1
朱脩之
Zhu Xiuzhi
2
朱脩之字恭祖，義陽平氏人也。 曾祖燾，晉平西將軍。 祖序，豫州刺史。 父諶，益州刺史。
Zhu Xiuzhi, whose courtesy name was Gongzu, came from Pingshi in Yiyang Commandery. His great-grandfather Tao had held the Jin post of Grand General Who Pacifies the West. His grandfather Xu had served as Inspector of Yuzhou. His father Chen had served as Inspector of Yizhou.
3
脩之自州主簿遷司徒從事中郎，文帝謂曰：「卿曾祖昔為王導丞相中郎，卿今又為王弘中郎，可謂不忝爾祖矣。」 後隨到彥之北伐。 彥之自河南回，留脩之戍滑臺，為虜所圍，數月糧盡，將士熏鼠食之，遂陷於虜。 初，脩之母聞其被圍既久，常憂之，忽一旦乳汁驚出，母號泣告家人曰：「吾今已老，忽復有乳汁，斯不祥矣。 吾兒其不利乎。」 後問至，脩之果以此日陷沒。
Xiuzhi advanced from a provincial chief clerk to an attendant in the Masters of Writing section of the Secretariat. Emperor Wen told him, "Your great-grandfather once served as a director in Chancellor Wang Dao's secretariat, and you now hold the same post under Wang Hong—you have not disgraced your forebears." He later accompanied Dao Yanzhi on the northern expedition. When Yanzhi pulled back from the region south of the Yellow River, he left Xiuzhi to hold Huatai. The enemy surrounded the city; after several months the stores were gone and the troops smoked out rats for food, until the fortress finally fell. Earlier, Xiuzhi's mother had worried constantly after hearing he had been under siege so long. Then one day her milk suddenly flowed again. Weeping, she told the family, "I am already old, yet milk has returned—this cannot be auspicious. Surely some misfortune awaits my son?" When news finally came, Xiuzhi had indeed been lost on that same day.
4
託跋燾嘉其守節，以為侍中，妻以宗室女。 脩之潛謀南歸，妻疑之，每流涕問其意，脩之深嘉其義，竟不告也。 後鮮卑馮弘稱燕王，治黃龍城，託跋燾伐之，脩之與同沒人邢懷明並從。 又有徐卓者，復欲率南人竊發，事泄被誅。 脩之、懷明懼奔馮弘，弘不禮。 留一年，會宋使傳詔至，脩之名位素顯，傳詔見即拜之，彼國敬傳詔，謂為「天子邊人」，見其致敬於脩之，乃始加禮。 時魏屢伐弘，或說弘遣脩之歸求救，遂遣之。 泛海至東萊，遇猛風柁折，垂以長索，船乃復正。 海師望見飛鳥，知其近岸，須臾至東萊。
Tuoba Tao admired his constancy, appointed him Palace Attendant, and married him to a woman of the imperial clan. Xiuzhi secretly planned to flee south. His wife grew suspicious and, in tears, kept asking what he intended; he admired her devotion deeply but never confided in her. Later the Xianbei Feng Hong declared himself King of Yan and ruled from Huanglongcheng. When Tuoba Tao marched against him, Xiuzhi followed with fellow captive Xing Huaiming. Another captive, Xu Zhuo, tried to rally the southerners in a covert uprising; the plot was exposed and he was put to death. Fearing for their lives, Xiuzhi and Huaiming fled to Feng Hong, who showed them no honor. They stayed a year. Then a Song envoy arrived bearing an imperial message. Xiuzhi's standing was already well known, and the bearer of the message bowed to him immediately. The northerners revered the envoy as "the Son of Heaven's man from the frontier"; seeing him defer to Xiuzhi, they finally treated Xiuzhi with proper ceremony. Wei was then attacking Hong repeatedly. Some advised Hong to send Xiuzhi south to beg Song for rescue, and Hong dispatched him. He sailed the sea to Donglai. A violent gale snapped the rudder; they hung a long rope over the side and the ship steadied again. The pilot sighted birds overhead, knew shore was near, and within moments they made Donglai.
