1
禿髮烏孤
Tufa Wugu
2
禿髮烏孤，河西鮮卑人也。 其先與後魏同出。 八世祖匹孤率其部自塞北遷於河西，其地東至麥田、牽屯，西至濕羅，南至澆河，北接大漠。 匹孤卒，子壽闐立。 初，壽闐之在孕，母胡掖氏因寢而產於被中，鮮卑謂被為「禿髮」，因而氏焉。 壽闐卒，孫樹機能立，壯果多謀略。 泰始中，殺秦州刺史胡烈于萬斛堆，敗涼州刺史蘇愉于金山，盡有涼州之地，武帝為之旰食。 後為馬隆所敗，部下殺之以降。 從弟務丸立。 死，孫推斤立。 死，子思復鞬立，部眾稍盛。 烏孤即思復鞬之子也。 及嗣位，務農桑，修鄰好。 呂光遣使署為假節、冠軍大將軍、河西鮮卑大都統、廣武縣侯。 烏孤謂諸將曰：「呂氏遠來假授，當可受不？」 眾咸曰：「吾士眾不少，何故屬人！」 烏孤將從之，其將石真若留曰：「今本根未固，理宜隨時。 光德刑修明，境內無虞，若致死於我者，大小不敵，後雖悔之，無所及也。 不如受而遵養之，又待其釁耳。」 烏孤乃受之。
Tufa Wugu was a Xianbei of the Hexi region. His line shared a common origin with the Later Wei. Eight generations back, Pigu led his people from the northern marches into Hexi. Their domain ran east to Maitian and Qianchun, west to Shiluo, south to the Jiao River, and north to the great desert. When Pigu died, his son Shoudian took the chieftaincy. Shoudian was born while his mother Lady Huaye slept on her bedding. In Xianbei a quilt is called tufa, and from that the clan took its name. After Shoudian died, his grandson Shujineng became chief—a man of force, daring, and cunning. In the Taishi period he killed the Qin governor Hu Lie at Wanhudui, routed the Liang governor Su Yu at Jinshan, and held all of Liangzhou. Emperor Wu of Jin could scarcely eat for worry. Later Ma Long defeated him, and his own followers killed him to submit. His cousin's son Wuwuwan succeeded him. When he died, his grandson Tuigin took the lead. He died in turn, and his son Sifujian succeeded; the tribe grew steadily stronger. Wugu was Sifujian's son. On succeeding, he encouraged farming and sericulture and kept peace with his neighbors. Lü Guang sent envoys to invest him as acting commander, Grand General Who Conquers Champions, grand commander of the Hexi Xianbei, and Marquis of Guangwu. Wugu asked his officers, "The Lü family sends titles from afar. Should we accept them?" They all said, "We have no lack of fighting men. Why bow to anyone else!" Wugu was ready to agree when his officer Shi Zhenruoliu said, "Our foundation is not yet secure. We must move with the times. Guang governs with clear law and reward, and his realm is untroubled. If he turns on us, we cannot stand against him, and regret will come too late. Better to accept, keep our strength, and wait for his weakness to show." Wugu accepted.
3
烏孤討乙弗、折掘二部，大破之，遣其將石亦幹築廉川堡以都之。 烏孤登廉川大山，泣而不言。 石亦幹進曰：「臣聞主憂臣辱，主辱臣死，大王所為不樂者，將非呂光乎！ 光年已衰老，師徒屢敗。 今我以士馬之盛，保據大川，乃可以一擊百，光何足懼也。」 烏孤曰：「光之衰老，亦吾所知。 但我祖宗以德懷遠，殊俗憚威，盧陵、契汗萬里委順。 及吾承業，諸部背叛，邇既乖違，遠何以附，所以泣耳。」 其將苻渾曰：「大王何不振旅誓眾，以討其罪。」 烏孤從之，大破諸部。 呂光封烏孤廣武郡公。 又討意雲鮮卑，大破之。
Wugu attacked the Yifu and Zheju tribes and broke them, then sent Shi Yigan to build Lianchuan Fort and make it his seat. Wugu climbed the heights of Lianchuan Mountain and wept in silence. Shi Yigan stepped forward and said, "When the ruler grieves, his servants are shamed; when the ruler is shamed, they must die. Does your sorrow concern Lü Guang? Guang is old, and his armies have suffered defeat after defeat. With our strength in men and horses and our hold on the great rivers, one of us can strike down a hundred. What is Guang to us!" Wugu said, "I know Guang is failing. Yet my forebears won the distant by virtue, and alien peoples feared our power. Luling and Qihan submitted from a thousand leagues away. When I took up the line, the tribes turned against me. If those close will not stand by me, how shall the distant come? That is why I weep." His general Fu Hun said, "Why not muster the host, take the oath, and punish their treason?" Wugu did so and broke the rebel tribes. Lü Guang made Wugu Duke of Guangwu commandery. He attacked the Yiyun Xianbei again and crushed them.
4
光又遣使署烏孤征南大將軍、益州牧、左賢王。 烏孤謂使者曰：「呂王昔以專征之威，遂有此州，不能以德柔遠，惠安黎庶。 諸子貪淫，三甥肆暴，郡縣土崩，下無生賴。 吾安可違天下之心，受不義之爵！ 帝王之起，豈有常哉！ 無道則滅，有德則昌，吾將順天人之望，為天下主。」 留其鼓吹羽儀，謝其使而遣之。
Guang sent envoys again, naming Wugu General Who Pacifies the South, Governor of Yizhou, and Left Worthy King. Wugu told the envoys, "King Lü won this province by force, yet he could not win the distant by kindness or ease the lot of the people. His sons are greedy and dissolute, his three nephews cruel and violent. The commanderies are crumbling and the people have nowhere to turn. How can I defy the will of the realm and take an unearned title! The rise of kings and emperors—has it ever followed one rule! Without the Way states fall; with the Way they rise. I will follow Heaven and the people and rule the realm." He kept their music and regalia, thanked the envoys, and dismissed them.
5
烏孤從容謂其群下曰：「隴右區區數郡地耳！ 因其兵亂，分裂遂至十餘。 乾歸擅命河南，段業阻兵張掖，虐氐假息，偷據姑臧。 吾藉父兄遣烈。 思郭清西夏。 兼弱攻昧，三者何先？」 楊統進曰：「乾歸本我所部，終必歸服。 段業儒生，才非經世，權臣擅命，制不由已，千里伐人，糧運懸絕，且與我鄰好，許以分災共患，乘其危弊，非義舉也。 呂光衰老，嗣紹沖暗，二子纂、弘，雖頗有文武，而內相猜忌。 若天威臨之，必應鋒瓦解。 宜遣車騎鎮浩亹，鎮北據廉川，乘虛迭出，多方以誤之，救右則擊其左，救左則擊其右，使纂疲於奔命，人不得安其農業。 兼弱攻昧，於是乎在，不出二年，可以坐定姑臧。 姑臧既拔，二寇不待兵戈，自然服矣。」 烏孤然之，遂陰有吞併之志。
Wugu said calmly to his court, "Longyou is only a handful of commanderies! War has split them into more than ten petty states. Qian'gui rules south of the river on his own authority, Duan Ye holds Zhangye by force, the Di usurp power in stolen ease, and bandits occupy Guzang. I stand on the legacy my fathers and brothers left me. I mean to pacify the western lands. To absorb the weak and strike the blind—which should come first?" Yang Tong said, "Qian'gui was once our subject. In time he will return. Duan Ye is a bookish man, no statesman. His ministers rule for him. To march a thousand li with supply lines stretched thin, and against a neighbor who has pledged to share our burdens—that would be unjust. Lü Guang is old; his heir is young and weak. His sons Zuan and Hong have talent, but they mistrust each other. If we press them, they will break at the first blow. Post the Chariots-and-Cavalry at Hao'ai and the Pacifier of the North at Lianchuan. Raid from many quarters: when they save the right, hit the left; when they save the left, hit the right. Wear Zuan down and keep the farmers from their fields. That is how we take the weak and strike the blind. Within two years we can take Guzang without leaving our seats. Once Guzang falls, the other two enemies will submit without a fight." Wugu agreed and quietly set his mind on conquest.
6
段業為呂纂所侵，遣利鹿孤救之。 纂懼，燒氐池、張掖穀麥而還。 以利鹿孤為涼州牧，鎮西平，追傉檀入錄府國事。
When Lü Zuan attacked Duan Ye, Ye called on Lilugu for aid. Zuan, alarmed, burned the grain stores of Dichí and Zhangye and withdrew. Wugu made Lilugu Governor of Liangzhou with his seat at Xiping and called Rutan back to handle affairs at court.
