Volume 63 Biographies 23: Wang Hua, Wang Tanshou, Yin Jingren, Shen Yanzhi

列傳第二十三王華王曇首殷景仁沈演之

Biographies 23: Wang Hua, Wang Tanshou, Yin Jingren, and Shen Yanzhi

王華，字子陵，琅邪臨沂人，太保弘從祖弟也。祖薈，衛將軍，會稽內史。父，廞，太子中庶子，司徒左長史。居在吳，晉隆安初，王恭起兵討王國寶，時廞丁母憂在家，恭檄令起兵，廞即聚眾應之，以女為貞烈將軍，以女人為官屬。國寶既死，恭檄廞罷兵。廞起兵之際，多所誅戮，至是不復得已，因舉兵以討恭為名。恭遣劉牢之擊廞，廞敗走，不知所在。長子泰為恭所殺。華時年十三，在軍中，與廞相失，隨沙門釋曇永逃竄。時牢之搜檢覓華甚急，曇永使華提衣襆隨後，津邏咸疑焉。華行遲，永呵罵云：「奴子怠懈，行不及我！」以杖捶華數十，眾乃不疑，由此得免。遇赦還吳。

Wang Hua, whose courtesy name was Ziling, came from Linyi in Langye and was a cousin of Grand Tutor Wang Hong on his father's side. His grandfather Hui had served as Guard General and as interior minister of Kuaiji. His father Yin had been junior mentor to the heir apparent and left chief clerk of the Secretariat. The family was living in Wu when, early in the Jin Long'an era, Wang Gong took up arms against Wang Guobao. Yin was then at home in mourning for his mother, but Gong's summons called for troops and Yin at once mustered men to answer it. He made his daughter General of Chaste Valor and staffed his command with women. Once Guobao was dead, Gong issued a proclamation ordering Yin to stand his forces down. In the course of raising his army Yin had executed many people; he could no longer back away, and so he took up arms again, this time in the name of attacking Gong. Gong sent Liu Laozhi against him. Yin was beaten and fled, and no one knew where he had gone. His eldest son Tai was killed on Gong's orders. Hua was only thirteen and with the army when he was separated from his father. He escaped with the monk Tan Yong. Laozhi was hunting for Hua with great urgency. Tan Yong made the boy carry a bundle of clothes and walk behind him, and at every ferry crossing people grew suspicious. Hua lagged behind, and Yong shouted at him, "You worthless slave—you can't even keep pace with me!" He struck Hua with his staff dozens of times until the onlookers no longer suspected them, and in this way Hua was spared. After an amnesty was declared he returned to Wu.

少有志行，以父存亡不測，布衣蔬食不交遊，如此十餘年，為時人所稱美。高祖欲收其才用，乃發廞喪問，使華制服。服闋，高祖北伐長安，領鎮西將軍、北徐州刺史，辟華為州主簿，仍轉鎮西主簿，治中從事史，歷職著稱。太祖鎮江陵，以為西中郎主簿，遷諮議參軍，領錄事。太祖進號鎮西，復隨府轉。太祖未親政，政事悉委司馬張邵。華性尚物，不欲人在己前；邵性豪，每行來常引夾轂，華出入乘牽車，從者不過二三以矯之。嘗於城內相逢，華陽不知是邵，謂左右：「此鹵簿甚盛，必是殿下出行。」乃下牽車，立於道側，及邵至乃驚。邵白服登城，為華所糾，坐被徵，華代為司馬、南郡太守，行府州事。太祖入奉大統，以少帝見害，疑不敢下。華建議曰：「羨之等受寄崇重，未容便敢背德，廢主若存，慮其將來受禍，致此殺害。蓋由每生情多，寧敢一朝頓懷逆志。且三人勢均，莫相推伏，不過欲握權自固，以少主仰待耳。今日就徵，萬無所慮。」太祖從之，留華總後任。上即位，以華為侍中，領驍騎將軍，未拜，轉右衞將軍，侍中如故。

From youth he showed purpose and integrity. With his father's fate still unknown, he dressed plainly, ate sparingly, and kept to himself for more than ten years, and people of the day praised him for it. Emperor Gaozu wanted to make use of his abilities, so he announced Yin's death and had Hua put on mourning dress. When his mourning was over, Gaozu marched north against Chang'an as General Who Guards the West and governor of Northern Xuzhou. He took Hua on as chief clerk of the province, then as chief clerk of his western headquarters, then as attendant administrative officer, and in every post Hua distinguished himself. When the future Emperor Wen was posted at Jiangling, he made Hua chief clerk of the western headquarters, then promoted him to advising colonel and put him in charge of recording affairs. When the prince took the title General Who Guards the West, Hua moved with the headquarters once again. Before the prince took government into his own hands, he left all affairs to his chief clerk Zhang Shao. Hua was vain about appearances and could not bear anyone to outshine him. Shao loved display and whenever he went abroad had paired carriages escort him. Hua, by contrast, went out in a hand-drawn cart with no more than two or three followers, deliberately playing the opposite part. Once they met in the city. Dazzled by the sun, Hua did not recognize Shao and told his attendants, "That procession is enormous—it must be the prince himself going out." He stepped down from his cart and stood aside on the road; when Shao drew near, Hua was mortified. Shao had gone up on the wall dressed in white mourning, and Hua denounced him for it; Shao was recalled and removed from office, and Hua took his place as chief clerk and governor of Nan Commandery, acting head of both headquarters and province. When the Taizu entered to receive the grand succession, he hesitated to come down because the young emperor had been murdered. Hua advised: "Xu Xianzhi and the others had received a weighty charge and high honor; they could hardly have dared to rebel openly. If the deposed ruler had lived, they feared he would suffer harm later—that is why he was killed. Feelings arise at every turn; they could hardly have suddenly harbored rebellious intent overnight. Moreover, the three were evenly matched and none would yield; they only wished to hold power and secure themselves, counting on the young ruler's dependence on them. If you answer the summons today, there is absolutely nothing to fear." The Taizu followed his advice and left Hua in overall charge of the rear. When the emperor took the throne, he made Hua palace attendant and concurrently general of agile cavalry; before the appointment was taken up, he was transferred to general of the right guards while keeping his post as palace attendant.

