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卷56 列傳第21 盧愷 令狐熙 薛冑 宇文㢸 張衡 楊汪

Volume 56 Biographies 21: Lu Kai, Ling Huxi, Xue Zhou, Yu Wenbi, Zhang Heng, Yang Wang

Chapter 56 of 隋書 · Book of Sui
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1
Book of Sui, Volume 56, Biography 21
2
Lu Kai
3
涿 使 使 便
Lu Kai, courtesy name Changren, came from Fanyang in Zhuo Commandery. His father Rou had ended his career as director of the secretariat under Wei. Kai was by nature filial and devoted to his brothers, quick-witted and sharp of mind. He had some familiarity with letters and records and was fairly skilled at literary composition. Prince Xian of Qi brought him in as master of records. He later inherited the title Baron of Rongcheng, with a fief of eleven hundred households. When he followed Xian in the campaign against Qi, Kai talked the garrison at Baidu into surrendering. He was promoted to senior clerk in the ministry of personnel and received seven hundred additional households in his fief. A dye-work artisan named Wang Shenhuan had once bought his way forward; Grand Minister Yuwen Hu raised him to senior clerk in the accounting bureau. Kai remonstrated: "In antiquity a man who climbed high and composed verse could qualify as a grandee. In seeking talent and assigning office, the principle demands careful deliberation. Now Shenhuan rose from the dye pits without any distinction otherwise. He gained access solely through family wealth and now ranks beside the silk-gowned elite. I fear the sting of the proverb about a lone pelican among fine birds will be heard beyond our borders. Hu ultimately dropped the matter. During the Jiande reign, he received two hundred more households in his fief. A year or so later he was transferred to senior clerk in the imperial secretariat. While Emperor Wu was at Yunyang Palace, he ordered the garrisons to pick out old oxen, planning to use them to feed his soldiers. Kai stepped forward to remonstrate: "Long ago Tian Zifang ransomed an old horse—a deed gentlemen still praise. Yet the order just issued would slaughter old oxen to feed the troops. That falls short of humane rule. The emperor applauded his advice and halted the plan. He was made senior clerk in the ministry of rites and served as deputy on the embassy to Chen. Before this, envoys had often followed Chen court etiquette. When Kai led the mission, he adhered entirely to Sui protocol, and the Chen side could not make him yield. In the autumn of the fourth year, Li Mu took the garrisons at Zhiguan and Baiya. Kai was ordered to write the victory proclamation. The emperor read it with delight and said, "Lu Kai's writing has improved greatly. It is no wonder—Xun Jingqian was ever the son of a worthy father. Soon after he was made registrar to the governor-general of Xiangzhou, then promoted to administering director. In the first year of Daxiang he was summoned and appointed senior clerk of personnel in the eastern capital. Early in the Kaihuang era he received the additional title of pillar of state, third rank, was appointed vice minister of personnel, was raised to marquis, and continued to act as left vice director of the secretariat. Whenever he submitted memorials, he spoke plainly with a steady countenance. Neither favor nor wrath from the throne could shake his usual bearing. The emperor praised Kai's administrative talent, gave him two hundred thousand coins and three hundred bolts of mixed silks, and added the title attendant cavalier at large. In the eighth year the emperor personally evaluated the bureaucracy and ranked Kai highest. Kai firmly declined, not daring to accept. Emperor Gaozu said, "Your diligence and competence in personnel matters are well known to me already. Today you receive the top grade with unanimous agreement. When the honor is rightly yours, why refuse it out of false modesty! It is all clear in my mind—spare yourself the show of deference. A year or so later he was appointed minister of rites and also took charge of personnel affairs. At this time He Tuo, a doctor of the imperial university, bore a grudge against Vice Director Su Wei and reported secret misconduct on Wei's part. Kai was implicated in the case and the emperor turned him over to the judicial authorities. The prosecutors reported: "Fang Gongyi was a partisan of Yuwen Jiong and should never have been promoted. Wei and Kai repeatedly shielded and promoted him until he rose to governor of Haizhou. Moreover, many candidates passed preliminary selection in personnel, but Kai would not appoint them immediately—he marked them in red and dismissed them. Wei's paternal cousins Che and Su were both summoned to personnel as village magistrates. Che's paperwork arrived late yet he was appointed ahead of others. Su had a crippled left foot and no discernible talent, yet Kai made him a gentleman for court appearance out of regard for Wei. The evidence of Kai's clique-building was plain. The emperor raged: "Kai dares to treat the court's offices as his personal patronage! Kai bared his head and prostrated himself: "The crown prince was about to appoint transmission officer Su Kui as palace attendant. Kui is Su Wei's son. I judged him unworthy of promotion and firmly petitioned to stop it. If I had private dealings with Wei, would I have done such a thing! The emperor said, "Everyone at court knows Su Wei's son. You held fast anyway—clearly seeking personal advantage. But for those you did not even know, you practiced favoritism. That is the conduct of a treacherous minister. He was stripped of rank and reduced to commoner status. Not long afterward he died at home. Since Zhou times official selection had made no distinction between worthy and unworthy. When Kai took charge of personnel, he worked with Xue Daoheng and Lu Yanshi to sort the gentry by merit, and thus provoked the slander of She Danggu—which brought him to this end. His son Yigong inherited his title.
