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卷五十一 列傳第三十二 裴叔業 崔慧景 張欣泰

Volume 51 Biographies 32: Pei Shuye, Cui Huijing, Zhang Xintai

Chapter 51 of 南齊書 · Book of Southern Qi
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Chapter 51
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1
Book of Southern Qi, Volume 51, Biographies 32
2
Pei Shuye, Cui Huijing, and Zhang Xintai
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When the emperor first took the throne, officials throughout the court submitted remonstrances and advice. In the second year, Shuye submitted a memorial saying: "Chengdu is rich land, sealed off on all four sides; the ancients said that one man holding a defile could make ten thousand men falter and hang back. In Han times Yong and Qi were thrown into disorder; in Jin times Qiao and Li raided as enemies—the record of victory and defeat is set down in earlier histories. In recent times governance has gone awry: the region has nothing but strategic terrain, yet those who hold it are men of other clans; the state depends on arms, yet those who garrison it have no soldiers—so bandit raids fill the land and tribute levies never stop. The court should send a prince of the imperial house, one of exalted rank, to oversee Ba-Shu, holding together the three provinces of Yi, Liang, and South Qin. He should lead ten thousand civil and military men, first open the passes at Min and Han, send out the prefectural garrisons all manned with picked troops, scour the mountain country, and punish bandits and corruption. Once his authority is established, both Chinese and tribesmen will surely submit." He was appointed General Who Pacifies the North, retaining his post as army commander. In the fourth year of Yongming he rose through successive posts to General of the Right Army and Adviser of the Eastern Palace.
4
使
Shuye had long served Emperor Ming in daily business; when Ming assisted in government he relied on Shuye as a trusted confidant and had him lead troops in surprise strikes against the frontier garrisons, and Shuye gave his whole heart to the task. In the second year of Jianwu the barbarians besieged Xuzhou; Shuye, as army commander, served under General of the Right Wei Xiao Tanzhi in the relief force. Shuye attacked the barbarians' two cities outside the Huai palisade and captured them; a great many of the enemy threw themselves into the water and drowned. He was appointed Gentleman of the Yellow Gate. Because Shuye had shown merit and loyalty, the emperor enfeoffed him as Marquis of Wuchang with five hundred households. He was also made bearer of the staff, supervisor of Xuzhou military affairs, General Who Exerts Martial Force, and Inspector of Xuzhou.
5
In the fourth year the barbarian lord invaded the region north of the Han, and the emperor ordered Shuye to reinforce Yong province. Shuye petitioned: "The northerners dislike marching far; they love only to strike the barbarian frontier. Then the foes of Yong and Si will scatter of themselves, without moving our people on distant campaigns." The emperor accepted his advice. Shuye led his army to attack Hongcheng and took more than four thousand men and women captive. He was transferred to supervise Yuzhou, appointed General Who Assists the State and Inspector of Yuzhou, bearer of the staff as before.
6
使
In the first year of Yongtai, Shuye led the Donghai prefect Sun Lingzhong, the Xinchang prefect Liu Sixiao, the Matou prefect Li Sengfu, and others—fifty thousand men in all—to besiege Guoyang, which the barbarians held as their Southern Yan provincial seat, one hundred twenty li from Pengcheng. The false Inspector of Yanzhou, Meng Biao, held the city and fought back; Shuye pressed the siege and piled the heads of those he had slain to a height of five zhang, displaying them to those inside the walls. He also sent the army commanders Xiao Jun and Cheng Baozhen to attack the Longgeng garrison separately—that being the barbarians' Matou commandery seat. The barbarians shut the gates and held the city. The false Inspector of Xuzhou, the Prince of Guangling, came to Longgeng with twenty thousand men and five thousand horses; Jun and the others fought but could not withstand them. Shuye came to their aid with more than thirty thousand men and attacked the barbarians along several routes. The barbarians had only just arrived and their camp was not yet set up, so they suffered a crushing defeat. The Prince of Guangling fled with several dozen horsemen; government troops pursued and captured his credential staff. The barbarians again sent the false generals Liu Zao and Gao Cong in turn; Shuye led troops out to meet and rout them. In a second engagement he beheaded ten thousand, took three thousand alive, and seized weapons, pack animals, silk, and cloth in quantities beyond reckoning. When the barbarian lord heard that the Prince of Guangling had been defeated, he sent the false commander Wang Su and the Grand General Yang Daoyan with more than one hundred thousand foot and horse to relieve Guoyang. Shuye saw how strong they were and by night abandoned his army and fled. The next day the government troops broke and fled; the barbarians pursued them, killing and wounding beyond count, and only at dusk did they halt. Shuye withdrew to hold Guokou; the emperor sent envoys to comfort him.
