1
隋書卷四十六列傳第十一
Book of Sui, Volume 46, Biographies 11
2
趙煚，字賢通，天水西人也。 祖超宗，魏河東太守。 父仲懿，尚書左丞。 煚少孤，養母至孝。 年十四，有人盜伐其父墓中樹者，煚對之號慟，因執送官。 見魏右僕射周惠達，長揖不拜，自述孤苦，涕泗交集，惠達為之隕涕，歎息者久之。 及長，深沉有器局，略涉書史。 周太祖引為相府參軍事。 尋從破洛陽。 及太祖班師，煚請留撫納亡叛，太祖從之。 煚於是帥所領與齊人前後五戰，斬郡守、鎮將、縣令五人，虜獲甚眾，以功封平定縣男，邑三百戶。 累轉中書侍郎。
Zhao Jiong, whose style name was Xiantong, came from Western Tianshui. His grandfather Chaozong had served as Administrator of Hedong under the Wei. His father Zhongyi had been Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. Jiong was orphaned in youth and cared for his mother with exemplary devotion. At fourteen, when he found someone felling trees in his father's grave, he wept aloud in anguish before the man and had him handed over to the officials. Meeting Zhou Huida, Right Vice Director of the Wei court, he gave a deep bow without kneeling, poured out his lonely plight until tears streamed down his face, and Huida wept in sympathy and sighed at length. As he matured he proved grave and far-sighted, with a measure of learning in history and the classics. The Zhou Founder Yuwen Tai appointed him staff officer in the chancellor's office. He soon took part in the campaign that captured Luoyang. When the Founder withdrew his forces, Jiong asked to stay behind to win over deserters and rebels, and the Founder agreed. He then led his troops through five engagements with Qi forces, killing five prefects, garrison commanders, and county magistrates and taking a great number captive; for these deeds he was enfeoffed as Baron of Pingding, with a fief of three hundred households. He rose through successive posts to Vice Director of the Secretariat.
3
閔帝受禪，遷陝州刺史。 蠻酋向天王聚眾作亂，以兵攻信陵、秭歸。 煚勒所部五百人，出其不意，襲擊破之，二郡獲全。 時周人於江南岸置安蜀城以禦陳，屬霖雨數旬，城頹者百余步。 蠻酋鄭南鄉叛，引陳將吳明徹欲掩安蜀。 議者皆觀煚益修守禦，煚曰：「不然，吾自有以安之。」 乃遣使說誘江外生蠻向武陽，令乘虛掩襲所居，獲其南鄉父母妻子。 南鄉聞之，其黨各散，陳兵遂退。 明年，吳明徹屢為寇患，煚勒兵禦之，前後十六戰，每挫其鋒。 獲陳裨將覃冏、王足子、吳朗等三人，斬首百六十級。 以功授開府儀同三司，遷荊州總管長史。 入為民部中大夫。
When Emperor Min took the throne, he was appointed Governor of Shan Province. The tribal chieftain Xiang Tianwang raised a rebel force and marched against Xinling and Zigui. Jiong led five hundred of his men in a surprise attack that routed the rebels and saved both commanderies. The Zhou had built Ancheng on the southern bank of the Yangzi to hold Chen at bay, but weeks of heavy rain caused more than a hundred paces of the wall to crumble. The tribal leader Zheng Nanxiang revolted and enlisted the Chen general Wu Mingche for a strike against Ancheng. Counselors urged Jiong to strengthen the fortifications, but he said, "No—I have my own way to secure the place." He sent envoys to win over Xiang Wuyang, a raw tribe beyond the river, and had him raid Nanxiang's home in his absence, capturing Nanxiang's parents, wife, and children. When Nanxiang learned of this, his followers dispersed and the Chen army withdrew. The following year Wu Mingche raided repeatedly; Jiong met him in sixteen engagements and blunted his advance each time. He captured three Chen deputy commanders—Tan Tong, Wang Zuzi, and Wu Lang—and took one hundred sixty heads. For these achievements he was made a general of the third rank with full ceremonial honors and appointed chief clerk to the Jingzhou commandery. He was recalled to the capital as a senior officer in the Ministry of the People.
4
武帝出兵鞏、洛，欲收齊河南之地。 煚諫曰：「河南洛陽，四面受敵，縱得之，不可以守。 請從河北，直指太原，傾其巢穴，可一舉以定。」 帝不納，師竟無功。 尋從上柱國於翼率眾數萬，自三鴉道以伐陳，克陳十九城而還。 以讒毀，功不見錄，除益州總管長史。 未幾，入為天官司會，累遷禦正上大夫。 煚與宗伯斛斯徵素不協，徵後出為齊州刺史，坐事下獄，自知罪重，遂逾獄而走。 帝大怒，購之甚急。 煚上密奏曰：「徵自以負罪深重，懼死遁逃，若不北竄匈奴，則南投吳越。 徵雖愚陋，久曆清顯，奔彼敵國，無益聖朝。 今者炎旱為災，可因茲大赦。」 帝從之。 徵賴而獲免，煚卒不言。
Emperor Wu marched on Gong and Luoyang, aiming to recover Qi territory south of the Yellow River. Jiong advised against it: "Luoyang in Henan is exposed on every side—even if we take it, we cannot hold it. March from north of the river straight on Taiyuan and destroy their base—then the whole affair can be settled at a stroke. The emperor rejected his counsel, and the campaign ended in failure. He soon followed the pillar of state Yu Yi at the head of tens of thousands down the Sanya route against Chen, took nineteen cities, and returned. Slander kept his achievements off the rolls, and he was made chief clerk of the Yizhou commandery instead. Shortly afterward he returned to court as director of the Bureau of Astronomy and rose to senior grand master of the imperial clan. Jiong had long been at odds with Husizheng, Minister of the Imperial Clan; when Husizheng was later sent out as governor of Qi Province, imprisoned for an offense, and realized his guilt was grave, he broke out of jail and fled. The emperor was furious and offered a rich bounty for his capture. Jiong sent a confidential memorial: "Knowing his guilt is grave, Husizheng fears execution and has fled—either north to the Xiongnu or south to Wu and Yue. For all his failings, he has long held high office; flight to an enemy state would do the court no good. The land suffers drought and heat—this is an occasion for a general amnesty. The emperor agreed. Husizheng was spared by the amnesty, and Jiong never mentioned his own role.
