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卷51 列傳第16 長孫覽

Volume 51 Biographies 16: Zhang Sunlan

Chapter 51 of 隋書 · Book of Sui
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Chapter 51
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1
Zhangsun Lan, whose courtesy name was Xiuyin, came from Luoyang in Henan. His grandfather Zhi had served as the Northern Wei's Grand Preceptor, held the provisional yellow battle-axe, and bore the title Prince Wenxuan of Shangdang. His father Shaoyuan had been the Northern Zhou's Junior Director of the Imperial Clan and Duke of Shangdang commandery. Lan was open and elegant in temperament, had breadth of mind, knew something of clerical work, and was particularly skilled in pitch pipes and musical theory. During the Northern Wei's Datong era he began his career as an intimate attendant in the crown prince's household. Under Emperor Ming of Northern Zhou he held the post of Grand Commander-in-Chief. While Yuwen Yong was still heir apparent he was close to Lan; once he became emperor he treated him with even greater honor and promoted him at a stroke to General of Chariots and Cavalry. Whenever ministers of state presented memorials, the emperor invariably had Lan review them first. Lan was a gifted speaker with a powerful voice; whenever he delivered an imperial message the entire court watched him, and the emperor repeatedly expressed his admiration. Lan had originally been named Shan. The emperor told him, "I am placing the weight of government upon you to review matters first." With that he gave him his present name. After Yuwen Hu was killed, Lan was raised to Duke of Xue for his part in the plot. He later served in turn as Junior Minister of Works. He took part in the conquest of Northern Qi, was promoted to Pillar of State, and his second son Kuan was enfeoffed as Duke of Guan. Under Emperor Xuan he rose to Supreme Pillar of State and Grand Minister of Education, and before long served in succession as governor of Tong and Jing prefectures. While Yang Jian was still Chancellor, Lan was reassigned as governor of Yi Prefecture.
2
姿 西 使 使 西使 祿
In Kaihuang 2 (582), with war planned against the south, he was appointed campaigning commander-in-chief of the Southeast Circuit, leading eight area commanders from Shouyang in a combined land-and-water advance. As his forces approached the Yangtze, the Chen court was thrown into panic. When Emperor Xuan of Chen died, Lan wanted to exploit the moment and destroy Chen outright, but the supervising commander Gao Hui held that one must not campaign during a period of mourning and pulled the army back. The emperor frequently had Lan dine with Prince Ande Xiong, Supreme Pillar of State Yuan Xie, Li Chong, Left Vice Director Gao Hui, General of the Right Guard Yu Qingze, and Wu Prefecture area commander He Ruo Bi, and said, "When I was still in the Zhou court I served with complete loyalty, yet I lived under endless suspicion and was repeatedly left heartsick. What bond of trust can a minister have in such circumstances? In my dealings with you, duty makes us sovereign and subject, yet in feeling we are as father and son. I intend to share lasting prosperity with you; short of plotting rebellion, you need fear no inquiry from me. I know your loyalty as well, and I am placing you especially in the service of the crown prince; visit him often so that affection may grow between you. The chief support of the realm and its enduring hope truly lie with you—bear my meaning in mind." Such was the depth of favor and courtesy shown him. He also had Lan's daughter marry Prince Xiu of Shu. He later resigned to observe mourning for his mother. A little over a year later he was recalled to office. Before long he was made governor of Jing Prefecture; in every post he won a record of good governance. He died while still holding office. His son Hong inherited his line. Hong served in turn as governor of Song, Shun, and Lin prefectures, as Vice Minister of the Imperial Granaries, and as governor of Beiping. His nephew Zhangsun Chi—Chi, whose courtesy name was Zhongguang, was a great-grandson of Prince Wenxuan of Shangdang, Zhi. His grandfather Yu had been the Northern Wei's Director of Imperial Sacrifices and governor of Ji Prefecture. His father Si had held the Northern Zhou rank of General-in-Chief with the ceremonial equipage of the Three Excellencies, governed Xiong and Jiang prefectures, and been enfeoffed as Marquis of Pingyuan. Chi was clever and perceptive by nature, striking in appearance, well read across many fields, and accomplished