Volume 44 Biographies 4: Xie Hui

列傳第四謝晦

Biographies 4: Xie Hui

謝晦，字宣明，陳郡陽夏人也。祖朗，東陽太守。父重，會稽王道子驃騎長史。兄絢，高祖鎮軍長史，蚤卒。晦初為孟昶建威府中兵參軍。昶死，高祖問劉穆之：「孟昶參佐，誰堪入我府？」穆之舉晦，即命為太尉參軍。高祖嘗訊囚，其旦刑獄參軍有疾，札晦代之，于車中一鑒訊牒，催促便下。相府多事，獄繁殷積，晦隨問酬辯，曾無違謬。高祖奇之，即日署刑獄賊曹，轉豫州治中從事。義熙八年，土斷僑流郡縣，使晦分判揚、豫民戶，以平允見稱。入為太尉主簿，從征司馬休之。時徐逵之戰敗見殺，高祖怒，將自被甲登岸，諸將諫，不從，怒愈甚。晦前抱持高祖，高祖曰：「我斬卿！」晦曰：「天下可無晦，不可無公，晦死何有！」會胡蕃已得登岸，賊退走，乃止。

Xie Hui, whose style was Xuanming, came from Yangxia in Chen commandery. His grandfather Lang had served as grand administrator of Dongyang. His father Chong had been chief clerk on the staff of Prince Daozi of Kuaiji when the latter held the post of Cavalry-General-in-Chief. His elder brother Xuan had served as chief clerk to the High Ancestor's campaigning army and died young. Hui began his career as central army adjutant on the staff of Meng Chang's Establishing Might headquarters. After Chang died, the High Ancestor asked Liu Muzhi, "Among Meng Chang's staff, who is fit to join my headquarters?" Muzhi recommended Hui, and he was immediately appointed staff officer to the Grand Marshal. The High Ancestor once held a prisoner examination; when the morning adjutant for criminal affairs fell ill, he sent for Hui to take his place. Hui read the interrogation dossier once in the carriage, pressed the proceedings forward, and had the session wrapped up immediately. The headquarters was swamped with business and the criminal dockets piled high, yet Hui fielded every question on the spot without a single mistake. The High Ancestor was astonished and that same day appointed him to the criminal bureau, then moved him to assistant director for the administration of Yuzhou. In the eighth year of Yixi, when the government reallocated refugee populations among the commanderies, Hui was assigned to apportion households between Yang and Yu provinces and won renown for his evenhandedness. He was brought in as chief clerk to the Grand Marshal and accompanied the campaign against Sima Xiuzhi. Xu Daizhi had just been defeated and killed; the High Ancestor, furious, was about to don armor and go ashore in person. The generals pleaded with him but he would not listen, and his rage only mounted. Hui rushed forward and seized hold of the High Ancestor. The High Ancestor cried, "I'll cut you down!" Hui replied, "The realm can spare Hui, but it cannot spare Your Lordship—what would it matter if Hui died!" By then Hu Fan had already made it ashore and the enemy had fled, and only then did he desist.

晦美風姿，善言笑，眉目分明，鬢髮如點漆。涉獵文義，朗贍多通，高祖深加愛賞，群僚莫及。從征關、洛，內外要任悉委之。劉穆之遣使陳事，晦往往措異同，穆之怒曰：「公復有還時否？」高祖欲以為從事中郎，以訪穆之，堅執不與。終穆之世，不遷。穆之喪問至，高祖哭之甚慟。晦時正直，喜甚，自入閣內參審穆之死問。其日教出，轉晦從事中郎。

Hui was striking in appearance and gifted at conversation and wit; his features were sharply defined, and his temples and hair were black as lacquer. He had ranged through literary studies and was brilliant and widely versed; the High Ancestor cherished and admired him beyond measure, and none of his colleagues could compare. On the campaigns against Guanzhong and Luoyang, every key post at court and in the field was placed in his hands. Whenever Liu Muzhi sent messengers with official business, Hui often disagreed. Muzhi said in anger, "Will the lord ever return?" The High Ancestor wished to appoint him attendant gentleman and consulted Muzhi, who adamantly refused. For as long as Muzhi lived, he received no further promotion. When word of Muzhi's death arrived, the High Ancestor wept bitterly. Hui was then on upright duty and was overjoyed; he went into the inner quarters himself to confirm the report of Muzhi's death. That same day an order was issued promoting Hui to attendant gentleman.

宋臺初建，為右衛將軍，尋加侍中。高祖受命，於石頭登壇，備法駕入宮。晦領游軍為警備，遷中領軍，侍中如故。以佐命功，封武昌縣公，食邑二千戶。二年，坐行璽封鎮西司馬、南郡太守王華大封，而誤封北海太守球，版免晦侍中。尋轉領軍將軍、散騎常侍，依晉中軍羊祜故事，入直殿省，總統宿衛。三月，高祖不豫，給班劍二十人，與徐羨之、傅亮、檀道濟並侍醫藥。少帝即位，加領中書令，與羨之，亮共輔朝政。少帝既廢，司空徐羨之錄詔命，以晦行都督荊、湘、雍、益、寧、南、北秦七州諸軍事、撫軍將軍、領護南蠻校尉、荊州刺史，欲令居外為援，慮太祖至或別用人，故遽有此授。精兵舊將，悉以配之，器仗軍資甚盛。太祖即位，加使持節，依本位除授。晦慮不得去，甚憂惶，及發新亭，顧望石頭城，喜曰：「今得脫矣。」尋進號衛將軍，加散騎常侍，進封建平郡公，食邑四千戶，固讓進封。又給鼓吹一部。

When the Song regime was first established, he was made general of the right guards and soon afterward was also appointed gentleman attendant. When the High Ancestor received the Mandate, he ascended the altar at Shitou with full imperial regalia and entered the palace. Hui led the mobile guard as escort, then was transferred to general of the central army while retaining his post as gentleman attendant. For his merit in helping establish the dynasty, he was enfeoffed as Duke of Wuchang with a fief of two thousand households. In the second year he was punished because, while carrying the imperial seal to appoint Wang Hua—defender-general of the west and grand administrator of Nan commandery—with a grand commission, he had mistakenly sealed the appointment of Qiu as grand administrator of Beihai instead; by written order Hui was stripped of his post as gentleman attendant. Soon he was made general of the inspecting army and regular attendant; following the Jin precedent of Zhongjun Yang Hu, he entered duty at the hall precinct and took overall command of the night guard. In the third month, when the High Ancestor fell ill, he was granted twenty court swords and, together with Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang, and Tan Daoji, attended to his medical care. When the Young Emperor acceded, Hui was additionally made director of the Secretariat and, together with Xianzhi and Liang, helped govern the court. After the Young Emperor was deposed, Minister Xu Xianzhi drafted the edict appointing Hui acting commander of military affairs across seven provinces, general of the pacifying army, colonel protecting the southern barbarians, and inspector of Jing province. They wanted him stationed outside the capital as a reserve force, fearing that when the Founding Emperor arrived he might place someone else in the post—hence this hurried appointment. Elite troops and veteran commanders were all assigned to him, and his arms and military stores were lavishly supplied. When the Founding Emperor acceded, Hui was additionally made commissioner with staff and confirmed in his existing posts. Hui feared he would not be permitted to leave and was deeply troubled; when he departed from Xinting and looked back toward Shitou fortress, he said with relief, "Now I have gotten away." Soon his title was advanced to defender general, he was made regular attendant, and promoted to Duke of Jianping with a fief of four thousand households, though he repeatedly declined the advancement in rank. He was also granted a full set of military music.

