1
列傳第四十八
Biography 48
2
韋叡裴邃
Wei Rui and Pei Sui
3
叡事繼母以孝聞。 祖征累為郡守，每攜叡之職，視之如子。 時叡內兄王憕、姨弟杜惲並有鄉里盛名，祖征謂叡曰：「汝自謂何如憕、惲？」 叡謙不敢對。 祖征曰：「汝文章或小減，學識當過之。 然幹國家，成功業，皆莫汝逮也。」 外兄杜幼文為梁州刺史，要叡俱行。 梁土富饒，往者多以賄敗，叡雖幼，獨以廉聞。
Wei Rui was known for the filial devotion he showed his stepmother. His maternal grandfather Zu Zheng held successive prefectships and always took Rui with him on assignment, treating the boy as his own son. Rui's brother-in-law Wang Peng and his cousin Du Yun were both celebrated in their home district, and Zu Zheng once asked him, "How do you think you measure up to Peng and Yun? Wei Rui demurred and would not reply. Zu Zheng said, "Your prose may be a shade weaker, but in breadth of learning you should excel them. When it comes to serving the state and achieving great things, however, none of them can equal you. Du Youwen, another brother-in-law, had been appointed governor of Liang Province and asked Rui to travel with him. Liang was a wealthy province and many who served there had been ruined by corruption; though still quite young, Rui alone won a reputation for probity.
4
宋永光初，袁顗為雍州刺史，見而異之，引為主簿。 顗到州，與鄧琬起兵，叡求出為義成郡，故免顗之禍。 累遷齊興太守，本州別駕，長水校尉，右軍將軍。 齊末多故，欲還鄉里，求為上庸太守。
In the first year of Yongguang under the Song, Yuan Yi became governor of Yong Province, took an immediate liking to Rui, and made him his chief clerk. After Yi took up his post he joined Deng Wan in rebellion; Rui secured a transfer to Yicheng commandery and so escaped the disaster that befell Yi. He rose through successive posts as grand administrator of Qixing, senior assistant of his native province, colonel of the Chang River guard, and general of the right army. As the Qi dynasty collapsed in turmoil he sought to return home and asked to be made grand administrator of Shangyong.
5
俄而太尉陳顯達、護軍將軍崔慧景頻逼建鄴，人心惶駭。 西土人謀之，叡曰：「陳雖舊將，非高人才，崔頗更事，懦而不武。 天下真人，殆興吾州矣。」 乃遣其二子自結于梁武。 及兵起檄至，叡率郡人伐竹為筏，倍道來赴，有眾二千，馬二百匹。 帝見叡甚悅，撫幾曰：「佗日見君之面，今日見君之心，吾事就矣。」 師克郢、魯，平加湖，叡多建策，皆見用。
Soon Grand Commandant Chen Xianda and Protector-General Cui Huijing were pressing Jiankang again and again, and the capital was gripped by fear. The western gentry consulted him, and Rui said, "Chen may be a veteran commander, but he lacks true greatness; Cui has experience enough, yet he is timid and no soldier. The man destined to rule the realm will likely rise from our own province. He accordingly sent his two sons to pledge themselves to Xiao Yan, the future Emperor Wu of Liang. When the call to arms reached him, he had the people of his commandery cut bamboo for rafts, marched at double speed to join the rising, and brought two thousand men and two hundred horses. The emperor was delighted to receive him and, patting the arm of his seat, said, "Before I had only seen your face; today I have seen your heart. My enterprise is as good as won. When the army took Ying and Lu and pacified Jia Lake, Rui proposed strategy after strategy, and every suggestion was accepted.
6
大軍發郢，謀留守將，上難其人。 久之，顧叡曰：「棄騏驥而不乘，焉遑遑而更索。」 即日以為江夏太守，行郢州府事。 初，郢城之拒守也，男女垂十萬，閉壘經年，疾疫死者十七八，皆積屍於床下，而生者寢處其上，每屋盈滿。 叡料簡隱恤，咸為營理，百姓賴之。
When the main force marched out of Ying, they needed a garrison commander, and the emperor could not settle on anyone suitable. At length he looked at Rui and said, "To leave a thoroughbred unmounted and go frantically searching for another—what sense is there in that? That very day Rui was appointed grand administrator of Jiangxia and entrusted with the civil administration of Ying Province. During the long siege of Ying nearly a hundred thousand people had been trapped inside the walls for a year; plague carried off seven or eight in ten, corpses piled under the beds while survivors slept on top of them, and every dwelling was crammed to capacity. Rui surveyed their needs with quiet compassion, saw that all were provided for, and the people came to depend on him.
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梁台建，徵為大理。 武帝即位，遷廷尉，封都梁子。 天監二年，改封永昌，再遷豫州刺史，領曆陽太守。 魏遣眾來伐，叡率州兵擊走之。
After the Liang regime was founded he was summoned to serve as grand judge. When Emperor Wu ascended the throne, Rui was promoted to commandant of justice and enfeoffed as Viscount of Duliang. In the second year of Tianjian his title was changed to Marquis of Yongchang, and he was again made governor of Yu Province while also holding the post of grand administrator of Liyang. When Wei sent an army against him, Rui led the provincial forces and repulsed the invaders.
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四年侵魏，詔叡都督眾軍。 叡遣長史王超宗、梁郡太守馮道根攻魏小峴城，未能拔。 叡巡行圍柵，魏城中忽出數百人陳於門外，叡欲擊之。 諸將皆曰：「向本輕來，請還授甲而後戰。」 叡曰：「魏城中二千餘人，閉門堅守，足以自保。 今無故出人於外，必其驍勇，若能挫之，其城自拔。」 眾猶遲疑，叡指其節曰：「朝廷授此，非以為飾，韋叡之法，不可犯也。」 乃進兵，魏軍敗，因急攻之，中宿而城拔。 遂進討合肥。
In the fourth year of Tianjian the court launched an invasion of Wei and ordered Rui to command all the forces. Rui sent his chief clerk Wang Chaozong and Liang commandery's grand administrator Feng Daogen against the Wei stronghold at Xiaoxian, but they failed to capture it. While Rui was making the rounds of the siege works, several hundred Wei troops suddenly poured out of the city and drew up before the gates; Rui meant to attack at once. His officers all urged, "We came out without full armor—let us go back, arm ourselves properly, and then give battle. Rui replied, "There are barely two thousand men in that city; shut the gates and they can hold out well enough on their own. To march out for no reason like this means these must be their bravest troops; if we can crush them, the city will surrender without a fight." The men still wavered, so Rui pointed to his command baton and said, "The court gave me this staff not for show. Wei Rui's orders are not to be disobeyed." He advanced, routed the Wei force, and pressed the assault so hard that the city fell before midnight. He then pushed on against Hefei.
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先是右軍司馬胡景略至合肥，久未能下，叡案行山川，曰：「吾聞'汾水可以灌平陽'，即此是也。」 乃堰肥水。 頃之堰成水通，舟艦繼至。 魏初分築東西小城，夾合肥。 叡先攻二城。 既而魏援將楊靈胤帥軍五萬奄至，眾懼不敵，請表益兵。 叡曰：「賊已至城下，方復求軍。 且吾求濟師，彼亦征眾。 '師克在和'，古人之義也。」 因戰，破之，軍人少安。
Hu Jinglue of the right army staff had already been at Hefei for a long time without success; Rui reconnoitered the terrain and said, "They say the Fen can flood Pingyang—here is our chance to do the same. He accordingly dammed the Fei River. Soon the dam was complete, the channel filled, and warships began arriving in steady succession. The Wei had earlier built twin outworks east and west to bracket Hefei. Rui struck the twin outworks first. Then the Wei relief commander Yang Lingyin swept in with fifty thousand men; the army feared it was outmatched and asked to request reinforcements from the throne. Rui said, "The enemy is already at our walls, and only now you want to send for more troops? Besides, if we ask for help they will summon still larger hosts in reply. "Victory belongs to the army that stands united"—that is what the ancients taught. He gave battle, broke the enemy, and the troops regained their composure.