7
是歲，烏孤因酒墜馬傷脅，笑曰：「幾使呂光父子大喜。」 俄而患甚，顧謂群下曰：「方難未靜，宜立長君。」 言終而死，在王位三年，偽諡武王，廟號烈祖。 弟利鹿孤立。
That year Wugu fell drunk from his horse and hurt his hip. He laughed and said, "I nearly made Lü Guang and his sons rejoice." Soon he grew gravely ill. He told his officers, "Trouble is not over. Set an elder brother on the throne." With that he died. He had ruled three years. His posthumous title was King Wu; his temple name Liezu. His younger brother Lilugu succeeded him.
8
禿髮利鹿孤
Tufa Lilugu
9
利鹿孤以隆安三年即偽位，赦其境內殊死已下，又徙居於西平。 使記室監麹梁明聘于段業。 業曰：「貴主先王創業啟運，功高先世，宜為國之太祖，有子何以不立？」 梁明曰：「有子羌奴，先王之命也。」 業曰：「昔成王弱齡，周召作宰； 漢昭八歲，金、霍夾輔。 雖嗣子沖幼，而二叔休明，左提右挈，不亦可乎？」 明曰：「宋宣能以國讓，《春秋》美之； 孫伯符委事仲謀，終開有吳之業。 且兄終弟及，殷湯之制也，亦聖人之格言，萬代之通式，何必胤已為是，紹兄為非。」 業曰：「美哉！ 使乎之義也。」
In Long'an 3 Lilugu took the throne, pardoned all crimes short of capital offense, and moved his capital to Xiping. He sent Qu Liangming, Recorder Supervisor, as envoy to Duan Ye. Ye said, "Your former king founded your house with merit above the ancients. He should be your dynastic founder. You have a son—why not enthrone him?" Liangming replied, "There is a son, Qiangnu, as the late king commanded." Ye said, "King Cheng of Zhou was young, yet the Duke of Zhou and Duke of Shao ruled in his name. Emperor Zhao was eight, and Huo Guang and Jin Midi stood at either hand. Though the heir is young, with two able uncles to guide him—would that not suffice?" Ming said, "Duke Xuan of Song yielded the realm, and the Spring and Autumn Annals honor him. Sun Ce left power to Sun Quan, who built the kingdom of Wu. Elder yielding to younger was Tang of Yin's law and a sage's maxim for all time. Why must a son always succeed and a brother never?" Ye said, "Well spoken! That is how an envoy should speak."
10
利鹿孤聞呂光死，遣其將金樹、蘇翹率騎五千屯於昌松漠口。
When Lilugu learned that Lü Guang had died, he sent Jin Shu and Su Qiao with five thousand cavalry to camp at Changsong Mo.
11
既逾年，赦其境內，改元曰建和。 二千石長吏清高有惠化者，皆封亭侯、關內侯。
After a year he proclaimed a general amnesty and adopted the era name Jianhe. Every prefect and chief official of two thousand piculs who had ruled with integrity received a district marquisate or a marquisate within the passes.
12
呂纂來伐，使傉檀距之。 纂士卒精銳，進度三堆，三軍擾懼。 傉檀下馬據胡床而坐，士眾心乃始安。 與纂戰，敗之，斬二千餘級。 纂西擊段業，傉檀率騎一萬，乘虛襲姑臧。 纂弟緯守南北城以自固。 傉檀置酒於硃明門上，鳴鐘鼓以饗將士，耀兵于青陽門，虜八千餘戶而歸。
When Lü Zuan attacked, Lilugu sent Rutan to meet him. Zuan's troops were seasoned and fierce. As they passed Sandui the whole army wavered in fear. Rutan dismounted and sat on a camp stool; then the men steadied. He gave battle and routed Zuan, taking more than two thousand heads. Zuan turned west against Duan Ye. Rutan led ten thousand horse, struck while Guzang was empty, and took the city. Zuan's brother Wei held the inner and outer walls. Rutan feasted his officers at Zhuming Gate, paraded his troops at Qingyang Gate, and returned with more than eight thousand households.
13
乞伏乾歸為姚興所敗，率騎數百來奔，處之晉興，待以上賓之禮。 乾歸遣子謙等質于西平。 鎮北將軍俱延言于利鹿孤曰：「乾歸本我之屬國，妄自尊立，理窮歸命，非有款誠； 若奔東秦，必引師西侵，非我利也。 宜徙於乙弗之間，防其越逸之路。」 利鹿孤曰：「吾方弘信義以收天下之心，乾歸投誠而徙之，四海將謂我不可以誠信託也。」 俄而乾歸果奔于姚興。 利鹿孤謂延曰：「不用卿言，乾歸果叛，卿為吾行也。」 延追乾歸至河，不及而還。
Qifu Qian'gui, beaten by Yao Xing, fled with a few hundred horsemen. Lilugu settled him at Jinxing and honored him as a distinguished guest. Qian'gui sent his son Qian and others as hostages to Xiping. Juyan, Pacifier of the North, urged Lilugu, "Qian'gui was our vassal. He set himself up as ruler, and only when ruined did he come to us—not in good faith. If he flees to Eastern Qin he will bring armies against us. That serves us ill. Move him among the Yifu and block his escape." Lilugu said, "I mean to win the realm by faith. If he submits in trust and we uproot him, all will say we cannot be trusted." Soon Qian'gui did flee to Yao Xing. Lilugu told Juyan, "You were right. Go after him." Juyan chased him to the river, failed to catch him, and returned.
14
利鹿孤立二年，龍見於長寧，麒麟游於綏羌，於是群臣勸進，以隆安五年僭稱河西王。 其將鍮勿侖進曰：「昔我先君肇自幽、朔，被髮左衽，無冠冕之義，遷徙不常，無城邑之制，用能中分天下，威振殊境。 今建大號，誠順天心。 然甯居樂士，非貽厥之規； 倉府粟帛，生敵人之志。 且首兵始號，事必無成，陳勝、項籍，前鑒不遠。 宜置晉人于諸城，勸課農桑，以供軍國之用，我則習戰法以誅未賓。 若東西有變，長算以縻之； 如其敵強於我，徙而以避其鋒，不亦善乎！」 利鹿孤然其言。
In his second year a dragon was seen at Changning and a qilin at Suiqiang. His ministers urged him to take the royal title, and in Long'an 5 he styled himself King of Hexi. General Tuyu Lun said, "Our forebears came from You and Shuo with unbound hair and folded collars, without caps or cities, yet they split the realm and awed the frontier. To take the royal title now is truly to follow Heaven. Yet ease in a rich land is no legacy for our sons; full granaries only whet our enemies' hunger. And to seize a royal title before victory is won—such ventures fail. Chen Sheng and Xiang Yu are recent proof. Settle Han Chinese in our towns to farm for the army and state, while we train for war and subdue those who will not submit. If trouble rises on either flank, use strategy to hold them in check; and if they are stronger, shift ground and avoid their stroke—that too is wise." Lilugu agreed.
15
於是率師伐呂隆，大敗之，獲其右僕射楊桓。 傉檀謂之曰：「安寢危邦，不思擇木，老為囚虜，豈曰智也！」 桓曰：「受呂氏厚恩，位忝端貳，雖洪水滔天，猶欲濟彼俱溺，實恥為叛臣以見明主。」 傉檀曰：「卿忠臣也！」 以為左司馬。
He then marched against Lü Long, defeated him, and took his Right Vice Director Yang Huan. Rutan said, "You rested in a doomed house and never chose a better master. To end as a prisoner in your age—is that wisdom?" Huan replied, "The Lü house favored me and made me second only to the heir. Though floods reach the sky I would have gone under with them. I could not bear to stand before a worthy ruler as a traitor." Rutan said, "You are a loyal man!" He named him Left Marshal.
16
利鹿孤謂其群下曰：「吾無經濟之才，忝承業統，自負乘在位，三載於茲。 雖夙夜惟寅，思弘道化，而刑政未能允中，風俗尚多凋弊； 戎車屢駕，無辟境之功； 務進賢彥，而下猶蓄滯。 豈所任非才，將吾不明所致也？ 二三君子其極言無諱，吾將覽焉。」 祠部郎中史暠對曰：「古之王者，行師以全軍為上，破國次之，拯溺救焚，東征西怨。 今不以綏寧為先，惟以徙戶為務，安土重遷，故有離叛，所以斬將克城，土不加廣。 今取士拔才，必先弓馬，文章學藝為無用之條，非所以來遠人，垂不朽也。 孔子曰：'不學禮，無以立。 '宜建學校，開庠序，選耆德碩儒以訓胄子。」 利鹿孤善之，於是以田玄沖、趙誕為博士祭酒，以教胄子。
Lilugu told his court, "I lack the talent to govern an age. For three years I have held the throne. Though I labor day and night to spread the Way, justice is not even and the people are still in decay. I send armies again and again, yet win no new ground; I seek worthy men, yet talent still languishes below. Is it that I choose the wrong men, or that I myself am at fault? Speak plainly, all of you. I will hear it. Shi Gao of the Sacrificial Office answered, "Ancient kings went to war to preserve armies first and conquer states second. They rescued the drowning and the burning. You do not put peace first but only move households. The people love their land and flee. You take cities yet win no lasting ground. You choose men for bow and horse alone and treat letters and learning as useless. That is no way to draw the distant or leave a lasting name. Confucius said, 'Without learning ritual, one cannot stand.' Found schools, open the academies, and set venerable scholars to teach the royal sons." Lilugu approved and appointed Tian Xuanchong and Zhao Yan as Libationer-Doctors to instruct the royal sons.