初為荊州，甚有自矜之色，將之鎮，詣從叔光祿大夫澹別。澹問晦年，晦答曰：「三十五。」澹笑曰：「昔荀中郎年二十七為北府都督，卿比之，已為老矣。」晦有愧色。至江陵，深結侍中王華，冀以免禍。二女當配彭城王義康、新野侯義賓。元嘉二年，遣妻曹及長子世休送女還京邑。先是景平中，索虜為寇，覆沒河南。至是上欲誅羨之等，並討晦。聲言北伐，又言拜京陵，治裝舟艦。傅亮與晦書曰：「薄伐河朔，事猶未已，朝野之慮，憂懼者多。」又言：「朝士多諫北征，上當遣外監萬幼宗往相咨訪。」時朝廷處分異常，其謀頗泄。三年正月，晦弟黃門侍郎皭馳使告晦，晦猶謂不然，呼諮議參軍何承天，示以亮書，曰：「計幼宗一二日必至，傅公慮我好事，故先遣此書。」承天曰：「外間所聞，咸謂西討已定，幼宗豈有上理。」晦尚謂虛妄，使承天豫立答詔啟草，伐虜宜須明年。江夏內史程道惠得尋陽人書，言：「朝廷將有大處分，其事已審。」使其輔國府中兵參軍樂冏封以示晦。晦又謂承天曰：「幼宗尚未至，若復二三日無消息，便是不復來邪？」承天答曰：「詔使本無來理，如程所說，其事已判，豈容復疑。」

When he first received Jing province he was full of self-importance; as he was about to depart for his post, he called on his father's younger cousin, Household Master of the Heir Apparent Dan, to bid farewell. Dan asked Hui his age, and Hui replied, "Thirty-five." Dan smiled and said, "In former days Director Xun at twenty-seven was commander of the Northern Headquarters; compared with him, you are already an old man." Hui flushed with embarrassment. On reaching Jiangling he cultivated a close tie with gentleman attendant Wang Hua, hoping thereby to escape ruin. His two daughters were to be married to Prince Yikang of Pengcheng and Marquis Yibin of Xinye. In the second year of Yuanjia he sent his wife Cao and his eldest son Shixiu to escort the daughters back to the capital. Earlier, during the Jingping era, the northern barbarians had raided and overrun Henan. By then the emperor intended to execute Xianzhi and his colleagues and also move against Hui. He announced a northern campaign and also spoke of visiting the imperial tombs near the capital, ordering ships and equipment prepared. Fu Liang wrote to Hui, "The limited campaign against the north bank of the Yellow River is still unfinished, and throughout court and country anxiety runs high." He added, "Many at court have urged against the northern expedition; the emperor is likely to send the external supervisor Wan Youzong to consult with you." The court's movements were already highly irregular, and the plan leaked out widely. In the first month of the third year, Hui's younger brother, Gentleman of the Yellow Gate Hui, sent a fast courier to warn him. Hui still refused to believe it, summoned advisory staff officer He Chengtian, showed him Liang's letter, and said, "I expect Youzong will arrive in a day or two; Master Fu feared I would take alarm, so he sent this letter ahead." Chengtian said, "What people are saying outside is that the western punitive campaign is already decided; there is no reason Youzong should be coming." Hui still treated it as empty rumor and had Chengtian prepare in advance a draft memorial replying to the edict, arguing that the campaign against the barbarians should wait until the following year. Cheng Daohui, interior administrator of Jiangxia, received a letter from a man of Xunyang stating, "The court is about to take drastic action; the matter is already decided." He had his assisting-state headquarters central army adjutant Yue Tong seal the letter and deliver it to Hui. Hui said again to Chengtian, "Youzong has not yet arrived; if there is still no word in another two or three days, does that mean he is not coming at all?" Chengtian replied, "There was never any reason for an imperial messenger to come; as Cheng reported, the matter is already settled—how could there still be any doubt?".

晦欲焚南蠻兵籍，率見力決戰。士人多勸發兵，乃立幡戒嚴，謂司馬庾登之曰：「今當自下，欲屈卿以三千人守城，備禦劉粹。」登之曰：「下官親老在都，又素無旅，情計二三，不敢受此旨。」晦仍問諸佐：「戰士三千，足守城不？」南蠻司馬周超對曰：「非徒守城而已，若有外寇，可以立勳。」登之乃曰：「超必能辦，下官請解司馬、南郡以授。」即於坐命超為司馬、建威將軍、南義陽太守，轉登之為長史，南郡如故。

Hui wished to burn the southern barbarian troop registers and lead his available forces into a decisive battle. Many of his officers urged him to raise troops; he then raised banners and declared martial law and said to his defender Sima Yu Dengzhi, "I am about to march downstream and would ask you to hold the city with three thousand men against Liu Cui." Dengzhi said, "My parents are elderly and live in the capital, and I have never been on campaign; my resolve is divided—I dare not accept this commission." Hui then asked his staff, "Are three thousand fighting men enough to hold the city?" Southern barbarian defender Sima Zhou Chao replied, "It is not merely a matter of holding the city—if outside enemies appear, one can win distinction." Dengzhi then said, "Chao can certainly handle it; I ask to be relieved of my posts as defender and administrator of Nan commandery and have them transferred to him." On the spot he appointed Chao defender, general establishing might, and grand administrator of Nan Yiyang, and transferred Dengzhi to chief clerk while leaving Nan commandery under his charge as before.

太祖誅羨之等及晦子新除秘書郎世休，收皭、皭子世平、兄子著作佐郎紹等。樂冏又遣使告晦：「徐、傅二公及皭等並已誅。」晦先舉羨之、亮哀，次發子弟凶問。既而自出射堂，配衣軍旅。數從高祖征討，備睹經略，至是指麾處分，莫不曲盡其宜。二三日中，四遠投集，得精兵三萬人。乃奉表曰：

The Founding Emperor executed Xianzhi and his colleagues, along with Hui's son Shixiu, who had just been appointed secretary; he also arrested Hui, Hui's son Shiping, and his elder brother's son, editorial assistant Shao, among others. Yue Tong again sent a messenger to inform Hui, "Lords Xu and Fu, along with Hui and the others, have all been executed." Hui first proclaimed mourning for Xianzhi and Liang, then announced the dire news about his sons and nephews. Then he himself came out to the archery ground and arrayed himself in military dress. He had followed the High Ancestor on many campaigns and witnessed his strategy at first hand; now, in command and disposition, nothing failed to suit the occasion perfectly. Within two or three days men rallied from all directions, and he mustered thirty thousand elite troops. He then submitted a memorial that read:

臣階緣幸會，蒙武皇帝殊常之眷，外聞政事，內謀帷幄，經綸夷險，毗贊王業，預佐命之勳，膺河山之賞。及先帝不豫，導揚末命，臣與故司徒臣羨之、左光祿大夫臣亮、征北將軍臣道濟等，並升御床，跪受遺詔，載貽話言，訊以後事。臣雖凡淺，感恩自厲，送往事居，誠貫幽顯。逮營陽失德，自絕宗廟，朝野岌岌，憂及禍難，忠謀協契，徇國忘己，援登聖朝，惟新皇祚。陛下馳傳乘流，曾不惟疑，臨朝殷勤，增崇封爵。此則臣等赤心已亮於天鑒，遠近萬邦咸達於聖旨。若臣等志欲專權，不顧國典，便當協翼幼主，孤背天日，豈復虛館七旬，仰望鸞旗者哉？故廬陵王於營陽之世，屢被猜嫌，積怨犯上，自貽非命。天祚明德，屬當昌運，不有所廢，將何以興？成人之美，《春秋》之高義；立帝清館，臣節之所司。耿弇不以賊遺君父，臣亦何負於宋室邪？況釁結鬩牆，禍成畏逼，天下耳目，豈伊可誣！

Your servant, through a chain of fortunate chances, won the Martial Emperor's extraordinary favor—hearing affairs abroad and plotting within the command tent, steering through peril and ease and supporting the royal enterprise, sharing in the merit of establishing the dynasty and receiving rewards vast as mountains and rivers. When the late emperor fell ill, he guided and proclaimed his final charge; your servant, together with the late Minister Xianzhi, Left Household Master Liang, and Northern Campaigning General Daoji and others, all ascended the imperial couch, knelt to receive the testament, bore his parting words, and were questioned about affairs to come. Though your servant is shallow and ordinary, in gratitude he urges himself onward; honoring the dead and serving the living, his sincerity reaches from this world into the next. When Yingyang lost virtue and cut himself off from the ancestral temple, court and country stood in peril and disaster loomed; loyal counsel joined in pact, forgetting self for the state, and helped raise the sacred court to renew the imperial fortune. Your Majesty rode post-haste upon the current without a moment's hesitation; upon taking the throne you were earnest and increased our ranks and fiefs. Thus our loyal hearts were already plain to Heaven's scrutiny, and near and far, all the myriad realms understood the imperial intent. If we had wished to monopolize power and disregard the state's laws, we would have aided the young lord and turned our backs on Heaven and the sun—how could we then have kept him in an empty lodge for seventy days, gazing up at the imperial banner? Thus the Prince of Luling, during Yingyang's reign, was repeatedly suspected, harbored resentment and offended his superiors, and brought ruin upon himself. Heaven's mandate is bright in virtue and belongs to a flourishing age; without setting something aside, how could the dynasty rise? Completing another's excellence is the lofty principle of the 《Spring and Autumn Annals》; establishing an emperor in a pure lodge is what a subject's duty demands. Geng Yan did not leave the rebels to his lord and father—how has your servant wronged the house of Song? Moreover, trouble arose within the palace walls, and disaster came from coercion and fear—the ears and eyes of the empire, how could they be deceived!

