1
王舒
Wang Shu
2
王舒，字處明，丞相導之從弟也。 父會，侍御史。 舒少為從兄敦所知，以天下多故，不營當時名，恆處私門，潛心學植。 年四十餘，州禮命，太傅辟，皆不就。 及敦為青州，舒往依焉。 時敦被徵為秘書監，以寇難路險，輕騎歸洛陽，委棄公主。 時輜重金寶甚多，親賓無不競取，惟舒一無所眄，益為敦所賞。
Wang Shu, whose courtesy name was Chuming, was a cousin of Grand Chancellor Wang Dao. His father, Wang Hui, had served as Attendant Censor. From an early age he had won the regard of his older cousin Wang Dun; with the empire in turmoil, he avoided chasing fashionable reputation, kept to his own doors, and immersed himself in scholarship. After he passed forty, both the provincial authorities and the grand tutor offered him appointments; he declined every one. When Wang Dun took up the governorship of Qingzhou, Wang Shu went to join him. Dun had just been recalled to serve as director of the Palace Library; citing rebel activity and dangerous roads, he rode back to Luoyang with only a small mounted escort, leaving his princess consort behind. The train was laden with gold and jewels; kinsmen and guests fell over one another grabbing what they could, but Wang Shu never so much as glanced at the loot, which only deepened Dun’s esteem for him.
3
及元帝鎮建康，因與諸父兄弟俱渡江委質焉。 參鎮東軍事，出補溧陽令。 明帝之為東中郎將，妙選上佐，以舒為司馬。 轉後將軍、宣城公褚裒諮議參軍，遷軍司，固辭不受。 裒鎮廣陵，復以舒為車騎司馬。 頻領望府，咸稱明練。 裒薨，遂代裒鎮，除北中郎將、監青徐二州軍事。 頃之，征國子博士，加散騎常侍，未拜，轉少府。 太甯初，徙廷尉。 敦表舒為鷹揚將軍、荊州刺史、領護南蠻校尉、監荊州沔南諸軍事。 及敦敗，王含父子俱奔舒，舒遣軍逆之，並沈于江。 進都督荊州、平西將軍、假節。 尋以陶侃代舒，遷舒為安南將軍、廣州刺史。 舒疾病，不樂越嶺，朝議亦以其有功，不應遠出，乃徙為湘州刺史，將軍、都督、持節如故。 征代鄧攸為尚書僕射。
When Emperor Yuan of Jin established his headquarters at Jiankang, Wang Shu crossed the Yangzi with his uncles and brothers to offer his service at court. He joined the staff of the commander who held the east, then was posted out as magistrate of Liyang. While still heir-apparent as Eastern General of the Gentlemen of the Household, Emperor Ming handpicked his senior staff and named Wang Shu marshal of his command. He moved to serve as adviser under General of the Rear and Duke of Xuancheng Chu Pou, then was promoted to director of the army staff; he repeatedly refused the latter post and never took it up. When Chu Pou took command at Guangling, he again named Wang Shu chariot-and-horse marshal. He served in one eminent office after another, and everywhere he went colleagues praised his clarity and seasoned judgment. After Chu Pou died, Wang Shu succeeded him in the command, receiving appointment as General of the Gentlemen of the Household of the North with supervisory authority over military affairs in Qingzhou and Xuzhou. Soon he was recalled to court as erudit of the National Academy and granted the concurrent title of cavalry attendant-at-large; before he could take up those duties he was reassigned as minister of the Lesser Treasury. Early in the Taining era he was transferred to the post of minister of justice. Wang Dun petitioned the throne to appoint Wang Shu General Who Displays Ferocity, inspector of Jingzhou, with the additional titles of colonel of the Southern Man and supervisor of all forces south of the Han River in that province. After Wang Dun’s defeat, Wang Han and his son fled to Wang Shu, who sent troops to intercept them and had both men drowned in the Yangzi. He was promoted to area commander-in-chief for Jingzhou, enfeoffed as General Who Pacifies the West, and invested with the credential axe. Shortly afterward Tao Kan was sent to replace him, and Wang Shu was moved to the posts of General Who Guards the South and inspector of Guangzhou. Wang Shu fell ill and was unwilling to cross the Nanling ridge into the far south; the court agreed that his past service should not be rewarded with banishment to a distant frontier, so he was reassigned as inspector of Xiangzhou while keeping his military titles and the credential tally. He was recalled to the capital to succeed Deng You as vice director of the Department of State Affairs.
4
時將征蘇峻，司徒王導欲出舒為外援，乃授撫軍將軍、會稽內史，秩中二千石。 舒上疏辭以父名，朝議以字同音異，於禮無嫌。 舒復陳音雖異而字同，求換他郡。 於是改「會」字為「鄶」。 舒不得已而行。 在郡二年而蘇峻作逆，乃假舒節都督，行揚州刺史事。 時吳國內史庾冰棄郡奔舒，舒移告屬縣，以吳王師虞為軍司，御史中丞謝藻行龍驤將軍、監前鋒征討軍事，率衆一萬，與庾冰俱渡浙江。 前義興太守顧衆、護軍參軍顧颺等，皆起義軍以應舒。 舒假衆揚威將軍、督護吳中軍事，颺監晉陵軍事，於禦亭築壘。 峻聞舒等兵起，乃赦庾亮諸弟，以悅東軍。 舒率衆次郡之西江，為冰、藻後繼。 冰、颺等遣前鋒進據無錫，遇賊將張健等數千人，交戰，大敗，奔還禦亭，復自相驚擾，冰、颺等並退于錢唐，藻守嘉興。 賊遂入吳，燒府舍，掠諸縣，所在塗地。 舒以輕進奔敗，斬二軍主者，免冰、颺督護，以白衣行事。 更以顧衆督護吳晉陵軍，屯兵章埭。 吳興太守虞潭率所領討健，屯烏苞亭，並不敢進。 時暴雨大水，賊管商乘船旁出，襲潭及衆。 潭等奔敗。 潭還保吳興，衆退守錢唐。 舒更遣將軍陳孺率精銳千人增戍海浦，所在築壘。 或勸舒宜還都，使謝藻守西陵，扶海立柵。 舒不聽，留藻守錢唐，使衆、颺守紫壁。 於是賊轉攻吳興，潭諸軍復退。 賊復掠東遷、余杭、武康諸縣。 舒遣子允之行揚烈將軍，與將軍徐遜、陳孺及揚烈司馬硃燾，以精銳三千，輕邀賊于武康，出其不意，遂破之，斬首數百級，賊悉委舟步走。 允之收其器械，進兵助潭。 時賊韓晃既破宣城，轉人故鄣、長城。 允之遣硃燾、何准等於之，戰擊於湖。 潭以強弩射之，晃等退走，斬首千餘級，納降二千人。 潭由是得保郡。 是時臨海、新安諸山縣並反應賊，舒分兵悉討平之。 會陶侃等至京都，舒、潭等並以屢戰失利，移書盟府，自貶去節。 侃遣使敦喻，不聽。 及侃立行台，上舒監浙江東五郡軍事，允之督護吳郡、義興、晉陵三郡征討軍事。 既而晃等南走，允之追躡於長塘湖，復大破之。 賊平，以功封彭澤縣侯，尋卒官，贈車騎大將軍、儀同三司，諡曰穆。
As preparations began for the expedition against Su Jun, Minister of Education Wang Dao wanted Wang Shu in the field as an outside bulwark, so he appointed him General Who Pacifies the Army and internal secretary of Kuaiji at the middle rank of two thousand piculs. Wang Shu memorialized that he could not take the post because the commandery name shared a character with his late father’s personal name; the court ruled that homophonous but differently pronounced taboos were not barred by ritual, so the objection did not stand. Wang Shu pressed his case: the pronunciation might differ, but the written character was identical, and he asked to be given a different assignment. The court therefore ordered the commandery name written with a homophonous substitute graph so that his father's taboo character would not appear in his title. With that face-saving compromise, Wang Shu had no choice but to take up the post. He had governed Kuaiji for two years when Su Jun rose in rebellion; the court then vested him with the ceremonial credentials of area commander and put him in charge of Yangzhou as acting provincial inspector. When Yu Bing, internal secretary of the Wu princedom, abandoned his post and fled to Wang Shu, Wang Shu issued orders to his counties, took Yu Tan of Wu Xing onto his staff as army director—the transmitted text is defective here, but parallel records identify Yu Tan as the officer appointed—and placed Xie Zuo, the imperial censor, in acting command as General Who Soars like a Dragon over the vanguard; with ten thousand men they crossed the Zhe River together with Yu Bing. Former Yixing prefect Gu Zhong, Gu Yang of the guards general’s staff, and others each raised loyalist militias to answer Wang Shu’s call. Wang Shu breveted Gu Zhong as General Who Displays Might with overall charge of operations in Wu, assigned Gu Yang to oversee the Jinling theater, and had them throw up fortifications at Yuting. Learning that Wang Shu had taken the field, Su Jun issued a general amnesty for Yu Liang’s brothers, hoping to placate the loyalist forces in the east. Wang Shu brought his army up to the western branch of the river in his commandery to cover Yu Bing and Xie Zuo as a second line. Yu Bing, Gu Zhong, Gu Yang, and their colleagues pushed the vanguard toward Wuxi, collided with several thousand men under the rebel commander Zhang Jian, suffered a crushing defeat, and bolted for Yuting; in the panic they fell back in a body to Qiantang while Xie Zuo clung to Jiaxing. The rebels then poured into Wu, torched yamen compounds, pillaged county after county, and left devastation wherever they passed. Wang Shu blamed the reckless advance and rout: he executed the two unit commanders, stripped Yu Bing and Gu Yang of their supervisory posts, and left them to serve in plain clothes. He reassigned Gu Zhong to coordinate the Wu and Jinling sectors and encamped troops at Zhangdai. Yu Tan, prefect of Wuxing, marched against Zhang Jian with his own troops and halted at Wubaoting, but neither he nor his allies dared press the attack. A cloudburst sent floodwaters surging; the rebel Guan Shang slipped along side channels by boat and fell upon Yu Tan and Gu Zhong. Yu Tan’s force broke and ran. Yu Tan fell back to hold Wuxing while Gu Zhong withdrew into Qiantang. Wang Shu next sent General Chen Ru with a thousand picked men to reinforce the coastal posts and throw up palisades at each defile. Some advisers urged him to fall back toward the capital, leave Xie Zuo holding Xiling, and stake palisades along the seaward approaches. Wang Shu refused: he kept Xie Zuo at Qiantang and ordered Gu Zhong and Gu Yang to defend the Zibi line. The rebels then shifted their weight against Wuxing, and Yu Tan’s columns fell back once more. They raided Dongqian, Yuhang, Wukang, and the other counties in turn. Wang Shu sent his son Wang Yunzhi, acting as General Who Displays Fierce Valor, with Xu Xun, Chen Ru, and Zhu Dao, his major, leading three thousand picked troops on a lightning strike at Wukang; catching the enemy off guard, they shattered the rebel band, took several hundred heads, and drove Su Jun’s men to abandon their boats and flee overland. Wang Yunzhi gathered the captured arms and pushed forward to reinforce Yu Tan. Meanwhile the rebel commander Han Huang, having stormed Xuancheng, swung his column toward Guzhang and Changcheng. Wang Yunzhi sent Zhu Dao, He Zhun, and others to strike the enemy; the loyalists brought Han Huang to battle at Yu Lake, though the terse wording of the line has led commentators to suspect a small scribal slip in the received text. Yu Tan raked the enemy with heavy crossbow fire until Han Huang broke off; the loyalists counted more than a thousand heads and enrolled two thousand prisoners. That victory let Yu Tan hold his prefecture intact. Mountain districts in Linhai and Xinan rose in sympathy with the rebels; Wang Shu detached columns and pacified each pocket. After Tao Kan’s host reached the capital, Wang Shu and Yu Tan—ashamed of their repeated defeats—wrote to the coalition command asking to be stripped of their ceremonial axes. Tao Kan sent messengers urging them to relent, but they would not withdraw their resignations. Once Tao Kan set up his field headquarters, he memorialized that Wang Shu oversee the five commanderies east of the Zhe and that Wang Yunzhi coordinate the expeditionary forces of Wu, Yixing, and Jinling. Han Huang then bolted south; Wang Yunzhi ran him down at Changtang Lake and shattered his column a second time. After the rebellion he was ennobled as marquis of Pengze county for his service; he died in office soon afterward and was posthumously honored as general-in-chief of chariots and cavalry with rites matching the Three Dukes; his temple name-style posthumous title was Mu, “Solemn.”
