1
庾亮 〈（子彬羲龢弟懌冰條翼）〉
Yu Liang His sons were Bin, Xi, and He; his younger brothers were Yi, Bing, Tiao, and Yi.〉
2
庾亮，字元規，明穆皇后之兄也。 父琛，在《外戚傳》。 亮美姿容，善談論，性好《莊》《老》，風格峻整，動由禮節，閨門之內，不肅而成，時人或以為夏侯太初、陳長文之倫也。 年十六，東海王越辟為掾，不就，隨父在會稽，嶷然自守。 時人皆憚其方儼，莫敢造之。
Yu Liang, whose courtesy name was Yuangui, was elder brother to Empress Mingmu. His father, Yu Chen, has his own biography in the "Treatise on the Outer Kin. Liang was striking to look at and a gifted conversationalist, drawn by temperament to the Zhuangzi and Laozi; he carried himself with austere dignity and let ritual guide every action, so that even the women's quarters stayed orderly without harsh discipline. People of the day ranked him with Xiahou Xuan and Chen Qun. At sixteen he was summoned as an aide by Prince Donghai, Sima Yue; he declined, stayed with his father in Kuaiji, and kept to himself with cautious reserve. Contemporaries found his upright severity intimidating, and no one dared drop in uninvited.
3
元帝為鎮東時，聞其名，辟西曹掾。 及引見，風情都雅，過於所望，甚器重之，由是聘亮妹為皇太子妃。 亮固讓，不許。 轉丞相參軍。 預討華軼功，封都亭侯，轉參丞相軍事，掌書記。 中興初，拜中書郎，領著作，侍講東宮。 其所論釋，多見稱述。 與溫嶠俱為太子布衣之好。 時帝方任刑法，以《韓子》賜皇太子，亮諫以申韓刻薄傷化，不足留聖心，太子甚納焉。 累遷給事中、黃門侍郎、散騎常侍。 時王敦在蕪湖，帝使亮詣敦籌事。 敦與亮談論，不覺改席而前，退而歎曰：「庾元規賢于裴顧遠矣！」 因表為中領軍。
While Emperor Yuan still held the eastern commandery post, he heard of Liang's reputation and appointed him aide in the western bureau. At the audience his manner proved more polished and striking than anyone had expected; the emperor came to think the world of him and arranged the marriage of Liang's sister to the crown prince. Liang pressed his objections, but the ruler would not hear of refusal. He was reassigned as adjutant on the Chancellor's staff. He earned a share of the credit for the victory over Hua Yi, received the Duting marquisate, moved onto the Chancellor's military staff, and took charge of correspondence. Early in the Eastern Jin restoration he became a gentleman of the Palace Secretariat, oversaw editorial work, and lectured to the heir apparent. His lectures and commentary drew frequent praise. He and Wen Qiao had both been on cordial, informal terms with the crown prince before either man held high office. The emperor was then enthralled with statutory punishments and gave the crown prince a copy of the Han Feizi; Liang argued that the Legalist doctrines of Shen Buhai and Han Fei were cruel, corrosive to moral education, and unworthy of the heir's attention, and the heir took his point to heart. He rose through the posts of palace attendant, Gentleman at the Yellow Gate, and regular attendant cavalryman. Wang Dun was stationed at Wuhu; the emperor dispatched Liang to consult with him. As Dun talked with Liang he unconsciously edged his seat closer; afterward he sighed, "Yuangui Yu leaves Pei Xia in the dust!" On that basis he memorialized for Liang to be named chief of the Palace Guard.
4
明帝即位，以為中書監，亮上書讓曰：
Emperor Ming appointed him Supervisor of the Palace Secretariat; Liang answered with a memorial of refusal:
5
臣凡庸固陋，少無殊操，昔以中州多故，舊邦喪亂，隨侍先臣，遠庇有道，爰容逃難，求食而已。 不悟徼時之福，遭遇嘉運。 先帝龍興，垂異常之顧，既眷同國士，又申以婚姻，遂階親寵，累忝非服。 弱冠濯纓，沐浴芳風，頻煩省闥，出總六軍，十餘年間，位超先達。 無勞受遇，無與臣比。 小人祿薄，福過災生，止足之分，臣所宜守。 而偷榮昧進，日爾一日，謗讟既集，上塵聖朝。 始欲自聞，而先帝登遐，區區微誠，竟未上達。
I am a mediocre man with nothing remarkable in my past; when the heartland was torn apart and the old capital fell, I simply followed my late father into exile, found refuge with a worthy patron, and survived—nothing more than staying fed. I never imagined I would stumble into such timely luck or live to see a reign like this. When the late emperor began his rise he singled me out for favor beyond the ordinary—treating me as a trusted servant of the state and binding our houses by marriage—so I rode kinship and imperial regard into offices I never deserved. From my young adulthood I entered official life, breathed the court's rarefied air, moved constantly through the inner palace, and even commanded the Six Armies; within a dozen years I had outstripped men senior to me. No one has been showered with favor so utterly out of proportion to his merits as I have. Petty men draw modest stipends; blessings piled too high breed catastrophe. Knowing when enough is enough is what I should cling to. Yet I kept grasping at honor and climbing blindly, day after day, until slander piled up and I smeared this sacred court. I meant to speak plainly about this, but the late emperor passed away before I could; my feeble sincerity never reached him.
6
陛下踐阼，聖政惟新，宰輔賢明，庶僚咸允，康哉之歌，實存於至公。 而國恩不已，復以臣領中書。 臣領中書，則示天下以私矣。 何者？ 臣于陛下，後之兄也。 姻婭之嫌，與骨肉中表不同。 雖太上至公，聖德無私，然世之喪道，有自來矣。 悠悠六合，皆私其姻，人皆有私，則天下無公矣。 是以前後二漢，咸以抑後党安，進婚族危。 向使西京七族、東京六姓皆非姻族，各以平進，縱不悉全，決不盡敗。 今之盡敗，更由姻昵。
Your Majesty has ascended the throne; governance is made new, the chief ministers are capable, and the ranks are well manned—the ancient hymn of harmony truly belongs to an administration this impartial. Yet the dynasty's favor still does not end—you would place me at the head of the Palace Secretariat again. If I take the Palace Secretariat, I advertise to the world that private ties steer public office. Why? I am, to you, the empress's elder brother. Suspicion clings to marriage ties in a way it does not to blood kin or even cousins. Even when the sovereign aims at perfect fairness and true virtue is without selfishness, the world has long since drifted from the right Way. Across the realm everyone favors in-laws; if every heart is partial, there is no common good under Heaven. That is why both Former and Later Han stayed safer when they checked empresses' clans and courted danger when they elevated affinal relatives. Had the seven great houses of the Western Capital and the six great houses of the Eastern Capital not been imperial in-laws but risen solely on merit, they might not all have survived—yet they would not all have been destroyed. Their utter ruin owed still more to those intimate marriage connections.
7
臣曆觀庶姓在世，無党於朝，無援于時，植根之本輕也薄也。 苟無大瑕，猶或見容。 至於外戚，憑托天地，連勢四時，根援扶疏，重矣大矣。 而或居權寵，四海側目，事有不允，罪不容誅。 身既招殃，國為之弊。 其故何邪？ 由姻媾之私群情之所不能免，是以疏附則信，姻進則疑。 疑積于百姓之心，則禍成於重閨之內矣。 此皆往代成鑒，可為寒心者也。 夫萬物之所不通，聖賢因而不奪。 冒親以求一寸之用，未若防嫌以明至公。 今以臣之才，兼如此之嫌，而使內處心膂，外總兵權，以此求治，未之聞也； 以此招禍，可立待也。 雖陛下二相明其愚款，朝士百僚頗識其情，天下之人安可門到戶說使皆坦然邪！
I have watched ordinary families hold office without court factions or timely patrons—their roots stay shallow. If they avoid grave offense they may still be tolerated. Outer kin lean on the sovereign as Heaven and Earth, tie their fortunes to the turning seasons, and spread roots everywhere—they loom large. Once they clutch power and imperial favor, the realm eyes them askance; one misstep brings guilt no execution can wipe away. They invite disaster on themselves and drag the state down with them. Why is it so? Because partiality toward affines is something ordinary hearts cannot shed—distant allies earn trust, while in-laws promoted to power invite suspicion. When suspicion festers among the people, catastrophe is conceived inside the palace women's quarters. History's lessons on this point should freeze the blood. Where ordinary sentiment cannot help but hesitate, the sage yields rather than forcing the issue. Trading on kinship for a scrap of influence cannot compare with steering clear of suspicion to prove utmost fairness. Given my modest abilities and these grounds for suspicion, to seat me at the ruler's breast within and put troops in my hands without—no one has ever heard of order coming from such an arrangement; but disaster from it can be waited for on one's feet. Even if your two chief ministers grasp my sincere foolishness and many at court understand my intent, you cannot knock on every door under Heaven until every heart is satisfied!
8
夫富貴榮寵，臣所不能忘也； 刑罰貧賤，臣所不能甘也。 今恭命則愈，違命則苦，臣雖不達，何事背時違上，自貽患責邪？ 實仰覽殷鑒，量己知弊，身不足惜，為國取悔，是以悾悾屢陳丹款。 而微誠淺薄，未垂察諒，憂惶屏營不知所措。 願陛下垂天地之鑒，察臣之愚，則臣雖死之日，猶生之年矣。
Wealth, honor, and imperial favor are not things I can pretend to forget; nor can I pretend to welcome stripes, shame, and poverty. Obeying brings ease; refusing brings pain. I may be dull, but why would I defy the times and my sovereign and invite disaster? I look to the harsh lessons of history, weigh my limits, and know my fault; my life is a small thing beside bringing regret on the state—which is why I keep laying my heart bare. Yet my poor sincerity runs thin and wins no sympathetic hearing; I tremble with anxiety and scarcely know where to turn. If Your Majesty would bend Heaven and Earth's mirror upon my folly, then the day I die I shall still feel alive.
9
疏奏，帝納其言而止。
The emperor accepted the memorial and dropped the appointment.