4
Linghu Xi
5
西 簿 便 使
Linghu Xi, courtesy name Changxi, came from Dunhuang. His family had for generations been leading magnates of the western prefectures. His father Zheng served under Zhou, rising to grand general and governor of Shi and Feng prefectures. Xi was stern and dignified, with a refined breadth of mind. Even in his own home he maintained a grave bearing from morning to night. He did not casually receive guests; every associate he made was a noted figure of the day. He read widely among the classics and was especially learned in 《Three Rites》. He was skilled at mounted archery and had a fair knowledge of musical theory. He entered service as a senior officer in personnel through classical learning, then became commander and general who supports the state, and later senior officer of the summer office—winning a name for competence at each post. He left office to mourn his mother and nearly did not survive his grief. His father warned him: "The greatest filial piety is to bring your parents peace of mind. By duty you must not let the family line die out. I am still alive, and you are my only son. How can you destroy yourself like this and leave me in anguish! From then on Xi gradually began to take thin gruel. When mourning ended he was appointed junior master of the imperial carriage. He then mourned his father again, unable to rise without a staff. All who heard him weep wept in turn. At the battle of Heyin an edict ordered him to serve while still in mourning garb. On his return he was appointed senior clerk in the bureau of appointments, inherited the title Duke of Pengyang, and received a fief of twenty-one hundred households. When Emperor Wu conquered Qi, his fief was increased by six hundred households for his service as garrison commander. He rose to pillar of state and served in turn as senior clerk in the bureaus of merits and personnel, earning great renown in his day. When Emperor Gaozu accepted the abdication, Xi served in his existing post as acting chief censor. Soon he was made left chief administrator of the ministry of education, given the additional title pillar of state, and raised to duke of Henan commandery. When Tuyuhun raided the frontier, he served as chief administrator on campaign under Commander-in-Chief Yuan Xie. For his merit he was promoted to senior pillar of state. When Prince Xiu of Shu was sent to govern Shu, upright men were chosen to keep order, and Xi was appointed chief administrator to the governor-general of Yizhou. Before he could take that post he was appointed governor of Cangzhou. At that time Shandong still bore the abuses of Qi rule; household registers and name lists often did not reflect reality. Xi explained the law to them and ordered voluntary surrender; ten thousand households came forward. Within a few years in office customs and instruction were greatly improved, and he was hailed as an excellent governor. In the fourth year of Kaihuang the emperor visited Luoyang. When Xi came to court, officials and commoners, fearing he would be transferred, wept along the road. When Xi returned, the people went out beyond the border to welcome him, and cheers filled the roads. While he governed, white crows, white musk deer, and fine wheat appeared in the prefecture, and sweet dew fell on the willow tree before his hall. In the eighth year he was transferred to director of revenue on the Hebei circuit executive. Officials and people, cherishing his memory, together erected a stele praising his virtue. When the circuit executive was abolished, he was appointed administering director to the governor-general of Bingzhou. He was later summoned as vice governor of Yongzhou. Soon he became chief administrator, then was transferred to grand master for ceremonials. Later, while retaining his original post, he also served as minister of personnel and adjudicated the affairs of the five ministries. Known for clarity and competence, he enjoyed the emperor's great trust. When the emperor returned from the sacrifice at Mount Tai and stopped at Bianzhou, he disliked the city's prosperity and its many scoundrels, and so appointed Xi governor of Bianzhou. On taking office he banned itinerant food-sellers, restrained merchants and artisans, shut doors that opened directly onto the street, forced boat travelers lodging outside the city