5
長子晏之，蘇峻時為護軍參軍，被害。 晏之子崐之嗣。 卒，子陋之嗣。 宋受禪，國除。 晏之弟允之最知名。
His eldest son, Wang Yanzi, was serving as an aide on the guards general’s staff when Su Jun’s coup claimed his life. The title passed to Wang Yanzi’s son Wang Kunzhi. When he died, his son Wang Louzhi succeeded to the marquisate. When Liu Yu founded the Song and received the Jin abdication, the marquisate was abolished. Among Wang Yanzi’s brothers, Wang Yunzhi became by far the most celebrated.
7
子允之
His son Wang Yunzhi
8
=允之字深猷。 總角，從伯敦謂為似己，恆以自隨，出則同輿，入則共寢。 敦嘗夜飲，允之辭醉先臥。 敦與錢鳳謀為逆，允之已醒，悉聞其言，慮敦或疑己，便於臥處大吐，衣面並汙。 鳳既出，敦果照視，見允之臥吐中，以為大醉，不復疑之。 時父舒始拜廷尉，允之求還定省，敦許之。 至都，以敦、鳳謀議事白舒，舒即與導俱啟明帝。
Wang Yunzhi’s courtesy name was Shenyou. While still a boy he so reminded his uncle Wang Dun of himself that Dun never traveled without him: they rode in the same carriage and even shared a couch at night. Once, during one of Wang Dun’s midnight drinking bouts, Wang Yunzhi pleaded drunkenness and turned in early. Wang Dun and Qian Feng began plotting treason while Wang Yunzhi lay awake, hearing every word; fearing suspicion, he rolled from his couch and pretended a bout of violent vomiting until his robe and face were filthy. After Qian Feng left, Wang Dun brought a lamp to his nephew’s bedside, saw him sprawled in vomit, assumed he was dead drunk, and dropped his suspicions. Just then Wang Shu had been named minister of justice, so Wang Yunzhi asked leave to visit his parents; Wang Dun consented. Once in the capital he told his father everything he had overheard of Wang Dun’s and Qian Feng’s plot; Wang Shu went straight to Wang Dao, and together they laid the matter before Emperor Ming.
9
舒為荊州，允之隨在西府。 及敦平，帝欲令允之仕，舒請曰：「臣子尚少，不樂早官。」 帝許隨舒之會稽。 及蘇峻反，允之討賊有功，封番禺縣侯，邑千六百戶，除建武將軍、錢唐令，領司鹽都尉。 舒卒，去職。 既葬，除義興太守，以憂哀不拜，從伯導與其書曰：「太保、安豐侯以孝聞天下，不得辭司隸； 和長輿海內名士，不免作中書令。 吾群從死亡略盡，子弟零落，遇汝如親，如其不爾，吾復何言！」 允之固不肯就。 咸和末，除宣城內史、監揚州江西四郡事、建武將軍，鎮於湖。 咸康中，進號西中郎將、假節。 尋遷南中郎將、江州刺史。 蒞政甚有威惠。 時王恬服闋，除豫章郡。 允之聞之驚愕，以為恬丞相子，應被優遇，不可出為遠郡，乃求自解州，欲與庾冰言之。 冰聞甚愧，即以恬為吳郡，而以允之為衛將軍、會稽內史。 未到，卒，年四十。 諡曰忠。
When Wang Shu took up the Jingzhou command, Wang Yunzhi joined him at the western headquarters. After Wang Dun’s rebellion collapsed, Emperor Ming wanted to place Wang Yunzhi in office, but Wang Shu pleaded, “The boy is still young; I would rather not rush him into a career.” The emperor allowed him to accompany his father to Kuaiji instead. During Su Jun’s revolt Wang Yunzhi distinguished himself in the field and was ennobled as marquis of Panyu with sixteen hundred households; he was named General Who Establishes Might, magistrate of Qiantang, and salt intendant for the circuit. He resigned his posts when his father died. After the funeral he was named prefect of Yixing but, crushed by mourning, refused to take up the seal; his uncle Wang Dao wrote, “Grand Guardian He Zeng, Marquis of Anfeng, was famed empire-wide for filial devotion, yet even he could not refuse appointment as metropolitan commandant. He Qiao, whose courtesy name was Changyu and who was accounted a leading scholar of the age, still had to accept the post of palace secretary. Our cousins have been all but wiped out, and the younger generation is scattered; to me you are as close as a son—if you will not heed me, I have nothing left to say.” Wang Yunzhi still would not accept the post. Late in the Xianhe era he became internal secretary of Xuancheng, military overseer of the four Jiangxi commanderies in Yangzhou, and General Who Establishes Might, with headquarters at Yu Lake. During Xiankang his rank was raised to General of the Gentlemen of the Household of the West with credential authority. Soon afterward he was promoted to General of the Gentlemen of the Household of the South and inspector of Jiangzhou. His administration combined firm authority with genuine generosity. About the time Wang Tian came off mourning for his father, the court named him administrator of Yuzhang. Wang Yunzhi was stunned: Wang Tian was the grand chancellor’s son, he thought, and deserved preferential treatment, not exile to a remote commandery; he offered to surrender his own provincial post so he could remonstrate with Yu Bing. Mortified, Yu Bing reassigned Wang Tian to wealthy Wu commandery and instead named Wang Yunzhi General Who Guards the Army and internal secretary of Kuaiji. He died on the road before reaching his new post, aged forty. His posthumous epithet was Zhong, “Loyal.”
10
子晞之嗣。 卒，子肇之嗣。
His son Wang Xizhi inherited the title. When he died, his son Wang Zhaozhi succeeded him.
11
王廙
Wang Yi
12
王廙，字世將，丞相導從弟，而元帝姨弟也。 父正，尚書郎。 廙少能屬文，多所通涉，工書畫，善音樂、射御、博弈、雜伎。 辟太傅掾，轉參軍。 豫迎大駕，封武陵縣侯，拜尚書郎，出為濮陽太守。 元帝作鎮江左，廙棄郡過江。 帝見之大悅，以為司馬。 頻守廬江、鄱陽二郡。 豫討周馥、杜韜，以功累增封邑，除冠軍將軍，鎮石頭，領丞相軍諮祭酒。 王敦啟為甯遠將軍、荊州刺史。
Wang Yi, courtesy name Shijiang, was a cousin of Grand Chancellor Wang Dao and, on his mother’s side, a younger cousin of Emperor Yuan of Jin. His father, Wang Zheng, had served as a gentleman in the Department of State Affairs. Wang Yi showed literary talent early, read widely, excelled at painting and calligraphy, and mastered music, archery, horsemanship, chess, and every sort of polite accomplishment. He was recruited to the grand tutor’s secretariat, then moved onto a general’s staff as military adviser. He took part in welcoming Emperor Min’s court to the east, was ennobled as marquis of Wuling county, rose to gentleman in the Department of State Affairs, and was then posted out as prefect of Puyang. When Sima Rui began building his power south of the Yangzi, Wang Yi resigned his prefecture and crossed the river to join him. The sovereign took an instant liking to him and named him marshal of his staff. He successively held the defense of Lujiang and Poyang. He fought in the campaigns against Zhou Fu and Du Tao, earned repeated enlargements of his fief, became General Who Crowns the Army with command at Stone Citadel, and joined the chancellor’s staff as libationer-adviser. Wang Dun petitioned the court to appoint him General Who Pacifies the Distance and inspector of Jingzhou.
13
及帝即位，廙奏《中興賦》，上疏曰：
After Emperor Yuan took the throne, Wang Yi presented his “Rhapsody on the Restoration” and laid before the throne a memorial that began:
14
文多不載。
The memorial ran too long to be copied into this history.
15
初，王敦左遷陶侃，使廙代為荊州。 將吏馬俊、鄭攀等上書請留侃，敦不許。 廙為俊等所襲，奔于江安。 賊杜曾與俊、攀北迎第五猗以距廙。 廙督諸軍討曾，又為曾所敗。 敦命湘州刺史甘卓、豫章太守周廣等助廙擊曾，曾衆潰，廙得到州。 廙性俊率，嘗從南下，旦自尋陽，迅風飛帆，暮至都，倚舫樓長嘯，神氣甚逸。 王導謂庾亮曰：「世將為傷時識事。」 亮曰：「正足舒其逸氣耳。」 廙在州大誅戮侃時將佐，及征士皇甫方回，於是大失荊土之望，人情乖阻。 帝乃征廙為輔國將軍，加散騎常侍。 以母喪去職。 服闋，拜征虜將軍，進左衛將軍。
Earlier, when Wang Dun had Tao Kan cashiered and sent Wang Yi to Jingzhou in his stead, staff officers Ma Jun and Zheng Pan petitioned to keep Tao Kan in place, but Wang Dun refused. Wang Yi was ambushed by Ma Jun’s faction and fled downriver to Jiang’an. The rebel Du Zeng joined Ma Jun and Zheng Pan in marching north to escort Fifth Yi into the field against Wang Yi. Wang Yi led government troops against Du Zeng and was beaten again. Wang Dun ordered Gan Zhuo of Xiangzhou, Zhou Guang of Yuzhang, and others to reinforce Wang Yi; Du Zeng’s army collapsed, and Wang Yi at last entered his provincial seat. Wang Yi was dashing and outspoken: sailing south from Xunyang under a favoring gale, he reached the capital the same evening, leaned on the cabin rail, and let out a long whistle, utterly at ease. Wang Dao remarked to Yu Liang, “Shijiang is the sort of man the age has scarred yet taught to read events keenly.” Yu Liang replied, “Then let him blow off that restless temper.” In Jingzhou Wang Yi carried out wholesale executions among Tao Kan’s old subordinates and even killed the recluse-scholar Huangfu Fanghui; he forfeited the goodwill of the local elite and alienated popular sentiment. The court recalled him as General Who Supports the State with the added honorific of cavalry attendant-at-large. He resigned to observe mourning for his mother. When the mourning term ended he was named General Who Captures Caitiffs and soon promoted to general of the left guard.
