1
列傳第三十二齊高帝諸子上
Biographies 32: Sons of Emperor Gao of Southern Qi, Part One
2
豫章文獻王嶷
Xiao Luan, Prince Wenxian of Yuzhang
3
豫章文獻王嶷字宣儼，高帝第二子也。 寬仁弘雅，有大成之量，高帝特鍾愛焉。 仕宋為尚書左戶郎，錢唐令。 高帝破薛索兒，改封西陽，以先爵賜嶷，為晉壽縣侯。 後為武陵內史。
Xiao Luan, Prince Wenxian of Yuzhang, whose style name was Xuanyan, was the second son of Emperor Gao of Qi. Generous and refined in bearing, with the makings of true greatness, he was especially beloved by his father Emperor Gao. Under the Song he served as Left Household Minister in the Secretariat and as magistrate of Qiantang. After Emperor Gao defeated Xue Suo'er, he transferred his own fief to Xiyang and passed his former title to Luan, who was enfeoffed as Marquis of Jinshou County. He was later appointed Interior Secretary of Wuling.
4
時沈攸之責賧，伐荊州界內諸蠻，遂及五溪。 禁斷魚鹽，群蠻怨怒。 酉溪蠻王田頭擬殺攸之使，攸之責賧千萬，頭擬輸五百萬，發氣死。 其弟婁侯篡立，頭擬子田都走入獠中。 於是蠻部大亂，抄掠至郡城下，嶷遣隊主張英兒擊破之。 田都自獠中請立，而婁侯亦歸附。 嶷誅婁侯於郡獄，命田都繼其父，蠻眾乃安。
At the time Shen Youzhi was exacting tribute and campaigning against the various tribal peoples within Jingzhou's borders, extending his operations as far as the Five Streams region. When he banned trade in fish and salt, the tribal peoples grew resentful and angry. The Youxi barbarian king Tian Touni plotted to kill Shen Youzhi's envoy. Youzhi demanded ten million in tribute; Touni offered five million and died of apoplectic rage. His younger brother Louhou seized power by usurpation, while Touni's son Tiandu fled into Liao territory. The tribal peoples then erupted in widespread disorder, raiding as far as the walls of the commandery seat. Luan sent squad leader Zhang Ying'er to defeat them. Tiandu came out of Liao territory to request installation as chief, and Louhou also submitted. Luan executed Louhou in the commandery prison, installed Tiandu to succeed his father, and the tribal peoples were thereby pacified.
5
入為宋順帝驃騎從事中郎。 詣司徒袁粲，粲謂人曰：「後來佳器也。」
He was summoned to the capital as Attendant Gentleman on the staff of the Rapid Cavalry General under Emperor Shun of Song. When he called on Grand Tutor Yuan Can, Can remarked to others, "Here is a vessel of excellence for the age to come."
6
沈攸之之難，高帝入朝堂，嶷出鎮東府，加冠軍將軍。 及袁粲舉兵夕，丹陽丞王遜告變，先至東府，嶷遣帳內軍主戴元孫二千人隨薛道深等俱至石頭，焚門之功，元孫預焉。 先是王蘊薦部曲六十人助為城防，實以為內應也。 嶷知蘊懷貳，不給其仗，散處外省。 及難作搜檢，皆已亡去。
During Shen Youzhi's rebellion, Emperor Gao entered the imperial hall while Luan went out to secure the Eastern Palace, with the additional title General Who Establishes Might. On the evening when Yuan Can raised troops in revolt, Danyang Assistant Magistrate Wang Xun reported the emergency and reached the Eastern Palace first. Luan dispatched two thousand men under his personal guard commander Dai Yuansun, who with Xue Daoshen and others advanced to Stone City; Yuansun shared in the credit for burning down the gates. Earlier Wang Yun had offered sixty retainers to assist in defending the city, but in fact intended them as inside collaborators. Luan, knowing that Yun harbored divided loyalties, refused to arm them and dispersed them to posts outside the palace precincts. When the crisis erupted and a search was made, they had all already fled.
7
上流平後，武帝自尋陽還。 嶷出為都督、江州刺史。 以定策功，改封永安縣公。 仍徙鎮西將軍、都督、荊州刺史。 時高帝作輔，嶷務存約省，停府州儀迎物。 及至州，坦懷納善，側席思政。 王儉與嶷書曰：「舊楚蕭條，仍歲多故，政荒人散，實須緝理。 公臨蒞甫爾，英風惟穆，江漢來蘇，八荒慕義，庾亮以來，荊州無復此政。 古人云'期月有成'，而公旬日成化，豈不休哉。」 初，沈攸之欲聚眾，開人相告，士庶坐執役者甚眾。 嶷至鎮，一日遣三千餘人，見囚五歲刑以下不連台者，皆原遣。 以市稅重，多所寬假。 百姓甚悅。 禪讓之間，武帝欲速定大業，嶷依違其事，默無所言。 建元元年，高帝即位，赦詔未至，嶷先下令蠲除部內升明二年以前逋負。 遷侍中、尚書令、都督、揚州刺史、驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司，封豫章郡王。
After the upper Yangzi region was pacified, Emperor Wu returned from Xunyang. Luan was sent out as Area Commander and Inspector of Jiangzhou. For his merit in securing the succession, he was re-enfeoffed as Duke of Yong'an County. He was then transferred to the posts of General Who Pacifies the West, Area Commander, and Inspector of Jingzhou. While Emperor Gao was serving as regent, Luan strove to practice economy and suspended the ceremonial welcome goods customarily furnished by the prefecture and province. Once he reached his province, he received good counsel with an open heart and sat attentively to ponder matters of governance. Wang Jian wrote to Luan: "The old Chu region lies desolate; disturbances have followed one upon another for years, and with government neglected and the people scattered, it truly cries out for restoration. Your lordship has only just taken up your post, yet your noble bearing is already serene; the Jiang and Han regions are reviving, and the eight directions look to your righteousness — since Yu Liang's day, Jingzhou has known nothing like this governance. The ancients said that in a full month one might see results, yet your lordship achieved transformation in a matter of days — what could be more splendid than this!" Earlier, when Shen Youzhi sought to raise troops, he encouraged people to inform on one another, and a great many commoners and gentry were imprisoned for corvée labor. When Luan reached his post, in a single day he released more than three thousand persons; all prisoners serving sentences of five years or less who were not implicated in central-government cases were pardoned and sent home. Because market taxes had grown burdensome, he granted many exemptions. The common people were greatly pleased. During the abdication proceedings, Emperor Wu wished to settle the succession quickly; Luan hesitated on the matter and remained silent. In the first year of Jianyuan, when Emperor Gao took the throne, Luan issued orders to cancel all arrears within his jurisdiction dating before the second year of Shengming, even before the amnesty edict arrived from the capital. He was promoted to Attendant-in-Ordinary, Director of the Secretariat, Area Commander, Inspector of Yangzhou, Grand General of the Rapid Cavalry, and Bearer of the Grand Staff with Protocol Equal to the Three Excellencies, and enfeoffed as Prince of Yuzhang.
8
會魏軍動，詔以嶷為南蠻校尉、荊湘二州刺史，都督八州。 尋給油絡俠望車。 二年，給班劍二十人。 其夏，于南蠻園東南開館立學，上表言狀。 置生三十人，取舊族父祖位正佐台郎年二十五以下十五以上補之。 置儒林參軍一人，文學祭酒一人，勸學從事二人。 行釋菜禮。 以穀過賤，聽人以米當口錢，優評斛一百。 義陽劫帥張群亡命積年，鼓行為賊，義陽、武陵、天門、南平四郡界被其殘破，沈攸之連討不禽，末乃首用之。 攸之起事，群從下郢，于路先叛，結柴於三溪，依據深險。 嶷遣中兵參軍虞欣祖為義陽太守，使降意誘納之，厚為禮遺，於坐斬首，其黨皆散，四郡獲安。
When Wei forces stirred on the frontier, an edict appointed Luan Colonel of the Southern Barbarians, Inspector of Jing and Xiang, and Area Commander over eight provinces. Shortly thereafter he was granted an oil-lacquered carriage with an escort canopy. In the second year he was granted twenty halberd-bearing attendants. That summer, southeast of the Southern Barbarians Garden, he opened a hall and established a school, submitting a memorial describing his plan. He enrolled thirty students, drawn from old families whose fathers and grandfathers had held regular assistant posts as secretariat gentlemen, between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five. He appointed one Confucian Forest Adjutant, one Libationer of Letters, and two Assistants for Encouraging Study. He performed the ceremonial offering of vegetables to inaugurate the school. Because grain had become excessively cheap, he permitted people to pay head taxes in rice at a favorable rate of one hundred measures per assessment. The Yiyang bandit chief Zhang Qun had been an outlaw for many years, marching his followers in formation as raiders; the borders of Yiyang, Wuling, Tianmen, and Nanping were ravaged by him. Shen Youzhi campaigned against him repeatedly without success, and in the end took him into service by accepting his submission. When Youzhi raised troops in rebellion, Qun followed him toward Ying; on the march he rebelled first, building stockades at Sanxi and holding ground in deep and perilous terrain. Luan sent Central Troops Adjutant Yu Xingu as Administrator of Yiyang to win Qun over with conciliatory gestures; treating him with generous gifts, he beheaded him at the banquet table. Qun's followers scattered, and the four commanderies were secured.
