Volume 14: Book of Wei 14 - Biographies of Cheng, Dong, Guo, Liu, Jiang, and Liu

程昱字仲德，東郡東阿人也。長八尺三寸，美鬚髯。黃巾起，縣丞王度反應之，燒倉庫。縣令逾城走，吏民負老幼東奔渠丘山。昱使人偵視度，度等得空城不能守，出城西五六里止屯。昱謂縣中大姓薛房等曰：「今度等得城郭不能居，其勢可知。此不過欲虜掠財物，非有堅甲利兵攻守之志也。今何不相率還城而守之？且城高厚，多穀米，今若還求令，共堅守，度必不能久，攻可破也。」房等以為然。吏民不肯從，曰：「賊在西，但有東耳。」昱謂房等：「愚民不可計事。」乃密遣數騎舉幡於東山上，令房等望見，大呼言「賊已至」，便下山趣城，吏民奔走隨之，求得縣令，遂共城守。度等來攻城，不能下，欲去。昱率吏民開城門急擊之，度等破走。東阿由此得全。

Cheng Yu, whose courtesy name was Zhongde, came from Dong'e County in Dong Commandery. He stood eight chi three cun tall and wore a full, striking beard. When the Yellow Turbans rose, Assistant Magistrate Wang Du joined the revolt and put the government granaries to the torch. The county magistrate climbed over the wall and escaped; officials and townsfolk carried off the elderly and children and ran east to Mount Quqiu. Yu sent scouts to watch Wang Du; Du's band had taken a hollow city they could not defend, so they pulled out five or six li west of the walls and made camp. Yu addressed leading local families including Xue Fang: "Du may hold the town, but he cannot settle there—so you can see how weak he really is. They only mean to rob wealth and supplies; they lack hardened armor and edged weapons, and they have no real intent to besiege or garrison it. Why not march back as one body and hold the city ourselves? Moreover the walls are high and thick and grain is plentiful; if we return now, recall the magistrate, and hold out together, Du cannot last long and can be broken by fighting." Fang and the others agreed. The clerks and commoners would not obey: "The rebels are west of us; our only escape lies eastward." Yu told Fang and his companions: "You cannot take counsel from a frightened mob." Then he secretly sent several riders to raise banners on the eastern hill so Fang and others would see them; they shouted that "the bandits have come," rode down toward the city, and the clerks and commoners ran after them; they found the magistrate and together defended the walls. Du attacked the town but could not carry it and prepared to withdraw. Yu led the townspeople to throw open the gates and hit Du hard; Du's men broke and ran. Thus Dong'e was saved.

初平中，兗州刺史劉岱辟昱，昱不應。是時岱與袁紹、公孫瓚和親，紹令妻子居岱所，瓚亦遣從事范方將騎助岱。後紹與瓚有隙。瓚擊破紹軍，乃遣使語岱，令遣紹妻子，使與紹絕。別敕范方：「若岱不遣紹家，將騎還。吾定紹，將加兵於岱。」岱議連日不決，別駕王彧白岱：「程昱有謀，能斷大事。」岱乃召見昱，問計，昱曰：「若棄紹近援而求瓚遠助，此假人於越以救溺子之說也。夫公孫瓚，非袁紹之敵也。今雖壞紹軍，然終為紹所禽。夫趣一朝之權而不慮遠計，將軍終敗。」岱從之。范方將其騎歸，未至，瓚大為紹所破。岱表昱為騎都尉，昱辭以疾。

During the Chuping years Inspector Liu Dai of Yan Province called Yu to office; Yu declined to come. Dai was then linked by marriage to both Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan: Shao quartered his family with Dai, while Zan detached his aide Fan Fang at the head of cavalry to support him. Later Shao and Zan fell out. Zan shattered Shao's troops and sent word demanding that Dai expel Shao's household and renounce him. He told Fan Fang privately: "If Dai refuses to pack Shao's kin off the premises, march your horse home. Once I finish Shao, I will turn my army on Dai." Dai wrangled for days without a decision until his aide Wang Yu said: "Cheng Yu is shrewd and decisive enough to settle this." Dai called Yu in and asked his plan. Yu replied: "To drop Shao's close support and chase Zan's faraway rescue is like hiring a stranger across the river to fish your child from the flood. Gongsun Zan is not Yuan Shao's equal. He may blood Shao's army today, but he will end in Shao's hands. To grasp at a moment's advantage and ignore what comes after is to march straight into ruin, General." Dai took his counsel. Fan Fang withdrew his horse before he reached home; meanwhile Zan had already suffered a heavy defeat from Shao. Dai recommended Yu for the post of Commandant of Cavalry; Yu pleaded illness and refused.

劉岱為黃巾所殺。太祖臨兗州，辟昱。昱將行，其鄉人謂曰：「何前後之相背也！」昱笑而不應。太祖與語，說之，以昱守壽張令。太祖征徐州，使昱與荀彧留守鄄城。張邈等叛迎呂布，郡縣響應，唯鄄城、范、東阿不動。布軍降者，言陳宮欲自將兵取東阿，又使氾嶷取范，吏民皆恐。彧謂昱曰：「今兗州反，唯有此三城。宮等以重兵臨之，非有以深結其心，三城必動。君，民之望也，歸而說之，殆可！」昱乃歸，過范，說其令靳允曰：「聞呂布執君母弟妻子，孝子誠不可為心！今天下大亂，英雄並起，必有命世，能息天下之亂者，此智者所詳擇也。得主者昌，失主者亡。陳宮叛迎呂布而百城皆應，似能有為，然以君觀之，布何如人哉！夫布，粗中少親，剛而無禮，匹夫之雄耳。宮等以勢假合，不能相君也。兵雖眾，終必無成。曹使君智略不世出，殆天所授！君必固范，我守東阿，則田單之功可立也。孰與違忠從惡而母子俱亡乎？唯君詳慮之！」允流涕曰：「不敢有二心。」時氾嶷已在縣，允乃見嶷，伏兵刺殺之，歸勒兵守。〈徐眾評曰：允於曹公，未成君臣。母，至親也，於義應去。昔王陵母為項羽所拘，母以高祖必得天下，因自殺以固陵志。明心無所繫，然後可得成事人盡死之節。衛公子開方仕齊，積年不歸，管仲以為不懷其親，安能愛君，不可以為相。是以求忠臣必於孝子之門，允宜先救至親。徐庶母為曹公所得，劉備乃遣庶歸，欲為天下者恕人子之情也。曹公亦宜遣允。〉昱又遣別騎絕倉亭津，陳宮至，不得渡。昱至東阿，東阿令棗祗已率厲吏民，拒城堅守。又兗州從事薛悌與昱協謀，卒完三城，以待太祖。太祖還，執昱手曰：「微子之力，吾無所歸矣。」乃表昱為東平相，屯范。〈《魏書》曰：昱少時常夢上泰山，兩手捧日。昱私異之，以語荀彧。及兗州反，賴昱得完三城。於是彧以昱夢白太祖。太祖曰：「卿當終為吾腹心。」昱本名立，太祖乃加其上「日」，更名昱也。〉

The Yellow Turbans killed Liu Dai. When Cao Cao took charge of Yan Province he summoned Yu. When Yu prepared to leave, a neighbor mocked him: "How inconsistent—first you refuse, now you rush to serve!" Yu only smiled and said nothing. The Grand Progenitor talked with him, liked what he heard, and appointed him acting magistrate of Shouzhang. During the expedition against Xu Province Cao Cao left Yu and Xun Yu behind to hold Juan. Zhang Miao mutinied and threw open the gates to Lü Bu; county after county flipped sides—only Juan, Fan, and Dong'e stayed loyal. Defectors from Lü Bu's ranks reported that Chen Gong would strike Dong'e in person while Fan Yi moved on Fan; panic swept the clerks and townsfolk. Xun Yu told Cheng Yu: "The province has risen against us; we hold only these three towns. If Gong throws his full weight against them without winning their hearts, every one of them may buckle. You are the man they trust—go speak for us and we may yet hold the line!" Yu rode back. At Fan he urged Magistrate Jin Yun: "They say Lü Bu holds your mother, brothers, wife, and children hostage—the news would crush any dutiful son. The empire is chaos and captains spring up everywhere, yet sooner or later one man will emerge who can still it—that is whom the thoughtful choose. Attach yourself to the rising power and you thrive; cling to the loser and you perish. Chen Gong hailed Lü Bu and a hundred districts answered—perhaps it looks promising; still, what do you make of Lü Bu himself? He is crude inwardly, forms shallow friendships, bullheaded and uncouth—the swagger of a street brawler, not a founder. Gong's crowd rides momentary advantage; none of them can truly serve him as sovereign. Numbers will not save them in the end. Commissioner Cao's mind and generalship belong to a once-in-a-generation talent—Heaven itself seems to back him. Hold Fan steady while I shore up Dong'e and we may yet replay Tian Dan's stand. How can that path rival staying loyal and sparing your family annihilation? Weigh it carefully for yourself!" Yun wept: "I will never split my loyalty. Fan Yi was already in Fan. Yun received him, struck him down with concealed blades, and marched his troops back onto the walls. 〈Xu Zhong comments: Jin Yun and Lord Cao had not yet sealed a true lord-and-vassal tie. A mother is the nearest of kin; duty said he should go to her. When Xiang Yu seized Wang Ling's mother, she took her own life because she trusted that Gaozu would win the world and wished to steel her son's purpose. Only when the heart is cleared of every tie can a man die wholly for his lord. Royal son Kai Fang of Wei stayed years in Qi without coming home; Guan Zhong argued that a man who neglects parents will not love his ruler and must not wield high office. That is why wise rulers recruit loyalty from filial households—Yun should have rescued his mother first. When Xu Shu's mother was taken, Liu Bei released him to her side—aspiring unifiers still honor a child's bond. Lord Cao should have dismissed Yun for the same reason.〉 Yu detached other riders to choke off Cangting Ford so Chen Gong could not cross. At Dong'e, Magistrate Zao Zhi had already stiffened officials and townsfolk into a tight defense. Yan clerk Xue Ti worked hand in glove with Yu; the trio of towns survived intact until Cao Cao returned. When Cao Cao rode back he seized Yu's hand: "Had you failed me I would have had nowhere left to run. He recommended Yu as Administrator of Dongping with headquarters at Fan. 〈The Book of Wei relates that young Yu dreamed he scaled Mount Tai cradling the sun in his palms. Yu kept the vision to himself as an omen and mentioned it to Xun Yu. When the province rose against Cao Cao, Yu's stubborn defense saved those three towns. Yu relayed the dream to Cao Cao. Cao Cao answered: "You are meant to stand forever at the heart of my counsels. Yu had been born Li; Cao Cao stacked the character for "sun" atop it and rechristened him Yu.〉

太祖與呂布戰於濮陽，數不利。蝗蟲起，乃各引去。於是袁紹使人說太祖連和，欲使太祖遷家居鄴。太祖新失兗州，軍食盡，將許之。時昱使適還，引見，因言曰：「竊聞將軍欲遣家，與袁紹連和，誠有之乎？」太祖曰：「然。」昱曰：「意者將軍殆臨事而懼，不然何慮之不深也！夫袁紹據燕、趙之地，有並天下之心，而智不能濟也。將軍自度能為之下乎？將軍以龍虎之威，可為韓、彭之事邪？今兗州雖殘，尚有三城。能戰之士，不下萬人。以將軍之神武，與文若、昱等，收而用之，霸王之業可成也。原將軍更慮之！」太祖乃止。〈《魏略》載昱說太祖曰：「昔田橫，齊之世族，兄弟三人更王，據千里之（齊），擁百萬之眾，與諸侯並南面稱孤。既而高祖得天下，而橫顧為降虜。當此之時，橫豈可為心哉！」太祖曰：「然。此誠丈夫之至辱也。」昱曰：「昱愚，不識大旨，以為將軍之志，不如田橫。田橫，齊一壯士耳，猶羞為高祖臣。今聞將軍欲遣家往鄴，將北面而事袁紹。夫以將軍之聰明神武，而反不羞為袁紹之下，竊為將軍恥之！」其後語與本傳略同。〉

Cao Cao battled Lü Bu at Puyang and repeatedly came off worse. When locusts swarmed both armies broke off. Yuan Shao sent envoys urging alliance and pressed Cao Cao to relocate his family to Ye. Fresh from losing Yan Province and out of provisions, Cao Cao was ready to agree. Yu returned from assignment and was admitted at once: "Word says you plan to ship your household north and bind yourself to Yuan Shao—is that so?" It is," said Cao Cao. Yu pressed him: "You sound panicked by the moment—why else settle for such shallow thinking? Yuan Shao sits on Yan and Zhao with dreams of empire, yet lacks the wit to finish the job. Do you honestly see yourself bowing under him? With your dragon-and-tiger presence would you demean yourself as Han Xin or Peng Yue once did? Yan Province may be shattered, but three fortresses remain. You still command upward of ten thousand seasoned troops. Marshal that strength alongside Wenruo and myself and the work of a true hegemon is still within reach. Think again before you throw it away!" Cao Cao abandoned the idea. 〈The Wei Lüe quotes Yu lecturing Cao Cao: "Tian Heng belonged to Qi's old nobility; three brothers wore the crown in turn and ruled a thousand li of (Qi—editorial gloss) land; they fielded armies counted in millions and faced south among the warlords styling themselves independent kings. Then Gaozu seized the realm while Heng sank to the ignominy of a bound prisoner. Could any proud man stomach such a fall?" Cao Cao murmured: "True enough. It would shame any man of spirit." Yu went on: "Forgive my bluntness—I feared your aims fell below Tian Heng's. Heng was only Qi's hardiest fighter, yet he blushed at kneeling to Gaozu. Yet I hear you mean to park your kin in Ye and kneel northward to Yuan Shao. With your brilliance you ought to cringe at serving him—I blush on your account!" What follows agrees in substance with the standard biography.〉

天子都許，以昱為尚書。兗州尚未安集，復以昱為東中郎將，領濟陰太守，都督兗州事。劉備失徐州，來歸太祖。昱說太祖殺備，太祖不聽。語在武紀。後又遣備至徐州要擊袁術，昱與郭嘉說太祖曰：「公前日不圖備，昱等誠不及也。今借之以兵，必有異心。」太祖悔，追之不及。會術病死，備至徐州，遂殺車冑，舉兵背太祖。頃之，昱遷振威將軍。袁紹在黎陽，將南渡。時昱有七百兵守鄄城，太祖聞之，使人告昱，欲益二千兵。昱不肯，曰：「袁紹擁十萬眾，自以所向無前。今見昱兵少，必輕易不來攻。若益昱兵，過則不可不攻，攻之必克，徒兩損其勢。原公無疑！」太祖從之。紹聞昱兵少，果不往。太祖謂賈詡曰：「程昱之膽，過於賁、育。」昱收山澤亡命，得精兵數千人，乃引軍與太祖會黎陽，討袁譚、袁尚。譚、尚破走，拜昱奮武將軍，封安國亭侯。

The emperor established his court at Xu and named Cheng Yu Minister of the Secretariat. Because Yan Province still simmered, Yu was again named General of the Household East of Center with acting authority over Jiyin and supreme direction of Yan. Stripped of Xu Province, Liu Bei threw himself on Cao Cao's mercy. Yu pressed Cao Cao to kill Liu Bei; Cao Cao refused. The fuller story is recorded in the martial annals. Later Liu Bei was sent back toward Xu to block Yuan Shu. Yu and Guo Jia warned Cao Cao: "When you spared Bei earlier, we were simply slower than you. Now that you lend him troops he is bound to turn disloyal." Cao Cao regretted the decision, yet pursuit could not catch Liu Bei. Shu died of sickness first; once Liu Bei reached Xu he slew Che Zhou and openly rebelled against Cao Cao. Soon afterward Yu rose to General Who Shakes Might. Yuan Shao lay at Liyang, ready to ford the river southward. Yu garrisoned Juan with only seven hundred soldiers; Cao Cao heard of it and offered two thousand more. Yu declined: "Shao fields an army of one hundred thousand and imagines himself irresistible. A weak garrison invites contempt; he will probably march past. Doubling the garrison forces his hand: he must assault, will probably carry the walls, and both armies waste strength over a sideshow. Trust the stratagem, my lord!" Cao Cao accepted the reasoning. Learning how thin the defense was, Shao elected not to strike. Cao Cao told Jia Xu: "Yu's cold nerve surpasses the likes of Meng Ben and Xia Yu. Yu swept up mountain bandits for several thousand veterans and marched to Liyang to join Cao Cao against Yuan Tan and Shang. After Tan and Shang broke and ran, Yu received the title General Who Displays Might and the village marquisate of Anguo.