臣忝居蕃任，乃誠匪懈，為政小大，必先啟聞。糾剔群蠻，清夷境內，分留弟姪，並侍殿省。陛下聿遵先志，申以婚姻，童稚之目，猥荷齒召，薦女遷子，合門相送。事君之道，義盡於斯。臣羨之總錄百揆，翼亮三世，年耆乞退，屢抗表疏，優旨綢繆，未垂順許。臣亮管司喉舌，恪虔夙夜，恭謹一心，守死善道。此皆皇宋之宗臣，社稷之鎮衛，而讒人傾覆，妄生國釁，天威震怒，加以極刑，并及臣門，則被孥戮。雖未知臣道濟問，推理即事，不容獨存。先帝顧託元臣翼命之佐，勦於佞邪之手，忠貞匪躬之輔，不免夷滅之誅。陛下春秋方富，始覽萬機，民之情偽，未能鑒悉。王弘兄弟，輕躁昧進；王華猜忌忍害，規弄威權，先除執政，以逞其欲。天下之人，知與不知，孰不為之痛心憤怨者哉！

Your servant, unworthy though entrusted with a frontier post, has not slackened in sincerity; in government great and small he has always reported first. He has disciplined the southern tribes and pacified the territory within his borders, leaving younger brothers and nephews behind, all serving in the palace offices. Your Majesty has followed the former intent and extended marriage ties; even a child's eyes have undeservedly received your summons by rank; presenting daughters and sending sons, the whole household has seen them off. In the way of serving one's lord, duty has been fulfilled to the utmost. Your servant Xianzhi has overseen all the ministries and supported three reigns; in his old age he has asked to retire and repeatedly submitted memorials, yet gracious edicts have been thick and no favorable permission granted. Your servant Liang has managed the imperial voice, been reverent night and day, single-minded in respect, and held to the good way unto death. These were all pillar ministers of the imperial Song and bulwarks of the altars of soil and grain, yet slanderers overturned them and rashly stirred national strife; imperial wrath thundered, extreme punishments were imposed, and our households too were struck down, wives and children included. Though it is not yet known what has befallen your servant Daoji, reasoning from the matter, he cannot be left alone. The late emperor's entrusted chief ministers and aides who bore his mandate have been cut down by flatterers and villains; loyal and devoted helpers who gave their all have not escaped extermination. Your Majesty is still young and has only begun to survey the myriad affairs of state; the people's truth and falsehood you cannot yet discern fully. The brothers Wang Hong are rash and advance in ignorance; Wang Hua is suspicious, cruel, and harmful, scheming to wield authority, first removing those in power to satisfy his desires. Among all under Heaven, whether they know the details or not, who does not grieve and rage at this!

臣等見任先帝，垂二十載，小心謹慎，無纖介之愆，伏事甫爾，而嬰若斯之罪。若非先帝謬於知人，則為陛下未察愚款。臣去歲末使反，得朝士及殿省諸將書，並言嫌隙已成，必有今日之事。臣推誠仰期，罔有二心，不圖奸回潛遘，理順難恃，忠賢隕朝，愚臣見襲，到彥之、蕭欣等在近路。昔白公稱亂，諸梁嬰胄，惡人在朝，趙鞅入伐。臣義均休戚，任居分陝，豈可顛而不扶，以負先帝遺旨！輒率將士，繕治舟甲，須其自送，投袂撲討。若天祚大宋，卜世靈長，義師克振，中流清蕩，便當浮舟東下，戮此三豎，申理冤恥，謝罪闕庭，雖伏鑕赴鑊，無恨於心。伏願陛下遠尋永初託付之旨，近存元嘉奉戴之誠，則微臣丹款，猶有可察。臨表哽慨，言不自盡。

We served the late emperor for nearly twenty years, careful and cautious, without the slightest fault; we had only just begun to serve Your Majesty when we suffered such punishment. If the late emperor did not err in knowing men, then Your Majesty has not yet discerned our sincere devotion. When your servant's envoy returned at the end of last year, he obtained letters from court officials and generals of the palace offices, all saying that estrangement had already formed and that today's events were inevitable. Your servant looked up in sincerity and harbored no second thought, never imagining that treachery would lurk in secret; when reason favors one, support is hard to rely on—loyal worthies fall in court, your foolish servant is attacked, and Dao Yanzhi and Xiao Xin are on the near road. In former days when Duke Bai raised rebellion, the sons of Liang donned armor; when evil men hold court, Zhao Yang enters to punish them. Your servant shares equally in weal and woe and holds border governance—how can I stand by while the realm collapses and fail the late emperor's final charge! I shall immediately lead my officers and soldiers, ready ships and armor, await their coming, and strike out to suppress them. If Heaven blesses Great Song and the dynasty's destiny is long, and the righteous army prevails and clears the middle reaches, then I shall sail eastward, execute these three villains, vindicate our wrongs, and confess guilt at the palace gate—even if I must submit to axe and cauldron, I will have no regret in my heart. I humbly hope Your Majesty will look far back to the entrustment charge of the Yongchu era and keep close the sincerity of support in the Yuanjia era—then this humble servant's loyal heart may still be discerned. As I face this memorial, I am choked with emotion and cannot fully express myself.

太祖時已戒嚴，諸軍相次進路。尚書符荊州曰：

By this time the Founding Emperor had already imposed martial law, and the armies advanced one after another. The Secretariat dispatched an order to Jing Province stating:

禍福無門，逆順有數，天道微於影響，人事鑒於前圖，未有蹈義而福不延，從惡而禍不至也。故智計之士，審敗以立功，守正之臣，臨難以全節。徐羨之、傅亮、謝晦，安忍鴆殺，獲罪於天，名教所極，政刑所取，已遠暴四海，宣於聖詔。羨之父子、亮及晦息，電斷之初，並即大憲。複王室之仇，攄義夫之憤，國典澄明，人神感悅。三姓同罪，既擒其二，晦之室屬，縲仆獄戶，苟幽明所怨，孤根易拔，以順討逆，雖厚必崩。然歸死難圖，獸困則噬，是以爰整其旅，用為過防。京師之眾，天下雲集，士練兵精，大號響震。

Fortune and misfortune have no fixed gate; rebellion and obedience have their measure. The Way of Heaven is subtle as shadow and echo; human affairs are mirrored in past examples—never has one who treads righteousness failed to receive lasting fortune, nor has one who follows evil escaped calamity. Thus men of wisdom and strategy discern defeat and establish merit; upright ministers, facing difficulty, preserve their integrity. Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang, and Xie Hui cruelly conspired to poison and kill; they have offended Heaven, transgressed the limits of morality and teaching, and are subject to law and punishment—their crimes have been proclaimed to the four seas and announced in the imperial edict. Xianzhi and his son, Liang, and Hui's sons—at the very moment judgment fell, all received the supreme penalty. The royal house's wrong was avenged, righteous men's wrath was unleashed; national law was clarified, and gods and men alike rejoiced. The three clans share the same crime; two have already been captured; Hui's household and kin are bound and fallen at prison gates—if both the living and the dead resent them, a solitary root is easily uprooted; using obedience to punish rebellion, though strong it must collapse. Yet a man facing death finds it hard to accept defeat; a cornered beast will bite—therefore he has gathered his troops as a desperate defense. The capital's forces gather from all under Heaven like clouds; the soldiers are trained and weapons sharp; the great call resounds like thunder.

使持節、中領軍佷山縣開國侯到彥之率羽林選士果勁二萬，雲旍首路，組甲曜川。使持節、散騎常侍、都督南徐、兗之江北淮南、青州、徐州之淮陽、下邳、琅邪、東莞七郡諸軍事、征北將軍、南兗州刺史、永修縣開國公檀道濟統勁銳武卒三萬，戈船蔽江，星言繼發，千帆俱舉，萬棹遄征。散騎常侍、驍騎將軍段宏鐵馬二千，風驅電擊，步自竟陵，直至鄢郢。又命征虜將軍、雍州刺史劉粹控河陰之師，衝其巢窟。湘州刺史張邵提湘川之眾，直據要害。巴、蜀杜荊門之險，秦、梁絕丹圻之逕，雲網四合，走伏路盡。然後鑾輿效駕，六軍鵬翔，警蹕前驅，五牛整旆。雖以英布之氣，彭寵之資，登陴無名，授兵誰御？加以西土之人，咸沐皇澤，東吳將士，懷本首丘，必不自陷罪人之黨，橫為亂亡之役。置軍則魚潰，嬰城則鳥散，其勢然矣。聖上殷勤哀愍，其罪由晦，士民何辜。是用一分前麾，宣示朝旨。符到，其即共收擒晦身，輕舟護送。若已猖蹶，先事阻衛，宜飜然背亂，相率歸朝。頃大刑所加，洪恩曠洽，傅亮三息，特蒙全宥，晦同產以下，羨之諸姪，咸無所染。況彼府州文武，並列王職，荷國榮任，身雖在外，乃心辰極。夫轉禍貴速，後機則凶，遂使王師臨郊，雷電皆至，噬臍之恨，亦將何及。