10
王敦既有異志，內深忌亮，而外崇重之。 亮憂懼，以疾去官。 復代王導為中書監。 及敦舉兵，加亮左衛將軍，與諸將距錢鳳。 及沈充之走吳興也，又假亮節、都督東征諸軍事，追充。 事平，以功封永昌縣開國公，賜絹五千四百匹，固讓不受。 轉護軍將軍。
Once Wang Dun harbored treasonous intent, he cordially feared Liang inwardly while lavishing honor on him in public. Liang, anxious and afraid, resigned citing illness. He later succeeded Wang Dao again as Supervisor of the Palace Secretariat. When Dun rose in arms, Liang was named General of the Left Guard and joined the other generals against Qian Feng. When Shen Chong fled toward Wuxing, Liang received the imperial baton and supreme command of the eastern expedition to run Chong down. After peace returned he was made founding Duke of Yongchang County and awarded fifty-four hundred bolts of silk for his service; he firmly declined both honors. He was transferred to the post of General Who Guards the Army.
11
及帝疾篤，不欲見人，群臣無得進者。 撫軍將軍、南頓王宗，右衛將軍虞胤等，素被親愛，與西陽王羕將有異謀。 亮直入臥內見帝，流涕不自勝。 既而正色陳羕與宗等謀廢大臣，規共輔政，社稷安否，將在今日，辭旨切至。 帝深感悟，引亮升御座，遂與司徒王導受遺詔輔幼主。 加亮給事中，徙中書令。 太后臨朝，政事一決於亮。
As the emperor sank deeper into illness he refused to see anyone; even his ministers could not reach him. General Who Soothers the Army, Prince Sima Zong of Nandun, General of the Right Guard Yu Yin, and others had long enjoyed the emperor's affection; they were plotting with Prince Sima Yang of Xiyang to move against the chief ministers. Liang forced his way into the sickroom and wept until he could not speak. Then, grave-faced, he explained how Yang and Zong planned to oust the chief ministers and rule together—the fate of the altars, he said, would be decided that very day—and his words cut like knives. The emperor was shaken to clarity; he drew Liang up beside the throne and, with Minister Wang Dao, received the deathbed edict to guide the young ruler. Liang was given concurrent appointment as palace attendant and transferred from supervisor to director of the Palace Secretariat. The empress dowager held court, and Liang decided every matter of state.
12
先是，王導輔政，以寬和得眾，亮任法裁物，頗以此失人心。 又先帝遺詔褒進大臣，而陶侃、祖約不在其例，侃、約疑亮刪除遺詔，並流怨言。 亮懼亂，於是出溫嶠為江州以廣聲援，修石頭以備之。 會南頓王宗復謀廢執政，亮殺宗而廢宗兄羕。 宗，帝室近屬，羕，國族元老，又先帝保傅，天下咸以亮翦削宗室。
Earlier Wang Dao had governed with leniency and held the people's goodwill; Liang enforced statutes and ruled by the letter of the law, and for that he lost hearts widely. The late emperor's testament had promised honors for senior ministers, yet Tao Kan and Zu Yue were left out; both suspected Liang of tampering with the text and openly nursed grievances. Fearing revolt, Liang posted Wen Qiao to Jiangzhou to widen his backing and strengthened Stone City against trouble. When Prince Zong of Nandun again plotted to oust the chief ministers, Liang executed Zong and stripped his elder brother Yang of rank. Zong was near kin to the throne; Yang was an elder statesman of the ruling house and had been tutor to the late emperor—all under Heaven concluded that Liang was cutting down the imperial clan.
13
琅邪人卞咸，宗之黨也，與宗俱誅。 咸兄闡亡奔蘇峻，亮符峻送闡，而峻保匿之。 峻又多納亡命，專用威刑，亮知峻必為禍亂，徵為大司農。 舉朝謂之不可，平南將軍溫嶠亦累書止之，皆不納。 峻遂與祖約俱舉兵反。 溫嶠聞峻不受詔，便欲下衛京都，三吳又欲起義兵，亮並不聽，而報嶠書曰：「吾憂西陲過於曆陽，足下無過雷池一步也。」 既而峻將韓晃寇宣城，亮遣距之，不能制，峻乘勝至於京都。 詔假亮節、都督征討諸軍事，戰于建陽門外。 軍未及陣，士眾棄甲而走。 亮乘小船西奔，亂兵相剝掠，亮左右射賊，誤中柂工，應弦而倒，船上咸失色欲散。 亮不動容，徐曰：「此手何可使著賊！」 眾心乃安。
Bian Xian of Langye belonged to Zong's cabal and died with him. Xian's elder brother Chan fled to Su Jun; Liang ordered Jun to hand him over, but Jun hid him instead. Jun also harbored fugitives and ruled by terror alone; Liang saw him as certain trouble and summoned him to the capital as Minister of Agriculture. The entire court called the move unwise; Wen Qiao, General Who Pacifies the South, wrote again and again to stop it—all to no avail. Jun then rose in arms together with Zu Yue. When Wen Qiao learned that Jun had defied the summons, he wanted to march down to shield the capital; the Wu region also wanted to raise loyal troops—Liang forbade both, and wrote Qiao: "I fear the western front more than Liyang—do not move one step past Leichi." Soon Jun's general Han Huang struck Xuancheng; Liang sent troops but could not hold them; Jun rode the momentum straight to the capital. An edict invested Liang with the baton and supreme command of the punitive forces; they gave battle outside the Jianyang Gate. Before the lines could form the men threw down their armor and ran. Liang fled west in a skiff while disorderly soldiers looted one another; his escort shot at the enemy but struck the helmsman by mistake, and the man dropped at the twang of the bow—every face on board went white with panic. Liang never changed expression and said evenly, "How could this hand be allowed to strike the enemy!" The crew steadied at once.
14
亮攜其三弟懌、條、翼南奔溫嶠，嶠素欽重亮，雖在奔敗，猶欲推為都統。 亮固辭，乃與嶠推陶侃為盟主。 侃至尋陽，既有憾於亮，議者咸謂侃欲誅執政以謝天下。 亮甚懼，及見侃，引咎自責，風止可觀。 侃不覺釋然，乃謂亮曰：「君侯修石頭以擬老子，今日反見求耶！」 便談宴終日。 亮啖薤，因留白。 侃問曰：「安用此為？」 亮云：「故可以種。」 侃於是尤相稱歎云：「非惟風流，兼有為政之實。」
Liang fled south with his brothers Yi, Tiao, and Yi to join Wen Qiao, who had always revered him and, even amid rout, wanted him as supreme commander. Liang refused firmly; he and Qiao instead put Tao Kan forward as leader of the alliance. When Tao Kan reached Xunyang he already nursed a grievance against Liang; rumor said he meant to execute the regents to appease the realm. Liang was terrified; when they met he owned every fault, and his bearing remained composed and impressive. Kan's anger drained away unawares; he said to Liang, "You fortified Stone City against this old fellow—why come begging me today!" They talked and feasted the whole day through. When they ate, Liang nibbled the scallions and left the whites—a gesture Tao Kan recognized as courtesy toward him. Tao Kan asked, "What is this for?" Liang replied, "The whites are good for planting." Kan admired him even more and said, "This is not mere refinement—there is real substance for governance here."
15
既至石頭，亮遣督護王彰討峻党張曜，反為所敗。 亮送節傳以謝侃，侃答曰：「古人三敗，君侯始二。 當今事急，不宜數耳。」 又曰：「朝政多門，用生國禍。 喪亂之來，豈獨由峻也！」 亮時以二千人守白石壘，峻步兵萬餘，四面來攻，眾皆震懼。 亮激厲將士，並殊死戰，峻軍乃退，追斬數百級。
After they reached Stone City, Liang sent Supervising Protector Wang Zhang against Zhang Yao, a follower of Su Jun, and Wang was beaten instead. Liang returned the imperial baton to apologize. Tao Kan replied, "Ancient worthies took three defeats before their point was made; you, sir, have only reached two. These are desperate times; we should not keep score of setbacks. He added, "When power splinters among too many court factions, the state invites calamity. Do you think our ruin came from Su Jun alone?" While Liang held White Rock Fort with two thousand men, Su Jun brought more than ten thousand infantry against him from every side, and his troops went cold with dread. Liang rallied his men to fight as if their lives hung on it; Su Jun's forces pulled back, and they pursued and took several hundred heads.
16
峻平，帝幸溫嶠舟，亮得進見，稽顙鯁噎，詔群臣與亮俱升御坐。 亮明日又泥首謝罪，乞骸骨，欲闔門投竄山海。 帝遣尚書、侍中手詔慰喻：「此社稷之難，非舅之責也。」 亮上疏曰：
After Su Jun fell, the emperor boarded Wen Qiao's boat; Liang was admitted to audience, kowtowing until he could barely breathe for weeping, and an edict told the ministers to take their seats beside Liang at the imperial dais. The next day Liang pressed his dust-covered forehead to the ground again, begged to retire his bones, and offered to take his whole household into exile among the mountains and seas. The emperor sent senior ministers with a handwritten message of reassurance: "This was a crisis for the altars, not your fault as maternal uncle." Liang still submitted a memorial:
17
臣凡鄙小人，才不經世，階緣戚屬，累忝非服，叨竊彌重，謗議彌興。 皇家多難，未敢告退，遂隨牒輾轉，便煩顯任。 先帝不豫，臣參侍醫藥，登遐顧命，又豫聞後事，豈雲德授，蓋以親也。 臣知其不可，而不敢逃命，實以田夫之交猶有寄託，況君臣之義，道貫自然，哀悲眷戀，不敢違距。 且先帝謬顧，情同布衣，既今恩重命輕，遂感遇忘身。 加以陛下初在諒闇，先後親覽萬機，宣通外內，臣當其地，是以激節驅馳，不敢依違。 雖知無補，志以死報。 而才下位高，知進忘退，乘寵驕盈，漸不自覺。 進不能撫寧外內，退不能推賢宗長，遂使四海側心，謗議沸騰。
I am a mean little man with no talent for governing the age; I climbed through kinship into offices I never deserved, and the heavier my unauthorized honors grew, the louder the slander became. The house faced repeated crises, so I dared not step away; I drifted from post to post until I burdened the court with prominent appointments. When the late emperor fell ill I helped tend his medicines; I heard his deathbed testament and took part in planning what followed—not because virtue singled me out, but because I was family. I knew it was wrong yet could not run from the charge: even common friends honor a trust, let alone the bond between sovereign and minister, rooted in the natural order—I grieved too deeply to turn away. The late emperor favored me beyond my deserts as though we were still commoners in plain clothes; his kindness outweighed my life, and I repaid that encounter with everything I had. When Your Majesty still wore mourning and the late empress dowagers personally ran state affairs, bridging inner palace and government, I stood where duty placed me—I threw myself into the work and did not hedge. I knew I might accomplish little, yet I meant to answer with my life. Yet my talent was slight while my rank was high; I pressed forward and forgot restraint, swelled with favor, and little by little lost sight of myself. I could not steady the realm within or without, nor step back and yield to worthier men of the lineage, until the whole realm looked askance and reproach boiled over.
