1
董和字幼宰，南郡枝江人也，其先本巴郡江州人。 漢末，和率宗族西遷，益州牧劉璋以為牛鞞、 〈音髀。〉 江原長、成都令。 蜀土富實，時俗奢侈，貨殖之家，侯服玉食，婚姻葬送，傾家竭產。 和躬率以儉，惡衣蔬食，防遏逾僭，為之軌制，所在皆移風變善，畏而不犯。 然縣界豪強憚和嚴法，說璋轉和為巴東屬國都尉。 吏民老弱相攜乞留和者數千人，璋聽留二年，還遷益州太守，其清約如前。 與蠻夷從事，務推誠心，南土愛而信之。
Dong He, styled Youzai, came from Zhijiang in Nan Commandery, though his family was originally from Jiangzhou in Ba Commandery. Near the end of the Han, Dong He moved west at the head of his kin, and Yi Province Governor Liu Zhang named him magistrate of Niubi and 〈The place name is read bi, homophonous with the word for 'thigh'.〉 later chief of Jiangyuan and magistrate of Chengdu. Shu was prosperous, and the fashion of the time ran to extravagance: merchant houses dressed like nobles and feasted like kings, while weddings and funerals could ruin a household outright. Dong He set the example himself—plain dress and simple fare—checked ostentation and overreach, and laid down clear rules. Wherever he served, manners improved; people stepped carefully and stayed within the law. Local magnates, chafing under his stern rule, pressed Liu Zhang to transfer him out as commandant of the dependent state of Badong. Thousands of clerks and townsfolk, young and old together, pleaded that Dong He stay; Liu Zhang let him remain two years more, then promoted him again to Yi Province administrator. His austerity never slackened. In dealing with the southern tribes he dealt in good faith, and the region came to love and trust him.
2
先主定蜀，徵和為掌軍中郎將，與軍師將軍諸葛亮並署左將軍大司馬府事，獻可替否，共為歡交。 自和居官食祿，外牧殊域，內幹機衡，二十馀年，死之日家無儋石之財。 亮後為丞相，教與群下曰：「夫參署者，集眾思廣忠益也。 若遠小嫌，難相違覆，曠闕損矣。 違覆而得中，猶棄弊蹻而獲珠玉。 然人心苦不能盡，惟徐元直處茲不惑，又董幼宰參署七年，事有不至，至於十反，來相啟告。 苟能慕元直之十一，幼宰之殷勤，有忠於國，則亮可少過矣。」 又曰：「昔初交州平，屢聞得失，後交元直，勤見啟誨，前參事於幼宰，每言則盡，後從事於偉度，數有諫止； 雖姿性鄙暗，不能悉納，然與此四子終始好合，亦足以明其不疑於直言也。」 其追思和如此。 〈偉度者，姓胡，名濟，義陽人。 為亮主簿，有忠藎之效，故見褒述。 亮卒，為中典軍，統諸軍，封成陽亭侯，遷中監軍前將軍，督漢中，假節領兗州刺史，至右驃騎將軍。 濟弟博，歷長水校尉尚書。〉
After Liu Bei brought Shu under control, Dong He was called up as general of the household for army affairs and, alongside Military Director-in-Chief Zhuge Liang, jointly ran the Left General and grand marshal’s headquarters—offering candid counsel and enjoying genuine rapport. For over twenty years Dong He served in office—governing distant territories abroad and steering policy at court—yet when he died his family owned scarcely a bushel of grain. Later, as chancellor, Zhuge Liang told his staff: "Serving together on paperwork means pooling ideas for the good of the state. If people nurse petty slights and shrink from challenging one another’s drafts, things get missed and the realm suffers. Frank revision that lands on the right answer is like trading a pair of old sandals for pearls and jade. Few can truly live up to that ideal; Xu Shu never wavered on it, and Dong Youzai, through seven years of co-review, would circle back as many as ten times on a single point until I understood. If others could match even a fraction of Xu Shu’s steadiness or Dong He’s persistence in serving the state, I would make far fewer mistakes myself." He went on: "When I first knew Cui Zhouping, I learned constantly from his critiques; Xu Shu kept schooling me; Dong He, when we served together, left nothing unsaid; Hu Ji, afterward, often pulled me up short. My own dull nature meant I could not take every word to heart, yet I stayed on good terms with all four—proof enough that I never feared blunt counsel." Such was Zhuge Liang’s tribute to Dong He. 〈Weidu was Hu Ji of Yiyang. He served as Zhuge Liang’s chief clerk with conspicuous loyalty, which is why Liang singled him out for praise. After Zhuge Liang’s death he rose to central army supervisor and overall troop commander, was made village marquis of Chengyang, then central inspector and forward general with responsibility for Hanzhong, credential-bearing concurrent inspector of Yan Province, and finally general of the right agile cavalry. Hu Ji’s younger brother Bo held the posts of colonel of the Chang River guard and minister of the masters of writing.〉
3
