, "During that crisis who could die on principle? Then Yue Guang shines brighter." Xi Jian said, "A man who serves the throne upholds the three bonds—he does not cling to life and betray honor. When fate ends, you accept survival or ruin with it." Wang Dun—who already disdained emperors—raged at that speech, refused further audiences, and held Xi Jian hostage. While Wang Dun's clique daily maligned him, Xi Jian stayed calm and afraid of nothing. He told Qian Feng, "Xi Jian is a scholar of stature—we cannot murder him." He released Xi Jian to return to the capital. Xi Jian then joined Emperor Ming to plot Wang Dun's destruction.
26
既而錢鳳攻逼京都，假鑒節，加衛將軍、都督從駕諸軍事。 鑒以無益事實，固辭不受軍號。 時議者以王含、錢鳳眾力百倍，苑城小而不固，宜及軍勢未成，大駕自出距戰。 鑒曰：「群逆縱逸，其勢不可當，可以算屈，難以力競。 且含等號令不一，抄盜相尋，百姓懲往年之暴，皆人自為守。 乘逆順之勢，何往不剋！ 且賊無經略遠圖，惟恃豕突一戰，曠日持久，必啟義士之心，令謀猷得展。 今以此弱力敵彼彊寇，決勝負於一朝，定成敗於呼吸，雖有申胥之徒，義存投袂，何補於既往哉！」 帝從之。 鑒以尚書令領諸屯營。
When Qian Feng struck the capital, Xi Jian received a credential as general who guards the army and commander of escort forces. He refused the extra titles as pointless ornament. Advisers said Wang Han and Qian Feng outnumbered the court a hundredfold and the palace walls were weak—the emperor should sortie before rebel lines hardened. Xi Jian answered, "Those traitors run wild; blunt force will not stop them—only strategy bends them. Wang Han's officers disagree; they loot each other's turf; civilians still recall last year's terror and defend every lane. Ride the moral high ground and every blow lands. The rebels have no grand plan—only a desperate rush. Drag the fight out and loyal hearts awaken; plans get room to work. Pit this exhausted host against fresh rebels in one reckless day—even Shen Xu could not salvage disaster." The emperor agreed. Xi Jian, as director of state affairs, coordinated every camp.
27
及鳳等平，溫嶠上議，請宥敦佐吏，鑒以為先王崇君臣之教，故貴伏死之節； 昏亡之主，故開待放之門。 王敦佐吏雖多逼迫，然居逆亂之朝，無出關之操，準之前訓，宜加義責。 又奏錢鳳母年八十，宜蒙全宥。 乃從之。 封高平侯，賜絹四千八百匹。 帝以其有器望，萬機動靜輒問之，乃詔鑒特草上表疏，以從簡易。 王導議欲贈周札官，鑒以為不合，語在札傳。 導不從。 鑒於是駮之曰：「敦之逆謀，履霜日久，緣札開門，令王師不振。 若敦前者之舉，義同桓文，則先帝可為幽厲邪？」 朝臣雖無以難，而不能從。 俄而遷車騎將軍、都督徐兗青三州軍事、兗州刺史、假節，鎮廣陵。 尋而帝崩，鑒與王導、卞壼、溫嶠、庾亮、陸曄等並受遺詔，輔少主，進位車騎大將軍、開府儀同三司，加散騎常侍。
After Qian Feng fell, Wen Jiao urged leniency for Wang Dun's staff; Xi Jian countered that ancient kings prized ministers who died for their lord. They granted clemency only to hopeless sovereigns. Wang Dun's aides chose to serve a usurper—protocol demands blame even if coercion existed. He separately asked mercy for eighty-year-old Lady Qian, Qian Feng's mother. The throne accepted both lines. They enfeoffed him marquis of Gaoping with forty-eight hundred bolts of silk. Emperor Ming consulted him on every decision and told him to draft memorials in plain language. Wang Dao wanted posthumous honors for Zhou Zha; Xi Jian objected—the story sits in Zhou Zha's memoir. Wang Dao ignored him. Xi Jian shot back: Wang Dun's rebellion had ripened for years—Zhou Zha opened Stone City and shattered morale. If that coup matched Duke Huan or Duke Wen, were our late emperors tyrants You and Li? Nobody refuted him on the floor yet Dao's faction still blocked him. Soon he became general of chariots and cavalry, area commander over Xu, Yan, and Qing, inspector of Yanzhou with credential, headquartered at Guangling. When Emperor Ming died, Xi Jian joined Wang Dao, Bian Kun, Wen Jiao, Yu Liang, and Lu Ye as guardians of the boy emperor—promoted to grand general of chariots and cavalry with Three Ducal honors and attendant cavalry regular.