18
祖約、蘇峻不堪其憤，縱肆凶逆，事由臣發。 社稷傾覆，宗廟虛廢，先後以憂逼登遐，陛下旰食逾年，四海哀惶，肝腦塗地，臣之招也，臣之罪也。 朝廷寸斬之，屠戮之，不足以謝祖宗七廟之靈； 臣灰身滅族，不足以塞四海之責。 臣負國家，其罪莫大，實天所不覆，地所不載。 陛下矜而不誅，有司縱而不戮。 自古及今，豈有不忠不孝如臣之甚！ 不能伏劍北闕，偷存視息，雖生之日，亦猶死之年，朝廷復何理齒臣於人次，臣亦何顏自次於人理！
Zu Yue and Su Jun, unable to stomach their grievances, exploded into open revolt—and I set it in motion. The altars nearly fell and the temples stood empty; grief drove the late empress dowagers to their deaths; for more than a year Your Majesty has supped after dark while the realm trembled in mourning and men laid down their lives—I brought this about; the guilt is mine. If the court carved me inch by inch it would not appease the spirits in the seven ancestral shrines; if my ashes were scattered and my kin wiped out it would not satisfy the blame of all under Heaven. I have betrayed the state in the gravest way—Heaven would not shelter me, Earth would not carry me. Yet Your Majesty shows mercy and stays the executioner; the offices indulge me and leave the sword sheathed. From antiquity to this day, has anyone been as faithless to ruler and family as I? I failed to fall on my sword at the palace gate; I cling to breath and call it life—yet living like this is death. How can the court still rank me among civilized men, and how can I show my face in human company?
19
臣欲自投草澤，思愆之心也，而明詔謂之獨善其身。 聖旨不垂矜察，所以重其罪也。 願陛下覽先朝謬授之失，雖垂寬宥，全其首領，猶宜棄之，任其自存自沒，則天下粗知勸戒之綱矣。
I mean to throw myself into the wilderness to ponder my faults, yet the edict calls that mere self-preservation. Because Your Majesty will not bend to understand me, my guilt only weighs heavier. I beg Your Majesty to heed how past courts erred in handing office to the wrong men: even if you spare my head, cast me off and let me live or perish alone—then the realm will see what reward and warning mean.
20
疏奏，詔曰：
The emperor replied:
21
省告懇惻，執以感歎，誠是仁舅處物宗之責，理亦盡矣。 若大義既不開塞，舅所執理勝，何必區區其相易奪！
Your memorial is painfully sincere; it moves me to sigh. A kindly uncle should weigh responsibility for the whole realm as you do—you have argued every point to its limit. Where great principle is clear and your reasoning carries the day, why trade petty concessions back and forth?
22
賊峻奸逆，書契所未有也。 是天地所不容，人神所不宥。 今年不反，明年當反，愚智所見也。 舅與諸公勃然而召，正是不忍見無禮於君者也。 論情與義，何得謂之不忠乎！ 若以己總率征討，事至敗喪，有司宜明直繩，以肅國體，誠則然矣。 且舅遂上告方伯，席捲來下，舅躬貫甲胄，賊峻梟懸。 大事既平，天下開泰，衍得反正，社稷乂安，宗廟有奉，豈非舅二三方伯忘身陳力之勳邪！ 方當策勳行賞，豈復議既往之咎乎！
Su Jun's treason belongs to a kind no written record has seen. Heaven and Earth could not abide him; neither men nor spirits could pardon him. Fool and sage alike could see that if he did not rebel this year, he would the next. You and the other ministers rose in fury and raised troops because you could not endure seeing the sovereign insulted. By every measure of duty and loyalty, who could call you faithless? Had supreme command brought defeat, the offices should have applied the law openly to uphold the dignity of state—that would have been fair. Instead you alerted the regional commanders, swept down like a whirlwind, buckled on armor yourself, and Su Jun's head ended on the public pole. When the crisis passed, order returned: I could take the throne again, the altars stood firm, and the temples received sacrifice—was that not your doing and that of the commanders who risked everything? This is the hour to record merit and give rewards—why reopen old blame?
23
且天下大弊，死者萬計，而與桀寇對岸。 舅且當上奉先帝顧托之旨，弘濟艱難，使衍沖人永有憑賴，則天下幸甚。
The realm lies in ruins; tens of thousands lie dead while a tyrant's armies camp across the river. For now you must carry out the late emperor's charge, shoulder these bitter trials, and give me—a mere boy—something firm to lean on; nothing would bless the realm more.
24
亮欲遁逃山海，自暨陽東出。 詔有司錄奪舟船。 亮乃求外鎮自效，出為持節、都督豫州揚州之江西宣城諸軍事、平西將軍、假節、豫州刺史，領宣城內史。 亮遂受命，鎮蕪湖。
Liang tried to slip away to the eastern hills and seas from Jiyang. An edict ordered officials to impound every boat. Liang then asked for a frontier post to prove himself and was named credential-bearing commander of Jiangan forces in Yu and Yang (including Xuancheng), General Who Pacifies the West, acting Inspector of Yu Province, and concurrent administrator of Xuancheng. He took the post and set up headquarters at Wuhu.
25
時王導輔政，主幼時艱，務存大綱，不拘細目，委任趙胤、賈甯等諸將，並不奉法，大臣患之。 陶侃嘗欲起兵廢導，而郗鑒不從，乃止。 至是，亮又欲率眾黜導，又以諮鑒，而鑒又不許。 亮與鑒箋曰：
Wang Dao governed while the emperor was a child in troubled times: he kept to broad policy, ignored petty detail, and left generals such as Zhao Yin and Jia Ning to their own devices—they broke the law at will, and senior ministers were alarmed. Tao Kan once meant to march against Wang Dao and remove him, but Xi Jian refused to join, so Kan dropped the plan. Now Liang wanted to mobilize and oust Wang Dao; he consulted Xi Jian again, and Jian again refused. Liang wrote to Xi Jian:
26
昔於蕪湖反覆謂彼罪雖重，而時弊國危，且令方嶽道勝，亦足有所鎮壓，故共隱忍，解釋陶公。 自茲迄今，曾無悛改。
At Wuhu we thrashed it out: Wang Dao's faults were grave, but the times were desperate—if regional commanders held the moral high ground they could still restrain him, so we swallowed our anger and talked Tao Kan down. Since then he has not mended his ways in the least.
27
主上自八九歲以及成人，入則在宮入之手，出則唯武官小人，讀書無從受音句，顧問未嘗遇君子。 侍臣雖非俊士，皆時之良也，知今古顧問，豈與殿中將軍、司馬督同年而語哉！ 不雲當高選侍臣，而雲高選將軍、司馬督，豈合賈生願人主之美，習以成德之意乎！ 秦政欲愚其黔首，天下猶知不可，況乃欲愚其主哉！ 主之少也，不登進賢哲以輔導聖躬。 春秋既盛，宜復子明辟。 不稽首歸政，甫居師傅之尊； 成人之主，方受師臣之悖。 主上知君臣之道不可以然，而不得不行殊禮之事。 萬乘之君，寄坐上九，亢龍之爻，有位無人。 挾震主之威以臨制百官，百官莫之敢忤。 是先帝無顧命之臣，勢屈於驕奸而遵養之也。 趙賈之徒有無君之心，是而可忍，孰不可忍！
From boyhood to manhood the emperor has been in the grip of palace insiders when within the walls and of lowborn military men when without; no one has taught him to parse the classics, and no gentleman has counseled him. Attending ministers may not be brilliant, but they are fit for public counsel on past and present—surely they cannot be lumped with palace generals and horse guards! You say nothing about elevating good ministers but praise picking generals and horse guards—does that match what Jia Yi meant by nurturing a ruler's virtue through proper habit? The First Emperor tried to keep the common people ignorant and the realm knew it was wrong—would you keep the sovereign ignorant? While the emperor was young, no wise men were brought forward to tutor him. Now that he has come of age, power ought to return openly to the throne. Instead of bowing and handing back the reins, Wang Dao clings to the loftier title of imperial tutor; a grown emperor must endure insolence from a minister who still plays mentor. The sovereign knows this flouts the proper relation of lord and minister, yet must treat him with extraordinary deference. The Son of Heaven perches on the top line of Qian—the "arrogant dragon" of the Changes—with a vacant throne in all but name. He wields the awe of one who overshadows the throne and bends every official; none dare defy him. The late emperor left no ministers strong enough to enforce his will; circumstances bent before this arrogant schemer, and the court fed the evil instead of cutting it out. Zhao Yin, Jia Ning, and their ilk breathe treason—if we endure this, what would we not endure?