劉巴字子初，零陵烝陽人也。 少知名， 〈零陵先賢傳曰：巴祖父曜，蒼梧太守。 父祥，江夏太守、蕩寇將軍。 時孫堅舉兵討董卓，以南陽太守張諮不給軍糧，殺之。 祥與同心，南陽士民由此怨祥，舉兵攻之，與戰，敗亡。 劉表亦素不善祥，拘巴，欲殺之，數遣祥故所親信人密詐謂巴曰：「劉牧欲相危害，可相隨逃之。」 如此再三，巴輒不應。 具以報表，表乃不殺巴。 年十八，郡署戶曹史主記主簿。 劉先 （主） 欲遣週不疑就巴學，巴答曰：「昔遊荊北，時涉師門，記問之學，不足紀名，內無楊硃守靜之術，外無墨翟務時之風，猶天之南箕，虛而不用。 賜書乃欲令賢甥摧鸞鳳之艷，遊燕雀之宇，將何以啟明之哉？ 愧於‘有若無，實若虛’，何以堪之！」〉 荊州牧劉表連闢，及舉茂才，皆不就。 表卒，曹公徵荊州。 先主奔江南，荊、楚群士從之如雲，而巴北詣曹公。 曹公闢為掾，使招納長沙、零陵、桂陽。 〈零陵先賢傳曰：曹公敗於烏林，還北時，欲遣桓階，階辭不如巴。 巴謂曹公曰：「劉備據荊州，不可也。」 公曰：「備如相圖，孤以六軍繼之也。」〉 會先主略有三郡，巴不得反使，遂遠適交阯， 〈零陵先賢傳云：巴往零陵，事不成，欲遊交州，道還京師。 時諸葛亮在臨烝，巴與亮書曰：「乘危歷險，到值思義之民，自與之眾，承天之心，順物之性，非餘身謀所能勸動。 若道窮數盡，將託命於滄海，不復顧荊州矣。」 亮追謂曰：「劉公雄才蓋世，據有荊土，莫不歸德，天人去就，已可知矣。 足下欲何之？」 巴曰：「受命而來，不成當還，此其宜也。 足下何言邪！」〉 先主深以為恨。
Liu Ba, styled Zichu, was a native of Zhengyang in Lingling Commandery. He was already well known while young. 〈According to the Traditions of Former Worthies of Lingling, Liu Ba’s grandfather Yao had been administrator of Cangwu. His father Liu Xiang served as Jiangxia administrator and general who sweeps away bandits. When Sun Jian marched against Dong Zhuo, he executed Nanyang Administrator Zhang Zi for withholding supplies. Liu Xiang had sided with Sun Jian, so the people of Nanyang turned on him, took up arms, and drove him out in defeat. Liu Biao also had never been on good terms with Xiang; he detained Ba and wished to kill him; several times he sent Xiang's former trusted intimates secretly to deceive Ba, saying: 'Governor Liu intends mutual harm to you; you may flee together with [us].' They tried this trick again and again; Liu Ba refused to answer. Liu Ba reported the whole ruse to Liu Biao, who then spared him. At eighteen the commandery put him on staff as registrar and chief clerk for the household section. Liu Xian (text damaged: possibly "master of" or a similar title) wanted to send Zhou Buyi to study under him. Liu Ba replied: "In my travels north of the Jing region I did visit teachers now and then, but rote cramming hardly earns one a reputation. I have neither Yang Zhu’s inward quiet nor Mozi’s zeal for practical affairs—I am the Nanji constellation in the sky, bright yet useless. Your letter asks me to strip your gifted nephew of phoenix brilliance and coop him among sparrows—how could I possibly illuminate him that way? I would blush before the maxim ‘to possess yet seem empty, to be full yet seem modest’—I cannot accept this honor!"〉" Liu Biao repeatedly offered him posts and even nominated him as flourishing talent; Liu Ba declined every time. After Liu Biao’s death, Cao Cao marched on Jing Province. While Liu Bei withdrew south of the Yangzi with a host of Jing literati at his heels, Liu Ba traveled north to submit to Cao Cao. Cao Cao enrolled him on staff and sent him to win over Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang. 〈The Traditions of Former Worthies of Lingling records that after Cao Cao’s defeat at Wulin, as he withdrew north, he meant to send Huan Jie on the mission, but Huan Jie demurred and recommended Liu Ba instead. Liu Ba warned Cao Cao: "We cannot allow Liu Bei to hold Jing Province." Cao Cao replied: "If he moves against me, I’ll bring six armies down on him."〉 Liu Bei soon seized three southern commanderies, cutting off Liu Ba’s return route, so he fled far south toward Jiaozhi. 〈The same tradition says Liu Ba went to Lingling; when that mission failed he planned to cross into Jiao Province and then make his way back to the capital. Zhuge Liang was then at Linzheng. Liu Ba wrote: "I have crossed danger after danger only to find people moved by duty and rallying of their own accord—Heaven’s will and human nature at work, not something my petty schemes can sway. If every road closes, I will cast my fate upon the open sea and forget Jing Province altogether." Zhuge Liang answered: "Lord Liu’s genius towers over his generation and he holds the Jing heartland—everyone turns to him. Heaven and men have already chosen. Where else could you possibly go?" Liu Ba replied: "I came under orders; if I fail I must report back—that is only proper. What is there to argue about?"〉" Liu Bei nursed a deep grudge over it.