5
元嘉九年，至京邑，以為黃門侍郎，累遷江夏內史。 雍州刺史劉道產卒，羣蠻大動，脩之為征西司馬討蠻，失利。 孝武初，為寧蠻校尉、雍州刺史，加都督。 脩之在政寬簡，士眾悅附。 及荊州刺史南郡王義宣反，檄脩之舉兵，脩之偽與之同，而遣使陳誠於帝。 帝嘉之，以為荊州刺史，加都督。 義宣聞脩之不與己同，乃以魯秀為雍州刺史，擊襄陽。 脩之命斷馬鞍山道，秀不得前，乃退。 及義宣敗於梁山，單舟南走，脩之率眾南定遺寇。 時竺超民執義宣，脩之至，乃殺之，以功封南昌縣侯。
In the ninth year of Yuanjia he reached the capital, was appointed Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, and rose step by step to Interior Minister of Jiangxia. After Liu Daochan, Inspector of Yongzhou, died, the tribal peoples stirred on a large scale. Xiuzhi served as Western Campaigning Marshal against them but met defeat. Early in Emperor Xiaowu's reign he was made Colonel Pacifying the Tribes and Inspector of Yongzhou, with overall military authority. His rule was easy and unassuming; soldiers and officials gladly attached themselves to him. When Yixuan, Prince of Nanjun and Inspector of Jingzhou, rebelled, he called on Xiuzhi to join the revolt. Xiuzhi feigned agreement while sending an envoy to pledge his loyalty to the throne. The emperor commended him and appointed him Inspector of Jingzhou with overall military authority. Learning that Xiuzhi would not stand with him, Yixuan named Lu Xiu Inspector of Yongzhou and marched on Xiangyang. Xiuzhi had the Ma'an Mountain route blocked; Xiu could not get through and retreated. After Yixuan was beaten at Liangshan and fled south alone by boat, Xiuzhi led his troops south to subdue the scattered rebels. Zhu Chaomin then held Yixuan captive. Xiuzhi arrived, killed Yixuan, and for this service was enfeoffed as Marquis of Nanchang county.
6
脩之治身清約，凡所贈貺，一無所受，有餉，或受之，而旋與佐吏賭之，終不入己，唯以撫納羣蠻為務。 徵為左民尚書，轉領軍將軍。 去鎮，秋毫不犯，計在州然油及牛馬穀草，以私錢十六萬償之。 然性儉剋少恩情，姊在鄉里，飢寒不立，脩之未嘗供贍。 嘗往視姊，姊欲激之，為設菜羹粗飯，脩之曰：「此乃貧家好食。」 致飽而去。 先是，新野庾彥達為益州刺史，攜姊之鎮，分祿秩之半以供贍之，西土稱焉。
He lived plainly and with integrity, refusing every gift that came to him. On the rare occasion he accepted a present, he immediately staked it in wagers with his aides and never kept it; his one aim was to conciliate the tribal peoples. He was recalled to serve as Minister of the Left for the People, then promoted to General of the Palace Guard. When he left his command he took nothing whatsoever. He reckoned the lamp oil and fodder for cattle and horses used in the province and reimbursed the treasury with 160,000 cash from his own purse. By nature, however, he was tight-fisted and sparing of affection. His elder sister lived in the countryside in want, yet he never once helped her. Once he visited her. Hoping to shame him, she served only vegetable broth and coarse grain. Xiuzhi said, "This is exactly the sort of meal a poor family does best." He ate until he was full and departed. Earlier, Yu Yanda of Xinye had served as Inspector of Yizhou, brought his sister to his command, and allotted half his stipend for her upkeep—the western provinces had held this up as a model.
7
脩之後墜車折脚，辭尚書，領崇憲太僕，仍加特進、金紫光祿大夫。 以脚疾不堪獨行，特給扶侍。 卒，贈侍中，特進如故。 諡貞侯。
Later he fell from a carriage and broke his leg. He resigned his ministerial post but retained the title of Grand Steward of the Chongxian Palace Studs, and was further granted extraordinary promotion and the golden seal and purple ribbon of Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. His injured leg kept him from walking unaided, so he was specially provided with attendants to lean on. At his death he was posthumously made Palace Attendant, retaining his extraordinary promotion. His posthumous title was Marquis Zhen ("Steadfast").
