2
3
Hui inherited the title of Duke of Jianchang. He began his career as an Erudite of the Imperial Academy, was appointed Commandant of the Chariots for the Imperial Household, and served a trial term as magistrate of Yanling; finding the post uncongenial, he resigned. He was made acting staff officer on the Prince of Xin'an's Northern Gentlemen-in-Attendance staff, but was dismissed over an official offense. He was appointed staff officer on the Prince of Xin'an's Pacification Army, but before he could take up the post Prince Ziluan of Xin'an was killed; he was then made acting concurrent Director of the Left Bureau for the People in the Ministry of Revenue. When Emperor Ming came to the throne, wishing to win hearts, he promoted Hui—descended from a meritorious minister—to Groom of the Heir Apparent. He was appointed advisory staff officer on Wang Jingwen's Pacification of the South staff.
4
Hui came from a fabulously wealthy family and lived in lavish style; his mansion with its gardens and ponds was unrivaled in the capital, and his courtesans and concubines in looks and talent were all of the finest rank. Gifted and open-handed, he was adept at winning friends; his kitchens were lavish, and he entertained a large circle of guests. He doted on his courtesan Chen Yuzhu; when Emperor Ming sent to demand her, he refused to surrender her, and after she was taken by force he nursed a deep grievance. The emperor ordered the authorities to frame charges against Hui and hand him over to the Minister of Justice, intending to have him put to death. After Hui entered prison, within a few nights his beard and temples had turned white. He was spared execution but held in the Imperial Workshops, and his noble title was stripped and given to his younger brother Ben. From then on Hui renounced music and worldly pleasures and made a point of living plainly and frugally.
5
The emperor appointed Hui staff officer on Yang Xigong's Pacification of the North staff, then moved him to posts on Liu Yun's Army That Assists the State and Wang Jingwen's Army That Guards the South, but each time he pleaded illness and declined. Soon he was provisionally made General of Illustrious Might, then appointed staff officer on the Prince of Guiyang's Southern Expedition staff, transferred to Attendant of Direct Communication, and left office. After the emperor's death, his younger brother Ben petitioned to return the title to Hui, and the court approved. He was promoted to Western Subordinate of the Left on the Minister of Education's staff, but again declined the appointment. He lived in retirement at home for many years.
6
His younger brother Dun, during the Yuanhui era, served as General of Pacifying the Distance, Chief Clerk of the Army That Assists the State, and Grand Administrator of Nanhai, and was posted at Guangzhou. In the first year of Shengming, when Shen Youzhi rebelled, Inspector Chen Xianda raised troops in support of the court, and Dun was killed for his hesitation. Dun's family in the capital, returning from the countryside one night, saw two or three men whitewashing their gate; the figures vanished in an instant, and the next day word of Dun's death arrived. Terrified, Hui went to the Founding Emperor to apologize and was at once provisionally appointed advisory staff officer on the future Emperor Wu's Central Army staff. At the beginning of the Jianyuan era he was made Senior Clerk of the Right on the Minister of Education's staff, then served as Grand Administrator of Yongjia, became Gentleman at the Yellow Gates, and left office.
7
When Emperor Wu came to the throne, Hui was promoted to Household Subordinate of the Heir Apparent, but declined the post. He was also appointed Senior Clerk on the Prince of Changsha's Central Army staff and Senior Clerk of the Left on the Minister of Education's staff. In Song times the emperor often visited Hui's home; once, while accompanying Emperor Ming to hunt pheasants in the countryside, they grew thirsty and tired, and Hui brought an early green melon and shared it with the emperor. The emperor remembered his old kindness and treated him with exceptional favor. By then he had been promoted three times within a single year.
8
In the first year of Yongming, he was also made General Who Assists the State and transferred to Censor-in-Chief. When the emperor visited Danyang commandery for a banquet, Hui presumed on their old friendship; drunk, he was overly familiar and insulting toward his colleagues and carried on beyond propriety, and was impeached by Left Assistant Director Yu Gaozhi and fined in lieu of punishment. In the third year he again became Senior Clerk of the Left on the Minister of Education's staff, then was transferred to General of the Left Guard. When Prince Zilong of Sui concurrently administered Pengcheng commandery, Hui paid a courtesy visit but failed to observe the required formalities; the authorities reported him, and he was removed from office. After a long interval he served in plain clothes as concurrent Censor-in-Chief. He was transferred to Senior Clerk on the Prince of Linchuan's General of Agile Cavalry staff, then Senior Clerk of the Left on the Minister of Education's staff, promoted to Minister of the Five Weapons, and went out as General Who Assists the State and Senior Clerk on the Prince of Luling's Central Army staff. He left office to mourn his mother; before the mourning period had ended, in the eighth year he died at the age of fifty-eight.
