Volume 83 Biographies 43: Zong Yue, Wu Xi, Huang Hui

列傳第四十三宗越吳喜黃回

Biographies 43: Zong Yue, Wu Xi, and Huang Hui

宗越，南陽葉人也。本河南人，晉亂，徙南陽宛縣，又土斷屬葉。本為南陽次門，安北將軍趙倫之鎮襄陽，襄陽多雜姓，倫之使長史范覬之條次氏族，辨其高卑，覬之點越為役門。出身補郡吏。父為蠻所殺，殺其父者嘗出郡，越於市中刺殺之，太守夏侯穆嘉其意，擢為隊主。蠻有為寇盜者，常使越討伐，往輒有功。家貧無以市馬，常刀楯步出，單身挺戰，眾莫能當。每一捷，郡將輒賞錢五千，因此得市馬。後被召，出州為隊主。世祖鎮襄陽，以為揚武將軍，領臺隊。

Zong Yue was a native of Ye in Nanyang. His family was originally from Henan; during the turmoil of the Jin they moved to Wan County in Nanyang, and through territorial registration were reassigned to Ye. His clan had held secondary-gate standing in Nanyang. When General Who Pacifies the North Zhao Lunzhi governed Xiangyang, where many mixed surnames lived, Lunzhi had his chief of staff Fan Xianzhi rank the clans and sort high from low; Xianzhi placed Yue in the service gate. He began his career as a commandery clerk. His father was killed by barbarians. When the killer once left the commandery, Yue stabbed him in the marketplace. Prefect Xia Houmu admired his resolve and promoted him to platoon chief. Whenever barbarians raided, the authorities sent Yue against them, and he always won. Too poor to buy a horse, he often marched out on foot with sword and shield, charging alone into battle, and no one could stand against him. After every victory the commandery commander gave him five thousand cash, and in this way he finally bought a horse. He was later summoned from the province to serve as platoon chief. While Emperor Xiaowu held Xiangyang, Yue was appointed General Who Raises Martiality and put in command of the capital guard company.

元嘉二十四年，啟太祖求復次門，移戶屬冠軍縣，許之。二十七年，隨柳元景北伐，領馬幢，隸柳元怙，有戰功，事在元景傳。還補後軍參軍督護，隨王誕戲之曰：「汝何人，遂得我府四字。」越答曰：「佛狸未死，不憂不得諮議參軍。」誕大笑。

In the twenty-fourth year of Yuanjia he petitioned Emperor Wu to restore his clan's secondary-gate standing and transfer his household to Guanjun County; the request was approved. In the twenty-seventh year he joined Liu Yuanjing's northern campaign, led the horse pennant, and served under Liu Yuanhu with distinction; the details appear in Yuanjing's biography. After he returned he was made rear-army staff officer and protector. Prince Dan of Sui teased him, saying, "Who are you to carry the four characters of my command staff on your title?" Yue answered, "While Buddha Li still lives, you need not worry about my not becoming an advisory army staff officer." Dan burst out laughing.

竟陵王誕據廣陵反，越領馬軍隸沈慶之攻誕。及城陷，世祖使悉殺城內男丁，越受旨行誅，躬臨其事，莫不先加捶撻，或有鞭其面者，欣欣然若有所得，所殺凡數千人。四年，改封始安縣子，戶邑如先。八年，遷新安王子鸞撫軍中兵參軍，加輔國將軍。其年，督司州、豫州之汝南、新蔡、汝陽、潁川四郡諸軍事、寧朔將軍、司州刺史，尋領汝南、新蔡二郡太守。

When Prince Dan of Jingling rebelled and held Guangling, Yue led the cavalry under Shen Qingzhi to besiege him. After the city fell, Emperor Xiaowu ordered every male inside killed. Yue took the order to execute them and oversaw the work himself. He had each man beaten first; some were flogged across the face. He looked pleased, as though he had gained something. Several thousand were killed. In the fourth year he was enfeoffed as Viscount of Shi'an, with the same fief households as before. In the eighth year he became army staff officer to Prince Ziluan of Xin'an's heir apparent, with the additional rank of General Who Assists the State. That same year he was appointed to command military affairs in Runan, Xincai, Ruyang, and Yingchuan—the four commanderies of Sizhou and Yuzhou—as General Who Pacifies the North and Inspector of Sizhou, and soon afterward also governed Runan and Xincai.

前廢帝景和元年，召為游擊將軍，直閣。頃之，領南濟陰太守，進爵為侯，增邑二百戶。又加冠軍將軍，改領南東海太守，游擊如故。帝兇暴無道，而越及譚金、童太壹並為之用命，誅戮群公及何邁等，莫不盡心竭力。故帝憑其爪牙，無所忌憚。賜與越等美女金帛，充牣其家。越等武人麤彊，識不及遠，咸一往意氣，皆無復二心。帝將欲南巡，明旦便發，其夕悉聽越等出外宿，太宗因此定亂。明晨，越等竝入，上撫接甚厚，越改領南濟陰太守，本官如故。

In the first year of Jinghe under the Deposed Former Emperor, he was recalled as General Who Strikes the Enemy and palace attendant. Soon after he took over Nan Jiyin as administrator, was promoted to marquis, and gained two hundred fief households. He was further made General Who Champions the State and reassigned to govern Nan Donghai while keeping his striking-general post. The emperor was brutal and lawless, yet Yue, Tan Jin, and Tong Taiyi all obeyed him without question, slaughtering the great ministers and men such as He Mai with tireless zeal. The emperor thus leaned on them as his claws and fangs and feared no one. He lavished on Yue and the others beautiful women, gold, and silk until their houses overflowed. These men were rough soldiers of limited foresight; they threw themselves into the work with one-minded loyalty and never wavered. When the emperor planned a southern tour and would depart the next morning, that evening he let Yue and the others sleep outside the palace—giving Emperor Ming his chance to seize power. At dawn Yue and the others all came in; the new emperor received them warmly. Yue was reassigned to govern Nan Jiyin while keeping his former posts.

越等既為廢帝盡力，慮太宗不能容之，上接待雖厚，內竝懷懼。上亦不欲使其居中，從容謂之曰：「卿等遭罹暴朝，勤勞日久，苦樂宜更，應得自養之地。兵馬大郡，隨卿等所擇。」越等素已自疑，及聞此旨，皆相顧失色，因謀作難。以告沈攸之，攸之具白太宗，即日收越等下獄死。越時年五十八。

Having given everything to the deposed emperor, Yue and his fellows feared Emperor Ming would not spare them. Though the court treated them generously, inwardly they were terrified. The emperor also did not want them at the capital and said gently, "You suffered under a violent reign and labored long. It is time your fortunes changed—you deserve a place to rest and recover. Pick any great commandery with troops that suits you." Already uneasy, Yue and the others turned pale at these words and plotted revolt. They confided in Shen Youzhi, who reported everything to Emperor Ming. That same day Yue and his companions were arrested and executed in prison. Yue was fifty-eight at the time.

越善立營陣，每數萬人止頓，越自騎馬前行，使軍人隨其後，馬止營合，未嘗參差。及沈攸之代殷孝祖為南討前鋒，時孝祖新死，眾並懼，攸之歎曰：「宗公可惜，故有勝人處。」而御眾嚴酷，好行刑誅，睚眥之間，動用軍法。時王玄謨御下亦少恩，將士為之語曰：「寧作五年徒，不逐王玄謨。玄謨尚可，宗越殺我。」

Yue was skilled at pitching camps. When tens of thousands halted, he rode ahead on horseback while the troops followed; when his horse stopped, the encampment was complete—never a step out of line. When Shen Youzhi replaced Yin Xiaozu as southern campaign vanguard, Xiaozu had just died and the army was shaken with fear. Youzhi sighed, "A pity about Lord Zong—he truly had his strengths." Yet in command he was harsh and fond of executions; the slightest grudge could bring military punishment. Wang Xuomo was likewise stingy with mercy toward his men, and soldiers said, "Better five years as a convict than follow Wang Xuomo. Xuomo is still tolerable; Zong Yue will kill you."