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初，肥水堰立，使軍主王懷靜築城於岸守之，魏攻陷城，乘勝至叡堤下。 軍監潘靈佑勸叡退還巢湖，諸將又請走保三釜。 叡怒曰：「將軍死綏，有前無卻。」 因令取傘扇麾幢樹之堤下，示無動志。 叡素羸，每戰不嚐騎馬，以板輿自載，督勵眾軍。 魏兵鑿堤，叡親與爭。 魏軍卻，因築壘於堤以自固。 起鬥艦高與合肥城等，四面臨之。 城潰，俘獲萬餘，所獲軍實，無所私焉。 初，胡景略與前軍趙祖悅同軍交惡，志相陷害，景略一怒，自齧其齒，齒皆流血。 叡以將帥不和，將致患禍，酌酒自勸景略曰：「且願兩武勿復私鬥。」 故終於此役得無害焉。
When the Fei dam was first raised, Rui had Wang Huaijing build a shore fort to guard it; Wei stormed the fort and, riding their victory, pressed on to Rui's embankment itself. Army inspector Pan Lingyou urged Rui to fall back on Chaohu Lake, and the other commanders again pleaded to retreat and hold the Sanfu line. Rui flared up and said, "A general dies where he stands—there is only forward, never back. He had parasols, fans, and command banners planted along the embankment to show he had no intention of budging. Rui had always been slight of build and never mounted a horse in battle; he was borne in a litter of planks while he drove the army forward. When the Wei began breaching the dam, Rui joined the struggle in person. The Wei fell back, and he built ramparts atop the embankment to strengthen his position. He raised tower ships level with the walls of Hefei and closed in on the city from every side. The city gave way; more than ten thousand were taken prisoner, and of the captured stores Rui kept nothing for himself. Hu Jinglue and the vanguard commander Zhao Zuyue had been at bitter odds within the same army, each plotting against the other; in fury Jinglue once bit his own teeth until the blood ran. Rui saw that feuding commanders would invite disaster, poured wine, and pressed Jinglue himself: "For now, let the two of you set aside this private feud. Thanks to that intervention the campaign ended without further harm from their quarrel.
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叡每晝接客旅，夜算軍書，三更起張燈達曙，撫循其眾，常如不及，故投募之士爭歸之。 所至頓舍修立，館宇藩籬墉壁皆應準繩。
By day he received visitors; by night he went over dispatches, rising at the third watch and keeping lamps burning until dawn while he tended his men as though he could never do enough—so volunteers flocked to his banner. Wherever he halted he laid out camps with disciplined precision—barracks, palisades, and ramparts all built to regulation.
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合肥既平，有詔班師，去魏軍既近，懼為所躡。 叡悉遣輜重居前，身乘小輿殿后，魏人服叡威名，望之不敢逼，全軍而還。 於是遷豫州於合肥。
After Hefei fell, the court ordered a withdrawal; the Wei were still near, and the army feared pursuit. Rui sent all wagons and baggage ahead while he brought up the rear in his litter; the Wei, in awe of his name, dared not close in, and the army returned unscathed. Yu Province was then moved to Hefei.
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五年，魏中山王元英攻北徐州，圍刺史昌義之於鍾離，眾兵百萬，連城四十餘。 武帝遣征北將軍曹景宗拒之。 次邵陽洲，築壘相守，未敢進。 帝怒，詔叡會焉，賜以龍環禦刀，曰：「諸將有不用命者斬之。」 叡自合肥徑陰陵大澤，過澗穀，輒飛橋以濟師。 人畏魏軍盛，多勸叡緩行。 叡曰：「鍾離今鑿穴而處，負戶而汲，車馳卒奔，猶恐其後，而況緩乎。」 旬日而至邵陽。 初，帝敕景宗曰：「韋叡卿鄉望，宜善敬之。」 景宗見叡甚謹。 帝聞曰：「二將和，師必濟矣。」 叡于景宗營前二十里，夜掘長塹，樹鹿角，截洲為城，比曉而營立。 元英大驚，以杖擊地曰：「是何神也！」 景宗慮城中危懼，乃募軍士言文達、洪騏驎等齎敕入城，使固城守，潛行水底，得達東城。 城中戰守日苦，始知有援，於是人百其勇。
In the fifth year Yuan Ying, Prince of Zhongshan, invaded Northern Xu Province and penned Governor Chang Yizhi inside Zhongli with a host said to number a million men and more than forty fortified camps in a chain. Emperor Wu dispatched Northern Campaigning General Cao Jingzong to oppose him. Cao halted at Shaoyang Isle, threw up ramparts, and held his ground without daring to advance. The emperor was furious and ordered Rui to join the relief force, giving him the imperial dragon-ring saber with the words, "Behead any commander who fails to obey. Rui marched from Hefei straight through the Yinling marshes; wherever streams and ravines blocked the way he threw flying bridges across to keep the army moving. Many feared the size of the Wei host and urged Rui to slow his march. Rui said, "At Zhongli they are living in burrows and hauling water with their backs to the doorposts; even chariots at full gallop and men at the run may arrive too late—how then can we afford to dawdle? Within ten days he reached Shaoyang. The emperor had already instructed Cao Jingzong, "Wei Rui is a man of standing in your own district—treat him with respect. Cao received him with marked deference. When the emperor heard of this he said, "With those two generals in accord, the army is bound to prevail. Rui pitched camp twenty li in front of Cao's lines; that night he dug a long trench, set chevaux-de-frise, and walled off the isle into a fortified camp that stood complete by dawn. Yuan Ying was thunderstruck and struck the ground with his staff, crying, "What manner of sorcery is this! Fearing panic inside Zhongli, Cao recruited soldiers Yan Wenda and Hong Qilin to carry the imperial edict into the city by swimming underwater and reached the eastern gate. The defenders had been growing daily more desperate; once they knew relief had come, every man fought as if he were a hundred.
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魏將楊大眼將萬餘騎來戰，大眼以勇冠三軍，所向皆靡。 叡結車為陣，大眼聚騎圍之。 叡以強弩二千一時俱發，洞甲穿中，殺傷者眾。 矢貫大眼右臂，亡魂而走。 明旦，元英自率眾來戰，叡乘素木輿，執白角如意以麾軍，一日數合，英甚憚其強。 魏軍又夜來攻城，飛矢雨集。 叡子黯請下城以避箭，叡不許。 軍中驚，叡於城上厲聲呵之乃定。
The Wei commander Yang Dayan came to fight with more than ten thousand cavalry; famed as the bravest man in the army, he swept all before him. Rui drew up his wagons in battle formation; Dayan massed his horsemen and encircled them. Rui loosed two thousand heavy crossbows at once; bolts pierced clean through armor, and casualties piled up on every side. A bolt drove through Dayan's right arm and he fled in panic. At dawn Yuan Ying led the assault in person; Rui sat in a plain wooden litter, directing the army with a white-horn ruyi scepter, and fought several engagements in one day until Ying came to dread his force. The Wei attacked again by night, and arrows fell like rain. Rui's son An begged to leave the wall to escape the arrows; Rui refused. Panic spread through the ranks until Rui shouted them down from the wall in a voice of iron and restored order.
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魏人先于邵陽洲兩岸為兩橋，樹柵數百步，跨淮通道。 叡裝大艦，使梁郡太守馮道根、廬江太守裴邃、秦郡太守李文釗等為水軍。 會淮水暴長，叡即遣之，鬥艦競發，皆臨賊壘。 以小船載草，灌之以膏，從而焚其橋。 風怒火盛，敢死之士拔柵斫橋，水又漂疾，倏忽之間，橋柵盡壞。 道根等皆身自搏戰，軍人奮勇，呼聲動天地，無不一當百。 魏人大潰，元英脫身遁走。 魏軍趨水死者十餘萬，斬首亦如之，其餘釋甲稽顙乞為囚奴猶數十萬。 叡遣報昌義之，義之且悲且喜，不暇答，但叫曰：「更生！ 更生！」 帝遣中書郎周舍勞軍於淮上。 叡積所獲於軍門，舍觀之，謂叡曰：「君此獲復與熊耳山等矣。」 以功進爵為侯。
The Wei had already thrown two bridges across Shaoyang Isle with palisaded approaches hundreds of paces long to carry the Huai crossing. Rui fitted out heavy warships and placed Liang's Feng Daogen, Lujiang's Pei Sui, Qin's Li Wenzhao, and others in command of the fleet. The Huai suddenly swelled in flood; Rui launched the fleet at once, tower ships racing forward to bear down on the enemy camps. Small boats packed with straw and soaked in oil were sent to set the bridges ablaze. Wind drove the flames higher; suicide squads tore down palisades and hacked at the bridges while the current raced—within moments bridges and stockades were gone. Feng Daogen and the rest fought hand to hand; the soldiers' battle cries shook heaven and earth, and each man fought as if he were a hundred. The Wei army broke in utter rout, and Yuan Ying escaped with his life. More than a hundred thousand Wei soldiers drowned rushing for the water; heads taken in battle matched that toll, and still hundreds of thousands threw down their armor and kowtowed to beg for mercy. Rui sent word to Chang Yizhi, who was too overcome with grief and joy to answer and could only cry, "Reborn! Reborn! The emperor sent Secretariat Gentleman Zhou She to congratulate the army on the Huai. Rui stacked the captured booty before the army gate; Zhou She came to inspect it and told Rui, "With spoils like these you have matched your feat at Bear's-Ear Mountain once more. For this achievement his rank was raised to marquis.