太祖征荊州，劉備奔吳。論者以為孫權必殺備，昱料之曰：「孫權新在位，未為海內所憚。曹公無敵於天下，初舉荊州，威震江表，權雖有謀，不能獨當也。劉備有英名，關羽、張飛皆萬人敵也，權必資之以御我。難解勢分，備資以成，又不可得而殺也。」權果多與備兵，以御太祖。是後中夏漸平，太祖拊昱背曰：「兗州之敗，不用君言，吾何以至此？」宗人奉牛酒大會，昱曰：「知足不辱，吾可以退矣。」乃自表歸兵，闔門不出。〈《魏書》曰：太祖征馬超，文帝留守，使昱參軍事。田銀、蘇伯等反河間，遣將軍賈信討之。賊有千餘人請降，議者皆以為宜如舊法，昱曰：「誅降者，謂在擾攘之時，天下雲起，故圍而後降者不赦，以示威天下，開其利路，使不至於圍也。今天下略定，且在邦域之中，此必降之賊，殺之無所威懼，非前日誅降之意。臣以為不可誅也；縱誅之，宜先啟聞。」眾議者曰：「軍事有專，無請。」昱不答。文帝起入，特引見昱曰：「君有所不盡邪？」昱曰：「凡專命者，謂有臨時之急，呼吸之間者耳。今此賊制在賈信之手，無朝夕之變。故老臣不原將軍行之也。」文帝曰：「君慮之善。」即白太祖，太祖果不誅。太祖還，聞之甚說，謂昱曰：「君非徒明於軍計，又善處人父子之間。」〉

During the Jing expedition Liu Bei bolted east into Wu. Opinion held that Sun Quan would execute Liu Bei; Yu disagreed: "Quan's reign is new and the empire does not yet dread him. Cao Cao commands invincible prestige; his opening stroke in Jing rattles the riverlands. Quan may be shrewd, yet he cannot absorb that blow unaided. Liu Bei still carries fame; Guan Yu and Zhang Fei each rival an army—Quan will supply him to shield Wu. Once their interests twist together Bei will be furnished into maturity and cannot afterward be killed at will." Quan duly lent Liu Bei heavy forces to face Cao Cao. When the heartland quieted, Cao Cao tapped Yu between the shoulders: "Without your voice during the Yan disaster I would never have climbed this high. Kin stacked oxen and wine for a feast; Yu observed: "Contentment shields a man from humiliation—it is time I stepped back. He requested dismissal of his troops, barred his doors, and withdrew from public life. 〈The Book of Wei notes that during Ma Chao's rebellion Cao Pi held the capital while Yu joined headquarters planning. Tian Yin and Su Bo rose in Hejian; General Jia Xin marched against them. Over a thousand rebels wished to capitulate; the council favored the usual slaughter. Yu argued: "Massacring capitulators made sense when the land boiled with rivals—we refused quarter after a siege to cow the realm and tempt foes to yield early. Today the empire is nearly stable and these bandits lie within our borders—they mean to give up. Executing them wins no deterrent and betrays the original logic. I therefore oppose execution in this case; even if they were executed one ought first to report upward." The chamber insisted: "Campaign authority is absolute—no memorial required. Yu held his tongue. Cao Pi rose, drew Yu aside, and asked: "Is something left unsaid? Yu answered: "Emergency powers cover dangers that strike between one breath and the next. These prisoners already lie in Jia Xin's grip—no sudden peril threatens. Hence your aged minister cannot approve the general acting on his own." Cao Pi said: "Your caution is sound. He informed Cao Cao, who spared the captives. On his return Cao Cao delighted in the tale and told Yu: "You read campaigns—and you know how to steady a father and son."〉

孫曉

Sun Xiao

曉，嘉平中為黃門侍郎。〈《世語》曰：曉字季明，有通識。〉時校事放橫，曉上疏曰：

Under Jiaping he rose to Gentleman of the Yellow Gates. 〈Shiyu gives his style as Jiming and calls him a man of wide discernment.〉 Inspector-generals of surveillance had grown abusive; Xiao memorialized:

《周禮》云：『設官分職，以為民極。』《春秋傳》曰：『天有十日，人有十等。』愚不得臨賢，賤不得臨貴。於是並建聖哲，樹之風聲。明試以功，九載考績。各脩厥業，思不出位。故欒書欲拯晉侯，其子不聽；死人橫於街路，邴吉不問。上不責非職之功，下不務分外之賞，吏無兼統之勢，民無二事之役，斯誠為國要道，治亂所由也。遠覽典志，近觀秦漢，雖官名改易，職司不同，至於崇上抑下，顯分明例，其致一也。初無校事之官幹與庶政者也。昔武皇帝大業草創，眾官未備，而軍旅勤苦，民心不安，乃有小罪，不可不察，故置校事，取其一切耳，然檢禦有方，不至縱恣也。此霸世之權宜，非帝王之正典。其後漸蒙見任，復為疾病，轉相因仍，莫正其本。遂令上察宮廟，下攝眾司，官無局業，職無分限，隨意任情，唯心所適。法造於筆端，不依科詔；獄成於門下，不顧覆訊。其選官屬，以謹慎為粗疏，以謥詷為賢能。其治事，以刻暴為公嚴，以循理為怯弱。外則託天威以為聲勢，內則聚群奸以為腹心。大臣恥與分勢，含忍而不言，小人畏其鋒芒，鬱結而無告。至使尹模公於目下肆其奸慝；罪惡之著，行路皆知，纖惡之過，積年不聞。既非周禮設官之意，又非春秋十等之義也。今外有公卿將校總統諸署，內有侍中尚書綜理萬機，司隸校尉督察京輦，御史中丞董攝宮殿，皆高選賢才以充其職，申明科詔以督其違。若此諸賢猶不足任，校事小吏，益不可信。若此諸賢各思盡忠，校事區區，亦復無益。若更高選國士以為校事，則是中丞司隸重增一官耳。若如舊選，尹模之姦今復發矣。進退推算，無所用之。昔桑弘羊為漢求利，卜式以為獨烹弘羊，天乃可雨。若使政治得失必感天地，臣恐水旱之災，未必非校事之由也。曹恭公遠君子，近小人，國風託以為刺。衛獻公舍大臣，與小臣謀，定姜謂之有罪。縱令校事有益於國，以禮義言之，尚傷大臣之心，況姦回暴露，而復不罷，是兗闕不補，迷而不返也。

The Rites of Zhou declare: Create posts, parcel responsibilities, and anchor the people. The Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals adds: Heaven holds ten luminaries; society stacks ten grades. The dull must not command the wise, nor the humble tower above the noble. Thus the wise were enthroned side by side and their renown spread like wind in the forest. Achievement faced open scrutiny and mandarins faced nine-year audits. Every officer minded his brief and refused to reach beyond his rank. That is why Luan Shu could not save the marquis of Jin—his heir blocked him; when bodies littered the avenues Bing Ji felt no need to interfere. Superiors punished no talent for declining alien tasks; inferiors coveted no prize beyond their portion; administrators wielded no overlapping mandates and peasants shouldered no duplicate labor—that was the royal road to stability. From ancient statute to Qin and Han practice, whatever the renaming of posts, the aim—exalting authority, fixing hierarchy—never changed. Never before had spy commissioners elbowed into routine governance. When Martial Emperor laid the foundations, ministries were half-built and the camps groaned; uneasy populations justified temporary inspectors—yet they were leashed so excess never flourished. That arrangement suited a transient hegemony, not the enduring law of sage rulers. They slowly gained favor, then rotted inwardly; vice fed on vice while the disease went untreated. They took it upon themselves to probe the palace above and every yamen below—without mandate or limit, obeying impulse alone. Edicts flew from their brushes without statutory basis; cases ended on their thresholds with no appeal. They recruited flatterers: steady men seemed sluggish, glib tongues passed for brilliance. They governed through terror: brutality masqueraded as justice, patience for law read as weakness. Outwardly they draped themselves in divine sanction; inwardly they stacked crooks as intimates. Senior officials swallowed insult rather than share authority; petty clerks trembled at their blades and smothered complaints. Thus Yin Mo could parade wickedness in broad daylight; flagrant guilt filled the highways yet slender errors vanished from record. It honors neither the Zhou model of ministries nor the Spring and Autumn ladder of honor. Outside, ministers and colonels hold consolidated commands; inside, palace secretaries and ministers thread policy; the metropolitan inspector guards the capital; the palace clerk watches the forbidden precincts—each seat filled by talent and bound by codified duty. If those elites still fall short, adding surveillance runners solves nothing. Should every worthy officer do his duty faithfully, the surveillance corps remains pointless. Promoting grandees into spy roles only clones existing censors. Resume the old lax recruitment and Yin Mo's corruption returns overnight. Balancing costs and benefits, the office deserves abolition. Sang Hongyang once squeezed revenue for Han until Bu Shi swore heaven would rain only after Sang boiled. If politics truly moved heaven's temper I would suspect drought and deluge stem partly from these inspectors. Duke Gong of Cao courted sycophants and spurned worthies—the Book of Odes skewers him for it. Marquis Xian of Wei abandoned his council for palace favorites—Lady Ding Jiang called it wickedness. Even granting surveillance commissioners some usefulness: by Confucian reckoning the institution already wounds great ministers' hearts; once wickedness stands exposed yet the office survives, it is like leaving a breach unstitched—lost on a road with no turning back.

於是遂罷校事官。曉遷汝南太守，年四十餘薨。〈曉別傳曰：曉大著文章多亡失，今之存者不能十分之一。〉

The court abolished the surveillance commissioners. He advanced to Runan's administrator and died past forty. 〈His unofficial biography adds that most of his writings perished—today's remnants fall short of one tenth.〉

郭嘉字奉孝，潁川陽翟人也。〈《傅子》曰：嘉少有遠量。漢末天下將亂。自弱冠匿名跡，密交結英雋，不與俗接，故時人多莫知，惟識達者奇之。年二十七，辟司徒府。〉初，北見袁紹，謂紹謀臣辛評、郭圖曰：「夫智者審於量主，故百舉百全而功名可立也。袁公徒欲效周公之下士，而未知用人之機。多端寡要，好謀無決，欲與共濟天下大難，定霸王之業，難矣！」於是遂去之。

Guo Jia, style Fengxiao, hailed from Yangdi in Yingchuan. 〈The Master Fu relates that young Jia already thought in long horizons. As Han slid toward collapse the empire trembled. After coming of age he effaced himself, bonded quietly with brilliant peers, shunned the crowd, and remained obscure until keen observers marked him odd. At twenty-seven the Minister of Education called him to office.〉 On his northern journey he told Xin Ping and Guo Tu: "A strategist sizes his patron—only then do plans land and glory stand. Lord Yuan mimics the Duke of Zhou's courtesy to talent yet misses how truly to wield men. He branches everywhere yet masters nothing, loves plotting yet cannot decide—try sharing with him the salvation of the realm and founding hegemony? Difficult indeed!" So Guo Jia walked away.

先是時，潁川戲志才，籌畫士也，太祖甚器之。早卒。太祖與荀彧書曰：「自志才亡後，莫可與計事者。汝、潁固多奇士，誰可以繼之？」彧薦嘉。召見，論天下事。太祖曰：「使孤成大業者，必此人也。」嘉出，亦喜曰：「真吾主也。」表為司空軍祭酒。〈傅子曰：太祖謂嘉曰：「本初擁冀州之眾，青、並從之，地廣兵強，而數為不遜。吾欲討之，力不敵，如何？」對曰：〉

Before him Yingchuan had produced Xi Zhicai, a planner Cao Cao prized. Zhicai died young. Cao Cao wrote Xun Yu: "Since Zhicai fell I lack a mind to match mine. Ru and Ying surely abound in remarkable gentlemen—who may succeed him?" Thereupon Yu recommended Guo Jia. Cao Cao received him and canvassed the state of the realm. Cao Cao declared: "The man who crowns my work stands before me. Stepping out, Jia murmured: "Here at last is the lord I sought. The court named him Army Libationer under the Minister of Works. 〈Master Fu quotes Cao Cao asking Jia: "Yuan Shao grips Ji with Qing and Bing at heel—broad lands, thick armies—yet keeps insulting the throne. I wish to punish him but lack matching strength—what should I do?" Jia replied:〉

劉、項之不敵，公所知也。漢祖唯智勝；項羽雖強，終為所禽。嘉竊料之，紹有十敗，公有十勝，雖兵強，無能為也。紹繁禮多儀，公體任自然，此道勝一也。紹以逆動，公奉順以率天下，此義勝二也。漢末政失於寬，紹以寬濟寬，故不攝，公糾之以猛而上下知制，此治勝三也。紹外寬內忌，用人而疑之，所任唯親戚子弟，公外易簡而內機明，用人無疑，唯才所宜，不間遠近，此度勝四也。紹多謀少決，失在後事，公策得輒行，應變無窮，此謀勝五也。紹因累世之資，高議揖讓以收名譽，士之好言飾外者多歸之，公以至心待人，推誠而行，不為虛美，以儉率下，與有功者無所吝，士之忠正遠見而有實者皆原為用，此德勝六也。紹見人飢寒，卹念之形於顏色，其所不見，慮或不及也，所謂婦人之仁耳，公於目前小事，時有所忽，至於大事，與四海接，恩之所加，皆過其望，雖所不見，慮之所周，無不濟也，此仁勝七也。紹大臣爭權，讒言惑亂，公禦下以道，浸潤不行，此明勝八也。紹是非不可知，公所是進之以禮，所不是正之以法，此文勝九也。紹好為虛勢，不知兵要，公以少克眾，用兵如神，軍人恃之，敵人畏之，此武勝十也。

My lord, you know Liu Bang could not match Xiang Yu in arms. The Han founder won only by wit; for all his might Xiang Yu ended in chains. Jia ventures this tally: Yuan Shao carries ten liabilities against your ten strengths—numbers alone cannot save him. Shao buries men in etiquette; you move with natural ease—that is the first edge, doctrine. Shao rebels against heaven's current; you march under lawful banner—that is the second edge, moral right. Han collapsed from indulgence; Shao soothes chaos with more softness until none obey—you wield severity until order bites—that is the third edge, rule. Shao smiles in public yet suspects his household; kin alone win trust—you seem blunt outwardly yet read hearts inwardly, promote skill without second-guessing—that is the fourth edge, judgment. Shao debates forever yet stalls on action—you strike once decided and pivot endlessly—that is the fifth edge, counsel. Shao buys fame with heirlooms and bowing; flashy talkers rally to him—you spend truth, reward deeds, scorn ornament, model thrift, and stalwarts answer—that is the sixth edge, character. Shao fusses over visible misery yet misses what lies hidden—that is kindness of the inner chambers—you sometimes skim small sights yet when the empire is at stake your grace overshoots hope and your unseen planning closes every gap—that is the seventh edge, humanity. Shao's magnates tear at one another through rumor—you steer officers by rectitude so intrigue dies—that is the eighth edge, discernment. Shao cannot fix true from false—you advance the right through propriety and punish the wrong by statute—that is the ninth edge, civil order. Shao stages empty grandeur yet mishandles the soldier's craft—you win outnumbered, general like a god; your troops lean on you and enemies tremble—that is the tenth edge, arms.