Bearer of credentials, Central Palace Guard Commander, Marquis of Ken Mountain County, Dao Yanzhi leads twenty thousand selected elite guardsmen; cloud banners lead the way, linked armor gleaming on the rivers. Bearer of credentials, Regular Attendant of the Scattered Cavalry, Commander of all military affairs for the seven commanderies of southern Xu, Yan north of the river and Huainan, Qing Province, and Huaiyang, Xiapi, Langye, and Dongguan in Xu Province—Northern Campaign General, Inspector of Southern Yan Province, Duke of Yongxiu County, Tan Daoji commands thirty thousand crack troops; spear-ships cover the river; they set out at starlight in succession; a thousand sails rise together, ten thousand oars rush to war. Regular Attendant of the Scattered Cavalry, Valiant Cavalry General Duan Hong with two thousand iron horses, driven like wind and struck like lightning, marches from Jingling straight to Yan and Ying. The emperor also ordered Campaign General Liu Cui, Inspector of Yong Province, to control the forces at Heyin and strike their stronghold. Inspector of Xiang Province Zhang Shao leads the forces of the Xiang River and directly holds the strategic points. Ba and Shu block the peril of Jing Gate; Qin and Liang cut off the paths of Danji; the net closes from four sides—whether fleeing or hiding, all roads are cut off. Then the imperial carriage sets out, the six armies soar like peng birds, imperial guards advance before, and the five-ox banners are arrayed. Even with the spirit of Ying Bu and the resources of Peng Chong, who would dare mount the walls or take up arms to resist? Moreover the people of the western lands all bathe in imperial grace; the officers and soldiers of Eastern Wu yearn for home and look to their ancestral mounds—they surely will not throw themselves into the rebel's faction or serve recklessly in a doomed cause. Deploy armies and they scatter like fish in collapse; hold the walls and they disperse like birds—their situation is thus. The sage sovereign is kindly compassionate—the crime lies with Hui; what guilt have the soldiers and common people? Therefore a vanguard detachment is sent forward to proclaim the court's intent. When this order arrives, immediately capture Hui together and escort him by light boat. If he has already run rampant and blocked your defense, you ought to turn abruptly against the rebellion and lead one another back to the court. Recently, under the great punishment applied, vast grace pervades—Fu Liang's three sons have been specially spared; Hui's siblings and below, and Xianzhi's various nephews, were all untainted. Moreover those civil and military officials of the prefecture and province all hold royal posts and bear the state's honored commission—though their bodies are abroad, their hearts are fixed on the capital. Turning misfortune to fortune requires speed—delay brings ruin—thus the royal armies reach the suburbs, thunder and lightning arrive together; the regret of biting one's navel—what use will it be then?

時益州刺史蕭摹之、巴西太守劉道產被徵還，始至江陵，晦並繫縶，沒其財貨，以充軍資。竟陵內史殷道鸞未之郡，以為諮議參軍。以弟遯為冠軍、竟陵內史，總留任；兄子世猷為建威將軍、南平太守。劉粹若至，周超能破之者，即以為龍驤將軍、雍州刺史。晦率眾二萬，發自江陵，舟艦列自江津至於破塚，旍旂相照，蔽奪日光。晦乃歎曰：「恨不得以此為勤王之師！」自領湘州刺史，以張邵為輔國將軍，邵不受命。晦檄京邑曰：

At this time Inspector of Yi Province Xiao Muzi and Grand Administrator of Baxi Liu Daochan were recalled—they had just reached Jiangling when Hui bound them all and confiscated their goods and wealth to fill his military supplies. Jingling Administrator Yin Daoluan had not yet reached his commandery—Hui made him advisory staff officer. He made his younger brother Dun Champion General and Jingling Administrator, putting him in charge of remaining duties; His elder brother's son Shiyou was made Campaign General of Jianwei and Grand Administrator of Nanping. If Liu Cui arrives and Zhou Chao can defeat him, Zhou Chao will be made Dragon Cavalry General and Inspector of Yong Province. Hui led twenty thousand troops from Jiangling; his ships stretched from Jiangjin to Pozhong, banners and flags reflecting one another and blocking out the sunlight. Hui then sighed and said, "I only regret that I cannot use these as troops loyal to rescue the throne! He himself took the post of Inspector of Xiang Province and appointed Zhang Shao Assistant State General—Shao did not accept the commission. Hui issued a proclamation to the capital stating:

王室多故，禍難薦臻。營陽失德，自絕宗廟。廬陵王構鬩有本，屢被猜嫌，且居喪失禮，遐邇所具，積怨犯上，自貽非道。群后釋位，爰登聖明，亂之未乂，職有所系。按車騎大將軍王弘、侍中王曇首，謬蒙時私，叨竊權要。弘於永初之始，實荷不世之恩，元嘉之讓，自謂任遇浮淺，進誣先皇委誠之寄，退長嫌隙異同之端。曇首往因使下，訪以今上起居，不能光揚令德，彰於朝聽，其言多誣，故不具說。王華賊亡之餘，賞擢之次，先帝常見訪逮，庶有一分可取，而華稟性凶猜，多所忍害。曩者縱人入城，託疾辭事，此都士庶，咸所聞知。以其所啟及上手答示宗叔獻，又令宣告徐、傅二公。及周糾使下，又令見咨，云：「欲自攬政事，求離任還都，並令曇首具述此意。」又惠觀道人說，外人告華及到彥之謀反，不謂無之。城內東將，數日之內，操戈相待。華說數為秋當所譖，常不自安。凡此諸事，豈有忠誠冥契若此者邪？自以父亡道側，情事異人，外絕酒醴，而宵飲是恣。靦貌囗囗囗囗囗囗凡厥士庶，誰不側目。又常歎宰相頓有數人，是何憤憤，規總威權，不顧國典。保祐皇家者，罹屠戮之誅；效勤社稷者，致殲夷之禍。搢紳之徒，孰不忼慨！遂矯違詔旨，遣到彥之、蕭欣之輕舟見襲。即日監利左尉露檄眾軍已至揚子。

The royal house has suffered many troubles; calamities have repeatedly arrived. Emperor Yingyang lost virtue and severed himself from the ancestral temple. The Prince of Luling had cause for discord and was repeatedly suspected; moreover he violated mourning propriety, as was known far and near—he accumulated resentment, offended his superiors, and brought unjust death upon himself. The ministers relinquished their posts and enthroned the sage and bright sovereign; disorder was not yet settled, and duties remained bound. Investigating General of Chariots and Cavalry Wang Hong and Palace Attendant Wang Tanshou—they wrongly received private favor and greedily seized crucial power. Hong at the start of Yongchu in truth bore unmatched grace; in Yuanjia's succession he felt his appointment shallow—in advance he falsely charged the late emperor's trust in good faith; in retreat he fostered suspicion and seeds of division. Tanshou formerly, when envoys came down, inquired after the present emperor's daily conduct and could not spread his fine virtue to the court's hearing—his words were mostly false, so details are not given. Wang Hua was among the surviving remnants of rebels, promoted in turn—the late emperor often sought and questioned him, hoping there might be something to commend, yet Hua's nature was fierce and suspicious, and he harmed many. Formerly he allowed someone to enter the city and feigned illness to resign office—the gentlemen and commoners of this capital all heard and knew. With his memorial and the emperor's written reply he showed Zong Shuxian, and also had them proclaimed to Lords Xu and Fu. When Zhou's envoy came down to investigate, he again had him consulted, saying, "I wish to take government affairs into my own hands and seek to leave my post and return to the capital," and had Tanshou fully relate this intent. Also according to what the Daoist priest Huiguan said, outsiders reported that Hua and Dao Yanzhi plotted rebellion—it is not to say this was entirely without basis. Within the city, eastern generals held weapons ready against one another within days. Hua said he was repeatedly slandered by Qiudang and was often ill at ease. All these matters—can there be loyal sincerity and secret accord such as this? Taking himself as one whose father died by the roadside, his circumstances different from others—outwardly he abstained from wine, yet at night he indulged freely. With shameless countenance [damaged text in source]—among all gentlemen and commoners, who would not look askance? Also he often lamented that there were suddenly several chancellors—what muddle is this—scheming to monopolize authority, heedless of national law. Those who protected the royal house suffered slaughter's punishment; Those who served zealously for the altars of soil and grain met extermination's calamity. Among the gentry and officials, who was not indignant! Then they forged and violated the edict's intent, sending Dao Yanzhi and Xiao Xin in light boats to attack suddenly. That very day the Left Warden of Jianli posted an open proclamation that the armies had reached Yangzi.