9
His younger brother Ben first served as Chief Clerk of the Minister of the Guards and as Commandant of the Chariots for the Imperial Household. At the beginning of the Shengming era he was Gentleman of the Secretariat and advisory officer on the Founding Emperor's Rapid Cavalry staff. During the Jianyuan era he served as Major on the Punitive Campaign against the Barbarians staff and died.
10
Ben's younger brother Tan, upon entering official life, became Western Clerk of his home province. In the second year of Shengming, he also served as staff officer on the Founding Emperor's Rapid Cavalry staff. He successively served as advisory officer on the staffs of the Prince of Yuzhang's Army That Guards the West and General of Agile Cavalry. Tan had a fine beard and whiskers and was on old terms with the future Emperor Wu, then Prince of Yuzhang. Tan then followed the prince's household and was transferred to staff posts on the Minister of Works and Grand Marshal staffs. He went out as Interior Secretary of Jin'an, returned to court as advisory officer on the Grand Marshal's staff and Gentleman of the Secretariat, and died.
12
Liu Quan, styled Shicao, was a man of Anshang village in Pengcheng. The Liu of Pengcheng, like other branches of the clan, traced their descent to King Yuan of Chu and were divided into three villages to distinguish them from the Song imperial house. His grandfather Yingzhi had been Grand Administrator of Runan and Xincai commanderies. His father, Liu Mian, had served as Minister of Works.
13
When Liu Yansun governed South Xuzhou he first recruited Quan as an aide; Quan followed his father Mian in the campaign against Prince Dan of Jingling at Guangling and, for his service, was appointed Commandant of the Palace Stables, then became chief clerk on Zong Que's Pacification of the Barbarians staff and cavalry staff officer on the Prince of Jian'an's Minister of Education staff. He again followed his father Mian in the campaign against Yin Yan at Shouchun and fought repeated victorious battles at Hengtang and Sihu. He rose through the posts of External Clerk and staff officer on the Grand Marshal and Minister of Education staffs, and replaced the future Emperor Wu as Director of the Treasury Bureau in the Ministry of Revenue. He was promoted to General Who Exerts Martial Might and Grand Administrator of Shujun but did not take up the post; he again followed his father Mian on campaign, was provisionally made General of Pacifying the North, and was named heir to the Marquis of Poyang. He was transferred to central army staff officer on the Prince of Guiyang's Northern Expedition staff, served on palace duty alongside the future Emperor Wu, won Emperor Ming's personal favor, and thereby became close friends with the future Emperor Wu.
14
He was promoted to Attendant Cavalier of Direct Communication and went out as Protector of Pacifying the Distance and Interior Secretary of Wuling. In the commandery the ancient embankment on the southern Yangzi had long lain in disrepair. Before Quan had finished the repairs the river suddenly rose; the people abandoned their work and fled, but Quan personally rallied them, and the embankment was completed. Shao Rongxing of Hanshou had six generations living under one roof; Quan memorialized to honor his household. Quan was forceful and resourceful, with the bearing of his generation, and adept at winning popular favor. The Man chieftain Tian Tong lived in the mountains, nearly a hundred years old; when Prince Yixuan of Nanqiao governed Jingzhou, Tong came out to pay his respects. Now he came out again to pay his respects to Quan. When Emperor Ming died, Quan petitioned to rush to the capital and was ordered to return while retaining his commandery post. Several thousand officials and commoners came to see him off; Quan took each by the hand and wept with them; deeply moved, the people sent him away with lavish parting gifts.
