1
咸陽王趙郡王廣陵王高陽王北海王
The Princes of Xianyang, Zhao commandery, Guangling, Gaoyang, and Beihai
2
獻文皇帝七男。 李思皇后生孝文皇帝。 封昭儀生咸陽王禧。 韓貴人生趙郡靈王幹、高陽文穆王雍。 孟椒房生廣陵惠王羽。 潘貴人生彭城武宣王勰。 高椒房生北海平王詳。 勰別有傳。
Emperor Xianwen fathered seven sons. Empress Li Si bore Emperor Xiaowen. Lady Feng, ennobled as Sealed Lady, bore Xi, Prince of Xianyang. Lady Han Gui bore Gan, Ling Prince of Zhao commandery, and Yong, Prince Wenmu of Gaoyang. Lady Meng of the Pepper Chambers bore Yu, Prince Hui of Guangling. Lady Pan Gui bore Xie, Prince Wuxuan of Pengcheng. Lady Gao of the Pepper Chambers bore Xiang, Prince Ping of Beihai. Xie is treated in a separate biography.
3
咸陽王禧，字永壽。 太和九年封，加侍中、驃騎大將軍、中都大官。 文明太后令曰：「自非生知，皆由學誨，皇子皇孫，訓教不立，溫故求新，蓋有闕矣。 可於閒靜之所，別置學舘，選忠信博聞之士為之師傅，以匠成之。」 高祖以諸弟典三都，誡禧等曰：「汝等國之至親，皆幼年任重，三都折獄，特宜用心。 夫未能操刀而使割錦，非傷錦之尤，實授刀之責。 皆可修身慎行，勿有乖爽。」 文明太后亦誡禧等曰：「汝兄繼承先業，統御萬機，戰戰兢兢，恒恐不稱。 汝所治雖小，亦宜克念。」 高祖又曰：「周文王小心翼翼，聿懷多福。 如有周公之才，使驕且吝，其餘不足觀。 汝等宜小心畏慎，勿自驕怠。」 出為使持節、開府、冀州刺史，高祖餞於南郊。 又以濟陰王鬱枉法賜死之事，遣使告禧，因而誡之。
Xi, Prince of Xianyang, styled Yongshou. In Taihe year 9 he received his fief and was made palace attendant, general of agile cavalry, and grand director of the inner palace at the center. Empress Dowager Wenming decreed: "None are born wise; all are shaped by teaching. For imperial sons and grandsons, if instruction is neglected and the old is not rehearsed to seek the new, something essential is missing. Let a separate academy be founded in some quiet place, and men who are loyal, trustworthy, and learned chosen as their tutors to finish their formation." Gaozu, having put his brothers in charge of the three capitals, warned Xi and the others: "You are the realm's nearest kin, young yet heavily burdened. Judgment in the three capitals above all requires your full attention. To set someone who cannot hold a blade to cut brocade does not chiefly harm the brocade—it indicts whoever put the knife in his hand. Cultivate yourselves, act with care, and let nothing go awry." Empress Dowager Wenming also warned Xi and the others: "Your elder brother has inherited the ancestral work and holds the myriad reins; he trembles with fear lest he fail. Though your charge is smaller, you must hold it just as firmly in mind." Gaozu added: "King Wen of Zhou was cautious in small things, and so he gathered blessings in abundance. Even with the Duke of Zhou's gifts, if pride and meanness took hold, nothing else in him would be worth seeing. Be careful, fearful, and restrained; do not grow proud or slack." He went out as bearer of the staff, opener of the office, and Jizhou inspector; Gaozu feasted him at the southern suburb. He also sent word of Prince Yu of Jiyin, who had been put to death for legal violations, as a further warning to Xi.
4
後禧朝京師，高祖謂王公曰：「皇太后平日以朝儀闕然，遂命百官更欲撰緝，今將畢修遺志，卿等謂可行不？ 當各盡對，無以面從。」 禧對曰：「儀制之事，用捨各隨其時，而民可使由之，不可使知之。 臣謂宜述元志，[1]備行朝式。」 高祖然之。 詔曰：「仲尼在鄉黨，猶尚恂恂，周文王為世子，卑躬求道，禧等雖連蕚宸暉，得不尊尚師傅也？ 故為置之，以加令德。 廷尉卿李沖可咸陽王師。」 禧將還州，高祖親餞之，賦詩叙意，加禧都督冀、相、兗、東兗、南豫東荊六州諸軍事。
When Xi later came to the capital, Gaozu asked the princes and dukes: "The empress dowager, finding court ritual incomplete, ordered the ministries to compile it anew. We are now finishing her wish—do you think we should proceed? Each of you speak fully; do not merely agree to my face." Xi answered: "Rites rise and fall with the times. The people can be made to follow them—not to understand them. I hold we should state the founding intent[1] and put the court forms fully into practice." Gaozu approved. An edict said: "Confucius among neighbors still showed humble respect; King Wen as heir bowed low to seek the Way. Can Xi and the others, though calyx-linked to the throne, refuse to honor their tutors? Tutors are therefore appointed to build their virtue. Director of the Court of Justice Li Chong shall be Prince Xianyang's tutor." As Xi was returning to his province Gaozu feasted him in person, composed a poem of parting, and made him commander of armies in Ji, Xiang, Yan, Eastern Yan, Southern Yu, and Eastern Jing.
5
於時，王國舍人應取八族及清修之門，禧取任城王隸戶為之，深為高祖所責。
A prince's household attendants were to be drawn from the eight great clans and families of pure standing; Xi took retainers from Prince of Rencheng's households and earned Gaozu's sharp rebuke.
6
詔曰：「夫婚姻之義，曩葉攸崇，求賢擇偶，緜代斯慎，故剛柔著於易經，鵲巢載于詩典，所以重夫婦之道，美尸鳩之德，作配君子，流芳後昆者也。 然則婚者，合二姓之好，結他族之親，上以事宗廟，下以繼後世，必敬慎重正而後親之。 夫婦既親，然後父子君臣、禮義忠孝，於斯備矣。 太祖龍飛九五，始稽遠則，而撥亂創業，日昃不暇。 至於諸王娉合之儀，宗室婚姻之戒，或得賢淑，或乖好逑。 自茲以後，其風漸缺，皆人乏窈窕，族非百兩，擬匹卑濫，舅氏輕微，違典滯俗，深用為歎。 以皇子茂年，宜簡令正，前者所納，可為妾媵。 將以此年為六弟娉室。 長弟咸陽王禧可娉故潁川太守隴西李輔女，次弟河南王幹可娉故中散代郡穆明樂女，次弟廣陵王羽可娉驃騎諮議參軍滎陽鄭平城女，次弟潁川王雍可娉故中書博士范陽盧神寶女，次弟始平王勰可娉廷尉卿隴西李沖女，季弟北海王詳可娉吏部郎中滎陽鄭懿女。」
An edict said: "Marriage has been honored since antiquity; to seek the worthy and choose a mate each generation has been scrupulous. The Changes teach husband and wife, the Odes praise Magpie Nest—to weight the bond of spouses, praise dutiful pairing, fit a gentleman with a match, and leave fragrance to posterity. Marriage joins two houses, binds other clans: above it serves the ancestral temple, below it continues the line—only after reverent, careful correctness may intimacy follow. Once spouses are kin, father and son, ruler and minister, ritual, loyalty, and filial piety stand complete. The Grand Ancestor, ascending the throne, first looked to distant models; yet founding the realm in chaos left no leisure even at sunset. For princely betrothals and clan marriage rules, some found worthy wives and some did not. Since then the custom has decayed: men lack worthy consorts, houses lack rank, matches grow base, maternal lines grow slight—against canon and sunk in habit. This grieves us deeply. The princes are young; they need proper, eminent wives. Earlier matches may remain as concubines. This year we shall marry chambers for the six younger brothers. Elder brother Xi, Prince of Xianyang, shall marry Li Fu's daughter of Longxi, former Yingchuan administrator; next, Gan, Prince of Henan, Mu Mingle's daughter of Daicheng, former regular attendant; next, Yu, Prince of Guangling, Zheng Pingcheng's daughter of Xingyang, staff adviser to the general of agile cavalry; next, Yong, Prince of Yingchuan, Lu Shenbao's daughter of Fanyang, former secretariat erudite; next, Xie, Prince of Shiping, Li Chong's daughter of Longxi, director of the court of justice; youngest, Xiang, Prince of Beihai, Zheng Yi's daughter of Xingyang, bureau director."
7
有司奏冀州人蘇僧瓘等三千人，稱禧清明有惠政，請世胙冀州。 詔曰：「利建雖古，未必今宜； 經野由君，理非下請。 邑采之封，自有別式。」 入除司州牧、都督司豫荊郢洛東荊六州諸軍事，開府如故，賜帛二千匹、粟五千斛。 詔以禧元弟之重，食邑三千戶，自餘五王皆食邑二千戶。
The relevant offices reported that Su Sengguan and three thousand men of Jizhou praised Xi's clarity and benevolent rule and asked that his fief be made hereditary in Jizhou. An edict replied: "Enfeoffment is ancient, but not necessarily suited to today; mapping the realm belongs to the ruler—principle is not that subjects petition below. Revenue fiefs follow their own forms." He was recalled as governor of Sizhou and commander of armies in Si, Yu, Jing, Ying, Luo, and Eastern Jing, with his office unchanged, and was given two thousand bolts of silk and five thousand hu of grain. Because Xi was the eldest younger brother, an edict granted him three thousand revenue households; the other five princes received two thousand each.
8
高祖引見朝臣，詔之曰：「卿等欲令魏朝齊美於殷周，為令漢晉獨擅於上代？」 禧曰：「陛下聖明御運，實願邁迹前王。」 高祖曰：「若然，將以何事致之？ 為欲修身改俗，為欲仍染前事？」 禧對曰：「宜應改舊，以成日新之美。」 高祖曰：「為欲止在一身，為欲傳之子孫？」 禧對曰：「既卜世靈長，願欲傳之來葉。」 [2]高祖曰：「若然，必須改作，卿等當各從之，不得違也。」 禧對曰：「上命下從，如風靡草。」 高祖曰：「自上古以來及諸經籍，焉有不先正名，而得行禮乎？ 今欲斷諸北語，一從正音。 年三十以上，習性已久，容或不可卒革； 三十以下，見在朝廷之人，語音不聽仍舊。 若有故為，當降爵黜官。 各宜深戒。 如此漸習，風化可新。 若仍舊俗，恐數世之後，伊洛之下復成被髮之人。 王公卿士，咸以然不？」 禧對曰：「實如聖旨，宜應改易。」 高祖曰：「朕嘗與李沖論此，沖言：『四方之語，竟知誰是？ 帝者言之，即為正矣，何必改舊從新。』 沖之此言，應合死罪。」 乃謂沖曰：「卿實負社稷，合令御史牽下。」 沖免冠陳謝。 又引見王公卿士，責留京之官曰：「昨望見婦女之服，仍為夾領小袖。 我徂東山，雖不三年，既離寒暑，卿等何為而違前詔？」 禧對曰：「陛下聖過堯舜，光化中原，臣雖仰禀明規，每事乖互，將何以宣布皇經，敷贊帝則。 舛違之罪，實合刑憲。」 高祖曰：「若朕言非，卿等當須庭論，如何入則順旨，退有不從。 昔舜語禹，汝無面從，退有後言，其卿等之謂乎？」
Gaozu received the court ministers and asked: "Do you wish the Wei court to rival Yin and Zhou in splendor, or to let Han and Jin alone outshine the former age?" Xi said: "Your Majesty's sage rule truly aims to surpass the former kings." Gaozu asked: "If so, by what means will you bring it about? By cultivating yourselves and changing custom—or by clinging to old ways?" Xi answered: "We should change the old and achieve daily renewal." Gaozu asked: "For one generation only—or to pass it to your descendants?" Xi replied: "The house is divined long-lived; I wish to pass it to coming generations." [2] Gaozu said: "Then reform is mandatory. Each of you must follow—there will be no disobedience." Xi answered: "When the command comes from above, those below comply—as wind bends the grass." Gaozu said: "From antiquity through every classic—who ever performed ritual without first rectifying names? Now I mean to abolish northern speech and follow the orthodox sound everywhere. Those over thirty, long habituated, may not change at once; but those under thirty now at court may not keep the old pronunciation. Whoever deliberately does so shall be demoted and dismissed. Take this deeply to heart. Practiced gradually, custom itself will renew. If the old ways persist, within a few generations the lands below Yi and Luo may again see loose-haired barbarians. Princes, dukes, and ministers—do you all agree?" Xi answered: "Truly as Your Majesty commands; the change should proceed." Gaozu said: "I once debated this with Li Chong. Chong said, 'Among the tongues of the four quarters, who knows which is right? What the emperor speaks is orthodox—why change the old for the new?' Chong's words merit death." He told Chong: "You have truly failed the realm; by rights the censor should drag you below." Chong removed his cap and apologized. He again received the princes and ministers and rebuked those who had stayed in the capital: "Yesterday I saw women still in crossed collars and narrow sleeves. I went east to the mountains. Though not three full years, cold and heat have turned—why do you defy my earlier decree?" Xi answered: "Your Majesty surpasses Yao and Shun and transforms the central plains. Though I receive your bright rule, in every matter I contradict it—how can I proclaim the imperial canon and spread your measure? Such contradiction merits punishment under the code." Gaozu said: "If I am wrong, debate me in open court. Why agree to my face in audience and disobey in private? In antiquity Shun told Yu: Do not agree to my face and speak otherwise behind my back—is that not your case?"
9
尋以禧長兼太尉公。 後高祖幸禧第，謂司空穆亮、僕射李沖曰：「既有天地，又有君臣，太尉位居台鉉，在冢宰之上，三槐九棘，不可久空。 元弟禧雖在事不長，而戚連皇極，且長兼太尉，以和餁鼎。 朕常恐君有空授之名，臣貽彼己之刺，今幸其宅，徒屈二賓，良以為愧。」
Soon Xi was made acting grand commandant. Later Gaozu visited Xi's house and told Minister of Works Mu Liang and Vice Director Li Chong: "Heaven and Earth exist, and so do ruler and minister. The grand commandant stands above the house steward—the three locusts and nine thorns may not long lie vacant. Younger brother Xi, though brief in office, is bound to the throne; as acting grand commandant he balances the tripods. I fear the ruler gains a name for empty appointment and ministers the sting of mutual blame. To visit his house and bend you two guests shames me deeply."
10
高祖有事於方澤，質明，羣臣問起居。 高祖曰：「昨日方澤，殊自大暑，遇天雲蔭密，行人差得無弊。」 禧對曰：「陛下德感天地，故雲物凝彩，雖復雨師灑掃，風伯清塵，豈過於此。」 高祖曰：「伊洛南北之中，此乃天地氤氳，陰陽風雨之所交會，自然之應，非寡德所能致此。」
When Gaozu performed rites at the earth altar, at first light the ministers inquired after his health. Gaozu said: "Yesterday at the earth altar the heat was fierce, but dense clouds shaded us and the procession suffered little harm." Xi replied: "Your virtue moved heaven and earth; clouds gathered in splendor. Though the rain lord swept and the wind lord cleared dust, nothing could surpass this." Gaozu said: "Between Yi and Luo north and south, yin and yang and wind and rain meet by nature's law—not by my slight virtue."
11
高祖篤於兄弟，以禧次長，禮遇優隆，然亦知其性貪，每加切誡，雖當時遵奉，而終不改操。 禧表曰：「國朝偃武崇文，偏捨來久，州鎮兵人，或有雄勇，不閑武藝。 今取歲暮之暇，番上之日，訓其兵法。 弓矢干矟，三分並教，使人閑其能，臨事無闕。」 詔曰：「雖云教武，未練其方，既逼北行，卒聞教武，[3]脫生羣惑。 且可停之。」 後從平漢陽，以克南陽之勳，加侍中，正太尉。
Gaozu loved his brothers deeply; as the next eldest, Xi received exceptional honor—yet Gaozu knew his greed and admonished him sharply. Xi obeyed for the moment but never changed his ways. Xi memorialized: "The court has long favored civil rule over arms. Garrison troops in provinces and commands include brave men unskilled in war. Let the year's-end leisure and the days of rotation to court be used to drill them in military law. Teach bow, spear, and shield together so each man knows his skill and nothing is wanting when action comes." An edict replied: "You speak of teaching arms, but the method is untried. With the northern march pressing, sudden drill[3] may breed confusion. For now let it stop." He later followed the pacification of Hanyang; for taking Nanyang he was made palace attendant and regular grand commandant.