8
宗慤
Zong Que
9
宗慤字元幹，南陽人也。 叔父炳，高尚不仕。 慤年少時，炳問其志，慤曰：「願乘長風破萬里浪。」 炳曰：「汝不富貴，即破我家矣。」 兄泌娶妻，始入門，夜被劫，慤年十四，挺身拒賊，賊十餘人皆披散，不得入室。 時天下無事，士人並以文義為業，炳素高節，諸子羣從皆好學，而慤獨任氣好武，故不為鄉曲所稱。
Zong Que, whose courtesy name was Yuangan, came from Nanyang. His uncle Bing was a man of lofty principle who refused public office. When Que was still young, Bing asked what he hoped to achieve. Que answered, "I mean to ride the long wind and shatter waves ten thousand li away." Bing replied, "Unless you win rank and riches, you will ruin our household." When his elder brother Mi took a wife and she first crossed the threshold, robbers struck that night. Que was fourteen, charged the thieves alone, and drove more than ten of them off so they could not enter. The empire was then at peace and men of standing devoted themselves to letters. Bing and his kin were all devoted to study, but Que alone relied on brute courage and loved arms, and won no praise in his home district.
10
江夏王義恭為征北將軍、南兗州刺史，慤隨鎮廣陵。 時從兄綺為征北府主簿，綺嘗入直，而給吏牛泰與綺妾私通，慤殺泰，綺壯其意，不責也。
When the Prince of Jiangxia, Yigong, served as General Who Pacifies the North and Inspector of Southern Yanzhou, Que accompanied him to Guangling. His cousin Qi then served as chief clerk on the Pacifying-North staff. Once, while Qi was on duty, a clerk named Niu Tai was carrying on with Qi's concubine. Que killed him; Qi respected his boldness and did not reproach him.
11
元嘉二十二年，伐林邑，慤自奮請行。 義恭舉慤有膽勇，乃除振武將軍，為安西參軍蕭景憲軍副，隨交州刺史檀和之圍區粟城。 林邑遣將范毗沙達來救區粟，和之遣偏軍拒之，為賊所敗。 又遣慤，慤乃分軍為數道，偃旗潛進，討破之，拔區粟，入象浦。 林邑王范陽邁傾國來拒，以具裝被象，前後無際，士卒不能當。 慤曰：「吾聞師子威服百獸。」 乃製其形，與象相禦，象果驚奔，眾因潰散，遂克林邑。 收其異寶雜物，不可勝計。 慤一無所取，衣櫛蕭然。 文帝甚嘉之。
In the twenty-second year of Yuanjia the court attacked Lin Yi. Que boldly volunteered for the expedition. Yigong praised his daring and appointed him General Who Quells the Martial, second to Xiao Jingxian on the Western Pacification staff, as they followed Jiaozhou Inspector Tan Hezhi in the siege of Qu Su. Lin Yi sent General Fan Bisha to relieve Qu Su. Hezhi dispatched a separate column to block him and was beaten. Hezhi sent Que out again. Que split his force into several routes, hid their banners, and stole forward, routing the enemy, capturing Qu Su, and pushing on to Xiang Pu. Lin Yi's king, Fan Yangmai, mobilized the entire kingdom to resist. He fitted elephants with armor and drew them up in endless lines; the troops could not stand against them. Que said, "They say the lion makes every beast tremble." He had its likeness made to face the elephants; the beasts panicked and bolted, the army broke, and Lin Yi fell. They seized exotic treasures and goods beyond numbering. Que took nothing for himself; his wardrobe and kit were as spare as when he had set out. Emperor Wen praised him highly.
12
後為隨郡太守，雍州蠻屢為寇，建威將軍沈慶之率慤及柳元景等諸將，分道攻之，羣蠻大潰。 又南新郡蠻帥田彥生率部曲反叛，焚燒郡城，屯據白楊山，元景攻之未能下，慤率其所領先登，眾軍隨之，羣蠻由是畏服。
He later served as Administrator of Suixian. Tribal forces in Yongzhou raided again and again. Shen Qingzhi, General Who Establishes Martial Might, led Que, Liu Yuanying, and others in divided attacks, and the tribes were smashed. In Nanxin, the tribal leader Tian Yansheng rose with his bands, burned the commandery seat, and occupied White Poplar Mountain. Yuanying besieged him without success. Que led his own men up first; the rest of the army followed, and the tribes thereafter held him in awe.
