Volume 94 Biographies 54: En Xing

列傳第五十四恩幸

Biography 54: Those Favored by Imperial Grace

夫君子小人，類物之稱。蹈道則為君子，違之則為小人。屠釣，卑事也；版築，賤役也，太公起為周師，傅說去為殷相。非論公侯之世，鼎食之資，明揚幽仄，唯才是與。逮於二漢，茲道未革，胡廣累世農夫，伯始致位公相；黃憲牛醫之子，叔度名重京師。且任子居朝，鹹有職業，雖七葉珥貂，見崇西漢，而侍中身奉奏事，又分掌禦服。東方朔為黃門侍郎，執戟殿下。郡縣掾史，並出豪家，負戈宿衛，皆由勢族，非若晚代，分為二途者也。漢末喪亂，魏武始基，軍中倉卒，權立九品。蓋以論人才優劣，非為世族高卑。因此相沿，遂為成法。自魏至晉，莫之能改，州都郡正，以才品人，而舉世人才，升降蓋寡。徒以馮藉世資，用相陵駕，都正俗士，斟酌時宜，品目少多，隨事俯仰，劉毅所雲「下品無高門，上品無賤族」者也。歲月遷訛，斯風漸篤，凡厥衣冠，莫非二品，自此以還，遂成卑庶。周、漢之道，以智役愚，台隸參差，用成等級；魏晉以來，以貴役賤，士庶之科，較然有辨。夫人君南面，九重奧絕，陪奉朝夕，義隔卿士，階闥之任，宜有司存。既而恩以幸生，信由恩固，無可憚之姿，有易親之色。孝建、泰始，主威獨運，官置百司，權不外假，而刑政糾雜，理難遍通，耳目所寄，事歸近習。賞罰之要，是謂國權，出內王命，由其掌握，於是方途結軌，輻湊同奔。人主謂其身卑位薄，以為權不得重。曾不知鼠憑社貴，狐藉虎威，外無逼主之嫌，內有專用之功，勢傾天下，未之或悟。挾朋樹黨，政以賄成，鈇鉞創磐，構於筵笫之曲，服冕乘軒，出乎言笑之下。南金北毳，來悉方艚，素縑丹魄，至皆兼兩，西京許、史，蓋不足雲，晉朝王、庾，未或能比。及太宗晚運，慮經盛衰，權幸之徒，懾憚宗戚，欲使幼主孤立，永竊國權，構造同異，興樹禍隙，帝弟宗王，相繼屠劋。民忘宋德，雖非一途，寶祚夙傾，實由於此。嗚呼！《漢書》有《恩澤侯表》，又有《佞幸傳》。今采其名，列以為《恩幸篇》雲。

The gentleman and the petty man are merely names for two kinds of human beings. Follow the Way and you are counted a gentleman; depart from it and you are a petty man. Butchering and angling were humble trades; Rammed-earth labor was work for commoners, yet Taigong rose to become preceptor to Zhou, and Fuyue left the worksites to serve as minister to the Yin. This was not limited to an age when only lords and great houses held ritual-tripod stipends; the enlightened sought out hidden worth and granted office purely according to ability. By the two Han dynasties this practice had not been abandoned: Hu Guang came from generations of farming folk, yet as Bo Shi he rose to the highest offices of state; Huang Xian was the son of a cattle doctor, yet Shudu made a name for himself throughout the capital. Moreover, when members of the Ren family held office at court, each had a proper profession; though for seven generations they wore the courtier's sable pendants and were honored in Western Han, the Palace Attendant still personally presented memorials and also shared supervision of the imperial wardrobe. Dongfang Shuo served as Gentleman of the Yellow Gates, standing halberd in hand beneath the palace steps. County and district clerks all came from powerful families, and men who bore arms on night guard likewise arose from influential clans—nothing like later times, when the two paths were rigidly separated. At the end of Han came chaos and ruin; when Cao Cao laid his foundations, amid the urgency of military affairs he provisionally established the nine-rank system. It was meant to judge the quality of talent, not the standing of hereditary clans. Passed down in this way, it became fixed law. From Wei through Jin no one could change it; provincial and commandery Rectifiers graded men by talent, yet throughout the realm there was scarcely any real rise or fall among men of ability. Men relied solely on hereditary standing to dominate one another; the Rectifiers, being men of no distinction, adjusted to the times, assigning grades high or low as circumstances required, bending with every shift in fortune—precisely what Liu Yi meant when he said, "The lower ranks have no great houses; the upper ranks have no base clans." As years passed, this tendency grew ever stronger: everyone who wore cap and robe was counted at least second rank; from that level downward, one was classed as base commoner. In the Zhou and Han way, the wise employed the foolish; clerks and attendants were graded in rank, thereby forming a hierarchy; Since Wei and Jin, the noble have employed the base; the lines between gentry and commoner have been sharply drawn. When the ruler faces south, the inner palace's ninefold gates stand remote and sealed; those who attend him day and night are set apart in duty from ministers and grandees; duties at the steps and gates ought to belong to proper offices. Then favor bred intimacy, and trust was secured through favor; they had nothing about them that inspired awe, but a manner easy to approach. In the Xiaojian and Taishi eras the sovereign wielded authority alone; though the hundred offices were in place and power was not delegated outward, penal administration and government were tangled and complex, and reason could not reach everywhere—so what the ruler's eyes and ears depended on fell to those in close attendance. The essentials of reward and punishment are the core of state authority; issuing and withdrawing the royal command lay in their hands, and so from every direction men converged like wheel spokes on a hub. The ruler supposed that because their persons were lowly and their posts slight, their power could not amount to much. He failed to see that the rat is honored through its shrine-mound, the fox borrows the tiger's might—outwardly there was no appearance of coercing the ruler, inwardly they held exclusive control; their power tilted the realm, yet none perceived it. Clutching factions and planting parties, they made government through bribes; axes and halberds were forged amid the curves of banquet mats; coronets and high carriages were granted from beneath a jest or smile. Southern gold and northern furs arrived in whole cargo ships; plain silk and cinnabar ore came in double-picul loads—the Xus and Shis of Western Capital scarcely bear mention; the Wang and Yu of Jin could not compare. In Emperor Ming's late reign, mindful that he had seen both rise and fall, the power-favored feared the imperial clan; wishing to isolate the young ruler and seize state authority forever, they manufactured divisions and sowed disasters; the emperor's younger brothers and imperial princes were cut down one after another. The people forgot the virtue of Song—though the causes were not one alone—the throne had long been tilting, and this was truly the reason. Alas! The Book of Han has the "Table of Marquises Favored by Grace" and also the "Biographies of Fawning Favorites." Now taking their names, I arrange them in this "Treatise on Those Favored by Imperial Grace."

戴法興，會稽山陰人也。家貧，父碩子，販珝為業。法興二兄延壽、延興並修立，延壽善書，法興好學。山陰有陳載者，家富，有錢三千萬，鄉人咸云：「戴碩子三兒，敵陳載三千萬錢。」

Dai Faxing was a native of Shanyin in Kuaiji commandery. His family was poor; his father Shuozi made a living selling ramie cloth. Faxing's two elder brothers Yanshou and Yanxing were both upright and accomplished; Yanshou excelled at calligraphy, while Faxing loved learning. In Shanyin there was a Chen Zai whose family was wealthy and held thirty million in cash; the villagers all said, "Shuozi's three sons of the Dai family are worth as much as Chen Zai's thirty million."

世祖親覽朝政，不任大臣，而腹心耳目，不得無所委寄。法興頗知古今，素見親待，雖出侍東宮，而意任隆密。魯郡巢尚之，人士之末，元嘉中，侍始興王浚讀書，亦涉獵文史，為上所知。孝建初，補東海國侍郎，仍兼中書通事舍人。凡選授遷轉誅賞大處分，上皆與法興、尚之參懷，內外諸雜事，多委明寶。

Emperor Xiaowu personally oversaw court affairs and did not rely on great ministers, yet his intimate confidants and eyes and ears had to be entrusted to someone. Faxing was fairly versed in past and present and had long been treated with intimacy; though he went out to attend the Eastern Palace, the emperor's trust in him remained profound and close. Chao Shangzhi of Lu commandery stood at the lower edge of cultivated society; in the Yuanjia era he attended Prince Shixing Liu Jun in his studies, also ranged through literature and history, and came to the emperor's notice. At the beginning of the Xiaojian era he was appointed Attendant of the Donghai kingdom and concurrently served as Palace Secretariat Communications Attendant. For all major decisions of selection, appointment, transfer, punishment, and reward, the emperor consulted with Faxing and Shangzhi; most other internal and external miscellaneous affairs were entrusted to Mingbao.

