Volume 78 Biographies 38: Xiao Sihua, Liu Yansun

列傳第三十八蕭思話劉延孫

Biography 38: Xiao Sihua and Liu Yansun

蕭思話，南蘭陵人，孝懿皇后弟子也。父源之，字君流，歷中書黃門郎，徐、兗二州刺史，冠軍將軍、南琅邪太守。永初元年卒，追贈前將軍。

Xiao Sihua, a native of Nanlanling, was a nephew of Empress Xiaoyi. His father Xiao Yuanzhi, courtesy name Junliu, held posts including Secretariat Yellow Gate Attendant, regional inspector of Xu and Yan, Champion General, and administrator of Southern Langye. He died in 420 and was posthumously promoted to Forward General.

思話年十許歲，未知書，以博誕遊遨為事，好騎屋棟，打細腰鼓，侵暴鄰曲，莫不患毒之。自此折節，數年中，遂有令譽。好書史，善彈琴，能騎射。高祖一見，便以國器許之。年十八，除琅邪王大司馬行參軍，轉相國參軍，父憂去職。服闋，拜羽林監，領石頭戍事，襲爵封陽縣侯，轉宣威將軍、彭城、沛二郡太守。涉獵書傳，頗能隸書，解音律，便弓馬。元嘉元年，謝晦為荊州，欲請為司馬，思話拒之。

Around the age of ten, Sihua had not yet learned to read. He spent his days gambling and roaming wild, liked to scamper along roof ridges and beat narrow waist-drums, and bullied the neighbors until they all loathed him. From then on he reformed his ways, and within a few years had earned an excellent name. He took to history and letters, played the zither well, and was capable in horsemanship and archery. Emperor Gaozu singled him out at first sight as a man fit to serve the state. At eighteen he was made acting secretary on the staff of the Prince of Langye's great marshal, then transferred to a staff post under the chancellor of state; he left office when his father died. After the mourning period he became supervisor of the imperial guard, took charge of the Shitou garrison, inherited the fief as Marquis of Fengyang, and was promoted to Display Might General and administrator of Pengcheng and Pei. He read widely in the classics, wrote a passable hand in clerical script, understood music theory, and was handy with bow and horse. In 424, when Xie Hui held Jing province, he tried to recruit Sihua as his chief staff officer; Sihua declined.

五年，遷中書侍郎，仍督青州、徐州之東莞諸軍事、振武將軍、青州刺史，時年二十七。亡命司馬朗之、元之、可之兄弟，聚黨於東莞發干縣，謀為寇亂。思話遣北海太守蕭汪之討斬之，餘黨悉平。八年，除竟陵王義宣左軍司馬、南沛郡太守。未及就徵，索虜南寇，檀道濟北伐，既而回師，思話懼虜大至，乃棄鎮奔平昌。思話先使參軍劉振之戍下邳，聞思話奔，亦委城走。虜定不至，而東陽積聚，已為百姓所焚，由是徵下廷尉，仍繫尚方。初在青州，常所用銅鬥，覆在藥廚下，得二死雀，思話曰：「鬥覆而雙雀殞，其不祥乎！」既而被繫。

In 428 he was promoted to secretariat gentleman and appointed to command the Dongguan military district in Qing and Xu, as Rousing Might General and inspector of Qing; he was twenty-seven. The fugitive brothers Sima Langzhi, Yuanzhi, and Kezhi raised a band at Fagan in Dongguan and plotted rebellion. Sihua sent the administrator of Beihai, Xiao Wangzhi, to attack and kill them, and the rest of the band was wiped out. In 431 he became left-army marshal on Prince Jingling Liu Yixuan's staff and administrator of Nanpei. Before he could take up the post, the Wei crossed the frontier southward. Tan Daoji marched north, then withdrew; fearing a major invasion, Sihua abandoned his command and fled to Pingchang. Sihua had earlier posted his aide Liu Zhenzhi at Xiapi; when Liu heard Sihua had fled, he too abandoned the city and ran. The enemy never appeared, but the supplies stockpiled at Dongyang had been burned by locals. For this he was called to answer before the court of justice and held in the imperial workshops prison. While he was still in Qing province, the copper dipper he used daily was found overturned under the medicine kitchen, with two dead sparrows beneath it. Sihua said, "The dipper overturned and two sparrows died—is this not a bad omen?" Soon afterward he was imprisoned.

