Sui and Tang · Duke of Puyang; official

Yuwen Shu 宇文述

Died AD 616

Passages: 90
Chapters: 5
Histories: 2

Overview

The translated histories identify Yuwen Shu as an aristocrat, courtier, general, and military officer. This record brings together 90 passages from 5 chapters across 2 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Yuwen Shu	宇文述	Yuwen Shu
Courtesy name	Botong	伯通	Botong
Title	Duke of Bao	褒國公
Title	Duke of Baoguo	褒國公
Title	Duke of Boling	博陵郡公
Title	Duke of Puyang	濮陽郡公
Title	Duke of Puyang	濮陽公
Title	Duke of Xu	許國公
Posthumous name	Gong	恭
Surname	Poyetou	破野頭	Poyetou
Given	Shu	述	Shù
Given name	Shu	述	Shu
Given name	Shu	述
Personal name	Yu Wenshu	宇文述	Yuwen Shu
Personal	Yu Wenshu	宇文述	Yǔwén Shù
Surname	Yuwen	宇文	Yuwen
Surname	Yuwen	宇文	Yǔwén
Personal name	Yuwen Shu	宇文述	Yuwen Shu
Personal	Yuwen Shu	宇文述	Yǔwén Shù
Personal name	Yuwen Shu	宇文述
Personal	Yuwen Shu	宇文述

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · suishu:044:s0146, suishu:061:s0001, suishu:061:s0188
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · suishu:079:s0193, zhoushu:008:s0092, zhoushu:008:s0098
Value: male
Explicit · suishu:059:s0135

Roles

Aristocrat
Courtier
General
Military Officer
Official

Life and dates

Death

Date Context: Source Date: Text: 及薨 · Western Year: AD 616 · Place: Jiangdu / 江都
Explicit · suishu:061:s0109, suishu:061:s0113

Age

Age: 70 · Reckoning: sui · Statement: emperor cites ritual for men of seventy on campaign
Explicit · suishu:061:s0077

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 及薨 · Western Year: AD 616
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0113
Source Date: Text: 史臣評論（大業以後追述） · Western Year: AD 611
Strongly inferred · suishu:061:s0214
Source Date: Text: 周武帝時 · Western Interval: Start: AD 561 · End: AD 578
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0001
Source Date: Text: 大業三年 · Western Year: AD 607
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0052
Source Date: Text: 大業中 · Western Year: AD 613
Explicit · suishu:044:s0146
Source Date: Text: 大象二年十二月丁巳 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit event contextual date · zhoushu:008:s0092, zhoushu:008:s0098
Source Date: Text: 宇文述以兵討之 · Western Year: AD 589
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:079:s0193
Source Date: Text: 平陳之役 · Western Year: AD 589
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0014
Source Date: Text: 征高麗 · Western Year: AD 612
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0076
Source Date: Text: 明年，帝有事遼東 · Western Year: AD 613
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0094
Source Date: Text: 晉王奪宗謀議 · Western Year: AD 600
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0188, suishu:061:s0197
Source Date: Text: 煬帝嗣位 · Western Year: AD 604
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0051
Source Date: Text: 開皇初 · Western Year: AD 581
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0013
Source Date: Text: 隋代 · Western Interval: Start: AD 581 · End: AD 618
Strongly inferred · suishu:059:s0135
Source Date: Text: 高祖于仁壽宮將大漸 · Western Year: AD 604
Explicit · suishu:061:s0198
Source Date: Text: 高祖為丞相，尉迥作亂 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0009

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Parent of Yuwen Huaji (宇文化及)
Kinship Term: eldest son / 長子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father · Subject Birth Order: 1
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father
Child of Yu Sheng (宇文盛)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Parent of Yuwen Shiji (宇文士及)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father
Parent of Yuwen Zhiji (宇文智及)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father

Kinship Role: sons · Count: 1 · Note: one son appointed Colonel-Director-in-Chief
Explicit · suishu:061:s0031

