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卷十七 列傳第十一 王珍國 馬仙琕 張齊

Volume 17: Wang Zhenguo; Ma Xianpin; Zhang Qi

Chapter 17 of 梁書 · Book of Liang
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Book of Liang, Volume 17, Biographies 11
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Wang Zhenguo; Ma Xianpin; Zhang Qi
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Wang Zhenguo, styled Dezong, came from Xiang in Pei commandery. His father Guangzhi was a noted Qi general who rose to scattered-cavalry attendant-in-ordinary and chariot-and-cavalry general.
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Zhenguo began as champion army acting staff officer, rose through tiger-guard commandant of the center and Nanqiao prefect, and won a name for able rule. The commandery was in bitter famine; he opened granaries and scattered wealth to save the poor. Qi Gaodi wrote by hand, "You love the people and govern the state—this suits my intent well." At the start of Yongming he became Guiyang interior governor, hunted bandits, and pacified the territory. When his term ended he returned to court; passing Jiangzhou, Inspector Liu Shilong came to the ford to see him off, saw his baggage light and plain, and sighed, "This is a true two-thousand-dan official!" On return he was made grand marshal central army staff officer. Emperor Wu of Qi knew and prized him; he often sighed and said, "Among later generations of generals' houses, few sons are like Zhenguo." He went out again as Ancheng interior governor. He entered as crossbow-and-horses commandant, champion chief of staff, and Zhongli prefect. He was then transferred to prefect of Ba and Ping. On return he was made raid general and left office for his father's mourning.
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使 殿
Late in Jianwu, Wei besieged Si province; Emperor Ming sent Xuzhou inspector Pei Shuye to take Guoyang as a diversion and raised Zhenguo to supporting-the-state general to reinforce him. Wei general Yang Dayan's host suddenly arrived; Shuye in fear abandoned the army and fled; Zhenguo led the rearguard, so the defeat was not total. In Yongtai year one, Kuaiji prefect Wang Jingze rebelled; Zhenguo again led troops against him. When Jingze was pacified, he was made pacifying-the-north general and inspector of Qing and Ji, general as before.
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使 殿西使
When the Righteous Army rose, Donghun summoned Zhenguo with his troops to the capital; he entered and garrisoned Jiankang. When the Righteous Army arrived, Donghun sent Zhenguo to camp at Zhuque Gate; Wang Mao's army defeated him and he re-entered the city. He secretly sent Xi Zuan to present a bright mirror to Gaozu as pledge of loyalty; Gaozu broke gold in answer. Everyone in the city wished to turn to the righteous cause, yet none dared move first; attendant Zhang Ji as Ministry of Guard general commanded the host; Zhenguo secretly won over Ji's confidant Zhang Qi to sway Ji, and Ji agreed. On the morning of day bingyin in the twelfth month, Zhenguo led Ji to the Ministry of Guard headquarters, mustered troops through Cloud Dragon Gate, and at once beheaded Donghun in the inner hall; with Ji he met right vice director Wang Liang and others below the western bell and had palace scribe Pei Changmu and others present Donghun's head to Gaozu. For merit he was appointed right guard general; he declined; Again appointed Xuzhou inspector; he firmly begged to stay in the capital. Again granted gold and silk; Zhenguo again firmly declined. An edict replied, "In old times Tian Zitai firmly declined silk and grain. Your care for the state runs deep—truly praiseworthy." Later at a feast the emperor asked, "Your bright mirror still exists—where is the gold of old?" Zhenguo answered, "The gold is carefully at my elbow; I dare not let it fall." Again made right guard general with additional supervisory attendant; transferred to left guard general with additional scattered-cavalry attendant-in-ordinary. At the start of Tianjian he was enfeoffed marquis of Zhenyang with a thousand households. Made director of the court for public works, attendant-in-ordinary as before.
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退 使 使
In year five, Wei's prince of Rencheng Yuan Cheng raided Zhongli; Gaozu sent Zhenguo and asked how to defeat the rebels. Zhenguo replied, "Your subject always worries that Wei has too few troops, not that they have too many." Gaozu admired his words, granted credentials, and sent him with the armies on the campaign. Wei withdrew; the army returned in triumph. He went out bearer of staff, commander of Liang and Qin military affairs, campaign general who subdues barbarians, and inspector of Nan and Liang. When Liang's long chief of staff Xiahou Daoyuan surrendered the province to Wei, Zhenguo marched overland through Wei Xing to strike but failed and remained to garrison. For lack of merit he repeatedly asked to resign; Gaozu would not allow it. His enfeoffment was changed to marquis of Yiyang, households as before. Recalled as outer scattered-cavalry attendant-in-ordinary and crown prince right guard leader, with additional rear army. Before long, again left guard general. In year nine he went out bearer of staff, commander of Xiang military affairs, faithful martial general, and Xiang inspector. After four years in office he was recalled as protector general, then undisguised scattered-cavalry attendant-in-ordinary and Danyang governor. In year fourteen he died. An edict granted chariot-and-cavalry general, one set of martial music, ten thousand cash for the funeral, and a hundred bolts of cloth. Posthumous title: Wei. His son Sengdu inherited.
