1
宇文述宇文述，字伯通，代郡武川人也。 本姓破野頭，役屬鮮卑俟豆歸，後從其主為宇文氏。 父盛，周上柱國。 述少驍銳，便弓馬。 年十一時，有相者謂述曰：「公子善自愛，後當位極人臣。」 周武帝時，以父軍功，起家拜開府。 述性恭謹沈密，周大塚宰宇文護甚愛之，以本官領護親信。 及帝親總萬機，召為左宮伯，累遷英果中大夫，賜爵博陵郡公，尋改封濮陽郡公。
Yu Wenshu, whose courtesy name was Botong, came from Wuchuan in Dai Commandery. He had originally borne the surname Poyetou and served under the Xianbei leader Houdougou; he later took the Yuwen surname along with his master. His father Yu Sheng had held the rank of Superior Pillar of State under the Northern Zhou. As a youth, Shu was fierce and quick, and excelled at archery and horsemanship. When he was eleven, a physiognomist told him, "Take good care of yourself, young sir—you will one day rise to the highest ministerial rank. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Zhou, he began his career thanks to his father's military service and was appointed a Colonel-Director-in-Chief. Shu was respectful, cautious, and reserved by nature. The Zhou regent Yuwen Hu took a great liking to him and left him in his original post while putting him in charge of the guard of personal confidants. When the emperor personally took the reins of government, Shu was summoned to serve as Left Palace Steward. He was successively promoted to Resolute Valor Grand Master of the Palace, enfeoffed as Duke of Boling, and shortly afterward given the title Duke of Puyang.
2
高祖為丞相，尉迥作亂相州，述以行軍總管率步騎三千，從韋孝寬擊之。 軍至河陽，迥遣將李俊攻懷州，述別擊俊軍，破之。 又與諸將擊尉惇於永橋，述先鋒陷陣，俘馘甚眾。 平尉迥，每戰有功，超拜上柱國，進爵褒國公，賜縑三千匹。 開皇初，拜右衛大將軍。 平陳之役，複以行軍總管率眾三萬，自六合而濟。 時韓擒、賀若弼兩軍趣丹陽，述進據石頭，以為聲援。 陳主既擒，而蕭瓛、蕭岩據東吳之地，擁兵拒守。 述領行軍總管元契、張默言等討之，水陸兼進。 落叢公燕榮以舟師自海至，亦受述節度。 上下詔曰：「公鴻勳大業，名高望重，奉國之誠，久所知悉。 金陵之寇，既已清蕩，而吳會之地，東路為遙，蕭岩、蕭瓛，並在其處。 公率將戎旅，撫慰彼方，振揚國威，宣佈朝化。 以公明略，乘勝而往，風行電掃，自當稽服。 若使干戈不用，黎庶獲安，方副朕懷，公之力也。」 陳永新侯陳君范自晉陵奔瓛，並軍合勢。 見述軍且至，瓛懼，立柵于晉陵城東，又絕塘道，留兵拒述。 瓛自義興入太湖，圖掩述後。 述進破其柵，回兵擊瓛，大敗之，斬瓛司馬曹勒叉。 前軍複陷吳州，瓛以餘眾保包山，燕榮擊破之。 述進至奉公埭，蕭岩、陳君範等以會稽請降。 述許之，二人面縛路左，吳會悉平。 以功拜一子開府，賜物三千段，拜安州總管。
When Emperor Gaozu served as Chancellor, Yu Chi raised a rebellion at Xiangzhou. Shu, acting as campaign commander-in-chief, led three thousand foot and horse soldiers to join Wei Xiaokuan in attacking him. When the army reached Heyang, Chi sent his general Li Jun to attack Huaizhou. Shu struck Jun's force separately and routed it. He also joined the other generals in attacking Yu Dun at Yong Bridge. Shu led the vanguard through the enemy formation and took a great many prisoners and heads. In the campaign to put down Yu Chi, he distinguished himself in every battle. He was promoted out of turn to Superior Pillar of State, raised to Duke of Bao, and granted three thousand bolts of silk. At the beginning of the Kaihuang era, he was appointed General-in-Chief of the Right Guard. During the campaign to conquer Chen, he again served as campaign commander-in-chief, leading thirty thousand men across the river from Liuhe. At that time the armies of Han Qin and He Ruobi were pressing toward Danyang. Shu advanced and seized Shitou to serve as a supporting position. After the Chen ruler had been captured, Xiao Kan and Xiao Yan still held eastern Wu, gathering troops to resist the invaders. Shu led the campaign commanders Yuan Qi, Zhang Moyan, and others against them, advancing by both land and water. Yan Rong, Duke of Luocong, brought a fleet from the sea and likewise placed himself under Shu's command. The emperor issued an edict saying, "Your great achievements and lofty reputation are well known, as is the loyalty you have long shown to the state. The enemy at Jinling has already been swept away, but Wu and Kuai lie far to the east, and both Xiao Yan and Xiao Kan are there. Lead your troops to pacify that region, display the power of the state, and proclaim the civilizing influence of the court. With your clear strategy, advance on the momentum of victory. Like wind and lightning you will sweep them away, and they will surely submit. If arms need not be used and the people gain peace, that will truly fulfill my wish—and it will be through your efforts. Chen Junfan, Marquis of Yongxin, fled from Jinling to join Kan, and their armies united their forces. Seeing that Shu's army was approaching, Kan grew afraid. He built palisades east of Jinling, cut off the canal road, and left troops to resist Shu. Kan himself entered Lake Tai from Yixing, intending to strike at Shu's rear. Shu advanced, broke through the palisades, turned his army to strike Kan, and inflicted a crushing defeat, beheading Kan's marshal of the left, Cao Lecha. The vanguard again captured Wuzhou. Kan held Baoshan with his remaining troops, but Yan Rong attacked and defeated him. Shu advanced to Fenggong Dam, where Xiao Yan, Chen Junfan, and others offered to surrender Kuaiji. Shu accepted. The two men bound themselves and stood by the roadside, and Wu and Kuai were entirely pacified. For his merit one of his sons was appointed Colonel-Director-in-Chief, he was granted three thousand lengths of goods, and he was appointed Area Commander of Anzhou.