28
且往日之事，含容隱忍，謂其罪可宥，良以時弊國危，兵甲不可屢動，又冀其當謝往釁，懼而修己。 如頃日之縱，是上無所忌，下無所憚，謂多養無賴足以維持天下。 公與下官並蒙先朝厚顧，荷託付之重，大奸不掃，何以見先帝於地下！ 願公深惟安國家、固社稷之遠算，次計公之與下官負荷輕重，量其所宜。
We once swallowed our outrage because the age was desperate and arms could not flare again—we hoped Wang Dao would own his faults and mend his conduct. Now he indulges those men until neither sovereign nor subject fears anything—he thinks a pack of ruffians can prop up the realm. You and I both enjoyed the late emperor's trust and accepted grave charge—if we leave this villain in place, how do we answer him beneath the earth? Consider what truly stabilizes the altars, then weigh which of us can bear the lighter or heavier part and act accordingly.
29
鑒又不許，故其事得息。
Xi Jian refused once more, and the matter died.
30
時石勒新死，亮有開復中原之謀，乃解豫州授輔國將軍毛寶，使與西陽太守樊峻精兵一萬，俱戍邾城。 又以陶稱為南中郎將、江夏相，率部曲五千人入沔中。 亮弟翼為南蠻校尉、南郡太守，鎮江陵。 以武昌太守陳囂為輔國將軍、梁州刺史，趣子午。 又遣偏軍伐蜀，至江陽，執偽荊州刺史李閎、巴郡太守黃植，送於京都。 亮當率大眾十萬，據石城，為諸軍聲援，乃上疏曰：「蜀胡二寇凶虐滋甚，內相誅鋤，眾叛親離。 蜀甚弱而胡尚強，並佃並守，修進取之備。 襄陽北接宛許，南阻漢水，其險足固，其土足食。 臣宜移鎮襄陽之石城下，並遣諸軍羅布江沔。 比及數年，戎士習練，乘釁齊進，以臨河洛。 大勢一舉，眾知存亡，開反善之路，宥逼協之罪，因天時，順人情，誅逋逆，雪大恥，實聖朝之所先務也。 願陛下許其所陳，濟其此舉。 淮泗壽陽所宜進據，臣輒簡練部分。 乞槐棘參議，以定經略。」 帝下其議。 時王導與亮意同，郗鑒議以資用未備，不可大舉。 亮又上疏，便欲遷鎮。 會寇陷邾城，毛寶赴水而死。 亮陳謝，自貶三等，行安西將軍。 有詔復位。 尋拜司空，餘官如故，固讓不拜。
Shi Le had just died, and Liang planned to reconquer the Central Plains: he handed Yu Province to General Who Supports the State Mao Bao and sent him with Fan Jun, governor of Xiyang, and ten thousand picked troops to hold Zhucheng. He named Tao Cheng General of the Southern Gentlemen and governor of Jiangxia and led five thousand retainers into the Han basin. His brother Yu Yi became Colonel of Southern Tribes and governor of Nan commandery, stationed at Jiangling. He promoted Chen Xiao of Wuchang to General Who Supports the State and Inspector of Liang Province and sent him toward the Ziwu corridor. A secondary force struck Shu, reached Jiangyang, captured the rival regime's Li Hong of Jingzhou and Huang Zhi of Ba commandery, and sent both to the capital. Liang would command a hundred thousand men from Stone City to support the other columns and memorialized: "The Shu and Hu rebels grow crueller by the day, slaughter one another within their ranks, and shed followers on every side. Shu is weak while the Hu remain strong; both till their fields and hold their lines while preparing to strike. Xiangyang links Wan and Xu to the north and the Han River to the south—its terrain can be held and its fields can feed an army. I should shift my headquarters to Shicheng below Xiangyang and string forces along the Yangzi and Han. Within a few years the troops will be hardened; when opportunity opens we advance together on Luoyang. One decisive stroke shows everyone where survival lies: offer defectors a path back, absolve men forced into rebellion, align with Heaven and human sentiment, strike the traitors, and wipe away shame—that must be this court's first duty. I beg Your Majesty to approve this plan and give it full support. Huai, Si, and Shouyang should likewise be occupied; I will drill the troops assigned there. Let the court assemble its ministers under the palace sophoras and set the grand strategy." The emperor forwarded the memorial for deliberation. Wang Dao agreed with Liang, but Xi Jian argued that supplies were lacking and a major campaign was premature. Liang submitted another memorial pressing for the redeployment. Then the enemy took Zhucheng and Mao Bao drowned. Liang apologized and stripped himself of three ranks, serving thereafter as acting General Who Pacifies the West. An edict restored his former rank. He was soon offered the ministry of Works alongside his other posts; he refused repeatedly and never accepted.
31
亮自邾城陷沒，憂慨發疾。 會王導薨，征亮為司徒、揚州刺史、錄尚書事，又固辭，帝許之。 咸康六年薨，時年五十二。 追贈太尉，諡曰文康。 喪至，車駕親臨。 及葬，又贈永昌公印綬。 亮弟冰上疏曰：「臣謹詳先事，亦會聞臣亮對臣等之言，懇懇於斯事。 是以屢自陳請，將迄十年。 豈直好讓而不肅恭，顧曩時之釁近出宇下，加先帝神武，算略兼該，是以役不逾時，而凶強馘滅。 計之以事，則功歸聖主，推之於運，則勝非人力。 至如亮等，因聖略之弘，得效所職，事將何論！ 功將何賞！ 及後傷蹶，責逾先功，是以陛下優詔聽許。 亮實思自效以報天德，何悟身潛聖世，微志長絕，存亡哀恨，痛貫心膂。 願陛下發明詔，遂先恩，則臣亮死且不朽。」 帝從之。 亮將葬，何充會之，歎曰：「埋玉樹於土中，使人情何能已！」
After Zhucheng fell, Liang sank into grief and rage and fell ill. When Wang Dao died, the court summoned Liang to serve as grand tutor, governor of Yang, and overseer of the Masters of Writing; he refused again, and the emperor let him. He died in the sixth year of the Xiankang era (340), aged fifty-two. He was posthumously honored as Grand Commandant with the posthumous title "Wenkang" (Cultured and Mild). When his remains arrived, the emperor came in person to mourn. At burial he was further accorded the seal and ribbon of Duke of Yongchang. Yu Bing submitted a memorial: "I have reviewed what passed before and recall what Liang said to us brothers—how earnestly he pressed this point. Again and again he begged to retire until nearly ten years had passed. This was no mere love of yielding or neglect of duty—the rebellion had burst right under the capital's eaves, yet our late emperor was a soldier-statesman whose planning covered every angle; the war ended almost before it began and the traitors were destroyed. Judged by events, the credit belongs to the throne; measured by fate, the victory was more than human effort could claim. Men such as Liang merely rode the wave of imperial strategy and did their jobs—what is there to argue about? What reward could match their merit? Later, when his stumble drew blame heavier than his past deeds, Your Majesty graciously accepted his pleas. Liang meant to spend himself repaying the dynasty; who could know death would take him while the court still flourished—his humble aims forever unfulfilled, and our grief cuts to the marrow. Issue an edict that completes the grace he was promised, and Liang will rest honored though dead." The emperor agreed. At Liang's funeral He Chong lamented, "To bury such a jade tree in dust—how can the heart bear it?
32
初，亮所乘馬有的顱，殷浩以為不利於主，勸亮賣之。 亮曰：「曷有己之不安而移之於人！」 浩慚而退。 亮在武昌，諸佐吏殷浩之徒，乘秋夜往共登南樓，俄而不覺亮至，諸人將起避之。 亮徐曰：「諸君少住，老子於此處興復不淺。」 便據胡床與浩等談詠竟坐。 其坦率行己，多此類也。 三子彬、羲、龢。
Once Liang's mount bore the "white forehead" marking; Yin Hao thought it ill-omened for its master and urged him to sell the beast. Liang replied, "How could I ease myself by passing misfortune to another?" Yin Hao withdrew in embarrassment. While Liang was at Wuchang, Yin Hao and other aides climbed the south tower one autumn night; they did not notice Liang's approach and started to scatter. Liang said lightly, "Stay awhile—this old fellow feels quite inspired here." He sat on a camp stool and talked and recited poetry with them until the evening ended. His uninhibited manner was typical. He had three sons: Bin, Xi, and He.
33
彬年數歲，雅量過人。 溫嶠嘗隱暗怛之，彬神色恬如也，乃徐跪謂嶠曰：「君侯何至於此！」 論者謂不減於亮。 蘇峻之亂，遇害。
Even as a child Yu Bin showed uncommon composure. Wen Qiao once hid in the dark to frighten him; Bin stayed perfectly calm, then knelt and said, "Sir, was this really necessary?" Observers said he was every inch his father's son. He was killed during Su Jun's revolt.
34
羲少有時譽，初為吳國內史。 時穆帝頗愛文義，羲至郡獻詩，頗存諷諫。 因上表曰：「陛下以聖明之德，方隆唐虞之化，而事役殷曠，百姓凋殘。 以數州之資，經瞻四海之務，其為勞弊，豈可具言！ 昔漢文居隆盛之世，躬自儉約，斷獄四百，殆致刑厝。 賈誼歎息，猶有積薪之言。 以古況今，所以益其憂懼。 陛下明鑒天挺，無幽不燭，弘濟之道，豈待瞽言。 臣受恩奕世，思盡絲發。 受任到東，親臨所見，敢緣弘政，獻其丹愚。 伏願聽斷之暇，少垂察覽。。」 其詩文多不載。 羲方見授用而卒。 子准，太元中，自侍中代桓石虔為豫州刺史、西中郎將，鎮曆陽，卒官。 准子悅，義熙中江州刺史。 准弟楷，自有傳。
Yu Xi earned an early reputation and began as administrator of the Wu princedom. Emperor Mu favored belles-lettres; when Xi reached his post he submitted poems laced with tactful criticism. He followed with a memorial: "Your Majesty's virtue rivals Tang and Yu, yet labor levies run endless and the people are exhausted. A few provinces prop up business for the whole realm—the strain defies description! Even Emperor Wen of Han, ruling a prosperous age, lived plainly and cut capital cases to some four hundred—almost idle prisons. Jia Yi still warned of kindling stacked beneath the throne. Measured against antiquity, our plight should deepen Your Majesty's alarm. Your Majesty's insight lights every corner—surely no blind man's counsel is needed to see how to save the age. My house owes the dynasty generations of favor; I would repay even the weight of a hair. Sent east, I speak only what I have seen, and presume to offer this earnest counsel for the good of government. If Your Majesty can spare a moment from judgment to read these words. Most of his verse and prose were not preserved. Xi died just as higher office opened before him. His son Zhun rose from palace attendant to replace Huan Shiqian as inspector of Yu and General of the Western Gentlemen at Liyang during the Taiyuan era, and died in office. Zhun's son Yue became inspector of Jiang Province under Yixi. Zhun's brother Kai has a separate biography.