5
高祖為丞相，加上開府，複拜天官都司會。 俄遷大宗伯。 及踐阼，煚授璽紱，進位大將軍，賜爵金城郡公，邑二千五百戶，拜相州刺史。 朝廷以煚曉習故事，征拜尚書右僕射。 視事未幾，以忤旨，尋出為陝州刺史，俄轉冀州刺史，甚有威德。 煚嘗有疾，百姓賓士，爭為祈禱，其得民情如此。 冀州谷薄，市井多奸詐，煚為銅鬥鐵尺，置之于肆，百姓便之。 上聞而嘉焉，頒告天下，以為常法。 嘗有人盜煚田中蒿者，為吏所執。 煚曰：「此乃刺史不能宣風化，彼何罪也。」 慰諭而遣之，令人載蒿一車以賜盜者。 盜者愧恧，過於重刑。 其以德化民，皆此類也。 上幸洛陽，煚來朝，上勞之曰：「冀州大籓，民用殷實，卿之為政，深副朕懷。」 開皇十九年卒，時年六十八。 子義臣嗣，官至太子洗馬。 後同楊諒反，誅。
When Gaozu was still chancellor, Jiong was given the rank of opening the office and reappointed director of the Bureau of Astronomy. He was soon made Minister of the Imperial Clan. At the founding of the dynasty Jiong presented the imperial seal and cord, was promoted to grand general, enfeoffed as Duke of Jincheng with a fief of two thousand five hundred households, and appointed governor of Xiang Province. The court recalled him as Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, valuing his mastery of ritual and precedent. He had barely taken up the post when he offended the throne and was sent out as governor of Shan, then soon transferred to Ji Province, where he ruled with great authority and moral force. When he fell ill, townspeople and visiting scholars alike prayed for his recovery—such was the affection he commanded. Ji Province had short-weight grain and sharp dealing in the markets; Jiong provided standard bronze bushels and iron yardsticks for the shops, to the people's great relief. The emperor praised the measure, proclaimed it empire-wide, and made it permanent law. Once a man was caught stealing wormwood from Jiong's fields. Jiong said, "The fault lies with the governor, who has failed to teach the people—what crime has this man committed? He comforted the man and let him go, then had a full cart of wormwood sent to him as a gift. The thief was more ashamed than if he had been heavily punished. His rule by moral example was of this kind throughout. When the emperor visited Luoyang, Jiong came to court and was told, "Ji is a great border province whose people are thriving—your governance has fully satisfied my expectations. He died in the nineteenth year of Kaihuang, at the age of sixty-eight. His son Yichen succeeded him and rose to groom in the heir apparent's stud. He later joined Yang Liang's rebellion and was put to death.
6
○趙芬
○ Zhao Fen
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趙芬，字士茂，天水西人也。 父演，周秦州刺史。 芬少有辯智，頗涉經史。 周太祖引為相府鎧曹參軍，曆記室，累遷熊州刺史。 撫納降附，得二千戶，加開府儀同三司。 大塚宰宇文護召為中外府掾，俄遷吏部下大夫。 芬性強濟，所居之職，皆有聲績。 武帝親總萬機，拜內史下大夫，轉少禦正。 芬明習故事，每朝廷有所疑議，眾不能決者，芬輒為評斷，莫不稱善。 後為司會，申國公李穆之討齊也，引為行軍長史，封淮安縣男，邑五百戶。 複出為淅州刺史，轉東京小宗伯，鎮洛陽。
Zhao Fen, whose style name was Shimao, came from Western Tianshui. His father Yan had been Governor of Qin Province under the Zhou. Fen was quick-witted from youth and well read in the classics and histories. The Zhou Founder appointed him to the chancellor's armoury staff, then the secretariat, and eventually governor of Xiong Province. By winning over surrendered populations he added two thousand households to the rolls and was granted third-rank honors with full ceremonial equipage. Grand Chancellor Yuwen Hu brought him into the inner and outer chancellery staff, and he soon became a senior officer in the Ministry of Personnel. Fen was forceful and capable, and in every post he left a record of distinction. When Emperor Wu took personal control of government, Fen was made a junior grand master of the Secretariat and then junior director of the imperial clan. Fen knew precedent inside out; whenever the court deadlocked on a doubtful point, his ruling won universal praise. He later became director of accounts; when Duke Li Mu of Shen marched against Qi, Fen served as his campaign chief clerk and was enfeoffed as Baron of Huai'an with five hundred households. He was again sent out as governor of Xi Province, then made junior minister of the imperial clan for the eastern capital and stationed at Luoyang.
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高祖為丞相，尉迥與司馬消難陰謀往來，芬察知之，密白高祖。 由是深見親委，遷東京左僕射，進爵郡公。 開皇初，罷東京官，拜尚書左僕射，與郢國公王誼修律令。 俄兼內史令，上甚信任之。 未幾，以老病出拜蒲州刺史，加金紫光祿大夫，仍領關東運漕，賜錢百萬、粟五千石而遣之。 後數年，上表乞骸骨，征還京師，賜以二馬軺車，幾杖被褥，歸於家，皇太子又致巾帔。 後數年，卒。 上遣使致祭，鴻臚監護喪事。
While Gaozu was still chancellor, Fen detected secret collusion between Yuwen Jiong and Sima Xiaonan and reported it confidentially. He thereby won deep trust, was made Left Vice Director of the eastern capital, and advanced to commandery duke. Early in Kaihuang the eastern capital administration was abolished; he became Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and joined Duke Wang Yi of Ying in revising the code. He soon also served as director of the Secretariat, in which post the emperor placed great confidence. Before long, citing age and illness, he was sent out as governor of Pu with the honorific title of grand master of the golden seal and purple ribbon, while still overseeing grain transport east of the Pass; he was dismissed with one million cash and five thousand piculs of grain. Years later he asked to retire; recalled to the capital, he was given a two-horse carriage, staff, bedding, and quilt for his home, and the crown prince sent headcloth and scarf as well. He died a few years later. The emperor sent envoys to offer sacrifices, and the Court of Diplomatic Reception oversaw the funeral.
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子元恪嗣，官至揚州總管司馬，左遷候衛長史。 少子元楷，與元恪皆明幹世事。 元楷大業中為曆陽郡丞，與廬江郡丞徐仲宗皆竭百姓之產以貢於帝。 仲宗遷南郡丞，元楷超拜江都郡丞，兼領江都宮使。
His son Yuankuo succeeded him, rose to military affairs officer of the Yangzhou commandery, and was later demoted to chief clerk of the palace guards. The younger son Yuankai, like Yuankuo, was sharp and capable in public affairs. Under Daye, Yuankai was assistant governor of Liyang; he and Xu Zhongzong, assistant governor of Lujiang, both drained the people to furnish tribute for the emperor. Zhongzong was transferred to Nan commandery; Yuankai was promoted out of turn to Jiangdu and also placed in charge of the Jiangdu palace.