17
時利鹿孤雖僭位，尚臣姚興。 楊桓兄經佐命姚萇，早死，興聞桓有德望，征之。 利鹿孤餞桓於城東，謂之曰：「本期與卿共成大業，事乖本圖，分歧之感，實情深古人。 但鯤非溟海，無以運其軀； 鳳非修梧，無以晞其翼。 卿有佐時之器，夜光之寶，當振纓雲閣，耀價連城，區區河右，未足以逞卿才力。 善勖日新，以成大美。」 桓泣曰：「臣往事呂氏，情節不建。 陛下宥臣于俘虜之中，顯同賢舊，每希攀龍附風，立尺寸之功，龍門既開，而臣違離，公衡之戀，豈曰忘之！」 利鹿孤為之流涕。
Though Lilugu had taken the throne, he still acknowledged Yao Xing as overlord. Huan's brother Jing had aided Yao Hong and died young. Xing, hearing of Huan's reputation, summoned him. Lilugu feasted him east of the city and said, "I hoped to build this realm with you. Fate has turned us apart, and the grief is as deep as the ancients knew. The great kun fish is not the ocean itself and cannot cross the deep; the phoenix is not the parasol tree and cannot spread its wings in the sun. You have the talent to serve an age and a jewel that would dazzle any court. You belong in the capital, not in this corner of Hexi. Go forward each day and fulfill your promise." Huan wept and said, "I served the Lü house without success. You raised me from captivity and treated me as an old companion. I hoped to win even a small place at your side. Now the gate is open and I must go—do you think I forget my bond to you?" Lilugu wept with him.
18
遣傉檀又攻呂隆昌松太守孟禕于顯美，克之。 傉檀執禕而數之曰：「見機而作，賞之所先； 守迷不變，刑之所及。 吾方耀威玉門，掃平秦、隴，卿固守窮城，稽淹王憲，國有常刑，于分甘乎？」 禕曰：「明公開翦河右，聲播宇內，文德以綏遠人，威武以懲不恪，況禕蔑爾，敢距天命！ 釁鼓之刑，禕之分也。 但忠於彼者，亦忠於此。 荷呂氏厚恩，受籓屏之任，明公至而歸命，恐獲罪于執事，惟公圖之。」 傉檀大悅，釋其縛，待之客禮。 徙顯美、麗靬二千餘戶而歸。 嘉禕忠烈，拜左司馬。 禕請曰：「呂氏將亡，聖朝之並河右，昭然已定。 但為人守而不全，復忝顯任，竊所未安。 明公之恩，聽禕就戮于姑臧，死且不朽。」 傉檀義而許之。
He sent Rutan to attack Meng Yi, Lü Long's governor of Changsong, at Xianmei and took the city. Rutan seized Yi and said, "To seize the moment wins reward; to cling to a lost cause brings punishment. I mean to show my power at Jade Gate and clear Qin and Long. You held a doomed town against the throne's command. Does the law not claim you?" Yi said, "Your fame fills the realm. You win men by civil virtue and punish rebellion by arms. How should a man like me resist Heaven? The drum of war is my proper sentence. Yet loyalty to one master is loyalty to another. The Lü house favored me and set me to guard their frontier. When you came I yielded, yet I feared I might seem a traitor. I leave my fate to you." Rutan was pleased, freed him, and received him as a guest. He resettled more than two thousand households from Xianmei and Ligan and returned. Honoring Yi's loyalty, he made him Left Marshal. Yi asked leave, saying, "The Lü line is dying and your conquest of Hexi is plain. I held office for them without finishing my charge, yet you honor me with high rank. I cannot bear it. Grant me death at Guzang by your grace, and my name will stand." Rutan, moved, allowed it.
19
呂隆為沮渠蒙遜所伐，遣使乞師，利鹿孤引群下議之。 尚書左丞婆衍侖曰：「今姑臧饑荒殘弊，谷石萬錢，野無青草，資食無取。 蒙遜千里行師，糧運不屬，使二寇相殘，以乘其釁。 若蒙遜拔姑臧，亦不能守，適可為吾取之，不宜救也。」 傉檀曰：「侖知其一，未知其二。 姑臧今雖虛弊，地居形勝，可西一都之會，不可使蒙遜據之，宜在速救。」 利鹿孤曰：「車騎之言，吾之心也。」 遂遣傉檀率騎一萬救之。 至昌松而蒙遜已退，傉檀徙涼澤、段塚五百餘家而歸。
When Juqu Mengxun attacked Lü Long, Long begged for aid. Lilugu called his court to counsel. Left Assistant Grandee Poyan Lun said, "Guzang is starving. Grain costs ten thousand cash a picul and the fields are bare. We cannot feed an army there. Mengxun marches a thousand li without supply. Let the two enemies wear each other down, then take Guzang when they are spent. We should not rescue Long. Even if Mengxun takes the city he cannot hold it. It will fall to us in the end." Rutan said, "Lun sees one thing and misses another. Guzang is weak, but its ground is the key to the west. We cannot let Mengxun have it. We must march at once." Lilugu said, "Rutan speaks my mind." He sent Rutan with ten thousand horse to relieve the city. At Changsong Mengxun had already withdrawn. Rutan resettled more than five hundred households from Liangze and Duanduan and returned.
20
利鹿孤寢疾，令曰：「內外多虞，國機務廣，其令車騎嗣業，以成先王之志。」 在位三年而死，葬于西平之東南，偽諡曰康王。 弟傉檀嗣。
Lilugu fell ill and said, "Trouble presses on every side. Let the Chariots-and-Cavalry succeed me and fulfill our father's will." He had ruled three years and died. He was buried southeast of Xiping with the posthumous title King Kang. His younger brother Rutan succeeded.
21
禿髮傉檀
Tufa Rutan
22
傉檀少機警，有才略。 其父奇之，謂諸子曰：「傉檀明識幹藝，非汝等輩也。」 是以諸兄不以授子，欲傳之于傉檀。 及利鹿孤即位，垂拱而已，軍國大事皆以委之。 以元興元年僭號涼王，遷于樂都，改元曰弘昌。
From youth Rutan was quick-witted, talented, and full of design. His father favored him and told his sons, "Rutan's mind and skill are not yours." So his brothers meant the line to pass to Rutan, not to their own sons. When Lilugu reigned he held the court in name only; Rutan ran army and state. In Yuanxing 1 he took the title King of Liang, moved his capital to Ledu, and adopted the era name Hongchang.
23
初，乞伏乾歸之在晉興也，以世子熾磐為質。 後熾磐逃歸，為追騎所執，利鹿孤命殺之。 傉檀曰：「臣子逃歸君父，振古通義，故魏武善關羽之奔，秦昭恕頃襄之逝。 熾磐雖逃叛，孝心可嘉，宜垂全宥，以弘海嶽之量。」 乃赦之。 至是，熾磐又奔允街，傉檀歸其妻子。
Earlier, while Qifu Qian'gui stayed at Jinxing, he left his heir Chifu Pan as hostage. Chifu Pan later fled home and was caught by pursuers. Lilugu ordered his death. Rutan said, "A son who flees to his father is an ancient right. Cao Cao honored Guan Yu's return; King Zhao of Qin forgave a prince who fled home. Chifu Pan fled from loyalty to his father. Spare him and show the breadth of your mercy." He was pardoned. When Chifu Pan fled again to Yunjie, Rutan sent back his family.
24
姚興遣使拜傉檀車騎將軍、廣武公。 傉檀大城樂都。 姚興遣將齊難率眾迎呂隆于姑臧，傉檀攝昌松、魏安二戍以避之。
Yao Xing sent envoys naming him General of Chariots and Cavalry and Duke of Guangwu. Rutan greatly fortified Ledu. Xing sent Qi Nan to install Lü Long at Guzang. Rutan evacuated Changsong and Wei'an to give way.
