1
杜彥杜彥，雲中人也。 父遷，屬葛榮之亂，徙家於幽。 彥性勇果，善騎射。 仕周，釋褐左侍上士，後從柱國陸通擊陳將吳明徹於土州，破之。 又擊叛蠻，克倉塠、白楊二柵，並斬其渠帥。 進平郢州賊帥樊志，以戰功拜大都督。 尋遷儀同，治隆山郡事。 明年，拜隴州刺史，賜爵永安縣伯。 高祖為丞相，從韋孝寬擊尉迥於相州，每戰有功，賜物三千段，奴婢三十口。 進位上開府，改封襄武縣侯，拜魏郡太守。 開皇初，授丹州刺史，進爵為公。 後六歲，征為左武衛將軍。 平陳之役，以行軍總管與新義公韓擒相繼而進。 軍至南陵，賊屯據江岸，彥遣儀同樊子蓋率精兵擊破其柵，獲船六百餘艘。 渡江，擊南陵城，拔之，擒其守將許翼。 進至新林，與擒合軍。 及陳平，賜物五千段，粟六千石，進位柱國，賜子寶安爵昌陽縣公。 高智慧等之作亂也，複以行軍總管從楊素討之，別解江州圍。 智慧餘黨往往屯聚，保投溪洞，彥水陸兼進，攻錦山、陽父、若、石壁四洞，悉平之，皆斬其渠帥。 賊李陀擁眾數千，據彭山，彥襲擊破之，斬陀，傳其首。 又擊徐州、宜豐二洞，悉平之。 賜奴婢百餘口。 拜洪州總管，甚有治名。
Du Yan was from Yunzhong. During Ge Rong's rebellion, his father Qian relocated the household to Youzhou. Yan was bold and decisive by nature and excelled at horseback archery. He entered Zhou service as Left Attendant Senior Clerk and later followed Pillar of State Lu Tong to attack the Chen general Wu Mingche at Tuzhou and rout him. He also campaigned against rebel tribes, took the stockades at Cangdui and Baiyang, and executed their leaders. He advanced to suppress the Yingzhou rebel Fan Zhi and, for his victories, was appointed Grand Commander. He was soon promoted to Palace Attendant of the First Rank and put in charge of Longshan commandery. The following year he became prefect of Longzhou and was created Baron of Yong'an. While Gaozu was still chief minister, he followed Wei Xiaokuan against Yuwen Yong at Xiangzhou, distinguishing himself in every engagement and receiving three thousand bolts of goods and thirty slaves. He was promoted to Senior Commander-in-Chief, enfeoffed as Marquis of Xiangwu, and appointed administrator of Wei commandery. Early in the Kaihuang era he was made prefect of Danzhou and raised to ducal rank. Six years later he was recalled to the capital as general of the Left Martial Guard. During the conquest of Chen he served as campaign commander, advancing in concert with Duke of Xinyi Han Qin. At Nanling the enemy held the riverbank; Yan sent Palace Attendant Fan Zigai with an elite force to break their stockade and capture more than six hundred vessels. He crossed the Yangzi, stormed Nanling, took the city, and captured its commander Xu Yi. He pushed on to Xinlin and joined forces with Han Qin. After Chen fell he received five thousand bolts of goods and six thousand piculs of grain, was promoted to Pillar of State, and his son Bao'an was created Duke of Changyang. When Gao Zhihui and others rebelled, he again served as campaign commander under Yang Su and on his own broke the siege of Jiangzhou. Zhihui's scattered followers held out in mountain ravines; Yan struck by land and water, reduced the strongholds at Jinshan, Yangfu, Ruo, and Shibi, and executed their leaders. The rebel Li Tuo gathered several thousand men on Pengshan; Yan surprised and routed him, killed Tuo, and forwarded his head. He also subdued the rebel bases at Xuzhou and Yifeng. He was rewarded with more than a hundred slaves. Appointed regional commander of Hongzhou, he earned a strong reputation for effective administration.
2
歲餘，雲州總管賀婁子幹卒，上悼惜者久之，因謂侍臣曰：「榆林國之重鎮，安得子幹之輩乎？」 後數日，上曰：「吾思可以鎮榆林者，莫過杜彥。」 於是征拜雲州總管。 突厥來寇，彥輒擒斬之，北夷畏憚，胡馬不敢至塞。 後數年，朝廷複追錄前功，賜子寶虔爵承縣公。 十八年，遼東之役，以行軍總管從漢王至營州。 上以彥曉習軍旅，令總統五十營事。 及還，拜朔州總管。 突厥複寇雲州，上令楊素擊走之，是後猶恐為邊患，以彥素為突厥所憚，複拜雲州總管。 未幾，以疾征還，卒，時年六十。 子寶虔，大業末，文城郡丞。 高勱高勱，字敬德，渤海蓚人也，齊太尉、清河王嶽之子也。 幼聰敏，美風儀，以仁孝聞，為齊顯祖所愛。 年七歲，襲爵清河王。 十四為青州刺史，曆右衛將軍、領軍大將軍、祠部尚書、開府儀同三司，改封樂安王。 性剛直，有才幹，甚為時人所重。 斛律明月雅敬之，每有征伐，則引之為副。 遷侍中、尚書右僕射。 及後主為周師所敗，勱奉太后歸鄴。 時宦官放縱，儀同苟子溢尤稱寵倖，勱將斬之以徇。 太后救之，乃釋。 劉文殊竊謂勱曰：「子溢之徒，言成禍福，何得如此！」 勱攘袂曰：「今者西寇日侵，朝貴多叛，正由此輩弄權，致使衣冠解體。 若得今日殺之，明日受誅，無所恨也。」 文殊甚愧。 既至鄴，勱勸後主：「五品已上家累，悉置三台之上，因脅之曰：'若戰不捷，則燒之。 '此輩惜妻子，必當死戰，可敗也。」 後主不從，遂棄鄴東遁。 勱恆後殿，為周軍所得。 武帝見之，與語，大悅，因問齊亡所由。 勱發言流涕，悲不自勝，帝亦為之改容。 授開府儀同三司。
