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慕容超
Murong Chao
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慕容超字祖明，德兄北海王納之子。 苻堅破鄴，以納為廣武太守，數歲去官，家於張掖。 德之南征，留金刀而去。 及垂起兵山東，苻昌收納及德諸子，皆誅之。 納母公孫氏以耄獲免，納妻段氏方娠，未決，囚之於郡獄。 獄掾呼延平，德之故吏也，嘗有死罪，德免之。 至是，將公孫及段氏逃於羌中，而生超焉。 年十歲而公孫氏卒，臨終授超以金刀，曰：「若天下太平，汝得東歸，可以此刀還汝叔也。」 平又將超母子奔于呂光。 及呂隆降于姚興，超又隨涼州人徙于長安。 超母謂超曰：「吾母子全濟，呼延氏之力。 平今雖死，吾欲為汝納其女以答厚惠。」 於是娶之。 超自以諸父在東，恐為姚氏所錄，乃陽狂行乞。 秦人賤之，惟姚紹見而異焉，勸興拘以爵位。 召見與語，超深自晦匿，興大鄙之，謂紹曰：「諺雲'妍皮不裹癡骨'，妄語耳。」 由是得去來無禁。 德遣使迎之，超不告母妻乃歸。 及至廣固，呈以金刀，具宣祖母臨終之言，德撫之號慟。
Murong Chao, style Zuming, was the son of Murong Na, Prince of Beihai—Murong De’s elder brother. After Fu Jian seized Ye, Murong Na served as governor of Guangwu, then retired to Zhangye. Murong De marched south, leaving a golden knife as a token. When Murong Chui rose in Shandong, Fu Chang arrested Murong Na and Murong De’s sons and put them to death. Lady Gongsun was spared as a crone; Lady Duan, still pregnant, languished in the county prison. The warden Huyan Ping, once spared from death by Murong De, owed him a life. He smuggled the women into Qiang territory, where Murong Chao was born. At age ten Gongsun died; on her deathbed she handed Chao the golden knife, saying: “If the realm is at peace and you can return east, you may give this knife back to your uncle.” Huyan Ping then fled with mother and son to Lü Guang. When Lü Long submitted to Yao Xing, Murong Chao was marched to Chang’an with the Liangzhou exiles. Chao’s mother said to Chao: “Our mother and son were wholly saved through the power of the Huyan clan. Though Ping is dead now, I wish to take his daughter for you in marriage to repay his great kindness.” Murong Chao wed her. Fearing Yao Xing would cage him while his kinsmen ruled the east, he played the mad beggar. Qin folk scorned him, but Yao Shao saw something in him and urged an appointment. Summoned for audience and conversation, Chao deeply hid his light; Xing greatly despised him and said to Shao: “The proverb says ‘fair skin does not wrap foolish bones’—empty talk.” He was left free to roam. When Murong De summoned him, he slipped away without a word to mother or wife. At Guanggu he produced the golden knife and his grandmother’s charge; Murong De wept and held him close.
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超身長八尺，腰帶九圍，精彩秀髮，容止可觀。 德甚加禮遇，始名之曰超，封北海王，拜侍中、驃騎大將軍、司隸校尉，開府，置佐吏。 德無子，欲以超為嗣，故為超起第于萬春門內，朝夕觀之。 超亦深達德旨，入則盡歡承奉，出則傾身下士，於是內外稱美焉。 頃之，立為太子。
He stood eight chi, with a nine-span waist, brilliant eyes, luxuriant hair, and princely bearing. Murong De named him Chao, made him Prince of Beihai, palace attendant, vanguard general, metropolitan commandant, with full staff. Heirless, Murong De built Murong Chao a mansion inside Wanchun Gate and watched him constantly. Murong Chao played the dutiful nephew at home and the humble patron of talent abroad, winning praise. Soon he was named heir.
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及德死，以僭嗣偽位，大赦境內，改元曰太上。 尊德妻段氏為皇太后。 以慕容鐘都督中外諸軍、錄尚書事，慕容法為征南、都督徐、兗、揚、南兗四州諸軍事，慕容鎮加開府儀同三司、尚書令，封孚為太尉，鞠仲為司空，潘聰為左光祿大夫，封嵩為尚書左僕射，自余封拜各有差。 後又以鐘為青州牧，段宏為徐州剌史，公孫五樓為武衛將軍、領屯騎校尉，內參政事。 封孚言於超曰：「臣聞五大不在邊，五細不在庭。 鐘，國之宗臣，社稷所賴； 宏，外戚懿望，親賢具瞻。 正應參翼百揆，不宜遠鎮方外。 今鍾等出籓，五樓內輔，臣竊未安。」 超新即位，害鐘等權逼，以問五樓。 五樓欲專斷朝政，不欲鐘等在內，屢有間言，孚說竟不行。 鐘、宏俱有不平之色，相謂曰：「黃犬之皮恐當終補狐裘也。」 五樓聞之，嫌隙漸遘。
On Murong De’s death he took the throne, amnestied the realm, and adopted the reign title Taishang. Lady Duan, Murong De’s widow, became empress dowager. He stacked the government with Murong Zhong, Murong Fa, Murong Zhen, Feng Fu, Ju Zhong, Pan Cong, Feng Song, and others in high posts. Later Murong Zhong held Qingzhou, Duan Hong Xu, and Gongsun Wulou mixed martial guard and palace cavalry roles at court. Feng Fu spoke to Chao: “Your servant has heard that the five great should not be on the frontier and the five slight should not be in the court. Zhong is a pillar of the state on which the altars rely; Hong is a paragon of the outer kin, kin and worthy both looked up to. They ought rightly to assist the hundred directors, not be garrisoned far outside. Now that Zhong and the others go out to screens while Wulou assists within, your servant privately is not at ease.” The new king, jealous of Murong Zhong’s clout, asked Gongsun Wulou. Gongsun Wulou wanted sole power and poisoned Murong Chao against them; Feng Fu’s counsel died unheard. Zhong and Hong both showed discontent; they said to each other: “The yellow dog’s hide will surely end up patching the fox fur.” Gongsun Wulou heard and nursed a grudge.