in the martial arts as well. Early in the Jiande era Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou favored Daoist teaching and especially loved abstruse discourse; he sought men versed in the classics and histories who could debate well and made them scholars of the Hall of the Way. Chi was chosen for this company and moved among the finest minds of the day, broadening his learning still further. In Jiande 2 (573) he was appointed magistrate of Cangcheng in Yong Prefecture, and soon afterward was transferred to magistrate of Dangyin. After governing two districts in succession with top evaluations, he was promoted to administrator of Xiao commandery. He was summoned to court as Senior Clerk of the Imperial Censorate. When Yang Jian became Chancellor, Chi was raised to Merit Officer in the chancellor's office, given the additional rank of Grand Commander, and enfeoffed as Viscount of Yangping with a fief of two hundred households. He was soon promoted to Junior Grand Master of the Left. In that same year Wang Qian rose in rebellion; Chi accompanied Area Commander Wang Changshu up the Yangtze. Chi served as vanguard, stormed one of Qian's strongpoints, pacified five prefectures including Chu and He, captured the rebel area commander Yuan Zhen west of Jing Mountain, and for this was made a general with the ceremonial equipage of the Three Excellencies. When Yang Jian accepted the throne, Chi led the officials in first entering to secure the palace; that same day he was appointed Palace Scribe and Senior General with the ceremonial equipage of the Three Excellencies. Before long, while keeping his original post, he was made acting Right Vice Director of the crown prince's household and passed between the two palaces, enjoying deep trust. Because he managed affairs with meticulous care, the emperor often spoke well of him. He was made chief clerk of the Left Guards, given credentials, and dispatched as commissioner to thirty-six prefectures on the Southeast Circuit to reorganize prefectures and commanderies and inspect local customs. On his return he was appointed Steward of the Crown Prince, given the additional rank of Remonstrating Counselor, and made acting magistrate of Chang'an. He and Liang Pi, magistrate of Daxing, were both considered exemplary in office. Pi was known for strict uprightness, Chi for mild fairness; though their methods differed, each brought order to his jurisdiction. Before long he oversaw the Right Ever-Normal Granary, was promoted to assistant administrator of Yong Prefecture, and his title was changed to Viscount of Raoliang. He was promoted to Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments. Some years later he became Vice Director of the Imperial Ancestral Temple and was advanced to General-in-Chief with the ceremonial equipage of the Three Excellencies. He again bore credentials as touring commissioner for twenty-eight prefectures on the Henan Circuit and, while on tour, was appointed Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel. In Daye 1 (605) he was made Director of the Court of Judicial Review and again sent as commissioner on the Southwest Circuit to inspect local customs. He was promoted to Minister of Revenue. When the Tuyuhun attacked Zhangye, Chi was sent with five thousand elite cavalry to repulse them, pursued them to Qinghai, and returned; for this he received the title Silver-Gleaming Grand Master for Splendid Happiness. In the sixth year, when the emperor traveled to the Jiangdu Palace, Chi was left at the Eastern Capital as commandant and also given acting command of the Left Houwei Guard. He died in office that same year, at the age of sixty-two. He was given the posthumous name Jing ("Tranquil"). His son Anshi served as Master of Ceremonies for Receiving Guests. Chi's younger brother Zhangsun Sheng—Sheng, whose courtesy name was Jisheng, was quick-witted and responsive, knew something of clerical work, excelled at archery and mounted shooting, and was unusually nimble. The Northern Zhou court then prized martial arts, and young men of noble families vied with one another; whenever they rode and shot together, none of his peers could match him. At eighteen he was a senior clerk in the Ministry of Guards. At first he was unknown and no one took notice of him, but the High Ancestor, on meeting him once, was struck with wonder, took his hand, and said to those present, "This young Zhangsun's martial prowess is beyond the common run; to judge by his speech he also holds many remarkable stratagems. The great commander of a later day—will it not be he?"