35
龢字道季，好學，有文章。 叔父翼將遷襄陽，龢年十五，以書諫曰：「承進據襄陽，耀威荊楚，且田且戍，漸臨河洛，使向化之萌懷德而附，凶愚之徒畏威反善，太平之基，便在於旦夕。 昔殷伐鬼方，三年而克； 樂生守齊，遂至曆載。 今皇朝雖隆，無有殷之盛； 凶羯雖衰，猶丑類有徒。 而沔漢之水，無萬仞之固； 方城雖峻，無千尋之險。 加以運漕供繼有溯流之艱，征夫勤役有勞來之歎。 若窮寇慮逼，送死一決，東西互出，道尾俱進，則廩糧有抄截之患，遠略乏率然之勢。 進退惟思，不見其可。 此明暗所共見，賢愚所共聞，況於臨事者乎！ 願回師反旆，詳擇全勝，修城池，立壘壁，勤耕農，練兵甲。 若凶運有極，天亡此虜，則可泛舟北濟，方軌齊進，水陸騁邁，亦不逾旬朔矣。 願詳思遠猷，算其可者。」 翼甚奇之。 升平中，代孔岩為丹陽尹，表除重役六十餘事。 太和初，代王恪為中領軍，卒於官。 子恆，尚書僕射，贈光祿大夫。
Yu He, courtesy name Daoji, was studious and a capable writer. When his uncle Yu Yi prepared to move headquarters to Xiangyang, fifteen-year-old Yu He wrote: "Advancing on Xiangyang lets us awe Jing and Chu, farm and fortify at once, and edge toward the Central Plains until converts flock to us and brutes submit—the foundations of peace could be laid overnight. The Yin spent three years subduing Guifang; Yue Yi holding Qi dragged on for years. Our dynasty is strong but not Shang-strong; the Hu bandits may be weakened but still field armies. The Han waters offer no cliff-like barrier; Fang citadel is steep but not impassably rugged. Grain barges fight the current; soldiers groan under endless labor. If desperate foes strike east and west at once, our supplies face interception and distant columns cannot snap shut like the Changes' "sudden" strike. Every course I weigh seems imprudent. Bright and dull alike see it—how much more men who bear command! Withdraw the banners, pick a winnable plan, strengthen walls and farms, and drill the troops. When Heaven turns against the barbarians, boats and columns can strike north by land and water within weeks—not months. Weigh the long plan and count only what can work." Yi marveled at the boy. Under Shengping he succeeded Kong Yan as governor of Danyang and petitioned away more than sixty oppressive levies. Early in Taihe he replaced Wang Ke as chief of the Palace Guard and died in office. His son Heng rose to vice director of the Masters of Writing and was posthumously honored as grand master of brilliant splendor.
36
懌字叔預，少以通簡為兄亮所稱。 弱冠，西陽王羕辟，不就。 東海王沖為長水校尉，清選綱紀，以懌為功曹，除暨陽令，又為沖中軍司馬，轉散騎侍郎，遷左衛將軍。 以討蘇峻功，封廣饒男，出補臨川太守，曆監梁、雍二州軍事，轉輔國將軍、梁州刺史、假節，鎮魏興。 時兄亮總統六州，以懌寬厚容眾，故授以遠任，為東西勢援。 尋進監秦州氐羌諸軍事。 懌遣牙門霍佐迎將士妻子，佐驅三百餘口亡入石季龍。 亮表上，貶懌為建威將軍。 朝議欲召還，亮上疏曰：「懌禦眾簡而有惠，州戶雖小，賴其寬政。 佐等同惡，大數不多。 且懌名號大，不可以小故輕議進退。 其文武之心轉已安定，賊帥艾秀遣使歸誠，上洛附賊降者五百餘口，冀一安隱，無復怵惕。」 從之。 後以所鎮險遠，糧運不繼，詔懌以將軍率所領還屯半洲。 尋遷輔國將軍、豫州刺史，進號西中郎將、監宣城廬江曆陽安豐四郡軍事、假節，鎮蕪湖。
Yu Yi, courtesy name Shuyu, won praise from Liang in youth for his plain good sense. At his capping Prince Sima Yang of Xiyang summoned him, but he declined. When Prince Donghai Sima Chong commanded the Long River garrison he picked Yi as merit officer, then named him magistrate of Jiyang, army marshal on Chong's staff, gentleman at scattered cavalry, and finally general of the left guard. His service against Su Jun earned him the barony of Guangrao; he became governor of Linchuan, supervised Liang and Yong, then served as General Who Supports the State, inspector of Liang Province with credential staff, stationed at Weixing. Liang then commanded six provinces; Yi was posted far afield because his tolerance could hold men together—east and west could aid each other. He soon added supervision of Di and Qiang forces in Qin Province. Yi sent gate captain Huo Zhuo to fetch dependents; Zhuo instead drove three hundred souls into the arms of Shi Hu. Liang reported the crime and demoted Yi to General Who Establishes Might. The court wanted him recalled, but Liang wrote: "Yi leads with restraint and kindness; the province is small but profits from his gentle rule. Zhuo's crime was isolated—few followed him. Yi's rank is weighty; petty faults should not decide his recall. Hearts in the province are steadying; rebel leader Ai Xiu offers submission; over five hundred Upper-Luo families who sided with the enemy wish to yield—give them peace and the fear will end." The court agreed. Because his command was remote and supplies failed, an edict pulled Yi back to Banzhou with his troops. He soon became General Who Supports the State and inspector of Yu, took the title General of the Western Gentlemen, oversaw four commanderies between Xuancheng and Anfeng with credential staff, and camped at Wuhu.
37
懌嘗以白羽扇獻成帝，帝嫌其非新，反之。 侍中劉劭曰：「柏梁雲構，大匠先居其下； 管弦繁奏，夔牙先聆其音。 懌之上扇，以好不以新。」 後懌聞之，曰：「此人宜在帝之左右。」 又嘗以毒酒餉江州刺史王允之。 王允之覺其有毒，飲犬，犬斃，乃密奏之。 帝曰：「大舅已亂天下，小舅復欲爾邪！」 懌聞，遂飲鴆而卒，時年五十。 贈侍中、衛將軍，諡曰簡。 子統嗣。
Yi gave Emperor Cheng a white feather fan; the emperor returned it because it was not new. Attendant Liu Shao said, "When the Cypress Terrace rises into the clouds, the master builder still stands below; when the orchestra swells, Kui and Ya hear it first. Yi offered the fan for its quality, not its novelty." Later Yi said, "That man belongs at the emperor's side." He also once sent poisoned wine to Wang Yunzhi, governor of Jiang Province. Wang suspected poison, fed it to a dog—the dog died—and reported secretly to the throne. The emperor snapped, "The elder uncle already shook the realm—will the younger uncle try the same?" Yi drank poison and died at fifty. He was posthumously named palace attendant and General Who Guards the Army with the posthumous epithet "Jian" (Straightforward). His son Tong inherited the title.
38
統字長仁，少有令名，司空、太尉辟，皆不就。 調補撫軍、會稽王司馬，出為建威將軍、甯夷護軍、尋陽太守。 年二十九，卒，時人稱其才器，甚痛惜之。 子玄之，官至宣城內史。
Yu Tong, courtesy name Changren, was celebrated young but refused summons from the ministry of Works and the grand commandant. He transferred to staff the heir apparent and Prince of Kuaiji, then served as General Who Establishes Might, protector who pacifies the tribes, and governor of Xunyang. He died at twenty-nine; contemporaries mourned a gifted man lost too soon. His son Xuanzhi rose to governor of Xuancheng.
39
冰字季堅。 兄亮以名德流訓，冰以雅素垂風，諸弟相率莫不好禮，為世論所重，亮常以為庾氏之寶。 司徒辟，不就，征秘書郎。 預討華軼功，封都鄉侯。 王導請為司徒右長史，出補吳興內史。
Yu Bing, courtesy name Jijian. Where Liang taught by prestige and virtue, Bing led by modest simplicity; the younger brothers followed suit and prized ritual—the age esteemed them, and Liang called them the jewels of the clan. He declined the minister of Education but accepted appointment as secretary gentleman. His part in defeating Hua Yi brought the marquisate of Duxiang. Wang Dao named him senior clerk on the minister of Education's staff; he went out as governor of Wuxing.
40
會蘇峻作逆，遣兵攻冰，冰不能禦，便棄郡奔會稽。 會稽內史王舒以冰行奮武將軍，距峻別率張健于吳中。 時健党甚眾，諸將莫敢先進。 冰率眾擊健走之，於是乘勝西進，赴於京都。 又遣司馬滕含攻賊石頭城，拔之。 冰勳為多，封新吳縣侯，固辭不受。 遷給事黃門侍郎，又讓不拜。 司空郗鑒請為長史，不就。 出補振威將軍、會稽內史。 徵為領軍將軍，又辭。 尋入為中書監、揚州刺史、都督揚豫兗三州軍事、征虜將軍、假節。
When Su Jun rebelled he struck Bing, who could not hold out and fled from Wuxing to Kuaiji. Kuaiji's governor Wang Shu gave Bing temporary rank as General Who Rouses Might against Zhang Jian's detached force in Wu. Zhang Jian's followers were many and no general dared strike first. Bing drove Zhang Jian's forces back, then pressed west toward the capital while momentum held. He also sent Teng Han against Su Jun's Stone City stronghold and took it. For his outsized merit Bing received the Xinwu marquisate but refused it. He was offered Gentleman at the Yellow Gate but again declined to serve. Xi Jian asked him to serve as chief clerk on the ministry of Works staff; he refused. He became General Who Rouses Might and governor of Kuaiji. Summoned as chief of the Palace Guard, he declined again. He soon became Supervisor of the Palace Secretariat, governor of Yang, commander of Yang-Yu-Yan forces, General Who Punishes Captives, with credential staff.
