1
崔祖思
Cui Zusi
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崔祖思字敬元，清河東武城人，崔琰七世孫也。 祖諲，宋冀州刺史。 父僧護，州秀才。
Cui Zusi, styled Jingyuan, was a man of Dongwucheng in Qinghe, seventh in descent from Cui Yan. His grandfather Shen served as inspector of Ji under the Song. His father Senghu was a provincial scholar nominee.
3
祖思少有志氣，好讀書史。 初州辟主簿，與刺史劉懷珍於堯廟祠神，廟有蘇侯像。 懷珍曰：「堯聖人，而與雜神爲列，欲去之，何如？」 祖思曰：「蘇峻今日可謂四凶之五也。」 懷珍遂令除諸雜神。
In youth Zusi had spirit and loved histories. At first the province took him as chief clerk; with Inspector Liu Huaizhen he sacrificed at the Yao temple, where there stood an image of Lord Su. Huaizhen said: 「Yao was a sage, yet he is set in one row with stray gods—we wish to take them away; what say you? 」Zusi said: 「Su Jun today is a fifth among the Four Evils. 」Huaizhen then had every stray god cleared away.
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太祖在淮陰，祖思聞風自結，爲上輔國主簿，甚見親待，參豫謀議。 除奉朝請，安成王撫軍行參軍，員外正員郎，冀州中正。 宋朝初議封太祖爲梁公，祖思啓太祖曰：「讖書云『金刀利刃齊刈之』。 今宜稱齊，實應天命。」 從之。 轉爲相國從事中郎，遷齊國內史。 ，轉長兼給事黃門侍郎。
While the Founder was at Huaiyin, Zusi heard his fame and bound himself to him, serving as chief clerk on the supporter-of-state staff; he was warmly trusted and joined in planning. He was named irregular attendant-at-court, acting staff officer on the pacification-army staff of the Prince of Ancheng, supernumerary full gentleman, and impartial nominee for Ji Province. When the Song first debated enfeoffing the Founder as duke of Liang, Zusi wrote to him: 「The prophecy book says, 『The golden blade's sharp edge—Qi shall cut it down.』 Now you should bear the name Qi; that truly answers Heaven's mandate. 」The court followed his counsel. He was moved to senior staff officer of the chancellor-of-state and made interior minister of the state of Qi. He was then transferred as chief administrator concurrently supernumerary attendant of the yellow gate.
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上初卽位，祖思啓陳政事曰：
When the Emperor first took the throne, Zusi memorialized on state affairs, saying:
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:「《禮誥》者，人倫之襟冕，帝王之樞柄。 自古開物成務，必以教學爲先。 世不習學，民忘志義，悖競因斯而興，禍亂是焉而作。 故篤俗昌治，莫先道教，不得以夷險革慮，儉泰移業。 今無員之官，空受祿力。 三載無考績之效，九年闕登黜之序。 國儲以之虛匱，民力爲之凋散。 能否無章，涇渭混流。 宜大廟之南，弘脩文序； 司農以北，廣開武校。 臺府州國，限外之職，問其所樂，依方課習，各盡其能。 月供僮幹，如先充給。 若有廢墮，遣還故郡。 殊經奇藝，待以不次，士脩其業，必有異等，民識其利，能無勉勵。」
「The Rites and Proclamations are the collar and cap of human bonds, the hinge of kingship. Since antiquity, to open the world and finish the work, teaching and learning have come first. When the age does not study, the people forget purpose and duty; reckless strife rises from it, and ruin and revolt are born there. To deepen custom and brighten rule, nothing comes before the teaching of the Way; one must not change one's resolve for danger or ease, nor shift one's trade for thrift or excess. Today posts without quotas draw pay and corvée in vain. Three years bring no fruit of performance review; nine years lack the order of rise and fall. The treasury grows empty from it; the people's strength is thinned by it. Able and unable go unmarked; clear and muddy run in one stream. South of the grand temple, broaden the schools of letters; north of the minister of revenue, open military academies far and wide. In the ministries, prefectures, and princedoms, for posts beyond the quota ask what each man loves, set study by specialty, and let each spend his gift. Each month supply bond-servants and runners as before for their keep. If any fail and fall idle, send them back to their home commandery. For rare classics and wondrous arts, advance them out of turn; when scholars polish their craft there will surely be outstanding ranks, and when the people see the gain they must strive.」
7
:又曰：「漢文集上書囊以爲殿帷，身衣弋綈，以韋帶劔，慎夫人衣不曳地，惜中人十家之產，不爲露臺。 劉備取帳鉤銅鑄錢以充國用。 魏武遣女，皁帳，婢十人，東阿婦以繡衣賜死，王景興以淅米見誚。 宋武節儉過人，張妃房唯碧綃蚊幬，三齊穀席，五盞盤桃花米飯。 殷仲文勸令畜伎，荅云『我不解聲』。 仲文曰『但畜自解』，又荅『畏解，故不畜』。 歷觀帝王，未嘗不以約素興，侈麗亡也。 伏惟陛下，體唐成儉，踵虞爲樸。 寢殿則素木卑構，膳器則陶瓢充御。 瓊簪玉箸，碎以爲塵，珍裘繡服，焚之如草。 斯實風高上代，民偃下世矣。 然教信雖孚，氓染未革，宜加甄明，以速歸厚。 詳察朝士，有柴車蓬館，高以殊等； 雕墻華輪，卑其稱謂。 馳禽荒色，長違清編，嗜音酣酒，守官不徙。 物識義方，且懼且勸，則調風變俗，不俟終日。」
Also he said: 「Emperor Wen of Han piled the bags that held memorials to make hall curtains, wore plain silk himself, and belted his sword with leather; Lady Shen's skirts did not sweep the floor; he spared the wealth of ten palace households and would not raise an open terrace. Liu Bei took bronze from tent-hooks to cast coin and fill the treasury. Cao Cao, when marrying off a daughter, sent only a black-lacquer tent and ten maids; the Lady of Dong'e was ordered to die for embroidered robes; Wang Lang was mocked for rinsed rice. Emperor Wu of Song was thriftier than other men: Consort Zhang's room held only blue silk mosquito nets, a mat of grain from the three Qi, and peach-blossom rice in a five-bowl dish. Yin Zhongwen urged him to keep musicians; he answered, 『I do not understand sound. Zhongwen said, 『Keep them and you will understand on your own』; he answered again, 『I fear understanding—so I do not keep them. Looking across emperors of every age, none ever failed to rise through plain restraint or fall through lavish excess. I bow before Your Majesty, who take Yao and Tang for thrift and tread Shun for plainness. The sleeping hall is plain wood built low; the dining vessels are clay ladles enough for the court. Jade hairpins and ivory chopsticks are ground to dust; precious furs and embroidered robes are burned like grass. This truly raises the wind of high antiquity and lets the people lie down in a later age. Yet though teaching's faith is deep, the people's stain is not yet washed away; you should clarify ranks to hurry them back to substance. Look closely at court gentlemen: where there are brushwood carts and rush-thatched inns, raise their special rank; where there are carved walls and splendid wheels, lower their titles of honor. Chasing birds and lost in lewd color, long outside the pure code; drunk on music and wine, holding office without moving. When things know duty and method, both fearing and urging—then to tune the wind and change custom need not wait a full day.」
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:又曰：「憲律之重，由來尚矣。 故曹參去齊，唯以獄市爲寄，餘無所言。 路溫舒言『秦有十失，其一尚在，治獄之吏是也』。 寔宜清置廷尉，茂簡三官，寺丞獄主，彌重其選，研習律令，刪除繁苛。 詔獄及兩縣，一月三訊，觀貌察情，欺枉必達。 使明慎用刑，無忝大《易》，寧失不經，靡愧《周書》。 漢來治律有家，子孫竝世其業，聚徒講授，至數百人。 故張、于二氏，絜譽文、宣之世； 陳、郭兩族，流稱武、明之朝。 決獄無冤，慶昌枝裔，槐羇相襲，蟬紫傳輝。 今廷尉律生，乃令史門戶，族非咸、弘，庭缺于訓。 刑之不措，抑此之由。 如詳擇篤厚之士，使習律令，試簡有徵，擢爲廷尉僚屬。 苟官世其家而不美其績，鮮矣； 廢其職而欲善其事，未之有也。 若劉累傳守其業，庖人不乏龍肝之饌，斷可知矣。」
