1
趙倫之蕭思話臧燾
Zhao Lunzhi, Xiao Sihua, and Zang Dao
2
赵伦之，字幼成，下邳僮人，宋孝穆皇后之弟也。 幼孤贫，事母以孝称。 宋武帝起兵，以军功封阆中县五等侯，累迁雍州刺史。
Zhao Lunzhi, courtesy name Youcheng, came from Tong in Xiapi and was the younger brother of Empress Xiaomu of Song. Left fatherless in childhood and poor, he cared for his mother and won a reputation for filial devotion. When the future Emperor Wu of Song took up arms, Lunzhi earned the fifth-rank marquisate of Langzhong for battlefield service and rose step by step to governor of Yong Province.
3
武帝北伐，倫之遣順陽太守傅弘之、扶風太守沈田子出嶢柳，大破姚泓于藍田。 及武帝受命，以佐命功，封霄城縣侯。 少帝即位，徵拜護軍。 元嘉三年，拜領軍將軍。
During the emperor's northern expedition Lunzhi dispatched Shunyang administrator Fu Hongzhi and Fufeng administrator Shen Tianzi through Yaoliu and smashed Yao Hong at Lantian. After the emperor accepted Heaven's mandate, Lunzhi was made marquis of Xiaocheng for his part in founding the dynasty. When Emperor Shao came to the throne, Lunzhi was called to court and made Protector of the Army. In the third year of Yuanjia he received appointment as General-in-Chief.
4
倫之雖外戚貴寵，而居身儉素，性野拙澀，於人間世事多所不解。 久居方伯，公私富貴。 入為護軍，資力不稱，以為見貶。 光祿大夫范泰好戲，笑謂曰：「司徒公缺，必用汝老奴。 我不言汝資地所任，要是外戚高秩次第所至耳。」 倫之大喜，每載酒肴詣泰。 五年，卒，諡元侯。 子伯符嗣。
Despite the privileges of an imperial connection, Lunzhi lived frugally; blunt and unpolished by temperament, he grasped little of everyday affairs. After years as a regional commander he had amassed wealth both public and private. When he returned to court as Protector of the Army his means no longer fit his station, and he felt himself demeaned. Fan Tai, Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, loved to banter and told him with a laugh, "When the Ministry of Works opens up, they'll surely put you in it, old fellow. I'm not talking about whether your talent suits the post — only that this is how high offices come to imperial relatives, one step after another." Lunzhi was delighted and thereafter often brought wine and dishes to Tai's house. He died in the fifth year and was posthumously titled Marquis Yuan. His son Bofu inherited the title.
5
伯符字潤遠，少好弓馬，為甯遠將軍，總領義徒，以居宮城北。 每火起及有劫盜，輒身貫甲胄，助郡縣赴討，武帝甚嘉之。
Bofu, courtesy name Runyuan, loved bow and horse from boyhood; as General of Pacifying the Distance he led the loyal militia and camped north of the palace. Whenever fire or robbery erupted he would arm himself and ride out with the local officials; the emperor greatly approved.
6
思話十許歲時，未知書，好騎屋棟，打細腰鼓，侵暴鄰曲，莫不患毒之。 自此折節，數年中遂有令譽。 頗工隸書，善彈琴，能騎射。 後襲爵封陽縣侯。
At about ten Sihua had not yet learned to read; he loved clambering along roof ridges, beating narrow-waisted drums, and terrorizing the neighborhood until everyone feared him. After that he checked his ways, and within a few years had earned a good name. He wrote clerical script well, played the zither, and was capable with bow and horse. Later he inherited the marquisate of Fengyang.
7
元嘉中，為青州刺史。 亡命司馬朗之兄弟聚党謀為亂，思話遣北海太守蕭汪之討斬之。
During Yuanjia he governed Qing Province. Outlaw brothers Sima Langzhi and his kin raised a band to rebel; Sihua sent Beihai administrator Xiao Wangzhi to cut them down.
8
八年，魏軍大至，乃棄鎮奔平昌。 魏軍定不至，由是征系尚方。 初在青州，常所用銅鬥覆在藥廚下，忽於鬥下得二死雀。 思話歎曰：「鬥覆而雙雀殞，其不祥乎？」 既而被系。 及梁州刺史甄法護在任失和，氐帥楊難當因此寇漢中，乃自徒中起思話為梁、南秦二州刺史，平漢中，悉收侵地，置戍葭萌水。 思話遷鎮南鄭。
In the eighth year Wei forces arrived in strength; he abandoned his command and fled to Pingchang. The Wei army never actually arrived, and for this he was summoned and held in the imperial workshops. During his earlier tenure in Qing Province a copper ladle-cover he always used sat beneath the medicine kitchen, and one day he found two dead sparrows under it. Sihua sighed and said, "The ladle overturned and two sparrows died — can this be anything but a bad sign?" Soon afterward he was taken into custody. When Liang inspector Zhen Fahu's rule turned discordant and Di chieftain Yang Nandang raided Hanzhong, Sihua was pulled from the convict ranks to govern Liang and Southern Qin, recovered Hanzhong and all lost ground, and posted guards at Jiameng River. Sihua transferred his headquarters to Nanzheng.
9
法護，中山無極人也。 過江，寓居南郡。 弟法崇自少府為益州刺史。 法護委鎮之罪，為府所收，於獄賜死。 文帝以法崇受任一方，命言法護病卒。 文帝使思話上定漢中本末，下之史官。
Fahu came from Wuji in Zhongshan. After crossing the Yangtze he lived in Nan Commandery. His younger brother Fachong rose from director of the palace storehouse to governor of Yi Province. Fahu was arrested for abandoning his post and, in prison, was ordered to take his own life. Since Fachong held a provincial command, Emperor Wen had it announced that Fahu had died of illness. The emperor had Sihua report upstream how Hanzhong had been settled and send the account to the historiographers.
10
十四年，遷臨川王義慶平西長史、南蠻校尉。 文帝賜以弓琴，手敕曰：「前得此琴，言是舊物，今以相借，並往桑弓一張，材理乃快。 良材美器，宜在盡用之地，丈人真無所與讓也。」 嘗從文帝登鍾山北嶺，中道有磐石清泉，上使于石上彈琴，因賜以銀鍾酒，謂曰：「相賞有松石間意。」 曆甯蠻校尉，雍州刺史，監四州軍事，徵為吏部尚書。 思話以去州無復事力，倩府軍身九人。 文帝戲之曰：「丈人終不為田父于閭里，何憂無人使邪？」 未拜，遷護軍將軍。
In the fourteenth year he became chief administrator to Prince Linchuan Yiqing as Pacifier of the West and Colonel of the Southern Man. Emperor Wen gave him a bow and zither with a personal note: "I lately acquired this zither, said to be an old instrument; I lend it to you now, and also send a mulberry bow whose wood and grain are fine. Good wood and a good instrument belong where they will be fully used; Elder, you need not refuse at all." Once he accompanied Emperor Wen to the north ridge of Zhongshan; halfway up there was a boulder and a clear spring; the emperor had him play on the stone and then gave silver bell-wine, saying, "We share the spirit of pines and stones." He later served as Colonel of Pacifying the Man, governor of Yong, overseer of four provinces' military affairs, and was summoned to be Minister of Personnel. Leaving his province without a retinue, Sihua borrowed nine men from the princely guard. Emperor Wen teased him: "Elder, you will never end up a village farmer in the lanes — why worry about having no attendants?" Before he could take up the post he was moved to General Who Protects the Army.
11
是時，魏攻懸瓠，文帝將大舉北侵，朝士僉同，思話固諫不從。 魏軍退，即代孝武為徐、兗二州刺史，監四州軍事。 後為圍碻磝城不拔，退師曆下，為江夏王義恭所奏免官。
When Wei attacked Xuanyong the emperor planned a major northern campaign; the court was unanimous, but Sihua argued hard against it and was overruled. After the Wei army withdrew he at once replaced Xiaowu as governor of Xu and Yan and overseer of four provinces' military affairs. Later, failing to take Queqi fortress, he withdrew below Li and was impeached and dismissed by Prince Jiangxia Yigong.
12
所至雖無皎皎清節，亦無穢黷之累。 愛才好士，人多歸之。
In every post, though he showed no blazing integrity, he bore no taint of corruption either. He loved talent and honored scholars, and many men gathered to him.
13
長子惠開少有風氣，涉獵文史，家雖貴戚而居服簡素。 初為秘書郎，意趣與人多不同，比肩或三年不共語。 外祖光祿大夫沛郡劉成戒之曰：「汝恩戚家子，無多異以取天下之疾。」 轉太子舍人，與汝南周朗同官友善，以偏奇相尚。
His eldest son Huikai had spirit even as a youth; he read widely in letters and history, and though born to an imperial connection he dressed and lived simply. He first served as a secretary gentleman; his temperament set him apart, and some colleagues went three years without exchanging a word with him. His maternal grandfather Liu Cheng, Grand Master of Splendid Happiness of Pei, warned him, "You are from an in-law house — do not make yourself so strange that the world turns against you." He became attendant to the heir apparent; he and Zhou Lang of Runan served together, became friends, and admired each other's eccentric brilliance.
14
孝建元年，為黃門侍郎，與侍中何偃爭推積射將軍徐沖之事，偃任遇甚隆，怒使門下推彈惠開，乃上表解職，由此忤旨。 別敕有司以屬疾多，免之。 思話素恭謹，與惠開不同，每加嫌責； 及見惠開自解表，歎曰：「兒不幸與周朗周旋，理應如此。」 杖之二百。 尋除中庶子，丁父艱，居喪有孝性。 家素事佛，凡為父起四寺：南岡下名曰禪岡寺，曲阿舊鄉宅名曰禪鄉寺，京口墓亭名曰禪亭寺，所封封陽縣名曰禪封寺。 謂國僚曰：「封秩鮮而兄弟甚多，若全關一人，則在我所讓，若人人等分，又事可悲恥。 寺眾既立，自宜悉供僧眾。」 襲封封陽縣侯，為新安王子鸞冠軍長史。
In the first year of Xiaojian he was a gentleman at the Yellow Gate and clashed with attendant He Yan over promoting General of Accumulated Shots Xu Chong; Yan's influence was great and he had the secretariat impeach Huikai, who submitted his resignation and thereby offended the throne. A separate edict ordered the offices to dismiss him on grounds of frequent illness. Sihua had always been respectful and cautious, unlike Huikai, and constantly reproved him; when he saw Huikai's resignation memorial he sighed and said, "The boy was unlucky to keep company with Zhou Lang — it had to end this way." He had him beaten two hundred strokes. Soon after he was made junior mentor; when his father died he mourned with genuine filial devotion. The family had long been Buddhist; for his father he raised four temples: Chan Ridge below the southern hill, Chan Village at the old home in Qu'e, Chan Pavilion at the tomb pavilion in Jingkou, and Chan Feng in his fief of Fengyang. He told the staff, "The fief income is small and the brothers are many; if one man took the whole grant it would be my own surrender, but equal shares for all would be shameful. Now that the temple communities exist, they should all support the monks." He inherited Fengyang and served as chief administrator to Prince Xin'an Ziluan, Champion General.
