Volume 46 Biographies 27: Wang Xiuzhi, Wang Ci, Cai Yue, Lu Huixiao, Gu Xianzhi, Xiao Huiji

南齊書卷四十六‧列傳第二十七

Book of Southern Qi, Volume 46 · Biographies 27

王秀之王慈蔡約陸慧曉顧憲之蕭惠基

Wang Xiuzhi · Wang Ci · Cai Yue · Lu Huixiao · Gu Xianzhi · Xiao Huiji

王秀之字伯奮，琅邪臨沂人也。祖裕，宋左光祿大夫、儀同三司。父瓚之，金紫光祿大夫。

Wang Xiuzhi, whose style name was Bo Fen, came from Langya commandery in Linyi. His grandfather Wang Yu had served the Liu Song as Left Glorious Grand Master and Holder of the Three Prestige Insignia. His father Wang Zanzhi held the rank of Grand Master of Golden Candelabra and Purple Grandee.

秀之幼時，裕愛其風采。起家著作佐郎，太子舍人。父卒，爲菴舍於墓下持喪，服闋復職。吏部尚書褚淵見秀之正潔，欲與結婚，秀之不肯，以此頻轉爲兩府外兵參軍。遷太子洗馬，司徒左西屬，桂陽王司空從事中郎。秀之知休範將反，辭疾不就。出爲晉平太守。至郡期年，謂人曰：「此邦豐壤，祿俸常充。吾山資已足，豈可久留以妨賢路。」上表請代，時人謂「王晉平恐富求歸」。

Even as a boy, Xiuzhi caught Wang Yu's eye for his fine bearing. He entered office as Assistant Gentleman of the Archives and Attendant of the Crown Prince. After his father's death he lived in a mourning hut by the tomb; when the mourning period ended, he resumed his post. Chu Yuan, Minister of Personnel, took note of Xiuzhi's upright character and sought a marriage tie, but Xiuzhi declined; as a result he was shuffled again and again into external military aide posts in two regional headquarters. He was promoted to Groom of the Crown Prince, then Left Western Attendant under the Minister of State Affairs, and Attendant Gentleman on the staff of the Prince of Guiyang in his capacity as Regional Commander. Xiuzhi foresaw that Xiu Fan was plotting rebellion and pleaded illness rather than accept the appointment. He was sent out to serve as Administrator of Jinping commandery. After a year in office he told others, "This commandery is fertile ground; my salary and stipends are always ample. My private means are already sufficient. How can I linger here and block the way for better men." He memorialized the throne asking to be replaced, and contemporaries quipped that "Wang of Jinping, afraid of growing too rich, begged to go home."

還爲安成王驃騎諮議，轉中郎。又爲太祖驃騎諮議。昇明二年，轉左軍長史、尋陽太守，隨府轉鎮西長史、南郡太守。府主豫章王嶷旣封王，秀之遷爲司馬、河東太守，辭郡不受。加寧朔將軍，改除黃門郎，未拜，仍遷豫章王驃騎長史。於荊州立學，以秀之領儒林祭酒。遷寧朔將軍、南郡王司馬。復爲黃門郎，領羽林監。遷長沙王中軍長史。世祖卽位，爲太子中庶子，吏部郎，出爲義興太守，遷侍中祭酒，轉都官尚書。

On his return he became advisory officer on the staff of the Prince of Ancheng as Grand Marshal, then Central Gentleman. He later served in the same capacity on the staff of the Founding Emperor in his role as Grand Marshal. In the second year of Shengming he became Chief Clerk of the Left Army and Administrator of Xunyang; when the headquarters moved west he followed as Chief Clerk of the Army Pacifying the West and Administrator of Nan commandery. After his lord Xiao Yi of Yuzhang had been enfeoffed as prince, Xiuzhi was promoted to Major and offered Hedong commandery, but he declined the prefecture and would not take it. He was given the additional rank of General Pacifying the North and reassigned as Gentleman at the Yellow Gates, but before he could take up that post he was moved to Chief Clerk on the staff of the Prince of Yuzhang as Grand Marshal. A school was founded in Jing province, and Xiuzhi was appointed to head it as Libationer of the Forest of Scholars. He was promoted to General Pacifying the North and Major on the staff of the Prince of Nan commandery. He again became Gentleman at the Yellow Gates and concurrently supervised the Forest of Feathers guard. He was transferred to Chief Clerk of the Central Army on the staff of the Prince of Changsha. When Emperor Wu took the throne, Xiuzhi became Junior Mentor to the Crown Prince, then Gentleman of the Ministry of Personnel; he was sent out as Administrator of Yixing, promoted to Attendant-in-Ordinary and Libationer, and finally transferred to Minister of Justice.

初，秀之祖裕，性貞正。徐羨之、傅亮當朝，裕不與來往。及致仕隱吳興，與子瓚之書曰：「吾欲使汝處不競之地。」瓚之歷官至五兵尚書，未嘗詣一朝貴。江湛謂何偃曰：「王瓚之今便是朝隱。」及柳元景、顏師伯令僕貴要，瓚之竟不候之。至秀之爲尚書，又不與令王儉款接。三世不事權貴，時人稱之。轉侍中，領射聲校尉。

Xiuzhi's grandfather Wang Yu had been upright by nature. While Xu Xianzhi and Fu Liang dominated the court, Yu refused all dealings with them. After he retired and withdrew to Wuxing, he wrote to his son Zanzhi: "I want you to stand where there is nothing to fight over." Zanzhi rose as far as Minister of the Five Armies without ever once paying a call on any court grandee. Jiang Zhan told He Yan, "Wang Zanzhi is a recluse who happens to hold office." When Liu Yuanjing, Yan Shibo, and other powerful ministers were at the height of favor, Zanzhi still never called on them. When Xiuzhi became a minister in his own right, he too kept his distance from Director Wang Jian. Three generations in a row refused to court the powerful, and their contemporaries admired them for it. He was transferred to Attendant-in-Ordinary and concurrently commanded the Archers Who Shoot by Sound.

出爲輔國將軍、隨王鎮西長史、南郡內史。州西曹苟平遺秀之交知書，秀之拒不答。平乃遺書曰：「僕聞居《謙》之位，旣刊于《易》；傲不可長，《禮》明其文。是以信陵致夷門之義，燕丹收荊卿之節，皆以禮而然矣。丈夫處世，豈可寂漠恩榮，空爲後代一丘土？足下業潤重光，聲居朝右，不脩高世之績，將何隔於愚夫？僕耿介當年，不通羣品，饑寒白首，望物嗟來。成人之美，《春秋》所善，薦我寸長，開君尺短，故推風期德，規於相益，實非碌碌有求於平原者也。僕與足下，同爲四海國士。夫盛衰迭代，理之恒數，名位參差，運之通塞，豈品德權行爲之者哉？第五之號，旣無易於驃騎；西曹之名，復何推於長史？足下見答書題久之，以君若此非典，何宜施之於國士？如其循禮，禮無不答，謹以相還，亦何犯於逆鱗哉？君子處人，以德不以位，相如不見屈於澠池，毛遂安受辱於郢門，造敵臨事，僕必先於二子。未知足下之貴，足下之威，孰若秦、楚兩王？僕以德爲寶，足下以位爲寶，各寶其寶，於此敬宜。常聞古人交絕，不泄惡言，僕謂之鄙。無以相貽，故薦貧者之贈。」平，潁川人。豫章王嶷爲荊州時，平獻書令減損奢麗，豫章王優教酬答。尚書令王儉當事，平又與儉書曰「足下建高世之名，而不顯高世之迹，將何以書於齊史哉？」至是南郡綱紀啓隨王子隆請罪，平上書自申。