4
巴復從交阯至蜀。 〈零陵先賢傳曰：巴入交阯，更姓為張。 與交阯太守士谿計議不合，乃由牂牁道去。 為益州郡所拘留，太守欲殺之。 主簿曰：「此非常人，不可殺也。」 主簿請自送至州，見益州牧劉璋，璋父焉昔為巴父祥所舉孝廉，見巴驚喜，每大事輒以諮訪。 臣松之案：劉焉在漢靈帝時已經宗正太常，出為益州牧，祥始以孫堅作長沙時為江夏太守，不得舉焉為孝廉，明也。〉 俄而先主定益州，巴辭謝罪負，先主不責。 〈零陵先賢傳曰：璋遣法正迎劉備，巴諫曰：「備，雄人也，入必為害，不可內也。」 既入，巴复諫曰：「若使備討張魯，是放虎於山林也。」 璋不聽。 巴閉門稱疾。 備攻成都，令軍中曰：「其有害巴者，誅及三族。」 及得巴，甚喜。〉 而諸葛孔明數稱薦之，先主闢為左將軍西曹掾。 〈零陵先賢傳曰：張飛嘗就巴宿，巴不與語，飛遂忿恚。 諸葛亮謂巴曰：「張飛雖實武人，敬慕足下。 主公今方收合文武，以定大事； 足下雖天素高亮，宜少降意也。」 巴曰：「大丈夫處世，當交四海英雄，如何與兵子共語乎？」 備聞之，怒曰：「孤欲定天下，而子初專亂之。 其欲還北，假道於此，豈欲成孤事邪？」 備又曰：「子初才智絕人，如孤，可任用之，非孤者難獨任也。」 亮亦曰：「運籌策於帷幄之中，吾不如子初遠矣！ 若提枹鼓，會軍門，使百姓喜勇，當與人議之耳。」 初攻劉璋，備與士眾約：「若事定，府庫百物，孤無預焉。」 及拔成都，士眾皆舍干戈，赴諸藏競取寶物。 軍用不足，備甚憂之。 巴曰：「易耳，但當鑄直百錢，平諸物賈，令吏為官巿。」 備從之，數月之間，府庫充實。〉
From Jiaozhi Liu Ba eventually made his way into Shu. 〈The Lingling tradition adds that after entering Jiaozhi he assumed the surname Zhang. He quarreled with Jiaozhi Administrator Shi Xi and slipped away along the Zangke route. Yi Province authorities seized him and the local prefect meant to execute him. His chief clerk protested: "This is no ordinary captive—you must not kill him." The clerk offered to escort Liu Ba to provincial headquarters. Yi Governor Liu Zhang—whose father Liu Yan had once received a filial-and-incorrupt nomination from Liu Ba’s father—welcomed him warmly and consulted him on every major decision. Pei Songzhi notes: Liu Yan had already served as director of the imperial clan and grand master of ceremonies under Emperor Ling before he became Yi governor, whereas Liu Xiang became Jiangxia administrator only during Sun Jian’s tenure at Changsha—so he could not have nominated Liu Yan as filial and incorrupt; the anecdote cannot stand.〉 When Liu Bei soon mastered Yi Province, Liu Ba offered a humble apology for his past opposition; Liu Bei did not punish him. 〈The Lingling tradition says Liu Zhang sent Fa Zheng to welcome Liu Bei. Liu Ba warned: "Liu Bei is a formidable rival; letting him in courts disaster." After Liu Bei entered Shu, Liu Ba protested again: "Sending him against Zhang Lu is like turning a tiger loose in the hills. Liu Zhang ignored him. Liu Ba shut his doors and pleaded illness. During the siege of Chengdu Liu Bei ordered: "Anyone who harms Liu Ba will answer with the three-clan penalty." When Liu Ba finally came into his hands, Liu Bei was overjoyed.〉 Zhuge Liang spoke up for him repeatedly, and Liu Bei named him western bureau clerk on the Left General’s staff. 〈The Lingling tradition recounts that Zhang Fei once tried to stay the night with Liu Ba; Liu Ba refused to speak to him, and Zhang Fei flared up. Zhuge Liang urged Liu Ba: "Zhang Fei may be a soldier, but he admires you. Our lord is knitting civil and military officers together for the great task ahead; you are rightly proud by nature, yet you might bend a little." Liu Ba answered: "A gentleman should consort with heroes from every quarter—why should I waste words on a mere fighting man?" Liu Bei heard this and growled: "I mean to pacify the empire, yet Zichu keeps sowing discord. Is he only passing through on his way north, or does he mean to help me at all?" Then he added: "Zichu’s abilities tower above other men. A ruler like me can use him; anyone less would fail alone." Zhuge Liang said: "When it comes to planning behind the curtain, I am nowhere near Zichu. But beat the war drums at the camp gate and fire the people’s courage—that is a topic for other advisers." At the outset of the war on Liu Zhang, Liu Bei had promised the army: "Once we win, the public stores are yours, not mine." Yet when Chengdu fell, the men threw down their arms and mobbed the treasuries for loot. Military funds ran dry, and Liu Bei was frantic. Liu Ba said: "Simple: mint high-value copper coins, stabilize prices, and let officials run public markets." Liu Bei agreed; within months the treasuries were full again.〉
5
建安二十四年，先主為漢中王，巴為尚書，後代法正為尚書令。 躬履清儉，不治產業，又自以歸附非素，懼見猜嫌，恭默守靜，退無私交，非公事不言。 〈零陵先賢傳曰：是時中夏人情未一，聞備在蜀，四方延頸。 而備銳意欲即真，巴以為如此示天下不廣，且欲緩之。 與主簿雍茂諫備，備以他事殺茂，由是遠人不復至矣。〉 先主稱尊號，昭告於皇天上帝后土神祇，凡諸文誥策命，皆巴所作也。 章武二年卒。 卒後，魏尚書僕射陳群與丞相諸葛亮書，問巴消息，稱曰劉君子初，甚敬重焉。 〈零陵先賢傳曰：輔吳將軍張昭嘗對孫權論巴褊□厄，不當拒張飛太甚。 權曰：「若令子初隨世沈浮，容悅玄德，交非其人，何足稱為高士乎？」〉