15
惠開妹當適桂陽王休範，女又當適孝武子，發遣之資，應須二千萬。 乃以為豫章內史，聽其肆意聚納，由是在郡著貪暴之聲。 再遷御史中丞。 孝武與劉秀之詔曰：「今以蕭惠開為憲司，冀當稱職。 但一往眼額，已自殊有所震。」 及在職，百僚憚之。
Huikai's sister was to marry Prince Guiyang Xiufan and his daughter Emperor Xiaowu's son; sending them off would cost some twenty million. He was therefore made interior minister of Yuzhang and allowed to squeeze what he could; in the commandery he earned a name for greed and brutality. He was later made imperial censor. Emperor Xiaowu wrote Liu Xiuzhi, "I now appoint Xiao Huikai to the censorate, hoping he will prove equal to the post. Yet at first sight his brow and eyes already strike a special fear." Once in office, the hundred officials feared him.
16
後拜益州刺史，路經江陵。 時吉翰子在荊州，共惠開有舊，為設女樂。 樂人有美者，惠開就求不得，又欲以四女妓易之，不許。 惠開怒，收吉斬之，即納其妓。 啟云：「吉為劉義宣所遇，交結不逞，向臣訕毀朝政，輒已戮之。」 孝武稱快。
Later he was appointed governor of Yi Province and passed through Jiangling. Ji Han's son was then in Jing Province; he and Huikai were old acquaintances and provided female musicians. One musician was beautiful; Huikai asked for her and was refused, then tried to trade four female performers for her and was denied again. Huikai in rage seized Ji, had him beheaded, and took the performers. He reported, "Ji had been favored by Liu Yixuan and kept company with the unruly; he slandered the court to me, and I have already killed him." Emperor Xiaowu declared himself pleased.
17
惠開素有大志，至蜀欲廣樹經略。 善於敘述，聞其言者皆以為大功可立。 才疏意廣，竟無成功。 嚴用威刑，蜀人號曰：「臥虎」。 明識過人，嘗供三千沙門，一閱其名，退無所失。
Huikai had long nursed grand ambitions; reaching Shu he meant to extend strategy on every front. He spoke with force, and all who heard him believed great deeds lay within reach. His talent was narrow and his designs vast; in the end nothing came of them. He ruled with harsh punishments; the people of Shu called him the Crouching Tiger. His memory was extraordinary; once he feasted three thousand monks, read their names once, and afterward forgot none.
18
明帝即位，晉安王子勳反，惠開乃集將佐謂曰：「吾荷世祖之眷，當投袂萬里，推奉九江。」 蜀人素怨惠開嚴，及是所遣兵皆不得前。 晉原郡反，諸郡悉應，並來圍城。 城內東兵不過二千，凡蜀人，惠開疑之，悉皆遣出。 子勳尋敗，蜀人並欲屠城，以望厚賞。 明帝以蜀土險遠，赦其誅責，遣其弟惠基使蜀宣旨。 而蜀人志在屠城，不使王命速達，遏留惠基。 惠基破其渠帥，然後得前。 惠開奉旨歸順，城圍得解。 明帝又遣惠開宗人寶首水路慰勞益州，寶首欲以平蜀為功，更獎說蜀人，處處蜂起。 惠開乃啟陳情事，遣宋甯太守蕭惠訓、州別駕費欣業分兵並進，大破之，禽寶首送之。 惠開至都，明帝問其故，侍衛左右莫不悚然側目，惠開舉動自若，從容答曰：「臣唯知逆順，不識天命。」 又云：「非臣不亂，非臣不平。」
When Emperor Ming succeeded, Prince Jin'an Zixun rebelled; Huikai gathered his staff and said, "I owe Emperor Shizu's favor and should march ten thousand li to uphold Jiujiang. The people of Shu had long resented his severity, and now the troops he sent could not move. Jinyuan commandery rose and the rest followed, converging to besiege the city. Within the walls the eastern troops numbered barely two thousand; all were Shu men whom Huikai distrusted, and he expelled them. When Zixun was soon defeated, the Shu people all wanted to sack the city for rich reward. Because Shu was rugged and remote, Emperor Ming pardoned the death sentence and sent Huikai's younger brother Huiji to proclaim the edict. The Shu people meant to slaughter the city and would not let the imperial command through quickly; they detained Huiji. Huiji broke their chieftains and only then could advance. Huikai accepted the edict and submitted, and the siege was lifted. Emperor Ming also sent his clansman Baoshou by water to comfort Yi Province; Baoshou hoped to win credit by pacifying Shu and again stirred the Shu people until they rose everywhere. Huikai then memorialized the facts and sent Songning administrator Xiao Huixun and provincial assistant Fei Xinye with divided forces; they won a great victory, seized Baoshou, and sent him in. When Huikai reached the capital the emperor asked why; attendants stared in dread, but Huikai was unmoved and answered calmly, "I know only loyalty and rebellion, not Heaven's mandate." He also said, "Without me there would have been chaos; without me there would have been no peace."
19
初，惠開府錄事參軍劉希微負蜀人責將百萬，為責主所制，未得俱還。 惠開與希微共事不厚，而廄中凡有馬六十匹，悉以乞希微償責。 其意趣不常如是。 惠開還資二千餘萬，悉散施道俗，一無所留。
Earlier his staff recorder Liu Xiwai owed the people of Shu nearly a million and was held by creditors, unable to leave with the rest. Huikai had not been close to Xiwai, yet gave him all sixty horses in the stables to settle the debt. His temperament was not always so. Huikai returned with more than twenty million in assets and gave it all to monks and lay believers, keeping nothing.
20
後除桂陽王休範征北長史、南東海太守。 其年，會稽太守蔡興宗之郡，惠開自京口請假還都，相逢于曲阿。 惠開先與興宗名位略同，又經情款，自以負釁摧屈，慮興宗不能詣己，戒勒部下：蔡會稽部伍若問，慎不得答。 惠開素嚴，部下莫敢違。 興宗見惠開舟力甚盛，遣人訪訊，事力二三百人皆低頭直去，無一人答者。
Later he was made chief administrator to Prince Guiyang Xiufan as Pacifier of the North and administrator of Eastern Sea. That year, as Kuaiji administrator Cai Xingzong went to his post, Huikai took leave from Jingkou to return to the capital and met him at Qu'e. Huikai and Xingzong had once been equals in rank and on friendly terms; now, burdened with guilt and humbled, he feared Xingzong would not call on him and ordered his staff: if anyone asked about the Kuaiji administrator, they were not to answer. Huikai had always ruled sternly, and his men dared not disobey. Xingzong saw Huikai's escort was very grand and sent men to inquire; two or three hundred attendants lowered their heads and passed on without a single reply.
21
尋除少府，加給事中。 惠開素剛，至是益不得志，曰：「大丈夫入管喉舌，出蒞方伯，乃復低頭入中邪。」 寺內所住齋前，向種花草甚美，惠開悉剷除別種白楊。 每謂人曰：「人生不得行胸懷，雖壽百歲猶為夭也。」 發病嘔血，吐物如肝肺者。 卒，子睿嗣，齊受禪，國除。
Soon after he was made director of the palace storehouse with the added title Supervising Master of Writing. Huikai had always been proud; now he was still more frustrated and said, "A great man enters to govern the tongue of the state and goes out to command a province — must he bow his head and enter the inner offices again? Before his quarters in the directorate lovely flowers had been planted; Huikai uprooted them and planted white poplars instead. He often said, "If a man cannot live out what is in his heart, even a hundred years is an early death. He fell ill, vomited blood, and brought up matter like liver and lung. He died; his son Rui succeeded; when Qi took the throne the fief was abolished.
22
惠開與諸弟並不睦，惠基使至益州，遂不相見。 與同產弟惠明亦致嫌隙云。
Huikai was at odds with all his brothers; when Huiji was sent to Yi Province they never met. With his full brother Huiming he also fell into estrangement.
23
惠明其次弟也，亦有時譽。 泰始初，為吳興太守，郡界有卞山，山下有項羽廟。 相承雲羽多居郡聽事，前後太守不敢上。 惠明謂綱紀曰：「孔季恭嘗為此郡，未聞有災。」 遂盛設筵榻接賓，數日，見一人長丈餘，張弓挾矢向惠明，既而不見。 因發背，旬日而卒。
Huiming, the next younger brother, also had a reputation in his day. At the start of Taishi he governed Wuxing; in the commandery stood Mount Bian with a temple to Xiang Yu below it. Tradition held that Yu often occupied the commandery hall, and successive administrators dared not enter it. Huiming told the clerks, "Kong Jigong once governed here and no disaster followed. He then held a full banquet and received guests; after several days a man more than ten feet tall appeared, drew a bow and aimed at Huiming, then vanished. Pain then seized his back; within ten days he was dead.
24
子視素，梁天監中，位丹陽尹丞。 初拜日，武帝賜錢八萬，視素一朝散之親友。 遷司徒左西屬、南徐州中從事。
His son Shisu, under Liang in the Tianjian era, served as assistant magistrate of Danyang. On the day of his first appointment Emperor Wu gave him eighty thousand cash, which Shisu gave away in one morning to friends and kin. He rose to western attendant of the Minister of Masses and middle aide of Southern Xu Province.
25
性靜退，少嗜欲，好學，能清言，榮利不關於中，喜怒不形於色。 在人間及居職，並任情通率，不自矜尚，天然簡素。 及在京口，便有終焉之志。 後為中書侍郎。 在位少時，求為諸暨令。 到縣十餘日，掛衣冠於縣門而去。 獨居屏事，非親戚不得至其籬門。 妻即齊太尉王儉女，久與別居，遂無子。 卒，親故跡其事行，諡曰貞文先生。
Quiet and retiring by nature, with few desires from youth, he loved learning, spoke with clarity, cared nothing for profit or honor, and showed neither joy nor anger on his face. In society and in office he was always spontaneous and open, never self-admiring, naturally plain. While at Jingkou he already meant to end his days there. Later he served as gentleman of the secretariat. After a brief tenure he asked to be magistrate of Zhuji. Within ten days of reaching the county he hung his cap and robe at the gate and departed. He lived alone behind closed doors; except for kin none could reach his gate. His wife was Grand Commandant Wang Jian's daughter of Qi; long separated from him, she bore no sons. When he died, friends and kin recorded his conduct and he was posthumously titled Master Zhenwen.
26
惠明弟惠基，幼以外戚見宋江夏王義恭，歎其詳審，以女結婚。 曆中書黃門郎。 惠基善隸書及弈棋，齊高帝與之情好相得。 桂陽王休范妃，惠基姊也，高帝謂之曰：「卿家桂陽，遂復作賊。」 高帝頓新亭壘，以惠基為軍副。 惠基弟惠朗親為休范攻戰，惠基在城內了不自疑。 後為長兼侍中。
Huiming's younger brother Huiji, seen in youth by Prince Jiangxia Yiqing as an imperial connection, impressed Yiqing with his thoroughness and received his daughter in marriage. He served successively at the secretariat and the Yellow Gate. Huiji wrote clerical script and played weiqi well; Emperor Gao of Qi was on close terms with him. Prince Guiyang Xiufan's consort was Huiji's elder sister; the emperor told him, "Your family's Prince Guiyang has turned rebel again. When the emperor halted at Xinting rampart he made Huiji deputy commander. Huiji's younger brother Huilang fought for Xiufan in person; Huiji inside the city showed not the slightest doubt. Later he served as concurrent attendant-in-ordinary.
