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姚弋仲姚襄姚萇
Biographies of Yao Yizhong, his son Yao Xiang, and his son Yao Chang.
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姚弋仲，南安赤亭羌人也。 其先有虞氏之苗裔。 禹封舜少子於西戎，世為羌酋。 其後燒當雄於洮、罕之間，七世孫填虞，漢中元末寇擾西州，為楊虛侯馬武所敗，徙出塞。 虞九世孫遷那率種人內附，漢朝嘉之，假冠軍將軍、西羌校尉、歸順王，處之于南安之赤亭。 那玄孫柯回為魏鎮西將軍、綏戎校尉、西羌都督。 回生弋仲，少英毅，不營產業，唯以收恤為務，眾皆畏而親之。 永嘉之亂，東徙榆眉，戎夏繈負隨之者數萬，自稱護西羌校尉、雍州刺史、扶風公。
Yao Yizhong belonged to the Qiang people of Chiting in Nan'an commandery. His line claimed descent from the legendary house of Youyu. The Great Yu enfeoffed Shun's youngest son in the western borderlands, and his heirs for generations headed Qiang tribes. Later the Shaodang branch dominated the Tao and Han riverlands; seven generations after him Tian Yu ravaged the western commanderies at the close of Han's Zhongyuan reign until Ma Wu, Marquis of Yangxu, broke him and drove his people past the frontier. Nine generations down, Qian Na brought his clans in from the steppe; the Han court rewarded him with acting Champion General, colonelcy over the western Qiang, the kingship of Guishun, and a grant of land at Chiting in Nan'an. Na's great-grandson Ke Hui became Wei's western guardian general, colonel who pacified the Rong, and overseer of the western Qiang hosts. Ke Hui fathered Yizhong—bold and stern even young, indifferent to hoarding fields or wealth, bent on sheltering and aiding others until men both dreaded and loved him. Amid the Yongjia disaster he shifted east to Yumei at the head of tens of thousands of tribesmen and Chinese who bore infants on their backs; he proclaimed himself colonel of the western Qiang, inspector of Yongzhou, and duke of Fufeng.
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劉曜之平陳安也，以弋仲為平西將軍，封平襄公，邑之於隴上。 及石季龍克上邽，弋仲說之曰：「明公握兵十萬，功高一時，正是行權立策之日。 隴上多豪，秦風猛勁，道隆後服，道洿先叛，宜徙隴上豪強，虛其心腹，以實畿甸。」 季龍納之，啟勒以弋仲行安西將軍、六夷左都督。 後晉豫州刺史祖約奔於勒，勒禮待之，弋仲上疏曰：「祖約殘賊晉朝，逼殺太后，不忠於主，而陛下寵之，臣恐奸亂之萌，此其始矣。」 勒善之，後竟誅約。
After Liu Yao crushed Chen An, he named Yizhong general who pacifies the west, raised him to duke of Pingxiang, and invested him with lands along the Long plateau. Once Shi Hu seized Shanggui, Yizhong pressed him: "You hold a hundred thousand blades and overshadow every rival—now is the hour to seize initiative and set policy. The Long uplands breed fierce notables in the blunt Qin mold—they yield only when fortune smiles and mutiny when it falters. Relocate those magnates, gut their heart territory, and settle their strength around the throne." Hu accepted the plan, relayed it to Shi Le, and gave Yizhong acting rank as general who pacifies the west and left commander over the six Yi peoples. When Jin's Yuzhou inspector Zu Yue bolted to Shi Le, Le welcomed him with honors. Yizhong protested in writing: "Zu Yue butchered the Jin court, hounded an empress dowager to her death, and betrayed his lord—yet you indulge him; I see the first shoot of rebellion." Le conceded the point and eventually put Zu Yue to death.
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勒既死，季龍執權，思弋仲之言，遂徙秦、雍豪傑于關東。 弋仲率部眾數萬遷於清河，拜奮武將軍、西羌大都督，封襄平縣公。 及季龍廢石弘自立，弋仲稱疾不賀。 季龍累召之，乃赴，正色謂季龍曰：「奈何把臂受託而反奪之乎！」 季龍憚其強正而不之責。 遷持節、十郡六夷大都督、冠軍大將軍。 性清儉鯁直，不修威儀，屢獻讜言，無所回避，季龍甚重之。 朝之大議，靡不參決，公卿亦憚而推下之。 武城左尉，季龍寵姬之弟也，曾擾其部，弋仲執尉，數以迫脅之狀，命左右斬之。 尉叩頭流血，左右諫，乃止。 其剛直不回，皆此類也。
When Shi Le died, Shi Hu took the reins, remembered Yizhong's advice, and uprooted the great clans of Qin and Yong into the eastern plain. Yizhong marched tens of thousands down to Qinghe, received appointment as general who rouses might and grand commander of the western Qiang, and took the county dukedom of Xiangping. After Hu cast aside Shi Hong and seized the throne himself, Yizhong stayed away under cover of sickness and sent no ritual praise. Hu called him again and again until he appeared; facing him squarely Yizhong demanded, "How do you embrace a dying man's charge with one hand and rip it away with the other?" Shi Hu, intimidated by that granite honesty, swallowed the rebuke. They raised him to credential-bearing inspector, supreme commander over ten commanderies and the six Yi hosts, and champion general. Spare, blunt, and allergic to pomp, he spoke unwelcome truth until Hu learned to weigh every word he uttered. Every weighty policy passed through his judgment; grandees stepped down a notch rather than cross him. The left captain of Wucheng—brother to one of Hu's favorite ladies—had harassed Yizhong's men; Yizhong arrested him, listed his extortion, and had him executed on the spot. The man battered his brow on the floor until it bled; aides pleaded until Yizhong stayed the blade. Every anecdote told the same story—an old warrior who would not bend.