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初，超自長安行至梁父，慕容法時為兗州，鎮南長史悅壽還謂法曰：「向見北海王子，天資弘雅，神爽高邁，始知天族多奇，玉林皆寶。」 法曰：「昔成方遂詐稱衛太子，人莫辯之，此復天族乎？」 超聞而恚恨，形於言色。 法亦怒，處之外館，由是結憾。 及德死，法又不奔喪，超遣使讓焉。 法常懼禍至，因此遂與慕容鐘、段宏等謀反。 超知而征之，鐘稱疾不赴，於是收其党侍中慕容統、右衛慕容根、散騎常侍段封誅之，車裂僕射封嵩於東門之外。 西中郎將封融奔于魏。
At first, when Chao traveled from Chang’an to Liangfu, Murong Fa then held Yan Province; the southern garrison chief clerk Yue Shou returned and said to Fa: “Just now I saw the prince of Beihai—his heaven-bestowed breadth is refined, his spirit lofty; only then did I know the celestial clan has many marvels, every tree of the jade grove a treasure.” Fa said: “Anciently Cheng Fangsui falsely claimed to be Crown Prince Wei—no one could tell; is this again the celestial clan?” Murong Chao heard and never forgave him. Murong Fa housed him like a stranger; the feud hardened. Murong Fa skipped the funeral; Murong Chao sent a rebuke. Fearing payback, Murong Fa conspired with Murong Zhong and Duan Hong. Murong Chao struck first: Murong Zhong feigned illness; the king executed Murong Tong, Murong Gen, Duan Feng, and had Feng Song torn by chariots. General Feng Rong defected to Wei.
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超尋遣慕容鎮等攻青州，慕容昱等攻徐州，慕容凝、韓范攻梁父。 昱等攻莒城，拔之，徐州刺史段宏奔于魏。 封融又集群盜襲石塞城，殺鎮西大將軍余郁，青土振恐，人懷異議。 慕容凝謀殺韓範，將襲廣固。 範知而攻之，凝奔梁父。 范並其眾，攻梁父克之，凝奔姚興，慕容法出奔于魏。 慕容鎮克青州，鐘殺其妻子，為地道而出，單馬奔姚興。
He dispatched Murong Zhen on Qing, Murong Yu on Xu, Murong Ning and Han Fan on Liangfu. Murong Yu took Jucheng; Duan Hong ran to Wei. Feng Rong’s raiders killed Yu Yu; Qingzhou panicked and loyalty frayed. Murong Ning meant to murder Han Fan and seize Guanggu. Han Fan struck first; Murong Ning fled to Liangfu. Han Fan took Liangfu; Murong Ning fled to Yao Xing; Murong Fa to Wei. Murong Zhen conquered Qingzhou; Murong Zhong slaughtered his family, tunneled out, and galloped alone to Yao Xing.
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于時超不恤政事，畋遊是好，百姓苦之。 其僕射韓𧨳切諫，不納。 超議復肉刑、九等之選，乃下書於境內曰：
Murong Chao neglected rule for the hunt; the people groaned. Vice Director Han Zhuo pleaded in vain. He floated restoring mutilation penalties and nine-grade recruitment, and published a long edict:
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陽九數纏，永康多難。 自北都傾陷，典章淪滅，律令法憲，靡有存者。 綱理天下，此焉為本，既不能導之以德，必須齊之以刑。 且虞舜大聖，猶命咎繇作士，刑之不可已已也如是！ 先帝季興，大業草創，兵革尚繁，未遑修制。 朕猥以不德，嗣承大統，撫禦寡方，至蕭牆釁發，遂戎馬生郊，典儀寢廢。 今四境無虞，所宜修定，尚書可召集公卿。 至如不忠不孝若封嵩之輩，梟斬不足以痛之，宜致烹轘之法，亦可附之律條，納以大辟之科。 肉刑者，乃先聖之經，不刊之典，漢文易之，輕重乖度。 今犯罪彌多，死者稍眾。 肉刑之於化也，濟育既廣，懲慘尤深，光壽、建興中二祖已議復之，未及而晏駕。 其令博士已上參考舊事，依《呂刑》及漢、魏、晉律令，消息增損，議成燕律。 五刑之屬三千，而罪莫大於不孝。 孔子曰：「非聖人者無法，非孝者無親，此大亂之道也。」 轘裂之刑，烹煮之戮，雖不在五品之例，然亦行之自古。 渠彌之轘，著之《春秋》； 哀公之烹，爰自中代。 世宗都齊，亦湣刑罰失中，咨嗟寢食。 王者之有刑糾，猶人之左右手焉。 故孔子曰：「刑罰不中，則人無所措手足。」 是以蕭何定法令而受封，叔孫通以制儀為奉常。 立功立事，古之所重。 其明議損益，以成一代准式。 周、漢有貢士之條，魏立九品之選，二者孰愈，亦可詳聞。
“Ill-starred cycles and Yongkang’s woes—” “—toppled the northern capital and swallowed the law.” “Rule needs law; without moral sway, use the rod.” “Even Shun set Gao Yao over justice—punishment is inescapable.” “Our founder was too busy fighting to codify law.” “We inherited chaos, misruled until kin turned blades and armies trampled the suburbs.” “Now the frontiers are quiet—time to legislate; summon the ministers.” “Traitors like Feng Song deserve boiling and tearing, not mere beheading—write it into the code.” “Mutilation was sage law; Han Wendi’s mercy upset proportion.” “Crime swells; executions mount.” “Mutilation both deters and redeems; two late kings meant to revive it but died too soon.” “Let scholars draft new Yan law from the Lü Xing and Han–Wei–Jin codes.” “Of three thousand clauses, none tops unfilial crime.” Confucius said: “Those who deny sages have no law; those who deny filial piety have no kin—this is the way of great disorder.” Cart-tearing and cauldron killings, though outside the “five punishments,” are ancient tools. Duke Zhuang’s minister Qumi was torn apart—recorded in the Annals. Duke Ai’s boiling belongs to middle antiquity. Our Shizong at Qi likewise fretted when justice skewed. Law to a king is like two hands to a man. Therefore Confucius said: “When punishments miss the mean, the people have nowhere to put hand or foot.” Xiao He and Shusun Tong won honor for codifying law and rite. Great deeds mattered to the ancients. Debate amendments until we have a model code. Compare Zhou–Han recommendation to Wei’s nine ranks.
