1
慕容皝
Murong Huang of Former Yan.
2
慕容皝，字元真，廆第三子也。 龍顏版齒，身長七尺八寸。 雄毅多權略，尚經學，善天文。 廆為遼東公，立為世子。 建武初，拜為冠軍將軍、左賢王，封望平侯，率眾征討，累有功。 太甯末，拜平北將軍，進封朝鮮公。 廆卒，嗣位，以平北將軍行平州刺史，督攝部內。 尋而宇文乞得龜為其別部逸豆歸所逐，奔死於外，皝率騎討之，逸豆歸懼而請和，遂築榆陰、安晉二城而還。
Murong Huang, whose courtesy name was Yuanzhen, was Murong Hui’s third son. He had an imperial bearing, unusually square teeth, and stood seven feet eight inches tall. He was bold, resourceful, devoted to the classics, and adept at reading the stars. When Murong Hui was named duke of Liaodong, Huang was made his heir. Early in the Jianwu era he was named general who champions the army and left worthy prince, created marquis of Wangping, and led troops on several successful expeditions. Late in the Taining era he became general who pacifies the north and was promoted to duke of Chaoxian. When Hui died he succeeded him, serving as general who pacifies the north and acting governor of Pingzhou with authority over the whole command. Soon afterward Yuwen Qidegui was driven out by a rival kinsman, Yidougui, and died in exile; Huang led cavalry against Yidougui, who sued for peace; Huang then built Yuyin and Anjin and withdrew.
3
初，皝庶兄建威翰驍武有雄才，素為皝所忌，母弟征虜仁、廣武昭並有寵於廆，皝亦不平之。 及廆卒，並懼不自容。 至此，翰出奔段遼，仁勸昭舉兵廢皝。 皝殺昭，遣使按檢仁之虛實，遇仁於險瀆。 仁知事發，殺皝使，東歸平郭。 皝遣其弟建武幼、司馬佟壽等討之。 仁盡眾距戰，幼等大敗，皆沒於仁。 襄平令王冰、將軍孫機以遼東叛於皝，東夷校尉封抽、護軍乙逸、遼東相韓矯、玄菟太守高詡等棄城奔還。 仁於是盡有遼左之地，自稱車騎將軍、平州刺史、遼東公。 宇文歸、段遼及鮮卑諸部並為之援。
His elder half-brother Murong Han, who held the title general who establishes might, was a brilliant warrior whom Huang resented, while his full brothers Murong Ren and Murong Zhao, both favored by Hui, also stirred his jealousy. When Hui died they all feared for their lives. Murong Han fled to Duan Liao, while Murong Ren urged Murong Zhao to revolt and depose Huang. Huang executed Zhao and sent agents to probe Ren, meeting him at the Xiandu defile. Ren saw his plot exposed, killed the messenger, and fled east to Pingguo. Huang dispatched his brother Murong You and Marshal Tong Shou against him. Ren threw his whole army into the fight and crushed You’s force, capturing every commander. Magistrate Wang Bing of Xiangping and general Sun Ji turned Liaodong against him, while Feng Chou, Yi Yi, Han Jiao, Gao Xu, and others abandoned their posts and fled. Ren then controlled all territory east of the Liao, proclaiming himself general of chariots and cavalry, governor of Pingzhou, and duke of Liaodong. Yuwen Gui, Duan Liao, and other Xianbei chiefs backed him.
4
，皝遣其司馬封弈攻鮮卑木堤于白狼，揚威淑虞攻烏丸悉羅侯于平岡，皆斬之。 材官劉佩攻乙連，不克。 段遼遂寇徒河，皝將張萌逆擊，敗之。 遼弟蘭與翰寇柳城，都尉石琮擊敗之。 旬余，蘭、翰復圍柳城，皝遣甯遠慕容汗及封弈等救之。 皝戒汗曰：「賊眾氣銳，難與爭鋒，宜顧萬全，慎勿輕進，必須兵集陣整，然後擊之。」 汗性驍銳，遣千餘騎為前鋒而進，封弈止之，汗不從，為蘭所敗，死者大半。 蘭復攻柳城，為飛梯、地道，圍守二旬，石琮躬勒將士出擊，敗之，斬首千五百級，蘭乃遁歸。
Huang sent Marshal Feng Yi to strike the Xianbei leader Muti at Bailang and Shuyu to strike the Wuhuan Siluohou at Pinggang; both enemy heads were taken. Engineering officer Liu Pei assaulted Yilian without success. Duan Liao then invaded Tuhe, but Huang’s general Zhang Meng intercepted and routed him. Duan Lan and Murong Han attacked Liucheng until commandant Shi Cong drove them off. Ten days later Duan Lan and Murong Han (the kinsman who had joined Duan Liao) again besieged Liucheng; Huang sent Murong Han, who held the title of general who pacifies the distance, together with Feng Yi, to relieve the city. Huang warned Murong Han (the general of pacifying distance): “The foe is numerous and keen—do not trade blows rashly; wait until your force is formed, then attack.” Murong Han was impetuous: he sent a thousand horse ahead as a van, ignored Feng Yi’s warning, and was routed by Duan Lan with heavy losses. Duan Lan renewed the siege with ladders and tunnels, but after twenty days Shi Cong sallied forth, killed fifteen hundred men, and forced Lan to withdraw.