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季龍末，梁犢敗李農于滎陽，季龍大懼，馳召弋仲。 弋仲率其部眾八千餘人屯於南郊，輕騎至鄴。 時季龍病，不時見弋仲，引入領軍省，賜其所食之食。 弋仲怒不食，曰：「召我擊賊，豈來覓食邪！ 我不知上存亡，若一見，雖死無恨。」 左右言之，乃引見。 弋仲數季龍曰：「兒死來愁邪？ 乃至於疾！ 兒小時不能使好人輔相，至令相殺。 兒自有過，責其下人太甚，故反耳。 汝病久，所立兒小，若不差，天下必亂。 當宜憂此，不煩憂賊也。 犢等因思歸之心，共為奸盜，所行殘賊，此成擒耳。 老羌請效死前鋒，使一舉而了。」 弋仲性狷直，俗無尊卑皆汝之，季龍恕而不責，於坐授使持節、侍中、征西大將軍，賜以鎧馬。 弋仲曰：「汝看老羌堪破賊以不？」 於是貫鉀跨馬於庭中，策馬南馳，不辭而出，遂滅梁犢。 以功加劍履上殿，入朝不趨，進封西平郡公。
In Hu's closing years Liang Du shattered Li Nong outside Xingyang; panic sent couriers racing for Yizhong. He brought eight thousand warriors to the southern outskirts and galloped into Ye with a slim escort. Too sick for an immediate audience, Hu lodged him in the Army Inspector's compound and sent the imperial dishes. Yizhong refused the tray in disgust: "You called me to kill bandits, not to freeload a royal supper! I hear nothing of the throne—grant one glimpse of your lord and I can die content. Attendants relayed the ultimatum and the sick emperor finally admitted him. Face to face he snapped at Hu: "So your boys are dead and that is what gnaws at you? You have actually sickened yourself over it! While they were boys you surrounded them with rogues instead of steady ministers—look how they cut each other down. They were guilty enough, but you scourged their followers past endurance—that is why they rose. Your sickness lingers and the boy you named is still a child—if you fail to rally, the empire will tear apart. Worry about the succession, not field thieves. Men like Liang Du are homesick mutineers whose cruelty marks them as doomed—bagging them is trifling. Let this grey Qiang spend his life on the front rank—I will finish them at a blow." Blunt to everyone regardless of rank, he addressed lords and servants alike as "you"; Hu swallowed the insult and, still feasting, named him attendant-in-ordinary with credentials, general who conquers the west, and handed him mail and mounts. He barked, "Tell me—does this old Qiang still look fit to crush dogs?" Then he belted on lamellar armor, vaulted into the saddle in the courtyard, bolted south without leave, and rode Liang Du down for good. His reward was privilege to bear sword and shoes in audience, walk court without trotting, and promotion to duke of Xiping commandery.
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冉閔之亂，弋仲率眾討閔，次於混橋。 石祗僭號于襄國，以弋仲為右丞相，待以殊禮。 祗與閔相攻，弋仲遣其子襄救祗，戒襄曰：「汝才十倍于閔，若不梟擒，不須復見我也。」 襄擊閔于常盧澤，大破之而歸。 弋仲怒襄之不擒閔也，杖之一百。
When Ran Min plunged the north into civil war, Yizhong marched to oppose him and drew up at Hun Bridge. Shi Zhi declared himself emperor at Xiangguo and named Yizhong chief minister on the right with honors beyond the statute. While Zhi and Min tore at each other, Yizhong dispatched Xiang to relieve Zhi with a vow: "You outclass Ran Min tenfold—bring his head or stay away." Xiang caught Ran Min at Changlu Marsh, broke his army, and rode home. Furious that Xiang let Min escape, Yizhong had him thrashed a hundred blows.
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弋仲部曲馬何羅博學有文才，張豺之輔石世也，背弋仲歸豺，豺以為尚書郎。 豺敗，復歸，咸勸殺之。 弋仲曰：「今正是招才納奇之日，當收其力用，不足害也。」 以為參軍。 其寬恕如此。
Ma Heluo in Yizhong's ranks was a scholar; when Zhang Cao propped up Shi Shi he defected to become Cao's secretariat draftsman. After Cao collapsed he crawled back, and voices clamored for his execution. Yizhong replied, "These are hours for gathering odd talents—put his pen to use; he is harmless." Heluo was enrolled as staff adviser. Such was the reach of his mercy.
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弋仲有子四十二人，常戒諸子曰：「吾本以晉室大亂，石氏待吾厚，故欲討其賊臣以報其德。 今石氏已滅，中原無主，自古以來未有戎狄作天子者。 我死，汝便歸晉，當竭盡臣節，無為不義之事。」 乃遣使請降。 永和七年，拜弋仲使持節、六夷大都督、都督江、淮諸軍事、車騎大將軍、儀同三司、大單于，封高陵郡公。 八年，卒，時年七十三。
Forty-two sons heard his standing lecture: "I drew sword because Jin collapsed and the Shis favored me—I meant to purge their traitors and settle that debt. Now the Shis are ash and the heartland has no king—never has a steppe lord seized the Mandate. When I die, bend the knee to Jin, serve as faithful ministers, and touch nothing dishonorable." With that he dispatched envoys offering submission. Yonghe seventh year invested him with credentials as commander of the six Yi, governor of Jiang-Huai armies, chariot-and-cavalry general, parity with the Three Dukes, grand Shanyu, and duke of Gaoling commandery. He died the next year at seventy-three.
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子襄之入關也，為苻生所敗，弋仲之柩為生所得，生以王禮葬之于天水冀縣。 萇僭位，追諡曰景元皇帝，廟號始祖，墓曰高陵，置園邑五百家。
Later Xiang's thrust into Guanzhong collapsed before Fu Sheng; Sheng seized Yizhong's bier and buried it at Ji in Tianshui with kingly ceremony. Once Chang seized the throne he canonized his father as Emperor Jingyuan, First Ancestor, with tomb name Gaoling and five hundred households to tend the graves.
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襄字景國，弋仲之第五子也。 年十七，身長八尺五寸，臂垂過膝，雄武多才藝，明察善撫納，士眾愛敬之，咸請為嗣。 弋仲弗許，百姓固請者日有千數，乃授之以兵。 石祗僭號，以襄為使持節、驃騎將軍、護烏丸校尉、豫州刺史、新昌公。 晉遣使拜襄持節、平北將軍、并州刺史、即丘縣公。
Yao Xiang, whose courtesy name was Jingguo, was the fifth son of Yizhong. At seventeen he measured eight and a half chi, arms reaching below the knee; fierce, versatile, shrewd, and magnetic, he won every warrior's devotion until they begged to make him successor. Yizhong refused until thousands besieged him daily with the plea—only then did he hand Xiang a command. Shi Zhi's coup brought Xiang credentials as general who spreads might, Wuhuan colonel, Yuzhou inspector, and duke of Xinchang. The Jin court answered with credentials naming him general who pacifies the north, Bingzhou inspector, and duke of Jiuqiu county.