九年，仇池大饑，益、梁州豐稔，梁州刺史甄法護在任失和，氐帥楊難當因此寇漢中。乃自徒中起思話督梁、南秦二州諸軍事、橫野將軍、梁、南秦二州刺史。既行，聞法護已委鎮北奔西城，遣司馬、建威將軍、南漢中太守蕭諱五百人前進；又遣西戎長史蕭汪之係之。諱緣路收合士眾，得精兵千人。十年正月，進據磝頭。難當焚掠漢中，引眾西還，留其輔國將軍、梁秦二州刺史趙溫守梁州，魏興太守薛健據黃金。諱進屯磝頭，遣陰平太守蕭坦赴黃金，薛健副薑寶據鐵城，鐵城與黃金相對，去一裏，斫樹塞道。坦進攻二戍，拔之。二月，趙溫又率薛健及其寧朔將軍、馮翼太守蒲早子來攻坦營，坦奮擊，大破之。坦被創，賊退保西水。諱司馬錫文祖進據黃金，蕭汪之步騎五百相繼而至。平西將軍臨川王義慶遣龍驤將軍裴方明三千人赴，諱等進黃金，早子、健等退保下桃。思話先遣行參軍王靈濟率偏軍出洋川，因向南城。偽陵江將軍趙英堅守險，靈濟擊破之，生禽英。南城空虛，因資無所，復引軍還與諱合。

In 432 Chouchi was stricken by famine while Yi and Liang enjoyed good harvests. Zhen Fahu, inspector of Liang, had lost control of his command, and the Di leader Yang Nandang seized the chance to invade Hanzhong. Sihua was then released from prison and appointed to command the armies of Liang and Southern Qin, as Sweeping Wilderness General and inspector of both provinces. On the march he learned that Fahu had abandoned his post and fled north to Xicheng. He sent his marshal Xiao Hui—Display Might General and administrator of Southern Hanzhong—ahead with five hundred men; and sent chief clerk for the western tribes Xiao Wangzhi to follow in support. Along the route Hui rallied troops and mustered a thousand picked soldiers. In the first month of 433 he advanced and took Qiaotou. Nandang burned and looted Hanzhong, then withdrew west, leaving his Assisting State General and joint inspector of Liang and Qin, Zhao Wen, to hold Liang province while Weixing administrator Xue Jian occupied Huangjin. Hui moved up to Qiaotou and sent Yinping administrator Xiao Tan against Huangjin. Xue Jian's lieutenant Jiang Bao held Tiecheng, a mile across from Huangjin, with the road blocked by felled trees. Tan attacked both strongpoints and took them. In the second month Zhao Wen led Xue Jian and Pu Zaozi—Pacifying the North General and administrator of Fengyi—against Tan's camp. Tan struck hard and won a crushing victory. Tan was wounded in the fight, and the enemy fell back to defend Xishui. Hui's marshal Xi Wenzu moved into Huangjin, and Xiao Wangzhi came up with five hundred foot and horse in succession. Prince Linchuan Liu Yiqing, Pacifying West General, sent Dragon Cavalry General Pei Fangming with three thousand men. Hui pressed on to Huangjin, and Zaozi and Jian fell back to Xiatao. Sihua had already sent acting staff officer Wang Lingji with a detached force through Yangchuan toward Nancheng. The enemy general Zhao Ying, Crossing-the-River General, held the passes. Lingji broke him and took Ying alive. Nancheng was empty and offered no supplies, so he turned back and rejoined Hui.

三月，諱率眾軍進據峨公固。難當遣其子和率趙溫、蒲早子及左衛將軍呂平、寧朔將軍司馬飛龍，步騎萬餘，跨漢津結柴，其間立浮橋，悉力攻諱，合圍數十重，短兵接戰，弓矢無復用。賊悉衣犀革，戈矛所不能加。諱乃截矟長數尺，以大斧椎之，一矟輒貫十餘賊。賊不能當，因大敗，燒柴奔走，退據大桃。閏月，諱及方明臺軍至，龍驤將軍楊平興、幢主殿中將軍梁坦直入角弩追之，賊又敗走，殺傷虜獲甚多。漢中平，悉收沒地，置戍葭萌水。

In the third month Hui led the main force to Egonggu. Nandang sent his son He at the head of Zhao Wen, Pu Zaozi, Left Guard General Lü Ping, and Pacifying the North General Sima Feilong, with over ten thousand foot and horse. They crossed the Han, threw up stockades and a pontoon bridge between them, and threw everything at Hui in layer upon layer of encirclement until the fight came to blades at close range and bows were useless. The enemy all wore rhinoceros-hide armor that spears and halberds could not penetrate. Hui had spears cut to several feet and driven in with heavy axes; a single thrust would run through more than ten men. They could not stand against this and broke in rout, burning their stockades as they fled to Datao. In the intercalary month Hui was joined by Pei Fangming's allied troops. Dragon Cavalry General Yang Pingxing and pennant commander Palace General Liang Tan pressed the pursuit with crossbows. The enemy broke again, leaving heavy casualties and captures. Hanzhong was pacified, lost ground recovered, and a garrison established at Jiameng Ford.