譚金，荒中傖人也。在荒中時，與薛安都有舊，後出新野，居牛門村。及安都歸國，金常隨征討。自北入崤陝，及巴口建義，恆副安都，排堅陷陣，氣力兼人，平元兇及梁山破臧質，每有戰功。稍至建平王宏中軍參軍事，加建武將軍，尋轉龍驤將軍、南下邳太守，參軍如故。孝建三年，遷屯騎校尉、直閣，領南清河太守。景和元年，前廢帝誅群公，金等並為之用。帝下詔曰：「屯騎校尉南清河太守譚金、彊弩將軍童太壹、車騎中兵參軍沈攸之，誠略沈果，忠幹勇鷙，消蕩氛翳，首制鯨凶，宜裂河山，以酬勳義。金可封平都縣男，太壹宜陽縣男，攸之東興縣男，食邑各三百戶。」金遷驍騎將軍，增邑百戶。太壹，東莞人也。自彊弩遷左軍將軍，增邑百戶。金、太壹竝與宗越俱死。

Tan Jin was a Shang tribesman from the borderlands. In the wild country he had been close to Xue Anu; later he came out to Xinye and settled at Niumen Village. When Anu submitted to the dynasty, Jin followed him on campaign after campaign. He entered from the north through the Xia and Shan passes; at the Ba crossing, when the founding uprising began, he constantly served at Anu's side, smashing strong lines with strength equal to several men. He won merit in crushing the chief rebel and in the defeat of Zang Zhi at Liangshan. He rose to acting army staff officer under Prince Hong of Pingling, with the additional rank of General Who Establishes Martiality, then became General Who Inspires Awe and administrator of Nan Xiapi while keeping his staff duties. In the third year of Xiaojian he was promoted to colonel of the valiant cavalry and palace attendant, governing Nan Qinghe. In the first year of Jinghe, when the Deposed Former Emperor killed the great ministers, Jin and his fellows carried out his orders. The emperor issued an edict: "Colonel of the Valiant Cavalry and Administrator of Nan Qinghe Tan Jin, General of the Strong Crossbows Tong Taiyi, and army staff officer to the heir apparent of the chariots and cavalry Shen Youzhi are resolute in counsel and deed, loyal, able, and fiercely brave. They have swept away the fog of rebellion and were first to bring down the great traitor. Their achievements deserve a share of the realm itself. Jin shall be enfeoffed as Baron of Pingdu, Taiyi as Baron of Yiyang, and Youzhi as Baron of Dongxing, each with three hundred fief households." Jin was promoted to general of the valiant cavalry and given one hundred additional fief households. Taiyi was a native of Dongguan. He was transferred from general of the strong crossbows to general of the left army and gained one hundred more fief households. Jin and Taiyi were executed together with Zong Yue.

越州里劉胡、武念、佼長生、蔡那、曹欣之，竝以將帥顯。劉胡事在鄧琬傳。

From Yue's home region, Liu Hu, Wu Nian, Jiao Changsheng, Cai Na, and Cao Xinzhi all rose to prominence as generals. Liu Hu's story is told in the biography of Deng Wan.

武念，新野人也。本三五門，出身郡將。蕭思話為雍州，遣土人龐道符統六門田，念為道符隨身隊主。後大府以念有健名，且家富有馬，召出為將。世祖臨雍州，念領隊奉迎。時沔中蠻反，世祖之鎮，緣道討伐，部伍至大堤岩洲，蠻數千人忽至，乘高矢射雨下。念馳赴奮擊，應時摧退，即擢為參軍督護。其後每軍旅，常有戰功。世祖孝建中，為建威將軍、桂陽太守。竟陵王誕反，念以江夏王義恭太宰參軍、龍驤將軍，隸沈慶之攻廣陵城。誕出城走，既而復還，念追之不及，坐免官。復以為冗從僕射，出為龍驤將軍、南陽太守。前廢帝景和中，為右軍將軍，直閣，封開國縣男，食邑三百戶。太宗初即位，四方反叛，遣念乘驛還雍州，綏慰西土，因以為南陽太守。念既至，人情並向之，劉胡遣腹心數騎詐詣念降，於坐縛念，袁顗斬之，送首詣晉安王子勛。念黨袁處珍逃亡至壽陽，為逆黨劉順所得，考楚備至，秉義不移，後得叛奔劉勔；太宗嘉之，以為奉朝請。追贈念冠軍將軍、南陽、新野二郡太守，封綏安縣侯，食邑四百戶。泰始四年，綏安縣省，改封邵陵縣。

Wu Nian was a native of Xinye. His clan belonged to the Three-Five Gate; he began as a commandery officer. When Xiao Sihua governed Yongzhou, he put the local leader Pang Daofu in charge of the six-gate estates, and Nian became Daofu's personal platoon chief. Later the regional headquarters, noting his reputation for prowess and his family's horses, called him up as a field commander. When Emperor Xiaowu assumed Yongzhou, Nian led troops to receive him. Barbarians along the Han had risen in revolt. While Emperor Xiaowu held the province he marched against them along the route. Near Dadi's Dayanzhou, several thousand barbarians suddenly appeared on the heights and rained arrows down. Nian charged forward and fought fiercely, driving them off at once, and was immediately promoted to army staff officer and protector. After that he distinguished himself in campaign after campaign. During Emperor Xiaowu's Xiaojian reign he became General Who Establishes Martiality and administrator of Guiyang. When Prince Dan of Jingling rebelled, Nian served as army staff officer to Prince Yigong of Jiangxia in his role as grand tutor and as General Who Inspires Awe under Shen Qingzhi at the siege of Guangling. Dan fled the city, then turned back; Nian pursued but failed to catch him and was removed from his post. He was later made supernumerary attendant of the heir apparent and sent out as General Who Inspires Awe and administrator of Nanyang. Under the Deposed Former Emperor in the Jinghe era he became general of the right army and palace attendant, enfeoffed as Baron of Kaiguo with three hundred households. When Emperor Ming first ascended the throne, rebellions flared everywhere. He sent Nian by relay horse to Yongzhou to reassure the west and made him administrator of Nanyang. Once Nian arrived, the people rallied to him. Liu Hu sent a few trusted riders feigning surrender; at the meeting they seized Nian. Yuan Yi beheaded him and sent the head to Prince Zixun of Jin'an. Nian's follower Yuan Chuzhen fled to Shouyang, was captured by the rebel Liu Shun, and was tortured without end yet would not yield; later he broke away and joined Liu Yan. Emperor Ming commended his loyalty and appointed him court gentleman for the imperial audience. Nian was posthumously made General Who Champions the State and governor of Nanyang and Xinye, enfeoffed as Marquis of Suian with four hundred households. In the fourth year of Taishi, Suian County was abolished and the marquisate was transferred to Shaoling.

佼長生，廣平人也。出身為縣將，大府以其有膂力，召為府將。朱脩之拒魯秀于峴南，長生有戰功，稍見任使。太宗初，為建安王休仁司徒中兵參軍，加寧朔將軍。南討有功，封遷陵縣侯，食邑八百戶。後為張悅寧遠司馬，寧蠻校尉。泰始五年，卒，追贈征虜將軍、雍州刺史。

Jiao Changsheng was a native of Guangping. He began as a county commander; the regional headquarters, impressed by his strength, called him up as a commandery guard. When Zhu Xiuzhi held Lu Xiu south of Xian, Changsheng won distinction and gradually won trust. Early in Emperor Ming's reign he became army staff officer to Prince Xiuren of Jian'an's heir apparent, with the additional rank of General Who Pacifies the North. He distinguished himself in the southern campaigns and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Qianling with eight hundred households. Later he served Zhang Yue as chief of staff for the Pacification of the Far and as colonel who pacifies the barbarians. He died in the fifth year of Taishi and was posthumously made General Who Conquers the Barbarians and governor of Yongzhou.

曹欣之，新野人也。積勤勞，後廢帝元徽初，為軍主。以平桂陽王休範功，封新市縣子，食邑五百戶。為左軍驍騎將軍，加輔國將軍。元徽四年，以本號為徐州刺史、鍾離太守，進號冠軍將軍。順帝昇明二年，徵為散騎常侍、驍騎將軍。三年，卒。

Cao Xinzhi was a native of Xinye. After long service, at the start of Yuanhui under the Later Deposed Emperor he became an army commander. For suppressing Prince Xiufan of Guiyang he was enfeoffed as Viscount of Xinshi with five hundred households. He became general of the valiant cavalry of the left army, with the additional rank of General Who Assists the State. In the fourth year of Yuanhui he was made governor of Xuzhou and administrator of Zhongli under his existing title, and promoted to General Who Champions the State. In the second year of Shengming under Emperor Shun he was recalled as regular attendant of the scattered cavalry and general of the valiant cavalry. He died in the third year.

吳喜，吳興臨安人也。本名喜公，太宗減為喜。初出身為領軍府白衣吏。少知書，領軍將軍沈演之使寫起居注，所寫既畢，闇誦略皆上口。演之嘗作讓表，未奏，失本，喜經一見，即便寫赴，無所漏脫，演之甚知之。因此涉獵《史》、《漢》，頗見古今。演之門生朱重民入為主書，薦喜為主書書史，進為主圖令史。太祖嘗求圖書，喜開卷倒進之，太祖怒，遣出。

Wu Xi was a native of Lin'an in Wuxing. His original name was Xigong; Emperor Ming shortened it to Xi. He first served as a junior clerk in the heir apparent's headquarters. He learned to read early. General of the heir apparent's army Shen Yanzhi had him copy the imperial diary; when the work was done he could recite nearly all of it from memory. Yanzhi once wrote a resignation memorial that had not been submitted when the draft was lost. Xi saw it once, reproduced it completely, and Yanzhi was deeply impressed. Through this he read the Records and the History and gained some knowledge of past and present. Yanzhi's student Zhu Chongmin became chief secretary and recommended Xi as clerical officer to the chief secretary; Xi was later promoted to chief of the maps office. Emperor Wu once asked for books; Xi opened the scroll and presented it upside down. The emperor was furious and dismissed him.