25
興涼州刺史王尚遣主薄宗敞來聘。 敞父燮，呂光時自湟河太守入為尚書郎，見傉檀于廣武，執其手曰：「君神爽宏拔，逸氣陵雲，命世之傑也，必當克清世難。 恨吾年老不及見耳，以敞兄弟托君。」 至是，傉檀謂敞曰：「孤以常才，謬為尊先君所見稱，每自恐有累大人水鏡之明。 及忝家業，竊有懷君子。 《詩》云：'中心藏之，何日忘之。 '不圖今日得見卿也。」 敞曰：「大王仁侔魏祖，存念先人，雖硃暉眄張堪之孤，叔向撫汝齊之子，無以加也。」 酒酣，語及平生。 傉檀曰：「卿魯子敬之儔，恨不與卿共成大業耳。」
Wang Shang, Xing's governor of Liangzhou, sent Registrar Zong Chang as envoy. Chang's father Xie had been governor of Huanghe under Lü Guang and later a court gentleman. At Guangwu he took Rutan's hand and said, "You have the air of a hero of the age. You will settle this turmoil. I am too old to see it. I leave my sons to your care." Now Rutan told Chang, "Your father praised me beyond my worth. I feared I could never match his judgment. When I took up our house I remembered his trust. The Odes say, 'I keep it in my heart—when shall I forget?' I never thought to see you today." Chang said, "Your kindness matches the founder of Wei. You honor our fathers as Zhu Hui honored Zhang Kan's son and Shu Xiang raised Boqi's child—none could do more. Over wine they spoke of old times. Rutan said, "You are another Lu Su. I regret we cannot finish this work together."
26
傉檀以姚興之盛，又密圖姑臧，乃去其年號，罷尚書丞郎官，遣參軍關尚聘於興。 興謂尚曰：「車騎投誠獻款，為國籓屏，擅興兵眾，輒造大城，為臣之道固若是乎？」 尚曰：「王侯設險以自固，先王之制也，所以安人衛眾，預備不虞。 車騎僻在遐籓，密邇勍寇，南則逆羌未賓，西則蒙遜跋扈，蓋為國家重門之防，不圖陛下忽以為嫌。」 興笑曰：「卿言是也。」
Fearing Yao Xing's power yet plotting Guzang, Rutan dropped his era title, cut court posts, and sent Guan Shang to Xing as envoy. Xing asked Shang, "Rutan pledges loyalty yet raises armies and builds a great city. Is that how a vassal should act?" Shang replied, "Lords fortify their seats by ancient law to guard their people and meet surprise. Rutan sits on the frontier beside strong enemies. The Qiang in the south are restless and Mengxun is fierce in the west. His walls are the realm's outer gate. We did not think Your Majesty would take offense." Xing laughed and said, "You speak well."
27
傉檀遣其將文支討南羌、西虜，大破之。 上表姚興，求涼州，不許，加傉檀散騎常侍，增邑二千戶。 傉檀於是率師伐沮渠蒙遜，次於氐池。 蒙遜嬰城固守，芟其禾苗，至於赤泉而還。 獻興馬三千匹，羊三萬頭。 興乃署傉檀為使持節、都督河右諸軍事、車騎大將軍、領護匈奴中郎將、涼州刺史，常侍、公如故，鎮姑臧。 傉檀率步騎三萬次於五澗，興涼州刺史王尚遣辛晁、孟禕、彭敏出迎。 尚出自清陽門，鎮南文支入自涼風門。 宗敞以別駕送尚還長安，傉檀曰：「吾得涼州三千餘家，情之所寄，唯卿一人，奈何舍我去乎？」 敞曰：「今送舊君，所以忠於殿下。」 傉檀曰：「吾今新牧貴州，懷遠安邇之略，為之若何？」 敞曰：「涼土雖弊，形勝之地，道由人弘，實在殿下。 段懿、孟禕、武威之宿望； 辛晁、彭敏，秦、隴之冠冕； 斐敏、馬輔，中州之令族； 張昶，涼國之舊胤； 張穆、邊憲、文齊、楊班、梁崧、趙昌，武同飛、羽。 以大王之神略，撫之以威信，農戰並修，文教兼設，可以從橫於天下，河右豈足定乎！」 傉檀大悅，賜敞馬二十匹。 於是大饗文武于謙光殿，班賜金馬各有差。
Rutan sent Wenzhi against the southern Qiang and western tribes and broke them. He asked Xing for Liangzhou and was refused, but Xing named him Regular Attendant and added two thousand households to his fief. Rutan then marched against Juqu Mengxun and camped at Dichi. Mengxun held his walls. Rutan burned his crops, reached Chiquan, and withdrew. He sent Xing three thousand horses and thirty thousand sheep. Xing then named him Bearer of the Staff, commander of Hexi, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Protector of the Xiongnu, Governor of Liangzhou, and Duke, with his seat at Guzang. Rutan marched thirty thousand men to Wujian. Wang Shang sent Xin Chao, Meng Yi, and Peng Min to welcome him. Shang came out through Qingyang Gate while Wenzhi, Pacifier of the South, entered by Liangfeng Gate. Zong Chang escorted Shang to Chang'an. Rutan said, "I have won three thousand households of Liangzhou, but you alone are dear to me. How can you go?" Chang said, "I send away my old master to honor you." Rutan asked, "I am new to this province. How shall I win the distant and calm the near?" Chang said, "Liang is worn but its ground is strong. The Way rises through men—and that means you. Duan Yi and Meng Yi are the honored names of Wuwei; Xin Chao and Peng Min are the finest men of Qin and Long; Fei Min and Ma Fu come from leading families of the heartland; Zhang Chang is a descendant of the former Liang royal house; Zhang Mu, Bian Xian, Wen Qi, Yang Ban, Liang Song, and Zhao Chang are warriors to rival Zhang Fei and Guan Yu. With your genius and authority, if you unite agriculture and war and pair civil rule with military strength, you can dominate the world—why settle for the Hexi alone! Rutan was delighted and gave Chang twenty horses. He then feasted his officials in Qian'guang Hall and rewarded them with gold and horses in graded shares.
28
遣西曹從事史暠聘于姚興。 興謂暠曰：「車騎坐定涼州，衣錦本國，其德我乎？」 暠曰：「車騎積德河西，少播英問，王威未接，投誠萬里，陛下官方任才，量功授職，彝倫之常，何德之有！」 興曰：「朕不以州授車騎者，車騎何從得之。」 暠曰：「使河西雲擾、呂氏顛狽者，實由車騎兄弟傾其根本。 陛下雖鴻羅遐被，涼州猶在天網之外。 故征西以周、召之重，力屈姑臧； 齊難以王旅之盛，勢挫張掖。 王尚孤城獨守，外逼群狄，陛下不連兵十年，殫竭中國，涼州未易取也。 今以虛名假人，內收大利，乃知妙算自天，聖與道合，雖云遷授，蓋亦時宜。」 興悅其言，拜騎都尉。
He dispatched Shi Hao of the Western Bureau as envoy to Yao Xing. Yao Xing asked Hao: "Rutan has taken Liangzhou and come home in glory—does he owe me thanks? Hao replied: "Rutan built his reputation in Hexi long before your authority reached him; he submitted from afar. You assign office by talent and rank by merit—that is only proper. What debt does he owe? Xing said: "Had I not given him the province, how would he have gained it? Hao said: "Hexi fell into chaos and the Lü house collapsed because Rutan and his brothers destroyed them from within. Though your power spans the realm, Liangzhou long lay beyond your reach. Your western expedition, though led by men of Zhou and Shao's stature, was broken at Guzang; and Qilian Cheng, at the head of your imperial host, was turned back at Zhangye. Wang Shang held out alone, beset by barbarians; without ten years of war and the draining of the heartland, you could not have taken Liangzhou easily. Now you grant him a hollow title yet keep the real gain—heaven's design and the sage's way. Though you call it a transfer, the timing was perfect. Yao Xing was pleased and made Hao Cavalry Commandant.