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七年，遷左衛將軍，俄為安西長史、南郡太守。 會司州刺史馬仙琕自北還軍，為魏人所躡，三關擾動。 詔叡督眾軍援焉。 叡至安陸，增築城二丈餘，更開大塹，起高樓。 眾頗譏其示弱，叡曰：「不然，為將當有怯時。」 是時，元英復追仙琕，將復邵陽之恥，聞叡至乃退，帝亦詔罷軍。
In the seventh year he was made general of the left guard, and soon afterward became chief clerk of the western pacification command and grand administrator of Nan commandery. About that time Governor Ma Xiàn of Si Province was returning from the north with his army when Wei forces gave chase and threw the three frontier passes into alarm. The court ordered Rui to take command of all relief forces. Rui reached Anlu, raised the city walls more than two zhang, dug a new deep moat, and built tall watchtowers. Many troops mocked this as a show of weakness, but Rui said, "Not at all—a good general must know when to be cautious. Yuan Ying was again pursuing Ma Xiàn, intent on avenging the defeat at Shaoyang; when he heard Rui had arrived he withdrew, and the emperor also ordered the armies stood down.
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十三年，為丹陽尹，以公事免。 十四年，為雍州刺史。 初，叡起兵鄉中，客陰雙光泣止叡，叡還為州，雙光道候。 叡笑曰：「若從公言，乞食于路矣。」 餉耕牛十頭。 叡於故舊無所惜，士大夫年七十以上，多與假板縣令，鄉里甚懷之。
In the thirteenth year he became intendant of Danyang but was dismissed over an official matter. In the fourteenth year he was appointed governor of Yong Province. When Rui first raised troops in his home district, his friend Yin Shuangguang had wept and begged him to desist; now, returning as governor, Rui found Shuangguang waiting on the road to greet him. Rui laughed and said, "Had I taken your advice, I would be begging along the roadside today. He gave him ten plow oxen as a gift. Rui was generous to the point of extravagance with old friends; for scholars over seventy he often granted provisional appointment as county magistrate, and the countryside held him in deep affection.
18
十五年，拜表致仕，優詔不許。 徵拜護軍，給鼓吹一部，入直殿省。 居朝廷恂恂，未嘗忤視，武帝甚禮敬之。 性慈愛，撫孤兄子過於己子，曆官所得祿賜，皆散之親故，家無餘財。 後為護軍，居家無事，慕萬石、陸賈之為人，因畫之於壁以自玩。 時雖老，暇日猶課諸兒以學。 第三子棱尤明經史，世稱其洽聞。 叡每坐使棱說書，其所發擿，棱猶弗之逮。 武帝方銳意釋氏，天下咸從風而化。 叡自以信受素薄，位居大臣，不欲與眾俯仰，所行略如佗日。
In the fifteenth year he submitted a memorial requesting retirement, but a gracious edict refused permission. He was summoned as protector of the army, granted a military band, and took up duty in the palace offices. In court he was humble and respectful, never meeting the emperor's gaze improperly, and Emperor Wu treated him with exceptional courtesy. Kind by nature, he cared for his orphaned nephews more devotedly than for his own sons; every salary and gift from office he distributed among relatives and friends, leaving nothing in the house. Later, idle at home as protector of the army, he admired the Wanshi family and Lu Jia and had portraits of them painted on his walls for his own enjoyment. Though advanced in years, he still set his sons lessons on his free days. His third son Leng was especially learned in the classics and histories, and the age praised his encyclopedic knowledge. Whenever Rui sat for discussion he had Leng expound the texts, yet the points Leng raised still fell short of what Rui himself could draw out. Emperor Wu was then wholly devoted to Buddhism, and all under heaven followed suit. Rui felt his own Buddhist devotion had always been shallow; as a senior minister he did not wish to bow with the crowd, and his conduct remained much as it had always been.
19
普通元年，遷侍中、車騎將車，未拜，卒於家，年七十九。 遺令薄葬，斂以時服。 武帝即日臨器甚慟，贈車騎將軍、開府儀同三司，諡曰嚴。
In the first year of Putong he was promoted to palace attendant and general of chariots and cavalry, but before he could take up the post he died at home at the age of seventy-nine. His testament ordered a plain burial in everyday clothes. That same day Emperor Wu came to the bier in deep grief, posthumously granting him general of chariots and cavalry and grand marshal with privileges equal to the Three Excellencies; his posthumous name was Yan.
20
叡雅有曠世之度，蒞人以愛惠為本，所居必有政績。 將兵仁愛，士卒營幕未立，終不肯舍，井灶未成，亦不先食。 被服必於儒者，雖臨陣交鋒，常緩服乘輿，執竹如意以麾進止，與裴邃俱為梁世名將，余人莫及。
Rui possessed a rare breadth of spirit; he governed through kindness and compassion, and wherever he served he left a record of achievement. As a commander he was humane: he would not retire until his men's tents were pitched, and would not eat until their wells and kitchens were ready. He always dressed as a scholar; even in the heat of battle he wore loose robes in a litter and directed movements with a bamboo ruyi scepter. He and Pei Sui were the Liang dynasty's greatest generals, and none could equal them.
21
初，邵陽之役，昌義之甚德叡，請曹景宗與叡會，因設錢二十萬官賭之。 景宗擲得雉，叡徐擲得盧，遽取一子反之，曰：「異事」，遂作塞。 景宗時與群帥爭先啟之捷，叡獨居後，其不尚勝率多如是，世尤以此賢之。
After the battle at Shaoyang, Chang Yizhi was deeply grateful to Rui and arranged a meeting with Cao Jingzong; the three of them wagered two hundred thousand cash in an official game. Jingzong threw and scored a pheasant; Rui threw slowly and scored a deer, then swiftly flipped a piece and cried, "How strange!"—winning with a blockade. Jingzong was then racing the other commanders to be first in reporting victory, while Rui alone held back; his reluctance to claim credit was typical, and the age especially admired him for it.
22
叡兄纂、闡，並早知名。 纂仕齊位司徒記室、特進，沈約嘗稱纂於上曰：「恨陛下不與此人同時，其學非臣輩也。」 闡為建寧縣，所得俸祿百餘萬，還家悉委伯父處分，鄉里宗事之。 位通直郎。
Rui's elder brothers Zuan and Chan had both been famous early on. Zuan had served the Qi as secretariat of the grand mentor and special advance; Shen Yue once told the emperor, "I regret Your Majesty was not born in the same age as this man—his learning is beyond anything we can match. Chan served as magistrate of Jianning; his salary and emoluments totaled more than a million cash, and on returning home he handed everything to his uncle for disposal—the village honored him for it. He rose to the post of direct communication gentleman.
23
叡子放字元直，身長七尺七寸，腰帶八圍，容貌甚偉。 襲封永昌縣侯，位竟陵太守。 在郡和理，為吏人所稱。
Rui's son Fang, courtesy name Yuanchi, stood seven feet seven inches tall with an eight-span waist and a strikingly imposing appearance. He inherited the marquisate of Yongchang county and served as grand administrator of Jingling. In office he was fair and orderly, winning praise from officials and commoners alike.
24
中大通二年，徙北徐州刺史。 卒於鎮，諡曰宜侯。
In the second year of Zhongdatong he was transferred to governor of Northern Xu Province. He died in his post; his posthumous title was Marquis Yi.