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群下議多不同，乃止。
Officials split; the plan was dropped.
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超母妻既先在長安，為姚興所拘，責超稱籓，求太樂諸伎，若不可，使送吳口千人。 超下書遣群臣詳議。 左僕射段暉議曰：「太上囚楚，高祖不回。 今陛下嗣守社稷，不宜以私親之故而降統天之尊。 又太樂諸伎，皆是前世伶人，不可與彼，使移風易俗，宜掠吳口與之。」 尚書張華曰：「若侵掠吳邊，必成鄰怨。 此既能往，彼亦能來，兵連禍結，非國之福也。 昔孫權重黎庶之命，屈己以臣魏； 惠施惜愛子之頭，舍志以尊齊。 況陛下慈德在秦，方寸崩亂，宜暫降大號，以申至孝之情。 權變之道，典謨所許。 韓范智能回物，辯足傾人，昔與姚興俱為秦太子中舍人，可遣將命，降號修和。 所謂屈於一人之下，申于萬人之上也。」 超大悅曰：「張尚書得吾心矣。」 使范聘於興。 及至長安，興謂範曰：「封愷前來，燕王與朕抗禮。 及卿至也，款然而附。 為依春秋以小事大之義？ 為當專以孝敬為母屈也？」 範曰：「周爵五等，公侯異品，小大之禮，因而生焉。 今陛下命世龍興，光宅西秦，本朝主上承祖宗遺烈，定鼎東齊，中分天曜，南面並帝。 通聘結好，義尚廉沖，便至矜誕，苟折行人，殊似吳、晉爭盟，滕、薛競長，恐傷大秦堂堂之盛，有損皇燕巍巍之美，彼我俱失，竊未安之。」 興怒曰：「若如卿言，便是非為大小而來。」 範曰：「雖由大小之義，亦緣寡君純孝過於重華，願陛下體敬親之道，霈然垂湣。」 興曰：「吾久不見賈生，自謂過之，今不及矣。」 於是為范設舊交之禮，申敘平生，謂範曰：「燕王在此，朕亦見之，風表乃可，於機辯未也。」 範曰：「大辯若訥，聖人美之，況爾日龍潛鳳戢，和光同塵，若使負日月而行，則無繼天之業矣。」 興笑曰：「可謂使乎延譽者也。」 範承間逞說，姚興大悅，賜范千金，許以超母妻還之。 慕容凝自梁父奔于姚興，言於興曰：「燕王稱籓，本非推德，權為母屈耳。 古之帝王尚興師征質，豈可虛還其母乎！ 母若一還，必不復臣也。 宜先制其送伎，然後歸之。」 興意乃變，遣使聘於超。 超遣其僕射張華、給事中宗正元入長安，送太樂伎一百二十人于姚興。 興大悅，延華入宴。 酒酣，樂作，興黃門侍郎尹雅謂華曰：「昔殷之將亡，樂師歸周； 今皇秦道盛，燕樂來庭。 廢興之兆，見於此矣。」 華曰：「自古帝王，為道不同，權譎之理，會于功成。 故老子曰：'將欲取之，必先與之。 '今總章西入，必由餘東歸，禍福之驗，此其兆乎！」 興怒曰：「昔齊、楚競辯，二國連師。 卿小國之臣，何敢抗衡朝士！」 華遜辭曰：「奉使之始，實願交歡上國，上國既遺小國之臣，辱及寡君社稷，臣亦何心，而不仰酬！」 興善之，於是還超母妻，
Yao Xing held Murong Chao’s women hostage, demanding vassalage, the imperial musicians, or else a thousand southerners. Murong Chao asked his court for options. Left Vice Director Duan Hui argued: “When the Grand Supreme was imprisoned in Chu, the High Ancestor did not bend. Now Your Majesty inherits and guards the altars of soil and grain; you ought not, because of private kinship, lower the honor that unifies heaven. Moreover the Grand Music performers are all former entertainers of prior ages—you cannot give them to him; let him shift custom by moving—better to raid Wu captives and give him those.” Minister Zhang Hua said: “If we raid Jin’s border, we are sure to complete neighborly resentment. This side can go there, that side can also come; arms linked and disaster knotted is not the state’s blessing. Anciently Sun Quan weighted the lives of the black-haired masses and bent himself to serve Wei; Hui Shi pitied his beloved son’s head and set aside his intent to honor Qi. Moreover Your Majesty’s kindly virtue lies in Qin; your heart is shattered in chaos—you ought temporarily to lower the great title to extend utmost filial feeling. The way of weighing change is what the canons permit. Han Fan’s intelligence can turn things, his eloquence enough to sway men; anciently he and Yao Xing were both attendants in the Eastern Palace of Qin—you can send him on mission to lower the title and repair peace. This is what is called bowing beneath one man to stretch above ten thousand.” Chao was greatly pleased and said: “Director Zhang has gotten Our heart.” He sent Han Fan to Yao Xing. When he reached Chang’an, Xing said to Fan: “Feng Kai came before; the Yan king treated Us as an equal by ritual. When you arrived he attached himself warmly. Is it following the Spring and Autumn meaning of the small serving the great? Or is it solely bending in filial respect for the mother?” Fan said: “Zhou’s nobility had five ranks; dukes and marquises differed in grade; rites of great and small arose from this. Now Your Majesty, a dragon risen to command the age, shines in western Qin; our court’s sovereign inherits the fierce legacy of ancestors, fixes the cauldron in eastern Qi; you split heaven’s radiance, face south, and both are emperors. Envoys exchange visits and knot friendship; the right meaning favors modesty—yet you strut and boast, casually humiliate the traveler—much like Wu and Jin vying in covenant, Teng and Xue competing for seniority; I fear it wounds great Qin’s majestic splendor and damages royal Yan’s towering grace; both sides lose—I privately am not at ease.” Xing angrily said: “If it were as you say, then they did not come for reasons of great and small.” Fan said: “Though the meaning of great and small is involved, it is also because our poor ruler’s pure filial piety surpasses Shun’s; I hope Your Majesty will embody reverence for kin and pour forth pity.” Xing said: “Long have I not