〈太祖笑曰：「如卿所言，孤何德以堪之也！」嘉又曰：「紹方北擊公孫瓚，可因其遠征，東取呂布。不先取布，若紹為寇，佈為之援，此深害也。」太祖曰：「然。」〉

〈Cao Cao laughed: "Were it truly so, what virtue could deserve such praise! Jia pressed on: "While Shao fights Zan far north, strike east and swallow Lü Bu. Leave Bu alive and he becomes Shao's ally should Shao march south—that danger cuts deep." So be it," said Cao Cao.〉

征呂布，三戰破之，布退固守。時士卒疲倦，太祖欲引軍還，嘉說太祖急攻之，遂禽布。語在《荀攸傳》。〈《傅子》曰：太祖欲引軍還，嘉曰：「昔項籍七十餘戰，未嘗敗北，一朝失勢而身死國亡者，恃勇無謀故也。今布每戰輒破，氣衰力盡，內外失守。布之威力不及項籍，而困敗過之，若乘勝攻之，此成禽也。」太祖曰：「善。」《魏書》曰：劉備來奔，以為豫州牧。或謂太祖曰：「備有英雄志，今不早圖，後必為患。」太祖以問嘉，嘉曰：「有是。然公提劍起義兵，為百姓除暴，推誠仗信以招俊傑，猶懼其未也。今備有英雄名，以窮歸己而害之，是以害賢為名，則智士將自疑，回心擇主，公誰與定天下？夫除一人之患，以沮四海之望，安危之機，不可不察！」太祖笑曰：「君得之矣。」傅子曰：初，劉備來降，太祖以客禮待之，使為豫州牧。嘉言於太祖曰：「備有雄才而甚得眾心。張飛、關羽者，皆萬人之敵也，為之死用。嘉觀之，備終不為人下，其謀未可測也。古人有言：'一日縱敵，數世之患。 '宜早為之所。」是時，太祖奉天子以號令天下，方招懷英雄以明大信，未得從嘉謀。會太祖使備要擊袁術，嘉與程昱俱駕而諫太祖曰：「放備，變作矣！」時備已去，遂舉兵以叛。太祖恨不用嘉之言。案《魏書》所云，與《傅子》正反也。〉

Three clashes broke Lü Bu and he holed up behind his walls. Men flagged and Cao Cao nearly sounded retreat; Jia demanded a hammer blow and Bu fell captive. See Xun You's biography for detail. 〈《Master Fu》 records: When the Grand Progenitor wished to withdraw Jia said: "Formerly Xiang Yu fought seventy battles without defeat yet one reversal destroyed him and his state—because he trusted valor alone and lacked strategy. Bu loses each engagement; morale gutters and walls crumble within and without. Bu packs less punch than Xiang Yu yet sits in worse ruin—ride the momentum and cage him." Well said," answered Cao Cao." The Book of Wei notes Liu Bei's arrival as a fugitive and appointment as Governor of Yuzhou. Advisers whispered to Cao Cao: "Liu Bei nurses imperial dreams—delay invites disaster. The Grand Progenitor questioned Jia; Jia said: "That is so. Yet you drew blade for justice, cleanse tyranny for the people, and woo talent with perfect faith—you already fear empty benches. Kill a famed fugitive who trusts your roof and you wear the name of slayer—the clever will flee your banner and who then finishes your work? To remove one man's peril by damming hope across the seas—ponder where safety lies!" Cao Cao smiled: "You read my heart. Master Fu separately notes Liu Bei's first submission: Cao Cao honored him as guest and named him Governor of Yuzhou. Jia warned Cao Cao: "Bei is born to lead and owns popular love. Zhang Fei and Guan Yu match legions apiece and spend their lives for him. Jia judged that Bei would kneel to no master—his plots ran beyond sight. The proverb runs: spare a foe one dawn and heirs pay for ages. Deal with him early." Yet Cao Cao carried the emperor's mandate and courted fame through mercy—Jia's counsel went unheeded. When Cao Cao sent Bei against Yuan Shu, Jia and Yu drove alongside him: "Let Liu Bei ride off and rebellion blooms! Bei had already gone; shortly he hoisted arms. Cao Cao rued ignoring Jia. Pei observes that the Book of Wei and Master Fu flatly contradict each other.〉

孫策轉鬪千里，盡有江東，聞太祖與袁紹相持於官渡，將渡江北襲許。眾聞皆懼，嘉料之曰：「策新並江東，所誅皆英豪雄傑，能得人死力者也。然策輕而無備，雖有百萬之眾，無異於獨行中原也。若刺客伏起，一人之敵耳。以吾觀之，必死於匹夫之手。」策臨江未濟，果為許貢客所殺。〈《傅子》曰：太祖欲速征劉備，議者懼軍出，袁紹擊其後，進不得戰而退失所據。語在《武紀》。太祖疑，以問嘉。嘉勸太祖曰：「紹性遲而多疑，來必不速。備新起，眾心未附，急擊之必敗。此存亡之機，不可失也。」太祖曰：「善。」遂東征備。備敗奔紹，紹果不出。臣松之案武紀，決計征備，量紹不出，皆出自太祖。此云用嘉計，則為不同。又本傳稱（自）嘉料孫策輕佻，必死於匹夫之手，誠為明於見事。然自非上智，無以知其死在何年也。今正以襲許年死，此蓋事之偶合。〉

Sun Ce carved a thousand li through Wu until the eastern river was his; learning Cao Cao dueled Yuan Shao at Guandu he prepared to cross north against Xu. Panic spread until Jia observed: "Ce freshly swallowed Wu and butchered its stalwarts—fighters who inspire suicidal loyalty. Yet Ce courts danger bareheaded—a million men cannot armor rashness. A lone blade in ambush ends him. In my view he will die at some commoner's hand." Ce died on the bank before he crossed—Xu Gong's avengers cut him down. 〈Master Fu notes Cao Cao's urge to rush Bei while ministers dreaded Yuan Shao's hammer from behind—stuck between battle and base. Details sit in the martial annals. Cao Cao wavered and put it to Jia. Jia argued: "Shao moves slow and doubts every shadow—he will arrive late. Bei's following is fresh—hit fast and he shatters. That moment decides whether you endure—let it not slip." Agreed," said Cao Cao. He drove east against Liu Bei. Bei broke and ran to Yuan Shao; Shao never left his camps. Pei Songzhi counters that the martial annals credit Cao Cao alone with deciding to strike Bei and predicting Shao's inertia. Attributing the stratagem to Jia conflicts with that record. The standard memoir adds (supplied word 'from') that Jia sized Sun Ce as rash and certain to perish at vulgar hands—acute prophecy indeed. Only the sage could pin the calendar year of that death. Because fate placed his death in the Xu raid year later readers mistake coincidence for foresight.〉

從破袁紹，紹死，又從討譚、尚於黎陽，連戰數克。諸將欲乘勝遂攻之，嘉曰：「袁紹愛此二子，莫適立也。有郭圖、逢紀為之謀臣，必交鬥其間，還相離也。急之則相持，緩之而後爭心生。不如南向荊州若征劉表者，以待其變；變成而後擊之，可一舉定也。」太祖曰：「善。」乃南征。軍至西平，譚、尚果爭冀州。譚為尚軍所敗，走保平原，遣辛毗乞降。太祖還救之，遂從定鄴。又從攻譚於南皮，冀州平。封嘉洧陽亭侯。〈《傅子》曰：河北既平，太祖多辟召青、冀、幽、并知名之士，漸臣使之，以為省事掾屬。皆嘉之謀也。〉

He aided the ruin of Yuan Shao; when Shao died he joined the Liyang push against Tan and Shang, stacking victories. Generals hungered to chase the rout; Jia counseled: "Shao adored both sons and never picked one successor. Guo Tu and Feng Ji will pit brother against brother until hatred ripens. Hurry them and they unite; slacken and ambition divides them. Better mime a march on Jing as if hunting Liu Biao and watch them tear apart; when the crack widens, one blow finishes the north." Sound," said Cao Cao. He pivoted south. At Xiping the Yuan brothers warred for Ji. Tan fled Shang's assault to Pingyuan and dispatched Xin Pi to sue for peace. Cao Cao wheeled north to rescue him and soon sealed Ye. He helped storm Nanpi and quiet Ji. Jia took the village marquisate of Weiyang. 〈Master Fu adds that once Hebei fell Cao Cao drafted luminaries of four provinces into secretarial posts—that scheme was Jia's. Every one of those appointments traced to Jia.〉

太祖將征袁尚及三郡烏丸，諸下多懼劉表使劉備襲許以討太祖，嘉曰：

As Cao Cao readied war on Shang and the three Wuhuan cantons his staff dreaded Liu Biao dispatching Liu Bei against Xu; Jia answered:

公雖威震天下，胡恃其遠，必不設備。因其無備，卒然擊之，可破滅也。且袁紹有恩於民夷，而尚兄弟生存。今四州之民，徒以威附，德施未加，舍而南征，尚因烏丸之資，招其死主之臣，胡人一動，民夷俱應，以生蹋頓之心，成覬覦之計，恐青、冀非己之有也。表，坐談客耳，自知才不足以御備，重任之則恐不能制，輕任之則備不為用，雖虛國遠征，公無憂矣。

Barbarians bank on distance—they will not brace for you. Catch them lounging and a sudden blow wipes them out. Yuan Shao's kindness still haunts the frontier and his sons breathe. Four provinces obey terror alone—grace never landed; march south now and Shang trades Wuhuan grain for fanatics; nomads twitch, settlers rise, Tadun dreams of kingship, and Qing plus Ji slip from your grasp. Biao talks philosophy yet knows he cannot leash Bei—give Bei power and he risks coup, withhold it and Bei sulks—strip the capital bare if you must; Biao will not move.

太祖遂行。至易，嘉言曰：「兵貴神速。今千里襲人，輜重多，難以趣利，且彼聞之，必為備；不如留輜重，輕兵兼道以出，掩其不意。」太祖乃密出盧龍塞，直指單于庭。虜卒聞太祖至，惶怖合戰。大破之，斬蹋頓及名王已下。尚及兄熙走遼東。

Cao Cao marched. Reaching Yi Jia declared: "Victory belongs to the swift. A thousand-li strike weighed down with wagons forfeits surprise—news travels and defenses rise; better leave baggage and drive light troops by forced march to catch them unaware." Cao Cao stole through Lulong Pass toward the chieftain's yurt. The tribes learned he arrived and collided with him in terror. The army routed the host, executing Tadun and the leading tribal kings. Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi raced into Liaodong.

董昭字公仁，濟陰定陶人也。舉孝廉，除癭陶長、柏人令，袁紹以為參軍事。紹逆公孫瓚於界橋，鉅鹿太守李邵及郡冠蓋，以瓚兵強，皆欲屬瓚。紹聞之，使昭領鉅鹿。問：「御以何術？」對曰：「一人之微，不能消眾謀，欲誘致其心，唱與同議，及得其情，乃當權以制之耳。計在臨時，未可得言。」時郡右姓孫伉等數十人專為謀主，驚動吏民。昭至郡，偽作紹檄告郡云：「得賊羅候安平張吉辭，當攻鉅鹿，賊故孝廉孫伉等為應，檄到收行軍法，惡止其身，妻子勿坐。」昭案檄告令，皆即斬之。一郡惶恐，乃以次安慰，遂皆平集。事訖白紹，紹稱善。會魏郡太守栗攀為兵所害，紹以昭領魏郡太守。時郡界大亂，賊以萬數，遣使往來，交易市買。昭厚待之，因用為間，乘虛掩討，輒大克破。二日之中，羽檄三至。

Dong Zhao, whose courtesy name was Gongren, came from Dingtao in Jiyin Commandery. Raised as Filial and Honest, he served as magistrate of Yingtao and Bairen before Yuan Shao took him onto staff. At Jie Bridge Yuan Shao faced Gongsun Zan; Julu's Li Shao and local gentry, awed by Zan's army, prepared to defect. Shao sent Zhao to govern Julu. He asked: "With what method will you govern them?" Zhao answered: "I cannot outweigh a mob single-handed; I will join their chorus until I read their hearts, then seize the moment to master them. The exact stratagem depends on the moment and cannot be stated in advance." Meanwhile dozens of magnates including Sun Kang steered the conspiracy and spread panic. When Zhao reached the commandery he forged Shao's order proclaiming to the county: "Captured testimony from the bandit scout Luo Hou of Anping, Zhang Ji, states an attack on Julu is planned; former Filial and Incorrupt Sun Kang and others are accomplices; upon receipt of this order execute them by military law—punish only their persons, not wives and children." He published the forgery and cut down every name on it. Terror gripped the district until Zhao soothed rank after rank and calm returned. Shao heard the report and approved. When Li Pan of Wei died to rebels Shao named Zhao to the post. Bandits in uncounted thousands infested the frontier, shuttling agents to barter in the towns. Zhao feasted their messengers, turned them into informants, and hit empty camps for rout after rout. In two days three urgent orders flew in.

昭弟訪，在張邈軍中。邈與紹有隙，紹受讒將致罪於昭。昭欲詣漢獻帝，至河內，為張楊所留。因楊上還印綬，拜騎都尉。時太祖領兗州，遣使詣楊，欲令假塗西至長安，楊不聽。昭說楊曰：「袁、曹雖為一家，勢不久羣。曹今雖弱，然實天下之英雄也，當故結之。況今有緣，宜通其上事，並表薦之；若事有成，永為深分。」楊於是通太祖上事，表薦太祖。昭為太祖作書與長安諸將李傕、郭汜等，各隨輕重致殷勤。楊亦遣使詣太祖。太祖遺楊犬馬金帛，遂與西方往來。天子在安邑，昭從河內往，詔拜議郎。

His brother Fang served under Zhang Miao. Miao feuded with Shao; poisoned counsel convinced Shao to blame Zhao. Zhao aimed for the emperor yet Zhang Yang held him at Hanoi. Yang forwarded his resignation of insignia and secured him the post of Commandant of Cavalry. Cao Cao governed Yan and asked Yang for a corridor to Chang'an; Yang declined. Zhao told Yang: "Yuan and Cao walk together now but will split. Cao looks feeble yet he is the age's champion—old ties say you should clasp his hand. The moment favors action—carry his petitions to court and sponsor him; if matters succeed you will share a bond forever deep." Yang relayed Cao Cao's paperwork and recommended him to the throne. Zhao penned letters for Li Jue, Guo Si, and the western officers—tone matched each man's stature. Yang sent his own embassy to Cao Cao. Cao Cao answered with hounds, horses, gold, and silk—western correspondence flowed. The court sat at Anyi; Zhao traveled from Hanoi and received appointment as Gentleman Consultant.

建安元年，太祖定黃巾於許，遣使詣河東。會天子還洛陽，韓暹、楊奉、董承及楊各違戾不和。昭以奉兵馬最強而少黨援，作太祖書與奉曰：

In the first Jian'an year Cao Cao crushed the Turbans at Xu and reached east toward Hedong. The emperor rode back to Luoyang as Han Xian, Yang Feng, Dong Cheng, and Zhang Yang feuded. Yang Feng commanded the strongest horse but no friends; Zhao drafted Cao Cao's voice to him:

吾與將軍聞名慕義，便推赤心。今將軍拔萬乘之艱難，反之舊都，翼佐之功，超世無疇，何其休哉！方今羣凶猾夏，四海未寧，神器至重，事在維輔；必須眾賢以清王軌，誠非一人所能獨建。心腹四支，實相恃賴，一物不備，則有闕焉。將軍當為內主，吾為外援。今吾有糧，將軍有兵，有無相通，足以相濟，死生契闊，相與共之。

General, we have long esteemed each other from afar—let our loyalty show. You dragged the throne through fire back to Luoyang—no aide of any era matches that glory. Rebels still scour China; the realm trembles and the imperial tokens demand guardians— a bench of sages must scrub the royal road—no lone arm suffices. Trunk and limbs need each other—lose one piece and the frame collapses. Hold the capital's core; I shield from without. My granaries pair with your spears—swap plenty for need and neither starves; swear through fortune and ruin alike.

奉得書喜悅，語諸將軍曰：「兗州諸軍近在許耳，有兵有糧，國家所當依仰也。」遂共表太祖為鎮東將軍，襲父爵費亭侯；昭遷符節令。

Feng read the note with delight: "Cao Cao's Yan corps hug Xu with men and stores—the court should cling to him. Jointly they proposed Cao Cao as General Who Guards the East and heir to the Feiting fief; Zhao rose to Bearer of Tallies and Seals.

