1
劉昉劉昉,博陵望都人也。 父孟良,大司農。 從魏武入關,周太祖以為東梁州刺史。 昉性輕狡,有奸數。 周武帝時,以功臣子入侍皇太子。 及宣帝嗣位,以技佞見狎,出入宮掖,寵冠一時。 授大都督,遷小禦正,與禦正中大夫顏之儀並見親信。 及帝不悆,召方及之儀俱入臥內,屬以後事。 帝喑不復能言。 昉見靜帝幼沖,不堪負荷。 然昉素知高祖,又以後父之故,有重名於天下,遂與鄭譯謀,引高祖輔政。 高祖固讓,不敢當。 昉曰:「公若為,當速為之; 如不為,昉自為也。」 高祖乃從之。
Liu Fang was a native of Wangdu in Boling commandery. His father Mengliang had served as Grand Minister of Agriculture. Following Emperor Wu of Wei into the pass, he was made Eastern Liangzhou governor by the Zhou founder Yuwen Tai. Fang was frivolous and slippery by nature, always ready with some underhand scheme. Under Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, he entered palace service to attend the crown prince as the son of a meritorious minister. When Emperor Xuan took the throne, his talents and sycophancy won intimate favor; he moved freely through the inner palace and for a time enjoyed unrivaled favor. He was made grand commander, then promoted to junior director of the imperial carriage, and he and senior director Yan Zhiyi alike enjoyed the emperor's close trust. When the emperor grew gravely ill, Fang and Zhiyi were both called to his bedside and entrusted with what was to follow. The emperor had lost speech entirely. Fang saw that Emperor Jing was a mere child, unfit to bear the burden of rule. Fang had long known Yang Jian, who because he was the empress dowager's father enjoyed great renown throughout the realm; he therefore plotted with Zheng Yi to bring Yang Jian in as regent. Yang Jian repeatedly declined, saying he dared not take the role. Fang said, "If you mean to act, sir, act at once; if you will not, I shall act in your stead. At that Yang Jian yielded and accepted.
2
及高祖為承相,以昉為司馬。 時宣帝弟漢王贊居禁中,每與高祖同帳而坐。 昉飾美妓進於贊,贊甚悅之。 昉因說贊曰:「大王先帝之弟,時望所歸。 孺子幼沖,豈堪大事! 今先帝初崩,群情尚擾,王且歸第。 待事寧之後,入為天子,此萬全之計也。」 贊時年未弱冠,性識庸下,聞昉之說,以為信然,遂從之。 高祖以昉有定策之功,拜下大將軍,封黃國公,與沛國公鄭譯皆為心膂。 前後賞賜巨萬,出入以甲士自衛,朝野傾矚,稱為黃、沛。 時人為之語曰:「劉昉牽前,鄭譯推後。」 昉自恃其功,頗有驕色。 然性粗疏,溺於財利,富商大賈,朝夕盈門。
Once Yang Jian became chancellor, he made Fang his marshal. At the time Emperor Xuan's younger brother, Prince Han of Han, lived in the inner palace and daily shared a tent with Yang Jian. Fang sent in beautifully adorned courtesans to please Zan, who took to them eagerly. Fang then urged Zan, saying, "Your Highness is the late emperor's own brother, the man to whom all eyes turn. That boy on the throne is still a child—how could he bear the weight of empire! The late emperor has only just died and the realm is still unsettled; for now you should withdraw to your own residence. When things have quieted, you can enter the palace and take the throne yourself—a plan without risk. Zan was not yet twenty, dull of mind and shallow in judgment; he believed Fang's counsel and did as he was told. Because Fang had helped settle the succession, Yang Jian made him junior grand general and enfeoffed him as Duke of Huang; he and Duke of Pei Zheng Yi became Yang Jian's closest confidants. Rewards in the tens of thousands flowed to them; armored guards attended their comings and goings; all eyes in court and country were on them, and people spoke of "Huang and Pei." A saying of the day ran: "Liu Fang pulls from the fore, Zheng Yi pushes from behind. Fang, trusting in his merit, grew visibly arrogant. Yet he was coarse and careless by nature, obsessed with profit; wealthy merchants thronged his gate from dawn to dusk.
3
于時尉迥起兵,高祖令韋孝寬討之。 至武陟,諸將不一。 高祖欲遣昉、譯一人往監軍,因謂之曰:「須得心膂以統大軍,公等兩人,誰當行者?」 昉自言未嘗為將,譯又以母老為請,高祖不怪。 而高熲請行,遂遣之。 由是恩禮漸薄。 又王謙、司馬消難相繼而反,高祖憂之,忘寢與食。 昉逸遊縱酒,不以職司為意,相府事物,多所遺落。 高祖深銜之,以高熲代為司馬。 是後益見疏忌。 及受禪,進位柱國,改封舒國公,閒居無事,不復任使。 昉自以佐命元功,中被疏遠,甚不自安。 後遇京師饑,上令禁酒,昉使妾賃屋,當壚沽酒。 治書侍御史梁毗劾奏昉曰:「臣聞處貴則戒之以奢,持滿則守之以約。 昉既位列群公,秩高庶尹,縻爵稍久,厚祿已淹,正當戒滿歸盈,鑒斯止足,何乃規曲蘖之潤,競錐刀之末,身昵酒徒,家為逋藪? 若不糾繩,何以肅厲!」 有詔不治。 昉鬱鬱不得志。 時柱國梁士彥、宇文忻俱失職忿望,昉並與之交,數相來往。 士彥妻有美色,昉因與私通,士彥不之知也,情好彌協,遂相與謀反,許推士彥為帝。 後事泄,上窮治之。 昉自知不免,默無所對。 下詔誅之,曰:
At that time Yuchi Jiong rose in rebellion, and Yang Jian sent Wei Xiaokuan to suppress him. At Wuzhi the commanders could not agree on a course of action. Yang Jian meant to send either Fang or Yi to supervise the campaign and asked them, "I need a man I can trust at the head of this army—which of you two will go? Fang pleaded that he had never commanded troops; Yi cited an aged mother; Yang Jian did not reproach them. Gao Jiong volunteered, and Yang Jian sent him instead. From then on Yang Jian's favor toward them steadily cooled. Wang Qian and Sima Xiaonan then rebelled in turn; Yang Jian was so troubled that he scarcely ate or slept. Fang idled and drank, caring nothing for his duties, and much business at the chancellor's office went unattended. Yang Jian deeply resented this and replaced him as marshal with Gao Jiong. Thereafter he was increasingly kept at a distance and viewed with suspicion. When Yang Jian took the throne, Fang was promoted to pillar of state and re-enfeoffed as Duke of Shu, but was left idle and given no further appointments. Fang, who had counted himself among the founders of the dynasty, found himself cast aside and grew deeply uneasy. Later, when famine struck the capital, the emperor banned the sale of wine; Fang had a concubine rent a shopfront and sell wine over the counter. Supervising secretary attendant censor Liang Pi memorialized against Fang, saying, "I have heard that high rank should be guarded with warnings against extravagance, and that fullness should be held in check by restraint. Fang already ranks among the highest nobles, his stipend long and heavy; he ought to know when he has enough and hold back from excess—yet why does he chase petty profits from brewing, haggle over trifles, consort with drunkards, and turn his household into a refuge for debtors? If such conduct is not punished, how can discipline be maintained! An edict ordered that the matter not be pursued. Fang brooded, his ambitions thwarted. The pillars of state Liang Shiyan and Yuwen Xin had both lost their posts and nursed grievances; Fang befriended them and they met often. Shiyan's wife was beautiful; Fang took her as his lover while Shiyan knew nothing of it. Their intimacy deepened until they plotted rebellion together, agreeing to make Shiyan emperor. When the plot came to light, the emperor investigated it thoroughly. Fang knew he could not escape and said nothing in his own defense. An edict condemned them to death, reading:
4
朕君臨四海,慈愛為心。 加以起自布衣,入升皇極,公卿之內,非親則友,位雖差等,情皆舊人。 護短全長,恆思覆育,每殷勤戒約,言無不盡。 天之歷數,定於杳冥,豈慮苞藏之心,能為國家之害? 欲使其長守富貴,不觸刑書故也。 上柱國、郕國公梁士彥,上柱國、國公宇文忻,柱國、舒國公劉昉等,朕受命之初,並展勤力,酬勳報效,榮高祿重。 待之既厚,愛之實隆,朝夕宴言,備知朕意。 但心如溪壑,志等豺狼,不荷朝恩,忽謀逆亂。 士彥爰始幼來,恆自誣罔,稱有相者,雲其應籙,年過六十,必據九五。 初平尉迥,暫臨相州,已有反心,彰于行路。 朕即遣人代之,不聲其罪。 入京之後,逆意轉深。 忻、昉之徒,言相扶助。 士彥許率僮僕,克期不遠,欲于蒲州起事,即斷河橋,捉黎陽之關,塞河陽之路,劫調布以為牟甲,募盜賊而為戰士,就食之人,亦雲易集。 輕忽朝廷,嗤笑官人,自謂一朝奮發,無人當者。 其第二子剛,每常苦諫,第三子叔諧,固深勸獎。 朕既聞知,猶恐枉濫,乃授晉部之任,欲驗蒲州之情。 士彥得以欣然,雲是天贊,忻及昉等,皆賀時來。 忻往定鄴城,自矜不已,位極人臣,猶恨賞薄。 雲我欲反,何慮不成。 怒色忿言,所在流布。 朕深念其功,不計其禮,任以武候,授以領軍,寄之爪牙,委之心腹。 忻密為異計,樹党宮闈,多奏親友,入參宿衛。 朕推心待物,言刻依許。 為而弗止,心跡漸彰,仍解禁兵,令其改悔。 而志規不逞,愈結於懷,乃與士彥情意偏厚,要請神明,誓不負約。 俱營賊逆,逢則交謀,委彥河東,自許關右,蒲津之事,即望從征,兩軍結東西之旅,一舉合連橫之勢,然後北破晉陽,還圖宗社。 昉入佐相府,便為非法,三度事發,二度其婦自論。 常雲姓是「卯金刀」,名是「一萬日」,劉氏應王,為萬日天子。 朕訓之導之,示其利害,每加寬宥,望其修改。 口請自新,志存如舊,亦與士彥情好深重,逆節奸心,盡探肝鬲。 嘗共士彥論太白所犯,問東井之間,思秦地之亂,訪軒轅之裡,願宮掖之災。 唯待蒲阪事興,欲在關內應接。 殘賊之策,千端萬緒。 惟忻及昉,名位並高,寧肯北面曲躬,臣於士彥,乃是各懷不遜,圖成亂階,一得擾攘之基,方逞吞併之事。 人之奸詐,一至於此! 雖國有常刑,罪在不赦,朕載思草創,鹹著厥誠,情用湣然,未忍極法。 士彥、忻、昉,身為謀首,叔諧贊成父意,義實難容,並已處盡。 士彥、忻、昉兄弟叔侄,特恕其命,有官者除名。 士彥小男女、忻母妻女及小男並放。 士彥、叔諧妻妾及資財田宅,忻、昉妻妾及資財田宅,悉沒官。 士彥、昉兒年十五以上遠配。 上儀同薛摩兒,是士彥交舊,上柱國府戶曹參軍事裴石達,是士彥府僚,反狀逆心,巨細皆委。 薛摩兒聞語,仍相應和,俱不申陳,宜從大辟。 問即承引,頗是恕心,可除名免死。 朕握圖當籙,六載於斯,政事徒勤,淳化未洽,興言軫念,良深歎憤!
We rule the four seas, and compassion is our guiding principle. Having risen from humble origins to the throne, we count among the nobles none who are not kin or old companions; though rank may differ, the bond is that of long friendship. We have shielded your faults and cherished your strengths, ever seeking to shelter and nurture you, admonishing you earnestly time and again, holding nothing back. Heaven's mandate rests in what none can foresee—did we ever imagine that treacherous hearts concealed among us could bring harm to the state? We wished only that you might long enjoy wealth and honor without ever falling under the penal code. Senior pillar of state and Duke of Bi, Liang Shiyan; senior pillar of state and state duke, Yuwen Xin; pillar of state and Duke of Shu, Liu Fang, and others—all at the beginning of our reign showed loyal service and were rewarded with the highest honors and richest stipends. We treated them generously and held them in genuine affection; day after day we spoke with them at leisure, and they knew our mind completely. Yet their hearts were bottomless as ravines, their wills wolfish; ungrateful for the court's grace, they suddenly plotted treason. From his youth Shiyan had deluded himself with fortune-tellers who told him he was destined for the throne and that once past sixty he would surely rule as Son of Heaven. When Yuchi Jiong's rebellion was first suppressed, Shiyan was briefly posted to Xiangzhou; his rebellious intent was already plain to all who passed along the roads. We at once sent another to replace him, without publicly announcing his offense. After he came to the capital, his rebellious intent only deepened. Xin, Fang, and their circle spoke of aiding one another. Shiyan promised to lead his household retainers on a day not far off: he would rise at Puzhou, cut the Yellow River bridge, seize the Liyang pass, block the Heyang road, seize tax cloth for armor, enlist bandits as soldiers, and even hungry men, he said, would be easy to rally. He despised the court, mocked its officers, and boasted that once he roused himself, none could stand in his way. His second son Gang repeatedly urged him to desist; his third son Shuxie strongly encouraged the plot. When we learned of this, we still feared acting unjustly and therefore appointed him to the Jin region, intending to test his intentions regarding Puzhou. Shiyan rejoiced, calling it Heaven's blessing; Xin, Fang, and the others all congratulated him that their hour had come. When Xin pacified Ye, he never ceased to boast of his achievement; though he stood at the summit of subjecthood, he still complained his rewards were meager. He said, "If I choose to rebel, what is there to fear of failure?" His angry words and resentful talk spread wherever he went. Mindful of his past merit, we overlooked his discourtesy, made him commander of the martial guard, gave him command of the palace armies, and trusted him as our own right hand. Xin secretly laid other plans, built a faction within the palace, and repeatedly had kinsmen and friends appointed to the night guard. We met him with open trust and granted his every request. Yet he would not cease; his intent grew ever plainer, and we even stripped him of military command, hoping he would repent. His ambitions only hardened; he grew especially close to Shiyan, invoked the spirits, and swore never to break faith with him. Together they plotted treason, conferring whenever they met: Shiyan was to hold Hedong, Xin the land west of the Pass; at the crossing at Pujin they would join forces; east and west armies would unite in one stroke, then march north to take Jinyang and turn back to seize the throne. Once Fang entered the chancellor's office he broke the law repeatedly; three times his offenses came to light, and twice his wife pleaded his case before the court. He often said that the character Liu split into "mao, metal, knife" and that his name meant "ten thousand days"—proof that the house of Liu was destined to rule for ten thousand days as Son of Heaven. We admonished and guided him, showed him what he stood to gain or lose, and repeatedly pardoned him, hoping he would mend his ways. He spoke of reform while his heart remained unchanged; he too was deeply bound to Shiyan, and their treasonous intent was laid bare in every detail. He and Shiyan once discussed the movements of the planet Venus, asking what turmoil in Qin lands and disaster in the palace quarters the stars foretold. He waited only for the rising at Puban so that he might respond from within the Pass. Their treacherous schemes branched in a thousand directions. As for Xin and Fang, men of the highest rank and station—would they truly bow and serve Shiyan as his subjects? Each nursed his own ambition, seeking only to sow chaos so that, once turmoil began, he might seize power for himself. That