10
○楊尚希
○ Yang Shangxi
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楊尚希，弘農人也。 祖真，魏天水太守。 父承賓，商、直、淅三州刺史。 尚希齠齔而孤。 年十一，辭母請受業長安。 涿郡盧辯見而異之，令入太學，專精不倦，同輩皆共推伏。 周太祖嘗親臨釋奠，尚希時年十八，令講《孝經》，詞旨可觀。 太祖奇之，賜姓普六茹氏，擢為國子博士。 累轉舍人。 仕明、武世，曆太學博士、太子宮尹、計部中大夫，賜爵高都縣侯，東京司憲中大夫。 宣帝時，令尚希撫慰山東、河北，至相州而帝崩，與相州總管尉迥發喪於館。 尚希出謂左右曰：「蜀公哭不哀而視不安，將有他計。 吾不去，將及於難。」 遂夜中從捷徑而遁。 遲明，迥方覺，分數十騎自驛路追之，不及，遂歸京師。 高祖以尚希宗室之望，又背迥而至，待之甚厚。 及迥屯兵武陟，遣尚希督宗室兵三千人鎮潼關。 尋授司會中大夫。
Yang Shangxi came from Hongnong. His grandfather Zhen had been Administrator of Tianshui under the Wei. His father Chengbin had governed the three provinces of Shang, Zhi, and Xi. Shangxi was orphaned in early childhood. At eleven he asked his mother's leave to study in Chang'an. Lu Bian of Zhuo Commandery was struck by the boy and enrolled him in the Imperial Academy; he studied with tireless focus, and his classmates all looked up to him. When the Zhou Founder attended the ceremonial libation in person, the eighteen-year-old Shangxi was asked to lecture on the Classic of Filial Piety and acquitted himself admirably. The Founder was impressed, granted him the surname Puliuru, and made him an erudite of the Imperial University. He rose through successive posts to palace attendant. Under the Ming and Wu emperors he served as academy erudite, director of the heir apparent's palace, senior officer of the accounting bureau, was made Marquis of Gaodu, and held a senior post in the eastern capital judiciary. Emperor Xuan sent him to reassure Shandong and Hebei; he reached Xiang Province just as the emperor died, and with the Xiangzhou commander Yuwen Jiong announced the mourning at their quarters. Shangxi stepped outside and told his attendants, "The Duke of Shu is not grieving as he should, and his eyes are restless—he is plotting something. If I stay, I will be caught up in disaster. That night he escaped by a back road. At daybreak Jiong realized he was gone and sent dozens of horsemen down the post road in pursuit, but could not catch him; Shangxi reached the capital safely. Gaozu treated him with great favor, both for his standing among the imperial clan and for having abandoned Jiong to come to him. When Jiong massed troops at Wuzhi, Shangxi was sent to hold Tong Pass with three thousand clan troops. He was soon made senior officer of the Bureau of Accounts.
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高祖受禪，拜度支尚書，進爵為公。 歲餘，出為河南道行台兵部尚書，加銀青光祿大夫。 尚希時見天下州郡過多，上表曰：「自秦並天下，罷侯置守，漢、魏及晉，邦邑屢改。 竊見當今郡縣，倍多於古，或地無百里，數縣並置，或戶不滿千，二郡分領。 具僚以眾，資費日多； 吏卒人倍，租調歲減。 清幹良才，百分無一，動須數萬，如何可覓？ 所謂民少官多，十羊九牧。 琴有更張之義，瑟無膠柱之理。 今存要去閑，並小為大，國家則不虧粟帛，選舉則易得賢才，敢陳管見，伏聽裁處。」 帝覽而嘉之，於是遂罷天下諸郡。 尋拜瀛州刺史，未之官，奉詔巡省淮南。 還除兵部尚書。 俄轉禮部尚書，授上儀同。
When Gaozu took the throne, he was appointed Director of the Department of Revenue and advanced to duke. A year later he was made Director of the Department of War on the Henan circuit staff, with the honorific rank of grand master of the silver seal and green ribbon. Shangxi observed that the empire had too many prefectures and submitted a memorial: "Since Qin united the realm and replaced feudal lords with administrators, Han, Wei, and Jin repeatedly reorganized their administrative divisions. Today there are more than twice as many districts as in antiquity—some cover less than a hundred li yet host several counties, others have fewer than a thousand households yet are split between two commanderies. Staff multiply and costs rise daily; clerks and soldiers double while land tax and corvée shrink each year. Not one capable man in a hundred, yet tens of thousands of posts must be filled—where are such men to be found? This is the proverb of few people and many officials—ten sheep with nine shepherds. A zither must be restrung when needed; a se cannot be played with glued bridges. Keep what is essential, cut the redundant, merge small units into large ones—the treasury will not suffer, and worthy men will be easier to find. I submit this humble view for your judgment. The emperor read the memorial with approval and abolished commanderies empire-wide. He was soon appointed governor of Ying but never took up the post, receiving instead an edict to inspect Huainan. On his return he was made Director of the Department of War. He soon became Director of the Department of Rites and was granted senior equipage.
13
尚希性弘厚，兼以學業自通，甚有雅望，為朝廷所重。 上時每旦臨朝，日側不倦，尚希諫曰：「周文王以憂勤損壽，武王以安樂延年。 願陛下舉大綱，責成宰輔，繁碎之務，非人主所宜親也。」 上歡然曰：「公愛我者。」 尚希素有足疾，上謂之曰：「蒲州出美酒，足堪養病，屈公臥治之。」 於是出拜蒲州刺史，仍領本州宗團驃騎。 尚希在州，甚有惠政，複引瀵水，立堤防，開稻田數千頃，民賴其利。 開皇十年卒官，時年五十七。 諡曰平。 子旻嗣，後改封丹水縣公，官至安定郡丞。
Shangxi was magnanimous by nature and accomplished through learning; he enjoyed high esteem and the court held him in great regard. The emperor held court each dawn and worked until sunset without rest; Shangxi advised him: "King Wen of Zhou shortened his life through overwork; King Wu of Zhou lived long through ease. Take hold of the great principles, hold your ministers accountable, and leave petty matters to them—the ruler should not attend to every detail. The emperor said warmly, "You care for me. Shangxi had long suffered from foot trouble; the emperor told him, "Pu Province has fine wine for your ailment—go there and govern from your bed. He was sent out as governor of Pu while retaining command of the provincial clan cavalry. In Pu he governed with great benevolence, diverted the Fen River, built dikes, and opened several thousand qing of paddy fields on which the people depended. He died in office in the tenth year of Kaihuang, at the age of fifty-seven. His posthumous title was Ping. His son Min succeeded him, was later re-enfeoffed as Duke of Danshui, and rose to assistant governor of Anding commandery.