上性嚴暴，睚眥之間，動至罪戮，尚之每臨事解釋，多得全免，殿省甚賴之。而法興、明寶大通人事，多納貨賄，凡所薦達，言無不行，天下輻湊，門外成市，家產並累千金。明寶驕縱尤甚，長子敬為揚州從事，與上爭買禦物。六宮嘗出行，敬盛服騎馬于車左右，馳驟去來。上大怒，賜敬死，系明寶尚方，尋被原釋，委任如初。

The emperor's nature was severe and violent; over the slightest grudge he would move to punishment and execution; Shangzhi would explain and intercede whenever such matters arose, and many were wholly spared—the palace offices relied on him greatly. Yet Faxing and Mingbao were thoroughly versed in human affairs and accepted many bribes; whatever they recommended was never refused; the realm converged upon them until a market formed outside their gates, and each household's wealth mounted to a thousand in gold. Mingbao's arrogance and license were especially extreme; his eldest son Jing served as Yangzhou Registrar and vied with the emperor in buying imperial goods. When the inner palace once went out on procession, Jing in full dress rode a horse to the left and right of the carriage, galloping back and forth. The emperor was greatly enraged, ordered Jing to die, and imprisoned Mingbao in the Imperial Workshop; soon he was pardoned and released, and his commission was as before.

世祖崩，前廢帝即位，法興遷越騎校尉。時太宰江夏王義恭錄尚書事，任同總己，而法興、尚之執權日久，威行內外，義恭積相畏服，至是懾憚尤甚。廢帝未親萬機，凡詔敕施為，悉決法興之手；尚書中事無大小，專斷之。顏師伯、義恭守空名而已。廢帝年已漸長，凶志轉成，欲有所為，法興每相禁制，每謂帝曰：「官所為如此，欲作營陽耶？」帝意稍不能平。所愛幸閹人華願兒有盛寵，賜與金帛無算，法興常加裁減，願兒甚恨之。帝常使願兒出入市里，察聽風謠，而道路之言，謂法興為真天子，帝為應天子。願兒因此告帝曰：「外間雲宮中有兩天子，官是一人，戴法興是一人。官在深宮中，人物不相接；法興與太宰、顏、柳一體，吸習往來，門客恆有數百，內外士庶，莫不畏服之。法興是孝武左右，複久在宮闈，今將他人作一家，深恐此坐席非複官許。」帝遂發怒，免法興官，遣還田裏，仍複徙付遠郡，尋又於家賜死，時年五十二。法興臨死，封閉庫藏，使家人謹錄鑰牡。死一宿，又殺其二子，截法興棺，焚之，籍沒財物。法興能為文章，頗行於世。

When Emperor Xiaowu died, the Deposed Former Emperor took the throne, and Faxing was promoted to Colonel of the Yue Cavalry. At the time the Grand Mentor Prince of Jiangxia Liu Yigong recorded affairs of the Masters of Writing, his charge equal to holding all authority himself; yet Faxing and Shangzhi had wielded power for long, their might extending inside and out; Yigong had long feared and submitted to them, and now was especially cowed. The Deposed Emperor had not yet personally handled the myriad affairs of state; all edicts, orders, and measures were decided entirely in Faxing's hands; within the Masters of Writing, he decided all matters great and small on his own. Yan Shibo and Yigong kept empty titles, nothing more. The Deposed Emperor was gradually growing older, his vicious intent taking shape; when he wished to act, Faxing always restrained him, saying each time to the emperor, "Your Majesty acts in this way—do you wish to become another Lord of Yingyang?" The emperor's resentment gradually could not be contained. The favored eunuch Hua Yuan'er enjoyed great favor; gifts of gold and silk to him were beyond counting; Faxing often cut them back, and Yuan'er hated him deeply. The emperor often sent Yuan'er in and out of the market streets to listen for popular songs and rumors; on the roads people said that Faxing was the true Son of Heaven and the emperor the responsive Son of Heaven. Yuan'er therefore reported to the emperor, "Outside they say there are two Sons of Heaven in the palace—Your Majesty is one, Dai Faxing is one. Your Majesty is deep within the inner palace and does not meet people face to face; Faxing moves as one with the Grand Mentor, Yan, and Liu, in constant association; his retainers always number several hundred; gentry and commoners inside and out all fear and submit to him. Faxing was at Emperor Xiaowu's side and has long been in the inner palace; now he would make others into one household—I deeply fear this seat will no longer be yours to keep." The emperor thereupon grew angry, dismissed Faxing from office, and sent him back to his fields; then he was again transferred to a distant commandery; soon afterward he was ordered to die at home; he was fifty-two. As Faxing faced death, he sealed the storehouses and bade his household carefully record the keys. One night after his death his two sons were also killed; Faxing's coffin was split open and burned, and his goods were confiscated by register. Faxing could compose literary pieces, which circulated fairly widely in his time.

死後，帝敕巢尚之曰：「吾纂承洪基，君臨萬國，推心勳舊，著於遐邇。不謂戴法興恃遇負恩，專作威福，冒憲黷貨，號令自由，積釁累愆，遂至於此。卿等忠勤在事，吾乃具悉，但道路之言，異同紛糾，非唯人情駭愕，亦玄象違度，委付之旨，良失本懷。吾今日親覽萬機，留心庶事，卿等宜竭誠盡力，以副所期。」尚之時為新安王子鸞撫軍中兵參軍、淮陵太守。乃解舍人，轉為撫軍諮議參軍，太守如故。

After his death the emperor commanded Chao Shangzhi, saying, "I have succeeded to the great foundation and rule the myriad realms; I have extended my heart to meritorious elders, manifest to far and near. I did not expect that Dai Faxing, relying on favor, betrayed grace, monopolized authority and blessings, violated statutes and trafficked in goods, issued commands at will, accumulated offenses and repeated faults, and so came to this. You and the others have been loyal and diligent in your duties—I know this fully—but what is said on the roads is tangled in dispute; not only are people's hearts alarmed, the celestial signs also depart from their measure; the intent of my commission has truly missed its original aim. Today I personally review the myriad affairs of state and attend to common matters; you ought to exhaust your loyalty and strength to fulfill what is expected." At the time Shangzhi was Staff Major of the Army for Prince of Xin'an Liu Luan's Pacification Army and Administrator of Huailing. He was then relieved of his Attendant post and transferred to Pacification Army Advisory Major, retaining his post as Administrator.

太宗泰始二年，詔曰：「故越騎校尉吳昌縣開國男戴法興，昔從孝武，誠勤左右，入定社稷，預誓河山。及出侍東儲，竭盡心力，嬰害凶悖，朕甚湣之。可追複削注，還其封爵。」有司奏以法興孫靈珍襲封。又詔曰：「法興小人，專權豪姿，雖虐主所害，義由國討，不宜複貪人之封，封爵可停。」太宗初，複以尚之兼中書通事舍人、南清河太守。二年，遷中書侍郎，太守如故。未拜，改除前軍將軍，太守如故，侍太子于東宮。晉安王子勳平後，以軍守管內，封邵陵縣男，食邑四百戶，固辭不受。轉黃門侍郎，出為新安太守，病卒。

In the second year of Taishi, Emperor Ming's edict said, "The late Colonel of the Yue Cavalry, Baron of Wuchang county who founded a state, Dai Faxing, formerly followed Emperor Xiaowu, loyal and diligent at his side, settled the altars of state, and shared the oath upon river and mountain. When he went out to attend the Eastern Heir, he exhausted heart and strength; he met harm from vicious rebellion, and We deeply pity him. His struck entries may be posthumously restored and his enfeoffment returned." The responsible offices memorialized that Faxing's grandson Lingzhen should inherit the enfeoffment. Another edict said, "Faxing was a petty man who monopolized power in arrogant fashion; though the tyrannical ruler harmed him, righteousness lay with the state's punishment—he ought not again to enjoy another man's enfeoffment; the title and rank may be suspended." At the beginning of Emperor Ming's reign, Shangzhi was again made concurrent Palace Secretariat Communications Attendant and Administrator of Southern Qinghe. In the second year he was transferred to Palace Secretariat Gentleman, retaining his post as Administrator. Before he took office he was reassigned as General of the Van, retaining his post as Administrator, attending the crown prince in the Eastern Palace. After Prince of Jin'an Liu Zixun was pacified, for guarding the commandery by military authority he was enfeoffed as Baron of Shaoling county with a fief of four hundred households; he firmly declined and did not accept. He was transferred to Gentleman of the Yellow Gates, went out as Administrator of Xin'an, and died of illness.

