Volume 43 Biographies 3: Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang, Tan Daoji

列傳第三徐羨之傅亮檀道濟

Biographies 3: Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang, and Tan Daoji

徐羨之，字宗文，東海郯人也。祖寧，尚書吏部郎，江州刺史，未拜卒。父祚之，上虞令。羨之少為王雅太子少傅主簿，劉牢之鎮北功曹，尚書祠部郎，不拜，桓脩撫軍中兵曹參軍。與高祖同府，深相親結。義旗建，高祖版為鎮軍參軍，尚書庫部郎，領軍司馬。與謝混共事，混甚知之。補琅邪王大司馬參軍，司徒左西屬，徐州別駕從事史，太尉諮議參軍。義熙十一年，除鷹揚將軍、琅邪內史，仍為大司馬從事中郎，將軍如故。高祖北伐，轉太尉左司馬，掌留任，以副貳劉穆之。

Xu Xianzhi, whose style was Zongwen, came from Tan in Donghai commandery. His grandfather Ning had served as director of the Secretariat's personnel section and been appointed inspector of Jiang Province, but died before he could take up that office. His father Zuozhi had been magistrate of Shangyu. In his youth Xianzhi served as registrar to the Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent Wang Ya, as merit-clerk on the northern-pacification staff of Liu Laozhi, and as director of sacrifices in the Secretariat—a post he declined—before becoming a military aide on the pacification staff of Huan Xiu. He served in the same office as Gaozu, and the two became close friends. When the righteous army was raised, Gaozu appointed him staff officer of the Pacification Army, director of the stores section in the Secretariat, and marshal of the palace guard. He worked alongside Xie Hun, who came to know him very well indeed. He was then assigned in turn as staff officer to the Grand Marshal, Prince of Langye; as western aide to the Minister of Education; as aide-de-camp to the governor of Xuzhou; and as consulting staff officer to the Grand Commander. In the eleventh year of Yixi (415), he was appointed General Who Stirs the Hawks and administrator of Langye Interior, while retaining his post as attendant gentleman on the Grand Marshal's staff with his general's rank unchanged. When Gaozu launched his northern campaign, Xianzhi was transferred to left marshal of the Grand Commander and put in charge of affairs left behind at the capital, serving as Liu Muzhi's deputy.

初，高祖議欲北伐，朝士多諫，唯羨之默然。或問何獨不言，羨之曰：「吾位至二品，官為二千石，志願久充。今二方已平，拓地萬里，唯有小羌未定，而公寢食不忘。意量乖殊，何可輕豫。」劉穆之卒，高祖命以羨之為吏部尚書、建威將軍、丹陽尹，總知留任，甲仗二十人出入。轉尚書僕射，將軍、尹如故。

Earlier, when Gaozu first proposed a northern expedition, many officials at court urged him against it; Xianzhi alone said nothing. When someone asked why he alone had kept silent, Xianzhi replied: "My rank has already reached the second grade and my office carries two thousand dan of salary—my ambitions have long since been satisfied. The two rival states are already pacified and our territory stretches ten thousand li; only the petty Qiang tribes remain unsettled, yet my lord cannot eat or sleep for thinking of them. His vision and mine are worlds apart—how could I lightly presume to offer advice?" When Liu Muzhi died, Gaozu appointed Xianzhi director of personnel, General Who Establishes Might, and governor of Danyang, with overall charge of affairs at the capital and an escort of twenty armed men whenever he went out. He was then promoted to vice director of the Secretariat, retaining his general's rank and his post as governor of Danyang.

十四年，大司馬府軍人朱興妻周坐息男道扶年三歲，先得癇病，周因其病發，掘地生埋之，為道扶姑女所告，正周棄市刑。羨之議曰：「自然之愛，虎狼猶仁。周之凶忍，宜加顯戮。臣以為法律之外，故尚弘物之理。母之即刑，由子明法，為子之道，焉有自容之地。雖伏法者當罪，而在宥者靡容。愚謂可特申之遐裔。」從之。

In the fourteenth year, a soldier of the Grand Marshal's command named Zhu Xing had a wife, Zhou, who was prosecuted because her son Daofu, aged three, had earlier fallen ill with epilepsy; when the seizure came on, Zhou dug a pit and buried the boy alive. Daofu's cousin by marriage reported the crime, and Zhou was sentenced to execution and exposure in the marketplace. Xianzhi submitted a memorial arguing: "Natural parental love moves even tigers and wolves to show kindness. Zhou's savage cruelty plainly warrants the severest punishment. Yet beyond the letter of the law, Your Majesty should still uphold the principle of extending compassion to all living beings. When a mother faces execution because her son has exposed her crime, what room can there be for a son to hold his head high? Though the one who submits to punishment deserves guilt, the one who is spared has nowhere to turn. I humbly propose that the son be specially banished to a distant frontier region instead." The court accepted his proposal.

高祖踐阼，進號鎮軍將軍，加散騎常侍。上初即位，思佐命之功，詔曰：「散騎常侍、尚書僕射、鎮軍將軍、丹陽尹徐羨之，監江州、豫州之西陽、新蔡諸軍事、撫軍將軍、江州刺史華容侯王弘，散騎常侍、護軍將軍作唐男檀道濟，中書令、領太子詹事傅亮，侍中、中領軍謝晦，前左將軍、江州刺史宜陽侯檀韶，使持節、雍、梁、南、北秦四州、荊州之河北諸軍事、後將軍、雍州刺史關中侯趙倫之，使持節、督北徐、兗、青三州諸軍事、征虜將軍、北徐州刺史南城男劉懷慎，散騎常侍、領太子左衛率新淦侯王仲德，前冠軍將軍、北青州刺史安南男向彌，左衛將軍灄陽男劉粹，使持節、南蠻校尉佷山子到彥之，西中郎司馬南郡宜陽侯張邵，參西中郎將軍事、建威將軍、河東太守資中侯沈林子等，或忠規遠謀，扶贊洪業；或肆勤樹績，弘濟艱難。經始圖終，勳烈惟茂，並宜與國同休，饗茲大賚。羨之可封南昌縣公，弘可華容縣公，道濟可改封永脩縣公，亮可建城縣公，晦可武昌縣公，食邑各二千戶；韶可更增邑二千五百戶，仲德可增邑二千二百戶；懷慎、彥之各進爵為侯，粹改封建安縣侯，並增邑為千戶；倫之可封霄城縣侯，食邑千戶；邵可封臨沮縣伯，林子可封漢壽縣伯，食邑六百戶。開國之制，率遵舊章。」

When Gaozu took the throne, Xianzhi was promoted to General of the Pacification Army and given the additional title of regular attendant of the scattered cavalry. Soon after his accession, mindful of those who had helped him win the throne, the emperor issued an edict: "Xu Xianzhi, regular attendant of the scattered cavalry, vice director of the Secretariat, general of the pacification army, and governor of Danyang; Wang Hong, Marquis of Huarong, general who pacifies the army and inspector of Jiang Province; Tan Daoji, Baron of Zuotang, regular attendant of the scattered cavalry and general who guards the army; Fu Liang, director of the Secretariat and concurrent grand tutor of the heir apparent; Xie Hui, palace attendant and central commander of the palace guard; Tan Shao, former general of the left and inspector of Jiang Province, Marquis of Yiyang; Zhao Lunzhi, Marquis of Guanzhong, rear general and inspector of Yong Province; Liu Huaishen, Baron of Nancheng, general who punishes the barbarians and inspector of Northern Xuzhou; Wang Zhongde, Marquis of Xingan, regular attendant of the scattered cavalry and commander of the left guards of the heir apparent; Xiang Mi, former general who conquers the champions and inspector of Northern Qing Province, Baron of Annan; Liu Cui, Baron of Shanyang, general of the left guards; Dao Yanzhi, Son of Gen Mountain, colonel of the southern barbarians; Zhang Shao, Marquis of Yiyang of Nan commandery, marshal of the western palace gentleman; Shen Linzi, Marquis of Zizhong, general who establishes might and administrator of Hedong—some offered loyal counsel and far-sighted plans that upheld the great enterprise; others labored tirelessly and built up achievements that eased the empire through its hardest trials. From the founding through to its completion, their merit has been outstanding, and all alike should share the state's good fortune and receive this great reward. Xianzhi shall be enfeoffed as Duke of Nanchang with a fief of two thousand households; Hong as Duke of Huarong; Daoji's fief shall be changed to Duke of Yongxiu; Liang as Duke of Jiancheng; and Hui as Duke of Wuchang—each with two thousand households; Shao's fief shall be further increased by two thousand five hundred households, and Zhongde's by two thousand two hundred; Huaishen and Yanzhi shall each be advanced to marquis; Cui's title shall be changed to Marquis of Jian'an, each with a fief of one thousand households; Lunzhi shall be enfeoffed as Marquis of Xiaocheng with a fief of one thousand households; Shao shall be enfeoffed as Baron of Linju and Linzi as Baron of Hanshou, each with a fief of six hundred households. The regulations governing the establishment of noble estates shall in all cases follow the former statutes."

