Volume 69 Biographies 29: Liu Zhan, Fan Ye

列傳第二十九劉湛范曄

Biography 29: Liu Zhan and Fan Ye

劉湛，字弘仁，南陽涅陽人也。祖耽，父柳，竝晉左光祿大夫、開府儀同三司。

Liu Zhan, courtesy name Hongren, was a native of Nieyang in Nanyang. His grandfather Liu Dan (耽) and his father Liu (柳) had both held Jin offices as Left Grand Master of Splendid Hall and as Commissioners with Ceremonial Equal to the Three Excellencies.

湛出繼伯父淡，襲封安眾縣五等男。少有局力，不尚浮華。博涉史傳，諳前世舊典，弱年便有宰世情，常自比管夷吾、諸葛亮，不為文章，不喜談議。本州辟主簿，不就。除著作佐郎，又不拜。高祖以為太尉行參軍，賞遇甚厚。高祖領鎮西將軍、荊州刺史，以湛為功曹，仍補治中別駕從事史，復為太尉參軍，世子征虜西中郎主簿。父柳亡於江州，州府送故甚豐，一無所受，時論稱之。服終，除秘書丞，出為相國參軍。謝晦、王弘並稱其有器幹。

Zhan was adopted out to his uncle Liu Dan (淡) and succeeded to the fifth-grade marquisate of Anzhong County. From youth he showed breadth of mind and force of character, and he did not care for flashy display. He read widely in histories and chronicles and knew the statutes of earlier ages by heart; even in his youth he harbored ambitions to govern the realm and often likened himself to Guan Zhong and Zhuge Liang. He did not write belles lettres and disliked idle talk. When the province summoned him as Registrar, he declined the post. He was appointed Assistant Gentleman of the Palace Library but again refused to take office. Emperor Gaozu appointed him Acting Staff Officer to the Grand Commandant and treated him with exceptional favor. When Gaozu served as General Who Pacifies the West and Governor of Jing Province, he appointed Zhan Merit Officer, then also made him Registrar of the Headquarters, Separate-Chariot Master of Records, and Attending Clerk; Zhan later served again as Staff Officer to the Grand Commandant and as Registrar to the heir apparent, General Who Conquers the Barbarians, Western Center-Rank Commandant. When his father Liu (柳) died in Jiang Province, the provincial and prefectural offices sent lavish funeral gifts, but he accepted none of them, and contemporaries praised him for it. After his mourning period ended, he was appointed Assistant Director of the Palace Library and then sent out as Staff Officer to the Chancellor of State. Both Xie Hui and Wang Hong praised him for his talent and force of character.

高祖入受晉命，以第四子義康為冠軍將軍、豫州刺史，留鎮壽陽。以湛為長史、梁郡太守。義康弱年未親政，府州軍事悉委湛。府進號右將軍，仍隨府轉。義康以本號徙為南豫州，湛改領歷陽太守。為人剛嚴用法，奸吏犯贓百錢以上，皆殺之，自下莫不震肅。廬陵王義真出為車騎將軍、南豫州刺史，湛又為長史，太守如故。義真時居高祖憂，使帳下備膳，湛禁之，義真乃使左右索魚肉珍羞，於齋內別立廚帳。會湛入，因命臑酒炙車螯，湛正色曰：「公當今不宜有此設。」義真曰：「旦甚寒，一碗酒亦何傷！長史事同一家，望不為異。」酒既至，湛因起曰：「既不能以禮自處，又不能以禮處人。」

After Gaozu accepted the Jin mandate and took the throne, he appointed his fourth son Yikang General Who Conquers Champions and Governor of Yu Province and left him to garrison Shouyang. He appointed Zhan Chief Clerk and Grand Administrator of Liang Commandery. Yikang was still young and did not administer affairs himself; Zhan was entrusted with all military affairs of the prefecture and province. When the headquarters was promoted to General of the Right, Zhan transferred with it as before. When Yikang was transferred to Southern Yu Province under his existing title, Zhan was reassigned to serve concurrently as Grand Administrator of Liyang. He was stern and rigorous in enforcing the law: any corrupt official guilty of embezzling as little as a hundred cash was executed, and everyone below him was awed into discipline. When Prince of Luling Yizhen was sent out as General of Chariots and Cavalry and Governor of Southern Yu Province, Zhan again became his Chief Clerk while retaining his post as Grand Administrator. Yizhen was then observing mourning for Gaozu and had his attendants prepare meals, but Zhan forbade it; Yizhen then had his men procure fish, meat, and delicacies and set up a separate kitchen tent within the mourning compound. When Zhan came in, Yizhen ordered cured meats, wine, roast crab, and other delicacies. Zhan said sternly, "Your Highness ought not have such provisions at a time like this." Yizhen replied, "The mornings are bitterly cold—what harm can there be in a single bowl of wine? The Chief Clerk and I are as one household; I hope you will not take exception." When the wine was served, Zhan rose and said, "You cannot keep ritual discipline yourself, and you cannot treat others with ritual propriety either."

湛負其志氣，常慕汲黯、崔琰為人，故名長子曰黯字長孺，第二子曰琰字季珪。琰於江陵病卒，湛求自送喪還都，義恭亦為之陳請。太祖答義恭曰：「吾亦得湛啟事，為之酸懷，乃不欲苟違所請。但汝弱年，新涉庶務，八州殷曠，專斷事重，疇諮委仗，不可不得其人，量算二三，未獲便相順許。今答湛啟，權停彼葬。頃朝臣零落相係，寄懷轉寡，湛實國器，吾乃欲引其令還，直以西夏任重，要且停此事耳。汝慶賞黜罰，豫關失得者，必宜悉相委寄。」

Proud of his own spirit, Zhan often admired the examples of Ji An and Cui Yan; he therefore named his eldest son An, courtesy name Changru, and his second son Yan, courtesy name Jigui. When Yan died of illness at Jiangling, Zhan asked permission to escort the coffin back to the capital himself, and Yigong also petitioned on his behalf. Emperor Taizu replied to Yigong, "I too have received Zhan's memorial, and it pains me; I do not wish lightly to refuse his request. But you are still young and have only lately taken up civil administration; the eight provinces are vast and populous, and the power to decide affairs on your own is a heavy burden. I cannot do without the right man to advise and rely upon you. I have weighed the matter again and again and cannot yet readily grant your request. In my reply to Zhan's memorial I have provisionally deferred the burial there. Court ministers have been dying off one after another, and I have fewer men in whom I can place my hopes. Zhan is truly a pillar of the state, and I had intended to recall him—but the western command is too weighty a responsibility, so for now I must put off this matter. Whatever concerns rewards, promotions, dismissals, and punishments that touch upon success or failure, you must entrust entirely to him."

義恭性甚狷隘，年又漸長，欲專政事，每為湛所裁，主佐之間，嫌隙遂構。太祖聞之，密遣使詰讓義恭，并使深加諧緝。義恭具陳湛無居下之禮，又自以年長，未得行意，雖奉詔旨，頗有怨言。上友于素篤，欲加酬順，乃詔之曰：「事至於此，甚為可歎。當今乏才，委授已爾，宜盡相彌縫，取其可取，棄其可棄。汝疏云『泯然無際』，如此甚佳。彼多猜，不可令萬一覺也。汝年已長，漸更事物，且群情矚望，不以幼昧相期，何由故如十歲時，動止諮問。但當今所專，必是小事耳。亦恐量此輕重，未必盡得，彼之疑怨，兼或由此邪？」

Yigong was narrow-minded by nature, and as he grew older he wished to monopolize administrative affairs, but Zhan repeatedly checked him; resentment thus grew between prince and chief clerk. When Taizu heard of this, he secretly sent an envoy to rebuke Yigong and ordered him to restore harmony with Zhan. Yigong detailed how Zhan failed to observe the deference owed by a subordinate, and complained that, though he was the elder, he could not have his way; despite obeying the imperial order, he harbored considerable resentment. The emperor had always been deeply affectionate toward his brothers and wished to placate Yigong, so he issued an edict saying, "Matters have come to this point—it is deeply regrettable. Talent is scarce today, and the appointment has already been made; you should do your utmost to smooth things over, accept what is acceptable in him, and overlook what must be overlooked. In your memorial you wrote that you would be 'utterly without boundary' with him—that is excellent." He is suspicious by nature; you must not let him notice the slightest hint of it. You are grown now and should gradually take charge of affairs; everyone looks to you and no longer expects childish inexperience. Why should you still consult on every move as you did at age ten? But whatever you insist on controlling now must surely be minor matters. I also fear you may not judge such matters correctly, and that his suspicion and resentment may partly stem from this."