wall into settled communities, ordered migrants to return home, and cleared all delayed cases. Orders were enforced and prohibitions obeyed, and his rule was praised as excellent. The emperor heard of this and praised it, telling his attendants, "Ye was the hardest place in the realm to govern. He ordered Dou Lutong, governor of Xiangzhou, to adopt Xi's methods. That year he came to court. His performance review ranked first in the realm; he received three hundred bolts of silk, and the announcement was issued throughout the empire. Because the Yi and Yue peoples of Lingnan rebelled repeatedly, he was summoned as governor-general of Guizhou over seventeen prefectures with military authority, empowered to act as circumstances required. Officials below the rank of governor could be appointed on his authority. He was given five hundred tent guards, five hundred bolts of silk, relay transport for his household, and was re-enfeoffed as duke of Wukang commandery. When Xi reached his post he greatly extended grace and trust. The chieftains of the stream valleys said to one another, "Former governors all coerced us with military might. Now he instructs us with his own hand—how can we disobey? They submitted in succession. Previously the prefectures and counties had been stubborn and hard to govern; chief officials often could not take office, and administration was left to the governor-general's office. Xi sent them all to their posts, built cities and towns, and established schools. Both Chinese and indigenous peoples were moved to respect him, calling his rule a great transformation. At that time there was Ning Mengli, born on the same day as Chen's last ruler. He claimed his features marked him for nobility. Under Chen he had already held the South Sea. After Chen fell, Emperor Gaozu comforted him and immediately appointed him governor of Anzhou. Yet he was arrogant and insolent, relying on his rugged terrain, and never came to pay his respects. Xi wrote him a personal letter, appealing to the bond of friendship. When his mother fell ill, Xi once more sent her medicines. Moved by this, Mengli came to the prefecture to pay his respects and no longer dared misbehave. Because many prefectures and counties shared the same names, he memorialized to rename Anzhou as Qinzhou, Huangzhou as Fengzhou, Lizhou as Zhizhou, Dezhou as Huanzhou, and Dongning as Rongzhou. The emperor approved all the changes. After several years in office he memorialized: "I am entrusted with the region beyond the ridges; four years have now passed. In the years allotted to a loyal servant I am sixty-one. My talent is slight and my burden heavy; shame and fear weigh on me alike. I have long wished to withdraw my inadequacy and yield to the worthy, and so escape official blame. Yet the territory I govern is remote and vast, and pacification is especially difficult. Though I have not been able to reform barbarian customs at a stroke, I have gradually made them recognize imperial civilization. But I have long suffered from wasting thirst, and lately it has grown worse. My sinews, strength, and spirit are failing by the day. Even in my prime I was no match for others. Now that illness afflicts me as well, how can I still bear so heavy a charge! I beg to be released from my duties. A gracious edict refused his request and granted him medicines. Xi received the edict and ordered Li Fozi, a stream chieftain of Jiaozhou, to come to court. Fozi intended rebellion and asked to set out in mid-winter. Xi, intending to keep him on a loose rein, agreed. Someone went to the palace to accuse Xi of accepting bribes from Fozi and releasing him. The emperor heard and firmly suspected him. Soon word came that Fozi had rebelled. The emperor was greatly enraged, believing the accusation true, and sent envoys to fetter Xi and bring him to court. Xi had always been firm by nature. Depressed and unable to achieve his aims, he reached Yongzhou, fell ill from grief and anger, and died at sixty-three. The emperor's anger did not subside, and his family property was confiscated. When campaign commander Liu Fang captured Fozi and sent him to the capital, he reported that Xi had truly taken no bribes. The emperor then understood and summoned his four sons, permitting them to enter office. The youngest son, Defen, was the most renowned.