羨之遷尚書令、揚州刺史，加散騎常侍。進位司空、錄尚書事，常侍、刺史如故。羨之起布衣，又無術學，直以志力局度，一旦居廊廟，朝野推服，咸謂有宰臣之望。沈密寡言，不以憂喜見色。頗工弈棊，觀戲常若未解，當世倍以此推之。傅亮、蔡廓常言：「徐公曉萬事，安異同。」

Xianzhi was promoted to director of the Secretariat and inspector of Yang Province, with the additional title of regular attendant of the scattered cavalry. He was further promoted to minister of works and recorder of Secretariat affairs, retaining his posts as attendant and inspector. Xianzhi had risen from commoner origins without scholarly training, yet through force of will and breadth of vision he suddenly found himself at the summit of government; court and country alike deferred to him, and all agreed he had the makings of a chief minister. Deep and reserved, he spoke little and never let joy or sorrow show on his face. He was quite skilled at weiqi, yet when watching others play he often seemed not to understand the game at all—an affectation his contemporaries admired all the more for the restraint it implied. Fu Liang and Cai Kuo were fond of saying: "Lord Xu understands everything and knows how to reconcile opposing views."

高祖不豫，加班劍三十人。宮車晏駕，與中書令傅亮、領軍將軍謝晦、鎮北將軍檀道濟同被顧命。少帝詔曰：「平理獄訟，政道所先。朕哀荒在疚，未堪親覽。司空、尚書令可率眾官月一決獄。」

When Gaozu fell gravely ill, thirty armed attendants were added to Xianzhi's escort. When the emperor died, Xianzhi was named, together with Fu Liang, director of the Secretariat; Xie Hui, general who commands the army; and Tan Daoji, general who pacifies the north, among those entrusted with the dying emperor's final mandate. The Young Emperor issued an edict: "The fair resolution of lawsuits is the foremost duty of government. I am still deep in mourning and not yet able to review cases in person. The minister of works and director of the Secretariat shall lead the officials in holding court once a month to decide cases."

帝後失德，羨之等將謀廢立，而廬陵王義真輕動多過，不任四海，乃先廢義真，然後廢帝。時謝晦為領軍，以府舍內屋敗應治，悉移家人出宅，聚將士於府內。鎮北將軍、南兗州刺史檀道濟先朝舊將，威服殿省，且有兵眾，召使入朝，告之以謀。事將發，道濟入宿領軍府。中書舍人邢安泰、潘盛為內應，其日守關。道濟領兵居前，羨之等繼其後，由東掖門、雲龍門入，宿衛先受處分，莫有動者。先是帝於華林園為列肆，親自酤賣，又開瀆聚土，以象破崗，率左右唱呼引船為樂。是夕，寢於龍舟，在天淵池。兵士進殺二人，又傷帝指。扶帝出東閣，收璽綬。群臣拜辭，衛送故太子宮，遷於吳郡。侍中程道惠勸立第五皇弟義恭，羨之不許。遣使殺義真於新安，殺帝於吳縣。時為帝築宮未成，權居金昌亭，帝突走出昌門，追者以門關擊之倒地，然後加害。

The emperor soon proved unfit to rule, and Xianzhi and his colleagues resolved to depose him. But Prince of Luling Yizhen was rash and error-prone and unfit to receive the realm, so they deposed Yizhen first and only then moved against the emperor himself. At that time Xie Hui held command of the palace guard. Citing dilapidated buildings within his headquarters that required repair, he moved his entire household out of the residence and gathered his troops inside. Tan Daoji, general who pacifies the north and inspector of Southern Yanzhou, was a veteran general of the previous reign whose authority awed the palace offices and who commanded substantial forces; they summoned him to court and disclosed the plot. On the eve of the coup, Daoji took up quarters inside the commander's headquarters. Palace attendants Xing Antai and Pan Sheng served as insiders, and on the appointed day they held the palace gates. Daoji led the troops in the van while Xianzhi and the others followed behind; they entered through the Eastern Side Gate and the Cloud Dragon Gate. The palace guards had already been given their orders, and not one moved. Earlier that day the emperor had set up market stalls in Hualin Garden and sold wine himself; he had also dug a channel and piled up earth to imitate Broken Hill, leading his attendants in chants as they hauled boats about for amusement. That evening he was asleep aboard the dragon boat on the Celestial Pool. Soldiers advanced and killed two of his attendants, wounding the emperor's finger in the process. They helped the emperor out through the eastern pavilion and seized the imperial seals and regalia. The officials bowed in farewell; guards escorted him to the former heir apparent's residence, and he was then transferred to Wu commandery. Palace attendant Cheng Daohui urged that the fifth imperial brother, Yigong, be enthroned instead, but Xianzhi refused. They dispatched envoys to kill Yizhen at Xin'an and the deposed emperor at Wu county. A residence was still under construction for the deposed emperor, so he was lodged temporarily at Jinchang Pavilion. He suddenly bolted out through Chang Gate; his pursuers struck him down with the gate bar and only then delivered the fatal blow.

太祖即阼，進羨之司徒，餘如故，改封南平郡公，食邑四千戶，固讓加封。有司奏車駕依舊臨華林園聽訟，詔曰：「政刑多所未悉，可如先二公推訊。」

When Taizu took the throne, Xianzhi was promoted to minister of education with his other posts unchanged; his title was changed to Duke of Nanping commandery with a fief of four thousand households, though he firmly declined the added enfeoffment. The relevant offices proposed that the emperor should as before attend at Hualin Garden to hear lawsuits in person. An edict replied: "I am still largely unfamiliar with government and the administration of justice—let matters proceed as the two former chief ministers conducted their inquiries."

元嘉二年，羨之與左光祿大夫傅亮上表歸政，曰：「臣聞元首司契，運樞成務；臣道代終，事盡宣翼。冕旒之道，理絕於上皇；拱己之事，不行於中古。故高宗不言，以三齡為斷；塚宰聽政，以再期為節。百王以降，罔或不然。陛下聖德紹興，負荷洪業，億兆顒顒，思陶盛化。而聖旨謙挹，委成群司。自大禮告終，鑽燧三改，大明佇照，遠邇傾屬。臣等雖率誠屢聞，未能仰感，敢藉品物之情，謹因蒼生之志。伏願陛下遠存周文日昃之道，近思皇室締構之艱，時攬萬機，躬親朝政，廣辟四聰，博詢庶業，則雍熙可臻，有生幸甚。」上未許。羨之等重奏曰：「近寫下情，言為心罄，奉被還詔，鑒許未回。豈惟愚臣秉心有在，詢之朝野，人無異議。何者？形風四方，實繫王德，一國之事，本之一人。雖世代不同，時殊風異，至於主運臣贊，古今一揆。未有渾心委任，而休明可期，此之非宜，布自遐邇。臣等荷遇二世，休戚以均，情為國至，豈容順默。重披丹心，冒昧以請。」上猶辭。羨之等又固陳曰：「比表披陳，辭誠俱盡，詔旨沖遠，未垂聽納，三復屏營，伏增憂歎。臣聞克隆先構，幹蠱之盛業；昧旦丕顯，帝王之高義。自皇宋創運，英聖有造，殷憂未闕，艱患仍纏。賴天命有底，聖明承業，時屯國故，猶在民心。泰山之安，未易可保，昏明隆替，繫在聖躬。斯誠周詩夙興之辰，殷王待旦之日，豈得無為拱己，復玄古之風，逡巡虛挹，徇匹夫之事。伏願以宗廟為重，百姓為心，弘大業以嗣先軌，隆聖道以增前烈。愚瞽所獻，情盡於此。」上乃許之。羨之仍遜位退還私第，兄子佩之及侍中程道惠、吳興太守王韶之等並謂非宜，敦勸甚苦，復奉詔攝任。

In the second year of Yuanjia, Xianzhi and the left grand master of the palace Fu Liang submitted a memorial offering to return power to the throne, stating: "We have heard that the sovereign holds the mandate of heaven and turns the pivot of state to accomplish the great tasks of government; the way of subjects ends with their own generation, and their duty extends no further than to assist and support. The way of the imperial regalia belongs solely to the supreme sovereign; and the practice of folding one's arms and leaving affairs to others was unknown even in middle antiquity. Thus Gaozong of the Shang did not speak aloud for three years; and the chief minister governed in his stead for two years as the established term. From the hundred kings of antiquity down to the present, none have been otherwise. Your Majesty's sagely virtue continues the dynasty's rise; you bear the great enterprise upon your shoulders; the hundred millions look up eagerly, longing to be shaped by your flourishing rule. Yet Your Majesty's sacred intent remains humble and restrained, entrusting affairs to your assembled ministers. Since the great mourning rites concluded, three seasons have passed; the great brightness waits to shine forth, and far and near alike turn toward it. We your servants have repeatedly offered our sincere counsel yet have been unable to move Your Majesty; we venture now to speak on behalf of all living things and in accordance with the will of the people. We humbly pray that Your Majesty will look back to King Wen of Zhou, who labored until sunset, and recall the hardships of our own dynasty's founding; that you will from time to time take up the myriad affairs of state and attend to government in person; that you will open wide the four avenues of counsel and inquire broadly into all matters of governance—then harmonious prosperity may be achieved, to the great fortune of all who live under heaven. The emperor did not consent. Xianzhi and his colleagues submitted again: "We recently set down our deepest feelings; our words came straight from the heart. We received Your Majesty's reply, yet approval has not been granted. Is it only we foolish ministers who hold this conviction? Ask anyone at court or in the countryside—there is not a dissenting voice. Why is this so? The moral influence that shapes the four directions truly depends on the sovereign's virtue; the affairs of an entire state root in a single person. Though generations differ and times and customs vary, the relationship between sovereign and subject has always been the same. Never yet has a ruler who entrusted his heart and affairs entirely to others been able to expect an age of enlightened splendor—this impropriety is understood from the farthest reaches to the nearest. We have received favor from two reigns and share equally in the dynasty's joys and sorrows; our devotion to the state runs to the utmost—how could we comply in silence? We lay bare our hearts once more and venture, impertinently, to ask again. The emperor still declined. Xianzhi and his colleagues submitted yet again: "In our recent memorial we laid everything bare and spoke with complete sincerity; yet Your Majesty's lofty reply has not granted acceptance. Having read it three times over, we are filled with anxiety and dread, and our worry only deepens. We have heard that continuing and enlarging the work of one's predecessors is the great enterprise of a dynasty; and that laboring from before dawn to bring glory to the realm is the highest duty of every emperor and king. Since the Song dynasty was founded, heroic and sage rulers have built it up, yet deep sorrows have not ceased and hard trials still entwine the realm. Thanks to Heaven's mandate having a firm foundation, a sage ruler now inherits the enterprise; though the times are troubled and state affairs remain difficult, the people's hearts still rest in the throne. The security of Mount Tai is not easily preserved; whether the age grows dark or bright depends on Your Majesty's own person. This is truly the hour of early rising praised in the Zhou odes, the day of the Shang king waiting for dawn—how can Your Majesty remain inactive, fold your arms, and seek to restore the ways of deepest antiquity, hesitating and yielding power while attending to the concerns of a private citizen? We humbly pray that Your Majesty will hold the ancestral temples as your highest concern and the people as your heart, enlarge the great enterprise to continue your predecessors' path, and elevate the sage way to add to their glory. This is the utmost that we your blind servants can offer. The emperor then consented. Xianzhi nevertheless resigned his post and retired to his private residence. His nephew Peizhi, palace attendant Cheng Daohui, administrator of Wuxing Wang Shaozhi, and others all protested that this was improper and urged him with great earnestness; he then received another edict ordering him to resume his duties provisionally.

