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隋書卷五十六列傳第二十一
Book of Sui, Volume 56, Biography 21
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○盧愷
Lu Kai
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盧愷,字長仁,涿郡范陽人也。 父柔,終於魏中書監。 愷性孝友,神情爽悟,略涉書記,頗解屬文。 周齊王憲引為記室。 其後襲爵容城伯,邑千一百戶。 從憲伐齊,愷說柏杜鎮下之。 遷小吏部大夫,增邑七百戶。 染工上士王神歡者,嘗以賂自進,塚宰宇文護擢為計部下大夫。 愷諫曰:「古者登高能賦,可為大夫,求賢審官,理須詳慎。 今神歡出自染工,更無殊異,徒以家富自通,遂與搢紳並列,實恐惟鵜之刺,聞之外境。」 護竟寢其事。 建德中,增邑二百戶。 歲餘,轉內史下大夫。 武帝在雲陽宮,敕諸屯簡老牛,欲以享士。 愷進諫曰:「昔田子方贖老馬,君子以為美談。 向奉明敕,欲以老牛享士,有虧仁政。」 帝美其言而止。 轉禮部大夫,為聘陳使副。 先是,行人多從其國禮,及愷為使,一依本朝,陳人莫能屈。 四年秋,李穆攻拔軹關、柏崖二鎮,命愷作露布,帝讀之大悅,曰:「盧愷文章大進,荀景倩故是令君之子。」 尋授襄州總管司錄,轉治中。 大象元年,征拜東京吏部大夫。 開皇初,加上儀同三司,除尚書吏部侍郎,進爵為侯,仍攝尚書左丞。 每有敷奏,侃然正色,雖逢喜怒,不改其常。 帝嘉愷有吏幹,賜錢二十萬,並賚雜彩三百匹,加散騎常侍。 八年,上親考百僚,以愷為上。 愷固讓,不敢受,高祖曰:「吏部勤幹,舊所聞悉。 今者上考,僉議攸同,當仁不讓,何愧之有! 皆在朕心,無勞飾讓。」 歲餘,拜禮部尚書,攝吏部尚書事。 會國子博士何妥與右僕射蘇威不平,奏威陰事。 愷坐與相連,上以愷屬吏。 憲司奏愷曰:「房恭懿者,尉遲迥之党,不當仕進。 威、愷二人曲相薦達,累轉為海州刺史。 又吏部預選者甚多,愷不即授官,皆注色而遣。 威之從父弟徹、肅二人,並以鄉正征詣吏部。 徹文狀後至而先任用,肅左足攣蹇,才用無算,愷以威故,授朝請郎。 愷之朋黨,事甚明白。」 上大怒曰:「愷敢將天官以為私惠!」 愷免冠頓首曰:「皇太子將以通事舍人蘇夔為舍人,夔即蘇威之子,臣以夔未當遷,固啟而止。 臣若與威有私,豈當如此!」 上曰:「蘇威之子,朝廷共知,卿乃固執,以徼身幸。 至所不知者,便行朋附,奸臣之行也。」 於是除名為百姓。 未幾,卒於家。 自周氏以降,選無清濁,及愷攝吏部,與薛道衡、陸彥師等甄別士流,故涉黨固之譖,遂及於此。 子義恭嗣。
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.