Origins and identity

Ethnicity: Xianbei-associated / 鮮卑
Explicit · suishu:061:s0002

Career and standing

Label: superior pillar-of-state / 上柱國 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大象二年十二月丁巳 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit · zhoushu:008:s0092, zhoushu:008:s0098
Label: General-in-Chief of the Left Guard / 左衛大將軍 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 煬帝嗣位 · Western Year: AD 604
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0051
Label: General-in-Chief of the Right Guard / 右衛大將軍 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 開皇初 · Western Year: AD 581
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0013
Label: Area Commander and Inspector of Shouzhou / 壽州刺史總管 · Action: appointed
Explicit · suishu:061:s0032
Label: Area Commander of Anzhou / 安州總管 · Action: appointed
Explicit · suishu:061:s0031
Label: chief minister / 公輔 · Action: appointed
Explicit · suishu:059:s0135
Label: Colonel of the Left Guard / 左衛率 · Action: appointed
Explicit · suishu:061:s0049
Label: Colonel-Director-in-Chief / 開府 · Action: appointed
Explicit · suishu:061:s0006
Label: Left Palace Steward / 左宮伯 · Action: appointed
Explicit · suishu:061:s0008
Label: Superior Pillar of State / 上柱國 · Action: appointed
Explicit · suishu:061:s0012
Label: Director-in-Chief with Ceremonial Equipage of the Three Excellencies / 開府儀同三司 · Action: granted · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大業三年 · Western Year: AD 607
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0052
Honor: imperial marriage alliance and chief-minister rank / 賜以婚媾，置之公輔 · Action: received
Explicit · suishu:059:s0135
Title: Duke of Bao / 褒國公 · Action: advanced
Explicit · suishu:061:s0012
Title: Duke of Boling / 博陵郡公 · Action: granted
Explicit · suishu:061:s0008
Title: Duke of Xu / 許國公 · Action: reenfeoffed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 煬帝嗣位 · Western Year: AD 604
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0051
Title: Duke of Puyang / 濮陽郡公 · Action: reenfeoffed
Explicit · suishu:061:s0008
Status: commoner · Action: reduced-to · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 除名為民 · Western Year: AD 612
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0093
Status: restored · Action: restored · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 明年，帝有事遼東，複述官爵 · Western Year: AD 613
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0094
Status: stripped-of-office · Action: handed-to-officials · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 以述等屬吏 · Western Year: AD 612
Explicit · suishu:061:s0092

Places and affiliations

Polity: Sui · Relation: associated-with
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:059:s0135
Polity: Sui / 隋 · Relation: served
Explicit · suishu:061:s0188
Place: Wuchuan in Dai Commandery / 代郡武川
Explicit · suishu:061:s0001
Organization: Eastern Palace forces / 東宮兵 · Relation: commanded
Explicit · suishu:061:s0198

Works and attributed material

Kind: historian-judgment · Role: subject · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · suishu:061:s0213, suishu:061:s0214, suishu:061:s0215, suishu:061:s0216, suishu:061:s0217
Kind: memorial · Role: author · Other Person Id: Yang Guang (楊廣)
Explicit · suishu:061:s0106, suishu:061:s0111, suishu:061:s0131, suishu:061:s0132, suishu:061:s0133, suishu:061:s0134
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Other Person Id: Yang Guang (楊廣)
Explicit · suishu:061:s0033, suishu:061:s0034, suishu:061:s0035, suishu:061:s0036, suishu:061:s0037, suishu:061:s0038, suishu:061:s0039

