Volume 44 Biographies 25: Xu Xiaosi, Shen Wenji

南齊書卷四十四‧列傳第二十五

Book of Southern Qi, Volume 44, Biographies 25

徐孝嗣沈文季

Xu Xiaosi and Shen Wenji

徐孝嗣字始昌，東海郯人也。祖湛之，宋司空；父聿之，著作郎：竝爲太祖所殺。孝嗣在孕得免。幼而挺立，風儀端簡。八歲，襲爵枝江縣公，見宋孝武，升階流涕，迄于就席。帝甚愛之。尚康樂公主。泰始二年，西討解嚴，車駕還宮，孝嗣登殿不著，爲治書御史蔡准所奏，罰金二兩。拜駙馬都尉，除著作郎，母喪去官。爲司空太尉二府參軍，安武王文學。孝嗣姑適東莞劉舍，舍兄藏爲尚書左丞，孝嗣往詣之。藏退語舍曰：「徐郎是令僕人，三十餘可知矣。汝宜善自結。」

Xu Xiaosi, whose courtesy name was Shichang, came from Tan in Donghai Commandery. His grandfather Xu Zhanzhi had served in the Song as Grand Minister of Works; his father Xu Yuzhi was a Composition Official—both were put to death by Emperor Gao of Qi. Xiaosi, still in his mother's womb, was spared. Even as a child he stood out, with dignified and composed bearing. At eight he inherited the title Marquis of Zhijiang; when he was presented to Emperor Xiaowu of Song, he wept as he climbed the steps and continued weeping until he reached his seat. The emperor was deeply fond of him. He married the Princess of Kangle. In the second year of the Taishi era, when the western campaign was stood down and the emperor returned to the palace, Xiaosi entered the hall without proper court dress; Supervising Secretary Cai Zhun impeached him, and he was fined two taels of gold. He was appointed Commandant of the Horse Guards for the Imperial Son-in-Law and made Composition Official, then left office on his mother's death. He served as a staff officer in the households of the Minister of Works and the Grand Commandant, and as Literary Scholar to Prince Anwu of Ancheng. Xiaosi's paternal aunt had married Liu She of Dongguan; She's elder brother Liu Cang was Left Assistant Director of the Secretariat, and Xiaosi went to call on him. Cang withdrew and told She, "Young Xu is destined for the highest ministerial posts—one can see that already, and he is barely past thirty. You ought to cultivate a bond with him while you can."

昇明中，遷太祖驃騎從事中郎，帶南彭城太守，隨府轉爲太尉諮議參軍，太守如故。齊臺建，爲世子庶子。建元初，國除。出爲晉陵太守，還爲太子中庶子，領長水校尉。未拜，爲寧朔將軍、聞喜公子良征虜長史，遷尚書吏部郎，太子右衞率，轉長史。善趨步，閑容止，與太宰褚淵相埒。世祖深加待遇。尚書令王儉謂人曰：「徐孝嗣將來必爲宰相。」轉充御史中丞。世祖問儉曰：「誰可繼卿者？」儉曰：「臣東都之日，其在徐孝嗣乎！」出爲吳興太守，儉贈孝嗣四言詩曰：「方軌叔茂，追清彥輔。柔亦不茹，剛亦不吐。」時人以比蔡子尼之行狀也。在郡有能名。會王儉亡，上徵孝嗣爲五兵尚書。

During the Shengming period he was promoted to Attendant in the household of Grand Marshal Xiao Daocheng, with concurrent appointment as Administrator of Nan Pengcheng; when the headquarters was transferred he became Consultation Adjutant to the Grand Commandant, retaining his commandery post. When the Qi regime was established he was made Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent. At the beginning of the Jianyuan era his state fief was abolished. He went out as Administrator of Jinling, then returned to serve as Junior Master to the Heir Apparent and head the Chief Office of the Imperial Park. Before he could take up that post he was made General Who Pacifies the North and Chief Clerk on the campaign staff of Heir Apparent Ziliang of Wenxi, then promoted to Director of the Ministry of Personnel, Right Commandant of the Heir Apparent's Guard, and finally Chief Clerk. He walked swiftly yet with easy composure, matching Grand Preceptor Chu Yuan in bearing. Emperor Wu of Qi treated him with exceptional favor. Director of the Secretariat Wang Jian told others, "Xu Xiaosi will surely become chief minister one day." He was transferred to serve as Censor-in-Chief. The emperor asked Jian, "Who can succeed you? Jian replied, "From the day I took office in the eastern capital—would it not be Xu Xiaosi!" He went out as Administrator of Wuxing; Jian presented Xiaosi with a four-line poem: "Keeping pace with Shumao, pursuing the clarity of Yanfu. Gentle, yet he does not yield; firm, yet he does not lash out." People of the time compared this to Cai Zini's letter of recommendation. In the commandery he earned a reputation for capable administration. When Wang Jian died, the emperor summoned Xiaosi to serve as Minister of the Five Arms.