He was sent out as General Assisting the State, Chief Clerk on the staff of the Prince of Sui as Army Pacifying the West, and Internal Administrator of Nan commandery. Gou Ping of the provincial Western Bureau wrote Xiuzhi a letter proposing friendship; Xiuzhi refused to answer. Ping then wrote again: "I have read that the place of Modesty in the Book of Changes is already set down in that classic; and that arrogance must not be indulged—the Rites state this plainly. That is why Lord Xinling won the loyalty of the man at Yimen, and why Crown Prince Dan won the devotion of Jing Ke—both through proper ritual conduct. How can a man live in this world indifferent to favor and glory, only to leave posterity a nameless mound of earth? Your achievements enrich our age and your name stands among the foremost at court—if you do not build a legacy that outlasts your generation, how are you any different from a common fool? I have been stubborn and upright all my life, unconnected with the great and the small; hunger and cold have brought me to white hair, watching the world pass and sighing that nothing comes unbidden. The Spring and Autumn Annals praises those who help others fulfill their potential; I offer what little I have and ask you to open what you withhold. I reach out in shared aspiration and virtue, hoping we may help each other—it is not that I am some nobody begging favors of Lord Pingyuan. You and I are both men of talent under heaven. Rise and fall follow one another as the way of things; rank and title vary as fortune opens or closes—are these really matters of virtue, power, and conduct alone? The title of Fifth Rank is hardly interchangeable with Grand Marshal; and how can the name Western Bureau be ranked above Chief Clerk? You took a long time to answer my letter; if this is how you treat a fellow man of talent, what kind of propriety is that? If one follows ritual, every courtesy demands a reply—I return your letter in kind; how does that touch the dragon's reverse scales? A gentleman treats others by virtue, not by rank. Lin Xiangru was not humbled at Mianchi, and Mao Sui would never have accepted insult at the gates of Ying. If it came to facing the enemy in battle, I would go before either of them. I cannot tell whether your eminence and your authority rival those of the kings of Qin and Chu? I treasure virtue; you treasure rank. Each of us values what he values, and on that basis mutual respect is proper. I have often heard that when the ancients ended a friendship they refrained from speaking ill of the other—I call that cowardly. Having nothing finer to offer, I send you the poor man's parting gift instead. Ping was a native of Yingchuan. When Xiao Yi of Yuzhang held Jing province, Ping submitted a memorial urging him to cut back on extravagance; the prince answered with a gracious edict of thanks. When Director Wang Jian was running affairs, Ping wrote to him as well: "You have built a reputation that outshines your age, yet you show no deeds to match—how will the historians of Qi record you?" At this point the administrative staff of Nan commandery reported that the Prince of Sui's son Zilong was asking that charges be brought; Ping submitted a letter in his own defense.

秀之尋徵侍中，領游擊將軍。未拜，仍爲輔國將軍、吳興太守。秀之常云位至司徒左長史，可以止足矣。吳興郡隱業所在，心願爲之。到郡脩治舊山，移置輜重。隆昌元年，卒官。年五十三。謚曰簡子。

Xiuzhi was soon recalled as Attendant-in-Ordinary and concurrently General of Mobile Striking Forces. Before he could take up that post he was again appointed General Assisting the State and Administrator of Wuxing. Xiuzhi often said that rising as far as Chief Clerk to the Left under the Minister of State Affairs was rank enough for anyone. Wuxing was where his family had their secluded estate, and it was the post he had long wanted. On reaching the commandery he restored his old mountain retreat and moved his household goods there. In the first year of Longchang he died in office. He was fifty-three years old. He was given the posthumous title Master Simple.

秀之宗人僧祐，太尉儉從祖兄也。父遠，光祿勳。宋世爲之語曰：「王遠如屏風，屈曲從俗，能蔽風露。」而僧祐負氣不羣，儉常候之，辭不相見。世祖數閱武，僧祐獻《講武賦》，儉借觀，僧祐不與。竟陵王子良聞僧祐善彈琴，於座取琴進之，不肯從命。永明末，爲太子中舍人，在直屬疾，代人未至，僧祐委出，爲有司所奏，贖論。官至黃門郎。時衞軍掾孔逭亦抗直，著《三吳決錄》，不傳。

Among Xiuzhi's clansmen was Wang Sengyou, a first cousin once removed of Grand Marshal Wang Jian. His father Wang Yuan had been Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. In Song times people said of him, "Wang Yuan is like a folding screen—he bends with the fashion and keeps off wind and weather." Sengyou, by contrast, was proud and kept to himself; Jian often called on him, but he refused every meeting. When Emperor Wu held military reviews, Sengyou presented an "Essay on Military Exercises"; Jian asked to borrow it, and Sengyou refused. The Prince of Jingling, Zi Liang, heard that Sengyou played the zither well; at a banquet he had a zither brought forward for him, but Sengyou would not comply. At the end of the Yongming era he served as Attendant of the Crown Prince; while on duty he fell ill, his relief had not yet arrived, and he left his post without leave—the authorities reported him and he was sentenced to ransom. He rose as far as Gentleman at the Yellow Gates. Around the same time Kong Huan, aide to the Guards General, was likewise stubbornly upright; he wrote Records of the Three Wu Regions, which has not survived.

王慈字伯寶，琅邪臨沂人，司空僧虔子也。年八歲，外祖宋太宰江夏王義恭迎之內齋，施寶物恣聽所取，慈取素琴石研，義恭善之。少與從弟儉共書學。除祕書郎，太子舍人，安成王撫軍主簿，轉記室。遷祕書丞，司徒左西屬，右長史，試守新安太守，黃門郎，太子中庶子，領射聲校尉，安成王冠軍，豫章王司空長史，司徒左長史，兼侍中。出爲輔國將軍、豫章內史，父憂去官。起爲建武將軍、吳郡太守。遷寧朔將軍，大司馬長史，重除侍中，領步兵校尉。

Wang Ci, whose style name was Bo Bao, came from Langya in Linyi and was the son of Regional Commander Wang Sengqian. When he was eight, his maternal grandfather, the Liu Song Grand Mentor the Prince of Jiangxia, Yigong, brought him into the inner study and spread out treasures for him to choose freely; Ci took only a plain zither and a stone ink slab, and Yigong was pleased. As a youth he studied calligraphy alongside his cousin Wang Jian. He was appointed Gentleman of the Secretariat, Attendant of the Crown Prince, chief clerk on the staff of the Prince of Ancheng as Pacification General, and later Recorder. He rose through Secretary, Left Western Attendant under the Minister of State Affairs, Right Chief Clerk, Acting Administrator of Xin'an, Gentleman at the Yellow Gates, Junior Mentor to the Crown Prince while commanding the Archers Who Shoot by Sound, Champion General to the Prince of Ancheng, Chief Clerk to the Prince of Yuzhang as Regional Commander, Chief Clerk to the Left under the Minister of State Affairs, and concurrently Attendant-in-Ordinary. He was sent out as General Assisting the State and Internal Administrator of Yuzhang, then left office to mourn his father. On the end of mourning he was recalled as General Establishing Might and Administrator of Wu commandery. He was promoted to General Pacifying the North and Chief Clerk to the Grand Marshal, then again appointed Attendant-in-Ordinary while commanding the Footsoldiers.

