1
董卓字仲穎,隴西臨洮人也。 〈《英雄記》曰:卓父君雅,由微官爲潁川綸氏尉。 有三子:長子擢,字孟高,早卒; 次即卓; 卓弟旻字叔穎。〉 少好俠,甞游羌中,盡與諸豪帥相結。 後歸耕於野,而豪帥有來從之者,卓與俱還,殺耕牛與相宴樂。 諸豪帥感其意,歸相斂,得雜畜千餘頭以贈卓。 〈《吳書》曰:郡召卓爲吏,使監領盜賊。 胡甞出鈔,多虜民人,涼州刺史成就辟卓爲從事,使領兵騎討捕,大破之,斬獲千計。 并州刺史段熲薦卓公府,司徒袁隗辟爲掾。〉 漢桓帝末,以六郡良家子爲羽林郎。 卓有才武,旅力少比,雙帶兩鞬,左右馳射。 爲軍司馬,從中郎將張奐征并州有功,拜郎中,賜縑九千匹,卓悉以分與吏士。 遷廣武令,蜀郡北部都尉,西域戊己校尉,免。 徵拜并州刺史、河東太守, 〈《英雄記》曰:卓數討羌、胡,前後百餘戰。〉 遷中郎將,討黃巾,軍敗抵罪。 韓遂等起涼州,復爲中郎將,西拒遂。 於望垣硤北爲羌、胡數萬人所圍,糧食乏絕。 卓偽欲捕魚,堰其還道當所渡水爲池,使水渟滿數十里,默從堰下過其軍而決堰。 比羌、胡聞知追逐,水已深,不得渡。 時六軍上隴西,五軍敗績,卓獨全衆而還,屯住扶風。 拜前將軍,封斄鄉侯,徵爲并州牧。 〈《靈帝紀》曰:中平五年,徵卓爲少府,勑以營吏士屬左將軍皇甫嵩,詣行在所。 卓上言:「涼州擾亂,鯨鯢未滅,此臣奮發效命之秋。 吏士踊躍,戀恩念報,各遮臣車,辭聲懇惻,未得即路也。 輙且行前將軍事,盡心慰卹,効力行陣。」 六年,以卓爲并州牧,又勑以吏兵屬皇甫嵩。 卓復上言:「臣掌戎十年,士卒大小相狎彌久,戀臣畜養之恩,樂爲國家奮一旦之命,乞將之州,效力邊陲。」 卓再違詔勑,會爲何進所召。〉
Dong Zhuo, whose courtesy name was Zhongying, came from Lintao in Longxi. 〈According to the Record of Heroes, Zhuo's father Junya had started from a low post before becoming captain of Lunshi in Yingchuan. He had three sons. The eldest son bore the given name Zhuo (homophonous with Dong Zhuo's name but a different character) and the courtesy Menggao, and died young; the next in line was Dong Zhuo himself; and his younger brother Min bore the courtesy name Shuying.〉 As a young man he was drawn to the code of the knight-errant, often rode deep among the Qiang, and won the friendship of every prominent chief. Later he went home to farm; when chieftains rode out to join him, he went back with them, butchered his ox, and held a feast. Touched by his generosity, the chiefs went home, took up a collection, and brought him more than a thousand head of livestock. 〈The Book of Wu relates that the commandery called Zhuo to office and put him in charge of suppressing banditry. When Hu raiders swept in and seized townsfolk by the hundred, Liangzhou Inspector Chengjiu took Zhuo on as an aide, gave him cavalry, and sent him against them. Zhuo crushed the raid and tallied a thousand dead or taken. Bingzhou Inspector Duan Jiong forwarded Zhuo's name to the high ministries, and Minister of Education Yuan Wei brought him in as a secretary.〉 Toward the end of Emperor Huan's reign he entered the Yulin Guard as a candidate from a respectable family of the Six Border Commanderies. Zhuo was a formidable fighter—few could match his raw strength—and went into battle with twin quivers, loosing arrows to either side at full gallop. As army major under General Zhang Huan he earned distinction on the Bingzhou expedition, received appointment as a gentleman of the palace and a gift of nine thousand bolts of silk, and gave every bolt to his officers and men. He rose to magistrate of Guangwu, northern commandant of Shu, and colonel of the Gengji garrison in the Western Regions, then lost his post. The court recalled him to serve as inspector of Bingzhou and administrator of Hedong, 〈The Record of Heroes adds that Zhuo fought the Qiang and Hu in well over a hundred engagements.〉 Promoted to general of the household, he marched against the Yellow Turbans; his force was routed and he was punished for it. When Han Sui rose in Liangzhou, Zhuo was again made general of the household and sent west to hold the line against him. North of Wangyuan Gorge tens of thousands of Qiang and Hu hemmed him in until his supplies ran out. Zhuo feigned a fishing camp: he threw a dam across the ford on his line of retreat until the backed-up water stretched for miles, slipped his army under the embankment in secret, then burst the dam. By the time the Qiang and Hu realized what had happened and gave chase, the flood was too deep to cross. Six imperial columns had climbed onto Longxi; five were shattered. Only Zhuo brought his men out whole and took station at Fufeng. He was named general of the van, enfeoffed as marquis of Li township, and summoned to govern Bingzhou. 〈The Annals of Emperor Ling record that in Zhongping 5 Zhuo was called to the capital as minister coachman and told to hand his troops to Huangfu Song, general of the household on the left, and report to the emperor's traveling court. Zhuo memorialized: "Liangzhou is in chaos and the rebels still roam—this is the hour your servant should throw himself into the fight. My officers are eager to repay your kindness; they have blocked my carriage with pleas so heartfelt that I cannot simply march away. For now I am acting as general of the van, steadying the ranks and doing what I can at the front." The next year he was appointed governor of Bingzhou and again ordered to place his men under Huangfu Song. Zhuo answered again: "I have led troops for ten years; every rank knows me and owes me for their keep—they would gladly die for the realm. Let me take them to Bingzhou and hold the border." Twice he defied the edict—then He Jin called him to the capital.〉
2
先是,進遣騎都尉太山鮑信所在募兵,適至,信謂紹曰:「卓擁彊兵,有異志,今不早圖,將爲所制; 及其初至疲勞,襲之可禽也。」 紹畏卓,不敢發,信遂還鄉里。
Earlier He Jin had sent Colonel Bao Xin of Taishan to raise troops; Bao arrived in the capital and warned Yuan Shao: "Dong Zhuo commands a large army and means mischief. Strike now or he will dominate us; catch him tired from the march and you can take him." Yuan Shao flinched at Zhuo's strength and did nothing; Bao Xin went home.
3
於是以久不雨,策免司空劉弘而卓代之,俄遷太尉,假節鉞虎賁。 遂廢帝爲弘農王。 尋又殺王及何太后。 立靈帝少子陳留王,是爲獻帝。 〈《獻帝紀》曰:卓謀廢帝,會羣臣於朝堂,議曰:「大者天地,其次君臣,所以爲治。 今皇帝闇弱,不可以奉宗廟,爲天下主。 欲以依伊尹、霍光故事,立陳留王,何如?」 尚書盧植曰:「案尚書太甲旣立不明,伊尹放之桐宮。 昌邑王立二十七日,罪過千餘,故霍光廢之。 今上富於春秋,行未有失,非前事之比也。」 卓怒,罷坐,欲誅植,侍中蔡邕勸之,得免。 九月甲戌,卓復大會羣臣曰:「太后逼迫永樂太后,令以憂死,逆婦姑之禮,無孝順之節。 天子幼質,軟弱不君。 昔伊尹放太甲,霍光廢昌邑,著在典籍,僉以爲善。 今太后宜如太甲,皇帝宜如昌邑。 陳留王仁孝,宜即尊皇祚。」 《獻帝起居注》載策曰:「孝靈皇帝不究高宗眉壽之祚,早棄臣子。 皇帝承紹,海內側望,而帝天姿輕佻,威儀不恪,在喪慢惰,衰如故焉; 凶德旣彰,淫穢發聞,損辱神器,忝汙宗廟。 皇太后教無母儀,統政荒亂。 永樂太后暴崩,衆論惑焉。 三綱之道,天地之紀,而乃有闕,罪之大者。 陳留王恊,聖德偉茂,規矩邈然,豐下兊上,有堯圖之表; 居喪哀戚,言不及邪,岐嶷之性,有周成之懿。 休聲美稱,天下所聞,宜承洪業,爲萬世統,可以承宗廟。 廢皇帝爲弘農王。 皇太后還政。」 尚書讀冊畢,羣臣莫有言,尚書丁宮曰:「天禍漢室,喪亂弘多。 昔祭仲廢忽立突,春秋大其權。 今大臣量宜爲社稷計,誠合天人,請稱萬歲。」 卓以太后見廢,故公卿以下不布服,會葬,素衣而已。〉 卓遷相國,封郿侯,贊拜不名,劒履上殿,又封卓母爲池陽君,置家令、丞。 卓旣率精兵來,適值帝室大亂,得專廢立,據有武庫甲兵、國家珍寶,威震天下。 卓性殘忍不仁,遂以嚴刑脅衆,睚眦之隙必報,人不自保。 〈《魏書》曰:卓所願無極,語賔客曰:「我相,貴無上也。」 《英雄記》曰:卓欲震威,侍御史擾龍宗詣卓白事,不解劒,立撾殺之,京師震動。 發何苗棺,出其尸,枝解節棄於道邊。 又收苗母舞陽君殺之,棄尸於苑枳落中,不復收斂。〉 甞遣軍到陽城。 時適二月社,民各在其社下,悉就斷其男子頭,駕其車牛,載其婦女財物,以所斷頭繫車轅軸,連軫而還洛,云攻賊大獲,稱萬歲。 入開陽城門,焚燒其頭,以婦女與甲兵爲婢妾。 至於姦亂宮人公主。 其凶逆如此。
When drought dragged on, Liu Hong was stripped of the ministry of works and Zhuo took his place; soon Zhuo became grand commandant with full imperial insignia and an imperial guard. He then deposed the emperor and reduced him to prince of Hongnong. Before long he murdered the former emperor and Empress Dowager He. He raised Emperor Ling's younger son, the prince of Chenliu, to the throne—this was Emperor Xian. 〈The Annals of Emperor Xian relate that when Zhuo plotted to remove the emperor, he gathered the court and declared: "Heaven and earth come first; ruler and subject come next—that is how government works. The reigning emperor is timid and weak—he cannot honor the shrines or rule the realm. I propose we follow Yi Yin and Huo Guang and enthrone the prince of Chenliu—what say you?" Lu Zhi of the secretariat objected: "The Documents tell us that after Taijia took the throne he proved unworthy, so Yi Yin confined him in the Tong palace. The king of Changyi lasted twenty-seven days and piled up a thousand crimes—Huo Guang removed him. Our present sovereign is still young and has done nothing wrong—this is not the same case." Zhuo flew into a rage and broke up the meeting, ready to execute Lu Zhi until Palace Attendant Cai Yong talked him down. On jiaxu in the ninth month Zhuo summoned the officials again and charged: "The empress dowager hounded the Yongle Dowager to her death, flouting the duties of daughter-in-law to mother-in-law and every norm of filial conduct. The boy on the throne is frail and unfit to govern. Yi Yin banished Taijia; Huo Guang cast out the king of Changyi—the classics praise both acts. The empress dowager should share Taijia's fate; the emperor, Changyi's. The prince of Chenliu is humane and dutiful—let him take the mandate." The Daily Records of Emperor Xian preserve the text of the edict: "Emperor Ling never attained the long reign of Gaozong of Shang; he left his servants all too soon. The realm looked to the new emperor, yet he proved flighty and irreverent—mourning his father with slack indifference, going about as if nothing had changed; his vicious nature became manifest, scandal spread, and he defiled both the imperial regalia and the ancestral shrines. The empress dowager abandoned every maternal duty and ruled with reckless disorder. When the Yongle Dowager died suddenly, rumor and suspicion swept the court. The three bonds anchor Heaven and earth—breaking them is the gravest of crimes. Prince Xie of Chenliu combines towering virtue with natural dignity—broad of jaw, keen of eye, the very face Yao wore in the portrait classics; in mourning he is genuinely grief-stricken and never speaks lightly; even as a child he showed the precocious gravity of King Cheng of Zhou. His good name is known throughout the realm; he should receive the great mandate and become the line that will serve the altars for ages to come. Depose the emperor and enfeoff him as prince of Hongnong. Strip the empress dowager of authority." When the secretariat finished reading the patent of deposition, no one spoke until Ding Gong rose: "Heaven scourges the Han—disaster piles upon disaster. When Ji Zhong of Zheng set aside Hu for Tu, the Spring and Autumn praised his decisive power. When ministers weigh the altars' safety and align Heaven with the throne, we hail them—long live the deed!" Because Zhuo had forced the dowager's deposition, not even the highest ministers wore mourning hemp at her funeral—only undyed cloth.〉 Zhuo became chancellor of state and marquis of Mei, was summoned without formality, wore sword and shoes in the throne hall, and had his mother titled lady of Chiyang with full household officers. He marched in with picked troops just as the palace faction tore itself apart, seized the sole power to make and unmake emperors, and laid hands on the arsenal, the treasury, and every symbol of authority—terror spread through the empire. Brutal by nature, he ruled through terror: the smallest slight invited revenge, and no one felt safe. 〈The Book of Wei notes that Zhuo's ambitions knew no bounds—he told visitors, "My face marks me for rank beyond rank." The Record of Heroes adds that to cow the capital Zhuo had Palace Secretary Rao Longzong clubbed to death for failing to surrender his sword—the whole city trembled. They broke open He Miao's tomb, dragged out the body, hacked it apart, and scattered the pieces along the road. They seized He Miao's mother, Lady Wuyang, murdered her, and dumped her in an overgrown corner of the imperial park without burial.〉 On one occasion he sent troops to Yangcheng. It was the spring communal sacrifice: villagers had gathered at their local shrines when Zhuo's soldiers butchered the men, seized carts, oxen, women, and booty, fastened severed heads to the axles, and rattled back into Luoyang boasting of a great victory over bandits. They rode through Kaiyang Gate, burned the heads for spectacle, and handed the surviving women and captured troops over as concubines and servants. He went so far as to rape palace ladies and princesses. Such was the depth of his cruelty.
4
初,卓信任尚書周毖、城門校尉伍瓊等,用其所舉韓馥、劉岱、孔伷、張咨、張邈等出宰州郡。 而馥等至官,皆合兵將以討卓。 卓聞之,以爲毖、瓊等通情賣己,皆斬之。 〈《英雄記》曰:毖字仲遠,武威人。 瓊字德瑜,汝南人。 謝承《後漢書》曰:伍孚字德瑜,少有大節,爲郡門下書佐。 其本邑長有罪,太守使孚出教,就曹下督郵收之。 孚不肯受教,伏地仰諫曰:「君雖不君,臣不可不臣,明府柰何令孚受教,勑外収本邑長乎? 更乞授他吏。」 太守奇而聽之。 後大將軍何進辟爲東曹屬,稍遷侍中、河南尹、越騎校尉。 董卓作亂,百僚震慄。 孚著小鎧,於朝服裏挾佩刀見卓,欲伺便刺殺之。 語闋辭去,卓送至閤中,孚因出刀刺之。 卓多力,退郤不中,即収孚。 卓曰:「卿欲反邪?」 孚大言曰:「汝非吾君,吾非汝臣,何反之有? 汝亂國篡主,罪盈惡大,今是吾死日,故來誅姦賊耳,恨不車裂汝於市朝以謝天下。」 遂殺孚。 謝承記孚字及本郡,則與瓊同,而致死事乃與孚異也,不知孚爲瓊之別名,爲別有伍孚也? 蓋未詳之。〉
At first Zhuo relied on Zhou Bi of the secretariat and Wu Qiong as colonel of the gates, along with their nominees Han Fu, Liu Dai, Kong Zhou, Zhang Zi, and Zhang Miao, to fill provincial and commandery posts. Once those men took office, however, they raised armies against Zhuo. When Zhuo learned of it, he decided Bi and Qiong had conspired against him and put them all to death. 〈The Record of Heroes identifies Zhou Bi, courtesy Zhongyuan, as a native of Wuwei. Wu Qiong, courtesy Deyu, came from Runan. Xie Cheng's Later Han History mentions a Wu Fu, style Deyu, who showed remarkable integrity even as a young commandery clerk. When his home district magistrate broke the law, the administrator ordered Wu Fu to draft the warrant and deliver it to the supervising inspector for the arrest. Wu Fu threw himself down and refused: "A lord may neglect his duty, but a minister must not betray his—why ask me to issue orders for my own district head's arrest? Give the warrant to someone else." The administrator, impressed, agreed. Grand General He Jin later took him on as an eastern-bureau aide; he rose to palace attendant, intendant of Henan, and colonel of agile cavalry. When Dong Zhuo seized power, the whole bureaucracy quaked. Wu Fu hid mail under his court robes, slipped a dagger inside his sash, and visited Zhuo hoping for a chance to strike. When their talk ended Zhuo walked him to the door—Fu spun and drove his blade at him. Zhuo was powerfully built—he lurched aside, the thrust missed, and his guards seized Wu Fu. Zhuo snarled, "Turning traitor on me?" Wu Fu shouted back, "You are no sovereign of mine, nor I your minister—where is the treason? You tear the realm apart and steal the throne—today I came to kill a traitor, nothing more; I only regret I cannot drag you to the public square and quarter you for all to see." They executed him on the spot. Xie Cheng gives Wu Fu the same style and home county as Wu Qiong but a different death scene—whether "Fu" was Qiong's alias or a second man named Wu Fu remains unclear. The sources never settle the point.〉
5
三年四月,司徒王允、尚書僕射士孫瑞、卓將呂布共謀誅卓。 是時,天子有疾新愈,大會未央殿。 布使同郡騎都尉李肅等將親兵十餘人,偽著衞士服守掖門。 布懷詔書。 卓至,肅等格卓。 卓驚呼布所在。 布曰「有詔」,遂殺卓,夷三族。 主簿田景前趨卓尸,布又殺之; 凡所殺三人,餘莫敢動。 〈《英雄記》曰:時有謠言曰:「千里草,何青青,十日卜,猶不生。」 又作董逃之歌。 又有道士書布爲「呂」字以示卓,卓不知其爲呂布也。 卓當入會,陳列步騎,自營至宮,朝服導引行其中。 馬躓不前,卓心怪欲止,布勸使行,乃衷甲而入。 卓旣死,當時日月清淨,微風不起。 旻、璜等及宗族老弱悉在郿,皆還,爲其羣下所斫射。 卓母年九十,走至塢門曰「乞脫我死」,即斬首。 袁氏門生故吏改殯諸袁死於郿者,斂聚董氏尸於其側而焚之。 暴卓尸於市。 卓素肥,膏流浸地,草爲之丹。 守尸吏暝以爲大炷,置卓臍中以爲燈,光明達旦,如是積日。 後卓故部曲收所燒者灰,并以一棺棺之,葬於郿。 卓塢中金有二三萬斤,銀八九萬斤,珠玉錦綺奇玩雜物皆山崇阜積,不可知數。〉 長安士庶咸相慶賀,諸阿附卓者皆下獄死。 〈謝承《後漢書》曰:蔡邕在王允坐,聞卓死,有歎惜之音。 允責邕曰:「卓,國之大賊,殺主殘臣,天地所不祐,人神所同疾。 君爲王臣,世受漢恩,國主危難,曾不倒戈,卓受天誅,而更嗟痛乎?」 便使收付廷尉。 邕謝允曰:「雖以不忠,猶識大義,古今安危,耳所厭聞,口所常玩,豈當背國而向卓也? 狂瞽之詞,謬出患入,願黥首爲刑以繼漢史。」 公卿惜邕才,咸共諫允。 允曰:「昔武帝不殺司馬遷,使作謗書,流於後世。 方今國祚中衰,戎馬在郊,不可令佞臣執筆在幼主左右,後令吾徒並受謗議。」 遂殺邕。 臣松之以爲蔡邕雖爲卓所親任,情必不黨。 寧不知卓之姦凶,爲天下所毒,聞其死亡,理無歎惜。 縱復令然,不應反言於王允之坐。 斯殆謝承之妄記也。 史遷紀傳,博有奇功於世,而云王允謂孝武應早殺遷,此非識者之言。 但遷爲不隱孝武之失,直書其事耳,何謗之有乎? 王允之忠正,可謂內省不疚者矣,旣無懼於謗,且欲殺邕,當論邕應死與不,豈可慮其謗己而枉戮善人哉! 此皆誣罔不通之甚者。 張璠《漢紀》曰:初,蔡邕以言事見徙,名聞天下,義動志士。 及還,內寵惡之。 邕恐,乃亡命海濵,往來依太山羊氏,積十年。 卓爲太尉,辟爲掾,以高第爲侍御史治書,三日中遂至尚書。 後遷巴東太守,卓上留拜侍中,至長安爲左中郎將。 卓重其才,厚遇之。 每有朝廷事,常令邕具草。 及允將殺邕,時名士多爲之言,允悔欲止,而邕已死。〉
In the fourth month of the third year of his reign, Minister Wang Yun, Deputy Director Shi Sunrui, and Lü Bu—once Zhuo's own general—plotted his assassination. The emperor had just recovered from an illness and held court at Weiyang Palace. Lü Bu detailed Colonel Li Su, a fellow townsman, and a dozen household guards dressed as palace sentries to seal the inner Ye Gate. He carried the imperial warrant himself. When Dong Zhuo appeared, Li Su's men closed on him. Zhuo shouted for Lü Bu. Lü Bu answered, "An edict," and cut him down, then executed his kin to the third degree. Registrar Tian Jing rushed toward the body; Lü Bu struck him down as well. Three men died in all; no one else stirred. 〈《Record of Heroes》 preserves the rhyme: "The weed that spans a thousand leagues—how lush it grows; ten days beneath the tortoise shell—and still no life." People also sang songs telling Dong to flee. Moreover there was a Daoist who wrote on cloth the character "Lu" for "Bu" to show Zhuo; Zhuo did not realize it referred to Lü Bu. Whenever Zhuo went to court he lined the road from camp to palace with armored horse and foot and walked the avenue in formal robes under escort. That day his mount balked; Zhuo hesitated, but Lü Bu urged him on, so he slipped mail under his gown and went in. The moment Zhuo fell, the sky cleared and the air lay utterly still. Dong Min, Huang Wan, and the rest of the clan sheltering at Mei tried to flee back toward the capital and were cut down by their own troops. Zhuo's mother was ninety years old; she ran to the fortress gate saying "Beg to spare my death," and immediately they cut off her head. Former Yuan retainers gave proper burial to every Yuan who had died at Mei, heaped Dong corpses beside the graves, and set them ablaze. They displayed Zhuo's body in the marketplace. Grotesquely obese, Zhuo leaked fat until it pooled on the ground and stained the weeds red. The watchman mistook the rendering fat for a lamp wick, stuffed Zhuo's navel with it, and kept a flame burning from dusk to dawn for days on end. Later his old soldiers swept up the ashes, boxed them in a single coffin, and buried the lot at Mei. Inside the fortress lay tens of thousands of jin of gold, nearly a hundred thousand of silver, and treasure heaped like hills—beyond reckoning.〉 The capital rejoiced; everyone who had toadied to Zhuo was jailed and executed. 〈Xie Cheng's 《Later Han History》 relates that Cai Yong sat with Wang Yun and sighed when he heard of Zhuo's death. Wang Yun rounded on him: "Dong Zhuo was the arch-traitor who murdered his sovereign and mutilated the bureaucracy—loathed by gods and men alike. You served as an imperial minister and owed everything to the Han; when the throne tottered you never lifted a finger in its defense, yet now you mourn the brute Heaven just struck down?" He had Yong arrested and handed to the Minister of Justice. Cai Yong pleaded: "If I erred in loyalty, I still know right from wrong—I have spent my life studying rise and fall; would I abandon the dynasty for Dong Zhuo? Forgive a rash tongue's offence and brand my face if you must—only let me finish the histories." High officials prized Cai Yong's gifts and begged Wang Yun to relent. Wang Yun replied, "Emperor Wu spared Sima Qian—and produced a history that slanders an age. The dynasty is failing and armies camp at the walls; we cannot place a sycophant at the boy emperor's elbow and invite posterity to curse us all." So Yong was put to death. I, Pei Songzhi, believe Cai Yong served Zhuo from proximity, not from partisan zeal. He knew Dong Zhuo for the scourge he was; nothing in duty required him to sigh over the tyrant's end. Even had regret slipped out, he should never have voiced it in Wang Yun's hall. Xie Cheng's account is almost certainly wrong. Sima Qian's Records are a gift to civilization; the tale that Wang Yun wished Emperor Wu had executed him earlier could not come from sound judgment. Sima Qian merely refused to whitewash Emperor Wu—where is the libel in that? Wang Yun acted from a clear conscience; if he feared no historian's pen, his quarrel with Yong should have turned on guilt or innocence—not on dread that Cai Yong might malign him—and certainly not on executing an innocent scholar. Such fabrications beggar belief. Zhang Fan's 《Han Annals》 notes that Yong won fame by exile after challenging the throne—his integrity rallied worthy men. Palace favorites hated him when he came back. He fled to the coast and for a decade drifted among the Yang lineage of Taishan. Dong Zhuo made him grand commandant aide; Yong topped the examinations for drafting clerk and within three days sat in the secretariat. Promoted to Badong, he was recalled to court as palace attendant and ended general of the household for all purposes on the left at Chang'an. Zhuo prized his genius and showered him with favor. State papers always passed through Yong's brush. When Wang Yun moved to kill him, worthies across the capital interceded; Yun wavered too late—Yong was already gone.〉
6
李傕、郭汜
Li Jue and Guo Si
7
初,卓女壻中郎將牛輔典兵別屯陝,分遣校尉李傕、郭汜、張濟略陳留、潁川諸縣。 卓死,呂布使李肅至陝,欲以詔命誅輔。 輔等逆與肅戰,肅敗走弘農,布誅肅。 〈《魏書》曰:輔恇怯失守,不能自安。 常把辟兵符,以鈇鑕致其旁,欲以自彊。 見客,先使相者相之,知有反氣與不,又筮知吉凶,然後乃見之。 中郎將董越來就輔,輔使筮之,得兊下離上,筮者曰:「火勝金,外謀內之卦也。」 即時殺越。 《獻帝紀》云:筮人常爲越所鞭,故因此以報之。〉 其後輔營兵有夜叛出者,營中驚,輔以爲皆叛,乃取金寶,獨與素所厚友胡赤兒等五六人相隨,踰城北渡河,赤兒等利其金寶,斬首送長安。
Earlier, Zhuo's son-in-law General Niu Fu held a separate camp at Shan and sent colonels Li Jue, Guo Si, and Zhang Ji to plunder the counties of Chenliu and Yingchuan. After Zhuo's death Lü Bu dispatched Li Su to Shan with orders to execute Niu Fu. Niu Fu fought back; Li Su fled to Hongnong and Lü Bu executed him for failure. 〈The 《Book of Wei》 calls Niu Fu a coward who could find no peace. He clutched ward-off charms and laid axe and block beside his couch for courage. Before any audience he had visitors physiognomized and divined for omens of treachery. General of the Household Dong Yue came to join Fu; Fu had divination performed, obtaining lower trigram Dui below upper trigram Li; the diviner said: "Fire overcomes metal—the hexagram of outer plot inner." Niu Fu murdered Yue at once. The 《Annals of Emperor Xian》 adds that the diviner repaid an old beating from Dong Yue.〉 A nighttime desertion panicked the camp; Niu Fu assumed mutiny, grabbed gold, and fled north over the wall with a handful of followers including Hu Chi'er, who killed him for the treasure and sent his head to Chang'an.