A year later Yunzhou commander Helou Zigan died. The emperor grieved for him at length and told his courtiers, "Yulin is a strategic bulwark of the realm—where shall we find another man like Zigan?" A few days later he said, "When I think who should hold Yulin, no one surpasses Du Yan." He was then recalled and appointed regional commander of Yunzhou. Whenever Turks raided, Yan captured and executed them; the northern peoples stood in awe of him, and their horsemen no longer dared approach the border. Some years later the court posthumously recognized his earlier service and created his son Baoqian Duke of Cheng. In year eighteen of the Liaodong campaign he served as campaign commander under the Prince of Han and marched to Yingzhou. Knowing Yan's mastery of military affairs, the emperor put him in overall charge of fifty camps. On his return he was appointed regional commander of Shuozhou. When the Turks raided Yunzhou again, the emperor sent Yang Su to repel them; still anxious about the frontier, and knowing the Turks feared Yan, he reappointed him commander of Yunzhou. Soon afterward he was recalled because of illness and died at sixty. His son Baoqian served late in the Daye era as assistant administrator of Wencheng commandery. Gao Mai, courtesy name Jingde, was from Tiao in Bohai, the son of Qi Grand Marshal and Prince of Qinghe Gao Yue. Even as a boy he was quick-witted and handsome, famed for kindness and filial devotion, and a favorite of Qi Emperor Xianzu. At seven he inherited the title Prince of Qinghe. At fourteen he was made prefect of Qingzhou and later held posts as general of the Right Guard, commander of the Palace Guard, minister of sacrifices, and Grand Master with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon, eventually being enfeoffed as Prince of Le'an. Upright and capable by nature, he was widely esteemed in his day. Hulü Mingyue admired him greatly and always took him as second-in-command on campaign. He rose to Palace Attendant and Right Vice Director of the Secretariat. When the Later Ruler was routed by Zhou forces, Mai escorted the empress dowager back to Ye. Eunuchs were running wild at court; Palace Attendant Gou Ziyi was a particular favorite, and Mai was on the point of executing him as an example. The empress dowager intervened and Mai let him go. Liu Wenshu whispered to Mai, "Men like Ziyi can make or break you with a word—how can you go so far!" Mai flung up his sleeves and said, "The western foe advances daily and great families are defecting—because men like these abuse power and have torn the court apart. If I could kill him today and die tomorrow, I would not regret it." Wenshu was deeply ashamed. Once in Ye, Mai urged the Later Ruler: "Gather the families of every official of the fifth rank and above on the Three Platforms and tell them, 'If we do not win, we burn them. They love their wives and children and will fight to the death—we can defeat the enemy." The Later Ruler refused, abandoned Ye, and fled east. Mai always commanded the rearguard and was captured by Zhou forces. Emperor Wu of Zhou met him, spoke with him, and was delighted; he then asked why Qi had perished. Mai spoke through tears, overcome with grief, and the emperor's expression softened in sympathy. He was appointed Grand Master with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon.
3
高祖為丞相，謂勱曰：「齊所以亡者，由任邪佞。 公父子忠良，聞於鄰境，宜善自愛。」 勱再拜謝曰：「勱亡齊末屬，世荷恩榮，不能扶危定傾，以致淪覆。 既蒙獲宥，恩幸已多，況複濫叨名位，致速官謗。」 高祖甚器之，以勱檢校揚州事。 後拜楚州刺史，民安之。 先是，城北有伍子胥廟，其俗敬鬼。 祈禱者必以牛酒，至破產業。 勱歎曰：「子胥賢者，豈宜損百姓乎？」 乃告諭所部，自此遂止，百姓賴之。
While Gaozu was still chief minister, he told Mai, "Qi fell because it trusted wicked flatterers. Your house is known beyond the borders for loyalty—take good care of yourselves." Mai bowed deeply and said, "I am a remnant of fallen Qi; my family long enjoyed imperial favor, yet I could not save the state from collapse. I have already been shown more mercy than I deserve; to accept office on top of that would only invite reproach." Gaozu esteemed him greatly and placed him in provisional charge of Yangzhou. He was later appointed prefect of Chuzhou, where the people lived in peace under his rule. North of the city stood a temple to Wu Zixu, and the people were devoted to spirit worship. Worshippers had to sacrifice cattle and wine, often until their families were ruined. Mai sighed and said, "Zixu was a worthy man—would he want the people ruined?" He issued orders throughout his district, the practice stopped, and the people were grateful.