三年正月，詔曰：「民生於三，事之如一，愛敬同極，豈惟名教，況乃施侔造物，義在加隆者乎！徐羨之、傅亮、謝晦，皆因緣之才，荷恩在昔，擢自無聞，超居要重，卵翼而長，未足以譬。永初之季，天禍橫流，大明傾曜，四海遏密，實受顧託，任同負圖。而不能竭其股肱，盡其心力，送往無復言之節，事居闕忠貞之效，將順靡記，匡救蔑聞，懷寵取容，順成失德。雖末因懼禍，以建大策，而逞其悖心，不畏不義。播遷之始，謀肆鴆毒，至止未幾，顯行怨殺，窮凶極虐，荼酷備加，顛沛皁隸之手，告盡逆旅之館，都鄙哀愕，行路飲涕。故廬陵王英秀明遠，徽風夙播，魯、衛之寄，朝野屬情。羨之等暴蔑求專，忌賢畏逼，造構貝錦，成此無端，罔主蒙上，橫加流屏，矯誣朝旨，致茲禍害。寄以國命，而翦為仇讎，旬月之間，再肆鴆毒，痛感三靈，怨結人鬼。自書契以來，棄常安忍，反易天明，未有如斯之甚者也。昔子家從弑，鄭人致討；宋肥無辜，蕩澤為戮。況逆亂倍於往釁，情痛深於國家，此而可容，孰不可忍！即宜誅殛，告謝存亡。而於時大事甫爾，異同紛結，匡國之勳實著，莫大之罪未彰。是以遠酌民心，近聽輿訟，雖欲討亂，慮或難圖，故忍戚含哀，懷恥累載。每念人生實難，情事未展，何嘗不顧影慟心，伏枕泣血。今逆臣之釁，彰暴遐邇，君子悲情，義徒思奮，家仇國恥，可得而雪，便命司寇，肅明典刑。晦據有上流，或不即罪，朕當親率六師，為其遏防。可遣中領軍到彥之即日電發，征北將軍檀道濟絡驛繼路，符衛軍府州以時收翦。已命征虜將軍劉粹斷其走伏。罪止元兇，餘無所問。感惟永往，心情崩絕。氛霧既袪，庶幾治道。」

In the first month of the third year, an edict declared: "A person owes devotion to three—father, ruler, and teacher—and should serve them as one, with love and reverence reaching the same height. Is this not the foundation of moral teaching? How much more so when the grace bestowed equals the work of creation itself—does not righteousness demand that honor be increased? Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang, and Xie Hui are all men of opportune talent who received extraordinary favor in years past—plucked from obscurity and elevated to the weightiest offices, nurtured under imperial wings from the start. No ordinary comparison suffices. At the end of the Yongchu reign, heaven's calamity struck; the great brightness fell and its radiance was extinguished; the four seas fell silent in mourning. These men truly received the dying emperor's entrusted mandate, a burden equal to bearing the dynastic chart upon their shoulders. Yet they could not exhaust themselves in loyal service or give their utmost in devotion. In seeing off the departed emperor they failed to observe the rites of final counsel; in their conduct of affairs they showed none of the loyal steadfastness expected of them. They recorded no remonstrances when the emperor went astray, offered no rescue when disaster loomed, cherished favor and sought only to please, and by complying with his excesses allowed virtue to be lost. Though in the end, fearing disaster for the realm, they carried out the great plan of deposition, they had long indulged their rebellious hearts and showed no fear of what was unrighteous. From the moment of their forced removal from power, they plotted murder by poison; scarcely had they settled in when they openly carried out killings born of resentment. Their cruelty reached the utmost extreme, and bitter torments were heaped upon their victims, who were tossed from hand to hand among common servants until they perished in roadside inns. Capital and countryside alike were struck with grief and horror, and travelers on the road wept as they passed. Prince of Luling was talented, bright, and far-seeing, his fine reputation long established; he was the hope of the realm in the manner of the lords of Lu and Wei, and court and country alike placed their hopes upon him. Xianzhi and his colleagues were violent and contemptuous in their drive for monopoly power; they envied the worthy and feared any rival; they fabricated slander as intricate as shell brocade and brought about this groundless tragedy. They deceived their sovereign and hoodwinked their superiors, imposed exile and banishment by force, falsified the court's orders, and thereby brought about this catastrophe. Entrusted with the mandate of the state, they cut down their charges as enemies; within a matter of weeks they twice unleashed murder by poison. Heaven, earth, and the ancestral spirits were moved to grief; resentment bound the living and the dead alike. Since the age of writing and records began, never has anyone so abandoned moral constants, so dwelt in cruelty, or so perverted Heaven's clear mandate as these men have done. In antiquity, when Zijia followed his lord in regicide, the people of Zheng brought him to account; and when Song Fei was innocent, Dang Ze was executed in his place. How much more so when rebellion and disorder exceed all past offenses and the anguish strikes at the very heart of the state—if this can be tolerated, what crime could not be? They should be executed at once, and the announcement made to living and dead alike. Yet at that time the great enterprise had only just begun; factions were tangled in dispute; their merit in restoring the state was still manifest, and their greatest crimes had not yet been exposed. Therefore, weighing the people's hearts from afar and listening to public outcry close at hand, I wished to punish their disorder yet feared it might prove impossible to accomplish. Thus I have borne sorrow and contained my grief, cherishing this shame for many years. Whenever I reflect on how hard life truly is and how my deepest feelings remain unfulfilled, have I not gazed at my shadow and grieved in my heart, lain prostrate on my pillow and wept blood? Now the traitors' crimes are manifest, their violence exposed far and near. Men of honor harbor grief and indignation; men of righteousness burn to act. Family hatred and national shame can at last be avenged. Let the Minister of Punishments be ordered to solemnly carry out the canonical punishments. Hui holds the upper Yangzi region and may not submit immediately to punishment; I shall personally lead the six armies to block his path. The central commander of the army Dao Yanzhi shall be dispatched to set out this very day with all speed; General Who Punishes the North Tan Daoji shall follow close behind along the relay roads; and orders shall go to the guard armies, prefectures, and provinces to cut them down at the appointed time. General Who Punishes the Barbarians Liu Cui has already been ordered to cut off their escape routes and ambushes. Guilt shall rest only on the chief culprits; no others shall be prosecuted. Moved by thoughts of those who have passed forever beyond reach, my heart is shattered. Once the miasma has been cleared away, we may hope at last for the way of good government."

爾日詔召羨之。行至西明門外，時謝晦弟皭〈子肖反〉為黃門郎，正直，報亮云：「殿內有異處分。」亮馳報羨之。羨之回還西州，乘內人問訊車出郭，步走至新林，入陶竈中自剄死，時年六十三。羨之初不應召，上遣中領軍到彥之、右衛將軍王華追討。羨之死，野人以告，載尸付廷尉。子喬之，尚高祖第六女富陽公主，官至竟陵王文學。喬之及弟乞奴從誅。

That same day an edict summoned Xianzhi to court. When he reached the area outside the Western Bright Gate, Xie Hui's younger brother Xiao 〈pronounced zi-xiao by fanqie〉 was serving as a yellow gate gentleman. Upright and honest, he reported to Fu Liang: "There are unusual orders being issued within the palace." Liang galloped off to warn Xianzhi. Xianzhi turned back toward his residence in the western quarter, rode out of the city in a palace woman's inquiry carriage, then walked on foot to Xinlin, entered a pottery kiln, and cut his own throat. He was sixty-three years old. Xianzhi had at first not responded to the summons, so the emperor dispatched the central commander of the army Dao Yanzhi and the general of the right guards Wang Hua to pursue him. After Xianzhi's death, a countryman reported it; his corpse was loaded onto a cart and delivered to the Minister of Justice. His son Qiaozhi married Gaozu's sixth daughter, the Princess of Fuyang, and rose to the post of literary scholar to the Prince of Jingling. Qiaozhi and his younger brother Qinu were executed along with him.

