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卷十 列傳第四 蕭穎達 夏侯詳 蔡道恭 楊公則 鄧元起

Volume 10: Xiao Yingda; Xiahou Jiang; Cai Daogong; Yang Gongze; Deng Yuanqi

Chapter 10 of 梁書 · Book of Liang
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1
Book of Liang, Volume Ten, Biographies, Fourth
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Xiao Yingda; Xiahou Xiang; Cai Daogong; Yang Gongze; Deng Yuanqi
3
祿 使 西西 西 西
Xiao Yingda came from Lanling in Lanling commandery, the fifth son of Qi Grandee of the Imperial Secretariat Chi Fu. As a youth he loved daring and thrived on bravado; he began his career as Champion General. His elder brother Yingzhou, in late Qi's Jianwu era, ran Jing province; Yingda too was aide to the Western Zhonglang General's minister of war, both in the western command. In Qi's closing troubles they felt deeply uneasy. Emperor Donghun then sent Supporting-the-State General Liu Shanyang to Brazil as administrator; on the road through Jingzhou he secretly ordered Yingzhou to strike Yong province. By then Gaozu had already prepared. So he sent Yingzhou's kinsman Wang Tianhu with a letter meant to unsettle him. When Shanyang arrived, he in fact dared not enter the city. At a loss, Yingzhou by night sent Zhu Jingsi of Qiantang to call Xi Wenkai, the headquarters adjutant of the Western Zhonglang General, and advisory officer Liu Chen to shut the study and settle on a course. Xi Wenkai said: "The Yongzhou lord has been gathering troops and horses for ages; Jiangling has always feared Xiangyang men, and their numbers cannot match—seize them and you cannot hold them; hold them, and when winter comes the court will not abide it again. Kill Shanyang now, rise with Yongzhou, set up the Son of Heaven to command the lords, and hegemony is won. Shanyang hesitates and will not advance—that means he does not trust us. Cut off Tianhu's head and send it now, and his doubts can be cleared. When he comes, strike—nothing will fail." Chen urged the same. Yingda said: "Good." At daybreak Yingzhou told Tianhu: "You know the Supporting-the-State Liu; today I must borrow your head." He beheaded Tianhu and showed the head to Shanyang. Shanyang rejoiced; with only a few hundred foot and horse he came to the provincial seat. Wenkai had troops wait at the gate; Shanyang's carriage passed the gate-bar and the gates shut; they seized and killed him and sent his head to Gaozu. They also reported the plan to enthrone the Prince of Nankang; Gaozu agreed.
4
西 使
When Emperor He ascended, Yingzhou became Acting-with-credentials, Palace Attendant, Director of the Imperial Secretariat, Director for Official Affairs, superintendent of armies staying and going, General Who Tranquilizes the Army, and governor of Jingzhou, left to guard the western court. Yingda was made Champion General. When Yang Gongze and others marched with Gaozu, Gaozu besieged Ying; Yingda met the host at Hankou and with Wang Mao and Cao Jingzong attacked Ying and captured it. He followed Gaozu in pacifying Jiang province. Gaozu entered Jiang province and sent him with Cao Jingzong ahead with cavalry and infantry toward Jiangning; they broke Emperor Donghun's general Li Jushi and took the eastern city.
5
西 使
When the righteous army first rose, Xiao Gui, son of Baodong administrator Xiao Huixun, and Brazil administrator Lu Xiulie refused obedience; they invaded Jing province, defeated Supporting-the-State General Ren Yangzhi at Xiakou and Grand General Liu Xiaoqing at Shangming, and Yingzhou sent armies against them; but Gaozu had already taken Jiang and Ying and turned toward Jiankang. Yingzhou, as supreme commander, could not contain Gui and the others; sick with shame and grief, he died after several days' illness. The province concealed it and had a man with a similar hand write orders in his name. When Gui and the others heard Jiankang was about to fall, their forces broke in fear; only then was mourning declared, and Emperor He posthumously made Yingzhou chancellor.