29
傉檀宴群僚於宣德堂，仰視而歎曰：「古人言作者不居，居者不作，信矣。」 孟禕進曰：「張文王築城苑，繕宗廟，為貽厥之資，萬世之業，秦師濟河，漼然瓦解。 梁熙據全州之地，擁十萬之眾，軍敗於酒泉，身死于彭濟。 呂氏以排山之勢，王有西夏，率土崩離，銜璧秦、雍。 寬饒有言：'富貴無常，忽輒易人。 '此堂之建，年垂百載，十有二主，唯信順可以久安，仁義可以永固，願大王勉之。」 傉檀曰：「非君無以聞讜言也。」 傉檀雖受制于姚興，然車服禮章一如王者。 以宗敞為太府主簿、錄記室事。
At a feast in Xuan'ede Hall, Rutan looked up and sighed: "The ancients were right: builders do not keep what they build, and those who inherit seldom built it. Meng Yi said: "Duke Wen of Zhang built walls, parks, and temples for his heirs' sake—yet when Qin crossed the Yellow River, his realm dissolved overnight. Liang Xi ruled the whole province with a hundred thousand men—yet he was beaten at Jiuquan and died at Pengji. The Lü clan, who seemed strong enough to move mountains and ruled western Xia, fell apart and surrendered to Qin and Yong with jade disks at their necks. As Kuang Rao said, 'Fortune and rank never stay fixed; they pass to another in an instant. This hall is nearly a century old and has had twelve masters. Only faithfulness and obedience secure long rule; only benevolence and righteousness endure. I urge you to heed this." Rutan said: "Without you I would never have heard such honest advice." Though subject to Yao Xing, Rutan kept royal chariots, dress, and ceremony. He appointed Zong Chang clerk of the palace treasury and head of the secretariat staff.
30
傉檀偽遊澆河，襲徙西平、湟河諸羌三萬餘戶于武興、番禾、武威、昌松四郡。 徵集戎夏之兵五萬餘人，大閱于方亭，遂伐沮渠蒙遜，入西陝。 蒙遜率眾來距，戰于均石，為蒙遜所敗。 傉檀率騎二萬，運谷四萬石以給西郡。 蒙遜攻西郡，陷之。 其後傉檀又與赫連勃勃戰于陽武，為勃勃所敗，將佐死者十餘人，傉檀與數騎奔南山，幾為追騎所得。 傉檀懼東西寇至，徙三百里內百姓入于姑臧，國中駭怨。 屠各成七兒因百姓之擾也，率其屬三百人，叛傉檀於北城。 推梁貴為盟主，貴閉門不應。 一夜眾至數千。 殿中都尉張猛大言於眾曰：「主上陽武之敗，蓋恃眾故也。 責躬悔過，明君之義，諸君何故從此小人作不義之事！ 殿內武旅正爾相尋，目前之危，悔將無及。」 眾聞之，咸散。 七兒奔晏然，殿中騎將白路等追斬之。 軍諮祭酒梁裒、輔國司馬邊憲等七人謀反，傉檀悉誅之。
Pretending to tour the Jiao River, Rutan forcibly moved over thirty thousand Qiang households from Xiping and Huanghe into Wuxing, Fanhe, Wuwei, and Changsong. He mustered fifty thousand mixed troops, reviewed them at Fangting, then marched against Juqu Mengxun into Western Shan. Mengxun met him at Junshi and defeated him. Rutan led twenty thousand cavalry and hauled forty thousand shi of grain to provision Western Commandery. Mengxun then stormed Western Commandery and captured it. Later Rutan fought Helian Bobo at Yangwu and lost again; a dozen officers died, and he barely escaped to the southern hills with a handful of riders. Fearing attack from both sides, he forced everyone within three hundred li into Guzang; the whole state panicked and seethed. Exploiting the unrest, Tugu Cheng Qier led three hundred men in revolt at the north city. They tried to make Liang Gui their leader, but he barred his gates and refused. By nightfall their numbers had swelled to several thousand. Zhang Meng, commandant of the palace guard, shouted to the rebels: "Our lord lost at Yangwu because he relied on sheer numbers. A wise ruler examines his faults—that is your duty. Why follow these nobodies into treason! The palace troops are already on your trail. Disaster is at hand, and remorse will come too late." At his words the mob scattered. Qier fled toward Yanran; Bai Lu and other palace cavalry chased him down and killed him. Liang Pou, Bian Xian, and five others plotted revolt; Rutan had all seven put to death.
31
姚興以傉檀外有陽武之敗，內有邊、梁之亂，遣其尚書郎韋宗來觀釁。 傉檀與宗論六國從橫之規，三家戰爭之略，遠言天命廢興，近陳人事成敗，機變無窮，辭致清辯。 宗出而歎曰：「命世大才、經綸名教者，不必華宗夏士； 撥煩理亂、澄氣濟世者，亦未必《八索》、《九丘》。 五經之外，冠冕之表，復自有人。 車騎神機秀髮，信一代之偉人，由余、日磾豈足為多也！」 宗還長安，言於興曰：「涼州雖殘弊之後，風化未頹，傉檀權詐多方，憑山河之固，未可圖也。」 興曰：「勃勃以烏合之眾尚能破之，吾以天下之兵，何足克也！」 宗曰：「形移勢變，終始殊途，陵人者易敗，自守者難攻。 陽武之役，傉檀以輕勃勃致敗。 今以大軍臨之，必自固求全，臣竊料群臣無傉檀匹也。 雖以天威臨之，未見其利。」 興不從，乃遣其將姚弼及斂成等率步騎三萬來伐，又使其將姚顯為弼等後繼，遺傉檀書云「遣尚書左僕射齊難討勃勃，懼其西逸，故令弼等於河西邀之。」 傉檀以為然，遂不設備。 弼眾至漠口，昌松太守蘇霸嬰城固守，弼喻霸令降，霸曰：「汝違負盟誓，伐委順之籓，天地有靈，將不祐汝！ 吾甯為涼鬼，何降之有！」 城陷，斬霸。 弼至姑臧，屯於西苑。 州人王鐘、宋鐘、王娥等密為內應，候人執其使送之。 傉檀欲誅其元首，前軍伊力延侯曰：「今強敵在外，內有奸豎，兵交勢踧，禍難不輕，宜悉坑之以安內外。」 傉檀從之，殺五千餘人，以婦女為軍賞。 命諸郡縣悉驅牛羊於野，斂成縱兵虜掠。 傉檀遣其鎮北俱延、鎮軍敬歸等十將率騎分擊，大敗之，斬首七千餘級。 姚弼固壘不出，傉檀攻之未克，乃斷水上流，欲以持久斃之。 會雨甚，堰壞，弼軍乃振。 姚顯聞弼敗，兼道赴之，軍勢甚盛。 遣射將孟欽等五人挑戰於涼風門，弦未及發，材官將軍宋益等馳擊斬之。 顯乃委罪斂成。 遣使謝傉檀，引師而歸。
Seeing Rutan weakened by defeat at Yangwu and unrest within, Yao Xing sent Secretariat Gentleman Wei Zong to probe for weakness. Rutan debated with Wei Zong the alliances of the Warring States and the strategies of the Three Kingdoms, spoke of dynastic fate and practical politics, and showed endless wit in lucid, polished speech. Leaving, Wei Zong sighed: "A man who shapes an age and guides civilization need not be a pedigreed Han scholar; nor must one who settles turmoil and steadies the realm be learned in the Eight Cords and Nine Hillocks. Outside the Five Classics and the court's inner circle, such men still exist. Rutan's mind is keen and his bearing noble—a true giant of the age. You Yu and Jinti Shi pale beside him! Back in Chang'an, Wei Zong told Yao Xing: "Liangzhou is battered but not broken; Rutan is cunning and holds the mountains and rivers. Do not move against him." Xing said: "If Bobo with a mob could beat him, how can my imperial armies fail! Wei Zong replied: "Circumstances change. The aggressor is easily beaten; the defender who digs in is hard to dislodge. Rutan lost at Yangwu because he underestimated Bobo. Faced with your main force he will hold fast and fight to survive. None of his ministers equals him. Even with heaven's might behind you, I see little profit." Xing ignored him. He sent Yao Bi and Qilian Cheng with thirty thousand infantry and cavalry, with Yao Xian in support, and wrote Rutan: "I have sent Qi Nan against Bobo and fear he may flee west, so Bi is posted in Hexi to block him." Rutan believed him and let his guard down. At Mokou, Changsong's governor Su Ba shut the gates. When Bi demanded surrender, Su Ba said: "You break your oath and strike a loyal vassal—heaven will not bless you! I would rather die a ghost of Liang than yield! The city fell and Su Ba was executed. Bi advanced to Guzang and camped in the Western Park. Wang Zhong, Song Zhong, Wang E, and others plotted treason with the enemy; scouts caught their messenger and turned him in. Rutan meant to kill the plotters. Yili Yanhou of the vanguard said: "With the enemy outside and traitors inside, the crisis is grave. Execute them all to steady the realm." Rutan agreed. Over five thousand were slaughtered, and their women were handed out as booty to the troops. He had every district drive livestock into the open, and Qilian Cheng's men plundered freely. Rutan sent Ju Yan, Jing Gui, and ten other generals with cavalry in separate strikes and routed them, taking more than seven thousand heads. Yao Bi held his fort and refused battle. Unable to storm it, Rutan dammed the river upstream to starve them out. A great storm burst the dam, and Bi's army recovered. Hearing of Bi's defeat, Yao Xian hurried to the front with a powerful host. He sent five archers, including Meng Qin, to challenge at Liangfeng Gate; before they could draw, Song Yi and other officers charged out and cut them down. Xian blamed the defeat on Qilian Cheng. He sent envoys to apologize to Rutan and pulled his army back.