先是，會稽孔甯子為太祖鎮西諮議參軍，以文義見賞，至是為黃門侍郎，領步兵校尉。甯子先為高祖太尉主簿，陳損益曰：「隆化之道，莫先於官得其才；枚卜之方，莫若人慎其舉。雖復因革不同，損益有物，求賢審官，未之或改。師錫僉曰，煥乎欽明之誥，拔茅徵吉，著於幽《賁》之爻。晉師有成，瓜衍作賞，楚乘無入，蔿賈不賀。今舊命惟新，幽人引領，《韶》之盡美，已備於振綱；《武》之未盡，或存於理目。雖九官之職，未可備舉，親民之選，尤宜在先。愚欲使天朝四品官，外及守牧，各舉一人堪為二千石長吏者，以付選官，隨缺敘用，得賢受賞，失舉任罰。夫惟帝之難，豈庸識所易，然舉爾所知，非求多人，因百官之明，孰與一識之見，執咎在己，豈容徇物之私。今非以選曹所銓，果於乖謬，眾職所舉，必也惟良，蓋宜使求賢辟其廣塗，考績取其少殿。若才實拔群，進宜尚德，治阿之宰，不必計年，免徒之守，豈限資秩。自此以還，故當才均以資，資均以地。宰蒞之官，誠曰吏職，然監觀民瘼，翼化宣風，則隱厚之求，急於刀筆，能事之功，接於德心，以此論才，行之年歲，豈惟政無秕蠹，民庇手足而已，將使公路日清，私請漸塞。士多心競，仁必由己，處士砥自求之節，仕子藏交馳之情。甯子庸微，不識治體，冒昧陳愚，退懼違謬。」

Earlier, Kong Ningzi of Kuaiji had served the prince as advising colonel when he was General Who Guards the West and had won praise for his literary learning. By now he was a gentleman at the Yellow Gate and commandant of foot soldiers. Ningzi had once been chief clerk to Gaozu when he was grand marshal, and he submitted a memorial on what to cut and what to add, saying, "In the path of great transformation, nothing comes before putting the right men in office; and in the method of selection, nothing surpasses men being careful in whom they recommend. Systems of reform may differ and what is cut or added may change, but seeking the worthy and scrutinizing officeholders has never gone out of date. When the Master took counsel and all assented—how radiant is the charge of reverent clarity; when pulling up grass foretells good fortune—it is written in the humble Bi hexagram of the Changes. When Jin's army prevailed, rewards were handed out at Guayan; when Chu had no worthy man to bring in, Wei Jia offered no congratulations. Now the old mandate is made new and recluses stretch their necks in hope—the perfection of the Shao is already complete in restoring the norms; what the Wu did not finish may still remain in statutes and regulations. Though not every post among the nine officers can be filled at once, choosing those who govern close to the people should come first. I would have every fourth-rank official at court, and every governor and prefect in the provinces, each recommend one man fit to serve as a two-thousand-shi chief magistrate, hand the name to the selection office, and let appointments follow vacancies. Reward the nominator when the man proves worthy; punish him when the choice fails. Finding the right men is hard even for an emperor—how could shallow minds grasp it easily? Yet to recommend those you know is not to seek a crowd. Which is sharper—the judgment of a hundred offices or the knowledge of one man who must answer for his choice? The blame rests on the recommender; how can he indulge private favor? This is not to say that the selection office is always wrong while mass recommendation is always right; rather, open a broad road for seeking talent and let performance review catch the few who stumble. When talent truly stands out, promotion should weigh virtue above all; a magistrate who straightens a crooked district need not be judged by years in office, and a warden of convicts need not be bound by seniority in rank. Below that level, talent and seniority should be weighed together, and seniority matched to the post. A district magistrate is indeed an administrative post, yet because he watches the people's hardships and helps spread civilizing influence, what is wanted is depth of character more than skill with the brush; real achievement must connect with moral purpose. Judge talent on that basis and let years in office count for something—not only will government be free of rot and the people sheltered like one's own limbs, but the public road will grow clearer day by day and private petitions will gradually be shut out. When gentlemen compete in their hearts, benevolence must begin with themselves; recluses will sharpen the integrity of self-reliance, and officeholders will curb the urge to court connections. I, Ningzi, am mean and slight and do not understand the principles of government; rashly I offer this foolish counsel and withdraw in fear of error."

甯子與華並有富貴之願，自羨之等秉權，日夜構之於太祖。甯子嘗東歸，至金昌亭，左右欲泊船，甯子命去之，曰：「此弑君亭，不可泊也。」華每閒居諷詠，常誦王粲《登樓賦》曰：「冀王道之一平，假高衢而騁力。」出入逢羨之等，每切齒憤吒，歎曰：「當見太平時不？」元嘉二年，甯子病卒。三年，誅羨之等，華遷護軍，侍中如故。

Ningzi and Hua both hungered for wealth and rank. Once Xu Xianzhi and his faction held power, they worked day and night to turn the prince against them. Once, returning east, Ningzi reached Jinchang Pavilion. His attendants wanted to tie up the boat, but he ordered them on, saying, "This is Regicide Pavilion—we cannot moor here." In his leisure Hua would chant poetry and often recite from Wang Can's Rhapsody on Ascending the Tower: "May the royal way be made level and at peace, that I may borrow the high road and stretch my strength." Whenever he went abroad and met Xu Xianzhi and the rest, he would grind his teeth in fury and cry, "Will I ever live to see peaceful times?" In the second year of Yuanjia, Ningzi died of illness. The next year Xu Xianzhi and his associates were put to death. Hua was made protector of the army while keeping his post as palace attendant.

宋世惟華與南陽劉湛不為飾讓，得官即拜，以此為常。華以情事異人，未嘗預宴集，終身不飲酒，有燕不之詣。若宜有論事者，乘車造門，主人出車就之。及王弘輔政，而弟曇首為太祖所任，與華相埒，華嘗謂己力用不盡，每歎息曰：「宰相頓有數人，天下何由得治！」四年，卒，時年四十三。追贈散騎常侍、衞將軍。九年，上思誅羨之之功，追封新建縣侯，食邑千戶，諡曰宣侯。世祖即位，配饗太祖廟庭。

In the Song only Hua and Liu Zhan of Nanyang did not make a show of declining office; they accepted appointments at once, and this became their custom. Hua differed from others in temperament; he never joined banquets, never drank wine in his life, and when there was a feast he did not attend. If there was business to discuss, he rode to their gate, and the host came out in his carriage to meet him. When Wang Hong assisted in government and his younger brother Tanshou was entrusted by the Taizu, ranking with Hua, Hua once said his abilities were not fully used and often sighed, "There are suddenly several chief ministers—how can the realm be governed!" In the fourth year he died, at the age of forty-three. Posthumously he was given regular attendant of scattered cavalry and general of the guards. In the ninth year the emperor, remembering the merit of putting Xu Xianzhi to death, posthumously enfeoffed him as marquis of Xinjian county with a fief of one thousand households; his posthumous title was Marquis Xuan. When Emperor Xiaowu came to the throne, Hua was given paired sacrifice in the temple of Emperor Wen.

子定侯嗣，官至左衛將軍，卒。子長嗣，太宗泰始二年，坐罵母奪爵，以長弟終紹封。後廢帝元徽三年，終上表乞以封還長，許之。齊受禪，國除。華從父弟鴻，五兵尚書，會稽太守。

His son Dinghou inherited the marquisate, rose to general of the left guards, and died in office. His son Chang succeeded him; in the second year of Taishi under Emperor Ming, Chang was stripped of his title for reviling his mother, and his younger brother Zhong received the fief in his place. In the third year of Yuanhui under the deposed emperor, Zhong petitioned to return the fief to Chang, and the request was granted. When Qi took the throne, the fief was abolished. Hua's paternal cousin Hong served as minister of the five arms and governor of Kuaiji.