In 219, when Liu Bei became king of Hanzhong, Liu Ba was appointed minister and later succeeded Fa Zheng as director of the masters of writing. He lived plainly and built no private fortune; because he had joined Liu Bei late he feared suspicion, kept his head down, avoided private friendships, and spoke only on official business. 〈The Lingling tradition notes that the Central Plains were still divided, yet everywhere men craned their necks toward Liu Bei in Shu. Liu Bei was impatient to declare himself emperor; Liu Ba argued that rushing would look petty to the world and urged delay. He and chief clerk Yong Mao spoke against it; Liu Bei executed Yong on another charge, and talent from afar stopped coming.〉 When Liu Bei took the imperial title and proclaimed it to Heaven and Earth, every proclamation and investiture document came from Liu Ba’s brush. He died in the second year of the Zhangwu era (222). After his death Wei’s supervisor of the masters of writing, Chen Qun, wrote Zhuge Liang asking after “Lord Liu Zichu,” a mark of deep respect. 〈The tradition adds that Zhang Zhao once told Sun Quan Liu Ba had been too harsh—narrow-minded perhaps—in snubbing Zhang Fei. " Sun Quan replied: "Had Zichu bent with every fashion and flattered Liu Bei just to fit in, could we still call him a man of principle?"〉
6
馬良字季常，襄陽宜城人也。 兄弟五人，並有才名，鄉里為之諺曰：「馬氏五常，白眉最良。」 良眉中有白毛，故以稱之。 先主領荊州，闢為從事。 及先主入蜀，諸葛亮亦從後往，良留荊州，與亮書曰：「聞雒城已拔，此天祚也。 尊兄應期贊世，配業光國，魄兆見矣。 〈臣松之以為良蓋與亮結為兄弟，或相與有親； 亮年長，良故呼亮為尊兄耳。〉 夫變用雅慮，審貴垂明，於以簡才，宜適其時。 若乃和光悅遠，邁德天壤，使時閒於聽，世服於道，齊高妙之音，正鄭、衛之聲，並利於事，無相奪倫，此乃管弦之至，牙、曠之調也。 雖非鍾期，敢不擊節！」 先主闢良為左將軍掾。
Ma Liang, styled Jichang, came from Yicheng in Xiangyang. Five gifted brothers inspired a local rhyme: "Among the Ma Five, the white-browed brother is best." Ma Liang had white hairs in his brows, hence the nickname. When Liu Bei governed Jing Province he appointed Ma Liang as an attendant clerk. When Liu Bei marched into Shu and Zhuge Liang followed, Ma Liang stayed behind in Jing and wrote: "Luocheng has fallen—that is Heaven’s favor. Your elder brother’s timely genius brings glory to the realm—the omens of greatness already show. 〈Pei Songzhi thinks Ma Liang may have sworn brotherhood with Zhuge Liang or been related by marriage; Zhuge Liang was older, so Ma Liang called him “elder brother” in that sense.〉 To rotate appointments with judgment, weigh true worth, and shed light on merit—the point of selecting talent is to match the moment. When ruler and ministers temper brilliance and win the distant, when virtue spans heaven and earth so that the age may hear clearly and the world cleaves to the Way—when lofty melody sets vulgar music right and every part serves the whole without throwing off the ensemble—that is the perfection Shi Kuang knew at his harp. I am no Zhong Ziqi—yet how could I withhold applause?" Liu Bei then appointed Ma Liang as an aide on the Left General’s staff.
7
後遣使吳，良謂亮曰：「今銜國命，協穆二家，幸為良介於孫將軍。」 亮曰：「君試自為文。」 良即為草曰：「寡君遣掾馬良通聘繼好，以紹昆吾、豕韋之勳。 其人吉士，荊楚之令，鮮于造次之華，而有克終之美，原降心存納，以慰將命。」 權敬待之。
When Liu Bei later sent him as envoy to Wu, Ma Liang asked Zhuge Liang: “I carry the mandate to bind our two courts—please speak well of me to General Sun.” Zhuge Liang replied: “Draft your own letter.” Ma Liang quickly produced a draft: “My lord dispatches his aide Ma Liang to carry friendly greetings and renew the bond, emulating the old fealty of Kunwu and Shiwei. He is a man of good repute, the best of Jing and Chu: little given to empty flourish, but steadfast to the end. I ask you to receive him kindly and so honor the errand.” Sun Quan treated him with full courtesy.
8
先主稱尊號，以良為侍中。 及東征吳，遣良入武陵招納五溪蠻夷，蠻夷渠帥皆受印號，咸如意指。 會先主敗績於夷陵，良亦遇害。 先主拜良子秉為騎都尉。
When Liu Bei declared himself emperor he named Ma Liang palace attendant. During the eastern campaign against Wu he sent Ma Liang into Wuling to win over the Five Streams tribes; every chieftain accepted seals and commissions exactly as Liu Bei wished. When Liu Bei was routed at Yiling, Ma Liang perished as well. Liu Bei posthumously appointed Ma Liang’s son Bing chief commandant of cavalry.