32
傉檀於是僭即涼王位，赦其境內，改年為嘉平，置百官。 立夫人折掘氏為五後，世子武台為太子、錄尚書事，左長史趙晁、右長史郭倖為尚書左右僕射，鎮北俱延為太尉，鎮軍敬歸為司隸校尉，自余封署各有差。
Rutan then declared himself King of Liang, proclaimed a general amnesty, adopted the era name Jiaping, and installed a full bureaucracy. He made Lady Zhejue one of five consorts, named his heir Wutai crown prince and head of the secretariat, appointed Zhao Chao and Guo Xing as left and right vice directors, Ju Yan as grand marshal, Jing Gui as metropolitan commandant, and ranked the rest accordingly.
33
遣其左將軍枯木、駙馬都尉胡康伐沮渠蒙遜，掠臨松人千餘戶而還。 蒙遜大怒，率騎五千至於顯美方亭，破車蓋鮮卑而還。 俱延又伐蒙遜，大敗而歸。 傉檀將親率眾伐蒙遜，趙晁及太史令景保諫曰：「今太白未出，歲星在西，宜以自守，難以伐人。 比年天文錯亂，風霧不時，唯修德責躬可以甯吉。」 傉檀曰：「蒙遜往年無狀，入我封畿，掠我邊疆，殘我禾稼。 吾蓄力待時，將報東門之恥，今大軍已集，卿欲沮眾邪？」 保曰：「陛下不以臣不肖，使臣主察乾象，若見事不言，非為臣之體。 天文顯然，動必無利。」 傉檀曰：「吾以輕騎五萬伐之，蒙遜若以騎兵距我，則眾寡不敵； 兼步而來，則舒疾不同； 救右則擊其左，赴前則攻其後，終不與之交兵接戰，卿何懼乎？」 保曰：「天文不虛，必將有變。」 傉檀怒，鎖保而行，曰：「有功當殺汝以徇，無功封汝百戶侯，」既而蒙遜率眾來距，戰於窮泉，傉檀大敗，單馬奔還。 景保為蒙遜所擒，讓之曰：「卿明于天文，為彼國所任，違天犯順，智安在乎？」 保曰：「臣匪為無智，但言而不從。」 蒙遜曰：「昔漢祖困于平城，以婁敬為功； 袁紹敗於官渡，而田豐為戮。 卿策同二子，貴主未可量也。 卿必有婁敬之賞者，吾今放卿，但恐有田豐之禍耳。」 保曰：「寡君雖才非漢祖，猶不同本初，正可不得封侯，豈慮禍也。」 蒙遜乃免之。 至姑臧，傉檀謝之曰：「卿，孤之蓍龜也，而不能從之，孤之深罪。」 封保安亭侯。
He sent Kumu and Hu Kang against Juqu Mengxun; they raided Linshong, carried off over a thousand families, and withdrew. Enraged, Mengxun led five thousand cavalry to Fangting in Xianmei, crushed the Chegai Xianbei, and withdrew. Ju Yan attacked Mengxun again and was routed. When Rutan prepared to march against Mengxun in person, Zhao Chao and the grand astrologer Jing Bao warned: "Venus has not yet risen and Jupiter stands in the west. Defend yourself; do not attack. Heaven's signs have been erratic for years, winds and fogs ill-timed. Only by cultivating virtue and examining your own conduct can you secure good fortune." Rutan said: "Mengxun has repeatedly violated my borders, raided my frontiers, and destroyed my crops. I have waited for the chance to avenge the humiliation at the eastern gate. The army is ready—are you trying to discourage them? Bao said: "You appointed me to read the heavens. If I see danger and stay silent, I fail my office. The stars are plain: any campaign will end badly." Rutan said: "With fifty thousand light cavalry I will strike. If he meets me with horse alone, I outnumber him; if he brings infantry as well, his pace will be uneven; I will hit his left when he saves his right, strike his rear when he advances—I need never fight a pitched battle. What is there to fear? Bao said: "The heavens do not lie. Disaster is certain." Furious, Rutan chained Bao and marched, saying: "Win and I execute you as a warning; lose and I make you marquis of a hundred households." Mengxun met him at Qiongquan and crushed him; Rutan fled home alone. Mengxun captured Jing Bao and reproached him: "You read the stars for that court yet served a ruler who defied heaven. Where was your wisdom? Bao replied: "I was not without counsel—my lord simply would not listen." Mengxun said: "When the Han founder was trapped at Pingcheng, he rewarded Lou Jing; when Yuan Shao lost at Guandu, he killed Tian Feng. Your advice fits both tales—your master's worth is hard to judge. You deserve Lou Jing's reward, and I set you free—but your lord may yet treat you like Tian Feng." Bao said: "My lord is no Liu Bang, but he is no Yuan Shao either. I may miss a marquisate, but I do not fear execution. Mengxun let him go. Back in Guzang, Rutan said to him: "You were my oracle, and I would not heed you—that was my grave error. He enfeoffed him as Marquis of Bao'an Precinct.
34
蒙遜進圖姑臧，百姓懲東苑之戮，悉皆驚散。 壘掘、麥田、車蓋諸部盡降于蒙遜。 傉檀遣使請和，蒙遜許之，乃遣司隸校尉敬歸及子他為質，歸至胡坑，逃還，他為追兵所執。 蒙遜徙其眾八千餘戶而歸。 右衛折掘奇鎮據石驢山以叛。 傉檀懼為蒙遜所滅，又慮奇鎮克嶺南，乃遷于樂都，留大司農成公緒守姑臧。 傉檀始出城，焦諶、王侯等閉門作難，收合三千餘家，保據南城。 諶推焦朗為大都督、龍驤大將軍，諶為涼州刺史，降于蒙遜。 鎮軍敬歸討奇鎮于石驢山，戰敗，死之。
Mengxun pressed on Guzang. Remembering the massacre in the Eastern Park, the people fled in terror. The Leijue, Maitian, Chegai, and other tribal groups all surrendered to Mengxun. Rutan sued for peace; Mengxun accepted and sent Jing Gui, Censor-in-Chief, with his son Ta as hostages. At Hukeng Jing Gui escaped; pursuers captured Ta. Mengxun resettled eight thousand-odd households and withdrew. Qi Jizhen of the Right Guard Zhejue rebelled and held Shilu Mountain. Fearing Mengxun would destroy him and Qi would seize the southern passes, Rutan moved to Ledu and left Cheng Gongxu, Grand Minister of Agriculture, to hold Guzang. As Rutan left the city, Jiao Chen and Wang Hou shut the gates in revolt, rallying three thousand families behind the south wall. Chen made Jiao Lang Grand Commander and Dragon Cavalry Grand General, took the governorship of Liang himself, and surrendered to Mengxun. Jing Gui of the Pacifying Army attacked Qi at Shilu Mountain, was routed, and killed.
35
蒙遜因克姑臧之威來伐，傉檀遣其安北段苟、左將軍雲連乘虛出番禾以襲其後，徙三千餘家于西平。 蒙遜圍樂都，三旬不克，遣使謂傉檀曰：「若以寵子為質，我當還師。」 傉檀曰：「去否任卿兵勢。 卿違盟無信，何質以供！」 蒙遜怒，築室返耕，為持久之計。 群臣固請，乃以子安周為質。 蒙遜引歸。
Mengxun marched on the strength of Guzang; Rutan sent Duan Gou and Yun Lian to raid Fanhe from behind and resettled three thousand families in Xiping. Mengxun besieged Ledu for thirty days in vain, then sent word: "Give me a beloved son as hostage and I will withdraw." Rutan replied: "Stay or go—as your armies please. You broke faith—what hostage could I offer you!" Mengxun in fury built houses and turned the soil, settling in for a long siege. His ministers pressed him hard; at last he gave his son Anzhou as hostage. Mengxun broke the siege and marched away.
36
吐谷渾樹洛幹率眾來伐，傉檀遣其太子武台距之，為洛幹所敗。
Shuluogan of the Tuyuhun attacked; Rutan sent his heir Wutai to meet him and was defeated.