25
放性弘厚篤實，輕財好施，于諸弟尤雍穆。 每將遠別及行役初還，常同一室臥起，時比之三薑。 初，放與吳郡張率皆有側室懷孕，因指為昏姻。 其後各產男女，未及成長而率亡，遺嗣孤弱，放常贈恤之。 及為北徐州，時有貴族請昏者，放曰：「吾不失信于故友。」 及以息岐娶率女，又以女適率子，時稱放能篤舊。 子粲。
Fang was magnanimous, sincere, and steadfast; he cared little for wealth and loved to give, and was especially close with his brothers. Whenever they faced a long separation or had just returned from service, they slept and rose in the same room; people compared them to the three Jiang brothers of old. Earlier Fang and Zhang Shuai of Wu commandery each had a concubine who was pregnant, and they agreed this meant their children should marry. Each later had children, but before they came of age Shuai died, leaving orphaned heirs; Fang often sent them gifts and support. When he was governor of Northern Xu a noble family sought a marriage alliance, but Fang said, "I will not break faith with an old friend. He had his son Qi marry Shuai's daughter and gave his own daughter to Shuai's son; the age praised Fang for his loyalty to old friendships. His son was Can.
26
粲字長倩，少有父風，好學仗氣，身長八尺，容觀甚偉。 初為雲麾晉安王行參軍，後為外兵參軍兼中兵。 時潁川庾仲容、吳郡張率前輩才名，與粲同府，並忘年交好。 及王為皇太子，粲自記室遷步兵校尉，入為東宮領直，後襲爵永昌縣侯，累遷左衛率，領直。 粲以舊恩，任寄綢密，雖居職累徙，常留宿衛。 頗擅權誕倨，不為時輩所平。 右衛朱異嘗于酒席厲色謂粲曰：「卿何得已作領軍面向人！」 大同中，帝嘗不豫，一日暴劇，皇太子以下併入侍疾，內外咸雲帝崩。 粲將率宮甲度台，微有喜色，問所由那不見辦長梯。 以為大行幸前殿，須長梯以復也。 帝后聞之，怒曰：「韋粲願我死。」 有司奏推之，帝曰：「各為其主，不足推。」 故出為衡州刺史。 皇太子出餞新亭，執粲手曰：「與卿不為久別。」 久之，帝復召還為散騎常侍。
Can, courtesy name Changqian, had his father's bearing from youth; he loved learning and carried himself with spirit, stood eight feet tall, and had a commanding presence. He began as aide-de-camp to the Prince of Jin'an of the Cloud-Banner guard, then served as external troops aide while also holding the central troops post. Yu Zhongrong of Yingchuan and Zhang Shuai of Wu were celebrated senior talents who served in the same office; all three became close friends despite the age gap. When the prince became crown prince, Can rose from secretariat to colonel of footsoldiers and entered the eastern palace as duty officer; he later inherited the marquisate of Yongchang and was promoted to commander of the left guard while retaining his duty post. Because of his long-standing favor with the crown prince, Can enjoyed the prince's intimate trust; though his titles changed often, he was always kept on palace night guard. He grew arrogant with power and was disliked by his peers. Zhu Yi of the right guard once said sharply to Can at a banquet, "Who do you think you are, acting like commander-in-chief already? During Datong the emperor fell ill; one day his condition suddenly worsened, and everyone from the crown prince down rushed to his bedside; inside and outside the palace, all believed the emperor had died. Can was preparing to lead palace guards across the terrace with a faint look of satisfaction, asking why the long ladder had not been readied. He assumed the deceased emperor would be carried to the front hall and a long ladder would be needed for the bier. When the emperor and empress heard of this they said angrily, "Wei Can wants me dead. The authorities memorialized for his prosecution, but the emperor said, "He was only serving his master—let it pass." He was accordingly sent out as governor of Heng Province. The crown prince saw him off at Xinting, took his hand, and said, "We will not be apart for long. Before long the emperor recalled him as regular attendant of the scattered cavalry.
27
還至廬陵，聞侯景作逆，便簡閱部下，倍道赴援。 至豫章，即就內史劉孝儀共謀之。 孝儀曰：「必如此，當有敕，安可輕信單使，妄相驚動。 或恐不然。」 時孝儀置酒，粲怒以杯抵地曰：「賊已度江，便逼宮闕，水陸阻斷，何暇有報； 假令無敕，豈得自安。 韋粲今日何情飲酒。」 即馳馬出，部分將發。 會江州刺史當陽公大心遣使要粲，粲乃分麾下配第八弟助、第九弟警為前軍。 粲馳往見大心曰：「上游蕃鎮，江州去都最近，殿下情計，實宜在先。 但中流任重，當須應接，不可闕鎮。 今宜張軍聲勢，移鎮盆城，遣偏將賜隨，於事便足。」 大心然之，遣中兵柳昕帥兵二千隨粲。 粲悉留家累于江州，以輕舸就路。 至南洲，粲外弟司州刺史柳仲禮亦帥步騎萬餘人至橫江。 粲即送糧仗給之，並散私金帛以賞其戰士。
On his return to Luling he heard that Hou Jing had rebelled; he immediately mustered his troops and marched at double speed to the capital's relief. When he reached Yuzhang he went straight to Interior Minister Liu Xiaoyi to consult with him. Xiaoyi said, "If that were true there would be an imperial edict—how can we lightly trust a lone messenger and stir up panic for nothing? It may well be untrue. Xiaoyi was hosting a banquet; Can slammed his cup to the floor and said, "The rebels have crossed the Yangzi and are pressing on the palace—communications are cut on land and water; who has time to wait for edicts? Even without an edict, how can we sit idle in safety? What business has Wei Can drinking wine today?" He galloped out at once and began deploying his troops for the march. The governor of Jiang Province, Duke Daxin of Dangyang, sent to summon him; Can divided his forces and placed his eighth brother Zhu and ninth brother Jing in command of the vanguard. Can rode to see Daxin and said, "Among the upper Yangzi garrisons, Jiang Province is closest to the capital—Your Highness ought to take the lead in this crisis. But the mid-Yangzi sector is critical and must be held—you cannot leave the province unguarded. You should make a show of force, move your headquarters to Pencheng, and send a subordinate commander with us—that will be enough. Daxin agreed and sent Liu Xin with two thousand men to accompany Can. Can left his entire family in Jiang Province and set out in light boats. At Nan Isle his cousin Liu Zhongli, governor of Si Province, also arrived at Hengjiang with more than ten thousand infantry and cavalry. Can immediately sent him grain and arms and distributed his own gold and silks to reward Zhongli's soldiers.
28
先是，安北鄱陽王範亦自合肥遣西豫州刺史裴之高與其世子嗣帥江西之眾赴都，屯于張公洲，待上流諸軍。 至是，之高遣船度仲禮，與粲合軍進屯新林王游苑。 粲建議推仲禮為大都督，報下流眾軍。 裴之高自以年位高，恥居其下。 乃云：「柳節下已是州將，何須我復鞭板。」 累日不決。 粲乃抗言於眾曰：「今同赴國難，義在除賊，所以推柳司州者，政以久捍邊疆，先為侯景所憚。 且士馬精銳，無出其前。 若論位次，柳在粲下，語其年齒，亦少於粲，直以社稷之計，不得復論。 今日貴在將和，若人心不同，大事去矣。 裴公朝之舊齒，豈應復挾私以阻大計。 粲請為諸君解釋之。」 乃單舸至之高營切讓之。 之高泣曰：「吾荷國榮，自應帥先士卒，顧恨衰老，不能效命，企望柳使君共平凶逆。 前謂眾議已定，無俟老夫爾。 若必有疑，當剖心相示。」 於是諸將定議，仲禮方得進軍。 次新亭，賊列陣于中興寺，相持至晚各解歸。
Earlier Prince Fan of Poyang, northern pacification commander, had sent Western Yu governor Pei Zhigao and his heir Si from Hefei with the Jiangxi forces toward the capital, encamped at Zhanggong Isle to await the upper Yangzi armies. Zhigao now sent boats to ferry Zhongli across; he and Can united their forces and encamped at the Xinglin Royal Park. Can proposed making Zhongli supreme commander and notified the downstream forces. Pei Zhigao, considering himself senior in age and rank, was ashamed to serve under Zhongli. He said, "Master Liu is already a provincial commander—why should I still play the subordinate? For days no agreement could be reached. Can then addressed the assembly boldly: "We share a national crisis and our duty is to destroy the rebels. I propose Liu of Si because he has long defended the frontier and Hou Jing already fears him. His troops are the finest in the field—none can match them. By rank Liu stands below me, and by age he is younger—but for the sake of the realm we cannot argue over precedence. Today unity among commanders is what matters; if we are divided, all is lost. Lord Pei is a veteran of the court—surely he will not let private pride block the common cause. Let me go and explain this to him on your behalf. He took a single boat to Zhigao's camp and spoke to him sharply. Zhigao wept and said, "I owe the state a debt of honor and ought to lead the charge myself; but I am old and cannot serve as I once did, and I place my hopes in Master Liu to crush the rebels together. I thought the matter was already settled and had no need of an old man like me. If there is still doubt, I will lay open my heart to prove my sincerity. The commanders then reached agreement, and Zhongli was able to advance. They halted at Xinting; the rebels drew up at Zhongxing Temple, and the two sides faced each other until evening before withdrawing.
