Volume 85 Biographies 55: Liu Yi; Zhuge Changmin; He Wuji; Tan Pingzhi; Wei Yongzhi

劉毅

Liu Yi.

劉毅，字希樂，彭城沛人也。曾祖距，廣陵相。叔父鎮，左光祿大夫。毅少有大志，不修家人產業，仕為州從事，桓弘以為中兵參軍屬。桓玄篡位，毅與劉裕、何無忌、魏詠之等起義兵，密謀討玄，毅討徐州刺史桓修于京口、青州刺史桓弘于廣陵。裕率毅等至竹裏，玄使其將皇甫敷、吳甫之北距義軍，遇之于江乘，臨陣斬甫之，進至羅落橋，又斬敷首。玄大懼，使桓謙、何澹之屯覆舟山。毅等軍至蔣山，裕使羸弱登山，多張旗幟，玄不之測，益以危懼。謙等士卒多北府人，素懾伏裕，莫敢出鬥。裕與毅等分為數隊，進突謙陣，皆殊死戰，無不一當百。時東北風急，義軍放火，煙塵張天，鼓噪之音震駭京邑，謙等諸軍一時奔散。玄既西走，裕以毅為冠軍將軍、青州刺史，與何無忌、劉道規躡玄。玄逼帝及琅邪王西上，毅與道規及下邳太守孟懷玉等追及玄，戰于崢嶸洲。毅乘風縱火。盡銳爭先，玄眾大潰，燒輜重夜走。玄將郭銓、劉雅等襲陷尋陽，毅遣武威將軍劉懷肅討平之。

Liu Yi, whose courtesy name was Xile, came from Pei in the Pengcheng region. His great-grandfather Liu Ju had served as chancellor of Guangling. His uncle Liu Zhen had held the post of left household grandee with the golden seal and purple ribbon. From his youth Liu Yi aimed high and kept no careful household estate. He entered service as a provincial clerk, and Huan Hong made him an aide in the central army staff. After Huan Xuan seized the throne, Liu Yi joined Liu Yu, He Wuji, Wei Yongzhi, and others in raising a loyal army and secretly planning to bring Huan Xuan down. Liu Yi himself struck at Inspector of Xuzhou Huan Xiu at Jingkou and Inspector of Qingzhou Huan Hong at Guangling. Liu Yu brought Liu Yi and the rest as far as Zhuli. Huan Xuan dispatched his generals Huangfu Fu and Wu Fuzhi to block the loyal forces from the north. They met at Jiangsheng, where Wu Fuzhi was beheaded in the fighting. The army pushed on to Luoluo Bridge and there took Huangfu Fu’s head as well. Huan Xuan panicked and ordered Huan Qian and He Danzhi to camp at Mount Fuzhou. When Liu Yi’s men reached Mount Jiang, Liu Yu sent feebler troops up the slopes with a forest of banners. Huan Xuan could not read their strength and only grew more alarmed. Most of Huan Qian’s troops were Northern Headquarters veterans who had always feared Liu Yu, and none would step forward to offer battle. Liu Yu and Liu Yi split into several columns and hurled themselves at Huan Qian’s formation. Every man fought as if his life depended on it, each worth a hundred ordinary soldiers. A stiff northeasterly wind was blowing. The loyal army kindled fires; smoke and dust blotted out the sky, and the roar of drums and war cries shook the capital. Huan Qian’s army scattered in a single rush. Once Huan Xuan had fled westward, Liu Yu named Liu Yi champion general and inspector of Qingzhou and, with He Wuji and Liu Daogui, set off in pursuit. Huan Xuan drove the emperor and the prince of Langye upriver. Liu Yi, Liu Daogui, and Xiapi prefect Meng Huaiyu caught him and gave battle at Zhengrong Islet. Liu Yi used the wind to his advantage and set the enemy fleet ablaze. His picked troops vied to lead the charge. Huan Xuan’s army collapsed completely, torched its baggage, and slipped away under cover of darkness. Huan Xuan’s generals Guo Quan and Liu Ya seized Xunyang by surprise. Liu Yi sent General Who Displays Might Liu Huaisu, who crushed them and restored order.

及玄死，桓振、桓謙復聚眾距毅於靈溪。玄將馮該以兵會振，毅進擊，為振所敗，退次尋陽，坐免官，尋原之。劉裕命何無忌受毅節度，無忌以督攝為煩，輒便解統。毅疾無忌專擅，免其琅邪內史，以輔國將軍攝軍事，無忌遂與毅不平。毅唯自引咎，時論韙之。毅復與道規發尋陽。桓亮自號江州刺史，遣劉敬宣擊走之。毅軍次夏口。時振党馮該戍大岸，孟山圖據魯城，桓山客守偃月壘，眾合萬人，連艦二岸，水陸相援。毅督眾軍進討，未至復口，遇風飄沒千餘人。毅與劉懷肅、索邈等攻魯城，道規攻偃月壘，何無忌與檀祗列艦于中流，以防越逸。毅躬貫甲胄，陵城半日而二壘俱潰，生擒山客，而馮該遁走。毅進平巴陵。以毅為使持節、兗州刺史，將軍如故。毅號令嚴整，所經墟邑，百姓安悅。南陽太守魯宗之起義，襲襄陽，破桓蔚。毅等諸軍次江陵之馬頭。振擁乘輿，出營江津。宗之又破偽將溫楷，振自擊宗之。毅因率無忌、道規等諸軍破馮該于豫章口，推鋒而進，遂入江陵。振聞城陷，與謙北走，乘輿反正。毅執玄党卞範之、羊僧壽、夏侯崇之、桓道恭等，皆斬之。桓振復與苻宏自鄖城襲陷江陵，與劉懷肅相持。毅遣部將擊振，殺之，並斬偽輔將軍桓珍。毅又攻拔遷陵，斬玄太守劉叔祖于臨幛。其餘擁眾假號以十數，皆討平之。二州既平，以毅為撫軍將軍。時刁預等作亂，屯於湘中，毅遣將分討，皆滅之。

When Huan Xuan was dead, Huan Zhen and Huan Qian rallied their forces and opposed Liu Yi at Ling Brook. Huan Xuan’s general Feng Gai brought his men to Huan Zhen. Liu Yi attacked but was beaten by Zhen, fell back to Xunyang, was stripped of office for the defeat, and was soon forgiven. Liu Yu told He Wuji to serve under Liu Yi’s orders. He Wuji resented the extra layer of command and simply dropped his coordinating role. Liu Yi blamed He Wuji for acting on his own, dismissed him as interior steward of Langye, and himself took up military authority as general who supports the state. He Wuji never forgave him. Liu Yi alone accepted responsibility, and contemporaries thought that was to his credit. He then marched out of Xunyang again with Liu Daogui. Huan Liang declared himself inspector of Jiangzhou until Liu Jingxuan attacked and routed him. Liu Yi’s army stopped at Xiakou. Meanwhile Feng Gai, a follower of Huan Zhen, held the Great Shore; Meng Shantu occupied Lu City; Huan Shanke defended the Crescent Rampart. They had perhaps ten thousand men, ships chained along both shores, and mutual support by river and land. Liu Yi led the combined armies forward. Before they could reach Xiakou, a gale sank more than a thousand men. Liu Yi with Liu Huaisu and Su Miao struck Lu City; Liu Daogui hit the Crescent Rampart; He Wuji and Tan Zhi anchored a battle line midstream to block any escape downstream. Liu Yi buckled on armor and helmet himself. By midday both fortifications had fallen to his escalade. Huan Shanke was taken alive and Feng Gai fled. He went on to pacify Baling. The court named him credential-bearing inspector of Yanzhou while leaving his military title as it was. His discipline was tight and his march orderly, and in the wasted towns along his route the people felt safe and grateful. Lu Zongzhi, prefect of Nanyang, rose in loyalty, struck Xiangyang, and broke Huan Wei’s force. The allied columns under Liu Yi camped at Matou on the road to Jiangling. Huan Zhen brought the imperial carriage out to the river landing by his camp. Lu Zongzhi next defeated the pretender’s general Wen Kai, drawing Huan Zhen out against him in person. Liu Yi then led He Wuji, Liu Daogui, and the rest to crush Feng Gai at the Yuzhang outlet, pushed the vanguard through, and took Jiangling. When Huan Zhen learned the city was lost, he fled north with Huan Qian, and the emperor’s train was restored to its proper place. Liu Yi seized Huan Xuan’s adherents—Bian Fanzhi, Yang Shoushou, Xiahou Chongzhi, Huan Daogong, and the rest—and had every one of them executed. Huan Zhen joined Fu Hong in a strike from Yuncheng that retook Jiangling, where he locked horns with Liu Huaisu. Liu Yi detached generals who struck the rebel leader Huan Zhen and killed him, then executed the pretender’s assistant general Huan Zhen as well. He next stormed Qianling and executed Huan Xuan’s prefect Liu Shuzu at Linzhang. Several dozen other bands that had raised troops under bogus titles were hunted down and destroyed. Once both provinces were quiet, he was promoted to general who pacifies the army. When Diao Yu and others mutinied and camped in the middle Xiang region, Liu Yi sent columns against them and exterminated every band.