27
袁粲、劉彥節起兵之夕，高帝以彥節是惠基妹夫，惠基時直在省，遣王敬則觀其指趣，見惠基安靜，不與彥節相知，由是益加恩信。
On the night Yuan Tan and Liu Yanjie rose, the emperor, knowing Yanjie was Huiji's brother-in-law and Huiji was on palace duty, sent Wang Jingze to watch him; finding Huiji calm and unconnected with Yanjie, he trusted him all the more.
28
仕齊為都官尚書，掌吏部。 永明中為侍中，領驍騎將軍。 尚書令王儉朝宗貴望，惠基同在禮閣，非公事不私覿焉。 遷太常，加給事中。
Under Qi he was minister of justice and controlled the ministry of personnel. In Yongming he was attendant-in-ordinary and commanded the Valiant Cavalry. Minister of Writing Wang Jian was the court's great hope; Huiji served with him in the Ritual Office and except on public business never visited him privately. He was moved to grand master of ceremonies with the added title Supervising Master of Writing.
29
自宋大明以來，聲伎所尚，多鄭、衛，而雅樂正聲鮮有好者。 惠基解音律，尤好魏三祖曲及相和歌，每奏輒賞悅不能已。
From Song's Daming era onward popular music favored Zheng and Wei styles; few cared for orthodox tones. Huiji understood music and especially loved Wei's Three Ancestors tunes and harmonized songs; whenever they were played he could not contain his delight.
30
當時能棋人琅邪王抗第一品，吳郡褚思莊、會稽夏赤松第二品。 赤松思速，善於大行，思莊戲遲，巧於鬥棋。 宋文帝時，羊玄保為會稽，帝遣思莊入東，與玄保戲，因置局圖，還於帝前覆之。 齊高帝使思莊與王抗交賭，自食時至日暮，一局始竟。 上倦，遣還省，至五更方決。 抗睡於局後寢，思莊達旦不寐。 時或云，思莊所以品第致高，緣其用思深久，人不能對。 抗、思莊並至給事中。 永明中，敕使抗品棋，竟陵王子良使惠基掌其事。 初，思話先于曲阿起宅，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，朝廷稱為善士。 卒，贈金紫光祿大夫。
The best weiqi players then were Wang Kang of Langye, first rank, and Chu Sizhuang of Wu and Xia Chisong of Kuaiji, second rank. Chisong thought quickly and excelled at large formations; Sizhuang played slowly and was clever in close combat. Under Emperor Wen, Yang Xuanbao governed Kuaiji; the emperor sent Sizhuang east to play him, had the board diagram recorded, and on return covered it before the emperor. Emperor Gao of Qi had Sizhuang play Wang Kang for stakes from mealtime until dusk before one game ended. The emperor grew weary and sent him back to his office; the outcome was settled only at the fifth watch. Kang slept behind the board; Sizhuang stayed awake until dawn. Some said Sizhuang's high rank came because he thought long and deeply and others could not match him. Kang and Sizhuang both rose to Supervising Master of Writing. In Yongming an edict had Kang rank weiqi players; Prince Jingling Ziliang had Huiji oversee it. Earlier Sihua had built a residence at Qu'e with an air of open spaciousness. Huiji often told intimates, "When the marriages are done I shall return to the old lodge. Retiring and plain in conduct, the court called him a good man. At his death he was posthumously given Grand Master of the Gold Seal and Purple Ribbon.
31
子洽字宏稱。 幼敏寤，年七歲，誦楚辭略上口。 及長，好學博涉，善屬文。 仕梁位南徐州中從事。 近畿重鎮，職吏數千人，前後居者皆致巨富。 洽清身率職，饋遺一無所受，妻子不免饑寒。 累遷臨海太守，為政清平，不尚威猛，人俗便之。 還拜司徒左長史。 敕撰當塗堰碑，辭甚贍麗。 卒於官。 文集二十卷行於世。
His son Qia, courtesy name Hongcheng. Clever from infancy, at seven he could recite most of the Songs of Chu from memory. Grown, he loved learning, read widely, and wrote well. Under Liang he served as middle aide of Southern Xu Province. A key town near the capital, its staff numbered thousands; every predecessor had grown rich. Qia kept himself pure and honest in office, accepting no gifts; his wife and children still knew hunger and cold. Promoted to administrator of Linhai, he governed clearly and evenly without severity; the people found him easy to live under. On return he was made chief secretary to the left of the Minister of Masses. By edict he wrote the stele for the Dangtu weir; the text was rich and elegant. He died in office. His collected writings in twenty scrolls circulated in the world.
32
惠基弟惠休。 齊永明四年，為廣州刺史，罷任，獻奉傾資。 上敕中書舍人茹法亮曰：「可問蕭惠休，故當不復私邪？ 吾欲分受之也。」 後封建安縣子。
Huiji's younger brother Huixiu. In Qi Yongming's fourth year he governed Guang Province; on leaving he presented tribute with his entire fortune. The emperor ordered secretariat gentleman Ru Faliang, "Ask Xiao Huixiu — surely he will not be corrupt again? I mean to share in receiving it. Later he was enfeoffed viscount of Jian'an county.
33
永元元年，徙吳興太守。 徵為尚書右僕射。 吳興郡項羽神舊酷烈，人云惠休事神謹，故得美遷。 于時朝士多見殺，二年，惠休還至平望，帝令服藥而卒，贈金紫光祿大夫。
In Yongyuan's first year he was moved to administrator of Wuxing. He was summoned as vice minister of the right. In Wuxing the spirit of Xiang Yu had long been fierce; people said Huixiu served the spirit carefully and therefore won a fine promotion. Many court officials were being killed; in the second year Huixiu, returning, reached Pingwang; the emperor had him take poison and die, and posthumously gave him Grand Master of the Gold Seal and Purple Ribbon.
34
惠休弟惠朗，同桂陽賊，齊高帝赦之。 後為西陽王征虜長史，行南兗州事，坐法免官。
Huixiu's younger brother Huilang joined Prince Guiyang's rebellion; Emperor Gao of Qi pardoned him. Later he was chief administrator to Prince Xiyang as General Who Subdues the Barbarians, acting in Southern Yan affairs; for a legal offense he was dismissed.
35
惠朗弟惠蒨，仕齊左戶尚書。 子介。
Huilang's younger brother Huiqian served Qi as minister of the left household. His son Jie.
36
介字茂鏡，少穎悟，有器識。 梁大同中，武陵王紀為揚州刺史，以介為府長史，在職以清白稱。 武帝謂何敬容曰：「蕭介甚貧，可處以一郡。」 復曰：「始興郡頻無良守，可以介為之。」 由是出為始興太守。 及至，甚著威德。
Jie, courtesy name Maojing, was quick and perceptive from youth with capacity and discernment. In Liang's Datong era Prince Wu Ling Ji governed Yang Province and made Jie chief administrator of his household; in office he was famed for integrity. Emperor Wu told He Jingrong, "Xiao Jie is very poor — he may be given a commandery. He also said, "Shixing has often lacked good administrators — Jie may go there. For this he went out as administrator of Shixing. On reaching his post he showed great authority and virtue.
37
徵為少府卿，尋加散騎常侍。 會侍中闕，選司舉王筠等四人，並不稱旨。 帝曰：「我門中久無此職，宜用蕭介為之。」 應對左右，多所匡正，帝甚重之。
He was summoned as director of the palace storehouse and soon added regular attendant. When the attendant's post fell vacant the selection office proposed Wang Yun and three others; none pleased the emperor. The emperor said, "My household has long lacked this office — Xiao Jie should fill it. In audience he often corrected matters; the emperor greatly valued him.
38
遷都官尚書，每軍國大事，必先訪介。 帝謂朱異曰：「端右材也。」 中大同二年，辭疾致仕，帝優詔不許，終不肯起，乃遣謁者僕射魏祥就拜光祿大夫。
Promoted to minister of justice, on every great affair of state and army the emperor first consulted Jie. The emperor told Zhu Yi, "He is material for the right hand of power. In Zhongdatong's second year he pleaded illness to retire; the emperor's gracious edict would not allow it; he still refused to rise; then envoy Vice Director of the Imperial Household Wei Xiang was sent to invest him as Grand Master of Splendid Happiness.
39
太清中，侯景于渦陽敗走，入壽陽。 帝敕助防韋黯納之，介聞而上表致諫，極言不可。 帝省表歎息，卒不能用。
In Taqing Hou Jing, defeated at Woyang, fled into Shouyang. The emperor ordered assistant defender Wei An to admit him; Jie heard and submitted a memorial of remonstrance, saying most strongly that it must not be done. The emperor read the memorial, sighed, and in the end could not heed it.
40
介性高簡，少交遊，唯與族兄琛、從兄視素及洽從弟淑等文酒賞會，時人以比謝氏烏衣之遊。
Jie by nature was lofty and spare, with few social ties; only with his clan elder Chen, cousin Shisu, and Qia's cousin Shu did he meet for wine, letters, and pleasure — men of the time compared it to the Xie clan's Wuyi outings.
41
初，武帝招延後進二十餘人，置酒賦詩。 臧盾以詩不成，罰酒一斗。 盾飲盡，顏色不變，言笑自若。 介染翰便成，文無加點。 帝兩美之曰：「臧盾之飲，蕭介之文，即席之美也。」 年七十三，卒於家。
At first Emperor Wu gathered more than twenty rising scholars, set out wine, and assigned poems. Zang Dun failed to compose a poem and was fined one dipper of wine. Dun drank it all; his color did not change and he spoke and laughed as usual. Jie took up the brush and finished at once, the text needing no correction. The emperor praised both: "Zang Dun's drinking and Xiao Jie's writing — the beauty of the moment. At seventy-three he died at home.
42
第三子允字叔佐，少知名。 風神凝遠，通達有識鑒，容止醞藉。 仕梁位太子洗馬。 侯景攻陷台城，百僚奔散，允獨整衣冠坐于宮坊，景軍敬焉，弗之逼也。 尋出居京口。 時寇賊縱橫，百姓波駭，允獨不行。 人問其故，允曰：「性命自有常分，豈可逃而免乎。 方今百姓，爭欲奮臂而論大功，何事于一書生哉。 莊周所謂畏影避跡，吾弗為也。」 乃閉門靜處，並日而食，卒免於患。
His third son Yun, courtesy name Shuzuo, was known from youth. His spirit was concentrated and far-reaching; he was penetrating and discerning; his bearing was refined and restrained. Under Liang he served as groom of the heir apparent. When Hou Jing took Taicheng the hundred officials fled; Yun alone straightened cap and robe and sat in the palace ward; Jing's troops respected him and did not press him. Soon after he went out to live at Jingkou. When bandits ran wild and the people panicked, Yun alone did not flee. When men asked why, Yun said, "Life and fate have their fixed portion — how can one flee to escape? Now the common people all wish to raise their arms and talk of great merit — what matter is one bookish man? What Zhuang Zhou called fearing one's shadow and avoiding one's footprints — I will not do that. He shut his door and lived quietly, eating once every other day, and in the end escaped harm.