16
及王敦構禍，帝遣廙喻敦，既不能諫其悖逆，乃為敦所留，受任助亂。 敦得志，以廙為平南將領護南蠻校尉、荊州刺史。 尋病卒。 帝猶以親故，深痛湣之。 喪還京都，皇太子親臨拜柩，如家人之禮。 贈侍中、驃騎將軍，諡曰康。 明帝與大將軍溫嶠書曰：「痛謝鯤未絕於口，世將復至於此。 並盛年雋才，不遂其志，痛切於心。 廙明古多通，鯤遠有識致。 其言雖未足令人改聽，然味之不倦，近未易有也。 坐相視盡，如何！」
When Wang Dun rose against the throne, Emperor Yuan sent Wang Yi to talk him down; Wang Yi neither dissuaded him nor broke free, stayed under duress, and took office on the rebel side. After the coup Wang Dun made him General Who Pacifies the South, colonel of the Southern Man, and inspector of Jingzhou. He died of illness not long afterward. The emperor, remembering the family tie, mourned him with uncommon grief. As the hearse entered the capital, the heir apparent personally paid his respects at the bier as though mourning a kinsman. He was posthumously honored as palace attendant and general of agile cavalry; his posthumous epithet was Kang, “Peaceful.” Emperor Ming wrote to Wen Jiao, “I still ache whenever I speak of Xie Kun, and now Shijiang has met the same fate. Both were brilliant men cut off in their prime; the loss cuts deep. Wang Yi was steeped in the classics and encyclopedic; Xie Kun had a discerning mind and rare judgment. Their conversation might not overturn every prejudice, yet one could listen forever; in our own day few men rival them. We have stared at one another until words fail—what more is there to say!”
17
子頤之嗣，仕至東海內史。 頤之弟胡之，字修齡，弱冠有聲譽，歷郡守、侍中、丹陽尹。 素有風眩疾，發動甚數，而神明不損。 石季龍死，朝廷欲綏輯河洛，以胡之為西中郎將、司州刺史、假節，以疾固辭，未行而卒。 子茂之亦有美譽，官至晉陵太守。 子敬弘，義熙末為尚書。
His son Wang Yizhi succeeded him and rose to be internal secretary of the Eastern Sea princedom. Wang Yizhi’s brother Wang Huzhi, courtesy name Xiuling, was already celebrated when he came of age and served successively as prefect, palace attendant, and governor of the capital county. He had long suffered crippling spells of vertigo, yet his mind stayed perfectly clear between attacks. After Shi Hu’s death the court planned to recover the central plains and named Wang Huzhi General of the Gentlemen of the Household of the West and inspector of Sizhou with credential authority; ill health forced him to decline before he could take up the post, and he died. His son Wang Maozhi likewise enjoyed a fine name and became prefect of Jinling. A later descendant, Wang Jinghong, served as a minister at the close of the Yixi era.
19
弟彬
His younger brother Wang Bin
20
=彬字世儒。 少稱雅正，弱冠，不就州郡之命。 光祿大夫傅祗辟為掾。 後與兄廙俱渡江，為揚州刺史劉機建武長史。 元帝引為鎮東賊曹參軍，轉典兵參軍。 豫討華軼功，封都亭侯，湣帝召為尚書郎，以道險不就。 遷建安太守，徙義興內史，未之職，轉軍諮祭酒。
Wang Bin’s courtesy name was Shiru. Even as a youth he was praised for integrity; after his capping ceremony he ignored every provincial and local summons. Fu Zhi, superintendent of the household, recruited him to his secretariat. He later crossed the Yangzi with Wang Yi and joined Liu Ji’s staff in Yangzhou as chief clerk of the Establishing Might army. Emperor Yuan named him bandit-suppressing aide on the eastern headquarters staff, then shifted him to troop adjutant. He earned the duting marquisate for his part in crushing Hua Yi; Emperor Min called him to the capital as a gentleman of the masters of writing, but dangerous roads kept him from answering. He was slated for Jian’an and then Yixing, but before he could assume either post he was reassigned as army libationer-adviser.
21
中興建，稍遷侍中。 從兄敦舉兵石頭，帝使彬勞之。 會周顗遇害，彬素與顗善，先往哭顗，甚慟。 既而見敦，敦怪其有慘容，而問其所以。 彬曰：「向哭伯仁，情未能已。」 敦怒曰：「伯仁自致刑戮，且凡人遇汝，復何為者哉！」 彬曰：「伯仁長者，君之親友，在朝雖無謇諤，亦非阿黨，而赦後加以極刑，所以傷惋也。」 因勃然數敦曰：「兄抗旌犯順，殺戮忠良，謀圖不軌，禍及門戶。」 音辭慷慨，聲淚俱下。 敦大怒，厲聲曰：「爾狂悖乃可至此，為吾不能殺汝邪！」 時王導在坐，為之懼，勸彬起謝。 彬曰：「有腳疾已來，見天子尚欲不拜，何跪之有！ 此復何所謝！」 敦曰：「腳痛孰若頸痛？」 彬意氣自若，殊無懼容。 後敦議舉兵向京師，彬諫甚苦。 敦變色目左右，將收彬，彬正色曰：「君昔歲害兄，今又殺弟邪？」 先是，彬從兄豫章太守棱為敦所害，敦以彬親故容忍之。 俄而以彬為豫章太守。 彬為人樸素方直，乏風味之好，雖居顯貴，常布衣蔬食。 遷前將軍、江州刺史。
After the court moved south he rose step by step to palace attendant. When Wang Dun seized Stone Citadel, the emperor sent Wang Bin to offer him formal condolences. Zhou Yi had just been executed; Wang Bin, who had long been his friend, went first to mourn him and wept bitterly. When he then appeared before Wang Dun, Dun noticed his stricken face and demanded an explanation. Wang Bin said, “I was weeping for Zhou Yi a moment ago; the grief will not leave me.” Wang Dun snarled, “Zhou Yi courted his own death—and what business is it of yours?” Wang Bin answered, “Zhou Yi was your elder friend; he may not have spoken boldly at court, but he was no toady; to kill him even after the general amnesty is what wrings my heart.” He flared up and rebuked Wang Dun: “You march under rebel colors, butcher honest ministers, plot usurpation, and bring ruin on the whole clan.” His voice shook with fury and tears streamed down his face. Wang Dun roared, “You dare defy me like this—do you imagine I cannot cut you down?” Wang Dao, who was present, was terrified and begged Wang Bin to rise and apologize. Wang Bin retorted, “Ever since my leg trouble began I have refused to kneel even to the emperor—why should I kneel to Wang Dun? And what in the world would I be apologizing for?” Wang Dun sneered, “A sore foot is nothing beside a slit throat.” Wang Bin’s composure never wavered; not a trace of fear showed on his face. Later, when Wang Dun plotted another march on the capital, Wang Bin argued against it with bitter earnestness. Wang Dun’s face darkened and he signaled his guards to seize him; Wang Bin said coldly, “You murdered one brother years ago—will you kill another now?” Earlier Wang Dun had executed Wang Bin’s cousin Wang Ling, prefect of Yuzhang; only family feeling had kept Dun from harming Wang Bin himself. Soon afterward Wang Dun named him prefect of Yuzhang—perhaps to placate him. Wang Bin was plain, blunt, and frugal, with no taste for display; even at the summit of rank he dressed in homespun and ate simple fare. He advanced to General of the Front and inspector of Jiangzhou.
22
及敦死，王含欲投王舒，王應勸含投彬。 含曰：「大將軍平素與江州云何，汝欲歸之？」 應曰：「此乃所以宜往也。 江州當人強盛時，能立同異，此非常人所及。 睹衰厄，必興湣惻。 荊州守文，豈能意外行事！」 含不從，遂共投舒，舒果沈含父子于江。 彬聞應來，密具船以待之。 既不至，深以為恨。
After Wang Dun’s death Wang Han wanted to flee to Wang Shu, but Wang Ying urged him to seek Wang Bin instead. Wang Han asked, “Your father was never close to the Jiangzhou commander—why send us there?” Wang Ying replied, “That is precisely why we should go. When the Jiangzhou commander was at the height of his power, he still dared defy the grand general—few ordinary men could do that. Seeing kinsmen now ruined, he is bound to pity us. Jingzhou sticks to the rule book; it will never bend the rules for us.” Wang Han refused, went to Wang Shu instead, and Wang Shu drowned father and son in the Yangzi as expected. Wang Bin, hearing that Wang Ying might come, quietly readied boats to receive them. When they never appeared, he felt bitter regret.
23
敦平，有司奏彬及兄子安成太守籍之，並是敦親，皆除名。 詔曰：「司徒導以大義滅親，其後昆雖或有違，猶將百世宥之，況彬等公之近親。」 乃原之。 徵拜光祿勳，轉度支尚書。 蘇峻平後，改築新宮，彬為大匠。 以營創勳勞，賜爵關內侯，遷尚書右僕射。 卒官，年五十九。 贈特進、衛將軍，加散騎常侍，諡曰肅。 長子彭之嗣，位至黃門郎。 次彪之，最知名。
After the rebellion the ministry impeached Wang Bin and his nephew Wang Ji, prefect of Ancheng, as Wang Dun’s kinsmen and struck their names from office. An edict answered, “Minister Wang Dao set duty above family; though later kin sometimes stumbled, the merit of his house should shield them for generations—let alone men as close as Wang Bin.” The throne therefore quashed the impeachment. He was recalled as superintendent of the household, then promoted to minister of revenue. After Su Jun’s revolt the court rebuilt the palace complex, with Wang Bin as chief architect. For his labors in construction he received a marquisate within the passes and rose to vice director of the right of the Department of State Affairs. He died in harness at fifty-nine. He was posthumously advanced to specially advanced, general who guards the army, and cavalry attendant-at-large; his posthumous epithet was Su, “Stern.” His eldest son Wang Pengzhi inherited the title and rose to gentleman at the yellow gate. His second son, Wang Biao zhi, became the most celebrated of the line.