5
是歲，成帝遣謁者徐孟、閭丘幸等持節拜皝鎮軍大將軍、平州刺史、大單于、遼東公，持節、都督、承制封拜，一如廆故事。
That year Emperor Cheng invested him as general who guards the army, governor of Pingzhou, great shanyu, and duke of Liaodong, with full authority to enfeoff subordinates as Hui had held.
6
皝自征遼東，克襄平。 仁所署居就令劉程以城降，新昌人張衡執縣宰以降。 於是斬仁所置守宰，分徙遼東大姓於棘城，置和陽、武次、西樂三縣而歸。
Huang led the army in person and captured Xiangping. Liu Cheng, whom Ren had installed at Juqiu, yielded the town, while Zhang Heng of Xinchang seized the magistrate and capitulated. He executed Ren’s officials, relocated the leading Liaodong families to Jicheng, set up three new counties, and marched home.
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咸康初，遣封弈襲宇文別部涉奕於，大獲而還。 涉奕于率騎追戰于渾水，又敗之。 皝將乘海討仁，群下咸諫，以海道危陰，宜從陸路。 皝曰：「舊海水無淩，自仁反已來，凍合者三矣。 昔漢光武因滹沱之冰以濟大業，天其或者欲吾乘此而無之乎！ 吾計決矣，有沮謀者斬！」 乃率三軍從昌黎踐淩而進。 仁不虞皝之至也，軍去平郭七里，候騎乃告，仁狼狽出戰，為皝所擒，殺仁而還。
Early in Xiankang he sent Feng Yi against the Yuwen chieftain Sheyiyu and returned with rich spoils. Sheyiyu counterattacked at the Hun River and was beaten again. When Huang planned a seaborne strike on Ren, his advisers objected that the route was too perilous and urged a march by land. Huang replied, “This gulf seldom froze in the past, yet since Ren’s revolt it has frozen solid three winters running. Han Guangwu once crossed the Hutuo on the ice to win his empire—Heaven may mean me to use this freeze against Ren! My mind is made up; anyone who dissuades me dies!” He then marched the host across the frozen bay from Changli. Ren never expected him: Huang’s vanguard was seven li from Pingguo before Ren learned of it; Ren scrambled into battle, was taken, and executed.
8
立藉田於朝陽門東，置官司以主之。
He set aside a ritual field east of the Chaoyang Gate and staffed it with officials.
9
段遼遣將李詠夜襲武興，遇雨，引還，都尉張萌追擊，擒詠。 段蘭擁眾數萬屯於曲水亭，將攻柳城，宇文歸入寇安晉，為蘭聲援。 皝以步騎五萬擊之，師次柳城，蘭、歸皆遁。 遣封弈率輕騎追擊，敗之，收其軍實，館穀二旬而還。 謂諸將曰：「二虜恥無功而歸，必復重至，宜於柳城左右設伏以待之。」 遣封弈率騎潛于馬兒山諸道。 俄而遼騎果至，弈夾擊，大敗之，斬其將榮保。 遣兼長史劉斌、郎中令陽景送徐孟等歸於京師。 使其世子俊伐段遼諸城，封弈攻宇文別部，皆大捷而歸。
Duan Liao’s night raid on Wuxing failed in the rain; Zhang Meng ran down Li Yong and captured him. Duan Lan massed tens of thousands at Qushui to strike Liucheng while Yuwen Gui hit Anjin in coordination. Huang met them with fifty thousand foot and horse; both enemy columns fled from Liucheng. Feng Yi chased with light horse, seized their supplies, and fed his men from enemy granaries for twenty days. He told his commanders, “They will return in force to save face—we should lay ambushes around Liucheng.” Feng Yi hid cavalry along the Ma’er Mountain tracks. When Duan Liao’s riders appeared, Feng Yi caught them in a pincer, slew Rong Bao, and routed the column. He sent Liu Bin and Yang Jing to escort Xu Meng’s party to the capital. His heir Murong Jun stormed Duan Liao’s towns while Feng Yi struck the Yuwen—both returned in triumph.