7
使 殿使 西
When Emperor Ming died, Shuye returned to his commandery seat. When the young emperor took the throne he put great ministers to death, and the capital was shaken by upheavals again and again. Shuye climbed the north wall of Shouchun and gazed north across the Fei River, saying to his officers: "Do you want wealth and rank? What I tell you—wealth and rank can be arranged as well." In the first year of Yongyuan he was transferred to supervise military affairs in the five provinces of Nan Yan, Yan, Xu, Qing, and Ji and made Inspector of Nan Yan; his rank as general and bearer of the staff remained unchanged. Shuye saw the realm falling into chaos and did not wish to remain near the capital frontier; the court suspected he intended to rebel, and Shuye in turn sent agents to spy on news from the capital—so conflicting reports grew ever louder. Shuye's nephews Zhi and Yang were both direct attendants, serving as runners within the palace halls. Fearing disaster was coming, they abandoned their mother and fled to Shouchun, telling Shuye that the court would surely send troops in a surprise strike to take him. Xu Shizhi and others, fearing Shuye would defect to the enemy, sent his clansman Pei Changmu, Attendant of the Central Secretariat, to announce the imperial decree allowing him to keep his present post. Shuye was still uneasy, and Zhi and the others urged him without end. Troubled, Shuye asked the Prince of Liang for counsel; the prince told him to send his household back to the capital and he would naturally be free of harm. Shuye then sent his son Fenzhi and others back to the capital as hostages. The following year his rank was advanced to General Who Exerts Martial Force. Rumors that Shuye was rebelling never ceased; Fenzhi grew ever more frightened and fled again to Shouchun. Thereupon an edict went out to campaign against Shuye. Protecting Army General Cui Huijing and Conquering Barbarians General and Inspector of Yuzhou Xiao Yi were ordered to command the land and river forces in a western campaign, halting at Little Xiao mountain. Shuye fell gravely ill; Zhi asked the Northern Wei barbarians for aid and sent Fenzhi as a hostage. Shuye soon died; the barbarians sent the Grand General Li Chou and Yang Daoyan with more than two thousand horsemen into Shouchun. Earlier, in the second year of Jianwu the barbarian lord Yuan Hong had come to Shouchun; his subordinates urged him to storm the city. Hong said: "There is no need to attack; in time it will surrender on its own." Zhi and the others all returned to Luoyang.
8
Cui Huijing, whose style name was Junshan, was a native of Dongwucheng in Qinghe commandery. His grandfather Gou was a court gentleman in regular attendance. His father Xizhi served as a provincial aide.
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使 西使西 西 西
Huijing began his career as a student in the National University. In the Taishi era of Song he rose through posts to Outer Gentleman, then step by step to Colonel of the Long Rivers and General Who Pacifies the North. When the Founding Emperor was at Huaiyin, Huijing and his clansman Zusi pledged themselves to him at the same time. The Founding Emperor wished to cross north to Guangling and had Huijing prepare boats at the Tao family rear landing; though the plan did not succeed, he was drawn close on this account. He was appointed to the Front Army. When Shen Youzhi's rebellion was put down he went out as Chief Clerk to the Peaceful Western Army of the Prince of Wuling and Prefect of Hedong, charged with defending the region west of the passes. In the third year of Shengming the Prince of Yuzhang was made Inspector of Jingzhou; Huijing stayed on as Chief Clerk of the Suppressing West Army with concurrent duties as adviser, retaining his prefecture as before. When the Founding Emperor received the Mandate, Huijing was enfeoffed as Viscount of Le'an with three hundred households. The Prince of Yuzhang sent Huijing to the capital with a memorial of congratulation; the Founding Emperor summoned him and received him with marked favor. He was transferred to Chief Clerk of the Pacifying West Army and Interior Minister of Nan commandery. He was soon moved to Chief Clerk of the Southern Barbarians with the additional title General Who Assists the State, retaining the interior ministry as before. Previously the aides of the Southern Barbarians office were lightly provisioned; only now was the post given real weight in selection.
10
When Emperor Wu took the throne, Huijing's rank was advanced to General Who Exerts Martial Force. While serving in the province he amassed wealth and acquired many rare goods. In the third year of Yongming he returned to court with his present rank. He was moved to Gentleman of the Yellow Gate and placed in charge of the Feathered Forest guard. The following year he was transferred to Chief Clerk of the Eastern Palace of the Prince of Sui with the additional rank of General Who Assists the State. He went out as bearer of the staff, supervisor of Si province military affairs, General Who Exerts Martial Force, and Inspector of Si province. When his mother died, an edict ordered him back to his former post before the mourning period had ended. Whenever Huijing left a province he emptied his coffers in tribute to the throne—several million each time—and Emperor Wu praised him for it. In the ninth year he was recalled with his present rank and transferred to Left Leader of the Heir Apparent's guard with the additional post of Unimpeded Attendant. The following year he was moved to General of the Right Wei with the additional post of Recipient for the Palace.
11
西
At that time the barbarians were poised to invade the south; the emperor sent Huijing out as bearer of the staff, supervisor of military affairs in Xiyang commandery of Yuzhou and Runan commandery of Sizhou, General Who Exerts Martial Force, and Inspector of Yuzhou. When the Prince of Yulin took the throne, Huijing's rank was advanced to General Who Conquers the Barbarians. Huijing, seeing that the young emperor had only just ascended, secretly opened communications with the barbarians, and the court grew suspicious and uneasy. When Emperor Ming assisted in government he sent the Prince of Liang to Shouchun to reassure him; Huijing sent a secret memorial pledging loyalty and urging him to advance. Recalled to court, he was made Unattached Cavalier Attendant and General of the Left Wei. In the second year of Jianwu the barbarians raided Xu and Yu; Huijing, with his present office, borrowed the staff and went to Zhongli, placing himself under Wang Xuamo's command. Soon he received the additional rank of General Who Exerts Martial Force. In the fourth year he was moved to Minister of the Treasury while continuing to oversee the Left Leader of the Heir Apparent's guard.