human treachery could reach such a pitch! Though the law calls for death and their crimes are unpardonable, we remembered how they had served at the founding of the dynasty and could not bring ourselves to apply the harshest penalty to all. Shiyan, Xin, and Fang, the ringleaders, and Shuxie, who urged his father on—none could be spared—and all have been executed. The brothers, uncles, and nephews of Shiyan, Xin, and Fang are specially spared; those who held office are struck from the rolls. Shiyan's young children, Xin's mother, wife, daughters, and young sons are all released. The wives and concubines of Shiyan and Shuxie, with all their property, fields, and houses, and those of Xin and Fang, are all confiscated by the state. Sons of Shiyan and Fang aged fifteen or above are banished to distant posts. Senior attendant of the first rank Xue Mo'er was Shiyan's old friend; registrar Pei Shida of the senior pillar's bureau was Shiyan's subordinate—they were entrusted with every detail of the plot. Xue Mo'er heard the plot and assented; neither reported it—both deserve death. They confessed when questioned, showing some disposition to repent; they may be struck from the rolls and spared. Six years have passed since we took the throne; though we labor at government, honest custom has not yet prevailed throughout the realm—and at this we sigh with deep grief and anger.
5
臨刑,至朝堂,宇文忻見高熲,向之叩頭求哀。 昉勃然謂忻曰:「事形如此,何叩頭之有!」 於是伏誅,籍沒其家。 後數日,上素服臨射殿,盡取昉敢、忻、士彥三家資物置於前,令百僚射取之,以為鑒誡雲。 鄭譯鄭譯,字正義,滎陽開封人也。 祖瓊,魏太常。 父道邕,魏司空。 譯頗有學識,兼知鐘律,善騎射。 譯從祖開府文寬,尚魏平陽公主,則周太祖元後之妹也。 主無子,太祖令譯後之。 由是譯少為太祖所親,恆令與諸子遊集。 年十餘歲,嘗詣相府司錄李長宗,長宗於眾中戲之。 譯斂容謂長宗曰:「明公位望不輕,瞻仰斯屬,輒相玩狎,無乃喪德也。」 長宗甚異之。 文寬後誕二子,譯複歸本生。
At the place of execution, as they were brought to the court hall, Yuwen Xin saw Gao Jiong and kowtowed to him, begging for his life. Fang flushed with anger and said to Xin, "Matters stand as they do—what use is there in kowtowing! They were then executed, and their families and property were confiscated. A few days later the emperor came to the Archery Hall in mourning dress, had all the confiscated goods of the Fang, Xin, and Shiyan households set out before the court, and ordered the officials to shoot at them and take what they hit, as a lesson to all. Zheng Yi, whose style name was Zhengyi, was a native of Kaifeng in Xingyang commandery. His grandfather Qiong had served as Wei Grand Master of Ceremonies. His father Daoyong had served as Wei Minister of Works. Yi was well educated and versed in music theory; he was also skilled at riding and archery. Yi's grand-uncle Wen Kuan, a defender-in-chief, had married Princess Pingyang of Wei, younger sister of the Zhou founder's principal consort. The princess had no son, and the Zhou founder had Yi succeed to the household. From childhood Yi was treated as one of the founder's own sons and was constantly set to play with Yuwen Tai's boys. When he was barely in his teens he once visited the chancellor's registrar Li Changzong, who teased him before a crowd. Yi composed himself and said, "Your Excellency's rank and reputation are weighty; those who look up to you ought not to be treated so lightly—would that not be a lapse of virtue? Changzong was deeply impressed. When Wen Kuan later had two sons of his own, Yi returned to his birth family.
6
周武帝時,起家給事中士,拜銀青光祿大夫,轉左侍上士。 與儀同劉昉恆侍帝側。 譯時喪妻,帝命譯尚梁安固公主。 及帝親總萬機,以為禦正下大夫,俄轉太子宮尹。 時太子多失德,內史中大夫烏丸軌每勸帝廢太子而立秦王,由是太子恆不自安。 其後詔太子西征吐谷渾,太子乃陰謂譯曰:「秦王,上愛子也。 烏丸軌,上信臣也。 今吾此行,得無扶蘇之事乎?」 譯曰:「願殿下勉著仁孝,無失子道而已。 勿為他慮。」 太子然之。 既破賊,譯以功最,賜爵開國子,邑三百戶。 後坐褻狎皇太子,帝大怒,除名為民。 太子複召之,譯戲狎如初。 因言于太子曰:「殿下何時可得據天下?」 太子悅而益昵之。 及帝崩,太子嗣位,是為宣帝。 超拜開府、內史下大夫、封歸昌縣公,邑一千戶,委以朝政。 俄遷內史上大夫,進封沛國公,邑五千戶,以其子善願為歸昌公,元琮為永安縣男,又監國史。 譯頗專權,時帝幸東京,譯擅取官材,自營私第,坐是複除名為民。 劉昉數言於帝,帝複召之,顧待如初。 詔領內史事。
Under Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou he entered service as an attendant gentleman, was made Silver-Gleam Grand Master of the Palace, and then promoted to left attendant senior gentleman. He and Liu Fang, an attendant of the first rank, constantly attended the emperor. When Yi was widowed, the emperor had him marry Princess Angu of Liang. When the emperor took personal charge of government, Yi was made junior director of the imperial carriage and soon became palace steward to the crown prince. The crown prince had fallen into many faults; inner secretary Wuyan Gui repeatedly urged the emperor to depose him and make the Prince of Qin heir instead, and the crown prince lived in constant anxiety. Later, when the crown prince was ordered west against Tuyuhun, he confided to Yi, "The Prince of Qin is the emperor's favorite son. Wuyan Gui enjoys the emperor's full trust. On this campaign of mine, am I not walking into another Fusu affair? Yi replied, "Your Highness need only strive in benevolence and filial piety and keep to the way of a son. Give no thought to other fears. The crown prince took comfort in this. When the enemy was defeated, Yi received the highest credit and was enfeoffed as founding viscount with three hundred households. Later he was charged with indecent familiarity toward the crown prince; the emperor was furious and struck him from the rolls, reducing him to commoner status. The crown prince summoned him back, and Yi resumed his familiar, playful ways as before. He asked the crown prince, "When will Your Highness take possession of the realm? The crown prince was delighted and drew even closer to him. When the emperor died the crown prince succeeded him as Emperor Xuan. Yi was swiftly promoted to defender-in-chief and junior inner secretary, enfeoffed as Duke of Guichang with a thousand-household fief, and entrusted with the direction of government. Soon he was made senior inner secretary and advanced to Duke of Pei with five thousand households; his son Shanyuan became Duke of Guichang and Yuancong Baron of Yong'an, and he was also put in charge of the national history. Yi grew autocratic; while the emperor was at the Eastern Capital, Yi seized official timber to build a private mansion and was again struck from the rolls. Liu Fang spoke repeatedly on his behalf, and the emperor recalled him and treated him as before. An edict put him in charge of inner secretariat affairs.