6
Xue Zhou
7
便 便 簿 滿 使 使西
Xue Zhou, courtesy name Shao'xuan, came from Fenyin in Hedong. His father Duan had been governor of Cai prefecture under Zhou. Zhou was clever from youth. Whenever he read an unusual book he grasped its meaning at once. He often lamented that commentators on the classics missed the sages' deeper intent and would argue from his own understanding. The scholars all praised his insight. He was generous by nature and aspired to establish merit and fame. Under Emperor Ming of Zhou he inherited the title Duke of Wencheng commandery. He rose repeatedly to pillar of state, was soon appointed senior clerk in the bureau of metals, and later received the additional rank of pillar of state. When Emperor Gaozu accepted the abdication, he was promoted to governor of Lu prefecture. Before taking that post he was assigned to inspect the affairs of the governor-general of Luzhou. Soon he was appointed governor of Yan prefecture. When he took office there were several hundred prisoners in custody. Zhou judged and cleared them within ten days, and the prisons stood empty. A man of Chen prefecture named Xiang Daoli had falsely posed as governor of Gaoping commandery and was on his way to take office. Zhou met him on the road, sensed something amiss, and was about to detain and question him. Assistant governor Wang Junfu firmly remonstrated, and Zhou allowed him to proceed to the commandery. He soon regretted the decision and at once sent the chief clerk to pursue and detain Daoli. A local man named Xu Juluo had once served as governor of Hailing commandery and had already been falsely replaced by Daoli. By the time his term ended, neither officials nor the public had noticed the fraud. Juluo then said to Junfu, "Daoli has long replaced me as governor by fraud. How can you, sir, still harbor suspicion? Junfu, relying on Juluo's account, again pressed Zhou firmly. Zhou rebuked Junfu: "I have already seen that this man is a fraud. The assistant governor harbors deceit. He should share the punishment! Junfu then desisted. He then went to arrest Daoli, who in fear confessed to the fraud. His uncovering of fraud and exposure of hidden wrongdoing were all of this kind. People of the day called him uncannily perceptive. Previously east of Yan prefecture city the Yi and Si rivers joined and flowed south, flooding a great marsh. Zhou piled stones to dam them and diverted the water westward, turning the marshes and pools into fertile fields. He also opened transport routes, bringing profit to the Huai and Hai regions. The people relied on it and called it Duke Xue's Abundant Yan Canal. With the realm at peace, Zhou regarded the feng and shan rites as the supreme glory of emperors. He sent a doctor to ascend Mount Tai, observe ancient traces, and compose a 《Diagram of the Feng and Shan》, then presented the rites. Emperor Gaozu declined out of modesty and would not allow it. Later he was transferred to governor of E prefecture, where his benevolent governance continued as before. He was summoned as grand master for imperial entertainments, soon transferred to grand master for law. He applied the law with breadth and fairness and was regarded as competent in office. He was later transferred to minister of punishments. At that time Left Vice Director Gao Jiong was gradually estranged and suspected. When Wang Shiji was executed, Jiong's affairs were implicated, and the emperor therefore wished to complete Jiong's guilt. Zhou plainly exonerated him and judged the case on its merits. Thus he offended the throne, was shackled and imprisoned, and only after a long while was set free. He inspected and managed the affairs of Xiang prefecture and won a great reputation for competence. When Prince Liang of Han rebelled at Bingzhou, he sent the false general Qi Liang to advance east and attack, pressing Cizhou. Governor Shangguan Zheng requested aid from Zhou. Zhou feared Liang's military edge and did not dare refuse. Liang then led troops to attack Zhou. Zhou wished to repel him by stratagem and sent his close associate Lu Shifan to tell Liang, "Affairs under Heaven are not yet settled. Zhou, as a minister, must choose his stand according to what is fitting. Why rush to attack one another? Liang thereupon withdrew and advanced to plan against Liyang. When Shi Xiang attacked Liang, Liang abandoned his army and fled back to Zhou. The court considered that Zhou harbored divided loyalty and fettered him to the court of law. The officials and people of Xiang prefecture had long cherished his kindness; more than a hundred went to the palace to plead for him. Zhou was ultimately stripped of rank and assigned to guard Lingnan, dying of illness on the road. He had sons named He and Xian, both of whom became well known.