43
允性敦重，未嘗以榮利幹懷。 及晉安出鎮湘州，又苦攜允。 允少與蔡景曆善，子征修父党之敬，聞允將行，乃詣允曰：「公年德並高，國之元老，從容坐鎮，旦夕自為列曹，何為方辛苦蕃外。」 答曰：「已許晉安，豈可忘信。」 其恬榮勢如此。
Yun by nature was solid and grave and never let profit or honor touch his heart. When Prince Jin'an went out to govern Xiang Province he again pressed Yun to accompany him. Yun had been friendly with Cai Jingli from youth; Zheng's son Zhengxiu showed a father's friend's respect; hearing Yun was to go, he came and said, "Sir, your years and virtue are both high — the state's elder; to sit at ease in command you would be among the chief ministers morning and evening; why go out in hardship to the frontier? He answered, "I have already promised Jin'an — how can I break faith? Such was his indifference to glory and power.
44
至德中，鄱陽王出鎮會稽，允又為長史，帶會稽郡丞。 行經延陵季子廟，設蘋藻之薦，托異代之交，為詩以敘意，辭理清典。 後主嘗問蔡征，允之為人，征曰：「其清虛玄遠，殆不可測； 至於文章，可得而言。」 因誦允詩以對。 後主嗟賞久之。 尋拜光祿大夫。
In Zhide Prince Poyang went out to govern Kuaiji; Yun again served as chief administrator and concurrently as assistant administrator of Kuaiji. Passing the temple of Master Ji of Yanling he set out offerings of duckweed and algae and, invoking friendship across ages, composed a poem to express his intent — the wording clear and classical. The Later Lord once asked Cai Zheng about Yun's character; Zheng said, "His clarity and remoteness are perhaps beyond measure; as for his writing, one may speak of it. He then recited Yun's poem in reply. The Later Lord sighed in admiration for a long time. Soon after he was appointed Grand Master of Splendid Happiness.
45
及隋師濟江，允遷于關右。 時南士至長安者，例皆授官，允與尚書僕射謝伷辭以老疾。 隋文帝義之，並厚賜帛。 尋卒，年八十四。
When the Sui army crossed the river Yun moved to the lands west of the Pass. At that time southerners who reached Chang'an were by rule all given office; Yun and Vice Minister of the Left Xie You pleaded old age and illness. Emperor Wen of Sui approved their righteousness and richly bestowed silk on both. Soon after he died, aged eighty-four.
46
弟引字叔休，方正有器度，性聰敏，博學善屬文。 仕梁位西昌侯儀同府主簿。
His younger brother Yin, courtesy name Shuxiu, was upright with capacity; clever by nature, he learned widely and wrote well. Under Liang he served as master of records in the Marquis of Xichang's household with rank equal to the Three Lords.
47
侯景之亂，梁元帝為荊州刺史，朝士多歸之。 引曰：「諸王力爭，禍患方始，今日逃難，未是擇君之秋。 吾家再世為始興郡，遺愛在人，政可南行以存家門耳。」 乃與弟肜及宗親等百餘人南奔嶺表。 時始興人歐陽頠為衡州刺史，乃往依焉。
In Hou Jing's rebellion Emperor Yuan of Liang was governor of Jing Province and court officials mostly went to him. Yin said, "The princes are contending and disaster is just beginning; to flee now is not the season for choosing a lord. Our house has governed Shixing for two generations; kindness left with the people remains; we may rightly go south to preserve the family gate. He then fled south beyond the ranges with his younger brother Rong and more than a hundred kin. At that time Ouyang Yu of Shixing was governor of Heng Province; they went to rely on him.
48
頠遷廣州病死，子紇領其眾，引疑紇異圖，因事規正，由是情禮漸疏。 及紇反，時都下士人岑之敬、公孫挺等並惶駭，唯引怡然，謂之敬等曰：「管幼安、袁曜卿亦但安坐耳。 君子正身以明道，直己以行義，亦何憂乎。」 及章昭達平番禺，引始北還，拜尚書金部侍郎。
Yu was transferred to Guang Province and died on the road; his son He led the host; Yin suspected He's divergent intent and, by correcting affairs, drew gradually apart in feeling and courtesy. When He rebelled, capital scholars such as Cen Zhijing and Gongsun Ting were terrified; only Yin was at ease and told them, "Guan You'an and Yuan Yaoging also simply sat at ease. The gentleman rectifies himself to make the Way clear and straightens himself to act with righteousness — why worry? When Zhang Zhaoda pacified Panyu Yin at last returned north and was appointed gentleman of the gold department of the ministry of revenue.
49
引善隸書，為當時所重，宣帝嘗披奏事，指引署名曰：「此字筆趣翩翩，似鳥之欲飛。」 引謝曰：「此乃陛下假其毛羽耳。」 帝又謂引曰：「我每有所忿，見卿輒意解，何也？」 引曰：「此自陛下不遷怒，臣何預此恩。」
Yin wrote clerical script well and was valued in his time; Emperor Xuan, reading memorials, pointed to Yin's signature and said, "This script's brush-intent is light and soaring, like a bird about to fly. Yin thanked him, "This is simply Your Majesty lending it feathers. The emperor also said to Yin, "Whenever I am angry, seeing you my mind clears — why? Yin said, "That is simply Your Majesty not shifting anger — how could your servant share in this grace?"
50
引性抗直，不事權貴，宣帝每欲遷用，輒為用事者所裁。 及呂梁覆師，戎儲空匱，轉引為庫部侍郎，掌知營造。 引在職一年，而器械充足。 曆中書，黃門，吏部侍郎。 廣州刺史馬靖甚得嶺表人心，而甲兵精練，每年深入俚洞，數有戰功，朝野頗生異議。 宣帝以引悉嶺外物情，且遣引觀靖，審其舉措，諷令送質。 及至，靖即悟旨，遣兒弟為質。
Yin by nature was upright and did not serve the powerful; whenever the emperor wished to promote him, those in power cut it short. When the Lüliang army was destroyed and military stores were empty, Yin was transferred to gentleman of the storehouse department and put in charge of construction. Yin held the post one year and equipment was ample. He served successively at the secretariat, Yellow Gate, and as gentleman of the ministry of personnel. Guang inspector Ma Jing won hearts beyond the ranges; his armor and troops were well trained; each year he penetrated deep into the Li caves and often won battles; court and realm both grew suspicious. Emperor Xuan, because Yin knew conditions beyond the ranges well, also sent Yin to observe Jing and judge his conduct, hinting that he should send hostages. When he arrived Jing at once understood the intent and sent his younger brothers as hostages.
51
琛少明悟，有才辯。 數歲時，從伯惠開見而奇之，撫其背曰：「必興吾宗。」 起家齊太學博士。 時王儉當朝，琛年少，未為儉所識。 負其才氣，候儉宴于樂遊，乃著虎皮靴，策桃枝杖，直造儉坐。 儉與語大悅。 儉時為丹陽尹，辟為主簿。
Chen from youth was bright and perceptive, with talent in debate. When only a few years old his uncle Huikai saw him and marveled; stroking his back he said, "You will surely raise our clan. He began his career as doctor of the grand learning of Qi. At that time Wang Jian held the court; Chen was young and had not yet been noticed by Jian. Trusting his talent and spirit, he waited for Jian's banquet at Leyou, then wore tiger-skin boots, grasped a peach-branch staff, and went straight to Jian's seat. Jian spoke with him and was greatly pleased. Jian was then magistrate of Danyang and summoned him as master of records.
52
永明九年，魏始通好，琛再銜命北使，還為通直散騎侍郎。 時魏遣李彪來使，齊武帝燕之。 琛於御筵舉酒勸彪，彪不受，曰：「公庭無私禮，不容受勸。」 琛答曰：「詩所謂'雨我公田，遂及我私'。」 坐者皆悅服，彪乃受琛酒。
In Yongming's ninth year Wei first opened friendly relations; Chen twice carried orders as envoy north and on return was regular attendant and general of unimpeded cavalry. At that time Wei sent Li Biao as envoy; Emperor Wu of Qi feasted him. At the imperial banquet Chen raised wine to urge Biao; Biao did not accept and said, "In the public hall there is no private courtesy — I cannot accept urging. Chen answered, "The Odes say, 'Rain on our public field, and reaches our private field.' Those seated were all pleased and submitted; Biao then accepted Chen's wine.
53
累遷尚書左丞。 時齊明帝用法嚴峻，尚書郎坐杖罰者皆即科行，琛乃密啟曰：「郎有杖起自後漢，爾時郎官位卑，親主文案，與令史不異。 故郎三十五人，令史二十人，是以古人多恥為此職。 自魏、晉以來，郎官稍重。 今方參用高華，吏部又近於通貴，不應官高昔品，而罰遵曩科。 所以從來彈舉，雖在空文，而許以推遷。 或逢赦恩，或入春令，便得息停。 宋元嘉、大明中，經有被罰者，別由犯忤主心，非關常准。 自泰始、建元以來，未經施行，事廢已久，人情未習。 自奉敕之後，已行倉部郎江重欣杖督五十，皆無不人懷慚懼。 兼有子弟成長，彌復難為儀適。 其應行罰，可特賜輸贖，使與令史有異，以彰優緩之澤。」 帝納之。 自是應受罰者，依舊不行。
Promoted repeatedly to left assistant minister of the secretariat. At that time Emperor Ming of Qi used the law with harsh severity; secretariat gentlemen who sat for beating were immediately punished; Chen then secretly memorialized, "Beating of gentlemen began in Later Han, when the gentleman's post was low and he personally handled documents, no different from a clerk. Thus there were thirty-five gentlemen and twenty clerks — therefore men of old often felt shame at this office. From Wei and Jin onward the gentleman's post grew somewhat weightier. Now high and splendid men are jointly employed and the ministry of personnel is again close to passing nobility — one should not keep high office with old rank and punish by former statute. Therefore impeachments from the past, though empty in text, were allowed deferral of transfer. Sometimes on meeting amnesty, sometimes entering spring ordinance, punishment would cease. In Yuanjia and Daming of Song there were those beaten, but that was for offending the ruler's heart, not the usual standard. From Taishi and Jianyuan onward it had not been applied; the practice had long ceased and men's hearts were unaccustomed. Since receiving the edict, treasury department gentleman Jiang Chongxin had already been beaten fifty strokes — all without exception felt shame and fear. Moreover sons and younger brothers have grown up — it is all the harder for proper bearing. Those who should be punished may specially be allowed ransom by payment, so they differ from clerks and the grace of leniency is shown. The emperor accepted this. From this those who should be beaten were as before not beaten.
54
東昏初嗣立，時議無廟見文。 琛議據周頌烈文、閔予，皆為即位朝廟之典。 於是從之。
When Eastern Depravity first succeeded, discussion lacked the text for temple audience on accession. Chen argued from the Zhou Odes Lie Wen and Min Yu, both being canons for accession audience at the ancestral temple. They therefore followed this.
55
梁武在西邸，與琛有舊。 梁台建，以為御史中丞。 天監九年，累遷平西長史、江夏太守。
Emperor Wu of Liang, while in the Western Residence, had old ties with Chen. When the Liang regime was established he was made imperial censor. In Tianjian's ninth year he was promoted repeatedly to chief administrator of Pacifying the West and administrator of Jiangxia.
56
始琛為宣城太守，有北僧南度，唯齎一瓠蘆，中有漢書序傳。 僧云：「三輔舊老相傳，以為班固真本。」 琛固求得之，其書多有異今者，而紙墨亦古，文字多如龍舉之例，非隸非篆。 琛甚秘之。 及是以書餉鄱陽王范，獻於東宮。
At first when Chen was administrator of Xuancheng a northern monk came south carrying only a gourd, inside which was the Han Shu narrative biography. The monk said, "Old men of the three metropolitan regions transmit that this is Ban Gu's authentic original. Chen firmly sought to obtain it; the book differed in many places from the present version, and the paper and ink were also old; the characters were often like the pattern of a dragon rising — neither clerical nor seal. Chen kept it very secret. For this he presented the book to Prince Poyang Fan and offered it to the Eastern Palace.