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簿
Ma Xianpin, styled Lingfu, came from Mei in Fufeng. His father Boluan was Song champion army acting chief of staff. From youth Xianpin was known for daring; when his father died his mourning exceeded ritual—he carried earth for the mound and planted pines and cypresses himself. He began as Yezhou chief clerk, rose to martial-cavalry regular attendant, served as a junior officer, and followed Qi's prince of Anlu Xiao Mian. When Mian died, he served Emperor Ming. In Yongyuan, Xiao Yaoguang and Cui Huijing rebelled; he won repeated battle merit and rose to front general. He went out as dragon-prancing general and prefect of Nan Ruyin and Qiao. When Shouchun had newly fallen, Wei general Wang Su raided the border; Xianpin fought hard, the few overcame the many, and Wei greatly feared him. Again through merit he was transferred to pacifying-the-north general and Yuzhou inspector.
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使 西宿 使 便
When the Righteous Army rose, all quarters largely responded; Gaozu sent Xianpin's old friend Yao Zhongbin to win him over; Xianpin beheaded Zhongbin in camp to warn the host. When the Righteous Army reached Xinlin, Xianpin still held arms west of the river, daily requisitioning transport grain; when Jiankang fell, he wept all night, then laid down arms and came to submit his guilt. Gaozu comforted him, saying, "Shooting the hook, cutting the sleeve—men of old did not resent such things. Do not, because you killed the envoy and cut off supply, needlessly estrange yourself." Xianpin apologized, "A petty man is like a stray dog without a master; when a new master feeds it, it serves again." Gaozu laughed and praised him. Soon Xianpin's mother died; Gaozu knew he was poor and gave funeral gifts very generously. Xianpin wept and said to his younger brother Zhong'ai, "Having received great creating grace, I have not yet repaid it. Now again receiving special favor—we shall repay with all our strength, you and I."
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退
In Tianjian year four, the royal army marched north; Xianpin in every battle was bravest in the three armies; whoever met his charge was shattered. When the generals discussed affairs, he never spoke of merit. When asked why, Xianpin said, "A man whom the age knows should advance without seeking fame and retreat without escaping punishment—that is his lifetime wish. What merit is there to discuss!" He was appointed supporting-the-state general and prefect of Song'an and Anman, then south Yiyang prefect. He repeatedly broke the mountain barbarians; the commandery was quiet and orderly. For merit he was enfeoffed baron of Hansui with four hundred households, then commander of Si military affairs and Si inspector, supporting-the-state general as before. Soon he was advanced to faithful martial general.
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使 退
A man of Wei Yuzhou, Bai Zaosheng, killed his inspector the prince of Langye Sima Qingzeng, styled himself pacifying-the-north general, and pushed his fellow villager Hu Xun as inspector to offer Xuanhu in surrender. Gaozu sent Xianpin; he also sent direct-palace general Wu Huichao and Ma Guang with troops as reinforcements. Xianpin advanced and encamped at Prince of Chu city and sent deputy general Qi Gou'er with two thousand men to help guard Xuanhu. Wei's prince of Zhongshan Yuan Ying led a hundred thousand men against Xuanhu; Xianpin sent Guang, Huichao, and others to guard the three passes. In the twelfth month Ying took Xuanhu, seized Qi Gou'er, then attacked Ma Guang and defeated him, capturing him alive and sending him to Luoyang. Xianpin could not rescue. Huichao and the others also withdrew in succession; Wei then advanced and held the three passes. Xianpin was recalled for the failure and made cloud-cavalry general. He went out as benevolent prestige staff officer; when the manor lord Prince of Yuzhang changed title to cloud-banner, he again became staff officer with additional shaking-the-distant general.
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In year ten the people of Qushan killed Langye prefect Liu Xi and surrendered the city to Wei; an edict granted Xianpin credentials to attack. Wei Xuzhou inspector Lu Chang came with more than a hundred thousand men. Xianpin fought him, repeatedly defeated him, and Chang fled. Xianpin loosed troops in pursuit; only one or two in ten of Wei's host escaped; grain, cattle, horses, and arms taken were beyond counting. The army returned in triumph; he was transferred crown prince left guard leader, advanced to marquis, fief increased by six hundred households. In year eleven he was transferred bearer of staff, commander of Yu, north Yu, and Huo, faithful martial general and Yuzhou inspector, with concurrent Nan Ruyin prefect.
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At first Xianpin's childhood name was Xianbi; when grown, because "bi" as a name was not proper, he replaced the female radical with jade and made "Xianpin," it is said. As general and in commanderies and prefectures, he shared hardship and ease with officers and soldiers. His clothing was no more than plain cloth and silk; his dwelling had no curtains, quilts, or screens; on the march he ate and drank with the lowest groom. On the borders he often went alone in secret into enemy camps to learn walls, stockades, villages, and passes; hence he mostly won battles, and the soldiers were willing to die for him; Gaozu deeply loved and relied on him. After four years in the province he died. Granted left guard general. Posthumous title: Gang. His son Yanfu inherited.