先是，王華既亡，曇首又卒，領軍將軍殷景仁以時賢零落，白太祖徴湛。八年，召為太子詹事，加給事中、本州大中正，與景仁竝被任遇。湛常云：「今世宰相何難，此政可當我南陽郡漢世功曹耳。」明年，景仁轉尚書僕射、領選、護軍將軍，湛代為領軍將軍。十二年，又領詹事。湛與景仁素款，又以其建議徴之，甚相感說。及俱被時遇，猜隙漸生，以景仁專管內任，謂為間己。

Earlier, after Wang Hua died and Xu Tanshou passed away as well, General of the Palace Guard Yin Jingren, seeing that talented men were dying off, reported to Taizu recommending that Zhan be summoned to court. In the eighth year Zhan was summoned to serve as Household Mentor to the Heir Apparent, with additional appointments as Attendant Within the Gates and Grand Rectifier of his native province; Zhan and Jingren were both favored at court. Zhan often said, "What difficulty is there in being chancellor today? The post is no more demanding than the Merit Officer of Nanyang Commandery in Han times." The following year Jingren was transferred to Vice Director of the Masters of Writing, with charge of personnel selection, and appointed General Who Protects the Army; Zhan replaced him as General of the Palace Guard. In the twelfth year he also held the post of Household Mentor concurrently. Zhan and Jingren had long been on friendly terms, and Zhan was deeply grateful because Jingren had recommended his summons to court. Once both were favored at court, suspicion gradually arose between them; Zhan resented that Jingren monopolized inner-court affairs and saw this as an attempt to shut him out.

時彭城王義康專秉朝權，而湛昔為上佐，遂以舊情委心自結，欲因宰相之力以回主心，傾黜景仁，獨當時務。義康屢構之於太祖，其事不行。義康僚屬及湛諸附隸潛相約勒，無敢歷殷氏門者。湛黨劉敬文父成未悟其機，詣景仁求郡，敬文遽往謝湛曰：「老父悖耄，遂就殷鐵干祿。由敬文闇淺，上負生成，合門慚懼，無地自處。」敬文之姦諂無愧如此。

At that time Prince of Pengcheng Yikang monopolized court power. Zhan, who had once served as his chief aide, entrusted himself to Yikang out of old affection, hoping to use the prince's power to sway the emperor, bring down Jingren, and handle state affairs alone. Yikang repeatedly slandered Jingren to Taizu, but the effort failed. Yikang's staff and all of Zhan's followers secretly agreed among themselves that none would dare visit the Yin household. Liu Cheng, father of Zhan's follower Liu Jingwen, failed to grasp the situation and went to Jingren to request a commandery appointment. Jingwen hurried to apologize to Zhan, saying, "My old father is senile and has gone to Yin Tie, that is, Yin Jingren, to seek an office for profit. It is because Jingwen is obtuse and shallow that he has failed you who gave us life; our whole family is ashamed and afraid, with nowhere to hide our faces." Such was the shameless treachery and flattery of Jingwen.

義康擅勢專朝，威傾內外，湛愈推崇之，無復人臣之禮，上稍不能平。湛初入朝，委任甚重，日夕引接，恩禮綢繆。善論治道，並諳前世故事，敘致銓理，聽者忘疲。每入雲龍門，御者便解駕，左右及羽儀隨意分散，不夕不出，以此為常。及至晚節，驅煽義康，凌轢朝廷，上意雖內離，而接遇不改。上嘗謂所親曰：「劉班初自西還，吾與語，常看日早晚，慮其當去。比入，吾亦看日早晚，慮其不去。」湛小字班虎，故云班也。遷丹陽尹，金紫光祿大夫，加散騎常侍，詹事如故。

Yikang usurped power and dominated the court, his authority overwhelming both court and realm. Zhan flattered him ever more extravagantly and no longer observed the deference owed by a subject, and the emperor grew increasingly displeased. When Zhan first came to court, he was entrusted with weighty responsibilities; the emperor received him morning and evening with thick favor and courtesy. He was skilled at discussing statecraft and knew the precedents of earlier ages by heart; his discourse was orderly and well weighed, and listeners forgot their fatigue. Whenever Zhan entered the Cloud-Dragon Gate, the imperial driver would unhitch the carriage; attendants and ceremonial guards would disperse at will, and Zhan would not leave until evening—this became his routine. In his later years he incited Yikang and rode roughshod over the court. Though the emperor inwardly turned against him, his outward treatment of Zhan did not change. The emperor once said to his intimates, "When Liu Zhan, whom I called Ban, first returned from the west, whenever I talked with him I kept watching the sun, afraid he would leave. But now when he comes in, I still watch the sun—afraid he will not leave." Zhan's childhood name was Banhu, hence the emperor called him Ban. He was transferred to Intendant of Danyang, appointed Grand Master of Splendid Hall with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon, and given the additional post of Regular Attendant of the Scattered Cavalry while retaining his position as Household Mentor.

十七年，所生母亡。時上與義康形跡既乖，釁難將結，湛亦知無復全地。及至丁艱，謂所親曰：「今年必敗。常日正賴口舌爭之，故得推遷耳。今既窮毒，無復此望，禍至其能久乎！」十月，詔曰：「劉湛階藉門廕，少叨榮位，往佐歷陽，姧詖夙著。謝晦之難，潛使密告，求心即事，久宜誅屏。朕所以棄罪略瑕，庶收後效，寵秩優忝，踰越倫匹。而凶忍忌克，剛愎靡厭，無君之心，觸遇斯發。遂乃合黨連群，構扇同異，附下蔽上，專弄威權，薦子樹親，互為表裏，邪附者榮曜九族，乘理者推陷必至。旋觀姧慝，為日已久，猶欲弘納遵養，冀或悛革。自邇以來，凌縱滋甚，悖言懟容，罔所顧忌，險謀潛計，睥睨兩宮。豈唯彰暴國都，固亦達于四海。比年七曜違度，震蝕表災，侵陽之徵，事符幽顯。搢紳含憤，義夫興歎。昔齊、魯不綱，禍頃邦國；昭、宣電斷，漢祚方延。便收付廷尉，肅明刑典。」於獄伏誅，時年四十九。

In the seventeenth year Zhan's birth mother died. By then the emperor and Yikang had already grown estranged, and disaster was imminent; Zhan too knew he could no longer survive unscathed. When Zhan entered mourning, he told his intimates, "This year I am sure to be ruined. On ordinary days I could still argue my case in person and so win delays. Now I am utterly cornered and have no such hope left—when disaster strikes, how long can it be delayed?" In the tenth month an edict declared, "Liu Zhan, relying on his family's rank and privilege, early gained honored office; when he formerly served at Liyang, his treachery and perversity were already well known. During Xie Hui's rebellion he secretly sent reports; he sought favor by seizing the moment and long ago deserved execution and removal. We therefore overlooked his crimes and flaws, hoping he would prove useful later; we favored him with rank beyond his desert, exceeding what his peers received. Yet he was fierce, cruel, jealous, and overbearing, stubborn and insatiable, with a heart that lacked loyalty to his ruler—he erupted at the slightest provocation. He formed factions and stirred up discord, curried favor below while deceiving those above, and monopolized power; he promoted his sons and planted his kin as mutual insiders and outsiders—those who joined him in evil saw their whole clans glorified, while those who stood on principle were inevitably destroyed. We have long observed his treacherous wickedness, yet still wished to embrace and nurture him, hoping he might reform. Recently his arrogance has grown ever worse; his rebellious words and defiant bearing show no restraint; his treacherous plots and secret schemes cast a sidelong eye upon both palaces. His outrages are manifest not only in the capital but reach to the four seas. In recent years the seven luminaries have strayed from their courses; earthquakes and eclipses have proclaimed disaster—signs of encroachment upon the yang principle, matching what is hidden and what is manifest. Officials harbor indignation, and men of righteousness sigh in dismay. Formerly when Qi and Lu lost the guiding principle, disaster swiftly befell their states; when Emperors Zhao and Xuan acted with lightning decisiveness, the Han mandate was thereby prolonged. He is therefore to be handed over to the Minister of Justice so that the penal code may be solemnly enforced." He was executed in prison at the age of forty-nine.

子黯，大將軍從事中郎。黯及二弟亮、儼並從誅。湛弟素，黃門侍郎，徙廣州。湛初被收，歎曰：「便是亂邪。」仍又曰：「不言無我應亂，殺我自是亂法耳。」入獄見素，曰：「乃復及汝邪？相勸為惡，惡不可為；相勸為善，正見今日。如何！」湛生女輒殺之，為士流所怪。

His son An served as Attending Clerk to the Grand General. An and his two younger brothers Liang and Yan were all executed with him. Zhan's younger brother Su, a Gentleman Attendant at the Yellow Gate, was banished to Guang Province. When Zhan was first arrested, he sighed and said, "So there will be disorder after all." He then added, "It is not that disorder would not occur without me—but killing me is itself a violation of proper law." When he entered prison and saw Su, he said, "So it has reached even you? We urged one another to do evil, yet evil ought not to be done; we urged one another to do good—and just look at us today. What then!" Zhan killed every daughter born to him, which the gentry found shocking.