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弋仲死，襄秘不發喪，率戶六萬南攻陽平、元城、發幹，皆破之，殺掠三千餘家，屯於碻磝津。 以太原王亮為長史，天水尹赤為司馬，略陽伏子成為左部帥，南安斂岐為右部帥，略陽黑那為前部帥，強白為後部帥，太原薛贊、略陽王權翼為參軍。 南至滎陽，始發喪行服。 與高昌、李曆戰于麻田，馬中流矢死，賴其弟萇以免。 晉處襄於譙城，遣五弟為任，單騎度淮，見豫州刺史謝尚于壽春。 尚命去仗衛，幅巾以待之，一面交款，便若平生。
At his father's death Xiang hid the coffin, marched sixty thousand households south against Yangping, Yuancheng, and Fagan, stormed each, slaughtered and looted three thousand families, and halted at Qiaoao crossing. His staff took shape with Wang Liang of Taiyuan as chief clerk, Yin Chi of Tianshui as marshal, Fu Zicheng and Heina of Lüeyang flanking the van and wings, Lian Qi of Nan'an on the right, Qiang Bai covering the rear, and Xue Zan with Quan Yi as advisers. Only south of Xingyang did he publish the death and put on hemp. At Matian he clashed with Gao Chang and Li Li; a stray bolt slew his mount and only his brother Chang pulled him clear. Jin quartered him at Qiao, demanded five brothers as pledges, and watched him ride solo across the Huai to parley with Yuzhou inspector Xie Shang in Shouchun. Shang dismissed arms and escorts, received him bareheaded like an old friend, and after one evening they talked like brothers.
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襄少有高名，雄武冠世，好學博通，雅善談論，英濟之稱著于南夏。 中軍將軍、揚州刺史殷浩憚其威名，乃因襄諸弟，頻遣刺客殺襄，刺客皆推誠告實，襄待之若舊。 浩潛遣將軍魏憬率五千餘人襲襄，襄乃斬憬而並其眾。 浩愈惡之，乃使將軍劉啟守譙，遷襄于梁國蠡台，表授梁國內史。 襄遣權翼詣浩，浩曰：「姚平北每舉動自由，豈所望也。」 翼曰：「將軍輕納奸言，自生疑貳，愚謂猜嫌之由，不在於彼。」 浩曰：「姚君縱放小人，盜竊吾馬，王臣之體固若是乎？」 翼曰：「將軍謂姚平北以威武自強，終為難保，校兵練眾，將懲不恪，取馬者欲以自衛耳。」 浩曰：「何至是也。」 浩遣謝萬討襄，襄逆擊破之。 浩甚怒，會聞關中有變，浩率眾北伐，襄乃要擊浩于山桑，大敗之，斬獲萬計，收其資仗。 使兄益守山桑壘，復如淮南。 浩遣劉啟、王彬之伐山桑，襄自淮南擊滅之，鼓行濟淮，屯於盱眙，招掠流人，眾至七萬，分置守宰，勸課農桑，遣使建鄴，罪狀殷浩，並自陳謝。
Even young he carried fame as the foremost warrior-scholar of the generation—learned, eloquent, and known across the south as the consummate champion. Yin Hao, commanding the central army at Yangzhou, feared that reputation and fed killers through Xiang's brothers—yet each assassin confessed and Xiang welcomed them like honored guests. Hao then slipped General Wei Jing forward with five thousand men; Xiang struck first, took Jing's head, and drafted his soldiers. The snub deepened Hao's spite: he planted Liu Qi on Qiao, shunted Xiang to Lihao terrace in Liang commandery, and tabled him as interior minister there. Xiang dispatched Quan Yi to parley; Hao snapped, "Your General Yao does exactly as he pleases—is that the vassal we bargained for?" Quan Yi answered, "You swallow rumor and nurse your own doubts—the rift is not of his making." Hao pressed, "He shelters thieves who lifted my mounts—is that courtly discipline?" Yi replied, "You assumed Yao would bully neighbors with arms, so he trained men to restore order—the horse thieves were guarding themselves." Hao sneered, "Surely not." He sent Xie Wan; Xiang intercepted and shattered the column. Enraged, Hao marched north on news from Guanzhong; Xiang sprang the trap at Shansang, cut him to pieces, stacked ten thousand heads, and captured wagons and weapons. He stationed elder brother Yi on the Shansang wall and doubled back toward Huainan. When Hao ordered Liu Qi and Wang Binzhi against Shansang, Xiang swept up from Huainan, annihilated them, drummed across the Huai, anchored at Xuyi, swept refugees until seventy thousand answered his banner, appointed magistrates, pushed tillage and silk, and sent word to Jianye accusing Yin Hao yet confessing his own trespass.
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流人郭斁等千餘人執晉堂邑內史劉仕降於襄，朝延大震，以吏部尚書周閔為中軍將軍，緣江備守。 襄將佐部眾皆北人，咸勸襄北還。 襄方軌北引，自稱大將軍、大單于，進攻外黃，為晉邊將所敗。 襄收散卒而勤撫恤之，於是復振。 乃據許昌，將如河東以圖關右，自許遂攻洛陽，逾月不克。 其長史王亮諫襄曰：「公英略蓋天下，士眾思效力命，不可損威勞眾，守此孤城。 宜還河北，以弘遠略。」 襄曰：「洛陽雖小，山河四塞之固，亦是用武之地。 吾欲先據洛陽，然後開建大業。」 俄而亮卒，襄哭之甚慟，曰：「天將不欲成吾事乎？ 王亮舍我去也！」
When wanderers under Gu Yi seized Tangyi's interior minister Liu Shi and handed him to Xiang, the court reeled and named Zhou Min of the personnel ministry general of the central army to brace the Yangzi. Every adviser and soldier hailed from the north and clamored to march home. He formed ranks for a northern march, proclaimed himself grand general and grand Shanyu, struck Waihuang, and stumbled against Jin frontier troops. He rallied stragglers and tended them patiently until his army breathed again. Seizing Xuchang, he aimed at Hedong and the greater Guanzhong design; from there he threw columns at Luoyang yet failed for a full month. Chief clerk Wang Liang warned him: "Your genius outmatches the age and men ache to die for you—do not squander awe besieging one stubborn town. Withdraw north of the river and reopen the wider campaign." Xiang answered, "Luoyang looks small yet sits locked by river and hill—it remains a battlefield worth holding. I mean to take Luoyang first, then unfold the larger enterprise." Wang Liang died soon after; Xiang mourned wildly and cried, "Does Heaven deny my purpose? Has Wang Liang abandoned me?"