初，毅丁憂在家，及義旗初興，遂墨絰從事。至是，軍役漸寧，上表乞還京口，以終喪禮，曰：「弘道為國者，理盡於仁孝。訴窮歸天者，莫甚於喪親。但臣凡庸，本無感概，不能隕越，故其宜耳。往年國難滔天，故志竭愚忠，靦然苟存。去春鸞駕回軫，而狂狡未滅，雖奸凶時梟，餘燼竄伏，威懷寡方，文武勞弊，微情未申，顧景悲憤。今皇威遐肅，海內清蕩，臣窮毒艱穢，亦已具於聖聽。兼羸患滋甚，眾疾互動，如今寢頓無復人理。臣之情也，本不甘生；語其事也，亦可以沒。乞賜餘骸，終其丘墳，庶幾忠孝之道獲宥於聖世。」不許。詔以毅為都督豫州揚州之淮南曆陽廬江安豐堂邑五郡諸軍事、豫州刺史，持節、將軍、常侍如故，本府文武悉令西屬。以匡復功，封南平郡開國公，兼都督宣城軍事，給鼓吹一部。梁州刺史劉稚反，毅遣將討擒之。初，桓玄于南州起齋，悉畫盤龍於其上，號為盤龍齋。毅小字盤龍，至是，遂居之。俄進拜衛將軍、開府儀同三司。

Earlier, while at home in mourning for his parents, he had bound his hair with ink-dark hemp the moment the loyal army rose and gone straight into the campaign. As the fighting eased, he petitioned to return to Jingkou and finish his mourning, writing: “For anyone who advances the state’s Way, duty is fulfilled only in humanity and filial devotion. Nothing weighs on the heart like the loss of one’s parents. Yet I am a commonplace man without heroic fire; I could not bring myself to cast duty aside, and that is why I stayed at my post. When the realm was drowning in disaster I gave what poor loyalty I had and grimly held on. Last spring the court returned east, yet the rebels were still not gone. Heads rolled among the ringleaders, but embers of the revolt hid everywhere. The court’s blend of force and mercy was too thin, officials and troops were exhausted, my private grief had no vent, and I nursed my resentment alone. Today your awe runs everywhere and the empire is calm; the bitterness and shame I have endured are already known to your sage ears. Moreover my wasting sickness worsens by the day, ailments pile on one another, and I can barely rise—I am scarcely fit to be called alive. By inclination I do not wish to cling to life for its own sake; and if we speak plainly, I could accept death. I beg leave to surrender what is left of me to the graves of my parents, so that loyalty and filial duty may both find pardon in this enlightened reign.” The throne refused. An edict named him military overseer for Huainan, Liyang, Lujiang, Anfeng, and Tangyi across Yu and Yang provinces, inspector of Yu province, with his old titles of credential bearer, general, and regular attendant; every officer of his staff was told to follow him west. For helping restore the house of Jin he was enfeoffed duke who opens the state at Nanping, given added command of Xuancheng, and awarded a full set of martial music. When Liu Zhi, inspector of Liangzhou, revolted, Liu Yi sent a general who captured him. Long before, Huan Xuan had raised a hall in the southern prefecture and painted coiling dragons on every beam, naming it the Coiling Dragon Hall. Liu Yi’s childhood name had been Coiling Dragon; he now took up residence there. Shortly afterward he was promoted to guard general with privilege equal to the three highest ministers.

及何無忌為盧循所敗，賊軍乘勝而進，朝廷震駭。毅具舟船討之，將發，而疾篤，內外失色。朝議欲奉乘輿北就中軍劉裕，會毅疾瘳，將率軍南征，裕與毅書曰：「吾往與妖賊戰，曉其變態。今修船垂畢，將居前撲之。克平之日，上流之任皆以相委。」又遣毅從弟籓往止之。毅大怒，謂籓曰：「我以一時之功相推耳，汝便謂我不及劉裕也！」投書於地。遂以舟師二萬發姑孰。徐道覆聞毅將至建鄴，報盧循曰：「劉毅兵重，成敗擊此一戰，宜並力距之。」循乃引兵發巴陵，與道覆連旗而下。毅次於桑落洲，與賊戰，敗績，棄船，以數百人步走，餘眾皆為賊所虜，輜重盈積，皆棄之。毅走，經涉蠻晉，饑困死亡，至得十二三。參軍羊邃竭力營護之，僅而獲免。劉裕深慰勉之，復其本職。毅乃以邃為諮議參軍。

After He Wuji fell to Lu Xun, the rebel host rolled forward and the court was terrified. Liu Yi fitted out a fleet to strike back, but as the day of sailing neared he fell desperately ill, and everyone feared the worst. Some ministers wanted the emperor moved north to Liu Yu’s headquarters. Then Liu Yi rallied and prepared to march south himself. Liu Yu wrote: “In earlier battles with those bandits I learned their tricks. Our fleet is almost ready; I mean to take the van and hit them first. Once they are broken, I will leave the whole upper river to you.” He also sent Liu Yi’s cousin Liu Fan to dissuade him. Liu Yi exploded at Liu Fan: “I only stepped aside for him once on merit; do you think I am Liu Yu’s inferior?” He flung the letter to the floor. He put to sea from Gushu with twenty thousand men aboard war junks. Xu Daofu, learning that Liu Yi was nearing Jianye, told Lu Xun: “Liu Yi’s host is massive. Everything turns on this one clash. We must throw our full strength against him.” Lu Xun thereupon marched from Baling and joined Xu Daofu’s streamers for a descent downriver. Liu Yi anchored at Sangluo Islet, gave battle, and was shattered. He abandoned his fleet and fled ashore with a few hundred men while every other soldier was captured and mountains of supplies were left to the enemy. On the retreat through tribal hills and settled counties, hunger and exposure killed so many that barely one man in ten survived. His adjutant Yang Sui nursed him at mortal risk until he scraped through alive. Liu Yu received him with warm reassurance and restored his former office. Liu Yi then appointed Yang Sui advisory adjutant.