4
七年，轉光州刺史，上取陳五策，又上表曰：「臣聞夷凶翦暴，王者之懋功； 取亂侮亡，往賢之雅誥。 是以苗民逆命，爰興兩階之舞； 有扈不賓，終召六師之伐。 皆所以寧一宇內，匡濟群生者也。 自昔晉氏失馭，天網絕維，群凶於焉蝟起，三方因而鼎立。 陳氏乘其際運，拔起細微，茜頊縱其長蛇，竊據吳會； 叔寶肆其昏虐，毒被金陵。 數年已來，荒悖滋甚。 牝雞司旦，昵近奸回，尚方役徒，積骸千數，疆埸防守，長戍三年。 或微行暴露，沉湎王侯之宅； 或賓士駿騎，顛墜康衢之首。 有功不賞，無辜獲戮，烽燧日警，未以為虞，耽淫靡嫚，不知紀極。 天厭亂德，妖實人興，或空裡時有大聲，或行路共傳鬼怪，或刳人肝以祠天狗，或自捨身以厭妖訛。 民神怨憤，災異薦發，天時人事，昭然可知。 臣以庸才，猥蒙朝寄，頻曆籓任，與其鄰接，密邇仇讎，知其動靜，天討有罪，此即其時。 若戎車雷動，戈船電邁，臣難驚怯，請效鷹犬。」 高祖覽表嘉之，答以優詔。 及大舉伐陳，以勱為行軍總管，從宜陽公王世積下陳江州。 以功拜上開府，賜物三千段。
In the seventh year he became prefect of Guangzhou, submitted five plans against Chen, and memorialized: "I have heard that subduing barbarian violence is the supreme achievement of a true king; and that striking a tottering foe is the counsel of the ancient sages. When the Miao rebelled, the dance of the two courts was staged; when Youhu refused allegiance, the six hosts were finally sent against them. All to bring peace under heaven and deliver the people. Ever since the Jin lost control and order collapsed, rebels sprang up everywhere and three kingdoms stood in rivalry. The house of Chen seized its moment, rising from obscurity; Chen Qian extended his power like a great serpent and seized Wu and Kuaiji; Chen Shubao gave free rein to folly and cruelty, and his poison spread through Jinling. For years his excesses have grown worse. Women rule at court, villains are his intimates, imperial workshops pile up thousands of corpses, and frontier troops serve three-year tours. He wanders abroad in disguise, debauching himself in the houses of nobles; or gallops with rowdy companions until he falls in the public streets. The worthy go unrewarded and the innocent are killed; beacon fires blaze daily yet he feels no alarm; sunk in debauchery, he knows no bounds. Heaven rejects his misrule: omens multiply—strange cries in the sky, ghosts reported on every road, livers cut out to appease the celestial dog, men offering their own lives to ward off evil. People and spirits alike are enraged; disasters follow one after another—the judgment of heaven is plain for all to see. I am but a mediocre man who has undeservedly held posts on Chen's border and know their movements well; heaven's punishment of the guilty has come—now is the time. When the army marches and the fleet strikes, though I am no bold warrior, I beg to serve as your hunting dog." Gaozu read the memorial with approval and answered with a gracious edict. In the great campaign against Chen he served as campaign commander under Duke of Yiyang Wang Shiji and advanced on Jiangzhou. For his service he was made Senior Commander-in-Chief and given three thousand bolts of goods.
5
隴右諸羌數為寇亂，朝廷以勱有威名，拜洮州刺史。 下車大崇威惠，民夷悅附，其山谷間生羌相率詣府稱謁，前後至者，數千餘戶。 豪猾屏跡，路不拾遺，在職數年，稱為治理。 後遇吐谷渾來寇，勱遇疾不能拒戰，賊遂大掠而去。 憲司奏勱亡失戶口，又言受羌饋遺，竟坐免官。 後卒于家，時年五十六。 子士廉，最知名。 爾朱敞爾硃敞，字乾羅，秀容契胡人，爾硃榮之族子也。 父彥伯，官至司徒、博陵王。 齊神武帝韓陵之捷，盡誅爾硃氏，敞小，隨母養于宮中。 及年十二，自竇而走，至於大街，見童兒群戲者，敞解所著綺羅金翠之服，易衣而遁。 追騎尋至，初不識敞，便執綺衣兒。 比究問知非，會日已暮，由是得免。 遂入一村，見長孫氏媼踞胡床而坐。 敞再拜求哀，長孫氏湣之，藏於複壁。 三年，購之愈急，跡且至，長孫氏曰：「事急矣，不可久留。」 資而遣之。 遂詐為道士，變姓名，隱嵩山，略涉經史。 數年之間，人頗異之。 嘗獨坐岩石之下，泫然而歎曰：「吾豈終於此乎？ 伍子胥獨何人也！」 於是間行微服，西歸於周。 太祖見而禮之，拜大都督、行台郎中，封靈壽縣伯，邑千五百戶。 遷通直散騎常侍，轉車騎大將軍、儀同三司，進爵為侯。 保定中，遷使持節、驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司。 天和中，增邑五百戶，曆信、臨、熊、潼四州刺史，進爵為公。 武帝東征，上表求從，許之。 攻城陷陣，所當皆破，進位上開府。 除南光州刺史，入為護軍大將軍。 歲餘，轉膠州刺史。 於是迎長孫氏及弟置於家，厚資給之。 高祖受禪，改封邊城郡公。 黔安蠻叛，命敞討平之。 師旋，拜金州總管。 尋轉徐州總管。 在職數年，號為明肅，民吏懼之。 後以年老，上表乞骸骨，賜二馬軺車，歸於河內，卒于家，時年七十二。 子最嗣。 周搖周搖，字世安，其先與後魏同源，初為普乃氏，及居洛陽，改為周氏。 曾祖拔拔，祖右六肱，俱為北平王。 父恕延，曆行台僕射、南荊州總管。 搖少剛果，有武藝，性謹厚，動遵法度。 仕魏，官至開府儀同三司。 周閔帝受禪，賜姓車非氏，封金水郡公。 曆夙、楚二州刺史，吏民安之。 從帝平齊，每戰有功，超授柱國，進封夔國公。 未幾，拜晉州總管。 時高祖為定州總管，文獻皇后自京師詣高祖，路經搖所，主禮甚薄。 既而白後曰：「公廨甚富於財，限法不敢輒費。 又王臣無得效私。」 其質直如此。 高祖以其奉法，每嘉之。 及為丞相，徙封濟北郡公，尋拜豫州總管。 高祖受禪，複姓周氏。 開皇初，突厥寇邊，燕、薊多被其患，前總管李崇為虜所殺，上思所以鎮之，臨朝曰：「無以加周搖者。」 拜為幽州總管六州五十鎮諸軍事。 搖修鄣塞，謹斥候，邊民以安。 後六載，徙為壽州。 初，自以年老，乞骸骨，上召之。 既引見，上勞之曰：「公積行累仁，曆仕三代，克終富貴，保茲遐壽，良足善也。」 賜坐褥，歸於第。 歲餘，終於家，諡曰恭，時年八十四。 獨孤楷獨孤楷，字修則，不知何許人也，本姓李氏。 父屯，從齊神武帝與周師戰于沙苑，齊師敗績，因為柱國獨孤信所擒，配為士伍，給使信家，漸得親近，因賜姓獨孤氏。 楷少謹厚，便弄馬槊，為宇文護執刀，累轉車騎將軍。 其後數從征伐，賜爵廣阿縣公，邑千戶，拜右侍下大夫。 週末，從韋孝寬平淮南，以功賜子景雲爵西河縣公。 高祖為丞相，進授開府，每督親信兵。 及受禪，拜右監門將軍，進封汝陽郡公。 數歲，遷右衛將軍。 仁壽初，出為原州總管。 時蜀王秀鎮益州，上征之，猶豫未發。 朝廷恐秀生變，拜楷益州總管，馳傳代之。 秀果有異志，楷諷諭久之，乃就路。 楷察秀有悔色，因勒兵為備。 秀至興樂，去益州四十餘裡，將反襲楷，密令左右覘所為，知楷不可犯而止。 楷在益州，甚有惠政，蜀中父老於今稱之。 煬帝即位，轉并州總管。 遇疾喪明，上表乞骸骨。 帝曰：「公先朝舊臣，曆職二代，高風素望，臥以鎮之，無勞躬親簿領也。」 遣其長子淩雲監省郡事。 其見重如此。 數載，轉長平太守，未視事而卒。 諡曰恭。 子淩雲、平雲，彥雲，皆知名。 楷弟盛，見《誠節傳》。 乞伏慧乞伏慧，字令和，馬邑鮮卑人也。 祖周，魏銀青光祿大夫，父纂，金紫光祿大夫，並為第一領民酋長。 慧少慷慨有大節，便弓馬，好鷹犬。 齊文襄帝時，為行台左丞，加蕩寇將軍，累遷右衛將軍、太僕卿，自永甯縣公封宜民郡王。 其兄貴和又以軍功為王，一門二王，稱為貴顯。 周武平齊，授使持節、開府儀同大將軍，拜佽飛右旅下大夫，轉熊渠中大夫。 高祖為丞相，從韋孝寬擊尉惇于武陟，所當皆破，授大將軍，賜物八百段。 及平尉迥，進位柱國，賜爵西河郡公，邑三千戶，賚物二千三百段。 請以官爵讓兄，朝廷不許，論者義之。 高祖受禪，拜曹州刺史。 曹土舊俗，民多奸隱，戶口名簿帳，恆不以實。 慧下車按察，得戶數萬。 遷涼州總管。 先是，突厥屢為寇抄，慧於是嚴警烽燧，遠為斥候，虜亦素憚其名，竟不入境。 歲餘，轉齊州刺史，得隱戶數千。 遷壽州總管。 其年，左轉杞州刺史，在職數年，遷徐州總管。 時年逾七十，上表求致仕，不許。 俄轉荊州總管，又領潭、桂二州總管三十一州諸軍事。 其俗輕剽，慧躬行樸素以矯之，風化大洽。 曾見人以穀捕魚者，出絹買而放之，其仁心如此。 百姓美之，號其處曰西河公穀。 轉秦州總管。 煬帝即位，為天水太守。 大業五年，征吐谷渾，郡濱西境，民苦勞役，又遇帝西巡，坐為道不整，獻食疏薄，帝大怒，命左右斬之。 見其無發，乃釋，除名為民。 卒於家。 張威張威，不知何許人也。 