Volume 58 Biographies 18: Wang Hui, Xie Hongwei, Wang Qiu

列傳第十八王惠謝弘微王球

Biographies 18: Wang Hui, Xie Hongwei, and Wang Qiu.

王惠，字令明，琅邪臨沂人，太保弘從祖弟也。祖劭，車騎將軍。父默，左光祿大夫。惠幼而夷簡，為叔父司徒謐所知。恬靜不交遊，未嘗有雜事。陳郡謝瞻才辯有風氣，嘗與兄弟群從造惠，談論鋒起，文史間發，惠時相酬應，言清理遠，瞻等慚而退。高祖聞其名，以問其從兄誕，誕曰：「惠後來秀令，鄙宗之美也。」即以為行太尉參軍事，府主簿，從事中郎。世子建府，以為征虜長史，仍轉中軍長史。時會稽內使劉懷敬之郡，送者傾京師，惠亦造別，還過從弟球。球問：「向何所見？」惠曰：「惟覺即時逢人耳。」常臨曲水，風雨暴至，座者皆馳散，惠徐起，姿貌不異常日。世子為荊州，惠長史如故。領南郡太守，不拜。宋國初建，當置郎中令，高祖難其人，謂傅亮曰：「今用郎中令，不可令減袁曜卿也。」既而曰：「吾得其人矣。」乃以惠居之。遷世子詹事，轉尚書，吳興太守。

Wang Hui, styled Lingming, came from Langya Linyi and was a distant cousin of Grand Tutor Wang Hong. His grandfather Wang Shao had served as General of Chariots and Cavalry. His father Wang Mo was Left Household Grandee of the Luminous Hall. Hui was placid and unpretentious even as a boy, and his uncle Wang Mi, Minister over the Masses, took notice of him. He lived quietly and kept no company, and never busied himself with extraneous matters. Xie Zhan of Chen Commandery was eloquent and commanding; once he and his brothers and cousins called on Hui, talk flared, history and literature poured forth, and Hui answered in measured turns with discourse so lucid and penetrating that Zhan and his party withdrew abashed. When Gaozu heard of him, he asked his elder cousin Wang Dan, who said, "Hui is a late-blooming talent—the finest ornament of our house." Hui was accordingly appointed Acting Retainer to the Grand Commandant, bureau chief clerk, and Attendant Gentleman. When the heir apparent opened his staff, Hui became Chief Clerk to the General Who Conquers the Barbarians, then was transferred to Chief Clerk of the Central Army. When Liu Huaijing, Interior Attendant of Kuaiji, was leaving for his post, the whole capital turned out to see him off; Hui went as well, and on his way back stopped at his cousin Wang Qiu's. Qiu asked, "What did you see on your way back?" Hui replied, "Only that I kept running into people at every turn." Once at a gathering by the Winding Water, a sudden storm struck; everyone at the table bolted, but Hui rose unhurriedly, his composure unchanged from any ordinary day. When the heir apparent went to Jingzhou, Hui continued as chief clerk as before. He was offered the concurrent post of Administrator of Nan Commandery but declined to take office. When the Song state was first established and a Director of Palace Retainers had to be chosen, Gaozu found no one satisfactory and told Fu Liang, "Whoever fills this post now must not rank below Yuan Yaoqing." Then he said, "I have my man." He then appointed Hui to the post. He was promoted to Steward of the Heir Apparent's Household, then became Director of the Masters of Writing and Administrator of Wuxing.

謝弘微，陳郡陽夏人也。祖韶，車騎司馬。父思，武昌太守。從叔峻，司空琰第二子也，無後，以弘微為嗣。弘微本名密，犯所繼內諱，故以字行。

Xie Hongwei was a native of Yangxia in Chen Commandery. His grandfather Xie Shao had been Major of the Chariots and Cavalry. His father Xie Si served as Administrator of Wuchang. His father's younger cousin Xie Jun, second son of Minister of Works Xie Yan, died without heirs, and Hongwei was adopted as his successor. Hongwei had originally been named Mi, but that name violated his adoptive family's taboo, so he was known by his style name instead.