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: attacked · Other Person Id: Yuchi Jiong (尉遲迥) · Place: Xiangzhou / 相州 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 高祖為丞相，尉迥作亂 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0009
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: defeated-Tuyuhun · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大業三年 · Western Year: AD 607
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0053, suishu:061:s0056, suishu:061:s0058
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: defeated · Other Person Id: Yang Xuangan (楊玄感) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 楊玄感作亂 · Western Year: AD 613
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0096, suishu:061:s0100
Kind: military · Role: relief-commander · Action: defeated · Other Person Id: Yang Xuangan (楊玄感)
Explicit · suishu:044:s0146
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: Goguryeo-campaign · Place: Yalu / Pyongyang · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 征高麗 · Western Year: AD 612
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0076, suishu:061:s0087, suishu:061:s0090
Kind: political · Role: messenger · Action: informed-Guo-Yan-of-plot · Other Person Id: Guo Yan (郭衍)
Explicit · suishu:061:s0188
Kind: political · Role: commander · Action: led-Eastern-Palace-troops-under-forged-edict · Other Person Id: Guo Yan (郭衍) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 高祖于仁壽宮將大漸 · Western Year: AD 604
Explicit · suishu:061:s0198
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: pacified-Wu-Kuai · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 平陳之役 · Western Year: AD 589
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:061:s0014, suishu:061:s0030
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: suppressed Xiao Huan
Explicit · suishu:079:s0193, suishu:079:s0195
Relation: envoy-of · Person Id: Prince of Jin (晉王)
Explicit · suishu:061:s0188
Relation: ally-of · Person Id: Yang Guang (楊廣)
Explicit · suishu:061:s0032, suishu:061:s0048
Relation: colleague-of · Person Id: Guo Yan (郭衍)
Explicit · suishu:061:s0188, suishu:061:s0198, suishu:061:s0214

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: greedy and base · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · suishu:061:s0071
Assessment: obsequious flatterer who stole ease in high position · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · suishu:061:s0214, suishu:061:s0215, suishu:061:s0216
Assessment: skilled at attendance and ingenious · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · suishu:061:s0066, suishu:061:s0067

Source notes

Historicity: historical
Explicit · suishu:061:s0188

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Book of Sui, Chapter 44Volume 44 Biographies 9: Teng Mu Wangzan, Daodao Wangjing, Caiwang Zhiji · 1 passage

數日，宇文述等援軍至，合擊破之。 Within days the relief armies under Yuwen Shu and others arrived, and in a combined attack they defeated him.

Book of Sui, Chapter 59Volume 59 Biographies 24: Three Sons of Emperor Yang · 1 passage

其父述，往屬時來，早沾厚遇，賜以婚媾，置之公輔，位尊九命，祿重萬鐘，禮極人臣，榮冠世表。 His father Shu, when fortune favored him, received generous treatment early on: he was granted a marriage alliance with the imperial house, placed among the chief ministers, honored with the highest rank, paid a stipend of ten thousand piculs, accorded the utmost rites due a subject, and his glory crowned his generation.

Book of Sui, Chapter 61Volume 61 Biographies 26: Yu Wenshu, Guo Yan · 83 passages

宇文述，字伯通，代郡武川人也。 Yu Wenshu, whose courtesy name was Botong, came from Wuchuan in Dai Commandery.

本姓破野頭，役屬鮮卑俟豆歸，後從其主為宇文氏。 He had originally borne the surname Poyetou and served under the Xianbei leader Houdougou; he later took the Yuwen surname along with his master.

述少驍銳，便弓馬。 As a youth, Shu was fierce and quick, and excelled at archery and horsemanship.

年十一時，有相者謂述曰：「公子善自愛，後當位極人臣。」 When he was eleven, a physiognomist told him, "Take good care of yourself, young sir—you will one day rise to the highest ministerial rank."

述性恭謹沈密，周大塚宰宇文護甚愛之，以本官領護親信。 Shu was respectful, cautious, and reserved by nature. The Zhou regent Yuwen Hu took a great liking to him and left him in his original post while putting him in charge of the guard of personal confidants.

及帝親總萬機，召為左宮伯，累遷英果中大夫，賜爵博陵郡公，尋改封濮陽郡公。 When the emperor personally took the reins of government, Shu was summoned to serve as Left Palace Steward. He was successively promoted to Resolute Valor Grand Master of the Palace, enfeoffed as Duke of Boling, and shortly afterward given the title Duke of Puyang.

高祖為丞相，尉迥作亂相州，述以行軍總管率步騎三千，從韋孝寬擊之。 When Emperor Gaozu served as Chancellor, Yuchi Jiong raised a rebellion at Xiangzhou. Shu, acting as campaign commander-in-chief, led three thousand foot and horse soldiers to join Wei Xiaokuan in attacking him.

軍至河陽，迥遣將李俊攻懷州，述別擊俊軍，破之。 When the army reached Heyang, Chi sent his general Li Jun to attack Huaizhou. Shu struck Jun's force separately and routed it.