57
後為吳興太守，郡有項羽廟，土人名為「憤王」，甚有靈驗，遂於郡聽事安床幕為神座，公私請禱。 前後二千石皆於聽拜祠，以軛下牛充祭而避居他室。 琛至，著履登聽事，聞室中有叱聲。 琛厲色曰：「生不能與漢祖爭中原，死據此聽事，何也？」 因遷之於廟。 又禁殺牛解祀，以脯代肉。 琛頻蒞大郡，不事產業，有闕則取，不以為嫌。 曆左戶、度支二尚書，侍中。
Later as administrator of Wuxing, in the commandery was a temple to Xiang Yu; the locals called him Indignant King — it was very efficacious; he set bed and curtain in the commandery hall as a spirit seat, and public and private alike prayed there. Former and later administrators all worshipped in the hall, using oxen from under the yoke for sacrifice and moving to other quarters to avoid it. When Chen arrived he wore shoes and ascended the hall; he heard a shout from within the room. Chen sternly said, "Alive you could not contend with the Han Founder for the Central Plains — dead you occupy this hall, why? He then moved the spirit to the temple. He also forbade killing oxen for sacrifice and used dried meat instead of fresh. Chen repeatedly governed great commanderies and did not pursue estates; when there was shortage he took — he did not consider it shameful. He served successively as minister of the left household, minister of revenue, and attendant-in-ordinary.
58
帝每朝燕，接琛以舊恩。 嘗犯武帝偏諱，帝斂容。 琛從容曰：「二名不偏諱。 陛下不應諱順。」 上曰：「各有家風。」 琛曰：「其如禮何。」 又經預御筵醉伏，上以棗投琛，琛仍取栗擲上，正中面。 御史中丞在坐，帝動色曰：「此中有人，不得如此，豈有說邪？」 琛即答曰：「陛下投臣以赤心，臣敢不報以戰慄。」 上笑悅。 上每呼琛為宗老，琛亦奉陳昔恩，以「早簉中陽，夙忝同閈，雖迷興運，猶荷洪慈」。 上答曰：「雖云早契闊，乃自非同志。 勿談興運初，且道狂奴異。」
Whenever the emperor held morning feast Chen was received for old favor. Once he violated the emperor's partial taboo; the emperor composed his face. Chen calmly said, "The two names are not both tabooed. Your Majesty should not taboo Shun. The emperor said, "Each house has its own custom. Chen said, "But what of ritual? Again at an imperial banquet he drank himself drunk and collapsed; the emperor threw jujubes at Chen; Chen took chestnuts and threw back, hitting him square in the face. The imperial censor was seated; the emperor changed color and said, "There are people here — you cannot do this; is there no explanation? Chen at once answered, "Your Majesty threw your servant a loyal heart; your servant dares not reply except with trembling. The emperor laughed and was pleased. The emperor often called Chen "Clan Elder"; Chen also offered past favor, saying, "Early we shared Zhongyang, long I have owed the same gate — though I missed the rise of fortune, I still bear great kindness. The emperor answered, "Though we parted early, we were never of one mind. Do not speak of the fortune's beginning — speak rather of the mad slave's strangeness."
59
琛常言：「少壯三好：音律、書、酒。 年長以來，二事都廢； 唯書籍不衰。」 而琛性通脫，常自解灶，事畢餘餕，必陶然致醉。 位特進、金紫光祿大夫。 卒，遺令諸子：「與妻同墳異藏，祭以蔬菜。 葬止車十乘，事存率素。」 乘輿臨哭甚哀，諡曰平子。 琛所撰漢書文府、齊梁拾遺，並諸文集，數十萬言。
Chen often said, "In youth I had three loves: music, books, and wine. As the years grew, two were abandoned; only books did not decline. Yet Chen by nature was free and open; he often cooked for himself; when the task was done and leftovers remained he would always grow pleasantly drunk. His rank was Special Advancement and Grand Master of the Gold Seal and Purple Ribbon. When he died he left orders to his sons, "Share a tomb with your mother but separate burial; sacrifice with vegetables only. The funeral should use no more than ten carriages; keep affairs plainly simple. The imperial carriage came to mourn very sorrowfully; posthumous title was Pingzi. Chen's Han Shu Literary Repository, Qi-Liang gleanings, and various collected writings amounted to several hundred thousand words.
60
子遊，位少府卿。 遊子密字士幾，幼聰敏，博學有文詞。 位黃門郎，太子中庶子，散騎常侍。
His son You held the post of director of the palace storehouse. You's son Mi, courtesy name Shiji, was clever and perceptive from infancy, learned widely with literary skill. His posts were gentleman at the Yellow Gate, junior mentor of the heir apparent, and regular attendant.
61
臧燾字德仁，東莞莒人，宋武敬皇后兄也。 少好學，善三禮，貧約自立，操行為鄉里所稱。 晉太元中，衛將軍謝安始立國學，徐、兗二州刺史謝玄舉燾為助教。 晉孝武帝追崇庶祖母宣太后，議者或謂宜配食中宗。 燾議曰：「陽秋之義，母以子貴，故仲子、成風咸稱夫人。 經言考仲子宮，若配食惠廟，則宮無緣別築。 前漢孝文孝昭太后並系子為號，祭於寢園，不配于高祖、孝武之廟。 後漢和帝之母曰恭懷皇后，安帝祖母曰敬隱皇后，順帝之母曰恭湣皇后，雖不系子為號，亦祭於陵寢，不配章、安二帝。 此則二漢雖有太后皇后之異，至於並不配食，義同陽秋。 唯光武追廢呂後，故以薄後配高廟。 又衛後既廢，霍光追尊李夫人為皇后，配孝武廟。 此非母以子貴之例，直以高、武二廟無配故耳。 又漢世立寢於陵，自是晉制所異。 謂宜遠准陽秋考宮之義，近慕二漢不配之典。 尊號既正，則罔極之情申，別建寢廟，則嚴禰之義顯。 系子為稱，兼明母貴之所由。 一舉而允三義，固哲王之高致也。」 議者從之。
Zang Dao, courtesy name Deren, came from Ju in Dongguan and was the elder brother of Empress Jing of Song Wu. From youth he loved learning and was skilled in the Three Rites; poor and self-restrained, his conduct was praised in his village. In Jin's Taiyuan era, General of the Guard Xie An first established the National University; Xu and Yan inspectors Xie Xuan recommended Dao as assistant instructor. Emperor Xiaowu of Jin posthumously honored his common grandmother Empress Dowager Xuan; some debaters held she should share sacrifice with Emperor Zhongzong. Dao argued, "The meaning of the Spring and Autumn is that the mother is honored through the son; therefore Zhongzi and Chengfeng are both called lady. The classic speaks of examining Zhongzi's palace — if she shared sacrifice at Hui's temple, the palace would have no reason to be built separately. Former Han's empress dowagers Xiaowen and Xiaozhao both took their titles from their sons and were sacrificed in the tomb park, not sharing the temples of Gaozu and Xiaowu. Later Han's empress dowager Gonghuai of Emperor He, empress dowager Jingyin grandmother of Emperor An, and empress dowager Gongmin mother of Emperor Shun, though not taking titles from their sons, were also sacrificed at tomb parks, not sharing with Emperors Zhang and An. Thus though Later and Former Han differ in whether empress dowager or empress, as to not sharing sacrifice the meaning matches the Spring and Autumn. Only Guangwu posthumously deposed Empress Lü, therefore Empress Bo shared Gaozu's temple. Again when Empress Wei was deposed, Huo Guang posthumously honored Lady Li as empress and she shared Emperor Xiaowu's temple. This is not the case of the mother honored through the son — it is simply because Gaozu's and Xiaowu's temples had no consort. Again Han established tomb chambers at the mausoleum — this differs from Jin institutions. I hold that one should follow afar the Spring and Autumn meaning of examining the palace, and near emulate the two Han canon of not sharing sacrifice. Once the honored title is correct, boundless feeling is expressed; building a separate tomb-chamber temple then shows the meaning of honoring the near ancestors. Taking the title from the son also clarifies whence the mother's honor comes. One act satisfies three meanings — truly the lofty aim of a sage king. The debaters followed this.
62
頃之去官，以父母老家貧，與弟熹俱棄人事，躬耕自業，約己養親者十餘年。 父母喪亡，居喪六年，以毀瘠著稱。
Soon after he left office; because his parents were old and the family poor, he and his younger brother Xi together abandoned worldly affairs, plowed for themselves, restrained themselves and nourished their parents for more than ten years. When his parents died he observed mourning six years and was famed for grief-wasting.
63
宋武帝義旗建，參右將軍何無忌軍事，隨府轉鎮南參軍。 武帝鎮京口，參帝中軍軍事，入補尚書度支郎，改掌祠部，襲封高陵亭侯。
When Emperor Wu of Song raised the banner of righteousness he joined Right General He Wuji's staff and followed the headquarters to staff officer of Pacifying the South. When the emperor garrisoned Jingkou he joined the central army staff, entered to fill the post of gentleman of the revenue department, changed to control the sacrifices department, and inherited the enfeoffment marquis of Gaoling district.
64
時太廟鴟尾災，燾謂著作郎徐廣曰：「昔孔子在齊聞魯廟災，曰必桓、僖也。 今征西、京兆四府君宜在毀落，而猶列廟饗，此其征乎。」 乃上議曰：
At that time the imperial temple's owl-tail finial burned; Dao told compiler Xu Guang, "Formerly when Confucius was in Qi and heard of the Lu temple's disaster he said it must be Huan and Xi. Now the four lords of Pacifying the West and Jingzhao should be in the falling line and yet still stand in the temple sacrifices — is this not the sign? He then submitted upstream a memorial saying:
65
臣聞「國之大事，在祀與戎」。 將營宮室，宗廟為首。 古先哲王莫不致肅恭之誠心，盡崇嚴乎祖考，然後能流淳化于四海，通幽感於神明，固宜詳廢興於古典，循情禮以求中者也。
Your servant has heard, "The state's great affairs are sacrifice and war." When planning palace chambers, the ancestral temple comes first. Ancient sage kings all showed reverent sincerity and utmost honor toward ancestors and fathers, and only then could pure transformation flow through the four seas and hidden feeling reach the spirits — one should indeed examine abolition and establishment in ancient canon and seek the mean through feeling and ritual.
