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卷67 列傳第32 虞世基 裴蘊 裴矩

Volume 67 Biographies 32: Yun Shiji, Pei Yun, Pei Ju

Chapter 67 of 隋書 · Book of Sui
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Chapter 67
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Book of Sui, Volume 67, Biographies 32
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Yu Shiji
3
殿
Yu Shiji, whose style name was Maoshi, came from Yuyao in Kuaiji prefecture. His father Li had served as Junior Mentor to the crown prince of Chen. From childhood Shiji was reserved and even-tempered; neither pleasure nor anger showed on his face. He was widely read and exceptionally gifted, and excelled at both cursive and clerical calligraphy. Kong Huan, Director of the Secretariat under Chen, met him and remarked, "The finest gold of the south belongs to this man alone." When Junior Tutor Xu Ling heard of his reputation he sent for him, but Shiji declined to come. Later, at an official assembly, Xu Ling took one look at him and was astonished; turning to the court officials he said, "Here are our own Pan Yue and Lu Ji." He accordingly gave him his younger brother's daughter in marriage. Under Chen he began his career as legal aide to the Prince of Jian'an, then served successively in the Sacrifices and Palace bureaus and as attendant in the crown prince's household. He rose to Junior Mentor, Regular Attendant of Cavalry, and Left Assistant Director in the Secretariat. Once when the Chen emperor held a martial hunt on Mount Mofu, he had Shiji compose a "Rhapsody on Military Exercises" and recite it before the assembled company:
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Those content with ordinary ease cannot be judged for the merit of saving the realm; only those who meet change with resourcefulness reveal a true emperor's strategy. Why is this so? Civilization has its cultured and martial sides; advance and restraint follow different customs; ages may run thin or deep, and policy must loosen or tighten accordingly. Even after the age when heaven's signs aligned, and even for rulers whom the people revered as they do the sun, the Yellow Emperor still drilled troops at Banquan and King Wu still marshaled armies at Danpu. From this we know that civil virtue and martial achievement are deployed together as the times require, and that governing the state and founding institutions must move with the customs of the age. To raise a great name, hand down enduring instruction, bow before the hundred spirits, and embrace all within the six directions—only the sage can do this!
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使 退
In the year marked by the Quail Fire asterism, it was the fourth year of His Majesty's reign. The ten thousand things flourished in harmony; the nine regions were at peace; customs approached benevolence and longevity; the people enjoyed their daily needs. Yet though food and arms were ample, he still bore in mind the peril of walking on thin ice; what might long endure and grow great, he still guarded with the caution of one repairing rotten timbers. Tribute arrived from distant Kunwu and rare gifts from Sushen; the histories record them without cease, and the treasuries knew no idle month. Shell helmets and ceremonial bows stood ready; rhinoceros-hide shields and tower shields filled the arsenals; famous swords were cast at the Imperial Workshop, and carved halberds stocked the armory. Armies bold as bears and brown bears numbered in the millions, hosts fierce as leopards and panthers in the thousands; every weapon's edge was honed, and might reached across the four seas. Then in the farming season's pause came the spring hunt: cups were set aside and merit recorded; ministers were watched for proper ritual; rewards and punishments were applied, teaching the people what the law forbade. How magnificent! Truly a constant among the hundred kings, a moment that comes once in a thousand years! Long ago at Shanglin Park the emperor went hunting and Sima Xiangru praised his virtue; at Changyang a martial hunt was held and Yang Xiong withdrew to compose a rhapsody. Though in describing things and voicing feeling they cannot quite be compared, their splendid renown and solid achievement may still be told. The text reads:
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西 殿 輿 滿 耀 退
Heaven alone takes antiquity as its model and orders the beginning among the world's divisions. He received the celestial chart and arose in power, setting stewards of the people upon the throne. Having prevailed, he was lenient yet also stern, both martial and civil in turn. Northern foes were subdued as on King Wu of Zhou's march; southern campaigns flourished as in the achievements of King Tang. The shields of Zhou and axes of Xia may still be heard of from ages past. Our great Chen rose by quelling disorder through martial force. It conquered hardship and unified the realm. Following the people's acclaim it was raised up; then azure Heaven set the realm right once more. Therefore benevolence was heaped up to accumulate virtue, and heavy precedents were inherited and followed. The emperor's glorious achievement embodies the wise and even-handed sagacity of a true ruler. He spread the Nine Categories and all were set in order; he embraced the four seas and brought them to heel. He had already sought out talent in the founding struggle, and was cultured in thought and