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退 使退 退
In winter the barbarians' main army attacked the five commanderies north of the Han; Huijing was lent the staff to lead twenty thousand troops and a thousand horses toward Xiangyang. All the armies of Yong province were placed under his command. In the first year of Yongtai, Huijing reached Xiangyang, but the five commanderies had already been lost. Huijing was given the additional rank of General Who Pacifies the North; staff officers were appointed and troops were detached to help garrison Fancheng. Huijing halted at Wokou village. With Heir Apparent Attendant the Prince of Liang and the army commanders—the former Inspector of Ningzhou Dong Zhongmin, Liu Shanyang, Pei Yang, and Fu Faxian—he advanced on Dengcheng with more than five thousand men. Forward scouts came back reporting that barbarian troops were about to arrive. Before long they saw tens of thousands of horsemen bearing down together; Huijing took the south gate, the Prince of Liang the north gate, and ordered all the troops up onto the walls. At that time Huijing and the others had eaten a light meal and marched with little baggage; everyone looked hungry and afraid. Three northern lodging guests in the army deserted to the barbarians and told them the whole situation. The barbarians' false commander, Central Army Grand General the Prince of Pengcheng Yuan Xie, sent the false Martial Guard General Yuan Dou to rush the southeast of the city and cut off Huijing's retreat; the false Chief Clerk Meng Bin toward the east of the city; and the false General of the Right Wei Bo Zheng to camp north of the city, all shooting into the town. The Prince of Liang wished to sally out and fight; Huijing said: "Barbarians do not lay siege to cities at night; wait until evening and they will leave of themselves." Before long the barbarian host grew stronger; Huijing at the south gate pulled back his troops, but the other units did not know and fell back in flight behind him. Barbarian troops entered from the north gate. Liu Shanyang with several hundred of his men fought a desperate rear-guard action; the barbarians sent more than a hundred armored horsemen to seize him. Shanyang had his archers shoot; three riders and horses went down, and he killed more than ten with his own hand, yet could not hold them back and fought as he withdrew. Huijing went south past Naogou; soldiers trampled one another, every bridge broke, and the barbarians shot from both sides of the road. The army commander Fu Faxian was killed; those who fell into the ditches died in heaps, bodies piled on bodies. Shanyang took padded coats and staffs, stuffed the ditch full, and crossed over to escape. The barbarian lord led the main host in pursuit; in the late afternoon he reached the north bank of the Han and surrounded the army commander Liu Shanyang. Shanyang held the city and fought desperately; by nightfall the barbarians at last withdrew. The whole army was terrified; that same evening everyone went aboard ship and returned to Xiangyang.
13
西 便
The following year Pei Shuye surrendered Shouchun to the barbarians. Huijing was reassigned General Who Pacifies the West, retaining his lent staff, Palace Attendant post, and Protecting Army command, and led troops by water against Shouchun. The army halted at Baixia. As they were about to depart, the emperor had the long encircling screens removed and came out from Langya city to escort them. The emperor, in military dress, sat on the city tower and summoned Huijing to ride in alone—without a single attendant. They exchanged only a few words; he bowed in farewell and departed. Once Huijing was outside the encirclement he was greatly pleased. His son Jue was Direct Attendant General. Huijing secretly arranged with him that when Huijing reached Guangling in the fourth month, Jue would flee the capital to join him.
14
便
When Huijing had passed Guangling by several dozen li he summoned the army commanders and said: "I have received deep grace from three emperors and bear the weight of their deathbed trust. The young emperor is muddled and deranged, the court is broken and in chaos. To see peril and not steady it—the duty falls on us today. I wish to join you in achieving a great deed and securing the altars of state. What say you?" All answered with a shout of assent. Thereupon he turned the army back to Guangling. His Chief Clerk Cui Gongzu held Guangling city and opened the gates to receive them. When the emperor heard of the uprising he appointed Conquering Barbarians General and General of the Right Wei Zuo Xingsheng, lent the staff, to command the capital's land and water armies. Huijing halted two days, then gathered his forces, crossed the river, and assembled at Jingkou. The Prince of Jiangxia, Bao Xuan, also served as an inside collaborator; joining the strength of the two commanderies they marched Bao Xuan toward the capital.