其年，上敕儀曹令史陳淑、王景之、朱玄真、陳義民撰江左以來儀典，令諮受孝嗣。明年，遷太子詹事。從世祖幸方山。上曰：「朕經始此山之南，復爲離宮之所。故應有邁靈丘。」靈丘山湖，新林苑也。孝嗣答曰：「繞黃山，款牛首，乃盛漢之事。今江南未曠，民亦勞止，願陛下少更留神。」上竟無所脩立。竟陵王子良甚善之。子良好佛法，使孝嗣及廬江何胤掌知齋講及衆僧。轉吏部尚書。尋加右軍將軍，轉領太子左衞率。臺閣事多以委之。

That same year the emperor ordered the clerks of the Bureau of Rites—Chen Shu, Wang Jingzhi, Zhu Xuanzhen, and Chen Yimin—to compile ritual regulations since the establishment of the Eastern Jin, with instructions to consult Xiaosi. The following year he was promoted to Grand Tutor to the Heir Apparent. He accompanied the emperor on a visit to Mount Fang. The emperor said, "I began construction on the south side of this mountain and am again turning it into a detached palace. It ought therefore to surpass Lingqiu." Lingqiu was the mountain lake within the Xinqin Imperial Park. Xiaosi replied, "Encircling Mount Huang and paying homage at Niushou were grand undertakings of the Han dynasty. Today the south is not yet undeveloped, and the people are still weary—Your Majesty would do well to give the matter a little more thought." The emperor in the end undertook no construction. Prince Ziliang of Jingling was very fond of him. Ziliang was devoted to Buddhism and had Xiaosi and He Yin of Lujiang oversee vegetarian lectures and the monastic community. He was transferred to Minister of Personnel. Soon afterward he was additionally appointed General of the Right Army and transferred to head the Left Commandant of the Heir Apparent's Guard. Most affairs of the central government were entrusted to him.

北虜動，詔孝嗣假節頓新亭。時王晏爲令，民情物望，不及孝嗣也。晏誅，轉尚書令，領本州中正，餘悉如故。孝嗣愛好文學，賞託清勝。器量弘雅，不以權勢自居，故見容建武之世。恭己自保，朝野以此稱之。

When the northern enemy stirred, an edict appointed Xiaosi with provisional credentials to hold Xinting. At that time Wang Yan was chief minister, yet in popular esteem he did not match Xiaosi. When Yan was executed, Xiaosi was transferred to Director of the Secretariat and retained his post as nativist zhongzheng for his home province; all other appointments remained unchanged. Xiaosi loved literature and prized refined literary accomplishment. His bearing was broad and refined, and he did not comport himself by rank—hence he was tolerated through the Jianwu era. He kept himself deferential and secure, and court and countryside alike praised him for it.

初，孝嗣在率府，晝卧齋北壁下，夢兩童子遽云「移公牀」。孝嗣驚起，聞壁有聲，行數步而壁崩壓牀。建武四年，卽本號開府儀同三司。孝嗣聞有詔，斂容謂左右曰：「吾德慚古人，位登袞職，將何以堪之。明君可以理奪，必當死請。若不獲命，正當角巾丘園，待罪家巷耳。」固讓不受。

Earlier, while Xiaosi was serving in the Guard headquarters, he napped beneath the north wall of his quarters and dreamed that two boys suddenly cried, "Move the lord's couch!" Xiaosi started up in alarm; he heard a sound from the wall, walked a few paces, and the wall collapsed onto the couch. In the fourth year of Jianwu, immediately upon the new reign title he was made Minister of Works with Protocol Equal to a Grand Marshal. When Xiaosi heard of the decree he composed himself and told his attendants, "My virtue falls short of the ancients, yet my post reaches the highest ministerial rank—how can I bear this? An enlightened ruler can be moved by reason—I shall plead to the death. If I cannot win his consent, I shall simply don a scholar's kerchief and retire to hill and garden, awaiting punishment in my home lane." He firmly declined and would not accept.

是時連年虜動，軍國虛乏。孝嗣表立屯田曰：「有國急務，兵食是同，一夫輟耕，於事彌切。故井陌疆里，長轂盛於周朝，屯田廣置，勝戈富於漢室。降此以還，詳略可見。但求之自古，爲論則賒；卽以當今，宜有要術。竊尋緣淮諸鎮，皆取給京師，費引旣殷，漕運艱澀。聚糧待敵，每苦不周，利害之基，莫此爲急。臣比訪之故老及經彼宰守，淮南舊田，觸處極目，陂遏不脩，咸成茂草。平原陸地，彌望尤多。今邊備旣嚴，戍卒增衆，遠資餽運，近廢良疇，士多飢色，可爲嗟歎。愚欲使刺史二千石躬自履行，隨地墾辟。精尋灌溉之源，善商肥确之異。州郡縣戍主帥以下，悉分番附農。今水田雖晚，方事菽麥，菽麥二種，益是北土所宜，彼人便之，不減粳稻。開創之利，宜在及時。所啓允合，請卽使至徐、兖、司、豫，爰及荊、雍，各當境規度，勿有所遺。別立主曹，專司其事。田器耕牛，臺詳所給。歲終言殿最，明其刑賞。此功克舉，庶有弘益。若緣邊足食，則江南自豐，權其所饒，略不可計。」事御見納。時帝已寢疾，兵事未已，竟不施行。