25
彬子彪之
Wang Bin’s son Wang Biao zhi
26
=彪之字叔武。 年二十，須鬢皓白，時人謂之王白須。 初除佐著作郎、東海王文學。 從伯導謂曰：「選官欲以汝為尚書郎，汝幸可作諸王佐邪！」 彪之曰：「位之多少既不足計，自當任之于時，至於超遷，是所不願。」 遂為郎。 鎮軍將軍、武陵王晞以為司馬，累遷尚書左丞、司徒左長史、御史中丞、侍中、廷尉。
Wang Biao zhi’s courtesy name was Shuwu. At twenty his beard and temples had already turned snowy white, and contemporaries nicknamed him “Lord White-Whiskers.” His first appointments were as editorial aide and tutor to the Prince of the Eastern Sea. His uncle Wang Dao teased him, “The personnel bureau wants you for gentleman of the masters of writing—would you really rather be a prince’s tutor?” Wang Biao zhi answered, “Rank is not what matters; I will take whatever office the times offer, but I have no taste for sudden jumps up the ladder.” So he took the gentleman post after all. General Who Garrisons the Army, Prince Sima Xi of Wuling, made him marshal; he climbed through supervising secretary, chief clerk of the minister of education, censor-in-chief, palace attendant, and minister of justice.
27
時永嘉太守謝毅。 赦後殺郡人周矯，矯從兄球詣州訴冤。 揚州刺史殷浩遣從事疏收毅，付廷尉。 彪之以球為獄主，身無王爵，非廷尉所料，不肯受，與州相反復。 穆帝發詔令受之。 彪之又上疏執據，時人比之張釋之。 時當南郊，簡文帝為撫軍，執政，訪彪之應有赦不。 答曰：「中興以來，郊祀往往有赦，愚意嘗謂非宜。 何者？ 黎庶不達其意，將謂效祀必赦，至此時，凶愚之輩復生心於僥倖矣。」 遂從之。
The affair began while Xie Yi was serving as prefect of Yongjia. After a general amnesty Xie Yi executed a local man named Zhou Jiao; Zhou’s cousin Zhou Qiu brought the case to the provincial yamen. Yin Hao, inspector of Yangzhou, sent an investigator to arrest Xie Yi and remand him to the minister of justice. Wang Biao zhi ruled that because Zhou Qiu acted as private prosecutor and held no noble title, the capital tribunal lacked jurisdiction; he refused the case and exchanged repeated protests with the province. Emperor Mu issued a rescript ordering the minister of justice to take jurisdiction. Wang Biao zhi memorialized again, standing on statute law until the court yielded; contemporaries likened him to the Han jurist Zhang Shizhi. As the court prepared the southern-suburb sacrifice, Emperor Jianwen—then regent as General Who Pacifies the Army—asked Wang Biao zhi whether a general amnesty should accompany the rite. Wang Biao zhi replied, “Ever since the court moved south, amnesties have routinely followed the suburban rites; in my humble view that practice is unwise. Why? The people will misunderstand: they will assume every suburban sacrifice brings a blanket pardon, and on that day the vicious and the desperate will gamble on impunity once again.” The throne accepted his advice.
28
轉吏部尚書。 簡文有命用秣陵令曲安遠補句容令，殿中侍御史奚郎補湘東郡。 彪之執不從，曰：「秣陵令三品縣耳，殿下昔用安遠，談者紛然。 句容近幾，三品佳邑，敢可處卜術之人無才用者邪！ 湘東雖復遠小，所用未有朗比，談者謂頗兼卜術得進。 殿下若超用寒悴，當充人才可拔。 朗等凡器，實未足充此選。」
He was promoted to minister of personnel. Emperor Jianwen ordered Moling prefect Qu Anyuan transferred to Jurong and palace attendant censor Xi Lang posted to Xiangdong. Wang Biao zhi refused the edict, saying, “Moling is merely a third-rank county; when Your Highness last placed Qu Anyuan there, the court buzzed with criticism. Jurong sits on the capital’s doorstep—a prized third-rank seat. How can we park a fortune-teller with no administrative ability there? Xiangdong may be remote, yet no previous nominee matched this Xi Lang; rumor already says he owes his rise to occult arts. If Your Highness means to elevate men from cold families, choose someone whose talent justifies the leap. Xi Lang and his like are mediocrity; they cannot bear these appointments.”
29
太尉桓溫欲北伐，屢詔不許。 溫輒下武昌，人情震懼。 或勸殷浩引身告退，彪之言于簡文曰：「此非保社稷為殿下計，皆自為計耳。 若殷浩去職，人情崩駭，天子獨坐。 既爾，當有任其責者，非殿下而誰！」 又謂浩曰：「彼抗表問罪，卿為其首。 事任如此，猜釁已構，欲作匹夫，豈有全地邪？ 且當靜以待之。 令相王與手書，示以款誠，陳以成敗，當必旋旆。 若不順命，即遣中詔。 如復不奉，乃當以正義相裁。 ，無故匆匆，先自猖蹶。」 浩曰：「決大事正自難，頃日來欲使人悶，聞卿此謀，意始得了。」 溫亦奉帝旨，果不進。
Grand Commandant Huan Wen pressed for a northern expedition, but repeated edicts withheld approval. Huan Wen marched down to Wuchang anyway, and panic spread through the bureaucracy. Some advisers told Yin Hao to resign; Wang Biao zhi said to Emperor Jianwen, “That counsel serves private careers, not the dynasty or Your Highness. If Yin Hao steps down, morale will shatter and the emperor will be left utterly isolated. When that happens, someone must answer for it—and who but Your Highness?” He turned to Yin Hao: “Huan Wen’s indictment names you first. Matters stand at mutual suspicion; if you try to walk away a private citizen, do you imagine there is safe ground anywhere? For now, stay calm and watch how the wind blows. Have the Prince of Langye send a personal letter laying out sincerity and the stakes—Huan Wen will wheel his army about. If he still defies you, issue an inner-court rescript. If he ignores that as well, only then meet him with the full weight of legitimate authority. Above all, do not panic without cause and be the first to bring everything down.” Yin Hao answered, “Great decisions are never easy; these days I have felt suffocated. Your plan finally clears my mind.” Huan Wen likewise obeyed the imperial command and went no farther.
30
時衆官漸多，而遷徙每速，彪之上議曰：
As offices multiplied and reshuffles accelerated, Wang Biao zhi laid before the throne a long memorial arguing that
31
為政之道，以得賢為急，非謂雍容廊廟，標的而已，固將蒞任贊時，職思其憂也。 得賢之道，在於蒞任； 蒞任之道，在於能久； 久於其道，天下化成。 是以三載考績，三考黜陟，不收一切之功，不采速成之譽。 故勳格辰極，道融四海，風流遐邈，聲冠百代。 凡庸之族衆，賢能之才寡，才寡於世而官多於朝，焉得不賢鄙共貫，清濁同官！ 官衆則闕多，闕多則遷速，前後去來，更相代補，非為故然，理固然耳。 所以職事未修，朝風未澄者也。 職事之修，在於省官； 朝風之澄，在於並職。 官省則選清而得久，職並則吏簡而俗靜； 選清則勝人久於其事，事久則中才猶足有成。
good government begins with securing worthy men—not with filling the ministry gallery like trophies on a wall, but with placing them in posts where they shoulder the age’s troubles. Talent is secured by giving appointees real responsibility; real responsibility requires that they be left in place long enough to matter; only long tenure lets the realm mature through their work. Hence the classical triennial review and nine-year cycle—never promoting on a single burst of hype or a flash reputation. That is how true merit reaches the throne, the Way suffuses the empire, and a statesman’s name endures for ages. Mediocrities swarm while genuine talent is scarce; with more chairs than capable men, the worthy and the worthless inevitably sit side by side, pure and foul mixed in the same ranks. More posts mean more vacancies, more vacancies mean constant musical chairs—no malice required; the arithmetic of bureaucracy makes it inevitable. That is why business piles up unfinished and court discipline never clarifies. To finish the work, trim redundant offices; to cleanse the court, merge overlapping portfolios. Fewer bureaus yield cleaner appointments and longer tenure; merged duties mean leaner clerical staffs and calmer administration; clear selection lets able men stay long enough to accomplish something—even middling talent matures with time.
32
今內外百官，較而計之，固應有並省者矣。 六卿之任，太常望雅而職重，然其所司，義高務約。 宗正所統蓋鮮，可以並太常。 宿衛之重，二衛任之，其次驍騎、左軍各有所領，無兵軍校皆應罷廢。 四軍皆罷，則左軍之名不宜獨立，宜改遊擊以對驍騎。 內官自侍中以下，舊員皆四，中興之初，二人而已。 二人對直，或有不周，愚謂三人，於事則無闕也。 凡余諸官，無綜事實者，可令大官隨才位所帖而領之，若未能頓廢，自可因缺而省之。 委之以職分，責之以有成，能否因考績而著，清濁隨黜陟而彰。 雖緝熙之隆、康哉之歌未可，使庶官之選差清，蒞職之日差久，無奉祿之虛費，簡吏寺之煩役矣。
A tally of capital and provincial posts shows where consolidation is overdue. The grand master of ceremonies bears august ritual duties yet his substantive workload is modest. The director of the imperial clan has little to administer; merge it with the ritual ministry. Palace security rests with the two guards commands and the swift-cavalry and left-army units; strip empty training cadres of their commissions. If four hollow armies go, the left-army title should not stand alone—rename it Roaming Attack to balance Swift Cavalry. Palace posts from attendant-in-chief down once had four incumbents each; at the court’s southern landing only two remained. Two men on rotating watch miss too much; three, I submit, cover the workload without waste. Other sinecures can be folded into parent ministries by competence; where posts cannot vanish overnight, let attrition shrink them. Define portfolios, demand results, and let triennial review separate able from useless, pure from corrupt. We may never reach the golden age of the Book of Documents, yet we can still make appointments a little cleaner, tours of duty a little longer, stop paying idle salaries, and ease the clerks’ grind.
33
永和末，多疾疫。 舊制，朝臣家有時疾，染易三人以上者，身雖無病，百日不得入宮。 至是，百官多列家疾，不入。 彪之又言：「疾疫之年，家無不染。 若以之不復人宮，則直侍頓闕，王者宮省空矣。」 朝廷從之。
Late in the Yonghe era epidemics raged. Old rules barred any minister whose household reported three contagious cases—even if he himself was well—from the palace for a hundred days. Officials now claimed sick families wholesale and stayed away. Wang Biao zhi answered, “In a plague year every household falls ill. If that keeps everyone out, the inner palaces lose every attendant and the sovereign sits in an empty court.” The court accepted his argument.