7
初,高祖與譯有同學之舊,譯又素知高祖相表有奇,傾心相結。 至是,高祖為宣帝所忌,情不自安,嘗在永巷私於譯曰:「久願出籓,公所悉也。 敢布心腹,少留意焉。」 譯曰:「以公德望,天下歸心,欲求多福,豈敢忘也。 謹即言之。」 時將遣譯南征,譯請元帥。 帝曰:「卿意如何?」 譯對曰:「若定江東,自非懿戚重臣無以鎮撫。 可令隋公行,且為壽陽總管以督軍事。」 帝從之。 乃下詔以高祖為揚州總管,譯發兵俱會壽陽以伐陳。 行有日矣,帝不悆,遂與禦正下大夫劉昉謀,引高祖入受顧托。 既而譯宣詔,文武百官皆受高祖節度。 時禦正中大夫顏之儀與宦者謀,引大將軍宇文仲輔政。 仲已至禦坐,譯知之,遽率開府楊惠及劉昉、皇甫績、柳裘俱入。 仲與之儀見譯等,愕然,逡巡欲出,高祖因執之。 於是矯詔複以譯為內史上大夫。 明日,高祖為丞相,拜譯柱國、相府長史、治內史上大夫事。 及高祖為大塚宰,總百揆,以譯兼領天官都府司會,總六府事。 出入臥內,言無不從,賞賜玉帛不可勝計。 每出入,以甲士從。 拜其子元璹為儀同。 時尉迥、王謙、司馬消難等作亂,高祖逾加親禮。 俄而進位上柱國,恕以十死。
Yang Jian and Yi had been schoolmates, and Yi had long seen something extraordinary in Yang Jian's bearing; he gave Yang Jian his wholehearted support. By then Yang Jian had fallen under Emperor Xuan's suspicion and lived in anxiety; once in the Eternal Lane he confided to Yi, "You know how long I have wished to leave the capital for a post in the provinces. I lay my heart bare before you—please give me a little help. Yi said, "By your virtue and renown the realm already turns to you; if I seek my own good fortune, how could I forget you? I shall speak of it at once." At the time Yi was about to be sent on the southern campaign and asked who should command it. The emperor asked, "What do you think? Yi answered, "To settle the lands east of the Yangzi will require a kinsman of weight and standing—none other can hold the region. Send the Duke of Sui, and make him governor-general of Shouyang to oversee the campaign. The emperor agreed. An edict appointed Yang Jian governor-general of Yangzhou; Yi was to raise troops and join him at Shouyang for the campaign against Chen. The day of departure was near when the emperor fell gravely ill; he and junior director Liu Fang plotted to bring Yang Jian in to receive the regency. Yi then proclaimed the edict placing all civil and military officials under Yang Jian's command. Senior director Yan Zhiyi and certain eunuchs plotted to install Grand General Yuwen Zhong as regent. Zhong had already reached the throne when Yi learned of it; he rushed in with defender-in-chief Yang Hui, Liu Fang, Huangfu Ji, and Liu Qiu. Zhong and Zhiyi, startled at the sight of Yi and his party, hesitated to flee; Yang Jian seized them. A forged edict then restored Yi as senior inner secretary. The next day, when Yang Jian became chancellor, he made Yi pillar of state, chief clerk of the chancellor's office, and head of inner secretariat affairs. When Yang Jian became grand minister of works with oversight of all government, he had Yi also head the celestial offices directorate and coordinate the six ministries. He moved freely in and out of Yang Jian's private quarters; none of his words went unheeded, and rewards of jade and silk poured upon him beyond counting. Whenever he went abroad, armored guards attended him. His son Yuansu was made attendant of the first rank. When Yuchi Jiong, Wang Qian, Sima Xiaonan, and others rebelled, Yang Jian treated him with still greater favor. Soon he was promoted to senior pillar of state with a pardon extending to ten capital offenses.
8
譯性輕險,不親職務,而髒貨狼籍。 高祖陰疏之,然以其有定策功,不忍廢放,陰敕官屬不得白事於譯。 譯猶坐廳事,無所關預。 譯懼,頓首求解職,高祖寬諭之,接以恩禮。 及上受禪,以上柱國公歸第,賞賜豐厚。 進子元璹爵城皋郡公,邑二千戶,元洵永安男。 追贈其父及亡兄二人並為刺史。 譯自以被疏,陰呼道士章醮以祈福助,其婢奏譯厭蠱左道。 上謂譯曰:「我不負公,此何意也?」 譯無以對。 譯又與母別居,為憲司所劾,由是除名。 下詔曰:「譯嘉謀良策,寂爾無聞,鬻獄賣官,沸騰盈耳。 若留之於世,在人為不道之臣,戮之於朝,入地為不孝之鬼。 有累幽顯,無以置之,宜賜以《孝經》,令其熟讀。」 仍遣與母共居。
Yi was frivolous and unreliable, neglected his duties, and his corruption was notorious. Yang Jian quietly distanced himself, yet because Yi had helped settle the succession he could not bring himself to dismiss him outright; he secretly ordered that no official reports be submitted to Yi. Yi still sat in the council hall, but had nothing to do. In fear Yi kowtowed and asked to resign; Yang Jian reassured him kindly and continued to treat him with favor. When the emperor took the throne, Yi retired to his residence as senior pillar of state with lavish rewards. His son Yuansu was made Duke of Chenggao with two thousand households; Yuanxun was made Baron of Yong'an. His father and two deceased elder brothers were posthumously made regional governors. Thinking himself cast aside, Yi secretly had Daoist priests perform rites for his benefit; a maid reported that he practiced sorcery and heterodox arts. The emperor said to him, "I have not wronged you—what is the meaning of this? Yi had no answer. He was also living apart from his mother; the censorate impeached him, and he was struck from the rolls. An edict read, "Fine counsel from Yi is nowhere to be heard, while the sale of offices and judgments fills every ear. Kept among the living he is an unprincipled minister; executed at court he becomes an unfilial ghost in the underworld. He shames both the living and the dead; there is no fitting punishment—let him be given the Classic of Filial Piety and made to study it well. He was nevertheless ordered to live with his mother again.