9
入為中書監、司空、揚州刺史，都督二州，侍中如故，加兵置佐，以前軍臨川王映府文武配司空。 嶷以將還都，修廨宇及路陌，東歸部曲不得齎府州物出城。 發江津，士女觀送數千人皆垂泣。 嶷發江陵感疾，至都未瘳，上深憂慮，為之大赦，三年六月壬子赦令是也。 疾愈，上幸東府，設金石樂，使乘輿至宮六門。
He was recalled to the capital as Director of the Secretariat, Minister of Works, and Inspector of Yangzhou, Area Commander over two provinces, retaining his post as Attendant-in-Ordinary with added military staff; the civil and military officials of the former army Prince of Linchuan Xiao Ying's establishment were assigned to the Ministry of Works. As Luan prepared to return to the capital, he repaired official buildings and roads, and forbade his retainers returning east to carry prefectural or provincial goods out of the city. When he set out from Jiangjin, several thousand men and women who came to see him off wept as they watched him depart. Luan fell ill after leaving Jiangling and had not recovered by the time he reached the capital. The emperor was deeply anxious and proclaimed a great amnesty on his account — this was the amnesty edict of the renzi day in the sixth month of the third year. When he recovered, the emperor visited the Eastern Palace, arranged bronze and stone music, and had the imperial carriage proceed as far as the six gates of the palace.
10
武帝即位，進位太尉，增置兵佐，解侍中，增班劍三十人。 建元中，武帝以事失旨，高帝頗有代嫡之意。 而嶷事武帝恭悌盡禮，未嘗違忤顏色，故武帝友愛亦深。 性至孝，高帝崩，哭泣過度，眼耳皆出血。
When Emperor Wu took the throne, Luan was promoted to Grand Commandant with additional military staff; he relinquished his post as Attendant-in-Ordinary and was granted thirty halberd-bearing attendants. During the Jianyuan era, Emperor Wu lost favor over some matter, and Emperor Gao came to favor replacing the heir apparent. Yet Luan served Emperor Wu with full courtesy and respectful deference, never once giving offense, and so the emperor's affection for him remained deep as well. By nature he was profoundly filial; when Emperor Gao died, he wept so excessively that blood issued from his eyes and ears.
11
永明元年，領太子太傅，解中書監。 宋武以來，州郡秩俸及雜供給，多隨土所出，無有定準。 嶷上表請明立定格，班下四方，永為恒制，從之。 嶷不參朝務，而言事密謀，多見信納。 服闋，加侍中。 宋元嘉制，諸王入齋合，得白服裙帽見人主，唯出太極四廂，乃備朝衣。 自比以來，此事一斷。 上與嶷同生相友睦，宮內曲宴，許依元嘉。 嶷固辭，不奉敕； 唯車駕幸第，乃白服烏紗帽以侍宴焉。 至於衣服制度，動皆陳啟，事無專制，務從減省，並不見許。 又啟曰：「北第舊邸，本自甚華，臣往歲作小眠齋，皆補接為辦，無乖格制。 要是檉柏之華，一時新淨，東府又有此齋，亦為華屋，而臣頓有二處住止，下情竊所未安。 訊訪東宮玄圃，乃有柏屋，制甚古拙，臣乃欲壞取以奉太子，非但失之於前，且補接既多，不可見移，亦恐外物或為異論，不審可有垂許送東府齋理不？」 上答曰：「見別紙，汝勞疾，亦復那得不動，何意為作煩長啟事。」 竟不從。
In the first year of Yongming he was appointed Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent and relinquished the Directorship of the Secretariat. Since Emperor Wu of Song's day, provincial and commandery salaries and miscellaneous supplies had largely followed whatever each region produced, with no fixed standard. Luan submitted a memorial requesting that fixed standards be clearly established and promulgated throughout the realm as a permanent regulation; his request was approved. Luan did not participate in routine court affairs, yet in confidential counsel his words were often trusted and adopted. When his mourning period ended, he was given the additional post of Attendant-in-Ordinary. Under the Yuanjia regulations of Song, when princes entered the fasting quarters they might wear white garments with skirt and cap to see the sovereign; only when leaving the four wings of the Hall of Supreme Ultimate did they don full court dress. Since then this practice had been entirely discontinued. The emperor and Luan shared the same mother and were close friends; at private palace banquets the emperor permitted him to follow the Yuanjia practice. Luan firmly declined and did not obey the edict; only when the imperial carriage visited his residence did he wear white garments and a black gauze cap to attend the banquet. As for regulations governing dress and furnishings, he invariably submitted memorials on every matter, never acting on his own authority and always striving for reduction — and none of it was approved. He also submitted a memorial saying, "The old residence of the Northern Mansion was originally quite splendid; last year I built a small sleeping hall, all patched and fitted out in compliance, without violating regulations. Yet it was merely the splendor of tamarisk and cypress, fresh and new for a time; the Eastern Palace also has such a hall, likewise a splendid dwelling, and I suddenly find myself with two places of residence — in my humble feeling I am privately ill at ease. Inquiring at the Eastern Palace's Dark Garden, I found a cypress hall, very antiquated in design; I wished to dismantle it and offer it to the Heir Apparent — not only would this be a loss to what went before, but with so many patchings it cannot be moved intact, and I fear outsiders might raise objections. Might I be permitted to send the Eastern Palace hall for repair instead?" The emperor replied, "I have seen your separate note. You are worn by illness — how could you not be stirred? Why submit such a tedious, lengthy memorial?" In the end he did not consent.
12
三年，文惠太子講孝經畢，嶷求解太傅，不許。 嶷常慮盛滿，又因言宴求解揚州授竟陵王子良，上終不許，曰：「畢汝一世，無所多言。」
In the third year, when Crown Prince Wenhu finished lecturing on the Classic of Filial Piety, Luan requested to be relieved of the Grand Tutorship; his request was denied. Luan often feared the perils of eminence at its height; on another occasion at a banquet he requested to relinquish Yangzhou and grant it to Ziliang, Prince of Jingling. The emperor ultimately refused, saying, "Finish out your lifetime in these posts — say no more about it."
13
武帝即位後，頻發詔拜陵，不果行，遣嶷拜陵。 還過延陵季子廟，觀沸井，有水牛突部伍，直兵執牛推問，嶷不許，取絹一疋，橫系牛角，放歸其家。 政在寬厚，故得朝野歡心。
After Emperor Wu took the throne, edicts to visit the imperial tombs were issued repeatedly, but he could not go himself and sent Luan to perform the rites. On his return he passed the temple of Master Ji of Yanling and viewed the boiling well; when a water buffalo charged into his retinue, the guards seized it for interrogation. Luan forbade this, took a bolt of silk, tied it crosswise to the animal's horns, and sent it home. His governance lay in generosity and leniency, and so he won the hearts of court and countryside alike.