戴明寶，南東海丹徒人也。亦曆員外散騎侍郎，給事中。世祖世，帶南清河太守。前廢帝即阼，權任悉歸法興，而明寶輕矣，以為宣威將軍、南東莞太守。景和末，增邑百戶。太宗初，天下反叛，軍務煩擾，以明寶舊人，屢經戎事，複委任之，以為前軍將軍。事平，遷宣威將軍、晉陵太守，進爵為侯，增邑四百戶。泰始三年，坐參掌戎事，多納賄貨，削增封官爵，系尚方，尋被宥。複為安陸太守，加甯朔將軍，遊擊、驍騎將軍，武陵內史，宣城太守，順帝驃騎司馬。升明初，年老，拜太中大夫，病卒。

Dai Mingbao was a native of Dantu in Southern Donghai commandery. He also served as Supernumerary Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and Palace Attendant. In Emperor Xiaowu's reign he held the concurrent post of Administrator of Southern Qinghe. When the Deposed Former Emperor took the throne, power and commission all passed to Faxing, and Mingbao was slighted, appointed General Who Displays Might and Administrator of Southern Dongguan. At the end of the Jinghe era his fief was increased by a hundred households. At the beginning of Emperor Ming's reign the realm rebelled and military affairs were vexed and pressing; because Mingbao was an old associate who had often seen military service, he was again entrusted and made General of the Van. When affairs were settled he was transferred to General Who Displays Might and Administrator of Jinling, advanced in rank to Marquis, with his fief increased by four hundred households. In the third year of Taishi, for participating in military affairs and accepting many bribes, his added enfeoffment, office, and rank were struck; he was imprisoned in the Imperial Workshop, and soon pardoned. He was again made Administrator of Anlu, with the additional title General Who Pacifies the North; then General Who Roams in Attack, General of Valiant Cavalry, Interior Minister of Wuling, Administrator of Xuancheng, and Chief of Staff to the Fast Cavalry of Emperor Shun. At the beginning of the Shengming era he was old and was appointed Grand Palace Grandee; he died of illness.

武陵國典書令董元嗣，與法興、明寶等俱為世祖南中郎典簽。元嘉三十年，奉使還都，值元兇弑立，遣元嗣南還，報上以徐湛之等反。上時在巴口，元嗣具言弑狀。上遣元嗣下都，奉表於劭。既而上舉義兵，劭責元嗣，元嗣答曰：「始下，未有反謀。」劭不信，備加考掠，不服，遂死。世祖事克，追贈員外散騎侍郎，使文士蘇寶生為之誄焉。

Dong Yuansi, Director of Documents for Wuling kingdom, together with Faxing, Mingbao, and the rest had all been Registry Clerks of Emperor Xiaowu's Southern Palace Gentleman. In the thirtieth year of Yuanjia, on a mission returning to the capital, he encountered the Original Culprit's regicide and enthronement; he sent Yuansi back south to report to the emperor that Xu Chengzhi and others had rebelled. The emperor was then at Bokou; Yuansi set forth the regicide in full detail. The emperor sent Yuansi down to the capital to present a memorial to Shao. Soon afterward the emperor raised righteous troops; Shao blamed Yuansi, and Yuansi replied, "When I first went down, there was no plan of rebellion." Shao did not believe him, applied full torture, he would not confess, and so died. When Emperor Xiaowu's cause prevailed, he was posthumously granted Supernumerary Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, and the literary man Su Baosheng was commissioned to compose his dirge.

大明中，又有奚顯度者，南東海郯人也。官至員外散騎侍郎。世祖常使主領人功，而苛虐無道，動加捶撲，署雨寒雪，不聽暫休，人不堪命，或有自經死者。人役聞配顯度，如就刑戮。時建康縣考囚，或用方材壓額及踝脛，民間謠曰：「甯得建康壓額，不能受奚度拍。」又相戲曰：「勿反顧，付奚度。」其酷暴如此。前廢帝嘗戲雲：「顯度刻虐，為百姓所疾，比當除之。」左右因倡「諾」。即日宣旨殺焉。時人比之孫皓殺岑昏。

In the Daming era there was also Xi Xiandu, a native of Tan in Southern Donghai commandery. He reached the office of Supernumerary Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary. Emperor Xiaowu often had him oversee corvée labor; he was harsh and cruel beyond measure, constantly applying beatings; in rain, heat, cold, or snow he allowed no brief rest; men could not bear it, and some hanged themselves. When corvée laborers heard they were assigned to Xiandu, it was as if they were going to execution. When Jiankang county interrogated prisoners, they sometimes used squared timbers to press the forehead and ankles; among the people a song ran, "Better Jiankang pressing your brow than Xiandu's beatings." They also joked, "Don't look back—hand him to Xiandu." Such was his cruelty and violence. The Deposed Former Emperor once jested, "Xiandu is harsh and cruel and hated by the people—he ought to be removed soon." His attendants thereupon cried "Agreed!" That very day an edict was issued and he was put to death. People of the time compared this to Sun Hao's execution of Cen Hun.

徐爰，字長玉，南琅邪開陽人也。本名瑗，後以與傅亮父同名，改為爰。初為晉琅邪王大司馬府中典軍，從北征。微密有意理，為高祖所知。少帝在東宮，入侍左右。太祖初，又見親任，曆治吏勞，遂至殿中侍御史。元嘉十二年，轉南台侍御史，始興王浚後軍。複侍太子于東宮，遷員外散騎侍郎。太祖每出軍行師，常懸授兵略。二十九年，重遣王玄謨等北伐，配爰五百人，隨軍向確磝，銜中旨，臨時宣示。

Xu Ai, styled Changyu, was a native of Kaiyang in Southern Langye commandery. His original name was Yuan; later, because it matched Fu Liang's father's name, he changed it to Ai. At first he served as Central Army Officer in the Grand Marshal's staff of the Prince of Langye under Jin, and joined the northern campaign. Subtle and thoughtful in his reasoning, he came to the Founding Emperor's notice. When the Young Emperor was in the Eastern Palace, he entered service at his side. At the beginning of Emperor Wen's reign he was again treated with intimacy and trust; after successive posts governing clerks and labor, he rose to Palace Attendant Censor. In the twelfth year of Yuanjia he was transferred to Attending Censor of the Southern Terrace and served as Rear Army officer to Prince Shixing Liu Jun. He again attended the crown prince in the Eastern Palace and was promoted to Supernumerary Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary. Whenever Emperor Wen took the field, Ai was often entrusted with military instructions from headquarters. In the twenty-ninth year Wang Xuemo and others were again sent on the northern campaign; Ai was given five hundred men, followed the army to Quejiao, bore the central command, and proclaimed it on the spot.