28
咸和初，領徐州刺史。 及祖約、蘇峻反，鑒聞難，便欲率所領東赴。 詔以北寇不許。 於是遣司馬劉矩領三千人宿衛京都。 尋而王師敗績，矩遂退還。 中書令庾亮宣太后口詔，進鑒為司空。 鑒去賊密邇，城孤糧絕，人情業業，莫有固志，奉詔流涕，設壇場，刑白馬，大誓三軍曰：「賊臣祖約、蘇峻不恭天命，不畏王誅，凶戾肆逆，干國之紀，陵汩五常，侮弄神器，遂制脅幽主，拔本塞原，殘害忠良，禍虐黎庶，使天地神祇靡所依歸。 是以率土怨酷，兆庶泣血，咸願奉辭罰罪，以除元惡。 昔戎狄泯周，齊桓糾盟； 董卓陵漢，群后致討。 義存君親，古今一也。 今主上幽危，百姓倒懸，忠臣正士志存報國。 凡我同盟，既盟之後，戮力一心，以救社稷。 若二寇不梟，義無偷安。 有渝此盟，明神殛之！」 鑒登壇慷慨，三軍爭為用命。 乃遣將軍夏侯長等間行，謂平南將軍溫嶠曰：「今賊謀欲挾天子東入會稽，宜先立營壘，屯據要害，既防其越逸，又斷賊糧運，然後靜鎮京口，清壁以待賊。 賊攻城不拔，野無所掠，東道既斷，糧運自絕，不過百日，必自潰矣。」 嶠深以為然。
Early in Xianhe he added inspector of Xuzhou. Zu Yue and Su Jun rose; Xi Jian meant to march east the moment he heard. Northern raiders kept him pinned—imperial orders forbade the march. He sent aide Liu Ju with three thousand men to reinforce Jiankang. The imperial army collapsed and Liu Ju fell back. Yu Liang relayed the empress dowager's oral instruction promoting Xi Jian to minister of works. Xi Jian stood beside the enemy: isolated city, empty granaries, terrified men. Weeping, he raised an altar, slew a white horse, and swore the army: "Zu Yue and Su Jun defy Heaven and the throne—rebellious, brutal, traitorous—they hold the emperor hostage, uproot the dynasty, slaughter loyal ministers, and ravage the people until gods and earth turn away. The realm groans; every household bleeds tears—we march to execute those monsters. When barbarians destroyed Zhou, Duke Huan of Qi rallied the lords. When Dong Zhuo seized Luoyang, every prince raised troops. Duty to sovereign and father binds every age alike. Our emperor lies imprisoned; the people hang head-down; every loyal heart burns to serve. Who swear here today owe one another single-minded devotion to the throne. Until both rebels fall we dare not rest. Break this oath and Heaven kills you." Xi Jian mounted the altar in blazing zeal; every regiment clamored for orders. He sent Xia Houzhang by stealth to tell Wen Jiao: "The rebels mean to drag the emperor east toward Kuaiji—throw up camps on choke points first to stop their flight and their supplies, then hold Jingkou with cleared fields until they starve. They cannot breach the walls or forage; cut their eastern line and their supplies die—in under a hundred days they unravel." Wen Jiao agreed wholeheartedly.
29
及陶侃為盟主，進鑒都督揚州八郡軍事。 時撫軍將軍王舒、輔軍將軍虞潭皆受鑒節度，率眾渡江，與侃會于茄子浦。 鑒築白石壘而據之。 會舒、潭戰不利，鑒與後將軍郭默還丹徒，立大業、曲阿、庱亭三壘以距賊。 而賊將張健來攻大業，城中乏水，郭默窘迫，遂突圍而出，三軍失色。 參軍曹納以為大業京口之扞，一旦不守，賊方軌而前，勸鑒退還廣陵以俟後舉。 鑒乃大會僚佐，責納曰：「吾蒙先帝厚顧，荷託付之重，正復捐軀九泉不足以報。 今彊寇在郊，眾心危迫，君腹心之佐，而生長異端，當何以率先義眾，鎮一三軍邪！」 將斬之，久而乃釋。 會峻死，大業圍解。 及蘇逸等走吳興，鑒遣參軍李閎追斬之，降男女萬餘口。 拜司空，加侍中，解八郡都督，更封南昌縣公，以先爵封其子曇。
Once Tao Kan led the alliance, Xi Jian took charge of eight Yangzhou jurisdictions. Wang Shu and Yu Tan crossed the river under Xi Jian's command and linked up with Tao Kan at Eggplant Creek. Xi Jian fortified White Rock and held the ridge. After Wang Shu and Yu Tan lost ground, Xi Jian and Guo Mo pulled back to Dantu and threw up Daye, Qu'e, and Dingting to block the rebels. Zhang Jian stormed Daye; water ran dry; Guo Mo broke out in disgrace—the army went pale with shock. Staff officer Cao Na argued Daye shielded Jingkou—lose it and rebels pour through—and urged retreat to Guangling. Xi Jian summoned his officers and rebuked Cao Na: "The late emperor favored me beyond desert—I owe him my bones. Strong rebels besiege us—how dare my chief strategist preach panic!" He ordered execution, then relented after an agonizing delay. Su Jun's death lifted the siege of Daye. Xi Jian sent Li Hong after Su Yi's remnants and accepted ten thousand captives. They named him minister of works and palace attendant, trimmed his military belt to routine duties, made him duke of Nanchang, and passed his old title to Xi Tan.