9
未幾,詔譯參撰律令,複授開府、隆州刺史。 請還治疾,有詔征之,見於醴泉宮。 上賜宴甚歡,因謂譯曰:「貶退已久,情相矜湣。」 於是複爵沛國公,位上柱國。 上顧謂侍臣曰:「鄭譯與朕同生共死,間關危難,興言念此,何日忘之!」 譯因奉觴上壽。 上令內史令李德林立作詔書,高熲戲謂譯曰:「筆幹。」 譯答曰:「出為方嶽,杖策言歸,不得一錢,何以潤筆。」 上大笑。 未幾,詔譯參議樂事。 譯以周代七聲廢缺,自大隋受命,禮樂宜新,更修七始之義,名曰《樂府聲調》,凡八篇。 奏之,上嘉美焉。 俄遷岐州刺史。 在職歲餘,複奉詔定樂於太常,前後所論樂事,語在《音律志》。 上勞譯曰:「律令則公定之,音樂則公正之。 禮樂律令,公居其三,良足美也。」 於是還岐州。 開皇十一年,以疾卒官,時年五十二,上遣使弔祭焉。 諡曰達。 子元璹嗣。 煬帝初立,五等悉除,以譯佐命元功,詔追改封譯莘公,以元璹襲。
Before long he was ordered to help compile the law code and was again made defender-in-chief and governor of Long prefecture. He asked leave to return home to treat an illness; the emperor summoned him and received him at Liquan Palace. The emperor gave a joyful feast and told him, "You have been in disgrace a long time, and I have felt pity for you. His title of Duke of Pei and rank of senior pillar of state were restored. The emperor turned to his attendants and said, "Zheng Yi shared life and death with me through every danger; whenever I think of it, how could I ever forget! Yi raised his cup and offered a toast for the emperor's long life. The emperor had inner secretariat director Li Delin draft an edict on the spot; Gao Jiong teased Yi, saying, "Here's your brush fee. Yi answered, "Sent out as a provincial governor, I returned without a single cash to my name—what fee is there to moisten the brush?" The emperor laughed heartily. Before long he was ordered to take part in deliberations on court music. Yi held that the seven tones of Zhou music had fallen into disuse; with the founding of Sui, rites and music should be renewed. He revised the theory of the seven tonal origins in a work entitled Music Bureau Tonal Patterns in eight sections. He presented it to the throne, and the emperor praised it highly. Soon he was made governor of Qi prefecture. After a year in office he was again ordered to fix the court music at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices; his discussions on music are recorded in the Treatise on Pitch and Regulation. The emperor praised him, saying, "You fixed the law code, and you have set the music right. Of ritual, music, and law you hold three parts—a fine achievement indeed. He then returned to Qi prefecture. In the eleventh year of Kaihuang he died in office of illness at fifty-two; the emperor sent envoys to offer condolences. His posthumous name was Da. His son Yuansu succeeded to the title. When Emperor Yang first took the throne the five noble ranks were abolished; because Yi had been a founding supporter, an edict posthumously changed his title to Duke of Shen, which Yuansu inherited.
10
元璹初為驃騎將軍,後轉武賁郎將,數以軍功進位右光祿大夫,遷右候衛將軍。 大業末,出為文城太守。 及義兵起,義將張倫略地至文城,元璹以城歸之。 柳裘柳裘,字茂和,河東解人,齊司空世隆之曾孫也。 祖惔,梁尚書左僕射。 父明,太子舍人、義興太守。 裘少聰慧,弱冠有令名,在梁仕曆尚書郎、駙馬都尉。 梁元帝為魏軍所逼,遣裘請和于魏。 俄而江陵陷,遂入關中。 周明、武間,自麟趾學士累遷太子侍讀,封昌樂縣侯。 後除天官府都上士。 宣帝即位,拜儀同三司,進爵為公,轉禦飾大夫。 及帝不悆,留侍禁中,與劉昉、韋䴙、皇甫績同謀,引高祖入總萬機。 高祖固讓不許。 裘進曰:「時不可再,機不可失,今事已然,宜早定大計。 天與不取,反受其咎,如更遷延,恐貽後悔。」 高祖從之。 進位上開府,拜內史大夫,委以機密。 及尉迥作亂,天下騷動,并州總管李穆頗懷猶豫,高祖令裘往喻之。 裘見穆,盛陳利害,穆甚悅,遂歸心于高祖。 後以奉使功,賜彩三百匹,金九環帶一腰。 時司馬消難阻兵安陸,又令喻之,未到而消難奔陳。 高祖即令裘隨便安集淮南,賜馬及雜物。 開皇元年,進位大將軍,拜許州刺史。 在官清簡,吏民懷之。 複轉曹州刺史。 其後上思裘定策功,欲加榮秩,將征之,顧問朝臣曰:「曹州刺史何當入朝?」 或對曰:「即今冬也。」 帝乃止。 裘尋卒,高祖傷惜者久之,諡曰安。 子惠童嗣。 皇甫績皇甫績,字功明,安定朝那人也。 祖穆,魏隴東太守。 父道,周湖州刺史、雍州都督。 績三歲而孤,為外祖韋孝寬所鞠養。 嘗與諸外兄博奕,孝寬以其惰業,督以嚴訓,湣績孤幼,特舍之。 績歎曰:「我無庭訓,養於外氏,不能克躬勵己,何以成立?」 深自感激,命左右自杖三十。 孝寬聞而對之流涕。 於是精心好學,略涉經史。 周武帝為魯公時,引為侍讀。 建德初,轉宮尹中士。 武帝嘗避暑雲陽宮,時宣帝為太子監國。 衛剌王作亂,城門已閉,百僚多有遁者。 績聞難赴之,於玄武門遇皇太子,太子下樓執績手,悲喜交集。 帝聞而嘉之,遷小宮尹。 宣政初,錄前後功,封義陽縣男,拜畿伯下大夫,累轉禦正下大夫。 宣帝崩,高祖總己,績有力焉,語在《鄭譯傳》。 加位上開府,轉內史中大夫,進封郡公,邑千戶。 尋拜大將軍。 開皇元年,出為豫州刺史,增邑通前二千五百戶。 尋拜都官尚書。 後數載,轉晉州刺史,將之官,稽首而言曰:「臣實庸鄙,無益于國,每思犯難以報國恩。 今偽陳尚存,以臣度之,有三可滅。」 上問其故,'績答曰:「大吞小,一也; 以有道伐無道,二也; 納叛臣蕭岩,於我有詞,三也。 陛下若命鷹揚之將,臣請預戎行,展絲發之效。」 上嘉其壯志,勞而遣之。 及陳平,拜蘇州刺史。
Yuansu first served as general of swift cavalry, then as captain of the martial guard; for repeated military merit he rose to right grand master for splendid happiness and then to right guard of the palace gate. Late in the Daye era he was sent out as governor of Wencheng. When the loyalist armies rose, Zhang Lun advanced as far as Wencheng, and Yuansu surrendered the city to him. Liu Qiu, whose style name was Maohe, was a native of Jie in Hedong commandery and a great-grandson of Qi Minister of Works Liu Shilong. His grandfather Tan had served as Liang Left Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat. His father Ming had served as crown prince attendant and governor of Yixing. Qiu was clever as a boy and by twenty enjoyed a fine reputation; under Liang he served as a secretariat gentleman and imperial son-in-law commandant. When Emperor Yuan of Liang was hard pressed by Wei forces, he sent Qiu to sue for peace. Soon Jiangling fell, and he entered the Guanzhong region. Under Emperors Ming and Wu of Zhou he rose from Linzhi academician to crown prince reader-in-waiting and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Changle. He was later made senior gentleman of the celestial offices directorate. When Emperor Xuan succeeded, he was made attendant of the third rank, advanced to duke, and made director of imperial regalia. When the emperor grew gravely ill, he stayed in the inner palace and, with Liu Fang, Wei Mu, and Huangfu Ji, plotted to bring Yang Jian in to take charge of government. Yang Jian repeatedly declined and would not accept. Qiu urged him, saying, "Time does not come twice, opportunity does not wait; the matter is already decided—you must settle the great plan at once. Heaven's gift refused brings Heaven's blame; further delay will bring regret. Yang Jian yielded and accepted. He was promoted to senior defender-in-chief and senior inner secretary and entrusted with confidential affairs. When Yuchi Jiong rebelled and the realm was unsettled, Bingzhou governor-general Li Mu wavered; Yang Jian sent Qiu to win him over. Qiu laid out the stakes before Li Mu, who was persuaded and gave Yang Jian his wholehearted support. For his service as envoy he was rewarded with three hundred bolts of silk and a gold belt with nine rings. Sima Xiaonan was then holding Anlu with armed force; Qiu was sent to reason with him, but before he arrived Xiaonan had fled to Chen. Yang Jian then had him pacify Huainan as circumstances allowed and gave him horses