3
使 使
Under Emperor Xuan, the Türk qaghan Shetu sought a marriage alliance with Zhou, and Prince Zhao's daughter was given to him as wife. Zhou and Shetu each tried to outshine the other by selecting the boldest warriors as envoys, and Sheng was sent as deputy to the Duke of Runan, Yuwen Shenqing, to escort the Princess of a Thousand Gold to the qaghan's headquarters. Dozens of envoys had come before and after, and Shetu had treated most of them with little courtesy, but he took a special liking to Sheng, hunted with him constantly, and kept him for an entire year. Once two hawks were fighting in the air over a piece of meat; Shetu handed Sheng two arrows and said, "Shoot them down for me." Sheng bent his bow, spurred forward, found the birds locked together, and brought down both with a single arrow. Delighted, Shetu had his younger kinsmen and nobles befriend Sheng so that they might stay close to him and learn his archery. His younger brother Chuluohou, who bore the title Tuli she, enjoyed exceptional popularity. Shetu envied him, however; Chuluohou secretly placed his trust in confidants and entered a covert alliance with Sheng. On their hunting expeditions Sheng surveyed the terrain, the strength of the tribes, and their dispositions until he knew them through and through. Yang Jian was then Chancellor; Sheng laid out what he had learned before him. The High Ancestor was delighted and promoted him to Master of the Imperial Carriages.
4
使 使 使 使使
In Kaihuang 1 (581) Shetu said, "I am kin to the house of Zhou, yet now the Duke of Sui has seized power and I cannot stop him—how can I face the qaghan?" He joined Gao Baoning in storming Lin Prefecture's Yu Pass and conspired with the tribal chiefs of the various departments for a joint southern invasion. The emperor had only just ascended the throne and was deeply alarmed; he repaired the Great Wall, posted troops along the northern border, placed Yin Shou at You Prefecture and Yu Qingze at Bing Prefecture, and stationed tens of thousands of men in readiness. Sheng had long known that Shetu, Dianjue, Abo, Tuli, and other kinsmen each commanded powerful forces, all called themselves qaghan, and held separate domains on four sides; inwardly suspicious yet outwardly cordial, they could not easily be crushed by force but could readily be divided; he therefore memorialized, "I have heard that the depth of disorder must give way to great peace, and that Heaven opens the moment for the sage to complete the work. Your Majesty stands at the close of a long line of kings and has received the mandate of a new age; though the heartland is settled, the northern frontier remains troubled; to march in force is not yet timely, yet to ignore the tribes is only to invite fresh raids. Secret strategy should therefore be applied to wear them down step by step; failure would leave the people unquiet, success would secure the welfare of generations to come. Upon this good or ill fortune turns; I beg Your Majesty to weigh it with care. At the close of the Zhou dynasty I had the honor of serving abroad as envoy and came to know the Türks' strengths and weaknesses in detail. Dianjue stands to Shetu with strong forces but inferior rank; though linked in name, the breach within is already plain, and if their passions are provoked they will turn on each other. Chuluohou, Shetu's younger brother, is crafty and popular yet militarily weak; beloved by the tribes, he is envied by Shetu, lives in deep unease, and though he appears accommodating is inwardly fearful. Abo, caught between them, is timid and irresolute, somewhat afraid of Shetu and pulled along in his wake, siding with whoever is stronger and never firm in allegiance. The policy now should be to ally with those far off and strike those near, to separate the strong and unite the weak: send envoys to Dianjue and draw Abo to our side, and Shetu will have to wheel his army back to defend the west. Win over Chuluohou and connect him with the Xi and Mohe as well, and Shetu will have to split his forces to guard the east. Caught between mutual suspicion and a divided heart, within a dozen years or so, when occasion offers, a single campaign should suffice to destroy their power entirely." The emperor read the memorial with great delight and summoned him for a private audience. Sheng again described the situation in person, sketched the mountains and rivers, and laid out their strengths and weaknesses with the clarity of a map in his palm. The emperor marveled and adopted every point. He therefore dispatched the Master of the Imperial Stud Yuan Hui by the Yiwu route to Dianjue, presenting a wolf-head banner and treating him with exaggerated respect and lavish ceremony. When Dianjue's envoy arrived, he was seated above Shetu's envoy. Once the policy of sowing discord took effect, the Türks indeed turned suspicious and divided among themselves. Sheng was made General of Chariots and Cavalry, marched out by the Yellow Dragon route, presented gifts to the Xi, Mohe, Khitan, and others, and used them as guides until he reached Chuluohou, won his confidence, and persuaded him to submit to the dynasty.