66
禮，天子七廟，三昭三穆與太祖而七。 自考廟以至祖考五廟，皆月祭之。 遠廟為祧，有二祧，享嘗乃止。 去祧為壇，去壇為墠，有禱然後祭之，此宗廟之次、親疏之序也。 鄭玄以為祧者文王武王之廟，王肅以為五世六世之祖。 尋去祧之言，則祧非文、武之廟矣。 文、武，周之祖宗，何雲去祧為壇乎？ 明遠廟為祧者，無服之祖也。 又遠廟則有享嘗之降，去祧則有壇墠之殊，明世遠者其義彌疏也。 若祧是文、武之廟，宜同月祭于太祖，雖推後稷以配天，由功德之所始，非尊崇之義每有差降也。 又禮有以多為貴者，故傳稱「德厚者流光，德薄者流卑「。 又言自上以下降殺以兩，禮也。 此則尊卑等級之典，上下殊異之文。 而雲天子諸侯俱祭五廟，何哉？ 又王祭嫡殤，下及來孫。 而上祀之禮不過高祖。 推隆恩於下流，替誠敬於尊廟，亦非聖人制禮之意也。 是以泰始建廟，從王氏議，以禮父為士，子為天子諸侯，祭以天子諸侯，其屍服以士服。 故上及征西，以備六世之數。 宣皇雖為太祖，尚在子孫之位，至於殷祭之日，未申東向之禮，所謂子雖齊聖，不先父食者矣。 今京兆以上既遷，太祖始得居正，議者以昭穆未足，欲屈太祖于卑坐，臣以為非禮典之旨也。 所謂與太祖而七，自是昭穆既足，太廟在六世之外，非為須滿七廟乃得居太祖也。
Ritual: the Son of Heaven has seven temples — three zhao three mu with the Grand Ancestor making seven. From the temple of self-examination to the five temples of ancestors and fathers, all receive monthly sacrifice. The distant temple becomes tiao; there are two tiao; offering and tasting then cease. Beyond tiao is the altar; beyond the altar is the open ground; when there is prayer then sacrifice is made — this is the order of ancestral temples and the sequence of near and far. Zheng Xuan held that tiao were the temples of King Wen and King Wu; Wang Su held they were ancestors of the fifth and sixth generations. Examining the words "beyond tiao," then tiao are not the temples of Wen and Wu. Wen and Wu were Zhou's ancestors — how can one speak of beyond tiao as altar? Clearly the distant temple that becomes tiao is the ancestor beyond mourning. Again for distant temples there is the descent of offering and tasting; beyond tiao there is the difference of altar and open ground — clearly the more distant the generation the more sparse the meaning. If tiao were the temples of Wen and Wu they should like the Grand Ancestor receive monthly sacrifice; though Houji is elevated to match Heaven, that is from the beginning of merit, not that the meaning of honor has difference and descent each time. Again ritual has what values the many; therefore tradition says, "Thick virtue shines far; thin virtue flows low. Again it says from above to below reduction by twos — that is ritual. This is the canon of honor and lowliness, the text of difference above and below. Yet it says Son of Heaven and feudal lords alike sacrifice at five temples — why? Again the king sacrifices for legitimate early-dead sons, extending down to coming generations. Yet sacrifice by superiors does not exceed the High Ancestor. Pushing honor down the stream while replacing sincere reverence at the honored temple — this too is not the sage's intent in making ritual. Therefore when Taishi established the temple they followed the Wang clan's argument: by ritual the father is a knight and the son Son of Heaven or feudal lord, yet sacrifice uses Son of Heaven and feudal lord while the corpse's garment uses knight's garment. Thus upstream to Pacifying the West, to complete the number of six generations. Emperor Xuan though Grand Ancestor was still in the place of descendants; on the day of the great offering he had not yet received the east-facing rite — what is called though the son equals sainthood he does not eat before the father. Now that Jingzhao and above have moved, the Grand Ancestor at last occupies the correct place; debaters, because zhao and mu are not full, wish to bend the Grand Ancestor to the low seat — your servant holds this is not the intent of ritual canon. What is called "with the Grand Ancestor making seven" is itself that zhao and mu are already full and the Grand Temple lies outside the six generations — not that one must fill seven temples before the Grand Ancestor may occupy that place.
67
議者又以四府君神主，宜永同于殷祫。 臣又以為不然。 傳所謂毀廟之主，陳乎太祖，謂太祖以下先君之主也。 故白虎通云：「禘祫祭遷廟者，以其繼君之體，持其統而不絕也。」 豈如四府君在太祖之前乎，非繼統之主，無靈命之瑞，非王業之基。 昔以世近而及，今則情禮已遠，而當長饗殷祫，永虛太祖之位，求之禮籍。 未見其可。 昔永和之初，大議斯禮，于時虞喜、范宣並以洪儒碩學，咸謂四府君神主無緣永存於百世。 或欲瘞之兩階，或欲藏之石室，或欲為之改築，雖所執小異，而大歸是同。 若宣皇既居群廟之上，而四主禘祫不已，則大晉殷祭長無太祖之位矣。 夫理貴有中，不必過厚，禮與世遷，豈可順而不斷？ 故臣子之情雖篤，而靈、厲之諡彌彰，追遠之懷雖切，而遷毀之禮為用。 豈不有心于加厚，顧禮制不可踰耳。 石室則藏於廟北，改築則未知所處。 虞主所以依神，神移則有瘞埋之禮。 四主若饗祀宜廢，亦神之所不依也。 准傍事例，宜同虞主之瘞埋。 然經典難詳，群言錯繆，非臣淺識所能折中。 時學者多從燾議，竟未施行。
Debaters also held the spirit tablets of the four lords should forever share the great offering like the yin sacrifice. Your servant again holds this is not so. Tradition speaks of the destroyed temple's tablet displayed before the Grand Ancestor — meaning the tablets of former lords below the Grand Ancestor. Therefore the Baihu Tong says, "The di and ha sacrifices move destroyed temples because they continue the lord's body and hold the line without breaking. How could the four lords be before the Grand Ancestor? They are not lords who continue the line, have no auspicious mandate, are not the foundation of royal enterprise. Formerly because the generation was near they were included; now feeling and ritual are already far — yet they should long enjoy the great yin offering and forever leave the Grand Ancestor's place empty; seeking this in ritual texts — one does not see that it may be done. Formerly at the beginning of Yonghe there was great debate on this ritual; at that time Yu Xi and Fan Xuan, both great Confucian scholars, all held the four lords' spirit tablets had no reason to remain forever for a hundred generations. Some wished to bury them at the two steps, some to store them in a stone chamber, some to rebuild for them — though what they held differed in small ways the great direction was the same. If Emperor Xuan already stands above the group of temples and the four lords' di and ha offerings never cease, then Great Jin's great yin sacrifice would forever lack the Grand Ancestor's place. Principle values the mean — one need not exceed in thickness; ritual moves with the age — how can one follow without deciding? Thus though ministers' and sons' feeling is deep, the posthumous titles of Ling and Li grow ever clearer; though longing for the distant is keen, the ritual of transfer and destruction is what applies. Is it not that the heart wishes to add thickness but ritual system cannot be overstepped? Stone chamber means storing north of the temple; rebuilding means not knowing where to place them. The yu tablet exists to rely on the spirit; when the spirit moves there is the ritual of burial. If the four lords' offering sacrifice should be abolished, that too is what the spirit does not rely on. Following parallel cases one should like the yu tablet's burial. Yet the classics are hard to detail and many words err — this is not what your servant's shallow understanding can reconcile. At that time most scholars followed Dao's argument; in the end it was not implemented.
68
宋武帝受命，拜太常。 雖外戚貴顯，而彌自沖約。 茅屋蔬飧，不改其舊。 所得奉祿，與親戚共之。 永初三年致事，拜光祿大夫，加金章紫綬。 卒，少帝贈左光祿大夫。
When Emperor Wu of Song received the Mandate he was appointed Grand Master of Ceremonies. Though an honored imperial in-law he was all the more self-restrained and modest. Thatched hut and vegetable meal — he did not change the old ways. The salary he received he shared with kin. In Yongchu's third year he retired from affairs and was appointed Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with gold seal and purple ribbon added. When he died Emperor Shao posthumously gave him Left Grand Master of Splendid Happiness.
69
長子邃，宜都太守。 邃子凝之，學涉有當世才，與司空徐湛之為異常交。 年少時，與傅僧佑俱以通家子，始為文帝所引見。 時上與何尚之論鑄錢事，凝之便幹其語次，上因回與語。 僧佑引凝之衣令止，凝之大言曰：「明主難再遇，便應政盡所懷。」 上與往復十餘反，凝之辭韻詮序，上甚賞焉。 後為尚書左丞，以徐湛之党，為元凶所殺。 凝之子寅字士若，事在沈攸之傳。 寅弟棱，後軍參軍。 棱子嚴。
His eldest son Sui was administrator of Yidu. Sui's son Ningzhi, learned and with talent for the age, had an unusual friendship with Minister of Works Xu Zhanzhi. In youth he and Fu Sengyou, both sons of connected houses, were first received in audience by Emperor Wen. At that time the emperor was discussing coinage with He Shangzhi; Ningzhi inserted himself into the thread of his words; the emperor therefore turned and spoke with him. Sengyou pulled Ningzhi's robe to make him stop; Ningzhi spoke loudly, "A bright lord is hard to meet twice — one should at once exhaust what is in the breast. The emperor went back and forth more than ten exchanges; Ningzhi's wording and tone were orderly and complete; the emperor greatly admired him. Later he was left assistant minister of the secretariat; as a member of Xu Zhanzhi's faction he was killed by the crown prince. Ningzhi's son Yin, courtesy name Shiruo — his affairs are in the biography of Shen Youzhi. Yin's younger brother Leng served as staff officer to the rear army. Leng's son Yan.
70
嚴字彥威，幼有孝性，居父憂以毀聞。 孤貧勤學，行止書卷不離手。 從叔未甄為江夏郡，攜嚴之官，於途作屯遊賦，又作七算，辭並典麗。
Yan, courtesy name Yanwei, had filial nature from youth; in mourning for his father he was famed for grief-wasting. Orphaned and poor he studied diligently; going and stopping he never left books from his hand. His father's younger cousin Wei Zhen was in Jiangxia commandery and took Yan to office; on the road he composed the Fu of Encampment Travel and also the Seven Calculations — both texts classical and elegant.
71
性孤介，未嘗造請。 梁僕射徐勉欲識之，嚴終不詣。 累遷湘東王宣惠輕車府參軍兼記室。 嚴於學多所諳記，尤精漢書，諷誦略皆上口。 王嘗自執四部書目試之，嚴自甲至丁卷中各對一事，並作者姓名，遂無遺失。 王遷荊州，隨府轉西中郎安西錄事參軍，曆義陽、武寧郡守。 郡界蠻左，前郡守常選武人以兵鎮之，嚴獨以數門生單車入境，群蠻悅服。 後卒于鎮南諮議參軍。 文集十卷。
By nature solitary and upright, he never made calls on others. Vice Minister of Works Xu Mian wished to know him; Yan in the end never went to him. Promoted repeatedly to staff officer of the light chariot office under Prince Xuanhui of Eastern Xiang and concurrent recorder. Yan in learning knew much by heart and especially mastered the Han Shu; reciting it he could mostly speak it from memory. The prince once himself held the catalogue of the four sections to test him; from scroll A to D Yan answered one item in each about the author — none was missed. When the prince moved to Jing Province Yan followed the headquarters to western central administrator and recorder of the Pacifying West, and served successively as administrator of Yiyang and Wuning. Within the commandery were Man on the left; former administrators always chose martial men with troops to garrison them; Yan alone with a few disciples and a single cart entered the territory and the Man tribes submitted gladly. Later he died as consultant of Pacifying the South. Collected writings in ten scrolls.