初，羨之年少時，嘗有一人來，謂之曰：「我是汝祖。」羨之因起拜之。此人曰：「汝有貴相，而有大厄，可以錢二十八文埋宅四角，可以免災。過此可位極人臣。」後羨之隨親之縣，住在縣內，嘗暫出，而賊自後破縣；縣內人無免者，雞犬亦盡，唯羨之在外獲全。隨從兄履之為臨海樂安縣，嘗行經山中，見黑龍長丈餘，頭有角，前兩足皆具，無後足，曳尾而行。及拜司空，守關將入，彗星晨見危南。又當拜時，雙鶴集太極東鴟尾鳴喚。

Earlier, when Xianzhi was still young, a man once came to him and said: "I am your grandfather." Xianzhi immediately rose and bowed to him. The man said: "You have the countenance of a nobleman, but you will suffer a great calamity. Bury twenty-eight cash coins at the four corners of your residence, and you may escape disaster. If you survive it, you may rise to the highest rank among men and ministers." Later, when Xianzhi accompanied his father to a county post and lived within the county seat, he once stepped out briefly while bandits attacked the county from behind; not a soul within the county escaped, and even the chickens and dogs were slaughtered to the last—only Xianzhi, being outside at the time, was spared. His cousin Lüzhi served as magistrate of Le'an in Linhai commandery. Once while traveling through the mountains he saw a black dragon more than ten feet long, with horns on its head, both forelegs complete but no hind legs, dragging its tail as it moved. When he was appointed minister of works and was about to pass through the palace gate, a comet appeared at dawn south of the Wei asterism. Again, at the time of his appointment, a pair of cranes gathered at the eastern Owl Tail gate of the Supreme Ultimate palace and cried out.

兄子佩之，輕薄好利，高祖以其姻戚，累加寵任，為丹陽尹，吳郡太守。景平初，以羨之秉權，頗豫政事。與王韶之、程道惠、中書舍人邢安泰、潘盛相結黨與。時謝晦久病，連灸，不堪見客。佩之等疑其託疾有異圖，與韶之、道惠同載詣傅亮，稱羨之意，欲令亮作詔誅之。亮答以為：「己等三人，同受顧命，豈可相殘戮！若諸君果行此事，便當角巾步出掖門耳。」佩之等乃止。羨之既誅，太祖特宥佩之，免官而已。其年冬，佩之又結殿中監茅亨謀反，並告前寧州刺史應襲，以亨為兗州，襲為豫州。亨密以聞，襲亦告司徒王弘。佩之聚黨百餘人，殺牛犒賜，條牒時人，竝相署置，期明年正會，於殿中作亂。未及數日，收斬之。

His nephew Peizhi was frivolous and greedy for profit. Because of the family connection by marriage, Gaozu repeatedly favored and trusted him, appointing him governor of Danyang and administrator of Wu commandery. At the beginning of the Jingping reign, with Xianzhi holding power, Peizhi participated considerably in government affairs. He formed a faction with Wang Shaozhi, Cheng Daohui, and the palace attendants Xing Antai and Pan Sheng. At that time Xie Hui had long been ill, undergoing repeated courses of moxibustion, and was unable to receive visitors. Peizhi and his associates suspected that Xie Hui was feigning illness as cover for some other plot. Together with Shaozhi and Daohui they rode to Fu Liang's residence, stated Xianzhi's wishes, and asked Liang to draft an edict ordering Xie Hui's execution. Liang replied: "We three alike received the dying emperor's entrusted mandate—how can we slaughter one another! If you gentlemen truly carry this through, I shall simply tie on a scholar's kerchief and walk out through the side gate." Peizhi and his associates then abandoned the plan. After Xianzhi was executed, Taizu specially pardoned Peizhi, merely stripping him of his offices. That winter Peizhi again joined the palace interior supervisor Mao Heng in plotting rebellion, and together they enlisted the former inspector of Ning Province Ying Xi, assigning Heng to Yanzhou and Xi to Yuzhou. Heng secretly reported the plot to the throne; Xi also informed the minister of education Wang Hong. Peizhi gathered a faction of more than a hundred men, slaughtered cattle to feast them, drew up lists of contemporaries and mutually assigned them posts, planning to stage a coup in the palace at the New Year's assembly of the following year. Within a few days he was arrested and beheaded.

傅亮，字季友，北地靈州人也。祖咸，司隸校尉。父瑗，以學業知名，位至安成太守。瑗與郗超善，超嘗造瑗，瑗見其二子迪及亮。亮年四五歲，超令人解亮衣，使左右持去，初無吝色。超謂瑗曰：「卿小兒才名位宦，當遠逾於兄。然保家傳祚，終在大者。」迪字長猷，亦儒學，官至五兵尚書。永初二年卒，追贈太常。

Fu Liang, whose style was Jiyou, came from Lingzhou in Beidi commandery. His grandfather Xian had served as colonel of the secretariat for the capital region. His father Yuan was renowned for scholarly learning and rose to the post of administrator of Ancheng. Yuan was on friendly terms with Xi Chao. Chao once visited Yuan, and Yuan introduced him to his two sons Di and Liang. Liang was only four or five years old. Chao had someone remove Liang's clothes and ordered his attendants to carry them away; the boy showed not the slightest reluctance. Chao said to Yuan: "Your younger son in talent, fame, rank, and office will far surpass his elder brother. Yet in preserving the family and transmitting its estate, the elder brother will have the final word." Di, whose style was Changyou, also pursued Confucian learning and rose to the post of director of the five weapons. He died in the second year of Yongchu and was posthumously appointed grand master of ceremonies.

亮博涉經史，尤善文詞。初為建威參軍，桓謙中軍行參軍。桓玄篡位，聞其博學有文采，選為秘書郎，欲令整正秘閣，未及拜而玄敗。義旗初，丹陽尹孟昶以為建威參軍。義熙元年，除員外散騎侍郎，直西省，典掌詔命。轉領軍長史，以中書郎滕演代之。亮未拜，遭母憂，服闋，為劉毅撫軍記室參軍，又補領軍司馬。七年，遷散騎侍郎，復代演直西省。仍轉中書黃門侍郎，直西省如故。高祖以其久直勤勞，欲以為東陽郡，先以語迪，迪大喜告亮。亮不答，即馳見高祖曰：「伏聞恩旨，賜擬東陽，家貧忝祿，私計為幸。但憑廕之願，實結本心，乞歸天宇，不樂外出。」高祖笑曰：「謂卿之須祿耳，若能如此，甚協所望。」會西討司馬休之，以為太尉從事中郎，掌記室。以太尉參軍羊徽為中書郎，代直西省。

Liang had broad knowledge of the classics and histories and was especially skilled in literary composition. He first served as staff officer of the army that establishes might and as traveling staff officer on Huan Qian's central army staff. When Huan Xuan usurped the throne, hearing of Liang's broad learning and literary talent, he selected him as secretariat gentleman with the intention of having him reorganize the imperial archives—but before Liang could assume the post, Xuan was overthrown. At the beginning of the righteous army's campaign, the governor of Danyang Meng Chang appointed him staff officer of the army that establishes might. In the first year of Yixi (405), he was appointed extraordinary attendant of the scattered cavalry, serving in the western secretariat with charge over edicts and orders. He was transferred to chief clerk of the army command, and the secretariat gentleman Teng Yan replaced him in his former post. Liang had not yet assumed the post when his mother died. After the mourning period ended, he became recording staff officer on Liu Yi's pacification army and was also assigned as marshal of the army command. In the seventh year he was promoted to attendant of the scattered cavalry and again replaced Teng Yan in the western secretariat. He was then transferred to secretariat yellow gate attendant, continuing to serve in the western secretariat as before. Because of his long and diligent service, Gaozu wished to appoint him administrator of Dongyang. He first told Di, who was overjoyed and told Liang. Liang made no reply but immediately galloped to see Gaozu and said: "I have heard of Your Majesty's gracious intent to appoint me to Dongyang. My family is poor, and I would be honored to receive such a salary—privately I count it good fortune. But my deepest wish has always been to serve at court; I beg to remain under heaven's canopy and have no desire to serve in the provinces." Gaozu laughed and said: "I thought you needed the salary—but if you truly feel this way, it accords perfectly with what I hoped." When the western campaign against Sima Xiuzhi arose, he was appointed attendant gentleman on the Grand Commander's staff, in charge of the recording office. The Grand Commander's staff officer Yang Hui was made secretariat gentleman to replace him in the western secretariat.