Also he said: 「The weight of statutes and penalties has been honored from of old. Therefore when Cao Shen left Qi he charged only the prisons and markets and said nothing else. Lu Wenshu said, 『The Qin had ten failures; one remains today—the officers who judge prisons are it.』 The Court Commandant should be appointed clearly and the three judicial offices staffed with care; prison clerks and wardens must be chosen with still greater rigor, trained in the codes, and relieved of redundant severity. For imperial prison cases and the two capital counties, hold three hearings a month; read face and spirit until fraud and wrong are exposed. Let punishments be applied with sober care, in keeping with the Great Changes—better to acquit wrongly than to convict wrongly, and without shame to the Documents of Zhou. Under the Han, legal learning ran in families whose sons and grandsons carried the trade from age to age, gathering pupils until lecture halls held hundreds. The Zhang and Yu clans won unstained fame under Emperors Wen and Xuan; the Chen and Guo lines were praised through the reigns of Wu and Ming. Cases left their courts without a false verdict, and their lines prospered—high office breeding high office, purple and cicada insignia passed from father to son. Today the Court Commandant's law trainees are little more than clerk families—no lineages like Xian or Hong, no court schooled as the Yu once schooled it. That punishments misfire is largely why. Choose men of solid character, train them in the statutes, test them for real aptitude, and raise the proven to posts under the Court Commandant— hereditary office without matching merit would be rare; but abolish the craft and still expect mastery—when has that ever worked? When Liu Lei kept his art alive, kitchens never lacked dragon's liver—the precedent is plain.」
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:又曰：「樂者動天地，感鬼神，正情性，立人倫，其義大矣。 桉前漢編戶千萬，太樂伶官方八百二十九人，孔光等奏罷不合經法者四百四十一人，正樂定員，唯置三百八十八人。 今戶口不能百萬，而太樂雅、鄭，元徽時校試千有餘人，後堂雜伎，不在其數，糜廢力役，傷敗風俗。 今欲撥邪歸道，莫若罷雜伎，王庭唯置鍾虡、羽戚、登歌而已。 如此，則官充給養，國反淳風矣。」
Again he said: 「Music stirs heaven and earth, moves ghost and spirit, straightens feeling and nature, and sets human relations in order—its weight is immense. Former Han counted ten million households yet staffed the Grand Music office with 829 performers; Kong Guang and his colleagues proposed dismissing 441 who violated classical norms, fixing the establishment at 388. Our registers fall short of a million, yet Grand Music—court and popular alike—tested more than a thousand musicians in the Yuanhui reign, and the rear-hall troupes stand outside even that figure, wasting labor and corroding custom. To steer away from decadence, dismiss the variety acts; let the royal court keep only bells and lithophones, shield-dancers, and the ascent hymns. Then the ministry would be fed within its means and the realm would recover an honest wind.」
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:又曰：「論儒者以德化爲本； 談法者以刻削爲體。 道教治世之粱肉，刑憲亂世之藥石，故以教化比雨露，名法方風霜。 是以有恥且格，敬讓之樞紐； 令行禁止，爲國之關楗。 然則天下治者，賞罰而已矣。 賞不事豐，所病於不均； 罰不在重，所困於不當。 如令甲勳少，乙功多，賞甲而捨乙，天下必有不勸矣； 丙罪重，丁眚輕，罰丁而赦丙，天下必有不悛矣。 是賞罰空行，無當乎勸沮。 將令見罰者寵習之臣，受賞者仇讎之士，戮一人而萬國懼，賞匹夫而四海悅。」
Again he said: 「Confucians take moral transformation as their root; legalists take harsh cutting as their substance. The Way is grain and meat for a well-governed age; penal codes are medicine for a troubled one—hence teaching is likened to rain and dew, statute to wind and frost. Shame that reforms conduct is the hinge of reverence and yielding; commands enforced and bans upheld are the gate-bar of the state. In the end, to govern the realm is to balance reward and punishment. Rewards need not be lavish; the harm lies in unfairness; punishments need not be heavy; the trouble lies in misapplication. If A merits little and B merits much, yet you honor A and pass over B, the empire will cease to strive; if C's guilt is grave and D's slight, yet you punish D and spare C, the empire will cease to mend its ways. Rewards and punishments would run hollow, fit neither to reward nor to warn. Let those punished be pampered favorites, and those rewarded be sworn foes; kill one man and every state trembles, reward one commoner and the four seas rejoice.」
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:又曰：「籍稅以厚國，國虛民貧； 廣田以實廩，國富民贍。 堯資用天之儲，實拯懷山之數。 湯憑分地之積，以勝流金之運。 近代魏置典農，而中都足食； 晉開汝、潁，而汴河委儲。 今將掃辟咸、華，題鏤龍漠，宜簡役敦農，開田廣稼。 時罷山池之威禁，深抑豪右之兼擅，則兵民優贍，可以出師。」
Again he said: 「Tax registers to fatten the treasury hollow the state and beggar the people; broad fields to fill granaries enrich the state and feed the people. Yao drew on heaven's granaries and truly rescued the tale of mountains drowned in flood. Tang built on the yield of allotted fields and overcame the age of flowing metal. In recent times Wei set up agrarian offices and the central capital ate its fill; Jin opened the Ru and Ying tracts and the Bian channel brimmed with grain. As we aim to sweep the heartland and mark the northern frontier, we should lighten corvée, urge farming, open land, and widen the harvest. Lift the ban on mountain and pond revenues, curb great-house encroachment, and troops and people alike will be ample enough to take the field.」
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:又曰：「古者左史記言，右史記事，故君舉必書，盡直筆而不污； 上無妄動，知如絲之成綸。 今者著作之官，起居而已； 述事之徒，褒諛爲體。 世無董狐，書法必隱； 時闕南史，直筆未聞。」
Again he said: 「Of old the left scribe recorded words and the right scribe recorded deeds, so every act of the ruler was entered, brush straight and unstained; the lord made no rash move, knowing that threads become a cable. Today the compilers note who rose and who retired; those who recount events traffic in praise. Without a Dong Hu, the law of record must hide the truth; without a Southern Scribe, the straight brush is nowhere heard.」
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:又曰：「廢諫官，則聽納靡依。 雖課勵朝僚，徵訪芻輿，莫若推舉質直，職思其憂。 夫越任于事，在言爲難； 當官而行，處辭或易。 物議旣以無言望己，己亦當以吞默慚人。 中丞雖謝咸、玄，未有全廢劾簡； 廷尉誠非釋之，寧容都無訊牒。 故知與其謬人，寧不廢職，目前之明效也。 漢徵貢禹爲諫大夫，矢言先策，夏侯勝狂直拘繫，出補諷職，伐柯非遐，行之卽善。」
Again he said: 「Abolish remonstrance officers and the throne has nothing firm to lean on. Lecturing courtiers or polling rural opinion cannot match raising blunt, honest men who take their charge to heart. To speak beyond one's brief is hard; to act from office is often easier on the tongue. The world already expects your silence; you should be ashamed to grant it. The censor-in-chief may have set aside Xian and Xuan, yet the power to impeach has not been cast off entirely; The Director of Justice is no Zhang Shizhi—yet how can the docket stand utterly empty? The lesson is clear: keep the post filled, even with the wrong man, rather than abolish it—a truth the present age proves. Under Han, Gong Yu was called up as Remonstrance Grandee and set policy first; Xiahou Sheng, blunt to the point of madness, was bound, then sent out to a post of mockery—yet the handle is near at hand to cut; act, and the good comes at once.」
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:又曰：「天地無心，賦氣自均，寧得誕秀往古，而獨寂寥一代，將在知與不知，用與不用耳。 夫有賢而不知，知賢而不用，用賢而不委，委賢而不信，此四者，古今之通患也。 今誠重郭隗而招劇辛，任鮑叔以求夷吾，則天下之士，不待召而自至矣。」
He said again: 「Heaven and earth bear no intent; breath is allotted evenly. How could excellence be born only in the past, while our age alone stands bare? The difference is knowing or not knowing, using or not using.」 Worthies present but unknown; known but not used; used but not empowered; empowered but not trusted—these four have been the standing grief of every age. Honor Guo Wei as Yan did, and Ju Xin will come; trust Bao Shuya as Duke Huan did, and Guan Zhong will be found—then the realm's worthies will arrive without a summons.」
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上優詔報答。
The throne answered with a gracious edict.