14
四年，唐宇之賊起，嶷啟上曰：「此段小寇，出於凶愚，天網宏罩，理不足論。 但聖明禦世，幸可不爾。 比藉聲聽，皆云有由而然。 但頃小大士庶，每以小利奉公，不顧所損者大。 擿籍檢功巧，督恤簡小塘，藏丁匿口，凡諸條制，實長怨府。 此目前交利，非天下大計。 一室之中，尚不可精，宇宙之內，何可周洗。 公家何嘗不知人多欺巧，古今政以不可細碎，故不為耳。 為此者實非乖理，但識理者百不有一。 陛下弟兒大臣，猶不能伏理，況復天下，悠悠萬品？ 怨積聚黨，凶迷相類，止于一處，何足不除，脫復多所，便成紜紜。」 上答曰：「欺巧那可容！ 宋世混亂，以為是不？ 蚊蟻何足為憂，至今都應散滅。 吾政恨其不辦大耳，亦何時無亡命邪。」 後乃詔聽復籍注。 是時武帝奢侈，後宮萬餘人，宮內不容，太樂、景第、暴室皆滿，猶以為未足。 嶷後房亦千餘人。 潁川荀丕獻書於嶷，極言其失，嶷咨嗟良久，為書答之，又為之減遣。
In the fourth year, the bandits led by Tang Yuzhi rose in revolt. Luan submitted to the emperor, "This petty band springs from vicious folly; the heavenly net is vast in its cover — they are hardly worth discussing. Yet under your sagely rule, one may hope matters need not come to this. According to what one hears, all say there are reasons why it has come to this. Yet recently minor officials and commoners alike, chasing small profit in serving the public interest, disregard how great the damage may be. Scrutinizing household registers, inspecting crafty labor contributions, supervising relief works on small ponds, concealing corvée laborers and unregistered households — all such regulations truly breed a treasury of resentment. This serves immediate mutual profit, not the great plan for the realm. Within a single room one still cannot be thorough; within the whole cosmos, how can one wash everything clean? The government has never been unaware that many people practice deceit and craft — from antiquity to the present, policy has simply held that one cannot be minutely exhaustive, and so does not act. To act in this way is in truth not contrary to reason, but those who understand reason are not one in a hundred. Your Majesty's younger brothers and great ministers still cannot submit to reason — how much less the myriad classes throughout the realm? Resentment accumulates and factions form; the vicious and deluded resemble one another. Confined to one place, how could they not be eliminated? But if they arise in many places, disorder will ensue." The emperor replied, "How can deceit and craft be tolerated! Was the chaos of the Song age not thought sufficient warning? Mosquitoes and ants are hardly worth worrying over — by now they should all have scattered and perished. My only regret is that they did not make something bigger of it — when has there ever been a time without outlaws?" Later an edict permitted the restoration of household registration. At this time Emperor Wu was extravagant; his rear palace held more than ten thousand persons, and the palace could not contain them — the Grand Music Office, the Scenic Residence, and the Detention Chambers were all full, yet he still thought it insufficient. Luan's own rear chambers also held more than a thousand women. Xun Pi of Yingchuan submitted a letter to Luan, speaking bluntly of his faults; Luan sighed at length, wrote a reply, and also reduced his household on account of it.
15
丕字令哲，後為荊州西曹書佐，長史王秀與其書，題之云：「西曹荀君」。 丕報書曰：「第五之位，不減驃騎，亦不知西曹何殊長史！ 且人之處世，當以德行稱著，何遽以一爵高人邪？ 相如不見屈于澠池，毛遂安受辱於郢都，造敵臨事，僕必先於二子，未知足下之貴，足下之威，孰若秦、楚兩王。 僕以德為寶，足下以位為寶，各寶其寶，於此敬宜。」 於是直題云：「長史王君」。 時尚書令王儉當朝，丕又與儉書曰：「足下建高人之名，而不顯高人之跡，將何以書于齊史哉。」 及南郡綱紀啟荊州刺史隨王子隆請罪丕，丕自申乃免。 又上書極諫武帝，言甚直，帝不悅，丕竟於荊州獄賜死。 徐孝嗣聞其死，曰：「丕縱有罪，亦不應殺，數千年後，其如竹帛何！」
Pi, whose style name was Lingzhe, later became Western Bureau Secretary of Jingzhou; Chief Clerk Wang Xiu wrote to him, addressing the letter "Lord Xun of the Western Bureau." Pi replied, "The fifth-rank post is no less than Rapid Cavalry General — and how is the Western Bureau different from Chief Clerk! Moreover, in one's conduct in the world one should be known for virtue and character — why hasten to elevate a man by a mere rank? Lin Xiangru was not seen to yield at Mianchi, yet Mao Sui calmly accepted humiliation at Ying — when facing the enemy in the moment of crisis, I would surely go before these two. I do not know your eminence or your authority — how do they compare with the kings of Qin and Chu? I take virtue as my treasure; you take rank as yours — each treasures his own treasure, and in this respect deference is fitting." Thereupon he addressed it directly: "Chief Clerk Lord Wang." At the time Director of the Secretariat Wang Jian held the court; Pi also wrote to Jian: "You have built the name of a lofty man, yet do not display the conduct of a lofty man — how will this be written in the history of Qi?" When the chief steward of Nan Commandery reported to Jingzhou Inspector Sui, Prince Zilong, requesting that Pi be punished, Pi defended himself and was pardoned. He again submitted a memorial remonstrating Emperor Wu to the utmost; his words were very blunt and the emperor was displeased. Pi was ultimately ordered to die by suicide in the Jingzhou prison. When Xu Xiaosi heard of his death, he said, "Even if Pi had guilt, he should not have been killed — thousands of years hence, what will become of his name in the historical record!"
16
五年，嶷進位大司馬。 八年，給皁輪車。 尋加中書監，固讓。 嶷身長七尺八寸，善持容范，文物衛從，禮冠百僚。 每出入殿省，皆瞻望嚴肅。 自以地位隆重，深懷退素，北宅舊有園田之美，乃盛修理之。 武帝嘗問臨川王映居家何事樂，映曰：「政使劉瓛講禮，顧則講易，朱廣之講莊、老，臣與二三諸彥兄弟友生時復擊贊，以此為樂。」 上大賞之。 他日謂嶷曰：「臨川為善，遂至於斯。」 嶷曰：「此大司馬公之次弟，安得不爾！」 上仍以玉如意指嶷曰：「未若皇帝之次弟為善最多也。」
In the fifth year, Luan was promoted to Grand Marshal. In the eighth year he was granted a black-wheeled carriage. Shortly thereafter he was offered the additional post of Director of the Secretariat, which he firmly declined. Luan stood seven feet eight inches in height and was skilled in maintaining dignified bearing; his ceremonial regalia and attendants outshone all the hundred officials. Whenever he entered or left the palace halls, all gazed upon him with solemn respect. Considering his position weighty and eminent, he deeply cherished simplicity and retirement; the Northern Mansion's old gardens and fields were beautiful, and he undertook extensive repairs. Emperor Wu once asked Prince of Linchuan Xiao Ying what he found pleasurable at home. Ying replied, "I have Liu Huan lecture on ritual, Gu Ze on the Changes, Zhu Guangzhi on Zhuangzi and Laozi; I with two or three worthy brothers and student friends occasionally strike the clappers — this is my pleasure." The emperor greatly praised this. Another day he said to Luan, "Linchuan does good — and has come to this." Luan said, "This is the Grand Marshal's younger brother — how could he not be so!" The emperor still pointed at Luan with his jade ruyi scepter and said, "Not so good as the emperor's younger brother, who does the most good of all."
17
嶷常戒諸子曰：「凡富貴少不驕奢，以約失之者鮮矣。 漢世以來，侯王子弟，以驕恣之故，大者滅身喪族，小者削奪邑地，可不戒哉！」 稱疾不利住東城，累求還第，令世子子廉代鎮東府。 上數幸嶷第，宋長寧陵隧道出第前路，上曰：「我便是入他家墓內尋人。」 乃徙其表闕騏驎於東岡。 騏驎及闕，形勢甚巧，宋孝武於襄陽致之，後諸帝王陵皆模範，而莫及也。
Luan often admonished his sons, "Among the wealthy and noble, few are not arrogant and extravagant — those who fail through restraint are rare. Since the Han dynasty, marquises and princes' sons and younger brothers, through arrogant willfulness, have in great cases lost their lives and clans, in small cases been stripped of fiefs and lands — can one not take warning!" He pleaded illness and found it disadvantageous to dwell in the Eastern City; repeatedly he requested to return to his mansion and had his heir Zilian replace him in guarding the Eastern Palace. The emperor often visited Luan's mansion; the tunnel of Song's Changning Mausoleum emerged onto the road before the mansion. The emperor said, "I am simply entering someone else's tomb to find a man." He then moved the ornamental gate towers and qilin statues to the eastern hill. The qilin and gate towers were very artful in form; Emperor Xiaowu of Song had them brought from Xiangyang; later all imperial tombs took them as models, yet none could match them.
18
永明末，車駕數遊幸，唯嶷陪從。 上嘗出新林苑，同輦夜歸，至宮門，嶷下輦辭出，上曰：「今夜行，無使為尉司所呵也。」 嶷對曰：「京輦之內，皆屬臣州，願陛下不垂過慮。」
At the end of the Yongming era, the imperial carriage made many excursions and tours; only Luan accompanied him. The emperor once went out to Xinlin Park and returned at night in the same carriage; at the palace gate Luan descended to take his leave. The emperor said, "Traveling tonight — don't let the patrol officers rebuke you." Luan replied, "Within the capital precinct all falls under my province — may Your Majesty not trouble yourself with excessive concern."