及裕討循，詔毅知內外留事。毅以喪師，乞解任，降為後將軍。尋轉衛將軍、開府儀同三司、江州都督。毅上表曰：

When Liu Yu marched against Lu Xun, an edict left Liu Yi in charge of capital business, inside and out. After losing his army he asked to resign and was demoted to rear general. Before long he was shifted to guard general with three-office privilege and military command over Jiangzhou. He then tabled a long memorial that began:

臣聞天以盈虛為運，政以損益為道。時否而政不革，人凋而事不損，則無以救急病于已危，拯塗炭於將絕。自頃戎車屢駭，干戈溢境，所統江州，以一隅之地當逆順之沖，自桓玄以來，驅蹙殘敗，至乃男不被養，女無匹對，逃亡去就，不避幽深，自非財殫力竭，無以至此。若不曲心矜理，有所厘改，則靡遺之歎奄焉必及。

“I have heard that Heaven moves in cycles of waxing and waning, and good government rests on knowing when to add and when to cut. When times turn bad but policy stays unchanged, when the people are exhausted yet burdens stay heavy, there is no way to cure a dying patient or lift a nation from the fire.” “For years armies have trampled back and forth and weapons have crowded the frontiers. Jiangzhou, which I oversee, is one narrow wedge caught between loyalists and rebels. Since Huan Xuan’s day it has been harried until men cannot clothe themselves and women cannot marry, until people flee to the remotest valleys—nothing but utter destitution could reduce a region to this.” “Unless you bend policy to mercy and reform, the cry that nothing survives will soon be ours as well.”

夫設官分職，軍國殊用，牧養以息務為大，武略以濟事為先。兼而領之，蓋出於權事，因藉既久，遂似常體。江州在腹心之內，憑接揚豫，籓屏所倚，實為重復。昔胡寇縱逸。朔馬臨江，抗禦之宜，蓋權爾耳。今江左區區，戶不盈數十萬，地不逾數千里，而統旅鱗次，未獲減息，大而言之，足為國恥。況乃地在無虞，而猶置軍府文武將佐，資費非要，豈所謂經國大情，揚湯去火者哉！自州郡邊江，百姓遼落，加郵亭險閡，畏阻風波，轉輸往復，恆有淹廢，又非所謂因其所利以濟其弊者也，愚謂宜解軍府，移鎮豫章，處十郡之中，厲簡惠之政，比及數年，可有生氣。且屬縣凋散，示有所存，而役調送迎不得止息，亦謂應隨宜併合以簡眾費。刺史庾悅，自臨蒞以來，甚有恤隱之誠，但綱維不革，自非綱目所理。尋陽接蠻，宜示有遏防，可即州府千兵以助郡戍。

“Offices exist for separate purposes: armies fight, magistrates nurture. Pacifying the people means easing their burdens; military affairs mean getting the job done.” “Piling both roles on one man was a wartime expedient; it has lasted so long it now looks normal.” “Jiangzhou sits in the empire’s belly, links Yang and Yu, and props the outer provinces—it is already overloaded.” “When northern raiders once ran wild,” “their horsemen came to the great river, and the defenses we threw up were meant to be temporary.” “Today the territory south of the river is small—fewer than a few hundred thousand households, not many thousand li across—yet armies are stacked layer on layer with no reduction. Taken as a whole it is a disgrace to the state.” “To keep a full military staff where there is no danger, spending treasure for no good reason—can anyone call that sound government or anything but pouring oil on the fire?” “Along the river counties lie empty and cut off; courier posts are treacherous, travelers dread the crossings, and supplies rot in transit—that is not helping the people with what helps you. I urge you to abolish the army office, move headquarters to Yuzhang amid ten commanderies, and rule with lean staffs and generous mercy. In a few years the region can breathe again.” “The outlying counties are ruined yet escorts and levies never stop; merge jurisdictions where you can and cut the waste.” “Inspector Yu Yue has meant well since he arrived, but without structural reform even his zeal cannot reach every problem.” “Xunyang fronts tribal country and needs a visible guard: detach a thousand men from the prefectural army to stiffen the county posts.”

於是解悅，毅移鎮豫章，遣其親將趙恢領千兵守尋陽。俄進毅為都督荊甯秦雍四州之河東河南廣平揚州之義成四郡諸軍事、衛將軍、開府儀同三司、荊州刺史，持節、公如故。毅表荊州編戶不盈十萬，器械索然。廣州雖凋殘，猶出丹漆之用，請依先准。於是加督交、廣二州。

Yu Yue was therefore dismissed. Liu Yi moved his seat to Yuzhang and sent his confidant Zhao Hui with a thousand men to garrison Xunyang. Soon after he was promoted military overseer for Hedong, Henan, Guangping, and Yicheng across Jing, Ning, Qin, and Yong, guard general with three-office privilege, inspector of Jing province, keeping his credentials and ducal title unchanged. Liu Yi pointed out that Jingzhou had fewer than a hundred thousand registered households and almost no usable weapons or stores. Even battered, Guangzhou still supplied lacquer and cinnabar; he asked the court to honor its earlier commitment of those resources. The court added Jiao and Guang provinces to his supervisory portfolio.

毅至江陵，乃輒取江州兵及豫州西府文武萬餘，留而不遣，又告疾困，請籓為副。劉裕以毅貳於己，乃奏之。安帝下詔曰：「劉毅傲很凶戾，履霜日久，中間覆敗，宜即顯戮。晉法含弘，復蒙寵授。曾不思愆內訟，怨望滋甚。賴宰輔藏疾，特加遵養，遂復推轂陝西，寵榮隆泰，庶能洗心感遇，革音改意，而長惡不悛，志為奸宄，陵上虐下，縱逸無度。既解督任，江州非復所統，而輒徙兵眾，略取軍資，驅斥舊戍，厚樹親黨。西府二局，文武盈萬，悉皆割留，曾無片言。肆心恣欲，罔顧天朝。又與從弟籓遠相影響，招聚剽狡，繕甲阻兵，外托省疾，實規伺隙，同惡想濟，圖會荊郢。尚書左僕射謝混憑藉世資，超蒙殊遇，而輕佻躁脫，職為亂階，扇動內外，連謀萬里。是而可忍，孰不可懷！」乃誅籓、混。

Once Liu Yi reached Jiangling he kept over ten thousand Jiangzhou soldiers and western-office staff from the Yu region without releasing them, pleaded serious illness, and asked to have Liu Fan as his deputy. Seeing that Liu Yi was turning against him, Liu Yu laid the case before the throne. Emperor An promulgated an edict: “Liu Yi is proud, brutal, and violent; his malice has ripened for years. After his crushing defeat he should already have been put to death in the open market. The law of Jin is forgiving, and he was favored with a new commission anyway. Yet he never reflected on his errors or humbled himself; his complaints only grew sharper. The ministers covered for him and coddled him; he was again sent west with the highest honors, in hope he would repent and show gratitude. Instead he clung to evil, schemed treason, browbeat his superiors, crushed his subordinates, and gave free rein to his appetites. Though stripped of overall command over Jiangzhou, he marched troops about without authority, seized army stores, expelled established garrisons, and packed key posts with his own people. He held back the entire western headquarters—well over ten thousand officials and troops—and never informed the court. He followed every whim and treated the central government with contempt. He and his cousin Liu Fan signaled each other across the distance, recruited ruffians, readied arms, feigned illness while watching for a chance, and conspired with like-minded rebels to link the Jing and Ying regions. Xie Hun, left supervisor of the Masters of Writing, traded on his family name for undue favor, then fanned sedition at court and abroad until his intrigues reached across the realm. If we can tolerate this, we can tolerate anything!” Liu Fan and Xie Hun were put to death.