世祖至新亭，大將軍江夏王義恭南奔，爰時在殿內，誑劭追義恭，因得南走。時世祖將即大位，軍府造次，不曉朝章。爰素諳其事，既至，莫不喜說，以兼太常丞，撰立儀注。孝建初，補尚書水部郎，轉為殿中郎，兼右丞。孝建三年，索虜寇邊，詔問群臣防禦之策，爰議曰：

When Emperor Xiaowu reached Xinting, the Grand General Prince of Jiangxia Liu Yigong fled south; Ai was inside the hall, tricked Shao into pursuing Yigong, and thus escaped south. At the time Emperor Xiaowu was about to take the throne; the army headquarters was in disarray and did not understand court ritual. Ai had long been versed in such matters; when he arrived, everyone was delighted; he was made concurrent Vice Director of the Grand Chamberlain and drafted ritual regulations. At the beginning of the Xiaojian era he was appointed Gentleman of the Masters of Writing for Water Works, then transferred to Palace Gentleman and made concurrent Vice Director on the right. In the third year of Xiaojian the northern barbarians raided the borders; an edict asked the ministers for defense policies; Ai submitted his opinion, saying:

詔旨「虜犯邊塞，水陸遼遠，孤城危棘，複不可置」。臣以戎虜倡狂，狡焉滋廣，列卒擬候，伺覘間隙，不勞大舉，終莫永寧。然連于千里，費固巨萬，而中興造創，資儲未積，是以齊斧徘徊，朔氣稽掃。今皇運洪休，靈威遐懾，蠢爾遺燼，懼在誅剪，思肆蜂蠆，以表有餘，雖不敢深入濟、沛，或能草竊邊塞。羽林鞭長，太倉遙阻，救援之日，勢不相及。且當使緣邊諸戍，練卒嚴城，凡諸督統，聚糧蓄田，籌計資力，足相抗擬。小鎮告警，大督電赴，塢壁邀斷，州郡犄角，儻有自送，可使匹馬不反。

The edict read: "The barbarians violate the border passes; by water and land the distance is vast; isolated cities stand in peril, and moreover cannot be abandoned." Your servant holds that the barbarian raiders are wildly arrogant and ever more cunning; they array troops to watch and spy out openings; without a major campaign there will never be lasting peace. Yet the frontier stretches a thousand li and expense runs to tens of thousands; the restoration has just been founded and stores are not yet accumulated—hence punitive campaigns hesitate and northern threats linger uncleared. Now the imperial fortune is grand and blessed, numinous might awes the distant; these witless embers fear execution, yet think to stir up trouble to show they still have strength; though they dare not push deep into Ji and Pei, they may yet raid the border in scattered bands. The Palace Guard is far away, the Grand Granary remote—when rescue is needed, help cannot arrive in time. Moreover, border garrisons ought to drill troops and fortify cities; all commanders should gather grain and open fields, calculating resources sufficient to resist them. When a small post raises the alarm, the great commander rushes like lightning; walled strongholds intercept and cut off, provinces and commanderies support each other—if they come on their own, not a single horse need return.

詔旨「胡騎倏忽，抄暴無漸，出耕見虜，野粒資寇，比及少年，軍實無擬，江東根本，不可俱竭，宜立何方，可以相贍？」臣以為方鎮所資，實宜且田且守，若使堅壁而春墾輟耕，清野而秋登莫擬，私無生業，公成虛罄，遠引根本，二三非宜。救之之術，唯在盡力防衛，來必拒戰，去則邀躡，據險保隘，易為首尾。胡馬既退，則民豐稟實，比及三載，可以長驅。

The edict read: "Hu horsemen strike suddenly; their raids have no pattern; farmers going out to plow meet the enemy; grain in the fields feeds the raiders; by the time the young return, military stores cannot be gathered; Jiangdong's foundation cannot be wholly drained—what method can sustain the realm?" Your servant holds that frontier commands should farm while defending; if walls are held fast and spring plowing stops, if the countryside is cleared and autumn harvest fails, private livelihoods vanish and public stores empty—the distant foundation is drained; such courses are not fitting. The method of rescue lies solely in defending with full force: when they come, meet them in battle; when they leave, pursue and harass; hold perilous passes and guard defiles—head and tail can easily coordinate. Once the Hu horses withdraw, the people will be rich in grain and stores; within three years one may drive far in pursuit.

詔旨「賊之所向，本無前謀，兵之所進，亦無定所。比歲戎戍，倉庫多虛，先事聚眾，則消費糧粟，敵至倉卒，又無以相應。」臣以為推鋒前討，大須資力，據本應末，不俟多眾。今寇無傾國豕突，列城勢足脣齒，養卒得勇，所任得才，臨事而懼，應機無失，豈煩空聚兵眾，以待未然。

The edict read: "Where the bandits aim, there was no prior plan; where troops advance, there is no fixed place. In recent years border garrisons have left granaries empty; gathering masses beforehand consumes grain; when the enemy arrives suddenly, there is nothing with which to respond." Your servant holds that driving the vanguard forward to attack requires great resources; holding the root to meet the branch does not require massing huge armies. Now the raiders cannot overrun the realm; the ranked cities support one another like lip and teeth; trained troops gain courage, the right appointees gain talent; facing affairs with caution and responding without error—why gather armies in vain to await what has not happened?

詔旨「戎狄貪婪，唯利是規，不挫凶圖，奸志歲結。」臣以為不擊則必侵掠，侵掠不已，則民失農桑；農桑不收，則王戍不立，為立之方，擊之為要。

The edict read: "The barbarians are greedy and plot only profit; if their vicious designs are not broken, treacherous intent grows year by year." Your servant holds that if they are not struck they will surely raid; if raiding does not cease, the people lose farming and sericulture; if farming and sericulture fail, royal garrisons cannot stand; the way to establish them is to strike—attack is essential.

詔旨「若令邊地歲驚，公私失業，經費困於遙輸，遠圖決無遂事，寢弊贊略，逆應有方」。臣以為威虜之方，在於積粟塞下。若使邊民失業，列鎮寡儲，非唯無以遠圖，亦不能制其侵抄。今當使小戍制其始寇，大鎮赴其入境，一被毒手，便自吹齏鳥逝矣。

The edict read: "If the borderlands are alarmed year after year, public and private lose livelihoods, expenses strain distant transport, long-range plans cannot succeed, growing weakness hampers strategy—there should be a method to meet the enemy." Your servant holds that the way to awe the barbarians lies in accumulating grain below the passes. If border people lose livelihoods and frontier commands have scant stores, not only can there be no long-range plans, but raids cannot be restrained either. Now small garrisons should check their first raids, great commands should rush when they cross the border; once they taste defeat, they will scatter like chaff before the wind.

尋即真，遷左丞。先是元嘉中，使著作郎何承天草創國史。世祖初，又使奉朝請山謙之、南台禦史蘇寶生踵成之。六年，又以爰領著作郎，使終其業。爰雖因前作，而專為一家之書。上表曰：

Soon he took regular office and was promoted to Vice Director on the left. Earlier, in the Yuanjia era, Gentleman Author He Chengtian was ordered to draft the dynastic history. At the beginning of Emperor Xiaowu's reign, Court Gentleman Shan Qianzhi and Censor of the Southern Terrace Su Baosheng were ordered to continue and complete it. In the sixth year Ai was put in charge as Gentleman Author and ordered to finish the work. Although Ai built on earlier work, he made it exclusively his own history. He submitted a memorial, saying:

臣聞虞史炳圖，原光被之美，夏載昭策，先隨山之勤。天飛雖王德所至，終陟固有資田躍，神宗始於俾乂，上日兆於納揆。其在《殷頌》，《長髮》玄王，受命作周，實唯雍伯，考行之盛則，振古之弘軌。降逮二漢，亦同茲義，基帝創乎豐郊，紹祚本於昆邑。魏以武命《國志》，晉以宣啟《陽秋》，明黃初非更姓之本，泰始為造物之末，又近代之令准，式遠之鴻規。典謨緬邈，紀傳成准，善惡具書，成敗畢記。然餘分紫色，滔天泯夏，親所芟夷，而不序於始傳，涉、聖、卓、紹，煙起雲騰，非所誅滅，而顯冠乎首述，豈不以事先歸之前錄，功偕著之後撰。

Your servant has heard that the histories of Yu blaze forth in their charts, tracing how virtue spread abroad; the records of Xia proclaim their policies, putting first the toil of following the mountains. Heaven's mandate, though reached through kingly virtue, still ascends because there is foundation in effort; the divine ancestor began in assisting governance; the ascending day was foretold in receiving the regency. In the "Odes of Yin," in "Long Hair" the Dark King received the mandate and founded Zhou—it was truly Lord Yong; examining the great norms of conduct, it exemplifies the grand path of antiquity. Descending to the two Han, the meaning is the same: the founding emperor rose at Feng's outskirts; the succession rooted in Kunyi. Wei took Cao Cao's mandate for the "Records of the Realm"; Jin took Sima Yi's opening for the "Spring and Autumn"; the Ming Huangchu era was not the root of changing the surname; the Taishi era was the end of creating the dynasty—again the statutes of recent times, the great rule looking to antiquity. Canons and counsels stretch into the distant past; annals and biographies form the standard; good and evil are fully written; success and failure completely recorded. Yet fractional purple usurpers who flooded heaven and extinguished Xia were personally cut down by him yet are not placed in the opening biography; She, Sheng, Zhuo, and Shao rose like smoke and clouds—not those he executed—yet stand at the head of the narrative—is it not because events first belong in the prior record and merit is set down in the later compilation?