15
He was then appointed Attendant Cavalier. During the Guiyang crisis he was additionally made General of Pacifying the North and helped defend Stone City. His father Mian was killed in battle at the Great Beam; though ill, Quan dragged himself along the roadside, wailing and searching for his father's body. A piece of flesh was missing from the back of Mian's neck; Quan cut his own hair to fill the wound. He kept vigil at the tomb and, even in winter, wore no padded clothing. The Founding Emperor, who replaced Mian as Commander of the Guards and had long been on good terms with him, wrote to admonish Quan: "I have heard how your utmost filial devotion is ruining your health and driving you toward danger, and I am deeply grieved. To finish mourning while preserving one's life is the enlightened kings' clear standard—how can you cast off padded silks and warm bedding and, by wailing in this way, hope to fulfill your filial duty? You should take past injunctions deeply to heart and moderate yourself a little."
16
When Prince Jingsu of Jianping rebelled, the Founding Emperor gathered the armies and encamped at Xuanwu Lake. Quan had just left mourning; the Founding Emperor wished to put him in command of a separate force, but when he summoned Quan and his brothers they were so wasted and changed in appearance that he abandoned the plan. He was appointed Gentleman of the Secretariat, handled the affairs of the eight Song princes of Nanyang, was transferred to Major on the Prince of Nanyang's Southern Gentlemen-in-Attendance staff and Interior Secretary of Changsha, and acted as governor of Xiang province. Before he could depart, as the founding enterprise was taking shape, Quan was among the first to pledge his loyalty. When Shen Youzhi rebelled, Quan was additionally made General Who Assists the State. When the future Emperor Wu was stationed at Pencheng, he memorialized to campaign west and asked that Quan replace him. When the future Emperor Wu did not go west, Quan was appointed Gentleman of the Yellow Gate and placed in acting charge of Wu Commandery. Soon he was transferred to Chief Clerk for both the Pacification Army and Central Army headquarters of the Prince of Jinxi, and acted in the affairs of Yang Province. He went out bearing the staff of authority as Supervisor and Governor of Guang province, retaining his general's rank. He inherited the title of Marquis of Poyang. When the future Emperor Wu returned from Xunyang he met Quan at the boat landings; they feasted and reminisced, and stayed together more than ten days before parting. He sent Crown Prince Wenhui and Prince Ziliang of Jingling to straighten their dress and pay the respect due their father's old friend.
17
When the Founding Emperor accepted the abdication, Quan's Song enfeoffment was abolished. His rank was raised to General Who Vanquishes the Foe. Xiahou Gongshu, Record-Office Staff Officer for the Pacification-West command, memorialized that Liu Yuanjing had been a meritorious minister of the restoration and Liu Mian had died in the king's service, so their enfeoffed titles ought to be preserved. An edict said: "Rise and fall with the fortunes of the age have existed since antiquity; court deliberation is already settled, and such proposals cannot be entertained again." Earlier, when Emperor Cangwu was deposed, the Founding Emperor convened deliberation at the Zhonghua Gate, saw Quan, and asked him: "Were you upright yesterday?" Quan answered: "Your servant was indeed upright yesterday, but my words were urgent and remain unspoken." Now the emperor said to Quan: "At the turning point of merit and fame, people do not forget. You once answered me at the Zhonghua Gate—how eager you were to withdraw from public life?" Quan said: "My family received Song grace for generations; our house now bears Qi's favor—extraordinary merit is not mine to claim. In advancing I do not hold resentment toward the former dynasty; in retreat I do not fail your sage clarity—how could I answer you with anything but the truth?"
18
He was promoted to Household Subordinate of the Heir Apparent and concurrently Colonel of the Yue Cavalry. At that time the future Emperor Wu was in the Eastern Palace; he often visited Quan's home, talked until evening, and gave him screens and curtains. When Emperor Wu came to the throne, Quan was changed to command the Vanguard Army as general while retaining his post as Household Subordinate. Prince Ziliang of Jingling, General Who Conquers the North, also held Southern Yan province; he appointed Quan Senior Clerk and further made him General Who Vanquishes the Foe and Administrator of Guangling.
19
He was transferred to Bearer of the Staff, overall commander of Si province, and Governor of Si, retaining his rank as general. Quan's father Mian had campaigned against Yin Yan and pacified Shouyang without harming the people; the commoners honored him and erected a stele shrine. Quan traveled on foot from Shouyang to take up his post; when he passed his father's stele he bowed in reverence and wept. Earlier, Xia Boyi of Yiyang had killed the garrison commander at Gangling, rebelled, crossed the Huai, and the northern enemies appointed him Administrator of Yiyang. Quan offered a bounty to induce defection; the enemy's Inspector of Si province, Xie Jing, killed Boyi and his brothers, and Li Rong, Administrator of Northern Xiangcheng, came over and surrendered. At the provincial seat Quan founded a school, discovered ancient ritual vessels—two each of bronze lei, bronze zeng, mountain lei zun, and bronze dou bells—and presented them to the throne.