29
是夜，仲禮入粲營部分眾軍，旦日將戰，諸將各有據守。 令粲頓青塘，當石頭中路。 粲慮柵壘未立，賊爭之，頗以為憚，謂仲禮曰：「下官才非禦侮，直欲以身徇國，節下善量其宜，不可致有虧喪。」 仲禮曰：「青塘立營，迫近淮渚，欲以糧儲船乘盡就迫之。 此事大，非兄不可。 若疑兵少，當更差軍相助。」 粲帥所部水陸俱進。 時昏霧，軍人失道，比及青塘，夜已過半，壘柵至曉未合。 景登禪靈寺門，望粲營未立，便率銳卒來攻。 軍敗，乘勝入營，左右高馮牽粲避賊，粲不動，兵死略盡，遂見害。 粲子尼及三弟助、警、構、從弟昂皆戰死，親戚死者數百人。 賊傳粲首闕下，以示城內。 簡文聞之流涕，謂御史中丞蕭愷曰：「社稷所寄，唯在韋公，如何不幸，先死行陣。」 詔贈護軍將軍。 元帝平侯景，追諡忠貞。
That night Zhongli entered Can's camp to deploy the forces; at dawn battle would be joined, and each commander was assigned his position. Can was assigned to hold Qingtang, blocking the central approach to Stone City. Can worried that the fortifications were not yet complete and that the rebels would contest the ground; he was deeply uneasy. He told Zhongli, "I am no match for the enemy in talent—I only mean to give my life for the realm. Your Lordship must judge what is prudent; we must not suffer needless loss. Zhongli replied, "Establishing a camp at Qingtang, close to the Huai sandbars, will let us press all our grain stores and shipping against the enemy there. This is a grave undertaking—it cannot succeed without you, Elder Brother. If you think our force is too small, send more troops to help." Can led his troops forward by land and water together. Evening fog descended and the troops lost their way. By the time they reached Qingtang more than half the night was gone, and the ramparts were still incomplete at dawn. Jing climbed to the gate of Chanling Temple, saw that Can's camp was not yet ready, and immediately led elite troops to the attack. The army was routed and the enemy stormed the camp. Gao and Feng at Can's side tried to pull him away from the rebels, but he would not budge. His men were slaughtered almost to a man, and he was killed. Can's son Ni, his three younger brothers Zhu, Jing, and Gou, and his cousin Ang all fell in battle; several hundred kinsmen died with them. The rebels sent Can's head to the palace gate and displayed it to the city. When Emperor Jianwen heard the news he wept and said to Censor-in-Chief Xiao Kai, "The fate of the realm rested on Lord Wei alone—how cruel that he should fall first on the field. An edict posthumously made him General Who Guards the Army. After Emperor Yuan suppressed Hou Jing, he granted Can the posthumous title Loyal and Steadfast.
30
子諒，以學業為陳始興王叔陵所引，為中錄事參軍兼記室。 叔陵敗，伏誅。 放弟正。
His son Liang, noted for scholarship, was taken up by Prince Shuling of Shixing and served as central recording affairs aide and secretariat officer. When Shuling fell, Liang was executed with him. His younger brother Zheng was released from custody.
31
正字敬直，位襄陵太守。 初，正與東海王僧孺善，及僧孺為吏部郎，參掌大選，賓友故人莫不傾意，正獨澹然。 及僧孺擯廢，正復篤素分，有踰曩日，論者稱焉。 卒于給事黃門侍郎。 子載。
Zheng, courtesy name Jingzhi, served as governor of Xiangling. Zheng had been close to Wang Sengru of Donghai. When Sengru became director of the Ministry of Personnel and shared control of high appointments, friends and acquaintances all courted him eagerly—Zheng alone remained aloof. When Sengru was stripped of office and disgraced, Zheng renewed their old friendship with even greater constancy than before, and observers praised him for it. He died in office as attendant at the gates of the yellow gate in the secretariat. His son was Zai.
32
載字德基，少聰慧，篤志好學。 年十二，隨叔父棱見沛國劉顯，顯問漢書十事，載隨問應無疑滯。 及長，博涉文史，沈敏有器局。 仕梁為尚書三公郎。
Zai, courtesy name Deji, was clever from boyhood, devoted in purpose and eager to learn. At twelve he accompanied his uncle Leng to visit Liu Xian of Pei. Xian posed ten questions on the Book of Han, and Zai answered each without hesitation. As an adult he mastered literature and history, was keen-minded and steady, and showed breadth of vision. Under the Liang he served as secretary in the three dukes bureau of the Ministry of State Affairs.
33
侯景之亂，元帝承制，以為中書侍郎。 尋為尋陽太守，隨都督王僧辯東討侯景。 景平，歷位琅邪、義興太守。 陳武帝誅王僧辯，乃遣周文育襲載，載嬰城自守。 載所屬縣卒，並陳武舊兵，多善用弩，載收得數十人，系以長鎖，令所親監之，使射文育軍。 約曰：「十發不兩中者死。」 每發輒中，所中皆斃，相持數旬。 陳武帝聞文育軍不利，以書喻載以誅王僧辯意，並奉梁敬帝敕，敕載解兵。 載得書，乃以眾降。 陳武帝引載恒置左右，與之謀議。
During Hou Jing's rebellion Emperor Yuan, exercising provisional authority, appointed him palace secretariat attendant. He was soon made governor of Xunyang and followed Commander Wang Sengbian east to suppress Hou Jing. After Hou Jing's defeat he served in succession as governor of Langye and governor of Yixing. When Emperor Wu of Chen killed Wang Sengbian, he sent Zhou Wenyue to attack Zai, who shut the city gates and defended it. The district troops under Zai were veterans of Emperor Wu's old army and many were expert crossbowmen. Zai collected several dozen of them, chained them together, placed them under trusted overseers, and set them to shoot at Wenyue's forces. He decreed that any man who failed to score two hits in ten shots would be put to death. Every shot found its mark and every man struck fell dead. The siege dragged on for weeks. Learning that Wenyue's campaign was going badly, Emperor Wu of Chen wrote to Zai explaining why he had killed Wang Sengbian and enclosed an edict from Emperor Jing of Liang ordering Zai to lay down arms. On receiving the letter, Zai surrendered with his troops. Emperor Wu kept Zai constantly at his side and consulted him on policy.
34
徐嗣徽、任約等引齊軍濟江，據石頭城，帝問計於載。 載曰：「齊軍若分兵先據三吳之路，略地東境，則時事去矣。 今可急於淮南即侯景故壘築城，以通東道轉輸，別令輕兵絕其糧運，使進無所虜，退無所資，則齊將之首，旬日可致。」 帝從之。
Xu Siwei, Ren Yue, and others brought Northern Qi troops across the Yangzi and seized Stone City; the emperor asked Zai for counsel. Zai said, "If the Qi army splits up first to seize the routes into the Three Wu and ravage the eastern provinces, all will be lost. We should quickly fortify Hou Jing's old camp on the Huai to open an eastern supply line, and send light troops to sever their grain convoys. Cut off plunder on the advance and supplies on the retreat, and the Qi commanders' heads can be taken within ten days. The emperor accepted the plan.