34
既而長安人雷弱兒、梁安等詐云殺苻健、苻眉，請兵應接。 時殷浩鎮壽陽，便進據洛，營復山陵。 屬彪之疾歸，上簡文帝箋，陳弱兒等容有詐偽，浩未應輕進。 尋而弱兒果詐，姚襄反叛，浩大敗，退守譙城。 簡文笑謂彪之曰：「果如君言。 自頃以來，君謀無遺策，張、陳何以過之！」
Soon Chang’an adventurers Lei Ruo’er and Liang An falsely reported the deaths of Fu Jian and Fu Mei and begged reinforcements. Yin Hao, stationed at Shouyang, pushed toward Luoyang to reopen the imperial tombs. Wang Biao zhi, home on sick leave, sent Emperor Jianwen a confidential memo warning that Lei Ruo’er’s story was probably bogus and Yin Hao should not march rashly. Lei Ruo’er’s tale collapsed, Yao Xiang mutinied, and Yin Hao’s army was routed back to Qiao. Emperor Jianwen smiled at Wang Biao zhi: “Events proved you right. Lately none of your counsel has missed; even Zhang Liang and Chen Ping could not have done better!”
35
轉領軍將軍，遷尚書僕射，以疾病，不拜。 徙太常，領崇德衛尉。 時或謂簡文曰：「武陵第中大修器杖，將謀非常也。」 簡文以彪之。 彪之曰：「武陵王志意盡于馳騁田獵耳。 願深靜之，以懷異同者。」 或復以此為言，簡文甚悅。
He was named general who leads the army and vice director of the Department of State Affairs, but illness kept him from taking up the latter post. He was shifted to grand master of ceremonies while heading the Chongde guard command. Someone told Emperor Jianwen, “The Prince of Wuling is stockpiling arms—surely he plots treason.” The emperor turned to Wang Biao zhi. Wang Biao zhi said, “His ambitions stop at hunting and the chase. Let the matter drop quietly and you will reassure doubters.” When the tale surfaced again, Emperor Jianwen was delighted with the answer.
36
復轉尚書僕射。 時豫州刺史謝奕卒，簡文遽使彪之舉可以代奕者。 對曰：「當今時賢，備簡高監。」 簡文曰：「人有舉桓雲者，君謂如何？」 彪之曰：「雲不必非才，然溫居上流，割天下之半。 其弟復處西籓，兵權盡出一門，亦非深根固蒂之宜也。 人才非可豫量，但當令不與殿下作異者耳。」 簡文頷曰：「君言是也。」
He was again named vice director of the Department of State Affairs. When Yuzhou inspector Xie Yi died, Emperor Jianwen urgently asked Wang Biao zhi whom to appoint. Wang Biao zhi replied, “Today’s able men are already on file with the high personnel office.” The emperor asked, “Someone suggests Huan Yun—your view?” Wang Biao zhi said, “Huan Yun may be capable, but Huan Wen already controls the upper Yangzi and half the empire. Placing his brother on another great regional command concentrates military power in one clan—not how you deepen the dynasty’s roots. Talent is hard to forecast—just be sure the nominee will not work against Your Highness.” Emperor Jianwen nodded. “You are right.”
37
後以彪之為鎮軍將軍、會稽內史，加散騎常侍。 居郡八年，豪右斂跡，亡戶歸者三萬餘口。 桓溫下鎮姑孰，威勢震主，四方修敬，皆遣上佐綱紀。 彪之獨曰：「大司馬誠為富貴，朝廷既有宰相，動靜之宜自當諮稟。 修敬若遣綱紀，致貢天子復何以過之！」 竟不遣。 溫以山陰縣折布米不時畢，郡不彈糾，上免彪之。 彪之去郡，郡見罪謫未上州台者，皆原散之。 溫復以為罪，乃檻收下吏。 會赦，免，左降謫為尚書。
Later Wang Biao zhi became General Who Garrisons the Army and internal secretary of Kuaiji, with the added honorific of cavalry attendant-at-large. Eight years in office cowed the magnates and brought back over thirty thousand registered taxpayers. When Huan Wen camped at Gushu, his might overshadowed the throne; every province sent chief secretaries to pay court. Only Wang Biao zhi said, “The grand marshal is already supreme, but the court still has a chancellor; major decisions belong in consultation with him. If courtesy means dispatching secretaries, how is that different from paying homage only to the emperor?” He therefore sent no envoy to Huan Wen. Huan Wen impeached Wang Biao zhi because Shanyin county delayed its cloth-for-rice levy and Kuaiji failed to discipline the magistrate. On leaving office he voided every local sentence that had not yet reached the provincial tribunal. Huan Wen treated even that as an offense, threw him in a cage, and handed him to jailors. An amnesty freed him; he was reduced to ordinary minister of state.
38
頃之，復僕為射。 是時溫將廢海西公，百僚震栗，溫亦色動，莫知所為。 彪之既知溫不臣跡已著，理不可奪。 乃謂溫曰：「公阿衡皇家，便當倚傍先代耳。」 命取《霍光傳》。 禮度儀制，定于須臾，曾無懼容。 溫歎曰：「作元凱不當如是邪！」 時廢立之儀既絕於曠代，朝臣莫有識其故典者。 彪之神彩毅然，朝服當階，文武儀准莫不取定，朝廷以此服之。 溫又廢武陵王遵，以事示彪之。 彪之曰：「武陵親尊，未有顯罪，不可以猜嫌之間，便相廢徙。 公建立聖明，遐邇歸心，當崇獎王室，伊周同美。 此大事，宜更深詳。」 溫曰：「此已成事，卿勿復言。」
Soon he was again named vice director of the Department of State Affairs. When Huan Wen prepared to depose Emperor Hai, the court froze; Huan Wen himself paled, unsure how to proceed. Wang Biao zhi saw that Huan Wen’s usurpation was now plain and could not be denied. He told Huan Wen, “You are the dynasty’s Huo Guang; look to the precedents of antiquity.” He ordered the Archival “Life of Huo Guang” brought forward. In minutes he laid out the ritual program, never flinching. Huan Wen marveled, “Even the ancient paragons Xi and Qi could not have done better!” Deposition protocol had been forgotten for generations; no minister remembered the forms. Wang Biao zhi, in full court dress on the palace steps, dictated every detail of the abdication ceremony, and the bureaucracy deferred to him. When Huan Wen next moved against Prince Sima Zun of Wuling, he consulted Wang Biao zhi. Wang Biao zhi objected: “The prince is close kin and highly placed; he has committed no clear crime—suspicion alone cannot justify his removal. You have enthroned a worthy sovereign and won the realm’s trust; you should exalt the house of Jin as Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou did. This is too grave a matter to rush.” Huan Wen cut him off: “The matter is settled—say no more.”
39
及簡文崩，群臣疑惑，未敢立嗣。 或云，宜當須大司馬處分。 彪之正色曰：「君崩，太子代立，大司馬何容得異！ 若先面諮，必反為所責矣。」 於是朝議乃定。 及孝武帝即位，太皇太后令以帝沖幼，加在諒闇，令溫依周公居攝故事。 事已施行，彪之曰：「此異常大事，大司馬必當固讓，使萬機停滯，稽廢山陵，未敢奉令。 謹具封還內，請停。」 事遂不行。
When Emperor Jianwen died, the court hesitated, afraid to name an heir. Some argued the decision must wait on the grand marshal. Wang Biao zhi said flatly, “The heir succeeds when the sovereign dies—Huan Wen has no say in it. Seek his nod first and you will only invite blame.” The court took his line and confirmed the succession. Emperor Xiaowu’s accession brought an edict from the grand empress dowager: the boy emperor was in mourning seclusion, so Huan Wen should act as regent after the Duke of Zhou model. The rescript was about to issue when Wang Biao zhi protested, “Regency is too grave: Huan Wen will refuse, paralyze government, and delay the imperial tombs—I cannot endorse this. He sealed the edict back to the palace and asked that it be withdrawn.” The plan died.
40
溫遇疾，諷朝廷求九錫，袁宏為文，以示彪之。 彪之視訖，歎其文辭之美，謂宏曰：「卿固大才，安可以此示人！」 時謝安見其文，又頻使巨集改之，巨集遂逡巡其事。 既屢引日，乃謀於彪之。 彪之曰：「聞彼病日增，亦當不復支久，自可更小遲回。」 宏從之，溫亦尋薨。
Ailing, Huan Wen hinted that the court award him the Nine Bestowals; Yuan Hong drafted the patent and showed it to Wang Biao zhi. Wang Biao zhi read it through, praised Yuan Hong’s prose, then warned, “You are a great writer—never circulate a draft like this.” Xie An also saw the draft and kept sending Yuan Hong back to revise it; Yuan Hong dragged his feet. Days stretched on until Yuan Hong sought Wang Biao zhi’s counsel. Wang Biao zhi said, “Huan Wen worsens by the day; he cannot last—stall a little longer.” Yuan Hong obeyed; Huan Wen soon died.
41
時桓沖及安夾輔朝政，安以新喪元輔，主上未能親覽萬機，太皇太后宜臨朝，彪之曰：「先代前朝，主在繈抱，母子一體，故可臨朝。 太后亦不能決政事，終是顧問僕與君諸人耳。 今上年出十歲，垂婚冠，反令從嫂臨朝，示人君幼弱，豈是翼戴讚揚立德之謂乎！ 二君必行此事，豈僕所制，所惜者大體耳。」 時安不欲委任桓沖，故使太后臨朝決政，獻替專在乎自己。 彪之不達安旨，故以為言。 安竟不從。
Huan Chong and Xie An now co-ruled; Xie An argued that after losing the senior regent the young emperor could not manage every memorial, so the grand empress dowager should hold court. Wang Biao zhi answered, “Earlier dynasties allowed a regent mother only when the sovereign was still an infant in arms. Even then the dowager did not decide policy—she merely consulted ministers like us. Our emperor is past ten, almost ready to marry and take the cap; having a sister-in-law preside would advertise his weakness—hardly how we “support the throne and build virtue.” If you two insist, I cannot stop you—but think of the precedent you set.” Xie An really wanted to keep Huan Chong from power, so he used the dowager as a front while he pulled the strings. Wang Biao zhi did not grasp Xie An’s motive and argued as he did. Xie An ignored him.