serene in rule. Spirits and men alike sought worthy officers; outstanding men filled the posts. He mounted the jade armillary sphere and the seven regulators were set right; the myriad states brought jade and silk and rejoiced. Before dawn he was already at work; before daylight he was planning governance. The Way held the past and foresaw the future; his merit matched Heaven and paired with Earth. He wielded the sage's supreme virtue and brought the people's full capacity to fruition. Thereupon ritual flourished and music harmonized; punishments were clear and government austere. West to Qizhi, east to Panmu—his sway reached both. Maps and registers were filled with offerings of blessing; rivers and springs poured forth fortune. Where heaven's gifts were due they surely came; who could think of not submitting? Though rule reached utmost peace and harmony, he still guarded the state and strengthened the army. He selected Forest Guards from the six commanderies and summoned archers from the five camps. All could repel the foe and still had courage to spare; all valued duty and held life lightly. Then he used the farming season's pause to instruct the people and in the spring hunt drilled for war. He ordered the Minister of War to display the law and the commanders to secure the passes and clear the countryside. He led the Xunshi banner as vanguard and posted the Gouchén banner as rear guard. He raised bird banners on plumed staffs and adorned fish-scale patterns on quilted armor. Then the leather chariot checked its reins and jade dragon fittings lined the yoke. The left wing halted to begin the march; the right bell was struck and the sound carried far. Cloud canopies crossed in light and shadow; sword cavalry wove back and forth. They pointed toward Sheti at the celestial pole and passed the vast breadth of heaven's gate. They crossed the Black Tortoise sector and looked east; they approached Mount Huang and marched north. The round watchtower faded in the distance; they reached the square marsh's open ground. At this hour spring's green awaited evening; the morning sun lit the mountain peaks. Sun and moon shed their splendor; mist and clouds breathed forth beauty. Waves cleared on rivers and seas; dust stilled across the cosmos. The imperial carriage entered the jade hall of the Great One and issued military orders in the purple chamber. He harbored the dragon stratagem's subtle plans and pledged the martial host on the field of war. He honed his warriors in Yong and Shu and trampled iron cavalry at Yuyang. He fitted divine crossbows and held them at full draw; he strung the celestial bow and drew it taut. Rainbow banners trailed in ordered ranks; Kui drums boomed in steady rhythm. The eight formations stood solemnly in ranks; the six armies faced one another in stern array. Flying ladders were blocked at the winding ramparts; siege towers rose on Martial Mound. Some loosened the bridle and charged straight ahead; reins crossed in mock combat yet no one was hurt. Adapting to the moment they struck like serpents; then treading hard they soared like hawks. They struck small branches on halberd blades and pierced targets through armor and skirts. For a time they released their foe seven times as with Meng Huo; then twice captured him as at Kazhuang. At first they rose loftily like cranes; then spread apart in goose formation. They shook valleys and rivers and spanned the eight directions; they swept seas and mountains and gleamed upon sun, moon, and stars. Surely the obscure is beyond measure—how advance and retreat are hard to predict! There were also men who hurled stones and lifted tripods, leaping onto chariots and seizing the shafts. Caps were thrust up and swords raised high; iron shields and bronze helms gleamed. Men fierce as Xiong Qu were nearly deadly; men bold as Wu Yong could seize oxen. Though warriors rivaled Ren Zhi, Ben Bo, and Xia Yu, none could stand as their foe. The nine assaults were decided; the three strategies were complete. Bells rang and sounds shook; wind rolled up and lightning faded. Thereupon brave ranks were awarded, golden music was played; the foremost heroes took their seats; Fang and Shao were ordered into the ranks. The three offerings proceeded in order; the eight instruments had not yet ceased. They danced with shields and axes in delight; hearing drums and hand-drums they were filled with joy. They shared warm garments and cast wine to one another; all forgot their bodies and died for duty. As mats were rolled and they marched across the land, one saw the royal army go forth to war. They ascended Mount Yan and slew the great boar; they came to the vast sea and cut down the long whale. They gazed at Cloud Pavilion and halted the imperial train; they performed the rite on the central peak and announced success. Truly this is the divine martial power of the emperor—vast beyond naming!
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The Chen emperor praised it and rewarded him with a horse. When Chen fell he returned home and became General Communication Attendant, serving in the Imperial Secretariat. Poor and without property, he often copied books for hire to support his parents, brooding with discontent. He once wrote pentasyllabic verse to express his feelings; the emotion was poignant, contemporaries judged it masterly, and poets everywhere recited it. Before long he was appointed Secretariat Attendant.