12
及高祖崩，禧受遺輔政。 雖為宰輔之首，而從容推委，無所是非，而潛受賄賂，陰為威惠者，禧特甚焉。 是年，八座奏增邑千戶，世宗從之，固辭不受。 禧性驕奢，貪淫財色，姬妾數十，意尚不已，衣被繡綺，車乘鮮麗，猶遠有簡娉，以恣其情，由是昧求貨賄，奴婢千數，田業鹽鐵徧於遠近，臣吏僮隸，相繼經營。 世宗頗惡之。
When Gaozu died, Xi was named to the testamentary regency. Though first among the regents, he was easygoing and pushed decisions away, neither affirming nor denying—yet among those who took bribes in secret and wielded hidden favor, none surpassed Xi. That year the Eight Seats asked to add one thousand revenue households; Shizong agreed, but Xi firmly declined. Xi was proud and extravagant, greedy for wealth and women. He kept dozens of concubines and still wanted more; his robes and carriages blazed with silk and lacquer, yet he still sought fresh matches to feed his appetite. He hunted bribes blindly. Thousands of slaves worked fields, salt, and iron across the realm; his clerks and household managers followed one another without cease. Shizong came to loathe him.
13
景明二年春，禧等為將礿祭入齋，世宗詔領軍于烈，率左右召禧等入於光極殿。 詔曰：「恪雖寡昧，忝承寶曆，比纒尫疹，實憑諸父，苟延視息，奄涉三齡。 父等歸遜殷勤，今便親攝百揆，且還府司，當別處分。」 尋詔曰：「朕以寡昧，夙罹閔凶，憂煢在疚，罔知攸濟。 實賴先帝聖德，遺澤所覃，宰輔忠賢，劬勞王室，用能撫和上下，肅清內外。 乃式遵復子，歸政告遜，辭理懇至，邈然難奪。 便當勵茲空乏，親覽機務。 王尊惟元叔，道性淵凝，可進位太保，領太尉； 司空北海王季父英明，聲略茂舉，可大將軍、錄尚書事。」
In spring of Jingming year 2, Xi and the others entered purification as generals for the spring suburban rite. Shizong ordered Colonel Yu Lie of the palace guards to lead attendants and summon them to the Hall of Radiant Pole. An edict said: "Though I am dull and young, I bear the precious succession. Long illness has bound me; I have truly relied on my imperial uncles. Barely drawing breath, I have already passed three years. My uncles have yielded the government with earnest care. I shall now personally hold the hundred affairs. Return to your offices; you will be dealt with separately." Soon an edict said: "Orphaned and young, I met bereavement early and stand alone in grief, not knowing how to cross the flood. I rely on the former emperor's sage virtue and lingering grace, and on loyal ministers who toil for the house—by them above and below are harmonized and within and without made pure. They followed the model of returning rule to the heir and announced their abdication with earnest pleas I could not wrest away. I shall now rouse my own emptiness and personally oversee the machinery of state. King Zun, eldest imperial uncle, whose Way is deep and still, shall advance to grand mentor and hold the grand commandant; Minister of Works Prince of Beihai, youngest imperial uncle, bright in fame and strategy, shall be grand general and recorder of the Masters of Writing."
14
世宗既覽政，禧意不安。 而其國齋帥劉小苟，每稱左右言欲誅禧。 禧聞而歎曰：「我不負心，天家豈應如此！」 由是常懷憂懼。 加以趙脩專寵，王公罕得進見。 禧遂與其妃兄兼給事黃門侍郎李伯尚謀反。 時世宗幸小平津，禧在城西小宅。 初欲勒兵直入金墉，眾懷沮異，禧心因緩。 自旦達晡，計不能決，遂約不洩而散。 武興王楊集始出便馳告，而禧意不疑。 乃與臣妾向洪池別墅，遣小苟奉啟，云「檢行田牧」。 小苟至邙嶺，已逢軍人，怪小苟赤衣，將欲殺害。 小苟困迫，言欲告反，乃緩之。 禧是夜宿於洪池，大風暴雨，拔樹折木。 禧不知事露。 其夜，或說禧曰：「殿下集眾圖事，見意而停，恐必漏洩，今夕何宜自寬。 恐危禍將至。」 禧曰：「有此軀命，應知自惜，豈待人言。」 又說曰：「殿下兒婦已渡河，兩頭不相知，今俛眉自安，不其危乎！」 禧曰：「初遣去日，令如行人渡河，聽我動靜。 我久已遣人追之，計今應還。」 而尹仵期與禧長子通已入河內郡，列兵仗，放囚徒。 而將士所在追禧。
Once Shizong took the reins, Xi grew uneasy. His state's purification officer Liu Xiaogou kept saying that men about the throne meant to kill Xi. Xi heard this and sighed: "I have not betrayed them—how should the house treat me so!" From then on he lived in constant fear. Zhao Xiu held exclusive favor, and princes rarely saw the emperor. Xi then plotted rebellion with his consort's elder brother Li Boshang, who also served as attendant of the Yellow Gate. Shizong was then at Xiaoping Ford; Xi lay in a small house west of the city. At first he meant to march straight into the Metal Enclosure, but his men wavered and his heart slackened. From dawn to dusk he could not decide; at last they swore secrecy and dispersed. Prince Jishi of Wuxing rode out at once to report him, yet Xi did not suspect. He went with his women to the Hongchi villa and sent Xiaogou with a memorial claiming he was "inspecting fields and herds." Xiaogou reached Mount Mang ridge and met soldiers; struck by his red dress, they were about to kill him. Pressed hard, Xiaogou said he meant to report treason, and they spared him. That night Xi slept at Hongchi while wind and rain uprooted trees. Xi did not know the plot was exposed. That night someone told Xi: "Your Highness gathered men and halted when resolve faltered—the secret will leak. How can you rest easy tonight? Disaster is near." Xi said: "A man who values his life needs no one to tell him—he knows to save himself." Another said: "Your son's wife has already crossed the river; the two ends cannot know each other—is bowing your head in false peace not perilous?" Xi said: "When I sent her off I told her to cross like any traveler and listen for my signal. I sent men after her long ago; by now she should be back." Yet Yin Wuqi and Xi's eldest son Tong had already entered Henei commandery, arrayed arms, and freed prisoners. Soldiers everywhere were already pursuing Xi.
15
禧自洪池東南走，僮僕不過數人，左右從禧者，唯兼防閤尹龍虎。 禧憂迫不知所為，謂龍虎曰：「吾憒憒不能堪，試作一謎，當思解之，以釋毒悶。」 龍虎欻憶舊謎云：「眠則俱眠，起則俱起，貪如豺狼，贓不入己。」 都不有心於規刺也。 禧亦不以為諷己，因解之曰：「此是眼也。」 而龍虎謂之是箸。 渡洛水，至栢谷塢，從者唯禧二舅及龍虎而已。 顧謂龍虎曰：「凡夫尚有節義，相為取死，汝可勉心，作與太尉公同死計。」 龍虎曰：「龍虎東野常人，遭殿下寬明，接處左右。 今屬危難，恨無遠計，匡濟聖躬，若與殿下同命，雖死猶生。」 俄而禧被擒獲，送華林都亭。 世宗親問事源，著千斤鎖格龍虎，羽林掌衞之。
Xi fled southeast from Hongchi with only a few servants; of those who still followed him, only Defender Yin Longhu remained. Desperate and at a loss, Xi told Longhu: "I am too muddled to bear this—make a riddle; I'll solve it to ease this poison in my chest." Longhu suddenly remembered an old riddle: "Sleep together, rise together; greedy as wolf and jackal, yet booty never enters oneself." He had no thought of plotting against Xi. Xi did not take it as aimed at him and solved it: "That is the eye." Longhu had meant chopsticks. They crossed the Luo and reached Cypress Valley stockade with only Xi's two maternal uncles and Longhu. Xi turned to Longhu: "Even common men keep faith. Take death for each other—steel your heart and die with the grand commandant as I do." Longhu said: "I am a common man from the eastern fields. Your Highness took me in and kept me at your side. Now in peril I lack any grand plan to save the throne; yet to die with Your Highness is still to live." Soon Xi was seized and sent to the Hualin capital pavilion. Shizong questioned him in person, put a thousand-jin lock on Longhu, and had the Feathered Forest guard him.
16
初，高祖閑宴，從容言於禧等：「我後子孫，邂逅不逮，汝等觀望輔取之理，無令他人有也。」 禧臨盡，雖言不次第，猶尚泣涕，追述先旨，然畏迫喪志，不能慷慨有所感激也。 及與諸妹公主等訣，言及一二愛妾。 公主哭且罵之云：「坐多取此婢輩，貪逐財物，畏罪作反，致今日之事，何復囑問此等！」 禧愧而無言，遂賜死私第。 其宮人歌曰：「可憐咸陽王，奈何作事誤。 金床玉几不能眠，夜蹋霜與露。 洛水湛湛彌岸長，行人那得渡。」 其歌遂流至江表，北人在南者，雖富貴，絃管奏之，莫不灑泣。 同謀誅斬者數十人，潛瘞禧於北邙。 絕其諸子屬籍。 禧之諸女，微給資產奴婢，自餘家財，悉以分賚高肇、趙脩二家。 其餘賜內外百官，逮于流外，多者百餘匹，下至十匹。 於後，禧諸子每乏衣食，獨彭城王勰歲中再三賑給之。 禧有子八人。
At a leisure banquet Gaozu had told Xi and the others: "My descendants may fall short; watch how you might assist and take the throne—let no outsider have it." At the end Xi spoke brokenly yet wept and recalled that command; but fear crushed him and he could not rise to any noble passion. Taking leave of his sisters and princesses, he spoke of one or two favorite concubines. A princess wept and cursed him: "You hoarded these women, chased wealth, feared punishment, rebelled, and brought us here—why speak of them now!" Xi was shamed into silence and ordered to die at his private house. His palace women sang: "Pitiable Prince of Xianyang—how could he err so? Gold bed and jade couch bring no sleep; at night he treads frost and dew. Luo waters run deep and long; how can a traveler cross?" The song spread south of the Yangtze; northerners there, however rich, wept whenever pipes played it. Dozens of co-conspirators were executed; Xi was secretly buried on Northern Mang. His sons were struck from the imperial registry. Xi's daughters received only modest property and maids; the rest of his wealth went to Gao Zhao and Zhao Xiu. The remainder was distributed to officials inside and outside the capital, and even to exiles—some received more than a hundred bolts of silk, others as few as ten. Afterward, whenever Xi's sons lacked food or clothes, only Prince Xie of Pengcheng repeatedly sent relief through the year. Xi had eight sons.
17
長子通，字曇和。 竊入河內，太守陸琇初與通情，既聞禧敗，乃殺之。
His eldest son Tong styled Tanhe. Tong stole into Henei; Administrator Lu Xiu had first sided with him, but when Xi fell he killed Tong.
18
通弟翼，字仲和。 後會赦，詣闕上書，求葬其父。 頻年泣請，世宗不許。 翼乃與弟昌、曄奔於蕭衍。 翼與昌，申屠氏出。 曄，李妃所生也。 翼容貌魁壯，風制可觀，衍甚重之，封為咸陽王。 翼讓其嫡弟曄，衍不許。 後以為信武將軍、青冀二州刺史，鎮郁州。 翼謀舉州入國，為衍所移。 昌為衍直閤將軍。
Tong's younger brother Yi styled Zhonghe. After an amnesty he came to court and begged leave to bury his father. He petitioned in tears year after year; Shizong refused. Yi then fled with his brothers Chang and Ye to Xiao Yan. Yi and Chang were born of Lady Shentu. Ye was born of Consort Li. Yi was tall and imposing, his bearing striking; Yan prized him and made him Prince of Xianyang. Yi yielded to his younger full brother Ye; Yan refused. He was later made general of trustworthy martiality and inspector of Qing and Ji, garrisoning Yuzhou. Yi plotted to surrender the province to Wei; Yan transferred him. Chang became Yan's direct companion general.
19
翼弟顯和，昌弟樹，後亦奔於衍。 顯和卒於江南。
Yi's younger brother Xianhe and Chang's younger brother Shu later fled to Yan as well. Xianhe died in the south.
20
樹，字秀和。 美姿貌，善吐納，兼有將略。 衍尤器之，封為魏郡王，後改封鄴王，數為將領，窺覦邊服。 時揚州降衍，兵武既眾，衍將湛僧珍，慮其翻異，盡欲殺之。 樹以家國，遂皆聽還。 衍以樹為鎮西將軍、郢州刺史。
Shu styled Xiuhe. He was handsome, skilled in breath cultivation, and gifted in strategy. Yan especially favored him, made him Prince of Wei commandery, later Prince of Ye, and repeatedly used him on the borders. When Yangzhou surrendered to Yan its troops were numerous; Yan's general Zhan Sengzhen, fearing defection, wished to kill them all. Shu pleaded for house and realm, and they were all allowed to return home. Yan made Shu general who pacifies the west and Yingzhou inspector.
21
尒朱榮之害百官也，樹聞之，乃請衍討榮。 衍乃資其士馬，侵擾境上。 前廢帝時，竊據譙城。 出帝初，詔御史中尉樊子鵠為行臺，率徐州刺史、大都督杜德以討之。 樹城守不下，子鵠使金紫光祿大夫張安期往說之，樹乃請委城還南，子鵠許之。 樹恃誓約，不為戰備，杜德襲擊之，擒樹送京師，禁於永寧佛寺，未幾賜死。
When Erzhu Rong slaughtered the court, Shu asked Yan to campaign against him. Yan supplied troops and horses, and Shu raided the frontier. Under the Former Deposed Emperor he seized Qiao city. At Emperor Chu's accession Fan Zihu, censor commandant, was sent as mobile office with Xuzhou inspector and grand commander Du De to attack him. Shu held the city and could not be taken; Zihu sent Golden Grandee Zhang Anqi to negotiate. Shu asked to surrender the city and return south; Zihu agreed. Trusting the oath, Shu made no defense; Du De raided him, seized him, and sent him to the capital. He was confined at Yongning temple and soon ordered to die.
22
孝靜時，其子貞，自建業赴鄴，啟求葬樹，許之。 詔贈樹侍中、都督青徐兗揚豫五州諸軍事、太師、司徒公、尚書令、揚州刺史。 貞既葬，還於江南。
Under Emperor Jing his son Zhen came from Jiankang to Ye and asked to bury Shu; permission was granted. An edict posthumously made Shu palace attendant, commander of Qing, Xu, Yan, Yang, and Yu, grand mentor, duke of Si, director of the Masters of Writing, and Yangzhou inspector. After the burial Zhen returned south.
23
曄，字世茂。 衍封為桑乾王，拜散騎常侍。 卒於秣陵。
Ye styled Shimao. Yan made him Prince of Sanggan and regular attendant. He died at Moling.
24
初，正光中詔曰：「周德崇厚，蔡仲享國； 漢道仁恕，淮南畢王。 皆所以申恩懿戚，蠲盪舊釁，義彰曩葉，詠流前史。 頃者，咸陽、京兆王自貽禍敗，事由間惑，猶有可矜。 兩門諸子，並可聽附屬籍。」 後復禧王爵，葬以王禮。 詔曄弟坦襲，改封敷城王，邑八百戶。 坦傲佷兇粗，從叔安豐王延明責之曰：「汝兇悖性與身而長，昔有宋東海王禕志性凡劣，時人號曰『驢王』，我熟觀汝所作，亦恐不免驢號。」 莊帝初，還復本封。 武定中，為太師。 齊受禪，爵例降。
Earlier, in the Zhengguang era an edict said: "Zhou's virtue was deep and generous; Cai Zhong kept his state; Han's way was humane; Huainan finished as king. All extended grace to kin, washed away old guilt, and left their mercy sung in former histories. Recently the princes of Xianyang and Jingzhao brought ruin on themselves through delusion, yet something in them still merits pity. Sons of both houses may reattach to the registry." Later Xi's princely rank was restored and he was buried with princely honors. An edict made Ye's younger brother Tan succeed, enfeoffed as Prince of Fucheng with eight hundred households. Tan was arrogant and brutal; his uncle Prince Yanming of Anfeng rebuked him: "Your fierce nature grows with your body. Once Prince Yi of Eastern Sea in Song was so base that men called him Donkey Prince. Watching you, I fear you will earn the same name." At Emperor Zhuang's accession he recovered his original fief. In the Wuding era he was made grand mentor. When Northern Qi took the throne, his title was lowered per precedent.
25
坦弟昶，起家通直散騎常侍、琅邪縣開國公，邑五百戶。 莊帝初，特封太原王。 累遷鴻臚卿，超拜車騎大將軍、儀同三司。 天平二年薨，贈太尉公。
Tan’s brother Chang began as regular attendant of direct communication and cavalier attendant-in-ordinary, Duke of Langye with five hundred household fief. At Zhuangdi’s accession he was specially made Prince of Taiyuan. He rose to grand master of splendid happiness, then was jumped to grand general of chariots and cavalry with protocol of the third rank. He died in Tianping year 2 and was posthumously titled grand commandant.
26
子善慧，襲。 齊受禪，爵例降。
His son Shanhu succeeded. When Northern Qi took the throne, his title was lowered per precedent.
27
趙郡王幹，字思直。 太和九年，封河南王，加衞大將軍，[4]除侍中、中都大官。 尋授車騎將軍、左光祿大夫，領吏部尚書。
Gan, Prince of Zhao commandery, styled Sizhi. In Taihe year 9 he was made Prince of Henan and grand general of the guard,[4] palace attendant, and grand director of the inner capital. Soon he was general of chariots and cavalry and grand master of brilliant virtue, with concurrent charge of the Ministry of Personnel.