太祖朝天子於洛陽，引昭並坐，問曰：「今孤來此，當施何計？」昭曰：「將軍興義兵以誅暴亂，入朝天子，輔翼王室，此五伯之功也。此下諸將，人殊意異，未必服從，今留匡弼，事勢不便，惟有移駕幸許耳。然朝廷播越，新還舊京，遠近跂望，冀一朝獲安。今復徙駕，不厭眾心。夫行非常之事，乃有非常之功，原將軍算其多者。」太祖曰：「此孤本志也。楊奉近在梁耳，聞其兵精，得無為孤累乎？」昭曰：「奉少黨援，將獨委質。鎮東、費亭之事，皆奉所定，又聞書命申束，足以見信。宜時遣使厚遺答謝，以安其意。說『京都無糧，欲車駕暫幸魯陽，魯陽近許，轉運稍易，可無縣乏之憂』。奉為人勇而寡慮，必不見疑，比使往來，足以定計。奉何能為累！」太祖曰：「善。」即遣使詣奉。徙大駕至許。奉由是失望，與韓暹等到定陵鈔暴。太祖不應，密往攻其梁營，降誅即定。奉、暹失眾，東降袁術。三年，昭遷河南尹。時張楊為其將楊醜所殺，楊長史薛洪、河內太守繆尚城守待紹救。太祖令昭單身入城，告喻洪、尚等，即日舉眾降。以昭為冀州牧。

At Luoyang audience Cao Cao drew Zhao to his side: "What move comes next? Zhao answered: "You marched under righteous banners, entered to serve the emperor, and brace the dynasty—hegemon-grade service. Your colonels nurse private schemes—staying to "assist" courts awkwardness; shifting the throne to Xu is the lever. The throne just limped home to Luoyang and every county watches for stability. Another relocation strains patience. Yet extraordinary deeds yield extraordinary merit—I beg you weigh the greater gain." Cao Cao said: "That was always my aim. Yang Feng camps near Liang with elite troops—might he burden me?" Zhao replied: "Feng stands alone and must swear fealty. He brokered your eastern command and Feiting title—his correspondence already binds him. Dispatch messengers laden with gifts to soothe him. Explain the capital starves and seeks interim quarters at Luyang—near Xu for easier convoys. Feng values daring over reflection—he will swallow the tale; shuttling envoys seals the plan. Feng poses no real obstacle." Good," said Cao Cao. Envoys rode to Feng. The emperor relocated to Xu. Feng, bitter, joined Han Xian raiding toward Dingling. Cao Cao feigned indifference then struck Feng's Liang camp by night—surrender and beheadings settled it. Stripped of followers they fled east to Yuan Shu. Third Jian'an year brought Zhao the Henan administrator's seal. Yang Chou murdered Zhang Yang; Xue Hong and Miao Shang walled Hanoi for Yuan Shao relief. Cao Cao sent Zhao unescorted through the gates; Hong and Shang capitulated the same hour. Ji Province went to Zhao.

太祖令劉備拒袁術，昭曰：「備勇而志大，關羽、張飛為之羽翼，恐備之心未可得論也！」太祖曰：「吾已許之矣。」備到下邳，殺徐州刺史車冑，反。太祖自征備，徙昭為徐州牧。袁紹遣將顏良攻東郡，又徙昭為魏郡太守，從討良。良死後，進圍鄴城。袁紹同族春卿為魏郡太守，在城中，其父元長在揚州，太祖遣人迎之。

When Cao Cao tasked Liu Bei against Shu, Zhao warned: "Bei dreams large with Guan and Zhang as talons—his loyalty is unreadable!" I gave my word," Cao Cao answered. Bei rode to Xiapi, slew Che Zhou, and revolted. Cao Cao marched in person and moved Zhao to Xu governor. Shao hurled Yan Liang at Dongjun; Zhao became Wei administrator and joined the strike. Once Liang fell the army ringed Ye. Yuan Chunqing held Wei from within while his father Yuan Chang tarried in the south; Cao Cao fetched the elder.

昭書與春卿曰：

Zhao's letter to Chunqing read:

蓋聞孝者不背親以要利，仁者不忘君以徇私，志士不探亂以徼幸，智者不詭道以自危。足下大君，昔避內難，南游百越，非疏骨肉，樂彼吳會，智者深識，獨或宜然。曹公愍其守志清恪，離羣寡儔，故特遣使江東，或迎或送，今將至矣。就令足下處偏平之地，依德義之主，居有泰山之固，身為喬松之偶，以義言之，猶宜背彼向此，舍民趣父也。且邾儀父始與隱公盟，魯人嘉之，而不書爵，然則王所未命，爵尊不成，春秋之義也。況足下今日之所託者乃危亂之國，所受者乃矯誣之命乎？苟不逞之與羣，而厥父之不恤，不可以言孝。忘祖宗所居之本朝，安非正之姦職，難可以言忠。忠孝並替，難以言智。又足下昔日為曹公所禮辟，夫戚族人而疏所生，內所寓而外王室，懷邪祿而叛知己，遠福祚而近危亡，棄明義而收大恥，不亦可惜邪！若能翻然易節，奉帝養父，委身曹公，忠孝不墜，榮名彰矣。宜深留計，早決良圖。

They say the dutiful never sell parents for gain, the humane never shelve their prince for selfish ends, the resolute never mine turmoil for fortune, and the wise never bend principle toward ruin. Your father fled civil war into the far south—not because he scorned kin or adored Wu, but because foresight sometimes demands retreat. Cao Cao admires his integrity in exile and sends boats east to bring him—expect him soon. Even had you safe walls under a sage king, righteousness still bids you quit posts for your father's arms. When Zhu's Yi Fu swore with Duke Yin, Lu praised him yet withheld noble rank—without the king's patent rank cannot hold; that is Annals teaching. Worse still you cling to a doomed court under counterfeit orders. Plotting with rebels while ignoring the father who raised you is not filial. Forgetting the legitimate court your clan served to serve usurpers is not loyalty. Lose both virtues and wisdom vanishes. You accepted Cao Cao's respectful call yet now favor strangers over parents, mouth loyalty while aiding rebels, fatten on treacherous salary and spurn your patron—trading blessing for ruin and honor for infamy! Turn now: obey the throne, rescue your father, bind yourself to Cao Cao—duty stays whole and renown gleams. Think hard and choose quickly.

鄴既定，以昭為諫議大夫。後袁尚依烏丸蹋頓，太祖將征之。患軍糧難致，鑿平虜、泉州二渠入海通運，昭所建也。太祖表封千秋亭侯，轉拜司空軍祭酒。

Ye's fall made Zhao Grand Counselor. When Shang fled to Tadun Cao Cao eyed the north; anxious over logistics Zhao cut the Pinglu and Quanzhou canals to feed supply ships. Cao Cao enfeoffed him village marquis of Qianqiu and named him army libationer.

後昭建議：「宜脩古建封五等。」太祖曰：「建設五等者，聖人也，又非人臣所製，吾何以堪之？」昭曰：

Later Zhao proposed: "It is fitting to restore antiquity and establish the five ranks of nobility." Cao Cao answered: "Only sages erect those ranks; ministers may not invent them—how dare I? Zhao replied:

自古以來，人臣匡世，未有今日之功。有今日之功，未有久處人臣之勢者也。今明公恥有慚德而未盡善，樂保名節而無大責，德美過於伊、周，此至德之所極也。然太甲、成王未必可遭，今民難化，甚於殷、周，處大臣之勢，使人以大事疑己，誠不可不重慮也。明公雖邁威德，明法術，而不定其基，為萬世計，猶未至也。定基之本，在地與人，宜稍建立，以自籓衛。明公忠節穎露，天威在顏，耿弇床下之言，硃英無妄之論，不得過耳。昭受恩非凡，不敢不陳。

No servant who righted the realm ever matched your ledger. No one who scaled such heights stayed forever the subject's stance. You fret over moral blemish yet keep unstained name—your excellence outshines Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou, the summit of sage conduct. Taijia's redemption or Cheng's youth may never recur; commoners today prove harder to mold than Shang or Zhou peasants; wielding supreme ministerial power while the world eyes you for higher ambition demands cold reckoning. You tower in prestige and statute, yet until you secure your base for generations to come the edifice stays unfinished. Lay foundations in territory and talent—build bulwarks step by step so you can shield what you hold. Your name for loyalty blazes and imperial gravity sits on your brow—no whisper rivals Geng Yan's midnight plea or Zhu Ying's sober caution. Zhao owed rare kindness and could not stay silent.

〈《獻帝春秋》曰：昭與列侯諸將議，以丞相宜進爵國公，九錫備物，以彰殊勳；書與荀彧曰：「昔周旦、呂望，當姬氏之盛，因二聖之業，輔翼成王之幼，功勳若彼，猶受上爵，錫土開宇。末世田單，驅強齊之眾，報弱燕之怨，收城七十，迎复襄王；襄王加賞於單，使東有掖邑之封，西有菑上之虞。前世錄功，濃厚如此。今曹公遭海內傾覆，宗廟焚滅，躬擐甲胄，周旋征伐，櫛風沐雨，且三十年，芟夷羣凶，為百姓除害，使漢室復存，劉氏奉祀。方之曩者數公，若太山之與丘垤，豈同日而論乎？今徒與列將功臣，並侯一縣，此豈天下所望哉！」〉後太祖遂受魏公、魏王之號，皆昭所創。

〈Emperor Xian's chronicle notes Zhao urging the court to raise the Chancellor to duke rank with full nine bestowals for unmatched service; He wrote Xun Yu: "Formerly Duke of Zhou and Lü Wang, amid the Ji clan's flourishing, building on the two sages' enterprise, aided the young King Cheng—with merit such as theirs they still received supreme noble rank and grants of land opening territory. Late in an age Tian Dan mobilized mighty Qi to humble Yan, retook seventy towns, and restored King Xiang; Xiang heaped honors on Dan—Ye east of the river, Zi heights west. Past courts weighed merit this lavishly. Lord Cao faced empire-wide ruin and burnt shrines; thirty years in harness through storm he swept predators aside, saved the people, revived Han, and kept Liu offerings alive. Set him beside those ancients and it is Taishan beside a molehill—no honest comparison exists. Yet today he splits county marquessates with captains—is that what the world hoped for?"〉" Cao Cao later took Duke and King of Wei—every step traced to Zhao.

及關羽圍曹仁於樊，孫權遣使辭以「遣兵西上，欲掩取羽。江陵、公安累重，羽失二城，必自奔走，樊軍之圍，不救自解。乞密不漏，令羽有備。」太祖詰羣臣，羣臣咸言宜當密之。昭曰：「軍事尚權，期於合宜。宜應權以密，而內露之。羽聞權上，若還自護，圍則速解，便獲其利。可使兩賊相對銜持，坐待其弊。秘而不露，使權得志，非計之上。又，圍中將吏不知有救，計糧怖懼，儻有他意，為難不小。露之為便。且羽為人強梁，自恃二城守固，必不速退。」太祖曰：「善。」即敕救將徐晃以權書射著圍裡及羽屯中，圍裡聞之，志氣百倍。羽果猶豫。權軍至，得其二城，羽乃破敗。

When Guan Yu besieged Cao Ren at Fan, Sun Quan sent envoys saying he would "dispatch troops west intending to strike Guan Yu by surprise. Lose Jiangling and Gong'an and Yu bolts—the Fan cordon slackens untouched. Beg secrecy lest Yu gain warning." Cao Cao polled his council; every voice favored concealment. Zhao answered: "War prizes timing—fitness beats dogma. Promise silence abroad while leaking truth within. Yu learns Sun Quan sails west and wheels home—Fan lifts fast while we profit. Let the two predators leash each other while we watch them tire. Total secrecy hands Sun Quan free rein—that is second-rate craft. Besieged men hear no relief and count dwindling grain—panic breeds mutiny if unchecked. Leak the news. Yu is stubborn and trusts his twin bastions—he will not slip away soon." Good," said Cao Cao. He told Xu Huang to loft Sun Quan's dispatch into Fan and Yu's lines—defenders roared with fresh heart. Yu stalled, torn. Sun Quan seized two towns and broke Yu.

文帝即王位，拜昭將作大匠。及踐阼，遷大鴻臚，進封右鄉侯。二年，分邑百戶，賜昭弟訪爵關內侯，徙昭為侍中。三年，征東大將軍曹休臨江在洞浦口，自表：「原將銳卒虎步江南，因敵取資，事必克捷；若其無臣，不須為念。」帝恐休便渡江，驛馬詔止。時昭侍側，因曰：「竊見陛下有憂色，獨以休濟江故乎？今者渡江，人情所難，就休有此志，勢不獨行，當須諸將。臧霸等既富且貴，無復他望，但欲終其天年，保守祿祚而已，何肯乘危自投死地，以求徼倖？苟霸等不進，休意自沮。臣恐陛下雖有敕渡之詔，猶必沉吟，未便從命也。」是後無幾，暴風吹賊船，悉詣休等營下，斬首獲生，賊遂迸散。詔敕諸軍促渡。軍未時進，賊救船遂至。

Cao Pi as king named Zhao Chief of Palace Construction. On the throne he raised Zhao to Grand Herald and village marquis of Youxiang. Year two brought Fang a hundred-household noble stipend inside the passes while Zhao moved to Palace Attendant. Third year General Who Conquers the East Cao Xiu faced the river at Dongpu inlet and memorialized: "I wish to lead crack troops tiger-stepping south of the Yangzi, feeding off the enemy—the deed must succeed; Should plans miscarry Your Majesty need not fret." Fearing a rash ford Cao Pi raced counterorders. At audience Zhao whispered: "Your face clouds—is it Xiu fording the Yangzi? A river crossing unnerves every soldier; Xiu cannot swim it solo—colonels must follow. Zang Ba and peers already feast on rank—they seek quiet pensions, not dice-with-death gambles. Hold Ba back and Xiu's urge dies. Your servant fears though Your Majesty issued edict permitting crossing they will still hesitate and not obey at once." Soon a squall washed Wu hulls under Xiu's guns—heads piled, prisoners flooded—foes melted. Fresh orders pressed every column to ford. Before lines crossed Wu relief hulls closed.

大駕幸宛，征南大將軍夏侯尚等攻江陵，未拔。時江水淺狹，尚欲乘船將步騎入渚中安屯，作浮橋，南北往來，議者多以為城必可拔。昭上疏曰：

The court moved to Wan while Xiahou Shang hammered Jiangling in vain. Low water tempted Shang to move horse and foot onto the islets and span them with pontoon bridges north and south—counselors assumed the town must yield. Zhao memorialized:

武皇帝智勇過人，而用兵畏敵，不敢輕之若此也。夫兵好進惡退，常然之數。平地無險，猶尚艱難，就當深入，還道宜利，兵有進退，不可如意。今屯渚中，至深也；浮橋而濟，至危也；一道而行，至狹也：三者兵家所忌，而今行之。賊頻攻橋，誤有漏失，渚中精銳，非魏之有，將轉化為吳矣。臣私慼之，忘寢與食，而議者怡然不以為憂，豈不惑哉！加江水向長，一旦暴增，何以防禦？就不破賊，尚當自完。奈何乘危，不以為懼？事將危矣，惟陛下察之！

Martial Emperor owned genius and nerve yet treated foes with dread—never rash. Soldiers crave attack and dread withdrawal—that law holds. Open plains still punish armies; drive deep and exits narrow—movement follows fate, not whim. Sandbar camps mean deepest thrust; pontoon crossings spell utmost peril; one road binds every rank—three faults strategists shun, yet we embrace them. Wu hammer the spans once breach opens—Wei elites stranded midstream become Sun trophies. Your servant cannot eat or sleep while advisors toast calm—is that sane? The great river swells toward summer—who holds a sudden surge? Fail to storm yet still must save the army. Why hug peril so casually? Disaster knocks—please weigh it, Majesty!

太和四年，行司徒事，六年，拜真。昭上疏陳末流之弊曰：

Taihe four he handled Steward business; Taihe six he took the seal outright. Zhao warned against decay:

凡有天下者，莫不貴尚敦朴忠信之士，深疾虛偽不真之人者，以其毀教亂治，敗俗傷化也。近魏諷則伏誅建安之末，曹偉則斬戮黃初之始。伏惟前後聖詔，深疾浮偽，欲以破散邪黨，常用切齒；而執法之吏皆畏其權勢，莫能糾擿，毀壞風俗，侵欲滋甚。竊見當今年少，不復以學問為本，專更以交遊為業；國士不以孝悌清脩為首，乃以趨勢遊利為先。合黨連羣，互相褒嘆，以毀訾為罰戮，用黨譽為爵賞，附己者則嘆之盈言，不附者則為作瑕釁。至乃相謂『今世何憂不度邪，但求人道不勤，羅之不博耳；又何患其不知己矣，但當吞之以藥而柔調耳。』又聞或有使奴客名作在職家人，冒之出入，往來禁奧，交通書疏，有所探問。凡此諸事，皆法之所不取，刑之所不赦，雖諷、偉之罪，無以加也。

Every throne esteems honest servants and loathes fraudsters—they unravel doctrine, wreck government, poison manners. Wei Feng died late Jian'an; Cao Wei fell early Huangchu. Sacred edicts gnash at glittering deceit and vow to break cabals; yet bailiffs quailed before grandees—custom rotted while greed spread. Youth today trades study for networking; leading men prize connections over filial purity. Cliques trade flattery for offices—join and earn hymns; refuse and earn fiction. They joke that success needs merely wider nets and louder favors; they boast secret potions and smooth tongues can sway any patron. Slaves borrow mandarin names to haunt palace gates, ferrying letters and gossip. Statute condemns every item—no heavier guilt than Feng or Wei showed.