42
尋遷尚書令，與安共掌朝政。 安每曰：「朝之大事，衆不能決者，諮王公無不得判。」 以年老，上疏乞骸骨，詔不許。 轉拜護軍將軍，加散騎常侍。 安欲更營宮室，彪之曰：「中興初，即位東府，殊為儉陋，元明二帝亦不改制。 蘇峻之亂，成帝止蘭台都坐，殆不蔽寒暑，是以更營修築。 方之漢魏，誠為儉狹，復不至陋，殆合豐約之中，今自可隨宜增益修補而已。 強寇未殄，正是休兵養士之時，何可大興功力，勞擾百姓邪！」 安曰：「宮室不壯，後世謂人無能。」 彪之曰：」任天下事，當保國甯家，朝政惟允，豈以修屋宇為能邪！」 安無以奪之。」 故終彪之之世，不改營焉。
Soon Wang Biao zhi became minister of the secretariat, sharing governance with Xie An. Xie An used to say, “Whenever the bureaucracy deadlocks, one audience with Duke Wang settles it.” Age drove him to ask retirement; the throne refused. He was shifted to general who guards the army with the added title of cavalry attendant-at-large. Xie An wanted new palace works; Wang Biao zhi objected that the court had begun in the cramped Eastern Mansion and that Emperors Yuan and Ming had never expanded it. Su Jun’s rebellion had forced Emperor Cheng into the Orchid Terrace offices, barely shielded from the elements—only then were modest repairs justified. Beside Han and Wei palaces ours is small, yet not squalid—it strikes a balance; today we need only patch what is needed. Strong enemies remain; this is a time to rest armies and spare the people, not launch vast building projects.” Xie An answered, “If the halls are not magnificent, posterity will call us feeble.” Wang Biao zhi shot back, “Statesmen secure the altars and keep policy just—since when is masonry the test of ability!” Xie An had no reply. No palace overhaul occurred while Wang Biao zhi lived.
43
加光祿大夫、儀同三司，未拜。 疾篤，帝遣黃門侍郎問所苦，賜錢三十萬以營醫藥。 太元二年卒，年七十三。 即以光祿為贈，諡曰簡。 二子：越之，撫軍參軍； 臨之，東陽太守。
He was offered grand master of splendid happiness with three-ducal ceremony but never took up the seals. When he worsened, the emperor sent a yellow-gate gentleman to inquire after his pain and three hundred thousand cash for physicians. He died in the second year of Taiyuan, aged seventy-three. He was posthumously honored as grand master of splendid happiness with the epithet Jian, “Concise.” His sons were Wang Yuezhi, aide to the pacification general, and Wang Linzhi, prefect of Eastern Yang.
45
彬從兄棱
Wang Ling, elder cousin of Wang Bin
46
=棱字文子，彬季父國子祭酒琛之子也。 少曆清官。 渡江，為元帝丞相從事中郎。 從兄導以棱有政事，宜守大郡，乃出為豫章太守，加廣武將軍。 棱知從兄敦驕傲自負，有罔上心，日夕諫諍，以為宜自抑損，推崇盟主，且群從一門，並相與服事，應務相崇高，以隆勳業。 每言苦切。 敦不能容，潛使人害之。
Wang Ling, courtesy Wenzi, was a son of Wang Chen, the national-academy libationer—Wang Bin’s uncle by birth. He began his career in unsullied posts. After crossing the Yangzi he joined the chancellor’s staff under Emperor Yuan. Wang Dao, seeing his talent for administration, sent him out as prefect of Yuzhang with the added rank of General Who Extends Might. Wang Ling knew Wang Dun’s arrogance and disloyalty and remonstrated without rest: Dun must humble himself, honor the covenant chief, and let the whole Wang clan serve the throne in concert to enlarge their common achievement. His words were blunt to the point of pain. Wang Dun could not bear the criticism and had him murdered in secret.
47
弟侃，亦知名，少曆顯職，位至吳國內史。
His brother Wang Kan also rose to fame, serving in high posts up to internal secretary of the Wu princedom.
48
虞潭
Yu Tan
49
虞潭，字思奧，會稽餘姚人，吳騎都尉翻之孫也。 父忠，仕至宜都太守。 吳之亡也，堅壁不降，遂死之。 潭清貞有檢操，州辟從事、主簿，舉秀才，大司馬、齊王冏請為祭酒，除祁鄉令，徙醴陵令。 值張昌作亂，郡縣多從之，潭獨起兵斬昌別率鄧穆等。 襄陽太守華恢上潭領建平太守，以疾固辭。 遂周旋征討，以軍功賜爵都亭侯。 陳敏反，潭東下討敏弟贊于江州。 廣州刺史王矩上潭領廬陵太守。 綏撫荒餘，咸得其所。 又與諸軍共平陳恢，仍轉南康太守，進爵東鄉侯。 尋被元帝檄，使討江州刺史華軼。 潭至廬陵，會軼已平，而湘川賊杜弢猶盛。 江州刺史衛展上潭並領安成太守。 時甘卓屯宜陽，為杜弢所逼。 潭進軍救卓，卓上潭領長沙太守，固辭不就。 王敦版潭為湘東太守，復以疾辭。 弢平後，元帝召補丞相軍諮祭酒，轉琅邪國中尉。
Yu Tan, courtesy name Si’ao, came from Yuyao in Kuaiji and was a grandson of Yu Fan, Wu’s cavalry commandant. His father Yu Zhong rose to prefect of Yidu. When Wu fell he refused to surrender, held his walls, and died for his prince. Yu Tan was upright and disciplined: he served the province as clerk and chief clerk, passed the cultivated-talent exam, joined Prince Sima Jiong’s staff as libationer, then became magistrate of Qixiang and Liling. When Zhang Chang rebelled and counties sided with him, Yu Tan alone raised a loyalist force and executed Zhang’s lieutenant Deng Mu. Xiangyang prefect Hua Hui asked that Yu Tan also hold Jianping, but illness forced him to decline. He campaigned through the rebellion and earned the duting marquisate. When Chen Min revolted, Yu Tan marched east and crushed Chen Min’s brother Chen Zan in Jiangzhou. Guangzhou inspector Wang Ju had him add the Luling prefecture. He pacified the refugees and resettled every group. With the allied armies he next defeated Chen Hui, took Nankang, and was promoted to marquis of the eastern village. Emperor Yuan then ordered him against Jiangzhou inspector Hua Yi. By the time he reached Luling, Hua Yi was already gone, but Du Tao still held the Xiang region. Jiangzhou inspector Wei Zhan added Ancheng to his portfolio. Gan Zhuo was trapped at Yiyang by Du Tao. Yu Tan marched to relieve Gan Zhuo, who then asked the court to add Changsha—Yu Tan refused. Wang Dun’s field appointment made him Xiangdong prefect; again he pleaded illness. After Du Tao fell, Emperor Yuan recalled him as army libationer-adviser, then made him interior commandant for the Prince of Langye.
50
帝為晉王，除屯騎校尉，徙右衛將軍，遷宗正卿，以疾告歸。 會王含、沈充等攻逼京都，潭遂於本縣招合宗人，及郡中大姓，共起義軍，衆以萬數，自假明威將軍。 乃進赴國難，至上虞。 明帝手詔潭為冠軍將軍，領會稽內史。 潭即受命，義衆雲集。 時有野鷹飛集屋梁，衆咸懼。 潭曰：「起大義，而剛鷙之鳥來集，破賊必矣。」 遣長史孔坦領前鋒過浙江，追躡充。 潭次於西陵，為坦後繼。 會充已擒，罷兵，徵拜尚書，尋補右衛將軍，加散騎常侍。
When Sima Rui was still prince of Jin, Yu Tan became colonel of garrison cavalry, then right guard, then director of the imperial clan; ill health sent him home. When Wang Han and Shen Chong besieged the capital, Yu Tan rallied his lineage and the great clans of Yuyao, raised ten thousand loyalists, and styled himself General Who Displays Bright Might. He marched toward the capital as far as Shangyu. Emperor Ming’s autograph named him General Who Crowns the Army and internal secretary of Kuaiji. He accepted at once, and loyalist bands flocked to him. A wild hawk settled on his roofbeam and unnerved the troops. Yu Tan said, “We march in a just cause and a bird of prey alights on us—the rebels will break.” He sent chief clerk Kong Tan with the vanguard across the Zhe in pursuit of Shen Chong. Yu Tan encamped at Xiling to back Kong Tan’s vanguard. Shen Chong was already taken; Yu Tan stood down his army, became a minister, soon added colonel of the right guard and cavalry attendant-at-large.
51
成帝即位，出為吳興太守，秩中二千石，加輔國將軍。 以討充功，進爵零縣侯。 蘇峻反，加潭督三吳、晉陵、宣城、義興五郡軍事。 會王師敗績，大駕逼遷，潭勢弱，不能獨振，乃固守以俟四方之舉。 會陶侃等下，潭與郗鑒、王舒協同義舉。 侃等假潭節、監揚州浙江西軍事。 潭率衆與諸軍並勢，東西猗角。 遣督護沈伊距管商于吳縣，為商所敗，潭自貶還節。
Under Emperor Cheng he became prefect of Wuxing at two thousand piculs middle rank, with the added title General Who Supports the State. His part in defeating Shen Chong won him the marquisate of Ling county. Su Jun’s revolt brought him command over the armies of Sanwu, Jinling, Xuancheng, and Yixing. Imperial troops had collapsed and the court fled; too weak to strike alone, Yu Tan dug in and waited for allies. When Tao Kan’s host arrived, Yu Tan coordinated with Xi Jian and Wang Shu. Tao Kan gave him the credential axe and authority over Yangzhou west of the Zhe. Yu Tan joined the allied armies in a pincers east and west of the enemy. His supervisor Shen Yi lost to Guan Shang at Wu; Yu Tan surrendered his staff of office in self-blame.
52
尋而峻平，潭以母老，輒去官還餘姚。 詔轉鎮軍將軍、吳國內史。 復徙會稽內史，未發，還復吳郡。 以前後功，進爵武昌縣侯，邑一千六百戶。 是時軍荒之後，百姓饑饉，死亡塗地，潭乃表出倉米振救之。 又修滬瀆壘，以防海抄，百轉賴之。
After Su Jun fell he resigned to care for his aged mother in Yuyao. The court recalled him as General Who Garrisons the Army and internal secretary of the Wu princedom. He was slated for Kuaiji but returned to Wu instead. Past and present service raised his fief to marquis of Wuchang with sixteen hundred households. After the wartime famine corpses lined the roads; Yu Tan opened the granaries. He rebuilt the Hudu stockade against coastal raiders, to the people’s relief.
53
咸康中，進衛將軍。 潭貌雖和弱，而內堅明，有膽決，雖屢統軍旅，而鮮有傾敗。 以毋憂去職。 服闕，以侍中、衛將軍徵。 既至，更拜光祿大人、開府儀同三司，給親兵三百人，侍中如故。 年七十九，卒於位。 追贈左光祿大夫，開府、侍中如故，諡曰孝烈。 子仡嗣，官至右將軍司馬。 仡卒，子嘯父嗣。
Mid-Xiankang brought promotion to general who guards the army. Yu Tan looked mild but was steely within; despite many campaigns he seldom lost. Mourning for his mother forced him out. After mourning the court summoned him as palace attendant and general who guards the army. On arrival he received grand master of splendid radiance, independent office with three-ducal ceremony, three hundred household guards, and kept his palace post. He died in office at seventy-nine. He was posthumously honored as palace attendant of the left and grand master of splendid happiness with his former titles restored; his epithet was Xiaolie, “Filial and Ardent.” His son Yu Yi succeeded him and rose to marshal of the right general. Yu Yi’s son Yu Xiaofu inherited the title.