又與諸將擊尉惇於永橋，述先鋒陷陣，俘馘甚眾。 He also joined the other generals in attacking Yuchi Dun at Yong Bridge. Shu led the vanguard through the enemy formation and took a great many prisoners and heads.

時韓擒、賀若弼兩軍趣丹陽，述進據石頭，以為聲援。 At that time the armies of Han Qin and He Ruobi were pressing toward Danyang. Shu advanced and seized Shitou to serve as a supporting position.

述領行軍總管元契、張默言等討之，水陸兼進。 Shu led the campaign commanders Yuan Qi, Zhang Moyan, and others against them, advancing by both land and water.

落叢公燕榮以舟師自海至，亦受述節度。 Yan Rong, Duke of Luocong, brought a fleet from the sea and likewise placed himself under Shu's command.

見述軍且至，瓛懼，立柵于晉陵城東，又絕塘道，留兵拒述。 Seeing that Shu's army was approaching, Kan grew afraid. He built palisades east of Jinling, cut off the canal road, and left troops to resist Shu.

瓛自義興入太湖，圖掩述後。 Kan himself entered Lake Tai from Yixing, intending to strike at Shu's rear.

述進破其柵，回兵擊瓛，大敗之，斬瓛司馬曹勒叉。 Shu advanced, broke through the palisades, turned his army to strike Kan, and inflicted a crushing defeat, beheading Kan's marshal Cao Lecha.

述進至奉公埭，蕭岩、陳君範等以會稽請降。 Shu advanced to Fenggong Dam, where Xiao Yan, Chen Junfan, and others offered to surrender Kuaiji.

述許之，二人面縛路左，吳會悉平。 Shu accepted. The two men bound themselves and stood by the roadside, and Wu and Kuai were entirely pacified.

時晉王廣鎮揚州，甚善於述，欲述近己，因奏為壽州刺史總管。 At that time Prince Guang of Jin was stationed at Yangzhou and was on very good terms with Shu. Wishing to keep Shu near himself, he memorialized to have him appointed Area Commander and Inspector of Shouzhou.

王時陰有奪宗之志，請計於述，述曰：「皇太子失愛已久，令德不聞於天下。 The prince at that time secretly harbored the ambition to seize the succession and sought Shu's counsel. Shu said, "The Crown Prince has long since lost favor, and his virtue is not known throughout the realm.

述雅知約，請朝京師，與約相見，共圖廢立。」 Shu was on familiar terms with Yue. He asked to go to the capital, meet with Yue, and together plot the change of succession."

晉王大悅，多齎金寶，資述入關。 The Prince of Jin was greatly pleased and loaded Shu with gold and jewels to fund his journey to the capital.

述數請約，盛陳器玩，與之酣暢，因而共博，每佯不勝，所齎金寶盡輸之。 Shu repeatedly invited Yue, lavishly displayed vessels and curios, and drank freely with him. They then gambled together, and each time Shu pretended to lose until all the gold and jewels he had brought had passed to Yue.

約所得既多，稍以謝述。 Once Yue had gained a great deal, he gradually began to thank Shu.

述因曰：「此晉王之賜，令述與公為歡樂耳。」 Shu then said, "These were gifts from the Prince of Jin, meant only for us to enjoy together."

述因為王申意。 Shu then conveyed the prince's intentions on his behalf.

於是素每與述謀事。 Thereafter Su regularly plotted affairs together with Shu.

晉王與述情好益密，命述子士及尚南陽公主，前後賞賜不可勝計。 The Prince of Jin and Shu grew ever closer. He arranged for Shu's son Shiji to marry the Princess of Nanyang, and the rewards bestowed before and after were beyond counting.

及晉王為皇太子，以述為左衛率。 When the Prince of Jin became Crown Prince, Shu was appointed Colonel of the Left Guard.

舊令，率官第四品，上以述素貴，遂進率品為第三，其見重如此。 By the old regulations the colonel's office was fourth rank, but because the emperor considered Shu inherently noble, he advanced the colonel's rank to third—such was the esteem in which he was held.

煬帝嗣位，拜左衛大將軍，改封許國公， When Emperor Yang succeeded to the throne, Shu was appointed General-in-Chief of the Left Guard and reenfeoffed as Duke of Xu.