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晉征西大將軍桓溫自江陵伐襄，戰于伊水北，為溫所敗，率麾下數千騎奔於北山。 其夜，百姓棄妻子隨襄者五千餘人，屯據陽鄉，赴者又四千餘戶。 襄前後敗喪數矣，眾知襄所在，輒扶老攜幼賓士而赴之。 時或傳襄創重不濟，溫軍所得士女莫不北望揮涕。 其得物情如此。 先是，弘農楊亮歸襄，襄待以客禮。 後奔桓溫，溫問襄於亮，亮曰：「神明器宇，孫策之儔，而雄武過之。」 其見重如是。
Huan Wen marched from Jiangling; their clash along the Yi ended in rout; Xiang bolted into the northern hills with a few thousand horsemen. That night over five thousand souls forsook families to trail him; they dug in at Yangxiang while four thousand more households raced after. Even after repeated disasters, word of his camp drew refugees who carried elders and tugged children in desperate haste to his banner. Rumors flew that Xiang's wounds would kill him; every civilian Wen's troops had taken turned north, weeping openly. Such was the devotion he inspired among common folk. Earlier Yang Liang of Hongnong had come over; Xiang received him as an honored guest. When Liang later bolted to Huan Wen, Wen asked his verdict: "He has Sun Ce's magnetism and stature—only his battlefield edge is greater." Such was the respect he commanded.
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萇字景茂，弋仲第二十四子也。 少聰哲，多權略，廓落任率，不修行業，諸兄皆奇之。 隨襄征伐，每參大謀。 襄之寇洛陽也，夢萇服袞衣，升御坐，諸酋長皆侍立，旦謂將佐曰：「吾夢如此，此兒志度不恆，或能大起吾族。」 襄之敗于麻田也，馬中流矢死，萇下馬以授襄，襄曰：「汝何以自免？」 萇曰：「但令兄濟，豎子安敢害萇！」 會救至，俱免。
Yao Chang, courtesy Maomao, ranked twenty-fourth among Yizhong's sons. Clever and calculating even young, candid and unfettered, he cared nothing for textbook virtue—yet every older brother sensed something singular. He rode with Xiang on every expedition and sat in on the councils. During the Luoyang strike Xiang dreamed Chang robed as emperor, mounting the dais while tribal heads lined the hall; at dawn he confided, "That dream tells me the lad's aims run deep—he may yet lift our house." After Matian, when a bolt slew Xiang's mount, Chang handed over his own horse; Xiang demanded, "What becomes of you then?" Chang shot back, "Once you ride clear, no stray soldier touches me!" Reinforcements arrived; both walked away.
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及襄死，萇率諸弟降于苻生。 苻堅以萇為揚武將軍。 曆左衛將軍，隴東、汲郡、河東、武都、武威、巴西、扶風太守，甯、幽、兗三州刺史，復為揚武將軍，步兵校尉，封益都侯。 為堅將，累有大功。
After Xiang fell, Chang brought the brothers in under Fu Sheng. Fu Jian named him general who spreads might. He climbed through left guard general, a chain of western prefectures—Longdong, Ji, Hedong, Wudu, Weiba, Brazil, Fufeng—three provincial inspectorships, a second tour as general who spreads might, colonel of foot, and the marquisate of Yidu. Under Jian he stacked victory upon victory.
17
初，萇隨楊安伐蜀，嘗晝寢水旁，上有神光煥然，左右咸異之。 及苻堅寇晉，以萇為龍驤將軍、督益、梁州諸軍事，謂萇曰：「朕本以龍驤建業，龍驤之號未曾假人，今特以相授，山南之事一以委卿。」 堅左將軍竇沖進曰：「王者無戲言，此將不祥之征也，惟陛下察之。」 堅默然。
Once, napping riverside during Yang An's Shu campaign, a nimbus flared over him and every attendant gaped. For the Jin invasion Jian named Chang dragon-general for Yi-Liang armies and told him, "I rose under that banner and never gave it away—now it is yours; everything south of the ranges rests with you." Left general Dou Chong warned, "Thrones do not joke—that title is a bad augury; reconsider." Jian answered with silence.
18
堅既敗於淮南，歸長安，慕容泓起兵叛堅。 堅遣子叡討之，以萇為司馬。 為泓所敗，叡死之。 萇遣龍驤長史趙都詣堅謝罪，堅怒，殺之。 萇懼，奔於渭北，遂如馬牧。 西州豪族尹詳、趙曜、王欽盧、王欽盧、牛雙、狄廣、張乾等率五萬餘家，咸推萇為盟主。 萇將距之，天水尹緯說萇曰：「今百六之數既臻，秦亡之兆已見，以將軍威靈命世，必能匡濟時艱，故豪傑驅馳，咸同推仰。 明公宜降心從議，以副群望，不可坐觀沈溺而不拯救之。」 萇乃從緯謀，乙太元九年自稱大將軍、大單于、萬年秦王，大赦境內，年號白雀，稱制行事。 以天水尹詳、南安龐演為左右長史，南安姚晃、尹緯為左右司馬，天水狄伯支、焦虔、梁希、龐魏、任謙為從事中郎，姜訓、閻遵為掾屬，王據、焦世、蔣秀、尹延年、牛雙、張乾為參軍，王欽盧、姚方成、王破虜、楊難、尹嵩、裴騎、趙曜、狄廣、黨刪等為帥。
Huainan broke him; he fled back to Chang'an as Murong Hong mutinied. Jian dispatched Prince Rui against Hong and made Chang his marshal. Murong Hong shattered the army and Prince Rui died on the field. Chang sent chief clerk Zhao Du to apologize; Jian killed the envoy in fury. Terrified, Chang bolted beyond the Wei and made for the government studs. Great families west of the pass—Yin Xiang, Zhao Yao, Wang Qinlu twice named in the text, Niu Shuang, Di Guang, Zhang Qian—marched fifty thousand households forward and thrust the alliance staff on Chang. Chang hesitated until Yin Wei of Tianshui argued, "The calendar's doom-year is here and Qin is finished—only your aura can steady the age; that is why every magnate begs you to lead. Bow to their plea instead of watching them sink—you cannot idle while the realm drowns." He took the advice: in the ninth year of Taiyuan he proclaimed himself grand general, grand Shanyu, and Prince of Wannian under the Great Qin banner, declared era White Sparrow, amnestied his zone, and ruled by decree. Staff filled out with Yin Xiang and Pang Yan as chief clerks, Yao Huang and Yin Wei as marshals, a corps of Tianshui aides—Di Bozhi, Jiao Qian, Liang Xi, Pang Wei, Ren Qian—scribes Jiang Xun and Yan Zun, advisers Wang Ju through Zhang Qian, and column leaders from Wang Qinlu to Dang Shan.