28
所生母薨。 高祖詔曰：「太妃韓氏薨逝，情以傷慟。 太妃先朝之世，位擬九嬪，豫班上族，誕我同氣。 念此孤稚，但用感惻，明當暫往臨哭，可勅外備辦。」 遣侍御史假節監護喪事，贈綵八百匹。 詔曰：「季世多務，情緣理奪。 幹既居要任，銓衡是荷，豈容遂其私志，致曠所司。 可遣黃門郎敦諭，令勉從王事，朕尋當與之相見。」 拜使持節、都督南豫郢東荊三州諸軍事、征南大將軍、開府、豫州刺史。
His birth mother died. Gaozu wrote: "Consort Dowager Lady Han is dead, and grief wounds me. In the former reign she had stood among the nine concubines, ranked with the highest houses, and bore my full brother. For this orphaned child I am moved to pity; tomorrow I shall go briefly to mourn—have the outer offices prepare." He sent a palace attendant with forged credentials to oversee the rites and gave eight hundred bolts of colored silk. An edict read: "In a troubled age affairs crowd in, and private feeling must yield to duty. Gan already holds a weighty post and bears the scales of appointment—how can he indulge private grief and neglect his charge? Send a Yellow Gate gentleman to urge him back to his duties; I shall see him soon." He was made bearer of the staff, commander-in-chief of South Yu, Ying, and East Jing, grand general who pacifies the south, with open office and inspectorate of Yu.
29
及車駕南伐，以幹為使持節、車騎大將軍、都督關右諸軍事，給銅虎符十，別賜詩書。 高祖篤愛諸弟，以幹總戎別道，誡之曰：「司空穆亮年器可師，散騎常侍盧淵才堪詢訪，汝其師之。」 尋以蕭賾死，班師。
On the southern campaign Gan was bearer of the staff, grand general of chariots and cavalry, and commander west of the Pass, with ten bronze tiger tallies and a separate gift of the classics. Gaozu loved his brothers; as Gan took a separate command he warned him: "Mu Liang, minister of works, is fit to be your teacher in years and counsel; Lu Yuan, regular attendant of direct communication, is fit to consult—take them as masters." Soon Xiao Ze died and the army withdrew.
30
遷洛，改封趙郡王，除都督冀定瀛三州諸軍事、征東大將軍、冀州刺史，開府如故，賜雜物五百段，又密賜黃金十斤。 高祖親餞於近郊，詔幹曰：「夫刑獄之理，先哲所難，然既有邦國，得不自勵也。 汝，我之懿弟，當聿修厥德，光崇有魏，深思遠圖，如臨深履薄。 若恃親重，不務世政，國有常憲，方增悲感。」 高祖詔以李憑為長史，唐茂為司馬，盧尚之為諮議參軍以匡弼之。 而憑等諫諍，幹殊不納。 州表斬盜馬人，於律過重，而尚書以幹初臨，縱而不劾。 詔曰：「夫刑以節人，罪必無濫，故刑罰不中，民無措足。 若必以威殺為良，則應汎通眾牧。 苟須有禁，何得不稽之正典？ 又律令條憲，無聽新君加戮之文； 典禮舊章，不著始臨專威之美。 尚書曲阿朕意，實傷皇度。 幹闇於治理，律外重刑，並可推聞。」
After the capital moved to Luoyang he became Prince of Zhao commandery, commander of Ji, Ding, and Ying, grand general who campaigns east, and Ji inspector, his open office unchanged; he received five hundred assorted gifts and ten catties of gold in secret. Gaozu saw him off near the capital and told him: "Punishment and imprisonment are what sages found hardest; yet with a realm in your charge you must urge yourself. You are my fine brother—cultivate virtue and exalt Wei; think deep and plan far, as on thin ice over an abyss. If you lean on kinship and neglect public duty, the state has fixed law, and grief will follow." Gaozu named Li Ping chief clerk, Tang Mao marshal, and Lu Shangzhi advising officer to guide him. When they remonstrated, Gan would not heed them. The province reported a horse-thief beheaded; the penalty exceeded statute, but the Masters of Writing, since Gan had just arrived, indulged him and did not impeach. An edict said: "Punishment restrains the people; guilt must not run wild—when punishments miss the mark the people have nowhere to stand. If terror alone were virtue, every province should do the same. If restraint is needed, why not measure against the canon? Statutes nowhere allow a new lord extra executions; ritual canon nowhere praises exclusive severity on first taking office. The Masters of Writing bent to my whim and truly wounded imperial magnanimity. Gan is blind in rule and imposed extra-legal severity—investigate and report both."
31
後轉特進、司州牧。 車駕南討，詔幹都督中外諸軍事，給鼓吹一部，甲士三百人，出入殿門。 幹貪淫不遵典法，御史中尉李彪將糾劾之。 會遇幹於尚書下舍，因屏左右而謂幹曰：「殿下，比有風聞，即欲起彈，恐損聖明委託之旨，若改往修來，彪當不言，脫不悛改，夕聞旦發。」 而幹悠然不以為意，彪乃表彈之。 高祖省之忿惋，詔幹與北海王詳，俱隨太子詣行在所。 既至，詳獨得朝見，幹不蒙引接。 密令左右察其意色，知無憂悔，乃親數其過，杖之一百，免所居官，以王還第。
He was later made special grand mentor and governor of Si. On the southern campaign Gan was made commander of all armies within and without, given martial music, three hundred armored guards, and passage through the palace gates. Gan was greedy and licentious and scorned law; Inspector Li Biao was about to impeach him. He met Gan in the Masters of Writing quarters, dismissed attendants, and said: "Highness, reports have reached me and I mean to impeach you—yet that would wound the emperor's trust. Reform, and I stay silent; fail to repent, and tonight's warning becomes tomorrow's memorial." Gan took no notice; Biao memorialized the impeachment. Gaozu read it in anger and ordered Gan and Prince of Beihai Xiang to follow the crown prince to the traveling palace. At arrival Xiang alone was received; Gan was not admitted. He had attendants watch Gan's face; seeing no remorse, he counted his faults in person, beat him a hundred strokes, stripped his offices, and sent him home as prince only.
32
二十三年薨，年三十一。 給東園祕器、斂服十五稱，賵帛三千匹，諡曰靈王，陪葬長陵。
He died in year 23, aged thirty-one. He received Eastern Garden rites, fifteen burial suits, three thousand bolts of condolence silk, posthumous name Prince Ling, and burial at Changling.
33
子謐，世宗初襲封。 幹妃穆氏表謐母趙等悖禮愆常，不遜日甚，尊卑義阻，母子道絕。 詔曰：「妾之於女君，猶婦人事舅姑，君臣之禮，義無乖二。 妾子之於君母，禮加如子之恭，何得黷我風政！ 可付宗正，依禮治罪。」 謐在母喪，聽音聲飲戲，為御史中尉李平所彈。 遇赦，復封。 除通直散騎常侍，加龍驤將軍，遷太子中庶子，出為冠軍將軍、岐州刺史。
His son Mi inherited at Shizong's accession. Consort Lady Mu reported that Mi's mother Zhao and others broke ritual daily, blocked honor and baseness, and severed mother and son. An edict read: "A concubine to her lady is as a daughter-in-law to parents-in-law; ruler and subject admit no double standard. A concubine's son owes his lord-mother a son's reverence—how dare they profane my customs? Hand them to the Director of the Imperial Clan for ritual punishment." In mourning for his mother Mi listened to music and drank; Inspector Li Ping impeached him. An amnesty restored his title. He was regular attendant of direct communication, dragon-charger general, junior tutor of the heir, then champion general and Qi inspector.
34
謐性嚴，暴虐下人。 肅宗初，臺使元延到其州界。 以驛邏無兵，攝帥檢覈。 隊主高保願列言所有之兵，王皆私役。 謐聞而大怒，鞭保願等五人各二百。 數日之間，謐召近州夫，閉城四門，內外嚴固，搜掩城中，楚掠備至。 又無事而斬六人。 合城兇懼，眾遂大呼屯門。 謐怖，登樓毀梯以自固。 土人散走，城人分守四門。 靈太后遣游擊將軍王靖馳驛諭之。 城人既見靖至，開門謝罪，奉送管籥。 乃罷謐州。 還，除大司農卿。 又除散騎尚侍、平北將軍、幽州刺史。 謐妃胡氏，靈太后從女也。 未發，坐毆其妃免官。 後除都官尚書，加安南將軍。
Mi was severe and brutal to those below him. Early in Suzong's reign the imperial envoy Yuan Yan reached his border. Finding relay posts without troops, he took command to inspect. Squad chief Gao Baoyuan listed every soldier—the prince had impressed them all for private use. Mi flew into a rage and flogged Baoyuan and four others two hundred strokes each. Within days he summoned corvée from nearby provinces, sealed the four gates, tightened inner and outer defense, and searched the city with plunder to the utmost. Without cause he beheaded six more. The whole city shook with fear; the crowd shouted at the garrison gates. Terrified, Mi climbed a tower and destroyed the stairs to hold himself secure. Locals fled; townspeople split to hold the four gates. Empress Dowager Ling sent mobile-column general Wang Jing by urgent relay to instruct him. When the town saw Jing they opened the gates in surrender and handed over the seals. Mi was removed from the province. On return he was grand minister of agriculture. He was again regular attendant of the palace secretariat, pacifier of the north, and You inspector. Consort Lady Hu was Empress Dowager Ling's cousin. Before he departed he was stripped of office for beating his consort. Later he was director of the ministry of justice and pacifier of the south.
35
正光四年薨。 給東園祕器、朝服一具、衣一襲，賵帛五百匹。 高陽王雍，幹之母弟，啟論謐，故超贈假侍中、征南將軍、司州牧，諡曰貞景。
He died in Zhenguang year 4. He received Eastern Garden rites, one court dress, one suit of garments, and five hundred bolts of condolence silk. Yong, Prince of Gaoyang and Gan's uterine brother, pleaded for Mi; Mi was posthumously raised to acting palace attendant, general who pacifies the south, and Si governor, titled Prince Zhenjing.
36
子毓，字子春，襲。 莊帝初，河陰遇害，贈衞大將軍、儀同三司、青州刺史，諡曰宣恭。 無子，詔以謐弟讞子寘字景融為後，襲爵。 及寘伯諶復封趙郡，改封平昌王。 齊受禪，爵例降。
His son Yu, styled Zichun, succeeded. At Zhuangdi's accession he died at Heyin and was posthumously grand general of the guard with protocol of the third rank and Qing inspector, titled Prince Xuangong. Childless, an edict made Chen's son Zhen, styled Jingrong, his heir; he inherited the title. When Zhen's elder brother Chen was restored as Prince of Zhao commandery, Zhen was changed to Prince of Pingchang. When Northern Qi took the throne, his title was lowered per precedent.
37
子煒，襲。 齊受禪，爵例降。
His son Wei succeeded. When Northern Qi took the throne, his title was lowered per precedent.
38
謐弟譚，頗強立，少為宗室所推敬。 自羽林監出為高陽太守，為政嚴斷，豪右畏之。 肅宗初，入為直閤將軍，歷太僕、宗正少卿，加冠軍將軍。 元法僧外叛，詔譚為持節、假左將軍、別將以討之。 徐州平，遷光祿少卿、行南兗州事、征虜將軍、涇州刺史。 入為武衞將軍。 尋詔譚為都督以討杜洛周，次於軍都，為洛周所敗。 還，除安西將軍、秦州刺史。 卒，贈撫軍將軍、儀同三司、青州刺史。 [5]
Mi's younger brother Tan was forceful by nature and esteemed in the clan from youth. From feathered-forest supervisor he went out as Gaoyang administrator; his rule was severe and the powerful feared him. At Suzong's accession he became direct-gate general, then grand master of the stud and junior director of the imperial clan, and champion general. When Yuan Faseng rebelled, Tan was made bearer of the staff, acting left general, and detached commander against him. After Xuzhou was pacified he was junior master of brilliant happiness, acting south Yan administrator, general who subdues the barbarians, and Jing inspector. He entered as martial guard general. Soon he was made commander against Du Luozhou, halted at Jundu, and was beaten. On return he was pacifier of the west and Qin inspector. He died and was posthumously general who pacifies the army with protocol of the third rank and Qing inspector. The text is deficient.
39
諶弟讞，為人貪暴無禮，自羽林監遷司徒主簿。 肅宗時，除正員郎，稍遷左將軍、太中大夫； 封平鄉縣開國男，邑二百戶。 莊帝初，河陰遇害。 贈車騎大將軍、儀同三司、定州刺史。
Chen's brother Xian was greedy, violent, and without propriety; from feathered-forest supervisor he rose to chief clerk of the ministry of state. Under Suzong he was regular gentleman, then left general and grand master of the palace; he was baron of Pingxiang with two hundred household fief. At Zhuangdi's accession he died at Heyin. He was posthumously grand general of chariots and cavalry with protocol of the third rank and Ding inspector.
40
子景暄，直閤將軍。 從出帝沒於關西。
His son Jingxuan was direct-gate general. He followed the Deposed Emperor and was lost west of the Pass.
41
讞弟譿，羽林監、直閤將軍。 早卒，賵帛五百匹，贈鎮遠將軍、恒州刺史。
Xian's brother Xu was feathered-forest supervisor and direct-gate general. He died young; five hundred bolts of condolence silk were given, and he was posthumously general who pacifies the distant and Heng inspector.
42
廣陵王羽，字叔翻。 太和九年封，加侍中、征東大將軍，為外都大官。 羽少而聰慧，有斷獄之稱。 後罷三都，羽為大理，加衞將軍，典決京師獄訟，微有聲譽。 遷特進、尚書左僕射，又為太子太保、錄尚書事。
Yu, Prince of Guangling, styled Shufan. In Taihe year 9 he was enfeoffed, made palace attendant and grand general who campaigns east, and grand director of the outer capital. From youth Yu was clever and won a name for deciding cases. When the three capital directorates were abolished he became director of the court of justice and general of the guard, heard capital suits, and gained some reputation. He rose to special grand mentor and left vice director of the Masters of Writing, then junior tutor of the heir and recorder of the Masters of Writing.
43
高祖將南討，遣羽持節安撫六鎮，發其突騎，夷人寧悅。 [6]還領廷尉卿。 車駕既發，羽與太尉丕留守，加使持節，語在丕傳。 高祖友愛諸弟，及將別，不忍早分，詔羽從至雁門，乃令羽歸。 望其稱効，故賜如意以表心。
Before the southern campaign Gaozu sent Yu with the staff to pacify the six garrisons and muster their shock cavalry; the tribes were settled. [6] On return he again directed the court of justice. After the emperor marched, Yu and Grand Commandant Pi stayed behind with bearer of the staff—the account is in Pi's biography. Gaozu loved his brothers and could not part early; he had Yu follow to Yanmen, then sent him back. Expecting results, he gave a ruyi scepter as token of his heart.
44
遷都議定，詔羽兼太尉，告于廟社。 遷京之後，北蕃人夷多有未悟。 羽鎮撫代京，內外肅然，高祖嘉之。 十八年春，羽表辭廷尉，不許。
When the capital move was settled, Yu was made concurrent grand commandant to announce it at the altars. After the move, many on the northern frontier had not yet understood. Yu pacified the Dai capital; inner and outer were orderly, and Gaozu praised him. In spring of year 18 Yu asked to resign the court of justice; the request was denied.
45
羽奏：「外考令文，每歲終，州鎮列牧守治狀。 及至再考，隨其品第，以彰黜陟。 去十五年中，在京百僚，盡已經考為三等。 此年便是三載，雖外有成令，而內令未班。 內外考察，理應同等。 臣輒推準外考，以定京官治行。」 詔曰：「雖內考未宣，績已久著，故明堂、月令載公卿大夫論考屬官之治，職區分著。 三公。 〈疑〉 尚書三載殿最之義，此之考內，已為明矣。 但論考之事，理在不輕，問績之方，應關朕聽，輒爾輕發，殊為躁也。 每考之義，應在年終，既云此年，何得春初也！ 今始維夏，且待至秋後。」
Yu wrote: "The outer-examination ordinance requires each year-end listing of governors' and prefects' records of rule. At the second examination grades fix promotion and demotion. For fifteen years capital officials have already been graded in three ranks. This year completes the third cycle; the outer rule stands, but the inner rule was never issued. Inner and outer examination ought to be equal. I venture to apply the outer examination to fix capital officials' conduct." An edict replied: "Though the inner examination was never proclaimed, merit is long evident—the Bright Hall and Monthly Ordinances have the Three Excellencies grade subordinates; duties are clear. The Three Excellencies. 〈doubt〉 The Masters of Writing's three-year ranking already makes the inner examination clear. Yet examination is no light matter and merit must reach my ear—your hasty move is rash. Examinations belong at year-end—how can you begin in spring! It is only early summer—wait until autumn."