童幼時，精神端審，時然後言。所繼叔父混名知人，見而異之，謂思曰：「此兒深中夙敏，方成佳器。有子如此，足矣。」年十歲出繼。所繼父於弘微本緦麻，親戚中表，素不相識，率意承接，皆合禮衷。義熙初，襲峻爵建昌縣侯。弘微家素貧儉，而所繼豐泰，唯受書數千卷，國吏數人而已，遺財祿秩，一不關豫。混聞而驚歎，謂國郎中令漆凱之曰：「建昌國祿，本應與北舍共之，國侯既不措意，今可依常分送。」弘微重違混言，乃少有所受。

Even as a child he was grave and composed, and spoke only when the occasion called for it. His adoptive uncle Xie Hun, renowned for judging character, was astonished at the sight of him and told Si, "This child is gifted beyond his years and will prove a treasure. A son like this is enough for any man." At the age of ten he was sent out to succeed the other branch of the family. His adoptive father's kinship with him had been only the most distant cousinage; relatives and cousins on both sides had never met, yet he received them all as his heart prompted, and every gesture accorded with ritual propriety. Early in the Yixi era he inherited Jun's marquisate of Jianchang County. Hongwei's birth family had always been poor, while the household he succeeded was wealthy; he took only a few thousand books and a handful of fief clerks, and would have nothing to do with the inherited property, stipends, or offices. When Hun heard this he was astonished and told the fief's Director of Retainers, Qi Kaizhi, "The Jianchang revenues ought to be shared with his birth family; since the marquis pays them no mind, distribute them as usual from now on." Unwilling to defy Hun outright, Hongwei accepted only a modest share.

混風格高峻，少所交納，唯與族子靈運、瞻、曜、弘微並以文義賞會。嘗共宴處，居在烏衣巷，故謂之烏衣之遊。混五言詩所云「昔為烏衣游，戚戚皆親姪」者也。其外雖復高流時譽，莫敢造門。瞻等才辭辯富，弘微每以約言服之，混特所敬貴，號曰微子。謂瞻等曰：「汝諸人雖才義豐辯，未必皆愜眾心；至於領會機賞，言約理要，故當與我共推微子。」常雲：「阿遠剛躁負氣；阿客博而無檢；曜恃才而持操不篤；晦自知而納善不周，設復功濟三才，終亦以此為恨；至如微子，吾無間然。」又云：「微子異不傷物，同不害正，若年迨六十，必至公輔。」嘗因酣宴之餘，為韻語以獎勸靈運、瞻等曰：「康樂誕通度，實有名家韻，若加繩染功，剖瑩乃瓊瑾。宣明體遠識，穎達且沈儁，若能去方執，穆穆三才順。阿多標獨解，弱冠纂華胤，質勝誡無文，其尚又能峻。通遠懷清悟，采采摽蘭訊，直轡鮮不躓，抑用解偏吝。微子基微尚，無勌由慕藺，勿輕一簣少，進往將千仞。數子勉之哉，風流由爾振，如不犯所知，此外無所慎。」靈運等並有誡厲之言，唯弘微獨盡褒美。曜，弘微兄，多，其小字也。遠即瞻字。靈運小名客兒。

Hun's bearing was lofty and austere; he admitted few companions, and shared literary fellowship only with his kinsmen Lingyun, Zhan, Yao, and Hongwei. They often feasted together in Black Robe Lane, whence their gatherings came to be called the Black Robe company. This is the company Hun meant in his pentasyllabic lines: "Once we roamed Black Robe Lane—close kin, every one a nephew." Beyond this circle, however eminent the men of the day, none dared knock at his door. Zhan and the others were brilliant and argumentative, yet Hongwei regularly won them over with a few well-chosen words; Hun held him in special esteem and called him Master Wei. He told Zhan and the others, "You may be gifted and eloquent, yet you will not all win every heart; but in grasping what matters, judging the essential, and saying little yet striking the heart of things—you should join me in holding up Master Wei." He often remarked, "A-Yuan is headstrong and quick to take offense; A-Ke is learned but unrestrained; Yao trusts in talent but lacks constancy of character; Hui is self-aware yet does not fully take in what is good; even if his achievements were to match the worthiest of men, he would still be left with this flaw; but as for Master Wei, I can find no fault in him." He also said, "Master Wei stands apart without wounding others, and joins with others without compromising what is right; if he lives to sixty, he will surely reach the highest offices of state." Once, over wine after a feast, he composed rhymed verses to encourage and warn Lingyun, Zhan, and the rest: "Kangle is born with breadth of mind and truly bears a great family's tone; add the finishing discipline, and the polished core within will prove jade. Xuanming has far-reaching vision, sharp yet deep; shed stubborn fixity, and the three gifts of talent will follow him in harmony. A-Duo stands apart in understanding; in early manhood he inherited a splendid line; substance outweighs show—mind that you do not neglect refinement; his aims can still rise high. Tongyuan holds to lucid insight, radiant as orchids in bloom; the straight rein seldom falters—only ease it to loosen a narrow heart. Master Wei rests on quiet excellence; tireless, he emulates Lin Xiangru; do not despise a single basket's lack—the climb ahead will reach a thousand ren. Strive on, all of you! The age's refinement will be renewed through you; if you do not violate what you already know, there is nothing else to fear." Lingyun and the others each received admonition and warning; Hongwei alone was praised without reserve. Yao was Hongwei's elder brother; Duo was his childhood name. Yuan was Zhan's style name. Lingyun's childhood name was Ke'er, "Guest Boy."