父琛，魏弘農太守。 威少倜儻有大志，善騎射，膂力過人。 在周，數從征伐，位至柱國、京兆尹，封長壽縣公，邑千戶。 王謙作亂，高祖以威為行軍總管，從元帥梁睿擊之。 軍次通穀，謙守將李三王擁勁兵拒守，睿以威為先鋒。 三王初閉壘不戰，威令人詈侮以激怒之，三王果出陣。 威令壯士奮擊，三王軍潰，大兵繼至，於是擒斬四千餘人。 進至開遠，謙將趙儼眾十萬，連營三十裡。 威鑿山通道，自西嶺攻其背，儼遂敗走。 追至成都，與謙大戰，威將中軍。 及謙平，進位上柱國，拜瀘州總管。 高祖受禪，曆幽、洛二州總管，改封晉熙郡公。 尋拜河北道行台僕射，後督晉王軍府事。 數年，拜青州總管，賜錢八十萬，米五百石，雜彩三百段。 威在青州，頗治產業，遣家奴于民間鬻蘆菔根，其奴緣此侵擾百姓。 上深加譴責，坐廢於家。 後從上祠太山，至洛陽，上謂威曰：「自朕之有天下，每委公以重鎮，可謂推赤心矣。 何乃不修名行，唯利是視？ 豈直孤負朕心，亦且累卿名德。」 因問威曰：「公所執笏今安在？」 威頓首曰：「臣負罪虧憲，無顏複執，謹藏於家。」 上曰：「可持來。」 威明日奉笏以見，上曰：「公雖不遵法度，功效實多，朕不忘之。 今還公笏。」 於是複拜洛州刺史，後封睆城郡公。 尋轉相州刺史，卒官。 有子植，大業中，至武賁郎將。 和洪和洪，汝南人也。 少有武力，勇烈過人。 周武帝時，數從征伐，以戰功累遷車騎大將軍、儀同三司。 時龍州蠻任公忻、李國立等聚眾為亂，刺史獨孤善不能禦。 朝議以洪有武略，代善為刺史。 月餘，擒公忻、國立，皆斬首梟之，餘党悉平。 從帝攻河陰，洪力戰，陷其西門。 帝壯之，賞物千段。 複從帝平齊，進位上儀同，賜爵北平侯，邑八百戶，拜左勳曹下大夫。 柱國王軌之擒吳明徹也，洪有功焉，加位開府，遷折衝中大夫。 尉迥作亂相州，以洪為行軍總管，從韋孝寬擊之。 軍至河陽，迥遣兵圍懷州，洪與總管宇文述等擊走。 又破尉惇于武陟。 及平相州，每戰有功，拜柱國，封廣武郡公，邑二千戶。 前後賜物萬段，奴婢五十口，金銀各百挺，牛馬百匹。 時東夏初平，物情尚梗，高祖以洪有威名，令領冀州事，甚得人和。 數歲，征入朝，為漕渠總管監，轉拜泗州刺史。 屬突厥寇邊，詔洪為北道行軍總管，擊走虜，至磧而還。 後遷徐州總管，卒，時年六十四。 侯莫陳穎侯莫陳穎，字遵道，代人也。 與魏南遷，世為列將。 父崇，魏、周之際，曆職顯要，官至大司空。 穎少有器量，風神警發，為時輩所推。 魏大統末，以父軍功賜爵廣平侯，累遷開府儀同三司。 周武帝時，從滕王逌擊龍泉、文城叛胡，與柱國豆盧勣各帥兵分路而進。 穎懸軍五百餘裡，破其三柵。 先是，稽胡叛亂，輒略邊人為奴婢。 至是詔胡敢有壓匿良人者誅，籍沒其妻子。 有人言為胡村所隱匿者，勣將誅之，穎謂勣曰：「將在外，君命有所不行。 諸胡固非悉反，但相迫脅為亂耳。 大兵臨之，首亂者知懼，脅從者思降。 今漸加撫慰，自可不戰而定。 如即誅之，轉相驚恐，為難不細。 未若召其渠帥，以隱匿者付之，令自歸首，則群胡可安。」 勣從之。 群胡感悅，爭來降附，北土以安。 遷司武，加振威中大夫。 高祖為丞相，拜昌州刺史。 會受禪，竟不行，加上開府，進爵升平郡公。 俄拜延州刺史。 數年，轉陳州刺史。 平陳之役，以行軍總管從秦王俊出魯山道。 屬陳將荀法尚、陳紀降，穎與行軍總管段文振度江安集初附。 尋拜饒州刺史，未之官，遷瀛州刺史，甚有惠政。 在職數年，坐與秦王俊交通免官。 百姓將送者，莫不流涕，因相與立碑，頌穎清德。 未幾，檢校汾州事，俄拜邢州刺史。 仁壽中，吏部尚書牛弘持節巡撫山東，以穎為第一。 高祖嘉歎，優詔褒揚。 時朝廷以嶺南刺史、縣令多貪鄙，蠻夷怨叛，妙簡清吏以鎮撫之，於是征穎入朝。 及進見，上與穎言及平生，以為歡笑。 數日，進位大將軍，拜桂州總管十七州諸軍事，賜物而遣之。 及到官，大崇恩信，民夷悅服，溪洞生越，多來歸附。 煬帝即位，穎兄梁國公芮坐事徙邊，朝廷恐穎不自安，征歸京師。 數年，拜恆山太守。 其年，嶺南、閩越多不附，帝以穎前在桂州有惠政，為南土所信伏，複拜南海太守。 後四歲，卒官。 諡曰定。 子虔會，最知名。 【論】史臣曰：杜彥東夏、南服，屢有戰功，作鎮朔垂，胡塵不起。 高勱死亡之際，志氣懍然，疾彼奸邪，致茲餘慶。 爾硃敞幼有權奇，終能止足，崇基墜而複構，不亦仁且智乎！ 周搖以質實見知，獨孤以恤人流譽，乞伏慧能以國讓，侯莫陳所居治理，或知牧人之道，或踐仁義之路，皆有可稱焉。 慧以供帳不厚，至於放黜，並結髮登朝，出入三代，終享祿位，不夭性齡，蓋其任心而行，不為矯飾之所致也。
The Qiang of Longyou raided repeatedly, and the court appointed Mai prefect of Taozhou for his renown. On taking office he combined firmness with kindness; Chinese and tribesmen alike submitted gladly, and Qiang from the valleys came in groups to pay homage—several thousand households in all. Lawless elements disappeared, lost goods went untouched on the roads, and after several years he was praised as an excellent administrator. Later, when Tuyuhun invaded, Mai was ill and unable to fight; the enemy looted extensively and withdrew. The inspectorate charged him with losing registered population and accepting Qiang bribes, and he was dismissed from office. He later died at home at the age of fifty-six. His son Shilian became the most famous of his descendants. Erzhu Chang, courtesy name Qianluo, was a Qihu tribesman of Xiurong and a kinsman of Erzhu Rong. His father Yanbo rose to Grand Minister of State and Prince of Boling. After Qi Emperor Shenwu's victory at Hanling the Erzhu clan was wiped out; Chang was still a child and was raised in the palace with his mother. At twelve he slipped out through a hole in the wall onto the main street, saw children at play, stripped off his brocade and jeweled finery, traded clothes with one of them, and fled. Pursuers soon caught up; they did not recognize Chang at first and seized the child in brocade instead. Once questioning showed their mistake, night had fallen, and Chang got away. He came to a village where an old woman of the Zhangsun clan sat on a camp stool. Chang bowed and pleaded for mercy; she pitied him and hid him in a secret compartment of the wall. After three years the manhunt intensified and pursuers were closing in; the Zhangsun woman said, "This has become urgent—you cannot stay here any longer." She gave him supplies and sent him on his way. He disguised himself as a Daoist priest, took a new name, and lived in seclusion on Mount Song, where he read a little in the classics and histories. Within a few years people began to regard him as remarkable. Once, sitting alone beneath a cliff, he wept and sighed, "Am I to end my days like this? What was Wu Zixu, that he alone could rise so high!" He then made his way west in disguise and returned to Zhou. Grand Ancestor Yuwen Tai received him with honor, made him Grand Commander and Bureau Director of the Field Office, and created him Baron of Lingshou with a fief of fifteen hundred households. He was promoted to Regular Attendant of the Unimpeded Cavalry, then made General of Chariots and Cavalry and Palace Attendant of the Third Rank, and raised to marquis. During the Baoding era he was made Bearer of the Staff, General of Agile Cavalry, and Grand Master with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon. During Tianhe his fief grew by five hundred households; he served as prefect of Xin, Lin, Xiong, and Tong in turn, and was raised to duke. When Emperor Wu marched east, Chang asked leave to accompany him