范曄，字蔚宗，順陽人，車騎將軍泰少子也。母如廁產之，額為磚所傷，故以磚為小字。出繼從伯弘之，襲封武興縣五等侯。少好學，博涉經史，善為文章，能隸書，曉音律。年十七，州辟主簿，不就。高祖相國掾，彭城王義康冠軍參軍，隨府轉右軍參軍，入補尚書外兵郎，出為荊州別駕從事史。尋召為秘書丞，父憂去職。服終，為征南大將軍檀道濟司馬，領新蔡太守。道濟北征，曄憚行，辭以腳疾，上不許，使由水道統載器仗部伍。軍還，為司徒從事中郎。頃之，遷尚書吏部郎。

Fan Ye, courtesy name Weizong, was a native of Shunyang and the youngest son of General of Chariots and Cavalry Fan Tai. His mother gave birth to him in a privy; his forehead was struck by a brick, and therefore Zhuan, meaning "Brick," became his childhood name. He was adopted out to his father's younger cousin Hongzhi and succeeded to the fifth-grade marquisate of Wuxing County. From youth he loved learning and read widely in the classics and histories; he was skilled at literary composition, could write clerical script, and understood music and pitch. At seventeen the province summoned him as Registrar, but he declined. He served as Staff Member to Emperor Gaozu when the latter was Chancellor of State, then as Staff Officer to Prince of Pengcheng Yikang, General Who Conquers Champions; he transferred with the prince's staff to Staff Officer to the General of the Right, entered court as Outer Troops Gentleman of the Masters of Writing, and was sent out as Separate-Chariot Attending Clerk of Jing Province. He was soon summoned to serve as Assistant Director of the Palace Library but left office upon his father's death. After his mourning period ended, he served as Major to General Who Conquers the South Tan Daoji and concurrently as Grand Administrator of Xincai. When Daoji marched north, Ye dreaded the campaign and pleaded foot ailment; the emperor refused and ordered him to travel by waterway to oversee the transport of weapons, equipment, and troops. After the army returned, he was appointed Attending Clerk to the Minister of Education. Before long he was transferred to Gentleman of the Masters of Writing in charge of personnel.

曄長不滿七尺，肥黑，禿眉鬚。善彈琵琶，能為新聲。上欲聞之，屢諷以微旨，曄偽若不曉，終不肯為上彈。上嘗宴飲歡適，謂曄曰：「我欲歌，卿可彈。」曄乃奉旨。上歌既畢，曄亦止弦。

Ye stood less than seven chi tall, stout and dark-complexioned, with scant brows and beard. He was skilled at the pipa and could compose new tunes. The emperor wished to hear him play and repeatedly dropped hints, but Ye feigned not to understand and ultimately refused to perform for him. Once at a merry feast the emperor said to Ye, "I wish to sing—you play accompaniment." Only then did Ye comply. As soon as the emperor finished singing, Ye stopped playing as well.

初，魯國孔熙先博學有縱橫才志，文史星筭，無不兼善。為員外散騎侍郎，不為時所知，久不得調。初熙先父默之為廣州刺史，以贓貨得罪下廷尉，大將軍彭城王義康保持之，故得免。及義康被黜，熙先密懷報效，欲要朝廷大臣，未知誰可動者，以曄意志不滿，欲引之。而熙先素不為曄所重，無因進說。曄外甥謝綜，雅為曄所知，熙先嘗經相識，乃傾身事綜，與之結厚。熙先藉嶺南遺財，家甚富足，始與綜諸弟共博，故為拙行，以物輸之。綜等諸年少，既屢得物，遂日夕往來，情意稍款。綜乃引熙先與曄為數，曄又與戲，熙先故為不敵，前後輸曄物甚多。曄既利其財寶，又愛其文藝。熙先素有詞辯，盡心事之，曄遂相與異常，申莫逆之好。始以微言動曄，曄不回，熙先乃極辭譬說。曄素有閨庭論議，朝野所知，故門胄雖華，而國家不與姻娶。熙先因以此激之曰：「丈人若謂朝廷相待厚者，何故不與丈人婚，為是門戶不得邪？人作犬豕相遇，而丈人欲為之死，不亦惑乎？」曄默然不答，其意乃定。

Earlier, Kong Xixian of Lu was broadly learned and possessed talent for bold political scheming; he excelled alike in literature, history, astronomy, and mathematics. He served as Extraordinary Gentleman Attendant at the Scattered Cavalry but was unrecognized in his time and long went without promotion. Xixian's father Mozhi had earlier served as Governor of Guang Province; convicted of bribery and sent to the Minister of Justice, he was spared through the protection of Grand General Prince of Pengcheng Yikang. After Yikang was demoted, Xixian secretly resolved to repay his family's debt of gratitude; he wished to win over court ministers but did not know whom he could sway. Seeing that Ye was discontent, he hoped to draw him into the plot. But Xixian had never been esteemed by Ye and had no opportunity to approach him. Ye's nephew by marriage Xie Zong was well known to him; Xixian had met Zong before and therefore devoted himself to Zong and formed a close bond. Xixian, wealthy from his family's Lingnan fortune, began gambling with Zong and his younger brothers, deliberately playing poorly and losing goods to them. The young men, having repeatedly won goods from him, began visiting morning and evening, and their affection gradually warmed. Zong then introduced Xixian to gamble with Ye; Ye joined in as well, and Xixian deliberately lost, giving Ye a great many goods over time. Ye was drawn both by his wealth and by his literary talent. Xixian was eloquent and devoted himself entirely to Ye; Ye then formed an extraordinary bond with him and declared their friendship without estrangement. At first he probed Ye with subtle hints; when Ye did not respond, Xixian pressed his case with full eloquence and argument. Ye had long been known for domestic disputes discussed in court and countryside alike; though his lineage was illustrious, the throne would not marry into his family. Xixian used this to provoke him, saying, "If you believe the court treats you generously, why will it not marry into your house—is your lineage deemed unworthy? Men meet one another like dogs and pigs, yet you wish to die for them—is that not folly?" Ye fell silent and did not answer; his resolve was then set.

時曄與沈演之並為上所知待，每被見多同。曄若先至，必待演之俱入；演之先至，嘗獨被引，曄又以此為怨。曄累經義康府佐，見待素厚。及宣城之授，意好乖離。綜為義康大將軍記室參軍，隨鎮豫章。綜還，申義康意於曄，求解晚隙，復敦往好。曄既有逆謀，欲探時旨，乃言於上曰：「臣歷觀前史二漢故事，諸蕃王政以訞詛幸災，便正大逆之罰。況義康姧心釁跡，彰著遐邇，而至今無恙，臣竊惑焉。且大梗常存，將重階亂，骨肉之際，人所難言。臣受恩深重，故冒犯披露。」上不納。

At that time Ye and Shen Yanzhi were both favored by the emperor and were usually summoned to audience together. If Ye arrived first, he always waited for Yanzhi before entering; but when Yanzhi arrived first, he was sometimes admitted alone, and Ye resented this as well. Ye had long served on Yikang's staff and had always been treated generously by him. When Ye received the Xuancheng appointment, his relationship with Yikang turned to estrangement. Zong served as Recording Clerk Staff Officer on Yikang's staff as Grand General and accompanied him to his garrison at Yuzhang. When Zong returned, he conveyed Yikang's wish to Ye to heal their late estrangement and restore their former closeness. Ye, already plotting rebellion, wished to test the emperor's mood and said, "Your servant has reviewed the precedents of the Former and Later Han: whenever feudal princes practiced sorcery and rejoiced at the ruler's misfortunes, they were immediately punished for great treason. Moreover, Yikang's treacherous intent and misdeeds are manifest far and near, yet he remains unharmed to this day—your servant is privately perplexed. A great threat constantly remains and may again escalate into chaos; at such a juncture among kin, others find it hard to speak plainly— but your servant has received such deep favor that I venture to disclose this openly." The emperor did not accept his counsel.

熙先素善天文，云：「太祖必以非道晏駕，當由骨肉相殘。江州應出天子。」以為義康當之。綜父述亦為義康所遇，綜弟約又是義康女夫，故太祖使綜隨從南上，既為熙先所獎說，亦有酬報之心。廣州人周靈甫有家兵部曲，熙先以六十萬錢與之，使於廣州合兵。靈甫一去不反。大將軍府史仲承祖，義康舊所信念，屢銜命下都，亦潛結腹心，規有異志。聞熙先有誠，密相結納。丹陽尹徐湛之，素為義康所愛，雖為舅甥，恩過子弟，承祖因此結事湛之，告以密計。承祖南下，申義康意於蕭思話及曄，云：「本欲與蕭結婚，恨始意不果。與范本情不薄，中間相失，傍人為之耳。」

Xixian, skilled in astronomy, said, "Taizu is sure to die an unnatural death, brought about by mutual slaughter among kin. Jiang Province is destined to produce the Son of Heaven." He believed Yikang was destined for this role. Xie Zong's father Xie Shu had also been favored by Yikang, and Zong's younger brother Xie Yue was Yikang's son-in-law; Taizu therefore sent Zong south with Yikang. Having been won over by Xixian, Zong too harbored a wish to repay old kindness. Zhou Lingfu of Guang Province had household troops; Xixian gave him six hundred thousand cash and ordered him to raise forces in Guang Province. Lingfu departed and never returned. Zhong Chengzu, a clerk in the Grand General's headquarters whom Yikang had long trusted, made repeated trips to the capital on his orders and secretly gathered trusted followers with rebellious designs. Learning of Xixian's earnest commitment, Chengzu secretly allied himself with Xixian. Xu Zhanzhi, Intendant of Danyang, had long been beloved by Yikang; though uncle and nephew by marriage, Yikang favored him more than his own sons. Chengzu therefore won Zhanzhi over and disclosed the secret plot. Chengzu went south and conveyed Yikang's wishes to Xiao Sihua and Ye, saying, "Yikang had wished to arrange a marriage with Xiao and regrets that the plan failed. Yikang's bond with Fan Ye was never shallow; the estrangement between them was the work of meddlers, nothing more."