帝於是發切詔，斥免諸葛誕、鄧颺等。昭年八十一薨，諡曰定侯。子冑嗣。冑歷位郡守、九卿。

The throne answered with biting orders demoting Zhuge Dan, Deng Yang, company. He expired at eighty-one as Marquis Ding. Son Zhou succeeded. Zhou rose through prefectures to nine ministries.

劉曄字子揚，淮南成德人，〈惪音德。〉漢光武子阜陵王延後也。父普，母脩，產渙及曄。渙九歲，曄七歲，而母病困。臨終，戒渙、曄以「普之侍人，有諂害之性。身死之後，懼必亂家。汝長大能除之，則吾無恨矣。」曄年十三，謂兄渙曰：「亡母之言，可以行矣。」渙曰：「那可爾！」曄即入室殺侍者，徑出拜墓。舍內大駕，白普。普怒，遣人追曄。曄還拜謝曰：「亡母顧命之言，敢受不請擅行之罰。」普心異之，遂不責也。汝南許劭名知人，避地揚州，稱曄有佐世之才。

Liu Ye, style Ziyang, hailed from Chengde in Huainan, 〈Commentarial gloss: read the unusual character as dé (virtue).〉 He descended from Guangwu's Prince Yan of Fuling. Father Pu and mother Xiu raised brothers Huan and Ye. At nine and seven the boys watched their mother sink. At deathbed she warned Huan and Ye that "Pu's attendant women carry flattery and harmful nature. Once I am gone they will wreck this house. If you grow and can remove them I die without regret." At thirteen Ye told Huan: "Time to honor Mother's charge. Huan cried: "We cannot! Ye strode in, cut the woman down, and raced to the grave. The household panicked and told Pu. Pu raged and sent runners after Ye. Ye knelt back: "Mother's last order—I accept whatever penalty for acting unsanctioned. Pu stared, then spared him. Runan's Xu Shao, refugee in Yangzhou, called Ye fit to steady an empire.

揚士多輕俠狡桀，有鄭寶、張多、許乾之屬，各擁部曲。寶最驍果，才力過人，一方所憚。欲驅略百姓越赴江表，以曄高族名人，欲強逼曄使唱導此謀。曄時年二十餘，心內憂之，而未有緣。會太祖遣使詣州，有所案問。曄往見，為論事勢，要將與歸，駐止數日。寶果從數百人齎牛酒來候使，曄令家僮將其眾坐中門外，為設酒飯；與寶於內宴飲。密勒健兒，令因行觴而斫寶。寶性不甘酒，視候甚明，觴者不敢發。曄因自引取佩刀斫殺寶，斬其首以令其軍，云：「曹公有令，敢有動者，與寶同罪。」眾皆驚怖，走還營。營有督將精兵數千，懼其為亂，曄即乘寶馬，將家僮數人，詣寶營門，呼其渠帥，喻以禍福，皆叩頭開門內曄。曄撫慰安懷，咸悉悅服，推曄為主。曄睹漢室漸微，己為支屬，不欲擁兵，遂委其部曲與廬江太守劉勛。勳怪其故，曄曰：「寶無法制，其眾素以鈔略為利，僕宿無資，而整齊之，必懷怨難久，故相與耳。」時勳兵強於江、淮之間。孫策惡之，遣使卑辭厚幣，以書說勳曰：「上繚宗民，數欺下國，忿之有年矣。擊之，路不便，原因大國伐之。上繚甚實，得之可以富國，請出兵為外援。」勳信之，又得策珠寶、葛越，喜悅。外內盡賀，而曄獨否。勳問其故，對曰：「上繚雖小，城堅池深，攻難守易，不可旬日而舉，則兵疲於外，而國內虛。策乘虛而襲我，則後不能獨守。是將軍進屈於敵，退無所歸。若軍必出，禍今至矣。」勳不從。興兵伐上繚，策果襲其後。勳窮踧，遂奔太祖。

Yangzhou bred swaggering swordsmen—Zheng Bao, Zhang Duo, Xu Gan led private hosts. Bao was boldest and strongest—the region dreaded him. Plotting to herd civilians south they drafted Ye, eminent name, to bless the march. Ye past twenty seethed yet saw no lever. Cao Cao's investigator arrived. Ye met him, argued the stakes, and kept him days. Bao marched hundreds with cattle and wine; Ye parked them beyond the inner gate with feast; then banqueted Bao indoors. He told braves to slash Bao mid-toast. Bao stayed sober and watched like a hawk—no toast offered an opening for the blade. Ye snatched his dagger, cut Bao down, lifted his head to the ranks: "Cao Cao commands—stir and you die like Bao. The mob bolted for their tents. Thousands of veterans ringed the stockade; Ye rode Bao's stallion to the gate with a handful of servants, called out the leaders, pled consequence—and they opened for him knuckling brow. He calmed them until every blade pledged loyalty and named him leader. Han's twilight and royal kinship convinced Ye to shed command—he handed his bands to Lujiang's Liu Xun. Xun asked; Ye explained: "Those riders lived by robbery; I had no silver to reform them—they would have turned on me—so I passed them along. Then Xun dominated the Jiang-Huai corridor. Sun Ce baited him with silk and soft words: "Shangliao bullies us year on year; the trails punish us—lend your army to chastise them. Shangliao is very wealthy; taking it enriches the state—please dispatch troops as outer reinforcement." Xun swallowed the tale and pocketed Ce's pearls and damask—delighted. Everyone toasted except Ye. Ye warned: "Shangliao is a nut—weeks of siege will drain you while your rear goes hollow. Ce will stab your spine—you cannot stand alone after. You march into humiliation and retreat into nowhere. If the army must march disaster arrives now." Xun ignored him. Xun marched north; Ce hit his rear as promised. Broken, Xun bolted to Cao Cao.

太祖至壽春，時廬江界有山賊陳策，眾數萬人，臨險而守。先時遣偏將致誅，莫能禽克。太祖問羣下，可伐與不？咸云：「山峻高而谿谷深隘，守易攻難；又無之不足為損，得之不足為益。」曄曰：

At Shouchun Lujiang hosted Chen Ce's mountain army—myriad fighters on cliffs. Earlier raids never cracked him. Cao Cao polled the hall: worth striking? They answered: "Steep ridges and tight gorges favor defenders; lacking it costs little harm; gaining it yields little profit." Ye said:

策等小豎，因亂赴險，遂相依為強耳，非有爵命威信相伏也。往者偏將資輕，而中國未夷，故策敢據險以守。今天下略定，後伏先誅。夫畏死趨賞，愚知所同，故廣武君為韓信畫策，謂其威名足以先聲後實而服鄰國也。豈況明公之德，東征西怨，先開賞募，大兵臨之，令宣之日，軍門啟而虜自潰矣。

Ce is rabble sheltering in rocks—no mandate, no prestige. Lesser generals and civil war let him squat there. Today the heartland quiets and rebels hang first. All souls chase pay and flee blades—Guangwu Jun told Han Xin fame alone could cow neighbors before blades rose. Your virtue makes east march west mourn—publish bounty, slam the army down, and Ce's bands dissolve when trumpets blow.

太祖笑曰：「卿言近之！」遂遣猛將在前，大軍在後，至則克策，如曄所度。太祖還，辟曄為司空倉曹掾。〈《傅子》曰：太祖徵曄及蔣濟、胡質等五人，皆揚州名士。每舍亭傳，未曾不講，所以見重；內論國邑先賢、禦賊固守、行軍進退之宜，外料敵之變化、彼我虛實、戰爭之術，夙夜不解。而曄獨臥車中，終不一言。濟怪而問之，曄答曰：「對明主非精神不接，精神可學而得乎？」及見太祖，太祖果問揚州先賢，賊之形勢。四人爭對，待次而言，再見如此，太祖每和悅，而曄終不一言。四人笑之。後一見太祖止無所復問，曄乃設遠言以動太祖，太祖適知便止。若是者三。其旨趣以為遠言宜徵精神，獨見以盡其機，不宜於猥坐說也。太祖已探見其心矣，坐罷，尋以四人為令，而授曄以心腹之任；每有疑事，輒以函問曄，至一夜數十至耳。〉

Cao Cao grinned: "Near the mark! He drove vanguard hard, main body behind—Ce fell as Ye forecast. Homeward he named Ye aide in the granary office. 〈Master Fu lists five Yangzhou luminaries—Ye, Jiang Ji, Hu Zhi—summoned north. They argued every post-house hence earned notice; inside they rehearsed garrison lore; outside they weighed foe and field—sleepless. Ye curled in his wagon mute. Ji pressed; Ye said: "A bright sovereign reads presence—can presence be faked from books? Audience came—Cao Cao quizzed Yangzhou and hills. Four tongues raced while Ye stayed silent though Cao Cao smiled. They mocked his silence. Later Cao Cao fell quiet; Ye floated one far-reaching theme—Cao Cao caught it and cut short. Three audiences ran that way. He meant grand themes demand focus and private rooms—not tavern debate. Cao Cao read him—sent the four to county posts and kept Ye at the breast; midnight brought stacks of sealed questions.〉

太祖征張魯，轉曄為主簿。既至漢中，山峻難登，軍食頗乏。太祖曰：「此妖妄之國耳，何能為有無？吾軍少食，不如速還。」便自引歸，令曄督後諸軍，使以次出。曄策魯可克，加糧道不繼，雖出，軍猶不能皆全，馳白太祖：「不如致攻。」遂進兵，多出弩以射其營。魯奔走，漢中遂平。曄進曰：

Against Zhang Lu Ye became chief clerk. Hanzhong cliffs starved the column. Cao Cao sneered: "Shaman country—why bleed for it? Our army lacks grain—better withdraw quickly." He rode ahead telling Ye to stagger the retreat. Ye calculated Lu could be taken yet supply lines failed—even exiting not every soldier would survive—he galloped to report the Grand Progenitor: "Better press the assault." They pushed with bolt storms into Lu's lines. Lu ran; Hanzhong fell. Ye urged:

明公以步卒五千，將誅董卓，北破袁紹，南征劉表，九州百郡，十併其八，威震天下，勢慴海外。今舉漢中，蜀人望風，破膽失守，推此而前，蜀可傳檄而定。劉備，人傑也，有度而遲，得蜀日淺，蜀人未恃也。今破漢中，蜀人震恐，其勢自傾。以公之神明，因其傾而壓之，無不克也。若小緩之，諸葛亮明於治而為相，關羽、張飛勇冠三軍而為將，蜀民既定，據險守要，則不可犯矣。今不取，必為後憂。

From five thousand foot you slew Dong Zhuo, broke Shao, chased Liu Biao—eight parts of nine provinces kneel—terror crosses oceans. Hanzhong's capture turns Shu to jelly—one more shove and edicts finish them. Bei is heroic yet cautious—new in Shu, hearts still loose. Panic already rocks their stance. Ride that tilt—nothing stops you. Hesitate and Zhuge steadies the state while Guan and Zhang bolt the passes—then Shu seals shut. Skip this hour—pay tomorrow.

太祖不從，〈《傅子》曰：居七日，蜀降者說：「蜀中一日數十驚，備雖斬之而不能安也。」太祖延問曄曰：「今尚可擊不？」曄曰：「今已小定，未可擊也。」〉大軍遂還。曄自漢中還，為行軍長史，兼領軍。延康元年，蜀將孟達率眾降。達有容止才觀，文帝甚器愛之，使達為新城太守，加散騎常侍。曄以為「達有苟得之心，而恃才好術，必不能感恩懷義。新城與吳、蜀接連，若有變態，為國生患。」文帝竟不易，後達終於叛敗。〈《傅子》曰：初，太祖時，魏諷有重名，自卿相以下皆傾心交之。其後孟達去劉備歸文帝，論者多稱有樂毅之量。曄一見諷、達而皆云必反，卒如其言。〉

Cao Cao refused. 〈《Master Fu》 records after seven days Shu defectors reported: "Within Shu dozens of alarms strike daily—though Bei executes culprits calm never returns." Cao Cao called Ye: "Still time? Ye answered: "Panic faded—too late.〉 The host marched home. Ye came back as chief of staff with guard command. Yankang 1 brought Meng Da's capitulation. Cao Pi adored Da's polish—made him Xincheng prefect plus attendant. Ye judged "Da harbors grasping heart relying on talent and schemes—he cannot repay kindness with devotion. Xincheng joins Wu and Shu—should attitudes shift it breeds national peril." Pi ignored him—Da revolted and died. 〈Master Fu recalls Wei Feng's glittering circle under Cao Cao. Later Da fled Bei—critics likened him to Le Yi. Ye sized Feng and Da once—called both traitors—history agreed.〉

權無故求降，必內有急。權前襲殺關羽，取荊州四郡，備怒，必大興師伐之。外有強寇，眾心不安，又恐中國承其釁而伐之，故委地求降，一以卻中國之兵，二則假中國之援，以強其眾而疑敵人。權善用兵，見策知變，其計必出於此。今天下三分，中國十有其八。吳、蜀各保一州，阻山依水，有急相救，此小國之利也。今還自相攻，天亡之也。宜大興師，徑渡江襲其內。蜀攻其外，我襲其內，吳之亡不出旬月矣。吳亡則蜀孤。若割吳半，蜀固不能久存，況蜀得其外，我得其內乎！

Sun Quan's naked surrender screams inner panic. Quan slew Guan Yu and stole four districts—Bei will thunder south. Wu fears Wei mid strike—so they kneel to stall your blades and borrow your banner to steady Wu's spine. Quan is fox enough—this is textbook Sun Ce craft. Three kingdoms stand—Wei owns eight in ten. Wu and Shu cling to single provinces—mountains, rivers, mutual rescue—the small-power playbook. They claw each other—Heaven hands you the opening. Mobilize and ford straight into their belly. Shu pins the front—you dagger the rear—Wu dies inside a season. Wu falls—Shu stands alone. Carve half of Wu and Shu suffocates—worse when Shu grabs skin while you take organs!

〈帝曰：「人稱臣降而伐之，疑天下欲來者心，必以為懼，其殆不可！孤何不且受吳降，而襲蜀之後乎？」對曰：「蜀遠吳近，又聞中國伐之，便還軍，不能止也。今備已怒，故興兵擊吳，聞我伐吳，知吳必亡，必喜而進與我爭割吳地，必不改計抑怒救吳，必然勢也。」帝不聽，遂受吳降，即拜權為吳王。曄又進曰：〉

〈Cao Pi objected: "Strike a kneeling foe and future capitulators tremble— Why do I not accept Wu's surrender while striking Shu from behind?" Ye replied: "Shu sits far—news of your march makes Liu Bei wheel home unstoppable. Now Bei already furious raises troops striking Wu—hearing we strike Wu knowing Wu must fall he gladly advances contesting Wu territory with us—surely he will not reverse plan suppress wrath to rescue Wu—such posture follows necessity." Pi brushed Ye aside—accepted Wu and crowned Sun Quan king. Ye pressed again:〉

不可。先帝征伐，天下兼其八，威震海內，陛下受禪即真，德合天地，聲暨四遠，此實然之勢，非卑臣頌言也。權雖有雄才，故漢驃騎將軍南昌侯耳，官輕勢卑。士民有畏中國心，不可強迫與成所謀也。不得已受其降，可進其將軍號，封十萬戶侯，不可即以為王也。夫王位，去天子一階耳，其禮秩服御相亂也。彼直為侯，江南士民未有君臣之義也。我信其偽降，就封殖之，崇其位號，定其君臣，是為虎傅翼也。權既受王位，卻蜀兵之後，外盡禮事中國，使其國內皆聞之，內為無禮以怒陛下。陛下赫然發怒，興兵討之，乃徐告其民曰：『我委身事中國，不愛珍貨重寶，隨時貢獻，不敢失臣禮也，無故伐我，必欲殘我國家，俘我民人子女以為僮隸僕妾。』吳民無緣不信其言也。信其言而感怒，上下同心，戰加十倍矣。

No. Martial Emperor seized eight tenths—you inherit mandate joining heaven—no flattery, plain physics. Quan remains an old Han general—rank thin. Wu's gentry still dread Wei—you cannot force instant loyalty. If you must accept, raise him general and fat marquis—not king. King brushes the throne—regalia collides with imperial ritual. Keep him a mere marquis and Wu's people owe you no fealty. Recognize the sham yet crown him king—you arm the tiger you meant to cage. After Wu beats Shu back Quan will bow low abroad yet tweak your nose at home—staging outrage for his crowds. When you march he tells Wu: I knelt to Wei and shipped tribute—yet they butcher us and steal our children as chattel. His subjects swallow every word. Angry unity doubles Wu's bite overnight.