and was permitted. In assaults on cities and charges through enemy lines he was invariably victorious and was promoted to Senior Commander-in-Chief. He was made prefect of southern Guangzhou and later recalled to the capital as General of the Guard Army. A year later he was transferred to Jiaozhou as prefect. He then brought the Zhangsun woman and his younger brother into his home and supported them generously. When Gaozu took the throne, Chang was re-enfeoffed as Duke of Biancheng. When the Qian'an tribes rebelled, Chang was ordered to put them down. On his return he was appointed regional commander of Jinzhou. He was soon transferred to regional commander of Xuzhou. After several years in office he was known for stern clarity, and both officials and commoners stood in awe of him. In old age he asked to retire; the court gave him a two-horse carriage, and he returned to Henei, where he died at seventy-two. His son Zui succeeded to his titles. Zhou Yao, courtesy name Shi'an, shared origins with the Northern Wei; his clan was originally Punai, but after settling in Luoyang they took the surname Zhou. His great-grandfather Baba and grandfather Youliugong were both enfeoffed as Princes of Beiping. His father Shuyan had served as Vice Director of the Field Office and regional commander of southern Jingzhou. As a youth Yao was resolute and skilled in arms, cautious and honest by nature, and scrupulous in observing the law. He served the Wei and rose to Grand Master with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon. When Zhou Emperor Min took the throne, Yao was granted the surname Chefei and created Duke of Jinshui. He served as prefect of Su and Chu in turn, and both officials and people lived in peace under his rule. He followed the emperor in the conquest of Qi, distinguished himself in every battle, was made Pillar of State, and was enfeoffed as Duke of Kui. Soon afterward he was appointed regional commander of Jinzhou. Gaozu was then regional commander of Dingzhou; when Empress Wenxian traveled from the capital to visit him and passed through Yao's territory, Yao entertained her very sparingly. He then told the empress, "My offices are well supplied with funds, but the law forbids me to spend them freely. Besides, a prince's minister must not indulge private favor." Such was his plain integrity. Gaozu admired him for his strict adherence to the law. When Gaozu became chief minister, Yao was re-enfeoffed as Duke of Jibei and soon appointed regional commander of Yuzhou. When Gaozu took the throne, Yao resumed the surname Zhou. Early in Kaihuang the Turks raided the frontier; Yan and Ji suffered greatly, and the former commander Li Chong was killed. The emperor sought someone to secure the region and declared at court, "No one surpasses Zhou Yao for this." He was appointed regional commander of Youzhou with authority over six prefectures and fifty garrisons. Yao repaired the border fortifications and kept watch posts alert, and the frontier people lived in peace. Six years later he was transferred to Shouzhou. Having grown old, he had asked to retire; the emperor summoned him to court. When he was received in audience, the emperor said to him, "You have lived a life of accumulated virtue, served three dynasties, kept your wealth and rank to the end, and enjoyed a long life—this is admirable indeed." He was given a seat cushion and sent home to his estate. A year later he died at home and was given the posthumous title Gong; he was eighty-four. Dugu Kai, courtesy name Xiuzi, was of unknown origin and bore the surname Li by birth. His father Tun fought for Qi Emperor Shenwu against Zhou forces at Shayuan; after Qi's defeat he was captured by Pillar of State Dugu Xin, assigned as a household servant, won Xin's trust over time, and was granted the surname Dugu. Kai was cautious and honest as a youth, skilled with horse and lance, served as Yuwen Hu's bodyguard, and rose to General of Chariots and Cavalry. He took part in several campaigns, was created Duke of Guang'a with a fief of a thousand households, and appointed Right Attendant Grandee. Late in the Zhou he followed Wei Xiaokuan in pacifying Huainan, and his son Jingyun was created Duke of Xihe for his father's service. While Gaozu was chief minister, Kai was made Commander-in-Chief and regularly led the trusted guard. When Gaozu took the throne, Kai was made General of the Right Gate Guards and enfeoffed as Duke of Ruyang. Several years later he was transferred to General of the Right Guard. Early in the Renshou era he was posted as regional commander of Yuanzhou. Prince of Shu Xiu was then stationed in Yizhou; the emperor had ordered him to court but hesitated to act. Fearing Xiu might rebel, the court appointed Kai regional commander of Yizhou and sent him post-haste to replace him. Xiu did harbor