1
王敦
This biography concerns Wang Dun.
2
王敦，字處仲，司徒導之從父兄也。 父基，治書侍御史。 敦少有奇人之目，尚武帝女襄城公主，拜駙馬都尉，除太子舍人。 時王愷、石崇以豪侈相尚，愷嘗置酒，敦與導俱在坐，有女伎吹笛小失聲韻，愷便驅殺之，一坐改容，敦神色自若。 他日，又造愷，愷使美人行酒，以客飲不盡，輒殺之。 酒至敦、導所，敦故不肯持，美人悲懼失色，而敦傲然不視。 導素不能飲，恐行酒者得罪，遂勉強盡觴。 導還，歎曰：「處仲若當世，心懷剛忍，非令終也。」 洗馬潘滔見敦而目之曰：「處仲蜂目已露，但豺聲未振，若不噬人，亦當為人所噬。」 及太子遷許昌，詔東宮官屬不得送。 敦及洗馬江統、潘滔，舍人杜蕤、魯瑤等，冒禁于路側望拜流涕，時論稱之。 遷給事黃門侍郎。
Wang Dun, whose courtesy name was Chuzhong, stood to Wang Dao—the future Minister of Education—as an elder cousin on the Wang line. His father, Wang Ji, had held the post of Supervising Secretary of the Secretariat. Even as a young man Wang Dun was marked as exceptional; he married Princess Xiangcheng, a daughter of Emperor Wu, received the title of commandant for the imperial son-in-law's household, and was made a gentleman attendant at the heir apparent's palace. Wang Kai and Shi Chong were famous for trying to outspend each other. At one of Kai's feasts Wang Dun and Wang Dao were present when a flute-player missed a note; Kai had her killed on the spot. The guests blanched; Wang Dun never flinched. Another time Wang Dun called on Kai, who sent serving girls to pour wine—if a guest left his cup unfinished, Kai executed the girl who had served him. When the cup came to Wang Dun and Wang Dao, Dun deliberately refused it; the girl wept and turned pale with terror, while Dun stared past her with cold indifference. Wang Dao could barely hold his liquor; afraid the server would pay with her life, he drained his cup despite himself. Back home Wang Dao sighed, "If Chuzhong ever rules the times, his ruthlessness will undo him—he will not die in his bed." Palace groom Pan Tao studied Wang Dun and said, "Chuzhong already has the eyes of a wasp; the jackal's cry has not sounded. Either he devours others, or others will devour him." When the crown prince was relocated to Xuchang, the court ordered that no staff from the Eastern Palace might accompany him. Wang Dun, together with the grooms Jiang Tong and Pan Tao and the attendants Du Rui and Lu Yao, broke the ban, lined the road to bow and weep, and won praise across the capital. He was promoted to gentleman attendant at the Yellow Gates.
3
趙王倫篡位，敦叔父彥為兗州刺史，倫遣敦慰勞之。 會諸王起義兵； 彥被齊王冏檄，懼倫兵強，不敢應命，敦勸彥起兵應諸王，故彥遂立勳績。 惠帝反正，敦遷散騎常侍、左衛將軍、大鴻臚、侍中，出除廣武將軍、青州刺史。 永嘉初，徵為中書監。 于時天下大亂，敦悉以公主時侍婢百餘人配給將士，金銀寶物散之於眾，單車還洛。 東海王越自滎陽來朝，敦謂所親曰：「今威權悉在太傅，而選用表情，尚書猶以舊制裁之，太傅今至，必有誅罰。」 俄而越收中書令繆播等十餘人殺之。 越以敦為揚州刺史，潘滔說越曰：「今樹處仲于江外，使其肆豪強之心，是見賊也。」 越不從。 其後徵拜尚書，不就。 元帝召為安東軍諮祭酒。 會揚州刺史劉陶卒，帝復以敦為揚州刺史，加廣武將軍。 尋進左將軍、都督征討諸軍事、假節。 帝初鎮江東，威名未著，敦與從弟導等同心翼戴，以隆中興，時人為之語曰：「王與馬，共天下。」 尋與甘卓等討江州刺史華軼，斬之。
During Prince Zhao's coup, Wang Dun's uncle Wang Yan governed Yan Province; Sima Lun dispatched Wang Dun to reassure him. Then the imperial princes rose in arms. Wang Yan had been summoned by the Prince of Qi, Sima Jiong, but feared Sima Lun's strength and hesitated. Wang Dun persuaded him to march in support of the allied princes, and Yan thereby earned distinction. After Emperor Hui was returned to the throne, Wang Dun rose through cavalier attendant, general of the left guard, grand herald, and palace attendant, then left the capital as General Who Spreads Might and governor of Qing Province. Early in the Yongjia reign he was recalled to serve as director of the palace secretariat. The empire was coming apart; Wang Dun gave the princess's hundred-odd maids to his troops, distributed her gold and jewels among them, and rode back to Luoyang almost alone. When the Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue, marched in from Xingyang, Wang Dun told his intimates, "Power now sits with the grand tutor, but personnel orders still pass through the Masters of Writing under the old rules. Once Yue is here, heads will roll." Shortly afterward Yue arrested the palace secretariat director Mu Bo and a dozen others and put them to death. Yue named Wang Dun governor of Yang Province. Pan Tao warned him, "Posting Chuzhong south of the river only feeds his arrogance—you are arming your enemy." Yue ignored him. Wang Dun was later summoned as master of the palace but declined to serve. Sima Rui, as Prince of Langya, called him in as army libationer for the eastern expedition. After Governor Liu Tao of Yang died, the prince again made Wang Dun governor of Yang and confirmed his rank as General Who Spreads Might. He was soon raised to general of the left, commander of all expeditionary forces, and granted the credential staff. When Sima Rui first crossed to the lower Yangzi he still lacked prestige; Wang Dun and his cousin Wang Dao carried him on their shoulders, and a rhyme ran through the south: "The Wangs and the Mas split the world between them." He then joined Gan Zhuo in striking down Hua Yi, governor of Jiang Province.
4
蜀賊杜弢作亂，荊州刺史周顗退走，敦遣武昌太守陶侃、豫章太守周訪等討韜，而敦進住豫章，為諸軍繼援。 及侃破弢，敦上侃為荊州刺史。 既而侃為弢將杜曾所敗，敦以處分失所，自貶為廣武將軍，帝不許。 侃之滅弢也，敦以元帥進鎮東大將軍、開府儀同三司，加都督江揚荊湘交廣六州諸軍事、江州刺史，封漢安侯。 敦始自選置，兼統州郡焉。 頃之，杜弢將杜弘南走廣州，求討桂林賊自效，敦許之。 陶侃距弘不得進，乃詣零陵太守尹奉降，奉送弘與敦，敦以為將，遂見寵待。 南康人何欽所居險固，聚黨數千人，敦就加四品將軍，於是專擅之跡漸彰矣。
When the Sichuan rebel Du Tao rose, Zhou Yi abandoned Jing Province; Wang Dun sent Tao Kan from Wuchang and Zhou Fang from Yuzhang against him—the target was Du Tao, though the received text uses a homophone graph—and moved his own headquarters to Yuzhang to back the coalition. After Tao Kan broke Du Tao, Wang Dun memorialized to make him governor of Jing. Kan was soon crushed by Du Tao's lieutenant Du Zeng; Wang Dun blamed his own dispositions, tried to demote himself to General Who Spreads Might, and the throne refused. When Du Tao fell, Wang Dun—as theater commander—became grand general who guards the east with a separate administration matching the three dukes, governor of six provinces from Jiang to Guang, military governor of Jiang, and marquis of Han'an. From then on he picked his own subordinates and treated whole prefectures as his personal fief. Du Hong, another of Du Tao's officers, fled to Guangzhou offering to redeem himself by crushing bandits in Guilin; Wang Dun assented. Tao Kan barred his path, so Du Hong surrendered to Yin Feng at Lingling, who forwarded him to Wang Dun; Dun took him on as a general and soon showered him with favor. He Qin of Nankang held mountain fastnesses and several thousand followers; Wang Dun invented a fourth-class generalship for him—another sign that he answered to no one.
5
建武初，又遷征南大將軍，開府如故。 中興建，拜侍中、大將軍、江州牧。 遣部將硃軌、趙誘伐杜曾，為曾所殺，敦自貶，免侍中，並辭牧不拜。 尋加荊州牧，敦上疏曰：
At the start of Emperor Min's Jianwu era he was promoted to grand general who conquers the south, again with an independent headquarters. When the Eastern Jin court was proclaimed he became palace attendant, grand general, and governor of Jiang Province. His generals Zhu Gui and Zhao You died fighting Du Zeng; Wang Dun stripped himself of the palace attendant title, tried to refuse the governorship, and would not take the seal. The court soon added Jing Province to his portfolio; Wang Dun submitted a long memorial:
6
昔漢祖以神武革命，開建帝業，繼以文帝之賢，纂承洪緒，清虛玄默，擬跡成康。 賈誼歎息，以為天下倒懸，雖言有抑揚，不失事體。 今聖朝肇建，漸振宏綱，往段匹磾遣使求效忠節，尚未有勞，便以方州與之。 今靳明等為國雪恥，欲除大逆，此之志望，皆欲附翼天飛。 雖功大宜報，亦宜有以裁之，當杜漸防萌，慎之在始。 中間不逞，互生事變，皆非忠義，率以一朝之榮。 天下漸弊，實由於此。 春秋之時，天子微弱，諸侯奢侈，晉文思崇周室，至有求隧之請，襄王讓之以禮，聞義而服，自爾諸侯莫敢越度。 臣謂前者賊寇未殄，苟以濟事，朝廷諸所加授，頗多爵位兼重。 今自臣以下，宜皆除之，且以塞群小矜功之望，夷狄無懨之求。 若復遷延，顧望流俗，使奸狡生心，遂相怨謗，指摘朝廷，讒諛蜂起，臣有以知陛下無以正之。 此安危之機，天下之望。
"Han Gaozu seized the mandate by force of arms; Emperor Wen inherited a secure throne and ruled in quiet restraint, taking the Zhou kings Cheng and Kang as his models." Jia Yi lamented that the world was inverted; hyperbolic though he sounded, he described the real danger. Our new court is still gathering its strength, yet Duan Pidi had scarcely proved himself when an entire province was dropped into his lap. Men like Jin Ming now claim to wash away national humiliation and destroy traitors; each wants to ride the imperial favor skyward. Great deeds deserve reward, but reward needs limits—cut ambition at the root before it sprouts. In the middle ranks, adventurers stir trouble in the name of loyalty when they only chase a morning's glory. The empire's slow rot begins here. Even Duke Wen of Jin, who meant to honor the Zhou king, overreached by asking for royal funeral rites; King Xiang checked him with protocol, and the duke yielded—after that no lord dared step past his rank. I say that while rebels still roamed, the court handed out fat titles to keep generals quiet. Those honors should now be stripped away, beginning with me, to silence braggarts and deny the steppe lords a lever for greed. Delay for fear of gossip, and schemers will turn the court into a battlefield of slander—Your Majesty will lose control. The realm's safety hangs on this decision.
7
臣門戶特受榮任，備兼權重，渥恩偏隆，寵過公族。 行路廝賤猶謂不可，臣獨何心可以安之。 臣一宗誤陛下，傾覆亦將尋至； 雖復灰身剖心，陛下追悔將何所及！ 伏願諒臣至款，及今際會，小解散之，並授賢俊，少慰有識，各得盡其所懷，則人思競勸矣。 州牧之號，所不敢當，輒送所假侍中貂蟬。 又宜並官省職，以塞群小覬覦之望。
My own family towers above others in rank, power, and imperial favor—more than any ducal house should bear. Peddlers on the road call it obscene; how could I sleep soundly? If we mislead you, the Wangs will fall—and soon. Burn me alive and it would be too late for regret. I beg you to accept this blunt plea: trim our offices now, give talent its chance, and let honest men see a path forward—only then will they strive again. I cannot keep the title of provincial governor; I return the palace attendant's regalia. Merge bureaus and cut posts until the opportunists lose hope.