46
高祖臨朝堂議政事，謂羽曰：「遷都洛陽，事格天地，但汝之迷，徒未開沉鄣耳。 朕家有四海，往來何難。 朕初發洛陽，教示永壽，皆謂分別。 比自來後，諸處分之事，已差前敕。 今舉大功，寧為虛費？ 且朕無周召之弟，豈容晏安日逸。 今便北巡，遷留之事，當稱朕懷。」
At court Gaozu told Yu: "Moving the capital to Luoyang reaches heaven and earth—your delusion is only that the deep barrier has not opened. My house holds the four seas—what difficulty in coming and going? When I first left Luoyang I instructed Yongshou—all thought it was farewell. Since my return, allotments everywhere have already diverged from the earlier edict. Now I undertake great work—would I waste it in vain? I have no Zhou and Shao among my brothers—how can I idle day after day? I go north on tour now; what stays behind should match my intent."
47
後高祖臨朝堂，謂羣臣曰：「兩儀既闢，人生其間，故上天不言，樹君以代。 是以書稱三考之績，禮云考成之章。 自皇王以降，斯道靡易。 朕以寡德，猥荷洪基，思與百辟，允釐庶務。 然朕識乏知人，不能使朝絕素餐之譏，野無考盤之刺，夙宵寤寐，載懷怵惕。 卿等皆是朝賢國彥，匡弼是寄，各率乃心，以旌考績之義。 如乖忠正，國有常刑，賢者雖疏必進，不肖者雖親必黜。」 顧謂羽曰：「上下二等，可為三品，中等但為一品。 所以然者，上下是黜陟之科，故旌絲髮之美，中等守本，事可大通。」
Later at court Gaozu told the ministers: "Heaven and earth are opened and humankind lives between; heaven does not speak and sets a lord in its place. The Documents praise three examinations; the Rites speak of completed examination. From kings downward this path has never been easy. With meager virtue I have borne the great foundation and mean to join the hundred offices in harmonizing affairs. Yet I cannot know men well enough to end the court's charge of freeloading or the wilds' barb of hidden worthies; night and day I wake in fear. You are court worthies and state pillars—lead your hearts and show what examining merit means. Depart from loyalty and the state has fixed punishment; advance the worthy though far, demote the unworthy though near." He turned to Yu: "Upper and lower may become three grades; the middle is only one grade. Upper and lower are promotion and demotion and show the finest distinction; the middle keeps the root and may broadly pass."
48
羽先呈廷尉五局司直。 高祖曰：「夫刑獄之難，實惟自古，必也斷訟，夫子所稱。 然五局所司，專主刑獄，比聞諸風聽，多論五局不精。 知人之難，朕豈獨決，當與羣臣同之。 卿等各陳所聞。」 高祖謂羽及少卿鄧述曰：「五局司直，卿等以何為品？」 羽對曰：「諸司直並簡聖心。 往者，百官初置，擢為獄官，聽訟察辭，無大差越。 所以為二等者，或以視事甫爾，或以見機遲速，朝廷既有九品之制，故計其絲髮之差，以為品第。 統論所得，大得相似。」 高祖曰：「朕頃年以其人識見可取，故簡司獄官，小優劣不足為差。 然廷尉所司，人命之本事，[7]須心平性正、抑強哀弱、不避貴勢、直情折獄者可為上等。 今正欲聽採風謠，虛實難悉； 正欲不採，事無所據。 然人言惡者未必是惡，言善者不必是善。 所以然者，或斷訟不避豪貴，故人以為惡； 或將勢抑賤，貴人以為好。 然關朕之聽，皆貴者言，是以遲迴三復，良由於此。 局事須冰清玉潔，明揚褒貶。 卿等既是親典，邪正得失，悉所具之，可精辨以聞。」 鄧述對曰：「陛下行賞得人，餘者甘心； 若賞不盡能，[8]無以勸勵。 如臣愚見，願不行賞。」 高祖曰：「朕昔置此官，許三年考績，必行賞罰。 既經今考，若無黜陟，恐正直者莫肯用心，邪曲者無以改肅。 自非釋之于公，何能盡其至理。 雖不可精其微致，且望粗有殿最。 諸尚書更與羣官善量所以。」
Yu first presented the court of justice's five bureaus' investigating officers. Gaozu said: "Punishment has been hard since antiquity; deciding suits is what the Master praised. Yet the five bureaus hold punishment alone, and reports say they are not refined. Knowing men is hard—I cannot decide alone; I shall decide with you. Each state what you have heard." Gaozu asked Yu and junior director Deng Shu: "What grade for the five bureaus' investigating officers?" Yu answered: "All were chosen by the sage's heart. When offices were first set they were raised as prison officers; in hearing suits they made no great error. They are second grade because some have just taken office or differ in grasping opportunity; with the nine-rank system in place, the finest distinctions fix their grades. Taken together, the results are largely alike. Gaozu said: "I chose them for acceptable insight; slight differences are not enough to matter. Yet the court of justice holds human life itself;[7] upper grade belongs to the level-hearted who restrain the strong, pity the weak, do not flinch from power, and break cases with straight feeling. I wish to listen to rumor, yet truth and falsehood are hard to know; if I do not listen, affairs have nothing to rest on. Those called wicked are not necessarily wicked; those called good are not necessarily good. Some who do not flinch from the powerful in suits are called wicked; some who restrain power and suppress the base are praised by the noble. Yet what reaches my ear is the noble's speech—therefore I hesitate thrice for this reason. Bureau affairs must be ice-clear and jade-pure, with praise and blame made plain. You personally hold the canon and know every right and wrong—distinguish finely and report." Deng Shu answered: "When rewards hit the right men, the rest are content; if rewards do not reach every able man,[8] encouragement fails. In my foolish view, I wish no reward were given." Gaozu said: "I established this office promising three-year examination with sure reward and punishment. This examination has passed; without promotion or demotion the upright will not strive and the crooked will not reform. Unless judgment is public, how can principle be exhausted? Though subtlety is beyond reach, I still want a rough ranking. Let the Masters of Writing measure the grounds with the assembled officials."
49
高祖謂尚書等曰：「朕仰纂乾構，君臨萬宇。 往者稽古典章，樹茲百職。 然尚書之任，樞機是司，豈惟總括百揆，緝和人務而已，朕之得失，實在於斯。 自卿等在任，年垂二周，未嘗言朕之一失，獻可否之片規，又不嘗進一賢而退一不肖，此二事罪之大者。」 高祖又謂羽曰：「汝之淺薄，固不足以況晉之巨源。 考之今世，民斯下矣。 [9]汝始為廷尉，及初作尚書，內外瞻望，以吾有弟。 自往秋南斾之後，近小人，遠君子，在公阿黨，虧我皇憲，出入無章，動乖禮則。 計汝所行，應在下下之第。」 高祖又謂羽曰：「汝既是宸極之弟，而居樞端之任。 汝自在職以來，功勤之績，不聞於朝； 阿黨之音，頻干朕聽。 汝之過失，已備積於前，不復能別叙。 今黜汝錄尚書、廷尉，但居特進、太保。」 又謂尚書令陸叡曰：「叔翻在省之初，甚有善稱，自近以來，偏頗懈怠。 豈不由卿等隨其邪偽之心，不能相導以義，雖不成大責，已致小罰。 今奪卿尚書令祿一周。」 謂左僕射元贊曰：「卿夙德老成，久居機要，不能光贊物務，奬勵同僚，賊人之謂，豈不在卿！ 計叔翻之黜，卿應大辟，但以咎歸一人，不復相罪。 又為少師，未允所授，今解卿少師之任，削祿一周。」 詔吏部尚書澄曰：「叔父既非端右，又非座元，豈宜濫歸眾過也。 然觀叔父神志驕傲，少保之任，似不能存意。 可解少保。」 謂長兼尚書于果曰：[10]「卿履歷卑淺，超昇名任，不能勤謹夙夜，數辭以疾。 長兼之職，位亞正員，今解卿長兼，可光祿大夫、守尚書，削祿一周。」 又謂守尚書尉羽曰：「卿在集書，殊無憂存左史之事，今降為長兼常侍，亦削祿一周。」 又謂守尚書盧淵曰：「卿始為守尚書，未合考績。 然卿在集書，雖非高功，為一省文學之士，嘗不以左史在意，如此之咎，罪無所歸。 今降卿長兼王師，守常侍、尚書如故，奪常侍祿一周。」 謂左丞公孫良、右丞乞伏義受曰：「二丞之任，所以協贊尚書，光宣出納，而卿等不能正心直言，規佐尚書，論卿之罪，進合大辟。 但以尚書之失，事鍾叔翻，故不能別致貶責。 二丞可以白衣守本官，冠服祿恤，盡皆削奪。 若三年有成，還復本任； 如其無成，則永歸南畝。」 又謂散騎常侍元景曰：「卿等自任集書，合省逋墮，致使王言遺滯，起居不修，如此之咎，責在於卿。 今降為中大夫、守常侍，奪祿一周。」 謂諫議大夫李彥曰：「卿雖處諫議之官，實人不稱職，可去諫議，退為元士。」 又謂中庶子游肇等曰：「自建承華，已經一稔，然東宮之官，無直言之士，雖未經三載，事須考黜。 肇及中舍人李平識學可觀，可為中； [11]安樂王詮可為下中，解東華之任，退為員外散騎常侍； 馮夙可為下下，免中庶子，免爵兩任，員外常侍如故； 中舍人閭賢保可為下下，退為武騎常侍。」 又謂公孫良曰：「頃年用人，多乖觀才之授。 實是武人，而授以文官，黜同大例，於理未均。 諸如此比，黜官如初。」
Gaozu told the Masters of Writing: "I look up to continue the Qian structure and rule the ten thousand realms. I examined ancient canon and established the hundred offices. Yet the Masters of Writing hold the pivot—not only summing the hundred duties and harmonizing affairs, but my gains and losses lie here. Nearly two cycles you have held office without one word of my fault, one scrap of counsel, one advancement of worth or demotion of unworth—these two are your greatest crimes." Gaozu told Yu again: "Your shallowness cannot compare with Jin's great source. In this age the people stand lower still. [9] When you first became director of the court of justice and then Master of Writing, court and country looked up—because you were my brother. Since last autumn's march south you have drawn near petty men, kept true gentlemen distant, formed factions in public, wounded imperial law, and moved without ritual. By your conduct you belong in the lowest of the lower grades." Gaozu told Yu again: "You are imperial brother at the pole's apex and hold the pivot's end. Since you took office no merit has been heard at court; faction's voice reaches me again and again. Your faults are already fully counted; I will not list them again. I demote you from recorder and director of the court of justice, but leave you special grand mentor and junior tutor of the heir." He told Master of Writing Lu Rui: "Shufan began with a fine name in office; lately he has grown partial and slack. Is it not because you followed his crooked heart and could not guide him with righteousness—small punishment has already come. I strip one cycle of your salary as Master of Writing." He told left vice director Yuan Zan: "You are long in virtue and age and long at the pivot, yet you cannot glorify affairs or encourage colleagues—the harm is yours! By Shufan's demotion you ought to face execution—but blame returns to one man and I do not punish you further. As junior tutor the appointment did not match what was granted; I release you from junior tutor and cut one cycle of salary." He issued an edict Minister of Personnel Cui: "Uncle is neither chief at the right nor seat at the head—how should blame fall on the multitude? Yet uncle's spirit is arrogant and proud; junior guardian seems beyond his intent. Release him from junior guardian." He told senior concurrent master Yu Guo:[10] "Your career is shallow; promoted out of turn you cannot be diligent night and day and repeatedly plead illness. Senior concurrent rank stands next below regular; I release senior concurrent office—you may be grand master of brilliant virtue and acting master of writing, and cut one cycle of salary." He told acting master Yu Yu: "In the Collected Documents you utterly lack concern for the left historian's charge; I demote you to senior concurrent regular attendant and cut one cycle of salary." He told acting master Lu Yuan: "You first became acting master of writing—it did not yet fit examination. Yet in the Collected Documents, though not of high achievement, you are a literary man of the province; you never took the left historian to heart—such fault has nowhere to assign blame. You are demoted to senior concurrent crown-prince tutor, your acting regular attendant and minister posts unchanged, with one year's regular-attendant stipend forfeited. He told Left Vice Director Gongsun Liang and Right Vice Director Qifu Yishou: "Your office exists to aid the Masters of Writing and keep the flow of documents clear; you failed to speak plainly and guide them. By rights you deserve death. Because the Masters of Writing bore the blame and the affair turned on Shufan, he could not punish you separately. Both may keep their posts in plain dress, but caps, robes, stipends, and allowances are all taken away. If they prove themselves within three years, their posts may be restored; if not, they return forever to the fields. He told Regular Attendant Yuan Jing: "You were charged with the Collation Office and should have cleared its backlog, yet royal pronouncements stalled and the daily record fell into neglect—the fault is yours. He was demoted to grand master of the palace and acting regular attendant, with one year's stipend cut. He told Remonstrance Grandee Li Yan: "You hold a remonstrance post but are unfit for it; leave remonstrance and withdraw as a gentleman of the first rank." He told Junior Mentor You Zhao and others: "Chenghua Palace has stood a year, yet the Eastern Palace still has no plain speakers; though three years are not up, they must be reviewed and culled. Zhao and junior household master Li Ping showed learning worth keeping and were rated middle; [11] Prince of Anle Quan was rated lower-middle, relieved of Eastern Palace duty, and made supernumerary regular attendant of scattered cavalry; Feng Su was rated lowest, removed as junior mentor and stripped two noble ranks, remaining supernumerary regular attendant; Junior household master Lü Xianbao was rated lowest and made martial riding regular attendant." He told Gongsun Liang: "Recent appointments have often ignored talent and fit. Military men were given civil posts; dismissing them by the general rule was not fair. In every such case, offices were restored to what they had been."
50
高祖引陸叡、元贊等於前曰：「北人每言北人何用知書，朕聞此，深用憮然。 今知書者甚眾，豈皆聖人。 朕自行禮九年，置官三載，正欲開導兆人，致之禮教。 朕為天子，何假中原，欲令卿等子孫，博見多知。 若永居恒北，值不好文主，卿等子孫，不免面牆也。」 陸叡對曰：「實如明詔，金氏若不入仕漢朝，七世知名，亦不可得也。」 高祖大悅。
Gaozu called Lu Rui, Yuan Zan, and others before him and said: "Northerners always ask what use books are to northerners; the remark troubled me deeply. Many northerners read now; are they all sages? I have practiced ritual nine years and set offices three years, precisely to guide the people into ritual. I am Son of Heaven; why borrow the Central Plains? I want your sons and grandsons to see far and know much. If they stay forever in the north under a lord who scorns letters, your descendants will stand ignorant as men facing a wall. Lu Rui replied: "It is as Your Majesty says: had the Jin clan never served Han, seven generations of fame would never have come." Gaozu was greatly pleased.
51
及五等開建，羽食勃海之東光二千戶。 車駕南伐，羽進號衞將軍，[12]除使持節、都督青齊光南青四州諸軍事、征東大將軍、開府、青州刺史。 以留守代京之功，增邑五百戶。 高祖幸羽第，與諸弟言曰：「朕昨親受人訟，始知廣陵之明了。」 咸陽王禧對曰：「臣年為廣陵兄，明為廣陵弟。」 高祖曰：「我為汝兄，汝為羽昆，汝復何恨。」 又曰：「叔翻沉疴緜惙，遂有辰歲，我每為深憂，恐其不振。 今得痊愈，晚成婚媾，且喜其吉慶，故命駕耳。」 高祖親餞之華林園。 後詔羽曰：「吾因天歷運，乘時樹功，開荊拓沔，威振楚越。 時暨三炎，息駕汝潁。 勢臨荊徐，聲遏江外，未容解甲，凱入三川。 纂兵修律，俟秋方舉。 海服之寄，故惟宗良，善開經策，寧我東夏。 敬慎汝儀，勿墜嘉問，唯酒唯田，可不戒歟！」 加散騎常侍，進號車騎大將軍，餘如故。
When the five ranks were opened, Yu's fief was two thousand households east of Dongguang in Bohai. On the southern campaign Yu was made guard general,[12] bearer of the staff, commander of Qing, Qi, Guang, Nanqing, and the four provinces, grand general who pacifies the east with an open office, and Qingzhou inspector. For guarding the capital in the emperor's absence his fief rose by five hundred households. Gaozu visited Yu's house and told the younger princes: "Yesterday I heard suits in person and first saw how clear-sighted Guangling is." Prince Xianyang Xi replied: "I am older than Guangling in years but younger in clarity." Gaozu said: "I am your elder brother and you are Yu's peers—what grievance remains?" He added: "Shufan's grave illness lasted a year; I feared constantly he would not rally. Now he is healed and newly wed; I came chiefly to share his joy." Gaozu saw him off in person at the Pavilion of the Imperial Grove. Later he issued an edict Yu: "By Heaven's calendar I seized the hour, opened Jing, extended Mian, and shook Chu and Yue. When the three flames aligned I halted at Ru and Ying. Power pressed Jing and Xu and sound blocked the lands beyond the river; armor could not yet come off when triumph was to enter the Three Rivers. I gather troops and mend statutes, waiting for autumn to march. The eastern coast is entrusted to you alone as a worthy clansman; master the classics and settle our eastern realm. Keep your conduct reverent; do not lose your good name; guard against wine and idle fields!" He was made regular attendant of scattered cavalry and grand general of chariots and cavalry; the rest unchanged.