and other gifts. In the first year of Kaihuang he was made grand general and governor of Xu prefecture. His administration was pure and simple, and officials and commoners alike cherished him. He was later transferred to governor of Cao prefecture. Later the emperor, mindful of Qiu's role in settling the succession, meant to honor him further and summon him to court; he asked his ministers, "When will the governor of Cao come to court? One replied, "This winter." The emperor then abandoned the plan. Qiu soon died; the emperor mourned him long; his posthumous name was An. His son Huitong succeeded to the title. Huangfu Ji, whose style name was Gongming, was a native of Chaona in Anding commandery. His grandfather Mu had served as Wei governor of Longdong. His father Dao had served as Zhou governor of Hu prefecture and area commander of Yongzhou. Orphaned at three, he was raised by his maternal grandfather Wei Xiaokuan. Once, gambling with his cousins, he was sternly rebuked by Xiaokuan for neglecting his studies; pitying the orphan boy, Xiaokuan let the matter pass. Ji sighed, "I lost my father early and was raised in my grandfather's house; if I cannot discipline myself, how can I amount to anything? Deeply shamed, he ordered his attendants to flog him thirty strokes. When Xiaokuan heard of it, he wept before him. From then on he devoted himself to study and gained some acquaintance with the classics and histories. When Emperor Wu was still Duke of Lu, Ji was made his reader-in-waiting. At the start of the Jiande era he became palace steward gentleman. When Emperor Wu was summering at Yunyang Palace, the crown prince—later Emperor Xuan—was regent in the capital. When Prince Wei rebelled, the city gates were shut and many officials had fled. Ji heard of the crisis and rushed to the palace; at the Xuanwu Gate he met the crown prince, who came down to take his hand, joy and grief mingled in his face. The emperor praised his loyalty and made him junior palace steward. At the start of Xuanzheng his past services were recognized; he was enfeoffed as Baron of Yiyang, made capital district junior grand master, and later junior director of the imperial carriage. When Emperor Xuan died and Yang Jian took charge, Ji played an important part, as told in the biography of Zheng Yi. He was made senior defender-in-chief and inner secretary grand master, then advanced to commandery duke with a thousand-household fief. Soon he was made grand general. In the first year of Kaihuang he was sent out as governor of Yu prefecture, his fief rising to twenty-five hundred households in all. He was soon made Minister of Justice. Some years later, as he was leaving to take up the governorship of Jin prefecture, he kowtowed and said, "I am a mediocre man who has done little for the state; I have long wished to risk myself in its service. False Chen still stands; in my judgment there are three reasons it can be destroyed. The emperor asked why; Ji answered, "First, the great swallows the small; second, the righteous attacks the unrighteous; third, they harbor the rebel Xiao Yan, which gives us just cause. If Your Majesty sends forth his boldest generals, I beg to join the campaign, however small my contribution may be. The emperor praised his spirit, comforted him, and sent him on his way. After Chen was conquered, he was made governor of Su prefecture.
11
高智慧等作亂江南,州民顧子元發兵應之,因以攻績,相持八旬。 子元素感績恩,於冬至日遣使奉牛酒。 績遺子元書曰:「皇帝握符受籙,合極通靈,受揖讓于唐、虞,棄干戈于湯、武。 東逾蟠木,方朔所未窮西盡流沙,張騫所不至。 玄漠黃龍之外,交臂來王; 蔥嶺、榆關之表,屈膝請吏。 曩者偽陳獨阻聲教,江東士民困於荼毒。 皇天輔仁,假手朝廷,聊申薄伐,應時瓦解。 金陵百姓,死而復生,吳、會臣民,白骨還肉。 唯當懷音感德,行歌擊壤,豈宜自同吠主,翻成反噬。 卿非吾民,何須酒禮? 吾是隋將,何容外交? 易子析骸,未能相告,況是足食足兵,高城深塹,坐待強援,綽有餘力。 何勞踵輕敝之俗,作虛偽之辭,欲阻誠臣之心,徒惑驍雄之志。 以此見期,必不可得。 卿宜善思活路,曉諭黎元,能早改迷,失道非遠。」 子元得書,於城下頓首陳謝。 楊素援兵至,合擊破之。 拜信州總管、十二州諸軍事。 俄以病乞骸骨,詔征還京,賜以禦藥,中使相望,顧問不絕。 卒于家,時年五十二。 諡曰安。 子偲嗣。 大業之世,官至尚書主爵郎。
When Gao Zhihui and others rebelled in the south, Gu Ziyuan of the prefecture rallied troops to join them and besieged Ji for eighty days. Touched by Ji's past kindness, Ziyuan sent envoys on the winter solstice with oxen and wine. Ji wrote to Ziyuan: "The emperor holds Heaven's mandate, communes with the spirits, received the abdication as Tang and Yu did, and laid down arms as Tang of Shang and King Wu did. His realm stretches east beyond Panmu, farther than Dongfang Shuo ever roamed, and west to the drifting sands, where Zhang Qian never ventured. Beyond the northern deserts, peoples fold their arms in submission; west of Congling and Yuguan, they kneel and beg for imperial officials. Only false Chen once blocked the imperial transforming influence, and the people of the lower Yangzi suffered under its cruelty. Heaven aided the humane cause; the court sent a brief punitive expedition, and Chen collapsed at once. The people of Jinling were raised from the dead; in Wu and Kuai, bleached bones lived again. They ought to cherish the emperor's grace and sing his praise—how can they bark at their master like curs and turn to bite the hand that fed them? You are no subject of mine—why send wine and gifts? I am a general of Sui—how can I accept overtures from the enemy? When men exchange children and eat each other's flesh, they cannot help one another—yet you have ample food and troops, high walls and deep moats, and sit waiting for reinforcements with strength to spare. Why follow base custom with false words, hoping to shake a loyal minister's heart and confuse brave men's resolve? Such expectations of me are vain. Consider your path to survival, enlighten your people—if you turn back soon, you are not far from the right road. Ziyuan received the letter and kowtowed in submission below the wall. When Yang Su's relief force arrived, they joined in and defeated the rebels. He was made governor-general of Xin and commander of military affairs for twelve prefectures. Soon he asked to retire on grounds of illness; the emperor summoned him to the capital, sent imperial physicians, and palace envoys followed one another with inquiries. He died at home at the age of fifty-two. His posthumous name was An. His son Cai succeeded to the title. In the Daye era he rose to director of enfeoffments in the Secretariat.