72
嚴族叔未甄，燾曾孫也。 父潭之，左戶尚書。 未甄有才幹，少為外兄汝南周顒所知，仕梁為太尉長史。 丁所生母憂，三年廬於墓側。 曆廷尉卿，江夏太守，卒。 子盾。
Yan's clan uncle Wei Zhen was Dao's great-grandson. His father Tanzhi was minister of the left household. Wei Zhen had talent and ability; in youth he was known to his maternal uncle Zhou Yong of Runan; serving Liang he was chief secretary to the grand commandant. On the death of the mother who bore him he observed mourning three years in a hut at the tomb side. He served successively as director of punishments and administrator of Jiangxia, then died. His son Dun.
73
盾字宣卿，幼從征士琅邪諸葛璩受五經。 璩學徒常有數十百人，盾處其間，無所狎比。 璩曰：「此生王佐才也。」 為尚書中兵郎。 美風姿，善容止，每趨奏，梁武帝甚悅焉。 入兼中書通事舍人。
Dun, courtesy name Xuanqing, in youth followed the recluse Zhuge Ju of Langye in the Five Classics. Ju's disciples often numbered several tens or hundreds; Dun among them was intimate with none. Ju said, "This student has the talent of a king's assistant. He served as gentleman of the central army section of the ministry of revenue. Fine in bearing and graceful in deportment, each time he hurried to audience Emperor Wu of Liang was very pleased. He entered concurrently as secretariat gentleman for current affairs.
74
盾有孝性，嘗隨父宿直廷尉府，母劉氏在宅夜暴亡，盾左手中指忽痛不得寢。 及旦，宅信果報凶問，其感通如此。 服未終，父卒，居喪五年，不出廬戶，形骸枯悴，家人不識。 武帝累敕抑譬。 後累遷御史中丞，性公強，甚稱職。 中大通五年，帝幸同泰寺開講，設四部大會，眾數萬人。 南越所獻馴象忽於眾中狂逸，眾皆駭散，唯盾與散騎侍郎裴之禮嶷然自若，帝甚嘉焉。
Dun had filial nature; once he followed his father on overnight duty at the directorate of punishments; his mother Liu at home suddenly died at night; Dun's middle finger on his left hand suddenly ached and he could not sleep. At dawn a messenger from home indeed brought word of death — such was his spiritual connection. Before mourning ended his father died; he observed mourning five years without leaving the hut gate; his form withered until kin did not recognize him. Emperor Wu repeatedly sent edicts to restrain and comfort him. Later promoted repeatedly to imperial censor; by nature fair and strong, he was very fit for the office. In Zhongdatong's fifth year the emperor visited Tongtai Temple to open lectures and set the four-section great assembly; the crowd numbered tens of thousands. A tame elephant presented by Southern Yue suddenly ran wild among the crowd; all were terrified and scattered; only Dun and regular attendant Pei Zhili stood firm and calm; the emperor greatly praised this.
75
大同二年，為中領軍。 領軍管天下兵要，監局事多，盾為人敏贍，有風力，長於撥繁，職事甚理。 先是吳平侯蕭景居此職著聲，至是盾復繼之。 後卒于領軍將軍，諡曰忠。
In Datong's second year he was central army commander. The central army controlled the empire's military keys; supervisory office affairs were many; Dun as a man was quick and capable with force of character, skilled at untangling complexity — office affairs were very well ordered. Earlier Marquis of Wu Ping Xiao Jing had held this post with renown; now Dun again followed him. Later he died as general who commands the army; posthumous title Zhong.
76
盾弟厥字獻卿，亦以幹局稱。 為晉安太守，郡居山海，常結聚逋逃，前二千石討捕不能止。 厥下車宣化，凶黨皆繈負而出，自是居人復業。 然政嚴，百姓謂之臧彪。 前後再兼中書通事舍人，卒于兼司農卿。
Dun's younger brother Jue, courtesy name Xianqing, was also famed for administrative capacity. As administrator of Jin'an the commandery lay among mountains and sea and often harbored fugitives; former administrators could not stop them by pursuit. When Jue took office he proclaimed transformation; the violent bands all came out carrying children on their backs, and thereafter the residents returned to their occupations. Yet his governance was strict; the people called him Zang Biao. Before and after he twice served concurrently as secretariat gentleman for current affairs and died as concurrent director of the imperial granaries.
77
厥前後居職，所掌之局大事及蘭台廷尉所不能決者，敕並付厥。 辯斷精明，咸得其理。 卒後，有撾登聞鼓訴求付清直舍人，帝曰：「臧厥既亡，此事便無所付。」 其見知如此。 子操，尚書三公郎。
In offices before and after, great affairs of the bureaus he controlled and what the Orchid Terrace and directorate of punishments could not decide were all by edict given to Jue. His judgment was penetrating and clear; all obtained their principle. After his death someone beat the petition drum seeking assignment to the clear and straight gentleman's office; the emperor said, "Now that Zang Jue is dead, this matter has no one to assign. Such was the esteem in which he was held. His son Cao held the post of gentleman of the three offices section.
78
熹字義和，燾之弟也，與燾並好經學。 隆安初兵起，熹乃習騎射，志立功名。 嘗與溧陽令阮崇獵，遇猛獸突圍，獵徒並散，熹射之，應弦而倒。
Xi, courtesy name Yihe, was Dao's younger brother; he and Dao both loved classical learning. At the beginning of Long'an when troops rose Xi then practiced riding and shooting, intent on establishing merit. Once hunting with Liyang magistrate Ruan Chong, a fierce beast broke the encirclement; the hunters all scattered; Xi shot it and it fell at the twang of the string.
79
從宋武入京城，進至建鄴。 桓玄走，武帝便使熹入宮收圖書器物，封府庫。 有金飾樂器，武帝問熹：「卿欲此乎？」 熹正色曰：「主上幽逼，播越非所，將軍首建大義，劬勞王室，雖復不肖，實無情于樂。」 帝笑曰：「聊以戲耳。」 以建義功，封始興縣五等侯，參武帝車騎、中軍軍事。
Following Emperor Wu into the capital region he advanced to Jiankang. When Huan Xuan fled the emperor had Xi enter the palace to collect books, instruments, and goods and seal the treasury. There were gold-decorated musical instruments; the emperor asked Xi, "Do you want these? Xi sternly said, "The lord above is confined and driven far — not where he should be; the general first raised great righteousness and toils for the royal house — though I am unworthy, I truly have no heart for music. The emperor laughed and said, "I spoke in jest only. For merit in establishing righteousness he was enfeoffed fifth-rank marquis of Shixing and joined the emperor's chariots and cavalry and central army staff.
80
武帝將征廣固，議者多不同，熹贊成其行。
When the emperor was about to campaign against Guanggu many debaters disagreed; Xi approved the undertaking.
81
武帝遣朱齡石統大眾伐蜀，命熹奇兵出中水，領建平、巴東二郡太守。 蜀主譙縱遣大將譙撫之屯牛脾，又遣譙小苟重兵塞打鼻。 熹至牛脾，撫之敗走，追斬之，成都平。 熹遇疾卒於蜀，追贈光祿勳。
The emperor sent Zhu Lingshi to command the great host against Shu and ordered Xi with a separate force out through Zhongshui, holding the two commanderies of Jianping and Badong. Shu's lord Qiao Zong sent the great general Qiao Fuzhi to garrison Niupi and also sent Qiao Xiaogou with heavy troops to block Dabi. When Xi reached Niupi Fuzhi was defeated and fled; Xi pursued and beheaded him; Chengdu was pacified. Xi fell ill and died in Shu; posthumously he was given Grand Master of Splendid Happiness.
82
子質字含文，少好鷹犬，善蒱博意錢之戲。 長六尺七寸，出面露口，頹頂拳發。 初為世子中軍參軍，嘗詣護軍趙倫之，倫之名位已重，不相接。 質憤然起曰：「大丈夫各以老嫗作門戶，何至以此中相輕。」 倫之慚謝，質拂衣而去。
His son Zhi, courtesy name Hanwen, from youth loved hawks and dogs and was skilled at cockfighting and pitch-pot games. He stood six feet seven inches; his face protruded and mouth showed; crown receded and hair curled. At first he was staff officer to the heir apparent's central army; once he called on Protector of the Army Zhao Lunzhi; Lunzhi's name and rank were already weighty and he did not receive him. Zhi angrily rose and said, "Great men each make an old matron their gate — why go so far as to look down on one in the middle? Lunzhi ashamed apologized; Zhi shook out his robe and left.
83
後為江夏王義恭撫軍參軍，以輕薄無檢，為文帝所嫌，徙給事中。 會稽長公主每為之言，乃出為建平太守，甚得蠻楚心。 曆竟陵內史，巴東建平二郡太守，吏人便之。 質年始出三十，屢居名郡，涉獵文史，尺牘便敏，有氣幹，好言兵。 文帝謂可大任，以為徐、兗二州刺史，加都督。 在鎮奢費，爵命無章，為有司所糾。 遇赦。 與范曄、徐湛之等厚善。 曄謀反，量質必與之同。 會事發，復為義興太守。
Later he was staff officer to Prince Jiangxia Yigong's pacifying army; for being frivolous and unrestrained he was disliked by Emperor Wen and was transferred to supervising master of writing. The Princess of Kuaiji often spoke for him; he was then sent out as administrator of Jianping and greatly won the hearts of the Man and Chu. He served successively as interior minister of Jingling and administrator of Badong and Jianping; officials and people found him easy. Zhi had just passed thirty and repeatedly held famous commanderies; he ranged through literature and history; letters and documents came easily; he had spirit and capacity and loved speaking of war. Emperor Wen thought he could bear great responsibility and made him governor of Xu and Yan with added command. In his post he was extravagant; enfeoffments and appointments were without rule; he was impeached by the responsible offices. He met amnesty. He was on close terms with Fan Ye and Xu Zhanzhi. When Ye plotted rebellion he reckoned Zhi would surely join him. When the affair broke out he again became administrator of Yixing.