王曇首，琅邪臨沂人，太保弘少弟也。幼有業尚，除著作郎，不就。兄弟分財，曇首唯取圖書而已。辟琅邪王大司馬屬，從府公脩復洛陽園陵。與從弟球俱詣高祖，時謝晦在坐，高祖曰：「此君並膏粱盛德，乃能屈志戎旅。」曇首答曰：「既從神武之師，自使懦夫有立志。」晦曰：「仁者果有勇。」高祖悅。行至彭城，高祖大會戲馬台，豫坐者皆賦詩；曇首文先成，高祖覽讀，因問弘曰：「卿弟何如卿？」弘答曰：「若但如民，門戶何寄。」高祖大笑。曇首有識局智度，喜慍不見於色，閨門之內，雍雍如也。手不執金玉，婦女不得為飾玩，自非祿賜所及，一毫不受於人。

Wang Tanshou came from Linyi in Langye and was the younger brother of Grand Tutor Wang Hong. From childhood he showed scholarly purpose; he was appointed librarian in the historiography office but declined the post. When the brothers divided the family property, Tanshou took only books and maps. He was recruited as an aide to the prince of Langye as grand marshal and accompanied him in restoring the imperial tombs at Luoyang. He went with his cousin Qiu to call on Gaozu while Xie Hui was present. Gaozu said, "Both of these men are noble scions of great families, yet they are willing to humble themselves to camp life." Tanshou answered, "Once one has followed a commander of divine martial prowess, even a coward finds his resolve." Hui said, "The benevolent man truly has courage." Gaozu was delighted. At Pengcheng, Gaozu gave a great banquet at the Stage for Horse Games, and every guest was asked to compose a poem. Tanshou finished first. Gaozu read his poem and asked Hong, "How does your younger brother compare with you?" Hong replied, "If he were no better than I, what would become of our house?" Gaozu laughed aloud. Tanshou had judgment, breadth, and wisdom; pleasure and anger never showed on his face, and within his household all was harmony. He would not handle gold or jade in his own hands; the women of his house were forbidden ornaments; and except for salary and gifts from the throne, he would not accept the slightest thing from anyone.

太祖為冠軍、徐州刺史，留鎮彭城，以曇首為府功曹。太祖鎮江陵，自功曹為長史，隨府轉鎮西長史。高祖甚知之，謂太祖曰：「王曇首，沈毅有器度，宰相才也。汝每事咨之。」景平中，有龍見西方，半天騰上，廕五彩雲，京都遠近聚觀，太史奏曰：「西方有天子氣。」太祖入奉大統，上及議者皆疑不敢下，曇首與到彥之、從兄華固勸，上猶未許。曇首又固陳，並言天人符應，上乃下。率府州文武嚴兵自衛，臺所遣百官眾力，不得近部伍，中兵參軍朱容子抱刀在平乘戶外，不解帶者數旬。既下在道，有黃龍出負上所乘舟，左右皆失色，上謂曇首曰：「此乃夏禹所以受天命，我何堪之。」及即位，又謂曇首曰：「非宋昌獨見，無以致此。」以曇首為侍中，尋領右衛將軍，領驍騎將軍。以朱容子為右軍將軍。誅徐羨之等，平謝晦，曇首及華之力也。

When the future Emperor Wen was champion general and governor of Xuzhou, left to hold Pengcheng, he made Tanshou merit officer of his headquarters. When the prince was posted at Jiangling, Tanshou rose from merit officer to chief clerk, and when the headquarters became General Who Guards the West, he became its chief clerk as well. Gaozu thought highly of him and told the prince, "Wang Tanshou is deep, resolute, and broad in capacity—a man fit to be chief minister. Consult him in everything you do." During the Jingping era a dragon was seen in the west, rising halfway up the sky beneath five-colored clouds. People from all around the capital flocked to look. The imperial astronomer reported, "There is the aura of a Son of Heaven in the west." The prince went in to accept the great succession. The emperor and his advisers were all afraid and hesitated to step down. Tanshou, Dao Yanzhi, and his cousin Hua pressed him hard, but the emperor still would not agree. Tanshou argued again at length, citing signs of Heaven's approval, and only then did the emperor yield the throne. The prince led the civil and military officers of his headquarters and province under strict guard. Officials sent from the court could not approach his ranks. Army adviser Zhu Rongzi stood outside the Pingcheng gate with his sword in his arms and did not unbuckle his belt for several tens of days. After the abdication, on the road a yellow dragon appeared and bore up the boat in which the new emperor rode. His attendants turned pale. The emperor said to Tanshou, "This is how Yu of Xia received Heaven's mandate—how am I worthy of such a thing?" When he took the throne he said again to Tanshou, "Had you not seen what Song Chang saw, this day would never have come." He appointed Tanshou palace attendant and soon gave him command of the right guards and of the galloping cavalry as well. Zhu Rongzi was appointed general of the right army. The execution of Xu Xianzhi and his faction and the pacification of Xie Hui were largely the work of Tanshou and Hua.

元嘉四年，車駕出北堂，嘗使三更竟開廣莫門，南臺云：「應須白虎幡，銀字棨。」不肯開門。尚書左丞羊玄保奏免御史中丞傅隆以下，曇首繼啟曰：「既無墨敕，又闕幡棨，雖稱上旨，不異單刺。元嘉元年、二年，雖有再開門例，此乃前事之違。今之守舊，未為非禮。但既據舊史，應有疑卻本末，曾無此狀，猶宜反咎其不請白虎幡、銀字棨，致門不時開，由尚書相承之失，亦合糾正。」上特無所問，更立科條。遷太子詹事，侍中如故。

In the fourth year of Yuanjia the emperor left by the North Hall and once ordered the Guangmo Gate opened at the third watch. The southern office replied, "The white-tiger banner and silver-inscribed halberd are required." They refused to open the gate. Yang Xuanbao, left assistant of the secretariat, memorialized to dismiss Censor-in-Chief Fu Long and those beneath him. Tanshou followed with a memorial of his own: "Without a written edict in black ink and without the banner and halberd, what was called the emperor's order was no better than a private note. In the first and second years of Yuanjia the gate was opened twice, but those were departures from precedent. To hold to the old rules today was not a breach of ritual. Yet if they were following precedent, they should have paused and reported the full sequence of events—and no such report was made. Rather, blame should fall on those who failed to request the white-tiger banner and silver halberd, so that the gate did not open in time. That was a failure in the secretariat's successive handling, and that too should be corrected." The emperor punished no one in particular and instead drew up new regulations. He was made steward of the heir apparent while retaining his post as palace attendant.

晦平後，上欲封曇首等，會宴集，舉酒勸之，因拊御床曰：「此坐非卿兄弟，無復今日。」時封詔已成，出以示曇首，曇首曰：「近日之事，釁難將成，賴陛下英明速斷，故罪人斯戮。臣等雖得仰憑天光，效其毫露，豈可因國之災，以為身幸。陛下雖欲私臣，當如直史何？」上不能奪，故封事遂寢。

After Xie Hui was defeated the emperor wished to enfeoff Tanshou and the others. At a banquet he raised his cup to them and, patting the imperial couch, said, "Had it not been for you brothers, I would not be sitting here today." The enfeoffment edicts were already drawn up and shown to Tanshou. He said, "In the recent crisis rebellion was on the verge of success; it was only Your Majesty's swift and wise decision that brought the guilty to execution. We your servants may have lent what little strength we had under your radiance, but how could we turn the state's calamity into private gain? Even if Your Majesty wished to favor us, what would the upright historiographer say?" The emperor could not prevail, and the enfeoffment was dropped.