8
Yu Wenbi
9
鹿 使 西 西 西
Yu Wenbi, courtesy name Gongfu, came from Luoyang in Henan. His ancestors shared a common origin with the house of Zhou. His grandfather Zhiliguan had been governor of Julu under Wei. His father Zhen had been governor of Dang prefecture under Zhou. Bi was generous and possessed of great integrity, broadly learned and widely versed. He served Zhou as senior officer in the ministry of rites. He once served as envoy to the state of Dengzhi and to the Qiang of Heishui and Longge. In all, more than thirty tribes submitted to him. On his return he received an edict to revise and fix the 《Five Rites》. When the work was completed he presented it and was granted twelve qing of public fields and a hundred shi of grain. He rose to junior clerk of personnel and promoted eight men to county magistrate, all of whom achieved unusual success. The age considered him a knower of men. He was transferred to senior officer of the imperial secretariat. Emperor Wu was about to send troops to Heyang to attack Qi and consulted his ministers. Bi advanced a plan: "The Qi state has stood for many generations. Though it is said to be without the Way, it still has men to hold its frontiers. In deploying troops now one must choose the ground carefully. Heyang is strategically vital and where elite troops gather. If one exhausts strength in siege, I fear it will be hard to achieve one's aim. As I see it, at the bend of the Fen the garrison sits on a small hill on level ground. It can be taken with ease. Among places for employing troops there is none better than this. I beg Your Majesty to consider it carefully. The emperor did not accept it, and the campaign ultimately failed. In the fifth year of Jiande he launched a great campaign against Qi and ultimately adopted Bi's plan. Bi thereupon recruited several hundred bold young men of the three adjuncts as a separate detachment and followed the emperor in capturing Jin prefecture. His body received three wounds, yet he fought on without ceasing. The emperor marveled and considered him strong. Later he followed the emperor in pacifying Qi. For his merit he was appointed pillar of state, enfeoffed as duke of Wuwei county with a fief of fifteen hundred households, granted fifteen hundred bolts of goods, a hundred fifty slaves and maidservants, and more than a thousand horses, cattle, and sheep, and was made registrar to the governor-general of Si prefecture. When Emperor Xuan succeeded, he was transferred to left guardian of the ancestral temple. At that time the Turks raided Gan prefecture. The emperor ordered Hou Mo Chen Chang to lead troops against them, with Bi as supervising general. He told Chang, "The force of cunning barbarians comes like a rushing arrow and departs like a broken bowstring. To pursue and overtake them is truly hard. For the moment one should choose elite cavalry and strike directly west of Qilian. If the bandits withdraw, they will necessarily come from north of Liaoyuan. That place is narrow and dangerous and also low and wet. Estimating their men and horses, three days are needed to cross. With loose reins pursue and attack—why worry about not catching up? They will be weary while we are rested. Breaking them is certain. If one blocks this route, it is truly the superior strategy. Chang could not adopt it and went west to take Heli. The main army moved slowly and the barbarians had already left the frontier. That year Bi again led troops with Liang Shiyan to capture Shouyang. Soon he was re-enfeoffed as duke of Anle county, with his fief increased by six hundred households and six hundred bolts of goods granted, with dependents and horses added. He was appointed governor of Huai prefecture and soon transferred to governor of South Si prefecture. Later, when Sima Xiaonan fled to Chen, Bi gave chase but failed to overtake him. He encountered Chen general Fan Yi and fought at the mouth of the Zhang River from dawn till noon. Three battles brought three victories, with three thousand captives and booty. He was appointed governor of Huang prefecture and soon transferred to governor of South Ding prefecture. At the beginning of Kaihuang, for previous merit he was enfeoffed as duke of Pingchang county with his fief increased by twelve hundred households and entered office as right vice director of the secretariat. At that time the western Qiang submitted internally. An edict ordered Bi to hold credentials and pacify them. He established the two commanderies of Yanzhe and Puchang, then returned. He was transferred to left vice director of the secretariat. In office he was stern-faced, and the hundred officials feared him. In the third year the Turks raided Gan prefecture. As campaign administering director he followed commander-in-chief Dou Rongding and broke them. On his return he