3
時晉王廣鎮揚州，甚善於述，欲述近己，因奏為壽州刺史總管。 王時陰有奪宗之志，請計於述，述曰：「皇太子失愛已久，令德不聞於天下。 大王仁孝著稱，才能蓋世，數經將領，深有大功。 主上之與內宮，鹹所鍾愛，四海之望，實歸於大王。 然廢立者，國家之大事，處人父子骨肉之間，誠非易謀也。 然能移主上者，唯楊素耳。 素之謀者，唯其弟約。 述雅知約，請朝京師，與約相見，共圖廢立。」 晉王大悅，多齎金寶，資述入關。 述數請約，盛陳器玩，與之酣暢，因而共博，每佯不勝，所齎金寶盡輸之。 約所得既多，稍以謝述。 述因曰：「此晉王之賜，令述與公為歡樂耳。」 約大驚曰：「何為者？」 述因為王申意。 約然其說，退言於素，素亦從之。 於是素每與述謀事。 晉王與述情好益密，命述子士及尚南陽公主，前後賞賜不可勝計。 及晉王為皇太子，以述為左衛率。 舊令，率官第四品，上以述素貴，遂進率品為第三，其見重如此。
At that time Prince Guang of Jin was stationed at Yangzhou and was on very good terms with Shu. Wishing to keep Shu near himself, he memorialized to have him appointed Area Commander and Inspector of Shouzhou. The prince at that time secretly harbored the ambition to seize the succession and sought Shu's counsel. Shu said, "The Crown Prince has long since lost favor, and his virtue is not known throughout the realm. Your Highness is renowned for benevolence and filial piety, your talent surpasses the age, you have repeatedly led armies, and you have achieved great merit. Both the sovereign and the inner palace cherish you alike, and the hopes of the empire truly rest upon Your Highness. Yet deposition and installation are great affairs of state, and to stand between father and son is truly no easy matter to plot. Yet the one who can move the sovereign is Yang Su alone. Of those who counsel Su, only his younger brother Yue matters. Shu was on familiar terms with Yue. He asked to go to the capital, meet with Yue, and together plot the change of succession. The Prince of Jin was greatly pleased and loaded Shu with gold and jewels to fund his journey to the capital. Shu repeatedly invited Yue, lavishly displayed vessels and curios, and drank freely with him. They then gambled together, and each time Shu pretended to lose until all the gold and jewels he had brought had passed to Yue. Once Yue had gained a great deal, he gradually began to thank Shu. Shu then said, "These were gifts from the Prince of Jin, meant only for us to enjoy together. Yue was greatly startled and said, "What is the meaning of this?" Shu then conveyed the prince's intentions on his behalf. Yue approved of this plan, withdrew and spoke of it to Su, and Su assented as well. Thereafter Su regularly plotted affairs together with Shu. The Prince of Jin and Shu grew ever closer. He arranged for Shu's son Shiji to marry the Princess of Nanyang, and the rewards bestowed before and after were beyond counting. When the Prince of Jin became Crown Prince, Shu was appointed Colonel of the Left Guard. By the old regulations the colonel's office was fourth rank, but because the emperor considered Shu inherently noble, he advanced the colonel's rank to third—such was the esteem in which he was held.