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使 祿
When Emperor Yang took the throne, his favor grew ever greater. Director of Rites Liu Guyan of Hedong was learned and talented and rarely praised anyone; when he met Shiji he sighed and said, "Within the empire this one man alone deserves universal acclaim; none of us can match him." Soon he was promoted to Vice Director of the Secretariat; when his mother died he left office, mourning so grievously that he was skin and bone. An edict recalled him to duty; on the day he came to audience he could scarcely stand, and the emperor ordered attendants to support him. Pitying his emaciation, the emperor ordered meat served; Shiji ate and at once choked with grief, unable to swallow. The emperor sent word: "I am entrusting you with great responsibility; you must spare your strength for the state." He urged him thus several times. The emperor valued his talent and treated him with ever greater personal regard, entrusting him with confidential affairs; with Su Wei, Yuwen Shu, Pei Ju, Pei Yun, and others he jointly directed the government. At that time the realm was in turmoil; memorials from every quarter numbered in the hundreds each day. The emperor was grave and deliberate; matters were not decided in open court; after entering the inner chambers he would summon Shiji and dictate his instructions orally. Shiji would go to the secretariat and draft the edicts—nearly a hundred documents a day, without omission or error. Such was his precision and care. During the Liaodong campaign he was promoted to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon. Later he accompanied the emperor to Yanmen; the emperor was surrounded by the Turks and many soldiers were defeated. Shiji urged the emperor to renew the reward standards, personally comfort the troops, and issue an edict halting the Liaodong campaign. The emperor followed his advice and the army's morale revived. When the siege was lifted, the promised rewards were not granted, and another edict was issued to attack Liaodong. Because of this people said he had deceived the masses, and court and countryside alike lost faith in him.
9
使
The emperor went to Jiangdu and halted at Gong County; as banditry grew daily, Shiji requested troops to garrison the Luokou granary against surprise attack. The emperor refused and only replied, "You are a scholar and surely still timid and fearful." The realm was in chaos; Shiji knew the emperor could not be dissuaded, and with Gao Jiong, Zhang Heng, and others executed one after another, he feared for his own life; though he served at the emperor's side, he only assented and dared not oppose him. Banditry grew worse daily and many commanderies and counties fell. Shiji knew the emperor hated repeated bad news; when reports of defeat arrived he would tone down the memorials and not report the full truth. After this, when trouble arose in the provinces, the emperor knew nothing of it. He once sent Yang Yichen to suppress bandits in Hebei; Yichen subdued several hundred thousand rebels and submitted a detailed report. The emperor sighed and said, "I had not realized banditry had grown so severe—how many rebels has Yichen subdued!" Shiji replied, "Though petty thieves are many, they are not worth concern. Yichen has defeated them but commands a large force and has long been outside the capital—this is most improper." The emperor said, "You are right." He hastily recalled Yichen and dispersed his troops. The Prince of Yue also sent Yuan Shanda by secret route through rebel territory to Jiangdu to report that Li Mi commanded a million men and was besieging the eastern capital; the rebels held the Luokou granary and the city had no food; if the emperor returned quickly the rabble would scatter, otherwise the eastern capital would surely fall. He sobbed and wept, and the emperor's expression changed. Seeing the emperor's worried look, Shiji stepped forward and said, "The Prince of Yue is young; these people are deceiving him. If things were as they say, how could Shanda have reached here at all?" The emperor flared with anger and said, "Shanda is a petty man who dares insult me in open court!" He sent him back through rebel territory to Dongyang to urge grain transport, and Shanda was killed by the bandits. After this no one outside dared report bandit activity in memorials.
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Shiji was grave in manner and his words usually pleased the emperor; he was especially favored, and no court minister could compare with him. His second wife, Lady Sun, was proud and dissolute; infatuated with her, Shiji indulged her extravagance. Their vessels and dress were lavishly ornamented, far from the manner of a plain scholar. Lady Sun also brought her former husband's son Xiahou Yan into Shiji's household; coarse and worthless, he amassed wealth for them. They sold offices and judgments; bribes flowed openly; their gate was like a market and gold and jewels piled high. His younger brother Shinan was a man of integrity but poor and unsupported; Shiji never gave him anything. Because of this critics mocked him, and court and countryside alike hated and resented him. When Yuwen Huaji murdered the emperor, Shiji was killed as well.
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His eldest son Su was studious and talented; contemporaries praised the family's tradition. He died young before reaching his prime. Su's younger brother Xi served as Seal and Credential Attendant at the end of the Daye era. The second sons Rou and Hui were both Gentlemen for Spreading Righteousness. On the eve of Huaji's rebellion, his clansman Yu Ji learned of it and told Xi, "Events have come to this; I will ferry you south across the river so you may escape—what use is dying together!" Xi said to Ji, "Abandoning one's father and turning against one's lord—where could one seek life? I am touched by your kindness, but from this we part forever." When disaster struck, the brothers competed to die first; the executioners killed Shiji first, then them.