seen Jia Yi; I thought myself his better—now I do not reach him.” Thereupon he treated Fan with the rites of an old acquaintance, narrating their whole lives, and said to Fan: “The Yan king here—We have also seen him; his bearing is passable, but in sharp debate he is not yet there.” Fan said: “Great eloquence seems dull—the sage prized it; moreover that day the dragon hid and the phoenix folded, blending gleam with dust; had he shouldered sun and moon in his walk, there would be no enterprise to continue heaven.” Xing laughed and said: “You may be called one who on embassy spreads praise.” Han Fan pressed his case; Yao Xing relented, paid him, and promised the hostages back. Murong Ning fled from Liangfu to Yao Xing and said to Xing: “The Yan king’s declaration of vassalage was not from yielding virtue—it was a temporary bend for his mother. Ancient emperors still raised armies to demand hostages—how can you hollowly return his mother! If the mother returns once, he will surely not again be a subject. You ought first to seize the performers he is to send, then return her.” Yao Xing wavered and reopened talks. Murong Chao sent Zhang Hua and Zong Zhengyuan with a hundred twenty court musicians. Yao Xing feasted Zhang Hua. When the wine was deep and music began, Xing’s gentleman attendant at the yellow gate Yin Ya said to Hua: “Anciently when Yin was about to perish, the music masters went to Zhou; now imperial Qin’s Way flourishes and Yan’s music comes to court. The omens of decline and rise appear in this.” Hua said: “From antiquity emperors have differed in their Way; the pattern of weighing stratagem meets in merit accomplished. Therefore Laozi says: ‘If you would take, you must first give.’ ‘Now the Zongzhang goes west—surely the surplus will return east; is this not the omen of fortune and disaster!’” Xing angrily said: “Anciently Qi and Chu debated rhetoric; the two states linked armies. You, a minister of a small state—how dare you stand up to courtiers!” Hua deferentially said: “When the mission began, I truly wished to befriend the superior state; the superior state has now disdained the small state’s minister and insulted even our poor ruler’s altars—how could your servant lack heart and not answer upward!” Yao Xing relented and freed Murong Chao’s family.
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義熙三年，追尊其父為穆皇帝，立其母段氏為皇太后，妻呼延氏為皇后。 祀南郊，將登壇，有獸大如馬，狀類鼠而色赤，集於圓丘之側，俄而不知所在。 須臾大風暴起，天地晝昏，其行宮習儀皆振裂。 超懼，密問其太史令成公綏，對曰：「陛下信用奸臣，誅戮賢良，賦斂繁多，事役殷苦所致也。」 超懼而大赦，譴責公孫五樓等。 俄而復之。 是歲廣固地震，天齊水湧，井水溢，女水竭，河、濟凍合，而澠水不冰。
In the third year of Yixi, Murong Chao canonized his father as Emperor Mu, made Lady Duan dowager, Lady Huyan empress. At the suburban rites a red horse-sized rat-beast appeared on the mound, then vanished. A black wind shredded the ritual tents. Chao feared and secretly questioned his astrologer-in-chief Cheng Gong Sui, who answered: “It is caused by Your Majesty trusting wicked ministers, executing worthy good men, levies and corvée being numerous, labor and service oppressively bitter.” Murong Chao amnestied the realm and scolded Gongsun Wulou. Soon he restored their favor. Earthquake, floods, dry springs, frozen rivers—but the Mian stayed open: ill omens piled up.
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超正旦朝群臣于東陽殿，聞樂作，歎音佾不備，悔送伎于姚興，遂議入寇。 其領軍韓𧨳諫曰：「先帝以舊京傾沒，輯翼三齊，苟時運未可，上智輟謀。 今陛下嗣守成規，宜閉關養士，以待賦釁，不可結怨南鄰，廣樹仇隙。」 超曰：「我計已定，不與卿言。」 於是遣其將斛谷提、公孫歸等率騎寇宿豫，陷之，執陽平太守劉千載、濟陰太守徐阮，大掠而去。 簡男女二千五百，付太樂教之。
New Year music shamed him—he had traded musicians to Qin—and he talked of invading Jin. His general-in-chief Han Zhuo remonstrated: “The former emperor, because the old capital overturned, gathered wings in the three Qi—if the hour of fate was not yet, the highest wisdom halts plans. Now Your Majesty inherits and guards completed norms; you ought to close the passes and nurture troops, awaiting the enemy’s fault; you cannot knot resentment with the southern neighbor and broadly plant enmity.” Chao said: “Our plan is set; We will not speak with you.” He sent Huguti and Gongsun Gui to seize Suyu, capture two Jin prefects, and loot. He pressed twenty-five hundred captives into the palace choir.