14
○長孫平
○ Zhangsun Ping
15
開皇三年，征拜度支尚書。 平見天下州縣多罹水旱，百姓不給，奏令民間每秋家出粟麥一石已下，貧富差等，儲之閭巷，以備凶年，各曰義倉。 因上書曰：「臣聞國以民為本，民以食為命，勸農重谷，先王令軌。 古者三年耕而餘一年之積，九年作而有三年之儲，雖水旱為災，而民無菜色，皆由勸導有方，蓄積先備者也。 去年亢陽，關右饑餒，陛下運山東之粟，置常平之官，開發倉廩，普加賑賜，大德鴻恩，可謂至矣。 然經國之道，義資遠算，請勒諸州刺史、縣令，以勸農積穀為務。 「上深嘉納。 自是州裡豐衍，民多賴焉。
In the third year of Kaihuang he was recalled and appointed Director of the Department of Revenue. Seeing widespread flood and drought leave the people destitute, Ping proposed that each autumn every household contribute up to one picul of grain or wheat according to means, stored in neighborhood granaries against famine—the charity granary system. He wrote further: "The state rests on the people, the people on food—encouraging agriculture and valuing grain were the laws of the sage kings. In antiquity three years' farming yielded one year's surplus and nine years' labor three years' stores; even in flood or drought the people did not go hungry, because guidance was sound and reserves were laid up in advance. Last year's drought brought famine west of the Pass; Your Majesty shipped grain from the east, established ever-normal granaries, opened the storehouses, and gave relief on a grand scale—mercy could go no further. Yet sound governance requires foresight—I urge that all governors and magistrates make encouraging farming and storing grain their chief duty. The emperor warmly approved the proposal. Districts thereafter grew prosperous and the people benefited greatly.
16
後數載，轉工部尚書，名為稱職。 時有人告大都督邴紹非毀朝廷為憒憒者，上怒，將斬之。 平進諫曰：「川澤納汙，所以成其深； 山嶽藏疾，所以就其大。 臣不勝至願，願陛下弘山海之量，茂寬裕之德。 鄙諺曰：'不癡不聾，未堪作大家翁。 '此言雖小，可以喻大。 邴紹之言，不應聞奏，陛下又複誅之，臣恐百代之後，有虧聖德。」 上於是赦紹。 因敕群臣，誹謗之罪，勿複以聞。
Several years later he became Director of the Department of Works and earned a reputation for competence. When someone reported that Grand Commander Bing Shao had called the court muddled and incompetent, the emperor flew into a rage and ordered his execution. Ping remonstrated: "Rivers and marshes accept filth and thereby grow deep; mountains harbor flaws and thereby attain their height. I beg Your Majesty to embrace the breadth of mountains and seas and cultivate a generous spirit. A common saying runs, 'Without a touch of deafness and foolishness, one cannot be master of a great household. Small as the saying is, it applies to great matters. Xing Shao's words should never have reached Your Majesty; to execute him now may stain Your sagely virtue for ages to come. The emperor thereupon pardoned Shao. He then ordered that slander cases were no longer to be reported to him.
17
其後突厥達頭可汗與都藍可汗相攻，各遣使請授。 上使平持節宣諭，令其和解，賜縑三百匹，良馬一匹而遣之。 平至突厥所，為陳利害，遂各解兵。 可汗贈平馬二百匹。 及還，平進所得馬，上盡以賜之。 未幾，遇譴，以尚書檢校汴州事。 歲餘，除汴州刺史。 其後曆許、貝二州，俱有善政。 鄴都俗薄，舊號難治，前後刺史多不稱職。 朝廷以平所在善稱，轉相州刺史。 甚有能名。 在州數年，會正月十五日，百姓大戲，畫衣裳為鍪甲之象，上怒而免之。 俄而念平鎮淮南時事，進位大將軍，拜太常卿，判吏部尚書事。 仁壽中卒官。 諡曰康。
Later the Türk khagans Datou and Duluo fought each other, each sending envoys to seek imperial support. The emperor sent Ping with imperial credentials to urge reconciliation, gave him three hundred bolts of silk and a fine horse, and dispatched him. At the Türk camp Ping explained the stakes, and both sides disbanded their armies. The khagan gave him two hundred horses. On his return Ping presented the horses; the emperor gave them all back to him. Soon afterward he was reprimanded and sent to oversee Bian Province in his capacity as director. A year later he was appointed governor of Bian Province. He later governed Xu and Bei provinces, both with distinction. Ye had a reputation for lax morals and was hard to govern; few of its governors had succeeded. The court transferred him to Xiang Province on his record of good governance. He earned a strong reputation for competence. After several years in office, on the Lantern Festival the people staged revels painting their clothes to resemble armor; the emperor was angered and dismissed him. Soon remembering his service in Huainan, the emperor promoted him to grand general, made him Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and put him in charge of the Department of State Affairs. He died in office during the Renshou era. His posthumous title was Kang.
18
子師孝，性輕狡好利，數犯法。 上以其不克負荷，遣使吊平國官。 師孝後為渤海郡主簿，屬大業之季，政教陵遲，師孝恣行貪濁，一郡苦之。 後為王世充所害。
His son Shixiao was frivolous, cunning, and greedy, and repeatedly broke the law. The emperor, deeming the son unworthy of his father's legacy, sent envoys to condole at Ping's funeral. Shixiao later served as chief clerk of Bohai; in the late Daye era, as governance collapsed, he plundered the commandery without restraint. He was later killed by Wang Shichong.
19
○元軍
○ Yuan Hui
20
元暉，字叔平，河南洛陽人也。 祖琛，魏恆、朔二州刺史。 父翌，尚書左僕射。 暉鬚眉如畫，進止可觀，頗好學，涉獵書記。 少得美名於京下，周太祖見而禮之，命與諸子遊處，每同席共硯，情契甚厚。 弱冠，召補相府中兵參軍，尋遷武伯下大夫。 于時突厥屢為寇患，朝廷將結和親，令暉齎錦彩十萬，使於突厥。 暉說以利害，申國厚禮，可汗大悅，遣其名王隨獻方物。 俄拜儀同三司、賓部下大夫。 保定初，大塚宰宇文護引為長史，會齊人來結盟好，以暉多才辯，與千乘公崔睦俱使于齊。 遷振威中大夫。 武帝之娉突厥後也，令暉致禮焉。 加開府，轉司憲大夫。 及平關東，使暉安集河北，封義寧子，邑四百戶。
Yuan Hui, whose style name was Shuping, came from Luoyang in Henan. His grandfather Chen had governed Heng and Shuo provinces under the Wei. His father Yi had been Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. Hui had finely drawn brows and beard and graceful bearing; he loved learning and read widely in books and records. He won an early reputation in the capital; the Zhou Founder honored him and had him study with his sons, sharing desk and inkstone in close friendship. At his capping ceremony he was appointed middle troops staff officer in the chancellor's office and soon promoted to junior grand master of the martial guard. As the Türks raided repeatedly, the court prepared a marriage alliance and sent Hui with brocades and silks worth one hundred thousand to the Türk court. Hui explained the stakes and presented the court's generous gifts; the khagan was delighted and sent his nobles with tribute. He was soon made a third-rank general and senior officer of the guests bureau. Early in Baoding, Grand Chancellor Yuwen Hu made him chief clerk; when Qi sought an alliance, Hui's eloquence won him appointment as envoy to Qi with Duke Cui Mu of Qiansheng. He was promoted to grand master who shakes might. When Emperor Wu betrothed a Türk princess, Hui was sent to deliver the betrothal gifts. He was granted opening the office and made grand master of the Bureau of Justice. After the pacification of the east, he was sent to stabilize Hebei and enfeoffed as Viscount of Yining with four hundred households.