13
三十年，孝武伐元凶，以慤為南中郎諮議參軍，領中兵。 孝武即位，以為左衞將軍，封洮陽侯，功次柳元景。 孝建中，累遷豫州刺史，監五州諸軍事。 先是，鄉人庾業，家甚富豪，方丈之膳，以待賓客，而慤至，設以菜葅粟飯，謂客曰：「宗軍人，慣噉粗食。」 慤致飽而去。 至是業為慤長史，帶梁郡，慤待之甚厚，不以前事為嫌。
In the thirtieth year, when Emperor Xiaowu marched against the deposed heir Yuanxiong, Que served as advising officer on the Southern Palace Attendant's staff and commanded the central guard. After Xiaowu's accession, Que was made General of the Left Guard and enfeoffed as Marquis of Taoyang; his merit stood just below Liu Yuanying's. During the Xiaojian reign he rose step by step to Inspector of Yuzhou, supervising military affairs across five provinces. Earlier, his townsman Yu Ye had been enormously rich, setting feasts that filled a square zhang for his guests. When Que visited, Ye served only pickles and millet gruel, telling the company, "Commander Zong is a soldier—he is accustomed to plain fare." Que ate his fill and departed. By then Ye served as Que's chief administrator with concurrent authority over Liang Commandery, and Que treated him with great kindness, bearing no grudge for the old slight.
14
大明三年，竟陵王誕據廣陵反，慤表求赴討，乘驛詣都，面受節度，上停輿慰勉，慤聳躍數十，左右顧盻，上壯之。 及行，隸車騎大將軍沈慶之。 初，誕誑其眾云：「宗慤助我。」 及慤至，躍馬繞城呼曰：「我宗慤也。」 事平，入為左衞將軍。 五年，從獵墮馬，脚折不堪朝直，以為光祿大夫，加金紫。 慤有佳牛堪進御，官買不肯賣，坐免官。 明年，復職。 廢帝即位，為寧蠻校尉、雍州刺史，加都督。 卒，贈征西將軍，諡曰肅侯。 泰始二年，詔以慤配食孝武廟。 子羅雲，卒，子元寶嗣。
In the third year of Daming, the Prince of Jingling, Dan, rebelled at Guangling. Que petitioned to lead the suppression, raced by post relay to the capital, and received his commission face to face. The emperor stopped his carriage to exhort him. Que sprang up and down dozens of times, looking about him; the emperor was stirred. On campaign he served under Shen Qingzhi, Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry. At first Dan had deceived his men, saying, "Zong Que is on my side." When Que arrived he galloped around the walls crying, "I am Zong Que!" After the rebellion was crushed he returned to court as General of the Left Guard. In the fifth year he fell from his horse while hunting, broke his leg, and could no longer attend court. He was made Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with the golden seal and purple ribbon. Que owned an excellent ox suitable for presentation to the throne. When officials sought to purchase it he refused to sell and was removed from his post. The following year he was reappointed. When the Deposed Emperor acceded, Que was made Colonel Pacifying the Tribes and Inspector of Yongzhou with overall military authority. At his death he was posthumously made General Who Pacifies the West; his posthumous title was Marquis Su ("Solemn"). In the second year of Taishi an edict granted him a place in the sacrifices at Emperor Xiaowu's ancestral temple. His son Luoyun died; the title passed to his grandson Yuanbao.
15
王玄謨
Wang Xuanmo
16
王玄謨字彥德，太原祁人也。 六世祖宏，河東太守，綿竹侯，以從叔司徒允之難，棄官北居新興，仍為新興、鴈門太守，其自敍云爾。 祖牢，仕慕容氏為上谷太守，陷慕容德，居青州。 父秀，早卒。
Wang Xuanmo, whose courtesy name was Yande, came from Qi in Taiyuan Commandery. Six generations back, his ancestor Hong had been Administrator of Hedong and Marquis of Mianzhu. When his kinsman by marriage, Minister of Works Wang Yun, met disaster, Hong resigned and moved north to Xinxing, later serving as administrator of Xinxing and Yanmen—so his own family record ran. His grandfather Lao had served the Murong as Administrator of Shanggu, fell into Murong De's hands, and settled in Qingzhou. His father Xiu died early.