8
比傕等還,輔已敗,衆無所依,欲各散歸。 旣無赦書,而聞長安中欲盡誅涼州人,憂恐不知所爲。 用賈詡策,遂將其衆而西,所在收兵,比至長安,衆十餘萬, 〈《九州春秋》曰:傕等在陝,皆恐怖,急擁兵自守。 胡文才、楊整脩皆涼州大人,而司徒王允素所不善也。 及李傕之叛,允乃呼文才、整脩使東解釋之,不假借以溫顏,謂曰:「關東鼠子欲何爲邪? 卿往呼之。」 於是二人往,實召兵而還。〉 與卓故部曲樊稠、李蒙、王方等合圍長安城。 十日城陷,與布戰城中,布敗走。 傕等放兵略長安老少,殺之悉盡,死者狼藉。 誅殺卓者,尸王允於市。 〈張璠《漢紀》曰:布兵敗,住馬青瑣門外,謂允曰:「公可以去。」 允曰:「安國家,吾之上願也,若不獲,則奉身以死。 朝廷幼主恃我而已,臨難苟免,吾不爲也。 努力謝關東諸公,以國家爲念。」 傕、汜入長安城,屯南宮掖門,殺太僕魯馗、大鴻臚周奐、城門校尉崔烈、越騎校尉王頎。 吏民死者不可勝數。 司徒王允扶天子上宣平城門避兵,傕等於城門下拜,伏地叩頭。 帝謂傕等曰:「卿無作威福,而乃放兵縱橫,欲何爲乎?」 傕等曰:「董卓忠於陛下,而無故爲呂布所殺。 臣等爲卓報讎,弗敢爲逆也。 請事竟,詣廷尉受罪。」 允窮逼出見傕,傕誅允及妻子宗族十餘人。 長安城中男女大小莫不流涕。 允字子師,太原祁人也。 少有大節,郭泰見而奇之,曰:「王生一日千里,王佐之才也。」 泰雖先達,遂與定交。 三公並辟,歷豫州刺史,辟荀爽、孔融爲從事,遷河南尹、尚書令。 及爲司徒,其所以扶持王室,甚得大臣之節,自天子以下,皆倚賴焉。 卓亦推信之,委以朝廷。 華嶠曰:夫士以正立,以謀濟,以義成,若王允之推董卓而分其權,伺其間而弊其罪。 當此之時,天下之難解矣,本之皆主於忠義也,故推卓不爲失正,分權不爲不義,伺閒不爲狙詐,是以謀濟義成,而歸於正也。〉 葬卓於郿,大風暴雨震卓墓,水流入藏,漂其棺槨。 傕爲車騎將軍、池陽侯,領司隷校尉、假節。 汜爲後將軍、美陽侯。 稠爲右將軍、萬年侯。 傕、汜、稠擅朝政。 〈《英雄記》曰:傕,北地人。 汜,張掖人,一名多。〉 濟爲驃騎將軍、平陽侯,屯弘農。
When Li Jue's column returned, Niu Fu was already dead and the army saw no choice but to disband. No pardon arrived, and rumor said Chang'an meant to massacre every officer from Liangzhou—they were terrified and rudderless. Jia Xu persuaded them to march west, drafting recruits along the route until more than a hundred thousand men ringed Chang'an. 〈《Spring and Autumn of the Nine Provinces》 reports that Li Jue's officers at Shan were paralyzed with fear and clung to their camps. Hu Wencai and Yang Zhengxiu were Liangzhou magnates whom Minister Wang Yun had long distrusted. When Li Jue rose, Yun summoned Hu and Yang to appease the eastern camps—yet greeted them with contempt: "What are those rats east of the passes plotting? Go deliver that message yourselves." The pair rode east—and returned at the head of an army.〉 They joined Zhuo's old officers Fan Chou, Li Meng, and Wang Fang to besiege Chang'an. Ten days later the walls broke; Lü Bu fought in the streets and bolted. Li Jue's men looted the capital and butchered everyone they met until corpses choked the lanes. They strung up Wang Yun's corpse in the marketplace to punish him for killing Zhuo. Zhang Fan's the cited text states: Bu's army was defeated, stopped horses outside the Azure Gate, said to Yun: "You can leave." Wang Yun answered, "Saving the dynasty was always my aim; if I fail, I die with it. The boy emperor has only me; I will not run while crisis reigns. Tell the lords east of the mountains that I thanked them and begged them to remember the realm." Li Jue and Guo Si poured through the gates, camped at the southern palace Ye Gate, and slaughtered Minister Coachman Lu Kui, Grand Herald Zhou Huan, Colonel Cui Lie, and Colonel Wang Qi. Officials and civilians died beyond counting. Wang Yun led the emperor to Xuancheng Gate to escape the fighting; Li Jue's officers kowtowed below. The emperor said to Jue and others: "You—do not make might and blessing—and yet release troops rampaging—what do you intend?" Jue and others said: "Dong Zhuo was loyal to Your Majesty, yet without cause was killed by Lü Bu. They styled themselves avengers of Zhuo, not rebels. They pledged to surrender to the Minister of Justice once their duty was done." When Wang Yun was flushed from hiding, Li Jue executed him together with more than ten members of his household. Every soul in Chang'an wept. Wang Yun, courtesy Zishi, came from Qi in Taiyuan commandery. In youth he had great integrity; Guo Tai saw him and marveled, said: "Master Wang in one day a thousand li—talent of a king's assistant." Despite Guo Tai's seniority, they became sworn friends. All three excellencies sought him; he governed Yuzhou, appointed Xun Shuang and Kong Rong as aides, and rose to intendant of Henan and minister of the secretariat. As minister of education he upheld the throne with exemplary dignity; emperor and court leaned on him completely. Even Dong Zhuo deferred to him and left day-to-day governance in his hands. Hua Qiao argued that a gentleman stands on integrity, wins by strategy, and finishes in righteousness—citing Wang Yun's patient tolerance of Dong Zhuo while sapping his strength and waiting to expose his crimes. With the realm thus rescued, patience was virtue, partition of power was duty, and timing was wisdom rather than trickery—strategy and righteousness met in one loyal purpose.〉 Storms burst over Zhuo's tomb at Mei; floodwater poured into the vault and washed the coffins adrift. Li Jue became general of chariots and cavalry, marquis of Chiyang, colonel director of retainers, and bearer of imperial credentials. Guo Si took the post of general of the rear and marquis of Meiyang. Fan Chou became general of the right and marquis of Wannian. The three dominated the court. 〈《Record of Heroes》 names Li Jue a native of Beidi. Guo Si came from Zhangye and also went by the name Duo.〉 Zhang Ji became general of agile cavalry on the right, marquis of Pingyang, with troops at Hongnong.
9
是歲,韓遂、馬騰等降,率衆詣長安。 以遂爲鎮西將軍,遣還涼州,騰征西將軍,屯郿。 侍中馬宇與諫議大夫种邵、左中郎將劉範等謀,欲使騰襲長安,己爲內應,以誅傕等。 騰引兵至長平觀,宇等謀泄,出奔槐里。 稠擊騰,騰敗走,還涼州; 又攻槐里,宇等皆死。 時三輔民尚數十萬戶,傕等放兵劫略,攻剽城邑,人民饑困,二年間相啖食略盡。 〈《獻帝紀》曰:是時新遷都,宮人多亡衣服,帝欲發御府繒以與之,李傕弗欲,曰:「宮中有衣,胡爲復作邪?」 詔賣廄馬百餘匹,御府大司農出雜繒二萬匹,與所賣廄馬直,賜公卿以下及貧民不能自存者。 李傕曰「我邸閣儲偫少」,乃悉載置其營。 賈詡曰「此上意,不可拒」,傕不從之。〉
That year Han Sui and Ma Teng capitulated and marched their armies to the capital. The court named Han Sui general who guards the west and sent him home to Liangzhou, while Ma Teng became general who conquers the west and garrisoned Mei. Ma Yu of the palace secretariat joined advisers Zhong Shao and Liu Fan in a plot for Ma Teng to storm the city while they acted as fifth columnists against Li Jue. Ma Teng advanced to Changping Terrace; the conspiracy surfaced and the plotters bolted for Huaili. Fan Chou routed Ma Teng, who raced back to Liangzhou. Fan Chou then stormed Huaili and killed Ma Yu and his confederates. The capital region still held hundreds of thousands of families, but Li Jue's men pillaged every settlement until famine set in; within two years cannibalism had all but consumed the living. 〈The Annals of Emperor Xian state: at that time the capital had just been moved; many palace women lacked clothing; the emperor wished to open the imperial wardrobe silks to give them, but Li Jue refused, saying, "The palace has clothes—why make more?" An edict ordered over a hundred imperial studs sold and twenty thousand bolts of sundry silk issued from the treasury—matching the horse receipts—to aid ministers and destitute commoners alike. Li Jue said "My depot stores are already thin," and loaded everything into his camp. Jia Xu said "This is His Majesty's wish—it cannot be refused," but Jue would not listen.〉
10
諸將爭權,遂殺稠,并其衆。 〈《九州春秋》曰:馬騰、韓遂之敗,樊稠追至陳倉。 遂語稠曰:「天地反覆,未可知也。 本所爭者非私怨,王家事耳。 與足下州里人,今雖小違,要當大同,欲相與善語以別。 邂逅萬一不如意,後可復相見乎!」 俱郤騎前接馬,交臂相加,共語良久而別。 傕兄子利隨稠,利還告傕「韓、樊交馬語」,不知所道,意愛甚密。 傕以是疑稠與韓遂私和而有異意。 稠欲將兵東出關,從傕索益兵。 因請稠會議,便於坐殺稠。〉 汜與傕轉相疑,戰鬬長安中。 〈《典略》曰:傕數設酒請汜,或留汜止宿。 汜妻懼傕與汜婢妾而奪己愛,思有以離間之。 會傕送饋,妻乃以豉爲藥,汜將食,妻曰:「食從外來,儻或有故!」 遂摘藥示之,曰:「一栖不二雄,我固疑將軍之信李公也。」 他日傕復請汜,大醉。 汜疑傕藥之,絞糞汁飲之乃解。 於是遂生嫌隙,而治兵相攻。〉 傕質天子於營,燒宮殿城門,略官寺,盡收乘輿服御物置其家。 〈《獻帝起居注》曰:初,汜謀迎天子幸其營,夜有亡告傕者,傕使兄子暹將數千兵圍宮,以車三乘迎天子。 楊彪曰:「自古帝王無在人臣家者。 舉事當合天下心,諸君作此,非是也。」 暹曰:「將軍計定矣。」 於是天子一乘,貴人伏氏一乘,賈詡、左靈一乘,其餘皆步從。 是日,傕復移乘輿幸北塢,使校尉監塢門,內外隔絕。 諸侍臣皆有饑色,時盛暑熱,人盡寒心。 帝求米五斛、牛骨五具以賜左右,傕曰:「朝餔上飯,何用米爲?」 乃與腐牛骨,皆臭不可食。 帝大怒,欲詰責之。 侍中楊琦上封事曰:「傕,邊鄙之人,習於夷風,今又自知所犯悖逆,常有怏怏之色,欲輔車駕幸黃白城以紓其憤。 臣願陛下忍之,未可顯其罪也。」 帝納之。 初,傕屯黃白城,故謀欲徙之。 傕以司徒趙溫不與己同,乃內溫塢中。 溫聞傕欲移乘輿,與傕書曰:「公前託爲董公報讎,然實屠陷王城,殺戮大臣,天下不可家見而戶釋也。 今爭睚眥之隙,以成千鈞之讎,民在塗炭,各不聊生,曾不改寤,遂成禍亂。 朝廷仍下明詔,欲令和解,詔命不行,恩澤日損,而復欲輔乘輿於黃白城,此誠老夫所不解也。 於易,一過爲過,再爲涉,三而弗改,滅其頂,凶。 不如早共和解,引兵還屯,上安萬乘,下全生民,豈不幸甚!」 傕大怒,欲遣人害溫。 其從弟應,溫故掾也,諫之數日乃止。 帝聞溫與傕書,問侍中常洽曰:「傕弗知臧否,溫言太切,可爲寒心。」 對曰:「李應已解之矣。」 帝乃恱之。〉 傕使公卿詣汜請和,汜皆執之。 〈《華嶠漢書》曰:汜饗公卿,議欲攻傕。 楊彪曰:「羣臣共鬬,一人劫天子,一人質公卿,此可行乎?」 汜怒,欲手刃之,中郎將楊密及左右多諫,汜乃歸之。〉 相攻擊連月,死者萬數。 〈《獻帝起居注》曰:傕性喜鬼恠左道之術,常有道人及女巫歌謳擊鼓下神,祠祭六丁,符劾厭勝之具,無所不爲。 又於朝廷省門外,爲董卓作神坐,數以牛羊祠之,訖,過省閤問起居,求入見。 傕帶三刀,手復與鞭合持一刃。 侍中、侍郎見傕帶仗,皆惶恐,亦帶劒持刀,先入在帝側。 傕對帝,或言「明陛下」,或言「明帝」,爲帝說郭汜無狀,帝亦隨其意荅應之。 傕喜,出言「明陛下真賢聖主」,意遂自信,自謂良得天子歡心也。 雖然,猶不欲令近臣帶劒在帝邊,謂人言「此曹子將欲圖我邪? 而皆持刀也」。 侍中李禎,傕州里,素與傕通,語傕「所以持刀者,軍中不可不爾,此國家故事」。 傕意乃解。 天子以謁者僕射皇甫酈涼州舊姓,有專對之才,遣令和傕、汜。 酈先詣汜,汜受詔命。 詣傕,傕不肯,曰:「我有討呂布之功,輔政四年,三輔清靜,天下所知也。 郭多,盜馬虜耳,何敢乃欲與吾等邪? 必欲誅之。 君爲涼州人,觀吾方略士衆,足辦多不? 多又劫質公卿,所爲如是,而君苟欲利郭多,李傕有膽自知之。」 酈荅曰:「昔有窮后羿恃其善射,不思患難,以至於斃。 近董公之彊,明將軍目所見,內有王公以爲內主,外有董旻、承、璜以爲鯁毒,呂布受恩而反圖之,斯須之間,頭縣竿端,此有勇而無謀也。 今將軍身爲上將,把鉞仗節,子孫握權,宗族荷寵,國家好爵而皆據之。 今郭多劫質公卿,將軍脅至尊,誰爲輕重邪? 張濟與郭多、楊定有謀,又爲冠帶所附。 楊奉,白波帥耳,猶知將軍所爲非是,將軍雖拜寵之,猶不肯盡力也。」 傕不納酈言,而呵之令出。 酈出,詣省門,白傕不肯從詔,辭語不順。 侍中胡邈爲傕所幸,呼傳詔者令飾其辭。 又謂酈曰:「李將軍於卿不薄,又皇甫公爲太尉,李將軍力也。」 酈荅曰:「胡敬才,卿爲國家常伯,輔弼之臣也,語言如此,寧可用邪?」 邈曰:「念卿失李將軍意,恐不易耳! 我與卿何事者?」 酈言:「我累世受恩,身又常在幃幄,君辱臣死,當坐國家,爲李傕所殺,則天命也。」 天子聞酈荅語切,恐傕聞之,便勑遣酈。 酈裁出營門,傕遣虎賁王昌呼之。 昌知酈忠直,縱令去,還荅傕,言追之不及。 天子使左中郎將李固持節拜傕爲大司馬,在三公之右。 傕自以爲得鬼神之力,乃厚賜諸巫。〉
As the warlords jockeyed for supremacy they murdered Fan Chou and absorbed his command. 〈The Nine Provinces Spring and Autumn relates that Fan Chou chased Han Sui and Ma Teng all the way to Cangcang. Han Sui told Fan Chou, "Fortunes reverse overnight—who can predict them? Our dispute was never a private feud; it served the Han. We hail from the same commandery; even if we have crossed briefly, the greater cause should reunite us—let us part on honest words. If chance should part us unkindly, will we ever stand face to face again?" They brought their horses together, gripped forearms, talked at length, and separated. Jue's elder brother's son Li followed Chou; Li returned and reported to Jue "Han and Fan exchanged horses and words"—not knowing what they discussed—but suggesting fond intimacy. Li Jue concluded Fan Chou was plotting with Han Sui behind his back. Fan Chou planned to march east through the passes and pressed Li Jue for more men. Li Jue summoned him to a conference and killed him across the table.〉 Guo Si and Li Jue turned on each other and battled through the capital streets. 〈The Stratagem Summary notes that Li Jue kept inviting Guo Si to banquets and sometimes kept him overnight. Guo Si's wife dreaded Li Jue bedding her husband's concubines and set out to drive the allies apart. When Jue sent gifts, his wife took fermented beans for poison; when Si was about to eat, his wife said: "Food from outside—perhaps there is treachery!" Thereupon she picked out the "medicine" to show him, saying: "One tree cannot shelter two bulls—I already doubted whether my lord truly trusted Minister Li." The next time Li Jue feasted him, Guo Si drank to blackout. Guo Si thought he had been poisoned and forced emetic dung-water down his throat before he felt safe. From that moment they nursed grudges and marched against each other.〉 Li Jue caged the emperor in his camp, torched the palaces, looted offices, and stockpiled the court's regalia in his own house. 〈The Daily Records report that when Guo Si tried to escort the throne to his lines, a night deserter warned Li Jue, who sent his nephew with thousands to encircle the palace and fetch the sovereign in three chariots. Yang Biao protested, "No true emperor has ever lived in a minister's compound. A righteous cause must win the world; this action is wrong." Li Xian answered flatly that the general's mind was made up." One carriage held the emperor, one Lady Fu, one Jia Xu with Zuo Ling; everyone else marched behind on foot. The same day Li Jue shifted the court to the northern redoubt, stationed guards on the gate, and sealed the emperor away from the world. Attendants looked starved; despite midsummer heat their hearts froze. The emperor requested five hu of grain and five sets of ox bones to give those around him; Jue said: "Morning gruel already fills the hall—why bother with grain?" He sent putrid bones that reeked too foul to eat. The emperor raged and prepared to call Li Jue to account. Palace Attendant Yang Qi submitted a sealed memorial: "Jue is a man of the border marches, habituated to barbarian ways; now he also knows his own acts are treasonous and often wears a sullen look; he means to escort the equipage to Huangbai Fortress to vent his spite. He urged the emperor to swallow his wrath rather than provoke open rupture." The emperor accepted the counsel. Li Jue had once camped at Huangbai, which fed his plan to drag the throne there. When Minister Zhao Wen refused his schemes, Li Jue walled him up inside the stockade. When Wen heard Jue wished to move the imperial equipage, he wrote Jue: "You earlier claimed to avenge Lord Dong, yet in truth you butchered the royal city and slaughtered great ministers—the realm cannot excuse such deeds household by household. Now petty grudge breeds catastrophe while the people burn—yet still no awakening comes. Imperial commands for peace lie ignored while imperial grace drains away—and still he would haul the throne to Huangbai; this old man cannot fathom it. The Book of Changes says one stumble is a lapse, the second is drowning deeper, the third without reform brings ruin down upon one's head. Make peace, withdraw the host, save emperor and commoners alike—is that not the blessing?" Li Jue roared for Zhao Wen's blood. Only after cousin Li Ying, once Zhao Wen's secretary, pleaded for days did Li Jue relent. The emperor, hearing of Wen's letter, asked Palace Attendant Chang Qia: "Jue does not know good from evil; Wen's words cut too deep—it makes one cold at heart." Chang answered that Li Ying had smoothed the affair." The emperor set his mind at ease.〉 Li Jue dispatched every ranking minister to Guo Si as peace envoys; Guo Si took them hostage. 〈Hua Qiao records that Guo Si banqueted the ministers while plotting Li Jue's destruction. Yang Biao demanded whether civil war could continue while one warlord caged the emperor and another the ministers." Guo Si nearly ran Yang Biao through; colonel Yang Mi and others talked him down and won the captives' release.〉 Month on month the allies slaughtered one another by the ten thousands. 〈Li Jue surrounded himself with shamans who danced, drummed to gods, sacrificed to the six Ding spirits, and trafficked in every dark charm. East of the ministries they erected a shrine to Dong Zhuo, sacrificed cattle and sheep there, then wandered the corridors begging audiences like mourners. Li Jue belted three swords and kept yet another edge bundled with his whip. Courtiers faced steel and answered in kind, crowding the throne with bared weapons. When Jue addressed the emperor he sometimes said "enlightened Your Majesty," sometimes "enlightened Emperor," and for the emperor related Guo Si's misdeeds; the emperor also answered as he wished. Jue was pleased, went out saying "The enlightened Your Majesty is truly a sage ruler," and thereupon trusted himself, believing he had truly won the Son of Heaven's heart. Even so, he still did not wish close attendants to bear swords beside the emperor, saying to people "Do these fellows intend to plot against me? Why else were they armed?" Palace Attendant Li Zhen, Jue's countryman, always communicated with Jue, telling Jue "The reason they bear swords is that camp discipline demands it—such is state precedent." Li Jue finally relaxed. The emperor sent herald Huangfu Li—a Liangzhou man famed for diplomacy—to mediate between Li Jue and Guo Si. Huangfu Li visited Guo Si first; Guo Si bowed to the mandate. He went to Jue; Jue refused, saying: "I have merit in campaigning against Lü Bu; I have assisted government four years; the Three Adjuncts are clear and still—the realm knows it. Guo "Duo" is a horse-rustler—how dare he rank with us? I will destroy him. You are a Liangzhou man—see my legions: more than a match for him? Duo again holds the Excellencies hostage; his conduct is such—yet you would side with Guo Duo; I, Li Jue, have the stomach to know the difference." Li answered: "Formerly the Youqiong archer Hou Yi trusted his good shooting, never thought of hardship, and so perished. Dong Zhuo had court backing, kinsmen, and Lü Bu—yet in a moment his head spiked the gate: strength without guile. Now you wield the court, the axes, the offices, the kin network—total power. Guo Si seizes ministers while you grip the emperor—which of you is the greater criminal? Zhang Ji, Guo Si, and Yang Ding conspire while the gentry back them. Yang Feng, a White Wave chieftain, still knows the general's conduct is wrong; though the general showers him with honor, he will not give his all." Li Jue cursed Huangfu Li out of the camp. At the palace gate Li reported Li Jue's defiance and insolence. Favorite Hu Miao pressured the herald to soften the wording. He also said to Li: "General Li treats you generously—moreover Duke Huangfu became Grand Commandant through General Li's effort." Huangfu Li sneered that a chief attendant should never mouth such tripe." Miao said: "Considering you have lost General Li's favor—perhaps it will not be easy! What was it to Hu Miao?" Huangfu Li swore he owed the dynasty his life; if Li Jue murdered him for honesty, fate had spoken." The emperor, hearing the blunt tone, hurried Huangfu Li away before Li Jue learned every word. Li Jue's tiger guardsman Wang Chang called him back at the gate. Wang Chang knew an honest man when he saw one—he waved Huangfu Li onward and lied that the chase missed him. The court commissioned Li Gu to invest Li Jue as grand minister of agriculture, seat above the three dukes. Li Jue credited spirits for his fortune and showered money on every medium.〉