52
世宗即位，遷司州牧，常侍如故。 羽頻表辭牧，至于三四，詔不許。 世宗覽政，引羽入內，面授司徒。 羽辭曰：「彥和本自不願，而陛下強與。 今新去此官而以臣代之，必招物議。 季豫既轉，取之無嫌。 請為司空。」 世宗猶強焉，固辭，乃許之。
At Shizong's accession he became Si province governor, regular attendant unchanged. Yu memorialized three or four times to resign the governorship; the throne refused. When Shizong assumed government he brought Yu inside and named him minister of education in person. Yu declined: "Yanhe never wanted the post, yet Your Majesty forced it on him. He has only just left it and Your Majesty would put me in his place—public talk is certain. Jiyu has already moved on; for me to take it would raise no suspicion. Let me be minister of works instead." Shizong still pressed him; when Yu held firm, he was allowed his wish.
53
羽先淫員外郎馮俊興妻，夜因私遊，為俊興所擊。 積日祕匿，薨於府，年三十二。 世宗親臨，哀慟，詔給東園溫明祕器、朝服一具、衣一襲、錢六十萬、布一千匹、蠟三百斤，大鴻臚護喪事。 大殮，帝親臨之，舉哀都亭。 贈使持節、侍中、驃騎大將軍、司徒公、冀州刺史，給羽葆鼓吹、班劍四十人，諡曰惠。 及葬，帝親臨送。 子恭襲。 語在紀。
Yu had earlier debauched supernumerary gentleman Feng Junxing's wife; visiting her by night he was beaten by Junxing. He hid the matter for days and died in his residence at thirty-two. Shizong came in person, stricken with grief; the edict granted the eastern-garden secret coffin, court robes, a suit of garments, six hundred thousand cash, a thousand bolts of cloth, three hundred jin of wax, and the grand herald to direct the rites. At the great encoffment the emperor came in person and mourned at the Capital Pavilion. He was posthumously bearer of the staff, palace attendant, grand general of agile cavalry, duke of education, and Jizhou inspector, with feather-canopy escort, drums, pipes, and forty ceremonial sword-guards; posthumous name Hui. At the burial the emperor saw him off in person. His son Gong succeeded. The account appears in the Annals.
54
恭兄欣，字慶樂。 性粗率，好鷹犬。 肅宗初，除通直散騎常侍、北中郎將。 出為冠軍將軍、荊州刺史，轉征虜將軍、齊州刺史。 欣在二州，頗得人和。 又為征東將軍、太僕卿。 孝莊初，封沛郡王，邑一千戶，後改封淮陽王。 出帝時，加太師、開府。 復封廣陵王。 除太傅、司州牧，尋除大司馬。 隨出帝沒於關中。
Gong's elder brother Xin, styled Qingle. Coarse and rash by nature, he loved hawking and hunting. Early in Suzong's reign he was regular attendant of direct transmission and general of the northern center. He went out as champion general and Jingzhou inspector, then became general who subdues the barbarians and Qizhou inspector. In both provinces Xin largely won popular attachment. He was again made general who pacifies the east and grand minister of the household. At Emperor Zhuang's accession he was made Prince of Pei commandery with a thousand households, later transferred to Huaiyang. Under the Deposed Emperor he was made grand mentor with an open office. He was again enfeoffed as Prince of Guangling. He was made grand tutor and Si province governor, then soon grand marshal. He followed the Deposed Emperor and perished in Guanzhong.
55
高陽王雍，字思穆，少而倜儻不恒。 高祖曰：「吾亦未能測此兒之深淺，然觀其任真率素，或年器晚成也。」 太和九年，封潁川王，加侍中、征南大將軍。 或說雍曰：「諸王皆待士以營聲譽，王何以獨否？」 雍曰：「吾天子之子，位為諸王，用聲名何為？」 久之，拜中護軍，領鎮北大將軍。 改封高陽。 奉遷七廟神主於洛陽。 五等開建，食邑二千戶。
Prince Gaoyang Yong, styled Simu, was in youth unconstrained and unsteady. Gaozu said: "I cannot plumb this boy's depth, but his plain truth suggests a late-blooming vessel." In Taihe year 9 he was made Prince of Yingchuan, with palace attendant and grand general who pacifies the south. Someone urged Yong: "Other princes patronize scholars for renown—why do you alone refuse?" Yong said: "I am the emperor's son and a prince among princes—what need have I of reputation?" After long service he was central guard and concurrently grand general who guards the north. His fief was changed to Gaoyang. He conveyed the seven temples' spirit tablets to Luoyang. When the five ranks opened, his fief was two thousand households.
56
車駕南伐，雍行鎮軍大將軍，總攝留事。 遷衞尉，加散騎常侍，除使持節、鎮北將軍、相州刺史，常侍如故。 高祖誡雍曰：「相州乃是舊都，自非朝賢德望無由居此，是以使汝作牧。 為牧之道，亦難亦易。 [13]其身正，不令而行，故便是易。 其身不正，雖令不從，故便是難。 又當愛賢士，存信約，無用人言而輕與奪也。」 進號征北將軍。
On the southern campaign Yong was grand general of the garrison army and held overall charge of the capital. He became commandant of the guard and regular attendant of scattered cavalry, bearer of the staff, grand general who guards the north, and Xiangzhou inspector. Gaozu warned Yong: "Xiangzhou is the old capital; only a court worthy of virtue should hold it—hence I send you as governor. Governing is both hard and easy. [13] If you are upright, things proceed without commands—that is the easy part. If you are not upright, orders go unheeded—that is the hard part. Cherish worthy men, keep faith, and do not grant or strip office lightly on hearsay." He was advanced to grand general who pacifies the north.
57
世宗初，遷使持節、都督冀相瀛三州諸軍事、征北大將軍、開府、冀州刺史，常侍如故。 雍在二州，微有聲稱。 入拜驃騎大將軍、司州牧。 世宗時幸雍第，皆盡家人之禮。 遷司空公，議定律令，雍常入參大議。 轉太尉公，加侍中。 時雍以旱故，再表遜位，優詔不許。 除太保，領太尉，侍中如故。
Early in Shizong's reign he was bearer of the staff, commander of Ji, Xiang, and Ying, grand general who pacifies the north with an open office, and Jizhou inspector. In both provinces Yong won a modest name. He entered court as grand general of agile cavalry and Si province governor. When Shizong visited Yong's house he was received with full family ceremony. He became duke of works and often joined the great deliberations on law. He was made duke of the martial host with palace attendant added. During drought he twice asked to resign; gracious edicts refused. He was made grand mentor while retaining the duke of the martial host, palace attendant unchanged.
58
世宗行考陟之法，雍表曰：
When Shizong enacted examination and promotion, Yong memorialized:
59
竊惟三載考績，百王通典。 今任事上中者，三年昇一階，散官上第者，四載登一級。 閑冗之官，本非虛置，或以賢能而進，或因累勤而舉。 如其無能，不應忝茲高選。 既其以能進之朝伍，或任官外戍，[14]遠使絕域，催督逋懸，察檢州鎮，皆是散官，以充劇使。 及於考陟，排同閑伍。 檢散官之人，非才皆劣，稱事之輩，未必悉賢。 而考閑以多年，課煩以少歲，上乖天澤之均，下生不等之苦。 又尋景明之格，無折考之文； 正始之奏，有與奪之級。 明參差之考，非聖慈之心； 改典易常，乃有司之意。 又尋考級之奏，委於任事之手； 涉議科勤，絕於散官之筆。 遂使在事者得展自勤之能，散輩者獨絕披衿之所。 抑以上下之閑，限以旨格之判，致使近侍禁職，抱槃屈之辭； 禁衞武夫，懷不申之恨。 欲克平四海，何以獲諸。 又散官在直，一玷成尤； 銜使愆失，差毫即坐。 徽纆所逮，未以事閑優之； 節慶之賚，不以祿微加賞。 罪殿之犯，未殊任事； 考陟之機，推年不等。 臣聞君舉必書，書而不法，後代何觀。 詩云：「王事靡盬，不遑啟處」，又曰：「豈不懷歸，畏此簡書」。 依依楊柳，以叙治兵之役； 霏霏雨雪，又申振旅之勤。 若折往來日月，便是採薇之詩廢，杕杜之歌罷。 又任事之官，吉凶請假，定省掃拜，動歷十旬，或因患重請，動輒經歲。 征役在途，勤泰百倍。 苦樂之勢，非任事之倫； 在家私閑，非理務之日。 論優語劇，先宜折之。
I venture that triennial examination is the universal canon of kings. Active officers rated upper-middle now rise one grade in three years; top-rated scattered officers rise one rank in four. Idle posts were not vainly created—some men entered by talent, some by long service. The unfit should not hold such high selection. Men who entered by merit now serve on distant garrisons,[14] as envoys to far borders, pressing arrears, inspecting provinces—all scattered officers on arduous missions. Yet at examination they are ranked with the idle. Among scattered officers talent is not uniformly low, nor are all who merely fill their posts worthy. Idle posts are judged on long years while arduous posts on short ones—above, Heaven's favor is uneven; below, men suffer unequal hardship. The Jingming regulations contain no rule for reduced examination; the Zhengshi memorial had grades of grant and strip. Uneven examination is not sagely compassion; changing canon and custom is the clerks' doing. Examination grades are left in active officers' hands; merit and diligence never reach scattered officers' pens. Men in office can show diligence; scattered officers alone have no place to plead their case. Edict rules bound upper and lower so close attendants and forbidden offices must speak with bent dish and bowed knee; palace guards and martial men nurse unvoiced resentment. If you wish to pacify the four seas, how will you win men's hearts? A scattered officer on duty: one stain becomes guilt; on envoy service, a hair's breadth of error brings punishment. The fine net of law does not ease because the fault is small; festival gifts are not enlarged because the stipend is slight. palace offenses are not treated differently from active office; promotion by years falls unequally. What the lord does must be written; if the record is unlawful, what will posterity see? The Odes say: "Kingly tasks never cease—no time to rise or sit," and: "Do we not yearn for home? We fear the dispatch." Yielding willows speak of mustering troops; drizzling snow declares the army's toil anew. If days of coming and going are cut, the poem of gathering fern is silenced and the song of the lone pear tree ends. Active officers take leave for fortune, mourning, visits, and tomb-sweeping for ten-day spans at a stretch, sometimes a year for grave illness. On campaign, diligence is a hundredfold harder. Bitterness and joy do not match active office; private leisure at home is not a day of public duty. When weighing merit and hardship, active officers should be judged first.
60
武人本挽上格者為羽林，次格者為虎賁，下格者為直從。 或累紀征戍，靡所不涉； 或帶甲連年，負重千里； 或經戰損傷； 或年老衰竭。 今試以本格，責其如初，有爽於先，退階奪級。 此便責以不衰，理未通也。 又蕃使之人，必抽朝彥。 或歷嶮千餘，或履危萬里，登有死亡之憂，咸懷不返之戚，魂骨奉忠，以尸將命。 先朝賞格，酬以爵品； 今朝改式，止及階勞。 折以代考，有乖使望。 非所以奬勵皇華而敦崇四牡者也。
Top-rated soldiers entered the Forest of Feathers, the next grade the Tiger Guards, the lowest direct followers. Some campaigned year on year and garrisoned every frontier; some bore armor year after year for a thousand li; some were battle-wounded; some aged and failed. Now they are tested against their first rating and must match it; falling short, rank and grade are stripped. To demand they never decline is unreasonable. Envoys to border peoples must draw court elites. Some crossed a thousand li of peril or ten thousand li of danger, facing death and the grief of never returning—offering soul and bone, they would present their corpse in the place of life. The former court repaid them with noble rank; the present court changes the form and stops at grade and toil. Reducing reward to examination violates what envoys hoped for. It is no way to encourage splendid envoys or honor the four stalwart steeds.
61
復尋正始之格：汎後任事上中者，三年升一階； 汎前任事上中者，六年進一級。 三年一考，自古通經。 今以汎前六年昇一階，檢無愆犯，倍年成級。 以此推之，明以汎代考。 新除一日，同霑階榮，下第之人因汎上陟，上第之士由汎而退。
I turn again to Zhengshi regulations: broadly, later active officers rated upper-middle rose one grade in three years; earlier active officers rated upper-middle rose one rank in six years. Triennial examination is the universal classic since antiquity. Now six years broadly earn one grade without fault—doubled years complete a rank. From this it is clear that breadth replaces examination. On the first day of appointment all share grade glory; lower men rise by breadth while upper men fall.
62
臣又見部尉資品，本居流外，刊諸明令，行之已久。 然近為里巷多盜，以其威輕不肅，欲進品清流，以壓姦宄。 甄琛啟云：[15]「為法者施而觀之，不便則改。」 竊謂斯言有可採用，聖慈昭覽，更高宰尉之秩。
Section and commandant qualification grades originally stood outside the flowing ranks, set forth in bright edicts and long practiced. Yet lanes swarm with thieves; because section authority is too light to awe them, some wish to raise the grade into the clear current to crush crime. Zhen Chen wrote:[15] "Enact law and watch it; if it fails, change it." That saying deserves adoption; let sagely compassion scan it and raise the higher commandants' rank.
63
今考格始宣，懷怨者眾，臣竊觀之，亦謂不可，有光國典，改之何難。
The new examination rules breed widespread resentment; I have watched in private and judge them untenable; they touch the national canon—how hard is change?
64
世宗乃引雍共論時務。
Shizong then summoned Yong to discuss current affairs.
65
肅宗初，詔雍入居太極西栢堂，諮決大政，給親信二十人。 又詔雍為宗師，進太傅、侍中，領太尉公，王如故。 別敕將作，營國子學寺，給雍居之。 領軍于忠擅權專恣，僕射郭祚勸雍出之。 忠怒，矯詔殺祚及尚書裴植，廢雍以王歸第。 朝有大事，使黃門郎就諮訪之。 忠尋復矯詔，將欲殺雍，以問侍中崔光，光拒之，乃止。
Early in Suzong's reign Yong was ordered into the Western Cypress Hall of the Great Ultimate to decide great affairs, with twenty trusted attendants. He was also named imperial clan mentor, grand tutor, palace attendant, and duke of the martial host, prince unchanged. A separate edict had the director of imperial construction build the National University temple for Yong's residence. Army supervisor Yu Zhong seized power willfully; vice director Guo Zuo urged Yong to remove him. Zhong forged an edict, killed Zuo and Minister Pei Zhi, and deposed Yong to his princely residence. On great court affairs a yellow gate gentleman was sent to consult him. Soon Zhong forged again to kill Yong and asked Palace Attendant Cui Guang, who refused, and he stopped.
66
未幾，靈太后臨朝，出忠為冀州刺史。 雍表曰：
Soon Empress Dowager Ling ruled; Zhong was sent out as Jizhou inspector. Yong memorialized:
67
臣初入栢堂，見詔旨之行，一由門下，而臣出君行，不以悛意。 每覽傷矜，視之慘目，深知不可，不能禁制。 臣之罪一也。 臣近忝內樞，兼尸師傅，宜保護聖躬，溫凊晨夕。 而于忠身居武司，禁勒自在，限以內外，朝謁簡絕。 皇居寢食，所在不知，社稷安危，又亦不預，出入栢堂，尸立而已。 臣之罪二也。 忠規欲殺臣，賴在事執拒。 又令僕卿相，任情進黜，遷官授職，多不經旬，斥退賢良，專納心腹，威振百僚，勢傾朝野。 臣見其如此，欲出忠為雍州刺史，鎮撫關右，在心未行，反為忠廢。 忝官尸祿，孤負恩私。 臣之罪三也。 先帝昇遐，儲宮纂統，斯乃君父之恒謨，臣子之永則，加賞之義，自古無之。 忠既人臣，受恩先帝，喪禍之際，竭節是常，迎陛下於東宮，臣下之恒事，如其不爾，更欲何為？ 而忠意氣凌雲，坐要封爵。 爾日抑之，交恐為禍。 臣以權臣所欲，不敢輒違，即集王公卿士，議其多少。 清河王臣懌，先帝懿弟，識度寬明，臨眾唱議，非以勤而賞之，憚違權臣之旨，望顏而授。 臣知不可，因而從之。 臣之罪四也。 忠秉權門下，且居宰執，又總禁旅，為崇訓衞尉，身兼內外，橫干宮掖。 臣之罪五也。 古者重罪，必令三公會，期至旬日，所以重死刑也。 先帝登極，十有七年，細人犯刑，猶寬憲墨，朝廷貴仕，不戮一人。 今陛下踐阼，年未半周，殺僕射、尚書，如夭一草，是忠秉權矯旨，擅行誅戮。 臣知不能救，臣之罪六也。
When I entered the Cypress Hall I saw edicts issue only through the Gate Office, yet I went out while the lord acted and did not change course. Each reading wounded me; each sight was bitter; I knew it could not stand yet could not stop it. My first offense. I lately hold the inner pivot and the mentor's charge and should protect the sacred person morning and evening. Yet Yu Zhong holds the martial office and controls restraint at will; inside and outside, audience is cut off. Where the emperor sleeps and eats is unknown; the altars' safety unforeseeable; I enter and leave the Cypress Hall a standing corpse only. My second offense. Zhong plotted my death, stopped only by men in office who held him off. He made vice directors and ministers advance and dismiss at will, often within ten days, driving off the worthy and taking heart-followers—his might shook the hundred offices, his power tilted the realm. Seeing this, I wished to send him out as Yongzhou inspector to settle Guanxi; I had not acted when he deposed me in turn. Shamed in office, corpse in stipend, I failed private favor alone. My third offense. When the late emperor died the heir succeeded—lord-and-father's constant plan, subject-and-son's eternal rule; added reward has no ancient precedent. Zhong was the late emperor's favored subject; at mourning, exhausting loyalty was constant—welcoming Your Majesty at the Eastern Palace was every subject's duty; what more was required? Yet Zhong's spirit pierced the clouds and he demanded enfeoffment while seated. That day to suppress him might bring calamity in turn. Because the powerful minister desired it I did not dare oppose; I gathered kings, dukes, and gentlemen to fix the amount. Prince Qinghe Yi, the late emperor's honored brother, clear and broad, led the crowd—not rewarding merit but fearing the powerful minister, granting as his face commanded. I knew it could not stand and followed. My fourth offense. Zhong held the Gate Office and the chief ministry, commanded the forbidden guard, was commandant of Chongxun and guard—inner and outer in one body, crossing the palace. My fifth offense. In antiquity heavy crimes required the three dukes to assemble for ten days—therefore capital punishment was weighted. Seventeen years the late emperor reigned; petty offenders still met lenient statutes; not one court noble was executed. Your Majesty has reigned less than half a year and killed vice director and minister like plucking spring grass—Zhong forged edicts and killed at will. I knew I could not save them—my sixth offense.