21
高祖總百揆，加上開府，進爵為公。 開皇初，拜都官尚書，兼領太僕。 奏請決杜陽水灌三畤原，溉舄鹵之地數千頃，民賴其利。 明年，轉左武候將軍，太僕卿如故。 尋轉兵部尚書，監漕渠之役。 未幾，坐事免。 頃之，拜魏州刺史，頗有惠政。 在任數年，以疾去職。 歲餘，卒于京師，時年六十。 上嗟悼久之，敕鴻臚監護喪事。 諡曰元。 子肅嗣，官至光祿少卿。 肅弟仁器，性明敏，官至日南郡丞。
When Gaozu took charge of government, Hui was given opening the office and advanced to duke. Early in Kaihuang he became Director of the Bureau of Justice while also overseeing the imperial stud. He proposed diverting the Duyang River to irrigate the Sanchi plain, reclaiming several thousand qing of saline land for the people's benefit. The following year he became general of the left martial guard while retaining the directorship of the imperial stud. He soon became Director of the Department of War and supervised work on the transport canals. Before long he was dismissed for an offense. Shortly afterward he was appointed governor of Wei Province and governed with notable benevolence. After several years in office he resigned because of illness. He died in the capital a year later, at the age of sixty. The emperor mourned him at length and ordered the Court of Diplomatic Reception to oversee the funeral. His posthumous title was Yuan. His son Su succeeded him and rose to vice director of the Court for Imperial Entertainments. Su's younger brother Renqi was sharp and capable and rose to assistant governor of Rinan commandery.
22
○韋師
○ Wei Shi
23
韋師，字公穎，京兆杜陵人也。 父瑱，周驃騎大將軍。 師少沉謹，有至性。 初就學，始讀《孝經》，舍書而歎曰：「名教之極，其在茲乎！」 少丁父母憂，居喪盡禮，州裡稱其孝行。 及長，略涉經史，尤工騎射。 周大塚宰宇文護引為中外府記室，轉賓曹參軍。 師雅知諸蕃風俗及山川險易，其有夷狄朝貢，師必接對，論其國俗，如視諸掌。 夷人驚服，無敢隱情。 齊王憲為雍州牧，引為主簿，本官如故。 及武帝親總萬機，轉少府大夫。 及平高氏，詔師安撫山東，徙為賓部大夫。
Wei Shi, whose style name was Gongying, came from Duling in Jingzhao. His father Zhen had been Grand General of Agile Cavalry under the Zhou. Shi was grave and careful from youth, with a deeply sincere nature. When he first began his studies and read the Classic of Filial Piety, he set the book down and exclaimed, "The summit of moral teaching—is it not here! Orphaned young, he observed mourning with full propriety, and the district praised his filial devotion. As he grew he gained some learning in the classics and histories and excelled at mounted archery. Grand Chancellor Yuwen Hu appointed him recorder of the inner and outer chancellery, then staff officer of the guests bureau. Shi knew the customs of the frontier peoples and the terrain they crossed; whenever tribes came to pay tribute, he received them and discussed their lands as if he held them in his palm. They were astonished into candor and dared hide nothing from him. When Prince Xian of Qi became governor of Yong Province, he made Shi his chief clerk while retaining his original post. When Emperor Wu took personal control of government, Shi became grand master of the palace treasury. After the pacification of the Gao clan, he was ordered to reassure Shandong and was made grand master of the guests bureau.
24
高祖受禪，拜使部侍郎，賜爵井陘侯，邑五百戶。 數年，遷河北道行台兵部尚書，詔為山東河南十八州安撫大使。 奏事稱旨，賜錢三百萬，兼領晉王廣司馬。 其族人世康，為吏部尚書，與師素懷勝負。 于時晉王為雍州牧，盛存望第，以司空楊雄、尚書左僕射高熲並為州都督，引師為主簿。 而世康弟世約為法曹從事。 世康恚恨不能食，又恥世約在師之下，召世約數之曰：「汝何故為從事？」 遂杖之。
When Gaozu took the throne, he was appointed vice director of the Department of Envoys and enfeoffed as Marquis of Jingxing with five hundred households. Several years later he became director of the Department of War on the Hebei circuit staff and was made pacification commissioner for eighteen provinces in Shandong and Henan. His reports pleased the emperor, who gave him three million cash and additionally made him military affairs officer to Prince Guang of Jin. His kinsman Shikang, Director of the Department of State Personnel, had long been his rival. When Prince Jin was governor of Yong and kept a grand residence, Minister of Works Yang Xiong and Left Vice Director Gao Jiong were made provincial commanders and Shi was appointed chief clerk. Shikang's younger brother Shiyue served as an attendant in the law bureau. Shikang was so furious he could not eat, shamed that Shiyue ranked below Shi; he summoned his brother and demanded, "Why are you serving as a mere attendant? Then he had him beaten with a staff.
25
後從上幸醴泉宮，上召師與左僕射高熲、上柱國韓擒等，於臥內賜宴，令各敘舊事，以為笑樂。 平陳之役，以本官領元帥掾，陳國府藏，悉委于師，秋毫無所犯，稱為清白。 後上為長寧王儼納其女為妃。 除汴州刺史，甚有治名，卒官。 諡曰定。 子德政嗣，大業中，仕至給事郎。
Later, accompanying the emperor to the Liquan Palace, Shi was summoned with Gao Jiong and Han Qin to a private feast where each told old stories for amusement. In the conquest of Chen he served on the marshal's staff; the entire Chen treasury was placed in his charge, and he touched nothing—he was known for his integrity. The emperor later took his daughter as consort for Prince Yan of Changning. Appointed governor of Bian Province, he earned a strong reputation for governance and died in office. His posthumous title was Ding. His son Dezheng succeeded him and under Daye rose to attendant gentleman.