20
He was promoted to Senior Clerk concurrently serving as Attendant-in-Ordinary. The emperor often visited Quan's home. His home had splendidly laid-out hills and ponds, and he built a rustic jar-window pavilion. The future Emperor Wu wore a deerskin cap, wrapped himself in Quan's rabbit-fur quilt, and feasted in the pavilion; he gave the cap to Quan and did not leave until nightfall. Later Quan accompanied the emperor up Mount Jiang; the emperor sighed again and again and said, "One must not forget friends from humble days, nor cast aside the wife who shared one's coarse fare." He turned to Quan and said, "That is your case. People say wealth and rank change one's true nature; though I rule all within the four seas, today with you I mean to enjoy the ease of commoners to the full." Quan rose, bowed, and thanked him. He was promoted to General Who Vanquishes the Foe and Senior Clerk of the Left on the Minister of Education's staff. Soon, with his existing rank, he took charge of military affairs along the Huai in Northern Yan province. He was transferred to Senior Clerk on the Prince of Shixing's Vanguard Army staff, made Colonel Who Pacifies the Barbarians and Grand Administrator of Shu commandery, retaining his general's rank while administering the Yi princely establishment and province. The commandery was soon redesignated an internal governorship. When the princely staff moved, he transferred with it to Pacification of the West. Quan ran affairs with strict efficiency and thereby won the throne's approval.
21
宋代太祖輔政，有意欲鑄錢，以禪讓之際，未及施行， 建元四年，奉朝請孔覬上鑄錢均貨議，辭證甚博。 其略以爲「食貨相通，理勢自然。 李悝曰『糴甚貴傷民，甚賤傷農』。 民傷則離散，農傷則國貧。 甚賤與甚貴，其傷一也。 三吳國之關閫，比歲被水潦而糴不貴，是天下錢少，非穀穰賤，此不可不察也。 鑄錢之弊，在輕重屢變。 重錢患難用，而難用爲累輕； 輕錢弊盜鑄，而盜鑄爲禍深。 民所盜鑄，嚴法不禁者，由上鑄錢惜銅愛工也。 惜銅愛工者，謂錢無用之器，以通交易，務欲令輕而數多，使省工而易成，不詳慮其爲患也。 自漢鑄五銖錢，至宋文帝，歷五百餘年，制度世有廢興，而不變五銖錢者，明其輕重可法，得貨之宜。 以爲宜開置泉府，方牧貢金，大興鎔鑄。 錢重五銖，一依漢法。 府庫已實，國用有儲，乃量奉祿，薄賦稅，則家給民足。 頃盜鑄新錢者，皆效作翦鑿，不鑄大錢也。 摩澤淄染，始皆類故； 交易之後，渝變還新。 良民弗皆淄染，不復行矣。 所鬻賣者，皆徒失其物。 盜鑄者，復賤買新錢，淄染更用，反覆生詐，循環起姦，此明主尤所宜禁而不可長也。 若官鑄已布於民，便嚴斷翦鑿，小輕破缺無周郭者，悉不得行，官錢細小者，稱合銖兩，銷以爲大。 利貧良之民，塞姦巧之路。 錢貨旣均，遠近若一，百姓樂業，市道無爭，衣食滋殖矣。」 時議者多以錢貨轉少，宜更廣鑄，重其銖兩，以防民姦。 太祖使諸州郡大市銅炭，會晏駕事寢。 永明八年，悛啓世祖曰：「南廣郡界蒙山下，有城名蒙城，可二頃地，有燒鑪四所，高一丈，廣一丈五尺。 從蒙城渡水南百許步，平地掘土深二尺，得銅。 又有古掘銅坑，深二丈，竝居宅處猶存。 鄧通，南安人，漢文帝賜嚴道縣銅山鑄錢，今蒙山近青衣水南，青衣左側竝是故秦之嚴道地。 青衣縣又改名漢嘉。 且蒙山去南安二百里，案此必是通所鑄。 近喚蒙山獠出，云『甚可經略』。 此議若立，潤利無極。」 幷獻蒙山銅一片，又銅石一片，平州鐵刀一口。 上從之。 遣使入蜀鑄錢，得千餘萬，功費多，乃止。
During the Song, when the Founding Emperor was regent he intended to cast new coinage, but at the moment of the abdication he had not yet put the plan into effect. In the fourth year of Jianyuan, Court Attendant Kong Gu submitted a memorial entitled "On Casting Coinage and Equalizing Currency," supported by very extensive argument. Its gist was that "food and currency circulate together by natural principle and tendency. Li Kui said, 'When grain is bought too dear it harms the people; when too cheap it harms the farmers.' When the people suffer they disperse; when farmers suffer the state grows poor. Extremes of cheapness and dearness inflict the same injury. The Three Wu are the nation's gateway; though flooded in recent years, grain prices have not risen—showing that coin in the realm is scarce, not that harvests are abundant and grain cheap. This cannot be overlooked. The trouble with coinage lies in the repeated shifting of weight and value. Heavy coin is hard to use, and difficulty of use drives people toward lighter coin; light coin invites illicit casting, and illicit casting brings deep harm. The reason strict law cannot stop popular