劉裕自率眾討毅，命王弘、王鎮惡、蒯恩等率軍至豫章口，於江津燔舟而進。毅參軍硃顯之逢鎮惡，以所統千人赴毅。鎮惡等攻陷外城，毅守內城，精銳尚數千人，戰至日昃，鎮惡以裕書示城內，毅怒，不發書而焚之。毅冀有外救，督士卒力戰。眾知裕至，莫有鬥心。既暮，鎮惡焚諸門，齊力攻之，毅眾乃散，毅自北門單騎而走，去江陵二十里而縊。經宿，居人以告，乃斬於市，子侄皆伏誅。毅兄模奔于襄陽，魯宗之斬送之。

Liu Yu took the field in person against Liu Yi, sending Wang Hong, Wang Zhen’e, and Kuai En to the Yuzhang outlet, where they torched their transports at the landing and pressed upstream. Liu Yi’s adjutant Zhu Xianzhi ran into Wang Zhen’e and threw his thousand-man detachment into Liu Yi’s defense. Wang Zhen’e broke the outer wall while Liu Yi held the inner citadel with thousands of picked men. The battle raged until late afternoon, when Wang Zhen’e had Liu Yu’s letter displayed on the walls. Liu Yi, furious, refused to read it and burned it unread. Liu Yi still hoped for rescue and drove his men to fight to the last. Once the troops realized Liu Yu himself was coming, their will to fight collapsed. At nightfall Wang Zhen’e set fire to the gates and stormed in with every man. Liu Yi’s army melted away. He bolted alone through the north gate and hanged himself twenty li from Jiangling. The next morning townspeople reported the body, and he was beheaded in the marketplace; his sons and nephews were killed with him. His elder brother Liu Mo fled toward Xiangyang; Lu Zongzhi cut him down and forwarded the head to the capital.

毅剛猛沈斷，而專肆很愎，與劉裕協成大業，而功居其次，深自矜伐，不相推伏。及居方岳，常怏怏不得志，裕每柔而順之。毅驕縱滋甚，每覽史籍，至藺相如降屈于廉頗，輒絕歎以為不可能也。嘗云：「恨不遇劉項，與之爭中原。」又謂郗僧施曰：「昔劉備之有孔明，猶魚之有水。今吾與足下雖才非古賢，而事同斯言。」眾咸惡其陵傲不遜。及敗于桑落，知物情去己，彌復憤激。初，裕征盧循，凱歸，帝大宴于西池，有詔賦詩。毅詩云：「六國多雄士，正始出風流。」自知武功不競，故示文雅有餘也。後於東府聚樗蒱大擲，一判應至數百萬，余人並黑犢以還，唯劉裕及毅在後。毅次擲得雉，大喜，褰衣繞床，叫謂同坐曰：「非不能盧，不事此耳。」裕惡之，因挼五木久之，曰：「老兄試為卿答。」既而四子俱黑，其一子轉躍未定，裕厲聲喝之，即成盧焉。毅意殊不快，然素黑，其面如鐵色焉，而乃和言曰：「亦知公不能以此見借！」既出西籓，雖上流分陝，而頓失內權，又頗自嫌事計，故欲擅其威強，伺隙圖裕，以至於敗。

Liu Yi was iron-willed and decisive, but also pigheaded and cruel. He and Liu Yu had built the restoration together, yet he always stood second in credit, nursed a towering vanity, and refused to yield pride of place. Once he governed a great province he sulked at every turn; Liu Yu kept smoothing his ruffled feathers. He grew ever more arrogant. Reading how Lin Xiangru humbled himself before Lian Po, he would slam the book shut and declare such deference beyond him. He once said, “I only wish I had faced Liu Bang and Xiang Yu so I could have fought them for the heartland.” He told Xi Sengshi, “When Liu Bei had Zhuge Liang beside him, it was like a fish returned to water. You and I may not match those ancients in talent, but our partnership is the same idea.” Everyone detested his swaggering disrespect. After his rout at Sangluo he saw popular support drain away and only grew more bitter. Earlier, when Liu Yu returned victorious from the Lu Xun campaign, the emperor hosted a grand banquet at the West Pond and commanded the guests to compose verse. Liu Yi’s couplet ran: “The six warring states bred heroes; the Zhengshi years brought forth true elegance.” He knew he could not rival Liu Yu in arms, so he flaunted his literary polish instead. Later, at the Eastern Headquarters, they played chupu for enormous stakes—hundreds of thousands per throw. The others all rolled “black calf” and dropped out, until only Liu Yu and Liu Yi were left. Liu Yi’s next cast came up pheasant. Delighted, he hitched up his robe, danced around the table, and cried to the company, “I could throw a lu any time—I just cannot be bothered.” Liu Yu, annoyed, rattled the dice a long while and said, “Elder brother, let me throw a round for you.” All four cubes landed black; the fifth spun undecided until Liu Yu barked at it—and it settled as lu, the top throw. Liu Yi’s mood soured, yet his complexion—always dark—turned iron-gray. He forced a smile and said, “I suppose you would never let me win that one.” Once posted to the upper Yangzi he held the classic “split the pass” authority yet had lost his leverage at court. Distrusting his own position, he tried to hoard military power, watch for a chance against Liu Yu, and marched straight into ruin.

初，江州刺史庾悅，隆安中為司徒長史，曾至京口。毅時甚屯窶，先就府借東堂與親故出射。而悅後與僚佐徑來詣堂，毅告之曰：「毅輩屯否之人，合一射甚難。君于諸堂並可，望以今日見讓。」悅不許。射者皆散，唯毅留射如故。既而悅食鵝，毅求其餘，悅又不答，毅常銜之。義熙中，故奪悅豫章，解其軍府，使人微示其旨，悅忿懼而死。毅之褊躁如此。

Yu Yue, who later became inspector of Jiangzhou, had served under the minister of education in the Long’an era and once visited Jingkou. Liu Yi was then desperately poor and had borrowed the east hall of the prefectural compound so he could take friends and kin out archery. Yu Yue later marched in with his aides anyway. Liu Yi told him, “Men as down-and-out as we are can barely arrange a single outing. Take any other hall you like—only let us keep this one today.” Yu Yue refused. The other archers drifted away, but Liu Yi stayed and kept shooting. When Yu Yue dined on goose, Liu Yi begged the scraps and was ignored again; from that day he nursed a grudge. During Yixi he seized Yuzhang from Yu Yue, abolished his army office, and let agents make the message plain; Yu Yue died of rage and terror. Such was Liu Yi’s petty, explosive temper.

邁字伯群。少有才幹，為殷仲堪中兵參軍。桓玄之在江陵，甚豪橫，士庶畏之過於仲堪。玄曾于仲堪廳事前戲馬，以槊擬仲堪。邁時在坐，謂玄曰：「馬槊有餘，精理不足。」玄自以才雄冠世，而心知外物不許之。仲堪為之失色，玄出，仲堪謂邁曰：「卿乃狂人也！玄夜遣殺卿，我豈能相救！」邁以正辭折仲堪，而不以為悔。仲堪使邁下都以避之。玄果令追之，邁僅而免禍。後玄得志，邁詣門稱謁，玄謂邁曰：「安知不死而敢相見？」邁對曰：「射鉤、斬袪，與邁為三，故知不死。」玄甚喜，以為刑獄參軍。後為竟陵太守。及毅與劉裕等同謀起義，邁將應之，事泄，為玄所害。

He Mai’s courtesy name was Boqun. In his youth he showed administrative talent and became central-army adjutant on Yin Zhongkan’s staff. While Huan Xuan stayed at Jiangling he threw his weight around so brutally that officials and commoners feared him more than they did Yin Zhongkan. Huan Xuan once rode horses in Yin Zhongkan’s forecourt and leveled a spear at his host. He Mai, still seated among the guests, told Huan Xuan, “You have plenty of horsemanship and spearplay; you lack any finer sense of what is fitting.” Huan Xuan thought himself the foremost man of the day, yet he knew the room would not indulge him. Yin Zhongkan went pale. After Huan Xuan left he said to He Mai, “You are insane! If he sends killers tonight, how am I to protect you?” He Mai answered with blunt reproof and never thought himself in the wrong. Yin Zhongkan packed him off to the capital to escape Huan Xuan’s reach. Huan Xuan did send pursuers; He Mai only barely escaped. Later, when Huan Xuan had seized power, He Mai presented himself at the gate. Huan Xuan asked, “What made you so sure you would live to face me again?” He Mai replied, “There is the lord who forgave the archer of the belt-hook, the lord who spared the sleeve-cutter, and myself—three who ought to have died yet lived. I knew I would be the third.” Huan Xuan was delighted and named him judicial adjutant. He later served as prefect of Jingling. When Liu Yi and Liu Yu plotted the loyal rising, He Mai meant to join them; word slipped out and Huan Xuan had him killed.