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西 使 殿
The court sent Valiant Cavalry General Zhang Fuhu, Direct Attendant General Xu Yuancheng, Colonel of the Garrison Cavalry Yao Jingzhen, Western Palace Adviser Xu Jingzhi, Roaming Army Commander Dong Bozhen, Cavalry Officer Huan Lingfu, and others to hold Zhuli in a chain of forts. Bao Xuan sent word to Fuhu: "I am returning to court myself—why do you mean to block me so harshly?" Fuhu answered: "I, a humble servant, bear the state's heavy grace and was sent to raise this small garrison. When Your Highness returns to court, pass straight through—that is all I ask. How would I dare obstruct you?" Thereupon he shot at Huijing's army and battle was joined. Huijing's son Jue and Cui Gongzu led the vanguard—northern braves, skilled fighters both; they also marched light without cooking, loading wine and meat on several boats along the river as army rations. Whenever they saw smoke rise from the court army's forts they attacked with full force; the court troops could no longer cook and were worn down by hunger. Yuancheng and others wanted to surrender, but Fuhu would not allow it. On the twelfth day Gongzu and the others attacked again and the fort fell. Fuhu fled alone on horseback, was pursued and beheaded. Xu Yuancheng surrendered; the remaining commanders were all killed. When Huijing reached Linyi he ordered Li Yuzhi to raise the bridge and cut the road; Huijing seized and executed him.
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西 西 退
The court sent Central Palace Leader Wang Ying to command the armies, holding Hutou and building ramparts along the western cliff of Mount Jiang, with tens of thousands of armored men in position. Huijing reached Chayao. Wan Fuer of Zhutang, skilled in the hunt and able to take tigers, came to him and said: "The level roads are all held by the court army—we cannot think of advancing directly. We should take the Dragon Tail path up Mount Jiang and strike where they do not expect us." Huijing followed his advice, sending more than a thousand men in single file along the mountain, descending from the western cliff by night, beating drums and shouting at the city below. The court army was terrified and fled at once. The emperor again sent General of the Right Wei Zuo Xingsheng with thirty thousand palace troops to resist Huijing at the northern fence gate; they saw his strength and fled. Huijing led his army into the Leyou Park. Gongzu with a dozen light horsemen charged through the northern side gate and came out again; every palace gate was shut. Huijing led the host to besiege the palace. Thereupon the Eastern Palace, Stone Fortress, Baixia, Xinting, and the other strongpoints all fell. Zuo Xingsheng fled, could not enter the palace, and hid in a reed boat on the Huai; Huijing captured and killed him. The palace sent troops out to attack but could not overcome them. Huijing burned the Orchid Terrace offices for a battlefield. Defender of the Palace Wei Xiao Chang held the southern side gate and directed the city's defense, meeting attacks wherever they came; on this account popular sentiment grew somewhat calmer.
17
Huijing proclaimed an order in the name of Dowager Empress Xuande, deposing the emperor as Prince of Wu. At that time the Prince of Baling, Zhaozhou, had fled among the people and came to join Huijing. Huijing's mind turned more toward him, so he hesitated, not knowing whom to enthrone. After the victory at Zhuli, Jue and Gongzu quarreled over credit; Huijing could not settle the dispute. Gongzu urged Huijing to shoot fire arrows and burn the northern side tower. Huijing, thinking the great affair was nearly settled and that rebuilding would cost effort afterward, would not follow this plan. He loved disputation and also understood Buddhist teaching; he halted at Falun Temple and held lofty discourse with his guests. Gongzu nursed deep resentment.
18
使 西 退
Earlier Defender of the Palace Xiao Yi had been Conquering Barbarians General and Inspector of Yuzhou and was marching against Shouchun by the Liyang foot route. The emperor sent secret envoys to inform him. Yi led the army commanders Hu Song, Li Jushi, and several thousand men across from Caishi, halted at Yuecheng, raised beacon fires, and within the capital drums and shouts of celebration rang out. Gongzu had first urged Huijing to send two thousand men to cut off the army on the western bank and keep them from crossing. Huijing thought the city would fall within days and outside relief would scatter of itself. Now Gongzu asked to strike the loyalist army but again was refused. He sent his son Jue with several thousand picked men to cross the southern bank. The loyalist army fought at dawn. After several clashes the men fought to the death. Jue was utterly defeated; more than two thousand who fell into the Huai drowned. Jue fled alone on horseback, raised the bridge, and blocked the crossing. That night Cui Gongzu and the valiant general Liu Lingyun came to the city to surrender. Huijing's army fell apart in spirit. He took a few trusted men and slipped away, intending to cross the river north; the armies north of the city did not know and still fought on. Troops sallied from the city and killed several hundred. The loyalist army crossed to the northern bank; Huijing's remaining troops all fled. Huijing had besieged the city twelve days in all; his troops and camp followers scattered through the capital without building proper camps. When he fled his followers gradually scattered along the road. Alone on horseback he reached Xiepu, where a fisherman beheaded him, put his head in a fish basket, and carried it on a pole to the capital. He was sixty-three years old.
19
Zhang Fuhu was posthumously honored as Inspector of Si province; Zuo Xingsheng as Inspector of Yu province—both as Conquering Barbarians Generals; Xu Jingzhi and Huan Lingfu as Colonels of the Garrison Cavalry; Dong Bozhen as Outer Gentleman; Li Yuzhi as Recipient for the Palace; the rest with differing honors.