84
二十七年，遷南譙王義宣司空司馬、南平內史。 未之職，會魏太武帝圍汝南，戍主陳憲固守告急，文帝遣質輕往壽陽，與安蠻司馬劉康祖等救憲。 後太武率大眾數十萬向彭城，以質為輔國將軍北救。 始至盱眙，太武已過淮。 二十八年正月，太武自廣陵北返，悉力攻盱眙，就質求酒。 質封溲便與之，太武怒甚，築長圍一夜便合。 質報太武書云：「爾不聞童謠言邪？ 虜馬飲江水，佛狸死卯年。 冥期使然，非復人事。 寡人受命相滅，期之白登，師行未遠，爾自送死，豈容復令爾饗有桑幹哉。 假令寡人不能殺爾，爾由我而死。 爾若有幸，得為亂兵所殺； 爾若不幸，則生相鎖縛，載以一驢，負送都市。 爾識智及眾，豈能勝苻堅邪？ 頃年展爾陸梁者，是爾未飲江太歲未卯故耳。」 時魏地童謠曰：「軺車北來如穿雉，不意虜馬飲江水。 虜主北歸石濟死，虜欲度江天不徙。」 故答書引之。 太武大怒，乃作鐵床，于上施鐵鑱，云：「破城得質，當坐之此上」。 質又與魏軍書，寫台格購斬太武封萬戶侯，賜布絹各萬疋。
In the twenty-seventh year he was transferred to Prince Nanqiao Yixuan's staff officer to the minister of works and interior minister of Nanping. Before taking office, when Wei Emperor Taiwu besieged Runan the garrison commander Chen Xian held firm and reported urgency; Emperor Wen sent Zhi lightly to Shouyang to rescue Xian together with pacifying man staff officer Liu Kangzu and the rest. Later Taiwu led a great host of several hundred thousand toward Pengcheng and Zhi was made auxiliary-state general for northern relief. Just reaching Xuyi, Taiwu had already crossed the Huai. In the first month of the twenty-eighth year Taiwu returned north from Guangling and used full force to attack Xuyi; he asked Zhi for wine. Zhi sealed urine and feces and sent them; Taiwu was furious beyond measure and built a long encirclement that joined in one night. Zhi replied to Taiwu's letter, "Have you not heard what the children's rhyme says? Barbarian horses drink river water; Foluo dies in the mao year. Dark fate makes it so — no longer a matter of human affairs. I received the mandate to destroy you; the term is set at Baideng; the army has not gone far and you yourself come to die — how can I again let you feast on Sanggan? Suppose I cannot kill you — you will die by me. If you are lucky you will be killed by mutinous troops; if you are unlucky you will live chained and bound, carried on one donkey and sent to the capital market. You know wisdom and the multitude — can you surpass Fu Jian? In recent years you spread your insolence only because you had not yet drunk the river and the Grand Year had not reached mao. At that time a children's rhyme in Wei territory said, "The light carriage comes north like piercing a pheasant — who expected barbarian horses to drink river water. The barbarian lord returns north and dies at Shiji; the barbarian wishes to cross the river but Heaven will not shift. Therefore the reply letter cited it. Taiwu was greatly enraged and made an iron bed with iron spikes on it, saying, "When the city is taken and Zhi is obtained he shall sit on this. Zhi also wrote to the Wei army, copying the court's posted reward for beheading Taiwu — enfeoffment as marquis of ten thousand households and ten thousand bolts each of cloth and silk.
85
魏以鉤車鉤垣樓，城內系絙，數百人叫呼引之，車不能退。 質夜以木桶盛人，縣出城外，截其鉤獲之。 明日又以沖車攻城，土堅密，每至，頹落下不過數斗。 魏軍乃肉薄登城，墜而復升，莫有退者。 殺傷萬計，死者與城平。 如此三旬，死者過半，太武乃解圍而歸。 上嘉質功，以為甯蠻校尉、雍州刺史、監四州諸軍事。 明年，文帝又北侵，使質率見力向潼關。 質頓兵不肯時發，又顧戀嬖妾，棄軍營壘，單馬還城，散用台庫見錢六七百萬，為有司所糾，上不問。
Wei used hook-carts to hook the tower ramparts; inside the city ropes were tied and several hundred men shouted and pulled — the carts could not retreat. Zhi at night used wooden buckets holding men, hung them outside the wall, cut off the hooks and captured them. The next day they again used battering rams against the wall; the earth was firm and dense — each time only several pecks fell. The Wei army then pressed flesh against the wall to climb; falling they climbed again — none retreated. Killed and wounded numbered in the tens of thousands; the dead were level with the wall. Thus for thirty days; the dead exceeded half; Taiwu then lifted the siege and returned. The emperor praised Zhi's merit and made him colonel of pacifying the man, governor of Yong, and overseer of four provinces' military affairs. The next year Emperor Wen again invaded north and ordered Zhi to lead available troops toward Tong Pass. Zhi halted his troops and would not advance on schedule; again he doted on a favorite concubine, abandoned the army camps and ramparts, returned to the city alone on one horse, and scattered six or seven million in ready cash from the treasury — impeached by the responsible offices; the emperor did not inquire.
86
元凶弑立，以質為丹陽尹。 質家遣門生師顗報質，具言文帝崩問。 質使告司空義宣及孝武帝，而自率眾五千馳下討逆，自陽口進江陵見義宣。 時質諸子在都，聞質舉義，並逃亡。 義宣始得質報，即日舉兵馳信報孝武，板進質號征北將軍。 孝武即位，加質車騎將軍、開府儀同三司、都督江州諸軍事。 使質自白下步上，薛安都、程天祚等亦自南掖門入，與質同會太極殿庭，生禽元凶，仍使質留守朝堂，封始興郡公。 之鎮，舫千餘乘，部伍前後百餘里，六平乘並施龍子幡。
When the crown prince usurped and succeeded he made Zhi magistrate of Danyang. Zhi's household sent his student Shi Yan to report to Zhi, fully stating Emperor Wen's death. Zhi had Yan inform minister of works Yixuan and Emperor Xiaowu, and himself led five thousand men racing down to suppress the usurper; from Yangkou he advanced to Jiangling to see Yixuan. At that time Zhi's sons were all in the capital; hearing Zhi had raised righteousness they all fled. When Yixuan first received Zhi's report he that day raised troops and sent urgent word to Xiaowu; by provisional appointment Zhi was promoted General Who Pacifies the North. When Xiaowu succeeded he added for Zhi general of chariots and cavalry, grand commander with credentials equal to the Three Dukes, and overseer of Jiang Province military affairs. He ordered Zhi to ascend from Baixia on foot; Xue Andu, Cheng Tianzuo and the rest also entered from the southern flanking gate; together with Zhi they met in the court of the Hall of Supreme Pole, captured the usurper alive, and still had Zhi garrison the court hall; he was enfeoffed duke of Shixing commandery. Going to his post there were more than a thousand boats; his retinue stretched more than a hundred li front and back; six level carriages all bore dragon-son banners.
87
時孝武自攬威權，而質以少主遇之，刑政慶賞，不復諮稟朝廷，自謂人才足為一世英傑。 始聞國禍，便有異圖，以義宣凡闇易制，欲外相推奉以成其志。 及至江陵，便致拜稱名。 質于義宣雖為兄弟，而年近大十歲。 義宣驚曰：「君何意拜弟？ 「質曰：「事中宜然。」 時義宣已推崇孝武，故其計不行。 每慮事泄，及至新亭，又拜江夏王義恭。 義恭愕然，問質所以。 質曰：「天下屯危，禮異常日，前在荊州，亦拜司空。」
At that time Xiaowu himself grasped authority, yet Zhi treated him as a young lord; punishments, governance, rewards and gifts no longer consulted the court; he considered his talent enough to be the age's hero. From the first hearing of the national calamity he already had a divergent plot; because Yixuan was ordinary and dim and easy to control, he wished outwardly to push and uphold him to fulfill his intent. On reaching Jiangling he at once performed bowing and used the personal name. Though Zhi and Yixuan were like brothers, Zhi was nearly ten years older. Yixuan startled said, "Sir, what intent in bowing to your younger brother? Zhi said, "In affairs it is fitting so. At that time Yixuan had already upheld Xiaowu, therefore his plan could not proceed. Always fearing the affair would leak, on reaching Xinting he again bowed to Prince Jiangxia Yigong. Yigong was stunned and asked Zhi's reason. Zhi said, "The realm is in peril and ritual differs from ordinary days; earlier in Jing Province I also bowed to the minister of works."
88
爽失旨，即起兵，遣人至都報弟瑜，席捲奔叛。 瑜弟弘為質府佐，孝武馳使報質誅弘，於是執台使，狼狽舉兵，馳報義宣。 孝武遣撫軍將軍柳元景統豫州刺史王玄謨等屯梁山洲，兩岸築偃月壘，水陸待之。 元景檄書宣告，而義宣亦相次系至。 江夏王義恭書曰：「昔桓玄借兵于仲堪，有似今日。」 義宣由此與質相疑。 質進計曰：「今以萬人取南州，則梁山中絕，萬人綴玄謨，必不敢輕動。 質浮舟外江，直向石頭，此上略也。」
Shuang lost favor and at once raised troops; he sent men to the capital to report to his younger brother Yu; they swept up in flight and rebellion. Yu's younger brother Hong was on Zhi's staff; Xiaowu sent urgent word to Zhi to execute Hong; thereupon he seized the imperial messenger, raised troops in disorder, and raced to report Yixuan. Xiaowu sent pacifying army general Liu Yuanjing commanding Xu inspector Wang Xuanmo and the rest to garrison Liangshan Isle; on both banks they built crescent ramparts and waited by land and water. Yuanjing's proclamation was issued; Yixuan's letters also arrived one after another. Prince Jiangxia Yigong wrote, "Formerly Huan Xuan borrowed troops from Yin Zhongkan — much like today. Yixuan therefore grew suspicious of Zhi. Zhi advanced a plan, "Now with ten thousand men take Southern Province and the Liangshan route is cut; ten thousand men pin Xuanmo and he will surely not dare move lightly. Zhi floats boats on the outer river and goes straight to Stone City — this is the upper strategy."
89
義宣將從之，義宣客顏樂之說義宣曰：「質若復拔東城，則大功盡歸之矣。 宜遣麾下自行。」 義宣遣腹心劉諶之就質陳軍城南。 玄謨留羸弱守城，悉精兵出戰。 薛安都騎軍前出，垣護之督諸將繼之，乃大潰。 質求義宣欲計事，密已走矣。 質不知所為，亦走至尋陽，焚府舍，載妓妾入南湖，摘蓮噉之。 追兵至，以荷覆頭，沈于水，出鼻。 軍主鄭俱兒望見，射之中心，兵刃亂至，腹胃纏縈水草。 隊主裘應斬質，傳首建鄴。 錄尚書江夏王義恭等奏依漢王莽事，漆其頭藏於武庫，詔可。
Yixuan was about to follow it; his guest Yan Yuezhi persuaded Yixuan, "If Zhi again takes the eastern wall the great merit will all belong to him. You should send your own trusted men to go themselves. Yixuan sent his intimate Liu Chenzhi to Zhi's camp south of the city. Xuanmo left the weak to guard the city and sent all elite troops out to battle. Xue Andu's cavalry advanced first; Yuan Huzhi commanded the generals to follow; they were greatly routed. Zhi sought Yixuan wanting to consult on affairs; Yixuan had secretly already fled. Zhi knew not what to do and also fled to Xunyang; he burned the official residence, loaded concubines and entertainers into South Lake, and ate lotus pods. Pursuers arrived; he covered his head with lotus leaves, sank in the water, and left his nose out. Commander Zheng Ju'er saw him, shot him in the center; blades fell in confusion; belly and stomach were tangled with water weeds. Squad leader Qiu Ying beheaded Zhi and sent the head to Jiankang. Recorder of affairs Prince Jiangxia Yigong and the rest memorialized following the Han precedent on Wang Mang — lacquer the head and store it in the armory; the edict approved.
90
論曰：趙倫之、蕭思話俱以外戚之親，並接風雲之會，言親則在趙為密，論望則于蕭為重。 古人云：「人能弘道」，蓋此之謂乎。 惠開親禮雖篤，弟隙尤著，方寸之內，孝友異情。 嶮于山川，有驗於此。 臧氏文義之美，傳於累代，含文以致誅滅，好亂之所致乎。
The appraisal says: Zhao Lunzhi and Xiao Sihua were both imperial in-laws who met the turning of wind and cloud; speaking of kinship Zhao was closer, speaking of standing Xiao was weightier. The ancients said, "It is man who enlarges the Way" — perhaps this is meant. Though Huikai's affection and ritual toward kin were deep, estrangement from his brothers was especially marked — within a single inch filial piety and brotherhood held different feelings. More rugged than mountains and rivers — here is proof. The Zang clan's literary righteousness was famed through successive generations; embracing letters yet meeting execution and extinction — was it caused by loving disorder?