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立納諫之木，以開讜言之路。
He erected a public complaint board to invite candid advice.
11
後徙昌黎郡，築好城于乙連東，使將軍蘭勃戍之，以逼乙連。 又城曲水，以為勃援。 乙連饑甚，段遼輸之粟，蘭勃要擊獲之。 遼遣將屈雲攻興國，與皝將慕容遵大戰于五官水上，雲敗，斬之，盡俘其眾。
He shifted his seat to Changli, built Haocheng east of Yilian, and stationed Lan Bo there to choke the enemy. He fortified Qushui to back Lan Bo. When Yilian starved, Duan Liao sent grain; Lan Bo seized the convoy. Qu Yun attacked Xingguo but Murong Zun destroyed him at Wuguan River and took his entire force.
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封弈等以皝任重位輕，宜稱燕王，皝於是以咸康三年僭即王位，赦其境內。 以封弈為國相，韓壽為司馬，裴開、陽騖、王寓、李洪、杜群、宋該、劉瞻、石琮、皇甫真、陽協、宋晃、平熙、張泓等並為列卿將帥。 起文昌殿，乘金根車，駕六馬，出入稱警蹕。 以其妻段氏為王后，世子俊為太子，皆如魏武、晉文輔政故事。
Feng Yi urged that Huang’s duties outweighed his title, so in Xiankang 3 he assumed the kingship of Yan and proclaimed an amnesty. He named Feng Yi chancellor, Han Shou marshal, and distributed ministerial and command posts among Pei Kai, Yang Wu, and the rest. He built Wenchang Hall, rode the six-horse imperial carriage, and received full royal escorts. He made Lady Duan queen and Murong Jun crown prince, citing Cao Cao and Sima Zhao as precedents.
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皝以段遼屢為邊患，遣將軍宋回稱籓于石季龍，請師討遼。 季龍於是總眾而至。 皝率諸軍攻遼令支以北諸城，遼遣其將段蘭來距，大戰，敗之，斬級數千，掠五千餘戶而歸。 季龍至徐無，遼奔密雲山。 季龍進入令支，怒皝之不會師也，進軍擊之，至於棘城，戎卒數十萬，四面進攻，郡縣諸部叛應季龍者三十六城。 相持旬餘，左右勸皝降。 皝曰：「孤方取天下，何乃降人乎！」 遣子恪等率騎二千，晨出擊之。 季龍諸軍驚擾，棄甲而遁。 恪乘勝追之，斬獲三萬餘級，築戍凡城而還。 段遼遣使詐降于季龍，請兵應接。 季龍遣其將麻秋率眾迎遼，恪伏精騎七千於密雲山，大敗之，獲其司馬陽裕、將軍鮮于亮，擁段遼及其部眾以歸。
Troubled by Duan Liao, he sent Song Hui to submit to Shi Hu and beg for an allied expedition. Shi Hu thereupon marched his whole host to join the war. Huang stormed Duan Liao’s strongholds north of Lingzhi, crushed Duan Lan, took thousands of heads, and carried off more than five thousand households. Shi Hu reached Xuwu while Duan Liao fled into Miyun Mountain. Shi Hu entered Lingzhi, furious that Huang had not coordinated, drove on to Jicheng with hundreds of thousands of men; thirty-six towns went over to him. After a fortnight’s siege his officers begged him to yield. Huang snapped, “I mean to seize the realm—why would I surrender?” He sent Murong Ke with two thousand horse in a dawn sally. Shi Hu’s host panicked and bolted, leaving their armor. Murong Ke pursued, killed or captured thirty thousand, and fortified Fancheng on the withdrawal. Duan Liao feigned submission to Shi Hu and asked for an escort. Shi Hu sent Ma Qiu to fetch him; Murong Ke ambushed seven thousand elite riders at Miyun, captured Yang Yu and Xianyu Liang, and brought Duan Liao in.
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帝又遣使進皝為征北大將軍、幽州牧，領平州刺史，加散騎常侍，增邑萬戶，持節、都督、單于、公如故。
The court promoted him to general who campaigns north, governor of Youzhou, concurrent Pingzhou, cavalier attendant-in-ordinary, with ten thousand extra households and unchanged barbarian titles.