9
良弟謖，字幼常，以荊州從事隨先主入蜀，除綿竹成都令、越雋太守。 才器過人，好論軍計，丞相諸葛亮深加器異。 先主臨薨謂亮曰：「馬謖言過其實，不可大用，君其察之！」 亮猶謂不然，以謖為參軍，每引見談論，自晝達夜。 〈《襄陽記》曰：建興三年，亮征南中，謖送之數十里。 亮曰：「雖共謀之歷年，今可更惠良規。」 謖對曰：「南中恃其險遠，不服久矣，雖今日破之，明日復反耳。 今公方傾國北伐以事強賊。 彼知官勢內虛，其叛亦速。 若殄盡遺類以除後患，既非仁者之情，且又不可倉卒也。 夫用兵之道，攻心為上，攻城為下，心戰為上，兵戰為下，原公服其心而已。」 亮納其策，赦孟獲以服南方。 故終亮之世，南方不敢復反。〉
Ma Liang’s younger brother Ma Su, styled Youchang, entered Shu as a Jing Province clerk with Liu Bei and went on to serve as prefect of Mianzhu and Chengdu and as administrator of Yuexi. Gifted beyond most men and fond of debating strategy, he won Zhuge Liang’s exceptional esteem. On his deathbed Liu Bei warned Zhuge Liang: “Ma Su talks bigger than he delivers—do not give him heavy responsibility; remember that.” Zhuge Liang disagreed: he kept Ma Su as army adviser and often debated with him from dawn till midnight. 〈The Xiangyang ji notes that in 225, when Zhuge Liang marched south, Ma Su accompanied him for miles. Zhuge Liang said: “We have schemed together for years—give me your best counsel now.” Ma Su answered: “The south trusts in rugged distance and has resisted for ages. Crush them today and they rise again tomorrow. You are about to commit the entire realm to a northern drive against a formidable enemy. Once they sense the interior is stripped bare, they will rebel all the faster. Annihilating every clan to prevent future trouble is neither humane nor practical on short notice. In war, winning hearts ranks above taking cities; psychological warfare ranks above bloody battle—win their hearts and the south will hold.” Zhuge Liang took the advice, repeatedly sparing Meng Huo until the south submitted. For the rest of Zhuge Liang’s life the south did not rise again.〉
10
建興六年，亮出軍向祁山，時有宿將魏延、吳壹等，論者皆言以為宜令為先鋒，而亮違眾拔謖，統大眾在前，與魏將張郃戰於街亭，為郃所破，士卒離散。 亮進無所據，退軍還漢中。 謖下獄物故，亮為之流涕。 良死時年三十六，謖年三十九。 〈襄陽記曰：謖臨終與亮書曰：「明公視謖猶子，謖視明公猶父，原深惟殛鯀興禹之義，使平生之交不虧於此，謖雖死無恨於黃壤也。」 於時十萬之眾為之垂涕。 亮自臨祭，待其遺孤若平生。 蔣琬後詣漢中，謂亮曰：「昔楚殺得臣，然後文公喜可知也。 天下未定而戮智計之士，豈不惜乎！」 亮流涕曰：「孫武所以能製勝於天下者，用法明也。 是以楊乾亂法，魏絳戮其僕。 四海分裂，兵交方始，若復廢法，何用討賊邪！」 習鑿齒曰：諸葛亮之不能兼上國也，豈不宜哉！ 夫晉人規林父之後濟，故廢法而收功； 楚成闇得臣之益己，故殺之以重敗。 今蜀僻陋一方，才少上國，而殺其俊傑，退收駑下之用，明法勝才，不師三敗之道，將以成業，不亦難乎！ 且先主誡謖之不可大用，豈不謂其非才也？ 亮受誡而不獲奉承，明謖之難廢也。 為天下宰匠，欲大收物之力，而不量才節任，隨器付業； 知之大過，則違明主之誡，裁之失中，即殺有益之人，難乎其可與言智者也。〉
In 228 Zhuge Liang struck toward Qishan. Everyone expected veterans such as Wei Yan or Wu Yi to lead the van, but he chose Ma Su instead. Ma Su took the main force forward, met Zhang He at Jieting, was shattered, and his men fled in disorder. With no foothold left to advance, Zhuge Liang pulled back to Hanzhong. Ma Su was jailed and died; Zhuge Liang wept for him. Ma Liang died at thirty-six; Ma Su was executed at thirty-nine. 〈The Xiangyang ji records Ma Su’s dying letter: “You have treated me as a son and I have honored you as a father. Remember how Yu rose though Gun was punished—do not let our bond end in bitterness; then I can rest easy beneath the sod.” A hundred thousand soldiers wept for him. Zhuge Liang conducted the rites himself and cared for Ma Su’s children as though nothing had changed. When Jiang Wan later visited Hanzhong he said to Zhuge Liang: “Remember how Duke Wen of Jin rejoiced after Chu executed Cheng Dechen. The empire is still unsettled—how can we afford to kill able strategists?” Zhuge Liang answered through tears: “Sun Wu conquered because his discipline was clear. When Yang Gan broke military law, Wei Jiang executed his own charioteer to uphold it. The realm is torn and war has barely begun—if we abandon the law now, how can we crush the rebels?” Xi Zuochi observed: Small wonder Zhuge Liang never mastered the Central Plains. Jin spared Xun Linfu after his defeat so he could redeem himself—they relaxed the letter of the law and still won; King Cheng of Chu misjudged Cheng Dechen’s motives, executed him, and brought deeper ruin on Chu. Shu is a remote corner with fewer talents than the heartland; killing its brightest and relying on second-raters—exalting discipline over genius while ignoring the lesson of repeated defeat—makes founding a lasting realm terribly hard. Liu Bei warned that Ma Su must not be heavily trusted—was that not a verdict on his limitations? Zhuge Liang ignored that warning—proof that he could not bring himself to sideline Ma Su. To wield empire-wide authority and demand every talent serve you—yet fail to match men to roles or suit tasks to gifts; Misread your instruments and you flout a dying emperor’s counsel; misjudge the penalty and you execute men who might still serve—how can we call that wisdom?〉
11
陳震字孝起，南陽人也。 先主領荊州牧，闢為從事，部諸郡，隨先主入蜀。 蜀既定，為蜀郡北部都尉，因易郡名，為汶山太守，轉在犍為。 建興三年，入拜尚書，遷尚書令，奉命使吳。 七年，孫權稱尊號，以震為衛尉，賀權踐阼，諸葛亮與兄瑾書曰：「孝起忠純之性，老而益篤，及其贊述東西，歡樂和合，有可貴者。」 震入吳界，移關候曰：