會太子步兵校尉沈慶之征蠻，啟太祖請喜自隨，使命去來，為世祖所知賞。世祖於巴口建義，喜遇病，不堪隨慶之下。事平，世祖以喜為主書，稍見親遇，擢為諸王學官令，左右尚方令，河東太守，殿中御史。大明中，黟、歙二縣有亡命數千人，攻破縣邑，殺害官長。豫章王子尚為揚州，在會稽，再遣主帥，領三千人水陸討伐；遂再往，失利。世祖遣喜將數十人至二縣，誘說群賊，賊即日歸降。

When Infantry Commandant Shen Qingzhi campaigned against the barbarians, he asked Emperor Wu to let Xi accompany him. On missions to and fro Xi won Emperor Xiaowu's notice and favor. When Emperor Xiaowu launched the righteous rising at the Ba crossing, Xi fell ill and could not march south with Qingzhi. After victory Emperor Xiaowu made him chief secretary, drew him close, and promoted him through instructor to the princes, left attendant of the inner workshop, administrator of Hedong, and palace censor. During the Daming reign, several thousand fugitives in Yi and She counties stormed the county seats and murdered the local officials. Prince Zishang of Yuzhang, who governed Yang Province from Kuaiji, twice dispatched commanders with three thousand troops to attack them by land and sea; Both expeditions failed. Emperor Xiaowu dispatched Wu Xi with a few dozen men to win over the rebels by persuasion, and the rebels submitted the same day.

太宗初即位，四方反叛，東兵尤急。喜請得精兵三百，致死於東，上大說，即假建武將軍，簡羽林勇士配之。議者以喜刀筆主者，不嘗為將，不可遣。中書舍人巢尚之曰：「喜昔隨沈慶之，屢經軍旅，性既勇決，又習戰陳，若能任之，必有成績。諸人紛紛，皆是不別才耳。」喜乃率員外散騎侍郎竺超之、殿中將軍杜敬真馬步東討。既至永世，得庾業、劉延熙書，送尋陽王子房檄文。與喜書曰：「知統戎旅，已次近路，卿所在著名，今日何為立忠於彼邪？想便倒戈，共受河、山之賞。」喜報書曰：「前驅之人，忽獲來翰，披尋狂惑，良深悵駭。聖主以神武撥亂，德盛勳高，群逆交扇，滅在晷刻。君等勳義之烈，世荷國恩，事愧鳴鴞，不懷食椹。今練勒所部，星言進邁，相見在近，不復多陳。」喜，孝武世見驅使，常充使命，性寬厚，所至人並懷之。及東討，百姓聞吳河東來，便望風降散，故喜所至克捷，事在孔覬傳。

At the start of Emperor Ming's reign, revolts erupted everywhere, and the crisis in the east was the most pressing. Wu Xi requested three hundred elite soldiers and offered to stake his life in the east. The emperor was delighted, immediately granted him the acting title General Who Establishes Might, and picked crack troops from the Palace Guard to accompany him. Critics argued that Wu Xi was a desk officer who had never commanded troops and was unfit for the assignment. Palace Attendant Chao Shangzhi said, "Wu Xi once served under Shen Qingzhi and saw repeated action. He is bold by nature and knows the battlefield. Put him in command and he will deliver results. All this fuss is nothing but blindness to real ability." Wu Xi then marched east with Zhu Chaozhi, supernumerary attendant gentleman of the palace dismounts, and Palace General Du Jingzhen, campaigning by land and river. At Yongshi he received letters from Yu Ye and Liu Yanxi along with a manifesto issued by Prince Zifang of Xunyang. He wrote to Wu Xi: "I know you are leading the army and are already close at hand. Your reputation precedes you everywhere—so why do you now cast your loyalty with them? Surely you will turn your spears around at once and share with us the rewards of land and office." Wu Xi answered in a letter: "We in the vanguard have suddenly received your note. Reading this mad delusion, I am deeply appalled. Our sage ruler has restored order by divine force of arms. His virtue towers and his merit is great. The rebels are fanning one another to ruin, and their end is only moments away. Your houses have served with honor and long enjoyed the state's favor. Yet your deeds would shame the unfilial screech owl of the Odes—the bird that eats mulberries but never repays its nest. I am now drilling my troops and will march at once. We shall meet soon enough, and I need say no more." Under Emperor Xiaowu, Wu Xi was often dispatched on imperial errands. He was warm by nature, and people everywhere came to trust him. During the eastern campaign, the people heard that Wu Hedong was approaching and surrendered in droves before he even arrived. That is why Wu Xi met success wherever he went; the full account appears in Kong Chong's biography.

遷步兵校尉，將軍如故。封竟陵縣侯，食邑千戶。東土平定，又率所領南討，遷輔國將軍、尋陽太守。南賊退走，喜追討平定荊州，遷前軍將軍，增邑三百戶。泰始四年，改封東興縣侯，戶邑如先。仍除使持節、督交州、廣州之鬱林、寧浦二郡諸軍事、輔國將軍、交州刺史。不行，又除右軍將軍、淮陵太守，假輔師將軍，兼太子左衛率。

He was promoted to Infantry Commandant while retaining his general's rank. He was made Marquis of Jingling with a fief of one thousand households. After the east was pacified, he led his troops south against the rebels and was appointed General Who Assists the State and Administrator of Xunyang. When the southern rebels broke and fled, Wu Xi pursued them, crushed the revolt, and pacified Jing Province. He was made General of the Vanguard and his fief was increased by three hundred households. In the fourth year of Taishi his title was changed to Marquis of Dongxing, with the same fief as before. He was next named bearer of the staff of authority, supervisor of military affairs in Yulin and Ningpu of Jiao and Guang provinces, General Who Assists the State, and Inspector of Jiao Province. He never took up the Jiao post. Instead he was made General of the Right and Administrator of Huailing, with the acting title General Who Assists the Army and concurrent appointment as Left Commandant of the Heir Apparent's Guard.

五年，轉驍騎將軍，假號、太守、兼率如故。其年，虜寇豫州，喜統諸軍出討，大破虜於荊亭，偽長社公遁走，戍主帛乞奴歸降。軍還，復以本位兼左衛將軍。六年，又率軍向豫州拒索虜，加節、督豫州諸軍事，假冠軍將軍，驍騎、太守如故。明年，還京都。

In the fifth year he was transferred to General of Agile Cavalry, keeping his acting title, prefecture, and concurrent guard command. That year the enemy raided Yu Province. Wu Xi took command of the expeditionary force and inflicted a crushing defeat on them at Jingting. The Wei pretender Duke of Changshe fled, and the garrison commander Bo Qinu surrendered. After the army returned, he resumed his former rank while also serving as General of the Left Guard. In the sixth year he marched again toward Yu Province to hold off the Northern Wei invaders. He received the staff of authority, was made supervisor of Yu Province military affairs and Acting General Who Conquers the Enemy, and kept his cavalry title and prefecture. The following year he returned to the capital.

初，喜東征，白太宗得尋陽王子房及諸賊帥，即於東梟斬。東土既平，喜見南賊方熾，慮後翻覆受禍，乃生送子房還都；凡諸大主帥顧琛、王曇生之徒，皆被全活。上以喜新立大功，不問也，而內密銜之。及平荊州，恣意剽虜，贓私萬計；又嘗對賓客言漢高、魏武本是何人，上聞之，益不說。其後誅壽寂之，喜內懼，因啟乞中散大夫，上尤疑駭。至是會上有疾，為身後之慮，以喜素得人情，疑其將來不能事幼主，乃賜死，時年四十五。喜將死之日，上召入內殿與共言謔，酬接甚款。既出，賜以名饌，并金銀御器，敕將命者勿使食器宿喜家。上素多忌諱，不欲令食器停凶禍之室故也。喜未死一日，上與劉勔、張興世、齊王詔曰：

When Wu Xi first marched east, he had told Emperor Ming that once he captured Prince Zifang of Xunyang and the rebel leaders, he would execute them on the spot in the east. After the east was pacified, Wu Xi saw the southern rebellion still raging. Fearing a later reversal that would destroy him, he sent Prince Zifang back to the capital alive; and he spared the lives of major rebel commanders such as Gu Chen and Wang Tansheng. Because Wu Xi had just won a great victory, the emperor let the matter pass publicly but secretly nursed a grudge against him. After Jing Province was subdued, he looted without restraint, amassing private wealth beyond counting; and he once remarked before guests about what sort of men Han Gaozu and Wei Wu really were. When the emperor heard of it, his displeasure only deepened. Later, after Shou Jizhi was put to death, Wu Xi grew afraid and petitioned to be made Palace Gentleman for Regular Attendance. The emperor was especially suspicious and alarmed. Now the emperor fell ill and began planning for the succession. Wu Xi had always been popular, and the emperor feared he would not loyally serve the young heir. He was therefore ordered to take poison. Wu Xi was forty-five. On the day Wu Xi was to die, the emperor summoned him to the inner hall and joked with him in an unusually warm and friendly manner. When Wu Xi left, the emperor gave him fine food and gold and silver imperial tableware, and ordered the messenger not to leave those vessels overnight in Wu Xi's house. The emperor was deeply superstitious and refused to let imperial vessels stay in a house touched by violent death. On the day before Wu Xi's death, the emperor summoned Liu Yan, Zhang Xingshi, and the Prince of Qi and said:

吳喜出自卑寒，少被驅使，利口任詐，輕狡萬端。自元嘉以來，便充刀筆小役，賣弄威恩，苟取物情，處處交結，皆為黨與，眾中常以正直為詞，而內實阿媚。每仗計數，運其佞巧，甘言說色，曲以事人，不忠不平，彰於觸事。從來作諸署，主意所不協者，覓罪委頓之，以示清直；而餘人恣意為非，一不檢問，故甚得物情。

"Wu Xi was born in poverty and spent his youth as a menial runner. He is quick with words and reckless with deceit, slippery and scheming in every conceivable way. Since the Yuanjia era he has filled minor clerk posts, playing power and favor for all they are worth and courting popularity wherever he goes. He has woven a web of partisans, yet in public he poses as upright while privately fawning on whoever serves his interest. He lives by calculation, deploying flattery and charm—honeyed speech, obliging manner, and servile accommodation. His disloyalty and injustice show themselves the moment any matter is tested. In every office he held, if the chief disliked someone, Wu Xi would hunt out a charge and ruin that man to burnish his own reputation for integrity; yet when others ran wild he never checked them at all. That is how he won such broad popularity.

昔大明中，黟、歙二縣有亡命數千人，攻破縣邑，殺害官長。劉子尚在會稽，再遣為主帥，領三千精甲水陸討伐，再往失利。孝武以喜將數十人至二縣說誘群賊，賊即歸降。詭數幻惑，乃能如此，故每豫驅馳，窮諸狡慝。及泰始初東討，正有三百人，直造三吳，凡再經薄戰，而自破岡以東至海十郡，無不清蕩。百姓聞吳河東來，便望風自退，若非積取三吳人情，何以得弭伏如此。其統軍寬慢無章，放恣諸將，無所裁檢，故部曲為之致力。觀其意趣，止在賊平之後，應力為國計。

In the Daming era, several thousand outlaws in Yi and She counties overran the county seats and murdered the officials. Prince Zishang, stationed at Kuaiji, twice sent commanders with three thousand picked troops against them by land and water, and both campaigns failed. Emperor Xiaowu then sent Wu Xi with a few dozen men to talk the rebels into submission, and they surrendered immediately. By trickery and illusion he could produce results like that, which is why he was always dispatched on urgent errands—to squeeze every kind of cunning malice out of him. At the opening of the Taishi eastern campaign he had only three hundred men, yet he drove straight into the Three Wu, fought only two minor engagements, and cleared ten commanderies from Broken Hill east to the sea. The people heard that Wu Hedong was coming and melted away without a fight. Without years of currying favor in the Three Wu, how could he have pacified the region so easily? He commanded with slack discipline, giving his officers free rein and checking almost nothing. That is why his men fought so hard for him personally. But look at what he really wanted: once the rebels were down, he should have thrown himself into the state's service. Instead he had other plans.

喜初東徵發都，指天畫地，云得劉子房即當屏除，袁標等皆加斬戮，使略無生口。既平之後，緩兵施恩，納罪人之貨，誘諸賊帥，令各逃藏，受賂得物，不可稱紀。聽諸賊帥假稱為降，而擁衛子房遂得生歸朝庭。收羅群逆，皆作爪牙，撫接優密，過於義士。推此意，正是聞南賊大盛，殷孝祖戰亡，人情大惡，慮逆徒得志，規以自免。喜善為姦變，每以計數自將，於朝廷則三吳首獻慶捷，於南賊則不殺其黨，頗著陰誠。當云東人恇怯，望風自散，皆是彼無處分，非其苦相逼迫，保全子房及顧琛等，足表丹誠，進退二塗，可以無患。

When Wu Xi left the capital on the eastern campaign, he swore by heaven and earth that if he captured Prince Zifang he would kill him at once, along with Yuan Biao and the rest, leaving scarcely a survivor. Once victory was won, he slowed his advance and traded favors for loot, taking bribes from condemned men and helping rebel chiefs slip away and hide. The goods he accepted cannot even be reckoned. He let the rebel leaders fake their submission while escorting Prince Zifang safely back to court alive. He gathered the rebels around him and made them his personal agents, treating them with a warmth he never showed loyal officers. The meaning is plain: when he heard the southern revolt was surging, that Yin Xiaozu had fallen in battle, and that public morale had collapsed, he feared the rebels might win and began arranging his own escape. Wu Xi is a master of double-dealing. He always ran his own game: to the court he was first with victory dispatches from the Three Wu, but toward the southern rebels he spared their followers and showed them unmistakable private loyalty. He could claim the easterners were cowards who fled at a rumor, but in truth they were not broken by force. By preserving Prince Zifang, Gu Chen, and the others he proved where his real loyalty lay. With a path forward and a path back, he thought himself safe either way.

南賊未平，唯以軍糧為急，西南及北道斷不通，東土新平，商運稀簡，朝廷乃至鬻官賣爵，以救災困，斗斛收斂，猶有不充。喜在赭圻，軍主者頓偷一百三十斛米，初不問罪；諸軍主皆云宜治，喜不獲已，止與三十鞭，又不責備，凡所曲意，類皆如此。

The southern rebellion was still unresolved and grain was the one desperate need. Routes to the southwest and north were severed, the east had only just been pacified, and commerce was thin. The court was even selling offices and titles to stave off famine, yet every bushel collected still fell short. At Zheqi, one of Wu Xi's unit commanders stole one hundred thirty hu of grain, and Wu Xi at first refused even to investigate; when every other commander insisted on punishment, Wu Xi reluctantly gave the man thirty strokes and let the matter drop. That is how he indulged wrongdoing across the board.

喜至荊州，公私殷富，錢物無復孑遺。喜乘兵威之盛，誅求推檢，凡所課責，既無定科，又嚴令驅蹙，皆使立辦。所使之人，莫非姦猾。因公行私，迫脅在所。入官之物，侵竊過半。納資請託，不知猒已。西難既殄，便應還朝，而解故盤停，託云捍蜀。實由貨易交關，事未回展。又遣人入蠻，矯詔慰勞，賧伐所得，一以入私。又遣部下將吏，兼因土地富人，往襄陽或蜀、漢，屬託郡縣，侵官害民，興生求利，千端萬緒。從西還，大艑小艒，爰及草舫，錢米布絹，無船不滿。自喜以下，迨至小將，人人重載，莫不兼資。

By the time Wu Xi reached Jing Province, a region rich in public and private wealth, he had stripped it bare. He used military power to extort and audit the province. His levies had no fixed scale, and under harsh orders to squeeze every source, everything had to be delivered at once. The men he sent out were all sharp operators and thieves. They abused official business for private profit and bullied everyone they encountered. More than half of what was supposed to enter the public coffers never got there. He took bribes and traded favors without ever knowing when to stop. Once the western threat was crushed he should have returned to court, but he kept his army in place and lingered on, claiming he was holding the line against Shu. In truth he was waiting to finish his business deals. He also sent agents into the tribal lands with forged imperial edicts of reward, and kept every penny of tribute and booty for himself. He dispatched subordinates, backed by local magnates, to Xiangyang and to Shu and Han to lean on county officials, abuse public office, prey on the people, and chase profit by every possible means. On the return from the west, great barges and small boats—even reed rafts—were loaded with money, grain, cloth, and silk. Not one craft sailed empty. From Wu Xi himself down to the lowest officers, every man came back weighed down with loot. None returned poor.