rebellious intent; Kai admonished him at length before he finally set out for the capital. Seeing regret on Xiu's face, Kai kept his troops under arms as a precaution. At Xingle, still more than forty li from Yizhou, Xiu was about to turn and attack Kai; he sent men to spy on him, found Kai too formidable to challenge, and gave up the plan. Kai governed Yizhou with great kindness, and the elders of Shu still speak of him with praise. When Emperor Yang took the throne, Kai was transferred to regional commander of Bingzhou. He fell ill and lost his sight, then memorialized asking to retire. The emperor said, "You are a veteran of two reigns, renowned for your integrity; your presence alone will secure the region—you need not trouble yourself with daily paperwork." He sent Kai's eldest son Lingyun to supervise the commandery in his stead. Such was the esteem in which he was held. Several years later he was appointed administrator of Changping but died before assuming office. He was given the posthumous title Gong. His sons Lingyun, Pingyun, and Yanyun all achieved renown. Kai's younger brother Sheng is treated in the Biography of Loyal Martyrs. Qi Fuhui, courtesy name Linghe, was a Xianbei from Mayi. His grandfather Zhou was a Silver Radiance Grand Master of Wei; his father Zuan was a Golden Radiance Grand Master; both were first-rank tribal chieftains. As a youth Hui was openhanded and high-minded, skilled in archery and horsemanship, and devoted to falconry and hunting. Under Qi Emperor Wenxiang he served as Left Assistant Director of the Field Office and General Who Sweeps Away Bandits, rose to General of the Right Guard and Minister of the Stud, and was enfeoffed as Prince of Yimin after holding the title Duke of Yongning. His elder brother Guihe also became a prince through military merit; with two princes in one family they were accounted supremely eminent. When Zhou Emperor Wu conquered Qi, Hui was made Bearer of the Staff and Grand Master Commander-in-Chief, appointed Junior Grandee of the Right Wing of the Rapid-as-Flying Guard, and later transferred to Grandee of the Xiongqu Regiment. While Gaozu was chief minister, he followed Wei Xiaokuan against Yuwen Dun at Wuzhi, was victorious in every engagement, was made Grand General, and received eight hundred bolts of goods. After Yuwen Yong's rebellion was crushed, he was made Pillar of State, created Duke of Xihe with a fief of three thousand households, and given two thousand three hundred bolts of goods. He asked to yield his rank and title to his elder brother; the court refused, but commentators praised his filial devotion. When Gaozu took the throne, Hui was appointed prefect of Caozhou. Cao had long been a place where people concealed households and falsified registers. On taking office Hui conducted an investigation and registered tens of thousands of hidden households. He was transferred to regional commander of Liangzhou. The Turks had raided repeatedly; Hui tightened the beacon system and posted distant scouts, and because they had long feared his name, they never crossed the border. A year later he was transferred to Qizhou as prefect and uncovered several thousand hidden households. He was transferred to regional commander of Shouzhou. That year he was demoted to prefect of Qi prefecture; after several years he was transferred to regional commander of Xuzhou. By then he was over seventy and asked to retire, but the court refused. He was soon transferred to Jingzhou and given military authority over thirty-one prefectures as commander of Tan and Gui. The region was lawless and volatile; Hui set an example of plain living and reformed the customs thoroughly. Once he saw a man using grain as bait to catch fish; he paid silk to buy the catch and set the fish free—such was his kindness. The people praised him and named the place Duke of Xihe's Grain. He was transferred to regional commander of Qinzhou. When Emperor Yang took the throne, Hui became administrator of Tianshui. In the fifth year of Daye, during the campaign against Tuyuhun, his commandery lay on the western frontier where the people were exhausted by labor levies; when the emperor passed westward, Hui was blamed because the road was not ready and the provisions were poor; the emperor was enraged and ordered him executed. Seeing that he was bald, the emperor spared him but stripped him of rank and made him a commoner. He died at home. Zhang Wei was of unknown origin. His father Chen had been administrator of Hongnong under the Wei. As a youth Wei was bold and ambitious, excelled at horseback archery, and possessed extraordinary strength. Under the Zhou he campaigned repeatedly, rose to Pillar of State and Metropolitan Governor of Jingzhao, and was created Duke of Changshou with a fief of a thousand households. When Wang Qian rebelled, Gaozu