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卷38 列傳第3 劉昉 鄭譯 柳裘 皇甫績 盧賁

Volume 38 Biographies 3: Liu Fang, Zheng Yi, Liu Qiu, Huang Fuji, Lu Ben

Chapter 38 of 隋書 · Book of Sui
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Chapter 38
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1
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
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
使 使 滿 祿滿 忿
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
使 祿 調 忿 宿 西 便
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
殿
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
祿 西 殿 殿
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
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
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
退 調 使
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
祿 使 便 '
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.
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使 西 使
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
涿
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
宿 宿
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
殿
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
沿 沿
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
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
滿 祿 宿
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.
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