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皝前軍帥慕容評敗季龍將石成等於遼西，斬其將呼延晃、張支，掠千餘戶以歸。 段遼謀叛，皝誅之。
Murong Ping crushed Shi Cheng in western Liaodong, slew Huyan Huang and Zhang Zhi, and brought home a thousand captives. When Duan Liao plotted revolt, Huang put him to death.
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季龍又使石成入攻凡城，不克，進陷廣城。 皝雖稱燕王，未有朝命，乃遣其長史劉祥獻捷京師，兼言權假之意，並請大舉討平中原。 又聞庾亮薨，弟冰、翼繼為將相，乃表曰：
Shi Hu sent Shi Cheng against Fancheng without success but seized Guangcheng. Though he called himself king of Yan, the court had not recognized it, so he sent Liu Xiang to report victories, explain his provisional rule, and ask for a northern expedition. When he learned that Yu Liang had died and Yu Bing and Yu Yi held power, he drafted a memorial:
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又與冰書曰：
and sent a separate letter to Yu Bing:
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冰見表及書甚懼，以其絕遠，非所能制，遂與何充等奏聽皝稱燕王。
Yu Bing, terrified yet unable to coerce him from afar, joined He Chong in recommending that the court recognize the title of king of Yan.
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其年皝伐高句麗，王釗乞盟而還。 明年，釗遣其世子朝於皝。
That year he invaded Goguryeo; King Gao Zhen sued for peace and he withdrew. The next year Gao Zhen sent his heir to pay homage to Huang.
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初，段遼之敗也，建威翰奔于宇文歸，自以威名夙振，終不保全，乃陽狂恣酒，被髮歌呼。 歸信而不禁，故得周遊自任，至於山川形便，攻戰要路，莫不練之。 皝遣商人王車陰使察翰，翰見車無言，撫膺而已。 車還以白，皝曰：「翰欲來也。」 乃遣車遺翰弓矢，翰乃竊歸駿馬，攜其二子而還。
After Duan Liao’s fall Murong Han fled to Yuwen Gui, reckoned his fame would never let him live, and feigned madness—drinking, singing, and disheveled hair. Yuwen Gui trusted the act and left him free, so Han mapped every defile and road. Huang sent the trader Wang Che to spy; Murong Han met him in silence, only clutching his chest. Wang Che reported the sign; Huang said, “He wants to come home.” He sent Wang Che with a bow and arrows; Murong Han stole horses and rode back with his two sons.
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皝將圖石氏，從容謂諸將曰：「石季龍自以安樂諸城守防嚴重，城之南北必不設備，今若詭路出其不意，冀之北土盡可破也。」 於是率騎二萬出蠮螉塞，長驅至於薊城，進渡武遂津，入于高陽，所過焚燒積聚，掠徙幽、冀三萬餘戶。
Planning against the Shi, he told his commanders, “Shi Hu trusts his garrisons at Anle and neglects the open country north and south of the wall—a sudden raid could overrun the whole Ji plain.” He led twenty thousand horse through Wengong Pass, raced to Ji, crossed Wusui Ford into Gaoyang, burned depots, and carried off thirty thousand households from You and Ji.
22
使陽裕、唐柱等築龍城，構宮廟，改柳城為龍城縣。 於是成帝使兼大鴻臚郭希持節拜皝侍中、大都督河北諸軍事、大將軍、燕王，其餘官皆如故。 封諸功臣百餘人。
He had Yang Yu and Tang Zhu build Longcheng, raised palaces and shrines, and renamed Liucheng county Longcheng. Emperor Cheng then sent Guo Xi to invest him as palace attendant, grand commander north of the river, grand general, and king of Yan, leaving other posts unchanged. He enfeoffed more than a hundred deserving officers.
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，皝遷都龍城。 率勁卒四萬，入自南陝，以伐宇文、高句麗，又使翰及子垂為前鋒，遣長史王寓等勒眾萬五千，從北置而進。 高句麗王釗謂皝軍之從北路也，乃遣其弟武統精銳五萬距北置，躬率弱卒以防南陝。 翰與釗戰於木底，大敗之，乘勝遂入丸都，釗單馬而遁。 皝掘釗父利墓，載其屍並其母妻珍寶，掠男女五萬餘口，焚其宮室，毀丸都而歸。 明年，釗遣使稱臣于皝，貢其方物，乃歸其父屍。
He moved his capital to Longcheng. He took forty thousand veterans through the southern defile against Yuwen and Goguryeo, with Murong Han and Murong Chui as van while Wang Yu led fifteen thousand from Beizhi. King Gao Zhen assumed the main thrust would come from the north, sent fifty thousand under his brother Wu to Beizhi, and held the southern defile with weaker troops. Murong Han routed him at Mudi, pressed into Wandu, and Zhen fled alone on horseback. Huang opened Gao Zhen’s father’s tomb, carried off the coffin, the queen, treasures, and fifty thousand captives, fired the palaces, and razed Wandu. Next year Gao Zhen sent tribute and his father’s body was returned.