伏惟皇宋承金行之澆季，鐘經綸之屯極，擁玄光以鳳翔，秉神符而龍舉，喿刂定鯨鯢，天人佇屬。晉祿數終，上帝臨宋，便應奄膺珣宇，對越神工，而恭服勤於三分，讓德邁於不嗣，其為巍巍蕩蕩，赫赫明明，曆觀逖聞，莫或斯等。宜依銜書改文，登舟變號，起元義熙，為王業之始，載序宣力，為功臣之斷。其偽玄纂竊，同於新莽，雖靈武克殄，自詳之晉錄。及犯命幹紀，受戮霸朝，雖揖禪之前，皆著之宋策。國典體大，方垂不朽，請外詳議，伏須遵承。

Bowingly considering that Great Song succeeded the Metal Phase's declining age, encountered the crisis of ordering the realm, embraced dark radiance and soared like a phoenix, grasped the divine tally and rose like a dragon, settled whale and crocodile, heaven and man awaiting their lord. Jin's fortune reached its term; the Supreme Lord descended upon Song and ought to have embraced the realm and faced heaven—yet he served diligently in the threefold division and yielded virtue surpassing refusal of succession; how lofty and vast, how brilliant and clear—surveying distant ages, none equals this. One ought to follow the inscribed text in revising the writing, board the boat and change the era name, begin the era in Yixi as the start of the royal enterprise, and record in sequence those who proclaimed their strength as the line of meritorious ministers. Huan Xuan's usurped seizure is the same as Wang Mang's; though the Spirit Martial campaign destroyed them, let it be detailed in Jin's records. As for those who violated fate and breached discipline, executed by the hegemonic court—even before the yielding of the mandate, all are recorded in Song's annals. The state's canon is momentous and about to be handed down imperishable; I beg that it be debated in detail elsewhere; bowingly I await your compliance.

七年，爰遷遊擊將軍。其年，世祖南巡，權以本官兼尚書左丞，車駕還宮，罷。明年，又兼左丞，著作兼如故。世祖崩，營景寧陵，爰以本官兼將作大匠。爰便僻善事人，能得人主微旨，頗涉書傳，尤悉朝儀。元嘉初便入侍左右，預參顧問，既長於附會，又飾以典文，故為太祖所任遇。大明世，委寄尤重，朝廷大體儀注，非爰議不行。雖複當時碩學所解過人者，既不敢立異議，所言亦不見從。世祖崩，公除後，晉安王子勳侍讀博士咨爰宜習業與不？爰答：「居喪讀喪禮，習業何嫌。」少日，始安王子真博士又咨爰，爰曰：「小功廢業，三年喪何容讀書。」其專斷乖謬皆如此。

In the seventh year Ai was transferred to General Who Roams in Attack. That year Emperor Xiaowu toured south; Ai was provisionally made concurrent Vice Director of the Masters of Writing on the left; when the imperial carriage returned to the palace, the concurrent post ended. The next year he was again concurrent Vice Director on the left, retaining his authorship post as before. When Emperor Xiaowu died, Jingning Mausoleum was built; Ai retained his present office and was made concurrent Grand Master of Works. Ai was clever at ingratiating himself and skilled at pleasing people, able to grasp the ruler's subtle intent; he ranged through books and records and was especially versed in court ritual. At the beginning of Yuanjia he entered service at the ruler's side and participated in consultation; skilled at attaching himself to power and adorning himself with canonical texts, he was therefore entrusted and favored by Emperor Wen. In the Daming era his commission was especially weighty; great court ritual regulations would not proceed without Ai's deliberation. Even when great scholars of the time whose understanding surpassed others dared not raise differing opinions, what they said was likewise not heeded. When Emperor Xiaowu died, after the public mourning period, Prince of Jin'an Liu Zixun's Lecturer Doctor inquired of Ai whether study was appropriate or not. Ai replied, "While in mourning one reads mourning rites—what objection is there to continuing study?" A few days later Prince of Shian Liu Zizhen's Doctor again consulted Ai; Ai said, "For lesser merit mourning study is abandoned—in three-year mourning how can reading books be allowed?" His arbitrary decisions and perverse errors were all like this.

前廢帝兇暴無道，殿省舊人，多見罪黜，唯爰巧於將迎，始終無迕。誅群公後，以爰為黃門侍郎，領射聲校尉，著作如故。封吳平縣子，食邑五百戶。寵待隆密，群臣莫二。帝每出行，常與沈慶之、山陰公主同輦，爰亦預焉。太宗即位，例削封，以黃門侍郎改領長水校尉，兼尚書左丞。明年，除太中大夫，著作並如故。

The Deposed Former Emperor was vicious and violent beyond measure; old men of the palace offices were mostly punished and dismissed—only Ai was clever at meeting and welcoming and from start to finish met no offense. After the great lords were executed, Ai was made Gentleman of the Yellow Gates, heading the Colonel of the Archers Who Shoot at Sound, retaining his authorship post as before. He was enfeoffed as Viscount of Wuping county with a fief of five hundred households. Favor and treatment were lofty and intimate; among the ministers none was second to him. Whenever the emperor went out, he was often in the same carriage with Shen Qingzhi and the Princess of Shanyin; Ai also rode with them. When Emperor Ming took the throne, enfeoffments were struck by precedent; as Gentleman of the Yellow Gates he was changed to head the Colonel of the Long River and made concurrent Vice Director of the Masters of Writing on the left. The next year he was appointed Grand Palace Grandee, retaining his authorship post as before.

爰秉權日久，上昔在籓，素所不說。及景和世，屈辱卑約，爰禮敬甚簡，益銜之。泰始三年，詔曰：

Ai had wielded power for long; the emperor, when formerly in his princedom, had never been pleased with him. In the Jinghe era he was humiliated and kept low; Ai's courtesy was very slight, and the emperor harbored resentment all the more. In the third year of Taishi an edict said:

夫事君無禮，教道弗容；訕上炫己，人倫所棄。太中大夫徐爰拔跡廝猥，推斥饕逢，遂官參時望，門伍豪族，遷位轉榮，莫非超荷。而諂側輕險，與性自俱，利口讒妄，自少及長，奉公在事，厘毫蔑聞，初無愧滿，常有窺進。先朝嘗以芻輩之中，粗有學解，故得漸蒙驅策，出入兩宮。太初偽立，盡心佞事，義師已震，方得南奔。及孝武居統，唯極諂諛，附會承旨，專恣厥性，致使治政苛縱，興造乖法，損德害民，皆由此豎。景和悖險，深相贊協，苟取偷存，罔顧節義，任算設數，取合人主，崎嶇奸矯，所志必從，故曆事七朝，白首全貴。自以體含德厚，識鑒機先，迷塗遂深，罔知革悟。

Serving one's lord without propriety cannot be tolerated by the teaching of the Way; slandering superiors and displaying oneself—human relations cast such men aside. Grand Palace Grandee Xu Ai rose from base and vulgar origins, pushed aside yet met with gluttonous fortune, and thus his office joined the expectations of the age, his gates ranked with powerful clans; each transfer and promotion was none but an excessive favor. Yet fawning and crooked, light and dangerous, were joined with his nature; sharp-tongued slander from youth to age; in public office not a trace of merit was heard; from the first no shame, always peering to advance. The former court once considered that among the common rabble he had rough learning, and so he was gradually employed, entering and leaving both palaces. When the false Taichu was established, he devoted his heart to fawning service; only when the righteous army had already risen did he flee south. When Emperor Xiaowu held the throne, he was utterly fawning, attaching himself to carry out intent, indulging his nature alone, causing government to be harsh yet lax, constructions to violate law, virtue to be harmed and the people injured—all through this petty fellow. In Jinghe's perverse danger he deeply collaborated, snatching survival, heedless of integrity, trusting schemes to suit the ruler's will, crooked in every bend—what he aimed at was always followed; hence he served seven courts and kept full honor to white hair. He considered himself to embody thick virtue and foresight; the mistaken path grew ever deeper, unaware of reform.