illicit casting is that the government, when minting coin, spares copper and labor. To "spare copper and labor" is to treat coin as a mere tool of exchange, striving to make it light and plentiful, easy and cheap to produce, without fully weighing the harm. From the Han casting of five-zhu coin down to Emperor Wen of Song, more than five hundred years passed; though institutions rose and fell, the five-zhu standard never changed—proof that its weight could serve as law and suited the needs of trade. He proposed establishing a coin treasury, requiring regional governors to submit gold, and greatly expanding smelting and minting. Coin should weigh five zhu, following Han practice in full. Once the treasuries are filled and state expenses secured, stipends can be measured out and taxes lightened, and households will be supplied and the people content. Recently illicit minters of new coin simply imitate clipping and carving; they do not cast large pieces. Rubbed, dyed, and soaked, they at first look like old coin; but after passing in trade their altered color shows them as new again. If honest people do not all dye them, the coins will no longer circulate. Those who sell them simply lose their goods for nothing. Illicit casters then buy new coin cheaply, dye it, and use it again; fraud breeds in repetition and wickedness in cycles—what an enlightened ruler above all should forbid and never allow to spread. Once official coin has been issued to the people, clipping and carving must be strictly forbidden; small, light, broken, or rimless pieces must not circulate at all; smaller official coin should be weighed to the zhu and liang standard and melted into larger pieces. That would benefit poor honest people and block the road of fraud. Once coin and goods are equalized, near and far will be as one; the people will take joy in their work, markets will be free of strife, and food and clothing will flourish." At the time many in court held that coin was growing scarce, that casting should be expanded, and the zhu and liang weight increased to guard against popular fraud. The Founding Emperor ordered the provinces and commanderies to buy up copper and charcoal on a large scale, but when he suddenly died the plan was dropped. In the eighth year of Yongming, Quan memorialized Emperor Wu: "Within Nanguang commandery, below Mount Meng, there is a settlement called Meng City on roughly two qing of land, with four smelting furnaces one zhang high and one zhang five chi wide. Some hundred paces south across the water from Meng City, copper can be obtained by digging two chi deep in level ground. There is also an old copper pit two zhang deep, and the sites of former dwellings still survive. Deng Tong of Nan'an was granted Yandao county's copper mountains by Emperor Wen of Han to cast coin; Mount Meng now lies near the south bank of the Qingyi River, and the area to Qingyi's left is all the old Qin territory of Yandao. Qingyi county was later renamed Hanjia. Moreover Mount Meng is two hundred li from Nan'an; by this evidence it must be where Deng Tong cast coin. I recently summoned the tribal people of Mount Meng, who said, 'It can very well be developed.' If this plan is adopted, the profit will be boundless." He also presented a piece of Mount Meng copper, a piece of copper ore, and an iron knife from Ping province. The emperor approved. Envoys were sent into Shu to cast coin and produced more than ten million pieces, but costs were too high and the project was halted.