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尋遷寧朔將軍、冠軍司馬，領齊郡太守、本官如故。 是冬，虜動，遷冠軍將軍、軍主，屯淮上。 二年，進號征虜將軍，軍主如故。 仍遷假節、督青冀二州刺史，將軍如故。 少時，卒。 上歎曰：「我方欲用祖思，不幸，可惜。」 詔賻錢三萬，布五十匹。
Before long he was named General Who Pacifies the North and champion chief clerk, with Qi commandery added to his charge; his other offices stood as before. That winter the northerners moved. He was shifted to Champion General and army commander and posted on the Huai. In the second year he was raised to General Who Punishes the Barbarians, still commanding the army as before. He was then granted acting credentials and put in charge of Qing and Ji; his general's rank was unchanged. Soon after, he died. The emperor sighed and said: 「I had only just begun to rely on Zusi—what ill luck. A waste. 」An edict granted thirty thousand in funeral cash and fifty bolts of cloth.
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祖思宗人文仲，初辟州從事。 泰始初，爲薛安都平北主簿，拔難歸國。 元徽初，從太祖於新亭拒桂陽賊，著誠效，除游擊將軍。 沈攸之事起，助豫章王鎮東府，歷驃騎諮議，出爲徐州刺史。 建元初，封建陽縣子，三百戶。 二年，虜攻鍾離，仲文擊破之。 又遣軍主崔孝伯等過淮攻拔虜茬眉戍，殺戍主龍得侯及偽陽平太守郭杜羝，館陶令張德，濮陽令王明。 時虜攻殺馬頭太守劉從，上曰：「破茬眉，足相補。」 文仲又遣軍主陳靖攻虜竹邑戍主白仲都，又遣軍主崔延叔攻偽淮陽太守梁惡，竝殺之。 三年，淮北義民桓磊磈於抱犢固與虜戰，大破之。 仲文馳啓，上敕曰：「北閒起義者衆，深恐良會不再至，卿善獎沛中人，若能一時攘袂，當遣一佳將直入也。」 文仲在政，爲百姓所憚。 除黃門郎，領越騎校尉，改封隨縣。 嘗獻太祖纏鬚繩一枚，上爲納受。 永明元年，爲太子左率，累至征虜將軍、冠軍司馬、汝陰太守。 四年，卒。 贈後將軍、徐州刺史。 諡襄子。
Zusi's kinsman Wen Zhong was first taken on as a provincial staff officer. At the opening of Taishi he was chief clerk on Xue Andu's Pacify-the-North staff; he broke through danger and came back to the south. At the start of Yuanhui he followed the Grand Ancestor to Xinting against the Guiyang rebels, proved his loyalty, and was made Mobile-Strike General. When Shen Youzhi rose, he helped the Prince of Yuzhang hold the Eastern Palace, served as Rapid Cavalry consultative officer, and went out as inspector of Xu. At the founding of Jianyuan he was made village Marquis of Yangcheng, with a fief of three hundred households. In the second year the northerners pressed Zhongli; Wen Zhong beat them back. He also sent army commander Cui Xiaobo and others across the Huai to storm the northerners' Chamazhi fort, killing the garrison chief Long Dehou, the puppet Yangping administrator Guo Durong, Guantao magistrate Zhang De, and Puyang magistrate Wang Ming. Just then the northerners attacked and killed Liu Cong, administrator of Matou. The emperor said: 「Breaking Chamazhi balances the ledger well enough. 」Wen Zhong sent army commander Chen Jing against the Zhuyi garrison chief Bai Zhongdu, and army commander Cui Yanshu against the puppet Huaiyang administrator Liang E—and killed them both. In the third year Huan Leikai, a righteous man of Huaibei, fought the northerners at Baodugu and routed them completely. Wen Zhong sent an urgent report; the emperor commanded: 「The north is full of rising loyalists, and I fear this ripe hour may not return. Stir the men of Pei—if they will roll up their sleeves together, I shall send a first-rate general straight in. 」In office, Wen Zhong was a man the common people feared. He was made Gentleman of the Yellow Gates, with the added post of Colonel of Rapid Cavalry, and his fief was moved to Sui county. Once he offered the Grand Ancestor a coil of beard-binding cord, and the throne took it. In Yongming 1 he was Left Leader of the Crown Prince's Household, and in time rose to General Who Punishes the Barbarians, champion chief clerk, and administrator of Ruyin. In the fourth year he died. After death he was given Rear General and inspector of Xu. His posthumous name was Xiangzi.
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劉善明
Liu Shanming
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劉善明，平原人。 鎮北將軍懷珍族弟也。 父懷民，宋世爲齊北海二郡太守。 元嘉末，青州飢荒，人相食，善明家有積粟，躬食饘粥，開倉以救郷里，多獲全濟，百姓呼其家田爲「續命田」。
Liu Shanming came from Pingyuan. He was a younger cousin of Liu Huaizhen, General Who Guards the North. His father Huaimin had governed Qi and Beihai under the Song. At the end of Yuanjia, Qingzhou starved until men ate one another. Shanming's family had grain in store; he lived on thin gruel himself and opened the bins to save the neighborhood. Many lived who would have died, and the people called his family's fields the Fields That Gave Life Back.
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少而靜處讀書，刺史杜驥聞名候之，辭不相見。 年四十，刺史劉道隆辟爲治中從事。 父懷民謂善明曰：「我已知汝立身，復欲見汝立官也。」 善明應辟。 仍舉秀才。 宋孝武見其對策強直，甚異之。
As a youth he read in seclusion; Inspector Du Ji, hearing his name, came to call, but Shanming would not see him. At forty, Inspector Liu Daolong took him on as headquarters chief clerk. His father Huaimin told him: 「I already know the man you will be; I want now to see the officer you will become. 」Shanming accepted the post. He was also nominated as Promoted Talent. Emperor Xiaowu of Song read his examination answers—blunt and unyielding—and marveled at them.
21
泰始初，徐州刺史薛安都反，青州刺史沈文秀應之。 時州治東陽城，善明家在郭內，不能自拔。 伯父彌之詭說文秀求自效，文秀使領軍主張靈慶等五千援安都。 彌之出門，密謂部曲曰：「始免禍坑矣。」 行至下邳，起義背文秀。 善明從伯懷恭爲北海太守，據郡相應。 善明密契收集門宗部曲，得三千人，夜斬關奔北海。 族兄乘民又聚衆渤海以應朝廷。 而彌之尋爲薛安都所殺，明帝贈輔國將軍、青州刺史。 以乘民爲寧朔將軍、冀州刺史，善明爲寧朔長史、北海太守，除尚書金部郎。 乘民病卒，仍以善明爲綏遠將軍、冀州刺史。 文秀旣降，除善明爲屯騎校尉，出爲海陵太守。 郡境邊海，無樹木，善明課民種榆檟雜果，遂獲其利。 還爲後軍將軍、直閤。
At the opening of Taishi, Xue Andu, inspector of Xu, rebelled, and Shen Wenxiu of Qing rose with him. The provincial seat was at Dongyang; Shanming's household was inside the wall and could not escape. His uncle Mizhi tricked Wenxiu into trusting him to prove his worth; Wenxiu sent army commander Zhang Lingqing with five thousand men to aid Andu. As Mizhi left the gate he whispered to his men: 「At last we have climbed out of the pit. 」At Xiapi he rose for the throne and turned on Wenxiu. Shanming's elder cousin Huaimin was administrator of Beihai and held the commandery for the court. Shanming bound his clan in secret, rallied its household troops to three thousand, and in the dark broke the gate and ran for Beihai. His cousin Chengmin likewise gathered men in Bohai to declare for the throne. Mizhi was soon slain by Xue Andu; Emperor Ming ennobled him posthumously as general who supports the state and inspector of Qingzhou. Chengmin became general who calms the north and inspector of Jizhou; Shanming took chief aide and administrator of Beihai under that command, and was named director of the ministry of revenue's gold bureau. When Chengmin died in office, Shanming was left in his place as general who comforts the distant and inspector of Jizhou. After Wenshu came in, Shanming was named commandant of the reserve cavalry and posted as administrator of Hailing. The coast had no timber; Shanming set the people to planting elms, catalpas, and orchard trees, and the district soon thrived on the harvest. He was recalled as rear guard general and director of the inner gate.