4
煬帝嗣位，拜左衛大將軍，改封許國公。 ，加開府儀同三司，每冬正朝會，輒給鼓吹一部。 從幸榆林，時鐵勒契弊歌棱攻敗吐谷渾，其部攜散，遂遣使請降求救。 帝令述以兵屯西平之臨羌城，撫納降附。 吐谷渾見述擁強兵，懼不敢降，遂西遁。 述領鷹揚郎將梁元禮、張峻、崔師等追之，至曼頭城，攻拔之，斬三千餘級。 乘勝至赤水城，複拔之。 其餘黨走屯丘尼川，述進擊，大破之，獲其王公、尚書、將軍二百人，前後虜男女四千口而還。 渾主南走雪山，其故地皆空。 帝大悅。 明年，從帝西幸，巡至金山，登燕支，述每為斥候。 時渾賊複寇張掖，進擊走之。 還至江都宮，敕述與蘇威常典選舉，參預朝政。 述時貴重，委任與蘇威等，其親愛則過之。 帝所得遠方貢獻及四時口味，輒見班賜，中使相望於道。 述善於供奉，俯仰折旋，容止便辟，宿衛者鹹取則焉。 又有巧思，凡有所裝飾，皆出人意表。 數以奇服異物進獻宮掖，由是帝彌悅焉。 時述貴幸，言無不從，勢傾朝廷。 左衛將軍張瑾與述連官，嘗有評議，偶不中意，述張目叱之，瑾惶懼而走，文武百僚莫敢違忤。 然性貪鄙，知人有珍異之物，必求取之。 富商大賈及隴右諸胡子弟，述皆接以恩意，呼之為兒。 由是競加饋遺，金寶累積。 後庭曳羅綺者數百，家僮千餘人，皆控良馬，被服金玉。 述之寵遇，當時莫與為比。
When Emperor Yang succeeded to the throne, Shu was appointed General-in-Chief of the Left Guard and reenfeoffed as Duke of Xu. He was further granted the title of Director-in-Chief with the Ceremonial Equipage of the Three Excellencies, and at each winter court assembly he was given a set of martial music. He accompanied the emperor to Yulin. At that time the Tiele chief Qibili Geling attacked and defeated Tuyuhun, whose tribes scattered in flight, and they then sent envoys to request surrender and aid. The emperor ordered Shu to station troops at Linqiang in Xiping to pacify and receive those who surrendered. Tuyuhun, seeing that Shu commanded a strong army, was afraid to surrender and fled westward. Shu led the Eagle-Flying Commandants Liang Yuanli, Zhang Jun, Cui Shi, and others in pursuit. Reaching Mantou, they attacked and captured it, beheading more than three thousand. Pressing the victory to Chishui, they captured that city as well. The remaining factions fled and encamped at Qiuni River. Shu advanced and inflicted a crushing defeat, capturing two hundred of their princes, ministers, and generals, and in all took four thousand men and women captive before returning. The Tuyuhun ruler fled south to Snow Mountain, and his former lands were left empty. The emperor was greatly pleased. The following year he accompanied the emperor on a western tour to Mount Jin and the ascent of Mount Yanzhi, serving each time as scout. At that time the Tuyuhun bandits again raided Zhangye. He advanced and drove them off. Returning to the Jiangdu Palace, the emperor ordered Shu and Su Wei regularly to oversee selections and appointments and to participate in court governance. Shu was at that time noble and powerful. His commissions of trust were equal to Su Wei and the others, but in personal favor he surpassed them. Whatever the emperor received in tribute from distant lands and seasonal delicacies, he would at once bestow a share upon Shu, and palace envoys lined the roads in succession. Shu was skilled at attendance. In bowing and rising, turning and wheeling, his bearing and manner were nimble and pleasing, and the palace guards all took him as their model. He also had ingenious ideas, and whatever he decorated was beyond people's expectations. He repeatedly presented strange garments and exotic objects to the inner palace, and thereby the emperor grew ever more pleased with him. At that time Shu was noble and favored. None of his words went unheeded, and his power overshadowed the court. Left Guard General Zhang Jin served in the same office as Shu. They once had a discussion in which Jin happened to displease him, and Shu glared and shouted at him. Jin fled in fear, and none of the civil and military officials dared to defy him. Yet by nature he was greedy and base. If he learned that someone possessed rare and precious things, he was sure to seek and take them. Great merchants and the sons of the various Hu families west of Long—Shu treated them all with gracious favor and called them his sons. Thereby they vied in presenting gifts, and gold and jewels piled up. In the rear courtyard several hundred women trailed silk and brocade. More than a thousand household servants all rode fine horses and wore gold and jade. The favor shown to Shu at that time had no equal.