6
西 西西
Early in the righteous rising Yingda's brother Yingfu escaped the capital; Xun Jingzhi of Luling secretly led him south; at Luling, Jingzhi and kinsman Ling You raised troops—several hundred men at Yaoshan Lake in Xichang. Yingda heard and gave Yingfu acting credentials as superintendent of Luling, Yuzhang, Linchuan, Nankang, and Ancheng, Champion General, and interior administrator of Luling. Yingfu advanced with Ling You to hold Xichang; Emperor Donghun sent Pacified West administrator Liu Xizu from the southern river into the lake against him. Yingfu could not stand; he led his men through Jian'an toward Changsha while Xizu pursued; Yingfu crossed mountains and ridges and barely survived. On the road they starved; later he died from eating too much at once.
7
When Jiankang fell, Gaozu made Yingda Front Army General and governor of Danyang. When the emperor took the throne, an edict said: "To honor merit is to esteem virtue, the same in every age; to reach back and cherish the dead binds one all the more to the task. Former Qi palace attendant, chancellor, and Director of the Imperial Secretariat Yingzhou—bearing lofty and distant, capacity deep and broad, pure designs and great deeds, fame and expectation alike upon him. He joined the righteous start, laid the royal foundation, shared hardship through turmoil and peace, and bore his heart on the record. We have received Heaven, changed the realm, and settled the four quarters; gazing at Mount Tai and viewing the River, we lament without end. Let him be enfeoffed Duke of Baxi commandery with a fief of three thousand households, his former rank unchanged." Yingfu was posthumously made Right Guard General. Yingda was added as Secular Attendant; he was removed for official business. At the great merit review Yingda was enfeoffed Marquis of Wuchang county with a fief of fifteen hundred households. Soon he was palace attendant, re-enfeoffed as Marquis of Zuotang with the same fief.
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He was promoted to General Who Punishes the Barbarians and Left Guard of the Heir Apparent. Censor-in-Chief Ren Fang submitted a memorial, saying:
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Your servant has heard that poverty shows what one will take; extremity shows what one will not do. Among commoners, conduct steadfast in a poor house can still stir greed and sharpen custom and give heart to petty men; how much more in houses that break ice, contending for pig-and-chicken profit; men in embroidered robes taking a merchant's gift. We hear that General Who Punishes the Barbarians, your servant Yingda, petitioned for fish-office tax; I summoned Yingda's household supervisor Peng Nandang to the bureau for inquiry. He reported: 'The live-fish office tax was first petitioned by Deng Sengyan, its term ending this year on the fourteenth day of the fifth month. Master Yingda, holding it no new levy, still petitioned to succeed Sengyan and at once received permission to register the tax; by clerk-law one year's take was five hundred thousand.' As set forth, it matches what was heard; Yingda is the principal. Your servant respectfully finds: General Who Punishes the Barbarians, Left Guard of the Heir Apparent, Marquis of Zuotang, your servant Yingda—holds a minister's place, privy to enforcement of law, yet private suits crowd in while public duty stands empty.
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Ambition in the butcher's stall, not like seeking in Bao's market; fish-ration revenue, not waiting on hidden tallies. Yet again he filed this text twice, chasing that eleven—if the manner is such, the cord is here! Your Majesty, in mercy for the meritorious, often bends the law; your servant, holding office and enforcing law, dares not fail to draw the line straight. We jointly recommend: by the facts before us, remove Yingda from his posts and send the marquis home. An edict pardoned him.
11
使
He was made Secular Attendant and Left Guard General. Soon he was again palace attendant and Commandant of the Court for the Imperial Clan. He went out as Trustworthy-and-Awesome General and interior administrator of Yuzhang, with added salary at two thousand shi. He governed with fierce severity; the people of the commandery feared him. He was promoted Bearer of the Staff, superintendent of Jiang province military affairs, and governor of Jiang province, with his generalship unchanged. Before long he was summoned as Regular Attendant at the Court and Right Valiant Cavalry General. Soon he was summoned as gentleman cavalier attendant on unassigned service and right brave cavalry general. Once at ease in high rank, he gave himself especially to music and women, drank beyond measure, and by this injured his health.