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傕將楊奉與傕軍吏宋果等謀殺傕,事泄,遂將兵叛傕。 傕衆叛,稍衰弱。 張濟自陝和解之,天子乃得出,至新豐、霸陵間。 〈《獻帝起居注》曰:初,天子出到宣平門,當渡橋,汜兵數百人遮橋問「是天子邪」? 車不得前。 傕兵數百人皆持大戟在乘輿車左右,侍中劉艾大呼云:「是天子也。」 使侍中楊琦高舉車帷。 帝言諸兵:「汝不郤,何敢迫近至尊邪?」 汜等兵乃郤。 旣度橋,士衆咸呼萬歲。〉 郭汜復欲脅天子還都郿。 天子奔奉營,奉擊汜,破之。 汜走南山,奉及將軍董承以天子還洛陽。 傕、汜悔遣天子,復相與和,追及天子於弘農之曹陽。 奉急招河東故白波帥韓暹、胡才、李樂等合,與傕、汜大戰。 奉兵敗,傕等縱兵殺公卿百官,略宮人入弘農。 〈《獻帝紀》曰:時尚書令士孫瑞爲亂兵所害。 《三輔決錄注》曰:瑞字君榮,扶風人,世爲學門。 瑞少傳家業,博達無所不通,仕歷顯位。 卓旣誅,遷大司農,爲三老。 每三公缺,瑞常在選中。 太尉周忠、皇甫嵩,司徒淳于嘉、趙溫,司空楊彪、張喜等爲公,皆辭拜讓瑞。 天子都許,追論瑞功,封子萌澹津亭侯。 萌字文始,亦有才學,與王粲善。 臨當就國,粲作詩以贈萌,萌有荅,在粲集中。〉 天子走陝,北渡河,失輜重,步行,唯皇后貴人從,至大陽,止人家屋中。 〈《獻帝紀》曰:初,議者欲令天子浮河東下,太尉楊彪曰:「臣弘農人,從此已東有三十六灘,非萬乘所當從也。」 劉艾曰:「臣前爲陝令,知其危險,有師猶有傾覆,況今無師,太尉謀是也。」 乃止。 及當北渡,使李樂具船。 天子步行趨河岸,岸高不得下,董承等謀欲以馬羈相續以繫帝腰。 時中宮僕伏德扶中宮,一手持十匹絹,乃取德絹連續爲輦。 行軍校尉尚弘多力,令弘居前負帝,乃得下登船。 其餘不得渡者甚衆,復遣船收諸不得渡者,皆爭攀船,船上人以刃櫟斷其指,舟中之指可掬。〉 奉、暹等遂以天子都安邑,御乘牛車。 太尉楊彪、太僕韓融近臣從者十餘人。 以暹爲征東、才爲征西、樂征北將軍,並與奉、承持政。 遣融至弘農與傕、汜等連和,還所略宮人公卿百官,及乘輿車馬數乘。 是時蝗蟲起,歲旱無穀,從官食棗菜。 〈《魏書》曰:乘輿時居棘籬中,門戶無關閉。 天子與羣臣會,兵士伏籬上觀,互相鎮壓以爲笑。 諸將專權,或擅笞殺尚書。 司隷校尉出入,民兵抵擲之。 諸將或遣婢詣省閤,或自齎酒啖,過天子飲,侍中不通,喧呼罵詈,遂不能止。 又競表拜諸營壁民爲部曲,求其禮遺。 醫師、走卒皆爲校尉,御史刻印不供,乃以錐畫,示有文字,或不時得也。〉 諸將不能相率,上下亂,糧食盡。 奉、暹、承乃以天子還洛陽。 出箕關,下軹道,張楊以食迎道路,拜大司馬。 語在楊傳。 天子入洛陽,宮室燒盡,街陌荒蕪,百官披荊棘,依丘牆間。 州郡各擁兵自爲,莫有至者。 饑窮稍甚,尚書郎以下自出樵采,或饑死牆壁閒。
General Yang Feng and clerk Song Guo plotted Li Jue's murder; discovered, they mutinied. Li Jue's army peeled away and his strength ebbed. Zhang Ji marched from Shan to broker peace, and the emperor slipped free as far as Xinfeng and Baling. 〈The Daily Records of Emperor Xian state: at first when the Son of Heaven went out to Xuancheng Gate and was about to cross the bridge, several hundred of Guo Si's troops blocked the bridge asking: "Is this the Son of Heaven?" The imperial carriage could not move forward. Several hundred of Li Jue's troops all grasped great halberds to left and right of the imperial equipage; Palace Attendant Liu Ai shouted loudly: "It is the Son of Heaven." Attendant Yang Qi lifted the curtain so the soldiers could see inside. The emperor addressed the soldiers: "If you do not withdraw, how dare you press close upon the Most Exalted?" Guo Si's men fell back. Once across the span the escort thundered long live the Han.〉 Guo Si tried again to march the court back to Mei. The emperor sprinted to Yang Feng's lines; Yang Feng smashed Guo Si's assault. Guo Si bolted into the hills while Yang Feng and Dong Cheng shepherded the throne toward Luoyang. Li Jue and Guo Si regretted their truce, reunited, and overtook the fleeing court at Caoyang in Hongnong. Yang Feng called Han Xian, Hu Cai, and Li Yue down from the hills for a pitched battle against the two tyrants. Yang Feng lost; Li Jue butchered the bureaucracy and dragged the harem toward Hongnong. 〈Minister Shi Sunrui died in the soldier riot. Local gazetteers describe Shi Sunrui as Junrong of Fufeng, heir to a long academic lineage. He mastered the family curriculum and rose through prestigious offices. Once Dong Zhuo fell he became grand minister of agriculture and senior counselor. Every dukedom round considered him for the top jobs. Men like Zhou Zhong, Huangfu Song, Chunyu Jia, Zhao Wen, Yang Biao, and Zhang Xi took high rank yet insisted Shi Sunrui deserved precedence. After the court settled at Xu it rewarded Sunrui's son Meng with the Danjin marquisate. Shi Meng, style Wenshi, was a scholar and friend of Wang Can. Exchanging poems at parting—the verses survive in Wang Can's anthology.〉 The court fled Shan, forded the Yellow River without wagons, and stumbled barefoot into Dayang with only empress and ladies-in-waiting. 〈The Annals of Emperor Xian state: at first debaters wished the Son of Heaven to float down the river eastward; Grand Commandant Yang Biao said: "Your servant is a man of Hongnong—from here east there are thirty-six rapids—not what the ten-thousand-chariot ought to follow." Liu Ai said: "Your servant formerly was magistrate of Shan and knew its peril—even with pilots ships overturn—how much more now without pilots—the Grand Commandant's plan is correct." They abandoned the river plan. For the northern crossing Li Yue rounded up boats. The bluff proved too steep until Dong Cheng proposed lowering the sovereign with braided reins. Eunuch Fu De donated bolts of silk from the empress's grip to splice a rope sling. The burly colonel Shang Hong hoisted the emperor down the cliff onto the ferry. Later boats picked up stragglers who clawed aboard until sailors slashed their fingers loose—so many fell into the bilge they could be scooped by handfuls.〉 Yang Feng and Han Xian installed the court at Anyi where the emperor rode an ox-drawn cart. A handful of intimates—Yang Biao, Han Rong, and a dozen attendants—remained. Han Xian, Hu Cai, and Li Yue took eastern, western, and northern commands alongside Yang Feng and Dong Cheng. Han Rong brokered with Li Jue and Guo Si for the return of hostages, ministers, and a few wagons. Locusts and drought emptied the granaries; courtiers lived on wild greens and dried fruit. 〈The Wei Shu pictures the sovereign camping inside a thorn fence without barred doors. Soldiers sprawled on the briars to gawk at council and jostled one another for sport. Warlords executed ministers at whim. Common troops pelted the colonel director of retainers when he passed. Generals sent servant girls to the palace or forced wine on the emperor while attendants screamed themselves hoarse trying to refuse. They petitioned ranks for every camp follower and shook down the populace for gifts. Choppers and orderlies became colonels; seal engravers carved chops with awls when presses ran out.〉 The warlords pulled in different directions until stores vanished. Yang Feng, Han Xian, and Dong Cheng marched the emperor home to Luoyang. They slipped Ji Pass and Zhi Road while Zhang Yang fed the column and earned nomination as grand minister of agriculture. Zhang Yang's deeds appear in his memoir. Luoyang lay in ashes—officials hacked through ruins and sheltered under broken walls. Every governor hoarded troops and ignored the summons. Clerks scavenged firewood until clerks starved in the alleys.
12
馬騰、韓遂
Ma Teng and Han Sui
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太祖乃迎天子都許。 暹、奉不能奉王法,各出奔,寇徐、揚閒,爲劉備所殺。 〈《英雄記》曰:備誘奉與相見,因於坐上執之。 暹失奉勢,孤,時欲走還并州,爲杼秋屯帥張宣所邀殺。〉 董承從太祖歲餘,誅。 建安二年,遣謁者僕射裴茂率關西諸將誅傕,夷三族。 〈《典略》曰:傕頭至,有詔高縣。〉 汜爲其將五習所襲,死於郿。 濟饑餓,至南陽寇略,爲穰人所殺,從子繡攝其衆。 才、樂留河東,才爲怨家所殺,樂病死。 遂、騰自還涼州,更相寇,後騰入爲衞尉,子超領其部曲。 十六年,超與關中諸將及遂等反,太祖征破之。 語在武紀。 遂奔金城,爲其將所殺。 超據漢陽,騰坐夷三族。 趙衢等舉義兵討超,超走漢中從張魯,後奔劉備,死於蜀。
Cao Cao then brought the emperor to Xu. Han Xian and Yang Feng refused discipline, pillaged Xu-Yang, and Liu Bei cut them down. 〈Liu Bei invited Yang Feng to parley and pinned him at table. Han Xian, bereft of allies, tried to bolt for Bingzhou until Zhang Xuan ambushed him at Zhuqiu.〉 Dong Cheng served Cao Cao briefly before conviction and death. In Jian'an 2 Pei Mao led western generals against Li Jue and extirpated his house to the third degree. 〈An edict spiked Li Jue's head for display.〉 Guo Si's officer Wu Xi ambushed him near Mei. Zhang Ji starved into banditry in Nanyang, fell to villagers of Rang, and nephew Zhang Xiu inherited the army. Hu Cai stayed in Hedong and died by feud; Li Yue wasted away sick. Han Sui and Ma Teng warred back in Liangzhou until Ma Teng entered Luoyang as minister of the guards while Ma Chao led his veterans. In year 16 Ma Chao joined Han Sui and the Liangzhou coalition until Cao Cao shattered them. See the annals of Cao Cao's campaigns. Han Sui fled to Jincheng and died under his own officer's blade. Ma Chao seized Hanyang while Ma Teng's kin paid with mass execution. Zhao Qu's uprising drove Ma Chao to Zhang Lu, then Liu Bei, until he died in Shu.
14
袁紹字本初,汝南汝陽人也。 高祖父安,爲漢司徒。 自安以下四世居三公位,由是勢傾天下。 〈《華嶠漢書》曰:安字邵公,好學有威重。 明帝時爲楚郡太守,治楚王獄,所申理者四百餘家,皆蒙全濟,安遂爲名臣。 章帝時至司徒,生蜀郡太守京。 京弟敞爲司空。 京子陽,太尉。 陽四子:長子平,平弟成,左中郎將,並早卒; 成弟逢,逢弟隗,皆爲公。 《魏書》曰:自安以下,皆博愛容衆,無所揀擇; 賔客入其門,無賢愚皆得所欲,爲天下所歸。 紹即逢之庶子,術異母兄也,出後成爲子。 《英雄記》曰:成字文開,壯健有部分,貴戚權豪自大將軍梁冀以下皆與結好,言無不從。 故京師爲作諺曰:「事不諧,問文開。」〉 紹有姿皃威容,能折節下士,士多附之,太祖少與交焉。 以大將軍掾爲侍御史, 〈《英雄記》曰:紹生而父死,二公愛之。 幼使爲郎,弱冠除濮陽長,有清名。 遭母喪,服竟,又追行父服,凡在冢廬六年。 禮畢,隱居洛陽,不妄通賔客,非海內知名,不得相見。 又好游俠,與張孟卓、何伯求、吳子卿、許子遠、伍德瑜等皆爲奔走之友。 不應辟命。 中常侍趙忠謂諸黃門曰:「袁本初坐作聲價,不應呼召而養死士,不知此兒欲何所爲乎?」 紹叔父隗聞之,責數紹曰:「汝且破我家!」 紹於是乃起應大將軍之命。 臣松之案:《魏書》云「紹,逢之庶子,出後伯父成」。 如此記所言,則似實成所生。 夫人追服所生,禮無其文,況於所後而可以行之! 二書未詳孰是。〉 稍遷中軍校尉,至司隷。
Yuan Shao, style Benchu, came from Ruyang in Runan. His great-grandfather Yuan An served as minister of education. Four generations of Yuan ministers tilted the empire. 〈Hua Qiao describes Yuan An as Shaogong—scholarly and formidable. As Chu governor he reopened the king's treason case and spared hundreds of families. He rose to minister of education under Emperor Zhang and fathered Yuan Jing of Shu. Yuan Jing's brother Yuan Chang became minister of works. Yuan Yang succeeded his father as grand commandant. Yuan Yang's eldest sons Ping and Cheng died young—the latter had held general of the household on the left. Younger brothers Feng and Wei each rose to the three dukes. The Wei Shu praises the Yuans for indiscriminate generosity. Anyone passing their gate rich or poor left satisfied—the realm flocked to them. Yuan Shao was Yuan Feng's illegitimate son and Yuan Shu's half-brother but posthumously adopted to Yuan Cheng. Yuan Cheng—style Wenkai—won every magnate from Liang Ji down with blunt charm. Therefore the capital made a rhyme for him: "When things don't work—ask Wenkai."〉 Shao looked the part of a leader, humbled himself before talent, and befriended the young Cao Cao. He graduated from general's secretary to attendant censor. 〈Orphans say the elder Yuans doted on him after his father's death. They enrolled him early as a gentleman and named him magistrate of Puyang before twenty—already famed for integrity. He doubled mourning for mother and nominal father—six years in the hut. Emerging from mourning he screened visitors—only national reputations earned audience. He ran with Zhang Chao, He Yong, Wu Wei, Xu You, and Wu Fu—every daring soul of the capital. He spurned every appointment letter. Regular Palace Attendant Zhao Zhong said to the various Yellow Gates: "Yuan Benchu sits making reputation—does not respond to summons yet nurtures fighting men—do not know what this boy intends?" Shao's uncle Wei heard of it and rebuked him: "You will destroy our family!" Only then did Shao accept He Jin's call-up. Your servant Songzhi investigates: the Wei Shu says "Shao—Feng's bastard son—went out to succeed uncle Cheng." If true, Shao may have been Cheng's natural son. Mourning a birth mother while adopted broke canonical silence—Songzhi doubts the tale. Neither source settles the genealogy.〉 He rose from colonel of the central army to colonel director of retainers.
15
靈帝崩,太后兄大將軍何進與紹謀誅諸閹官, 〈《續漢書》曰:紹使客張津說進曰:「黃門、常侍秉權日久,又永樂太后與諸常侍專通財利,將軍宜整頓天下,爲海內除患。」 進以爲然,遂與紹結謀。〉 太后不從。 乃召董卓,欲以脅太后。 常侍、黃門聞之,皆詣進謝,唯所錯置。 時紹勸進便可於此決之,至于再三,而進不許,令紹使洛陽方略武吏檢司諸宦者,又令紹弟虎賁中郎將術選溫厚虎賁二百人,當入禁中,代持兵黃門陛守門戶。 中常侍段珪等矯太后命,召進入議,遂殺之,宮中亂。 〈《九州春秋》曰:初紹說進曰:「黃門、常侍累世太盛,威服海內,前竇武欲誅之而反爲所害,但坐言語漏泄,以五營士爲兵故耳。 五營士生長京師,服畏中人,而竇氏反用其鋒,遂果叛走歸黃門,是以自取破滅。 今將軍以元舅之尊,二府並領勁兵,其部曲將吏皆英雄名士,樂盡死力,事在掌握,天贊其時也。 今爲天下誅除貪穢,功勳顯著,垂名後世,雖周之申伯,何足道哉? 今大行在前殿,將軍以詔書領兵衞守,可勿入宮。」 進納其言,後更狐疑。 紹懼進之改變,脅進曰:「今交搆已成,形勢已露,將軍何爲不早決之? 事留變生,後機禍至。」 進不從,遂敗。〉 術將虎賁燒南宮嘉德殿青瑣門,欲以迫出珪等。 珪等不出,劫帝及帝弟陳留王走小平津。 紹旣斬宦者所署司隷校尉許相,遂勒兵捕諸閹人,無少長皆殺之。 或有無鬚而誤死者,至自發露形體而後得免,宦者或有行善自守而猶見及。 其濫如此。 死者二千餘人。 急追珪等,珪等悉赴河死。 帝得還宮。
After Emperor Ling's death He Jin joined Yuan Shao to purge the palace eunuchs. 〈The Xu Hanshu states: Shao sent client Zhang Jin to persuade Jin: "Yellow Gates and Regular Palace Attendants have held power long—moreover Yongle Dowager conspired with the various attendants solely for profit—the general ought to order the realm and remove calamity for within the seas." He Jin accepted Zhang Jin's counsel and sealed his pact with Yuan Shao.〉 The empress dowager refused. They called Dong Zhuo westward to intimidate the palace. The eunuchs rushed to He Jin and offered to accept any posting he dictated. Yuan Shao begged He Jin to strike at once—three times—and was refused; instead He Jin set Yuan Shao over capital investigators and Yuan Shu over two hundred tiger guards meant to relieve armed eunuchs at the palace doors. Duan Gui forged an imperial summons, lured He Jin inside, assassinated him, and threw the palace into riot. 〈The Nine Provinces Spring and Autumn states: at first Shao persuaded Jin: "Yellow Gates and Regular Palace Attendants through generations have grown too mighty—their awe fills within the seas—formerly Dou Wu wished to execute them yet was harmed by them—only because speech leaked and because he used Five Camps soldiers as troops. Capital-born guards feared eunuchs; Dou Wu pointed those troops at the palace and watched them defect straight back to their tormentors. He Jin commanded crack metropolitan troops loyal enough to die—fortune favored a coup. Victory would immortalize him beside ancient exemplars. Let edict-backed troops seal the palace without stepping inside the inner halls." He Jin first agreed—then wavered like a fool. Shao feared Jin's change—coerced Jin: "Now mutual intrigue is already accomplished—the situation already exposed—why does the general not decide early? Procrastination breeds disaster." He Jin refused—and fell.〉 Yuan Shu's tiger guards torched the Jiade Palace wing to smoke the eunuchs out. The eunuchs bolted with Emperor Shao and Prince Xie toward Xiaoping Ford. Yuan Shao killed Xu Xiang and unleashed a slaughter of every man without a full beard. Clean-shaven innocents stripped to prove their sex; even kindly eunuchs died. Such was the indiscriminate bloodshed. More than two thousand perished. The chase drove Duan Gui and his party into the Yellow River. The boy emperor stumbled back to Luoyang.
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董卓呼紹,議欲廢帝,立陳留王。 是時紹叔父隗爲太傅,紹偽許之,曰:「此大事,出當與太傅議。」 卓曰:「劉氏種不足復遺。」 紹不應,橫刀長揖而去。 〈《獻帝春秋》曰:卓欲廢帝,謂紹曰:「皇帝沖闇,非萬乘之主。 陳留王猶勝,今欲立之。 人有小智,大或癡,亦知復何如,爲當且爾; 卿不見靈帝乎? 念此令人憤毒!」 紹曰:「漢家君天下四百許年,恩澤深渥,兆民戴之來久。 今帝雖幼沖,未有不善宣聞天下,公欲廢適立庶,恐衆不從公議也。」 卓謂紹曰:「豎子! 天下事豈不決我? 我今爲之,誰敢不從? 爾謂董卓刀爲不利乎!」 紹曰:「天下健者,豈唯董公?」 引佩刀橫揖而出。 臣松之以爲紹于時與卓未搆嫌隙,故卓與之諮謀。 若但以言議不同,便罵爲豎子,而有推刃之心,及紹復荅,屈彊爲甚,卓又安能容忍而不加害乎? 且如紹此言,進非亮正,退違詭遜,而顯其競爽之旨,以觸哮闞之鋒,有志功業者,理豈然哉! 此語,妄之甚矣。〉 紹旣出,遂亡奔冀州。 侍中周毖、城門校尉伍瓊、議郎何顒等,皆名士也,卓信之,而陰爲紹,乃說卓曰:「夫廢立大事,非常人所及。 紹不達大體,恐懼故出奔,非有他志也。 今購之急,勢必爲變。 袁氏樹恩四世,門世故吏徧於天下,若収豪傑以聚徒衆,英雄因之而起,則山東非公之有也。 不如赦之,拜一郡守,則紹喜於免罪,必無患矣。」 卓以爲然,乃拜紹勃海太守,封邟鄉侯。
Dong Zhuo asked Yuan Shao to endorse deposing Emperor Shao for Prince Xie. At that time Shao's uncle Wei was Grand Tutor—Shao falsely consented—said: "This great affair—when going out ought to consult the Grand Tutor." Dong Zhuo snarled that the Liu line deserved extinction." Yuan Shao answered with silence, hand on sword, and stalked out. 〈The Annals of Emperor Xian state: Zhuo wished to depose the emperor—said to Shao: "The emperor is dim and ignorant—not lord of ten thousand chariots. Prince Xie was the worthier choice. Men may show petty wit yet prove gross fools—yet what choice remained? Had Dong Zhuo forgotten Emperor Ling's lesson? The memory burned him with bile." Shao said: "The Han house has lorded the realm some four hundred years—grace deep and rich—the myriad people have borne them long. The boy had committed no known crime—replacing heir with younger brother would convulse the empire." Zhuo said to Shao: "Brat! Who ruled if not Dong Zhuo? Resistance meant death. Did Yuan Shao mistake his sword for blunt iron?" Yuan Shao answered that steel ran beyond Dong Zhuo's belt alone." He swept out with blade half drawn. Pei Songzhi doubts Yuan Shao could have traded such insults unscathed. Had Dong Zhuo truly called him brat mid-negotiation, neither man would have left the room breathing. Real statesmen neither swagger nor flee—and hardly pick fights with tyrants unarmed. The anecdote fails every test of sense.〉 Yuan Shao bolted for Ji province. Palace Attendant Zhou Bi, Colonel of the City Gates Wu Qiong, Consultant He Yong etc.—all were famed gentlemen—Zhuo trusted them—yet secretly acted for Shao—thereupon persuaded Zhuo: "Deposing and establishing great affair—not what ordinary men reach. They styled Yuan Shao a frightened scholar, not a rebel. Hounding him would radicalize the Yuans. Four generations of clients could arm Shandong overnight. Better give Yuan Shao a nominal post and win his silence." Dong Zhuo named him Bohai administrator and marquis of Hang township.