5
及征高麗，述為扶餘道軍將。 臨發，帝謂述曰：「禮，七十者行役以婦人從，公宜以家累自隨。 古稱婦人不入軍，謂臨戰時耳。 至於營壘之間，無所傷也。 項籍虞姬，即其故事。」 述與九軍至鴨綠水，糧盡，議欲班師。 諸將多異同，述又不測帝意。 會乙支文德來詣其營，述先與于仲文俱奉密旨，令誘執文德。 既而緩縱，文德逃歸，語在《仲文傳》。 述內不自安，遂與諸將渡水追之。 時文德見述軍中多饑色，欲疲述眾，每鬥便北。 述一日之中七戰皆捷，既恃驟勝，又內逼群議，於是遂進，東濟薩水，去平壤城三十裡，因山為營。 文德複遣使偽降，請述曰：「若旋師者，當奉高元朝行在所。」 述見士卒疲敝，不可複戰，又平壤險固，卒難致力，遂因其詐而還。 眾半濟，賊擊後軍，於是大潰，不可禁止，九軍敗績，一日一夜，還至鴨綠水，行四百五十裡。 初，渡遼九軍三十萬五千人，及還至遼東城，唯二千七百人。 帝大怒，以述等屬吏。 至東都，除名為民。 明年，帝有事遼東，複述官爵，待之如初。 從至遼東，與將軍楊義臣率兵複臨鴨綠水。 會楊玄感作亂，帝召述班師，令馳驛赴河陽，發諸郡兵以討玄感。 時玄感逼東都，聞述軍將至，懼而西遁，將圖關中。 述與刑部尚書衛玄、左禦衛將軍來護兒、武衛將軍屈突通等躡之。 至閿鄉皇天原，與玄感相及。 述與來護兒列陣當其前，遣屈突通以奇兵擊其後，大破之，遂斬玄感，傳首行在所。 賜物數千段。 複從東征，至懷遠而還。
When the campaign against Goguryeo was launched, Shu served as army commander of the Fuyu Route. Before departure the emperor told Shu, "By ritual, when a man of seventy goes on campaign his wife may accompany him. You ought to bring your household with you. The ancients said that women do not enter the army—this refers only to the moment of battle. Within the camps and fortifications, there is no harm in it. Xiang Yu and Yu Ji are precisely such an example. Shu and the nine armies reached the Yalu River. Provisions were exhausted, and they discussed withdrawing the army. The generals were largely divided in opinion, and Shu could not gauge the emperor's intentions. It happened that Eulji Mundeok came to his camp. Shu had earlier received a secret order together with Yu Zhongwen to lure and seize Mundeok. Thereafter they relaxed their guard, and Mundeok escaped and returned—the account is in the 《Biography of Zhongwen》. Shu was inwardly ill at ease and thereupon crossed the river with the generals in pursuit. At that time Mundeok saw that many in Shu's army showed signs of hunger and wished to wear down Shu's force. Each time they fought he retreated northward. Shu fought seven battles in a single day and won them all. Trusting in his swift victories and inwardly pressed by the generals' counsel, he advanced, crossed the Sui River to the east, came within thirty li of Pyongyang, and encamped along the mountains. Mundeok again sent envoys in feigned surrender, telling Shu, "If you withdraw your army, we will present King Goguryeo at his traveling palace. Shu saw that the soldiers were worn and exhausted and could not fight again, and that Pyongyang was perilous and strong and could not quickly be taken. He therefore accepted their deception and withdrew. When the army was half across, the enemy struck the rear guard, and a rout followed that could not be stopped. The nine armies were defeated. In one day and one night they returned to the Yalu River, covering four hundred fifty li. Initially the nine armies crossing the Liao numbered three hundred five thousand men. When they returned to Liaodong, only twenty-seven hundred remained. The emperor was greatly enraged and handed Shu and the others over to the judicial officials. Upon reaching the Eastern Capital, their names were struck from the registers and they were reduced to commoners. The following year, when the emperor again undertook affairs in Liaodong, he restored Shu's offices and titles and treated him as before. He accompanied the emperor to Liaodong and, together with General Yang Yichen, led troops again to the banks of the Yalu. It happened that Yang Xuangan raised a rebellion. The emperor summoned Shu to withdraw the army and ordered him to ride post-horses to Heyang to mobilize troops from the various commanderies to suppress Xuangan. At that time Xuangan was pressing the Eastern Capital. Hearing that Shu's army was approaching, he was afraid and fled westward, intending to seize the Guanzhong region. Shu, together with Minister of Justice Wei Xuan, Left Imperial Guard General Lai Huer, Martial Guard General Qutu Tong, and others, pursued him. Reaching Huangtian Plain in Wenxiang, they caught up with Xuangan. Shu and Lai Huer drew up their battle lines before him and sent Qutu Tong with a flanking force to strike from the rear. They inflicted a crushing defeat, beheaded Xuangan, and sent his head to the emperor's traveling residence. He was granted several thousand lengths of goods. He again followed on the eastern campaign, reaching Huaiyuan before returning.