時兄弘錄尚書事，又為揚州刺史，曇首為上所親委，任兼兩宮。彭城王義康與弘並錄，意常怏怏，又欲得揚州，形於辭旨。以曇首居中，分其權任，愈不悅。曇首固乞吳郡，太祖曰：「豈有欲建大廈而遺其棟樑者哉？賢兄比屢稱疾，固辭州任，將來若相申許者，此處非卿而誰？亦何吳郡之有。」時弘久疾，屢遜位，不許。義康謂賓客曰：「王公久疾不起，神州詎合臥治。」曇首勸弘減府兵力之半以配義康，義康乃悅。

At that time his elder brother Hong headed the secretariat and was also governor of Yangzhou, while Tanshou was the emperor's personal confidant with duties spanning both palaces. Prince Pengcheng Yikang shared secretariat duties with Hong and was constantly displeased; he also wanted Yangzhou, and his resentment showed in what he said. Because Tanshou stood at the center and shared his authority, Yikang grew still more resentful. Tanshou pressed hard for an appointment in Wu Commandery. The emperor said, "Who would build a great hall and throw away its ridgebeam? Your worthy brother has lately pleaded illness and refused the provincial post again and again. If I let him step down, who but you should take his place? What need is there for Wu Commandery?" By then Hong had been ill for a long time and had repeatedly asked to step down, but the emperor would not allow it. Yikang told his guests, "Lord Wang has been bedridden for ages—can the heartland really be ruled from a sickbed?" Tanshou persuaded Hong to give half the headquarters troops to Yikang, and only then was Yikang satisfied.

七年，卒。太祖為之慟，中書舍人周赳侍側，曰：「王家欲衰，賢者先殞。」上曰：「直是我家衰耳。」追贈左光祿大夫，加散騎常侍，詹事如故。九年，以預誅羨之等謀，追封豫寧縣侯，邑千戶，諡曰文侯。世祖即位，配饗太祖廟庭。子僧綽嗣，別有傳。少子僧虔，昇明末，為尚書令。

In the seventh year he died. The emperor grieved deeply for him. Zhou Qiu, an attendant gentleman of the secretariat, said at his side, "When the Wang house is about to decline, the worthy perish first." The emperor said, "It is truly my own house that is failing." He was posthumously made left grand master of splendid happiness and routinely attached gentleman, while retaining his post as steward of the heir apparent. In the ninth year, because he had taken part in the plot against Xu Xianzhi and his faction, he was posthumously made marquis of Yuning with a fief of a thousand households and given the posthumous title Wen. When Emperor Xiaowu came to the throne, Tanshou was given paired sacrifice in the temple of Emperor Wen. His son Sengchuo succeeded him; he has a separate biography. His younger son Sengqian, at the end of the Qi Shengming era, served as minister president of the secretariat.

殷景仁，陳郡長平人也。曾祖融，晉太常。祖茂，散騎常侍、特進、左光祿大夫。父道裕，蚤亡。景仁少有大成之量，司徒王謐見而以女妻之。初為劉毅後軍參軍，高祖太尉行參軍。建議宜令百官舉才，以所薦能否為黜陟。遷宋臺秘書郎，世子中軍參軍，轉主簿，又為驃騎將軍道憐主簿。出補衡陽太守，入為宋世子洗馬，仍轉中書侍郎。景仁學不為文，敏有思致，口不談義，深達理體；至於國典朝儀，舊章記注，莫不撰錄，識者知其有當世之志也。高祖甚知之，遷太子中庶子。

Yin Jingren came from Changping in Chen commandery. His great-grandfather Rong had been grand director of ceremonies under Jin. His grandfather Mao had served as attendant gentleman, special advanced, and left grand master of splendid happiness. His father Daoyu died young. From youth Jingren showed the makings of great accomplishment, and Steward Wang Mi, on meeting him, gave him his daughter in marriage. He began as a staff officer in Liu Yi's rear army, then served as an attendant army officer under Gaozu when he was grand marshal. He proposed that every official should recommend talent and that promotion and demotion should follow whether those recommendations proved sound. He rose to secretary in the Song secretariat, then middle army colonel to the heir apparent, then chief clerk, and later chief clerk to Cavalry General Daoling. He served as governor of Hengyang, then returned as groom of the stud to the Song heir apparent, and was later made a gentleman of the secretariat. Jingren did not pursue learning for display; he was quick and thoughtful, rarely spoke of doctrine aloud, yet grasped underlying principles with depth. On state law, court ritual, and old regulations and commentaries, he compiled and recorded everything, and those who knew him saw that he aimed to serve his own time. Gaozu thought highly of him and made him junior mentor to the heir apparent.

少帝即位，入補侍中，累表辭讓，又固陳曰：「臣志幹短弱，歷著出處。值皇塗隆泰，身荷恩榮，階牒推遷，日月頻積，失在饕餮，患不自量。而奉聞今授，固守愚心者，竊惟殊次之寵，必歸器望；喉脣之任，非才莫居。三省諸躬，無以克荷，豈可苟順甘榮，不知進退，上虧朝舉，下貽身咎，求之公私，未見其可。顧涯審分，誠難庶幾，踰方越序，易以誡懼。所以俯仰周偟，無地寧處。若惠澤廣流，蘭艾同潤，回改前旨，賜以降階，雖實不敏，敢忘循命。臣迕違之愆，既已屢積，寧當徒尚浮采，塵黷天聽。丹情悾款，仰希照察。」詔曰：「景仁退挹之懷，有不可改，除黃門侍郎，以申君子之請。」尋領射聲。頃之，轉左衞將軍。太祖即位，委遇彌厚，俄遷侍中，左衞如故。時與侍中右衞將軍王華、侍中驍騎將軍王曇首、侍中劉湛四人，並時為侍中，俱居門下，皆以風力局幹，冠冕一時，同升之美，近代莫及。元嘉三年，車駕征謝晦，司徒王弘入居中書下省，景仁長直，共掌留任。晦平，代到彥之為中領軍，侍中如故。