慈以朝堂諱榜，非古舊制，上表曰：「夫帝后之德，綢繆天地，君人之亮，蟬聯日月。至於名族不著，昭自方策，號謚聿宣，載伊篇籍。所以魏臣據中以建議，晉主依經以下詔。朝堂榜誌，諱字懸露，義非綿古，事殷中世，空失資敬之情，徒乖嚴配之道。若乃式功鼎臣，贊庸元吏，或以勳崇，或由姓表。故孔悝見銘，謂標叔舅，子孟應圖，稱題霍氏。況以處一之重，列尊名以止仁；無二之貴，夤沖文而止敬。昔東平卽世，孝章巡宮而灑泣；新野云終，和熹見似而流涕。感循舊類，尚或深心；矧觀徽迹，能無惻隱？今扃禁嶔邃，動延車蓋，若使鑾駕紆覽，四時臨閱，豈不重增聖慮，用感宸衷？愚謂空彪簡第，無益於匪躬；直述朝堂，寧虧於夕惕。伏惟陛下保合萬國，齊聖羣生，當刪前基之弊軌，啓皇齊之孝則。」詔付外詳議。博士李撝議：「據《周禮》，凡有新令，必奮鐸以警衆，乃退以憲之于王宮。注『憲，表懸之也』。」太常丞王僩之議：「尊極之名，宜率土同諱。目可得睹，口不可言。口不可言，則知之者絕，知之者絕，則犯觸必衆。」儀曹郎任昉議：「撝取證明之文，僩之卽情惟允。直班諱之典，爰自漢世，降及有晉，歷代無爽。今之諱榜，兼明義訓，『邦』之字『國』，實爲前事之徵。名諱之重，情敬斯極，故懸諸朝堂，搢紳所聚，將使起伏晨昏，不違耳目，禁避之道，昭然易從。此乃敬恭之深旨，何情典之或廢？尊稱霍氏，理例乖方。居下以名，故以不名爲重，在上必諱，故以班諱爲尊。因心則理無不安，卽事則習行已久，謂宜式遵，無所創革。」慈議不行。

Ci argued that the taboo placards hung in the audience hall were not an ancient practice and memorialized the throne: "The virtue of emperors and empresses binds heaven and earth; the radiance of the sovereign links with sun and moon. Even families whose names are not widely known are recorded in regional histories; posthumous titles are proclaimed and entered in the annals. That is why Wei ministers framed proposals from the canonical middle path, and Jin emperors issued edicts in accordance with the classics. Hanging taboo placards in the audience hall is not rooted in antiquity; the custom arose in the middle period and only drains away reverence while violating the solemn rites of ancestral sacrifice. Meritorious ministers commemorated on ritual vessels and chief officials who assist in governance are honored either for their deeds or for their lineage. Hence Kong Kui was inscribed as marking his maternal uncle; Zi Meng answered the prophecy and was titled with the Huo clan. How much more when the sovereign, occupying the unique position of the One, arrays honored names to restrain benevolence; and the peerless eminence clings to empty formulae to restrain reverence. When the Prince of Dongping died, Emperor Zhang toured his palace and wept; when the Prince of Xinye passed away, Emperor He saw his likeness and wept. Moved by old ties, they still felt deep grief; how much more when one sees the marks of their excellence—can one fail to feel compassion? Today the barred gates are deep and steep, and every movement delays the imperial carriage—if Your Majesty's palanquin were to wind through for seasonal review, would that not redouble the sage's cares and stir the imperial heart? I humbly hold that empty display of simple placards does nothing for selfless service; while stating the matter plainly in the audience hall would better preserve evening vigilance. I bow my head: Your Majesty preserves and harmonizes the realm and aligns the sage with all living beings—you should erase the faulty practices of the previous dynasty and establish the filial norms of Imperial Qi. An edict ordered the matter referred out for detailed deliberation. Academician Li Hui argued: "According to the Rites of Zhou, whenever a new ordinance is issued, one must ring the bell to alert the people, then withdraw and publicly display it at the royal palace. The commentary reads: "Xian means publicly displayed and hung up." Vice Director of the Grand Master of Ceremonies Wang Jianzhi argued: "The sovereign's name ought to be tabooed throughout the entire realm. One may see it with the eyes, but one must not speak it aloud. If people cannot speak it aloud, knowledge of the taboo will die out; and when that knowledge dies out, inadvertent violations will inevitably multiply. Registrar of the Bureau of Ceremonies Ren Fang argued: "Li Hui drew on clear textual evidence; Wang Jianzhi's plea accords with what the heart would allow. The practice of publicly posting taboos began in the Han and continued through Jin unchanged across generations. Today's taboo placards also teach proper meaning—substituting "guo" for "bang" is itself a sign of earlier practice. The gravity of name-taboo demands the utmost reverence; hanging the placards in the audience hall where officials gather ensures that from morning to night they remain before one's eyes and ears, making the rules of avoidance plain and easy to follow. This is the very heart of reverent respect—why would we discard such an emotionally canonical practice? Using the Huo clan's title as an honorific departs from proper principle and precedent. Subordinates are called by name, so the honor lies in not naming them; superiors must be tabooed, so the honor lies in publicly posting the taboos. When one follows the heart, principle is at ease; this custom has long been practiced—I hold we should follow it as established, without change. Ci's proposal was not adopted.

慈患脚，世祖敕王晏曰：「慈在職未久，旣有微疾，不堪朝，又不能騎馬，聽乘車在仗後。」江左來少例也。以疾從閑任，轉冠軍將軍、司徒左長史。慈妻劉秉女。子觀，尚世祖長女吳縣公主，脩婦禮，姑未嘗交答。江夏王鋒爲南徐州，妃，慈女也，以慈爲冠軍將軍、東海太守，加秩中二千石，行南徐州府事。還爲冠軍將軍、廬陵王中軍長史，未拜，永明九年，卒。年四十一。

Ci suffered from foot ailment. Emperor Wu instructed Wang Yan: "Ci has not long held office and already has a slight illness—he cannot attend court and cannot ride horseback; permit him to ride in a carriage behind the guard. Such indulgence had been rare since the Eastern Jin. Given lighter duties on account of illness, he was transferred to General Champion and Left Chief Clerk of the Minister of State Affairs. Ci's wife was a daughter of Liu Bing. His son Guan married Emperor Wu's eldest daughter, the Princess of Wuxian; observing all the rites of a daughter-in-law, he never once exchanged pleasantries with his mother-in-law. When the Prince of Jiangxia, Feng, held Southern Xuzhou and his consort was Ci's daughter, Ci was appointed General Champion and Administrator of Donghai, with rank of 2000 bushels, acting for the Southern Xuzhou headquarters. He was reassigned as General Champion and Chief Clerk of the Central Army on the staff of the Prince of Luling, but before taking up the post he died in the ninth year of Yongming. He was forty-one.