Chen Zhen, styled Xiaoqi, came from Nanyang. When Liu Bei governed Jing Province he appointed Chen Zhen attendant clerk over several commanderies and brought him into Shu. After Shu was pacified he served as northern division commandant of Shu Commandery, then—after a renaming—as administrator of Wenshan, and later transferred to Qianwei. In 225 he was summoned to court as minister, promoted to director of the masters of writing, and sent on embassy to Wu. In 229, when Sun Quan declared himself emperor, Chen Zhen went as commandant of the guards to offer congratulations. Zhuge Liang wrote his brother Zhuge Jin: “Xiaoqi’s loyalty has only deepened with age; his work knitting east and west in friendship is truly admirable.” Crossing into Wu, Chen Zhen sent this notice to the frontier posts:
12
東之與西，驛使往來，冠蓋相望，申盟初好，日新其事。 東尊應保聖祚，告燎受符，剖判土宇，天下響應，各有所歸。 於此時也，以同心討賊，則何寇不滅哉！ 西朝君臣，引領欣賴。 震以不才，得充下使，奉聘敘好，踐界踴躍，入則如歸。 獻子適魯，犯其山諱，春秋譏之。 望必啟告，使行人睦焉。 即日張旍誥眾，各自約誓。 順流漂疾，國典異制，懼或有違，幸必斟誨，示其所宜。
East and west exchange couriers without cease; envoys crowd the roads as our renewed alliance grows stronger day by day. The eastern court has secured its imperial mandate, received heaven’s tokens, and mapped its realm; the world answers and each power knows its place. United now against the traitors in the north, what foe could stand? Shu’s court watches eagerly and counts on this friendship. I, Chen Zhen, though undistinguished, serve as your humble envoy to renew goodwill; crossing your border feels like coming home. When Fan Xianzi visited Lu he broke a taboo on mountain names—and the Spring and Autumn censured him. Please instruct your officers so future envoys meet with courtesy. Issue your orders today so every post understands the ritual pledges both courts observe. Currents run fast and our ceremonial codes differ—mistakes may happen unless you coach your officials on what is proper.
13
震到武昌，孫權與震升壇歃盟，交分天下：以徐、豫、幽、青屬吳，並、涼、冀、兗屬蜀，其司州之土，以函谷關為界。 震還，封城陽亭侯。
At Wuchang Sun Quan joined Chen Zhen on the altar to swear alliance and carve up the empire: Wu would claim Xu, Yu, You, and Qing; Shu would hold Bing, Liang, Ji, and Yan; the Central Plains between them would run along Hangu Pass. Chen Zhen returned and was made village marquis of Chengyang.
14
九年，都護李平坐誣罔廢； 諸葛亮與長史蔣琬、侍中董允書曰：「孝起前臨至吳，為吾說正方腹中有鱗甲，鄉黨以為不可近。 吾以為鱗甲者但不當犯之耳，不圖復有蘇、張之事出於不意。 可使孝起知之。」 十三年，震卒。 子濟嗣。
In 231 Chief Protector Li Yan was stripped of office for deceit; Zhuge Liang wrote Jiang Wan and Dong Yun: “When Xiaoqi went east he warned me Li Yan was armored inside—his neighbors had long kept their distance. I assumed that meant merely “don’t provoke him”—I never expected another Su–Zhang intrigue. Let Xiaoqi hear of it.” Chen Zhen died in 235. His son Chen Ji inherited the title.
15
董允字休昭，掌軍中郎將和之子也。 先主立太子，允以選為捨人，徙洗馬。 後主襲位，遷黃門侍郎。 丞相亮將北征，住漢中，慮後主富於春秋，硃紫難別，以允秉心公亮，欲任以宮省之事。 上疏曰：「侍中郭攸之、費禕、侍郎董允等，先帝簡拔以遺陛下，至於斟酌規益，進盡忠言，則其任也。 愚以為宮中之事，事無大小，悉以諮之，必能裨補闕漏，有所廣益。 若無興德之言，則戮允等以彰其慢。」 亮尋請禕為參軍，允遷為侍中，領虎賁中郎將，統宿衛親兵。 攸之性素和順，備員而已。 〈楚國先賢傳曰：攸之，南陽人，以器業知名於時。〉 獻納之任，允皆專之矣。 允處事為防制，甚盡匡救之理。 後主常欲採擇以充后宮，允以為古者天子后妃之數不過十二，今嬪嬙已具，不宜增益，終執不聽。 後主益嚴憚之。 尚書令蔣琬領益州刺史，上疏以讓費禕及允，又表「允內侍歷年，翼贊王室，宜賜爵土以褒勳勞。」 允固辭不受。 後主漸長大，愛宦人黃皓。 皓便闢佞慧，欲自容入。 允常上則正色匡主，下則數責於皓。 皓畏允，不敢為非。 終允之世，皓位不過黃門丞。
Dong Yun, styled Xiuzhao, was the son of Dong He, general of the household for army affairs. When Liu Bei installed the crown prince, Dong Yun was chosen as attendant-in-ordinary and later promoted to groom-in-waiting. When Liu Shan took the throne Dong Yun rose to gentleman attendant at the yellow gates. Before Zhuge Liang marched north from Hanzhong he worried that the young emperor could not tell sound counsel from flattery; Dong Yun’s integrity made him the right man for palace oversight. He submitted a memorial, saying: 'Palace attendants Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, Gentleman Dong Yun, and others—the Former Sovereign selected and promoted them to leave to Your Majesty; as for weighing counsels for benefit and advancing exhaustive loyal words—that is their charge. Consult them on every palace matter, great or small—they will plug gaps and widen your perspective. If they fail to speak for your moral welfare, punish them to expose their slackness.” Zhuge Liang soon summoned Fei Yi as army adviser while Dong Yun became palace attendant, concurrent general of the tiger guard household, commanding the imperial bodyguard. Guo Youzhi was mild-mannered and mostly a figurehead. 〈The Chu tradition describes Guo Youzhi of Nanyang as a man of recognized ability.〉 