晉世名家身有國封者，起家多拜員外散騎侍郎，弘微亦拜員外散騎，琅邪王大司馬參軍。義熙八年，混以劉毅黨見誅，妻晉陵公主改適琅邪王練，公主雖執意不行，而詔其與謝氏離絕，公主以混家事委之弘微。混仍世宰輔，一門兩封，田業十餘處，僮僕千人，唯有二女，年數歲。弘微經紀生業，事若在公，一錢尺帛出入，皆有文簿。遷通直郎。高祖受命，晉陵公主降為東鄉君，以混得罪前代，東鄉君節義可嘉，聽還謝氏。自混亡，至是九載，而室宇修整，倉廩充盈，門徒業使，不異平日，田疇墾闢，有加於舊。東鄉君歎曰：「僕射平生重此子，可謂知人。僕射為不亡矣。」中外姻親，道俗義舊，見東鄉之歸者，入門莫不歎息，或為之涕流，感弘微之義也。性嚴正，舉止必循禮度，事繼親之黨，恭謹過常。伯叔二母，歸宗兩姑，晨夕瞻奉，盡其誠敬。內或傳語通訊，輒正其衣冠。婢僕之前，不妄言笑，由是尊卑小大，敬之若神。

In Jin times, scions of great houses who held state fiefs usually began as Supernumerary Gentlemen of the Palace Cadet; Hongwei received the same appointment and became Military Assistant to the Prince of Langya's Grand Marshal. In the eighth year of Yixi, Hun was executed as a partisan of Liu Yi; his wife, Princess Jinling, was ordered to marry Wang Lian of Langya; though she refused, an edict severed her ties to the Xie clan, and she entrusted the household to Hongwei. The Xie family had produced chief ministers for generations; Hun's household held two enfeoffments, estates in more than ten places, and a thousand servants—yet only two daughters, both still small children. Hongwei managed the estates as though they were public office; every coin and every foot of silk that passed in or out was entered in the ledgers. He was promoted to Direct Attendant. When Gaozu took the throne, Princess Jinling was demoted to Lady of Eastern District; because Hun had been condemned under the previous regime, yet her constancy was deemed admirable, she was allowed to rejoin the Xie household. Nine years had passed since Hun's death, yet the house stood in good repair, the granaries were full, servants and tenants went about their work as on any ordinary day, and the fields under cultivation exceeded what there had been before. The Lady of Eastern District sighed and said, "The Vice Director valued this boy all his life—he truly knew how to judge men. The Vice Director lives on in him." Relatives near and far, lay friends and clerical acquaintances alike—whoever witnessed the Lady of Eastern District's return sighed at the threshold, and some wept, moved by Hongwei's devotion. He was stern and upright by nature, conducted himself always within ritual bounds, and in serving his adoptive kin showed a respect exceeding the ordinary. His uncles' wives, his aunts who had returned to the clan—morning and evening he attended them with complete sincerity. Whenever a message was relayed from the inner quarters, he would straighten his cap and robes. Before servants he never spoke or laughed lightly; high and low alike revered him as though he were divine.