55
孫嘯父
Yu Xiaofu
56
=嘯父少曆顯位，後至侍中，為孝武帝所親愛，嘗侍飲宴，帝從容問曰：「卿在門下，初不聞有所獻替邪？」 嘯父家近海，謂帝有所求，對曰：「天時尚溫，{制魚}魚蝦鮓未可致，尋當有所上獻。」 帝大笑。 因飲大醉，出，拜不能起，帝顧曰：「扶虞侍中。」 嘯父曰：「臣位未及扶，醉不及亂，非分之賜，所不敢當。」 帝甚悅。 隆安初，為吳國內史。 征補尚書，未發，而王廞舉兵，版嘯父行吳興太守。 嘯父即入吳興應廞。 廞敗，有司奏嘯父與廞同謀，罪應斬。 詔以祖潭舊勳，聽以疾贖為庶人。 四年，復拜尚書。 桓玄用事，以為太尉左司馬。 尋遷護軍將軍，出為會稽內史。 義熙初，去職，卒於家。
Yu Xiaofu rose through prominent posts to palace attendant, a favorite of Emperor Xiaowu. At a banquet the emperor teased him, “Since you joined my gate bureau, I have heard hardly a word of frank counsel from you.” Yu Xiaofu, whose home faced the sea, assumed the emperor wanted delicacies and answered, “The weather is still warm—salted fish and shrimp paste are not ready yet, but I will send some up soon.” The emperor roared with laughter. He drank himself insensible, staggered out, and could not bow; the emperor called, “Help Counselor Yu.” Yu Xiaofu replied, “I am not yet of the rank that needs an arm, nor drunk enough to need help—such favor is more than I may accept.” The emperor was delighted. Early in Long’an he became internal secretary of the Wu princedom. He was recalled to the ministry before Wang Yin rebelled and commissioned him acting prefect of Wuxing. Yu Xiaofu marched into Wuxing to support Wang Yin. After Wang Yin’s defeat the ministry charged Yu Xiaofu as co-conspirator, a capital crime. The throne, remembering Yu Tan’s service, allowed him to commute sentence to commoner status for reasons of health. Four years later he was again named minister. Under Huan Xuan he became senior aide on the left of the grand commandant. Soon he was general who guards the army and internal secretary of Kuaiji. Early in Yixi he retired and died at home.
58
兄子𩦎
Yu Tan’s nephew Yu Mo (the received text writes his personal name with the rare character 𩦎).
59
=𩦎字思行，潭之兄子也。 雖機幹不及於潭，然而素行過之。 與譙國桓彝俱為吏部郎，情好甚篤。 彝遣溫拜𩦎，𩦎使子穀拜彝。 曆吳興太守、金紫光祿大夫。 王導嘗謂𩦎曰：「孔愉有公才而無公望，丁潭有公望而無公才，兼之者，其在卿乎！」 官未達而喪，時人惜之。 子谷，位至吳國內史。
Yu Mo, courtesy Sixing, was the son of Yu Tan’s elder brother. He lacked Yu Tan’s political flair but surpassed him in personal integrity. He and Huan Yi of Qiao both served as gentlemen of the ministry of personnel and became close friends. Huan Yi had Huan Wen pay a formal call on Yu Mo; Yu Mo had his son Yu Gu return the courtesy. He served as prefect of Wuxing and golden-purple grand master of splendid happiness. Wang Dao once told him, “Kong Yu has the makings of a statesman but not the presence; Ding Tan has the presence but not the substance—perhaps you unite both.” He died before reaching high office, to contemporaries’ regret. His son Yu Gu rose to internal secretary of the Wu princedom.
60
顧衆
Gu Zhong
61
顧衆，字長始，吳郡吳人，驃騎將軍榮之族弟也。 父秘，交州刺史，有文武才幹。 衆出後伯父，早終，事伯母以孝聞。 光祿硃誕器之。 州辟主簿，舉秀才，除余杭、秣陵令，並不行。 元帝為鎮東將軍。 命為參軍。 以討華軼功，封東鄉侯，辟丞相掾。 秘卒，州人立衆兄壽為刺史，為州人所害，衆往交州迎喪，值杜弢之亂，崎嶇六年乃還。 秘曾蒞吳興，吳興義故以衆經離寇難，共遺錢二百萬，一無所受。
Gu Zhong, courtesy Changshi, was a native of Wu county and a kinsman of Gu Rong, general of agile cavalry. His father Gu Mi had been inspector of Jiaozhou, a man of both civil and military talent. Gu Zhong was adopted to his late uncle’s line and earned a reputation for filial care of his aunt. Zhu Dan, grand master of splendid happiness, singled him out for praise. The province named him chief clerk and recommended him as cultivated talent; appointments to Yuhang and Moling he declined. When Emperor Yuan held the eastern headquarters, he named Gu Zhong a staff aide. He earned the eastern-village marquisate against Hua Yi and joined the chancellor’s secretariat. When Gu Mi died the locals tried to make Gu Zhong’s brother Gu Shou inspector; rioters murdered Gu Shou; Gu Zhong went south to fetch his father’s bier, was trapped six years by Du Tao’s rebellion, and only then got home. Gu Mi had once governed Wuxing; old friends there, pitying Gu Zhong’s ordeal under the rebels, offered two million cash, which he refused.
62
及帝踐阼，徵拜駙馬都尉、奉朝請，轉尚書郎。 大將軍王敦請為從事中郎，上補南康太守。 會詔除鄱陽太守，加廣武將軍。 衆徑之鄱陽，不過敦，敦甚怪焉。 及敦構逆，令衆出軍，衆遲回不發。 敦大怒，以軍期召衆還，詰之，聲色甚厲。 衆不為動容，敦意漸釋。 時敦又怒宣城內史陸喈，衆又辨明之。 敦長史陸玩在坐，代衆危懼，出謂衆曰：「卿真所謂剛亦不吐，柔亦不茹，雖仲山甫何以加之！」 敦事捷，欲以衆為吳興內史。 衆固辭，舉吏部郎桓彝，彝亦讓衆，事並不行。 敦鎮姑孰，復以衆為從事中郎。 敦平，除太子中庶子，為義興太守，加揚威將軍。
At Emperor Yuan’s accession he became commandant for the heir-apparent and court attendant, then gentleman of the masters of writing. Wang Dun recruited him as staff aide and nominated him for Nankang. Before he took up Nankang, an edict named him prefect of Poyang with the added rank of General Who Extends Might. Gu Zhong went straight to Poyang without visiting Wang Dun, who took deep offense. When Wang Dun rebelled he ordered Gu Zhong to mobilize; Gu Zhong stalled. Wang Dun recalled him under military deadline and berated him furiously. Gu Zhong never flinched; Wang Dun’s rage slowly cooled. When Wang Dun next turned on Xuancheng prefect Lu Kai, Gu Zhong cleared him again. Wang Dun’s chief clerk Lu Wan, terrified for Gu Zhong, told him afterward, “You are ‘hard or soft, nothing swallowed wrong’—even Zhong Shanfu could do no more.” After Wang Dun’s coup he wanted Gu Zhong as prefect of Wuxing. Gu Zhong refused and nominated Huan Yi; Huan Yi yielded back; nothing came of it. When Wang Dun moved to Gushu he again put Gu Zhong on his staff. After the rebellion he became junior mentor to the crown prince, prefect of Yixing, and General Who Displays Might.
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蘇峻反，王師敗績，衆還吳，潛圖義舉。 時吳國內史庾冰奔於會稽，峻以蔡謨代之。 前陵江將軍張悊為峻收兵于吳，衆遣人喻悊，悊從之。 衆乃遣郎中徐機告謨曰：「衆已潛闔家兵，待時而奮，又與張悊克期效節。」 謨乃檄衆為本國督護，揚威將軍仍舊，衆從弟護軍將軍颺為威遠將軍、前鋒督護。 吳中人士同時響應。
When Su Jun crushed the imperial army, Gu Zhong slipped back to Wu to organize resistance. Wu princedom internal secretary Yu Bing fled to Kuaiji; Su Jun installed Cai Mo. Former river-clearing general Zhang Zhi was raising troops for Su Jun; Gu Zhong won him over. Gu Zhong sent Xu Ji to tell Cai Mo that he had armed his household and allied with Zhang Zhi for a coordinated strike. Cai Mo then commissioned Gu Zhong as native-place supervisor with his old brevet rank, while Gu Zhong’s cousin Gu Yang became General Who Displays Far Might and vanguard coordinator. Wu gentry rose with them.
64
峻遣將弘徽領甲卒五百，鼓行而前。 衆與颺、悊要擊徽，戰于高莋，大破之，收其軍實。 謨以冰當還任，故便去郡。 衆遣颺率諸軍屯無錫。 冰至，鎮禦亭，恐賊從海虞道入，衆自往備之。 而賊率張健、馬流攻無錫，颺等大敗，庚冰亦失守，健等遂據吳城。 衆自海虞由婁縣東倉與賊別率交戰，破之，義軍又集進屯烏苞。 會稽內史王舒、吳興內史虞潭並檄衆為五郡大督護，統諸義軍討健。 潭遣將姚休為衆前鋒，與賊戰沒。 衆還守紫壁。
Su Jun sent Hong Hui with five hundred armored men marching to the drum. Gu Zhong, Gu Yang, and Zhang Zhi ambushed Hong Hui at Gao zuo, routed him, and seized his supplies. Cai Mo expected Yu Bing back and vacated the prefecture. Gu Zhong sent Gu Yang to encamp at Wuxi. Yu Bing held Yuting while Gu Zhong covered the Haiyu approach. Zhang Jian and Ma Liu struck Wuxi, shattered Gu Yang, and Yu Bing lost Yuting as well; the rebels seized Wu. Gu Zhong slipped from Haiyu through Lou county, beat a rebel detachment at the east granary, and rallied loyalists at Wubao. Wang Shu of Kuaiji and Yu Tan of Wuxing named Gu Zhong coordinator of five commanderies to attack Zhang Jian. Yu Tan’s vanguard Yao Xiu died fighting the rebels. Gu Zhong fell back to Zibi.