亮從征關、洛，還至彭城。宋國初建，令書除侍中，領世子中庶子。徙中書令，領中庶子如故。從還壽陽。高祖有受禪意，而難於發言，乃集朝臣宴飲，從容言曰：「桓玄暴篡，鼎命已移，我首唱大義，復興皇室，南征北伐，平定四海，功成業著，遂荷九錫。今年將衰暮，崇極如此，物戒盛滿，非可久安。今欲奉還爵位，歸老京師。」群臣唯盛稱功德，莫曉此意。日晚坐散，亮還外，乃悟旨，而宮門已閉；亮於是叩扉請見，高祖即開門見之。亮入便曰：「臣暫宜還都。」高祖達解此意，無復他言，直云：「須幾人自送？」亮曰：「須數十人便足。」於是即便奉辭。亮既出，已夜，見長星竟天。亮拊髀曰：「我常不信天文，今始驗矣！」至都，即徵高祖入輔。

Liang followed the campaign to the Guan and Luo regions and returned to Pengcheng. When the Song state was first established, an order appointed him palace attendant and concurrent junior tutor to the heir apparent. He was then promoted to director of the Secretariat, retaining his post as junior tutor. He accompanied the court on its return to Shouyang. Gaozu intended to accept the abdication of the Jin throne but found it difficult to broach the subject. He gathered the court officials for a feast and said at his ease: "Huan Xuan violently usurped the throne, and the mandate of heaven shifted. I was the first to raise the banner of righteousness and revive the imperial house. I campaigned south and north and pacified the four seas. My merit accomplished and my enterprise manifest, I have received the nine bestowals. This year I approach old age, and my honors have reached such heights. All things warn against fullness at the peak—it cannot long endure. Now I wish to return my rank and fief and retire to old age in the capital." The officials could only lavish praise on his merit and virtue; none understood what he truly meant. When evening came the session dispersed. Liang returned to his quarters and only then grasped Gaozu's true intent—but the palace gates were already closed. Liang thereupon knocked on the gate and requested an audience; Gaozu immediately opened it and received him. Liang entered and at once said: "Your servant should return to the capital for the time being." Gaozu immediately understood and said nothing more, asking simply: "How many men will you need as escort?" Liang replied: "Several dozen will be sufficient." He thereupon immediately took his leave. After Liang had departed, night had fallen, and he saw a long comet stretching across the sky. Liang slapped his thigh and exclaimed: "I have always disbelieved in astrology—now I am convinced!" Reaching the capital, he immediately set in motion the summons for Gaozu to enter and assume the regency.

永初元年，遷太子詹事，中書令如故。以佐命功，封建城縣公，食邑二千戶。入直中書省，專典詔命。以亮任總國權，聽於省見客。神虎門外，每旦車常數百兩。高祖登庸之始，文筆皆是記室參軍滕演；北征廣固，悉委長史王誕；自此後至於受命，表策文誥，皆亮辭也。演字彥將，南陽西鄂人，官至黃門郎，秘書監。義熙八年卒。二年，亮轉尚書僕射，中書令、詹事如故。明年，高祖不豫，與徐羨之、謝晦並受顧命，給班劍二十人。

In the first year of Yongchu (420), he was promoted to grand tutor of the heir apparent, retaining his post as director of the Secretariat. For his merit in assisting the founding mandate, he was enfeoffed as Duke of Jiancheng with a fief of two thousand households. He served directly in the secretariat, with exclusive charge over edicts and orders. Because Liang held overall authority over state affairs, he was permitted to receive guests within the secretariat. Outside the Divine Tiger Gate, hundreds of carriages gathered every morning. At the beginning of Gaozu's rise to power, all official documents were drafted by the recording staff officer Teng Yan; during the northern expedition against Guanggu, all were entrusted to the chief clerk Wang Dan; from that point until Gaozu received the mandate of heaven, all memorials, proclamations, documents, and edicts were composed by Liang. Teng Yan, whose style was Yanjiang, came from Xi'e in Nanyang commandery and rose to gentleman of the yellow gate and director of the secretariat. He died in the eighth year of Yixi (412). In the second year of Yongchu (421), Fu Liang was promoted to vice director of the Secretariat, retaining his posts as director of the Secretariat and grand tutor of the heir apparent. The following year, when Gaozu fell gravely ill, he was named together with Xu Xianzhi and Xie Hui among those entrusted with the dying emperor's final mandate, and was granted twenty guard halberds.

少帝即位，進為中書監，尚書令。景平二年，領護軍將軍。少帝廢，亮率行臺至江陵奉迎太祖。既至，立行門於江陵城南，題曰「大司馬門。」率行臺百僚詣門拜表，威儀禮容甚盛。太祖將下，引見亮，哭慟甚，哀動左右。既而問義真及少帝薨廢本末，悲號嗚咽，侍側者莫能仰視。亮流汗沾背，不能答。於是布腹心於到彥之、王華等，深自結納。太祖登阼，加散騎常侍、左光祿大夫、開府儀同三司，本官悉如故。司空府文武即為左光祿府。又進爵始興郡公，食邑四千戶，固讓進封。

When Emperor Shao took the throne, Fu Liang was promoted to director of the Secretariat and minister of the Secretariat. In the second year of Jingping (424), he also took charge as general who protects the army. After Emperor Shao was deposed, Fu Liang led the traveling secretariat to Jiangling to welcome and escort Taizu (Emperor Wen). On arrival he set up a ceremonial gate south of Jiangling and inscribed it "Gate of the Great Marshal." He then led the traveling office's officials to the gate to bow and submit their memorial, with magnificent ceremony and decorum. As Taizu was about to come down, he received Fu Liang in audience and wept bitterly, his grief moving all who stood beside him. He then asked for the full story of Prince Yifu's death and Emperor Shao's deposition and demise, wailing and sobbing until those beside him dared not raise their eyes. Fu Liang, sweat streaming down his back, could not reply. Thereupon he confided his innermost thoughts to Dao Yanzhi, Wang Hua, and others and forged close ties with them. When Taizu took the throne, Fu Liang was further appointed regular attendant of the scattered cavalry, left grand master of splendor, and bearer of credentials equal to the Three Excellencies, while all his existing offices remained unchanged. The civil and military staff of his former minister of works office became the staff of his left grand master of splendor establishment. He was further enfeoffed as Duke of Shixing with a fief of four thousand households, but firmly declined the additional honors.

元嘉三年，太祖欲誅亮，先呼入見；省內密有報之者，亮辭以嫂病篤，求暫還家。遣信報徐羨之，因乘車出郭門，騎馬奔兄迪墓。屯騎校尉郭泓收付廷尉，伏誅。時年五十三。初至廣莫門，上遣中書舍人以詔書示亮，並謂曰：「以公江陵之誠，當使諸子無恙。」初，亮見世路屯險，著論名曰《演慎》，曰：

In the third year of Yuanjia (426), Taizu intended to execute Fu Liang and first summoned him to audience; someone within the secretariat secretly warned him. Fu Liang pleaded that his sister-in-law was gravely ill and begged leave to return home briefly. He sent word to Xu Xianzhi, rode out through the outer gate, then mounted a horse and galloped to his elder brother Di's tomb. Colonel of garrison cavalry Guo Hong arrested him and handed him over to the minister of justice, where he was beheaded. He was fifty-three years old. When he first reached the Broad Mo Gate, the emperor sent a secretariat gentleman to show Fu Liang the edict, adding: "For your loyalty at Jiangling, your sons shall come to no harm." Earlier, seeing the times treacherous and perilous, Fu Liang had written a treatise entitled "Practicing Caution," which begins:

大道有言，慎終如始，則無敗事矣。《易》曰：「括囊無咎。」慎不害也。又曰：「藉之用茅，何咎之有。」慎之至也。文王小心，《大雅》詠其多福；仲由好勇，馮河貽其苦箴。《虞書》著慎身之譽，周廟銘陛坐之側。因斯以談，所以保身全德，其莫尚於慎乎！夫四道好謙，三才忌滿，祥萃虛室，鬼瞰高屋，豐屋有蔀家之災，鼎食無百年之貴。然而徇欲厚生者，忽而不戒；知進忘退者，曾莫之懲。前車已摧，後鑾不息，乘危以庶安，行險而徼幸，於是有顛墜覆亡之禍，殘生夭命之釁。其故何哉？流溺忘反，而以身輕於物也。

The Great Way says: "Be as careful at the end as at the beginning, and you will have no failed undertakings." The Book of Changes says: "Bind the sack shut—no blame." Caution does no harm. It also says: "Lay mao grass beneath—what blame could there be?" That is caution carried to its utmost. King Wen was ever cautious; the Da Ya hymns celebrate his abundant blessings; Zhong You loved boldness; wading the river brought him stern rebuke. The Documents of Yu praise cautious self-cultivation; the Zhou ancestral temple bore inscriptions beside the throne. From these examples one sees that to preserve oneself and perfect one's virtue, nothing surpasses caution. The Four Ways love humility; the Three Powers abhor excess; good fortune gathers in humble rooms while ghosts stare down from high roofs. Grand houses invite ruin for the household; nobles who feast from tripods rarely keep their glory for a hundred years. Yet those who chase desire and lavish living heed no warning; those who know only advance and forget retreat are never corrected. The lead chariot is already wrecked, yet the rear team presses on; men ride danger hoping for safety and walk peril trusting luck—hence the calamity of collapse and ruin, the omen of life cut short. Why is this so? They drift and drown, forget to turn back, and value things above their own lives.

故昔之君子，同名爵於香餌，故傾危不及；思憂患而豫防，則針石無用。洪流壅於涓涓，合拱挫於纖蘖，介焉是式，色斯而舉，悟高鳥以風逝，鑒醴酒而投紱。夫豈敝著而後謀通，患結而後思復云爾而已哉！故《詩》曰：「慎爾侯度，用戒不虞。」言防萌也。夫單以營內喪表，張以治外失中，齊、秦有守一之敗，偏恃無兼濟之功，冰炭滌於胸心，岩牆絕於四體。夫然，故形神偕全，表裏寧一，營魄內澄，百骸外固，邪氣不能襲，憂患不能及，然可以語至而言極矣！

Thus the gentlemen of old equated fame and rank with fragrant bait, and so escaped ruin; they foresaw trouble and guarded against it, and so never needed the physician's needle and stone. Great floods are blocked by trickles; trees an arms-span round are felled by tender shoots. They took the upright as model and rose at the first warning; they learned from the high bird that flees on the wind, and seeing wine offered, cast off office and went away. Surely it was not only after their robes were worn threadbare that they planned escape, nor only after disaster had struck that they thought of returning—nothing more than that! Thus the Odes say: "Be careful in your lord's measure, and guard against the unforeseen." This speaks of nipping trouble in the bud. Shan, cultivating inwardness alone, lost his outward bearing; Zhang, governing outward affairs alone, lost the mean. Qi and Qin failed from clinging to a single path; one-sided reliance cannot achieve comprehensive success. Ice and charcoal alternate in the heart, and cliff walls sever the four limbs. Only then are body and spirit preserved together, inner and outer at one; the soul clarified within, the frame secured without—evil cannot assail, trouble cannot reach. Only then may one speak of the utmost and reach the extreme.