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紹遂以勃海起兵,將以誅卓。 語在武紀。 紹自號車騎將軍,主盟,與冀州牧韓馥立幽州牧劉虞爲帝,遣使奉章詣虞,虞不敢受。 後馥軍安平,爲公孫瓚所敗。 瓚遂引兵入冀州,以討卓爲名,內欲襲馥。 馥懷不自安。 〈《英雄記》曰:逢紀說紹曰:「將軍舉大事而仰人資給,不據一州,無以自全。」 紹荅云:「冀州兵彊,吾士饑乏,設不能辦,無所容立。」 紀曰:「可與公孫瓚相聞,導使來南,擊取冀州。 公孫必至而馥懼矣,因使說利害,爲陳禍福,馥必遜讓。 於此之際,可據其位。」 紹從其言而瓚果來。〉 會卓西入關,紹還軍延津,因馥惶遽,使陳留高幹、頴川荀諶等說馥曰:「公孫瓚乘勝來向南,而諸郡應之,袁車騎引軍東向,此其意不可知,竊爲將軍危之。」 馥曰:「爲之柰何?」 諶曰:「公孫提燕、代之卒,其鋒不可當。 袁氏一時之傑,必不爲將軍下。 夫冀州,天下之重資也,若兩雄并力,兵交於城下,危亡可立而待也。 夫袁氏,將軍之舊,且同盟也,當今爲將軍計,莫若舉冀州以讓袁氏。 袁氏得冀州,則瓚不能與之爭,必厚德將軍。 冀州入於親交,是將軍有讓賢之名,而身安於泰山也。 願將軍勿疑!」 馥素恇怯,因然其計。 馥長史耿武、別駕閔純、治中李歷諫馥曰:「冀州雖鄙,帶甲百萬,穀支十年。 袁紹孤客窮軍,仰我鼻息,譬如嬰兒在股掌之上,絕其哺乳,立可餓殺。 柰何乃欲以州與之?」 馥曰:「吾,袁氏故吏,且才不如本初,度德而讓,古人所貴,諸君獨何病焉!」 從事趙浮、程奐請以兵拒之,馥又不聽。 乃讓紹, 〈《九州春秋》曰:馥遣都督從事趙浮、程奐將彊弩萬張屯河陽。 浮等聞馥欲以冀州與紹,自孟津馳東下。 時紹尚在朝歌清水口,浮等從後來,船數百艘,衆萬餘人,整兵鼓夜過紹營,紹甚惡之。 浮等到,謂馥曰:「袁本初軍無斗糧,各己離散,雖有張楊、於扶羅新附,未肯爲用,不足敵也。 小從事等請自以見兵拒之,旬日之間,必土崩瓦解; 明將軍但當開閤高枕,何憂何懼!」 馥不從,乃避位,出居趙忠故舍。 遣子齎冀州印綬於黎陽與紹。〉 紹遂領冀州牧。
Yuan Shao launched the Bohai coalition against Dong Zhuo. See Cao Cao's campaign annals. As alliance chief Yuan Shao styled himself general of chariots and cavalry and tried to crown Liu Yu—who declined. Han Fu later lost a battle at Anping to Gongsun Zan. Gongsun Zan invaded Ji under anti-Dong colors while aiming at Han Fu. Han Fu panicked. 〈The Record of Heroes states: Feng Ji persuaded Shao: "General raises great affair yet relies on others' supplies—if not occupying one province—there is no means to preserve yourself." Shao answered: "Ji Province troops strong—our gentlemen hungry and exhausted—suppose cannot manage—nowhere to stand." Ji said: "Can communicate with Gongsun Zan—guide him to come south—strike to seize Ji Province. Panic would make Han Fu surrender the province. Then Yuan Shao could step into the vacancy." Yuan Shao agreed—and Gongsun Zan marched.〉 When Zhuo west entered the passes—Shao returned army to Yan Ford—because Fu was panic-stricken—sent Gaogan of Chenliu and Xun Chen of Yingchuan etc. to persuade Fu: "Gongsun Zan riding victory comes south—while various commanderies respond—Yuan General Who Commands Chariots leads army eastward—this their intent cannot be known—your servant privately for general fears it." Han Fu asked what could be done." Chen said: "Gongsun leads Yan and Dai troops—their sharp edge cannot be blocked. Yuan Shao would never serve under Han Fu. Sandwiched between two armies, Ji would fall at once. The Yuans were Han Fu's old allies—better to gift them Ji than lose it in battle. Once Yuan Shao held Ji, Gongsun Zan could not compete—and would thank Han Fu. Han Fu would earn fame for virtue while sitting safe as Taishan. He urged Han Fu to yield without doubt." Cowardice made Han Fu swallow the fraud. Fu's Chief Clerk Geng Wu, Attendant Clerk Min Chun, Administrative Advisor Li Li remonstrated Fu: "Though Ji Province is rustic—it wears armor a million—grain supports ten years. Yuan Shao lived on Han Fu's supplies—a strangler's squeeze away from extinction. Why surrender the storehouse?" Fu said: "I—Yuan clan former clerk—and moreover talent not equal Benchu—measuring virtue yielding—what ancients prized—why alone do gentlemen ail!" Zhao Fu and Cheng Huan begged to fight—Han Fu refused. He handed Ji to Yuan Shao. 〈Han Fu had ten thousand crossbowmen at Heyang. When they learned of the betrayal they raced downstream from Meng Ford. They sailed hundreds of boats past Yuan Shao's camp at night—infuriating him. Fu etc. arrived—said to Fu: "Yuan Benchu's army lacks peck of grain—each already scattered—though there are Zhang Yang and Yufuluo newly attached—not willing to be used—insufficient to resist. Their militia could crush Yuan Shao in days. Han Fu need only rest easy." Han Fu abdicated and moved into Zhao Zhong's old mansion. He sent his son with the seals to Liyang for Yuan Shao.〉 Yuan Shao became governor of Ji.
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沮授、田豐
Ju Shou and Tian Feng
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從事沮授 〈沮音葅。〉 說紹曰:「將軍弱冠登朝,則播名海內; 值廢立之際,則忠義奮發; 單騎出奔,則董卓懷怖; 濟河而北,則勃海稽首。 振一郡之卒,撮冀州之衆,威震河朔,名重天下。 雖黃巾猾亂,黑山跋扈,舉軍東向,則青州可定; 還討黑山,則張燕可滅; 回衆北首,則公孫必喪; 震脅戎狄,則匈奴必從。 橫大河之北,合四州之地,收英雄之才,擁百萬之衆,迎大駕於西京,復宗廟於洛邑,號令天下,以討未復,以此爭鋒,誰能敵之? 比及數年,此功不難。」 紹喜曰:「此吾心也。」 即表授爲監軍、奮威將軍。 〈《獻帝傳》曰:沮授,廣平人,少有大志,多權略。 仕州別駕,舉茂才,歷二縣令,又爲韓馥別駕,表拜騎都尉。 袁紹得冀州,又辟焉。 《英雄記》曰:是時年號初平,紹字本初,自以爲年與字合,必能克平禍亂。〉 卓遣執金吾胡母班、將作大匠吳脩齎詔書喻紹,紹使河內太守王匡殺之。 〈《漢末名士錄》曰:班字季皮,太山人,少與山陽度尚、東平張邈等八人並輕財赴義,振濟人士,世謂之八廚。 謝承《後漢書》曰:班,王匡之妹夫,董卓使班奉詔到河內,解釋義兵。 匡受袁紹旨,收班繫獄,欲殺之以徇軍。 班與匡書云:「自古已來,未有下土諸侯舉兵向京師者。 劉向傳曰『擲鼠忌器』,器猶忌之,況卓今處宮闕之內,以天子爲藩屏,幼主在宮,如何可討? 僕與太傅馬公、太僕趙岐、少府陰脩俱受詔命。 關東諸郡雖實嫉卓,猶以銜奉王命,不敢玷辱。 而足下獨囚僕於獄,欲以釁鼓,此悖暴無道之甚者也。 僕與董卓有何親戚,義豈同惡? 而足下張虎狼之口,吐長蛇之毒,恚卓遷怒,何甚酷哉! 死,人之所難,然恥爲狂夫所害。 若亡者有靈,當訴足下於皇天。 夫婚姻者禍福之機,今日著矣。 曩爲一體,今爲血讎。 亡人子二人,則君之甥,身沒之後,慎勿令臨僕尸骸也。」 匡得書,抱班二子而泣。 班遂死於獄。 班甞見太山府君及河伯,事在《搜神記》,語多不載。〉 卓聞紹得關東,乃悉誅紹宗族太傅隗等。 當是時,豪俠多附紹,皆思爲之報,州郡鋒起,莫不假其名。 馥懷懼,從紹索去,往依張邈。 〈《英雄記》曰:紹以河內朱漢爲都官從事。 漢先時爲馥所不禮,內懷怨恨,且欲邀迎紹意,擅發城郭兵圍守馥第,拔刃登屋。 馥走上樓,收得馥大兒,槌折兩脚。 紹亦立收漢,殺之。 馥猶憂怖,故報紹索去。〉 後紹遣使詣邈,有所計議,與邈耳語。 馥在坐上,謂見圖構,無何起至溷自殺。 〈《英雄記》曰:公孫瓚擊青州黃巾賊,大破之,還屯廣宗,改易守令,冀州長吏無不望風響應,開門受之。 紹自往征瓚,合戰於界橋南二十里。 瓚步兵三萬餘人爲方陣,騎爲兩翼,左右各五千餘匹,白馬義從爲中堅,亦分作兩校,左射右,右射左,旌旗鎧甲,光照天地。 紹令麴義以八百兵爲先登,彊弩千張夾承之,紹自以步兵數萬結陣於後。 義久在涼州,曉習羌鬬,兵皆驍銳。 瓚見其兵少,便放騎欲陵蹈之。 義兵皆伏楯下不動,未至數十步,乃同時俱起,揚塵大叫,直前衝突,彊弩雷發,所中必倒,臨陣斬瓚所署冀州刺史嚴綱甲首千餘級。 瓚軍敗績,步騎奔走,不復還營。 義追至界橋; 瓚殿兵還戰橋上,義復破之,遂到瓚營,拔其牙門,營中餘衆皆復散走。 紹在後,未到橋十數里,下馬發鞍,見瓚已破,不爲設備,惟帳下彊弩數十張,大戟士百餘人自隨。 瓚部迸騎二千餘匹卒至,便圍紹數重,弓矢雨下。 別駕從事田豐扶紹欲郤入空垣,紹以兜鍪撲地曰:「大丈夫當前鬬死,而入牆間,豈可得活乎?」 彊弩乃亂發,多所殺傷。 瓚騎不知是紹,亦稍引郤; 會麴義來迎,乃散去。 瓚每與虜戰,常乘白馬,追不虛發,數獲戎捷,虜相告云「當避白馬」。 因虜所忌,簡其白馬數千匹,選騎射之士,號爲白馬義從; 一曰胡夷健者常乘白馬,瓚有健騎數千,多乘白馬,故以號焉。 紹旣破瓚,引軍南到薄落津,方與賔客諸將共會,聞魏郡兵反,與黑山賊于毒共覆鄴城,遂殺太守栗成。 賊十餘部,衆數萬人,聚會鄴中。 坐上諸客有家在鄴者,皆憂怖失色,或起啼泣,紹容皃不變,自若也。 賊陶升者,故內黃小吏也,有善心,獨將部衆踰西城入,閉守州門,不內他賊,以車載紹家及諸衣冠在州內者,身自扞衞,送到斥丘乃還。 紹到,遂屯斥丘,以陶升爲建義中郎將。 乃引軍入朝歌鹿場山蒼巖谷討于毒,圍攻五日,破之,斬毒及長安所署冀州牧壺壽。 遂尋山北行,薄擊諸賊左髭丈八等,皆斬之。 又擊劉石、青牛角、黃龍、左校、郭大賢、李大目、于氐根等,皆屠其屯壁,奔走得脫,斬首數萬級。 紹復還屯鄴。 初平四年,天子使太傅馬日磾、太僕趙岐和解關東。 岐別詣河北,紹出迎於百里上,拜奉帝命。 岐住紹營,移書告瓚。 瓚遣使具與紹書曰:「趙太僕以周召之德,銜命來征,宣揚朝恩,示以和睦,曠若開雲見日,何喜如之? 昔賈復、寇恂亦爭士卒,欲相危害,遇光武之寬,親俱陛見,同輿共出,時人以爲榮。 自省邊鄙,得與將軍共同此福,此誠將軍之眷,而瓚之幸也。」 麴義後恃功而驕恣,紹乃殺之。〉
Attendant Ju Shou Note: Ju rhymes with "pickle."〉 Persuaded Shao: "General at weak crown ascended court—then broadcast name within the seas; At Dong Zhuo's coup he stood firm. His lone ride east unnerved Dong Zhuo. North of the Yellow River Bohai welcomed him. He rallied Ji into a power feared north of the Yellow River. Turn east and Qingzhou yields. Sweep the Black Mountains and Zhang Yan falls. Face north and Gongsun Zan dies. Overawe the tribes and the Xiongnu kneel. Hold the north beyond the Yellow River, weld four provinces into one bloc, recruit every able sword, march a million men west to rescue Luoyang and revive the Han altars—raise that standard and ask who would dare face it? Within a few years, this achievement would not be difficult." Yuan Shao cried, "That is exactly what I mean." He promoted Ju Shou to army supervisor and general who displays might. 〈The imperial biography identifies Ju Shou of Guangping as ambitious and wily. He rose through clerkships and county posts until Han Fu nominated him colonel of cavalry. Yuan Shao hired him away along with the province. Gossip adds that Yuan Shao thought the reign title Chuping echoed his style Benchu—a sign heaven backed him.〉 Dong Zhuo sent Humu Ban and Wu Xiu with orders for Yuan Shao; Yuan Shao had Wang Kuang murder the envoys. 〈Local lore lists Humu Ban among the "Eight Kitchens," philanthropists who fed wandering scholars. Xie Cheng notes Dong Zhuo tasked Humu Ban—Wang Kuang's relative—with disbanding the coalition in Henei. Wang Kuang jailed Humu Ban on Yuan Shao's orders and prepared a public execution. Ban wrote Kuang a letter: "Since antiquity no noble east of the capital has raised troops against the throne. He cited "sparing the rat for the vase": Dong Zhuo hid behind the boy emperor—striking him risked the dynasty itself. He named Ma Midi, Zhao Qi, and Yin Xiu as fellow envoys with sealed orders. The allied provinces honored the edict even while loathing Dong Zhuo. Wang Kuang's plan to execute an imperial envoy was lawless cruelty. Humu Ban was no kin to Dong Zhuo. He accused Wang Kuang of venting coalition fury on a messenger. Death did not frighten him—dying as Wang Kuang's puppet did. He threatened Wang Kuang with judgment in the next world. Their families had been tied by marriage—now they were blood enemies. Kinship had turned to feud. He forbade Wang Kuang's nephews—his own sons—from mourning him." Wang Kuang read the letter and wept over Humu Ban's boys. Humu Ban died in custody. Legend adds séances with river gods—details fill In Search of the Supernatural.〉 Dong Zhuo slaughtered the Yuan clan at Luoyang when Yuan Shao led the coalition. Knights-errant across the north rallied to Yuan Shao's banner to repay Dong Zhuo's massacre. Han Fu fled Ji for Zhang Miao's protection. 〈Yuan Shao named Zhu Han of Henei as investigator for the province. Zhu Han hated Han Fu for past snubs and stormed his compound to impress Yuan Shao. Han Fu escaped upstairs while thugs crippled his eldest son. Yuan Shao arrested Zhu Han and executed him for excess. Han Fu remained terrified and begged Yuan Shao again for escape.〉 Later Yuan Shao visited Zhang Miao for secret talks. Han Fu, overhearing whispers, imagined conspiracy and killed himself in the latrine. 〈Gongsun Zan smashed the Qingzhou rebels, moved into Guangzong, and peeled Ji commandery away from Yuan Shao piecemeal. Yuan Shao met him twenty miles south of Jie Bridge. Gongsun Zan drew thirty thousand foot in a square, ten thousand horse on the wings, and the famed White Horse corps as his hammer—armor blinding in the sun. Yuan Shao put Qu Yi's eight hundred shock troops and a thousand crossbows in front while tens of thousands formed the second line. Qu Yi's veterans knew frontier warfare—every man was elite. Gongsun Zan underestimated the van and charged with everything he had. Qu Yi's line hugged the earth until the horsemen closed, then sprang up—crossbows shredded the charge and Yan Gang fell with a thousand rider casualties. Gongsun Zan's host shattered and ran without rallying. Qu Yi chased them to Jie Bridge. Rearguard action on the bridge failed; Qu Yi stormed Gongsun Zan's camp and routed the garrison. Yuan Shao rode up late, dropped saddle and guard—thinking the battle won he kept only a handful of crossbowmen. Two thousand stray riders suddenly ringed Yuan Shao and filled the sky with shafts. Attendant Clerk Tian Feng supported Shao and wished to retreat inside an empty wall; Shao slammed his helmet on the ground and said: "A great man ought to die fighting forward—how can hiding between walls preserve life?" His escort volleyed blindly into the circle and dropped many riders. Not recognizing Yuan Shao, the horsemen hesitated. Qu Yi's arrival lifted the siege. Gongsun Zan fought frontier wars from a white horse, and the tribes warned each other, "Avoid the white horse." He formed an elite corps of white mounts—the Righteous Followers of the White Horse. Others say northern riders favored white horses anyway—hence the nickname stuck. At Boluo Ford feast Yuan Shao learned Ye had fallen to Yu Du's rebels and Li Cheng was dead. Tens of thousands of brigands packed the city. Courtiers with kin in Ye panicked while Yuan Shao sipped wine unmoved. A clerk named Tao Sheng sealed the gates, evacuated Yuan Shao's family and gentry, and convoyed them to safety at Chiqiu. Yuan Shao rewarded Tao Sheng with the generalship who establishes righteousness. He stormed the hills, slew Yu Du and Dong Zhuo's puppet governor Hu Shou. He swept north through the bandit nicknames—Left Mustache Eight Feet among them. He flattened Liu Shi, Green Bull Horn, Yellow Dragon, and the rest—tens of thousands of heads though survivors fled the tally. Yuan Shao marched back into Ye. In Chuping 4 the court commissioned Ma Midi and Zhao Qi to pacify the north. Zhao Qi rode north; Yuan Shao met him a hundred li out and accepted the edict on his knees. Zhao Qi stayed with Yuan Shao and wrote Gongsun Zan. Zan sent an envoy with a letter to Shao saying: "Minister Zhao, with the virtue of the Duke of Zhou and Duke of Shao, bears the mandate of reconciliation; he spreads court grace and shows harmony—vast as clouds parting to reveal the sun—what joy could exceed this? He cited Guangwu reuniting feuding generals in one chariot. He hoped for the same reconciliation between himself and Yuan Shao." Qu Yi grew insufferably proud—Yuan Shao executed him.〉
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初,天子之立非紹意,及在河東,紹遣潁川郭圖使焉。 圖還說紹迎天子都鄴,紹不從。 〈《獻帝傳》云:沮授說紹曰:「將軍累葉輔弼,世濟忠義。 今朝廷播越,宗廟毀壞,觀諸州郡外託義兵,內圖相滅,未有存主卹民者。 且今州城粗定,宜迎大駕,安宮鄴都,挾天子而令諸侯,畜士馬以討不庭,誰能禦之!」 紹恱,將從之。 郭圖、淳于瓊曰:「漢室陵遲,爲日久矣,今欲興之,不亦難乎! 且今英雄據有州郡,衆動萬計,所謂秦失其鹿,先得者王。 若迎天子以自近,動輙表聞,從之則權輕,違之則拒命,非計之善者也。」 授曰:「今迎朝廷,至義也,又於時宜大計也,若不早圖,必有先人者也。 夫權不失機,功在速捷,將軍其圖之!」 紹弗能用。 案此書稱郭圖之計,則與本傳違也。〉 會太祖迎天子都許,收河南地,關中皆附。 紹悔,欲令太祖徙天子都鄄城以自密近,太祖拒之。 天子以紹爲太尉,轉爲大將軍,封鄴侯, 〈《獻帝春秋》曰:紹恥班在太祖下,怒曰:「曹操當死數矣,我輒救存之,今乃背恩,挾天子以令我乎!」 太祖聞,而以大將軍讓於紹。〉 紹讓侯不受。 頃之。 擊破瓚於易京,井其衆。 〈《典略》曰:自此紹貢御希慢,私使主薄耿苞密白曰:「赤德衰盡,袁爲黃胤,宜順天意。」 紹以苞密白事示軍府將吏。 議者咸以苞爲妖妄宜誅,紹乃殺苞以自解。 《九州春秋》曰:紹延徵北海鄭玄而不禮,趙融聞之曰:「賢人者,君子之望也。 不禮賢,是失君子之望也。 夫有爲之君,不敢失萬民之歡心,況於君子乎? 失君子之望,難乎以有爲也。」 《英雄記》載太祖作董卓歌,辭云:「德行不虧缺,變故自難常。 鄭康成行酒,伏地氣絕,郭景圖命盡於園桑。」 如此之文,則玄無病而卒。 餘書不見,故載錄之。〉 出長子譚爲青州,沮授諫紹:「必爲禍始。」 紹不聽,曰:「孤欲令諸兒各據一州也。」 〈《九州春秋》載授諫辭曰:「世稱一兔走衢,萬人逐之,一人獲之,貪者悉止,分定故也。 且年均以賢,德均則卜,古之制也。 願上惟先代成敗之戒,下思逐兔分定之義。」 紹曰:「孤欲令四兒各據一州,以觀其能。」 授出曰:「禍其始此乎!」 譚始至青州,爲都督,未爲刺史,後太祖拜爲刺史。 其土自河而西,蓋不過平原而已。 遂北排田楷,東攻孔融,曜兵海隅,是時百姓無主,欣戴之矣。 然信用羣小,好受近言,肆志奢淫,不知稼穡之艱難。 華彥、孔順皆姦佞小人也,信以爲腹心; 王脩等備官而已。 然能接待賔客,慕名敬士。 使婦弟領兵在內,至令草竊,巿井而外,虜掠田野; 別使兩將募兵下縣,有賂者見免,無者見取,貧弱者多,乃至於竄伏丘野之中,放兵捕索如獵鳥獸。 邑有萬戶者,著籍不盈數百,收賦納稅,參分不入一。 招命賢士,不就; 不彊棄軍期,安居族黨,亦不能罪也。〉 又以中子熙爲幽州,甥高幹爲并州。 衆數十萬,以審配、逢紀統軍事,田豐、荀諶、許攸爲謀主,顏良、文醜爲將率,簡精卒十萬,騎萬匹,將攻許。 〈《世語》曰:紹步卒五萬,騎八千。 孫盛評曰:案魏武謂崔琰曰「昨案貴州戶籍,可得三十萬衆」。 由此推之,但冀州勝兵已如此,況兼幽、并及青州乎? 紹之大舉,必悉師而起,十萬近之矣。 《獻帝傳》曰:紹將南師,沮授、田豐諫曰:「師出歷年,百姓疲弊,倉庾無積,賦役方殷,此國之深憂也。 宜先遣使獻捷天子,務農逸民; 若不得通,乃表曹氏隔我王路,然後進屯黎陽,漸營河南,益作舟船,繕治器械,分遣精騎,鈔其邊鄙,令彼不得安,我取其逸。 三年之中,事可坐定也。」 審配、郭圖曰:「兵書之法,十圍五攻,敵則能戰。 今以明公之神武,跨河朔之彊衆,以伐曹氏。 譬若覆手,今不時取,後難圖也。」 授曰:「蓋救亂誅暴,謂之義兵; 恃衆憑彊,謂之驕兵。 兵義無敵,驕者先滅。 曹氏迎天子安宮許都,今舉兵南向,於義則違。 且廟勝之策,不在彊弱。 曹氏法令旣行,士卒精練,非公孫瓚坐受圍者也。 今棄萬安之術,而興無名之兵,竊爲公懼之!」 圖等曰:「武王伐紂,不曰不義,況兵加曹氏而云無名! 且公師武臣竭力,將士憤怒,人思自騁,而不及時早定大業,慮之失也。 夫天與弗取,反受其咎,此越之所以霸,吳之所以亡也。 監軍之計,計在持牢,而非見時知機之變也。」 紹從之。 圖等因是譖授「監統內外,威震三軍,若其浸盛,何以制之? 夫臣與主不同者昌,主與臣同者亡,此黃石之所忌也。 且御衆於外,不宜知內。」 紹疑焉。 乃分監軍爲三都督,使授及郭圖、淳于瓊各典一軍,遂合而南。〉