Dong Yun alone handled frank counsel to the throne. Dong Yun governed with preventive discipline and worked tirelessly to steer policy aright. Liu Shan wanted to enlarge his harem; Dong Yun cited the classical limit of twelve consorts and refused—again and again—to enlarge it further. The emperor grew ever more wary of crossing him. Director of the Masters of Writing Jiang Wan concurrently held Inspector of Yi Province; he submitted a memorial yielding [credit] to Fei Yi and Yun; he also memorialized: 'Yun has served within for successive years, winging and assisting the royal house—it is fitting to grant rank and territory to praise labor and merit.' Dong Yun steadfastly declined. As Liu Shan matured he grew fond of the eunuch Huang Hao. Huang Hao used wit and flattery to worm his way inward. Dong Yun rebuked the ruler to his face and scolded Huang Hao behind the scenes. Huang Hao feared Dong Yun too much to make open mischief. Throughout Dong Yun’s life Huang Hao never rose above assistant at the yellow gates.
16
允嘗與尚書令費禕、中典軍胡濟等共期遊宴，嚴駕已辦，而郎中襄陽董恢詣允脩敬。 恢年少官微，見允停出，逡巡求去，允不許，曰：「本所以出者，欲與同好遊談也，今君已自屈，方展闊積，捨此之談，就彼之宴，非所謂也。」 乃命解驂，禕等罷駕不行。 其守正下士，凡此類也。 〈《襄陽記》曰：董恢字休緒，襄陽人。 入蜀，以宣信中郎副費禕使吳。 孫權嘗大醉問禕曰：「楊儀、魏延，牧豎小人也。 雖嘗有鳴吠之益於時務，然既已任之，勢不得輕，若一朝無諸葛亮，必為禍亂矣。 諸君憒憒，曾不知防慮於此，豈所謂貽厥孫謀乎？」 禕愕然四顧視，不能即答。 恢目禕曰：「可速言儀、延之不協起於私忿耳，而無黥、韓難御之心也。 今方掃除強賊，混一區夏，功以才成，業由才廣，若捨此不任，防其後患，是猶備有風波而逆廢舟楫，非長計也。」 權大笑樂。 諸葛亮聞之，以為知言。 還未滿三日，闢為丞相府屬，遷巴郡太守。 臣松之案：《漢晉春秋》亦載此語，不云董恢所教，辭亦小異，此二書俱出習氏而不同若此。 本傳云「恢年少官微」，若已為丞相府屬，出作巴郡，則官不微矣。 以此疑習氏之言為不審的也。〉 延熙六年，加輔國將軍。 七年，以侍中守尚書令，為大將軍費禕副貳。 九年，卒。 〈《華陽國志》曰：時蜀人以諸葛亮、蔣琬、費禕及允為四相，一號四英也。〉
Dong Yun once had a carriage ready for an outing with Fei Yi, Hu Ji, and others when Dong Hui, a gentleman from Xiangyang, arrived to pay his respects. Young and low in rank, Dong Hui tried to withdraw when he saw he had interrupted them. Dong Yun refused: “We came out to enjoy conversation with kindred spirits; now that you have taken the trouble to visit, turning aside for an idle banquet would miss the point.” He had the teams unhitched; Fei Yi and the others canceled the outing. His integrity and respect for humble talent showed in episodes like this. 〈The Xiangyang ji identifies Dong Hui, styled Xiuxu, as a man of Xiangyang. After entering Shu he served as deputy to Fei Yi on missions to Wu with the title propaganda-and-trust gentleman. Sun Quan once asked Fei Yi while drunk: “Yang Yi and Wei Yan are barely better than herd boys. They may yap usefully at times, yet once entrusted with power they cannot be dismissed lightly—without Zhuge Liang they would tear Shu apart. You stand there half asleep and never gave this a thought—is that what you call leaving your heirs a sound strategy?” Fei Yi froze, glanced about the room, and could not find an answer. Dong Hui caught Fei Yi’s eye and whispered: "Say plainly that Yang Yi and Wei Yan feud out of private spite—not out of some Ying Bu or Han Xin treachery. You are crushing the northern foe and reuniting the realm—great deeds need able men. Sideline them out of fear and it is like stocking lifeboats then sinking the fleet: short-sighted.” Sun Quan roared with laughter. Zhuge Liang heard the story and pronounced Dong Hui shrewd. Within three days of his return Dong Hui was pulled onto the chancellor’s staff and made administrator of Ba Commandery. Pei Songzhi notes that the Han Jin chunqiu quotes the same exchange without crediting Dong Hui’s coaching and with slightly different wording—odd for two texts both drawn from Xi Zuochi. The main biography says "Hui was young and low in office"; if he had already been an aide in the Chancellor's headquarters and gone out to serve as [Administrator of] Ba Commandery, then his office would not have been low. That casts doubt on Xi Zuochi’s accuracy.〉 In 243 Dong Yun was promoted general who supports the state. In 244 he served as acting director of the masters of writing while retaining palace attendant rank, assisting Grand General Fei Yi. He died in 246. 〈Chang Qu’s Huayang guozhi reports that Shu folk grouped Zhuge Liang, Jiang Wan, Fei Yi, and Dong Yun as the “four excellences.”〉
17
陳祗代允為侍中，與黃皓互相表裡，皓始預政事。 祗死後，皓從黃門令為中常侍、奉車都尉，操弄威柄，終至覆國。 蜀人無不追思允。 及鄧艾至蜀，聞皓奸險，收閉，將殺之，而皓厚賂艾左右，得免。
Chen Zhi succeeded Dong Yun as palace attendant and colluded openly with Huang Hao, who now entered politics. After Chen Zhi’s death Huang Hao rose from palace gate superintendent to household attendant and chief commandant for the imperial carriage, seized real power, and helped ruin the kingdom. Every Shu subject mourned Dong Yun. When Deng Ai entered Shu he jailed Huang Hao for villainy and meant to execute him, but Huang Hao bought off Deng Ai’s staff and walked free.