謝超宗嘗謂慈曰：「卿書何當及虔公？」慈曰：「我之不得仰及，猶雞之不及鳳也。」時人以爲名答。追贈太常，謚懿子。

Xie Chaozong once said to Ci: "When will your calligraphy match Duke Qian's? Ci replied: "That I cannot measure up to him is like a chicken trying to match a phoenix. People of the time judged it a brilliant rejoinder. He was posthumously appointed Grand Master of Ceremonies and given the posthumous title Yizi.

蔡約字景撝，濟陽考城人也。祖廓，宋祠部尚書。父興宗，征西、儀同。

Cai Yue, style name Jinghui, was a native of Kaocheng in Jiyang commandery. His grandfather Kuo served as Minister of Sacrificial Affairs under Song. His father Xingzong was General Campaigning West and Holder of the Three Prestige Insignia.

約少尚宋孝武女安吉公主，拜駙馬都尉，祕書郎，不拜。從帝車騎驃騎行參軍，通直郎，不就。遷太祖司空東閤祭酒，太尉主簿。齊臺建，爲世子中舍人，仍隨度東宮。轉鄱陽王友，竟陵王鎮北征北諮議，領記室，中書郎，司徒右長史，黃門郎，領本州中正。出爲新安太守，復爲黃門郎，領射聲校尉，通直常侍，領驍騎將軍，太子中庶子，領屯騎校尉。永明八年八月合朔，約脫武冠，解劔，於省眠，至下鼓不起，爲有司所奏，贖論。太孫立，領校尉如故。

In youth Cai Yue married Emperor Xiaowu of Song's daughter, the Princess of Anji; he was appointed Commandant of the Consort's Escort and Secretary Gentleman but declined both posts. He was offered posts as military aide on the staff of the General of Chariots and Cavalry and General Who Rapidly Attacks, and as Direct Attendant, but he declined. He was transferred to Libationer of the Eastern Pavilion on the staff of the Founding Emperor as Minister of Works, and Chief Clerk to the Grand Commandant. When the Qi regime was established, he became Chief Aide to the Heir Apparent and accompanied him when he moved into the Eastern Palace. He served successively as Companion to the Prince of Poyang, advisory officer on the staff of the Prince of Jingling as General Guarding the North and General Campaigning North, concurrently as Recorder, Gentleman of the Secretariat, Right Chief Clerk of the Minister of State Affairs, and Gentleman at the Yellow Gates, while also serving as Rectifier for his native province. He was sent out as Administrator of Xin'an, then recalled as Gentleman at the Yellow Gates, commanding the Archers, Regular Attendant Direct, General of Valiant Cavalry, Supervisor of the Heir Apparent's Household, and Commander of the Garrison Cavalry. In the eighth month of the eighth year of Yongming, on a new-moon day when court rituals required solemnity, Yue removed his military cap and sword and slept in his office; he failed to rise when the dismissal drum sounded and was impeached by the authorities, receiving a commuted sentence. When the Grand Heir Apparent was established, he retained his command as before.

出爲宜都王冠軍長史、淮南太守，行府州事。世祖謂約曰：「今用卿爲近蕃上佐，想副我所期。」約曰：「南豫密邇京師，不治自理。臣亦何人，爝火不息。」時諸王行事多相裁割，約在任，主佐之間穆如也。

He was sent out as Chief Clerk to the Champion on the staff of the Prince of Yidu and Administrator of Huainan, acting for both the princely headquarters and the province. Emperor Wu said to Yue: "I am appointing you senior aide to a nearby princely domain; I expect you to live up to my hopes. Yue replied: "Southern Yu lies close to the capital—it runs itself even without supervision. What sort of person am I to keep burning like a flickering torch? At the time many acting officials on princes' staffs undercut one another, but while Yue held office the relations between prince and aide remained harmonious.

陸慧曉字叔明，吳郡吳人也。祖萬載，侍中。父子真，元嘉中爲海陵太守。時中書舍人秋當親幸，家在海陵，假還葬父，子真不與相聞。當請發民治橋，又以妨農不許。彭城王義康聞而賞焉。自臨海太守眼疾歸，爲中散大夫，卒。

Lu Huixiao, style name Shuming, was a native of Wu in Wu commandery. His grandfather Wanzai served as Attendant-in-Ordinary. His father Zizhen served as Administrator of Hailing during the Yuanjia era. At the time the Central Office Aide Qiu Dang enjoyed imperial favor; his family was in Hailing. When he took leave to bury his father, Zizhen did not so much as greet him. Dang asked to conscript laborers to build a bridge, but Zizhen refused again on grounds that it would interfere with farming. The Prince of Pengcheng, Yikang, heard of this and praised him. He returned from his post as Administrator of Linhai because of eye disease, was appointed Palace Dismissal Grandee, and died in that office.

慧曉清介正立，不雜交游。會稽內史同郡張暢見慧曉童幼，便嘉異之。張緒稱之曰：「江東裴、樂也。」初應州郡辟，舉秀才，衞尉史，歷諸府行參軍。以母老還家侍養，十餘年不仕。太祖輔政，除爲尚書殿中郎。隣族來相賀，慧曉舉酒曰：「陸慧曉年踰三十，婦父領選，始作尚書郎，卿輩乃復以爲慶邪？」

Huixiao was pure, upright, and aloof from casual socializing. Zhang Chang, Interior Administrator of Kuaiji and a fellow native, saw Huixiao as a child and immediately marked him out as exceptional. Zhang Xu praised him, saying: "He is the Pei and Yue of the Jiangdong. He first answered summonses from the provinces and commanderies, was nominated as Cultivated Talent, served as clerk to the Commandant of the Guard, and held various acting military aide posts on princes' staffs. When his mother grew old he returned home to care for her and did not hold office for more than ten years. When the Founding Emperor assumed the regency, Huixiao was appointed Clerk in the Palace Division of the Ministry of State Affairs. Neighbors came to congratulate him. Huixiao raised his cup and said: "Lu Huixiao is past thirty, his father-in-law runs personnel appointments, and he has only just become a Clerk in the Ministry of State Affairs—and you still call this worth celebrating?"

太祖表禁奢侈，慧曉撰答詔草，爲太祖所賞，引爲太傅東閤祭酒。建元初，仍遷太子洗馬。武陵王曅守會稽，上爲精選僚吏，以慧曉爲征虜功曹，與府參軍沛國劉璡同從述職。行至吳，璡謂人曰：「吾聞張融與陸慧曉竝宅，其間有水，此水必有異味。」遂往，酌而飲之。

When the Founding Emperor memorialized to prohibit extravagance, Huixiao drafted the reply edict, won his admiration, and was brought in as Libationer of the Eastern Pavilion under the Grand Tutor. At the beginning of Jianyuan he was transferred to Groom of the Heir Apparent's Horses. When the Prince of Wuling, Ye, held Kuaiji, the throne carefully selected staff officers and appointed Huixiao Administrative Officer on the staff of the General Who Quells the Barbarians; he traveled with Liu Qin of Pei, a military aide on the headquarters staff, to report on duties. When they reached Wu, Qin said to those around him: "I hear Zhang Rong and Lu Huixiao live next door to each other, and there is water between them—that water must have an unusual flavor. He went at once, dipped up some, and drank it.