13
時公孫五樓為侍中、尚書，領左衛將軍，專總朝政，兄歸為冠軍、常山公，叔父頹為武衛、興樂公。 五樓宗親皆夾輔左右，王公內外無不憚之。
Gongsun Wulou ran the court; his brother and uncle held great titles. The clan packed the palace; nobles trembled.
14
超論宿豫之功，封斛穀提等並為郡、縣公。 慕容鎮諫曰：「臣聞縣賞待勳，非功不侯，今公孫歸結禍延兵，殘賊百姓，陛下封之，得無不可乎！ 夫忠言逆耳，非親不發。 臣雖庸朽，忝國戚籓，輒盡愚款，惟陛下圖之。」 超怒，不答，自是百僚杜口，莫敢開言。
He rewarded the raiders with county duchies. Murong Zhen remonstrated: “Your servant has heard that county rewards await merit—without merit one is not enfeoffed; now Gongsun Gui tied on disaster and prolonged arms, maimed the hundred surnames—Your Majesty enfeoffs them—is it not impermissible! Loyal words grate on the ear—if not kin they are not spoken. Though your servant is mean and rotten, I disgrace the state’s kin screen—I exhaust foolish sincerity; only Your Majesty consider it.” Murong Chao’s glare silenced the court.
15
尚書都令史王儼諂事五樓，遷尚書郎，出為濟南太守，入為尚書左丞，時人為之語曰：「欲得侯，事五樓。」
Secretariat chief clerk Wang Yan fawned on Wulou, was promoted ministerial secretary, went out as governor of Jinan, came in as left aide to the minister—people of the time made a saying: “If you want a marquis, serve Wulou.”
16
又遣公孫歸等率騎三千入寇濟南，執太守趙元，略男女千餘人而去。 劉裕率師將討之，超引見群臣于節陽殿，議距王師。 公孫五樓曰：「吳兵輕果，所利在戰，初鋒勇銳，不可爭也。 宜據大峴，使不得入，曠日延時，沮其銳氣。 可徐簡精騎二千，循海而南。 絕其糧運，別敕段暉率兗州之軍，緣山東下。 腹背擊之，上策也。 各命守宰，依險自固，校其資儲之外，餘悉焚蕩，芟除粟苗，使敵無所資。 堅壁清野，以待其釁，中策也。 縱賊入峴，出城逆戰，下策也。」 超曰：「京都殷盛，戶口眾多，非可一時入守。 青苗布野，非可卒芟。 設使芟苗城守，以全性命，朕所不能。 今據五州之強，帶山河之固，戰車萬乘，鐵馬萬群，縱令過峴，至於平地，徐以精騎踐之，此成擒也。」 賀賴盧苦諫，不從，退謂五樓曰：「上不用吾計，亡無日矣。」 慕容鎮曰：「若如聖旨，必須平原用馬為便，宜出峴逆戰，戰而不勝，猶可退守。 不宜縱敵入峴，自貽窘逼。 昔成安君不守井陘之關，終屈于韓信； 諸葛瞻不據束馬之險，卒擒于鄧艾。 臣以為天時不如地利，阻守大峴，策之上也。」 超不從。 鎮出，謂韓𧨳曰：「主上既不能芟苗守險，又不肯徙人逃寇，酷似劉璋矣。 今年國滅，吾必死之，卿等中華之士，復為文身矣。」 超聞而大怒，收鎮下獄。 乃攝莒、梁父二戍，修城隍，簡士馬，畜銳以待之。
Another raid took Jinan’s governor and slaves. As Liu Yu marched, Murong Chao convened council at Jieyang Hall. Gongsun Wulou said: “Wu’s troops are light and decisive; what they profit from is battle; the first clash is brave and sharp—it cannot be contested. You ought to hold Daxian Pass and keep them from entering; stretch days and lengthen time, sap their keen edge. You may leisurely select two thousand picked horse and follow the sea south. Cut their grain transport; separately order Duan Hui to lead Yan Province’s army down along the mountains east. Strike them belly and back—the upper strategy. Order each defender to hold fast by natural barriers, and besides what their stores allow, burn all else, cut the grain shoots, so the enemy has nothing to draw on. Strong walls and cleared fields, awaiting their fault—the middle strategy. Let the bandits enter the pass and meet them outside the city in battle—the lower strategy.” Chao said: “The capital is populous and rich; households and mouths are many—not possible to enter and defend in one moment. Green shoots blanket the wilds—not possible to cut down at once. Suppose we cut the shoots and defend the city to preserve life—that is something We cannot do. Now relying on the strength of five provinces, girded by mountains and rivers’ solidity, war chariots in myriads, armored horse in myriads—even if they cross the pass and reach level ground, We will slowly use picked horse to trample them—this is assured capture.” Helailu remonstrated bitterly; he did not follow; he withdrew and said to Wulou: “The sovereign will not use my plan—destruction is not far off.” Murong Zhen said: “If it follows Your Sagely intent, on level ground using horse is convenient; you ought to go out of the pass and meet them in battle—if battle does not succeed, you may still withdraw and defend. It is not right to let the enemy into the pass and bring embarrassment and pressure on yourself. Anciently Chengan Jun did not guard the barrier of Jingxing and in the end submitted to Han Xin; Zhuge Zhan did not hold the peril of Shuma and in the end was captured by Deng Ai. Your servant thinks heaven’s timing is not as good as earth’s advantage; blocking and holding Daxian is the top of strategies.” Murong Chao refused. When Zhen came out, he said to Han Zhuo: “The sovereign can neither cut the shoots and hold the peril, nor will he move the people to flee the bandits—he closely resembles Liu Zhang. This year when the state is destroyed, I am sure to die for it; you gentlemen, scholars of the Hua heartland, will again become tattooed bodies.” Murong Chao jailed Murong Zhen. He pulled in Ju and Liangfu garrisons and dug in.