雖以不武，忝荷蕃任，國家艱難，悲憤兼集。若使小人得志，君子道消，凡百有殄瘁之哀，蒼生深橫流之懼。輒糾勒義徒，繕治舟甲，舳艫亙川，駟介蔽野，武夫鷙勇，人百其誠。今遣南蠻司馬、寧遠將軍庾登之統參軍事、建武將軍建平太守安泰、宣威將軍昭弘宗、參軍事宣威將軍王紹之等，精銳一萬，前鋒致討。南蠻參軍、振武將軍魏像統參軍事、宣威將軍陳珍虎旅二千，參軍事、建威將軍、新興太守賀愔甲卒三千，相係取道。南蠻參軍、振威將軍郭卓鐵騎二千，水步齊舉。大軍三萬，駱驛電邁。行冠軍將軍、竟陵內史、河東太守謝遯、建威將軍、南平太守謝世猷驍勇一萬，留守江陵。分命參軍、長寧太守竇應期步騎五千，直出義陽。司馬、建威將軍、行南義陽太守周超之統軍司馬、振武將軍胡崇之精悍一萬，北出高陽，長兼行參軍、寧遠將軍朱澹之步騎五千，西出雁塞，同討劉粹，並趨襄陽。奇兵尚速，指景齊奮。諸賢並同國恩，情兼義烈，今誠志士忘身之日，義夫著績之秋，見機而動，望風而不待勖。

Though lacking in martial prowess, I shamefully bear frontier duty—the nation is in crisis, and grief and rage combine within me. If petty men gain their will and the way of gentlemen vanishes—all will have the sorrow of wasting away, and the common people will deeply fear being swept away. I have gathered righteous followers and prepared ships and armor; boats span the river, war-chariots cover the plain; fierce warriors each show a hundredfold loyalty. Now I dispatch Southern Man Marshal, General of Ningyuan Yu Dengzhi to command Staff Officer, Campaign General of Jianwu and Grand Administrator of Jianping An Tai, General of Xuanwei Zhao Hongzong, Staff Officer and General of Xuanwei Wang Shaozhi, and others—ten thousand elite troops as vanguard to strike. Southern Man Staff Officer, General of Zhenwu Wei Xiang commands Staff Officer and General of Xuanwei Chen Zhen with two thousand tiger troops; Staff Officer, Campaign General of Jianwei and Grand Administrator of Xinxing He Yin with three thousand armored soldiers—they advance by linked routes. Southern Man Staff Officer, General of Zhenwei Guo Zhuo with two thousand iron cavalry—water and land forces advance together. The great army of thirty thousand gallops like relay horses and rushes like lightning. Acting Champion General, Jingling Administrator, and Hedong Grand Administrator Xie Dun and Campaign General of Jianwei and Nanping Grand Administrator Xie Shiyou lead ten thousand valiant troops to guard Jiangling. He separately ordered Staff Officer and Changning Grand Administrator Dou Yingqi with five thousand infantry and cavalry to march straight out from Yiyang. Marshal, Campaign General of Jianwei, and Acting Grand Administrator of Southern Yiyang Zhou Chao commands Army Marshal and General of Zhenwu Hu Chong with ten thousand crack troops, marching north out of Gaoyang; Senior Acting Staff Officer and General of Ningyuan Zhu Tanzhi with five thousand infantry and cavalry, marching west out of Yan Pass—they jointly attack Liu Cui and all converge on Xiangyang. Unconventional troops prize speed—point at the sun and advance together. All worthies share the state's grace, feeling and righteous fervor combined—now is truly the day for men of resolve to forget themselves, the season for men of duty to establish merit; see opportunity and act, look to the wind and need no urging.

晦至江口，到彥之已到彭城洲。庾登之據巴陵，畏懦不敢進。會霖雨連日，參軍劉和之曰：「彼此共有雨耳，檀征北尋至，東軍方強，唯宜速戰。」登之恇怯，使小將陳祐作大囊，貯茅數千斛，縣於颿檣，云可以焚艦，用火宜須晴，以緩戰期。晦然之，遂停軍十五日。乃攻蕭欣於彭城洲，中兵參軍孔延秀率三千人進戰，甚力。欣於陳後擁楯自衛，又委軍還船，於是大敗。延秀又攻洲口柵，陷之，彥之退保隱圻。

Hui reached the river mouth; Dao Yanzhi had already reached Pengcheng Isle. Yu Dengzhi held Baling but was timid and fearful, not daring to advance. As continuous heavy rain fell for days, Staff Officer Liu Hezhi said, "Both sides have rain alike—Northern Campaign General Tan will soon arrive and the eastern army is just growing strong; we should only fight quickly. Dengzhi was cowardly; he had junior officer Chen You make large sacks storing several thousand piculs of thatch, hung from sail masts, saying they could burn enemy ships—that fire required clear weather—to delay the battle schedule. Hui approved this and halted the army for fifteen days. Then he attacked Xiao Xin at Pengcheng Isle; Central Army Staff Officer Kong Yanxiu led three thousand men into battle with great force. Xin shielded himself with large shields behind the formation, then abandoned the army and returned to the ships—in consequence a great defeat. Yanxiu again attacked the stockade at the isle mouth and captured it; Yanzhi retreated to defend Yinqi.

晦又上表曰：

Hui again submitted a memorial stating:

臣聞凶邪敗國，先代成患；讒豎亂朝，異世齊禍。故趙高矯逼，秦氏用傾；董卓階亂，漢祚伊覆。雖哲王宰世，大明照臨，未能使其漸弗興，茲害不作。奸臣王弘等竊弄威權，興造禍亂，遂與弟華內外影響，同惡相成，忌害忠賢，圖希非望。故司徒臣羨之、左光祿大夫臣亮橫被酷害，並及臣門。雖未知征北將軍臣道濟存亡，不容獨免。遂遣蕭欣、到彥之等輕舟見襲，奸偽之甚，一至於斯。羨之及亮，或宿德元臣，姻婭皇極，或任總文武，位班三事，道濟職惟上將，捍城是司，皆受遇先朝，棟樑一代。臣昔因時幸，過蒙先眷，內聞政事，外經戎旅，與羨之、亮等同被齒盼。既經啟王基，協濟大業，爰自權輿，暨於揖讓，誠策雖微，仍見紀錄，竝蒙丹書之誓，各受山河之賞，欲使與宋升降，傳之無窮。及聖體不預，穆卜無吉，召臣等四人，同升御床，顧命領遺，委以家國。仰奉成旨，俯竭股肱，忠貞不效，期之以死。但營陽悖德，自絕於天，社稷之危，憂在託付，不有所廢，將焉以興。乃遠稽殷、漢，用升聖德。

Your servant has heard that evil and depravity ruin states—former ages made this a chronic ill; Slanderers rise and disorder the court—in different eras the calamity is the same. Thus Zhao Gao forged commands and coerced—the Qin house was overturned; Dong Zhuo ascended through chaos—the Han fortune was overthrown. Though sage kings govern the age and great brightness shines down, they could not keep such evils from gradually arising or this harm from occurring. Treacherous ministers Wang Hong and others secretly wielded authority and stirred up calamity and disorder, then with his brother Hua coordinated inside and out, like shadows answering each other, alike in evil mutually completing—envying and harming loyal worthies, scheming for illegitimate ambitions. Thus Minister of Works your servant Xianzhi and Grand Master of Splendid Happiness your servant Liang were cruelly harmed across the board, extending to my household. Though it is not yet known whether Northern Campaign General your servant Daoji lives or dies, he cannot alone be spared. Then they sent Xiao Xin, Dao Yanzhi, and others in light boats to attack suddenly—the treachery and fraud reached such an extreme. Xianzhi and Liang—some were elder worthies of longstanding virtue, connected by marriage to the imperial throne; others held general charge of civil and military affairs and ranked among the Three Dignities; Daoji's office was foremost general and guardian of the ramparts—all received favor from the former court and were pillars of a generation. In former days your servant, through the fortune of the times, received beyond measure the late emperor's favor—I heard affairs of state from within and led armies without, and together with Xianzhi and Liang was granted equal rank and regard. Having helped lay the royal foundation and jointly served the great enterprise—from the dynasty's first beginnings through abdication—though our counsels were modest they were recorded; we all received oaths inscribed in red ink and rewards vast as mountains and rivers, intended that we should rise and fall with Song and pass this down forever. When the sacred person was failing and no divination brought good omens, he summoned us four ministers to ascend the imperial couch together, entrusted us with his testament and legacy, and committed state and family to our care. Looking up we received his final charge; looking down we gave our utmost—if loyalty and fidelity should fail, we were prepared to die for it. But Yingyang was depraved in virtue and cut himself off from Heaven; the altars stood in peril and the entrusted charge was at risk—without setting something aside, how could the dynasty rise? Thus we looked far back to the precedents of Yin and Han and raised Your Majesty's sacred virtue to the throne.