先是，桓玄篡晉，以桓希為梁州。布敗走，氐楊盛據有漢中，刺史范元之、傅歆悉治魏興，唯得魏興、上庸、新城三郡。其後索邈為刺史，乃治南城。為賊所焚燒不可固，即思話遷鎮南域，加節，進號寧朔將軍，征諱為太子屯騎校尉。法護，中山無極人，過江寓居南郡。弟法崇，元嘉十年，自少府為益州刺史。法護委鎮之罪，統府所收，於獄賜死。太祖以法崇受任一方，令獄官言法護病卒。太祖使思話上平定漢中本末，下之史官。

Earlier, when Huan Xuan seized the Jin throne, he had appointed Huan Xi inspector of Liang. After Bu was defeated and fled, the Di leader Yang Sheng held Hanzhong. Inspectors Fan Yuanzhi and Fu Xin governed only from Weixing, retaining just Weixing, Shangyong, and Xincheng. Later, when Suo Miao became inspector, the seat was moved to Nancheng. Because it had been burned by the enemy and could not be held, Sihua moved his headquarters to the southern region, received the staff of command, was promoted to Pacifying the North General, and recalled Hui as colonel of the heir apparent's garrison cavalry. Fahu was from Wuji in Zhongshan and, after crossing south, had settled in Nan commandery. His younger brother Fachong became inspector of Yi in 433, transferred from the minister steward's office. Fahu was condemned for abandoning his post; his property was seized by the headquarters, and he was ordered to take his own life in prison. Because Fachong held a provincial command, the Taizu had the prison authorities report that Fahu had died of illness. The Taizu had Sihua submit a full report on the pacification of Hanzhong for the court historians.

十四年，遷使持節、臨川王義慶平西長史、南蠻校尉。太祖賜以弓琴，手敕曰：「丈人頃何所作？事務之暇，故以琴書為娛耳，所得不曰義邪！眷想常不忘情，想亦同之。前得此琴，云是舊物，亦有名京邑，今以相借。因是戴顒意於彈撫，響韻殊勝，直爾嘉也。並往桑弓一張，材理乃快，先所常用，既久廢射，又多病，略不能制之，便成老公，令人歎息。良材美器，宜在盡用之地，丈人真無所與讓也。」

In 437 he became bearer of the staff, chief clerk for Pacifying the West on Prince Linchuan's staff, and colonel of the southern tribes. The Taizu sent him a bow and a zither with a personal note: "My dear sir, what have you been up to lately? In your spare hours from office you amuse yourself with zither and books—is that not a worthy use of time? I think of you often and trust you feel the same. I recently acquired this zither, said to be an old instrument once celebrated in the capital, and now lend it to you. Dai Yong enjoyed playing it; the tone is exceptionally fine, and I thought you would appreciate it. I also send a mulberry-wood bow of excellent grain that I once used constantly. I have long since given up archery, and illness has left me barely able to draw it—I have become an old man, which is lamentable. Good wood and fine instruments belong where they will be fully used; my dear sir, you need not stand on ceremony."

十六年，衡陽王義季代義慶，又除安西長史，餘如故。十九年，徵為侍中，領前軍將軍，未就徵，復先職。明年，遷持節、監雍州、梁、南北秦四州、荊州之南陽、竟陵、順陽、襄陽、新野、隨六郡諸軍事、寧蠻校尉、雍州刺史、襄陽太守。二十二年，除侍中，領太子右率。二十四年，改領左衛將軍。嘗從太祖登鍾山北嶺，中道有磐石清泉，上使於石上彈琴，因賜以銀鍾酒，謂曰：「相賞有松石間意。」又領南徐州大中正。明年，復監雍、梁、南北秦四州、荊州之竟陵、隨二郡諸軍事、右將軍、寧蠻校尉、雍州刺史如故。

In 439, when Prince Hengyang Liu Yiji replaced Yiqing, Sihua was again made chief clerk for Pacifying the West; his other titles were unchanged. In 442 he was summoned as attendant-in-ordinary and commander of the vanguard army, but before he could take up the appointment he was restored to his former posts. The following year he became bearer of the staff, overseer of Yong, Liang, and Northern and Southern Qin, commander of the six Jing commanderies from Nanyang through Sui, colonel who pacifies the tribes, inspector of Yong, and administrator of Xiangyang. In 445 he was made attendant-in-ordinary and right leader of the heir apparent's household. In 447 he was reassigned as left guard general. Once, accompanying the Taizu up the north ridge of Zhongshan, they came to a boulder beside a clear spring. The emperor had him play the zither on the rock and gave him silver-bell wine, saying, "This is the pleasure of pines and stones together." He also served as grand rectifier of Southern Xu. The next year he resumed oversight of Yong, Liang, Northern and Southern Qin, and the Jing commanderies of Jingling and Sui, as right general, colonel who pacifies the tribes, and inspector of Yong, as before.