35
侯景平，司徒王僧辯以為戶曹屬。 累遷中書侍郎。 陳武帝在南徐州，鼎望氣知其當王，遂寄孥焉。 因謂陳武帝曰：「明年有大臣誅死，後四歲，梁其代終。 天之歷數，當歸舜後。 昔周滅殷氏，封媯汭于宛丘，其裔子孫，因為陳氏。 僕觀明公，天縱神武，繼絕統者無乃是乎。」 武帝陰有圖僧辯意，聞其言大喜，因而定策。 及受禪，拜黃門侍郎。 太建中，以廷尉卿為聘周使，加散騎常侍。 後為太府卿。
After Hou Jing's defeat, Minister of Works Wang Sengbian appointed him aide in the household bureau. He rose in succession to palace secretariat attendant. While Emperor Wu of Chen was still at Southern Xu Province, Ding read the signs of fate and knew he would become emperor; he sent his family to settle there. He told Emperor Wu, "Next year a great minister will be put to death; four years from now the Liang dynasty will end. Heaven's mandate will pass to the house of Shun. When Zhou overthrew the Yin, it enfeoffed Gui Ruo at Wanchen; his descendants became the house of Chen. I see in Your Lordship heaven's gift and divine martial prowess—you are surely the one destined to restore a fallen line. The emperor already harbored secret designs against Sengbian; hearing this he was overjoyed and fixed his resolve. When the emperor took the throne, Ding was appointed attendant at the gates of the yellow gate. During Taijian he served as minister of justice on an embassy to Northern Zhou and was also made regular attendant of the scattered cavalry. He later became minister of the palace storehouses.
36
至德初，鼎盡貨田宅，寓居僧寺。 友人大匠卿毛彪問其故，答曰：「江東王氣，盡於此矣。 吾與爾當葬長安，期運將及，故破產爾。」
At the start of the Zhide era Ding sold all his land and property and moved into a monastery. His friend Mao Biao, master of works, asked why; he replied, "The imperial fortune of the Jiangdong is spent. You and I will be buried in Chang'an—the fated hour is near, so I am disposing of my property now."
37
初，鼎之聘周也，嘗遇隋文帝，謂曰：「觀公容貌，不久必大貴，貴則天下一家。 歲一周天，老夫當委質，願深自愛。」 及陳亡，驛召入京，授上儀同三司，待遇甚厚，每公宴，鼎恒預焉。 性簡貴，雖為亡國之臣，未嘗俯仰當世。 時吏部尚書韋世康兄弟顯貴，隋文帝從容謂鼎曰：「世康與公遠近？」 對曰：「臣宗族南徙，昭穆非臣所知。」 帝曰：「卿百代卿族，豈忘本也。」 命官給酒肴，遣世康請鼎還杜陵。 鼎乃自楚太傅孟以下二十餘世，並考論昭穆，作韋氏譜七卷示之，歡飲十餘日乃還。 時蘭陵公主寡，上為之求夫，選親衛柳述及蕭瑒等以示鼎，鼎曰：「瑒當封侯，而無貴妻之相； 述亦通顯，而守位不終。」 上曰：「位由我爾。」 遂以主降述。 上又問鼎，諸兒誰為嗣位。 答曰：「至尊皇后所最愛者，當與之，非臣敢預知也。」 上笑曰：「不肯顯言乎？」
On his embassy to Zhou he once met Emperor Wen of Sui and told him, "Judging by your bearing, you will soon rise to supreme rank—and when you do, the realm will be united under one house. When heaven completes one full cycle I shall submit to you—until then, take good care of yourself. After Chen fell he was summoned urgently to the capital, made senior master of ceremonies of the third rank, and treated with great honor; he was always present at state banquets. Plain and proud by nature, he never truckled to the powers of the day, though he was a minister of a conquered realm. Wei Shikang, minister of personnel, and his brothers were then in high favor. Emperor Wen asked Ding casually, "How closely are you related to Shikang? He replied, "My branch of the clan moved south long ago—the ancestral tables are beyond my knowledge." The emperor said, "Your house has produced ministers for a hundred generations—surely you have not forgotten your origins." He ordered wine and food provided and sent Shikang to bring Ding home to Dulang. Ding then traced more than twenty generations from Meng, grand tutor of Chu, downward, worked out the ancestral lines, and produced a seven-scroll genealogy of the Wei clan for them; they feasted together for more than ten days before he returned. Princess Lanling was then a widow, and the emperor sought a husband for her. He picked out the imperial guardsman Liu Shu and Xiao Yang among others and showed them to Ding. Ding said, "Yang will receive a marquisate, but he lacks the bearing of a consort to rank; Shu will also rise high, but he will not keep his position to the end. The emperor said, "Rank is mine to bestow." He therefore gave the princess to Shu in marriage. The emperor again asked Ding which of his sons would inherit the throne. He answered, "Whoever Your Majesty and the empress favor most will receive it—that is not for me to foretell. The emperor laughed and said, "So you won't say it outright?"
38
開皇十三年，除光州刺史，以仁義教導，務弘清靜。 州中有土豪，外修邊幅，而內行不軌，常為劫盜。 鼎于都會時謂之曰：「卿是好人，那忽作賊。」 因條其徒黨奸謀逗遛，其人驚懼，即自首伏。 又有人客遊，通主家之妾，及其還去，妾盜珍物，於夜逃亡，尋於草中為人所殺。 主家知客與妾通，因告客殺之。 縣司鞫問，具得奸狀，因斷客死。 獄成，上於鼎，鼎覽之，曰：「此客實奸，而不殺也。 乃某寺僧眩妾盜物，令奴殺之，贓在某處。」 即放此客，遣人掩僧，並獲贓物。 自是部內肅然，咸稱其神，道無拾遺。 尋追入京，頃之，而卒于長安，年七十九。 正弟棱。
In the thirteenth year of Kaihuang he was appointed governor of Guang Province, where he governed with benevolence and righteousness and strove to keep the realm tranquil and clear. In the province lived a local magnate who kept up a respectable front while breaking the law within, and often led raids and robberies. At a provincial gathering Ding said to him, "You are an upright man—why turn bandit? He then laid out the conspiracies and evasions of the man's followers; terrified, the man confessed on the spot. Another case involved a traveling guest who had taken the master's concubine as lover; when he was leaving, the concubine stole valuables and fled by night, and was soon found slain in the underbrush. The household knew of the affair and accused the guest of murder. The county magistrate examined the case, established the affair, and sentenced the guest to death. When the file reached Ding he read it and said, "The guest was indeed guilty of adultery, but he did not kill her. A monk at a certain temple bewitched the concubine into stealing the goods and had a servant kill her; the loot is hidden at such-and-such a place. He immediately freed the guest, sent men to arrest the monk, and recovered the stolen goods. Thereafter the district was orderly; all called him uncanny in judgment, and lost property went unclaimed on the roads. He was soon recalled to the capital and died at Chang'an shortly afterward, aged seventy-nine. Zheng's younger brother was Leng.
39
棱字威直，性恬素，以書史為業，博物強記，當世士咸就質疑。 位終光祿卿。 著漢書續訓三卷。 棱弟黯。
Leng, courtesy name Weizhi, was quiet and plain by nature; he devoted himself to books and history, was widely learned with a prodigious memory, and scholars of the day came to him for answers. He ended his career as director of the imperial household. He wrote Continued Instruction on the Book of Han in three scrolls. Leng's younger brother was An.
40
黯字務直，性強正，少習經史，位太府卿。 侯景濟江，黯屯六門，尋改為都督城西面諸軍。 時景於城外起東西二土山，城內亦應之，簡文親自負土，哀太子以下，躬執畚鍤。 黯守西土山，晝夜苦戰。 以功授輕車將軍，加持節，卒於城內。
An, courtesy name Wuzhi, was forceful and upright by nature; he studied the classics and histories from youth and served as minister of the palace storehouses. When Hou Jing crossed the Yangzi, An encamped at the Six Gates; he was soon made commander of all forces on the city's western face. Hou Jing raised earthen siege mounds east and west outside the walls; the defenders built counter-mounds within, and Emperor Jianwen himself carried earth while the crown prince and all below him wielded spades and baskets. An held the western mound and fought bitterly day and night. For his service he was made general of light chariots with the staff of command and died within the city.
41
初，黯為太僕卿，而兄子粲為左衛率，黯以故常怏怏，謂人曰：「韋粲已落驊騮前，朝廷是能用才不？」 識者頗以此窺之。
When An was minister of the imperial stud and his nephew Can was commander of the left guard, An was often resentful and said, "Wei Can has already fallen before the bay stallion—is this court capable of using real talent? Observers took this as a measure of his character.