12
In the ninth year he was made Trustworthy-and-Awesome General and Right Guard General. That year he died, aged thirty-four. The emperor came in person to mourn; he was given Eastern Garden funeral goods, one set of court robes, one suit of clothes, two hundred thousand cash, and two hundred bolts of cloth. He was posthumously made palace attendant and Central Guard General, with one set of martial music. Posthumous title: Kang. His son Min inherited.
13
Yingzhou's son Mi inherited the Duke of Baxi, rose to Attendant of the Central Court, and died young.
14
簿
Xia Hou Xiang, styled Shuye, came from Qiao commandery. At sixteen he lost his father; in mourning he was broken with grief. For three years he lived at the tomb; once a three-legged sparrow flew to his hut door—all thought it strange. When mourning ended, Governor Yin Yan called him to serve as chief clerk.
15
便 使 退
Early in Song's Taishi, Yan rebelled in Yuzhou; Emperor Ming sent Supporting-the-State General Liu Le to suppress him; siege and defense dragged on for months, hearts were afraid, and they would seek help from Wei. Xiang said to Yan: "This rising was meant from the first to prove loyal duty; if the altars have a master, let us return to the court—how bow north to an alien realm? Moreover Wei's troops are now on the Huai; one army has not yet shown its intent, and we fear treachery. If we send envoys to submit now, they will surely receive us generously—not only pardon. If you doubt it, your servant begs to go as envoy. Yan agreed. Xiang saw Le and said: "General, your tight siege and steep walls, arrows and blades like frost—the fools in the city are trapped beasts; gentry and commoners fear death and all wish to turn to Wei. Your servant crossed the wall to yield—this is my inmost heart laid bare. I beg the General to grant vast mercy and generous favor, lift the siege and withdraw--then all will come out together." Le agreed. Xiang said: "If it is truly so, it shall be as you say; but your servant begs leave to report back. " Le sent him to the foot of the wall; Xiang called to those within and told them Le's words; that same day Yan and all the host came out, and the whole province was saved.
16
簿
Le became governor and again made him chief clerk. Before long he was magistrate of Xingji, with outstanding administration; Governor Duan Furong circulated his record within the jurisdiction as a model for subordinate prefectures. He was transferred to Senior Recorder, then promoted Vice Director. He served eight commanders in turn, and the province spoke well of him.
17
退
When Qi Mingdi held the inspectorship, he singled Xiang out for favor. Once he took the regency, he called Xiang to the capital for a major appointment. Nightly he drew Xiang and Pei Shuye into conversation; Xiang would murmur and not truly reply. The emperor questioned Shuye, and Shuye repeated Xiang's words. Xiang said, "Do not be first to court fortune, nor first to invite ruin." From that moment he fell slightly out of favor. He was posted as chief clerk on the campaign-against-barbarians staff and administrator of Yiyang. Soon the Jian'an garrison was surrounded by Wei; Xiang was again made its commandant, with Biancheng and Xincai, and led troops from Guangcheng, Yiyang, and Ruyin to relieve it. Xiang reached Jian'an and the Wei forces pulled back. Wei had built Jingting garrison on the Huai as a raiding base; repeated strikes failed to break it until Xiang led elite troops, routed the enemy, and drove them from the walls.
18
西便
Late in Jianwu he was recalled as general of mobile columns and sent out as southern palace major and administrator of Southern Xincai. When the Prince of Nankang took Jingzhou, Xiang became western palace major and administrator of Xinxing and, by a direct route, reached Jiangyang ahead of the rest. The Prince of Shi'an Yao Guang had risen in the capital; Yinggou had not yet reached the province; Liu Shanyang was already there, and his deputy Pan Shao meant to rebel; Xiang lured Shao to the gate on pretense of counsel and cut off his head, and the province was secured. He was offered Sizhou but refused the appointment.