30
時賊帥劉徵聚眾數千，浮海抄東南諸縣。 鑒遂城京口，加都督揚州之晉陵吳郡諸軍事，率眾討平之。 進位太尉。 後以寢疾，上疏遜位曰：「臣疾彌留，遂至沈篤，自忖氣力，差理難冀。 有生有死，自然之分。 但忝位過才，會無以報，上慙先帝，下愧日月。 伏枕哀歎，抱恨黃泉。 臣今虛乏，救命朝夕，輒以府事付長史劉遐，乞骸骨歸丘園。 惟願陛下崇山海之量，弘濟大猷，任賢使能，事從簡易，使康哉之歌復興於今，則臣雖死，猶生之日耳。 臣所統錯雜，率多北人，或逼遷徙，或是新附，百姓懷土，皆有歸本之心。 臣宣國恩，示以好惡，處與田宅，漸得少安。 聞臣疾篤，眾情駭動，若當北渡，必啟寇心。 太常臣謨，平簡貞正，素望所歸，謂可以為都督、徐州刺史。 臣亡兄息晉陵內史邁，謙愛養士，甚為流亡所宗，又是臣門戶子弟，堪任兗州刺史。 公家之事，知無不為，是以敢希祁奚之舉。」 疏奏，以蔡謨為鑒軍司。 鑒尋薨，時年七十一。 帝朝晡哭于朝堂，遣御史持節護喪事，贈一依溫嶠故事。 冊曰：「惟公道德沖邃，體識弘遠，忠亮雅正，行為世表，歷位內外，勳庸彌著。 乃者約峻狂狡，毒流朝廷，社稷之危，賴公以寧。 功侔古烈，勳邁桓文。 方倚大猷，藩翼時難，昊天不弔，奄忽薨殂，朕用震悼于厥心。 夫爵以顯德，諡以表行，所以崇明軌迹，丕揚徽劭。 今贈太宰，諡曰文成，祠以太牢。 魂而有靈，嘉茲寵榮。」
Rebel leader Liu Zheng harried the coast with thousands of followers. Xi Jian fortified Jingkou, commanded Jinling and Wu, and crushed Liu Zheng. He rose to grand commandant. Bedridden, he offered his resignation: recovery looked impossible. Life and death follow nature's law. He had never matched his titles—shaming throne and time alike. He nursed guilt toward the grave. He handed headquarters to Liu Xia and asked leave to retire home. He prayed the throne would magnify its counsel, trust talent, and rule simply—then his death would feel like life. His troops were northern refugees who still longed for home. He had settled them with fields and patience. News of his collapse might stampede them north into enemy arms. He recommended Xun Mo for Xuzhou. He nominated his nephew Xi Mai for Yanzhou. Like Qi Xi he recommended kin on merit. The court named Cai Mo Xi Jian's army chief of staff. Xi Jian died at seventy-one. The emperor mourned at court and funded the funeral like Wen Jiao's. The edict praised his moral depth and faithful service. He had saved the throne from Zu Yue and Su Jun. His deeds rivaled the ancient worthies and outshone Duke Huan and Duke Wen. The emperor relied on him—Heaven took him instead. Titles honor virtue and conduct. They posthumously named him grand tutor with cult title Cultured Accomplished. May his spirit relish this honor.
31
初，鑒值永嘉喪亂，在鄉里甚窮餒，鄉人以鑒名德，傳共飴之。 時兄子邁、外甥周翼並小，常攜之就食。 鄉人曰：「各自饑困，以君賢，欲共相濟耳，恐不能兼有所存。」 鑒於是獨往，食訖，以飯著兩頰邊，還吐與二兒，後並得存，同過江。 邁位至護軍，翼為剡縣令。 鑒之薨也，翼追撫育之恩，解職而歸，席苫心喪三年。 二子：愔、曇。
During the Yongjia chaos Xi Jian starved until neighbors fed him for his reputation. He carried little Xi Mai and Zhou Yi to every meal. Neighbors said they could scarce feed the adults—never mind children. Xi Jian went alone, tucked rice in his cheeks, and fed the boys back home—both lived to cross the south. Xi Mai became guards commander; Zhou Yi magistrate of Shan. At Xi Jian's death Zhou Yi quit office, mourned on straw matting three years for raising him. His sons were Xi Yin and Xi Tan.