二十六年，徵為吏部尚書。詔思話曰：「沈尚書暴病不救，其體業貞審，立朝盡公，年時尚可，方相委任，奄忽不永，痛惋特深。銓管要機，通塞所寄，丈人才用體國，二三惟允。」思話以去州無復事力，倩府軍身九人，太祖戲之曰：「丈人終不為田父于裏閭，何應無人使邪？」未拜，二十七年，遷護軍將軍。

In 449 he was summoned to head the Ministry of Personnel. An edict to Sihua read: "Minister Shen's sudden illness proved fatal. Upright in person and careful in conduct, wholly devoted in office, he was still in his prime and we had meant to rely on him further. His sudden death grieves us deeply. The evaluation of key appointments is vital to the realm's fortunes; your talent serves the state, and of the few men fit for this post you are foremost." Sihua, having left his province without household staff, asked for nine attendants from the princely establishment. The Taizu teased him: "Surely you are not to become a village farmer in the lanes—how can you have no servants?" Before he could take office, in 450 he was made general of the guards.

是年春，虜攻懸瓠，太祖將大舉北討，朝士僉同，莫或異議。思話固諫，不從。乃領精甲三千，助鎮彭城。虜退，即代世祖為持節、監徐、兗、青、冀四州、豫州之梁郡諸軍事、撫軍將軍、兗、徐二州刺史。

That spring the Wei attacked Xuanchi. The Taizu planned a major northern campaign, and the court was unanimous—no one dissented. Sihua argued strongly against it but was overruled. He then led three thousand picked troops to help hold Pengcheng. When the enemy withdrew, he replaced the future Emperor Xiaowu as bearer of the staff, commander of Xu, Yan, Qing, and Ji and of Liang commandery in Yu, as pacifying army general and inspector of Yan and Xu.

二十九年，統揚武將軍、冀州刺史張永眾軍圍碻磝。初，鎮軍諮議參軍申坦與王玄謨圍滑臺，不克，免官。青州刺史蕭斌板坦行建威將軍、濟南平原二郡太守，守歷城，令任仲仁又為坦副，並前鋒入河。五月，發沿口，永司馬崔訓、建武將軍齊郡太守胡景世率青州軍來會。七月，思話及眾軍並至碻磝，治三攻道。太祖遣員外散騎侍郎徐爰宣旨督戰。張永、胡景世當東攻道，申坦、任仲仁西攻道，崔訓南攻道。賊夜地道出，燒崔訓樓及蟆車，又燒胡景世樓及攻具，尋又毀崔訓攻道，城不可拔。思話馳來，退師。攻城凡十八日，解圍還歷下。崔訓以樓見燒，又不能固攻道，被誅於碻磝；永、坦並繫獄。詔曰：「得撫軍將軍思話啟事，碻磝不拔，士卒疲勞，且班師清濟，更圖進討。此鎮山川嚴阻，控臨河朔，形勝之要，擅名自古，宜除其授，以允望實。思話可解徐州為冀州，餘如故。彭城文武，復量分配，即鎮歷城。」尋為江夏王義恭所奏，免官。

In 452 he took overall command of Zhang Yong's forces—Rousing Might General and inspector of Ji—in the siege of Quebi. Earlier, army-quelling adviser Shen Tan had joined Wang Xuamo in the unsuccessful siege of Huatai and was dismissed. Qing inspector Xiao Bin reinstated Tan as acting Display Might General and administrator of Jinan and Pingyuan, posted him at Licheng, and made Ren Zhongren his deputy; both led the vanguard into the river frontier. In the fifth month they marched from Yankou. Zhang Yong's marshal Cui Xun and Display Martial General Hu Jingshi, administrator of Qi, brought the Qing forces to the rendezvous. In the seventh month Sihua and the allied armies reached Quebi and opened three assault trenches. The Taizu sent extraordinary attendant Xu Ai with imperial orders to oversee the fighting. Zhang Yong and Hu Jingshi held the eastern approach, Shen Tan and Ren Zhongren the western, and Cui Xun the southern. The defenders sallied by night through tunnels, burned Cui Xun's tower and siege engines, then Hu Jingshi's tower and equipment, and finally wrecked Cui Xun's approach. The city could not be taken. Sihua rode up in haste and ordered a withdrawal. After eighteen days of siege they raised the blockade and withdrew to Lixia. Cui Xun was executed at Quebi because his tower had been burned and he had failed to hold his approach; Zhang Yong and Shen Tan were both imprisoned. An edict read: "Pacifying Army General Sihua reports that Quebi could not be taken, the troops are exhausted, and the army is withdrawn to the clear Ji to plan a new advance. This fortress lies in rugged terrain commanding the north bank of the Yellow River—a famous strategic post since antiquity. Its command should be reorganized to match the need. Sihua is to exchange Xu for Ji province; his other titles remain. The civil and military staff at Pengcheng are to be redistributed, and he is to take up headquarters at Licheng at once." Soon Prince Jiangxia Liu Yigong memorialized against him, and he was dismissed.