19
西 使 使便使 使 殿 使
When Gaozu raised the righteous army, Xiang and Yinggou opened the great undertaking together. With the Western Headquarters in being, Xiang became central army commander, also regular attendant and administrator of Nanjun. In military and civil matters alike, Yinggou leaned on Xiang for judgment. While Gaozu still held Ying city under siege, Yinggou sent Xi Chayan, minister of ceremonies, to his camp. Xiang offered counsel: "A cornered city holds easily; to storm it is the harder course. To pin an army before strong walls is what every strategist warns against. You should widen the plan and gather every voice. From generals to common soldiers, let each speak his mind; take what is sound, use who is fit, and never silence a good word for its speaker nor drown the few in the many. Weigh our numbers, measure their fuel and grain, read their hearts, and judge their position. If they are many and hungry, count the days and hold; if they are well fed but few, mass every man and strike. If grain and arms are both ample and neither siege nor assault will bend them, scatter gold and sow distrust until the clever are ignored and the foolish turn on one another—that is how Cao Cao won an empire. If none of these three paths will serve, seek another way, watch the mood of men, and count our stores. If virtue draws the realm to you and benevolence gathers the distant, with treasure hoarded and convoys full, then ring the walls and wait the seasons out, as Wang Jian broke Chu. If the city will not fall soon, assault will not avail, no secret road is open, no hoard lies ready, the land is not one, and hearts cannot be read—then the plan itself must change. To change course demands bold decision; what matters most cannot be written here—I lay it before Minister Xi and beg him to weigh it." Gaozu approved and took the counsel to heart. Soon after, Yinggou died. Gaozu's brother the Prince of Shixing, Dan, was then holding Xiangyang; Xiang sent to bring him into counsel on army and state. Emperor He offered him palace guards to pass in and out of the inner offices; Xiang refused outright. He was made attendant-in-ordinary and right vice director of the Masters of Writing. Soon after he received the staff as general who pacifies the army and inspector of Jingzhou. Again Xiang pressed his refusal in Dan's favor.
20
祿 使
In the first year of Tianjian he was recalled as attendant-in-ordinary and general of chariots and cavalry and, for merit, made marquis of Ningdu with two thousand households. Xiang declined again and again, until his plea was desperate; he was then given right grandee for splendid merit while keeping attendant-in-ordinary. Twenty trusted attendants were granted him, and his title was raised to duke of Fengcheng with the same fief. In the second year he asked to leave office; the court removed him from attendant-in-ordinary and made him special advance. In the third year he went out with the staff as regular attendant, general of chariots and cavalry, and inspector of Xiangzhou. Xiang knew the work of office; through four years in the province the people praised him. South of the city, above the river, stood a sharp peak; elders said, "Whichever inspector climbs this hill is soon replaced." For that reason no governor had dared approach it. Xiang raised halls and towers there, called his officers to him, and showed he did not fear the omen.
21
祿祿 祿
In the sixth year he was recalled as attendant-in-ordinary and right grandee for splendid merit with twenty attendants; before he reached court he was named left vice director and grandee with the golden seal and purple tassel, still attendant-in-ordinary. He died on the journey, at seventy-four; the emperor mourned in undyed dress and posthumously made him right grandee for splendid merit.
22
婿
Earlier Qi Shizhan, a city bureau aide in the Jing headquarters, had ten thousand men dig the armory's fire pool and unearthed a gold-and-leather belt hook, finely worked in relief, inscribed: "We grant you the golden hook—you are already duke and marquis." Shizhan had married the daughter of Xiang's elder brother. The girl stole it to Xiang; he wore it gladly, and within a year his rise had come.
23
Cai Daogong, styled Huaijian, came from Guanjun in Nanyang. His father Jun had served as Song inspector of Yizhou.
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簿 西
In youth Daogong was open-handed and large-minded. When Qi Wendi held Yongzhou he was called in as chief clerk and soon made supernumerary regular attendant. After further victories he rose to colonel of the swift cavalry and rear army general. Late in Jianwu he went out as state-supporting army major and magistrate of Runan. When the Prince of Nankang took Jingzhou, Daogong was recommended as western palace army aide and made general who supports the state.