有法略道人，先為義康所供養，粗被知待；又有王國寺法靜尼亦出入義康家內，皆感激舊恩，規相拯拔，並與熙先往來。使法略罷道，本姓孫，改名景玄，以為臧質寧遠參軍。熙先善於治病，兼能診脈。法靜尼妹夫許耀，領隊在臺，宿衛殿省。嘗有病，因法靜尼就熙先乞治，為合湯一劑，耀疾即損。耀自往酬謝，因成周旋。熙先以耀膽幹可施，深相待結，因告逆謀，耀許為內應。豫章胡遵世，藩之子也，與法略甚款，亦密相酬和。法靜尼南上，熙先遣婢採藻隨之，付以箋書，陳說圖讖。法靜還，義康餉熙先銅匕、銅鑷、袍段、棊奩等物。熙先慮事泄，鴆採藻殺之。湛之又謂曄等：「臧質見與異常，歲內當還，已報質，悉攜門生義故，其亦當解人此旨，故應得健兒數百。質與蕭思話款密，當仗要之，二人並受大將軍眷遇，必無異同。思話三州義故眾力，亦不減質。郡中文武，及合諸處偵邏，亦當不減千人。不憂兵力不足，但當勿失機耳。」乃略相署置，湛之為撫軍將軍、揚州刺史；曄中軍將軍、南徐州刺史；熙先左衛將軍，其餘皆有選擬。凡素所不善及不附義康者，又有別簿，竝入死目。熙先使弟休先先為檄文曰：

There was the Daoist Falüe, formerly supported by Yikang and moderately well regarded; and the nun Fajing of Wangguo Temple also frequented Yikang's household. All were grateful for past kindness and plotted to rescue Yikang, maintaining contact with Xixian. The conspirators had Falüe leave the priesthood; his original surname was Sun, and he was renamed Jingxuan and appointed Staff Officer under Zang Zhi, General Who Pacifies the Far. Xixian was skilled at healing and could also read pulses. Fajing's brother-in-law Xu Yao commanded a guard unit at the capital and performed overnight duty in the palace. When Yao once fell ill, he asked Fajing to seek treatment from Xixian; Xixian prepared a dose of medicine and Yao's illness quickly improved. Yao went in person to thank Xixian and thus entered into association with Xixian. Xixian, seeing that Yao's courage could be put to use, drew him into a close bond and disclosed the plot; Yao agreed to serve as an inside collaborator. Hu Zunshi of Yuzhang, son of Hu Fan, was on intimate terms with Falüe and also secretly joined the conspiracy. When Fajing went south, Xixian sent the maid Caizao with her, bearing letters that set forth charts and prophecies. When Fajing returned, Yikang sent Xixian gifts of a bronze spoon, bronze tweezers, lengths of robe cloth, a chess case, and other items. Fearing the plot would leak, Xixian poisoned Caizao to death. Zhanzhi told Ye and the others, "Zang Zhi treats me with exceptional favor and should return within the year. I have already informed Zhi to bring all his students and old associates; he should understand our purpose and can supply several hundred stalwart fighters. Zhi and Xiao Sihua are on intimate terms and must be enlisted; both received the Grand General's favor and will surely not waver. Sihua's followers across three provinces are no fewer in strength than Zhi's. The civil and military officials of the commandery, together with scouts and patrols from various posts, should also amount to no fewer than a thousand men. We need not worry about insufficient force—only about missing the opportunity." They then roughly assigned future posts: Zhanzhi as General Who Pacifies the Army and Governor of Yang Province; Ye as General of the Center Army and Governor of Southern Xu Province; Xixian as General of the Left Guard—the rest likewise had posts chosen for them. Those they had long disliked and all who did not side with Yikang were entered on a separate register—all marked for death. Xixian had his younger brother Kong Xiuxian draft a proclamation that read:

夫休否相乘，道無恆泰，狂狡肆逆，明哲是殛。故小白有一匡之勳，重耳有翼戴之德。自景平肇始，皇室多故，大行皇帝天誕英姿，聰明睿哲，拔自藩國，嗣位統天，憂勞萬機，垂心庶務，是以邦內安逸，四海同風。而比年以來，姧豎亂政，刑罰乖淫，陰陽違舛，致使釁起蕭牆，危禍萃集。賊臣趙伯符積怨含毒，遂縱姧凶，肆兵犯蹕，禍流儲宰，崇樹非類，傾墜皇基。罪百浞、豷，過十玄、莽，開闢以來，未聞斯比。率土叩心，華夷泣血，咸懷亡身之誠，同思糜軀之報。

Fortune and misfortune follow upon one another; the Way knows no lasting peace. When the mad and cunning rise in rebellion, the wise are the ones who strike them down. Thus Duke Huan of Qi earned the merit of restoring order to the realm, and Duke Wen of Jin earned the virtue of supporting the throne. From the beginning of the Jingping era the imperial house suffered many troubles. The late emperor was heaven-born in heroic bearing, bright and wise; raised from a feudal domain to succeed the throne and rule all under Heaven, he toiled over myriad affairs and devoted himself to governance—so that the realm was at ease and the four seas shared one purpose. Yet in recent years treacherous minions have thrown government into chaos, punishments have run perverse and excessive, and yin and yang have fallen out of harmony—so that trouble has risen within the palace and peril has gathered on every side. The traitor Zhao Bofu, nursing resentment and malice, unleashed treachery and villainy, wantonly raised troops against the imperial procession, brought disaster upon the heir and chief ministers, exalted unworthy men, and threatened to overturn the imperial foundation. His crimes exceed those of Zhou and Yan a hundredfold, his excesses surpass those of Wang Mang tenfold—since the beginning of history, nothing like this has been heard. All within the realm beat their breasts in grief; Chinese and barbarians wept blood—all harbored the will to give their lives, together longing to sacrifice themselves in repayment.

湛之、曄與行中領軍蕭思話、行護軍將軍臧質、行左衛將軍孔熙先、建威將軍孔休先，忠貫白日，誠著幽顯，義痛其心，事傷其目，投命奮戈，萬殞莫顧，即日斬伯符首，及其黨與。雖豺狼即戮，王道惟新，而普天無主，群萌莫繼。彭城王體自高祖，聖明在躬，德格天地，勳溢區宇，世路威夷，勿用南服，龍潛鳳棲，於茲六稔，蒼生饑德，億兆渴化，豈唯東征有《鴟鴞》之歌，陝西有勿翦之思哉！靈祗告徵祥之應，讖記表帝者之符，上答天心，下愜民望，正位辰極，非王而誰？

Zhanzhi, Ye, Acting General of the Center Army Xiao Sihua, Acting General Who Protects the Army Zang Zhi, Acting General of the Left Guard Kong Xixian, and General Who Establishes Might Kong Xiuxian, Xixian's younger brother—loyalty shining like the sun, sincerity manifest in hidden and open realms—were pained in heart and wounded in spirit; they risked their lives and brandished weapons, heedless of ten thousand deaths, and on that day cut off Bofu's head and his faction. Though the wolf was at once punished and the kingly Way renewed, all under Heaven lacked a ruler, and the people had none to succeed him. Prince of Pengcheng springs from Gaozu's line; sagely brilliance is in his person, his virtue reaches heaven and earth, his merit fills the realm. Though the age's road was level and awe-inspiring, he was not employed in southern service—like a dragon hidden and a phoenix perched these six years. The people hunger for his virtue; the millions thirst for his rule—is it only in the east that they sing the 'Owl,' and west of the passes that they cry, do not cut him down? Spirits and gods proclaimed auspicious omens; prophecies displayed the marks of an emperor—answering heaven's will above and the people's hopes below—to take the throne at the celestial pole—if not the prince, who else?

今遣行護軍將軍臧質等，齎皇帝璽綬，星馳奉迎。百官備禮，駱驛繼進，並命群帥，鎮戍有常。若干撓義徒，有犯無貸。昔年使反，湛之奉賜手敕，逆誡禍亂，預睹斯萌，令宣示朝賢，共拯危溺，無斷謀事，失於後機，遂使聖躬濫酷，大變奄集，哀恨崩裂，撫心摧哽，不知何地，可以厝身。輒督厲尪頓，死而後已。

We now dispatch Acting General Who Protects the Army Zang Zhi and others, bearing the imperial seal and cord, to welcome him with all speed. The hundred officials prepare ceremonial observances; relay horses advance in succession; all commanders are ordered to hold their garrisons as usual. Whoever obstructs the righteous cause shall not be pardoned. In former years when the envoy returned, Zhanzhi received the emperor's handwritten edict warning against disaster and disorder and foreseeing this danger, ordering him to proclaim to court worthies to rescue the realm together—but lacking resolve in plotting he missed the crucial moment, so that the sacred person suffered cruel death and great calamity suddenly fell. Grief and hatred split his heart; stroking his breast he choked with anguish, not knowing where he might place himself. He therefore urged on the weak and faltering, resolved not to stop until death.