朕撥亂反正，勳濟天下，靈祗助順，群逆必夷，況爰恩養，而無輸效，遂內挾異心，著于形跡，陽愚杜口，罔所陳聞，惰事緩文，庶申詭略。當今朝列賢彥，國無佞邪，而秉心弗純，累蠹時政。以其自告之辰，用賜歸老之職，榮禮優崇，寧非號饕過。不謂潛怨斥外，進競不已，勤言托意，觸遇斯發。小人之情，雖所先照，猶許其當改，未忍加法。遂恃朕仁弘，必永容貸。昨因觴宴，肆意譏毀，謂制詔所為，皆資傍說。又宰輔無斷，朝要非才，恃老與舊，慢戾斯甚。比邊難未靜，安眾以惠，戎略是務，政網從簡，故得使此小物，乘寬自縱。乃合投畀豺虎，以清王猷，但朽悴將盡，不足窮法，可特原罪，徙付交州。

We have settled chaos and restored correctness, merit aiding the realm; numinous powers assist the compliant, all rebels will be leveled—how much more Ai, whom We nurtured in grace yet who renders no contribution; he harbored a different heart within, manifest in his conduct, feigning stupidity and sealing his mouth, lazy in affairs and slow in documents, wishing to carry out treacherous designs. Now the court ranks have worthy men; the state has no fawning evil—yet he holds an impure heart and repeatedly harms current government. Because of the day he himself reported in, We granted the office of returning in age; honor and ritual were lofty and exalted—was this not excessive favor? We did not expect hidden resentment after being cast out, rivalry unceasing, diligent words carrying hidden intent—when touched, it flared forth. The feelings of a petty man, though foreseen, were still allowed room to reform; We could not bear to apply the law. He thereupon relied on Our benevolence, certain of eternal pardon. Yesterday at a banquet he wantonly mocked and slandered, claiming that every edict issued had been fed by others' gossip. He also declared that the chief ministers were indecisive, that key court posts went to men without talent, and that relying on age and long tenure he had grown insolent beyond measure. Because border troubles had not yet subsided, We sought to reassure the people with kindness, give priority to military affairs, and keep governance light—thus this petty man was permitted to exploit Our lenience and run wild. He deserved to be cast among jackals and tigers to purge the royal design; yet his withered frame was nearly spent, not worth pursuing to the full letter of the law. We specially pardoned his offense and exiled him to Jiaozhou.

爰既行，又詔曰：「八議緩罪，舊在一條；五刑所抵，耆必加貸。徐爰前後釁跡，理無可申，廢棄海埵，實允國憲。但蚤蒙朕識，曲矜愚朽，既經大宥，思沾殊渥。可特除廣州統內郡。」有司奏以為宋隆太守。除命既下，爰已至交州，值刺史張牧病卒，土人李長仁為亂，悉誅北來流寓，無或免者。長仁素聞爰名，以智計誑誘，故得無患。久之聽還，仍除南康郡丞。太宗崩，還京都，以爰為南濟陰太守，複除中散大夫。元徽三年，卒，時年八十二。

After Ai had set out, another edict said: "The Eight Deliberations and commuted punishments were formerly set forth in a single statute; for offenses under the Five Punishments, the aged must receive additional clemency. Xu Ai's offenses, past and present, offered no grounds for appeal; casting him out to the seacoast truly accorded with the law of the realm. But he had long ago come to Our notice, and We bent to pity his foolish old age; having already granted a great pardon, We wished to bestow extraordinary favor. He may be specially appointed to an inner commandery within Guangzhou." The responsible offices memorialized that he be appointed Administrator of Songlong. Once the appointment order had been issued, Ai had already reached Jiaozhou. The provincial inspector Zhang Mu died of illness, and the local leader Li Changren raised a rebellion, executing every northerner who had settled there—not one was spared. Changren had long heard of Ai's reputation and used cunning to deceive and win him over, so Ai escaped unscathed. After a long interval he was permitted to return and was appointed vice-prefect of Nankang commandery. When Emperor Ming died, Ai returned to the capital, was made administrator of Nanjiyin, and was reappointed palace grandee without specification. In the third year of Yuanhui he died, at the age of eighty-two.

阮佃夫，會稽諸暨人也。元嘉中，出身為台小史。太宗初出閣，選為主衣。世祖召還左右，補內監。永光中，太宗又請為世子師，甚見信待。景和末，太宗被拘於殿內，住在秘書省，為帝所疑，大禍將至，惶懼計無所出。佃夫與王道隆、李道兒及帝左右琅邪淳于文祖謀共廢立。時直閣將軍柳光世亦與帝左右蘭陵繆方盛、丹陽周登之有密謀，未知所奉。登之與太宗有舊，方盛等乃使登之結佃夫，佃夫大說。先是，帝立皇后，普暫徹諸王奄人，太宗左右錢藍生亦在其例。事畢，未被遣，密使藍生候帝，慮事泄，藍生不欲自出，帝動止輒以告淳于文祖，令文祖報佃夫。

Ruan Dianfu was a native of Zhuji in Kuaiji commandery. During the Yuanjia era he first entered service as a minor clerk of the Secretariat. When Emperor Ming first left the palace quarters, he was selected to serve as master of robes. Emperor Xiaowu recalled him to attend at his side and appointed him inner supervisor. During the Yongguang era Emperor Ming again requested him as tutor to the heir apparent, and he enjoyed great trust and favor. At the end of the Jinghe era Emperor Ming was confined within the palace halls and lodged in the Secretariat, suspected by the Deposed Former Emperor; catastrophe was imminent, and in terror he could find no way out. Dianfu, together with Wang Daolong, Li Dao'er, and Chunyu Wenzu of Langye, attendants at the emperor's side, plotted jointly to depose the ruler and install another. At the time General of Direct Attendance Liu Guangshi also had a secret plot with Miao Fangsheng of Lanling and Zhou Dengzhi of Danyang, attendants at the emperor's side, though they had not yet decided whom to support. Dengzhi had old ties with Emperor Ming, so Fangsheng and the others had him win over Dianfu, and Dianfu was greatly pleased. Earlier, when the emperor installed the empress, eunuchs serving the princes were generally withdrawn for the occasion; Qian Lansheng, an attendant of Emperor Ming, was among them. When the ceremony was finished he was not sent away; they secretly had Lansheng watch the emperor, fearing the plot would leak. Lansheng did not wish to go out himself, so the emperor's every move was reported at once to Chunyu Wenzu, who in turn informed Dianfu.