19
上大笑，賜以魏所送氈車。 每幸第，不復屏人，敕外監曰：「我往大司馬第，是還家耳。」 嶷妃庾氏，嘗有疾，瘳，上幸嶷邸，後堂設金石樂，宮人畢至。 登桐台，使嶷著烏紗帽，極日盡歡，敕嶷備家人之禮。 嶷謂上曰：「古來言願陛下壽比南山，或稱萬歲，此殆近貌言。 如臣所懷，實願陛下極壽百年亦足矣。」 上曰：「百年復何可得，止得東西一百，於事亦濟。」 因相執流涕。
The emperor laughed greatly and granted him the felt carriage sent by Wei. Whenever he visited the mansion he no longer screened out attendants, instructing the outer supervisor, "When I go to the Grand Marshal's mansion, I am simply returning home." Luan's consort, the Lady Yu, had once been ill and recovered; the emperor visited Luan's residence, bronze and stone music was set up in the rear hall, and palace women all attended. They ascended the Tong Terrace; the emperor had Luan wear a black gauze cap and enjoy the day to the fullest, ordering Luan to prepare family ceremony. Luan said to the emperor, "Since antiquity people have said they wish Your Majesty's life equal to the Southern Mountain, or called out 'ten thousand years' — this is nearly superficial speech. As in my heart, I truly wish Your Majesty the utmost span of a hundred years — that would be enough." The emperor said, "A hundred years — how could that be attained? Only east and west a hundred — that would also suffice for the matter." Thereupon they grasped each other and wept.
20
十年，上封嶷諸子。 舊例王子封千戶，嶷欲五子俱封，啟減，人五百戶。 其年疾篤，表解職，不許，賜錢五百萬營功德。 薨，年四十九。 其日上視疾，至薨乃還宮。 詔斂以袞冕之服，溫明秘器，大鴻臚持節護喪事，太官朝夕送祭奠，大司馬、太傅二府文武悉停過葬。 詔贈假黃鉞、都督中外諸軍事、丞相、揚州牧，綠綟綬，具九服錫命之禮，侍中、大司馬、太傅、王如故。 給九旒鸞輅，黃屋左纛，虎賁班劍百人，轀輬車，前後部羽葆、鼓吹。 喪葬送儀，並依漢東平王蒼故事。
In the tenth year the emperor enfeoffed Luan's sons. By old precedent princes' sons were enfeoffed with a thousand households; Luan wished all five sons to be enfeoffed and submitted a request to reduce each to five hundred households. That year his illness grew grave; he submitted a memorial requesting to resign his posts, which was not granted; he was granted five million in cash to perform meritorious works. He died at the age of forty-nine. That day the emperor visited him in his illness and did not return to the palace until his death. An edict ordered him dressed in imperial robes and crown, with the Warm Bright secret coffin; the Grand Herald held the staff to oversee funeral affairs; the Imperial Kitchen sent offerings morning and evening; all civil and military officials of the Grand Marshal and Grand Tutor establishments suspended work past the burial. An edict posthumously granted the Acting Yellow Battle-Axe, Area Commander over all armies within and without, Chancellor, and Governor of Yangzhou, with green ribbon and tassel, fully performing the nine-garment investiture ceremony; his posts as Attendant-in-Ordinary, Grand Marshal, Grand Tutor, and Prince were confirmed as before. He was granted the nine-tassel imperial carriage with phoenix canopy, yellow roof and left banner, a hundred Tiger Guard halberd-bearers, the encoffining carriage, and front and rear escorts with feather parasols and martial music. Funeral and burial rites all followed the precedent of Han's Prince of Dongping, Cang.
21
嶷臨終，召子子廉、子恪曰：「吾無後，當共相勉勵，篤睦為先。 才有優劣，位有通塞，運有富貧，此自然理，無足以相陵侮。 勤學行，守基業，修閨庭，尚閑素，如此足無憂患。 聖主儲皇及諸親賢，亦當不以吾沒易情也。 三日施靈，惟香火、盤水、乾飯、酒脯、檳榔而已，朔望菜食一盤，加以甘果，此外悉省。 葬後除靈，可施吾常所乘輿扇傘。 朔望時節，席地香火、盤水、酒脯、乾飯、檳榔便足。 棺器及墓中勿用餘物為後患也。 朝服之外，唯下鐵環刀一口。 作塚勿令深，一一依格，莫過度也。 後堂樓可安佛，供養外國二僧，餘皆如舊。 與汝遊戲後堂船乘，吾所乘牛馬，送二宮及司徒。 服飾衣裘，悉為功德。」 子廉等號泣奉行。
At his end Luan summoned his sons Zilian and Zike and said, "I have no further days — you should encourage one another, taking sincere harmony as foremost. Talent has superior and inferior; position has smooth and blocked; fortune has rich and poor — this is natural principle, insufficient grounds for mutual bullying. Study diligently and practice conduct, guard the family estate, keep the inner household in order, esteem simplicity — thus one may be free of worry. The sage sovereign, the Heir Apparent, and all kinsmen and worthies likewise should not change their feelings because of my passing. For the three-day spirit placement, only incense, a dish of water, dry rice, wine and dried meat, and betel nut — on the first and fifteenth of the month one dish of vegetables, with sweet fruits added; beyond this all is to be reduced. After burial when the spirit is removed, you may set out the carriage umbrella and fan I ordinarily used. On the first and fifteenth and at seasonal festivals, incense on the ground, a dish of water, wine and dried meat, dry rice, and betel nut will suffice. In the coffin fittings and tomb use no surplus goods that may become a later trouble. Beyond court dress, only place one iron-ringed knife below. In building the tomb do not make it deep; follow regulations in every respect and do not exceed the standard. The rear hall tower may house a Buddha image and support two foreign monks; the rest remains as before. The rear-hall boats in which I played with you, and the cattle and horses I rode — send them to the Two Palaces and the Secretariat Director. Garments, ornaments, and furs — all are to be dedicated as meritorious works." Zilian and the others wailed and carried out his instructions.
22
武帝哀痛特至，蔬食積旬。 太官朝夕送祭奠，敕王融為銘，云：「半嶽摧峰，中河墜月。」 帝流涕曰：「此正吾所欲言也。」
Emperor Wu's grief was exceptionally deep; he ate only vegetables for many days. The Imperial Kitchen sent offerings morning and evening; the emperor ordered Wang Rong to compose an inscription, which read, "Half the mountain's peak is shattered; mid-river the moon has fallen." The emperor wept and said, "This is precisely what I wished to say."
23
至其年十二月，乃舉樂宴朝臣。 樂始舉，上便歔欷流涕。
Only in the twelfth month of that year did he raise music and feast the court ministers. As soon as the music began, the emperor sighed and wept.
24
嶷薨後，第庫無見錢，武帝敕貨雜物服飾得數百萬，起集善寺，月給第見錢百萬，至上崩乃省。
After Luan's death the mansion treasury had no cash on hand; Emperor Wu ordered the sale of miscellaneous goods and ornaments, obtaining several million, and built Jishan Temple; each month he granted the mansion a million in cash — this was discontinued only when the emperor died.
25
嶷性泛愛，不樂聞人過失，左右投書相告，置靴中，竟不視，取火焚之。 齋庫失火，燒荊州還資，評直三千餘萬，主局各杖數十而已。 嶷薨後，忽見形于沈文季曰：「我未應便死，皇太子加膏中十一種藥，使我癰不差，湯中復加藥一種，使利不斷。 吾已訴先帝，先帝許還東邸，當判此事。」 因胸中出青紙文書示文季曰：「與卿少舊，因卿呈上。」 俄失所在。 文季秘而不傳，甚懼此事，少時太子薨。
Luan was by nature broadly loving and did not enjoy hearing of others' faults; when attendants submitted letters informing on one another, he placed them in his boot, never looked at them, and burned them in the fire. The fasting-storehouse caught fire and burned the goods Luan had brought back from Jingzhou, assessed at more than thirty million; the chief clerks each received only several dozen strokes of the staff. After Luan's death he suddenly appeared in form to Shen Wenji and said, "I ought not to have died so soon — the Crown Prince added eleven kinds of medicine to the ointment, so my abscess would not heal; in the decoction he added another medicine, so my diarrhea would not stop. I have already appealed to the late emperor; the late emperor has permitted me to return to the Eastern Mansion to judge this matter." He then produced a blue-paper document from his breast and showed Wenji, "We were old acquaintances in youth — through you I present this above." Shortly he vanished. Wenji kept it secret and did not transmit it, greatly fearing this matter; before long the Crown Prince died.
26
又嘗見形於第後園，乘腰輿，指麾處分，呼直兵，直兵無手板，左右授一玉手板與之，謂曰：「橘樹一株死，可覓補之。」 因出後園合，直兵倒地，仍失手板。
He also once appeared in form in the rear garden of the mansion, riding a waist carriage, directing affairs, calling the guards — the guards had no writing tablets, so attendants handed him a jade tablet and he said, "One orange tree has died — find a replacement." He then went out through the rear garden gate; the guard collapsed to the ground and dropped the tablet.