When the Young Emperor took the throne, Jingren was appointed palace attendant. He repeatedly memorialized to decline and again firmly stated, "My will and capacity are limited, and my record of service and withdrawal is well known. I have lived in an age when the imperial path is secure; I have personally borne favor and glory, and rank has advanced me as the years have piled up. My fault is greed, and I fear I do not know my measure. Yet hearing of this appointment, I hold to my foolish conviction: extraordinary favor must go to those of true capacity and reputation; the charge of speaking for the throne—none but the talented should hold it. Examining myself again and again, I cannot bear the burden. How can I casually accept sweet honor, heedless of advance and retreat, failing the court above and bringing blame on myself below? Weighing public and private interest, I see no grounds for it. Looking to my limits and weighing my place, I can hardly measure up; overstepping bounds and order easily invites reproof and fear. Therefore I am anxious in every movement and have no place of peace. If your gracious favor flows broadly, orchid and mugwort alike are moistened, and you alter your former intent and grant a lower rank, though I am truly untalented, how dare I forget to obey? My offenses of disobedience have already piled up; how could I merely pursue empty display and defile the imperial ear? My sincere heart is earnest; I look up hoping for your illuminating scrutiny." An edict said: "Jingren's mind of yielding restraint cannot be changed; appoint him gentleman at the Yellow Gate, to fulfill a gentleman's request." Soon he concurrently held the colonelcy of archers who shoot by sound. Before long he was made general of the left guards. When the Taizu took the throne, his trust and favor grew still greater; soon Jingren was promoted to palace attendant while keeping his post as general of the left guards. At the time he, with palace attendant and general of the right guards Wang Hua, palace attendant and general of agile cavalry Wang Tanshou, and palace attendant Liu Zhan—all four serving as palace attendants at once and dwelling in the Gate Department—were alike in force of character and administrative capacity, the ornament of their age; the beauty of their simultaneous rise had no equal in recent times. In the third year of Yuanjia the emperor campaigned against Xie Hui. Steward Wang Hong entered the lower offices of the Secretariat; Jingren held long duty and together they managed affairs left behind at court. When Xie Hui was pacified, Jingren replaced Dao Yanzhi as central army commander while keeping his post as palace attendant.

太祖所生章太后早亡，上奉太后所生蘇氏甚謹。六年，蘇氏卒，車駕親往臨哭，下詔曰：「朕夙罹偏罰，情事兼常，每思有以光隆懿戚，少申罔極之懷。而禮文遺逸，取正無所，監之前代，用否又殊，故惟疑累年，在心未遂。蘇夫人奄至傾殂，情禮莫寄，追思遠恨，與事而深，日月有期，將卜窀穸，便欲粗依《春秋》以貴之義，式遵二漢推恩之典。但動藉史筆，傳之後昆，稱心而行，或容未允。可時共詳論，以求其中。執筆永懷，益增感塞。」景仁議曰：「至德之感，靈啟厥祥，文母俔天，實熙皇祚。主上聿遵先典，號極徽崇，以貴之義，禮盡於此。蘇夫人階緣戚屬，情以事深，寒泉之思，實感聖懷，明詔爰發，詢求厥中。謹尋漢氏推恩加爵，於時承秦之弊，儒術蔑如，自君作故，罔或前典，懼非盛明所宜軌蹈。晉監二代，朝政之所因，君舉必書，哲王之所慎。體至公者，懸爵賞於無私；奉天統者，每屈情以申制。所以作孚萬國，貽則後昆。臣豫蒙博逮，謹露庸短。」上從之。

The future Emperor Wen's birth mother, Empress Zhang, had died young, and the emperor served Su, a kinswoman of the empress dowager, with great care. In the sixth year Lady Su died. The emperor went in person to mourn at her bier and issued an edict: "From early on I have known partial bereavement, and my feelings are all the more ordinary. I have long wished to honor a worthy kinswoman and give some small expression to boundless grief. Yet the ritual texts are incomplete and there is no clear standard to follow. Looking to past dynasties, what was adopted or rejected differs again, and so for years I have hesitated without fulfilling what is in my heart. Lady Su has suddenly passed away, and I have nowhere to place my feeling or ritual duty. The more I recall old grief, the deeper it grows with this event. The day of burial draws near, and I wish roughly to follow the Spring and Autumn principle of honoring by rank and to take as model the Han practice of extending favor. Yet every act is recorded by the historiographer and handed down to posterity; to act only as the heart wishes may not be acceptable. Let us discuss this together now and seek the proper middle course. As I take up the brush my grief only deepens and my heart grows still heavier." Jingren submitted his opinion: "When utmost virtue moves Heaven, spirits reveal auspicious signs; when the civil mother matches Heaven, the imperial fortune is truly made bright. Your Majesty reverently follows the ancient canon and has already given the highest honorable title; in the principle of honoring by rank, ritual is already complete. Lady Su stands only a step removed in kinship, yet feeling runs deep because of the matter; the thought of cold springs truly moves Your Majesty's heart. Your enlightened edict seeks counsel for the proper course. Respectfully considering the Han practice of extending favor through ennoblement: they had inherited Qin's ruin, Confucian learning was despised, and rulers made precedents as they pleased without ancient models. I fear this is not a path a flourishing age should tread. Jin took the two earlier dynasties as its model for court governance; every act of the ruler is recorded—this is what wise kings treat with care. Those who embody utmost fairness suspend ranks and rewards on impartial merit. Those who uphold Heaven's mandate often restrain private feeling to uphold the system. Thus they win the trust of all the realm and leave standards for posterity. Your servant has been generously included in this consultation and respectfully offers this humble opinion." The emperor accepted his advice.

丁母憂，葬竟，起為領軍將軍，固辭。上使綱紀代拜，遣中書舍人周赳輿載還府。九年，服闋，遷尚書僕射。太子詹事劉湛代為領軍，與景仁素善，皆被遇於高祖，俱以宰相許之。湛尚居外任，會王弘、華、曇首相係亡，景仁引湛還朝，共參政事。湛既入，以景仁位遇本不逾己，而一旦居前，意甚憤憤。知太祖信仗景仁，不可移奪，乃深結司徒彭城王義康，欲倚宰相之重以傾之。

After his mother's mourning and burial, he was recalled as general of the palace garrison but firmly declined. The emperor had his staff perform the ceremony of acceptance on his behalf and sent Zhou Qiu in a carriage to bring Jingren back to his residence. In the ninth year, when his mourning was complete, he was made vice director of the secretariat. Liu Zhan, steward of the heir apparent, replaced him as commander of the garrison. He and Jingren had long been friends; both had won favor under Gaozu and both were expected to become chief ministers. Zhan was still serving outside the capital when Wang Hong, Hua, and Tanshou died one after another. Jingren brought him back to court so they could share in government. Once Zhan returned, he resented that Jingren—whose standing had never been above his own—had suddenly moved ahead of him. Knowing the emperor trusted Jingren and would not be swayed, he allied himself closely with Prince Pengcheng Yikang, hoping to use the prince's weight as de facto chief minister to bring Jingren down.