12
韋䴙者,京兆人也。 仕周內史大夫。 高祖以䴙有定策之功,累遷上柱國,封普安郡公。 開皇初,卒于蒲州刺史。 盧賁盧賁,字子徵,涿郡范陽人也。 父光,周開府、燕郡公。 賁略涉書記,頗解鐘律。 周武帝時,襲爵燕郡公,邑一千九百戶。 後曆魯陽太守、太子小宮尹、儀同三司。 平齊有功,增邑四百戶,轉司武上士。 時高祖為大司武,賁知高祖為非常人,深自推結。 宣帝嗣位,加開府。
Wei Mu was a native of Jingzhao. He served as Zhou inner secretary grand master. Because Mu had helped settle the succession, Yang Jian repeatedly promoted him to senior pillar of state and enfeoffed him as Duke of Pu'an. Early in Kaihuang he died in office as governor of Pu prefecture. Lu Ben, whose style name was Zizheng, was a native of Fanyang in Zhuo commandery. His father Guang had been Zhou defender-in-chief and Duke of Yan commandery. Ben had some education in letters and was well versed in music theory. Under Emperor Wu of Zhou he inherited the title Duke of Yan with a fief of nineteen hundred households. He later served as governor of Luyang, junior palace steward to the crown prince, and attendant of the third rank. For his merit in the conquest of Qi his fief was increased by four hundred households and he was made senior martial affairs gentleman. When Yang Jian was Grand Minister of Martial Affairs, Ben recognized him as no ordinary man and gave him his wholehearted allegiance. When Emperor Xuan succeeded, he was made defender-in-chief.
13
及高祖初被顧托,群情未一,乃引賁置於左右。 高祖將之東第,百官皆不知所去。 高祖潛令賁部伍仗衛,因召公卿而謂曰:「欲求富貴者,當相隨來。」 往往偶語,欲有去就。 賁嚴兵而至,眾莫敢動。 出崇陽門,至東宮,門者拒不內。 賁諭之,不去,瞋目叱之,門者遂卻。 既而高祖得入。 賁恆典宿衛,後承問,進說曰:「周曆已盡,天人之望,實歸明公,願早應天順民也。 天與不取,反受其咎。」 高祖甚然之。 及受禪,命賁清宮,因典宿衛。 賁於是奏改周代旗幟,更為嘉名。 其青龍、騶虞、硃雀、玄武、千秋、萬歲之旗,皆賁所創也。 尋拜散騎常侍,兼太子左庶子、左領軍、右將軍。
When Yang Jian first received the regency and opinion was still divided, he kept Ben close at his side. When Yang Jian was about to go to the Eastern Residence, the officials did not know what course to take. Yang Jian secretly ordered Ben to muster armed guards, then summoned the nobles and said, "Whoever seeks wealth and honor should follow me. Many murmured among themselves, uncertain whether to go or stay. Ben arrived with stern-faced troops, and none dared stir. They went out through the Chongyang Gate to the Eastern Palace, but the gatekeepers refused them entry. Ben reasoned with them in vain, then glared and shouted; the gatekeepers fell back. Yang Jian was then able to enter. Ben regularly commanded the night guard; later, when Yang Jian spoke with him, he urged, "The Zhou mandate is spent; Heaven and the people look to you—take the throne and respond to their will. Heaven's gift refused brings Heaven's blame. Yang Jian strongly agreed. When he took the throne, he had Ben secure the palace and placed him in command of the night guard. Ben then memorialized to replace the Zhou banners with new ones bearing auspicious names. The banners of the Azure Dragon, Zouyu, Vermilion Bird, Dark Warrior, Thousand Autumns, and Ten Thousand Years were all his creation. Soon he was made attendant cavalier at court, and concurrently left heir apparent to the crown prince, left commander of the palace gate guard, and right general.
14
時高熲、蘇威共掌朝政,賁甚不平之。 柱國劉昉時被疏忌,賁因諷昉及上柱國元諧、李詢、華州刺史張賓等,謀黜熲、威,五人相與輔政。 又以晉王上之愛子,謀行廢立。 複私謂皇太子曰:「賁將數謁殿下,恐為上所譴,願察區區之心。」 謀泄,上窮治其事。 昉等委罪於賓、賁,公卿奏二人坐當死。 上以龍潛之舊,不忍加誅,並除名為民。 賓未幾卒。
Gao Jiong and Su Wei then shared control of government, to Ben's great resentment. Liu Fang, then under suspicion, was enlisted by Ben, who also won over Yuan Xie, Li Xun, and Zhang Bin, governor of Hua, to a plot to oust Gao Jiong and Su Wei and govern through a five-man junta. They also plotted to displace the heir in favor of the Prince of Jin, the emperor's favorite son. He also told the crown prince privately, "Ben will visit you often; the emperor may take offense—please understand my sincere intent. When the plot leaked, the emperor investigated it thoroughly. Fang and the others shifted blame to Bin and Ben; the nobles memorialized that both deserved death. Remembering their old ties from before he took power, the emperor spared their lives and struck them from the rolls. Bin died soon afterward.
15
歲餘,賁複爵位,檢校太常卿。 賁以古樂宮懸七八,損益不同,歷代通儒,議無定準,於是上表曰:「殷人以上,通用五音,周武克殷,得鶉火、天駟之應,其音用七。 漢興,加應鐘,故十六枚而在一虡。 鄭玄注《周禮》,二八十六為虡。 此則七八之義,其來遠矣。 然世有沿革,用舍不同,至周武帝,複改懸七,以林鐘為宮。 夫樂者,治之本也,故移風易俗,莫善於樂,是以吳劄觀而辯興亡。 然則樂也者,所以動天地,感鬼神,情發於聲,治亂斯應。 周武以林鐘為宮,蓋將亡之徵也。 且林鐘之管,即黃鐘下生之義。 黃鐘,君也,而生於臣,明為皇家九五之應。 又陰者臣也,而居君位,更顯國家登極之祥。 斯實冥數相符,非關人事。 伏惟陛下握圖禦宇,道邁前王,功成作樂,煥乎曩策。 臣聞五帝不相沿樂,三王不相襲禮,此蓋隨時改制,而不失雅正者也。」 上竟從之,即改七懸八,以黃鐘為宮。 詔賁與儀同楊慶和刪定周、齊音律。
A year later Ben's rank was restored and he was made acting director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Ben noted that ancient court music used seven or eight suspended chime-bells, with differing arrangements, and that scholars through the ages had never agreed; he memorialized, saying, "From the Yin dynasty onward five tones were standard; when King Wu of Zhou conquered Yin he took seven tones, matching the omens of Quail Fire and the Heavenly Team. Under Han, Yingzhong was added, making sixteen bells on one frame. Zheng Xuan's commentary on the Rites of Zhou reads two eights—sixteen bells on one frame. The tradition of seven and eight tones thus reaches far back. Yet usage changed with each age; under Emperor Wu of Zhou the suspension was again set at seven, with Forest Bell as the keynote. Music is the foundation of governance; nothing transforms custom like music—hence Wu Zha judged a state's rise or fall by its music. Music moves Heaven and earth and touches spirits; emotion sounds forth in it, and order or chaos answers in turn. That Zhou took Forest Bell as keynote was itself a sign of a dynasty about to perish. Forest Bell is generated below from Yellow Bell. Yellow Bell is the ruler's tone, yet arises from the minister's—plainly an omen that the imperial house would attain the throne. Yin, the minister's element, held the ruler's place—a further sign that the dynasty would take the throne. This was destiny's working, not mere human contrivance. Your Majesty holds the mandate and governs the realm, your virtue surpassing former kings; with merit complete you now establish music, outshining all precedent. I have heard that the Five Emperors did not inherit one another's music and the Three Kings did not copy one another's rites—each age reforms while preserving what is right. The emperor accepted this, changed the seven-tone suspension to eight, and made Yellow Bell the keynote. Ben and Yang Qinghe, an attendant of the first rank, were ordered to revise the pitch systems of Zhou and Qi.