兄曜歷御史中丞，彭城王義康驃騎長史，元嘉四年卒。弘微蔬食積時，哀戚過禮，服雖除，猶不啖魚肉。沙門釋慧琳詣弘微，弘微與之共食，猶獨蔬素。慧琳曰：「檀越素既多疾，頃者肌色微損，即吉之後，猶未復膳。若以無益傷生，豈所望於得理。」弘微答曰：「衣冠之變，禮不可逾。在心之哀，實未能已。」遂廢食感咽，歔欷不自勝。弘微少孤，事兄如父，兄弟友穆之至，舉世莫及也。弘微口不言人短長，而曜好臧否人物，曜每言論，弘微常以它語亂之。

His elder brother Yao had served as Imperial Censor and Chief Clerk to Prince Yikang of Pengcheng's Rapid Cavalry staff; he died in the fourth year of Yuanjia. Hongwei ate only vegetables for a long while, his grief exceeding what ritual required; even after the mourning period ended, he still would not touch fish or meat. The monk Huilin called on him; Hongwei dined with him but still ate only plain fare. Huilin said, "You have long been frail, and lately your complexion has faded; even after the mourning rites ended, you have not returned to proper meals. If you harm your health for no good purpose, is that what reason demands?" Hongwei answered, "I have changed my cap and robes, and ritual cannot be overstepped. the grief in my heart truly cannot cease." He then set aside his food, choked with emotion, and sobbed uncontrollably. Orphaned young, Hongwei had served his elder brother as a father; the bond between the brothers was the most devoted of their age. Hongwei never spoke of others' faults or merits, but Yao loved to pass judgment on people; whenever Yao began to criticize someone, Hongwei would divert the conversation.

六年，東宮始建，領中庶子，又尋加侍中。弘微志在素官，畏忌權寵，固讓不拜，乃聽解中庶子。每有獻替及論時事，必手書焚草，人莫之知。上以弘微能營膳羞，嘗就求食。弘微與親故經營，既進之後，親人問上所御，弘微不答，別以餘語酬之，時人比漢世孔光。八年秋，有疾，解右衛，領太子右衛率，還家。議欲解弘微侍中，以率加吏部尚書，固陳疾篤，得免。

In the sixth year the Eastern Palace was established; he was made head of the Palace Companions and soon after was also appointed Palace Attendant. Hongwei sought only a modest post and shrank from power and favor; he firmly refused the appointment and was allowed to resign as Palace Companion. Whenever he offered counsel or discussed affairs of state, he wrote by hand and burned the draft, so that no one ever knew what he had said. Knowing Hongwei's skill at preparing fine meals, the emperor once came to ask for food. Hongwei prepared it with relatives and friends; afterward, when kin asked what the emperor had eaten, Hongwei would not say, but answered with something else; contemporaries compared him to Kong Guang of Han times. In the autumn of the eighth year he fell ill, resigned as Right Guard, took the concurrent post of Commander of the Heir Apparent's Right Guard, and went home. The court proposed to remove him as Palace Attendant and add Director of the Masters of Writing to his commandership; he pleaded grave illness and was excused.

九年，東鄉君薨，資財鉅萬，園宅十餘所，又會稽、吳興、琅邪諸處，太傅、司空琰時事業，奴僮猶有數百人。公私咸謂室內資財，宜歸二女，田宅僮僕，應屬弘微。弘微一無所取，自以私祿營葬。混女夫殷睿素好樗蒱，聞弘微不取財物，乃濫奪其妻妹及伯母兩姑之分以還戲責，內人皆化弘微之讓，一無所爭。弘微舅子領軍將軍劉湛性不堪其非，謂弘微曰：「天下事宜有裁衷。卿此不治，何以治官。」弘微笑而不答。或有譏之曰：「謝氏累世財產，充殷君一朝戲責，理之不允，莫此為大。卿親而不言，譬棄物江海以為廉耳。設使立清名，而令家內不足，亦吾所不取也。」弘微曰：「親戚爭財，為鄙之甚。今內人尚能無言，豈可導之使爭。今分多共少，不至有乏，身死之後，豈復見關。」東鄉君葬，混墓開，弘微牽疾臨赴，病遂甚。十年，卒，時年四十二。