At that time the northern enemy raided year after year, and both state and army were exhausted. Xiaosi submitted a memorial proposing military colonies, writing: "For any state the urgent tasks are the same—arms and grain together; if even one man stops plowing, the harm is all the greater. Hence in Zhou the field boundaries and district lines saw long carriages in abundance; in Han the broad establishment of military colonies made victorious armies rich in grain. Since then the detailed accounts and the summaries alike can be seen. Yet to seek lessons only from antiquity as argument is remote; for the present day there ought to be essential methods. I have traced how all garrisons along the Huai draw their supplies from the capital—the expense is already heavy and transport by water is arduous. To mass grain while awaiting the enemy one often suffers shortage; as a matter of profit and loss nothing is more pressing than this. I have lately questioned old residents and officials who once governed there: the old fields of Huainan, wherever one looks to the horizon, with dikes and sluices unrepaired have all turned to rank weeds. On level plains and open land the wasteland is even more extensive. Now frontier defense is already strict and garrison troops have increased; supplies are brought from afar while good fields nearby lie abandoned—many soldiers show hunger; it is cause for lament. I humbly propose that the provincial governors and the two-thousand-dan officials go in person and open land wherever the terrain allows. They should carefully locate sources of irrigation and assess differences between fertile and stony soil. From garrison commanders and county magistrates downward, all should take turns attached to the farming effort. Though it is late for rice paddies, beans and wheat can still be planted; both suit the northern soil and the locals know them well, yielding no less than polished rice. The benefit of opening new fields lies in acting in time. What I report is fitting; please immediately send envoys to Xu, Yan, Si, Yu, and also Jing and Yong, to survey each frontier within its jurisdiction and omit nothing. Establish a separate chief clerk office to specialize in this matter. Farm tools and plow oxen should be supplied as detailed by the central government. At year's end report achievements and clarify rewards and punishments. If this effort is achieved, there will be great benefit. If the frontier has enough food, the south will flourish on its own; estimate how much can be saved—it cannot be reckoned." The memorial was seen and accepted. The emperor was already gravely ill and military affairs had not ceased; in the end the plan was not carried out.

帝疾甚，孝嗣入居禁中，臨崩受遺託重，申開府之命。加中書監。永元初輔政，自尚書下省出住宮城南宅，不得還家。帝失德稍彰，孝嗣不敢諫諍。及江祏見誅，內懷憂恐，然未嘗表色。始安王遙光反，衆情遑惑，見孝嗣入，宮內乃安。然羣小用事，亦不能制也。進位司空，固讓。求解丹陽尹，不許。

When the emperor's illness grew severe, Xiaosi moved into the inner palace; at the verge of death he received a weighty deathbed trust and again pressed the order appointing him Minister of Works with Grand Marshal protocol. He was additionally appointed Supervisor of the Secretariat. At the beginning of the Yongyuan era he helped govern; leaving the Secretariat he lodged at his south palace residence within the capital and could not return home. The emperor's misconduct gradually became evident, yet Xiaosi did not dare remonstrate. When Jiang Shi was executed he harbored worry and fear inwardly, yet never showed it in his expression. When Prince Yaoguang rebelled the multitude were agitated and unsettled; when Xiaosi entered the palace, calm returned within. Yet the petty faction held power, and he could not restrain them either. He was advanced to Minister of Works and firmly declined. He requested to be relieved as metropolitan magistrate of Danyang and was not permitted.

孝嗣文人，不顯同異，名位雖大，故得未及禍。虎賁中郎將許准有膽力，領軍隷孝嗣，陳說事機，勸行廢立。孝嗣遲疑久之，謂必無用干戈理，須少主出遊，閉城門召百僚集議廢之，雖有此懷，終不能決。羣小亦稍憎孝嗣，勸帝召百僚集議，因誅之。冬，召孝嗣入華林省，遣茹法珍賜藥，孝嗣容色不異，少能飲酒，藥至斗餘，方卒。乃下詔曰：「周德方熙，三監迷叛，漢歷載昌，宰臣構戾，皆身膏斧鉞，族同煙燼。殷鑒上代，垂戒後昆。徐孝嗣憑藉世資，早蒙殊遇，階緣際會，遂登台鉉。匡翼之誠無聞，諂黷之迹屢著。沈文季門世原闕」

Xiaosi was a literary man who did not stand out by taking sides; though his rank was great, he therefore escaped disaster for a time. Tiger-Guard Central Commander Xu Zhun had courage and resolution; the army commander was attached to Xiaosi; Zhun explained the situation and urged deposing the emperor and enthroning another. Xiaosi hesitated for a long time, saying there would surely be no need for arms—that when the young emperor went out on a tour they need only shut the gates, summon the hundred officials to council, and depose him; though he harbored this thought, he could never bring himself to decide. The petty faction also came to dislike Xiaosi and urged the emperor to summon the hundred officials to council and thereby execute him. In winter Xiaosi was summoned into the Hualin Park; Ruo Fazhen was sent with poisoned wine; Xiaosi's expression did not change; he could still drink somewhat—more than a dou of the drug before he died. Then an edict was issued: "When Zhou virtue was rising, the three overseers went astray in rebellion; when Han fortune flourished, a chief minister plotted treason—both were minced by the axe, their clans reduced to smoke and ash. Lessons drawn from prior ages are warnings for later generations. Xu Xiaosi relied on hereditary standing and early received special favor; riding chance and occasion he ascended the highest ministerial post. No loyal service to shore up the throne was ever heard of him, while flattery and overreaching were repeatedly in evidence. As for Shen Wenji, his house and lineage were originally of humble standing."