33
子愔
Section: Xi Yin.
34
=愔字方回。 少不交競，弱冠，除散騎侍郎，不拜。 性至孝，居父母憂，殆將滅性。 服闋，襲爵南昌公，徵拜中書侍郎。 驃騎何充輔政，征北將軍褚裒鎮京口，皆以愔為長史。 再遷黃門侍郎。 時吳郡守闋，欲以愔為太守。 愔自以資望少，不宜超蒞大郡，朝議嘉之。 轉為臨海太守。 會弟曇卒，益無處世意，在郡優遊，頗稱簡默，與姊夫王羲之、高士許詢並有邁世之風，俱棲心絕谷，修黃老之術。 後以疾去職，乃築宅章安，有終焉之志。 十許年間，人事頓絕。
Xi Yin, courtesy name Fanghui. He eschewed rivalry; at twenty he was offered attendant gentleman but declined. He mourned his parents until his health nearly failed. After mourning he inherited the Nanchang dukedom and accepted a secretariat post. He Chong and Chu Pou both employed him as chief administrator. He rose twice to attendant gentleman at the gates. Wu commandery wanted him as governor. He judged himself too junior for so large a post—the court admired his modesty. They named him instead magistrate of Linhai. After Xi Tan died he coasted through Linhai with Wang Xizhi and Xu Xun, practicing Daoist quietism. Illness drove him to retire and build a villa at Zhang'an to die in peace. For a decade he cut ties with the world.
35
簡文帝輔政，與尚書僕射江虨等薦愔，以為執德存正，識懷沈敏，而辭職遺榮，有不拔之操，成務須才，豈得遂其獨善，宜見徵引，以參政術。 於是徵為光祿大夫，加散騎常侍。 既到，更除太常，固讓不拜。 深抱沖退，樂補遠郡，從之，出為輔國將軍、會稽內史。 大司馬桓溫以愔與徐兗有故義，乃遷愔都督徐兗青幽揚州之晉陵諸軍事、領徐兗二州刺史、假節。 雖居藩鎮，非其好也。
Emperor Jianwen and Jiang Bin urged him back: virtue, depth, integrity—and the realm needed him. They recalled him as grand master of splendid happiness with attendant cavalry. They tried to make him minister of ceremonies; he refused. He pleaded for a distant post and became supporting-state general and Kuaiji administrator. Huan Wen, citing old ties to Xu and Yan, reassigned him area commander over five jurisdictions with two provincial inspectorships. Frontier command never suited him.
36
俄屬桓溫北伐，愔請督所部出河上，用其子超計，以己非將帥才，不堪軍旅，又固辭解職，勸溫並領己所統。 轉冠軍將軍、會稽內史。
When Huan Wen marched north Xi Yin meant to join until Xi Chao urged him to admit he was no soldier—yield command to Huan Wen. He became champion general and Kuaiji administrator again.
37
及帝踐阼，就加鎮軍、都督浙江東五郡軍事。 久之，以年老乞骸骨，因居會稽。 徵拜司空，詔書優美，敦獎殷勤，固辭不起。 卒，時年七十二。 追贈侍中、司空，諡曰文穆。 三子。 超、融、沖。 超最知名。
The new emperor added general who guards the army and five eastern Zhejiang commands. Age drove him to retire in Kuaiji. They summoned him as minister of works with glowing edicts—he stayed put. He died at seventy-two. Posthumous honors: palace attendant, minister of works, cult title Cultured Mild. He had three sons. Xi Chao, Xi Rong, Xi Chong. Xi Chao became the famous one.
39
愔子超
Section: Xi Chao.
40
=超字景興，一字嘉賓。 少卓犖不羈，有曠世之度，交遊士林，每存勝拔，善談論，義理精微。 愔事天師道，而超奉佛。 愔又好聚斂，積錢數千萬，嘗開庫，任超所取。 超性好施，一日中散與親故都盡。 其任心獨詣，皆此類也。
Xi Chao, courtesy name Jingxing, also known as Jiabin. Young Xi Chao was brilliant, generous, and razor-sharp in debate. Xi Yin followed Celestial Master Daoism; Xi Chao embraced Buddhism. His father hoarded millions yet opened the treasury to him. Xi Chao gave every coin away in a single day. He lived by impulse alone.