廬江何點薦慧曉於豫章王嶷，補司空掾，加以恩禮。轉長沙王鎮軍諮議參軍。安陸侯緬爲吳郡，復禮異慧曉，慧曉求補緬府諮議參軍。遷始興王前將軍安西諮議，領冠軍錄事參軍，轉司徒從事中郎，遷右長史。時陳郡謝朏爲左長史，府公竟陵王子良謂王融曰：「我府二上佐，求之前世，誰可爲比？」融曰：「兩賢同時，便是未有前例。」子良於西邸抄書，令慧曉參知其事。

He Dian of Lujiang recommended Huixiao to the Prince of Yuzhang, Yi, who appointed him aide on the staff of the Minister of Works and treated him with special favor. He was transferred to advisory military aide on the staff of the Prince of Changsha as General Guarding the Army. When the Marquis of Anlu, Mian, held Wu commandery, he again showed Huixiao exceptional courtesy, and Huixiao asked to serve as advisory military aide on his staff. He was transferred to advisory officer on the staff of the Prince of Shixing as Forward General and General Pacifying the West, concurrently as Recorder on the staff of the Champion, then Attendant of the Minister of State Affairs, and finally Right Chief Clerk. At the time Xie Tiao of Chen served as Left Chief Clerk; the Prince of Jingling, Ziliang, said to Wang Rong: "My headquarters' two senior aides—searching through past ages, with whom can they be compared? Wang Rong replied: "Two such worthies serving together—that in itself has no precedent. Ziliang had books copied at the Western Lodge and put Huixiao in charge of overseeing the work.

建武初，除西中郎長史，行事、內史如故。俄徵黃門郎，未拜，遷吏部郎。尚書令王晏選門生補內外要局，慧曉爲用數人而止，晏恨之。送女妓一人，欲與申好，慧曉不納。吏曹都令史歷政以來，諮執選事，慧曉任己獨行，未嘗與語。帝遣左右單景雋以事誚問，慧曉謂景雋曰：「六十之年，不復能諮都令史爲吏部郎也。上若謂身不堪，便當拂衣而退。」帝甚憚之。後欲用爲侍中，以形短小，乃止。出爲輔國將軍、晉安王鎮北司馬、征北長史、東海太守，行府州事。入爲五兵尚書，行揚州事。崔惠景事平，領右軍將軍，出監南徐州，少時，仍遷持節、督南兖兖徐青冀五州軍事、輔國將軍、南兖州刺史。至鎮俄爾，以疾歸，卒。年六十二。贈太常。

At the beginning of Jianwu he was appointed Chief Clerk of the General of the Right Division, retaining his acting authority and post as Interior Administrator. He was soon summoned as Gentleman at the Yellow Gates, but before taking up the appointment he was transferred to Clerk of the Ministry of Personnel. Wang Yan, Minister Director of State Affairs, wanted his disciples appointed to key posts throughout the government; Huixiao appointed only a few and stopped, and Yan resented him for it. Yan sent him a female entertainer hoping to win his favor, but Huixiao refused the gift. Under previous administrations the Chief Clerk of the Ministry of Personnel had controlled appointments through consultation; Huixiao exercised his own judgment independently and never once spoke with him. The emperor sent his attendant Shan Jingjun to question him about the matter. Huixiao told Jingjun: "At sixty, I am not about to consult the Chief Clerk in order to serve as Clerk of the Ministry of Personnel. If Your Majesty deems me unfit for the post, I shall shake out my robes and resign at once. The emperor was deeply intimidated by him. Later the throne wished to appoint him Attendant-in-Ordinary, but his short stature caused them to reconsider. He was sent out as General Assisting the State, Army Administrator on the staff of the Prince of Jin'an as General Guarding the North, Chief Clerk Campaigning North, and Administrator of Donghai, acting for both the princely headquarters and the province. He was recalled as Minister of the Five Divisions and acting governor of Yang province. After Cui Huijing's revolt was suppressed, he was additionally appointed General of the Right Army and sent to oversee Southern Xuzhou; soon after he was transferred to Bearer of the Staff, Supervisor of military affairs in Nan Yan, Yan, Xu, Qing, and Ji, General Assisting the State, and Inspector of Southern Yan province. He had barely reached his post when illness forced him to return; he died soon after. He was sixty-two. He was posthumously appointed Grand Master of Ceremonies.

同郡顧憲之，字士思，宋鎮南將軍凱之孫也。性尤清直。永明六年，爲隨王東中郎長史、行會稽郡事。時西陵戍主杜元懿啓：「吳興無秋，會稽豐登，商旅往來，倍多常歲。西陵牛埭稅，官格日三千五百，元懿如卽所見，日可一倍，盈縮相兼，略計年長百萬。浦陽南北津及柳浦四埭，乞爲官領攝，一年格外長四百許萬。西陵戍前檢稅，無妨戍事，餘三埭自舉腹心。」世祖敕示會稽郡：「此詎是事？宜可訪察卽啓。」憲之議曰：

Gu Xianzhi of the same commandery, style name Sisi, was a grandson of Song's General Guarding the South, Kaizhi. He was especially pure and upright in character. In the sixth year of Yongming he served as Chief Clerk of the General of the Eastern Division on the staff of the Prince of Sui, acting for Kuaiji commandery. At the time the garrison commander at Xiling, Du Yuanyi, submitted a memorial: "Wu Xing had a poor harvest while Kuaiji had an abundant one, and merchant traffic has more than doubled compared with an ordinary year. The ox-ford toll at Xiling is fixed at 3,500 per day by statute; Yuanyi estimates that on the basis of what he has seen the daily take could double, yielding roughly a million extra per year when surplus and deficit are counted together. He asks that the north and south fords of Puyang and the four ox-fords at Liupu be placed under official supervision; in one year this would yield roughly four million in extra revenue. Collecting tolls in front of the Xiling garrison would not interfere with garrison duties; for the other three fords he would himself recommend trusted subordinates. Emperor Wu instructed Kuaiji commandery: "Is this really the sort of proposal to entertain? Investigate at once and report back. Xianzhi submitted the following opinion:

尋始立牛埭之意，非苟逼僦以納稅也。當以風濤迅險，人力不捷，屢致膠溺，濟急利物耳。旣公私是樂，所以輸直無怨。京師航渡，卽其例也。而後之監領者，不達其本，各務己功，互生理外。或禁遏別道，或空稅江行，或撲船倍價，或力周而猶責，凡如此類，不經埭煩牛者上詳，被報格外十條，竝蒙停寢。從來諠訴，始得暫弭。案吳興頻歲失稔，今茲尤饉，去之從豐，良由饑棘。或徵貨貿粒，還拯親累。或提攜老弱，陳力餬口。埭司責稅，依格弗降。舊格新減，尚未議登，格外加倍，將以何術？皇慈恤隱，振廩蠲調，而元懿幸災搉利，重增困瘼，人而不仁，古今共疾。且比見加格置市者，前後相屬，非惟新加無贏，竝皆舊格猶闕。愚恐元懿今啓，亦當不殊。若事不副言，懼貽譴詰，便百方侵苦，爲公賈怨。元懿稟性苛刻，已彰往效，任以物土，譬以狼將羊，其所欲舉腹心，亦當虎而冠耳。書云：「與其有聚歛之臣，寧有盜臣。」此言盜公爲損蓋微，歛民所害乃大也。今雍熙在運，草木含澤，其非事宜，仰如聖旨。然掌斯任者，應簡廉平，廉則不竊於公，平則無害於民矣。愚又以便宜者，蓋謂便於公，宜於民也。竊見頃之言便宜者，非能於民力之外，用天分地者也。率皆卽日不宜於民，方來不便於公。名與實反，有乖政體。凡如此等，誠宜深察。