26
○楊異
○ Yang Yi
27
楊異，字文殊，弘農華陰人也。 祖鈞，魏司空。 父儉，侍中。 異美風儀，沉深有器局。 髫齔就學，日誦千言，見者奇之。 九歲丁父憂，哀毀過禮，殆將滅性。 及免喪之後，絕慶吊，閉戶讀書。 數年之間，博涉書記。 周閔帝時，為甯都太守，甚有能名。 賜爵昌樂縣子。 後數以軍功，進為侯。 高祖作相，行濟州事。 及踐阼，拜宗正少卿，加上開府。 蜀王秀之鎮益州也，朝廷盛選綱紀，以異方直，拜益州總管長史，賜錢二十萬、縑三百匹、馬五十匹而遣之。 尋遷西南道行台兵部尚書。 數載，複為宗正少卿。 未幾，擢拜刑部尚書。 歲餘，出除吳州總管，甚有能名。 時晉王廣鎮揚州，詔令異每歲一與王相見，評論得失，規諷疑闕。 數載，卒官，時年六十二。 子虔遜。
Yang Yi, whose style name was Wenshu, came from Huayin in Hongnong. His grandfather Jun had been Minister of Works under the Wei. His father Jian had been palace attendant. Yi was handsome and dignified, grave and far-sighted. He began study in childhood and recited a thousand characters a day, to the astonishment of onlookers. At nine he lost his father and mourned so excessively he nearly wasted away. After mourning ended he declined all social calls and shut himself in to read. Within a few years he had read widely in books and records. Under Emperor Min of Zhou he was administrator of Ningdu and earned a reputation for competence. He was enfeoffed as Viscount of Changle. Repeated military achievements later advanced him to marquis. When Gaozu was chancellor, Yi administered Ji Province. At the founding of the dynasty he was made vice director of the Court of the Imperial Clan with the additional rank of opening the office. When Prince Xiu of Shu was posted to Yizhou, the court sought a strict administrator; Yi was appointed chief clerk of the Yizhou commandery and sent off with two hundred thousand cash, three hundred bolts of silk, and fifty horses. He soon became director of the Department of War on the southwest circuit staff. Several years later he again became vice director of the Court of the Imperial Clan. Before long he was promoted to Director of the Department of Punishments. A year later he was made grand commander of Wu Province, where he again proved highly capable. While Prince Guang of Jin was posted to Yangzhou, an edict required Yi to meet him once a year to review his conduct and offer corrective counsel. He died in office several years later, at the age of sixty-two. His son was Qianxun.
28
○蘇孝慈兄子沙羅
○ Shaluo, nephew of Su Xiaoci
29
蘇孝慈，扶風人也。 父武周，周兗州刺史。 孝慈少沉謹，有器幹，美容儀。 周初為中侍上士。 後拜都督，聘于齊，以奉使稱旨，遷大都督。 其年又聘于齊，還授宣納上士。 後從武帝伐齊，以功進位開府，賜爵文安縣公，邑千五百戶。 尋改封臨水縣公，增邑千二百戶，累遷工部上大夫。
Su Xiaoci came from Fufeng. His father Wuzhou had been Governor of Yan Province under the Zhou. Xiaoci was grave and capable from youth, handsome in bearing, and possessed of real administrative talent. Early in the Zhou he was a senior attendant of the inner service. He was later made commander and sent as envoy to Qi; his mission pleased the court and he was promoted to grand commander. The same year he went again to Qi and on return was made senior envoy receiver. He followed Emperor Wu against Qi and for merit was granted opening the office and enfeoffed as Duke of Wen'an with fifteen hundred households. He was soon re-enfeoffed as Duke of Linshui with an additional twelve hundred households and rose to senior grand master of the Department of Works.
30
高祖受禪，進爵安平郡公，拜太府卿。 于時王業初基，百度伊始，征天下工匠，纖微之巧，無不畢集。 孝慈總其事，世以為能。 俄遷大司農，歲餘，拜兵部尚書，待遇逾密。 時皇太子勇頗知時政，上欲重宮官之望，多令大臣領其職。 於是拜孝慈為太子右衛率，尚書如故。 明年，上於陝州置常平倉，轉輸京下。 以渭水多沙，流乍深乍淺，漕運者苦之，於是決謂水為渠以屬河，令孝慈督其役。 渠成，上善之。 又領太子右庶子，轉授左衛率，仍判工部、民部二尚書，稱為幹理。 數載，進位大將軍，轉工部尚書，率如故。 先是，以百僚供費不足，台省府寺咸置廨錢，收息取給。 孝慈以為官民爭利，非興化之道，上表請罷之，請公卿以下給職田各有差，上並嘉納焉。 開皇十八年，將廢太子，憚其在東宮，出為淅州刺史。 太子以孝慈去，甚不平，形於言色。 其見重如此。 仁壽初，遷洪州總管，俱有惠政。 共後桂林山越相聚為亂，詔孝慈為行軍總管，擊平之。 其年卒官。 有子會昌。
When Gaozu took the throne, he was advanced to Duke of Anping and appointed Director of the Grand Treasury. As the dynasty was being founded and institutions established anew, craftsmen from across the realm were summoned and the finest skills gathered. Xiaoci directed the work and was widely regarded as capable. He soon became Minister of the Grand Granary, and a year later Director of the Department of War, with ever closer favor from the throne. Crown Prince Yong was already versed in affairs of state; the emperor wished to enhance the prestige of palace offices and often had senior ministers hold them concurrently. Xiaoci was therefore made right commander of the crown prince's guard while retaining his ministry. The following year the emperor established an ever-normal granary at Shan Province to ship grain to the capital. Because the Wei was sandy and its depth unpredictable, transport was difficult; the Wei was therefore diverted into a canal joining the Yellow River, with Xiaoci supervising the work. When the canal was finished, the emperor praised the achievement. He also served as the crown prince's right vice director, then left commander of the guard, while continuing to oversee the ministries of works and people—he was known for efficient administration. Several years later he was promoted to grand general and director of the Department of Works, retaining his guard command. Previously, because official salaries were insufficient, government offices had set up capital funds and lived off the interest. Xiaoci held that such profiteering was unworthy of civilizing government and memorialized to abolish the funds and grant graded official fields to officials instead; the emperor approved both proposals. In the eighteenth year of Kaihuang, when the emperor planned to depose the crown prince, he feared Xiaoci's influence in the eastern palace and sent him out as governor of Xi Province. The crown prince was openly displeased at Xiaoci's removal. Such was the esteem in which he was held. Early in Renshou he was made grand commander of Hong Province, governing with benevolence in both posts. Later, when the Shanyue of Guilin rose in rebellion, Xiaoci was made campaign commander and suppressed them. He died in office that same year. He had a son named Huichang.