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Pei Yun came from Wenxi in Hedong. His grandfather Zhiping was a guard general of Liang. His father Ji was Director of the Ministry of Justice under Chen; he was captured with Wu Mingche by Northern Zhou and ennobled as Duke of Jiangxia; he lived in Sui more than ten years before his death. Yun was sharp and articulate and had strong administrative ability. Under Chen he served as Direct Gate General and magistrate of Xingning. Because his father was in the north, Yun secretly submitted a memorial to Emperor Gaozu offering to serve as an inside agent. When Chen fell, the emperor reviewed the southern gentry in turn; when he reached Yun, believing Yun had long wished to submit, he exceptionally granted him Palace Attendant rank. Left Vice Director Gao Jiong did not grasp the emperor's intent and remonstrated, "Pei Yun has rendered no service to the state; his favor exceeds his peers—I do not see how this is justified." The emperor further promoted Yun to Senior Palace Attendant; Jiong remonstrated again; the emperor said, "Then make him Opening the Government." Jiong dared speak no further; that same day Yun was appointed Grand Master of the Palace with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon, Third Class, with generous gifts. He served as governor of Yang, Zhi, and Ji prefectures, earning a reputation for ability in each. At the beginning of the Daye era, his performance evaluations were repeatedly top-ranked. Emperor Yang heard of his good governance and summoned him as Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Earlier Emperor Gaozu disliked music and entertainments; he sent Niu Hong to regulate music and dismissed all non-orthodox sounds, clear shang melodies, and the nine departments' four dances, returning performers to the populace. By then Yun guessed the emperor's intent and memorialized to register music-house descendants from Zhou, Qi, Liang, and Chen throughout the realm as music households. Those of sixth rank and below, down to commoners skilled in music or in singing, acting, and variety entertainments, were all assigned to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Thereafter exotic skills and licentious music all gathered in the Music Bureau; doctorate students were appointed to teach one another, and musicians increased to more than thirty thousand. The emperor was greatly pleased and promoted him to Vice Director of the Ministry of Population.
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The realm still enjoyed the peace left by Emperor Gaozu; regulations were lax and household registers had many omissions. Some who had reached adulthood still falsely claimed to be minors; some not yet old were already exempt from rent and tax. Yun had served repeatedly as prefectural governor and knew these abuses well; he therefore memorialized ordering physical inspection of all registrants. If even one registrant was found false, the responsible officials were dismissed and village and hamlet heads were exiled. He also allowed mutual denunciation; if one concealed adult male was reported, the reported household had to pay his taxes and corvée. That year, the fifth year of Daye, the commanderies' census accounts reported 243,000 new adult males and 641,500 newly registered dependents. The emperor reviewed the reports in court and told the officials, "Former ages had no capable men, which led to this widespread fraud. That the registered population is now accurate is entirely due to Pei Yun's devoted effort alone. The old saying holds that finding the worthy brings good government—here the truth of it is proved!" From this he was gradually entrusted with greater responsibility, appointed Assistant Administrator of Jingzhao; he exposed every detail and officials and commoners alike feared him.
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便 西 便 祿 殿西
Before long he was promoted to Censor-in-Chief and with Pei Ju and Yu Shiji jointly managed confidential affairs. Yun was skilled at reading the emperor's subtle intent; when the emperor wished to punish someone, he would bend the law and forge the case. Those the emperor wished to pardon he would attach to lenient statutes and release. After this all cases great and small were entrusted to Yun; the Ministry of Justice and Court of Review dared not override him; they had to await his instructions before deciding. Yun was also quick-witted; in legal argument his words flowed like a river; whether the penalty was heavy or light came from his mouth alone; his analysis was sharp, and no one could refute him. When Yang Xuangan rebelled, the emperor sent Yun to investigate his associates and told him, "Xuangan gave one call and a hundred thousand followed—this shows the people do not want large numbers; when too many gather they become bandits. Unless we execute them all, there will be no deterring others afterward." Yun therefore applied harsh justice; tens of thousands were executed and their families' property confiscated. The emperor greatly praised him and bestowed fifteen servants. Director of the Capital Xue Daoheng was punished for offending the emperor; Yun knew the emperor hated him and memorialized, "Daoheng relies on his talent and old association; he harbors disloyal thoughts. Whenever an edict was issued he privately criticized it, blaming the state and recklessly stirring trouble. Judging by the letter of the law his offense seems obscure, but tracing his intent it is deeply rebellious." The emperor said, "Exactly. When I was young I campaigned with this man; he looked down on my youth; together with Gao Jiong, He Ruo Bi, and others he arrogated power, and knew himself guilty. When I took the throne he felt uneasy; only because the realm