41
是時王導新喪，人情恇然。 冰兄亮既固辭不入，眾望歸冰。 既當重任，經綸時務，不舍夙夜，賓禮朝賢，升擢後進，由是朝野注心，咸曰賢相。 初，導輔政，每從寬惠，冰頗任威刑。 殷融諫之，冰曰：「前相之賢，猶不堪其弘，況吾者哉！」 范汪謂冰曰：「頃天文錯度，足下宜盡消禦之道。」 冰曰：「玄象豈吾所測，正當勤盡人事耳。」 又隱實戶口，料出無名萬餘人，以充軍實。 詔復論前功，冰上疏曰：「臣門戶不幸，以短才贊務，釁及天庭，殃流邦族，若晉典休明，夷戮久矣。 而于時顛沛，刑憲暫墜，遂令臣等復得為時陳力。 徇國之臣，因之而奮，立功於大罪之後，建義于顛覆之餘，此是臣等所以復得視息于天壤，王憲不復必明於往愆也。 此之厚幸，可謂弘矣，豈復得計勞納封，受賞司勳哉！ 願陛下曲降靈澤，哀恕由中，申命有司，惠臣所乞，則愚臣之願于此畢矣。」 許之。
Wang Dao had just died and the court was anxious. Liang had refused high office, so every eye turned to Bing. Once in power he ran state affairs night and day, honored worthy ministers, and promoted new talent—court and countryside alike hailed him as a true chief minister. Where Wang Dao had ruled with leniency, Bing leaned on stern law. Yin Rong objected; Bing replied, "Even the worthy Chief Minister could not sustain pure indulgence—how much less I!" Fan Wang warned him, "The heavens have shown prodigies—you must ward them off with restraint." Bing answered, "I cannot read the stars—I can only do my duty as a minister." He also audited household registers, drafted more than ten thousand unlisted men, and filled out the army rolls. Edicts revived talk of past honors; Bing memorialized: "My house disgraced the throne—had Jin law run its course we would have been executed long ago. Yet in the turmoil penalties could not be enforced, so men like me could still serve. We who stayed loyal raised armies after ruin and earned merit despite earlier guilt—that is why we still breathe; the court no longer holds every old fault against us. That mercy is vast enough—how dare we haggle over merit pay or minister of Works honors? Grant what we ask of the offices, and my humble petition is complete." The throne agreed.
42
成帝疾篤，時有妄為中書符，敕宮門宰相不得前，左右皆失色。 冰神氣自若，曰：「是必虛妄。」 推問，果詐，眾心乃定。 進號左將軍。 康帝即位，又進車騎將軍。 冰懼權盛，乃求外出。 會弟翼當伐石季龍，於是以本號除都督江荊甯益梁交廣七州豫州之四郡軍事、領江州刺史、假節，鎮武昌，以為翼援。 冰臨發，上疏曰：
While Emperor Cheng lay dying, forgers circulated a fake Secretariat order barring chief ministers from the gates—the attendants turned pale. Bing stayed calm: "That cannot be genuine." Questioning proved it a hoax and everyone steadied. He was promoted to general of the left. Under Emperor Kang he became chariot-and-cavalry general. Wary of faction at court, he asked for a frontier post. When Yu Yi marched against Shi Hu, Bing kept his existing rank while commanding seven provinces (plus four Yu commanderies), served as inspector of Jiang with credential staff at Wuchang, and backed his brother. Before leaving he memorialized:
43
臣因循家寵，冠冕當世，而志無殊操，量不及遠。 頃皇家多難，釁故頻仍，朝望國器，與時殲落，遂令天眷下墜，降及臣身。 俯仰伏事，於今五年。 上不能光贊聖猷，下不能緝熙政道，而陛下遇之過分，求之不已，復策敗駕之駟，以冀萬里之功，非天眷之隆，將何以至此！ 是以敢竭狂瞽，以獻血誠，願陛下暫屏旒纊，以弘聽納。
I inherited privilege and rank yet lack exceptional gifts or foresight. Royal crises stripped the court of its pillars; imperial favor somehow settled on me. Five years have passed in anxious service. I have neither advanced Your Majesty's designs nor ordered the realm, yet you heap honors on me and hitch worn-out nags to ask for deeds beyond reach—only staggering grace explains it!" So I speak plainly: set aside ceremony for a moment and listen."
44
今強寇未殄，戎車未戢，兵弱於郊，人疲於內，寇之侵逸，未可量也； 黎庶之困，未之安也； 群才之用，未之盡也。 而陛下崇高，事與下隔，視聽察覽，必寄之群下。 群下宜忠，不引不進； 百司宜勤，不督不勸。 是以古之帝王勤於降納，雖日總萬機，猶兼聽將相； 或借訟輿人，或求謗芻蕘，良有以也。 況今日之弊，開闢之極，而陛下歷數屬當其運，否剝之難嬰之聖躬，普天所以痛心於既往而傾首於將來者也。 實冀否終而泰，屬運在今。 誠願陛下弘天覆之量，深地載之厚，宅沖虛以為本，勤訓督以為務。 廣引時彥，詢於政道，朝之得失必關聖聽，人之情偽必達天聰。 然後覽其大當，以總國綱，躬儉節用，堯舜豈遠！ 大布之衣，衛文何人！ 是以古人有云：「非知之難，行之難； 非行之難，安之難也。」 願陛下既思日側于勞謙，納其起予之情，則天下幸甚矣。 臣朝夕伏膺，猶不能暢，臨疏徘徊，不覺辭盡。
The foe still lives; armies stand ready; the borders are weak and the interior tired—no one can gauge the next raid;" the people know no rest;" and talent still sits unused. Your Majesty sits far above and must rely on ministers for sight and hearing. Loyalty needs encouragement; diligence needs oversight. Ancient rulers listened widely even while handling every affair; they heard peasants and woodcutters for good reason. Our woes rival any age; Your Majesty bears heaven's mandate amid obstruction—every heart mourns what passed and fears what comes. Yet peace may still follow peril if we seize the moment. Expand tolerance thick as earth and heaven; root policy in stillness; teach and supervise tirelessly. Summon worthy advisers; weigh policy in open court until truth reaches the throne. Master the essentials, tighten the purse, and Yao-Shun rule lies within reach! Duke Wen of Wei wore rough cloth—nothing stops sage virtue! As the ancients put it, knowing is easier than doing; doing is harder; lasting peace is hardest." Accept counsel as did modest kings of old, and the realm will rejoice. Day and night I harbor these thoughts yet cannot fully voice them; laying down this brush I fear I have said too much.
45
頃之，獻皇后臨朝，征冰輔政，冰辭以疾篤。 尋而卒，時年四十九。 冊贈侍中、司空，諡曰忠成，祠乙太牢。
Soon Empress Dowager Chu summoned him to serve at court; he pleaded grave illness. He died soon after, aged forty-nine. He was posthumously named palace attendant and Minister of Works with the epithet Zhongcheng (Loyal Achiever) and honored with the grand tai-lao sacrifice.
46
冰天性清慎，常以儉約自居。 中子襲嘗貸官絹十匹，冰怒，捶之，市絹還官。 臨卒，謂長史江虨曰：「吾將逝矣，恨報國之志不展，命也如何！ 死之日，斂以時服，無以官物也。」 及卒，無絹為衾。 又室無妾媵，家無私積，世以此稱之。 冰七子：希、襲、友、蘊、倩、邈、柔。
Bing was sober and careful by nature and lived plainly. When his son Xi borrowed ten bolts of official silk, Bing beat him and made him repay from his own purse. Dying, he told Jiang Bin, "I go with my pledge to the house unfulfilled—such is fate! Bury me in plain seasonal dress—nothing from the public stores." When he died his heirs had no silk even for a shroud. He kept no concubines and left no stash—the age admired him for it. Bing's seven sons were Xi, Xi, You, Yun, Qian, Miao, and Rou.
47
子希等
Xi and his brothers
48
希字始彥。 初拜秘書郎，累遷司徒右長史、黃門侍郎、建安太守，未拜，復為長史兼右衛將軍，遷侍中，出為輔國將軍、吳國內史。 希既後之戚屬，冰女又為海西公妃，故希兄弟並顯貴。 太和中，希為北中郎將、徐兗二州刺史，蘊為廣州刺史，並假節，友東陽太守，倩太宰長史，邈會稽王參軍，柔散騎常侍。 倩最有才器，桓溫深忌之。
Yu Xi, courtesy name Shiyan. He rose from secretary to senior clerk, gentleman at the Yellow Gate, and nominee for Jian'an governor; before taking Jian'an he served as chief clerk and general of the right guard, then palace attendant, then General Who Supports the State and governor of the Wu princedom. Xi tied by marriage to the empress and Bing's daughter wed Duke Haixi—the brothers stood high at court. Under Taihe, Xi commanded Xu-Yan as General of the Northern Gentlemen; Yun governed Guang with credential staff; You ruled Dongyang; Qian served the grand tutor; Miao joined the Prince of Kuaiji's staff; Rou was a regular attendant. Qian was the most gifted; Huan Wen feared him.
49
初，慕容厲圍梁父，斷澗水，太山太守諸葛攸奔鄒山，魯、高平等數郡皆沒，希坐免官。 頃之，徵為護軍將軍。 希怒，固辭。 希初免時，多盜北府軍資，溫諷有司劾之，復以罪免，遂客于晉陵之暨陽。 初，郭璞筮冰云：「子孫必有大禍，唯用三陽可以有後。」 故希求鎮山陽，友為東陽，家于暨陽。
Murong Li's siege of Liangfu cut the streams; Zhuge You fled Tai commandery; several Qi commanderies fell and Xi lost his post. He was soon recalled as General Who Guards the Army. Xi refused in anger. Stripped of rank he looted northern headquarters stores; Huan Wen had him impeached and dismissed again, so he lived as a guest in Jiyang. Guo Pu once divined for Bing: "Your line faces ruin unless it dwells in the three Yang lands." Xi therefore sought Shanyang, You took Dongyang, and the family settled at Jiyang.