31
孝慈兄子沙羅，字子粹。 父順，周眉州刺史。 沙羅仕周，釋褐都督。 後從韋孝寬破尉迥，以功授開府儀同三司，封通秦縣公。 開皇初，蜀王秀鎮益州，沙羅以本官從，拜資州刺史。 八年，冉尨羌作亂，攻汶山、金川二鎮，沙羅率兵擊破之，授邛州刺史。 後數載，檢校利州總管事。 從史萬歲擊西爨，累戰有功，進位大將軍，賜物千段。 尋檢校益州總管長史。 會越歸人王奉舉兵作亂，沙羅從段文振討平之，賜奴婢百口。 會蜀王秀廢，吏案奏沙羅雲：「王奉為奴所殺，秀乃詐稱左右斬之。 又調熟獠，令出奴婢，沙羅隱而不奏。」 由是除名，卒於家。 有子康。
Xiaoci's nephew Shaluo, whose style name was Zicui. His father Shun had been Governor of Mei Province under the Zhou. Shaluo entered Zhou service as commander upon completing his studies. He followed Wei Xiaokuan in defeating Yuwen Jiong and was granted third-rank honors with full ceremonial equipage and enfeoffed as Duke of Tongqin. Early in Kaihuang, when Prince Xiu of Shu was posted to Yizhou, Shaluo accompanied him and was appointed governor of Zi Province. In the eighth year the Ranmang Qiang rebelled against the garrisons of Wenshan and Jinchuan; Shaluo defeated them and was made governor of Qiong Province. Several years later he was placed in charge of the Lizhou commandery. He followed Shi Wansui against the Western Cuan, distinguished himself in repeated battles, was promoted to grand general, and received a thousand lengths of goods. He was soon placed in charge as chief clerk of the Yizhou commandery. When Wang Feng, a submitted Yue tribesman, rebelled, Shaluo followed Duan Wenzhen to suppress him and was rewarded with a hundred servants. When Prince Xiu of Shu was deposed, investigators reported that Shaluo had said, "Wang Feng was killed by a slave, yet Xiu falsely claimed his attendants executed him. He also levied assimilated tribes for slaves, which Shaluo concealed and did not report. He was therefore struck from the rolls and died at home. He had a son named Kang.
32
○李雄
○ Li Xiong
33
李雄，字毗盧，趙郡高邑人也。 祖榼，魏太中大夫。 父徽伯，齊陝州刺史，陷於周，雄因隨軍入長安。 雄少慷慨，有大志。 家世並以學業自通，雄獨習騎射。 其兄子旦讓之曰：「棄文尚武，非士大夫之素業。」 雄答曰：「竊覽自古誠臣貴仕，文武不備而能濟其功業者鮮矣。 雄雖不敏，頗觀前志，但不守章句耳。 既文且武，兄何病焉！」 子旦無以應之。
Li Xiong, whose style name was Pilu, came from Gaoyi in Zhao commandery. His grandfather Jie had been grand master of palace counsel under the Wei. His father Huibo had been governor of Shan under Qi; when captured by the Zhou, Xiong followed the army into Chang'an. Xiong was generous and ambitious from youth. His family had risen through scholarship for generations; Xiong alone trained in horsemanship and archery. His nephew Zidan admonished him: "To abandon learning for martial arts is not the scholar-official's proper path. Xiong replied: "I have observed that few loyal ministers and eminent officials in history achieved great things without both civil and martial competence. I am no genius, but I have read the ancients—I simply refuse to be bound by textual commentary alone. Being skilled in both letters and arms—what fault do you find in that! Zidan had no reply.
34
周太祖時，釋褐輔國將軍。 從達奚武平漢中，定興州，又討汾州叛胡，錄前後功，拜驃騎大將軍、儀同三司。 閔帝受禪，進爵為公，遷小賓部。 其後複從達奚武與齊人戰於芒山，諸軍大敗，雄所領獨全。 武帝時，從陳王純迎後於突厥，進爵奚伯，拜硤州刺史。 數歲，征為本府中大夫。 尋出為涼州總管長史。 從滕王逌破吐谷渾于青海，以功加上儀同。 宣帝嗣位，從行軍總管韋孝寬略定淮南。 雄以輕騎數百至硤石，說下十餘城，拜豪州刺史。
Under the Zhou Founder he entered service as general who assists the state. He followed Daxi Wu in pacifying Hanzhong and Xing Province and suppressing rebels in Fen Province; for these cumulative achievements he was made grand general of agile cavalry and a third-rank general. When Emperor Min took the throne, he was advanced to duke and moved to the junior guests bureau. He later followed Daxi Wu against Qi at Mangshan; though the army was routed, the troops under his command escaped intact. Under Emperor Wu he accompanied Prince Chun of Chen to welcome the empress from the Türks, was advanced to Earl of Xi, and appointed governor of Qia Province. Several years later he was recalled as grand master of his bureau. He was soon sent out as chief clerk of the Liangzhou commandery. He followed Prince You of Teng in defeating the Tuyuhun at Qinghai and was granted senior equipage for his merit. When Emperor Xuan took the throne, Xiong followed Wei Xiaokuan in pacifying Huainan. With a few hundred light cavalry he reached Qiaoshi, won over more than ten cities, and was appointed governor of Hao Province.
35
高祖總百揆，征為司會中大夫。 以淮南之功，加位上開府。 及受禪，拜鴻臚卿，進爵高都郡公，食邑二千戶。 後數年，晉王廣出鎮并州，以雄為河北行台兵部尚書。 上謂雄曰：「吾兒既少，更事未多，以卿兼文武才，今推誠相委，吾無北顧之憂矣。」 雄頓首而言曰：「陛下不以臣之不肖，寄臣以重任。 臣雖愚固，心非木石，謹當竭誠效命，以答鴻恩。」 歔欷流涕，上慰諭而遣之。 雄當官正直，侃然有不可犯之色，王甚敬憚，吏民稱焉。 歲餘，卒官。 子公挺嗣。
When Gaozu took charge of government, he was recalled as grand master of the Bureau of Accounts. For his Huainan achievements he was granted senior opening the office. At the founding of the dynasty he was made Director of the Court of Diplomatic Reception, advanced to Duke of Gaodu, with a fief of two thousand households. Several years later, when Prince Guang of Jin was posted to Bing Province, Xiong was made director of the Department of War on the Hebei circuit staff. The emperor told him, "My son is young and inexperienced; with your civil and martial gifts I entrust him to you wholeheartedly—I need no longer worry about the north. Xiong kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty does not disdain my unworthiness but entrusts me with a grave responsibility. Though I am dull and stubborn, I am not heartless—I shall serve with all my loyalty to repay your vast grace. He wept aloud; the emperor comforted him and sent him on his way. In office Xiong was upright and unapproachable; the prince held him in deep respect, and officials and people praised him. He died in office a year later. His son Gongting succeeded him.