22
五年，青州沒虜，善明母陷北，虜移置桑乾。 善明布衣蔬食，哀戚如持喪。 明帝每見，爲之歎息，時人稱之。 轉寧朔將軍、巴西梓潼二郡太守。 善明以母在虜中，不願西行，涕泣固請，見許。 朝廷多哀善明心事。 元徽初，遣北使，朝議令善明舉人，善明舉州郷北平田惠紹使虜，贖得母還。
In year 5 Qingzhou was lost to the northerners; Shanming's mother was carried off and settled at Sanggan. Shanming dressed in hemp and ate sparingly, mourning her as though she were already dead. Each time Emperor Ming received him he sighed with pity; contemporaries spoke of his devotion. He was shifted to general who calms the north and administrator of Brazil and Zitong. With his mother still in the north, Shanming refused the western post; he pleaded with tears until the court relented. The whole court pitied the bond that held him back. Early in Yuanhui the court sent a northern envoy and asked Shanming to name a man; he put forward his townsman Tian Huishaokuo of Beiping, who crossed to the barbarians and bought his mother back.
23
幼主新立，羣公秉政，善明獨結事太祖，委身歸誠。 二年，出爲輔國將軍、西海太守、行青冀二州刺史。 至鎮，表請北伐，朝議不同。 善明從弟僧副，與善明俱知名於州里。 泰始初，虜暴淮北，僧副將部曲二千人東依海島，太祖在淮陰，壯其所爲，召與相見，引爲安成王撫軍參軍。 蒼梧肆暴，太祖憂恐，常令僧副微行伺察聲論。 使僧副密告善明及東海太守垣崇祖曰：「多人見勸北固廣陵，恐一旦動足，非爲長算。 今秋風行起，卿若能與垣東海微共動虜，則我諸計可立。」 善明曰：「宋氏將亡，愚智所辨。 故胡虜若動，反爲公患。 公神武世出，唯當靜以待之，因機奮發，功業自定。 不可遠去根本，自貽猖蹶。」 遣部曲健兒數十人隨僧副還詣領府，太祖納之。 蒼梧廢，徵善明爲冠軍將軍、太祖驃騎諮議、南東海太守、行南徐州事。
When the boy emperor mounted the throne and the great families ruled, Shanming alone threw in his lot with the Grand Ancestor and pledged himself without reserve. In year 2 he took the field as general who supports the state, administrator of Xihai, and acting inspector of Qing and Ji. At his post he asked leave to march north; the court would not hear of it. Shanming's cousin Sengfu shared his name throughout the province. When Taishi opened, the northerners swept the Huai north; Sengfu took two thousand household troops to coastal islands. The Grand Ancestor, then at Huaiyin, admired his nerve, called him in, and made him a staff officer on Prince Ancheng's pacifying army. Cangwu's cruelty ran unchecked and the Grand Ancestor lived in dread; he often sent Sengfu out in plain dress to catch the mood of the streets. He sent Sengfu to tell Shanming and Yuan Chongzu, administrator of Donghai, in secret: 「Many counsel me to seize Beigu and Guangling, but one rash move would not be a lasting plan. The autumn wind is rising. If you and Lord Yuan of Donghai can nudge the barbarians into motion, every scheme I have laid will take hold.」 」Shanming answered: 「Song's end is plain to fool and sage alike. Let the northern barbarians move, and they become your trouble, not your tool. Your martial genius stands above the age; wait in stillness, strike when heaven opens the way, and your work will finish itself. Do not leave your base and court disaster.」 He sent several dozen picked men back with Sengfu to headquarters; the Grand Ancestor took them in. Once Cangwu was cast down, Shanming was called in as champion general, staff adviser to the Grand Ancestor's swift-cavalry command, administrator of South Donghai, and acting governor of South Xuzhou.
24
沈攸之反，太祖深以爲憂。 善明獻計曰：「沈攸之控引八州，縱情蓄歛，收衆聚騎，營造舟仗，苞藏賊志，於焉十年。 性旣險躁，才非持重，而起逆累旬，遲回不進。 豈應有所待也？ 一則闇於兵機，二則人情離怨，三則有掣肘之患，四則天奪其魄。 本慮其剽勇，長於一戰，疑其輕速，掩襲未備。 今六師齊奮，諸侯同舉。 昔謝晦失理，不鬬自潰； 盧龍乖道，雖衆何施。 且袁粲、劉秉，賊之根本，根本旣滅，枝葉豈久。 此是已籠之鳥耳。」 事平，太祖召善明還都，謂之曰：「卿策沈攸之，雖復張良、陳平，適如此耳。」 仍遷散騎常侍，領長水校尉，黃門郎，領後軍將軍、太尉右司馬。 齊臺建，爲右衞將軍，辭疾不拜。
When Shen Youzhi turned rebel, the Grand Ancestor was deeply troubled. Shanming laid out a plan: 「Youzhi commands eight provinces, taxes as he pleases, herds men and horses, builds ships and weapons, and has nursed treason these ten years. He is treacherous and rash, not steady in counsel, yet weeks into rebellion he still will not close. What could he still be waiting for? First, he does not grasp war; second, his men are divided and bitter; third, rivals tug at his sleeves; fourth, heaven has taken his nerve. I feared his ferocity in a single clash and wondered if he might strike before we were ready. Now the six hosts advance as one and every lord has raised his banner. Xie Hui once lost the way and broke without a battle; Lu Long defied heaven—of what use were his crowds? Yuan Can and Liu Bing are the root of this revolt; cut the root and the branches cannot stand long. This is a bird already caged.」 」When the war ended, the Grand Ancestor called Shanming home and said, 「Your reading of Shen Youzhi—Zhang Liang and Chen Ping could not have done better.」 He was made attendant-in-ordinary of the scattered riders, commandant of the long river, palace gate officer, and rear guard general with concurrent post as right aide to the grand marshal. When the Qi regime was set up he was named right guard general but pleaded illness and would not take the seal.
25
司空褚淵謂善明曰：「高尚之事，乃卿從來素意。 今朝廷方相委待，詎得便學松、喬邪？」 善明曰：「我本無宦情，旣逢知己，所以戮力驅馳，願在申志。 今天地廓清，朝盈濟濟，鄙懷旣申，不敢昧於富貴矣。」 太祖踐阼，以善明勳誠，欲與善明祿，召謂之曰：「淮南近畿，國之形勢，自非親賢，不使居之。 卿爲我卧治也！」 代高宗爲征虜將軍、淮南宣城二郡太守，遣使拜授，封新淦伯，邑五百戶。
Chu Yuan, minister of works, told him, 「Renouncing office for a lofty life has always been your bent. Yet the court is ready to lean on you—will you play hermit among pines and catalpas now?」 」Shanming said, 「I never hungered for rank; once I met a lord who knew me, I strained every nerve to serve him and only wished to prove my heart. Now the realm is settled and the court throngs with talent; my wish is fulfilled—I will not grope after riches and titles.」 」At the Grand Ancestor's accession he meant to honor Shanming's service, called him in, and said, 「Huainan borders the capital heartland; it is the hinge of the realm. Only kin or proven men should guard it. Rule it for me from your couch!」 」He took Gao Zong's place as general who campaigns against barbarians and administrator of Huainan and Xuancheng; envoys brought the commission; he was enfeoffed as Baron of Xingan with five hundred households.