8
帝優詔不許。 又固辭州牧，聽為刺史。 時劉隗用事，頗疏間王氏，導等甚不平之。 敦上疏曰：
The emperor answered with a kind edict and refused. Wang Dun still refused the grand governor's title; the court let him remain a provincial inspector instead. Liu Kui was riding high and driving wedges into the Wang family; Wang Dao and his kin simmered with resentment. Wang Dun fired off another memorial:
9
導昔蒙殊寵，委以事機，虛己求賢，竭誠奉國，遂藉恩私，居輔政之重。 帝王體遠，事義不同，雖皇極初建，道教方闡，惟新之美，猶有所闕。 臣每慷慨於遐遠，愧憤于門宗，是以前後表疏，何嘗不寄言及此。 陛下未能少垂顧眄，暢臣微懷，雲導頃見疏外，所陳如昨，而其萌已著，其為咎責，豈惟導身而已。 群從所蒙，並過才分。 導誠不能自量，陛下亦愛忘其短。 常人近情，恃恩昧進，獨犯龍鱗，迷不自了。 臣竊所自憂慮，未詳所由，惶愧踧躇，情如灰土。 天下事大，盡理實難，導雖凡近，未有穢濁之累； 既往之勳，疇昔之顧，情好綢繆，足以曆薄俗，明君臣，合德義，同古賢。 昔臣親受嘉命，云：「吾與卿及茂弘當管鮑之交。」 臣忝外任，漸冉十載，訓誘之誨，日有所忘； 至於斯命，銘之於心，竊猶眷眷，謂前恩不得一朝而盡。
"Wang Dao once enjoyed unique trust, handled the levers of power, humbled himself to recruit talent, and pledged the dynasty his loyalty—so private favor lifted him to chief minister." Imperial perspective spans generations; a founding court cannot be perfect even when the rhetoric is fresh. That is why my earlier papers harped on the same worry—I burn for the honor of our house. You have not spared a glance for my pleas; rumor says Wang Dao is being frozen out. I warned you before the rift showed—if there is fault, it is not his alone. Every cousin of mine holds a post above his talent. Wang Dao cannot gauge his limits; you, in loving him, overlook his slips. Ordinary souls cling to favor, press their luck, and brush the dragon's scales without knowing it. I cannot name every fear; I feel only shame and dust in the mouth. Governing a shattered empire is brutal work; Wang Dao is unremarkable, yet he is not corrupt. Old service and old friendship should steel him against petty spite and keep ruler and minister in moral alignment, as in antiquity. You once told me, "You, I, and Maohong shall be Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya to one another." I have rotted on the frontier ten years; not a day passes that I forget your instruction. I carved that pledge on my heart; I cannot believe your kindness could evaporate overnight.
10
伏惟陛下聖哲日新，廣延俊乂，臨之以政，齊之以禮。 頃者令導內綜機密，出錄尚書，杖節京都，並統六軍，既為刺史，兼居重號，殊非人臣之體。 流俗好評，必有譏謗，宜省錄尚書、杖節及都督。 且王佐之器，當得宏達遠識、高正明斷、道德優備者，以臣暗識，未見其才。 然於見人，未逾於導； 加輔翼積年，實盡心力。 霸王之主，何嘗不任賢使能，共相終始！ 管仲有三歸反坫之識，子犯有臨河要君之責，蕭何、周勃得罪囹圄，然終為良佐。 以導之才，何能無失，！ 當令任不過分，役其所長，以功補過，要之將來。 導性慎密，尤能忍事，善於斟酌，有文章才義，動靜顧問，起予聖懷，外無過寵，公私得所。 今皇祚肇建，八表承風； 聖恩不終，則遐邇失望。 天下荒弊，人心易動； 物聽一移，將致疑惑。 臣非敢苟私親親，惟欲忠於社稷。
You are daily wiser, drawing talent from every quarter—govern with law, bind them with ritual. Lately you made him master secrets inside the palace, recorder of the Masters of Writing outside, credential-bearer in the capital, and commander of all six armies while he still holds a provincial seat—no subject should wear every sash at once. The street will gossip; strip him of the recorder's seal, the staff, and the theater command. A true kingmaker should be magnanimous, farsighted, and morally whole; in my dull sight I have met no such paragon. Among men I know, none outshines Wang Dao. He has served you for years and poured out his strength. Which founder ever spurned a flawed genius who stayed loyal to the end? Guan Zhong broke sumptuary law; Fan Juan cornered his lord on a riverbank; Xiao He and Zhou Bo rotted in jail—yet all finished as pillars of state. Wang Dao is human; of course he errs. Keep his brief within his gifts, play to his strengths, let later deeds erase earlier slips. He is discreet, patient, a careful judge, literate and upright; in council he sharpens your judgment. Balance his honors inside and out, and both throne and minister stay healthy. The mandate is young; the world still listens for your tone. If that favor breaks off, every quarter will lose heart. The land is ruined; moods shift overnight. One whisper can tip the realm into panic. I do not plead for kin from sentiment—I plead for the dynasty's altars.
11
表至，導封以還敦，敦復遣奏之。
Wang Dao sealed the draft and returned it; Wang Dun sent it back to the throne unchanged.
12
初，敦務自矯厲，雅尚清談，口不言財色。 既素有重名，又立大功于江左，專任閫外，手控強兵，群從貴顯，威權莫貳，遂欲專制朝廷，有問鼎之心。 帝畏而惡之，遂引劉隗、刁協等以為心膂。 敦益不能平，於是嫌隙始構矣。 每酒後輒詠魏武帝樂府歌曰：「老驥伏櫪，志在千里。 烈士暮年，壯心不已。」 以如意打唾壺為節，壺邊盡缺。 及湘州刺史甘卓遷梁州，敦欲以從事中郎陳頒代卓，帝不從，更以譙王承鎮湘州。 敦復上表陳古今忠臣見疑于君，而蒼蠅之人交構其間，欲以感動天子。 帝愈忌憚之。 俄加敦羽葆鼓吹，增從事中郎、掾屬、舍人各二人。 帝以劉隗為鎮北將軍，戴若思為征西將軍，悉發揚州奴為兵，外以討胡，實禦敦也。 永昌元年，敦率眾內向，以誅隗為名，上疏曰：
Early on Wang Dun cultivated austerity, traded in Pure Conversation, and affected indifference to money and concubines. Reputation, victories on the left bank, frontier command, crack troops, and a clan in every office left him unrivaled; he began to treat the court as his own and to weigh the tripods of Xia. The emperor feared him and built a counterweight with Liu Kui, Diao Xie, and their faction. Wang Dun could not stomach the slight; the break opened then. Drunk, he would chant Cao Cao's ballad: "The aging steed in the stall still dreams of a thousand leagues. The warrior in winter years never shelves his zeal." He tapped the rhythm on a spittoon with his jade scepter until the ceramic rim was chipped to pieces. Gan Zhuo was rotated from Xiang to Liang; Wang Dun wanted his aide Chen Ban to succeed him, but the throne installed Prince Qiao, Sima Cheng, at Changsha instead. Wang Dun filed another tract on how good men lose a ruler's trust while petty slanderers buzz between them, hoping to sway the emperor. The emperor's fear and resentment only deepened. The court soon granted him feathered canopy and drum escort, plus two extra staff posts at each rank. Mingdi made Liu Kui northern commander and Dai Ruosi western commander, armed every bondservant household in Yang Province, and called it a northern expedition—everyone knew it was aimed at Wang Dun. In Yongchang 1 Wang Dun marched on the capital to "purge" Liu Kui and laid a memorial before the throne:
13
劉隗前在門下，邪佞諂媚，譖毀忠良，疑惑聖聽，遂居權寵，撓亂天機，威福自由，有識杜口。 大起事役，勞擾士庶，外托舉義，內自封植； 奢僭過制，乃以黃散為參軍，晉魏已來，未有此比。 傾盡帑藏，以自資奉； 賦役不均，百姓嗟怨； 免良人奴，自為惠澤。 自可使其大田以充倉廩，今便割配，皆充隗軍。 臣前求迎諸將妻息，聖恩聽許，而隗絕之，使三軍之士莫不怨憤。 又徐州流人辛苦經載，家計始立，隗悉驅逼，以實己府。 當陛下踐阼之始，投刺王官，本以非常之慶使豫蒙榮分。 而更充征役，復依舊名，普取出客，從來久遠，經涉年載，或死亡滅絕，或自贖得免，或見放遣，或父兄時事身所不及，有所不得，輒罪本主，百姓哀憤，怨聲盈路。 身欲北渡，以遠朝廷為名，而密知機要，潛行險慝，進人退士，高下任心，奸狡饕餮，未有隗比，雖無忌、宰嚭、弘恭、石顯未足為喻。 是以遐邇憤慨，群後失望。
Liu Kui flattered his way into power, poisoned the emperor's ear against honest men, then hijacked the machinery of state; anyone with sense learned to stay silent. He drafted huge labor projects that tormented the people, masking private empire-building as public duty. He broke every sumptuary rule, turning palace gentlemen into military aides—a novelty not seen since Wei. He drained the imperial vaults for his own upkeep. Levies fell unfairly; commoners cursed his name. He recast the manumission of serfs as his own gracious favor. Those hands should have tilled state land, yet he drafted every able body into Liu Kui's host. I once asked leave to bring our officers' families forward; you agreed, but Liu Kui stopped it, embittering every camp. Refugees from Xu had finally put down roots; Liu Kui uprooted them to pack his own payroll. When you first took the throne they registered as officials, hoping for a share in the celebration. Instead he threw them back into the levy rolls, chasing down every hereditary client—no matter who had died, bought freedom, or never belonged to the case—then fined the head of household for any gap; the roads rang with outrage. He talks of retiring north while he hoards secrets and sells offices; for greed and guile no one matches him—not even the famous villains of antiquity. So the realm seethes and the regional lords feel betrayed.
14
臣備位宰輔，與國存亡，誠乏平勃濟時之略，然自忘駑駘，志存社稷，豈忍坐視成敗，以虧聖美。 事不獲已，今輒進軍，同討奸孽，願陛下深垂省察，速斬隗首，則眾望厭服，皇祚復隆。 隗首朝懸，諸軍夕退。 昔太甲不能遵明湯典，顛覆厥度，幸納伊尹之勳，殷道復昌。 漢武雄略，亦惑江充讒佞邪說，至乃父子相屠，流血丹地，終能克悟，不失大綱。 今日之事，有逾於此，願陛下深垂三思，諮詢善道，則四海乂安，社稷永固矣。
I am no Chen Ping, but I cannot watch the dynasty stumble while claiming to be its pillar. I am marching to cut out this cancer; behead Liu Kui and every army will stand down. One traitor's head at dawn ends the war by dusk. Taijia of Shang lost the way until Yi Yin locked him away—then the dynasty recovered. Han Wudi listened to Jiang Chong and nearly murdered his heir, yet he woke before the state capsized. Our crisis is worse; think three times, heed honest counsel, and the empire will steady again.
15
又曰：
The memorial continued:
16
陛下昔鎮揚州，虛心下士，優賢任能，寬以得眾，故君子盡心，小人畢力。 臣以暗蔽，豫奉徽猷，是以遐邇望風，有識自竭，王業遂隆，惟新克建，四海延頸，咸望太平。
You once ruled Yangzhou with open doors: the wise came forward, the humble toiled willingly. I shared your vision, watched the realm rally to you, and believed peace was near.
17
自從信隗已來，刑罰不中，街談巷議，皆云如吳之將亡。 聞之惶惑，精魂飛散，不覺胸臆摧破，泣血橫流。 陛下當全祖宗之業，存神器之重，察臣前後所啟，奈何棄忽忠言，遂信奸佞，誰不痛心！ 願出臣表，諮之朝臣，介石之幾，不俟終日，令諸軍早還，不至虛擾。
Since Liu Kui took your ear, justice has twisted; people whisper this is Eastern Wu all over again. Each rumor hits me like a blow to the chest—I could weep blood. Guard your ancestors' throne and the imperial seals; reread my pleas—how can you spurn loyal counsel for a favorite's whispers? Who would not be heartsick! Publish this memorial to the ministers; act today—recall the armies before they ravage the land.