22
Quan then replaced Xiao Jian, Prince of Shixing, as Bearer of the Staff, supervisor of military affairs in Yi and Ning, and Governor of Yi, retaining his rank as general. Relying on old favor, Quan was especially skilled at winning the sovereign's attachment and courting the powerful. For guests and private entertainments his spending was lavish. When he left Guang and Si provinces he poured out his wealth in tribute and gifts, leaving nothing in store at home. In Shu he had a gold bathing basin made, with other gold objects to match. When his term ended he returned to the capital with his former rank, intending to present the gifts, but Emperor Wu suddenly died and Emperor Yulin had just acceded; Quan scaled back his tribute, and when Yulin learned of it he hinted that officials should arrest Quan and hand him to the Court of Justice for execution. Emperor Ming of Qi interceded to save him; he was pardoned but confined for life. Though disgraced and dismissed, guests came every day.
23
Quan's wife's younger brother Wang Faxian was implicated in the Song Guiyang affair; Quan announced they would live apart and never saw him again for the rest of his life.
24
When the Prince of Hailing acceded, Quan was appointed from private life as Concurrent Minister of the Left Bureau for the People and soon made regular minister. When Emperor Ming of Qi acceded, Quan was additionally made General of Valiant Cavalry, restored to his former posts, and again made Commandant of the Horse Fleet for the Imperial Son-in-Law. In the second year of Jianwu, when the northern ruler invaded Shouyang, an edict ordered Quan, with his current rank and provisional staff, out to garrison Chaohu; he was promoted to Attendant-in-Ordinary of the Scattered Cavalry and General of the Right Guard. As northern raids grew fierce, Quan again went out with his existing rank and encamped at Xinting.
25
Through successive reigns Quan always enjoyed imperial favor. The Founding Emperor took Quan's younger sister as consort for Prince Qiang of Poyang; Emperor Ming of Qi took Quan's daughter as consort for Prince Baoyi of Jin'an; from then on the family was linked by marriage to the imperial house. When Wang Jingze rebelled, Quan went out to hold Langye city, was transferred to Minister of the Five Weapons, and concurrently made Commander of the Heir Apparent's Left Guard. Before he could take up the post, Emperor Ming of Qi died and Emperor Donghun acceded; he was reassigned Attendant-in-Ordinary of the Scattered Cavalry, concurrently General of Valiant Cavalry, while retaining his ministry. While escorting the imperial tomb he died, aged sixty-one. He was posthumously made Grand Commandant of Ceremonial; his posts as Attendant-in-Ordinary and Commandant were unchanged. His posthumous name was Respectful.
27
28
From youth Cong was careful and disciplined, with deep filial devotion. When Xiuzhi died in the capital, Cong traveled east to mourn and took neither food nor drink. The province recruited him as Chief Clerk; he served as staff officer on the Prince of Jianping's staff, Director in the Ministry of Rites, Groom of the Heir Apparent, Senior Clerk on the Defender's staff, Regular Director, and rose through Provincial Controller and Administrative Aide to Gentleman at the Yellow Gates.
29
At first, when the future Emperor Wu was just entering official life, his family was still poor; Cong treated him with the affection due a true friend of the realm, often sharing what he had with him; whenever he traveled he always called the future emperor to ride with him, and the emperor was deeply grateful. During the Shengming era, when the future Emperor Wu commanded the Central Army, he recruited Cong as advisory staff officer and sent Director of the Ministry of Personnel Jiang Mi with a personal letter saying, "On Director Jiang's report, and mindful of your old regard, I wish to ask you to serve." At the beginning of Jianyuan he was transferred to Household Subordinate of the Heir Apparent, promoted to Senior Clerk on the Rear Army staff, concurrently Colonel of Footsoldiers, Senior Clerk on the Pacification of the North staff, General of Pacifying the North, and Administrator of Southern Donghai. Soon he was made Internal Governor of Yuzhang, retaining his general's rank. Cong ran his household to great wealth; among servants and maids none were idle; though he lived in the south, every sort of Kuaiji seafood was always supplied. He was promoted to General Who Supports the State, Senior Clerk on the Prince of Shixing's staff, Colonel Who Pacifies the Barbarians, and Grand Administrator of Shu commandery. He was transferred to Army Supervisor of the Department of State Affairs, retaining his general's rank.