24
宇文歸遣其國相莫淺渾伐皝，諸將請戰，皝不許。 渾以皝為憚之，荒酒縱獵，不復設備。 皝曰：「渾奢忌已甚，今則可一戰矣。」 遣翰率騎擊之，渾大敗，僅以身免，盡俘其眾。
Yuwen Gui sent Moqian Hun; Huang’s generals begged to fight but he refused. Moqian Hun assumed Huang was afraid and gave himself to drink and hunting without precautions. Huang said, “Moqian Hun’s arrogance has peaked—now we can strike.” Murong Han shattered his army and took nearly every man alive.
25
皝躬巡郡縣，勸課農桑，起龍城宮闕。
Murong Huang toured his domains, pushed farming and sericulture, and raised palaces at Longcheng.
26
尋又率騎二萬親伐宇文歸，以翰及垂為前鋒。 歸使其騎將涉奕於盡眾距翰，皝馳遣謂翰曰：「奕於雄悍，宜小避之，待虜勢驕，然後取也。」 翰曰：「歸之精銳，盡在於此，今若克之，則歸可不勞兵而滅。 奕于徒有虛名，其實易與耳，不宜縱敵挫吾兵氣。」 於是前戰，斬奕於，盡俘其眾，歸遠遁漠北。 皝開地千餘里，徙其部人五萬餘落于昌黎，改涉奕於城為威德城。 行飲至之禮，論功行賞各有差。
He soon took twenty thousand horse against Yuwen Gui, with Murong Han and Murong Chui as van. Yuwen Gui sent Sheyiyu to hold Murong Han; Huang sent word: “Sheyiyu is fierce—spar lightly until he grows reckless, then strike.” Murong Han replied, “Yuwen Gui’s best troops are here; crush them and his realm falls without a long campaign. Sheyiyu is overrated and brittle—we must not let him sap our morale.” He attacked, slew Sheyiyu, took his army, and drove Yuwen Gui deep into the steppe. He annexed a thousand li of pasture, resettled fifty thousand Yuwen dependents at Changli, and renamed Sheyiyu’s fort Weide. He held a victory feast and handed out graded rewards.
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以牧牛給貧家，田于苑中，公收其八，二分入私。 有牛而無地者，亦田苑中，公收其七，三分入私。 皝記室參軍封裕諫曰：
Poor households received draft oxen to till the royal park on an eighty-twenty revenue split with the state. Householders who owned cattle but no land tilled the park on a seventy-thirty split. His secretary Feng Yu memorialized:
28
皝乃令曰：「覽封記室之諫，孤實懼焉。 君以黎元為國，黎元以穀為命。 然則農者，國之本也，而二千石令長不遵孟春之令，惰農弗勸，宜以尤不修辟者措之刑法，肅厲屬城。 主者明詳推檢，具狀以聞。 苑囿悉可罷之，以給百姓無田業者。 貧者全無資產，不能自存，各賜牧牛一頭。 若私有餘力，樂取官牛墾官田者，其依魏、晉舊法。 溝洫溉灌，有益官私，主者量造，務盡水陸之勢。 中州未平，兵難不息，勳誠既多，官僚不可以減也。 待克平凶醜，徐更議之。 百工商賈數，四佐與列將速定大員，余者還農。 學生不任訓教者，亦除員錄。 夫人臣關言於人主，至難也，妖妄不經之事皆應蕩然不問，擇其善者而從之。 王憲、劉明雖其罪應禁黜，亦猶孤之無大量也。 可悉復本官，仍居諫司。 封生蹇蹇，深得王臣之體。 《詩》不雲乎：'無言不酬。 '其賜錢五萬，明宣內外，有欲陳孤過者，不拘貴賤，勿有所諱。」
Huang issued an edict: “Feng Yu’s words frighten me. The ruler exists for his people; the people live on grain. Agriculture is the foundation, yet magistrates ignore spring plowing—those who leave fields idle should face punishment to wake the commanderies. Let bureaus audit every case and report in full. Close the hunting reserves and give that land to landless peasants. Give each destitute household a draft ox. Whoever wishes to rent state oxen and state land may do so under Wei–Jin precedent. Dig irrigation works for public and private good—let engineers plan every channel. The heartland is still at war, so I cannot yet cut official posts. We will revisit staff cuts after victory. Cap tradesmen and aides to fixed quotas; everyone else goes back to the plow. Strike idle students from the rolls. Ministers who speak truth deserve patience—ignore wild rumors but heed good counsel. Even Wang Xian and Liu Ming, though punished, show my own lack of forbearance. Restore censured advisers to their posts. Feng Yu spoke as a true minister should. As the Odes says, “No good word goes unanswered.” Award him fifty thousand cash and invite anyone, high or low, to criticize me freely.”