18
敦党吳興人沈充起兵應敦。 敦至蕪湖，又上表罪狀刁協。 帝大怒，下詔曰：「王敦憑恃寵靈，敢肆狂逆，方朕太甲，欲見幽囚。 是可忍也，孰不可忍也！ 今親率六軍，以誅大逆，有殺敦者，封五千戶侯。」 召戴若思、劉隗並會京師。 敦兄含時為光祿勳，叛奔於敦。
Wang Dun's ally Shen Chong of Wuxing rose in his support. At Wuhu he filed another indictment of Diao Xie. The emperor exploded: "Wang Dun, drunk on imperial favor, dares liken me to Taijia and plot my house arrest. If I swallow this, nothing is unswallowable! I will lead the host myself; five thousand households to whoever brings me Wang Dun's head. He recalled Dai Ruosi and Liu Kui to the capital. Wang Han, Wang Dun's elder brother, held the post of master of brilliant horses; he deserted and ran to the rebel camp.
19
敦至石頭，欲攻劉隗，其將杜弘曰：「劉隗死士眾多，未易可克，不如攻石頭。 周劄少恩，兵不為用，攻之必敗。 劄敗，則隗自走。」 敦從之。 劄果開城門納弘。 諸將與敦戰，王師敗績。 既入石頭，擁兵不朝，放肆兵士劫掠內外。 官省奔散，惟有侍中二人侍帝。 帝脫戎衣，著朝服，顧而言曰：「欲得我處，但當早道，我自還琅邪，何至困百姓如此！」 敦收周顗、戴若思害之。 以敦為丞相、江州牧，進爵武昌郡公，邑萬戶，使太常荀崧就拜，又加羽葆鼓吹，並偽讓不受。 還屯武昌，多害忠良，寵樹親戚，以兄含為衛將軍、都督沔南軍事、領南蠻校尉、荊州刺史，以義陽太守任愔督河北諸軍事、南中郎將，敦又自督寧、益二州。
Outside Jinling Wang Dun meant to strike Liu Kui first; Du Hong said, "Kui's fanatics will bleed us—take Stone Fortress instead. Zhou Zha never inspired loyalty; his garrison will not hold. Crack the fortress and Liu Kui runs." Wang Dun took the advice. Zhou Zha opened the gates and let Du Hong in. Imperial troops met him in battle and broke. He occupied the fortress, skipped audience, and turned his men loose to loot. The ministries fled; two attendants alone stayed with the sovereign. Mingdi shed his armor for court robes and said, "Had you asked for the throne plainly, I would have gone back to Langya—why torture the people?" He then seized Zhou Yi and Dai Ruosi and executed them. The court named him chancellor and governor of Jiang, duke of Wuchang with ten thousand households; Xun Song brought the patent and regalia, and Wang Dun theatrically declined. He withdrew to Wuchang, purged loyalists, and packed offices with Wangs: Wang Han guarded the Han basin; Ren Yin held the Yellow River line; Wang Dun added Ning and Yi to his portfolio.
20
及帝崩，太甯元年，敦諷朝廷徵己，明帝乃手詔徵之，語在《明帝紀》。 又使兼太常應詹拜授加黃龯，班劍武賁二十人，奏事不名，入朝不趨，劍覆上殿。 敦移鎮姑孰，帝使侍中阮孚齎牛酒犒勞，敦稱疾不見，使主簿受詔。 以王導為司徒，敦自為揚州牧。
After Yuan's death, in Taining 1 Wang Dun hinted for a recall; Emperor Ming's handwritten summons is recorded in the Annals of Emperor Ming. The court sent Ying Zhan with the yellow axe, twenty household guards, privilege to report without name, to walk the hall without trotting, and to bear sword and shoes before the throne. He shifted to Gushu; Ruan Fu arrived with imperial wine and cattle, but Wang Dun pleaded illness and made his registrar take the edict. Wang Dao became minister of education while Wang Dun seized Yang Province for himself.
21
敦既得志，暴慢愈甚，四方貢獻多入己府，將相嶽牧悉出其門。 徙含為征東將軍、都督揚州江西諸軍事，從弟舒為荊州，彬為江州，邃為徐州。 含字處弘，凶頑剛暴，時所不齒，以敦貴重，故曆顯位。 敦以沈充、錢鳳為謀主，諸葛瑤、鄧岳、周撫、李恆、謝雍為爪牙。 充等並凶險驕恣，共相驅扇，殺戮自己； 又大起營府，侵人田宅，發掘古墓，剽掠市道，士庶解體，咸知其禍敗焉。 敦從弟豫章太守棱日夜切諫，敦怒，陰殺之。 敦無子，養含子應。 及敦病甚，拜應為武衛將軍以自副。 錢鳳謂敦曰：「脫其不諱，便當以後事付應。」 敦曰：「非常之事，豈常人所能！ 且應年少，安可當大事。 我死之後，莫若解眾放兵，歸身朝廷，保全門戶，此計之上也。 退還武昌，收兵自守，貢獻不廢，亦中計也。 及吾尚存，悉眾而下，萬一僥倖，計之下也。」 鳳謂其黨曰：「公之下計，乃上策也。」 遂與沈充定謀，須敦死後作難。
Victory made him worse: tribute flowed to his private treasury, every generalship a Wang appointment. Wang Han took the lower Yangzi theater; Wang Shu, Wang Bin, and Wang Sui held Jing, Jiang, and Xu. Wang Han was a brute the world despised; his brother's clout kept him in high office. Shen Chong and Qian Feng planned for him; Zhuge Yao, Deng Yue, Zhou Fu, Li Heng, and Xie Yong did the dirty work. They were a pack of swaggering killers who stirred one another on; they built sprawling headquarters, seized farmland, looted tombs, and robbed markets until everyone saw the crash coming. His cousin Wang Ling, governor of Yuzhang, argued with him nightly; Wang Dun had him murdered quietly. Childless, he adopted Wang Han's son Wang Ying. As he sickened he named Wang Ying guard general as his deputy. Qian Feng whispered, "When you die, hand power to Wang Ying." Wang Dun answered, "Only extraordinary men handle extraordinary crises! The boy is too young for that burden. After I die, disarm, submit to the throne, and save the clan—that is the best course. Retreat to Wuchang, dig in, keep sending tribute—that is the middling course. Or strike now with every man while I breathe—that is a desperate gamble." Qian Feng told his circle, "His worst idea is actually our best." He and Shen Chong planned a coup for the moment Wang Dun died.
22
敦又忌周劄，殺之而盡滅其族。 常從督冉曾、公乘雄等為元帝腹心，敦又害之。 以宿衛尚多，奏令三番休二。 及敦病篤，詔遣侍中陳晷、散騎常侍虞問疾。 時帝將討敦，微服至蕪湖，察其營壘，又屢遣大臣訊問其起居。 遷含驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司，含子瑜散騎常侍。
He also envied Zhou Zha, killed him, and wiped out his family. Ran Zeng and Gongsheng Xiong, Ming's old confidants, died on his orders too. Too many guards remained at the palace, so he had rotations thinned to two-thirds strength. As he lay dying the court sent Chen Jiu and Yu to ask after his health. Emperor Ming, preparing war, slipped to Wuhu in plain clothes to scout his works and sent ministers to pry on his condition. Wang Han became grand general of agile cavalry with a separate administration; his son Wang Yu entered the palace corps.
23
敦以溫嶠為丹陽尹，欲使覘伺朝廷。 嶠至，具言敦逆謀。 帝欲討之，知其為物情所畏服，乃偽言敦死，於是下詔曰：
He named Wen Jiao governor of Danyang to spy on Jiankang. Wen Jiao reached the capital and exposed the conspiracy. Mingdi meant to strike but knew the realm still feared Wang Dun, so he spread word that Wang Dun was dead and published an edict:
24
先帝以聖德應運，創業江東，司徒導首居心膂，以道翼讚。 故大將軍敦參處股肱，或內或外，夾輔之勳，與有力焉。 階緣際會，遂據上宰，杖節專征，委以五州。 刁協、劉隗立朝不允，敦抗義致討，情希鬻拳，兵雖犯順，猶嘉乃誠，禮秩優崇，人臣無貳。 事解之後，劫掠城邑，放恣兵人，侵及宮省； 背違赦信，誅戮大臣； 縱凶極逆，不朝而退。 六合阻心，人情同憤。 先帝含垢忍恥，容而不責，委任如舊，禮秩有加。 朕以不天，尋丁酷罰，煢煢在疚，哀悼靡寄。 而敦曾無臣子追遠之誠，又無輔孤同獎之操，繕甲聚兵，盛夏來至，輒以天官假授私屬，將以威脅朝廷，傾危宗社。 朕湣其狂戾，冀其覺悟，故且含隱以觀其終。 而敦矜其不義之強，有侮弱朝廷之志，棄親用羈，背賢任惡。 錢鳳豎子，專為謀主，逞其凶慝，誣罔忠良。 周嵩亮直，讜言致禍； 周劄、周莚累世忠義，聽受讒構，殘夷其宗。 秦人之酷，刑不過五。 敦之誅戮，傍濫無辜，滅人之族，莫知其罪。 天下駭心，道路以目。 神怒人怨，篤疾所嬰，昏荒悖逆，日以滋其，輒立兄息以自承代，多樹私黨，莫非同惡，未有宰相繼體而不由王命者也。 頑凶相獎，無所顧忌，擅錄冶工，輒割運漕，志騁凶醜，以窺神器。 社稷之危，匪夕則旦。 天下長奸，敦以隕斃。 鳳承凶宄，彌復煽逆。 是可忍也，孰不可忍也！
The late sovereign built the eastern court; Wang Dao was his right hand. Wang Dun served as his strong arm, within and without. Chance raised him to chief minister, credential in hand, over five provinces. Diao Xie and Liu Kui skewed justice; Wang Dun marched to "correct" them—like Yu Quan who maimed himself to warn his king. The march was treason, yet the late emperor indulged him. Peace brought only looting and soldiers in the palace. He broke pardons and murdered ministers. He shunned audience and marched away. The world turned against him. The late emperor swallowed the insult and left him in power. I am young, orphaned, drowning in grief. Wang Dun shows no loyalty to my father's memory nor care for a boy emperor; he arms in summer and sells offices to kin, aiming at the throne. I humored his madness hoping he would wake. Instead he struts, bullies a child throne, favors strangers over kin, trusts villains. Qian Feng, a guttersnipe, plots for him and frames good men. Zhou Song died for speaking truth; Zhou Zha and Zhou Yan served faithfully yet were exterminated on gossip. Even Qin law stopped at five punishments. Wang Dun kills without charge and wipes out whole houses. The empire went silent with fear—on the highway people traded warnings with a glance. Heaven and the people turned against him: sick, muddled, and daily more outrageous, he tried to install his nephew as heir and pack the court with cronies—no legitimate succession behaves that way. They egged each other on, seized smiths, hijacked river grain, and angled for the throne itself. The dynasty had hours, not years, left. The world had learned villainy from Wang Dun—now he is dead. Qian Feng carried his master's malice forward and stoked revolt. If we tolerate this, nothing is intolerable!
25
今遣司徒導，鎮南將軍、丹陽尹嶠，建威將軍趙胤武旅三萬，十道並進； 平西將軍邃率兗州刺史遐、奮武將軍峻、奮威將軍贍精銳三萬，水陸齊勢； 朕親禦六軍，左衛將軍亮，右衛將軍胤，護軍將軍詹，領軍將軍瞻，中軍將軍壺，驍騎將軍艾，驃騎將軍、南頓王宗，鎮軍將軍、汝南王祐，太宰、西陽王羕被練三千，組甲三萬，總統諸軍，討鳳之罪。 罪止一人，朕不濫刑。 有能殺鳳送首，封五千戶侯，賞布五千匹。
I dispatch Wang Dao, Wen Jiao, and Zhao Yin with thirty thousand veterans on ten columns. Wang Sui brings Liu Xia, Zu Jun, and another column—another thirty thousand by land and river. The emperor leads the household guards: Yu Liang, Zhao Yin, Ying Zhan, the princes of Nandun, Runan, and Xiyang, Bian Hu, and more—thousands in white silk armor and tens of thousands in lamellar mail—all aimed at Qian Feng. Only the ringleader pays; there will be no blanket purge. Five thousand households and five thousand bolts to whoever brings Qian Feng's head.