30
Cong was skilled in flavor; his blending and seasoning all had method. Prince Yi of Yuzhang held a lavish feast for guests and said to Cong, "Of today's dishes, is anything missing?" Cong said, "Only yellow-jaw stew is missing—the dish recorded in He Zeng's 《Food Notes》." He was promoted to Attendant-in-Ordinary of the Scattered Cavalry and Commander of the Heir Apparent's Right Guard. In the eighth year of Yongming, during severe floods, all officials wore military dress to aid the Imperial Ancestral Temple; Cong, in vermilion robes with full escort, drove people within the riding grounds at Xuanyang Gate; the responsible officials impeached him, and he was pardoned. The emperor, mindful of their old friendship from commoner days, said easily to Cong, "I shall have you restore your grandfather's career." He was transferred to Attendant-in-Ordinary, and the whole court marveled at so fine an appointment. He was promoted to Minister of the Imperial Ancestral Temples. Emperor Wu visited the Fragrant Grove Park and asked Cong for polished rice. Cong sent it along with dozens of cartloads of assorted delicacies that outshone even the Imperial Kitchen's finest dishes. The emperor asked Cong for his culinary recipes, but Cong kept them secret. When the emperor drank too much and felt ill, Cong offered only a single recipe for hangover-curing pickled mackerel. He left court as General Who Vanquishes the Foe and Senior Clerk on the Chariots and Cavalry staff, was made Minister of Revenue, and concurrently commanded the Footsoldiers.
31
When Emperor Yulin came to the throne, Cong was transferred to concurrent Right Army General, Grand Rectifier of Yang Province, and concurrently Chamberlain for the Imperial Workshops. He supervised construction of the Xiuan Mausoleum and was dismissed for accepting oxen and wine from subordinates at the tomb works. In the first year of Longchang he resumed his duties in plain clothes. When Emperor Yulin was deposed, Cong sighed to himself: "Wang and Xu have actually bound up their trousers and deposed the Son of Heaven—has the world ever known such a thing?" In Yanxing 1 (AD 494), he again commanded the Right Army. When Emperor Ming of Qi came to the throne, Cong pleaded illness and did not attend the enthronement. The emperor sent Minister of Education Wang Yan to show Cong the record of the deposition and enthronement and, as an old associate, sought to draw him into assisting the new regime. Cong said to Yan: "Our lord is sage and enlightened, and the nobles and ministers are all doing their part—why borrow a worn-out old man to help usher in the new order? I dare not accept such a commission." The court wished to impeach him, but Vice Director Xu Xiaosi said: "This is also the sort of blunt integrity the ancients prized." The assembly then dropped the matter.
32
悰稱疾篤還東，上表曰：「臣族陋海區，身微稽土，猥屬興運，荷竊稠私，徒越星紀，終慚報答。 衞養乖方，抱疾嬰固，寢瘵以來，倏踰旬朔，頻加醫治，曾未瘳損。 惟此朽頓，理難振復，乞解所職，盡療餘辰。」 詔賜假百日。 轉給事中，光祿大夫，尋加正員常侍。 永元元年，卒。 時年六十五。
Cong claimed serious illness and returned east, memorializing: "Your servant's clan is humble in this coastal region; I am a slight man of Kuaiji. I have undeservedly lived in a time of rising fortune and received thick private favor, yet have only passed one twelve-year cycle and remain ashamed that I cannot repay it. My care has gone wrong, and I am gripped by stubborn illness. Since this wasting sickness began, more than a month has suddenly passed; though physicians have treated me repeatedly, I have not improved. This exhausted frame can hardly be restored; I beg to be released from my offices and to spend what time remains wholly in recuperation." An edict granted him one hundred days' leave. He was transferred to Supervising Attendant and Grand Master for the Palace, and soon made Regular Attendant-in-Ordinary. He died in the first year of Yongyuan. He was sixty-five years old.
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His cousin Mao had vowed never to enter official service. When Wang Jingze rebelled he put Mao in charge of Kuaiji commandery, but entrusted all military affairs to the commoner Zhang Lingbao; the people of the commandery stormed the prefecture and killed Lingbao, and Mao was spared because he had taken no part in the matter.