29
時有黑龍、白龍各一，見於龍山，皝親率群僚觀之，去龍二百餘步，祭乙太宰。 二龍交首嬉翔，解角而去。 皝大悅，還宮，赦其境內，號新宮曰和龍，立龍翔佛寺於山上。
A black dragon and a white dragon appeared on Long Mountain; Huang led his court within two hundred paces and offered the great sacrifice. The beasts intertwined, sported in the air, dropped their horns, and flew away. Elated, he returned, proclaimed an amnesty, renamed the palace Helong, and built a Buddhist monastery on the height.
30
賜其大臣子弟為官學生者號高門生，立東庠于舊宮，以行鄉射之禮，每月臨觀，考試優劣。 皝雅好文籍，勤于講授，學徒甚盛，至千餘人。 親造《太上章》以代《急就》，又著《典誡》十五篇，以教胄子。
He labeled elite students “high-gate pupils,” reopened the eastern school for archery rites, and each month examined their progress. He loved books, lectured tirelessly, and kept more than a thousand students. He wrote a primer to replace the Rush to Literacy and fifteen moral essays for the royal sons.
31
慕容恪攻高句麗南蘇，克之，置戍而還。 三年，遣其世子俊與恪率騎萬七千東襲夫餘，克之，虜其王及部眾五萬餘口以還。
Murong Ke seized Nansu from Goguryeo and left a garrison. In his third regnal year he sent Murong Jun and Murong Ke with seventeen thousand horse against Puyu; they captured the king and fifty thousand subjects.
32
皝親臨東庠考試學生，其經通秀異者，擢充近侍。 以久旱，丐百姓田租。 罷成周、冀陽、營丘等郡。 以勃海人為興集縣，河間人為寧集縣，廣平、魏郡人為興平縣，東萊、北海人為育黎縣，吳人為吳縣，悉隸燕國。
He tested students at the eastern school and promoted the best as attendants. He remitted rent during a drought. He abolished several empty commanderies such as Chengzhou, Jiyang, and Yingqiu. He grouped refugees from Bohai, Hejian, Guangping, Wei, Donglai, Beihai, and Wu into new counties under Yan.
33
皝嘗畋於西鄙，將濟河，見一父老，服硃衣，乘白馬，舉手麾皝曰：「此非獵所，王其還也。」 秘之不言，遂濟河，連日大獲。 後見白兔，馳射之，馬倒被傷，乃說所見。 輦而還宮，引俊屬以後事。 以永和四年死，在位十五年，時年五十二。 俊僭號，追諡文明皇帝。
West of the capital he met a red-robed elder on a white horse who warned him not to hunt there. He kept silent, crossed the river, and enjoyed great sport for days. Later he charged a white hare, was thrown and hurt, and told the omen. They carried him home; he briefed Murong Jun on the succession. He died in Yonghe 4 (348 CE) after fifteen years on the throne, aged fifty-two. After Murong Jun took the throne he posthumously styled his father Emperor Wenming.
34
慕容翰
Murong Han (defector general).
35
慕容翰，字元邕，廆之庶長子也。 性雄豪，多權略，猿臂工射，膂力過人。 廆甚奇之，委以折沖之任。 行師征伐，所在有功，威聲大振，為遠近所憚。 作鎮遼東，高句麗不敢為寇。 善撫接，愛儒學，自士大夫至於卒伍，莫不樂而從之。
Murong Han, courtesy name Yuanyong, was Murong Hui’s eldest son by a concubine. He was bold, cunning, a superb archer, and immensely strong. Murong Hui prized him and gave him the hardest fighting assignments. Every campaign brought success; neighbors far and near feared him. While he held Liaodong, Goguryeo dared not raid. He won men from gentry to ranks by kindness and a love of learning.