喜本小人，多被使役，經由水陸，州郡殆遍；所至之處，輒結物情，妄竊善稱。聲滿天下，密懷姦惡，人莫之知。喜軍中諸將，非劫便賊，唯云：「賊何須殺，但取之，必得其用。」雖復羸弱，亦言：「健兒可惜，天下未平，但令以功贖罪。」處遇料理，反勝勞人，此輩所感唯喜，莫云恩由朝廷。兇惡不革，恆出醜聲，勞人義士，相與歎息，並云：「我等不愛性命，擊擒此賊，朝廷不肯殺去，反與我齊。今天下若更有賊，我不復能擊也。」此等既隨喜行，多無功效，或隱在眾後，或在幔屋中眠。賊即破散，與勞人同受爵賞。既被詰問，辭白百端，云：「此輩既見原宥，擊賊有功，那得不依例加賞。」褚淵往南選諸將卒，喜為軍中經為賊者，就淵求官，倍於義士。淵以喜最前獻捷，名位已通，又為統副，難相違拒，是以得官受賞，反多義人。義人雖忿喜不平，又懷其寬弛。

Wu Xi began as a low-born runner who was constantly sent on errands. By land and water he had passed through nearly every province; and wherever he went he cultivated local goodwill and built himself an undeserved name for virtue. His reputation rang across the empire, yet beneath it he nursed treachery that almost no one saw. Wu Xi's commanders were mostly robbers or former rebels themselves, and he would say only this: "Why kill bandits at all? Capture them and they will serve you well. Even when they were weaklings, he would add: "Good fighting men are too precious to waste while the realm is still unsettled. Let them buy pardon with service. He treated them better than he treated loyal soldiers. They owed their gratitude to Wu Xi alone and never credited the throne. His cruelty never changed, and foul complaints kept pouring out. Loyal soldiers groaned among themselves and said, "We risk our lives to capture these rebels, and the court will not execute them—it ranks them with us instead. If bandits rise again in this empire, we will not lift a hand against them." The men Wu Xi kept around him were mostly dead weight. Some hid at the rear of the column; others slept in the tent pavilions. Yet once the rebels broke, they received the same honors and rewards as the men who had actually fought. When challenged, he had endless excuses: "These men were pardoned and then fought well. How could I refuse them rewards by the usual rule? When Chu Yuan went south to review the troops, Wu Xi pressed him to grant offices to former bandits in the army—twice as many petitions as he made for loyal men. Chu Yuan, unable to refuse Wu Xi—who had reported victory first, already held high rank, and served as army deputy—ended up giving offices and rewards disproportionately to the wrong men rather than to the loyal soldiers. The loyal troops resented Wu Xi's injustice, yet they also came to rely on his laxness.

往歲竺超之聞四方反叛，人情畏賊，無敢求為朝廷行者，乃慨然攘步，隨喜出征，為其軍副。身經臨敵，自東還，失喜意。說超之多酒，不堪驅使，遂相委棄。高敬祖年雖少宿，氣力實健，其有處分，為軍中所稱，喜薄其衰老，云無所施。正以二人忠清，與己異行。超之為人，乃多飲酒，計喜軍中主帥，豈無飲酒者？特是不利超之，故以酒致言耳。敬祖既無餘事，直云年老，託為乞郡，潛相遣斥。其餘主帥，並貪濁謅媚之流，皆提攜東西，不相離捨。喜聞天壤間有罪人死或應繫者，必啟以入軍，皆得官爵，厚被處遇。應入死之人，緣己得活，非唯得活，又復如意。人非木石，何能不感！設令吾攻喜門，此輩誰不致力，但是喜不敢生心耳。喜軍中人皆是喜身爪牙，豈關於國。

In earlier years, when rebellions erupted everywhere and men were afraid even to march for the throne, Zhu Chaozhi stepped forward of his own accord and joined Wu Xi's campaign as his deputy. He fought in the front lines himself, yet when he came back from the east he had fallen out of Wu Xi's favor. Wu Xi claimed Chaozhi drank too heavily to be of use and cast him aside. Gao Jingzu was older but still vigorous, and the army respected his judgment. Wu Xi dismissed him as worn out and declared him useless. He did this only because both men were honest and upright—nothing like him. It is true that Chaozhi drank, but were there no other drinking commanders in Wu Xi's army? Wu Xi simply found Chaozhi inconvenient, and used wine as a pretext to get rid of him. Gao Jingzu had done nothing wrong. Wu Xi cited his age, pretended to grant the prefecture he had requested, and quietly pushed him out. His other commanders were greedy, corrupt sycophants who looked out for one another at every turn and never broke ranks. Whenever Wu Xi learned of a condemned or imprisoned criminal anywhere in the realm, he would recommend the man for the army. Each one received rank and title and lavish treatment. Men who should have been executed owed their lives to him; they not only kept their lives but got whatever they wanted besides. Human beings are not made of wood or stone. How could they not feel grateful! If I attacked Wu Xi's own command, every one of these men would fight for him—it is only that Xi has not yet dared to turn on me. The men in Wu Xi's army are his private henchmen, not servants of the throne.

喜自得軍號以來，多置吏佐，是人加板，無復限極。為兄弟子姪及其同堂群從，乞東名縣，連城四五，皆灼然巧盜，侵官奪私。亡命罪人，州郡不得討；崎嶇蔽匿，必也黨護。臺州符旨，殆不復行。船車牛犢，應為公家所假借者，託之於喜，吏司便不敢問。它縣奴婢，入界便略。百姓牛犢，輒索殺噉。州郡應及役者，竝入喜家。喜兄茹公等悉下取錢，盈村滿里。諸吳姻親，就人間徵求，無復紀極，百姓嗷然，人人悉苦。喜具知此，初不禁呵。

Since Wu Xi received his military commission, he has packed his staff with aides. Each man gets an official appointment, with no end to it. He secured famous counties in the east for his brothers, sons, nephews, and male cousins—four or five cities in a row—each grant a naked seizure of public and private property alike. Fugitive criminals could not be pursued by the prefectures and commanderies; When they fled to rough country and hid, his faction always sheltered them. Orders from the capital and provincial authorities were barely obeyed at all. Public boats, wagons, oxen, and calves were placed under Wu Xi's name, and no clerk dared challenge it. Slaves from neighboring counties were seized the moment they entered his jurisdiction. When commoners' cattle strayed near, his men seized them, slaughtered them, and ate them. Every man in the district owed to corvée labor was placed in Wu Xi's household. Wu Xi's elder brother Ru and his kin sent men to squeeze money from the countryside until every village and hamlet groaned under it. His Wu in-laws preyed upon the people without limit. The countryside groaned, and everyone suffered. Wu Xi knew all of this perfectly well and did nothing to stop it.

索惠子罪不甚江悆，既已被恩，得免憲辟，小小忤意，輒加刑斬。張悅賊中大帥，逼迫歸降，沈攸之錄付喜，云：「殺活當由朝廷。」將帥征伐，既有常體，自應執歸之有司。喜即便打鏁，解襦與著，對膝圍棋，仍造重義，私惠招物，觸事如斯。張靈度凶愚小人，背叛之首，喜在西輒恕其罪，私將下都，與之周旋，情若同體。狼子野心，獨懷毒性，遂與柳欣慰等謀立劉禕。吾使喜錄之，而喜密報令去，去未得遠，為建康所錄。喜背國親惡，乃至於是。

Suo Huizi's offenses were lighter than Jiang Yu's. Wu Xi had already spared him once, yet punished the smallest slight with execution. Zhang Yue had been a rebel commander. Shen Youzhi forced his surrender and delivered him to Wu Xi, saying, "Only the court may decide whether this man lives or dies. Commanders on campaign follow fixed procedure. Prisoners should be bound and handed to the proper authorities. Wu Xi had the shackles struck off at once, gave the man fresh clothes, and played go with him knee to knee. He built private loyalties and bought goodwill at every turn—this was his way in everything. Zhang Lingdu, a vicious fool who had led the rebellion, was repeatedly pardoned by Wu Xi in the west. Xi secretly brought him to the capital and kept him close, as if they shared one body. Nursing wolfish ambitions and deadly malice, he joined Liu Xinwei and others in a plot to set up Liu Yi as emperor. I ordered Wu Xi to arrest him, but Xi secretly warned the man to flee. He had not gone far before Jiankang authorities captured him. Wu Xi's betrayal of the state and embrace of evil went as far as this.

初從西反，圖兼右丞，貪因事物，以行私詐。吾患其諂曲，抑而不許，從此怨懟，意用不平。喜西救汝陰，縱肆兵將，掠暴居民，姦人婦女，逼奪雞犬，虜略縱橫，緣路官長，莫敢呵問。脫誤有縛錄一人，喜輒大怒。百姓呼嗟，人人失望。近段佛榮求還，乃欲用喜代之。西人聞其當來，皆欲叛走，云：「吳軍中人皆是生劫，若作刺史，吾等豈有活路。既無他計，正當叛投虜耳。」夫伐罪弔民，用清國道。豈有殘虐無辜，剝奪為務，害政妨國，罔上附下，罪釁若此，而可久容！臧文仲有云：「見有善於其君，如孝子之養父母；見有惡於君，若鷹鸇之逐鳥雀」。耿弇不以賊遺君父，前史以為美談。而喜軍中五千人，皆親經反逆，攜養左右，豈有奉上之心！

On first returning from the west, he angled for the concurrent post of Right Vice Director and used every official matter for private fraud. I distrusted his sycophantic ways and refused the appointment. From that point he harbored resentment and never felt settled. On his western relief march to Ruyin, Wu Xi let his soldiers run wild—plundering towns, raping women, stealing livestock—while local officials along the route dared not interfere. If any official accidentally arrested one of his men, Wu Xi flew into a rage. The people groaned in despair; everyone lost faith in him. When Duan Furong recently asked to return home, the court planned to send Wu Xi to replace him. When the people in the west learned he was coming, they wanted to rebel and flee, saying, "Wu Xi's soldiers are born bandits. If he becomes our prefect, we have no way to survive. We have no other choice but to rebel and join the Northern Wei. Punishing the guilty and comforting the people is how a ruler clears the path of state. How could the throne long tolerate a man who brutalizes innocents, lives by plunder, corrupts government, deceives his superiors, panders to his followers, and commits crimes like these! Zang Wenzhong once said, "When you see something that will benefit your lord, tend it as a filial son tends his parents; when you see something that harms your lord, drive it out as a hawk drives sparrows." Geng Yan refused to leave rebels alive for his sovereign and father—a story earlier histories praise. Yet Wu Xi keeps five thousand men at his side who personally took part in rebellion. How could such men serve the throne!