In the ninth year the Lady of Eastern District died, leaving assets in the tens of thousands, more than ten estates, and properties in Kuaiji, Wuxing, Langya, and elsewhere from Grand Tutor Xie Yan's day—hundreds of servants still remained. Public and private opinion alike held that the household goods should go to the two daughters, while the lands, houses, and servants ought to belong to Hongwei. Hongwei took nothing and paid for the funeral from his private salary. Hun's son-in-law Yin Rui was addicted to gambling; learning that Hongwei took nothing, he seized his wife's sister's and his aunts' shares to pay gaming debts; the women of the household, following Hongwei's example of forbearance, contested nothing. Hongwei's nephew by marriage, Liu Zhan, General of the Forward Armies, could not abide such conduct and told Hongwei, "Affairs under Heaven ought to be judged with balance. If you will not set this right in your own house, how can you govern in office?" Hongwei smiled and said nothing. Someone mocked him, saying, "Generations of Xie wealth were squandered in a morning to pay Yin's gambling debts—nothing could be more unjust. You are kin yet say nothing—as though throwing treasure into the sea and calling it integrity. Even if you win a reputation for purity while leaving your household in want—that is nothing I would admire." Hongwei said, "For kin to fight over money is the depth of vulgarity. The women of the household have held their peace—how could I lead them into quarreling? As things stand, many share a little and none will go wanting; after death, what would it matter anyway?" At the Lady of Eastern District's funeral Hun's tomb was opened; Hongwei dragged himself there despite his illness, and his condition grew critical. In the tenth year he died, at the age of forty-two.

時有一長鬼寄司馬文宣家，云受遣殺弘微，弘微疾增劇，輒豫告文宣。弘微既死，與文宣分別而去。弘微臨終，語左右曰：「有二封書，須劉領軍至，可於前燒之，慎勿開也。」書皆是太祖手敕。上甚痛惜之，使二衛千人營畢葬事。追贈太常。子莊，別有傳。

At the time a tall ghost haunted Sima Wenxuan's house, claiming it had been sent to kill Hongwei; as Hongwei's illness worsened, it would warn Wenxuan in advance. After Hongwei died, it bade Wenxuan farewell and departed. On his deathbed Hongwei told those beside him, "There are two sealed letters; when General Liu arrives, burn them in his presence—do not open them." The letters were all in the Grand Ancestor's own hand. The emperor grieved deeply and sent a thousand men from the two palace guards to complete the funeral. He was posthumously appointed Grand Master of Sacrifices. His son Zhuang is treated in a separate biography.

王球，字倩玉，琅邪臨沂人，太常惠從父弟也。父謐，司徒。球少與惠齊名，美容止。除著作佐郎，不拜。尋除琅邪王大司馬行參軍，轉主簿，豫章公世子中軍功曹。宋國建，初拜世子中舍人。高祖受命，仍為太子中舍人，宜都王友，轉諮議參軍，以疾去職。元嘉四年，起為義興太守。從兄弘為揚州，服親不得相臨，加宣威將軍，在郡有寬惠之美，徙太子右衛率。入為侍中，領冠軍將軍，又領本州大中正，徙中書令，侍中如故。遷吏部尚書。

Wang Qiu, styled Qianyu, came from Langya Linyi and was a distant cousin of Grand Tutor Wang Hui. His father Wang Mi was Minister over the Masses. In youth Qiu was as renowned as Hui for his handsome bearing. He was appointed Assistant Gentleman of the Masters of Writing but declined to take office. Soon after he became Acting Military Assistant to the Prince of Langya's Grand Marshal, then chief clerk, then Merit Officer on the Central Army staff of the Duke of Yuzhang's heir. When the Song state was founded he was first appointed Gentleman of the Palace Suite to the heir apparent. When Gaozu took the throne he remained Gentleman of the Palace Suite to the crown prince, became Friend to the Prince of Yidu, then Advising Military Assistant, and resigned on account of illness. In the fourth year of Yuanjia he was recalled to serve as Administrator of Yixing. His cousin Wang Hong was in Yangzhou; as kin in mourning they could not govern one another's territory; Qiu was given the additional title General Who Proclaims Might; in the commandery he won praise for leniency and kindness, then was transferred to Commander of the Heir Apparent's Right Guard. He entered court as Palace Attendant and Champion General, also served as Senior Arbiter of his home province, then became Inspector of the Masters of Writing while retaining his post as Palace Attendant. He was promoted to Director of the Masters of Writing for Personnel.

球公子簡貴，素不交遊，筵席虛靜，門無異客。尚書僕射殷景仁、領軍劉湛並執重權，傾動內外，球雖通家姻戚，未嘗往來。頗好文義，唯與琅邪顏延之相善。居選職，接客甚希，不視求官書疏，而銓衡有序，朝野稱之。本多羸疾，屢自陳解。遷光祿大夫，加金章紫綬，領廬陵王師。

Qiu was simple and self-contained by nature, kept no company, held quiet gatherings with empty seats, and admitted no casual visitors. Vice Director Yin Jingren and Forward Armies General Liu Zhan both wielded great power and swayed the court; though Qiu was connected to them by marriage, he never called on them. He cared deeply for literature and had only Yan Yanzhi of Langya as a close friend. In his appointment post he received few visitors and ignored letters seeking office, yet his selections were fair and orderly, and court and countryside alike praised him. He had long been frail and repeatedly asked to resign. He was made Household Grandee of the Luminous Hall with the golden seal and purple ribbon, and appointed Preceptor to the Prince of Luling.