沈文季字仲達，吳興武康人。父慶之，宋司空。

Shen Wenji, whose courtesy name was Zhongda, came from Wukang in Wuxing Commandery. His father Shen Qingzhi had served in the Song as Grand Minister of Works.

文季少以寬雅正直見知。孝建二年，起家主簿，徵祕書郎。以慶之勳重，大明五年，封文季爲山陽縣五等伯。轉太子舍人，新安王北中郎主簿，西陽王撫軍功曹，江夏王太尉東曹掾，遷中書郎。慶之爲景和所殺，兵仗圍宅，收捕諸子。文季長兄文叔謂文季曰：「我能死，爾能報。」遂自縊。文季揮刀馳馬去，收者不敢追，遂得免。

From youth Wenji was known for his generous refinement and upright integrity. In the second year of the Xiaojian era he began his career as Chief Clerk and was summoned to serve as Secretariat Gentleman. Because of Qingzhi's great merit, in the fifth year of the Daming era Wenji was enfeoffed as fifth-rank Baron of Shanyang County. He served successively as Heir Apparent Attendant, Chief Clerk to Prince Xin'an's Northern Central Command, Staff Officer on Prince Xiyang's Pacification Army staff, Eastern Bureau Adjutant on Prince Jiangxia's Grand Commandant staff, and was promoted to Secretariat Gentleman. Qingzhi was killed by Emperor Jinghe (Liu Ziye); armed men surrounded the residence to seize all his sons. Wenji's elder brother Wenshu said to him, "I can die; you must live to take revenge." He then hanged himself. Wenji brandished a blade and galloped away; the captors did not dare pursue, and he escaped.

明帝立，起文季爲寧朔將軍、遷太子右衞率，建安王司徒司馬。赭圻平，爲宣威將軍，廬江王太尉長史。出爲寧朔將軍、征北司馬、廣陵太守。轉黃門郎，領長水校尉。明帝宴會朝臣，以南臺御史賀臧爲柱下史，糾不醉者。文季不肯飲酒，被驅下殿。

When Emperor Ming took the throne, Wenji was raised as General Who Pacifies the North, promoted to Right Commandant of the Heir Apparent's Guard, and made Staff Major to Prince Jian'an's Minister of Works. After the pacification of Zhixi he was made General Who Proclaims Might and Chief Clerk to the Grand Commandant of Prince Lujiang. He went out as General Who Pacifies the North, Northern Campaign Staff Major, and Administrator of Guangling. He was transferred to Yellow Gate Gentleman and appointed to head the Chief Office of the Imperial Park. At a feast for court officials, Emperor Ming appointed Southern Terrace Censor He Zang as pillar chronicler to impeach anyone who failed to become drunk. Wenji refused to drink and was driven from the hall.

文季風采稜岸，善於進止。司徒褚淵當世貴望，頗以門戶裁之，文季不爲之屈。世祖在東宮，於玄圃宴會朝臣。文季數舉酒勸淵，淵甚不平，啓世祖曰：「沈文季謂淵經爲其郡，數加淵酒。」文季曰：「惟桑與梓，必恭敬止。豈如明府亡國失土，不識枌榆。」遂言及虜動，淵曰：「陳顯達、沈文季當今將略，足委以邊事。」文季諱稱將門，因是發怒，啓世祖曰：「褚淵自謂是忠臣，未知身死之日，何面目見宋明帝？」世祖笑曰：「沈率醉也。」中丞劉休舉其事，見原。後豫章王北宅後堂集會，文季與淵并善琵琶，酒闌，淵取樂器，爲明君曲。文季便下席大唱曰：「沈文季不能作伎兒。」豫章王嶷又解之曰：「此故當不損仲容之德。」淵顏色無異，曲終而止。

Wenji's bearing was sharp and commanding, and he was skilled in deportment. Minister of Works Chu Yuan was the most eminent man of the age and often judged others by family standing; Wenji would not yield to him. While the future Emperor Wu was still Heir Apparent, he feasted court officials in the Dark Garden. Wenji repeatedly urged Yuan to drink; Yuan was deeply displeased and reported to the Heir Apparent, "Shen Wenji says that Yuan once served as magistrate in his home commandery and keeps pressing wine on him. Wenji replied, "Only the mulberry and catalpa of home—one must approach them with reverence. How unlike Your Excellency, who lost his state and his native soil and no longer knows the trees of home." The talk then turned to northern incursions; Yuan said, "Chen Xianda and Shen Wenji are the foremost strategists of our day—sufficient to entrust with frontier affairs. Wenji resented being called a man of a general's house and in anger reported to the Heir Apparent, "Chu Yuan calls himself a loyal minister—when the day of his death comes, with what face will he meet Emperor Ming of Song? The Heir Apparent laughed and said, "Shen is drunk." Censor-in-Chief Liu Xiu impeached him for the incident, but he was pardoned. Later, at a gathering in the rear hall of Prince Yuzhang's north residence, Wenji and Yuan were both skilled at the pipa; when the wine was ending Yuan took up the instrument and played the Bright Lord melody. Wenji left his seat and sang loudly, "Shen Wenji cannot play the entertainer! Prince Yuzhang Jiong smoothed matters over, saying, "This surely does not diminish Zhongrong's virtue." Yuan's expression did not change; when the tune ended he stopped.