熙先以既為大事，宜須義康意旨，曄乃作義康與湛之書，宣示同黨曰：

Xixian held that so great an undertaking required Yikang's endorsement; Ye therefore forged a letter from Yikang to Zhanzhi and showed it to the conspirators, which read:

吾凡人短才，生長富貴，任情用己，有過不聞，與物無恆，喜怒違實，致使小人多怨，士類不歸。禍敗已成，猶不覺悟，退加尋省，方知自招，刻肌刻骨，何所復補。然至於盡心奉上，誠貫幽顯，拳拳謹慎，惟恐不及，乃可恃寵驕盈，實不敢故為欺罔也。豈苞藏逆心，以招灰滅，所以推誠自信，不復防護異同，率意信心，不顧萬物議論，遂致讒巧潛構，眾惡歸集。甲姧險好利，負吾事深；乙凶愚不齒，扇長無賴；丙、丁趨走小子，唯知諂進，伺求長短，共造虛說，致令禍陷骨肉，誅戮無辜。凡在過釁，竟有何徴，而刑罰所加，同之元惡，傷和枉理，感徹天地。

I am a common man of limited talent, raised in wealth and honor, indulging my whims; when I erred I heard no correction; I was inconstant toward others; my joy and anger bore no relation to reality—so that petty men bore many grudges against me and the gentry would not rally to me. Disaster and defeat were already upon me, yet I still did not awaken; only in retreat did I reflect and know I had brought it on myself—etched into flesh and bone, what could now be repaired? Yet in devoting my heart to serving the throne, my sincerity pierced hidden and manifest realms; earnest and cautious, I feared only falling short—how could I rely on favor and grow arrogant? I truly did not dare deliberately to deceive. How could I harbor treasonous intent and invite destruction? Therefore I gave my sincerity and trusted myself, no longer guarding against dissent, following my inclinations and trusting my heart, heedless of what others said—thus allowing slanderers to plot in secret and every evil to gather against me. A is treacherous, dangerous, and greedy, and has deeply wronged me; B is fierce, stupid, and base, fanning the worthless; C and D are servile youths who know only flattery, watching for faults, together fabricating lies, bringing disaster upon kin and executing the innocent. All who had minor faults—what proof was there? Yet the punishments applied treated them as chief villains, harming harmony and bending justice, moving heaven and earth.

吾雖幽逼日苦，命在漏刻，義慨之士，時有音信。每知天文人事，及外間物情，土崩瓦解，必在朝夕。是為釁起群賢，濫延國家，夙夜憤踴，心復交戰。朝之君子及士庶白黑懷義秉理者，寧可不識時運之會，而坐待橫流邪？除君側之惡，非唯一代，況此等狂亂罪辠骫，終古所無，加之翦戮，易於摧朽邪！可以吾意宣示眾賢，若能同心奮發，族裂逆黨，豈非功均創業，重造宋室乎！但兵凶戰危，或致侵濫，若有一豪犯順，誅及九族。處分之要，委之群賢，皆當謹奉朝廷，動止聞啟。往日嫌怨，一時豁然，然後吾當謝罪北闕，就戮有司。苟安社稷，瞑目無恨。勉之，勉之！

Though I am confined daily in bitterness and my life hangs by a thread, men of righteous indignation send word from time to time. Whenever I learn of heaven's signs and human affairs, and of sentiment beyond these walls, the realm's collapse must come within days. Because trouble rises among the worthy and overflows upon the state, morning and evening I burn with indignation, my heart battling within. Can the gentlemen of court, the gentry and commoners of every rank who harbor righteousness and hold to principle, fail to recognize the turning of the times and sit waiting for the flood to sweep them away? Removing evils from the ruler's side is nothing new in history; yet crimes as mad and wicked as these have never been seen before. To cut them down and slaughter them would be easier than snapping rotten timber! Proclaim my intent to the assembled worthies: if you can join hearts and rouse yourselves to exterminate the rebel faction root and branch, would that not be merit equal to founding the dynasty and remaking the House of Song? But arms are baleful and battle perilous, and may lead to excess; if a single man of bold spirit defies authority, punishment will reach nine degrees of kin. The essentials of how affairs are to be handled I entrust to the assembled worthies; all must reverently obey the court and report every move. Let past grievances and resentments be cleared away at once; then I shall confess my guilt at the northern gate and submit to execution by the officials. If the altars of state are secured, I can close my eyes without regret. Press on! Press on!

二十二年九月，征北將軍衡陽王義季、右將軍南平王鑠出鎮，上於武帳岡祖道，曄等期以其日為亂，而差互不得發。於十一月，徐湛之上表曰：「臣與范曄，本無素舊，中忝門下，與之鄰省，屢來見就，故漸成周旋。比年以來，意態轉見，傾動險忌，富貴情深，自謂任遇未高，遂生怨望。非唯攻伐朝士，譏謗聖時，乃上議朝廷，下及藩輔，驅扇同異，恣口肆心，如此之事，已具上簡。近員外散騎侍郎孔熙先忽令大將軍府吏仲承祖騰曄及謝綜等意，欲收合不逞，規有所建。以臣昔蒙義康接盼，又去歲群小為臣妄生風塵，謂必嫌懼，深見勸誘。兼云：「人情樂亂，機不可失，讖緯天文，竝有徵驗。曄尋自來，復具陳此，並說臣論議轉惡，全身為難。即以啟聞，被敕使相酬引，究其情狀。於是悉出檄書、選事、及同惡人名、手墨翰跡，謹封上呈，凶悖之甚，古今罕比。由臣闇於交士，聞此逆謀，臨啟震惶，荒情無措。」詔曰：「湛之表如此，良可駭惋。曄素無行檢，少負瑕釁，但以才藝可施，故收其所長，頻加榮爵，遂參清顯。而險利之性，有過溪壑，不識恩遇，猶懷怨憤。每存容養，冀能悛革，不謂同惡相濟，狂悖至此。便可收掩，依法窮詰。」

In the ninth month of the twenty-second year, the Northern Expedition General, Prince of Hengyang Yiji, and the Right General, Prince of Nanping Shuo, departed to take up their provincial commands. The Emperor held a farewell ceremony for them at Wuzhang Mound. Ye and his co-conspirators had planned to launch their rebellion on that day, but mishaps prevented them from acting. In the eleventh month, Xu Zhanzhi submitted a memorial stating: "Your servant and Fan Ye had no former acquaintance. I was later honored with a post on the Gate Chamber staff, in an office adjacent to his; he repeatedly came to visit me, and thus we gradually became familiar. In recent years his attitude grew increasingly apparent—restless, prone to danger and jealousy, deeply attached to wealth and rank. Deeming his appointments insufficiently lofty, he nursed resentment. He not only attacked court officials and slandered the sacred age; he spoke ill of the court above and the princely supporters below, inciting factions and giving free rein to mouth and heart. Such matters are fully set out in my earlier memorial. Recently the Supernumerary Attendant Cavalier Kong Xixian suddenly sent the Grand General's office clerk Zhong Chengzu to convey the intentions of Ye and Xie Zong—they wished to gather the unruly and plot some undertaking. Because your servant had once been favored by Yikang, and because petty men last year stirred up trouble for me in vain, they assumed I must harbor fear and resentment, and pressed me deeply with persuasion and enticement. They also said: "Human hearts delight in chaos; the opportunity must not be missed. Omen texts and astronomical signs both show corroborating evidence. Ye soon came in person and again fully described this, also saying that my discussions had turned worse and that preserving myself would be difficult. I immediately reported this and received an edict to engage him in mutual probing and investigate the circumstances. Thereupon I produced all proclamations, recruitment orders, the names of co-conspirators, and their handwriting and brush traces, sealed and submitted—treason of an extremity rare in past and present. Because your servant was blind in choosing companions, on hearing this treasonous plot and opening the report I was shaken with terror, my mind in chaos and unable to act." The edict stated: "Zhanzhi's memorial is as this—truly shocking and lamentable. Ye has always lacked moral conduct and in youth bore blemishes and guilt; yet because his talent and skill could be employed, his strengths were taken in, honors and titles repeatedly added, until he reached clear and eminent rank. Yet his nature was grasping and dangerous as a ravine; he did not recognize the grace shown him and still harbored resentment and rage. Each time we indulged and nurtured him, hoping he might repent and reform; who could have thought he would aid evil companions and become madly rebellious to this degree? Arrest and detain him now, and investigate to the full according to law."