was at peace had he not yet rebelled. Your account of his treason perfectly captures what I have long felt." Daoheng was thereupon executed. The emperor also asked Su Wei about the strategy for attacking Liaodong; Wei did not want the emperor to campaign again and wished him to know how many bandits filled the realm; he answered evasively, "For this campaign I would not send troops; only issue an edict pardoning the bandit hosts and you will naturally gain several hundred thousand men. Send the Guanzhong slave-bandits and Shandong leaders such as Lishan Fei and Zhang Jincheng as a separate army along the Liaoxi route; equip the dozen-odd Henan bandit chiefs Wang Bo, Meng Rang, and others with boats to sail the eastern sea route—they will rejoice at pardon and compete for merit; within a year Goguryeo can be destroyed." The emperor said displeased, "When I go I still cannot conquer them—how can petty thieves succeed?" After Wei left, Yun memorialized, "This is grossly insubordinate—where in the realm are there so many bandits!" The emperor understood and said, "The old man is full of treachery; he uses bandits to threaten me. I want to shut his mouth but can only bear it in silence—it is truly unbearable." Yun knew the emperor's intent and had Zhang Xingben memorialize Wei's crimes; the emperor entrusted Yun to investigate him and arranged his execution. The emperor said, "I cannot yet bear to kill him outright." Thereupon father, son, and three generations of descendants were all struck from the registers. Yun also wished to increase his power and had Yu Shiji memorialize to abolish subordinate officials from Director of the Capital downward and add more than a hundred censors. Thereupon he brought in the treacherous to form factions; commanderies and counties that did not submit were secretly attacked. At that time military and civil affairs were pressing; whenever troops were mobilized, the capital was left under guard, or trade was conducted with frontier peoples—censors were assigned to oversee it all. Clients and dependents spread through every commandery, harassing the people, of which the emperor knew nothing. For the Liaodong campaign he was promoted to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Silver Seal and Blue Ribbon. When Sima Dekan was about to rebel, the magistrate of Jiangyang Zhang Huishao rode through the night to warn him. Yun and Huishao plotted to forge an edict mobilizing capital troops and civilians, place everything under Laihuer's command, seize the rebel Yuwen Huaji and his party outside, dispatch palace guards, send Fan Fulou and others from the Western Park to secure Xiao Ju and the Prince of Yan, and storm the gate to rescue the emperor. Once the plan was set they sent word to Yu Shiji. Shiji doubted the report of rebellion and suppressed the plan. In a moment disaster struck; Yun sighed, "Consulting that Broadcast Gentleman ruined everything." He was thereupon killed. His son Yin, Direct Attendant of the Imperial Carriage, died the same day.
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調 使 鹿 殿
Pei Ju, whose style name was Hongda, came from Wenxi in Hedong. His grandfather Ta was Director of the Ministry of Justice under Wei. His father Nezhi was attendant in the crown prince's household under Qi. Ju was orphaned in infancy; when grown he loved learning, favored literary craft, and was resourceful. His elder uncle Rangzhi told him, "Judging your talent, you could become an accomplished man; if you seek advancement, you should master practical affairs of state." Ju then turned his attention to practical affairs. When the Prince of Beiping Zhen served as governor of Sizhou he recruited Ju as military bureau aide; Ju later became literary scholar to the Prince of Gaoping. When Qi fell he could not obtain a new appointment. When Emperor Gaozu was governor-general of Dingzhou he summoned Ju as recorder and treated him with great regard. He left office to mourn his mother. When Gaozu became chancellor he sent a messenger to summon Ju to serve in the chancellery secretariat. When Gaozu took the throne Ju was made Attendant for Submitting Matters and handled palace attendant affairs. In the campaign against Chen he headed the commander's secretariat. After Danyang fell, the Prince of Jin ordered Ju and Gao Jiong to collect Chen maps and archives. The next year he memorialized to tour Lingnan; before he departed Gao Zhihui, Wang Wenjin, and others rebelled, the Wu and Yue routes were cut, and the emperor hesitated to send Ju. Ju asked to advance at once and the emperor agreed. Reaching Nankang he gathered several thousand troops. The Liao chief Wang Zhongxuan was pressing Guangzhou and sent his general Zhou Shiju to besiege Eastern Hengzhou. Ju and General Lu Yuan marched to relieve the siege; the rebels built nine palisades on Dayu Ridge to support one another. Ju attacked and defeated them; the rebels fled Eastern Hengzhou and held Yuan-chang Ridge. He defeated them again, beheaded Shiju, and marched from Nanhai to relieve Guangzhou. Zhongxuan fled and his forces scattered. Ju pacified more than twenty prefectures and, by imperial commission, appointed local chieftains as prefects and magistrates. On his return the emperor was delighted, had him received in hall, and said to Gao Jiong and Yang Su, "Wei Guang led twenty thousand men yet could not cross the ridge in time—I always feared his force was too small. Pei Ju with three thousand worn troops went straight to Nankang. With a minister like this, what have I to fear!" For his merit he was made Opening the Government, ennobled as Duke of Wenxi County, and given two thousand bales of gifts. He was appointed Vice Director of the Ministry of Population and soon promoted to Vice Director of the Secretariat.