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Zhang Qi, styled Zixiang, was a man of Fengyi commandery. His family had long lived at Hengsang; some say he was native there. From youth he had courage and spirit. He first served Jing prefecture chief of staff Yuan Lisheng. Lisheng drank heavily and was harsh to subordinates; he showed Qi little courtesy. When Lisheng left office, Zhang Ji of Wu became Jing chief of staff; Qi followed him again. Ji deeply trusted him as a confidant and even entrusted household matters to him. Qi served Ji wholeheartedly and shrank from nothing. He followed Ji back to the capital. When Ji took South Yanzhou, Qi was promoted to military participation officer on the staff and first put in charge of troops.
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殿
In Qi Yongyuan, the righteous army rose; Donghun recalled Ji, made him commander of palace-city forces, and lodged him in the Masters of Writing complex. As the righteous army drew near and the ring tightened, Qi visited Wang Zhenguo daily and secretly fixed their plan. When the plan was set, at night he brought Zhenguo to Ji for a knee-to-knee counsel; Qi himself held the candle while they plotted. At dawn he, Ji, and Zhenguo seized Donghun in the inner hall; Qi himself killed him with his blade. Next year Gaozu took the throne; Qi was made Marquis of Anchang with five hundred households, retaining pacification north general and Liyang administrator. Qi could neither write nor read, yet in office he ruled cleanly and managed affairs diligently.
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退 使 西
In Tianjian year two he returned as tiger-fang central corps general. Before taking post he was made Tianmen administrator, keeping pacification north general. In year four Wei general Wang Zu invaded Ba and Shu; Gaozu made Qi assists-the-state general to relieve Shu. Before he arrived Zu had withdrawn; Qi advanced to hold Nan'an. In autumn of year seven he set garrisons at Dajian and Hanzong, then returned the army to Yizhou. That year he became martial array general and Baxi administrator, soon with added pacifies-the-distance general. In year ten Yao Jinghe of the commandery rallied Man of Yan, cut the river route, and stormed Jinjing. Qi attacked Jinghe at Pingchang and broke him.
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西
Earlier Nanzheng had fallen to Wei, so South Liang province was set up west of Yizhou. The new provincial seat depended wholly on Yizhou for supplies. Qi reported righteous tribute from the Yi and Liao, gaining two hundred thousand hu of rice. He also set relays and opened foundries to sustain South Liang.
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退 西
In year eleven he gained acting credentials and command of Yizhou outer-water forces. In year twelve Wei general Fu Shuyan attacked Nan'an; Qi resisted and Shuyan withdrew. In year fourteen he became trusted martial general and administrator of Baxi and Zitong. That year Ren Lingzong of Jiameng, as the people resented Wei, killed the Wei Jinshou administrator and surrendered the city. The prince of Poyang as Yizhou inspector sent Qi with thirty thousand men, overseeing chief clerk Xi Zongfan and others to welcome Lingzong. In year fifteen Wei east Yizhou inspector Yuan Faseng sent his son Jinglong against Qi; Nan'an administrator Huangfu Chen and Zongfan counterattacked, crushing the Wei army at Jiameng, sacking more than ten cities; Wei generals Qiu Tu and Wang Mu among others surrendered. Wei reinforced Fu Shuyan and fought again; with too few men Qi fared ill and withdrew, and Jiameng fell back to Wei.
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便調 西 沿
Qi spent years in the Yi lands campaigning against Man and Liao; he had no peaceful year. In camp he shared labor and hardship with the troops. He sketched encampments and walls to suit every need and rationed clothing and grain so none wanted for anything. Men attached to him and even Man and Liao dared not offend him; his fame ran through Yong and Shu. Baxi held half of Yizhou and lay on the vital eastern route; passing inspectors and distant army offices left many destitute. Along the route Qi stockpiled grain and planted vegetables so travelers could be supplied. His knack for getting things done was mostly of this kind.
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西
In year seventeen he became bearer of credentials, area commander of South Liang, sagacious martial general, and South Liang inspector. In Putong year four he became trusted martial general, western campaign staff officer to the prince of Poyang, and administrator of Xinxing and Yongning. Before departing he died, aged sixty-seven. Posthumously he was made regular attendant cavalier attendant-in-ordinary and right palace guard general. Funeral bounty was one hundred thousand cash and one hundred bolts of cloth. He was posthumously titled Zhuang (Stalwart).
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[1]
Chen minister of personnel Yao Cha said: Wang Zhenguo, Shen Gou, Xu Yuanyu, and Li Jushi—at the end of Qi all were ranked generals with strong armies; some bound themselves and pleaded guilt, some cut the passes and offered victory; Only Ma Xianpin could submit afterward. Benevolence and righteousness are not fixed—tread them and one becomes a gentleman. Truly! When they guarded the border and led the troops, even Li Mu could not surpass them. Zhang Qi's achievements in office were distinctive as well. Gou, Yuanyu, and Jushi left little record after entering Liang, so no biographies were written for them. [1] Editorial footnote marker.
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The full text was collated against the Zhonghua Shuju edition of the Book of Liang (May 1973).
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