Consider the original purpose of establishing ox-fords: it was not to squeeze casual renters merely to collect taxes. The reason was that wind and waves were swift and treacherous, manpower alone was insufficient, and boats were repeatedly stranded and capsized—the fords were meant to provide urgent aid and serve the public good. Because both the government and travelers benefited, travelers paid the fee without complaint. The ferry crossings at the capital provide the model. Later supervisors, however, failed to grasp this purpose; each pursued his own gain and imposed extralegal charges on one another. Some blocked alternate routes; some levied tolls on boats that never used the fords; some doubled fees for pressing boats through; some demanded payment even after labor had been provided—for all such abuses, memorials detailing violations beyond statute were submitted, and ten such items were approved and abolished altogether. Only then did the long-standing flood of complaints begin to subside. Consider Wu Xing: harvests have failed year after year, and this year famine is especially severe. Those who leave there for more prosperous areas do so purely out of hunger and distress. Some sell their belongings to buy grain and support their families. Others bring along the old and the weak and sell their labor simply to keep themselves fed. The ford offices collect tolls and refuse to reduce them even to the statutory rate. The old rate has just been reduced, yet the reduction has not even been formally approved—so how can you double the take beyond the statutory rate? The throne shows compassion for the hidden poor, opens granaries, and remits levies, yet Yuanyi seeks profit from disaster and only deepens the people's misery. Such heartlessness has been universally loathed in every age. Moreover, in recent years one official after another has raised rates and set up toll collection; not only did the increases fail to meet expectations, but even the original statutory revenues remained uncollected. I fear Yuanyi's current proposal will prove no exception. If results fail to match his promises, fearing censure, he will use every means to squeeze the people—and you, my lord, will bear the blame. Yuanyi is by nature harsh and grasping, as his past record already shows. To put him in charge of the ford revenues is like setting a wolf among sheep; whatever henchmen he recommends will be wolves in sheep's clothing as well. The Book of Documents says: "Better a robber than a minister who amasses levies. The point is that thieves who rob the state do comparatively little damage, whereas those who squeeze the people do far greater harm. Harmony and prosperity now prevail, and all nature is refreshed. As for measures that are out of keeping with the times, I defer entirely to Your Majesty's judgment. Those entrusted with such duties should be selected for integrity and fairness: the honest will not steal from the treasury, and the fair will not harm the people. I would also note that 'expedient measures' ought to mean what serves the state and what suits the people. I have observed that those who lately invoke 'expediency' are not finding revenue beyond what the people can bear by drawing on natural endowments of land and resources. Almost without exception they harm the people at once and will prove harmful to the state in the end. Their name and substance are at odds, contrary to sound government. Matters of this sort deserve the deepest scrutiny.

山陰一縣，課戶二萬，其民貲不滿三千者，殆將居半，刻又刻之，猶且三分餘一。凡有貲者，多是士人復除。其貧極者，悉皆露戶役民。三五屬官，蓋惟分定，百端輸調，又則常然。比衆局檢校，首尾尋續，橫相質累者，亦復不少。一人被攝，十人相追；一緒裁萌，千櫱互起。蠶事弛而農業廢，賤取庸而貴舉責，應公贍私，日不暇給，欲無爲非，其可得乎？死且不憚，矧伊刑罰；身且不愛，何況妻子。是以前檢未窮，後巧復滋，網辟徒峻，猶不能悛。竊尋民之多偽，實由宋季軍旅繁興，役賦殷重，不堪勤劇，倚巧祈優，積習生常，遂迷忘反。四海之大，黎庶之衆，心用參差，難卒澄一。化宜以漸，不可疾責，誠存不擾，藏疾納汙，實增崇曠，務詳寬簡，則稍自歸淳。又被符簡，病前後年月久遠，具事不存，符旨旣嚴，不敢闇信。縣簡送郡，郡簡呈使，殊形詭狀，千變萬源。聞者忽不經懷，見者實足傷駭。兼親屬里伍，流離道路，時轉寒涸，事方未已。其士人婦女，彌難厝衷。不簡則疑其有巧，欲簡復未知所安。愚謂此條，宜委縣簡保，舉其綱領，略其毛目，乃囊漏，不出貯中，庶嬰疾沈痼者，重荷生造之恩也。

In Shanyin county alone there are 20,000 registered households. Nearly half own less than 3,000 in property—and after every possible squeeze, barely a third remain above that threshold. Most households with property belong to scholar-gentry who enjoy tax exemptions. The utterly poor are all registered households subject to corvée labor. Three or five subordinate offices each have fixed shares, while countless levies and transport duties remain the standing rule. Recently a succession of bureaus has conducted inspections, endlessly cross-examining and implicating one another—not a small number of cases at all. When one person is taken into custody, ten others are pursued; When one thread appears, a thousand tangled complications follow. Sericulture is neglected and farming abandoned; people sell their labor cheaply yet borrow at crushing rates; public duties are undertaken merely to meet private needs, and there is never a moment's rest—how can they be expected not to turn to crime? They do not even fear death—what threat can punishment hold? They do not even value their own lives—much less those of their wives and children. Before one round of inspection ends, new evasions spring up; though the net of regulation grows ever tighter, the people still cannot be reformed. I believe the people's pervasive evasion stems from the late Song, when military campaigns multiplied and corvée and levies became crushing. Unable to bear such burdens, people turned to tricks to gain relief; habit hardened into custom, until they forgot how to live honestly. Across the empire and among the masses, minds and circumstances differ widely; they cannot be brought to uniformity overnight. Reform must be gradual; it cannot be forced. If officials truly refrain from harassment, tolerate imperfection, and govern with generosity, leniency, and restraint, the people will gradually return to honest ways. We are again subject to warrant orders for audits, but the cases stretch back so many years that the original records no longer exist. The orders are strict, yet we dare not proceed on blind faith. The county forwards its audit to the commandery; the commandery submits it to the inspector—case after case takes bizarre form, with a thousand variations and countless complications. Those who hear of it may dismiss it lightly, but those who witness it are genuinely appalled. Families and neighbors are scattered on the roads; the season turns cold and lean, and the ordeal is far from over. For gentry women the distress is especially unbearable. If we do not audit, fraud is suspected; if we do audit, we cannot tell what course is safe. I believe this matter should be entrusted to the county to audit and guarantee: grasp the essentials and overlook minor discrepancies. Contained within proper bounds, those suffering chronic hardship could once again receive the grace of renewed life.