41
桓溫辟為征西大將軍掾。 溫遷大司馬，又轉為參軍。 溫英氣高邁，罕有所推，與超言，常謂不能測，遂傾意禮待。 超亦深自結納。 時王珣為溫主簿，亦為溫所重。 府中語曰：「髯參軍，短主簿，能令公喜，能令公怒。」 超髯，珣短故也。 尋除散騎侍郎。 時愔在北府，徐州人多勁悍，溫恆云「京口酒可飲，兵可用」，深不欲愔居之。 而愔暗於事機，遣箋詣溫，欲共獎王室，修復園陵。 超取視，寸寸毀裂，乃更作箋，自陳老病，甚不堪人間，乞閑地自養。 溫得箋大喜，即轉愔為會稽太守。 溫懷不軌，欲立霸王之基，超為之謀。 謝安與王坦之嘗詣溫論事，溫令超帳中臥聽之，風動帳開，安笑曰：「郗生可謂入幕之賓矣。」
Huan Wen took him as staff to the western expedition. When Huan Wen became grand marshal Xi Chao followed as aide. Proud Huan Wen deferred to almost no one yet admitted Xi Chao outthought him. Xi Chao returned the devotion. Wang Xun served as chief clerk—another favorite. The headquarters rhyme ran: "The bearded aide, the short chief clerk—delight him or enrage him." Xi Chao wore a beard; Wang Xun was short. He became attendant gentleman at the gates. Huan Wen called Jingkou's wine drinkable and its troops usable—he dreaded Xi Yin holding that sector. Xi Yin naïvely wrote offering joint service to restore the tombs. Xi Chao shredded it and drafted a plea ill-health and need for quiet retirement. Delighted, Huan Wen moved Xi Yin to Kuaiji. Xi Chao plotted Huan Wen's bid for hegemony. Xie An found Xi Chao eavesdropping from Huan Wen's tent—the classic "guest behind the curtain."
42
太和中，溫將伐慕容氏於臨漳，超諫以道遠，汴水又淺，運道不通。 溫不從，遂引軍自濟入河，超又進策于溫曰：「清水入河，無通運理。 若寇不戰，運道又難，因資無所，實為深慮也。 今盛夏，悉力徑造鄴城，彼伏公威略，必望陣而走，退還幽朔矣。 若能決戰，呼吸可定。 設欲城鄴，難為功力。 百姓布野，盡為官有。 易水以南，必交臂請命。 但恐此計輕決，公必務其持重耳。 若此計不從，便當頓兵河濟，控引糧運，令資儲充備，足及來夏，雖如賒遲，終亦濟克。 若舍此二策而連軍西進，進不速決，退必愆乏，賊因此勢，日月相引，僶俛秋冬，船道澀滯，且北土早寒，三軍裘褐者少，恐不可以涉冬。 此大限閡，非惟無食而已。」 溫不從，果有枋頭之敗，溫深慚之。 尋而有壽陽之捷，問超曰：「此足以雪枋頭之恥乎？」 超曰：「未厭有識之情也。」 既而超就溫宿，中夜謂溫曰：「明公都有慮不？」 溫曰：「卿欲有所言邪？」 超曰：「明公既居重任，天下之責將歸於公矣。 若不能行廢立大事、為伊霍之舉者，不足鎮壓四海，震服宇內，豈可不深思哉！」 溫既素有此計，深納其言，遂定廢立，超始謀也。
During Taihe, Huan Wen targeted Yecheng; Xi Chao cited distance and shallow rivers blocking supply. Huan Wen marched from the Ji into the Yellow River anyway; Xi Chao warned that clear streams feeding the river could not float supplies. If they refuse battle and supply lines stall, you have nothing to feed on—that is the danger. Strike Yecheng this summer while morale holds—they will bolt north at your name. Force a pitched battle and it ends in an afternoon. A prolonged siege exhausts the army. The countryside yields supplies for your camp. South of the Yi they will surrender in strings. Only mind rash orders—you prize steadiness. Or halt between the Ji and Yellow Rivers, stockpile grain until next summer—slow but sure. March west instead and stall—retreat starves you; seasons turn; autumn floods ice northern rivers; troops lack winter coats—you may not survive the cold. That is annihilation—not mere hunger. Huan Wen ignored him and lost at Fangtou—humiliation followed. After Shouyang he asked, "Does this erase Fangtou?" Xi Chao said, "Thoughtful men remain unsatisfied." That night he whispered, "Are you still uneasy?" Huan Wen asked, "What is it?" Xi Chao said, "You hold peak power—the world blames you. Without an Yi Yin coup you cannot awe the empire—think hard." Huan Wen already wanted depositions—Xi Chao sealed it—the verdict was his idea.
43
遷中書侍郎。 謝安嘗與王文度共詣超，日旰未得前，文度便欲去，安曰：「不能為性命忍俄頃邪！」 其權重當時如此。 轉司徒左長史，母喪去職。 常謂其父名公之子，位遇應在謝安右，而安入掌機權，愔優遊而已，恆懷憤憤，發言慷慨，由是與謝氏不穆。 安亦深恨之。 服闋，除散騎常侍，不起。 以為臨海太守，加宣威將軍，不拜。 年四十二，先愔卒。
He rose to secretariat gentleman. Xie An waited all day to see Xi Chao—Wang Tanzhi lost patience; Xie snapped, "Cannot endure a moment for your career?" Such was Xi Chao's pull. He became chief clerk under the minister of education until mourning dismissed him. He thought Xi Yin deserved higher rank than Xie An—resented Xie's power—and feuded with the Xies. Xie An hated him back. After mourning they offered attendant cavalry—he stayed home. They named him Linhai governor with generalship—he refused. He died at forty-two, predeceasing his father.