Yuan Shao never wanted Emperor Xian; he sent Guo Tu to Hedong. Guo Tu urged escorting the throne to Ye—Yuan Shao refused. 〈The Biography of Emperor Xian states: Ju Shou urged Shao: "For generations your house has aided the throne and embodied loyalty. While warlords claimed righteousness they carved up the realm and ignored the boy emperor. Secure Ji first, move the court to Ye, and dictate orders in the emperor's voice." Yuan Shao nearly agreed. Guo Tu and Chunyu Qiong said: "The Han house has declined too long—how hard it would be to revive it now! They cited the contest for the empire's deer—first snatcher wins. Keeping the emperor nearby meant endless memorials and trapped autonomy." Shou said: "Welcoming the court is supreme righteousness and timely grand strategy; if you do not strike soon someone else will. Fortune favored the swift." Yuan Shao let the moment pass. Pei Songzhi flags conflicting sources on Guo Tu versus Ju Shou.〉 Cao Cao took the emperor to Xu, seized Henan, and drew Guanzhong in. Yuan Shao tried to tug the court toward Juancheng—Cao Cao refused. The emperor named Yuan Shao grand commandant, then grand general, marquis of Ye. 〈Yuan Shao raged that ranking below Cao Cao insulted him after saving Cao's life repeatedly." Cao Cao yielded the grand generalcy to placate him.〉 Yuan Shao refused the marquis title. Some time passed. He destroyed Gongsun Zan at Yijing and swallowed his army. 〈Registrar Geng Bao whispered that the red Han had yielded to Yuan yellow destiny." Yuan Shao aired Geng Bao's letter before headquarters. They called it treason—Yuan Shao executed Geng Bao to clear his name. The Nine Provinces Spring and Autumn states: Shao summoned Zheng Xuan of Beihai but failed to honor him; Zhao Rong hearing said: "Worthy men are the gentleman's beacon. Wise men were the court's compass. No ruler could afford to alienate the wise. Lose the gentleman's beacon and action becomes impossible." The Record of Heroes preserves that the Founding Ancestor composed the Dong Zhuo Song—its words say: "When virtue shows no flaw—yet calamities seldom stay their course. At the drinking bout Zheng Xuan collapsed mid-toast; Guo Jingtu died beneath garden mulberries." Such lines imply Zheng Xuan passed peacefully. Other histories omit the anecdote—Pei preserves it here.〉 He sent eldest son Tan to Qingzhou; Ju Shou remonstrated Shao: "This must become the beginning of calamity." Yuan Shao brushed him off—each son deserved his own command." 〈The Nine Provinces Spring and Autumn carries Shou's remonstrance: "The proverb runs—one rabbit bolts across the crossroads and ten thousand chase it—yet once one man catches it every greedy runner stops—because shares have been fixed. Ancient rule compared heirs' merit and cast lots when tied. Look backward at fallen houses—forward at orderly succession." Yuan Shao insisted four provinces would test his sons." Ju Shou left muttering that ruin began that hour." Yuan Tan began as army supervisor until Cao Cao formally titled him inspector. West of the Yellow River he barely held Pingyuan. He smashed Tian Kai, besieged Kong Rong, and won coastal crowds eager for any protector. Yet Yuan Tan trusted flatterers, chased pleasure, and ignored the lean harvests. Sycophants Hua Yan and Kong Shun became his intimates. Honest Wang Xiu kept title without trust. He still feasted scholars who praised his salon. His brother-in-law's garrison looted streets while bandits ravaged fields beyond. His recruiters shook down counties—bribes bought exemption—honest peasants were dragged from hedgerows like game. Registers shrank from ten thousand families to hundreds—tax yield fell below a third of quota. Scholars refused his summons. He could not punish men who ignored military deadlines yet stayed home with kin.〉 He gave Yuan Xi Youzhou and nephew Gao Gan Bingzhou. He stacked Shen Pei, Feng Ji, Tian Feng, Yan Liang, and a hundred thousand veterans for the march on Xu. 〈Shiyu lowers the count to fifty thousand foot and eight thousand horse. Sun Sheng evaluates: investigating Wei Wu's remark to Cui Yan "Yesterday I examined your province's household registers—could raise three hundred thousand troops." If Ji alone yields three hundred thousand liable men, four provinces imply far more. Yuan Shao's full levy surely neared the hundred-thousand mark. The Biography of Emperor Xian states: when Shao would march south Ju Shou and Tian Feng remonstrated: "Campaigns drag year after year—the people are exhausted—granaries empty—levies and labor still crushing—this is the state's grave worry. Send laurels to Luoyang first—then heal the farms. If rebuffed, declare Cao Cao blocks the emperor—then chip away from Liyang with river fleets and border raids. Three patient years could win without a rash clash." Shen Pei and Guo Tu said: "Art of War teaches—tenfold strength surrounds—fivefold attacks—when evenly matched fight. They argued Yuan Shao's northern host could crush Cao Cao outright. Delay forfeited easy victory." Shou said: "Those who rescue chaos and punish cruelty—call them righteous armies; Sheer bulk betrayed arrogance. Righteous armies conquer—pride precedes fall. Marching on Xu flouted the emperor Cao Cao shields. Strategy—not raw numbers—decides Temple victories. Cao Cao's troops outclass Gongsun Zan's trapped rabble. Ju Shou called Yuan Shao's rush suicidal hubris." Tu et al. said: "King Wu campaigned against Zhou—not called unrighteous—how much less striking the Cao clan—how call it nameless! They demanded strike while zeal burned. They cited Yue accepting Heaven's gift—Wu refusing—and ruin. They mocked Ju Shou as timid clerk blind to opportunity." Yuan Shao sided with the hawks. Tu et al. therefore slandered Shou—"He supervises inside and outside—awe shakes three armies—if his influence swells—how restrain him? They cited the Yellow Stone stratagem—rival principals destroy regimes. Generals abroad should not spy on palace secrets." Yuan Shao grew suspicious of Ju Shou. He split Ju Shou's authority with Guo Tu and Chunyu Qiong—three coequal commands marched south.〉
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先是,太祖遣劉備詣徐州拒袁術。 術死,備殺刺史車冑,引軍屯沛。 紹遣騎佐之。 太祖遣劉岱、王忠擊之,不克。 建安五年,太祖自東征備。 田豐說紹襲太祖後,紹辭以子疾,不許,豐舉杖擊地曰:「夫遭難遇之機,而以嬰兒之病失其會,惜哉!」 太祖至,擊破備; 備奔紹。 〈《魏氏春秋》載紹檄州郡文曰:「蓋聞明主圖危以制變,忠臣慮難以立權。 曩者彊秦弱主,趙高執柄,專制朝命,威福由己,終有望夷之禍,汙辱至今。 及臻呂后,祿、產專政,擅斷萬機,決事省禁,下陵上替,海內寒心。 於是絳侯、朱虛興威奮怒,誅夷逆亂,尊立太宗,故能道化興隆,光明顯融,此則大臣立權之明表也。 司空曹操,祖父騰,故中常侍,與左悺、徐璜並作妖孽,饕餮放橫,傷化虐民。 父嵩,乞匄攜養,因贓假位,輿金輦璧,輸貨權門,竊盜鼎司,傾覆重器。 操贅閹遺醜,本無令德,僄狡鋒俠,好亂樂禍。 幕府昔統鷹揚,掃夷凶逆。 續遇董卓侵官暴國,於是提劒揮鼓,發命東夏,方收羅英雄,棄瑕錄用,故遂與操參咨策略,謂其鷹犬之才,爪牙可任。 至乃愚佻短慮,輕進易退,傷夷折衂,數喪師徒。 幕府輙復分兵命銳,脩完補輯,表行東郡太守、兖州刺史,被以虎文,授以偏師,獎蹙威柄,冀獲秦師一克之報。 而操遂乘資跋扈,肆行酷裂,割剥元元,殘賢害善。 故九江太守邊讓,英才俊逸,天下知名,以直言正色,論不阿諂,身被梟縣之戮,妻孥受灰滅之咎。 自是士林憤痛,民怨彌重,一夫奮臂,舉州同聲,故躬破於徐方,地奪於呂布,仿偟東裔,蹈據無所。 幕府唯彊幹弱枝之義,且不登叛人之黨,故復援旌擐甲,席卷赴征,金鼓響震,布衆破沮,拯其死亡之患,復其方伯之任,是則幕府無德於兖土之民,而有大造於操也。 後會鑾駕東反,羣虜亂政。 時冀州方有北鄙之警,匪遑離局,故使從事中郎徐勛就發遣操,使繕脩郊廟,翼衞幼主。 而便放志專行,脅遷省禁,卑侮王官,敗法亂紀,坐召三臺,專制朝政,爵賞由心,刑戮在口,所愛光五宗,所惡滅三族,羣談者蒙顯誅,腹議者蒙隱戮,道路以目,百寮鉗口,尚書記朝會,公卿充員品而已。 故太尉楊彪,歷典三司,享國極位,操因睚眥,被以非罪,榜楚并兼,五毒俱至,觸情放慝,不顧憲章。 又議郎趙彥,忠諫直言,議有可納,故聖朝含聽,改容加錫,操欲迷奪時權,杜絕言路,擅收立殺,不俟報聞。 又梁孝王,先帝母弟,墳陵尊顯,松栢桑梓,猶宜恭肅,而操率將校吏士親臨發掘,破棺裸尸,略取金寶,至令聖朝流涕,士民傷懷。 又署發丘中郎將、摸金校尉,所過墮突,無骸不露。 身處三公之官,而行桀虜之態,殄國虐民,毒流人鬼。 加其細政苛慘,科防互設,繒繳充蹊,坑穽塞路,舉手挂網羅,動足蹈機陷,是以兖、豫有無聊之民,帝都有吁嗟之怨。 歷觀古今書籍,所載貪殘虐烈無道之臣,於操爲甚。 幕府方詰外姦,未及整訓,加意含覆,冀可彌縫。 而操豺狼野心,潛苞禍謀,乃欲撓折棟梁,孤弱漢室,除滅中正,專爲梟雄。 往歲伐鼓北征,討公孫瓚,彊禦桀逆,拒圍一年。 操因其未破,陰交書命,欲託助王師,以相掩襲,故引兵造河,方舟北濟。 會其行人發路,瓚亦梟夷,故使鋒芒挫縮,厥圖不果。 屯據敖倉,阻河爲固,乃欲以螳蜋之斧,禦隆車之隧。 幕府奉漢威靈,折衝宇宙,長戟百萬,胡騎千羣,奮中黃、育、獲之材,騁良弓勁弩之勢,并州越太行,青州涉濟、漯,大軍汎黃河以角其前,荊州下宛、葉而掎其後,雷震虎步,並集虜庭,若舉炎火以焫飛蓬,覆滄海而沃熛炭,有何不消滅者哉? 當今漢道陵遲,綱弛紀絕。 操以精兵七百,圍守宮闕,外稱陪衞,內以拘執,懼其篡逆之禍,因斯而作。 乃忠臣肝腦塗地之秋,烈士立功之會也,可不勗哉!」 此陳琳之辭。〉
Earlier Cao Cao posted Liu Bei against Yuan Shu in Xu. After Yuan Shu died Liu Bei slew Che Zhou and fortified Pei. Yuan Shao sent cavalry to reinforce Liu Bei. Cao Cao's Liu Dai and Wang Zhong failed against them. In Jian'an 5 Cao Cao marched east himself. Tian Feng begged Yuan Shao to strike Cao Cao's rear—Yuan Shao refused because his son was ill—Tian Feng beat the earth with his cane in despair." Cao Cao arrived and scattered Liu Bei. Liu Bei bolted to Yuan Shao. 〈The Wei Clan Spring and Autumn preserves Yuan Shao's proclamation to commanderies: "We hear enlightened rulers plot peril to master change—loyal ministers ponder hardship to seize initiative. It compares Cao Cao to Zhao Gao of doomed Qin. It cites Lu clan dictatorship under Empress Lü. It praises Zhou Bo's coup restoring Emperor Wen. It vilifies Cao Teng and Cao Song as corrupt parasites. It brands Cao Song a purchased minister. It mocks Cao Cao as eunuch spawn loving chaos. It praises Yuan Shao's coalition against Dong Zhuo. It recounts recruiting Cao Cao as a useful cur. It lists Cao Cao's early defeats. It describes restoring Cao Cao after defeats. It accuses Cao Cao of tyranny after promotion. It cites Bian Rang's murder. It narrates Cao Cao's losses to Lü Bu. It spins Yuan Shao's rescue of Cao Cao in Yan as undeserved mercy. When the court fled east chaos reigned. It says Yuan Shao tasked Cao Cao with guarding the emperor. It paints Cao Cao's takeover of the Han bureaucracy. It cites Yang Biao's torture. It condemns Zhao Yan's summary execution. It accuses Cao Cao of robbing Liang tombs. It lists invented tomb-raiding offices. It compares Cao Cao to tyrant Jie despite high office. It piles on legal cruelty against commoners. History recorded none greedier than Cao Cao. It claims Yuan Shao tried patience first. It brands Cao Cao a traitor plotting Han's death. It recounts the year-long siege of Gongsun Zan. It claims Cao schemed with Gongsun Zan against Yuan Shao. Messengers exposed the plot—Gongsun Zan died—and Cao's scheme collapsed. It mocks Cao Cao's defense at Ao Granary as mantis versus wheel. The letter claims Han majesty and allied might—millions of halberds, hosts of Hu horse, champions like the Zhong Huang and Yu Huo sort, bows and crossbows at full draw—Bingzhou crosses Taihang, Qingzhou fords the Ji and Luo, the main host rides the Yellow River to strike his front, Jingzhou drives on Wan and Ye to clutch his rear—thunder stride and tiger steps closing on Cao's camp like a torch to dry thistle or the sea swallowing live coals—what could survive? Han discipline hangs by threads. It claims seven hundred soldiers cage the emperor. It calls allies to redeem the dynasty." Chen Lin drafted this manifesto.〉
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紹進軍黎陽,遣顏良攻劉延於白馬。 沮授又諫紹:「良性促狹,雖驍勇不可獨任。」 紹不聽。 太祖救延,與良戰,破斬良。 〈《獻帝傳》曰:紹臨發,沮授會其宗族,散資財以與之曰:「夫勢在則威無不加,勢亡則不保一身,哀哉!」 其弟宗曰:「曹公士馬不敵,君何懼焉!」 授曰:「以曹兖州之明略,又挾天子以爲資,我雖克公孫,衆實疲弊,而將驕主忲,軍之破敗,在此舉也。 揚雄有言,『六國蚩蚩,爲嬴弱姬』,今之謂也。」〉 紹渡河,壁延津南,使劉備、文醜挑戰。 太祖擊破之,斬醜,再戰,禽紹大將。 紹軍大震。 〈《獻帝傳》曰:紹將濟河,沮授諫曰:「勝負變化,不可不詳。 今宜留屯延津,分兵官渡,若其克獲,還迎不晚,設其有難,衆弗可還。」 紹弗從。 授臨濟歎曰:「上盈其志,下務其功,悠悠黃河,吾其反乎?」 遂以疾辭。 紹恨之,乃省其所部兵屬郭圖。〉 太祖還官渡。 沮授又曰:「北兵數衆而果勁不及南,南穀虛少而貨財不及北; 南利在於急戰,北利在於緩搏。 宜徐持久,曠以日月。」 紹不從。 連營稍前,逼官渡,合戰,太祖軍不利,復壁。 紹爲高櫓,起土山,射營中,營中皆蒙楯,衆大懼。 太祖乃爲發石車,擊紹樓,皆破,紹衆號曰霹靂車。 〈《魏氏春秋》曰:以古有矢石,又傳言「旝動而鼓」,說文曰「旝,發石也」,於是造發石車。〉 紹爲地道,欲襲太祖營。 太祖輙於內爲長塹以拒之,又遣奇兵襲擊紹運車,大破之,盡焚其穀。 太祖與紹相持日久,百姓疲乏,多叛應紹,軍食乏。 會紹遣淳于瓊等將兵萬餘人北迎運車,沮授說紹:「可遣將蔣奇別爲支軍於表,以斷曹公之鈔。」 紹復不從。 瓊宿烏巢,去紹軍四十里。 太祖乃留曹洪守,自將步騎五千候夜潛往攻瓊。 紹遣騎救之,敗走。 破瓊等,悉斬之。 太祖還,未至營,紹將高覽、張郃等率其衆降。 紹衆大潰,紹與譚單騎退渡河。 餘衆偽降,盡坑之。 〈張璠《漢紀》云:殺紹卒凡八萬人。〉 沮授不及紹渡,爲人所執,詣太祖, 〈《獻帝傳》云:授大呼曰:「授不降也,爲軍所執耳!」 太祖與之有舊,逆謂授曰:「分野殊異,遂用圮絕,不圖今日乃相禽也!」 授對曰:「冀州失策,以取奔北。 授智力俱困,宜其見禽耳。」 太祖曰:「本初無謀,不用君計,今喪亂過紀,國家未定,當相與圖之。」 授曰:「叔父、母、弟,縣命袁氏,若蒙公靈,速死爲福。」 太祖歎曰:「孤早相得,天下不足慮。」〉 太祖厚待之。 後謀還袁氏,見殺。
Yuan Shao moved on Liyang and sent Yan Liang against Liu Yan at Baima. Ju Shou warned Yan Liang's temper made him a reckless lone spear." Yuan Shao ignored him. Cao Cao relieved Liu Yan, engaged Yan Liang, and took his head. 〈The Biography of Emperor Xian states: when Shao was about to depart Ju Shou assembled his clan—distributed wealth to them saying: "When power stands—awe lacks nothing—when power dies—even one body cannot be preserved—alas!" A kinsman asked why Ju Shou despaired when Yuan Shao outnumbered Cao Cao." Shou replied: "By Inspector Cao of Yanzhou's brilliant strategy—and moreover embracing the Son of Heaven as asset—though we conquered Gongsun Zan the masses are truly exhausted—and generals grow arrogant while the lord grows proud—the army's defeat happens in this undertaking. He quoted Yang Xiong—the six states' swagger doomed them—just like Yuan Shao.〉" Yuan Shao crossed the Yellow River to Yan Ford and sent Liu Bei and Wen Chou forward. Cao Cao shattered the probe, killed Wen Chou, and took Yuan officers in a second clash. Yuan Shao's host reeled. 〈The Biography of Emperor Xian states: when Shao would cross the river Ju Shou remonstrated: "Victory and defeat transform—cannot fail to examine closely. Hold Yan Ford, probe Guandu, and keep an escape line open." Yuan Shao ignored him. Ju Shou stared at the ford and predicted doom." He resigned on grounds of illness. Yuan Shao stripped Ju Shou and handed his men to Guo Tu.〉 Cao Cao drew back into Guandu. Ju Shou again said: "Northern troops are numerous yet ripe vigor does not match the south—southern grain is empty and few yet goods and wealth do not match the north; Cao Cao needed quick fights—Yuan Shao needed a war of attrition. Stretch the campaign across seasons." Yuan Shao refused again. The allies edged toward Guandu; an early clash favored Yuan Shao until Cao Cao rallied behind walls. Yuan Shao lofted towers and earthworks and shot volleys until Cao's men cowered under shields. Cao Cao answered with traction trebuchets Yuan troops nicknamed thunderbolts. 〈The Wei shi chunqiu says that since antiquity there were arrows and stones, and a transmitted saying says, "When the hui moves, drum." The Shuowen says, "Hui means launching stones." Thereupon they made stone-launching carts.〉 Yuan Shao mined toward Cao Cao's lines. Cao Cao counter-mined and torched Yuan supply columns. Stalemate exhausted civilians—many shifted loyalty toward Yuan Shao—while Cao's magazines ran dry. Ju Shou begged escorts for the grain convoy and a flank guard against raids." Yuan Shao declined again. Chunyu Qiong camped at Wuchao forty li behind Yuan's front. Cao Cao left Cao Hong and slipped five thousand men to burn Wuchao by night. Yuan Shao's relief cavalry broke and ran. Cao Cao wiped out Chunyu Qiong's command. Before Cao Cao returned, Gao Lan and Zhang He defected. Yuan Shao and Yuan Tan forded north with a handful of riders. Captured soldiers who feigned surrender were buried alive. 〈Zhang Fan tallied eighty thousand Yuan dead.〉 Ju Shou fell captive before he could escape north. 〈Ju Shou shouted that capture was not capitulation." Cao Cao greeted an old acquaintance with grim humor." Shou replied: "Ji Province misplanned—therefore fled defeat. Brains and strength spent—capture was inevitable." Cao Cao invited Ju Shou to rebuild the realm." Ju Shou answered that kin still hostage to Yuan Shao made survival dishonorable." Founding Ancestor sighed: "Had I obtained you early—the realm would not worry me."〉 Cao Cao honored him lavishly. Ju Shou died plotting escape back to Yuan Shao.
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初,紹之南也,田豐說紹曰:「曹公善用兵,變化無方,衆雖少,未可輕也,不如以久持之。 將軍據山河之固,擁四州之衆,外結英雄,內脩農戰,然後簡其精銳,分爲奇兵,乘虛迭出,以擾河南,救右則擊其左,救左則擊其右,使敵疲於奔命,民不得安業; 我未勞而彼已困,不及二年,可坐克也。 今釋廟勝之策,而決成敗於一戰,若不如志,悔無及也。」 紹不從。 豐懇諫,紹怒甚,以爲沮衆,械繫之。 紹軍旣敗,或謂豐曰:「君必見重。」 豐曰:「若軍有利,吾必全,今軍敗,吾其死矣。」 紹還,謂左右曰:「吾不用田豐言,果爲所笑。」 遂殺之。 〈《先賢行狀》曰:豐字元皓,鉅鹿人,或云勃海人。 豐天姿瓌傑,權略多奇,少喪親,居喪盡哀,日月雖過,笑不至矧。 博覽多識,名重州黨。 初辟太尉府,舉茂才,遷侍御史。 閹宦擅朝,英賢被害,豐乃棄官歸家。 袁紹起義,卑辭厚幣以招致豐,豐以王室多難,志存匡救,乃應紹命,以爲別駕。 勸紹迎天子,紹不納。 紹後用豐謀,以平公孫瓚。 逢紀憚豐亮直,數讒之於紹,紹遂忌豐。 紹軍之敗也,土崩奔北,師徒略盡,軍皆拊膺而泣曰:「向令田豐在此,不至於是也。」 紹謂逢紀曰:「冀州人聞吾軍敗,皆當念吾,唯田別駕前諫止吾,與衆不同,吾亦慙見之。」 紀復曰:「豐聞將軍之退,拊手大笑,喜其言之中也。」 紹於是有害豐之意。 初,太祖聞豐不從戎,喜曰:「紹必敗矣。」 及紹奔遁,復曰:「向使紹用田別駕計,尚未可知也。」 孫盛曰:觀田豐、沮授之謀,雖良、平何以過之? 故君貴審才,臣尚量主; 君用忠良,則霸王之業隆,臣奉闇后,則覆亡之禍至:存亡榮辱,常必由茲。 豐知紹將敗,敗則己必死,甘冒虎口以盡忠規,烈士之於所事,慮不存己。 夫諸侯之臣,義有去就,況豐與紹非純臣乎! 詩云「逝將去汝,適彼樂土」,言去亂邦,就有道可也。〉 紹外寬雅,有局度,憂喜不形於色,而內多忌害,皆此類也。
At first when Shao marched south Tian Feng persuaded Shao: "Lord Cao skillfully uses troops—transformations without pattern—though masses are few—cannot be lightly treated—better endure long. Fortify Ji, raid Henan by rotating thrusts, exhaust Cao Cao's reserves. Without tiring Yuan troops you could finish Cao in two years. Now discard Temple victory strategy—and decide victory defeat on single battle—if not according wish—regret cannot reach." Yuan Shao ignored Tian Feng. Yuan Shao had Tian Feng chained for spreading defeatism. After Shao's army defeated—some told Feng: "You surely will be honored." Feng said: "If army had profit—I surely would survive—now army defeated—I surely die." Shao returned—said to attendants: "I did not use Tian Feng's words—surely am mocked by him." He executed Tian Feng. 〈Pei cites Tian Feng as Yuanhao of Julu or Bohai. Tian Feng was brilliant and mourned parents with harsh austerity—never smiling during mourning. Learning earned regional fame. He rose through the Grand Commandant's bureau to attendant censor. When eunuchs butchered scholars Tian Feng quit office. Yuan Shao's humble summons drew Tian Feng back as attendant clerk. He urged welcoming Emperor Xian—Yuan Shao refused. Later Yuan Shao followed his advice against Gongsun Zan. Feng Ji poisoned Yuan Shao against Tian Feng's blunt honesty. When Shao's army defeated—earth collapsed fleeing north—masters and followers nearly gone—all armies beat breasts weeping: "Had Tian Feng been here—not reached this." Shao said to Feng Ji: "Ji Province folk hearing our army defeated—all ought pity me—only Tian attendant clerk earlier remonstrated stopping me—different from multitude—I also ashamed face him." Ji again said: "Feng hearing general's retreat—clapped hands greatly laughed—joyful his words proved." The lie sealed Tian Feng's death. At first Founding Ancestor hearing Feng did not follow army—joyfully said: "Shao surely defeated." When Shao fled routed—again said: "Had Shao used Tian attendant clerk's plan—not yet know-able." Sun Sheng ranks Tian Feng and Ju Shou with Zhang Liang and Chen Ping. Lords must gauge advisers—ministers must gauge patrons. Wise ruler plus loyal minister builds empire—dim lord plus worthy minister invites ruin. Tian Feng marched into the tyrant's jaws knowing death waited. Feudal retainers may resign—Tian Feng owed Yuan Shao no blind loyalty. The Classic of Poetry sanctions fleeing chaos for righteous rule."〉 Yuan Shao dressed benevolent yet nursed lethal envy—his temper mirrored such deeds.
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冀州城邑多叛,紹復擊定之。 自軍敗後發病,七年,憂死。
Rebel towns in Ji fell to Yuan Shao's counterstrokes. His defeat broke his health—he died within seven years of grief.