5
In the second year Shetu led four hundred thousand horsemen in from Lan Prefecture to Zhoupan, routed Chief of the West Daxi Changru's army, and prepared to drive farther south. Dianjue refused to join him and withdrew with his forces. Sheng also had Rangan send a false report to Shetu: "The Tiele tribes have risen and mean to attack your headquarters." Terrified, Shetu wheeled his army back beyond the border.
6
使 便 使 使 西 使
Some months later the Türks raided in force, and eight campaigning commanders-in-chief were sent out on separate routes to meet them. Abo reached Liang Prefecture and fought Dou Rongding; the Türk leader was beaten back again and again. Sheng, then a subordinate commander, sent word to Abo: "Whenever Shetu takes the field he wins a great victory. You have scarcely crossed the border and already been defeated—is this not a shame to all the Türks? Can you not feel the sting of it? Moreover, Shetu and Abo were once evenly matched in strength. Now Shetu wins victory after victory and rises in the people's esteem, while your setbacks bring dishonor on the realm. Shetu will surely use this to blame you and carry out his old plan to destroy the Northern Headquarters. Measure your own strength—can you stand against him?" When Abo's envoy came, Sheng told him further, "Datou is now allied with Sui, yet Shetu cannot restrain him. Why not submit to the Son of Heaven and join with Datou? Together you would be formidable—this is the sure course. Is it wiser to lose your army, bear disgrace, and return to Shetu only to be killed and shamed?" Abo agreed, stayed on the border, and sent envoys to accompany Sheng to court. Shetu then met Prince Wei's army at Baidao, was defeated, and fled into the desert. Learning that Abo was disloyal, he suddenly attacked the Northern Headquarters, seized Abo's followers, and killed Abo's mother. Abo, with nowhere to turn, fled west to Dianjue and borrowed more than a hundred thousand men; marching east he struck Shetu, recovered his old lands, rallied tens of thousands of scattered troops, and fought him again. Abo won battle after battle and his power swelled. Shetu again sent tribute to court; the princess asked to take the imperial surname and be adopted as the emperor's daughter, and the emperor agreed.
7
使 婿 使
In the fourth year Sheng accompanied Yu Qingze to Shetu's camp, gave the princess the surname Yang, and enfeoffed her as Princess Dayi. Shetu received the edict but would not rise to bow. Sheng stepped forward and said, "Türks and Sui are both great powers under Heaven; if the qaghan will not rise, we dare not press him. But Kehedun is the emperor's daughter, which makes you the Great Sui's son-in-law—how can you be so rude as not to honor your father-in-law?" Shetu laughed and told his nobles, "I must bow to my father-in-law—I will do as he says." With that he bowed to the edict. On their return, with the mission deemed successful, Sheng was appointed a general with the ceremonial equipage of the Three Excellencies and General of Chariots and Cavalry of the Left Merit Guard.