夫以嵇子之抗心希古，絕羈獨放，五難之根既拔，立生之道無累，人患殆乎盡矣。徒以忽防於鍾、呂，肆言於禹、湯，禍機發於豪端，逸翩鎩於垂舉。觀夫貽書良友，則匹厚味於甘鴆，囗囗囗囗囗囗囗囗其懼患也，若無轡而乘奔，其慎禍也，猶履冰而臨谷。或振褐高棲，揭竿獨往，或保約違豐，安於卑位。故漆園外楚，忌在龜犧；商洛遐遯，畏此駟馬。平仲辭邑，殷鑒於崔、慶，張臨挹滿，灼戒乎桑、霍。若君子覽茲二塗，則賢鄙之分既明，全喪之實又顯。非知之難，慎之惟難，慎也者，言行之樞管乎！

Consider Ji Kang: with a defiant heart he aspired to antiquity, broke every rein and wandered alone—the roots of the Five Difficulties were uprooted, the way of life was unburdened; human peril was nearly exhausted. Yet he neglected caution toward Zhong and Lü and spoke freely of Yu and Tang; disaster sparked at a hair's breadth, and his soaring wings were clipped just as he was lifting off. When one sees his letters to close friends, he likens rich favors to sweet poison; his dread of peril is like riding a runaway horse without reins, and his caution against disaster like walking on ice above a chasm. Some shake out rough robes and dwell apart on high; some take up a staff and walk alone; some keep modest vows and reject wealth, content in low estate. Thus Zhuangzi of Lacquer Garden left Chu, fearing the turtle in the sacred pen; the lords of Shang and Luo dwelt far in seclusion, dreading a team of four horses. Yan Ying declined his fief, taking Cui and Qing as warning; Zhang drew from a brimming cup the blazing lesson of Sang and Huo. If a gentleman weighs these two paths, the line between worthy and base is clear, and what brings preservation or ruin is plain. The difficulty is not in knowing but in being cautious; caution is the pivot of word and deed.

夫據圖揮刃，愚夫弗為，臨淵登峭，莫不惴慄。何則？害交故慮篤，患切而懼深。故《詩》曰：「不敢暴虎，不敢馮河。」慎微之謂也。故庖子涉族，怵然為戒，差之一毫，弊猶如此。況乎觸害犯機，自投死地。禍福之具，內充外斥，陵九折於邛僰，泛衝波於呂梁，傾側成於俄頃，性命哀而莫救。嗚呼！嗚呼！故語有之曰：誠能慎之，福之根也。曰是何傷，禍之門爾。言慎而已矣。

To hold a chart and wield a blade—fools will not do it; to stand by an abyss and climb a cliff—none fails to tremble. Why? Because harm is near, thought runs deep; because peril presses close, fear runs deep. Thus the Odes say: "I dare not attack a tiger bare-handed; I dare not ford a river on foot." That is what is meant by caution in small things. When Cook Ding crossed the clan archery ground he was visibly wary and took warning—even a discrepancy of one hair's breadth could bring such harm; how much more when one courts harm and springs the trap, casting oneself into the ground of death! Fortune and calamity fill within and press without; one scales the nine bends of Qiong and Bo, rides the rushing waves of Lüliang—capsizing comes in an instant, and life is lost with none to save it. Alas! Alas! A saying runs: "If one can truly be cautious, that is the root of fortune." "What harm is that?"—it is the gate of calamity. The message is caution—nothing more.

亮布衣儒生，僥倖際會，既居宰輔，兼總重權。少帝失德，內懷憂懼，作《感物賦》以寄意焉。其辭曰：

Fu Liang was a scholar in plain robes who met a timely opportunity; once he stood as chief minister, he held supreme authority as well. When Emperor Shao proved unworthy, Fu Liang was inwardly fearful and wrote the Rhapsody on Moved Things to express his feelings. The rhapsody reads:

余以暮秋之月，述職內禁，夜清務隙，遊目藝苑。於時風霜初戒，蟄類尚繁，飛蛾翔羽，翩翾滿室，赴軒幌，集明燭者，必以燋滅為度。雖則微物，矜懷者久之。退感莊生異鵲之事，與彼同迷而忘反鑒之道，此先師所以鄙智，及齊客所以難日論也。悵然有懷，感物興思，遂賦之云爾。

In the late-autumn month I discharged my duties within the palace precincts; when the night grew clear and my tasks had a pause, I let my gaze wander through the garden of letters. The wind and frost had just begun their warning; dormant creatures were still plentiful; moths and gnats fluttered through the room. Those that rushed to the curtains and gathered at the bright candles took their own burning as the measure of all things. Though they were tiny creatures, a man of feeling could not quickly put them from his mind. Withdrawn in thought, I recalled Master Zhuang's tale of the strange magpie—how, like these insects, one may be equally deluded and forget the way of turning back to reflect; this is why the sages despised mere cleverness, and why the Qi disputant could not sustain his argument for a single day. Sighing, I took thought from what I had seen; moved by things, I gave my feelings voice—and so composed this rhapsody.

在西成之暮晷，肅皇命於禁中。聆蜻蛚於前廡，鑒朗月於房櫳。風蕭瑟以陵幌，霜皚皚而被墉。憐鳴蜩之應節，惜落景之懷東。嗟勞人之萃感，何夕永而慮充。眇今古以遐念，若循環之無終。詠倚相之遺矩，希董生之方融。鑽光燈而散袠，溫聖哲之遺蹤。墳素杳以難暨，九流紛其異封。領三百於無邪，貫五千於有宗。考舊聞於前史，訪心跡於汙隆。豈夷阻之在運，將全喪之由躬。遊翰林之彪炳，嘉美手於良工。辭存麗而去穢，旨既雅而能通。雖源流之深浩，且揚搉而發蒙。

In the evening shadows of autumn's western quarter, I reverently bore the imperial charge within the palace. I listened to crickets in the front corridor and beheld the bright moon through the lattice window. Bleak wind assailed the curtains; gleaming frost whitened the walls. I pitied the chirping cicada answering the season; I grieved the setting sun that yearns toward the east. Alas for the toiling man who gathers up his feelings—why does the long night never end while cares crowd the heart! I gaze from afar on present and past, as on a cycle without end. I chant Yi Xiang's handed-down rule and hope for Master Dong's harmonious fusion. I study by lamplight and loosen my robe; I warm myself at the traces of the sages. The ancient classics lie remote and hard to reach; the nine schools dispute in separate branches. I take in the three hundred odes without heterodoxy and thread through the five thousand words with a single master. I examine old reports in the histories and trace men's hearts through rise and fall. Is hardship and obstruction ordained by fate—or do preservation and ruin depend on one's own person? I roam the resplendent forest of letters and praise the skilled hand of the fine craftsman. The wording keeps its beauty and casts off filth; the purport is refined yet penetrates. Though the source-stream runs deep and vast, for now I raise and weigh it, opening the unenlightened.

習習飛蚋，飄飄纖蠅，緣幌求隙，望爓思陵。糜蘭膏而無悔，赴朗燭而未懲。瞻前軌之既覆，忘改轍於後乘。匪微物之足悼，悵永念而捬膺。彼人道之為貴，參二儀而比靈。稟清曠以授氣，脩緣督而為經。照安危於心術，鏡纖兆於未形。有徇末而舍本，或耽欲而忘生。碎隨侯於微爵，捐所重而要輕。矧昆蟲之所昧，在智士其猶嬰。悟雕陵於莊氏，幾鑒濁而迷清。仰前脩之懿軌，知吾跡之未并。雖宋元之外占，曷在予之克明。豈知反之徒爾，喟投翰以增情。

Whirring gnats, drifting flies—they climb the curtain seeking a gap and gaze at the flame, thinking to soar. They waste orchid balm without regret and rush to the bright candle without heed. They see the track ahead already overturned yet forget to change course behind. It is not these slight creatures that are worth grieving; I sigh in long thought and beat my breast. That the human way is prized—joining heaven and earth and matching their spirit. Receiving clarity in the gift of breath, taking cultivation of the spine's conduit as one's canon. Illumining safety and peril in the art of the heart; mirroring fine omens before they take shape. Some pursue the branch and abandon the root; some cling to desire and forget life. They smash the Marquis of Sui's pearl for a petty rank and abandon what is weighty to seize what is light. How much more are mere insects benighted; even the wise man remains as helpless as an infant. Learning from Zhuangzi's tale of Diao-ling, I nearly discern the turbid—yet still mistake the clear. Looking up to the fine paths of former worthies, I know my own footsteps have not kept pace. Though Song and Yuan had prognostications beyond the ordinary, how could they match what I might grasp? Who knew that turning back would come to only this? I sigh and lay down my brush, and my grief grows the heavier.