27
群吏中南陽樂藹、彭城劉繪、吳郡張稷，最被親禮。 藹與竟陵王子良箋，欲率荊、江、湘三州僚吏建碑，托中書侍郎劉繪營辦。 藹又與右率沈約書，請為文。 約答曰：「郭有道漢末之匹夫，非蔡伯喈不足以偶三絕。 謝安石素族之台輔，時無麗藻，迄乃有碑無文。 況文獻王冠冕彝倫，儀刑宇內，自非一代辭宗，難或與此。 約閭閈鄙人，名不入第，欻酬今旨，便是以禮許人，聞命慚顏，已不覺汗之沾背也。」 建武中，第二子子恪托約及太子詹事孔珪為文。
Among his staff, Yue Ai of Nanyang, Liu Hui of Pengcheng, and Zhang Ji of Wu Commandery were most favored with intimate courtesy. Ai wrote to Ziliang, Prince of Jingling, wishing to lead the officials of the three provinces Jing, Jiang, and Xiang to erect a stele, entrusting Attendant Gentleman of the Secretariat Liu Hui to arrange it. Ai also wrote to Right Commander Shen Yue, requesting him to compose the text. Yue replied, "Guo Youdao was a common man of late Han — without Cai Yong he would not have been worthy of the three perfections. Xie Anshi was a minister from an old family, yet in his time there was no fine literary talent — in the end there was a stele but no inscription. How much more Prince Wenxian, who crowns the moral order and is the model within the realm — unless one were a literary master of an age, it would be hard to match this. I am a rustic from the lanes, my name not entered in the registers — suddenly to answer this commission would be to grant a man by courtesy alone; hearing the command I blush with shame, already feeling sweat soak my back." In the Jianwu era, the second son Zike entrusted Yue and the Heir Apparent's Household Mentor Kong Gui to compose the text.
28
子廉字景藹。 初，嶷養魚復侯子響為嗣子，子廉封永新侯，子響還本。 子廉為世子，位淮陵太守，太子中舍人，前將軍，善撫諸弟。 十一年卒，贈侍中，諡哀世子。
Zilian, whose style name was Jing'ai. Initially Luan adopted Zixiang, Marquis of Yufu, as heir; Zilian was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yongxin, and Zixiang returned to his original line. Zilian became heir, holding the posts of Administrator of Huailing, Household Attendant of the Heir Apparent, and Forward General; he was skilled in caring for his younger brothers. In the eleventh year he died; posthumously granted Attendant-in-Ordinary, with the posthumous title Lamented Heir.
29
子元琳嗣。 梁武受禪，詔曰：「豫章王元琳、故竟陵王昭胄子同，齊氏宗國，高、武嫡胤，宜祚井邑，以傳於後。 降封新淦侯。」
His son Yuanlin succeeded. When Emperor Wu of Liang received the abdication, an edict said, "Prince of Yuzhang Yuanlin and Zitong, son of the late Prince of Jingling Zhaozhou — clansmen of the Qi house, legitimate descendants of Gao and Wu — should receive fiefs and towns to transmit to posterity. They were demoted and enfeoffed as Marquis of Xingan."
30
子廉弟子恪字景沖，永明中，以王子封南康縣侯。 年十二，和從兄司徒竟陵王子良高松賦，衛軍王儉見而奇之。
Zilian's younger brother's son Zike, whose style name was Jingchong, in the Yongming era was enfeoffed as Marquis of Nankang County by virtue of princely birth. At age twelve he composed a rhapsody on lofty pines with his cousin Ziliang, Prince of Jingling, Grand Tutor of the Secretariat; Defender-in-Chief Wang Jian saw it and marveled.
31
建武中，為吳郡太守。 及大司馬王敬則於會稽反，奉子恪為名，而子恪奔走，未知所在。 始安王遙光勸上並誅高、武諸子孫，於是並敕竟陵王昭胄等六十餘人入永福省，令太醫煮椒二斛，並命辦數十具棺材，謂舍人沈徽孚曰：「椒熟則一時賜死。」 期三更當殺之。
In the Jianwu era he became Administrator of Wu Commandery. When Grand Marshal Wang Jingze rebelled at Kuaiji, he used Zike's name as a banner, while Zike fled and his whereabouts were unknown. Prince of Shi'an Yaoguang urged the emperor to execute together all descendants of Gao and Wu; thereupon more than sixty persons including Prince of Jingling Zhaozhou were ordered into Yongfu Palace, the Imperial Physician told to boil two hu of pepper, and several dozen coffins ordered prepared; he told Attendant Shen Huifu, "When the pepper is cooked, grant death all at once." The time was set for the third watch of the night when they were to be killed.
32
會上暫臥，主書單景雋啟依旨斃之，徽孚堅執曰：「事須更審。」 爾夕三更，子恪徒跣奔至建陽門。 上聞驚覺曰：「故當未賜諸侯命邪？」 徽孚以答。 上撫床曰：「遙光幾誤人事。」 及見子恪，顧問流涕，諸侯悉賜供饌。 以子恪為太子中庶子。
The emperor was briefly resting; Chief Clerk Shan Jingjun reported that according to the order they should be put to death. Huifu firmly held, "The matter must be reviewed again." That evening at the third watch, Zike ran barefoot to Jiayang Gate. Hearing this, the startled emperor awoke and said, "Surely the order to execute the princes has not yet been given?" Huifu answered accordingly. The emperor struck the bed and said, "Yaoguang nearly ruined the affair of state." When he saw Zike, he looked back and wept; all the princes were granted provisions. Zike was appointed Senior Tutor to the Crown Prince.
33
東昏即位，為侍中。 中興二年，為相國諮議參軍。 梁天監元年，降爵為子，位司徒左長史。
When Emperor Donghun succeeded to the throne, he was appointed Palace Attendant. In the second year of Zhongxing, he served as Consulting Military Advisor to the Chancellor. In the first year of Liang's Tianjian era, his noble rank was reduced to baron, and he was appointed Left Chief Administrator under the Minister of Works.
34
子恪與弟子范等嘗因事入謝，梁武帝在文德殿引見，謂曰：「夫天下之寶，本是公器，苟無期運，雖有項籍之力，終亦敗亡。 宋孝武為性猜忌，兄弟粗有令名者，無不因事鴆毒，所遺唯景和。 至朝臣之中疑有天命而致害者，枉濫相繼。 于時雖疑卿祖，無如之何。 如宋明帝本為庸常被免，豈疑得全。 又復我于時已年二歲，彼豈知我應有今日。 當知有天命者非人所害，害亦不能得。 我初平建康城，朝廷內外皆勸我云：'時代革異，物心須一，宜行處分。 '我于時依此而行，誰謂不可？ 政言江左以來，代謝必相誅戮，此是傷于和氣，國祚例不靈長。 此是一義。 二者，齊、梁雖曰革代，義異往時。 我與卿兄弟宗屬未遠，卿勿言兄弟是親，人家兄弟自有周旋者不周旋者，況五服之屬邪？ 齊業之初，亦是甘苦共嘗，腹心在我，卿兄弟年少，理當不悉。 我與卿兄弟便是情同一家，豈當都不念此，作行路事。 此是二義。 且建武屠滅卿門，我起義兵，非惟自雪門恥，亦是為卿兄弟報仇。 卿若能在建武、永元之時撥亂反正，我雖起樊、鄧，豈得不釋戈推奉。 我今為卿報仇，且時代革異，望卿兄弟盡節報我耳。 且我自藉喪亂，代明帝家天下，不取卿家天下。 昔劉子輿自稱成帝子，光武言：'假使成帝更生，天下亦不復可得，況子輿乎？' 梁初人勸我相誅滅者，我答之猶如向言：若苟有天命，非我所殺，若其無運，何忽行此，政是示無度量。 '曹志親是魏武帝孫，入事晉武，為晉室忠臣。 此即卿事例。 卿是宗室，情義異他，方坦然相期，小待自當知我寸心。」 又文獻王時內齋直帳閹人趙叔祖，天監初入台為齋帥在壽光省。 武帝呼問曰：「汝比見北第諸郎不？ 若見道我此意：今日雖是革代，情同一家； 但今磐石未立，所以未得用諸郎。 非唯在我未宜，我亦是欲使諸郎得得安耳。 但閉門高枕，後自當見我心。」 叔祖即出具宣敕意。
Zike and his younger brothers Zifan and others once came to court to offer thanks on a particular matter. Emperor Wu of Liang received them at the Wende Hall and said: "The empire is a public trust. Without the mandate of fate, even a man as strong as Xiang Yu is doomed to fail in the end. Emperor Xiaowu of Song was mistrustful by nature. Every brother who had earned even a modest reputation was eventually poisoned on some pretext; only Prince Jinghe was spared. At court, officials suspected of bearing the Mandate of Heaven were likewise destroyed in an unending succession of unjust killings. Your grandfather aroused his suspicions even then, yet there was nothing he could do about it. Consider Emperor Ming of Song: he was an unremarkable man who had been dismissed from office—how could mere suspicion have kept him alive? And I was only two years old then. How could he have foreseen that I would come to this? A man favored by Heaven cannot be destroyed by human hands; attempts to kill him will fail. When I first seized Jiankang, court and country alike urged me: 'The dynasty has changed; the people's loyalties must be consolidated. You ought to take decisive action. Had I followed that advice, who could have faulted me? The reason is that ever since the Eastern Jin, every dynastic transition has been marked by mutual slaughter—a habit that destroys harmony and ensures that no realm lasts long. That is the first consideration. Second, although Qi gave way to Liang, the circumstances differ from previous changes of dynasty. I am not far removed from your branch of the clan. Do not assume that blood ties alone guarantee loyalty—even among brothers, some remain close and some do not; how much less can one rely on kinship within the five degrees of mourning? When the Qi enterprise was first launched, we shared