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○令狐熙
Linghu Xi
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令狐熙,字長熙,燉煌人也,代為西州豪右。 父整,仕周,官至大將軍、始、豐二州刺史。 熙性嚴重,有雅量,雖在私室,終日儼然。 不妄通賓客,凡所交給,必一時名士。 博覽群書,尤明《三禮》,善騎射,頗知音律。 起家以通經為吏部上士,尋授都督、輔國將軍,轉夏官府都上士,俱有能名。 以母憂去職,殆不勝喪。 其父戒之曰:「大孝在於安親,義不絕嗣。 吾今見存,汝又只立,何得過爾毀頓,貽吾憂也!」 熙自是稍加饘粥。 服闋,除小駕部,複丁父憂,非杖不起,人有聞其哭聲,莫不為之下泣。 河陰之役,詔令墨縗從事,還授職方下大夫,襲爵彭陽縣公,邑二千一百戶。 及武帝平齊,以留守功,增邑六百戶。 進位儀同,曆司勳、吏部二曹中大夫,甚有當時之譽。 高祖受禪之際,熙以本官行納言事。 尋除司徒左長史,加上儀同,進爵河南郡公。 時吐谷渾寇邊,以行軍長史從元帥元諧討之,以功進位上開府。 會蜀王秀出鎮於蜀,綱紀之選,鹹屬正人,以熙為益州總管長史。 未之官,拜滄州刺史。 時山東承齊之弊,戶口名簿籍類不以實。 熙曉諭之,令自歸首,至者一萬戶。 在職數年,風教大洽,稱為良二千石。 開皇四年,上幸洛陽,熙來朝,吏民恐其遷易,悲泣於道。 及熙複還,百姓出境迎謁,歡叫盈路。 在州獲白烏、白麞、嘉麥,甘露降於庭前柳樹。 八年,徙為河北道行台度支尚書,吏民追思,相與立碑頌德。 及行台廢,授并州總管司馬。 後征為雍州別駕。 尋為長史,遷鴻臚卿。 後以本官兼吏部尚書,往判五曹尚書事,號為明幹,上甚任之。 及上祠太山還,次汴州,惡其殷盛,多有奸俠,於是以熙為汴州刺史。 下車禁遊食,抑工商,民有向街開門者杜之,船客停于郭外星居者,勒為聚落,僑人逐令歸本,其有滯獄,並決遣之,令行禁止,稱為良政。 上聞而嘉之,顧謂侍臣曰:「鄴都天下難理處也。」 敕相州刺史豆盧通,令習熙之法。 其年來朝,考績為天下之最,賜帛三百匹,頒告天下。 上以嶺南夷、越數為反亂,征拜桂州總管十七州諸軍事,許以便宜從事,刺史以下官得承制補授。 給帳內五百人,賜帛五百匹,發傳送其家累,改封武康郡公。 熙至部,大弘恩信,其溪洞渠帥更相謂曰:「前時總管皆以兵威相脅,今者乃以手教相諭,我輩其可違乎?」 於是相率歸附。 先是,州縣生梗,長吏多不得之官,寄政于總管府。 熙悉遣之,為建城邑,開設學校,華夷感敬,稱為大化。 時有寧猛力者,與陳後主同日生,自言貌有貴相,在陳日,已據南海,平陳後,高祖因而撫之,即拜安州刺史。 然驕倨,恃其阻險,未嘗參謁。 熙手書諭之,申以交友之分。 其母有疢,熙複遺以藥物。 猛力感之,詣府請謁,不敢為非。 熙以州縣多有同名者,於是奏改安州為欽州,黃州為峰州,利州為智州,德州為歡州,東寧為融州,上皆從之。 在職數年,上表曰:「臣忝寄嶺表,四載於茲,犬馬之年,六十有一。 才輕任重,愧懼兼深,常願收拙避賢,稍免官謗。 然所管遐曠,綏撫尤難,雖未能頓革夷風,頗亦漸識皇化。 但臣夙患消渴,比更增甚,筋力精神,轉就衰邁。 昔在壯齒,猶不如人,況今年疾俱侵,豈可猶當重寄! 請解所任。」 優詔不許,賜以醫藥。 熙奉詔,令交州渠帥李佛子入朝。 佛子欲為亂,請至仲冬上道,熙意在羈縻,遂從之。 有人詣闕訟熙受佛子賂而舍之,上聞而固疑之。 既而佛子反問至,上大怒,以為信然,遣使者鎖熙詣闕。 熙性素剛,鬱鬱不得志,行至永州,憂憤發病而卒,時年六十三。 上怒不解,於是沒其家財。 及行軍總管劉方擒佛子送于京師,言熙實無贓貨,上乃悟,於是召其四子,聽預仕焉。 少子德棻,最知名。
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.