諸葛長民

Zhuge Changmin.

諸葛長民，琅邪陽都人也。有文武幹用，然不持行檢，無鄉曲之譽。桓玄引為參軍平西軍事，尋以貪刻免。及劉裕建義，與之定謀，為揚武將軍。從裕討桓玄，以功拜輔國將軍、宣城內史。于時桓歆聚眾向曆陽，長民擊走之，又與劉敬宣破歆於芍陂，封新淦縣公，食邑二千五百戶，以本官督淮北諸軍事，鎮山陽。義熙初，慕容超寇下邳，長民遣部將徐琰擊走之，進位使持節、督青揚二州諸軍事、青州刺史，領晉陵太守，鎮丹徒，本號及公如故。

Zhuge Changmin came from Yangdu in Langye commandery. He was capable both in civil office and in the field, but he cared nothing for propriety and won no good name in his home district. Huan Xuan took him on as adjutant for the pacification-of-the-west command, then dismissed him for extortion and cruelty. When Liu Yu raised the loyal army Zhuge Changmin helped lay the plan and was named general who displays martial might. He followed Liu Yu against Huan Xuan and, for his service, became general who supports the state and interior steward of Xuancheng. When Huan Xin marched on Liyang, Zhuge Changmin threw him back, then joined Liu Jingxuan to crush him at Quepi. He was enfeoffed duke of Xingan at twenty-five hundred households, kept his old title, took command on the north Huai line, and camped at Shanyang. Early in Yixi Murong Chao struck Xiapi; Zhuge Changmin sent Xu Yan, who repulsed him. He was then promoted to credential-bearing supervisor for Qing and Yang, inspector of Qing, and prefect of Jinling while stationed at Dantu, his ducal rank unchanged.

及何無忌為徐道覆所害，賊乘勝逼京師，朝廷震駭，長民率眾人衛京都，因表曰：「妖賊集船伐木，而南康相郭澄之隱蔽經年，又深相保明，屢欺無忌，罪合斬刑。」詔原澄之。及盧循之敗劉毅也，循與道覆連旗而下，京都危懼，長民勸劉裕權移天子過江。裕不聽，令長民與劉毅屯於北陵，以備石頭。事平，轉督豫州揚州之六郡諸軍事、豫州刺史，領淮南太守。

After Xu Daofu killed He Wuji, the rebel army drove toward the capital and the court panicked. Zhuge Changmin marched in to defend Jiankang and memorialized: “The bandits are building ships and cutting timber, yet prefect Guo Chengzhi of Nankang has hidden their preparations for a year, backed their lies, and repeatedly misled He Wuji—he deserves the axe.” An edict nonetheless spared Guo Chengzhi. When Lu Xun shattered Liu Yi and linked banners with Xu Daofu for a descent on the capital, Zhuge Changmin urged Liu Yu to ferry the emperor south of the Yangzi for safety. Liu Yu refused, instead ordering Zhuge Changmin and Liu Yi to camp on the northern mound to cover Stone City. After peace returned he was reassigned as military overseer for six commanderies across Yu and Yang, inspector of Yu, and prefect of Huainan.

及裕討毅，以長民監太尉留府事，詔以甲杖五十人入殿。長民驕縱貪侈，不恤政事，多聚珍寶美色，營建第宅，不知紀極，所在殘虐，為百姓所苦。自以多行無禮，恆懼國憲。及劉毅被誅，長民謂所親曰：「昔年醢彭越，前年殺韓信，禍其至矣！」謀欲為亂，問劉穆之曰：「人間論者謂太尉與我不平，其故何也？」穆之曰：「相公西征，老母弱弟委之將軍，何謂不平！」長民弟黎民輕狡好利，固勸之曰：「黥彭異體而勢不偏全，劉毅之誅，亦諸葛氏之懼，可因裕未還以圖之。」長民猶豫未發，既而歎曰：「貧賤常思富貴，富貴必履機危。今日欲為丹徒布衣，豈可得也！」裕深疑之，駱驛繼遣輜重兼行而下，前克至日，百司於道候之，輒差其期。既而輕舟徑進，潛入東府。明旦，長民聞之，驚而至門，裕伏壯士丁旿于幕中，引長民進語，素所未盡皆說焉。長民悅，旿自後拉而殺之，輿屍付廷尉。使收黎民，黎民驍勇絕人，與捕者苦戰而死。小弟幼民為大司馬參軍，逃於山中，追擒戮之。諸葛氏之誅也，士庶咸恨正刑之晚，若釋桎梏焉。

When Liu Yu marched against Liu Yi he left Zhuge Changmin to mind the regent’s rear office and authorized fifty halberdiers to escort him inside the palace. Zhuge Changmin grew arrogant, dissolute, and rapacious. He neglected public business, hoarded jewels and concubines, raised mansions without end, and terrorized every district he touched. Knowing how often he had broken the rules, he lived in dread of the law. After Liu Yi’s execution he told his confidants, “They minced Peng Yue once; they cut down Han Xin the next year—the reckoning is coming for me!” He plotted revolt and asked Liu Muzhi, “People say the regent and I are at odds—why?” Liu Muzhi answered, “He left his aged mother and young brother in your hands while he marched west—if that is distrust, what would trust look like?” His brother Zhuge Limin, greedy and rash, pressed him: “Qing Bu and Peng Yue were different men, yet neither regime could spare both; Liu Yi’s death is our warning too—strike before Liu Yu returns.” Zhuge Changmin wavered, then sighed, “In want we crave riches; once rich we step straight into danger. Now I would gladly be a commoner in Dantu again—yet that is impossible.” Liu Yu suspected him deeply, kept sending supply convoys downriver in great haste, and whenever officials massed along the road to welcome him on the announced day he simply changed the date. He then slipped ahead in light boats and stole into the Eastern Headquarters. At dawn Zhuge Changmin rushed to call, only to find Liu Yu waiting with brawny Ding Wu concealed behind a curtain. Liu Yu drew him into private talk and said everything left unsaid before. Zhuge Changmin relaxed; Ding Wu seized him from behind and killed him, and the body was handed to the minister of justice. Orders went out to arrest Zhuge Limin, who fought his captors with superhuman fury until he was cut down. The youngest brother, Zhuge Youmin, a grand-marshal adjutant, fled into the hills, was run down, and executed. When the Zhuge house fell, high and low alike grumbled that justice had been too long delayed, yet everyone breathed easier, as though shackles had dropped away.

初，長民富貴之後，常一月中輒十數夜眠中驚起，跳踉，如與人相打。毛修之嘗與同宿，見之駭愕，問其故，長民答曰：「正見一物，甚黑而有毛，腳不分明，奇健，非我無以制之。」其後來轉數。屋中柱及椽桷間，悉見有蛇頭，令人以刀懸斫，應刃隱藏，去輒復出。又擣衣杵相與語如人聲，不可解。於壁見有巨手，長七八尺，臂大數圍，令斫之，豁然不見。未幾伏誅。

After Zhuge Changmin rose to power he would bolt awake a dozen nights a month, thrashing and shouting as if brawling in his sleep. Once Mao Xiuzhi lodged with him, saw the fit, and asked what it meant. Zhuge Changmin said, “I saw a black, hairy thing, formless below the waist, immensely strong—no one but me could master it.” The visions came oftener after that. Snake heads seemed to sprout from every post and rafter; when servants slashed at them the heads vanished at the stroke, only to reappear when the blades were lifted. His wash-beating mallets began to chatter to one another in voices no one could understand. A huge hand—seven or eight feet from wrist to fingertip, the forearm thick as a tree—appeared on his wall; when he ordered servants to hack at it, the vision broke open and vanished. Soon afterward he was put to death.