初，奉迎大駕，道路賦詩三首，其一篇有悔懼之辭，曰：「夙櫂發皇邑，有人祖我舟。餞離不以幣，贈言重琳球。知止道攸貴，懷祿義所尤。四牡倦長路，君轡可以收。張、邴結晨軌，疏、董頓夕輈。東隅誠已謝，西景逝不留。性命安可圖，懷此作前脩。敷衽銘篤誨，引帶佩嘉謀。迷寵非予志，厚德良未酬。撫躬愧疲朽，三省慙爵浮。重明照蓬艾，萬品同率由。忠誥豈假知，式微發直謳。」亮自知傾覆，求退無由，又作辛有、穆生、董仲道贊，稱其見微之美。

Earlier, while escorting the imperial carriage, he composed three poems on the journey. One contained words of remorse and dread, which read: "At dawn I ply my oars and leave the imperial city; someone has come to see my boat off. The parting feast was not paid in mere gifts; the counsel given weighed like precious jade. Knowing when to stop is what the Way holds dear; clinging to salary is what righteousness most condemns. The four horses are weary from the long road; my lord may now gather in the reins. Zhang Chang and Bing Ji bound up their morning tracks; Shu Guang and Dong Zhongshu stilled their evening wheels. The morning sun has truly set; the evening light passes and will not linger. How can life and fate be schemed for? Holding this thought, I take the ancients as my guide. I spread my robe and inscribe earnest teaching; I fasten my sash and keep worthy counsel at my side. To be lost in favor was never my aim; great kindness, alas, I have not yet repaid. When I touch my own person I blush at my worn-out age; thrice reflecting, I am ashamed that my rank sits too high. The second sun shines even on mugwort and wormwood; the myriad creatures all follow where it leads. Loyal remonstrance needs no borrowed wit; in my decline I lift a plain, honest song." Fu Liang knew his fall was near and could find no way to withdraw. He also wrote encomia to Xin You, Mu Sheng, and Dong Zhongdao, praising their gift for discerning trouble while it was still slight.

長子演，秘書郎，先亮卒。演弟悝、湛逃亡。湛弟都，徙建安郡；世祖孝建之中，並還京師。

His eldest son Yan, a secretary gentleman, died before Fu Liang. Yan's younger brothers Hui and Zhan went into flight. Zhan's younger brother Du was exiled to Jian'an commandery; during the Xiaojian reign of Emperor Xiaowu, all were permitted to return to the capital.

檀道濟，高平金鄉人，左將軍韶少弟也。少孤，居喪備禮。奉姊事兄，以和謹致稱。高祖創義，道濟從入京城，參高祖建武軍事，轉征西。討平魯山，禽桓振，除輔國參軍、南陽太守。以建義勳，封吳興縣五等侯。盧循寇逆，群盜互起，郭寄生等聚作唐，以道濟為揚武將軍、天門太守討平之。又從劉道規討桓謙、荀林等，率厲文武，身先士卒，所向摧破。及徐道覆來逼，道規親出拒戰，道濟戰功居多。遷安遠護軍、武陵內史。復為太尉參軍，拜中書侍郎，轉寧朔將軍，參太尉軍事。以前後功封作唐縣男，食邑四百戶。補太尉主簿、諮議參軍。豫章公世子為征虜將軍，鎮京口，道濟為司馬、臨淮太守。又為世子西中郎司馬、梁國內史。復為世子征虜將軍司馬，加冠軍將軍。

Tan Daoji was a native of Jinxian in Gaoping and the youngest brother of Left General Tan Shao. Orphaned in youth, he observed every detail of the mourning rites. He cared for his elder sister and served his elder brother, and was praised for his gentle, careful conduct. When Gaozu Liu Yu raised the banner of righteousness, Daoji followed him into the capital, served on Gaozu's Jianwu military staff, and was later transferred to the western campaign staff. He helped pacify Lushan, captured Huan Zhen, and was appointed aide to the state-supporting army and governor of Nanyang. For his merit in the founding campaign, he was enfeoffed as fifth-rank Marquis of Wuxing county. When Lu Xun rose in rebellion and bandits sprang up on every side, Guo Jisheng and others gathered at Zuotang. Daoji was appointed General Who Displays Might and governor of Tianmen to put them down. He also followed Liu Daogui against Huan Qian, Xun Lin, and others, inspiring both civil and military officers, charging ahead of his men, and breaking every foe in his path. When Xu Daofu pressed the attack, Daogui went out in person to meet him, and the greater share of the victory belonged to Daoji. He was promoted to protector of Anyuan and interior minister of Wuling. He again served as aide to the Grand Commander, was appointed vice director of the Secretariat, promoted to General Who Pacifies the North, and joined the Grand Commander's military staff. For his repeated victories he was enfeoffed as Baron of Zuotang county with a fief of four hundred households. He was appointed chief clerk to the Grand Commander and consulting staff officer. When the heir of the Duke of Yuzhang served as General Who Punishes the Barbarians and held Jingkou, Daoji was his marshal and governor of Linhuai. He also served as western bureau marshal to the heir and interior minister of Liang. He again became marshal on the heir's staff as General Who Punishes the Barbarians and was given the additional title of General Who Vanquishes the Foe.

義熙十二年，高祖北伐，以道濟為前鋒出淮、肥，所至諸城戍望風降服。進克許昌，獲偽寧朔將軍、潁川太守姚坦及大將楊業。至成臯，偽兗州刺史韋華降。逕進洛陽，偽平南將軍陳留公姚沈歸順。凡拔城破壘，俘四千餘人。議者謂應悉戮以為京觀。道濟曰：「伐罪弔民，正在今日。」皆釋而遣之。於是戎夷感悅，相率歸之者甚眾。進據潼關，與諸軍共破姚紹。長安既平，以為征虜將軍、琅邪內史。世子當鎮江陵，復以道濟為西中郎司馬、持節、南蠻校尉。又加征虜將軍。遷宋國侍中，領世子中庶子，兗州大中正。高祖受命，轉護軍，加散騎常侍，領石頭戍事。聽直入殿省。以佐命功，改封永脩縣公，食邑二千戶。徙為丹陽尹，護軍如故。高祖不豫，給班劍二十人。

In the twelfth year of Yixi (416), during Gaozu's northern expedition, Daoji led the vanguard through the Huai and Fei region, and every fortress and garrison he approached surrendered at once. Pressing forward, he took Xuchang and captured the Northern Wei general Yao Tan, who held the titles General Who Pacifies the North and governor of Yingchuan, along with the great commander Yang Ye. At Chenggao, the Northern Wei inspector of Yan Province, Wei Hua, surrendered. He marched straight on to Luoyang, where the Northern Wei General Who Pacifies the South, Duke of Chenliu Yao Shen, came over to his side. In all, in storming cities and breaking fortifications, he took more than four thousand prisoners. Some at court argued that the prisoners should all be slaughtered to build a victory mound. Daoji said, "To punish the guilty and comfort the people—that is what today is for." He released them all and sent them home. The frontier peoples were deeply moved, and a great host came over to submit in succession. He advanced and seized Tong Pass, and together with the other armies defeated Yao Shao. After Chang'an was pacified, he was appointed General Who Punishes the Barbarians and interior minister of Langye. When the heir was posted to Jiangling, Daoji was again made western bureau marshal, bearer of the staff, and colonel of the southern barbarians. He was further promoted to General Who Punishes the Barbarians. He was transferred to palace attendant of the Song state, made concurrent supervisor of the heir's household, and appointed chief rectifier of Yan Province. When Gaozu received the Mandate, Daoji was made general who guards the army, given the additional title of regular attendant of the scattered cavalry, and put in charge of the Shitou garrison. He was permitted to enter the palace offices without prior announcement. For his merit in helping Gaozu win the throne, his title was changed to Duke of Yongxiu county with a fief of two thousand households. He was transferred to governor of Danyang while retaining his post as general who guards the army. When Gaozu fell gravely ill, he was granted an escort of twenty armed attendants bearing ceremonial swords.

出監南徐、兗之江北、淮南諸郡軍事、鎮北將軍、南兗州刺史。景平元年，虜圍青州刺史竺夔於東陽城，夔告急。加道濟使持節、監征討諸軍事，與王仲德救東陽。未及至，虜燒營，焚攻具遁走。將追之，城內無食，乃開窖取久穀；窖深數丈，出穀作米，已經再宿；虜去已遠，不復可追，乃止。還鎮廣陵。

He went out to oversee military affairs in southern Xu, the northern Jiang districts of Yan, and the Huainan commanderies, serving as General Who Pacifies the North and inspector of Southern Yan Province. In the first year of Jingping (423), the Northern Wei barbarians besieged Qing Province inspector Zhu Kui at Dongyang city, and Kui sent an urgent appeal for help. Daoji was given the staff of envoy and overall command of the punitive armies, and marched with Wang Zhongde to relieve Dongyang. Before they arrived, the barbarians burned their camp, destroyed their siege equipment, and fled. They were about to pursue when they found the city had no food, so they opened the underground granaries to bring out grain stored long before; the pits were several zhang deep, and hauling out the grain and milling it took two full nights; by then the barbarians were too far away to overtake, and the pursuit was abandoned. He then returned to his post at Guangling.