36
○張煚劉仁恩郭均馮世基厙狄颭
○ Zhang Jiong, Liu Ren'en, Guo Jun, Feng Shiji, and Kudiji Yan
37
張煚，字士鴻，河間鄚人也。 父羨，少好學，多所通涉，仕魏為蕩難將軍。 從武帝入關，累遷銀青光祿大夫。 周太祖引為從事中郎，賜姓叱羅氏。 曆司職大夫，雍州治中、雍州刺史、儀同三司，賜爵虞鄉縣公。 複入為司成中大夫，典國史。 周代公卿，類多武將，唯羨以素業自通，甚為當時所重。 後以年老，致仕於家。 及高祖受禪，欽其德望，以書征之曰：「朕初臨四海，思存政術，舊齒名賢，實懷勤佇。 儀同昔在周室，德業有聞，雖雲致仕，猶克壯年。 即宜入朝，用副虛想。」 及謁見，敕令勿拜，扶升殿，上降榻執手，與之同坐，宴語久之，賜以幾杖。 會遷都龍首，羨上表勸以儉約，上優詔答之。 俄而卒，時年八十四。 贈滄州刺史，諡曰定。 撰《老子》、《莊子》義，名曰《道言》，五十二篇。
Zhang Jiong, whose style name was Shihong, came from Mo in Hejian. His father Xian loved learning from youth and mastered many fields; under Wei he served as general who calms difficulty. He followed Emperor Wu into the Pass and rose to grand master of the silver seal and green ribbon. The Zhou Founder appointed him attendant gentleman and granted the surname Chiluo. He served as grand master of the bureau of works, Yongzhou administrator and governor, and third-rank general, and was enfeoffed as Duke of Yuxiang. He returned to court as grand master of the directorate of education and oversaw the national history. Zhou ministers were mostly generals; Xian alone rose through scholarship and was highly esteemed in his day. He later retired at home due to age. When Gaozu took the throne, admiring his reputation, he summoned him by letter: "Having just come to rule the realm, I seek sound governance and earnestly long for venerable men of talent. Your virtue was renowned under the Zhou; though you have retired, you are still in your prime. Come to court at once to satisfy my eager hope. At audience he was excused from bowing, helped up the hall, and the emperor descended to take his hand, sat with him, conversed at length over a feast, and gave him staff and bench. When the capital moved to Longshou, Xian memorialized urging frugality, and the emperor replied with a gracious edict. He died soon afterward, at the age of eighty-four. He was posthumously made governor of Cang Province; his posthumous title was Ding. He wrote exegeses of the 《Laozi》 and 《Zhuangzi》 entitled 《The Way Spoken》, in fifty-two chapters.
38
煚好學，有父風。 在魏釋褐奉朝請，遷員外侍郎。 周太祖引為外兵曹。 閔帝受禪，加前將軍。 明、武世，曆膳部大夫、塚宰司錄，賜爵北平縣子，邑四百戶。 宣帝時，加儀同，進爵為伯。 高祖為丞相，煚深自推結，高祖以其有幹用，甚親遇之。 及受禪，拜尚書右丞，進爵為侯。 俄遷太府少卿，領營新都監丞。 丁父憂去職，柴毀骨立。 未期，起令視事，固讓不許，授儀同三司，襲爵虞鄉縣公，增邑通前千五百戶。 尋遷太府卿，拜民部尚書。 晉王廣為揚州總管，授煚司馬，加銀青光祿大夫。 煚性和厚，有識度，甚有當時之譽。 後拜冀州刺史，晉王廣頻表請之，複為晉王長史，檢校蔣州事。 及晉王為皇太子，複為冀州刺史，進位上開府，吏民悅服，稱為良二千石。 仁壽四年卒官，時年七十四。 子慧寶，官至絳郡丞。
Jiong loved learning and took after his father. Under Wei he entered service as court gentleman for attendance and became vice director. The Zhou Founder appointed him to the outer troops bureau. When Emperor Min took the throne, he was made forward general. Under the Ming and Wu emperors he served as grand master of the provisions bureau and recorder of the grand chancellor's office, and was enfeoffed as Viscount of Beiping with four hundred households. Under Emperor Xuan he was granted equipage and advanced to earl. When Gaozu was chancellor, Jiong pledged himself wholeheartedly; Gaozu valued his practical ability and treated him with great favor. At the founding of the dynasty he was made Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and advanced to marquis. He soon became vice director of the Grand Treasury and supervised construction of the new capital. He left office to mourn his father and was wasted to skin and bone. Before mourning ended he was recalled to duty despite his protests, granted third-rank honors, inherited the dukedom of Yuxiang, and his fief was increased to fifteen hundred households in all. He soon became director of the Grand Treasury and then director of the Department of the People. When Prince Guang of Jin was grand commander of Yang Province, Jiong was made his military affairs officer with the honorific rank of grand master of the silver seal and green ribbon. Jiong was good-natured and far-sighted and enjoyed high repute in his day. He was later made governor of Ji Province; Prince Guang repeatedly requested him back and he again served as the prince's chief clerk, overseeing Jiang Province. When the prince became crown prince, Jiong again governed Ji Province, was advanced to senior opening the office, and won such loyalty from officials and people that he was called a model governor. He died in office in the fourth year of Renshou, at the age of seventy-four. His son Huibao rose to assistant governor of Jiang commandery.
39
開皇時有劉仁恩者，不知何許人也，倜儻有文武幹用。 初為毛州刺史，治績號天下第一，擢拜刑部尚書。 又以行軍總管從楊素伐陳，與素破陳將呂仲肅于荊門，仁恩之計居多，授上大將軍，甚有當時之譽。 馮翊郭均、上党馮世基，並明悟有幹略，相繼為兵部尚書。 代人厙狄嶔，性弘厚，有局度，官至民部尚書。 此四人俱顯名於當世，然事行闕落，史莫能詳。
In the Kaihuang era there was a Liu Ren'en of unknown origin, a man of bold spirit and both civil and martial talent. He first served as governor of Mao Province, where his administration was ranked the best in the realm, and was promoted to director of the Department of Punishments. As campaign commander he followed Yang Su against Chen and helped defeat the Chen general Lü Zhongsu at Jingmen, contributing most of the strategy; he was made senior grand general and won high renown. Guo Jun of Fufeng and Feng Shiji of Shangdang were both sharp and capable administrators who served in succession as directors of the Department of War. Kudiji Qin of Dai was magnanimous and measured in character and rose to director of the Department of the People. These four were all famous in their day, but their deeds are poorly recorded and historians cannot tell their stories in full.
40
史臣曰：二趙明習故事，當世所推，及居端右，無聞殊績。 固知人之才器，各有分限，大小異宜，不可逾量。 長孫平諫赦誹謗之罪，可謂仁人之言，高祖悅而從之，其利亦已博矣。 元暉以明敏顯達，韋師以清白成名，楊尚希、楊異，宗室之英，譽望隆重，蘇孝慈、李雄、張煚，內外所履，鹹稱貞幹，並任開皇之初，蓋當時之選也。
The historian comments: The two Zhao were versed in precedent and highly regarded, yet in the highest offices they left no outstanding record. This shows that talent has its proper scope—great and small offices suit different men, and one cannot exceed a man's measure. Zhangsun Ping's plea to pardon slanderers was the speech of a humane man; Gaozu gladly agreed, to the empire's great benefit. Yuan Hui rose through brilliance and acuity; Wei Shi won fame through integrity; Yang Shangxi and Yang Yi, outstanding among the imperial clan, enjoyed towering reputations; Su Xiaoci, Li Xiong, and Zhang Jiong were praised everywhere they served for steadfast competence—all held office at the dawn of Kaihuang and represented the finest men of their generation.