帝令述以兵屯西平之臨羌城，撫納降附。 The emperor ordered Shu to station troops at Linqiang in Xiping to pacify and receive those who surrendered.

吐谷渾見述擁強兵，懼不敢降，遂西遁。 Tuyuhun, seeing that Shu commanded a strong army, was afraid to surrender and fled westward.

述領鷹揚郎將梁元禮、張峻、崔師等追之，至曼頭城，攻拔之，斬三千餘級。 Shu led the Eagle-Flying Commandants Liang Yuanli, Zhang Jun, Cui Shi, and others in pursuit. Reaching Mantou, they attacked and captured it, beheading more than three thousand.

其餘黨走屯丘尼川，述進擊，大破之，獲其王公、尚書、將軍二百人，前後虜男女四千口而還。 The remaining factions fled and encamped at Qiuni River. Shu advanced and inflicted a crushing defeat, capturing two hundred of their princes, ministers, and generals, and in all took four thousand men and women captive before returning.

明年，從帝西幸，巡至金山，登燕支，述每為斥候。 The following year he accompanied the emperor on a western tour to Mount Jin and the ascent of Mount Yanzhi, serving each time as scout.

還至江都宮，敕述與蘇威常典選舉，參預朝政。 Returning to the Jiangdu Palace, the emperor ordered Shu and Su Wei regularly to oversee selections and appointments and to participate in court governance.

述時貴重，委任與蘇威等，其親愛則過之。 Shu was at that time noble and powerful. His commissions of trust were equal to Su Wei and the others, but in personal favor he surpassed them.

帝所得遠方貢獻及四時口味，輒見班賜，中使相望於道。 Whatever the emperor received in tribute from distant lands and seasonal delicacies, he would at once bestow a share upon Shu, and palace envoys lined the roads in succession.

述善於供奉，俯仰折旋，容止便辟，宿衛者鹹取則焉。 Shu was skilled at attendance. In bowing and rising, turning and wheeling, his bearing and manner were nimble and pleasing, and the palace guards all took him as their model.

時述貴幸，言無不從，勢傾朝廷。 At that time Shu was noble and favored. None of his words went unheeded, and his power overshadowed the court.

左衛將軍張瑾與述連官，嘗有評議，偶不中意，述張目叱之，瑾惶懼而走，文武百僚莫敢違忤。 Left Guard General Zhang Jin served in the same office as Shu. They once had a discussion in which Jin happened to displease him, and Shu glared and shouted at him. Jin fled in fear, and none of the civil and military officials dared to defy him.

富商大賈及隴右諸胡子弟，述皆接以恩意，呼之為兒。 Great merchants and the sons of the various Hu families west of Long—Shu treated them all with gracious favor and called them his sons.

述之寵遇，當時莫與為比。 The favor shown to Shu at that time had no equal.

及征高麗，述為扶餘道軍將。 When the campaign against Goguryeo was launched, Shu served as army commander of the Fuyu Route.

臨發，帝謂述曰：「禮，七十者行役以婦人從，公宜以家累自隨。 Before departure the emperor told Shu, "By ritual, when a man of seventy goes on campaign his wife may accompany him. You ought to bring your household with you.

述與九軍至鴨綠水，糧盡，議欲班師。 Shu and the nine armies reached the Yalu River. Provisions were exhausted, and they discussed withdrawing the army.

諸將多異同，述又不測帝意。 The generals were largely divided in opinion, and Shu could not gauge the emperor's intentions.

會乙支文德來詣其營，述先與于仲文俱奉密旨，令誘執文德。 It happened that Eulji Mundeok came to his camp. Shu had earlier received a secret order together with Yu Zhongwen to lure and seize Mundeok.

述內不自安，遂與諸將渡水追之。 Shu was inwardly ill at ease and thereupon crossed the river with the generals in pursuit.

時文德見述軍中多饑色，欲疲述眾，每鬥便北。 At that time Mundeok saw that many in Shu's army showed signs of hunger and wished to wear down Shu's force. Each time they fought he retreated northward.