文季尋除征虜將軍，侍中如故。遷散騎常侍，左衞將軍，征虜如故。世祖卽位，轉太子詹事，常侍如故。永明元年，出爲左將軍、吳郡太守。三年，進號平東將軍。四年，遷會稽太守，將軍如故。是時連年檢籍，百姓怨望。富陽人唐宇之僑居桐廬，父祖相傳圖墓爲業。宇之自云其家墓有王氣，山中得金印，轉相誑惑。三年冬，宇之聚黨四百人，於新城水斷商旅，黨與分布近縣。新城令陸赤奮、桐廬令王天愍弃縣走。宇之向富陽，抄略人民，縣令何洵告魚浦子邏主從係公，發魚浦村男丁防縣。永興遣西陵戍主夏侯曇羨率將吏及戍左右埭界人起兵赴救。宇之遂陷富陽。會稽郡丞張思祖遣臺使孔矜、王萬歲、張繇等配以器仗將吏白丁，防衞永興等十屬。文季亦遣器仗將吏救援錢塘。宇之至錢塘，錢塘令劉彪、戍主聶僧貴遣隊主張玕於小山拒之，力不敵，戰敗。宇之進抑浦登岸，焚郭邑，彪弃縣走。文季又發吳、嘉興、海鹽、鹽官民丁救之。賊分兵出諸縣，鹽官令蕭元蔚、諸暨令陵琚之竝逃走，餘杭令樂琰戰敗乃奔。是春，宇之於錢塘僭號，置太子，以新城戍爲天子宮，縣廨爲太子宮。弟紹之爲揚州刺史。錢塘富人柯隆爲尚書僕射、中書舍人，領太官令。獻鋌數千口爲宇之作仗，加領尚方令。分遣其黨高道度徐寇東陽，東陽太守蕭崇之、長山令劉國重拒戰見害。崇之字茂敬，太祖族弟。至是臨難，貞正果烈。追贈冠軍將軍，太守如故。賊遂據郡。又遣偽會稽太守孫泓取山陰，時會稽太守王敬則朝正，故宇之謂乘虛可襲。泓至浦陽江，郡丞張思祖遣浹口戍主湯休武拒戰，大破之。上在樂遊苑，聞宇之賊，謂豫章王嶷曰：「宋明初，九州同反，鼠輩但作，看蕭公雷汝頭。」遣禁兵數千人，馬數百匹東討。賊衆烏合，畏馬。官軍至錢塘，一戰便散，禽斬宇之，進兵平諸郡縣。