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西 西 西 西 西 西 西 西 西 西 使
I have heard that Yu fixed the nine provinces and channeled the Yellow River no farther than Jishi; Qin united the six states and set its frontier defenses only as far as Lintao. Thus the mixed tribes of the western Hu live in remote borderlands beyond ritual teaching and rarely recorded in our classics. Since the Han rose and opened the lands west of the river, thirty-six states first bore titles; later they split into fifty-five kingdoms. They still appointed colonels and protectors to win submission and keep peace. Yet rebellion and submission shifted constantly and campaigns were frequent; under Later Han this office was often abolished. Though since Dayuan household counts were roughly known, the mountains and rivers of the various states had no established names. Surnames, local customs, dress, and products were wholly unrecorded and unknown to the world. Moreover, as ages passed, annexation and punitive campaigns alternated and states rose and fell in turn. Some lands were old states under new names; some peoples were not the old tribes yet kept former titles. Clans intermingled, borders shifted, and frontier languages differed—facts were hard to verify. North of Khotan and east of the Onion Mountains, earlier histories record more than thirty states. Later they slaughtered one another until only about ten survived. The rest perished utterly, leaving only ruins beyond identification. Your Majesty receives Heaven's mandate and nurtures all beings without distinction between Chinese and barbarian; all the people within the realm admire your civilizing influence. Where your influence reaches, even to the land of the setting sun, tribute routes are open and none are too distant to come. Through pacification and reception I oversaw the frontier markets, searched written sources, and interviewed foreigners; whenever in doubt I cross-checked with many informants. According to each state's dress and customs I depicted kings and commoners alike in paint, producing Records of the Western Regions with Maps in three scrolls covering forty-four states. I also made separate maps showing their strategic points in full. From west of Xiqing to south of the Northern Sea, the region spans nearly twenty thousand li. Surely because great merchants traveled these routes, affairs of the various states are widely known. Some remote wilderness areas cannot be verified and are therefore omitted rather than invented. Under the two Han dynasties, states of only a few dozen households were called kingdoms in the Western Regions records—titles empty of reality. Those I record now all have more than a thousand households, trade reaching the western sea, and produce many rare goods. Mountain peoples without state names and small tribes are mostly omitted. From Dunhuang to the western sea there are three routes, each with its chain of states. The northern route runs from Yiwu past the Pulei Sea, the Tiele tribes, and the Turk qaghan's court, crosses the north-flowing river, reaches Fulin, and arrives at the western sea. The central route runs from Gaochang, Yanqi, Kucha, and Shule across the Onion Mountains, then through Bohhan, Suduoshana, Kang, Cao, He, Greater and Lesser An, and Mu to Persia and the western sea. The southern route runs from Shanshan, Khotan, Zhujubo, and Hepantuo across the Onion Mountains, then through Humi, Tuhuoluo, Yidan, Qianyan, and Caoguo to North India and the western sea. The states along these three routes also have their own paths linking north and south. The Eastern Women's State, Southern India, and others can all be reached by the appropriate route. Thus Yiwu, Gaochang, and Shanshan are the gateways to the Western Regions. All converge on Dunhuang, its strategic throat. With the state's majesty and our fierce soldiers, to sail distant waters and cross Kunlun is as easy as turning the hand—where could we not go! Only the Turks and Tuyuhun, controlling the Qiang and Hu states, blocked the routes so tribute could not pass. Now through merchants they secretly send pledges of loyalty, eager to submit and become your subjects. Your sacred grace embraces all under Heaven; receive them and comfort them, striving for peace and order. Therefore send the imperial envoy without moving armies; the frontier peoples will follow, and Tuyuhun and the Turks can be destroyed. Uniting Chinese and barbarian—is the moment not now! Without recording these matters, there is no way to show how far your civilizing power reaches.