又永興、諸暨離唐宇之寇擾，公私殘盡，彌復特甚。儻值水旱，實不易念。俗諺云：「會稽打鼓送卹，吳興步檐令史。」會稽舊稱沃壤，今猶若此；吳興本是塉土，事在可知。因循餘弊，誠宜改張。沿元懿今啓，敢陳管見。

Furthermore, Yongxing and Zhuji, though distant from the Tang incursions, have seen public and private resources utterly exhausted—their plight is especially grave. Should flood or drought strike, the consequences are almost unthinkable. A folk saying runs: "Kuaiji beats drums to dispatch relief; Wu Xing supplies only clerks who walk under the eaves. Kuaiji was once renowned as fertile land, yet even there conditions are as bad as this; Wu Xing was always poor land to begin with—its plight needs no explanation. Continuing these lingering abuses calls for genuine reform. In response to Yuanyi's current proposal, I venture to offer the foregoing observations.

世祖竝從之。由是深以方直見委。仍行南豫、南兖二州事，籤典咨事，未嘗與色，動遵法制。歷黃門郎，吏部郎。永元中，爲豫章內史。

Emperor Wu accepted all of his recommendations. From this point he was deeply trusted for his forthright integrity. He continued to administer South Yu and South Yan prefectures; in handling documents and deliberating on affairs he never showed favoritism and always adhered to the law. He served as Gentleman of the Yellow Gate and Director of the Ministry of Personnel. During the Yongyuan era he served as Interior Minister of Yuzhang.

蕭惠基，南蘭陵蘭陵人也。祖源之，宋前將軍。父思話，征西將軍、儀同三司。

Xiao Huiji was a native of Lanling in Southern Lanling. His grandfather Yuanzhi had been a General of the Forward Army under Song. His father Sihua was General Campaigning West and held the Three Ministers' ceremonial rank.

惠基幼以外戚見江夏王義恭，歎其詳審，以女結婚。解褐著作佐郎，征北行參軍，尚書水部，左民郎。出爲湘東內史，除奉車都尉，撫軍車騎主簿。

In youth Huiji was introduced to Prince Jiangxia of the Liu Song, Yi Gong, through maternal kinship ties. The prince admired his thoroughness and circumspection and betrothed a daughter to him. On entering service he was appointed Assistant Editor, Acting Staff Officer on the Northern Campaign staff, in the Water Section of the Secretariat, and Gentleman of the Left People Section. He was sent out as Interior Minister of Xiangdong, then appointed Commandant Escorting the Carriages and Chief Clerk on the Cavalry Staff of the Pacification Army.

泰始初，兄益州刺史惠開拒命，明帝遣惠基奉使至蜀，宣旨慰勞。惠開降而益州土人反，引氐賊圍州城。惠基於外宣示朝廷威賞，於是氐人邵虎、郝天賜等斬賊帥馬興懷以降。還爲太子中舍人。惠基西使千餘部曲，竝欲論功，惠基毀除勳簿，競無所用。或問其此意，惠基曰：「我若論其此勞，則驅馳無已，豈吾素懷之本邪？」

At the start of the Taishi era his elder brother Huikai, Inspector of Yizhou, defied imperial orders. Emperor Ming sent Huiji to Shu on an imperial mission to proclaim the throne's will and offer reassurance and reward. Huikai surrendered, but local clans in Yizhou rose in revolt and called in Di raiders to besiege the provincial capital. Outside the walls Huiji proclaimed the court's authority and rewards. The Di leaders Shao Hu and Hao Tianci then beheaded the rebel chief Ma Xinghuai and surrendered. On his return he was appointed Attendant Gentleman of the Heir Apparent. More than a thousand retainers who accompanied Huiji on his western mission all sought credit for service. Huiji destroyed the merit register so that none of their claims could be honored. When someone asked what he meant by this, Huiji said: "If I recorded this service, the scramble for reward would never end. How would that accord with what I have always stood for?"

出爲武陵內史，中書黃門郎。惠基善隷書及弈棊，太祖與之情好相得，早相器遇。桂陽之役，惠基姊爲休範妃，太祖謂之曰：「卿家桂陽遂復作賊。」太祖頓新亭壘，以惠基爲軍副，惠基弟惠朗親爲休範攻戰，惠基在城內了不自疑。出爲豫章太守。還爲吏部郎，遷長兼侍中。袁粲、劉秉起兵之夕，太祖以秉是惠基妹夫，時直在侍中省，遣王敬則觀其指趣，見惠基安靜不與秉相知，由是益加恩信。討沈攸之，加惠基輔國將軍，徙頓新亭。事寧，解軍號，領長水校尉。母憂去官。

He was sent out as Interior Minister of Wuling and appointed Gentleman of the Yellow Gate in the Central Secretariat. Huiji was skilled at clerical script and go. He and the Founding Emperor were on excellent terms and became fast friends; the emperor recognized his talent early and favored him. During the Guiyang campaign, Huiji's elder sister was married to Liu Xiufan. The Founding Emperor said to him, "So the Guiyang faction in your family has turned rebel again. The Founding Emperor encamped at Xinting and appointed Huiji his deputy commander. Huiji's younger brother Huilang fought personally on Xiufan's side, yet Huiji within the city never once showed self-doubt. He was sent out as Administrator of Yuzhang. On returning he served as Director of the Ministry of Personnel and was promoted to Chief Attendant-in-Ordinary concurrently. On the night Yuan Can and Liu Bing raised troops, the Founding Emperor knew that Bing was Huiji's brother-in-law and that Huiji was on duty in the Attendant-in-Ordinary office. He sent Wang Jingze to observe Huiji's intentions and found him calm and in no contact with Bing; from this the emperor placed even greater trust in him. During the campaign against Shen Youzhi, Huiji was given the additional title General Assisting the State and transferred his encampment to Xinting. When matters were settled he relinquished his military title and served as Commandant of the Chang River Guard. He left office to observe mourning for his mother.

太祖卽位，爲征虜將軍，衞尉。惠基就職少時，累表陳解，見許。服闋，爲征虜將軍、東陽太守，加秩中二千石。凡歷四郡，無所蓄聚。還爲都官尚書，轉掌吏部。永明三年，以久疾徙爲侍中，領驍騎將軍。尚書令王儉朝宗貴望，惠基同在禮閤，非公事不私覿焉。

When the Founding Emperor took the throne, Huiji was appointed General Campaigning against Barbarians and Commandant of the Guard. Huiji had held office only briefly when he repeatedly petitioned to resign; his request was granted. When mourning ended he served as General Campaigning against Barbarians and Administrator of Dongyang, with the added stipend of the middle two-thousand-bushel rank. Across four commandery appointments he accumulated no wealth. On returning he served as Director of the Ministry of Justice, then was transferred to head the Ministry of Personnel. In the third year of Yongming, owing to chronic illness, he was reassigned as Attendant-in-Ordinary with concurrent appointment as General of Agile Cavalry. Wang Jian, Director of the Secretariat, was the most honored figure at court. Huiji served with him in the Rites Bureau and never visited him except on official business.