44
初，超雖實黨桓氏，以愔忠於王室，不令知之。 將亡，出一箱書，付門生曰：「本欲焚之，恐公年尊，必以傷愍為弊。 我亡後，若大損眠食，可呈此箱。 不爾，便燒之。」 愔後果哀悼成疾，門生依旨呈之，則悉與溫往反密計。 愔於是大怒曰：「小子死恨晚矣！」 更不復哭。 凡超所交友，皆一時秀美，雖寒門後進，亦拔而友之。 及死之日，貴賤操筆而為誄者四十餘人，其為眾所宗貴如此。 王獻之兄弟，自超未亡，見愔，常躡履問訊，甚修舅甥之禮。 及超死，見愔慢怠，屐而候之，命席便遷延辭避。 愔每慨然曰：「使嘉賓不死，鼠子敢爾邪！」 性好聞人棲遁，有能辭榮拂衣者，超為之起屋宇，作器服，畜僕豎，費百金而不吝。 又沙門支遁以清談著名于時，風流勝貴，莫不崇敬，以為造微之功，足參諸正始。 而遁常重超，以為一時之俊，甚相知賞。 超無子，從弟儉之以子僧施嗣。
Though Xi Chao backed Huan Wen he hid it from his loyal father. Dying, he gave a sealed chest to a student: burn it unless grief breaks the old man. If mourning destroys his health, show him the chest. Otherwise burn it. Xi Yin fell ill with grief; the chest revealed Xi Chao's letters to Huan Wen. Xi Yin roared, "He should have died sooner!" He never wept for Xi Chao again. Xi Chao befriended talent great and small alike. Forty scholars wrote his elegy—such was his stature. The Wang brothers tiptoed to honor Xi Yin while Xi Chao lived. After Xi Chao died they loitered in clogs and snubbed him. Xi Yin muttered, "If Jiabin lived, those runts would never dare." He bankrolled hermits lavishly—houses, robes, servants—without counting gold. Monk Zhi Dun's wit rivaled the Zhengshi sages. Zhi Dun ranked Xi Chao chief among his generation. He adopted his cousin's son Xi Sengshi as heir.
45
僧施字惠脫，襲爵南昌公。 弱冠，與王綏、桓胤齊名，累居清顯，領宣城內史，入補丹陽尹。 劉毅鎮江陵，請為南蠻校尉、假節。 與毅俱誅，國除。
Xi Sengshi—courtesy Huituo—inherited the Nanchang dukedom. At twenty he matched Wang Sui and Huan Yin in fame; he governed Xuancheng and became Danyang intendant. Liu Yi named him southern tribes colonel at Jiangling. Liu Yi's fall cost him his life and his title.
47
愔弟曇
Section: Xi Tan.
48
=曇字重熙，少賜爵東安縣開國伯。 司徒王導辟秘書郎。 朝論以曇名臣之子，每逼以憲制，年三十，始拜通直散騎侍郎，遷中書侍郎。 簡文帝為撫軍，引為司馬。 尋除尚書吏部郎，拜御史中丞。 時北中郎荀羨有疾，朝廷以曇為羨軍司，加散騎常侍。 頃之，羨征還，仍除北中郎將、都督徐兗青幽揚州之晉陵諸軍事、領徐兗二州刺史、假節，鎮下邳，後與賊帥傅末波等戰失利，降號建威將軍。 尋卒，年四十二。 追贈北中郎，諡曰簡。 子恢嗣。
Xi Tan, courtesy Chongxi, received the Dong'an barony in youth. Wang Dao named him secretary gentleman. Court etiquette delayed his rise until thirty—then attendant gentleman and secretariat posts. Emperor Jianwen made him army major. He rose to personnel director and censor-in-chief. When Xun Xian fell ill Xi Tan became his army chief of staff. He succeeded Xun Xian as northern commander at Xiapi, lost to Fu Mobo, and was demoted to general who establishes might. He died at forty-two. Posthumous rank north commandant, cult title Simple. His son Xi Hui inherited.
49
恢字道胤，少襲父爵，散騎侍郎，累遷給事黃門侍郎，領太子右衛率。 恢身長八尺，美鬢髯，孝武帝深器之，以為有藩伯之望。 會硃序自表去職，擢恢為梁秦雍司荊揚並等州諸軍事、建威將軍、雍州刺史、假節，鎮襄陽。 恢甚得關隴之和，降附者動有千計。
Xi Hui inherited young, rose to gentleman attendant and right guard of the heir. Eight chi tall with a splendid beard, Emperor Xiaowu marked him for frontier command. When Zhu Xu stepped down Xi Hui took Yongzhou and supreme command at Xiangyang. He pacified Guanlong; thousands flocked to him.