6
突厥之圍雁門，帝懼，述請潰圍而出。 樊子蓋固諫不可，帝乃止。 及圍解，車駕次太原，議者多勸帝還京師，帝有難色。 述因奏曰：「從官妻子多在東都，便道向洛陽，自潼關而入可也。」 帝從之。 是歲，至東都，述又觀望帝意，勸幸江都，帝大悅。 述于江都遇疾，中使相望，帝將親臨視之，群臣苦諫乃止。 遂遣司宮魏氏問述曰：「必有不諱，欲何所言？」 述二子化及、智及，時並得罪於家，述因奏曰：「化及臣之長子，早預籓邸，願陛下哀憐之。」 帝聞，泫然曰：「吾不忘也。」 及薨，帝為之廢朝，贈司徒、尚書令、十郡太守，班劍四十人，轀輬車，前後部鼓吹，諡曰恭，帝令黃門侍郎裴矩祭乙太牢，鴻臚監護喪事。 子化及，別有傳。 雲定興雲定興者，附會於述。 初，定興女為皇太子勇昭訓，及勇廢，除名配少府。 定興先得昭訓明珠絡帳，私賂於述，自是數共交遊。 定興每時節必有賂遺，並以音樂幹述。 述素好著奇服，炫耀時人。 定興為制馬韉，於後角上缺方三寸，以露白色。 世輕薄者爭放學之，謂為許公缺勢。 又遇天寒，定興曰：「入內宿衛，必當耳冷。」 述曰：「然。」 乃制裌頭巾，令深袙耳。 又學之，名為許公袙勢。 述大悅曰：「雲兄所作，必能變俗。 我聞作事可法，故不虛也。」 後帝將事四夷，大造兵器，述薦之，因敕少府工匠並取其節度。 述欲為之求官，謂定興曰：「兄所制器仗併合上心，而不得官者，為長寧兄弟猶未死耳。」 定興曰：「此無用物，何不勸上殺之。」 述因奏曰：「房陵諸子，年並成立。 今欲動兵征討，若將從駕，則守掌為難； 若留一處，又恐不可。 進退無用，請早處分。」 帝從之，因鴆殺長寧，又遣以下七弟分配嶺表，仍遣間使于路盡殺之。 五年，大閱軍實，帝稱甲仗為佳。 述奏曰：」並雲定興之功也。」 擢授少府丞。 尋代何稠為少監，轉衛尉少卿，遷左禦衛將軍，仍知少府事。 十一年，授左屯衛大將軍。
When the Turks besieged Yanmen, the emperor was afraid, and Shu requested to break out of the encirclement. Fan Zigai firmly remonstrated against it, and the emperor thereupon abandoned the idea. When the siege was lifted, the imperial carriage halted at Taiyuan. Many advisers urged the emperor to return to the capital, and he looked troubled. Shu thereupon memorialized, saying, "The wives and children of the accompanying officials are mostly in the Eastern Capital. We may take the convenient route to Luoyang and enter through Tong Pass. The emperor assented. That year, upon reaching the Eastern Capital, Shu again watched the emperor's mood and urged a visit to Jiangdu. The emperor was greatly pleased. Shu fell ill at Jiangdu. Palace envoys came in unbroken succession, and the emperor was about to visit him in person until the ministers earnestly remonstrated and he desisted. He then sent the Palace Attendant of the Inner Quarters, Lady Wei, to ask Shu, "You must be facing the inevitable—what do you wish to say? Shu's two sons Huaji and Zhiji were at that time both in disgrace at home. Shu thereupon memorialized, "Huaji is my eldest son. He entered the prince's household early—may Your Majesty show him pity." When the emperor heard this, he said with tears, "I shall not forget." When he died, the emperor suspended court for him. He was posthumously granted the titles of Minister of Education and Director of the Imperial Secretariat, the governorship of ten commanderies, forty halberd-bearers, an imperial carriage, and front and rear martial music, with the posthumous title Gong. The emperor ordered Yellow Gate Attendant Pei Ju to sacrifice a great offering of the second grade and the Court of State Ceremonial to supervise the funeral. His son Huaji is treated in a separate biography. Yun Dingxing attached himself to Shu. Initially Dingxing's daughter had been a Brilliant Instructor to Crown Prince Yong. When Yong was deposed, her name was struck from the registers and she was assigned to the Palace Storehouse. Dingxing had earlier obtained the Brilliant Instructor's pearl-net canopy and privately bribed Shu with it. From then on they frequently associated together. At every season Dingxing was sure to present bribes, and he also sought favor with Shu through music. Shu had always liked to wear strange garments and dazzle people of the day. Dingxing had a saddle made with a three-inch square cut from the rear corner to expose white. The frivolous men of the age vied to imitate it, calling it Duke Xu's missing corner. When the weather turned cold, Dingxing said, "Serving on night guard inside the palace, one's ears are sure to grow cold. Shu said, "Indeed." He then had a lined headcloth made with deep flaps to cover the ears. Others again imitated it, calling it Duke Xu's ear-flap style. Shu was greatly pleased and said, "What Elder Brother Yun has made is sure to transform custom. I have heard that what one does can become a model—this is no empty boast. Later, when the emperor was about to undertake affairs with the four barbarians and was manufacturing arms on a great scale, Shu recommended him, and the emperor ordered that the craftsmen of the Palace