25
滿 使 退
Early in Tianjian, for merit, he was made marquis of Hanshou with seven hundred households and promoted to general who pacifies the north. In the third year Wei laid siege to Sizhou; fewer than five thousand remained inside, with grain for barely half a year; Wei assaulted without pause, and Daogong turned back every blow. Wei built great carts heaped with earth and pushed from every side to fill the ditch; Daogong set tower ships and battle craft in the moat to meet them, and they could not come on. They dug hidden channels to draw off the moat; Daogong answered with basket after basket of earth rammed into the breach. For more than a hundred days they held; the slain and taken mounted beyond reckoning. Wei raised siege towers and rams, and the press of attack tightened; inside the walls Daogong piled an earthen hill twenty zhang and more; he forged long pikes two zhang five feet long with heavy blades and set his stoutest men to spear the Wei climbers on the walls. Wei grew afraid of these weapons and prepared to pull back. Then Daogong's sickness turned mortal; he summoned his nephew Sengyi, his cousin Ling'en, and the commanders and said, "The state loaded me with favor, yet I could not break the enemy; my pain deepens and the wall cannot stand long—you must die where you stand and leave me no shame in the grave." He had his credential staff brought and told Sengyi, "I crossed the frontier on this charge alone; I cannot return it to the throne—then let it go into the earth with me beside the coffin." Every man wept. He died in the fifth month of that year. Learning Daogong was gone, Wei pressed the assault all the harder.
26
西 西使
The court had already sent Cao Jingzong of Yingzhou with a relief host; Jingzong came to Zao Gorge and camped without moving. In the eighth month the city's grain ran out, and Sizhou fell. An edict said, "Bearer of the staff, commander-in-chief of Sizhou, general who pacifies the north, inspector of Sizhou, and founding marquis of Hanshou, Cai Daogong—his mind was careful, his talent fierce and clear. From the first days of the founding he gave his strength to the western frontier. On the frontier his service shone wherever he was posted. When the enemy closed in he held with full loyalty, scheming without rest and sending victory after victory. Suddenly illness took him—but the ramparts he left stood, and even in death he turned the season against the foe. Only one who gives himself to the realm and binds loyalty to resolve could die and still keep the city, spent yet unbroken. My heart grieves at the thought; let his reward exceed the common rule. So the rites also command. Let him be posthumously made general who pacifies the west, with staff, command, inspectorship, and marquisate unchanged; seek out his coffin and grant what the occasion requires." In the eighth year Wei agreed to send back his body; the family traded court musicians for it, and he was buried at Xiangyang.
27
His son Dan inherited the title and died as administrator of Hedong. Grandson Gu died early and the marquisate was extinguished.
28
西
Yang Gongze, styled Junyi, came from Xi county in Tianshui. His father Zhonghuai, in the first year of Song Taishi, served as a general under Yin Yan, inspector of Yuzhou. When Yan rose in rebellion, Liu Xu, general who supports the state, marched against him; Zhonghuai fought hard and fell at Hengtang. Gongze was with the army though still a boy; he broke into the line, caught up his father's body, and cried until he fainted; Xu had the head sent back. After the rites he bore the coffin home on foot and won fame for it. He rose through office to supernumerary regular attendant. Fan Bonian, inspector of Liangzhou, made him administrator of Songxi and commandant of White Horse garrison.
29
The Di chieftain Li Wunu rose and struck White Horse; Gongze held until shafts and grain were gone, then was taken; he cursed the enemy without lowering his voice. Wunu honored his courage and treated him well, asking him to serve alongside them. Gongze feigned consent and plotted their ruin; when the plot was discovered he escaped alone on horseback. Wang Xuanmiao, inspector of Liangzhou, memorialized the court; Qi Gaodi issued an edict commending him. He was appointed administrator of Jinshou and governed with clean hands.
30
便 西 西
In the Yongming era he served as army aide on the northern garrison staff under the general who guards the north. He became administrator of Fufeng, then left office to mourn his mother. Yongzhou inspector Chen Xianda raised him as General Who Pacifies the North. He again held the post of administrator. Soon after, the Prince of Badong, as Jingzhou inspector, raised rebellion; Gongze marched against him. When order was restored, he was made administrator of Wuning. For seven years in the commandery he owned scarcely a bushel of grain, yet the people flourished under him. He entered the capital as General of the Vanguard. When the Prince of Nankang took Jingzhou, he again served as western middle army central military aide. When Commandant of Guards Xiao Yingmao joined the righteous rising, Gongze was made General Who Supports the State and concurrent western middle army consultant aide, kept his central army post, and led his men east. Zhang Baoji, acting for Xiangzhou, had mobilized to hold his ground and wavered between sides; when Gongze reached Baling he swung south to subdue him. The army stopped at Baisha; Baoji, afraid, disarmed and waited. Gongze arrived, reassured him, and took him in; Xiang was pacified.