17
玄謨幼而不羣，世父蕤有知人鑒，常笑曰：「此兒氣概高亮，有太尉彥雲之風。」 武帝臨徐州，辟為從事史，與語異之。 少帝末，謝晦為荊州，請為南蠻行參軍、武寧太守。 晦敗，以非大帥見原。 元嘉中，補長沙王義欣鎮軍中兵參軍，領汝陰太守。
Xuanmo was wild even as a boy. His uncle Rui, who could read character well, would laugh and say, "The lad's bearing is high and bright—he has something of Grand Commandant Yan Yun about him." When Emperor Wu held Xuzhou he summoned Xuanmo as an attendant clerk and, in conversation, found him remarkable. Near the end of Emperor Shaodi's reign, Xie Hui governed Jingzhou and took him on as acting staff officer for the southern tribes and as Defender of Wuning. When Hui fell, Xuanmo was spared because he had not been a principal commander. During Yuanjia he was appointed staff officer in the central army of the Prince of Changsha, Yixin, while also serving as Administrator of Ruyin.
18
時虜攻陷滑臺，執朱脩之以歸。 玄謨上疏曰：「王途始開，隨復淪塞，非惟天時，抑亦人事。 虎牢、滑臺，豈惟將之不良，抑亦本之不固。 本之不固，皆由民憚遠役。 臣請以西陽之魯陽，襄陽之南鄉，發甲卒，分為兩道，直趣淆、澠，征士無遠徭之思，吏士有屢休之歌。 若欲以東國之眾，經營牢、洛，道途既遠，獨克實難。」 玄謨每陳北侵之策，上謂殷景仁曰：「聞王玄謨陳說，使人有封狼居胥意。」 後為興安侯義賓輔國司馬、彭城太守。 義賓薨，玄謨上表，以彭城要兼水陸，請以皇子撫臨州事，乃以孝武出鎮。
At that time the enemy stormed Huatai and carried Zhu Xiuzhi off captive. Xuanmo submitted a memorial: "The imperial highway has only just been reopened, yet it is blocked again—not by season alone, but by human failure. For Hulao and Huatai, was the fault only in the generals, or also in weak foundations? Weak foundations come from the people's dread of distant service. I propose drafting soldiers from Luyang in Xiyang and Nanxiang in Xiangyang, splitting them into two columns to drive straight on Xiao and Mian, so conscripts need not fear distant levy and troops may enjoy real respite. If you mean to move the eastern provinces' manpower against Hulao and Luoyang, the distances are great and victory would be hard to win alone." Whenever Xuanmo pressed plans for northern invasion, the emperor told Yin Jingren, "Hearing Wang Xuanmo speak always stirs in me the ambition of enfeoffing Wolf Mountain." He was later made staff officer to the Pacifying State for Marquis of Xing'an Yibin and Administrator of Pengcheng. After Yibin's death, Xuanmo memorialized that Pengcheng was crucial by land and water and asked that a prince govern the province; Emperor Xiaowu was then sent to take command.