hardship and triumph alike; my inner circle stood with me. You were young then, and naturally would not know this well. I regard you as family in every meaningful sense. How could I forget that and treat you as strangers? That is the second consideration. When the Jianwu reign massacred your house, I raised an army—not only to redeem my own family's honor, but to avenge your brothers as well. Had you restored order during the Jianwu and Yongyuan reigns, I would have laid down my arms and submitted to you—even though I had risen from Fan and Deng. I have already avenged your wrongs. With the change of dynasty, I ask only that you and your brothers serve me with wholehearted loyalty. I seized the realm in the turmoil that followed the Ming Emperor's fall; I did not take it from your house. Once Liu Ziyu claimed to be the son of Emperor Cheng. Emperor Guangwu replied: 'Even if Emperor Cheng himself returned to life, the realm could not be recovered—what chance had Ziyu?' When Liang was founded, some urged me to slaughter the former rulers' kin. I answered as I have just said: if Heaven has chosen them, I cannot kill them; if they lack destiny, what need is there for slaughter? That would only show petty vindictiveness. Cao Zhi was a grandson of Emperor Wu of Wei; he entered the service of Emperor Wu of Jin and proved a loyal minister of the Jin dynasty. You should take him as your model. As members of the imperial clan, your tie to me is unlike that of ordinary subjects. I speak to you openly now; in time you will understand my true intentions. The Emperor also mentioned that during Prince Wenxian's reign the eunuch Zhao Shuzu had served in the inner fasting hall. At the start of Tianjian, Zhao entered the palace administration as head of the fasting hall in the Shouguang office. The Emperor summoned him and asked: "Have you recently seen the young lords of the Northern Residence? If you do, tell them what I mean: though the dynasty has changed, we are as one family in spirit; but my foundation is not yet secure, and that is why I cannot yet appoint them to office. It is not only that the time is not right for me; I also wish to keep them safe and at ease. Let them shut their doors and live in peace; in time they will see what I truly intend. Zhao Shuzu went out at once and delivered the Emperor's message.
35
子恪普通三年累遷都官尚書，四年轉吏部。 大通二年，出為吳郡太守，卒官。 諡曰恭子。
In the third year of Putong, Zike rose to Minister of Justice; the following year he was transferred to head the Ministry of Personnel. In the second year of Datong, he was appointed Governor of Wu Commandery and died in that post. He was posthumously titled Baron Gong.
36
子恪兄弟十六人併入梁，有文學者子恪、子質、子顯、子雲、子暉。 子恪常謂所親曰：「文史之事，諸弟備之矣，不煩吾復牽率。 但退食自公，無過足矣。」
All sixteen of Zike's brothers entered Liang together. Those distinguished in letters were Zike, Zizhi, Zixian, Ziyun, and Zihui. Zike often told his intimates: "My younger brothers have literature and history well in hand; there is no need for me to take the lead again. It is enough for me to leave office after my meal without scandal."
37
子恪亦涉學，頗屬文，隨棄其本，故不傳文集。
Zike too had some learning and wrote occasional pieces, but he discarded his drafts as he went, so no collected works survive.
38
子操弟子范字景則。 齊永明中封祁陽縣侯，拜太子洗馬。
Zifan, son of Zicao, styled himself Jingze. During the Yongming reign of Qi, he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Qiyang and appointed Groom of the Crown Prince's Stables.
39
天監初降爵為子，位司徒主簿。 丁所生母憂去職。
At the start of Tianjian, his noble rank was reduced to baron, and he served as Chief Clerk under the Minister of Works. He resigned when his biological mother died.
40
子範有孝性，居喪以毀聞。 服闋，累遷大司馬南平王從事中郎。 王愛文學士，子范偏被恩遇，常曰：「此宗室奇才也。」 使制千字文，其辭甚美。 王命記室蔡薳注釋之。 自是府中文筆皆使具草。
Zifan was filial by nature; his grief during mourning was so intense that it became well known. After the mourning period, he rose to Attendant Officer under the Grand Marshal, Prince of Nanping. The prince favored men of letters and showed Zifan particular favor, often declaring: "Here is a rare genius among the imperial clansmen. He commissioned Zifan to compose a Thousand-Character Text, and the text was beautifully wrought. The prince ordered his secretariat officer Cai Wei to annotate it. Thereafter, all official documents in the prince's household were entrusted to him for drafting.
41
後為臨賀王正德長史。 正德遷丹陽尹，復為正德信威長史，領尹丞。 曆官十餘年，不出蕃府，而諸弟並登顯列，意不能平。 及是為到府箋曰：「上蕃首僚，於茲再忝，河南雌伏，自此重叨。 老少異時，盛衰殊日，雖佩恩寵，還羞年鬢。」 子范少與弟子顯、子雲才名略相比，而風采容止不逮，故宦途有優劣。 每讀漢書杜緩傳云：「六弟五人至大官，唯中弟欽官不至，最知名。」 常吟諷之，以況己也。
He later served as Chief Administrator to Prince Zhengde of Linhe. When Zhengde was appointed Governor of Danyang, Zifan again served as his Chief Administrator of Trust and Prestige, concurrently holding the post of Assistant Governor. For more than ten years he remained within princely service while his younger brothers all rose to high office; he could not reconcile himself to this. On this appointment he submitted a memorial to the princely residence: "As chief officer of the foremost princely establishment, I am once again undeservedly honored; like a hen crouching in Henan, I again receive a favor I have scarcely earned. Youth and age belong to different seasons; rise and fall come on different days. Though still favored, I am ashamed of my advancing years and gray hair. In youth Zifan was nearly the equal of his younger brothers Zixian and Ziyun in talent and reputation, but his presence and bearing fell short of theirs, and their careers accordingly diverged in success. Whenever he read the Biography of Du Huan in the Book of Han—"Of six brothers, five rose to high office; only the middle brother Qin did not, yet he was the most famous —he would recite the passage to himself, taking it as a mirror of his own case.
42
後為秘書監。 簡文即位，召為光祿大夫，加金章紫綬。 以逼賊不拜。 其年葬簡皇后，使制哀策，文理哀切。 帝謂武林侯蕭諮曰：「此段莊陵萬事零落，唯哀冊尚有典刑。」 敕賚米千石。
He later served as Director of the Palace Library. When Emperor Jianwen succeeded to the throne, Zifan was summoned as Grand Master for Splendid Happiness and granted a gold seal and purple ribbon. With the rebels pressing in, he declined to accept the appointment. That same year, when Empress Jian was buried, he was commissioned to write the mourning encomium; the text was eloquent and deeply mournful. The Emperor said to Marquis Wulin Xiao Zi: "At Zhuangling everything has been laid waste; only this mourning encomium still upholds the ancient standard. He was rewarded by imperial edict with a thousand shi of rice.
43
子范無居宅，尋卒於招提寺僧房。 賊平，元帝追贈金紫光祿大夫，諡曰文。 前後文集三十卷。
Zifan owned no home and soon died in a monk's cell at Zhaoti Temple. After the rebellion was suppressed, Emperor Yuan posthumously honored him as Grand Master with Gold Seal and Purple Ribbon and gave him the posthumous name Wen. His collected works totaled thirty scrolls.
44
子滂、確並少有文章，簡文在東宮時，嘗與邵陵王數諸蕭文士，滂、確並預焉。
Zibang and Que both showed literary talent from youth. When Jianwen was crown prince, he often gathered with Prince Shaoling and various Xiao men of letters; Zibang and Que both took part.
45
滂位中軍宣城王記室，先子範卒。 確位司徒右長史。 魏平江陵，入長安。
Zibang served as Secretariat Officer to Prince Xuancheng of the Central Army and died before Zifan. Que served as Right Chief Administrator under the Minister of Works. After Wei conquered Jiangling, he was taken to Chang'an.