19
時慕容沖與苻堅相攻，眾甚盛。 萇將西上，恐沖遏之，乃遣使通和，以子崇為質於沖，進屯北地，厲兵積粟，以觀時變。 苻堅先徙晉人李祥等數千戶于敷陸，至是，降於萇，北地、新平、安定羌胡降者十餘萬戶。 堅率諸將攻之，不能克。
Murong Chong and Fu Jian were locked in war and Chong's numbers swelled. Marching west meant slipping past Chong, so Chang sued for truce, handed son Chong as hostage, dug in at Beidi, stacked grain and arms, and waited. Jian had relocated Jin families like Li Xiang to Fulu; they now opened their gates to Chang, joined by more than a hundred thousand tribal households across Beidi, Xinping, and Anding. Jian threw columns at him and could not break the line.
20
萇聞容慕沖攻長安，議進趨之計，群下咸曰：「宜先據咸陽以制天下。」 萇曰：「燕因懷舊之士而起兵，若功成事捷，咸有東歸之思，安能久固秦川！ 吾欲移兵嶺北，廣收資實，須秦弊燕回，然後垂拱取之。 兵不血刃，坐定天下，此卞莊得二之義也。」 堅甯朔將軍宋方率騎三千從雲中將赴長安，萇自貳縣要破之，方單馬奔免，其司馬田晃率眾降萇。 萇遣諸將攻新平，克之，因略地至安定，嶺北諸城盡降之。
Learning that Murong Chong was storming Chang'an, he debated a dash to the capital; aides insisted, "Secure Xianyang first and the realm follows." Chang countered, "Yan rides eastern nostalgia; victory would only send them home—they cannot stay on the Qin plain! I will slide north of the divide, stockpile strength, and when Qin breaks and Yan marches away, scoop the prize without a blow. That is Bian Zhuang letting two tigers wound each other—bloodless triumph." When Jian's general Song Fang raced three thousand riders from Yunzhong toward Chang'an, Chang ambushed him at Er; Fang escaped alone while marshal Tian Huang handed over the column. His generals stormed Xinping, swept to Anding, and every town north of the divide capitulated.
21
時苻堅為慕容沖所逼，走入五將山。 沖入長安。 堅司隸校尉權翼、尚書趙遷、大鴻臚皇甫覆、光祿大夫薛贊、扶風太守段鏗等文武數百人奔於萇。 萇遣驍騎將軍吳忠率騎圍堅，萇如新平。 俄而忠執堅，送之。
Murong Chong harried Jian until he bolted into the Wujiang hills. Chong walked into Chang'an. Hundreds of Jian's officials—Quan Yi, Zhao Qian, Huangfu Fu, Xue Zan, Duan Keng—crossed to Chang's camp. Chang ordered Wu Zhong's riders to ring Jian while he rode to Xinping. Soon Wu Zhong took Jian alive and shipped him in.
22
慕容沖遣其車騎大將軍高蓋率眾五萬來伐，戰于新平南，大破之，蓋率麾下數千人來降，拜散騎常侍。
Chong's general Gao Gai marched fifty thousand south of Xinping and collapsed; Gai brought thousands over and won a supernumerary attendant's tile.
23
沖既率眾東下，長安空虛。 盧水郝奴稱帝于長安，渭北盡應之。 扶風王驎有眾數千，保據馬嵬。 奴遣弟多攻驎。 萇伐驎，破之，驎走漢中。 執多而進攻奴，降之。
Once Chong swept downstream, Chang'an hollowed out. Lu-water chieftain Hao Nu crowned himself in the capital while the northern Wei shore rose in his name. Wang Lin of Fufeng gripped Mawei with a few thousand men. Hao Nu sent brother Duo against him. Chang smashed Wang Lin, who bolted for Hanzhong. He took Duo, wheeled on Hao Nu, and forced his capitulation.
24
乙太元十一年萇僭即皇帝位於長安，大赦，改元曰建初，國號大秦，改長安曰常安。 立妻虵氏為皇后，子興為皇太子，置百官。 自謂以火德承苻氏木行，服色如漢氏承周故事。 徙安定五千餘戶于長安。 以弟征虜緒為司隸校尉，鎮長安。
In Taiyuan eleventh year Chang took the throne at Chang'an, declared amnesty, adopted era Jianchu and dynastic title Great Qin, and rechristened the metropolis with a court spelling that punned on Chang'an while invoking lasting peace. Lady She became empress, Yao Xing crown prince, and the bureaucracy filled out. He argued his fire virtue followed Fu's wood in the five-phase cycle and dressed the court after Han's Zhou succession ritual. He relocated five thousand Anding families into the capital. Brother Yao Xu, general who conquers captives, stayed as metropolitan investigator in the capital.
25
萇如安定，擊平涼胡金熙、鮮卑沒奕於，大破之。 遂如秦州，與苻堅秦州刺史王統相持，天水屠各、略陽羌胡應萇者二萬餘戶，統懼，乃降。 因饗將士於上邽，南安人古成詵進曰：「臣州人殷地險，俊傑如林，用武之國也。 王秦州不能收拔賢才，三分鼎足，而坐玩珠玉，以至於此。 陛下宜散秦州金帛以施六軍，旌賢表善以副鄙州之望。」 萇善之，擢為尚書郎。 拜弟碩德都督隴右諸軍事、征西將軍、秦州刺史，領護東羌校尉，鎮上邽。
He marched on Anding, crushed Jin Xi among the Pingliang Hu and Moyifu of the Xianbei. At Qinzhou he faced Wang Tong until droves—Tujue herders in Tianshui, Qiang and Hu in Lüeyang—swelled his rolls; Tong yielded. At the Shanggui feast Gu Chengshan of Nan'an urged, "Our land is rich, rugged, and crowded with talent—made for war. Yet inspector Wang toyed with gems instead of forging a tripod—look where it led. Spend Qinzhou's treasure on the armies, loud-hail the virtuous, and you honor what we hoped for." Chang agreed and kicked Shen upstairs to the secretariat. Brother Yao Shuode took Longyou command, general who conquers the west, Qinzhou inspectorship, eastern Qiang colonelcy, and the Shanggui garrison.
26
萇還安定，修德政，布惠化，省非急之費，以救時弊，閭閻之士有豪介之善者，皆顯異之。
Back in Anding he trimmed waste, pushed humane rule, and singled out village stalwarts with blunt integrity.