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西 西 西 使使 西西 祿 貿 西 使 西
The emperor was delighted and gave five hundred bales of gifts; daily he summoned Ju to the imperial seat to ask about the west. Ju stressed that the frontier lands held many treasures and that Tuyuhun could easily be conquered. The emperor was persuaded and intended to open the Western Regions; strategy toward the four frontiers was all entrusted to him. He was transferred to Vice Director of the Ministry of Population but before taking office was promoted to Yellow Gate Attendant. The emperor again sent Ju to Zhangye to bring in western peoples; more than ten states came. In the third year of Daye the emperor performed rites at Mount Heng; all came to assist at the sacrifice. When the emperor was about to tour the Hexi region he again sent Ju to Dunhuang. Ju sent envoys to persuade the King of Gaochang Qu Boya, the Yiwu chieftain, and others with rich rewards, guiding them to court. When the emperor toured west and halted at Mount Yanzhi, the King of Gaochang, the Yiwu chieftain, and twenty-seven western states paid homage along the route. All were dressed in jade, gold, and brocade, burned incense, played music, and sang and danced in noisy celebration. He also had the people of Wuwei and Zhangye dress in splendor to watch; riders and carriages packed the roads for miles, displaying China's grandeur. The emperor saw this and was greatly pleased. They finally defeated Tuyuhun, extended territory by thousands of li, and garrisoned troops there. Each year tribute worth hundreds of millions arrived; the frontier peoples were awed and sent tribute in succession. The emperor said Ju had a gift for winning over the frontier and promoted him to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Silver Seal and Blue Ribbon. That winter the emperor reached the eastern capital; as many foreigners came to pay tribute, Ju urged the emperor to hold grand festivities in the capital. Rare skills and exotic arts from every quarter were displayed on Duangmen Street; hundreds of thousands wore brocade and gold ornaments. He also ordered officials and commoners alike to sit in pavilion galleries and watch. All were dressed in splendor; the spectacle lasted a full month. He ordered market shops to set up canopies with food and drink, had frontier commissioners lead foreigners to trade with locals, and had them invited to feast wherever they went until drunk and sated. The foreigners sighed in wonder and called China a land of immortals. The emperor praised his sincerity and said to Yuwen Shu and Niu Hong, "Pei Ju understands my mind; whatever he submits is already my settled plan. Before I even announce it, Ju has already reported it. Without true devotion to the state, who could do this!" The emperor sent General Xue Shixiong to fortify Yiwu and ordered Ju to join him in planning. Ju explained to the Western Regions states, "The emperor fortifies Yiwu only because frontier trade routes are long and difficult." All agreed and ceased their objections. On his return he was given four hundred thousand cash. Ju again memorialized, setting counter-intelligence against Shekui and a secret attack on Chuluo, as told in the Biography of the Turks. Later Chuluo, pressed by Shekui, finally came to court with the envoys. The emperor was delighted and gave Ju sable coats and rare treasures from the west.
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使 使 使 使 祿
He accompanied the emperor on a tour of the northern frontier and visited Qimin's tent. Goguryeo had sent envoys to the Turks first; Qimin did not dare conceal it and presented them to the emperor. Ju memorialized, "The land of Goguryeo was originally the state of Guzhu. Zhou enfeoffed Jizi there; Han divided it into three commanderies; Jin also ruled Liaodong. Now they refuse submission and stand apart as a foreign realm; the former emperor long wished to campaign against them. But because Yang Liang proved unworthy, the campaign achieved nothing. In Your Majesty's time, how can we tolerate this civilized land remaining barbarian territory? Now their envoys have seen Qimin at the Turks' court; seeing the whole realm submit, they must fear imperial power and worry they will be destroyed if they delay. Pressure them to come to court and they can be brought in." The emperor asked, "How?" Ju said, "Face their envoy, send him home, and tell their king to come to court at once. Otherwise lead the Turks and destroy them immediately." The emperor agreed. Gao Yuan disobeyed; the Liaodong campaign was then planned. When the imperial army reached Liaodong he served as Martial Guard Cavalry Commandant. The next year he again accompanied the campaign to Liaodong. Vice Director of War Husizheng fled to Goguryeo; the emperor had Ju also manage military affairs. For the Liaodong campaigns he was promoted to Right Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. The imperial order was failing and men changed loyalty; Yuwen Shu, Yu Shiji, and others held power, and officials were widely known for taking bribes. Only Ju remained upright without a reputation for corruption, and for this was praised.
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涿 宿 西
When he returned to Zhuo Commandery, the emperor—Yang Xuangan's rebellion having just been crushed—sent Ju to restore order in Longyou. From there he went to Huining to inquire after the Ashina tribe and sent Quedu She against Tuyuhun; repeated raids brought rich spoils and made the tribe prosperous. He reported on his return, and the emperor richly rewarded him. Later he marched with the army to Huaiyuan Fort, where an edict put him in charge of northern frontier military affairs. Seeing Shibi Khan's following grow ever stronger, Ju proposed splitting his power: marry an imperial clanswoman to Shibi's brother Chiji She and install him as Southern Khan. Chiji dared not accept; when Shibi learned of the plan, resentment took root. Ju told the emperor again, "The Turks are simple by nature and easily set against one another—but many Hu bands among them are fierce and cunning; they are the ones who truly steer them. I have heard that Shishu Husi is especially full of treacherous schemes and stands high in Shibi's favor. I ask leave to lure him out and kill him." "Good," said the emperor." Ju then sent word to Husi: "The Son of Heaven has brought out great stores of rare goods at Mayi and wishes to trade freely with the frontier peoples. Whoever arrives first will get the best of them." Greedy and credulous, Husi told Shibi nothing. He led his whole tribe, drove off every head of livestock, and galloped night and day to reach the market first. Ju hid troops below Mayi, drew him in, and cut off his head. An edict was sent to Shibi: "Shishu Husi has suddenly fled here at the head of his tribe, claiming he has turned against you and begging us to shelter him. The Turks are our subjects; when one betrays, we should kill him together. He has already been executed, and we send word accordingly." Shibi knew what had really happened and from then on stopped coming to court. In the eleventh year the emperor went north on tour; Shibi led several hundred thousand horsemen and trapped him at Yanmen. An edict had Ju and Yu Shiji sleep in the audience hall every night, ready to be summoned for counsel. When the siege was broken, he followed the emperor to the eastern capital. Just then Shekui Khan sent his nephew at the head of the western frontier peoples to pay tribute, and Ju was ordered to feast and receive them.