31
When Emperor He took the throne, Gongze received the staff, command of Xiangzhou forces, and the inspectorship of Xiangzhou. Gaozu camped the main armies at Hankou while Sun Lezu held Lushan and Zhang Chong held Ying; Gongze brought the Xiang forces to Xiakou. Every army in Jingzhou now answered to Gongze—even Xiao Yingda of the imperial house marched under his orders. He rose to General Who Captures the Barbarians and Left Guard General, keeping the staff and the inspectorship.
32
退
Ying fell; Gaozu ordered a general advance that day; Gongze went first and seized Chaisang. Jiangzhou secured, the banners turned east and bore straight on the capital. Gongze's discipline was iron; nothing was taken; wherever his men went, people trusted them. At Xinlin, Gongze shifted from Yue city to the north tower of the commandant's rampart, facing the South Yeb Gate, and watched the battle from above. From the walls they saw his canopy and shot with divine-edge crossbows; a bolt drove through his camp chair, and his attendants blanched. Gongze said, "That almost took my foot." Then he joked as if nothing had happened. Dong Hun sent picked warriors by night against Gongze's camp; the lines panicked, but Gongze stayed in bed, gave the order to strike, and the enemy fell back. His men were mostly Xiang river folk, thought soft; the defenders mocked them and made Gongze's camp their first target on every sortie. Gongze roused his troops, and they brought back richer spoils each time. After the fall, looters preyed on those leaving the city; Gongze lined his men at the East Yeb Gate and escorted officials and people safely out, and most exits ran through his camp. He was promoted to Left General, kept staff and inspectorship, and returned to hold the south.
33
On his first march east many Xiang commanderies had held back; only when he came back did the hill forts melt away. In the first year of Tianjian he became General Who Pacifies the South and Marquis of Ningdu with fifteen hundred households. Years of raiding had emptied Xiangzhou; Gongze eased law and tax, and soon the registers swelled again. He ruled without harsh display, but he was honest and careful, and officials and people adored him. Xiang families had bought office with gifts; Gongze ended that, appointed only notable local houses, and Gaozu made every province follow his model.
34
便
In year 4 he was called to the capital as Central Army Protector. His replacement came; he took two light boats and left that day, refusing every parting gift. He was then made Court Commandant and Palace Attendant Who Remains at Ease. As the court debated a northern campaign, Gongze's fame brought him to the capital with orders to take the staff and hold Luokou ahead of the army. Gongze took the commission but fell ill and told his kin, "Long ago Lian Po and Ma Yuan were cast off as old men, yet they still begged to serve. The state does not despise my frailty but puts me in the van—that is heavier honor than they knew. I am sick on the march, but how can I cringe away from the task? To come home in horse leather—that is what I want." He dragged himself aboard. At Luokou several thousand households of Shouchun came over to him. Wei's Yuzhou inspector Xue Gongdu sent his chief clerk Shi Rong to fight; Gongze killed him at once, chased to Shouchun, and withdrew ten-odd li from the walls. Illness took him in camp at sixty-one. Gaozu mourned him the same day, posthumously made him General of Chariots and Cavalry, and granted martial pipes and drums. His posthumous name was Lie, "Fierce."
35
Gongze was gentle and warm at home, favored his brother's sons over his own, and gave them the whole household fortune. He loved books; even in camp he read without pause, and the gentry spoke of it with respect.
36
His son Biao inherited, then forfeited the fief for a crime. Gaozu, honoring Gongze's service, specially allowed his eldest son by a concubine, Tuan, to inherit. Tuan refused for years before he would take the title.