27
萇復如秦州，為苻登所敗，語在《登傳》。 以其太子興鎮長安，而與登相距。 登馮翊太守蘭犢與苻師奴離貳，慕容永攻之，犢遣使請救。 萇將赴救，尚書令姚旻、左僕射尹緯等言於萇曰：「苻登近在瓦亭，陛下未宜輕舉。」 萇曰：「登遲重少決，每失時機，聞吾自行，正當廣集兵資，必不能輕軍深入。 兩月之間，足可克此三豎，吾事必矣。」 遂師次於渥源。 師奴率眾來距，大戰，敗之，盡俘其眾。 又擒蘭犢，收其士馬。 萇乃掘苻堅屍，鞭撻無數，裸剝衣裳，薦之以棘，坎土而埋之。 慕容永征西將軍王宣率眾降萇。
His renewed thrust into Qinzhou broke against Fu Deng; the campaign is told at length in Fu Deng's biography. He left crown prince Xing holding the capital while he shadowboxed Fu Deng. Lan Niu of Fengyi broke with Fu Shinu under Murong Yong's hammer and cried for aid. Minister Yao Min and Yin Wei warned, "Fu Deng lurks at Watting—do not ride out rashly." Chang retorted, "Deng is slow; news of my personal march will send him hoarding supplies—he will never plunge deep. Two months will cage those three upstarts—then the board is mine." The host camped at Woyuan. Shinu barred the road; Chang crushed him and bagged the army. Lan Niu fell too, men and mounts included. Then he dug up Fu Jian, lashed the corpse, stripped it, heaped thorns atop it, and shoveled dirt. Wang Xuan, Yong's western conqueror, brought his column over.
28
初，關西雄傑以苻氏既終，萇雄略命世，天下之事可一旦而定。 萇既與苻登相持積年，數為登所敗，遠近咸懷去就之計，唯征虜齊難、冠軍徐洛生、輔國劉郭單、冠威彌姐婆觸、龍驤趙惡地、鎮北梁國兒等守忠不貳，並留子弟守營，供繼軍糧，身將精卒，隨萇征伐。 時諸營既多，故號萇軍為大營，大營之號自此始也。 時天大雪，萇下書深自責罰，散後宮文綺珍寶以供戎事，身食一味，妻不重彩。 將帥死王事者，加秩二等，士卒戰沒，皆有褒贈。 立太學，禮先賢之後。
Once Fu seemed finished, western stalwarts assumed Chang could settle the realm overnight. Years of stalemate and Deng's victories sapped loyalty—yet Qi Nan, Xu Luosheng, Liu Guodan, Mizijie Poluo, Zhao Edi, Liang Guoer and a handful kept the pledge, sons guarding baggage trains while fathers rode with Chang. So many stockades clustered that men dubbed Chang's host the Great Camp—the nickname begins here. Blizzard weather brought a self-scourging edict: palace silks went to the armies, the ruler ate one dish, the empress shed bright dyes. Fallen generals jumped two ranks posthumously; common soldiers won pensions. He opened the academy and ennobled sage-descendants.
29
敦煌索盧曜請刺苻登，萇曰：「卿以身徇難，將為誰乎？」 曜曰：「臣死之後，深以友人隴西辛暹仰托。」 萇遣之。 事發，為登所殺，萇以暹為騎都尉。
Suo Luyao of Dunhuang volunteered to murder Fu Deng; Chang asked, "You stake your life—for whom?" He answered, "If I fall, keep an eye on my friend Xin Xian of Longxi." Chang let him go. The plot failed and Deng killed him; Chang made Xin a cavalry colonel.
30
登進逼安定，諸將勸萇決戰，萇曰：「與窮寇競勝，兵家之下。 吾將以計取之。」 於是留其尚書令姚旻守安定，夜襲登輜重於大界，克之。 諸將或欲因登駭亂擊之，萇曰：「登眾雖亂，怒氣猶盛，未可輕也。」 遂止。 萇以安定地狹，且逼苻登，使姚碩德鎮安定，徙安定千餘家安于陰密，遣弟征南靖鎮之。
As Deng pressed Anding, generals bayed for battle; Chang said, "Trading blows with a trapped enemy is the meanest stratagem. I will snare him by craft." He left Yao Min on Anding and slipped by night into Deng's Dajie train, seizing the wagons. Aides wanted to strike the chaos; Chang refused: "Their ranks waver but their rage runs hot—wait." He held the line. Anding felt tight against Deng, so Shuode stayed put while a thousand families shifted to Yinmi under brother Yao Jing's southern command.
31
立社稷于長安。 百姓年七十有德行者，拜為中大夫，歲賜牛酒。
He raised the state altars in the capital. Virtuous septuagenarians became honorary grandees with yearly oxen and wine.
32
尹緯、姚晃謂古成詵曰：「苻登窮寇，歷年未滅，奸雄鴟峙，所在糾扇，夷夏皆貳，將若之何？」 詵曰：「主上權略無方，信賞必罰，賢能之士，咸懷樂推，豈慮大業不成，氐賊不滅乎！」 緯曰：「登窮寇未滅，奸雄所在扇合，吾等寧無懼乎？」 詵曰：「三秦天府之國，主上十分已有其八。 今所在可慮者，苻登、楊定、雷惡地耳，自餘瑣瑣，焉足論哉！ 然惡地地狹眾寡，不足為憂。 苻登藉烏合犬羊，偷存假息，料其智勇，非至尊之匹。 霸王之起，必有驅除，然後克定大業。 昔漢、魏之興也，皆十有餘年，乃能一同於海內，五六年間未為久也。 主上神略內明，英武外發，可謂無敵於天下耳，取登有餘力。 願布德行仁，招賢納士，厲兵秣馬，以候天機。 如其鴻業不成者，詵請腰斬以謝明公。」 緯言之於萇，萇大悅，賜詵爵關內侯。
Yin Wei and Yao Huang pressed Gu Chengshan: "Years later Deng still breathes; predators flock on every side; Chinese and tribesmen hedge—what next?" Chengshan retorted, "Clear rewards and sure punishments win every able man—why fear the Di outlaw!" Yin Wei shot back, "Yet rebels still gather—should we sleep easy?" Chengshan answered, "The triple Qin heartland is heaven's granary—our lord holds eight shares in ten. Only Fu Deng, Yang Ding, and Lei Edi merit worry; the rest are gnats! And Lei Edi rules a scrap of ground—hardly worth a thought. Fu Deng clings to a mongrel host—measure his wit and nerve and he cannot rival you. Every founding conqueror sweeps rivals aside before the realm locks shut. Han and Wei needed more than a decade to unite the realm—a handful of years is nothing. Your insight within and thunder without leave no rival under Heaven—Fu Deng will cost you little effort. Spread humane rule, recruit talent, hone armies, and watch for fate's opening. If your enterprise stalls, take my torso in two—I will answer with my life." Yin Wei relayed it; Chang glowed and raised Shen to marquis within the passes.