26
善明至郡，上表陳事曰：「周以三聖相資，再駕乃就。 漢值海內無主，累敗方登。 魏挾主行令，實踰二紀。 晉廢立持權，遂歷四世。 景祚攸集，如此之難者也。 陛下凝暉自天，照湛神極，睿周萬品，道洽無垠。 故能高嘯閑軒，鯨鯢自翦，垂拱雲帟，九服載晏，靡一戰之勞，無半辰之棘，苞池江海，籠苑嵩岱，神祇樂推，普天歸奉，二三年閒，允膺寶命，冑臨皇曆，正位宸居，開闢以來，未有若斯之盛者也。 夫常勝者無憂，恒成者好怠。 故雖休勿休，姬旦作誥； 安不忘危，尼父垂範。 今皇運草創，萬化始基，乘宋季葉，政多澆苛，億兆倒懸，仰齊蘇振。 臣早蒙殊養，志輸肝血，徒有其誠，曾闕埃露。 夙宵慚戰，如墜淵谷，不識忌諱，謹陳愚管，瞽言芻議，伏待斧鉞。」 所陳事凡十一條：其一，以爲「天地開創，人神慶仰，宜存問遠方，宣廣慈澤」。 其二，以爲「京師浩大，遠近所歸，宜遣醫藥，問其疾苦。 年九十以上及六疾不能自存者，隨宜量賜」。 其三，以爲「宋氏赦令，蒙原者寡。 愚謂今下赦書，宜令事實相副」。 其四，以爲「匈奴未滅，劉昶猶存，秋風揚塵，容能送死。 境上諸城，宜應嚴備，特簡雄略，以待事機，資實所須，皆宜豫辦」。 其五，以爲「宜除宋氏大明泰始以來諸苛政細制，以崇簡易」。 其六，以爲「凡諸土木之費，且可權停」。 其七，以爲「帝子王姬，宜崇儉約」。 其八，以爲「宜詔百官及府州郡縣，各貢讜言，以弘唐虞之美」。 其九，以爲「忠貞孝悌，宜擢以殊階，清儉苦節，應授以民政」。 其十，以爲「革命惟始，天地大慶，宜時擇才辨，北使匈奴」。 其十一，以爲「交州險敻，要荒之表，宋末政苛，遂至怨叛。 今大化創始，宜懷以恩德，未應遠勞將士，搖動邊氓。 且彼土所出，唯有珠寶，實非聖朝所須之急。 討伐之事，謂宜且停」。
When Shanming arrived in his province, he submitted a memorial: 「Zhou drew on three sage rulers in succession before the chariot of state could be driven a second time. Han rose when the realm had no lord, and the throne was won only after defeat upon defeat. Wei ruled in the emperor's name for more than two full reign cycles. Jin kept power through deposition and enthronement, and so held sway for four generations. When fortune's light gathers, the climb is as hard as this. Your Majesty draws radiance from Heaven, floods the sacred pole with light, embraces the ten thousand kinds in wisdom, and extends the Way without limit. Hence you may sing from a quiet hall while great foes cut themselves down; bowing beneath the cloud canopy, the nine domains rest in peace—without the labor of a single battle, without half a watch's anguish; seas and rivers lie within your pool, Song and Mount Tai within your park; spirits and gods press you forward, and all under Heaven returns in homage. In two or three years you truly received the precious mandate, took up the imperial succession, and sat the throne aright—since the world began, there has been no splendor like this. Those who always win cease to worry; those who always succeed grow slack. Therefore, though at rest, do not rest—the Duke of Zhou wrote his Announcements; in security forget not danger—Confucius left his model. Now the imperial fortune is newly forged and every transformation begins its footing; we rise from Song's late decline, when government ran harsh and thin; the people hung inverted, looking up for a revival like Su's. Your servant was long nurtured with special favor; his heart poured out blood and liver—he had only sincerity, yet could not offer even dust or dew. Night and morning shame assails him, as though he were falling into an abyss; ignorant of taboo, he respectfully offers this foolish counsel—blind words, hay arguments—and lies prostrate awaiting the axe. 」The memorial sets forth eleven points in all. First: 「Heaven and earth are newly opened; men and spirits rejoice and look up—send inquiries to distant regions and spread broad merciful grace.」 Second: 「The capital is vast, and near and far turn to it—dispatch physicians and medicines and ask after their suffering. Those ninety and above, and those with the six afflictions who cannot support themselves, should receive gifts as circumstances require.」 Third: 「Under the Song, amnesty edicts brought pardon to few. This fool holds that the amnesty now issued should match deed to word.」 Fourth: 「The Xiongnu are not yet destroyed; Liu Chang still lives; when autumn wind raises dust, they may yet fight to the death. Frontier towns should stand in strict readiness; choose men of bold strategy to await the moment; every supply needed should be prepared in advance.」 Fifth: 「Remove the harsh policies and minute regulations since Song's Daming and Taishi reigns, and exalt simplicity and ease.」 Sixth: 「All expenses for earthworks and timber may for now be suspended.」 Seventh: 「Imperial sons and royal daughters should be held to thrift and restraint.」 Eighth: 「Decree to the hundred officials and to prefectures, provinces, and counties that each present forthright counsel, to enlarge the beauty of Yao and Shun.」 Ninth: 「Loyalty, integrity, filial piety, and brotherhood should be raised to special rank; purity, thrift, and bitter integrity should receive charge of civil affairs.」 Tenth: 「The revolution has only begun; Heaven and earth hold a great rejoicing—at this time choose men of talent and discernment to go north as envoys to the Xiongnu.」 Eleventh: 「Jiaozhou is perilous and remote, on the outer edge of the wild borderlands; late Song government was harsh, and resentment rose to rebellion. Now the great transformation has only begun—embrace them with grace and virtue; do not yet trouble soldiers from afar and shake the frontier people. Moreover, what that land yields is only pearls and gems—not what the sage court urgently needs. The punitive expedition—I hold it should for now be stopped.」
27
又撰《賢聖雜語》奏之，託以諷諫。 上答曰：「省所獻雜語，竝列聖之明規，衆智之深軌。 卿能憲章先範，纂鏤情識，忠款旣昭，淵誠肅著，當以周旋，無忘聽覽也。」 又諫起宣陽門； 表陳宜明守宰賞罰； 立學校，制齊禮； 廣開賔館，以接荒民。 上又答曰：「具卿忠讜之懷。 夫賞罰以懲守宰，飾館以待遐荒。 皆古之善政，吾所宜勉。 更撰新禮，或非易制。 國學之美，已敕公卿。 宣陽門今敕停。 寡德多闕，思復有聞。」
He also compiled Miscellaneous Sayings of Worthies and Sages and submitted it, using it to remonstrate by indirection. The emperor replied: 「I have reviewed the miscellaneous sayings you submitted—they array the bright norms of the sages and the deep tracks of the many wise. You can take the former models as law and carve your feeling into knowledge; loyal sincerity is already bright, profound sincerity solemnly shown—you shall have my constant regard, and I shall not forget to hear and read.」 」He also remonstrated against building the Xuanyang Gate; in a memorial he stated that rewards and punishments for prefects and magistrates should be made clear; schools should be established and Qi rites regulated; guest houses should be broadly opened to receive the folk of the wild borderlands. The emperor again replied: 「I have taken in full your loyal, forthright heart. Rewards and punishments to chasten prefects and magistrates, ornamented lodges to await the distant wilds— all are good government of antiquity; they are what I should strive for. To draft new rites anew may not be easy to accomplish. The beauty of the state academy—I have already charged the excellencies. The Xuanyang Gate—I now decree it stopped. My few virtues have many lacks; I wish again to hear.」
28
善明身長七尺九寸，質素不好聲色，所居茅齋斧木而已，牀榻机案，不加刬削。 少與崔祖思友善，祖思出爲青、冀二州，善明遺書曰：「昔時之遊，于今邈矣。 或攜手春林，或負杖秋澗，逐清風於林杪，追素月於園垂，如何故人，徂落殆盡。 足下方擁旄北服，吾剖竹南甸，相去千里，閒以江山，人生如寄，來會何時。 嘗覽書史，數千年來，略在眼中矣。 歷代參差，萬理同異。 夫龍虎風雲之契，亂極必夷之幾，古今豈殊，此實一揆。 日者沈攸之擁長蛇於外，粲、秉復爲異識所推； 唯有京鎮，創爲聖基。 遂乃擢吾爲首佐，授吾以大郡，付吾關中，委吾留任。 旣不辦有抽劔兩城之用，橫槊搴旗之能，徒以挈瓶小智，名參佐命，常恐朝露一下，深恩不酬。 憂深責重，轉不可據，還視生世，倍無次緒。 藿羹布被，猶篤鄙好，惡色憎聲，暮齡尤甚。 出蕃不與台輔別，入國不與公卿遊，孤立天地之閒，無猜無託，唯知奉主以忠，事親以孝，臨民以潔，居家以儉。 足下今鳴笳舊郷，衣繡故國，宋季荼毒之悲已蒙蘇泰，河朔倒懸之苦方須救鬬。 遣遊辯之士，爲郷導之使，輕裝啓行，經營舊壤，令泗上歸業，稷下還風，君欲誰讓邪？ 聊送諸心，敬申貧贈。」