8
西
In the seventh year Shetu died; Sheng was dispatched with credentials to invest his younger brother Chuluohou as Qaghan Mohe and his son Yonglu as Yabghu Qaghan. Chuluohou reported through Sheng, "Abo has been brought low by Heaven and lingers in the valleys with five or six thousand horsemen, waiting on your command; I will seize him and present him as captive." The court then debated the matter. Yuan Xie of Le'an said, "Let them behead him where he stands to punish his crimes. Li Chong, Duke of Wuyang, said, "Bring him alive to the capital and execute him publicly as an example." The emperor asked Sheng, "What is your view?" Sheng answered, "If the Türks were openly rebellious, punishment would be fitting. But now they are destroying one another. Abo's wrong was not against our state; to kill him in his extremity would not win the distant tribes. Better to let both survive." The emperor said, "Well said." In the eighth year Chuluohou died; Sheng was sent to mourn him and carried treasures that Chen had presented to bestow upon Yonglu.
9
使 使
In the thirteenth year the exile Yang Qin fled to the Türks and falsely claimed that Duke Peng Liu Chang and a daughter of the Yuwen house were plotting to rebel against Sui and that he had been sent to inform them in secret. Yonglu believed him and stopped sending tribute. Sheng was again sent as envoy to observe him closely. The princess received Sheng with insolent speech and sent her private agent, the Hu man Ansuijia, to conspire with Qin and stir Yonglu to revolt. On reaching the capital Sheng laid the whole matter before the throne. He was sent again to demand Qin; Yonglu tried to withhold him and answered falsely, "We have searched our guests and found no such person." Sheng bribed Yonglu's nobles, learned Qin's whereabouts, seized him in a night raid, and showed him to Yonglu, exposing the princess's misconduct and shaming the nation. Yonglu arrested Ansuijia and the rest and delivered them to Sheng. The emperor was delighted, promoted him to General-in-Chief, and sent him back into the Türk lands to execute Princess Dayi. Yonglu again petitioned for a marriage alliance, and the court was inclined to agree. Sheng memorialized again, "Yonglu is fickle and untrustworthy; he clings to us only because he is at odds with Dianjue. Grant him a princess and he will rebel in the end. Once he has an imperial princess and borrows her prestige, Dianjue and Rangan will again be subject to his demands. When he grows strong he will turn on us again, and then he will be hard to control. Rangan, the son of Chuluohou, has shown sincere loyalty across two reigns. He too once asked for a marriage when I met him; better to grant it, move him south, and since his forces are few and weak, pacify him easily and set him against Yonglu as a border shield." The emperor said, "Agreed." He sent envoys to reassure Rangan and promised him an imperial princess.
10
In the seventeenth year Rangan sent five hundred horsemen with Sheng to fetch his bride; a clanswoman was enfeoffed as Princess Anyi and given to him. Sheng persuaded Rangan to move his people south to the old site at Dujin. Yonglu resented this and raided again and again. Rangan reported every movement to court, so the frontier was forewarned whenever Yonglu struck.