appointed Wei campaign commander under Marshal Liang Rui to suppress him. The army halted at Tonggu, where Qian's defender Li Sanwang held the pass with elite troops; Rui made Wei his vanguard. Sanwang at first refused battle behind his walls; Wei had men taunt and insult him until Sanwang came out to fight. Wei sent his best fighters forward; Sanwang's army broke, the main force followed, and more than four thousand were killed or captured. Advancing to Kaiyuan, they faced Qian's general Zhao Yan with a hundred thousand men in camps stretching thirty li. Wei cut a path through the mountains, struck from the western ridge against their rear, and Yan was routed. They pursued to Chengdu and fought a great battle with Qian; Wei commanded the center. After Qian's defeat Wei was promoted to Senior Pillar of State and appointed regional commander of Luzhou. When Gaozu took the throne, Wei served as regional commander of You and Luozhou in turn and was re-enfeoffed as Duke of Jinxi. He was soon made Vice Director of the Hebei Circuit Field Office and later supervised Prince Jin's military headquarters. Several years later he was appointed regional commander of Qingzhou and given eight hundred thousand cash, five hundred piculs of grain, and three hundred bolts of silks. In Qingzhou Wei built up his estates and sent household slaves to sell radish roots among the people; the slaves used this as a pretext to harass the populace. The emperor rebuked him severely and dismissed him to his home. Later, accompanying the emperor to sacrifice at Mount Tai and reaching Luoyang, the emperor said to Wei, "Since I gained the realm I have repeatedly entrusted you with vital posts—I have given you my full trust. Why then have you neglected your reputation and looked only to profit? You have not only failed me but also stained your own good name." He then asked, "Where is the court tablet you once carried?" Wei bowed low and said, "I have offended and broken the law; I am ashamed to hold it again and have kept it at home." The emperor said, "Bring it tomorrow." The next day Wei brought the tablet to court; the emperor said, "Though you broke the law, your service has been great, and I have not forgotten it. I return your tablet to you now." He was then reappointed prefect of Luozhou and later enfeoffed as Duke of Wancheng. He was soon transferred to Xiangzhou as prefect and died in office. His son Zhi rose during the Daye era to Commandant of the Martial Guards. He Hong was from Runan. As a youth he was physically powerful, and his courage exceeded that of ordinary men. Under Zhou Emperor Wu he campaigned repeatedly and, for his victories, rose to General of Chariots and Cavalry and Palace Attendant of the Third Rank. At that time the Longzhou tribesmen Ren Gongxin and Li Guoli gathered forces in rebellion, and Prefect Dugu Shan could not suppress them. The court decided that Hong had military talent and replaced Shan as prefect. Within a month he captured Gongxin and Guoli, executed them and displayed their heads, and pacified the remaining rebels. He followed the emperor in the attack on Heyin, fought fiercely, and took the western gate. The emperor was impressed and rewarded him with a thousand bolts of goods. He again followed the emperor in the conquest of Qi, was promoted to Senior Palace Attendant of the First Rank, created Marquis of Beiping with eight hundred households, and appointed Junior Grandee of the Left Merit Bureau. When Pillar of State Wang Gui captured Wu Mingche, Hong distinguished himself and was made Commander-in-Chief and transferred to Grandee of the Break-the-Ranks Regiment. When Yuwen Yong rebelled at Xiangzhou, Hong was appointed campaign commander under Wei Xiaokuan. At Heyang, Yong sent troops to besiege Huaizhou; Hong and Regional Commander Yuwen Shu drove them off. He also defeated Yuwen Dun at Wuzhi. When Xiangzhou fell he distinguished himself in every battle, was made Pillar of State, and was created Duke of Guangwu with a fief of two thousand households. In all he received ten thousand bolts of goods, fifty slaves, a hundred ingots each of gold and silver, and a hundred head of cattle and horses. Eastern China had only just been pacified and the region was still unsettled; Gaozu put Hong in charge of Jizhou for his renown, and he won the people's trust. Several years later he was recalled to court, supervised the Grand Canal administration, and was transferred to Sizhou as prefect. When the Turks raided the frontier, Hong was made northern campaign commander, drove them off, and returned after reaching the desert. He was later transferred to regional commander of Xuzhou and died at sixty-four. Houmo Chenying, courtesy name Zundao, was from Dai. His family moved south with the Wei and for generations served as field commanders. His father Chong held high