Shanming stood seven feet nine inches, plain by nature and no lover of sound or color; he lived in a thatched hut with axe-hewn timber alone; bed, couch, table, and desk went unplaned. In youth he was friendly with Cui Zusi; when Zusi went out as inspector of Qing and Ji, Shanming sent him a letter saying, 「The wanderings of old are far away now. Sometimes we walked hand in hand in spring woods, sometimes leaned on staves in autumn streams; we chased the clear wind at the treetops and the plain moon along the garden eaves—how is it that old friends have mostly gone to their fall? You now hold the banner in the northern realm; I govern the southern district by split bamboo; a thousand li apart, rivers and mountains between—life is lodging; when shall we meet again? I have browsed books and histories; several thousand years lie, in brief, before my eyes. Dynasties differ in their rise and fall; the ten thousand principles share sameness and difference. The bond of dragon and tiger, wind and cloud; the moment when chaos reaches its limit and must turn to peace—past and present, how could they differ? In truth it is one measure. Only lately Shen Youzhi had coiled his armies beyond the walls, while Yuan Can and Liu Bing were again hoisted up by rival factions; only the capital region held firm as the throne's foundation. Then they lifted me to chief counselor, granted a great commandery, placed the heartland marches in my hands, and kept me at my post. I could neither storm two cities at a stroke nor wrest banners with a levelled spear—only bottle-carrier cleverness, yet my name was counted among the founders' counselors. I lived in dread that dawn dew might fall once and leave their grace unpaid. Burden and worry grew until I could scarcely stand; looking back on my days, I found them twice as tangled. I still clung to coarse broth and plain quilts, still shunned gaud and clamor—and in old age the distaste only sharpened. When I left for the frontier I did not bid the chief ministers farewell; when I entered court I did not keep company with the grandees—alone between heaven and earth, without ally or patron, serving my lord in loyalty, my kin in filial piety, the people in clean government, and my home in thrift. You now sound the pipes in your old country and wear brocade in your native land: Song's poisoned grief has tasted Su Qin's healing, yet the north of the Yellow River still hangs upside down and cries out for deliverance in arms. Send eloquent men as homeland guides; march light and work the old ground again—let the Si country take up its trades and Jixia breathe its old spirit. Whom would you leave the credit to? Here I send you my whole heart; respectfully I offer this humble parting gift.」
29
卒，年四十九。 遺命薄殯。 贈錢三萬，布五十匹。 又詔曰：「善明忠誠夙亮，幹力兼宣，豫經夷嶮，勤績昭著。 不幸殞喪，痛悼于懷。 贈左將軍、豫州刺史，諡烈伯。」 子滌嗣。 善明家無遺儲，唯有書八千卷。 太祖聞其清貧，賜滌家葛塘屯穀五百斛。
He died at forty-nine. By his own order he was buried plainly. The court granted thirty thousand cash and fifty bolts of cloth. Another edict read: 「Shanming's loyalty shone early, his force and counsel alike outstanding; he bore the bitter passes and his service stood clear. He has fallen untimely, and grief lodges in Our heart. We posthumously appoint him Left General and Inspector of Yuzhou, with the posthumous title Baron of Lie.」 His son Di succeeded him. Shanming left no stored wealth in his house—only eight thousand scrolls of books. Learning of his stark poverty, the Grand Ancestor granted Di's household five hundred hu of grain from the Getang estate.
30
善明從弟僧副，官至前將軍，封豐陽男，三百戶。 ，爲巴西梓潼二郡太守，卒。
Shanming's cousin Sengfu rose to front general and was enfeoffed as Baron of Fengyang with three hundred households. He governed Brazil and Zitong and died in office.
31
蘇侃
Su Kan
32
蘇侃字休烈，武邑人也。 祖護，本郡太守。 父端，州治中。
Su Kan, styled Xiulie, came from Wuyi. His grandfather Hu was administrator of the home commandery. His father Duan was provincial clerical director.
33
侃涉獵書傳，出身正員將軍，補長城令。 薛安都反，引侃爲其府參軍，使掌書記。 安都降虜，侃自拔南歸。 除積射將軍。 遇太祖在淮上，便自委結。 上鎮淮陰，以侃詳密，取爲冠軍錄事參軍。 是時張永、沈攸之敗後，新失淮北，始遣上北戍，不滿千人，每歲秋冬閒，邊淮騷動，恒恐虜至。 上廣遣偵候，安集荒餘，又營繕城府。 上在兵中久，見疑於時，乃作《塞客吟》以喻志曰：「寶緯紊宗，神經越序。 德晦河、晉，力宣江、楚。 雲雷兆壯，天山繇武。 直髮指秦關，凝精越漢渚。 秋風起，塞草衰，鵰鴻思，邊馬悲。 平原千里顧，但見轉蓬飛。 星嚴海淨，月澈河明。 清輝映幕，素液凝庭。 金笳夜厲，羽轊晨征。 斡晴潭而悵泗，枻松洲而悼情。 蘭涵風而瀉豔，菊籠泉而散英。 曲繞首燕之歎，吹軫絕越之聲。 欷園琴之孤弄，想庭藿之餘馨。 青關望斷，白日西斜。 恬源靚霧，壟首暉霞。 戒旋鷁，躍還波，情綿綿而方遠，思裊裊而遂多。 粵擊秦中之筑，因爲塞上之歌。 歌曰：朝發兮江泉，日夕兮陵山。 驚飆兮瀄汨，淮流兮潺湲。 胡埃兮雲聚，楚旆兮星懸。 愁墉兮思宇，惻愴兮何言。 定寰中之逸鑒，審雕陵之迷泉。 悟樊籠之或累，悵遐心以栖玄。」 侃達上此旨，更自勤勵。 委以府事，深見知待。
Kan ranged through the classics and histories, entered service as a regular general, and was posted as magistrate of Changcheng. When Xue Andu rebelled, he took Kan onto his staff as aide and set him to keep the records. When Andu went over to the northerners, Kan cut himself loose and fled south alone. He was named general of scattered shooters. He met the Grand Ancestor on the Huai and at once pledged his service. When the Lord held Huaiyin, he valued Kan's thoroughness and made him registrar on the champion's staff. This was just after Zhang Yong and Shen Youzhi were broken and Huaibei was lost; the Lord was first sent to hold the northern line with fewer than a thousand men. Every year between autumn and winter the Huai frontier flared, and he lived in dread of a northern strike. The Lord sent scouts far abroad, gathered in the scattered survivors, and rebuilt walls and ramparts. Long in the field, the Lord was eyed with suspicion; he wrote the 「Ballad of the Frontier Guest」 to lay bare his heart, saying: 「The throne's cords knot the royal line; heaven's channels run out of their proper course. Virtue dims along the Yellow and Jin; power speaks on the Yangtze and Chu. Clouds and thunder betoken might; Heaven Mountain calls forth war. Bareheaded I aim at the Qin passes; with gathered will I ford the Han streams. Autumn wind rises; frontier grass fades; hawk and wild goose ache with longing; border horses grieve. Over a thousand li of plain, only tumbleweed flies in the eye. Stars stand sharp; the sea lies clear; the moon runs bright; the river shines. Clear light washes the tent flap; white dew gathers in the court. Golden pipes wail through the night; feathered oars march at dawn. I moor on the bright pool and ache for the Si; I ply the pine islet and mourn in my breast. Orchids drink the wind and spill their color; chrysanthemums cup the spring and scatter fragrance. The tune circles Shouyan's sigh; the flute plays the lost music of Yue. I sigh at the garden zither's solitary song; I think of the courtyard bean's last sweetness. The green pass fades from view; the white sun leans west. Still springs gleam through mist; the tomb ridge wears dawn's rose light. Wary, the fishhawk wheels home; it leaps back across the waves; longing trails farther still; memory winds on and on. So I strike the Qin-country zhu drum and shape this ballad of the frontier pass. The song runs: At dawn we leave the river springs; by sunset we stand on the ridge mountains. A startled gale rushes and swirls; the Huai murmurs on in rippling flood. Barbarian dust gathers like clouds; Chu banners hang like stars in the sky. Grief for the ramparts, longing for the hall—anguish beyond any words. He set the far-seeing mirror within the realm and weighed the hidden spring at Diaoling. He saw how the barred cage can burden a man, and gave his far-ranging heart to rest in mystery. 」Kan laid this meaning before the throne and drove himself harder still. Bureau affairs were placed in his hands, and he was warmly trusted.