20
便 禿 使
Gongzu was Huijing's clansman—fierce, skilled with the cavalry lance, with strength beyond ordinary men, having seen many battle lines. In the campaign against Wang Jingze he and Zuo Xingsheng's army aide Yuan Wenkuan fought over Jingze's head, telling Emperor Ming: "Gongzu, bald-headed in a crimson shirt, personally stabbed and felled the rebel. So Wenkuan was able to cut off the head. To risk death for merit yet be wrongly stripped of it. If I lose this merit I mean to stab Zuo Xingsheng to death." The emperor, impressed by his ferocity, had someone tell Xingsheng: "How can you let Gongzu and Wenkuan fight over the credit?" Thereupon he was enfeoffed with two hundred households. After Huijing's revolt was suppressed, Gongzu was imprisoned in the Palace Workshops and soon executed.
21
Jue fled and became a monk; he was captured and executed. On the eve of execution he wrote his sister: "To leave a traveler's lodge and return home is held the greatest joy; how much more to follow one's late father in roaming the Great Clarity? Men of old had strength to shoulder the Zhou tripod yet sighed that they had not room to stand an awl—speaking of death in this way, what harm is there! My plain heart through life is known to gentlemen. Having failed to attach to a steed's tail, how could I leave a name to posterity? The old affairs recorded on bamboo and silk are now all gone." Huijing's wife and daughters also understood Buddhist teaching rather well.
22
西
Jue's younger brother Yan was Interior Minister of Shian; he hid and escaped punishment. When the Western Terrace of the Emperor He was established, Yan was made General Who Pacifies the North. In the first year of Zhongxing he went to the Imperial Coach Gate and submitted a memorial, saying:
23
Your servant reflects that among the filial loyal ministers of the Founding Emperor and Emperor Ming, set against the wicked ministers and rebellious sons of a muddled ruler, stand the Prince of Jiangxia and Your Majesty on one side, and my late father and the Commander on the other. Your servant has heard that the hearts of Yao and Shun always took the realm as their worry and not the throne as their joy. That solitary Shun, a man of the fields, still felt thus; how much more the weight of ancestral enterprise and the urgency of state and family? The Prince of Jiangxia already acted thus before; Your Majesty now treads the same path afterward. Though success and failure differ in method, the road taken is the same.
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使 使 使
Your Majesty has newly ascended to supreme honor and matches Heaven in your mandate. A wrong as fine as a fiber in the realm still hopes Your Majesty will redress it; an injustice as thin as a hair still hopes Your Majesty will set it right. How much more a son of the late emperor, Your Majesty's elder brother—the path he walked is the very path Your Majesty has taken? If even this is not pitied, what else remains? Your Majesty's virtue matches transforming creation; your kindness nurtures the masses—even among insects and plants, if any lack their proper place you look on them with grief. How much more the Heaven-sent depth of brotherly love and the intimacy of flesh and bone. Could one not cherish it? Yet affairs must be cut off for the sake of the state. This is truly that those at your side do not make it clear and have not examined it in detail. Only if Your Majesty listens publicly and views together, and inquires even of the grass and firewood. If any minister holds your servant's words impossible, I beg to debate it before the court. Then the intent of Heaven and man will be settled and the doubts of the four seas dissolved. If it must not be so, it is only that petty people lack understanding. If they clearly know this they will gather and flee; Your Majesty will blame the Prince of Jiangxia's wrong—how will the court answer? If Heaven's hearing is suddenly moved to turn its light and a compassionate edict is issued, granting the integrity of Dongmou, Zhu Xu, Dongxiang, and Yifu—then what soldier bearing a spear would not die to the last man? This foolish loyal speech—if by the slightest chance it accords with Your Majesty, I beg the matter be kept within the palace.
25
The affair was shelved without response. Yan again submitted a memorial, saying:
26
Recently I rashly stated the Prince of Jiangxia's wrong; I assumed a sacred edict had already granted posthumous honor—this is your servant's rash memorial's crime. Yet the reason your servant inquired was that he did not obtain the truth; the crime merits ten thousand deaths and there is nothing more to say. But what your servant's foolish heart resents is not daring, because of father-son kinship and flesh-and-bone closeness, to bend Your Majesty's law by chance and wound the utmost public righteousness. Your servant truly does not understand what the holy court intends by this. If one says that though the mad ruler is mad he is truly Son of Heaven, and though the Prince of Jiangxia is worthy he is truly a subject—then my late father as subject opposing his ruler could not have proclaimed the edict, and that would be acceptable; yet has Your Majesty examined whether you yourself are also a subject? And the Commander again as subject opposes his ruler—now stern troops and keen soldiers are pointing at the Gate of Bright Law—for what reason? What keeps your servant alive, clinging to breath and sight, has no other cause: to await the opening of imperial fortune and to declare the injustice done to wronged souls. Now imperial fortune has opened to peace, yet to die for the altars in full loyalty is called rebellion—of what use is this life in Your Majesty's age?