十二年，景仁復遷中書令，護軍、僕射如故。尋復以僕射領吏部，護軍如故。湛愈忿怒。義康納湛言，毀景仁於太祖；太祖遇之益隆。景仁對親舊歎曰：「引之令入，入便噬人。」乃稱疾解職，表疏累上，不見許，使停家養病。發詔遣黃門侍郎省疾。湛議遣人若劫盜者於外殺之，以為太祖雖知，當有以，終不能傷至親之愛。上微聞之，遷景仁於西掖門外晉鄱陽主第，以為護軍府，密邇宮禁，故其計不行。

In the twelfth year Jingren was again made director of the secretariat while retaining his posts as protector of the army and vice director. Soon afterward he again headed the ministry of personnel as vice director while keeping his post as protector of the army. Zhan grew still angrier. Yikang took Zhan's side and spoke against Jingren before the emperor. The emperor treated Jingren with still greater favor. Jingren sighed to relatives and friends, "I brought him in, and the moment he was in he began to bite." He then pleaded illness and asked to resign, submitting memorial after memorial, but was not permitted to do so and was ordered to remain at home and recover. The emperor issued an edict sending a gentleman at the Yellow Gate to inquire after his health. Zhan proposed sending men disguised as bandits to kill him outside the palace, reasoning that even if the emperor guessed the truth, he would make allowances and could not harm the love between close kin. The emperor caught wind of this and moved Jingren to the residence of the Jin princess of Poyang outside the western palace gate, using it as his protector's headquarters close to the inner palace, so the plot could not succeed.

景仁臥疾者五年，雖不見上，而密表去來，日中以十數；朝政大小，必以問焉，影跡周密，莫有窺其際者。收湛之日，景仁使拂拭衣冠，寢疾既久，左右皆不曉其意。其夜，上出華林園延賢堂召景仁，猶稱腳疾，小床輿以就坐，誅討處分，一皆委之。

Jingren lay ill for five years. Though he did not appear before the emperor, secret memorials passed to and fro—a dozen or more by midday each day. Every matter of government, great or small, was referred to him. His movements were kept secret, and no one could see how far his influence reached. On the day Zhan was arrested, Jingren had his robes and cap brushed clean. He had been bedridden so long that none of his attendants understood what he meant. That night the emperor summoned him to the Hall for Extending the Worthy in Hualin Garden. Still claiming a foot ailment, Jingren was carried in on a small couch; the emperor entrusted him with every decision in the purge.

代義康為揚州刺史，僕射領吏部如故。遣使者授印綬，主簿代拜，拜畢，便覺其情理乖錯。性本寬厚，而忽更苛暴，問左右曰：「今年男婚多？女嫁多？」是冬大雪，景仁乘輿出聽事觀望，忽驚曰：「當閣何得有大樹？」既而曰：「我誤邪？」疾轉篤。太祖謂不利在州司，使還住僕射下省，為州凡月餘卒。或云見劉湛為祟。時年五十一，追贈侍中、司空，本官如故。諡曰文成公。

He replaced Yikang as governor of Yangzhou while retaining his posts as vice director and head of the ministry of personnel. An envoy brought him the seal and ribbon of office, and his chief clerk performed the bow on his behalf. As soon as the ceremony was over, his mind began to fail. By nature he had been mild, but he suddenly turned harsh and violent. He asked his attendants, "This year, are there more sons marrying or more daughters marrying? Or more daughters marrying out?" That winter there was heavy snow. Jingren went out in his carriage to the office hall to look around and suddenly cried, "How can there be a great tree in the gate pavilion?" Then he said, "Was I mistaken?" His illness grew critical. The emperor thought the provincial post was unlucky for him and had him return to the vice director's offices at court. He had been governor barely a month when he died. Some said he was haunted by Liu Zhan's ghost. He was fifty-one. Posthumously he was made palace attendant and minister of works while retaining his former titles. His posthumous title was Duke of Literary Accomplishment.

上與荊州刺史衡陽王義季書曰：「殷僕射疾患少日，奄忽不救。其識具經遠，奉國竭誠，周遊繾綣，情兼常痛。民望國器，遇之為難，惋歎之深，不能已已。汝亦同不？往矣如何！」世祖大明五年，行幸經景仁墓，詔曰：「司空文成公景仁德量淹正，風識明允，徽績忠謨，夙達先照，惠政茂譽，實留民屬。近瞻丘墳，感往興悼，可遣使致祭。」

The emperor wrote to Prince Hengyang Yiji, governor of Jingzhou: "Vice Director Yin was ill only a few days and then was suddenly beyond help. His knowledge was broad and far-sighted, and he served the state with complete loyalty. Our long intimacy makes this loss doubly painful. He was a pillar of the people's hopes and of the state; men like him are hard to find. My grief is so deep it will not stop. Do you feel the same? He is gone—what can be done!" In the fifth year of Daming, Emperor Xiaowu passed Jingren's tomb on tour and issued an edict: "Minister of Works Duke of Literary Accomplishment Jingren was deep in virtue and upright in bearing, clear and trustworthy in judgment, loyal in counsel and far-sighted in service; his benevolent rule and fine reputation truly remain in the people's hearts. Gazing on his mound, I am moved by the past and filled with mourning. Let an envoy be sent to offer sacrifice."

子道矜，幼而不慧，官至太中大夫。道矜子恆，太宗世為侍中，度支尚書，屬父疾積久，為有司所奏。詔曰：「道矜生便有病，無更橫疾。恆因愚習惰，久妨清序，可降為散騎常侍。」

His son Daojin was dull from childhood and rose only to grand master of palace counsel. Daojin's son Heng served as palace attendant and minister of revenue under Emperor Ming; because his father's illness had dragged on, the authorities impeached him. An edict said, "Daojin has been ill since birth; there is no new sudden illness. Heng, through folly and habitual laziness, has long neglected his duties and may be demoted to routinely attached gentleman."

沈演之，字台真，吳興武康人也。高祖充，晉車騎將軍，吳國內史。曾祖勁，冠軍陳祐長史，戍金墉城，為鮮卑慕容恪所陷，不屈節，見殺，追贈東陽太守。祖赤黔，廷尉卿。父叔任，少有幹質，初為揚州主簿，高祖太尉參軍，吳、山陰令，治皆有聲。朱齡石伐蜀，為齡石建威府司馬，加建威將軍。平蜀之功，亞于元帥，即本號為西夷校尉、巴西梓潼郡太守，戍涪城。東軍既反，二郡強宗侯勱、羅奧聚眾作亂，四面雲合，遂至萬餘人，攻城急。叔任東兵不滿五百，推布腹心，眾莫不為用，出擊大破之，逆黨皆平。高祖討司馬休之，齡石遣叔任率軍來會。時高祖領鎮西將軍，命為司馬。及軍還，以為揚州別駕從事史。以平蜀全涪之功，封寧新縣男，食邑四百四十戶。出為建威將軍、益州刺史，以疾還都。義熙十四年，卒，時年五十。長子融之，蚤卒。

Shen Yanzhi, whose courtesy name was Taizhen, came from Wukang in Wuxing. His ancestor Chong had been general of chariots and cavalry under Jin and interior minister of Wu. His great-grandfather Jin was chief clerk to Champion Chen You and held Jinyong when the Xianbei general Murong Ke took the city. He refused to yield and was killed, and was later posthumously made governor of Dongyang. His grandfather Chiqian had been minister of justice. His father Shuren showed ability from youth. He first served as chief clerk of Yangzhou, then as an army officer under Gaozu when he was grand marshal, and as magistrate of Wu and Shanyin, winning praise in every post. When Zhu Lingshi campaigned against Shu, Shuren served as chief clerk of his headquarters as general who establishes might and was given the additional title of that same rank. In the conquest of Shu his merit was second only to the commander-in-chief. He was made colonel of the western Yi and governor of Brazil and Zitong, and garrisoned Fucheng. When the eastern army rebelled, the powerful clan leaders Hou Mo and Luo Ao of the two commanderies raised troops in revolt. Men converged from every side until they numbered more than ten thousand and pressed the siege hard. Shuren had fewer than five hundred men in the east, but he won every man's loyalty with open-hearted trust. He went out, routed them completely, and pacified the rebels. When Gaozu attacked Sima Xiuzhi, Lingshi sent Shuren with troops to join the campaign. Gaozu was then general who guards the west and appointed Shuren his chief clerk. When the army returned he was made attendant administrative officer of Yangzhou. For pacifying Shu and holding Fucheng intact, he was enfeoffed as baron of Ningxin with a fief of four hundred forty households. He went out as general who establishes might and governor of Yizhou, but returned to the capital because of illness. He died in the fourteenth year of Yixi, at the age of fifty. His eldest son Rongzhi died young.