office during the transition from Wei to Zhou and rose to Grand Minister of Works. As a youth Ying was broad-minded and keen of bearing, and his contemporaries held him in high regard. Late in the Wei Great Dominion era he was created Marquis of Guangping for his father's service and rose to Grand Master with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon. Under Zhou Emperor Wu he followed Prince of Teng Yu against the rebel Hu of Longquan and Wencheng, advancing by separate routes with Pillar of State Doulu Ji. Ying marched more than five hundred li into enemy territory and captured three stockades. Earlier, whenever the Ji Hu rebelled, they seized frontier people as slaves. An edict now declared that any Hu who concealed commoners would be executed and his family confiscated. When someone reported that commoners were hidden in a Hu village, Ji was about to execute the villagers; Ying told him, "A general in the field is not bound to obey every command from court. Not all the Hu have rebelled; most were forced into it. When our armies advance, the ringleaders will fear for their lives and the followers will wish to surrender. If we reassure them gradually, we can settle this without a battle. If we execute them now, we will only spread panic and make the trouble far worse. Better to summon their chieftains, hand the concealed persons over to them, and let them surrender voluntarily—the Hu will then be pacified." Ji followed his advice. The Hu were grateful and submitted in great numbers, and the north was pacified. He was transferred to Director of Martial Affairs and made Grandee of the Shake-the-Foe Regiment. While Gaozu was chief minister, Ying was appointed prefect of Changzhou. When Gaozu took the throne he never assumed that post; instead he was made Senior Commander-in-Chief and created Duke of Shengping. He was soon appointed prefect of Yanzhou. Several years later he was transferred to Chenzhou as prefect. In the conquest of Chen he served as campaign commander under Prince of Qin Yang Jun, advancing by the Lushan route. When the Chen generals Xun Fashang and Chen Ji surrendered, Ying and Campaign Commander Duan Wenzhen crossed the Yangzi to settle the newly submitted territories. He was soon appointed to Raozhou but never took office; transferred to Yingzhou, he governed with notable kindness. After several years in office he was dismissed for associating with Prince of Qin Yang Jun. The people who came to see him off wept openly, and together they erected a stele praising his integrity. Soon he was put in provisional charge of Fenzhou and shortly afterward appointed prefect of Xingzhou. During Renshou, Minister of Personnel Niu Hong toured Shandong with imperial authority and ranked Ying first among the officials. Gaozu expressed his admiration and issued a gracious edict of praise. The court believed that Lingnan officials were mostly corrupt and that the tribes were rebelling; it sought upright administrators to pacify the region and summoned Ying to court. At his audience the emperor spoke with him of old times and they shared a warm laugh. A few days later he was promoted to Grand General, appointed regional commander of Guizhou with authority over seventeen prefectures, given gifts, and sent south. On taking office he won people with kindness and trust; Chinese and tribesmen alike submitted gladly, and many Yue from the hill country came to pledge allegiance. When Emperor Yang took the throne, Ying's elder brother Duke of Liang Rui was banished for an offense; fearing Ying might be unsettled, the court recalled him to the capital. Several years later he was appointed administrator of Hengshan. That year Lingnan and Min-Yue were largely in revolt; because Ying's earlier rule in Guizhou had won the south's trust, the emperor reappointed him administrator of Nanhai. Four years later he died in office. He was given the posthumous title Ding. His son Qianhui became the most famous of his descendants. [Commentary] The historian writes: Du Yan won repeated victories in the east and south; on the northern frontier he kept the barbarians at bay. Gao Mai faced Qi's fall with unbroken spirit, condemned its wicked ministers, and left his house a legacy of honor. Erzhu Chang showed early resourcefulness and knew when to stop; his house fell and rose again—was this not wisdom joined to humanity! Zhou Yao was valued for integrity, Dugu Kai for compassion, Qi Fuhui for yielding honors to his brother, and Houmo Chenying for good governance—some knew how to rule the people, others walked the path of benevolence; each had qualities worth praise. Hui was dismissed because his official hospitality was too plain; yet they all entered service young, served three dynasties, and died in honor at full span—because they acted from the heart and never put on airs.