50
及海西公廢，桓溫陷倩及柔以武陵王黨，殺之。 希聞難，便與弟邈及子攸之逃於海陵陂澤中。 蘊于廣州飲鴆而死。 及友當伏誅，友子婦，桓秘女也，請溫，故得免。 故青州刺史武沈，希之從母兄也，潛餉給希經年。 溫後知逾之，遣兵捕希。 武沈之子遵與希聚眾于海濱，略漁人船，夜人京口城。 平北司馬卞耽逾城奔曲阿，吏士皆散走。 希放城內囚徒數百人，配以器杖，遵於外聚眾，宣令雲逆賊醒溫廢帝殺王，稱海西公密旨，誅除凶逆。 京都震擾，內外戒嚴，屯備六門。 平北參軍劉奭與高平太守郗逸之、遊軍督護郭龍等集眾距之。 卞耽又與典阿人弘戎發諸縣兵二千，並力屯新城以擊希。 希戰敗，閉城自守。 溫遣東海太守周少孫討之，城陷，被擒。 希、邈及子侄五人斬于建康市，遵及黨與並伏誅，唯友及蘊諸子獲全。
When Duke Haixi fell, Huan Wen executed Qian and Rou as friends of Prince Sima Zun of Wuling. Xi fled with Miao and Youzhi into the Hailing marshes. Yun drank poison at Guangzhou. You's daughter-in-law, Huan Mi's daughter, begged Huan Wen and spared him. Former inspector Wu Shen, Xi's cousin, fed him secretly for a year. When Huan Wen learned of it he sent troops after Xi. Wu Zun joined Xi on the coast, seized boats, and slipped into Jingkou by night. Bian Dan fled Qu'e over the wall; the garrison scattered. Xi armed hundreds of prisoners while Zun rallied outside, proclaiming that traitor Huan Wen had deposed the emperor and murdered princes under forged orders from Duke Haixi. The capital mobilized and sealed its six gates. Liu Shi, Xi Yizhi, Guo Long, and others raised troops against him. Bian Dan and Hong Rong of Qu'e drafted two thousand county levies at New City against Xi. Xi lost and bolted the gates. Huan Wen sent Zhou Shaosun; the city fell and Xi was taken. Xi, Miao, and five kinsmen died in the Jiankang marketplace; Zun and allies followed; only You and Yun's children survived.
51
友子叔宣，右衛將軍。 蘊子廓之，東陽太守。
You's son Shuxuan rose to general of the right guard. Yun's son Kuozhi governed Dongyang.
52
條字幼序。 初避太宰府，累遷黃門郎、豫章太守。 徵拜秘書監，賜爵鄉亭侯，出為冠軍將軍、臨川太守。 豫章黃韜自稱孝神皇帝，臨川人李高為相，聚黨數百人，乘犢車，衣皁袍，攻郡縣，條討平之。 條于兄弟最凡劣，故祿位不至。 卒官，贈左將軍。
Yu Tiao, courtesy name Youxu. He avoided service under the grand tutor, then served as gentleman at the Yellow Gate and governor of Yuzhang. He became overseer of the Secretariat, village marquis, then champion general and governor of Linchuan. Huang Tao declared himself emperor at Yuzhang with Li Gao as minister; Tiao crushed their hundreds of black-robed followers. He was the least gifted brother and rose little. He died in office and was posthumously named general of the left.
53
翼字稚恭。 風儀秀偉，少有經綸大略。 京兆杜乂、陳郡殷浩並才名冠世，而翼弗之重也，每語人曰：「此輩宜束之高閣，俟天下太平，然後議其任耳。」 見桓溫總角之中，便期之以遠略，因言于成帝曰：「桓溫有英雄之才，願陛下勿以常人遇之，常婿畜之，宜委以方邵之任，必有弘濟艱難之勳。」
Yu Yi, courtesy name Zhigong. He was imposing in bearing and showed strategic genius young. Du Yi and Yin Hao topped their generation in reputation, yet Yu Yi dismissed them: shelf them until peace returns, then talk of office." At court he spotted the boy Huan Wen and told Emperor Cheng to treat him as a future pillar—not a routine in-law but a general like Fang Xuan or Shao Hu—who could carry the realm through crisis."
54
蘇峻作逆，翼時年二十二，兄亮使白衣領數百人，備石頭。 高敗，與翼俱奔。 事平，始辟太尉陶侃府，轉參軍，累遷從事中郎。 在公府，雍容諷議。 頃之，除振威將軍、鄱陽太守。 轉建威將軍、西陽太守。 撫和百姓，甚得歡心。 遷南蠻校尉，領南郡太守，加輔國將軍、假節。 及邾城失守，石城被圍，翼屢設奇兵，潛致糧杖。 石城得全，翼之勳也。 賜爵都亭侯。
When Su Jun rose, Yu Yi was twenty-two; Liang gave him a hundred men in plain clothes to hold Stone City. When the defense collapsed he fled with Yi. After peace returned he entered Tao Kan's staff, became adjutant, and rose to aide-de-camp. On staff he carried himself with grace and sharp debate. He soon became General Who Rouses Might and governor of Poyang. He moved to General Who Establishes Might and governor of Xiyang. He won the people's trust. He became colonel of southern tribes and governor of Nan, added rank as General Who Supports the State with credential staff. After Zhucheng fell and Stone City was ringed, Yi fed the city with surprise sorties and smuggled supplies. Stone City held—credit belonged to Yi. He received the Duting marquisate.
55
及亮卒，授都督江荊司雍梁益六州諸軍事、安西將軍、荊州刺史、假節，代亮鎮武昌。 翼以帝舅，年少超居大任，遐邇屬目，慮其不稱。 翼每竭志能，勞謙匪懈，戎政嚴明，經略深遠，數年之中，公私充實，人情翕然，稱其才幹。 由是自河以南皆懷歸附，石季龍汝南太守戴開率數千人詣翼降。 又遣使東至遼東，西到涼州，要給二方，欲同大舉。 慕容皝、張駿並報使請期。 翼雅有大志，欲以滅胡平蜀為己任，言論慷慨，形於辭色。 將兵都尉錢頎陳事合旨，翼拔為五呂將軍，賜谷二百斛。 時東土多賦役，百姓乃從海道人廣州，刺史鄧岳大開鼓鑄，諸夷因此知造兵器。 翼表陳東境國家所資，侵擾不已，逃逸漸多，夷人常伺隙，若知造鑄之利，將不可禁。
At Liang's death he took six provinces, the post of General Who Pacifies the West, and Jing Province from Liang's camp at Wuchang. A young imperial uncle commanding the upper Yangzi drew skeptical eyes. He drove himself without pause, ran a tight camp, and planned for the long term—within years the province prospered and opinion hailed his competence. South of the river men leaned toward Jin; Dai Kai of Runan brought thousands to surrender. He reached east to Liaodong and west to Liangzhou to line up allies for a major strike. Murong Huang and Zhang Jun answered with envoys and promised coordination. He meant to crush the northern barbarians and Cheng Han—every word showed it. When Colonel Qian Qi's advice suited him, Yi promoted him to Five-Camps general and gave two hundred hu of grain. Heavy eastern taxes drove people by sea to Guangzhou; Governor Deng Yue's open foundries taught tribes to cast arms. He warned that smuggling and tribal casting on the eastern rim would arm rivals against the court.
56
時殷浩征命無所就，而翼請為司馬及軍司，並不肯赴。 翼遺浩書，因致其意。 先是，浩父羨為長沙，在郡貪殘，，兄冰與翼書屬之。 翼報曰：「殷君始往，雖多驕豪，實有風力之益，亦似由有佳兒、弟，故不令物情難之。 自頃以來，奉公更退，私累日滋，亦不稍以此寥蕭之也。 既雅敬洪遠，又與浩親善，其父兄得失，豈以小小計之。 大較江東政，以傴儛豪強，以為民蠹，時有行法，輒施之寒劣。 如往年偷石頭倉米一百萬斛，皆是豪將輩，而直打殺倉督監以塞責。 山遐作余姚鬥年，而為官出二千戶，政雖不倫，公強官長也，而群共驅之，，不得安席。 紀睦、徐甯奉王使糾罪人，船頭到渚，桓逸還復，而二使免官。 雖皆前宰之惛謬，江東事去，實此之由也。 兄弟不幸，橫陷此中，自不能拔腳於風塵之外，當共明目而治之。 荊州所統一二十郡，唯長沙最惡。 惡而不黜，與殺督監者復何異耶！」 翼有風力格裁，發言立論皆如此。
Yin Hao had ignored every summons, yet when Yi offered marshal posts he still stayed home. Yi wrote urging him to reconsider. Earlier Yin Xian's harsh rule at Changsha had prompted Bing to write Yi. Yi answered that Yin Xian had arrived swaggering yet effective, and family ties had eased local resentment. Lately Yin Xian's public zeal faded while private greed grew—Yi felt less warmth toward him. Yet Yi respected virtue and friendship too much to judge Hao only by his father's sins. Jiangdong law favored magnates and punished only the weak. When a million hu vanished from Stone City, magnates murdered petty clerks to close the books. Shan Xia doubled registered households at Yuyao yet magnates hounded him from office. Ji Mu and Xu Ning lost their posts when their impeachment mission failed because Huan Yi interfered. Such miscarriages explain why Jiangdong governance failed. We are mired in the same foul court—we must fix law together. Of twenty commanderies under Jing, Changsha is worst governed. Leaving Changsha unreformed repeats the granary scandal. Yi's blunt judgments sounded like this.