及討謝晦，道濟率軍繼到彥之。彥之戰敗，退保隱圻，會道濟至。晦本謂道濟與羨之等同誅，忽聞來上，人情凶懼，遂不戰自潰。事平，遷都督江州之江夏、豫州之西陽、新蔡、晉熙四郡諸軍事、征南大將軍、開府儀同三司、江州刺史，持節、常侍如故；增封千戶。

During the campaign against Xie Hui, Daoji led his army to reinforce Yan Zhi. Yan Zhi had been defeated and withdrew to hold Yinfan when Daoji arrived. Hui had assumed Daoji would be executed along with Xu Xianzhi and the others. When word suddenly came that Daoji was marching upstream, panic spread through his ranks, and his army collapsed without a fight. After the rebellion was crushed, he was made commander of military affairs in Jiangxia of Jiang Province and Xiyang, Xincai, and Jinxi of Yu Province, promoted to Grand General Who Campaigns South with an office equal to the Three Excellencies, and appointed inspector of Jiang Province, retaining his staff and post as regular attendant; and his fief was increased by one thousand households.

元嘉八年，到彥之伐索虜，已平河南，尋復失之；金墉、虎牢並沒，虜逼滑臺。加道濟都督征討諸軍事，率眾北討。軍至東平壽張縣，值虜安平公乙旃眷。道濟率寧朔將軍王仲德、驍騎將軍段宏奮擊，大破之。轉戰至高梁亭，虜寧南將軍、濟州刺史壽昌公悉頰庫結前後邀戰，道濟分遣段宏及臺隊主沈虔之等奇兵擊之，即斬悉頰庫結。道濟進至濟上，連戰二十餘日，前後數十交，虜眾盛，遂陷滑臺。道濟於歷城全軍而反。進位司空，持節、常侍、都督、刺史並如故。還鎮尋陽。

In the eighth year of Yuanjia (431), Yan Zhi campaigned against the Northern Wei barbarians and had pacified the region south of the Yellow River, only to lose it again soon after; Jinyong and Hulao both fell, and the barbarians pressed Huatai. Daoji was given overall command of the punitive armies and led a great force north. The army reached Shouzhang in Dongping, where it encountered the Northern Wei Prince of Peace, Yizhan Juan. Daoji led Wang Zhongde, General Who Pacifies the North, and Duan Hong, General of Valiant Cavalry, in a fierce assault and won a crushing victory. Pressing the fight to Gaoliang Pavilion, the Northern Wei General Who Pacifies the South and inspector of Ji Province, Duke of Shouchang Xibaku Jie, intercepted him from front and rear. Daoji sent Duan Hong and the capital detachment commander Shen Qianzhi with flanking troops, and Xibaku Jie was beheaded on the spot. Daoji advanced to the Ji River and fought for more than twenty days, clashing several dozen times. The barbarian forces were too strong, and Huatai finally fell. Daoji withdrew from Licheng with his army intact. He was promoted to Minister of Works, while his staff, post as regular attendant, command, and provincial inspectorate all remained unchanged. He returned to his post at Xunyang.

道濟立功前朝，威名甚重；左右腹心，並經百戰，諸子又有才氣，朝廷疑畏之。太祖寢疾累年，屢經危殆，彭城王義康慮宮車晏駕，道濟不可復制。十二年，上疾篤，會索虜為邊寇，召道濟入朝。既至，上間。十三年春，將遣道濟還鎮，已下船矣，會上疾動，召入祖道，收付廷尉。詔曰：「檀道濟階緣時幸，荷恩在昔，寵靈優渥，莫與為比。曾不感佩殊遇，思答萬分，乃空懷疑貳，履霜日久。元嘉以來，猜阻滋結，不義不昵之心，附下罔上之事，固已暴之民聽，彰於遐邇。謝靈運志凶辭醜，不臣顯著，納受邪說，每相容隱。又潛散金貨，招誘剽猾，逋逃必至，實繁彌廣，日夜伺隙，希冀非望。鎮軍將軍仲德往年入朝，屢陳此跡。朕以其位居台鉉，豫班河岳，彌縫容養，庶或能革。而長惡不悛，凶慝遂遘，因朕寢疾，規肆禍心。前南蠻行參軍龐延祖具悉奸狀，密以啟聞。夫君親無將，刑茲罔赦。況罪釁深重，若斯之甚。便可收付廷尉，肅正刑書。事止元惡，餘無所問。」於是收道濟及其子給事黃門侍郎植、司徒從事中郎粲、太子舍人隰、征北主簿承伯、秘書郎遵等八人，並於廷尉伏誅。又收司空參軍薛彤，付建康伏法。又遣尚書庫部郎顧仲文、建武將軍茅亨至尋陽，收道濟子夷、邕、演及司空參軍高進之，誅之。薛彤、進之並道濟腹心，有勇力，時以比張飛、關羽。初，道濟見收，脫幘投地曰：「乃復壞汝萬里之長城！」邕子孺乃被宥，世祖世，為奉朝請。

Daoji had won his laurels under the previous reign, and his martial renown was immense; the men at his side had all fought through a hundred battles, and his sons were talented and forceful as well. The court both suspected and feared him. Taizu Emperor Wen had lain gravely ill for years and repeatedly hovered near death. The Prince of Pengcheng Yikang feared that when the emperor died, Tan Daoji would no longer be controllable. In the twelfth year (435) the emperor's illness grew grave. Just then the Northern Wei barbarians raided the frontier, and Daoji was summoned to court. Once he arrived, the emperor's condition briefly improved. In the spring of the thirteenth year (436), the court was about to send Daoji back to his post. He had already boarded his boat when the emperor's illness suddenly worsened. Summoned back from his farewell feast, he was handed over to the Court of Justice. The edict read: "Tan Daoji rose by the fortune of the times, received favor in days past, and was showered with grace and honor beyond compare. He never felt gratitude for this extraordinary treatment or thought to repay it in the slightest. Instead he harbored disloyalty in his heart, and has long been walking on frost. Since the Yuanjia era suspicion has only deepened. His heart has been neither loyal nor dutiful, and his habit of courting subordinates while deceiving his superiors is already known to the people and plain to all the realm. Xie Lingyun's intent was vicious and his words seditious; his disloyalty was plain for all to see, yet Daoji accepted his wicked counsel and repeatedly shielded him. He also secretly distributed gold and goods, recruiting violent ruffians. Fugitives flocked to him in ever greater numbers, and day and night he watched for an opening, nursing ambitions he had no right to hold. General of the Pacification Army Wang Zhongde, when he came to court in earlier years, repeatedly reported these signs. Because he stood among the highest ministers of state and shared in the governance of the realm, We patched things over and indulged him, hoping he might reform. Yet he clung to evil and would not repent. His vicious intent has now found its hour, and taking advantage of Our illness he plotted to unleash disaster. The former acting aide on the southern barbarians staff, Pang Yanzu, knew the whole treacherous affair in detail and secretly reported it to Us. Between ruler and subject there can be no 'general' who stands above the law—when guilt is proved, there can be no pardon. How much more when the crime is as grave as this. Let him at once be handed over to the Court of Justice and the penal code duly enforced. The affair stops with the chief culprit; beyond that, no further inquiry shall be made." Thereupon Daoji was arrested together with his sons Zhi, Can, Xi, Chengbo, and Zun and two others—eight men in all—and all were executed at the Court of Justice. Xue Tong, a staff officer of the minister of works, was also arrested and executed at Jiankang. The court also dispatched Gu Zhongwen, director of the stores section in the Secretariat, and General Who Establishes Might Mao Heng to Xunyang to seize Daoji's sons Yi, Yong, and Yan, along with his staff officer Gao Jinzhi, and put them to death. Xue Tong and Gao Jinzhi were both among Daoji's closest confidants, renowned for their courage and strength; contemporaries compared them to Zhang Fei and Guan Yu. When Daoji was first arrested, he pulled off his headcloth and flung it to the ground, crying: "You are destroying your own ten-thousand-li Great Wall!" Yong's son Ru alone was pardoned; under Emperor Xiaowu he served as an attendant at court audiences.

史臣曰：夫彈冠出里，結組登朝，道申於夷路，運艱於險轍，是以古人裴回於出處，交戰乎臨岐。若其任重於身，恩結自主，雖復據鼎承劍，悠然不以存歿為懷。當二公受言西殿，跪承顧託，若使死而可再，固以赴蹈為期也。及逢權定之機，當震主之地，甫欲攘抑後禍，禦蔽身災，使桐宮有卒迫之痛，淮王非中霧之疾。若以社稷為存亡，則義異於此。但彭城無燕剌之釁，而有楚英之戮。若使一昆延曆，亦未知定終所在也。謝晦言不以賊遺君父，豈徒言哉！

The historiographer remarks: When a man adjusts his cap and leaves his lane, ties his official ribbons and ascends to court, the Way may be realized on a level road yet fortune may turn harsh on a perilous track. That is why the ancients hesitated between withdrawal and service, warring within themselves at the crossroads. When a man bears heavy responsibility upon his shoulders and his sovereign's favor is bound to his person, then even while holding the tripod and receiving the sword of authority, he remains at ease and does not make survival or death his chief concern. When the two lords received their charge in the Western Hall and knelt to accept the dying emperor's entrusted mandate, had death been repeatable, they would surely have made hurling themselves into peril their appointed duty. But when they met the moment of settled authority and stood in positions that awed their sovereign, they sought only to ward off future calamity and shield themselves from disaster—so that the Tong Palace knew the anguish of sudden compulsion, and the Prince of Huai died not of an illness arising from within. If one takes the altars of state as the measure of survival or extinction, then righteousness demands something different altogether. Yet Prince of Pengcheng had committed no offense like that of Prince Dan of Yan, yet suffered a slaughter like that of Xiang Yu of Chu. If one of the brothers had been allowed to reign on, it is impossible to know where the final outcome would have fallen. Xie Hui's declaration that one must not leave traitors for one's lord and father to deal with—was that mere empty talk!

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