36
及奔段遼，深為遼所敬愛。 柳城之敗，段蘭欲乘勝深入，翰慮成本國之害，詭說于蘭，蘭遂不進。 後石季龍征遼，皝親將三軍略令支以北，遼議欲追之，翰知皝躬自總戎，戰必克勝，乃謂遼曰：「今石氏向至，方對大故，不宜復以小小為事。 燕王自來，士馬精銳。 兵者凶器，戰有危慮，若其失利，何以南禦乎！」 蘭怒曰：「吾前聽卿誑說，致成今患，不復入卿計中矣。」 乃率眾追皝，蘭果大敗。 翰雖處仇國，因事立忠，皆此類也。
Duan Liao honored him after his defection. After Liucheng Duan Lan wanted to push on, but Murong Han feigned advice that spared Yan a deeper strike. When Shi Hu marched on Duan Liao, Murong Han knew Huang led in person and told Duan Liao to ignore Yan’s raid and face Shi Hu. Murong Huang’s host is elite. War is peril—if you lose here, how will you hold the south?” Duan Lan snapped, “Your last ‘advice’ ruined me—I will not heed you again.” He chased Huang and was crushed. Even in exile Murong Han worked secretly for Yan’s good.
37
及遼奔走，翰又北投宇文歸。 既而逃，歸乃遣勁騎百餘追之。 翰遙謂追者曰：「吾既思戀而歸，理無反面。 吾之弓矢，汝曹足知，無為相逼，自取死也。 吾處汝國久，恨不殺汝。 汝可百步豎刀，吾射中者，汝便宜反； 不中者，可來前也。」 歸騎解刀豎之，翰一發便中刀鐶，追騎乃散。
When Duan Liao fell he fled north to Yuwen Gui. Yuwen Gui sent a hundred picked riders after him. He shouted to them, “I mean to go home—I will not turn back. You know my archery—do not force a fight. I have lived among you too long—I should have killed you. Plant a blade at a hundred paces—if I ring it, withdraw; if I miss, come on.” They fixed a blade; his first arrow struck the ring and they broke off the chase.
38
既至，皝甚加恩禮。 ，從皝討宇文歸，臨陣為流矢所中，臥病積時。 後疾漸愈，於其家中騎馬自試，或有人告翰私習騎，疑為非常。 皝素忌之，遂賜死焉。 翰臨死謂使者曰：「翰懷疑外奔，罪不容誅，不能以骸骨委賊庭，故歸罪有司。 天慈曲湣，不肆之市朝，今日之死，翰之生也。 但逆胡跨據神州，中原未靖，翰常克心自誓，志吞醜虜，上成先王遺旨，下謝山海之責。 不圖此心不遂，沒有餘恨，命也奈何！」 仰藥而死。
Huang welcomed him with rich honors. He joined the war on Yuwen Gui, took a stray shaft, and lay long ill. When he tried riding at home, informers called it sedition. Huang, who had always feared him, sent him poison. Murong Han told the messenger, “I fled in fear and deserved death, yet I would not die in a foreign hall, so I came home to face judgment. The king spared me a public execution—this death is mercy. Yet the Hu still hold the Central Plain; I had hoped to cleanse them for Murong Hui’s sake. That hope dies with me—such is fate.” He drank the poison and died.
39
陽裕
Yang Yu.
40
陽裕，字士倫，右北平無終人也。 少孤，兄弟皆早亡，單煢獨立，雖宗族無能識者，惟叔父耽幼而奇之，曰：「此兒非惟吾門之標秀，乃佐時之良器也。」 刺史和演辟為主簿。 王浚領州，轉治中從事，忌而不能任。
Yang Yu, courtesy name Shilun, came from Wuzhong in right Beiping. Orphaned young, he was raised by an uncle who predicted he would serve the age. Governor He Yan made him chief clerk. Under Wang Jun he rose to administration aide but was distrusted.
41
石勒既克薊城，問棗嵩曰：「幽州人士，誰最可者？」 嵩曰：「燕國劉翰，德素長者。 北平陽裕，幹事之才。」 勒曰：「若如君言，王公何以不任？」 嵩曰：「王公由不能任，所以為明公擒也。」 勒方任之，裕乃微服潛遁。
After Shi Le captured Ji he asked Zao Song who was worthiest in Youzhou. Zao Song named Liu Han of Yan for virtue. Yang Yu of Beiping for administrative talent.” Shi Le asked why Wang Jun had not used them. Song answered, “Because he could not use them, you captured him.” Shi Le meant to employ Yang Yu, who fled in disguise.