17
其夏，王師次東莞，超遣其左軍段暉、輔國賀賴盧等六將步騎五萬，進據臨朐。 俄而王師度峴，超懼，率卒四萬就暉等於臨朐，謂公孫五樓曰：「宜進據川源，晉軍至而失水，亦不能戰矣。」 五樓馳騎據之。 劉裕前驅將軍孟龍符已至川源，五樓戰敗而返。 裕遣諮議參軍檀韶率銳卒攻破臨朐，超大懼，單騎奔段暉于城南。 暉眾又戰敗，裕軍人斬暉。 超又奔還廣固，徙郭內人入保小城，使其尚書郎張綱乞師于姚興。 赦慕容鎮，進錄尚書、都督中外諸軍事。 引見群臣，謝之曰：「朕嗣奉成業，不能委賢任善，而專固自由，覆水不收，悔將何及！ 智士逞謀，必在事危，忠臣立節，亦在臨難，諸君其勉思六奇，共濟艱運。」 鎮進曰：「百姓之心，系於一人。 陛下既躬率六軍，身先奔敗，群臣解心，士庶喪氣，內外之情，不可復恃。 如聞西秦自有內難，恐不暇分兵救人，正當更決一戰，以爭天命。 今散卒還者，猶有數萬，可悉出金帛、宮女，餌令一戰。 天若相我，足以破賊。 如其不濟，死尚為美，不可閉門坐受圍擊。」 司徒慕容惠曰：「不然。 今晉軍乘勝，有陵人之氣，敗軍之將，何以禦之！ 秦雖與勃勃相持，不足為患。 且二國連橫，勢成脣齒，今有寇難，秦必救我。 但自古乞援，不遣大臣則不致重兵，是以趙隸三請，楚師不出； 平原一使，援至從成。 尚書令韓范德望具瞻，燕秦所重，宜遣乞援，以濟時難。」 於是遣范與王蒲乞師于姚興。
Liu Yu reached Dongguan; Murong Chao sent fifty thousand under Duan Hui and Helailu to Linqu. Presently the royal army crossed the pass; Chao feared, led forty thousand troops to join Hui and the others at Linqu, and said to Gongsun Wulou: “You ought to advance and hold the river sources—when the Jin army arrives and loses water, they cannot fight either.” Gongsun Wulou raced to the fords. Meng Longfu held the water; Gongsun Wulou fled. Tan Shao stormed Linqu; Murong Chao bolted to Duan Hui. Duan Hui’s line broke; Liu Yu’s men killed him. Murong Chao shrank into Guanggu’s inner town and sent Zhang Gang to Qin for aid. He freed Murong Zhen and made him chief minister and supreme commander. He led out the host of ministers, apologized to them, saying: “We have inherited and upheld the completed enterprise, unable to delegate worthies and employ the good, but stubbornly free in Our own way—spilled water is not gathered; what regret can reach it! Wise men deploy stratagem surely when affairs are perilous; loyal ministers establish integrity also on facing disaster—may you all strive to think the six marvels and together ford hard fate.” Zhen stepped forward and said: “The hearts of the hundred surnames hang on one man. Your Majesty has already personally led the six armies and taken the lead in rout; the host of ministers’ hearts are undone, gentry and common lose breath; inside and outside feelings cannot again be relied on. As I hear, western Qin has its own internal troubles—I fear they have no leisure to divide troops to save others; you ought rightly to decide another battle to contest heaven’s mandate. Now scattered soldiers returning still number in the tens of thousands—you can bring out all gold, silks, and palace women as bait to force one battle. If heaven assists us, it is enough to break the bandits. If it does not succeed, death is still beautiful; you cannot close the gates and sit receiving siege blows.” Minister of education Murong Hui said: “It is not so. Now the Jin army rides victory and has the air of lording over others—how can a defeated host’s general oppose it! Though Qin is locked with Bobo, it is not enough to count as worry. Moreover the two states are joined in horizontal alliance; the situation forms lips and teeth—now there is raider disaster, Qin is sure to save us. But from antiquity when begging aid, if you do not send a great minister you do not draw heavy troops—therefore Zhao’s thrice begging indentured no Chu army; one mission from Pingyuan and aid arrived and success followed. Minister Secretary Han Fan’s virtue and gaze are looked up to by both Yan and Qin—you ought to send him to beg aid to ford the hour’s hardship.” He dispatched Han Fan and Wang Pu to Yao Xing.