述一日之中七戰皆捷，既恃驟勝，又內逼群議，於是遂進，東濟薩水，去平壤城三十裡，因山為營。 Shu fought seven battles in a single day and won them all. Trusting in his swift victories and inwardly pressed by the generals' counsel, he advanced, crossed the Sui River to the east, came within thirty li of Pyongyang, and encamped along the mountains.

文德複遣使偽降，請述曰：「若旋師者，當奉高元朝行在所。」 Mundeok again sent envoys in feigned surrender, telling Shu, "If you withdraw your army, we will present Gao Yuan at his traveling palace."

述見士卒疲敝，不可複戰，又平壤險固，卒難致力，遂因其詐而還。 Shu saw that the soldiers were worn and exhausted and could not fight again, and that Pyongyang was perilous and strong and could not quickly be taken. He therefore accepted their deception and withdrew.

帝大怒，以述等屬吏。 The emperor was greatly enraged and handed Shu and the others over to the judicial officials.

明年，帝有事遼東，複述官爵，待之如初。 The following year, when the emperor again undertook affairs in Liaodong, he restored Shu's offices and titles and treated him as before.

會楊玄感作亂，帝召述班師，令馳驛赴河陽，發諸郡兵以討玄感。 It happened that Yang Xuangan raised a rebellion. The emperor summoned Shu to withdraw the army and ordered him to ride post-horses to Heyang to mobilize troops from the various commanderies to suppress Xuangan.

時玄感逼東都，聞述軍將至，懼而西遁，將圖關中。 At that time Xuangan was pressing the Eastern Capital. Hearing that Shu's army was approaching, he was afraid and fled westward, intending to seize the Guanzhong region.

述與刑部尚書衛玄、左禦衛將軍來護兒、武衛將軍屈突通等躡之。 Shu, together with Minister of Justice Wei Xuan, Left Imperial Guard General Lai Huer, Martial Guard General Qutu Tong, and others, pursued him.

述與來護兒列陣當其前，遣屈突通以奇兵擊其後，大破之，遂斬玄感，傳首行在所。 Shu and Lai Huer drew up their battle lines before him and sent Qutu Tong with a flanking force to strike from the rear. They inflicted a crushing defeat, beheaded Xuangan, and sent his head to the emperor's traveling residence.

突厥之圍雁門，帝懼，述請潰圍而出。 When the Turks besieged Yanmen, the emperor was afraid, and Shu requested to break out of the encirclement.

述因奏曰：「從官妻子多在東都，便道向洛陽，自潼關而入可也。」 Shu thereupon memorialized, saying, "The wives and children of the accompanying officials are mostly in the Eastern Capital. We may take the convenient route to Luoyang and enter through Tong Pass."

是歲，至東都，述又觀望帝意，勸幸江都，帝大悅。 That year, upon reaching the Eastern Capital, Shu again watched the emperor's mood and urged a visit to Jiangdu. The emperor was greatly pleased.

述于江都遇疾，中使相望，帝將親臨視之，群臣苦諫乃止。 Shu fell ill at Jiangdu. Palace envoys came in unbroken succession, and the emperor was about to visit him in person until the ministers earnestly remonstrated and he desisted.

遂遣司宮魏氏問述曰：「必有不諱，欲何所言？」 He then sent the Palace Attendant of the Inner Quarters, Lady Wei, to ask Shu, "You must be facing the inevitable—what do you wish to say?"

述二子化及、智及，時並得罪於家，述因奏曰：「化及臣之長子，早預籓邸，願陛下哀憐之。」 Shu's two sons Huaji and Zhiji were at that time both in disgrace at home. Shu thereupon memorialized, "Huaji is my eldest son. He entered the prince's household early—may Your Majesty show him pity."

雲定興者，附會於述。 Yun Dingxing attached himself to Shu.

定興先得昭訓明珠絡帳，私賂於述，自是數共交遊。 Dingxing had earlier obtained the Brilliant Instructor's pearl-net canopy and privately bribed Shu with it. From then on they frequently associated together.

定興每時節必有賂遺，並以音樂幹述。 At every season Dingxing was sure to present bribes, and he also sought favor with Shu through music.

述素好著奇服，炫耀時人。 Shu had always liked to wear strange garments and dazzle people of the day.

世輕薄者爭放學之，謂為許公缺勢。 The frivolous men of the age vied to imitate it, calling it Duke Xu's missing corner.