33
雷惡地率眾降萇，拜為鎮東將軍。 魏褐飛自稱大將軍、沖天王，率氐胡數萬人攻安北姚當城於杏城，雷惡地應之，攻鎮東姚漢得于李潤。 萇議將討之，群臣咸曰：「陛下不憂六十里苻登，乃憂六百里褐飛？」 萇曰：「登非可卒殄，吾城亦非登所能卒圖。 惡地多智，非常人也。 南引褐飛，東結董成，甘言美說以成奸謀，若得杏城、李潤，惡地據之，控制遠近，相為羽翼，長安東北非復吾有。」 於是潛軍赴之。 萇時眾不滿二千，褐飛、惡地眾至數萬，氐胡赴之者首尾不絕。 萇每見一軍至，輒有喜色。 群下怪而問之，萇曰：「今同惡相濟，皆來會集，吾得乘勝席捲，一舉而覆其巢穴，東北無復餘也。」 褐飛等以萇兵少，盡眾來攻。 萇固壘不戰，示之以弱，潛遣子崇率騎數百，出其不意，以乘其後。 褐飛兵擾亂，萇遣鎮遠王超、平遠譚亮率步騎擊之，褐飛眾大潰，斬褐飛及首級萬餘。 惡地請降，萇待之如初。 惡地每謂人曰：「吾自言智勇所施，足為一時之傑。 校數諸雄，如吾之徒，皆應跨據一方，獸嘯千里。 遇姚公智力摧屈，是吾分也。」 惡地猛毅清肅，不可幹以非義，嶺北諸豪皆敬憚之。
Lei Edi brought his column in and earned general who guards the east. Wei Hefei proclaimed himself grand general and Heaven-Rushing King, threw Di and Hu tens of thousands deep against Yao Dangcheng at Xingcheng; Lei Edi pitched in against Yao Hande at Lirun. Ministers protested, "Fu Deng sits sixty li off while Hefei marches six hundred—why fear the distant bandit?" Chang answered, "Deng will not fall overnight; neither will he swallow my towns at a stroke. Lei Edi is cunning—no common foe. He ropes Hefei on the south and Dong Cheng on the east—smooth talk masks a trap; let him park on Xingcheng and Lirun and the northeast gate of Chang'an slides from our grasp." Chang slipped columns toward them. Chang mustered under two thousand against tens of thousands; tribal recruits stretched endlessly. Each fresh enemy column lit his face with satisfaction. He explained, "They flock together—one whirlwind sweep empties their nests." Thinking him weak, Hefei threw every spear forward. Chang hugged his walls, feigned frailty, then slipped Chong around with hundreds of riders. Chong broke their rear; Wang Chao and Tan Liang chopped the column to pieces; Hefei's head joined ten thousand others. Lei Edi capitulated and Chang welcomed him as before. Lei Edi boasted, "My wit and nerve should crown an age. Peers like me deserve realms of our own—we should rule plains like roaring beasts. Lord Yao broke me—that was fate." Fierce, upright, immune to flattery, Lei Edi cowed every upland chief.
34
萇命其將當城于營處一柵孔中蒔樹一根，以旌戰功。 歲餘，問之，城曰：「營所至小，已廣之矣。」 萇曰：「少來鬥戰無如此快，以千六百人破三萬眾，國之事業，由此克舉。 小乃為奇，大何足貴！」
He told Yao Dangcheng to raise one victory tree in a palisade gap. A year later Dangcheng reported the drill yard had grown beyond the first stake." Chang crowed, "Sixteen hundred routing thirty thousand—never was war so sweet; the dynasty turns on this stroke. Small hosts win wonders—mass alone proves nothing!"
35
貳城胡曹寅、王達獻馬三千匹。 以寅為鎮北將軍、并州刺史，達鎮遠將軍、金城太守。
Cao Yin and Wang Da of Ercheng Hu delivered three thousand mounts. Yin became northern guardian general and Bingzhou inspector; Wang Da earned distant guardian general and Jincheng prefect.
36
萇性簡率，群下有過，或面加罵辱。 太常權翼言於萇曰：「陛下弘達自任，不修小節，駕馭群雄，苞羅俊異，棄嫌錄善，有高祖之量。 然輕慢之風，所宜除也。」 萇曰：「吾之性也。 吾於舜之美，未有片焉； 漢祖之短，已收其一。 若不聞讜言，安知過也！」
Blunt by temperament, he dressed down aides in open hall. Quan Yi praised his Liu Bang-scale openness—riding heroes, forgiving slights. Still, cure the habit of casual insult." Chang shrugged, "That is how I am. Of Shun's shining virtues I claim not even a sliver; yet I already mirror one of Han Gaozu's faults. Without candor I would never see my faults!"
37
南羌竇鴦率戶五千來降，拜安西將軍。
Dou Yuan of the southern Qiang brought five thousand households and won western pacifier general.
38
萇下書，有復私仇者，皆誅之。 將吏亡滅者，各隨所親以立後，振給長育之。
He outlawed blood feuds on pain of death. Fallen officers won adopted heirs through kin lines and state stipends for orphans.
39
鎮東苟曜據逆萬堡，密引苻登。 萇與登戰，敗于馬頭原，收眾復戰。 姚碩德謂諸將曰：「上慎于輕戰，每欲以計取之。 今戰既失利，而更逼賊者，必有由也。」 萇聞而謂碩德曰：「登用兵遲緩，不識虛實，今輕兵直進，逕據吾東，必苟曜豎子與之連結也。 事久變成，其禍難測。 所以速戰者，欲使豎子謀之未就，好之未深，散敗其事耳。」 進戰，大敗之，登退屯於郿。 登將金槌以新平降萇，萇輕將數百騎入槌營。 群下諫之，萇曰：「槌既去苻登，復欲圖我，將安所歸！ 且懷德初附，推款委質，吾復以不信待之，何以禦物乎！」 群氐果有異謀，槌不從而止。
Eastern guardian Gou Yao gripped Rebel-Wan keeps and connived with Fu Deng. Matou Plain broke him once; he re-formed and struck again. Shuode warned, "Our lord hates rash battle—he prefers schemes. After a loss he still crowds the enemy—there is motive." Chang explained to Shuode, "Deng is slow; light troops seizing our east mean Gou Yao is stitching a pact. Let it fester and the peril grows unreadable. I strike fast so Gou's intrigue never ripens." He attacked, shattered Deng, and drove him to Mei. Jin Chui handed over Xinping; Chang rode in with a few hundred escorts. Aides panicked; Chang said, "If Chui betrays Deng only to knife me, he has nowhere left to run! Fresh converts deserve trust—without it I cannot govern anything!" Di malcontents did scheme; Chui refused and the plot died.