五年，遷太常，加給事中。自宋大明以來，聲伎所尚，多鄭衞淫俗，雅樂正聲，鮮有好者。惠基解音律，尤好魏三祖曲及《相和歌》，每奏，輙賞悅不能已。當時能棊人琅邪王抗第一品，吳郡褚思莊、會稽夏赤松竝第二品。赤松思速，善於大行；思莊思遲，巧於鬬棊。宋文帝世，羊玄保爲會稽太守，帝遣思莊入東與玄保戲，因製局圖，還於帝前覆之。太祖使思莊與王抗交賭，自食時至日暮，一局始竟。上倦，遣還省，至五更方決。抗睡於局後，思莊達曉不寐。世或云：「思莊所以品第致高，緣其用思深久，人不能對也。」抗、思莊竝至給事中。永明中，敕抗品棊，竟陵王子良使惠基掌其事。

In the fifth year he was transferred to Minister of Ceremonies with the additional title Attendant Advisor. Since the Daming era of Song, fashionable music has favored licentious popular tunes in the Zheng and Wei style, while few have cared for proper ceremonial music. Huiji understood music theory and especially loved the Three Ancestors' melodies of Wei and the Xianghe Songs; whenever they were performed he was so delighted he could hardly contain himself. At the time the leading go players were Wang Kang of Langye, ranked first class, and Chu Sizhuang of Wu commandery and Xia Chisong of Kuaiji, both ranked second class. Chisong thought quickly and excelled at sweeping, large-scale play; Sizhuang thought slowly and excelled at intricate tactical fights. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Song, Yang Xuanbao was Administrator of Kuaiji. The emperor sent Sizhuang east to play a match against him; Sizhuang recorded the board layout and reproduced it before the emperor on his return. The Founding Emperor had Sizhuang and Wang Kang play a match for stakes. From the midday meal until dusk they had completed only one game. The emperor grew tired and sent them back to their offices; the game was not decided until the fifth watch. Kang slept behind the board while Sizhuang stayed awake until dawn. Some say: "Sizhuang's high ranking owed to his habit of thinking long and deeply; opponents simply could not keep pace. Both Kang and Sizhuang eventually reached the rank of Attendant Advisor. During the Yongming era the emperor ordered Kang to rank go players, and Prince Jingling of Jingling put Huiji in charge of the proceedings.

初，思話先於曲阿起宅，有閑曠之致。惠基常謂所親曰：「須婚嫁畢，當歸老舊廬。」立身退素，朝廷稱爲善士。明年卒，年五十九。追贈金紫光祿大夫。

Earlier his father Sihua had built a residence at Qu'e with an air of spacious tranquility. Huiji often told those close to him, "Once the marriages are settled I shall return to live out my days in our old home. In personal conduct he was modest and unpretentious, and the court regarded him as a worthy man. The following year he died at the age of fifty-nine. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Master of the Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon.

弟惠休，永明四年，爲廣州刺史。罷任，獻奉傾資。上敕中書舍人茹法亮曰：「可問蕭惠休。吾先使卿宣敕答其勿以私祿足充獻奉。今段殊覺其下情厚於前後人。問之，故當不侵私邪？吾欲分受之也。」十一年，自輔國將軍、南海太守，爲徐州刺史。鬱林卽位，進號冠軍將軍。建武二年，虜圍鍾離，惠休拒守。虜遣使仲長文真謂城中曰：「聖上方脩文德，何故完城拒命？」參軍羊倫答曰：「獫狁孔熾，我是用急。」虜攻城，惠休拒戰破之。遷侍中，領步兵校尉，封建安縣子，五百戶。永元元年，徙吳興太守。徵爲右僕射。吳興郡項羽神舊酷烈，世人云「惠休事神謹，欲得美遷」。二年，卒。贈金紫光祿大夫。

His younger brother Huixiu served as Inspector of Guangzhou in the fourth year of Yongming. On leaving office he presented tribute that exhausted his personal wealth. The emperor ordered Attendant of the Secretariat Ru Faliang: "Go and question Xiao Huixiu. I had you announce earlier that he must not use his private salary to cover the tribute offering. This time I am especially struck by how much deeper his devotion is than that of his predecessors and successors. Ask him whether he truly did not dip into private funds, did he? I intend to accept a portion of it myself." In the eleventh year he moved from General Assisting the State and Administrator of Nanhai to Inspector of Xuzhou. When Emperor Yulin took the throne, Huixiu was promoted to Champion General. In the second year of Jianwu the enemy besieged Zhongli, and Huixiu held the city in defense. The enemy sent an envoy, Zhongchang Wenzhen, to address the city: "Our sovereign is now cultivating civil virtue—why do you fortify the walls and defy our command?" Military Aide Yang Lun replied: "The barbarians are raging unchecked—that is why we must act with urgency." The enemy assaulted the city; Huixiu fought them off and broke the siege. He was promoted to Attendant-in-Ordinary while commanding the Footsoldiers, and enfeoffed as Viscount of Jian'an with five hundred households. In the first year of Yongyuan he was transferred to Administrator of Wuxing. He was recalled to serve as Right Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat. In Wu commandery the cult of the spirit of Xiang Yu had long been notoriously severe; people said, "Huixiu serves the spirit scrupulously because he wants a favorable transfer." In the second year he died. He was posthumously appointed Grand Master of Golden Candelabra and Purple Grandee.

惠休弟惠朗。善騎馬，同桂陽賊叛，太祖赦之，復加序用。永明九年，爲西陽王征虜長史，行南兖州事。典籤何益孫贓罪百萬，棄市，惠朗坐免官。

Huixiu's younger brother was Huilang. He was skilled at horsemanship and joined the Guiyang rebels; the Founding Emperor pardoned him and restored him to office. In the ninth year of Yongming he served as Chief Clerk on the staff of the Prince of Xiyang as Army Expelling the Barbarians, acting on the affairs of Southern Yanzhou. Recorder He Yisun was found guilty of bribery totaling a million cash and executed in the marketplace; Huilang was dismissed from office as an accessory.

史臣曰：長揖上宰，廷折公卿，古稱遺直，希之未過。若夫根孤地危，峻情不屈，則其道雖行，其身永廢。故多借路求容，遜辭自貶。高流世業，不待旁通，直轡揚鑣，莫能夭閼。王秀之世守家風，不降節於權輔，美矣哉！

The historiographer remarks: To bow deeply to the chief minister yet rebuke dukes and ministers in open court—what the ancients called "straightforwardness handed down" has rarely been surpassed. When one's roots are isolated and one's position precarious, and a stern disposition refuses to yield, the Way may be upheld but the man himself is ruined for good. That is why so many borrow a roundabout path to win acceptance and humble themselves with self-deprecating words. Men of lofty lineage and inherited standing need no back channels; with reins held straight and whip raised high, none can cut them down. Wang Xiuzhi for generations upheld his family's standards and never bowed to the powerful—how admirable!

贊曰：秀處邦朝，清心直己。伯寶世族，榮家爲美。約守先業，觀進知止。慧曉貞亮，斯焉君子。惠基惠和，時之選士。 [1]

Encomium: Xiuzhi served at court with a pure heart and an upright self. Bo Bao of a great clan—his glory was to bring honor to his house. Yue upheld his family's legacy; watching how far others climbed, he knew when to stop. Huixiao was upright and incorruptible—a true gentleman. Huiji was gracious and harmonious—a choice man of his age. 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 January 1972 Zhonghua Shuju edition of the Book of Southern Qi.

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