19
及大舉北征，以玄謨為寧朔將軍，前鋒入河，受輔國將軍蕭斌節度。 玄謨向碻磝，戍主奔走，遂圍滑臺，積旬不克。 虜主託跋燾率大眾號百萬，鞞鼓之聲，震動天地。 玄謨軍眾亦盛，器械甚精，而玄謨專依所見，多行殺戮。 初圍城，城內多茅屋，眾求以火箭燒之，玄謨恐損亡軍實，不從。 城中即撤壞之，空地以為窟室。 及魏救將至，眾請發車為營，又不從，將士多離怨。 又營貨利，一匹布責人八百梨，以此倍失人心。 及託跋燾軍至，乃奔退，麾下散亡略盡。 蕭斌將斬之，沈慶之固諫曰：「佛狸威震天下，控弦百萬，豈玄謨所能當。 且殺戰將以自弱，非良計也。」 斌乃止。 初，玄謨始將見殺，夢人告曰：「誦觀音經千遍，則免。」 既覺，誦之得千遍，明日將刑，誦之不輟，忽傳呼停刑。 遣代守碻磝，江夏王義恭為征討都督，以為碻磝不可守，召令還，為魏軍所追，大破之，流矢中臂。 二十八年正月，還至歷城，義恭與玄謨書曰：「聞因敗為成，臂上金瘡，得非金印之徵也。」
When the great northern expedition was mounted, Xuanmo was made General Who Pacifies the North, led the vanguard across the Yellow River, and served under Pacifying-State General Xiao Bin. Xuanmo pressed toward Queao; the defending commander fled, and he laid siege to Huatai, yet after many days still could not capture it. The northern ruler Tuoba Tao marched with a host said to reach a million men; drum and horn rolled across the sky. Xuanmo's force was likewise strong and his equipment excellent, but he trusted only his own judgment and put many to death. At first the city was full of thatched roofs. His men urged firing them with fire-arrows; Xuanmo refused, fearing damage to captured supplies. The defenders promptly stripped the thatch and cleared ground for dug-in shelters. As Wei reinforcements approached, the army asked to ring the camp with wagons; again he refused, and officers and men drifted away in resentment. He also profiteered in camp goods, demanding eight hundred pears for a single bolt of cloth, and lost twice over in goodwill. When Tuoba Tao's army came up, he broke and ran; his command dissolved almost entirely. Xiao Bin was ready to behead him, but Shen Qingzhi pleaded hard: "Boli's power shakes the empire—he commands a million bowmen. Xuanmo could never have stood against him. Slaying a field commander only weakens us—that is no wise course." Bin stayed the execution. When he had first faced execution, a dream told him, "Chant the Guanyin Sutra a thousand times and you will escape death. He woke and chanted until he had completed a thousand verses. The next day, on the scaffold, he kept chanting without pause until an order suddenly halted the sentence. He was reassigned to hold Queao. Yigong, Prince of Jiangxia, commanded the punitive force, judged Queao untenable, and recalled him. Wei troops pursued and shattered his column; a stray arrow pierced his arm. In the first month of the twenty-eighth year he reached Licheng. Yigong wrote, "They say defeat turned to victory and a golden wound appeared on your arm—surely that foretells a golden seal?"
20
元凶弒立，玄謨為冀州刺史。 孝武伐逆，玄謨遣濟南太守垣護之將兵赴義。 事平，除徐州刺史，加都督。 及南郡王義宣與江州刺史臧質反，朝庭假玄謨輔國將軍，拜豫州刺史，與柳元景南討，軍屯梁山，夾岸築偃月壘，水陸待之。 義宣遣劉諶之就臧質，陳軍城南，玄謨留老弱守城，悉精兵接戰，賊遂大潰。 加都督、前將軍，封曲江縣侯。 中軍司馬劉沖之白孝武，言：「玄謨在梁山，與義宣通謀。」 上意不能明，使有司奏玄謨多取寶貨，虛張戰簿，與徐州刺史垣護之並免官。
After the heir Yuanxiong murdered his father and seized the throne, Xuanmo was appointed Inspector of Jizhou. When Emperor Xiaowu marched to punish the usurper, Xuanmo sent Jinan Administrator Yuan Huzhi with troops to join the loyal side. After the revolt was crushed he became Inspector of Xuzhou with overall military authority. When Yixuan, Prince of Nanjun, and Jiangzhou Inspector Zang Zhi rose in revolt, the court named Xuanmo acting Pacifying-State General and Inspector of Yuzhou. With Liu Yuanying he marched south, encamped at Liangshan, and threw up crescent ramparts on both riverbanks to meet the rebels by land and water. Yixuan sent Liu Shenzhi to Zang Zhi's camp. The rebels drew up south of the city. Xuanmo left the aged and weak to guard the walls and led every able man to the fight; the enemy collapsed. He received overall command and the rank of Forward General and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Qujiang. Central Army staff officer Liu Chongzhi told Emperor Xiaowu that at Liangshan Xuanmo had secretly colluded with Yixuan. The emperor could not judge the charge clearly. He had officials report that Xuanmo had seized great spoils and falsified battle records; both he and Xuzhou Inspector Yuan Huzhi were dismissed.