37
傉檀又將伐蒙遜，邯川護軍孟愷諫曰：「蒙遜初並姑臧，凶勢甚盛，宜固守伺隙，不可妄動。」 不從。 五道俱進，至番禾、苕藋，掠五千餘戶。 其將屈右進曰：「陛下轉戰千里，前元完陣，徙戶資財，盈溢衢路，宜倍道旋師，早度峻險。 蒙遜善於用兵，士眾習戰，若輕軍卒至，出吾慮表，大敵外逼，徙戶內攻，危之道也。」 衛尉伊力延曰：「我軍勢方盛，將士勇氣自倍，彼徒我騎，勢不相及，若倍道旋師，必捐棄資財，示人以弱，非計也。」 屈右出而告其諸弟曰：「吾言不用，天命也。 此吾兄弟死地。」 俄而昏霧風雨，蒙遜軍大至，傉檀敗績而還。 蒙遜進圍樂都，傉檀嬰城固守，以子染幹為質，蒙遜乃歸，久之，遣安西紇勃耀兵西境。 蒙遜侵西平，徙戶掠牛馬而還。
Rutan prepared to strike Mengxun again; Meng Kai, Han River Protector, warned: "Mengxun has just taken Guzang and his power is at its peak—hold fast and wait; do not move rashly." Rutan would not listen. Five columns marched to Fanhe and Tiaodiao and seized more than five thousand households. General Qu You urged: "You have marched a thousand li with the van unbroken and booty choking the roads—double the pace and cross the passes while you can. Mengxun is a master of war and his men are hardened; if light troops strike where we do not expect, the foe without and the settlers within will crush us—that is the road to ruin." Yiliyan, Commandant of the Guard, said: "Our army is at flood tide and every man fights twice as hard; infantry cannot match our horse. To turn back is to abandon plunder and show fear—that is no plan." Qu You left and told his brothers: "They will not hear me—this is fate. Here we brothers will die." Soon fog, wind, and rain closed in; Mengxun's host fell upon them; Rutan was routed and fled home. Mengxun besieged Ledu again; Rutan held the walls and gave his son Ran Gan as hostage; Mengxun withdrew. Later he sent Hebo, Pacifier of the West, to parade troops on the frontier. Mengxun raided Xiping, carried off families and livestock, and returned.
38
邯川護軍孟愷表鎮南、湟河太守文支荒酒愎諫，不血阝政事。 傉檀謂伊力延曰：「今州土傾覆，所杖者文支而已，將若之何？」 延曰：「宜召而訓之，使改往修來。」 傉檀乃召文支，既到，讓之曰：「二兄英姿早世，吾以不才嗣統，不能負荷大業，顛狽如是，胡顏視世，雖存若隕。 庶憑子鮮存衛，藉文種復吳，卿之謂也。 聞卿唯酒是耽，荒廢庶事。 吾年已老，卿復若斯，祖宗之業將誰寄也。」 文支頓首陳謝。
Meng Kai memorialized that Wen Zhi, Defender of the South and Governor of Huang River, drank without measure, spurned good counsel, and neglected his duties. Rutan asked Yiliyan: "The province is ruined; Wen Zhi is all I have left—what can I do?" Yiliyan said: "Summon him, rebuke him, and make him mend his ways." Rutan summoned Wen Zhi and rebuked him: "My brilliant elder brothers died young; I, unfit, inherited and have brought the realm to ruin—how can I show my face! I live as one already dead. I counted on you as Zixian to guard the state and as Wen Zhong to restore Wu. They say you drink your days away and abandon every duty. I am old, and you are still like this—who will carry our fathers' work!" Wen Zhi kowtowed and begged forgiveness.
39
邯川人衛章等謀殺孟愷，南啟乞伏熾磐。 郭越止之曰：「孟尹寬以惠下，何罪而殺之！ 吾寧違眾而死，不負君以生。」 乃密告之愷，誘章等飲酒，殺四十餘人。 愷懼熾磐軍之至，馳告文支，文支遣將軍匹珍赴之。 熾磐軍到城，聞珍將至，引歸。
Wei Zhang of Han River plotted to kill Meng Kai and sent word south to Qifu Chibpan. Guo Yue stopped them: "Minister Meng is generous to his men—what crime could justify his murder! I would rather die with the crowd against me than live by betraying my lord." He warned Meng Kai in secret, lured Zhang and his fellows to drink, and killed more than forty. Fearing Chibpan's approach, Meng Kai rode to Wen Zhi; Wen Zhi sent General Pi Zhen to meet the enemy. Chibpan reached the city, heard Pi Zhen was marching, and withdrew.
40
蒙遜又攻樂都，二旬不克而還。 鎮南文支以湟河降蒙遜，徙五千餘戶于姑臧。 蒙遜又來伐，傉檀以太尉俱延為質，蒙遜乃引還。
Mengxun besieged Ledu again, failed in twenty days, and left. Wen Zhi surrendered Huang River to Mengxun, who resettled five thousand households at Guzang. Mengxun attacked again; Rutan gave Grand Marshal Juyan as hostage, and Mengxun withdrew.
41
傉檀議欲西征乙弗，孟愷諫曰：「連年不收，上下饑弊，南逼熾磐，北迫蒙遜，百姓騷動，下不安業。 今遠征雖克，後患必深，不如結盟熾磐，通糴濟難，慰喻雜部，以廣軍資，畜力繕兵，相時而動。 《易》曰：'其亡其亡，系于苞桑。 '惟陛下圖之。」 傉檀曰：「孤將略地，卿無沮眾。」 謂其太子武台曰：「今不種多年，內外俱窘，事宜西行，以拯此弊。 蒙遜近去，不能卒來，旦夕所慮，唯在熾盤。 彼名微眾寡，易以討禦，吾不過一月，自足周旋。 汝謹守樂都，無使失墮。」 傉檀乃率騎七千襲乙弗，大破之，獲牛馬羊四十餘萬。
Rutan planned a western campaign against the Yifu; Meng Kai warned: "Famine has drained us; Chibpan presses from the south, Mengxun from the north—the people are in turmoil and cannot live in peace. Even victory abroad will breed disaster at home; ally with Chibpan, buy grain, win over the tribes, hoard strength and sharpen arms, and strike only when the moment is ripe. The Changes says: 'Ruin is near, ruin is near—tie yourself to the mulberry while it is still in bud.' Your Majesty, weigh this well." Rutan said: "I am going to take land—do not dampen the army's spirit." He told his heir Wutai: "Years without sowing have beggared us inside and out—a western march is our only rescue. Mengxun has just withdrawn and cannot strike at once; only Chibpan troubles me day and night. His fame is small and his host few—he is easy to beat; within a month I shall be free to turn back. Hold Ledu fast and do not let it fall." Rutan led seven thousand horse against the Yifu, routed them, and took four hundred thousand head of livestock.
42
熾磐乘虛來襲，撫軍從事中郎尉肅言于武台曰：「今外城廣大，難以固守，宜聚國人於內城，肅等率諸晉人距戰於外，如或不捷，猶有萬全。」 武台曰：「小賊蕞爾，旦夕當走，卿何慮之過也。」 武台懼晉人有二心也，乃召豪望有勇謀者閉之於內。 孟愷泣曰：「熾磐不道，人神同憤，愷等進則荷恩重遷，退顧妻子之累，豈有二乎！ 今事已急矣，人思自效，有何猜邪？」 武台曰：「吾豈不知子忠，實懼餘人脫生慮表，以君等安之耳。」 一旬而城潰。
Chibpan struck while Rutan was away; Wei Su, adjunct to the Pacifying Army, urged Wutai: "The outer city is too wide to hold—gather our people within the inner wall; we Jin will fight outside, and even if we lose, the core remains safe." Wutai said: "A petty thief—he will run by tomorrow; you worry too much." Fearing the Jin would turn traitor, Wutai locked the brave and wise within the inner city. Meng Kai wept: "Chibpan is a villain; heaven and earth rage with us. Advance, and we repay your grace for moving us here; retreat, and we think of our wives and children—how could we be divided! The crisis is upon us; every man longs to die fighting—why doubt us!" Wutai said: "I know you are loyal; I fear others may slip away in panic—that is why I confine you, to keep you safe." Within ten days the city fell.