何無忌

He Wuji.

何無忌，東海郯人也。少有大志，忠亮任氣，人有不稱其心者，輒形於言色。州辟從事，轉太學博士。鎮北將軍劉牢之，即其舅也，時鎮京口，每有大事，常與參議之。會稽世子元顯子彥章封東海王，以無忌為國中尉，加廣武將軍。及桓玄害彥章於市，無忌入市慟哭而出，時人義焉。隨牢之南征桓玄，牢之將降于玄也，無忌屢諫，辭旨甚切，牢之不從。及玄篡位，無忌與玄吏部郎曹靖之有舊，請蒞小縣。靖之白玄，玄不許，無忌乃還京口。

He Wuji came from Tan county in the Donghai region. Even as a youth he aimed high—loyal, blunt, and quick to take offense. Anyone who crossed him could read it on his face. The provincial authorities took him on as a clerk; he later rose to erudite of the Imperial Academy. His uncle was Liu Lao-zhi, general who guards the north. While Lao-zhi held Jingkou, every major decision went through Wuji’s counsel. When Sima Yuanxian’s son Yanzhang was invested as prince of Donghai, He Wuji became the princely marshal and was given the added title general who extends martial might. After Huan Xuan executed Yanzhang in the public square, He Wuji walked in openly, wept his grief, and walked out—a gesture everyone called courage. He marched south with Liu Lao-zhi against Huan Xuan. When Lao-zhi prepared to defect to Huan Xuan, Wuji argued again and again in the sharpest terms, but his uncle would not listen. After the usurpation He Wuji, who knew Huan Xuan’s personnel director Cao Jingzhi from old days, begged for a minor county post far from the capital. Cao Jingzhi relayed the request; Huan Xuan refused. He Wuji went back to Jingkou empty-handed.

初，劉裕嘗為劉牢之參軍，與無忌素相親結。至是，因密共圖玄。劉毅家在京口，與無忌素善，言及興復之事，無忌曰：「桓氏強盛，其可圖乎？」毅曰：「天下自有強弱，雖強易弱，正患事主難得耳！」無忌曰：「天下草澤之中非無英雄也。」毅曰：「所見唯有劉下邳。」無忌笑而不答，還以告裕，因共要毅，與相推結，遂共舉義兵，襲京口。無忌偽著傳詔服，稱敕使，城中無敢動者。

Liu Yu had once served as Lao-zhi’s adjutant and had been He Wuji’s close friend for years. Now the two of them began plotting in secret to bring Huan Xuan down. Liu Yi’s household was also in Jingkou, and the two were old friends. When Liu Yi broached restoring the throne, He Wuji asked, “The Huans still look invincible—can we really move against them?” Liu Yi answered, “Strength and weakness turn with the times; what looks strong can break overnight. All we lack is the right man to lead.” He Wuji shot back, “The realm is full of men ready to rise from the brushwood.” “The only man I see fit,” said Liu Yi, “is Liu Yu down in Xiapi.” He Wuji only smiled. He carried the word to Liu Yu, and together they cornered Liu Yi, sealed their alliance, and struck Jingkou in a coordinated rising. He Wuji dressed as an imperial courier and announced himself as an edict bearer; the garrison dared not lift a finger against him.

初，桓玄聞裕等及無忌之起兵也，甚懼。其黨曰：「劉裕烏合之眾，勢必無成，願不以為慮。」玄曰：「劉裕勇冠三軍，當今無敵。劉毅家無儋石之儲，樗蒱一擲百萬。何無忌，劉牢之之甥，酷似其舅。共舉大事，何謂無成！」其見憚如此。及玄敗走，武陵王遵承制以無忌為輔國將軍、琅邪內史，以會稽王道子所部精兵悉配之，南追桓玄，與振武將軍劉道規俱受冠軍將軍劉毅節度。玄留其龍驤將軍何澹之、前將軍郭銓、江州刺史郭昶之守湓口。無忌等次桑落洲，澹之等率軍來戰。澹之常所乘舫旌旗甚盛，無忌曰：「賊帥必不居此，欲詐我耳，宜亟攻之。」眾咸曰：「澹之不在其中，其徒得之無益。」無忌謂道規曰：「今眾寡不敵，戰無全勝。澹之雖不居此舫，取則易獲，因縱兵騰之，可以一鼓而敗也。」道規從之，遂獲賊舫，因傳呼曰：「已得何澹之矣！」賊中驚擾，無忌之眾亦謂為然。道規乘勝徑進，無忌又鼓噪赴之，澹之遂潰。進據尋陽，遣使奉送宗廟主祏及武康公主、琅邪王妃還京都。又與毅、道規破走玄于崢嶸洲。無忌進據巴陵。玄從兄謙、從子振乘間陷江陵，無忌、道規進攻謙於馬頭，攻桓蔚于龍泉，皆破之。既而為桓振所敗，退還尋陽。無忌與毅、道規復進討振，克夏口三城，遂平巴陵，進次馬頭。桓謙請割荊、江二州，奉送天子，無忌不許。進軍破江陵，謙等敗走。無忌侍衛安帝還京師，以無忌督豫州揚州淮南廬江安豐曆陽堂邑五郡軍事、右將軍、豫州刺史、加節，甲仗五十人入殿，未之職。遷會稽內史、督江東五郡軍事，持節、將軍如故，給鼓吹一部。，遷都督江荊二州江夏隨義陽綏安豫州西陽新蔡汝南潁川八郡軍事、江州刺史，將軍、持節如故。以興復之功，封安成郡開國公，食邑三千戶，增督司州之弘農揚州之松滋，加散騎侍郎，進鎮南將軍。