陛下順流乘傳，不聽張武之疑，入邸龍飛，非俟宋昌之議，斯乃主臣相信，天人合契，九五當陽，化形四海。羨之及亮，內贊皇猷，臣與道濟，分翰於外，普天之下，孰曰不宜。遂蒙寵授，來鎮此方，分留弟姪，以侍臺省。到任以來，首尾三載，雖形在遠外，心係本朝，事無大小，動皆咨啟，八州之政，罔一專輒，尊上之心，足貫幽顯。陛下遠述先旨，申以婚姻，大息世休，復蒙引召，是以去年送女遣兒，闔家俱下，血誠如此，未知所愧。而凶狡無端，妄生釁禍，羨之內誅，臣受外伐，顧省諸懷，不識何罪？天聽遐邈，陳訴靡由。弘等既蒙寵任，得侍左右，自謂勢擅狐鼠，理隔熏掘。又以陛下富於春秋，始覽政事，欲馮陵恩幸，闚望國權，親從磐歭，規自封殖，不除臣等，罔得專權，所以交結讒慝，成是亂階。又惟弘等所構，當以營陽為言，廬陵為罪。又以臣等位高功同，內外膠固。陛下信其厚貌，忘厥左道，三至下機，能不暫惑。

Your Majesty rode downstream by post relay and did not heed Zhang Wu's suspicions; entering the lodge, you ascended the throne without awaiting Song Chang's counsel—lord and minister trusting each other, Heaven and man in accord; you took the throne and your transforming influence reached the four seas. Xianzhi and Liang supported the imperial design within; your servant and Daoji shouldered affairs abroad—all under Heaven, who could say this arrangement was unfitting? Then we received favored appointment and came to guard this region, leaving behind younger brothers and nephews to serve at court. Since taking office, three full years have passed—though my body was far from the capital, my heart was bound to the court; in affairs great and small I reported every move; in governing eight provinces I never acted on my own authority; my reverence for Your Majesty reached from this world into the next. Your Majesty, honoring the prior intent, sealed it with marriage; your great son Shixiu was again summoned to court—thus last year we sent our daughters and sons, the whole household coming to the capital—such was our blood sincerity that I cannot imagine what we have to be ashamed of. Yet villains and cunning men without cause stirred up calamity—Xianzhi was executed within, your servant attacked from without; searching my inmost thoughts, I cannot see what crime I have committed. Heaven's ear lies beyond reach; I have no avenue to present my plea. Hong and others, having won favored trust, attended at Your Majesty's side; they deemed themselves omnipotent as foxes among rats, believing nothing could uproot them. Moreover, as Your Majesty is still young and has only begun to govern, they wished to lean on imperial favor, covet state power, surround themselves with cronies, and enrich themselves—unless we ministers were removed they could not seize sole authority; so they joined with slanderers and wicked men, setting up the steps to rebellion. Moreover, in their fabrications Hong and others used Yingyang as the pretext and Luling as the crime. Moreover, because we held high rank and equal merit, court and provinces stood as one. Your Majesty trusted their plausible outward show and forgot their perverse arts; three times they set their snares—could you remain undeceived even for a moment?

伏自尋省，廢昏立明，事非為己。廬陵之事，不由傍人，內積蕭牆之釁，外行叔段之罰，既制之有主，臣何預焉。然廬陵為性輕險，悌順不足，武皇臨崩，亦有口詔，比雖發自營陽，實非國禍。至於羨之、亮等，周旋同體，心腹內外，政欲戮力皇家，盡忠報主。若令臣等頗欲執權，不專為國，初廢營陽，陛下在遠，武皇之子，尚有童幼，擁以號令，誰敢非之。而溯流三千，虛館三月，奉迎鑾駕，以遵下武，血心若斯，易為可鑒。

Prostrate before my own conscience I see clearly: deposing the unworthy and raising the enlightened—I did this not for myself. In the matter of Luling, outsiders had no hand in it—trouble was brewing within the palace walls, and the punishment of Shuduan was applied from without; since there was authority in charge, what part did your servant play? Yet Luling by nature was impulsive and rash, lacking in filial respect; when the Martial Emperor lay dying there was even an oral charge to that effect; though this affair arose under Yingyang, it was no true calamity to the state. As for Xianzhi, Liang, and the others, working as one within and without, heart and belly together—they wished only to join their strength for the imperial house and give their full loyalty to their lord. If we had truly wished to seize power rather than serve the state alone, at the first deposition of Yingyang, when Your Majesty was far away and the Martial Emperor's sons still included infants, we could have placed one at the head and issued commands—who would have dared oppose? Yet we traveled three thousand li upstream, kept him in an empty lodge three months, welcomed the imperial carriage, and honored the precedent of the succeeding sovereign—a heart in blood like this; what clearer proof could there be?

且臣等奉事先朝，十有七年，並居顯要，世稱恭謹，不圖一旦致茲釁罰。夫周公大賢，尚有流言之謗，伯奇至孝，不免譖愬之禍。慈父非無情於仁子，明君豈有志於貞臣。奸遘所移，勢回山岳，況乃精誠微淺，而望求信者哉！《詩》不云乎：「讒人罔極，交亂四國。愷悌君子，無信讒言。」陛下躬覽篇籍，研覈是非，釁兆之萌，宜應深察。臣竊懼王室小有皇甫之患，大有閻樂之禍，夙夜殷憂，若無首領。夫周道浸微，桓、文稱伐，君側亂國，趙鞅入誅。況今凶禍滔天，辰極危逼，臺輔孥戮，岳牧傾陷。臣才非絳侯，安漢是職，人愧博陸，廁奉遺旨。國難既深，家痛亦切。輒簡徒繕甲，軍次巴陵，蕭欣窘懾，望風奔迸。臣誠短劣，在國忘身，仰憑社稷之靈，俯厲義勇之氣，將長驅電掃，直入石頭，梟翦元兇，誅夷首惡，弔二公之冤魂，寫私門之禍痛。然後分歸司寇，甘赴鼎鑊，雖死之日，猶生之年。

Moreover, we served the former court for seventeen years, all in eminent posts, renowned for reverence and care—who could have imagined we would suddenly suffer such punishment? The Duke of Zhou, greatest of sages, still suffered slanderous rumors; Boqi, paragon of filial piety, could not escape false accusation. A loving father is not without feeling for a worthy son; how could a clear-sighted lord intend harm to loyal ministers? Moved by villainous encounters, even mountains can be overturned—how could my shallow sincerity hope to win belief! Does not the Odes say: "The slanderer knows no limit, intersecting and disordering the four states. The cordial and mild gentleman—do not believe slanderous words." Your Majesty personally reads the classics and examines right from wrong—the first sprout of calamity should be scrutinized with care. Your servant secretly fears for the royal house a lesser disaster like Huangfu's, a greater like Yan Yue's—day and night in anguish, as though bereft of counsel. When the Zhou way waned, Duke Huan and Duke Wen claimed punitive expeditions; when those beside the throne disorder the state, Zhao Yang enters to punish them. How much more now, when calamity floods the heavens, the throne itself is imperiled, chief ministers and their families are slaughtered, and regional governors are brought down. Your servant is no Lord Zhou, whose office was to stabilize Han; I fall far short of Lord Huo, yet I stood among those who received the late emperor's testament. The state's crisis runs deep; the pain to my house is equally sharp. I then mustered troops and repaired armor; the army encamped at Baling; Xiao Xin, stricken with fear, fled at the mere rumor of our approach. Though I am unworthy, I have forgotten self for the state; trusting in the spirits of the altars and steeling righteous resolve, I meant to drive straight like lightning into Stone City, cut down the chief villain, execute the ringleader, comfort the wronged souls of the two lords, and assuage the calamity that struck my household. Then I would surrender myself to the Minister of Crime and gladly accept the cauldron—even my dying day would count as a day of living.

伏惟陛下德合乾元，道侔玄極，鑒凶禍之無端，察貞亮之有本，回日月之照，發霜電之威，梟四凶於廟庭，懸三監補絳闕，申二台之匪辜，明兩蕃之無罪，上謝祖宗，下告百姓，遣一乘之使，賜咫尺之書，臣便勒眾旋旗，還保所任。須次近路，尋複表聞。

Prostrate before Your Majesty, whose virtue matches Heaven and whose Way equals the supreme pole—discern that this calamity is groundless, see that loyalty has its foundation; turn back the sun and moon's light, unleash the wrath of frost and lightning; execute the Four Evils in the temple court, hang the Three Overseers to restore the crimson gate; declare the two chancellors innocent and the two frontier lords guiltless; thank the ancestors above and inform the people below; send a single envoy with a letter within reach—and your servant will restrain his troops, turn his banners, and return to his post. I shall pause on the near road and shortly submit another memorial.