元兇弑立，以為使持節、監徐、青、兗、冀四州、豫州之梁郡諸軍事、徐、兗二州刺史，將軍如故。思話即率部曲還彭城，起義以應世祖。遣使奉箋曰：「下官近在歷下，始奉國諱，所承使人，不知闊狹，既還在路，漸有所聞，猶謂人倫無容有此，私懷感慨，未敢在言。奉被今教，果出慮表，重增哀惋，不能自勝。此實天地所不覆載，人神所不容忍，率土民氓，莫不憤咽，況下官蒙荷榮渥，義兼常志。此月五日，被驛使追命騎還朝，切齒拊心，輒已鍾疾，雖百口在都，一非所顧。正欲遣啟受規略，會奉今旨，悲懼兼情。伏承司徒英圖電發，殿下神武霜斷，臧質忠義並到，不謀同時，仗順沿流，席捲江甸，前驅風邁，已應在近。下官復練始集，遣輔國將軍申坦、龍驤將軍梁坦二軍，分配精甲五千，申坦為統，便以即日水陸齊下。下官悉率文武，駱驛繼發。憑威策懦，勢同振朽，開泰有期，悲欣交集。」世祖至新亭，坦亦進克京口。

When the usurper Liu Shao seized the throne by regicide, he reappointed Sihua bearer of the staff, commander of Xu, Qing, Yan, and Ji and of Liang in Yu, and inspector of Xu and Yan, with his general's rank unchanged. Sihua at once led his personal forces back to Pengcheng and rose in support of the future Emperor Xiaowu. He sent envoys with a memorial: "Your servant was recently at Lixia when the national mourning was proclaimed. The messenger I received gave no clear account; only on the road back did I gradually hear rumors, and I still could not believe that human relations could permit such a thing. I kept my grief private and dared not speak openly. Now that I have received your present command, the truth is worse than I had feared. My grief is redoubled beyond bearing. This is an outrage that heaven and earth cannot shelter and that gods and men cannot abide. Every subject under heaven chokes with rage—how much more your servant, who has received such grace and owes a duty beyond the ordinary. On the fifth of this month post-riders summoned me back to court by forced march. I gnashed my teeth and clutched my heart until illness seized me at once. Though a hundred kinsmen remain in the capital, not one of them could hold me back. I was about to send a memorial asking for your plan of campaign when your present command arrived, and grief and fear overwhelmed me together. I learn that the Minister over the Masses has launched his plan like lightning, that Your Highness's divine martial resolve strikes like frost, and that Zang Zhi has brought his loyal forces—all acting in concert without prior conspiracy, riding the tide of righteousness downriver to sweep the Jiang region. Your vanguard must already be near. Your servant has mustered his newly drilled troops and dispatched the armies of Assisting State General Shen Tan and Dragon Cavalry General Liang Tan with five thousand picked armored men under Shen Tan's overall command, to march downstream by land and water this very day. I shall lead all my civil and military officers in rapid succession behind them. With your prestige driving cowards before us, the enemy will crumble like rotten wood. The restoration draws near, and my grief and joy are mingled." When the future Emperor Xiaowu reached Xinting, Liang Tan also advanced and took Jingkou.

孝建二年卒，時年五十。追贈征西將軍、開府儀同三司，持節、常侍、都督、刺史如故，諡曰穆侯。思話宗戚令望，蚤見任待，凡歷州十二，杖節監都督九焉。所至雖無皦皦清節，亦無穢黷之累。愛才好士，人多歸之。

He died in 465, at the age of fifty. He was posthumously made Conquering West General and grand marshal with ceremony equal to the Three Excellencies, retaining the staff, regular attendant, overseer, and inspector titles; his posthumous name was Marquis Mu. Sihua came from a clan of standing and was trusted early in life. He governed twelve provinces in all and nine times bore the staff as overseer or commander. Nowhere he served did he earn a reputation for spotless integrity, but neither was he tainted by corruption. He loved learning and honored scholars, and many men gathered to him.