68
臣位荷師相，年未及終，難恕之罪，顯露非一，何情以處，何顏以生，雖經恩宥，猶有餘責，謹反私門，伏聽司敗。
I bear mentor and minister though my years are not ended; unpardonable offenses stand manifest—what feeling to dwell, what face to live? Though grace pardons, blame remains; I return to my private gate and await punishment.
69
靈太后感忠保護之勳，不問其罪，增雍封一千戶，除侍中、太師，又加使持節，以本官領司州牧。
Empress Dowager Ling, moved by Zhong's protective merit, did not punish him; Yong's fief rose a thousand households, he was palace attendant and grand mentor, bearer of the staff added, leading Si province as before.
70
雍表請：王公以下賤妾，悉不聽用織成錦繡、金玉珠璣，違者以違旨論； 奴婢悉不得衣綾綺纈，止於縵繒而已，奴則布服，並不得以金銀為釵帶，犯者鞭一百。 太后從之，而不能久行也。 詔雍乘步挽出入掖門。 又以本官錄尚書事。 雍頻表辭遜，優答不許，詔侍中敦諭。 詔雍朝夕侍講。
Yong asked that from kings and dukes down concubines might not use brocade, gold, jade, pearls, or gems—violators judged by edict violation; slave girls only plain silk, male slaves plain cloth, no gold or silver pins or belts—violators flogged a hundred. The empress dowager agreed but could not enforce it long. An edict let Yong ride a step-drawn carriage through the side gate. He was again recorder of the Masters of Writing in his former office. Yong repeatedly declined; gracious replies refused; a palace attendant was ordered to press him. An edict ordered Yong to lecture morning and evening.
71
肅宗覽政，除使持節、司州牧、侍中、太師、錄尚書如故。 肅宗加元服，雍兼太保，與兼太尉崔光攝行冠禮。 詔雍乘車出入大司馬門，進位丞相，給羽葆鼓吹，倍加班劍，餘悉如故。 又賜帛八百匹，與一千人供具，催令速拜。 詔雍依齊郡順王簡太和故事，朝訖引坐，特優拜伏之禮。 總攝內外，與元叉同決庶政。 歲祿萬餘，粟至四萬，伎侍盈房，諸子璫冕，榮貴之盛，昆弟莫及焉。
When Suzong assumed government he was bearer of the staff, Si province governor, palace attendant, grand mentor, recorder unchanged. At Suzong's capping Yong was concurrent grand mentor and with concurrent grand martial host Cui Guang performed the rite in proxy. An edict let Yong ride through the Great Marshal Gate, advanced him to chancellor, granted feather-canopy escort, drums, pipes, and doubled ceremonial swords—all else unchanged. He was also granted eight hundred bolts of silk and supplies for a thousand men, urged to accept at once. An edict had Yong follow the Taihe precedent of Prince Jian of Shun in Qi Commandery—after court he was seated and spared the full bowing rites. He oversaw affairs inside and outside the palace and ruled day-to-day government with Yuan Cha. His yearly income ran past ten thousand, his grain allowance to forty thousand; performers crowded his halls, his sons went in court dress, and none of his brothers matched his glory.
72
元妃盧氏薨後，更納博陵崔顯妹，甚有色寵，欲以為妃。 世宗初以崔氏世號「東崔」，地寒望劣，難之，久乃聽許。 延昌已後，多幸妓侍，近百許人，而疏棄崔氏，別房幽禁，不得關豫內政，僅給衣食而已。 至乃左右無復婢使，子女欲省其母，必啟聞，許乃得見。 未幾，崔暴薨，多云雍毆殺之也。 靈太后許賜其女妓，未及送之，雍遣其閹竪丁鵝自至宮內，料簡四口，冒以還第。 太后責其專擅，追停之。
When his chief consort, Lady Lu, died, he took Cui Xian of Boling's younger sister, favored for her beauty, and meant to raise her to princess consort. At first Xiaozong hesitated: the Cuis were known as "Eastern Cui," of humble birth and slight prestige; only after long delay did he consent. After Yanming he kept nearly a hundred singing girls and attendants, while Lady Cui was shut in a side quarter, shut out of household rule, and given only food and clothes. In time he kept no maids at all; his children had to petition before they might see their mother, and only on permission were they admitted. Soon Lady Cui died suddenly; many whispered Yong had beaten her to death. Empress Dowager Ling had promised him her singing girls, but before they were sent Yong's eunuch Ding E entered the palace, picked four, and carried them off to his house under false pretense. The empress dowager rebuked his presumption and had the grant halted and the women recalled.
73
孝昌初，詔曰：「比相府弗開，陰陽未變。 王秉哲居宗，勳望隆重，道庇蒼生，威被華裔，體國猶家，匪躬在節，可開府置佐史。」 尋罷司徒，以為丞相府。
Early in Xiaochang an edict read: "Of late the chancellor's gates have stayed shut and the seasons have not turned. You hold wisdom within the imperial house, weight of merit and fame, shelter the people in the Way, and spread awe across the realm; you treat the state as family and keep your integrity at cost to yourself—open a chancellery and appoint staff." Soon after he was stripped of the Ministry of Works and made chancellor.
74
孝莊初，尒朱榮欲害朝士，遂云雍將謀逆，於河陰遇害。 贈假黃鉞、相國，諡文穆王。
When Emperor Zhuang came to the throne, Erzhu Rong meant to purge the court and accused Yong of treason; Yong was killed at Heyin. He was posthumously given the yellow battle-ax and prime-minister rank, with the temple name Prince Wenmu.
75
雍識懷短淺，又無學業，雖位居朝首，不為時情所推。 既以親尊，地當宰輔，自熙平以後，朝政褫落，不能守正匡弼，唯唯而已。 及清河王懌之死，元叉專政，天下大責歸焉。
Yong's mind was shallow and he had no learning; though he stood first in court, his age did not esteem him. Kin to the throne and seated as chief minister, from Xiping on he watched government decay and could not hold the line—only nodded assent. When Prince of Qinghe Yi died and Yuan Cha seized rule, the realm's blame settled on Yong.
76
嫡子泰，字昌，頗有時譽。 為中書侍郎，尋遷通直散騎常侍、鎮東將軍、太常卿。 與雍同時遇害。 追贈侍中、特進、驃騎大將軍、太尉公、武州刺史、高陽王，諡曰文孝。
His heir Tai, courtesy name Chang, enjoyed some repute in his day. He served as secretariat gentleman, then rose to unhampered cavalier attendant-in-ordinary, pacification-general of the east, and director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He fell with Yong on the same day. Posthumously he was palace attendant, special advance, general of agile cavalry, duke of Taiwei, inspector of Wuzhou, prince of Gaoyang, temple name Wenxiao.
77
子斌，襲。 武定中，官至尚書右僕射。 齊受禪，爵例降。
His son Bin inherited. In the Wuding era he rose to right vice director of the Masters of Writing. When Qi took the throne his rank was reduced as precedent required.
78
泰兄端，字宣雅。 美容貌，頗涉書史。 起家散騎侍郎。 累遷通直常侍，鴻臚、太常少卿，散騎常侍。 出為安東將軍、青州刺史。 是時蕭衍遣將寇逼徐揚，除端撫軍將軍、金紫光祿大夫、使持節、東南道大使，處分軍機。 賊平，拜鎮軍將軍、兗州刺史。 俄而衍將復寇徐兗，圍逼州城。 端率在州文武拒守，得全。 以功封安德縣開國公，[16]食邑五百戶。 還，除都官尚書。 與雍俱遇害。 贈車騎大將軍、儀同三司、相州刺史。
Tai's elder brother Duan, courtesy name Xuanya. Handsome and well favored, he had dipped into books and histories. He entered service as cavalier attendant. He rose through unhampered attendant, director of the Court for Dependencies, vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and cavalier attendant. He was sent out as pacification-general of the east and inspector of Qingzhou. Xiao Yan then sent generals against Xu and Yang; Duan was named pacification-general, bearer of the golden seal and purple ribbon, commissioner with credentials, and grand ambassador of the southeast route to command the armies. When the rebels were crushed he was made general who pacifies the army and inspector of Yanzhou. Soon Xiao Yan's generals raided Xu and Yan again and besieged the provincial city. Duan led the province's civil and military officers in defense and kept the city intact. For merit he was enfeoffed Duke of Ande, [16] with five hundred households. On his return he was made director of the Ministry of Justice. He fell with Yong. Posthumously he was general of chariots and cavalry, ceremonial equal to the three excellencies, and inspector of Xiangzhou.
79
子峻，襲爵。 齊受禪，例降。
His son Jun inherited. When Qi took the throne his rank was reduced by precedent.
80
泰弟叡，字子哲。 輕忽榮利，愛玩琴書。 起家拜通直散騎侍郎，遷衞尉少卿，轉光祿少卿，封濟北郡王。 與雍俱遇害。 贈車騎大將軍、司空公、雍州刺史。
Tai's younger brother Rui, courtesy name Zizhe. He cared little for rank or gain and loved the zither and books. He began as unhampered cavalier attendant, became vice director of the Court of the Palace Guard, then vice director of the Court of the Imperial Household, and was enfeoffed prince of Jibei. He fell with Yong. Posthumously he was general of chariots and cavalry, duke of works, and inspector of Yongzhou.
81
子徽，普泰中，襲爵。 起家通直郎。 武定五年，坐與元瑾等謀反，伏法。
His son Hui inherited in the Putai era. He began as unhampered gentleman. In Wuding year five he was executed for plotting rebellion with Yuan Jin and others.
82
叡弟誕，字文發。 少聰惠，有風儀。 起家通直郎，遷中書侍郎、通直散騎常侍。 封新陽縣開國伯，食邑三百戶。 加龍驤將軍。 進封昌樂王，食邑七百戶。 遷平南將軍、散騎常侍、黃門侍郎。 孝靜初，拜侍中、車騎大將軍、儀同三司、司州牧。 天平三年薨，贈使持節、侍中、太保、司徒公、尚書令，將軍、牧如故，諡曰文獻。 無子，以斌第二子子亮為後。
Rui's younger brother Dan, courtesy name Wenfa. Clever as a boy, he carried himself well. He began as unhampered gentleman, then became secretariat gentleman and unhampered cavalier attendant. He was enfeoffed baron of Xinyang with three hundred households. He was made dragon-surging general. He was raised to prince of Changle with seven hundred households. He became general who pacifies the south, cavalier attendant, and yellow gate gentleman. When Emperor Jing came to the throne he was palace attendant, general of chariots and cavalry, ceremonial equal to the three excellencies, and governor of Sizhou. He died in Tianping year three and was posthumously commissioner with credentials, palace attendant, grand guardian, duke of works, and director of the Masters of Writing, with generalship and governorship unchanged; temple name Wenxian. Childless, he took Bin's second son Ziliang as heir.
83
誕弟勒叉，勒叉弟亘，亘弟伏陀，伏陀弟彌陀，彌陀弟僧育，僧育弟居羅。 出帝初，勒叉封陽平縣，亘封濮陽縣，伏陀封武陽縣，彌陀封新陽縣，僧育封頓丘縣，居羅封衞縣，並開國伯，食邑四百戶。 天平中，並除鎮遠將軍、散騎侍郎。 僧育走關西，國除。 其餘齊受禪，爵例降。
Dan's younger brothers were Lecha, Gen, Futuo, Amituo, Sengyu, and Juluo. When the Deposed Emperor came to the throne, Lecha was baron of Yangping, Gen of Puyang, Futuo of Wuyang, Amituo of Xinyang, Sengyu of Dunqiu, and Juluo of Wei—each a founding baron with four hundred households. In Tianping all were made generals who pacify the distant and cavalier gentlemen. Sengyu fled west of the passes and his fief was abolished. The rest, when Qi took the throne, had their ranks reduced by precedent.
84
北海王詳，字季豫。 美姿容，善舉止。 太和九年封，加侍中、征北大將軍。 後拜光祿大夫，解侍中、將軍。 又兼侍中。
Prince of Beihai Xiang, courtesy name Jiyu. Handsome in bearing and graceful in manner. In Taihe year nine he was enfeoffed and made palace attendant and grand general who pacifies the north. Later he was grand master of splendor and relieved of palace attendant and general. He again held palace attendant concurrently.
85
從高祖南伐，為散騎常侍。 高祖自洛北巡，詳常與侍中、彭城王勰並在輿輦，陪侍左右。 至高宗射銘之所，高祖停駕，詔諸弟及侍臣，皆試射遠近，唯詳箭不及高宗箭所十餘步。 高祖嘉之，拊掌欣笑，遂詔勒銘，親自為制。 五等開建，食邑二千戶。 遷侍中，轉祕書監。
He followed Gaozu south as cavalier attendant. When Gaozu rode north from Luoyang, Xiang often shared the carriage with Palace Attendant Xi of Pengcheng, attending at his side. At the spot where Suzong had shot the inscription stone, Gaozu halted and ordered his brothers and attendants to shoot near and far; only Xiang's arrow fell more than ten paces short of Suzong's mark. Gaozu praised him, clapped and laughed with delight, and ordered the inscription carved in his own words. When the five ranks were first established, his fief was two thousand households. He became palace attendant, then director of the Secretariat.
86
車駕南伐，詳行中領軍，留守，給鼓吹一部，甲仗三百人，兼督營構之務。 高祖賜詳璽書曰：「比遊神何業也？ 丘墳六籍，何事非娛，善正風猷，肅是禁旅。」 詳後朝於行宮，高祖引見之。 詳慶平沔北，高祖曰：「朕以畿南未清，神麾暫動，沔北數城，並皆柔服，此乃將士之効，非朕之功。」 詳對曰：「陛下德邁唐虞，功微周漢，自南之風，於是乎始。」 詳還洛，高祖餞之，詔詳曰：「昔者，淮夷叛命，故有三年之舉； 鬼方不令，乃致淹載之師。 況江吳竊命，于今十紀，朕必欲蕩滌南海，然後言歸。 今夏停此，故與汝相見，善守京邑，副我所懷。」 趙郡王幹薨，以詳行司州牧。 除護軍將軍，兼尚書左僕射。
On the southern campaign Xiang served as central army commander in the capital, with pipes and drums, three hundred suits of arms, and charge of construction. Gaozu sent Xiang a sealed letter: "Of late what has the wandering spirit been doing? Tombs and the six classics alike should be your pastime; set the guard's discipline straight." Later Xiang attended at the traveling palace and Gaozu received him. Xiang congratulated him on pacifying the Mian's north bank; Gaozu said, "While the capital southlands remain unsettled I have moved the banner for a time; the cities north of the Mian have all submitted—this is the officers' work, not mine." Xiang answered, "Your virtue surpasses Tang and Yu and your deeds touch Zhou and Han; the south wind begins here." Returning to Luoyang, Xiang was feasted on departure; Gaozu told him, "When the Huaiyi rebelled, a three-year campaign followed; when Guifang defied the throne, armies were delayed for years. The Yangtze lands have stolen the mandate these ten reigns; I must scour the southern sea before I return. This summer I halt here to see you; guard the capital and keep faith with my intent." When Prince of Zhao Gan died, Xiang acted as governor of Sizhou. He was made general who protects the army and left vice director of the Masters of Writing.