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子譚、熙、尚
Sons: Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, Yuan Shang
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紹愛少子尚,皃美,欲以爲後而未顯。 〈《典論》曰:譚長而惠,尚少而美。 紹妻劉氏愛尚,數稱其才,紹亦奇其皃,欲以爲後,未顯而紹死。 劉氏性酷妬,紹死,僵尸未殯,寵妾五人,劉盡殺之。 以爲死者有知,當復見紹於地下,乃髠頭墨靣以毀其形。 尚又爲盡殺死者之家。〉 審配、逢紀與辛評、郭圖爭權,配、紀與尚比,評、圖與譚比。 衆以譚長,欲立之。 配等恐譚立而評等爲己害,緣紹素意,乃奉尚代紹位。 譚至,不得立,自號車騎將軍。 由是譚、尚有隙。 太祖北征譚、尚。 譚軍黎陽,尚少與譚兵,而使逢紀從譚。 譚求益兵,配等議不與。 譚怒,殺紀。 〈《英雄記》曰:紀字元圖。 初,紹去董卓出奔,與許攸及紀俱詣冀州,紹以紀聦達有計策,甚親信之,與共舉事。 後審配任用,與紀不睦。 或有讒配於紹,紹問紀,紀稱「配天性烈直,古人之節,不宜疑之」。 紹曰:「君不惡之邪?」 紀荅曰:「先日所爭者私情,今所陳者國事。」 紹善之,卒不廢配。 配由是更與紀爲親善。〉 太祖渡河攻譚,譚告急於尚。 尚欲分兵益譚,恐譚遂奪其衆,乃使審配守鄴,尚自將兵助譚,與太祖相拒於黎陽。 自二月至九月,大戰城下,譚、尚敗退,入城守。 太祖將圍之,乃夜遁。 追至鄴,收其麥,拔陰安,引軍還許。 太祖南征荊州,軍至西平。 譚、尚遂舉兵相攻,譚敗奔平原。 尚攻之急,譚遣辛毗詣太祖請救。 太祖乃還救譚,十月至黎陽。 〈《魏氏春秋》載劉表遺譚書曰:「天篤降害,禍難殷流,尊公殂殞,四海悼心。 賢胤承統,遐邇屬望,咸欲展布旅力,以投盟主,雖亡之日,猶存之願也。 何寤青蠅飛於干旍,無極游於二壘,使股肱分爲二體,背膂絕爲異身! 昔三王五伯,下及戰國,父子相殘,蓋有之矣; 然或欲以成王業,或欲以定伯功,或欲以顯宗主,或欲以固冢嗣,未有棄親即異,抏其本根,而能崇業濟功,垂祚後世者也。 若齊襄復九世之讎,士匄卒荀偃之事,是故春秋美其義,君子稱其信。 夫伯游之恨於齊,未若太公之忿曹; 宣子之承業,未若仁君之繼統也。 且君子之違難不適讎國,豈可忘先君之怨,棄至親之好,爲萬世之戒,遺同盟之恥哉! 冀州不弟之慠,旣已然矣; 仁君當降志辱身,以匡國爲務; 雖見憎於夫人,未若鄭莊之於姜氏,兄弟之嫌,未若重華之於象傲也。 然莊公有大隧之樂,象受有鼻之封。 願棄捐前忿,遠思舊義,復爲母子昆弟如初。」 又遺尚書曰:「知變起辛、郭,禍結同生,追閼伯、實沈之蹤,忘常棣死喪之義,親尋干戈,僵尸流血,聞之哽咽,雖存若亡。 昔軒轅有涿鹿之戰,周武有商、奄之師,皆所以翦除穢害而定王業,非彊弱之事爭,喜怒之忿也。 故雖滅親不爲尤,誅兄不傷義。 今二君初承洪業,纂繼前軌,進有國家傾危之慮,退有先公遺恨之負,當唯義是務,唯國是康。 何者? 金木水火以剛柔相濟,然後克得其和,能爲民用。 今青州天性峭急,迷於曲直。 仁君度數弘廣,綽然有餘,當以大包小,以優容劣,先除曹操以卒先公之恨,事定之後,乃議曲直之計,不亦善乎! 若留神遠圖,克己復禮,當振斾長驅,共獎王室,若迷而不反,違而無改,則胡夷將有誚讓之言,況我同盟,復能戮力爲君之役哉? 此韓盧、東郭自困於前而遺田父之獲者也。 憤踊鶴望,冀聞和同之聲。 若其泰也,則袁族其與漢升降乎! 如其否也,則同盟永無望矣。」 譚、尚盡不從。 《漢晉春秋》載審配獻書於譚曰:「春秋之義,國君死社稷,忠臣死王命。 苟有圖危宗廟,敗亂國家,王綱典律,親踈一也。 是以周公垂泣而蔽管、蔡之獄,季友歔欷而行鍼叔之鴆。 何則? 義重人輕,事不得已也。 昔衞靈公廢蒯聵而立輙,蒯聵爲不道,入戚以篡,衞師伐之。 春秋傳曰:『以石曼姑之義,爲可以拒之。』 是以蒯聵終獲叛逆之罪,而曼姑永享忠臣之名。 父子猶然,豈況兄弟乎! 昔先公廢絀將軍以續賢兄,立我將軍以爲適嗣,上告祖靈,下書譜牒,先公謂將軍爲兄子,將軍謂先公爲叔父,海內遠近,誰不備聞? 且先公即世之日,我將軍斬衰居廬,而將軍齋于堊室,出入之分,於斯益明。 是時凶臣逢紀,妄畫蛇足,曲辭諂媚,交亂懿親,將軍奮赫然之怒,誅不旋時,我將軍亦奉命承旨,加以淫刑。 自是之後,癰疽破潰,骨肉無絲髮之嫌,自疑之臣,皆保生全之福。 故悉遣彊胡,簡命名將,料整器械,選擇戰士,殫府庫之財,竭食土之實,其所以供奉將軍,何求而不備? 君臣相率,共衞旌麾,戰爲鴈行,賦爲幣主,雖傾倉覆庫,翦剥民物,上下欣戴,莫敢告勞。 何則? 推戀戀忠赤之情,盡家家肝腦之計,脣齒輔車,不相爲賜。 謂爲將軍心合意同,混齊一體,必當并威偶勢,禦寇寧家。 何圖凶險讒慝之人,造飾無端,誘導姦利,至令將軍翻然改圖,忘孝友之仁,聽豺狼之謀,誣先公廢立之言,違近者在喪之位,悖紀綱之理,不顧逆順之節,橫易冀州之主,欲當先公之繼。 遂放兵鈔撥,屠城殺吏,交尸盈原,裸民滿野,或有髠𩮜髮膚,割截支體,冤魂痛於幽冥,創痍號於草棘。 又乃圖獲鄴城,許賜秦、胡財物婦女,豫有分界。 或聞告令吏士云:『孤雖有老母,輙使身體完具而已。』 聞此言者,莫不驚愕失氣,悼心揮涕,使太夫人憂哀憤懣於堂室,我州君臣士友假寐悲歎,無所措其手足; 念欲靜師拱默以聽執事之圖,則懼違春秋死命之節,貽太夫人不測之患,隕先公高世之業。 且三軍憤慨,人懷私怒,我將軍辭不獲已,以及館陶之役。 是時外爲禦難,內實乞罪,旣不見赦,而屠各二三其心,臨陣叛戾。 我將軍進退無功,首尾受敵,引軍奔避,不敢告辭。 亦謂將軍當少垂親親之仁,貺以緩追之惠,而乃尋蹤躡軌,無所逃命。 困獸必鬬,以干嚴行,而將軍師旅土崩瓦解,此非人力,乃天意也。 是後又望將軍改往修來,克己復禮,追還孔懷如初之愛; 而縱情肆怒,趣破家門,企踵鶴立,連結外讎,散鋒於火,播增毒螫,烽煙相望,涉血千里,遺城厄民,引領悲怨,雖欲勿救,惡得已哉! 故遂引軍東轅,保正疆埸,雖近郊壘,未侵境域,然望旌麾,能不永歎? 配等備先公家臣,奉廢立之命。 而圖等干國亂家,禮有常刑。 故奮弊州之賦,以除將軍之疾,若乃天啟于心,早行其誅,則我將軍匍匐悲號於將軍股掌之上,配等亦袒躬布體以待斧鉞之刑。 若必不悛,有以國斃,圖頭不縣,軍不旋踵。 願將軍詳度事宜,錫以環玦。」 《典略》曰:譚得書悵然,登城而泣。 旣劫於郭圖,亦以兵鋒累交,遂戰不解。〉 尚聞太祖北,釋平原還鄴。 其將呂曠、呂翔叛尚歸太祖,譚復陰刻將軍印假曠、翔。
Yuan Shang's looks won favor—Yuan Shao meant to name him heir but stayed silent. 〈Cao Pi's Canon contrasts elder Tan's wit with younger Shang's beauty. Lady Liu championed Yuan Shang—Yuan Shao nearly named him before dying. Lady Liu slaughtered Yuan Shao's five concubines before the corpse cooled. She shaved and inked their faces so Yuan Shao would not fancy them in the afterlife. Yuan Shang exterminated the concubines' kin as well.〉 Court factions split—Shen Pei and Feng Ji backed Shang; Xin Ping and Guo Tu backed Tan. Most advisers favored the eldest son Yuan Tan. Shen Pei engineered Yuan Shang's accession to block Xin Ping. Yuan Tan titled himself general of chariots when denied the succession. The brothers split openly. Cao Cao marched north against both brothers. Yuan Shang starved Yuan Tan at Liyang while assigning Feng Ji as minder. Yuan Tan begged reinforcements—Shen Pei refused. Yuan Tan executed Feng Ji in fury. 〈Feng Ji's style was Yuantu. When Yuan Shao fled Luoyang Xu You and Feng Ji joined him—Yuan Shao prized Feng Ji's wit. Shen Pei and Feng Ji later feuded. Someone slandered Pei to Shao—Shao asked Ji—Ji praised "Pei nature fierce straight—ancients' integrity—ought not doubt him." Yuan Shao asked, "Surely you cannot abide him?" Feng Ji answered, "Our quarrel the other day was over personal grudges; what I am arguing now is the interest of the realm." Yuan Shao accepted that and never removed Shen Pei from office. From then on Shen Pei and Feng Ji grew genuinely close.〉 Cao Cao crossed the river to strike Yuan Tan, who sent desperate appeals to Yuan Shang. Yuan Shang wanted to split his forces to help his brother yet feared Yuan Tan would seize command of them, so he left Shen Pei to defend Ye and marched in person to reinforce Tan against Cao Cao at Liyang. From spring through autumn they clashed beneath the walls until the Yuan brothers broke and fell back behind the walls. As Cao Cao prepared to invest the place, they slipped away under cover of darkness. He drove toward Ye, seized the standing grain, captured Yin'an, and withdrew his host to the capital at Xu. Cao Cao marched south against Jingzhou and brought his army as far as Xiping. The brothers then turned on each other in open war; Yuan Tan lost and fled to Pingyuan. Yuan Shang pressed him hard, so Tan dispatched Xin Pi to sue Cao Cao for aid. Cao Cao wheeled about to relieve Tan and by the tenth month had reached Liyang. 〈The Spring and Autumn of the House of Wei reports that Liu Biao wrote to Yuan Tan: "Heaven has loaded evil upon us; trouble spreads everywhere; your father is gone, and the empire grieves. Your worthy line continues the succession; men everywhere fix their hopes on you and would pour out their strength for the leader of the alliance—such loyalty survives even unto death. Yet how can it be that slander—those blue-bottle flies on your standards—flits between your two armies, splitting your arms from your body and cutting backbone from flesh! From the ancient kings and hegemons down to the Warring States, fathers and sons have turned on one another—history knows such cases well; but then they were forging kingship, securing hegemony, honoring the ancestral shrine, or fixing the succession—none ever abandoned family for strangers, hacked at his own roots, and still built a lasting achievement or a legacy for later ages. When Duke Xiang of Qi redressed a nine-generation wrong, or Shi Gai finished what Xun Yan began—the Spring and Autumn Annals honor their principle, and men of worth praise their faithfulness. Xun Yan's grievance against Qi was nothing beside Jiang Taigong's rage at Cao; nor did Shi Gai's stewardship equal yours as legitimate heir to your father's house. Besides, a gentleman in exile does not shelter with his foe—will you cast aside your father's blood-feud, renounce the tie of bone and flesh, become a byword for every age, and humiliate the allies who stood with you! The younger brother's arrogance in Jizhou is a settled matter; you who bear the greater claim must swallow pride and put the survival of the realm first; even if your lady despises you, that falls short of Duke Zhuang of Zheng and his mother; even if brothers eye each other coldly, it is not Shun and his cruel brother Xiang. Yet Duke Zhuang won reconciliation in the Great Tunnel; Xiang was enfeoffed at Youbi and lived. Forget old injuries; remember the bond you once shared; let mother and sons, elder and younger brothers, be one household again." He also wrote the Masters of Writing: "I know Xin Ping and Guo Tu stirred this strife and set womb-brothers at each other's throats—that you repeat the mythic feud of E Bo and Shi Shen and forget the ode that binds brothers in grief and loss; kinsmen clash and corpses clog the field—I hear it with a strangled heart; you walk like the living dead. The Yellow Emperor fought at Zhuolu; King Wu crushed Shang and Yan—all to purge evil and secure the throne, not to settle petty strength or vent temper. Thus even kin-slaying may be blameless, and putting a brother to death need not violate duty. You both have barely mounted your father's work; before you the altars may fall; behind you his unfinished score with Cao Cao still burns—you must serve duty alone and save the state alone. Why? Metal, wood, water, and fire need hard and soft in balance before they harmonize and benefit the people. Qingzhou men are brittle and rash and poor judges of right and wrong. You with the larger mind must cover the lesser with mercy and patience; strike Cao Cao first and settle your father's vendetta—only afterward argue who was right—would that not be best! If you look beyond this hour, master yourself, and return to propriety, raise your standards and march together for the Han house; if you stay lost and refuse to mend, even border peoples will jeer you—how shall your sworn allies still bleed for your sake? That is the hound and the hare exhausting each other so the peasant bags both. I tremble with urgency and stand like a crane, longing for word that you have reconciled. If you heal this breach, the house of Yuan may yet rise and fall with the dynasty! If not, your allies will never hope again." Neither Yuan Tan nor Yuan Shang would listen. The Annals of Han and Jin record Shen Pei's letter to Yuan Tan: "The Spring and Autumn teach that a ruler dies for his altars and a loyal minister dies at his lord's order. Whoever threatens the shrines and wrecks the realm—law and ritual weigh kin and stranger alike. So the Duke of Zhou wept through the trial of Guan and Cai; Jiyou choked on tears as he carried out the poison cup for Uncle Zhen. Why? Because duty outweighs persons—there was no choice. Once Duke Ling of Wei passed over Kuaikui for Zhe; Kuaikui broke all decency, entered Qi to usurp power, and Wei marched against him. The commentary says: "By Shi Magu's right, Kuaikui may be barred." Thus Kuaikui earned the stain of rebellion while Magu keeps an honored name as loyal servant. If father and son may so contend—what of brothers! Your father passed you over for your elder brother, then named our lord true heir—he told the ancestors and wrote it in the clan register; he called you nephew and you called him uncle—who under heaven has not heard? When your father died, our lord wore the coarsest hemp and the mourner's hut while you kept lesser vigils in the plastered room—the order of grief was plain for all to see. Then the rogue Feng Ji drew his foolish scheme, sweet-talked, and set kin at odds; you rose in fury and killed him on the spot—our lord obeyed the order and joined in passing sentence. After that the wound drained and kin stood clear-eyed again; even wary ministers kept life and honor. We drafted every Hu ally, named renowned generals, marshaled arms, chose fighters, spent treasury and granary bare—what did we withhold from you? Ruler and servants moved as one beneath your flag—we formed your battle line and paid your levies; though we emptied stores and squeezed the people, all bore it gladly and none murmured. Why? Because we poured out loyal hearts and staked every home—lip to tooth, wheel to axle—and asked no gift in return. We thought you of one mind with us, one flesh—combined strength would ward off foes and guard our hearths. Who would have guessed villains would invent lies and bait you with gain until you turned coat—forgetting duty to father and brother, heeding jackals' counsel, twisting your father's settlement of the succession, spurning mourning precedence, breaking every bond of order and legality, seizing Jizhou by force, and claiming your father's mandate. They unleashed looting bands, put cities to the sword and slew magistrates—bodies choked the fields and naked fugitives filled the wastes; some were shorn and flayed, limbs struck off—ghosts howled in darkness and the wounded screamed in the scrub. They even planned to take Ye, promising Qin and Hu troops loot, coin, and women—shares marked out in advance. Men heard them tell the ranks: "Though I still have a mother, I care only that her body stay intact." Listeners stood numb with horror, weeping bitterly—the lady mother sickens with rage behind her curtains; our officers and friends start from troubled sleep, wringing hands with nowhere to turn; we think of standing down and yielding to your designs, yet fear betraying the Spring and Autumn ideal of dying for one's order—bringing unknown grief on your mother and wrecking your father's legacy. The armies rage; every soldier nurses private spite—our lord could not refuse and met you at Guantao. Outwardly we warded off ruin; inwardly we begged your mercy—and received none—while Tuge auxiliaries wavered and broke ranks when steel met steel. Our lord won neither advance nor retreat; enemies struck front and rear; he fled the field and dared not send word. We hoped you might spare kin a little mercy and ease the pursuit—you chased every track and gave no quarter. A beast at bay will turn—even on your grim advance—yet your army dissolved like sand; that was Heaven, not mere arms. Since then we hoped you would mend your ways, master yourself, restore rite, and recover the brotherly love you once knew; but you vented wrath, shattered your own roof, craned your neck like a heron, joined enemies abroad, spread poison and steel—beacons stacked on beacons, blood for a thousand li; broken towns and starving folk crane their necks in grief—we would spare them if we could—how can we! So we marched east and held our frontier; though our camps nearly touch your suburbs we have not crossed your soil—yet at sight of your standards who could hold back a groan? We who follow Pei were household servants of your father; we acted on his order to settle the succession. Guo Tu and his ilk corrupt state and clan—the rites prescribe their punishment. So we levy this spent province to cure your fever—if Heaven moves you to strike soon, our lord will crawl and weep at your feet and we will strip for the headsman's stroke. If you refuse to relent and doom the realm, Guo Tu's head will not stay on long—our host will not stir from the field. We beg you, General, weigh what is fitting and send either the whole ring or the broken half." The Survey of Essentials reports that Yuan Tan read the letter with a hollow heart and wept atop the wall. Twisted by Guo Tu and caught in round after round of fighting, the brothers would not stop.〉 Learning that Cao Cao had marched north, Yuan Shang abandoned the siege of Pingyuan and hurried back to Ye. His officers Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang defected to Cao Cao; Yuan Tan secretly carved general's seals and slipped them to the pair.
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太祖知譚詐,與結婚以安之,乃引軍還。 尚使審配、蘇由守鄴,復攻譚平原。 太祖進軍將攻鄴,到洹水,去鄴五十里,由欲爲內應,謀泄,與配戰城中,敗,出奔太祖。 太祖遂進攻之,爲地道,配亦於內作塹以當之。 配將馮禮開突門,內太祖兵三百餘人,配覺之,從城上以大石擊突中柵門,柵門閉,入者皆沒。 太祖遂圍之,爲塹,周四十里,初令淺,示若可越。 配望而笑之,不出爭利。 太祖一夜掘之,廣深二丈,決漳水以灌之,自五月至八月,城中餓死者過半。 尚聞鄴急,將兵萬餘人還救之,依西山來,東至陽平亭,去鄴十七里,臨滏水,舉火以示城中,城中亦舉火相應。 配出兵城北,欲與尚對決圍。 太祖逆擊之,敗還,尚亦破走,依曲漳爲營,太祖遂圍之。 未合,尚懼,遣陰夔、陳琳乞降,不聽。 尚還走濫口,進復圍之急,其將馬延等臨陣降,衆大潰,尚奔中山。 盡收其輜重,得尚印綬、節鉞及衣物,以示其家,城中崩沮。 配兄子榮守東門,夜開門內太祖兵,與配戰城中,生禽配。 配聲氣壯烈,終無撓辭,見者莫不歎息。 遂斬之。 〈《先賢行狀》曰:配字正南,魏郡人,少忠烈慷慨,有不可犯之節。 袁紹領冀州,委以腹心之任,以爲治中別駕,并總幕府。 初,譚之去,皆呼辛毗、郭圖家得出,而辛評家獨被收。 及配兄子開城門內兵,時配在城東南角樓上,望見太祖兵入,忿辛、郭壞敗冀州,乃遣人馳詣鄴獄,指殺仲治家。 是時,辛毗在軍,聞門開,馳走詣獄,欲解其兄家,兄家已死。 是日生縛配,將詣帳下,辛毗等逆以馬鞭擊其頭,罵之曰:「奴,汝今日真死矣!」 配顧曰:「狗輩,正由汝曹破我冀州,恨不得殺汝也! 且汝今日能殺生我邪?」 有頃,公引見,謂配:「知誰開卿城門?」 配曰:「不知也。」 曰:「自卿子榮耳。」 配曰:「小兒不足用乃至此!」 公復謂曰:「曩日孤之行圍,何弩之多也?」 配曰:「恨其少耳!」 公曰:「卿忠於袁氏父子,亦自不得不爾也。」 有意欲活之。 配旣無撓辭,而辛毗等號哭不已,乃殺之。 初,冀州人張子謙先降,素與配不善,笑謂配曰:「正南,卿竟何如我?」 配厲聲曰:「汝爲降虜,審配爲忠臣,雖死,豈若汝生邪!」 臨行刑,叱持兵者令北向,曰:「我君在北。」 樂資《山陽公載記》及袁暐《獻帝春秋》並云太祖兵入城,審配戰於門中,旣敗,逃于井中,於井獲之。 臣松之以爲配一代之烈士,袁氏之死臣,豈當數窮之日,方逃身於井,此之難信,誠爲易了。 不知資、暐之徒竟爲何人,未能識別然否,而輕弄翰墨,妄生異端,以行其書。 如此之類,正足以誣罔視聽,疑誤後生矣。 寔史籍之罪人,達學之所不取者也。〉 高幹以并州降,復以幹爲刺史。
Cao Cao saw through Tan's trick but sealed the tie with marriage to calm him, then withdrew his army. Yuan Shang left Shen Pei and Su You to defend Ye and again struck Yuan Tan in Pingyuan. Cao Cao marched on Ye, halted at the Huan fifty li out. Su You planned to open the gates; the plot surfaced, he clashed with Shen Pei inside the walls, lost, and bolted to Cao Cao. Cao Cao then drove the siege with tunnels; Shen Pei countered with inner trenches. Shen Pei's officer Feng Li opened a sortie gate and let in three hundred of Cao's men; Pei noticed and rolled boulders from the wall onto the inner gate—bars slammed shut and every man inside died. Cao Cao then ringed the city with a forty-li ditch, shallow at first as if it could be jumped. Shen Pei watched from the walls and laughed; he would not sortie for a cheap gain. In one night Cao deepened it two zhang and diverted the Zhang to flood Ye; from late spring through summer more than half the defenders starved. Yuan Shang heard Ye's peril and raced back with ten thousand men along the western hills to Yangpingting, seventeen li off beside the Fu—signal fires flashed between camp and wall. Shen Pei sortied from the north gate to link with Shang and split the ring. Cao Cao intercepted and drove Pei back; Shang broke as well and fled to a camp on a bend of the Zhang—Cao pinned him there. Before the encirclement closed, Shang panicked and sent Yin Kui and Chen Lin to sue for peace—Cao refused. Shang bolted for Lankou while Cao's van hammered the siege; Ma Yan and others surrendered mid-battle and the army collapsed—Shang fled to Zhongshan. Cao seized the baggage train, Shang's seals, insignia, and wardrobe, and paraded them before the defenders—Ye's morale shattered. Shen Pei's nephew Rong held the east gate; he opened it by night to Cao's men—street fighting followed and Pei was taken alive. Pei spoke with fierce pride and never bent a word—every witness sighed at him. They executed him. 〈The Conduct of Worthies of Antiquity relates that Shen Pei, style Zhengnan, from Wei commandery, was ardent and upright from youth, with a dignity none could breach. When Yuan Shao ruled Jizhou he gave Shen Pei his fullest trust—chief clerk and administrative aide, running the staff headquarters. When Yuan Tan withdrew, families called out for Xin Pi and Guo Tu to be allowed through—only Xin Ping's household was rounded up. When Shen Pei's nephew opened the gates, Pei watched from the southeast tower as Cao's men poured in; blaming Xin Ping and Guo Tu for ruining Jizhou, he dispatched riders to the Ye prison and had Xin Ping's family slaughtered on his word. Xin Pi was in camp; when he heard the breach he bolted for the prison to save his brother's kin—they were already dead. That day they bound Shen Pei alive and marched him to headquarters; Xin Pi and the rest met him with riding crops to the head, snarling, "Cur—this day you die for good!" Pei shot back, "Dogs—it was your kind that broke Jizhou; I only regret I never killed you! And what—can you truly spare me or take my head today?" Presently Cao had him brought in and asked, "Do you know who opened your gates for me?" Pei said he did not." Cao answered, "Your son Rong." Pei cried, "That boy was never fit for duty—yet it ends here!" Cao pressed him: "When I besieged you, why so many bowmen on your walls?" Pei said, "I regret there were not more!" Cao told him, "You served the Yuans loyally—you had little choice." He was minded to let Pei live. Pei would not bend; Xin Pi and the rest kept up such keening that Cao had him killed. Earlier Zhang Ziqian of Jizhou had defected first; he had long disliked Pei and sneered, "Zhengnan—how do you measure against me now?" Pei thundered, "You are a turncoat; I am a faithful minister—better dead than living like you!" At the block he ordered the guards to aim him northward—"My lord lies north." The cited texts by Yue Zi and Yuan Wei both claim Cao's soldiers found Shen Pei fighting at a gate, then hiding in a well, and dragged him out from there. Pei Songzhi argues Shen Pei was a steadfast martyr for the Yuans—hardly the sort to dive down a well when all was lost; that tale rings false at a glance. Whoever Yue Zi and Yuan Wei were, they lacked judgment yet scribbled reckless inventions into circulation. Fabrications like these only poison readers and mislead the young. They are villains of historiography—serious scholars dismiss them.〉 Gao Gan yielded Bingzhou; Cao Cao reinstalled him as its inspector.