26
冠軍將軍鄧岳志氣平厚，識經邪正； 前將軍周撫質性詳簡，義誠素著； 功臣之胄，情義兼常，往年從敦，情節不展，畏逼首領，不得相違，論其乃心，無貳王室，朕嘉其誠，方任之以事。 其餘文武，諸為敦所授用者，一無所問，刺史二千石不得輒離所職。 書到奉承，自求多福，無或猜嫌，以取誅滅。 敦之將士，從敦彌所，怨曠日久，或父母隕沒，或妻子喪亡，不得奔赴，銜哀從役，朕甚湣之，希不悽愴。 其單丁在軍無有兼重者，皆遣歸家，終身不調，其餘皆與假三年，休訖還台，當與宿衛同例三番。 明承詔書，朕不負信。
Deng Yue is calm, seasoned, and knows right from wrong. Zhou Fu is sober, steady, and proven loyal. They marched with Wang Dun under duress; their hearts never left the throne—I mean to use them in earnest. Everyone else keeps his post; no prefect may bolt without leave. Read this edict, choose wisely, and do not invite annihilation. The men who served Wang Dun have buried parents and wives from afar—I pity their grief. Only sons go home for good; everyone else gets three years off, then returns to the capital rotation. Mark my word: the throne keeps its promises.
27
又詔曰：「敢有舍王敦姓名而稱大將軍者，軍法從事。」
A follow-up edict threatened death for anyone who called him merely "Grand General" instead of naming Wang Dun.
28
敦病轉篤，不能禦眾，使錢鳳、鄧岳、周撫等率眾三萬向京師。 含謂敦曰：「此家事，吾便當行。」 於是以含為元帥。 鳳等問敦曰：「事克之日，天子云何？」 敦曰：「尚未南郊，何得稱天子！ 便盡卿兵勢，保護東海王及裴妃而已。」 乃上疏罪狀溫嶠，以誅奸臣為名。
Too sick to lead, Wang Dun ordered Qian Feng, Deng Yue, and Zhou Fu toward Jiankang with thirty thousand men. Wang Han told him, "This is our clan's fight—I will command." Wang Han took supreme command. Qian Feng asked what to do with the emperor after victory? Wang Dun sneered, "He has never offered the suburban sacrifice—how can you call him Son of Heaven! Throw your whole force around Prince Donghai and his consort—nothing more." He then memorialized against Wen Jiao, again cloaking treason as "purging traitors."
29
含至江甯，司徒導遺含書曰：
Near Nanjing Wang Dao wrote Wang Han:
30
近承大將軍困篤綿綿，或云已有不諱，悲怛之情，不能自勝。 尋知錢鳳大嚴，欲肆奸逆，朝士忿憤，莫不扼腕。 去月二十三日，得征北告，劉遐、陶瞻、蘇峻等深懷憂慮，不謀同辭。 都邑大小及二宮宿衛咸懼有往年之掠，不復保其妻孥，是以聖主發赫斯之命，具如檄旨。 近有嘉詔，崇兄八命，望兄獎群賢忠義之心，抑奸細不逞之計，當還武昌，盡力籓任。 卒奉來告，乃承與犬羊俱下，雖當逼近，猶以罔然。 兄立身率素，見信明于門宗，年逾耳順，位極人臣，仲玉、安期亦不足作佳少年，本來門戶，良可惜也！
They say Wang Dun is dying—my heart breaks. Then word came that Qian Feng was mobilizing for revolt—the capital boils. Liu Xia, Tao Zhan, and Su Jun all report the same dread. The city fears another sack; the sovereign issued the orders you have seen. The court just honored you, brother—turn back to Wuchang and serve the frontier as you should. Your note says you march with rabble at your heels—even now I cannot believe it. You are past sixty, honored as no other Wang—yet you drag your sons into this? What a waste of the family name!
31
兄之此舉，謂可得如大將軍昔年之事乎？ 昔年佞臣亂朝，人懷不寧，如導之徒，心思外濟。 今則不然。 大將軍來屯于湖，漸失人心，君子危怖，百姓勞弊。 將終之日，委重安期，安期斷乳未幾日，又乏時望，便可襲宰相之跡邪？ 自開闢以來，頗有宰相孺子者不？ 諸有耳者皆是將禪代意，非人臣之事也。 先帝中興，遺愛在人。 聖主聰明，德洽朝野，思與賢哲弘濟艱難。 不北面而執臣節，乃私相樹建，肆行威福，凡在人臣，誰不憤歎！ 此直錢鳳不良之心聞於遠近，自知無地，遂唱奸逆。 至如鄧伯山、周道和恆有好情，往來人士咸皆明之，方欲委任，與共戮力，非徒無慮而已也。
Do you imagine a second march like Wang Dun's first? Back then the court was rotten and we looked for help from outside. Today is different. When Wang Dun sat at Yuhu he forfeited the people—officials panicked, commoners broke. He tried to hand power to Wang Ying still wet behind the ears—can an infant play prime minister? Name one regent-in-diapers in all history? Whispers already call it a usurpation—no subject should do this. The late sovereign restored Jin; the people still love his memory. The young emperor is sharp and loved; he wants good men to steady the crisis. Yet you refuse fealty and build a private regime—every honest official seethes! This is Qian Feng's plot: cornered, he preaches rebellion. Men like Deng Yue and Zhou Fu remain loyal; the court was about to trust them, not suspect them.
32
導門戶小大受國厚恩，兄弟顯寵，可謂隆矣。 導雖不武，情在甯國。 今日之事，明目張膽為六軍之首，甯忠臣而死，不無賴而生矣。 但恨大將軍桓文之勳不遂，而兄一旦為逆節之臣，負先人平素之志，既沒之日，何顏見諸父于黃泉，謁先帝於地下邪？ 執省來告，為兄羞之，且悲且慚。 願速建大計，惟取錢鳳一人，使天下獲安，家國有福，故是竹素之事，非惟免禍而已。
Our Wang house owes the dynasty everything; our rank could not be higher. I am no soldier, but I mean to save the realm. Today I lead the imperial host in the open—I choose an honorable death over a shameful life. Wang Dun might have been another Duke Huan; you will enter history as traitors—how will you face our fathers in the grave? Your letter leaves me ashamed for our name. Cut out Qian Feng alone, turn the army around, and you win peace and a place in the chronicles—not just survival.
33
夫福如反手，用之即是。 導所統六軍，石頭萬五千人，宮內後苑二萬人，護軍屯金城六千人，劉遐已至，征北昨已濟江萬五千人。 以天子之威，文武畢力，豈可當乎！ 事猶可追，兄早思之。 大兵一奪，導以為灼炟也。
Fortune is there for the taking if you seize it now. My tally: fifteen thousand at Stone Fortress, twenty thousand in the rear palaces, six thousand gold-wall guards, Liu Xia on the field, another fifteen thousand just crossed the river. Against heaven's army at full strength you cannot stand! You can still step back—decide now. If steel meets steel, I tell you the realm burns.
34
含不答。 帝遣中軍司馬曹渾等擊含於越城，含軍敗，敦聞，怒曰：「我兄老婢耳，門戶衰矣！ 兄弟才兼文武者，世將、處季皆早死，今世事去矣。」 語參軍呂寶曰：「我當力行。」 因作勢而起，困乏復臥。
Wang Han did not answer. Mingdi hit Wang Han at Yuecheng; Wang Dun raged, "My brother fights like a tired old woman—the clan is finished! The brothers who mattered—Shijiang, Chuji—are dead; the moment is lost. He told his aide Lü Bao, "I must get up." He tried to stand and collapsed back on the couch.
35
鳳等至京師，屯于水南。 帝親率六軍以禦鳳，頻戰破之。 敦謂羊鑒及子應曰：「我亡後，應便即位，先立朝廷百官，然後乃營葬事。」 初，敦始病，夢白犬自天而下齧之，又見刁協乘軺車導從，瞋目令左右執之。 俄而敦死，時年五十九。 應秘不發喪，裹屍以席，蠟塗其外，埋於廳事中，與諸葛瑤等恆縱酒淫樂。
Qian Feng's host camped south of the Qinhuai. Mingdi led the guards himself and broke Qian Feng again and again. Wang Dun told Yang Jian and Wang Ying to enthrone the heir immediately, staff the bureaucracy, then bury him. When illness began he dreamed a white dog fell from heaven to bite him; Diao Xie appeared in a carriage ordering his arrest. He died at fifty-nine. Wang Ying hid the corpse—mat-wrapped, wax-sealed, buried under the hall—while he and Zhuge Yao feasted and debauched.
36
沈充自吳率眾萬餘人至，與含等合。 充司馬顧揚說充曰：「今舉大事，而天子已扼其喉，情離眾沮，鋒摧勢挫，持疑猶豫，必致禍敗。 今若決破柵塘，因湖水灌京邑，肆舟檻之勢，極水軍之用，此所謂不戰而屈人之兵，上策也。 籍初至之銳，並東南眾軍之力，十道俱進，眾寡過倍，理必摧陷，中策也。 轉禍為福，因敗為成，召錢鳳計事，因斬之以降，下策也。」 充不能用，揚逃歸於吳。 含復率眾渡淮，蘇峻等逆擊，大敗之，充亦燒營而退。
Shen Chong marched from Wu with ten thousand and linked up with Wang Han. His officer Gu Yang warned, "The emperor has you by the throat; morale is gone—hesitate and you lose. Flood the capital by breaching the dikes—win without a pitched battle—that is best. Strike on fresh valor with every southeastern column—the middle path. Murder Qian Feng and defect—that is the coward's gambit. Shen Chong ignored him; Gu Yang ran home to Wu. Wang Han recrossed the Huai; Su Jun shattered him; Shen Chong torched his camp and fled.
37
既而周光斬錢鳳，吳儒斬沈充，並傳首京師。 有司議曰：「王敦滔天作逆，有無君之心，宜依崔杼、王浚故事，剖棺戮屍，以彰元惡。」 於是發瘞出屍，焚其衣冠，跽而刑之。 敦、充首同日懸于南桁，觀者莫不稱慶。 敦首既懸，莫敢收葬者。 尚書令郗鑒言於帝曰：「昔王莽漆頭以輗車，董卓然腹以照市，王淩儭土，徐馥焚首。 前朝誅楊駿等，皆先極官刑，後聽私殯。 然《春秋》許齊襄之葬紀侯，魏武義王修之哭袁譚。 由斯言之，王誅加於上，私義行於下。 臣以為可聽私葬，於義為弘。」 昭許之，於是敦家收葬焉。 含父子乘單船奔荊州刺史王舒，舒使人沈之于江，餘黨悉平。
Zhou Guang killed Qian Feng; Wu Ru killed Shen Chong—both heads went to Jiankang. The ministry voted to drag Wang Dun from the grave like Cui Zhu's victim—open the coffin and hack the corpse. They exhumed the body, burned his robes, and posthumously "executed" him. Wang Dun's and Shen Chong's heads hung from the southern stockade while crowds cheered. No one dared claim Wang Dun's head for burial. Chi Jian cited Wang Mang, Dong Zhuo, and others—state mutilation versus private burial. Yang Jun's clique suffered public torture first, then kin could bury them. Yet the 《Spring and Autumn》 praises Qi for burying the lord of Ji; Cao Cao respected Wang Xiu mourning Yuan Tan. Public justice and private decency can coexist. I say let the family bury him—magnanimous and right. The emperor agreed; the Wangs buried Wang Dun. Wang Han and his son fled to Wang Shu, who drowned them in the Yangzi; the rebellion ended.