Wenji was soon appointed General Who Punishes the Barbarians, retaining his post as Attendant-in-Ordinary. He was promoted to Attendant Cavalier and Left Guard General, retaining his post as General Who Punishes the Barbarians. When Emperor Wu took the throne, Wenji was transferred to Grand Tutor to the Heir Apparent, retaining his post as Attendant Cavalier. In the first year of the Yongming era he went out as General of the Left and Administrator of Wu Commandery. In the third year his title was advanced to General Who Pacifies the East. In the fourth year he was transferred to Administrator of Kuaiji, retaining his general's title. At that time household registers were audited year after year, and popular resentment was widespread. Tang Yuzhi of Fuyang had settled in Tonglu; his father and grandfather had handed down tomb geomancy as their trade. Yuzhi claimed that his family tomb bore imperial aura, that he had found a gold seal in the mountains, and he deceived others in turn. In the winter of the third year Yuzhi gathered four hundred followers, cut off travelers on the waters at Xincheng, and distributed his partisans through nearby counties. The magistrates of Xincheng and Tonglu—Lu Chifen and Wang Tianmin—abandoned their counties and fled. Yuzhi advanced on Fuyang, plundering the populace; Magistrate He Xun informed the patrol chief of Yupu, Zigong, and mobilized the village men of Yupu to defend the county. Yongxing sent the Xiling garrison chief Xiahou Tanxian, leading officers and men and people from the dam borders, to raise troops for the rescue. Yuzhi then captured Fuyang. Kuaiji Assistant Magistrate Zhang Sizu sent capital envoys Kong Jin, Wang Wansui, Zhang Yao, and others, equipping them with arms, officers, and common levies to defend the ten subordinate districts including Yongxing. Wenji also dispatched arms, officers, and troops to rescue Qiantang. When Yuzhi reached Qiantang, Magistrate Liu Biao and garrison chief Nie Sengui sent squad chief Zhang Gan to hold the Little Hill against him; they were outmatched and defeated in battle. Yuzhi pressed the ford, went ashore, burned the outer wards of the city, and Biao abandoned the county and fled. Wenji again mobilized levies from Wu, Jiaxing, Haiyan, and Yanguan for the rescue. The rebels sent troops into the various counties; the magistrates of Yanguan and Zhuji—Xiao Yuanwei and Ling Juzhi—both fled; the magistrate of Yuhang, Yue Yan, fled only after defeat in battle. That spring Yuzhi at Qiantang usurped an imperial title, installed a crown prince, made the Xincheng garrison the Son of Heaven's palace, and the county offices the crown prince's palace. His younger brother Shaozhi was made Governor of Yang Province. Ke Long, a wealthy man of Qiantang, was made Vice Director of the Secretariat and Secretariat Drafter, with concurrent appointment as Director of the Imperial Commissary. He presented several thousand iron ingots to forge arms for Yuzhi and was additionally appointed Director of the Imperial Workshops. He sent his follower Gao Daodu to invade Dongyang; Administrator Xiao Chongzhi and the magistrate of Changshan, Liu Guozhong, resisted in battle and were killed. Chongzhi, whose courtesy name was Maojing, was a younger clansman of Emperor Gao of Qi. Facing this crisis he was upright, firm, and resolute. He was posthumously made General Who Conquers the Champions, retaining his title as administrator. The rebels then occupied the commandery. They also sent the false Kuaiji Administrator Sun Hong to take Shanyin; as the Administrator Wang Jingze was at court for the new year audience, Yuzhi judged that the moment could be seized. Hong reached the Puyang River; Assistant Magistrate Zhang Sizu sent the Jiaokou garrison chief Tang Xiuwu to resist in battle and routed him utterly. The emperor was in the Leyou Park; hearing of Yuzhi's rebels he told Prince Yuzhang Jiong, "At the beginning of Emperor Ming of Song the nine provinces rebelled together—such vermin merely stir; watch how Lord Xiao will thunder at your heads." He sent several thousand palace troops and several hundred horses on an eastern campaign. The rebel host was a mere mob and feared cavalry. When government troops reached Qiantang, a single battle scattered the rebels; Yuzhi was captured and beheaded, and the army advanced to pacify the commanderies and counties.

臺軍乘勝，百姓頗被抄奪。軍還，上聞之，收軍主前軍將軍陳天福弃市，左軍將軍中宿縣子劉明徹免官削爵付東冶。天福，上寵將也，旣伏誅，內外莫不震肅。天福善馬槊，至今諸將法之。

As the capital troops pressed their victory, the common people suffered considerable plunder. When the army returned the emperor heard of it; Forward Army General Chen Tianfu, the army commander, was seized and executed in the market; Left Army General Liu Mingche, Baron of Zhongsu, was dismissed from office, stripped of his title, and sent to Dongye. Tianfu had been one of the emperor's favored generals; once he had been executed, court and countryside alike were awed into discipline. Tianfu was skilled with the cavalry lance; to this day the generals take him as their model.

御史中丞徐孝嗣奏曰：「風聞山東羣盜，剽掠列城，雖匪日而殄，要蹔干王略。郡縣闕攻守之宜，倉府多侵秏之弊，舉善懲惡，應有攸歸。吳郡所領鹽官令蕭元蔚、桐廬令王天愍、新城令陸赤奮等，縣爲白劫破掠，竝不經格戰，委職散走。元蔚、天愍還臺，赤奮不知所在。又錢塘令劉彪、富陽令何洵，乃率領吏民拒戰不敵，未委歸臺。餘建德、壽昌，在劫斷上流，不知被劫掠不？吳興所領餘杭縣被劫破，令樂琰乃率吏民徑戰不敵，委走出都。會稽所領諸暨縣，爲劫所破，令陵琚之不經格戰，委城奔走，不知所在。案元蔚等妄藉天私，作司近服，昧斯隱慝，職啓虔劉。會稽郡丞張思祖謬因承乏，總任是尸，涓誠芻效，終焉無紀。平東將軍吳郡太守文季、征虜將軍吳興太守西昌侯鸞，任屬關、河，威懷是寄。輙下禁止彪、琰、洵，思祖、文季視事如故，鸞等結贖論。」詔元蔚等免，思祖、鸞、文季原。