演之年十一，尚書僕射劉柳見而知之，曰：「此童終為令器。」家世為將，而演之折節好學，讀《老子》日百遍，以義理業尚知名。襲父別爵吉陽縣五等侯。郡命主簿，州辟從事史，西曹主簿，舉秀才，嘉興令，有能名。入為司徒祭酒，南譙王義宣左軍主簿，錢唐令，復有政績。復為司徒主簿。丁母憂。起為武康令，固辭不免，到縣百許日，稱疾去官。服闋，除司徒左西掾，州治中從事史。

When Yanzhi was eleven, Liu Liu, vice director of the secretariat, met him and said at once, "This boy will become a great man." His family had been military for generations, but Yanzhi curbed his pride and devoted himself to learning. He read the Laozi a hundred times a day and became known for his devotion to principle and reason. He inherited his father's separate title as fifth-rank marquis of Jiyang county. He served as chief clerk to the commandery prince, was recruited as an attendant administrative officer of the province, became chief clerk of the western bureau, was recommended as outstanding talent, and was magistrate of Jiaxing, winning a name for ability. He entered court as libationer of the secretariat, then served Prince Nanqian Yixuan as chief clerk of the left army and as magistrate of Qiantang, again with a strong record in office. He again became chief clerk of the secretariat. He entered mourning for his mother. He was recalled as magistrate of Wukang, declined firmly but could not refuse, and after barely a hundred days in the county claimed illness and resigned. When his mourning was over he was made left western clerk of the secretariat and attendant administrative officer of the province.

元嘉十二年，東諸郡大水，民人饑饉，吳義興及吳郡之錢唐，升米三百。以演之及尚書祠部郎江邃並兼散騎常侍，巡行拯恤，許以便宜從事。演之乃開倉廩以賑饑民，民有生子者，口賜米一斗，刑獄有疑枉，悉制遣之，百姓蒙賴。轉別駕從事史，領本郡中正，深為義康所待，故在府州前後十餘年。後劉湛、劉斌等結黨，欲排廢尚書僕射殷景仁，演之雅仗正義，與湛等不同，湛因此讒之於義康。嘗因論事不合旨，義康變色曰：「自今而後，我不復相信！」演之與景仁素善，盡心於朝庭，太祖甚嘉之，以為尚書吏部郎。

In the twelfth year of Yuanjia the eastern commanderies were flooded and the people starved. In Yixing and Qiantang in Wu, rice reached three hundred cash per sheng. Yanzhi and Jiang Sui of the ministry of rites were both given the additional post of routinely attached gentleman to tour the region and bring relief, with authority to act as circumstances required. Yanzhi opened the granaries to feed the hungry. Families with new births received a dou of rice for each mouth, and doubtful or wrongful prisoners were all released. The people owed him their survival. He became attendant administrative officer and head of the provincial impartial judge. Deeply favored by Yikang, he remained at headquarters and in the province for more than ten years in all. Later Liu Zhan, Liu Bin, and others formed a faction to drive out Vice Director Yin Jingren. Yanzhi stood on principle and broke with them, and Zhan therefore slandered him to Yikang. Once, when their discussion of policy failed to please him, Yikang turned dark and said, "From now on I will no longer trust you!" Yanzhi had long been close to Jingren and gave his full loyalty to the court. The emperor praised him highly and made him gentleman of the ministry of personnel.

十七年，義康出籓，誅湛等，以演之為右衛將軍。景仁尋卒，乃以後軍長史范曄為左衛將軍，與演之對掌禁旅，同參機密。二十年，遷侍中，右衛將軍如故。太祖謂之曰：「侍中領衛，望實優顯，此蓋宰相便坐，卿其勉之。」上欲伐林邑，朝臣不同，唯廣州刺史陸徽與演之贊成上意。及平，賜群臣黃金、生口、銅器等物，演之所得偏多。上謂之曰：「廟堂之謀，卿參其力，平此遠夷，未足多建茅土。廓清京都，鳴鸞東岱，不憂河山不開也。」二十一年，詔曰：「總司戎政，翼贊東朝，惟允之舉，匪賢莫授。侍中領右衛將軍演之，清業貞審，器思沈濟。右衛將軍曄，才應通敏，理懷清要。並美彰出內，誠亮在公，能克懋厥猷，樹績所蒞。演之可中領軍，曄可太子詹事。」曄懷逆謀，演之覺其有異，言之太祖，曄尋事發伏誅。遷領國子祭酒，本州大中正，轉吏部尚書，領太子右衛率。雖未為宰相，任寄不異也。

In the seventeenth year Yikang left for his fief, Zhan and his faction were executed, and Yanzhi was made general of the right guards. Jingren soon died, and Fan Ye, chief clerk of the rear army, was made general of the left guards to share command of the palace guard with Yanzhi and to join him in confidential counsel. In the twentieth year he was made palace attendant while retaining his post as general of the right guards. The emperor told him, "As palace attendant commanding the guard, your standing is eminent and bright. This is virtually the chief minister's seat. Do your utmost in it." The emperor wished to attack Linyi. Most court ministers disagreed, but Governor Lu Hui of Guangzhou and Yanzhi alone supported the plan. After the campaign succeeded, the emperor gave gold, captives, bronze vessels, and the like to his ministers, and Yanzhi received a larger share than most. The emperor told him, "You shared in the court's planning, but pacifying these distant peoples is not enough to merit many new fiefs. When the capital is cleared and the imperial procession sounds at Mount Tai, you need not fear that the realm will not open before us." In the twenty-first year an edict declared, "To command military affairs and aid the eastern palace is a trust given only to the worthy. Palace Attendant and general of the right guards Yanzhi is pure in conduct, firm in judgment, and deep and steady in mind. General of the right guards Ye is quick and penetrating in talent and clear and exact in judgment. Both show excellence within and integrity in public service, and are able to fulfill their duties and build achievement in every post they hold. Yanzhi is fit to be central commander of the army; Ye is fit to be steward of the heir apparent." Ye harbored treasonous designs. Yanzhi sensed something amiss and reported it to the emperor. Ye's plot was soon exposed and he was executed. He became libationer of the national university and great impartial judge of his province, then minister of personnel and commander of the heir apparent's right guard. Though he was not formally chief minister, the trust placed in him was no less.