was appointed vice minister of the imperial stud and transferred to vice minister of personnel. In the campaign to pacify Chen, Yang Su went by the Xin prefecture route. He ordered Bi to hold credentials as coordinator of the armies and still lead as campaign commander. When Liu Ren'en defeated Chen general Lü Zhongsu, Bi had a share in the planning. He received the additional rank pillar of state, was promoted to minister of punishments, and led the crown prince's guard of honored attendants. The emperor once personally attended the libation sacrifice. Bi debated with the doctors, his words clear and far-reaching, and observers fixed their eyes on him. The emperor was greatly pleased and, turning to his attendants, said, "Today I behold the Duke of Zhou's establishment of rites and see Confucius's discussion of filial piety. It truly comforts my heart. Rewards were then distributed to each according to rank. At that time the court considered Jinyang a heavy garrison. The governor-general of Bingzhou necessarily belonged to an imperial prince, and the chief administrator and administering director were also chosen from the finest men of the age. The former chief administrator Wang Shao died. Because Bi had civil and military capacity he was sent out as chief administrator of Bingzhou. Soon he left office to mourn his father. An edict soon recalled him to service. In the eighteenth year, in the Liaodong campaign, he was appointed administering director to the prince of Han's headquarters and soon also led as campaign commander. After the army returned he successively served as governor-general of Shuo, Dai, and Wu prefectures, winning a name for competence at each post. When Emperor Yang succeeded, he was summoned as minister of punishments and still held credentials to inspect Hebei. On his return he was appointed governor of Quan prefecture. A year or so later he was again appointed minister of punishments and soon transferred to minister of rites. Bi's talent and capacity were renowned, and he held successive prominent posts. His reputation was very weighty, and public discussion often praised him. The emperor grew jealous. At that time the emperor gradually favored music and women and was especially zealous in distant campaigns. Bi said to Gao Jiong, "In the past Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou favored music and women and the state perished. Compared with today, is it not even worse? He also said, "The Great Wall labor service is fortunately not an urgent task." Someone reported this. He was ultimately executed at sixty-two, and all under Heaven considered it unjust. His writings in prose and fu numbered over two hundred thousand words. He produced 《Notes on the Documents》 and 《Notes on the Classic of Filial Piety》 that circulated in his time. His sons were Jian and Yuan.
10
Zhang Heng
11
輿 祿 宿 涿 使
Zhang Heng, courtesy name Jianping, came from Henei. His grandfather Ni had been governor of Heyang under Wei. His father Guang had been governor of Wan prefecture under Zhou. From youth Heng cherished ambition and integrity and had an unyielding spirit. At fifteen he went to the imperial academy to study, refining his learning with deep thought, and was esteemed by his peers. Emperor Wu of Zhou was in mourning for the empress dowager and went hunting with those at his side. Heng bared his head and wore mourning cloth, seized the horse, and remonstrated urgently. The emperor commended him, granted one suit of clothes and one horse, and promoted him as reader to the prince of Han. Heng also studied the 《Three Rites》 under Shen Chong and came to grasp their larger meaning. He rose to grand master for the court. When Emperor Gaozu accepted the abdication, he was appointed vice minister of the gate office. When Prince Guang of Jin became Hebei executive, Heng served successively as senior clerk in the bureaus of punishments and revenue. When the executive was abolished, he was appointed aide to the governor-general of Bingzhou. When the prince transferred to govern Yangzhou, Heng again became his aide. The prince greatly trusted and relied on him. Heng also exhausted his mind and gave full loyalty in serving him. The plan to seize the succession was largely Heng's creation. He left office to mourn his mother. A year or so later he was recalled and appointed administering director to the governor-general of Yangzhou, granted three hundred bolts of goods. In Kaihuang, Li Yinglin of Xizhou gathered a crowd and rebelled, appointing officials. Heng was made campaign commander and led fifty thousand infantry and cavalry to suppress and pacify them. He was appointed pillar of state, granted a hundred thirty slaves and maidservants, five hundred bolts of goods, and gold, silver, and mixed livestock in full measure. When the prince