Storehouse all take their standards from him. Shu wished to seek office for him and said to Dingxing, "The arms and armor you make all accord with the sovereign's mind, yet you have not received office because the brothers of Changning are still alive. Dingxing said, "These useless creatures—why not urge the sovereign to kill them?" Shu thereupon memorialized, "The sons at Fangling have all reached maturity. Now that we wish to mobilize troops for campaign, if they accompany the imperial carriage, guarding and holding office will be difficult; if they are left in one place, I fear that too will not do. Whether they advance or withdraw they are useless—please dispose of them early." The emperor assented and thereupon poisoned Changning. He also sent the seven younger brothers below him to assignments beyond the Ling range and still dispatched secret agents on the road to kill them all. In year five a great review of military stores was held, and the emperor praised the armor and weapons as excellent. Shu memorialized, "This is entirely the achievement of Yun Dingxing." He was promoted and appointed Assistant Director of the Palace Storehouse. Soon he replaced He Chou as Assistant Supervisor, was transferred to Junior Director of the Court of the Imperial Stud, was promoted to Left Imperial Guard General, and still oversaw the affairs of the Palace Storehouse. In year eleven he was appointed General-in-Chief of the Left Garrison Guard.
7
凡述所薦達，皆至大官。 趙行樞乙太常樂戶，家財億計，述謂為兄，多受其賄。 稱其驍勇，起家為折衝郎將。 郭衍郭衍，字彥文，自雲太原介休人也。 父以舍人從魏武帝入關，其後官至侍中。 衍少驍武，善騎射。 周陳王純引為左右，累遷大都督。 時齊氏未平，衍奉詔於天水募人，以鎮東境，得樂徙千餘家，屯於陝城。 拜使持節、車騎大將軍、儀同三司。 每有寇至，輒率所領禦之，一歲數告捷，頗為齊人所憚。 王益親任之。 建德中，周武帝出幸雲陽，衍朝於行所，時議欲伐齊，衍請為前鋒。 攻河陰城，授儀同大將軍。 武帝圍晉州，慮齊兵來援，令衍從陳王守千里徑。 又從武帝與齊主大戰于晉州，追齊師至高壁，敗之。 仍從平并州，以功加授開府，封武強縣公，邑一千二百戶，賜姓叱羅氏。 ，為右中軍熊渠中大夫。
All whom Shu recommended and advanced reached high office. Zhao Xingshu, a musician of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, had household wealth reckoned in the hundreds of millions. Shu called him elder brother and received many bribes from him. Praising his valor, Shu had him enter office as a Resolute Assault Commandant. Guo Yan, whose courtesy name was Yanwen, claimed to be a native of Jiexiu in Taiyuan. His father, as a palace attendant, followed Emperor Wu of Wei through the passes and later rose to Attendant-in-Ordinary. As a youth, Yan was valiant in arms and skilled at riding and archery. Prince Chun of Chen of Zhou took him into his personal service and repeatedly promoted him to Grand Commander. At that time the Qi had not yet been pacified. Yan received orders to recruit men at Tianshui to guard the eastern frontier, obtained more than a thousand households of music-office dependents, and encamped them at Shancheng. He was appointed Bearer of the Staff of Authority, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Director with the Ceremonial Equipage of the Three Excellencies. Whenever raiders came, he led those under his command to repel them. Several times in a year he reported victory, and the Qi people came to fear him considerably. The prince came to trust and employ him all the more. In the Jiande era Emperor Wu of Zhou went out to Yunyang. Yan attended him at the traveling residence, and when deliberations turned to attacking Qi, Yan requested to serve as vanguard. He attacked Heyin and was appointed General-in-Chief with the Ceremonial Equipage. Emperor Wu besieged Jinzhou, fearing that Qi troops would come to its relief, and ordered Yan to follow Prince Chen in guarding the Thousand-Li Path. He also followed Emperor Wu in the great battle with the Qi ruler at Jinzhou, pursued the Qi army to Gaobi, and defeated it. He still followed in the pacification of Bingzhou. For his merit he was further granted the title of Director-in-Chief, enfeoffed as Duke of Wuqiang with a fief of twelve hundred households, and given the surname Chiluo. He was appointed Right Central Army Bear-Channel Grand Master of the Palace.