37
西 西使
Deng Yuanqi, styled Zhongju, came from Dangyang in Nan commandery. As a youth he was bold and strong beyond ordinary men. He was a rover who gave freely, and the young men of the countryside followed him. The province first summoned him as discussion-affairs aide; he later became a court gentleman. Yongzhou inspector Xiao Mian appointed him magistrate of Huaili. He became administrator of Hongnong and held western pacification military affairs. Ma Rong of Xiyang was raiding along the river and choking trade; inspector Xiao Yaoxin sent Yuanqi to crush him. He was made administrator of Wuning.
38
In the last years of Yongyuan Wei pressed Yiyang; Yuanqi came from his commandery to help. The Man leader Tian Kongming joined Wei, called himself Yingzhou inspector, and raided the Three Passes toward Xiakou; Yuanqi struck with picked men, took six towns in a month, killed and captured by the ten thousands, and broke the rest. He then held the Three Passes. Yingzhou inspector Zhang Chong commanded north of the river; Yuanqi wrote again and again asking leave to return. Chong answered, "You hold one gate and I the other—that is the golden rampart and boiling moat. Leave it, and thorns spring up at once." He then memorialized Yuanqi as southern pacification central army military aide. After that he won every fight; no one matched his daring, and more than ten thousand men would die for him.
39
西 西
When the righteous cause rose, Xiao Yingmao called him by letter. Zhang Chong had long favored Yuanqi, and the troops feared offending him; when the summons came, many of his officers urged him back to Ying. Yuanqi addressed the host: "The throne is savage, butchers its ministers, and lets lackeys rule—the rites are dead. Jing and Yong rise together—how can we fail? My mother is still in the west—I cannot betray my home. If we lose, let the dark court kill me and spare me the shame of a bad son." That day he packed and marched. At Jiangling he became western middle army central military aide and Champion General, then led his men to Gaozu at Xiakou. Gaozu set Wang Mao, Cao Jingzong, and Yuanqi to siege Ying with ramparts nine li long; Zhang Chong fought and lost again and again, then shut the gates and endured.
40
西西 西 使 退
At first Yizhou inspector Liu Jilian had sat on the fence; but when he heard Yuanqi was coming he armed the passes and resisted. The fuller account is in Liu Jilian's biography. Yuanqi reached Baxi, and administrator Zhu Shilue opened the city to him. Shu refugees who had hidden now flocked to him as men answering the throne; his army, old and new, passed thirty thousand. Yuanqi had marched so long that the granaries were empty. An adviser said, "Shu is slack and the people lie about sickness; audit one commandery, Baxi, squeeze and fine them, and you will fill the stores." Yuanqi agreed. Fuling magistrate Li Ying warned him, "You face a hard enemy ahead with no help behind; the hill folk have only just joined and are watching how you rule. Harsh levies will break them, and once they turn away you cannot win them back. Why invite trouble when you can feed the army another way? Let me try, and you will not lack grain." Yuanqi said, "Good—do as you will." Li Ying left, rallied the rich to bring rice, and within days raised thirty thousand hu.
41
西 使輿
Yuanqi had already sent Wang Yuanzong and others to beat Liu Jilian's Li Fengbo at Xinba and Qi Wansheng at Chishui, then pushed the host to Xiping. Jilian finally shut Chengdu and dug in. Qi Wansheng crushed Lu Fangda at Hushi and killed more than a thousand; the army shook; Yuanqi led the van himself to Jiangqiao, twenty li from Chengdu, and left the baggage at Pi. Jilian sent Fengbo and Wansheng with two thousand men by a bypath, seized Pi, and burned Yuanqi's stores. Yuanqi sent Lu Fangda to retake it; he was beaten back and could not break through. Yuanqi left Pi, ringed the provincial capital on three sides, and dug trenches. Yuanqi walked the lines; Jilian sent killers to rush him; as they closed in he stepped down, raised his shield, and roared them off.