素有心氣，疾病歷年，上使臥疾治事。性好舉才，申濟屈滯，而謙約自持，上賜女伎，不受。二十六年，車駕拜京陵，演之以疾不從。上還宮，召見，自勉到坐，出至尚書下省，暴卒，時年五十三。太祖痛惜之，追贈散騎常侍、金紫光祿大夫，諡曰貞侯。

He had long suffered from heart trouble and was ill for years, yet the emperor had him conduct affairs from his sickbed. He loved to advance talent and help those who had been passed over, yet he remained modest and restrained. When the emperor gave him female performers, he refused them. In the twenty-sixth year the emperor went to worship at the capital tombs, but Yanzhi did not accompany him because of illness. When the emperor returned to the palace he summoned Yanzhi, who forced himself to attend. After leaving the audience he reached the lower offices of the secretariat and died suddenly, at the age of fifty-three. The emperor grieved deeply for him and posthumously made him routinely attached gentleman and grand master of splendid happiness with golden seal, with the posthumous title Marquis Zhen.

演之昔與同使江邃字玄遠，濟陽考城人。頗有文義。官至司徒記室參軍，撰《文釋》，傳於世。演之子睦，至黃門郎，通直散騎常侍。世祖大明初，坐要引上左右俞欣之訪評殿省內事，又與弟西陽王文學勃忿鬩不睦，坐徙始興郡，勃免官禁錮。

Yanzhi had once served as envoy together with Jiang Sui, courtesy name Xuanyuan, from Kaocheng in Jiyang. He had considerable literary learning. He rose to recording colonel of the secretariat and wrote Literary Explication, which circulated in his day. Yanzhi's son Mu rose to gentleman at the Yellow Gate and direct, routinely attached gentleman. Early in Emperor Xiaowu's Daming era, Mu was exiled to Shixing for drawing the emperor's attendant Yu Xin into discussions of inner-palace affairs and for feuding with his younger brother Bo, literary attendant to the prince of Xiyang. Bo was dismissed and placed under house arrest.

勃好為文章，善彈琴，能圍棊，而輕薄逐利。歷尚書殿中郎。太宗泰始中，為太子右衞率，加給事中。時欲北討，使勃還鄉里募人，多受貨賄。上怒，下詔曰：「沈勃琴書藝業，口有美稱，而輕躁耽酒，幼多罪愆。比奢淫過度，妓女數十，聲酣放縱，無復劑限。自恃吳興土豪，比門義故，脅說士庶，告索無已。又輒聽募將，委役還私，託注病叛，遂有數百。周旋門生，競受財貨，少者至萬，多者千金，考計贓物，二百餘萬，便宜明罰敕法，以正典刑。故光祿大夫演之昔受深遇，忠績在朝，尋遠矜懷，能無弘律，可徙勃西垂，令一思愆悔。」於是徙付梁州。廢帝元徽初，以例得還。結事阮佃夫、王道隆等，復為司徒左長史。為廢帝所誅。順帝即位，追贈本官。

Bo loved literary composition, played the zither well, and was adept at weiqi, yet he was frivolous and greedy for gain. He served as attendant gentleman in the Secretariat. During the Taishi era under Emperor Ming he was made right leader of the heir apparent's guard and additionally appointed supervisor in attendance. When a northern campaign was planned, Bo was sent home to recruit troops and accepted many bribes. The emperor was enraged and issued an edict: "Shen Bo's skill in zither and letters has won him a fine reputation, yet he is rash, given to drink, and has committed many offenses since youth. Lately his extravagance has gone to excess: he keeps dozens of courtesans and indulges in music and revelry without restraint. Trusting in his standing as a local magnate of Wuxing and on obligations throughout his clan, he coerced gentry and commoners and extorted payment without end. He also repeatedly let recruited officers leave duty for private affairs, falsely registering illness and desertion, until several hundred had done so. His retainers and students vied to accept bribes—some as little as ten thousand cash, others a thousand in gold. The illicit goods totaled more than two million. The law should be applied clearly and the statutory punishment carried out. The late Grand Master of Splendid Happiness Yanzhi once received deep favor, and his loyal service is on record at court; remembering him from afar moves one to compassion—can the law not be broadened? Let Bo be exiled to the western marches, that he may reflect and repent." He was then exiled to Liang Province. Early in the Yuanhui era under the Deposed Emperor, he was allowed to return by precedent. He allied himself with Ruan Tiantian, Wang Daolong, and others and again became left chief clerk of the minister over the masses. He was put to death by the Deposed Emperor. When Emperor Shun came to the throne, Bo's former office was posthumously restored.

勃弟統，大明中為著作佐郎。先是，五省官所給幹僮，不得雜役，太祖世，坐以免官者，前後百人。統輕役過差，有司奏免。世祖詔曰：「自頃幹僮，多不祗給，主可量聽行杖。」得行幹杖，自此始也。

Bo's younger brother Tong served as assistant gentleman of writings under Daming. Earlier, the dry servants assigned to officials of the five directorates were forbidden to perform miscellaneous labor. Under Emperor Wen, about a hundred officials were dismissed for violating this rule. Tong overworked his servants beyond what was allowed, and the authorities memorialized for his dismissal. Emperor Xiaowu decreed, "Lately dry servants have often failed in their duties. Masters may, within reason, apply the staff to them." Permission to beat dry servants began from that time.

演之兄融之子暢之，襲寧新縣男。大明中，為海陵王休茂北中郎諮議參軍，為休茂所殺，追贈黃門郎。子曄嗣，齊受禪，國除。

Changzhi, son of Yanzhi's elder brother Rongzhi, inherited the barony of Ningxin. Under Daming he served Prince Hailing Xiumao as advising colonel of the northern army and was killed by the prince. He was posthumously made gentleman at the Yellow Gate. His son Ye succeeded him; when Qi took the throne, the fief was abolished.

史臣曰：元嘉初，誅滅宰相，蓋王華、孔甯子之力也。彼群公義雖往結，恩實今疏，而任即曩權，意非昔主，居上六之窮爻，當來寵之要轍，顛覆所基，非待他釁，況於廢殺之重，其隙易乘乎！夫殺人而取其璧，不知在己興累；傾物而移其寵，不忌自我難持。若二子永年，亦未知來禍所止也。有能戒彼而悟此，則所望於來哲。

The historian writes: At the beginning of Yuanjia the destruction of the chief ministers was largely the work of Wang Hua and Kong Ningzi. Those lords still had old ties of justice, but imperial favor had grown thin. They held yesterday's power without yesterday's standing with the throne. They stood in the exhausted position of the upper sixth line, on the very verge of losing favor. The ground for overturning them needed no other pretext—and how much more when the issue was execution! The opening was easy to seize. To kill a man and take his jade disc, unaware of the trouble one raises for oneself; to overturn the established order and shift imperial favor, heedless of how hard it will be to hold one's own position. Had those two men lived out their years, who can say where later disaster would have ended? If later men can take warning from their example and understand this lesson, that is what the historian hopes for.

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