87
詳與八座奏曰：「竊惟姦劫難除，為蠹日久，羣盜作患，有國攸病。 故五刑為用，猶陷觸網之誅； 道幾勝殘，寧息狗竊之響。 是以班制垂式，名為治本，整網提目，政之大要。 謹尋奪祿事條，班已周歲。 然京邑尹、令，善惡易聞； 邊州遠守，或難聽審，皆上下同情，迭相掩沒。 設有賊發，隱而不言，或以劫為偷，或遏掠成盜，更令賊發難知，攘竊惟甚。 臣等參議； 若依制削奪，則縣無期月之宰； 附條貶黜，郡靡歲稔之守。 此制必行，所謂法令滋章，盜賊多有。 昔黃龔變風，不由削祿； 張趙稱美，豈憚貶退。 然綏導之體，得失在人。 乃可重選慎官，依律劾禁，不宜輕改法令，削黜羣司。 今請改制條，還附律處。 其勵己公清，賞有常典，風謠黷賄，案為考第。」 世宗從之。
Xiang and the eight seats memorialized: "Robbery and violence are hard to uproot and long a plague; banditry is a state's chronic sickness. The five punishments are used, yet men still fall into capital nets; the Way nearly conquers slaughter, yet petty theft never quiets. Ban's code set the pattern called the root of rule; tightening the net and lifting the eyes is policy's great hinge. We have traced the articles on stipend deprivation; a full year has passed since Ban's code. Yet capital magistrates and prefects are easily judged; border and distant posts sometimes cannot hear cases clearly—high and low cover for one another. If raids are hidden, robbery called theft, or blocking and plunder reduced to petty theft, outbreaks grow harder to trace and snatching worsens. Your subjects jointly deliberate: if stipends are cut by regulation, counties will lack magistrates within a month; if attached articles demote and dismiss, commanderies will lack seasoned prefects within a year. Enforce this rule and you fulfill the proverb: more laws, more thieves. Of old Huang Gong changed custom without cutting stipends; Zhang and Zhao won praise—did they fear demotion? Yet soothing the people rests on the men who govern them. Choose careful officials, investigate by law, and do not lightly rewrite statutes or purge the ranks of office. We ask to revise the regulatory articles and return them to the code proper. Let integrity earn the regular reward and bribery heard in popular song enter the review grade." Xiaozong accepted the memorial.
88
詳之拜命，其夜暴風震電，拔其庭中桐樹大十圍，倒立本處。 初，世宗之覽政也，詳聞彭城王勰有震主之慮，而欲奪其司徒，大懼物議，故為大將軍，至是乃居之。 天威如此，識者知其不終。 世宗講武於鄴，詳與右僕射高肇、領軍于勁留守京師。
The night Xiang took the appointment, a thunderstorm uprooted a ten-span paulownia in his courtyard and set it upright again at the root. When Xiaozong first took power, Xiang had heard Xi of Pengcheng might overshadow the throne and wished to seize his ministry; fearing talk, he made Xi grand general instead—and only now took the post himself. Heaven had spoken; those who knew saw he would not finish his course. Xiaozong drilled troops at Ye; Xiang, Right Vice Director Gao Zhao, and Army Commander Yu Jin stayed to guard Luoyang.
89
初，太和末，詳以少弟延愛，景明初，復以季父崇寵，位望兼極，百僚憚之。 而貪冒無厭，多所取納； 公私營販，侵剝遠近； 嬖狎羣小，所在請託。 珍麗充盈，聲色侈縱，建飾第宇，開起山池，所費巨萬矣。 又於東掖門外，大路之南，驅逼細人，規占第宅。 至有喪柩在堂，請延至葬而不見許，乃令輿櫬巷次，行路哀嗟。 詳母高太妃，頗亦助為威虐，親命毆擊，怨響嗷嗷。 妃，宋王劉昶女，不見答禮。 寵妾范氏，愛等伉儷，及其死也，痛不自勝，乃至葬訖，猶毀𡑞視之。 表請贈平昌縣君。 詳又蒸於安定王爕妃高氏，高氏即茹皓妻姊。 嚴禁左右，閉密始末。 詳既素附於皓，又緣淫好，往來綢密。 皓之取妻也，詳親至其家，忻飲極醉。
At Taihe's end he was the youngest brother and long favored; at Jingming's start he was the youngest paternal uncle and doubly exalted—rank and expectation peaked, and the hundred offices feared him. Yet he was insatiably greedy and took in much; public and private trade stripped near and far; he doted on petty men and took petitions everywhere. Treasures filled his halls, music and women ran riot, mansions and artificial hills cost tens of thousands. Outside the Eastern Flank Gate, south of the great road, he drove out commoners to seize houses. Some still had mourning biers in the hall; they begged delay until burial and were refused; he set the coffin in the lane, and wayfarers wept. His mother, Grand Consort Gao, aided his cruelty; she ordered beatings herself, and cries of resentment filled the streets. Consort to him, daughter of Prince of Song Liu Chang, she received no ritual courtesy in return. His concubine Lady Fan was loved like a wife; when she died his grief would not end, and even after burial he broke open the coffin to look on her. He asked posthumously to enfeoff her as lady of Pingchang county. Xiang also lay with Lady Gao, consort of Prince of Anding Ye—Ru Hao's wife's elder sister. He silenced his household and kept the affair secret from first to last. Long attached to Hao, and bound by the affair, they grew intimate. When Hao married, Xiang went to his house in person, drank with delight, and staggered home drunk.
90
詳雖貪侈聚斂，朝野所聞，而世宗禮敬尚隆，憑寄無替，軍國大事，總而裁決。 每所敷奏，事皆協允。 詳常別住華林園之西隅，與都亭、宮館密邇相接，亦通後門。 世宗每潛幸其所，肆飲終日，其寵如此。 又詳拜受，因其私慶，啟請世宗。 世宗頻幸南第，御其後堂，與高太妃相見，呼為阿母，伏而上酒，禮若家人。 臨出，高每拜送，舉𨢩祝言：「願官家千萬歲壽，歲歲一至妾母子舍也。」 初，世宗之親政也，詳與咸陽王禧、彭城王勰並被召入，共乘犢車，防衞嚴固。 高時惶迫，以為詳必死，亦乘車傍路，哭而送至金墉。 及詳得免，高云：「自今而後，不願富貴，但令母子相保，共汝掃市作活也。」 至此貴寵崇盛，不復言有禍敗之理。
Though his greed was known throughout court and countryside, Xiaozong's courtesy never slackened nor his trust broke; military and state affairs passed through his hands. Whatever he memorialized was approved. He often lodged in the western corner of Hualin Park, hard by the capital lodges, with a private passage through the rear gate. Xiaozong often stole to his house and drank the day through—such was his favor. When he took a new appointment he used a private celebration to petition Xiaozong. Xiaozong often visited the Southern Residence and entered the rear hall to see Grand Consort Gao, calling her little mother; kneeling, he offered wine like kin. On leaving, Gao always bowed him out, cup raised, praying: "May the Son of Heaven live ten thousand years and year by year come once to our house." When Xiaozong first took power, Xiang, Xi of Xianyang, and Xi of Pengcheng were summoned together in a guarded calf cart. Gao, panicked, thought Xiang would die; she took a side road in her carriage, weeping as she followed him to Jinfeng. When Xiang was spared, Gao said, "From now on I want no wealth—only that mother and son may live and sweep the market with you." By then favor had risen so high she no longer spoke of ruin.
91
後為高肇所譖，云詳與皓等謀為逆亂。 于時詳在南第，世宗召中尉崔亮入禁，敕糾詳貪淫，及茹皓、劉冑、常季賢、陳掃靜等專恣之狀。 亮乃奏詳：「貪害公私，淫亂典禮。 朝廷比以軍國費廣，禁斷諸蕃雜獻，而詳擅作威令，命寺署酬直。 驅奪人業，崇侈私第。 蒸穢無道，失尊卑之節； 塵敗憲章，虧風教之紀。 請以見事，免所居官爵，付鴻臚削奪，輒下禁止，付廷尉治罪。」 并劾皓等，夜即收禁南臺。 又虎賁百人，圍守詳第，慮其驚懼奔越。 遣左右郭翼開金墉門，馳出諭之，示以中尉彈狀。 詳母高見翼，頓首號泣不自勝。 詳言：「審如中尉所糾，何憂也，正恐更有大罪橫至耳。 人奉我珍異貨物，我實愛之。 果為取受，吾何憂乎？」 私以自寬。 至明，皓等皆賜死，引高陽王雍等五王入議詳罪。 單車防守，還華林之館。 母妻相與哭，入所居，小奴弱婢數人隨從。 官防甚嚴，終夜擊柝，列坐圍守，外內不通。 世宗為此不幸園十餘日。 徙詳就太府寺，圍禁彌切。 詔曰：「王位兼台輔，親懿莫二，朝野屬賴，具瞻所歸。 不能勵德存道，宣融軌訓，方乃肆茲貪靦，穢暴顯聞。 遠負先朝友愛之寄，近乖家國推敬所期，理官執憲，實合刑典，天下為公，豈容私抑。 但朕諸父傾落，存者無幾，便極逮坐，情有未安。 可免為庶人，別營坊館，如法禁衞，限以終身。 邦家不造，言尋感慨。」 遂別營館於洛陽縣東北隅，二旬而成，將徙詳居之。 會其家奴數人，陰結黨輩，欲以劫出詳，密抄名字，潛託侍婢通於詳。 詳始得執省，而門防主司遙見，突入，就詳手中攬得，呈奏。 至夜，守者以聞。 詳哭數聲而暴死。 [17]詳自至太府，令其母妻，還居南宅，五日一來，與其相見。 此夜，母妻不在，死於婢手中。 至明，告其凶問。 詔曰：「北海叔奄至傾背，痛慕抽慟，情不自任。 明便舉哀，可敕備辦喪還南宅，諸王皇宗，悉令奔赴。 給東園祕器，賵物之數一依廣陵故事。」
Later Gao Zhao slandered him, saying Xiang and Hao plotted rebellion. Xiang was then at the Southern Residence; Xiaozong summoned Chief Commandant Cui Liang and ordered inquiry into Xiang's greed and lust and the monopolies of Hao, Liu Zhou, Chang Jixian, Chen Saojing, and the rest. Liang memorialized: "Greedy harm to public and private, licentious breach of ritual. The court lately forbade tribute from the fiefs because expenses were heavy, yet Xiang on his own authority ordered offices to pay him compensation. He seized livelihoods and built a lavish private house. Filthy violations broke the order of high and low; he defiled the statutes and ruined the teaching of custom. We ask that he be removed from office and rank, stripped by the Court for Dependencies, placed under prohibition, and handed to the Court of Judicial Review." He also impeached Hao and the others; that night they were seized at the Southern Terrace. A hundred tiger guards surrounded his house lest he flee in panic. He sent Guo Yi to open the Jinfeng Gate, gallop out with the impeachment, and read it to him. Gao saw Yi, beat her head on the ground, and wailed beyond control. Xiang said, "If it is truly as Liang impeaches, what is there to fear? I only dread a greater crime falling from nowhere. People give me rare goods and I truly love them. If it proves to be bribes, what do I have to fear?" He comforted himself thus in private. At dawn Hao and the others were executed; Yong of Gaoyang and four other princes were called in to judge Xiang's crime. A single carriage guarded him back to the Hualin lodge. Mother and wife wept and entered his lodging with only a few young slaves and weak maids. Guards were severe; watch-clappers sounded all night, ranks sat round him, and none passed in or out. For this Xiaozong kept to the park in sorrow more than ten days. Xiang was moved to the Court of the Imperial Treasury under tighter confinement. An edict said, "Your rank joins terrace and aide, your kinship without second; court and countryside rely on you. You could not encourage virtue or spread instruction, but indulged greedy shame and violence plain to all. You failed the former emperor's trust and the family's respect; the law officers rightly invoke the code, and the realm is public—private favor cannot stand. Yet my paternal uncles have fallen and few remain; to punish to the utmost my heart is not at ease. You may be reduced to commoner status, given a separate lodge, guarded by law, for life. The state is unlucky; I sigh as I write." A lodge was built in the northeast of Luoyang county; in twenty days it was finished and he was to be moved there. Then several household slaves secretly banded to seize him out by force, copied names, and sent word through a maid. Xiang had just taken the note when the gate chief saw from afar, rushed in, snatched it from his hand, and memorialized. That night the guards reported it. Xiang cried out several times and died suddenly. [17] From his confinement at the Court of the Imperial Treasury, his mother and wife dwelt at the Southern Residence and visited every five days. That night mother and wife were absent; he died in a maid's hands. At dawn they announced his death. An edict said, "Beihai, my uncle, has suddenly fallen; grief and sobs I cannot master. Raise mourning tomorrow; prepare the funeral and return the coffin to the Southern Residence; let all imperial princes attend. Grant eastern-garden secret vessels; funeral gifts as for Guangling."
92
詳之初禁也，乃以蒸高事告母。 母大怒，詈之苦切，曰：「汝自有妻妾侍婢，少盛如花，何忽共許高麗婢姦通，令致此罪。 我得高麗，當噉其肉。」 乃杖詳背及兩脚百餘下，自行杖，力疲乃令奴代。 高氏素嚴，詳每有微罪，常加責罰，以絮裹杖。 至是，去絮，皆至瘡膿。 詳苦杖，十餘日乃能立。 又杖其妃劉氏數十，云：「新婦大家女，門戶匹敵，何所畏也，而不檢校夫婿。 婦人皆妬，獨不妬也！」 劉笑而受罰，卒無所言。
When first confined, he told his mother of the affair with Lady Gao. His mother raged and cursed him: "You have wives and maids in their bloom—why lie with that Goryeo woman and bring this ruin? Catch that Goryeo woman and I will eat her flesh." She beat his back and both legs more than a hundred times, wielding the staff herself until spent, then had a slave continue. Lady Gao had always been strict; for small faults she often beat him with a cotton-wrapped staff. Now the cotton was removed and every blow brought festering sores. Tormented by the beating, he could stand only after ten days. She also beat his consort Lady Liu several dozen times: "A great-house bride, matched in rank—why not restrain your husband? All women are jealous—are you alone not jealous?" Lady Liu smiled, took the blows, and said nothing.
93
詳貪淫之失，雖聞遠近，而死之日，罪無定名，遠近歎怪之。 停殯五載。 永平元年十月，詔曰：「故太傅北海王體自先皇，特鍾友愛，受遺訓輔，沖昧攸記。 不圖暮節晦德，終缺哀榮，便可追復王封，克日營厝，少慰幽魂，以旌陰 〈疑〉 戚。」 諡曰平王。
Though his greed and lust were known far and near, at his death no fixed charge was named, and men marveled. His coffin lay in state five years. In Yongping year one, tenth month, an edict said, "The late Grand Tutor, Prince of Beihai, sprang from the former emperor, was cherished in friendship, received the testament to assist the tender years. We did not expect his late years would hide virtue and end without mourning honor; restore his princedom, bury him on a set day, and comfort the shade 〈doubt〉 of kin." Posthumous title: Prince Ping.
94
子顥，字子明，襲。 少慷慨，有壯氣。 除龍驤將軍、通直散騎常侍。 轉宗正卿、光祿大夫、長兼宗正卿、散騎常侍、平東將軍。 轉都官尚書，加安南將軍。 出除散騎常侍、撫軍將軍、徐州刺史。 尋為御史彈劾除名。
His son Hao, courtesy name Ziming, inherited. Young, he was generous and bold. He was made dragon-surging general and unhampered cavalier attendant. He became director of the Court of the Imperial Clan, grand master of splendor, long concurrent in that directorate, cavalier attendant, and general who pacifies the east. He was made director of the Ministry of Justice with the additional title general who pacifies the south. He was sent out as cavalier attendant, pacification-general, and inspector of Xuzhou. Soon the censor impeached him and he was struck from the rolls.
95
其後，賊帥宿勤明達、叱干騏驎等寇亂豳華諸州，乃復顥王爵，以本將軍加使持節、假征西將軍、都督華豳東秦諸軍事、兼左僕射、西道行臺，以討明達。 顥轉戰而前，頻破賊眾，解豳華之圍。 以功增封八百戶，進號征西將軍。 又除尚書右僕射，持節、行臺、都督如故。 尋遷車騎大將軍、儀同三司，餘如故。 值蕭寶夤等大敗於平涼，顥亦奔還京師。
Later the chiefs Su Qin Mingda and Chigan Qilin raided Bin and Hua; Hao's princedom was restored, and with his present rank he was commissioner with credentials, acting general who campaigns west, commander of Hua, Bin, and East Qin armies, concurrent left vice director, and western-route mobile office, to campaign against Mingda. Hao fought forward, repeatedly broke the rebels, and lifted the sieges of Bin and Hua. Merit added eight hundred households to his fief and raised him to general who pacifies the west. He was also named right vice director of the Masters of Writing, keeping bearer of the staff, mobile secretariat, and command unchanged. Shortly he became grand general of chariots and cavalry and grand master with ritual parity to the three excellencies, other posts unchanged. When Xiao Baoyin and others were routed at Pingliang, Hao also fled to the capital.