42
裴邃字深明，河東聞喜人，魏冀州刺史徽之後也。 祖壽孫，寓居壽陽，為宋武帝前軍長史。 父仲穆，驍騎將軍。
Pei Sui, courtesy name Shenming, was a native of Wenxi in Hedong and a descendant of Pei Hui, governor of Ji Province under Wei. His grandfather Shousun settled at Shouyang and served as chief aide to the vanguard army of Emperor Wu of Song. His father Zhongmu was general of valiant cavalry.
43
邃十歲能屬文，善左氏春秋。 齊東昏踐阼，始安王蕭遙光為揚州刺史，引邃為參軍。 遙光敗，邃還壽陽，會刺史裴叔業以壽陽降魏，邃遂隨眾北徙。 魏宣武帝雅重之。 仕魏為魏郡太守。 魏遣王肅鎮壽陽，邃固求隨肅，密圖南歸。 梁天監初，自拔南還，除後軍諮議參軍。 邃求邊境自效，以為廬江太守。
At ten Sui could already compose prose and was adept in the Zuo Commentary to the Spring and Autumn Annals. When Emperor Donghun of Qi came to the throne, Prince Xiaoguang of Shian, governor of Yang Province, took Sui on as aide. When Xiaoguang fell, Sui returned to Shouyang; Governor Pei Shuye surrendered the city to Wei, and Sui moved north with the population. Emperor Xuanwu of Wei held him in high esteem. He served Northern Wei as grand administrator of Wei Commandery. Wei sent Wang Su to garrison Shouyang; Sui pressed hard to join him, secretly plotting to defect south. Early in the Liang Tianjian era he made his own escape south and was made consultant to the rear army. Sui asked to serve on the border and was appointed grand administrator of Lujiang.
44
五年，征邵陽洲，魏人為長橋斷淮以濟，邃築壘逼橋，每戰輒克，於是密作沒突艦。 會甚雨，淮水暴溢，邃乘艦徑造橋側，進擊，大破之。 以功封夷陵縣子。
In the fifth year he campaigned against Shaoyang Isle. The Wei built a long pontoon bridge across the Huai; Sui raised fortifications to press the bridge and won every clash, then secretly built assault vessels. Heavy rains swelled the Huai, and Sui drove his vessels straight to the bridge, attacked, and won a crushing victory. For his service he was ennobled as viscount of Yiling County.
45
遷廣陵太守，與鄉人共入魏武廟，因論帝王功業。 其妻甥王篆之密啟梁武帝云：「裴邃多大言，有不臣跡。」 由是左遷始安太守。 邃志立功邊陲，不願閑遠，乃致書于呂僧珍曰：「昔阮咸、顏延有二始之歎，吾才不逮古人，今為三始，非其願也，將如之何！」 後為竟陵太守，開置屯田，公私便之。 再遷西戎校尉、北梁秦二州刺史，復開創屯田數千頓，倉廩盈實，省息邊運，人吏獲安。 乃相率餉絹千餘匹，邃從容曰：「汝等不應爾，吾又不可逆。」 納其二匹而已。 入為大匠卿。
Promoted to grand administrator of Guangling, he entered the shrine of Cao Cao with a fellow townsman and fell to discussing the founding deeds of rulers. His wife's nephew Wang Zhuanzhi secretly informed Emperor Wu, "Pei Sui talks too boldly and shows signs of treasonous ambition." For this he was demoted to grand administrator of Shian. Sui meant to win glory on the frontier and had no wish for a sleepy remote post; he wrote to Lu Sengzhen, "Ruan Xian and Yan Yan each lamented being sent to Shian twice. I am no match for those men, yet this is my third exile there—it is not what I wanted. What am I to do?" He was later made grand administrator of Jingling, where he opened military colonies to the benefit of the region. Transferred again as colonel of the western barbarians and governor of Northern Liang and Qin provinces, he once more established thousands of military colonies, filling the granaries, easing frontier supply lines, and bringing stability to people and officials alike. The people together offered more than a thousand bolts of silk in gratitude; Sui said calmly, "You should not do this—but neither can I simply turn you away." He took only two bolts. He was summoned to court as minister of construction.
46
普通二年，義州刺史文僧明以州入魏，魏軍來援，以邃為信武將軍，督眾軍討焉。 邃深入魏境，出其不意。 魏所署義州刺史封壽據檀公峴，邃擊破之，遂圍其城。 壽請降，義州平。 除豫州刺史，加督，鎮合肥。
In Putong year 2 the governor of Yi Province, Wen Shengming, defected to Wei with his province. Wei sent reinforcements, and Sui was made general of trustworthy martiality to lead the punitive force. Sui marched deep into Wei territory and struck before they were prepared. Feng Shou, Wei's appointee as governor of Yi Province, held Tanggong Pass; Sui routed him and besieged the city. Feng Shou surrendered and Yi Province was restored. He was made governor of Yu Province with broad authority and stationed at Hefei.
47
四年，大軍北侵，以邃督征討諸軍事，先襲壽陽，攻其郛，斬門而入，一日戰九合，為後軍蔡秀成失道不至，邃以援絕拔還。 於是邃復整兵，收集士卒，令諸將各以服色相別。 邃自為黃袍騎，先攻拔狄丘、甓城、黎漿，又屠安成、馬頭、沙陵等戍。 明年，略地至汝、潁間，所在回應。 魏壽陽守將長孫承業、河間王元琛出城挑戰，邃臨淮歎曰：「今日不破河間，方為謝玄所笑。」 乃為四甄以待之。 令直閣將軍李祖憐偽遁以引承業，承業等悉眾追之，四甄競發，魏眾大敗，斬首萬餘級。 承業奔走，閉門不敢復出。
In the fourth year the main army marched north. Sui directed the expedition, first raiding Shouyang, breaking through the outer defenses in a day of nine pitched battles—but reinforcements under Cai Xiucheng lost their way, and with support cut off Sui had to withdraw. Sui regrouped, rallied his troops, and had each commander mark his men by the color of their garments. Wearing a yellow robe and riding at the head, Sui took Diqiu, Bicheng, and Lijiang, then stormed the garrisons at Ancheng, Matou, Shaling, and elsewhere. The following year he swept the country between the Ru and Ying rivers, and local populations rallied to him wherever he went. Shouyang's Wei defenders, Zhangsun Chengye and Prince Yuan Chen of Hejian, rode out to challenge him. Sui gazed across the Huai and said, "If I fail to break Prince Hejian today, Xie Xuan will laugh at me from the grave." He arranged his forces in four wings to receive them. He sent General Li Zulin to feign flight and draw Chengye out; the Wei force pursued in full strength, all four wings closed in at once, and the enemy was shattered with more than ten thousand killed. Chengye fled back inside and shut the gates, daring not sally forth again.
48
在軍疾篤，命眾軍守備，送喪還合肥。 尋卒，贈侍中、左衛將軍，進爵為侯，諡曰烈。
His illness worsened in camp; he ordered the army to hold its positions and had his body sent back to Hefei. He died shortly afterward and was posthumously made attendant-in-ordinary and general of the left guard, raised to marquis with the posthumous name Lie ("Fierce").
49
邃沈深有思略，為政寬明，能得士心，居身方正，有威重。 將吏憚之，少敢犯法。 及卒，淮、肥間莫不流涕，以為邃不死，當大辟土宇。 子之禮嗣。
Sui was deep-thinking and far-seeing, lenient yet clear in government, able to win the loyalty of his officers; upright in bearing, he carried real authority. His commanders and clerks feared him, and few dared break the law. At his death the region between the Huai and Fei wept as one; many believed that had Sui lived, he would have greatly expanded Liang territory. His son Zhili inherited the title.
50
之禮字子義，美容儀，能言玄理。 為西豫州刺史。 母憂居喪，唯食麥飯。 邃廟在光宅寺西，堂宇弘敞，松柏鬱茂。 範雲廟在三橋，蓬蒿不翦。 梁武帝南郊，道經二廟，顧而歎曰：「范為已死，裴為更生。」 大同初，都下旱蝗，四籬門外桐柏凋盡，唯邃墓犬牙不入，當時異之。 歷位黃門侍郎。
Zhili, courtesy name Ziyi, was handsome in bearing and skilled in philosophical discourse. He served as governor of western Yu Province. During mourning for his mother he ate only plain barley porridge. Sui's shrine stood west of Guangzhai Monastery—its halls broad and its pines and cypresses thickly grown. Fan Yun's shrine at Sanqiao stood overgrown with weeds, untended. On his way to the southern suburb sacrifice, Emperor Wu passed both shrines and sighed, "Fan is dead, while Pei seems born anew." In early Datong a drought and locust plague withered every tree outside the capital gates—yet locusts would not touch Sui's tomb, to the wonder of all. He rose to gentleman-attendant at the yellow gate.