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○薛胄
Xue Zhou
7
薛胄,字紹玄,河東汾陰人也。 父端,周蔡州刺史。 胄少聰明,每覽異書,便曉其義。 常歎訓注者不會聖人深旨,輒以意辯之,諸儒莫不稱善。 性慷慨,志立功名。 周明帝時,襲爵文城郡公。 累遷上儀同,尋拜司金大夫,後加開府。 高祖受禪,擢拜魯州刺史,未之官,檢校廬州總管事。 尋除兗州刺史。 及到官,系囚數百,胄剖斷旬日便了,囹圄空虛。 有陳州人向道力者,偽作高平郡守,將之官,胄遇諸途,察其有異,將留詰之。 司馬王君馥固諫,乃聽詣郡。 既而悔之,即遣主簿追禁道力。 有部人徐俱羅者,嘗任海陵郡守,先是已為道力偽代之。 比至秩滿,公私不悟。 俱羅遂語君馥曰:「向道力以經代俱羅為郡,使君豈容疑之?」 君馥以俱羅所陳,又固請胄。 胄呵君馥曰:「吾已察知此人詐也。 司馬容奸,當連其坐!」 君馥乃止。 遂往收之,道力懼而引偽。 其發奸摘伏,皆此類也,時人謂為神明。 先是,兗州城東沂、泗二水合而南流,氾濫大澤中,胄遂積石堰之,使決令西注,陂澤盡為良田。 又通轉運,利盡淮海,百姓賴之,號為薛公豐兗渠。 胄以天下太平,登封告禪,帝王盛烈,遂遣博士登太山,觀古跡,撰《封禪圖》及儀上之。 高祖謙讓不許。 後轉郢州刺史,前後俱有惠政。 征拜衛尉卿,尋轉大理卿,持法寬平,名為稱職。 後遷刑部尚書。 時左僕射高熲稍被疏忌,及王世積之誅也,熲事與相連,上因此欲成熲罪。 胄明雪之,正議其獄。 由是忤旨,械系之,久而得免。 檢校相州事,甚有能名。 會漢王諒作亂并州,遣偽將綦良東略地,攻逼慈州。 刺史上官政請援於胄,胄畏諒兵鋒,不敢拒,良又引兵攻胄,胄欲以計卻之,遣親人魯世范說良曰:「天下事未可知,胄為人臣,去就須得其所,何遽相攻也?」 良於是釋去,進圖黎陽。 及良為史祥所攻,棄軍歸胄。 朝廷以胄懷貳心,鎖詣大理。 相州吏人素懷其恩,詣闕理胄者百餘人,胄竟坐除名,配防嶺南,道病卒。 有子、獻,並知名。
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
○宇文弼
Yu Wenbi
9
宇文弼,字公輔,河南洛陽人也,其先與周同出。 祖直力覲,魏巨鹿太守。 父珍,周宕州刺史。 弼慷慨有大節,博學多通,仕周為禮部上士。 嘗奉使鄧至國及黑水、龍涸諸羌,前後降附三十餘部。 及還,奉詔修定《五禮》,書成奏之,賜公田十二頃,粟百石。 累遷少吏部,擢八人為縣令,皆有異績,時以為知人。 轉內史都上士。 武帝將出兵河陽以伐齊,謀及臣下,弼進策曰:「齊氏建國,於今累葉,雖曰無道,籓屏之寄,尚有其人。 今之用兵,須擇其地。 河陽衝要,精兵所聚,盡力攻圍,恐難得志。 如臣所見,彼汾之曲,戍小山平,攻之易拔。 用武之地,莫過於此,願陛下詳之。」 帝不納,師竟無功。 建德五年,大舉伐齊,卒用弼計。 弼於是募三輔豪俠少年數百人以為別隊,從帝攻拔晉州。 身被三創,苦戰不息,帝奇而壯之。 後從帝平齊,以功拜上儀同,封武威縣公,邑千五百戶,賜物千五百段,奴婢百五十口,馬牛羊千餘頭,拜司州總管司錄。 宣帝嗣位,遷左守廟大夫。 時突厥寇甘州,帝令侯莫陳昶率兵擊之,弼為監軍。 謂昶曰:「黠虜之勢,來如激矢,去若絕弦,若欲追躡,良為難及。 且宜選精騎,直趨祁連之西。 賊若收軍,必自蓼泉之北,此地險隘,兼複下濕,度其人馬,三日方度,緩轡追討,何慮不及? 彼勞我逸,破之必矣。 若邀此路,真上策也。」 昶不能用之,西取合黎,大軍行遲,虜已出塞。 