57
康帝即位，翼欲率眾北伐，上疏曰：
Emperor Kang's accession stirred Yi to propose a northern expedition:
58
賊季龍年已六十，奢淫理盡，丑類怨叛，又欲決死遼東。 皝雖驍果，未必能固。 若北無掣手之虜，則江南將不異遼左矣。 臣所以輒發良人，不顧忿咎。 然東西形援未必齊舉，且欲北進，移鎮安陸，人沔五百，溳水通流。 輒率南郡太守王愆期、江夏相謝尚、尋陽太守袁真、西陽太守曹據等精銳三萬，風馳上道，並勒平北將軍桓宣撲取黃季，欲並丹水，搖盪秦雍。 禦以長轡，用逸待勞，比及數年，興復可冀。 臣既臨許洛，竊謂恆溫可渡戍廣陵，何充可移據淮灑赭圻，路永進屯合肥。 伏願表禦之日便決聖聽，不可廣詢同異，以乖事會。 兵聞拙速，不聞工之久也。
Shi Hu is sixty, spent by debauchery, deserted by followers, and gambling everything on Liaodong. Murong Huang may not hold Liaodong. If no Hu pins Murong down, the south will face the same peril. Hence Yi mobilized militia despite outrage. East and west may not move together; he would advance via Anlu and the five-hundred-mile Han corridor. He led thirty thousand under Wang Yanqi, Xie Shang, Yuan Zhen, and Cao Ju, ordered Huan Xuan to strike Huangji and threaten Qin-Yong via the Dan. He planned to hold enemy reins, trade rest for enemy fatigue, and reconquer within years. At Xu-Luo he wanted Huan Wen on Guangling, He Chong on the Huai line, and Lu Yong at Hefei. He begged instant approval—debate would miss the moment. Speed wins wars—not prolonged polish.
59
於是併發所統六州奴及車牛驢馬，百姓嗟怨。 時欲向襄陽，慮朝遷不許，故以安陸為辭。 帝及朝士皆遣使譬止，車騎參軍孫綽亦致書諫。 翼不從，遂違如輒行。 至夏口，復上表曰：
He then impressed labor and draft animals across six provinces until people cursed. He meant to take Xiangyang but told the court he was moving to Anlu. The emperor and Sun Chuo begged him to wait. He went anyway. At Xiakou he wrote again:
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臣近以胡寇有弊亡之勢，暫率所統，致討山北，並分見眾，略復江夏數城。 臣等以九月十九日發武昌，以二十四日達夏口，輒簡卒搜乘停當上道。 而所調借牛馬，來處皆遠，百姓所蓄，穀草不充，並多羸瘠，難以涉路。 加以向冬，野草漸枯，往反二千，或容躓頓，輒便隨事籌量，權停此舉。 又山南諸城，每至秋冬，水多燥涸，運漕用功，實為艱阻。
He reported gains north of the Han and several Jiangxia towns. He left Wuchang on the nineteenth and reached Xiakou on the twenty-fourth with troops ready. Draft animals arrived exhausted and fodder ran short. Winter dried grazing and two thousand-mile marches risked breakdown—he paused the push. Low winter rivers made supply impossible.
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計襄陽，荊楚之舊，西接益梁，與關隴咫尺，北去洛河，不盈千里，土沃田良，方城險峻，水路流通，轉運無滯，進可以掃蕩秦趙，退可以保據上流。 臣雖不武，意略淺短，荷國重恩，志存立效。 是以受任四年，唯以習戎為務，實欲上憑聖朝威靈高略，下藉士民義慨之誠，因寇衰弊，漸臨逼之。 而八年春上表請據樂鄉，廣農蓄穀，以伺二寇之釁，而值天高聽邈，未垂察照，朝議紛紜，遂令微誠不暢。
Xiangyang anchors Jing-Chu, borders Yi-Liang and the Central Plain—fertile, defensible, and supplied by water. He lacked genius but owed the dynasty his best effort. Four years he drilled troops, trusting throne and people to wear the barbarians down. His Yonghe memorial to fort Lexiang and farm had died in committee.
62
自爾以來，上參天人之征，下采降俘之言，胡寇衰滅，其日不遠。 臣雖未獲長驅中原，馘截凶醜，亦不可以不進據要害，思攻取之宜。 是以輒量宜入沔，徙鎮襄陽。 其謝尚、王愆期等，悉令還據本戍，須到所在，馳遣啟聞。
Omens and intelligence since showed the Hu failing. Even without conquering the plain he had to seize choke points. He moved headquarters into the Han and aimed at Xiangyang. He ordered columns back to their posts and promised reports.
63
翼時有眾四萬，詔加都督征討軍事。 師次襄陽，大會僚佐，陳旌甲，親授弧矢，曰：「我之行也，若此射矣。」 遂三起三疊，徒眾屬目，其氣十倍。 初，翼遷襄陽，舉朝謂之不可，議者或謂避衰，唯兄冰意同，桓溫及譙王無忌贊成其計。 至是，冰求鎮武昌，為翼繼援。 朝議謂冰不宜出，冰乃止。 又進翼征西將軍，領南蠻校尉。 胡賊五六百騎出樊城，翼遣冠軍將軍曹據追擊於撓溝北，破之，死者近半，獲馬百匹。 翼綏來荒遠，務盡招納之宜，立客館，置典賓參軍。 桓宣卒，翼以長子方之為義成太守，代領宣眾，司馬應誕為龍驤將軍、襄陽太守，參軍司勳為建威將軍、梁州刺史，戍西城。 康帝崩，兄冰卒，以家國情事，留方之戍襄陽，還鎮夏口，悉取冰所領兵自配，以兄子統為尋陽太守。 詔使翼還督江州，又領豫州刺史，辭豫州。 復欲移鎮樂鄉，詔不許。 繕修軍器，大佃積穀，欲圖後舉。 遣益州刺史周撫、西陽太守曹據伐蜀，破蜀將李桓于江陽。
Forty thousand men earned him overall command of the expedition. At Xiangyang he massed the army, showed arms, and shot an arrow saying his campaign would fly straight. Three volleys rallied the ranks. Court had sneered at the Xiangyang move—only Bing, Huan Wen, and Sima Wuji backed him. Bing offered to hold Wuchang as reserve. Ministers vetoed Bing's move. Yi gained General Who Punishes the West and southern colonelcy. Hundreds of Hu sortied from Fancheng; Cao Ju crushed them at Raogou. He hosted frontier peoples with guesthouses and protocol officers. When Huan Xuan died Yi named Fangzhi Yicheng governor over Xuan's troops, made Ying Dan dragon-galloping general at Xiangyang, and posted adjutant Si Xun as general who establishes might and inspector of Liang at west city. After Kang and Bing died Yi left Fangzhi at Xiangyang, rushed to Xiakou, absorbed Bing's army, and named Tong governor of Xunyang. He was ordered back to Jiangzhou as inspector of Yu but declined Yu. He asked to move to Lexiang; the court refused. He rebuilt arsenal and granaries for another advance. Zhou Fu and Cao Ju struck Shu and beat Li Huan at Jiangyang.
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爰之有翼風，尋為桓溫所廢。 溫既廢爰之，又以征虜將軍劉惔監沔中軍事，領義成太守，代方之。 而方之。 而方之、爰之並遷徙于豫章。
Yu Yuanzhi echoed his father's style until Huan Wen removed him. Huan Wen then installed Liu Tan over the Han river and Yicheng in place of Fangzhi. The transmitted text breaks mid clause after mentioning Fangzhi. Fangzhi and Yuanzhi were banished to Yuzhang.
65
史臣曰：外戚之家，連輝椒掖，舅氏之族，同氣蘭閨，靡不憑藉寵私，階緣險謁。 門藏金穴，地使其驕； 馬控龍媒，勢成其逼。 古者右賢左戚，用杜溺私之路，愛而知惡，深慎滿覆之災，是以厚贈瓊瑰，罕升津要。 塗山在夏，靡與禼稷同驅； 姒氏居周，不預燕齊等列。 聖人慮遠，殊有旨哉！ 搢昵元規，參聞顧命。 然其筆敷華藻，吻縱濤波，方駕搢紳，足為翹楚。 而智小謀大，昧經邦之遠圖； 才高識寡，闕安國之長算。 璿萼見誅，物議稱其拔本； 牙尺垂訓，帝念深於負芒。 是使蘇祖尋戈，宗祧殆覆。 已而猜嫌上宰，謀黜負圖。 向使郗鑒協從，必且戎車犯順，則與夫台、產、安、桀，亦何以異哉！ 幸漏吞舟，免淪昭憲，是庾宗之大福，非晉政之不綱明矣。 懌恣凶懷，鴆加連率，再世之後，三陽存僅，餘殃所及，蓋其宜也。
The historians say consort kin bathed in inner-palace favor and traded on access. Their gates brimmed with treasure until arrogance followed. Fine mounts and military power made them overbearing. Antiquity honored merit over in-laws, checked excess, and seldom gave kin the keys of state. Tushan at Xia did not ride with the worthy ministers. The Si house at Zhou did not rank with eastern states. The sages planned long ahead. Yu Liang rose as kin and helped draft the deathbed charge. His prose and speech dazzled and made him primus among peers. Yet talent misjudged the realm; Great gifts paired with shallow judgment. Executing Zong showed resolve to cut rot at the root; The emperor's gift of a ruler warned him like bristles on the back. Su Jun and Zu Yue nearly toppled the altars. Soon they turned on the chief minister and plotted to oust the regent. Had Xi Jian joined them, armies would have marched against the throne—little better than classic traitors Tai, Chan, An, and Jie. Mercifully the law's net let whales slip—the Yus escaped execution—proof of dynastic mercy, not slack justice. Yu Yi's poison cup killed a governor; two generations on only the three Yang settlements remained—the later ruin matched the crime.
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贊曰：元規矯跡，寵階椒掖。 識暗厘道，亂由乘隙。 下拜長沙，有慚忠益。 季堅清貞，毓德馳名。 處泰逾約，居權戒盈。 稚恭慷慨，亦擅雄聲。
The ode runs: Yuangui masked ambition while kinship opened the inner palace to him. Dim judgment misruled the realm—rebellion slipped through every crack. Yielding on Changsha policy shamed them beside true loyal ministers. Jijian stayed honest and modest—virtue made his name fly. In prosperity he lived spare; in power he feared excess. Zhigong strode forth with passion and won a soldier's fame.