When Huan Xuan learned that Liu Yu and He Wuji had risen together, he was terrified. His followers said, “Liu Yu’s host is a scratch army—it cannot succeed. Pay it no mind.” Huan Xuan replied, “Liu Yu’s valor tops every formation alive; no one today can stand against him. Liu Yi’s house is destitute—yet he will wager a million cash on a single throw of the dice. He Wuji is Liu Lao-zhi’s nephew and the very image of his uncle. Together they are raising a great enterprise—how can you call that hopeless?” Such was the dread Huan Xuan felt toward them. After Huan Xuan fled, Prince Sima Zun of Wuling, acting with imperial authority, named He Wuji general who supports the state and interior steward of Langye, gave him Sima Daozi’s crack troops, and sent him south in pursuit with Liu Daogui, both under Liu Yi’s command. Huan Xuan left He Danzhi, Guo Quan, and Jiangzhou inspector Guo Changzhi to hold Penkou. He Wuji’s fleet anchored at Sangluo Islet where He Danzhi offered battle. He Danzhi’s flagship flew a forest of banners. He Wuji said, “The enemy commander is not aboard that showpiece—it is a decoy. Hit it now.” The officers objected: “If He Danzhi is not aboard, seizing a few underlings gains us nothing.” He Wuji told Liu Daogui, “We are outnumbered; no plan comes with a promise of total victory. Even if He Danzhi is not on that hull, it is the weak link. Board it in force and we can shatter them in one rush.” Liu Daogui agreed. They stormed the decoy ship and sent word along the line: “He Danzhi is ours!” The enemy ranks panicked—and He Wuji’s own men believed the ruse as well. Liu Daogui drove the advantage home while He Wuji’s drummers roared; He Danzhi’s line collapsed. He moved on to occupy Xunyang and sent the imperial spirit tablets, Princess of Wukang, and the princess consort of Langye back to Jiankang under escort. With Liu Yi and Liu Daogui he again defeated Huan Xuan at Zhengrong Islet and drove him off. He Wuji next took Baling. Huan Xuan’s cousin Huan Qian and nephew Huan Zhen slipped into Jiangling. He Wuji and Liu Daogui struck Huan Qian at Matou and Huan Wei at Longquan and broke both positions. Soon afterward Huan Zhen routed them and they fell back to Xunyang. He Wuji, Liu Yi, and Liu Daogui returned to the offensive, seized the three Xiakou forts, pacified Baling, and camped again at Matou. Huan Qian offered to yield Jing and Jiang provinces and hand back the emperor; He Wuji refused. He pressed on, stormed Jiangling, and sent Huan Qian’s force running. He escorted Emperor An home and was named military overseer for five commanderies across Yu and Yang, right general, and inspector of Yu, with credential staff and fifty halberdiers in the palace—though he had not yet assumed those posts. He was then shifted to interior steward of Kuaiji with command over five eastern commanderies, keeping his old titles and music. Next he became military overseer for eight commanderies spanning Jiang and Jing, with Jiangzhou inspectorship and unchanged general’s credentials. For restoring the dynasty he was enfeoffed duke of Ancheng at three thousand households, given added oversight of Hongnong and Songzi, promoted to gentleman attendant for scattered cavalry, and raised to general who guards the south.

盧循遣別帥徐道覆順流而下，舟艦皆重樓。無忌將率眾距之，長史鄧潛之諫曰：「今以神武之師抗彼逆眾，回山壓卵，未足為譬。然國家之計在此一舉。聞其舟艦大盛。勢居上流。蜂蠆之毒，邾魯成鑒。宜決破南塘，守二城以待之，其必不敢舍我遠下。蓄力俟其疲老，然後擊之。若棄萬全之長策，而決成敗于一戰，如其失利，悔無及矣。」無忌不從，遂以舟師距之。既及，賊令強弩數百登西岸小山以邀射之，而薄於山側。俄而西風暴急，無忌所乘小艦被飄東岸，賊乘風以大艦逼之，眾遂奔敗，無忌尚厲聲曰：「取我蘇武節來！」節至，乃躬執以督戰。賊眾雲集，登艦者數十人。無忌辭色無撓，遂握節死之。詔曰：「無忌秉哲履正，忠亮明允，亡身殉國，則契協英謨；經綸屯昧，則重氛載廓。及敷政方夏，實播風惠。妖寇構亂，侵擾邦畿，投袂致討，志清王略。而事出慮外，臨危彌厲，握節隕難，誠貫古賢，朕用傷慟於厥懷。其贈侍中、司空，本官如故，諡曰忠肅。」子邕嗣。

Lu Xun detached Xu Daofu for a downstream strike with towered war junks. He Wuji prepared to meet him. His chief clerk Deng Qianzhi argued, “Our army is heaven’s own hammer; crushing these rebels would be easier than rolling a boulder onto eggs. Still, the fate of the realm turns on this single throw. Their fleet is enormous. They hold the upstream advantage. Remember how bee and scorpion stings brought down kingdoms—Zou and Lu are the lesson writ in blood. Break the southern dike, hold the twin forts, and wait—they will not dare sail past us downstream. Husband your strength until their crews tire, then strike. If you stake everything on one reckless battle and lose, no regret will undo it.” He Wuji brushed the advice aside and took the fleet straight out to meet them. When the lines met, the rebels hauled hundreds of heavy crossbows onto a western knoll and raked He Wuji’s flank while hugging the hillside. A sudden gale blew from the west and drove He Wuji’s light craft onto the eastern shore. Enemy tower ships bore down with the wind; his line crumbled. Still he roared, “Fetch me Su Wu’s credentials staff!” When the standard arrived he seized it himself and tried to rally the fight. Swarms of boarders leapt onto his deck. He never flinched. Clutching the imperial baton he died where he stood. The court proclaimed: “He Wuji walked in wisdom and integrity—loyal, lucid, utterly trustworthy. He gave his life for the house—there he matched the grand design. When the times were darkest he cleared the murk away. When he governed the summer lands he spread mercy like a cooling wind. When rebels clawed at the capital he threw down his sleeve and marched, intent on restoring the royal road. Fate outran every plan, yet in peril he only grew harder. He died clutching his baton—loyalty to shame the ancients. We mourn him with a torn heart. We posthumously name him palace attendant and minister of works, leave his other titles in place, and grant the posthumous epithet Loyal and Stern.” His son He Yong inherited the title.

初，桓玄克京邑，劉裕東征，無忌密至裕軍所，潛謀舉義，勸裕于山陰起兵。裕以玄大逆未彰，恐在遠舉事，克濟為難。若玄遂竊天位，然後於京口圖之，事未晚也。無忌乃還。及義師之舉，參贊大勳，皆以算略攻取為效，而此舉敗於輕脫，朝野痛之。

Earlier, when Huan Xuan seized Jiankang and Liu Yu marched east, He Wuji slipped into Liu Yu’s camp, urged a loyal rising, and wanted the blow struck from Shanyin. Liu Yu thought Huan Xuan’s treason was not yet plain to the world and feared a distant coup might fail. “Let him seize the throne openly,” Liu Yu said, “then we move from Jingkou—the hour will not be too late.” He Wuji accepted the judgment and withdrew. When the loyal army finally rose he helped win the empire with calculation and nerve—making his own reckless last stand all the more painful to court and countryside.

檀憑之

Tan Pingzhi.

檀憑之，字慶子，高平人也。少有志力。閨門邕肅，為世所稱。從兄子韶兄弟五人，皆稚弱而孤，憑之撫養若己所生。初為會稽王驃騎行參軍，轉桓修長流參軍，領東莞太守，加甯遠將軍。與劉裕有州閭之舊，又數同東討，情好甚密。義旗之建，憑之與劉毅俱以私艱，墨絰而赴。雖才望居毅之後，而官次及威聲過之，故裕以為建武將軍。裕將義舉也，嘗與何無忌、魏詠之同會憑之所。會善相者晉陵韋叟見憑之，大驚曰：「卿有急兵之厄，其候不過三四日耳。且深藏以避之，不可輕出。」及桓玄將皇甫敷之至羅落橋也，憑之與裕各領一隊而戰，軍敗，為敷軍所害。贈冀州刺史。義熙初，詔曰：「夫旌善紀功，有國之通典，沒而不朽，節義之篤行。故冀州刺史檀憑之忠烈果毅，亡身為國。既義敦其情，故臨危授命。考諸心跡，古人無以遠過，近者之贈，意猶恨焉。可加贈散騎常侍，本官如故。既隕身王事，亦宜追論封賞。可封曲阿縣公，邑三千戶。」

Tan Pingzhi, whose courtesy name was Qingzi, came from Gaoping. From boyhood he showed grit and stamina. His household was orderly and austere, and contemporaries praised him for it. Five orphaned nephews of his cousin Tan Shao were still children; he reared them as his own sons. He began as adjutant on the prince of Kuaiji’s swift-cavalry staff, then moved to Huan Xiu’s “long posting” adjutancy, added prefect of Dongguan, and general who pacifies the distance. He and Liu Yu were old neighbors from the same commandery and had fought together more than once; the bond ran deep. When the loyal army rose he and Liu Yi were both in mourning; both bound their hair with ink-dark hemp and rode straight to the colors. Though his fame lagged behind Liu Yi’s, his seniority and battlefield name ran higher, so Liu Yu named him general who establishes martial might. On the eve of the rising Liu Yu met He Wuji and Wei Yongzhi in Tan Pingzhi’s house. A Jinling fortune-teller named Old Man Wei took one look and cried, “You face sudden violence within three or four days. Bury yourself indoors—do not step outside on any excuse.” When Huan Xuan’s general Huangfu Fu reached Luoluo Bridge, Tan Pingzhi and Liu Yu each led a wing. Tan’s wing broke; Huangfu Fu’s men cut him down. The court posthumously named him inspector of Ji province. Early in Yixi an edict read: “Honoring the loyal is the state’s constant law; a name that outlives the body is the mark of true devotion. The late inspector Tan Pingzhi was steadfast, bold, and resolute, and laid down his life for the throne. Duty bound his heart, so he accepted death when it came. Measured against the past he matches the worthies of old; even our earlier honors seem too small. Let him receive the added posthumous title of regular attendant for scattered cavalry, with his former office left on the record. Because he fell in the king’s service, he should also receive a noble title. Enfeoff him duke of Qu’e at three thousand households.”