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時賊党方銳，義軍沮退，人咸勸衆過浙江。 衆曰：「不然。 今保固紫壁，可得全錢唐以南五縣。 若越他境，便為寓軍，控引無所，非長計也。」 臨平人範明亦謂衆曰：「此地險要，可以制寇，不可委也。」 衆乃版明為參軍。 明率宗黨五百人，合諸軍，凡四千人，復進討健。 健退于曲阿，留錢弘為吳令。 軍次路丘，即斬弘首。 衆進住吳城，遣督護硃祈等九軍，與蘭陵太守李閎共守庱亭。 健遣馬流、陶陽等往攻之。 閎與祈等逆擊，大破之，斬首二千餘級。
Rebel morale was high and loyalists wavered; many urged Gu Zhong to withdraw south of the Zhe. Gu Zhong said, “No. If we hold Zibi we keep the five counties south of Qiantang. If we flee south we become homeless auxiliaries with no base—that is no strategy.” Fan Ming of Linping added, “This ground is the key to the defense—we dare not yield it.” Gu Zhong breveted Fan Ming as staff adviser. Fan Ming led five hundred kinsmen; with allies they mustered four thousand and struck Zhang Jian again. Zhang Jian fell back to Qu’a and left Qian Hong as Wu magistrate. The loyalists camped at Luqiu and beheaded Qian Hong. Gu Zhong reoccupied Wu, sent Zhu Qi with nine columns alongside Lanling prefect Li Min to hold Kuangting. Zhang Jian sent Ma Liu and Tao Yang against them. Li Min and Zhu Qi counterattacked, killing over two thousand.
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峻平，論功，衆以承檄備義，推功於謨，謨以衆唱謀，非己之力，俱表相讓，論者美之。 封鄱陽縣伯，除平南軍司，不就。 更拜丹陽尹、本國大中正，入為侍中，轉尚書。 咸康末，遷領軍將軍、揚州大中正，固讓不拜。 以母憂去職。
After Su Jun fell, Gu Zhong credited Cai Mo for the coalition order while Cai Mo credited Gu Zhong’s initiative; their mutual deference drew praise. He was ennobled as marquis of Poyang and named army director under the General Who Pacifies the South but declined. He became chief of Danyang, native-place grand rectifier, palace attendant, then minister. Late in Xiankang he was offered general who leads the army and Yangzhou grand rectifier; he refused. Mourning for his mother forced him out.
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穆帝即位，何充執政，復征衆為領軍，不起。 服闕，乃就。 是時充與武陵王不平，衆會通其間，遂得和釋。 充崇信佛教，衆議其糜費，每以為言。 嘗與充同載，經佛寺，充要衆入門。 衆不下車。 充以衆州裏宿望，每優遇之。 以年老，上疏乞骸骨，詔書不許。 遷尚書僕射。 永和二年卒，時年七十三。 追贈特進、光祿大夫，諡曰靖。 長子昌嗣，為建康令。 第三子會，中軍諮議參軍。 時稱美士。
Under Emperor Mu, He Chong recalled him as general who leads the army; he stayed home. When the mourning term ended he accepted. He Chong feuded with the Prince of Wuling; Gu Zhong mediated until peace returned. He Chong lavishly patronized Buddhism; Gu Zhong criticized the expense whenever he could. Once, riding with He Chong past a monastery, He Chong asked him inside. Gu Zhong stayed in the carriage. He Chong still honored him as an elder of their home commandery. In old age he asked to retire; the throne refused. He was promoted to vice director of the Department of State Affairs. He died in the second year of Yonghe, aged seventy-three. He was posthumously advanced to specially advanced and grand master of splendid happiness with the epithet Jing, “Tranquil.” His eldest son Gu Chang succeeded him and served as magistrate of Jiankang. His third son Gu Hui was an aide on the central army staff. Contemporaries ranked him among the finest gentlemen of the age.
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張闓
Zhang Kai
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張闓，字敬緒，丹陽人，吳輔吳將軍昭之曾孫也。 少孤，有志操。 太常薛兼進之於元帝，言闓才幹貞固，當今之良器。 即引為安東參軍，甚加禮遇。 轉丞相從事中郎，以母憂去職。 既葬，帝強起之，闓固辭疾篤。 優命敦逼，遂起視事。 及帝為晉王，拜給事黃門侍郎，領本郡大中正。 以佐翼勳，賜爵丹陽縣侯，遷侍中。
Zhang Kai, courtesy Jingxu, came from Danyang and was a great-grandson of Zhang Zhao, who had served Wu as auxiliary general. Orphaned young, he showed both ambition and integrity. Grand Master Xue Jian recommended him to Emperor Yuan as a man of steadfast talent—the sort of vessel the age needed. Emperor Yuan named him aide on the eastern headquarters staff and treated him with marked respect. He moved to the chancellor’s staff, then resigned to mourn his mother. After the funeral the emperor ordered him back to duty; Zhang Kai pleaded grave illness. Repeated rescripts pressed him until he returned to his desk. When Sima Rui was still prince of Jin, Zhang Kai became gentleman for court affairs at the yellow gate and native-place grand rectifier. For aiding the prince’s rise he received the Danyang marquisate and a palace post.
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帝踐阼，出補晉陵內史，在郡甚有威惠。 帝下詔曰：「夫二千石之任，當勉勵其德，綏齊所蒞，使寬而不縱，嚴而不苛，其于勤功督察，便國利人，抑強扶弱，使無雜濫，真太守之任也。 若聲過其實，古人所不取。 功乎異端，為政之甚害，蓋所貴者本也。」 闓遵而行之。 時所部四縣並以旱失田，闓乃立曲阿新豐塘，溉田八百餘頃，每歲豐稔。 葛洪為其頌。 計用二十一萬一千四百二十功，以擅興造免官。 後公卿並為之言曰：「張闓興陂溉田，可謂益國，而反被黜，使臣下難復為善。」 帝感悟，乃下詔曰：「丹陽侯闓昔以勞役部人免官，雖從吏議，猶未掩其忠節之志也。 倉廩國之大本，宜得其才，今以闓為大司農。」 闓陳黜免始爾，不宜便居九列。 疏奏，不許，然後就職。 帝晏駕，以闓為大匠卿，營建平陵，事畢，遷尚書。 蘇峻之役，闓與王導俱入宮侍衛。 峻使闓持節權督東軍。 王導潛與闓謀，密宣太后詔于三吳，令速起義軍。 陶侃等至，假闓節，行征虜將軍，與振威將軍陶回共督丹陽義軍。 闓到晉陵，使內史劉耽盡以一部穀，並遣吳郡度支運四部穀，以給車騎將軍郗鑒。 又與吳郡內史蔡謨、前吳興內史虞潭、會稽內史王舒等招集義兵，以討峻。 峻平，以尚書加散騎常侍，賜爵宜陽伯。 遷廷尉，以疾解職，拜金紫光祿大夫。 尋卒，時年六十四。 子混嗣。 闓箋表文議傳於世。
At the accession he became internal secretary of Jinling, ruling with both authority and kindness. The emperor published an edict praising the true prefect’s task: lenient yet not lax, strict yet not cruel, aiding the weak and checking the strong. Reputation without substance the sages rejected. Novelty-seeking harms government; the root is what matters.” Zhang Kai took the admonition as his standard. Drought had ruined the four counties under him, so he built the Xinfeng reservoir at Qu’a, irrigating over eight hundred qing of good land and securing yearly harvests. Ge Hong wrote a hymn to the project. The works consumed 211,420 labor units; unauthorized building cost him his post. Senior officials petitioned: “Zhang Kai’s waterworks helped the empire—punishing him discourages every good deed.” The emperor relented: “Though the ministry cashiered Marquis Zhang for overworking the people, his loyal intent should not be buried. Granaries are the state’s foundation—name Zhang Kai minister of agriculture.” Zhang Kai protested that a man just stripped of office should not vault into the nine senior ministries. The throne refused his memorial, and he took up the seal. He directed Emperor Yuan’s tomb works, then became a minister of state. During Su Jun’s revolt he entered the palace with Wang Dao to defend the sovereign. Su Jun made him credential-bearing supervisor of eastern forces. Wang Dao conspired with him to circulate the empress dowager’s call for loyalist armies in the Wu region. When Tao Kan arrived, Zhang Kai received brevet rank as General Who Captures Caitiffs and, with Tao Hui, commanded the Danyang loyalists. At Jinling he had Liu Dan release one full granary and routed four convoys of grain from Wu to feed Xi Jian’s army. With Cai Mo, Yu Tan, Wang Shu, and others he raised militias against Su Jun. After the victory he kept his ministerial post, added cavalry attendant-at-large, and received the Yiyang barony. Illness forced him from the ministry of justice; he retired as golden-purple grand master of splendid happiness. He died soon after, aged sixty-four. His son Zhang Hun succeeded him. His memorials and state papers circulated for generations.
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史評
Historian’s appraisal
72
史臣曰：季孫行父稱見有禮於其君者，如孝子之養父母； 無禮於其君者，如鷹鸇之逐鳥雀。 是以石碏戮厚，叔向誅鮒，前史以為美譚。 王敦之惡，不足矜其類。 然而硃家容布，為大俠之首； 酈寄載呂，興賣友之譏。 亦所以激揚風俗，弘長名教。 王彬艤船而厚其所薄，王舒沈江而薄其所厚，較之優劣，斷乎可知。 思行、彪之厲風規於多僻之日，虞潭、顧衆徇貞心于危蹙之辰。 龍管為出納之端，{制魚}魚非獻替之術，嘯父之對，何其鄙歟！
The historians wrote: Jisun Xingfu said that ministers who honor their ruler resemble dutiful children, while those who insult him are hawks tearing at sparrows. Hence Shi Que executed his son and Shu Xiang his nephew—old histories praised such rectitude. Wang Dun’s infamy hardly earns sympathy for his whole clan. Zhu Jia’s sheltering of Ji Bu made him the model knight-errant, while Ying Ji’s betrayal of Lü Lu earned the eternal label of friend-seller. Both episodes stirred public mores and reinforced moral teaching. Wang Bin quietly readied boats for kin he scorned; Wang Shu drowned kin he favored—whose conduct was nobler is plain. Yu Mo and Wang Biao zhi held the line in a decadent age; Yu Tan and Gu Zhong risked everything when the throne tottered. Treasury clerks handle accounts; salted fish is no substitute for frank counsel—how petty Yu Xiaofu’s seaside reply looks beside such men!
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贊曰：處明夙令，聲頹暮年。 允之騂角，無棄山川。 廙稱多藝，綢繆哲後。 二三其德，亦孔之醜。 世儒憤發，慟顗陵敦。 彪之不撓，甯浩旋溫。 顧實南金，虞惟東箭。 銑質無改，筠心不變，公望公才，𩦎為其選。
Encomium: Wang Shu shone early, though his star faded late in life. Wang Yunzhi from boyhood never flinched from field and flood. Wang Yi’s brilliance bound him to a shrewd young sovereign. His wavering loyalty matched the Book of Songs’ warning against “two-three virtues”—an ugly stain. Wang Bin’s outburst, mourning Zhou Yi under Wang Dun’s glare, awed his age. Wang Biao zhi’s iron spine checked Yin Hao and turned Huan Wen. Gu Zhong was southern gold; Yu Tan the eastern arrow of Wu. Refined mettle unbent, a heart straight as bamboo—when the age needed both prestige and ability, Yu Mo was the man they chose.