38
敦眉目疏朗，性簡脫，有鑒裁，學通《左氏》，口不言財利，尤好清談，時人莫知，惟族兄戎異之。 經略指麾，千里之外肅然，而麾下擾而不能整。 武帝嘗召時賢共言伎藝之事，人人皆有所說，惟敦都無所關，意色殊惡。 自言知擊鼓，因振袖揚枹，音節諧韻，神氣自得，傍若無人，舉坐歎其雄爽。 石崇以奢豪矜物，廁上常有十餘婢侍列，皆有容色，置甲煎粉、沈香汁，有如廁者，皆易新衣而出。 客多羞脫衣，而敦脫故著新，意色無怍。 群婢相謂曰：「此客必能作賊。」 又嘗荒恣於色，體為之弊，左右諫之，敦曰：「此甚易耳。」 乃開後閣，驅諸婢妾數十人並放之，時人歎異焉。
Wang Dun looked keen and open, mastered the 《Zuo Tradition》, feigned disdain for money, and shone at Pure Talk—only Wang Rong saw through him. He could move armies a thousand li away, yet could not discipline his own camp. At a court talent show Wang Dun alone sneered and stayed silent—his face dark with contempt. He claimed the war-drums instead, lifted the sticks, and brought down the house—guests called it bravado. Shi Chong lined his lavatory with ten perfumed maids and fresh robes for every visitor. Guests blushed to undress; Wang Dun changed without a flicker of embarrassment. The girls whispered, "That man could turn bandit." When excesses ruined his health and aides protested, he said, "Easy to fix." He emptied his harem onto the street—people marveled at the gesture.
40
沈充
Biography: Shen Chong.
42
沈充，字士居。 少好兵書，頗以雄豪聞於鄉里。 敦引為參軍，充因薦同郡錢鳳。 鳳字世儀，敦以為鎧曹參軍，數得進見。 知敦有不臣之心，因進邪說，遂相朋構，專弄威權，言成禍福。 遭父喪，外托還葬，而密為敦使，與充交構。
Shen Chong, courtesy name Shiju. As a boy he devoured military classics and locals already spoke of his swagger. Wang Dun made him an aide; Shen Chong pushed his countryman Qian Feng forward. Qian Shiyi became Wang Dun's armory clerk and haunted the inner chambers. Seeing Wang Dun's disloyalty, Qian Feng fed him poison counsel until they ran the court by whispers. He used his father's funeral as cover while carrying secret orders between Wang Dun and Shen Chong.
43
初，敦參軍熊甫見敦委任鳳，將有異圖，因酒酣謂敦曰：「開國承家，小人勿用，佞幸在位，鮮不敗業。」 敦作色曰：「小人阿誰？」 甫無懼容，因此告歸。 臨與敦別，因歌曰：「徂風飆起蓋山陵，氛霧蔽日玉石焚。 往事既去可長歎，念別惆悵復會難。」 敦知其諷己而不納。
Aide Xiong Fu, drunk, warned Wang Dun: "Petty men ruin houses—flatterers on the payroll mean collapse." Wang Dun snarled, "Whom do you mean?" Xiong Fu stared him down and quit. Leaving, he sang of storms burying hills—jade and stone consumed in flame. The past is ash; parting aches because reunion is rare. Wang Dun knew the barb and ignored it.
44
明帝將伐敦，遣其鄉人沈禎諭充，許以為司空。 充謂禎曰：「三司具瞻之重，豈吾所任！ 幣厚言甘，古人所畏。 且丈夫共事，終始當同，寧可中道改易，人誰容我！」 禎曰：「不然。 舍忠與順，未有不亡者也。 大將軍阻兵不朝，爵賞自己，五尺之童知其異志。 今此之舉，將行篡弑耳，豈同於往年乎？ 是以疆場諸將莫不歸赴本朝，內外之士咸願致死，正以移國易主，義不北面以事之也，奈何協同逆圖，當不義之責乎！ 朝廷坦誠，禎所知也。 賊之黨類，猶宥其罪，與之更始，況見機而作邪！」 充不納。 率兵臨發，謂其妻子曰：「男兒不豎豹尾，終不還也。」 及敗歸吳興，亡失道，誤入其故將吳儒家。 儒誘充內重壁中，因笑謂充曰：「三千戶侯也。」 充曰：「封侯不足貪也。 爾以大義存我，我宗族必厚報汝。 若必殺我，汝族滅矣。」 儒遂殺之。 充子勁竟滅吳氏。 勁見《忠義傳》。
Emperor Ming sent Shen Zhen, a townsman of Shen Chong, to offer him the ministry of works if he turned. Shen Chong said, "A seat among the three councils is not for me. Sweet talk and fat bribes scared our forebears for good reason. We swore one path; break it and no one trusts me again." Shen Zhen said, "Wrong. Turn your back on loyalty and you perish. Wang Dun shuns court and sells offices—even children see the coup coming. This march aims at the throne, not another spat like before. Every garrison rallies to the emperor; no one will serve a usurper—why chain yourself to treason? I know the throne keeps its word. Even Wang Dun's men get amnesty—why not you?" Shen Chong refused. He told his family he would not come home without a general's triumph. Fleeing defeat he lost his way and stumbled into Wu Ru's farm. Wu Ru trapped him and grinned, "Here is my three-thousand-household prize." Shen Chong said, "I care nothing for a noble rank. Spare me for honor's sake and my kin will reward you. Kill me and your line dies." Wu Ru cut his throat. His son Shen Jin later wiped out the Wu family. Shen Jin appears in the biographies of the loyal and righteous.
45
:史臣曰：琅邪之初鎮建鄴，龍德猶潛，雖當璧膺圖預定於冥兆，豐功厚利未被于黎氓。 王敦曆官中朝，威名夙著，作牧淮海，望實逾隆，遂能托魚水之深期，定金蘭之密契，弼成王度，光佐中興，卜世延百二之期，論都創三分之業，此功固不細也。 既而負勳高而圖非望，恃勢逼而肆驕陵。 釁隙起自刁劉，禍難成于錢沈。 興晉陽之甲，纏象魏之兵。 蜂目既露，豺聲又發，擅竊國命，殺害忠良，遂欲篡盜乘輿，逼遷龜鼎。 賴嗣君英略，晉祚靈長，諸侯釋位，股肱戮力，用能運茲廟算，殄彼凶徒，克固鴻圖，載清天步者矣。
The historians write: when the Jin court first settled Jiankang, the true Son of Heaven was still in shadow—omen spoke of the mandate, yet the people felt no blessing. Wang Dun came south with a statesman's résumé, won Sima Rui's trust, and built the Eastern Jin—no small feat. Then pride drove him to reach past the throne; force made him cruel. Diao Xie and Liu Kui sparked the split; Qian Feng and Shen Chong finished it. He marched like the lords who "arm Jinyang" and besieged the palace gates. The wasp eyes and jackal voice Pan Tao foretold came true—he seized power, slaughtered ministers, and aimed at the throne. The young emperor rallied the realm; lords and generals struck back—thus the traitors fell and the dynasty stood.
46
桓溫
Biography: Huan Wen.
47
桓溫，字元子，宣城太守彝之子也。 生未期而太原溫嶠見之，曰：「此兒有奇骨，可試使啼。」 及聞其聲，曰：「真英物也！」 以嶠所賞，故遂名之曰溫。 嶠笑曰：「果爾，後將易吾姓也。」 彝為韓晃所害，涇令江播豫焉。 溫時年十五，枕戈泣血，志在復仇。 至年十八，會播已終，子彪兄弟三人居喪，置刃杖中，以為溫備。 溫詭稱吊賓，得進，刃彪於廬中，並追二弟殺之，時人稱焉。
Huan Wen, courtesy name Yuanzi, was Huan Yi's son. Taiyuan's Wen Jiao saw the infant and said, "Fine bones—make him cry." When the baby wailed, Wen Jiao cried, "A born champion!" So the boy took Wen from Wen Jiao's name. Wen Jiao joked, "Then one day he will steal my surname too." Huan Yi died to Han Huang; Magistrate Jiang Bo of Jing helped plot it. At fifteen Huan Wen slept on a spear and swore blood vengeance. At eighteen Jiang Bo was dead; his three sons mourned with daggers hidden in their mourning staffs. Huan Wen posed as a mourner, knifed the eldest in the shed, ran down the brothers—people admired the vendetta.
48
溫豪爽有風概，姿貌甚偉，面有七星。 少與沛國劉惔善，惔嘗稱之曰：「溫眼如紫石棱，須作猥毛磔，孫仲謀、晉宣王之流亞也。」 選尚南康長公主，拜駙馬都尉，襲爵萬寧男，除琅邪太守，累遷徐州刺史。
Huan Wen was tall, striking, with seven moles like a constellation on his cheek. Liu Tan said his eyes flashed like amethyst, his beard like Sun Quan's or Sima Yi's. He married the princess, became son-in-law commandant, baron of Wanning, then governor of Xu.
49
溫與庾翼友善，恆相期以寧濟之事。 翼嘗薦溫於明帝曰； 「桓溫少有雄略，願陛下勿以常人遇之，常婿畜之，宜委以方召之任，托其弘濟艱難之勳。」 翼卒，以溫為都督荊梁四州諸軍事、安西將軍、荊州刺史、領護南蠻校尉、假節。
He and Yu Yi dreamed together of saving the realm. Yu Yi once told Emperor Ming: Do not treat Huan Wen as a decorative son-in-law—give him a frontier command and hard work." When Yu Yi died, Huan Wen took Jing and four provinces, with the western command and credential staff.
50
時李勢微弱，溫志在立勳於蜀，，率眾西伐。 時康獻太后臨朝，溫將發，上疏而行。 朝廷以蜀險遠，而溫兵寡少，深入敵場，甚以為憂。 初，諸葛亮造八陣圖于魚復平沙之上，壘石為八行，行相去二丈。 溫見之，謂「此常山蛇勢也。」 文武皆莫能識之。 及軍次彭模，乃命參軍周楚、孫盛守輜重，自將步卒直指成都。 勢使其叔父福及從兄權等攻彭模，楚等禦之，福退走。 溫又擊權等，三戰三捷，賊眾散，自間道歸成都。 勢於是悉眾與溫戰於笮橋，參軍龔護戰沒，眾懼欲退，而鼓吏誤鳴進鼓，於是攻之，勢眾大潰。 溫乘勝直進，焚其小城，勢遂夜遁九十里，至晉壽葭萌城，其將鄧嵩、昝堅勸勢降，乃面縛輿櫬請命。 溫解縛焚櫬，送于京師。 溫停蜀三旬，舉賢旌善，偽尚書僕射王誓、中書監王瑜、鎮東將軍鄧定、散騎常侍常璩等，皆蜀之良也，並以為參軍，百姓咸悅。 軍未旋而王誓、鄧定、隗文等反，溫復討平之。 振旅還江陵，進位征西大將軍、開府，封臨賀郡公。
Li Shi's Shu was feeble; Huan Wen marched west for glory. Under the regent empress he filed a memorial and left. Jiankang feared the depth of Shu and the thinness of his column. Zhuge Liang's stone maze still lay on the Yufu sands—eight rows two yards apart. Huan Wen recognized the "Mount Chang snake" deployment. His staff could not read the pattern. At Pengmo he left Zhou Chu and Sun Sheng with the train and drove on foot for Chengdu. Li Shi's uncle Li Fu attacked; Zhou Chu held; Li Fu fled. Huan Wen routed Li Quan three times; the Shu army melted toward the capital. At Zhu Bridge Gong Hu fell; the Jin line faltered until a drummer hit the wrong beat and sent them forward—Shu collapsed. Huan Wen burned the outworks; Li Shi ran to Jiameng, then surrendered in ropes beside a bier. Huan Wen freed him, burned the death-bier, and sent him east. He spent a month in Shu enlisting talent—Wang Shi, Chang Qu, and others joined his staff; the people cheered. Fresh mutinies rose before he left; he crushed them. He marched back to Jiangling as grand general who conquers the west, duke of Linhe.