8
尉迥之起逆，從韋孝寬戰于武陟，進戰於相州。 先是，迥遣弟子勤為青州總管，率青、齊之眾來助迥。 迥敗，勤與迥子惇、祐等欲東奔青州。 衍將精騎一千追破之，執祐於陣，勤遂遁走，而惇亦逃逸。 衍至濟州，入據其城，又擊其餘党於濟北，累戰破之，執送京師。 超授上柱國，封武山郡公。 賞物七千段。 密勸高祖殺周室諸王，早行禪代。 由是大被親昵。 ，敕復舊姓為郭氏。 突厥犯塞，以衍為行軍總管，領兵屯於平涼。 數歲，虜不入。 征為開漕渠大監。 部率水工，鑿渠引渭水，經大興城北，東至於潼關，漕運四百餘裡。 關內賴之，名之曰富民渠。 五年，授瀛州刺史。 遇秋霖大水，其屬縣多漂沒，民皆上高樹，依大家。 衍親備舩栰，並齎糧拯救之，民多獲濟。 衍先開倉賑恤，後始聞奏。 上大善之，選授朔州總管。 所部有恆安鎮，北接蕃境，常勞轉運。 衍乃選沃饒地，置屯田，歲剩粟萬餘石，民免轉輸之勞。 又築桑乾鎮，皆稱旨。 十年，從晉王廣出鎮揚州。 遇江表構逆，命衍為總管，領精銳萬人先屯京口。 于貴洲南與賊戰，敗之，生擒魁帥，大獲舟楫糧儲，以充軍實，乃討東陽、永嘉、宣城、黟、歙諸洞，盡平之。 授蔣州刺史。
When Yu Chi raised a rebellion, he followed Wei Xiaokuan in battle at Wuzhi and advanced to fight at Xiangzhou. Earlier Chi had sent his younger brother's son Qin as Area Commander of Qingzhou to lead the masses of Qing and Qi to aid Chi. When Chi was defeated, Qin, together with Chi's sons Dun and You and others, wished to flee east to Qingzhou. Yan led a thousand elite cavalry in pursuit and defeated them. He seized You on the battlefield, Qin fled, and Dun also escaped. Yan reached Jizhou, entered and seized its city, and again attacked the remaining factions in Jibei. After repeated battles he defeated them and sent the captives to the capital. He was promoted out of turn to Superior Pillar of State and enfeoffed as Duke of Wushan. He was rewarded with seven thousand lengths of goods. He secretly urged Emperor Gaozu to kill the princes of the Zhou house and carry out the transfer of the mandate early. Thereby he came to be greatly favored and intimate. An edict restored his former surname as Guo. When the Turks raided the frontier, Yan was appointed campaign commander-in-chief and led troops to encamp at Pingliang. For several years the barbarians did not enter. He was summoned to serve as Grand Supervisor of the Opening of the Transport Canal. He directed water workers, cut a canal to draw the Wei River past the north of Daxing east to Tong Pass, and transported grain by water for more than four hundred li. The Guanzhong region relied upon it, and it was named the Canal for Enriching the People. In year five he was appointed Inspector of Yingzhou. He encountered autumn rains and great floods. Many subordinate counties were washed away, and the people climbed tall trees and relied on great households. Yan personally prepared boats and rafts, brought grain as well, and rescued them. Many of the people were saved. Yan first opened the granaries for relief before memorializing the matter. The emperor greatly approved and selected him for appointment as Area Commander of Shuozhou. Within his jurisdiction was Heng'an Fort, which bordered the barbarian frontier to the north and constantly burdened transport. Yan then selected fertile land and established military colonies. Each year more than ten thousand piculs of grain remained, and the people were spared the labor of transport. He also built Sanggan Fort—all met with imperial approval. In year ten he followed Prince Guang of Jin out to station at Yangzhou. When rebellion arose south of the Yangzi, he was ordered to serve as commander-in-chief, leading ten thousand elite troops to encamp first at Jingkou. South of Guizhou he fought the rebels and defeated them, capturing the chieftain alive and gaining a great store of boats and grain supplies to fill the army's needs. He then campaigned against the cave settlements of Dongyang, Yongjia, Xuancheng, Yi, and She and pacified them all. He was appointed Inspector of Jiangzhou.