Censor-in-Chief Xu Xiaosi memorialized: "I hear that bandits east of the mountains are plundering the walled cities; though they may not last a day before destruction, for the moment they disturb the imperial design. The commanderies and counties lack proper measures of attack and defense; the granaries show much waste and embezzlement; rewarding the good and punishing the evil ought to have its proper place. Under Wu Commandery the magistrates Xiao Yuanwei of Yanguan, Wang Tianmin of Tonglu, Lu Chifen of Xincheng, and others had their counties broken and plundered by daylight robbers; none engaged in battle but abandoned office and fled. Yuanwei and Tianmin returned to the capital; Chifen's whereabouts are unknown. Moreover the magistrates of Qiantang and Fuyang—Liu Biao and He Xun—led clerks and people to resist in battle but were outmatched, and have not yet reported back to the capital. As for Jiande and Shouchang, on the upper reaches where the bandits cut the route, it is unknown whether they were plundered? Under Wuxing the county of Yuhang was broken by bandits; Magistrate Yue Yan led clerks and people straight into battle but was outmatched, abandoned his post, and fled to the capital. Under Kuaiji the county of Zhuji was broken by bandits; Magistrate Ling Juzhi did not engage in battle but abandoned the city and fled—his whereabouts are unknown. Investigation shows that Yuanwei and the others presumptuously relied on imperial favor in offices near the throne, concealed this hidden evil, and in the performance of duty opened the way to slaughter. Kuaiji Assistant Magistrate Zhang Sizu wrongly accepted the post in a vacancy, bore overall responsibility in name only, offered trifling loyalty like grass, and in the end achieved nothing. General Who Pacifies the East and Administrator of Wu Wenji, and General Who Punishes the Barbarians and Administrator of Wuxing Marquis Luan of Xichang—their charge was like guarding the passes and rivers; authority and compassion alike were entrusted to them. I urgently order the detention of Biao, Yan, and Xun; Sizu and Wenji are to continue in office as before; Luan and the others are to be judged after discussion of commutation. An edict dismissed Yuanwei and the others; Sizu, Luan, and Wenji were pardoned.

文季固讓會稽之授，轉都官尚書，加散騎常侍。出爲持節、督郢州司州之義陽諸軍事、左將軍、郢州刺史。還爲散騎常侍，領軍將軍。世祖謂文季曰：「南士無僕射，多歷年所。」文季對曰：「南風不競，非復一日。」文季雖不學，發言必有辭采，當世稱其應對。尤善簺及彈棊，簺用五子。

Wenji firmly declined the appointment to Kuaiji, was transferred to Minister of Justice, and additionally made Attendant Cavalier. He went out with staff of authority as supervisor of military affairs for Ying Province and Yiyang in Si Province, as General of the Left and Governor of Ying Province. He returned to serve as Attendant Cavalier and Army Commander. The emperor said to Wenji, "Southerners have had no Vice Director for many years now. Wenji replied, "The southern wind does not contend—it has not been so for a single day. Though Wenji was not a learned man, whenever he spoke his words had literary color; his contemporaries praised his repartee. He was especially skilled at bo and at flicking chess pieces; bo was played with five stones.

明帝卽位，加領太子詹事，增邑五百戶。尚書令王晏嘗戲文季爲吳興僕射。文季答曰：「琅邪執法，似不出卿門。」尋加散騎常侍，僕射如故。建武二年，虜寇壽春，豫州刺史豐城公遙昌嬰城固守，數遣輕兵相抄擊，明帝以爲憂，詔文季領兵鎮壽春。文季入城，止游兵不聽出，洞開城門，嚴加備守，虜軍尋退，百姓無所傷損。增封爲千九百戶。尋加護軍將軍，僕射、常侍如故。

When Emperor Ming took the throne, Wenji was additionally appointed concurrent Grand Tutor to the Heir Apparent, with five hundred added households in his fief. Director of the Secretariat Wang Yan once teased Wenji as the "Wuxing Vice Director." Wenji replied, "Langye's law enforcement—seems not to come from your own gate." Soon he was additionally appointed Attendant Cavalier, retaining his post as Vice Director. In the second year of the Jianwu era the northern enemy raided Shouchun; the Governor of Yu Province, Prince Yaochang of Fengcheng, held the city firm and repeatedly sent light troops on raiding strikes; Emperor Ming was troubled and ordered Wenji to lead troops to garrison Shouchun. Wenji entered the city, halted roaming troops and would not let them sally forth, opened the gates wide, and strictly prepared the defense; the enemy army soon withdrew, and the populace suffered no harm. His fief was increased to one thousand nine hundred households. Soon afterward he was additionally appointed General Who Protects the Army, retaining his posts as Vice Director and Attendant Cavalier.

王敬則反，詔文季領兵屯湖頭，備京路。永元元年，轉侍中、左僕射，將軍如故。始安王遙光反，其夜，遣三百人於宅掩取文季，欲以爲都督，而文季已還臺。明日，與尚書令徐孝嗣守衞宮城，戎服共坐南掖門上。時東昏已行殺戮，孝嗣深懷憂慮，欲與文季論世事，文季輙引以他辭，終不得及。事寧，加鎮軍將軍，置府。侍中、僕射如故。

When Wang Jingze rebelled, an edict ordered Wenji to lead troops encamped at Hutou to guard the road to the capital. In the first year of the Yongyuan era he was transferred to Attendant-in-Ordinary and Left Vice Director, retaining his general's title. When Prince Yaoguang rebelled, that same night he sent three hundred men to Wenji's residence to seize him by surprise, intending to make him commander-in-chief, but Wenji had already returned to the Secretariat. The next day he and Director of the Secretariat Xu Xiaosi guarded the palace city, sitting together atop the South Yeb Gate in military dress. At that time Emperor Dong Hun was already carrying out slaughter; Xiaosi was deeply troubled and wished to discuss affairs of state with Wenji, but Wenji always turned the conversation elsewhere and never reached the subject. When the crisis was settled he was additionally appointed General Who Pacifies the Army and given a headquarters staff. He retained his posts as Attendant-in-Ordinary and Vice Director.