16
未幾,拜郢州刺史,尋轉虢州刺史。 後遷懷州刺史,決沁水東注,名曰利民渠,又派入溫縣,名曰溫潤渠,以溉舄鹵,民賴其利。 後數年,轉齊州刺史。 民饑,谷米踴貴,閉人糶而自糶之。 坐是除名為民。
Soon he was made governor of Ying prefecture, then of Guo prefecture. As governor of Huai he diverted the Qin River eastward in the Benefit-the-People Canal and a branch into Wen county as the Wen Moistening Canal, reclaiming salty fields—the people prospered from it. Some years later he was transferred to governor of Qi prefecture. During a famine, when grain prices soared, he forbade others to sell grain while selling his own stores. For this he was struck from the rolls and reduced to commoner status.
17
後從幸洛陽,上從容謂賁曰:「我始為大司馬時,卿以布腹心於我。 及總百揆,頻繁左右,與卿足為恩舊。 卿若無過者,位與高熲齊。 坐與凶人交構,由是廢黜。 言念疇昔之恩,複當牧伯之位,何乃不思報效,以至於此! 吾不忍殺卿,是屈法申私耳。」 賁俯伏陳謝,詔複本官。 後數日,對詔失旨,又自敘功績,有怨言。 上大怒,顧謂群臣曰:「吾將與賁一州,觀此不可複用。」 後皇太子為其言曰:「此輩並有佐命之功,雖性行輕險,誠不可棄。」 上曰:「我抑屈之,全其命也。 微劉昉、鄭譯及賁、柳裘、皇甫績等,則我不至此。 然此等皆反覆子也。 當周宣帝時,以無賴得幸,及帝大漸,顏之儀等請以宗王輔政,此輩行詐,顧命於我。 我將為治,又欲亂之。 故昉謀大逆於前,譯為巫蠱於後。 如賁之徒,皆不滿志。 任之則不遜,致之則怨,自難信也,非我棄之。 眾人見此,或有竊議,謂我薄于功臣,斯不然矣。」 蘇威進曰:「漢光武欲全功臣,皆以列侯奉朝請。 至尊仁育,複用此道以安之。」 上曰:「然。」 遂廢於家,是歲卒,年五十四。 【史評】史臣曰:高祖肇基王業,昉、譯實啟其謀,當軸執鈞,物無異論。 不能忘身急病,以義斷恩,方乃慮難求全,偷安懷祿。 暨夫帝遷明德,義非簡在,鹽梅之寄,自有攸歸。 言追昔款,內懷觖望,恥居吳、耿之末,羞與絳、灌為伍。 事君盡禮,既闕於宿心,不愛其親,遽彰於物議。 其在周也,靡忠貞之節,其奉隋也,愧竭命之誠。 非義掩其前功,畜怨興其後釁,而望不陷刑辟,保貴全生,難矣。 柳裘、皇甫績、盧賁,因人成事,協規不二,大運光啟,莫參樞要。 斯固在人欲其悅己,在我欲其罵人,理自然也。 晏嬰有言:「一心可以事百君,百心不可以事一君。」 於昉、譯見之矣。
Later, on a visit to Luoyang, the emperor said to Ben at leisure, "When I first became Grand Minister of Martial Affairs, you opened your heart to me. When I took charge of all affairs you were constantly at my side—we are old friends indeed. Had you been without fault, your rank would equal Gao Jiong's. You plotted with wicked men and were cast aside for it. Remembering our old friendship, I restored you to a governor's post—why do you not repay me and instead come to this! I spared your life before—that was bending the law for friendship's sake. Ben kowtowed in apology; an edict restored his former office. Days later he answered an edict inappropriately, recounted his own merits, and spoke with resentment. The emperor was furious and told the court, "I meant to give Ben a prefecture—but after this he cannot be used again. The crown prince pleaded for him, saying, "These men all helped establish the dynasty; though frivolous, they should not be abandoned." The emperor said, "I have kept them down only to spare their lives. Without Liu Fang, Zheng Yi, Ben, Liu Qiu, Huangfu Ji, and the others, I would not be where I am. Yet they are all men who turn with every wind. Under Emperor Xuan of Zhou they won favor through flattery; when the emperor was dying, Yan Zhiyi and others wanted a royal prince as regent, but these men tricked their way into entrusting power to me. Just as I sought to govern, they wished to sow disorder again. Fang plotted treason; Yi practiced sorcery. Men like Ben were none of them content. Employ them and they grow insolent; dismiss them and they nurse grievances—they are inherently untrustworthy; I did not cast them away lightly. Some may whisper that I have been harsh toward my founding ministers—that is not so." Su Wei added, "Emperor Guangwu of Han wished to preserve his founding ministers by making them marquises who attended court. Your Majesty in his benevolence may use the same method to settle them." The emperor agreed. Ben was retired to his home and died that year at fifty-four. [Historian's Comment] The historiographer writes: When Emperor Gaozu founded the dynasty, Liu Fang and Zheng Yi opened the way; at the center of power, none disputed their standing. They could not forget themselves for the state's urgent need or sever private ties for public duty; they sought only their own safety and clung to their stipends. When the emperor turned to worthier men, the role of chief minister naturally passed elsewhere. They spoke of old friendship yet nursed resentment within, shamed to rank below men like Wu Han and Geng, unwilling to stand with mere enfeoffed lords like Zhou Bo and Guan Ying. They failed the loyalty they once professed and, by neglecting their parents, drew public censure. Under Zhou they showed no steadfast loyalty; under Sui they fell short of wholehearted service. Their later misconduct overshadowed their early merit, and the grievances they stored led to rebellion—yet they hoped to escape punishment and die in honor; that was vain. Liu Qiu, Huangfu Ji, and Lu Ben rode others' efforts to success and stood together without wavering, yet when the dynasty was founded they were not admitted to the inner councils of power. It is natural that they wished to please themselves while the emperor wished them to serve the state. Yan Ying said, "One heart may serve a hundred rulers, but a hundred hearts cannot serve one ruler. This is plainly seen in Liu Fang and Zheng Yi.