時巫覡雲：「後堂有鬼。」其夕，帝于竹林堂前，與巫共射之。建安王休仁等山陰主並從。帝素不說寂之，見輒切齒。寂之既與佃夫成謀，又慮禍至，抽刀前入；薑產之隨其後，淳于文祖、繆方盛、周登之、富靈符、聶慶、田嗣、王敬則、俞道龍、宋逵之又繼進。休仁聞行聲甚疾，謂休祐曰：「事作矣。」相隨奔景陽山。帝見寂之至，引弓射之，不中，乃走，寂之追而殞之。事定，宣令宿衛曰：「湘東王受太后令，除狂主。今已平定。」太宗即位，論功行賞，壽寂之封應城縣侯，食邑千戶；姜產之汝南縣侯，佃夫建城縣侯，食邑八百戶。王道隆吳平縣侯，淳于文祖陽城縣侯，食邑各五百戶。李道兒新塗縣侯，繆方盛劉陽縣侯，周登之曲陵縣侯，食邑各四百戶。富靈符惠懷縣子，聶慶建陽縣子，田嗣將樂縣子，王敬則重安縣子，俞道龍茶陵縣子，宋逵之零陵縣子，食邑各三百戶。

At the time a shaman declared: "There is a ghost in the rear hall." That evening, before the Bamboo Grove Hall, the emperor shot at it together with the shaman. Prince of Jian'an Liu Xiuren, the Princess of Shanyin, and others all accompanied him. The emperor had never liked Shou Jizhi and would gnash his teeth whenever he saw him. Shou Jizhi, having sealed his plot with Dianfu and fearing disaster was imminent, drew his sword and rushed forward; Jiang Chanzhi followed close behind, and Chunyu Wenzu, Miao Fangsheng, Zhou Dengzhi, Fu Lingfu, Nie Qing, Tian Si, Wang Jingze, Yu Daolong, and Song Kuizhi pressed in after them. Xiuren heard the footsteps coming very fast and said to Xiuyou: "It has begun." They fled together toward Jingyang Mountain. When the emperor saw Jizhi arrive, he drew his bow and shot at him but missed; he then fled, and Jizhi pursued and struck him down. When the affair was settled, an order was proclaimed to the palace guards, saying: "The Prince of Xiangdong, acting on the empress dowager's command, has removed the mad emperor. The realm is now pacified." When Emperor Ming took the throne, merit was weighed and rewards dispensed: Shou Jizhi was enfeoffed as marquis of Yingcheng county with a fief of one thousand households; Jiang Chanzhi was made marquis of Runan county and Dianfu marquis of Jiancheng county, each with a fief of eight hundred households. Wang Daolong was made marquis of Wuping county and Chunyu Wenzu marquis of Yangcheng county, each with a fief of five hundred households. Li Dao'er was made marquis of Xintu county, Miao Fangsheng marquis of Liuyang county, and Zhou Dengzhi marquis of Quling county, each with a fief of four hundred households. Fu Lingfu was made viscount of Huihuai county, Nie Qing viscount of Jianyang county, Tian Si viscount of Jiangle county, Wang Jingze viscount of Chong'an county, Yu Daolong viscount of Chaling county, and Song Kuizhi viscount of Lingling county, each with a fief of three hundred households.

佃夫遷南台侍御史。薛索兒渡淮為寇，山陽太守程天祚又反，佃夫與諸軍討之，破索兒，降天祚。遷龍驤將軍、司徒參軍，率所領南助赭圻，轉太子步兵校尉、南魯郡太守，侍太子于東宮。太始四年，以破薛索兒功，增封二百戶，並前千戶；以本官兼遊擊將軍，假甯朔將軍，與輔國將軍兼驍騎將軍孟次陽與二衛參員直。次陽字崇基，平昌安丘人也。泰始初，為山陽王休祐驃騎參軍。薛安都子道標攻合肥，次陽擊破之，以功封攸縣子，食邑三百戶。曆右軍、驃騎參軍；六年，出為輔師將軍、兗州刺史，戍淮陰。立北兗州，自此始也。進號冠軍將軍。元徽四年，卒。

Dianfu was transferred to the post of attending censor of the Southern Secretariat. Xue Suo'er crossed the Huai to raid, and the administrator of Shanyang Cheng Tianzuo also rebelled; Dianfu joined the various armies in suppressing them, defeated Suo'er, and accepted Tianzuo's surrender. He was promoted to general of the dragon chariot and staff officer of the minister of education, leading his troops south to aid Zhuchi; he was then transferred to colonel of footsoldiers of the heir apparent and administrator of Nanlu commandery, attending the heir apparent in the Eastern Palace. In the fourth year of Taishi, for his merit in defeating Xue Suo'er, his fief was increased by two hundred households, bringing the total to one thousand; Retaining his original office, he also served as general who scours the regions and was given the provisional rank of general who pacifies the north; together with assistant general who supports the state and concurrent general of the valiant cavalry Meng Ciyang he shared regular attendance duty with the two palace guards. Ciyang, courtesy name Chongji, was a native of Anqiu in Pingchang commandery. At the beginning of Taishi he served as staff officer of the rapid cavalry under Prince of Shanyang Liu Xiuyou. Xue Andu's son Daobiao attacked Hefei; Ciyang defeated him and, for his merit, was enfeoffed as viscount of You county with a fief of three hundred households. He served in succession as staff officer of the Right Army and of the Rapid Cavalry; In the sixth year he was sent out as general who assists the army and inspector of Yan province, garrisoning Huaiyin. The establishment of Northern Yan province began at this time. His title was advanced to general who uplifts the army. He died in the fourth year of Yuanhui.

時佃夫、王道隆、楊運長並執權柄，亞於人主。巢、戴大明之世方之蔑如也。嘗值正旦應合朔，尚書奏遷元會，佃夫曰：「元正慶會，國之大禮，何不遷合朔日邪？」其不稽古如此。大通貨賄，凡事非重賂不行。人有餉絹二百匹，嫌少，不答書。宅舍園池，諸王邸第莫及。妓女數十，藝貌冠絕當時，金玉錦繡之飾，宮掖不逮也。每制一衣，造一物，京邑莫不法效焉。於宅內開瀆，東出十許裏，塘岸整潔，泛輕舟，奏女樂。中書舍人劉休嘗詣之，值佃夫出行，中路相逢，要休同反；就席，便命施設，一時珍羞，莫不畢備。凡諸火劑，並皆始熟，如此者數十種。佃夫嘗作數十人饌，以待賓客，故造次便辦，類皆如此，雖晉世王、石，不能過也。泰始初，軍功既多，爵秩無序，佃夫僕從附隸，皆受不次之位。捉車人虎賁中郎，傍馬者員外郎。朝士貴賤，莫不自結，而矜傲無所降意，入其室者，唯吳興沈勃、吳郡張澹數人而已。

At the time Dianfu, Wang Daolong, and Yang Yunchang alike held the reins of power, standing second only to the sovereign. Even Chao and Dai at the height of their power in the Daming era were nothing beside them. Once when New Year's Day coincided with the new moon, the Masters of Writing memorialized to postpone the New Year's audience; Dianfu said: "The New Year's celebration is a great state rite—why not move the new-moon day instead?" Such was his ignorance of classical precedent. He openly traded in bribes; nothing could be accomplished without a heavy payment. When someone sent him two hundred bolts of silk as a gift, he thought it too little and did not even send a reply. His houses, gardens, and ponds surpassed every princely mansion. He kept dozens of courtesans whose talent and beauty were unmatched in the age; their adornment in gold, jade, brocade, and embroidery outshone even the palace women. Whenever he had a garment made or an object crafted, everyone in the capital copied it. Within his residence he opened a canal extending more than ten li to the east; the dikes and banks were kept in perfect order, and he would float light boats while female musicians played. Liu Xiu, a secretariat gentleman, once called on him and happened to meet Dianfu going out; they encountered each other on the road, and Dianfu invited Xiu to return with him; Once they took their seats he at once ordered a spread laid out—a feast of rare delicacies, every one of them fully provided. Every hot dish had only just finished cooking; there were dozens of items like this. Dianfu regularly kept feasts prepared for dozens of guests, so he could produce such a spread at a moment's notice; even the Wang and Shi clans of Jin could not have matched it. At the beginning of Taishi, military merit was plentiful and ranks and titles were in disorder; the servants and attendants who attached themselves to Dianfu all received extraordinary appointments. The man who held his carriage was made a palace guard commandant of the Tiger Fang, and the man who walked beside his horse was made an outside-the-office gentleman. Court gentlemen high and low all sought ties with him on their own, yet he was proud and would condescend to none; those admitted to his hall were only Shen Bo of Wuxing, Zhang Tan of Wu commandery, and a few others.