其夜，先呼曄及朝臣集華林東閣，止於客省。先已於外收綜及熙先兄弟，竝皆款服。于時上在延賢堂，遣使問曄曰：「以卿觕有文翰，故相任擢，名爵期懷，於例非少。亦知卿意難厭滿，正是無理怨望，驅扇朋黨而已，云何乃有異謀？」曄倉卒怖懼，不即首款。上重遣問曰：「卿與謝綜、徐湛之、孔熙先謀逆，竝已答款，猶尚未死，徵據見存，何不依實。」曄對曰：「今宗室磐石，蕃嶽張跱，設使竊發僥倖，方鎮便來討伐，幾何而不誅夷？且臣位任過重，一階兩級，自然必至，如何以滅族易此。古人云：『左手據天下之圖，右手刎其喉，愚夫不為。』臣雖泥下，朝廷許其觕有所及，以理而察，臣不容有此。」上復遣問曰：「熙先近在華林門外，寧欲面辨之乎？」曄辭窮，乃曰：「熙先苟誣引臣，臣當如何！」熙先聞曄不服，笑謂殿中將軍沈邵之曰：「凡諸處分，符檄書疏，皆范曄所造及治定。云何於今方作如此抵蹋邪！」上示以墨跡，曄乃具陳本末，曰：「久欲上聞，逆謀未著。又冀其事消弭，故推遷至今。負國罪重，分甘誅戮。」

That night the authorities first summoned Ye and the court ministers to assemble at the eastern pavilion of Hualin, confining them in the guest quarters. The authorities had already arrested Xie Zong and Kong Xixian's brothers outside—all had fully confessed. At that time the Emperor was in the Yancian Hall and sent a messenger to question Ye: "Because you have some literary talent, you were entrusted and promoted; the titles and ranks you hoped for were not few by precedent. We also know your heart is hard to satisfy—but this is merely unreasonable resentment and inciting partisan cliques. Why then would you harbor designs of rebellion?" Ye, in sudden terror, did not immediately confess. The Emperor sent again to ask: "You plotted rebellion with Xie Zong, Xu Zhanzhi, and Kong Xixian—all have confessed, are not yet dead, and documentary evidence still exists. Why not speak according to the facts?" Ye replied: "Now the imperial clans are bedrock and the frontier princes stand deployed. Suppose one rashly acted on a gamble—the territorial commanders would at once come to suppress and punish. How long before annihilation? Moreover my position and appointment are already weighty—one or two ranks more would naturally come. Why exchange this for the extinction of my clan? The ancients said: 'The left hand holds the map of all under Heaven while the right hand cuts one's own throat—even a fool would not do it.' Though I am lowly as mud, the court allowed my rough abilities some scope. Examining the matter by reason, I cannot have done this." The Emperor sent again to ask: "Xixian is presently just outside the Hualin gate—would you care to confront him face to face?" Ye, his arguments exhausted, said: "If Xixian falsely implicates me, what am I to do!" Xixian, hearing that Ye would not admit guilt, laughed and said to the Palace Guard general Shen Shaozhi: "All orders of disposition, seals, documents, and letters were drafted and finalized by Fan Ye. Why make such evasive repudiation only now!" The Emperor showed him the handwriting; Ye then fully narrated the sequence, saying: "Long I wished to report upward, but the treason had not yet appeared. I also hoped the matter might dissolve, and so I deferred until now. My guilt against the state is heavy; I willingly accept execution."

其夜，上使尚書僕射何尚之視之，問曰：「卿事何得至此？」曄曰：「君謂是何？」尚之曰：「卿自應解。」曄曰：「外人傳庾尚書見憎，計與之無惡。謀遂之事，聞孔熙先說此，輕其小兒，不以經意。今忽受責，方覺為罪。君方以道佐世，使天下無冤。弟就死之後，猶望君照此心也。」明日，仗士送曄付廷尉，入獄，問徐丹陽所在，然後知為湛之所發。熙先望風吐款，辭氣不橈，上奇其才，遣人慰勞之曰：「以卿之才，而滯於集書省，理應有異志。此乃我負卿也。」又詰責前吏部尚書何尚之曰：「使孔熙先年將三十作散騎郎，那不作賊！」熙先於獄中上書曰：「囚小人猖狂，識無遠概，徒徇意氣之小感，不料逆順之大方。與第二弟休先首為姧謀，干犯國憲，韰膾脯醢，無補尤戾。陛下大明含弘，量苞天海，錄其一介之節，猥垂優逮之詔。恩非望始，沒有遺榮，終古以來，未有斯比。夫盜馬絕纓之臣，懷璧投書之士，其行至賤，其過至微，由識不世之恩，以盡軀命之報，卒能立功齊、魏，致勳秦、楚。囚雖身陷禍逆，名節俱喪，然少也慷慨，竊慕烈士之遺風。但墜崖之木，事絕升躋，覆盆之水，理乖收汲。方當身膏鈇鉞，詒誡方來，若使魂而有靈，結草無遠。然區區丹抱，不負夙心，貪及視息，少得申暢。自惟性愛群書，心解數術，智之所周，力之所至，莫不窮攬，究其幽微。考論既往，誠多審驗。謹略陳所知，條牒如故別狀，願且勿遺棄，存之中書。若囚死之後，或可追存，庶九泉之下，少塞釁責。」所陳竝天文占候，讖上有骨肉相殘之禍，其言深切。

That night the Emperor had the Vice Director of the Masters of Writing, He Shangzhi, visit and question him: "How did your affair come to this?" Ye said: "What does my lord think it is?" He Shangzhi said: "You ought to know yourself." Ye said: "Outsiders say the Master of Writing Yu bears ill will toward me—I reckon there is no enmity between us. When the plot was being discussed, I heard Kong Xixian speak of this. I thought lightly of the boy and did not take it to heart. Now suddenly bearing blame, I finally realize it is a crime. My lord now assists the age with the Way, making the realm free of injustice. After your younger brother goes to his death, I still hope my lord will recognize this heart." The next day armed guards escorted Ye to the Court of Justice. Entering prison, he asked where Xu Zhanzhi, the Danyang Intendant, was—only then learning it was Zhanzhi who had denounced him. Xixian, sensing which way the wind blew, confessed fully; his words and bearing did not bend. The Emperor marveled at his talent and sent someone to comfort him: "With your talents, yet stagnant in the Secretariat—naturally you would harbor different ambitions. This is I who failed you." He also sternly rebuked the former Minister of Personnel He Shangzhi: "Had you made Kong Xixian an Attendant Cavalier when he was nearly thirty, he would not have become a rebel!" Xixian submitted a memorial from prison: "Your prisoner, a petty man, wildly arrogant, insight lacking far-reaching scope—merely yielding to petty impulses of spirit, not calculating the broad pattern of loyalty and rebellion. With my second younger brother Xiuxian I first plotted treachery, violating the statutes of state—minced and pickled flesh would not expiate such extreme depravity. Your Majesty, broad and tolerant, measuring to embrace sea and sky, recording a single particle of my integrity, graciously bestowed a favoring edict. Grace not hoped for at the beginning, honor still granted at death—since antiquity, nothing has matched this. The minister who stole a horse yet tied the tassel, the man who cherished his jade and cast his letter—their conduct was most base, their fault most slight—yet knowing unworldly grace, they offered their bodies in repayment, and in the end achieved merit in Qi and Wei, achievement in Qin and Chu. Your prisoner, though body fallen into treason and name and integrity both lost, was in youth fervent and secretly admired the lingering style of martyrs. But wood fallen from a cliff can rise no more; water spilling from an overturned basin cannot be drawn up again. Presently about to anoint the axe and halberd with my body, leaving admonition for those to come—if the soul has spirit, tied grass will know no distance. Yet my petty red devotion does not betray my lifelong heart; greedy for the breath still remaining, I slightly obtain expression. Reflecting that I love collecting books by nature and my heart comprehends numerology—where intelligence reaches, where strength extends, I have exhaustively gathered all and probed their depths. Examining and discussing the past, much has indeed been verified. Respectfully I briefly set out what I know, itemized as in the separate document. I beg it not be discarded, but preserved in the Secretariat. If after the prisoner's death it might be consulted and kept, perhaps under the Nine Springs I may slightly fill the gap of guilt." What he set out was entirely astronomical observation and omen divination—signs of flesh and bone mutually destroying within the imperial family; his words were penetratingly deep.