長子惠開嗣，別有傳。次子惠明，亦有世譽，歷黃門郎，御史中丞，司徒左長史，吳興太守。後廢帝元徽末，卒官。第四子惠基，順帝昇明末，為侍中。

His eldest son Hui'kai succeeded him; his biography appears elsewhere. His second son Huiming also enjoyed a fine reputation, serving as yellow gate attendant, censor-in-chief, left chief clerk to the minister over the masses, and administrator of Wuxing. He died in office at the end of the Yuanhui era under Emperor Houfei. His fourth son Huiji became attendant-in-ordinary at the end of Emperor Shundi's Shengming reign.

源之從父弟摹之，丹陽尹，追贈征虜將軍。子斌，亦為太祖所遇。彭城王義康鎮豫章，以為大將軍諮議參軍、豫章太守。歷南蠻校尉，侍中，輔國將軍、青冀二州刺史。

Yuanzhi's paternal cousin Mozhi served as governor of Danyang and was posthumously made Punishing Barbarians General. His son Bin was likewise favored by the Taizu. When Prince Pengcheng Liu Yikang governed Yuzhang, Bin was made grand marshal adviser and administrator of Yuzhang. He later served as colonel of the southern tribes, attendant-in-ordinary, assisting state general, and inspector of Qing and Ji.

元嘉二十七年，統王玄謨等眾軍北伐。斌遣將軍崔猛攻虜青州刺史張淮之於樂安，淮之棄城走。先是，猛與斌參軍傅融分取樂安及碻磝，樂安水道不通，先並定碻磝，至是又克樂安。既而攻圍滑臺，不拔。斌追還歷下，事在王玄謨傳。二十八年，亡命司馬順則詐稱晉室近屬，自號齊王，聚眾據梁鄒城。又有沙門自稱司馬百年，號安定王，亡命秦凱之、祖元明等各據村屯以應順則。初，梁鄒戍主、宣威將軍、樂安、渤海二郡太守崔勳之出州，故順則因虛竊據。勳之司馬曹敬會拒戰不敵，出走。斌即遣勳之率行建威將軍濟南、平原二郡太守申坦、長流參軍羅文昌等諸軍討順則，攻之不克。勳之等始謂城內出於逼附，軍至即應奔逃，而並為賊堅守，殺傷官軍甚多。斌又遣府司馬、建武將軍、齊郡太守龐秀之總諸軍。祖元明又據安丘城，斌更遣振武將軍劉武之及軍主劉回精兵千人，討司馬百年，斬之。順則既失據，眾稍離阻。文昌遣道連偽投賊，賊信納之，潛以官賞格示眾，城內賊黨李繼叔等並有歸順心。道連謀泄，為賊所殺，繼叔逾城出降，賊黨於是大離。乃四面進攻，沖車所沖，輒三五丈崩落。時南門樓上擲下一級，並垂繩釣取外人，外人上，賊並放仗，雲向已斬順則，所投首是也。秦凱之走河北。斌坐滑臺退敗，免官。久之，復起為南平王鑠右軍長史。其後事蹟在《二凶傳》。

In 450 he took overall command of Wang Xuamo's forces on the northern expedition. Bin sent General Cui Meng against the Wei Qing inspector Zhang Huaizhi at Le'an; Huaizhi abandoned the city and fled. Earlier, Meng and Bin's aide Fu Rong had been assigned to take Le'an and Quebi separately. Because Le'an's waterways were blocked, they secured Quebi first and only now also took Le'an. They then besieged Huatai but failed to take it. Bin withdrew to Lixia; the full account is in Wang Xuamo's biography. In 451 the fugitive Sima Shunze falsely claimed kinship with the Jin imperial house, proclaimed himself King of Qi, and raised a band to hold Liangzou. A monk also called himself Sima Bainian and styled himself King of Anding, while fugitives Qin Kaizhi, Zu Yuanming, and others seized village strongholds in support of Shunze. Earlier, when Liangzou's garrison commander Cui Xunzhi—Display Might General and administrator of Le'an and Bohai—had left the province, Shunze seized the chance to occupy the city. Xunzhi's marshal Cao Jinghui fought but was defeated and fled. Bin at once sent Xunzhi with acting Display Might General and administrator of Jinan and Pingyuan Shen Tan, campaign chief clerk Luo Wenchang, and their forces against Shunze, but the assault failed. Xunzhi and his men had assumed the townspeople had joined under duress and would flee when the army arrived, but the rebels held firm and inflicted heavy casualties. Bin then sent his princely marshal Pang Xiuzhi—Display Martial General and administrator of Qi—to take overall command. When Zu Yuanming also seized Anciu, Bin sent Rousing Might General Liu Wuzhi and army commander Liu Hui with a thousand picked men against Sima Bainian and had him beheaded. With Shunze's base lost, his followers began to scatter. Wenchang sent Dao Lian to infiltrate the rebels, who accepted him. He secretly circulated the government's reward schedule, and men inside such as Li Jishu began to waver toward surrender. The plot was discovered and Dao Lian was killed, but Jishu climbed over the wall to surrender, and the rebel party fell apart. They then assaulted from all sides; wherever the battering ram struck, whole sections of wall thirty or fifty feet long crumbled away. From the south gate tower they lowered a rope ladder to haul people up. When men entered, the rebels laid down their arms, claiming Shunze was already dead and that the head they threw down was his. Qin Kaizhi fled north of the Yellow River. Bin was dismissed for the failed siege and withdrawal from Huatai. After a long interval he was reappointed right-army chief clerk to Prince Nanping Liu Shuo. His later career is recorded in the "Biographies of the Two Fiends."