50
初，姚萇將竇沖來降，拜東羌校尉。 沖後舉兵反，入漢川，襲梁州。 時關中有巴蜀之眾，皆背萇，據弘農以結苻登。 而登署沖為左丞相，徙屯華陰。 河南太守楊佺期遣上党太守荀靜戍皇天塢以距之。 沖數來攻，恢遣將軍趙睦守金墉城，而佺期率眾次湖城，討沖，走之。
Dou Chong defected from Yao Chang and became eastern Qiang colonel. Dou Chong rebelled into Hanzhong and struck Liangzhou. Ba-Shu troops in Guanzhong turned on Yao Chang and backed Fu Deng at Hongnong. Fu Deng named Dou Chong left chancellor at Huayin. Yang Quanqi posted Xun Jing at Huangtianwu against Dou Chong. Dou Chong stormed the line; Xi Hui held Jinyong while Yang Quanqi drove him back from Hucheng.
51
尋而慕容垂圍慕容永於潞川，永窮蹙，遣其子弘求救於恢，並獻玉璽一紐，恢獻璽於台，又陳「垂若並永，其勢難測。 今于國計，謂宜救永。 永垂並存，自為仇讎，連雞不棲，無能為患。 然後乘機雙斃，則河北可平」。 孝武帝以為然，詔王恭、庾楷救之，未及發而永沒。 楊佺期以疾去職。
Murong Chui besieged Murong Yong at Lu River; Yong sent his son with the imperial seal seeking Jin aid—Xi Hui warned that Murong Chui could not be allowed to swallow Yong. For the realm's interest Jin should aid Yong. Let both Murongs bleed each other—they cannot cooperate. Then strike both and Hebei falls. Xiaowu agreed—but Wang Gong never marched before Yong fell. Yang Quanqi resigned ill.
52
恢以隨郡太守夏侯宗之為河南太守，戍洛陽。 姚萇遣其子略攻湖城及上洛，又使其將楊佛嵩圍洛陽。 恢遣建武將軍辛恭靖救洛陽，梁州刺史王正胤率眾出子午穀，以為聲援。 略懼而退。 恢以功進征虜將軍，又領秦州刺史，加督隴上軍。
Xi Hui put Xiahou Zongzhi in charge of Luoyang. Yao Chang struck Hucheng and besieged Luoyang. Xi Hui sent Xin Gongjing to Luoyang and Wang Zhengyin through Ziwu as diversion. Yao Lue retreated. Xi Hui earned promotion to general who conquers captives and added Qinzhou.
53
時魏氏強盛，山陵危逼，恢遣江夏相鄧啟方等以萬人距之，與魏主拓跋珪戰于滎陽，大敗而還。
Tuoba Gui crushed his ten thousand men at Xingyang—near Luoyang's tombs.
54
及王恭計王國寶，桓玄、殷仲堪皆舉兵應恭，恢與朝廷掎角玄等。 襄陽太守夏侯宗之、府司馬郭毗並以為不可，恢皆殺之。 既而玄等退守尋陽。 以恢為尚書，將家還都，至楊口，仲堪陰使人於道殺之，及其四子，托以群蠻所殺。 喪還京師，贈鎮軍將軍。 子循嗣。
Wang Gong's coup drew Huan Xuan and Yin Zhongkan; Xi Hui pinned them from Xiangyang. His aides Xiahou Zongzhi and Guo Pi objected—he executed both. The rebels fell back to Xunyang. Recalled as minister of works, Yin Zhongkan ambushed him at Yangkou—murdered him and four sons—blamed tribesmen. His body reached the capital with posthumous general who guards the army. Xi Xun inherited.
56
叔父隆
Section: Xi Long.
57
=隆字弘始，蹇亮有匪躬之節。 初為尚書郎，轉左丞，在朝為百僚所憚，坐漏泄事免。 頃之，為吏部郎，復免。 補東郡太守。
Xi Long—courtesy Hongshi—was bluntly loyal to the throne. He rose in the secretariat, terrified colleagues, and fell for leaking secrets. Personnel ministry dismissed him again. They named him Dongjun administrator.