曄在獄，與綜及熙先異處，乃稱疾求移考堂，欲近綜等。見聽，與綜等果得隔壁。遙問綜曰：「始被收時，疑誰所告？」綜云：「不知。」曄曰：「乃是徐童。」童，徐湛之小名仙童也。在獄為詩曰：「禍福本無兆，性命歸有極。必至定前期，誰能延一息。在生已可知，來緣[忄畫]無識。好醜共一丘，何足異枉直。豈論東陵上，寧辨首山側。雖無嵇生琴，庶同夏侯色。寄言生存子，此路行復即。」曄本意謂入獄便死，而上窮治其獄，遂經二旬，曄更有生望。獄吏因戲之曰：「外傳詹事或當長繫。」曄聞之驚喜，綜、熙先笑之曰：「詹事當前共疇昔事時，無不攘袂瞋目。及在西池射堂上，躍馬顧盼，自以為一世之雄。而今擾攘紛紜，畏死乃爾。設令今時賜以性命，人臣圖主，何顏可以生存？」曄謂衛獄將曰：「惜哉！薶如此人。」將曰：「不忠之人，亦何足惜。」曄曰：「大將言是也。」

Ye in prison was separately confined from Xie Zong and Kong Xixian; he feigned illness and requested transfer to the examination hall, wishing to be near Zong and the others. Permission was granted, and Ye indeed obtained adjoining cells with Zong and the others. Ye called across to ask Zong: "When first arrested, whom did you suspect had informed?" Zong said: "I do not know." Ye said: "It was Xu Tong, meaning Xu Zhanzhi." Tong came from Xu Zhanzhi's childhood name, Xiantong. In prison he composed a poem: "Fortune and disaster originally have no omen; life and fate return to their limit. The terminus must arrive at its fixed time—who can extend one breath? What may be known in this life is already knowable; the karmic ties to come are obscure beyond discernment. Fair and foul share one mound—what need to distinguish crooked from straight? Why discuss Dongling on the heights? Why distinguish Shoushan on the slope? Though lacking Ji Kang's qin, I hope to match Xiahou's composure. A word to those who still live—this road you too will soon tread." Ye's original intent was that entering prison meant immediate death; yet the Emperor thoroughly prosecuted the case, and after twenty days Ye again had hope of life. The prison officer joked with him: "Outside it is rumored that Fan Ye, the Chamberlain, may be imprisoned for a long time." Hearing this, Ye was startled and delighted. Xie Zong and Kong Xixian laughed and said: "When Fan Ye, the Chamberlain, was with us plotting those earlier affairs, never did he fail to roll up his sleeves and glare. And at the West Pool archery hall, leaping on his horse and looking about, Fan Ye thought himself a hero of the age. Yet now, in disorder and tumult, he fears death to this degree. Supposing the Emperor now granted his life—as a minister who plotted against his lord, with what face could one live?" Ye said to the prison commandant: "What a pity! To bury such a man." The commandant said: "A disloyal man—what is there to pity?" Ye said: "The General speaks correctly."

將出市，曄最在前，於獄門顧謂綜曰：「今日次第，當以位邪？」綜曰：「賊帥為先。」在道語笑，初無暫止。至市，問綜曰：「時欲至未？」綜曰：「勢不復久。」曄既食，又苦勸綜，綜曰：「此異病篤，何事強飯。」曄家人悉至市，監刑職司問：「須相見不？」曄問綜曰：「家人以來，幸得相見，將不踅別。」綜曰：「別與不別，亦何所存。來必當號泣，正足亂人意。」曄曰：「號泣何關人，向見道邊親故相瞻望，亦殊勝不見。吾意故欲相見。」於是呼前。曄妻先下撫其子，回罵曄曰：「君不為百歲阿家，不感天子恩遇，身死固不足塞罪，奈何枉殺子孫。」曄乾笑云罪至而已。曄所生母泣曰：「主上念汝無極，汝曾不能感恩，又不念我老，今日奈何？」仍以手擊曄頸及頰，曄顏色不怍。妻云：「罪人，阿家莫念。」妹及妓妾來別，曄悲涕流漣，綜曰：「舅殊不同夏侯色。」曄收淚而止。綜母以子弟自蹈逆亂，獨不出視。曄語綜曰：「姊今不來，勝人多也。」曄轉醉，子藹亦醉，取地土及果皮以擲曄，呼曄為別駕數十聲。曄問曰：「汝恚我邪？」藹曰：「今日何緣復恚？但父子同死，不能不悲耳。」曄常謂死者神滅，欲著《無鬼論》；至是與徐湛之書，云「當相訟地下」。其謬亂如此。又語人：「寄語何僕射，天下決無佛鬼。若有靈，自當相報。」收曄家，樂器服玩，並皆珍麗，妓妾亦盛飾，母住止單陋，唯有一廚盛樵薪，弟子冬無被，叔父單布衣。曄及子藹、遙、叔蔞、孔熙先及弟休先、景先、思先、熙先子桂甫、桂甫子白民、謝綜及弟約、仲承祖、許耀，諸所連及，並伏誅。曄時年四十八。曄兄弟子父已亡者及謝綜弟緯，徙廣州。藹子魯連，吳興昭公主外孫，請全生命，亦得遠徙，世祖即位得還。

When led out to execution, Ye was foremost. At the prison gate he looked back at Zong and said: "Today's order—should it follow rank?" Zong said: "The rebel chief goes first." Along the way they talked and laughed without pause. Reaching the market, he asked Zong: "Has the hour nearly come?" Zong said: "It surely will not be long." After Ye had eaten, he earnestly urged Zong to eat. Zong said: "For this strange illness, what need to force food?" Ye's family all arrived at the market. The execution supervisor asked: "Do you wish to see them?" Ye asked Zong: "Family has come—I am fortunate to see them. I will not turn back for farewell." Zong said: "Farewell or not—what does it matter? They will surely wail and weep—just enough to unsettle the mind." Ye said: "Weeping concerns no one else. Earlier I saw relatives and old friends on the roadside gazing over—that too was splendid, better than not seeing. I have always meant to see them." Thereupon he had them called forward. Ye's wife came down first and comforted her child, then turned and cursed Ye: "You spare no thought for your aged mother-in-law, you show no gratitude for the emperor's grace and favor—your death alone could never atone for this crime, so why must you wrongfully destroy our children and descendants?" Ye gave a dry laugh and said only that punishment had come due. Ye's birth mother wept and said: "The sovereign has shown you boundless favor; you cannot even be grateful, nor spare a thought for my old age—what is to become of today?" She still struck Ye's neck and cheeks with her hands, yet Ye's face showed no shame. His wife said: "I am the guilty one—mother-in-law, do not grieve over this." His sisters and concubines came to say farewell. Ye wept with tears streaming down. Zong said: "Uncle, you are nothing like Xiahou's composure." Ye wiped away his tears and stopped. Zong's mother, because her sons and younger brothers had themselves plunged into treason, alone refused to come out and look. Ye said to Zong: "If my elder sister does not come today, that is better than a crowd of people." Ye grew still more drunk. His son Fan Ai, also drunk, picked up dirt and fruit peels and threw them at Ye, calling him "Assistant Administrator" dozens of times. Ye asked: "Are you angry at me?" Fan Ai said: "What reason is there to be angry today? Only that father and son die together — that is what grieves me." Ye had often maintained that the dead leave no surviving spirit and had wished to write On the Nonexistence of Ghosts; yet now in a letter to Xu Zhanzhi he wrote, "We shall bring suit against each other in the underworld." His self-contradiction was as absurd as this. He also told others: "Send word to Vice Director He: there are absolutely no Buddhas or ghosts in this world. If they truly have power, they will surely settle accounts with me." When Ye's household was searched and confiscated, his musical instruments, clothing, and curios were all precious and splendid, and his concubines were richly adorned; yet his mother lived in bare poverty, with only one kitchen stacked with firewood, his younger brother's sons had no quilts in winter, and his uncle wore only a single layer of plain cloth. Fan Ye and his sons Fan Ai, Fan Yao, and Fan Shusou; Kong Xixian and his younger brothers Kong Xiuxian, Kong Jingxian, and Kong Sixian; Xixian's son Kong Guifu and Guifu's son Kong Baimin; Xie Zong and his younger brother Xie Yue; Zhong Chengzu; and Xu Yao—all those implicated were put to death. Ye was forty-eight at the time. The sons of Ye's brothers whose fathers were already dead, together with Xie Zong's younger brother Wei, were exiled to Guangzhou. Fan Ai's son Lulian, a grandson of Princess Zhao of Wuxing, pleaded for his life and was likewise exiled to a distant place; when Emperor Xiaowu came to the throne, he was permitted to return.