34
元徽初，巴西人李承明作亂，太祖議遣侃銜使慰勞，還除羽林監，加建武將軍。 桂陽之難，上復以侃爲平南錄事，領軍主，從頓新亭，使分金銀賦賜諸將。 事寧，除步兵校尉，出爲綏虜將軍、山陽太守，清脩有治理，百姓懷之。 進號龍驤將軍，除前軍將軍。 沈攸之事起，除侃游擊將軍，遷太祖驃騎諮議，領錄事，除黃門郎，復爲太祖太尉諮議。
At the opening of Yuanhui, Li Chengming of Brazil rebelled; the Grand Ancestor meant to send Kan with credentials to comfort the armies. When he came back he was named director of the feathered forest guard and raised to General Who Establishes Might. During the Guiyang trouble the Sovereign again set Kan as recorder on the southern pacification staff, leading a command; he followed the court to Xinting and was told to parcel out gold and silver as gifts for the generals. After peace returned he became commandant of foot soldiers, then went out as General Who Comforts Captives and administrator of Shanyang—clean in his ways, firm in governance, and beloved by the people. He was raised to General Who Dragon-Prances and named vanguard general. When Shen Youzhi rose, Kan was named mobile-strike general, then consultative officer on the Grand Ancestor's Rapid Cavalry staff, keeping recorder duties; he became gentleman of the yellow gate and again consultative officer to the Grand Ancestor as grand marshal.
35
侃事上旣久，備悉起居，乃與丘巨源撰《蕭太尉記》，載上征伐之功。 以功封新建縣侯，五百戶。 齊臺建，爲黃門郎，領射聲校尉，任以心膂。 上卽位，侃撰聖皇瑞命記一卷奏之。 ，卒，年五十三。 上惜之甚至，追贈輔國將軍、梁南秦二州刺史，諡質侯。
Kan had served the throne for years and knew its daily round by heart; with Qiu Juyuan he compiled Records of Grand Marshal Xiao, recording the Sovereign's wars and merit. For merit he was enfeoffed as marquis of Xinjian, five hundred households. When the Qi regime was set up he was gentleman of the yellow gate and commandant of the sound-shooters, counted among the Sovereign's closest men. At the Sovereign's accession Kan wrote and presented one scroll of Records of the Sage Emperor's Auspicious Mandate. He died soon after, at fifty-three. The throne mourned him deeply, raised him posthumously to general who supports the state and inspector of Liang and southern Qin, and gave him the posthumous title Marquis Zhi.
36
弟烈，字休文，初爲東莞令，張永鎮軍中兵，累至山陽太守，寧朔將軍，游擊將軍。 袁粲起事，太祖先遣烈助防城，仍隨諸將平石頭，封吉陽縣男。 建元中，爲假節、督巴州軍事、巴州刺史、巴東太守，寧朔將軍如故。 永明中，至平西司馬、陳留太守，卒官。
His younger brother Lie, styled Xiuwen, began as magistrate of Dongguan, then served in Zhang Yong's garrison staff, rising step by step to administrator of Shanyang, General Who Pacifies the North, and mobile-strike general. When Yuan Can rebelled, the Grand Ancestor first sent Lie to aid in the city's defense, then had him follow the generals in taking Shitou; he was enfeoffed as baron of Jiyang. Under Jianyuan he bore acting credentials, oversaw Ba province's armies, and held inspector of Ba with the post of administrator of Badong, still General Who Pacifies the North. In Yongming he rose to marshal of the west-pacifying army and administrator of Chenliu, and died in office.
37
垣榮祖
Yuan Rongzu
38
垣榮祖字華先，下邳人，五兵尚書崇祖從父兄也。 父諒之，宋北中郎府參軍。
Yuan Rongzu, styled Huaxian, came from Xiapi—the elder cousin of Yuan Chongzu, minister of the five armaments. His father Liangzhi had served as a staff officer in the Song northern center army headquarters.
39
榮祖少學騎馬及射，或謂之曰：「武事可畏，何不學書。」 榮祖曰：「昔曹操、曹丕上馬橫槊，下馬談論，此於天下可不負飲食矣。 君輩無自全之伎，何異犬羊乎！」
In youth Rongzu trained in riding and archery; someone told him: 「War is a fearsome trade—why not take up books instead? 」Rongzu said: 「Cao Cao and Cao Pi rode with spear laid across the saddle and dismounted to talk policy—that alone was enough to earn their bread under heaven. You have no skill to keep yourselves alive—what are you but dogs and sheep?」
40
宋孝建中，州辟主簿，爲後軍參軍。 伯父豫州刺史護之子襲祖爲淮陽太守，宋孝武以事徙之嶺南，護之不食而死。 帝疾篤，又遣使殺襲祖，襲祖臨死，與榮祖書曰：「弟常勸我危行言遜，今果敗矣。」
Under Emperor Xiao's Xiaojian reign the province took him as chief clerk, then made him a rear-army staff officer. His cousin Xizu, son of Inspector of Yu Hu, held Huaiyang as administrator; Emperor Xiaowu, over the matter, exiled him to the far south, and Hu refused food until he died. As the emperor lay dying he sent again to kill Xizu; at the end Xizu wrote Rongzu: 「You always told me to court danger yet speak softly—now it has failed, just as you warned.」
41
明帝初卽位，四方反，除榮祖冗從僕射，遣還徐州說刺史薛安都曰：「天之所廢，誰能興之。 使君今不同八百諸侯，如民所見，非計中也。」 安都曰：「天命有在，今京都無百里地，莫論攻圍取勝，自可拍手笑殺。 且我不欲負孝武。」 榮祖曰：「孝武之行，足致餘殃。 今雖天下雷同，正是速死，無能爲也。」 安都曰：「不知諸人云何，我不畏此。 大蹄馬在近，急便作計。」 榮祖被拘不得還，因收集部曲，爲安都將領。 假署冠軍將軍。 安都引虜入彭城，榮祖攜家屬南奔朐山，虜遣騎追之不及。 榮祖懼得罪，乃逃遁淮上。 太祖在淮陰，榮祖歸附，上保持之。 及明帝崩，太祖書送榮祖詣僕射褚淵，除寧朔將軍、東海太守。 淵謂之曰：「蕭公稱卿幹略，故以此郡相處。」
When Emperor Ming first took the throne and the realm rose on every side, Rongzu was named supernumerary attendant master of ceremonies and sent back to Xu to speak with Inspector Xue Andu: 「What heaven has cast aside—who can set it upright again? My lord, if you will not now join the eight hundred lords of old, the people will read it as folly.」 Andu said: 「The mandate has its man; the capital today holds less than a hundred li—never mind storming walls or winning battles, one need only clap hands and laugh them dead. And I will not betray Emperor Xiaowu.」 Rongzu said: 「Emperor Xiaowu's ways were ruin enough to outlast his reign.」 「Though the realm shouts as one today, that is only the quick road to death—no one can prevail.」 Andu said: 「I cannot tell what the rest intend—I do not fear them.」 The steppe horses are close—act now.」 Held fast and unable to go south again, Rongzu rallied his household troops and served Andu as a commander. He was given acting rank as champion general. When Andu led the northerners into Pengcheng, Rongzu took his family south to Qushan; pursuit riders could not catch him. Fearing court punishment, he hid along the Huai. The Grand Ancestor was at Huaiyin; Rongzu submitted, and the Sovereign kept him close. At Emperor Ming's death the Grand Ancestor sent Rongzu to Vicegerent Chu Yuan with a letter of introduction and had him named General Who Pacifies the North and administrator of Donghai. Chu told him: 「Lord Xiao spoke of your force and foresight—that is why this commandery was set in your hands.」
42
榮祖善彈，彈鳥毛盡而鳥不死。 海鵠羣翔，榮祖登城西樓彈之，無不折翅而下。
Rongzu was master of the sling; he could strike a bird until every feather fell and still leave it alive. When sea geese flocked overhead he climbed the west gate tower and slung at them—not one failed to break wing and drop from the sky.