喜意志張大，每稱漢高、魏武，本是何人。近忽通啟，求解軍任，乞中散大夫。喜是何人，乃敢作此舉止！且當今邊疆未寧，正是喜輸蹄領之日，若以自處之宜，當節儉廉慎，靜掃閉門，不興外物交關；專心奉上，何得以其蜼螭，高自比擬。當是自顧愆釁，事宣遐邇，又見壽寂之流徙，施脩林被擊，物惡傷類，內懷憂恐，故興此計，圖欲自安。

Wu Xi's ambitions have grown swollen. He constantly invokes Han Gaozu and Cao Cao—as if asking who he thinks he is. He has just petitioned to be relieved of military command and appointed a Palace Attendant instead. Who does Wu Xi think he is, to dare such conduct! The frontier is still unsettled. This is when Wu Xi should be offering every ounce of service. Instead he ought to be living frugally and cautiously, keeping to himself and avoiding outside dealings; He should devote himself entirely to the throne. Instead this base-born creature dares compare himself to the great. No doubt he sees his crimes exposed everywhere, watches men like Shou Ji exiled and Shi Xiulin struck down—bad men tremble when their kind fall—and devised this scheme to save his own skin.

朝廷之士及大臣藩鎮，喜殆無所畏者，畏者唯吾一人耳。人生脩短，不可豫量，若吾壽百年，世間無喜，何所虧損。若使吾四月中疾患不得治力，天下豈可有喜一人。尋喜心跡，不可奉守文之主，豈可遭國家間隙，有可乘之會邪！世人多云，「時可畏，國政嚴」。歷觀有天下，御億兆，仗威齊眾，何代不然。故上古象刑，民淳不犯；後聖懲偽，易以剠墨。唐堯至仁，不赦四凶之罪；漢高大度，而急三傑之誅。且太公為治，先華士之刑；宣尼作宰，肆少正之戮。自昔力安社稷，功濟蒼生，班劍引前，笳鼓陪後，不能保此者，歷代無數。養之以福，十分有一耳。至若喜之深罪，其得免乎？

Court officials, great ministers, and frontier governors—Wu Xi fears almost none of them. He fears only me. No one knows how long one will live. If I reign a hundred years and Wu Xi is gone, what would the realm lose? If I sicken this fourth month and lose the strength to rule, how could the empire survive with Wu Xi still in power? Given Wu Xi's dispositions, he would never serve a ruler who governed by law. What if the state were struck by crisis and he saw his chance! Many people say, "These are fearful times; the government is harsh." Every ruler who held the empire, governed millions, and kept order through authority did the same. In high antiquity symbolic punishments sufficed because the people were upright and did not transgress; Later sage rulers had to punish deceit with branding and tattoo instead. Even the supremely humane Emperor Yao did not spare the Four Evils; Even magnanimous Han Gaozu moved swiftly to execute the three great generals. When the Grand Duke Jiang Ziya governed Qi, he first executed the recluses who refused office; When Confucius served as minister of Lu, he had Shaozheng Mao put to death. Throughout history, countless men who saved the state, served the people, and marched with honors could not keep their fortune to the end. Of such men, scarcely one in ten kept his blessings to the end. As for Wu Xi's grave offenses—can he possibly escape punishment?

夫富之與貴，雖以功績致之，必由道德守之。故善始者未足稱奇，令終者乃可重耳。凡置官養士，本在利國，當其為利，愛之如赤子；及其為害，畏之若仇讎，豈暇遠尋初功，而應忍受終敝耳。將之為用，譬如餌藥，當人羸冷，資散石以全身；及熱勢發動，去堅積以止患。豈憶始時之益，不計後日之損；存前者之賞，抑當今之罰。非忘其功，勢不獲已耳。喜罪釁山積，志意難容，雖有功效，不足自補，交為國患，焉得不除。且欲防微杜漸，憂在未萌，不欲方幅露其罪惡，明當嚴詔切之，令自為其所。卿諸人將相大臣，股肱所寄，賞罰事重，應與卿等論之，卿意並謂云何？

Wealth and rank may be won by merit, but they can be kept only through virtue. A good beginning is nothing remarkable; only a good ending earns true respect. The purpose of appointing officials and maintaining a staff is to serve the state. While they serve it well, cherish them as you would an infant; when they become harmful, fear them as enemies. One cannot cling to early merit and tolerate their final rot. Employing a general is like taking medicine: when a man is weak and chilled, a mild tonic restores his health; when fever flares, strong purgatives must be used to stop the disease. One cannot dwell on the early benefit and ignore the later harm; nor grant past rewards while withholding present punishment. This is not ingratitude—it is necessity. Wu Xi's offenses tower like a mountain. His ambitions cannot be tolerated. Past service cannot atone for it. He has become a national disaster and must be removed. I mean to stop this before it spreads and act before trouble erupts. I will not publish every detail of his crimes, but will issue stern orders tomorrow and leave him to settle his own account. You are my arms and legs, my generals and ministers. Reward and punishment are grave matters, and I should consult you. What is your view?

及喜死，發詔賻賜。子徽民，襲爵。齊受禪，國除。

When Wu Xi died, the throne issued an edict granting funeral gifts. His son Huimin inherited the title. When the Qi dynasty took the throne, the enfeoffment was abolished.

黃回，竟陵郡軍人也。出身充郡府雜役，稍至傳教。臧質為郡，轉齋帥，及去職，將回自隨。質為雍州，回復為齋帥。質討元兇，回隨從有功，免軍戶。質在江州，擢領白直隊主。隨質於梁山敗走向豫章，為臺軍主謝承祖所錄，付江州作部，遇赦得原。回因下都，於宣陽門與人相打，詐稱江夏王義恭馬客，鞭二百，付右尚方。會中書舍人戴明寶被繫，差回為戶伯，性便辟勤緊，奉事明寶，竭盡心力。明寶尋得原赦，委任如初，啟免回，以領隨身隊，統知宅及江西墅事。性有功藝，觸類多能，明寶甚寵任之。

Huang Hui was a common soldier from Jingling Commandery. He began as a menial in the prefectural office and gradually worked up to messenger. When Zang Zhi was prefect, Hui became quartermaster. When Zhi left office, he took Hui with him. When Zhi took Yong Province, Hui again served as his quartermaster. When Zhi campaigned against Liu Shao, Hui followed and distinguished himself, winning release from military-household status. While Zhi held Jiang Province, Hui was promoted to captain of the white-guard squad. After Zhi's defeat at Mount Liang and flight toward Yuzhang, Hui was arrested by Palace Army Commander Xie Chengzu, assigned to labor in Jiang Province, and later pardoned. Hui later went to the capital. At Xuanyang Gate he brawled with someone and falsely claimed to be a groom of Prince Jiangxia. He was flogged two hundred times and sent to the Right Workshops. When Palace Secretary Dai Mingbao was imprisoned, Hui was assigned as his house steward. Quick and diligent by nature, he served Mingbao with complete devotion. Mingbao was soon pardoned and restored to favor. He petitioned for Hui's release and made him head of his personal guard, putting him in charge of the house and the villa west of the river. Hui had a gift for arms and many other skills. Mingbao favored and relied on him greatly.

後廢帝元徽初，桂陽王休範為逆，回以屯騎校尉領軍隸齊王，於新亭創詐降之計，事在休範傳。回見休範可乘，謂張敬兒曰：「卿可取之，我誓不殺諸王。」敬兒即日斬休範。事平，轉回驍騎將軍，加輔師將軍，進爵為侯，改封聞喜縣，增邑千戶。四年，遷冠軍將軍、南琅邪、濟陽二郡太守。建平王景素反，回又率軍前討，假節。城平之日，回軍先入，又以景素讓張倪奴，回增邑五百戶，進號征虜將軍，加散騎常侍，太守如故。明年，遷右衛將軍，常侍如故。

In the first year of Yuanhui under the Later Deposed Emperor, Prince of Guiyang Liu Xiufan rebelled. Hui, as Commandant of Encampment Cavalry under the Prince of Qi, devised the false-surrender stratagem at Xinting—the full account is in Xiufan's biography. Hui saw that Xiufan was vulnerable and told Zhang Jinger, "You take him. I swear I will not kill any prince." That same day Zhang Jinger beheaded Xiufan. After the rebellion was suppressed, Hui was made General of Valiant Cavalry and General Assisting the Army, raised to marquis, and enfeoffed in Wenxi County with one thousand additional households. In the fourth year he was promoted to General Who Conquers the Barbarians and made prefect of Nan Langye and Jiyang. When Prince of Jianping Liu Jingsu rebelled, Hui again marched against him with provisional credentials. When the city fell, Hui's troops entered first. He handed Jingsu over to Zhang Ninu. Hui received five hundred more households, was promoted to General Who Conquers the Barbarians and Regular Palace Attendant, and kept his prefecture. The following year he was transferred to General of the Right Guard, retaining his title as palace attendant.