51
及石季龍死，溫欲率眾北征，先上疏求朝廷議水陸之宜，久不報。 時知朝廷杖殷浩等以抗己，溫甚忿之，然素知浩，弗之憚也。 以國無他釁，遂得相持彌年，雖有君臣之跡，亦相羈縻而已，八州士眾資調，殆不為國家用。 聲言北伐，拜表便行，順流而下，行達武昌，眾四五萬。 殷浩慮為溫所廢，將謀避之，又欲以騶虞幡住溫軍，內外噂，人情震駭。 簡文帝時為撫軍，與溫書明社稷大計，疑惑所由。 溫即回軍還鎮，上疏曰：
After Shi Hu's death Huan Wen demanded a northern campaign and a strategy session; the court stayed silent. The court propped up Yin Hao against him; Huan Wen fumed but did not fear the man. Years of cold war followed while eight provinces' taxes fed Huan Wen, not the throne. He announced a northern drive, sailed to Wuchang with fifty thousand. Yin Hao plotted to stop him with a peace banner; the capital panicked. Sima Yu, as general who pacifies the army, wrote urging clarity on state policy. Huan Wen about-faced and filed a memorial:
52
:臣近親率所統，欲北掃趙魏，軍次武昌，獲撫軍大將軍、會稽王昱書，說風塵紛紜，妄生疑惑，辭旨危急，憂及社稷。 省之惋愕，不解所由，形影相顧，隕越無地。 臣以暗蔽，忝荷重任，雖才非其人，職在靜亂。 寇仇不滅，國恥未雪，幸因開泰之期，遇可乘之會，匹夫有志，猶懷憤慨，臣亦何心，坐觀其弊！ 故荷戈驅馳，不遑寧處，前後表陳，於今歷年矣。 丹誠坦然，公私所察，有何纖介，容此嫌忌？ 豈醜正之徒心懷怵惕，操弄虛說，以惑朝聽？
I marched for the north, stopped at Wuchang, and read Prince Yu's frantic letter about "dust in the capital" and danger to the state. I was stunned—what had I done to deserve this terror?" I am no genius, but my duty is to end turmoil. The barbarians still mock us—how can I sit idle?" Year after year I have begged leave to march. My heart is bare—why invent plots? Petty men poison the ear of the throne.
53
:昔樂毅謁誠，垂涕流奔，霍光盡忠，上官告變。 讒說殄行，奸邪亂德，及歷代之常患，存亡之所由也。 今主上富於陽秋，陛下以聖淑臨朝，恭己委任，責成群下，方寄會通於群才，布德信於遐荒。 況臣世蒙殊恩，服事三朝，身非羈旅之賓，跡無韓彭之釁，而反間起於胸心，交亂過於四國，此古賢所以歎息於既往，而臣亦大懼于當年也。 今橫議妄生，成此貝錦，使垂滅之賊復獲蘇息，所以痛心絕氣，悲慨彌深。 臣雖所存者公，所務者國； 然外難未弭，而內弊交興，則臣本心陳力之志也。
Yue Yi fled in tears; Huo Guang stayed loyal while Shangguan plotted. Slander kills—that is how dynasties fall. The emperor is young; you govern with grace and delegate—yet rumor splits us. My clan served three emperors loyally—no Han Xin guilt—still you suspect me worse than ancient cabals. Lies revive our enemies—I choke on rage. I serve the realm, not myself, yet infighting blocks the border—that is what I meant to cure.
54
進位太尉，固讓不拜。 時殷浩至洛陽修復園陵，經涉數年，屢戰屢敗，器械都盡。 溫復進督司州，因朝野之怨，乃奏廢浩，自此內外大權一歸溫矣。 溫遂統步騎四萬發江陵，水軍自襄陽入均口。 至南鄉，步自淅川以征關中，命梁州刺史司馬勳出子午道。 別軍攻上洛，獲苻健荊州刺史郭敬，進擊青泥，破之。 健又遣子生、弟雄眾數萬屯嶢柳、愁思塠以距溫，遂大戰，生親自陷陣，殺溫將應庭、劉泓，死傷千數。 溫軍力戰，生眾乃散。 雄又與將軍桓沖戰白鹿原，又為沖所破。 雄遂馳襲司馬勳，勳退次女媧堡。 溫進至霸上，健以五千人深溝自固，居人皆安堵復業，持牛酒迎溫于路者十八九，耆老感泣曰：「不圖今日復見官軍！」 初，溫恃麥熟，取以為軍資。 而健芟苗清野，軍糧不屬，收三千餘口而還。 帝使侍中黃門勞溫於襄陽。
They made him grand commandant; he refused. Yin Hao wasted years fixing Luoyang tombs and lost every battle. Huan Wen added Si Province, impeached Yin Hao on public fury, and swallowed the court. He led forty thousand from Jiangling; the fleet entered the Han from Xiangyang. At Nanxiang he struck overland into Guanzhong while Sima Xun took the Ziwu pass. Another wing took Shangluo, seized Fu Jian's governor Guo Jing, and smashed the force at Qingni. Fu Jian sent Fu Sheng and Fu Xiong to block Huan Wen; Fu Sheng killed Jin generals Ying Ting and Liu Hong in a bloodbath. Huan Wen's men broke Fu Sheng's line. Fu Xiong met Huan Chong on Bailuyuan and lost again. Fu Xiong chased Sima Xun back to Nüwa redoubt. At Bashang the locals cheered Huan Wen—old men wept that imperial soldiers had returned. Huan Wen had counted on the wheat crop for supplies. Fu Jian scorched the earth; Huan Wen ran out of food and retreated with prisoners. The court sent envoys to comfort him at Xiangyang.
55
初，溫自以雄姿風氣是宣帝、劉琨之儔，有以其比王敦者，意甚不平。 及是征還，於北方得一巧作老婢，訪之，乃琨伎女也，一見溫，便潸然而泣。 溫問其故，答曰：「公甚似劉司空。」 溫大悅，出外整理衣冠，又呼婢問。 婢云：「面甚似，恨薄； 眼甚似，恨小； 須甚似，恨赤； 形甚似，恨短； 聲甚似，恨雌。」 溫於是褫冠解帶，昏然而睡，不怡者數日。
Huan Wen fancied himself another Sima Yi or Liu Kun; any comparison to Wang Dun infuriated him. On the way back he bought an old slave woman who had served Liu Kun—she burst into tears at his face. She said he looked like Liu Kun. Delighted, he dressed up and made her look again. She said his face matched—but too thin; eyes matched—too small; beard matched—too red; stature matched—too short; voice matched—too effeminate." Huan Wen sulked for days.
56
母孔氏卒，上疏解職，欲送葬宛陵，詔不許。 贈臨賀太夫人印綬，諡曰敬，遣侍中弔祭，謁者監護喪事，旬月之中，使者八至，軺軒相望於道。 溫葬畢視事，欲修復園陵，移都洛陽，表疏十餘上，不許。 進溫征討大都督、督司冀二州諸軍事，委以專征之任。
His mother died; he begged to bury her at Wanling; the throne refused leave. The court piled honors on Lady Kong—eight embassies in a month. He returned to duty demanding Luoyang as capital and tomb repairs—ten memorials, ten refusals. They named him supreme commander over Si and Ji with full war powers.
57
溫遣督護高武據魯陽，輔國將軍戴施屯河上，勒舟師以逼許洛，以譙梁水道既通，請徐豫兵乘淮泗入河。 溫自江陵北伐，行經金城，見少為琅邪時所種柳皆已十圍，慨然曰：「木猶如此，人何以堪！」 攀枝執條，泫然流涕。 於是過淮泗，踐北境，與諸僚屬登平乘樓，眺矚中原，慨然曰：「遂使神州陸沈，百年丘墟，王夷甫諸人不得不任其責！」 袁宏曰：「運有興廢，豈必諸人之過！」 溫作色謂四座曰：「頗聞劉景升有千斤大牛，啖芻豆十倍于常牛，負重致遠，曾不若一羸牸，魏武入荊州，以享軍士。」 意以況宏，坐中皆失色。 師次伊水，姚襄屯水北，距水而戰。 溫結陣而前，親被甲督弟沖及諸將奮擊，襄大敗，自相殺死者數千人，越北芒而西走，追之不及，遂奔平陽。 溫屯故太極殿前，徙入金墉城，謁先帝諸陵，陵被侵毀者皆繕復之，兼置陵令。 遂旋軍，執降賊周成以歸，遷降人三千餘家于江漢之間。 遣西陽太守滕畯出黃城，討蠻賊文盧等，又遣江夏相劉岵、義陽太守胡驥討妖賊李弘，皆破之，傳首京都。 溫還軍之後，司、豫、青、兗復陷於賊。 升平中，改封南郡公，降臨賀為縣公，以封其次子濟。
He strung out garrisons from Luyang to the Yellow River and asked for eastern reinforcements by water. Passing Jincheng he saw his old willows grown huge and sighed, "Even trees age—what of men?" He wept on the branches. From the tower he cursed Wang Yan and the western Jin elite for losing the north. Yuan Hong said fate, not only men, shaped the fall. Huan Wen darkly compared Yuan Hong to Liu Biao's useless ox—Cao Cao had slaughtered for meat. The bench went white. He met Yao Xiang at the Yi. Huan Wen shattered Yao Xiang; the rebel fled toward Pingyang. He occupied Luoyang, patched the desecrated tombs, and posted wardens. He withdrew with captive Zhou Cheng and resettled thousands south of the Han. He mopped up bandits on the middle Yangzi and sent heads east. Once he left, the north collapsed again. He became duke of Nanjun; Linhe went to his son Huan Ji.
58
隆和初，寇逼河南，太守戴施出奔，冠軍將軍陳祐告急，溫使竟陵太守鄧遐率三千人助祐，並欲還都洛陽，上疏曰：
When Henan buckled, Huan Wen sent Deng Xia to Chen You and again demanded moving the court to Luoyang:
59
:巴蜀既平，逆胡消滅，時來之會既至，休泰之慶顯著。 而人事乖違，屢喪王略，復使二賊雙起，海內崩裂，河洛蕭條，山陵危逼，所以遐邇悲惶，痛心於既往者也。 伏惟陛下稟乾坤自然之姿，挺羲皇玄朗之德，鳳棲外籓，龍飛皇極，時務陵替，備徹天聽，人之情偽，盡知之矣。 是以九域宅心，幽遐企踵，思佇雲羅，混網四裔。 誠宜遠圖廟算，大存經略，光復舊京，疆理華夏，使惠風陽澤洽被八表，霜威寒飆陵振無外，豈不允應靈休，天人齊契！ 今江河悠闊，風馬殊邈，故向義之徒履亡相尋，而建節之士猶繼踵無悔。 況辰極既回，眾星斯仰，本源既運，枝泒自遷； 則晉之余黎欣皇德之攸憑，群凶妖逆知滅亡之無日，騁思順之心，鼓雷霆之勢，則二豎之命不誅而自絕矣。 故員通貴於無滯，明哲尚于應機，砎如石焉，所以成務。 若乃海運既徒，而鵬翼不舉，永結根于南垂，廢神州于龍漠，令五尺之童掩口而歎息。
Shu is quiet and the barbarians beaten—the time favors recovery. Yet Jin fumbled and the frontier split; the old capitals lie in ruins. You carry heaven's mandate and see every truth of the realm. The world waits for you to cast the net of restoration. Move the capital north, rule all under heaven—heaven wills it. The river still divides north and south, yet volunteers keep coming. When the center moves, the limbs follow. The people will rally; the rebels will wither. Flexibility and timing—not rigidity—win wars. If the court stays south, children will groan at the lost north.
60
:夫先王經始，玄聖宅心，畫為九州，制為九服，貴中區而內諸夏，誠以晷度自中，霜露惟均，冠冕萬國，朝宗四海故也。 自強胡陵暴，中華蕩覆，狼狽失據，權幸揚越，蠖屈以待龍伸之會，潛蟠之俟風雲之期，蓋屯圮所鐘，非理勝而然也。 而喪亂緬邈，五十餘載，先舊徂沒，後來童幼，班荊輟音，積習成俗，遂望絕於本邦，宴安於所托。 眷言悼之，不覺悲歎！ 臣雖庸劣，才不周務，然攝官承乏，屬當重任，願竭筋骨，宣力先鋒，翦除荊棘，驅諸豺狼。 自永嘉之亂，播流江表者，請一切北徙，以實河南，資其舊業，反其土宇，勸農桑之務，盡三時之利，導之以義，齊之以禮，使文武兼宣，信順交暢，井邑既修，綱維粗舉。 然後陛下建三辰之章，振旂旗之旌，冕旒錫鑾，朝服濟江，則宇宙之內誰不幸甚！
The sages built China around the Central Plain for good reason. We fled south under duress—not by choice. Two generations have grown up south of the river and forgotten the north. That thought breaks the heart. I am no genius, but I will clear the thorns myself. Resettle every refugee from Yongjia back into Henan, rebuild farms, restore ritual— then you can ride north in full regalia and the world will cheer.