51
武帝設無遮會，舞象驚，排突陛衛，王公皆散，唯之禮與散騎常侍臧盾不動。 帝壯之，以之禮為壯勇將軍、北徐州刺史，盾兼中領軍將軍。
At a Buddhist assembly of universal charity, frightened dancing elephants broke through the imperial guard and princes fled in every direction—only Zhili and palace attendant Zang Dun stood firm. The emperor was impressed and made Zhili general of robust valor and governor of northern Xu Province, while appointing Dun concurrent commander of the central army guard.
52
之禮卒於少府卿，諡曰壯。 子政，承聖中位給事黃門侍郎。 魏克江陵，隨例入長安。
Zhili died as minister of the lesser treasury and was posthumously named Zhuang ("Robust"). His son Zheng served as supervising gentleman-attendant at the yellow gate during the Chengsheng reign. When Wei took Jiangling he was taken to Chang'an like the rest of the captives.
53
之高字如山，邃兄中散大夫髦之子也。 頗讀書，少負意氣，常隨叔父邃征討，所在立功，甚為邃所器重，戎政咸以委焉。 壽陽之役，邃卒於軍所，之高隸夏侯夔平壽陽，仍除梁郡太守，封都城縣男。 時魏汝陰來附，敕之高應接，仍除潁州刺史。 父憂還都，起為光遠將軍，令討平陰陵盜，以為譙州刺史。
Zhigao, courtesy name Rushan, was the son of Pei Mao, regular master of dispersal and elder brother of Sui. Well read and spirited from youth, he fought under his uncle Sui on campaign after campaign, winning distinction wherever he went and earning his full trust—Sui delegated all military and civil affairs to him. During the Shouyang campaign Sui died in the field; Zhigao served under Xiahou Gui in taking the city, was made grand administrator of Liang Commandery, and ennobled as baron of Ducheng. When Yin of Runan defected from Wei, Zhigao was ordered to receive him and was made governor of Ying Province. Recalled from mourning, he was made general of bright distance, ordered to crush brigands at Yinling, and appointed governor of Qiao Province.
54
侯景之亂，之高為西豫州刺史，率眾入援。 南豫州刺史鄱陽嗣王范命之高總督江右援軍諸軍事，頓張公洲。 柳仲禮至橫江，之高遣船舸迎致仲禮，與韋粲等俱會青塘。 及城陷，之高還合肥，與鄱陽王範西上。 元帝遣召之，以為侍中、護軍將軍，到江陵。
During Hou Jing's rebellion Zhigao, as governor of western Yu Province, marched in with reinforcements. Fan, Prince of Poyang and governor of southern Yu Province, put Zhigao in overall command of relief forces on the southern Yangzi and stationed him at Zhanggong Isle. When Liu Zhongli reached Hengjiang, Zhigao sent boats to fetch him and joined Wei Can and others at Qingtang. After the capital fell, Zhigao returned to Hefei and marched west with Prince Fan of Poyang. Emperor Yuan summoned him, made him attendant-in-ordinary and protector general of the army, and he went to Jiangling.
55
時之高第六弟之悌在侯景中。 或傳之悌斬侯景，元帝使兼中書舍人黃羅漢報之高，之高竟無言，直云：「賊自殺賊，非之高所聞。」 元帝深嗟其介直。 承制除特進、金紫光祿大夫。 卒，諡曰恭。
At the time his sixth younger brother Zhiti was in Hou Jing's camp. Rumors spread that Zhiti had killed Hou Jing; Emperor Yuan sent Huang Luohan to tell Zhigao, who answered flatly, "One rebel killed another—that is nothing I have heard." Emperor Yuan deeply admired his unbending integrity. Acting on imperial authority he was made special advancement holder and grand master with the gold seal and purple sash. He died and was posthumously named Gong ("Respectful").
56
子畿，官至太子右衛率。 魏克江陵，力戰死之。
His son Ji rose to commandant of the crown prince's right guard. When Wei took Jiangling he fought to the death.
57
忌字無畏，少聰敏，有識量，頗涉史傳，為當時所稱。 侯景之亂，招集勇力，乃隨陳武帝征討。 及陳武帝誅王僧辯，僧辯弟僧智舉兵據吳郡，陳武帝遣黃他攻之，不能克。 命忌勒部下精兵，自錢唐直趣吳郡，夜至城下，鼓噪薄之。 僧智疑大軍至，輕舟奔杜龕，忌入據吳郡。 陳武帝嘉之，表授吳郡太守。
Ji, courtesy name Wuwei, was clever and perceptive from youth, well read in history, and widely praised. During Hou Jing's rebellion he mustered fighting men and followed the future Chen Emperor Wu on campaign. After Chen Wu executed Wang Sengbian, Sengbian's brother Sengzhi seized Wu commandery; Chen sent Huang Ta against him but failed to break the city. Chen ordered Ji to lead his crack troops straight from Qiantang to Wu commandery; they reached the walls by night and attacked with drums and war cries. Sengzhi, believing a main force had arrived, fled by boat toward Du Kan; Ji entered and held Wu commandery. Chen Wu commended him and had him appointed grand administrator of Wu commandery.
58
之橫字如嶽，少好賓遊，重氣俠，不事產業。 之高以其縱誕，乃為狹被蔬食以激厲之。 之橫歎曰：「大丈夫富貴，必作百幅被。」 遂與僮屬數百人於芍陂大營田墅，遂致殷積。 梁簡文在東宮，聞而要之，以為河東王常侍。 遷直合將軍。
Zhiheng, courtesy name Ruyue, loved entertaining and travel from youth, lived by the code of the bravo, and cared nothing for property. Zhigao, exasperated by his wild ways, gave him a thin blanket and plain food to shock him into reform. Zhiheng sighed, "When a real man grows rich, he'll make himself a quilt of a hundred layers!" He gathered several hundred servants and opened large estates at Shaobo Pond, soon amassing great wealth. When the future Emperor Jianwen was crown prince he sought Zhiheng out and made him regular attendant to the Prince of Hedong. He was promoted to general of the direct guard.
59
魏克江陵，齊遣上党王高渙挾貞陽侯明攻東關。 晉安王承制，以之橫為徐州刺史，都督眾軍，出守蘄城。 之橫營壘未周，而齊軍大至，兵盡矢窮，遂於陣沒。 贈司空，諡曰忠壯。 子鳳寶嗣。
After Wei took Jiangling, Qi sent Prince Huan of Shangdang with the captive Marquis of Zhenyang to attack Dongguan. Acting on imperial authority, Prince Jin'an made Zhiheng governor of Xu Province, commander of all forces, and sent him to hold Qicheng. Before his defenses were complete the Qi army arrived in force; out of men and arrows, he fell on the field. He was posthumously made minister of works with the posthumous name Zhongzhuang ("Loyal and Robust"). His son Fengbao inherited the title.
60
論曰：韋、裴少年勵操，俱以學尚自立，晚節驅馳，各著功於戎馬。 觀叡制勝之道，謂為魁梧之傑，然而形甚羸瘠，身不跨鞍，板輿指麾，隱如敵國，其器分有在，隆名豈虛得乎。 邃自效邊疆，盛績克舉，其志不遂，良可悲夫。 二門子弟，各著名節，與梁終始，克荷隆構。 「將門有將」，斯言豈曰妄乎。
Commentary: In youth Wei and Pei disciplined their character and stood on learning; in later years they took to the saddle and each won distinction in war. To watch Rui win battles is to see a commanding giant—yet he was painfully thin and never mounted a horse himself; from a hand carriage he directed armies as though facing an equal foe. Such gifts are rare; his towering reputation was hardly unearned. Sui gave his all on the frontier and piled victory upon victory—yet his ambition went unfulfilled, which is truly a pity. The younger generations of both houses won names for integrity, stood with Liang to the end, and shouldered its great enterprise. "A general's house breeds generals"—was that old saying ever untrue?