18
未幾，裕師圍城，四面皆合。 人有竊告裕軍曰：「若得張綱為攻具者，城乃可得耳。」 是月，綱自長安歸，遂奔於裕。 裕令綱周城大呼曰：「勃勃大破秦軍，無兵相救。」 超怒，伏弩射之，乃退。 右僕射張華、中丞封愷並為裕軍所獲。 裕令華、愷與超書，勸令早降。 超乃遺裕書，請為籓臣，以大峴為界，並獻馬千區，以通和好，裕弗許。 江南繼兵相尋而至。 尚書張俊自長安還，又降於裕，說容曰：「今燕人所以固守者，外杖韓范，冀得秦援。 范既時望，又與姚興舊昵，若勃勃敗後，秦必救燕，宜密信誘範，啖以重利，范來則燕人絕望，自然降矣。」 裕從之，表範為散騎常侍，遺範書以招之。 時姚興乃遣其將姚強率步騎一萬，隨範就其將姚紹於洛陽，並兵來援。 會赫連勃勃大破秦軍，興追強還長安。 範歎曰：「天其滅燕乎！」 會得裕書，遂降於裕。 裕謂範曰：「卿欲立申包胥之功，何以虛還也？」 範曰：「自亡祖司空世荷燕寵，故泣血秦庭，冀匡禍難。 屬西朝多故，丹誠無效，可謂天喪弊邑而贊明公。 智者見機而作，敢不至乎！」 翌日，裕將範循城，由是人情離駭，無復固志，裕謂範曰：「卿宜至城下，告以禍福。」 範曰：「雖蒙殊寵，猶未忍謀燕。」 裕嘉而不強，左右勸超誅範家，以止後叛。 超知敗在旦夕，又弟𧨳盡忠無貳，故不罪焉。 是歲東萊雨血，廣固城門鬼夜哭。
Soon Liu Yu ringed Guanggu. Someone secretly told the Yu army: “If you could get Zhang Gang to make siege engines, the city could be taken.” That month Zhang Gang returned from Chang’an and defected to Liu Yu. Yu ordered Gang to circle the wall and shout loudly: “Bobo has crushed Qin’s army—there are no troops to save you.” Murong Chao’s archers drove Zhang Gang back. Zhang Hua and Feng Kai fell prisoner. Liu Yu made them write Murong Chao to yield. Murong Chao offered vassalage, Daxian as border, and a thousand horses; Liu Yu refused. Fresh Jin regiments kept landing from the south. Minister Zhang Jun returned from Chang’an and again surrendered to Yu, saying to Yu: “Now the reason Yan men stubbornly defend is they outwardly lean on Han Fan, hoping to gain Qin’s rescue. Fan is both the man of the hour and old-intimate with Yao Xing; if after Bobo’s defeat Qin is sure to save Yan, you ought secretly to write enticing Fan with rich profit—when Fan comes the Yan men will despair and naturally surrender.” Liu Yu offered Han Fan a Jin title and a letter. Yao Xing dispatched Yao Qiang with ten thousand men to Luoyang to reinforce Han Fan. Helian Bobo routed Qin; Yao Xing recalled the relief column. Fan sighed: “Is Heaven about to extinguish Yan!” He read Liu Yu’s offer and defected. Yu said to Fan: “You wished to establish Shen Baoxu’s merit—why return empty?” Fan said: “Since my late grandfather the minister of works, generations have borne Yan’s favor; therefore I wept blood in Qin’s court, hoping to right disaster. It fell out that the western court had many troubles, and my crimson loyalty had no effect—one may say Heaven destroyed our poor town to aid the enlightened duke. The wise see the moment and act—how dare I not arrive!” The next day Yu led Fan around the wall; on that account human hearts split in terror, none again had firm will; Yu said to Fan: “You ought to go below the wall and announce fortune and disaster.” Fan said: “Though I have received extraordinary favor, I still cannot bear to plot against Yan.” Liu Yu respected his silence; courtiers begged Murong Chao to slaughter Han Fan’s kin. Murong Chao spared Han Fan’s people because his brother Han Zhuo stayed loyal. Blood rain fell; ghosts wailed at the gates.
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明年朔旦，超登天門，朝群臣於城上，殺馬以饗將士，文武皆有遷授。 超幸姬魏夫人從超登城，見王師之盛，握超手而相對泣，韓𧨳諫曰：「陛下遭百六之會，正是勉強之秋，而反對女子悲泣，何其鄙也！」 超拭目謝之。 其尚書令董銳勸超出降，超大怒，系之於獄。 於是賀賴盧、公孫五樓為地道出戰王師，不利。 河間人玄文說裕曰：「昔趙攻曹嶷，望氣者以為澠水帶城，非可攻拔，若塞五龍口，城必自陷。 石季龍從之，而嶷請降。 後慕容恪之圍段龕，亦如之，而龕降。 降後無幾，又震開之。 今舊基猶在，可塞之。」 裕從其言。 至是，城中男女患腳弱病者太半。 超輦而升城，尚書悅壽言於超曰：「天地不仁，助寇為虐，戰士尪病，日就凋隕，守困窮城，息望外援，天時人事，亦可知矣。 苟曆運有終，堯、舜降位，轉禍為福，聖達以先。 宜追許、鄭之蹤，以全宗廟之重。」 超歎曰：「廢興，命也。 吾寧奮劍決死，不能銜璧求生。」 於是張綱為裕造沖車，覆以版屋，蒙之以皮，並設諸奇巧，城上火石弓矢無所施用； 又為飛樓、懸梯、木幔之屬，遙臨城上。 超大怒，懸其母而支解之。 城中出降者相繼。 裕四面進攻，殺傷其眾，悅壽遂開門以納王師。 超與左右數十騎出亡，為裕軍所執。 裕數之以不降之狀，超神色自若，一無所言，惟以母托劉敬宣而已。 送建康市斬之，時年二十六。 及德死，以義熙元年僭嗣偽位，大赦境內，改元曰太上。
On New Year’s dawn he feasted the garrison on horseflesh and handed out ranks. Chao’s favored concubine Lady Wei followed Chao onto the wall; seeing the royal army’s might, she grasped Chao’s hand and wept face to face; Han Zhuo remonstrated: “Your Majesty meets the hundred-six conjunction—this is exactly the season to strive hard—yet you face a woman weeping—how base!” Murong Chao wiped his tears and thanked him. Minister Secretary Dong Rui advised surrender; Murong Chao jailed him. Helailu and Gongsun Wulou sallied by tunnel and lost. A man of Hejian, Xuan Wen, said to Yu: “Anciently when Zhao attacked Cao Yi, the qi-watcher thought the Mian River girdled the city and it could not be stormed; if you block the Wulong mouth, the city is sure to collapse of itself. Shi Hu followed this, and Yi asked to surrender. Later when Murong Ke besieged Duan Kan, he did likewise, and Kan surrendered. Not long after surrender, it again quaked open. Now the old foundation still exists—you can block it.” Liu Yu dammed the water. Half the city sickened with leg-rot. Chao was carried in a palanquin up the wall; Minister Yue Shou spoke to Chao: “Heaven and earth are not humane—they aid the bandit in cruelty; warriors are wasted and sick, daily nearing withering fall; we guard a poor exhausted city, breath stopped waiting for outside aid—heaven’s timing and human affairs are also knowable. If the allotted reign has an end, Yao and Shun yielded the throne—turning disaster to fortune is what the sage and clear do first. You ought to follow the tracks of Xu and Zheng to preserve the weight of the ancestral temple.” Chao sighed: “Decline and rise are fate. I would rather brandish the sword and decide death than hold the jade disk and beg life.” Zhang Gang built armored rams impervious to missiles. He added siege towers and mantlets. Murong Chao butchered Zhang Gang’s mother in rage. Defectors streamed out. Liu Yu stormed every face; Yue Shou opened the gates. Murong Chao fled with dozens of riders and was caught. Liu Yu rebuked him; Murong Chao stayed silent, begging only that his mother be given to Liu Jingxuan. They executed him at twenty-six in the Jiankang marketplace. After Murong De died, in the first year of Yixi he usurped succession to the false throne, pardoned his territory, and changed the era name to Taishang.