58
隆少為趙王倫所善，及倫專擅，召為散騎常侍。 倫之篡也，以為揚州刺史。 僚屬有犯，輒依台閣峻制繩之，遠近咸怨。 尋加甯東將軍，未拜，而齊王冏檄至，中州人在軍者皆欲赴義，隆以兄子鑒為趙王掾，諸子悉在京洛，故猶豫未決。 主簿趙誘、前秀才虞潭白隆曰：「當今上計，明使君自將精兵徑赴齊王； 中計，明使君可留督攝，速遣猛將率精兵疾赴； 下計，示遣兵將助，而稱背倫。」 隆素敬別駕顧彥，密與謀之。 彥曰：「趙誘下計，乃上策也。」 西曹留承聞彥言，請見，曰：「不審明使君當今何施？」 隆曰：「我俱受二帝恩，無所偏助，惟欲守州而已。」 承曰：「天下者，世祖皇帝之天下也。 太上承代已積十年，今上取四海不平，齊王應天順時，成敗之事可見。 使君若顧二帝，自可不行，宜急下檄文，速遣精兵猛將。 若其疑惑，此州豈可得保也！」 隆無所言，而停檄六日。 時甯遠將軍陳留王邃領東海都尉，鎮石頭，隆軍人西赴邃甚眾。 隆遣從事于牛渚禁之，不得止。 將士憤怒，夜扶邃為主而攻之，隆父子皆死，顧彥亦被害，誣隆聚合遠近，圖為不軌。 隆之死也，時議莫不痛惜焉。
Prince Zhao Lun favored him and named him attendant cavalry. Sima Lun made him Yangzhou inspector. He policed staff harshly—everyone resented him. Sima Jiong summoned loyal troops; Xi Long hesitated because kin served Sima Lun. Zhao You and Yu Tan offered three plans: best—lead elite troops to Sima Jiong yourself. Next—stay behind but rush crack troops. Worst—pretend to help Lun while plotting betrayal. Xi Long respected aide Gu Yan and conspired in secret. Gu Yan said Zhao You's "worst" option was actually best. Liu Cheng asked what Xi Long intended. Xi Long pleaded neutrality—he only meant to hold Yangzhou. Liu Cheng said the empire belonged to Emperor Wu's line. Emperor Hui had ruled a decade; turmoil ruled the land; Prince of Qi held Heaven's mandate—the outcome was plain. Honor both Simas if you must—but issue orders now and rush reinforcements. Hesitate and Yangzhou is lost. Xi Long stalled six days without issuing orders. Prince Sima Sui of Chenliu held Stone City; Xi Long's men streamed west to join him. Xi Long tried to block Niuzhu—they could not stem the tide. Soldiers installed Sima Sui as leader, killed Xi Long and Gu Yan, then framed them as traitors. Every observer mourned Xi Long.
59
【史評】
Historians' appraisal section heading.
60
史臣曰：忠臣本乎孝子，奉上資乎愛親，自家刑國，於期極矣。 太真性履純深，譽流邦族，始則承顏候色，老萊弗之加也； 既而辭親蹈義，申胥何以尚焉！ 封狐萬里，投軀而弗顧； 猰窳千群，探穴而忘死。 竟能宣力王室，揚名本朝，負荷受遺，繼之全節。 言念主辱，義聲動於天地； 祗赴國屯，信誓明於日月。 枕戈雨泣，若雪分天之仇； 皇輿旋軫，卒復夷庚之躅。 微夫人之誠懇，大盜幾移國乎！ 道徽儒雅，柔而有正，協德始安，頗均連璧。 方回踵武，奕世登臺。 露冕為飾，援高人以同志，抑惟大隱者獻！ 愛子云亡，省遺文而輟泣，殊有大義之風矣。
The editors wrote: loyalty springs from filial duty—the household trains the court. Wen Jiao's character ran pure—he honored his mother beyond Laizi's theatrical devotion. Then he broke from kin for duty—what Shen Xu did was no greater. Bandits roamed ten thousand li—he threw himself forward without looking back. Monsters massed in thousands—he charged their dens heedless of death. He served the Jin throne, forged his name, inherited the regency mandate, and kept faith unto death. Thinking of the emperor's humiliation, his cry shook Heaven and earth; Rushing to rescue the realm, his oath shone like sun and moon; He slept on arms and wept—burning to avenge heaven-breaking crimes; The royal carriage rolled again—the righteous road reopened; Without such hearts the usurper might have shifted the mandate! Xi Jian moved as the paired jades of his age—learned, supple, upright. Xi Yin walked his father's path—generation after generation reached high office. He wore office only as costume yet befriended hermits—a great recluse's paradox! When his brilliant son died Xi Yin burned his papers—then understood—and stopped worthless tears—there was noble principle there.
61
贊曰：太真懷貞，勤宣乃誠。 謀敦翦峻，奮節摛名。 道徽忠勁，高芬遠映。 愔克負荷，超慚雅正。
Verdict: Wen Jiao kept faith and proved it with deeds. He broke Wang Dun and crushed Su Jun—his banner flew highest. Xi Jian stayed loyal—his scent travels far. Xi Yin bore his father's mantle while Xi Chao, beside refinement, knew shame.