27
使
Your servant has heard that a king's minister exhausts wisdom and gives all to the public to serve his superior. Those who bear the duties of arm and thigh should straighten out detained wrongs and recommend the worthy multitude. All these ministers rise early and sleep late; their hearts have not a moment's interval away from the public good. Therefore the ten thousand things each obtain their principle and songs of praise arise. Your servant respectfully notes Commander General Xiao Yingchao, kin of the imperial clan, pillar of the state, himself with the merit of Yi and Huo, bearing Your Majesty's charge equal to Ji and Dan. Central Palace Leader Xiang, receiving the court's inner trust, deputy to the prime minister's honor. Both are beams and pillars of the court, ministers of the altars, what the realm looks to—how could they not be urgent and untiring, giving full loyalty, wishing the ten thousand things to obtain principle and great praise to arise—yet go beyond this? Yet together they knew my late father as Jiangxia's arm and thigh, shoring up the imperial house; Heaven's mandate was not fulfilled, the prince died and they died with him—yet they would not speak a single word for Your Majesty. To know and not speak is a disloyal minister; to speak without knowing is an unwise minister—this they do not know: what do they know?
28
使 使
If because the Prince of Jiangxia's mind differed from my late father and was constrained by my late father's force, then Jiangxia together reached death and ruin, enduring a muddled government with licentious punishments, destroyed without the Way. Yet wherein was Jiangxia's difference clear—Kong and Lü, which was deemed for execution? Hand on the command banner, words always trusting the public, hearts like glued lacquer—and yet this is called difference; your servant is privately perplexed. If because my late father sent envoys and Jiangxia executed them—then why were the Eastern Campaign couriers killed? Your Majesty executed the Eastern Campaign envoys, truly to deceive Shanyang; Jiangxia disobeyed my late father's request, truly plotting with Kong Jin. Heaven's mandate had its return; thus the enterprise did not succeed. Only the sage knows Heaven's mandate; the loyal minister knows only giving full death—how would he care for success or failure? The edict says Jiangxia met the times' hardship, his traces bent to carry out orders, inwardly forgiving and probing feeling, without stain to pure integrity. Now with this intent, how is the Commander to be treated?
29
Your servant's words are finished; I beg to approach the boiling cauldron. Yet though your servant merits ten thousand deaths, your servant still wishes Your Majesty will surely declare my late father. Why? Declare him with compassion and the realm will submit; declare him without compassion and those who face north to serve Your Majesty serve only because force has bent them. My late father's loyalty is known to those with understanding; the Southern Historian's brush can await a thousand years—why wait for Your Majesty to bend and declare for praise or blame? Yet your servant's earnest foolishness is calculated for Your Majesty. What your servant speaks is not filial to father but truly loyal to ruler. Only may Your Majesty examine closely and give a little heed.
30
Your servant repeatedly touched the imperial countenance yet it was not revealed—therefore each sealed memorial: not from rashness but because the Spring and Autumn principle has the meaning of concealment. Though your servant is shallow, yet in today's affair—cutting foot, severing head, maiming body, extinguishing form—what could I not do, for Your Majesty? Your servant has heard that giving life to the dead and flesh to the bone—men with understanding do not deem it excessive feeling. Listen publicly and view together, declare men's wrongs, hold virtue and employ the public, straighten men's bends—then all under Heaven will contend to die. Why? Because principle cannot be stopped. If Your Majesty will take up your servant's wrong, pardon your servant's elder brother's crime, gather past losses, issue a compassionate edict, harbor intent that can be repaid—then Jie's dog could bark at Yao, Zhi's guest could stab You—how much more You's dog and Yao's guest. Your servant does not live for himself but truly for Your Majesty to weight this name in the realm. The foundation already completed, the treasure to be cherished—nothing more can be added. Growing bright, growing prosperous—this cannot be neglected; growing dim, growing extinct—this cannot be careless. Only may Your Majesty examine closely and choose the center in detail.
31
滿 使
If Your Majesty still holds doubt and the Commander has not yet decided, beg to send down the Eastern Campaign to discuss together whether it may be done—do not let grief facing the corner wound Your Majesty's joy of a full hall. Why? Your Majesty is the muddled ruler's younger brother; Jiangxia is also the muddled ruler's younger brother; the Commander received the grace of deathbed entrustment; my late father also bore the weight of dying charge. Sentiment and circumstance are not different; what each did is the same—the only difference is that success and failure rely on the holy court. Your servant cannot overcome foolish loyalty and begs to have the ministers debate at court—your servant begs to be sent alone, finely granted the original words. By the slightest chance of ten thousand to one, if Heaven's hearing is bright, then Ke's seven clans drowned, Li's wife and children burned—men think it hard, yet would your servant not find it easy?
32
The edict replied: "I have fully received your earnest plea of wrong. Your clan took the lead in righteousness yet virtue was not displayed—this also pursues me with sighing; now posthumous honor will be clearly added." Yan soon went down to prison and died.
33
Zhang Xintai, whose style name was Yihang, was a native of Jingling. His father Xingshi was a Song General of the Left Wei.
34
Xintai in youth had will and integrity, did not take martial achievement as his station, loved clerical script, and read the histories. When more than ten years old he visited Minister of Personnel Chu Yuan; Yuan asked him: "Young Master Zhang, how much bow and horse?" Xintai answered: "By nature I fear horses and have no strength to draw a bow." Yuan found him very unusual.