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太祖之圍鄴也,譚略取甘陵、安平、勃海、河間,攻尚於中山。 尚走故安從熙,譚悉收其衆。 太祖將討之,譚乃拔平原,并南皮,自屯龍湊。 十二月,太祖軍其門,譚不出,夜遁奔南皮,臨清河而屯。 十年正月,攻拔之,斬譚及圖等。 熙、尚爲其將焦觸、張南所攻,奔遼西烏丸。 觸自號幽州刺史,驅率諸郡太守令長,背袁向曹,陳兵數萬,殺白馬盟,令曰:「違命者斬!」 衆莫敢語,各以次歃。 至別駕韓珩,曰:「吾受袁公父子厚恩,今其破亡,智不能救,勇不能死,於義闕矣; 若乃北靣於曹氏,所弗能爲也。」 一坐爲珩失色。 觸曰:「夫興大事,當立大義,事之濟否,不待一人,可卒珩志,以勵事君。」 高幹叛,執上黨太守,舉兵守壺口關。 遣樂進、李典擊之,未拔。 十一年,太祖征幹。 幹乃留其將夏昭、鄧升守城,自詣匈奴單于求救,不得,獨與數騎亡,欲南奔荊州,上洛都尉捕斬之。 〈《典略》曰:上洛都尉王琰獲高幹,以功封侯; 其妻哭於室,以爲琰富貴將更娶妾媵而奪己愛故也。〉 十二年,太祖至遼西擊烏丸。 尚、熙與烏丸逆軍戰,敗走奔遼東,公孫康誘斬之,送其首。 〈《典略》曰:尚爲人有勇力,欲奪取康衆,與熙謀曰:「今到,康必相見,欲與兄手擊之,有遼東猶可以自廣也。」 康亦心計曰:「今不取熙、尚,無以爲說於國家。」 乃先置其精勇於廄中,然後請熙、尚。 熙、尚入,康伏兵出,皆縛之,坐於凍地。 尚寒,求席,熙曰:「頭顱方行萬里,何席之爲!」 遂斬首。 譚字顯思。 熙字顯弈。 尚字顯甫。 《吳書》曰:尚有弟名買,與尚俱走遼東。 《曹瞞傳》云:買,尚兄子。 未詳。〉 太祖高韓珩節,屢辟不至,卒於家。 〈《先賢行狀》曰:珩字子佩,代郡人,清粹有雅量。 少喪父母,奉養兄姊,宗族稱孝悌焉。〉
While Cao Cao pressed Ye, Yuan Tan snapped up Ganling, Anping, Bohai, and Hejian and struck Yuan Shang in Zhongshan. Shang bolted to Gu'an to Yuan Xi while Tan absorbed his entire army. As Cao prepared to move against him, Tan pulled back into Pingyuan and Nanpi and camped at Longcou. In the twelfth month Cao sat at his gates; Tan refused battle, slipped away by night to Nanpi, and pitched camp along the Qing River. In the first month of Jian'an 10 he stormed the place and executed Yuan Tan, Guo Tu, and their faction. Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang were driven off by their generals Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan and fled to the Liaoxi Wuhuan. Jiao Chu proclaimed himself inspector of Youzhou, herded the commandery heads into abandoning the Yuans for Cao, massed tens of thousands, cut white horses for the covenant, and cried, "Defy this order and die!" The ranks stood mute and stepped forward one by one to swear. When his turn came, Han Heng said, "The Yuans favored me; now they fall and I can neither save them nor die with them—I have failed their charge; but I will not turn north and bow to the Caos." The whole hall went white at his words. Jiao Chu answered, "Great ventures rest on principle; success does not hinge on one man—let Han Heng keep his honor and shame the rest into loyalty." Gao Gan rose in revolt, arrested the Shangdang prefect, and seized Hukou Pass. Cao sent Yue Jin and Li Dian but they failed to storm it. In the eleventh year Cao Cao marched against Gao Gan. Gao Gan left Xia Zhao and Deng Sheng to defend the city, rode to the chanyu for help and got none, then fled south toward Jingzhou with a handful of horsemen—the Shangluo commandant ran him down and killed him. The cited text notes that commandant Wang Yan of Shangluo bagged Gao Gan and earned a marquisate; his wife wept indoors, sure his new rank meant concubines who would steal his love.〉 In the twelfth year Cao Cao marched into Liaoxi against the Wuhuan. Shang and Xi joined the Wuhuan against Cao, broke, and fled to Liaodong; Gongsun Kang trapped and executed them and sent the heads south. The cited text says Shang was bold and coveted Kang's troops; he whispered to Xi, "Once we land Kang will greet us-brother and I can fell him together and still carve out Liaodong." Kang reasoned, "Without those two heads I have nothing to offer Cao Cao." So he hid his best fighters in the stable yard, then welcomed the brothers in. When they stepped inside Kang's men sprang from hiding, trussed them, and left them seated on the ice. Shang shivered and asked for a mat; Xi snapped, "Our heads are bound for a long journey—who needs straw!" Then the axes fell. Yuan Tan's courtesy name was Xiansi. Yuan Xi's courtesy name was Xianyi. Yuan Shang's courtesy name was Xianfu. The cited text adds that Yuan Shang had a younger brother Mai who escaped to Liaodong with him. The cited text identifies Mai as Shang's nephew. The matter remains unclear.〉 Cao Cao honored Han Heng's integrity and called him repeatedly; Heng never answered and died at home. The cited text calls Han Heng, style Zipei, a man of Dai-clear-minded, gracious, and magnanimous. Orphaned young, he cared for his elder brother and sisters, and kinsmen praised his devotion.〉
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袁術字公路,司空逢子,紹之從弟也。 以俠氣聞。 舉孝廉,除郎中,歷職內外,後爲折衝校尉、虎賁中郎將。 董卓之將廢帝,以術爲後將軍; 術亦畏卓之禍,出奔南陽。 會長沙太守孫堅殺南陽太守張咨,術得據其郡。 南陽戶口數百萬,而術奢淫肆欲,徵斂無度,百姓苦之。 旣與紹有隙,又與劉表不平而北連公孫瓚; 紹與瓚不和而南連劉表。 其兄弟攜貳,舍近交遠如此。 〈《吳書》曰:時議者以靈帝失道,使天下叛亂,少帝幼弱,爲賊臣所立,又不識母氏所出。 幽州牧劉虞宿有德望,紹等欲立之以安當時,使人報術。 術觀漢室衰陵,陰懷異志,故外託公義以拒紹。 紹復與術書曰:「前與韓文節共建永世之道,欲海內見再興之主。 今西名有幼君,無血脉之屬,公卿以下皆媚事卓,安可復信! 但當使兵往屯關要,皆自蹙死於西。 東立聖君,太平可冀,如何有疑! 又室家見戮,不念子胥,可復北靣乎? 違天不祥,願詳思之。」 術荅曰:「聖主聦叡,有周成之質。 賊卓因危亂之際,威服百寮,此乃漢家小厄之會。 亂尚未厭,復欲興之。 乃云今主『無血脉之屬』,豈不誣乎! 先人以來,弈世相承,忠義爲先。 太傅公仁慈惻隱,雖知賊卓必爲禍害,以信徇義,不忍去也。 門戶滅絕,死亡流漫,幸蒙遠近來相赴助,不因此時上討國賊,下刷家恥,而圖於此,非所聞也。 又曰『室家見戮,可復北靣』,此卓所爲,豈國家哉? 君命,天也,天不可讎,況非君命乎! 慺慺赤心,志在滅卓,不識其他。」〉 引軍入陳留。 太祖與紹合擊,大破術軍。 術以餘衆奔九江,殺楊州刺史陳溫,領其州。 〈臣松之案《英雄記》:「陳溫字元悌,汝南人。 先爲楊州刺史,自病死。 袁紹遣袁遺領州,敗散,奔沛國,爲兵所殺。 袁術更用陳瑀爲楊州。 瑀字公瑋,下邳人。 瑀旣領州,而術敗於封丘,南向壽春,瑀拒術不納。 術退保陰陵,更合軍攻瑀,瑀懼走歸下邳。」 如此,則溫不爲術所殺,與本傳不同。〉 以張勳、橋蕤等爲大將軍。 李傕入長安,欲結術爲援,以術爲左將軍,封陽翟侯,假節,遣太傅馬日磾因循行拜授。 術奪日磾節,拘留不遣。 〈《三輔決錄注》曰:日磾字翁叔,馬融之族子。 少傳融業,以才學進。 與楊彪、盧植、蔡邕等典校中書,歷位九卿,遂登台輔。 《獻帝春秋》曰:術從日磾借節觀之,因奪不還,備軍中千餘人,使促辟之。 日磾謂術曰:「卿家先世諸公,辟士云何,而言促之,謂公府掾可劫得乎!」 從術求去,而術留之不遣; 旣以失節屈辱,憂恚而死。〉
Yuan Shu, style Gonglu, was Yuan Feng's son and Yuan Shao's cousin. He made his name as a bravo. Recommended filial and incorrupt, he rose through court and field commands to colonel who repels the enemy and general of the household rapid as tiger. When Dong Zhuo moved to depose the emperor he named Yuan Shu general of the rear; Shu feared Zhuo's reach and bolted to Nanyang. Sun Jian of Changsha had just killed Nanyang prefect Zhang Zi, leaving Shu to occupy the commandery. Nanyang held millions of households, yet Shu taxed without mercy, lived in riotous excess, and broke the people. At odds with Yuan Shao and Liu Biao alike, he allied north with Gongsun Zan; while Shao feuded with Zan and courted Liu Biao to the south. The cousins split their alliances—each chasing distant friends over kin nearby. The cited text records contemporary argument that Lingdi had forfeited the mandate, leaving a child emperor raised by usurpers who knew not his mother's blood. Governor Liu Yu of Youzhou was revered; Yuan Shao and allies meant to enthrone him for stability and wrote Shu. Shu saw the Han failing and nursed his own ambition—so he refused Shao under cover of righteous principle. Shao wrote again: "You and Han Fu pledged an enduring order—a sovereign who could revive the dynasty for every shore. Now Chang'an seats a boy with no imperial kin; every minister flatters Zhuo—who could trust that court! Stand troops on the passes and let the western faction suffocate itself. Raise a worthy sovereign in the east—peace may yet return—why hesitate! Your clan was butchered—have you forgotten Wu Zixu—would you still bow north? Heaven punishes defiance—think again." Shu answered, "The emperor is wise as youthful King Cheng of Zhou. The traitor Zhuo seized chaos to cow the bureaucracy—that is only a passing scrape for the Han. The realm still reels—yet you would compound the wound. Is it not slander to say the Son of Heaven has no legitimate bloodline! Our house bred loyalty across generations. The grand tutor stayed loyal though he foresaw Zhuo's evil—duty held him at court. Families perished and fugitives scattered—yet allies rallied; if we waste this hour to avenge the realm and wash private shame, I own no such counsel. You cite our slaughter—Zhuo's crime—not the Han throne? The monarch's word is Heaven's—Heaven brooks no feud—let alone a pretender's decree! Our hearts burn to destroy Zhuo—nothing else matters."〉" He marched into Chenliu. Cao Cao and Yuan Shao together smashed Yuan Shu's host. Shu bolted to Jiujiang, murdered Yangzhou inspector Chen Wen, and seized the province. Your servant Songzhi checks the Yingxiong Ji: "Chen Wen, courtesy name Yuanti, was a man of Runan. He had served as Yangzhou inspector and died of illness in office. Yuan Shao placed Yuan Yi over Yangzhou; Yi broke, fled to Pei, and soldiers cut him down. Yuan Shu next named Chen Yu to Yangzhou. Chen Yu, style Gongwei, hailed from Xiapi. Chen Yu had taken Yangzhou when Shu lost at Fengqiu and marched on Shouchun—Yu shut the gates. Shu fell back to Yinling, mustered another strike at Chen Yu, who broke and ran for Xiapi." Songzhi concludes that Chen Wen was not murdered by Yuan Shu—at odds with the principal account.〉 He named Zhang Xun, Qiao Rui, and others to the post of grand general. After Li Jue took Chang'an he courted Yuan Shu, making him general of the left, marquis of Yangzhai, and credential-bearer, and sent Grand Tutor Ma Midi on a tour to deliver the commission. Yuan Shu stripped Ma Midi of his imperial staff, held him, and refused to release him. The cited text commentaries call Ma Midi, style Wengshu, a kinsman of Ma Rong. He studied under Ma Rong in his youth and won office on learning and ability. He helped Yang Biao, Lu Zhi, and Cai Yong collate the palace books, rose through the nine chamberlains, and reached the top of the ladder. The cited text says Yuan Shu asked to see Ma Midi's staff, then kept it; he mustered a thousand camp followers to hound the old man for posts. Ma Midi scolded him: "Your forebears knew how to invite worthies—what is this hounding?—do you think you can press the ducal offices at sword point!" He begged to leave; Yuan Shu held him fast. Stripped of his credentials and broken in spirit, he died of shame and rage.〉
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時沛相下邳陳珪,故太尉球弟子也。 術與珪俱公族子孫,少共交游,書與珪曰:「昔秦失其政,天下羣雄爭而取之,兼智勇者卒受其歸。 今世事紛擾,復有瓦解之勢矣,誠英乂有爲之時也。 與足下舊交,豈肯左右之乎? 若集大事,子實爲吾心膂。」 珪中子應時在下邳,術並脅質應,圖必致珪。 珪荅書曰:「昔秦末世,肆暴恣情,虐流天下,毒被生民,下不堪命,故遂土崩。 今雖季世,未有亡秦苛暴之亂也。 曹將軍神武應期,興復典刑,將撥平凶慝,清定海內,信有徵矣。 以爲足下當戮力同心,匡翼漢室,而陰謀不軌,以身試禍,豈不痛哉! 若迷而知反,尚可以免。 吾備舊知,故陳至情,雖逆於耳,肉骨之惠也。 欲吾營私阿附,有犯死不能也。」
The Pei chancellor Chen Gui of Xiapi had trained under the late grand commandant Chen Qiu. Yuan Shu and Chen Gui were both great-clan men and had roamed together in youth. He wrote: "When Qin failed, every warlord reached for the prize—wit and courage won the prize in the end. The world is coming apart again—this is the hour for men of mettle. We are old friends—will you not take me for an ally? In a great venture you would be my right arm and breast." Chen Gui's middle son Ying was in Xiapi; Yuan Shu took Ying hostage to drag his father in. Chen Gui wrote back: "Qin's end was wanton slaughter—misery across the land until the people could not breathe and the realm split. These are bad years, but nothing like Qin's tyranny. General Cao answers heaven's call, restores law, and will scourge traitors until the realm is quiet—the signs are plain. I hoped you would shore up the Han with single purpose—yet you court rebellion and step into the fire—does that not wound you! Turn back while you can—you may yet escape ruin. As an old friend I speak blunt truth—harsh to the ear, yet it is kindness like raising the dead. Ask me to trim my sails to your plot—even at the cost of my life I will not."
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興平二年冬,天子敗於曹陽。 術會羣下謂曰:「今劉氏微弱,海內鼎沸。 吾家四世公輔,百姓所歸,欲應天順民,於諸君意如何?」 衆莫敢對。 主簿閻象進曰:「昔周自后稷至于文王,積德累功,參分天下有其二,猶服事殷。 明公雖弈世克昌,未若有周之盛,漢室雖微,未若殷紂之暴也。」 術嘿然不恱。 用河內張烱之符命,遂僭號, 〈《典略》曰:術以袁姓出陳,陳,舜之後,以土承火,得應運之次。 又見讖文云:「代漢者,當塗高也。」 自以名字當之,乃建號稱仲氏。〉 以九江太守爲淮南尹。 置公卿,祠南北郊。 荒侈滋甚,後宮數百皆服綺縠,餘粱肉, 〈《九州春秋》曰:司隷馮方女,國色也,避亂楊州,術登城見而恱之,遂納焉,甚愛幸。 諸婦害其寵,語之曰:「將軍貴人有志節,當時時涕泣憂愁,必長見敬重。」 馮氏以爲然,後見術輙垂涕,術果以有心志,益哀之。 諸婦人因共絞殺,懸之厠梁,術誠以爲不得志而死,乃厚加殯斂。〉 而士卒凍餒,江淮間空盡,人民相食。 術前爲呂布所破,後爲太祖所敗,奔其部曲雷薄、陳蘭於灊山,復爲所拒,憂懼不知所出。 將歸帝號於紹,欲至青州從袁譚,發病道死。 〈《魏書》曰:術歸帝號於紹曰:「漢之失天下久矣,天子提挈,政在家門,豪雄角逐,分裂疆宇,此與周之末年七國分勢無異,卒彊者兼之耳。 加袁氏受命當王,符瑞炳然。 今君擁有四州,民戶百萬,以彊則無與比大,論德則無與比高。 曹操欲扶衰拯弱,安能續絕命救已滅乎?」 紹陰然之。 《吳書》曰:術旣爲雷薄等所拒,留住三日,士衆絕糧,乃還至江亭,去壽春八十里。 問廚下,尚有麥屑三十斛。 時盛暑,欲得蜜漿,又無蜜。 坐櫺牀上,歎息良久,乃大咤曰:「袁術至於此乎!」 因頓伏牀下,嘔血斗餘,遂死。〉 妻子依術故吏廬江太守劉勳,孫策破勳,復見收視。 術女入孫權宮,子燿拜郎中,燿女又配於權子奮。
In winter of Xingping 2 the emperor lost at Caoyang. Yuan Shu gathered his court and said, "The Han grows feeble and the realm seethes. Four generations of Yuans have served as ministers of state—the people look to us—if I claim the mandate, what say you?" None dared speak. Registrar Yan Xiang said, "Zhou rose from Hou Ji to King Wen on piled virtue; even holding two-thirds of the realm they still served Shang. Your house is great but not as Zhou was at its peak; the Han is weak but no tyrant like Di Xin." Yuan Shu glowered and said nothing. He seized on Henei Zhang Jiong's forged prophecy and declared himself emperor, The cited text says Yuan traced his line to Chen-heir of Shun-so earth following fire fit the cosmic turn. He also read the tag: "The one who replaces Han shall be the height by the road." He decided his name fit the riddle and styled his line the Zhong house.〉 He renamed the Jiujiang prefect "grand governor of Huainan." He filled out a court and held suburban sacrifices like an emperor. His harem swelled to hundreds in damask while grain and meat piled high, The cited text tells of metropolitan inspector Feng Fang's daughter-a famed beauty who fled to Yangzhou; Yuan Shu saw her from the wall, took her in, and doted on her. His consorts poisoned by jealousy told her, "Noble ladies win respect by soft tears and plaintive airs." She played along and wept whenever Shu appeared; he mistook it for depth of feeling and cherished her more. They strangled her and strung her above a privy; Shu assumed she had died heartsick and buried her with honor.〉 Meanwhile troops froze and starved; the Jiang-Huai corridor emptied until neighbors fed on one another. Lü Bu had crushed him once and Cao Cao again; he fled to Lei Bo and Chen Lan in the Qian hills—who turned him away—leaving him terrified and cornered. He meant to yield his bogus throne to Yuan Shao and join Yuan Tan in Qingzhou—he took sick on the march and died. The cited text quotes his letter to Yuan Shao: "The Han has slipped away-boy emperors tugged by strings while warlords carve the map like the Warring States-might alone decides. The Yuans were heaven's choice—omens blazed for them. You hold four provinces and a million hearths—none match your armies or your renown. Can Cao Cao prop a corpse and raise ashes?" Yuan Shao quietly agreed. The cited text says Lei Bo barred him for three days until his men starved; he staggered to Jiangting, eighty li short of Shouchun. The cooks reported thirty hu of chaff left. The heat was brutal; he craved honey water—there was no honey. He slumped on a camp cot, sighed, then howled, "Is this Yuan Shu's end!" He fell under the couch and spat more than a dou of blood—dead.〉 His family fled to his old client Liu Xun in Lujiang; after Sun Ce crushed Liu they were rounded up again. His daughter entered Sun Quan's harem; his son Yuan Yao became a court gentleman; Yao's daughter married Sun Quan's son Fen.
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劉表字景升,山陽高平人也。 少知名,號八俊。 〈張璠《漢紀》曰:表與同郡人張隱、薛郁、王訪、宣靖、公緒恭、劉祇、田林爲八交,或謂之八顧。 《漢末名士錄》云:表與汝南陳翔字仲麟、范滂字孟愽、魯國孔昱字世元、勃海苑康字仲真、山陽檀敷字文友、張儉字元節、南陽岑晊字公孝爲八友。 謝承《漢書》曰:表受學於同郡王暢。 暢爲南陽太守,行過乎儉。 表時年十七,進諫曰:「奢不僭上,儉不逼下,蓋中庸之道,是故蘧伯玉恥獨爲君子。 府君若不師孔聖之明訓,而慕夷齊之末操,無乃皎然自遺於世!」 暢荅曰:「以約失之者鮮矣。 且以矯俗也。」〉 長八尺餘,姿皃甚偉。 以大將軍掾爲北軍中候。 靈帝崩,代王叡爲荊州刺史。 是時山東兵起,表亦合兵軍襄陽。 〈司馬彪《戰略》曰:劉表之初爲荊州也,江南宗賊盛,袁術屯魯陽,盡有南陽之衆。 吳人蘇代領長沙太守,具羽爲華容長,各阻兵作亂。 表初到,單馬入宜城,而延中廬人蒯良、蒯越、襄陽人蔡瑁與謀。 表曰:「宗賊甚盛,而衆不附,袁術因之,禍今至矣! 吾欲徵兵,恐不集,其策安出?」 良曰:「衆不附者,仁不足也,附而不治者,義不足也; 苟仁義之道行,百姓歸之如水之趣下,何患所至之不從而問興兵與策乎?」 表顧問越,越曰:「治平者先仁義,治亂者先權謀。 兵不在多,在得人也。 袁術勇而無斷,蘇代、具羽皆武人,不足慮。 宗賊帥多貪暴,爲下所患。 越有所素養者,使示之以利,必以衆來。 君誅其無道,撫而用之。 一州之人,有樂存之心,聞君盛德,必襁負而至矣。 兵集衆附,南據江陵,北守襄陽,荊州八郡可傳檄而定。 術等雖至,無能爲也。」 表曰:「子柔之言,雍季之論也。 異度之計,臼犯之謀也。」 遂使越遣人誘宗賊,至者五十五人,皆斬之。 襲取其衆,或即授部曲。 唯江夏賊張虎、陳生擁衆據襄陽,表乃使越與龐季單騎往說降之,江南遂悉平。〉
Liu Biao, style Jingsheng, came from Gaoping in Shanyang. He won fame young as one of the Eight Handsome. Zhang Fan's the cited text lists Liu Biao among eight worthy allies from his commandery-sometimes styled the Eight Watchers. The cited text counts Liu Biao among the Eight Friends with Chen Xiang, Fan Pang, Kong Yu, Yuan Kang, Tan Fu, Zhang Jian, and Cen Zhi. Xie Cheng's the cited text says Liu Biao studied under Wang Chang. Wang Chang governed Nanyang with austere zeal. At seventeen Liu Biao urged him: "Extravagance must not shame superiors, thrift must not grind inferiors—that is balance—Qu Boyu blushed to be the only sage. If you spurn Confucius for the hermits' pose you only court empty fame!" Wang Chang replied, "Few slip who hold the line. Besides, I mean to buck fashion."〉" He stood over eight chi—imposing in bearing. From grand-general's aide he became colonel of the northern camp. When Lingdi died Liu Biao replaced Wang Rui as Jingzhou inspector. As war flared east of the passes Liu Biao gathered men and camped at Xiangyang. Sima Biao's the cited text says southern Jingzhou teemed with clan-bandits; Yuan Shu held Luyang and all Nanyang. Su Dai held Changsha and Ju Yu Huarong—each defied the inspector with arms. Liu Biao rode alone into Yicheng and took counsel from Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue, and Cai Mao. Liu Biao said, "The southlands swarm with bandit chiefs who owe me nothing—Yuan Shu will exploit that—ruin is near! I must raise troops but fear no one will answer—what now?" Kuai Liang said, "Men withhold loyalty when kindness fails; they riot when justice fails; apply benevolence and duty and the people will flow to you like water—why fret over levies?" He turned to Kuai Yue, who said, "Peace wants benevolence; chaos wants craft. Armies win on men, not numbers. Yuan Shu is bold but hesitant; Su Dai and Ju Yu are mere soldiers—little threat. The bandit chiefs are greedy brutes—loathed by their own men. Men I have cultivated—offer them gain and they will bring their hosts. Execute the worst, win the rest. Survivors hunger for peace—hear your virtue and they will flock with babies on their backs. With troops and loyalty secure Jiangling and Xiangyang—the eight commanderies fall to a single summons. Yuan Shu may come—he can do nothing." Liu Biao said, "Zirou speaks like Yongji—noble but slow. Yidu's scheme is Jiufan's war counsel." He sent Kuai Yue to lure the chiefs—fifty-five came and lost their heads. He seized their followers or drafted them on the spot. Only Zhang Hu and Chen Sheng held Xiangyang until Kuai Yue and Pang Ji talked them down—south of the river went quiet.〉
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袁術之在南陽也,與孫堅合從,欲襲奪表州,使堅攻表。 堅爲流矢所中死,軍敗,術遂不能勝表。 李傕、郭汜入長安,欲連表爲援,乃以表爲鎮南將軍、荊州牧,封成武侯,假節。 天子都許,表雖遣使貢獻,然北與袁紹相結。 治中鄧羲諫表,表不聽, 〈《漢晉春秋》曰:表荅羲曰:「內不失貢職,外不背盟主,此天下之達義也。 治中獨何怪乎?」〉 羲辭疾而退,終表之世。 張濟引兵入荊州界,攻穰城,爲流矢所中死。 荊州官屬皆賀,表曰:「濟以窮來,主人無禮,至於交鋒,此非牧意,牧受弔,不受賀也。」 使人納其衆; 衆聞之喜,遂服從。 長沙太守張羨叛表, 〈《英雄記》曰:張羨,南陽人。 先作零陵、桂陽長,甚得江、湘間心,然性屈彊不順。 表薄其爲人,不甚禮也。 羨由是懷恨,遂叛表焉。〉 表圍之連年不下。 羨病死,長沙復立其子懌,表遂攻并懌,南收零、桂,北據漢川,地方數千里,帶甲十餘萬。 〈《英雄記》曰:州界羣寇旣盡,表乃開立學官,博求儒士,使綦毋闓、宋忠等撰五經章句,謂之後定。〉
While Yuan Shu held Nanyang he allied with Sun Jian to seize Jingzhou and sent Jian against Liu Biao. Sun Jian died of a stray shaft and his army broke—Yuan Shu never beat Liu Biao. When Li Jue and Guo Si took Chang'an they courted Liu Biao—general who guards the south, Jingzhou governor, marquis of Chengwu, with credentials. The court moved to Xu; Liu Biao sent tribute yet kept Yuan Shao as northern ally. Aide Deng Yi warned him—Liu Biao ignored the counsel, The cited text quotes him: "I serve the court within and honor my northern pact without-the duty every honorable man owes the age. Why should my aide alone object?"〉" Deng Yi quit on grounds of illness and never served him again. Zhang Ji invaded Jingzhou, struck Rang, and fell to a stray arrow. All Jingzhou officials congratulated him; Biao said: "Ji came in desperation; as host I failed in courtesy, and it came to crossed blades—that was never this governor's wish. I accept condolences, not congratulations." He sent envoys to enroll Zhang Ji's soldiers. The soldiers heard and gladly submitted. Changsha prefect Zhang Xian rose against Liu Biao, The cited text identifies Zhang Xian as a native of Nanyang. He had governed Lingling and Guilin and won the river country's trust, but he was stiff-necked and would not bend. Liu Biao despised his character and slighted him at court. Zhang Xian nursed a grudge and broke away.〉 Liu Biao invested him for years without breaking the city. When Zhang Xian died, Changsha raised his son Zhang Yi; Liu Biao crushed Yi, seized Lingling and Guilin to the south and the Han basin to the north, ruled thousands of li, and fielded more than a hundred thousand men. The cited text adds that once the province was pacified, Liu Biao founded schools, recruited classicists, and had Qi Kai and Song Zhong draft subcommentaries on the Five Classics-the so-called Later Recension.