文季見世方昏亂，託以老疾，不豫朝機。兄子昭略謂文季曰：「阿父年六十爲員外僕射，欲求自免，豈可得乎？」文季笑而不答。同孝嗣被害。其日先被召見，文季知敗，舉動如常，登車顧曰：「此行恐往而不反也。」於華林省死，時年五十八。朝野冤之。中興元年，贈侍中、司空，謚忠憲。

Wenji saw that the age was falling into disorder and pleaded old age and illness, declining to take part in court deliberations. His nephew Zhaolue said to him, "Uncle, at sixty you serve as supernumerary Vice Director—do you think you can simply seek to exempt yourself?" Wenji smiled and did not answer. Together with Xiaosi he was put to death. That day he was summoned first for audience; Wenji knew he was ruined, yet his bearing was as usual; mounting the carriage he looked back and said, "This journey—I fear I go and will not return." He died in the Hualin Park at the age of fifty-eight. Court and countryside alike considered it a grave injustice. In the first year of the Zhongxing era he was posthumously made Attendant-in-Ordinary and Minister of Works, with the posthumous name Loyal and Lawful.

弟昭光，聞收至，家人勸逃去，昭光不忍捨母，遂見獲，殺之。中興元年，贈昭略太常，昭光廷尉。

His younger brother Zhaoguang, hearing that arrests were coming, was urged by his family to flee; Zhaoguang could not bear to abandon his mother, was seized, and put to death. In the first year of the Zhongxing era Zhaolue was posthumously made Grand Minister of Ceremonies and Zhaoguang Director of Justice.

史臣曰：爲邦之訓，食惟民天，足食足兵，民信之矣。屯田之略，實重戰守。若夫充國耕殖，用殄羌戎，韓浩、棗祇，亦建華夏置典農之官，興大佃之議。金城布險，峻壘綿疆，飛芻輓粒，事難支繼。一夫不耕，或鍾飢餒，緣邊戍卒，坐甲千羣。故宜盡收地利，因兵務食。緩則躬耕，急則從戰。歲有餘糧，則紅食可待。前世達治，言之已詳。江左以來，不暇遠策，王旅外出，未嘗宿飽，四郊嬰守，懼等松芻。縣兵所救，經歲引日，淩風泙水，轉漕艱長。傾窖底之儲，盡倉敖之粟，流馬木牛，尚深前弊，田積之要，唯在江淮。郡國同興，遠不周急。故吳氏列戍南濱，屯農水右，魏世淮北大佃，而石橫開漕，皆輔車相資，易以待敵。孝嗣當蹙境之晨，薦希行之計，王無外略，民困首領，觀機而動，斯議殆爲空陳，惜矣！

The historiographer says: The teaching for governing a state is that food is the people's heaven—with sufficient food and sufficient arms, the people will place their trust. The strategy of military colonies truly gives weight to both warfare and defense. Zhao Chongguo farmed the frontier and thereby extinguished the Qiang; Han Hao and Zao Zhi likewise established the Central States, created the office of Director of Agriculture, and advanced the proposal of great land reclamation. At Jincheng defenses are spread wide and lofty ramparts span the borders; flying fodder and hauling grain by cart—the effort is hard to sustain. If even one man does not plow, hunger may follow; along the frontier garrison soldiers sit in armor by the thousands. Hence one ought fully to harvest the land's advantage and through military effort secure food. In times of calm they plow in person; in times of urgency they follow into battle. When the year yields surplus grain, army provisions can be kept in readiness. Former ages of enlightened rule have already spoken of this in detail. Since the establishment of the Eastern Jin there has been no leisure for distant strategy; the imperial armies march out and have never slept on a full stomach; the four suburbs cling to defense, fearing starvation like dry pine fodder. What county troops can rescue takes months on end; braving wind and fording floodwaters, transport by water is arduous and prolonged. Emptying the depths of the cellars and exhausting the granaries, even with flowing horses and wooden oxen the old evils remain deep; the key to accumulated fields lies only in the Yangtze and Huai region. When commanderies and states rise together, distant efforts do not meet urgent needs. Hence the house of Wu arrayed garrisons on the southern shore and farmed the lands on the water's right; in Wei times there was great land reclamation north of the Huai, and Shi Heng opened the transport canal—all supported one another like paired wheels, making it easier to await the enemy. Xiaosi, at the dawn of a straitened frontier, recommended a plan rarely put into practice; the ruler had no external strategy and the people were distressed at the top—watching for the moment to act—this proposal was nearly an empty statement. A pity!

贊曰：文忠作相，器範先標。有容有業，可以立朝。豐城歷仕，音儀孔昭。爲舟等溺，在運同消。 [1]

Eulogy: As chief minister Wenzhong set the standard of capacity and bearing. With bearing and achievement, he was fit to stand at court. Through successive reigns at Fengcheng his voice and bearing shone brilliantly. Like boats drowned together, in fate they alike vanished. Footnote 1.

全文以中華書局、一九七二年一月版《南齊書》爲本校。

The full text has been collated against the Zhonghua Book Company, January 1972 edition of the Book of Southern Qi.

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