斌弟簡，歷位長沙內史。廣陵王誕為廣州，未之鎮，以簡為安南諮議參軍、南海太守，行府州事。東海王禕代誕，簡仍為前軍諮議，太守如故。世祖入討元兇，遣輔國將軍、南海太守劉琬討簡，固守經時，城陷伏誅。斌、簡諸子並誅滅。

Bin's younger brother Jian served as interior secretary of Changsha. When Prince Guangling Liu Dan was appointed to Guangzhou but had not yet taken up the post, Jian was made pacifying-south adviser and administrator of Nanhai, acting in his stead for the princedom and province. When Prince Donghai Liu Yi replaced Dan, Jian remained forward-army adviser and kept his post as administrator. When the future Emperor Xiaowu marched to suppress the usurper, he sent Assisting State General and Nanhai administrator Liu Wan against Jian. Jian held out for a long time, but when the city fell he was executed. The sons of Bin and Jian were all put to death.

劉延孫，彭城呂人，雍州刺史道產子也。初為徐州主簿，舉秀才，彭城王義康司徒行參軍，尚書都官郎，為錢唐令，世祖撫軍、廣陵王誕北中郎中兵參軍、南清河太守。世祖為徐州，補治中從事史。時索虜圍縣瓠，分軍送所掠民口在汝陽，太祖詔世祖遣軍襲之，議者舉延孫為元帥，固辭無將用，舉劉泰之自代。泰之既行，太祖大怒，免延孫官。為世祖鎮軍北中郎中兵參軍，南中郎諮議參軍，領錄事。世祖伐逆，府缺上佐，轉補長史、尋陽太守，行留府事。

Liu Yansun, a native of Lü in Pengcheng, was the son of Liu Daochan, inspector of Yong. He began as chief clerk of Xu province, was recommended as presented scholar, served as staff officer to Prince Pengcheng under the minister over the masses, as gentleman in the ministry of justice's punishments section, and as magistrate of Qiantang. He later served the future Emperor Xiaowu as pacifying-army staff officer and central troops aide to Prince Guangling, and as administrator of Southern Qinghe. When the future emperor held Xu province, Yansun was made acting supervisor clerk. When the Wei besieged Xuanchi and sent a detachment escorting captives through Ruyang, the Taizu ordered the prince to strike them. The council nominated Yansun as commander, but he declined on the ground that he was no general and recommended Liu Taizhi in his place. When Taizhi marched, the Taizu was furious and dismissed Yansun. He was reappointed central troops aide on the pacifying army staff, south-army adviser, and chief recorder. When the prince marched against the usurper, his headquarters lacked a chief aide; Yansun was made chief clerk and administrator of Xunyang, acting for the rear establishment.

三年，南兗州刺史竟陵王誕有罪，不受徵，延孫馳遣中兵參軍杜幼文率兵起討。既至，誕已閉城自守，乃還。誕遣使劉公泰齎書要之，延孫斬公泰，送首京邑。復遣幼文率軍渡江，受沈慶之節度。其年，進號車騎將軍，加散騎常侍，給鼓吹一部。

In the third year of his reign, Prince Jingling Liu Dan, inspector of Southern Yan, was charged with a crime and refused the summons. Yansun at once sent central troops aide Du Youwen with an army against him. By the time they arrived, Dan had already shut the gates and held the city, so they withdrew. Dan sent Liu Gongtai with a letter to win him over. Yansun beheaded Gongtai and sent his head to the capital. He again sent Youwen across the Yangzi under Shen Qingzhi's command. That year he was promoted to general of chariots and cavalry, made regular attendant-at-large, and granted a military band.