初，晦與徐羨之、傅亮謀為自全之計，晦據上流，而檀道濟鎮廣陵，各有強兵，以制持朝廷；羨之、亮於中秉權，可得持久。及太祖將行誅，王華之徒咸云：「道濟不可信。」太祖曰：「道濟止於脅從，本非事主。殺害之事，又所不關。吾召而問之，必異。」於是詔道濟入朝，授之以眾，委之西討。晦聞羨之等死，謂道濟必不獨全，及聞率眾來上，惶懼無計。

At first Hui, together with Xu Xianzhi and Fu Liang, devised a plan for self-preservation: Hui held the upper Yangzi while Tan Daoji guarded Guangling—each commanded strong forces to hold the court in check; Xianzhi and Liang wielded power at court and could have held out indefinitely. When the Founding Emperor was about to carry out the executions, Wang Hua and his faction all said, "Daoji cannot be trusted." The Founding Emperor said, "Daoji was only coerced to follow; he was never the ringleader. The killings were nothing he had a hand in. If I summon and question him, he will surely prove otherwise." Thereupon he summoned Daoji to court, granted him troops, and entrusted him with the western campaign. When Hui heard that Xianzhi and the others were dead, he assumed Daoji would not be spared alone; when he heard that Daoji was marching upstream with his army, he was stricken with fear and at a loss.

道濟既至，與彥之軍合，牽艦緣岸。晦始見艦數不多，輕之，不即出戰。至晚，因風帆上，前後連咽，西人離阻，無復闘心。臺軍至忌置洲尾，列艦過江，晦大軍一時潰散。晦夜出，投巴陵，得小船還江陵。初，雍州刺史劉粹遣弟竟陵太守道濟與臺軍主沈敞之襲江陵，至沙橋，周超率萬餘人與戰，大破之。俄而晦敗問至。晦至江陵，無它處分，唯愧謝周超而已。超其夜舍軍單舸詣到彥之降。眾散略盡，乃攜其弟遯、兄子世基等七騎北走。遯肥壯不能騎馬，晦每待之，行不得速。至安陸延頭，為戍主光順之所執。順之，晦故吏也。檻送京師，于路作《悲人道》，其詞曰：

When Daoji arrived, he joined forces with Yanzhi and linked warships along the shore. Hui at first saw that the enemy fleet was small, underestimated it, and did not immediately give battle. By evening, riding the wind with sails raised, the ships linked stem to stern; the western forces were scattered and cut off, and lost all will to fight. The imperial army reached the tail of Jizhi Isle, deployed ships across the river, and Hui's entire force collapsed in an instant. Hui fled by night to Baling, found a small boat, and returned to Jiangling. Earlier, Inspector of Yongzhou Liu Cui had sent his younger brother Daoji, prefect of Jiling, together with imperial commander Shen Changzhi to raid Jiangling; at Shaqiao, Zhou Chao led more than ten thousand men into battle and routed them decisively. Soon word of Hui's defeat arrived. When Hui reached Jiangling, he could do nothing but express shame and apologize to Zhou Chao. That night Zhou Chao abandoned his army, took a single boat, and went to Dao Yanzhi to surrender. His forces scattered almost entirely; he then fled north with his younger brother Xie Dun, his elder brother's son Shiji, and five other riders—seven in all. Xie Dun was heavyset and could not ride; Hui always waited for him, so their flight could not be swift. Reaching Yantou in Anlu, he was seized by the garrison commander Guang Shunzhi. Shunzhi had been Hui's former subordinate. Sent to the capital in a cage, he composed on the road "Lament for the Human Way," which reads:

悲人道兮，悲人道之實難。哀人道之多險，傷人道之寡安。懿華宗之冠胄，固清流而遠源。樹文德於庭戶，立操學於衡門。應積善之餘祐，當履福之所延。何小子之凶放，實招禍而作愆。值革變之大運，遭一顧於聖皇。參謀猷於剙物，贊帝制於宏綱。出治戎於禁衛，入關言於帷房。分河山之珪組，繼文武之龜章。稟顧命於西殿，受遺寄於御床。伊懦劣其無節，實懷此而不忘。荷隆遇於先主，欲報之於後王。憂託付之無效，懼愧言於存亡。謂繼體其嗣業，能增輝於前光。居遏密之未幾，越禮度而湎荒。普天壤而殞氣，必社稷之淪喪。矧吾儕之體國，實啟處而匪遑。藉億兆之一志，固昏極而明彰。諒主尊而民晏，信卜祚之無疆。國既危而重構，家已衰而載昌。獲扶顧而休否，冀世道之方康。

Alas for the human way! Alas—how truly hard is the path of being human. I grieve that the path of humanity holds so many perils, and lament how seldom it offers peace. Illustrious as the foremost lineage of a noble house, a clear stream with roots reaching far back. They planted literary virtue within the household and established moral learning at the humble gate. One should inherit the blessings of accumulated virtue and walk the path where fortune endures. Why did this lowly fellow grow so wicked and reckless—truly inviting disaster and bringing guilt upon himself? I met the great fortune of dynastic change and won a single glance of favor from the sacred emperor. I took part in counsel at the founding of the dynasty and helped shape the imperial order in its grand design. Without, I managed military affairs among the palace guard; within, I offered counsel in the curtained chamber. I received jade seals and ribbons granting rivers and mountains, and continued the turtle insignia of civil and martial honor. I received the final charge in the western hall and accepted the testament's trust from the imperial couch. Though weak and lacking in virtue, I truly cherished this trust and never forgot it. I bore the late emperor's great favor and wished to repay it under his successor. I feared the entrusted charge had not been fulfilled and dreaded shame before the living and the dead. I believed the successor would continue the inherited enterprise and add luster to its former glory. Barely out of deep mourning, he transgressed ritual bounds and drowned in dissipation. All heaven and earth would lose its breath—the altars would surely collapse. How much more we who embodied the state—we could not rest easy in our rising and dwelling. Relying on the united will of the myriad people, we turned extreme darkness into clear light. We trusted the sovereign would be honored and the people at peace, believing Heaven's mandate was boundless. Though the state was endangered it was rebuilt; though the house had declined it rose again to prosperity. We gained support and looked for fortune to turn, hoping the age was turning toward peace.

朝褒功以疏爵，祗命服於西蕃。奏簫管之嘈囋，擁朱旄之赫煌。臨八方以作鎮，響文武之桓桓。厲薄弱以為政，實忘食於日旰。豈申甫之敢慕，庶惟宋之屏翰。甫逾歷其三稔，實周回其未再。豈有慮於內囗囗囗囗其云裁。痛夾輔之二宰，並加辟而靡貸。哀弱息之從禍，悲發中而心痗。

The court rewarded merit with enfeoffment; reverently I received appointment and served on the western frontier. Pipe and flute music resounded; vermilion banners blazed in splendor. I stood as guardian over the eight directions, echoing the martial vigor of King Wen and King Wu. I urged my weak self to govern, truly forgetting to eat until the sun was low in the sky. I dared not aspire to match Shen Bo; I only hoped to serve as Song's bulwark. Barely three full years had passed—not yet two full cycles round. How could there have been any design within [damaged text in source]—yet such pronouncements of guilt were raised? I grieve for the two chancellors who flanked the throne—both were executed without mercy. I lament my young sons who were swept into calamity; grief rises from within and my heart is wrung with pain.

伊荊漢之良彥，逮文武之子民。見忠貞而弗亮，睹理屈而莫申。皆義概而同憤，咸荷戈而競臻。浮舳艫之弈弈，陳車騎之轔轔。觀人和與師整，謂茲兵其誰陳。庶亡魂之雪怨，反涇、渭於彝倫。齊輕舟於江曲，殄銳敵其皆湮。勒陸徒於白水，寇無反於隻輪。氣有捷而益壯，威既肅而彌振。嗟時哉之不與，迕風雨以逾旬。我謀戰而不克，彼繼奔其躡塵。乏智勇之奇正，忽孟明而是遵。苟成敗其有數，豈怨天而尤人。恨矢石之未竭，遂摧師而覆陳。誠得喪之所遭，固當之其無吝。痛同懷之弱子，橫遭罹之殃釁。智未窮而事傾，力未極而莫振。誓同盡於鋒鏑，我怯力而愆信。愍弟姪之何辜，實吾咎之所嬰。謂九夷其可處，思致免以全生。嗟性命之難遂，乃窘紲於邊亭。亦何忤於天地，備艱危而是丁。

These were worthy men of Jing and Han, the civil and martial sons of the realm. They saw loyalty and fidelity yet could not make it clear; they witnessed injustice yet had no way to speak out. All shared righteous outrage and, bearing weapons, raced to join me. War-boats floated in dense array; chariots and horsemen deployed wheel on wheel. Seeing the people's harmony and the army's discipline, I thought—against such a host, who could stand in our path? I hoped the wronged dead would have their grievances cleared and that right order would be restored to the realm. We arrayed light boats at the river's bend and wiped out the enemy's elite until none remained. We drove our land forces at White Water; the enemy fled so utterly that not a single chariot wheel turned back. Our spirit was swift and grew bolder; our authority was already stern and rang out all the louder. Alas, fortune turned against us; wind and rain blocked us for more than ten days. We planned for battle but could not win; they pressed the pursuit without pause, treading in our dust. We lacked the clever and brave alternation of orthodox and unorthodox tactics and suddenly went the way of Bai Mengming. If victory and defeat have their allotted measure, how can one blame Heaven or reproach others? I regret that our arrows and stones were not yet spent when the army was shattered and our battle lines overturned. What fortune and misfortune bring, one ought to accept without regret. I grieve for the tender sons of my own flesh who were struck down by calamity through no fault of their own. My wisdom was not yet spent, yet the cause collapsed; my strength was not yet exhausted, yet nothing could be restored. We swore to die together under the blades; I was weak in courage and failed in my pledge. I pity my younger brothers and nephews—what guilt is theirs? Truly it is my fault that has ensnared them. I thought the barbarian lands of the Nine Yi might shelter us and sought exile to preserve our lives. Alas, life and fate could not be fulfilled; we were bound in fetters at the border post. What offense had we committed against Heaven and Earth? Yet hardship and peril were what we met.