11
紿 使 殿 使 鹿 西
In the nineteenth year Rangan reported through Sheng that Yonglu was building siege engines to attack Datong. The emperor ordered six area commanders, all under Prince Han, to march beyond the border on separate routes against him. Terrified, Yonglu allied again with Datou; together they fell on Rangan in a great battle below the Great Wall. Rangan was routed; his brothers, sons, and nephews were killed and his tribes scattered. Rangan and Sheng fled south with only five horsemen; by dawn, after more than a hundred li, they had gathered a few hundred riders and said to one another, "Defeated, if we submit we are mere captives—will the Son of Heaven honor us? Dianjue is near and we have no old quarrel with him; if we go to him he will surely shelter us." Sheng saw his wavering and secretly sent a man into Fuyuan Fort to have the beacon fires lit immediately. Seeing four beacons ablaze, Rangan asked Sheng, "Why are the beacon towers burning?" Sheng answered, "The walls are high and the plain wide—they must see the enemy from far off. Our law is: few enemies, two fires; many enemies, three; great force, four—so you see they are numerous and close." Rangan was terrified and told his men, "The pursuers are upon us—we must take refuge in the fort." Inside the fort Sheng left Rangan's noble Zhishi in command of the troops and himself escorted Rangan by relay horse to the capital. The emperor was overjoyed, promoted Sheng to General of Agile Cavalry of the Left Merit Guard, gave him credentials, and made him protector of the Türks. Sheng sent surrendered Türks to watch Yonglu and learned that his camp was plagued by omens—a red rainbow lighting the sky for hundreds of li, a heaven-dog falling, three days of bloody rain, a meteor crashing into his camp with thunder. Each night he woke in alarm, saying the Sui army was coming. Sheng reported everything and again asked leave to campaign against the Türks. Dusu and others returned to Rangan; more than ten thousand men and women came in succession, and Sheng settled them. From this the Türks were won to willing submission. Soon Rangan was invested as Qaghan Yili Zhen Douqi and given an archery contest in the Hall of Martial Peace. Twelve skilled archers were chosen and divided into two teams. The qaghan said, "Through Master Zhangsun I have seen the Son of Heaven; grant me a place on his team in today's contest." Permission was given. Sheng was given six targets and hit every deer; the qaghan's side won. A flock of birds flew by; the emperor said, "You shoot well with the sling—bring them down for me." Ten shots all struck; every bird fell. That day the officials all received gifts, but Sheng received the largest share. Soon he was sent with fifty thousand men to build the great city of Dali at Shuozhou to house Rangan. When Princess Anyi died, he bore credentials, escorted Princess Yicheng, and gave her to Rangan in marriage. Sheng memorialized again, "Rangan's followers are already many; though inside the Great Wall they still suffer Yonglu's raids and cannot live in peace. Move them to Wuyuan with the Yellow River as rampart; between Xia and Sheng prefectures, four hundred li east to west and north to south along the river, dig a trench and let them pasture within it, safe from raids." The emperor approved every point.
12
In the twentieth year Dulü was thrown into turmoil and killed by his own men. Sheng memorialized, "Our army is on the frontier winning victories; the enemy are divided and their lord slain—send Rangan's men to win them over and they will all submit." The emperor agreed, and they all submitted. Datou was terrified and massed a great army again. Sheng was ordered to lead the surrendered Türks as campaigning commander-in-chief of the Qin River Circuit under Prince Guangs of Jin. Facing Datou, Sheng proposed, "The Türks drink from springs—it is easy to poison the water." Drugs were placed upstream; Datou's men and beasts drank and died in great numbers. In alarm he cried, "Heaven sends poisoned rain—has it forsaken me?" He fled in the night. Sheng pursued him, took more than a thousand heads, captured over a hundred men, and seized thousands of livestock. The prince was delighted, brought Sheng within, and feasted with him in high spirits. A surrendered Türk noble who shared the feast said the tribes greatly feared Commander Zhangsun—his bow sounded like thunder, his galloping horse like lightning. The prince laughed and said, "Your anger, General, awes the outer realms and rivals the thunderclap—how splendid!" When the army returned he was made Senior General-in-Chief with the ceremonial equipage of the Three Excellencies and sent back to Dali to pacify the new submissions.
13
使 使 西
In Renshou 1 (601) Sheng memorialized, "I climbed the city tower at night and saw north of the desert a red mist more than a hundred li long, hanging to earth like bloody rain. The military classics call this 'spilled blood'—the realm beneath it will fall. If we mean to destroy the northern foe, the moment is now." Yang Su was made campaigning commander-in-chief and Sheng commissioner for receiving surrenders, escorting Rangan north. In the second year the army reached the Northern River; the enemy commander Silijin and others resisted; Sheng and Grand General Liang Mo routed them after sixty li of fighting, and many surrendered. Sheng also had Rangan send envoys north to the Tiele and other tribes to win them over. In the third year more than ten tribes—the Tiele, Sijie, Fuliju, Hun, Husai, Abo, Pugu, and others—all abandoned Datou and sought to submit. Datou's forces collapsed and fled west to the Tuyuhun. Sheng escorted Rangan and settled him at Qikou.