21
尋復為豫州刺史。 淮上亡命司馬黑石推立夏侯方進為主，改姓李名弘，以惑眾，玄謨討斬之。 遷寧蠻校尉、雍州刺史，加都督。 雍土多僑寓，玄謨請土斷流民，當時百姓不願屬籍，罷之。 其年，玄謨又令九品以上租，使貧富相通，境內莫不嗟怨。 民間訛言玄謨欲反，時柳元景當權，元景弟僧景為新城太守，以元景之勢，制令南陽、順陽、上庸、新城諸郡並發兵討玄謨。 玄謨令內外晏然，以解眾惑，馳啟孝武，具陳本末。 帝知其虛，馳遣主書吳喜公撫慰之，又答曰：「梁山風塵，初不介意，君臣之際，過足相保，聊復為笑，伸卿眉頭。」 玄謨性嚴，未嘗妄笑，時人言玄謨眉頭未曾伸，故帝以此戲之。 後為金紫光祿大夫，領太常。 及建明堂，以本官領起部尚書，又領北選。
Before long he was reappointed Inspector of Yuzhou. A Huai River outlaw, Sima Heishi, proclaimed Xia Houfangjin leader, styled him Li Hong to beguile the people; Xuanmo crushed the band and executed him. He was moved to Colonel Pacifying the Tribes and Inspector of Yongzhou with overall authority. Yongzhou held many displaced households. Xuanmo petitioned to register wandering populations locally; the people resisted enrollment and the policy was dropped. That same year he levied rent even on men of the ninth rank and above, forcing rich and poor to share alike; the whole province groaned in protest. Word ran that Xuanmo meant to rebel. Liu Yuanying then dominated the court; his brother Sengjing governed Xincheng and, leaning on Yuanying's power, ordered Nanyang, Shunyang, Shangyong, Xincheng, and neighboring commanderies to march against Xuanmo. Xuanmo kept his household and camp unruffled to quiet rumor and rushed a full account to Emperor Xiaowu. Knowing the accusation hollow, the emperor dispatched Chief Clerk Wu Xigong to reassure him and wrote back, "The turmoil at Liangshan never troubled me. Between sovereign and minister we have more than enough trust—come, let us laugh again and smooth your brow." Stern by nature, he seldom smiled; people said his brow had never relaxed—hence the emperor's jest. He later became Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with golden seal and purple ribbon, while also heading the Ministry of Rites. When the Bright Hall was raised, he kept his rank, headed the ministry overseeing its construction, and supervised northern appointments.
22
孝武狎侮羣臣，隨其狀貌，各有比類，多鬚者謂之羊。 顏師伯缺齒，號之曰齴。 劉秀之儉吝，呼為老慳。 黃門侍郎宗靈秀體肥，拜起不便，每至集會，多所賜與，欲其瞻謝傾踣，以為歡笑。 又刻木作靈秀父光祿勳叔獻像，送其家廳事。 柳元景、垣護之並北人，而玄謨獨受「老傖」之目。 凡所稱謂，四方書疏亦如之。 嘗為玄謨作四時詩曰：「菫荼供春膳，粟漿充夏飡。 瓟醬調秋菜，白醝解冬寒。」 又寵一崐崘奴子，名白主。 常在左右，令以杖擊羣臣，自柳元景以下，皆罹其毒。
Emperor Xiaowu bullied his ministers and mocked their faces with nicknames—men with heavy beards he called "goats." Yan Shibo was missing teeth; they nicknamed him "Gummy." Liu Xiuzhi was tight-fisted; they called him "Old Miser." Gentleman of the Yellow Gate Zong Lingxiu was obese and clumsy at court bows. At every feast the emperor showered him with gifts, hoping he would trip when he rose to thank him and provide a laugh. He even had a wooden statue carved of Lingxiu's father, Grand Master Shuxian, and sent it to their reception hall. Liu Yuanying and Yuan Huzhi were northerners too, yet only Xuanmo was tagged "Old Barbarian." Whatever nicknames he coined, correspondence from every quarter repeated them. He once wrote Xuanmo a poem on the four seasons: "Shepherd's purse for spring fare; millet broth for summer meals. Gourd paste dresses autumn greens; rice wine lees ward off winter chill." He also doted on a Kunlun slave boy named Baizhu ("White Master"). Baizhu stayed always at his side, and the emperor had him beat the ministers with a staff—from Liu Yuanying downward, all felt his blows.