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德以安帝隆安四年僭位，至超二世，凡十一年，以義熙六年滅。
Murong De usurped in the fourth year of Long’an under Emperor An; by Murong Chao the line had lasted two reigns and eleven years, and Yan fell in the sixth year of Yixi.
21
慕容鍾
Murong Zhong
22
慕容鐘，字道明，德從弟也。 少有識量，喜怒不形於色，機神秀髮，言論清辯。 至於臨難對敵，智勇兼濟，累進奇策，德用之頗中。 由是政無大小，皆以委之，遂為佐命無勳。 後公孫五樓規挾威權，慮鐘抑己，因勸超誅之，鐘遂謀反。 事敗，奔于姚興，興拜始平太守、歸義侯。
Murong Zhong, style Daoming, was Murong De’s cousin. Even young he was imperturbable, brilliant, and eloquent. In crisis he paired courage with stratagem; Murong De’s best moves were often his. Murong De handed him every lever of power—chief architect of the new state. Gongsun Wulou feared him and talked Murong Chao into killing him; Murong Zhong rebelled. He lost, fled to Yao Xing, and became governor of Shiping.
23
封孚
Feng Fu
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封孚，字處道，渤海蓚人也。 祖悛，振威將軍。 父放，慕容垂之世吏部尚書。 孚幼而聰敏和裕，有士君子之稱。 寶僭位，累遷吏部尚書。 及蘭汗之篡，南奔辟閭渾，渾表為渤海太守。 德至莒城，孚出降，德曰：「朕平青州，不以為慶，喜於得卿也。」 常外總機事，內參密謀，雖位任崇重，謙虛博納，甚有大臣之體。 及超嗣位，政出權嬖，多違舊章，軌憲日頹，殘虐滋甚，孚屢盡匡救，超不能納也。 後臨軒謂孚曰：「朕于百王可方誰？」 孚對曰：「桀紂之主。」 超大慚怒。 孚徐步而出，不為改容。 司空鞠仲失色，謂孚曰：「與天子言，何其亢厲，宜應還謝。」 孚曰：「行年七十，墓木已拱，惟求死所耳。」 竟不謝。 以超三年死于家，時年七十一。 文筆多傳於世。
Feng Fu, style Chudao, hailed from Tiao in Bohai. His grandfather Feng Jun was a general. His father Feng Fang ran personnel under Murong Chui. Clever, gentle, and generous, he passed for a junzi. Under Murong Bao he rose to minister of personnel. He fled Lan Han to Pilü Hun, who made him Bohai governor. When De reached Jucheng, Fu came out to surrender; De said: “We pacify Qingzhou without taking it as celebration—Our joy is in gaining you.” He ran state business and counsel with modest grace. Under Murong Chao favorites rotted the law; Feng Fu’s protests went unheard. Later facing the gallery he said to Fu: “Among the hundred kings, whom may We match?” Fu answered: “Lords Jie and Zhou.” Murong Chao flushed with rage. Feng Fu strolled out unruffled. Minister of Works Ju Zhong lost color and said to Fu: “Speaking with the Son of Heaven—how so harsh? You ought to go back and apologize.” Fu said: “I walk my seventieth year; the tomb tree already arches—I only seek a place to die.” He never apologized. He died at seventy-one in Murong Chao’s third year. His writings survived him.
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【評贊】
Historian’s appraisal
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史臣曰：慕容德以季父之親，居鄴中之重，朝危未聞其節，君存遽踐其位，豈人理哉！ 然稟倜儻之雄姿，韞縱橫之遠略，屬分崩之運，成角逐之資，跨有全齊，竊弄神器，撫劍而爭衡秦、魏，練甲而志靜荊、吳，崇儒術以弘風，延讜言而勵己，觀其為國，有足稱焉。
The chronicler faults Murong De for seizing the throne while kin still ruled. Yet as a ruler he held Qi, jousted with Qin and Wei, promoted learning and counsel—much to admire.
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超繼已成之基，居霸者之業，政刑莫恤，畋遊是好，杜忠良而讒佞進，暗聽受而勳戚離，先緒俄頹，家聲莫振，陷宿豫而貽禍，啟大峴而延敵，君臣就虜，宗廟為墟。 跡其人謀，非不幸也。
Murong Chao squandered Murong De’s legacy, provoked Jin, and destroyed the state. His fall was earned, not bad luck alone.
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贊曰：德實奸雄，轉敗為功。 奄有青土，淫名域中。 超承偽祚，撓其國步。 廟失良籌，庭悲沾露。
Verse: Murong De turned defeat to triumph. He seized the eastern plain and styled himself emperor. Murong Chao wrecked what he inherited. Bad counsel drowned the altars in tears.