43
除晉熙王征虜、安成王車騎中兵，左軍將軍。 元徽末，太祖欲渡廣陵，榮祖諫曰：「領府去臺百步，公走，人豈不知。 若單行輕騎，廣陵人一旦閉門不相受，公欲何之？ 公今動足下牀，便恐卽有扣臺門者，公事去矣。」 及蒼梧廢，除寧朔將軍、淮南太守，進輔國將軍，除游擊將軍、太祖驃騎諮議，輔國將軍、西中郎司馬、汝陰太守，除冠軍將軍，給事中，驍騎將軍。 預佐命勳，封將樂縣子，三百戶，以其祖舊封封之。 出爲持節、督青冀二州刺史，冠軍如故。 遷黃門郎。
He was named soldier of the expeditionary staff under the Prince of Jinxi and of the chariot force under the Prince of Ancheng, and made left-army general. Late in Yuanhui the Grand Ancestor meant to flee across to Guangling; Rongzu warned him: 「Your headquarters stand a hundred paces from the throne hall—if you run, who will not know? Ride out alone with a light escort, and Guangling may shut its gates on you—where then can you go? Set foot off your couch now, and I fear someone will be beating on the palace gate—your cause is finished. 」After Cangwu was removed, he became general who pacifies the north and administrator of Huainan, then general who assists the state; he took the post of raiding general and counselor on the Grand Ancestor's rapid-cavalry staff, kept as assisting general, western army major, and administrator of Ruyin; then champion general, attendant within the yellow gates, and valiant-cavalry general. Credited in the founding merit rolls, he was enfeoffed as viscount of Jiangle, three hundred households, with his grandfather's former fief restored to the line. He went out bearing the staff of authority as supervisor of Qing and Ji, still champion general. He was shifted to gentleman at the yellow gates.
44
，爲冠軍將軍、尋陽相、南新蔡太守。 作大形棺材盛仗，使郷人田天生、王道期載渡江北。 監奴有罪，告之，有司奏免官削爵付東冶，案驗無實見原。 爲安陸王平西諮議，帶江陵令，仍遷司馬、河東內史。 遷持節、督緣淮諸軍事、冠軍將軍、兖州刺史，領東平太守、兖州大中正。
, named champion general, chancellor of Xunyang, and administrator of southern Xin'ai. He had a great coffin-shaped chest built for arms and set fellow townsmen Tian Tiansheng and Wang Daoqi to ferry it north of the river. A household slave under supervision offended and denounced him; the court moved to dismiss him, strip his rank, and hand him to the eastern workshops—but inquiry found nothing and he was restored. He became counselor on the Prince of Pingxi's western staff with concurrent magistracy of Jiangling, then major and interior minister of Hedong. He was shifted to bearer of the staff, supervisor of armies along the Huai frontier, champion general and inspector of Yan, with concurrent administration of Dongping and chief rectifier of Yan.
45
巴東王子響事，方鎮皆啓稱子響爲逆，榮祖曰：「此非所宜言。 政應云劉寅等孤負恩獎，逼迫巴東，使至於此。」 時諸啓皆不得通，事平後，上乃省視，以榮祖爲知言。 九年，卒，年五十七。
When the Prince of Badong, Zi Xiang, was implicated, every frontier commander wrote in calling him a rebel; Rongzu said, 「That is not how this should be put. The memorial should say only that Liu Yin and his fellows betrayed the court's grace, harried the prince of Badong, and forced events to this point. 」None of those submissions reached him at the time; when the crisis ended the emperor read them through and called Rongzu's wording wise. In year 9 he died, aged fifty-seven.
46
從父閎，宋孝建初，爲威遠將軍、汝南新蔡太守，據梁山拒丞相義宣賊，以功封西都縣子。 累遷龍驤將軍、司州刺史。 義嘉事起，明帝使閎出守盱眙，領兵北討薛道標，破之。 封樂郷縣男，三百戶。 昇明初，爲散騎常侍，領長水校尉，與豫章王對直殿省，遷右衞將軍。 太祖卽位，以心誠封爵如舊，加給事中，領驍騎將軍。 累遷金紫光祿大夫。 年七十六，，卒，諡定。
His uncle Hong, at the opening of Song's Xiaojian reign, was general who overawes the distant and administrator of Runan and Xin'ai; he held Liang Mountain against the rebel minister of works Yixuan and was enfeoffed viscount of Xidu for the service. He rose in turn to dragon-soaring general and inspector of Si. When the Yijia crisis broke out, Emperor Ming posted Hong to guard Xuyi and march north against Xue Daobiao, whom he defeated. He was enfeoffed baron of Yuexiang, three hundred households. At the start of Shengming he became cavalier attendant-at-large with concurrent command of the ever-flowing waters, shared palace duty with the Prince of Yuzhang, and was shifted to general of the right guards. At the Grand Ancestor's accession his rank and fief stood unchanged for proved loyalty; he was given attendant within the yellow gates and concurrent valiant-cavalry command. He rose in turn to grandee with golden bell and purple canopy. At seventy-six he died; posthumous name Ding.
47
榮祖從弟歷生，亦爲驍騎將軍。 宋泰始初，薛安都反，以女婿裴祖隆爲下邳太守，歷生時請假還北，謀殺祖隆，舉城應朝廷，事發奔走。 歷官太子右率。 性苛暴，好行鞭捶。 與始安王遙光同反，伏誅。
Rongzu's cousin Lisheng likewise held command as valiant-cavalry general. Early in Song's Taishi reign Xue Andu rebelled and installed his son-in-law Pei Zulong as administrator of Xiapi; Lisheng was home on leave in the north, plotted to kill Zulong and hand the city to the throne, but the scheme leaked and he ran. Among his posts was right leader of the heir apparent. Harsh and violent by nature, he loved the lash. He followed the Prince of Shi'an, Yao Guang, in revolt and was put to death.
48
【論】
Appraisal
49
史臣曰：太祖作牧淮、兖，始基霸業，恩威北被，感動三齊。 青、冀豪右，崔、劉望族，先睹人雄，希風結義。 夫諫江都之略，似任光之言，雖議不獨興，理成合契，蓋帷幙之臣也。
The historian writes: As the Grand Ancestor held Huai and Yan he first set the base of empire; favor and dread spread north and stirred the Three Qi. Qing and Ji's great families, the Cui and Liu lines of standing, saw the rising man early and, drawn by his manner, pledged themselves in faith. Counsel against the Guangling move recalls Ren Guang; though the advice was not his alone, the logic matched events—he was a counselor of the camp curtain.
50
贊曰：淮鎮北州，獲在崔、劉。 獻書上議，帝念忠謀。 侃奉潛躍，皇瑞是鳩。 垣方帶礪，削免虛尤。
In praise: Huai's garrison, the northern command—the prize was Cui and Liu. Memorials and counsel sent up—the throne remembered their loyal designs. Kan served the hidden ascent—the royal omen was gathered in. Yuan's investiture bore stone and whetstone; dismissal and remission cleared false charges.
52
案
Note