兄子履進利為行，深結劉湛，委誠大將軍彭城王義康，與劉斌、孔胤秀等並有異志，球每訓厲，不納。自大將軍從事中郎，轉太子中庶子，流涕訴義康不願違離，以此復為從事中郎。太祖甚銜之。及湛誅之夕，履徒跣告球。球命為取履，先溫酒與之，謂曰：「常日語汝，何如？」履怖懼不得答，球徐曰：「阿父在，汝亦何憂。」命左右：「扶郎還齋。」上以球故，履得免死，廢於家。

His nephew Lü was greedy and ambitious; he attached himself to Liu Zhan, pledged loyalty to Prince Yikang of Pengcheng, and with Liu Bin, Kong Yinxiu, and others harbored treasonous designs; Qiu admonished him repeatedly, but he would not listen. Promoted from Military Assistant on the Great General's staff to Palace Companion of the Heir Apparent, he wept and begged Yikang not to be parted from him, and was therefore restored to his former post. The emperor harbored a deep grudge against him. On the night Liu Zhan was executed, Lü came barefoot to warn Qiu. Qiu had shoes brought for him, warmed wine, and said, "What of everything I told you before?" Terrified, Lü could not answer; Qiu said calmly, "Your uncle is here—what is there to fear?" He told his attendants, "Help the young master back to his room." Thanks to Qiu, the emperor spared Lü's life and he was disgraced at home.

十七年，球復為太子詹事，大夫、王師如故。未拜，會殷景仁卒，因除尚書僕射，王師如故。素有腳疾。錄尚書江夏王義恭謂尚書何尚之曰：「當今乏才，群下宜加戮力，而王球放恣如此，恐宜以法糾之。」尚之曰：「球有素尚，加又多疾，應以淡退求之，未可以文案責也。」猶坐白衣領職。時群臣詔見，多不即前，卑疏者或至數十日，大臣亦有十餘日不被見者。唯球輒去，未嘗肯停。十八年，卒，時年四十九。追贈特進、金紫光祿大夫，加散騎常侍。無子，從孫奐為後。大明末，吳興太守。

In the seventeenth year Qiu was again appointed Steward of the Heir Apparent's Household, retaining his posts as Grandee and Preceptor. Before he could take up the appointment, Yin Jingren died, and he was made Vice Director of the Masters of Writing instead, while remaining Preceptor. He had long suffered from a foot ailment. Prince Yigong of Jiangxia, Overseer of the Masters of Writing, told Director He Shangzhi, "The court lacks talent and everyone should exert himself, yet Wang Qiu indulges himself like this—perhaps he ought to be called to account by law." He Shangzhi replied, "Qiu has always been a man of pure aims, and besides he is often ill; one should expect quiet withdrawal from him, not fault him on paperwork." He continued to attend in plain dress while holding office. At that time when ministers were summoned to audience, many would not advance promptly; men of low rank sometimes waited dozens of days, and even senior ministers might go more than ten days without being received. Qiu alone would leave at once and never consent to wait. In the eighteenth year he died, at the age of forty-nine. He was posthumously granted Special Advancement, Household Grandee of the Luminous Hall with the golden seal and purple ribbon, and additionally Palace Cadet. He had no sons; his grand-nephew Huan was made his heir. At the end of the Daming era Huan served as Administrator of Wuxing.

或人問史臣曰：「王惠何如？」答之曰：「令明簡。」又問：「王球何如？」答曰：「倩玉淡。」又問：「謝弘微何如？」曰：「簡而不失，淡而不流，古之所謂名臣，弘微當之矣。」

Someone asked the historiographer, "What of Wang Hui?" The reply was, "Lingming—simple." He asked again, "What of Wang Qiu?" The reply was, "Qianyu—detached." He asked again, "What of Xie Hongwei?" The reply was, "Simple yet without loss, detached yet without dissipation—what the ancients called a famed minister; Hongwei is that man."

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