46
天嘉二年，留異反，陳寶應助之，又資周迪兵糧，出寇臨川，因逼建安。 幹單使臨郡，不能守，乃棄郡以避寶應。 時閩中宰守並受寶應署置，幹獨不屈，徙居郊野。 及寶應平，都督章昭達以聞，文帝甚嘉之，超授五兵尚書。 卒，諡靜子。
In the second year of Tiancheng, Liu Yi rebelled. Chen Baoying aided him and supplied Zhou Di with troops and grain; the rebels raided Linchuan and pressed toward Jian'an. Gan was governing the commandery alone and could not hold it, so he abandoned his post to escape Chen Baoying. At the time the prefects and commandants throughout Min all accepted appointments from Baoying, but Gan alone refused to submit and withdrew to live in the countryside. After Baoying was suppressed, Area Commander Zhang Zhaoda reported Gan's conduct to the throne. Emperor Wen greatly praised him and promoted him out of turn to Minister of the Five Armies. He died and was posthumously titled Baron Jing.
47
子顯字景陽，子范弟也。 幼聰慧，嶷偏愛之。 七歲，封甯都縣侯，梁天監初，降為子。 位太尉錄事參軍。
Zixian, styled Jingyang, was Zifan's younger brother. Clever from childhood, he was especially favored by Prince Luan. At seven he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Ningdu; at the start of Liang's Tianjian era his rank was reduced to baron. He served as Recording Affairs Military Advisor to the Grand Marshal.
48
子顯身長八尺，狀貌甚雅，好學，工屬文。 嘗著鴻序賦，尚書令沈約見而稱曰：「可謂明道之高致，蓋幽通之流也。」 又采眾家後漢考正同異，為一家之書。 又啟撰齊史，書成表奏，詔付秘閣。 累遷邵陵王友。 後除黃門郎。
Zixian stood eight chi tall, with a refined bearing; he loved learning and was adept at literary composition. He once wrote the rhapsody "Preface to the Wild Goose." When Minister of Works Shen Yue read it, he praised it, saying: "This is the lofty spirit of one who illumines the Way—it belongs among those who penetrate the hidden realms. He also collated various accounts of the Later Han, reconciled their discrepancies, and produced a history in his own synthesis. He also petitioned to compile the History of Qi; when the work was finished he submitted it to the throne, and an edict ordered it deposited in the Secret Archive. He rose to serve as Companion to Prince Shaoling. He was later appointed Gentleman of the Yellow Gate.
49
中大通二年，遷長兼侍中。 梁武帝雅愛子顯才，又嘉其容止吐納，每御筵侍坐，偏顧訪焉。 嘗從容謂曰：「我造通史，此書若成，眾史可廢。」 子顯對曰：「仲尼贊易道，黜八索； 述職方，除九丘。 聖制符同，復在茲日。」 時以為名對。
In the second year of Zhongdatong, he was promoted to Senior Concurrent Palace Attendant. Emperor Wu of Liang greatly admired Zixian's talent and his bearing and conversation at court; whenever the Emperor held banquets and Zixian was in attendance, he would turn especially to question him. He once said to him in an unhurried tone: "I am composing a Comprehensive History. If this book is completed, all other histories may be set aside. Zixian replied: "Confucius praised the Way of the Changes and dismissed the Eight Cord Records; he expounded the Records of Duty and abolished the Nine Mounds. Your sage's design accords with his—the same holds true today. At the time this was considered a celebrated reply.
50
三年，以本官領國子博士。 武帝制孝經義，未列學官，子顯在職，表置助教一人，生十人。 又啟撰武帝集並普通北伐記。 遷國子祭酒，加侍中，於學遞述武帝五經義，遷吏部尚書，侍中如故。
In the third year he concurrently served as Erudite of the Imperial Academy while retaining his existing post. The Emperor had composed exegeses of the Classic of Filial Piety, but they had not yet been incorporated into the academic curriculum. While in office, Zixian petitioned to appoint one assistant instructor and ten students. He also petitioned to compile the Emperor's collected works and the Record of the Putong Northern Campaign. He was promoted to Rector of the Imperial Academy with the additional title of Palace Attendant; at the academy he lectured on the Emperor's exegeses of the Five Classics in sequence. He was then transferred to Minister of Personnel while retaining his post as Palace Attendant.
51
子顯風神灑落，雍容閒雅，簡通賓客，不畏鬼神。 性愛山水，為伐社文以見其志。 飲酒數斗，頗負才氣。 及掌選，見九流賓客不與交言，但舉扇一撝而已，衣冠竊恨。 然簡文素重其為人，在東宮時，每引與促宴。 子顯嘗起更衣，簡文謂坐客曰：「常聞異人間出，今日始見，知是蕭尚書。」 其見重如此。 出為吳興太守。 卒時年四十九，詔贈侍中、中書令。 及請諡，手敕曰：「恃才傲物，宜諡曰驕。」 子顯嘗為自序，其略云：「余為邵陵王友，忝還京師，遠思前比，即楚之唐、宋，梁之嚴、鄒。 追尋平生，頗好辭藻，雖在名無成，求心已足。 若乃登高目極，臨水送歸，風動春朝，月明秋夜，早雁初鸚，開花落葉，有來斯應，每不能已也。 且前代賈、傅、崔、馬、邯鄲、繆、路之徒，並以文章顯，所以屢上歌頌，自比古人。 天監十六年，始預九日朝宴，稠人廣坐，獨受旨云：'今雲物甚美，卿將不斐然賦詩。' 詩既成，又降旨曰：'可謂才子。' '餘退謂人曰：一顧之恩，非望而至，遂方賈誼何如哉，未易當也。 每有制作，特寡思功，須其自來，不以力構。 少來所為詩賦，則鴻序一作，體兼眾制，文備多方，頗為好事所傳，故虛聲易遠。」 子顯所著後漢書一百卷，齊書六十卷，普通北伐記五卷，貴儉傳三卷，文集二十卷。
Zixian carried himself with effortless grace—refined yet unhurried, plainspoken with guests, and utterly unafraid of ghosts or spirits. He loved mountains and rivers by temperament, and wrote an essay denouncing the village shrine to declare where he stood. He could drink several pecks at a sitting and was rather full of literary pride. Once he oversaw appointments, he would not so much as speak to visitors of every stripe—only lift his fan in a dismissive wave—much to the quiet resentment of the official class. Emperor Jianwen, however, had long esteemed the man himself; during his years as heir, he repeatedly drew Zixian into close, convivial feasts. Once, when Zixian rose to change clothes, Jianwen told those at table: "One often hears that remarkable men appear from time to time; today I have seen one at last—the Minister Xiao." Such was the honor shown him. He was appointed Grand Administrator of Wuxing. He died at forty-nine; the throne posthumously honored him with the titles Palace Attendant and Director of the Secretariat. When a posthumous name was sought, the Emperor wrote in his own hand: "Presuming on talent and looking down on the world—let his posthumous title be Arrogant." Zixian once composed a preface to his own works, which in summary reads: "I served as Companion to the Prince of Shaoling and was fortunate to return to the capital. Looking to earlier exemplars—Tang and Song in Chu, Yan and Zou in Liang. Reviewing my life, I have always loved fine language; though I have won no lasting renown, what my heart sought is already enough. Whether I climb high and look to the horizon, or stand by water bidding farewell; whether wind stirs on a spring morning or moonlight fills an autumn night; whether wild geese pass early or orioles first sing, flowers bloom or leaves fall—when such things arrive, I must answer in words, and cannot stop myself. Men of earlier times—Jia, Fu, Cui, Ma, Handan, Miao, Lu, and others—won fame through writing; so I too have often submitted panegyrics, measuring myself against the ancients. In the sixteenth year of Tianjian I first attended the Double Ninth court feast; in a hall crowded with guests, I alone received the command: 'The sky and landscape today are splendid—you will surely compose a fine poem.' When the poem was finished, another command followed: 'You may truly be called a man of letters.' I withdrew and told others: a single favor, unlooked-for, and then to be compared with Jia Yi—no easy burden to bear. Whenever I write, I seldom labor at it; I wait until the words come on their own and do not force them into shape. Among the poems and rhapsodies I wrote in youth, the Great Preface alone embraces many genres and many modes of expression; enthusiasts spread it widely, so hollow fame travels far." Zixian authored a History of the Later Han in one hundred juan, a History of Qi in sixty juan, a Record of the Putong Northern Expedition in five juan, Biographies of Frugal Worthies in three juan, and Collected Writings in twenty juan.