我聞之於昔誥，功彌高而身蹙。霍芒刺而幸免，卒傾宗而滅族。周歎貴於獄吏，終下蕃而靡鞠。雖明德之大賢，亦不免於殘戮，懷今憚而忍人，忘向惠而莫復。績無賞而震主，將何方以自牧。非砏石之圜照，孰違禍以取福，著殷鑒於自古，豈獨歎於季叔。能安親而揚名，諒見稱於先哲。保歸全而終孝，傷在余而皆缺。辱歷世之平素，忽盛滿而傾滅。惟烝嘗與灑掃，痛一朝而永絕。問其誰而為之，實孤人之險戾。罪有踰於丘山，雖萬死其何雪。

I have heard it said in ancient edicts: the greater the merit, the more perilous one's position. Huo Guang stood amid peril sharp as a thorn yet barely survived; in the end his house was overthrown and his clan exterminated. Zhou Bo was valued only by his jailer in his grief and was finally sent down to the frontier with no further hearing. Even the enlightened and greatest worthies could not escape mutilation and slaughter; fearing the present, they were cruel to others and forgot past kindness, never to return it. Merit without reward shakes the ruler; by what course can one restrain oneself? Had there been no mirror of polished stone, who could turn from disaster to seek fortune? The warning of Yin has stood since antiquity—why sigh only for Ji Kang? To comfort one's parents and win a good name—surely this was praised by the sages of old. To return home whole and fulfill filial duty to the end—the wound is mine alone, and all is left incomplete. A disgrace to generations of plain living—suddenly brimming full, then overturned and extinguished. Only the seasonal offerings and sweeping the graves remain—and I grieve that in a single morning they are cut off forever. Ask who brought this about—it was truly the cruel perversity of this solitary wretch. My guilt exceeds hills and mountains—even ten thousand deaths could not wipe it clean.

羈角偃兮衡閭，親朋交兮平義。雖履尚兮不一，隆分好兮情寄。俱憚耕兮從祿，睹世道兮艱詖。規志局兮功名，每謂之兮為易。今定諡兮闔棺，慚明智兮昔議。雖待盡兮為恥，嗟厚顏兮靡置。長揖兮數子，謝爾兮明智。百齡兮浮促，終焉兮斟克。臥盡兮斧斤，理命兮同得。世安彼兮非此，豈曉分兮辨惑。御莊生之達言，請承風以為則。

In youth we played at the village gate; kin and friends joined us in plain righteousness. Though our paths and stations differed, we held close in affection as though of one heart. We all shrank from the plow and sought official stipends, seeing the age's way as hard and crooked. Our ambitions were bounded by merit and fame—we always said success would come easily. Now my posthumous title is fixed and the coffin closed—I am ashamed before the wise counsel we once gave. Though awaiting death is shameful, alas, I am too shameless to find any refuge. A long bow to you, my friends—I thank you for your wisdom. A hundred years float past in haste; in the end each must weigh his measure and be content. I lie down to meet the axe and blade, accepting allotted fate as all must. The world finds peace in that, not in this—how can one discern the boundary and resolve confusion? I take up Zhuangzi's penetrating words and ask to follow the wind as my guide.

周超既降，到彥之以參府事，劉粹遣參軍沈敞之告彥之沙橋之敗，事由周超，彥之乃執之。先繫皭等，猶未即戮，於是與晦、遯、兄子世基、世猷及同黨庾登之、孔延秀、周超、賀愔、竇應期、蔣虔、嚴千斯等並伏誅。世基，絢之子也，有才氣。臨死為連句詩曰：「偉哉橫海鱗，壯矣垂天翼。一旦失風水，翻為螻蟻食。」晦續之曰：「功遂侔昔人，保退無智力。既涉太行險，斯路信難陟。」晦死時，年三十七。庾登之、殷道鸞、何承天並皆原免。

After Zhou Chao had surrendered, Dao Yanzhi was handling headquarters affairs. Liu Cui sent staff officer Shen Changzhi to inform Yanzhi that the defeat at Shaqiao was Zhou Chao's fault, and Yanzhi had him arrested. Jiao and the others had already been bound but not yet executed; then Hui, Dun, his nephews Shiji and Shiyou, and their fellow conspirators Yu Dengzhi, Kong Yanxiu, Zhou Chao, He Yin, Dou Yingqi, Jiang Qian, Yan Qiansi, and the rest were all executed. Shiji was Xuan's son and possessed literary talent. Facing death he composed linked verse, saying, "How vast the sea-spanning leviathan! How mighty the wing that hangs the sky! Once wind and water are lost, it becomes food for ants instead." Hui continued, "Merit achieved, I matched the men of old; in knowing when to withdraw, I lacked wisdom and strength. Having already crossed the peril of the Taihang Mountains, this road is truly hard to ascend." Hui was thirty-seven when he died. Yu Dengzhi, Yin Daoluan, and He Chengtian were all pardoned and spared.

初，河東人商玄石為晦參軍，晦為逆，玄石密欲推西人庾田夫及到彥之從弟為主，田夫等不敢許。知玄石獨謀不立，遂為晦領幢。事既平，恨本心之不遂，投水死。太祖嘉之，以其子懷福為衡陽王義季右軍參軍督護。晦走，左右皆棄之，唯有延陵蓋追隨不舍。太祖嘉之，後以蓋為長沙王義欣鎮軍功曹督護。

Earlier, Shang Xuanshi of Hedong had served on Hui's staff. When Hui rebelled, Xuanshi secretly wished to install the westerner Yu Tianfu and Yanzhi's younger cousin as leader, but Tianfu and the others dared not consent. Knowing his plot alone could not succeed, Xuanshi then served Hui as standard-bearer. When the rebellion was suppressed, resenting that his original intent had not been fulfilled, he drowned himself. The Founding Emperor praised his loyalty and appointed his son Huai Fu as Right Army Staff Officer and Supervisor on the staff of Prince Yiji of Hengyang. When Hui fled, his attendants all abandoned him; only Yanling Gai followed and would not leave. The Founding Emperor praised his loyalty and later appointed Gai as Supervisor and Merit Officer on the staff of Prince Yixin of Changsha.

史臣曰：謝晦坐璽封違謬，遂免侍中，斯有以見高祖之識治，宰臣之稱職也。夫孥戮所施，事行重釁，左黜或用，義止輕愆。輕愆，物之所輕；重釁，人之所重。故斧鉞希行於世，徽簡日用於朝，雖貴臣細故，不以任隆弛法，至乎下肅上尊，用此道也。自太祖臨務，茲典稍違，網以疏行，法為恩息，妨德害美，抑此之由。降及大明，傾詖愈甚，自非訐竊深私，陵犯密諱，則左降之科，不行於權戚。若有身觸盛旨，釁非國刑，免書裁至，弔客固望其門矣。由是律無恆條，上多弛行，綱維不舉，而網目隨之。所以吉人防著在微，慎大由小，蓋為此云。

The historian writes: Because Xie Hui was punished for an error in seal and commission and removed as gentleman attendant, one may see the High Ancestor's discernment in governance and his chief ministers' fulfillment of duty. Family execution is reserved for serious crimes; demotion may be applied, but only for minor faults. Minor faults are what the law treats lightly; serious crimes are what people take seriously. Therefore capital punishment was rarely seen in the realm and demotion memos circulated daily at court; even a grand minister's minor offense did not relax the law because of high rank—to secure reverence below and dignity above, this was the principle. From the time the Founding Emperor took power, this standard was gradually abandoned; the net was cast loosely and the law yielded to mercy—harm to virtue and injury to excellence arose from this. By the Daoming era, favoritism had grown worse still; unless one committed slander, theft, or grave private crimes, or violated imperial taboos, the demotion statute was not applied to the powerful and well connected. If one merely offended imperial displeasure, with a fault falling short of state punishment, a pardon edict would scarcely be needed before sympathizers were already crowding the gate. Thus the law had no fixed articles, the ruler often enforced it loosely, the governing framework was not upheld, yet petty regulations still proliferated. Therefore the wise guard against prominence at the subtle level and exercise caution in great matters by beginning with small ones—it is for this that I say so.

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