〈又不從。遂即拜權為吳王。權將陸議大敗劉備，殺其兵八萬餘人，備僅以身免。權外禮愈卑，而內行不順，果如曄言。〉五年，幸廣陵泗口，命荊、揚州諸軍並進。會羣臣，問：「權當自來不？」咸曰：「陛下親征，權恐怖，必舉國而應。又不敢以大眾委之臣下，必自將而來。」曄曰：「彼謂陛下欲以萬乘之重牽己，而超越江湖者在於別將，必勒兵待事，未有進退也。」大駕停住積日，權果不至，帝乃旋師。云：「卿策之是也。當念為吾滅二賊，不可但知其情而已。」

〈Again Pi ignored him. Sun Quan became king anyway. Lu Xun shattered Bei—eighty thousand dead—Bei fled alone. Quan's outward bows grew lower while inner defiance matched Ye's forecast.〉 Year five he toured Guangling-Sikou ordering converging strikes from Jing and Yangzhou. He asked the hall: "Will Quan show? They said: "Your presence terrifies him—he will empty Wu. Moreover he dare not entrust great host to subordinates—must command personally." Ye answered: "Quan bets you bait him personally while another crosses—so he waits frozen. Days passed—no Quan—Pi marched home. Pi admitted: "You called it. Next time end both rebels—not just read them."

明帝即位，進爵東亭侯，邑三百戶。詔曰：

Cao Rui raised Ye to East Pavilion marquis—three hundred households. An edict ran:

尊嚴祖考，所以崇孝表行也；追本敬始，所以篤教流化也。是以成湯、文、武，實造商、周，詩、書之義，追尊稷、契，歌頌有娀、姜嫄之事，明盛德之源流，受命所由興也。自我魏室之承天序，既發跡於高皇、太皇帝，而功隆於武皇、文皇帝。至於高皇之父處士君，潛脩德讓，行動神明，斯乃乾坤所福饗，光靈所從來也。而精神幽遠，號稱罔記，非所謂崇孝重本也。其令公卿已下，會議號諡。

Honoring forebears broadcasts filial duty; tracing origins deepens moral instruction. Thus Tang and Zhou kings traced founders Ji and Qi—the canon sings how mandate springs from virtue. Wei rose through Gaozu and Taizu—glory peaked with Wu and Wen emperors. The recluse sire cultivated hidden virtue—the cosmos answered him. Yet his shrine lacked posthumous style—that slighted filial roots. Convoke the court to fix his canonization.

曄議曰：

Ye argued:

聖帝孝孫之欲褒崇先祖，誠無量已。然親疏之數，遠近之降，蓋有禮紀，所以割斷私情，克成公法，為萬世式也。周王所以上祖后稷者，以其佐唐有功，名在祀典故也。至於漢氏之初，追諡之義，不過其父。上比周室，則大魏發跡自高皇始；下論漢氏，則追諡之禮不及其祖。此誠往代之成法，當今之明義也。陛下孝思中發，誠無已已，然君舉必書，所以慎於禮制也。以為追尊之義，宜齊高皇而已。

An emperor's urge to crown ancestors knows no ceiling. Ritual grades kin by distance—cut private grief to serve public precedent. Zhou worshipped Hou Ji because Tang's archives recorded his deed. Early Han raised posthumous ranks only one generation up. Against Zhou our line begins with Gaozu; against Han we stop short of remote grandfathers. That is ancient statute and plain justice. Your grief is endless—yet history ink records every act—respect form. Raise posthumous honors only to Gaozu's tier.

尚書衛臻與曄議同，事遂施行。

Wei Zhen sided with Ye—the court adopted it.

遼東太守公孫淵奪叔父位，擅自立，遣使表狀。曄以為公孫氏漢時所用，遂世官相承，水則由海，陸則阻山，故胡夷絕遠難制，而世權日久。今若不誅，後必生患。若懷貳阻兵，然後致誅，於事為難。不如因其新立，有黨有仇，先其不意，以兵臨之，開設賞募，可不勞師而定也。後淵竟反。

Gongsun Yuan usurped Liaodong and petitioned the throne. Ye noted Gongsun's sea-backed mountain hedge—generations of autonomy among tribes. Spare him now—pay later. Wait for open revolt—striking grows costly. Strike while Yuan's court still splits—bounty and surprise finish him cheap. Yuan rebelled as Ye warned.

曄在朝，略不交接時人。或問其故，曄答曰：「魏室即阼尚新，智者知命，俗或未咸。僕在漢為支葉，於魏備腹心，寡偶少徒，於宜未失也。」太和六年，以疾拜太中大夫。有間，為大鴻臚，在位二年遜位，復為太中大夫，薨。諡曰景侯。子寓嗣。〈《傅子》曰：曄事明皇帝，又大見親重。帝將伐蜀，朝臣內外皆曰「不可」。曄入與帝議，因曰「可伐」；出與朝臣言，因曰「不可伐」。曄有膽智，言之皆有形。中領軍楊暨，帝之親臣，又重曄，持不可伐蜀之議最堅，每從內出，輒過曄，曄講不可之意。後暨從駕行天淵池，帝論伐蜀事，暨切諫。帝曰：「卿書生，焉知兵事！」暨謙謝曰：「臣出自儒生之末，陛下過聽，拔臣羣萃之中，立之六軍之上，臣有微心，不敢不盡言。臣言誠不足採，侍中劉曄先帝謀臣，常曰蜀不可伐。」帝曰：「曄與吾言蜀可伐。」暨曰：「曄可召質也。」詔召曄至，帝問曄，終不言。後獨見，曄責帝曰：「伐國，大謀也，臣得與聞大謀，常恐瞇夢漏洩以益臣罪，焉敢向人言之？夫兵，詭道也，軍事未發，不厭其密也。陛下顯然露之，臣恐敵國已聞之矣。」於是帝謝之。曄見出，責暨曰：「夫釣者中大魚，則縱而隨之，須可制而後牽，則無不得也。人主之威，豈徒大魚而已！子誠直臣，然計不足採，不可不精思也。」暨亦謝之。曄能應變持兩端如此。或惡曄於帝曰：「曄不盡忠，善伺上意所趨而合之。陛下試與曄言，皆反意而問之，若皆與所問反者，是曄常與聖意合也。复每問皆同者，曄之情必無所逃矣。」帝如言以驗之，果得其情，從此疏焉。曄遂發狂，出為大鴻臚，以憂死。諺曰「巧詐不如拙誠」，信矣。以曄之明智權計，若居之以德義，行之以忠信，古之上賢，何以加諸？獨任才智，不與世士相經緯，內不推心事上，外困於俗，卒不能自安於天下，豈不惜哉！〉

Ye shunned court cliques. Asked why he stayed aloof: "Wei is young—the wise see fate; the mob still doubts. I was a branch leaf under Han and a trusted intimate under Wei; few companions and few followers do not miss what is fitting." Taihe six illness brought Grand Counselor sinecure. Soon Grand Herald—two years retired—Grand Counselor again—then death. Canonized Marquis Jing. Son Yu succeeded. 〈Master Fu says Rui adored Ye. The court, inside and outside, all said, "It cannot be done." When Ye entered and discussed it with the emperor, he said, "It can be attacked"; When he went out and spoke with the court ministers, he said, "It cannot be attacked." Ye argued both sides with polish. Yang Ji—imperial favorite—loathed the Shu war yet Ye tutored him nightly against it. At Tianyuan Pool Ji begged Rui off Shu. Rui snapped: "Scholar—what do you know of war? Ji knelt: "You pulled me from ink to command—I owe blunt truth. Your servant words truly insufficient gathering Palace Attendant Liu Ye former emperor stratagem minister constantly said Shu impossible campaign." Rui said: "Ye told me strike. Ji answered: "Summon Ye. Ye stood mute before the throne. Privately Ye scolded Rui: "State war is secret—I dread pillow talk—why parade it? War thrives on silence—you bellowed plans abroad. Your Majesty openly exposed it your servant fears enemy state already heard." Rui apologized. Ye told Ji: "Land big fish—give slack until hooked tight. An emperor outweighs any fish. You are indeed an upright minister, but this plan is not adequate for adoption; it must be considered carefully." Ji bowed. Ye lived by double talk. Someone slandered Ye to emperor saying: "Ye not exhaust loyalty skilled observing superior intent tending conforming. Test him—ask backwards—if he flips he panders. Again each question identical Ye's disposition surely nowhere escapes." Rui ran the trap—Ye fell from grace. Madness exiled him to Grand Herald—he died heartsick. Proverb says "clever deceit not equal clumsy sincerity"—trustworthy indeed. Had Ye wed wit to integrity he might rival ancient sages. Genius without weave—no loyal weave inward no popular warp outward—could not rest—what waste!〉

子陶

Son Tao

少子陶，亦高才而薄行，官至平原太守。〈王弼傳曰：淮南人劉陶，善論縱橫，為當時所推。《傅子》曰：陶字季冶，善名稱，有大辯。曹爽時為選部郎，鄧颺之徒稱之以為伊呂。當此之時，其人意陵青雲，謂玄曰：「仲尼不聖。何以知其然？智者圖國；天下羣愚，如弄一丸於掌中，而不能得天下。」玄以其言大惑，不復詳難也。謂之曰：「天下之質，變無常也。今見卿窮！」爽之敗，退居里舍，乃謝其言之過。干寶《晉紀》曰：毌丘儉之起也，大將軍以問陶，陶答依違。大將軍怒曰：「卿平生與吾論天下事，至於今日而更不盡乎？」乃出為平原太守，又追殺之。〉

Younger Tao—brilliant, loose morals—rose to Pingyuan administrator. 〈Wang Bi's memoir names Huainan Liu Tao master debater. Master Fu styles him Jiye—famed tongue. Under Shuang he was Personnel clerk—Deng Yang's circle hailed him another Yi Yin. At this time that man's intent soared blue clouds speaking to Xuan saying: "Zhongni not sage. Proof? The wise conquer realms; realm's masses foolish like rolling one pellet palm center yet cannot obtain realm." Xuan dismissed him as nonsense. He answered: "Fortune shifts. Today you look finished!" Shuang's fall sent Tao home repenting his boasts. Gan Bao records Tao hedging when Guanqiu Jian rebelled. Sima Shi thundered: "You debated empire with me—now silence? He banished Tao to Pingyuan—then had him killed.〉

蔣濟字子通，楚國平阿人也。仕郡計吏、州別駕。建安十三年，孫權率眾圍合肥。時大軍征荊州，遇疾疫，唯遣將軍張喜單將千騎，過領汝南兵以解圍，頗复疾疫。濟乃密白刺史偽得喜書，雲步騎四萬已到雩婁，遣主簿迎喜。三部使齎書語城中守將，一部得入城，二部為賊所得。權信之，遽燒圍走，城用得全。明年使於譙，太祖問濟曰：「昔孤與袁本初對官渡，徙燕、白馬民，民不得走，賊亦不敢鈔。今欲徙淮南民，何如？」濟對曰：「是時兵弱賊強，不徙必失之。自破袁紹，北拔柳城，南向江、漢，荊州交臂，威震天下，民無他志。然百姓懷土，實不樂徙，懼必不安。」太祖不從，而江、淮間十餘萬眾，皆驚走吳。後濟使詣鄴，太祖迎見大笑曰：「本但欲使避賊，乃更驅盡之。」拜濟丹陽太守。

Jiang Ji, style Zitong, came from Ping'e in Chu. He served as county accountant and provincial aide. In Jian'an 13 Sun Quan surrounded Hefei. The main host died to plague in Jing; only Zhang Xi rode north with a thousand horse to sweep Runan levies to Hefei—and sickness followed him. Ji forged orders to the prefect: Xi's forty thousand were at Yulou—send clerks to greet them. Three messengers ran letters—one slipped inside; Sun Quan seized two. Quan swallowed the bait, torched his lines, and fled—Hefei stood. Next year at Qiao Cao Cao asked: "At Guandu I evacuated Yan and Baima—foes dared not loot the roads. Now I wish to move the Huainan people—what say you?" Ji answered: "Then we were weak—flight saved lives. Since Shao fell you hold north and south—commoners fear you, not Wu. Yet the commoners cling to their soil and truly dislike removal—they will surely grow restless." Cao Cao refused—and a hundred thousand souls bolted east to Sun Quan. Later at Ye Cao Cao laughed: "I meant shelter—I scattered every farmer. He named Ji Danyang prefect.

大軍南征還，以溫恢為揚州刺史，濟為別駕。令曰：「季子為臣，吳宜有君。今君還州，吾無憂矣。」民有誣告濟為謀叛主率者，太祖聞之，指前令與左將軍於禁、沛相封仁等曰：「蔣濟寧有此事！有此事，吾為不知人也。此必愚民樂亂，妄引之耳。」促理出之。辟為丞相主簿西曹屬。令曰：「舜舉皋陶，不仁者遠；臧否得中，望於賢屬矣。」關羽圍樊、襄陽。太祖以漢帝在許，近賊，欲徙都。司馬宣王及濟說太祖曰：「於禁等為水所沒，非戰攻之失，於國家大計未足有損。劉備、孫權，外親內疏，關羽得志，權必不原也。可遣人勸躡其後，許割江南以封權，則樊圍自解。」太祖如其言。權聞之，即引兵西襲公安、江陵。羽遂見禽。

The southern march ended with Wen Hui as Yangzhou inspector and Ji as aide. The edict read: "Minister Jizi implies Wu needs its shepherd. Now that you are returning to the province, I have no worries." When malice accused Ji of leading revolt Cao Cao waved his old warrant at Yu Jin and Feng Ren: "Ji rebel? Impossible! If true I cannot read character. This must be foolish people delighting in disorder and falsely dragging him in." He ordered Ji cleared. Ji entered the chancellery as western bureau clerk. Order stated: "When Shun raised Gao Yao the unkind departed; fair judgment now rests with your worthy office." Guan Yu ringed Fan and Xiangyang. With the emperor at Xu hard by Yu Cao Cao wished to relocate court. Sima Yi and Ji persuaded the Grand Progenitor: "Yu Jin and others were drowned by flood—not fault of battle assault—and does not yet harm the state's grand plan. Bei and Quan fake friendship—let Yu win and Quan will stab his back. Dispatch envoys urging someone to tread his rear—promise to cede Jiangnan and enfeoff Quan—then the Fan siege resolves itself." Cao Cao agreed. Quan swept west on Gong'an and Jiangling. Yu fell captive.

文帝即王位，轉為相國長史。及踐阼，出為東中郎將。濟請留，詔曰：「高祖歌曰『安得猛士守四方』！天下未寧，要須良臣以鎮邊境。如其無事，乃還鳴玉，未為後也。」濟上萬機論，帝善之。入為散騎常侍。時有詔，詔征南將軍夏侯尚曰：「卿腹心重將，特當任使。恩施足死，惠愛可懷。作威作福，殺人活人。」尚以示濟。濟既至，帝問曰；「卿所聞見天下風教何如？」濟對曰：「未有他善，但見亡國之語耳。」帝忿然作色而問其故，濟具以答，因曰：「夫『作威作福』，書之明誡。『天子無戲言』，古人所慎。惟陛下察之！」於是帝意解，遣追取前詔。

Cao Pi made Ji secretary to the imperial chancellor. At coronation Ji became General East of Center. Ji requested to remain; edict said: "The High Ancestor sang 'how obtain fierce warriors to guard the four directions'! The empire still boils—send proven hands to the frontier. When nothing threatens return jade chimes sounding—not considered late." Ji's essay on governance pleased Rui. He became Palace Attendant. An edict told Xiahou Shang: "You are my intimate blade. Mercy earns lives; love earns hearts. Wield awe and fortune; kill men and keep men alive." Shang showed Ji the parchment. Ji entered audience; "How reads the moral climate? Ji answered: "I hear only words fit for dying kingdoms. The Emperor flushed angrily asking reason; Ji answered fully saying: "Now 'make awe make fortune' is Documents' clear warning. Heaven's son speaks once—no joking. Only Your Majesty examine!" Rui cooled and recalled the order.