52
子序、愷並少知名。 序太清中位中庶子，卒。 愷太子家令。
Zixu and Kai were both celebrated while still young. Xu served as Vice Director of the Left during the Taqing era and died in office. Kai served as Director of the Heir Apparent's Household.
53
愷才學譽望，時論以方其父。 簡文在東宮早引接之。 時中庶子謝嘏出守建安，于宣猷堂餞飲，並召時才賦詩，同用十五劇韻。 愷詩先就，其辭又美。 簡文與湘東王令曰：「王筠本自舊手，後進有蕭愷可稱，信為才子。」 先是太學博士顧野王奉令撰玉篇，簡文嫌其書詳略未當，以愷博學，于文字尤善，使更與學士刪改。 太清中，卒於侍中。 子顯弟子云。
Kai's learning and standing were such that contemporaries ranked him alongside his father. While still heir, Jianwen had long since taken Kai under his wing. When Vice Director Xie Ga was sent out to govern Jian'an, a farewell feast was held at Xuanyou Hall; the day's talents were called to compose poems, all bound to the same fifteen difficult rhymes. Kai finished first, and his lines were the finest as well. Jianwen wrote to the Prince of Xiangdong: "Wang Jun was already a seasoned writer; among the younger men, Xiao Kai deserves mention—he is truly a man of letters." Earlier, Academy Erudite Gu Yewang had been ordered to compile the Jade Chapters; Jianwen found its balance of detail and omission unsatisfactory. Because Kai was broadly learned and especially adept with written forms, he was set to revise it again with academy scholars. He died during the Taqing era while serving as Palace Attendant. Zixian's son was Ziyun.
54
子雲字景喬，年十二，齊建武四年，封新浦縣侯。 自製拜章，便有文采。 梁天監初，降爵為子。 及長，勤學有文藻，弱冠撰晉書，至年二十六，書成百餘卷，表奏之，詔付秘閣。
Ziyun, styled Jingqiao, was at twelve enfeoffed as Marquis of Xinpu County in the fourth year of Jianwu under Qi. He drafted his own memorial of thanks, and it already showed literary grace. At the opening of Liang's Tianjian reign, his title was reduced to viscount. As he matured he studied hard and wrote well; at twenty he began a History of Jin, and by twenty-six had completed more than a hundred juan, which he submitted to the throne; an edict ordered it stored in the Secret Archive.
55
子雲性沈靜，不樂仕進，風神閑曠，任性不群。 夏月對賓客，恒自裸袒。 而兄弟不睦，乃至吉凶不相吊問，時論以此少之。
Ziyun was quiet by nature, uninterested in climbing the ladder of office; his bearing was open and unconfined, and he followed his own bent apart from the crowd. In summer he would receive guests bare-chested. Yet he was estranged from his brothers, so that in joy or sorrow they neither visited nor consoled one another; public opinion faulted him for this.
56
年三十，方起家為秘書郎，遷太子舍人，撰東宮新記奏之，敕賜束帛。 累遷丹陽郡丞。 湘東王繹為丹陽尹，深相賞好，如布衣之交。 中大通三年，為臨川內史，在郡以和理稱，人吏悅之。 還除散騎常侍。 曆侍中，國子祭酒。
Not until thirty did he first take office, as a Secretary; he was then promoted to Gentleman of the Heir Apparent's Household, submitted New Records of the Eastern Palace, and received an imperial gift of silks. He rose in turn to Assistant Administrator of Danyang Commandery. When the Prince of Xiangdong, Yi, served as Prefect of Danyang, they held each other in deep regard, like friends without rank between them. In the third year of Zhongdatong he became Interior Governor of Linchuan, where he was praised for fair and conciliatory rule; officials and people alike were content. On returning to court he was appointed Regular Attendant of the Cavalry. He later served as Palace Attendant and then as Rector of the Imperial Academy.
57
梁初，郊廟未革牲牷，樂辭皆沈約撰，至是承用。 子雲啟宜改之，敕答曰：「此是主者守株，宜急改也。」 仍使子雲撰定。 敕曰：「郊廟歌辭，應須典誥大語，不得雜用子史文章淺言。 而沈約所撰，亦多舛謬。」 子雲作成，敕並施用。
In the early Liang, the suburban and temple sacrifices had not yet revised their offerings, and all the ritual lyrics were Shen Yue's, still in use as before. Ziyun memorialized that they ought to be revised; the reply came: "Those responsible have been waiting like a man guarding a tree stump—they must be changed without delay." Ziyun was then ordered to draft the new texts. An edict declared: "Suburban and temple hymns must employ the solemn language of canonical edicts, and must not borrow shallow turns from the Masters, Histories, and belles lettres. Even Shen Yue's versions contained many mistakes." When Ziyun completed the work, an edict ordered all the new texts adopted.
58
子雲善草隸，為時楷法，自雲善效鍾元常、王逸少而微變字體。 嘗答敕云：「臣昔不能拔賞，隨時所貴，規摹子敬，多歷年所。 年二十六著晉史，至二王列傳，欲作論草隸法，言不盡意，遂不能成，略指論飛白一事而已。 十許年，始見敕旨論書一卷，商略筆狀，洞澈字體，始變子敬，全范元常。 逮爾以來，自覺功進。」 其書跡雅為武帝所重，帝嘗論書曰：「筆力勁駿，心手相應，巧逾杜度，美過崔寔，當與元常並驅爭先。」 其見賞如此。
Ziyun excelled in cursive and clerical script and set the standard of his age; he said himself that he followed Zhong Yao and Wang Xizhi while subtly reshaping the forms of the characters. He once answered an imperial command: "Your subject once lacked the eye to discern excellence and followed whatever the age admired; for many years I took Wang Xianzhi as my model. At twenty-six, while compiling my History of Jin, I reached the biographies of the Two Wangs and wished to write on cursive and clerical methods; words could not carry the meaning, so I could not finish—I touched only briefly on feibai. Some ten years later I received an imperial command to write a one-juan treatise on calligraphy; weighing brushwork and penetrating the forms of characters, I began to turn from Xianzhi and take Zhong Yao as my full model. Since then I have felt my craft steadily improve." His writing was greatly prized by Emperor Wu, who once remarked on calligraphy: "His brush is forceful and fleet, heart and hand move as one; in skill he surpasses Du Du, in beauty he exceeds Cui Shi—he should run neck and neck with Zhong Yao." Such was the esteem in which he was held.
59
出為東陽太守。 百濟國使人至建鄴求書，逢子雲為郡，維舟將發。 使人於渚次候之，望船三十許步，行拜行前。 子雲遣問之，答曰：「侍中尺牘之美，遠流海外，今日所求，唯在名跡。」 子雲乃為停船三日，書三十紙與之，獲金貨數百萬。 性吝，自外答餉不書好紙，好事者重加賂遺，以要其答。
He was appointed Grand Administrator of Dongyang. An envoy from Baekje came to Jiankang seeking calligraphy and found Ziyun serving in the prefecture, his boat moored and ready to sail. The envoy waited on the bank; when he saw the boat from some thirty paces off, he walked forward bowing as he came. Ziyun sent someone to ask his business; the envoy answered: "The Palace Attendant's letters are famed even overseas; what I seek today is only your signature and hand." Ziyun thereupon moored for three days, wrote thirty sheets for the envoy, and was paid several million in gold and goods. He was miserly by nature: when answering gifts from outsiders he would not use good paper, so collectors would pile on further presents to secure a reply.
60
子特字世達，早知名，亦善草隸，時人比之衛恒、衛瓘。 武帝嘗使特書，及奏，帝曰：「子敬之跡不及逸少，蕭特之書遂逼于父。」 位太子舍人，海鹽令，坐事免。 先子雲卒，遺啟簡文求為墓誌銘，帝為制銘焉。
Zite, styled Shida, won early fame; he too excelled in cursive and clerical script, and contemporaries likened him to Wei Heng and Wei Guan. Emperor Wu once had Zite write; when the work was presented, the Emperor said: "Xianzhi's hand cannot equal Xizhi's, yet Xiao Te's writing nearly matches his father's." He served as Gentleman of the Heir Apparent's Household and as Magistrate of Haiyan, and was dismissed for an offense. He died before Ziyun; in a final memorial he asked Jianwen to compose his epitaph, and the Emperor wrote it.
61
子雲弟子暉字景光，少涉學，亦有文才。 性恬靜，寡嗜欲，嘗預重雲殿聽制講三慧經，退為講賦奏之，甚見賞。 卒于驃騎長史。
Ziyun's son Zihui, styled Jingguang, read broadly in youth and showed literary talent as well. Quiet and sparing in his appetites, he once attended the Emperor's exposition of the Sutra of the Three Wisdoms at Chongyun Hall; afterward he wrote a rhapsody on the lecture and submitted it, and it was much admired. He died in office as Chief Clerk to the Rapid Cavalry General.