曄性精微，有思致，觸類多善，衣裳器服，莫不增損制度，世人皆法學之。撰《和香方》，其序之曰：「麝本多忌，過分必害；沈實易和，盈斤無傷。零藿虛燥，詹唐粘濕。甘松、蘇合、安息、鬱金、[木奈]奶多、和羅之屬，並被珍於外國，無取於中土。又棗膏昏鈍，甲煎淺俗，非唯無助於馨烈，乃當彌增於尤疾也。」此序所言，悉以比類朝士：「麝本多忌」，比庾炳之；「零藿虛燥」，比何尚之；「詹唐粘濕」，比沈演之；「棗膏昏鈍」，比羊玄保；「甲煎淺俗」，比徐湛之；「甘松、蘇合」，比慧琳道人；「沈實易和」，以自比也。曄獄中與諸甥姪書以自序曰：

Ye's nature was subtle and refined, full of thoughtful invention; he excelled in one thing after another, and in clothing, utensils, and dress he altered and improved every design, so that people everywhere copied and studied his ways. He compiled Formulas for Blending Incense, and in its preface wrote: "Musk by nature has many taboos—use too much and it turns harmful; dark resin blends easily—even a full jin does no harm. Zerumbet is hollow and dry; sweet flag is sticky and damp. Spikenard, storax, benzoin, turmeric, [mu-nai], naiduo, heluo, and the like are all prized in foreign lands and have no place in the central realm. Jujube paste is dull and heavy, and cassia decoction is shallow and vulgar—they not only fail to enhance fragrance and potency but only deepen serious flaws." Everything in this preface was in fact an allegory for court gentlemen: "Musk by nature has many taboos" referred to Yu Bingzhi; "Zerumbet is hollow and dry" referred to He Shangzhi; "Sweet flag is sticky and damp" referred to Shen Yanzhi; "Jujube paste is dull and obtuse" referred to Yang Xuanbao; "Cassia decoction is shallow and vulgar" referred to Xu Zhanzhi; "Spikenard and storax" referred to the monk Huilin; "Dark resin blends easily"—that was his self-comparison. From prison Ye wrote a self-preface in a letter to his nephews, saying:

吾狂釁覆滅，豈復可言，汝等皆當以罪人棄之。然平生行己任懷，猶應可尋。至於能不，意中所解，汝等或不悉知。吾少懶學問，晚成人，年三十許，政始有向耳。自爾以來，轉為心化，推老將至者，亦當未已也。往往有微解，言乃不能自盡。為性不尋注書，心氣惡，小苦思，便憒悶；口機又不調利，以此無談功。至於所通解處，皆自得之於胸懷耳。文章轉進，但才少思難，所以每於操筆，其所成篇，殆無全稱者。常恥作文士。文患其事盡於形，情急於藻，義牽其旨，韻移其意。雖時有能者，大較多不免此累，政可類工巧圖繢，竟無得也。常謂情志所託，故當以意為主，以文傳意。以意為主，則其旨必見；以文傳意，則其詞不流。然後抽其芬芳，振其金石耳。此中情性旨趣，千條百品，屈曲有成理。自謂頗識其數，嘗為人言，多不能賞，意或異故也。

My reckless crime has brought utter ruin—there is nothing more to say. You should all cast me off as a criminal. Yet the way I lived and what I held in my heart should still be worth tracing. As for what I could and could not do, and what I understood in my mind—you may not know it all. I was lazy about learning in youth and came to maturity late; only around thirty did I begin to find my direction. From then on my heart kept changing for the better; I expect that even as old age draws near, this will not yet have stopped. I often grasped things in part, yet could never fully express them in words. By nature I could not fix my mind on books; my heart and spirit were ill at ease—after even a little strenuous thought I grew restless and oppressed; my tongue and wit were not nimble, and so I had no gift for debate. Whatever I did understand, I arrived at entirely within my own breast. My writing improved steadily, but my talent was limited and thinking came hard; so whenever I wrote, scarcely any finished piece won full praise. I was always ashamed to be counted among literary craftsmen. The fault of writing is that events are spent entirely on surface form, feeling hurries into ornament, meaning is pulled about by theme, and rhyme displaces intent. Though there are occasionally able writers, most cannot escape this failing—it is like decorative painting: in the end nothing is truly gained. I always held that since writing exists to carry feeling and intent, meaning should be master and words should transmit meaning. When meaning is master, the point must show through; when words transmit meaning, the language does not run away. Only then can one draw out fragrance and strike notes like metal and stone. Within this, the turns of feeling and intent come in countless varieties, winding yet forming their own logic. I believed I understood this fairly well; when I spoke of it to others, most could not appreciate it—perhaps because their minds ran another way.

性別宮商，識清濁，斯自然也。觀古今文人，多不全了此處，縱有會此者，不必從根本中來。言之皆有實證，非為空談。年少中，謝莊最有其分，手筆差易，文不拘韻故也。吾思乃無定方，特能濟難適輕重，所稟之分，猶當未盡。但多公家之言，少於事外遠致，以此為恨，亦由無意於文名故也。

To distinguish gong from shang by nature and to know clear from muddy tones—this is innate. Looking at writers ancient and modern, most do not fully grasp this; even those who sometimes understand it need not have reached it from the root. What I say rests on real evidence—it is not empty talk. Among younger writers, Xie Zhuang possessed this gift most fully; his pen moved rather easily because his writing was not bound by rhyme. My thinking has no fixed method; I am only especially able to meet difficulty and adjust weight and lightness—the measure of gift I was born with is probably not yet exhausted. But my writing is mostly the language of public office, with little reach beyond affairs into distant resonance—this I regret, and it is also because I cared nothing for literary fame.

本未關史書，政恆覺其不可解耳。既造《後漢》，轉得統緒，詳觀古今著述及評論，殆少可意者。班氏最有高名，既任情無例，不可甲乙辨。後贊於理近無所得，唯志可推耳。博贍不可及之，整理未必愧也。吾雜傳論，皆有精意深旨，既有裁味，故約其詞句。至於《循吏》以下及《六夷》諸序論，筆勢縱放，實天下之奇作。其中合者，往往不減《過秦》篇。嘗共比方班氏所作，非但不愧之而已。欲遍作諸志，前漢所有者悉令備。雖事不必多，且使見文得盡。又欲因事就卷內發論，以正一代得失，意復未果。贊自是吾文之傑思，殆無一字空設，奇變不窮，同合異體，乃自不知所以稱之。此書行，故應有賞音者。紀、傳例為舉其大略耳，諸細意甚多。自古體大而思精，未有此也。恐世人不能盡之，多貴古賤今，所以稱情狂言耳。

At first I had nothing to do with historical books; I always found them simply incomprehensible. Once I undertook the History of the Later Han, I gradually grasped its thread; surveying writings and commentaries ancient and modern, scarcely any satisfied me. The Ban clan enjoys the highest fame, yet writes at whim without consistent rule—it cannot be ranked for clear comparison. Their later encomia yield little in principle; only the Treatises are truly admirable. In breadth and comprehensiveness one cannot match them; in ordering and arrangement one need not feel ashamed. My assorted biography commentaries all carry refined meaning and deep intent; because they already have restrained flavor, I therefore kept their wording spare. As for those from Diligent Officials downward and the prefaces and commentaries on the Six Barbarians, the brush runs free—they are truly wondrous works under Heaven. Those among them that succeed often do not fall short of Jia Yi's "Faults of Qin." I once compared them with the Ban clan's work—not only without shame, but more than that. I intended to write all the Treatises in full, completing whatever the Former Han History contained. Though the entries need not be numerous, I wanted at least to let the text appear complete. I also wished to develop commentaries within each scroll according to the events, to judge a generation's gains and losses—but that intent too remained unrealized. The encomia are truly the outstanding achievement of my writing—hardly a word is empty; their strange transformations are inexhaustible, unified yet diverse in form—I myself hardly know how to describe them. When this book goes abroad, there should be readers who appreciate its tone. The Annals and Biographies sections only give the broad outline; the finer points are very numerous. From antiquity onward, nothing has been so large in scope and so refined in thought as this. I fear the world will not fully grasp it; most people honor the ancient and despise the present—therefore these heartfelt words are bold speech.

吾於音樂，聽功不及自揮，但所精非雅聲，為可恨。然至於一絕處，亦復何異邪！其中體趣，言之不盡，弦外之意，虛響之音，不知所從而來。雖少許處，而旨態無極。亦嘗以授人，士庶中未有一毫似者。此永不傳矣。吾書雖小小有意，筆勢不快，餘竟不成就，每愧此名。

In music, my ear was not the equal of my hand—but what I mastered was not refined court music, which I regret. Yet at the point of absolute mastery, what difference does it make! Its inner tone cannot be fully expressed; meaning beyond the strings, empty reverberating sound—I do not know whence it comes. Though it appears in only a few places, its intent and bearing are boundless. I also once taught it to others, but among gentlemen and commoners not one resembled it in the slightest. This will never be handed down. My calligraphy, though it has a little intention, lacks swift brush momentum; the rest never came to fruition—I always feel ashamed of this reputation.

曄《自序》並實，故存之。藹幼而整潔，衣服竟歲未嘗有塵點。死時年二十。曄少時，兄晏常云：「此兒進利，終破門戶。」終如晏言。

Ye's Self-Preface is factual, and so it is preserved here. Fan Ai was neat and orderly from childhood; his clothes went a whole year without a speck of dust. Fan Ai was twenty when he died. When Ye was young, his elder brother Yan often said: "This boy is greedy for gain—he will destroy the family in the end." In the end it happened just as Yan said.

史臣曰：古之人云：「利令智昏。」甚矣，利害之相傾。劉湛識用才能，實苞經國之略，豈不知移弟為臣，則君臣之道用；變兄成主，則兄弟之義殊乎？而義康數懷姧計，苟相崇說，與夫推長戟而犯魏闕，亦何以異哉！

The historian writes: The ancients said, "Profit makes the mind dull." How extreme is the way benefit and harm overturn one another! Liu Zhan's insight and talent truly encompassed the strategy to govern a state—how could he not know that when a younger brother becomes a subject, the way of ruler and minister applies; and when an elder brother becomes a sovereign, the bond between brothers is altered? Yet Yikang repeatedly harbored treacherous designs, and to exalt and urge him on—how is that different from pushing a long halberd against the palace gate!

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