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輿
Soon afterward he accompanied the emperor to the Jiangdu Palace. Rebels were rising everywhere; reports from commands and counties poured in beyond count. When Ju raised the matter, the emperor flew into a rage and ordered him to the capital to receive foreign envoys; Ju pleaded illness and did not go. When the rebel armies entered the passes, the emperor sent Yu Shiji to Ju's home to ask his counsel. Ju said, "Taiyuan is in turmoil and the capital region is unsettled; if we try to manage things from a distance, I fear we will lose our chance. I only pray the imperial carriage returns at once—only then can order be restored." Ju then returned to duty. Before long came word that Qu Tu Tong, General of the Valiant Guard, had been defeated; Ju reported it, and the emperor went pale. Ju had always been diligent and careful, never giving offense; now, with the realm in chaos and fearing for his own safety, he treated everyone better than they expected—even servants came to love him. The Valiant Corps in the imperial train were deserting in numbers; the emperor was troubled and asked Ju what to do. Ju answered, "The imperial carriage has now stayed here two full years. The Valiant Corps have no wives or children; without families, men cannot stay content for long. I ask that the soldiers be allowed to take wives here." The emperor was delighted. "You are full of wisdom—what a brilliant scheme!" He put Ju in charge of finding wives for the officers and men. Ju gathered every widow and unmarried woman in the Jiangdu region under palace supervision, then let commanders and soldiers choose freely among them. He also allowed men to confess prior affairs with women, nuns, or female Daoist adepts and had them married on the spot. The Valiant Corps were overjoyed and said among themselves, "This is Lord Pei's bounty."
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祿使 使
When Yuwen Huaji rebelled, Ju rose early to attend court; at the ward gate rebels seized his bridle and dragged him to Meng Jing's house. The rebels said, "This has nothing to do with Vice Director Pei." Soon Huaji arrived with more than a hundred riders; Ju bowed to him, and Huaji spoke words of reassurance. He had Ju help draft the court ritual, installed Prince Hao of Qin as emperor, made Ju Palace Attendant, and Ju followed Huaji north to Hebei. When Huaji seized the throne, he made Ju Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, enfeoffed him as Duke of Cai, and appointed him Pacification Commissioner of the Hebei Circuit. When the Yuwen house fell, Dou Jiande captured Ju; as a veteran minister of the Sui, Ju was treated with great respect. Dou made him Director of the Ministry of Personnel, then soon transferred him to Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, putting him in sole charge of appointments. Jiande had risen from the bandit ranks and had no court protocol; Ju drew up the court ritual for him. Within a month the laws and rites were largely in place, nearly matching those of a true king. Jiande was delighted and consulted him constantly. When Jiande crossed the river to attack Meng Haigong, Ju and Cao Dan stayed behind to hold Ming Prefecture. Jiande was defeated at Wulao. The commanders did not know where their loyalty lay; Cao Dan's chief administrator Li Gongyan, the Tang envoy Wei Zheng, and others persuaded Dan and Qi Shanxing to surrender. Dan agreed; Ju, Wei, and Gongyan then led Dan and the eight seals in surrendering all the lands east of the mountains to Great Tang. He was made Left Assistant to the Heir Apparent, then promoted to Grand Mentor and Director of the Ministry of Revenue.
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The historian writes: Yu Shiji was first known for quiet refinement and literary grace; an exile of a ruined kingdom, he was nonetheless singled out for high office. He held the levers of power and sat in on secret counsel—yet when the state was dying he never sought to save it, and when the ruler was lost he could not move him with honest advice. Instead he sold offices and verdicts, grasping for profit without end; that he fell and perished was only fitting. Pei Yun had always been treacherous and cunning, adept at ingratiation, drunk on power, and greedy for gain—how could he have escaped ruin? Pei Ju was versed in the classics and histories and had real talent for statecraft; in tireless devotion to duty, working from dawn till night on the state's business, the ancients themselves could scarcely match him. He took part in government for many years; even amid crisis and chaos he never lost his integrity—a thing to admire. Yet by reading the emperor's wishes and bending with the moment, he helped bring Gaochang to court, Yiwu to yield its territory, grain to pile up at Qiemo, and armies to pour through Yumen until Longyou was in uproar—and much of that, too, was Ju's doing.
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