43
安西樊尼自西平奔告傉檀，傉檀謂眾曰：「今樂都為熾磐所陷，男夫盡殺，婦女賞軍，雖欲歸還，無所赴也。 卿等能與吾藉乙弗之資，取契汗以贖妻子者，是所望也。 不爾，歸熾磐便為奴僕矣，豈忍見妻子在他人懷抱中！」 遂引師而西，眾多逃返，遣鎮北段苟追之，苟亦不還。 於是將士皆散，惟中軍紇勃、後軍洛肱、安西樊尼、散騎侍郎陰利鹿在焉。 傉檀曰：「蒙遜、熾磐昔皆委質於吾，今而歸之，不亦鄙哉！ 四海之廣，匹夫無所容其身，何其痛也！ 蒙遜與吾名齊年比，熾磐姻好少年，俱其所忌，勢皆不濟。 與其聚而同死，不如分而或全。 樊尼長兄之子，宗部所寄，吾眾在北者戶垂二萬，蒙遜方招懷遐邇，存亡繼絕，汝其西也。 紇勃、洛肱亦與尼俱。 吾年老矣，所適不容，甯見妻子而死！」 遂歸熾磐，唯陰利鹿隨之。 傉檀謂利鹿曰：「去危就安，人之常也。 吾親屬皆散，卿何獨留？」 利鹿曰：「臣老母在家，方寸實亂。 但忠孝之義，勢不俱全。 雖不能西哭沮渠，申包胥之誠； 東感秦援，展毛遂之操，負羈靮而侍陛下者，臣之分也。 惟願開弘遠猷，審進止之算。」 傉檀歎曰：「知人固未易，人亦未易知。 大臣親戚皆棄我去，終紿不虧者，唯卿一人。 歲寒不凋，見之於卿。」 傉檀至西平，熾磐遣使郊迎，待以上賓之禮。
Fanni fled from Xiping with the news; Rutan told his men: "Chibpan has taken Ledu; the men are dead, the women given to his soldiers—even if we turn back, we have nowhere left. If you will follow me west, use the Yifu to seize Qihan, and buy back your wives and children—that is my hope. Otherwise we submit to Chibpan as slaves—how can I bear to see our wives in another's arms!" He marched west; many deserted on the road; he sent Duan Gou to bring them back, but Gou never returned. Officers and men melted away; only Hebo, Luogong, Fanni, and Yin Lili, Gentleman Attendant of Scattered Cavalry, stayed. Rutan said: "Mengxun and Chibpan once pledged themselves to me—now to crawl to them, how shameful! All beneath heaven, and not one corner for a single man—how bitter! Mengxun is my peer in rank and age; Chibpan is a young kinsman by marriage—each fears me; neither road can save me. Better to split and live in part than die together in a heap. Fanni is my brother's son and the tribe's hope; twenty thousand of our people remain in the north; Mengxun is winning the distant and restoring the broken line—go west. Hebo and Luogong, go with Fanni. I am old; no land will have me; I would rather see my wife and children and die!" He went to Chibpan; only Yin Lili followed. Rutan told Lili: "To flee danger for safety is only human. My kin have all fled—why do you alone stay!" Lili said: "My old mother is at home; my heart is torn. Yet loyalty and filial piety cannot both be whole in such a day. I cannot weep west of the Qu for Juqu as Shen Baoxu did for Chu; nor win Qin from the east and show Mao Sui's courage, yet to take bridle and serve at your side—that is my duty. Only grant me this: think far, and weigh every move." Rutan sighed: "To know a man is hard; to be known is harder still. Ministers and kin abandoned me; in the end only you did not fail me. The pine does not fade in winter—that is you." At Xiping, Chibpan's envoys met him beyond the walls and received him as a guest of the first rank.
44
初，樂都之潰也，諸城皆降於熾磐，傉檀將尉賢政固守浩亹不下。 熾磐呼之曰：「樂都已潰，卿妻子皆在吾間，孤城獨守，何所為也！」 賢政曰：「受涼王厚恩，為國家籓屏，雖知樂都已陷，妻子為擒，先歸獲賞，後順受誅，然不知主上存亡，未敢歸命。 妻子小事，豈足動懷！ 昔羅憲待命，晉文亮之； 文聘後來，魏武不責。 邀一時之榮，忘委付之重，竊用恥焉，大王亦安用之哉！」 熾磐乃遣武台手書喻政，政曰：「汝為國儲，不能盡節，面縛於人，棄父負君，虧萬世之業，賢政義士，豈如汝乎！」 既而聞傉檀至左南，乃降。
When Ledu fell, every city surrendered to Chibpan; only Wei Xianzheng held Hao'e and would not yield. Chibpan called: "Ledu is lost; your wife and children are mine—why hold a lone city!" Xianzheng said: "The King of Liang favored me; I was his border shield. I know Ledu has fallen and my family is captive—the first to submit is rewarded, the last is punished—but I do not know whether my lord lives or dies, and I dare not yield yet. Wife and children are a small thing—they cannot sway me! Luo Xian waited for his orders and Jin Wen honored him; Wen Pi came late and Cao Wei did not reproach him. To grasp a moment's gain and forget the charge given me—I would be ashamed; why would you want such a man!" Chibpan sent Wutai's own letter; Xianzheng answered: "You were heir of the realm yet could not die with honor—you bound yourself to the enemy, forsook your father, betrayed your lord, and ruined a thousand years of work. I, Xianzheng, am not such a man!" When he heard Rutan had reached Zuonan, he surrendered.
45
熾磐以傉檀為驃騎大將軍，封左南公。 歲餘，為熾磐所鴆。 左右勸傉檀解藥，傉檀曰：「吾病豈宜療邪！」 遂死，時年五十一，在位十三年，偽諡景王。 武台後亦為熾磐所殺。 傉檀少子保周、臘於破羌、俱延子覆龍、鹿孤孫副周、烏孤孫承缽皆奔沮渠蒙遜。 久之，歸魏，魏以保周為張掖王，覆龍酒泉公，破羌西平公，副周永平公，承缽昌松公。
Chibpan made Rutan Grand General of Agile Cavalry and Duke of Zuonan. A year later Chibpan poisoned him. Attendants pressed antidote on him; Rutan said: "This sickness—why cure it!" He died at fifty-one after thirteen years' reign, posthumously titled King Jing. Wutai was later killed by Chibpan as well. Rutan's sons Baozhou and La, Juyan's son Fulong, Lilugu's grandson Fuzhou, and Wugu's grandson Chengbo fled to Juqu Mengxun. Years later they went to Wei; Wei made Baozhou Prince of Zhangye, Fulong Duke of Jiuquan, La Duke of Xiping, Fuzhou Duke of Yongping, and Chengbo Duke of Changsong.
46
烏孤以安帝隆安元年僭立，至傉檀三世，凡十九年，以安帝義熙十年滅。
From Wugu's founding in Long'an 1 of Emperor An through three generations to Rutan, the line lasted nineteen years; it perished in Yixi 10 of Emperor An.
47
【評贊】
Commentary and eulogy
48
史臣曰：禿髮累葉酋豪，擅強邊服，控弦玉塞，躍馬金山，候滿月而窺兵，乘折膠而縱鏑，禮容弗被，聲教斯阻。 烏孤納苻渾之策，治兵以討不賓； 鹿孤從史暠之言，建學而延胄子。 遂能開疆河右，抗衡強國。 道由人弘，抑此之謂！
The historian writes: For generations the Tufa were frontier chiefs who ruled the marches, strung bows at Jade Pass and rode at Golden Mountain, raided under the full moon and shot when the bow would bend—court ritual never touched them, imperial teaching never reached them. Wugu took Fu Hun's counsel, drilled troops, and punished rebels; Lilugu heeded Shi Gao, founded schools, and taught the royal sons. So they opened lands west of the Yellow River and stood against great powers. The Way advances through men—so it was here!
49
傉檀承累捷之銳，藉二昆之資，摧呂氏算無遣策，取姑臧兵不血刃，武略雄圖，比蹤前烈。 既而叨竊重位，盈滿易期，窮兵以逞其心，縱慝自貽其弊，地奪于蒙遜，勢衄于赫連，覆國喪身，猶為幸也。 昔宋殤好戰，致災于華督； 楚靈黷武，取殺於乾溪。 異代同亡，其于傉檀見之矣。
Rutan rode the momentum of repeated victories and his brothers' legacy, outschemed the Lü house, and took Guzang without drawing a blade—his martial vision matched the great kings of old. Then he clung to a throne too heavy for him; fullness invites ruin; he spent armies to feed his pride and wickedness to destroy himself—Mengxun seized his lands, Helian broke his power; to lose realm and life was still a mercy. Long ago Duke Shang of Song loved war and brought Hua Du to ruin; King Ling of Chu doted on arms and died at Ganxi. Different ages, the same end—so it was with Rutan.
50
贊曰：禿髮弟兄，擅雄群虜。 開疆河外，清氛西土。 傉檀傑出，騰駕時英。 窮兵黷武，喪國頹聲。
The eulogy says: Tufa brothers ruled the frontier tribes. They carved a realm beyond the river and cleared the western sky. Rutan rose above the heroes of his age. He spent his armies on war—realm lost, name in ruins.