61
:夫人情昧安，難與圖始； 非常之事，眾人所疑。 伏願陛下決玄照之明，斷常均之外，責臣以興復之效，委臣以終濟之功。 此事既就，此功既成，則陛下盛勳比靈斯前代，周宣之詠復興當年。 如其不效，臣之罪也，褰裳赴鑊，其甘如薺。
People cling to comfort— great ventures breed doubt. See clearly, charge me with recovery, hold me to results. Success will make you another King Xuan. If I fail, boil me alive—I accept it.
62
詔曰：「在昔喪亂，忽涉五紀，戎狄肆暴，繼襲凶跡，眷言西顧，慨歎盈懷！ 知欲躬率三軍，蕩滌氛穢，廓清中畿，光復舊京，非夫外身殉國，孰能若此者哉！ 諸所處分，委之高算。 但河洛丘墟，所營者廣，經始之勤，致勞懷也。」 於是改授並、司、冀三州，以交廣遼遠，罷都督，溫表辭不受。 又加侍中、大司馬、都督中外諸軍事、假黃鉞。 溫以既總督內外，不宜在遠，又上疏陳便宜七事：其一，朋黨雷同，私議沸騰，宜抑杜浮競，莫使能植。 其二，戶口凋寡，不當漢之一郡，宜並官省職，令久於其事。 其三，機務不可停廢，常行文案宜為限日。 其四，宜明長幼之禮，獎忠公之吏。 其五，褒貶賞罰，宜允其實。 其六，宜述遵前典，敦明學業。 其七，宜選建史官，以成晉書。 有司皆奏行之。 尋加羽葆鼓吹，置左右長史、司馬、從事中郎四人。 受鼓吹，餘皆辭。 復率舟軍進合肥。 加揚州牧、錄尚書事，使侍中顏旄宣旨，召溫入參朝政。 溫上疏曰：
The edict mourned fifty years of barbarian rule. It praised Huan Wen's willingness to die for the north. Strategy is his. Luoyang is rubble—the work will exhaust you." He was given Bing, Si, and Ji; Jiao-Guang command was stripped; he declined parts of the bundle. They added grand marshal, palace attendant, and yellow axe. He offered seven reforms: crush cliques, merge offices for shrunken population, deadlines on paperwork, honor age and loyalty, fair justice, promote schools, and commission the History of Jin. The ministries adopted all seven. He got the drum escort and a full staff. He took only the music. He sailed against Hefei again. They made him recorder and Yang governor and summoned him to court. He answered:
63
:方攘除群凶，掃平禍亂，當竭天下智力，與眾共濟，而朝議咸疑，聖詔彌固，事異本圖，豈敢執遂！ 至於入參朝政，非所敢聞。 臣違離宮省二十餘載，鞸䩬戎務，役勤思苦，若得解帶逍遙，鳴玉闕廷，參贊無為之契，豫聞曲成之化，雖實不敏，豈不是願！ 但顧以江漢艱難，不同曩日，而益梁新平，寧州始服，懸兵漢川，戍禦彌廣，加強蠻盤牙，勢處上流，江湖悠遠，當制命侯伯，自非望實重威，無以鎮禦遐外。 臣知舍此之艱危，敢背之而無怨，願奮臂投身造事中原者，實恥帝道皇居仄陋于東南，痛神華桑梓遂埋于戎狄。 若憑宗廟之靈，則雲徹席捲，呼吸蕩清。 如當假息遊魂，則臣據河洛，親臨二寇，廣宣皇靈，襟帶秦趙，遠不五載，大事必定。
I mean to finish the bandits first—the summons to court is premature. He refused a desk in the capital. Part of him longed for capital life— but the upper Yangzi still needs a strong hand. He stayed to hold the west and finish the reconquest. With ancestral help the north will clear in one gust. Else he would anchor at Luoyang and grind Qin and Zhao down within five years.
64
:今臣昱以親賢贊國，光輔二世，即無煩以臣疏鈍，並是機務。 且不有行者，誰捍牧圉？ 表裏相濟，實深實重。 伏願陛下察臣所陳，兼訪內外，乞時還屯，撫甯方隅。
Prince Yu can run the capital without me. Someone must hold the frontier. Court and camp need each other. Let me return to my post and steady the west.
65
詔不許，復征溫。 溫至赭圻，詔又使尚書車灌止之，溫遂城赭圻，固讓內錄，遙領揚州牧。 屬鮮卑攻洛陽，陳祐出奔，簡文帝時輔政，會溫於洌洲，議征討事，溫移鎮姑孰。 會哀帝崩，事遂寢。
The throne refused and recalled him again. At Zheqi he fortified, refused the recorder post, kept Yangzhou in name only. Xianbei hit Luoyang; Sima Yu met Huan Wen on the river; Huan Wen moved to Gushu. Emperor Ai died and the campaign stalled.
66
溫性儉，每燕惟下七奠柈茶果而已。 然以雄武專朝，窺覦非望，或臥對親僚曰：「為爾寂寂，將為文景所笑。」 眾莫敢對。 既而撫枕起曰：「既不能流芳後世，不足復遺臭萬載邪！」 嘗行經王敦墓，望之曰：「可人，可人！」 其心跡若是。 時有遠方比丘尼名有道術，於別室浴，溫竊窺之。 尼倮身先以刀自破腹，次斷兩足。 浴竟出，溫問吉凶，尼云：「公若作天子，亦當如是。」
His feasts were spare—tea and fruit on seven plates. Privately he said quiet obscurity would make Han Wendi mock him. No one replied. He added that infamy beat oblivion. He praised Wang Dun's tomb. Such was his ambition. He spied on a nun who claimed magic powers. The nun disemboweled herself and hacked off her own feet before answering. Afterward she told him an emperor's fate looked like her self-mutilation.
67
，又上疏悉眾北伐。 平北將軍郗愔以疾解職，又以溫領平北將軍、徐兗二州刺史，率弟南中郎沖、西中郎袁真步騎五萬北伐。 百官皆于南州祖道，都邑盡傾。 軍次湖陸，攻慕容暐將慕容忠，獲之，進次金鄉。 時亢旱，水道不通，乃鑿钜野三百餘里以通舟運，自清水入河。 暐將慕容垂、傅末波等率眾八萬距溫，戰于林渚。 溫擊破之，遂至枋頭。 先使袁真伐譙梁，開石門以通運。 真討譙梁皆平之，而不能開石門，軍糧竭盡。 溫焚舟步退，自東燕出倉垣，經陳留，鑿井而飲，行七百餘里。 垂以八千騎追之，戰於襄邑，溫軍敗績，死者三萬人。 溫甚恥之，歸罪於真，表廢為庶人。 真怨溫誣己，據壽陽以自固，潛通苻堅、慕容暐。
The line opens with a stray comma in the edition; he again demanded a full northern expedition. Chi Yin stepped down; Huan Wen took Xu-Yan command and marched fifty thousand with Huan Chong and Yuan Zhen. The whole court lined Nanzhou to toast the army. He took Murong Zhong at Hulu and pushed to Jinxiang. He cut a canal through Juye to link the rivers in a drought. Murong Chui met him with eighty thousand at Linzhu. Huan Wen fought through to Fangtou. Yuan Zhen was to open the Stone Gate supply line. Yuan Zhen cleared Qiao-Liang but never opened Stone Gate—supplies died. Huan Wen scuttled his fleet and marched seven hundred li of dry country. Murong Chui ran him down at Xiangyi—thirty thousand dead. He scapegoated Yuan Zhen and stripped his rank. Yuan Zhen rebelled at Shouyang and wrote to Fu Jian and Murong Wei.
68
帝遣侍中羅含以牛酒犒溫于山陽，使會稽王昱會溫於途中，詔以溫世子給事熙為征虜將軍、豫州刺史、假節。 及南康公主薨，詔賻布千匹，錢百萬，溫辭不受。 又陳息熙三年之孤，且年少未宜使居偏任，詔不許。 發州人築廣陵城，移鎮之。 時溫行役既久，又兼疾癘，死者十四五，百姓嗟怨。
The court soothed Huan Wen en route and named his son Huan Xi governor of Yu. He refused the princess's funeral subsidy. He begged off Huan Xi's post as too young; the throne refused. He drafted labor for Guangling's walls and shifted his base. Disease and fatigue killed nearly half his levies; people cursed him.
69
袁真病死，其將朱輔立其子瑾以嗣事。 慕容暐、苻堅並遣軍授瑾，溫使督護竺瑤、矯陽之等與水軍擊之。 時暐軍已至，瑤等與戰于武丘，破之。 溫率二萬人自廣陵又至，瑾嬰城固守，溫築長圍守之。 苻堅乃使其將王鑒、張蠔等率兵以救瑾，屯洛澗，先遣精騎五千次於肥水北。 溫遣桓伊及弟子石虔等逆擊，大破之，瑾眾遂潰，生擒之，並其宗族數十人及硃輔送於京都而斬之，所侍養乞活數百人悉坑之，以妻子為賞。 溫以功，詔加班劍十人，犒軍于路次，文武論功賞賜各有差。
Yuan Zhen died; Zhu Fu raised Yuan Jin. Former Yan and Former Qin reinforced Shouyang; Huan Wen sent Zhu Yao and allies by water. Zhu Yao beat the Yan column at Wuqiu. Huan Wen ringed Shouyang with twenty thousand fresh troops. Fu Jian sent Wang Jian and Zhang Hao toward the Fei. Huan Yi shattered the Qin relief force, took Yuan Jin alive, executed his clan, buried hundreds of followers alive, and parceled out families as booty. The court added honors and paid bonuses by rank.
70
溫既負其才力，久懷異志，欲先立功河朔，還受九錫。 既逢覆敗，名實頓減，於是參軍郗超進廢立之計，溫乃廢帝而立簡文帝。 詔溫依諸葛亮故事，甲仗百人入殿，賜錢五千萬，絹二萬匹，布十萬匹。 溫多所廢徒，誅庾倩、殷涓、曹秀等。 是時溫威勢翕赫，侍中謝安見而遙拜，溫驚曰：「安石，卿何事乃爾！」 安曰：「未有君拜於前，臣揖於後。」 時溫有腳疾，詔乘輿入朝，既見，欲陳廢立本意，帝便泣下數十行，溫兢懼，不得一言而出。
He meant to conquer the north, then take the nine imperial gifts. After Fangtou, Chi Chao talked him into a coup—he deposed Emperor Fei and enthroned Sima Yu. He was allowed a hundred guards in the hall like Zhuge Liang, plus a huge cash and silk gift. He purged Yu Qian, Yin Juan, Cao Xiu, and more. Xie An bowed from a distance; Huan Wen demanded why. Xie An said no king bows while a minister merely inclines his head. Huan Wen rode to court but Sima Yu's tears silenced him.
71
初，元明世，郭璞為讖曰：「君非無嗣，兄弟代禪。」 謂成帝有子，而以國祚傳弟。 又曰：「有人姓李，兒專征戰。 譬如車軸，脫在一面。」 兒者，子也； 李去子木存，車去軸為亙，合成「桓」字也。 又曰：「爾來，爾來，河內大縣。」 爾來謂自爾已來為元始，溫字元子也； 故河內大縣，溫也。 成康既崩，桓氏始大，故連言之。 又曰：「賴子之薨，延我國祚。 痛子之隕，皇運其暮。」 二子者，元子、道子也。 溫志在篡奪，事未成而死，幸之也。 會稽王道子雖首亂晉國，而其死亦晉衰之由也，故云痛也。
Guo Pu's prophecy spoke of brotherly succession. It referred to Cheng's line passing sideways. Another line named a Li and a "child" of war. Like a loose axle pin. The prophecy glosses the character for 'child' as the word for son. The riddle's pieces spell the surname Huan. Another verse played on "er lai" and Henei. Er lai punned on Huan Wen's courtesy name Yuanzi. Henei stood for Huan Wen. The verses foretold Huan power after Cheng and Kang. One line blessed an heir's death as prolonging Jin. Another mourned an heir and twilight of the house. The two sons were Huan Wen and Sima Daozi. Huan Wen died before stealing the throne—mercy for Jin. Sima Daozi later ruined the state—hence the prophecy's "grief."