35
簿
He was summoned as provincial chief clerk and passed through various princes' staff posts. In the Yuanhui era Xingshi was at home, holding Yong province's returned assets, with cash seen at thirty million. Emperor Cangwu personally led men to rob it; in one night it was nearly gone; Xingshi in worry and fear fell ill and died of grief. Xintai's elder brother Xinhua then held Ancheng commandery; Xintai sealed all remaining wealth to await him.
36
鹿 使
In the early Jianyuan period he passed through posts to General Who Pacifies the North, and in successive removals became Gentleman of the Ministry of Justice. Emperor Wu and Xintai had long been on warm terms; when he took the throne he made him Direct Attendant General overseeing the forbidden guard. He was appointed Grand Marshal Adviser to the Prince of Yuzhang and went out as Protecting Army of Pacifying the Far and Interior Minister of Wuling. Returning he again became Direct Attendant, Colonel of Footsoldiers, overseeing the Feathered Forest guard. Xintai ranged through refined and common circles; his associations were mostly men of established reputation. Off duty he would roam gardens and pools, wearing a deer-skin cap, patched robe and tin staff, carrying a plain zither. Someone reported this to Emperor Wu; the emperor said: "How dare a general's son make such conduct!" Later following the imperial carriage out to Xinlin, he ordered Xintai to inspect arms and equipment; Xintai halted his weapons, drank wine under a pine tree, and composed poetry. Supervisor of Regulations Lü Wendu passed and saw him and reported to Emperor Wu. Emperor Wu was greatly angered and sent him out; after several days his mind eased somewhat, recalled him, and said: "You do not enjoy being driven in martial service—I shall place you in a pure, honored post." He was appointed Regular Attendant.
37
西使 西
In the eighth year of Yongming he went out as Middle Army Adviser to the Pacifying Army and Interior Minister of Nanping. The Prince of Badong Zixiang killed his staff; the emperor sent Palace Attendant Hu Xiezhi on a western campaign and made Xintai his deputy. Xintai told Xiezhi: "Now the Grand Year is in the southwest; marching against the year is what military families deeply fear—you must not see battle; if you see battle you will surely meet peril. Now borrowing this march—if victorious there is no fame, if defeated it is truly shameful. Those fierce and cunning who gather—what makes them usable is sometimes profit and reward or forced authority; they cannot dissolve of themselves. If we halt the army at Xiakou and proclaim fortune and calamity, we may take them without battle." Xiezhi did not follow; advanced and encamped at Jinjin; Yin Lue and others were killed.
38
西 使
When the affair was settled Xintai was moved to Western Army Adviser to the Prince of Sui and changed to oversee Interior Minister of Hedong. Zilong deeply loved and received him, often talking and feasting with him; many posts of the province and prefecture he had oversee—his favor ranked next after Xie Tiao. The registrar secretly reported this; Emperor Wu was angry and recalled him to the capital. He secluded himself in his home lane and set a residence below the southern ridge, facing Mount Song. Xintai shouldered a crossbow to shoot pheasants and indulged in idle freedom. Among many performing arts he was quite skilled in leisurely pursuits.
39
便
When Emperor Ming took the throne he was Chief Clerk to the Palace Army and moved to Adviser. He submitted a memorial stating twenty items of practical benefit; one item said pagodas and temples should be abolished. The emperor with all gave favorable edicts in reply.
40
西
In the second year of Jianwu the barbarians besieged Zhongli city. Xintai was army commander and followed Cui Huijing in the rescue. Xintai sent word to the barbarians' Prince of Guangling: "I hear you attack Zhongli—that is your deep strategy; can it be without error! The Art of War says "there are cities one does not attack, lands one does not contend for." Have you not heard it? Our state's boats and ships number a million, covering the river and crossing the sea—therefore we keep armor on till now and have not come, wishing to wear out Wei's soldiers on the frontier city. We yet transport grain a thousand li, going and staying both exhausted; once sudden rain for days, streams and valleys overflow—then riding sails to cross the sea, a million advance together—what will you use to resist? Yet you make the Wei lord with the weight of ten thousand chariots attack this little city—what does that mean? If you attack yet cannot take the city—whose shame is that? Suppose you could take it and held it—I would link boats for a thousand li, sterns touching sterns, pass west of Shouchun and east to the blue sea, ask for no more weapons, take no more grain, let soldiers rest then rise to fight—then fish and turtles would not pass, birds would be cut off; a detached force on the Huai left could not hold—that is as clear as day. If you cannot take it, I shall invoke the law through Wei's officials to demand an accounting of your fault. If you break your troops and flatten your host, attack yet fail to take it quickly, drive men to fill the moat, capture yet cannot hold—then do Wei's court gentlemen have some deeper design I have not yet fathomed? Formerly Wei's Emperor Taiwu Fotu bent the host of a whole state to attack a ten-perch city—more than half died and he returned with only his body. His wits were exhausted at Jinyong; though he took it he could not hold it—both were plans that missed their mark and are mocked to this day. The lesson before you is not far—have you already forgotten? Harmony at the gate, the district at ease—I playfully bear my former intent."