96
於時，葛榮南進，稍逼鄴城。 武泰初，以顥為侍中、驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司、相州刺史以禦榮。 顥至汲郡，屬尒朱榮入洛，推奉莊帝，詔授顥太傅，開府、侍中、刺史、王並如故。 顥以葛榮南侵，尒朱縱害，遂盤桓顧望，圖自安之策。 先是，顥啟其舅范遵為殷州刺史，遵以葛榮充逼，未得行。 顥令遵權停於鄴。 顥既懷異謀，乃遣遵行相州事，代前刺史李神，為己表裏之援。 相州行臺甄密先受朝旨，[18]委其守鄴。 知顥異圖，恐遵為變，遂相率廢遵，還推李神攝理州事，然後遣軍候顥逆順之勢。
Ge Rong was then pushing south, drawing ever nearer to Ye. Early in Wutai he was made attendant-in-ordinary, general of agile cavalry, grand master who opens a headquarters with three-offices parity, and Xiang inspector to hold off Rong. Hao had reached Ji when Erzhu Rong entered Luoyang and enthroned Zhuangdi; an edict kept him grand preceptor with his headquarters, attendant post, inspector title, and princedom unchanged. With Ge Rong pressing south and Erzhu Rong's violence abroad, Hao hesitated and cast about for a way to save himself. He had earlier asked that his uncle Fan Zun be made Yin inspector, but Ge Rong's occupation kept Zun from taking office. Hao had Zun hold temporarily at Ye. Once he nursed a separate design, he sent Zun to run Xiang in place of the former inspector Li Shen, making him support within and without. Zhen Mi of the Xiang mobile secretariat had already been ordered [18] to hold Ye. Seeing Hao's disloyal intent and fearing Zun would rebel, they deposed Zun together, put Li Shen back in charge of the province, and sent troops to test whether Hao would submit or revolt.
97
顥以數千之眾，轉戰輒克，據有都邑，號令自己，天下人情，想其風政。 而自謂天之所授，頗懷驕怠。 宿昔賓客近習之徒咸見寵待，干擾政事，又日夜縱酒，不恤軍國。 所統南兵，凌竊市里。 朝野莫不失望。 時又酷斂，公私不安。 莊帝與尒朱榮還師討顥。 自於河梁拒戰，王師渡於馬渚，冠受戰敗被擒，因相繼而敗。 顥率帳下數百騎及南兵勇健者，自轘轅而出。 至臨潁，顥部騎分散，為臨潁縣卒所斬。 出帝初，贈使持節、侍中、都督冀定相殷四州諸軍事、驃騎大將軍、大司馬、冀州刺史。 武定中，子娑羅襲。 齊受禪，爵例降。
With a few thousand men he won wherever he fought, held the capital, ruled by his own orders, and the realm looked to his rule with hope. He took heaven's mandate for granted and turned arrogant and lax. Old clients and favorites were indulged, meddled in policy, and he drank day and night without heed for war or rule. His southern soldiers preyed on the markets. Court and country alike lost heart. Harsh levies meanwhile left public and private life insecure. Zhuangdi and Erzhu Rong marched back to crush Hao. They fought at Heqiao; the imperial host crossed at Mazhu; Guanshou was beaten and taken, and defeat cascaded. Hao fled with a few hundred household guards and picked southern fighters through Huanyuan Pass. Near Linying his escort broke up and a county soldier cut off his head. When the Deposed Emperor came to the throne he was posthumously made bearer of the staff, attendant-in-ordinary, commander of Ji, Ding, Xiang, and Yin armies, general of agile cavalry, grand marshal, and Ji inspector. In Wuding his son Suoluo succeeded. After Qi's founding the rank was lowered by rule.
98
顥弟頊，[19]字寶意。 起家為通直郎，轉中書郎，歷武衞將軍、光祿少卿、黃門郎。 出除平北將軍、相州刺史。 為大宗正卿。 封平樂縣開國公，食邑八百戶。 莊帝初，拜侍中、車騎將軍，封東海王，食邑千戶。 俄遷中書監、左光祿大夫，兼尚書右僕射。 又拜車騎大將軍，加侍中。 頊無他才幹，以親屬早居重任。 兄顥入洛，成敗未分，便以意氣自得，為時人所笑。 顥敗，潛竄，為人執送，斬於都市。 出帝初，贈侍中、都督雍華岐三州諸軍事、驃騎大將軍、太尉公、尚書令、雍州刺史。
Hao's younger brother Xu, [19] styled Baoyi. He entered service as regular attendant, became a secretariat gentleman, and held guard general, vice director of the household guard, and yellow gate gentleman. He was posted out as general who pacifies the north and Xiang inspector. He was made director of the imperial clan. He was enfeoffed duke of Pingle county, an open state, with eight hundred households. At Zhuangdi's accession he was attendant-in-ordinary and general of chariots and cavalry, enfeoffed prince of Donghai with one thousand households. Soon he was secretariat supervisor and left grand master of the household guard, also right vice director of the Masters of Writing. He was again named grand general of chariots and cavalry with added attendant-in-ordinary. Xu had no other gift; kinship alone put him in high office young. When his brother Hao took Luoyang, before the issue was decided Xu was already swollen with pride, and contemporaries mocked him. After Hao's fall he hid, was seized and delivered up, and beheaded in the capital market. When the Deposed Emperor came to the throne he was posthumously attendant-in-ordinary, commander of Yong, Hua, and Qi armies, general of agile cavalry, grand duke, director of the Masters of Writing, and Yong inspector.
99
子衍，襲爵。 武定中，通直散騎侍郎。 齊受禪，爵例降。
His son Yan succeeded to the title. In Wuding he was regular attendant and cavalier attendant-in-ordinary. After Qi's founding the rank was lowered by rule.
100
史臣曰：顯祖諸子，俱聞道於太和之日。 咸陽望重位隆，自猜謀亂。 趙郡愆於王度，終諡曰靈。 廣陵夙稱明察，不幸中夭，惜矣。 高陽器術缺然，終荷棟幹，孝昌之叛，蓋不足以責之。 北海義昧鶺鴒，奢淫自喪，雖禍由間言，亦自貽伊戚。 顥取若拾遺，亡不旋踵，豈守之無術，其天將覆之。
The historiographer writes: Xiaowendi's sons were all schooled in the Taihe years. Xianyang's standing and rank bred suspicion and revolt. Zhao Commandery overstepped princely bounds and was finally posthumously titled Ling. Guangling had long been praised for sharp judgment; his early death was a loss. Gaoyang lacked gifts, yet in the end carried the state's beam; the Xiaochang rising can scarcely be laid at his door. Beihai forgot the brotherhood of the jiju ming and ruined himself in excess; though rumor between kin brought the blow, he had courted the grief himself. Hao took power as easily as picking up what others dropped and was gone almost at once—was he unskilled at keeping it, or was heaven already pulling the house down?
101
校勘記
Textual notes
102
臣謂宜述元志「元」疑當作「先」。
"A minister said one should relate Yuan Zhi": yuan likely corrupts to xian (first).
103
願欲傳之來葉諸本「葉」作「業」，冊府卷五七 〈六三四頁〉 作「葉」。 按「來業」語晦，今據改。
"Wishing to transmit to posterity": editions read ye (generation) as ye (occupation); Cefu juan 57 〈folio 634〉 has "ye" (generation). Note: "posterity as occupation" is obscure; the emendation is adopted.
104
卒聞教武百衲本、南本「卒」作「臣」，不可通。 北、汲、殿、局四本此字缺，旁注「疑」字。 今據冊府卷三一二 〈三六八六頁〉 改。
"Suddenly heard military instruction": patchwork and Southern editions read zu (suddenly) as chen (minister), which will not parse. Northern, Ji, Palace, and Bureau texts omit the character and mark "suspected" in the margin. Emended per Cefu juan 312 〈folio 3686〉 The change is adopted.
105
加衞大將軍按下云：「尋授車騎將軍、左光祿大夫」，衞大將軍班在車騎將軍上 〈卷一一三官氏志〉 ，似是貶降。 但下文廣陵王羽以征東大將軍為衞將軍； 高陽王雍先是征南大將軍，改鎮北大將軍，後為相州刺史，所帶軍號却止是鎮北將軍。 與此同例，或是先後制度不同。
"Added guard general": below reads "soon made grand general of chariots and cavalry and left grand master of the household guard"; guard general outranks grand general of chariots and cavalry 〈juan 113, Monograph on Offices and Clans〉 , which looks like a demotion. Yet below Prince of Guangling Yu moves from eastern-route grand general to guard general; Prince of Gaoyang Yong was first southern-route grand general, then northern-route grand general, then Xiang inspector, yet his army title remained only northern-route general. The same pattern holds here, or early and later rules simply differed.
106
卒贈撫軍將軍儀同三司青州刺史按墓誌集釋元譚墓誌 〈圖版一七五〉 稱「建義元年，歲次戊申，四月十三日，龍飛之會，橫離大禍」，則元譚也於河陰被殺。 傳止稱「卒」，似善終。 疑誤。
"Upon death posthumously pacifying-army general with three-offices parity and Qing inspector": Muzhi jishi, epitaph of Yuan Tan 〈plate 175〉 reads: "Jianyi year 1, cyclical year wushen, fourth month day 13, at the dragon-flight assembly he met great calamity"—so Yuan Tan died at Heyin too. The life says only "died," as though he ended at peace. Likely a mistake.
107
夷人寧悅北史卷一九、御覽卷七０三 〈三一三七頁〉 「夷人」作「夷夏」。 按御覽引魏書，却與北史同，則舊本亦作「夷夏」。
"Barbarian peoples at peace": Beishi juan 19; Imperial Readings juan 703 〈folio 3137〉 reads "barbarians and Chinese." Note: Imperial Readings quotes Wei shu yet matches Beishi; the old text also had "barbarians and Chinese."
108
人命之本事冊府卷六九 〈七七五頁〉 「本」作「大」，疑是。
"The foundation of human life": Cefu juan 69 〈folio 775〉 reads ben (foundation) as da (great); da is likely right.
109
若賞不盡能諸本「賞」作「實」，冊府 〈同上卷頁〉 作「賞」。 按上云「行賞得人」，這裏意謂行賞而和他的能力不稱，前後相貫，「實」字訛，今據改。
"If rewards do not match ability": editions read shang (reward) as shi (substance); Cefu 〈same scroll, same page〉 has "shang" (reward). Note: Above reads "conduct rewards and gain men"; here rewards fail to match capacity—the lines cohere; shi is corrupt and the text is emended.
110
民斯下矣按語不可解，「民」字疑訛。
"The people descend thereby": the line will not parse; min (people) is likely corrupt.
111
謂長兼尚書于果曰諸本「果」訛「杲」，據北史卷一九、本書卷三一于栗磾附于果傳改。
"The chief concurrently held the Masters of Writing, Yu Guo": editions corrupt guo (fruit) to gao (bright); emended per Beishi juan 19 and this book juan 31, Yu Guo under Yu Libo.
112
可為中李慈銘魏書札記 〈以下簡稱李慈銘〉 云：「北史 〈卷一九〉 『中』下有『第』字，此脫。」
"Can serve as zhong": Li Ciming, Collation Notes on Wei shu 〈hereinafter Li Ciming〉 writes: "Beishi 〈juan 19〉 after 'zhong' has 'di' (rank); here it is missing."
113
羽進號衞將軍按上文早說「加衞將軍」，何待這時進號。 前後必有一誤。
"Yu advanced in title to guard general": above already says "added guard general"; why advance the title only here. One of the two statements must be wrong.
114
為牧之道亦難亦易百衲本、汲本「亦難亦易」作「非難亦易」，南、北、殿、局四本作「非難非易」。 北史卷一九、御覽卷二五四 〈一一九六頁〉 作「亦易亦難」。 冊府卷一五六 〈一八九二頁〉 作「亦難亦易」。 按「非難亦易」必誤，南本以下當是以意改。 御覽此段雖標「後魏書」，實出北史，如作「帝誡曰」不作「高祖誡曰」，又無下「又當愛賢士」云云，可證。 今據冊府改。
"The way of governing is both hard and easy": patchwork and Ji read "both hard and easy" as "not hard yet easy"; Southern, Northern, Palace, and Bureau have "not hard not easy." Witnesses: Beishi juan 19; Imperial Readings juan 254 〈folio 1196〉 has "also easy also hard." Cefu, scroll 156 〈folio 1892〉 has "both hard and easy." Note: "not hard yet easy" must be wrong; Southern and later texts were likely emended at will. Imperial Readings tags this "Later Wei shu" but it is really Beishi—it says "the emperor admonished," not "Gaozu admonished," and omits "again cherish worthy scholars," and the like. Emended per Cefu.
115
或任官外戍通典卷一五載元雍表「任」作「征」。 按「征官」指征行之官，故與「外戍」連文，疑「任」字訛。
"Or perhaps serving as official on outer garrison": Tongdian juan 15, Yuan Yong's memorial, reads ren (hold office) as zheng (campaign). Note: "campaign official" denotes an officer in the field, hence pairs with "outer garrison"; ren is likely corrupt.
116
甄琛啟云諸本「琛」皆作「深」。 按語見卷六八甄琛傳，「深」乃形訛，今改正。
"Zhen Chen memorialized, saying": every edition reads chen (gem) as shen (deep). Note: the passage is in juan 68 (Zhen Chen); shen is a shape corruption and is corrected.
117
以功封安德縣開國公諸本「德」作「得」。 墓誌集釋元端墓誌 〈圖版一七九〉 作「安德郡開國公」。 按卷一０六上地形志上冀州安德郡，云：「太和中置，尋併勃海，中興中復」，郡屬有安德縣。 「安得」顯為「安德」之訛，今改正。 據地形志，元端封爵時，在此郡併入勃海郡後，復郡前，當時並無安德郡。 雖北魏封邑都是虛封，太和以前更是隨意立名，不必有此郡，但太和定制後這種情況已有所改變。 「安德」既無此郡，傳作「縣公」未必誤，今不改。
"For merit enfeoffed duke of Ande county, open state": editions read de (virtue) as de (obtain). Per Muzhi jishi, epitaph of Yuan Duan 〈plate 179〉 has "duke of Ande commandery, open state." Note: Geography monograph juan 106 upper, Ji, Ande commandery: "set up in Taihe, soon merged into Bohai, restored in Zhongxing," with Ande county subordinate. "An obtain" clearly corrupts "Ande"; the text is emended. By the geography monograph, Yuan Duan's enfeoffment fell after Ande was merged into Bohai and before the commandery was restored—there was then no Ande commandery. Northern Wei fiefs were nominal, and before Taihe titles were coined freely without a matching commandery, but after Taihe's rules that looseness had narrowed. With no Ande commandery, "county duke" in the life need not be wrong; left unchanged.
118
至夜守者以聞詳哭數聲而暴死李慈銘云：「『守者以聞』，『以』字衍。 上既云『呈奏』矣，不得又言『以聞』。 且方『以聞』，不言害詳事，何得便言『詳哭數聲而死』？ 北史 〈卷一九〉 『攬得呈奏』下云：『帝密令害之。』 此傳當脫一句，故下云：『至夜，守者聞詳哭數聲而死。』 蓋莫知其死狀也。」
"At night the guards reported it; Xiang wept several times and died suddenly": Li Ciming says the character yi (by/with) in "the guards reported it" is redundant. Above already says "presented the memorial"; "reported it" cannot follow. Besides, at the moment of "reporting it" Xiang's killing is not yet told—how can the next line be "Xiang wept several times and died"? In Beishi 〈juan 19〉 below "Lan obtained and presented the memorial" reads: "The emperor secretly ordered him killed." This life must drop a line; hence below: "At night the guards heard Xiang weep several times and he died." Likely no one knew how he died."
119
相州行臺甄密先受朝旨諸本無「密」字。 按「甄」下不應不書名。 通鑑卷一五二 〈四七四七頁〉 作「甄密」。 甄密為相州行臺亦見卷六八本傳，這裏脫「密」字，今據補。
"Xiang Province mobile secretariat Zhen Mi had earlier received the court's order": editions omit mi (dense). Note: after "Zhen" the personal name must not be omitted. Zizhi tongjian, scroll 152 〈folio 4747〉 has "Zhen Mi." Zhen Mi as Xiang mobile secretariat appears in juan 68 (his biography); mi dropped here and is supplied.
120
顥弟頊諸本「頊」作「瑱」。 據北史卷一九、冊府卷二八一 〈三三一二頁〉 、墓誌集釋元頊墓誌 〈圖版一八四〉 改，參卷一０校記。
"Hao's younger brother Xu": editions read xu as zhen (jade ornament). Emended per Beishi juan 19 and Cefu juan 281 〈folio 3312〉 ; Muzhi jishi, epitaph of Yuan Xu 〈plate 184〉 Emended; see textual notes to juan 10.