18
呂乂字季陽，南陽人也。 父常，送故將 （軍） 劉焉入蜀，值王路隔塞，遂不得還。 乂少孤，好讀書鼓琴。 初，先主定益州，置鹽府校尉，較鹽鐵之利，後校尉王連請乂及南陽杜祺、南鄉劉幹等並為典曹都尉。 乂遷新都、綿竹令，乃心隱卹，百姓稱之，為一州諸城之首。 遷巴西太守。 丞相諸葛亮連年出軍，調發諸郡，多不相救，乂募取兵五千人詣亮，慰喻檢制，無逃竄者。 徙為漢中太守，兼領督農，供繼軍糧。 亮卒，累遷廣漢、蜀郡太守。 蜀郡一都之會，戶口眾多，又亮卒之後，士伍亡命，更相重冒，姦巧非一。 乂到官，為之防禁，開喻勸導，數年之中，漏脫自出者萬馀口。 後入為尚書，代董允為尚書令，眾事無留，門無停賓。 乂歷職內外，治身儉約，謙靖少言，為政簡而不煩，號為清能； 然持法刻深，好用文俗吏，故居大官，名聲損於郡縣。 延熙十四年卒。 子辰，景耀中為成都令。 辰弟雅，謁者。 雅清厲有文才，著格論十五篇。
Lü Yi, styled Jiyang, came from Nanyang. His father Lü Chang escorted a former general (text damaged; likely ‘general of the army’ or similar) Liu Yan’s march into Shu cut Lü Chang off from home—he never got back. Orphaned young, Lü Yi loved books and the qin. After Liu Bei took Yi Province he set up a salt monopoly to manage iron and salt revenues; Colonel Wang Lian later named Lü Yi, Du Qi of Nanyang, Liu Gan of Nanxiang, and others capital bureau commandants. As magistrate of Xindu and Mianzhu he governed with genuine compassion; people acclaimed him the finest administrator in the province. He was promoted to administrator of Ba-Xi. Zhuge Liang’s endless campaigns strained county levies until few answered the call. Lü Yi raised five thousand men, delivered them to the front, and through careful encouragement and discipline lost not one deserter. Transferred to Hanzhong administrator, he doubled as agriculture intendant and kept the northern armies fed. After Zhuge Liang’s death he rose through posts as Guanghan and Shu administrators. Shu Commandery, centered on the capital, swarmed with people; after Zhuge Liang’s death deserters multiplied identities and fraud flourished in countless forms. Lü Yi tightened regulations, explained the law, and within a few years coaxed more than ten thousand ghosts back onto the rolls. Called to court as minister, he succeeded Dong Yun as director of the masters of writing—paperwork never piled up and callers never cooled their heels. Serving both in the field and at court Lü Yi lived plainly, spoke little, and governed with lean efficiency—men called him honest and able; yet his legalism ran harsh and he favored petty clerks, so high rank actually tarnished the reputation he had earned in the provinces. He died in 251. His son Lü Chen became Chengdu magistrate during the Jingyao era. Lü Chen’s younger brother Lü Ya served as court herald. Lü Ya was austere and literary; he wrote fifteen chapters of “Discourses on Standards.”
19
杜祺歷郡守監軍大將軍司馬，劉幹官至巴西太守，皆與乂親善，亦有當時之稱，而儉素守法，不及於乂。
Du Qi rose through commandery posts to grand-general’s major; Liu Gan became Ba-Xi administrator—both were Lü Yi’s friends and noted officials, though neither matched his austerity and rectitude.
20
【評】
【Closing evaluation】
21
評曰：董和蹈羔羊之素，劉巴履清尚之節，馬良貞實，稱為令士，陳震忠恪，老而益篤，董允匡主，義形於色，皆蜀臣之良矣。 呂乂臨郡則垂稱，處朝則被損，亦黃、薛之流亞矣。
Chen Shou comments: Dong He embodied the integrity praised in the “Lamb” ode; Liu Ba kept himself unstained; Ma Liang was upright and rightly called a model scholar; Chen Zhen grew only more loyal with age; Dong Yun rebuked his sovereign without masking his anger—they were Shu’s finest servants. Lü Yi won fame in the provinces yet lost luster in the capital—a profile not unlike Huang Ba or Xue Gong of Han.