40
萇如陰密攻登，敕其太子興曰：「苟曜好奸變，將為國害，聞吾還北，必來見汝，汝便執之。」 苟曜果見興于長安，興遣尹緯讓而誅之。
Marching on Yinmi against Deng, Chang warned crown prince Xing, "Gou Yao is viper-shifty—when he visits you under cover of my northern march, arrest him." Gou Yao appeared in Chang'an; Xing had Yin Wei denounce and execute him.
41
萇大敗登于安定東，置酒高會，諸將咸曰：「若值魏武王，不令此賊至今，陛下將牢太過耳。」 萇笑曰：「吾不如亡兄有四：身長八尺五寸，臂垂過膝，人望而畏之，一也； 當十萬之眾，與天下爭衡，望麾而進，前無橫陣，二也； 溫古知今，講論道藝，駕馭英雄，收羅雋異，三也； 董率大眾，履險若夷，上下咸允，人盡死力，四也。 所以得建立功業，策任群賢者，正望算略中一片耳。」 群臣咸稱萬歲。
After crushing Deng east of Anding he hosted a triumph; generals muttered, "Had General Wei Wuwang—your brother Yao Xiang—still commanded, Deng would be ash; you shut yourself in too tight." Chang laughed, "To my late brother I concede four gifts—first height and reach that cow strangers; second, courage to spearhead any odds; third, scholarship that ropes heroes; fourth, armies that walk cliffs like meadows. What wins wars for me is not brawn but one slice of scheme." Courtiers roared long life.
42
萇下書令留台諸鎮各置學官，勿有所廢，考試優劣，隨才擢敘。 苻登驃騎將軍沒奕于率戶六千降，拜使持節、車騎將軍、高平公。
He ordered every rear office and post to keep schools running, test pupils, and promote on merit. Moyifu brought six thousand households from Deng's camp and earned credentials as chariot-and-cavalry general and duke of Gaoping.
43
萇寢疾，遣姚碩德鎮李潤，尹緯守長安，召其太子興詣行營。 征南姚方成言於興曰：「今寇賊未滅，上復寢疾，王統、苻胤等皆有部曲，終為人害，宜盡除之。」 興於是誅苻胤、王統、王廣、徐成、毛盛，乃赴召。 興至，萇怒曰：「王統兄弟是吾州裏，無他遠志，徐成等昔在秦朝，並為名將。 天下小定，吾方任之，奈何輒便誅害，令人喪氣！」
Bedridden, he stationed Shuode at Lirun, Yin Wei in Chang'an, and called Xing to camp. Yao Fangcheng urged Xing, "Enemies remain and your father ails—Fu Yin and Wang Tong still command bodies of retainers; purge them." Xing cut down Fu Yin, Wang Tong, Wang Guang, Xu Cheng, and Mao Sheng before riding to camp. Chang raged at him: "Wang Tong's clan are neighbors without lofty plots; Xu Cheng's crowd were Qin stars. Peace was near and I planned to employ them—why slaughter them and crush morale!"
44
萇下書，兵吏從征伐，戶在大營者，世世復其家，無所豫。
He exempted forever every household tied to the Great Camp host.
45
苻登與竇沖相持，萇議擊之，尹緯言於萇曰：「太子純厚之稱，著于遐邇，將領英略，未為遠近所知。 宜遣太子親行，可以漸廣威武，防窺窬之原。」 萇從之，戎興曰：「賊徒知汝轉近，必相驅入堡，聚而掩之，無不克矣。」 比至胡空堡，沖圍自解。 登聞興向胡空堡，引還，興因襲平涼，大獲而歸，咸如萇策。 使興還鎮長安。
As Deng fenced with Dou Chong, Yin Wei advised, "The heir is loved for kindness but untested as commander. Let him lead an army—spread dread abroad and choke intrigue." Chang agreed and coached Xing: "Let Deng learn you march—he will herd his men behind walls; then bundle and crush them." When Xing neared Kongkong Fort, Dou Chong's ring broke without a blow. Deng retreated at news of Xing; Xing swept Pingliang for spoil exactly as Chang scripted. He returned Xing to the capital garrison.
46
萇下書除妖謗之言及赦前奸穢，有相劾舉者，皆以其罪罪之。
He banned rumor-mongering about portents and forbade recycling old amnesties—false denunciation earns the denouncer's penalty.
47
晉平遠將軍、護氐校尉楊佛嵩率胡蜀三千餘戶降于萇，晉將楊佺期、趙睦追之。 遣姚崇赴救，大敗晉師，斬趙睦。 以佛嵩為鎮東將軍。
Yang Fosong of Jin brought Di and Shu settlers to Chang; Yang Quanqi and Zhao Mu gave chase. Yao Chong rode to the rescue, shattered the Jin column, and took Zhao Mu's head. Fosong became general who guards the east.
48
萇如長安，至於新支堡，疾篤，輿疾而進。 夢苻堅將天官使者、鬼兵數百突入營中，萇懼，走入宮，宮人迎萇刺鬼，誤中萇陰，鬼相謂曰：「正中死處。」 拔矛，出血石餘。 寤而驚悸，遂患陰腫，醫刺之，出血如夢。 萇遂狂言，或稱「臣萇，殺陛下者兄襄，非臣之罪，願不枉臣。」 至長安，召太尉姚旻、尚書左僕射尹緯、右僕射姚晃、尚書狄伯支等入，受遺輔政。 萇謂興曰：「有毀此諸人者，慎勿受之。 汝撫骨肉以仁，接大臣以禮，待物以信，遇黔首以恩，四者既備，吾無憂矣。」 乙太元十八年死，時年六十四，在位八年。 偽諡武昭皇帝，廟號太祖，墓稱原陵。
Bound for Chang'an, he collapsed at Xinzhi Fort and pressed on in a litter. He dreamed Fu Jian charged camp with hundreds of sky-clerk ghosts; fleeing indoors, harem women lunged at shades and speared his groin by mistake—the spirits whispered, "Right on the fatal spot." They wrenched the spear free and blood gushed a stone's weight. He woke swollen; doctors lanced him and the flow matched the nightmare. Delirious, he shrieked that Xiang killed Fu Jian, not he—begging the ghost's pardon." In Chang'an he gathered Yao Min, Yin Wei, Yao Huang, Di Bozhi, and charged them as regents. He warned Xing never to heed slurs against those ministers. Love kin, honor ministers, keep faith, cherish the people—master that and I rest easy." Taiyuan eighteenth year claimed him at sixty-four after eight years on the throne. Histories record temple name Taizu, posthumous Emperor Wuzhao, tomb Yuanling.