其年,弼又率兵從梁士彥攻拔壽陽,尋改封安樂縣公,增邑六百戶,賜物六百段,加以口馬。 除澮州刺史,俄轉南司州刺史。 後司馬消難之奔陳也,弼追之不及。 遇陳將樊毅,戰於漳口,自旦及午,三戰三捷,虜獲三千人。 除黃州刺史,尋轉南定州刺史。 開皇初,以前功封平昌縣公,加邑一千二百戶,入為尚書右丞。 時西羌內附,詔弼持節安集之,置鹽澤、蒲昌二郡而還。 遷尚書左丞,當官正色,為百僚所憚,三年,突厥寇甘州,以行軍司馬從元帥竇榮定擊破之。 還除太僕少卿,轉吏部侍郎。 平陳之役,楊素出信州道,令弼持節為諸軍節度,仍領行軍總管。 劉仁恩之破陳將呂仲肅也,弼有謀焉。 加開府,擢拜刑部尚書,領太子虞候率。 上嘗親臨釋奠,弼與博士論議,詞致清遠,觀者屬目。 上大悅,顧謂侍臣曰:「朕今睹周公之制禮,見宣尼之論孝,實慰朕心。」 於是頒賜各有差。 時朝廷以晉陽為重鎮,并州總管必屬親王,其長史、司馬亦一時高選。 前長史王韶卒,以弼有文武幹用,出為并州長史。 俄以父艱去職,尋詔起之。 十八年,遼東之役,授元帥漢王府司馬,仍尋領行軍總管。 軍還之後,曆朔、代、吳三州總管,皆有能名。 煬帝即位,征拜刑部尚書,仍持節巡省河北。 還除泉州刺史。 歲餘,複拜刑部尚書,尋轉禮部尚書。 弼既以才能著稱,曆職顯要,聲望甚重,物議時談,多見推許,帝頗忌之。 時帝漸好聲色,尤勤遠略,弼謂高熲曰:「昔周天元好聲色而國亡,以今方之,不亦甚乎?」 又言:「長城之役,幸非急務。」 有人奏之,竟坐誅死,時年六十二,天下冤之。 所著辭賦二十餘萬言,為《尚書》、《孝經注》行于時。 有子儉、瑗。
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
○張衡
Zhang Heng
11
張衡,字建平,河內人也。 祖嶷,魏河陽太守。 父光,周萬州刺史。 衡幼懷志尚,有骨鯁之風。 年十五,詣太學受業,研精覃思,為同輩所推。 周武帝居太后憂,與左右出獵,衡露發輿櫬,扣馬切諫。 帝嘉焉,賜衣一襲,馬一匹,擢拜漢王侍讀。 衡又就沈重受《三禮》,略究大旨。 累遷掌朝大夫。 高祖受禪,拜司門侍郎。 及晉王廣為河北行台,衡曆刑部、度支二曹郎。 後以台廢,拜并州總管掾。 及王轉牧揚州,衡複為掾,王甚親任之。 衡亦竭慮盡誠事之,奪宗之計,多衡所建也。 以母憂去職,歲餘,起授揚州總管司馬,賜物三百段。 開皇中,熙州李英林聚眾反,署置百官,以衡為行軍總管,率步騎五萬人討平之。 拜開府,賜奴婢一百三十口,物五百段,金銀雜畜稱是。 及王為皇太子,拜衡右庶子,仍領給事黃門侍郎。 煬帝嗣位,除給事黃門侍郎,進位銀青光祿大夫,俄遷御史大夫,甚見親重。 大業三年,帝幸榆林郡,還至太原,謂衡曰:「朕欲過公宅,可為朕作主人。」 衡於是馳至河內,與宗族具牛酒。 帝上太行,開直道九十裡,以抵其宅。 帝悅其山泉,留宴三日,因謂衡曰:「往從先皇拜太山之始,途經洛陽,瞻望於此,深恨不得相過,不謂今日得諧宿願。」 衡俯伏辭謝,奉斛上壽。 帝益歡,賜其宅傍田三十頃,良馬一匹,金帶,縑彩六百段,衣一襲,禦食器一具。 衡固讓,帝曰:「天子所至稱幸者,蓋為此也,不足為辭。」 衡複獻食於帝,帝令頒賜公卿,下至衛士,無不沾洽。 衡以籓邸之舊,恩寵莫與為比,頗自驕貴。 明年,帝幸汾陽宮,宴從官,特賜絹五百匹。 時帝欲大汾陽宮,令衡與紀弘整具圖奏之。 衡承間進諫曰:「比年勞役繁多,百姓疲敝,伏願留神,稍加折損。」 帝意甚不平。 後嘗目衡謂侍臣曰:「張衡自謂由其計畫,令我有天下也。」 時齊王暕失愛於上,帝密令人求暕罪失。 有人譖暕違制,將伊闕令皇甫詡從之汾陽宮。 