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Xiezhi was first recruited as Chief Clerk of the provincial aides, then served as Constant Attendant in the Kingdom of Linhe, External Clerk, acting staff officer on the Pacification Army staff, central army staff officer on the Prince of Jinxi's Army That Guards the West staff, and Grand Administrator of Nanliang commandery. He was praised for his talent and breadth of vision. He was transferred to central army officer on the Prince of Shaoling's Southern Gentlemen-in-Attendance staff and concurrently Grand Administrator of Runan, but declined the appointment. He was appointed Colonel of the Archers and Administrative Aide of the province. He was appointed General of the Left Army but declined. He was then appointed advisory officer on the Prince of Shaoling's Left Army staff.
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When Emperor Wu was stationed at Pencheng he had Xiezhi guard Xunyang city; when he became Inspector of Jiang Province he again made Xiezhi Administrative Aide and entrusted him with affairs. When Crown Prince Wenhui was stationed at Xiangyang, the future Emperor Wu sent his trusted confidant Xiezhi out as Major on the Northern Gentlemen-in-Attendance Punitive Campaign staff and Grand Administrator of Fufeng, ennobling him as Marquis within the Passes. At his post he assisted with great energy and devotion. In the second year of Jianyuan, he returned to court as Supervising Attendant and General of Valiant Cavalry, served as Rectifier of his home province, was transferred to Gentleman at the Yellow Gates, and commanded the Forest of Feathers Guard. In the first year of Yongming, he was transferred to Defender of the Minister of the Guards while retaining his post as Rectifier. The following year he was additionally made Supervising Attendant. In the third year he was transferred to Attendant-in-Ordinary and Leader of the Right for the Heir Apparent. In the fifth year he was transferred to General of the Left Guard, additionally made Supervising Attendant, and retained his post as Rectifier.
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Xiezhi was striking in appearance and graceful in bearing; because of old favor he was well received at court, and many officials sought his company. In the sixth year he was transferred to Minister of Justice. The emperor wished to promote Xiezhi and once asked him casually: "How many Attendants-in-Ordinary does Jiang province have?" Xiezhi answered: "In recent times there has been only Cheng Daohui." The emperor said: "We shall make it two." Later he told Minister of Education Wang Jian, whose view differed; Xiezhi was therefore made Household Subordinate of the Heir Apparent and Leader of the Left Guard.
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When Xiezhi's elder brother Mozhi died, he memorialized: "Your servant's family has long known guilt and bitterness. We three brothers raised one another; though sickly as infants, we all reached adulthood. My eldest brother Chenzhi also died young; my late second brother Mozhi and I shared our family's grief, were raised and taught together, and loved one another as deeply as kin could. Who could have imagined he would suddenly be taken from us? Fortune and misfortune are now divided, and I cannot attend his rites—I beg to be released from my offices." An edict refused his request. He was transferred to Defender of the Minister of the Guards while retaining his post as Household Subordinate.
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In the eighth year the emperor sent Xiezhi to lead the palace guard against Prince Zixiang of Badong at Jiangling, concurrently acting Senior Clerk in charge of affairs. The imperial army was defeated by Zixiang; the authorities memorialized for his dismissal, but he was allowed to conduct military affairs provisionally as before. He again became Defender of the Minister of the Guards, concurrently Household Subordinate, and Rectifier of his home province.
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Xiezhi was shrewd and resourceful; whenever a court office fell vacant or was due for rotation, he would quietly predict whom the emperor would appoint, and he was always right—Yu Cong admired him greatly for this.
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In the tenth year he was transferred to Minister of Revenue and concurrently Defender of the Minister of the Guards. The following year he died at the age of fifty-one. He was posthumously made General of the Right and Inspector of Yu province. His posthumous epithet was Su.
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【評】
Appraisal
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史臣曰：送錢贏兩，言此無忘，一笥之懷，報以都尉，千金可失，貴在人心。 夫謹而信，汎愛衆，其爲利也博矣。 況乎先覺潛龍，結厚於布素，隨才致位，理固然也。
The historiographer says: Gifts of money and games of chance—speak of these and do not forget them; a single basket of goodwill may be repaid with the rank of Commandant of the Chariots; a thousand in gold may be lost, but what matters is the human heart. To be careful and trustworthy, and to love the many broadly—how vast the profit in that is. How much more when those who discerned merit in a prince still unrisen formed deep ties in humble days, and were placed in office according to their talents—this is only as reason would have it.
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注
Notes