9
衍臨下甚踞，事上奸諂。 晉王愛昵之，宴賜隆厚。 遷洪州總管。 王有奪宗之謀，托衍心腹，遣宇文述以情告之。 衍大喜曰：「若所謀事果，自可為皇太子。 如其不諧，亦須據淮海，複梁、陳之舊。 副君酒客，其如我何？」 王因召衍，陰共計議。 又恐人疑無故來往，托以衍妻患癭，王妃蕭氏有術能療之。 以狀奏高祖，高祖聽衍共妻向江都，往來無度。 衍又詐稱桂州俚反，王乃奏衍行兵討之。 由是大修甲仗，陰養士卒。 及王入為太子，征授左監門率，轉左宗衛率。 高祖于仁壽宮將大漸，太子與楊素矯詔，令衍、宇文述領東宮兵，帖上臺宿衛，門禁並由之。 及上崩，漢王起逆，而京師空虛，使衍馳還，總兵居守。 ，拜左武衛大將軍。 帝幸江都，令衍統左軍，改授光祿大夫。 又從討吐谷渾，出金山道，納絳二萬餘戶。 衍能揣上意，阿諛順旨。 帝每謂人曰：「唯有郭衍，心與朕同。」 又嘗勸帝取樂，五日一視事，無得效高祖空自劬勞。 帝從之，益稱其孝順。 初，新令行，衍封爵從例除。 六年，以恩幸封真定侯。 七年，從往江都，卒。 贈左衛大將軍，賵賜甚厚，諡曰襄。 長子臻，武牙郎將。 次子嗣本，孝昌縣令。 【論】史臣曰：謇謇匪躬，為臣之高節，和而不同，事君之常道。 宇文述、郭衍以水濟水，如脂如韋，便辟足恭，柔顏取悅。 君所謂可，亦曰可焉，君所謂不，亦曰不焉。 無所是非，不能輕重，默默苟容，偷安高位，甘素餐之責，受彼己之譏。 此固君子所不為，亦丘明之深恥也。
Yan was very overbearing toward those below and fawning and sycophantic toward those above. The Prince of Jin loved and favored him, bestowing feasts and gifts with great generosity. He was transferred to Area Commander of Hongzhou. The prince had a plot to seize the succession and entrusted Yan as a confidant, sending Yu Wenshu to inform him of the matter in full. Yan was greatly pleased and said, "If the matter you plot succeeds, you may naturally become Crown Prince. If it does not succeed, you must still hold the Huai and sea region and restore the old domains of Liang and Chen. As for a deputy lord and wine companion—what can he do to me? The prince thereupon summoned Yan and secretly deliberated with him. He also feared that people would suspect their coming and going without cause, and used as a pretext that Yan's wife suffered from goiter and that the princess consort Xiao had a technique that could cure it. He memorialized the situation to Emperor Gaozu, and Gaozu permitted Yan to bring his wife to Jiangdu. Their comings and goings knew no limit. Yan also falsely claimed that the Li of Guizhou had rebelled, and the prince then memorialized that Yan should lead troops to suppress them. Thereby he greatly repaired armor and weapons and secretly nurtured soldiers. When the prince entered the capital as Crown Prince, Yan was summoned and appointed Colonel of the Left Gate Guard, then transferred to Colonel of the Left Palace Guard. When Emperor Gaozu at Renshou Palace was about to reach his end, the Crown Prince and Yang Su forged an edict ordering Yan and Yu Wenshu to lead the Eastern Palace troops, post them for night guard at the upper terrace, and place gate control entirely in their hands. When the emperor died, Prince Han raised a rebellion while the capital was empty. Yan was sent to ride back in haste and take overall command to hold the defense. He was appointed General-in-Chief of the Left Martial Guard. When the emperor visited Jiangdu, he ordered Yan to command the left army and appointed him Grand Master for Splendid Happiness. He again followed in the campaign against Tuyuhun, taking the Jingshan route and receiving more than twenty thousand households of the Jiang people. Yan could gauge the sovereign's intent and fawned upon him, always complying with his wishes. The emperor often told others, "Only Guo Yan has a heart in accord with mine. He also once urged the emperor to seek pleasure, attend to affairs once every five days, and not imitate Emperor Gaozu in toiling in vain. The emperor followed this advice and praised his filial obedience all the more. Initially, when the new regulations took effect, Yan's enfeoffment and title were removed according to precedent. In year six, by grace of favor he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Zhending. In year seven he followed the emperor to Jiangdu and died there. He was posthumously granted the title of General-in-Chief of the Left Guard, given very generous funeral gifts, and granted the posthumous title Xiang. His eldest son Zhen served as a Martial Tusk Commandant. His second son Siben served as Magistrate of Xiaochang County. [Commentary] The historiographer says: Earnest devotion without sparing oneself is the highest integrity of a minister; harmony without conformity is the constant way of serving a ruler. Yu Wenshu and Guo Yan were as water added to water, as pliant as tallow and leather—nimble in bearing and obsequious in deference, soft of countenance to win favor. What the lord calls acceptable, they too say is acceptable; what the lord calls not, they too say is not. They had no judgment of right and wrong, could not weigh what mattered, silently tolerated all, stole ease in high position, willingly bore the blame of eating salary without work, and accepted the ridicule of others upon themselves. This is certainly what a gentleman would not do—and it is also what Zuo Qiuming would have regarded with deep shame.