述曰：「然。」 Shu said, "Indeed."

又學之，名為許公袙勢。 Others again imitated it, calling it Duke Xu's ear-flap style.

述大悅曰：「雲兄所作，必能變俗。 Shu was greatly pleased and said, "What Elder Brother Yun has made is sure to transform custom.

後帝將事四夷，大造兵器，述薦之，因敕少府工匠並取其節度。 Later, when the emperor was about to undertake affairs with the four barbarians and was manufacturing arms on a great scale, Shu recommended him, and the emperor ordered that the craftsmen of the Palace Storehouse all take their standards from him.

述欲為之求官，謂定興曰：「兄所制器仗併合上心，而不得官者，為長寧兄弟猶未死耳。」 Shu wished to seek office for him and said to Dingxing, "The arms and armor you make all accord with the sovereign's mind, yet you have not received office because the brothers of Changning are still alive."

述因奏曰：「房陵諸子，年並成立。 Shu thereupon memorialized, "The sons at Fangling have all reached maturity.

述奏曰：」並雲定興之功也。」 Shu memorialized, "This is entirely the achievement of Yun Dingxing."

凡述所薦達，皆至大官。 All whom Shu recommended and advanced reached high office.

趙行樞乙太常樂戶，家財億計，述謂為兄，多受其賄。 Zhao Xingshu, a musician of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, had household wealth reckoned in the hundreds of millions. Shu called him elder brother and received many bribes from him.

稱其驍勇，起家為折衝郎將。 Praising his valor, Shu had him enter office as a Resolute Assault Commandant.

王有奪宗之謀，托衍心腹，遣宇文述以情告之。 The prince had a plot to seize the succession and entrusted Yan as a confidant, sending Yu Wenshu to inform him of the matter in full.

高祖于仁壽宮將大漸，太子與楊素矯詔，令衍、宇文述領東宮兵，帖上臺宿衛，門禁並由之。 When Emperor Gaozu at Renshou Palace was about to reach his end, the Crown Prince and Yang Su forged an edict ordering Yan and Yu Wenshu to lead the Eastern Palace troops, post them for night guard at the upper terrace, and place gate control entirely in their hands.

宇文述、郭衍以水濟水，如脂如韋，便辟足恭，柔顏取悅。 Yu Wenshu and Guo Yan were as water added to water, as pliant as tallow and leather—nimble in bearing and obsequious in deference, soft of countenance to win favor.

Book of Sui, Chapter 79Volume 79 Biographies 44: Imperial Affines · 4 passages

褒國公宇文述以兵討之，瓛遣王哀守吳州，自將拒述。 Duke of Baoguo Yuwen Shu came with troops to suppress him. Huan sent Wang Ai to hold Wu prefecture and personally led the army against Shu.

述遣兵別道襲吳州，哀懼，衣道士服，棄城而遁。 Shu sent troops by another route to strike Wu prefecture. Ai, terrified, dressed as a Daoist priest, abandoned the city, and fled.

瓛眾聞之，悉無鬥志，與述一戰而敗。 When Huan's troops heard of this, they lost all fighting spirit. After one battle with Shu they were defeated.

瓛將左右數人逃於太湖，匿於民家，為人所執，送於述所，斬之長安，時年二十一。 Huan fled to Lake Tai with a few attendants and hid in a commoner's house. He was seized, sent to Shu, and beheaded in Chang'an at the age of twenty-one.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 8Volume 8 Annals 8: Emperor Jing · 1 passage

釜、武鄉公崔弘度、大將軍中山公宇文恩、濮陽公宇文述、渭原公和幹子、任城公王景、漁陽公楊銳、上開府廣宗公李崇、隴西公李詢竝為上柱國。 Fu, Cui Hongdu, Duke of Wuxiang; Yuwen En, Grand General and Duke of Zhongshan; Yuwen Shu, Duke of Puyang; He Ganzhi, Duke of Weiyuan; Wang Jing, Duke of Rencheng; Yang Rui, Duke of Yuyang; Li Chong, Shang Kai Fu and Duke of Guangzong; and Li Xun, Duke of Longxi, were all made superior pillars-of-state.