時中書監、令號為專任，濟上疏曰：

When secretariat chiefs monopolized favor Ji wrote:

大臣太重者國危，左右太親者身蔽，古之至戒也。往者大臣秉事，外內扇動。陛下卓然自覽萬機，莫不祗肅。夫大臣非不忠也，然威權在下，則眾心慢上，勢之常也。陛下既已察之於大臣，原無忘於左右。左右忠正遠慮，未必賢於大臣，至於便辟取合，或能工之。今外所言，輒云中書，雖使恭慎不敢外交，但有此名，猶惑世俗。況實握事要，日在目前，儻因疲倦之間有所割制，眾臣見其能推移於事，即亦因時而向之。一有此端，因當內設自完，以此眾語，私招所交，為之內援。若此，臧否毀譽，必有所興，功負賞罰，必有所易；直道而上者或壅，曲附左右者反達。因微而入，緣形而出，意所狎信，不復猜覺。此宜聖智所當早聞，外以經意，則形際自見。或恐朝臣畏言不合而受左右之怨，莫適以聞。臣竊亮陛下潛神默思，公聽並觀，若事有未盡於理而物有未周於用，將改曲易調，遠與黃、唐角功，近昭武、文之跡，豈近習而已哉！然人君猶不可悉天下事以適己明，當有所付。三官任一臣，非周公旦之忠，又非管夷吾之公，則有弄機敗官之弊。當今柱石之士雖少，至於行稱一州，智效一官，忠信竭命，各奉其職，可並驅策，不使聖明之朝有專吏之名也。

Top-heavy ministers and whispering favorites ruined ages past. Once magnates hijacked policy inside and out churned. You alone now hold the files—good. Ministers stay loyal yet power below breeds contempt above—that is habit. You vet ministers—vet valets too. Pages may lack ministerial virtue yet excel at pleasing ears. Rumor pins every whisper on the secretariat—danger enough without scandal. They hold real levers under your eyes—fatigue lets them carve policy until the hall courts them. One foothold breeds cabals—secret allies sprout inside. Then rumor owns appointments—rewards punish wrong men; honest voices choke—flatterers beside you soar. Trust creeps in unseen until favorites blind you. Wise kings spot it early—steady intent abroad and the tumor surfaces. Courtiers fear palace spite—silence spreads. Trust you meditate—if policy cracks you will retune—rivaling Huang Tang abroad and mirroring Wu Wen at home—not petty palace habit! No emperor reads every file—delegation stays. One man holding triple seals without Zhou loyalty or Guan fairness invites cabal rot. You still have provincial talents—parallel commands beat one imperial clerk.

詔曰：「夫骨鯁之臣，人主之所仗也。濟才兼文武，服勤盡節，每軍國大事，輒有奏議，忠誠奮發，吾甚壯之。」就遷為護軍將軍，加散騎常侍。〈司馬彪《戰略》曰：太和六年，明帝遣平州刺史田豫乘海渡，幽州刺史王雄陸道，並攻遼東。蔣濟諫曰：「凡非相吞之國，不侵叛之臣，不宜輕伐。伐之而不制，是驅使為賊。故曰『虎狼當路，不治狐狸。先除大害，小害自已』。今海表之地，累世委質，歲選計考，不乏職貢。議者先之，正使一舉便克，得其民不足益國，得其財不足為富；儻不如意，是為結怨失信也。」帝不聽，豫行竟無成而還。〉

Imperial reply: "The throne needs spines. Ji's talent combines civil and martial arts; he serves diligently and exhausts his loyalty. Whenever there are great affairs of army or state, he always submits proposals, and his loyal sincerity rises vigorously. I greatly admire him." He rose to Guard general with attendant sash. 〈Sima Biao records Taihe six: Tian Yu sailed Pingzhou while Wang Xiong marched Youzhou against Liaodong. Jiang Ji remonstrated: "Generally states not swallowing each other and ministers not rebel-invading ought not be lightly campaigned. Half wars forge enemies. Proverb: tigers own the road—ignore foxes. Cut the big predator—vermin quit. The coast pays tribute on schedule—loyal generations. Victory wins neither manpower nor treasure worth the cost; perhaps not as wished then becomes knotting resentment losing trust." Rui ignored him—Tian Yu sailed home empty.〉

景初中，外勤征役，內務宮室，怨曠者多，而年穀飢儉。濟上疏曰：

Mid Jingchu paired foreign wars with palace builds—troops languished while granaries failed. Ji wrote:

陛下方當恢崇前緒，光濟遺業，誠未得高枕而治也。今雖有十二州，至於民數，不過漢時一大郡。二賊未誅，宿兵邊陲，且耕且戰，怨曠積年。宗廟宮室，百事草創，農桑者少，衣食者多，今其所急，唯當息耗百姓，不至甚弊。弊攰之民，儻有水旱，百萬之眾，不為國用。凡使民必須農隙，不奪其時。夫欲大興功之君，先料其民力而燠休之。句踐養胎以待用，昭王卹病以雪仇，故能以弱燕服強齊，羸越滅勁吳。今二敵不攻不滅，不事即侵，當身不除，百世之責也。以陛下聖明神武之略，捨其緩者，專心討賊，臣以為無難矣。又歡娛之耽，害於精爽；神太用則竭，形太勞則弊。原大簡賢妙，足以充『百斯男』者。其冗散未齒，且悉分出，務在清靜。

You inherit a half-built throne—no time to nap. Twelve provinces hold fewer mouths than one Han metropolis. Wu and Shu live—frontier armies farm-fight—homes empty year on year. Shrines and halls rise while farms shrink—ease the people before they break. Broken peasants plus drought turn millions useless to the throne. Corvée belongs after harvest—never steal spring. Great builders nurse labor before breaking ground. Goujian bred soldiers; Zhao pitied the sick—weak Yan beat Qi and lean Yue swallowed Wu. Leave Wu and Shu—they raid tomorrow—your heirs curse you. Shelve palace whims—focus spears on Shu-Wu—easy win. Hedonism dulls the spirit; mind burns out—body breaks. Cull harem to worthy mothers fit for royal sons. Spin idle attendants out—keep inner chambers lean.

詔曰：「微護軍，吾弗聞斯言也。」〈《漢晉春秋》曰：公孫淵聞魏將來討，復稱臣於孫權，乞兵自救。帝問濟：「孫權其救遼東乎？」濟曰：「彼知官備以固，利不可得，深入則非力所能，淺入則勞而無獲；權雖子弟在危，猶將不動，況異域之人，兼以往者之辱乎！今所以外揚此聲者，譎其行人疑於我，我之不克，冀折後事已耳。然沓渚之間，去淵尚遠，若大軍相持，事不速決，則權之淺規，或能輕兵掩襲，未可測也。」〉

Rui answered: "Without Ji I would miss this truth." 〈Han-Jin Spring notes Yuan hearing Wei's march knelt again to Quan for rescue. Emperor asked Ji: "Will Sun Quan rescue Liaodong?" Ji said: "Quan sees strong walls—deep raids starve—shallow raids earn nothing; Quan would not hazard kin—why risk treasure for Yuan's slight after past insult? They trumpet rescue to spook our scouts—just in case we stall. Yet the area around Tazhu is still far from Liaodong. If the great armies face each other and the matter is not decided quickly, then Sun Quan's shallow plans may send light troops in a surprise attack; this cannot be predicted."〉"

初，侍中高堂隆論郊祀事，以魏為舜後，推舜配天。濟以為舜本姓媯，其苗曰田，非曹之先，著文以追詰隆。〈臣松之案蔣濟立郊議稱曹騰碑文云「曹氏族出自邾」，《魏書》述曹氏胤緒亦如之。魏武作家傳，自云曹叔振鐸之後。故陳思王作武帝誄曰：「於穆武皇，冑稷胤周。」此其不同者也。及至景初，明帝從高堂隆議，謂魏為舜後，後魏為禪晉文，稱「昔我皇祖有虞」，則其異彌甚。尋濟難隆，及與尚書繆襲往反，並有理據，文多不載。濟亦未能定氏族所出，但謂「魏非舜後而橫祀非族，降黜太祖，不配正天，皆為繆妄」。然於時竟莫能正。濟又難：鄭玄注祭法云「有虞以上尚德，禘郊祖宗，配用有德，自夏已下，稍用其姓氏」。濟曰：「夫虯龍神於獺，獺自祭其先，不祭虯龍也。騏驎白虎仁於豺，豺自祭其先，不祭騏虎也。如玄之說，有虞已上，豺獺之不若邪？臣以為祭法所云，見疑學者久矣，鄭玄不考正其違而就通其義。」濟豺獺之譬，雖似俳諧，然其義旨，有可求焉。〉

Gaotang Long argued Wei descended from Shun for rites. Ji insisted Shun's line was Gui-turned-Tian—not Cao—and wrote to rebuke Long. 〈Your servant Songzhi notes Jiang Ji's suburban memorial cited Cao Teng's stele saying "the Cao clan came out of Zhu"; the Book of Wei traces Cao genealogy the same way. Cao Cao's family memoir claims Duke Zhenduo's blood. Hence Prince Si of Chen composed the Martial Emperor's dirge saying "Ah solemn Martial Sovereign helmet-line traces Hou Ji continuing Zhou." The traditions collide here. By Jingchu Ming Emperor accepted Gaotang Long's theory deeming Wei Shun's heirs; later Wei's abdication document to Jin spoke "formerly our august ancestor You Yu"—the discrepancy widens. Ji's letters to Long and Mu Xi argued tightly—editors trimmed them. Ji still could not pin the clan's origin yet insisted "Wei is not Shun's heir yet sacrifices stray lines demoting the Grand Progenitor from pairing orthodox Heaven—all delusion." No court verdict landed. Ji further challenged Zheng Xuan's gloss on Sacrifice Law: "Before You Yu they prized virtue—grand offerings matched the worthy—from Xia onward they gradually used surnames." Ji said: "Horned dragons outrank otters yet otters sacrifice their own ancestors—not dragons. Unicorns top wolves—wolves still worship wolves. Did sage kings rank below beasts? In my opinion, what the Sacrificial Regulations says has long been doubted by scholars, and Zheng Xuan did not examine and correct its contradictions but forced its meaning through." Crude analogy—sharp point underneath.〉

是時，曹爽專政，丁謐、鄧颺等輕改法度。會有日蝕變，詔羣臣問其得失，濟上疏曰：

Shuang's cabal rewrote law with Mi and Yang. An eclipse summoned debate—Ji wrote:

昔大舜佐治，戒在比周；周公輔政，慎於其朋；齊侯問災，晏嬰對以布惠；魯君問異，臧孫答以緩役。應天塞變，乃實人事。今二賊未滅，將士暴露已數十年，男女怨曠，百姓貧苦。夫為國法度，惟命世大才，乃能張其綱維以垂於後，豈中下之吏所宜改易哉？終無益於治，適足傷民，望宜使文武之臣各守其職，率以清平，則和氣祥瑞可感而致也。

Shun damned cliques; Zhou feared cozy gangs; Qi asked omens—Yan Ying preached mercy; Lu asked wonders—Zangsun said lighten labor. Heaven follows conduct. Wu and Shu breathe—armies camp forever—homes starve. Only founders codify—clerks must not edit. Meddling hurts farmers—let ministers hold their lanes until auspice returns.

劉放字子棄，涿郡人，漢廣陽順王子西鄉侯宏後也。歷郡綱紀，舉孝廉。遭世大亂，時漁陽王松據其土，放往依之。太祖克冀州，放說松曰：

Liu Fang, style Ziji from Zhuo—sprung from Prince Hong of Xixiang. County aide—Filial graduate. Fang sheltered under Yuyang's Wang Song. Ji fell—Fang briefed Song:

往者董卓作逆，英雄並起，阻兵擅命，人自封殖，惟曹公能拔拯危亂，翼戴天子，奉辭伐罪，所向必克。以二袁之強，守則淮南冰消，戰則官渡大敗；乘勝席捲，將清河朔，威刑既合，大勢以見。速至者漸福，後服者先亡，此乃不俟終日馳騖之時也。昔黥布棄南面之尊，仗劍歸漢，誠識廢興之理，審去就之分也。將軍宜投身委命，厚自結納。

Zhuo's mutiny bred warlords—only Cao Cao saved the throne and struck guilt wherever aimed. Twin Yuans broke—south froze—north shattered at Guandu; Momentum swept north—law and terror fused. Early birds thrived—late knees drowned—no day to tarry. Qing Bu quit crowns for Han—he read tides. Prostrate yourself—tie tight bonds.

松然之。會太祖討袁譚於南皮，以書招松，松舉雍奴、泉州、安次以附之。放為松答太祖書，其文甚麗。太祖既善之，又聞其說，由是遂辟放。建安十年，與松俱至。太祖大悅，謂放曰：「昔班彪依竇融而有河西之功，今一何相似也！」乃以放參司空軍事，歷主簿記室，出為郃陽、祋祤、〈祋音都活反。祤音詡。〉贊令。

Song nodded. Nanpi campaign brought letter—Song handed three counties. Fang's brush dazzled. Cao Cao loved the letter—called Fang north. Year ten—Fang rode with Song. Cao Cao grinned: "Ban Biao and Dou Rong—your mirror! Fang joined the ministry ladder—then county posts at Heyang and— Pronunciation gloss: the cited text reads duò.) Note on pronunciation: read this rare place-name character xu, as indicated in the commentary.〉 —then magistrate of Zan.

魏國既建，與太原孫資俱為秘書郎。先是，資亦歷縣令，參丞相軍事。〈資別傳曰：資字彥龍。幼而岐嶷，三歲喪二親，長於兄嫂。講業太學，博覽傳記，同郡王允一見而奇之。太祖為司空，又辟資。會兄為鄉人所害，資手刃報讎，乃將家屬避地河東，故遂不應命。尋復為本郡所命，以疾辭。友人河東賈逵謂資曰：「足下抱逸羣之才，值舊邦傾覆，主將殷勤，千里延頸，宜崇古賢桑梓之義。而久盤桓，拒違君命，斯猶曜和璧於秦王之庭，而塞以連城之價耳。竊為足下不取也！」資感其言，遂往應之。到署功曹，舉計吏。尚書令荀彧見資，歎曰：「北州承喪亂已久，謂其賢智零落，今日乃復見孫計君乎！」表留以為尚書郎。辭以家難，得還河東。〉

Wei born—Fang and Taiyuan's Sun Zi became secretaries. Zi had been prefect and staff aide. 〈Zi's memoir names him Yanlong. Orphaned at three—brother's roof. Academy reader—Wang Yun spotted genius. Cao Cao as Minister of Works called him twice. Brother murdered—Zi knifed the killer—fled to Hedong—ignored draft. Home county tried again—pleaded sick. Friend Jia Kui of Hedong told Zi "You harbor talents surpassing the herd yet homeland overturns—your commander earnest neck craned a thousand li—you ought honor ancient worthy's duty to native soil. Lingering is flashing priceless jade yet refusing sale. Your servant privately thinks you ought not choose thus!" Zi yielded—rode to serve. Posted merit aide—sent up accountant. Minister Director Xun Yu seeing Zi sighed "Northlands long wasted by chaos—I thought worthies vanished—today I see Clerk Sun again!" Yu kept him at Secretariat. Family grief sent him back east.〉

文帝即位，放、資轉為左右丞。數月，放徙為令。黃初初，改秘書為中書，以放為監，資為令，各加給事中；放賜爵關內侯，資為關中侯，遂掌機密。三年，放進爵魏壽亭侯，資關內侯。明帝即位，尤見寵任，同加散騎常侍；進放爵西鄉侯，資樂陽亭侯。〈資別傳曰：諸葛亮出在南鄭，時議者以為可因發大兵，就討之，帝意亦然，以問資。資曰：〉

Pi named them left and right aides. Months on—Fang became director. Huangchu renamed the bureau—Fang supervised—Zi directed—both consultants; Noble stipends followed—pair held cipher. Year three boosted titles. Rui adored both—added attendants; Fiefs widened—Xixiang and Leyang. 〈Li's Nan drive tempted grand assault—Rui asked Zi. Zi answered:〉

昔武皇帝征南鄭，取張魯，陽平之役，危而後濟。又自往拔出夏侯淵軍，數言『南鄭直為天獄，中斜谷道為五百里石穴耳』，言其深險，喜出淵軍之辭也。又武皇帝聖於用兵，察蜀賊棲於山岩，視吳虜竄於江湖，皆橈而避之，不責將士之力，不爭一朝之忿，誠所謂見勝而戰，知難而退也。今若進軍就南鄭討亮，道既險阻，計用精兵又轉運鎮守南方四州遏禦水賊，凡用十五六萬人，必當復更有所發興。天下騷動，費力廣大，此誠陛下所宜深慮。夫守戰之力，力役參倍。但以今日見兵，分命大將據諸要險，威足以震攝強寇，鎮靜疆埸，將士虎睡，百姓無事。數年之間，中國日盛，吳蜀二虜必自罷弊。

Wu Di took Hanzhong through Yangping's nightmare. He called Nanping heaven's jail—Xie Gorge five hundred li of stone—relief when Yuan escaped. Wu Di dodged Shu cliffs and Wu rivers—never wasted wrath—won when safe—quit when steep. Nan assault needs elites plus convoys plus four southern garrisons—sixteen myriads—and more. Empire quakes—think twice. Holding costs thrice attacking. Split today's host across chokepoints—foes freeze—people farm. Years pass—heartland swells—Wu-Shu rot alone.