14
宿
When the campaign ended he returned to court just as Emperor Wen died; the death was kept secret and not yet announced. Emperor Yang took Sheng before the late emperor's bier and entrusted him with the inner palace guard and control of the gates; that day he was made General of the Left Guards. When Yang Liang rebelled, Sheng was ordered to remain in his post but become governor of Xiang Prefecture, raise Shandong troops, and plan the campaign with Li Xiong and others. Sheng declined: "My son Xingbu is in rebel territory; to accept this command unsettles me." The emperor said, "Your loyal service is well known to me. Xiang Prefecture was once the Qi capital; its people are fickle and easily stirred. If trouble flares there the rebels will grow strong; only you can hold it. Your loyalty to the state must not let a son outweigh duty; I entrust this to you—do not refuse." He was sent to take Xiang Prefecture. When Liang was defeated he was recalled and made General of the Martial Guard.
15
耀涿
In Daye 3 (607) Emperor Yang visited Yulin, planned to march beyond the border in full array through the Türk lands toward Zhuo commandery. Fearing Rangan would be alarmed, he sent Sheng ahead to explain the emperor's purpose. Rangan summoned the tribes under him; dozens of chieftains of the Xi, Mohe, Shiwei, and others assembled. The camp grass was foul; Sheng wished Rangan to clear it himself before the tribes to show imperial authority. Pointing at the grass before the tent he said, "This weed smells fine." Rangan sniffed and said, "It does not smell fine at all." Sheng said, "Wherever the Son of Heaven travels, lords sweep the road themselves to show utmost respect. Your camp is overgrown—you have left weeds as if they were fragrant herbs." Rangan understood: "Your slave has offended. My very flesh and bone are the Son of Heaven's gift—how dare I refuse labor? Only the frontier folk do not know the law; they learn through your kindness. Your kindness is my fortune." He drew his knife and cut the grass himself; nobles and tribes all followed. From Yulin's northern border to the qaghan's camp and east to Ji they opened an imperial road three thousand li long and a hundred paces wide, the whole nation laboring at corvée. The emperor heard of Sheng's scheme and praised him the more. He was later made governor of Huaiyang but did not take up the post and was again made General of the Right Valiant Cavalry.
16
使
In the fifth year he died, at the age of fifty-eight. The emperor mourned him deeply and gave lavish funeral gifts. Later, when the Türks besieged Yanmen, the emperor sighed, "Had Zhangsun Sheng lived, the northern tribes would never have reached this! Sheng loved ingenious plans and pursued fame. He was deeply filial; in mourning he wasted away, and the court praised him. In the Zhenguan era he was posthumously made Minister of Works, Supreme Pillar of State, and Duke of Qi, with the posthumous name Xian ("Accomplished"). His youngest son Wuji inherited the line.
17
祿
His eldest son Xingbu was resourceful and had his father's manner. He began as a treasury attendant to Prince Han Yang Liang and was greatly favored. When Liang rebelled at Bing Prefecture, Xingbu held the city with Dou Lu Yu and others and resisted him; when the city fell he was killed. The second son Heng'an, through his brother's service, was appointed General of the Hawkish Valor. The historians comment: The Zhangsun clan, beloved since the northern frontier, came to establish ritual at Luoyang; their house bore noble emblems and bound itself to the realm. The eight kings of Han cannot equal their flourishing merit; the seven generations of the Zhang clan cannot match this renewed splendor. Lan alone excelled in eloquence, Chi was praised early for brilliance; both served in the Ritual Offices and both commanded armies—civil and martial glory undiminished. Sheng was heroic and resourceful, adapting to circumstance and mastering the frontier tribes. He overturned their nests until they knelt in submission; the frontier fell silent of bowstrings, and at the Wei Bridge the qaghan paid homage. His grace reached the northern border and his merit lit the imperial house—was it not right that he keep rank and reward!
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