五年，詔延孫曰：「舊京樹親，由來常準。卿前出所有別議，今此防久弭，當以還授小兒。」徵延孫為侍中、尚書左僕射，領護軍將軍。延孫疾病，不任拜起，上使於五城受封版，乘船自青谿至平昌門，仍入尚書下舍。又欲以代朱脩之為荊州，事未行，明年，卒，時年五十二。上甚惜之，下詔曰：「故侍中尚書左僕射、領護軍將軍東昌縣開國侯延孫，風局簡正，體識沈明，綢繆心膂，自蕃升朝，契闊唯舊，幾將二紀。靈業中圮，則首贊宏圖；義令既舉，則任均蕭、寇。器允棟幹，勳實佐時。及累司馬兩官，出內尹牧，惠政茂課，著自民聽，忠謨令節，簡乎朕心。方燮和臺階，永毗國道，奄至薨殞，震慟兼深。考終定典，宜盡哀敬。可贈司徒，給班劍二十人，侍中、僕射、侯如故。」有司奏諡忠穆，詔為文穆。又詔曰：「故司徒文穆公延孫，居身寡約，家素貧虛，每念清美，良深淒歎。葬送資調，固當闕乏，可賜錢三十萬，米千斛。」

In the fifth year of his reign an edict to Yansun read: "It has always been the rule to place kinsmen in charge of the old capital. When you left, other arrangements were made; now that the frontier has long been quiet, the post should go back to my son." Yansun was summoned to court as attendant-in-ordinary, left vice minister of the masters of writing, and general of the guards. Yansun was too ill to perform the obeisances. The emperor had him receive his commission at Wucheng, brought him by boat from Qingxi to Pingchang Gate, and lodged him in the ministry's guest quarters. The emperor also meant to appoint him Jing inspector in place of Zhu Xiuzhi, but before this could be done Yansun died the following year, at fifty-two. The emperor deeply mourned him and issued an edict: "The late attendant-in-ordinary, left vice minister, and general of the guards, Marquis of Dongchang, Yansun, was upright in bearing and clear in judgment. Close to my heart since his days in my princedom, he has been my companion for nearly twenty years. When the imperial cause was shattered, he was the first to support my great design; when the righteous banner was raised, his responsibility matched that of Xiao He and Kou Xun. His talent was that of a pillar of state, and his merit truly aided the times. Whether serving twice as chief of staff, governing the capital, or shepherding the provinces, his benevolent rule won the people's praise, and his loyal counsel won my heart. Just as he was to bring harmony to the court and long support the realm, he died suddenly, and my shock and grief are profound. Let the rites of mourning be performed with full honor. Let him be posthumously made minister over the masses, granted twenty sword-bearing guards, and retain his titles as attendant, vice minister, and marquis." The relevant offices proposed the posthumous name Loyal and Solemn; the emperor changed it to Cultured and Solemn. Another edict read: "The late Minister Cultured and Solemn, Yansun, lived simply and his household was always poor. When I recall his integrity, I am deeply moved. His funeral expenses will surely fall short. Grant him three hundred thousand cash and a thousand hu of grain."

子質嗣，太宗泰始中，有罪，國除。延孫弟延熙，義興太守，在孔覬傳。

His son Zhi succeeded him, but in the Taishi era under Emperor Ming he was convicted and the fief was abolished. Yansun's younger brother Yanxi, administrator of Yixing, is treated in Kong Xian's biography.

史臣曰：延孫接款蕃日，固出顏、袁矣。風飆局力，又無等級可言，而隆名盛寵，必擇而後授，何哉？良以休運甫開，沈疾方被，雖宿恩內積，而安私外簡。夫侮因事狎，敬由近疏，疏必相思，狎必相厭，厭思一殊，榮禮自隔，遂得為一世宗臣，蓋由此也。子曰：「事君數，斯疏矣。」然乎！然乎！

The historian comments: In the days when Yansun won favor in the princedom, he was already above men like Yan and Yuan. In talent and force he could not be ranked with the greatest ministers, yet the highest honors were always carefully chosen before they were granted him. Why? Because the new dynasty was just rising and the emperor was often ill: though old affection ran deep within, outwardly Yansun kept his private life spare. Familiarity breeds contempt, while distance breeds respect. Distance breeds longing, familiarity breeds weariness. Once weariness and longing diverge, honor and ritual keep their proper distance—and so he could stand for a generation as a minister of the first rank. This, in sum, was why. Confucius said, "If in serving your lord you are too forward, you will earn his distance." Is it not so! Is it not so!

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