時廢帝倡狂，好出遊走，始出宮，猶整羽儀，引隊仗；俄而棄部伍，單騎與數人相隨，或出郊野，或入市廛，內外莫不懼憂。佃夫密與直閣將軍申伯宗、步兵校尉硃幼、于天寶謀共廢帝，立安成王。五年春，帝欲往江乘射雉。帝每北出，常留隊仗在樂游苑前，棄之而去。佃夫欲稱太后令喚隊仗還，閉城門，分人守石頭、東府，遣人執帝廢之，自為揚州刺史輔政。與幼等已成謀，會帝不成向江乘，故其事不行。于天寶因以其謀告帝，帝乃收佃夫、幼、伯宗于光祿外部，賜死。佃夫、幼罪止身，其餘無所問。佃夫時年五十一。

At the time the emperor was wild and unrestrained and loved to go out roaming; when he first left the palace he still arrayed feathered insignia and led an armed escort; But soon he would abandon his escort and ride alone with only a few companions, sometimes into the countryside, sometimes into the markets—inside and outside the court everyone lived in fear. Dianfu secretly plotted with General of Direct Attendance Shen Bozong, Colonel of Footsoldiers Zhu You, and Yu Tianbao to depose the emperor and install the Prince of Ancheng. In the spring of the fifth year the emperor wished to go to Jiangcheng to hunt pheasants. Whenever the emperor went north out of the city, he would leave his armed escort before Leyou Park and abandon them to go on alone. Dianfu intended to proclaim the empress dowager's command to recall the escort, close the city gates, assign men to hold Stone City and the Eastern Palace, seize the emperor and depose him, and himself serve as regent as inspector of Yang province. He and Zhu You and the others had already finalized the plot, but the emperor happened not to go to Jiangcheng, and so the affair came to nothing. Yu Tianbao thereupon reported the plot to the emperor; the emperor then seized Dianfu, Zhu You, and Shen Bozong outside the Office of Imperial Household Supplies and had them put to death. The guilt of Dianfu and Zhu You was limited to their persons alone; no one else was investigated. At that time Dianfu was fifty-one.

壽寂之，泰始初，以軍功增邑二百戶。為羽林監，遷太子屯騎校尉，尋加甯朔將軍、南泰山太守。多納貨賄，請謁無窮，有一不從，切齒罵詈，常雲：「利刀在手，何憂不辦。」鞭尉吏，斫邏將。七年，為有司所奏，徙送越州，行至豫章，謀欲逃叛，乃殺之。

At the beginning of Taishi his fief was increased by two hundred households for military merit. He served as colonel of the Forest of Feathers, was transferred to colonel of the garrison cavalry of the heir apparent, and soon was also given the rank of general who pacifies the north and made administrator of South Mount Tai. He accepted many bribes, and requests and petitions were endless; whenever one was refused he gnashed his teeth and cursed, often saying: "With a sharp knife in hand, why worry that anything cannot be done?" He had commandery assistants flogged and patrol officers hacked down. In the seventh year he was impeached by the responsible offices and exiled to Yue province; when he reached Yuzhang he plotted to flee and rebel, and was executed.

薑產之，泰始初，以軍功增邑二百戶。為晉平王休祐驃騎中兵參軍，龍驤將軍、南濟陰太守。三年北伐，與虜戰，軍敗見殺。追贈左軍將軍，太守如故。

At the beginning of Taishi his fief was likewise increased by two hundred households for military merit. He served as central army staff officer under Prince of Jinping Liu Xiuyou's rapid cavalry, as general of the dragon chariot, and as administrator of Nanjiyin. In the third year of the northern campaign he fought the enemy and was killed when the army was defeated. He was posthumously granted the rank of general of the left army, retaining his administrator's post.

李道兒，臨淮人。本為湘東王師，稍至湘東國學官令。太宗即位，稍進至員外散騎侍郎，淮陵太守。泰始二年，兼中書通事舍人，轉給事中。四年，病卒。

Li Dao'er came from Linhuai. He originally served as tutor to the Prince of Xiangdong and gradually rose to director of the national university of the Xiangdong principality. When Emperor Ming took the throne, he gradually advanced to outside-the-office cavalier attendant and administrator of Huailing. In the second year of Taishi he also served as secretariat gentleman for current affairs and was transferred to attendant within the gates. He died of illness in the fourth year.

元徽二年，太尉桂陽王休範奄至新亭，佃夫留守殿內，而道隆領羽林精兵向硃雀門。時賊已至航南，道隆忽召鎮軍將軍劉勔于石頭，勔至，命開航，道隆怒曰：「賊至但當急擊，寧可開航自弱邪！」勔不敢複言。催勔進戰，勔度航便敗，賊乘勝徑進，道隆棄眾走向台，所乘馬連聳跼不肯前，遂為賊兵及，見殺。事平，車駕臨哭，贈輔國將軍、益州刺史。子法貞嗣。齊受禪，國除。

In the second year of Yuanhui, Grand Commandant Prince of Guiyang Liu Xiufan suddenly arrived at Xinting; Dianfu remained to hold the palace interior while Wang Daolong led elite Feathered Forest troops toward the Vermilion Bird Gate. At the time the rebels had already reached the south side of the floating bridge; Daolong suddenly summoned General Who Garrisons the Army Liu Kan at Stone City; when Kan arrived and ordered the bridge opened, Daolong angrily said: "When rebels arrive one should strike at once—how can you open the bridge and weaken our position!" Liu Kan did not dare say another word. Daolong pressed Kan to advance and fight; Kan judged that crossing the bridge would mean defeat; the rebels pressed their advantage and drove straight forward; Daolong abandoned his troops and fled toward the palace terrace, but the horse he rode repeatedly reared and refused to go forward; rebel soldiers overtook him and killed him. When affairs were settled, the emperor came in person to mourn; he was posthumously granted General Who Assists the State and Inspector of Yizhou. His son Fazhen inherited the title. When Qi received the abdication, the fief was abolished.

楊運長，宣城懷安人。初為宣城郡吏，太守范曄解吏名。素善射，太宗初為皇子，出運長為射師。性謹愨，為太宗所委信。及即位，親遇甚厚，與佃夫、道隆、李道兒等並執權要，稍至員外散騎侍郎，南平昌太守。泰始七年，出侍東宮。後廢帝即位，與佃夫俱兼通事舍人，加龍驤將軍，轉給事中。以平桂陽王休范功，封南城縣子，食邑八百戶。元徽三年，自安成王車騎中兵參軍，遷後軍將軍，兼舍人如故。

Yang Yunchang was a native of Huai'an in Xuancheng commandery. At first he was a clerk of Xuancheng commandery; the Administrator Fan Ye struck his name from the clerical rolls. He was skilled at archery; when Emperor Ming was first a prince, Yunchang was sent out as his archery instructor. His nature was cautious and honest; Emperor Ming entrusted and trusted him. When he took the throne, he was treated with great intimacy; with Dianfu, Daolong, Li Dao'er, and the rest he jointly held crucial power, eventually reaching Supernumerary Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and Administrator of Nanpingchang. In the seventh year of Taishi he went out to attend the Eastern Palace. When the Later Deposed Emperor took the throne, he and Dianfu were both made concurrent Communications Attendants, with the additional title General of the Dragon Vanguard, then transferred to Palace Attendant. For pacifying Prince of Guiyang Liu Xiufan he was enfeoffed as Viscount of Nancheng county with a fief of eight hundred households. In the third year of Yuanhui he moved from Staff Major of the Army for Prince of Ancheng's Fast Cavalry to General of the Rear Army, retaining his concurrent Attendant post as before.

史臣曰：竭忠盡節，仕子恆圖；隨方致用，明君盛典。舊非本舊，因新以成舊者也；狎非先狎，因疏以成狎者也。而任隔疏情，殊塗一致，權歸近狎，異世同規。雖複漢高之簡易，光武之謹厚，猶豐、沛多顯，白水先華，況世祖之泥滯鄙近，太宗之拘攣愛習，欲不紛惑床笫，豈可得哉！

The historiographer says: Exhausting loyalty and fulfilling integrity is what office-holders constantly aim at; employing men according to their capacities is the splendid practice of enlightened rulers. What counts as an old associate was not originally old—intimacy becomes "old" through the new; what is familiar was not familiar at first—familiarity grows through repeated proximity. Yet office separates from distant ties; different paths reach one end; power returns to the near and familiar; different ages share one pattern. Even though Han Gaozu was simple and Guangwu cautious and generous, still Feng and Pei produced many who shone forth, and Baishui flowered first—how much more when Emperor Xiaowu was mired in what was base and near, and Emperor Ming cramped by beloved habits: to expect the bedchamber not to fall into confusion—how could that be!

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