became crown prince, Heng was appointed right assistant to the heir apparent and still served as supervising attendant of the yellow gate. When Emperor Yang succeeded, he was appointed supervising attendant of the yellow gate, advanced to silver-gleaming grand master of the palace, and soon transferred to censor-in-chief. He was greatly trusted and honored. In the third year of Daye the emperor visited Yulin commandery. On returning to Taiyuan he said to Heng, "I wish to pass your residence. You can act as host for me. Heng thereupon raced to Henei, where he and his clan prepared oxen and wine. The emperor ascended the Taihang Mountains and opened a straight road ninety li to reach his residence. The emperor was pleased with its mountain springs and remained feasting three days. He then said to Heng, "When I followed the late emperor in beginning the sacrifice at Mount Tai and passed by Luoyang, I looked toward this place and deeply regretted that I could not visit. I did not expect today to fulfill my long-held wish. Heng prostrated himself in thanks and offered a hu of wine to wish the emperor long life. The emperor was even more pleased and granted thirty qing of good fields beside his residence, one fine horse, a gold belt, six hundred bolts of silk, one suit of clothes, and one set of imperial dining vessels. Heng firmly declined. The emperor said, "Where the Son of Heaven arrives and calls it an imperial visit, it is for this. There is no need to decline. Heng again presented food to the emperor. The emperor ordered it distributed to the dukes and ministers down to the guards—none went without share. Because of his old ties in the princely residence, Heng enjoyed favor unmatched by any and became rather proud and self-important. The next year the emperor visited Fenyang Palace and feasted the accompanying officials, specially granting five hundred bolts of silk. At that time the emperor wished to enlarge Fenyang Palace and ordered Heng and Ji Hongzheng to prepare diagrams and present them. Heng seized an opportunity to remonstrate: "In recent years corvée labor has been numerous and the people weary and exhausted. I humbly beg Your Majesty to keep this in mind and slightly reduce the burden. The emperor was deeply displeased. Later he once looked at Heng and said to his attendants, "Zhang Heng considers that through his planning he gave me the realm under Heaven. At that time Prince Yan of Qi had lost the emperor's favor. The emperor secretly ordered men to seek Yan's faults. Someone slandered Yan for violating regulations, having Yique magistrate Huangfu Xu follow him to Fenyang Palace. He also recorded that when the emperor previously visited Zhuo commandery and sacrificed at Mount Heng, many of the elders who came to audience were not properly dressed. The emperor blamed Heng because the censorate could not investigate and correct this, and sent him out as governor of Yulin. The next year the emperor again visited Fenyang Palace. Heng supervised labor building Loufan city and thereby had audience with the emperor. The emperor disliked that Heng had not grown thin and considered that he did not reflect on his fault. He therefore said to Heng, "You are very plump and sleek. You should for the moment return to your commandery. Heng was sent back to Yulin. Before long an edict ordered Heng to oversee construction of the Jiangdu Palace. Someone went to Heng to sue the palace supervisor. Heng did not judge the case and instead returned the petition to the supervisor. That man was greatly harassed by the supervisor. Minister of rites Yang Xuangan's envoy arrived at Jiangdu. That man went to Xuangan to proclaim his grievance. Xuangan was convinced that Heng was unfit for office. When he met Heng, before anything was said Heng first told Xuangan, "Xue Daoheng was truly wrongly killed. Xuangan fully reported the matter. Jiangdu assistant governor Wang Shichong also memorialized that Heng repeatedly reduced provisions. The emperor thereupon flew into rage, fettered Heng in Jiangdu city, and was about to execute him. After a long time he released him, stripped him of rank, made him a commoner, and sent him back to his fields. The emperor often ordered close associates to observe what Heng did. In the eighth year the emperor returned from Liaodong to the capital. Heng's concubine reported that he harbored resentment and slandered court policy. He was ultimately granted death at home. Facing death he cried out, "What sort of things have I done for others, yet hoped to live long! The execution supervisor covered his ears and urged them to carry out the sentence at once. In Yining, because his death was not for his crime, he was posthumously granted grand general and duke of Nanyang commandery, with posthumous title Loyal. His son was Xixuan.