沈攸之反，以回為使持節、督郢州、司州之義陽諸軍事、平西將軍、郢州刺史，給鼓吹一部，率眾出新亭為前鋒。未發，而袁粲據石頭為亂，回與新亭諸將帥任候伯、彭文之、王宜興、孫曇瓘等謀應粲。粲事發，候伯等並乘船赴石頭，唯曇瓘先至得入，候伯等至，而粲已平。回本期詰旦率所領從御道直向臺門，攻齊王於朝堂，事既不果，齊王撫之如舊。回與宜興素不協，慮或反告，因其不從處分，斬之。宜興，吳興人也。形狀短小，而果勁有膽力。少年時為劫，不須伴，郡討逐圍繞數十重，終莫能擒。太宗泰始中，為將，在壽陽間擊索虜，每以少制多，挺身深入，無所畏憚，虜眾值宜興，皆引避不敢當。稍至寧朔將軍，羽林監。以平建平王景素功，封長壽縣男，食邑三百戶。至是，為屯騎校尉，加輔國將軍。

When Shen Youzhi rebelled, Hui was appointed Area Commander of Ying and Yiyang, General Who Pacifies the West, and Inspector of Ying Province, with drums and horns, and marched from Xinting as vanguard. Before they marched, Yuan Can seized Shitou in rebellion. Hui and the Xinting commanders Ren Houbo, Peng Wenzhi, Wang Yixing, and Sun Tanqian plotted to join him. When the plot was exposed, Houbo and the others sailed for Shitou. Only Tanqian got inside first. By the time the rest arrived, Can had already been defeated. Hui had planned to lead his men at dawn along the Imperial Way straight to the palace gate and attack the Prince of Qi in the court hall. When the plot failed, the Prince of Qi treated him as before. Hui and Wang Yixing had never got along. Fearing Yixing might turn informer, he had him executed for disobeying orders. Wang Yixing was a native of Wuxing. He was short in build, but resolute, fierce, and fearless. As a youth he turned bandit and needed no partners. Commandery troops hunted him through dozens of encircling lines and never took him. During the Taishi era of Emperor Ming he served as a general. Fighting around Shouyang against the Northern Wei, he again and again beat larger forces with smaller ones, charging deep without hesitation. Enemy troops who ran into Yixing always fell back rather than face him. In time he rose to General Who Pacifies the North and Director of the Feathered Forest Guard. For helping put down Prince Jingsu of Jianping, he was enfeoffed as Baron of Changshou with three hundred households. By then he was Colonel of the Garrison Cavalry, with the additional rank of General Who Assists the State.

回進軍未至郢州，而沈攸之敗走。回至鎮，進號鎮西將軍，改督為都督。回不樂停郢州，固求南兗，遂率部曲輒還。改封安陸郡公，增邑二千戶，并前三千七百戶。改都督南兗、徐、兗、青、冀五州諸軍事、鎮北將軍、南兗州刺史，加散騎常侍，持節如故。

Hui was still marching and had not yet reached Ying Province when Shen Youzhi was beaten and fled. When Hui returned to his command, he was promoted to General Who Pacifies the West, and his supervisory title was upgraded to area commander. Hui did not want to stay at Ying Province and pressed insistently for Southern Yanzhou, then marched his personal troops straight home. He was re-enfeoffed as Duke of Anlu Commandery, with two thousand more households added to his fief—for three thousand seven hundred in all. He was made area commander of military affairs in Southern Yanzhou, Xu, Yan, Qing, and Ji, General Who Pacifies the North, and Inspector of Southern Yanzhou, with the added title of Regular Attendant of the Scattered Cavalry, keeping his staff of authority as before.

齊王以回終為禍亂，乃上表曰：「黃回出自廝伍，本無信行，仰值泰始，謬被驅馳，階藉風雲，累叨顯伍。及沈攸之作逆，事切戎機，臣闇於知人，冀其搏噬，遣統前鋒，竟不接刃。軍至郢城，乘威迫脅，陵掠所加，必先尊貴。武陵王馬器服咸被虜奪，城內文武，剝剔靡遺。及至還都，縱恣彌甚，先朝御服，猶有二輿，弓劍遺思，尚在車府。回遂啟求，以擬私用，僭侮無厭，罔顧天極。又廣納逋亡，多受劫盜，親信此等，並為爪牙。觀其凶狡，憂在不測，惡積罪著，非可含忍，應加剷除，以明國憲。尋其釁狀，實宜極法，但嘗經將帥，微有塵露，罪疑從輕，事炳前策，請在降減，特原餘嗣。臣過荷隆寄，言必罄誠，謹陳管穴，式遵弘典，伏願聖明，特垂允鑒。臣思不出位，誠昧甄才，追言既往，伏增慚恧。」詔曰：「黃回擢自凡豎，夙負疵釁，貰以憲綱，收基搏噬。雖勤效累著，而屢懷干紀。新亭背叛，投拜寇場，異規既扇，廟律幾殆，幸得張敬兒提戈直奮，元惡受戮。及景素結逆，履霜歲久，乃密通音譯，潛送器杖，氛沴克霽，狡謀方顯。每存容掩，冀能悛革，故裂茅升爵，均榮勳寵。凶詖有本，險慝滋深，構誘敬兒，志相攻陷，悖圖未遂，佷戾彌甚。近軍次郢鎮，劫逼府主，兼挾私計，多所徵索，主局咨疑，便加捶楚，專肆暴慢，罔顧彝則。膺牧西蕃，徽賁惟厚，曾不知感，猶懷忿怨。李安民述任河、濟，星管未周，貪據襟要，苦祈回奪。黷謁弗已，叨侈無度，遂請求御輿，僭擬私飾。又招萃賊黨，初不啟聞，傷風蠹化，莫此之甚。宜明繩裁，肅正刑書，便收付廷尉，依法窮治。」

The Prince of Qi, convinced that Hui would end in rebellion and ruin, submitted a memorial: "Huang Hui came up from the ranks. He never had a trustworthy character. In the Taishi era he was absurdly swept into service; carried upward by changing fortune, he climbed again and again into high office. When Shen Youzhi rebelled, the crisis was immediate. I misjudged the man and hoped he would tear into the enemy. I sent him to lead the vanguard, and he never once crossed swords. When the army reached Ying city, he used its momentum to bully and extort. Whatever he plundered, he took first from the highest ranks. The Prince of Wuling's horses, trappings, and robes were all seized. Inside the city, civil and military officials were stripped of everything. Back in the capital, his arrogance only grew. Of the former emperor's regalia, two imperial carriages still remained; memorial bow and sword were still kept in the chariot office. Hui then petitioned to take them for his private use—insolent beyond measure, with no regard for the throne. He also took in fugitives on a wide scale and welcomed bandits and robbers, making such men his trusted enforcers. His savage cunning makes the future impossible to read. His crimes have piled up until they can no longer be borne. He should be removed to make the law clear. By the full measure of his guilt he deserves the extreme penalty; yet he once held command and has a little merit on campaign. Where the law allows doubt to weigh in the lighter direction, as precedent requires, I ask that his sentence be reduced and his descendants spared. Your servant has been entrusted beyond his deserts, and I speak now with all the sincerity I have. I offer this narrow view in reverence for the great precedents, and beg Your Sagely Majesty to grant your approval. My thoughts do not overstep my office, yet I confess I failed to judge men rightly. To speak now of what is already past fills me with shame." An edict replied: "Huang Hui was pulled up from the common ranks. He had long carried stains upon him. Spared by the law, he fed on opportunity and fought like a predator. Though his service mounted and his deeds stood out, again and again he nursed designs against the order of the state. At Xinting he turned traitor and bowed to the rebels. Once his separate plot was set in motion, the laws of the ancestral temple nearly collapsed. Only because Zhang Jinger seized his halberd and struck straight at the enemy was the chief villain brought to execution. When Jingsu plotted rebellion, the warning signs had been there for years. Hui secretly exchanged messages with him and smuggled him arms. Only when the evil air cleared did his treacherous design show itself. Time after time we covered for him, hoping he would turn back. That is why he was given fiefs and raised in rank, sharing honors with men of real merit. His evil had deep roots, and his treachery only deepened. He plotted against Jinger and tried to drag him down with him. Though the rebellion failed, his brutish defiance grew worse still. Recently, when his army halted at Ying, he robbed and intimidated the prefect and, pursuing private ends, made endless demands. When the chief clerks questioned him, he had them beaten on the spot—violent, arrogant, and contemptuous of all rule. Entrusted with the western frontier, he was heaped with honors and rewards. He felt no gratitude and still brooded on grievance. Li Anmin was still carrying out his assignment on the Yellow and Ji rivers; his term had not yet ended. Hui greedily seized key posts and pestered the court to take them from him. His brazen petitions never stopped. His presumptuous excess knew no bounds. He even asked for the imperial carriage and fitted out his own in imitation of it. He also gathered bands of outlaws without reporting it—nothing could do more harm to public morals. The law must be made clear and punishment restored to its proper severity. Let him be arrested and handed to the Minister of Justice for full prosecution under the law."