42
時鮮卑單于段眷為晉驃騎大將軍、遼西公，雅好人物，虛心延裕。 裕謂友人成泮曰：「仲尼喜佛肸之召，以匏瓜自喻，伊尹亦稱何事非君，何使非民，聖賢尚如此，況吾曹乎！ 眷今召我，豈徒然哉！」 泮曰：「今華夏分崩，九州幅裂，軌跡所及，易水而已。 欲偃蹇考槃，以待大通者，俟河之清也。 人壽幾何？ 古人以為白駒之歎。 少遊有雲，郡掾足以廕後，況國相乎！ 卿追蹤伊、孔，抑亦知機其神也。」 裕乃應之。 拜郎中令、中軍將軍，處上卿位。 曆事段氏五主，甚見尊重。
Duan Juan, Xianbei chieftain and Jin general, sought him eagerly. Yang Yu told Cheng Pan that even sages answered calls to serve. Duan Juan’s summons is no empty gesture!” Cheng Pan replied, “China is shattered; beyond the Yi River there is no refuge. To hide and wait for peace is to wait for the Yellow River to run clear. How long is a life? The ancients sighed at time’s white colt. Even a county post can bless one’s heirs—let alone chancellor. You follow Confucius and Yi Yin—you know when Heaven calls.” Yang Yu accepted Duan Juan’s offer. He was named palace director and central army general, ranking among the highest ministers. He served five successive Duan lords and won deep respect.
43
段遼與皝相攻，裕諫曰：「臣聞親仁善鄰，國之寶也。 慕容與國世為婚姻，且皝令德之主，不宜連兵構怨，凋殘百姓。 臣恐禍害之興，將由於此。 願兩追前失，通款如初，使國家有太山之安，蒼生蒙息肩之惠。」 遼不從。 出為燕郡太守。 石季龍克令支，裕以郡降，拜北平太守，徵為尚書左丞。
When Duan Liao and Murong Huang clashed, Yang Yu urged, “A state’s greatest treasure is to cherish kindness and befriend one’s neighbors. The Murong house and yours have intermarried for generations; Murong Huang is a man of virtue—you must not exhaust the people in vendetta. I fear calamity will come of this feud. Let both sides forget old quarrels and restore peace so the realm stands firm as Taishan and the people can lay down their burdens.” Duan Liao refused. He left court to become grand warden of Yan commandery. When Shi Hu seized Lingzhi, Yang Yu surrendered his commandery, was named grand warden of Beiping, then recalled as left assistant in the secretariat.
44
段遼之請迎于季龍也，裕以左丞領征東麻秋司馬。 秋敗，裕為軍人所執，將詣皝。 皝素聞裕名，即命釋其囚，拜郎中令，遷大將軍左司馬。 東破高句麗，北滅宇文歸，皆豫其謀，皝甚器重之。 及遷都和龍，裕雅有巧思，皝所制城池宮闔，皆裕之規模。 裕雖仕皝日近，寵秩在舊人之右，性謙恭清儉，剛簡慈篤，雖曆居朝端，若布衣之士。 士大夫流亡羈絕者，莫不經營收葬，存恤孤遺，士無賢不肖皆傾身待之，是以所在推仰。
When Duan Liao asked Shi Hu for an escort, Yang Yu served as chief clerk under Ma Qiu. Ma Qiu’s defeat left Yang Yu a prisoner on his way to Murong Huang. Murong Huang, who had long admired him, freed him at once, named him palace director, then promoted him to senior major on his staff. He helped plan the eastern victory over Goguryeo and the northern destruction of Yuwen Gui, and Huang came to rely on him heavily. When the capital shifted to Helong, Yang Yu’s engineering shaped every wall and tower Murong Huang built. Though he rose above older favorites, he lived modestly and treated everyone like a poor scholar. He buried exiles, aided their orphans, and honored every gentleman he met, winning universal esteem.
45
初，范陽盧諶每稱之曰：「吾及晉之清平，曆觀朝士多矣，忠清簡毅，篤信義烈，如陽士倫者，實亦未幾。」 及死，皝甚悼之，時年六十二。
Lu Chen of Fanyang once said, “In times of peace I have known many officials, but few match Yang Yu in loyalty, austerity, and steadfast faith.” When he died at sixty-two, Murong Huang mourned him deeply.