42
使 西
War had raged so long in Yizhou that fields lay waste, hunger ruled inside and out, men fed on men, and the roads were dead; Jilian was at his end. The following year Gaozu pardoned Jilian and promised to accept his surrender. Jilian opened the gates that day; Yuanqi took the city and sent him to the capital. When the city opened, Pi surrendered. He executed Fengbo and Wansheng. Gaozu weighed merit for pacifying Shu, restored Yuanqi as General Who Pacifies the West, added eight hundred households to his fief, and with the earlier grant brought the total to two thousand.
43
Yuanqi made his townsman Yu Qianlou recording secretary aide and took on Xiao Yaoxin's former guest Jiang Guangji; both were richly favored and given charge of the province. Qianlou was scrupulously honest, Guangji resourceful in counsel, and both pressed for sound rule. When Yuanqi defeated Jilian he kept none of the city's wealth, worked hard for the people, and never spoke of money or women. He could naturally drink a hu without disorder, but from then on he abstained completely. All Shu united in praise of him. Yuanqi's nephew Liang Jinsun was flighty and at odds with Qianlou in character; he told Yuanqi, "The city calls this place ruled by three inspectors—how can you endure it! From that Yuanqi distanced Qianlou and Guangji, and his governance slackened.
44
西 使西 便
After two years in the province his mother's age moved him to ask to go home and care for her; the court assented. He was recalled as Right Guard General, and Marquis of Xichang Xiao Yuanzao took his place. Then Liangzhou chief clerk Xiahou Daqian turned Nanzheng over to Wei; Yin Tianbao of White Horse Garrison galloped word to Shu; Wang Jingyin and Kong Ling of Wei attacked the two Jinshou posts and all cried for help; many pressed Yuanqi to march at once. Yuanqi said, "The court is ten thousand li off; armies cannot come overnight. If the enemy spreads, then we must beat them back—the task of command, who but me? Why hurry to rescue them now? Qianlou and the rest pleaded hard, but he would hear none of it. Gaozu also gave Yuanqi the staff and made him commander of the punitive forces to relieve Hanzhong. When he arrived, Wei had already overrun both Jinshou. Yuanzao was nearing. Yuanqi busied himself packing for the return; grain, stores, and arms—hardly anything remained. Yuanzao entered the city full of grievance and memorialized that Yuanqi had lingered and neglected the army. He was committed to the provincial jail and hanged himself there, aged forty-eight. The offices pursued charges and stripped his fief; an edict halved his estate, then made him Marquis of Songzi with a thousand households.
45
西
Earlier in Jingzhou the Prince of Sui had posted Yuanqi as aide, but registrar Yu Bi stood firm against it, and Yuanqi bore a grudge. When the main force reached the capital, Bi was within the walls and terrified. When the city fell, Yuanqi sent first to receive Bi and told people, "If Registrar Yu Bi were killed in the turmoil, I could never prove my innocence." He then sent Bi off with rich gifts. As a young man he once visited his farm at Xiju; a monk came begging; Yuanqi asked the farmer, "How much rice is there? The answer was, "Twenty hu." Yuanqi gave the whole amount away. Men of the day praised his largeness of spirit.
46
使
When Yuanqi first took Yizhou he passed Jiangling to bring his mother; she followed the Way and was in a lodge, and refused to leave it. Yuanqi bowed and pleaded that she come with him. His mother said, "A poor boy who suddenly grows rich cannot keep it long; I would rather die than share your downfall. At Badong he heard Shu was in revolt and had Jiang Guangji divine; the hexagram was Jian; he sighed, "Am I Deng Ai, to meet such an end? In the end all came to pass as the divination foretold. His son Keng inherited.
47
[1]
Chen Minister of Personnel Yao Cha said: In late Yongyuan Jingzhou had not yet stirred; Xiao Yingchen gathered all Chu's forces and led the response to the righteous cause. Was it Heaven's prompting, or human design? Otherwise how could men have rallied so swiftly and so surely? Yingda and his kin reaped fortune for their heirs; Xiahou, Yang, and Deng all won great renown—splendid! Xiang's prudence and weight, Yang and Cai's clean conduct—men of worth may esteem them. [1] Editorial footnote marker.
48
The full text was collated against the Zhonghua Shuju edition of the Book of Liang (May 1973).
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