41
退
The barbarians, having been checked by the Xuzhou army, wished again to build a city on Shaoyang Isle. Huijing feared it would become a grave peril. Xintai said: "The barbarians build a city to show grandeur outwardly; in truth they fear we will tread on their heels. If we now persuade them that both sides wish to lay down arms, their trouble will quiet of itself." Huijing followed his advice. He sent Xintai to the foot of the barbarian wall to state this intent in full. When the barbarians withdrew, more than ten thousand remaining troops on the isle requested five hundred horses to pass through on loan; Huijing wished to cut the road and attack them. Xintai urged Huijing: "Do not block a returning army—the ancients feared this. Soldiers caught in dead ground must not be slighted. Victory would not suffice for martial glory; defeat would only waste the prior achievement. It would be better to let them pass." Huijing thereupon let the barbarians pass. At that time Palace Army Leader Xiao Tanzhi also aided Zhongli; returning he reported to Emperor Ming: "On Shaoyang Isle are ten thousand doomed bandits—Huijing and Xintai released them and did not take them." The emperor on this account gave neither man a reward.
42
In the fourth year he was sent out as Prefect of Yongyang. At the start of Yongyuan he returned to the capital. When Cui Huijing besieged the city, Xintai entered within the walls; the Palace Army Leader held the defense. When the affair was settled he was appointed General Who Assists the State and Pacifying East Chief Clerk to the Prince of Luling. When the army of righteousness rose, Xintai was made bearer of the staff, supervisor of military affairs in Yong, Liang, North and South Qin, the Jingling district of Yingzhou, and the Sui commandery of Sizhou, and Inspector of Yong—general as before. At that time the young emperor was muddled and chaotic; popular sentiment everywhere watched for an opening in affairs. Xintai with his younger brother the former Interior Minister of Shian Xinshi secretly plotted to join Right Leader of the Heir Apparent Hu Song, former Prefect of Nanqiao Wang Lingxiu, Direct Attendant General Hong Xuan, Hande garrison commander Gou Li, Direct Rear Liu Lingyun, and more than ten others—all pledged together.
43
使 殿
The emperor sent Attendant of the Central Secretariat Feng Yuansi to oversee the army rescuing Ying; Ru Fazhen, Mei Chonger, Right Leader of the Heir Apparent Li Jushi, Supervisor of Regulations Yang Mingtai, and more than ten others escorted them to the Zhongxing Hall. Xintai and others had men with knives at the seats chop Yuansi; his head fell into the fruit tray. They also chopped Mingtai and broke open his belly; Chonger was stabbed several times and all his fingers fell off. Jushi climbed the wall and escaped; Ru Fazhen also scattered in flight back to the terrace. Lingxiu then went to Stone Fortress to welcome the Prince of Jian'an Bao Yin, leading several hundred civil and military men, proclaiming the imperial guard, and came to Old Du's house. When Xintai first heard the affair had broken out he galloped into the palace, hoping Fazhen and others were outside and that disposition within the city would entrust everything to him—inside and outside responding together—thereby carrying out deposition and establishment. Soon Fazhen returned, took command, shut the gates and posted weapons, did not assign troops to Xintai's men, and Hong Xuan within the hall also did not dare act. The forces outside the city soon dispersed. Within a few days the affair was discovered; an edict seized Xintai, Hu Song, and others—all were executed by law.
44
When Xintai was young someone physiognomized him and said he would attain the three excellencies while only thirty years old. Later a roof tile fell and wounded his forehead; he again asked the physiognomist, who said: "No longer the aspect of the three excellencies; your years of life increase—you may yet obtain a regional lordship." He died at the age of forty-six.
45
宿 𦨵
The historian says: Cui Huijing, an old general of long service, facing the peril of a muddled age turned Dong Yu's authority and raised the armor of Jinyang. Seizing the moment and wielding power, he struck inward at the young emperor, relied on those who delighted in chaos, and borrowed the fierceness of Huai and Chu. Valiant generals surrendered their heads; group commanders cast away discipline. Drums and gongs sounded in the palace chambers; spears and halberds stood along the city walls. The people bore their households on the ramparts; soldiers' spirits failed and their breath ran out. He repeatedly issued bronze-tiger troops yet found no relief that would release his position—his situation matched Yijing, fish rotting as he awaited the end. The Conquering Barbarians General flung his sleeves to answer the state's urgency first, bound horses and gathered troops, and crossed the river in competing waves—wind-driven, lightning-swift, victory turning like a pellet in the hand. At the battle of Yuecheng banners and captives covered the wild; at the ford victory captives were offered at the Gate of Bright Law. Gazing at dust, watching beacons, exhausting fortresses and doubling passes, executing Dai and settling Xiang—none of it matched this. How grand it is—Huan and Wen across different ages!
46
[1]
The praise says: Shuye rebelled outward; Huai and Fei lost their defiles. Huijing turned his spears; palace gates were shut by day. Xintai acted in haste—frosted blades unstained. Truly the times' muddle arose; hard ice formed layer on layer. Footnote 1.
47
The full text uses the Zhonghua Shuju edition of the 《Book of Southern Qi》, January 1972, as the base text for this collation.
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