23
玄謨尋遷平北將軍、徐州刺史，加都督。 時北土飢饉，乃散私穀十萬斛、牛千頭以振之。 轉領軍將軍。
Xuanmo was soon made General Who Pacifies the North and Inspector of Xuzhou with overall authority. Famine gripped the north; he released 100,000 hu of his private grain and a thousand oxen for relief. He was promoted to General of the Palace Guard.
24
孝武崩，與柳元景等俱受顧命，以外監事委玄謨。 時朝政多門，玄謨以嚴直不容，徙青、冀二州刺史，加都督。 少帝既誅顏師伯、柳元景等，狂悖益甚，以領軍徵玄謨。 子姪咸勸稱疾，玄謨曰：「吾受先帝厚恩，豈可畏禍苟免。」 遂行。 及至，屢表諫諍，又流涕請緩刑去殺，以安元元。 少帝大怒。
At Xiaowu's death he and Liu Yuanying and others received the final testament; border affairs were placed in Xuanmo's hands. Court factions multiplied; Xuanmo's stern integrity could not be borne, and he was shifted to Inspector of Qing and Ji with overall command. After the Deposed Emperor killed Yan Shibo, Liu Yuanying, and the rest, his madness deepened. He recalled Xuanmo as General of the Palace Guard. Sons and nephews begged him to feign sickness. Xuanmo said, "The late emperor favored me deeply—how could I shrink from peril and save myself?" He went. On reaching court he remonstrated again and again, weeping as he begged that executions be slowed and slaughter ended so the people might be calmed. The Deposed Emperor flew into a rage.
25
明帝即位，禮遇甚優。 時四方反叛，以玄謨為大統，領水軍南討，以脚疾，聽乘輿出入。 尋除車騎將軍、江州刺史，副司徒建安王於赭圻，賜以諸葛亮筩袖鎧。 頃之，為左光祿大夫、開府儀同三司，領護軍。 遷南豫州刺史，加都督。 玄謨性嚴剋少恩，而將軍宗越御下更苛酷，軍士謂之語曰：「寧作五年徒，不逢王玄謨。 玄謨猶自可，宗越更殺我。」 年八十一薨，諡曰莊公。 子深早卒，深子繢嗣。
When Emperor Ming succeeded, Xuanmo was honored generously. With revolt breaking out everywhere, he was named supreme commander and led the fleet south; his leg trouble won him leave to ride the imperial carriage in and out of court. He was soon Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry and Inspector of Jiangzhou, serving under the Minister of Works, Prince of Jian'an, at Zheqi, and was presented with Zhuge Liang's linked tube armor. Shortly after he became Left Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with the honors of the Three Excellencies and commanded the Palace Guard. He was transferred to Inspector of Southern Yuzhou with overall military authority. Xuanmo was harsh and stinting in mercy; General Zong Yue was crueller still. The troops had a rhyme: "Better five years as a convict than run into Wang Xuanmo. Xuanmo you can endure—Yue will kill you." He died at eighty-one; his posthumous title was Duke Zhuang ("Solemn"). His son Shen died early; the line passed to Shen's son Hui.
26
史評
Historian's Appraisal
27
史臣曰：脩之、宗慤，皆以將帥之材，懷廉潔之操，有足稱焉。 玄謨雖苛剋少恩，然觀其大節，亦足為美。 當少帝失道，多所殺戮，而能冒履不測，傾心輔弼，斯可謂忘身徇國者歟。
The historian writes: Both Xiuzhi and Zong Que possessed true generalship and maintained frugal integrity—each merits praise. Xuanmo, for all his harshness and scant mercy, shows in his larger conduct something still admirable. When the Deposed Emperor abandoned the Way and slaughtered without measure, Xuanmo still risked the unknown and gave his heart to steady the throne—can this be anything but forgetting self for the sake of the realm?