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太祖與袁紹方相持於官渡,紹遣人求助,表許之而不至,亦不佐太祖,欲保江漢間,觀天下變。 從事中郎韓嵩、別駕劉先說表曰:「豪傑並爭,兩雄相持,天下之重在於將軍。 將軍若欲有爲,起乘其弊可也; 若不然,固將擇所從。 將軍擁十萬之衆,安坐而觀望。 夫見賢而不能助,請和而不得,此兩怨必集於將軍,將軍不得中立矣。 夫以曹公之明哲,天下賢俊皆歸之,其勢必舉袁紹,然後稱兵以向江漢,恐將軍不能禦也。 故爲將軍計者,不若舉州以附曹公,曹公必重德將軍; 長享福祚,垂之後嗣,此萬全之策也。」 表大將蒯越亦勸表,表狐疑,乃遣嵩詣太祖以觀虛實。 嵩還,深陳太祖威德,說表遣子入質。 表疑嵩反爲太祖說,大怒,欲殺嵩,考殺隨嵩行者,知嵩無他意,乃止。 〈《傅子》曰:初表謂嵩曰:「今天下大亂,未知所定,曹公擁天子都許,君爲我觀其釁。」 嵩對曰:「聖達節,次守節。 嵩,守節者也。 夫事君爲君,君臣名定,以死守之; 今策名委質,唯將軍所命,雖赴湯蹈火,死無辭也。 以嵩觀之,曹公至明,必濟天下。 將軍能上順天子,下歸曹公,必享百世之利,楚國實受其祐,使嵩可也; 設計未定,嵩使京師,天子假嵩一官,則天子之臣,而將軍之故吏耳。 在君爲君,則嵩守天子之命,義不得復爲將軍死也。 唯將軍重思,無負嵩。」 表遂使之,果如所言,天子拜嵩侍中,遷零陵太守,還稱朝廷、曹公之德也。 表以爲懷貳,大會寮屬數百人,陳兵見嵩,盛怒,持節將斬之,數曰:「韓嵩敢懷貳邪!」 衆皆恐,欲令嵩謝。 嵩不動,謂表曰:「將軍負嵩,嵩不負將軍!」 具陳前言。 表怒不已,其妻蔡氏諫之曰:「韓嵩,楚國之望也; 且其言直,誅之無辭。」 表乃弗誅而囚之。〉 表雖外皃儒雅,而心多疑忌,皆此類也。
While Cao Cao and Yuan Shao faced off at Guandu, Liu Biao promised Yuan Shao reinforcements but never sent them, refused to help Cao Cao, and tried to sit between the Yangtze and Han while the empire burned. Han Song and Liu Xian told him: "Warriors swarm and the two strongest lock horns—the scales tip with you. If you mean to strike, strike while they tire each other. If not, pick a side with conviction. You command a hundred thousand men but only watch. Fail the worthy and snub the peacemaker—both camps will blame you; neutrality is a fantasy. Cao Cao draws every able man; once Yuan Shao falls he will march south—you cannot hold him off. Your safest course is to submit Jingzhou to Cao Cao—he will repay you richly; you keep fortune for life and leave an heir a legacy—that is the secure path." Kuai Yue agreed; Liu Biao wavered and sent Han Song north to read Cao Cao's mind. Han Song came back praising Cao Cao and urging Liu Biao to send a son as hostage. Liu Biao suspected treason and nearly executed Han Song; he tortured Song's escort, found no plot, and relented. The cited text quotes Liu Biao telling Han Song: "The realm is chaos; Cao Cao holds the emperor at Xu-go see what you can learn." Han Song answered: "Sages bend principle when they must; lesser men hold to it. I am one who holds the line. A minister owes his lord unto death once names are fixed; I have sworn myself to you—I will cross fire or flood at your word. From what I saw, Cao Cao is brilliant and will restore order. If you honor the throne and join Cao Cao, Chu thrives for generations—send me; If plans stay unsettled and the court gives me office, I serve the emperor—not only you. Ministers owe the throne first—I could not die solely for you. Think hard before you send me—do not regret your pledge." Liu Biao sent him; events unfolded as Han Song warned—the court named him palace attendant and Lingling prefect, and he returned praising emperor and Cao Cao. Biao thought him double-minded—assembled several hundred subordinates—deployed troops to confront Song—furious—held the baton about to execute him—berating: "Han Song dares harbor two minds!" The crowd panicked and begged Han Song to beg forgiveness. Han Song stood firm: "You broke faith with me—not I with you!" He repeated every word of their bargain. Lady Cai intervened: "Han Song is the pride of Chu; his defense is honest—you have no cause to kill him." Liu Biao jailed him instead.〉 Outwardly the scholar-governor, inwardly Liu Biao was jealous and suspicious—this was his way.
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劉備奔表,表厚待之,然不能用。 〈《漢晉春秋》曰:太祖之始征柳城,劉備說表使襲許,表不從。 及太祖還,謂備曰:「不用君言,故失此大會也。」 備曰:「今天下分裂,日尋干戈,事會之來,豈有終極乎? 若能應之於後者,則此未足爲恨也。」〉 建安十三年,太祖征表,未至,表病死。
Liu Bei sought refuge; Liu Biao fed him well but never gave him real command. The cited text says Liu Bei urged a strike on Xu while Cao Cao marched on Liucheng; Liu Biao refused. When Cao returned he told Liu Bei, "You were right—I missed my chance." Liu Bei answered: "The empire is torn and battles never end—who can say the last chance has passed? Win the next opening and today's regret vanishes."〉" In Jian'an 13 Cao Cao marched on Jingzhou; Liu Biao died before he arrived.
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少子琮
His youngest son was Liu Cong.
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初,表及妻愛少子琮,欲以爲後,而蔡瑁、張允爲之支黨,乃出長子琦爲江夏太守,衆遂奉琮爲嗣。 琦與琮遂爲讎隙。 〈《典論》曰:表疾病,琦還省疾。 琦性慈孝,瑁、允恐琦見表,父子相感,更有託後之意,謂曰:「將軍命君撫臨江夏,爲國東藩,其任至重; 今釋衆而來,必見譴怒,傷親之歡心以增其疾,非孝敬也。」 遂遏于戶外,使不得見,琦流涕而去。〉 越、嵩及東曹掾傅巽等說琮歸太祖,琮曰:「今與諸君據全楚之地,守先君之業,以觀天下,何爲不可乎?」 巽對曰:「逆順有大體,彊弱有定勢。 以人臣而拒人主,逆也; 以新造之楚而禦國家,其勢弗當也; 以劉備而敵曹公,又弗當也。 三者皆短,欲以抗王兵之鋒,必亡之道也。 將軍自料何與劉備?」 琮曰:「吾不若也。」 巽曰:「誠以劉備不足禦曹公乎,則雖保楚之地,不足以自存也; 誠以劉備足禦曹公乎,則備不爲將軍下也。 願將軍勿疑。」 太祖軍到襄陽,琮舉州降。 備走奔夏口。 〈《傅子》曰:巽字公悌,瓌偉博達,有知人鑒。 辟公府,拜尚書郎,後客荊州,以說劉琮之功,賜爵關內侯。 文帝時爲侍中,太和中卒,巽在荊州,目龐統爲半英雄,證裴潛終以清行顯; 統遂附劉備,見待次於諸葛亮,潛位至尚書令,並有名德。 及在魏朝,魏諷以才智聞,巽謂之必反,卒如其言。 巽弟子嘏,別有傳。 《漢晉春秋》曰:王威說劉琮曰:「曹操得將軍旣降,劉備已走,必懈弛無備,輕行單進; 若給威奇兵數千,徼之於險,操可獲也。 獲操即威震四海,坐而虎步,中夏雖廣,可傳檄而定,非徒收一勝之功,保守今日而已。 此難遇之機,不可失也。」 琮不納。 《搜神記》曰:建安初,荊州童謠曰:「八九年間始欲衰,至十三年無孑遺。」 言自中平以來,荊州獨全,及劉表爲牧,民又豐樂,至建安八年九年當始衰。 始衰者,謂劉表妻死,諸將並零落也。 十三年無孑遺者,表當又死,因以喪破也。 是時,華容有女子忽啼呼云:「荊州將有大喪。」 言語過差,縣以爲妖言,繫獄月餘,忽於獄中哭曰:「劉荊州今日死。」 華谷去州數百里,即遣馬吏驗視,而劉表果死,縣乃出之。 續又歌吟曰:「不意李立爲貴人。」 後無幾,太祖平荊州,以涿郡李立字建賢爲荊州刺史。〉
Liu Biao and his wife favored young Liu Cong; Cai Mao and Zhang Yun backed them, so they banished elder Liu Qi to Jiangxia and installed Cong. The brothers became bitter foes. The cited text says Liu Qi raced home when his father fell ill. Qi's nature was kind and filial—Mao and Yun feared Qi would see Biao—father and son move each other—and there again be intent to entrust the succession—saying: "The general ordered you to pacify and oversee Jiangxia—as the state's eastern bulwark—the duty is weightiest; To rush home now would enrage your father and worsen his sickness—that would be unfilial." They barred the gate; Liu Qi wept and left.〉 Yue, Song, and eastern-cao clerk Fu Xun and others urged Cong to submit to the Grand Progenitor—Cong said: "Now with you gentlemen we hold all Chu lands—guard the former lord's enterprise—to watch the realm—why can we not?" Xun answered: "Rebellion and submission have a great pattern—strong and weak have a fixed momentum. To defy the emperor is rebellion; infant Chu cannot match the central court; Liu Bei cannot equal Cao Cao. All three counts doom any resistance to the imperial host. Tell me, are you Liu Bei's peer?" Cong said: "I am not his equal." Xun said: "If truly Liu Bei is insufficient to withstand Lord Cao—then though securing Chu lands—is insufficient to preserve oneself; if he can, he will not long obey you. Do not deceive yourself." When Cao Cao reached Xiangyang, Liu Cong capitulated. Liu Bei bolted for Xiakou. The cited text describes Fu Xun, style Gongti, as imposing, learned, and shrewd judge of men. He served at court, then Jingzhou, earned a noble rank for swaying Liu Cong, and under Emperor Wen became palace attendant; in Jingzhou he called Pang Tong half a hero and predicted Pei Qian's integrity, Pang Tong joined Liu Bei and ranked below Zhuge Liang; Pei Qian rose to imperial secretary—both fulfilled his verdict. In Wei he foretold Wei Feng's rebellion. His nephew Fu Gu has his own biography. The cited text states: Wang Wei urged Liu Cong: "Cao Cao-having obtained the general's surrender-Liu Bei already fled-surely will relax without precaution-advance lightly with a thin column; a few thousand ambushers in the defiles could capture him. Seize Cao and you awe the realm—more than a single victory, you might pacify the north by edict. Such chances do not come twice." Liu Cong refused. The cited text states: Early Jian'an-Jingzhou children's rhyme said: "Eight nine years begin wanting to decline-to the thirteenth year none left." Since Zhongping only Jingzhou stayed rich under Liu Biao—by Jian'an 8–9 decline should start. That meant Lady Liu's death and the collapse of his officers. "None left" meant Liu Biao's death and the realm's mourning. At that time at Huarong a woman suddenly wept and cried: "Jingzhou will have great mourning." Her words exceeded bounds—the county thought it demonic speech—imprisoned over a month—suddenly in prison wept: "Inspector Liu dies today." Huagu lay hundreds of li away; riders confirmed Liu Biao's death and freed her. Continuing again she sang: "Never expected Li Li to become noble person." Soon Cao Cao took Jingzhou and named Li Li of Zhuo, style Jianxian, as governor.〉
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太祖以琮爲青州刺史、封列侯。 〈《魏武故事》載令曰:「楚有江、漢山川之險,後復先疆與秦爭衡,荊州則其故地。 劉鎮南久用其民矣。 身沒之後,諸子鼎峙,雖終難全,猶可引日。 青州刺史琮,心高志潔,智深慮廣,輕榮重義,薄利厚德,蔑萬里之業,忽三軍之衆,篤中正之體,敦令名之譽,上耀先君之遺塵,下圖不朽之餘祚; 鮑永之棄并州,竇融之離五郡,未足以喻也。 雖封列侯一州之位,猶恨此寵未副其人; 而比有牋求還州。 監史雖尊,秩祿未優。 今聽所執,表琮爲諫議大夫,參同軍事。」〉 蒯越等侯者十五人。 越爲光祿勳; 〈《傅子》曰:越,蒯通之後也,深中足智,魁傑有雄姿。 大將軍何進聞其名,辟爲東曹掾。 越勸進誅諸閹官,進猶豫不決。 越知進必敗,求出爲汝陽令,佐劉表平定境內,表得以彊大。 詔書拜章陵太守,封樊亭侯。 荊州平,太祖與荀彧書曰:「不喜得荊州,喜得蒯異度耳。」 建安十九年卒。 臨終,與太祖書,託以門戶。 太祖報書曰:「死者反生,生者不愧。 孤少所舉,行之多矣。 魂而有靈,亦將聞孤此言也。」〉 嵩,大鴻臚; 〈《先賢行狀》曰:嵩字德高,義陽人。 少好學,貧不改操。 知世將亂,不應三公之命,與同好數人隱居於酈西山中。 黃巾起,嵩避難南方,劉表逼以爲別駕,轉從事中郎。 表郊祀天地,嵩正諫不從,漸見違忤。 奉使到許,事在前注。 荊州平,嵩疾病,就在所拜授大鴻臚印綬。〉 羲,侍中; 〈羲,章陵人。〉 先,尚書令; 其餘多至大官。 〈《零陵先賢傳》曰:先字始宗,博學彊記,尤好黃老言,明習漢家典故。 爲劉表別駕,奉章詣許,見太祖。 時賔客並會,太祖問先:「劉牧如何郊天也?」 先對曰:「劉牧託漢室肺腑,處牧伯之位,而遭王道未平,羣凶塞路,抱玉帛而無所聘頫,脩章表而不獲達御,是以郊天祀地,昭告赤誠。」 太祖曰:「羣凶爲誰?」 先曰:「舉目皆是。」 太祖曰:「今孤有熊羆之士,步騎十萬,奉辭伐罪,誰敢不服?」 先曰:「漢道陵遲,羣生憔悴,旣無忠義之士翼戴天子,綏寧海內,使萬邦歸德,而阻兵安忍,曰莫己若,即蚩尤、智伯復見於今也。」 太祖嘿然。 拜先武陵太守。 荊州平,先始爲漢尚書,後爲魏國尚書令。 先甥同郡周不疑,字元直,零陵人。 先賢傳稱不疑幼有異才,聦明敏達,太祖欲以女妻之,不疑不敢當。 太祖愛子倉舒,夙有才智,謂可與不疑爲儔。 及倉舒卒,太祖心忌不疑,欲除之。 文帝諫以爲不可,太祖曰:「此人非汝所能駕御也。」 乃遣刺客殺之。 摯虞文章志曰:不疑死時年十七,著文論四首。 《世語》曰:表死後八十餘年,至晉太康中,表冢見發。 表及妻身形如生,芬香聞數里。〉
Cao Cao made Liu Cong Qingzhou inspector and a full marquis. The cited text carries edict: "Chu has Yangtze and Han rivers and mountains' peril-later restored first territory and contended with Qin-Jingzhou is its old ground. Inspector Liu long ruled those people. His sons split the inheritance—survival was unlikely yet could have dragged on. Liu Cong spurned a regional throne, chose virtue over territory, honored duty over armies, and sought an honorable legacy for his house— more than Bao Yong quitting Bing or Dou Rong leaving the Hexi league can express. Even a province and marquisate barely repay him; he has begged to return south. His inspector title sounds grand but pay is thin. Grant his wish—name Liu Cong grandee remonstrant and attach him to headquarters."〉" Fifteen men including Kuai Yue received marquisates. Kuai Yue became superintendent of the imperial household; The cited text traces Kuai Yue to Kuai Tong-deep-minded and commanding. He Jin summoned him as eastern bureau clerk. Kuai Yue urged He Jin to purge the eunuchs; He Jin stalled. Kuai Yue fled to Ruyang, helped Liu Biao pacify Jingzhou, and watched He Jin fall. The court named him Zhangling prefect and marquis of Fan ting. When Jingzhou was pacified—the Grand Progenitor wrote Xun Yu saying: "I am not pleased gaining Jingzhou—pleased gaining Kuai Yidu." He died in Jian'an 19. Dying, he wrote Cao Cao asking protection for his kin. Cao Cao answered: "May the dead revive—I will not shame my pledges to the living. Few favors I gave went unpaid. If their ghosts hear, they will know I kept faith."〉" Han Song became grand herald; The cited text calls Han Song, style Degao, from Yiyang. Poor but scholarly from youth. He spurned court summons and hid in the Li hills until chaos came. When the Turbans rose he fled south; Liu Biao made him chief clerk, then attendant clerk. He condemned Liu Biao's suburban sacrifices and fell from favor. His mission to Xu appears above. After Jingzhou fell Han Song was dying; they invested him grand herald in camp.〉 Deng Yi became palace attendant; 〈from Zhangling.〉 Liu Xian rose to imperial secretary; Most of Liu Biao's staff earned high rank. The cited text paints Liu Xian, style Shizong, as scholar of Huang-Lao and Han ritual. As Liu Biao's chief clerk he delivered memorials to Xu and met Cao Cao. At the time guests all assembled—the Grand Progenitor asked Xian: "How did Governor Liu sacrifice to Heaven?" Xian answered: "Governor Liu entrusted to Han house's inner kin—occupying herdsman's place—yet encountering kingly way not yet pacified—crowds of villains blocking the road—embracing jade and silk yet nowhere to send tribute—revising memorials yet unable to reach the imperial audience—thereby sacrificing at suburb to Heaven and earth—declaring bright sincerity." The Grand Progenitor said: "Who are the crowd of villains?" Liu Xian answered: "Look around—they are everywhere." The Grand Progenitor said: "Now I have bear and tiger warriors—infantry and cavalry one hundred thousand—bearing decree punishing crime—who dares not submit?" Xian said: "Han way declines—the myriad beings wither—already lacking loyal righteous gentlemen aiding and supporting the Son of Heaven—pacifying within the seas—making myriad regions return virtue—yet hindering troops indulging cruelty—saying none match oneself—that is Chiyou and Zhi Bo appearing today." Cao Cao fell silent. He named Liu Xian Wuling prefect. After Jingzhou fell Liu Xian served Han then Wei as imperial secretary. His nephew Zhou Buyi of Lingling, style Yuanzhi, was a prodigy; Cao Cao offered a princess and Zhou declined. Cao Cao thought Zhou matched his brilliant son Cao Chong. After Chong died Cao Cao feared Zhou Buyi and plotted his death. Emperor Wen remonstrated saying cannot—the Grand Progenitor said: "This person is not what you can rein." He sent killers for Zhou Buyi. Zhi Yu records Zhou dying at seventeen with four essays. The cited text says graverobbers opened Liu Biao's tomb in Jin Taikang, eighty years later. Corpse and wife looked alive and smelled fragrant for li.〉
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【評】
Section heading introducing the historian's closing judgment.
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評曰:董卓狼戾賊忍,暴虐不仁,自書契已來,殆未之有也。 〈《英雄記》曰:昔大人見臨洮而銅人鑄,臨洮生卓而銅人毀; 世有卓而大亂作,大亂作而卓身滅,抑有以也。〉 袁術奢淫放肆,榮不終己,自取之也。 〈臣松之以爲桀、紂無道,秦、莽縱虐,皆多歷年所,然後衆惡乃著。 董卓自竊權柄,至于隕斃,計其日月,未盈三周,而禍崇山岳,毒流四海。 其殘賊之性,實豺狼不若。 「書契未有」,斯言爲當。 但評旣曰「賊忍」,又云「不仁」,賊忍,不仁,於辭爲重。 袁術無毫芒之功,纖介之善,而猖狂于時,妄自尊立,固義夫之所扼腕,人鬼之所同疾。 雖復恭儉節用,而猶必覆亡不暇,而評但云「奢淫不終」,未足見其大惡。〉 袁紹、劉表咸有威容、器觀,知名當世。 表跨蹈漢南,紹鷹揚河朔,然皆外寬內忌,好謀無決,有才而不能用,聞善而不能納,廢嫡立庶,舍禮崇愛,至于後嗣顛蹙,社稷傾覆,非不幸也。 昔項羽背范增之謀,以喪其王業; 紹之殺田豐,乃甚於羽遠矣!
The historian calls Dong Zhuo savage and cruel beyond recorded precedent. The cited text ties Lintao's bronze omens to Zhuo's rise and fall- when Zhuo fell the realm shattered—perhaps fate moved it.〉 Yuan Shu drowned in excess and squandered his own glory. 〈Pei Songzhi notes tyrants like Jie or Qin took years to expose their crimes; Zhuo seized power for fewer than three years yet calamity towered and poison spread everywhere. His cruelty outdid wolves. So "no precedent in records" fits him. But commentary already says "thief cruel"—again says "without benevolence"—thief cruel, without benevolence—in wording redundant. Yuan Shu had no merit yet proclaimed himself emperor—men of honor and common ghosts despised him. Though again respectful frugal restraining use—still must overturn ruin without leisure—and commentary only says "extravagant lewd not finished"—not sufficient to see his great evil.〉 Yuan Shao and Liu Biao looked the part of heroes and won fame. Liu Biao spanned the south, Shao the north, yet each was outwardly generous, inwardly suspicious, indecisive, wasted talent, spurned good counsel, set concubine sons over true heirs, and lost their legacies to ruin. Xiang Yu ignored Fan Zeng and lost his realm; Yuan Shao's execution of Tian Feng was a greater folly than Xiang Yu's!