12
Yang Wang
13
祿
Yang Wang, courtesy name Yuandu, was originally from Huayin in Hongnong. His great-grandfather Shun moved to settle in Hedong. His father Chen held the rank pillar of state, third rank. When Wang became honored, Chen was posthumously granted duke of Pingxiang county. Wang from youth was fierce and unrestrained, fond of brawling in crowds. Those struck by his fists all toppled over. When grown he reformed himself, studied diligently, specialized in the 《Zuo Tradition》, and mastered the 《Three Rites》. He began his career as reader to Prince of Ji of Zhou. The prince greatly valued him and often said, "Reader Yang's virtue and learning are deep and excellent—he is my Mu Sheng. Later he studied the 《Rites》 under Shen Chong and received the 《Book of Han》 under Liu Zhen. The two men praised him, saying, "We are not his equal." Thereby he became renowned and rose to senior officer of the summer office. When Emperor Gaozu was at Xiang, he was summoned to advise on military affairs and transferred to grand master for the court below. When Emperor Gaozu accepted the abdication, he was granted the rank earl of Pingxiang county with a fief of two hundred households. He successively served as vice minister in the bureaus of merits and military affairs and as chief administrator to the governor-general of Qin prefecture, and was called clear and competent. He was transferred to left vice director of the secretariat and was dismissed on account of an affair. Later he successively served as chief administrator of Jing and Luo prefectures. Whenever he had leisure from hearing cases, he always invited students to lecture and teach, and people of the day praised him. After several years Emperor Gaozu said to remonstrance officer Wang Da, "Find me a good left vice director. Da thereupon spoke privately to Wang: "I shall recommend you as left vice director. If the matter succeeds, I shall repay you with good fields." Wang memorialized what Da said. Da was ultimately punished for his crime, and Wang was finally appointed left vice director of the secretariat. Wang was clearly versed in laws and statutes and decisive in judgment. At the time he was regarded as competent in office. When Emperor Yang succeeded, he served as acting grand master for law. Wang had been in office two days when the emperor was about to personally inspect the prisoners. At that time over two hundred prisoners were in custody. Wang examined them all night and by morning presented his report, fully covering the circumstances without a single omission or error. The emperor greatly commended him. A year or so later he was appointed rector of the imperial university. The emperor ordered the hundred officials to come study and debate with Wang. Eminent scholars throughout the realm gathered. Debate flared sharp, and none could bend him. The emperor ordered the censorate to write down their questions and answers and present them. He read them and was greatly pleased, granting one fine horse. In Daye he served as silver-gleaming grand master of the palace. When Yang Xuangan rebelled in Henan, assistant director Pei Hongce went out with troops to resist him. The battle went badly and Hongce returned. He met Wang and dismissed others to speak with him in private. Soon garrison commander Fan Zigai executed Hongce and memorialized Wang's situation. The emperor suspected him and sent him out as administrator of Liang commandery. Later Li Mi had already pressed the eastern capital. His followers repeatedly raided Liang commandery. Wang led troops to resist them and repeatedly blunted their edge. When Emperor Yang died, Wang Shichong installed Prince Tong of Yue as ruler and summoned Wang as minister of personnel. He was greatly trusted and relied upon. When Shichong usurped the throne, Wang again held power. When Shichong was pacified, Wang was executed as a villainous partisan.
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The historiographer writes: Lu Kai's remonstrances were commendable; Linghu Xi governed wherever he resided; Xue Zhou held the law with fairness; Yu Wenbi's reputation was universally acknowledged; Zhang Heng established his name through upright integrity; Yang Wang prided himself on scholarly achievement. Yet all had good beginnings and few kept fine endings. Foundations nine ren high all toppled in one basket—alas! Loyalty is a fine virtue. To bestow it on the wrong person may still be impossible—how much more when one sets foot on a crooked path and yet does not obtain the right person! The saying goes, "Do not be the head of intrigue—you will receive its calamity. It also says, "Do not be the beginning of calamity; do not summon disorder." Zhang Heng both summoned the source of disorder and was truly the head of power. His actions were not according with what is right—how could calamity not reach him!
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