〈帝由是止。時吳人彭綺又舉義江南，議者以為因此伐之，必有所克。帝問資，資曰：「鄱陽宗人前後數有舉義者，眾弱謀淺，旋輒乖散。昔文皇帝嘗密論賊形勢，言洞浦殺萬人，得船千萬，數日間船人復會；江陵被圍歷月，權裁以千數百兵住東門，而其土地無崩解者。是有法禁，上下相奉持之明驗也。以此推綺，懼未能為權腹心大疾也。」綺果尋敗亡。〉

〈Rui dropped the assault.) Peng Qi rebelled in Wu—court smelled chance. Emperor asked Zi—Zi said "Poyang clans repeatedly rose—hosts weak plots shallow soon scattered. Wen Di noted Dongpu—ten thousand dead—boats seized—crews reformed; Jiangling siege—Quan spare guard—no crack. Wu law binds ranks—that lesson stands. Judging thus Qi fears he cannot become Quan's gut ailment." Qi collapsed fast.〉

太和末，吳遣將周賀浮海詣遼東，招誘公孫淵。帝欲邀討之，朝議多以為不可。惟資決行策，果大破之，進爵左鄉侯。〈《魏氏春秋》曰：烏丸校尉田豫帥西部鮮卑洩歸尼等出塞，討軻比能、智鬱築鞬，破之，還至馬邑故城，比能帥三萬騎圍豫。帝聞之，計未有所出，如中書省以問監、令。令孫資對曰：「上谷太守閻志，柔弟也，為比能素所歸信。令馳詔使說比能，可不勞師而自解矣。」帝從之，比能果釋豫而還。〉放善為書檄，三祖詔命有所招喻，多放所為。青龍初，孫權與諸葛亮連和，欲俱出為寇。邊候得權書，放乃改易其辭，往往換其本文而傅合之，與征東將軍滿寵，若欲歸化，封以示亮。亮騰與吳大將步騭等，騭等以見權。權懼亮自疑，深自解說。是歲，俱加侍中、光祿大夫。〈資別傳曰：是時，孫權、諸葛亮號稱劇賊，無歲不有軍征。而帝總攝羣下，內圖禦寇之計，外規廟勝之畫，資皆管之。然自以受腹心，常讓事於帝曰：「動大眾，舉大事，宜與羣下共之；既以示明，且於探求為廣。」既朝臣會議，資奏當其是非，擇其善者推成之，終不顯己之德也。若眾人有譴過及愛憎之說，輒復為請解，以塞譖潤之端。如征東將軍滿寵、涼州刺史徐邈，並有譖毀之者，資皆盛陳其素行，使卒無纖介。寵、邈得保其功名者，資之力也。初，資在邦邑，名出同類之右。鄉人司空掾田豫、梁相宗艷皆妒害之，而楊豐黨附豫等，專為資構造謗端，怨隙甚重。資既不以為言，而終無恨意。豫等慚服，求釋宿憾，結為婚姻。資謂之曰：「吾無憾心，不知所釋。此為卿自薄之，卿自厚之耳！」乃為長子宏取其女。及當顯位，而田豫老疾在家。資遇之甚厚，又致其子於本郡，以為孝廉。而楊豐子後為尚方吏，帝以職事譴怒，欲致之法，資請活之。其不念舊惡如此。〉景初二年，遼東平定，以參謀之功，各進爵，封本縣，放方城侯，資中都侯。

Taihe's end—Zhou He sailed to woo Yuan. Rui wanted ambush—ministers demurred. Zi alone said strike—crushed He—Zuoxiang marquis. 〈Wei Spring: Tian Yu and Xianbei rode against Kebineng—Mayi siege—thirty thousand riders. Rui panicked—queried secretariat chiefs. Director Sun Zi answered "Shanggu Administrator Yan Zhi—soft younger brother—long trusted by Kebineng. Order swift edict dispatch persuading Kebineng—without weary campaign self-resolves." Rui agreed—Kebineng freed Yu.〉 Fang penned three reigns of royal letters. Qinglong dawn—Wu-Shu pact to raid. Border guards seized Sun Quan's letter—Fang rewrote it into fake surrender—sent to Man Chong—flashed toward Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang relayed the forgery to Bu Zhi and company—they laid it before Sun Quan. Quan sweat that Liang might smell deceit—talked fast to clear himself. Both men gained attendant sash and grandee stipend that year. 〈Zi's memoir notes perpetual war against Quan and Liang. The emperor centralized strategy—Zi threaded every plan. Yet deeming himself trusted heart he often yielded affairs telling Emperor "Moving great masses undertaking great matters ought be shared with subordinates; having thereby displayed clarity moreover seeking breadth of inquiry." In hall debate Zi picked winners quietly—never stole credit. When factions sniped he mediated—stemming poison pens. Man Chong and Xu Miao faced rumor—Zi aired their records till gossip died. Their reputations survived thanks to Zi. Zi outshone neighbors young. Tian Yu and Zong Yan loathed him—Yang Feng joined their lies. Zi never answered malice—felt no grudge. They apologized—begged marriage ties. Zi said: "I nurse no bitterness—nothing to forgive. You shame yourselves—you honor yourselves!" He wed eldest Hong to Tian's daughter. Zi rose high—Yu aged sick at home. Zi pampered Yu—won Yu's son a Filial nomination. Feng's son earned imperial wrath—Zi begged mercy. Such forgetting of old hurts.〉 Liaodong's fall bought Fang Fangcheng marquis and Zi Zhongdu marquis.

其年，帝寢疾，欲以燕王宇為大將軍，及領軍將軍夏侯獻、武衛將軍曹爽、屯騎校尉曹肇、驍騎將軍秦朗共輔政。宇性恭良，陳誠固辭。帝引見放、資，入臥內，問曰：「燕王正爾為？」放、資對曰：「燕王實自知不堪大任故耳。」帝曰：「曹爽可代宇不？」放、資因贊成之。又深陳宜速召太尉司馬宣王，以綱維皇室。帝納其言，即以黃紙授放作詔。放、資既出，帝意復變，詔止宣王勿使來。尋更見放、資曰：「我自召太尉，而曹肇等反使吾止之，幾敗吾事！」命更為詔，帝獨召爽與放、資俱受詔命，遂免宇、獻、肇、朗官。太尉亦至，登床受詔，然後帝崩。〈《世語》曰：放、資久典機任，獻、肇心內不平。殿中有雞棲樹，二人相謂：「此亦久矣，其能復幾？」指謂放、資。放、資懼，乃勸帝召宣王。帝作手詔，令給使辟邪至，以授宣王。宣王在汲，獻等先詔令於軹關西還長安，辟邪又至，宣王疑有變，呼辟邪具問，乃乘追鋒車馳至京師。帝問放、資：「誰可與太尉對者？」放曰：「曹爽。」帝曰：「堪其事不？」爽在左右，流汗不能對。放躡其足，耳之曰：「臣以死奉社稷。」曹肇弟纂為大將軍司馬，燕王頗失指。肇出，纂見，驚曰：「上不安，云何悉共出？宜還。」已暮，放、資宣詔宮門，不得復內肇等，罷燕王。肇明日至門，不得入，懼，詣延尉，以處事失宜免。帝謂獻曰：「吾已差，便出。」獻流涕而出，亦免。案《世語》所云樹置先後，與本傳不同。

Dying Rui named Yu grand marshal with Xian, Shuang, Zhao, Lang regents. Yu politely refused. Rui pulled Fang and Zi bedside: "Yu backs out? They said Yu admitted incompetence." Can Shuang substitute?" Fang and Zi urged yes. They pressed urgent summons for Sima Yi. Rui handed yellow paper—Fang drafted. They stepped out—Rui flipped—counter-order blocked Yi. Shortly seeing Fang and Zi again saying "I myself summoned Grand Commandant yet Cao Zhao and others contrary made me halt him—nearly ruined my affair! Fresh edict: Shuang plus pair—Yu, Xian, Zhao, Lang stripped. Yi arrived—bedside oath—Rui expired. 〈Shiyu: Fang-Zi monopoly angered Xian and Zhao. Hall contained chicken-roost tree—the two told each other "This too long already—how much longer can it endure? They meant Fang and Zi. Fang-Zi panicked—demanded Yi. Rui scribbled orders—Pixie ran to Yi. Yi at Ji got conflicting runners—interrogated Pixie—raced to Luoyang. "Who faces Yi?" Shuang," said Fang." Can he?" Shuang sweated mute. Fang stepped his foot whispering ear saying "Your servant with death serves altars of soil and grain." Cao Zhao's brother Zuan was marshal—Yu floundered. Zhao exiting Zuan seeing startled said "Superior unwell how entirely together exited? Ought return." Dusk—Fang-Zi locked gates—barred Zhao—stripped Yu. Zhao returned—blocked—surrendered—removed for misconduct. Emperor told Xian "Your servant already dispatched—then exit." Xian wept away—removed. Shiyu's timeline clashes with the standard memoir.

《資別傳》曰：帝詔資曰：「吾年稍長，又歷觀書傳中，皆嘆息無所不念。圖萬年後計，莫過使親人廣據職勢，兵任又重。今射聲校尉缺，久欲得親人，誰可用者？」資曰：「陛下思深慮遠，誠非愚臣所及。書傳所載，皆聖聽所究，向使漢高不知平、勃能安劉氏，孝武不識金、霍付屬以事，殆不可言！文皇帝始召曹真還時，親詔臣以重慮，及至晏駕，陛下即阼，猶有曹休外內之望，賴遭日月，御勒不傾，使各守分職，纖介不間。以此推之，親臣貴戚，雖當據勢握兵，宜使輕重素定。若諸侯典兵，力均衡平，寵齊愛等，則不相為服；不相為服，則意有異同。今五營所領見兵，常不過數百，選授校尉，如其輩類，為有疇匹。至於重大之任，能有所維綱者，宜以聖恩簡擇，如平、勃、金、霍、劉章等一二人，漸殊其威重，使相鎮固，於事為善。」帝曰：「然如卿言，當為吾遠慮所圖。今日可參平、勃，侔金、霍，雙劉章者，其誰哉？」資曰：「臣聞知人則哲，惟帝難之。唐虞之聖，凡所進用，明試以功。陳平初事漢祖，絳、灌等謗平有受金盜嫂之罪。周勃以吹簫引強，始事高祖，亦未知名也；高祖察其行跡，然後知可付以大事。霍光給事中二十餘年，小心謹慎，乃見親信。日磾夷狄，以至孝質直，特見擢用，左右尚曰『妄得一胡兒而重貴之』。平、勃雖安漢嗣，其終，勃被反名，平劣自免於呂嬃之讒。上官桀、桑弘羊與霍光爭權，幾成禍亂。此誠知人之不易，為臣之難也。又所簡擇，當得陛下所親，當得陛下所信，誠非愚臣之所能識別。」

Separate biography of Zi states Emperor edict told Zi "Your servant age gradually advanced moreover extensively reading transmitted texts—all sigh without omission pondering. He crammed kin into army posts. Now Archer Colonel vacancy long wished obtain kin—who may employ?" Zi said "Your Majesty thoughts deep planning far truly not what foolish servant reaches. Gaozu needed Chen Ping and Zhou Bo—Wu Di needed Jin Midi and Huo—without sight heirs die. Wen Di recalled warning me about Zhen—your reign leaned on Xiu—time steadied the wheel. Royal arms need fixed balance. Equal cousins equal swords—none obeys; discord breeds factions. Capital camps hold bare hundreds—colonels matched in grade. Reaching heavy great duties capable possessing sustaining net ought rely sagely grace selecting like Ping Bo Jin Huo Liu Zhang one two persons gradually distinguishing their awe weight making mutually shore firm—in affairs counts good." Emperor said "Correct like your speech ought for servant distant planning scheme. Today can pair Ping Bo rival Jin Huo twin Liu Zhang—who are they?" Zi said "Your servant hears knowing men then wise—only emperor finds hard. Yao and Shun tested merit. Chen Ping faced gold-and-sister-in-law smears. Zhou Bo was band musician—unknown early; Gaozu watched deeds—then trusted. Huo Guang waited decades for trust. Jin Midi's rise drew palace sneers—just a barbarian boy. Ping and Zhou saved Han yet Zhou wore traitor gossip—Chen Ping barely dodged Lü clan knives. Shangguan and Sang nearly broke Huo Guang. Picking men is brutal—serving is harder. Moreover selected picks ought obtain Your Majesty's intimates Your Majesty's trust truly not what foolish servant can discriminate."

臣松之以為孫、劉于時號為專任，制斷機密，政事無不綜。資、放被託付之問，當安危所斷，而更依違其對，無有適莫。受人親任，理豈得然？案本傳及諸書並云放、資稱讚曹爽，勸召宣王，魏室之亡，禍基於此。資之別傳，出自其家，欲以是言掩其大失，然恐負國之玷，終莫能磨也。〉

Pei notes Sun Liu ran everything. At deathbed they dodged. Trusted intimates should answer straight. Standard text blames them for boosting Shuang yet summoning Yi—Wei's tomb dug there. House memoir spins virtue—cannot scrub the stain.〉

放才計優資，而自脩不如也。放、資既善承順主上，又未嘗顯言得失，抑辛毗而助王思，以是獲譏於世。然時因羣臣諫諍，扶贊其義，並時密陳損益，不專導諛言云。及咸熙中，開建五等，以放、資著勳前朝，改封正方城子，宏離石子。〈案〈孫氏譜〉：宏為南陽太守。宏子楚，字子荊。《晉陽秋》曰：楚鄉人王濟，豪俊公子也，為本州大中正。訪問關求楚品狀，濟曰：「此人非卿所能名。」自狀之曰：「天才英博，亮拔不羣。」楚位至討虜護軍、馮翊太守。楚子洵，潁川太守。洵子盛，字安國，給事中，秘書監。盛從父弟綽，字興公，廷尉正。楚及盛、綽，並有文藻，盛又善言名理，諸所論著，併傳於世。〉

Fang outschemed Zi—Zi outclassed him in character. They appeased Rui—damaged Xin Pi—boosted Wang Si—critics howled. They sometimes backed honest critics—quiet memos—hardly pure flattery. When the five ranks were established in the Xianxi era, their fiefs were changed: Fang became Baron of Fangcheng, and Hong became Baron of Lishi. 〈Pei cites 〈the Sun genealogy〉 : Hong governed Nanyang. Hong's heir Chu, style Zijing. Jinyang Autumn names Wang Ji grand rectifier—Chu's neighbor. Visiting appraising seeking Chu's grade Ji said "This person not what you can name." personally described saying "Heaven-gifted heroic vast brilliant rising unmatched herd." Chu reached colonel and Fengyi prefect. Son Xun ruled Yingchuan. Grandson Sheng, style Anguo—attendant and librarian. Cousin Chuo, style Xinggong—justice clerk. Chu, Sheng, Chuo—all litterateurs—Sheng mastered mingjia logic—works survive.〉

評曰：程昱、郭嘉、董昭、劉曄、蔣濟才策謀略，世之奇士，雖清治德業，殊於荀攸，而籌畫所料，是其倫也。劉放文翰，孫資勤慎，並管喉舌，權聞當時，雅亮非體，是故譏諛之聲，每過其實矣。

Verdict: Cheng Yu, Guo Jia, Dong Zhao, Liu Ye, Jiang Ji—sharp planners of their age; though less steady than Xun You in governance, their foresight ranks beside him. Liu Fang penned the edicts and Sun Zi kept the books; together they owned the emperor's voice and towered over their moment—yet their posture of integrity never quite matched the ritual ideal, so gossip and butter alike painted them worse and slicker than the facts warrant.

Take it offline

The Book of Jin (Jinshu, 晉書) contains a detailed biography of Chen Shou, who authored the Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguo Zhi, 三國志). He was said to love books from a young age, becoming a clerk in the imperial library of Shu-Han. His early career was mired in controversy. When the eunuch Huang Hao dominated the Shu-Han court, Chen Shou refused to ingratiate himself with him, and was repeatedly demoted and censured. Later, when Chen Shou's father died, he himself fell ill, and he violated ritual by having a servant girl prepare his medicine. Others found out about this, and Chen Shou was disgraced. His reputation would not recover for several years, even outliving the Shu-Han dynasty, which was invaded and toppled by Wei dynasty forces.

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