魏詠之

Wei Yongzhi.

魏詠之，字長道，任城人也。家世貧素，而躬耕為事，好學不倦。生而兔缺。有善相者謂之曰：「卿當富貴。」年十八，聞荊州刺史殷仲堪帳下有名醫能療之，貧無行裝，謂家人曰：「殘醜如此，用活何為！」遂齎數斛米西上，以投仲堪。既至，造門自通。仲堪與語，嘉其盛意，召醫視之。醫曰：「可割而補之，但須百日進粥，不得語笑。」詠之曰：「半生不語，而有半生，亦當療之，況百日邪！」仲堪於是處之別屋，令醫善療之。詠之遂閉口不語，唯食薄粥，其厲志如此。及差，仲堪厚資遣之。

Wei Yongzhi, courtesy name Changdao, came from Rencheng commandery. His family had always been poor, yet he worked his own fields and never tired of study. He was born with a cleft lip, the so-called “hare’s split.” A face-reader once told him, “You are marked for wealth and rank.” At eighteen he learned that a noted surgeon in Yin Zhongkan’s Jingzhou entourage could repair a harelip. Too poor for travel gear, he told his family, “I am too hideous to bother staying alive.” He loaded a few bushels of rice and set out west to throw himself on Yin Zhongkan’s mercy. At the gate he announced himself without introduction. Yin Zhongkan was moved by his resolve and called the surgeon to examine him. The physician said, “I can graft the lip, but you must take nothing but thin gruel for a hundred days and neither speak nor laugh.” Wei Yongzhi answered, “If half a lifetime of silence buys me the other half, the cure is worth it—let alone a mere hundred days.” Yin Zhongkan housed him apart and told the surgeon to do his best. For the full course Wei Yongzhi kept his lips sealed and lived on gruel alone—such was his iron will. When the wound healed Yin Zhongkan sent him on his way with generous gifts.

初為州主簿，嘗見桓玄。既出，玄鄙其精神不雋，謂坐客曰：「庸神而宅偉幹，不成令器。」竟不調而遣之。詠之早與劉裕遊款，及玄篡位，協贊義謀。玄敗，授建威將軍、豫州刺史。桓歆寇曆陽，詠之率眾擊走之。義熙初，進征虜將軍、吳國內史，尋轉荊州刺史、持節、都督六州，領南蠻校尉。詠之初在布衣，不以貧賤為恥；及居顯位，亦不以富貴驕人。始為殷仲堪之客，未幾竟踐其位，論者稱之。尋卒於官。詔曰：「魏詠之器宇弘劭，識局貞隱，同獎之誠，實銘王府；敷績之效，垂惠在人。奄致隕喪，惻愴於心。可贈太常，加散騎常侍。」其後錄其贊義之功，追封江陵縣公，食邑二千五百戶，諡曰桓。弟順之至琅邪內史。

His first post was provincial chief clerk; he once paid a call on Huan Xuan. After he left, Huan Xuan sneered to his guests, “A mean spirit in a tall frame never makes a true vessel.” He never offered him a post and sent him off empty-handed. Wei Yongzhi had been Liu Yu’s companion in lean years, and when Huan Xuan seized the throne he helped draft the loyal conspiracy. After Huan Xuan fell he was named general who establishes might and inspector of Yu. When Huan Xin struck Liyang, Wei Yongzhi led troops and threw him back. Early in Yixi he rose to general who captures barbarians and interior steward of Wu, then shifted to inspector of Jing with credentials, oversight of six provinces, and the southern Man colonelcy. As a commoner he never blushed at being poor; once he rose to high office he never flaunted his wealth before others. He had begun as a client of Yin Zhongkan yet ended by filling the same great chair—observers praised the symmetry. He died in harness not long afterward. The throne proclaimed: “Wei Yongzhi bore himself with breadth and force, saw matters with a steady, modest eye, and his loyalty in our common cause is carved in the royal memory. The good he did for the people still lingers. His sudden death wounds Us deeply. Posthumously name him minister of the imperial clan and add the title regular attendant for scattered cavalry.” Later, for his part in the restoration, he was posthumously enfeoffed duke of Jiangling at twenty-five hundred households with the posthumous name Huan. His younger brother Wei Shunzhi rose to interior steward of Langye.

史評

Historians’ appraisal

史臣曰：臣觀自古承平之化，必杖正人：非常之業，莫先奇士。當衰晉陵夷之際，逆玄僭擅之秋，外乏桓文，內無平勃，不有雄傑，安能濟之哉！此數子者，氣足以冠時，才足以經世，屬大亨數窮之運，乘義熙天啟之資，建大功若轉圜，翦群凶如拉朽，勢傾百辟，祿極萬鐘，斯亦丈夫之盛也。然希樂陵傲而速禍，諸葛驕淫以成釁，造宋而乖同德，復晉而異純臣，謀之不臧，自取夷滅。無忌挾功名之大志，挺文武之良才，追舊而慟感時人，率義而響震勍敵，因機效捷，處死不懦，比乎向時之輩，豈同日而言歟！

The historians of the Tang write: Since antiquity lasting peace has always rested on straight men, and every great founding waits on uncommon talent. When Eastern Jin was collapsing and Huan Xuan stole the throne, the realm had no Duke Huan of Qi, no Jin Wen abroad, no Chen Ping or Zhou Bo at home—without these heroes the dynasty could not have been saved. These men had the stature to tower over their times and the ability to steady the age. They seized the moment when fate turned, rode the mandate of the Yixi restoration, spun victory as easily as rolling a wheel, cut down rebels like snapping dry twigs, bent every minister to their will, and climbed to incomes of ten thousand bells—here was manhood in full flood. Yet Liu Yi’s swagger brought swift ruin; Zhuge Changmin’s license bred strife. They built the Liu house yet broke the bond of shared virtue; they saved the Simas yet ceased to be loyal servants—poor judgment wrote their own epitaphs. He Wuji nursed a hero’s hunger for fame, wielded true gifts in letters and arms, wept openly for old lords and rallied the age to duty, struck terror into formidable enemies, seized every opening, and met death without flinching—beside the rest he stands in a class of his own.

贊曰：劉生剛愎，葛侯凶恣。患結滿盈，禍生疑貳。安成英武，體茲忠烈。舍家殉義，忘生存節。檀實棱威，身隕名飛。魏終協契，效績揚輝。

The court historians’ verse runs: Liu Yi was pigheaded; Zhuge Changmin was savage and wilful. Pride filled the cup until suspicion spilled over into ruin. The duke of Ancheng showed true martial mettle and embodied loyal valor. He cast aside kin for duty and chose honor over life. Tan Pingzhi flashed stern awe; he fell young but his name still soars. Wei Yongzhi kept faith to the end; his service still shines.

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