回死時，年五十二。子僧念，尚書左民郎，竟陵相，未發，從誅。

Hui was fifty-two when he died. His son Sengnian was Left Clerk of the People's Section in the Ministry of Works and had been appointed administrator of Jingling, but before he could take up the post he was executed with his father.

回既貴，祗事戴明寶甚謹，言必自名。每至明寶許，屏人獨進，未嘗敢坐。躬至帳下及入內，料檢有無，隨乏供送，以此為常。

After Hui rose to power, he served Dai Mingbao with scrupulous devotion, always naming himself when he spoke. Whenever he visited Mingbao he sent away attendants and entered alone, and never dared to sit down. He went in person to Mingbao's tent and inner rooms, checking what was missing and sending whatever was needed. This became his daily habit.

先是，王蘊為湘州，潁川庾佩玉為蘊寧朔府長史、長沙內史。蘊去職，南中郎將、湘州刺史南陽王翽未之任，權以佩玉行府州事。先遣中兵參軍、臨湘令韓幼宗領軍戍防湘州，與佩玉共事，不美。及沈攸之為逆，佩玉、幼宗各不相信，幼宗密圖，佩玉知其謀，襲殺幼宗。回至郢州，遣輔國將軍任候伯行湘州事，候伯以佩玉兩端，輒殺之。湘州刺史呂安國之鎮，齊王使安國誅候伯。

Earlier, when Wang Yun was inspector of Xiang Province, Yu Peiyu of Yingchuan served as chief secretary of Yun's Pacifying-the-North headquarters and as administrator of Changsha. When Yun left office, Prince Hui of Nanyang had been appointed general of the southern palace gentlemen and inspector of Xiang but had not yet arrived. Yu Peiyu was temporarily put in charge of headquarters and provincial affairs. Han Youzong, central army staff officer and prefect of Linxiang, had already been sent to garrison Xiang Province with troops. He and Peiyu served together, but the arrangement went badly. When Shen Youzhi rebelled, Peiyu and Youzong lost trust in each other. Youzong plotted in secret; Peiyu learned of it and struck first, killing him. When Hui reached Ying Province he sent Ren Houbo, General Who Assists the State, to handle Xiang affairs. Houbo judged Peiyu two-faced and had him killed at once. When Lü Anguo arrived to take up the inspectorate of Xiang, the Prince of Qi ordered him to execute Houbo.

彭文之，泰山人也。以軍功稍至龍驤將軍。討建平王景素功，封葛陽縣男，食邑三百戶。順帝初，為輔國將軍、左軍將軍、南濮陽太守、直閣，領右細杖蕩主。沈攸之平後，齊王收之下獄，賜死。

Peng Wenzhi was a native of Taishan. Through battlefield merit he rose in time to General Who Supervises the Dragons. For helping suppress Prince Jingsu of Jianping, he was enfeoffed as Baron of Geyang with three hundred households. At the beginning of Emperor Shun's reign he was General Who Assists the State, General of the Left Army, prefect of Southern Puyang, attendant at the inner gate, and chief of the right fine-staff guard. After Shen Youzhi was defeated, the Prince of Qi had him arrested, thrown into prison, and ordered to take his own life.

孫曇瓘，吳郡富陽人也。驍果有氣力，以軍功稍進，至是為寧朔將軍、越州刺史。於石頭叛走，逃竄經時，後於秣陵縣禽獲，伏誅。

Sun Tanqian was a native of Fuyang in Wu Commandery. Fierce, able, and physically powerful, he climbed by military merit. By then he was General Who Pacifies the North and inspector of Yue Province. At Shitou he rebelled and fled. After long months on the run he was captured in Moling County and executed.

回同時為將者，臨淮任農夫，沛郡周寧民，南郡高道慶，並以武用顧。農夫稍至強弩將軍。太宗初，以東討功，封廣晉縣子，食邑五百戶。東土平定，仍又南討，增邑二百戶。歷射聲校尉，左軍將軍。時桂陽王休範在江州，有異志，朝廷慮其下，以農夫為輔師將軍、淮南太守，戍姑孰以防之。休範尋率眾向京邑，奄至近道，農夫棄戍還都。休範平，以戰功改封孱陵縣侯，增邑千戶，并前千七百戶。出為輔師將軍、豫州刺史，尋進號冠軍將軍。明年，入為驍騎將軍，加通直散騎常侍。前世加官，唯散騎常侍，無通直員外之文。太宗以來，多因軍功至大位，資輕加常侍者，往往通直員外焉。五年，加征虜將軍，改通直為散騎常侍，驍騎如故。其年卒，追贈左將軍，常侍如故，諡曰貞肅。候伯，即農夫弟也。

Among the generals who rose alongside Hui were Ren Nongfu of Linhuai, Zhou Ningmin of Pei Commandery, and Gao Daoqing of Nan Commandery—all men valued for their fighting. Nongfu rose in time to General of the Strong Crossbows. Early in Emperor Ming's reign, for merit on the eastern campaign, he was enfeoffed as Viscount of Guangjin with five hundred households. After the east was pacified he fought again in the south, and his fief was increased by two hundred households. He served in turn as Colonel Who Shoots at Sound and General of the Left Army. At that time Prince Xiufan of Guiyang held Jiang Province with rebellious intent. The court feared trouble from his followers and made Nongfu General Assisting the Army and prefect of Huainan, stationing him at Guni to block him. Xiufan soon marched on the capital and suddenly appeared on the nearest road. Nongfu abandoned his post and fled back to the capital. After Xiufan was defeated, Nongfu was re-enfeoffed as Marquis of Canling for his battle merit, with one thousand more households added—for one thousand seven hundred in all. He went out as General Assisting the Army and inspector of Yu Province, and was soon promoted to General Who Conquers the Enemy. The following year he returned to court as General of Valiant Cavalry, with the added title of Direct and Regular Attendant of the Scattered Cavalry. In earlier ages the added honor was only Regular Attendant of the Scattered Cavalry. There was no wording for direct attendant or acting attendant. Since Emperor Ming's time, many men of military merit had risen to high office. Those whose standing was thin but who received the added rank of palace attendant were often given direct or acting attendant titles instead. In the fifth year he received the added title General Who Conquers the Barbarians, and his direct-attendant rank was changed to Regular Attendant of the Scattered Cavalry while he kept his cavalry command. He died that same year. Posthumously he was made General of the Left Army, retaining his attendant title, with the posthumous name Upright and Stern. Houbo was Nongfu's younger brother.

周寧民於鄉里起義討薛安都，亦以軍功至軍校。泰始初，封贛縣男，食邑三百戶。官至寧朔將軍、徐州刺史，鍾離太守。

In his home district Zhou Ningmin raised a loyal force to fight Xue Andu and, through military merit, rose to army colonel. At the beginning of the Taishi era he was enfeoffed as Baron of Gan County with three hundred households. He rose to General Who Pacifies the North, inspector of Xu Province, and prefect of Zhongli.

高道慶亦至軍校驍游，以平桂陽王休範功，封樂安縣男，食邑三百戶。建平王景素反，道慶領軍北討，而與景素通謀。及事平，自啟求增邑五百戶，詔加二百，並前五百戶。道慶兇險暴橫，求欲無已，有失其意，輒加捶拉，往往有死者，朝廷畏之如虎狼。齊王與袁粲等議，收付廷尉，賜死。

Gao Daoqing also rose to colonel of the valiant rangers. For suppressing Prince Xiufan of Guiyang he was enfeoffed as Baron of Le'an with three hundred households. When Prince Jingsu of Jianping rebelled, Daoqing marched north against him while secretly plotting with Jingsu. After the rebellion was put down he petitioned for five hundred more households. An edict granted two hundred, bringing his fief to five hundred in all. Daoqing was savage, treacherous, and violently overbearing. His appetites were endless. Anyone who crossed him was beaten and tortured, often to death. The court feared him as it would tigers and wolves. The Prince of Qi consulted with Yuan Can and the others, had Daoqing arrested and handed to the Minister of Justice, and ordered him to die.

史臣曰：夫豎人匹夫，濟其身業，非世亂莫由也。以亂世之情，用於治日，其得不亡，亦為幸矣！

The historian writes: For men of low birth and common stock to make their way in the world, nothing but an age of chaos could have opened the path. To carry the habits of chaos into times of order and still escape destruction was already luck enough!

Cite this Chapter