72
溫復還白石，上疏求歸姑孰。 詔曰：「夫乾坤體合，而化成萬物； 二人同心，則不言所利。 古之哲王咸賴元輔，姬旦光於四表，而周道以隆； 伊尹格於皇天，而殷化以洽。 大司馬明德應期，光大深遠，上合天心，含章時發，用集大命，在予一人，功美博陸，道固萬世。 今進公丞相，其大司馬本官皆如故，留公京都，以鎮社稷。」 溫固辭，仍請還鎮。 遣侍中王坦之徵溫入相，增邑為萬戶，又辭。 詔以西府經袁真事故，軍用不足，給世子熙布三萬匹，米六萬斛，又以熙弟濟為給事中。
He withdrew to Baishi and asked to go back to Gushu. The edict quoted the classics: heaven and earth unite— two hearts as one need no words of gain. The Duke of Zhou lit the realm— Yi Yin perfected Shang rule— It hailed Huan Wen as Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou. It offered him the chancellorship and a capital post." Huan Wen refused the capital job. Wang Tanzhi tried to drag him to chancellor—still no. The court subsidized his heir with grain and cloth after Yuan Zhen's war costs.
73
及帝不豫，詔溫曰：「吾遂委篤，足下便入，冀得相見。 便來，便來！」 於是一日一夜頻有四詔。 溫上疏曰：「聖體不和，以經積日，愚心惶恐，無所寄情。 夫盛衰常理，過備無害，故漢高枕疾，呂後問相，孝武不豫，霍光啟嗣。 嗚噎以問身後，蓋所存者大也。 今皇子幼稚，而朝賢時譽惟謝安、王坦之才識智皆簡在聖鑒。 內輔幼君，外禦強寇，實群情之大懼，然理盡於此。 陛下便宜崇授，使群下知所寄，而安等奉命陳力，公私為宜。 至如臣溫位兼將相，加陛下垂布衣之顧，但朽邁疾病，懼不支久，無所復堪托以後事。」 疏未及奏而帝崩，遺詔家國事一稟之於公，如諸葛武侯、王丞相故事。 溫初望簡文臨終禪位於己，不爾便為周公居攝。 事既不副所望，故甚憤怨，與弟沖書曰：「遺詔使吾依武侯、王公故事耳。」 王、謝處大事之際，日憤憤少懷。
Sima Yu begged Huan Wen to his deathbed. Come at once!" Four summons flew in one night. Huan Wen offered a careful reply about succession. He cited Han precedents for regency talks. They planned for the realm, not themselves. Name Xie An and Wang Tanzhi for the boy. They must guard within and without—that is the limit of the plan. Empower them openly so the court knows who rules. He excused himself as too old to regent." Sima Yu died; the will made Huan Wen regent like Zhuge Liang and Wang Dao. Huan Wen expected abdication or a Zhou-gong regency. He raged to Huan Chong that the will snubbed him. He cursed Wang Dao's heirs and Xie for blocking him.
74
及孝武即位，詔曰：「先帝遺敕云：'事大司馬如事吾。 '令答表便可盡敬。」 又詔：「大司馬社稷所寄，先帝托以家國，內外眾事便就關公施行。」 復遣謝安徵溫入輔，加前部羽葆鼓吹，武賁六十人，溫讓不受。 及溫入朝，赴山陵，詔曰：「公勳德尊重，師保朕躬，兼有風患，其無敬。」 又敕尚書安等於新亭奉迎，百僚皆拜於道側。 當時豫有位望者咸戰懾失色，或云因此殺王、謝，內外懷懼。 溫既至，以盧悚入宮，乃收尚書陸始付廷尉，責替慢罪也。 於是拜高平陵，左右覺其有異，既登車，謂從者曰：「先帝向遂靈見。」 既不述帝所言，故眾莫之知，但見將拜時頻言「臣不敢」而已。 又問左右殷涓形狀，答者言肥短，溫云：「向亦見在帝側。」 初，殷浩既為溫所廢死，涓頗有氣尚，遂不詣溫，而與武陵王晞游，故溫疑而害之，竟不識也。 及是，亦見涓為祟，因而遇疾。 凡停京師十有四日，歸於姑孰，遂寢疾不起。 諷朝廷加己九錫，累相催促。 謝安、王坦之聞其病篤，密緩其事。 錫文未及成而薨，時年六十二。 皇太后與帝臨於朝堂三日，詔賜九命袞冕之服，又朝服一具，衣一襲，東園秘器，錢二百萬，布二千匹，臘五百斤，以供喪事。 及葬，一依太宰安平獻王、漢大將軍霍光故事，賜九旒鸞輅，黃屋左纛，縕輬車，輓歌二部，羽葆鼓吹，武賁班劍百人，優冊即前南郡公增七千五百戶，進地方三百里，賜錢五千萬，絹二萬匹，布十萬匹，追贈丞相。
Xiaowu's edict quoted fealty to Huan Wen. Memorials to him should use full ritual." A second edict gave him total executive power. Xie An summoned him to court with full pomp; he refused. He was excused full bows because of gout. The court welcomed him at Xinting with full obeisance. Jiankang feared a blood purge of Wang and Xie. He jailed Minister Lu Shi over Lu Song's intrusion. At Gaoling he claimed a vision of Sima Yu. Witnesses heard only him muttering he dared not. He hallucinated Yin Juan beside the ghost emperor. He had murdered Yin Juan without ever seeing him—guilt fed the vision. The apparition broke his health. After two weeks in the capital he fled to Gushu and collapsed. He demanded the nine gifts while dying. Xie An and Wang Tanzhi stalled the patent. He died at sixty-two before the nine tins were sealed. Court mourned three days and sent imperial-class burial goods. Burial followed the full Huo Guang precedent: nine-plume phoenix hearse, imperial yellow canopy, wax-sealed coffin cart, two choirs of dirge, drum escort, a hundred sword guards, his dukedom enlarged by seventy-five hundred households over three hundred square li, millions in cash and silk, and posthumous appointment as chancellor.
75
初，沖問溫以謝安、王坦之所任，溫曰：「伊等不為汝所處分。」 溫知己存彼不敢異，害之無益於沖，更失時望，所以息謀。
He warned Huan Chong he could not control Xie An and Wang Tanzhi. While Huan Wen lived, Xie and Wang obeyed; killing them would have ruined Huan Chong's reputation, so he dropped the idea.
76
溫六子：熙、濟、歆、禕、偉、玄。 熙字伯道，初為世子，後以才弱，使沖領其眾。 及溫病，熙與叔秘謀殺沖，沖知之，徙于長沙。 濟字仲道，與熙同謀，俱徙長沙。 歆字叔道，賜爵臨賀公。 禕最愚，不辨菽麥。 偉字幼道，平厚篤實，居籓為士庶所懷。 曆使持節、督荊益甯秦梁五州諸軍事、安西將軍、領南蠻校尉、荊州刺史、西昌侯，贈驃騎將軍、開府儀同三司。 玄嗣爵，別有傳。
Huan Wen fathered six sons. Huan Xi lost the army to Huan Chong as untalented. Huan Xi and Huan Mi plotted regicide; Huan Chong sent Xi to Changsha. Huan Ji shared the exile. Huan Xin became duke of Linhe. Huan Yi was a simpleton who could not tell grain apart. Huan Wei was steady and beloved as a frontier lord. He rose to western command over five provinces and died a grand general. Huan Xuan has his own chapter.
78
孟嘉
Biography: Meng Jia.
80
孟嘉字萬年，江夏鄳人，吳司空宗曾孫也。 嘉少知名，太尉庾亮領江州，辟部廬陵從事。 嘉還都，亮引問風俗得失，對曰：「還傳當問吏。」 亮舉麈尾掩口而笑，謂弟翼曰：「孟嘉故是盛德人。」 轉勸學從事。 褚裒時為豫章太守，正旦朝亮，裒有器識，亮大會州府人士，嘉坐次甚遠。 裒問亮：「聞江州有孟嘉，其人何在？」 亮曰：「在坐，卿但自覓。」 裒曆觀，指嘉謂亮曰：「此君小異，將無是乎？」 亮欣然而笑，喜裒得嘉，奇嘉為裒所得，乃益器焉。
Meng Jia of Jiangxia traced his line to Wu's Meng Zong. Yu Liang made him a county clerk in Jiangxi. Asked about Jiangxi, he said ask the bureaucrats. Yu Liang laughed and called him a gentleman. He became education officer. At a New Year banquet Meng Jia sat far from the host. Chu Pou asked where Meng Jia was. Yu Liang said find him in the crowd. Chu Pou picked him out by presence. Yu Liang delighted in the pairing.
81
後為征西桓溫參軍，溫甚重之。 九月九日，溫燕龍山，僚佐畢集。 時佐吏並著戎服，有風至，吹嘉帽墮落，嘉不之覺。 溫使左右勿言，欲觀其舉止。 嘉良久如廁，溫令取還之，命孫盛作文嘲嘉，著嘉坐處。 嘉還見，即答之，其文甚美，四坐嗟歎。
Huan Wen prized him on staff. The Double Ninth banquet on Dragon Mountain. Wind stole his hat; he never flinched. Huan Wen hushed the room to watch. Huan Wen had the hat returned and Sun Sheng plant a satire on his cushion. Meng Jia replied in verse and silenced the table.
82
嘉好酣飲，愈多不亂。 溫問嘉：「酒有何好？ 而卿嗜之？」 嘉曰：「公未得酒中趣耳。」 又問：「聽妓，絲不如竹，竹不如肉，何謂也？」 嘉答曰：「漸近使之然。」 一坐咨嗟。 轉從事中郎，遷長史。 年五十三卒於家。
He drank heavily without losing composure. Huan Wen asked what wine offered that could make him love it so much?" Meng Jia said he had never tasted wine's true charm." He asked the old proverb on strings versus voice. Meng Jia said each step closer to the human voice feels richer." Guests murmured approval. He rose to chief clerk on Huan Wen's staff. He died at fifty-three at home.
83
:史臣曰：桓溫挺雄豪之逸氣，韞文武之奇才，見賞通人，夙標令譽。 時既豺狼孔熾，疆場多虞，受寄捍城，用恢威略，乃逾越險阻，戡定岷峨，獨克之功，有可稱矣。 及觀兵洛汭，修復五陵，引旆秦郊，威懷三輔，雖未能梟除凶逆，亦足以宣暢王靈。 既而總戎馬之權，居形勝之地，自謂英猷不世，勳績冠時。 挾震主之威，蓄無君之志，企景文而慨息，想處仲而思齊，睥睨漢廷，窺覦周鼎。 復欲立奇功于趙魏，允歸望於天人； 然後步驟前王，憲章虞夏。 逮乎石門路阻，襄邑兵摧，懟謀略之乖違，恥師徒之撓敗，遷怒於朝廷，委罪於偏裨，廢主以立威，殺人以逞欲，曾弗知寶命不可以求得，神器不可以力徵。 豈不悖哉！ 豈不悖哉！ 斯寶斧鋮之所宜加，人神之所同棄。 然猶存極光寵，沒享哀榮，是知朝政之無章，主威之不立也。
The historians: Huan Wen was a born warlord and scholar. He crushed Shu when the north was chaos. His Luoyang marches awed Guanzhong even in failure. Power went to his head. He envied Wang Dun and weighed the Han mandate. He wanted northern triumph then the throne— to walk as Shun and Yu. Fangtou broke him; he deposed an emperor and murdered to vent frustration—madness. What folly! What folly! He deserved the axe; heaven and earth rejected him. Jin still buried him like a hero—proof the court had no spine.
84
【贊】
Section marker: encomium.
85
贊曰：播越江濆，政弱權分。 元子悖力，處仲矜勳。 跡既陵上，志亦無君。 罪浮浞，心窺舜禹。 樹威外略，稱兵內侮。 惟身與嗣，竟罹齊斧。
Praise: The court fled south, riven by strongmen. Huan Wen flexed muscle; Wang Dun flaunted victories. Both trampled their king and dreamed of supremacy. Their crime outdid ancient usurpers; their eyes coveted the mandate. They warred outside and bullied within. They and their sons still fell to the headsman.