又錄前幸涿郡及祠恆岳時,父老謁見者衣冠多不整。 帝譴衡以憲司皆不能舉正,出為榆林太守。 明年,帝複幸汾陽宮,衡督役築樓煩城,因而謁帝。 帝惡衡不損瘦,以為不念咎,因謂衡曰:「公甚肥澤,宜且還郡。」 衡複之榆林。 俄而敕衡督役江都宮。 有人詣衡訟宮監者,衡不為理,還以訟書付監,其人大為監所困。 禮部尚書楊玄感使至江都,其人詣玄感稱冤。 玄感固以衡為不可。 及與衡相見,未有所言,又先謂玄感曰:「薛道衡真為枉死。」 玄感具上其事,江都丞王世充又奏衡頻減頓具。 帝於是發怒,鎖衡詣江都市,將斬之,久而乃釋,除名為民,放還田裡。 帝每令親人覘衡所為。 八年,帝自遼東還都,衡妾言衡怨望,謗訕朝政,竟賜盡於家。 臨死大言曰:「我為人作何物事,而望久活!」 監刑者塞耳,促令殺之。 義寧中,以死非其罪,贈大將軍、南陽郡公,諡曰忠。 有子希玄。
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.
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○楊汪
Yang Wang
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楊汪,字元度,本弘農華陰人也,曾祖順,徙居河東。 父琛,儀同三司,及汪貴,追贈平鄉縣公。 汪少凶疏,好與人群鬥,拳所毆擊,無不顛踣。 長更折節勤學,專精《左氏傳》,通《三禮》。 解褐周冀王侍讀,王甚重之,每曰:「楊侍讀德業優深,孤之穆生也。」 其後問《禮》于沈重,受《漢書》于劉臻,二人推許之曰:「吾弗如也。」 由是知名,累遷夏官府都上士。 及高祖居相,引知兵事,遷掌朝下大夫。 高祖受禪,賜爵平鄉縣伯,邑二百戶。 曆尚書司勳兵部二曹侍郎、秦州總管長史,名為明幹。 遷尚書左丞,坐事免。 後曆荊、洛二州長史,每聽政之暇,必延生徒講授,時人稱之。 數年,高祖謂諫議大夫王達曰:「卿為我覓一好左丞。」 達遂私于汪曰:「我當薦君為左丞,若事果,當以良田相報也。」 汪以達所言奏之,達竟以獲罪,卒拜汪為尚書左丞。 汪明習法令,果於剖斷,當時號為稱職。 煬帝即位,守大理卿。 汪視事二日,帝將親省囚徒。 其時系囚二百餘人,汪通宵究審,詰朝而奏,曲盡事情,一無遺誤,帝甚嘉之。 歲餘,拜國子祭酒。 帝令百僚就學,與汪講論,天下通儒碩學多萃焉,論難鋒起,皆不能屈。 帝令御史書其問答奏之,省而大悅,賜良馬一匹。 大業中,為銀青光祿大夫。 及楊玄感反河南,贊治裴弘策出師禦之,戰不利,弘策出還,遇汪而屏人交語。 既而留守樊子蓋斬弘策,以狀奏汪,帝疑之,出為梁郡通守。 後李密已逼東都,其徒頻寇梁郡,汪勒兵拒之,頻挫其銳。 煬帝崩,王世充推越王侗為主,征拜吏部尚書,頗見親委。 及世充僭號,汪複用事,世充平,以凶黨誅死。
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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史臣曰:盧愷諫說可稱,令狐熙所居而治,薛胄執憲平允,宇文弼聲望攸歸,張衡以鯁正立名,楊汪以學業自許。 然皆有善始,鮮克令終,九仞之基,俱傾於一匱,惜哉! 夫忠為令德,施非其人尚或不可,況托足邪徑,而又不得其人者歟! 語曰:「無為權首,將受其咎。」 又曰:「無始禍,無召亂。」 張衡既召亂源,實為權首,動不以順,其能不及於此乎?
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!